This is the first Q&A to feature the new 'passive contribution' concept I wrote about not too long ago. I've collected five of the best keywords (or rather, search strings) and made them into questions. So without further delay, I present to you the January edition of Q&A!



Can Ethernet over power (EoP) be over a wireless connection? - by anonymous
No, it cannot. It doesn't make sense since transferring data via wireless connection is already possible via the existing IEEE 802.11 standards. EoP works by transmitting data through a physical power connection.

Why do I get EoP drop outs? - by anonymous
Drop outs when using EoP devices can occur for several reasons. If the problem is consistent, then the likely cause is old or damaged power cabling in the house, or that the EoP devices are too far apart. Make sure your devices are connected directly to the power socket if possible i.e. don't use an extension cord or power board. If the issues happen spontaneously, there may be an appliance which is creating a lot of noise on the power circuit. Air conditioning systems and electric bug repellents are notorious for doing this.

What is the practise of overclocking? - by anonymous
Overclocking is the process of running computing components beyond their rated clock speed. It is often executed in order to get greater performance out of an existing component.

What causes an overclock to lower performance? - by anonymous
Overclocking a device shouldn't lower the performance of a system. However, there are some cases were the process of overclocking can accidentally trigger unwanted side effects. One cause may be the incorrect adjustment of BIOS settings. If technologies such as SpeedStep are left on, the CPU will throttle itself when the PC isn't under great load. If during overclocking you lower the bus speed in order to facilitate a higher CPU multiplier, and SpeedStep kicks in, you may find yourself with a lower overall clock speed. This would most certainly cause a decrease in performance.

Another cause may be instability, or accidental underclocking of other linked components such as your RAM. It's best to monitor your system using CPU-z, and to run stability tests such as OCCT.

Is the upgrade to the 120GB TPG plan free? - by anonymous
Upgrading a TPG plan is free and without contract restart. To make it clear, an 'upgrade' is switching to a plan of equal or greater cost. If you're switching to a lower cost plan, then there may be fees involved. Check out TPG's pricing structure here.

That's it for this month! Feel free to send your questions to qna@vitocassisi.com

I'll get straight to the point. Q&A never took off. At all. So whilst browsing the visitor statistics I came up with a better idea. Passive Q&A! What is passive Q&A, you ask? Passive Q&A is where I check out the keywords used by visitors to access this blog. Sometimes these keywords are in the form of a question, which is perfect! Otherwise I shall do my best to form the keywords into appropriate questions. Then, as the 'A' in Q&A suggests, I shall answer them!

Of course, the old method of asking questions will still be available. So if you want something answered, chuck them my way at qna@vitocassisi.com

Thanks for your time guys. :)

It's been about a month since Q&A launched on this blog. I've had a staggering two questions e-mailed to me for answering. Don't be afraid to send in questions!

Both questions are from reader Steve B.


Q: What is the meaning of life?

A: Although not necessarily tech related, I'll answer this anyway. The meaning of life is a question that many struggle to conceptualise. The answer varies with each person. Some relate it to their religious beliefs, others may affiliate it with their aspirations. There's no clear cut answer. The famous book 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' humorously proposes that the answer is 42. Perhaps borrowing said book will make it the answer clear. :)

Q: What components would you pick for a $500 Budget PC?

A: It wouldn't be too dissimilar to the build I designed here. It really depends what you're going to use it for. I'd suggest a HD4650 to lower the price a bit, in addition to the natural depreciation since the time of publishing (3rd July).

That's it for this month. If you've got any questions, please don't hesitate to send them to qna@vitocassisi.com

Send questions to qna@vitocassisi.com