March 9th, 2008
Setting Time On Your Computer
An accurate time reference is a fundamental requirement to many computer software applications. Although every Personal Computer incorporates an internal clock, it pays to check that the date and time settings are correct and this should be done routinely, every time the PC is turned on. For critical applications, the time base should be synchronized with a highly accurate external reference source.
Personal Computers are not designed to be perfect clocks. Their design has been optimized for mass production and low-cost rather than maintaining accurate time. Where time is crucial to the application, there are a number of precise external references available that enable computers to maintain accurate system time. This article looks at the various sources of time references to show how they can be utilized to maintain synchronized time on your computer.