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Category Archives: PC

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Why are some USB ports blue?

Why are some USB ports blue?
Take a look at your computer. Have a close look at the USB ports... [caption id="attachment_233" align="alignleft" width="150"] USB 3.0 Ports[/caption] Have you ever looked at the USB ports in your computer and wondered why some of them are a different colour? The answer, if the port is blue is actually a very exciting one.…
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Browsers, browsers everywhere – which one should I use?

Browsers, browsers everywhere – which one should I use?
I'll be honest.  I have always been a default browser girl.  It probably stems from some misspent youth.. that, or working for companies with corporate networks and needing certain browsers for their proprietary software.. or perhaps I just don't deal well with change.. (let's not speak of the drama involved when they change my Facebook....)…
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Upgrading Jo’s gaming rig

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Our social media queen and general smiley faced one recently decided that, as the co-owner of a computer store, her gaming rig should not be such a slouch (Master Tech insists it wasn't that bad but she insisted). So, today we decided her old PC would get some turbo boosting and general love. Jo insisted on taking lots of photos...

We started with the following rig:

  • Intel Core 2 Quad 3.2 Ghz Processor
  • 8gb DDR2 ram
  • eVga nForce 750i SLI mainboard
  • 2gb nVidia GeForce GTX 660

And a 128gb Solid State hard drive (SSD) with a 1Tb mechanical for extra data type filly up stuff.

We kept the same case, video card, SSD and mechanical drive and upgraded the following

  • Intel core i7 4790k 4.0Ghz processor
  • 16gb DDR 1600 ram
  • Gigabyte H97-D3H mainboard
  • New power supply (because reasons... mainly noisy fan in the old one)

(Now, we had a few parts hiccups and while the ram we are installing here are 2x4gb sticks and not 2x8gb sticks, we did rectify that)..

Step one : admire the shinies


Step 2 : the case comes open... It's too late to turn back now...


Step 3 : time to take the old parts out and give the old girl a good clean out - Jo madly taking photos to capture the occasion.

Step... The rest.... Jo stopped counting... Master Tech carefully disconnects the power cables

All... of the power cables...


Off come the screws holding in the video card

Careful with that video card, Master Tech! That is going back in!

Master Tech carefully removing the front panel headers (aka the top USB ports and power buttons for the non-Master Techs

Out with the old ram

Apologies for the slightly potato quality of this photo, but out comes the old board

Master Tech removing the very dainty and deceptively light SSD

One embarrassed gamer when Jo sees just how dirty the inside of her rig was..

Like... It was really really dirty

Ahhhh much better!

The old is all out and time for the new! This is the part Jo was waiting for!


Extra shiny brand new mainboard in first

Then the CPU/processor


Jo insisted on doing that part. Master Tech laughed as he tried to explain that she hadn't seated it (she was most worried about breaking it..)

Popping on the CPU cooler

Doing up all the screws.... Getting close now

In goes the new motherboard.....

It's in!!

 

Front panel is back on... That's a good sign!!

Huzzah! It lives!!!!!

And one very happy Jo ?