Rick's Daily Tips

Upgrade your desktop PC by adding USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports

Posted on May 21, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

A while back I wrote a post that explains how to add super-fast USB 3.0 ports to an older PC, and that post seemed to resonate with lots of folks.

Well, a lot has changed since then…

Now you can add five much faster USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports to your desktop computer for about what you’d pay for a really good pizza.

Upgrading your computer to USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C is easy.

Whether you have a Windows desktop PC or a Mac desktop, the procedure is basically the same as long as your machine has an open PCIe expansion slot. And it’s easy…

Simply purchase this 5 Port SB 3.2 Gen 2 adapter card and install it into the empty slot.

If you have a Mac running a recent version of macOS you won’t even have to install a driver for the adapter card.

Windows users will be able to download the latest driver directly from the manufacturer’s website.

Just to clarify, this card will not work in a laptop. However, it will work with any desktop computer that has a compatible (and currently unused) PCIe expansion slot.

Bottom line

If you thought your external USB hard drive or other device was fast, you’ll be completely blown away when you first plug a USB 3.2 Gen 2 device into this expansion card!

Scam alert: Don’t fall for the “Deadline Tomorrow” Facebook hoax

Posted on May 20, 2023

Scams and hoaxes of all types pop up every day on Facebook, and some of them have a habit of rearing their ugly heads time and time again.

These recurring hoaxes are often more annoying than dangerous, but it’s still good to avoid them whenever possible.

I have received several messages over the past few days asking about the legitimacy of a recurring hoax that’s currently making the rounds again. [Read more…]

7 ways to make your WordPress blog load as quickly as possible

Posted on May 18, 2023

Do you have a WordPress blog that is slow to load in a web browser?

If so, I recommend that you take steps to speed it up right away, for two important reasons:

1 – Most people will only wait a couple of seconds for a web page to load before clicking the back button and going to a different website.

That means if your blog’s pages load slowly it’s a good bet that many of your potential readers aren’t hanging around to read your posts.

2 – Google is now actively penalizing slow loading pages via their search algorithm. That means fewer visitors will find your blog when they search for a term that’s relevant to it.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to speed up your blog so it can reach its full potential: [Read more…]

Q&A: Can I run a fan off solar power without using a battery?

Posted on May 18, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Adam: I hope you can answer a question about solar power for me.

I have a small outbuilding that’s located about 120 yards from my house. This outbuilding has a dark green roof and it gets extremely hot inside on hot summer days.

What I’d like to do is install a fan in the eve of the building to pull fresh air into the building while expelling the hot air, but there’s no electric service there to power the fan. Can you help me with this? [Read more…]

Peculiarities of custom medical software development in 2023

Posted on May 18, 2023

Enterprises and startups have acknowledged the significance of custom medical software development and have intensified their investments in this area to cater to evolving healthcare needs.

Both the public and private sectors in Europe and the US have expedited the implementation of new digital healthcare initiatives. Notably, venture capital investment in digital health has experienced a substantial growth of 66%, rising from $8+ billion in 2019 to $14+ billion in 2020.

Considering the increasing influence of digital technologies in everyday life and the disruptive impact of COVID-19 on lifestyles, healthcare providers are leveraging digital platforms not only to enhance their workflows but also to meet the demands of consumers and patients regarding their care and well-being. [Read more…]