computer hardware Archives - Page 8 of 10

Q&A: What is red switch on back of my PC labeled 120V/240V for?

Posted on May 25, 2013

Question from Amir H.: I just bought a new computer and on the back is a switch labeled 120V/240V. What is this switch used for and do I need to change it? Thank you.

Rick’s answer: Hi Amir. The switch you’re asking about is used to select the proper input voltage for the computer’s power supply unit (PSU).

Here in North America the power that comes out of a standard wall outlet is roughly 120 volts AC, but in many places around the world it is twice that (approximately 240 volts AC). The red switch on the back of the PSU needs to be set to match the output voltage of the wall outlets where you happen to live. [Read more…]

Q&A: Will a ZOTAC GeForce GTX 660 Ti video card work with my Gigabyte H77M-D3H motherboard?

Posted on May 4, 2013

Question from Lonnie K.: I paid a guy I know to build me a custom PC around a Gigabyte Intel H77M-D3H motherboard. We had a disagreement and now he won’t talk to me or give me any advice.

What I want to do is add a stand-alone video card. I found a really good deal on an “open box” ZOTAC GeForce GTX 660 Ti but before I buy it I want to make sure it’ll work with my motherboard. Will it?

Rick‘s answer: [Read more…]

Crucial Memory now selling a 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD)

Posted on April 21, 2013

Crucial Memory is now selling the world’s first consumer-grade 1TB SSD. It’s dubbed the M500, and at $600 you get all that massive storage for a mere 60 cents per gigabyte!

SSDs are quickly becoming standard in new laptop PCs, but their problem has always been limited storage space compared to traditional hard drives. Models in the half-terabyte range have been available for a while now, but their prices have kept them pretty much out of the mainstream.

But now that Crucial is selling this monster of an SSD for such a relatively low price, I look for the prices of smaller drives to drop in order to remain competitive in the market place. Could the traditional “spinning platter” hard drive soon go the way of the floppy drive? I think it very well could if SSDs keep getting larger and their prices per gigabyte keep dropping.

Click here to see Crucial’s complete line of solid state drives, including the 1Tb M500.

Cracked laptop screen? Order a replacement screen yourself and save $$$

Posted on April 1, 2013

cracked-laptop-screen If you ever find yourself needing to have a cracked laptop screen replaced, you can save quite a few bucks by ordering the replacement screen yourself and then taking the new screen along with the laptop to a repair shop for installation.

If you allow the shop to order the replacement screen on your behalf, they’ll most likely order it from a company called ScreenTek. They’ll tack on a hefty profit and then charge you a labor charge for installing it.

The labor charge is a no-brainer (unless you have the skills required to replace the screen yourself), but why pay the repair shop a premium for the replacement laptop screen just to have them order it for you? You can order the screen yourself and save a bundle! [Read more…]

Q&A: Why does my PC beep and refuse to start up?

Posted on February 24, 2013

Question from Gail T.: Hi Rick. I have a Gateway FX-6800-03h desktop computer that I’ve owned for over 4 years with no problems whatsoever. It has Windows 7 on it, and last Christmas my brother upgraded it to 12 GB of RAM and added a 2 TB hard drive for me as a gift.

I love this computer but now I have a big problem! I recently went out of town for a few days and when I got back I couldn’t get Windows to load. All it does when I press the power button is give one long, continuous beep and nothing ever shows up on the screen.

Please, please, please tell me this is a simple fix? I can’t really afford a new computer right now. Thanks in advance!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]