Computer Maintenance - Improve Computer Performance and Reliability With a Cooler Computer

Many people these days are beginning to think of their computers as disposable. When their computer crashes, many times because of heat, they are on the fence about whether to fix it or trash it and buy a new computer. But understanding what makes a computer break before its time, will arm you with the knowledge to add years to the life of your computer. So wouldn't it make more sense to plan for the retirement of your trusty old computer rather than being forced to buy a new one because of an unexpected failure?

Simple Things You Can Do To Keep Your Computer Cooler

The greatest threat to computers (and electronics in general) is heat. Heat not only lowers the performance of your system, but it can cause electronic components to fail prematurely resulting in hardware failure. With that said, the first thing to check is the ventilation around your computer. Most standard computer desks have an enclosed compartment or cabinet for you to cook your computer in. If you must place your computer in an enclosed space, cut a hole in the back of the cabinet behind the exhaust ports of the computer. You should also ensure that your computer is at least 4 inches from the rear of the cabinet.

If you still have an older CRT monitor, make sure that you don't get tempted to use the top for a shelf which might block ventilation slots in the top of the monitor case. A heat issue with a CRT monitor can cause color shifting, flicker, and even total failure over time. Even an LCD Monitor has ventilation slots that shouldn't be blocked either. The next thing you can do almost always gets neglected, and this is to clean the dust from the interior surfaces of your computer. I recommend you clean the interior of your desktop computer twice a year. As for your monitor, and especially if it is a CRT model, I absolutely don't recommend that you attempt to open it up. CRTs have high-voltage circuits inside and should only be serviced by a qualified technician.

While dust might seem to be a superficial housekeeping issue to some, it can contribute to heat issues by acting as a blanket. Not only that, but some dust might be corrosive or might even conduct electricity which can lead to short circuits. If enough dust settles on the CPU heat sink, the dust will restrict airflow through the heat sink fins which is needed to take away the enormous heat generated by the CPU. And if too much dust accumulates on the CPU Fan blades, the weight of the dust can unbalance the blades and cause premature failure of the fan itself...this goes for any fan.

The easiest way to clean the inside of your system is to use a vacuum cleaner and hose (an antistatic vacuum if you have one). I also use a brush to knock down the dust and finish it off with a can of compressed air. Note: Always turn-off and also UNPLUG your computer before cleaning the inside. Also, if you don't know about ESD, at least touch a door knob and then an external metal part of your computer case before touching any components inside your computer. This will help to discharge any static electricity in your body.

I also recommend cleaning the cooling fan blades as well if they are accessible. I go as far as using Q-tips, although you might find it hard to clean the power supply fan unless you disassemble it, and I wouldn't recommend that unless you are qualified to service electrical parts. Warning: Power Supply capacitors can shock you even when the power is off and it is unplugged unless they have been properly discharged.

While you have your computer open, and especially if you ever had it upgraded with a 2nd hard drive or an add-on video card, check to ensure these add-on parts were installed with adequate clearance from other adjacent parts. I recently repaired a computer that someone had installed an add-on Video and USB Card next to each other. They were so close that the fan on the video card was being blocked by the USB Card, which caused the fan motor to burn out prematurely.

Although not a heat issue, you might as well use the canned air to clean your keyboard as well. Vacuum it first, and then blow it out with the canned air. I suggest you get a keyboard skin or cover to protect it from liquid spills and small foreign objects such as paper-clips.

While most people would agree that keeping your computer clean and cool sounds like common sense, it just gets neglected until their computer fails and you end up paying a PC Technician to do it for you as part of an untimely but preventable repair. Hopefully, I was able to nudge a few to take a look at their computer and take a few easy steps towards a cleaner, cooler, and more reliable computer.

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The Simple Steps in Monitoring the Temperature of a CPU

CPU temperature monitoring is important to avoid serious damages in a computer system. In addition, it is necessary to be sure that the different components of a PC is functioning properly and efficiently. In order to perform this task, users are encouraged to use efficient temperature monitor software. However, they cannot use them effectively if they are not sure about the functionality of the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (also called ACPI) in a computer system's Basic Input/Output System (also known as BIOS). Know more about this task by exploring the different generations of monitoring software available in the commercial market.

The First Generation CPU Temperature Monitor Software

The features of this software are basic, which include the display of the accurate value of the CPU temp. Such software cannot define events, alarms as well as actions. This software only tells the temperature value if it is too high and at risk of overclocking and overheating. When using this software, it is important to be aware of its warnings to avoid damaging the components of a CPU.

The Second Generation CPU Temperature Monitor Software

Since the use of first generation of CPU temp monitor software is not helpful in preventing CPUs from problems that are related to overheating and overclocking, computer software companies introduce the second generation CPU temperature monitor software. This computer application is more efficient and helpful than first generation software because it is capable of controlling and regulating conditions automatically. In addition, they are capable of keeping a CPU stable despite heat problems.

The Third Generation CPU Temperature Monitor Software

The third generation CPU temp monitor software is the most efficient and helpful of all because it has the capability to interact with the important components of a system's motherboard such as the fan control circuits and its sensors. To help consumers maximize the use of their computer systems or laptops, most computer manufacturers offer this software to their consumers for free when they buy CPUs or computer units.

Additional Information and Other Important Details About Monitoring CPU Temperature

In order to improve their overall performances, many international semiconductor companies offer sensors that computer users can use to detect the temperature of their CPUs. Some of the companies that are known for producing efficient and high quality sensors include National Semiconductor, Dallas Semiconductor and Analog Devices. However, before using such devices, it is important to seek assistance from computer experts to have ideas about the type of sensor that will suit one's CPU.

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Experience the Ultimate Printing With New Age Printers

A printer is a computer peripheral which produces a hard copy of document stored in digital form on paper, plastic, cloths or transparencies. Printers are generally classified by their underlying printing technology. Previously, liquid ink was used in the printing machines. With the advent of new printing technology, many innovative technologies have arrived. One of the latest and most popular technologies is the advanced laser technology. In this kind of printing machine, the Xerographic principle is used. Laser printing machines are available in both colour and monochrome varieties.

In the market, several brands are available and the most popular printer manufacturing companies are HP, Epson, Intex etc. Among them, HP is one of the best selling printers manufacturers - in both inkjet and laser forms.

There are two category of printing machines that are available nowadays. The two primary categories are impact and non-impact printers. The printing machines which are using impact technologies work by touching the paper to fabricate text and images on it. Dot matrix printers come under this category. On the other hand, the non-impact printers do not actually touch the paper, they generally use the blower or bubble technology to take a print out. Both Inkjet and laser printers fall under this category.

Apart from the Inkject and laser printers, there are many types of printing machines that are available in the market. The most common types are Solid Ink printers, Dye-sunlimation printer, Inkless printer, Electrolytic printer, Spark printer, Barcode printer etc. The mostly used printers are Inkjet printer. Inkjet printers that are operated by variably-sized droplet of liquid or molten material (ink). They are the most common type of computer printer for the general consumers due to their high quality of output, capability of printing in vivid colours, ease of use and low cost. The due sublimation printer uses heat to transfer dye to a medium such as a plastic card, paper or canvas. The process is usually to lay one colour at a time using a ribbon that has colour panels.

Now that we have gathered valuable information about the printers, we will be able to make sound decisions when it comes to their usage.

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The Infamous Blue Screen of Death - Diagnose and Repair It

The dreaded Blue Screen of Death has probably happened to everyone who owns a computer, at least once. If it happens more than once then you have a problem and you will need to know how to diagnose and repair the infamous Blue Screen of Death error screen.

There are only a few causes of the infamous Blue Screen of Death:

- Bad Memory
- Wrong Power Supply
- Over Heating - CPU Fan
- Incompatible Hardware or Software
- Windows Registry

The first thing you are normally instructed to do is to reboot your system. If you are able to get back in to Windows and continue working, the problem is not necessarily over. Bad memory, incompatible hardware or faulty fans are most likely not the problem, the main cause of the Blue Screen of Death is the Windows registry.

Your Windows registry stores all your user profiles, systems hardware and software settings and configurations, and stores all this information as a single entry for each setting in the registry. Over time your registry can become bloated, filled with unneeded entries, or be infected with corrupt or malicious entries from adware, spyware, viruses, or other malicious software.

Manually working in your Windows registry is not recommended unless you know exactly what you are doing. You can download and install a registry cleaner from the internet that is compatible with your version of Windows. You should create a back up of the registry before you attempt to repair the Blue Screen of Death.

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How CPU Temperature Monitor Software Helps Your Computer

It's important to include processors and several various pieces of hardware that could report temperature of the components to monitor your computer. This is to prevent damages that can occur because of system overheat. To guarantee that the CPU doesn't overheat, it might be helpful to look into the software options that could help to warn you on high temperatures and those that could alter the way your computer works.

It's very important to look into these components to guarantee that your computer doesn't fail and make problems with the hardware that could take place because of overheating. Of course, there are many various cooling hardware options like fans and some heat sinks, which help, distribute the heat around the CPU. Well, it's very difficult to keep the computer cool all the time, especially if certain components simply emit great amounts of high temperatures throughout usage. Components like processors, video cards, ram, etc. may heat up to a very high temperatures even with normal usage.

Fortunately, these days, lots of hardware manufacturers make special equipments that are utilized in the incident of overheating to prevent system damage. This may interrupt what you're doing with the PC or will make you lose the data that you are working at when it turns off with these safety features. You could utilize a software that could help you monitor CPU heat problems and will permit you to save your work and ensure that the PC never gets to the point the need to safeguard it against high temperatures.

Several of the 3rd party tool options that are available would be able to assist you look for the equipments that you have to really keep monitoring. This would permit you to get your PC working even overused! If you're currently setting up better cooling hardware or If you are utilizing a system that should maintain a lower temperature throughout the duration of CPU usage, you could monitor the cooling system's impact on the CPU. This is indeed a very helpful tool in order to keep your PC working at its best performance and lower the temperature. Many sellers of these 3rd party tool software are available for a very affordable price.

With 3rd party CPU temperature monitoring software installed in your PC or laptop, you could guarantee that you know when is the time to shut it down or enter modes of utilization that cool down your CPU. This could be caused by a broad list of various components but by employing cautions and different options accessible to prevent failures in your system, you could guarantee that your laptop or PC will last long enough until it's time for a new computer or laptop.

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Water Coolant System For the Computer

If you are looking to knocking your computers raging temperatures, then may be you should be looking into a water cooling kit. These kits come partially assembled all the way to parts and pieces so that you can put them together yourself. So no more relying on those faulty fans that make so much noise. Go with nice cooling water - not only the drink of choice but the leading choice for cooling your computer.

The cheapest kit we found was the Thermaltake ProWater 850i Liquid Cooling System. This water cooling system offers a tremendous variety of features that will greatly increase not only the performance of your computer but will help cool and make that PC a massive, sweet running machine. The Thermaltake ProWater includes such features as cooper water block, all in one mounting design and a 12c Motosports radiator

The 12 c Motosports radiator offers dimple tube technology that constantly moves the coolant within the radiator. This great feature increases thermal transfer. With all these features for $139.99 how can you go wrong with this kind of purchasing power?

The ProWater Liquid cooling system also has a massively powerful 500 liters-per-hour pump and a high capacity liquid tank. This tank is so easy to refill that you will have no complaints. The ProWater Liquid cooling system also has iStripe so that your tubes will never become deformed and the iStripe allows a sharp bending radius.

In fact you will be able to follow the flow because of the Flow TX. The FlowX offers a clear view of the movement of the coolant. This kit comes together with the ruggedness of the free-flowing 3/8" tubing system. This tubing system is designed to prevent wear and tear. All of this is available for the low cost of $139.99.

This next cooling system has it all. It features a high performance and the ability to control it specifically to the users environment. It is ultra quiet in addition to all of the other features. It is called the Zalman Reserator XT water cooling system and is the kit for those hard to cool environments.

The Zalman Reserator XT system has a newly designed digital monitoring device. This device monitors the fluid temperature and fan/pump speed control. It also monitors the mechanical flow indicator which adds a visual look at the coolant flow. It has a cpu water block which incorporates a copper base for supreme heat transfer. This kit is almost as perfect as one can get because of the easy installation, attractive style and the ever so superior materials and workmanship. The Anti-Corrosion Coolant contains the highest quality anti-corrosion agent for almost all materials. This will prevent corrosion for years.

The FND display displays the internal temperature of your computer as well as the water temperature and water level. This kit comes with those ever sought out for analog gages which display the fan speed as well as the pump's flow rate. The internal coolant temperature sensor kicks in automatically for fan speed and coolant flow rate. This water coolant system is so quiet you may hear a pin drop!

In fact this water coolant system is so nice and has so many neat features, you may not mind paying the hefty price of $449.99!

The Thernaltake BigWater 780e liquid cooling system is the system if you are in the market for a liquid cooling system that's easy to install and you are looking for the system that takes the least amount of space.

The Thernaltake BigWater 780e offers an enhanced ventilation system and is oh so easy to refill. It includes a huge assortment of unbelievable features that will make your pc run like a dream machine. This liquid cooling system has a 12cm Motorsports radiator, and a copper water block that features that ever popular dimple tube technology. It has a ever so quiet fan, and a PWM liquid pump that will deliver one of the highest performances that you have ever seen.

Some other features include the led light that indicates when it is cooling your pc, a quick disconnect connector and a water level sensor. All of these great features for only $199.99.

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Just What Does Dust Do to a PC?

PCs hate dust, but they are very good at accumulating it. Every time their internal fans turn, drawing in air to keep its inner workings cool, they also draw in thousands of dust particles as well. You may have heard before that dust can slow a computer down and affect its performance but how bad is the dust problem really?

One of a computer repair person's most common tasks is to clean out a dirty, dusty PC. Given that dust is the documented number one cause of PC failure, it is a frequent issue that a computer tech encounters when he or she first opens up a PC case to begin a diagnosis.

Just how badly dust affects a computer's performance was recently explained to me by a friend who makes a very nice living from repairing all kinds of computers, many suffering from problems related to dust disease.

He had a personal computer in the shop because its owner felt it was running too slowly and various software fixes did not seem to be improving matters very much.

As I had been asking about the effect of dust on the average computer my friend said this might be a good machine to run a simple test on, as it belonged to a person who had a habit of smoking around his computer. My friend said even before opening it up he was pretty sure he was going to find a good amount of dust inside. Sure enough there was. The dust was present in layers of varying thickness all over the inside of the computer. The fans were covered in a dark brown layer so thick I was personally surprised that they were working at all.

To run his test the tech closed the case back up and took measurements of the CPU temperature and fan speed that the computer was currently running at without any programs running at all. The CPU clocked in at 118.4° F (48° C) and the fan speed was 2,857 rpm.

The clean up took a while, not such great news for the owner since my friend charges by the hour, but I was impressed by just how clean the CPU and heat sinks looked once he was done. Painstakingly he cleared as much of the dirt dust and grime out of computer's insides as he could.

Once he was done he closed the case and ran his measurements again. The CPU was now running at 102.2° F (39° C) and the fans at 3,276 rpm. A simple cleaning had reduced the temperature of the CPU by an extra 16.2° F (9° C) and increased the fan speed by 419 rpm.

According to my friend, this simple cleaning would increase the speed of the computer and the response times of the programs it ran, as well as extending the life of the CPU and its heat sink fans. The cost? Two hours at $60 an hour. As a bonus my friend said he would be giving the newly speedy PC's owner a couple of tips when he returned to pick it up. Firstly, don't smoke around it, but even if you stop that the dust will still build up again if left unchecked. Secondly, he was also going to give the owner a sample of a product he had recently encountered, a self stick filter that cost under $10 for 3 sheets that went over the computer's air intakes to trap dust before it entered.

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