Most DVD drives need to be installed from the front, so that means taking the front panel off carefully and avoid pulling the wires for the power switch. It's also better to connect any cables now before it's slotted in, as things can get quite tight back th

Although ostensibly intended as a compact computer that can be produced cheaply in order for students to learn programming basics, the Raspberry Pi has developed into something of a phenomenon. But rather than build a retro gaming centre or NAS box , how does it measure up performing basic desktop ta

There are a lot of good options in the $100 to $150 range for any given processor and, if budget is your concern, it’s wise not to stray too far from them. Top brands like ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI offer plenty of choice for budget shopp

In addition, lights, displays and fan controls can be considered unnecessary in most cases, as can towers/cases with an inordinate number of bays. Unless you’re planning on running a web hosting business with your PC, you should cut down on the unused space on your upgraded compu

Technology moves quickly. Except when it doesn't. Processors continue to advance at a blistering pace but mechanical hard drives, optical drives, sound cards, network adapters and power supplies have experienced less progress. It’s possible, even likely, that your existing PC has several components that can still be u

Since the arrival of the Raspberry Pi 3, more impressive apps have been added, corresponding with the device's improved spec. Beyond the every day office tasks and obligatory programming tools, you'll also f

That doesn’t have to happen. Through a combination of smart buying and willpower you can keep costs down while gaining a significant performance upgrade. Here are five ways to keep money in your wallet instead of your

You will obviously save money if you don’t buy a solid state drive . They offer a huge performance boost, however, so I think it’d be silly for me to recommend skipping one entirely. It’s a worthwhile upgr

Remember, there’s always something better on the horizon. Even if you buy the fastest, most expensive hardware it will be out-paced by something new in a few months. Taking a step back and buying fast but affordable hardware is a better cho

However, as some readers pointed out, the process of adding an IDE drive is significantly more difficult than a SATA drive, so in the interests of completeness and for those of you with old PCs, here is a complete tutorial for how to add a second IDE dr

Determining your fan’s compatibility requires only that you remove the sticker covering its back and, in some cases, wedge out the rubber plug. Look closely at the area that was behind the sticker. If you see a raised metal nub, and there’s already applied grease, then this method will work. If not, skip to the second p

The power cable you will plug in has four female plugs in it, and will only go in one way due to the shape of it, so that shouldn't be too hard. Take a look at one of your other devices to work out which the power cables are in your case. The IDE connector is also easy, the same as the motherboard it has a notch in it which you can al

While early versions of the Raspberry Pi had trouble handling web pages with active content and video feeds, the most recent versions -- especially the Raspberry Pi 3 -- can make useful, and compact desktop PCs, when setup correc

After all, the cost of buying a brand new PC is restrictive for many, and if you understand the principles of matching equipment (it’s basically a case of appreciating the stats, like Top Trumps) and have no problem screwing, plugging, clicking, slotting and fixing a computer together then a self-build with the right hardware is a good cho

Don’t take this too far, however. Downgrading from one product line to another will result in a performance difference. There’s nothing wrong with a Core i3 but don’t buy it under the illusion that it’s about the same as a Core

2. The cable length will affect your choice too, as IDE cables are usually quite short. If the CD-ROM is far from the hard drives, you will need one cable for the hard drives, and another going to the CD-

Having recently heard the woes of some family who are getting by with a tiny netbook and some kind of obscure Linux, overclocking guide|Https://pcbuildinsight.com/ I decided to build them a real computer for Christmas using components I have left over after various upgrades. I thought it would make for an interesting article to document the build process with photos, so here it

With your Raspberry Pi desktop computer up and running, you will no doubt want to use particular applications. Office, email and web browsing apps are all available for the Pi. Some are included – but would you want to use t

Have you ever got tired of cleaning out your PC’s dust bunnies? Or have a rattling fan that just ruins your concentration? Believe it or not, fixing both problems can cost just dollars and the results provide coolness, silence and easier maintena