Following these steps can keep hundreds of dollars in your wallet. The system you end up may be not as awesome as it would have been, but it will be extremely close. So close that you won’t miss the more expensive hardware that you didn’t purch

Installing a new cooling fan is often the best way to decrease heat. It also can be a good way to reduce noise (if the replacement fan is quieter, of course). Adding a fan is one of the easier upgrades a user can perf

AMD FD6300WMHKBOX FX-6300 6-Core Processor Black Edition : If you're a computer shopper on a budget, it's definitely advisable to go with an AMD processor. Although Intel processors generally offer more performance in a CPU , AMD processors have more bang for the buck . With a budget of just $500, we really need to thread carefully so that there's still enough money to spend on the other vital component -- the graphics c

There is something satisfying about successfully completing a Lego project, after all, he said and using the popular plastic bricks as the support structure and case for your PC has proved to be a popular choice. You’ll find many examples of Lego cases on the web, utilizing either every different colour of brick that is available or designed with an impressive, blocky, almost 8-bit styled mosaic fin

You can carefully vacuum the keyboard to remove loose particles and dust. Afterwards, wipe the keys with a lint-free cloth that is lightly dampened. Finally, disinfect the keyboard using alcohol wipes or spray some alcohol-containing cleaner on your cloth. If the keyboard is seriously manky, you can also take it apart and wash the keys in bulk. Be sure to take a photo of the keyboard first, so that it's easier to re-assem

Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB 1333Mhz DDR3 DIMM memory : This set of RAM was the best that I could find that were in line with the motherboard's specifications. Kingston is a good brand, and the attachments on both sides of each module of RAM helps dissipate heat. The price also wasn't

Whether you’re looking at building a standard tower for media or gaming or an impressive server farm , Lego is a great choice of material! (note that for successful long-term use you will probably need to glue your bric

A study by the University of Arizona found that keyboards are dirtier than a toilet seat . Frankly, that shouldn't come as a surprise. When was the last time you cleaned your keyboard? Dirty keyboards are a health hazard and a spring cleaning is quick and e

Whatever electronic equipment you are cleaning, do not clean it while it is turned on! Do turn the device off and remove the power source. Do not use dripping wet sponges or cloths. Do use damp cloths and alcohol-based cleaners as they will dry faster. Do not attempt to dismantle a device if you are unsure whether or not you will be able to put it back together. Do consult a manual or instructions from the manufactu

You also can work this checklist in reverse when shopping. Instead of asking if your old parts work with the new motherboard, find a new motherboard that works with the old parts. It won’t always be possible but it’s worth a l

The fan you purchased should come with at least four screws. These are usually short and stubby like the one in the photo below. However, the screws may be longer if they are meant to install alongside another piece of hardware, such as a radiator used in a liquid-cooling syst

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

Install the CPU fan by removing the plastic from the bottom (careful, thermal paste is applied that needs to go directly onto the CPU!) and place it onto the CPU. There should be braces on the motherboard surrounding the CPU holder where you can lock the fan into place. Connect the CPU fan to the motherboard (see manu

Rosewill Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case FBM-01 : This case was chosen as more of an afterthought, as the case really doesn't matter as long as it can house the components you picked out. It's cheap, it's sturdy, and it's not terrible looking. It certainly doesn't scream "gaming", but if you're on such a tight budget, that doesn't quite matter. Cover it with cool stickers if you feel like

With the arrival of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, houses across the globe get a nice cleaning to rid them of dirt and clutter that has accumulated over the past year. Dust and junk also settle on our computer. Whether your PC is suffering from a clocked up fan or an overloaded hard drive, it is time to give it a thorough spring cleaning. With the following checklist this will be a bre

Once you have a fan of the correct size you need to open your case and line up the fan with the mounting area. It will have four screw holes, as will the fan, so you just need to line up the screw holes on e