How to Install a New Video Card

Upgrading your graphics card is a great way to further improve performance of your PC after you've already upgraded RAM to help out your computer addiction, specially for you gamers out there. If your computer still has integrated graphics, not only is it sharing your processor more than it needs to but it's also sucking up some of your extra RAM that you've just installed. Let's get into it and get it installed!

What kind of graphics card should I buy?!

An awesome one. Seriously, don't skimp. Get a reliable brand, and one a little better than you think you need but there's 2 very important things you need to determine first. The obvious is what kind of expansion slot do you have. You can determine this by removing the case and looking at your motherboard as we discussed in How to : Upgrade RAM. It'll look a little something like this.

 

The most common types are PCI-E and PCI-E 2.0 - if you can't tell from looking in the case(they all look different) then you can always consult your computers manufacturer website and look it up there with your model number. Also take note before you buy a card, some higher end cards require a higher power supply, take note of this and make sure you have an appropriate power supply!

Removal of old card(if applicable)

If you have a graphics card already installed, you will of course need to remove that first. Disconnect everything from the back of the PC and remove all power sources and open the case like we have done prior. Remember, ground yourself on the case and stay off of carpet or other static sources.

After you've located the card you're taking out, there's a small screw holding it to the back of the case. Grab yourself a phillips and remove this first. Some will also require moving a plastic clip out of place at the far end of the PCI slot, after you push it off to the side pull the card straight out. Try to avoid wiggling side to side so you don't break anything on it's way out.

Card installation

Installation is of course opposite of removal, push the card straight into the appropriate slot making sure it is firmly placed and even. Put the screw in on the back side of the card and if it requires it's own power supply, make sure it's hooked up appropriately.

After the card is installed, close up the case hook everything back up and power her on. Chances are your screen will look distorted at this point until the drivers are installed. Pop in your CD that came with the card for the drivers if Windows didn't auto-detect them for you and install everything it has for you. After this is done, restart, and you're done!

How to Add Memory To Your Desktop PC

As I mentioned in Tune Up Your Windows 7 PC upgrading or adding more memory to your computer is a great way to increase it's speed. The more programs you run, and the more difficult they are for your computer to run the more memory it takes.

What type of RAM do I need?

There's many different types of RAM available, and each PC has specific types it needs. There's a variety of different speeds and sizes to fit each kind. The easiest way to find out what you need is to look up your model on the manufacturers website. They will also tell you how many slots and how much memory you can put in. You can also look at one of the existing RAM sticks in the computer, we'll show you how to take that out a bit later.

Let's go shopping!

Now that you know what you need, it's time to shop around! There's a lot of different brands that you'll find out there but here's a list of the most reliable, well known companies so you can avoid stumbling onto a bad brand.

• Corsair
• Kingston
• Crucial
• Patriot
• OGZ
• G. Skill

Kingston 2x4GB

Each of these brands has anything you may need for your PC and even offer combinations of a couple different chips to get the best deal.

Installation

First things first, properly shut down the PC, shut off the power supply and unplug it from the wall. Unplug all your accessories so it's easier to lay on it's side and work on.

IMPORTANT During this entire process you want to make sure you are grounded often so you don't build up static electricity. Some of the components in your PC, including your new RAM are very sensitive to a sudden discharge and can be permanently damaged.

Moving forward remove the case from the side, you may need a phillips if it has small screw to remove but most have thumb screws. Some are stuck if they haven't been removed in a while and may need some persuasion to come off.

Now that we have it open, you can find where the RAM is located(see below)

There can be 2-4 slots depending on the computer, and will have at least one or more RAM chips already installed. On each end of the slot there are clips that you can push down on to pop the current chip out if you're upgrading. Do both sides at once to make it easier.

Now you can remove your new RAM from it's packaging, when you hold it be sure to grab it by the sides and not the contact points on the circuit board on the bottom. Place it into the slot, starting where the first one was you took out or next to the existing and going across from it if you're doing more than one at a time.

Be sure to tighten the clamp down all the way, they should be vertical when secured properly. While you have it open, it's a good time to clean out the inside of your case. You'll want to do this with a can of compressed air, but not too closely so you don't ruin any components inside the case.

 

Fast Blast Duster 10 oz. Can Air Removes Dust and Debris

After you're done cleaning her up, close up the case and plug it all back in. Turn the power supply back on and start her up. When she's up and running go to My Computer and right click/properties. You can check to make sure it's reading the appropriate amount of RAM. Keep in mind if you have an integrated graphics card it may set some aside for that and won't be included. Now your'e done!

Smart Finger Measuring Tool

How many times have you told someone something was "about this big" holding your fingers or hands apart? What if you could do that and be precise down to a mm? Currently still in concept phases, designers Choi Hyong-Suk, Jung Ji-hye, and Yoo-Jin Park are working on making it a reality.

I don't know about you, but I think this is awesome...depending on cost. I can't say that I'd pay $100 to measure things with my fingers unless I was in a construction job of sorts...

Transformable Flex Phone

We've all seen those new smart watches in the stores, but really...they don't eliminate your need for a phone or make anything easier. Designer Jeabyun Yeon took this one step further and combined the two into a really cool looking...watchphone?

Yeah, it's that awesome.

How to pick an HDTV

So you want to pick yourself up a fancy new HDTV, but how do you know which is which? There's a millions brands, sizes, resolutions and prices...what do you really need? Obviously quality is an important factor to think about, but what else is there? What do all these numbers mean?!? I'm here to help and clear the air for you!

What size?

Do you REALLY need that 80" TV? Can you get away with a 32"? The size of a TV is how far across the TV is measured diagonally and there's really 2 important factors to think about here. First is your budget, obviously if you can't afford a 60" TV, it doesn't matter how big you wish it was. Second, is how big of a room will it be in, and how far will you sit from it?

80" Sharp LED : $3,995.00

THX recommends measuring where your TV will be to the center of your couch, and then using the following guide:

• 3.5-5 feet away: Get a 35-inch class TV
• 4-6 feet away: Get a 40-inch class TV 
• 5-7.5 feet away: Get a 50-inch class TV
• 6-9 feet away: Get a 60-inch class TV

If you want something more precise, take the screen size you're thinking about and divide it by 0.84 and that's the ideal viewing distance in inches. When in doubt and your budget allows, go bigger...you'll regret it if you go too small.

Resolution

More often then not unless you're looking for a TV under 32" you'll never even see an option for anything below 1080p. The other, newer option that's coming out is 4K. At this point in time, there's not many services offering anything higher than 4K but the future is coming faster than you'd think. 4K TV's are dropping in price, and if you're looking for something long term you might want to invest in it if you don't want to buy a new TV in the next 5 years to get the best picture.

Plasma or LED?

Realistically, LED is the way of the future. For a long time plasma was a great option and many(including myself) loved it for it's deep, dark blacks and the 600hz refresh rate, much faster than any LCD based TV has yet to achieve. Unfortunately, even Panasonic the leading plasma TV developer has announced it's no longer going to produce such devices. LED is lighter, brighter, better in high light situations and of course takes up much less energy.

Ports ports and more ports!

Most everything these days is through an HDMI port unless you're looking to connect up to the internet via ethernet(although most have built in WiFi in so called "smart" tv's).

6.5 ft HDMI cable - $5.79

Even Google Chromecast  hooks up to an HDMI port. Count up all your goodies you're going to hook directly into the TV - Games Consoles, Blu-Ray, Cable boxes - and make sure you've got enough to start. The time this doesn't matter is if you're going to use a surround sound  receiver that has all the ports you could ever need, which will then plug into your TV with a single HDMI cord.

Refresh rate

The refresh rate determines how fast the TV can update the image, meaning that in faster moving movies, sports or games it will have smoother motion without the blur. Most TV's now have at least 120hz, although some smaller ones still offer 60hz as well as some "off-brands". 240hz is a great upgrade, but when you reach 480hz it's very hard for the human eye to tell the difference. You'll also want to make sure it's a true refresh rate, and not a software system smoothing it out as these can make mistakes and ruin parts of your favorite daytime drama.

3D...or not

3D TV is cool now and again in theaters, but do you really want to sit on your couch and wear those horrible glasses to watch a 3D Blu-Ray movie on your 42" TV?

Probably not. Most companies have abandoned the idea of 3D programming at least for now, but if you'd like to invest feel free.

Final thoughts

In the end, it all depends what looks best to you. Hit up a few local stores and see what brands you like, do some research and pick what's going to be best for you. A lot of the times with TV's like most things, you can find better deals online.

Samsung UN50EH5000 50-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (Black)

Get out there, snag yourself a great deal, and enjoy your new purchase!!

Nest Learning Thermostat, What is it?

Nest Learning Thermostat - 2nd Generation T200577

In the short explanation, it's $250 thermostat. Why on earth would you spend $250 on a thermostat that you can easily get at your local hardware store for $20? Simple, it's not that. 

The Nest Thermostat learns what temperatures you like, and adjusts accordingly depending what time of day, if you're home or away, and can even be connected to WiFi to be controlled by your cell phone. Your thermostat uses about 50% of the energy in your house, and can control exactly that. Most thermostats can be programmed to do most of the basics the Nest does, but does anyone really know how? The typical thermostat is just like trying to set the time on your VCR...no one ever knew, and then they were obsolete.

When you're connected to WiFi, you can control everything about the thermostat. Schedules, temperatures, and even view how much energy you are(or aren't, hopefully) using. With the newest version of the Nest it also has different programming based on the type of heating system your home uses. The Nest even uses it's Auto-Away feature, working in 90% of homes it will turn the temperature down(or up, if we're talking A/C) when it notices nobody is home to help you save energy even when you forget.

The best part, it's easy to install just like any other thermostat and is compatible with most systems. Oh, and did I mention it looks much better too? 

Read more about it Here.

Amazing Futuristic Gadgets For Your Home

The world is an amazing place full of innovative, and expensive gadgets for your home. With the worlds current addiction to technology it won't be long till we see these every day. These new innovative products solve some of the problems of old designs, and to top it off look a whole lot cooler.

The Tulip Bath/Shower

Here's one to solve the problem of having a small bathroom and no room for a full shower and bath. Besides, who wouldn't want to shower in a giant Tulip?

iChef+ Oven

It's like a conventional oven, except easier, and looks awesome. Over all the years we have never really changed how the standard oven really works, just how it looks. Well here you go, rich folks.

  

 

1limit Faucet

Here's an energy saving faucet for you, that limits how much water you use...now just factor in the cost of the faucet and...

 

+- Water Meter

You can also get the Water Meter faucet, it doesn't limit your use but it DOES tell you how much money the water you're using costs, while you use it. Psychology at it's best!

 

Transparent TV

The picture says enough. How cool is that? I want 10. Now.

 

Pouring Light Lamp

This is fantastic. It's a great way to light up a room...sort of? I'm not sure how bright it can really get but it looks sweet.

 

Senzo Nightlight

Ever get lost looking for the light switch? Buy these and line your room with them...then you can just bump into them and they'll turn on lighting up the terrifying monsters under your bed.

 

Electrolux Fireplace

Not really sure the point in this, but here ya go anyways.

On Switch

I'm a big fan of awesome light switches, and this is the best yet.

See more cool stuff at awesomeinspiration.net

Tune Up Your Windows 7 PC

CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra Desktop (Black/Blue)

A slow running PC is a terrible experience for anybody. I hate it, you hate it, we all hate it. We don'twant to wait for things to happen when we try and open a program, or click a link. Fortunately, muchof this is easily controllable by us as PC users. Here are some quick tips on how to speed things up.They are listed in the most efficient order to make the following processes go as fast as possible.

Delete programs you never use

The more stuff your PC has on it, the more stuff it has to search through to find what you want and even more of a problem, they may be running in the back round as well as checking for updates online every so often. Even with an older computer chances are there's tons of programs that were installed when your purchased your new machine and you never really wanted them anyways.

Limit startup programs

How many programs are running in the back round and every time you start up your computer? This can add a huge delay to both the startup process, and take up quite a big portion of memory with everything running in the back round. Microsoft offers a program called Autoruns for Windows that you can use to easily identify all the programs and processes that automatically start up with your computer. This program is designed for advanced users, to use it with care and make sure you know what the programs are before you disable them to make sure it isn't something important...unlike all those HP games and utilities nobody wants.

Clean up your hard-drive

All these unnecessary files you have sitting around slow down everything. Just like with un-used programs, old files will also clutter the hard-drive making things take longer. First, find all your old pictures, movies, music and the like and move it to a thumb drive or maybe an external hard drive. Not only will this ensure they will stay safe if your computer crashes, but it will speed it up too. Next you will want to run Disk Cleanup. You will find this in the start menu and searching for Disk Cleanup. You can run this for each hard-drive you have, and select all the files you'd like to delete after it searching through all the mess.

Defragment your hard-drive

Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can slow down your computer. Disk Defragmenter rearranges fragmented data so your hard disk can work more efficiently. This will sometimes be set on a schedule, but you can also run it manually the same way you searched for Disk Cleanup. Do this on each hard-drive to make the most of it.

Limit the programs you run at one time

Not surprisingly, running 12 programs and surfing 18 web pages at the same time has a bad effect on your computers performance. Make sure you close out of a program or a page when you're done, and if you absolutely need to run all these things at once then it would be a good idea to upgrade your memory.

Add extra RAM(Random Access Memory)

While I'm not going to run through the entire upgrade process in this post, upgrading your RAM is a great way to handle all those extra activities you can't live without while you Facebook/Twitter/Myspace/Skype all your friends at once. Adding extra RAM gives your PC the ability to handle all of these at once.

Turn off visual effects

Although things won't look as pretty, you can adjust the visual effect of windows 7 for performance rather than looks. This will free up some of that RAM you just installed and let you run AIM while you're doing all the other things.

To adjust all visual effects for best performance:

1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type Performance Information and Tools, and then, in the list of results, click Performance Information and Tools.
2. Click Adjust visual effects. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Click the Visual Effects tab, click Adjust for best performance, and then click OK. (For a less drastic option, select Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer.)

Check for viruses and spyware

Viruses and spyware can wreak havoc on your PC, and make your life suck. If your PC is suddenly runing slow, or has unexpected messages and pop-ups all the time you may be infected. Check into a free program like AVG, or if you want the best purchase yourself a copy of McAfee Total Protection 2014 and install it to make sure you don't have any future problems.

If you have any suggestions or comments add them below, thanks for reading!

Angry Parents Sue Google Over In-App Purchases

Are your kids draining your bank account by downloading so-called “free” apps that enable unlimited in-game purchases? Join the club. Or, better yet, the class-action suit.

Source: Flickr

Last week, attorneys in the Northern District of California filed suit against Google, alleging that the Google Play Store’s in-app purchase policies allowed the company to “pocket millions of dollars from such … transactions with minors and without authorization of their parents.”

Though initial in-app purchases require a password in Google Play apps, the authorization is good for 30 minutes, allowing kids to make further purchases with reckless abandon after (presumably) a parent signs into the store, the suit alleges. Purchases are automatically billed to the credit card associated with the parent’s Google Play account.

In January, Apple settled a suit brought by the FTC, agreeing to refund at least $32.5 million to consumers who had their iTunes pockets picked by their kids. Last year, Apple also settled a similar class-action suit brought by angry parents.

Starting in March 2011, Apple has required you to enter a passcode before authorizing any in-app purchase. However, if you want to turn it off completely, try the following.

How to turn off in-app purchases in iOSGo into the Settings app on your i-device and tap the General tab. Tap Restrictions. In the next screen, tap Enable Restrictions. You’ll be prompted to enter (or create) a four-digit passcode.

Scroll down the list of apps until you reach In-App Purchases, and slide the toggle to the left (or off).

How to protect your wallet in AndroidIn Android, there’s no way to completely turn off in-app purchases. All you can do is ensure that a password is required before purchases are authorized.

Launch the Play Store on your device and tap the menu icon in the upper right of the screen. Tap Settings. Under User Controls, make sure Use password to restrict purchases has a checkmark next to it. If not, tap it and enter your Google account password to enable it.

The next time you or your progeny attempt to buy something inside an app, a dialog box will pop up demanding your password. However, if you enter the password and your sneaky kid clicks the Never ask me again checkbox before hitting Confirm, then password verification is nullified. And even if she doesn't do that, she’ll still have 30 minutes in which to run up charges on your account.

Hence the class-action lawsuit.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.