- CAN MY PC RUN MY LITTLE BLACKSMITH SHOP HOW TO
- CAN MY PC RUN MY LITTLE BLACKSMITH SHOP UPGRADE
- CAN MY PC RUN MY LITTLE BLACKSMITH SHOP FULL
In the event that your CPU does have a bent pin, proceed with straightening it out very cautiously. Instead, lift up the CPU, check that the pins are straight and the socket is wide open, and try again. If it doesn’t fall right into place, something is off–and increasing your pressure on the processor is bound to bend a pin. Also, don’t force the CPU into its socket. So whenever you handle a CPU, take care to avoid touching the pins against anything–your fingers, a countertop, the edge of the case, other system components, anything. If one of these pins bends or breaks, you’re hosed.
CAN MY PC RUN MY LITTLE BLACKSMITH SHOP UPGRADE
The CPU is basically the brain of the computer, and if you mess up the installation even slightly, you can expect serious trouble.Īssuming that you’ve bought the right CPU upgrade for your machine, you still have to avoid three incredibly common mistakes that plague processor upgrades: pin displacement, poor thermal paste application, and improper heat sink installation.Įvery PC CPU has lots of little pins that seat them in their motherboard socket to form the vital connections through which the computer’s data flows. Processor Upgradesīe careful not to touch the pins of your CPU as you handle it.It should come as little surprise that some of the most devastating upgrade mistakes involve CPUs. The advice here is simple: Check the manufacturer’s documentation before you buy.
So despite the fact that your local tech store sells 4GB modules that fit in your machine, you could pack them home only to find that your two-year-old laptop takes only 2GB modules. Some systems–especially netbooks and ultralights (and a lot of Macs)–can accept only a certain amount of RAM. The biggest RAM upgrade mistake that experienced users make is to neglect to check the capacity limits of their machine.
CAN MY PC RUN MY LITTLE BLACKSMITH SHOP FULL
It won’t work, you could damage your PC trying it, and the store probably won’t give you a full refund for the opened modules.
If your laptop calls for 667MHz PC2-5300 modules, but the store has only 1333MHz PC3-10600 for sale, resist the temptation to try the flavor that’s available. Memory manufacturers produce RAM with various pin configurations, data rates, and bus speeds. So take the time to find out exactly what kind of modules your system takes, including the bus speed (in MHz).
Buying PC components has more and more become a self-service activity, and fewer safeguards are in place to prevent people from choosing the wrong package. The number one mistake that novices make with RAM upgrades is to buy the wrong kind of memory at the outset. Wear an antistatic bracelet whenever you work on your components.
CAN MY PC RUN MY LITTLE BLACKSMITH SHOP HOW TO
Old hats, on the other hand, have the opposite problem: Years of handling hard drives, memory modules, graphics cards, and CPUs desensitizes us to the very real hazard posed by static electricity, leaving us vulnerable to a problem we know perfectly well how to avoid. Novices typically don’t even realize that static electricity in their body can discharge into a PC’s components with just a light touch, potentially damaging sensitive circuitry. The most common error–and this goes for every type of component upgrade–consists of failing to use static protection. And taking a few extra minutes (or spending a few extra dollars) to route cables well and to ensure that your power supply is up to the greater demands of new components can make your upgraded PC perform better. But following basic precautions–however paranoid or myopic they might seem–can safeguard your system and save you money, time, and frustration. In the worst case, you might even destroy the entire machine.Īdding RAM, swapping out a processor, or installing a new hard drive can be very simple tasks. Whichever camp you fall into, cutting corners as you work on your computer puts it at risk of sustaining damage to sensitive components.
Many newbs flub upgrades through inexperience, but it’s just as common to see a hardcore system builder throw caution to the wind while swapping out a CPU, snapping in some RAM, or swapping out a hard drive or graphics card. Whether you’re an experienced hand or a technophobic novice, chances are good that your last PC upgrade didn’t exactly follow the industry’s best practices.