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Computers & Hardware
DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM: Which Memory Generation Is Right for Your PC?
The motherboard will have already provided most buyers with the answer to whether they should purchase DDR4 or DDR5 memory. Because DDR4 and DDR5 use incompatible slots, a motherboard designed for either type of memory will not accept the other type of memory. Additionally, the processor that you select will generally determine which type of memory (DDR4 or DDR5) you…
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Computers & Hardware
Processor Socket in a Motherboard: Which CPU Socket Works With Your CPU?
The processor socket defines what physically fits a motherboard, but not how to run it. Even if both the motherboard and CPU share the same socket name, when powered on for the first time, there may be a blank screen because the motherboard’s BIOS cannot recognize or operate any CPU until that CPU’s specific information is programmed into it. Intel…
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Computers & Hardware
How Do You Install a Solid State Drive? M.2, SATA, and the Checks That Prevent Mistakes
The installation of SSDs consists of two jobs, and it is typically the second that traps people. The fastest part of installing an SSD is physically getting it into your computer’s case, but much of the time you are trying to get Windows to recognise your new SSD will be an afternoon of frustration until you complete the process. Your…
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Computers & Hardware
How to Replace a Power Supply in a Computer: A Safe PSU Replacement Guide
When changing out a power supply, the biggest concern isn’t what’s going to happen with all of the screws, but rather how all of those long cables will connect to the new power supply. All of the plugs that connect to your motherboard, drives, and graphics cards are all universal in nature, so they work the same across all brands,…
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Computers & Hardware
How to Use a PC PSU Tester: What the Test Can—and Cannot—Tell You
A PSU tester helps determine if a power supply can power up and if the selected outputs fall within the acceptable voltages during minimal loads (idle). It is a valid response to a valid question, but a more limited answer than most purchasers expect. The gap exists because the problems that prompted you to buy the tester — the unexpected…
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Tech Gadgets & Smart Devices
Can a Smart Thermostat Work Without a C-Wire?
Your heating system and not the thermostat will ultimately determine whether you will be able to use a Nest Learning Thermostat or a Sensi Smart Thermostat without needing a common wire (C wire). According to Google, their Power Sharing technology allows the Nest Learning Thermostat to be compatible with any heater despite whether or not your home has a C…
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Tech Gadgets & Smart Devices
Smart Plug Energy Monitoring: What It Actually Tells You
An energy monitoring smart plug provides you with two pieces of information: how much power is currently being consumed by the appliance connected to it and how much energy that appliance has consumed since being plugged into the smart plug. The app for the smart plug collects this information and creates a history of your use of that appliance, along…
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Tech Gadgets & Smart Devices
Security Cameras Without Wi-Fi: How Each Setup Works
While cameras can continue recording even if they do not have access to WiFi, recording is only half the battle. The more difficult challenge is retrieving the recorded footage — it all depends on which option you chose. To retrieve the footage, you need to connect five different items together. Each of these four components — Wi-Fi, internet service, mains…
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Tech Gadgets & Smart Devices
Security Camera Without Subscription: What You Keep and What You Lose
The definition of not having to pay for a subscription is a billing commitment and not an indication of a feature set. The notification for customers that the manufacturer will not bill the customer each month does not indicate to the consumer what features of the unit remain functional when not being billed. In some cameras there is very little…
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Tech Gadgets & Smart Devices
Video Doorbells Without a Subscription: Local Storage vs. Cloud Plans
How much video, if any, gets recorded with monthly subscription fees will depend on the manufacturer of the doorbell and can vary widely by manufacturer even more than the price would indicate. There are many doorbells that will record every clip onto a storage card in the doorbell itself, with no future monetary requirements after purchase and installation, while at…
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