How to avoid common PC building mistakes

Few things in life are as satisfying as building your own PC. Cobbling together a softly purring, fully functional computer out of disparate parts offers a true sense of creation. Even better, rolling your own results in a cheaper and more personally tailored PC than what you can find at big-box stores.Building a PC sounds daunting, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. Still, a few key details can trip up even seasoned...

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Defective RAM can cause all sorts of problems. If you're suffering from frequent crashes, freezes, reboots, or Blue Screens of Death, a bad RAM chip could be the cause of your travails. If these annoyances tend to happen when you're using a memory-intensive application or game, bad RAM is a very likely culprit.But that doesn't mean it's a sure one. You still need to make sure that the problem is with your RAM, and if it is, you need to identify...

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How to ease the transition to a new email account

Although that kind of move is a lot easier than moving to a new home, it can still be a hassle. Here are some suggestions for smoothing the process.1. Don't lock yourself into your ISP's domain. For example, if you're moving from, say, SBC to Comcast, you might be tempted to use your new Comcast email address. That's fine, but what happens if you decide to switch to a different ISP again? You'll face the same hassle all over again.Instead, start using a Web-based email service you can keep forever and access regardless of who supplies your...

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Learn to build a PC in under two minutes

Building a computer is a great way to get a custom configuration, save some money and have fun. In this how-to video, we'll show you how to build one in less than two minutes.PC componentsAsus Z87-A motherboard - $140Intel Core i5-4430 Haswell 3.0GHz quad-core processor - $190G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB DDR3 SDRAM - $80Radeon HD 5450 graphics card - $30Rosewill wireless card - $10Seagate Barracuda 1TB hard drives (x2) - $70 eachOptical drive - $20Antec 550W power supply - $65Corsair 400R mid tower - $100Asus PB278Q 27" LED monitor with speakers...

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Google Chrome update: How to access apps and recently closed tabs

Today, Google rolled out a Chrome update that not only relocates that useful option, but also simplifies the browser's new-tab interface.Let's take a look. In the past, when you opened a new tab (either by pressing Ctrl-T or clicking the new-tab button), you'd see one of two pages: a collection of Chrome apps or a bunch of thumbnails for your most-visited sites.That was kind of a hassle, having to switch between the two. Now, everything...

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Understanding tech language: The difference between malware and a virus

The word malware (malicious software) describes any piece of code designed to infect your computer (or mobile device) and make it do things that you don't want it to do, such as mass-mail spam or steal your banking passwords. Trojans, worms, and rootkits are all types of malware.And so is a virus, in its most technically-correct meaning. A virus is malicious code that spreads by infecting existing files, similar to the way a biological virus spreads by infecting living cells.Once common, true computer viruses have become quite rare....

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Why you may want a desktop instead of a laptop

Laptops long ago surpassed desktops in sales, and tablets and smartphones are taking major market share from laptops. The tendency is clearly towards smaller, lighter, and more portable computing. But there are some good reasons to stick with a big box that sits on or below your desk.First off, there's the price/performance ratio. Whether you're spending $300 or $3,000, you will get a more powerful computer for your money if you're willing to give up portability.You have more upgrade options with a desktop. Most laptops will let you easily add...

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