5 Ways to Keep Your PC Running Cooler and Faster

Office IT,
24
Jan 2017

pc-running-faster
Modern PCs and processors are capable of great performance, but did you know that they can run even faster and achieve more if you keep them cool?

Now, I’m not suggesting that you move your PC into the refrigerator, but reducing the temperature of your PC by just a few degrees can really optimize its performance. And, whilst some of the methods require a little bit of investment, many are cost free.

I’m sure you want to get started optimizing your PC, so here’s 5 ways to keep your PC running cooler and faster.

  1. Good Air Flow is Crucialdeep-blue-project8

One of the most common causes for a PC to start underperforming is a lack of adequate air flow; this lack of airflow is usually caused by restricted space issues e.g. pushing the PC into a tight corner or cramming it in between shelves.

Now, whilst this may save you valuable real estate, it’s also going to prevent the free flowing movement of air. And this leads to high ambient temperatures around and in your PC, so it’s essential that you make sure there’s enough breathing room around it to work in a comfortable temperature.

  1. Upgrade to a Better Cooler

All PCs come installed with parts such as heatsinks and fans to help reduce the internal temperature of your PC. However, these are only ever good enough to do the bare minimum and this means you can never push your PC to its full potential.

For the cost of just $40 – $50, though, you’ll find that you can invest in highly effective replacements than the standard specs already cooling your PC. And, once these are installed, you’ll find that you get a faster performance from your PC and an increased lifespan.

  1. Check Your Power Supply

If your PC has started to run slowly then it’s a good idea to check your power supply. Not many people know this, but there’s a fan built into your PCs power supply to help remove hot air. And, if this has failed, the internal temperature is going to rise very quickly.

If you put your hand behind your PC and can’t feel air being blown out of the case then there’s a good chance you’ll need to replace the power supply.

  1. Keep Your PC Clean

Dust may seem like nothing more than irritating specks that make your desk look untidy, but dust can soon accumulate within a PC and leave your heatsinks and fans struggling to work. This leads to an increase in temperature and a decline in performance.

That’s why you need to remove the casing from your PC once a month to blow it through with air in a can to remove dust from all components. You may be tempted to use a vacuum cleaner as it will appear to be more effective, but it’s more likely that you’ll cause damage trying to get into all the tight spaces in your PC.

  1. Water Coolingmagnetic-cooling-header

Water and computers aren’t two things that usually work well together, but the option of water cooling may be the solution to your temperature problems, particularly if you’re running a high end PC with a busy processor.

By pumping a stream of cool (and enclosed) water down to your processor, a water cooling system can remove the heat from this area and transfer the heat out of your computer. And the good news is that it’s a relatively cheap option with kits costing around $60 – $70 more than capable of making a temperature difference.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Essential PC Maintenance Checks You Need to Know

Office IT
17
Jan 2017

pc-tuneup

An important area of PC ownership is ensuring that you carry out regular maintenance on your PC. Without it, you could soon find your PC slowing down.

It’s a good idea to carry out a monthly maintenance on your PC, but this can sound a little intimidating. After all, there are so many pieces of software and hardware crammed into its case that it’s difficult to know where to start.

However, there are a number of relatively simple checks you can carry out which should help to maintain the smooth running of your PC.  Let’s take a look at 5 essential PC maintenance checks you need to know.

  1. Update Windows

Microsoft regularly release patches and updates for Windows a couple of times a month (always on Tuesdays), so it’s crucial that you install these to ensure that your PC is running to its full potential and is secure from any new cyber security threats. In Windows 10, the Windows Update feature can be found within your Windows Settings app.

  1. Spring Clean Your PC

maid-clean-computer

Dust can be a major issue for your PC, if too much builds up then your PC will begin to overheat and the hardware will gradually begin to fail. Now, dust is so tiny that it’s impossible to put a guard up to protect against this, so you need to look into other dust busting methods.

You can give yourself a head start by regularly cleaning around the PC to remove any surrounding debris. However, ou need to get a little bit deeper to really ensure that dust doesn’t build up. Once a month, remove the casing from your PC and use a can of air to blow through all the crevices and remove dust without causing any damage.

  1. Disk Cleanup

The hard drive on a PC can gradually build up with clutter and unnecessary files over time, but whilst they may be out of sight and mind, they have the potential to slow down your system and seriously stretch your resources.

Luckily, Windows has a built in disk cleanup to help identify and remove these files, so that your resources can be used more appropriately. In Windows 10, just search for ‘disk cleanup’ in the taskbar and you’ll be presented with options for deleting temporary files such as browsing history and unneeded system files relating to uninstalled programs.

  1. Complete an Antivirus and Malware Scan502754-the-best-antivirus-utilities-for-2016

Not all pieces of security software will regularly carry out scans on your hard drive, so there’s a good chance that malware could be lurking on your system. And, as well as being dangerous for your personal data, these pieces of software can seriously compromise the performance of your system due to the memory they hog; that’s why you should schedule a regular scan in, ideally once a week.

  1. Uninstall Unused Programs

We all install programs that we only ever use once or twice, but due to PC owners taking storage space for granted, many of us forget to uninstall them. And, over time, these forgotten programs gradually build up and start to command huge amounts of space and, if they’re running in the background, precious memory.

Therefore, it’s good practice to review the programs installed on your PC once a month to reclaim your hard drive for more optimized performance.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Understanding the Cost of Your Technology

Office IT
10
Jan 2017

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Technology is crucial for businesses, so it’s a rare firm which isn’t looking to upgrade. However, do they always fully understand the costs of technology?

It’s imperative to stay competitive and safe in modern business, so purchasing IT equipment is a regular process for almost all organizations. And whilst we’re all aware that this can be a costly experience, the costs aren’t always limited to the price sticker. That’s why it’s a good idea to understand exactly what your overall outlay – better known as total cost ownership (TCO) – will be.

Let’s take a look at what you need to consider and understand when it comes to costing the price of your technology.

What is TCO?

The TCO applies to every cost that your technology is likely to incur over the course of its lifetime. After all, the equipment involved in IT is very rarely an inanimate object (unless it’s a mouse mat) and this means that there are a variety of costs such as:

  • Maintenance
  • Running costs
  • Admin processes
  • Costs incurred by downtime when technology fails
  • Software required for hardware

It’s these costs that many businesses fail to take into account when planning their budget around new technology purchases. In fact, it’s estimated that, for example, a PC’s ticket price will only make up around 20% of its TCO. And that means the other 80% will slowly mount up over its lifetime and eat into your budget when you least expect it.

You’re probably beginning to understand the importance of careful budgeting around your new technology purchases – especially when you consider just how often businesses have to upgrade their equipment – so how can you go about making this purchase less painful?

How Can You Reduce Your TCO?piggy_on_money1

The TCO for your technology purchases can have a real impact on your budgets and expenditure, so it’s vital that you factor in all the possible costs you may encounter. Otherwise, you may find yourself desperate searching for precious dollars to keep your technology operating.

And, in order to keep your TCO at a manageable level, you need to plan ahead and ensure that the following areas are tackled efficiently:

  • Ensure that good security is in place as cyber-attacks on your equipment can lead to significant downtime for your workforce
  • Analyze your current spending patterns to help get a clearer picture of the potential future costs
  • An in-house IT team can be costly, but by outsourcing key operations such as technical support, you may discover this is a much more affordable option
  • Remember that new equipment becomes essential when older, outdated equipment is holding you up in terms of efficiency and downtime from failures
  • Do not allow all employees access to all areas of your network as they are likely to cause disruption when accessing, for example, software they have no training in
  • Create an inventory of all your software, hardware and associated licenses to make sure you can monitor the age of all your equipment

It may seem difficult to plan ahead for the TCO of your technology purchases, but if you put in the necessary research and try to reduce in-house disruption you can come to a much more agreeable TCO.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Microsoft Rushes Patch for Printers on Windows

Office IT, ,
23
Aug 2016

c04386354 Even in this so called ‘paperless’ age, almost every business still uses a printer on a daily basis, but did you know that even these can get hacked?

Yes, printers are vulnerable pieces of hardware which can allow hackers to gain access to your systems. And this recent scare was all down to a vulnerability identified in the Windows Print Spooler server. Luckily, this susceptibility was identified and Microsoft quickly released a patch to nip this matter in the bud.

However, it’s a troubling scenario given that we’re not used to our printers being used as a back door for hackers to take control of our networks, so I’ve decided to dig a little deeper into the story.

Hacking a Printer

doom_printer_hack

When a new printer is installed, the files required will be downloaded from the Windows Print Spooler server to get the printer up and running. Usually, the correct files will be downloaded and everything will go smoothly. However, Microsoft discovered a critical flaw which meant that Windows would not handle the installation correctly and this would lead to users not connecting securely to their printer.

This would leave a gap in security which would allow hackers to gain unauthorized system privileges and install their own malware files on users’ systems causing all kinds of security issues. There would also be the opportunity to carry out what’s known as a Man-in-the-Middle Attack which would allow the hackers to take control of information being transmitted by the infected PC and alter it.

Perhaps the most damaging effect of an attack like this is that printers tend to be behind firewalls, so any malicious activity would go unnoticed. What’s particularly worrying about this is that large numbers of PCs are usually connected to a printer, so the potential for infecting other PCs becomes greatly magnified.

Is Windows Secure?

Windows-10-Security

This vulnerability in Windows is particularly embarrassing for Microsoft given their high profile security hiccups recently such as a lack of WiFi security, so this latest threat doesn’t instill confidence in Microsoft’s approach to security. To make matters worse, this recently discovered flaw is an issue which affects operating systems going back to Vista which was released 10 years ago, so a huge number of PCs are at risk.

And it’s not the first time that Windows Print Spooler service has been exploited, so it raises some important questions about how Microsoft continue to monitor security vulnerabilities once they appear to have been solved.

Make Sure You’re Safe

The most important step you can take in combating security flaws such as this is to install all updates as soon as possible. It only takes a few seconds for a hacker to gain access to your systems, so it’s vital you don’t leave that install until the morning.

With vulnerabilities which are built into operating systems, of course, you can’t really put any blame on the end users, but it’s crucial that users look out for the following activity:

  • In this particular case, the ability for the hackers to set up a rogue printer on the network presented itself, so any unusual printer activity could indicate a security issue
  • Systems shutting down of their own accord and any ‘File Installation’ progress bars suddenly appearing could be evidence of malicious code being installed

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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4 Tips for Business Data Storage

Office IT,
31
May 2016

data-storage-solution All businesses rely on data storage, so it’s an important area for your business to focus on. However, many businesses fail to make it a priority.

Underestimating your data storage needs can lead to major, major issues when things go wrong. Things tend to always go wrong at the worst possible moment. That’s why it’s critical to make data storage an on-going priority.

To help you understand how to build a reliable and forward thinking data storage plan, we will share some tips to help get you started.

Determine Your Storage Needs

Your storage needs will be reliant not only on how much data you’re processing, but also the type of data. And, of course, how will you be accessing this data?

There are a wide variety of options available such as:

  • USB Sticks
  • External hard drives
  • Central data storage
  • Cloud based storage

All of these provide a unique service which may or may not fit in with your specific needs, so the best advice here is to speak with your IT support. They’ll be able to tailor data storage to fit your needs.

Buy More Than You Need

Businesses always miscalculate the amount of data they’re handling and processing. It’s no surprise really as things can rapidly build in the business world. And, sure, it may seem as though your brand new data storage solution seems enough.

But what if you get a little bit busier? That amazing data storage system may start to creak under the weight of all this additional work.

To avoid disruption to your business, it’s a good idea to overcompensate for your data storage needs. This allows your hardware to not only handle the data with ease, but also allows for rapid expansion when necessary.

Consider Network Attached Storage

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Many small businesses are now turning to Network Attached Storage (NAS) for their data storage needs, but what is NAS?

Well, a NAS device is a piece of storage hardware which permits users on a network to store and retrieve data from a central location. The beauty in an NAS device is that they’re incredibly simple to use and don’t require an IT team to monitor.

Essentially, NAS is the same as cloud storage, but it’s physically based in your office. Depending on the device you purchase, around 25 – 50 employees can all access data from a central point. This is vital in a small business where everyone needs to be on the same page.  You also have the option of adding additional storage as you go seamlessly.

Regularly Test Your Data Storage

It’s very easy to put a data storage system in place and then assume that it’s going to work fine for years to come. On the whole, it should work pretty well. However, your business environment may suddenly change and this can affect the power of your data storage.

To prevent falling into this pothole, you’ll want to test the performance of your data storage a few times a year. If you find that things are slowing down when it comes to accessing and storing data it’s going to need investigation.  Most modern NAS systems have health monitoring built in making this task simple and straight forward.

This may be caused by a simple software issue or it may be a signal that an upgrade in hardware is required for the additional workload. Either way, you’ll be in a position to implement the necessary changes.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

 

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