Welcome to Geeks in Phoenix, your ultimate resource for computer hardware Geek Tips. At Geeks in Phoenix, we are passionate about helping our customers maximize the performance and lifespan of their computers. As computer hardware experts based in Phoenix, Arizona, we are dedicated to sharing our extensive knowledge and experience to empower individuals with the skills and know-how to troubleshoot and repair their computer hardware. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned enthusiast, our comprehensive collection of tips and tricks will guide you through the intricacies of computer hardware maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting. Dive into our wealth of resources and take your computer repair skills to the next level!
The following is a complete list of our Hardware Geek Tips
In today's fast-paced world, technology is constantly evolving. With new software, games, and applications being released regularly, it's essential to have a computer that can keep up with the demands of modern computing. But how do you know when it's time to upgrade your computer?
Nothing is more fun for me than planning, purchasing, and assembling all of the components for a custom-built system. I guess that's why I like repairing computers. But most people do not know where to start when it comes to putting together a custom-built computer. So here is the ultimate guide for building your own custom computer.
Are you looking for ways to keep your computer running smoothly and prevent overheating? The CPU (Central Processing Unit) cooler is a critical component that plays a significant role in keeping your computer cool. Choosing the right cooler that meets your needs and keeps your system from overheating is essential. In this article, we'll explore some tips for selecting the right CPU cooler for your custom-built computer.
Are you building your first custom-built computer and looking for a graphics card? Or you may want to upgrade the graphics card in your current system. In this article, we'll provide some tips for choosing the right graphics card for your computer.
Are you planning to build a custom computer? If so, the motherboard is one of the most important components you'll need to consider. It's the backbone of your computer system, connecting all the other components together. In this article, we'll provide tips for selecting the right motherboard for your custom-built computer.
Are you building a new computer or upgrading an existing one? The computer case is one of the most essential components you'll need to consider. In this article, we'll go over some tips to help you in choosing the perfect case for your computer.
Are you planning to build your own computer? It can be an exciting project, as you get to choose the components that match your needs and preferences. However, building a computer from scratch can also come with its own set of challenges and errors. In this article, we will discuss the common problems to avoid when building your own computer.
Is your desktop computer not starting up? Are no lights or fans coming on when you try to start your desktop computer? If so, here is what to do when your desktop computer does not start.
Are you having a problem starting up your laptop? Is it not turning on when you press the power button? If so, here is what to do if your laptop does not start.
Whether you are building a new computer or replacing/upgrading your existing one, one of the most important considerations is the Power Supply Unit (PSU). The PSU is responsible for delivering power to all the components in your system, including the motherboard, CPU, graphics card(s), and other peripherals. Choosing the correct PSU is crucial to ensure stable and reliable performance and prevent damage to your components.
Have you ever looked at the specifications of a computer and wondered what all of that information meant? Technical jargon can be confusing. So here is some of the most ...
So you upgraded the drive in your computer and now have an extra drive that you do not know what to do with. There are a couple of things you can do with it. So here is what you can ...
Building your own computer or upgrading your existing system can be a dream or a nightmare. Simply finding parts that are compatible with each other can be challenging. But ...
One of the most frequently asked questions is, "How can I make my computer faster?". It may seem like a simple question, but it does not have a simple answer. Let's take a ...
Being a computer technician, there one question that I seem to get asked more than any other "I am looking for a new computer, what do you recommend?". I then spend several minutes ...
When doing computer repair for a living, there is one thing I do quite often, and that is replacing and upgrading computer components. Whether it be replacing a hard drive or installing a ...
Did you turn off your laptop and now it will not start up again? Maybe you closed the lid and now it will not come out of sleep mode? If so, you may need to power reset your laptop computer.
Thinking about building your own computer? Have you already got the parts and just don't know where to start? If so, I am going to show you how to build a computer.
When it comes to repairing computers, every technician has what I call a digital toolbox. It is software that they use for specific tasks, like finding information on hardware or cloning drives. So here ...
There may be a time when your desktop computer does not start up. There could be a few reasons why it does not start. The first thing that comes to mind is a failed power supply. Here's how ...
So, you are thinking about building your own computer. There are allot of things you have to decide on. So here are a few things to keep in mind when building your own custom-built computer.
Have you ever wanted to add more USB ports to your desktop computer? Or maybe a video card or wireless (Wi-Fi) network adapter? Here's how to add an expansion card to your ...
When it comes to repairing computers, there are times when I have to be able access Hard Disk Drives (HDD), Solid State Drives (SSD) or CD/DVD drives outside of a laptop or desktop ...
Doing computer repair for a living, I get allot of questions. One my favorites has to be "Should I repair or upgrade my computer or just get a new one". So, let's take a look at whether to repair ...
When it comes to computer repair, every technician has a collection of software that they use on a regular basis. Whether it is on a CD, DVD or USB drive, these programs are essential ...
When it comes to maintaining a hard drive, running a disk check will usually find any software related issues. But when I need to check the hardware inside of a hard drive, I will use SpinRite ...
When it comes to desktop computer repair, one of the most common hardware failures are CD/DVD/BD drives. If you're having problems with getting the disk tray to eject or disks are not being recognized, it may be time to replace it.
When it comes to computer repair, hard drive failures are one of the top issues I deal with. A failed hard drive can be disastrous. But with some regular maintenance, you can keep your hard drive spinning like a top. Here's how ...
When it comes to computer repair, you have to be prepared to work on different types of systems. One of the biggest issues is having the correct video display connector. With more than ten different types of connectors it can be difficult ...
Everyone wants their computer to last forever. But the reality is the average life span of a computer is 3-5 years. Allot of times you can get a computer to run for over a decade with common sense and regular maintenance. Here's how to ...
Doing computer repair for a living, I get a lot of questions about how to speed computers up. When it comes to improving the performance of your computer, adding more memory has always been the best 'bang for the buck'. And it's ...
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is pretty much the standard interface for most computer devices nowadays. We use USB ports to connect printers, keyboards / mice and smartphones, just to name a few. But do you know how to tell the ...
Are you running out of free space on your computer's hard drive? You've uninstalled unused programs and cleaned it up, but still cannot free up any more space? Doing computer repair, I've seen this many times and have personally ...
So you just got a new computer and you are ready to go. You're going to install programs and transfer files to it. But before you go personalizing it, there are a few things you should do first. Here are five things you should do first when ...
Do you have a laptop or desktop computer you don't use anymore? Maybe it got really slow or even stop working altogether. Seems like everyone has at least one nowadays. I'm talking about the one in the garage or closet that's doing ...
Is your desktop computer running slower than normal? Does it randomly or constantly freeze up or restart? Or maybe it doesn't boot to the operating system or even boot at all. If so, your computer could have a failed capacitor.
Every computer repair technician has a hand full of software they use on a regular basis to diagnose computer hardware issues. They are usually bootable disks and they have their own operating system included (FreeDOS or Linux) ...
When it comes to computer repair, you have to be a
detective of sorts. And once in a while I come across a really
good mystery. I recently got a HP M7360N in
the shop that would randomly freeze-up in
Windows XP ...
Living in the desert, the one thing we have allot
of is dust. Dust is a problem, since it can
block up air vents, heat sinks and
cooling fans inside of your computer. Not to mention that
dust is a conductor of electricity.
You ...
At some point in time, your motherboard may forget the time and date or the
onboard device settings. A Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor
(CMOS) is used on the computer's motherboard to ...
In this article, I show some of the advantages of using a KVM (Keyboard
Video Mouse) Switch. Besides the obvious reasons of saving
space and money when you have multiple computers in one area, you can also get
some great ...
In this article, I show how to use the Eject Pin Hole to
manually eject the tray on your computers CD / DVD drive.
There will be times when you need to ...
Connecting a second monitor to a Netbook a quite easy. Getting the right aspect ratio, well, it depends on what type of monitor you use. Believe it or not, but I found using a 42" plasma TV the best.
In this article, I show some of my favorite and useful USB devices.
In my
last blog, I reported on the new
Acer Aspire One Netbook (Model
AO571h) I had just purchased. It came pre-loaded with Windows XP
Home. Since I need ...
I recently worked on a Acer Aspire
One Netbook (Model AOD150). The netbook no longer was able to boot,
as the system could not find an operating system. Booting the netbook up onto a
USB drive ...
Just the other day I got a call from my daughter about her computer. It was
acting strange, so I told her to bring it over. Sure enough, her system
is ...
Before we can go shopping, we need to see what we can reuse. The
motherboard and hard drive need to be
replaced. The new ...
I started out by taking the sides and top off. It was at this point I decided to
go excessive. Since the majority of computer peripherals come
with black finishes, I decided to ...
With newer computers having the ability to run multiple displays,
here is a ‘Geek Tip’ for those of you thinking about using two
monitors on one computer. There are various scenarios, I am going to
describe ...
Here's a video showing the two different computer scenarios I have that use dual
monitors in Windows.
Here's a video showing how to use dual monitors in Windows for users who have
impaired vision.
In today's modern world, our lives are powered by electronic devices. Our homes are filled with valuable tools, from smartphones and laptops to entertainment systems and kitchen appliances. However, these devices are more vulnerable than we realize, at risk of being damaged by power surges, a threat we often overlook. This is where surge protectors come into play, serving as a crucial line of defense against electrical spikes that could wreak havoc on our beloved devices. In this article, we will explore the importance of surge protectors, how they work, and why you should consider integrating them into your home and office setups.
In my Geek Tips article outlining my Beta test of Microsoft Windows 7,
I needed a computer to install it on. What I built is sweet,
specification wise, but ...
Pictures of my daughter's finished customized computer case.
Here are the before and after pictures of the finished case from the 'Upgrading your computer cheaply' articles.