Latest PC Upgrades How-To

• 01 April 2013

• How-Tos: How to install a new CPU cooler – step by step

  If your PC quite literally never fails to make itself heard, you might want to take a look at the usual suspect for persistent fan noise: Your CPU cooler. Here's a detailed, visual guide on how to replace it with something better.

• 20 March 2013

• How-Tos: Speed up your PC with an SSD – and the right tweaks

  If you are still using a conventional hard drive, there has never been a better time to upgrade. Prices for SSDs have finally dropped to under £1 per Gigabyte, making them one of the best hardware investments at your disposal. In this How-To, we'll tell you how to prepare and what to keep in mind for the upgrade to an SSD.

• How-Tos: How to install a Windows 8 upgrade on an empty hard drive

  If you have bought the Windows 8 upgrade, you will need at least Windows XP to apply it. What seems like a small nuisance at first, can quickly get bothersome and time-consuming if you tend to reinstall Windows at a regular basis. Here’s how you can install the upgrade without any previous versions whatsoever.

• 28 February 2013

• How-Tos: How to check for bad RAM modules in your PC

  If you have become the victim of unprovoked bluescreens and frequent system crashes as of lately, you might want to have a look at your RAM. We'll show you how you can thoroughly test it with specialised tools.

• How-Tos: Problems with PC? Here's how to check your power supply

  If your PC or laptop has been behaving erratically, it might be your PC's PSU. This handy tip from PC Advisor reader Andy Scott explains how to check your PC's power supply, and find out what's wrong with your PC.

• 27 February 2013

• How-Tos: How to add USB 3.0 to a PC

  Our Helproom Editor explains how to add a USB 3.0 port to your PC.

• How-Tos: Replace PC's fan without having to buy new cooler

  Our Helproom Editor explains what to do if a fan in your PC starts making a lot of noise.

• 26 February 2013

• How-Tos: How to update your BIOS in ten steps

  Updating your BIOS can prove to be a tricky and dangerous endeavour – at least without proper help. We’ll lend you a hand and show you how to update your PC’s BIOS safely in ten easy steps.

• 01 November 2012

• How-Tos: Quieten your PC for £70

  We show you how to make your PC quieter by installing new fans, soundproofing material and anti-vibration feet

• 25 October 2012

• How-Tos: How to watch Microsoft Windows 8 launch live

  Microsoft is preparing to launch its latest operating system so here's how to get live coverage of the Windows 8 event.

• 23 August 2012

• How-Tos: Problem with hard drive in new PC case

  When a reader moved his PC to a new chassis, everything seemed to be fine. Then he started receiving hard drive error messages. Our Helproom Editor suggested checking the SATA cables and connectors, as well checking the motherboard.

• 30 July 2012

• How-Tos: Problem with hard drive enclosure

  Our Helproom Editor explains how to spot problems when putting an old hard drive into a new caddy to make an external hard disk.

• 23 July 2012

• How-Tos: Fix a noisy graphics card

  If your PC or laptop's graphics card is making a lot of noise, it may be bad news for the card, or just part of it. Our Helproom Editor explains how to repair a graphics card, and why it may be worth simply replacing it.

• 27 June 2012

• How-Tos: How to upgrade your laptop hard disk to an SSD

  Swap out the old hard disk in your laptop for a speedy SSD and you'll get more than quicker boot times. Your data will be safer, your laptop will be quieter and you might even see longer battery life. Priced have dropped massively in the last couple of years: now's the time to upgrade.

• 29 May 2012

• How-Tos: Can I use a PCI Express x1 slot for a graphics card?

  You can add a second display to a PC by fitting a graphics card to a PCI Express x1 slot: just don't expect great performance. Our Helproom Editor explains.

• 28 May 2012

• How-Tos: PC fan getting louder

  Here's what to do if your PC's cooling fan has suddenly become a lot louder.

• 18 April 2012

• How-Tos: How to install Windows 7 with a USB flash drive

  A complete guide on installing Microsoft Windows 7 from a humble USB drive, with a extra trick.

• 23 February 2012

• How-Tos: How to build a compact, energy-efficient PC

  We show you how to put together a space-saving, energy-efficient PC for home or office use - UPDATED: 23rd Feb 2012

• 08 November 2011

• How-Tos: Help! My PC can see only 3GB of RAM, 8GB is installed

  When a reader complained that his PC could utilise only 3.25GB of the 8GB RAM he's installed, our Helproom Expert was quick to diagnose the problem: a 32bit version of Windows 7.

• 31 October 2011

• How-Tos: How to add RAM to speed up your PC

  Adding more memory to your PC is one of the most cost-effective means of boosting its performance. PC Advisor looks at how to choose the right RAM and avoid installation issues.

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