More PC Upgrades How-To

• 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.

• 14 October 2011

• How-Tos: How to install a new graphics card in an old PC

  One reader wanted to install a graphics card in the spare PCI Express x16 slot in his PC. Our Helproom Expert explained the options.

• 12 October 2011

• How-Tos: How to build a compact gaming PC

  We show you how to construct a space-saving gaming PC including an nVidia GTX 570 graphics card for unbeatable performance. UPDATED: 23rd Feb 2012

• 06 October 2011

• How-Tos: How to solve memory compatibility or timing issues

  If every time you boot your PC you see the dreaded Blue Screen of Death, you need our Helproom Expert's advice.

• 04 October 2011

• How-Tos: How to choose components when building a PC

  You are going to build a PC. How do you know if PC components will work together? PC Advisor's Helproom Expert explains.

• 07 September 2011

• How-Tos: Can you use a PCI Express card in a PCI card slot?

  QUESTION I have a Dell Dimension 2400 PC running Windows XP SP3. Can I use a TP-Link TL-WN781ND PCI Express card in its PCI slots? Jim Melvin

• 01 September 2011

• How-Tos: Upgrade a PC to make it fast, stable and secure

  Get your hands dirty, and you can get a lot more from your PC hardware. We look at how to tweak a processor, install a faster CPU, switch to a more powerful graphics card or cool things down for improved efficiency.

• 24 August 2011

• How-Tos: How to upgrade a PC's motherboard

  If you want to keep your PC current, sooner or later you'll have to replace its motherboard. PC Advisor explains how to relieve the pain of that process.

• How-Tos: How to upgrade a PC's processor

  Upgrading a desktop processor might sound intimidating, but it's an easier (and cheaper) way to boost your PC's speed than you think. PC Advisor explains how to upgrade your PC's processor.

• 05 August 2011

• How-Tos: How to install a solid-state drive (SSD) in a laptop

  A solid-state drive offers faster transfer rates and quieter operation than a hard-disk drive. It also has no moving parts, making it less fragile. PC Advisor explains how to make the switch to SSD.

• How-Tos: How to liquid cool a PC

  A cooler PC will run smoother, faster and more quietly. Applying cooling components is fiddly, but worth doing. PC Advisor shows you how to liquid cool a PC.

• How-Tos: How to overclock a desktop PC

  Overclocking used to be a dirty word, but with the two main desktop PC processor manufacturers now selling CPUs designed for speed-tweaking, it's now a tried-and-trusted upgrade. PC Advisor shows you how.

• 03 August 2011

• How-Tos: Laptop refresh: six ways to revitalise an older notebook

  Do you have an ageing laptop that you want to save from the recycling center? With a few software and hardware upgrades, you could bring that old notebook back to life and possibly avoid having to plunk down cash for a new laptop or a secondary device such as an Apple iPad or an Android tablet.

• 28 July 2011

• How-Tos: How to install a hard drive or SSD in a laptop

  Putting a new hard drive or SSD into a laptop may seem like an impossibly complicated task, but it's actually very simple. Find the existing hard drive, pop it out, stick the new one in.

• 27 June 2011

• How-Tos: How to upgrade an old PC to play 3D games

  Upgrading an older PC with RAM, OS and graphics updates to play 3D games is fraught with difficulty. But with our simple guidance you should have no problems.

• 07 June 2011

• How-Tos: How to upgrade your PC to an SSD for video work

  Why installing an SSD is a good idea if you use your PC for video editing, and how to check for compatibility issues.

• 27 May 2011

• How-Tos: How to spring clean a dusty PC

  If you allow your PC's case to get dirty over time, grime can clog the fans that keep the internal parts cool. Here's how to avoid disaster.

• 24 May 2011

• How-Tos: How to speed up your PC: 24 performance tweaks

  We look at ways to give your PC a definitive boost of power, covering hardware upgrades, software tweaks and networking tricks.

• 05 April 2011

• How-Tos: How to install Windows 7 on a new hard drive with three partitions

  I upgraded to Windows 7 on a new hard drive with three partitions. It unexpectedly installed itself on a reserved portion, but worked perfectly. However, on startup I am now offered a choice of loading Linux or Windows. How do I set up the PC so that I don’t have to go through this extra step every time?

• 29 March 2011

• How-Tos: How to transfer data from one hard drive to another

  I want to transfer data from a pair of portable hard drives to a new 1.5-terabyte (TB) drive. How do I copy across the contents? I have an Asus Z9200U laptop running Windows XP.

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