Custom PCs Built by Twin Cities PC Repair – 3/24/2023. We have another happy customer coming to pick up their custom built PC!
Whether you are a home user, a business, a gamer, or a specialist such as a photo and video editing company… We can build a PC for you – really, no matter what your specific requirements are, we can make sure you get the best machine to match your productivity requirements. In conjunction with your hardware requirements, we can determine the software that you need as well. We will ensure that we don’t clutter and slow down your new PC with unwanted programs. Often times, ‘out-of-the-box’ computers are heavily loaded with software including trial software that you will never use which can slow down the performance of your machine.
You will be dealing with the same custom PC builder during the consultation and build process. You will also be dealing with us for any support that you may require. We are experienced PC builders and we can provide references from past clients who attest to our expertise and approachable manner.
Custom Built Computers With Affordable Computer Repairs And Service
Save yourself time and hassle in trying to choose between the mass-manufactured PCs on the market.
You can be assured that your machine has quality, stable, hardware components and configuration.
You won’t be paying for software/hardware that you don’t need or want.
Your machine won’t be slowed down by space hungry software that you won’t use.
You will be paying for a machine that will do what you want it to do… Quickly too!
Here’s our most recent build configuration (Pictured):
Intel Core i5-13600K 14-Core CPU.
Integrated Wi-Fi.
16GB DDR4 3200 (PC4-25600 Memory.
1TB PCIe Solid State Hard Drive.
500W Power Supply.
Black Mid-Tower Case w/ Top USB Ports.
27” Eye Care Monitor Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS 75Hz Adaptive-Sync HDMI D-Sub Frameless.
Windows 11 Home 64-Bit.
Open Office Productivity Software.
Adobe Reader.
12 Month Warranty.
We are experienced in building custom computers to meet your specific needs using quality, stable components at an affordable price. Our custom PCs are built to last. If you are interested in a new screaming PC, please call us at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
You drop your computer in the bathtub, or your basement home office floods and the desktop is under water. Or you spill your tea across the keyboard. If any of this happens, you can guess right away that you’ll be dealing with liquid damage. Only it’s not always that obvious. Knowing the common signs to look for can help you diagnose liquid damage in your devices.
If you are right there when your computer is exposed to liquids, unplug it immediately. Wet components can short-circuit and cause issues for your motherboard, hard drives, and more.
Still, you might not know immediately that liquid damage is to blame. You might live in an area with high humidity. Or maybe someone in the family watches Netflix while in a steamy bathroom. That’s when you look for signs that there’s moisture inside your computer.
Signs you can see yourself
Liquid spilled inside your keyboard can make keys or the trackpad stop working. Even a few liquid droplets can cause the keyboard or trackpad to start responding to your touch erratically.
You might also experience screen issues. This depends on where the liquid penetrates your laptop. Look out for:
images not displaying properly;
pixel discoloration;
a display that won’t turn on.
These are pretty obvious signs that you need to get help. You might also see some discoloration on the outside of the computer. The white or green residue is not a good sign.
Another scary indicator? The computer won’t turn on at all. That suggests that internal components are damaged, and you’ll need to take action.
Signs that repair shops can see
Most people should not be opening up computers on their own. Even if you think there might have been liquid damage, it’s safer to take the computer to a trained expert. That way, you won’t do more damage trying to see what’s wrong in the first place.
At a computer shop, the person doing the repairs will look inside for corrosion around connectors and your motherboard. They’ll be looking for that white or green residue you were hoping not to see on the exterior.
Another sign? The liquid damage indicator shows exposure to water or liquids. The indicator is a small device inside the computer that’s used by manufacturers to deny warranty coverage (despite the consumer’s protests, the laptop never got wet).
What to do with a wet computer
Unplug it. Get help. The sooner you take a liquid-damaged computer in for repair, the more likely it is to recover. Work with a professional IT repair shop to diagnose and repair your device issues. We’re here to help. Call us at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page. Check out our additional laptop services HERE.
When looking to buy a laptop, one of the main things you have to decide is how much storage you need. That’s a challenging question for many of us to answer. Let’s discuss the factors that matter and how to decide.
The short answer, for many people, is that you don’t need much laptop storage. Having 512 GB available is often enough for a regular user, but it’s going to depend on how you’re using the laptop.
For example, if you use cloud email, your account likely comes with cloud storage. Using cloud-based applications such as Google Docs also saves storage space.
If you’re using the laptop to stream videos on TikTok or YouTube, or watching your series or movies on Netflix or the like, you’re also taking advantage of the cloud. Very little data is actually stored on your computer.
Even so, remember to account also for your operating system. Microsoft and Apple recommend 32 GB of storage space to accommodate their OSs. Otherwise, you could encounter performance issues.
Also, if you edit videos or work in graphic design, you’ll likely want a lot more available storage.
How storage space impacts your computer use
Storage space is the capacity your computer uses to store files and data. So, when you have a lot of data, images, or video to hold and work with, more storage helps the PC recall them more quickly.
If you are a digital hoarder, that can also factor into your storage needs.
When thinking about storing photos, you’d have to have many albums to make a dent. If the average image size is about 4 MB, it would take 1000 photos to use up 4 GBs of space. But video eats up a lot more space. An hour-long 1080 p video could occupy 10,000 MB (10 GB).
If you regularly download new apps and games, you can quickly fill up your storage space. Purging unused files and apps consistently frees up space.
Considering the cost of laptop storage
More storage can mean a bigger price tag, so you’ll want to balance your storage needs against your budget constraints.
If you can spend freely, go ahead and get more storage. Otherwise, you’ll want to weigh hard disk drive (HDD) and solid-state drive (SSD) upgrades.
HDDs offer more storage for less cost, but slower reading and writing. SSDs can be three to four times as expensive, but you do get greater speed. SSDs are also typically quieter, more durable, and consume less energy.
One option is to buy a laptop with a smaller SSD and get an external HDD to meet both your speed and storage needs. HDDs can be better for data recovery and for storing large amounts of data you’re not accessing often.
Need help making decisions about your laptop purchase or storage needs? Our IT experts have the answers you need. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
Vertical Monitors – What are the Benefits? – March 2023
Horizontal is the norm when we’re thinking about televisions or computer monitors. Yet vertical monitors are an option. Consider these advantages of going vertical.
On a horizontal monitor, there is more width than height. The usual 16:9 horizontal monitor is great for watching movies, but when it comes to other processes, there’s a lot of wasted space. If you have a vertical monitor setup, you can enjoy a better viewing experience.
You’ll find it’s easier to scan websites, view search engine results, and read online content or long blocks of code. If you’re big into cryptocurrency, you might enjoy displaying data in an easy-to-read form, plus, you’ll be able to react more quickly.
You can also have a full view of photographs or a project if you’re trying to design something with a vertical layout.
Vertical screens can also reduce eye strain. With this setup you reduce the range of movement, which can save your eyes from getting as tired.
Further, you might be able to save space with a vertical monitor if you have less room on your desk.
A vertical monitor can be appealing if you use two monitors at once. Having dual monitors can increase productivity. You enjoy added viewing space to multitask, browse the Web, watch videos, or games. If you’re working from home, you may also find it easier to collaborate with colleagues with a second screen. When you set up one screen to be vertical, you can benefit from the best of both worlds.
Going vertical is Easy
You don’t have to buy a special monitor to take advantage of a vertical setup. While many screens are only capable of a horizontal display, you may be able to adjust the way it is mounted. You can get a stand or mount that allows you to easily rotate the screen. As long as it is a VESA-compatible monitor, you can easily make the choice of horizontal or vertical. Then, you can change the layout in the operating system’s display settings. Windows, MacOS, and Linux all support vertical screen rotation.
Some monitors have mounts that allow physical rotation, which is a good way to test drive the vertical monitor. That way you can see how it compares to a horizontal layout for your needs. Keep in mind, though, that this repositioning of the monitor will affect your stereo speakers. You’ll need to attach an external pair of speakers to have them work with the new orientation.
Vertical monitors aren’t for everybody; if you game a lot or want to watch movies or do 3D modeling, you might prefer the horizontal screen. Many computer games, for example, are programmed for horizontal play, and opening that game up on a vertical rotation can cut off or compress your visuals.
One other common criticism of vertical screens is that they catch glare from nearby light sources more easily. So, if you don’t want to deal with glare, stick with horizontal.
Our IT experts are here to consult on your computer needs. We can advise you on your screen choices and so much more. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
Our phones can recognize our faces. Digital watches can detect that we’ve been in an accident. We can put on a virtual reality headset and feel as if we’re swimming with dolphins. With all this technological innovation, why are home printers still so frustrating? This article explains why and how to make the most of the situation.
Hewlett-Packard released its home DeskJet inkjet printer in 1988. These printers spray liquid ink onto the page through printheads. Home laserjet printers followed shortly after. They use lasers to create static electricity to attract and melt toner onto the paper.
And here we are, thirty-five years later, with pretty much the same printer technology. Although now, you might also consider a multifunction (all-in-one) printer. These print documents and can often also scan, copy, fax, and email documents.
But we’re still saddled with clogged inkjets and leaking ink cartridges, plus paper jams, or a printer that can’t recognize the paper that you’ve now taken in and out of the tray 16 times in a row. Why?
Manufacturer priorities for printers
Printer manufacturers often lose money selling you the printer. Printer technology is quite complicated, but you’re getting the device for the price of parts. That’s because the manufacturer banks on making their money back on the sale of the ink.
Because they’re looking to make money off ink sales, printer users now endure:
ink cartridges that run out quickly – yes, they’re putting less ink in their cartridges these days;
printers designed not to work as well if you use off-brand cartridges;
having to perform printer maintenance that uses up more ink.
Even if you do invest in top-quality, on-brand ink, you could still encounter problems. Connectivity issues or error messages when you change paper are common.
That’s because the internal workings of the printer can be outsourced to the lowest bidder. Printer longevity is not the goal, so there’s less incentive to develop robust networking components or print drivers.
Plus, printing is hard
It’s not all down to printer manufacturer choices. Printing is a complicated process. Many moving parts need fine-tuning to apply the right pressure and position the ink. Plus, people could be using glossy photo paper one minute and recycled paper the next. At the same time, humidity or air that is too dry can also impact the paper and how the printer can move it around.
So, what can you do? Prefer a laser printer, which uses dry powder, if you’re going to print mostly in black and white. You’ll pay more upfront, but you’re no longer hostage to the ink-cartridge dilemma. If you need to do color prints, you might find it’s cheaper to actually go to your local print shop or big-box store.
If your Wi-Fi connectivity conks out, connect the USB cable that shipped with the printer. It may not be as pretty, but it will get the job done.
Want to save hours of your life troubleshooting your printer woes? We can help. Contact our experts today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page to send us a message.
We also carry a full line of remanufactured ink cartridges and can save you some money on ink & toner refills!
News of data breaches is all too common. This company apologizes for six million accounts breached. That company acknowledges hackers accessed 35,000 users’ personal identifiable information. But the question that probably matters most: Is your data breached, too?
The company should contact you if your information is in a data leak, but you can’t rely on that. You can also find out if your phone number or email address has been leaked by visiting https://haveibeenpwned.com/.
HaveIBeenPwned has uploaded various breaches and consolidated the information to make searching easy. Enter your address and get a list of breaches that compromised that email. You’ll get a summary paragraph as well as a description of data compromised in each breach.
It is not uplifting reading!
Next, the question is what to do about your breached information.
Steps to Better Security
First, change your passwords for those breached accounts. If you use that same password to access other accounts, change those passwords, as well, even if they are not listed as leaked.
Always avoid reusing passwords. Yes, it can be a hassle to remember many different access credentials, but you risk exposing many accounts if you keep reusing one email address and password combo over and again.
Make using unique passwords for all accounts easier by using a password manager. A manager can store your many passwords in one place and generate strong ones to use. You can often download an app to your mobile device, which gives you the convenience of filling in your credentials when you’re on the go, too.
The next step is to use two-factor authentication (2FA).
Understanding 2FA
This adds a layer of difficulty for hackers trying to access your accounts. Even if they had your username and password, they would need a second way to verify your identity.
Using 2FA requires you to provide one of the following before you can gain access:
something you know (e.g. the answer to a secret question);
something you have (e.g. your smartphone);
something you are (e.g. your fingerprint).
A bad actor would need to have not only your leaked credentials but also your other “something.”
A common approach to FA is an SMS text message or voice-based authentication. You enter your credentials, then the site follows up with a text or phone call providing a separate code you must then enter. This is not the best method, however. Scammers can hack the SIM card associated with your device, and then use your number to make and receive calls and texts.
Software tokens for 2FA are a safer solution. You’ll download and install an application on your phone (e.g. Google Authenticator, Authy or Okta Verify). It can generate a unique verification code that is valid only for 30-60 seconds.
Want to learn more about password management and soft-token 2FA. We’re here to help. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or send us a message from our Contact page.
SIM Jacking, What is it and Why Should You Care? – 12/27/2022
If you play the popular SIMS life-simulation video game, you could think SIM jacking means someone takes over your characters, but the reality is even worse. SIM jacking is a type of identity theft targeting your real-life identity via your phone.
In SIM jacking a bad actor uses the subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with your cellphone number to make calls, send texts, and use data. This has several potential negative outcomes:
Your phone bill goes off the charts with international calling and data usage fees.
They might impersonate you by sending texts to scam your friends and family.
They can sign up for new email and social media accounts using your phone number.
Most importantly? They can use your phone number and SIM card to sign into your personal accounts. Many of us use text messaging for authentication. That’s when a site, say your bank, sends a code to your phone to confirm it’s you.
Now, imagine the criminal has access to your bank account through a leaked password. Whereas they couldn’t get in before because of two-factor authentication, they now have your SIM card, too. That means the SMS to authenticate your account also goes to them. They’re in, and you’re out.
How Does SIM Jacking Work?
Typically it starts, as so many cyberattacks do, with phishing. You might get a text or email that looks like it is from the cellphone carrier that asks you to click on a link. It might tell you there’s been suspicious activity on your account or that your bill is past due. It’s usually something that will make you anxious and feel the need to act urgently.
You’re taken to a fake website where you provide your name, address, cell phone number, and date of birth. With the right information, the scammer contacts your phone carrier and asks for a new SIM card. Once they have that in hand, they access your account and take over your cellphone. If they pair that with leaked credentials, they can really do damage.
If you’ve been SIM jacked, you’ll find out after the fact. You will no longer have a signal connection, so you won’t be able to send texts or make or receive calls. You may also have difficulty signing into the hacked accounts.
If you do think you’ve been SIM jacked, contact your carrier ASAP. Also, change your passwords and let your friends and family know. Otherwise, they might fall victim to a malware attack that appears to come from you.
Protect Yourself from SIM Jacking
Be careful with your personal information. Be wary of any requests to share your sensitive information online. Avoid taking action based on text messages or emails from people you don’t know and trust.
Protect yourself by using an authentication app such as Google Authenticator or Authy. Do this instead of using text messages to authenticate yourself online.
Always update the applications on your smartphone. Yes, it seems like there are constantly new updates, but they can be protecting you from vulnerabilities.
You might also get a request to restart your phone. This is a common sign your SIM card has been hacked. If you do it, you’ll lose control of your SIM card. So, call your carrier first.
It’s also a good idea to regularly review your phone bills for any charges that you don’t recognize.
Want to protect your online activity? Our IT experts can help update your applications and identify any vulnerabilities. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or email us from our Contact page.
You may not think about it much, but your computer needs a graphics processing unit (GPU). The GPU allows you to see multimedia content and renders the graphics of your video games. It can also accelerate high-performance computing. The good news? It’s no longer as difficult to get a new graphics card at a reasonable price.
A global shortage of GPUs in 2021 made it challenging to obtain new graphics cards. That could stall repairs and upgrades. Plus, people who wanted to build their own computers struggled to do so. If you did find a GPU available, you could expect to pay much more than usual. Scalpers were also buying the chips up and charging exorbitant prices.
One problem was that major chip manufacturers were struggling to source silicon. It’s needed for the semiconductor functionality of GPUs. The pandemic slowed and even stopped production at some of the largest silicon manufacturers.
It didn’t help any that cryptocurrency miners were buying up GPUs, too. They needed the processing power to mine efficiently.
Why the GPU shortage is over
Fortunately, the GPU storage is ending. GPU manufacturers continued developing chips while waiting for the silicon semiconductors they needed. Now that those are back online, the graphics card companies can quickly make up for lost time.
At the same time, GPUs are no longer the best option for cryptomining. Instead, they have been replaced by more efficient application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).
What happens next?
Actually, a surplus of older GPUs is expected, as a new generation of GPUs has arrived.
A new GPU series means manufacturers and computer parts stores will look to clear inventory. They’ll want to sell off older GPUs to make room for the new product.
This can be good news. You can expect prices of the previous generation of technology to come down. Plus, you can take advantage of the GPU surplus to replace a failing GPU. Or you can now upgrade your graphics card more affordably.
Get in the GPU Game
Want help upgrading your GPU or evaluating if your computer can handle the new GPUs coming in a few months? Our experts can help. Call today (651) 456-8655 or check out our contact page and send us an email. One of our technicians will reach out to you!
Attention Gamers! Christmas is almost here!! Looking for a way to spend that gift money? Trust the professional systems builders at Twin Cities PC Repair… We can source any or all compatible PC gaming components and build you a sweet gaming pc. Skip the bloatware and get exactly what you need…. A powerfully fast gaming PC!
Big-box stores have big names and aisles of computers on offer. They post tempting deals on pre-built computers. But how does buying one of those computers compare to purchasing a custom-built one?
When you shop in a big-box store, you are one of the many people those salespeople are going to work with in a day. If you’re lucky, you may get to speak with someone actually assigned to the computer area on a regular basis.
Working with us to customize a computer, you get individualized expert service. Our specialists know computer users have different needs. You deserve a computer that matches what you’re trying to do. You might want to run the latest-and-greatest games at full graphic quality. Someone else wants something basic to support only email and Web surfing. Or how about a stock day trader who doesn’t need a fast computer but wants to run six screens at once?
It may be easier to walk into a big-box store and walk out with a desktop computer, but the big-box computer aims to appeal to everyone; it isn’t customized to each of these different aims.
Problems with Pre-Built Computers
The computers sold for less in big-box stores have cut corners to bring down costs. They can use lower-quality parts. There’s also limit to upgradability of the parts. Prebuilt brand-name systems often use proprietary parts unique to that manufacturer. This makes it difficult and expensive to replace a part.
You could end up saving money by paying for a system that has only 4 GB of RAM. Sure, the sticker price was lower, but your computer won’t run as well. Today, you need a computer with at least 8 GB of RAM. Depending on how you plan to use the computer, we might even suggest 16 GB.
The big-box stores sell computers from brand-name manufacturers pre-loaded with bloatware. The manufacturer keeps prices down by installing unwanted software in return for kickbacks. So, you paid less, but your computer runs slower from day one because it’s brimming with software you didn’t want. A customized computer comes only with what you need.
Our specialists can explain the benefits of the processing, power supply, and other parts. Picking every part of your computer, you can also count on high-quality parts that are easy to upgrade.
A Personal, Expert Relationship
Another selling point for big-box stores is the warranty. This is one more way they’re making money off the sale of your computer. But keep in mind that most of these stores aren’t going to fix your computer on-site. You explain your problem to a retail employee – again, maybe someone knowledgeable about computers (fingers crossed). Then you wait as the computer gets sent into a central repair base, where someone you haven’t spoken with is working on your computer. Then you wait for the computer to come back, hopefully fixed. Something that would take our experts 30 minutes to fix has you waiting a week. That’s a big deal if you depend on that computer on a daily basis.
When you buy from computer specialists, you’re working with a qualified computer technician. You’re building a relationship with someone who knows you and your computer, and you’ll always know where your computer is during the repair process. Additionally, since all parts are hand-picked, you might enjoy individual part warranties.
Building your own computer in the past was expensive, but today there are many more high-quality parts available. Your computer customizer can offer you affordable, reliable cases, RAM, hard drives, fans, GPUs, CPUs, and cooling, and they can help you weigh the benefits of each.
Whether you’re looking for an entry-level or high-end gaming machine, we can customize the best computer for you.
Why settle for a standard, pre-built option made to appeal to the largest number of people? Contact our experts today to start putting together your purpose-built, personalized gaming PC. Call (651) 456-8655 or visit our contact page HERE.
Click HERE to learn more about our custom PC’s.
What You Need to Know About Browser Extension Risks – 12/6/2022
With “Googling it” now a common expression, it’s safe to say you do a lot online. To do it all you’re using a Web browser (such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.). To do it all more efficiently or effectively, you could be using browser extensions, but this article is going to warn you against doing so.
To clarify, browser extensions are code add-ons that you connect to your browser. You can use them to personalize your surfing experience, and they accomplish many different things, including:
saving time (e.g. Scribe, Evernote, StayFocusd);
checking your grammar (e.g. Grammarly);
managing your passwords (e.g. Keeper, LastPass);
securing your online activity (e.g. DuckDuckGo, Ghostery)
Even though we’ve just said they can help secure your online activity and manage your passwords, the problem is that they are also risky.
Consider the fact that we said this represents added code. Now, how much coding do you know? Most will say “not a lot.” That means you’re blindly trusting that browser extension.
If you download a malicious one, that code can wreak havoc. Suddenly, your default search engine gets changed, or you get redirected to a start page with malware on it. You might face an onslaught of pop-ups or ads. They can also track your browsing history without you knowing it.
That’s just the beginning
Many browsers today want to keep you safe from malevolent extensions. They’ll have permissions in place before allowing access. Yet you still end up giving that extension a lot of access. For example, an extension modifying google.com needs access to all your Google activity. That means your Gmail, too.
Browser extensions access everything you’re doing online. So, a malicious extension could also function as a keylogger capturing passwords or credit card details.
A browser extension can also be sold to or hijacked by a bad actor. Then, it’s easy enough for them to push out an update that turns your trusted extension into malware.
What to do about this issue
Does this mean you should do without browser extensions? There are even browser extensions out there to block other browser extensions, but abstinence from extensions is not your only solution.
Instead, we’d recommend reviewing the safety and credibility of that extension. This means you should:
Check to see who published the extension.
Look at the reviews. A high number of positive reviews is a good sign. Thousands of people are unlikely to give five stars to a malicious extension.
Pay attention to the permissions required. If an extension claims to modify only one website, check that it accesses that site only.
Protect yourself with a good antivirus solution.
Keep your antivirus solution and other software updated.
It’s also easier to stay safe by limiting the number of installed extensions you use. If you have browser extensions that you aren’t using, uninstall them. This can cut your exposure to potential threats.
Another way to secure your online activity? Work with our IT experts. We can check permissions and review your extensions. We’ll also ensure your antivirus and software are up to date. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
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