In today’s digital age, gaming has become more popular than ever before. With a vast array of platforms available, PC gaming stands out as a versatile and immersive experience that continues to captivate gamers worldwide. From stunning graphics to customizable hardware, PC gaming offers an unparalleled level of excitement and endless possibilities for both casual and hardcore gamers alike.
Superior Graphics Power and Performance
One of the most remarkable aspects of PC gaming is its ability to deliver stunning visuals and superior performance. With powerful processors, advanced graphics cards, high-resolution monitors, and extensive memory options, PCs can handle demanding games with ease. Gamers get to enjoy games with lifelike details, impressive shading effects, smoother frame rates, and realistic physics simulations—all contributing to an immersive gameplay experience that consoles often struggle to match.
Customization and Flexibility
PC gaming offers players the freedom to customize their hardware according to their preferences or budget constraints. Gamers can choose from a wide range of components, such as processors, graphic cards, RAM modules, cooling systems, etc., allowing them to optimize their setup for maximum performance or tailor it based on specific gameplay requirements.
Moreover, customization extends beyond hardware; players have access to modding communities where they can enhance game experiences by adding modifications created by fellow gamers or even creating their own mods. This level of flexibility empowers users with the ability to truly make a game their own.
Accessible Game Library
The availability of games is another major advantage that PC gaming provides over other platforms. With various digital distribution platforms like Steam or Epic Games Store at your disposal, along with independent storefronts like GOG.com or Itch.io, PC gamers have an immense library at their fingertips, encompassing both AAA titles from renowned developers as well as unique indie gems crafted by talented individuals.
Competitive Online Play
The online multiplayer scene in PC gaming thrives due to its competitive nature across multiple genres such as first-person shooters (FPS), strategy titles (RTS), multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA), and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), among others.
Thanks largely to precision mouse aiming mechanics along with customizable keyboard setups, including mechanical keyboards specifically designed for quick response times, PC gamers gain an edge when it comes down to intense PvP matches where split-second decisions matter most.
Community Interaction
The vibrant community surrounding PC gaming is another aspect that sets it apart from console counterparts such as the Xbox or PlayStation platforms. Forums dedicated explicitly to discussing various aspects of PC gaming, subreddits, and online communities provide a platform for gamers to connect, share experiences, seek advice or assistance, and participate in discussions about their favorite games. This sense of community adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the overall gaming experience, as players can engage with like-minded individuals who share their passion for PC gaming.
Additionally, the modding scene mentioned earlier fosters a sense of creativity and collaboration among gamers. Modders often work together to create new content or improvements for existing games, further enhancing the replayability and longevity of titles.
Conclusion
PC gaming offers an unparalleled level of power, customization options, game library access, competitive online play opportunities, and community interaction that makes it a compelling choice for avid gamers. The ability to experience visually stunning graphics paired with superior performance is an enticing aspect that continues to draw players towards PCs as their preferred gaming platform.
Whether you’re a casual gamer seeking diverse titles, or a hardcore enthusiast looking to immerse yourself in high-quality gameplay experiences, PC gaming provides endless possibilities and excitement that simply cannot be matched by other platforms. Twin Cities PC Repair will assist you in setting up your dream rig according to your preferences—because the world of PC gaming awaits!
To begin the process of building your power-packed gaming PC, contact Twin Cities PC Repair today at (651) 456-8655, or send us a message on our Contact form!
Level up your gaming experience with a custom-built PC! – 3/25/2024
Are you tired of lagging gameplay and slow load times on your current computer? It’s time to level up your gaming experience with a custom-built PC from our expert team! With our high-quality components and top-notch service, we guarantee you’ll see a noticeable difference in your gaming performance.
Why choose a custom-built PC from us? Here are just a few reasons:
1. Personalization: We work closely with you to understand your gaming needs and preferences, ensuring that your PC is tailored to your specific requirements.
2. Quality Components: We only use the best components from trusted brands to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
3. Performance Boost: Say goodbye to lagging gameplay and hello to smooth, fast-paced action with a custom-built PC designed to handle even the most demanding games.
4. Future-Proofing: Our PCs are built to last, with the option to easily upgrade components as technology advances, ensuring that your system stays up-to-date for years to come.
Take the next step towards gaming freedom
Ready to take your gaming experience to the next level? Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our team of expert builders. We’ll work with you every step of the way to create the perfect custom-built PC for your gaming needs.
Don’t settle for subpar performance any longer. Upgrade to a custom-built PC from us and experience the difference for yourself! Give Twin Cities PC Repair a call at (651) 456-8655, or send a message by visiting our Contact page today!
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.
Gaming on Laptop Dust: Life and Performance- 1/24/2023
Let’s be real: most gamers rely on performance and higher usage frequency to achieve success and move on to the next level. These are two factors to take into consideration when discussing why a computer, specifically a laptop, should be periodically cleaned. And I’m not talking about PUPs, bloatware, viruses, or other software stuff. I’m talking about hardware and dust and debris accumulation. And you can “game” the accumulation of dust at some point!
Here’s an example case
Last week I had a client come in with a high-end ASUS ROG gaming laptop. He complained about higher than normal operating temperatures, especially under higher than normal GPU loads. In my process of diagnosis, I opened up his laptop and noticed both the CPU and GPU fans were caked with dust, and the GPU fan was not spinning. My conclusion was that rather than clean the fans and heatsinks, the best plan of action, being that the GPU fan was bad, was to replace both the GPU and CPU fans. Most fans have a lifecycle, and it’s my belief that if a laptop has two fans, it’s always best to replace them both at the same time. They are rather inexpensive. This saves you the cost and effort of replacing the other fan shortly down the road. The client agreed, and we proceeded with the quotation for the work to be performed. In terms of fan replacement, traditional productivity laptops are fairly straightforward. However, higher-end gaming laptops are a bit more difficult and involved. There are multiple theories we can come up with as to why the GPU fan failed, but two theories come to mind in this case. 1.) The fan simply reached the end of its lifecycle. 2.) The buildup of dust and debris caused excessive heat and resistance on the fan. I’m more apt to think #2 was the case here based on the overall age of the laptop.
Not every case is the same
Now, I’m not saying that every case will require fan replacement. In most cases, you’ll only need thorough dust removal within the chassis. Taking a can of compressed air and blowing it through the laptop vents is absolutely the wrong approach. This just moves the dust around the inside of your computer, which blankets the motherboard. It can also cause dust to wad up in the fan’s spin zone, causing an obstruction. Doing the job the right way involves opening up the laptop chassis and disassembling down to the motherboard level, removing the fan(s), cleaning the fan(s), removing the heatsink, cleaning the fins on the heatsink, and removing and reapplying thermal grease to the GPU and CPU. We then reassemble the laptop and run it through a benchmark test to monitor temperature levels.
If you are experiencing excessive operating temperatures or fan noise and are unsure of the inner-workings of your computer, feel free to contact the professionals at Twin Cities PC Repair 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.
Do you remember Pong? Or Galaga? Games such as these are now the stuff of old-school arcades. The graphics may have been a far cry from what you’ll see today, but there’s one advantage those games had: there were no cybersecurity worries when playing them. After all, they weren’t online like today’s gaming.
Online video gaming is meant to be fun. Yet, regrettably, there are risks once you connect to the internet. Your gaming account has value to cybercriminals. They might target your account to:
use your connected real-world money account to make in-game purchases;
steal virtual valuables which have real-world cash value;
trade your in-game items to their accounts;
sell your account to others;
scam others using your legitimate account.
These are not hypotheticals. One cybersecurity firm researching gaming found that the typical gamer has experienced an average of almost five cyberattacks. Worse, they didn’t detect it.
It doesn’t help that the games themselves make it easier for hackers. Take Fortnite. There are 100 players in one wave. Their usernames display right there on the screen when Scammer72 goes for the kill shot. In other games, bad actors might access usernames by going to the game’s high-score listings. Plus, this gives them an idea of who might have the most valuable account inventory.
Level up your gaming security
There are several steps you can take to game more safely. One is going to be familiar: use strong passwords. As with any of your online accounts, set up complex passwords or use a passphrase that’s difficult to hack.
Also, don’t reuse a password you’re using elsewhere. That amplifies the risk of account breach when another account’s credentials leak.
You can also enable multi-factor authentication. Many gaming platforms allow you to set up layers of protection. For instance, you would enter not only your username and password but also a code sent to your personal device or your email. This makes it more difficult for a hacker to get in. They need access to your physical technology or more than one of your accounts at once.
Finally, be wary of malware and phishing attempts. This could be an official-looking communication apparently from the game manufacturer or support. Or you might fall prey to a scammer via in-game messaging or chat. You might think it’s a user you know, but their account may be hacked. Or you make a new “friend” online who does not have good intentions. Keep best practices for any online activity in mind. Don’t click on links without first verifying the source.
We want you to be able to escape into video gaming for fun without worry. Ask our IT experts to review your security. We can check you’re not going to become the victim of a heist because you wanted to play Grand Theft Auto. Contact us today at (651) 724-4419 or visit our Contact page.
Video gaming is an entertainment for all ages. The main demographic is 18-34 years, but those 34-54 are another big segment – even larger than the under-18 group – although the youngest group may spend the most hours gaming, especially during a pandemic. Regardless, PC gamers of any age want the most powerful, fastest computer they can get.
It’s difficult to beat the Boss Level of that favorite game if your computer is lagging. The horror! If you’re serious about gaming, consider the ideas in this article to achieve your next personal best.
The gaming industry is moving to Triple-A titles. Think Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty. These AAA video games are the equivalent of blockbuster movies. They take months to years for massive teams of people to develop, everything about such games is ambitious (even the price!). The graphics and animation are more immersive, the storylines offer hours of content and encourage open exploration, and the games have a grander scale and improved sound design, too.
All that requires more from your computer. Depending on the age of your computer, you may not need to replace it to power the latest, greatest games. Or you could upgrade to a more powerful video card. Adding more random access memory (RAM) might also take a computer up to the Triple-A level.
Troubleshooting the Home-Gaming PC
Whether you’re trying the Triple A game or not, you may run into other problems. A screen locks up, a system crashes, or you see weird graphics or wonky textures in a game. You shoot an opponent with a direct hit, and he takes the win. Any of these problems can ruin your gaming experience.
Various issues cause these headaches for home gamers. Regrettably, they can be difficult to diagnose. The problems might be tied to:
Overheating – Modify your power settings, and make sure the computer is getting enough air flow;
Driver issues – Games crashing could mean the latest video drivers aren’t installed;
File corruption – Reinstalling the game could help;
Unstable internet connection – Consider moving to a wired Ethernet connection.
Running too many programs on your PC can also cause games to run less smoothly. Close out other programs. Free up disk space if you can. Also, putting the game’s graphics on a lower setting can make them less resource-intensive.
Build Your Own Gaming PC
If you decide it’s time to get a new gaming PC, a popular option now is to custom-build your own. Our experts can do that for you! When you customize your own gaming PC, you get a computer that matches exactly what you’re trying to do.
Don’t settle for a sale computer using lower-quality parts and offering limited upgradability. Avoid buying a brand-name computer pre-loaded with bloatware. Instead, our technicians can help you pick the processing and other parts to personalize your system, even down to the color of the fans or console lights.
Our IT experts can bring your PC up to speed, get you back in the game at full power, and build you the perfect customized PC. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655! Or, visit our Contact page.
A Custom-Built Computer Can Be a Good Deal – 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 computer. Call (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
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Here’s an example case
vents is absolutely the wrong approach. This just moves the dust around the inside of your computer, which blankets the motherboard. It can also cause dust to wad up in the fan’s spin zone, causing an obstruction. Doing the job the right way involves opening up the laptop chassis and disassembling down to the motherboard level, removing the fan(s), cleaning the fan(s), removing the heatsink, cleaning the fins on the heatsink, and removing and reapplying thermal grease to the GPU and CPU. We then reassemble the laptop and run it through a benchmark test to monitor temperature levels.
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