Rabu, 10 Juni 2020

Lenovo Yoga C640 review: The ultimate laptop for students?

Lenovo Yoga C640 review: The ultimate laptop for students? "The Lenovo Yoga C640 is a killer value for students and budget-level laptop buyers."
  • Great battery life
  • Clean, portable design
  • Excellent display for the price
  • Tremendous value
  • Solid build quality
  • Keyboard is a little shallow
  • No Thunderbolt 3 port
  • There's no need to spend over a thousand bucks on your next laptop. That's especially true if you're a college student or someone who favors Office apps.

    Lenovo apparently agrees, as its new $600 Yoga C640 is targeted specifically at that demographic. That's a mighty attractive price for a laptop that presents very few compromises.

    Unlike its adventurous predecessor, the Yoga C640 is a tried-and-true Intel laptop, packing a 10th-gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. Has Lenovo made the best laptop you can buy at this price?

    Design image

    The Yoga C640 boasts an all-aluminum construction that belies its budget pricing. There's a tiny bit of flex in the keyboard tray and bottom of the chassis, and none on the lid. It doesn't quite live up to the build quality of some other Yoga models, like the much more expensive Yoga C930.

    The lid can almost be opened with one hand, with just a little bit of friction lifting the chassis bottom off the surface of the desk. But this is a 360-degree convertible 2-in-1, meaning the display swings around from clamshell to tent, media, and tablet modes. The tight hinge does a good job of keeping the display in place in all these modes.

    The Yoga C640 feels more elegant and modern than most $600 laptops.

    Like many Yogas today, the aesthetic is fairly conservative. It's a gunmetal gray color with zero bling; you won't find a stitch of chrome on the laptop, other than a small patch that surrounds the logo. It won't stand out in a crowd, especially not compared to laptops like HP's gem-cut Spectre x360 13, which screams "look at me!" Compared to the $650 Acer Swift 3 with its typical silver chassis, though, the Yoga C640 strikes me as having a more elegant and modern design. The same is true when it's compared to the $560 HP Pavilion x360, which isn't as refined and trim as the Yoga C640.

    The Yoga C640 isn't the smallest 13-inch laptop around. To begin with, the bezels aren't huge, but they're not as small as you'll find on the Spectre x360 13 or the Dell XPS 13. That makes the chassis a bit larger than those of very tiny 13-inch laptops. The Yoga C640 is quite thin, though. It measures 0.67 inches thick, which is identical to the Spectre x360 and only slightly thicker than the XPS 13. The Yoga C640 weighs 2.98 pounds compared to the HP at 2.88 pounds and the Dell at 2.8 pounds. It compares well in portability to these high-end laptops, despite being much cheaper.

    image

    The Yoga C640 gets the same kind of privacy shutter for the webcam that adorns the ThinkPad line. This one is dubbed the TrueBlock Privacy Shutter and it works similarly — just slide it over to physically block the webcam. I prefer HP's button on the Spectre x360 13 that electronically turns off the webcam, leaving nothing in the system for hackers to access if you want to turn off the 720p webcam.

    Connectivity is mediocre even for a budget ultralight. There are two USB-A 3.1 ports, a USB-C 3.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. There's no Thunderbolt 3 port — not that we expect one at this price — and no microSD card reader, which is disappointing. Wireless connectivity is also a step behind at Wi-Fi 5 (rather than the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard) and Bluetooth 5.0.

    Keyboard and touchpad image

    If you like the typical Lenovo Yoga keyboard, then you'll love the one on the Yoga C640. Like always, it has plenty of spacing and a crisp mechanism. The travel is a little too shallow for my tastes, but I consistently hit about 90% of my usual 90 words a minute or so. I still prefer the HP Spectre x360's keyboard, and the new Magic Keyboard on the newest Apple MacBooks is my absolute favorite.

    The touchpad works well too, thanks to Microsoft Precision Touchpad drivers and a smooth and comfortable surface. It's not a large touchpad, but it does take up most of the available space below the keyboard for a modern, efficient design.

    As with all 2-in-1s, the display is touch-enabled and as precise as expected. Lenovo has built in support for its active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity (the pen itself is a $69 option). That's acceptable at this price point, and while I didn't get a chance to test inking on the Yoga C640, I suspect it will be as good as it is on the rest of the Yoga line.

    Windows 10 Hello password-less login support is provided by a fingerprint reader on the upper-right of the keyboard deck. It's very accurate and quite fast — I never had to repeat a swipe to log into the Yoga C640. Once again, Lenovo has built a valuable feature into a nicely priced laptop.

    Display image

    One area where budget laptops often fall short is display quality. And that makes sense — manufacturers need to cut costs somewhere to fit into a budget price range. After so much good news with the Yoga C640, I approached the display test with some trepidation.

    As it turns out, I needn't have been concerned. According to my colorimeter, Lenovo chose an average display — that is, an average display for premium laptops. For a $600 laptop, it's excellent. Colors weren't particularly wide at 73% of AdobeRGB and 96% of sRGB, but they're adequate for all but the most demanding photo and video editors.

    Contrast was very good at 1040:1, which is above our preferred 1000:1 threshold, and color accuracy was outstanding for a budget laptop at 1.07 (anything under 1.0 is considered excellent). The ZenBook 13 UX333's display had slightly more colors and contrast, but the Yoga's display was more accurate, though neither would please creative professionals. Brightness was its weakness point at 242 nits. I like to see displays hit at least 300 nits for good visuals in brightly lit environments.

    Nevertheless, the Yoga C640's display is pleasant for both productivity work and watching Netflix. The latter was made more enjoyable by audio that, though short on bass as usual, was loud and clear and featured clear mids and highs. You'll want to plug in headphones for the best music quality, but you can flip the display around and enjoy some Netflix bingeing without worrying about attaching any external sound.

    Performance image

    When switching from the Qualcomm 650 ARM CPU of the C730 to an Intel Core processor, you can expect a leap in performance. The dual-core Core i3 is the entry-level model in Intel's current Core lineup, not quite meeting the standard four cores you see in premium laptops. However, it runs Windows 10 faster than an ARM CPU and doesn't give up compatibility with legacy desktop applications and peripherals.

    I couldn't do much of a direct objective comparison between the two processors because not all of our benchmarks run on ARM. I ran Geekbench 4 on the Yoga C640 and it doubled the Yoga C630's performance on the single-core test and was more than 30% faster on the multi-core test. The Core i3's score of 4,670 single-core and 8,750 multi-core puts it well behind the next level of Core CPU, the Core i5, which scores over 15,000 on the multi-core test. A laptop like the Lenovo Yoga C740 equipped with the Core i5 is significantly faster on more demanding workloads and multitasking.

    For office workers and students, the Yoga C640 will be plenty fast.

    The Yoga C640 took almost 6.5 minutes to complete our Handbrake test that converts a 4K 420MB video to H.265. The Yoga C740 finished 2 minutes faster. Our previous budget leader laptop, the Asus ZenBook UX333, finished in roughly the same time with its 8th-gen Core i5. Suffice to say that this entry-level Yoga C640 isn't made for running heavy applications.

    While it's far from the fastest laptop I've tested, I found it plenty quick for my usual work. For regular office workers and students, the Yoga C640 will be plenty fast to keep up with their work. Keep in mind, though, that for just $170 more, you can upgrade to a 1oth-gen quad-core Core i5 and a 256GB SSD, maintaining the laptop's budget aspect while significantly increasing the performance and storage. That puts it about $100 less than the comparably equipped (8th-gen) ZenBook UX333.

    Note that if you're a gamer, this isn't the laptop for you. You're limited to Intel UHD graphics, which will let you play older titles at lower resolutions and graphical detail but will choke on anything modern.

    Battery life image

    Next up is battery life, the principal strength of the Yoga C640's predecessor. This year's model is still equipped with the same 60 watt-hours of battery life and sports a CPU that — on paper — might be less efficient. I was, therefore, looking forward to seeing how it compared in our standard battery tests.

    The results were fascinating. First, in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test that stresses the CPU, the Yoga C640 lasted around 3.5 hours, an average score for a Windows 10 laptop. The Yoga C630 lasted for almost 9 hours, a spectacular score. It was slower running the benchmark, but it shows that ARM CPUs can sip power even while being stressed. The ZenBook 13 UX333 lasted for almost 5 hours on this test, making it a longer-lasting option for demanding work.

    You can watch video on the Yoga C640 for an astounding 24 hours on a single charge.

    In our web-browsing test, which is a good indicator of general productivity longevity, the Yoga C640 lasted about 10.5 hours, an hour behind the Yoga C630. Again, the Yoga C640 scored well for a Windows 10 laptop — it beats out the Acer Swift 3's 8 hours, for example — but it's not in a different class entirely. It's when I ran our video test that loops a 1080p Avengers trailer until the battery gave out that the Yoga C640 shocked me. It ran for just over 23 hours, the best score we've seen in this test. That even beat the very expensive Dell Latitude 7400, our previous leader, by a full 80 minutes.

    The conclusion: if you want to watch video on the Yoga C640, you'll be able to do so for almost an entire 24 hours, which is remarkable. If you're doing standard productivity work, then you'll get a full day's work out of the laptop.

    Our take

    The Lenogo Yoga C640 is an excellent laptop at $600, and a very good budget option at $770 if you upgrade to a Core i5 and 256GB of storage. It's well-built, has great input options, offers good productivity performance and superior battery life for the price, and looks good, too.

    It's so good, in fact, that it replaces the Asus ZenBook UX333 as our favorite budget laptop. The fact that you're getting the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for less money is just icing on the cake.

    Are there any alternatives?

    The ZenBook UX333 is a competitive option if you just want a clamshell laptop. Hopefully, Asus will update it to 10th-gen CPUs, because being limited to 8th-gen parts holds it back.

    If you can spend more money, then the HP Spectre x360 13 is a great 2-in-1 alternative. It's faster, has a better display option with its OLED panel, and is one of the sharpest laptops around.

    If you're looking for a laptop with a 360-degree hinge, I recommend the HP Spectre x360. It's small and refined like the Dell XPS 13, and it's a bit cheaper.

    Finally, if you're a MacOS fan, then you could consider the new MacBook Air. It's faster, has the excellent Magic Keyboard, and comes as close to budget pricing as you'll find in Apple's lineup.

    How long will it last?

    The Yoga C640 will last as long as you'll need it to, thanks to up-to-date components and a solid build. The only real limitation is the lack of Thunderbolt 3 support, but you just can't expect that high-speed port at just$600. The 1-year warranty is standard and disappointing, as usual.

    Should you buy it?

    Yes. The Yoga C640 is a fuss-free laptop set at an attractive price.

    Editors' Recommendations

    Lenovo Yoga C640 Review

    Selasa, 09 Juni 2020

    This portable dual monitor is the most affordable way to add a second screen to your laptop

    Teleworking is transforming from a niche to a large chunk of the modern workforce. Instead of missing your office space and computer setup, you should try to enhance your home office. A second screen is a strong and sensible choice for most career fields, from budget analysts breaking down spreadsheets to a teacher constructing lesson plans and presentations. 

    Deal price: $179 | Original price: $249 2020-06-09-at-9-38-31-am.jpg

    The Mobile Pixels DUEX Pro Portable Dual Monitor is currently on sale for $179.35 (marked down from $249) when you use code SAVEDUEXPRO at checkout at ZDNet Academy.

    The DUEX Pro allows you the space to work on multiple projects but without a cumbersome, traditional second monitor. Instead, this one is lightweight and portable and features flexible, 270-degree rotation and dual-side sliding so you can put a personal touch on your setup.

    DUEX Pro is also energy efficient and, don't be fooled by its size and look, it's exceptionally durable. The 12.5-inch monitor, with a high-quality 1080p screen, can help keep your career on an upward trajectory at home, in a coffee shop, or wherever you'd like. 

    DUEX Pro is compatible with Macintosh and Windows, and comes with the monitor, two USB cables and 12 metal adhesive plates for three laptops. 

    $179 at ZDNet Academy

    "This is so handy," one DUEX Pro user Kent O. said, in a five-star online review. "Easy to slide on and off. Good spectrum of view. But more (than) anything I cannot get over how crisp and clear the image is. It is better than my laptop monitor."

    Spending about $180 now -- don't forget to use "SAVEDUEXPRO" at checkout -- could save you hundreds of dollars overall and is a lot easier than hauling home your work monitor. 

    Make sure you're prepared to thrive in the new remote work reality rather than scrape by with one overcrowded screen. DUEX Pro is a wise choice. 

    TOP 5: Best Portable Monitor 2020

    Senin, 08 Juni 2020

    Laptop Cooling Pads Market Booming Demand Leading To Exponential Cagr Growth By 2026

    The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

    Jun 08, 2020 (Market Insight Reports) -- Laptop Cooling Pads Market Size, Status, Business Future Scenarios and Brief Analysis 2020-2026

    The "Global Laptop Cooling Pads Market Report 2026" offers a clear understanding of the subject matter. The report has been gathered using principal and subordinate research methodologies. Both these methods are directed towards cooperating accurate and meticulous data concerning the market dynamics, historical events, and the current market landscape. Additionally, the report includes a SWOT analysis that concludes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats impacting the segment of the overall market.

    Laptop Cooling Pads Market is growing at a High CAGR during the forecast period 2020-2026. The increasing interest of the individuals in this industry is the major reason for the expansion of this market.

    Top Leading Companies of Global Laptop Cooling Pads Market are Targus, Honeywell, Cooler Master, Thermaltake Technology, GIGA-BYTE Technology, Zalman Tech, Logitech, Zebronics, Portronics, HAVIT, Antec, Belkin International, NZXT

    Get Sample Copy of this Report:

    https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/03211919707/global-laptop-cooling-pads-market-research-report-2020/inquiry?source=TMP&mode=51

    A laptop cooling pad is one of the hardware accessories that is used to decrease the heat of the system. It is placed beneath the laptop to avoid overheating of the system by reducing the operating temperature.Various industry verticals are one of the key opportunities in the laptop cooling pad market. Various industry verticals, such as manufacturing, retail and wholesale, IT and ITES, banking and financial sector, and others, are adopting high-performance laptops. Hence, an increase in laptop market growth will have a positive impact on the growth of the laptop cooling pad market.

    Global Laptop Cooling Pads Market Split by Product Type and Applications:

    This report segments the global Laptop Cooling Pads Market based on Types is:

    Active Cooling Pad (With Fan)Passive Cooling Pad

    This report segments the Global Laptop Cooling Pads Market based on Applications is:

    ResidentialCommercial

    Regional Analysis for Laptop Cooling Pads Market:

    For a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the Global Laptop Cooling Pads Market is analyzed across key geographies namely North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central & South America. Each of these regions is analyzed based on market findings across major countries in these regions for a macro-level understanding of the market.

    Explore Full Report With Detailed TOC Here:

    https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/03211919707/global-laptop-cooling-pads-market-research-report-2020?source=TMP&mode=51

    The market factors explained in the report:

    Market Overview: It includes Laptop Cooling Pads Market study scope, top key players, segments, market analysis by application, market analysis by type, and other chapters that give an overview of the research study.

    Executive Summary: The Laptop Cooling Pads market report evaluated key market features, including revenue, price, capacity, capacity utilization rate, gross, production, production rate, consumption, import/export, supply/demand, cost, market share, CAGR, and gross margin. Also, the study offers a comprehensive study of the key market dynamics and their latest trends, along with pertinent market segments and sub-segments.

    Regional Study: All of the regions and countries analyzed in the Laptop Cooling Pads Market report is studied based on market size by application, the market size by product, key players, and market forecast.

    Key Players: This part of the Laptop Cooling Pads Market report discusses expansion plans of companies, key mergers and acquisitions, funding and investment analysis, company establishment dates, revenues of manufacturers, and their areas served and manufacturing bases.

    Market Forecast: Here, the report offers a complete forecast of the global Laptop Cooling Pads Market by product, application, and region. It also offers global sales and revenue forecasts for all years of the forecast period.

    All the reports that we list have been tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the market. Both upstream and downstream of the entire supply chain has been accounted for while doing this. Also, where possible, we will provide an additional COVID-19 update supplement/report to the report in Q3, please check for with the sales team.

    Contact Us:

    Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) - Market Insights Reports

    Phone: + 1704 266 3234 | +91-750-707-8687

    sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com

    This Press Release has been written with the intention of providing accurate market information which will enable our readers to make informed strategic investment decisions. If you notice any problem with this content, please feel free to reach us on editorial@themarketpublicist.com

    COMTEX_366655711/2599/2020-06-08T07:59:59

    Is there a problem with this press release? Contact the source provider Comtex at editorial@comtex.com. You can also contact MarketWatch Customer Service via our Customer Center.

    The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.

    Cheap Laptop Cooling Pad In Bd | Best Place To Buy Laptop Cooling Pad In Dhaka | NabenVlogs

    Minggu, 07 Juni 2020

    Lenovo launches new $230 Chromebook 3 $330 Chromebook Flex 3i 11.6-inch laptops

    image

    Lenovo has generated plenty of hype around its new IdeaPad Duet Chromebook, a 10-inch tablet with included Bluetooth keyboard for just $279, but appears to be much more low-key in rolling out its even (slightly) newer Chromebook 3 and Chromebook Flex 3i systems. Their launch earlier this week didn't even garner a press release, just landing on the Lenovo website to be sussed out by online sleuths (like Chrome Unboxed).

    Part of the reason for the quiet introduction may owe to the basic nature of the new Chromebooks, neither of which includes any standout features other than maybe their budget-friendly starting prices. Both models come with Intel Celeron N4020 processors, 4GB of RAM, and 11.6-inch 1,366x768 displays -- just the type of no-nonsense components that Google envisioned when it launched the Chromebook concept way back when.

    The Flex 3i, however, is a 2-in-1 laptop, so you get a touchscreen, ability to use it as a tablet, and an attached full keyboard for not much more than the IdeaPad Duet. For those who like the hybrid appeal of the Duet, but lean more towards laptop than tablet usage, the Flex 3i could be an enticing alternative. On the other hand, the Chromebook 3 appeals to the traditional market for clamshell-design Chromebook laptops, particularly students, many of whom will increasingly rely on remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Chromebook 3 is currently available in just a single configuration (including 64GB of storage) for a very affordable $229.99 price. The base configuration for the Flex 3i comes with just 32GB of storage for  $329.99 (or $50 more than the IdeaPad Duet), but you can pay only $10 more to get 64GB instead.   

    Jumat, 05 Juni 2020

    How To Build A Gaming PC Guide 2020: All Parts And Complete Build

    The PC is the most powerful gaming platform out there. A strong gaming computer has the potential for higher resolutions, faster frame rates, and better visuals than current consoles can even come close to achieving. It can be very tempting to build your own gaming PC, but if you don't know where to start, it can also be quite intimidating and turn you off entirely. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be that way. PCs are much easier to build than they were in the past, and while it's not as easy as putting together a Lego spaceship, you don't have to be scared of it.

    That's why we've put together this straightforward guide on how to build a gaming PC. It's intended for those who are a little wary of building their first PC or just need a little refresher of the steps to doing so. We'll cover everything from the prep phase and picking parts to the actual parts like the CPU, GPU, motherboard, CPU cooler, hard drive (and yes, of course, which SSD you should throw in there) build and beyond. Of course, due to the current pandemic, many online stores are experiencing product shortages and shipping delays that could interfere with your PC build, so be sure to check the estimated delivery date when ordering from stores like Newegg or Amazon.

    Actually picking your parts can be daunting, especially when you factor in compatibility and power consumption. There are a lot of things to consider, partially because many of your components may rely on your CPU being either from Intel or AMD. Thankfully, PC Part Picker is an invaluable resource that you should absolutely refer to when building a PC. We used the website to build our rig and highly recommend using it for yours. It makes it easy to stay within your budget and lets you know if your components are compatible with each other--it'll even make suggestions if there are issues with your chosen parts.

    If you're looking for some accessories to round out your new gaming rig, check out the best gaming mice, best gaming headset, best capture card for streaming, best gaming keyboard, and best budget gaming monitors.

    Fortunately, you don't need many tools or extra parts to build your PC--almost everything you need will be included in your components' boxes. However, there are a few items you'll need to have ready before you start building your PC.

    Screwdrivers:

    For the vast majority of your build, you'll be using a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver, but if you're installing M.2 SSDs into your motherboard, then you'll want to use a smaller No. 1 Phillips screwdriver for that.

    Flashlight:

    Thankfully, nearly every smartphone on the market can be used as a flashlight, and you'll likely need it when installing certain cables and components into your case.

    Thermal paste:

    You'll want a tube of thermal paste to keep your CPU's temperature low during use. Most CPU coolers come with thermal paste already applied, which means you won't need any extra. However, if you do end up buying a tube of thermal paste, you can clean the cooler's paste off and use your own.

    Terms to know

    We've attempted to simplify the process of building a gaming PC as much as possible here, but if you're not familiar with PC hardware, some of the terms in this guide may need some clarification. We've briefly explained some of the parts and terminology we'll be using below. Feel free to reference this section as you work on your build.

    GPU: GPU stands for graphics processing unit; another name for a graphics card. This will handle displaying images on your PC. The more elaborate and complex these images are, the more power you'll need from your graphics card. The two big names in the graphics card game are Nvidia and AMD.

    CPU: The CPU (central processing unit, also known as a processor) handles all of the processes and calculations on your PC. For your PC, you'll choose a CPU from either Intel or AMD.

    Motherboard: The motherboard is where all of the components are installed, allowing them to work together and perform their functions properly.

    SATA: SATA is a type of connection, like USB, that is used for hard drives and SSDs to transfer data

    PCIe: PCIe is another type of connection, though it's most commonly used for graphics cards and M.2 SSDs

    NVMe: NVMe is a type of connection protocol that can be supported by M.2 SSDs. This provides much faster access to saving and accessing data.

    M.2 SSD: An M.2 SSD is a small stick that provides your PC with storage space. You can get a SATA-based M.2 SSD or a PCIe-based M.2 SSD, the latter of which can support NVMe.

    RAM: The RAM (or random access memory) is used to store data and information that is being processed by the CPU. The more RAM you have--paired with a good-quality processor--the faster your PC can perform its various functions.

    Cooling system: The cooling system is used to protect the CPU from overheating.

    PSU: The PSU (or power supply) supplies your PC and its various components with power.

    OS: OS stands for operating system. Most gaming PCs will utilize Windows 10--it's what we suggest--though some people may want to install Linux.

    A look at some gaming PC builds

    We've included a breakdown of our recommended PC build alongside a much more affordable gaming PC build. This should give you an idea of the vast price range you can expect when starting to build your first PC. More expensive PC builds will absolutely rock your bank account, but they're more likely to be future-proofed--you won't need to upgrade the PC's components for quite some time, and when you do, you likely won't need to upgrade more than your graphics card. The cheaper PCs can still provide an excellent experience at a much more affordable price, but you may need to upgrade it more often if you want to keep up with new releases. Either way, you're sure to have a fantastic gaming experience, as long as you keep your expectations in check with your budget. Keep in mind that many a PC build these days lacks an optical drive (since actual disk usage is rare nowadays), but you always add one later if you need one.

    Our gaming PC build

    Exact price: $3,050

    $1,000 gaming PC build

    Exact price: $1,019

    How to build a gaming PCStep 1: Prepare your motherboard

    Parts used: Motherboard

    image

    Assembling the motherboard outside of the case will make your whole experience much easier to deal with. Our general rule of thumb is to install as many parts as possible before screwing it into your case. An important thing to note before starting on your motherboard is that you should refer to its manual as often as possible, as your specific motherboard may suggest specific ways or places to install your components. Also, keep in mind that certain parts will require some force when plugging them in, while others simply just need to be placed into their respective spots. Please pay close attention to the following instructions before installing your components.

    The first thing you'll want to do is make sure you're assembling your PC on a flat surface. Don't build it on a carpet--the mixture of static electricity and your PC's parts is a dangerous combination and could cause damage to your components. It's unlikely to happen, but we still suggest touching your metal case from time to time to help ground yourself and avoid this from happening.

    Instead, build your rig in a room with hardwood or laminate floors like a dining room or kitchen--we even went the extra mile and took our socks off. Take your motherboard out of its packaging and then place it on a flat surface. You can lay it directly on your table, but we personally placed it on top of its box to avoid scratching our desk. At this point, you're ready to start.

    Step 2: Install the CPU

    Parts used: CPU, motherboard

    image

    The easiest part of your entire build is also the first: installing our AMD Ryzen CPU. Your motherboard's CPU socket will be protected by a piece of plastic, which you'll be able to remove when you open the tray. All you need to do is gently push down on the tray's metal arm and pull it out. Once it's free of the tray, lift it up to open the socket and the protective plastic will fall out. Be sure to keep this plastic piece in case of any issues with your motherboard, as you'll need to reinsert it before sending it back to the manufacturer.

    At this point, your CPU socket tray should be open, allowing you to install your CPU on to your motherboard. Your CPU should have some small half-circle indents in its board. The CPU socket is designed to fill these indents, making it easy to line up your CPU and install it properly. Once you've figured out how to place your CPU into its socket, do so gently. Do not apply pressure directly on the CPU--simply close the tray and make sure the metal arm is locked into its original position, which may require a bit of force.

    Step 3: Install M.2 SSD(s)

    Parts used: M.2 SSD(s), motherboard

    image

    M.2 SSDs are another easy step in the process, but don't forget to reference your manual to find out which M.2 slots you should use first. Your motherboard may have protective thermal guards on your M.2 slots, so remove those first. Once you've taken any guards off the motherboard, you can slot in your M.2 SSDs. These require a little bit of force to slot into their respective slots, but don't push too hard--they should slide in quite easily. Once the M.2 SSDs are in their slots, the opposite end should be pointing upward at a diagonal angle. At this point, you take the respective screw (that is often included with your motherboard), push each M.2 SSD down, and screw them into the appropriate spots. At this point, you can take the thermal guard and place it on top of each M.2 SSD, screwing it back into place.

    Step 4: Install the RAM

    Parts used: RAM, motherboard

    image

    This is another step where you'll want to reference your motherboard's manual, which should be able to tell you which order to place the RAM in. If you have four slots and only two sticks of RAM, then you should make sure the two sticks are spaced apart in either the first and third slot or second and fourth--your motherboard manual can advise you here. Placing your RAM apart like this will help you get the most out of your CPU. First off, be sure to flip down the plastic clips on both sides of each slot you plan on using. Inserting the RAM requires more force, but make sure you start small and then ramp up your pressure gradually. When you hear a click, your RAM is in its slot. This should cause the plastic clips to flip up, gripping your RAM. If you notice your clips haven't flipped up, then your RAM may not be seated properly.

    Step 5: Get your case ready for your motherboard

    Parts used: Case

    image

    It's almost time to throw your motherboard into your case, but first you'll need to screw in some standoff screws that you'll place your motherboard onto before screwing it in. These standoffs will come with your motherboard, and once you've located them, you can start screwing them into your case. There should be about a dozen holes for the standoffs to fit into. Refer to your case's manual if you're having trouble finding them. Once the standoffs are screwed in, you're ready to insert your motherboard.

    Step 6: Install your motherboard into your case

    Parts used: Motherboard, case

    image

    The standoffs make it easy to place your motherboard into your case, but don't start screwing it in straight away. There should be a space on the back of your case for your motherboard's I/O ports to fit into. It'll be a rectangle, and you'll want your motherboard to be inserted comfortably into this space so that you can access all of the ports. Once everything fits, you can start screwing your motherboard onto the standoffs with the appropriate screws. Don't forget that you don't want to screw anything too tightly. Just turn your screwdriver until everything is securely tightened, and then you're ready to move on.

    Step 7: Install your power supply (PSU)

    Parts used: Power supply, case, motherboard

    image

    Installing the power supply into your case is often quite easy. You'll want to refer to your specific case's manual for this, but it's pretty straightforward. First, we took our case's mounting bracket and screwed it onto the back of our power supply. You'll notice your power supply also sports a fan, which is used to circulate air. If you're planning on placing your finished gaming PC on a hardwood floor or desk, then feel free to aim this fan downward; if you're placing your gaming PC on a carpeted floor, then you'll want to aim the fan upward.

    Once you've figured out which way your PSU needs to be oriented, and screwed on the mounting bracket, you can easily slide it into your case and tighten the bracket's screws. Depending on how much room you have for your PSU, you may want to hold off on screwing it in until you've plugged in all of its various power cables.

    Step 8: Connect any SATA hard drives/SSDs

    Parts used: SATA drives, case, power supply

    image

    Now that the power supply is installed, you can start connecting any SATA hard drives or SSDs. Your case should have a specific bay area dedicated to holding these kinds of drives. Locate this area, then look for two metal clasps on the left and right side of each bay. Squeeze these clasps and then pull the bay out. Here is where you'll be able to screw in your SATA drive and keep it stable inside your case. Once this is done, you'll want to reinsert the bay into its place, and then plug a SATA and PSU cable into your hard drive. Find the SATA slot on your motherboard and plug the other side of the appropriate cable into it, then plug the other side of the PSU cable into your power supply. Your drive is now installed, though you will need to format it once your PC is up and running.

    Step 9: Plug your case and power cables into the motherboard

    Parts used: Case, power supply, motherboard

    image

    Now, you're ready to start plugging cables into your motherboard. This part requires some patience, as your case cables are extremely tiny and can be difficult to orient. You'll want to reference both your case and motherboard manuals during this step. Some motherboards, like our Aorus Ultra, come with a bus that you can plug the case cables into before inserting them into the motherboard. This makes this step much easier.

    Your case cables make it so you can use the various ports on the front of your PC in addition to the power button itself. Of course, nothing is going to happen when you press that button if you don't plug your PSU into your motherboard. You'll want to plug the 24-pin ATX and EPS12V cables into their respective spots on both the motherboard and PSU. You'll be plugging in all of your power cables into the PSU, including fans, SATA drives, and your cooling system.

    Step 10: Install your CPU cooling system

    Parts used: Cooling system, CPU, motherboard

    image

    Installing your cooling system can be a somewhat nerve-wracking experience, particularly when applying the thermal paste, but it's a lot easier than it sounds. The first thing you need to do is mount the system's bracket to the motherboard. You'll need access to the back of the motherboard tray, as you'll be screwing part of it to the back of the tray. This'll give you the spots you need to set the cooler's pump onto your CPU and motherboard. Before you do this, however, there are a few other steps.

    Liquid-based CPU cooling systems come with a radiator equipped with fans, which you'll want to screw into your case. Of course, you'll need to figure out where you want to install it. We recommend screwing it into your case's top grill, as it'll allow for more airflow, but some cases may not have a top grill, and you'll need to install it on the back of the case. Once you figure out what position you're going to go with, you'll screw the radiator into the grill itself. Once you're done this, you're ready to attach the pump.

    First, you'll want to apply some thermal paste. Some coolers come with thermal paste already applied; if that's the case, your cooler's thermal paste is most likely capable of handling the job, and you may be able to skip this next step. You can also easily remove the cooler's paste with a dry cloth if you bought thermal paste you'd rather go with. You'll want to apply a pea-sized glob of thermal paste into the center of your CPU. During this step, always go smaller than bigger. Once applied, you can press the cooler into its position on the CPU and thermal paste. If you feel like you've accidentally applied too much thermal paste, don't worry: It's as easy as wiping the CPU off with a dry cloth and rubbing alcohol and trying again.

    Once the pump is installed, you'll want to make sure all of your cooling system's wires are plugged into the right spots. Our particular cooler required us to plug a micro-USB cable into our pump and the other side into our motherboard.

    Step 11: Start cable management

    Parts used: Case

    Before we move on to the last step of physically building your PC, you may want to do some cable management to clean up. This'll create some room for air circulation and accessing your components if you ever want to upgrade later. Most cases come with Velcro straps or zip ties, but I always keep a bag of Velcros on hand just in case. The case we went with, Fractal's Meshify C, includes an awesome area for cable management that's equipped with a series of Velcro straps. It's located on the back of the motherboard tray. We were able to slide all of our cables into this space and keep it all fastened up nicely.

    The only zip ties we used were for our CPU cooling system's wires, which were thin and plentiful. This made it easier for us to orient them through the holes in our case to reach our desired spot. Just make sure you don't over-tighten your zip ties as doing so could damage your cables.

    Step 12: Install your graphics card

    Parts used: Graphics card, motherboard

    image

    Finally, it's time to discuss the component you're probably the most excited about. The graphics card is easy to install. First, you'll need to remove an appropriate number of expansion slot inserts from the back of your case to fit your graphics card. This will vary depending on which GPU you go with, but two is usually the safe number--our MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti takes up two. Once you unscrew and remove them, figure out which PCIe Express slot you'll need to insert your card into, then flip its plastic notch at the far end of the slot downward to prepare for installation. At this point, all you need to do is line up the graphics card with the PCIe Express slot and then push down until the plastic notch flips up and clicks. Again, you don't need a lot of force to push it in, but you will need to push the graphics card into its slot until you get that click. Once you hear that, you can screw your graphics card's mounting brackets into the case using the expansion slot's screws and holes.

    At this point, you need to plug your graphics card into your power supply to give it power. (Low-end graphics cards don't typically require extra power, so if that's what you're working with, you're good to skip this step.) Take the appropriate cables included with your power supply and plug one end into the graphics card; then, plug the other into the PSU. It's okay if there are parts of the cables that go unused--just make sure every port on the graphics card has part of the cable plugged in.

    Step 13: Install your OS

    Parts used: USB thumb drive, case

    image

    Once you've ensured a tidy PC with all of your cables managed, you should connect an HDMI cable to your PC and plug the other end into a monitor. Plug the power cable into your PSU and the other end into an outlet; then, flip the power switch on the back of your PC to its "On" position. Press the power button on your PC, and if it turns on, you're almost good to go.

    At this point, you'll need another PC and a fast USB drive of at least 8GB--we suggest the SanDisk Extreme Pro. You'll then want to head over to Microsoft and follow the steps provided there. This will help you create an installation device out of your USB drive, which you can plug into your PC before booting it up. Upon starting your PC, it should go straight into the Windows 10 installation process. Follow the steps here and wait for it to install. Once you're done, you should be good to go, though you will need to buy a proper license for Windows 10 from Microsoft. If you do this from your new PC, it'll activate automatically. On this is all setup, you're good to go, barring the installation of an optical drive, if you chose to get one.

    If your PC doesn't turn on

    If your PC doesn't boot, don't worry: It's certainly not the end of the world. There are a number of things that can cause a PC to not boot up on your first try, and save for any product malfunctions, they're easily solvable. Here are a few things you can do to troubleshoot your powerless PC.

    Is the power supply plugged into an outlet?

    This is a simple fix. Just plug your PC into an outlet, and you should be good to go.

    Is the power supply's switch turned on?

    Make sure you've flipped your PSU's switch into the 'On' position before powering on. This is an easily overlooked issue with a solution that's just as easy.

    Are your power supply cables seated in the motherboard properly?

    This is the next thing you should double-check. Reconnecting the cables could be what you need to finally deliver power to your PC.

    Are your case's cables plugged into your motherboard properly?

    It's important to get this step right because if you push your case's power button and its specific cable isn't plugged in correctly, it won't be able to start your PC. Some motherboards come with a serial bus that you can plug your case's cables into before connecting to your motherboard.

    Are your parts installed correctly?

    This is the last thing to check as it can be the most time-consuming. Reconnecting your RAM and CPU or simply switching the RAM sticks into different slots could be the solution you're looking for.

    If all this fails, then your components may be defective.

    Unfortunately, this can happen. Sometimes when building a PC, you realize that one of your components isn't working correctly. At this point, you'll need to contact the manufacturer of your part and ask them about their return policy. The vast majority of big PC component manufacturers have return policies that will cover defective parts, so you don't have to worry. It just might take a little longer to enjoy your brand-new gaming computer.

    How to Build a Gaming PC in 2020

    Kamis, 04 Juni 2020

    With bike chains and car parts Afghan girls build ventilators

    By Stefanie Glinski Time of article published57m ago

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    Kabul - With pliers in hand, a group of Afghan girls fashion make-do ventilators from car parts, bike chains and machine sensors, an imperfect solution to the country's looming coronavirus crisis.

    The five teens, who live in Herat near the border with Iran, are part of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team: an initiative that teaches schoolgirls programming and computer science.

    "We had to be creative when it came to sourcing material," said Somaya Faruqi, the team's 17-year-old captain.

    "Our machines are built out of a combination of a Toyota Corolla motor, chains from motorcycles as well as separate pressure, heat and humidity sensors," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation via WhatsApp.

    While the devices cannot replace medical ventilators, they should bring temporary relief to coronavirus patients.

    "It's not a perfect device, but it can do two things: control the volume of oxygen entering the body, and count and control the number of breaths per minute," said Faruqi.

    Infections are rising in a country of 35 million, with more than 16,500 infections, according to Johns Hopkins University.

    Experts say the real figure is likely to be far higher.

    Kabul's mayor Daoud Sultanzoy fears half the capital's 6 million residents are infected as people defy lockdown. 

    Similar estimates hold for Herat, home to about a million.

    "Every day, the number of sick people is increasing and in the near future, we will have neither enough ventilators nor hospital equipment," said Faruqi.

    For two months, her team - wearing masks and gloves - has worked five long days a week to complete their prototype.

    "We were quite scared by the prospects of the pandemic, so we decided to try to do our part," said Faruqi.

    Before the coronavirus outbreak, the girls built robots, studied programming and prepared for their final year of school under an initiative set up in 2015 to teach girls tech skills and instill confidence through science.

    Computer scientist Roya Mahboob - founder of the Digital Citizen Fund - says she wanted to "give them a digital voice" in what is a conservative country, where many girls stay home.

    The team - who wear long black dresses and headscarves along with their anti-virus masks and gloves - has been celebrated across Afghanistan and won prizes in the West.

    TOUGH FIGHT       

    More than 3 000 girls in Herat have studied at the Digital Citizen Fund, and the city's university now has its largest body of women pursuing computer science, topping 500.

    Afghanistan's literacy rate for women remains low at about 30 percent, according to the United Nations, with many girls in rural, conservative communities unable to attend school.

    "It's slowly changing," said Faruqi, but only for some.

    Families like hers are more liberal, she said, otherwise it would have been impossible to leave the house and work on the breathing machines. 

    The girls hope to finish their device by mid-month and sell them for about $600 - 50 times cheaper than medical ventilators - as a stopgap for Herat's main Covid-19 hospital, a government facility.

    "In a country where medical supply is largely lacking, we are prepared to look into such alternative options,"  Qadir Qadir, general director of the Ministry of Public Health, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. 

    He said Afghanistan had about 480 ventilators available, but about 40 belonged to the military and dozens to non-profits. 

    "Whether the girls' product can be used is yet to be determined. It would need to be tested and can't immediately be used in patient care," said Qadir.

    Faruqi is undaunted, her team working all out to finish their low-cost, low-tech prototype.

    "We've seen a lot of encouragement from people, but our biggest drive is the current situation: Afghanistan is in crisis and we want to do what we can to help," she said. 

    Reuters

    transformation bicycle to bike go kart

    Rabu, 03 Juni 2020

    Win a Ƃ£1400 laptop of your choice in our READER SURVEY!

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