All CPUs have pins to form an electrical connection with the motherboard. However, the amount of pins a CPU has is not uniform. So how many pins does a CPU have? The number of CPU pins can vary depending on the socket it supports. For instance, an AM4 socket found on AMD 1000, 2000, 3000, …
A CPU is pretty hard to miss on any given computer. However, for the uninitiated and newcomers, even simple things can seem confusing, given the complexity of PC hardware. So where is the CPU located in a computer? A CPU sits on a motherboard on a holder called a “CPU Socket.” This CPU is often …
There are several ways to check the make and model of your RAM sticks for both plugged-in and unplugged RAM sticks. If your RAM stick is unplugged and outside the PC, you can check its make and model through a simple physical inspection. On the other hand, if your RAM stick is plugged in and …
If you are new to PC building and all the technical jargon involved, one of the first questions you may ask is what SATA ports are used for and what components use them. Well, SATA ports are used to connect storage devices to your PC. The hard disk drives, optical drives, and SATA SSDs connect …
SATA is one of the primary interfaces for installing storage drives. In some instances, the version of the SATA interface does matter when installing a drive (particularly with SATA SSDs). In this write-up, I will discuss identifying SATA 1 2 3 versions on your motherboard and hard drive. There are three ways to identify the …
Disabling your integrated graphics card is pretty simple. However, in most cases, you do not have to disable the integrated graphics card yourself. If you have a dedicated graphics card installed, the system automatically handles disabling/switching the graphics cards. Alternatively, if you DO NOT have a dedicated graphics card installed, then disabling the integrated graphics …
Plenty of very easy ways to check what CPU you have on your PC exist. All of these involve following a few simple steps. To check your processor make and model, you can use built-in system utilities and services such as the About window, Task Manager, or Device Manager. You can also get comprehensive information …
An integrated graphics card is essential for displaying visuals on your monitor screen. Since not all iGPUs are created equally, it is fair to ask how to check what integrated graphics you have (or if you even have one) to gauge its capabilities. There are many ways to figure out the integrated graphics card you …
If you want to benefit from the tremendous speed gains of PCIe 4.0, then you need to have the correct motherboard. Even if you have the right CPU that conforms to PCIe 4.0, your system will not adhere to the newer 4.0 protocol if you do not have the correct motherboard. This brings us to …
Integrated graphics cards are integral to most budget and mainstream PCs as they enable essential video output capability. While most Intel CPUs have integrated graphics, for those interested in AMD systems, the question remains, “does Ryzen have integrated graphics?” The answer to that question is Yes AND No because whether your Ryzen CPU would have …