Guides

How Many Fans Can You Run Off One Motherboard Header?

Splitters make it easy to connect more fans than a header can power. Nothing warns you. The maths takes a minute, so here it is.

5V ARGB vs 12V RGB: What's the Difference?

Getting the right header takes thirty seconds. Getting it wrong can cost you a motherboard. Here is how to tell them apart.

Air Cooler vs AIO Liquid Cooler: Which Should You Buy?

One of the oldest arguments in PC building, and most of the noise around it comes from people defending a purchase. Here is what actually separates the two.

Why Is My AIO Making a Gurgling or Rattling Noise?

Not every noise from an AIO is a dying cooler. The sounds are distinct, they have different causes, and most have a fix you can do yourself.

How to Enable Secure Boot (for Windows 11 and Anti-Cheat)

Most people meet Secure Boot because a game refuses to launch. It is not one setting, it depends on two others being right first.

GPU Artifacting: What It Looks Like and What to Do

Knowing what artifacting looks like, and what it does not, saves you replacing a good graphics card over a bad cable.

How to Clear CMOS: Three Methods That Work

Clearing CMOS resets your motherboard to defaults. It is reversible, costs nothing, and is one of the first things to try when a PC will not start.

Why Does My PC Randomly Shut Off?

A PC that powers off without warning is telling you something specific. Here is how to narrow it down without guessing.

PC Turns On But No Display: How to Fix It

A black screen on a PC that is clearly running looks like a serious fault. Most of the time it is not. Rule out the cheap causes first.

How Much RAM Do You Need, and Should You Add or Replace?

One of the simplest upgrades available, and the one where the obvious approach is usually the wrong one.

How to Choose a Graphics Card Upgrade

The biggest lever on gaming performance, and the upgrade people most often buy without checking whether it fits or whether the PSU can feed it.

CPU Debug LED? How to Diagnose a CPU or Socket Problem

A CPU debug LED feels like the worst possible result. Usually it is a BIOS version that predates your chip, or a cable that is not clipped in.