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Roku overheating fixes

Dave Farquhar Hardware, Video September 14, 2018September 14, 2018 0 Comment

I have a Roku 2720X. I’ve had it since 2014, so it’s a few years old now, but I like it. Lately it’s been having some problems though. It works fabulously with Hulu and Netflix, but streaming local media and streaming baseball give me trouble. I traced it to overheating. So let’s look at some Roku overheating fixes.

Some people replace their devices with newer models with faster dual- or quad-core processors. This works; a more powerful chip will handle the load of newer, more demanding apps better without heating up as much. But you can extend the useful life of your venerable single-core 600 MHz Roku devices too, at least until Roku stops releasing updates for them.

How long do graphics cards last?

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 28, 2018August 21, 2018 2 Comments

How long do graphics cards last? As with anything computer-related, it depends. But as long as the card isn’t abused, it’s not uncommon at all for the card to be obsolete before it stops working.

SSD not detected in BIOS? Try this.

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 24, 2018August 23, 2018 0 Comment

Have I got one weird trick for you. I spent most of a night fighting an SSD not detected in BIOS problem, and the answer was simple. But weird. Even for a guy who once recovered the data off a broken USB thumb drive with two clothespins.

But my clothespins trick was temporary. This is a long-term fix, even if it lacks something in the professionalism department. MacGyver-style computer fixes can be fun.

Install Chrome OS on an old laptop or PC

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 22, 2018August 21, 2018 0 Comment

Chrome OS is a great alternative operating system for secure, modern computing. But did you know you don’t have to just buy a Chromebook or Chromebox? Did you know you can install Chrome OS on an old laptop or PC? Here’s how, and why you might want to do so.

How to print from a Chromebook to an HP printer

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 21, 2018August 19, 2018 0 Comment

Setting up a printer on a Chromebook is quite a bit different from what you’re used to on a Mac or Windows PC. Google provides cloud printing and similar functionality to make it easy, but it doesn’t work with all printers, especially older printers. Believe it or not, new Chromebooks work great with ancient HP Laserjets. So here’s what I learned about how to print from a Chromebook to an HP printer.

It’s not super user friendly but this is still fairly new functionality. It works well if you know the trick. And this is important. I like Chromebooks. But you won’t like Chromebooks if you can’t do the stuff you want on them. Not everyone does a ton of printing anymore, but printing is basic functionality that people expect to be able to do. You won’t care how secure a Chromebook is if you can’t do basic functions.

How long do laptops last?

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 17, 2018August 19, 2018 2 Comments

How long do laptops last? How long should a laptop last? Is there anything you can do to make one last longer? Those are all fair questions. Let’s dig in so you can make your laptop last as long as possible, and save yourself a lot of money in the process.

There is a secret to buying laptops and saving a fortune, as you’ll soon find out.

Should I buy a used Chromebook?

Dave Farquhar Hardware, security August 15, 2018August 22, 2018 0 Comment

Should I buy a used Chromebook? I asked myself that question for years. And argued with myself about it. Finally I decided to take the plunge and bought one. Here are the pros and cons to buying a used Chromebook, and what you should look out for to protect yourself.

Overall I recommend them. For less than the price of a year of Lifelock, you can do something that really will make a difference in how secure your personal finance is.

Can you use a Dell charger on an HP laptop?

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 6, 2018August 6, 2018 2 Comments

Can you use a Dell charger on an HP laptop? Or vice versa? I don’t recommend it, but sometimes you can. In a pinch, that’s better than not being able to use your laptop at all. Here’s how to tell.

Does laser printer toner expire? Not really.

Dave Farquhar Hardware August 2, 2018August 3, 2018 1 Comment

Laser printer toner doesn’t dry out like inkjet ink does. But does it go bad? Does laser printer toner expire?

There is a use-by date on some toner cartridges. But in my experience, you don’t have to worry about it very much.

CPU vs core, or core vs processor

Dave Farquhar Hardware July 15, 2018July 29, 2018amd, CPU, doors, intel, motherboard, PC 0 Comment

Here’s a good question I heard the other day: What’s the difference between a CPU and cores, or the difference between the number of CPUs and the number of cores in a system? The CPU vs core or core vs processor distinction, it turns out, is subtle.

As far as the operating system is concerned, there is no difference, but I’ll explain why. For you, there might be a difference.

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