We Define IT
  • Home
  • 2022 Holiday Plans
  • Testimonials
  • Professional Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Login

How to Reduce PC Power Consumption

9/15/2022

0 Comments

 
You probably grew up having a parent saying, “turn the lights off!” That was the number-one way to save on the power bill. But now, with so many of us having personal computers in the home, they too are a big electricity drain. Try these strategies to cut your PC power consumption.

Unplug the extras
You might connect printers, speakers, external storage, and other devices to your computer, but don’t leave them plugged in permanently, as they pull power even if you aren’t using them. An average printer on standby can use 5–8 Watts. High-end printers take even more power, pulling as much as 30 Watts.

Check your settings
Adjusting the brightness of your screen can cut back on your power usage: the brighter your screen, the more power it needs. So, reducing the brightness helps reduce your power intake.

You can also set your computer to run in power-saving mode. On Windows, options under Advanced Settings allow you to select a power plan to manage consumption. On a Mac laptop, you can go into system preferences and change settings for battery and adapter usage.
​
You can also set your computer to go to sleep when no activity is detected. This helps ensure you don’t leave the computer taking full power when you forget to turn it off at the end of the day.

Prefer sleep to shutdown
Speaking of sleep mode, putting your computer into sleep mode instead of shutting down consumes less power, especially if you are putting it aside only for a few hours. Starting up the computer consumes more power. As an added benefit, when you come back to a sleeping computer, it’s much quicker to turn back on and let you get back to work.

Corral your windows
Keeping a bunch of windows open and apps running in the background uses power for all those items. Once you’re done with an app or a browsing window, close it.

Note: We’re suggesting you do this when finished. If you are going to be jumping back and forth between programs or windows, keep them open. As above, launching them again and again can consume more power than leaving active apps open.

By the way, this works on your smartphone, too!

Work in airplane mode
Keeping Bluetooth and Wi-Fi open on a connected PC requires more power. The device will scan for available networks in the background even if you don’t need them right then. By turning on airplane mode, you disable this function.

Upgrade your hardware
Legacy equipment may not have the same power efficiency as newer models. Traditional hard drives, for example, are slower and consume more power than solid-state drives (SSDs).

An old computer processing unit (CPU) may need to work harder to keep up with your needs. That’s going to take more power. Additionally, if your random-access memory (RAM) is full, the operating system has to work harder. Yep, that’s more power, too!

If you don’t plan on computer gaming, you also don’t need a high-performance graphics card. Choosing a lesser option can cut your power usage.

Turn off RGB lighting
RGB (red, green, blue) lighting adds special effects around a monitor, or on a keyboard, mouse, or memory stick. It looks cool, but turning off these exciting features can conserve power.

Need to optimize your personal computing setup at home? Our IT experts can help. Contact us today at 888-234-WDIT (9348)!
0 Comments

How to Know if a Laptop Screen Is Damaged

9/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Portability is a big advantage of laptops. But when you take your computer anywhere, you are also more likely to break it. You may not see a break, but there are other signs a laptop screen is damaged. This article shares those, as well as options for what you can do when there’s a screen problem.

You may not see broken glass, but you can know the laptop screen is damaged because you experience:
​
  • distorted images;
  • pixelization;
  • resolution lines
  • backlighting issues;
  • a blank screen.

You might want to turn that laptop into a piece of art. The screen, after all, is now showing very psychedelic, colorful images. If you have an LCD screen, the liquid inside might have spread, which can make deciphering your text or graphics like reading a Rorschach test.

Whether you want to get artistic with that laptop or not, replacing the entire laptop is one way to go, but it’s also the most expensive response. Ideally, you can avoid this approach. So, what’s left to do?

What to do with a damaged screen
If the laptop is under warranty, and the screen wasn’t dropped or damaged by you, you may be able to send it back to the manufacturer for repair.

Otherwise, you may be able to replace just the screen. The difficulty in replacing a screen depends on the manufacturer and laptop model. There are many screws and very fine cables that are easily snapped, and it’s going to be safer to go to a professional. Of course, you will also need to determine whether anything else was damaged.

Screen replacement is still a costly option. In fact, it may be more expensive than a new laptop. Plus, you might be without your laptop for several days while it is in for repair or even longer if you take it to a big-box store, where they will send it away for attention. That’s one reason to prefer a local repair shop.

Another option is to attach your laptop to an external monitor. This method has its own pros and cons.

It’s a more affordable option and can see you through finishing that report that’s due tomorrow.

The problem? This undermines the mobility of a laptop unless you want to walk around carting a monitor and its cords. Also, you may find the original, broken screen gets in the way.

Avoid damaging your laptop
Of course, we're also going to share strategies to help avoid breaking the screen in the first place. Try these tips:
​
  • Never open or close the lid by one corner. Instead, use one hand to close the lid from the center, or hold the keyboard as the other hand opens the lid.
  • Don’t leave a laptop attached to cords that someone can trip over and bring the computer crashing down.
  • Avoid overheating your computer, as it can burn the laptop’s screen.

The price you’ll pay to deal with a broken screen will vary based on brand and model, as well as what’s gone wrong. Check with a local computer repair shop for an estimate and get back up and running. Call us now at 888-234-WDIT (9348).
0 Comments

    Author

    Stay connected to our Blog for vital, timely and  relevant information to keep your personal technology optimized, updated and protected.

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All
    Browsers
    Children
    Cloud
    Computer
    Cybersecurity
    Data
    Email
    Graphics Card
    Hardware
    Laptop Batteries
    Malware
    Managed Service Provider
    Monitor
    Network
    Online Shopping
    Operating System
    OS
    Password
    Printers
    Privacy
    Ransomware
    Repair
    Safety
    Seniors
    Social Media
    Software
    Tablets
    Video Editing
    Windows

    RSS Feed

Connect With Us
Remote First - Our Company Blog
 Facebook
Twitter
E-Mail
Instagram
LinkedIn
RSS Feed
Services

24/7 Remote Help Desk & NOC Services

Unlimited On-Site Technical Repair Services

Managed Anti-Virus, Malware, Spyware, Greyware, Rootkit and Identity Theft Protection


Windows / Mac / Linux / Unix File Server, Exchange and SQL Backup & Disaster Recovery

Secure, Redundant Cloud Storage

Apple, Windows Activesync, Android, Blackberry & Nokia Symbian Mobile Device Management

Managed IT Services Consulting

Virtual Chief Information Officer (CIO) Services
Client Remote Support

Enter 6-Digit Remote Support Code




Picture
Search Our Site

Home  |  @Home - Residential  |  @Work - Business  |  @School - Educational  |  @Worship - Spiritual |  Virtual CIO  |  Contact Us  |   Login

CALL US TOLL-FREE:  888-234-WDIT
Copyright ©2021  We Define IT LLC, All Rights Reserved. 
Site Design by  Nu Web Order Designs.  Hosting Powered by  Hostivity.

New York, New Jersey,  Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Technical, Computer,  Managed IT, Support, Services
  • Home
  • 2022 Holiday Plans
  • Testimonials
  • Professional Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Login