You’ll find it’s easier to scan websites, view search engine results, and read online content or long blocks of code. If you’re big into cryptocurrency, you might enjoy displaying data in an easy-to-read form, plus, you’ll be able to react more quickly.

You can also have a full view of photographs or a project if you’re trying to design something with a vertical layout.

Vertical screens can also reduce eye strain. With this setup, you reduce the range of movement, which can save your eyes from getting as tired.

Further, you might be able to save space with a vertical monitor if you have less room on your desk.

A vertical monitor can be appealing if you use two monitors at once. Having dual monitors can increase productivity. You enjoy added viewing space to multitask, browse the Web, watch videos, or games. If you’re working from home, you may also find it easier to collaborate with colleagues with a second screen. When you set up one screen to be vertical, you can benefit from the best of both worlds.

Going vertical is easy
You don’t have to buy a special monitor to take advantage of a vertical setup. While many screens are only capable of a horizontal display, you may be able to adjust the way it is mounted. You can get a stand or mount that allows you to easily rotate the screen. As long as it is a VESA-compatible monitor, you can easily make the choice of horizontal or vertical. Then, you can change the layout in the operating system’s display settings. Windows, MacOS, and Linux all support vertical screen rotation.

Some monitors have mounts that allow physical rotation, which is a good way to test drive the vertical monitor. That way you can see how it compares to a horizontal layout for your needs. Keep in mind, though, that this repositioning of the monitor will affect your stereo speakers. You’ll need to attach an external pair of speakers to have them work with the new orientation.

Vertical monitors aren’t for everybody; if you game a lot or want to watch movies or do 3D modeling, you might prefer the horizontal screen. Many computer games, for example, are programmed for horizontal play, and opening that game up on a vertical rotation can cut off or compress your visuals.

One other common criticism of vertical screens is that they catch glare from nearby light sources more easily. So, if you don’t want to deal with glare, stick with horizontal.

Our IT experts are here to consult on your computer needs. We can advise you on your screen choices and so much more. Contact us today at (888) 234-WDIT(9348).

You may not think about it much, but your computer needs a graphics processing unit (GPU). The GPU allows you to see multimedia content and renders the graphics of your video games. It can also accelerate high-performance computing. The good news? It’s no longer as difficult to get a new graphics card at a reasonable price.

A global shortage of GPUs in 2021 made it challenging to obtain new graphics cards. That could stall repairs and upgrades. Plus, people who wanted to build their own computers struggled to do so. If you did find a GPU available, you could expect to pay much more than usual. Scalpers were also buying the chips up and charging exorbitant prices.

One problem was that major chip manufacturers were struggling to source silicon. It’s needed for the semiconductor functionality of GPUs. The pandemic slowed and even stopped production at some of the largest silicon manufacturers.

It didn’t help any that cryptocurrency miners were buying up GPUs, too. They needed the processing power to mine efficiently.

Why the shortage is over
Fortunately, the GPU storage is ending. GPU manufacturers continued developing chips while waiting for the silicon semiconductors they needed. Now that those are back online, the graphics card companies can quickly make up for lost time.

At the same time, GPUs are no longer the best option for cryptomining. Instead, they have been replaced by more efficient application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

What happens next?
Actually, a surplus of older GPUs is expected, as a new generation of GPUs has arrived.

A new GPU series means manufacturers and computer parts stores will look to clear inventory. They'll want to sell off older GPUs to make room for the new product.

This can be good news. You can expect prices of the previous generation of technology to come down. Plus, you can take advantage of the GPU surplus to replace a failing GPU. Or you can now upgrade your graphics card more affordably.

Get in the GPU Game
Want help upgrading your GPU or evaluating if your computer can handle the new GPUs coming in a few months? Our experts can help.

Whenever you create a graph on your computer, you’re going to need a graphics processing unit (GPU). Without one, you won’t see anything on your computer screen. So, obviously, it’s a problem when it starts to fail. This article discusses signs to look for and what to do.

First, what does the graphics card do? A graphics or video card takes data from your computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and translates it into what you see on your monitor. Every image on your computer screen is composed of millions of pixels. The graphics card is what decides what kind of picture you see.

Many computers have integrated graphics with the main processor. However, depending on how you use the computer, you might have purchased one with a dedicated graphics card. This allows you to see more complex visuals with more clarity and faster. Top-quality graphics cards boast lots of memory and fast processing to translate binary data into images at frames-per-second rates.

How to know a graphics card is going bad
Graphics cards can be physically damaged by incorrect installation, or fail as a result of overheating or a power surge. There may even have been a manufacturing defect there when the card was first installed. You can’t predict why a graphics card may begin to fail, but there are some symptoms of likely failure.

Screen glitches or artifacts
Maybe you are playing a video game or streaming your favorite movie when you notice on the screen:

• weird colors or shapes;
• pixelation;
• frame tearing.

These could be there for only a few seconds. You might move your mouse and they go away. But, you don’t want to overlook these symptoms.

Stuttering
A computer screen freezing up or dropping frames can mean graphic card failure. It could also be due to malware or issues with your hardware or RAM. Still, this is not a symptom to ignore.

Fan overworking
If you’re hearing your fan more than usual, it could mean the graphics card is overheating. This can damage your computer, so act quickly to allow the computer to cool down. If the problem persists, get the device checked out.

Solid screen color
If you get a solid black or blue screen (or with lots of error codes) your video card may be struggling. Graphics card failure may have caused the system to crash, and you’ll be forced to reboot the computer. Crashes can happen for other reasons too. But if this happens when doing graphics-intensive activities, look to the gaming card.

What to do about graphics card failure
Start by determining if the graphics card is the culprit. There are many possible issues that could cause some of the above symptoms.

You can try to repair the card yourself, but it is risky. It can involve updating the motherboard drivers for your chipset and updating display drivers. You might also need to look inside the computer to check connections and clean out any buildup of dust, or the graphics card may need to be reseated because it has come loose.
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Our IT professionals can determine what is causing your graphics woes and work to repair the hardware at a much lower risk. Contact us at (888) 234-WDIT(9348) for help today!
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