Choose upgrades that fit your computer, understand memory and storage, measure cooling, and plan compatible portable power. These ten guides connect practical checks with examples, recovery planning, and responsible equipment retirement.
Updated practical guides
Choosing a Graphics Card: Workloads, VRAM, Power, and Fit
Choose a graphics card by software support, useful performance, memory needs, power connections, cooling, and physical compatibility.
RAM Upgrades: Capacity, Compatibility, and Stable Settings
Identify compatible memory modules, understand speed and ECC claims, and install and test a RAM upgrade with a clear baseline.
Computer Disposal: Reuse, Data Sanitization, and Recycling
Prepare a computer for reuse or recycling with verified backups, appropriate data sanitization, battery handling, and a documented handoff.
Portable Storage: SSDs, Hard Drives, Connections, and Backups
Choose portable storage, check USB and file-system compatibility, estimate transfer times, and keep a recoverable second copy.
Network Attached Storage: Capacity, Sharing, and Recovery
Plan NAS capacity, permissions, network performance, snapshots, independent backups, and restore tests for a home or small office.
RAID Levels Explained: Capacity, Drive Failures, and Recovery
Compare RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 with capacity examples, specific failure patterns, rebuild planning, and independent backups.
SATA, NVMe, and M.2: Choosing a Compatible SSD Upgrade
Check SSD interfaces, physical fit, shared ports, firmware detection, and a reversible migration plan before upgrading storage.
How Heat Sinks Work: Diagnose Cooling with Better Measurements
Follow the heat path, check airflow and mounting, and compare cooling with repeatable workload, ambient-temperature, power, and performance records.
Laptop Batteries and Power Banks: Compatibility, Health, and Runtime
Match laptop charging profiles, power-bank output and cable capability; calculate watt-hours and realistic runtime estimates with stated assumptions.
3D Memory Explained: NAND Layers, HBM, and Stacked Cache
Understand the differences between 3D NAND storage, stacked DRAM in HBM, and vertically integrated cache, including capacity and bandwidth tradeoffs.
Earlier hardware coverage
These articles include historical product announcements and earlier technology reporting. Specifications, availability, prices, and advice may describe their original publication period.
Memory and processors
- Phase Change Memory
- DDR SDRAM
- Fully Buffered DIMM
- DDR2 SDRAM
- AMD 64 Mobile Processors
- Embedded Memory Testing
- MRAM : Magneto-Resistive Random Access Memory
- Nanotube Transistors
- Intel Pentium 4 Processor
- Silicon Verification
Storage and interfaces
- mLogic's mTape and mRack Thunderbolt LTO-8 Tape Drive
- Blu-Ray Disc Duplicator
- Miniature Hard Drives
- IBM Total Storage
- Iomega Rev
- Hitachi 4 Gigabyte Microdrive
- PCMCIA Express Cards
- Jump Drives
- UDO : Ultra Density Optical Drives
- Secure Jump Drive
- Integrated Serial ATA System-On-A-Chip
- Hard Disk Drive Demand
- Flash Memory News
- Disk Storage Systems
- Storage Mirroring
Cooling, power, and portable computers
Displays, input, and audio
- Notebook Webcams
- Ultra-Mobile PC Peripherals
- Wireless USB
- Cordless Laser Mouse
- Multimedia Speakers
- Cordless Keyboard
- Sony Plasma Display
- LCD Touch Screen
- OLED
- Visual Processing Unit - VPU Architecture - 3Dlabs
- IBM Flat Panel Displays
- IBM Monitor Recall
Printing, scanning, and connections
- Conductive Fabric Gaskets
- Rapid Prototyping Platform
- Direct DVD Printing
- CD Printer
- Cable Labels
- IPP : Internet Printing Protocol
- Fiber Optics
- Network Video Appliances
- Image Scanners
- Mobile Computer Printers