PC hardware maintenance secrets

It's your pride-and-joy, so maintenance is important. Darren Yates gives you his hit-list of things to watch out for.

KEEP THE CPU COOLER CLEAN

Nothing robs your PC of speed like an overheating CPU. I managed to even surprise myself recently when I noticed dust gathering underneath the CPU fan above the heatsink fins on my CPU cooler — surprising because the PC is a good metre off the floor. No matter how much you vacuum carpeted floors, dust will eventually clog up the heatsink or filters on your PC case — naturally dusty environments don't help either. With no airflow, you get no cooling, CPU temps rise and performance drops off a cliff. Do a six-monthly check just to make sure your PC thermally stays in good condition.

PC hardware upgrade secrets

Getting more performance from your PC doesn't have to cost as much as you think. Darren Yates shares his upgrading secrets.

THE $0 SYSTEM UPGRADE

Give your PC an early spring clean and refresh your Windows OS installation. It's an unwritten law that PC performance is inversely proportional to the age of the OS install and I've always been surprised how much more smoothly a clean OS can perform. We all install crapware and forget about it, but if that crapware is forcing Windows to preload junk on boot-up, it'll likely be slowing your PC for no real reason. If you don't have time for a complete reinstall, at least check your Programs and Features list of rubbishware you no longer need and grab back some system resources.

PC hardware troubleshooting secrets

PC problems don't have to be expensive. Darren Yates shows how to find solutions for a range of common hardware issues.

NEW CPU, OLD BIOS, NO POST

You buy a new CPU and motherboard only to find the board won't recognise the CPU, but how do you update the board BIOS to recognise the CPU without a recognised CPU? This is an occasional issue noted with Haswell-refresh CPUs such as the Pentium G3258 and unless the board already has the latest BIOS, there’s often no way to update the BIOS without an original-version CPU on hand. If the board won't POST (power-on self-test), take it back to the retailer, get them to swap the board or do the BIOS update at least, otherwise, buy yourself the cheapest first-gen CPU you can find and do it yourself.

Samsung LU32D97KQSR

Ultra-HD monitors are a boon to creative professionals and wellheeled enthusiasts, and this 32in model from Samsung is one of the highest-quality displays we’ve ever tested.

Featuring a 3840x2160-pixel resolution, the LU32D97KQSR, also known as the UD970 or U32D970, offers the equivalent of four full-HD monitors rolled into one, allowing you to scrutinise your images in the finest detail, but this display is about much more than resolution. Covering 100 percent of the Adobe RGB colour gamut, the UD970 is capable of displaying a massive range of colours; going far beyond what standard monitors can reveal and matching the capabilities of professional digital cameras.

BenQ BL3201PT

Following BenQ’s previous monster 32in monitor, the BL3200, the new BL3201PT gains a notable upgrade that moves resolution from 2560x1440 pixels, to the UHD dimensions of 3840x2160. This large desktop monitor is aimed at designers and discerning home users looking for great image quality, high-class construction, and notable ease of use. We think it wins on each count.

AOC U2868PQU

Most of the UHD monitors now available are still in the premium category, featuring high-quality IPS panels and prices at £500 and above. But if you’re looking to snare an ultra-high-resolution display and don’t think they’re worth that much, there’s now the option for budget construction monitors packing nearly 4k across. The U2868PQU is just such a unit, offering 3840x2160 pixels and a price closer to £300. So what’s the catch?

Acer S277HK

LCD panels for PCs are now bigger than ever, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a big monitor on your desk to enjoy more screen working space. With the Acer S277HK, you get the expanse of a 27in monitor in a compact frame that’s little bigger than most 24in designs.

This is a monitor that wants to wow with its unusual design, featuring a nearly bezel-less display and a fixed offset stand that‘s offset of central to hold the panel in the air.

Samsung NX500

With 4K video and a massive 28.2MP resolution, could Samsung’s NX500 be the ideal blend of power and portability? Matthew Higgs tests this advanced CSC.

In 2014 samsung stepped up its game with the release of the NX1, an advanced CSC with a very high resolution sensor and 4K video capability. While this camera helped reinforce Samsung’s position as a serious player in the premium CSC market, its price-tag of £1299 body only put it well out of the reach of most consumers. This left many hoping that some of the NX1’s features might trickle down into a more affordable enthusiast-level camera...

Step forward the NX500. This new affordable CSC boasts both the 28.2MP image resolution of its bigger brother, and 4K video, yet it costs less than half as much. Replacing the NX300, the camera sits above the entrylevel NX3000 and competes against cameras such as Sony’s A6000 and Canon’s M3.

Nikon 1 J5

The J5 packs some eye-catching features into a stylish and compact design, but how well does it perform? Matthew Higgs puts Nikon’s latest CSC to the test...

Since the launch of the V1 and J1 in 2011, Nikon has released ten cameras in its CSC line-up, all aimed firmly at the consumer end of the market. All ten have come fitted with a relatively small 1in-type sensor, so unlike Canon, the Japanese giant has chosen to make its CSCs very different to its DSLRs. The smaller sensor has allowed Nikon to maintain the small body size it believes is fundamental to CSCs, but has alienated many users who demand high-end performance.