Five Inexpensive Add-Ons to Power Up Your Home-Built PC
When building a PC, most individuals focus their consideration on the core {hardware}: the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, and so forth. However as soon as your construct is up and working, you can still make improvements. Listed here are 5 low cost equipment that make each home-built PC higher.
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](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-build-a-computer-the-complete-guide-5828747)
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](https://lifehacker.com/6-essential-tips-for-first-time-pc-builders-1458484291)
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/five-inexpensive-add-ons-to-power-up-your-home-built-pc/66365/ by - on 2020-03-19T00:16:42.000Z
Fan Filters To Keep The Dust Out
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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it once more: If you wish to hold your pc as dust-free as doable, you want two issues: positive air stress (that’s, extra consumption followers than exhaust followers) and mud filters on all of your consumption followers. You’ll nonetheless want to wash your case sometimes, however you’ll have so much much less mud buildup over time.
Some instances might include filters pre-installed, but when yours doesn’t—or it doesn’t include sufficient of them—you must seize some magnetic fan filters and slap them on. I’ve used these Silverstone ones up to now with good outcomes, and so they include holes in case that you must connect them utilizing screws. They’re on the expensive facet, although, so you probably have a tighter funds, these off-brand models are extremely rated alternate options.
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](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-silence-your-noisy-computer-and-keep-it-cool-as-5921374)
A TPM Chip For Improved Encryption
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I’m of the opinion that everybody ought to encrypt their PC’s laborious drives, even on a desktop. That manner, if your home will get robbed otherwise you lose observe of your pc at a LAN get together, you haven’t additionally misplaced all of your private data to information thieves.
In the event you go to allow BitLocker on a home-built PC, although, you’ll in all probability be greeted with a message saying that you simply don’t have a Trusted Platform Module, or TPM. It is a safety chip that Home windows requires for encryption by default—technically, you should utilize BitLocker with out one, but it’s a bit clunkier to set up and use. (You’ll be able to examine in case your PC has a TPM chip already by going to Begin > Run and typing tpm.msc.)
Fortunately, TPMs are fairly low cost and straightforward to put in, offered your motherboard has a TPM header. (Examine the handbook in case you aren’t positive.) I’m utilizing this MSI TPM on my MSI motherboard, however there are fashions for ASRock, ASUS, and different boards in case you go searching. You could must do some digging to seek out the fitting one in your motherboard, however in my case, the MSI TPM has labored on three separate MSI boards with out problem.
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A Brace To Alleviate GPU Sag
That is, arguably, extra of an aesthetic improve—whereas some of us fear {that a} heavy, sagging GPU can injury the PCIe slot in your motherboard, I’ve but to expertise long-term points, and I haven’t seen a lot proof that different folks have. Nonetheless, it’d be good to look over at my pc and never cringe on the sight of my graphics card going limp, and there’s some peace of thoughts that comes from figuring out my motherboard is secure.
GPU helps are available a couple of completely different sizes and styles. I’ve used this one from CloverTale to good impact, although there’s additionally a carbon fiber version, a thicker model from Fourth Level, and—sure—even some RGB models. You could possibly additionally strive a little stand like this that holds it up from the underside of the case, you probably have empty house there.
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Reusable Cable Ties
You understand, I haven’t ruffled lots of feathers this month, so let’s do that: I don’t like zip ties for cable administration.
Sure, they’re insanely low cost, and sure, a pack of 100 will final you a long-ass time. However I nonetheless hate having to chop them off after I improve a part, or rearrange one thing in my PC. Velcro cable ties (ahem, I imply, “hook and loop” cable ties) like these are so a lot better. In the event you ever wish to run a brand new cable up the again of your case, you possibly can simply unhook it, re-bundle your cables, and stick it again collectively. It’s properly price the additional couple of bucks. Come at me, zip tie brigade.
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An External Power Button For Easy Access
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I have a very large desk. Large enough that my tower sits just out of arm’s reach of my chair—a first-world problem, sure, but not one I’m going to sit here and let slide.
There are a host of external power button mods out there that allow you to bring your power button, USB ports, and audio jacks anywhere you want on your desk (might I suggest mounted on the underside with a Command Strip?). You simply must route the cable below your desk, behind your PC, and over to the entrance panel headers the place your case is presently plugged in. (Some massive desks will probably be too large for the cable, so it’s possible you’ll must get artistic—and the audio might solely work on sure PCs, in line with opinions.) You’ll be able to even stick a USB fingerprint reader there for max comfort. This listing is the one I used up to now, although it appears to have modified, whereas this listing appears extra much like my mannequin. There are many choices floating round Amazon.
Alternatively, if you wish to get actually fancy, this wireless remote can flip your PC on from 60 ft away—I haven’t used it myself, however after I’m feeling so lazy I wish to distant into my pc from the sofa, it looks as if a helpful add-on.
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