What is a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)?

The graphics processing unit is a device found in your computer that is responsible for displaying the visual image on your screen. A function of the GPU is to decrease the load on the Central Processing Unit of your computer. A GPU can be a dedicated graphics card or could be integrated within the motherboard of your machine. When subject to heavy loads or over clocked a GPU can be subject to strain which could lead to damage of the device.

How the GPU Fan Works

Most video card are equipped with fans to keep them cool. The driver software usually dictates the fan speed. The fan speed is adjusted by the driver dependent upon the pressure being put on the video card. This occurs because as the graphics processing unit is under a heavy work load it will generate additional heat and this in turn causes the fan to rotate faster to keep the unit cool. An example of when this is likely to occur is when you run graphically intensive programs such as 3D applications, high definition video rendering or playing HD videos which cause a heavy work load for the GPU.

Signs your GPU is Overheating

If the fan speed increases randomly or remains loud even when the system is not doing anything resource intensive, it can be an indication that the GPU is overheating. One way to rectify this problem is to check there is no dust or debris on the video card as this is a common cause of a GPU overheating. You can also check the temperature of the GPU using a temperature monitoring utility.

Symptoms of a failing GPU

Like any other computer device GPU’s don’t’ last forever, and the lifespan the GPU can be reduced if the device is continually performing to its maximum ability.

Intermittent Errors

Signs that the GPU is not performing optimally can be when there are intermittent errors on your computer. Examples of a struggling GPU include a slowdown in frame rates when using 3D programs which you didn’t experience previously. You might also find that the GPU can no longer handle the heavy load of some games causing the machine to crash while you are playing. – you could also get an error message when this occurs stating the display driver has been recovered.

Fan Noise

If you GPU is struggling to cope with high intensive applications you should notice an increase in the noise made by the fan. Visual Anomalies Another sure way to tell that your GPU is on the way out is if you get vidual anomalies on your screen:

Lines across the screen

Obvious Failure of the GPU

An obvious indication of a faulty GPU is that the computer reboots, displays a blue screen or locks up. This is most likely to happen when the GPU is under pressure as described above – trying to cope with the intensive calculations required for 3D applications, high-definition video rendering or other heavy work load such as playing HD videos.

Some Potential Solutions

An easy solution would be that the graphics card is not properly seated in your computer. Another easy fix is if the cables have come lose and need reconnecting. Also you might find the problem goes away if you update your video card drivers. Another possible correction could be that you have recently installed updated drivers which are unstable. Try going back to the previous drivers to see if this solves the problem.

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Affordable Computer Repairs and Service – If your graphics card needs replacing we can help. It is best if you bring you PC, laptop or Mac to us (48 Octantis Street, corner of Mars Street, Coorparoo). We will source a new video card for you and install it carefully and properly in your computer so that when we are finished your machine will perform as it used to before the failure of your video card. If the video chip is on your motherboard we can still help, unfortunately though, this is a more expensive repair job.

Graphics Processing Unit

Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

Dangers of Portable Hard Drives – We have had so many jobs lately from desperate customers needing to recover data, treasured photographs, work files, assignments, YouTube videos etc from failed portable hard drives that we thought we should inform our customers of the dangers of relying on these devices.

Firstly backing up onto a portable hard driver is not sufficient.  You always need to back up on two different devices – be it a second portable hard drive, a USB flash drive, another hard drive located in a separate partition on your computer or by using an online or cloud back up service.

Backing up on one portable hard drive does not protect you from loss of data…

Portable hard drives need to be handled with care.  This is especially so whilst they are powered and backing up your data.  For example:

• A knock, drop or spill on your portable hard drive could mean the loss of everything on the drive; and
• Just any other device, portable hard drives can fail of their own accord.

With portable hard drives, you get what you pay for.  Do not buy the cheapest drive available, you are only asking for trouble.

You are welcome to bring your non-functioning portable drive to us as we offer a hard drive recovery service – and we will do this for an affordable rate.

If however the drive is too badly damaged for us to be able to recover your data, your only other option is to go to a Commercial Data Recovery Specialist or Laboratory where they have Clean Room facilities (they even wear white lab coats and masks!)  If the drive is badly damaged they may need to disassemble the hard drive itself in order to recover all or part of your data.  The catch is that their data recovery prices usually start at around $800 and can go into the thousands!

We have also had unfortunate customers who have backed up several computers with years of invaluable data onto a single portable hard drive – and then deleted all that data from their PC or Laptop – only to have the portable drive fail on them!  So while they were trying to do the right thing and ensure their files and photographs, music, videos etc are safely stored, they find themselves looking at an expensive solution or no solution at all!

Always back up your data on two devices.

Affordable Computer Repairs and Service is located at 48 Octantis Street on the corner of Mars Street in Coorparoo.  We have a home office on the bottom level of our house, the entrance to the office is off Mars Street, is it clearly signed.
Our business hours are from eight in the morning through to six at night, Monday through to Saturday.  We do ask that you call us first so that we can discuss your problem over the phone and provide you with some advice before you bring your portable hard drive or computer to us.

We also offer a mobile service for customers within our Mobile Service Area.  We do not charge call out fees or travel time to your place of work or home from our business located in Coorparoo.

Dangers of Portable Hard Drives – Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

How to Make My Mouse Work Properly

Common Mouse Issues

1. Mouse Ball Stuck or Hard to Use
2. The most common reason for mouse problems is that your mouse ball has lint, debris or hair stuck in the roller and preventing it from moving. This is a common problem that happens particularly to those who don’t use a mouse pad or regularly clean their mouse.
3. Mouse Stops Frequently or Skips
4. Batteries – A common mistake is replacing worn-out batteries. This uncomplicated task requires you to undo the battery cover and replace the current batteries with a new set.
5. Metal surfaces – If there is a large metal surface near your keyboard, mouse or receiver, your wireless receiver will not work properly.
6. Obstruction of objects – It is always important to ensure that the mouse and keyboard are in a direct line from the wireless receiver. If there is an object between them such as speakers, this can cause connection problems.
7. Plastic lens – The tiny plastic lens on the base of your mouse requires a quick wipe with a damp cloth frequently to keep the mouse running and connected.
8. Receiver distance – Has the receiver been moved recently, even by accident? In order for the receiver to work correctly, the keyboard and mouse need to be situated within thirty centimetres from the receiver.
9. Surface – Depending on the surface that your mouse is resting on, it is possible that the mouse s not working properly. For the best performance, we suggest using a mousepad rather than glass, reflective or translucent surfaces.

Solutions to Common Mouse Problems

Reboot Your Device

Firstly, try rebooting your desktop, laptop or Mac. While this may not determine why your mouse is having issues, it might begin working again after a reboot. A reboot is often an excellent way out of resolving a problem. However, if this does not work, please see below for some other possible mouse solutions.

Connections

It may be possible that if you have recently moved your laptop or desktop. AS a result, you may have inadvertently loosened the connection to the USB port.

Correct Port

Double-check that your mouse is plugged into the correct port. You may have simply plugged into the wrong port, but at least it is an easy fix.

Mouse Ball Stuck

To clean and remove the debris from the roller, you must move the mouse ball to the lock position on the underside of the mouse. Turn it on an angle to release the ball. Remove the lint with your fingers or a soft cloth. To rid the built-up dirt on the mouse rollers, turn the mouse the right way around. Tap on it so that the loose debris falls out the mouse door hole. There may still be lint stuck in the rollers, remove this carefully with your fingers or a pair of tweezers. Replace the ball back into the mouse by gently relocking the ball once all debris is cleaned.

Mouse TouchPad

Some laptops have a disable button just above the mouse touchpad. It may not be working if this button has been depressed. This may be a case of merely pressing the disable button once for your mouse to start working again. It is important to remember to only push this button once as if you do it twice by mistake, you could deactivate the mouse.

RAM

Insufficient RAM space could be the reason you are experiencing mouse problems. Try turning off some programs running in the background as well as ones you are not using. If this helps, then it may be time to upgrade your machine by installing additional RAM.

Installing RAM is fairly easy, however, you do need to pen the machine to install the additional ram. It may be also that your machine cannot be upgraded further as you already have the maximum amount of RAM installed. If this is the case, you need to do a thorough examination of your computer use. Delete enough applications and data to make your computer run properly or determine if it’s time to purchase a new machine.

Recent Update

A recent software update could be the cause of your mouse connectivity issues. We suggest tin this situation that you restart your machine and hopefully, this rectifies the situation.

Reset Your Mouse

Whether you have recently changed the batteries in your wireless mouse or not, try pressing the reset button on the wireless receiver and on the mouse. Some devices require the use of a pen to depress the button, please be careful when doing so.

Virus, Trojan or Other Form of Malware

A mouse’s poor or lack of function can be due to a malicious program on your machine. Whilst you may have up-to-date malware protection on your machine, no computer can ever be fully safe from malware infection.

Conclusion

If you bring your computer to our Coorparoo workshop, we can remove all traces of malware on your machine and add protection. We will then return it to you in the same condition as before it became infected as well as with your working mouse. We charge $190 for this service which includes cleaning your machine by running two full anti-software programs and installing some virus protection. This job takes about two hours to complete properly.

It may be that even after checking all these issues there is no performance improvement from your mouse. It may be that the device is defective after a long period of use and you will need to purchase a new mouse. Mice are now cheap to purchase and easily available, so this is not a major issue.

This blog was written by the technicians at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service. We are a family run business whose focus is to provide the best possible computer repair service to customers. We are not just expert repairers with affordable prices, we are also a traditional old fashion service with a smile. Contact us today on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 for honest and friendly service for all your computer and IT issues.