pc guide 2016

PC GUIDE 2016PHILIPPINE CONTEXT

RAM

• The minimum RAM requirements of Windows 10 is at least 2gb for 64bit.

• The minimum for gamers is now 8gb.

• We’re already seeing 32gb becoming common for all.

• So if you’re RAM is very low or just 2gb, you might want to consider upgrading.

CPU

• More core in CPU doesn’t necessarily means faster. It depends on the application

you are running.

• Dual core as minimum is already okay for Windows 10.

• For fans of Intel, at least buy Core i3 or above. Core i7 is recommended. Go for

the 5th or 6th generation. (2016)

WINDOWS 10

• The latest version of Windows includes DirectX 12 which boost the performance

of games.

• Windows 10 also boots faster and runs everything faster across the board.

HDD

• SSD is the new standard now for storage.

• It’s faster than your old HDD.

• It is recommended for your Windows drive or boot drive.

• You can still use the standard HDD for larger storage or as backup drive.

VIDEO CARD?

• The minimum recommended video card for all is now NVidia 970.

• It’s also the minimum requirement for Virtual Reality to work.

MONITORS

• Not all monitors are created equal. Choose wisely!

• Go for 4K or higher if available.

WINDOWS DRIVERS

• Majority of computer hardware would automatically install in Windows 10. If it

didn’t install, make sure you’re connected to the internet and check for updates

via Device Manager.

• If your hardware didn’t install even after trying the steps above then it’s time for

you to visit the official website of the manufacturer to find for device driver that

would be compatible to your version of Windows.

ANTI-VIRUS AND ANTI-MALWARE

• No need to install third party since Windows already have Windows Defender

built-in.

• If your PC have McAfee or other third party anti-virus or anti-malware installed,

feel free to uninstall it and reboot your PC.

• If you have an infected Flash Drive, do not open it and format it immediately.

VIDEO PLAYER

• VLC Player (www.videolan.org) is already enough for all your video player needs.

• If the video can’t be played with VLC then forget it. Quickly delete it.

OFFICE SUITE

• Microsoft Office 2016 is more than 50% faster than 2010 and 2013.

• You can buy it via Store or subscribe to Office365 (www.office365.com) to get it.

• The Office365 version can be installed in 10 of your devices.

TORRENT

• It normally slowdown your network and PC at some times.

• A major source of virus and malware.

WINDOWS UPDATE

• Yes! You should regularly run Windows Update.

• It doesn’t harm your PC.

• Do not turn it off.

BROWSER

• Chrome slows down your PC normally so don’t panic.

• You can use Microsoft Edge or Opera as an alternative.

ADOBE FLASH

• Flash can only play on Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

• You should forget Flash already…

• The new standard is HTML 5.

JAVA

• You can install the latest version of Java from www.java.com if you really need it.

• Always update Java Runtime since it is one of the top cause of security issues.

WINDOWS STORE

• Try to play with apps available on the Windows Store.

HDD ENCRYPTION

• You can encrypt your HDD using Microsoft BitLocker if you are using the Pro

version of Windows.

DEVELOPING FOR WINDOWS 10

• You can use Visual Studio 2015 or later which is free from www.visualstudio.com.

CLEANING UP WINDOWS

• Avoid third party software for cleaning up Windows. It is not required.

• Use the built-in tool like Disk Cleanup. Just search for Disk Cleanup using

Windows Search or Cortana.

GENUINE IS IMPORTANT

• Pirated software works differently from the original one.

ex. There are software that won’t work on pirated version of Windows because

some components are not updated but is required by the software being installed.

ex. More than 80% of pirated copy of Windows sold in the country or downloaded

from Torrent contains malware already without you knowing it which slows down

your PC or even compromise your security.

SOFTWARE SOURCE

• Always download installers of software from official or trusted website to avoid

viruses and malware.

• You can download from Windows Store if available.

FREE UPGRADE OF WINDOWS 10

• To all users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, upgrade your Windows now to Windows 10

via Windows Update before July 2016 while it’s free.

PHOTOSHOP AND MORE

• You can get Adobe Photoshop legally by subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Visit www.adobe.com for more information.

WIFI ROUTERS

• As an additional security measure, please update the firmware of your Wifi router

if available and check all your security settings.

• You can also reset it after updating before reconfiguring. This is recommended

for some router brands.

CLEAN PC = HAPPY COMPUTING LIFE

Your PC reflects your personality.

Make it clean, fast and organized.