Our Blogs - Millennium Group

February 23, 2023February 23, 2023

Which Laptop is the Best?

a row of laptops on a workbench getting repaired, which laptop is best

We get this question often. As you can see in this photo, we also repair a lot of laptops. While everyone loves the freedom and convenience of our small devices, this convenience comes at a cost. Many brand new laptops are made with older or inferior parts to keep margins down. Not only that, the laptop market is so flooded with seemingly great products that it’s difficult to weed through the choices.

When looking for a new laptop, you want to review a few main components of the computer to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need. You definitely don’t want to go with the cheapest machine available, but you don’t want to overpay either. This investment should last you 7-10 years so you want to spend some time researching a few key pieces of information.

Operating System

We recommend weeding out your internet search with the OS (operating system) first. While new operating systems can be fun, they don’t always get along with other devices and programs when they first launch. For this reason, we currently recommend beginning your search by looking for laptops that ship with Windows 10. Depending on which programs and services you need, Windows 11 could create more headaches for you than you’re prepared for.

CPU

The second item to review on a laptop is the processor or CPU. Oftentimes on laptops the CPU has been reduced in power to keep it from overheating. Another issue we see are older generations i.e. the newest model is 13th generation but the laptop has the older version from several years ago. A quick Google search can help you figure out how old the chip is.

RAM

The next order of business is RAM (Random Access Memory). We’ve noticed numerous laptops shipping with 8 GB of RAM. While that may be enough for casual web browsing, most people will want at least 16 GB to do anything beyond email and simple web surfing. You also want to check the type of RAM used and whether it’s upgradable or soldered to the motherboard. We recommend looking for the newer DDR4 RAM with the possibility to upgrade later on.

Hard Drive storage

After you’ve narrowed down your choices using the recommendations above, you should be left with just a few laptops that you need to compare. We recommend a 500 GB SSD (Solid State Drive), however if you’re into photos and video, definitely go for the larger 1 TB drive. We don’t recommend the SATA spinning drives since laptops are commonly being moved around.

External Ports

The last item to review are the external ports. Some manufacturers are removing ports in favor of a thinner profile which can be problematic. At a minimum, you’ll want to have 1 USB-C, at least 1 USB-A and a microphone/headset jack. You may need a USB extender if you have several devices, but they are easy to use. Lastly, you might want an ethernet port for hard wired internet and an HDMI port so you can connect another monitor.

We hope this helped answer the question of which laptop is best. If you still want help choosing, we are always here to help! Give us a call!

February 14, 2023February 14, 2023

Building a Gaming PC – Episode 3

Episode 3 has us building a Montech gaming PC really fast. We love building computers for our clients, and we don’t think you need to be a gamer to have a great computer. If your computer is running slow or crashing often, you may be ready for a new one. Give us a call, we’d love to help!

January 27, 2023February 17, 2023

How to Prevent Computer Viruses

an image of a virus alert on a laptop screen

We see a lot of computer viruses come through our shop. While we’re happy to help our clients, we are avid believers in an ounce of prevention. Using constant vigilance when checking your email, anti-malware software, and a plugin for your web browser can do a world of good.

If an email you receive reads oddly and contains links or attachments, even if it’s from someone you know, it could be a phishing scam. If you aren’t sure, your best bet is to not click or open anything and reach out to the sender separately to confirm the authenticity. A simple call or message can save you a lot of trouble.

Additionally, you should invest in good cybersecurity software. We recommend using modern anti-malware software, like VIPRE to keep your computer system protected. You can use also this software to scan your emails for malware.

Popup Ads are not only annoying, but hackers use them to impersonate brands and trick you into entering your information on a fake website. Even the FBI is recommending Popup blockers for anyone that goes online. Installing a browser extension like AdBlock Plus can give you faster browsing and help keep your data safe.

Whether you surf the web a little or a lot, you need to protect yourself. Be vigilant about what you click on and protect yourself from hackers and trackers with solid cybersecurity practices.

December 16, 2022January 27, 2023

Speed Building a Gaming PC

This speedy video has us building an awesome Gaming PC super fast! This Windows 10 PRO Experimental Case has an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, WD 1TB SSD, X570 Mother Board, 16GB 3600 MHZ RAM, 750W Power Supply and ARCTIC AIO water cooler 240MM.

Thanks for watching! Like what you see or have questions? Give us a call at 970-663-1200

December 2, 2022December 2, 2022

How to Build a Gaming PC

Have you ever wondered how to build a custom PC? In this video we show you how to install an X570 motherboard, Ryzen R7 5800X processor and Corsair RAM.

Thanks for watching! Have questions? Give us a call 970-663-1200!

November 11, 2022January 27, 2023

Curved Vs Flat Monitors

Deciding which monitor to choose for your home PC is quite the choice. When it comes to computer monitors, you have many options, but the main starting point is whether you want a flat monitor or a curved monitor.

A flat monitor is a traditional choice and what most people are used to owning. It is less expensive for larger screen sizes on a flat monitor. Curved monitors typically cover a person’s peripheral vision, so a curved screen of the same size will appear more prominent. Curved monitors offer a better color profile depending on the work you are trying to perform.

It would be best to consider the refresh rate when discussing gaming, not work-related performance. Typically a flat monitor is cheaper and easier to obtain a higher refresh rate when compared to a curved monitor. It solely depends on user preference regarding curved vs flat monitors and gaming. The refresh rate is the top deciding factor when buying a gaming monitor. Keep in mind that as the screen size goes up, the refresh gets harder to keep as high as possible.

If you have questions regarding monitor options, please get in touch with us, we will gladly assist you!

October 3, 2022February 24, 2023

Choosing The Right CPU

Choosing the right CPU to fit your build and the motherboard can be challenging. Knowing which CPU chip will fit into the motherboard is something you need to learn when building your computer or replacing parts. On top of that, when building a computer, you must make sure the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, etc. all sync together and will work properly.

Getting a CPU chip and a motherboard to match up is the key to getting a quality platform for your build. One of the big things to keep in mind is the brand of the CPU and the motherboard. For example, an AMD CPU will not work with an Intel motherboard and the reverse order. Your best option is to pick the CPU or the motherboard, then research the best pick to pair with your chosen option. This will ensure that when you set them up, you have clean connections and no issues later down the road.

Another factor to look at when choosing the right CPU is the generation of the chip. The current generation of CPU chips is 12th. The 13th generation will be released later this year. Just because a chip is an i7 or an i9 does not necessarily mean it is better than an i5. Depending on the generation of the two chips, the i5 could be a better-performing chip. This difference is something to keep in mind when selecting your CPU.

If you have questions regarding CPU options, please contact us at Millennium Group, and we will gladly assist you!

September 26, 2022January 27, 2023

Wifi & Network Solutions

A robust and reliable internet connection is crucial to keeping your business running efficiently. There are a variety of different network solutions that will allow you to use your computers exactly how you need to.

The most reliable option is to use a CAT-5 cable and run it directly from the modem to the computer. This solution will give you the fastest option for the internet. You can also use a modem or router with built-in wifi that your computer can connect to wirelessly. This option is the most convenient for many people since they don’t have to run any cables. However, wifi will give you a slower network and internet experience.

Another option is a VPN, where your PC remotely accesses another computer, allowing you to work remotely. This is a good solution when an office or workspace is in a different location as the main server. This allows someone to connect to the server as if they were directly in the office.

No matter what your computer needs, there is a network solution that will streamline your needs. If you have more questions regarding wifi and network solutions, please contact us and we will gladly assist you!

September 26, 2022November 11, 2022

Cable Management Do’s And Dont’s

Before Millennium Group

Today we will discuss cable management do’s and dont’s. Cable management is not essential to how a computer operates, but it makes a huge difference when you need to do something with your computer and know which cables are which. Unfortunately, having a tangled mess of wires is very hard to work with, but neat and clean, managed cables makes finding the right one easy. There are many ways and solutions to set up cables and manage them.

Cable Management is the first step to a well-maintained PC. It may seem unnecessary to most, but this is a crucial step to maintaining your computer and all your equipment correctly. The priority is to find the exact wire you are trying to find without fiddling with a rat’s nest of cables. Keeping all your cords organized by video, audio, and data transfer is an excellent place to start when organizing.

There are a ton of solutions that you can implement that will make your life easier. You will get a laundry list of different products and solutions if you Google cable management. The most important thing to remember is to choose the option that makes the most sense to you. There are simple solutions like velcro wraps, and you can go more custom with cord hiders that attach to the wall and allow you to paint them.

If you have more questions regarding cable management, please get in touch with us at Millennium Group, and we will gladly assist you!

September 26, 2022November 11, 2022

External Storage Uses & Benefits

Today we will discuss external storage uses and benefits. External storage is an excellent option if you want to expand your storage, but it also allows you to move large quantities of data quickly. There are various external storage options, including size, space, and speed. Choosing the best choice for your computer and needs is essential to ensure the drive will handle it.

Deciding on which external storage to go with solely depends on your needs. These storage devices come in sizes ranging from 512 megabytes to 10 terabytes. The size will also dictate how much you will spend, but you can get large-sized storage for an affordable price. This makes the external storage uses and benefits depend solely on you.

Another defining feature of external storage devices is SSD vs. HDD. SSD stands for Solid State Drive, whereas an HDD is a Hard Disk Drive. The most significant difference between these two drives is that an SSD is roughly twice as fast as an HDD. Again, This entirely depends on what you will use the drive for and how it functions.

If you have any more questions regarding external storage, please get in touch with us at Millennium Group, and we will gladly assist you!