Hardware

ISP Blocking Port Forwarding: How to Know?

ISP Blocks Port Forwarding: How to Know? (Do This)

An ISP can only block port forwarding if they control your router, so this is only an issue if they provided the router that you use. When that is the case, you can log into the router and look at the port forwarding settings. If you can’t see those settings, then the safe assumption is that port forwarding is blocked.

GPU and CPU 50-60 °C When Idle: Safe?

GPU and CPU 50-60 °C When Idle: Safe?

In a technical sense, this is a safe idle temperature range for the vast majority of GPUs and CPUs. Idling at these temperatures won’t cause problems, but this is a higher-than-average range. Such idle temperatures could indicate general cooling problems that you will want to identify and resolve.

Losing Data: Changing RAM, Motherboard, or CPU?

Changing the RAM, motherboard, or CPU does not inherently damage any data on your computer. But, when you change components on a computer, it is sometimes necessary to reinstall the operating system, and that can put data at risk. Moreover, the data risks attached to each of these changes vary considerably.

Borderless Windowed vs. Full-Screen: Gaming Performance?

Borderless Windowed vs. Full-Screen: Gaming Performance?

Overall, gaming in full-screen mode will give you better performance than in borderless windowed mode. However, full-screen mode comes with some downsides that you might not be willing to live with. In particular, accessing apps and functions outside of the active gaming window is much easier outside of full-screen mode.

M.2 NVMe SSDs: Two or More Affect Performance?

M.2 NVMe SSDs: Two or More Affect Performance?

Installing M.2 NVMe SSDs definitely impacts the performance of the computer. If you are upgrading from slower drives, then things will run considerably faster. If you’re adding drives, then eventually, too many M.2 drives can hog resources and slow down the general performance of the computer.

MacBook Clamshell Mode Constantly: Safe?

MacBook Clamshell Mode Constantly: Safe? (All the Info)

In most cases, you can leave your MacBook in clamshell mode without any problem. Apple has designed MacBooks to work with clamshell mode, so there is very little risk in leaving your Mac in this mode. Just make sure your MacBook doesn’t get too hot if you’re performing resource-intensive tasks.

FileVault: Affects Mac Performance?

FileVault: Affects Mac Performance? (Everything to Know)

With a modern Mac, FileVault typically does not impact performance at all. Modern hardware can handle encryption a lot faster than older systems, and Macs encrypt by default now. With older systems, it is possible for FileVault to use up resources to a point that general performance slows down across the Mac.

Not Returning Company Laptop: What Happens?

Not Returning Company Laptop: What Happens? (All the Info)

Unless there was a prior agreement in place that you could keep the laptop upon separation from employment, this would probably be against company policy and qualifies as employee theft. The company may hold any compensation due to you along with serious civil and criminal legal ramifications.

Playing While Charging Phone: Damages Battery?

Playing While Charging Phone: Damages Battery? (Do This)

Using your phone while charging should not damage the battery or any other part of the phone, even if that use involves high-end gaming. The charging system is very smart and will route power appropriately to make the phone work and protect the battery. That said, there is an increased risk of heat, and that matters.

Constant Charging Laptop: Damages Battery?

Constantly Charging Laptop: Damages Battery? (Do This)

In the vast majority of cases, constantly charging your laptop does not harm the battery. In fact, more often than not, this practice actually extends the battery’s lifespan for the laptop, and it can help boost laptop performance. The only major concern is heat buildup, so make sure your laptop has good airflow.

Frequently Charging Laptop: Damages Battery?

Frequently Charging Laptop: Damages Battery? (Do This)

Usually, frequently charging your laptop will not damage the battery or cause any major problems that you need to know about. Frequent charging does have a set of pros and cons, but when it comes to the battery, frequent charging often extends the battery’s lifespan. For the most part, you can charge whenever you want.

Constantly Charging Phone: Damages Phone Battery?

Constantly Charging Phone: Damages Phone Battery? (Do This)

For the most part, constantly charging a phone does not damage the battery. Most manufacturers suggest that you can charge the phone however you like, and it will be just fine. In fact, constant charging can extend your battery’s life in many cases. The only real concern is avoiding charging in high temperatures.

Frequently Charging Phone: Damages Phone Battery?

Frequently Charging Phone: Damages Battery? (All the Info)

For the most part, frequent charging is not an issue for modern phones with lithium-based batteries. Charging behavior does impact your battery’s lifespan, but the exact ways depend on how you use the phone and what kind of battery you have. You can research best practices for your specific battery.

Dropping Phone: Affects Phone’s Performance? 

Dropping Phone: Affects Phone's Performance? (All the Info)

In the majority of cases where a phone is dropped, the device is just fine, but it is possible for a drop to damage a phone and affect its performance. These performance differences can range from bricking the phone to cracking the screen to other problems. Ultimately, a lot can go wrong, even if it’s usually fine.

Data Storage Full: Slows Down Computer?

Data Storage Full: Slows Down Computer?

Yes. No matter what kind of device your computer uses for its primary data storage, if that storage is full enough, it will bog down your computer’s performance. In extreme cases, your computer will slow down to a point that makes it feel completely unusable. Fortunately, there are remedies to the problem.

Sophos Slows Down Computer: True?

Sophos Slows Down Computer: True?(Everything to Know)

Sophos can slow computers down, but that won’t always be the case. As a security software suite, it performs a lot of tasks, and if it is working hard on a computer that doesn’t have resources to spare, you’ll experience slowness. If Sophos doesn’t overtax your system, then you’ll never experience a problem.