How do I quiet noisy computer fans?

I'm sorry to say the best solution is to replace the fan. If you are on a budget or are working with legacy components that can’t be replaced, you can try to lubricate the fan. DO NOT use WD-40, it is not made for high speed motors and is flammable. I use 3 in 1 motor oil, a small bottle can be had at any hardware store. For the more adventuresome types, sewing machine oil is an excellent lubricant for fans and can be found at most fabric stores.

Should my case fans blow in or out?

The general consensus seems to be that fans placed on the front of the computer case should blow in. While most other fans including, those in the rear and top should blow outward. This seems to be a 50/50 split amongst my peers as to whether the side fan should blow in or out.

Office 2007, Windows XP, and Speech Recognition (Language Bar)

Last week I upgraded to Office 2007 Ultimate edition. After an entire morning spent trying to repair my missing Language Bar. I discovered that Office 2007 no longer supports Speech Recognition for Windows XP. Wow, I'm so glad I paid $492.36 so I could loose functionality. Do you hear that giant sucking sound?

High Desity Vs. Low Desity RAM

One of the easiest and most effective upgrade a person can make to their computer is to add more RAM. Memory can be purchased from many online vendors at a substantial savings over the local retail stores.

Determining what RAM to buy is as easy as looking in your computer/motherboards owner’s manual. But be careful, some online retailers are selling high density ram at cost to unsuspecting consumers. Most computers on the market today take low density ram.

You may ask, “What is the difference between High and Low Density RAM and why would they sell me RAM at cost?” The answer is 90%+ of computers on the market use only low density ram and low density ram is compatible with 100% of computers. I will spare you the technical explanation of the differences and tell you to just pony up for the low density ram.

Several online retailers are selling High Density RAM to unsuspecting consumers at or near cost. The reason for this is because it is cheap, 1/3 the cost of Low Density. They make their profit on excess shipping charges, and restocking fees.

Can I use an 8x AGP video card in a 4x AGP slot?

Yes, as a general rule of thumb, most Motherboards can supply the proper voltage (1.5 vs. 0.8). Fore some of the higher video cards, check with the manufacturer. Most will plainly tell you if they are backward compatible with the 4x standard.