Month: September 2022

What are Expansion Cards ?

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Expansion cards are printed circuit boards that add functionality to your PC. Basically your PC doesn’t need these cards to function, but as you continue using your PC, in the long run you will need them. 

 Your PC usually  comes installed with a basic graphics card for doing things like typing,  watching movies,  playing some low CPU demanding games. However if you discover in the course of doing certain tasks that your PC is slow, such as when video editing or playing certain video games, then you may need to install an additional graphics card. 

Types of expansion cards that you may need.

Graphics accelerator card

One of the most sought-after expansion cards in the market is the graphics accelerator card. High-end video editing 3D application software and video games are very CPU demanding. These applications can overwhelm even the most advanced CPU in the market, this is why they must be used with an additional capable graphics card installed. Graphics cards are available in the market in various grades and capabilities

Sound cards

If you want more quality sound from your PC or if you are a sound producer editor then a better sound card may be required. 

Network cards

Network cards enable you to connect your PC to another PC and also to the internet, enabling you to transfer or download data at high speeds

If the network ports that came with your PC don’t produce the speed that you need then a more advanced Network card can be the answer.

Storage card reader

There are many types of memory card storage around. So having an expansion card that can read all of them makes a lot of sense.

Do You Need an Optical Drive for Your PC

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Do you need an optical drive for your PC or laptop? Few years ago, it was necessary but nowadays it is optional. There are many options of storing data which is the reason why optical drives are becoming obsolete. Large files  are stored in the cloud  or USB flash drives these days. The speed of the internet is much faster now so downloading very large files in a few minutes is possible these days.

 If you will install an optical drive for your PC then go for the DVD or Blu-ray optical writer drives. DVDs and Blu-ray discs can store very large files making it sometimes economical to use them. Don’t even think of installing an optical ordinary CD drive, it’s pointless.

Go for an optical drive in which its front cover blends with your PC case.

If you don’t want to install an optical DVD or Blu-ray writer drive, you can get a portable, external optical drive instead. Its portability enables you to easily carry it around, plug into your PC or laptop or even your TV.

As said earlier it’s very possible to build a PC or have a laptop without an optical drive. However, make sure your internet speed is fast so that you can download large files in a few minutes. Have a 16 GB or 32 GB flash drive so that you can easily transfer, copy and  install softwares. Your PC or laptop usually comes equipped with an external memory card reader or slot. Memory cards  now have capacities of up to 256 GB or even more.

Homemade Deodorants

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Homemade Deodorants

Below are some homemade deodorant recipes that are suited for different seasons. It is well known that certain scents and certain textures of deodorants work best in certain seasons than others. 

Summer / Spring deodorant Recipes

Summer and spring are the seasons of fresh air, sunshine, and warmth. That’s why cooling, refreshing and tangy scents are the best for these seasons when it comes to deodorants.

Summer / Spring deodorant Recipe 1

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

1 tablespoon beeswax

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

1 tablespoon bentonite clay

10 drops tea tree essential oil

Procedure

Melt the coconut oil and beeswax on the stove, and mix the clay and arrowroot powder in a bowl. Combine the oil and beeswax with the powder, and then add the essential oil. This is a cooling, freshly scented deodorant that is not too drying nor too moisturizing and is great for preventing acne on the body.

Summer / Spring Deodorant Recipe 2

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

1 tablespoon beeswax

2 tablespoons baking soda

2 drops lemon oil

8 drops sweet orange oil

Procedure

Melt the coconut oil and beeswax on the stove, and then add the baking soda.

Follow with the essential oils, and mix thoroughly. This will give you a sweet and sour citrus scented deodorant that will freshen you up on warm days.

Winter / Fall Deodorant Recipes

For winter and fall, warm, cozy and spicy scents are the best to make you feel comforted and relaxed.

Winter / Fall Deodorant Recipe 1

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

2 tablespoons of cocoa butter

2 tablespoons of baking soda

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

5 drops sandalwood oil

5 drops cinnamon oil

Procedure

Mix the coconut oil and cocoa butter before adding the baking soda and arrowroot powder. Follow with the essential oils, and blend thoroughly. This creamy deodorant has a spicy, musky scent that is great for men and women to use in the winter or fall.

Winter / Fall Deodorant Recipe 2:

2 tablespoons of cocoa butter

2 tablespoons of shea butter

3 tablespoons baking soda

10 drops of vanilla oil.

Procedure

Blend the emollient butter before adding the baking soda and vanilla oil. This is another great unisex deodorant with a comforting vanilla scent that is sure to make you feel good in the chillier months.

Winter / Fall Deodorant Recipe 3

4 tablespoons coconut oil

3 tablespoons baking soda

5 drops clove oil

Procedure

Simply blend the coconut oil, baking soda and essential oil to create a musky, spicy deodorant that is ideal for fall and winter. This creamy deodorant is also a great moisturizer for dry underarms.

How to make toothpaste at home

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How to make your own toothpaste at home. There are many recipes for making toothpaste. The method I will show you today is just one of many ways of making toothpaste.

Coconut oil
xylitol

Ingredients you will need

  1. Coconut oil. About ¼  cup
  2. Baking soda. About ½ cup
  3. Xylitol. This is a sweetener. 5 tablespoons should be okay, but add to your taste.
  4. Peppermint extract. 2 teaspoons

Method.

Just mix the ingredients in a bowl until a fine pasty consistency is achieved.  Store in a covered jar and begin to use your homemade toothpaste.

About Solar Cars

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Solar powered car to be commercially available in 2022

A solar powered car is a type of vehicle that is powered by solar panels. It is an electric vehicle that is powered by solar cells fully or partially. A car that is powered fully by solar cells will not be equipped with a battery. A car that is partially powered by solar cells will be equipped with a battery. The battery is a rechargeable one that helps to regulate and store energy from the solar cells.

Solar powered cars are still in their experimental stages and have not been commercialized for public use. 

Solar cars that will be rolled out commercially in late 2022 will be partially powered. 

Rechargeable batteries will complement power that is produced from the solar cells. What it means is this, a solar powered car will be equipped with a battery, this battery can be charged by the sun powered solar panels and more, by the battery’s electric charger plugged  to an electric outlet.

The amount of charge produced by the solar panel is only complimentary. A 6 hour charge of the battery by the solar panels can only produce 8 -10kilowatt-hour of power. This power can only move the solar car for about 50 miles or 80 km. 

The battery that comes fitted with a solar car has enough power to move the car about 400 km on a full charge.

This means that it will take about 30 hours of good sunlight for the solar panels to fully charge the fully discharged battery, whereas, using the battery’s electric charger, the same process will take under 2 hours.

About the Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)

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A high end GPU

Most personal computers comes installed with some sort of graphics processing unit. (GPU). Basically the graphics processing unit controls the quality of display shown on the monitor screen. 

If you use your PC to do soft jobs such as typing or watching HD movies the PC would likely be fitted with an integrated GPU. This type of GPU uses resources from the PCs central processing unit. The main disadvantage of integrated GPUs is that they are not that powerful and when you use a heavier program such as a 3D application the whole system will  slow down.

A dedicated GPU comes with his own processor and VRAM and does not draw resources from the CPU. Your PC will need a dedicated GPU if you’ll be using it for powerful 3D applications  HD video editing and high end video gaming.

Types of GPUs available

There are many types of GPUs available but the two most prominent types are those  made by Nividia or AMD. These two major GPU makers are very good and you can’t choose between them. However, Nividia gpu’s have a slight edge. GPUs come in videos grades and models to suit your needs. There are high-end GPUs and low-end ones. Things to look out for when purchasing a suitable GPU includes:

  1. Video memory or VRAM: the more powerful a GPU is, the more VRAM it will have. Also check the VRAM speed too; The higher the better.
  2. Clock speed and memory bus: as with the VRAM, the higher the processor speed and amount of memory bus the better the GPU is.
  3. Size: high-end GPUs are very large in size. Take note of this, you must purchase a GPU that can conveniently fit inside your PC.