CONCEPT

If you're a gamer you know what a hot ticket item the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card is... and that if you want it you will need to be put on a wait list to get it. So if your excitement gets the better of you as it is bound to do, we have a couple of awesome alternatives to share with you. Our first choice is the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 - it performs at a similar capacity with only slightly less video memory than the 3090 and a better price point. Our seco

You're down to the last-minutes friend! Let us help you... In a year where computers have become our lifeblood, we are sure to have the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Concept has everything from new and used computers, to tablets, accessories and service packages! To speak to us about all your last-minute Christmas needs, visit our showroom at 1257 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, or give us a call at 604-986-7680. #christmasiscoming #christmascomputer #giftsforgeeks #

Cracked, defective or blanks screens don't need to mean the end of your laptop. Often they can be replaced, saving you money and helping you do your part for the environment. They key word here is, often. As computers get smaller, it is becoming increasingly difficult to replace laptop screens. Some screens are adhered to the besel with proprietary adhesives that require heat guns to remove, often resulting in the entire upper besel needing to be replaced. Planned obsolesc

You've been using your version of Windows or Mac OS for a loooong time. You know it. Your comfortable with it. Why bother to change it? Well, there's a few reasons actually. 1. Security - Microsoft and Apple do their best to provide updates for the valid operating systems they offer, but in general you're getting the best security updates on the most recent version of operating system. After a while, these companies will stop creating updates for these operating systems (an

Have you ever written a paragraph in a document with the caps lock on? Maybe it was intentional at first - you thought it would help emphasize your point. But then, you looked back and it just looked like you were yelling at your reader. Maybe you were just multi-tasking and didn't really notice, or maybe you were just being lazy and didn't want to turn the caps lock off... Whatever your reason, if you decide those caps lock sentences aren't doing much for you, there is a li

If you or a loved one is living with a disability, computing can be a challenge. Thankfully, advances in technology have made the task infinitely more accessible. There are a variety of software and hardware available including: - screen readers - dictation software - adapted and on-screen keyboards - inhalation / exhalation (sip and puff) systems - joysticks - trackballs - body wands and sticks - tongue mice - electronic pointing devices - touch screens - adapted keyboards

We're all aware of the global pandemic right now, but that hasn't slowed down the viruses available to your computers. Here are a few of the top recent badies you should watch out for: 1. Cyborg Ransomware (AIDS - Aids Info Disk Trojan) - this is a new variant of an old virus that uses fake Windows 10 software updates to install a ransomware. Ransomware threatens to publish the victim's data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid. Protect yourself by not o

You're stuck at home, so naturally wi-fi is essential. But are you stuck in one small corner of your house? You've called your internet provider, they've taken you through their motions and still... not much to write home about. It may be time to upgrade your wifi hardware. We upgrade from weaker and unstable wi-fi routers to ultra high-speed wireless mesh networks with far greater speed and range so you can comfortably take your laptop from one end of the house to the other

Did you know that your computer automatically sets aside 7 (or more) GB of storage space just in case space becomes scarce? It is called "reserve storage" and it is set aside because when storage space is low your computer can stop functioning optimally. Updates can fail to download or install properly and then all those bug fixes, patches or updates that are supposed to keep your operating system working tickity boo... don't. The storage space isn't just sitting there doing

The best way to prevent this... is with regular service and maintenance. That means making sure you have all the right updates and packages, remove junkware, monitor the performance of your system, keep on top of anti-virus updates and scans and be on the lookout for any other tell-tale signs of viruses or other performance problems. Yeah, it's a lot. But the alternative is often costly and endlessly frustrating. Concept Computers offers monthly service plans that takes those

Is your old reliable not working with some of your newer peripherals or programs? Integration of old technology with new can be a frustrating issue. The fact is, newer technologies often have higher demands than old ones. Without proper integration, programs or accessories could not run properly (if at all), data can be corrupted, lost, scattered or duplicated or you could face program and computer crashes. The good news is, that up to a point many components can be upgraded

Are you dealing with constant game crashes? While visual artifacts / glitches can be a pain in the behind, the upshot of dealing with them is that you can still usually play your game. Crashes on the other hand, take you right out of the fun. So let's look at a few possible fixes to get you back in the game. 1. The good ol' hard restart: it can't hurt to try! Games can crash due to temporary problems, updates that haven't installed etc. Eliminate this fix before you move on t

Ever notice this while you're gaming? This type of visual artifact is called "screen tearing". It happens when your screen displays multiple frames at once, which do not align. There are a couple of players at fault here: your video card and your display's refresh rate. When they do not sync up, your video card will submit another frame or image, before your screen is finished displaying the last one, which means you're seeing two broken images at a time. It can also occur wh

Are you hanging while you game? It's not as cool as it sounds. Hanging refers to when your offline game freezes while it catches up to the commands you've given it. In this case, there is a process or piece of hardware that is causing a "traffic jam" of data. Make sure you've closed other programs that may be bogging down your computer. Check the available space on your storage drive - if you are full, chances are your system is at max capacity. Try lowering the graphics sett

You're gaming online and you're 100% sure you just took out your opponent - but wait, he just blasted through your line of fire and that arrow just sailed right into the trees behind him. You may be suffering from online lag. What to do? 1. Have a look at any processes that may be bogging down your bandwidth - are you downloading / uploading anything? Streaming any other content? If so, stop now and resume post-game. 2. If you're on wifi, consider hard-wiring your connection

If you're into gaming (or even if you're not) you may have heard the term "artifacting". But what does it mean?! Artifacting refers to visual distortion or glitches in gaming graphics when the frame is being rendered. It can come in the form of corrupted textures, geometry, visual anomalies, colours and so on. It is most often an issue related to your graphics processing unit (GPU) or graphics card. If you are seeing any of these visual anomalies, check that your graphics car

So you heard about a new game, waited patiently while it downloaded, fired it up.... crash. WTF??? Try again... crash. Enter frustration station. Sound familiar? What to do when a game won't run on your system? Here are a few things to check: 1. Check the minimum required specs for the game - this can usually be found on the site you purchased it from. If you don't know your system's specs, type "system information" in your start menu's search bar and have a look at the syste

So we're in a bit of a deep freeze at the moment. Can this harm your computer? Your machine is more likely to be damaged from heat rather than the cold, HOWEVER - going from cold to hot can cause condensation. As you likely no, water and electronics are not friends. Many of you may not have made it into work today, opting to work at a nearby cafe instead of braving a lengthy drive on the treacherous roads. If you spend some time walking to the cafe, or need to leave your comp

Still running Windows 7? It's time for an upgrade... On January 14th, 2020 (that's in less than two weeks) Microsoft will end its 10-year support for the operating system. What does that mean? It means that security updates for Windows 7 will no longer be developed or released leaving your computer at greater risk for security breaches. Technical support from Microsoft will also no longer be available should you need to troubleshoot an issue with the developer. You can also e

The video conferencing platform Zoom has taken off during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It is an excellent tool for staying connected with loved ones, taking meetings, hosting webinars. It's success has not gone unnoticed. While we are highly supportive of the platform, however, we want you to be aware of recent security issues and how to protect yourself from them. The security breaches involved individuals hacking into and taking over group meetings, speaking over the at