Month: May 2024

The 2023 Echo Show 8 is on sale for $100 right now

Posted on by faz_business


Last year Amazon upgraded its Echo Show 8 to make it look better, sound better and respond more quickly to Alexa commands. It made our best smart display list, and if you’ve been eyeing one, it’s on sale at a steep discount. The third-gen, 2023 Echo Show 8 is 33 percent off, bringing it down to just $100 ($50 off), only $10 off the all-time low. Amazon also has stellar deals on the Echo Dot and Echo Pop, offering them for $28 and $20 respectively.

Amazon

Amazon’s Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) has a new design and new features that make it more responsive to Alexa commands.

$100 at Amazon

The 2023 Echo Show 8 has a new design with edge-to-edge glass and softer curves that help it blend into your decor. Inside, it comes with new spatial audio with room calibration that allows for fuller sound than previous model. Meanwhile, video calling benefits from crisper audio and a 13-megapixel camera.

The new Adaptive Content feature changes what’s shown on the screen based on where you are in the room. If you’re standing far away, it’ll display easily digestible information in large font, like the weather or news headlines. As you get closer, it’ll switch to a more detailed view. It can also show personalized content for anyone enrolled in visual ID, surfacing your favorite playlists and other content.

It also boasts 40 percent faster response times for Alexa thanks to its upgraded processor. For privacy-conscious buyers, it has a physical camera shutter that’s controlled with a slider on the top of the device. There’s also a button to turn off the mic and camera. As mentioned, the Echo Show (3rd gen) is on sale for $100 in either charcoal or glacier white.

If you only need a small Echo speaker device for an extra room, Amazon is also selling the 5th-generation Dot for just $28, a steep 44 percent off the regular $50 price. That device has the best sound yet for a Dot device, while offering Alexa, smart home features and more. Amazon’s smallest device, the Echo Pop, also offers Alexa features and is on sale for just $20.

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The Best Gaming PC Builds of 2019

Posted on by faz_business


Welcome to Custom PC Review’s Best Gaming PC Builds! If you’re looking to build a new computer to play all the latest games, but you’re unsure of what parts to buy to create the optimal build at a certain price-point, we’re here to help.

Below you’ll find four builds sorted by budget of what we think will help create the best and most powerful gaming PCs for the price. Each piece of hardware in each build is hand-picked by our staff through consideration of a multitude of criteria such as price, performance, reliability, and cost. Furthermore, hardware recommend for our builds all have either been reviewed by us or is well known and highly regarded by the hardware community to ensure that our recommendations will give you the best gaming PC out there for the price. We’ve also designed our builds to be extremely balanced as well, favoring not only in-game FPS (frames per second) but not sacrificing cooling performance or aesthetics. For those with budgets somewhere between the builds specified, we’ll also offer some information about component alternatives below each build that can simply replace the recommended components. These are generally recommendations for different graphics cards or storage devices that can offer significantly improved performance.

As usual, this article is meant to serve as a guide for reference purposes only. Hardware prices and availability is constantly fluctuating, so if any piece of hardware listed below is out of stock, or is priced improperly, please help by letting us know in our community forums.

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Best Cheap Entry Level Gaming PC Build (Budget $500 – $800)

The purpose of our entry level gaming PC is simple – we want to give casual gamers a relatively cheap, budget computer build that would allow them to play older, less graphically demanding games at medium to high settings as well as newer games at lower detail/resolution settings.

CPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B41WS48″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Processor [/easyazon_link]
Motherboard [easyazon_link identifier=”B07FWVJSHC” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GIGABYTE B450M DS3H[/easyazon_link]
Memory Kingston HyperX Predator 8GB (2X4GB) 3200MHz
GPU Sapphire RX 570 4GB
Case [easyazon_link identifier=”B0785GRMPG” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]MasterBox Q300L mATX Case[/easyazon_link]
SSD [easyazon_link identifier=”B0784SLQM6″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Crucial MX500 500GB [/easyazon_link]
PSU [easyazon_link identifier=”B071XS597S” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]EVGA  B3, Bronze 550W, [/easyazon_link]
Operating System Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
Purchase Link Buy This Build

Upgrade Suggestions

CPU – While the Ryzen 5 2600 is a very capable CPU for a bit more you can currently buy a [easyazon_link identifier=”B06WP5YCX6″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Ryzen 7 1700[/easyazon_link] for around $40 more which will help in multi tasking and other general tasks. Those on a tighter budget can opt to skip the Ryzen 5 2600 and pick up a [easyazon_link identifier=”B079D3DBNM” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Ryzen 3 2200G[/easyazon_link]which is onlly a quad core as opposed to six and lacks SMT which drops the thread count from 12 to 4 but also includes integrated graphics and can be used as a temporary solution or good enough for most e-sports games.

CPU Cooler

For a bit more you can add a [easyazon_link identifier=”B071WSC4PX” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Cryorig H7[/easyazon_link] and push this CPU to its limit (between 4.1GHz and 3.9GHz) while still remaining relatively cool.

Motherboard – While the Gigabyte B450M DS3H is a solid board for the price for around $20-30 more you can pick up the superior [easyazon_link identifier=”B07FKV5HWJ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Asus B450 Prime[/easyazon_link] It bosts superior overclocking capability as well as RAM compatablility and I/O.

GPU – For those who want to opt for an Nvidia card if they prefer Geforce Experience or ShadowPlay can opt for the [easyazon_link keywords=”GTX 1060 3GB” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GTX 1060 3GB[/easyazon_link], though the RX 570 generally is the better card performance wise. Those looking for an upgrade to higher tier performance can pick up an [easyazon_link keywords=”Radeon RX 580″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Radeon RX 580[/easyazon_link] and it will provide better gaming performance for 1080p or 1440p gaming in modern games, Finally AMD’s newest introduction the RX 590 [easyazon_link keywords=”RX 590″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]RX 590[/easyazon_link] is a bit pricer but is probably the best card you can pick up at the under $300 mark, but is around $60 more than the other cards.

Boot Drive – For fast game load times, nothing beats an SSD and with prices as low as they are now, an SSD is an excellent upgrade opportunity, especially for modern games with larger levels and textures. Currently, the most highly recommended mainstream SSD is the [easyazon_link keywords=”Samsung Evo 860″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Samsung Evo 860[/easyazon_link] which can be found in the mid-$0.15/GB range. Another excellent option is the [easyazon_link keywords=”Crucial MX500″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Crucial MX500[/easyazon_link] which isn’t as quick as the Samsung 860 EVO however, performs close enough that most cannot notice and offers better value with prices in the area of around $0.13/GB and for the ultra budget option, the [easyazon_link keywords=”Silicon Power A55″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Silicon Power A55[/easyazon_link] comes in even cheaper at $0.11/GB

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Best Mid-Range Gaming PC Build (Budget $800 – $1,500)

The concept of the mid range gaming PC is pretty much going to be a machine that gives gamers the best “bang for the buck”. Each piece of hardware here is maximized in price to performance, but we also try to build the machine so that the price range is where performance is considered “good enough”. With this gaming PC, most games will be running at high settings if played with a 1440P and easily do 1080P Ultra in most triple A titles. This build will also provide entry to mid-level performance for VR games.

CPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HHLX1R8″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Intel Core i5-9600K [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B428V2L” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]AMD Ryzen 5 2600X[/easyazon_link]
Motherboard [easyazon_link identifier=”B07J6Z9KJ2″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]MSI Z390-A Pro [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07FW85VFT” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFI[/easyazon_link]
Memory Patriot Viper Gaming RGB 16GB 3200MHz Black Patriot Viper Gaming RGB 16GB 3200MHz Black
GPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B01KVZBNY0″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC GAMING[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B01KVZBNY0″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC GAMING[/easyazon_link]
Case [easyazon_link keywords=”Phanteks P400″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Phanteks P400[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link keywords=”Phanteks P400″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Phanteks P400[/easyazon_link]
SSD [easyazon_link identifier=”B0784SLQM6″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Crucial MX500 500GB [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B0784SLQM6″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Crucial MX500 500GB [/easyazon_link]
PSU [easyazon_link identifier=”B0106RDIN2″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G2 650W[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B0106RDIN2″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G2 650W[/easyazon_link]
Operating System Windows 10 Home 64-bit Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU Cooler [easyazon_link identifier=”B07CRGC899″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Cooler Master MasterLiquid LC240E RGB[/easyazon_link] N/A
HDD [easyazon_link identifier=”B07D9C7SQH” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seagate BarraCuda 4TB[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07D9C7SQH” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seagate BarraCuda 4TB[/easyazon_link]
Purchase Link Buy This Build Buy This Build

 

Upgrade Suggestions

CPU – The i5 9600K should be enough to play most current titles though if you want a little extra left in the tank for the future or you plan on gaming while multitasking the [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HHN6KBZ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]i7 9700K[/easyazon_link] is also a good option on the Intel side for a bit more.

For the AMD side of things depending on how much you want to stream or have productivity workloads, you may want to consider jumping up to a [easyazon_link keywords=”Ryzen 7 processor” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Ryzen 7 processor[/easyazon_link]. You can get a slightly older model which wont overclock as high per core but will give you more CPU cores overall for around the same price, or you can hop on up to the [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B41717Z” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Ryzen 7 2700[/easyazon_link], and [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B428M7F” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Ryzen 7 2700X[/easyazon_link], Though if you only plan on gaming the 2600X is an absolutely fantastic CPU for gaming.

GPU – The GTX 1070 is a very capable graphics card that will play the latest games at 1440P and absolutly kill 1080P ultra at a high refresh rate but those who want to be able to push past 80 FPS+ consistantly in the latest titles at 1440p and above should consider the the [easyazon_link keywords=”GTX 1070 TI” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GTX 1070 TI[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link keywords=”GTX 1080″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GTX 1080[/easyazon_link] is far better suited for this task. Also if you have a bit more ro spare in the budget an [easyazon_link keywords=”RTX 2070″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]RTX 2070[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link keywords=”RTX 2080″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]RTX 2080[/easyazon_link] allows you to use Nvidia’s new ray tracing functionality and other new features such as DLSS. Finally depending on the price AMD’s [easyazon_link keywords=”Vega 56″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Vega 56[/easyazon_link]and [easyazon_link keywords=”Vega 64″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Vega 64[/easyazon_link] cards are around and I would recommend them if they;re priced below $375 and $450 respectively.

Boot Drive – Another easy upgrade is the SSD. For ultrafast load times, a PCIe SSD such as the [easyazon_link keywords=”Samsung 970 EVO” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Samsung 970 EVO[/easyazon_link] is an excellent candidate that provides significantly better performance compared to the Crucial MX500.

Those looking for PCIe NVMe on a budget can take a look at the Crucial P1 drives which while slower than the 970 EVO can be quite a bargin when priced below $150 for 1TB

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Best High End Gaming PC Build (Budget $1,500 – $2,000)

The high end gaming PC is going to be something that can run everything at 1080P or 1440P at high to ultra settings. This machine will burn through any game on the market, and will have plenty of room for expansion as well. Those interested in playing VR games or games at 4K resolutions will find that this build will be more than powerful enough do the job although performance in might not be quite as good as our extreme gaming PC build.

CPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HHN6KBZ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Intel Core i7-9700K[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B428M7F” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]AMD Ryzen 7 2700X [/easyazon_link]
Motherboard [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HRZRBRJ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07BYY16V7″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]MSI AMD X470 Ryzen 2 (X470 Gaming PRO Carbon)[/easyazon_link]
Memory [easyazon_link identifier=”B071RYZRJD” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]CORSAIR Vengeance RGB 16GB 3200MHz – Black[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B071RYZRJD” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]CORSAIR Vengeance RGB 16GB 3200MHz – Black[/easyazon_link]
GPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B07K34MQ8D” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming 8G [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07K34MQ8D” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming 8G [/easyazon_link]
Case [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B3JDBM2″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Fractal Design Meshify C TG [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07B3JDBM2″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Fractal Design Meshify C TG [/easyazon_link]
SSD [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GZ29CSZ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]MyDigitalSSD BPX Pro 512GB[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GZ29CSZ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]MyDigitalSSD BPX Pro 512GB[/easyazon_link]
HDD [easyazon_link identifier=”B075WYBQXJ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seagate Barracuda 8TB [/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B075WYBQXJ” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seagate Barracuda 8TB [/easyazon_link]
PSU [easyazon_link identifier=”B074N8RG74″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seasonic FOCUS Plus 650 Platinum SSR-650PX 650W 80+ Platinum[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B074N8RG74″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seasonic FOCUS Plus 650 Platinum SSR-650PX 650W 80+ Platinum[/easyazon_link]
CPU Cooler [easyazon_link identifier=”B07CRGC899″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Cooler Master MasterLiquid LC240E RGB[/easyazon_link] [easyazon_link identifier=”B07BYP9S95″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]be quiet! Dark Rock 4 [/easyazon_link]
Operating System Windows 10 Home 64-bit Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Purchase Link Buy This Build Buy This Build

Upgrade Suggestions

GPU – The GeForce RTX 2070 is a powerhouse card, roughly the power of a GTX 1080 but for gamers who want the ultimate VR or 4K gaming experience, the [easyazon_link keywords=”GeForce RTX 2080″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GeForce RTX 2080[/easyazon_link] or the [easyazon_link keywords=”GeForce RTX 2080 TI” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]GeForce RTX 2080 TI[/easyazon_link] is without a doubt the graphics card to have.

Boot Drive – While the Samsung 850 EVO is an excellent SSD for the SATA interface, those who want the ultimate performance will want a NVMe PCIe SSD. Whereas SATA is limited to 6Gb/s, PCIe is only limited by the version of PCIe and the amount of PCIe lanes available. As a result, a PCIe Gen 3 x4 slot is capable of nearly 4GB/s while a PCIe Gen 3 x8 slot is capable of nearly 8GB/s. While most PCIe SSDs won’t provide performance anywhere near the theoretical limits of the PCIe interface, the [easyazon_link keywords=”Samsung 960 PRO” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Samsung 960 PRO[/easyazon_link] comes close with performance rated at up to 3.5GB/s sequential reads and 2.1GB/s sequential writes.

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Best Extreme Gaming PC Build (Budget $2,000+)

Finally, we’ve also got the extreme gaming PC. This is the coveted gaming PC that will run most games on the market today at 4K with all the highest graphics settings enabled. Additionally, this kind of system is optimized for VR (Virtual Reality) and multi-display setups as well for that ultra level of immersion.

CPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B005404P9I” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Intel Core i9 9900K[/easyazon_link]
Motherboard [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HMGVR8D” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]MSI Meg Z390 GODLIKE LGA1151 (Intel 8th and 9th Gen) [/easyazon_link]
Memory [easyazon_link identifier=”B01N4V82FW” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]G.Skill TridentZ RGB Series 16GB 3600MHz [/easyazon_link]
GPU [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GFTJCW5″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Dual ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti in SLI[/easyazon_link]
Case [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GY355N2″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X Anthracite Gray[/easyazon_link]
SSD Samsung 970 EVO 2TB
HDD [easyazon_link identifier=”B01IA9H22Q” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Seagate 10TB Barracuda Pro[/easyazon_link]
Sound Card [easyazon_link identifier=”B00AQ5PK6I” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Creative Sound Blaster ZxR[/easyazon_link]
PSU [easyazon_link identifier=”B010HWDOH6″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]EVGA SuperNOVA 850 P2 850W[/easyazon_link]
CPU Cooler [easyazon_link identifier=”B07DV29GYN” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R Addressable RGB 360MM[/easyazon_link]
Operating System [easyazon_link identifier=”B01019T6O0″ locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Windows 10 Home 64-Bit[/easyazon_link]
Purchase Link Buy This Build

Upgrade Suggestions

As the Extreme Gaming PC Build has almost all upgrades already included, though those who plan on doing more prosumer workloads like video editing or streaming may want to pick up some more RAM and possibly change you case to a [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HHN6KCS” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Thermaltake Level 20[/easyazon_link] or a [easyazon_link identifier=”B075NSBT5D” locale=”US” tag=”cupcre06-20″]Cooler Master Cosmo C700P[/easyazon_link]

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Gaming PC Hardware State of the Union

December 2018 Updates

CPU/Motherboard

The 9th Generation Core processors launched earlier this fall, with shortages abound and prices exploding due to demand, the new i9 9900K was even available for $1000 at one point almost doubling its MSRP. Prices have normalized and have allowed consumers a choice once again. These see a relatively similar product in the i5 9600K with it performing almost exactly the same as the previous gen CPU when clocked at the same speed and with very similar overclocking performance not a lot has changed, though with the i7 Intel decided to drop hyper threading all together for an 8 core design, this seems to perform relatively equal to a 8700K when all things are equal with slightly better gaming performance. Finally their newest product the i9 9900K is a beast of a chip with 8 cores and 16 threads, it’s also capible of reaching up to 5GHz+ although is power hungry and takes some serious cooling.

AMD on the other hand has their second gen Ryzen products which have seen price cuts and are quite competitive. AMD will also be expected to launch their new Ryzen 3000 series CPUs with the new Zen 2 architecture at the start of this year. We hope to hear more information after CES.

GPU

Nvidia launched their RTX 2000 series cards which came in at a price no one expected, with the highest end RTX 2080 TI coming in at $1,200 shocked the market, causing quite heated debates among enthusiasts. The price jump was somewhat understandable due to how large the die is as well as the money spent on the new Tensor cores and RT cores which are used for ray tracing. That being said it still is a somewhat hard sell for those, since only one game currently, Battlefield 5 even has active support for ray tracing. Nvidia does have plenty of games on tap, though and hopefully early adopters will be able to play more titles with ray tracing functionality soon.

AMD however has been rather quiet with the exception of the release of the RX 590, a final version of AMD’s Polaris architecture first seen in the RX 480 two years ago. It uses AMD’s 12nm manufacturing and as such reaches clock speeds much higher than other Ppolaris cards with them frequently hitting 1600MHz.

August 2018 Updates

CPU/Motherboard

The PC gaming hardware landscape continues to evolve as AMD has begun rolling out their 2nd Generation Ryzen CPUs and its companion platform. The latest processors continue to improve on AMD’s 1st generation core processors, offering increased IPC performance than its predecessor at a similar cost. Intel continues to roll out their 8th Generation Core processors with the 9th Generation Core Processors expected towards the end of the year.

GPU

This year’s biggest announcement on the GPU side is the release of Nvidia’s newest Turing architecture GPUs. The new GPUs, marketed under the RTX 20xx naming scheme, offer substantially improved performance and innovative features such as real-time ray tracing, when compared to the GTX 10 series GPUs. Unfortunately, the Nvidia RTX 20 series cards will be initially available only for the high end graphics card market, so those building more entry level systems will have to still go with a GTX 10 series GPU at this time. AMD continues to offer their VEGA architecture graphics cards however, nothing new is available at this time.

Other Components

The RAM market is finally stabilizing in terms of supply and demand, but prices continue to be high. Prices are expected to stay that way until the end of the year. SSD pricing on the other hand is finally seeing a bit of a drop thanks to improved supply and NAND density improvements.

December 2017 Updates

CPU/Motherboard

Since our last major gaming PC build update in July, Intel has announced and subsequently launched their 8th Generation Core i3, i5, and i7 processor lineups. The new processor lineups offer relatively small changes in per core performance (IPC), but each of the CPU lineups get two additional cores compared to the previous generation giving the Core i3 processor lineup 4-cores/4-threads, the Core i5 6-cores/6-threads, and the Core i7 6-cores/12-threads. Along with the new generation of processors is also the Intel 300 series Z370 chipset which is a fairly minor update in terms of features when compared to the Z270 chipset however, the 300 series chipset is needed for those who intend on purchasing an 8th Generation Core processor. Those currently intending on purchasing an Intel system will be fine either purchasing a discounted 7th Generation Core processor based system or waiting for the 8th Generation Core processors to become more available.

For those looking for an AMD Ryzen platform based system, things have largely remained the same since our last update. Since then, AMD has rolled out significant updates to their platform which continues to improve gaming performance. AMD has also rolled out their Ryzen Threadripper based systems as well, but gamers will find that the Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 will be the sweet spot with the Ryzen Threadripper processors better suited for highly multi-threaded applications such as video editing, 3d modeling, etc.

GPU

The biggest update for GPUs is Nvidia’s introduction of the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti. The GTX 1070 Ti is based on Nvidia’s Pascal architecture and features 2432 CUDA cores which puts its performance somewhere between the GeForce GTX 1070 and the GeForce GTX 1080.

As for supply, while earlier this year graphics card supply was highly contained due to cryptocurrency miners purchasing most of the stock, availability has returned for most graphics card. However, prices are still hovering closer to MSRP as cryptocurrency miners are still purchasing most of the stock. Currently, there’s no expectation that this will slow down anytime soon.

Other Components

As you may have noticed, RAM is still extremely expensive due to shortages caused by massive demand and lack of supply. The RAM shortage isn’t expected to end until at least mid-2018, so prices are expected to continue to remain high. The NAND shortage on the other hand is expected to come to an end this quarter or early 2018, so pricing and availability should become fairly good in the next few months if it isn’t already.

 

July 2017 Updates

CPU/Motherboard

The biggest new development in recent months is the release of Intel’s new HEDT platform codename Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X. These new processors are based on Intel’s new X299 chipset and at the very high end scale up to a whopping 18-cores/36-threads in the Intel Core i9-7980XE CPU although this isn’t expected to actually be available on retail shelves at least for another few months.

On the AMD side, AMD’s Ryzen has received numerous updates, with a majority of the updates targeted towards gamers, content creators, and the enthusiast community. As a result, we’ve been very impressed with the direction AMD Ryzen is headed and have included options for AMD Ryzen builds alongside Intel builds as well. At this point, we have no reservations about purchasing an AMD Ryzen build as many of the major initial bugs have been eradicated at this point. Of course, if you purchase an AMD Ryzen build, be on the lookout for updates as it seems like AMD is very regularly releasing driver and CPU microcode updates.

Down the road, budget gamers should watch out for AMD’s Ryzen 3 processors which should roll out shortly. These are expected to be priced very aggressively compared to Intel’s Core i3 yet offer significantly better performance. Additionally, in the next month or so, AMD is expected to release their Ryzen Threadripper CPUs which scale up to 16-cores and 32-threads. These are expected to come in at a very aggressive pricepoint compared to Intel’s HEDT Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X. We’ll keep an eye out on availability and the initial reviews and update the build guide accordingly.

GPU

On the GPU side, not much new has changed. High end Nvidia Pascal architecture based graphics cards (GeForce GTX Titan Xp, GTX 1080 Ti, GTX 1080, GTX 1070) still reign supreme in terms of top tier performance, and both Nvidia GeForce (GTX 1060, GTX 1050 Ti, GTX 1050) and AMD Radeon (RX 580, RX 570, RX 560) remains competitive in the mid-range. but little of that matters since cryptocurrency miners have made GPU availability extremely scarce, especially AMD Radeon graphics cards which provide the best GPU mining capability for the price. If you can find a GPU at its MSRP and you need one, I’d highly recommending purchasing immediately as GPU makers are having a very difficult time keeping up with demand.

During SIGGRAPH 2017, AMD is expected to launch their AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics card which is the first high end graphics card they’ve released for a very long time. According to the latest leaked information, the RX Vega is expected to have performance on-par with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080.

Other Components

There’s still a major DRAM and NAND shortage which is inflating prices of RAM and NAND. Whereas previously this was expected to end in Q2 of this year, the supply shortage has been extended until next year due to demand for the components by mobile devices. If you’re looking to buy a new RAM kit or a new SSD and there’s a good deal, we’d recommend purchasing it before supply shrinks even more for the holidays.

As for other hardware, there’s little new development at this time.

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[toggles behavior=”toggle”]
[toggle title=”Update Log”]20180830
*Updated all builds
*Intel 8th Generation Core processors added
*AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation Core processors added

 

20171220
*Updated all builds to account for out of stock components
*Maintained Intel 7th Generation processors as the recommended processors for Intel builds as 8th Generation Core i3, i5, i7 processors currently still low on availability.

20170724
*Added AMD Ryzen builds
*Added Intel X299 CPU/Motherboards
*Updated out of stock hardware[/toggle]
[/toggles]

Question about why we chose X and not Y? Ask our community! We’d be happy to make recommendations on alternatives, provide you tips on putting the entire system together, or even suggest you a 100% custom build better fit for your needs. All you have to do is visit our forums, register, and post in the appropriate section!

Also don’t forget to join us on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or YouTube to be updated on the latest news, reviews, tutorials, custom computer builds, and more!



3 AutoCAD Tricks to Search Layers, Styles, Blocks & More in Drawings! | 2 Minute Tuesday

Posted on by faz_business


Hey Everybody,

Brandon here back with a new post for you all, this week we are taking a look at 3 easy ways to help speed up working with Layers in AutoCAD. Specifically, how to search for layers in AutoCAD, whether you need to find out which layer an object is on in an xref, searching for a specific layer in a busy/large drawing, and more!

In the video, I walk through how to use each method of finding layers, step by step. My favorite is probably using the wildcard trick to search for a specific layer in any drawing on your computer or server! The xlist command can also be a real life-saver, especially on a large drawing with many xrefs.

watch the video below to learn all about each method and see how to use them:

3 AutoCAD Tricks to Search Layers, Styles, Blocks & More in Drawings!

 

That’s all for today’s quick Autocad Tip, I hope you all were able to take something away from it and able to add a new tool to your CAD toolbox!

Be sure to subscribe and follow on Twitter @cadintentions to keep up to date and be the first to get updates on the newest videos, posts, and downloads.

As always, thank you so much for reading and watching, I am super excited to be back and posting regularly on the blog and hope you all will follow along.
Cheers and happy Drafting!

PS. In case you missed out or are interested in the brand new AutoCAD Fundamentals & Workflows Course, check it out here (Available for Instant Download NOW): https://gum.co/learnautocad

 

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Brandon is a Civil Designer, Aspiring Blogger/Creator, Husband, Father to two Amazing Kids and Tech Aficionado from a small town in Canada. He has been obsessed with design and technology since he can remember and working as a Civil Designer for nearly as long. Brandon’s blog and Youtube channel, CADIntentions.com has been his outlet and excuse for keeping up with new tech and trends in the CAD design world for the last 10 years growing to more than 60,000 subscribers and over 15,000,000 views, while also being the source of many great friendships and unique opportunities.

If you would like to Sponsor CAD Intentions or Work together in some way, Please visit my About Page and send me an email: http://cadintentions.com/about-me/



Making Use of the Alliance

Posted on by faz_business


Having implemented a business intelligence solution long ago, you keep monitoring recent trends to understand what the market can offer. While doing your research, you must have noticed that business intelligence often goes side by side with data analytics. Does this mean that you can enrich your existing BI solution by following promising data analytics trends? Is the synergy of BI and DA possible? Let’s find this out.

BI and data analytics

Business intelligence and data analytics – two sides of the same coin          

A quick search on the internet is enough to understand that these two terms are used inconsistently: different vendors, service providers and other market players keep to their internal definitions. That is why, some sources consider business intelligence and data analytics two different concepts, while the others use these terms interchangeably. We define them as follows:

Business intelligence (BI) is a technology-based process of analyzing data and presenting actionable insights to help business users make informed decisions. The implementation of BI includes three main stages:

  • Developing a data warehouse
  • Designing online analytical processing (OLAP) cubes
  • Visualizing data.

Data analytics is a catchall term that encompasses business intelligence as well as advanced approaches and methods to collecting, processing and analyzing data sets to identify trends, dependencies and correlations. The term is broad and is applicable to both business and science. Data analytics includes:

  • Data mining
  • Predictive and prescriptive analytics
  • Big data analytics, etc.

How to achieve the synergy of BI and DA

Usually invisible to end business users, data analytics uses complicated algorithms and statistical approaches to provide extra insights, which then can enrich habitual reports. Here, we share some illustrative examples of how business intelligence and data analytics can work together.

  1. Cohort analysis allows considering online store visitors not as a whole, but broken down into different user groups that show similar behavior patterns. Such groups may become a dimension for the OLAP cube. Business decision makers can compare them by sales, profit, the number of orders per month, etc. to design personalized marketing activities.
  2. Regression analysis allows identifying the relationship between variables. The dependency (or the lack of dependency) between them can provide companies with extra insights, as opposed to historical data alone. For instance, it is interesting to look at the total number of complaints and top-10 complaints. But with regression analysis, you may also find out whether the wait time and the number of complaints are connected.
  3. Time series analysis is applied to historical data to create forecasts. Let’s say, you want to predict sales. For this, you need to have sales figures for several previous years, split by month. Based on this data, an analytical system will identify past trends, monthly growth/decline rates, repeating patterns, if any, and will make the best possible estimate for the future.

Data analytics trends are definitely worth attention

Let’s look at some data analytics trends and find out how they can help enrich your existing BI solution. By the way, you may find the same trend in both BI and data analytics lists (do you remember the inconsistency of the terms we mentioned above’). The implementation of some initiatives will cause little pain, while others may require significant changes in the technology stack, approaches and methods.

1. Machine-learning based artificial intelligence

Let’s talk here about the problem of customer churn. Traditional BI solutions help you understand how many customers left you last week/quarter/month. Looking at the churn rates, you naturally start thinking about how to return these customers. Still, the moment is gone – the customers have already switched to your competitors, and now you’ll have to do your best to win them back.

With machine learning-based AI, businesses can identify high-risk customer segments well in advance. The analytical system can assess customers’ activities across all channels and signal if their behavior looks like they are going to leave. For example, a customer contacts the support center more frequently than the average customer does, or they start using your services less often, or their average spend significantly decreases. Of course, the set of symptoms will be specific to each industry. And you need to identify the ones that are essential for your business, score each symptom and let your analytical system learn. As a result, your system will inform you about a possible churn well in advance for you to take actions, such as targeted marketing campaigns.

2. Predictive analytics

Having timely and accurate reports that depict historical data is great. However, many businesses may find this insufficient. In fact, companies also need to understand what is likely to happen in the future to take preventive actions today. Here, predictive analytics comes to rescue.

Imagine a manufacturer of outdoor clothing who is planning their range for the next winter season. They may look at past sales split by category and plan production volumes accordingly. But will it be insightful? Alternatively, they may apply a time series analysis that we have described above.

As fashion is fast-paced, the manufacturer needs even more insights to forecast customer demand, decide on the winter range and plan the production volume for every item. For example, the producer can additionally analyze weather forecasts (the colder the winter, the less three-quarter coats should be in the range) and the trends that are becoming popular on social media.

3. Big data

If your business is on the brink of an important change that will require collecting, processing and analyzing big data (such as installing sensors to your machinery to foster preventive maintenance or launching an e-store in addition to brick-and-mortar ones, etc.), your analytical system should also be able to handle this new challenge. A traditional BI solution should be extended. Big data requires a dedicated technology stack, such as Apache Hadoop, Apache Hive, Apache Spark, etc. To get valuable insights from big data sets, you have a wide variety of data analytics methods and techniques at your disposal, for instance, pattern matching.

On a final note

If you have a BI solution implemented, this does not mean that you have hit the ceiling. The market is always developing and offering new business intelligence services. There are always ways to improve the existing solution.

While checking the recent trends, don’t limit yourselves to business intelligence only. Check out the list available for data analytics, as well. For some businesses, traditional business intelligence may suffice, but some companies may find it reasonable to enrich the existing solution with data analytics to get more insights.

Analytics Consulting Services

Are you striving for informed decision-making? We will convert your historical and real-time data into actionable insights and set up forecasting.

Best Lego Gifts For Mother’s Day – Save On Flower And Art Building Sets At Amazon

Posted on by faz_business



GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Flowers are one of the most common Mother’s Day gifts, but instead of buying a fresh bouquet of roses or tulips this weekend, what if you built a bouquet of pretty flowers with the special woman on your shopping list? Lego’s Icons line has spawned all sorts of cool building kits, including a collection of pretty flowers that are both fun to put together and worthy of display.

Ahead of Mother’s Day, which is this Sunday, May 12, we put together a list of Lego flowers and art that would make great gifts. Almost all of the Lego sets on this list are available for under $50, including gorgeous wildflower bouquets and a collection of potted plants. It’s possible to get a great Lego gift for as little as $10 thanks to the discounts at Amazon ahead of Mother’s Day. With Amazon Prime, you can still get these eye-catching Lego gifts delivered before Sunday (as of May 8).

Quick look: Best Mother’s Day Lego gifts

Even if you know the recipient doesn’t want to build Lego sets, these could still make for thoughtful gifts, as you could build the flowers beforehand and present them in a vase that hopefully will remain in one piece for years to come. Or you could gift her the unbuilt set and make a Mother’s Day activity of it. Of course, there’s also the chance Mom will want to put together the Lego kit on her own. We can’t say we’d blame her. Piecing together Lego flowers is relaxing and fun.

In addition to the Lego flower sets, we included a few other artsy Lego sets that could be of interest to both experienced Lego enthusiasts and moms who simply appreciate a thoughtful and beautiful gift.

If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift that is practical, fun, and has a good chance of being used daily, you can save big on a wide variety budget-friendly tech during this week’s Amazon device sale. From Echo Show displays that can become smart home hubs to the high-end Kindle Scribe for big readers in your life, Amazon devices are discounted to some of the lowest prices we’ve seen.

Using GitHub Copilot as your Coding GPS

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Transform Your Coding Workflow with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio

GitHub Copilot is a game-changing AI-powered assistant that can revolutionize your coding workflow in Visual Studio. In our video series, Bruno Capuano explores how this intelligent coding companion can help you write code more efficiently while maintaining quality and accuracy.

Copilot: An Assistant, Not a Replacement

Bruno highlights that GitHub Copilot is designed to support your coding journey in Visual Studio, not replace developers. Microsoft’s philosophy is centered on AI working in harmony with human efforts, maintaining a balance that respects human dignity. As CEO Satya Nadella emphasizes, AI should enhance productivity without displacing people.

This is why developers should always validate the code generated by GitHub Copilot, as AI-based systems can sometimes suggest code that doesn’t align with your requirements or even produce errors, known as “hallucinations.” Even though GitHub Copilot is generally accurate, it’s critical to review its suggestions to ensure correctness.

To get started, ensure GitHub Copilot is installed in your development environment. For more information on setup, refer to the GitHub Copilot documentation, or learn how to install GitHub Copilot Chat for Visual Studio.

Leveraging LLMs for a New Interaction Paradigm

Large Language Models (LLMs), the technology behind GitHub Copilot, offer a new paradigm for interacting with computers. These models rely on complex probabilities and extensive training data to generate responses based on natural-language prompts, allowing for a more conversational style of coding. This interaction model is not limited to text—it can also involve other media types like images and videos.

Illustration with an overview of AI capabilities, including computer vision, voice recognition, image recognition, and more.

However, given the variability of LLMs, the same query might yield different results, emphasizing the need for developer oversight.

Embracing the Future with GitHub Copilot

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into various industries, developers need to adapt. Tools like GitHub Copilot can give you a competitive edge by improving efficiency and adaptability. To stay ahead in the ever-changing tech landscape, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with AI tools and understand their strengths and limitations. To learn more about GitHub Copilot and how to use it, check our collection with resources here or via our full-length video. Explore our resources and video tutorials for in-depth guidance on making the most of GitHub Copilot in your development projects!

Additional Resources:

The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 might see changes to its cover screen

Posted on by faz_business



  • Tipster Ice Universe comes up with interesting details of the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cover screen.
  • While the tipster managed to show a third-party cover screen protector of the foldable, it also revealed the possible size of the cover screen.
  • The screen protector further indicates a flatter, squared-off cover screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The next Galaxy foldables should launch as early as July and new information indicates critical changes are coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cover screen ahead of the launch.

According to a reliable tipster, Ice Universe on X (via SamMobile), the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will likely have a wider cover screen than the predecessor Galaxy Z Fold 5. The tipster indicates that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 could have a cover screen measuring 60.2mm in width instead of the 57.4mm from the previous iteration.



How to Start a Successful Home-Based Graphic Design Business

Posted on by faz_business


Home Business Magazine Online

Introduction

Are you passionate about graphic design and dreaming of turning it into a thriving home-based business? Starting a graphic design business from the comfort of your own home could not only fulfill your creative desires but also offer the flexibility and potential for financial success. Whether you’re a seasoned graphic designer or someone looking to pivot into this exciting field, you’ll find that with the right guidance, tools, and mindset, launching your home-based graphic design business can be a smooth and rewarding journey. In this blog, we’ll delve into practical steps and strategies to help you set up, launch, and grow your graphic design business right from your home.

Understanding the Basics of Graphic Design Business

Importance of Graphic Design in Today’s Market

Graphic design plays a pivotal role in today’s digital-centric world by fostering effective communication across various media. It helps businesses deliver their message clearly and efficiently, enhancing visibility and brand recognition. From logos and branding materials to web designs and social media graphics, the scope of graphic design is vast, penetrating virtually every industry. This indispensable utility makes graphic design services incredibly valuable, which suggests consistent demand and opportunities for skilled designers.

Benefits of Starting a Home-Based Graphic Design Business

Running a graphic design business from home has numerous advantages that can appeal to budding entrepreneurs. Firstly, it significantly reduces overhead costs compared to renting a commercial space. You can also enjoy the flexibility of setting your own hours and creating a work-life balance that suits your personal needs. Additionally, a home-based business allows for a customizable workspace and the potential to scale operations with minimal risk. Such an environment is not only cost-effective but also nurtures creativity, making it ideal for graphic design endeavors.

Setting Up Your Home Office for Success

Choosing the Right Equipment and Software

To thrive in a home-based graphic design business, investing in the right tools is essential. Quality equipment and software can substantially enhance your productivity and the quality of your designs. Here’s a brief list of essentials:

– High-performance computer: A fast processor and a good graphic card are vital for running complex design software smoothly.

– Professional design software: Tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch are industry standards for top-tier design work.

– Reliable internet connection: Essential for quick research, cloud-based collaborations, and client communications.

– Quality printer: A high-resolution printer is crucial for creating physical prototypes and proofs of your designs.

Designing a Creative Workspace

The ambiance of your workspace can significantly influence your creativity and efficiency. When setting up your home office, consider the following to foster a conducive and inspiring environment:

– Ergonomic furniture: Comfortable seating and a desk that suits your height and style of work can prevent physical strain over long hours of work.

– Good lighting: Natural light is ideal, but if not available, ensure you have ample soft but bright lights to keep the strain off your eyes.

– Inspirational elements: Decorate with items that stimulate your creativity, such as artwork, plants, or a simple mood board.

– Organized space: Keep your workspace tidy with adequate storage solutions to avoid clutter, which can hinder your workflow and creativity.

Together, these elements create a robust foundation for your home-based graphic design business, making it possible to deliver exceptional work right from your personal space.

How to Start a Successful Home-Based Graphic Design Business

Developing Your Graphic Design Skills and Portfolio

Continuous Learning and Skill Improvement

To position yourself as a top contender in the graphic design industry, it’s crucial to keep your skills sharp and current. This means dedicating time to learning new design tools, techniques, and industry trends. Consider enrolling in online courses on platforms like Udemy or Coursera that offer specialized classes in software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Sketch. Furthermore, attending webinars, workshops, and design conferences can provide you with up-to-date insights and help you stay inspired. Remember, the more you learn, the more versatile and effective your design solutions will be.

Creating a Strong Portfolio to Showcase Your Work

Your portfolio is your career calling card. Make sure it is compelling and represents a wide range of your skills and experiences. Include projects that showcase different styles, mediums, and applications, from logo designs to interactive layouts. For potential clients, your portfolio demonstrates your capability and style; it needs to be well-organized and easily accessible. Consider using online portfolio platforms like Behance or creating a personal website with a professional gallery of your work. Ensure each project includes a brief description of the design process and the objectives met, highlighting your problem-solving skills.

Building Your Unique Design Style

While versatility in graphic design is valuable, developing a unique style can set you apart from the competition. This doesn’t mean limiting yourself to one approach, but rather refining a signature style that can be recognized and attributed to you. This could involve a particular color palette, typography style, or creative approach to compositions. As you refine your style, incorporate this uniqueness consistently across your projects, which will build your brand and make your work instantly identifiable.

Finding and Retaining Clients for Your Business

Effective Marketing Strategies for Freelancers

Marketing is essential for attracting and retaining clients. As a freelancer, you should leverage both online and offline strategies to showcase your business. Develop a professional website, optimize it for SEO, and actively engage on social media platforms where potential clients might frequent, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. Content marketing can also be effective; consider starting a blog where you share insights on design trends, project case studies, or tips for clients. This not only strengthens your online presence but also establishes you as an expert in your field.

Networking Tips to Connect with Potential Clients

Networking is key to the growth of any freelance business. Start with local business events, community groups, and professional associations where you can meet potential clients face-to-face. Carry business cards that include a link to your online portfolio. Online networking can also be incredibly effective; participate in forums, join design-related groups, and contribute to discussions. This can help you build a reputation as a reliable and knowledgeable designer. Moreover, asking for referrals from existing clients can open doors to new opportunities.

Building Long-Term Client Relationships

Securing clients is just the beginning; developing lasting relationships is crucial for sustained success. Deliver consistent, high-quality work and meet all deadlines to establish trust and reliability. Be communicative and transparent with your project processes and pricing. Show genuine interest in your clients’ business goals and offer creative solutions that help them grow. Consider regular follow-ups and updates even after project completion, which can lead to repeat business and referrals. Remember, a satisfied client is the best marketing tool you have.

Managing Your Finances and Pricing Strategies

Setting Your Rates and Pricing Structure

Determining the right rates and pricing structure are crucial in establishing a successful graphic design business from home. Consider factors like your experience, the complexity of the project, and market rates when setting your prices. A popular approach is to offer a mix of hourly and fixed price rates. For straightforward projects, a fixed rate can be easier for clients to digest, while an hourly rate might be more suitable for projects that are likely to require revisions or have an unclear scope. Research what other freelancers in your field are charging by consulting freelance marketplaces, industry forums, and networking groups. This knowledge will help you price competitively and fairly while ensuring your services’ profitability.

Budgeting Tips for Freelancers

Effective budgeting is essential for the financial health of your freelance graphic design business. Start by tracking all your expenses to understand where your money goes monthly, including subscriptions, software, and home office costs. Create a budget that accounts for both fixed and variable expenses and sets aside funds for taxes and emergency savings. Utilizing apps and tools designed for freelancers can streamline this process, allowing more time to focus on creative tasks. Make it a habit to review and adjust your budget quarterly to adapt to any business changes swiftly.

Managing Invoices and Payments

To maintain a steady flow of income, it’s important to streamline your invoicing and payment processes. Use reliable invoicing software that can automate billing, remind clients of due payments, and provide receipts. Clear communication about payment terms upfront can minimize delays; consider including penalties for late payments to encourage on-time payments. Offering multiple payment options can also expedite the process, making it convenient for clients to pay promptly.

How to Start a Successful Home-Based Graphic Design Business

Scaling Your Home-Based Graphic Design Business

Hiring Help: Outsourcing and Collaborations

As your business grows, you might find the workload exceeding your capacity. Hiring freelancers or outsourcing certain tasks can help manage the excess workload without the commitment of full-time employees. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr offer platforms to find talent for specific tasks, such as copywriting or animation. Collaborating with other freelancers can also broaden your service offerings and attract larger projects that require diverse skills.

Expanding Your Services and Diversifying Your Income Streams

To further scale your business, consider expanding your services or diversifying your income streams. This could include offering related services such as web design, social media graphics, or even online courses teaching graphic design skills. Packaging these complementary services can attract a broader client base and increase revenue opportunities. Another strategy is to create passive income through digital products like templates, fonts, or stock graphics that can be sold repeatedly. Embracing these expansions and diversifications will not only increase your income but also provide a cushion during slower business periods.

Overcoming Challenges and Staying Motivated

Starting a home-based graphic design business brings its own set of challenges, from potential feelings of isolation to the risk of burnout. Understanding how to navigate these hurdles not only enhances your efficiency but also keeps your passion for design burning bright.

Dealing with Isolation and Burnout

Working from home can mean fewer direct interactions with peers and clients, which can sometimes feel isolating. To counteract this, make it a point to schedule regular social activities or networking events. Joining online communities of fellow designers can also provide social engagement and a platform for sharing experiences and advice. Additionally, burnout is a significant risk when you’re managing all aspects of a business solo. To prevent this, ensure you set a structured daily routine with clear boundaries between work and personal time. Incorporate short breaks during your workday to refresh your mind and keep creativity flowing.

Seeking Support and Finding Work-Life Balance

No entrepreneur is an island, and seeking support when needed can greatly ease the pressures of running your own business. This support can come from mentors, a hired assistant, or even family members who can help with administrative tasks. To achieve a healthy work-life balance, prioritize your tasks and set realistic deadlines. Use tools like calendars and project management software to keep track of your workload. Most importantly, remember to allocate time for yourself to recharge, which will not only improve your personal well-being but also enhance your professional productivity.

Conclusion

Concluding, launching a home-based graphic design business is an exciting venture that combines creativity with entrepreneurship. By carefully planning your business structure, crafting a strong brand identity, establishing a productive workspace, and continually developing your skills and network, you can build a successful and rewarding business right from your own home. Remember, perseverance and flexibility are key to thriving in the ever-evolving field of graphic design. Set personal goals, seek meaningful projects, and stay inspired—your unique vision as a graphic designer has the potential to leave a lasting impact on the visual world.

The post How to Start a Successful Home-Based Graphic Design Business appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

The best iPad Pro keyboard cases of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

Posted on by faz_business


Logitech Combo Touch Tech Specs: Dimensions: 11.24 x 0.69 x 8.89 inches | Weight: 1.72 lbs  | Size: 11, 12.9 inches

Right now, the Logitech Combo Touch is our pick for the best iPad Pro keyboard case overall. The detachable keyboard uses the Smart Connector for connectivity and employs an adjustable kickstand for greater stability. It offers single-color backlighting for its 78 keys with 16 levels of brightness to get just the right lighting for your work. 

It also employs a large trackpad that works with Multi-Touch gestures for easier use. You also get to choose between four exclusive modes: Type, sketch, view, and read. Plus, there’s a spot for you to store your Apple Pencil so it’s never far when you need it. 

Current Amazon users said they liked the ease of use, protection, quality, and appearance of the Combo Touch case. They said it pairs easily, is well made, and is worth the price, though some said the Combo Touch adds too much weight to their iPad. 

Read the review: Logitech Combo Touch review



Farm Together 2 Free Download

Posted on by faz_business


Farm Together 2 Free Download By WorldofpcgamesFarm Together 2 Free Download By Worldofpcgames


Farm Together 2 Direct Download:

The much anticipated follow-up to the popular farming simulation game, Farm Together 2, has finally come, promising fans worldwide even more agricultural adventures. Players may once again enjoy the pleasures of country living in this much awaited release, planting crops, tending to livestock, and creating their ideal farms from the ground up. Farm Together 2 is an unmatched agricultural experience that will enthrall both novices and seasoned veterans with its breathtaking graphics and simple gaming mechanics. The possibility to download Farm Together 2 for free and start farming without spending any money is one of its most fascinating aspects. Players can quickly start playing by visiting our website, Worldof-pcgames, where they can readily acquire the free download link. Obtaining free access to Farm Together 2 is as easy as clicking a few buttons, regardless of your gaming budget or curiosity about the newest game in the Farm Together series.

Visit Worldof-pcgames to obtain free access to Farm Together 2, then follow the simple, step-by-step instructions on our website. You can then download the game and start enjoying yourself in the quaint world of farming enjoyment. Farm Together 2 provides countless options for creativity and enjoyment, whether you’re caring for your crops, designing your farm, or playing multiplayer with friends. Don’t pass up the opportunity to immerse yourself in Farm Together 2’s charm. Get your free download from Worldof-pcgames now, and get to work creating the farm of your dreams. Farm Together 2, with its alluring combination of rustic charm and simulation action, is sure to become a favorite among players of all ages.

Features and System Requirements:

  • Dive into a larger, more vibrant world ripe for farming adventures. Explore new biomes, from lush forests to arid deserts, each with its own unique challenges and opportunities.
  • Team up with friends or players from around the world to cultivate your dream farm together. Work together to maximize productivity, share resources, and compete in friendly challenges.
  • Customize every aspect of your farm, from crops and livestock to buildings and decorations. With an expanded selection of items and tools, express your creativity and build the farm of your dreams.

1 :: Operating System :: Windows XP/7/8/8./10.
2 :: Processor: Dual Core processor
3 :: Ram :: 4 GB RAM
4 :: DirectX: Version 11
5 :: Graphics:: DirectX 11 capable hardware
6 :: Space Storage:: 2 GB space

Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game

1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun 🙂