PC Support & Troubleshooting

Evatech Expert Service & Troubleshooting

Available Mon-Fri 10am-6pm (excluding public holidays) at our Melbourne HQ in Keysborough (VIC 3173)

Need expert help? Evatech offer a range of professional troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrade and assembly services. Click here to view the options & pricing.

Motherboard Debug Lights

Published in Maintenance on 12th May 2022, updated 6th Nov 2023 - 6 minute read

If your PC isn't starting up as expected, your motherboard might be able to point you in the right direction to correct the issue. Many motherboards, such as MSI motherboards (which is predominantly what we use here at Evatech) have EZ Debug LED lights on the motherboard, and th ... Read Article

Removing and installing RAM sticks

Published in RAM (Memory) on 17th Feb 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 2 minute read

To start, carefully remove the side panel of your PC to allow you access to the motherboard, where the RAM is seated. If you look carefully, you will see there are tabs at the end of each RAM stick (depending on your PC, you may have 2, 4, or 8 DIMMs, or RAM slots). These tabs ... Read Article

Solution to MSI's Secure Boot Settings

Published in Maintenance on 20th Jan 2023 - 4 minute read

Or should we say, insecure settings? Recently the news broke that over 290 MSI motherboards, on both AMD & Intel systems, have incorrect Secure Boot settings. Thankfully, there's a relatively easy fix that you can perform yourself in the comfort of your own home/office, and i ... Read Article

Evatech's Extensive PC Testing Process Explained

Published in General on 5th Sep 2023, updated 15th Jul 2024 - 9 minute read

We don't just build every PC in-house; we also test them and measure those results against our other builds to ensure they're performing as they should. This page explores the process of what it takes to complete an Evatech PC, so you can shop with confidence. Simple beginning ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

Published in Use Cases on 31st Jul 2023, updated 23rd Dec 2024 - 9 minute read

There are many Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications ranging from traditional regression models, non-neural network classifiers, and statistical models represented by capabilities in Python's scikit-learn and the R programming language, through to De ... Read Article

How to Customise & Buy Your Next Gaming PC

Published in Use Cases on 1st Aug 2023, updated 5th Feb 2025 - 18 minute read

Don't settle for close enough by getting ripped off by stores selling flashy lights slapped over sub-par PC assembled by the lowest bidders. Save money and get better quality hardware built with care by experts right here in Australia. Click & Collect, or get it delivered nat ... Read Article

Removing Instapak Foam (Internal PC Foam)

Published in Maintenance on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 3 minute read

In order to help prevent shipping damage, we pack systems with Instapak foam. Instapak is a mouldable foam solution which helps to minimise possible shipping damage from bumps and vibration within the PC during courier transit. It's extremely important that you remove the I ... Read Article

What is an ATX 3.x / PCIe 5.x Power Supply Unit (PSU)?

Published in Use Cases on 14th Feb 2024, updated 26th Mar 2025 - 7 minute read

We sell ATX 3.x / PCIe 5.x compliant PSUs, but also ones that don't meet these specifications: so, what's the difference, and when do you want/need the latest PSU technologies? Power supply history, and how we got here Although we never named them as such, all the PSUs that we' ... Read Article

Best Gaming PC Hardware in 2025

Published in Use Cases on 30th Oct 2023, updated 4th Feb 2025 - 10 minute read

Intended to be an ever-updated guide on what to look for if you are after the best hardware money can buy, importantly it is not always the most expensive items! Building on the more general How to Customise & Buy Your Next Gaming PC - let's get started. The Best CPU ( ... Read Article

Reinstalling Windows 11

Published in Maintenance on 12th May 2022, updated 8th Apr 2024 - 7 minute read

Reinstalling Windows 11 is fairly easy. Find the process broken down into steps below. Please ensure you read over the whole process as the next step may help to fully understand the prior step, etc. Fair warning, these steps are somewhat generalised to suit all customers, so it ... Read Article

Preventative Maintenance (Dust Cleaning)

Published in Maintenance on 27th Jan 2022, updated 23rd Jul 2024 - 4 minute read

How to remove dust from your PC It is considered good practice that about once every 12-24 months, you will want to clear out the dust that is in your PC as preventative maintenance to make sure your computer is running properly and ensure there are no significant build ups of d ... Read Article

Monitors: OLED, IPS, VA, and TN panels

Published in Monitor on 26th Jun 2022, updated 16th Jan 2024 - 8 minute read

Most monitors use LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels which are lit by LED backlighting. There are three main types of LCD panels: In-Plate Switching (IPS), Vertical Alignment (VA), and Twisted Nematic (TN). The aim of each panel type is the same; liquid crystals react to an elec ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Video Editing

Published in Use Cases on 23rd May 2023, updated 23rd Dec 2024 - 12 minute read

Whether it's for Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, or another video editing application, there is certain hardware that you'll want to consider for your machine. While a powerful and fast video editing PC can be costly, we know that buying something that is not ... Read Article

My order is late or I'm having difficulty tracking my parcel

Published in General on 24th May 2022, updated 1st May 2023 - 3 minute read

This is never what we intend for our customers to experience, so we're sorry to learn you have this issue. My parcel is beyond the original ETA If the parcel is only just past the ETA, it should usually show up within 1-2 days without the need for any further action/contact. I ... Read Article

Evatech Services

Published in Maintenance on 28th Apr 2022, updated 18th Dec 2024 - 6 minute read

From time to time, you may require the assistance of a professional to get your PC running smoothly. Below are the services we offer and our rates, and below you can find more details about what is and is not covered, so that you're fully informed before you commit to anything. ... Read Article

Boot and run MemTest86

Published in RAM (Memory) on 18th Feb 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 3 minute read

If you’re looking for a more powerful testing tool, you can download and use MemTest86. It performs a wider variety of tests and may find issues that the built-in Windows test won’t. The latest releases of this tool offer a paid version with more features, althou ... Read Article

Evatech Shipping / Delivery Options

Published in General on 25th May 2022, updated 9th Mar 2023 - 8 minute read

While our main focus is on providing fully built PCs to our customers across Australia, which is done with TNT/FedEx exclusively, we do also offer Australia Post Standard and Express via the eParcel service and also Couriers Please / Aramex for non-PC parcels to round out the opt ... Read Article

GPU stress/load testing

Published in Graphics Card on 23rd May 2022, updated 9th Jan 2024 - 3 minute read

Unlike trying to stress a CPU out, GPUs are a fair bit easier to put under load, but it is for certain difficult to give it a repeatable and consistent workload... so, enter GPU stress testing! Note: Generally speaking, when running benchmarks that provide a score/ranking, you w ... Read Article

CPU stress/load testing

Published in CPU on 10th May 2022, updated 14th Jul 2023 - 3 minute read

From time to time it might be handy to ensure that your CPU is still able to cope with intense workloads. Only thing is, for most of us it's hard to give our CPUs a sustained workload with real world work... enter CPU stress testing! One of the methods we use to test if a CPU is ... Read Article

Once I place an order, how long until it's ready?

Published in General on 25th Jun 2022, updated 26th Jul 2024 - 3 minute read

We don't always keep all the thousands of products we have available for purchase on our website in stock at our collection facility, so it may take anywhere between a few minutes to a few business days for your order to be ready for click & collect, or for courier dispatch d ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Architecture & CAD

Published in Use Cases on 26th Jul 2023, updated 23rd Dec 2024 - 9 minute read

Covering Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Inventor, and SOLIDWORKS, there is certain hardware that you'll want to consider for your machine. While a powerful and fast PC can be costly, we know that buying something that is not equipped for the task will end up being mor ... Read Article

How to control RGB / LED lighting in your PC

Published in Maintenance on 8th Apr 2024 - 6 minute read

Depending on what components you have, there's many different approaches that could get you the solution you want – and we'll cover them all here. Not all lights can be controlled Firstly, it would be important for us to note that not all RGB / LED lighting is able to be ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Unreal Engine

Published in Use Cases on 20th Jul 2023, updated 23rd Dec 2024 - 6 minute read

Unreal Engine offers a list of hardware and software requirements, but it only covers the bare essentials rather than what it takes to run it well and provide a good experience with high performance. Which CPU to choose for Unreal Engine? In Unreal Engine development, the CPU i ... Read Article

Evatech's Online Payment Options

Published in General on 9th Mar 2023, updated 12th Feb 2025 - 5 minute read

We offer the following payment options via our website. Bank Transfer / PayID Once you confirm the order, you will be presented with (and emailed) our BSB & account number for our Commonwealth, and also PayID details for you to transfer the appropriate amount owed - ... Read Article

Liquid Cooling vs Air Cooling

Published in Use Cases on 2nd Aug 2023, updated 31st Jan 2024 - 6 minute read

Serious about your computer's performance while keeping it as cool as possible? The advice has usually been to opt for liquid cooling, opposed to the often standard and alternative of air cooling. Generally speaking, this advice makes sense, liquid cooling your CPU or GPU yields ... Read Article

Graphics card removal and installation

Published in Graphics Card on 18th Feb 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 2 minute read

Tools required: Philips head screwdriver. Removing a graphics card To do so, you'll need to power down your PC and ensure it is not plugged into any live electricity sources (as should almost always be your first step). Open your PC case cover and see whether the graphics car ... Read Article

Getting the latest graphics drivers

Published in Graphics Card on 2nd Mar 2022, updated 7th May 2024 - 4 minute read

While we certainly attempt to have your system's drivers relatively up to date, and your system should also aim to keep you all the way updated when connected to an internet connection, sometimes you might have to get the very latest drivers yourself. The best place to get them? ... Read Article

Solutions to a GPU running extra hot

Published in Graphics Card on 28th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 5 minute read

According to Nvidia, the standard operating temperature range of a graphics processing unit (GPU) is 104°F to 194°F (40°C to 90°C). If your room temperature is 68°F (20°C), your GPU should always be feeling warm or hot at any given time. However, your GPU ... Read Article

Information on Intel's 13th & 14th Gen Instability Issues

Published in Maintenance on 1st Aug 2024, updated 14th Feb 2025 - 5 minute read

We've been monitoring the developing situation being widely reported by various tech media outlets regarding stability issues with some models of Intel 13th and 14th gen CPUs that result in crashes or BSOD events. At the time of (original) writing, not everything is known or clea ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Large Language Models (LLMs)

Published in Use Cases on 24th Dec 2024 - 5 minute read

AI large language models are moving & advancing at a blistering pace, with new and improved models coming out relentlessly. Hardware to best power these models are likewise being developed and refined from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, among others. The "best" hardware for any ... Read Article

RAM Troubleshooting

Published in RAM (Memory) on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 4 minute read

Experiencing PC crashing, freezing, or just instability? There may be a problem with the RAM. What causes RAM problems? Sometimes power surges can damage your computer components, like RAM or hard drives. It's best practice to plug your computer into a surge protector, or eve ... Read Article

Connecting speakers to your Windows PC

Published in Audio on 12th May 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 3 minute read

We'll go over the most common speaker types and how to connect them seamlessly to your Windows PC. Note: Most often, Windows will automatically select a newly plugged-in audio device as your audio output, however sometimes we have to do this manually. To do this, right-click the ... Read Article

Can I request order changes once the order is placed?

Published in General on 6th Jun 2022, updated 17th Jan 2024 - 4 minute read

While we would prefer that customers carefully consider their orders before finalising and placing them via our website (remember, we are available to chat about your order before you place it), we might still be able to help you make some last-minute changes if the need arises. ... Read Article

Backing up your data

Published in Maintenance on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 9 minute read

We should all know that backups are necessary, so why doesn't everyone do so? Simple answer, because it's difficult to know what to backup, where, how often/when, and how. This article will help answer those questions and hopefully provide a simple solution to backing up your dat ... Read Article

How to boot from USB

Published in Maintenance on 12th May 2022, updated 21st Dec 2023 - 3 minute read

Whether you're installing your operating system afresh, or trying to run a diagnostic test, it may be necessary to boot from a USB or DVD at some point, and if your PC just keeps trying to go to your normal operating system instead, here's how you get it to boot where you want! ... Read Article

Setting up multiple monitors

Published in Monitor on 28th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 3 minute read

Configuring Windows to use multiple displays is fairly straightforward if you know where to look, and the first step is opening your Display settings window. You can access display settings right clicking on the desktop and select Display settings from the context menu. Once you ... Read Article

Reinstalling Windows 10

Published in Maintenance on 11th Apr 2022, updated 8th Apr 2024 - 6 minute read

Reinstalling Windows 10 is fairly easy. Find the process broken down into steps below. Please ensure you read over the whole process as the next step may help to fully understand the prior step, etc. Fair warning, these steps are somewhat generalised to suit all customers, so it ... Read Article

Manufacturer Technical Support

Published in Maintenance on 29th Apr 2022, updated 26th Mar 2024 - 1 minute read

Here you can find how to get in touch with some of the various manufacturers for components that we provide, as well as some common brands that might also be helpful to you. Manufacturer Contact info Evatech (03) 9020 7017 Acer 1300 362 328 Adobe https:/ ... Read Article

Things to consider when wanting to upgrade

Published in General on 30th Aug 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 6 minute read

As time passes, your system may lose some of its original appeal and you'll find yourself considering if it's time to upgrade. The tasks you're throwing at it appear to be giving the PC a harder time than it used to, or it's taking longer to do things. Maybe you're running out of ... Read Article

Monitor Cabling Options

Published in Monitor on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 8 minute read

There are a small number of mainstream monitor connections but nonetheless it can be overwhelming at times or if you're new to the space. Here we'll break down the common ones currently available and how to identify them. Most systems will use either HDMI or DisplayPort (DP) and ... Read Article

Assessing HDD and SSD faults

Published in Maintenance on 2nd Feb 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 3 minute read

Firstly, if your PC isn't booting into Windows at all like it normally would, you're better covered in this help doc and perhaps other linked docs within. Assuming your computer boots but is having other issues, we can still check out if the file system on the storage drive is i ... Read Article

Repackaging a PC for shipping

Published in Maintenance on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 2 minute read

If you ever need to send your workstation, gaming PC, or home PC back to our facility for diagnostics, repairs, or upgrades, it's vitally important to package the PC correctly to avoid transit damage. Please keep in mind that Evatech is not responsible for damage caused by improp ... Read Article

Monitoring GPU temperatures

Published in Graphics Card on 28th Jan 2022, updated 25th May 2022 - 2 minute read

Monitoring your graphics card (also known as GPU or video card) temperatures during critical operations can help prevent damage and identify possible problems. Windows doesn’t include a thorough GPU temperature monitoring tool (unless you're happy with Task Manager's Perfor ... Read Article

Monitor Troubleshooting

Published in Monitor on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 5 minute read

Outdated or corrupt drivers A malfunctioning, outdated, or corrupt driver may be why your monitor is losing signal while gaming. Check for GPU driver updates and apply them to see if the issue is resolved. If the issue isn’t resolved and your monitor keeps going off while ... Read Article

Initialising new storage drives

Published in Maintenance on 11th Aug 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 2 minute read

If you've just added a new storage drive to your PC and it isn't showing up in File Explorer (but is showing up in Device Manager's Disk drives section) then you may need to initialise it and add a drive letter before you can use it. Thankfully this final step is relatively easy. ... Read Article

How to check CPU temperatures

Published in CPU on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 3 minute read

Processors need a cooling solution, whether it's air or liquid because they can get hot. No, really hot. Most desktop CPUs will run in the 50-70°C (that's 122-158°F) range on occasion, and a combo of good cooling and carefully-applied thermal paste should keep your CPU in ... Read Article

SSD optimisations for Windows

Published in Maintenance on 26th May 2022, updated 20th Jul 2023 - 4 minute read

SSDs offer a leap ahead in accessing stored data on our systems, and although Windows does a lot to take advantage of SSDs, there's still more that can be done, and the steps to turn it up are easy to follow. All of the steps below are only beneficial if your system has an SSD a ... Read Article

Minimise downtime with backup hardware

Published in Maintenance on 31st Aug 2022, updated 8th Sep 2023 - 8 minute read

It's not what any of us want to hear about but computer hardware can develop faults and begin failing, stopping you from performing your desired tasks. This of course is despite the fact that we painstakingly test all the PC hardware when we build PCs for customers. Sadly faults ... Read Article

Malfunctional USB Ports

Published in Maintenance on 28th Jan 2022, updated 8th Apr 2024 - 2 minute read

If your USB port stops working correctly/at all, it doesn't necessarily mean they're broken. Below are some suggestions that can potentially fix this issue. Restart the PC Restarting the PC is the answer to many random/intermittent problems and a common solution to USB woes too ... Read Article

BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death)

Published in Maintenance on 28th Jan 2022, updated 8th Sep 2023 - 6 minute read

This is more officially known as a STOP error, and it shows up when your computer's operating system determines that it can't run your computer safely at the moment. It has various causes, some of which are more serious than others. Be sure to read the specific error message for ... Read Article

Troubleshooting Audio Issues

Published in Audio on 27th Jan 2022, updated 19th May 2023 - 5 minute read

From time-to-time, we hear of customers running into issues getting sound to play through devices attached to their systems. This could be issues regarding getting sound to play through your monitor speakers, to be transmitted from headphones plugged into the front audio ports, n ... Read Article

Graphics Card Troubleshooting

Published in Graphics Card on 27th Jan 2022, updated 26th May 2022 - 4 minute read

Graphics card not detected Graphics Card, Video Card, or GPU not being detected is a common problem that plagues many users around the world on occasion. It is a very annoying issue in which your graphics card is not detected during the boot process or your GPU is not detected o ... Read Article

Evatech Electronics Recycling Program

Published in Sustainability on 29th Apr 2024, updated 7th Jun 2024 - 4 minute read

Our focus has and always will be with the latest and greatest hardware, but we also understand that many customers may be upgrading from an older PC… and we want to ensure that they're being responsibly disposed of if our customers don't want to keep or sell it themselves. ... Read Article

Useful software for your new PC

Published in Use Cases on 19th Jul 2023, updated 9th Apr 2024 - 4 minute read

We only install necessary drivers and some limited software to ensure that your hardware can function to its fullest, so your PC will arrive in a very fresh state, meaning you are going to have to install something before you get going no matter what you plan to do with your PC. ... Read Article

Screen recording or capture with Evatech PCs

Published in Use Cases on 30th Apr 2024, updated 23rd Dec 2024 - 3 minute read

Become a Twitch or YouTube game streaming sensation with every Evatech Gaming PC, or simply record your desktop to share with others. Fancy yourself as a professional in your favourite games? Or maybe you're the entertainer; quick with jokes and can find humour in any game. If y ... Read Article

How the Evatech Website & Online Store is Sustainable

Published in Sustainability on 29th Apr 2024, updated 26th Jul 2024 - 5 minute read

While you might not think a website is an area that can be environmentally conscious, with so many customers using our website it's not an area we could continue to ignore. With that said, some of the topics we'll be touching on have been in effect for many years, while others we ... Read Article

How Evatech Reduces Waste & Responsible Waste Management

Published in Sustainability on 29th Apr 2024 - 5 minute read

While it's an obvious and important sector for being environmentally conscious, our multi-pronged approach may not be as obvious. As we're Australian based, and a lot smaller than the likes of dominating companies who can effect large changes in the supply chain world-wide, like ... Read Article

Evatech's partners & the environment

Published in Sustainability on 29th Apr 2024 - 7 minute read

We believe that our partner network should also aim to be a positive impact to the world. Thankfully, our partners are already on board in some big ways, from the brands that we like to work with, to our suppliers, and our choice of couriers. Couriers The reality is that all co ... Read Article

Evatech's day-to-day efforts to minimise environmental impacts

Published in Sustainability on 29th Apr 2024, updated 5th Aug 2024 - 4 minute read

While we've been building PCs for over 11 years, we were happy to rework some of our well established and defined processes in order to minimise our footprint. This has meant working to ensure the processes were just as good if not better than before while also addressing sustain ... Read Article

How you can reduce waste

Published in Sustainability on 29th Apr 2024 - 6 minute read

As a PC user there's a great deal of steps you can take to reduce waste and lower your power usage in order to pay less on your electricity bill! Some steps are easy to make & cost you nothing, and some will have costs associated but will bring long-term benefits that may wel ... Read Article

Using your Console Controllers with your PC

Published in Use Cases on 9th Jan 2025, updated 21st Jan 2025 - 4 minute read

With many PC gamers converting from console gaming, we often have customers hoping they can make the transition easier by hanging onto their existing controllers - we're glad to say that they can! Why would you want to use a controller? Each new generation of console has seen a ... Read Article

Accessing and understanding your Evatech invoice

Published in General on 20th Nov 2024, updated 26th Nov 2024 - 3 minute read

Your order summary email which is typically received within a few minutes of finalising the order is not intended to be a tax invoice, it simply confirms the order details that you placed on our store. Once the order is fully processed and completed by us, you'll automatically re ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Generative AI (Image & Video)

Published in Use Cases on 24th Dec 2024 - 5 minute read

For generative models, the CPU typically shouldn't play a large role, but if your other work relies more heavily on the CPU then it could still be an important consideration. If your workflow involves data collection, manipulation, or pre-processing, the CPU will be a critical co ... Read Article

80 PLUS vs Cybenetics: Power Supply Ratings Explained

Published in Use Cases on 26th Mar 2025 - 5 minute read

When choosing a power supply, there's more to consider than just the wattage. Of course, ensuring the PSU has enough power for the combined need of your components is critical, but there's a few more aspects to ponder. Once landing on the correct wattage, we can then decide on h ... Read Article

Reasons to join the Glorious PC Master Race

Published in General on 27th Mar 2025 - 15 minute read

"PC Master Race" is a term/phrase that the community of PC enthusiasts (mostly gamers) have adopted and use while supporting each other & those wanting to get into PC ownership. Largely made popular by the sub-reddit titled /r/pcmasterrace – from which this very pa ... Read Article

Configuring a PC for Virtual Reality (VR)

Published in Use Cases on 28th Mar 2025 - 6 minute read

Virtual Reality gaming has been a long time coming, and it's stronger than ever; for those who have taken the plunge – they're already enjoying the greener grass on the other side. So, what does it take to join them? The most vital thing to keep in mind is that in order to ... Read Article