tech on a budget Archives - tektoc

Spacedesk: Turn Your Old Tablet or Phone into a Free USB Monitor or Wireless Second Monitor

Graeme — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:46:48 +0000

Do you have an old tablet or smartphone sitting in a drawer doing nothing?

With the free tool called Spacedesk, you can turn that device into a handy second monitor for your Windows PC. No need to buy expensive extra screens.

It works wirelessly over your home Wi-Fi or wired through a simple USB cable. Many viewers tell me the USB option feels more stable, especially if you want rock-solid performance while you work.

Here’s why this matters for everyday folks: A second monitor lets you keep your email or notes on one screen while you browse or edit on the main display. It can make life noticeably easier without complicated setups or big spending.

How Spacedesk Works in Plain English

Spacedesk has two simple parts.

You install a small driver on your Windows computer. Then you download the free viewer app onto your tablet or phone.

Once both are running and connected, your old device becomes an extra display you can drag windows onto. Windows sees it just like any other monitor, so you can arrange the screens, change the scale, and choose to extend or mirror your desktop.

The whole process takes just a few minutes. In the video I walk you through every click so you can follow along at your own pace.

Wireless or USB – You Choose

Most people start with the wireless connection because it’s convenient. Your devices simply find each other on the same network.

But if you want less lag or need to charge your tablet at the same time, the USB cable option is excellent. Just plug in, enable USB mode in the Spacedesk console, and you’re good to go. It even works well with Android phones and tablets.

You can adjust resolution, quality, and frame rate right in the viewer app. If you ever see a blank screen, a quick switch to MJPEG encoding usually fixes it instantly.

Who This Is Perfect For

If you’re working from home, managing photos, or just want more screen space without cluttering your desk, Spacedesk is a smart, low-cost answer.

It breathes new life into old gear and helps you stay productive without buying new hardware. Many people are surprised how smooth it feels for everyday tasks.

Give it a try and see how much easier your workflow becomes.

Watch the full video above for the complete step-by-step guide. I show the exact download links, installation, and connection process so you can set it up confidently.

Have you ever wished for an extra screen without the expense? Let me know in the comments – I read every one.

Learn more at the Spacedesk website!

How to Master PC Price to Performance for Your Next Build

Graeme — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:59:58 +0000

A Math-Based Approach To Getting the Best Value for Your Parts-Buying Dollar

Finding the right balance between cost and power is the “holy grail” of PC building. With prices fluctuating and new generations of hardware launching constantly, many beginners fall into the trap of buying the most advertised parts rather than the most efficient ones. If you want to maximize your PC price to performance, you need a repeatable system.

The Data-Driven Approach

The first step is moving away from brand loyalty and toward raw data. Using tools like Passmark, you can find a component’s “Score.” By dividing this score by your local market price, you create a “Value Metric.” This allows you to compare a three-year-old flagship GPU against a brand-new entry-level card objectively.

Verify with Real-World Performance

Synthetic scores are great, but they don’t play games—you do. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, head to YouTube. Search for the specific CPU and GPU combination you are considering. Look for “1% Lows” to ensure a smooth experience, as a high average FPS can often hide annoying stutters.

Avoiding the Bottleneck

Finally, ensure your parts are a “team.” A high-end GPU paired with a budget CPU may result in a bottleneck, meaning you’ve wasted money on power you can’t actually use. Use a bottleneck calculator to ensure your components are within a 10% performance margin of each other.

By following this 4-step tektoc method, you aren’t just building a computer; you’re making a smart financial investment in your gaming future.

Check out the video above for a step-by-step guide to maximizing your PC’s price-to-performance ratio!

Building a Budget AM4 Office PC in the InWin BQ656

Graeme — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:46:39 +0000

Can Good PCs Come In Small Packages?

After explaining why AMD’s AM4 platform is still one of the best value options in 2026, it was time to put that idea into practice. In this video, I build a compact AM4 office PC inside the InWin BQ656 mini-ITX case and give a real-world verdict on whether this budget-friendly case is actually worth using.

The goal of this build is simple: create a fast, quiet, and affordable office PC without wasting money on parts that won’t matter for everyday use. The system is built around a Ryzen 5 3400G, which includes integrated Radeon graphics and removes the need for a dedicated GPU. To keep costs down, I reused DDR4 memory and a 512GB NVMe SSD from an older Dell system.

The InWin BQ656 is an interesting option for budget builders because it includes a built-in power supply and has a very small footprint, making it appealing for home and office setups. During the build, I walk through installation, cable management, and airflow limitations, highlighting both the strengths and compromises that come with compact, low-cost cases.

Rather than treating this as a generic “how to build a PC” guide, this video focuses on the real experience of assembling a system in this case. You’ll see what’s easy, what’s frustrating, and what you should know before choosing the BQ656 for your own build.

By the end, I give a clear verdict on who this case is for, who should avoid it, and whether it makes sense as part of a smart AM4 budget PC strategy. If you’re planning a small office or productivity build, this video will help you decide if the InWin BQ656 is the right choice.

Build a Budget Office PC by Reusing Old Parts (2026)

Graeme — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:26:00 +0000

The Longevity of AMD’s AM4 Platform Makes It Ideal For a Budget PC Build

PC building has gotten expensive again, and the frustrating part is that it’s not always the “fun” components causing the problem. Lately, two of the biggest budget killers have been the parts every computer needs: RAM and SSD storage. Even if you’re not building a gaming PC, those rising prices can turn a simple office setup into an overpriced project.

In this video, I break down a smarter approach: build only what you need for your use case and reuse parts that still work perfectly well. For many people, an office PC doesn’t need extreme specs — it just needs to be fast, quiet, reliable, and affordable.

This build is for a real-world home office situation: web browsing, email, spreadsheets, Zoom calls, and everyday productivity. Instead of buying everything new, I’m reusing a 512GB NVMe SSD and DDR4 RAM from an older Dell system. Reusing storage and memory can save a surprising amount of money, especially when pricing is inflated.

For the new components, I’m focusing on value and simplicity. The Ryzen 5 3400G is a great choice because it includes integrated graphics, which means there’s no need to buy a dedicated GPU. Pairing it with an ASRock A520 mini-ITX motherboard keeps the build compact and modern without overspending on features that won’t matter for office work.

This video is Part 1 of a two-part series. Here, I explain the strategy and the parts choices. In Part 2, I’ll assemble everything inside the InWin mini-ITX case and show the finished system running.

If you’re trying to build a cheap, practical PC in today’s market, this is one of the best ways to do it without sacrificing the experience.

Open-Source vs Subscription Software: Who Really Wins?

Graeme — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:26:58 +0000

Which Is Better: Rent, or Own?

Over the last decade, the way we use software has fundamentally changed. What used to be a one-time purchase is now almost always a recurring subscription. From creative tools to office software, users increasingly rent access instead of owning a product outright.

This shift raises an important question: is subscription software actually better, or does open-source software offer advantages that many users overlook?

Subscription software appeals to companies because it provides predictable revenue and allows continuous updates. For users, subscriptions can offer convenience, cloud features, and seamless collaboration—especially for services that rely on online infrastructure. In many business environments, subscriptions genuinely make sense.

However, subscriptions come with trade-offs. Stop paying, and access disappears. Prices can increase without warning, features can be removed, and long-term access to your own files may depend on an active account. Over time, these costs and restrictions add up.

Open-source software works differently. Its source code is publicly available, meaning the software isn’t tied to the survival or decisions of a single company. Many open-source tools are free to use, don’t require ongoing payments, and allow users to retain full control over their data and workflows.

Contrary to common myths, modern open-source software is often powerful, polished, and widely used. Tools like Blender, Linux, OBS, and LibreOffice prove that open development can compete with—and sometimes outperform—paid alternatives.

Ultimately, the choice between open-source and subscription software isn’t about which is “better,” but about understanding incentives. Subscription software optimizes for convenience and recurring revenue, while open-source prioritizes resilience, transparency, and user control.

Knowing the difference helps you choose tools that truly serve your needs—today and in the long term.

Watch the video above for an in-depth look at both of these options, and the circumstances under which they offer the best value.

Actual Budget Review: Is It the Best Free Quicken Alternative for Everyday Users?

Graeme — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:15:45 +0000

If you have been using Quicken for years and are quietly wondering whether there is a better — or at least cheaper — way to manage your personal finances, you are not alone. Quicken has grown more complex, more expensive, and more subscription-dependent over the years, and a lot of long-time users are looking for a way out. Actual Budget might be exactly what you have been waiting for.

In this video, we take a close look at Actual Budget — free, open-source personal finance software available on Windows, Linux, and Mac — and explore whether it can genuinely serve as the best free Quicken alternative for everyday users.

What Is Actual Budget?

Actual Budget is a free, open-source finance application designed to help you track spending and manage a household budget without the bloat — or the monthly bill — that comes with Quicken. It runs locally on your computer, meaning your financial data stays on your machine and never lives on someone else’s server unless you specifically choose that option.

It is lightweight, fast, and straightforward to install — even on older hardware. If your current budgeting software feels like it is doing more than you need (and occasionally making mistakes because of it), Actual Budget is worth a serious look.

How Does It Compare to Quicken?

The honest answer is that Actual Budget is not trying to replicate everything Quicken does — and that is actually a strength. Where Quicken has become increasingly automated (sometimes to the point of introducing errors), Actual Budget keeps you in direct control of your data. You enter or import your transactions, you categorize them, and you see exactly what is happening with your money.

Some things Actual Budget does not do: it will not automatically download and price your investment portfolio. If that is critical to your workflow, it is worth knowing upfront. However, for the vast majority of day-to-day household budgeting — tracking income and expenses, monitoring account balances, reviewing spending by category — it handles everything you need cleanly and quickly.

You can import transactions from your bank using the standard QFX file format, which is the same format Quicken uses — so that part of your workflow does not change. And if you have existing Quicken data, there is an import option available, though some adjustment of categories and balances is typically needed to get things lined up correctly.

Getting Started: What to Expect

Setup involves adding your accounts (checking, savings, credit cards), choosing between envelope budgeting and tracking budgeting, and setting up your spending categories. The video walks through each of these steps in detail, so if you would rather see it in action before committing, that is a great place to start.

One feature worth highlighting is off-budget accounts — a way to handle savings earmarked for irregular large expenses (like annual insurance or property tax) so that those big payments do not distort your monthly spending picture. It is a thoughtful approach that maps naturally to how a lot of people already think about their money.

Reporting in Actual Budget is visual and dashboard-driven rather than print-oriented. It is not as deep as Quicken’s report library, but for most users it provides exactly the at-a-glance insight they need: total income, total expenses, month-over-month changes, and net worth trends.

If you have been searching for a free personal finance software option that is stable, private, and genuinely easy to use on a daily basis, Actual Budget is one of the most compelling options available right now. It is not perfect, but for the kind of straightforward household financial tracking that most of us actually need, it delivers — without the subscription fee.

The video linked above is a high-level overview. For deeper features and documentation, the Actual Budget website has excellent resources to explore further.

The Actual Budget website can be found here: Your Finances — made simple | Actual Budget

7 Essential Tips for Buying a Used GPU on eBay Without Getting Scammed

Graeme — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 21:41:44 +0000

You Can Save HUGE Money Buying Used – If You Know How to Go About It

Buying a new graphics card in today’s market can be painfully expensive, even for entry-level models. That’s why more and more PC builders and gamers are turning to the used market, especially eBay, to score great deals on GPUs. But while the savings can be substantial, so are the risks—unless you know what to look for.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 7 essential steps you must take when buying a used GPU on eBay to protect yourself from bad sellers, faulty hardware, and hidden problems.

The process starts before you ever click “Buy.” Carefully scrutinize the listing by checking the seller’s reputation, reading recent reviews, and verifying the return policy. Pay close attention to the photos—make sure they’re not stock images, and carefully examine details like the I/O ports, warranty seals, fans, and power connectors. If the card is a higher-end model, it’s worth asking if it’s ever been used for crypto mining, since that can affect longevity.

Next, confirm that your power supply can handle the GPU you’re purchasing. Once the card arrives, perform a visual inspection for damage or heavy wear, clean it thoroughly, and install it carefully. After installing the latest drivers, verify the card’s authenticity with GPU-Z and run a stress test with FurMark to ensure stable performance and cooling.

By following these 7 steps—scrutinizing the listing, checking details and photos, verifying power requirements, inspecting upon arrival, cleaning, installing properly, and testing—you can dramatically reduce your risk and buy a used GPU with confidence.

While there will always be some level of risk when buying used hardware, being thorough and methodical gives you the best chance of finding a great deal without getting burned. Whether you’re upgrading your current rig or building a new budget PC, these tips will help you shop smart and stretch your dollar further.

Watch the video above to see how I followed these steps when purchasing my own used GPU on eBay!

The post 7 Essential Tips for Buying a Used GPU on eBay Without Getting Scammed appeared first on tektoc.

Old PCs are Useless, Right? My Late Father’s 1st Gen Core i3 Says Otherwise

Graeme — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 04:08:25 +0000

Make the Most of What You’ve Got

In today’s tech world, Microsoft and many others will tell you that if your PC can’t run Windows 11, it’s basically useless junk. But is that really true? We’re about to find out with my late father’s computer: a Dell Inspiron 580 with a first-generation Core i3 550 processor, built all the way back in 2010. This machine is almost 15 years old and has just 6GB of RAM and integrated graphics. It’s the kind of old PC you’ll find at a thrift store or recycling center, probably gathering dust.

While many of us hobbyists are chasing the latest CPUs and GPUs, some people have little to no money for technology. For them, a machine like this could be a total game-changer, providing access to essential tech for school, work, and connecting with others. Organizations like the Electronics Recycling Association are doing incredible work to bridge this gap, but the push to make older computers obsolete just makes their job harder.

To prove that this old PC is far from useless, we’re giving it a second chance. We’ve installed a small SSD and put Linux Mint on it, and now we’re going to put it through its paces. Can it handle everyday tasks like browsing the web, watching HD videos, using an office suite, editing photos, and even a Zoom call?

We’re going to test if this so-called “garbage computer” can actually be brilliant. Find out if this old PC is ready for the scrap heap or if it still has a lot to offer and can do some real good for a family in need. Stick around to see the results and learn why we should all think twice before tossing out perfectly good technology.

The post Old PCs are Useless, Right? My Late Father’s 1st Gen Core i3 Says Otherwise appeared first on tektoc.

Buying Amazon Refurbished PCs – Deal or No Deal?

Graeme — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 02:32:27 +0000

These days, buying a new computer can be an awfully expensive proposition. If you can cut the cost and still get all of the computing power you need, that’s a huge plus for the frugal and tech-savvy buyer. As previously discussed on this site, it’s common for people to overestimate the amount of computer they really need and end up paying too much. If your computing needs are more middle-of-the-road than high-end, there are great deals available. And this is where buying refurbished PCs can be an extremely attractive option.

One of the most common and popular sources for refurbished PCs is, of course, Amazon. Refurbished PCs on Amazon are offered by a large number of different sellers, and your experience may vary depending on what you buy and who you buy from.

Best Practices For Buying Amazon Refurbished PCs:

Really know what the computer will be used for and how much power you need: what CPU, how much RAM, and what your graphics requirements are. Passmark Software is a great site for comparing the relative performance of different CPUs.
Check the reviews from the different refurbished PC vendors to ensure they are offering quality products and that you won’t have unhappy surprises when your shiny “new-for-you” PC arrives at your door.
Make sure you understand the return policy of the vendor, and you are satisfied that you will have a no-hassle return experience if you decide for any reason your purchase is not going to work for you.
When your refurbished PC arrives, open it up to inspect it. Make sure it’s clean inside, all the equipment is there that was promised (optical and hard drives, graphics cards and wireless adapters, etc.), and the cooling fans are functional. If it’s a bit dusty inside, a quick cleaning with a can of compressed air will make things as good as new in no time.
On starting up your machine, go to “Settings – System – About” (in Windows 10) and verify the machine has the correct CPU, RAM and operating system as was promised by the refurbisher.
If anything is amiss, or if for any reason you aren’t satisfied, and you purchased from a vendor in the “Amazon Renewed” program, you should have no problem shipping the PC back for a quick and painless refund.

To see how I made out on my own recent Amazon-refurbished PC purchase, and for more tips on getting a good deal, check out the video below!

In this video, I explore the world of “Amazon Renewed” PCs: what to look for, what you can expect to pay, and what you’ll find when that big, beautiful, brown box comes in.

The post Buying Amazon Refurbished PCs – Deal or No Deal? appeared first on tektoc.

Turning Cheap Computers Into Useful Devices

Graeme — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:53:47 +0000

Let’s face it, as much as we wish it were otherwise, we don’t all have endless amounts of money to spend on the latest computing powerhouse. The good news is that the rapid advance of computing power has made the world of cheap computers more effective and affordable than ever. The trick is knowing how to maximize the performance of what you have, and being sure you are matching your computer to its intended purpose. The objective here is: Everything you need, nothing you don’t.

Being practical, if you have heavy-duty computing needs, it’s going to be hard to do much on a tight budget. If you are into playing the latest and most popular triple-A video game titles, editing 4K or even full-HD video, or doing other intensive tasks, you are basically going to be in a position where “you get what you pay for” is the rule of the day.

However, if your needs are outside of these high-intensity computing activities, you have lots of inexpensive and practical options that can save you serious money. And the used market is where the best values are.

Watch me turn a far-too-slow-to-be-useful ancient PC into a useable learning tool by replacing just one inexpensive part.

Match The Computer To The Intended Use

For users whose needs are more in the range of general household and business computing, you may be surprised at what a few tweaks to old and cheap computers can get you. Activities like: web browsing, email, streaming video, downloading media, document creation and handling, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, financial accounting, editing photos and basic graphic design all require only modest amounts of computing power and memory.

If learning more about computing in general is what interests you, just about any old computer can be used as a learning platform. You can run Linux and practice running commands and scripts on the command line on just about anything. Spinning up virtual machines requires some memory, but doesn’t need a particularly up-to-date CPU. Same for fooling with servers and networking – none of it requires powerful and expensive hardware if what you are looking for is a learning experience more than anything else.

Cheap Computers Are Everywhere

The lesson here is to not give in to the “yeah, but I don’t have the money for that” mindset. There are a raft of ways to find cheap computers that are perfectly serviceable with just some minor tweaks.

You can:

Shop for refurbished machines on Amazon.
Find old PCs at the local Goodwill or flea market.
Check online classifieds like Craigslist or eBay.
Go to your local recycling center (most have electronics recycling and you’ll be surprised what people throw away).
Canvass local businesses who may be looking to retire some of their hardware.
There are lots of possibilities, so get creative!

Things To Look For

When looking at buying a used PC, you want to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck. Of course, any free PC is a great deal, but if you are shelling out your hard-earned cash, here are a few things to look for to get the best deals:

Know your processors: often people will tell you a PC is from a particular year, when in reality, it’s much older. I like the Passmark Software site for comparing CPUs. You can search for any processor and see real-world performance comparisons, along with the date when the CPU was first seen in the benchmarking tool. If I have a fixed amount to spend, I want the computer that has the most recent and strongest-performing processor possible. Full details on CPUs can also be found on the Intel and AMD websites.
Know your RAM: I like to see at least 8GB of RAM in my PCs, and these days that isn’t hard to find. More up-to-date RAM is also faster than older RAM, so choosing a PC with DDR4 over DDR3 is a good idea. While more RAM is generally better, I wouldn’t pay for anything over 8 GB unless I had a use-case that I knew would require more RAM than that to work well.
Know Your Graphics: if you have a specific need, like you are using your PC as a home theatre and want to watch 4K content at 60 frames per second, make sure the computer you purchase has the capability. If the PC has integrated graphics, you’ll find that information in the CPU specifications. If it has a discrete graphics card, it will be in the graphics card specifications.
Look for commercial PCs: businesses like banks, insurance companies, law firms and others go through a lot of PCs. These often end up on the used market and there is lots of availability. Manufactured by companies like Lenovo, HP and Dell (among others), there are usually all kinds of sizes and capacities, and these machines are generally well-built and reliable.

My latest cheap computer purchase: An “Amazon Refurbished” HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini. Intel i5 6500T CPU, 16GB RAM. $339 CDN ($265 USD appx.) purchased in Feb. 2022

How To optimize Your Cheap Computer

Once you drag your shiny-new-for-you PC back home, don’t be surprised if turning it on leads to a bit of disappointment. Old PCs sometimes seem impossibly slow and useless when you first turn them on. There are a few things you can do to make sure you are squeezing out all the performance you can:

Clean the inside: heat is the enemy of any computer, so the first thing you should do is open it up and look inside. If it’s full of dust, dog hair and toenail clippings, you need to rectify that. Make sure you use the proper tools and properly ground yourself to prevent electrostatic discharge, which is the other mortal enemy of computers.
Ditch the old hard drive: old hard disk drives (HDDs) are usually slow and often noisy. When an older computer is slow to boot, or open and close programs, more often than not the bottleneck is with the old hard drive. SSDs (solid-state drives) are the way to go for putting some spring in that cheap computer’s step! Name-brand 240GB SSDs can be had for as little as $30, so this is an affordable way to greatly boost the usefulness of that cheap computer.
Scrounge an old video card: often, an old computer will use integrated graphics to provide video output. This means the CPU and memory are being used for computing purposes, as well as to drive the video display. By adding an inexpensive graphics card, you remove that extra work from the CPU and memory. This drives an overall system performance increase.
Add some memory: Any PC with 6 or 8 GB of RAM (memory) will absolutely work well for most tasks while running the latest installment of your favorite OS. If the motherboard has room for it, adding more memory doesn’t always have to be an expensive proposition, especially if you are buying used. If you are able to get your hands on multiple PCs, you can even swap RAM from one computer to use in another, as long as compatibility requirements are met.
Start with a fresh install of your operating system: ideally, the previous owner did this prior to handing over the computer to you, but if not, it’s best to erase the drive and reinstall the operating system. People will download the craziest things that can seriously slow down your PC and expose your files to who-knows-what.

Note that if you choose to buy an already-refurbished PC, usually they will have been cleaned and equipped with a new SSD and fresh operating-system install already.

My Top Tip? Become A Packrat

One of the best ways to be effective at upgrading and deploying cheap computers is to become something of a packrat. Cables, sticks of memory, graphics cards, power supplies and cases are all generally universal-fit and can be used in a wide variety of circumstances. Hold on to them. Keeping what you have is way cheaper than buying new, and you never know when it may get you out of a jam.

Be sure to check out the video on this page to see how one simple upgrade turned my free PC from an impossibly-slow paperweight, into a perfectly-useable learning platform!

The post Turning Cheap Computers Into Useful Devices appeared first on tektoc.

tech on a budget Archives - tektoc

Spacedesk: Turn Your Old Tablet or Phone into a Free USB Monitor or Wireless Second Monitor

How Spacedesk Works in Plain English

Wireless or USB – You Choose

Who This Is Perfect For

Recent Posts

How to Master PC Price to Performance for Your Next Build

A Math-Based Approach To Getting the Best Value for Your Parts-Buying Dollar

The Data-Driven Approach

Verify with Real-World Performance

Avoiding the Bottleneck

Recent Posts

Building a Budget AM4 Office PC in the InWin BQ656

Can Good PCs Come In Small Packages?

Recent Posts

Build a Budget Office PC by Reusing Old Parts (2026)

The Longevity of AMD’s AM4 Platform Makes It Ideal For a Budget PC Build

Recent Posts

Open-Source vs Subscription Software: Who Really Wins?

Which Is Better: Rent, or Own?

Recent Posts

Actual Budget Review: Is It the Best Free Quicken Alternative for Everyday Users?

What Is Actual Budget?

How Does It Compare to Quicken?

Getting Started: What to Expect

Recent Posts

7 Essential Tips for Buying a Used GPU on eBay Without Getting Scammed

You Can Save HUGE Money Buying Used – If You Know How to Go About It

Old PCs are Useless, Right? My Late Father’s 1st Gen Core i3 Says Otherwise

Make the Most of What You’ve Got

Buying Amazon Refurbished PCs – Deal or No Deal?

Best Practices For Buying Amazon Refurbished PCs:

Turning Cheap Computers Into Useful Devices

Match The Computer To The Intended Use

Cheap Computers Are Everywhere

Things To Look For

How To optimize Your Cheap Computer

My Top Tip? Become A Packrat