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Back to School: Balancing Your Time Between Gaming and Schoolwork

Balancing schoolwork with gaming can often feel like walking a tightrope, but with a bit of strategizing and discipline, it’s entirely possible to excel in both areas. As a student gamer, it’s essential to prioritize your responsibilities and manage your time effectively to ensure that neither your academic performance nor your gaming pursuits suffer.

Here are some practical tips to help you find that perfect balance.

First and foremost, create a schedule. Determine the hours you need to dedicate to schoolwork and allocate specific times for gaming. Use a planner or digital calendar to map out your week, highlighting key deadlines for assignments, study sessions, and, of course, your gaming hours. Canva is a free, fun resource for this. By having a clear plan, you can avoid the last-minute rush that often leads to stress and burnout. Remember, schoolwork should always come first, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reward yourself with some gaming time once your tasks are completed.

Secondly, set achievable goals for both your academic and gaming activities. Break down your school projects into smaller, manageable tasks and set deadlines for each. Similarly, set gaming goals that align with your available time, so you don't end up spending more time than you intended. This approach will help keep you motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment in both areas. Additionally, consider using gaming as an incentive; for example, after finishing a tough assignment, reward yourself with an hour of your favorite game.

Lastly, practice self-discipline and be mindful of your habits. It’s easy to get caught up in the exciting world of gaming, but it’s crucial to recognize when it’s time to switch gears and focus on schoolwork. Utilize tools like timers or productivity apps to keep you on track. If you find it challenging to stop gaming, set strict boundaries, such as no gaming on school nights or only gaming after a certain hour. For casual gamers, with easy to pause games. the pomodoro technique is perfect. Set a timer for 20mins of schoolwork/revision, and a 5 minute timer for your game as a reward. Balancing schoolwork with gaming is all about making smart choices and knowing your limits.

In conclusion, balancing schoolwork with gaming is a matter of effective time management, goal setting, and self-discipline. By creating a structured schedule, setting realistic goals, and practicing mindful habits, you can ensure that both your academic and gaming endeavors thrive. Remember, it’s all about finding the right balance that works for you, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds without compromising on either. Education is an investment for your future, good luck with your studies.

-Team OMNI and compufixni

Embrace the Heat with These Summer Tech Tips

Summer is in full swing, and while the season brings sunshine and outdoor adventures, it also presents unique challenges for our beloved tech gadgets. From overheating smartphones to waterlogged tablets, summer can be tough on technology. But fear not! With a few savvy tips, you can keep your devices safe and functional throughout the warmer months.

1. Keep Devices Cool One of the biggest threats to your tech during summer is heat. High temperatures can cause smartphones, laptops, and other devices to overheat, potentially leading to permanent damage. To prevent this, avoid leaving your gadgets in direct sunlight or in hot environments like cars. If you must bring your device outside, consider using a cooling case or a portable fan. Additionally, give your devices regular breaks to cool down, especially if you’re using them for extended periods.

2. Protect Against Water Damage Summer often means trips to the beach, pool, or lake, where water hazards are abundant. Investing in waterproof cases or pouches for your devices can provide peace of mind. If you don’t have a waterproof case, a resealable plastic bag can be a quick and inexpensive alternative. For those who enjoy water sports or activities, consider tech devices specifically designed to withstand water, such as waterproof Bluetooth speakers or fitness trackers.

3. Optimize Battery Life Higher temperatures can also drain your device's battery more quickly. To combat this, adjust your screen brightness to the lowest comfortable level and close any unnecessary apps running in the background. Using airplane mode or turning off location services when not needed can also help conserve battery life. It’s also wise to carry a portable charger or an extra battery pack, ensuring you’re never caught with a dead device during your summer escapades.

4. Regular Maintenance Summer is a great time to give your devices a thorough clean. Dust and dirt can accumulate in the small crevices of your gadgets, causing them to overheat or malfunction. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down screens and keyboards, and consider using compressed air to clean out ports and vents. Additionally, updating your software can improve performance and security, keeping your devices running smoothly.

5. Stay Connected, Safely Summer vacations often mean traveling, which can sometimes lead to connectivity issues. To ensure you stay connected, download maps and important documents before your trip. Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be less secure. Use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your data from potential hackers. With these tech tips, you can enjoy a stress-free summer, knowing your devices are protected and performing at their best. So go ahead, soak up the sun, and let your technology help you make the most of the season!

How to Check Game Requirements on Steam and Build Your New Gaming PC

When it comes to building or upgrading a gaming PC, understanding game requirements is crucial to ensure you have a seamless gaming experience. Knowing what you want your PC to do is the first step to deciding your specification and formulating a budget. Steam, the popular digital distribution platform, provides detailed information about the hardware specifications required to run games. This blog post will guide you through the process of checking a game's requirements on Steam and explain what each computer part means, and how we can use this information to build your ideal gaming rig at Compufixni.

Checking Game Requirements on Steam: First, open the Steam application or visit the Steam website. Use the search bar to find the game you are interested in. Once on the game's store page, scroll down to the "System Requirements" section. Here, you'll find both "Minimum" and "Recommended" system requirements. The minimum requirements indicate the least powerful hardware that can run the game, while the recommended requirements suggest hardware for an optimal experience.

Understanding Computer Parts:

Processor (CPU): The CPU is the brain of your computer. It executes instructions and processes data. Game requirements will often list the necessary CPU in terms of brand (Intel or AMD), model, and clock speed (measured in GHz). A higher clock speed and more cores usually mean better performance.

Graphics Card (GPU): The GPU handles rendering images, videos, and animations. It's crucial for gaming, as it determines how well your system can handle graphics-intensive tasks. GPUs are listed by their brand (NVIDIA or AMD), model, and VRAM (Video RAM) capacity. More VRAM allows for better performance at higher resolutions and settings.

Memory (RAM): RAM is temporary storage that your CPU uses to store and access data quickly. Games typically require a minimum amount of RAM to run smoothly. The requirements will specify this in gigabytes (GB). More RAM can improve multitasking and overall system performance. Storage: Games need somewhere to be installed and run from, which is where storage comes in. Requirements will specify the type (HDD vs. SSD) and amount of storage needed. SSDs are faster and reduce load times, providing a better gaming experience compared to traditional HDDs. We would recommend 1TB (equivalent to 1000 GB) to start, if gaming is your goal, as you will find modern games will fill your storage quickly.

Operating System (OS): The OS is the software that manages hardware and software resources. Game requirements will list compatible operating systems (e.g., Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux). Ensure your system runs a supported OS to avoid compatibility issues. Most gaming requires a Windows PC.

Building Your Gaming PC and how OMNI by compufixni can benefit you: Once you understand the requirements, you can start selecting components that meet or exceed the recommended specifications. Aim for a balance between performance and budget. Consider future-proofing your build by choosing slightly better components than currently required, allowing you to enjoy upcoming games without immediate upgrades.

Whether the above made complete sense to you or it was complete goblideegook - we can help. Our experts can talk you through the process and if you need, help you spec out the machine that is right for you. We never do a pushy sales pitch, and always provide honest advice about where you need to be with your budget and specifications. We are equiped with our in store PC builder, which allows you to select the parts and filter based on compatibility. Just pop int our store on Granges Street, Ballyclare for your free quote today.

When you are happy with your dream PC, our experts will get started on building it for you. You can expect to be gaming within 48hrs (excluding days that we are closed).

Why choose us to build it?

Expertly built by experts with over 40 years of combined computational experience and a passion for gaming.
1 year, no quibble warranty.
We aren't going anywhere! We are happy to continue supporting throughout your gaming journey. We can provide both repairs, upgrades and gaming accessories, all in one place. Hopefully this helps you make a more informed choice when crafting your PC requirements.

Happy gaming!

-Team OMNI