Microsoft Power BI (PBI) is a powerful business data analysis tool, recognized as a leader in the Garner research report, just like Tableau. When PBI is integrated with Google Analytics4 (GA4) data, it becomes more efficient in providing insights into website performance. However, as of now, PBI does not have a native GA4 data connector, so you need to first store GA4 data in Google Cloud’s BigQuery before connecting it to PBI. In fact, you can build your own connector to link PBI to GA4, but if you want to sustain your website and store data, BigQuery is a must.
What is BigQuery?
BigQuery is a cloud-based data warehousing and analytics platform provided by Google Cloud. It can rapidly process massive amounts of data, even at the PB scale, and export data in various formats or connect with other data analysis software and platforms, such as Google Data Studio.
Advantages of Using BigQuery
Cost-effective, even free
BigQuery offers free storage for up to 10GB of data and up to 1TB of monthly query volume. Even if you exceed these limits, the cost is as low as $0.01 or $0.02 per GB, making it much more economical than the older commercial version of Google Analytics, which can cost nearly $5 million TWD. Additionally, GA4 only retains data for up to 14 months.
Complete capture of visitor browsing history
You can upload data from CRM systems or offline conversions, allowing you to label users, segment them, and implement various marketing strategies based on different marketing goals.
Linking GA4 and BigQuery
Create a project in Google Cloud
Click the triangle icon in the dropdown menu at the top to add a new project.
Set up the link to BigQuery in GA4
Go to Settings > BigQuery Linking > Link > Choose the project you just created.
Simple setup to complete
The original data will come in the next day, and connecting is straightforward. Your entire website will become more integrated into the Google ecosystem, potentially saving you money.
Linking PBI and BigQuery
Get data > Database > Google BigQuery.
Sign in > Connect, choose the GA4 BigQuery project > Load. Connection settings can be Import (copy data into PBI) or DirectQuery (real-time connection and data updates), as both are acceptable.
Integrate data for all dates
Since GA4 uploads a new data table every day, you’ll need to use PBI’s append query function to merge all the data into one table.
CPU thermal paste is a critical component for computer/laptop cooling. Overheating can reduce performance and lifespan, and the system may force throttling to prevent overheating. In cooling systems such as air cooling and liquid cooling, thermal paste is a low-cost and highly effective option, making it one of the best choice for CPU cooling. However, if budget is not a constraint, upgrading to a liquid metal thermal paste or even a liquid cooling system could be considered.
What is thermal paste?
Type
Effectiveness
Price
Applications
Silicone-based thermal paste
Good
Cheap
Widely used, good efficiency, non-conductive, safe to use, mainly uses metal oxides as the primary thermal conductor material.
Carbon-based thermal paste
Average
Cheap
Safest option (technically) as it contains no metal particles and is also non-conductive like silicone-based thermal paste.
Liquid metal thermal paste
Excellent
Expensive
Difficult and risky to use, highly conductive. If not applied carefully, it may cause short-circuits and damage the components or motherboard. Often made of metal gallium and may form an alloy that becomes brittle upon contact with aluminum. For more details, click this link.
Phase-change materials
Extremely effective
Highly expensive
Primarily used in industrial applications, phase-change materials are mixtures that undergo a phase change (usually solid/liquid transition) at around 70°C. They store and transfer heat through an endothermic reaction. These are not exactly thermal paste.
Ideal Type and Thermal Conductivity
For enthusiasts with high-end computers equipped with water cooling and experienced in applying thermal paste, using liquid metal thermal paste is fine. Otherwise, it is generally recommended to use a high thermal conductivity and long-lasting thermal paste that is slightly behind liquid metal thermal paste, such as silicone-based thermal paste. It provides significant cooling effects without the risk of damaging the motherboard or components even if accidentally spill it out.
What is Thermal Conductivity?
Thermal conductivity (thermal rate) refers to the ability of a material to transfer heat under stable conditions. In metals, higher electrical conductivity often corresponds to higher thermal conductivity. Therefore, thermal paste often includes metal components to enhance its thermal conductivity while using silicone gel as the base. It might seem that the more metal, the better the effect, but in reality, excessive metal can reduce the paste’s spreadability, making it less even or too thick. High-metal alloy thermal pastes also age faster, resulting in shorter lifespans and decreased cooling efficiency.
High Thermal Conductivity ≠ Better Effect
First and foremost, the actual cooling effect is determined by thermal resistance. Lower thermal resistance leads to better cooling. It comprises three factors: Thermal conductivity, Thermal paste thickness (thinner is better) and Contact resistance. Additionally, thermal paste serves as a filling material for the gaps between the component and the “component x heatsink” interface. While the component’s surface may seem smooth, at the nanometer/micrometer scale, it is actually rough and uneven, even with pits or scratches. Therefore, the thermal paste’s viscosity and evenness after application are crucial.
CPU Thermal Paste Recommendations and Testing
After all the explanations, the real focus lies in the testing results. The chart below shows the test results for 9 well-known brands. Using the same silicone-based thermal paste under the same test environment, the Koolingmonster Organic Silicon High-Performance Thermal Paste KOLD-01 performed the best. Aside from its thin application (only 0.02mm, while the market average is 0.5mm), the official website claims it can last 5 years, which is longer than the typical 3-year lifespan.
Note: The test environment includes an Intel i3-10105F CPU, ASUS H510M-E motherboard, Golden Field cooling system, and 8GB ADATA RAM. After applying the paste under the same conditions, the CPU temperature was measured for an average of 30 seconds within a 15-minute CPU stress test.
The highly-praised German Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut surprisingly lost to the KOLD-01. The following the middle-priced Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme and Noctua NT-H1. However, the cost for a set of these pastes can buy many sets of KOLD-01. It’s such an affordable option. Maybe the price will increase in the future?
Unboxing and Impressions
Koolingmonster‘s thermal paste seems to be from a relatively new brand. I decided to try out the KOLD-01 to see how good it is. Aside from its excellent efficiency and long lifespan, it comes with cleaning wipes, gloves, and a scraping tool. The step-by-step method will be explained in the next section. Additionally, the company provides extensive professional knowledge with technical details, and testing data on their website, which is very informative!
Usage Instructions
If you’re using a high-quality thermal paste and still getting no results or even worse performance, it might be due to: too much/little paste, or not properly cleaning off the old thermal paste, or not applying pressure after spreading, or installing the heatsink incorrectly. Here are the step-by-step instructions and precautions for applying thermal paste. By following these steps, you can achieve the best cooling performance with your thermal paste. Under normal usage conditions, such as web browsing and watching movies, CPU temperature between 40-55°C is considered reasonable and normal, while under heavy loads such as gaming and intensive computations, temperatures between 65-80°C are also considered acceptable.
5 Steps to apply the paste
1. Remove the heatsink (fan or liquid cooling cold head).
2. Use the included silicon grease wipes from KOLD-01 to clean the heatsink and the old thermal paste on the CPU or GPU. The wipes are of good quality and won’t leave tiny cotton or residue. You can also use acetone or alcohol swabs to clean, but make sure to remove any fine cotton residue.
3. Clean it twice more with new wipes, ensuring all the remaining old thermal paste is thoroughly removed.
4. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes to allow the surface to dry.
5. Apply the thermal paste following the method explained in the next section. After attaching the heatsink, make sure to tighten the screws and wipe off any excess thermal paste.
Amount and Method
Typically, an application of about 0.2 ml (about the size of a pea) is sufficient. Through testing, it has been found that regardless of the application method used, 0.2 ml achieves the best cooling performance for a 3 cm x 3 cm-sized CPU. You can also use a thermal paste dosage calculator for estimation. The application methods are shown as below picture. Any of these methods can be used. However, for thermal pastes with poor flowability (often lower-quality ones), the Buttered Toast method is recommended. This involves using a scraping tool to spread the paste evenly. One important note is that the application amount should never be less than or equal to 0.1 ml under any circumstance.
How Often to Replace?
Most thermal pastes on the market contain a significant amount of volatile organic solvents, making them more prone to drying, cracking, and deteriorating. Therefore, they should be replaced after around 3 years to avoid affecting performance. If conditions are harsh (frequent high-load operations, improperly installed heatsinks, etc.), replacement every 1.5 years might be better. According to the data on the KOLD-01 official website, it can last 5 years due to its unique non-solvent formula, which reduces the risk of oil leakage and drying issues and does not contain any chemical volatiles, with a chemical volatility of 0.0% (market average: 1.1%) and no odor.
After improving CPU cooling, the next step is to upgrade to an SSD. According to my ASUS laptop’s test results, the boot time decreased from 4 minutes to 20 seconds after the upgrade. Check this link for SSD recommendations and the replacement process.
Recently, I bought D2R (Diablo 2 Resurrected) and after work, I went into a frenzy of monster slaying mode. My old PS4 was struggling, and the loading speed was slow to the point where I had to stare at the screen for a while. It really disrupted the gaming experience so I decided to replace it with Micron MX500 500GB SATAIII SSD. The entire process took 30 minutes, and the before and after effects are shown in the table below:
Original HDD
SSD
Boot to loading screen
36 seconds
25 seconds
Launch D2R
45 seconds
20 seconds
Character creation to start
30 seconds
8 seconds
Teleport from Rogue Encampment to Lut Gholein
28 seconds
8 seconds
Step 1: Backup Data
Insert a USB flash drive and turn on the PS4. Press the PS button on the controller and select “Settings” > “System” > “Backup/Restore” > “Backup PS4” to backup all game programs (including save data) and screenshots. You will see a PS4 folder on the USB drive, inside which there are two folders: EXPORT and SHARE. Additionally, create a new folder named UPDATE under the PS4 folder, as it will be needed for Step 2 to install the PS4 system software.
Step 2: Download PS4 System Software
Go to the official PlayStation official website and download the PS4 system software by selecting “Reinstall PS4 System Software.” The downloaded file is named “PS4UPDATE” and has the PUP file format. Copy this file to the USB flash drive. Remember to create a new folder named UPDATE inside the PS4 folder on the USB flash drive and place the downloaded file inside it.
Step 3: Remove the Old HDD Mechanical Hard Drive
Prepare a cross-shaped screwdriver. For the original PS4 (fat version), push the case in the direction indicated by the arrow to remove the housing.
Use the screwdriver to remove a single screw and then out the hard drive enclosure.
Remove the four screws that secure the hard drive enclosure, and then remove the old hard drive. Take this opportunity to clean any dust around the fan using a toothbrush.
For the PS4 Slim, it is a bit more challenging to remove the casing. You need to pry it open from the indicated arrow to remove the housing.
After removing a screw, use your hand to pull out the black tape (yes, it’s there to help you), and then remove the hard drive enclosure. Putting the casing back on is relatively easier.
Step 4: Install the New SSD Solid State Drive
Place the new SSD inside the hard drive enclosure and secure it with the four screws. Once the screws are tightened, reassemble the housing. Note: The black plastic frame that comes with the SSD is for use with an external hard drive enclosure. Do not insert it into the PS4’s hard drive enclosure. Make sure to choose a SATAIII and 2.5-inch SSD.
Step 5: Install the New PS4 System
Here, you need to enter safe mode. Press and hold the power button until you hear a beep. Continue holding until you hear another beep to enter safe mode. Connect the controller to the PS4 using a USB cable. Select option 7, “Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software).” The system will warn you that initializing will delete all user data. Confirm the selection.
Step 6: Restore Backup
After the system installation is complete, it will automatically enter the initial setup screen. Press the PS button on the controller and select “Settings” > “System” > “Backup/Restore” > “Restore PS4.” Choose the previous backup file and done!
This article shares three methods for line breaks within Excel cells: automatic, manual, and using the Char function formula. These methods can be applied in various scenarios such as combining postal codes and addresses, creating draft posts for social media in Excel, or organizing answers from surveys. They are essentially versatile and can be helpful for office administrators or individuals writing short articles using Excel.
Automatic Line Breaks in Cells
Go to Home > Alignment > Wrap Text. Text that exceeds the width of the cell will automatically wrap to the next line. The benefit is that the text will adjust to the column width and automatically wrap, allowing for beautiful formatting by adjusting the column width and row height. Without wrapping, long text may spill over into adjacent cells or be covered by text in neighboring cells.
Manual Line Breaks: Alt + Enter Key
To manually insert a line break within a cell, hold the Alt key and press Enter. The advantage is that line breaks can be added as needed, making it convenient for text formatting when writing articles in Excel. However, it is generally more convenient to use Word for writing articles. If the content is lengthy, using Excel can become cumbersome. For Mac versions, please refer to Microsoft’s official documentation.
Mass Line Breaks Using the Char Function Formula
Char(10) represents a line break symbol. By combining it with the Concatenate function or the ampersand (&) symbol to join text together, multiple cell values can be quickly inserted into a single cell, with line breaks placed where desired.
Use the ampersand (&) to join text and insert Char(10) at the desired line break locations.
Then, go to Home > Alignment > Wrap Text. This method, which combines manual and automatic line breaks, is useful in specific situations. For example, when combined with macros, it can automatically combine answers from multiple survey responses and insert them into a single cell, with line breaks applied based on the desired formatting.
According to Microsoft’s official documentation, Char is a function that returns an ANSI character. By entering different numbers within the parentheses, different characters can be returned. Additionally, you can click here to explore more Excel tutorials.
Dropdown menus are commonly used for error prevention, input validation, or restricting selections in single-choice questions. In multilevel cascading forms, such as selecting “Taipei City” in the first level and then choosing one of its 12 districts in the second level, this tutorial will also share a method for automatic color display.
Creating Dropdown Menu Items in Excel
List out the items to be selected in the menu. They can be listed vertically, horizontally, or as real-time function computation results, such as using the COUNT function. However, they must be within the same file to work.
Setting up the Menu
After selecting the cells where the menu will be added, go to the top toolbar > Data > Data Validation > Settings. In the cell, allow a list, and then click the small data selection button on the right side of the Source box. Choose the menu items that were previously created, and it is recommended to check the “Ignore blank” option. The prompt message can display explanations when the dropdown menu is selected but is not commonly used.
Multilevel Cascading Dropdown Menus
For example, if I want to select the colleagues’ residential city and district, it wouldn’t make sense to select “Taipei City” and have all the districts in Taiwan available for selection. In this case, a two-level cascading menu is needed, which requires slightly more complex settings.
Creating Items for the Two-level Menu: Defining Names
List the first-level items and their corresponding second-level items, such as “Taipei City” and its districts like Shilin, Beitou, Wenshan, etc., as shown in the picture. Then go to the top toolbar > Formulas > Define Name. Select a name, such as “City,” and refer to all the districts in the box. Make sure to define a name for each row.
Afterward, you can confirm in Formulas > Name Manager.
Creating the First-Level Menu
Assuming we want to create the first level in cell B2, go to the top toolbar > Data > Data Validation > Settings. Select “List” and choose the two cities that were created earlier as the source.
Creating the Second-Level Menu
Assuming we want to create the second level in cell C2, go to the top toolbar > Data > Data Validation > Settings. Select “List” and enter the function “=INDIRECT(B2)” as the source. That’s it! For creating the third, fourth levels, etc., assume we want to create them in cell C2. Follow the same steps as above, and for more levels, continue with this method. Excel may default to “=INDIRECT($B$2)” for subsequent levels, which is also fine.
If you see an error while evaluating the formula, it is because the city is empty. Just proceed boldly, and you will be able to use the two-level cascading dropdown menu successfully.
Editing Colors
This is essentially setting up rules. After selecting the area where you want to edit colors, go to the top toolbar > Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
Choose “Format only cells that contain” and set the cell value equal to “Shilin District” (or any other condition), then click “Format.”
Here, you can set fill color, change font size, apply borders, etc., when the cell value is “Shilin District.” Afterward, you have successfully completed the task.
In addition to dropdown menus, you can click here to see more Excel tutorials. Due to the large amount of content, please refer to Microsoft’s instructions on inserting multiple selection menus for information on multi-select menus.
I’ve always had trouble distinguishing between columns and rows in Excel. I would often get confused when organizing data, deleting columns/rows, or pasting data. Thanks to a colleague who taught me a simple trick, I now have a clear understanding with just one image. I welcome sharing this with friends who struggle with identifying columns and rows!
In English, “column” means a pillar, and pillars are straight up, so “column” is easy to remember as vertical! Once you identify Column, Row must be the horizontal ones. This is a technique that utilizes refined memory in education, making the brain remember in a more profound way, such as memorizing English words with example sentences, visual images, or storytelling methods. The image above follows the same approach. If you know someone who struggles with identification, share this article with them!
The SUM function in Excel allows for quick summation, while the SUMIFS function enables the “filtering” of values based on specified criteria before summation. These functions are essential in various fields such as marketing, finance, sales, and administration. When combined with features like Excel drop-down menus, they can fulfill a wide range of needs.
SUM Function
To display the sum result, simply input “=SUM(range to be summed)” in the desired location. Alternatively, you can hold down Ctrl and click on each number to be summed individually. However, it is more common to specify a range for summation. For example, in the image below, we sum the Qty values of three items (54+15+12).
P.S. Qty stands for Quantity.
You can also go to the toolbar, click on “Formulas,” then choose “Insert Function,” and select SUM. In the dialog box, select the range to be summed.
SUMIF Function
SUMIF is used to sum data based on specified criteria. Its basic syntax is as follows:
SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])
range: The range to be checked, i.e., the range where data will be filtered and summarized (blue range in the image).
criteria: The criteria used for filtering, which can be a value, text, or expression (green “Water” bottle in the image).
sum_range: The range to be summed based on the filtering criteria (purple Qty values in the image). If omitted, the SUMIF function directly sums the range.
Note: need to fix range, criteria, sum_range?
In the example above, when performing the SUMIF calculation for bottled water and wanting to use the drag-and-drop feature to copy the formula for soda, the entire range, criteria, and sum_range will shift down one cell. The criteria part may work fine, but the first Qty value for soda (28) will be omitted. To fix this, press F4 to anchor the references, as shown in the image. Sometimes, you may also need to anchor the criteria part. Click here for more information.
SUM + IF Application:
This formula uses the IF function to check if each score is greater than or equal to 60. If true, the score is included in the calculation; otherwise, it is treated as 0. Finally, the SUM function adds up these values and returns the total sum of passing students.
=SUM(IF(A2:A5>=60, A2:A5, 0))
The SUM function has a wide range of applications, whether it’s calculating financial data, generating statistical reports, or processing student grades. By mastering this powerful function, you’ll be able to handle data more efficiently and save a significant amount of time and effort.
SUMIFS Function:
SUMIFS is used for summation after applying multiple criteria. Sometimes, we need to filter and sum data based on multiple conditions. For example, if we want to calculate the total sales amount of Product A in January 2023, we can use the following formula:
This formula simultaneously checks the ranges A2 to A10 and B2 to B10. Only when the product name is “Product A” and the sales month is “January 2023” will it sum the values in the range C2 to C10.
