Welcome to the Computer Hardware section of our blog, the go-to resource for enthusiasts, professionals, and everyone in between who wants to get the most out of their computing experience. Whether you’re looking to upgrade a specific component or planning to build a PC from scratch, this category delves into the essential hardware elements that define the performance and functionality of your computer.
CPUs (Central Processing Units)
Relevant Brands: Intel, AMD
The CPU is the brain of your computer, where most calculations take place. From Intel’s Core series to AMD’s Ryzen line-up, we examine the specifications, performance benchmarks, and power efficiency to help you choose the right processor for your needs.
GPUs (Graphics Processing Units)
Relevant Brands: NVIDIA, AMD
Whether you’re gaming, rendering video, or running complex simulations, a powerful GPU is essential. NVIDIA’s GeForce series and AMD’s Radeon cards are the primary contenders, each with their unique features and capabilities.
Power Supplies
Relevant Brands: Corsair, EVGA, Seasonic
A robust and efficient power supply is the backbone of any stable system. We discuss the importance of wattage, efficiency ratings, and brand reliability, focusing on leading manufacturers like Corsair, EVGA, and Seasonic.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
Relevant Brands: Kingston, Corsair, G.Skill
RAM is where your computer stores data for quick read and write access. We look into speed, capacity, and compatibility, highlighting top brands such as Kingston, Corsair, and G.Skill that offer a range of options to suit various needs.
PC Cases
Relevant Brands: NZXT, Cooler Master, Fractal Design
The PC case is not just an aesthetic choice; it impacts cooling, upgradeability, and system layout. Brands like NZXT and Cooler Master offer various designs and form factors, from minimalist to RGB-heavy, that cater to different tastes and requirements.
Motherboards
Relevant Brands: ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte
The motherboard is the central hub connecting all your components. We delve into form factors, chipsets, and expandability, focusing on reputable brands like ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte.
Storage: NVMe, SSD, Hard Drives
Relevant Brands: Samsung, Western Digital, Seagate, Crucial
Your storage solution influences not only how much data you can keep but also how fast you can access it. We cover the speed advantages of NVMe drives, the reliability of SSDs, and the capacity benefits of traditional hard drives, examining offerings from brands like Samsung, Western Digital, and Seagate.
As we venture deeper into this digital age, understanding the hardware that powers your computing experience has never been more critical. This category aims to provide you with the essential information, objective comparisons, and expert insights needed to make well-informed decisions on your computer hardware. So go ahead, explore, and build the machine of your dreams!
The iStorage datAshur SD is the only pin protected and hardware-encrypted USB microSD card reader on the market. It is an innovative solution that allows you to have expandable storage at a lower cost than buying separate encrypted drives. Specification Hardware: PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted USB Type-C flash drive with removable encrypted iStorage microSD Cards…
Kingston was a bit slower to the market with their PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives, but late last year they launched two new drive models. The Kingston KC3000, which is aimed towards work and professional computing, and the Kingston Fury is geared towards gaming. The main difference between these two new models is the Kingston Fury…
The new Intel 12th gen CPUs and Z690 motherboards introduced consumers to the new faster DDR5 generation of RAM. DDR5 is now also being used on the latest 12th gen Intel laptops. Most of the laptops launching with DDR5 are premium priced and already come with DDR5 running at 4800MT/s. However, Kingston is staying ahead…
The last time I physically attended MWC, in 2019, Huawei announced the beautiful Huawei Mate X 5G, and it looked like the start of an exciting year for Huawei. How things have changed three years later. This year, there is no word on any mobile phones launching, but a focus on laptops and a tablet….
At the end of 2020, I reviewed the 4G Netgear Orbi LBR20, we were in some form of tiered lockdown, and both myself and my partner were working from home. During this review, our Virgin fibre went down for a full day, and the 4G failover of the LBR20 saved the day. Netgear has now…
AVM FRITZ!Box routers don’t get a lot of attention in the UK, but they are fantastic devices with a great feature set, including a telephone system for DECT, IP and analogue phones. I am currently in the process of reviewing the FRITZ!Box 4060 WiFi 6 router and the FRITZ!Repeater 6000 WiFI mesh repeater, which should…
Following on from my recent TerraMaster upgrade posts, I have been looking at the best SSDs to use in a NAS. I have already covered 2.5″ SATA SSDs, which was the only option for my TerraMaster F4-422. However, if you have built your own server or have a NAS with PCIe M.2 slots, then you…
WiFi 6E has been off to a bit of a slow start, but it looks like this is the year where manufacturers ramp things up and bring prices down. Last week, the Ubiquiti UniFi U6-Enterprise was announced, and this is the first relatively affordable WiFi 6E device that has launched I am aware of. Priced…
Following on from my recent TerraMaster upgrade posts, I have been looking at the best SSDs to use in a NAS. Due to the configuration of the TerraMaster F4-422, I was specifically looking for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD to be used on the 5th bay as a cache drive, and that is what I will…
Following on from my previous posts about upgrading TerraMaster NAS devices with Unraid and TrueNas, this post is about upgrading my TrueNAS Core installation to TrueNAS Scale. My main home server is Ubuntu Server, so I am more familiar with using Linux and Docker than I am with FreeBSD. I also like to try out…
When I was updating my Wi-Fi drivers for the Netgear Wi-Fi 6E Orbi RBKE963 review, I came across some new products that Intel had quietly launched, the Intel AX411 and AX211. Both of these products launched at the end of 2021, but there is hardly any information on them, and this comparison is somewhat limited…
Ubiquiti were a bit slow to adopt Wi-Fi 6, but they made up for it by launching the superb Unifi Wi-Fi 6 Lite, which at the time was by far the best affordable access point you could buy and still is one the best choices. Ubiquiti have therefore surprised me by being one of the…
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