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!
Audio and podcasting may not be my forte, but I was very impressed with the 512 Audio Skylight XLR microphone. The brand is quickly padding out its product range with three new devices at CES 2020. There are two USB powered microphones that offer a lower price and more user-friendly and affordable interface than XLR….
I wrote about the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 yesterday but completely overlooked this interesting little switch. With WiFi 6 becoming increasingly mainstream and WiFi 6E gaining traction, the demand for multi-gig Ethernet is increasing. Using a 160Mhz wide channel, it is reasonably easy to saturate a gigabit connection, and WiFi 6E make this much easier to…
At CES 2022, Netgear launched its latest RAXE300 Wi-Fi 6E router, which is a more affordable version of last years RAXE500. Asus, on the other hand, have gone the other way, launching what has to be the highest specced consumer-focussed router on the market. The new Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 is a quad-band Wi-Fi 6E…
While Wi-Fi 6 may offer significant speed improvements on the current 5Ghz band, the performance is often held back due to congested Wi-Fi networks and pesky radar, creating the need for DFS (Dynamic frequency selection) channels. Wi-Fi 6E is the next-gen Wi-Fi we have really been waiting for. This expands the Wi-Fi network into the…
The Predator Helios 500 is the current flagship gaming laptop from Acer. This 4kg beast costs more than double that of any other Acer laptop currently listed on Currys. Specification Processor: Intel Core i9-11980HK – 8-core 3.30 GHz base 5.0 GHz boost Memory: 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM Storage: Up to 2 TB PCIe SSD Graphics: NVIDIA…
The Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 is the latest system from the powerline specialists. I have previously reviewed the Devolo Magic 2 Mesh and found it an excellent option for anyone with problems extending their WiFi using normal mesh WiFi systems. The new Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 and the more expensive Devolo Magic 2…
I wasn’t overly impressed with the Mercusys Halo S12. While it is incredibly cheap, the overall specification and performance reflected the price. The Mercusys Halo H50G is a significant upgrade in specification and what I would personally recommend as the minimum specification you want from a Wi-Fi mesh system. With many homes being able to…
Portable monitors keep raising the bar on how flexible technology can get. Gamers, designers, and business people alike can now take their work and gaming anywhere, anytime. What’s more, they get to enjoy even better performance than that offered by regular monitors. One such device that looks to have it all is Desklab. This ultralight…
We are still years away from 10GbE getting mainstream traction. While network cards are reasonably affordable, the switches are still incredibly expensive. On the other hand, 2.5GbE seems to have become quite popular in the past year or two. I have reviewed several affordable 2.5GbE switches, many motherboards are now fitted with network adaptors that…
I am currently in the process of reviewing the EnGenius ECS2512FP, which is an 8-port 2.5G Cloud Managed POE Switch with an additional 4x 10Gb SFP+ ports. I started covering the best affordable 2.5Gb POE options within the review only to realise it was getting too long and distracting from the review itself. So I…
The Vissles LP85 optical-mechanical is a 75% ultra-slim keyboard that comes with both Windows and Mac layouts. The slim chicklet design with a Mac layout make this an ideal alternative to the Apple Magic Keyboard, and in my case, it is a superb keyboard to use while travelling. This keyboard is a Kickstart project, but…
With the growth of streaming and working from home, demand for decent quality microphones has boomed in the past year. I have reviewed a few good microphones in the past year, and the new Roccat Torch is the most affordable of them all. Specification / Features Sample/Bit Rate: 48kHz, 24-bit with optional selection for 44.1kHz…
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