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!
Multi-gig networking has become a strange obsession for me, it is something I very rarely need to use, but I am willing to pay a disproportionate amount of money to get. However, my willingness to spend money is always within reason, and spending several hundred on a multi-gig switch is not what I would call…
In the UK, mobile data has been improving faster than our wired connections. The average speed of the Internet in the UK is 22.37MB/s placing us 34th in the world, behind economic powerhouses such as Madagascar, Portugal, Malaysia and Andorra. As of 2019, the split for technologies connecting to the 24.8% using ADSL/ADSL2+, FTTC (54.5%),…
Recently, Huawei updated its range of laptops with the current Intel 10th Generation CPUs and newer Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU, they also expanded the Matebook 13 with new affordable options powered by the AMD Ryzen5 3500U CPU. The model I have been sent to review sits at the top of the pack costing £1199.99 RRP…
I have been using the TerraMaster F4-422 as my primary NAS for over a month now and it has been faultless, offering 4-bays and 10GbE with a quad-core Intel J3455 at a lower price than you would expect from other brands. TerraMaster continues to improve its affordable NAS devices with OS updates and new software….
Dual screen setups aren’t a new configuration, they are widely used in offices and gaming rooms around the world and provide you with more screens than a traditional monitor. However, if you aren’t a fan of the dual-screen system and want something more immersive, then maybe an ultra-wide monitor could be the choice for you,…
Wi-Fi 6 is starting to become affordable for SMB cloud-managed installations. In July last year, I reviewed the EnGenius EWS357AP, which at the time was one of the first Wi-Fi 6 access points to the market and the cheapest at around £250. I subsequently reviewed the Zyxel WAX650S offering one of the highest specs for…
I have previously reviewed the Acer Predator Triton 500 and Triton 900 last year. Acer has now loaned me the attractively priced Acer Predator Triton 300 which has recently been updated with the latest i7-10750H and features the RTX 2070 MaxQ. It is about the cheapest laptop you can find with this specification, but have…
The ASUS XG-C100C 10GbE nic has been around for a while now. Amazon had it for £99 back in 2017, the price hasn’t dropped much since then, you can pick it up for £80.99 currently, but at this price, it easily the cheapest 10Gbps Ethernet option on the market. If you don’t mind using used…
TerraMaster has quickly established themselves as a popular NAS brand providing an affordable alternative to the market leader Synology and outclassing many other brands in terms of features/performance/price. In particular, for home and SOHO users, these NAS drives provide excellent value for money, and the new TerraMaster F4-422 is one of the most advanced none-enterprise…
I have covered a lot of Wi-Fi 6 routers and mesh systems, while they have all be fantastic, they have also all been very expensive. Back in February, Huawei announced the Huawei WiFi AX3 which claimed better than Wi-Fi 6 performance thanks to their proprietary Wi-Fi 6+ technology. This was then followed up by the…
If you are an Apple Mac user or have a PC with Thunderbolt3 and require lots of data storage then the new TerraMaster TD2 could be the perfect option. This direct-attached storage features a Thunderbolt3 port allowing it to offer connectivity that surpasses other USB equipped counterparts. I previously reviewed the excellent 5-bay TerraMaster D5-300C…
I have been running a home server for several years now, doing the usual things, such as serving media via Plex Server, handling all my backups and acting as a test server for websites. I started with a dual-bay Synology NAS 10+ years ago, eventually upgrading to an HP ProLiant MicroServer, and then later reusing…
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