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!
With more routers, mesh systems and access points launching with Wi-Fi 6 it finally looks like the new super-fast Wi-Fi standard will go mainstream in 2020. The Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 was announced back in April last year, and I reviewed that back in June, as well as the Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 based on…
I have been a big fan of the Zyxel Nebula over the past year or so, the Nebula web management is one of the nicest interfaces I have used for cloud-managed networking and offered a huge amount of data and management features. They have now done a full redesign of the system to improve it…
I have previously reviewed the EnGenius EWS357AP Dual-Band WiFi 6 PoE Access Point and then the EAP1250 access point, both of which need an Engenius SkyKey or Ezmaster server to enable the centralised cloud/LAN management. In my review of the SkyKey, I highlighted that you could enable remote management by integrating it with the free…
With the main CES 2020 announcements out of the way, it now looks like WiFi 6 may finally get some traction in 2020. If you are considering buying a router or mesh system in the near future you should definitely think about investing in something that is WiFi 6 compatible making you as future proof…
Thermaltake have been producing some of the best AIO liquid coolers on the market in recent years, and for anyone that like RGB you will find no better. Last year they expanded into the RAM market with the typical Thermaltake RGB flair. This also included their new WaterRam RGB Liquid Cooling Memory. They have no…
EasyMesh is a term that has popped up in a few product launches this year at CES, both Netgear and D-Link have new products featuring this standard, but what actually is it? What is Wi-Fi EasyMesh? The short and easy answer is Wi-Fi EasyMesh is a standard that allows Wi-Fi routers and mesh-systems devices to…
Last year the range of WiFi 6 routers and mesh systems from Netgear were expensive, to say the least. At CES this year, it looks like WiFi 6 is dropping in price with several announcements including D-Links new range of affordable EasyMesh WiFi 6 routers. Netgear is also releasing much more affordable products, albeit a…
Wi-Fi 6 has been off to a slow start, multiple routers were announced last year but Wi-Fi 6 modules for laptops and desktops did not become available until June with the Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 Module and later the Intel AX200. The cost of routers has been steep too, and when Netgear introduced Wi-Fi 6…
Remember when Intel HEDT CPUs cost thousands and the AMD Threadripper range was an affordable solution? The tide has now changed, but the AMD Threadripper 3990X does justify its cost by offering a specification far beyond anything within the consumer space and being a couple of grand cheaper than its EPYC 7702P counterpart. The EPYC…
The Netgear Orbi RBK852 was the first mesh Wi-Fi 6 system to be announced and it costs a staggering $699.99 for a two-pack system, in the UK things are worse, we have to payout £709.99. Recently Ubiquiti announced the AmpliFi Alien which will be $379 per device. During CES, TP-Link have announced their first mesh…
It looks like the trend for 27-inch monitors may be moving on. As part of CES 2020, Acer has announced three new Predator gaming monitors ranging from 32-inches to a monster 55-inch 4K OLED display. Predator CG552K 55-inch OLED Gaming Monitor The Nvidia Big Format Gaming Displays were announced 2 years ago, since then only…
Now all the desktop CPUs have been upgraded to Zen 2 it is time for the laptop and integrated graphics desktop chips to receive some Zen 2 love. The new CPUs move from the 12nm Zen+ core architecture to the 7nm Zen 2 cores and also feature a more modern Vega GPU with an enhanced…
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