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!
Thermaltake have a LOT of case designs that cover all budgets and I would be surprised if you can’t find a case from the company that fits your requirements. Today we have the Thermaltake H200 which is one of the many affordable options I have reviewed from them this year. This costs just £64.99 on…
While AVM does not have a considerable market share in the UK, I have found their products to be superb. So much so that even though I have moved away from VDSL, and Wi-Fi from the router itself, I still choose to use the FRITZ!Box 7590 as the backbone of my network. It has been…
The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT has finally become available and the usual websites have reviewed cards from various OEMs. While AMD has thoroughly shaken up the CPU market, they appear to be struggling to do the same with graphics cards. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT has come out to middling reviews, it is…
I am a big fan of cloud-managed networks, it massively simplifies managing everything related to a network. While my experience with it has been within the home and small business, for anyone managing a larger network, cloud networking has the potential to save hundreds of hours of work. I have previously reviewed Zyxel Nebula and…
While I have never had something stolen out of my bag, each year at MWC there are dozens of reports of people having their phones or laptops stolen. I normally take a messenger bag with a zip and flap, which I think is quite secure, but they are not comfy to carry around heavy electronics…
With AMD and Intel launching their latest HEDT processors has AMD continued to embarrass Intel, or is the new (semi) affordable 10980XE the best HEDT processor? Pricing & Options With the latest processors, Intel has options going from a 10-core 10900X with a price of £609.98 up to the Core i9 10980XE Extreme with 18…
The AMD Radeon RX 5500 launched back at the start of October but it is still not available at retail yet. German publication heise.de has managed to get their hands on an OEM model out of an HP pre-built desktop PC system. The RX 5500 is based on the Navi architecture features 22CUs / 1,408SPs…
Wi-Fi 6 has had a slow start this year. The Samsung Galaxy S10 is the only phone to feature it so far, and laptops and motherboards have only just started to come out featuring either the Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 Module or the Killer AX1650 module. Currently, it has been Netgear leading the way with…
Windows on ARM has had a shaky start and struggled to gain traction, but with the new Microsoft Surface Pro X with the new SQ1 processor co-engineered with Qualcomm, things are starting to look rosier. It is claimed that x86-64 emulation will be arriving shortly allowing 64-bit programs to be compatible with Windows on Arm,…
Intel has not been having the best of times as of late and with the launch of the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X plus the two new AMD Threadripper processors, things are getting worse in the latest benchmark leaks. The AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is a mainstream chip using the AM4 socket one X570/X470 motherboard, with…
Yesterday AMD finally announced that its Ryzen 9 3950X will be shipping on November 25th priced at $749 though there has not been any UK pricing revealed, the US pricing is 50% more than the 3900X which works out at around £825. More importantly, AMD announced the latest Zen 2 Threadripper HEDT processors. At the moment there are…
Netflix is currently evaluating moving its Intel-based servers, which currently achieve a 100 Gbps, to AMD EPYC based systems which will be able to achieve 200 Gbps. This is only theoretical at the moment and the two options on the table appear to be switching to a dual Xeon setup or Single EPYC. Apparently this…
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