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!
Samsung has launched a new range of 2.5-inch form factor SATA interface SSDs. The new Samsung 860 QVO SSD targets entry-level consumers but will also appeal to users wanting to replace large mechanical drives with SSDs. The new drives start off with at 1TB and go all the way up to 4TB so this represents…
The Zyxel Multy X is an excellent mesh Wi-Fi system for home users that has strong and reliable performance thanks to its 4×4 5 GHz backhaul radio. Zyxel is now hoping to replicate its success in the small business environment with the Multy Plus AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi System. It retains most of the same specification…
I reviewed the excellent Acer Swift 3 back in February which was one of the first laptops on the market to feature the new AMD Ryzen 5 2500U processor with an integrated RX Vega 8 GPU. The Acer Nitro 5 uses the same CPU, but this budget gaming laptop now has the new Radeon RX…
Most of the monitors I cover are either budget orientated such as the 27-inch AOC or gaming focused like the Acer Z35, or a bit of both like the Acer Nitro RG2170. However professional users require something a little different if you are doing design or photography of any sort you need a monitor that…
I previously reviewed the superb Zyxel Nebula cloud managed POE switch, and access point and my main gripe with it was the very loud fans. Most business will likely put the switch in a dedicated room so won’t be an issue, but for smaller companies or prosumers it is likely that it will be located…
During my time with the well-priced entry-level Nitro N50 gaming PC, I was using the Acer Nitro RG270 gaming monitor that was sent with it. This is an attractive slim bezel AMD FreeSync enabled 27-inch monitor running at 1920 x 1080p with a refresh rate of 75 Hz. Some gaming communities might immediately dismiss a…
Proprietary charging cables became a thing of the past on phones with the introduction of mini USB well over a decade ago (if we ignore iPhones). However, in the laptop world this has not been the case, even today the power ports vary all the time, often the same company will use different plugs dependant…
The Acer N50-600 series of desktops cover a wide range of configurations that mainly focus on the entry to mid-end of the market with the Predator Orion range being the options for the mid to upper end. The Nitro model I have been sent is the N50-600-28 which sits about as low down in the…
More images and details of the new AMD Radeon RX 590 series have leaked, and it is looking to be a surprisingly decent card. The new card is based on the 12nm FinFET based Polaris 30 GPU technology and will sit in the middle end of the GPU market. Details of two custom models have been released…
Most routers in the past several years have used the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, but this is getting long in the tooth now, especially as more devices use Wi-Fi than ever, and the performance demands have increased exponentially with the likes of media streaming and cloud data. IEEE 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6 is the technology that…
I am a big fan of mesh Wi-Fi systems and the Netgear Orbi range is the market leading option, so I was quite excited about finally getting to do a full review. With Netgear Orbi, they have multiple products under the same name all doing the same thing but offering slightly different specification, performance, and…
The View 37 ARGB is a curious design from Thermaltake, shaking things up for a purely rectangular design used for most other cases on the market. While still pretty much a rectangle, they have taken the popular windowed side panel design and wrap it around to the top panel giving both an elegant design and…
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