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!
The last time I bought a keyboard the idea of mechanical gaming keyboards was not a thing. But in recent years’ keyboards using mechanical switches developed by Cherry have gained a huge amount of popularity due to the release of the low actuation Cherry MX Red in 2008 and most gaming keyboard manufacturers now have Cherry…
The Bush Eluma is a low cost tablet running a full version of Windows 10 but can it compete with Android based tablets or is it as usable as low cost 2-in-1s? Priced at £79.99 this is about as cheap as it gets when it comes to a Windows tablet, but the specification isn’t much…
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Over recent years there has been a huge boom in the number of affordable Windows based laptops and convertibles. This seems especially true since the launch of the Intel Intel Z3735F which seems to power every sub £200 notebook out there. Thanks to Moores Law you don’t have to suffer…
Acer have been focussing heavily on their gaming orientated products recently. I had the pleasure of trying out several of the Predator products during the #AcerLiveBlog2016 even in Belfast last month, and the past two weeks I have had the Predator Z35 monitor at my office to review. The Predator monitors are without a doubt…
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] The first day of the #AcerBlogLive2016 is over and it has been great so far. I am loving the focus on the high end gaming equipment. The monitors are the things that really stand out from the event, but there is also pre-built gaming PCs…
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] I have previously reviewed the top of the range Devolo dLAN 1200+ WiFi AC powerline adapter, and we loved it. Today I have the more affordable dLAN 550 WiFi starter kit, which as you can imagine offers the same functionality the 1200 but at a…
We have been very fond of products by FRITZ! Recently, they have been a relatively unknown player in the UK, but massive in Europe. Today we have a slightly niche product from them, the FRITZ!Box 6820 LTE, as the name suggests this is a 4G/LTE based router that eschews landlines altogether. This is not simply…
The Netgear Nighthawk range is Netgears upper tier range of products that has always focussed on the fastest possible WiFi speeds as well as an abundance of other features. The Nighthawk R7000 isn’t the newest model from Netgear, but was released late last year. It is priced as a reasonable-ish £139 on Amazon, and is…
Recently Devolo was kind enough to send me their new dLAN 1200+ WiFi Ac Powerline Adapter to review. Powerline adapters are quite an interesting product that plug into your mains and then use your home wiring to create a wired network. This may seem like a step backward compared to WiFi but if you leave in…
Acer have been jumping on the 4k PC monitor tend big this year, they have released several models including the impressive looking S277HK and XB280HK. The former is a beautiful slim bezel 27″, which I think is the only slim bezel on the market and sells for around £530. The XB280HK is designed for gamers…
Recently we had the opportunity to test Crucials memory upgrade service. The upgrade service is basically an automated way to be able to identify upgrade components that work with your current system. It seems to be quite a niche idea as I suspect most people that build their own system will already know what is…
Intel recently released its Ivy Bridge family of processors and anyone who likes gadgets should be asking the question -is it a good idea to upgrade? True, its always a good idea to upgrade but sometimes neither the purse, nor the bank manager (my wife hates me calling her that) will yield the necessary quid….
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