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!
This year, Acer has padded out the Triton range with a new Triton 300 SE. This new Special Edition gaming laptop is Acer dipper their toes into the sub-15″ category which has far fewer options than the saturated 15″ market. Currently, there are just two competing options, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which would be…
This is a bit of a copy and paste job from TerraMaster, sorry. But it is moderately more informative than the generic press release hence I thought it was worth posting. TerraMaster, a professional brand that specializes in providing innovative storage products for home, businesses and enterprises, discusses the difference between software RAID and hardware…
All cutting-edge technology is painfully expensive at launch. The flagship Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 launched on Amazon in June 2019 for close to £500 and is still £405. The TP-Link Archer AX11000 was available in late 2019 for £380. In the past year, we have seen most companies launch much more affordable models, with all the…
[Update] I was provided with some feedback regarding certain parts of the review which I think are worth including. Key points include that the 2.5″ drives are less noisy so can be used in a living environment without bothering people. While most NAS drives have remote access functionality, Amber is focussing on making remote functionality…
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has been rumoured for a while now. First, it was being launched, then it was cancelled, now it is definitely being launched. It feels like this is going to cause a huge backlash from the gamer community and at this point I don’t think Nvidia really gives a damn….
I have been a big fan of the Huawei laptops, both the Intel-based Matebook 13 and AMD based Matebook 14 are superb and offer excellent value for money. The one laptop I haven’t tried is the flagship Huawei MateBook X Pro. This is the first Huawei laptop to get a 2021 refresh and as you…
In the past few years, I have regularly praised cloud-managed networking systems such as Netgear Insight, Zyxel Nebula and Ubiquiti Unifi. They offer a simplified, user-friendly way to manage your entire network, or even multiple networks, all from one interface. As much as I love cloud networking, it comes with additional costs; the hardware itself…
As I finalise my review of the budget-friendly WAX214 access point, Netgear has just announced a new model which will sit at the top of their range and offer cloud management via Netgear Insight. The new Netgear WAX620 is being launched for £219.99, making it around £50 more than the excellent WAX610, which is available…
TP-Link has expanded its range of Wi-Fi 6 devices with two new Wi-Fi 6 extenders that use the TP-Link OneMesh system. What is TP-Link OneMesh? OneMesh allows you to mix and match products within the TP-link range allowing you to expand the system as your requirements change. It is also a good way to use…
In the typical modern home network, there is nothing more frustrating than slow internet. When a movie isn’t loading, a website is just buffering, or you simply cannot get a smooth Zoom call, you will find yourself groaning in frustration. It is a common problem, but not one without solutions. If you are trying to…
I was impressed with the portable battery-powered Sound BlasterX G6 when I reviewed it last year, so the new Sound Blaster GC7 from Creative sounds quite interesting. The GC7 is the first in its series of premium game streaming USB DAC and AMP, which looks to sit somewhere between the lower-spec G6 or X3 but…
Creative announced the Sound Blaster PLAY! 4 back in February, offering some useful improvements from the previous Sound Blaster PLAY! 3. With most of us working from home in the past year, Creative has added several features to the Sound Blaster Play! 4 that will significantly improve the quality of calls, including a clever auto-muting…