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!
Intel has not officially announced the 9th generation of their laptop CPUs yet the basic details of these updated chips have been released. The information for these CPUs come from listings for export compliance. The new processors will be featuring the same 14nm++ node as used by the desktop variants while offering higher cores and…
In another round of leaks about the up and coming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti there have been numerous product photos and benchmarks leaked. Dependant on price this is shaping up to be a decent card, albeit somewhat predicable in performance. The leaked benchmarks come from the Final Fantasy XV benchmarking database, delivering a score that’s…
Following on from the review of the Thermaltake Level 20 MT that features three ARGB 120mm fans, I have been checking out the Pure 14 ARGB Radiator fans. As the name suggests these are designed for radiators and include extra long screws for mounting, however there is nothing stopping you using them as standard case…
If you liked the look of the Thermaltake Level 20 GT RGB, I reviewed last year but can’t afford the £250+ price tag then the Level 20 MT ARGB could be the case for you. Priced at a very reasonable £84.98 on Scan or £79.99 with Overclockers this case offers both premium features and looks…
The new 7nm Vega based Radeon VII graphics cards have launched recently with surprisingly good reviews offer similar performance to the GeForce RTX 2080 at around the same price, albeit with higher power draw. However, it has been reported that the supply of these cards is incredibly low, with as little as 100 cards set…
If you have the cash to drop over £1k on a GPU and the same again for the CPU, there is a good chance you want the best monitor on the market regardless of the cost. At the moment that gives you two choices, the ASUS 27″ ROG Swift 4K HDR which will set you…
The PC Gamer market appears to have been growing in recent years, and it is an affluent audience, especially when you look at some graphics cards that can cost well over £1k nowadays. So it is no surprise that Acer has been expanding their Predator line considerably in recent years. Their gaming laptops have always…
If you are a data hoarder and ever frequently subreddits such as /r/datahoarder or /r/homelab it seems like the only two drive brands people buy are Western Digital for the reliability, or Seagate because they are cheap. However, there is a third option worth going for, and that is Toshiba. They do the usual drive…
Most PC gamers building a new battlestation will opt for the all-in-one watercooling options due to the simplicity of installation and superior performance with overclocking over some air based choices. For example, I have the Thermaltake 360mm Floe Riing RGB Premium and it is fantastic, offering ultra quiet operation while keeping my CPU cool when…
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is pretty much a given now, there have been numerous leaks over the past few weeks. The latest is multiple Russian websites listing the cards, though at the moment there is no pricing on the pages. The launch of the new card makes some sense, the RTX range of…
Mesh Wi-Fi is the best thing to happen to Wi-Fi in years and solves most of the issues consumers have with their Wi-Fi, and that is poor range or black spots around the home. I have reviewed several Mesh Wi-Fi systems now including Netgear Orbi and Zyxel Multy, though I have not reviewed a TP-Link…
Large PCs are slowly going out of fashion with the consumer enthusiasts frequently building PCs using small form factor allowing you to fit a powerful PC on your table without taking up much room. Small PCs make even more sense in a crowded office environment, where large desktop PCs can become a nuisance taking up…