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!
Nvidia has finally announced the hotly anticipated RTX 2000 range, which is the first line of graphics cards to introduce ray tracing which is a technique used to produce photorealistic graphics with true-to-life lighting and shadow formations. It could be the biggest breakthrough in consumer graphics cards for years, but it is dependant on developers implementing this…
Another day and another Thermaltake case review, I have been working my way up their product range, starting off with the View 22 TG which was a great budget option. Then the View 32 TG which will likely have the most mass appeal with its premium design while maintaining an affordable price tag. The Core…
I have reviewed some excellent case options from Thermaltake so far, and I am working on reviews for two amazing new cases that have recently been released. In order to make these cases shine, Thermaltake sent me their top of the range AIO watercooler to review the 360mm Floe Riing RGB Premium Edition. Costing £186.39…
Not content on making one of the lightest 15-inch laptops on the planet with the Swift 5, Acer have upped the ante and built the thinnest laptop in the world with the Acer Swift 7. Hopefully, this is not like mobile phones, where you sacrifice function over form. Announced back in January at CES 2018…
Sit-stand desks have become very popular in the past few years, I have reviewed several convenient options that convert your existing design to sit stand, but the StarTech option today is a little different. This is a wall mounted Sit-Stand Desk that includes a monitor arm and keyboard tray, if you don’t fancy drilling holes in your wall…
Having recently reviewed the excellent Zyxel Multy X mesh wifi system I thought it would be worth comparing it to the market leader, the Netgear Orbi. With the growing number of Mesh Wi-Fi options on the market, each manufacturer approaches the problem at a different angle. For example, the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi is one…
I have featured two fantastic Thermaltake cases recently both offering fashionable tempered glass features but at two very different price points one being the View 32 TG and the other being the View 22 TG. Today’s review is for something a little different, the Thermaltake Core P5 Tempered Glass Ti Edition ATX Wall-Mount Chassis. The…
I have previously reviewed the AZIO Retro Classic Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard which is the most unique and well-built keyboards I have ever used. While the typing experience wasn’t particularly for me, it was a very impressive keyboard. Azio makes other peripherals, and this includes the recently released Aventa gaming mouse. From their site: The innovative…
Mesh Wi-Fi is the best thing to happen to Wi-Fi in years. While it is great that some manufacturers are pushing the speeds of Wi-Fi further and further, in practice, these speeds are rarely achieved, with performance degradation over distance being severe. It is not an uncommon scenario to get great Wi-Fi in one room…
This year saw the release of new laptop gaming CPUs that finally increased the core count to 6 with 12 threads using hyperthreading. Dell was one of the first companies to announce the chips across their range which went from the high-end consumer XPS 15 to the new affordable Dell G line and finally the…
Following on from my reviews of the excellent Thermaltake View 32 and View 22 cases I have now been checking out the budget-friendly Smart RGB 700 Watt 80+ PSU. As the name suggests this is a PSU with a pre-installed, 256 colour RGB fan hub with 15 lighting modes to choose from and built-in memory….
After coming away pleasantly surprised with the Thermaltake View 22 TG case, Thermaltake was kind enough to send me the View 32 TG RGB Edition. As the name would suggest this is a notch up in terms of specification and this model is full RGB too. This model is £127.99 on Amazon putting it somewhere…