Enthusiast articles
The Best Handheld Gaming Consoles
Out of the 12 best-selling gaming consoles of all time, 5 are handheld systems, and that's not including the Nintendo Switch. Handhelds have made a huge comeback and here are our favorite systems.
50 Years Later: The Revolutionary 8008 Microprocessor
#TBT Intel's groundbreaking 8008 microprocessor was produced over 50 years ago, the ancestor of the x86 processor family that you may be using right now. While the 8008 wasn't the first microprocessor, it was truly revolutionary, triggering a revolution and leading to the x86 architecture that dominated personal computers for decades to come.
The Price is Wrong: This is What GPUs Should Have Cost
In this GPU analysis, we look back across the last 4 generations of graphics cards to illustrate exactly why this generation has underperformed – and by how much – showing what each GPU should have cost.
CPU Cache vs. Cores: AMD Ryzen Edition
In this article, we'll take a look at how L3 cache capacity affects gaming performance. More specifically, we'll be examining AMD's Zen 3-based Ryzen processors in a "for science" type of feature.
Secretlab Magnus Pro XL Review: A Feature-Packed Sit-to-Stand Desk
Here's a confession: I've never liked the idea of a standing desk. However, if there's one desk that could convince me to get off my butt, the Secretlab Magnus Pro could very well be it.
Windows Insiders can now use Sudo just like they do on Linux
Hobbyist builds fully functioning 16-bit CPU in Microsoft Excel
In a nutshell: In an impressive display of creativity and technical finesse, a hobbyist has managed to build a fully functioning 16-bit CPU entirely within Microsoft Excel. The project provides a unique hands-on way to explore low-level computing concepts and highlights Excel's flexibility beyond boring spreadsheets, letting anyone download and tinker with a miniature computer architecture.
The Best CPU Coolers - Early 2024
How should you keep your CPU cool? The more powerful your CPU is, the bigger and better cooler you'll need, but rest assured our guide will cover many great options at every size and price point.
Intel Z790 Motherboard Roundup: 11 Motherboards Tested
If you're in the market for a new system or platform upgrade, and you've decided to go with Intel's 14th-gen Core CPU platform, these are the new Z790 motherboards you want to be aware of.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X and 7970X Review
It's not every day that we get to review a $5,000 CPU, so this should be fun. The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X and 7970X pack 64 and 32 cores, two new super-powerful chips part of AMD's latest HEDT lineup.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Re-Review: What Should Have Been
Let's pretend for a minute it's 2022 again, and the Radeon RX 7900 XT is just getting released. But in this scenario, the GPU is introduced with 9 months of driver development and $150 slashed off the MSRP.
Stealth CPU water block hides tubing behind the motherboard
Ducky One 3 SF Aura Keyboard: A Typist's Dream
While I spend a lot of time gaming, my main consideration when it comes to a keyboard is how good it is for typing. However, somewhat shamefully, I had never used a Ducky. Here are my impressions.
Why Upgrading a Gaming PC Right Now is Almost Pointless
What if you want to upgrade an existing gaming PC? What are the options, and do they make sense? The big problem is that current-gen AMD and Nvidia GPUs don't move the needle forward.
Why Building a Gaming PC Right Now Might Be a Good Idea!
There's been some negativity towards new PC gaming hardware as of late, but instead of focusing on the bad, let's see why building a new gaming PC right now could be a good idea, particularly for those in need of a fresh setup.
The Inner Workings of PCI Express: How Hardware Works
PCI Express has been around for 20 years, and with no sign of it being replaced any time soon, we dive into the technology to see what makes it so special.
TechSpot PC Buying Guide: 1H 2023
How has the PC market evolved in the past few months for builders and gamers alike? Our PC Buying Guide includes four recommended component lists, meant for different budgets and purposes.
This PCIe card houses 21 M.2 SSDs for up to 168 terabytes of blazing-fast storage
How To Measure Your PC's Power Consumption
Modern computers have components that require lots of power and given that this all costs money, here's our guide to measuring how much energy your PC uses.
NexGen: Gone But Not Forgotten
Four decades ago, the CPU market was far more diverse than it is today. One company called NexGen had backing from big PC names, plenty of capital, and a team of great engineers. But what happened?
How Hot is Too Hot for PC Hardware?
With power limits of CPUs and graphics cards climbing ever higher, and news reports of chips hitting sky-high temperatures appearing almost weekly, it seems that now is as good a time as any to ask a simple question – just how hot is too hot for today's PC components?
Going From 20 to 40: A Graphics Card Upgrade Tale
A lot can happen in four years, especially in the world of PCs. But how much better is one of the latest GPUs compared to an architecture from a few years back? Well, read on to find out how one person's upgrade choice all panned out.
The Best AMD X670E Motherboards: 22 Board Roundup, VRM Thermal Test
For months we've been gathering as many AMD X670 motherboards as we could to test their VRM performance and see if they can all handle the Ryzen 9 7950X without any kind of thermal throttling.
How We Test: CPU Benchmarks, Misconceptions Explained
In this explainer we support with data why testing CPU performance with a GPU bottleneck is a bad idea, so you can have a full understanding of our testing methods when reviewing CPUs.