Latest articles by Ben Wilson
My top 13 back-to-school tech deals compile affordable laptops and accessories to make your academic life easier than ever
Back to school Get ready to head back to school with my top picks of the best tech deals in categorized lists with quick links, and keep coming back for updated discounts!
Windows 11 runs better than ever on a Steam Deck OLED, but it still doesn't matter
WinDeck update Valve has released new Windows 11 drivers for its Steam Deck OLED variant to improve OS performance if you're one of the few running a WinDeck.
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X review: Team Red built the world's most powerful CPU and sent Intel back to school
Review The Ryzen 9 9950X is all-powerful if you can keep it cool, while the 9900X is cheaper and competes with Intel's Core i9-14900K. Whichever is right for you depends entirely on your software suite.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X review: Cheaper and more efficient than ever, Zen 5 tempts with an entry-level gaming CPU
Review AMD's Ryzen 5 9600X offers affordable gaming, excelling in single-core performance and power efficiency. However, minimal multi-core bumps won't benefit users with recent CPUs.
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X review: While Intel suffers setbacks, Team Red takes the mid-range gaming CPU crown
Review AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X desktop CPU offers improved performance at a lower price and power draw compared to previous chips and rivals at Intel, making it a solid mid-range option.
Intel officially confirms 'Lunar Lake' mobile CPU launch date with Core Ultra 200 to challenge Snapdragon X and Ryzen AI 300
Lunar Lake Intel's latest Core Ultra 'Lunar Lake' mobile processors will launch in early September, just before IFA 2024, and promise a revolution for x86-64 Windows laptops.
AMD delays its Ryzen 9000 desktop processors, but it's for a more trivial reason than Intel's ongoing 13th/14th Gen disaster
Ryzen 9000 An unfortunate "short delay" hits AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9000 Series desktop processors, but it could be a lot worse as its Intel rivals suffer ongoing backlash with their own processor problems.
ASUS Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) review: AMD's new AI CPU challenges Snapdragon X and stomps Intel Meteor Lake
Review An all-day battery and slick chassis design from ASUS are more appealing than AMD's Strix Point processor boasting AI metrics.
Razer Blade 18 (2024) review: Still the world's most powerful gaming laptop — and your wallet is terrified
Review Razer refreshes its phenomenal Blade 18 gaming desktop, still marketed as a desktop replacement due to its sheer power and all-encompassing size. It's a beast.
Microsoft tackles catastrophic global IT outage as 'CrowdStrike' security blames update bug for grounded flights and more
Mass outages The dreaded 'Blue Screen of Death' error hits Microsoft-powered devices across the globe's infrastructure.
Prime Day 2024: The 10 best deals still live on Xbox, Game Pass, Razer, and Lenovo as Amazon's sale 'ends'
Prime Day 2024 Amazon Prime Day 2024 is here, and we're seeing some of the best tech deals ever put forward during a Prime Day event. It lasts for two days, but it ends soon!
This fan-made Quake level is bigger than the original FPS' chapters, with brutal difficulty that makes Dark Souls look like Peppa Pig
Quake lives The Immortal Lock is a gigantic custom level filled with cosmic horrors and punishing difficulty as the puzzles and combat are ramped up to eleven.
I buy these same 6 PC building accessories every year, and so should you before the Prime Day deals all disappear
Deals-IY I enjoy building computers. Honest. It's definitely easier with the right tools and accessories, though. Here's what I buy to help.
14 money-saving PC parts to help upgrade your rig before Prime Day ends tonight
PC upgrades Brand-new gaming desktops are always tempting, but upgrading your current rig is almost always the best way to go. Here's what I'd buy during Prime Day 2024's deal mania.
My favorite sim racing wheel sped past Prime Day with a winning deal — but Amazon STILL offers a silver discount
Sim deal Thrustmaster's T248 is still the best overall steering wheel you can buy for arcade racing and serious simulators, now discounted during the second half of Prime Day and Amazon's rival.
My all-time favorite All-in-One PC is STILL cheaper than ever as Prime Day ends, and it's the most adorable portable desktop
Price Envy The HP Envy Move is a portable all-in-one (AIO) PC with a built-in battery that offers a full desktop experience in any room, thanks to clever pop-out feet and a built-in handle. It's genius.
Every custom PC I've ever built featured this ultra-affordable upgrade — STILL cheaper after Prime Day and a total no-brainer
SSD-eal Storage drives are one of the most approachable PC upgrades for even the most novice of custom builders, and one of my top recommendations is at a rock-bottom price during Prime Day.
MOZA TSW review: The best steering wheel for Euro Truck Simulator 2 you could ever hope to find
Review You'll need to adopt an entire direct drive wheelbase ecosystem, but MOZA's TSW Truck Wheel is worth the entry price for die-hard trucking sim enthusiasts.
Tech-loving Brits shouldn't wait for Prime Day — this is the ONLY thing worth buying now that makes summer working bearable
Heatwave proof A portable air conditioner can be the difference between an unbearable UK heatwave and a relaxing day working from home. Those in the US can benefit, too; there's no gatekeeping with staying cool.
Lenovo Slim 7i 14 (Gen 9) review: The best travel companion for my recent trip around the globe (and it's under $1,000)
Review Updating its 14-inch Slim 7i laptop for a 9th Gen, Lenovo offers a fantastic all-rounder with all-day battery life and a gorgeous OLED screen for a fair price.
Govee Neon Rope Light 2 review: Still the best value on creative smart lights for gamers with an artistic flair
Review Govee continues to offer creative and unique solutions to RGB-loving gamers, and this second-generation refresh of its Neon Rope Light is a fantastic example of why it's unmatched.
Best gaming chairs in 2024
Updated I've picked the best gaming chairs for you, your kids, or your significant other with various styles and features to fit your budget in 2024.
WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive review: Backing up 6TB of my Xbox library has my ISP breathing a sigh of relief
Review Western Digital's WD_BLACK P10 external drive will appeal to PC and Xbox gamers with up to 130MB/s transfer speeds and 6TB of storage to help offload those giant AAA game installs.
What's the difference between Samsung EVO Select and EVO Plus?
Samsung EVO If you're shopping for microSD cards to expand your external storage options, you've likely noticed a confusing crossover between Samsung EVO Select and EVO Plus. So what's the difference?
Intel Xe2 GPU to deliver a HUGE graphics boost as "Battlemage" tech comes to next-gen Lunar Lake laptops and handhelds
Battlemage lives Intel introduces its overhauled Xe2 graphics microarchitecture for upcoming mobile devices powered by its Lunar Lake SoC, contributing to a 1.5x performance boost over the previous generation.
