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How important is DRAM in SSDs?
Let's break down why DRAM is a big deal for making your SSD work like a champ.
If you're looking for a new SSD, you may have seen the term DRAM (dynamic random access memory) being used by higher-end SSDs. DRAM, with its dynamic and volatile nature, greatly enhances the speed and efficiency of data retrieval and storage. Moreover, the presence or absence of a DRAM cache can be a crucial factor to consider when you’re on the lookout for the best SSD for your PC. But how big of an impact does it really make?
7 essential macOS Terminal commands that every user should know
macOS is one of the easier operating systems to use, but there are a lot of advanced tools available through the Terminal.
macOS is an operating system that its fans consider to be visually appealing, and recent versions have made it look a lot more like iOS or iPadOS. Even still, macOS packs a lot of power under the hood, if you know how to use it. A key tool to keep in any macOS user's back pocket is the Terminal, an advanced app that lets you execute command-line functions on your computer. There are a ton of ways to use the Terminal, from installing apps from package managers to showing system information quickly. Mastering the Terminal is a never-ending effort, but these six essential commands will help you get started.
4 reasons why the four-year-old Logitech MX Master 3 is still the king of mice
Logitech hasn't given us the MX Master 4 yet, but I haven't noticed. The MX Master 3 is still the best mouse you can get.
In the consumer technology space, time seems to move much faster than in the rest of the world. New products can become outdated in just a few months, and buying a piece of tech multiple years old is usually never a good idea. But every once in a while, a product appears that breaks the mold and stays at the top of the market years after release. For one, Sennheiser's HD 600 open-back headphones have stood the test of time for decades. In the world of computer peripherals, Logitech's MX Master 3 might be on its way to a similar level of timeless fame.
There are apps for PC users and then there are apps for gamers. If you've just got yourself a new gaming PC, then you might be wondering what apps you should install first. From being able to talk to your friends online, to overclocking your PC, and using your phone to control your PC, here are the 6 applications I will always install on my gaming PC.
Intel's process roadmap to 2025: Intel 7, 4, 3, 20A, and 18A explained
Intel has outlined its new processes for the next few years, but what does it all mean?
Intel unveiled its Meteor Lake laptop processors alongside a Raptor Lake Refresh last year, and with it came a renewed commitment to the company's process node roadmap that it first published in 2021. In that roadmap, the company states that it wants to clear five nodes in four years, something that no other company has achieved in years. Intel's own roadmap states that it aims to achieve "process leadership" in 2025. Process leadership, by Intel's standards, is the highest performance per watt. What does the journey to the best CPU look like?
macOS 15: What we know so far and 7 things we want to see
The next version of macOS is only months away from being revealed, so here's what we expect (and what we hope) the 2024 Mac update will bring.
macOS Sonoma has been out for many months now, and that's why we're starting to turn our focus to the next version of macOS. Apple typically reveals its upcoming operating systems at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, which is historically held in June of each year. That means our first look at macOS 15, which is known internally by the codename "Glow," is just a few months away. We already know a few things about Apple's plans for macOS 15, like how the operating system is expected to debut with some new artificial intelligence features. Here's everything we know so far, and what we'd like to see Apple bring to the best Macs with the next version of macOS.
How does x86 translation work on Windows on Arm?
Lots of Windows applications were written for x86, and yet can work on Arm CPUs. Here's how it's possible.
Windows has always been made for x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD, but ever since Windows RT came out a decade ago for smartphones, the operating system has slowly been becoming more friendly to Arm CPUs. Today, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer complete support for Arm CPUs, but there's a catch. While the operating system itself runs just fine on these CPUs, most applications haven't launched an Arm-compatible version. Although Windows can run on Arm chips, having few programs to actually use would be a problem.
If you were to ask anyone who has built their PC whether you should buy a rebuild, there's a high probability you'll be met with the same response: "No." I'm here to dive into the world of PC building and system integrators (SI), the folk who put together prebuilt PCs, to see whether buying prebuilt systems is as bad as people say. Our own Tanveer Singh went into great detail about what makes a custom PC better than a prebuilt system, touching on a few ways the latter might make more sense, depending on what you're looking for.
Ambient Computing: What is it?
Ambient computing is underlying a lot of our technology today, but what is it?
Devices all around us are getting smarter, and part of that perceived intelligence is the fact that so many of them are practically autonomous. If you have a Google Pixel, for example, you'll be familiar with features like Now Playing that just run in the background without any input. It's essentially invisible tech.
What is an AI Image Generator and how does it work?
AI image generators have created a lot of buzz recently, but they may be hard to understand. Here's everything you need to know about them.
In 2022, we've seen the advent of some incredible text-to-image generators. The first to set off the big wave was Dall-E 2, with Stable Diffusion arriving a short while later. Since then, we've seen other tools arrive too, including Midjourney, Craiyon, and even TikTok to a certain degree. There are growing concerns when it comes to AI image-generating tools, pertaining primarily to the ethics of such tools when they can generate images of real people in places or situations that they were not actually in.
GPT-4: What is it and how does it work?
GPT-4 is all the rage currently, powering Bing Chat and ChatGPT. But what is it and what does it offer?
GPT-4 is the latest large multimodal model from OpenAI, and it's able to generate text from both text and graphical input. OpenAI is the company behind ChatGPT and Dall-E, and its primary research focus is in, you guessed it, artificial intelligence. Today, we're going to talk about GPT specifically, what it does, and how it contributes to a growing industry that also includes ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini.
Everybody's heard of ChatGPT at this stage. It's an AI-powered chatbot that makes use of natural language processing models to produce answers to complicated questions. Those answers may not necessarily always be accurate, but they tend to be detailed enough that you can fact-check the answers that it gives you fairly easily. What if you were to take ChatGPT and try to write code with it?
5 reasons to use AMD in your next gaming PC
Are you looking to buy or build a new gaming PC? Consider using AMD for great performance and even better prices!
When it comes to purchasing or building a new gaming PC, one of the crucial decisions you face is which company's hardware you’ll use: Nvidia, Intel, or AMD. Despite being seen as an underdog in the tech sphere, AMD stands as a fierce competitor in the gaming market, challenging industry giants like Nvidia and Intel simultaneously.
How to lower your GPU's temperature
Keeping your GPU's temperatures in check can extend its lifespan and enhance your overall gaming experience simultaneously.
The GPU, or graphics processing unit, is one of the core components of a PC that does a lot of heavy lifting, even when you are not playing a game. It's constantly used in varying capacities by a wide range of applications, and it's important to keep it cool at all times to ensure smooth performance. It's not particularly difficult to tame the temperature of a graphics card, but there are times when you may need to put in some additional efforts to maintain optimal performance. Nobody likes a GPU that's constantly overheating and delivering throttled performance, so read on to find some effective ways to control and lower GPU temperatures, thus safeguarding your graphics card's performance and longevity.
Visual fidelity vs framerate: What should you you prioritize?
Does image quality matter more than the smoothness of a game?
In modern gaming, two fundamental aspects compete for attention: visual fidelity and framerate. Visual fidelity refers to the graphical quality of a game, encompassing details such as texture resolution, lighting effects, and overall graphical realism. On the other hand, framerate denotes the number of frames per second (FPS) displayed on the screen, directly influencing the smoothness and responsiveness of gameplay. Balancing these elements is crucial for developers to deliver an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
10 mistakes you should not make when building a new PC for the first time
Look out for these common mistakes before you start working on your new PC
Building your PC over opting for prebuilts off the shelf is often recommended due to the better value for money, more tailored specifications, and, frankly, the sheer joy of the process. However, diving into your first build can be a minefield of potential mistakes. From choosing an incompatible mix of components to overlooking the need for thermal paste, the devil is in the details. This guide aims to guide you through common mistakes, ensuring your journey from parts selection to the final boot is as smooth as possible.
7 reasons full-sized mechanical keyboards aren’t more popular
We all seem to love mechanical keyboards. But why aren't there more full-size models available?
If you're a gamer or mechanical keyboard enthusiast, you probably own a TKL, 75%, or 60% keyboard, as these seem to be the most common sizes available. Whether you're into custom boards or "gaming" mechanical keyboards, full-size (or even 96%) mechanical keyboards seem a rarity these days. I own a 75% mechanical keyboard but was searching for a full-size wireless model for my brother to replace his wired Gamdias Hermes M3. That was an even rarer combo to ask for.
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Major improvements for Google
Google Bard has recently been rebranded to Gemini, and we sized it up against the free version of ChatGPT to see how it fares.
Google Bard has now been rebranded to Gemini, and with it comes the same Gemini Pro model that powered Bard. There are no changes to the models underneath, and all that's changed here is the name. Bard with Gemini was advertised as an improvement to the original Bard that Google claimed would have a leg-up over even GPT-4 regarding language tasks.
We're not ready for AI misinformation
Experts say we have the tools to defeat it, but it's too little too late.
With all booming technologies, there's both a good side and a bad side. It usually allows people to do more things faster and with better results, enhancing our way of life. However, there will always be someone who finds a way to use technology to do evil, and artificial intelligence is no exception.
It's no secret that, as humans, we take just about everything in our lives for granted. That includes the trusty keyboard. This means of input has existed since the personal computer's birth, but the peripheral evolved from the typewriter. The keyboard remains the primary means of interfacing with a PC, alongside the mouse. It's also a staple of a PC gaming setup and there's even a budding modding community. It all started in 1868 when the first successful typewriter launched with the QWERTY layout.