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An image of artificial intelligence
We're not ready for AI misinformation

Experts say we have the tools to defeat it, but it's too little too late.

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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.

A closeup of the Enter key on the Keychron Q1 Pro
Evolution of the PC keyboard: Typing up history

Backspacing all the way to the humble beginnings

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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.

Jellyfin web panel with movies, music, TV shows, and audiobooks
Best Plex alternatives in 2024: Jellyfin, Emby, and more

If you're looking for an alternative to Plex, there are a few options that are just as good.

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If you have a large database of movies and TV shows, you've probably been enticed by the idea of setting up a Plex server. You can install one to stream video files to clients, and it can transcode them to lower resolutions and bitrates for playback on slower connections. However, for many people, it's not good enough, especially because some features cost money. That's why some of the alternatives are enticing, especially those that are free. These are some of the best Plex alternatives on the market that you can install on an excellent NAS or on your own computer.

The Alienware Pro Gaming mouse on the side of a desk.
Alienware Pro Wireless Mouse review: An excellent lightweight mouse for gaming

Dell's new Alienware Pro Wireless Mouse is a great option for gamers who want a super light wireless mouse with top-of-the-line specs.

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There are a few important factors to consider when looking for a new gaming mouse, such as polling rate, DPI, and weight. There are some mice that prioritize one of these factors over the rest, and that's how you get niche categories like light mice or large mice. Dell's new Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse doesn't outright win in every category, but it strikes an excellent sweet spot between them.

nvidia geforce rtx 4080 super fe held in hand in a dining room
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super review: Minor power increase with a major price slash

With a hefty drop in MSRP over the card it's replacing, this graphics card is finally priced correctly.

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The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super is a powerful graphics card that handles all resolutions at maximum settings, so it's a great GPU for 4K gamers. This is a no-compromise gaming graphics card and is priced accordingly. It's also huge, with slightly larger dimensions than the RTX 4090 FE, which could cause issues with smaller cases or with covering useful PCIe slots on many motherboards.

An image showing a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti and Radeon 7700XT GPUs kept on a table next to a split keyboard.
4 reasons why the dual-chip graphic card trend died

Dual-chip graphic cards used to be the pinnacle of technology. What happened?

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Everybody knows about multi-GPU gaming setups, which were the spectacle of the previous decade. But did you know that mainstream GPUs that had more than one chip on their PCB used to exist? These rendering beasts have been around since 1997, with the Dynamic Pictures Oxygen 402 being one of the first with not two, but four GPU chips on a single PCB.

Surface Laptop Studio 2 on a countertop
Is Microsoft's Surface lineup in danger of being discontinued altogether?

Sales for Microsoft Surface are dipping, and the passionate leader behind the brand left Microsoft. Is it time to start worrying about the future?

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Microsoft's Surface brand has grown to become a staple of PC computing. The company has put out a lot of cool and innovative hardware in the Surface lineup, from hits like the Surface Laptop Studio to swings and misses like the Surface Neo. But much has changed over the past few years, and Microsoft Surface finds itself at an inflection point in 2024. Surface isn't bringing in revenue like it once was, and Microsoft has scaled back its ambitions for the brand. The crux of that shift happened last year, when Panos Panay — the former Surface leader that became the face of the brand — left for greener pastures at Amazon.

An image showing the ASRock Challenger RX 7700 XT 12G OC GPU kept on a white-colored PC case.
ASRock Challenger Radeon RX 7700 XT 12G OC review: Upsells the RX 7800 XT

A good graphics card that could use better pricing.

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ASRock Challenger RX 7700 XT 12G OC variant offers impressive 1080p and 1440p performance, and it performed admirably well in almost all my test titles. It's a solid contender to be on our list of the best 1440p GPUs, but it's hobbled by its pricing, which puts it closer to many RX 7800 XT variants that are much faster. It essentially suffers from the same problem as the new 4070 Ti Super GPU I reviewed not too long ago, which isn't necessarily a great pick either when compared to its sibling in the RTX 40-series Super family. The ASRock Challenger Radeon RX 7700 XT's pricing leaves plenty to be desired, but there is a lot to like about this GPU that could potentially make it an excellent mid-range champion with a price cut.

An image showing a mechanical keyboard with no alpha keys next to a keycap puller and a mouse.
6 simplest mods for mechanical keyboards

Modding your mechanical keyboard can be tons of fun, but also intimidating. Here are 6 of the simplest mods to get you started

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There are endless reasons to love mechanical keyboards — satisfying typing and sound, great variety, and easy repairability. But, perhaps, the most fun part of mechanical keyboards is giving them your own touch by customizing and modifying them. Now, keyboard mods can range from the simplest ones that are quick and don't cost a lot to complicated and time-consuming ones that are kind of pricey.

A PC built inside an NZXT H5 Flow RGB case that's all black
Building a PC is really just an exercise in wellness

Start a rewarding project and learn skills in the process

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Building a PC is a project many take on for a variety of reasons. It's a good way to save money compared to the cost of a prebuilt system, especially with more powerful components. There's also a case for the entire process to be rather therapeutic for many, creating stunning builds with tight cable management, flashing RGB lights, and the means to lose oneself in virtual worlds. Then there's skill development, which includes building a system itself, troubleshooting potential issues, modding the case and other parts, and budgeting.

be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13
be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W review: The best enthusiast power supply

Power your high-end gaming rig with this impressive piece of kit

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be quiet! makes some excellent PC hardware with a focus on quiet operation. Whether it's a power supply or CPU cooler, you can expect to enjoy a premium experience and create a killer PC. The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 is the latest flagship PSU from the company with full support for ATX 3.0 standard and the latest, most power-hungry graphics cards. There's the trusty 12VHPWR connector for delivering up to 600W of power, though you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference compared to the outgoing Dark Power Pro 12, at least in terms of design.

IBM Portable Computer showing keyboard and body of device
On this day 40 years ago, the IBM Portable Computer was introduced

The IBM Portable Computer was introduced on this day 40 years ago, and it packed some pretty good specifications for the time.

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IBM was once a powerhouse in personal computing, and that was partially solidified by the launch of the IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155. Released on this day in February 1984, this computer was roughly the size of a suitcase and weighed in at 30 pounds, or 13.6 kg. It cost $4,225, which at the time of writing, would cost a rather hefty $12,390.

An image of the Steam Controller
The unfortunate death of the Steam Controller

Despite its pioneering features, the Steam Controller ended up becoming a massive failure

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If you’re shopping for new controllers for your gaming PC, there are plenty of options to choose from. Besides the top-tier gamepads from Sony, Microsoft, and others, there are a wide variety of third-party controllers, driving wheels, and flight sticks that you can use for better immersion.

The Alienware Pro wireless keyboard on a desk with RGB lighting.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard review: Checking almost all the boxes for high-level gamers

Alienware worked with professional gamers to design this keyboard, and it shows. There are still a few areas to improve, though.

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Nothing beats a wired connection for great gaming keyboards, at least on paper. If you want the absolute best performance and lowest latency, you’ll have to deal with a cable. But wireless keyboards are getting good enough that they’re a real solution for people who prefer a wire-free experience. Dell’s new Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard is an option intended to please professional gamers in the wireless, 75% form factor. In many of the ways that matter, the Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard is one of the best wireless gaming keyboards available today.

Gemini-Rebrand
Google Gemini Advanced: What it is, how to use it, should you get it

Google's Gemini Advanced is an all-new subscription tier AI platform, and it offers a lot that ChatGPT Plus doesn't.

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Google recently launched Gemini Advanced, the company's subscription tier follow-up to Bard and competitor to ChatGPT Plus and Copilot Pro. It uses an entirely different LLM, Gemini Ultra 1.0, as the underlying basis for its text generation, and can integrate into Google's suite of applications. With a Gemini Advanced subscription, you also get 2TB of Google Drive storage and a bunch of other Google One perks, too. There's a lot that you get, and for the right person, Gemini Advanced is the perfect AI subscription service.

Apple Vision Pro on a desk.
5 disappointments after a week of using Apple Vision Pro

Vision Pro is a first-generation game changer. That means there are just as many disappointments as there are revolutionary features.

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After many months of waiting, Apple finally released Vision Pro earlier this month. The company's first VR headset comes with impressive specifications and a massive $3,500 price tag, leaving many — including myself — to be skeptical. I've been using one for over a week, and it's been a mix of revolutionary and disappointing. That's often the case with first-generation products, and I knew what I was getting into when I purchased Vision Pro despite my better judgment.

Image of a pair of AirPods Pro with an open charging case on a black background next to a Zuoya LMK81 mechanical keyboard.
ANC and ENC: How are they different?

ANC enhances listening by reducing noise; ENC improves call clarity by isolating voices

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Noise cancelation technology has drastically transformed the way we experience audio, allowing for an immersive listening environment free from the disturbances of the outside world. This technology is primarily embodied through two innovative approaches: Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) and Environmental Noise Cancelation (ENC). Both technologies serve distinct purposes, enhancing our audio interactions whether we're diving into our favorite tunes or ensuring our voice cuts through the cacophony of environmental noise during a call.

An LG UltraGear 32GS95UE monitor next to a competitor
Do Nvidia graphics cards work with AMD FreeSync?

AMD's FreeSync technology is prevalent across the monitor world, but do Nvidia graphics cards work with it?

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AMD FreeSync is an adaptive synchronization technology designed to reduce screen tearing and stuttering in games by allowing a compatible monitor to dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate output by the graphics card. This results in smoother gameplay and improved visual performance, particularly in fast-paced games. Nvidia's equivalent is called G-Sync, and you may be wondering whether FreeSync is compatible with Nvidia cards, and the short answer is yes, though there are caveats to that.

Gemini-Rebrand
Google Gemini: What is it, and how does it work?

Google Gemini is the company's answer to generative AI, but how does it work and what can you do with it?

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Google launched Bard early last year as an answer to the generative artificial intelligence craze, packed with the ability to hold a conversation, generate code, and solve logical problems. Bard's biggest advantage over competitors over the likes of ChatGPT was that it could access the internet, though it managed to falter behind the rest of the competition in several pretty crazy ways. Since then, it's undergone a ton of improvements and followed in Microsoft's footsteps by rebranding. Google Bard is now Gemini, and it's powered by the Gemini language model underneath.

Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero BTF motherboard
10 PC hardware misconceptions you still believe in

Cores, VRAM, PCIe 5.0, or DDR5 — you might be guilty of believing in these 10 PC hardware myths.

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Building a gaming PC might not be rocket science, but it still involves multiple components working together. And that inevitably gives rise to several PC building myths — big or small. But this time, I want to dive deeper and talk about some of the misconceptions we have about nearly every PC component. Despite the explosion of online information about PC building and PC gaming, these misconceptions continue to exist in 2024.

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