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You are officially old if you remember these PC parts
Here are five nostalgic components that, despite making our childhood special, failed to withstand the ravages of time
Your PC is a neat device that you can upgrade with the newest hardware and peripherals. From essential components like processors and RAM kits to accessories like USB hubs and controllers, there’s a lot to choose from.
Best Ethernet cables in 2024
Regardless of how advanced Wi-Fi gets, the most reliable way to get connected to a network is using a high-quality Ethernet cable.
For most people, the best Ethernet cable is one that has good strong connectors and plenty of speed for their needs. Pretty much any well-built Cat 5E or newer cable is fast enough for the average consumer with gigabit speeds running across the house and even faster speeds within a few feet of the switch. Still, whether you’ve just picked up one of the best routers and want to set it up with nice new cables, or you’re tired of making excuses for intermittent Wi-Fi, a high-quality Ethernet cable can be the best way to improve network reliability. For gamers and people working from home, choosing Ethernet over Wi-Fi can lead to improved speeds and better consistency for your connection.
StarTech 3-Port USB-C hub review: You'll get gigabit internet but lose out elsewhere
If you're looking for a way to add USB-A and Ethernet ports to your laptop, this USB-C hub from StarTech might be the solution
Even if you spend hundreds of dollars per month on a great network connection, you're guaranteed to lose some bandwidth using a wireless connection. That's why it's a good idea to use Ethernet whenever possible to maximize your upload and download speeds. Unfortunately, many of the best laptops today don't ship with an Ethernet port, largely because of the port's size demands.
Best gaming Ethernet cables in 2024
Take your gaming experience to the next level with these Ethernet cables.
If you are a serious gamer, you know how important it is to have a fast and reliable internet connection. Whether you are playing games online, streaming your gameplay, or downloading the latest updates, you don't want to deal with lag, packet loss, or an unstable connection. Even the best gaming laptops built-in Wi-Fi often isn't enough for competitive gaming, and that's why we recommend that you play with an Ethernet cable that can deliver the best performance for your gaming setup. Today, we will take you through our favorite Ethernet cables on the market and explain what features you should look for when choosing one.
On this day, the Ethernet spec was published
The Ethernet spec was published in 1980 for the first time, but how it got to be such a ubiquitous piece of technology is a cool story.
The internet has a long and storied history, with Jan. 1, 1983, considered to be the birth of the internet. This is when the TCP/IP protocol was implemented in the ARPANET, or Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. However, nearly three years prior on Sept. 30, 1980, the first Ethernet specification was published following its development at Xerox PARC between 1973 and 1974. Since then, it's become a standard that has evolved and grown and is a mainstay on basically all computers several decades later.
What is QoS on routers?
QoS on your router keeps your most important connections feeling fast by prioritizing their packets.
QoS, or Quality of Service, is a feature on routers that allows for the prioritization of data from one connected device over the others. Normally, all traffic is treated equally on your network so all the devices connected to your network get a very similar amount of speed. If you have a slower connection or want the smoothest possible experience, enabling QoS will make sure data reaches your most important devices first.
Best Ethernet adapters for your Dell XPS laptop in 2023
If your new Dell XPS laptop only has USB Type-C ports, these are the best Ethernet adapters for your Dell laptop.
There are many Windows devices that you can buy in 2023, as we've highlighted in our best laptops roundup. Yet one lineup that has remained popular for years is Dell's XPS series. Most XPS laptops — including the XPS 13, XPS 15, and XPS 13 2-in-1 — have sleek designs (putting aside the brief time the webcams were below the screen), excellent keyboards, and top-tier performance. However, the newer 2023 XPS laptops only have USB Type-C connectivity (just like many Ryzen laptops and 5G laptops), which means you have to break out the dongles for some situations.