Feature Index Page 4

  • Explainer: What Are Processor Threads?

    Modern PCs have CPUs that can handle anywhere from 4 to 32 threads, simultaneously, thanks to developments in chip design and manufacturing. But what exactly are threads and why are they so important?

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Gateway 2000: Gone But Not Forgotten

    What does a cattle ranch have in common with computers? Admittedly not much, but that didn't stop two college dropouts from capitalizing on the concept and reshape PC purchases in the 1990s.

    By Shawn Knight on

  • Are We Reaching GPU Normalcy? The Answer is (Almost) Yes

    It's time for another look at graphics card pricing and this month it's particularly exciting as we enter a new generation of GPU hardware. So what impact has that had on other GPUs?

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • Nvidia DLSS 3: Fake Frames or Big Gains?

    Nvidia is making some pretty bold claims around DLSS 3, like the ability to 3x-4x performance with RTX 40 GPUs. Let's explore this new technology and see if it's a true next-gen selling point.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • Top 10 Hacks for Microsoft Excel

    Millions use Excel to handle all kinds of office and productivity tasks, so here are some of the top 10 shortcuts, tips, and hacks that will help you on your way to becoming an Excel pro.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • A Look at the Possible Future of 3D Graphics: How More Real Than Real Can You Get?

    With CPUs and GPUs continuing to get more powerful with each new generation, the push for ever more realistic graphics in blockbuster games shows no signs of slowing down.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • The Analog Embrace: How Some Experiences Are Surviving the Digital Age

    Zeroes and ones were promised to be the future, a digital media has taken over, but in some situations customers are returning to analog experiences in search of something more tangible.

    By Sami Haj-Assaad on

  • GPU Mining is Dead, Where are my Cheap GPUs?

    Let's talk GPU prices and this month's update is very interesting because of two key factors: the first, Nvidia just launched new GeForce 40 series graphics cards; and second, GPU mining is now dead.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • How to Upgrade your Laptop's RAM

    One noob-friendly option to speed up your system is to upgrade your RAM. This tutorial explains all the essentials step by step. And the best part is, it's fairly easy to do for all.

    By Matthew Bio on

  • We Bought the Cheapest DDR5 RAM Modules We Could Find, Are They Any Good?

    We've got to admit that when we purchased these cheap 8GB DDR5-4800 memory sticks, we did so expecting them to be pretty bad and much slower than our DDR4-3200 memory in most instances. But surprise.

    By Steven Walton on

  • 2023 Genesis GV60: A Gadget on Wheels

    Hands-on the new all-electric 2023 Genesis GV60, featuring a lot of eyebrow-raising technology, Genesis has filled this new EV with all kinds of stuff for techies to enjoy.

    By Sami Haj-Assaad on

  • Sustainable Computing, Explained

    Building sustainable computing systems is not only the conscientious thing to do, but curbing carbon emissions may result in a seismic shift in how we develop the hardware of the future.

    By Abdulrahman Mahmoud on

  • DisplayPort vs HDMI: What's Best for High Refresh Rate Gaming?

    DisplayPort and HDMI: In this article we'll point out the differences between the two interfaces, how the choice of monitor fits into this, and why GPU vendors seem to prefer DisplayPort over HDMI.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Best Privacy-First Cloud Storage Services

    Most of us have been using cloud storage for years, with plenty of good services out there. But features and free storage comes secondary when you are looking for secure, privacy-first cloud storage.

    By Heinrich Long on

  • Spider-Man Remastered CPU Benchmark

    We're back with another big Spider-Man benchmark, this time focusing on CPU performance. We'll be testing at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, using a range of quality settings including ray tracing.

    By Steven Walton on

  • Nvidia and AMD Seriously Want to Offload Current-Gen GPUs

    In the lead up to next-gen GPUs and current graphics card pricing discussion, there are still a few horrible deals, a few decent buys, and some news to talk about in our latest GPU pricing update.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • Spider-Man Remastered GPU Benchmark

    Spider-Man Remastered has arrived to PC with unlocked frame rates, FSR 2.0 and DLSS upscaling, ray-traced reflections, and ultra-wide monitor support. Let's now take a look at GPU performance.

    By Steven Walton on

  • 2016 Flagship GPU vs 2022 Budget GPU

    Can today's value king, the Radeon RX 6600, hold a candle to 2016's flagship GeForce GPU, the GTX 1080? Let's find out how these two GPUs match up by testing them in 51 games and get our answer.

    By Steven Walton on

  • A Surveillance Primer: 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes

    As awareness of global surveillance grows, more people are looking for information about the Five Eyes (FVEY), Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes surveillance alliances. So what are these organizations?

    By Sven Taylor on

  • TechSpot PC Buying Guide: H2 2022

    With next-gen products around the corner, is it a good time to buy or build a new PC? This PC Buying Guide update gets you four recommended component lists, meant for different budgets and purposes.

    By Amir Shoam on

  • How to Boot to BIOS in Windows 11

    The Windows 11 POST process happens quickly for improved startup times, leaving little room to hit the designated setup key and access the BIOS menu. Here's how to boot to BIOS in Windows 11.

    By Humphrey Menge and Julio Franco on

  • Cloud Storage Basics: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and More Compared

    Thanks to a wide array of cloud storage solutions, you no longer have to travel around with a handful of USB sticks or a clunky external drive. Most big services feature free tiers, too.

    By Sami Haj-Assaad on

  • The Sims: 22 Years and Counting

    With over 200 million copies sold, The Sims is one of the most popular series in history, receiving a world-record number of expansion packs and redefining what's a game and who is a gamer.

    By Amir Shoam on

  • GPU Availability and Pricing Update: July 2022

    This month's update is particularly interesting not only because we continue to see a slide in GPU pricing, but it's also the first time Nvidia has officially cut prices this generation.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • 5 Affordable Last-Gen Phones That Are Great Buys

    You won't get the latest SoC, camera tech, and a few other bells and whistles with our great value choices, however, these phones are capable of handling almost everything you can throw at them.

    By Humza Aamir on

  • Multitasking Benchmark: PC Gaming + YouTube + Discord

    Let's look at multitasking performance while gaming. Is there any performance difference if you watch YouTube or stream on Discord while gaming?

    By Steven Walton on

  • How to Keep Using Internet Explorer in Microsoft Edge with IE Mode

    If you use Windows and need to access a website that doesn't support modern browsers, you can still manage to do it thanks to a hidden option in Microsoft Edge called "IE Mode."

    By Amir Shoam on

  • Top 10 Hacks for Microsoft Word

    Learning Microsoft Word's ins-and-outs can be very rewarding, making you more productive, plus your colleagues will also appreciate a Microsoft Word guru by their side.

    By Humza Aamir on

  • What Ever Happened to Yahoo! Messenger?

    Yahoo! Messenger was never the most popular, but for many years it was close enough to keep trying, introducing many messaging features years before they became the norm.

    By Amir Shoam on

  • 10 Tips to Get You Started with Microsoft PC Game Pass

    Microsoft's Game Pass has slowly become a must-have for hardcore PC and Xbox gamers. With hundreds of great titles and lots of day-one releases, here are a few pro tips you should know about.

    By Rob Thubron on