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Latest by Jacob Roach

Frey shooting magic at a flying enemy.

How DirectStorage loads Forspoken in one second on PC

GDC 2022 brought new details for Microsoft's DirectStorage technology, including the reveal that it can load Forspoken in as little as one second.
A pile of cables sitting on the floor.

How to get your collection of tangled cables under control

There's no shame in having a massive cable collection. We all do. Here's how to get a grip on it, organize what you have, and get rid of what you don't need.
Julianna pins Colt to the ground in Deathloop.

FSR 2.0 is the complete reboot AMD’s upscaling needed

AMD revealed more details about FSR 2.0 at GDC 2022. Here's everything we learned about the upcoming upscaling feature.
Hopper H100 graphics card.

Nvidia RTX 4080: What we learned from GTC 2022

The RTX 4080 was a no-show at GTC 2022, but the next-gen Hopper architecture still holds some hints for the upcoming graphics card.
Nvidia Hopper GPU family.

Nvidia reveals first-ever CPU and Hopper GPU at GTC 2022

Nvidia kicked off GTC 2022 with the announcement of its first-ever discrete CPU and also revealed its next-generation Hopper GPU architecture.
RTX 3090 installed inside a gaming PC.

Microsoft is hindering Windows 11 on custom-built PCs

A new watermark is showing up on custom-built PCs running Windows 11, notifying users that their machines aren't supported. But that's the problem: They are.
Maingear Vybe desktop sitting on a table.

Maingear Vybe review: Great bones, outdated details

Maingear's Vybe has been a touchstone for custom gaming PCs for years, and it's still a solid option in 2022. It's not the perfect platform it once was, though.
nintendo switch games black friday deals 2021 super mario odyssey announcement screen 1 e3

The best video games for kids

Finding age-appropriate games can be tough today. However, with our list of the best video games for kids, you can keep your kids entertained without worry.
The Apple Studio Display alongside a Mac Studio computer on a desk.

Why the M1 Ultra was doomed to disappoint

Apple said the M1 Ultra is more powerful than Nvidia's RTX 3090. It was always a ridiculous comparison, and now we know that Apple's claims weren't true.
A comparison of AMD FSR in Deathloop.

AMD FSR 2.0 takes notes from DLSS — and it’s coming soon

AMD has pulled back the curtain on FSR 2.0, which should arrive soon. The company also released its general-purpose RSR upscaling solution for all AMD GPUs.
best castlevania games thumb

The best Castlevania games of all time

Castlevania is one of the oldest names in gaming. In this list, we go back in time to look at the best Castlevania games ever made, ranking 22 of the games.
Paint pouring over a cube on the MSI Optix MPG 32 QD.

MSI Optix MPG 32 QD review: Quantum dot elevates color

MSI's Optix MPG 32 QD is a marvel of a gaming monitor, combining cutting-edge display tech with the best and latest gaming features.
Agent 47 standing on a rainy street in China.

The best PC games for HDR

Support for HDR in PC games is sporadic at best. To help you through the long list of games available, we rounded up the best PC games for HDR.
A character stares out over Limgrave in Elden Ring.

Ray tracing on Elden Ring? Here’s how I added it myself

You can't get Nvidia's RTX ray tracing in Elden Ring, but you can use the technique to enhance the look of it and most other PC games.
Logo on the RTX 3090.

Apple’s M1 Ultra is faster than an RTX 3090? Don’t count on it

Apple made some big claims when it announced the M1 Ultra during its spring 2022 event, saying that the chip can outclass the RTX 3090. Here's why it won't.
A person works at a station equipped with the all new Mac Studio and Studio Display.

Apple’s Mac Studio isn’t modular — and that’s a good thing

Apple announced the Mac Studio, and it fits in a similar spot as the modular Mac Pro. But it's a good thing the Mac Studio isn't following in those footsteps.
A person works at a station equipped with the all new Mac Studio and Studio Display.

Apple’s new $1,599 Studio Display is aimed at creative pros

Apple announced the Studio Display at its Peek Performance event, which looks to offer a higher resolution than even Apple's own Pro Display XDR.
The new M1 Ultra chip.

Apple’s M1 Ultra is two M1 Max chips stitched together

Apple announced the new M1 Ultra chip during its Spring Event 2022, building on the M1 family that Apple introduced in 2020.
An AMD Ryzen 9 3900X on a table.

TPM is causing more issues with Windows 11 and Ryzen CPUs

AMD Ryzen systems are experiencing stutters on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and the issue stems from firmware TPM that Windows 11 requires in order to run.
AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su holding an AMD Threadripper processor.

AMD launches Threadripper 5000 Pro after months of delays

AMD has finally lifted the curtain on Threadripper 5000, following months of leaked benchmarks and rumored delays.
The BenQ Mobiuz EX3410R monitor.

BenQ Mobiuz EX3410R monitor review: Pushing prices down

The BenQ EX3410R is a showcase of how far ultrawide gaming monitors have come, with a long list of premium features that help it punch above its budget price.
Two graphics cards sitting on top of each other.

Even with lower prices, you shouldn’t buy a GPU right now

Graphics card prices are dropping more than they have in over a year. But right now is the worst possible time to upgrade your GPU.
Armored character wielding sword in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring’s new patch still stutters; here’s how to fix it

From Software put out a new patch for Elden Ring, but it doesn't fix the game's biggest issue: Stuttering. Here's how to fix it yourself.
Elden Ring's hero goes toe to toe with a fiery enemy.

The best settings for Elden Ring: PC performance guide

Elden Ring is demanding on PC. We ran a slew of PC benchmarks so you can optimize your performance with the best settings for Elden Ring.
pc news roundup february 2022 biggest

The biggest PC news in February 2022: Apple M2, Steam Deck

February was a big month for PC news, with the Apple M2, a massive Nvidia hack, and, of course, the Steam Deck. Here's what you need to know about.
An enemy performs a magic spell in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring PC performance problems and fixes, tested

Elden Ring has a ton of PC performance problems, including stuttering, screen tearing, and frame rate drops. We tested every fix to see what works.
AMD RX 6600 XT on top of other graphics cards.

How to benchmark your graphics card

If you want to see how your new GPU stacks up, you need to know how to benchmark your graphics cards. Here, we walk you through the prep and process.
Factorio running on a Steam Deck.

3 reasons why the Steam Deck is the ultimate gaming handheld

With Steam Decks finally shipping, you might be tempted to throw your name in the queue. Here's why you should sign up for what could be the ultimate handheld.
A man working from home.

Intel Evo 3 now requires laptops to have better webcams

Intel is expanding the Evo 3 specification it announced at CES, focusing on remote workers and their experiences when working on the go.
Intel shows off 12th Gen Mobile processors for laptops.

Intel claims new 12th-gen laptop chips outclass the M1 Pro

Intel is expanding its 12th-gen mobile lineup with new U-series and P-series processors, and they could rival the Apple M1 in terms of power and efficiency.
MSI Aegis RS 12 sitting on a table.

MSI Aegis RS 12 review: Cheaper than building your own

The MSI Aegis RS 12 is packed with the latest and greatest hardware, and it's cheap. There are a few build quality oversights you need to know about, though.
minecraft

The best games like Minecraft to play in 2022

Minecraft isn't the only game for creative gamers. Our list of the 15 best games like Minecraft includes our favorite sandbox and survival games you can play.
AMD Ryzen 6000 laptop chip.

Ryzen 6000 integrated graphics rival Nvidia’s discrete GPUs

AMD has officially released its Ryzen 6000 processors. They come with a number of improvements, including twice the integrated graphics performance.
MSI Vigor GK71 Sonic keyboard on a gray background.

MSI Vigor GK71 Sonic keyboard review: Seldom bad, never great

The MSI GK71 Sonic is a solid gaming keyboard, but a long list of quirks hold it back from being one of the best.