Gaming

When you are a PC builder, there are peaks and valleys when it comes to excitement about components. What I mean by this is, sometimes you are building machines with cutting edge parts as an early adopter, while other times you are using ho-hum components that have been around a while. For instance, we have been using DDR4 memory for about seven years now... boring!

On the horizon, thankfully, is the DDR5 revolution. After dealing with DDR4 for so many years now, we will soon see PCs with DDR5 memory inside. One of the companies leading this industry shift is PNY, and today, that company shares its plans to launch DDR5 RAM products later in the year.

Is the Sony PlayStation 5 better than the Xbox Series X? Absolutely. It has better exclusive games, a more futuristic design, and quite frankly, a much better name too. I mean, Series X? Microsoft has begun mocking its own ridiculous naming scheme lately.

Thanks to a new firmware update (currently in beta) you can finally expand the PlayStation 5's internal storage too, using an ultra-fast NVMe SSD. And now, TEAMGROUP is releasing a new such M.2 SSD for PlayStation 5. It is called "T-FORCE CARDEA A440 Pro Special 5eries," and no, the word "Series" being stylized with a 5 is not a typo -- it is a clever way to indicate it is designed for the PS5.

It feels like just yesterday that Logitech bought Blue Microphones, but believe it or not, it has been about three years already! In that time, Logitech has integrated Blue technologies into some of its products, such as the G PRO X gaming headset.

And now, in a synergistic move, Logitech is launching a special "Blue Icepop" microphone upgrade for its own Logitech G PRO headset and the Astro A40 headset. If you aren't familiar, Logitech also owns Astro Gaming. This product is rather clever -- I never thought of upgrading the removeable microphone on an existing headset, but it totally makes sense.

Some names transport you back to the past, and this is certainly true of 3dfx. It is now two decades since the graphics card maker went bankrupt and was swallowed by NVIDIA.

But now it seems that the company is rising from the dead. Over the weekend, a Twitter account for 3dfx Interactive appeared and started posting some interesting tweets. First, there is at the promise of a "major announcement regarding our return this Thursday" (August 5), followed by a poll asking people if they'd like to see a new 3dfx Voodoo card. So, what's going on?

Monoprice is a brand that in-the-know shoppers have come to love and respect. The company offers quality products at very affordable prices, including things like cables, headphones, mice, and more. If you are shopping while on a budget, you definitely need to check out the company's offerings -- including for PC gaming.

Today, Monoprice launches its latest computer monitor under its Dark Matter gaming brand. Model number 42892, as it is unimaginatively named, is a 27-inch QHD display with 180Hz refresh and a Sharp-made IGZO panel.

There are two curved displays in my home -- a computer monitor in my office and a television in my living room. Both look stylish, but truth be told, the curve doesn't make any difference when watching TV. Since I sit far back from the television, the curve doesn't add any benefit. On the computer monitor where I sit much closer, however, the curvature lends to a more immersive experience. I can't recommend curved computer monitors enough -- for both gaming and productivity.

Today, Samsung announces its latest monitor, and it is very special. Called "Odyssey Neo G9," the 49-inch display is significant for being the first-ever curved gaming monitor to use Mini LED technology.

Battlefield 2042 is one of the most highly anticipated video games, and it is due out later this year. It is currently scheduled for an October 22 release, but as we all know, these dates can be pushed back due to unforeseen issues. With that said, I am pretty confident Electronic Arts will meet this deadline, and Battlefield 2042 will prove to be one of the hottest Christmas gifts this year.

If you want to ensure you get your copy of Battlefield 2042 and that your PC's storage can load it quickly, Western Digital has a special bundle you must check out. You see, the company has launched a special Battlefield 2042 variant of its WD_Black SN750 SE NVMe SSD. Not only does it comes with a redeemable download code for the game, but it is emblazoned with really cool Battlefield 2042 branding.

What an exciting time to be a PC gamer! There are so many great games to play and the underlying hardware is more powerful than ever. It is amazing to see what game developers are putting out these days. Thanks to the upcoming Steam Deck, these hardcore PC games can be easily taken on the go too.

If you are in the market for a pre-built gaming PC, I have some exciting news. Manufacturer ZOTAC has unveiled gaming desktops that are both Windows 11 ready and assembled in the USA. Called "MEK HERO," there are two models (G1 A5636 and G1 A5837) from which to choose, and they are both powered by high-end AMD CPUs and hardcore NVIDIA GPUs. And yes, they have RGB lighting and glass side-panels. The higher-end MEK HERO G1 A5837 model features CPU liquid-cooling.

As pre-orders for the latest version of the Nintendo Switch system continue to pour in, Nintendo made some interesting news this week related to how the media has been reporting on the new device. And it has ignited even more discussion about the unique new benefit (and the unique exclusion) of the upgraded console.

The new OLED Switch boasts a significant improvement to the console's built-in screen and … not much else. At one point, there was reporting that it would support 4K output when used in TV mode, but Nintendo never officially announced that and did not include it as a feature. So some Nintendo fans may have felt ripped off when a recent Bloomberg article was posted, saying that the OLED Switch would have a higher profit margin.

Despite all the unease and uncertainty of the past 18 months, it is comforting to know that there are some things you can rely on: like the billions of dollars in recurring credit card transactions that every media conglomerate has continued to rake in. From legacy names to brand new offerings that launched during the pandemic, the streaming video industry is one of the obvious winners in a world where people spend more time at home.

With that world starting to fade away, though, and as a year and a half of boredom slowly transforms into demand for outdoor and real-world activities, there is no way these services can keep up their record levels of growth and momentum. But that doesn't mean that they're not trying.

Switching from Windows to Linux is pretty easy nowadays -- unless you're a gamer. If you are into PC gaming, Windows is still the best operating system for maximum compatibility and performance. Gaming on Linux has gotten better thanks to Steam's Proton, but still, Windows clearly reigns supreme.

With all of that said, Linux gaming is about to get much more possible. You see, Valve's new handheld gaming console is basically just a PC running an Arch Linux-based operating system. The OS is named "SteamOS" and it uses KDE Plasma.

It’s been over a decade since Finnish game maker Rovio hit the big time with Angry Birds. New levels were periodically added to keep players interested and, capitalizing on that success, the company followed it up with other games such as Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds 2. They also released a tournament-based version called Angry Birds Friends. 

Rovio has kept the tournament version fresh and exciting by releasing loads of new levels every week. The goal of the game is to beat the people you're playing against and after completing each level you will see where you rank amongst those ahead and behind you  -- both places and points. 

When people think of PC gaming gear, they aren't likely to think of furniture. Instead, they probably conjure images in their heads of mice, keyboards, and controllers. But the gamer's computer and monitor need to sit upon a desk or table, right? And of course, the players themselves need to sit in a chair. So, yes, gamers do need furniture.

Believe it or not, gaming chairs are a things these days, providing extra comfort for long gameplay sessions. Not to mention, these chairs look cool, appealing to the style of gamers. One of the companies that makes such chairs, Vertagear, has a model called PL4500. And now, that chair is getting a special new variant. You see, Vertagear has partnered with Swarovski to emblazon the PL4500 with beautiful crystals. Très chic!

The solid state drive market is evolving very fast lately. Not only do we now have an external drive with a huge 16TB storage capacity, but PCIe 4.0-capable motherboards are becoming more prevalent. Why is PCIe 4.0 so important? Bandwidth, baby. Compared to PCIe 3.0, the new 4.0 has double the bandwidth. From a storage perspective, this means PCIe 4.0 solid state drives will provide insanely fast speeds.

Today, MSI unveils a trio of new PCIe NVMe M.2 solid state drives under its new "SPATIUM" branding. Called "M370," "M470," and "M480," one drive uses PCle 3.0, while the other two utilize the faster PCle 4.0. In other words, the company is providing options, allowing consumers to choose the speed that best meets their needs (and budgets).

Hardware that is designed for gamers can be expensive. This is because gaming gear is often built to higher standards. Of course, it can also be artificial price increases, as manufacturers know gamers aren't afraid of disposing of their income.

Thankfully, not all companies are intent on taking advantage of gamers. Logitech, for instance, offers quality products at various price points, allowing gamers to have good gear without breaking the bank. Today, Logitech launches its latest wired gaming headset, and it is designed to be affordable. Called "G335," it is compatible with PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.