Articles about Gaming

The transition to PCIe 4.0 is in full effect, with more and more computers and motherboards having the new standard. Whether consumers truly need the benefits of PCIe 4.0 today is debatable, but it is still cool regardless. After all, it is important to continually push boundaries.

One of the best aspects of PCIe 4.0 is faster solid state drives, of course. For instance, today, Western Digital unveils its latest NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD. Called "WD_BLACK SN750 SE," it is designed for both gamers and PC enthusiasts.

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Just yesterday, we told you about some insanely fast memory from HyperX. That company's new Predator RAM kits can be had with speeds up to 5333MHz. While we do not yet know pricing for that memory, it is guaranteed to be expensive.

If you don't need super-pricy memory that exceeds 5000MHz, but you still want something faster than the typical 3200MHz, I have great news. Today, PNY unveils its latest RAM -- the XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X RGB DDR4 4000MHz desktop memory kit. And yes, as the name implies, it features RGB lighting.

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Back in February, Kingston announced that it was selling its HyperX gaming division to HP. Many PC enthusiasts were nervous about this, particularly regarding what would happen to HyperX RAM. Thankfully, Kingston did not include its memory products in the deal, so HyperX RAM will not be made HP. In other words, Kingston will apparently keep on manufacturing the HyperX memory that consumers love.

Today, HyperX announces that its popular Predator DDR4 gaming RAM can now be had in frequencies up to 5333MHz! To be more specific, the memory kits will be offered in three new speeds -- 5000MHz, 5133MHz, and 5333MHz. Yeah, folks, this is some insanely fast RAM!

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If you like the idea of the Nintendo Switch, but wish you could play PC games on it, then GDP WIN 3 could well be just what you’re looking for.

The handheld console runs Windows 10 Home and has Switch-like controllers on the left and right hand sides and a 1280 x 720 touchscreen that slides up to reveal to a keyboard underneath. It’s a nice piece of kit, but it comes with something that you might not be so happy about -- a high price tag.

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When you are a system builder, there are certain important aspects of the build that are often overlooked. For instance, many builders will opt for a cheap power supply and then wonder why their system is unstable. I know a PSU isn't as exciting as a CPU, GPU, or RAM, but it is still an important component.

Another tragically overlooked component? The CPU cooler. Maybe your processor came with a stock heatsink and fan in the box. You know what? Sometimes the included cooler can be pretty good. For the most part, however, it would be wise to spend a bit more on a third-party offering -- especially if you want to overclock your processor. Today, Thermaltake launches two affordable CPU coolers -- the TOUGHAIR 310 and 510.

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The issues caused by updates for Windows 10 have been varied and plentiful. With each new batch of updates, anyone willing to install them finds they are playing an unwitting game of Russian roulette; the patch may fix some problems, but the chances are that they will introduce new ones as well.

This month's KB5001330 update -- just like the non-security preview version from the previous month, KB5000842 -- was just the latest in a long line of bug-riddled updates. This time the plethora of problems includes a performance hit for a number of games and to help with this, NVIDIA has a simple (if slightly controversial) solution.

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There are two curved displays in my home -- a television in my living room and a computer monitor in my office. Both look cool, 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, BenQ launches its latest curved monitor. Called "MOBIUZ EX3415R," this 34-inch ultrawide gaming display has a resolution of 3440x1440 and a 144Hz refresh rate. While this monitor should be great for all games, BenQ is particularly focusing on sim-racing; it has a special mode designed specifically for that genre. It even comes with a handy wireless remote control to make changing between modes super easy.

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Nowadays, 8GB of RAM is pretty much the bare minimum that should come with any decent computer. Sure, maybe some users can get by OK with 4GB, but with memory prices being so low, there is really no excuse for anything less than 8GB. Hell, I would recommend all consumers opt for 16GB -- if their budget allows it, of course.

With all of that said, there are some hardcore computer users -- primarily designers and creators -- that can benefit from much more than 8GB or 16GB. Just how much? It isn't crazy for some folks to install 32GB, 64GB, or even more. Today, Silicon Power launches some all new RAM. Called "XPOWER Zenith," it is offered in kits with up to 64GB capacity. This DDR4 gaming memory features up to 4133MHz frequency and can be had with optional RGB lighting.

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In the good ol' days of video games, we didn't really care what the console or the controllers looked like -- it was just about playing the games. Nowadays, however, the kiddies seem to love having unique colors and designs for hardware -- a way to stand out from their friends, maybe. Microsoft, for instance, absolutely litters the market with differently styled Xbox controllers.

Nintendo is not immune to this trend, and the company has long released different colors and variants of its hardware. The Nintendo Switch Lite, for instance, can be had in several colors, but later in the year, yet another color will become available -- blue. While I am usually a fan of that color, I must say Nintendo has chosen one of the ugliest shades possible. Yuck!

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For the most part, Android smartphones are pretty boring nowadays. LG has often been a risk-taker in the Android market, taking chances with unique phones that have funky designs and cool features. Sadly, LG has decided to leave the mobile market. Thankfully, Lenovo seems ready to take the reins with its brave new Legion Phone Duel 2 -- a drool-worthy gaming-focused 5G smartphone that is a successor to last year's model.

What makes the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 so special? Well, it builds upon its predecessor with better specifications and a nicer overall design. It has a huge (6.92-inch) high-resolution (2460 x 1080) AMOLED HDR display, 44MP front camera, and 64MP rear shooter. The front camera pops out from the side of the phone, meaning there is no notch to interfere with the screen.

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Bluetooth headphones are very cool, but they have a huge problem -- they run on batteries. And so, while people seem happy to invest in expensive wireless options like Apple AirPods, when they run out of power, they can leave the consumer feeling quite foolish. Why? Because "old school" wired headphones never had this problem.

Sadly, many smartphone manufacturers have done away with 3.5mm audio jacks, making it harder than ever to use traditional headphones. Logitech wants to cater to fans of wires, however, as the company today launches the G333 wired USB-C gaming earphones with integrated microphone.

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Every once in a while, storage card manufacturers will release cards that are branded for gaming. People often wonder if there is anything different about these cards that can actually benefit gamers. The answer is largely no. A storage card that is designed for gaming is really just marketing hype. With that said, there is nothing wrong with these cards, although they can carry a premium price.

Today, Lexar launches the PLAY microSDXC UHS-I Card for Nintendo Switch and mobile gaming devices such as Android phones and tablets. It should be a great choice for a Raspberry Pi too. This card has a beautiful red color and comes in capacities up to 1TB. Believe it or not, despite its gaming branding it really isn't overpriced. In fact, you can score one of these cards for less than $22.

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When it comes to delivering an immersive, exciting, and balanced gaming experience for the player, AI is certainly one of the focus points for developers. From building realism in a virtual world to making sure a game adapts to skill level, it has an increasingly important role to play in the industry.

To take a quick temperature check on the importance of AI for gamers, just look at what can happen when things aren't up to scratch. It was impossible to miss the burning wreckage of Cyberpunk 2077 as it came crashing down last year, with a buggy and faulty AI on display for all to see (among all the other issues). The internet was quickly filled with clips of enemies spawning out of the ether and cars circling the same roundabout ten times before vanishing. The bugs were enough to ruin the game's launch for many, with underperforming sales the end result.

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Do you ever get tired of the flashy designs that many gaming products have these days? I know I am personally fatigued by it sometimes. Look, I enjoy RGB lighting and computers that look like alien spaceships as much as the next guy, but sometimes I crave a more conservative design style.

And that is why I am very intrigued by Corsair's newest gaming mouse. Called "KATAR PRO XT," the device has a no-nonsense design that makes it appropriate for an executive's desk without being entirely boring. Best of all, it is very affordable -- you will be shocked by the low price.

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PC gamers usually come to a fork in the road when needing a new gaming rig -- build one or buy one. While building a PC can be rewarding, sometimes there are pre-built machines that are worth considering instead -- particularly when they are beyond what you can reasonably do yourself.

As an example, today, MSI launches the MEG Aegis Ti5 gaming desktop and it takes things to another level. It is powered by either an Intel Core i7-10700K or i9-10900K CPU and either a GeForce RTX 3070 or 3080 graphics card. What makes this computer unique, however, is its gorgeous chassis -- it looks futuristic. The case even has a special LED dial on the front for quick and easy tweaks.

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