Hardware

These are my favorite pretty PC peripherals that aren’t pink, black, or white
Most gaming peripherals — and PC parts, and electronics in general — are black. That makes sense, as black goes with everything, looks sleeker and more professional (and more modern) than some variation of black (gray), and (probably) shows wear and tear less than something white. If gaming companies decide to offer a second colorway,…

I’ve reviewed one hundred 3D printers — these are the best features that have become non-negotiable
3D printing technology is evolving at breakneck speed, and features considered cushy add-ons five years ago are now becoming everyday essentials. 3D printer forums used to buzz with questions about necessary mods just to make their machines usable, but now people want to know if they can run their printer from a phone. I checked…

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Faceoff — it isn’t even close
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs Ryzen 9 9950X competition is intense. The Core 9 285K ushers in a new era for Intel desktop CPUs, and questionable naming scheme aside, the Ultra 9 285K is the highest-performing offering from Intel’s latest Arrow Lake lineup of CPUs, even though its value proposition is clearly lacking….

ChatGPT users revolt over GPT-5 release — OpenAI battles claims that the new model’s accuracy and abilities fall short
OpenAI made a controversial move at the end of last week by replacing all of its older GPT-4 models with a single GPT-5 model, which it claimed was more accurate, more capable, and faster than ever before. Although some users have highlighted its impressive response times and ability to pass certain technical tests, users have…

Why I still use a Lenovo Thinkpad that debuted in 2011 — the X220 helps me stay focused on my most important tasks
IBM and later Lenovo’s Thinkpad laptops are, to me, beautiful slabs of computing that may not be the most elegant pieces of technology, but they are workhorses. In fact, I have an older Lenovo X220 that was released all the way back in 2011, but I still find it useful even today to help me…

Asus ROG Strix XG32UCWMG 4K OLED gaming monitor review: Premium high-speed gaming and stunning imagery
Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. A new OLED gaming monitor seems to appear every week, with models ranging from 27 inches and larger, along with ultra wides and…

How to check Performance/Speed of your HDD or SSD
In today’s fast-paced digital world, the speed and responsiveness of your computer depend on how well its storage drive works, whether it is a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a new Solid-State Drive (SSD). A slow drive can make it hard for you to get work done, which can be leads frustrated delays and…

Back-to-school PC peripherals you didn’t know you needed — hot deals on headsets, mice, keyboards, speakers, and more
You’ve already got a computer — now what? Yes, your brand-new laptop does technically have a keyboard, a mouse (or, well, trackpad), and some sort of audio input/output device built in, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bother looking at standalone peripherals. A well-built, comfortable gaming keyboard, a speedy mouse, and a dedicated set of…

Silicon Motion announces new devices at Future of Memory and Storage summit 2025: PCIe 6.0 SSDs, 256 / 512 TB drives, and next-gen 16K LDPC
Silicon Motion’s program at the ongoing Future for Memory and Storage (FMS) conference was packed with announcements. The company offered a glimpse at controllers for PCIe 6.0 SSDs for consumer and data center applications, shared details on the evolution of its MonTitan SM8300-series PCIe Gen5 platforms for enterprise SSDs, and discussed next-generation Low Density Parity…

Best Storage Controllers for Gaming PC: A Comprehensive Guide
Every component in your PC is vital for delivering the best gaming experience. While many focus on flashy GPUs and CPUs, the storage controller, a lesser-known part of your solid-state drive (SSD), is just as important. A high-quality storage controller allows your games to load faster and ensures texture streaming runs smoothly, making your entire…