Feature Index Page 2

  • Turn On Your PC Remotely: Set Up Your PC for Wake-On-LAN

    If you have several PCs all connected to the same network and want to access one that's currently switched off, you can power it back up remotely thanks to a cool bit of networking tech.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • What is HDR?

    When choosing your next monitor to buy, it might be worth considering one that offers HDR. Here's our explainer, giving you all the info you need on this amazing technology.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Shader Compilation and Why It Causes Stuttering, Explained

    The latest and biggest 3D games often seem to have a problem with stuttering. Ask around and finger of blame often points to shader compilation. But why, and what can be done about it?

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Will GPUs Ever Get Cheaper? GPU Pricing Update

    After a period of consistent new GPU releases from Nvidia and AMD, things have cooled down in February, but it's still worth taking a look at how the market is behaving and what we can expect.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • How Hot is Too Hot for PC Hardware?

    As the power limits of CPUs and graphics cards climb ever higher, we ask and answer a simple question -- just how hot is too hot for today's PC components?

    By Nick Evanson on

  • How to Get Windows to Keep Previous Copies of Your Files

    Get peace of mind by automating your backups with this Windows trick. Check out how File History remembers to keep backups so you don't have to.

    By Dan Croutch on

  • Going From 20 to 40: A Graphics Card Upgrade Tale

    A lot can happen in four years, especially in the world of PCs. How much better can a new GPU actually be? Here's one upgrade tale to show that picture.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Two-Factor Authentication: Methods and Myths

    When I mentioned to a few friends that I was writing a feature about two-step authentication, the typical response was an eye-roll and "Oh, that annoying thing?..." But wait. There's more to it.

    By Devin Kate Pope on

  • What Ever Happened to GameSpy?

    Today, multiplayer gaming is easy. But in the 90s, it was cumbersome and not exactly user friendly until an app called GameSpy hit the scene which made browsing for servers and connecting with players a far more intuitive process. It was a game-changer.

    By Sami Haj-Assaad on

  • Why Steam Deck is One of the Most Significant PC Gaming Moments in Years

    While the launch of the Steam Deck was the opposite of pompous, Valve's gaming handheld has kept gaining momentum. One year later, let's take a look at the impact it's had on the PC gaming market.

    By Goran Damnjanovic on

  • How We Test: CPU Benchmarks, Misconceptions Explained

    In this explainer we support with data why testing CPU performance with a GPU bottleneck is a bad idea, so you can have a full understanding of our testing methods when reviewing CPUs.

    By Steven Walton on

  • How to Find Your Wi-Fi Passwords in Windows

    Need to give someone your Wi-Fi password but can't find the key on the router? Use your Windows PC and our handy guide to uncover the hidden treasure.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Rendition: Gone But Not Forgotten

    Thirty years ago, PC gamers could choose GPUs from over 10 different makers. The fascinating story of Rendition is one of engineering brilliance and lost opportunities from the golden age of graphics.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • 21+ Programs to Analyze and Benchmark Your Hardware

    We've compiled a list of 21 programs that are great for analyzing or benchmarking your devices -- whether you're into overclocking, tweaking your system, or simply want to see what you've got.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Most Anticipated PC Games of 2023

    Our list of the most anticipated games for 2023 is a mix of remakes, new entries from long-dormant series, and a handful of new IPs. We've been waiting for some of these titles for literal years.

    By Rob Thubron on

  • GPU Pricing Update: Hardware Still Overpriced?

    Our monthly GPU pricing update gives us the opportunity to revisit new card launches like the recent RTX 4070 Ti, see how those affect the overall market and where the best GPU deals are.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • Computer Tips & Tricks Everyone Should Know

    Hardcore PC users might consider themselves above learning new tricks, but you can always sharpen your skills, and we bet that you'll find at least one useful thing here that you didn't know before.

    By TechSpot Staff on

  • Playing Call of Duty Can Improve Your Driving Skills

    "Playing video games can make you a better driver," it's not exactly what you imagine. Ironically, studies show that first-person shooters like Call of Duty provide more benefits for drivers than driving games do.

    By Cal Jeffrey on

  • Explainer: What is SSD Trimming?

    Trimming is a process that helps to maintain the performance of a solid-state drive over time. Windows and other OS optimize SSDs by using trimming. But what exactly is it and how does it work?

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Cost Per Frame: Best Value Graphics Cards in Early 2023

    With the recent launch of new GPUs from both AMD and Nvidia, it's time to take a look into what graphics cards are the best value right now, using the most up to date pricing in several regions.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • Nvidia GeForce Now Ultimate vs. New Graphics Card

    Buying a graphics card is becoming very expensive, especially if you're aiming for a high-end GPU. But there may be another option, playing games on the cloud, but does that really work?

    By Rob Thubron on

  • How to Deep Clean Your Keyboard

    I've been using a Das Keyboard exclusively since 2014 without incident. Build quality aside, I credit its longevity to regular maintenance cleanings.

    By Shawn Knight on

  • Compaq: Gone But Not Forgotten

    Computers had finally made the jump from taking up a full room to something that could fit on a desk. In 1982, three entrepreneurs founded Compaq to make a portable IBM-compatible PC, they succeeded.

    By Cal Jeffrey on

  • The Rise, Fall and Renaissance of AMD

    AMD is one of the world's oldest CPU makers and the subject of polarizing debate among tech enthusiasts for nearly 50 years. Its story makes for a thrilling tale that we examine today.

    By Nick Evanson and Graham Singer on

  • Top 5 Monitors for Nvidia RTX 4090, RTX 4080, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX & 7900 XT GPUs

    If you're upgrading to a new flagship GPU from AMD or Nvidia, you won't want to play games on some crappy old monitor. Harness their full benefits using a top quality display like these 5 recommendations.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • Explainer: What is Chip Binning?

    You bought a new CPU and it seems to run cool, so you try a bit of overclocking. The GHz climb higher. Did you hit the silicon jackpot? You've got yourself a binned chip. But what's that exactly?

    By Nick Evanson on

  • GPU Pricing Update: Was AMD's Radeon RX 7000 Launch a Success?

    Our final GPU pricing update of the year brings interesting talk points after new GPUs have landed, how sales of the new graphics cards are going and how they have affected the broader GPU market.

    By Tim Schiesser on

  • TechSpot PC Buying Guide: Holidays 2022

    The PC market has changed tremendously in the past few months. New Ryzen, Intel Core CPUs and high-end GPUs, so should you buy the latest and greatest, or settle for more affordable parts?

    By Amir Shoam on

  • Path Tracing vs. Ray Tracing, Explained

    Every few years there's an amazing new technology with the promise of making games ever more realistic. We've had shaders, tessellation, shadow mapping, ray tracing -- and now there's path tracing.

    By Nick Evanson on

  • Top 10 Hacks for Microsoft PowerPoint

    For countless people in business, education and entertainment, PowerPoint is the default app for creating presentations. Here are top 10 shortcuts and hacks to help you become a PowerPoint pro.

    By Nick Evanson on