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When it comes to interacting with your computer, we know that the way your items come is not always the best way to use them. Avram has some great ideas on how to improve your experience. Best of all, his suggestions can all come in under $50.On Your Desk Your computer has a lot of items that sit on your desk. This includes your keyboard, mouse, headphones, and more. This can take up a lot of space, and require a lot of interaction. This is a great place to improve your experience.Keyboard There are several ways to improve your keyboard experience. Of course, buying a good mechanical keyboard is a great start, but that will usually cost above $50. Right now, however, the EVGA Z15 is running only $39.99 (regularly $129.99). A deal like this is the point at which you should really consider an upgrade because it completely changes the typing experience. Once you have your mechanical keyboard (or if you aren't able to get a deal), one great upgrade you can make is the keycaps. You might not consider the plastic pieces you touch to be a big part of the experience, but they are. Different designs and styles, as well as heights, can dramatically change the typing experience. Avram uses and recommends the Hyekit Keycaps, which have a great design and come in under $50 at $47.99. If you've already upgraded these items, you can still improve your typing with a wrist rest. It's the part of the experience that we most often ignore, but it's a small change that can make a big difference. Check out the HyperX wrist great, which has a cooling gel inside and reduces strain on your wrist. Best of all, it runs only $15.99 right now (normally $19.99).Headphones A great pair of headphones is an essential, and likely something you've already got. But, keeping the headphones in good repair and out of your way can make things better. There are a ton of great headphone holders that can make it better. Some stands are cool, offering USB ports and RGB effects, like the Monster Gaming Stand ($34.39). You can also get one that hooks onto your desk, giving you a lot more space on your desk. They range in price, but are usually under $15.USB Hub Now that you've got all of your USB devices, it's time to plug them in. A great way to do this is with a solid USB hub. It sits on your desk and gives you access to extra ports without having to reach under your desk. Avram's personal favorite is the Sabrent 7-port hub for a couple of reasons. First, it costs just $38.99 and gives you 7 extra ports. But, it also offers a power switch for each port, so if you have speakers and headphones plugged in, you can easily switch between them by simply turning them on and off.Under Your Desk There are ways to improve your experience from under the desk too, either inside of the computer or its power.Power If you are using a laptop, a GaN charger can change your experience. Anker's USB-C charger runs $59.99 but often includes a $10 coupon (make sure to click it). It makes it easier to carry, as the charger is far smaller and lighter, but also takes less space under your desk.Components As Avram has discussed before, certain components can speed up your experience and can be inexpensive. For example, you can get a good second SSD for under $50. For example, the SP 512 GB SSD runs $34.99. You likely don't want it as your primary, but is a good second drive. You can also speed up your system with some extra RAM. If you've got extra slots in your PC, you can add 16 GB of Patriot Signature RAM for $47.99. You can also speed up your internet connection using a UBIT AX210 Wi-Fi 6E card for only $35. Extra case fans for a desktop computer is a good idea, too. It can help to keep the system cool, speeding up operations. But, you can also add RGB to make the case more interesting. Lots of options exist, many under the $50 price point.

For some products, an annual refresh is expected. One of those products is Lenovo's workhorse productivity laptop, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This year marks the 10th generation of the laptop, and the company has made some changes to the core components while keeping the heart and soul of the computer intact.What's Stayed the Same? The important parts of the X1 Carbon are still in place. This includes the always important thinness (coming in at just 0.6 inches in thickness) - a big part of why people love the laptop. Despite the thin body, it still comes with 2 USB-A ports, a full-size HDMI port, as well as 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports. Usually, by going thin, we lose ports, but not with the X1 Carbon. Another important aspect of the laptop is the keyboard, and Lenovo does not disappoint. The keyboard on the new model has great travel and good spring back on typing. This is important for typing, as it is a physical indicator that the key has been pressed successfully. With the keyboard is the traditional track pointer, for those (like Avram) who love it, and a great trackpad for those who do not.What's Changed This Year? Some of what has changed is for the best. Some leave us with more questions than answers. But, for sure, there are a number of changes. One of the biggest and mouse impressive changes comes in the screen. It changes from a standard 16:9 aspect ratio to a 16:10 (or 8:5 for our math friends) aspect ratio. This means there is more vertical real estate on the display than previous models. The core screen has a 1920x1200 resolution with 405 nits of brightness. The model can be customized with a 2K OLED screen or a full 4K display. These upgrades will likely cost you in battery life, though, so that is something to consider. Another change that affects battery life is the processor. The 10th Gen X1 Carbon comes with a 12th Generation Intel Core processor, either in an i5 or i7 flavor. These Alder Lake processors went in a new direction, moving from the previous u-series processor to a p-series processor. This means that the processor uses more electricity than previous models. The u-series runs at 15 watts, while the p-series uses 28 watts. This is nearly double the amount of power required, meaning that the battery life has suffered. The previous models of X1 Carbon have averaged in the 12 to 14 hour range, while the 10th Generation is currently clocking in between 7.5 to 8.5 hours. This represents around a 33% decrease in the newest model of computer, which is going to be something to consider. Add to that the extra loss with an OLED or 4K screen, and you could really see a difference form the past. The Alder Lake processor does give some additional benefits, though. In particular, it has those split cores, with some being for power and some being for efficiency. Unfortunately, even with those efficiency cores, it's still a big downgrade in battery life. The 10th Generation X1 Carbon is available now starting at $1319.

When building a new computer, installing Windows can be a big challenge. You could be hampered by not owning a copy of the operating system yourself, or it could be because you have specific needs for your machine. Luckily, Avram has some ways to get Windows 11 for cheap and to install Windows without the usually required Microsoft Account.How to get Windows 11 Cheap For most, Windows comes with your existing computer. However, if you build your computer yourself, where does Windows come from? Microsoft would like you to pay $129 to buy Windows, but that's a lot of money. You could be building a $500 PC, but if you have to add another $129 for the OS, there goes the budget. What we know is that HP and Dell spend a lot less than that, so why can't you? Everyone can download Windows and create a bootable USB drive to install it. However, without a product key, you'll get a message in the corner of the screen and you won't be allowed to change your wallpaper (without tricks). Luckily, that's not a huge problem, but it can be annoying. An easy way to get a product key is to grab it off of an older machine. If you don't have an old copy of Windows, you can purchase in the OEM market, from sites such as Kinguin, for $18-30 for Home and $35 for Pro.Get around Microsoft Account There are requirements to install Windows 11 on your computer, such as TPN 2.0, Secure Boot, and 4 GB of RAM. However, you can bypass these requirements by making a small addition to the system registry. To do this, press ctrl-f10 in the setup process and edit the registry by typing regedit. Then, head to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SYSTEM -> Setup. Here you will add a new key called LabConfig. From here, you can add new values to bypass certain checks, such as TPMCheck, SecureBoot, and minimum RAM. However, what if you don't want to skip connecting a Microsoft Account to your machine and just use a local account? For example, what if you're building it to give away to charity, a friend, or to sell? It's not an obvious process, but it can be done. When you get to that screen, remove the internet connection to the computer. You can do this by disabling your wifi card, unplugging an ethernet cable, or unplugging your router or modem. You can also go back to the command prompt to release your IP address by typing ipconfig -release. However you accomplish it, once you've gotten rid of the internet connection, you can then go back and enter local information. You will hit the back arrow and enter a name and password without the need for a Microsoft Account. You can also enter no@thankyou.com as the email address and any password and you can create a local account, though that could change in the future. All of this currently works for Windows 11 Pro, but that feature is planned to be retired in the next major version.

Over the past year or so, building a PC has not necessarily been easy. This has been in part because of the higher cost of components, but mostly because of the limited availability of graphics cards. That limitation has been caused by a pair of major factors: manufacturing constraints because of global lockdowns and higher demand thanks to crypto mining. Luckily, in recent weeks, supply chain issues have eased and crypto mining has become less valuable with the crash of the crypto market. Now, with supply returning to normal, it's possible to build a decent gaming PC for under $500 - with and without a GPU.Common components For both of our builds, with and without a GPU, there are a number of common components, such as RAM, storage, case, and power supply. It's important to note that prices may vary based on the date and time of your reading.RAM A pair of 4 GB sticks of Crucial RAM is the start - and will only set you back $29. Together these sticks will give you a workable 8 GB of system RAM, though we do recommend spending a few more dollars to double the quantity. 8 GB is enough to work, but 16 GB is the minimum we recommend for a truly usable system.Storage For system storage, you can make a workable system with a TEAMGROUP 512 GB SSD. In this case, the drive is an M.2, meaning it has the potential to be lightning fast for a price that won't break the bank - $42. As with the RAM, we recommend upgrading the storage by double for less than double the price, though it is not required.Case There are a few decent quality cases that are inexpensive, but the CORSAIR Carbide Series 175R happens to be a great case that is running just $44. This is the one component that is likely to be a timing issue for our readers, though, as the case is on sale at time of writing. Fortunately, there are other good cases in the same price range, including a few from Rosewill.Power Supply Our power supply (PSU) is the Thermaltake Smart 430W, which runs $29. While this is a great PSU (we use them in Mission Control), there are other options in the event the price on this one changes. Most PSUs in this power range tend to run in the same price range.With a GPU The best system we can build with a GPU involves a specific processor, motherboard, and GPU.CPU and Motherboard The CPU we chose is a modern Intel Core i3 processor - the 12100F. Despite being of the current generation, the price is only $106. Tom's Hardware considers this the powerhouse of cheap gaming processors, so it is a great deal for a great processor. To go along with the processor is a compatible motherboard - the MSI Pro H610M-G DDR4. The board supports 2 sticks of RAM and our chosen processor.GPU For our GPU, the most expensive component in the build, we've got the XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400. The card has 4 GB of GDDR6 RAM and plugs into the PCI Express 4.0 port on our motherboard.Without GPU Without a GPU, the only additions to the core components are a processor and motherboard.CPU and Motherboard In order to skip the GPU, we need a processor with a built-in GPU. In this case, we went with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, a 6-core processor with Radeon Graphics onboard. With a different processor, we need a different board. Avram looked for a board that supported 5000 series processors out of the box, and we went with the ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0, which says it ships with support. This is important because the more modern processors need a firmware update, which is a major challenge.

If you're just starting out online, one of the first things you'll need to do is choose a web host. This can be a daunting task, especially if you don't know what to look for. Avram discusses the different types of web hosting services and helps you decide which one is right for you. He also gives you some tips on how to choose a web host that meets your needs. So, whether you're looking for shared hosting, VPS hosting, cloud hosting, or something else entirely, Avram's got tips on how to make the best decision possible!Registering a Domain Name The first step in setting up your web presence is to register a domain name. Your domain name is the address of your website on the Internet. It's what people will type into their browser to find your site. For example, Google's domain name is google.com. Domain names can be registered with any number of registrars, but we recommend that you use a registrar that also offers web hosting services. This way, you can register your domain name and set up your website all in one place. There are two parts to a domain name: the top-level domain (TLD) and the second-level domain (SLD). The TLD is the part of the domain name that comes after the dot. For example, in the domain name google.com, the TLD is .com. The SLD is the part of the domain name that comes before the dot. In google.com, the SLD is google. You can choose any TLD you want when you register your domain name, but some are more popular than others. The most popular TLDs are .com, .org, and .net. You can also register domains with country-specific TLDs such as .us, .UK, and .ca. These are known as ccTLDs (country code top-level domains). If you're targeting a specific country audience with your website, it can be helpful to use a ccTLD. However, ccTLDs are not required. You can register a .com domain name and use it for a website targeted at any country audience.Different Types of HostingShared Hosting Shared hosting is the most popular type of web hosting. This is because it's the most affordable option. With shared hosting, your website shares a server with other websites. This can be a great option if you're just starting out, as it's very budget-friendly. The downside of shared hosting is that your website may be affected by the traffic on other websites on the same server.WordPress Hosting WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting that's specifically designed for WordPress websites. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website without having to code it yourself. WordPress hosting usually comes with pre-installed WordPress, which makes it easy to get started. It also often includes features such as increased security and performance, as well as customer support specifically for WordPress websites.VPS Hosting VPS, or Virtual Private Server, hosting is a step up from shared hosting. With VPS hosting, your website is still sharing a server with other websites. However, you have your own virtual space on that server. This means that your website will not be affected by the traffic on other websites. VPS hosting is a great option if you're looking for more control over your website.Dedicated Hosting Dedicated hosting is the most expensive type of web hosting. With dedicated hosting, your website has its own server. This means that you have complete control over your website and it will not be affected by the traffic on other websites. Dedicated hosting is a great option if you have a high-traffic website or a website that requires special security.Cloud Hosting Cloud hosting is a newer type of web hosting. With cloud hosting, your website is hosted on a network of servers. This means that your website can be quickly and easily scaled to meet your needs. Cloud hosting is a great option for businesses that are growing quickly or have high traffic levels.How to Choose a Web Host Now that you know the different types of web hosts, how do you choose one? Here are some tips from Avram: Decide what type of web host you need based on the type of website you have. If you have a small personal website, shared hosting may be all you need. However, if you have a large website or one that gets a lot of traffic, you may need VPS or cloud hosting. Consider your budget. web hosting can range in price from $50 per year to $500 per year or more. Choose a web host that fits your budget and meets your needs. Read reviews of web hosts. There are many web hosting review websites where you can read about the experiences other people have had with different web hosts. This can be a great way to narrow down your choices and choose a web host that is right for you.

In the tech world, some products are so ubiquitous that they don't get updated very often. One of those product lines is the MX line of keyboards and mice from Logitech. Logitech's MX line of keyboards and mice are some of the best in their respective categories and are sure to please anyone who needs a quality keyboard or mouse. This line is popular among gamers, artists, and office workers alike. The newest entries have added some popular features making the products even better than their predecessors.Logitech MX Master 3S The Logitech MX Master 3 is a wireless mouse that has been Logitech's flagship mouse for a few years now, and the MX Master 3S is an iterative update for the mouse. The biggest change with the MX Master line is the inclusion of Logitech's new Flow software. This allows the mouse to be used on multiple computers at the same time. This is similar in features to Microsoft's free Mouse Without Borders, except it also runs on macOS. The software also gives a lot of ability to customize behavior. You can create different profiles for different devices, but can also customize behavior based on application. Maybe you want the side scroll button to zoom in Photoshop, but to side scroll in Microsoft Excel. When combined with Flow, these profiles can switch automatically as you swap between computers. The new mouse has also switched its proprietary and secondary connection from the old Logitech Unifying Receiver to Logi Bolt. Most users will use it with Bluetooth LE, so it's not that big of a deal, but for those who are using it with a desktop that doesn't have Bluetooth support, Logi Bolt is more secure than its predecessor.Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard The Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard comes in two variants: a full-sized keyboard with 110 keys and a mini version with 84 keys. It has backlighting with three levels of brightness. It also has a USB pass-through port, which is becoming more common in keyboards these days. The Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard uses Kailh Choc V2 switches, which come in three variants: Blue, Red, and Brown. The different switch styles give you different options for quiet or clicky behaviors. Unfortunately, these switches are low profile, meaning that swapping out the keycaps with standard ones didn't quite work. They were to tall for the body. Another issue with the keyboard is that the feet do not raise it up enough to use a standard wrist rest. Not everyone is a fan of them, but for those who are, it's a major disappointment. Luckily the company does offer a low profile rest, but the selection is far smaller than for standard sized keyboards.Shared Features Both the mouse and keyboard are rechargeable via USB-C, both with long battery life. The mouse can run for 70 days and the keyboard can run for 15 days on a single charge. Unlike some rechargeable mice, this one can operate while charging, as can the keyboard. It can also be used as a wired keyboard. Both devices also have Logitech's Easy-Switch Technology. This allows you to connect the devices to three different computers and switch between them with the push of a button. This allows the devices to work differently on different devices, including switching profiles.

Throughout the year, those of us in the tech space have the opportunity to see, touch, and test some of the most interesting new products. Much of the time, these products are exciting but iterative. For example, we might get really excited about gaming monitors or new laptops, these products already existed and are marginally better than their predecessors. However, sometimes a new product is so interesting that it stands out in a crowd of products. This year, Tom's Hardware decided to put together a collection of products that weren't just interesting but were truly innovative. While the full list will be revealed as part of a live stream on April 25, 2022, at 3 PM Eastern, Avram gave us a little look into a few of the winners.Valve Steam Deck One of the products that are likely to be copied in the next year is the Valve Steam Deck. This handheld computer has entered a product category that has mostly been ignored except by smaller companies that have failed to make a mark. It is a full-powered computer put into a formfactor similar to the Nintendo Switch. This allows gamers to bring a full game, available only on PC, with them on the go. The system runs on the company's own SteamOS, which is a flavor of Linux, but can also run Windows. The gaming world has taken to the device in a way that has surprised even us. Valve hit a vein of desire within the gaming community that previous devices simply haven't exposed. And, when you live in this space and get to be surprised by the response to a product, it's always a treat. The Steam Deck is already available, and has become top seller by revenue on Steam.HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless headset You might be asking yourself, "How could a headset possibly be innovative?" It's a fair question, and Avram explains. It's less about the headset itself and more about the fact that it boasts 300 hours of battery life. Yes, you read that right and there is no typo - 300 hours of battery life. That is literally game changing when it comes to a wireless headset.Dell UltraSharp webcam Dell isn't generally known for its webcams (we usually look to Logitech and Razer), but the UltraSharp Webcam is truly unique. It's focused on producing the absolute best picture it can, no matter the condition. In the Tom's Hardware review, the camera was able to adjust itself to produce a great picture even against a bright window directly behind the subject. If we have learned anything in the last 2 years, it's the importance of a good camera. Know if you're going to wade into this one, that there is no microphone, so possibly take a look at the HyperX headset, as well.AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3D CPU Again, we can hear your question about the Ryzen 7 5800X 3D CPU. "How is a CPU 3D? It's not displaying anything, right?" That's correct. However, the name comes from the fact that they have changed the internal architecture to not rely on a flat design, but instead stacking components in such a way as to increase L3 cache. A similar technique has been used in server chips, but this is the first time it has been available in a consumer chip. It even has a 9% performance bump over its non-3D counterpart.PLUGHITZ Live's picks When put on the spot, Scott thought about some of the interesting products that he's seen in the past 12 months. LumiLor was one of the brands he came up with. This company makes electroluminescent devices that can enhance items, such as clothing, or can add safety and security to things like bike helmets. What separates these products from others is that they require almost no power, so they can run for long periods of time. He also thought about On2cook, a real-life version of the trivection oven from 30 Rock. This small device uses multiple types of heat in order to cook food quickly while not losing all of the nutritional value of the food.

For many of us, it's been a while since we've traveled or needed any tools for working not from home. However, things are getting back to normal in large parts of the country and the world, meaning that travel for fun and business is returning in full force. In fact, we recently saw Austin's airport get inundated with travelers. With that, it's time to start considering what might be needed to enhance your travel. This week, we're looking at different types of portable monitors and which you might want to consider and why.Features to consider There are a lot of features to take into consideration when choosing a portable monitor.Connectivity The most important feature is how you will connect it to your device. Some monitors connect using USB-A, the traditional "3rd time's the charm" plug. It uses DisplayLink drivers to create a virtual video card within the monitor to mount the device. These are easy to use but require system resources. Other monitors connect over USB-C, the newer "anything goes" connector. While the plug is universal, the feature is not - you need to know that your computer, tablet, or phone can support it. Lastly, you can connect some monitors using HDMI. This is the most universal but not necessarily the easiest.Resolution and refresh In this decade, don't torture yourself with a lower resolution. The price difference between a 1366x768 and 1920x1080 is negligible, so just don't do it. You'll regret it on a smaller screen. However, it is worth considering refresh rate. If you're planning on using the screen for work or web browsing, a standard refresh rate is fine. However, if you plan on using the monitor for portable gaming, video editing, production, or any other equivalent usage, you can get portable monitors up to 240 Hz.Stand or mount The way the monitor sits on your desk, table, or lap is another essential feature. A clumsy stand will only make using the monitor more challenging. You might also want to consider a screen that gives you the ability to raise it up to ensure the portable screen and your laptop screen are level, as looking up and down can be frustrating.Best monitors For a Full HD experience with an HDMI port, the ASUS MB169B+ is a great choice. It's 15.6" and powers over USB, so no need to find another outlet in the hotel room. The base is solid and part of its case. For a monitor aimed at gamers and media professionals, the ASUS ROG Strix XG16AHPE is a great deal. Same size with the added bonus of a 144 Hz refresh rate and G-Sync compatibility. ASUS also offers some monitors with unique features. If you're looking to add touch to the equation, the company offers the ProArt Display 14 PA148CTV. This 14" display offers Full HD, 100% sRGB color, and adds in touch capability. However, if you're looking for a truly unique monitor, ASUS has ProArt PQ22UC. This portable monitor is 21.6", offers 4K video, 0.1ms response time, and more. However, this monitor runs $4000, while the others on the list are under $400. ViewSonic also offers some fantastic portable monitors, which is not unexpected as they have made monitors for decades. The VX1755 is a 17" Full HD monitor with Free Sync and 144 Hz refresh rate. It runs over Mini HDMI and powers on USB-C. If you're not looking for the high refresh rate but want touch instead, the ViewSonic TD1655 is a great option. 15.6" Full HD screen with 10-point touch input. From Lenovo, the ThinkVision M14 is a great choice. 14" Full HDS screen with a single connector over USB-C. This means you need the hardware to support it, but if you do, it's easy to use. It's also ultra thin with an incredibly solid base. The base contains the device's ports, making it look like a small laptop, but also adding stability to the screen.

As the conflict in Ukraine heats up, one of the possible problems that arise is whether or not Russian software can be trusted. In particular, can we trust the security product Kaspersky? The German government has recommended against its use and the US FCC has insisted that money received from government contracts cannot be used to purchase the software. But, what about regular customers? Should regular users skip the software? What about if you already have it installed?The history of Kaspersky The history of the company is a bit of a mixed bag. The company was founded in 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky and Natalya Kasperskikh. Kaspersky began his career as a virus researcher with the Russian military. He then worked for a number of private companies before starting his own. Kaspersky has been accused in the past of having ties to the Russian government, but the company has denied these allegations. Kaspersky's products have generally been well-regarded by the security community. However, there have been some concerns raised about the software. In particular, there is a worry that Kaspersky could be used by the Russian government to spy on users. These fears were heightened when it was revealed that Kaspersky had assisted the Russian government in their investigation of the 2012 Boston Marathon bombings.The current problem Kaspersky and Putin have a history of both working for the Soviet government, likely both in the KGB. This creates an immediate connection between the two, even if Kaspersky himself says there is no connection. This means that there could be a situation in which the company willingly implements a backdoor for the government. On the other hand, it's always possible that Putin could threaten the safety of Kaspersky, his family, or the family of employees within the company in order to distribute malware within the software. This would actually be a fairly pedestrian task in the grand scheme of hacks and threats to come out of the Putin regime, making it fairly likely.Should you use Kaspersky? Given the current situation, it's understandable if you're concerned about using Kaspersky products. However, there is no evidence that Kaspersky is doing anything nefarious at the moment. If you're worried about the possibility of Russian spying, then you may want to consider using a different security product. However, if you're not concerned about that, then Kaspersky may still be a good option. If you already have Kaspersky installed, there's no need to uninstall it. Just be aware of the potential risks and keep an eye on the news for any developments that may affect your decision to continue using the software. Regardless of what you decide, Kaspersky will continue to be a controversial company. But, for now, their products are still some of the best in the business. While there is no evidence that suggests the software is already compromised, Avram and Scott both recommend removing the software. Scott has always taken a careful approach to the company and recommended that users consider something else (such as Malwarebytes). Avram has previously not had too much concern about the company but is being cautious now. Whatever you decide, keep informed and make the best decision for your own security needs. Kaspersky may or may not be a trustworthy company, but only you can decide what's best for you and your family.

Happy 10th birthday Raspberry Pi! The tiny computer has come a long way in just ten short years. It all started when Raspberry Pi Foundation founders Eben Upton and Rob Mullins set out to create an affordable, easy-to-use computer that students could use to learn coding. And they succeeded - Raspberry Pi has become one of the most popular computers in the world, with millions of units sold.The Raspberry Pi Hardware The first devices were not intended to be the massive platform they are today, Instead, the plan was simply to make a few thousand devices to encourage children to learn to code. Raspberry Pi devices were first sold in 2012, and the response was overwhelming. Not only did students love them, but makers and hobbyists snapped them up as well. It quickly became clear that there was a much larger market for the tiny computers than originally anticipated. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has always been focused on education, and they continue to work with schools and organizations around the world to promote coding and computer science education. In addition to their educational initiatives, they have also developed several tools and resources that have made it easier for makers of all levels to create amazing projects. Over the years, Raspberry Pi has undergone several iterations, each one more powerful than the last. The original Model B was followed by the Model B+, the Raspberry Pi Zero, the Raspberry Pi A+ and A series, the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, and the Raspberry Pi Model B+. Beyond that, there have been a whole lot more. The Raspberry Pi 4 is just one example of how much Raspberry Pi has changed over the years. The original Model B had just 256MB of RAM and a 700MHz single-core processor. The latest Raspberry Pi 4 has a quad-core processor clocked at up to 1.5 GHz, as well as 8 GB of RAM. It also features improved networking with dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on board. In addition to hardware changes, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has also made several changes to the operating system over the years. The original Raspberry Pi devices ran on a modified version of Debian Linux, but the Raspberry Pi Foundation later developed their own operating system, Raspbian. Raspbian is based on Debian and is optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware. Since then, the platform has transferred to Raspberry Pi OS, another Linux-based operating system.The Raspberry Pi community As amazing as all of the changes to Raspberry Pi have been, perhaps the most impressive thing about the tiny computer is the community that has grown up around it. There are now millions of Raspberry Pi devices in use all over the world, and there are countless projects and applications for them. From small projects like retro gaming consoles and media centers to large-scale deployments like industrial control systems and weather stations, Raspberry Pi is being used for everything. The possibilities are truly endless, and the Raspberry Pi community continues to come up with new and innovative ways to use the tiny computers. As Raspberry Pi celebrates its tenth birthday, it's clear that the best is yet to come. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey, and we can't wait to see what the next ten years have in store for Raspberry Pi.

Over the past 2 years, certain products have been difficult to find. For a while, laptops and other electronics were in short supply. This came about because lockdowns stopped production but increased demand as more people were working from home. One of the hardest products to acquire was webcams, requiring people to search hard to find even off-brand webcams. But, video cards have been the one consistently hard to find. In August 2020, Intel and Nvidia showed off new video card hardware. In November 2020, AMD released its new cards. All of this new video technology improved performance immensely, causing gamers and video editors around the world to want to get ahold of the cards. Because of the excitement, it drove a big business for scalpers. Prices for video cards on eBay skyrocketed, with people selling GTX 1070s for 2 or 3 times the original price. GTX 1080 Tis were being sold for as high as $800. Many people thought that the video card market had become a monopoly. Card prices have slowly returned to their original values, but they are still much more expensive than they were before the release of the new hardware.Video cards are back, baby! Now that video cards are available again, there is no need to overpay on eBay. You can find cards available on regular retail sites, such as Amazon and Newegg. However, just because they're available doesn't make them inexpensive. In many cases, these cards are still far above their MSRP prices. But, they're available, making it possible to build a PC without waiting for months. Part of the increased availability is because production has leveled out some. But, the real scenario appears to be that the value of cryptocurrencies has been falling in recent months. With the fall in value, the amount of time to recover the cost of a video card has gone up significantly, making it almost impossible to break even. So, crypto miners have less of a reason to invest in high-end video cards. Also, as more currencies move their mining process from proof of work to proof of stake, the need for the cards decreases. One of the more interesting aspects could be that a lot of mining was happening in Russia. With the sanctions going into place, it's getting harder to purchase cards in the country. So, once again, a decrease in crypto mining is leading to the availability of cards.Is now the time to buy? Not necessarily. There is evidence that the current situation is the beginning of a trend, not the new scenario. With the European conflict looking like it will continue for a while, sales there might continue to stall. With the change in the mining process, the need for crypto miners to purchase the cards out from under gamers is going to decrease. This means that scalpers are going to have less reason to participate in the market. So, in the end, prices are likely to continue to decrease. The only possible issue comes from the neon gas shortage used to produce chips.

Cryptocurrency mining has been all the rage over the past few years. Bitcoin and Ethereum, in particular, have seen massive price increases, which has led to a renewed interest in cryptocurrency mining. Is it still profitable? What are the best mining GPUs? In this episode of the Piltch Point podcast, we take a look at cryptocurrency mining and answer these questions!What is crypto mining? Mining cryptocurrency is a process of verifying and recording transactions on the blockchain. In order to mine cryptocurrency, you need a powerful graphics card or ASIC chip. Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently the most popular cryptocurrencies to mine, but there are many others out there as well. Cryptocurrency mining is an incredibly competitive field and requires a significant amount of time, energy, and money to be successful. If you're looking for cryptocurrency mining GPUs or cryptocurrency ASIC chipsets, there are plenty of options available on the market today.What specs make a good mining rig? When looking for cryptocurrency mining GPUs or ASIC chipsets, it's important to keep the following in mind: Hashrate: This is how many hashes per second your card can generate. Higher hashrates mean more cryptocurrency mined per unit of time. Power Consumption: This is probably the most important factor when determining cryptocurrency mining profitability. Some cards use more power than others, which will affect your profit margin significantly over time! If you're looking for cryptocurrency ASIC chipsets, be sure to check their efficiency ratings as well (some manufacturers may even include this information on their websites). Does cryptocurrency mining still make sense in 2022? The short answer is no - probably not anymore (unless you're willing to put up with some serious heat). In order to mine cryptocurrency effectively enough that it's actually worth your while, you need a graphics card with at least two gigabytes of video memory and any kind of CPU from Intel or AMD. Mining cryptocurrency is no joke! You also have to consider how much power these cards consume when running at high clockspeeds. That's why cryptocurrency miners are always on the lookout for new, more efficient hardware. There are a few newer GPUs that offer some good mining performance, but they come at a significant cost premium. But, with chip shortages causing the availability of graphics cards to be reduced, the costs have gone up as availability has gone down. Mining rigs have made the problem even worse, and some manufacturers have gone so far as to prioritize mining because they buy in bulk. If you're not too worried about getting the absolute best performance, there are plenty of other options out there as well. Even if you can get a card (or two or three) for a decent rig, it can take years to break even. Tom's Hardware has created estimates on how long a rig will take under optimal conditions to pay for a single video card at retail rates, and the results aren't great. For most cases, it will take nearly 18 months. In most cases, it's several years. But, you have to remember that these cards are not designed to be running at 100%, 24/7. Even if you were running an intense videogame and switching out players every few hours, running the computer all day every day, the card would still not be under these intense conditions. As such, cards can wear out in a year or two when mining, meaning they're dead long before you break even on them. So, while it might appear that you're making money, you're in the hole even before you begin. So, in essence, if you are thinking about getting into the mining game right now: Stop. Turn around. Go home. There's nothing for you here.

Getting ahold of computer components has been a challenge for the past few years. To increase your gaming experience, you can't get a video card unless you're prepared to buy from a scalper. But, you can get a quality gaming monitor right now and improve your game. And, some of the prices are really reasonable compared to what we have seen over the past few years. Here are some of the best gaming monitors you can get right now and how to pick the right one for you.Do you need a gaming monitor? The short answer is, only if you are playing games at over 60 frames per second (FPS). Casual gamers might not know what framerate is, or may not understand how it can affect your gameplay. When it comes to frame rate, it's all about how frequently your monitor refreshes the picture on the screen. But, it also can represent how often the game refreshes what you're doing. A higher frame rate can give you more fine-grained control over your environment and, most importantly, be the difference between getting the shot and missing.What are some features to look for in a gaming monitor? Today, to classify as a gaming monitor, it must have a refresh rate of at least 120 FPS, though the current standard is no lower than 144. That is far higher than the consumer average of 50, 60, or 75. But, the monitor won't be your only condition in getting the game to refresh faster. You also need a video card that supports a faster refresh rate. Without that, you won't get a lot of the benefits of an advanced monitor. Ideally, you'll want a video card with adaptive sync technology. This would be either AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-SYNC, depending on the card brand. That technology syncs the refresh rate of your monitor with the refresh rate of the game. Since games fluctuate that rate depending on the state of the hardware, this allows the monitor to not try and do more than the game is currently capable of. It also prevents the game from working harder than the monitor is capable of, refreshing the game more frequently than the screen. Both of these situations can lead to dropped frames and poor game performance. You'll also want to take into consideration the panel type. You'll traditionally find 3 labels for the panel: TN, IPS, and VA. TN panels are going to be the fastest refresh rate, but are also going to have very poor viewing angles and bad color reproduction. Going this way may save you some money, but you'll have to be sure to place yourself directly in front of the panel. And definitely don't tell your friends. IPS displays are a little slower in the refresh department but improve the overall viewing experience. The colors will get better, the viewing angle will be improved, but they're still not great. VA is really where you want to be - it may be the slowest in terms of refresh, but the actual picture quality is going to be far superior to the others.What monitors should I consider? The Top Pick right now is the Dell S3220DGF (or S3220DGM). It's a 32" monitor with a resolution of 2560x1440 (2K) and a refresh rate of 165 Hz. Depending on where you can find the monitor, you can sometimes find it for under $400. The Gigabyte G27F is also a good choice for more budget-minded buyers. This one is 1920x1080 (FHD) with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, but is also a bit smaller at only 27". It comes in under $300 most of the time. If you're looking to go all out, though, the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD is a great choice. It offers full 4K resolution, 144 Hz refresh, and comes in at 32". It even features Quantum Dot technology, like the higher-end televisions. The color reproduction is fantastic and it only has a 1ms response time. If you can find it, you'll be spending around $900.

One of Avram's favorite sayings is, "We're in the business of interesting, not good." This is an important distinction that makes his view of the tech journalism industry far more fun. Often times we discuss products that are unique and strange, but not necessarily things that are great. It's important to know that there are products out in the wild that are bad ideas, poorly made, security or privacy problems, and more. With a focus on the interesting, Avram helps to bring some of those products to light, pointing out some products that should definitely be skipped and some that you should consider.Air-Clenz This is certainly an interesting product idea. Think of it as an air purifier that is built into your computer monitor. The theory is that your monitor can pull double duty, as both a part of your computer and a part of your in-office health regiment. Built into the very large monitor box are fans and filters that suck in unclean air, clean it, and let it back out. Obviously, in this era of heightened attention to airborne contaminants, this is a product idea that businesses might consider. However, there is a lot of question around the concept. First, we don't spend our whole day aimed at a computer screen, so much of your outbound air is going to be missed. Second, we've all trained ourselves to aim away from a computer monitor before coughing or sneezing as to prevent the screen from getting spotted and gross. Third, there is no scientific evidence that the concept actually accomplishes its goal. It's important to note that the company that was pitching the product idea is not manufacturing it. They do not produce monitors, and they do not produce filters. Instead, they are looking to license the idea to monitor manufacturers.Showcase PC Another interesting product idea is the holographic PC case. We've seen holographic fans before, including from our CES 2017 interview with KONO. But, this is the first time we have seen the technology applied to PC cases. Essentially, the case is able to show images, animations, and videos floating in the middle of nowhere. Depending on the PC case configuration, you can even get an animation to come out of the case, using another LED fan on the outside. This feature is the obvious extension of the RGB trend in PC cases. Instead of just having animated lighting, you can literally show real motion. And the floating images make it even cooler. The cases are expected to hit the market later this year, and we can't wait.Best of CES 2022 Not everything is interesting - some are functional and fantastic. Intel announced a new set of Alder Lake processors - a total of 50 new models for desktop PC and laptops. The company is really focusing on trying to regain some of the lost ground over the past few years. Not to be outdone, AMD also announced new hardware - AMD Rembrandt, which is a new integrated graphics chip for Ryzen 6000 processors.

For some of us, procrastination is a way of life. A lot of times, we can manage to pull out a win in the end, like working all night before a presentation. However, when it comes to getting a gift during the holidays, it can be a real nightmare. It's currently too late to get gifts delivered in time, and getting into a store can be difficult or even impossible. But, there are options for gifts that are quick and easy, while still showing thought and care. Of course, you can always get someone a gift card for Amazon or Walmart, but something more specific can be more meaningful. For the gamer in your life, you can get a subscription to a gaming service, like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PlayStation Plus, or Google Stadia Pro. You could also purchase in-game currency for a game they play, like Minecoins for Minecraft or Robux for Roblox. You could also purchase an actual game code. Just make sure you know what platform they play on (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch). There is also the option to subscribe to Loot Crate, where they can get any number of cool gaming-related items every month. For the maker in your life, you can get a subscription to a service like HackerBoxes or Adabox. If you are a maker yourself, you could also consider making a gift. There are a lot of holiday-inspired items that can be printed on a 3D printer, like ornaments. While they may take a little time to print, they will certainly show that you considered your recipient and their interests. There are other options, of course. Depending on who you are buying for, you might have to reconsider slightly. But these can give a good starting point for considering how to handle your last-minute buying.

It's the end of the year, and that means that it's time to look back on the last 12 very strange months and see what positives we can pull out with Tom's Hardware's Best of 2021.Best CPU While AMD has been making huge advances in processors, Intel was falling behind. This year, however, the company came back strong in its newest offering - the Intel Alder Lake lineup. These new processors created two channels of cores - high performance and high efficiency. This allowed low-intensity tasks to be routed to the high-efficiency cores, while high-demand tasks got routed to performance cores. The end result is a processor that uses less electricity, creates less heat, and performs better in all scenarios. We went into more depth in Episode 273 when they premiered.Best Graphics Card 2021 was a rough year for video cards, as manufacturing and supply chain issues made it nearly impossible to get ahold of (though we have recommendations in Episode 256 and Episode 276). But, one of the shining stars has been the Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB. This massively powerful graphics card came in at an impressive MSRP of only $329 (when you can get it at all). For that price you got a ton of GDDR6 RAM and is more powerful than the last generation's next level card (RTX 2070).Best Gaming Monitor There are always a lot of new monitors, but none stood out quite like the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD. This 32" monitor uses quantum dot technology to produce an impressive picture. In fact, in Tom's Hardware tests, the monitor produced 117 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while also managing to be over 600 nits of brightness. If you have followed our screen conversation in the past, you know that a bright and colorful screen can be a hard ask, but MSI does it. And, the company has made the monitor available on sales throughout the season for as low as $799.Best Keyboard Avram is nothing if not picky about his keyboards. He once detailed his search for the perfect laptop, comparing different units of the same laptop model that all had different keyboard hardware. So, for the Akko 3098B to win Best of 2021, you know it's going to be a killer keyboard. He showed it off briefly in a recent episode while he was in the middle of his product review, and has really taken to it. The keycaps are comfortable and the hot-swappable switches make this a favorite. It can be used wired or wireless, over RF or Bluetooth. When used with Bluetooth, you can pair multiple devices to it at once and switch between them in less than a second.Summary Of course, there are a lot more categories,and Avram details them in this episode. They include the Best Mouse (Razer Basilisk V3), Best Raspberry Pi Product (Raspberry Pi Pico), and Best Webcam (Dell Ultrasharp Webcam). Together they represent the very best that the year 2021 has had to offer in the PC component and peripheral space.

We know that the supply chain issues have made all sorts of products hard to come by, at this point ranging from cards and trucks to food and drink. The product category that has been the hardest hit, it would seem, is the video card industry. Every card from every manufacturer, representing both the AMD and NVIDIA side of the industry, is sold out across the board. However, some inventory is available and can be found in the wild. Here are some of the ways to find a video card this holiday season.Buy a PC with one The way that is most likely to return a positive result, though far from the most direct, is to purchase a PC with the card you want in it. It's a bit like buying a car to get new tires, but unfortunately, right now it is the fastest and easiest way to get to your goal. If you are intending to build a PC from scratch, then this might be a good option. Many of the PCs that are available on the market with the high-end graphics cards in them also have options for other quality components. That means that you could put together a PC in the specs you want, or close to it, for about the price you could expect to find the components today. The benefit, in this case, is that you get the components you need and you don't have to do any real work. The downside, of course, is that the price is going to be inflated since it's a built PC. If you are upgrading an existing PC, this isn't going to be as great of an option. Essentially, you would be looking to do something similar to when a portable hard drive is less expensive than an internal one. The term is "shucking" where you treat the hard drive like corn and remove the husk for the insides. The benefit here is that you do still get the graphics card. The problem, though, is obvious - it's going to be far more expensive. But, you could always put your old card in it and try to sell it on the Facebook Marketplace and recover some of your costs.Hope to find one online There are some services that you can use to get inventory. Newegg has their Product Shuffle lottery service. This service gives you a better chance of getting a card, but the price is going to be inflated, but lower than buying a whole PC. You're not guaranteed to get one, though, so it's a literal gamble. The best way is to get HotStock, which will alert you when inventory becomes available at different retailers. To find one for yourself, you can check out the Tom's Hardware guides for RTX 3080, RTX 3070, and RTX 3060.Give in to scalpers You can always go to places like eBay and give in to the scalpers. The biggest problem here is that it will continue to encourage the scalpers to keep doing this, making the problem worse for a longer period of time. But, it's also generally more expensive (or really close to the same price) than buying a whole PC.

It's that time of year - Black Friday season. While Black Friday used to be the day after Thanksgiving, in recent years it has expanded into a whole season. Starting this week through the next few weeks, products ranging from processors to clothing are going to be on sale. Finding the best prices can be a real pain, but Avram and the Tom's Hardware team have been spending their time rounding up the best deals so you don't have to. The site has a general roundup, as well as dedicated pages for monitors, computers, SSDs, and more. Of course, there are other ways to find the best deals on the internet. No group can find everything, so Avram has a few other great ways to find hidden gems. If you are looking for PC components, one of Avram's favorite places to check is on Reddit at /r/buildapcsales/. This board is a place where users can post about deals they have found. Crowdsourcing data collection at its best, bringing extra value to your holiday shopping needs. If you are looking for a specific part, component, or accessory, then you might want to check out PCPartPicker. We have discussed this site in the past, as it is the best way to design and build a computer. You can search for components and create a PC with compatible parts. But, there is also a feature where you can see recent price drops, sorted by category. Sometimes you'll find small discounts, like $2 off of an Aerocool PC case. Other times, you'll find bigger deals, like $150 off of the JBL Quantum One headset. It all depends on what you're hoping to find. Of course, you'll want to keep checking back with Tom's Hardware and these alternate sites, as prices, deals, and availability are constantly changing.

The past 18 months have added a new piece to our daily lives: face masks. Whether you are excited about wearing them or annoyed by their existence, the reality is that they are here and likely here to stay for many people. Unfortunately, they are uncomfortable, they can irritate when they touch our faces, and it prevents us from seeing one another's faces, making communication more difficult. Very little innovation has happened in this arena, though - until now. The Razer Zephyr is a unique take on the traditional face mask. The Razer Zephyr is definitely a product from Razer, in that it is fully RGB. Razer is known for integrating RGB into every product, and the Zephyr is no exception. The device has two sets of lights: one on the inside and one on the outside. Each one can be turned on and off independently, and each can be controlled independently. The app UI allows you to choose a solid color or one of several preset color patterns. The internal lights are described as RGB, but the outer lights are described as Chroma RGB, meaning it should be controllable through the Razer ecosystem. From a mask perspective, there are a couple of interesting aspects. The first is that the mask is designed to take pressure off of the face. Unlike cloth masks or even the blue medical masks that people often wear, there is no pressure on the front of the nose or mouth. Instead, it sits similar to a KN95 mask, where it sits away from the face. This is accomplished by making it an active breathing mask, meaning it has fans to move air into and out of the mask. The design is similar to a computer case, in that airflow is purposeful and planned. Air enters through two side vents, pulled in through fans. The air runs through a circular filter, which can be replaced. Razer describes the filters as N95 grade, which suggests that the filters have not actually been certified to be N95 (which is the US standard for a 95% effective mask). The filters also seem to have not been tested by any experts, despite Avram's best efforts to do so. The lack of certification isn't the only concern, though. We also don't have any information on how physically secure the filters are within the body of the mask. They do not have a deep body and have no way to fully seal them into the cylinder. Adding to the problems is the fact that the mask isn't terribly comfortable. To wear it all day would likely get irritating, as it is fairly heavy. A short burst might not be a problem, but long wear will be exhausting. Avram's recommendation after wearing it for a while, and seeing it on others, is that it is probably a pass. While a cool concept, the unknown effectiveness and lack of comfort make it difficult to recommend. However, if you're looking for a great rave or steampunk costume mask, this might be worth consideration.

While it may be November, the impact of Techtober 2021 is still in full swing. This week, Tom's Hardware published its Alder Lake processor reviews, specifically the 12th Generation Core i5 12600K and 12900K processors. These new processors have taken Intel in a new direction, finally catching up with their long-time rivals - AMD. New features, new powers, and new peripherals are all part of this new generation.The Features The biggest change in the processor is the physical infrastructure. Intel has run on 14nm infrastructure for a long time, but the 12th Generation has finally moved to 10nm architecture. While this is technically the second Intel processor family to run on 10nm architecture, it is the first family for desktop use. This change means that more transistors can fit on the same amount of space. These new process, thanks in part to the new architecture, are showing some real power. In the gaming department, the Alder Lake processors nearly always exceed the performance if their AMD Ryzen counterparts. When it comes to productivity tasks, the two brands go back and forth depending on the task. But, despite these major improvements in performance against AMD, these new processors come in with a more AMD style price than an Intel price point.The Powers Along with the architecture change comes a lot of new benefits. The biggest benefit is the addition of two different types of cores: Performance cores and Efficiency cores. The concept is an expansion on an old Atom processor idea - some cores are really powerful for high need tasks like gaming or video rendering, while others are low power for tasks like antivirus scans. Adding these dual purpose cores required more than just a re-architecture of the processor - it required some changes to the operating system. Microsoft made changes to Windows 10 and Windows 11 in order to implement task scheduling. This new Windows feature is what allows for routing of certain tasks to the portion of the processor most suited to handle the task. It's a shame that the processor itself is not capable of identifying what type of task it is receiving, but it makes sense that this level of information is not quite available at that level. Either way, it is a far more powerful version of the Atom infrastructure that was developed for netbooks in the early 2010s. Those processors suffered from multiple personalities - having two totally different modes, and switching between them depending on the load on the processor. This design was more for battery performance than overall performance.The Peripherals These new processors are the first to support DDR5 RAM. There are some issues, though, as using DDR5 requires special motherboards, as would be expected. But, there are still some compatibility concerns when it comes to this new RAM and individual motherboards. In addition, Alder Lake supports PCIe 5. While there is little that supports the new standard, you can know that your new machine will be able to support it when it gets popular. For now, it will also support PCIe 4, so the existing super fast SSDs will be compatible.