When Do You Really Need to Upgrade Your PC?

August 1, 2022

It’s hard to believe it, but the school year is nearly upon us. Summer is going by quickly, and for many people, it’s time to buy new tools, hardware, and other school supplies. And maybe your (or someone you know) PC is struggling to keep up with things these days.

Is it time to upgrade? Should you buy a totally new machine? Or can you upgrade your PC? We’ll delve into that sticky topic in the top story.

Other Highlights:

• Samsung’s new Repair Mode will protect your data when you send your phone away. Sweet.
• I totally want to put my cat into Stray. That game is already purr-fection (sorry not sorry).
• Oh wow, an affordable EV charger install sounds great for the future.
• …and more!

-Josh

Upgrading a PC or a laptop can be an expensive affair. While cheap options are sometimes available, you could spend several hundred dollars or even a couple of thousand dollars on a new device. Wanting to avoid a pricy upgrade is understandable, but when do you need a new machine? Read More »

The Rolling Stones iconic tongue and lips logo is recognized worldwide, and now you can put it on your wall with the all-new LEGO Art Rolling Stones set. Read More »

If you’ve ever felt nostalgic and wanted to build your own retro Atari 2600 “video computer system,” now you can, thanks to LEGO. One of the most famous video game consoles of all time is back but in brick form. Read More »

We’ve reached a point where AI photo restoration tools are relatively common. But if you want to fix a family photo for free, you’re almost guaranteed to end up with terrible results. That’s why Tencent’s AI researchers launched GFP-GAN, a free and open-source restoration tool that takes just seconds to fix an old photo. Read More »

Valve’s Steam Deck was one of the most hotly anticipated gaming consoles in a long time, and the company’s site utterly crashed under the sheer volume of people trying to obtain one. But that’s changing, and Valve says you’ll get one much sooner than it originally thought. Even if you order today. Read More »

Surge protectors are one of those things everyone should use, especially with all the expensive gadgets we use these days. And for those unaware, surge protectors expire and only last a few years. So, if you’re looking for a new one, you’ll absolutely love this wall-mounted surge protector with pivoting plugs.

This low-profile surge protector mounts to the wall over existing outlets, and you can even screw it into the mounting plate to keep it secure. Then, all six of the 3-prong AC outlets can pivot to the side. That way, you can plug in items from the front or bulky things off to the side. Pretty nifty, right?

Getting your phone repaired when possible is generally better for the world and, importantly, your pocketbook. But mailing it away or dropping it off somewhere risks exposing your personal data. Samsung’s new “repair mode” should help alleviate those fears. Read More »

One of the biggest hurdles when switching to an electric vehicle is preparing a home to charge your car. In most cases, installing a home EV charger can cost thousands of dollars and even more if you need to upgrade your equipment and electrical panel. Read More »

You can watch every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation and read every Frank Miller-penned comic book, but you and I both know that you’re not a true nerd unless you wear geeky t-shirts and fill your home with nerdy knickknacks. Read More »

Mechanical keyboards make typing a fantastic experience, but not every keyboard is easy to carry around. These seven options are a great place to start if you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard that’s also ultraportable. Read More »

One of the biggest hurdles when switching to an electric vehicle is preparing a home to charge your car. In most cases, installing a home EV charger can cost thousands of dollars and even more if you need to upgrade your equipment and electrical panel. Read More »

Stray is a darn near perfect game. No seriously. The atmosphere is perfect, the story is compelling, and the game doesn’t overstay its welcome. The $30 game is just long and just difficult enough to entertain without frustration. And now it can star your cat—on PC at least. Read More »

Walking into an Apple Store can bring back memories of iPods, iMac G3s, and those oh-so 2000s Apple advertisements. But you don’t need to rely on old memories to travel back in time. A new app developed by Michael Steeber lets you revisit the most famous Apple Stores on their opening days. Read More »

Learning doesn’t have to stop once you graduate from high school or college. In fact, there are tons of websites and apps out there that make learning at any age easy as pie, no matter what kind of topics you’re interested in. Read More »

If calls keep cutting in and out on your Samsung Galaxy S21, you’re not alone. Dozens of Galaxy S21 owners report audio cutouts on Verizon networks, and according to Verizon’s tech support, the problem is “widespread.” Some AT&T and T-Mobile customers also seem to experience this issue, though not to the degree of Verizon users. Read More »

Windows 11 comes with noticeably less bloatware than Windows 10 — but that doesn’t mean it is perfect. There are plenty of annoying features right out of the box that most people won’t like on a new Windows 11 PC, although thankfully, Candy Crush isn’t one of them. Read More »

40 years ago, Commodore released the Commodore 64 home computer, which set sales records, shook the American video game industry to its core, and introduced programming to a generation of kids around the world. Here’s why it was special. Read More »