Hardware and Sound

Hardware reviews, gadgets, gaming accessories, sound equipment, and more. How to work with hardware, update drivers, firmware, and so on.

How to personalize AutoPlay settings in Windows for all media and devices

tutorial
Ciprian Adrian Rusen
15.08.2017

If you are using Windows, each time you plug in a media device like a memory card, USB memory stick or external hard disk, you see an AutoPlay window, asking you to choose what you want to do. If you want to know what AutoPlay...

The 5 best voice recording apps for Android smartphones and tablets

misc
Codrut Neagu
25.07.2017

Are you a student and your teacher gives lectures that are too long for you to write down? Do you have a boss who talks too fast and when he is finished you have no idea what he wanted you to do? Have you ever...

4 reasons why the HyperX gaming accessories are a "Best Buy" right now

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Codrut Neagu
12.07.2017

Kingston is a company that's renowned for the memory products it creates.During the last few years, the company has extended its portfolio and has also entered the market for gaming accessories, trying to make its way in an already very competitive environment. After we have...

7 ways in which the 2017 version of the Nokia 3310 betrays its predecessor from 2000

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Codrut Neagu
30.06.2017

HMD Global, the new owner of the Nokia brand, released a new version of the legendary Nokia 3310 phone. The hype around this phone skyrocketed, and people were excited to hear about the resurrection of this phone. After all, it's not every day that you...

HyperX Pulsefire FPS review: Aim or twitch, the end will always be a frag

review
Codrut Neagu
30.06.2017

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston, is well known for its high-quality RAM, flash memory sticks, and gaming headsets. We've also seen them design and create a mechanical keyboard recently, but we've never seen a gaming mouse coming out of their factories. Things have changed...

Reviewing the ASUS ROG Strix Impact - A "no-fuss, no-frills" gaming mouse

review
Codrut Neagu
23.06.2017

The ASUS ROG Strix Impact is one of the newest additions to the family of gaming accessories of the Republic of Gamers brand. It is a what you would call an entry-level gaming mouse, without the bells and whistles of its pricier brethren. But does...

Reviewing the HyperX Cloud Revolver S - Exquisite gaming headset with cinematic sound

review
Codrut Neagu
21.06.2017

HyperX has managed to become one of the most prominent names on the market for gaming peripherals. One of the main reasons they've achieved that is the fact that they offer many high-quality accessories at a reasonable price. However, this doesn't mean that they don't...

Reviewing the TP-Link UP525 Fast USB Charger - Quick charge your family's gadgets

review
Codrut Neagu
20.06.2017

We received an interesting device for testing, called TP-Link 5-Port Fast USB Charger (UP525). As its name accurately suggests, this is a charger that allows you to simultaneously charge up to five different devices using USB cables. The manufacturing company also says that it benefits...

What is exFAT and why is it useful?

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Codrut Neagu
19.06.2017

Did you hear about exFAT? It is the new kid in town when it comes to file systems that are used on flash drives and mobile devices. If you are both a Windows and a Mac OS user, you are probably familiar with exFAT, but...

Microsoft ships the new Surface Pro. 11 things you need to know!

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Ciprian Adrian Rusen
15.06.2017

As of June 15th, 2017, Microsoft ships the new Surface Pro, which everyone thought would be named Surface Pro 5. Microsoft has decided to quit numbering this device, and it offers a new version, without any number attached to its name, but with many improvements....

Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition review - What does the 2017 update improve?

review
Ciprian Adrian Rusen
09.06.2017

Aspire V 17 Nitro is Acer's top laptop series designed for gamers who are interested in the ultimate performance at a reasonable price. The series is not new and it has recently received a refresh. In 2017, Acer bundles the latest Kaby Lake processors from...

Kingston DataTraveler microDuo 3C - Dual memory stick with USB Type C and USB 3.0 connectivity

review
Ciprian Adrian Rusen
07.06.2017

USB Type-C is getting a lot of traction, and it is used on many smartphones, tablets, and ultrabooks. Even gaming laptops now include a USB Type-C port. This new port is tiny, fast and it can also be used for charging your devices. However, it...

Simple questions: What is a SoC (System on a Chip)?

tutorial
Codrut Neagu
29.05.2017

We bet that most people who have a good knowledge of technology have heard the term SoC or System on a Chip. It wasn't much of a thing 20 years ago, or at least it was not something as widely used as it is today,...

Simple questions: What is PPI and does it matter?

tutorial
Codrut Neagu
22.05.2017

Have you ever wondered what PPI is? Maybe you've heard companies talking about high DPI screens and wanted to know what that is? Why are some manufacturers bragging about their high-end devices with huge pixel density screens? Why does PPI matter so much, especially when...

Game Mode in Windows 10: Testing real-life performance in modern games

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Codrut Neagu
03.05.2017

One of the most marketed features of Windows 10 Creators Update is the new Game Mode. This feature promises to improve the gaming experience for all the Windows 10 users, regardless of whether they have a new high-end computer or an older, slower device. What's...

Reviewing the Samsung 750 EVO - high-performance for moderate pricing

review
Codrut Neagu
17.04.2017

Solid state drives (SSD) are one of the best solutions for improving the performance and the speed of our computers. That's because they are always faster than traditional hard drives with spinning discs. One of the major SSD manufacturers today is Samsung, a company which...

11 things you can do to fix webcam issues on Skype

tutorial
Codrut Neagu
25.03.2017

Are you having problems with your webcam while using Skype? You can hear the people to whom you speak, but they can't see you? Or maybe the only thing they can see are blurred lines or gray images? Whether you use an external webcam that's...

How to identify broken chargers and USB cables on your Android smartphone or tablet

tutorial
Codrut Neagu
13.03.2017

If you're using a tablet or smartphone charger from another device or that was bought separately, it's possible that the battery will charge more slowly. Also, even if you use your device's original charger and USB cable to charge it, it may have become defective...

How to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free

tutorial
Ciprian Adrian Rusen
18.04.2024

Microsoft's support for Windows 10 will end on October 14th, 2025. After that date, you have to pay a lot of money to get security updates, and you can do so only for the first three years. Therefore, if you...

How to turn off an Android phone

tutorial
Codrut Neagu
17.04.2024

Do you need to shut down your Android phone but aren’t sure how to do it? Rest easy: whether you have a Samsung Galaxy or another Android device, turning it off is a simple process as long as you know...

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool: Create Windows 10 installation media

tutorial
Ciprian Adrian Rusen
12.04.2024

If you want to install or reinstall Windows 10 on any device, you must create installation media, such as a bootable USB flash drive, a DVD, or an ISO file containing the Windows 10 setup. While there are various tools...

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G review

review
Codrut Neagu
17.04.2024

As its name implies, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is a graphics card based on the RTX 4080 SUPER GPU from NVIDIA, which is the latest and probably the final iteration in the GeForce RTX 40-series. One...

Samsung Galaxy A35 review: Affordable mid-ranger with solid cameras

review
Codrut Neagu
15.04.2024

In this review, I’m going to tell you about the Samsung Galaxy A35, the company’s latest affordable mid-ranger that has to distinguish itself from the huge variety of offerings from other manufacturers. Some of its competitors boast better hardware specifications...

ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless review: Precision in a compact layout

review
Codrut Neagu
19.03.2024

If you’re looking for a wireless gaming keyboard with top-notch performance, durability, and plenty of customization options, you may want to take a look at the ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless. This mechanical keyboard is silent, it offers...