gaming PC

AppWizard
April 14, 2026
A shipping manifest leak indicates that a significant delivery of "WIRELESS PC CONTROLLER[s]" has arrived in the U.S. for Valve, weighing 12,970 kg (28,594 lbs) and comprising 40 packages. Estimates suggest there could be over 40,000 units in transit, although it is uncertain if all are the latest Steam Controller. The shipment originated from Taiwan, hinting at the manufacturing location. The new Steam Controller features a dual-stick configuration, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, gyro input, and high-definition rumble. It follows the original Steam Controller, which sold over 1.5 million units before its discontinuation in 2019.
AppWizard
April 11, 2026
The iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 R17 is a high-end gaming PC featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. It is housed in a visually striking Hyte Y70 case that provides excellent cooling and ample upgrade potential. The system includes a 240mm AIO liquid cooler and is equipped with various front and rear ports for connectivity. It offers impressive gaming performance, achieving over 105fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and maintaining playable frame rates at higher resolutions. The PC is priced at ,199.99 and comes with a three-year labor and two-year parts warranty. Minor shipping damage was noted, and initial CPU fan noise may require BIOS adjustments for quieter operation. The dimensions of the case are 470 x 320 x 470mm, and it weighs 13.2kg.
AppWizard
April 7, 2026
Valve is planning to use frame rate data from its user base to estimate game performance on individual gaming PCs. This initiative began with a beta version of SteamOS that collects performance metrics. A code string found in a recent Steam update indicates that users will soon be able to input their CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications to receive tailored performance estimates. Steam will also automatically generate projections based on users' current hardware configurations. This feature aims to provide more comprehensive performance insights compared to existing platforms like the Xbox app and Windows Store. The frame rate data collection is currently in beta and may take time to become widely accessible.
AppWizard
April 7, 2026
Valve has integrated frame rate data from its user base to provide estimates on game performance tailored to individual gaming rigs, starting with a SteamOS beta that collects performance metrics. A recent code discovery suggests that users will soon be able to input their CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications for tailored performance projections. Steam will also automatically generate performance estimates based on existing hardware configurations for users accessing the platform on their gaming PCs. This feature aims to enhance the accuracy of performance estimates, particularly for the Steam Machine, which may benefit from data collected from similar configurations. The frame rate data collection is currently in beta and may take time before becoming widely accessible.
AppWizard
April 5, 2026
Jess Kinghorn, a hardware writer, has been exploring indie games like Sato Killing Time Chat.exe and D14L-ogue. She pre-ordered her PlayStation 5 in 2020 for £450, which has since increased to £570/€650 due to a memory supply crisis. Sony may delay the PS6's release until 2028 or 2029. Jess is reevaluating the costs of console gaming, noting that major game releases add to the financial burden. She feels disconnected from PlayStation-exclusive titles due to limited availability on PC and is fatigued by big-budget games. Jess prefers smaller games like Home Safety Hotline, Perfect Tides, and Ambrosia Sky: Act One, which are more affordable. While she enjoys some PS5 titles, she is cautious about future console investments. In contrast, she finds the anticipated Switch 2 appealing at £396, despite hardware issues like Joy-Con stick drift.
Winsage
April 3, 2026
The author switched from a MacBook Air to a nine-year-old ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 5, which does not meet the requirements for Windows 11 due to its 7th-gen Intel processor. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 in October, leaving many devices like the ThinkPad considered "obsolete." The author installed Linux Mint on the ThinkPad, which is compatible with older hardware and provides a user-friendly experience. The ThinkPad has 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and was purchased for 0. Despite some challenges, such as reduced battery life and minor driver issues, the device remains functional for everyday tasks. Linux Mint is free and open source, requiring no mandatory agreements for installation.
AppWizard
March 25, 2026
Chris Charla, with 16 years at Xbox and 13 years in the ID@Xbox program, discussed Project Helix, the next-generation Xbox system. It will allow users to play both PC and Xbox games, contrasting with competitors like Sony. At the Game Developers Conference, he highlighted the goal of simplifying game launches, enabling developers to create a single build for Xbox, PC, and cloud platforms. Project Helix will support easy PC and cloud gaming. Charla mentioned that developers currently working on Xbox and PC will benefit from Project Helix, with support for Xbox API, backend integration, and marketing. The system is expected to release in 2027 or 2028, and it may resemble a "gaming PC" running Windows 11.
AppWizard
March 20, 2026
Developers have increasingly used upscaling technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR in PC gaming, but Crimson Desert has reasonable system requirements and does not always rely on upscaling. Testing showed that while lower-end graphics cards struggle, enabling FSR can improve frame rates significantly. The minimum specification for Crimson Desert includes an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, and the game requires 16GB of memory across all configurations. The game performs well on various hardware, with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT averaging 65 fps at Medium settings and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reaching 62 fps at Ultra in native 4K. The RTX 5090 achieved 95 fps at 4K without DLSS, and 338 fps with DLSS and Frame Generation. Crimson Desert is compatible with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which has similar requirements to the GTX 1060, and it performs well on this handheld device. The game is noted for its optimization, allowing most modern graphics cards to run it effectively without upscaling, although it does have some bugs.
AppWizard
March 17, 2026
The author has a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti in their PC gaming rig, alongside a PS5 Pro and a Switch 2. They believe that investing in a Switch 2 or PS5 is often a more sensible value than building or purchasing a gaming PC, especially due to the ongoing RAM crisis. The game Esoteric Ebb, which has a Metacritic score of 87, is highlighted as a standout title that offers a memorable narrative and is accessible on lower-end and mid-range systems. The author notes minor logical inconsistencies in the game but considers them trivial compared to its unique charm. PC gaming allows players to discover hidden gems that may not achieve commercial success.
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