PC components Archives

AppWizard

September 11, 2026

Amazon Luna is giving Prime members 12 free games this September, including a major FPS franchise

Amazon Luna's September 2026 free games lineup includes 12 titles: War Hospital, Just Die Already, Drop Duchy, DOOM, DOOM II, Botany Manor, DOOM Eternal (available September 17), Rims Racing (available September 17), Wall World 2 (available September 17), Hue (available September 24), The Da Vinci Cryptex (available September 24), and High on Life (available September 24). Additionally, Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora are currently available for streaming. All downloaded games remain in the user's library indefinitely, even if the Amazon Prime subscription is canceled.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Gaming Has Never Been Better. So Why Does It Feel Like the Worst Time to Be a Gamer?

The gaming industry is experiencing a surge in high-profile releases, including Grand Theft Auto 6, Control Resonant, Ace Combat 8, and Modern Warfare 4. However, the cost of entry has increased significantly, with flagship consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X now priced at least 0 above their launch prices. Microsoft is reportedly losing 0 per console sold, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to see a price increase. A shortage of memory and storage, driven by AI demands, has made essential gaming hardware more expensive. Mobile gaming and PC gaming are also affected, with graphics card prices projected to rise by 20% to 30%. The term “RAMageddon” has emerged to describe the doubling of memory prices since late 2025. Major companies like Microsoft and Sony are facing disappointing hardware sales, with projections of an 11% decline in PC shipments by 2026. The traditional model of game ownership is shifting towards a rental-like system, with digital sales tying ownership to accounts and licenses. Concerns about game accessibility have grown, leading to the Stop Killing Games movement. Nintendo's introduction of Game-Key Cards for resale has raised questions about long-term access, while Sony plans to end production of physical game discs by 2028. The average cost of AAA games has risen, with new titles like Mario Kart World for the Switch 2 priced at . Cloud gaming and subscription services further complicate ownership, as game availability is contingent on licensing agreements.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

I Spent a Month With the Steam Machine and it Perfectly Fills the One Gap in My Gaming Habits

The Steam Machine has been on the market for just over a month and has integrated into the user's gaming routine, particularly during a recent illness. The user connected it to their TV, disabled metrics, and explored their Steam library, finding the experience enjoyable. Despite skepticism about its high price for average consumers, the Steam Machine offers a solution for transitioning gaming from a desk to a living room without monopolizing the network. The user has historically preferred PC gaming over consoles, appreciating the flexibility of switching between devices. Previous attempts to set up living room PCs were inconvenient, but the Steam Machine simplifies this with SteamOS and the Steam Controller's trackpads. The user adjusted the output resolution to 1440p and enjoyed games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, valuing the ability to continue saves from their PC. The Steam Machine is priced at ,049, which may deter some, but it appeals to users with extensive Steam libraries.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved Looks Worse Than Master Chief Collection on Steam Deck and Xbox Ally

Halo: Campaign Evolved has been released for early access. It features impressive visuals on high-end PCs and current consoles but struggles on lower-end hardware, particularly handheld devices like the Steam Deck. The game requires an Intel Core i7-10700K and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super, which are beyond the capabilities of the Steam Deck and base Xbox Ally. On the Xbox Ally, the game runs at 1280x720 resolution with Very Low settings and achieves around 30 fps, occasionally dipping into the mid-20s. Despite being technically playable, the visual quality is poor, with bland textures and a lack of environmental detail. In contrast, the Master Chief Collection runs at 65-70 fps on the Xbox Ally and offers superior visual fidelity. The Steam page claims Campaign Evolved is Steam Deck Verified, although performance is lacking compared to other titles. For those wanting to experience the original Halo campaign on the Steam Deck, the Master Chief Collection is recommended.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

The 3 Big Reasons Why GTA 6 Isn’t Coming To PC At Launch

In 2026, Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series on November 19, but there is no announced release date for the PC version. Historically, every main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series has been delayed on PC, with previous titles typically releasing several months after their console counterparts. The trend indicates that GTA VI may also experience a similar delay. Rockstar prioritizes console development due to strategic partnerships and market dynamics, which allows for a more refined gaming experience. Although PC gamers must wait for the release, they often receive a superior version with improved graphics and performance. In 2026, the performance of current-generation consoles has narrowed the gap with PCs, leading to speculation about a potentially shorter delay for the PC version of GTA VI.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Valve Ships Official Windows Drivers For The Steam Machine, But Installing It Wipes SteamOS Entirely

Valve has released official Windows drivers for the Steam Machine, allowing users to install Windows while ensuring compatibility with essential hardware components like the AMD Radeon graphics card, WiFi, Bluetooth, and the SD card reader. However, Valve does not recommend transitioning to Windows OS on the Steam Machine at this time. Installing Windows requires wiping the Steam hardware, as dual-booting with SteamOS is not currently available. Valve plans to update its SteamOS installer with a dual-boot wizard in the future, enabling users to run both operating systems simultaneously. SteamOS is promoted as the preferred operating system, offering a console-like gaming experience and optimized user interface.

Winsage

June 30, 2026

AMD Driver Bug Silently Disables Smart Access Memory On Windows 10, Tanking Gaming Performance And Triggering Crashes

Recent reports indicate that AMD's driver is disabling Smart Access Memory (SAM) on Windows 10 systems, resulting in reduced gaming performance. Users have experienced issues such as game crashes and improper recognition of Radeon graphics cards. Many have uninstalled the AMD driver using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) and performed a clean installation, but SAM remains disabled in the Adrenalin software despite BIOS settings being unchanged. Notifications from Windows 10 suggest a conflict between the AMD driver and the operating system. AMD is investigating the issue and has released a preview driver version 26.6.3 to address compatibility problems for RX 7000 series GPUs. Temporary workarounds have been suggested by users, including checking monitor refresh rates and rebooting systems.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

PC price rises to slow this year, says Asus, though not in time for the Steam Machine launch

Asus's Systems Business General Manager, Liao Yi-hsiang, indicated that while some price adjustments for Asus PC products are expected, they will likely be modest, falling within the 1-9% range. This comes in light of a recent decline in component prices, including memory and hard drives. Yi-hsiang noted that any price increases must consider consumer acceptance to avoid exceeding market tolerance. The adjustments are anticipated in the third quarter, coinciding with the peak tech sales season in Fall and Winter. Overall, there is a growing consensus that the market is stabilizing around current pricing structures, although significant price drops, particularly for products like the Steam Deck, are unlikely in the near term.

Winsage

June 23, 2026

AMD Tells Windows 10 Owners To Roll Back Their Drivers As Adrenalin 26.6.2 Triggers A Yellow Bang Error

Many users of Windows 10 are experiencing issues with the AMD Adrenalin Edition 26.6.2 graphics driver, which fails to launch properly and shows a yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager. AMD has acknowledged the problem, attributing it to an incompatibility with Windows 10, and has advised users to revert to the previous driver version, Adrenalin Edition 26.6.1. This earlier version does not support FSR 4.1 for RX 7000 series GPUs. There have also been rare reports of similar errors on RX 9000 series systems. AMD's engineers are investigating the issue and working on a solution.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

AMD Says MacBook Neo Can’t Run All Your Games While Ryzen-Based Laptops Can

AMD has released marketing materials highlighting the capabilities of its Ryzen laptops while comparing them to Apple's MacBook Neo. AMD claims that the MacBook Neo can only run 5 out of 20 popular games natively, whereas Ryzen systems can run all 20. The company emphasizes that its laptops provide access to extensive gaming libraries without the need for workarounds. AMD contrasts its Ryzen 5 220 chip with the MacBook Neo's A18 Pro chip, claiming the Ryzen is 57% better at multitasking and 38% faster in content creation. However, the performance of the Radeon 740M integrated into the Ryzen 5 220 may not meet the demands of high-end gaming.