Guides and how-tos
Practical hardware advice: what to buy, how to install it and what the specs actually mean.
September 30, 2026
Does Thermal Paste Expire? What the Tubes Actually Claim
Almost nobody publishes a shelf life. Only 4% of thermal pastes in our catalogue state a number in years. Here is what the compound type tells you instead, and how to check a tube before you trust it.
September 30, 2026
Is Thermal Paste Electrically Conductive? 133 of 149 Are Not
We checked the electrical conductivity of every thermal compound in our catalogue. 133 of 149 are insulating and safe to spill. The 11 that are not are also the best performing, and that is not a coincidence.
September 30, 2026
DDR5 vs DDR4: We Measured the Latency Gap and It Goes the Wrong Way
DDR5 averages 6,079 MT/s against DDR4 at 3,271, so it is 86% faster on paper. Its average true latency is 11.77ns against DDR4 at 11.12ns. The extra speed buys bandwidth, not response time.
September 29, 2026
Corsair RAM Part Numbers: What the B, E and Z Actually Change
CMK16GX4M2B3200C16 or CMK16GX4M2E3200C16? We compared every Corsair kit in our catalogue that differs only by that letter. The specs are identical in all 19 cases. The number that actually changes the memory chips is not in the part number at all.
September 28, 2026
KVM Switch Price Comparison: What Each Price Band Actually Buys
A real KVM switch price comparison. Prices run $13 to $12,098, but from $50 to $1,500 the average capability score moves only 5.1 to 5.6. Here is what each price band actually buys.
September 24, 2026
ATX 3.1 Power Supplies with 12V-2x6: What Changed and What to Buy
12V-2x6 fixes the sensing-pin design behind 12VHPWR's overheating. Here's what changed and two PSUs that ship with it natively.
September 24, 2026
Best 1600W Power Supplies for a Dual GPU Build
A 1600W PSU today is for workstation dual-GPU or extreme single-GPU builds, not gaming SLI. What to check, including one gap in our top pick.
September 24, 2026
4K Capture Cards: Passthrough Spec vs Actual Capture Resolution
Capture card marketing leads with passthrough numbers, not what gets recorded. How to tell the two apart, and three cards that get it right.
September 24, 2026
Best Low-Profile CPU Coolers for HTPC and SFF Builds (Confirmed Heights)
A low-profile label means nothing against your case's clearance limit. Two coolers with confirmed millimeter heights and verified socket support.
September 24, 2026
How to Replace a Laptop Screen: Step by Step
The swap itself is fifteen minutes on most machines. The three places it goes wrong are the bezel, the connector tape, and testing too late. Here is the order that keeps all three out of trouble.