Do I Need a Sound Card?

Whether you are building a computer or buying a new desktop, you may ask yourself the question, “Do I Need a Sound Card?“. Generally, pretty much all motherboards these days have an on-board sound card. The on-board sound cards are usually pretty decent. So, you may wonder why anyone would purchase a separate sound card. Well, there are a number of reasons why you may want a stand alone sound card.

Sound Quality is Much Better With a Sound Card

The most obvious reason is that a good, stand-alone sound card will provide much better quality than a built-in sound card. If you play any type of games on your PC, a good sound card will make the experience much better. You will really notice a difference when it comes to directional sounds as dedicated sound cards do a great job with these. Also, if you watch high quality video, a sound card is worth having. One other situation in which you may want a better sound card is if compose or even listen to a lot of music. If you are an audiophile, then a dedicated sound card is a must have. read more

Razer Blackwidow vs Ornata Gaming Keyboard Comparison

Mechanical keyboards are increasingly more popular these days, and if you’re on the fence between the Razer Blackwidow and the Razer Ornata – chances are we don’t need to explain to you the benefits of this technology.

Suffice to say, mechanical keyboards are extremely satisfying to use, and indeed they can make for a more comfortable typing experience compared to membrane keyboards. Not only are they especially durable and deliciously clicky, mechanical keyboards can also be great to improve your gaming performance; and they will also come in handy when it comes to office work related productivity, as well. read more

PC Gaming Chairs vs Console Gaming Chairs

For most gamers, finding the right chair is essential. If you like to indulge in marathon gaming sessions, then a comfortable chair can make a huge difference. It starts with identifying what type of gamer you are, what you prefer, and the type of games you indulge in most of the time. This is due to the fact that the sitting and positioning mechanics that are involved in PC and console gaming are not the same. There are plenty of differences between computer gaming chairs and console gaming chairs. In the post, we look at the similarities and differences between the two different types of gaming chairs.

Ground Clearance

One of the most obvious differences between the two gaming chairs is the ground clearance. Typically, PC gaming chairs have a lower clearance compared to console chairs. With PC chairs, you might even be sitting with your legs at a 90 degree angle to the rest of your body. There are a few different types of console chairs. First, there are console chairs that rest on their bellies like a rocker. Second, there are console chairs that use a pedestal. These sit up much higher compared to the rocker console chairs. These are also more in line with PC gaming chairs. However, the PC gaming chairs usually still have a lower clearance.

Benefits of a Gaming Chair (Both PC and Console Chairs)

Comfort: Gaming chairs are designed with ergonomics in mind to provide comfort during long gaming sessions. They often have padding, lumbar support, and adjustable armrests.

Posture: By providing proper support, gaming chairs can help reduce the risk of strain and discomfort on the neck, back, and other parts of the body. Like comfort above, this makes a big difference during long gaming sessions.

Style: Gaming chairs come in a range of colors and designs. This allows you create a more immersive gaming experience and improve the overall look of your gaming setup.

Functionality: Many gaming chairs come with built-in features such as built-in speakers, vibration motors, and a tilt mechanism that can add to the overall gaming experience. (Spoiler alert for the differences below: This is more prevalent in console gaming chairs.)

Durability: Gaming chairs are made to withstand the demands of long gaming sessions, and are often constructed with high-quality materials that are built to last.

Best Free Programs To Clean Up Your Gaming PC

As you use your gaming PC more and more, it can really start to accumulate some junk. There are many things that can clutter up a computer such as registry errors, a virus, spyware, junk files, or hard drive fragmentation. This clutter can really cause your computer to run much more slowly than it should be running. In this article, we look at a few of the best free programs that you can use to help clean up your computer.

Benefits of Cleaning and Anti-Malware Software

Before we get into the list of the best free programs to keep your PC clean, let look at a few reasons why it is worth using.

Malware can wreak havoc on your PC, keeping your PC malware free is crucial to keeping your PC running fast.

Freeing up storage space on your device can improve performance.

Cleaning software can improve the speed and stability of your gaming PC.

Some cleaning software can remove traces of your online activity.

In general, cleaning software can improve the overall PC performance.

Cleaning software can fix common errors and crashes.

Cleaning software can improve security by removing unnecessary and sensitive information.

Best Keyboard Shortcuts for Gaming (and Productivity)

Using some common keyboard shortcuts can really help your gaming experience. Additionally, if you work on your computer all day, being able to use it efficiently can really help save you time and make you more productive. One way to do this is by learning and using some common shortcuts.

Benefits of Using Keyboard Shortcuts

First, as mentioned in the intro, using keyboard shortcuts can drastically improve your efficiency while working or playing. For example, it is so much easier to use Ctrl+A to highlight all text in a document versus using the mouse cursor to highlight all the text.

Next, as a more advanced tactic, you can customize your shortcuts to actions that you may perform often. You can even set up a shortcut to run a macro.

One more big benefit of getting used to keyboard shortcuts is that it will cut down your need to use the mouse as much. This could reduce your risk of getting carpal tunnel or just general wrist soreness.

Gaming Specific Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows + Number keys – This opens the app on the taskbar corresponding to the numbered position. This is useful to easily switch between the game and other apps. For example, you will easily be able to switch between a game, discord, or even streaming software.

Windows + A – This opens the Action Center (where you can turn on Wi-Fi). This is useful if you need to diagnose connection issues.

Windows + G — This opens Xbox Game Bar. The Xbox Game Bar offers all kind of useful tools and information such as recording software and the ability to see how your hardware is performing.

Windows + Alt + G — This will record the last 30 seconds of gameplay.

Windows + Alt + R — This shortcut will start or stop recording.