Latest articles by Cale Hunt
ExplorerPatcher just hit 42M downloads. Why aren't more people talking about it?
Apps ExplorerPatcher keeps gaining users, but I rarely see it mentioned as a way to customize Windows 11. I decided to find out why.
Retro PC gaming is booming as more players build their own rigs
PC gaming In the era of expensive GPUs and 4K ray tracing, a growing number of PC gamers are intentionally downgrading.
This custom LEGO gaming PC inspired me to get more creative with my builds
PC gaming The PC gaming community never fails to wow with its ingenuity and creativity, and this LEGO build is a perfect example.
This free, open-source app makes network monitoring so much easier
Apps Created by one developer, Sniffnet is an awesome network monitoring tool that does everything I want ... and more.
Intel reveals new Core Series 3 mobile CPUs for "value buyers"
Hardware Intel has unveiled its new Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" mobile CPUs designed to be more affordable, and I'm optimistic that they'll be a decent antidote to rising PC prices.
Is Microsoft's Security Response Center broken in light of BlueHammer?
Windows A zero-day BlueHammer exploit was recently published on GitHub in response to alleged MSRC failures, and although Microsoft has released a patch, it was live for two weeks.
AppControl's new feature is basically a private IT tech in your PC
Apps AppControl's latest update is a doozy, adding AI integration that makes it super easy to figure out what your PC's been up to over the last 72 hours.
Is the lightweight Zenbook A16 a better buy than the Zenbook S 16?
Laptops Two similar PCs with Snapdragon and AMD hardware make for an interesting comparison.
Excel incorrectly thinks 1900 is a leap year (and it won't be fixed)
Microsoft Sure, it could be fixed. But it's a lot easier to let the false 1900 leap year live on in Excel.
Alienware goes after budget PC gamers with its new QD-OLED display
PC gaming Alienware's QD-OLED displays are popular, but they're often priced too high to make economical sense. This new 27-inch model, starting at $349, aims to change that, and it's now available to buy.
Rumors point to NVIDIA negotiating to purchase a large PC company
Hardware There's definitely more than a 0% chance NVIDIA could be working on acquiring a large company in the PC and server market.
Enthusiast builds custom PC side panel with 15 Noctua fans
PC gaming YouTube Major Hardware went into this project expecting to land a meme, but the end result is too good to abandon. Here's how you, too, can build a 15-fan side panel for your gaming PC.
Microsoft is shutting down the Outlook Lite app for good on May 25
Apps After announcing its intentions to kill the Outlook Lite app about eight months ago, a firm end-of-life date has now been revealed. It's time to find an alternative if you haven't already.
How the Steam Deck became an unlikely Windows handheld
PC Gaming Valve's Steam Deck is a great piece of hardware that runs SteamOS out of the box. What about Windows? Well, it's possible, but not without some help from a community of enthusiasts.
Is Valve building SteamGPT?
PC gaming Datamined Steam files reference “SteamGPT,” with clues it could help automate support and assist anti‑cheat systems — a practical AI signal from Valve.
AoE2 hits 115,944 peak viewers
PC gaming Microsoft might have perfected the RTS genre in 1999, but nearly 30 years later, Age of Empires 2 is breaking viewer records and maintains a positive
How CRT gaming is being reborn with the help of diehard enthusiasts
Hardware If you've ever used a CRT screen, you know how much better the tech is for retro games. But as CRT displays decline in number, enthusiasts have created a new way forward with modern OLED tech.
Intel's Raptor Lake CPUs could be the PC gaming upgrade you need in 2026
Hardware With RAM prices still stuck in orbit, older CPUs that support DDR4 RAM are becoming ever more attractive. Intel clearly wants to take advantage.
OpenNOW might be the open-source GeForce Now app you need
PC gaming OpenNOW is your best bet if you can't stand NVIDIA's native GeForce Now app for cloud game streaming, but will it be allowed to reach its full potential?
The best Windows laptops out of 70+ recent reviews
Laptops The Windows Central team has tested and reviewed more than 70 Windows laptops in the past year, and I've curated this list with the 9 best options as well as several honorable mentions.
Hacker spent weeks setting up an elaborate axios hijack involving Teams
Security It's unclear how widespread the damage is from the recent axios hack involving North Korean malware, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and weeks of preparation.
Lenovo Qira and HP IQ are both heading your way soon. Which one suits you best?
AI Lenovo and HP have both devised on-device AI assistants designed to make your digital life easier. I dug into the features to discover similarities and differences.
How does the new Zenbook A16 compare to the MacBook Air 15?
Laptops We just finished testing and reviewing the new ASUS Zenbook A16, and I'm putting it up against the MacBook Air 15 with M5 chip.
