Cale Hunt

Cale Hunt

Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than nine years of experience writing about PC gaming, Windows laptops, accessories, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.

Cale has published hundreds of reviews on Windows Central, and he's not afraid to give his honest opinion regarding everything from PC gaming hardware to Windows software and laptops.

This allows him to efficiently curate buying guides and product advice, giving readers a no-nonsense look at the options that will best suit their needs.

When he isn’t in his office writing, tinkering with tech, or gaming, Cale enjoys playing acoustic guitar (he’s a sucker for Bluegrass music), reading novels, tending the garden, and providing his two cats some much-needed attention.

Latest articles by Cale Hunt

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM package stands before vibrant flames, exuding intensity and power. Crucial RAM sticks lie in front, emphasizing tech prowess.

Top 5 RAM scams to watch out for when buying in 2026

By Cale Hunt published

PC build RAM prices remain out of control, and bad actors are taking advantage of honest buyers with a wide range of scams. Here's how they work and how you can protect yourself next time you buy memory.

PC build
Minecraft Village and Pillage Update

Pick one of these pre-built PCs if you want to play Minecraft

By Cale Hunt last updated

PC gaming Java and Bedrock versions of Minecraft have low PC system requirements, but that doesn't mean a more powerful PC can't make the experience far better. Here are the best pre-built PCs for Minecraft.

PC gaming
A sleek laptop with a vibrant purple flower on the screen sits on a wooden table. Books and framed art surround it, evoking a cozy, intellectual atmosphere.

Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) is an outstanding laptop, mainly thanks to Snapdragon's X2 Elite

By Cale Hunt published

Review The Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) should be a top choice for students, small business pros, and even casual Windows users who want a premium laptop starting at $1,199.

Review
A laptop displaying a colorful jellyfish screensaver rests on a life preserver. A potted plant and stacked books add a cozy feel on the wooden table.

Here's how Microsoft's powerful new Windows recovery tool actually works

By Cale Hunt published

Windows 11 System Restore has long been the go-to option for Windows recovery, but it's certainly not perfect. Microsoft's new Point-in-Time Restore aims to fill in the blanks.

Windows 11
Split image: Left side shows a laptop with a vivid ocean and windsurfer on-screen, evoking adventure. Right side displays a hand using a colorful app interface on a second laptop, suggesting productivity and technology. In the center, a colorful geometric logo connects both images.

LG just launched a $599 laptop — how does it match up to the MacBook Neo?

By Cale Hunt published

Laptops The LG gram Book 15 for 2026 has made its debut at a discounted $599, which immediately makes me think of the MacBook Neo. Here's how the two laptops compare.

Laptops
A black gaming controller shatters dramatically against a beige background, surrounded by swirling debris, conveying motion and intensity.

The Steam Controller is going for $399 on eBay, and gamers aren't happy

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming It's Valve's controller, sure, but it's still just a controller.

PC gaming
Steam Deck OLED playing Cyberpunk 2077

Could Valve's Steam Deck 2 be an ARM-based handheld?

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming Valve has confirmed the Steam Deck 2 is under development, and that leaves a lot of open possibilities.

PC gaming
Footrest with a curved black cushion on wood flooring. An orange-colored button on the top adds contrast. The design suggests ergonomic comfort.

A working TrackPoint foot controller exists and the creator explains why

By Cale Hunt published

Hardware Almost every ThinkPad ever made has had a TrackPoint pointing system, and one engineer wants to repurpose them to create affordable accessibility controllers for PC gaming and more.

Hardware
A sleek laptop with a scenic landscape on its screen sits on a castle window ledge. The view includes rolling hills, a winding river, and a distant town, conveying a sense of tranquility and history.

Secure Boot might stop working on your PC in 8 weeks. Here's how to check.

By Cale Hunt published

Windows The slow decline of outdated Windows versions continues as Microsoft confronts expiring Secure Boot certificates for the first time ever.

Windows
A futuristic spiral design features multiple WD_BLACK SN710 NVMe SSDs with 4TB capacity, arranged in layers, emitting a warm glow against a circuit board backdrop.

I can't believe this 4TB SSD is 57% cheaper right now

By Cale Hunt published

Deals Solve your PC's storage woes with massive discounts on 4TB, 2TB, and 1TB WD_Black SN7100 SSDs.

Deals
Comparison of four landscape scenes illustrating rendering techniques. Top left: Vibrant Roblox render. Top right: Simplified 3D data. Bottom left: Lab results with moderate details. Bottom right: Enhanced Super Upsampler vision with rich colors and textures.

Roblox Reality shows off DLSS 5’s AI upscaling in a big way

By Cale Hunt published

Gaming Known as Roblox Reality, it's aiming to give games photorealistic graphics without requiring a cutting-edge PC.

Gaming
PS5 DualSense, Xbox Series X Controller

PC modders revive full wireless support for PlayStation controllers

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming A free and open-source GitHub project called DS5Dongle is finally bringing haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to the wireless DualSense experience on PC.

PC gaming
Warcraft 3 Reforged

Blizzard quietly adds Warcraft 3: Legacy to Battle.net

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming After Warcraft 3: Reforged effectively ruined Warcraft 3 for so many players about six years ago, Blizzard has now added a "Legacy" version to Battle.net. Here's what you need to know.

PC gaming
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck with Windows Central 'The Best' award

Our favorite HOTAS system for flight sims gets a massive discount

By Cale Hunt published

Deals For a limited time during Amazon Gaming Week, you can pick up the best flight sim HOTAS we've ever tested for $100 less than usual.

Deals
Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1

Is METROV the new best way to recreate Windows Phone 8.1?

By Cale Hunt published

Phones Although Windows Phone went away years ago, it has lived on in the hearts of many. This custom Android launcher returns the feel of WP 8.1, and it's starting to get attention.

12 Comments
Phones
Image of the Razer Blade 16 (2024).

NVIDIA's 12GB RTX 5070 mobile GPU is official

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming NVIDIA has quietly announced a 12GB RTX 5070 mobile GPU variant for gaming laptops to help dampen the effects of the ongoing memory crisis. Here's how that works.

PC gaming
A person with glasses holds a laptop displaying a colorful app interface against a purple background. They appear surprised or intrigued.

$3 ChromeOS Flex installation drives sold out in less than a month

By Cale Hunt published

Windows Despite free alternatives you can create at home, Back Market's first batch of $3 ChromeOS Flex installation sticks has sold out less than a month after being introduced.

Windows
Dual monitors displaying vibrant abstract art with colorful swirls, placed vertically on a wooden table. A gaming controller is between them, with books and a plant in the background.

I reviewed the new dual-screen gaming laptop from ASUS

By Cale Hunt published

Laptops ASUS's dual-screen ROG Zephyrus Duo gaming laptop is here, and I got my hands on it early to test it out. Here's what you need to know before buying.

Laptops
Hands hold a Steam Deck displaying a screen with a "Steam Deck Compatibility" chart. The graph shows a steady line, indicating performance metrics.

Valve just made it easy for developers to see how their games actually run on Steam Deck

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming Two new sections have arrived for Steamworks data reporting, giving developers a closer look at how games run on Steam Deck.

PC gaming
A retro gaming setup with a vintage CRT monitor displaying a video game. Surrounded by game consoles, cartridges, controllers, and shelves of game boxes. Nostalgic atmosphere.

How to build your own retro gaming PC for less than $500

By Cale Hunt published

PC gaming The retro gaming movement is thriving in 2026, and I put together an affordable PC build for classic games and emulation.

PC gaming
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10)

Why PC sales went up in Q1 2026 despite rising costs

By Cale Hunt published

Hardware A new study from Counterpoint Research explains why PC market growth in Q1 2026 is not indicative of how the rest of the year will go. Here's my breakdown of the situation.

Hardware
Split image of two laptops: the left shows a Windows interface with a blue abstract background, and the right displays a colorful app grid on macOS.

How does the Surface Laptop 13" compare to the MacBook Neo?

By Cale Hunt published

Laptops Surface Laptop 13-inch vs. MacBook Neo: Rising prices make Microsoft's lightweight darling a tough sell

10 Comments
Laptops
Two computer windows are open on a desktop. The left window shows "BitLocker Drive Encryption" settings, and the right one shows "Trusted Platform Module Management." The background features a blue abstract swirl.

BitLocker beyond basics: recovery keys, TPM, and enterprise tips

By Cale Hunt published

Sponsor Content Created With Microsoft

BitLocker is an integral part of Windows 11's security, and it works best when it's configured and managed properly.

A sleek black gaming PC with glowing blue LED fans and a side glass panel showcasing internal components. Vibrant blue and green geometric background.

MAINGEAR MG‑1 MK II brings desktop power to a compact chassis

By Cale Hunt published

Hardware Maingear's MG-1 Mk. II pre-built gaming PC adds several notable refinements compared to its predecessor, to which I gave a Windows Central Best Award.

Hardware
Laptop screen showing a colorful, organized desktop interface. Beside it, a minimalist drawing of a person with a satisfied expression and hands on cheeks.

ExplorerPatcher just hit 42M downloads. Why aren't more people talking about it?

By Cale Hunt published

Apps ExplorerPatcher keeps gaining users, but I rarely see it mentioned as a way to customize Windows 11. I decided to find out why.

12 Comments
Apps
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