Ben Wilson
Ben is the editor for everything in our tech channel at Windows Central, including desktop PCs, the components inside, and practically any accessory. Since most of this hardware tends to be compatible with Xbox, he also keeps an Xbox Series S close by for testing headsets, external storage, and anything with enough versatility to cover all the bases. A lifelong gamer since his first console, the SEGA Mega Drive, he has an affinity for taking things to pieces to see how they work.
Pursuing a recent career in technology journalism follows over a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support roles, offering repairs and recommendations to consumers. A personal hobby in custom PC building built a strong desire to follow the latest cutting-edge hardware in a never-ending search to find the parts genuinely worth buying. Always on the hunt for the best value for money, he's fueled by a steady diet of caffeinated drinks and coffee-flavored food.
Forever a Windows XP fan, he's keeping up with the latest releases from Microsoft but dabbles in Linux to experiment with the inner workings of Valve's Steam Deck handheld. He'll look out for your best interests if you're considering tinkering with hardware upgrades and want the best bang for your buck. Find him on BlueSky @benwilson.net to ask questions or share opinions.
Latest articles by Ben Wilson
![Last-minute stocking stuffers at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3HVazJ3v6njg5sYfH5yW97-320-80.jpg)
7 last-minute stocking stuffers I JUST bought for my tech-loving family and gamer friends (because I'm bad at Xmas shopping)
By Ben Wilson published
Quick gifts My teenage relatives and video game-loving friends eagerly await holiday gifts, so here's everything I picked at the last moment with buzzer-beating orders.
![Deals on Windows 11 Pro at Windows Central generated by AI](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fiy5BmHfyP8WvNakUPRFeG-320-80.jpg)
Windows 11 Pro is finally cheap enough that you don't have to steal it in this limited-time deal
By Ben Wilson published
Deal In a rare display of generosity, you can buy Windows 11 Pro for only $39.99 from a legitimate Microsoft Partner with no danger of deactivations or other issues with dubious codes.
![Grand Theft Auto 6 screenshot and logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p4CpHd5o3t6FqAWCCXnreD-320-80.jpg)
GTA 6 trailer analysis: Vice City expands to Leonida State with a female protagonist and teases unprecedented levels of detail
By Ben Wilson published
GTA 6 The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI was released early due to Internet leaks and confirmed its location as Vice City, but some details are more subtle and outright hidden.
![Mockup image of Grand Theft Auto 6 logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8LEMfNe8M33NcmYJjXTAih-320-80.jpg)
What to expect in the GTA 6 trailer: Vice City, Florida, and beyond, as the next Grand Theft Auto is unveiled tomorrow
By Ben Wilson published
GTA 6 Grand Theft Auto 6 will soon be unveiled to the world with its first official trailer, but what can excited gamers realistically expect to see? Here are my theories as a fan of the series.
![Windows Central Holiday Gifting Deals on ASUS ROG Ally](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VpQDqRo8FLAhbBwXZjb3Tf-320-80.jpg)
Forget Steam Deck OLED — ASUS ROG Ally is $399!! (It is even cheaper than on Cyber Monday and it crushes the competition)
By Ben Wilson last updated
🎁Deal ASUS ROG Ally is a powerhouse portable PC gaming handheld and the perfect holiday gaming gift, enjoying a discount that puts Cyber Monday to shame.
![NVIDIA deal on PC Game Pass](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vsWbXpVmMGnD9qpGt7PsCg-320-80.jpg)
Could 3 months of FREE PC Game Pass and GeForce Now with ANY RTX 40-Series graphics card purchase convince you to pick up NVIDIA's latest GPU?
By Ben Wilson published
RTX freebies Push your new RTX 40-Series graphics card to its limits with downloadable PC Game Pass titles, or stream them from the cloud with GeForce NOW (while the offer lasts!)
![AOC PD49](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nnwk3gnoAGm26YZXGoc8LL-320-80.jpg)
Porsche-themed ultrawide curved gaming monitor leaks with the weakest sales pitch and I'm bored already — who's asking for these?
By Ben Wilson published
Porsche(?) A collaboration between AOC and Porsche (seriously) has leaked ahead of CES in the form of a 49-inch curved ultrawide gaming monitor.
![Cyber Monday deal on Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NG68vUMw3v69SARJGX5YnX-320-80.jpg)
Time's running out — This $599 RTX 3050 laptop is the PERFECT holiday gift for aspiring gamers on Cyber Monday (UPDATED)
By Ben Wilson published
Deal Cyber Monday is the perfect time to grab a cheap but capable laptop as a gift for first-time gamers, and Acer has just the thing.
![Cyber Monday deal on pre-built PC for Cyber Monday](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nV7ceYhY4yDFwofNow7bbA-320-80.jpg)
Get the PERFECT pre-built PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator with this unmissable Cyber Monday deal before it sells out! (UPDATED)
By Ben Wilson published
MSFS deal This powerful pre-built gaming PC is perfect for Microsoft Flight Simulator, featuring brand-new components well over the recommended specs.
![Cyber Monday deals on MSI B550 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vaB8FswAgd26CdUPhvzSR3-320-80.jpg)
HURRY! The perfect motherboard for my favorite AMD Ryzen CPU is cheaper than ever for Cyber Monday, don't miss it!
By Ben Wilson published
Deal I've used MSI motherboards for years in several custom-built gaming rigs, and this is still my top pick for the Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 5800X, cheaper than ever at Best Buy.
![Cyber Monday deals on PC components at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qxJBa9qZE4mTwZmJsCqWvn-320-80.jpg)
I build gaming PCs for a living, and EVERYTHING you need is on sale for Cyber Monday, so here are 14 picks that I'd buy
By Ben Wilson published
🪛Build it! Building a gaming desktop isn't as scary as it looks, and I've handpicked all the components you need for a value-focused custom PC on sale for Cyber Monday.
![Razer Basilisk V3 Cyber Monday deal at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nFNipanvcCBdgt6zb8Nj3c-320-80.jpg)
This is STILL the perfect mouse for FPS gaming, and now it's almost half-price in an unmissable Cyber Monday deal (UPDATED)
By Ben Wilson published
Deal I've said it for years: Razer makes the best PC gaming mice in the world, and the top pick for first-person shooters is almost half off for Cyber Monday.
![MSI GF63 Thin Cyber Monday deal at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wqSpEvoLA556PnbfXpwrP9-320-80.jpg)
This RTX 3050 gaming laptop is just $599 — no, that's not a typo — and is a better deal than Steam Deck (UPDATED)
By Ben Wilson last updated
Deal For less than the cost of some modern gaming handhelds, you can get a fully-fledged gaming laptop with an RTX NVIDIA GPU for an obscenely low price for Cyber Monday.
![Earthworks Audio Ethos](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8xW7UsCaWvuRdrHyNGKHUn-320-80.jpg)
My all-time favorite streaming microphone didn't need a Black Friday deal: It's worth every cent at a 0% discount
By Ben Wilson published
100% worth it Not everything needs a discount to be worth buying during the Black Friday season, and my favorite XLR microphone is a prime example.
![Black Friday deal on AVerMedia GC553 Live Gamer ULTRA](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/44bUMwvaRbYzY3AFLBE7r-320-80.jpg)
Don't buy an Elgato capture card on Black Friday! The best 4K alternative for streamers is a smarter (and cheaper) choice (UPDATED)
By Ben Wilson published
Deal It's tempting to spring for an Elgato USB capture card, but the affordable underdog is still a better buy on Black Friday.
![Cyber Monday deals on pre-built gaming desktops at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MytHM3RzvBFHKSLKsJin86-320-80.jpg)
The best pre-built gaming desktop PC deals for Cyber Monday 2023: Perfect picks for newcomers
By Ben Wilson, Zachary Boddy, Sean Endicott last updated
Deals Building a custom PC is a rewarding experience when it works, but it's also an intimidating prospect. Here are the best deals on pre-built options.
![Cyber Monday deals on gaming laptops at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FwzeVSAYCgcM8iPXEU7MxY-320-80.jpg)
The best gaming laptop deals for Cyber Monday 2023: Ultimate value and awesome power for less
By Ben Wilson, Zachary Boddy last updated
Deals If you're waiting for Cyber Monday to pick up a new gaming laptop, wait no more. We'll help you choose from the best deals that are already appearing online.
![Black Friday 2023 deals at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VwcdUVtKxbLbWE5a76SEpP-320-80.jpg)
Best deals for Black Friday 2023 — Handpicked discounts to grab now
By Ben Wilson last updated
Deals We're rounding up the hottest deals on Windows, Xbox, and more during the run-up to Black Friday 2023.
![Steam Deck on a green measuring mat with a screwdriver](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RdAHYJmxume43JnXTi5Upn-320-80.jpg)
"The motherboards are incompatible and we have overhauled the internals significantly": Valve's product designer shuts down the prospect of upgrading your OG LCD Steam Deck with a custom OLED screen — but is it actually impossible?
By Ben Wilson published
OLEDn't An upgraded Steam Deck OLED is a mid-generation refresh to Valve's portable PC gaming handheld, so what about manual upgrades for those who own the original?
![TP-Link Deco X55 Black Friday deal at Windows Central](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCRGtn6f35H8S88CwDJt7E-320-80.jpg)
The best mesh Wi-Fi system I've ever used just hit its LOWEST price on Amazon and I couldn't recommend it hard enough
By Ben Wilson published
Deal I solved all of my wireless networking issues with this mesh Wi-Fi triple pack, breaking through the thick brick walls of my old house to provide high-speed Internet to my farthest-reaching rooms.
![SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless discounted for Black Friday](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4hVfLkQd5MDLVMK3DerTpQ-320-80.jpg)
My all-time favorite wireless gaming keyboard enjoys a 21% discount as an early Black Friday treat
By Ben Wilson last updated
Deal The best gaming keyboard I have ever tested enjoys an early Black Friday discount, bringing it down to a more reasonable cost than its initial MSRP.
![Mockup logo for Grand Theft Auto 6 generated by AI and compositied with an official logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MBMiEu8SttpyX7KxP4LxPQ-320-80.jpg)
Why Rockstar Games' mistreatment of the series leaves me feeling utterly unexcited for Grand Theft Auto 6
By Ben Wilson published
💔GTA6 GTA6 breaks the Internet, but it's not the same for me.
![Processor floating in the ocean](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HK9nbY3PEJL5qH5wXD3bNk-320-80.jpg)
Revolutionary 'sweating' heatsink improves passive CPU cooling up to 32.65% with salt water
By Ben Wilson published
Sweaty CPU Developed by researchers in China, this experimental technology allows a porous membrane to 'sweat' and absorb moisture from the air and passively cool processors.
![Windows 10 wallpaper with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics card](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsYeMq85443qaFewGma4cC-320-80.jpg)
Surveyed PC gamers say they STILL prefer Windows 10 and mid-range 1080p over high-end parts
By Ben Wilson published
Steam Survey Valve's October survey shows Windows still dominates PC gaming, with Windows 10 leading the way. Is Microsoft's last-gen operating system still so popular for a specific reason?
![Intel Core i7-14700K CPU in front of an Acer Nitro gaming laptop](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kbZVBkEJQLtqMX5uyeeBZo-320-80.jpg)
Intel's top-tier gaming laptop CPU just leaked, and it almost beat the desktop equivalent — Here's what you need to know
By Ben Wilson published
Portable power Leaked Geekbench 6 benchmarks show an unreleased Intel Core 14th Gen mobile CPU almost matching the performance of its desktop 14700K counterpart.