
Ben Wilson
Ben is a Senior Editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to technology hardware and software. He regularly goes hands-on with the latest Windows laptops, components inside custom gaming desktops, and any accessory compatible with PC and Xbox. His lifelong obsession with dismantling gadgets to see how they work led him to pursue a career in tech-centric journalism after a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support.
Forever a Windows XP fan who cut his teeth by helping his family transition from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 with a stack of floppy disks and paper manuals, he's dedicated to Microsoft's operating system and everything remotely compatible. If he isn't covering AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm processors or dabbling in Valve's Linux-based Steam Deck handheld, he's probably playing Euro Truck Simulator 2 for some low-speed (but realistic) thrills.
Latest articles by Ben Wilson

LIVE PC gaming handheld deals on ROG Ally, Legion Go, and more
By Zachary Boddy last updated
LIVE Deals Black Friday and Cyber Monday have ended, so here are all the best PC gaming handheld deals that survived the sales purge, including ROG Ally, Legion Go, and more.

Mini PCs start as low as $179 with these last-chance Cyber Monday deals
By Ben Wilson last updated
Deals Some of the best mini PCs we've ever tested at Windows Central are still on sale after Cyber Monday.

LIVE Xbox deals on Series X|S and accessories are still available
By Jez Corden, Ben Wilson last updated
Xbox LIVE Highlighting our favorite Xbox discounts still live after the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal season ends.

Gaming laptops are still on sale from $479 after Cyber Monday
By Cale Hunt last updated
PCMR Deals Cyber Monday is proving to be the best time for gamers to shop, with massive discounts on top RTX gaming laptops.

LIVE Razer deals for Cyber Monday 2024 on top-rated gaming accessories
By Zachary Boddy, Ben Wilson last updated
Razer Find the hottest Cyber Monday deals on my favorite Razer hardware and accessories.

This 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop is back for Cyber Monday
By Ben Wilson last updated
RTX 4070 With a high-end Intel CPU and RTX 4070 GPU, Dell's G16 (7630) is back on sale and offers incredible performance-per-dollar value for gamers on the move.

Don't buy the official Steam Deck docking station on Cyber Monday
By Ben Wilson last updated
Dock this JSAUX offers exactly the same functionality as Valve's official Steam Deck Docking station at a much lower cost, and now it's even cheaper.

The keyboard I used for 858+ days is still a steal after Black Friday
By Ben Wilson last updated
Apex deal SteelSeries' Apex Pro Mini Wireless keyboard was too expensive at launch, a problem solved by this deal extending to Cyber Monday.

Top 13 Cyber Monday deals trending with Windows Central readers
By Ben Wilson last updated
Deals I'm curating a list of price-crunching savings on Windows PCs and gaming hardware that's resonating with our audience.

My all-time favorite gaming sequel is still 69% off for Cyber Monday
By Ben Wilson published
Streets of Rage 4 Streets of Rage 4 is a chemically perfect beat 'em up that's ideal for playing on handhelds like ASUS' ROG Ally and Valve's Steam Deck.

Amazon just dropped the price of its eReaders for the holidays
By Ben Wilson published
Kindle Cyber Monday discounts hit multiple Amazon Kindle eReaders and make them one of the easiest gifts to give over the holidays.

This heavily discounted RTX 4050 gaming laptop back in stock
By Ben Wilson last updated
RTX 4050 After selling out when priced at $499, the HP Victus 15.6 with an RTX 4050 is back in stock, but with a smaller discount.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 stuck 'loading unusually long'
By Ben Wilson last updated
MSFS 2024 Comments from players around social media lament the same problems with loading into Microsoft's simulation game as progress bars halt at 97%.

Here's when Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches on Xbox and PC
By Ben Wilson published
MSFS 2024 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the globetrotting hit from Asobo Studio, is about to land on Xbox and PC, and this is exactly when you can play it.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 only pre-installs 330.09MB before launch
By Ben Wilson published
Compressed Earth? Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available for early installs on PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles before release, but the reported storage size doesn't make any sense.

The best VR headset for Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2024 is cheaper than you think
By Ben Wilson last updated
VR This affordable virtual reality headset offers the best balance of realism and value for money with Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC.

Best CPU coolers for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X in 2024: Air-powered recommendations and AIO alternatives
By Ben Wilson, Cale Hunt last updated
5800X The best CPU cooler for AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X will keep the 8-core processor cool without blaring its fans. Here are my top picks for your next AM4 build.

Best motherboard for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X in 2024
By Ben Wilson last updated
Updated Find the best AM4 motherboard to match the Ryzen 5 5600X, AMD's perfect mid-range CPU pick.

Best motherboard for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X in 2024
By Ben Wilson last updated
Updated Still a great gaming processor, AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X works best with my top-rated motherboards.

Scalpers buy out AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D stock with $200+ markups
By Ben Wilson published
Scalped Second-hand marketplaces show multiple listings of AMD's top-rated gaming CPU with inflated prices reaching $200 over MSRP.

Telegram is the latest Windows on ARM app with native support
By Ben Wilson published
ARMessenger Popular instant messenger Telegram now has native ARM64 support for Windows 11 devices with version 5.7.2 of its desktop app.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review: Retaining the title of best gaming CPU
By Ben Wilson published
Review AMD's new Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a higher price tag than its predecessor, but it's still the best pick for gamers and far cheaper than Intel's underwhelming offering.

The world's favorite SSD is $100 off before Black Friday, giving me 2TB of space for the monstrous installations of AAA games
By Ben Wilson published
$100 off Samsung's 990 PRO delivers ultra-fast boot times in Windows or even faster game loading for $100 off its usual price before Black Friday.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K review: Topping productivity with ultra-efficiency, but is it enough to warrant an upgrade?
By Ben Wilson last updated
Review Intel returns to the top of my benchmarking charts with breakthrough performance-per-watt in productivity testing but doesn't offer any significant boost to 14th Gen Core i9 gamers.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.