
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

The best gadgets and tech innovations of 2023 — Windows Central Tech Awards 2023
By Jez Corden published
The Best The best of the best.

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.

Intel's gambit: New Core Ultra mobile CPUs take on Apple and AMD with AI chips, double the graphics power and ultra-efficient laptops. But will it work?
By Daniel Rubino published
Core Ultra Intel unveils specs for select Core Ultra series mobile CPUs, featuring a new core setup focused on efficiency, AI enhancements, and updates to its Evo platform for 2024.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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?

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.

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.

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.

Rockstar Games confirms Grand Theft Auto 6 reveal is coming in early December with its first trailer (UPDATED)
By Samuel Tolbert last updated
VI A reveal is coming Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6, according to the publisher and developer itself.

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.

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?
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.