PCWorld 01 2024

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JANUARY 2024
THE BEST
PC HARDWARE
& SOFTWARE OF THE
YEAR
REVIEW
FALCON NORTHWEST FRAGBOX: A PORTABLE PC POWERHOUSE
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CONTENTS
JANUARY 2024
≥ DEPARTMENTS ≥ FEATURES
7 News
27 Reviews & Ratings 60 The best PC hardware and software of 2023/2024
85 Here’s How
112 Tech Spotlight 78 How much antivirus protection is right for you?
JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 3

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AMERICA’S DEADLIEST SHOOTINGS
ARE ONES WE DON’T TALK ABOUT
On any given day in America, an average of 67 of our mothers, brothers, partners, and friends
are taken from us by gun suicide. But tomorrow’s deaths could be prevented. Store your guns
safely: locked, unloaded, and away from ammo.
EndFamilyFire.org
News TECH NEWS AND TRENDS THAT WILL
AFFECT YOU TODAY AND BEYOND.
AMD’s new Ryzen 8000 laptop

CPUs are built for an AI future
AMD’s AI capabilities will continue to ramp up in 2024. BY MARK HACHMAN
A
MD announced the Ryzen 8040 7040 included the first use of what AMD then
series of laptop processors at called its XDNA architecture, powering Ryzen
the company’s AI-themed event, AI. (When rival Intel disclosed its Meteor Lake
reframing what has been a processor [fave.co/3PUqbHl] this past
conversation about CPU speed, power, and summer, Intel began referring to the AI
battery life into one that prioritizes AI. accelerator as an NPU, and the name stuck.)
In January, AMD launched the Ryzen 7000 More than 50 laptop models already ship
family (fave.co/3WnH8ev), of which the Ryzen with Ryzen AI, executives said. Now, it’s on to
IMAGE: AMD JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 7

NEWS RYZEN 8000 L APTOP CPUS BUILT FOR AI FUTURE
AMD’s next NPU, Hawk

Point, inside the Ryzen
8040. In AMD’s case,
the XDNA NPU assists
the Zen CPU, with the
Radeon RDNA
architecture of the GPU
powering graphics. But
all three logic
components work
harmoniously, AMD is claiming that all of these features will use its Ryzen AI.
contributing to the
greater whole. compete on two separate tracks: Not only do
“We view AI as the single most they have to produce the most powerful AI
transformational technology of the last ten silicon, they must also ensure app developers
years,” said Dr. Lisa Su, AMD’s chief executive, can code to their chips in the most efficient
in kicking off AMD’s “Advancing AI” manner possible.
presentation on Wednesday. Silicon makers have tried to entice game
Now the fight is being waged across developers to do the same for years. And
several fronts. While Microsoft and Google though AI can seem impenetrable from the
may want AI to be computed in the cloud, outside, you can tease out familiar concepts:
all the heavyweight chip companies are Quantization, for example, can be seen as a
making a case for it to be processed locally form of data compression to allow large
on the PC. That means finding applications language models that normally run on
that can take advantage of the local AI powerful server processors to reduce their
processing capabilities. And that means complexity and run on local processors like
partnering with software developers to the Ryzen 8000 series. Those kind of tools are
code apps for specific processors. The critical for “local AI” to succeed.
upshot is that AMD and its rivals must
provide software tools to enable those MEET THE EIGHT RYZEN
applications to talk to their chips. 8040 MOBILE PROCESSORS
Naturally, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm Like many chips, AMD is announcing the
want those apps to run most effectively on Ryzen 8040 series now, but you’ll see them in
their own silicon, so the chip companies must laptops beginning next year.

The Ryzen 8040 series combines AMD’s 5.1GHz (boost); Radeon 780M graphics,
Zen 4 architecture, its RDNA 3 GPUs, and 35–54W
(still) the first-gen XDNA architecture together. Ryzen 7 8840HS: 8 cores/16 threads,
But the new chips actually use AMD’s second 5.1GHz (boost) Radeon 780M graphics,
NPU. The first, Phoenix, included 10 NPU 20–30W
trillions of operations per second (TOPS) and Ryzen 7 8840U: 8 cores/16 threads,
33 total TOPS—with the remainder coming 5.1GHz (boost) Radeon 780M graphics,
from the CPU and the GPU. The 8040 series 15–30W
includes Hawk Point, which increases the Ryzen 5 8645HS: 6 cores/12 threads,
NPU TOPS to 16 TOPS with 39 TOPS in total. 5.0GHz (boost) Radeon 760M graphics,
Donny Woligroski, senior mobile 35–54W
processor technical marketing manager, told Ryzen 5 8640HS: 6 cores/12 threads,
reporters that the CPU uses AVX-512 VNNI 4.9GHz (boost) Radeon 760M graphics,
instructions to run lightweight AI functions on 20-30W
the CPU. AI can also run on the GPU, but at a Ryzen 5 8640U: 6 cores/12 threads,
high, inefficient power level—a stance we’ve 5.1GHz (boost) Radeon 760M graphics,
heard from Intel, too. 20–30W
“When it comes to efficiency, raw Ryzen 5 8540U: 6 cores/12 threads,
performance isn’t enough,” Woligroski said. 4.9GHz (boost) Radeon 740M graphics,
“You’ve got to able to run this stuff 15–30W
in a laptop.” Ryzen 3 8440U: 4 cores/8 threads,
There are nine members of the Ryzen 4.7GHz (boost) Radeon 740M graphics,
8040 series. The seven most powerful include 15–30W
the Hawk Point NPU. They vary from 8 Using AMD’s model number “decoder
cores/16 threads and a boost clock of ring” (fave.co/3pUA8Lu)—which Intel
5.2GHz on the high end, down to 4 cores/8 recently slammed as “snake oil”(fave.
threads and 4.7GHz. TDPs range from a co/47MmWcD)—all of the new processors
minimum of 15W to a 35W processor on the use the Zen 4 architecture and will ship in
high end, stretching to 54W. laptops in 2024. AMD offers three integrated
The nine new chips include: GPUs—the 780M (12 cores, up to 2.7GHz),
Ryzen 9 8945HS: 8 cores/16 threads, the 760M (8 cores, up to 2.6GHz), and the
5.2GHz (boost); Radeon 780M graphics, 740M (4 cores, up to 2.5GHz)—based upon
35–54W the RDNA3 graphics architecture and DDR5/
Ryzen 7 8845HS: 8 cores/16 threads, LPDDR5 support. Those iGPUs appeared in

NEWS RYZEN 8000 L APTOP CPUS BUILT FOR AI FUTURE
comparison, not really

claiming how it arrived at the
numbers.) AMD claims a 1.4
times performance boost on
the same chips, somehow
amalgamating Cinebench
R23 and Geekbench 6.
AMD also claimed a
gen-over-gen AI
AMD revealed what it has planned for the future. improvement of 1.4 times on
Facebook’s Llama 2 LLM and
the Ryzen 7040 mobile chips (fave. “vision models,” comparing the 7940HS
co/3X3tCPc) that debuted earlier this year and 8840HS.
with the Phoenix NPU.
Interestingly, AMD isn’t announcing any RYZEN AI SOFTWARE:
HX parts for premium gaming, at least not yet. A NEW TOOL FOR AI
AMD is also disclosing a third-gen NPU, ENTHUSIASTS
Strix Point, which it will ship sometime later With AI in its infancy, silicon manufacturers
in 2024, presumably within in a next- don’t have many points of comparison for
generation Ryzen processor. AMD didn’t traditional benchmarks. AMD executives
disclose any of the specific Strix Point specs, highlighted localized AI-powered
but said that it will deliver more than three experiences, such as the various neural
times the generative AI performance of the filters found within Photoshop, the masking
prior generation.
RYZEN 8040
PERFORMANCE
AMD included some generic
benchmark evaluations
comparing the 8940H to the
Intel Core i9-13900H at 1080p
on low settings, claiming its own
chip beats Intel’s by 1.8 times. AMD claimed a gen-over-gen AI improvement of 1.4 times on
(AMD used nine games for a Facebook’s Llama 2 LLM and “vision models.”

tools within Lightroom, and a number of AMD and Microsoft use ONNX (fave.
tools within BlackMagic’s DaVinci Resolve. co/47N19BE) for this purpose. ONNX is
The underlying message is that this is why an open-source runtime with built-in
you need local AI, rather than running it in optimizations and simple startup scripts.
the cloud. What Ryzen AI Software would do would
AMD is also debuting AMD Ryzen AI be to allow this quantization to happen
Software, a tool to allow a model developed automatically, saving the model into an
in PyTorch or TensorFlow for workstations ONNX format that is ready to run on a
and servers to run on a local AI-enabled Ryzen chip. Executives said that this Ryzen
Ryzen chip. AI Software tool will be released today,
The problem with running a truly large giving both independent developers and
LLM like a local chatbot, voice-changing enthusiasts an easier way to try out
software, or some other model is that servers AI themselves.
and workstations have more powerful AMD is also launching the AMD Pervasive
processors and more available memory. AI Contest, with prizes for development for
Laptops don’t. What Ryzen AI Software is robotics AI, generative AI, and PC AI. Prizes
designed to do is to essentially transcode the for PC AI, which involves creating unique
LLM into a simpler, less intensive version that apps for speech or vision, begin at $3,000
can run on the more limited memory and and climb to $10,000.
processing power of a Ryzen laptop. All this helps propel AMD in what is still
Put another way, the bulk of what you early in the race to establish AI, especially in
think of as a chatbot, or LLM, is actually the the client PC. Next year promises to solidify
weights, or parameters—the relationships where each chip company fits as they round
between various concepts and words. LLMs the first turn.
like GPT-3 have billions of
parameters, and storing and
executing these (inferencing)
takes enormous computing
resources. Quantization is a
bit like image compression,
reducing the size of the
weights hopefully without
ruining the intelligence
of the model. This is what AMD’s Ryzen AI Software platform will look like.

NEWS
Microsoft will charge consumers

for extended Windows 10 support
If you’re that unwilling to move to Windows 11, Microsoft plans to charge you to remain.
BY MARK HACHMAN
I
f you’re loath to give up Windows 10 What it usually also means is that Microsoft
when support expires in about two won’t release any new security patches after a
years, there’s some good news and bad product exits its support window. That typically
news: Microsoft is extending your translates to an end-of-life scenario: Without
support options—but you’ll be forced to pay security updates, your use of Windows 10 or
an additional fee. another product is subject to any bugs or
Microsoft’s Windows 10 will reach the end vulnerabilities that are discovered. You use it at
of support on October 14, 2025. That will still your own risk, basically.
mean, as it usually does, that Microsoft will Microsoft sometimes offers an escape
release no new features after that date. hatch. As it has done previously, it will offer
12 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: MICROSOFT

businesses an Extended Security Update—a customer-requested security improvements.
chance to pay Microsoft for additional bug More importantly, Microsoft will not provide
fixes and patches while it transitions over to technical support, either.
Windows 11. What’s different is that Businesses will be provided Windows 10
consumers will now be offered the chance to ESUs if they subscribe to Windows 365,
buy an Extended Security Update, too—the Microsoft’s Windows-in-the-cloud solution.
first time Microsoft has allowed consumers But a Microsoft representative confirmed that
to do this. this loophole won’t be applied to the
“While we strongly recommend moving consumer ESU subscriptions.
to Windows 11, we understand there are The question that Microsoft isn’t
circumstances that could prevent you from answering is, how much will this all cost?
replacing Windows 10 devices before the Microsoft is going to make you wait before it
EOS date. Therefore, Microsoft will offer answers. We do know that Microsoft
Extended Security Updates,” Microsoft said in absolutely loves subscriptions (fave.co/
a blog post (fave.co/47LiPxs). 47JCSN3), so this decision doesn’t come as
“Like the Windows 7 ESU program, your an absolute surprise. And yes, you will have to
organization will be able to purchase a eventually move to Windows 11. But there will
yearly subscription to security updates. at least be a safety net, though it will cut into
The yearly commitment is renewable for your wallet.
three years. Devices
enrolled in ESUs will
receive monthly security
updates to keep these
Windows 10 PCs secure.”
Though that statement
refers to the business
subscriptions, consumers
are being offered the
same deal. The ESU
program just includes
critical and/or important
security updates on a
monthly basis, but no new
features or Microsoft is urging Windows 10 users to update to Windows 11.

NEWS
Google Drive files go missing for

desktop users
Hundreds of Windows and Mac users say they’re missing files going back months.
BY MICHAEL CRIDER
O
ne of the best things about resulted in missing files for some users—a lot
backing up your files to an of missing files, going back several months in
online service is that they’re, a few cases.
well, backed up. So it’s An ongoing support thread (fave.co/
understandable that a lot of Google Drive 3TdN9g3) on Google Drive Help, spotted by
users are upset after finding out that this may The Register (fave.co/46LmdqX), is full of
not be the case. An error with a recent version dozens of replies from users who’ve found
of the desktop client for Google Drive has their remote backups empty. The initial
14 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: SHUTTER Z/SHUTTERSTOCK

complaint comes A recent version
of the desktop
from a Windows user client of Google
who says that their Drive has resulted
in missing files for
Drive files going back
some users.
to May of this year
have suddenly
disappeared,
apparently from both
the local folder and
Google’s server.
Direct help from the
support team was
unable to restore the
files. Over 300 users have clicked the “I have
the same question” response. 84.0.4.0 of the syncing app, presumably for
A reply from a Google employee says that both Windows and Mac. If you’re relying on
the company is aware of the issue and Google Drive for any important files, you
working on it, stating that it’s affecting a might want to take a look and perhaps
“limited subset of Drive for desktop users.” consider an alternative service.
Google says that in the
meantime you shouldn’t
delete any of your local
files or disconnect your
account from within the
Drive app. Oh, and you
should probably back up
those files somewhere
else—you know, that thing
you’re paying Google to
do for you.
A separate thread from
Google (fave.co/4a9lpyT)
said the issue is affecting It may be worth looking for an alternative backup service, such as
version 84.0.0.0 through iDrive (pictured).

NEWS
Windows leak: 6 AI features that

could change PCs forever
A new report says Microsoft is rebuilding Windows from the ground up to integrate helpful,
practical AI features. BY BRAD CHACOS
T
here’s no question about it: LAI is 12?) in 2024, one that’s designed to make AI
the new hotness in personal helpful at deeply practical levels.
computers. An intriguing new Microsoft just put AI front and center
report claims Microsoft will push with Windows 11’s massive 2023 Update
the pedal to the metal even harder with a (fave.co/4191bRX), which added the
revolutionary new version of Windows 11 (or Windows Copilot AI assistant and awesome
16 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: DEEMERWHA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

AI Cocreator features to
Paint (fave.co/3R4bl1C).
Copilot is coming to
Windows 10 (fave.
co/3Rcdt7F), too. And
Intel, AMD, and
Qualcomm have been
busy integrating
AI-boosting NPUs
(neural processing units)
to the PC chips destined
to hit the streets next
year, aiming to enhance Paired with an upgraded Windows Copilot, this new version of AI may
tasks with local AI that offer numerous practical features.
runs on your computer’s
hardware rather than hitting up servers in computer, here are six AI features that are
the cloud. reportedly coming in 2024’s groundbreaking
Now an explosive Windows Central Windows overhaul.
report (fave.co/3uHMg4W) claims Microsoft
is preparing a “groundbreaking” new version 1. AI IN THE
of Windows that’s absolutely brimming with WINDOWS SHELL
helpful, practical AI tasks. You should take all Windows Central says Microsoft is weaving AI
leaks with a big pinch of salt, but Windows deep into the Windows Shell itself—the
Central’s reporters are deeply embedded in graphical interface underpinning the
the Microsoft ecosystem and have a killer operating system. Paired with an upgraded
track record with Windows leaks. Windows Copilot, this is the secret sauce that
Read the full Windows Central report for a would enable this new version of AI to offer
deep dive into how Microsoft is revamping numerous practical features. Such as…
the very core of Windows to make this
happen, and why it’s unknown whether this 2. A SMART HISTORY
AI-enhanced version of Windows will be FEATURE
called Windows 12 or released as a Windows Windows Timeline, a feature that let you see
11 upgrade. For folks who are more interested your history of open files and tabs from any
in what you can actually do with your PC you’ve signed in on to jump back into the

NEWS WINDOWS LEAK
action, was one of my favorite Windows 10 search kind of sucks. If you can’t remember a
features—until Microsoft killed it in Windows file’s name, Windows Central says you’ll be
11, that is. Windows Central says an able to search using queries like “Find me the
AI-powered history feature will return to spreadsheet Bill sent me on Slack two weeks
Windows in 2024. ago.” The operating system should be able to
It reportedly allows you to comb through understand the query and summon the file on
all the apps and sites Copilot remembers, and information like that alone.
you can use natural language search to filter If this happens, smarter search alone
results. “For example, you could type ‘FY24 would be a killer feature for this new version
earnings’ and every instance where that term of Windows. Being able to find files using
was on-screen will reappear for you to see natural language would be a massive upgrade
and open,” Windows Central writes. over what we’ve got today.
3. SEARCH GETS SMART 4. SUPER RESOLUTION

That natural language search could extend to Maybe you’ve heard of Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep
the traditional Windows search experience as Learning Super Sampling) or AMD’s FSR
well, which is good, because Windows 11’s (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which use AI
and GPU hardware to intelligently
increase the resolution in video
games and/or increase performance.
Nvidia’s Video Super Resolution does
the same for (you guessed it) videos.
Windows Central says Windows
itself will offer some sort of AI Super
Resolution option in its 2024 revamp,
using onboard NPUs rather than
GPUs to upscale the visual quality of
games and videos. I expect it
wouldn’t match the quality of GPU-
enhanced upscaling, but since DLSS
and FSR aren’t supported by every
game, if Microsoft can offer a
Natural language search would be a lot better than the universal Super Resolution feature
current Windows 11 search experience. that works across the board without

active developer
support, it could be
another killer feature.
The proof is always in
the implementation
pudding when it
comes to upscaling
features, though.
5. SMART LIVE
CAPTIONS
Microsoft already
added Live Captions to
videos for Windows 11, Microsoft is said to be working on parallax-style wallpapers.
but this report says AI
will make it even better in the new version of improved energy efficiency and a new
Windows. Live Captions will allegedly be able section of the Start menu. It’s worth a read
to translate multiple languages simultaneously for Windows wonks.
in real time, across videos and live calls alike. All these AI features sound actually
helpful and practical for people who aren’t
6. AI WALLPAPERS media creators, which is more than we can
Windows Central says Microsoft is working say about most consumer AI features
on having its AI identify multiple layers in released thus far. If this report holds true,
desktop wallpapers, which would allow it that’s an exciting revelation, but there’s a
to have a parallax-style effect that shifts based potential fly in the ointment.
on the movement of your mouse or mobile Windows Central says many of these AI
device. Cool! features could require a PC with an onboard
NPU, so you’d only be able to use them with a
HERE’S TO 2024! small number of ultramodern laptops. It’s
Again, read the full Windows Central report likely that many of these groundbreaking
to get the complete scoop on how Windows AI features would only be able to
Microsoft is rearchitecting Windows to run on new PCs released in 2024 or later as
make all this AI magic happen, along with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm start their blitz of
information on some non-AI features like NPU-equipped AI PCs in earnest.

NEWS
Not a PC? Windows is now an app

for your iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Microsoft released a limited preview version of its Windows App. BY ROMAN LOYOLA
F
or people who use Apple devices in available for iPhones, iPads, and Macs
Windows-run work environments, through Apple’s TestFlight program and app
Microsoft is developing a new way to (fave.co/3Ta2EWf), but TestFlight limits the
access Windows resources with its number of users. The preview is open to
new Windows App (fave.co/418GXb3). With anyone, but users will not be allowed to try it
Windows App, users can connect to Azure if the capacity limit has been met. Windows
Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev App can also be used through a browser or
Box, Remote Desktop Services, and remote PCs. Windows PC.
Microsoft announced that Windows App Windows App lets users access Windows
is available in a special preview run that is across multiple different services and remote

webcams, and Microsoft
Teams optimizations.
The preview limits
access to Microsoft
business accounts, and
the company has not
commented on whether
consumer access will be
allowed in a future
update. The Verge
(fave.co/3t5XWhu) notes
that the sign-in prompt
The app will allow users to access Windows across multiple different indicates that a personal
services and remote PCs. account can be used but it
doesn’t work.
PCs. The customizable home screen allows However, the app offers an indication
users to pin favorites for quick and easy that Microsoft is looking to bring Windows
access. Multiple accounts are also to the cloud and make it easily accessible
supported, and Windows App has a feature on your Apple device without running
that allows users to switch between them. virtualization software.
According to the
Microsoft Ignite
website (fave.
co/418GXb3), other
features include
multiple monitor
support, custom
display resolutions,
dynamic display
resolutions and
scaling, device
redirection for
audio, printers,
storage devices, and The customizable home screen lets users pin favorites for quick access.

NEWS
Why a PC optical drive is useful

Most people regard optical drives as obsolete, but they still have a place in PCs.
BY FRIEDRICH STIEMER
N
owadays, many people tend USB sticks are also somewhat more
to regard optical drives as convenient to use, but they are not always the
obsolete in PCs. Modern most durable solution.
desktops and laptops generally This leads us to the next point: the
come without one. But there are still longevity of optical drives as a storage
convincing reasons why it makes sense to medium. CDs and DVDs are not only
have an optical drive on hand. inexpensive storage media, they are also
One of the main reasons is the use of surprisingly durable if you store them
rescue boot CDs. Although USB drives can properly. Some specialized DVDs can even
be made bootable, creating a bootable last an entire century. This makes them an
optical disc is often easier and more reliable. excellent option for long-term archiving.
22 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: VERBATIM

Many of these games are only
available on discs. In this case, an
optical disc drive is the key to
playback. In addition, certain
platforms such as GOG allow users to
purchase DRM-free games and legally
create physical backup copies.
So despite the digital age we live in,
external optical drives should still have a
firm place in our technology landscape.
They are readily available and can be
purchased for less than $20 on Amazon
(fave.co/3RaoJBu). What’s more, blank
If you don’t have space for an optical drive in discs are dirt cheap. You can get a 50-pack
your case – which is not uncommon these days
– you can also buy an external model. This also of blank DVDs for just $16 on Amazon (fave.
gives you much more flexibility. co/47OGm0O), or about 30 cents per
blank DVD disc. Be sure to pick up an
optical drive that’s capable of burning discs
Optical drives are essential not only for if you’re planning on going that route.
data, but also for entertainment. Despite the
popularity of streaming services, there is a
Many consider optical disc drives
huge selection of a relic and unnecessary in this
films and music on day and age. But there are
a few reasons why you
DVDs and CDs that
should still own
are not available such a drive,
online. And users like this one
from Hitachi.
who have a
preference for high-
quality audio and video
know that physical media
often offers superior playback
over streamed versions.
Finally, there’s the nostalgia and
practicality that comes with retro PC games.

NEWS
Microsoft stabilized Windows

with a roaming ‘USB Cart of Death’
The USB Cart of Death played an important role in the development of Windows.
BY HANS‑CHRISTIAN DIRSCHERL
V
eteran Windows developer Using the USB Cart of Death often led to a
Raymond Chen (fave.co/3TeXE2p) blue screen on the Windows computer being
has revealed in a video with Dave’s checked. This meant that the Windows build
Garage (fave.co/3NjnkY1) how running on the PC was finished and needed
Microsoft tested Windows 98 to see how well it to be improved.
could cope when assaulted with a barrage of There were 64 USB devices on the USB
plugged-in USB devices. USB was something Cart of Death, the maximum number of USB
new at the time, so the Windows 98 developers devices that could be connected to a
needed to gain experience with it. Windows computer at the time (the figure is
Enter the “USB Cart of Death.” It didn’t kill now 127). The Windows developers packed
people, but it did endless Windows builds. every conceivable type of USB device onto
24 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: JACKIE NIAM/SHUTTERSTOCK

the cart (one of those mail trolleys used to
collect and deliver the company’s mail):
keyboards, mice, printers, and even a USB
gaming steering wheel, which was then
used to steer the trolley. All of these devices
were connected to the Windows PC being
tested via a single USB cable. The Windows
developers used an arsenal of USB hubs to
make that possible.
This USB Cart of Death was driven from
one Windows developer to another
developer and plugged into their PCs. As
soon as Windows had recognized all the
devices, the developers tested whether the
connected USB keyboard functioned,
whether the gaming steering wheel worked Raymond Chen has revealed how Microsoft
tested Windows 98 to see how it would cope
correctly in games, and so on. with a barrage of plugged-in USB devices.
A particularly tough test was to connect the
cart, watch Windows recognize all 64 devices you moved on to the next Windows computer
and activate the drivers—and then unplug with the USB Cart of Death. The developer
them again. This usually resulted in a blue sitting at the crashed PC now searched for the
screen of death on the Windows PC. And then cause of the crash and adapted the Windows
source code accordingly…until
the USB trolley of death turned
up the next time.
The goal of this brutal
testing was to be able to
connect and disconnect USB
devices as often as required
during operation. Windows
should not crash, but continue
to run stably. Fortunately for us,
Using the USB Cart of Death often led to a blue screen on the the developers succeeded in
Windows computer being checked. their goal.
IMAGE: SKILLUP/SHUTTERSTOCK JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 25

RISK OF LIGHTNING STRIKE:
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LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS

GIVE YOU TIME TO
CHANGE THE OUTCOME.
PREDIABETES DOES.
RISK OF TAKE THE RISK TEST TODAY AT

PREDIABETES:
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TESTED IN PCWORLD LABS
Reviews & Ratings WE PUT HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
THROUGH RIGOROUS TESTING
Falcon Northwest FragBox: A

flawless portable PC powerhouse
This is why you buy a boutique custom PC. BY BRAD CHACOS
When the day inevitably FragBox I was sent to review, both large and
comes that I hang up my PC small. This diminutive desktop PC features a
toolkit for good, I’m buying a fully custom chassis—and even custom
Falcon Northwest FragBox. fans—along with impeccable attention to
That’s high praise coming from a lifelong detail to deliver a delightfully portable,
PC builder. But Falcon Northwest absolutely ferociously powerful, and damned quiet PC
nails every aspect of the Core i7-14700K that’s easy to lug around, and it absolutely
IMAGE: FALCON NORTHWEST JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 27

REVIEWS FALCON NORTHWEST FR AGBOX
chews through everything that

you throw at it.
It doesn’t stop there. The
FragBox is fully customizable, and
Falcon Northwest performs
intensive burn-in testing on every
system it ships. The preinstalled
Windows 11 image is wonderfully
clean, with none of the bloatware
and crap infesting PCs from big
box retailers. And Falcon
Northwest’s extensive support The amount of raw firepower this tiny cube pumps out is
and warranty is a delicious cherry nothing short of amazing.
on top on the off chance that
something hiccups in your build. 1993, a year after its inception. Building
I’m in love. If you can afford to splurge on high-performance systems with a keen
a Falcon Northwest FragBox, you will be too. attention to detail has been baked into this
There’s a reason 100 FragBoxes powered company’s DNA from the get-go.
Epic’s recent Fortnite Championship (fave. Its custom-made computers aren’t built on
co/3RuZBXq) in Denmark and the UnrealFest an assembly line. “It’s just the way we’ve
UE5 classrooms (fave.co/3Rzn89L), and why always done it: one technician building one
Falcon Northwest is the choice of studios and system specifically for one client,” Falcon
superstars alike. Northwest’s About page (fave.co/3RwhXqZ)
Let’s dig in. proudly declares. “It’s a decidedly labor-
intensive and time-consuming way to
FALCON NORTHWEST’S produce technology products, but we
STORIED HISTORY believe that the finer things in life are made by
Before we dig into the specifics of the caring hands.”
FragBox, it’s worth spending a moment It shows, and it’s showed for decades.
catching you up on Falcon Northwest’s PCWorld’s own Gordon Mah Ung reviewed
background as a business. the very first prototype for the FragBox ever
Falcon Northwest, located in Oregon, made (dubbed the FragBox II, as the first was
literally introduced the first prebuilt gaming a proprietary bare-bones PC built around the
PC when it rolled out the legendary Mach V in FIC Ice Cube) for Maximum PC all the way

back in 2004, giving it a sterling 9 rating and paperwork, extra motherboard accessories,
the magazine’s coveted Kick Ass award. “We and a folder that’s jam-packed with page after
have to admit that we didn’t expect the page of helpful, deeply nerdy information.
FragBox II to be much of a match for this Not only will you find an invoice with your
year’s Dream Machine, but when Falcon order number, sales rep’s name, and a
showed up with this monster, we started detailed breakdown of all your hardware and
sweating bullets. Its performance is even Windows version, you’ll also find a shipping
more amazing considering its size.” checklist that the company uses to ensure
Nearly 20 years later, the Falcon everything you ordered is in the box. But it
Northwest FragBox is still kicking ass and goes even deeper! A second QA checklist
taking names. The amount of raw firepower (seen above) meticulously chronicles every
this tiny cube pumps out is nothing short aspect of your system, including beautifully
of amazing. nerdy details like your RAM timings; which
XMP profile was activated; RAID storage
THE FALCON NORTHWEST details (if applicable); which specific games
EXPERIENCE were used to test system stability; various
The attention to detail starts before you even BIOS and driver version installed; your
open the box. It starts when you open the hardware, software, and “second check”
other box that accompanies your order. technicians; and a whole lot more.
It’s not advertised on the Falcon
When you
Northwest website, but every system open the
the company ships comes with a “thank box, you’ll
find a
you” box packed with goodies: a breakdown
gorgeous large-size FNW desk mat, a of all your
Falcon Northwest–branded coffee hardware
and
mug, a package of “Falcon Fuel” coffee Windows
that Full Nerd regulars already know version.
tastes absolutely delicious, and a signed
note from founder Kelt Reeves. It’s a
delightful surprise when you’re
spending a lot for a top-tier custom PC.
There’s a practical aspect to it as
well. The secondary box also includes
your Windows install disc and other

Falcon includes, which covers all kinds of stuff:

Northwest
the initial hardware setup, tips to make
also
provides sure your computer’s all-in-one cooler
a checklist doesn’t gargle, driver and update advice,
it uses to
ensure how to keep your system clean and
everything running fast, how to use the Windows
you
USB rescue drive, and more. Another
ordered is
in the box. illustrated diagram in the FragBox’s
container describes how the airflow for
the tiny system works, providing
guidance on how to position it for the
best performance.
Finally, Falcon Northwest’s welcome
packet also describes the company’s
generous warranty. In addition to a
You’ll also find another page dedicated to 30-day money-back guarantee and a three-
the performance results your PC spat out year warranty that covers parts and labor,
during burn-in testing. You’ll find individual you get a year of Falcon Overnight service. If
scores for Unigine’s Heaven and 3DMark’s you encounter a serious hardware problem
Timespy and Firestrike GPU benchmarks, that can’t be fixed with a call to FNW’s
Cinebench for CPU testing, Crystal Diskmark U.S.-based technical support, the company
results for SSD performance, details about a will “pick it up via overnight courier, correct
long-term Memtest86+ burn-in test to make any problem, fully test the system, and
sure your memory is all set, and PCMark 10 overnight it back to you.”
scores to gauge whole-system performance. That’s a perk no other major computer
Falcon Northwest also includes the maximum company offers. Falcon Northwest says it’s
reported temperature each of your major able to do so because of the company’s
components reached during its burn-in tests. “extremely low defect rate.” All that extensive
It’s wonderfully thorough—and deeply testing I previously mentioned ain’t just for
insightful if you’re a geek who can parse what nerd cred.
those scores mean. Well, I just spent a lot of words on stuff
If you’re not a benchmark-spewing nerd, that isn’t even specific to the FragBox itself.
you’ll appreciate the helpful multi-page But every sentence was necessary—when you
“Starting Guide” that Falcon Northwest spend the money for a custom boutique PC,

to LAN parties or being schlepped
between different locations when
you need heavy computing
firepower in the field.
Falcon Northwest’s diminutive
titan isn’t quite as small as the
smallest custom mini-ITX PCs you
can build by hand—it’s more the
size of a winter boot box than a
regular shoebox—but this mini-ATX
monster is almost unbelievably
The FragBox’s sleek all-black aluminum chassis was designed small considering the
in-house to fit its demanding needs. overwhelming hardware firepower
it packs inside.
the experience, warranty, and attention to The FragBox’s sleek all-black aluminum
detail are a big part of the reason why. Falcon chassis was designed in-house by Falcon
Northwest simply blows away the Northwest to fit its demanding needs. You
competition here. From the beginner-friendly can’t get it anywhere else. It’s a beauty to look
starting guide to nerd-friendly benchmark at, punctuated by an illuminated FNW falcon
results, from extensive pre-shipment testing logo on the front, and a discreet metal plate
to a borderline-ludicrous Falcon Overnight engraved with your name on the rear. The
warranty, Falcon Northwest does everything it broad, swooping handle gives this stylishly
can to make sure your system is
kicking butt and running stable.
Plus you get a rad desk mat and
some delicious coffee. On to the
FragBox itself!
DESIGN AND BUILD

You’ll be struck by the FragBox’s
unique beauty the moment you yank
it out of its shipping container by its
aluminum metal handle. Yes, a On the rear of the FragBox, Falcon Northwest has added a
handle; this beast is built for traveling discreet metal plate engraved with your name.

just four internal fans. And in a

testament to FNW’s impeccable
attention to detail, two of those
four fans are custom-made 120mm
units designed to provide plenty of
airflow directly to the RTX 4090 FE.
These run at just 1,000 RPM out of
the box, so they’re almost silent!
Dual 140mm fans on the other side
round out the intake cooler, with
air flowing out through the CPU
The case has an abundance of cooling holes punched into the cooler’s 280mm radiator and fans
lid to maximize airflow for this rig’s exact dimensions. at the top of the case.
Even the bottom of the case is
understated case an unmistakable identity. It’s well thought out; not only is it just as beautiful
darned impressive, though some edges of as the rest, but it includes rubber feet for
the case could stand to be smoothed out a sound and vibration dampening. Given how
bit. (The chamfered handle itself feels quiet this rig runs, it’s a very welcome touch.
wonderful in the hand.) On the front of the case you’ll find two
The case is about more than aesthetics, type-A USB ports, a type-C USB port, a
though. It features abundant cooling
holes punched into the lid, under the
handle, as well as more intake and
outtake holes carved out in precise
areas on the sides and bottom of the
case to maximize airflow for this rig’s
exact dimensions.
Despite the insane configuration in
my FragBox review unit—an Intel Core
i7-14700K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Founders Edition, 4TB SSD, and 96GB
of high-clock memory—Falcon
On the front of the FragBox you’ll find two type-A
Northwest’s rigorous design manages USB ports, a type-C USB port, a combination mic and
to keep it running cool and quiet with headphone jack, and the power button.

combination mic and headphone jack, and custom Windows image (which is essentially
the power button. The rear of my review unit what you’re paying for here). Falcon
also came brimming with ports, courtesy of Northwest ships its systems with all the latest
the Asus TUF Gaming B750M Plus WiFi drivers and BIOS updates already installed.
motherboard inside, but your specific You just turn on your system, it boots in mere
configuration will depend on the seconds, and you’re ready to rock.
motherboard of your choosing. It’s a stark, welcome difference from the
typical prebuilt PC experience, and another
SOFTWARE AND OUT-OF- example of Falcon Northwest truly nailing
THE-BOX EXPERIENCE every aspect of the FragBox.
Before we delve deeper into the hardware
included in my review unit, I want to touch FALCON NORTHWEST
on Falcon Northwest’s out-of-the-box FRAGBOX HARDWARE:
Windows experience. No surprise here: It’s ULTIMATE
truly outstanding. CUSTOMIZABILITY
The prebuilt PCs you buy from the major The hardware inside the FragBox is fully
multinational companies and big box retailers customizable when you place your order.
almost universally come bogged down with Despite its tiny stature, the system can
intense amounts of bloatware: antivirus trials, support some truly ferocious firepower, as
Dropbox trials, various mobile-esque games, evidenced by my no-compromises test unit.
subscription service trials, and on
and on. That’s because PC makers
who pump out identical systems on
a factory line earn a bit of extra
money for each of those software
installations. Slapped into thousands
of systems, it pays off, even though
most people I know hate it.
Falcon Northwest’s FragBox has
none of that.
Instead, you’ll find a remarkably
clean desktop with none of the crap,
just like you’d get if a PC enthusiast The hardware inside the FragBox is fully customizable when
built your computer with a clean you place your order.

and surge protectors if you

want. Pretty much the only
things that can’t be changed
are the power supply and
custom FNW AIO, which
need to fit the FragBox. You
can even opt what style of
FNW logo faceplate you
want, or ask for a custom
high-quality UV print to adorn
your case.
And since the FragBox is
The FragBox is built with standard PC components, which means it built with standard PC
offers a ton of expansion and upgradability. components, it offers a ton of
expansion and upgradability.
The FragBox starts at $2,966 (fave. Because of that extreme level of
co/487ihBX), outfitted with a Core customization, it’s hard to review the FragBox
i5-14600K, a PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Verto, as a standalone set of hardware
an Asus TUF Gaming B750M Plus WiFi specifications. Few systems are the same, and
motherboard, a 2TB Kingston Fury SSD, each is built and tested by hand. If you know
32GB of 6000MHz Kingston Fury RAM, your workload needs but aren’t sure which
Windows 11 Pro, Falcon Northwest’s custom parts you require, the company’s sales team
280mm all-in-one liquid cooler, and a can also work with you to help configure a rig
SilverStone SX SFX-L Platinum 1000 watt focused firmly on the tasks you tackle.
power supply.
But you can change most of that. CONFIGURATION AND
Every aspect of the internals is up to your PERFORMANCE
choosing. You can select from Intel or AMD, I got a taste of that when setting up this review
Radeon or GeForce, consumer GPUs or unit. Founder Kelt Reeves wanted to show off
workstation GPUs, several Kingston Fury RAM the power of the new Intel 14th-gen FragBox,
capacities and speeds, up to four different but asked me what I’d envision using a PC like
storage drives, which version of Windows you this for. As PCWorld’s resident gamer guru, I
want, and so on. Falcon Northwest can also wanted a system that had plenty of oomph to
bundle in high-quality monitors, peripherals, tackle competitive shooters and glitzy 4K

games alike, but with enough supporting and virtually just as fast in gaming, while
hardware to stash a ton of recorded gameplay using significantly less power (and thus
clips and be able to handle video editing if running cooler). The RTX 4090 Founders
needed. In other words, I wanted the ultimate Edition isn’t only the fastest consumer
portable work-and-play box, ready to frag and graphics card for gaming and video creation
crunch data alike. around, it also unlocks Nvidia’s awesome
I also wanted a smaller system. Since my DLSS 3 feature and extensive ray-tracing
apartment recently burned down (fave. support—good for both eye-dropping
co/3Ne1KEg), I’m working in a much more visuals and faster high-quality rendering.
limited space now, sometimes having to shift Since I don’t regularly create large videos,
my workspace depending on who is working this FragBox was outfitted with a single
from home that day. Enter the FragBox over a Kingston Fury Renegade 4.0 M.2 SSD (Ryzen
full-size Talon or the smaller but less portable FragBox systems include PCIe 5.0 options,
Tiki mini-desktop. but Intel m-ATX motherboards reserve those
Since I’m a gamer-first user who prefers faster lanes for GPUs) for all my files.
quieter systems, Reeves and I decided to opt The memory configuration is a bit of a flex,
for the Core i7-14700K rather than the though. My FragBox runs a massive 96GB
flagship 14900K. The 14900K is obviously capacity tuned to 6,400MHz, for a very
faster when it comes to content production, specific reason: It’s the largest capacity you
but the 14700K is still great at production can reliably run at ultra-high speeds. While
the Asus TUF Gaming B750M
Plus WiFi motherboard inside
has four DIMM slots for up to
192GB of capacity, filling up all
the DIMM slots causes speeds to
drop to ensure stability. This is
the fastest, biggest two-stick
RAM kit you can run on Intel’s
latest platform. (You can find
7,200MHz kits, but they didn’t
pass Falcon Northwest’s
qualification tests; that rigorous
The RTX 4090 Founders Edition is the fastest consumer graphics testing and focus on quality is
card for gaming and video creation around. another benefit of opting for a

custom PC build from a boutique

builder like FNW.)
All told, my FragBox’s particular
high-end configuration costs
$5,850 in Falcon Northwest’s
configurator (fave.co/3uKiQTL).
Yes, that’s a lot of cash, but
considering the complete Falcon
Northwest package and the
no-compromises performance in
the tiny, portable FragBox chassis,
it feels worthwhile—especially if Ultra-powerful, ultra-portable, ultra-quiet, ultra-cool—there’s
you aren’t interested in the hassles nothing I can complain about on the hardware front here.
of DIY.
And friends, this FragBox screams. games run at well over 100 frames per second
That shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the even without DLSS enabled, while Cyberpunk
FragBox is built from off-the-shelf 2077’s Ultra preset cruised well past 70fps at
components, and everything in here is at or native resolution. Turning on ray tracing drops
near the top of the charts. The Core that, of course, but correspondingly flipping
i7-14700K and GeForce RTX 4090 are both on DLSS and/or DLSS 3 Frame Gen sent
absolutely ferocious in their own right, as is frame rates skyrocketing alongside all those
the big, fast RAM and Kingston’s speedy 4TB juicy rays. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
SSD. Put them all together, and this baby rips. averaged over 200 frames per second!
We don’t have a deep stash of prebuilt So yes, the Falcon Northwest FragBox
desktop benchmarks to compare the Falcon screams—but not literally. Despite packing all
Northwest FragBox against, and the point this high-end hardware and only wielding four
would be kind of moot anyway, since you can well-thought-out internal fans, the FragBox
configure it to your heart’s content. remained whisper-quiet the entire time I used
But rest assured that the FragBox roared it, even during the most punishing tasks.
through everything I threw at it. The 14700K Component temperatures remained nice and
chewed up and spit out Cinebench runs, chilly too.
thanks to its four additional E-cores compared Ultra-powerful, ultra-portable, ultra-quiet,
to the 13700K, and games ran buttery smooth ultra-cool—there’s nothing I can complain
in full fidelity even at 4K resolution. Most about on the hardware front here.

BOTTOM LINE Like I said at the top of this review,
That’s true for virtually every aspect of the there’s a reason that 100 FragBoxes
FragBox. I can’t find anything to complain powered Epic’s recent Fortnite
about. Falcon Northwest’s deep know-how Championship in Denmark (fave.
and keen attention to detail create a flawless co/3RuZBXq) and the UnrealFest UE5
PC experience, from the hardware to the classrooms (fave.co/3Rzn89L), and why
software to the excellent welcome package Falcon Northwest is the choice of studios
and unparalleled warranty. and superstars alike. There’s a reason
The only aspect you may take issue with Falcon systems are used by NASA’s Jet
is the price. Falcon Northwest systems aren’t Propulsion Labs, Oculus, Lockheed Martin,
cheap. The FragBox starts at $2,966 (fave. Walt Disney, Nvidia, Dartmouth, and more.
co/487ihBX), and our chart-topping Every aspect of this system is top-notch.
configuration sells for $5,850. Alaina Yee, You get what you pay for.
the resident deal hunter on PCWorld’s Full And that’s why when the day inevitably
Nerd podcast, would probably faint just comes that I hang up my PC toolkit for good,
reading that. I’m buying a Falcon Northwest FragBox. I’ve
But high-quality perfection never comes never encountered another PC—much less a
cheap. Buying the FragBox means buying a prebuilt PC—that oozes excellence like the
system that was hand-built by a single FragBox. It comes highly, highly, highly
technician, using parts that passed Falcon recommended.
Northwest’s rigorous qualification tests, and
then extensively tested again to ensure Falcon Northwest FragBox
stability before it ships your way. It means
getting a fantastic Falcon Overnight PROS
• Extremely powerful, especially for the size.
warranty, and a fast, up-to-date, deliciously • Tiny custom FragBox chassis is beautiful and
bloatware-free Windows experience right meticulously designed.
• Extremely customizable.
out of the box. It means getting ferociously
CONS
powerful performance in a much smaller • You pay up for perfection.
box than you’d expect thanks to Falcon’s BOTTOM LINE
The Falcon Northwest FragBox epitomizes why you
custom-engineered, meticulously tuned buy a boutique custom PC. I can’t find a single thing to
FragBox case. As my colleague Gordon Mah complain about. It packs extreme power into an
unbelievably small, cool, and quiet custom chassis,
Ung said when he reviewed the original while Falcon Northwest’s warranty, buying experience,
and Windows and software setup is second to none.
FragBox decades ago, “Its performance is
$2,966
even more amazing considering its size.”

REVIEWS
Corsair MP700 Pro SSD:

PCIe 5.0 excellence
The Corsair MP700 Pro finished in a virtual tie with the speedy Adata Legend 970 for
best-in-class PCIe 5.0 performance. BY JON JACOBI
Though PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots are FEATURES

still relatively rare, if you have As intimated, the MP700 Pro is a PCIe 5.0
one, a premium SSD such as x4, NVMe SSD in the 2280 (22mm wide,
the Corsair MP700 Pro will 80mm long) form factor. The controller is a
provide a nice bump in overall performance. Phison PS5026-E26 and the NAND is
When I say premium, I’m talking about 232-layer TLC (Triple-Level Cell/3-bit).
performance that’s right there with the best There’s a whopping 2GB of DRAM primary
NVMe SSDs we’ve tested. And yes, I also cache for every 1TB of capacity—double the
mean it’s priced like a top-tier performer. norm. Nice.
38 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: CORSAIR

Corsair didn’t send us the 1TB
version, hence we’re not sure if it
sports a smaller heatsink-cooler
that’s worth only half the premium.
No pricing was announced for an
upcoming 4TB capacity.
PERFORMANCE
Corsair’s MP700 Pro traded blows
with the fast-in-the-real-world
Adata Legend 970 (fave.
co/41aPaLV) to an overall
statistical draw.
The heatsink version of the MP700 Pro with its power cable. If we ranked solely on
CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential test,
The 2280 MP700 Pro is available with or the MP700 would have dominated the Adata,
without a rather hefty and tall fan-cooled even though it lost by a small margin to the also
heatsink (shown above with the power cable for formidable Crucial T700 (fave.co/3JVrNhI).
the fan). Either way the drive is warrantied for
five years or 700TBW (terabytes that may be
written) per 1TB of capacity.
If you weren’t aware, TBW mitigates
the warranty term as miles do in an
automobile warranty. Corsair’s 700TBW is
100TBW above average, but nowhere near
the Seagate FireCuda 540 or Seagate
Game Drive PS5‘s level, which is almost
double that still.
PRICE
The Corsair MP700 Pro with heatsink is
currently available in 1TB and 2TB (tested)
versions, for $190 and $325, respectively. The Corsair MP700 Pro with heatsink is currently
Sans heatsink, it’s $180 and $315. available in 1TB and 2TB (tested) versions.

REVIEWS CORSAIR MP700 PRO
CrystalDiskMark 8 CrystalDiskMark 8
Sequential Performance Random Performance
MBps MBps
Corsair MP700 Pro Crucial T700 Adata Legend 9700 Corsair MP700 Pro Crucial T700 Adata Legend 9700
Gigabyte Aorus Gen5 10,000 Seagate FireCuda Gigabyte Aorus Gen5 10,000 Seagate FireCuda
Sequential Write 9,246 Random Write 368

(Q=1, T=1) 4K (Q=1, T=1)
9,334 380
9,279 375
6,898 314
8,687 376
Sequential Read 9,009 Random Read 95
(Q=1, T=1) 4K (Q=1, T=1)
9,078 98
8,740 97
8,481 88
7,510 97
Sequential Write 11,640 Random Write 660
(Q=8, T=1) 4K (Q=32, T=1)
11,719 765
10,134 750
10,162 417
8,698 747
Sequential Read 12,388 Random Read 892
(Q=8, T=1) 4K (Q=32, T=1)
12,159 905
10,060 897
10,044 666
9,623 901
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
There’s little difference between the top three The MP700 Pro was mildly off the pace in
SSDs in this sequential performance test. CrystalDiskMark’s 4K tests, but it is still very fast.
CrystalDiskMark 8 4K file performance reason, late-model host memory buffer (HMB)

was a slightly different story, with the Adata designs (none shown) do very well on this and
besting the MP700 Pro by more than a little, the 450GB write tests.
largely because of the latter’s drop-off in the As you can see, there’s little difference
32-queue write. between the first three late-model PCIe 5.0
None of the other drives could match the NVMe SSDs in the 450GB write test—the
Seagate FireCuda 540 in the 48GB transfers. numbers are well within the normal statistical
It wasn’t even particularly close, though the variance. Having called out the Seagate
MP700 Pro is still among the fastest. For some FireCuda 540 for its superior 48GB transfers, I

48GB Copies 450GB Write
Seconds Seconds
Corsair MP700 Pro Crucial T700 Adata Legend 9700 Corsair MP700 Pro Crucial T700 Adata Legend 9700
Gigabyte Aorus Gen5 10,000 Seagate FireCuda Gigabyte Aorus Gen5 10,000 Seagate FireCuda
Total Time 123 48GB Folder 145

Write
147 146
124 142
199 186
112 240
48GB Folder 61 S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
Write
53
61
85 There was little variance between the top three
44
PCIe 5.0 SSDs in writing 450GB.
48GB Folder 35
Read
68
36 We did notice some oddities: It took the
78
38
MP700 Pro nearly 30 seconds to format
48GB Write 12
rather than the normal 5 to 10 seconds. There
13 was also a momentary steep dip at end of the
14
17
450GB write to around 950MBps. That’s
14 hardly tragic, but it was noticeable.
48GB Read 15 Also, when we wrote an additional 1.35TB
13
13 in two large files to fill the 2TB MP700 Pro to
19 near capacity, writes vacillated between
16
120MBps and 3.2GBps, though largely
S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
toward the latter. No doubt the dip and
vacillations were the smart caching allotting
The MP700 Pro was very good at 48GB transfers,
though it couldn’t touch the Seagate FireCuda more secondary cache on the fly (NAND
540 in this test. written as SLC instead of TLC).
The MP700 Pro finally leveled off at about
must also note that it was rather slothful for a 950MBps around the 1200GB mark of the
PCIe 4.0/5.0 SSD in this test. second write. Note that writing 1.35TB in two
Note that many of the fastest drives in the large files is a scenario few will ever subject
450GB write test are PCIe 4.0 with, again, the MP700 to, and nearly 1GBps is still pretty
some of them being host memory buffer fast in the grand scheme, so most users can
(HMB) designs. ignore that behavior.

REVIEWS CORSAIR MP700 PRO
Each test is performed on a

newly formatted and TRIM’d drive
so the results are optimal. Note
that in normal use, as a drive fills
up, performance may decrease
due to less NAND for secondary
caching, as well as other factors.
This can be less of a factor with the
current crop of SSDs with far faster
late-generation NAND.
The MP700 provides top-flight performance. Caveat: The performance
numbers shown apply only to the
BOTTOM LINE drive we were shipped and to the capacity
The Corsair MP700 is an excellent NVMe SSD tested. SSD performance can and will vary by
that will provide top-flight performance in any capacity due to more or fewer chips to
system sporting a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. However, shotgun reads/writes across and the amount
the Adata Legend 970 and Crucial T700 are of NAND available for secondary caching.
right there with it performance-wise, so I’m Vendors also occasionally swap components.
calling the buying decision a pick ’em based If you ever notice a large discrepancy between
on current pricing and brand preference. the performance you experience and what we
report, by all means let us know.
HOW WE TEST
Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11,
Corsair MP700 Pro
64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0)
motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with PROS
two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz • Scintillatingly fast.
• 2GB-per-TB DRAM cache.
modules (64GB of memory total). Both • Five-year warranty.
20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are CONS
integrated to the back panel, and Intel CPU/ • On the pricey side.
GPU graphics are used. The 48GB transfer BOTTOM LINE

The Corsair MP700 Pro finished in a virtual tie with the
tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up Adata Legend 970 for best-in-class PCIe 5.0
performance. If you have the necessary M.2 slot and
58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The want maximum speed, it’s a short-lister.
450GB file is transferred from a 2TB From $190
Samsung 990 Pro, which also runs the OS.

Atari 2600 Plus: Party like it’s 1977
Kick it old school. BY IDA BLIX
F
or the right generation of gamers, room and was tested by both young and old
this console is resurrected right out in the family.
of their most beloved core This new edition with HDMI and USB-C
memories. The Atari 2600 Plus (fave. ports lets you play both new and original
co/3TjX1on) is everything the original was, 2600 and 7800 titles. If you own the
but in a slightly smaller format and with original controllers, you can plug them in
modern ports. You’re getting the slightly and use them. You can switch between
bulky game cartridges, the great feel of all the color and black and white, change the
controls and buttons, and the legendary difficulty level and select the game mode,
CX40 joystick to play with. The games look and start games with the reset lever. You can
simple compared to modern titles, but in also choose between widescreen and 4:3.
many cases, they require both patience and Screw the first option, though—it doesn’t
timing. The console landed right in my living feel right at all.
IMAGE: ATARI JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 43

REVIEWS ATARI 2600 PLUS
Realsports Volleyball, Video Pinball, and

Yars’ Revenge.
Of course, we would have liked even
more games, but there’s something for
everyone, including sports games, classic
arcade titles, and a first-person shooter.
We got to borrow a press kit, which, in
addition to the standard gadgets you get if
you buy the Atari 2600 Plus, also included
the classic paddle controllers and
additional games. We really liked the
paddle controllers, as the wheels roll nice
It’s incredibly similar to the original. and smoothly in games that require
precision. Like the console, these
The Atari 2600 Plus may seem a bit like a controllers are faithfully recreated from the
2600 met a 7800 and had a happy baby, but CX30 controllers of yesteryear.
inside this modern version is a Rockchip 3128 We also got to play Mr. Run and Jump, a
Arm SoC that emulates the games. The Atari side-scrolling game designed for this
2600 Plus has 256 megabytes of internal console. It can otherwise be purchased for
memory and an equal number of megabytes $24.99 on Steam. It’s challenging and
for storage. We don’t notice any lag or requires both patience and careful timing.
graphics artifacts. Everything runs smoothly. Thankfully, your successes are saved at the
If you splurge on an
Atari 2600 Plus, you get
the console, a joystick,
and a game cartridge with
10 titles. You’ll also get all
the cables you need
(except a USB adapter for
power). The included
titles are Adventure,
Combat, Dodge ‘Em,
Haunted House, Maze
Craze, Missile Command, You need to reach these levers while playing.

cartridge with the best
games from the 5200 will be
released? Maybe not, but
that would be fun!
SHORT CABLES
AND INADEQUATE
MANUALS
I wasn’t around when the Atari
2600 launched, but still, when
These controllers were by far the most fun to play with. I started gaming in the 1980s
and 1990s, you sat on the
end of each level. The classic Berzerk is also floor near the small TV and played. The cords
available for $9.99 on Steam. Here they have on this modern Atari console are short and
added robot voices, diagonal images, and feel suited to just such an arrangement, but
improved the graphics. it’s not nearly as much fun to sit on the floor in
front of a 65-inch TV and play. Sure, you can
OLD GAME CARTRIDGES get extensions, but in 2023, maybe we
WORK shouldn’t have to.
If you have old game cartridges for the Atari Another thing that drags down the joy
2600 or 7800, they work in this modern meter is the lack of instructions. There are no
version as well. Atari has a list
of compatible games here
(fave.co/3GxfvtQ).
Unfortunately, we couldn’t
get ahold of any original
games while we had the
console in for testing. The
Atari 5200 had a different
type of cartridge, and those
games are therefore not
available on the Atari 2600
Plus. Can we keep our The car game Night Driver is all about driving without crashing into
fingers crossed that a the edges of the track.

REVIEWS ATARI 2600 PLUS
In the package: Console,

joystick, game cartridge, HDMI
cable, USB cable
Connections: 1 PC USB-C
(for charging), HDMI, and two
ports for hand controllers
Number of games: 10
INCLUDED GAMES
Adventure
Combat
Dodge ‘Em
If you still own any old game cartridges for the Atari 2600 or Haunted House
7800, they will work in this modern version as well. Maze Craze
Missile Command
manuals included, except for a short guide on Realsports Volleyball
how to start everything up. If you haven’t Video Pinball
played the games before, it’s almost impossible Yars’ Revenge
to understand what to do (for example, you pull
the somewhat confusingly named Game Reset Atari 2600 Plus
lever to start the games). There are manuals
online and, of course, guides on YouTube. So PROS
• Stylish design true to the original.
be prepared to do some research if you don’t • Can run original game cartridges.
know exactly what to do. • Includes HDMI and USB-C.
This console will probably attract gamers CONS

• Short cables.
who experienced the original themselves and • No instructions.
already have game cartridges and old • Expensive.
controllers. It’s simply a bit too expensive for BOTTOM LINE

The Atari 2600 Plus is a nostalgia dream for those
younger generations to buy everything new. who remember the original, but it’s also fun for new
generations. As it’s equipped with HDMI, you can
now play the games on a modern TV. Not everything
SPECIFICATIONS is perfect, though. The game list is short, and you’ll
want to buy at least one more controller, which really
Product: Atari 2600 Plus bumps up the price.
Manufacturer: Atari $129
Tested: November 2023

FBackup 9: Back up your local and
online files for free
This versatile program not only backs up all your local files, including to and from optical
disks, but your Dropbox and Google Drive contents as well. BY JON JACOBI
FBackup 9 (fave.co/3uHN9uj) While FBackup 9 is free, it’s also

is a surprisingly capable meant as a calling card for its paid-for
backup client given that it sibling, Backup4All (fave.co/47NkNxy),
doesn’t cost you a dime. It which supports a host of other online
backs up to and from local storage including storage services and will also back up from
old-school optical discs—a real rarity these network locations.
days. It even backs up to Google Drive and Not surprisingly, there are some ads in
Dropbox and will back up to network FBackup 9, though they’re generally kept well
locations, though not from them. out of the way. Hey, we all have to eat, right?
IMAGE: SOFTLAND JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 47

REVIEWS FBACKUP 9
The program
automatically selects the
most common file types,
but you’re free to make
your own selections, or
create your own filters to
select other file types.
Jobs can be scheduled
Those dollar signs mean you’ll have to pony up for Backup4All to get the from monthly to daily, at
Smart, Differential, and Incremental options. any time of the day
under defined
FEATURES circumstances (at power on and so forth), but
FBackup 9 will perform full backups and file there’s nothing more granular than that, and no
mirroring to zip files, but omits Backup4All’s real-time (as files change) backup.
Smart (culled incremental/differential), As noted, other salient differences
Incremental (all changes since last backup), between the free FBackup 9 and Backup4All
and Differential (all changes since the initial are the latter’s ability to back up data from
backup) backups. remote network locations as well as far broader
Note that FBackup 9 keeps all versions support for online storage services. Google
of files in its full backups, which ameliorates Cloud and Amazon S3 are S3-compatible
to a great degree the absence of those services, just to name a couple.
other options. Encryption is also supported if you need
to secure your data. Note
that FBackup employs its
own scheduler and two
services—however, the
system footprint is small as
far as backup programs go.
INTERFACE
While I wouldn’t
nominate FBackup 9 and
Yup, more dollar signs, but this screen cap gives you an idea of what its Microsoft Office–style,
Backup4All offers. It also backs up from network locations. ribboned interface up for

that will get you there
considerably more quickly.
PERFORMANCE
My testing of backup
software these days is
primarily focused on
reliability and smoothness
of operation. Given the
speed of modern
computers, storage, and
even online storage these
days, you will rarely find
The initial FBackup 9 screen—post-splash, that is. that a backup program has
a negative impact on
most modern GUI experience, it’s one of system performance.
the better I’ve tested. There are no abstract So it was no surprise that FBackup 9 turned
concepts or arcane language, and it’s very in on-par completion times when performing
well organized and
laid out. I find it
relatively easy on
the eyes and had
no difficulty getting
up to speed.
Wizards step you
through most
tasks, so you don’t
have to be an old
hand at backup to
get things done
easily. But if you
are an old hand,
there’s an
advanced mode FBackup 9 supports backing up to and from both Google Drive and Dropbox.

REVIEWS FBACKUP 9
backups to and from internal

and external SSDs, a NAS box,
and a CD-RW, as well as
Dropbox and Google Drive.
Restores were equally facile.
FBackup 9 was generally
stable and I only encountered a
single, circumnavigable glitch
with CD-RW. I had to erase the
disc manually to avoid an
“incompatible disc” warning Though I had to erase the disc manually, FBackup 9 backed up to
despite selecting the “Erase CD-RW just fine.
before writing” option for the
job. Ultimately, the job succeeded, which is are a few versions, from the $30 Lite to the
the most important point. $50 Professional (fave.co/4adc09O), but if
There’s more than adequate feedback on you’re going the upgrade path, I
the progress of the jobs, and you can fire off recommend the full-on Pro version—because
multiple jobs simultaneously. The program in for a penny, in for a pound.
also backs up locked files. Look for an upcoming review of its big
Overall, I was more than satisfied with the sibling later this year.
program’s workflow and reliability, a trait that’s
paramount in the backup world. Sweet stuff. FBackup 9
BOTTOM LINE PROS

• Easy, friendly interface.
If you’re a Google Drive or Dropbox user, • Supports versioning.
FBackup is a no-brainer freebie—far more • Rock-solid performance.
versatile than Windows File History. It’s also CONS

• Some advertising nags.
one of the few games in town if you’re still • Doesn’t support other online destinations.
rocking optical discs. That it’s equally effective • Backs up to but not from network locations.
at backing up to local and network BOTTOM LINE

For free, the surprisingly capable FBackup 9 will back
destinations is icing on the cake. up files to or from any local storage including optical
discs, to network locations, as well as to and from
You do have to put up with a dose of Google Drive and Dropbox.
upselling, but hey, it’s free! And to be Free
honest, Backup4All is a worthy upsell. There

Gigabyte GS34WQC: A shockingly
good budget ultrawide
This curved monitor brings excellent value to gaming, entertainment, or content creation.
BY MATTHEW S. SMITH
Buying a 34-inch ultrawide co/4864R9p) doesn’t buck this formula,

monitor requires some but it executes well enough on each point
understanding of the to earn an easy recommendation.
nuances that separate
seemingly identical monitors. Most 34-inch SPECS AND FEATURES
ultrawides provide the same 3440×1440 The Gigabyte GS34WQC’s specifications are
resolution and a refresh rate between boilerplate for a 34-inch ultrawide monitor. It
120Hz and 165Hz, and many even look provides 3440×1440 resolution, by far the
similar with black plastic casings and large most common among monitors of this size,
standards. The Gigabyte GS34WQC (fave. and a 120Hz refresh rate with 135Hz
IMAGE: GIGABYTE JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 51

REVIEWS GIGABY TE GS34WQC
overclock mode. Adaptive Sync is provided toward the low end of the market. Gigabyte
through AMD’s FreeSync. makes this happen with concessions in
Display size: 34-inch ultrawide connectivity: The monitor lacks USB.
Native resolution: 3440×1440
Panel type: Vertical Alignment (VA) DESIGN
Curved: Yes, 1500R Gigabyte keeps things simple with the
Refresh rate: 120Hz with 135Hz GS34WQC, which, given its price, is not a
overclock surprise. Matte-black plastic is the order of the
Adaptive Sync: FreeSync day, though the design does enjoy a few
HDR: HDR10 glossy piano-black highlights to spice up the
Ports: 2× HDMI 2.0, 1× DisplayPort 1.4, look. The monitor avoids garish touches like
3.5mm audio chrome or colored inserts and it lacks RGB
VESA mount: 100×100mm lighting—which I don’t mind, but it may
Speakers: None disappoint those looking to add some flair to
Price: $329.99 MSRP their setup.
What’s most notable about the monitor is Build quality is fine. The GS34WQC’s
its price. Though not the most inexpensive plastics might benefit from more texture but
34-inch ultrawide available (alternatives like feel reasonably solid in hand. And there’s no
the Monoprice 35-inch Zero-G V2 [fave. disputing that stand’s heft. It’s an absolute
co/41l5gmg] dip below $300), it’s certainly unit that takes up considerable desk space
and keeps the monitor
planted. This is normally a
problem, but Gigabyte opts
for a flat stand base, so the
space it takes on your desk
remains (mostly) usable.
Yet I have a beef with the
stand. It mounts to a standard
100×100mm VESA bracket but
doesn’t include a clipping
mechanism, so it must be
screwed to the rear of the
monitor with four provided
Gigabyte GS34WQC (backside). screws. That’s not the end of

inexpensive ultrawide monitor. A
3.5mm audio jack for passthrough
audio is included, at least.
What the monitor lacks in
connectivity it gains in menu options.
The GS34WQC has a responsive,
easy-to-use menu controlled by a
joystick on the lower-right bezel. A
helpful downward-facing LED makes
this joystick easy to find.
Menu options are extensive, too.
The GS34WQC’s connectivity options on rear of panel. There’s several color temperature
and gamma modes, RGB color
the world, but it’s a hassle. I also found the customization, and an sRGB preset, alongside
screws a bit finicky, as the metal they used the usual brightness and contrast settings.
was soft and easily stripped if too much force There’s also several gaming-centric features,
was applied. The stand also adjusts only for such as an on-screen crosshair. The wide
tilt and height, but it doesn’t swivel, which is range of image quality adjustments is
available with some monitors around this excellent to see in an inexpensive ultrawide
price point. and will help owners customize the monitor’s
look to their preferences, if desired.
CONNECTIVITY
AND MENU
The Gigabyte GS34WQC’s
connectivity has strengths and
weaknesses. It provides a total of
three video inputs—two HDMI and
one DisplayPort. That’s typical for an
inexpensive ultrawide monitor.
However, the monitor lacks USB
connectivity. There’s no USB-C input
and no USB-A downstream ports, so
the monitor can’t be used as a USB The Gigabyte GS34WQC comes with an extensive menu
hub. That’s a bit unusual even for an system that allows for a wide range of adjustment options.

Speakers aren’t included. That’s no

surprise, especially at this price. Headphones Contrast Ratio
or external speakers are mandatory. Gigabyte GS34WQC
3,650:1
Dark Matter by Monoprice
3,650:1
SDR IMAGE QUALITY 35-inch (38035)
LG Ultragear
27GR83Q-B 1,250:1
The Gigabyte GS34WQC uses a Vertical HP Omen 32q
1,160:1
Alignment (VA) panel, a type of display panel Dell G2724D
1,280:1
technology that is common among larger
LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
monitors and many budget to midrange
televisions. It performs well here, providing
a reasonable contrast ratio and attractive the monitor may seem dim in a very bright,
color that is well suited to playing modern sunlit room or corporate office. And while the
3D games. panel has a semigloss finish, the 1500R
With that said, brightness is among the curvature can act as a focal point for glare.
monitor’s weaker points. It achieved a Next up is contrast, where the GS34WQC
maximum brightness of 324 nits in SDR, provides a convincing maximum contrast ratio
which (spoiler alert) doesn’t go much higher of 3610:1. That’s essentially identical to the
in HDR. This is toward the low end of what’s Monoprice 35-inch V2 curved ultrawide, and
possible from any modern gaming monitors. it’s much better than most similarly priced
This, to be fair, is not really an issue for widescreen monitors (which tend to opt for
gaming or entertainment in SDR content, which IPS display panel technology instead).
is typically viewed in a darkened room where A better contrast ratio provides an
you’ll have control over the ambient light. But improved sense of depth and immersion in
games and movies. And, in this case, the
contrast ratio improves not because the panel
Maximum SDR Brightness is bright, but because it can become dark.
Nits That provides good detail in dark, shadowy
Gigabyte GS34WQC
324 scenes that may look gray and washed-out on
Dark Matter by Monoprice other monitors.
35-inch (38035) 312
LG Ultragear Color gamut is a win, as the GS34WQC
27GR83Q-B 477
HP Omen 32q can display 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color
373
Dell G2724D gamut and 88 percent of AdobeRGB.
438
These figures put it slightly ahead of many
similar monitors.

Color Gamut Average Color Error
% Adobe RGB % DCI-P3 % sRGB
Gigabyte GS34WQC
2.05
Gigabyte 88 Dark Matter by Monoprice
GS34WQC
95 35-inch (38035) 1.38
LG Ultragear
100 27GR83Q-B 2.23
Dark Matter HP Omen 32q
by Monoprice 87 3.49
35-inch 93 Dell G2724D
(38035)
100 1.21
LG Ultragear 86 LO N G E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
27GR83Q-B
92
100
HP Omen 32q 84 actually more prominent in the grayscale
89
100
(which is to say, shades between black and
Dell G2724D 82
white), which I find is less noticeable in
86 typical use.
100
Speaking of which, the GS34WQC hit a
default gamma curve of 2.1. That indicates
content may look a tad brighter than it should,
A wide color gamut is a benefit in and I did notice that in use. Fortunately, the
entertainment, as it can deliver a more monitor’s menu provides ample gamma
saturated and vivid look that most viewers will settings to adjust for your needs. The same is
enjoy. It’s also good for content creation, as true of color temperature, where I recorded a
the monitor can literally display more colors, default color temperature of 6800K, off the
an important perk if you’re color-grading target of 6500K. That indicates the monitor
video or editing professional photography. appears a bit more cool and sterile than our
The GS34WQC’s color gamut isn’t wide ideal, but the included color temperature
enough to recommend for serious settings can adjust this.
professional creators, but its performance is Sharpness is good, as the monitor’s
more than adequate for sketching out ideas or resolution of 3440×1440 provides roughly
editing a YouTube video (unless you’re 109 pixels per inch. That’s similar to a 27-inch
Marques Brownlee). 1440p monitor and a big upgrade over a
It’s a similar story with color accuracy, 27-inch 1080p monitor, which has roughly 82
where the GS34WQC delivers a mid-pack pixels per inch. Some pixelation may be
result. Colors mostly look realistic and visible around small fonts and aliasing can
convincing. The monitor’s color errors were appear across fine objects in games, but it’s

rarely a major distraction. Those looking for experience: The least expensive monitors we
improved sharpness should consider a 5K recommend for HDR start around $700. Just
ultrawide like the LG 34WK95U-W—but that be warned that HDR is supported, but it
monitor is more than three times the Gigabyte won’t look how you hope.
GS34WQC’s price.
MOTION PERFORMANCE
HDR IMAGE QUALITY Gamers will be pleased by the Gigabyte
HDR is available on the Gigabyte GS34WQC, GS34WQC’s 120Hz refresh rate, which can
but it’s not great. be increased to 135Hz in Overclock mode.
The GS34WQC sustained a maximum The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync for
brightness of just 333 nits in my testing. The smooth gameplay with compatible AMD
lack of brightness will obscure fine details in video cards.
bright scenes, which is half the point of HDR. Motion clarity was much better than I’d
It’s certainly possible to view HDR, but I’m not expected. Monitors with a Vertical Alignment
sure why you’d want to. It’s not going to (VA) panel usually suffer a problem called
appear as it should. “dark smear.” It appears as a dark blur or trail
I don’t hold this against the GS34WQC. behind dark objects and is caused by slow
No monitor below $500 offers a good HDR pixel response times when displaying darker
colors. This problem is
visible on the
GS34WQC but far less
noticeable than
expected. The
G34QWC absolutely
outperforms the
Monoprice Dark Matter
35-inch ultrawide.
The clarity is
otherwise good for a
120Hz/144Hz
monitor. Scrolling test
images from League of
The motion performance on the Gigabyte GS34WQC is better than Legends show that
expected, with a decent 120Hz refresh rate (135Hz overclocked). character silhouettes

BOTTOM LINE
The Gigabyte
GS34WQC is a great
34-inch ultrawide for
gaming, entertainment,
and entry-level content
creation. It scores well by
most metrics of image
quality, offers many
image-quality
adjustments, and
delivers attractive motion
clarity, all at a reasonable
The GS34WQC is a great 34-inch ultrawide. price and alongside a
basic but practical
and terrain are easy to make out and that design. The lack of USB connectivity is a bit
hit-point bars are visible, though the disappointing, but nowhere enough to hold
individual ticks in the hit-points bar aren’t back the monitor. It’s an easy recommendation
distinguished. Character names are almost if you want to enjoy the benefits of a 34-inch
impossible to read in motion, too. This is ultrawide at a price no higher than that of most
what I’d expect to see from a monitor with quality 27-inch monitors.
this refresh rate, and it’s a major
improvement over a 60Hz monitor. Gigabyte GS34WQC
How does it compare to a similarly priced
27-inch monitor, like the LG Ultragear PROS
• Plenty of connectivity and menu options.
27GR83Q-B (fave.co/3uLZIEV)? The • Good contrast ratio.
Gigabyte GS34WQC is noticeably less • Solid color performance.
impressive, mostly due to the lack of clarity in CONS

• Stand setup uses screws instead of clip mechanism.
moving text and small interface elements, • Modest maximum brightness.
such as hit-point bars. I don’t consider this a • HDR is supported but lackluster.
knock against the Gigabyte, as it’s providing a BOTTOM LINE

The Gigabyte GS34WQC is a 34-inch ultrawide that
larger display at a lower price. Still, highly delivers excellent value at a budget price.
competitive gamers may prefer a smaller $329
monitor with a higher refresh (like the LG).

REVIEWS
Anker 521 PowerCore Fusion: A

reliable companion for the road
A pocketable power bank is always nice, and this one provides a little more oomph.
BY ALAINA YEE
I’m a big fan of hybrid power SPECS AND DESIGN

banks—you’re covered Like Anker’s other power banks, the 521
whether you’re near or far from has a straightforward design. Shaped like a
an outlet. While I like lighter (mostly) square brick, it has two USB-C
pocketable models when roaming close to ports at the front and a set of charging
home, I prefer a beefier version for traveling prongs at the back. On the left side is a
with a laptop. I can keep a phone topped up circular button with four indicator lights.
as I’m on the go and then charge the laptop at Each light represents 25 percent of the
my destination. The Anker 521 PowerCore battery life; when recharging the power
Fusion (fave.co/3t1jI6f) handles both jobs bank, the lights all turn solid upon reaching
well while taking up minimal space. 100 percent charge.
58 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: ANKER

Inside is a 5,000mAh battery offering percent.) In more concrete terms, you’ll get
18Wh of power. When using the battery, the about 3,600mAh when charging a device at
USB-C ports can deliver a max of 20 watts 5 volts (5V), or 2,000mAh at 9V. For modern
(9V/2.22A). They also support 5V/3A (15W) phones, that’ll stretch battery life while out
charging. Total output is capped at 5V/3.6A. and about, but you’ll get another 50 percent
Anker says the battery’s capacity will remain at charge on average.
90 percent after 500 charge cycles. It comes You can top up the battery in about 2 hours
with a two-year limited warranty. and 20 minutes (my tests were pretty dead-on).
This power bank is also rated as a 45-watt
charger. It supports 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/3A, BOTTOM LINE
and 20V/2.25A charging, making it as I see the Anker 521 FusionCore as a solid,
compatible with laptops (primarily the thin- affordable addition to a travel or business
and-light variety) as with tablets and phones. bag. You can pocket it, but it’s not quite as
It’s also compatible with the Nintendo Switch. comfortable as, say, the smaller, slimmer
This power bank is relatively small, though Anker 511 (fave.co/3GysZFN). In exchange
dense. It measures 2.79×2.34×1.22 inches for that larger, heavier footprint, you can
(7.1×5.9×3.1 cm) and weighs 7.04 ounces charge most lighter devices, including
(200g). The black version has a matte finish, laptops, and you can extend your battery life
which is unfortunately not resistant to scuffs. too. You never need to worry about not
Despite careful handling during the review, having the right gear on you to stay powered
my sample unit already has visible light wear. up. And it doesn’t take up much space.
You can also buy the 521 in white and several
fun pastels: light blue, lavender, and sea green. Anker 521 PowerCore Fusion
PERFORMANCE PROS
• Efficient.
When plugged into a wall, the 521 can • Hybrid battery and wall charger.
simultaneously recharge itself and USB • Capable of powering a laptop.
devices requiring under 35W output. If CONS

• A touch heavy—not as comfortable to pocket.
a device requires more than 35W output,
BOTTOM LINE
then the 521 will first charge that piece of The Anker 521 PowerCore Fusion 45W is the kind of
hybrid power bank you want with you on the
gear before recharging its own battery. road—it’ll power most devices, including a thin,
The Anker 521’s battery is 90.3 percent lightweight laptop (yes, even a MacBook). And it
takes up minimal space in your bag.
efficient. (Currently, the average efficiency for
From $50
all portable batteries we’ve tested is 84

FEATURE ★
THE
BEST PC
HARDWA
SOFTWA
2023
2023/2
2
60 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: JASON LEUNG/UNSPLASH
★★★★
★★ ★
★ ★
★
★
★
★★★★
THE BEST OF THE BEST, AS CHOSEN

BY THE PCWORLD EDITORS.
BY BRAD CHACOS
★★
★
ARE AND
ARE OF
2024 JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 61
FEATURE BEST HARDWARE & SOFT WARE 2023/2024
T
he endless, drawn-out pandemic hardware and software in 2023 than we
years are definitely over for the PC. have anytime in recent memory.
Just a couple of years back, With such a gluttony of choice, it became
lockdowns and chip shortages harder than ever for PC hardware and
caused PC components (even webcams!) to software to impress us. Few products earned
plunge out of stock and products to be our rare Editors’ Choice award. And only the
delayed for ages. Not in 2023. Fresh new very best of the best grace this list. Without
gear flew out the doors fast and furious this further ado, this is the Best PC Hardware and
year, causing an avalanche of releases Software of 2023, as chosen by PCWorld’s
seemingly every time you blinked. editors. Congratulations to the winners. With a
PCWorld’s staff reviewed more PC field this crowded, they’ve definitely earned it.
BEST LAPTOP: DELL impressive, especially for a laptop with a

INSPIRON PLUS 16 larger display and discrete graphics.
Whether you’re looking for a Simply put, you can find flashier laptops,
zippy gaming machine or a but the Dell Inspiron Plus 16 is well designed
productivity laptop, the Dell and does everything right. Add in the fact
Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is equipped to do it all. that’s it’s more affordable than most flagship
It has a big high refresh rate display, a fast laptops, and it’s easy to see why this was our
fingerprint reader, solid battery life, and favorite notebook of 2023.—Ash Biancuzzo
reliable performance. This
machine can even handle gaming
as well as day-to-day productivity,
PRICE:
thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX $1,649 from
fave.co/3tctsul
4060 GPU. The silver design may be FULL REVIEW:
fave.co/3NK5jm7
nondescript, but the aluminum
chassis is both strong and durable.
You’ll also notice a lot of vents, which
are designed to keep the laptop cool
during intense gaming matches and
content creation bursts. We also
managed to get 11 hours of battery life out of
this machine on a single charge. That’s

BEST DESKTOP PC: FALCON Northwest stands so firmly by the quality of its
NORTHWEST FRAGBOX systems that its warranty includes free express
This year, I had the pleasure of overnight shipping for repairs if something
testing the single best desktop goes wrong and the U.S.-based support can’t
PC I’ve ever touched—better help you over the phone.
even than the high-powered, lovingly Heck, FNW even throws in a rad mug
crafted DIY machines I’ve built myself over and delicious custom-brewed coffee with
the years. Falcon Northwest’s FragBox is every order. This boutique custom PC
flawless in every aspect—and not just doesn’t come cheap, but perfection never
what’s inside the box. does. When the day inevitably comes that I
The Falcon Northwest FragBox hang up my PC toolkit for good, I’m buying a
epitomizes why you buy a boutique custom Falcon Northwest FragBox. I’m in love.
PC. It packs extreme power into an —Brad Chacos
unbelievably small,
cool, and quiet
custom chassis, while
Falcon Northwest’s
warranty, buying
experience, and
Windows and
software setup is
second to none. The
PRICE:
FragBox is incredibly From £2,966 from
fave.co/487ihBXj
customizable, built by
FULL REVIEW:
hand by a single See page 27
technician, and Falcon
BEST GAMING HANDHELD: beautiful and fast 1080p 120Hz adaptive-sync

ASUS ROG ALLY screen to its powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Despite Valve owning the handheld PC space processor packing Zen4 and RDNA 3, it rivals
with the Steam Deck, Asus released the ROG and even surpasses the Steam Deck in plenty
Ally and showed that there is still plenty of of categories. And while many see the fact
room for others to be viable. From its that it’s running Windows a downside, I see it

as a differentiator. It allows me to easily

use other launchers or play games that
just aren’t possible on the Steam Deck.
Unfortunately, it does have it’s fair
share of downsides too, so it’s not an
easy recommend over the Steam
PRICE:
$699 from
Deck, but as someone who has almost
fave.co/3pB4uTO
all of the major handhelds at his
FULL REVIEW
fave.co/47TONb2 disposal, the Asus ROG Ally is my
current go-to.—Adam Patrick Murray
BEST CPU: INTEL CORE 7800X3D, while still posting similar

i7-14700K numbers in many games. When you’re
It’s been a quiet year for desktop CPU spending $400 for a CPU, a well-rounded
launches—more of a drizzle than rain for new option is always welcome. The fact that
silicon. Intel’s launch of its 14th-generation compatible motherboards and RAM are still
processors was particularly subdued, with a bit cheaper and more plentiful in options
two of its three new chips offering similar helps, too.—Alaina Yee
performance as their predecessors. And yet
we still got an interesting showdown: the
Intel’s Core i7-14700K (fave.co/3TiLt4G)
versus AMD’s gaming-focused Ryzen 7
7800X3D (fave.co/46Tppkj).
With its strong gaming performance, the
7800X3D was a top contender for being the
best CPU to launch this year. And in fact, if
that’s all you’re planning to do, it’s still an
excellent choice, especially if power
consumption is a concern. But Intel’s Core
i7-14700K managed to nudge it aside to take PRICE:
$359 from
fave.co/3TgkJlz
our recommendation, thanks to getting four
FULL REVIEW:
additional efficiency cores—it handles content fave.co/3TiLt4G
creation tasks much more easily than the

BEST ANTIVIRUS: constellation of dangers on the web. You can
NORTON 360 DELUXE forge a workable solution on your own, but
Good antivirus software protects most people will appreciate a suite like
you when you’re having an off Norton 360 Deluxe, which handles all the
day—and it’s gotten increasingly heavy lifting for a fair price.
more complicated to deftly sidestep hazards At $120 per year (though the first year is
on the Internet. There’s more to worry about usually discounted to $50 or less), you get a
than just viruses and malware. Malicious lot of features with the plan. For starters,
websites, bad actors on public networks, and there’s dark-web monitoring, access to
weak passwords are just part of the bigger Norton’s password manager and VPN
services, and parental controls.
50GB of cloud storage is also
included for automated back ups of
PRICE:
$120 from your most important files. There are
fave.co/3YCFfwS
FULL REVIEW: general utilities like file cleanup

fave.co/30Bk59o
baked in as well, to help with
managing Windows. For this much
peace of mind, you’ll pay more with
rivals—if they even offer some of the
features stuffed into Norton 360
Deluxe.—Alaina Yee
BEST SSD: CORSAIR

MP700 PRO
Our Corsair MP700 Pro SSD’s review PRICE:
$179 from
fave.co/3uSaWIj
headline says it all: “PCIe 5.0
FULL REVIEW:
excellence.” An ultra-fast new See page 38
generation of PCIe 5.0 solid-state

drives debuted this year, bringing
absolutely blistering new speeds that
were previously unimaginable. We’ve
tested several, and Corsair’s MP700
Pro is the best of the bunch. It’s

scintillatingly fast, with a massive 2GB-per-TB of warranty. You pay for a premium for it, but it’s
DRAM cache to keep things running even worth every penny if you’re slinging massive
faster, and comes with a better-than-most files around on the reg.—Brad Chacos
Fortunately, other excellent

password managers exist, like our
top recommendation for the
year—Dashlane. For years it’s been
a strong contender, simplifying
PRICE:
$3.33 from
online security and making it
fave.co/3RkLlPw
effortless. In addition to creating
FULL REVIEW:
fave.co/4a9qp6Z and saving all your passwords, it has
paid plans that include dark web
monitoring for your personal
BEST PASSWORD information and credentials, as well as VPN
MANAGER: DASHLANE access for the Premium tier.
What a difference a year makes. In What kept it in second place was its
the past 12 months, our last pick pricing, but that ended up changing to
plummeted from its exalted include a more affordable Advanced plan.
position, due to a severe data breach that The best part? You can first use it for free and
resulted in stolen vault data. see if you like it.—Alaina Yee
BEST CHROMEBOOK: ASUS

CHROMEBOOK CM34 FLIP
I was so positively gobsmacked by the Asus PRICE:
$499 from
fave.co/3NmxZ48
Chromebook CM34 Flip‘s 19-hour battery
FULL REVIEW:
life, I had to run the test twice. Not only does fave.co/3rS464e
it have superb battery life, but it also has a

spacious 5.5mm touchpad as well as a lovely
1200p display. The display actually has a
16:10 aspect ratio, which makes browsing
social media and working on spreadsheets a

real breeze. The other cool thing about this touch and all but a must-have these days.
laptop is the 1080p webcam, which is a nice —Ash Biancuzzo
BEST THUNDERBOLT DOCK: without reservation. Of my final three—

SONNET ECHO 13 TRIPLE 4K including the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock
While considering my best pick, I discovered Chroma (lack of display ports) and Satechi
I didn’t love any one Thunderbolt dock Thunderbolt 4 Pro Dock (lofty price)—I settled
on the Sonnet Echo 13 Triple 4K as the best of
them all. Sonnet’s dock uses DisplayLink,
which has really grown on me as a more than
capable alternative to Thunderbolt. Not only
have DisplayLink docks been as stable or
more so than Thunderbolt, they’re cost-
effective and offer a wide variety of display
options. The Echo 13 does as well. The one
flaw of Sonnet’s dock, glitchy audio, can be
PRICE:
$239 from easily overcome in several ways, and it comes
fave.co/3RCRhUv
a two-year warranty, to boot. Otherwise,
FULL REVIEW:
fave.co/3Ni4HUb every aspect of this dock conveys power,
flexibility, and care.—Mark Hachman
BEST VPN:
EXPRESSVPN
It’s never easy PRICE:
$99.95 from
fave.co/47PT5jO
to select the
FULL REVIEW:
best overall fave.co/3nthVRR
VPN (fave.co/3FtTTMs).
You need to take into
consideration factors such
as privacy, ease of use,
server spread, and speed.
Then you need to account

for which is best for everyone’s intended VPN. Not only does it continue to be one of
usage. Will the VPN be used to get around the fastest VPNs we’ve ever tested, but it has a
geo-locks, stay incognito online, torrent, or ton of country locations to choose from, it’s
something else? Many VPNs excel at one or dead simple to use, and it offers wide device
two of these functions, but few manage to be support. It has also never failed to unblock
successful across the board. streaming services, and it has full P2P
ExpressVPN is one of the only services support. ExpressVPN also regularly has
that consistently ranks at the top of each third-party auditors review its service to back
category. That’s why, once again, it’s our top up its privacy claims.—Sam Singleton
BEST KEYBOARD: RAZER but it’s also the best keyboard for anyone who
BLACKWIDOW V4 75% wants both premium, custom-style features
While there were a number of and gaming capability. By embracing some of
excellent keyboards released this the mech community’s most beloved mods
year, only one rose above the and focusing on truly excellent switches,
crowd by breaking through conventional Razer has stepped it up a notch, both against
categories and carving out its own. The its usual gaming-grade competition and
Razer BlackWidow V4 75% might have the against more expensive premium designs.
worst product name I’ve seen in a long time, —Michael Crider
PRICE:
$189 from
fave.co/3RCJIOC
FULL REVIEW:
fave.co/3NoKdJI

BEST GAMING GRAPHICS
CARD: AMD RADEON RX
7800 XT
Most of this graphics card
generation’s heavy hitters
launched last year, with
Nvidia, AMD, and Intel fleshing
out the ranks in 2023. But a clear PRICE:
$539 from
star still launched this year: When fave.co/3uTvNuJ
it comes to 1440p gaming, AMD’s FULL REVIEW:

fave.co/3t5oYWu
$500 Radeon RX 7800 XT is the only true
option worth considering from any
manufacturer in this GPU era. It’s great.
The Radeon RX 7800 XT delivers performance) that make them unappealing for
smashing 1440p performance, absolutely long-term gaming at this resolution. AMD’s
trouncing its GeForce RTX 4070 rival despite Radeon RX 7800 XT also offers decent
Nvidia’s card retailing for $100 more. Better ray-tracing performance, unlike prior-
yet, it comes with an ample 16GB of memory generation Radeons—and if you have an AMD
and a wide memory bus perfect for 1440p, Ryzen processor, the company’s superb Smart
while Nvidia’s rival RTX 4060 Ti GPUs pack Access Memory feature pushes performance
nerfed memory configurations (and slower even further.—Brad Chacos
BEST PDF EDITOR: ADOBE editing, creating, reviewing, and PDF security
ACROBAT PRO DC are unrivaled. Adobe doesn’t just rest on its
Are you surprised? Adobe Acrobat laurels, either. It continues to improve and
Pro DC (fave.
co/3VdGoYY) has been,
and continues to be, the undisputed
champion of PDF editors (fave. PRICE:
$19.99 per month
co/3V8Y9bO). It is the industry from
fave.co/3Rq9ggO
standard and it’s what most third-
FULL REVIEW:
party competitors can only attempt to fave.co/3VdGoYY
emulate. The combination of tools for

upgrade Acrobat Pro DC with each passing other services, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is a
year. It’s now easier than ever to navigate the subscription-based service. This means as long
robust toolset. Adobe has added a cloud as you maintain a subscription, you’ll always
subscription option and created a mobile app have access to the latest version and updated
for Android and iOS users. Plus, unlike some feature set.—Sam Singleton
BEST MONITOR: PHILIPS for some people, the best monitor for the
CREATOR SERIES 27E2F7901 majority of people is the one they can actually
The best monitors can cost well over a afford. At $499, the Philips Creator Series
thousand dollars, and while that might be fine 27E2F7901 hits that sweet spot of premium
features at a more practical price. The 4K IPS
Black panel provides a sharp image with
excellent color accuracy. USB-C
connectivity with Power Delivery and
DisplayPort Alternate Mode means it can
be used to charge a laptop and/or
daisy-chain a second monitor. Four
downstream USB-A ports are ready for
PRICE:
$499 from
powering peripherals. The display also
fave.co/3Nm1QKf
has Adaptive Sync for gamers, although
FULL REVIEW:
fave.co/3NmzxLu the 60Hz refresh rate is in line with the
27E2F7901’s general-use status—at which it
thoroughly excels.—Katherine Stevenson
BEST GAMING MOUSE:

RAZER VIPER V3
HYPERSPEED
Razer’s Viper V3 HyperSpeed
(fave.co/41phkmn) has quickly PRICE:
$69 from
fave.co/48dBTUS
become my go-to mouse for FPS
FULL REVIEW:
gaming, creeping into my favor with mouse- fave.co/41phkmn
like stealth. With its speedy 30K Razer

Focus Pro Optical Sensor, high-back precision separately), this rodent was really cooking
design, and well-positioned eight buttons, its with fire.
handling is as good as it gets. I love this mouse’s unpretentiousness too;
In standard 1000Hz polling mode, it with its unicolor black casing, simple Wi-Fi
proved lightning-quick in games such as connectivity, and AA battery slot, it’s the
CounterStrike: Global Offensive and mouse nobody would think has the gumption
Fortnite. However, after adding on the to win matches, but it shows them all how it’s
4,000Hz HyperPolling dongle (sold done in the end.—Dominic Bailey
BEST REMOTE
DESKTOP SOFTWARE:
TEAMVIEWER AND
REMOTEPC BY iDRIVE
This year’s best remote
desktop software (fave. PRICE:
Free from
fave.co/3HTEYjo
co/3uWUAxZ) is a toss-up
FULL REVIEW:
between the free-to-use TeamViewer and fave.co/3MzWBUw
the premium RemotePC by iDrive. For the

individual user or those who just need to
use a remote desktop software occasionally, those with mixed operating systems.
TeamViewer is our favorite. It’s extremely easy RemotePC edges out the competition by
to use, comes with just about every
remote-desktop software feature you
could ever need, and is free for
personal or occasional use. It’s so PRICE:
$29 from
fave.co/488CCXB
simple that even our technologically
FULL REVIEW:
challenged relatives could set it up fave.co/3jfBs8x
remotely without having us guide

them through it.
RemotePC by iDrive (fave.
co/3jfBs8x), on the other hand, is a
premium service that is an excellent
choice for businesses—especially

offering a rich feature set that includes servers printing, as well as a bunch of other useful
for all major desktop OSes, drag-and-drop file tools. The best part is that it gives you all of
transfers, multi-monitor support, screen this at a more affordable rate than most other
recording, whiteboard, remote sound, and services.—Sam Singleton
BEST GAMING LAPTOP:

ACER PREDATOR
TRITON 17X PRICE:
$3,799 from
fave.co/3uTywUZ
The Acer Predator Triton 17X is one
FULL REVIEW:
whopper of a gaming machine, and I fave.co/3tbSCcr
mean that as a sincere compliment.

This beast has a 17-inch display with a
wildly fast 240Hz refresh rate, a
powerful RTX 4090 GPU, and a
diverse port selection. During our
graphics benchmarks, it
outperformed much of the competition, 13V. I mean, what more could you want out of
including the ever-beefy MSI Titan GT77 HX a gaming laptop?—Ash Biancuzzo
BEST USB-C HUB AND

DONGLE: DOCKCASE
10-IN-1 USB-C DOCK
How could I not vote the Dockcase
10-in-1 USB-C Dock my favorite USB-C
hub of the year? It’s a nerd’s tool:
PRICE:
connect it to a USB-C port, and then to $139 from
fave.co/46W6J3k
peripherals, and it reports everything it
FULL REVIEW:
sees on a tiny LCD screen that offers fave.co/3Gzlpeh
something close to professional

diagnostics. It’s totally impractical for
most people, as it’s both wildly overpriced care to have. But I still can’t get it off my desk.
and offers way more insight than most users —Mark Hachman

PRICE:
$44 from
fave.co/3p6FP63
FULL REVIEW:
fave.co/3XRGUi3
BEST WINDOWS record of R-Drive Image in never once

BACKUP SOFTWARE: failing at the task of creating partition or
R-DRIVE IMAGE 7 disk images. Now the program is more
Stalwart R-Drive Image has always versatile than ever, with an easy-to-use
been a favorite, but thanks to a interface, scheduled file and folder
much-needed interface refresh and backups, the ability to save images to a
added functionality in version 7.1, this Windows variety of mediums, and speedy
backup program is now at the top of our list. performance. In a nutshell: It’s an uber-
For starters, of all the backup programs reliable one-stop shop for backup and
we’ve tested, none has the impeccable disaster recover.—Katherine Stevenson
BEST WEBCAM:
OBSBOT TINY 2 4K
PRICE:
Get past the gimmicks—the voice $329 from
fave.co/3t2eVS4
commands and beauty
FULL REVIEW:
enhancements—and you still have fave.co/3GC3KlZ
a fantastic webcam that offers both great

video and a superb software interface to
control it all. Need a 4K webcam? 60 fps?
Adjustable field of view? An auto-tracking
gimbal? All of these options add value, and

they’re all built into the OBSBOT Tiny 2 4K Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra (fave.co/42J0yhi), a
with a new and improved 1/1.5-inch close runner-up, but the configurability and
50Mpixel CMOS image sensor at the center utility the Tiny 2 4K offers put it over the top.
of it all. I really, really loved the image on the —Mark Hachman
GAMING HEADSET: AUDEZE earcups, which are a change from the 40mm
MAXWELL WIRELESS to 50mm neodymium drivers I usually see in
The Audeze Maxwell Wireless gaming headsets.
produces such a rich and varied Thanks to that hardware, it’s quite heavy
soundscape that some rivals (490 grams), but that’s never an issue in
almost sound monotone by comparison. Its multi-hour play sessions because of comfort
superior sound quality comes courtesy of features like its plush leatherette coverings
large 90mm planar magnetic drivers in the and swiveling earcups. The round, saucer-
shaped cups are also
unique and stylish.
I’m a big fan of device
PRICE:
$299 from versatility, and the
fave.co/3No46jV
FULL REVIEW:
Maxwell Wireless has that
fave.co/47OWe3h
to the max. It comes with
three connectivity types:
wired, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and
Bluetooth. The Xbox
version is cross-
compatible with Xbox
360, Xbox X/S, Mac, PC
and Android and iOS
devices. It also works with
PlayStation 5, although it’s
not specifically made to.
This headset sounds
great, feels great,
and does it all.
—Dominic Bailey

BEST ONLINE
BACKUP: iDRIVE
For cloud
backup, it’s hard
to beat iDrive. It’s
got it all: support for multiple
PCs and devices, online and
local backups, snapshots,
syncing, even two-way PRICE:
From $2.95 from
fave.co/48ejHdS
physical shipment service for
FULL REVIEW:
emergency data recovery. fave.co/3HQAasY
The amount you pay per

year (starting at $2.95 and
going up to $99.50) determines the set. Besides being well rounded, iDrive is
number of users per license and storage an exceedingly simple client to use,
space. Other than that, all tiers (including making it an obvious recommendation.
free) enjoy the same comprehensive feature —Katherine Stevenson
BEST GAMING MONITOR: USB-A ports for expansion. You’d be hard-

INNOCN 27MV2 pressed to find a better bang-for-the-buck
For superb gaming that’s not gaming monitor.—Katherine Stevenson
financially out of reach, it’s hard to
top Innocn’s 27MV2. The $750
Mini-LED 4K monitor—which often sells for
$100 less—offers phenomenal image quality,
HDR support, a 160Hz refresh rate, and AMD
FreeSync Premium Pro support for a
no-compromises gaming experience.
What’s more, it bests other premium
PRICE:
gaming monitors with an abundance of $750 from
fave.co/46RGoDO
connectivity, including four video inputs as
FULL REVIEW:
well as USB-C with Power Delivery and fave.co/4aiTHAa
DisplayPort Alternate Mode and a couple

BEST LAPTOP FOR

TINKERERS: FRAMEWORK
LAPTOP 13 PRICE:
$1,049 from
fave.co/3NkqSZW
Framework’s line of repairable laptops
FULL REVIEW:
continue to impress me, especially this year. fave.co/3uUgJwO
The Framework Laptop 13, which we

reviewed over the summer, is a good machine
with powerful hardware, a nice keyboard, and
a fantastic matte display. You can also repair
or upgrade this laptop. Just crack this bad boy
open and scan the QR codes on the
individual parts. You’ll then be directed to they’re sustainable and may save you some
that exact part on Framework’s website. money down the road, as you can easily swap
I love the way these laptops encourage out the storage, upgrade the battery, and so
folks to get in there and tinker away. Plus, on and so forth.—Ash Biancuzzo
BEST INNOVATION: FRORE product categories. The release of the first

SYSTEMS AIRJET MINI product featuring this system comes from
INSIDE THE ZOTAC ZBOX Zotac in the company’s ZBOX pico PI430AJ
PICO PI430AJ with AirJet. It’s going to take a lot to change
When we first saw Frore Systems’ solid-state an industry, but I’d love this technology to be
active cooling module at CES, AirJet Mini and commonplace in the future and continue to
AirJet Pro, we knew this had a chance to drive cooling and performance for our
revolutionize cooling in electronics. Without electronic devices for years to come.
getting too deep into how it works (watch our —Adam Patrick Murray
awesome lab tour [fave.co/3RDOtaT] for that),
know that the AirJet uses MEMS technology, is
PRICE:
far thinner than a traditional fan found in $599 from
fave.co/3Np5kf0
something like a laptop, but far outperforms it
thanks to immense back pressure that just can’t
be achieved with today’s thin fans.
In the months since that show, we’ve
seen a number of demos with various

Small acts of kindness can have a big impact in making people feel welcome.
When we reach out and connect with others, we can build a stronger community
where everyone – regardless of their background – feels like they belong.
LEARN HOW AT
BELONGINGBEGINSWITHUS.ORG
FEATURE
HOW MUCH
ANTIVIRUS
PROTECTION
IS RIGHT FOR
YOU? HERE’S
HOW TO TELL
SOME FOLKS MAY BE FINE
WITH FREE ANTIVIRUS
SOFTWARE, BUT YOU MAY
FIND A PAID SOLUTION EASIER.
BY ALAINA YEE

IMAGE: VRVIRUS/SHUTTERSTOCK JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 79
FEATURE ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION
A
ntivirus has become these days anyway. For example, AVG (a highly popular
a catch-all term. It doesn’t just free antivirus program) is scored well by
mean blocking literal computer respected testing groups like AV-Test (fave.
viruses, trojans, and other bits of co/3TlbhNJ) and AV-Comparatives (fave.
malicious code meant to attack your PC. co/4at5VpZ). In fact, it tops the charts for
When you opt to go beyond Microsoft’s offline and online detection, as well as for
built-in protections, an antivirus software online protection, with very low false
subscription can provide a light step up from positives. Microsoft’s Windows Defender also
Windows Defender or a set of intensely holds up, though AV-Test found it to be a little
comprehensive safeguards that extend to weaker at protecting against zero-day attacks
your financial accounts. (fave.co/41hInQw).
So what level of defense do you need, So what does this mean? If you’re
especially when you’re concerned about all careful about where you browse, as well as
angles of online security? Here are the what you download, open, and click, then
general levels of protection you can choose free antivirus should keep you adequately
from, as well as what you should consider safe. That’s especially so if you sidegrade to
when considering each. a free version of something like AVG or
Avast, which centralize more protections in
FREE ANTIVIRUS a single interface.
Free antivirus isn’t worse than paid—not when However, the flip side is that you’re
it comes to catching viruses and malware, responsible for your own safety. Free software
Windows Defender is
a solid free antivirus
program, but you’ll
need to stay on top
of your game to
make the most of its
protections.

has limitations, too. Take
Windows Defender—it
protects against ransomware
if you make sure controlled
folder access is turned on.
And generally, if you choose a
free antivirus program, you
also only have backup
protection for your
documents if you enable
OneDrive syncing or another
form of backup.
In a nutshell, free security Upgrading to paid antivirus software doesn’t need to be expensive
is as good as your system of to tangibly boost your online protection.
manual checks and balances.

It relies on you to both keep on top of the trackers, and bad email attachments and links.
latest security threats and avoid them, as well (This is in addition to basic blocking of virus,
as set up your software (and make use of malware, and ransomware.) As you go up the
other services, like credit freezes) to tiers (and up in price), you should get access
thoroughly guard you on all those fronts. to a VPN and/or password manager, parental
controls, safeguards against unknown remote
PAID ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE access to your PC, and identity monitoring.
(NONPREMIUM) When you’re in this middle ground, you
Figuring out what to expect from paid should ask yourself:
antivirus software can be nebulous, since • How much work do you want taken off
every antivirus software company offers at your plate?
least one (if not more) paid subscription • What areas of your online life need
option outside the flagship premium one. In protection beyond defending your PC from
fact, long-storied companies like Norton and viruses and malware?
McAfee seemingly have an endless array of • How many different devices do you
features remixed into different packages. need to protect?
But at minimum, you should expect an For example, if you only need a little extra
entry-level subscription to include protection defense beyond free antivirus but you need it
against malicious and phishing sites, online for lots of devices, then the mid-tier plan from a

FEATURE ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION
company like AVG or Avast may be your best PREMIUM ANTIVIRUS

bet. Conversely, for roughly the same cost, you SOFTWARE
could get access to a password manager and Once upon a time, the top-tier subscriptions
cloud backups for your important documents offered by antivirus companies would have
through Norton’s similarly priced Antivirus Plus been called Cadillac plans—and in some
plan—provided you don’t need protection for cases they felt like they cost as much as a
more than one device. luxury car. Take for example the McAfee+
The more you pay, the more features you Ultimate plan, which has a regular rate of
should get, but you’ll have to shop around $280 per year…and that’s the individual plan,
and compare features to find your match. not the family plan ($425 per year).
(Comparison charts on each company’s But the most expensive plans across all
website are a great starting point.) As you go antivirus companies aren’t equal. One
up the scale, you’ll see more protections for company’s Ultimate plan may be more akin to a
your online life, like privacy related to social rival company’s mid-tier offering. (This is where
media and data brokers. comparison charts once again come in handy.)
When considering plans
that cost more than $100 per
year, expect to see financial
protections layered into the
plan, like banking account
monitoring and online identity-
theft assistance. Some even
offer insurance—like $1 million
of coverage related to identity
theft losses.
If that sound appealing, ask
yourself if you need to monitor
all the major elements in your
life (like your credit reports)
through one source. It is easy,
but you can also pretty easily
freeze your credit reports on
The regular price for McAfee’s top plans can cost quite a pretty
penny—but their feature lists include pretty much everything but your own, for example. Most
the kitchen sink. financial institutions also offer

account alerts if you want to stay on
top of your transactions.
Also, make sure you can trust the
antivirus company with your most
sensitive information—which will include
your social security number—in order for
them to monitor your life online.
WHAT LEVEL
OF ANTIVIRUS The free version of AVG and Avast can be enough for
PROTECTION many people.
SHOULD I CHOOSE? ton of cash, and you’ve got software on the

Not interested in combing through endless lookout for your major internet threats.
charts? You can’t go too wrong with a basic This level of protection will protect you
paid plan that protects against malicious and against slip-ups, because even the vigilant
phishing websites, as well as nasty among us can have off days.
attachments and links in email downloaded to If you work often from public Wi-Fi, a VPN is
your PC. I like ones that also guard against also generallly a good investment—though
remote access to your web cam and PC signing up for a separate service is a better call.
(though truthfully, I think these shouldn’t be You get more control in what features and
paid features). This way, you don’t spend a servers you get access to, as you’ll see in our
roundup of the best VPNs (fave.
co/3FtTTMs). That goes even for a free
VPN (fave.co/41f1bjt).
My advice is similar for a password
manager—you can often get more
robust features and a better user
interface if you choose a service
independent of your antivirus
software. But as always, the best
software is the one you use, so if
getting these service as part of a
If you work often from public Wi-Fi, a VPN, such as NordVPN bundle will ensure you’ll put it to work,
(pictured), is a good investment. then that’s the right call.

Smokey Bear is
within us all.
For wildfire prevention tips, visit
SmokeyBear.com
Here’s How HOW TO BUILD, MAINTAIN,
AND FIX YOUR TECH GEAR
9 tips that turbocharge your

Windows PC startup time
Windows boots quickly -- but only after a new installation. Read which tools measure the
boot time, why Windows is slowing down, and what you can do. BY THORSTEN EGGELING
A
freshly installed system starts up the measurements before and after you make
quickly and responds swiftly. A changes to the system. You can then see how
few updates and new software successful the measures have been.
installations later, however, Even if Windows already shows the
Windows seems to become slower and desktop, the startup process is usually not
slower. There are several ways to find out yet complete. The system is often not yet
whether this is just a subjective impression. ready for user input, does not react to mouse
Use suitable tools to determine the start clicks, or only reacts with a significant delay.
times and remove system brakes. Carry out How quickly Windows is ready depends on
IMAGE: PATHDOC/SHUTTERSTOCK JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 85

HERE’S HOW TURBOCHARGE YOUR PC’S STARTUP TIME
the programs that Windows starts 1. FIND OUT THE

automatically after login. To speed up the WINDOWS START TIME
system, you should reduce the number of Windows records the times for system
autostart programs. startup and shutdown in the event log. The
It is particularly annoying if you just want to log can be called up by right-clicking on the
quickly check something in the web browser Start menu button and selecting Event
and Windows is busy installing updates. You Viewer. Go to Application and service logs >
can avoid this by temporarily suspending the Microsoft > Windows > Diagnostics-
installation of updates. Or you can start the PC Performance > Operational.
via a timer or the network. Then it will be ready In the center of the window, you will see
when you need it. the events that occur when Windows starts up
WINDOWS 10 OR 11:
WHICH IS FASTER? PCMark 10
CPU performance
Windows 11 differs from Windows 10
Windows 11 Windows 10 Windows 11 with VB5
primarily in the visual design of the
Lenovo Legion 8,907
desktop and some apps. The technical 5 Pro
9,187
basis is similar for both systems. 0
Microsoft
However, Windows 11 offers improved Surface 4,820
Book 3 4,814
memory management and prioritizes 4,664
active apps. Virtual Based Security (VBS) HP Pavilion 1,833
15
is intended to provide more security by 1,829
0
isolating processes so that the system is
better protected against malware. This

is also one of the reasons why Windows PCMark 10 shows hardly any differences.
11 officially requires newer processors
and TPM. with AMD CPUs under Windows 11.
Most performance tests show hardly However, these problems seem to have
any differences between Windows 10 and been resolved in the meantime. VBS can
11, with system and program start times also reduce performance in some
roughly identical. There have been isolated application areas, but the function can be
reports that some games run slower on PCs deactivated if required.

how much time. You can
deactivate superfluous time
wasters using the tool.
In the tool, click on Test >
Complete Windows startup
process and then on Start
test. Confirm the restart by
clicking on Yes. Once the
desktop is visible again, Boot
Racer automatically displays
a progress bar in the bottom
Windows logs: The start times are recorded in the Event Viewer, as
are processes that delay the start. Sometimes this is unavoidable: for right corner showing the
example, with virus scanners. number of seconds required
to complete the boot
and shuts down. Event IDs between 100 and process. You will then see a window with the
199 refer to startup processes, from 200 total start time, which you can click on.
onward to shutdown. For IDs 100 and 200, The Boot Racer window tells you how
you can see the time required in milliseconds long it took to start Windows (Windows
in the lower area behind Startup duration
and Shutdown duration.
The IDs from 101 to 199 give you
further information on the affected area.
Clicking on a message shows a brief
description of the problem under General
as well as the name of the software that
caused the delay. If a problem occurs
during shutdown, Windows notes this with
IDs from 201 to 299.
2. SWITCH OFF
SYSTEM BRAKES
The Bootracer (fave.co/46m15Yq) tool can Determine boot times: BootRacer clearly shows
how long it took Windows to start up and when
be used to determine boot times. It also the desktop was ready for use. The tool can also
shows which autostart programs require deactivate autostart programs.

boot) and how long it took for

the desktop to be ready for
use (Desktop). You can then
continue by clicking on “Test
without autostart programmes
(Clear Boot Test)” and “Start
test.” If you now click on the
total time, the value under
Desktop should be lower.
Windows Task Manager: This system tool can be used to deactivate
Click on “Autostart some autostart programs. The time required before Windows
programmes.” You will now starts is shown in the top right: “Last BIOS time.”
see which autostart
programmes are active and the respective switching on the computer, next to “Last BIOS
start time. time” (only in UEFI mode). The time can be
Remove the ticks from the programmes shortened by activating Fast Boot or Quick
that you do not need or that slow down Boot in the firmware or BIOS setup. This
Windows startup considerably. partially omits the hardware check, which can
reduce the boot process by a few seconds.
3. OPTIMIZE STARTUP Alternative autostart configuration:
You can also find out which programs Autoruns from Sysinternals/Microsoft
Windows starts automatically in the Task recognizes almost all autostart ramps for
Manager, which you start with Ctrl+Alt+Del. programs and services and can also display
In Windows 10, click on “More details” and and manage extensions for Windows Explorer
go to the “Startup apps” tab.
In Windows 11, click on
“Startup apps.” In the Startup
impact column, you can see
how much a program is using
Windows. A program can be
removed from “Startup apps”
via the context menu.
The Task Manager also
Sysinternals-Autoruns: The tool shows everything that starts
shows how long it took for automatically with Windows. Remove the tick in front of the
Windows to start up after programs or services you do not need.

and Microsoft Office. In addition to
offering other useful tuning options,
Glary Utilities (fave.co/3PWwmMx)
also provides autostart management,
which can also process scheduled
tasks and services. The special
feature: Autostarts can be delayed so
that the desktop is ready for use
more quickly.
4. AUTOMATIC
WINDOWS LOGON
Windows requests a password by
default when you log on. If you only
use your PC at home, you can
Automatic Windows login: After a change in the registry,
probably do without the password. Windows 10 and 11 can be configured with Netplwiz to log
To enable automatic login, Windows on without entering a password.
10 and 11 require an adjustment in

the registry. Press Win+R, type in regedit, Microsoft account. After “User name,” use the
and confirm with OK. Go to this key: email address that you use for logging in.
Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\ Tip: Automatic login is of little use if
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ Windows blocks the desktop with a full-screen
PasswordLess\Device message, such as “Let us finish setting up your
Change the value PC” or “Get even more out of Windows.”
DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion to 0. If you don’t want to see the screens, you
Then start via Win+R: can use the registry files from Disable
Netplwiz Welcome (fave.co/48bb4kb). The start
Remove the tick in front of “Users must assistant of the Edge web browser can also
enter user name and password” and click on be switched off via the registry. The Mozilla
Apply. Then enter the user name of your local Firefox folder contains configuration files that
standard account and the corresponding can be copied to the browser’s installation
password twice. Next, click OK twice and folder—for example, to C:\Program Files\
Windows will start without asking for a Mozilla Firefox. This can be used to prevent
password. Automatic login also works with a the wizard from appearing after updates.

This will allow the

current user to run
Powershell scripts.
Step 3: Start
W10Privacy via the
context menu item Run
as administrator. In the
Switch off updates: You can deactivate the automatic Windows update
menu, go to Extras >
via W10Privacy. If necessary, you can download the updates manually at Windows updates
the desired time. (search/download/
install). Tick the first four
5. DEACTIVATE WINDOWS options and click on Set changed settings.
UPDATES The tool activates a fake update server so
Regular updates are essential for system that updates can no longer be
security. Extensive updates in particular can downloaded. For a targeted update
delay Windows startup for minutes and often download, click on “Start search for
require several restarts. Users who want to updates.” If updates are available, a
have more control over updates can simply window will appear in which you can select
use W10Privacy (fave.co/475CYxr). the updates and then download and
Step 1: In the tool’s setup wizard, select install them.
the Portable Installation option and use a If you want to receive updates in the
folder whose name does not contain any regular way again, uncheck the box next to
spaces, such as C:\Tools\W10Privacy. “Fake WSUS server stored” and save the
Unzip PS Windows Update (fave. change.
co/3RAvaPm) into this folder so that the The update function of W10Privacy is not
file PSWindowsUpdate.psd1 is located particularly informative and does not provide
in the folder C:\Tools\W10Privacy\ a progress indicator. Wait after each action
PSWindowsUpdate. until the tool displays a message. More
Step 2: Start a Powershell as precise monitoring is possible via the log file.
administrator and execute the following You can display changes in it in a Powershell
command line: with this line:
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Get-Content -Path „C:\Tools\
CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy W10Privacy\W10Privacy.log“ -Tail 10
Remotesigned -Wait

PC start via
timer: Timers
are available
in different
designs.
Smart sockets
can be switched
on according to a
schedule or via a
smartphone.
6. USE A TIMER Hold down the Shift key and click on Restart
PCs, monitors, and other peripheral devices in the button menu. Go to Troubleshooting >
cause electricity costs, even when they are Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings
switched off or in standby mode. It therefore and click on the Restart button. In the
makes sense to disconnect all devices from firmware/BIOS setup, search for a menu item
the power supply via a switch socket when such as Power Management Setup or Platform
they are not in use. Power. For options such as “Restore after AC
If you use your PC at a certain time every Power Loss” or AC Back, activate “Power on,”
day, you can use a timer switch, which is “Always on,” or similar.
available with a mechanical or digital timer at Shut down Windows and then
prices between $6 and $25. Even more disconnect the PC from the power supply.
convenient is a smart socket (fave.co/ As soon as the power supply is restored, the
46OJl8a), which can cost less than $50. This computer will switch on automatically and
allows a connected power strip to be Windows will start. If you use a timer to set
switched manually via the smartphone or the switch-on time to just before you start
according to a schedule. work, the computer will be ready for use as
To ensure that the desktop PC starts up soon as you need it.
automatically when the power supply is
activated, you need to change a setting in the 7. START WINDOWS
firmware/BIOS setup. To do this, click the AUTOMATICALLY
On/Off button at the bottom right of the You can also start a computer automatically
Windows login screen or, after logging in, without a timer. Desktop PCs often have an
click the On/Off button in the Start menu. option such as Resume by Alarm in the

chipsets in notebooks if the

firmware supports it.
In the firmware/BIOS
setup (please refer to point
7), set all options for Wake-
on-LAN to Enabled, if
available. Under Windows,
start the Device Manager. In
the context menu of the
network adapter, go to
Properties and then click on
Timer in the firmware: With many desktop PCs, it is possible to set a
switch-on time in the firmware setup. This means the PC is ready for the Advanced tab. Here
use when you need it. there are options such as
“Wake on magic package,”
firmware setup (see point 7). This allows the “Wake on pattern match,” “Activation by
timer to be configured—for example, for a magic packet,” or similar settings. Activate all
daily auto-start at the start of work. It is usually options that relate to “Wake on Lan.” Go to
not possible to select specific days of the the Power management tab and tick the three
week. The computer switches on at the available options.
selected time regardless of the operating WOL can be used to wake up a PC that is in
system. It does not matter whether you have energy-saving or hibernation mode. WOL can
shut down Windows or put it to
Configure the
sleep (see the box opposite). network adapter:
You can activate
Wake-on-LAN for
8. START WINDOWS almost all network
REMOTELY adapters.
If you do not want to set a fixed Windows can then
be reactivated via
schedule for starting the system, the network.
you can activate the computer at
the desired time using Wake-on-
LAN (WOL) via your smartphone,
for example. Wake-on-Lan was
developed for Ethernet adapters,
but also works with some WLAN

SHUT DOWN, SAVE Save energy: In this mode, the RAM
ENERGY, AND HIBERNATE modules continue to be supplied with
Windows can be shut down in different power. The contents of the main memory are
ways. If you select Shut down via the On/ retained. Waking up from Save energy mode
Off button in the Start menu, Windows is significantly faster than restarting after Shut
closes all applications and the user session down. Started applications also remain open
and writes parts of the RAM with the so that you can continue working where you
image of the kernel to the Hiberfil.sys file left off. Ideally, you only need three seconds
on the start hard drive. The PC then to be able to work with the system.
switches off. Hibernation mode: If you disconnect
The next time it is started, Windows the PC from the power supply using a
transfers the contents of the file back to the power strip with a switch, you should use
RAM and the system is quickly available this mode. Windows stores the contents of
again. For this to work as described, Quick the main memory in the Hiberfil.sys file
start (see point 9) must be activated in the and the main memory is no longer supplied
energy settings, which is the case by with power. By default, Windows does not
default. The situation is different with offer Hibernation in the menu on desktop
Restart. In this mode, Windows is PCs. To change this, activate hibernation
completely shut down and restarted. via powercfg.cpl (see point 9).
also work after shutdown. If not, start computers in the network and displays their IP
powercfg.cpl via Win+R and click on “Select and MAC addresses. Then shut down the PC
what should happen when power switches are that you want to wake up via WOL. In
pressed.” Click on “Some settings are currently Wakemeonlan, select Wake Up Selected
not available” and then remove the tick next to Computers in the context menu for this
“Enable quick start (recommended).” computer and confirm with Yes.
Try Wake-on-LAN with the Nirsoft tool Control via an Android phone: Install the
Wakemeonlan (fave.co/46O1cfq), which you Wolon—Wake on LAN Widgets (fave.
can download from the Windows System co/3uTipXt) app on your smartphone. The
Control Center (WSCC), fave.co/3NlzBex, app is ad financed; the Pro version does not
and copy to another computer. Go to File > have adverts; and with extended functions
Start scanning. The tool searches for the app costs $3.99.

After starting the app, go to “Network internet providers, you usually have to use a
scan” in the menu and then to “Start network DynDNS service so that your home network
scan.” Select the desired PC and tap on the can always be reached via a domain name.
LAN list. Accept the MAC address from Port forwarding from any external port to port
Wakemeonlan. Click on Save. You can now 9 on the PC must also be set up in the router.
wake up the PC in the main window by An alternative to this is a VPN connection to
tapping on the configured entry. the home network.
Wake up Windows via the internet: In
the Android app Wolon, the configuration 9. FASTER WITH AN SSD
can also be saved in the WAN list. In addition Windows runs significantly faster when
to the MAC address, you must enter the the system boots from an SSD. The
public IP of the router or its host name here. performance gain is so significant due to the
As the IP number changes regularly with most short access times that investing in an SSD is
also worthwhile for older PCs
and notebooks. AS SSD
Benchmark (fave.co/3TyPMJB)
can be used to determine
the speed of hard disks and
SSDs. Hasleo Backup Suite
Free (fave.co/3RuVVVv) can
move the system from the
hard drive to an SSD.
If you stay with the hard drive,
you should defragment the drive
from time to time. Auslogics Disk
Defrag (fave.co/3TabR0K) can
be used to defragment
particularly large files—for
example, from games or
virtualization software—which
speeds up access.
See our roundup of the best
An SSD, such as the Samsung 870 EVO (pictured), will SSDs (fave.co/2Z26gQg) for
significantly boost your system’s performance. recommendations.

Master a Kindle with these 10 tips
How to make better use of Amazon’s e-readers and reading apps. BY JARED NEWMAN
O
f all the tech products Amazon for all kinds of reading. Here’s what I’ve come
offers, Kindle is the only one up with:
that I’d seriously miss if it
went away. 1. USE THE APP
I was never much of a book person, but If you haven’t read a book on a smartphone
that’s changed as I’ve tried to divert more lately, you might be surprised at how pleasant
time away from social media. Kindle—not just it’s become as mobile displays have grown
the e-reader, but the mobile apps—are where larger and more vibrant.
a lot of that spare screen time has ended up. To that end, the Kindle app on iOS (fave.
As such, I’ve been digging deeper into co/3RA6HtK) and Android (fave.co/
the Kindle software to make the most of it, 3TgAbOn) is a great way to read e-books, and
and using it not just for e-books, but as a hub you don’t need a Kindle e-reader to use it.
IMAGE: AMAZON JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 95

HERE’S HOW 10 AMA ZON KINDLE TIPS
Any Kindle books you purchase online seeing it underscored for emphasis. (Too
will automatically sync across devices, as will bad Amazon doesn’t sync these settings
your reading progress, so you can pick up across devices.)
where you left off on any phone, tablet, or
e-reader that’s logged into the same 3. QUICK READING TWEAKS
Amazon account. Some Kindle options don’t require a trip into
the settings menu:
2. PERSONALIZE • Tap the bottom-left corner to switch
YOUR PAGES between page count, location count, and
Tap near the top of the screen on a Kindle estimated reading times.
e-reader—or anywhere on the mobile app— • Pinch the screen to quickly adjust
then tap the Aa icon to change various reader text size.
settings, such as font size, line spacing, • On phones and tablets, tap the bottom-
margins, and page color. right corner to lock or unlock screen rotation.
Personally, I always visit the More tab and (This works independently of your device’s
enable “Page turn animation,” which lets me auto-rotate settings.)
compulsively dog-ear the virtual pages while • On Kindle e-readers with built-in
reading. I also disable Popular Highlights, lighting, swipe down from the top for
because nothing ruins a great quote like brightness controls and other quick settings.
4. SCHEDULE
SCREEN
WARMTH
If your Kindle has a
warm light setting,
you can adjust it on a
schedule to minimize
eyestrain at night.
Swipe down from the
top of the screen,
then look just above
the Warmth slider and
tap on Schedule. Turn
2. the schedule on from

icon near the top-left corner, then select
“Your items.”
• On Kindle e-readers, activate Kids
mode by clicking the vertical ellipses
icon, and then selecting Amazon Kids.
From here you can create a child profile,
add kid-friendly books, and set up a PIN
for getting back to the regular menu.
6. GET FREE E-BOOKS

I’ll never tire of recommending Libby as
a way to check out free e-books from
your library, and it integrates flawlessly
4. with Kindle so you can read across your
devices and e-readers. The Libby app
this menu, then set up your timing and will ask to connect your Amazon account the
warmth levels. first time you download a book, but you can
also find this setting by tapping the menu
5. SHARE YOUR KINDLE icon, selecting Settings, then selecting
Unfortunately Kindle e-readers don’t let you Read Books With.
switch between multiple
user profiles, but there
are a few things you can
do to set up a device for
more than one person:
• Set up Amazon
Household (fave.co/
46TjN9T), so you and
another person can share
books across separate
Amazon accounts.
• To view only your
own books, head to the
Library tab, tap the filter 6.

HERE’S HOW 10 AMA ZON KINDLE TIPS
7. RENAME YOUR KINDLE co/3GWTipD), click Kindle, then select a

If you’re a longtime Kindle app user, you’ve device. This menu even lets you set your
probably got an unwieldy list of devices to address to something more memorable.
choose from when you buy a book online or While each Kindle device or app technically
borrow one from Libby (fave.co/46TpyUM). has its own email address, anything you send
To make device selection easier, head to to one should sync with all the others.
Settings in the Kindle app, then select Device
Name and pick something more memorable 9. SAVE ARTICLES
than “Joe’s 6th iPhone.” (On e-readers, you’ll FOR LATER
find this option under Settings > Your With your Kindle email address in hand,
Account > Device Name.) you can start using it to bring in articles
You can also head to Amazon’s Kindle from elsewhere.
app manager (fave.co/486IDE6) to remove My preferred method is Instapaper (fave.
old devices and set your current device as co/46SnXyE), a free service that lets you save
the default. articles on the web for reading later. With
Instapaper’s Kindle integration, you can get
8. EMAIL DOCUMENTS weekly or daily digests of unread articles
TO KINDLE delivered a single e-book.
Got a book in PDF form or a lengthy Word Here’s how to get started:
document you need to read? Look up your • After creating an Instapaper account,
Kindle email address—formatted as head to the settings menu (fave.co/
username_XXXXXX@kindle.
com—and send those
documents to yourself:
• On the Kindle app,
head to More > Settings,
then look under “Send to
Kindle Email Address.”
• On Kindle e-readers,
head to Settings > Your
Account, then look under
“Send-to-Kindle Email.”
• You can also head to
this webpage (fave. 9.

3uTQnv0), and copy down the
email address in the Kindle section.
• Sign into Amazon’s device
preferences page (fave.co/
3GzJ4LA), then click Personal
Document Settings.
• Scroll down and click “Add a
new approved email address.”
• Paste in the Instapaper email
address you copied earlier, then
click Add Address.
• Back in Instapaper settings, 10.
enter your Kindle email address, KTool allows you to save the text of articles.
then enable Kindle Automatic
Delivery. Set a delivery frequency, and click • Amazon has its own Chrome extension
Save Kindle Preferences. (fave.co/41dLMQt) for sending web links to
Once you’ve set this up, you can use Kindle, though it also has its issues with
Instapaper’s bookmarklet (fave.co/ truncated articles.
3Rgce7l), browser extension (fave.co/ • KTool (fave.co/3RB9NNV) does a great
3Rgce7l), or mobile apps (fave.co/3TkibTn) job saving the full text of articles, though it
to save articles, and they’ll show up on your requires a $5 per month subscription to save
Kindle app or e-reader in digest form. more than 20 articles per month. Its $7 per
(The paid version of Instapaper [fave.co/ month Premium tier also supports newsletters
3GALpps] also lets you send articles to and RSS feeds.
Kindle directly.) Newsletter to Kindle (fave.co/41hz576)
automatically forwards emails to your Kindle,
10. MORE KINDLE but it costs $5 per month to send more than
READING OPTIONS 25 newsletter issues per month.
Instapaper isn’t the only way to send articles • If any of these articles are adding too
to yourself. Here are a few others: much clutter to your library, just tap the
• EpubPress (fave.co/41iBuhV) lets you vertical ellipses icon on any article, then
select tabs from your web browser and send choose “Permanently delete.” After all, it’s not
them to Kindle in digest form, though I’ve truly a reading list if you don’t neglect at least
found that it truncates some articles. some of it.

HERE’S HOW
Microsoft Paint, supercharged:

How to use new AI and
Photoshop-like features
In the future, you will be able to create AI images in Paint with the OpenAI-LLM
Dall-E and also edit them professionally. BY THOMAS JOOS
M
icrosoft is significantly The new functions are also available after
expanding the functions of installing the Microsoft Paint app from the
Paint in Windows 11. The App Store (fave.co/46NFKHm). Updating the
app is also getting a new Paint app usually also works via the Store app
version. The outdated program is to become in Windows 11 and selecting Library > Get
a modern image editor that also contains AI updates. If the Paint update can be found in
functions. In the future, you will be able to use the window, you can install it here.
the OpenAI-LLM Dall-E directly in Windows 11 Microsoft is also constantly expanding the
and in Paint. functions of Paint. If you already have the new

version, you may receive
additional new functions
through an update.
However, you shouldn’t
expect too much from the
new Paint. Even in the new
version, Paint will certainly
not be a comprehensive
competitor for other image
editing tools. If you
want to edit images In addition to the new interface, the two new buttons, Cocreator and
comprehensively, there is Layers, can be found at the top right.
no getting round solutions

such as Adobe Photoshop (fave.co/3uTajy5) also be used as a tool for creating AI images
or the open-source Gimp (fave.co/33TKn8n). directly in Windows 11.
If you start Paint in Windows 11, you can The creation is done by entering a
quickly see whether the new version is already prompt, which Paint supports with a
installed. In addition to the new interface, the wizard. For this to work, however, it is
two new buttons, Cocreator and Layers, can necessary to log in with a Microsoft
be found at the top right. account, as image processing takes place in
Working with Paint is a lot of fun, and the Microsoft cloud.
simple image editing as well as the
layers, transparency, and especially
the Cocreator are interesting and
offer many possibilities.
COCREATOR
CREATES AI IMAGES
WITH OPENAI DALL-E
The Microsoft Cocreator in Paint
allows you to create an AI image
directly in Paint, which is then
generated via OpenAI Dall-E. This Cocreator in Paint lets you create an AI image by entering a
means that in the future Paint can description of the picture you’d like it to produce.

HERE’S HOW MICROSOFT PAINT, SUPERCHARGED
LAYERS IN
MICROSOFT PAINT
WORK LIKE IN
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
Layers are commonplace in
image editing. Until now, Paint
could not handle them. In the
new version, layers are available
via the Layers button at the top
right. After you click on Layers,
Paint displays another area on the
After you create the image with the wizard, Paint allows you to right side. Here you can divide
change the style of the picture. the image into layers and add
further layers. To do this, click
After creating the image with the wizard, on the plus sign (+).
Paint displays various alternatives of the image Layers can be stacked in Paint, just as in
as a preview. If you click on an image, Paint Photoshop and other image-editing tools.
displays it in the main window and you can edit Superordinate layers hide subordinate layers.
it. The Cocreator is available via the Cocreator To make areas of the lower layer visible, work
button at the top right. Users initially
receive a free credit of 50 images
(Cocreator Credits). The number of
credits still available can be seen at
the bottom of the window.
You can create a new version of
the image at any time using the
Create button, but make sure you
have enough Cocreator Credits.
Once these have been used up, you
can no longer create new images
with Cocreator during the test
phase. In the future, it should be
possible to top up your credits. It is Layers can be stacked in Paint, just as in Photoshop and other
not yet clear how this can be done. image-editing tools.

with transparency in the
parent layer. You can edit
layers via the context
menu. For example, you
can merge layers, change
the order, or delete layers.
It is also to be
expected at this point that
Microsoft will continue to
expand the functions of
layers so that even more
functions are available
when you work with layers. It’s hoped Windows 10 will also get the new Paint functions.
REMOVE BACKGROUNDS Windows 10 (fave.co/3Rcdt7F), and there are

IN MICROSOFT PAINT already petitions to postpone the end of
Microsoft is constantly expanding the support for Windows 10 in October 2025. It
functions of Paint. New functions can is therefore possible that the new Paint
therefore be integrated at any time. version will also come to Windows 10, but this
Removing backgrounds with Microsoft Paint is not certain. Windows 11 is currently
is also available. Backgrounds can be required for use.
removed via the Image tab and the button According to various sources, almost
for removing backgrounds. three-quarters of all Windows users still use
Windows 10 and only just under a quarter
WILL THE NEW PAINT rely on Windows 11. The rest still use
FUNCTIONS BE AVAILABLE Windows 7 or 8.1, or even Windows XP and
FOR WINDOWS 10? Windows Vista.
It is possible that Windows 10 will also get the For these reasons, Microsoft has many
new Paint functions. Although Microsoft does reasons to integrate new functions into
not intend to release a new version of Windows Windows 10, especially in order to make its AI
10 after Windows 10 version 22H2 , it has functions available to a wider public.
already announced a number of new features. However, few users will switch from Windows
Windows Copilot, the AI assistant from 10 to Windows 11 just because of the new
Windows 11, will also be included in Paint program.

HERE’S HOW
Mastering PDFs: How to create,

convert, and search
PDFs are very handy, but they have some quirks. Here’s how to become an expert at
handling them. BY ANDERS LUNDBERG
W
hen it comes to The format was based on and is
preserving any type of essentially a simplification of postscript, a
document in a format that programming language developed by
anyone can later open Adobe 10 years earlier to describe
and be sure it looks right, it’s hard to beat documents for printing in a technology-
the PDF format. PDF, or portable document neutral way. PDF and postscript use code to
format, was developed by Adobe in the describe where text, images, and graphic
early 1990s to make it easy to share elements should be placed on a page. A
formatted documents regardless of the rasterizer turns the code into either pixels on
sender’s and receiver’s systems. a screen or dots in a printout.
104 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: GORODENKOFF/SHUTTERSTOCK

PDF files are extremely
common and are used for all
sorts of things: as an archive
format for scanned and
digitized documents of various
kinds, as a standard format for
scientific articles, for digital
contracts, and to save
something for later printing,
just to name a few examples.
Acrobat Reader DC is a good and relatively fast program.
READ PDF FILES
Windows still has no built-in program for safe to stick with the original, and it’s a good
viewing and editing PDF files. The default and relatively fast program that’s particularly
program for opening a PDF in the system is suitable for those who need to fill in forms, for
Microsoft Edge, which like most browsers, example, but it uses a lot of resources and can
has a built-in PDF viewer. It works really well be a bit cumbersome if you don’t have a new,
for just reading, with the basic features you fast computer.
would expect. For example, you can view the A free program that is much more
table of contents and click on sections to lightweight is Sumatra PDF (fave.co/
jump directly to them, and mark up the files 33TMoBt), which also handles ebooks in epub
with tools like a marker pen and text format and various other file types. Sumatra is
annotations. You can also
save and print.
If you want more
functionality than that, you’ll
have to install a third-party
program. If you don’t need
more-advanced editing
features, there are many free
alternatives. Adobe, who
originally developed the
format, has Acrobat Reader
DC (fave.co/3GB5FHF). It’s Sumatra PDF is fast even on older hardware.

HERE’S HOW MASTERING PDFS
fast even on older hardware, and unlike some files with text that can be selected, searched,
other freeware, it’s not full of adverts and and labeled. This is true, for example, if you
doesn’t try to push any paid features on you. save a web page as a PDF. From Word it
Other popular options include Foxit (fave. seems to work better, but Word can already
co/3RBMYK0), PDF Gear (fave.co/3TknKkB), save as a PDF via Save as. Fortunately,
PDF-Xchange (fave.co/46Sfyvc), and the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox now have a
open-source software Okular (fave.co/ built-in Save as PDF function that you can also
3GEDnMm). access via the print dialog box. Select the
Save as PDF instead of Microsoft Print to PDF
SAVE AS A PDF VIA and it will save with text that you can select,
PRINTING copy, and search.
Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in feature to For other programs, you can experiment. If it
save almost any document as a PDF via a doesn’t work well with Microsoft’s virtual printer,
virtual printer. As long as the program you install another option to see if it works better.
want to save from can print, you can select the Cute PDF Writer (fave.co/3t9kQ7P), for instance,
PDF printer and get a PDF file. The printer is works the same way, but you choose Cute PDF in
called Microsoft Print to PDF. the printer dialog instead of Microsoft.
The problem with this solution for saving
as a PDF is that it does not always produce CONVERT OTHER FORMATS
TO PDF, AND
VICE VERSA
In addition to saving a PDF via
the print dialog, some
programs can save directly to
PDF via Save as. This works
differently in various programs,
so the result is sometimes
different from printing but
sometimes identical.
Whichever method you use,
you will need to save
documents in the program’s
Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in feature to save almost any own format to be able to open
document as a PDF via a virtual printer. and edit in that program again.

co/47PEvZD) and PDF
Converter (fave.co/3NrbwD5).
COMPRESS PDFS
If you save a document as a
PDF via printing or a built-in
function, the resulting file is
often very large. If you don’t
need high-resolution color
You can convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and JPEG at images even though you will
Acrobat online (fave.co/3TrahYe). print the file, you can compress
it considerably using one of a
Another method of creating a PDF from a wide range of tools for this purpose. When a
file of a different format is with PDF test article on PCWorld was saved via
converters. They take files of all possible Chrome’s built-in print function, the file went
formats as input and spit out a PDF file. For from 1.2 to 0.17 megabytes. On really large
some file formats, it works almost identically files, the reduction can be tens of megabytes,
to the print method, but for others it can give and if you have many PDF files, it will make a
different results. Which is better varies, so it’s noticeable difference.
best to try both. Here it may be appropriate to use one
There are also converters that take a PDF of the many online PDF tools available.
file as input and convert the content to Adobe has it online, although compression
another format. The most common are is otherwise only included in the paid
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) version of Acrobat. It is also available
and images (JPEG, PNG) but there are also at ILovePDF.
others, such as PDF to EPUB for books.
The easiest way to convert single files
to or from PDF is with an online tool. There
are many similar sites with slightly different
sets of features. Adobe also has a number
of tools under the name Acrobat online
(fave.co/3TrahYe), including converters to
and from Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and
JPEG. Other sites include ILovePDF (fave. Compressing a PDF significantly reduces its file size.

PASSWORD-
PROTECTED FILES
The PDF format supports
protecting files with
encryption and a password. It
uses the AES encryption, and
it is secure provided that the
password is long. The vast
majority of PDF programs can
open and save encrypted
files, so it is rarely a big Kika is similar to Apple’s Overview feature in macOS.
problem that a file is
password protected. selection to other files and view those
If you have a password-protected file but instead. If you prefer a different keyboard
you don’t want to have to fill in the password shortcut, you can change it in the PowerToy
every time you want to open it, you can either settings. The preview of PDFs in Kika
open it and print it to PDF, making a new supports tables of contents with links to
password-free copy of it, or use a third-party chapters or sections. You can highlight and
program that supports it. Adobe Acrobat Pro copy text and even print directly from here,
works, of course, but you can also try PDF so in many cases you can get by without
Gear (fave.co/3TknKkB), for example. opening the file in any program.
A third-party tool that works with more file
FAST, SMART PREVIEW types is Quicklook, available for free on
WITH POWERTOYS Github (fave.co/41hup0W).
Microsoft PowerToys is a program that brings
together a number of interesting and MANAGE PDFS WITH
sometimes very practical features that are a bit SCANNED TEXT
experimental or too much in the niche for A common use of the PDF format is for
advanced users to be included in Windows. scanned multi-page documents, books, and
One of the most useful, Kika, is basically a other originally handwritten or printed
copy of Apple’s Overview feature in Mac OS. materials. Because they have been scanned,
Select a file in Explorer and use the they are images and not digital text, so it is
keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Space to preview the not possible to highlight text and copy or
contents. Use the keyboard to move the search them.

The solution if you want to be able to do For PDFs saved directly from Word or
something with the text in such files is other programs, this is rarely a problem, but
software with OCR functionality. Several free for scanned and OCR-read files, it can be.
programs have this built in, such as PDF Gear This is especially true when text is in columns,
(fave.co/3TknKkB) and PDF-Xchange (fave. tables, lists, or text boxes. Try selecting two
co/46Sfyvc). The best is probably the open lines of text and see what happens—more
source program OCRmyPDF (fave.co/ often than not the selection continues in the
46NBcAR), but it is a command-line program wrong place. It can also cause problems for
and the installation procedure is somewhat the search function—for example, when a
complicated. For those who frequently word has been hyphenated and no longer
handle scanned documents and books, it has all the characters next to each other. The
may be worth the effort, especially since it’s word “text document” hyphenated to “text-”
easy to bake into automated workflows to and “document” will not appear in the search
process hundreds or thousands of files. For results for the full word.
everyone else, it’s easier to use an online So if you don’t get a hit with a word you’re
service like ilovepdf.com. looking for, you can try entering just part of
the word, preferably a bit that normally comes
SEARCH IN PDFS before or after any line breaks and is as unique
Since PDFs are often used for large as possible. In the above example, you can try
documents, such as long manuals and course both text and document, or just “docu” as it is
literature, it is common to have to
search them. Unfortunately, this is
not always as easy as in Word
documents, for example. The
reason lies in the way the PDF
format works. Unlike in text
document formats, the text does
not lie as a block of unformatted
text to which formatting is
applied, but as a stream of
characters, together with
information about where they are
placed on the page, what font Searching PDFs is not always easy. Often the PDF reader finds
they are in, and so on. results where it shouldn’t, for example.

not a letter combination that is included in possible like your handwritten signature (also
many other words other than document and known as an electronic signature), and fully
words formed from the same root. digital signatures.
The former is used for many kinds of
FILL IN PDF FORMS documents both between individuals and
One thing that sets PDFs apart from most between organizations and individuals: for
other file formats is that they can be made example, on a rental contract where there is
interactive. Many organizations send forms also plenty of documented communication
as PDFs to be filled in. These can include to prove that an agreement has been made.
input fields for text such as name and Acrobat Reader DC has a built-in function for
address, tick boxes, and sometimes even this, and you can sign with a scanned image
multiple choice menus. of your signature, a signature you draw
How well such forms work with PDF directly on the computer, or just your name.
programs other than Adobe Acrobat Right-click in an open PDF file and select
(including Reader DC) varies. Some work well “Sign yourself.”
in most programs, while others do not work at The latter has a higher level of security,
all. Therefore it may be a good idea to have and the person signing must prove their
Acrobat Reader DC installed on your identity. The EU has developed common
computer even if you do not have it set as the rules for valid digital signatures, and in
default program for opening PDF files. Sweden the most common way to
If the preset fields don’t work well, one authenticate yourself is with Bank ID. This is
tip is to use the markup tool to add text used, for example, to sign contracts for
yourself. This works even on forms that have property sales and other important matters.
no text fields.
SIGN PDF
DOCUMENTS
A special class of PDF forms are
documents that need to be
digitally signed. Here it is
important to distinguish between
two different types of signatures:
images or vector graphic
elements that look as much as Signing a PDF.

We Help You Help.
When you help care for a loved one, you take care of everything.
But are you taking care of yourself?
AARP can help with information and useful tips on how

you can maintain a healthy life balance, care for your own physical and mental
well-being, and manage the challenges of caring for a loved one.
Get help from others. Ask family and friends for assistance.
Seek advice from other people caring for their loved ones.
Care for yourself. Don’t forget about your own needs. It’s just as
important to make a plan to take care of yourself as it is to create a
caregiving plan for your loved one.
Tap into AARP’s resources. AARP.org/caregiving has a wide array

of information, including legal and ﬁnancial guidance.
You’re there for them. We’re here for you.
Find free Care Guides to support you

and your loved one at AARP.org/caregiving
Tech Spotlight A video showcase
of the latest trends
Watch the
video at
youtu.be/
u0k46Wnq3Rk
AirJet Continues
to Innovate ≥ Frore Systems put
Laptop Cooling together another
demo to show off the
strength of its radical AirJet technology, this time
with a MacBook Air. Adam and Roman Loyola
from Macworld go over the demo and how the
MacBook Air (or any other laptop) could benefit
from this solid-state cooling technology.

PCWorld 01 2024

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INSIDE: 9 TIPS THAT SUPERCHARGE YOUR PC STARTUP TIME

Find resources at VA.GOV/REACH

27 Reviews & Ratings 60 The best PC hardware and software of 2023/2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 3

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Matt Egan

INTERNATIONAL DATA GROUP, INC.

4 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

QUESTIONS AND COLUMNS

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 5

AMD’s new Ryzen 8000 laptop

IMAGE: AMD JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 7

AMD’s next NPU, Hawk

8 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 9

comparison, not really

10 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 11

Microsoft will charge consumers

12 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: MICROSOFT

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 13

Google Drive files go missing for

14 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: SHUTTER Z/SHUTTERSTOCK

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 15

Windows leak: 6 AI features that

16 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: DEEMERWHA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 17

3. SEARCH GETS SMART 4. SUPER RESOLUTION

18 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 19

Not a PC? Windows is now an app

20 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: MICROSOFT

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 21

Why a PC optical drive is useful

22 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: VERBATIM

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 23

Microsoft stabilized Windows

24 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: JACKIE NIAM/SHUTTERSTOCK

IMAGE: SKILLUP/SHUTTERSTOCK JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 25

LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS

RISK OF TAKE THE RISK TEST TODAY AT

Falcon Northwest FragBox: A

IMAGE: FALCON NORTHWEST JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 27

chews through everything that

28 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 29

Falcon includes, which covers all kinds of stuff:

30 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

DESIGN AND BUILD

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 31

just four internal fans. And in a

32 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 33

and surge protectors if you

34 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 35

custom PC build from a boutique

36 PCWorld JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 37

Corsair MP700 Pro SSD:

Though PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots are FEATURES

38 PCWorld JANUARY 2024 IMAGE: CORSAIR

JANUARY 2024 PCWorld 39

Sequential Write 9,246 Random Write 368