Ben Wilson
Ben is the editor for everything in our tech channel at Windows Central, including desktop PCs, the components inside, and practically any accessory. Since most of this hardware tends to be compatible with Xbox, he also keeps an Xbox Series S close by for testing headsets, external storage, and anything with enough versatility to cover all the bases. A lifelong gamer since his first console, the SEGA Mega Drive, he has an affinity for taking things to pieces to see how they work.
Pursuing a recent career in technology journalism follows over a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support roles, offering repairs and recommendations to consumers. A personal hobby in custom PC building built a strong desire to follow the latest cutting-edge hardware in a never-ending search to find the parts genuinely worth buying. Always on the hunt for the best value for money, he's fueled by a steady diet of caffeinated drinks and coffee-flavored food.
Forever a Windows XP fan, he's keeping up with the latest releases from Microsoft but dabbles in Linux to experiment with the inner workings of Valve's Steam Deck handheld. He'll look out for your best interests if you're considering tinkering with hardware upgrades and want the best bang for your buck. Find him on Mastodon @trzomb@mastodon.online to ask questions or share opinions.
Latest articles by Ben Wilson
CES 2023 presents an exciting future for gaming laptops
By Ben Wilson published
18" gaming 18" gaming laptops shown at CES with 16:10 panels combat the trend of ultra-slim models and avoid gimmicks that
Lenovo reveals Legion desktops with next-generation hardware at CES
By Ben Wilson published
CES Lenovo unveils updated Legion desktop gaming PCs at CES with Intel 13th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs alongside simple overclocking and fan control tools.
Refreshed Lenovo Yoga laptops unveiled at CES — with one skipping North America
By Ben Wilson published
CES Lenovo unveils updated Yoga laptops at CES, with three refreshed models planned for North America while one remains absent with no specifications or details.
HP unveils upgraded OMEN desktops and laptops with integrated GeForce Now
By Ben Wilson published
CES HP showcases updates to its OMEN gaming PCs and laptops at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, including support for new 13th Gen Intel CPUs and cutting-edge liquid cooling.
Cooler Master reveals pre-built PCs resembling shoes and sharks at CES (no, seriously)
By Ben Wilson published
CES Cooler Master unveils its first pre-built desktop PCs at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, split into three distinct design line-ups, including sneakers and sharks.
Everything you need to know to build your own NAS
By Ben Wilson published
NAS Running out of storage on your PC or laptop is the worst. Building your own network-attached storage (NAS) can help make sure you never have to experience that misery.
Best Steam Deck accessories 2023
By Ben Wilson last updated
Steam Deck The best Steam Deck accessories will enhance your portable console and allow you to use it as a fully-fledged PC. Grab these essentials for Valve's handheld.
13th Gen Intel Core mobile CPUs announced at CES
By Ben Wilson published
CES Intel unveils the world's first 24-core processor for a laptop alongside 31 other brand-new 13th Gen mobile CPUs.
Intel launches new entry-level Core i3 N-series mobile CPUs
By Ben Wilson published
CES Intel expands its entry-level CPU category with the all-new N-Series, including Core i3 performance options, for all-day efficiency in the classroom and beyond.
Best router for Spectrum 2023
By Ben Wilson published
Spectrum Spectrum offers rapid Internet speeds with its free modem, but renting its modem comes with a monthly fee. My compatible substitutes will save you cash in the long term.
LastPass security breach leaked encrypted customer password vaults
By Ben Wilson published
Leak Password management software LastPass suffered a data breach in August 2022, which caused more significant digital theft than the company initially expected.
Best PC cases for airflow 2023
By Ben Wilson, Cale Hunt published
Breezy Looking to build a new PC and want to be sure there's plenty of air moving through across your hardware? These cases are what you want to look for.
Best Wi-Fi 6E router 2023
By Ben Wilson published
6E Wi-Fi 6E routers feature cutting-edge networking enhancements, but it can be hard to choose one for you. I'm picking the best models worth picking up.
Sabrent's upcoming M.2 2230 SSD is perfect for Steam Deck
By Ben Wilson published
Steam Deck Valve initially warned users about replacing the M.2 SSD in their Steam Deck consoles with unmatched drives, but Sabrent's Rocket NVMe drive aims to be the best replacement.
Best Intel Z690 motherboards 2023
By Ben Wilson published
Z690 Find the best Z690 chipset boards to take advantage of super-fast DDR5 RAM and more. We've covered a range of budgets and specs ready for your new build.
How and where to buy a Steam Deck right now
By Ben Wilson published
Deck Valve's Steam Deck has enough power to handle modern portable gaming. Here's where you can buy one with prices, gifting info, and shipping outside the US.
How to add Discord bots to your server
By Ben Wilson published
Bots Running a Discord server can be overwhelming, but bots can simplify the process. Follow my easy steps to choose and install the bot of your choice.
Where to buy AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX GPUs
By Ben Wilson last updated
7900 XTX The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX cutting-edge graphics cards are ready for launch, taking on its NVIDIA rival and the RTX 40-series.
Best budget B660 motherboards 2023
By Ben Wilson published
B660 A motherboard using the B660 chipset can save you cash with a compatible 12th Gen Alder Lake CPU, so we found the best budget options for your next build.
How to install Epic Games Store on Steam Deck
By Ben Wilson published
Epic Games Games sometimes vanish from Valve's storefront and take an exclusive position on the Epic Games Store instead, but you can continue playing them on Steam Deck with our handy guide.
RODE NT-USB+ condenser microphone review: A worthy successor
By Ben Wilson published
Review RØDE sets out to refresh its world-class USB condenser microphone with the NT-USB+ upgrade, backed up with effortless post-processing effects that anyone can use for studio-grade recordings.
Up to 1.8x FASTER DirectX 9 gaming with Intel's latest Arc GPU driver
By Ben Wilson published
Arc DirectX 9 games enjoy a massive FPS boost with the new driver, including over 2x performance increase in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Samsung confirms GDDR7 DRAM for next-gen GPUs will use PAM3 signaling
By Ben Wilson published
GDDR7 Samsung revealed a slide in a presentation at the 2022 IEDM conference confirming that GDDR7 will use PAM3 IO signaling for increased GPU bandwidth.
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