The tried and tested keyboard and mouse setup has been a staple for PC gamers for decades. However, these days, some of the hottest PC titles are best enjoyed by switching to a gaming controller instead.

If you’re a PC gamer who wants the best customizable experience possible with your controller, then the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core could be the one for you. Using this wireless controller with the Xbox Accessories app gives you a suite of customizable options, including button mapping, custom player profiles, and light array settings.

It sports a pair of adjustable-tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, and a rubberized wraparound grip, which add to the overall pro feel. If you want to change the cosmetics, its thumbstick toppers, paddles, and D-pad can all be swapped out (a thumbstick adjustment tool comes included), and you can choose between wireless, Bluetooth, or USB-C connectivity for added versatility.

Add in an impressive 40-hour battery life, and you have a gaming controller that lives up to its ‘elite’ mantle. It doesn’t come cheap, but if you value near-limitless customization to level up your game time, this is a very worthy upgrade to the standard Xbox core controller.

Best Overall

Xbox Elite Series 2 Core

$117 $140 Save $23

Offering many options for individual player customization, the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core is one of the best gaming controllers for PC gamers overall.

Pros

• Offers plenty of options for customization
• 40 hours of battery life
• Interchangeable D-pad and thumbsticks
• Non-slip textured grip
• Available in a range of colors

The GameSir T4 Kaleid is one of the best budget-friendly wired gaming controllers PC gamers could wish for. Its transparent body is ideal for maximizing the customizable LED lighting features, allowing you to tailor its appearance to your liking and play style.

Hall-effect sticks provide a precise level of control free from any niggling drift issues, and macro back buttons allow you the freedom to assign your own commands for a more bespoke experience, which can be further customized using the GameSir Nexus software. Plus, for action gamers, a Turbo function allows you to switch to hair-trigger mode with a quick button press for ultra-responsive control.

Elsewhere, you’ll find a built-in six-axis gyro that supports motion control for intuitive aim assist or steering controls to round out the Kaleid’s list of functions. And with 6.5 feet of cable included, there’s no danger of your gameplay becoming restricted with this impressive, cost-effective controller.

Best Budget

GameSir T4 Kaleid Transparent PC Controller

For PC gamers who don’t mind a wired connection, the GameSir T4 Kaleid is one of the best feature-rich and budget-friendly gaming controllers currently available.

Pros

• Affordable
• Surprisingly feature-rich
• Reasonable scope for customization
• Cool-looking design

Best Retro PC Controller: 8Bitdo Pro 2

Offering a cool old-school look with convenient wireless functionality, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 is a retro gamer’s dream. But don’t let its more simplistic design deceive you. This wireless and Bluetooth-enabled controller hides plenty of customizable features behind that unassuming exterior.

Using the 8Bitdo Ultimate Software, you can assign macros, set trigger lengths, and access button mapping functions. Thumbstick sensitivity and vibration intensity can also be adjusted, and custom profile switching can be enabled depending on the game.

There are durable hall-effect joysticks that prevent any annoying stick drift issues, and the Pro 2 even supports motion control. Plus, with 20 hours of battery life in the tank (on a full charge), you can enjoy plenty of playtime before it needs a recharge.

Best Retro

8Bitdo Pro 2

Ideal for retro gaming fans, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 marries a cool retro style with modern-day wireless functionality and is ideal for fast-paced PC gaming.

Pros

• Cool retro look
• Decent amount of customization options
• Hall-effect joysticks
• 20-hour battery life
• Also compatible with the Switch and Steam Deck

Cons

• Software can be a bit hit-and-miss

The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck is a premium controller that’s ideal for your Microsoft Flight Simulator gameplay. Sporting a world-first flight touch display and a customizable OLED HUD, it offers an unrivaled precision experience with more features than you can shake a (flight) stick at.

It consists of a stick module with a gear lever plus a three-position rotary dial, which provides super-smooth throttle control with enhanced haptic detents. It also has a four-way remappable navigation pad and an eight-way HAT switch, which allow you to toggle quickly between attack and fine-tune sensor modes. This gives you complete freedom for customization, with as many as 139 programmable button functions for advanced control.

All this customization comes at a considerable cost, but if you’re serious about your flight sims, this is the controller set you need to elevate your flight time to the next level.

Best for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck

Navigate your chosen flight path with sheer precision and control with the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck. The perfect gaming controller for fans of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Pros

• Incredibly deep customization
• Offers precision control
• Can be adjusted to suit all hand sizes
• Multi-zone RGB lighting
• On-board audio enhancements

Cons

• Very expensive
• For dedicated flight sim fans only

Best PC Fight Stick: NACON Daija Arcade Fight StickIf you’re looking for a PC controller to help you to KO your opponent with as much proficiency and style as possible, theNacon Daija Arcade Fight Stickhas got you covered. Designed for top fighting games like Tekken, Mortal Kombat, and Soul Caliber, this customizable fight pad has everything you need to bring the pain.

Using the Nacon Daija Arcade Stick software, all buttons are fully mappable. You can set up custom profiles, and swap out the customizable SANWA joystick heads, action buttons, and faceplate to help you juggle those combos with ease. Plus, the textured palm rest means you can do it all in complete comfort, even during extended gameplay sessions.

With added support for audio and chat, you can celebrate your victories with a well-timed taunt or two, as well. The Nacon Daija Arcade Fight Stick is the perfect PC controller for any aspiring ultimate fighting game champion.

Best Fight Stick

NACON Daija Arcade Fight Stick

Juggle combos like a pro and get that KO with the Nacon Daija Arcade Fight Stick. Precision control with a host of customizable settings for fighting game enthusiasts.

Pros

• Plenty of customization options
• Can be cosmetically altered to suit individual style
• Supports audio and chat
• Textured palm rest for added comfort
• Built with pro-level joysticks and buttons

Cons

• Expensive
• Not really suitable for other game genres

FAQ

Q: Can I use my Xbox controllers with PC?

Yes. There are plenty of PC games that allow you to use an Xbox controller instead of a keyboard or mouse. Most Xbox controllers enable you to connect wirelessly with your PC, or via Bluetooth or USB-C cable.

Q: Can I use my PS5 controllers with PC?

Yes. The easiest way to do this is with a USB-C to USB-A cable. With the USB-C end plugged into your DualSense controller and the USB-A plug inserted into your PC’s port, and Windows should automatically detect the controller.

Alternatively, provided that your PC supports Bluetooth, you can connect your PS5’s DualSense wirelessly. Bear in mind that only certain games will support the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

Q: Are all PC games compatible with a controller?

Most PC games nowadays do provide support for controller-based gameplay. Some older PC games won’t support a controller, although it is possible to map mouse and keyboard inputs into a controller, using an app such as reWASD, or by using Steam’s Big Picture Mode, provided that you have a compatible controller.

Q: How do I get my PC to recognize my controller?

If you are connecting your controller with a USB cable, insert the cable into the USB port and your Windows PC should automatically detect the controller, allowing you to use it immediately.

Alternatively, if your PC is Bluetooth-enabled, you will need to ensure that Bluetooth discovery mode has been engaged. Once this is done, press and hold the sync button on your controller until the Guide button begins to flash. Then, using the Bluetooth menu on your PC, select the option to add the device, to pair your controller with your PC.

Chromebooks are stable and secure, but your options for fixing a broken Chromebook are somewhat limited. If you’re not worried about data loss, powerwashing your Chromebook is one of the best ways to restore its functionality. Here are two methods you can use to factory reset your Chromebook.

How to Factory Reset Your Chromebook Through Settings

Factory resetting (or “powerwashing”) your Chromebook is the simplest recovery option you can use to try to repair your Chromebook. When you factory reset your Chromebook, the powerwash will delete all of your locally stored data but won’t reinstall ChromeOS itself.

It will remove your associated Google accounts, and will also delete any saved networks and owner account permissions on your device. Because powerwashing deletes all of your system configurations, it’s capable of repairing OS issues that you may have accidentally created.

Factory resetting your Chromebook can’t fix issues with the operating system, however. If issues with your Chromebook persist, you may need to reinstall ChromeOS to fix it.

To hard reset your Chromebook through Settings, take the following steps:

1. Click on the time in the taskbar in the bottom right corner of your screen and then select the Settings gear to open the Settings app.

   

2. Find and select System Preferences in the navigation menu on the left side of the Settings app.
3. In the expanded options that appear in the main panel, scroll down until you find the Reset section.
4. Under the Reset heading, click on the Reset button to the right of the Powerwash option to reset your Chromebook.
5. A prompt will appear asking you to restart your device before resetting it. Click Restart to initiate the powerwash.

   

How to Factory Reset a Logged-Out Chromebook

You can’t access Settings if you’re locked out of your Chromebook, and you don’t have any hope of repairing issues with your Chromebook as long as you can’t access the device. Luckily, there is a workaround you can use to factory reset a logged-out Chromebook.

Here’s how to factory reset your Chromebook, even when it’s logged out:

1. Boot up your Chromebook and wait for the lock screen to appear. Ideally, your Chromebook should be plugged in before you attempt to factory reset it.
2. Simultaneously press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R to initiate the powerwashing process.
3. A prompt will appear asking whether you want to Reset this Chromebook. Click on the Powerwash and Revert button to factory reset your Chromebook.

After you reset your Chromebook, you’ll be prompted to log in to your Google account and set up the device. If you used Google Drive to back up your data before factory resetting your device, it will be immediately accessible once you log in.

No matter why you factory reset your Chromebook, powerwashing is a powerful process that can make even the oldest devices as good as new. If it doesn’t resolve your Chromebook’s problems, tactics like reinstalling ChromeOS may also help.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Saturday, June 22, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#377)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “When things connect to another in a line”
• Green: “What Tiger Woods has been carrying in a bag for decades”
• Blue: “I watch these while cowering behind ‘The Sofa'”
• Purple: “Brits also call these ‘bangers’, and pair them with mash”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 22, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #377 without running out of mistakes, here is the solution…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “One Thing After Another”
• Green = “Kinds of Golf Clubs”
• Blue = “Horror Movies, With ‘The'”
• Purple = “Words for Sausage”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “One Thing After Another” = CHAIN, TRAIN, SERIES, STRING
• Green: “Kinds of Golf Clubs” = DRIVER, IRON, WEDGE, WOOD
• Blue: “Horror Movies, With ‘The'” = BIRDS, FOG, OMEN, RING
• Purple: “Words for Sausage” = BRAT, DOG, FRANK, LINK

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “train” and “driver,” as two words that often go together, “chain” and “link” as the latter forms the former, and the various words that rhyme (“chain” and “train,” “fog” and “dog,”) etc.
2. The Blue category may cause issues for some people who aren’t big fans of horror films. However, as someone who is, I found this category quite easy.
3. I personally found the Purple category the most difficult, as these words aren’t the ones that immediately spring to mind when I think of sausages. It feels like slang terms for sausages differ greatly from country to country.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

I still own and use a PlayStation 4 as my main console even though it was released over a decade ago. And I’m far from alone. The numbers suggest that millions of PS4 owners are still happily using their outdated console, and refusing to upgrade to the PlayStation 5. But why? Let’s explore the reasons for this resistance together.

1 I Still Have Too Many PS4 Games to Play

The biggest reason why I haven’t yet switched is that I have 25 physical PS4 games that I have yet to play. And yes, I have counted them. I have added these to my collection over the past 10 years and then just never got around to playing them. Some were bought new, and some were bought used. But they’re all sat there unplayed.

This includes Tomb Raider, Spider-Man, The Last of Us: Part II, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Hogwarts Legacy. Some absolute crackers that together represent hundreds of hours of potential playtime.

I also have literally hundreds of digital titles yet to play; some purchased while on sale, and many more accumulated over the years through PlayStation Plus. Is this my fault? Sure. I should have played through my catalog of PS4 games as I acquired them, rather than letting them stack up.

But here we are. I am well aware that most PS4 games can be played on the PS5, but am I really going to drop hundreds of dollars on a new console only to then continue playing games from the previous generation? It’s unlikely.

2 The PS5 Hasn’t Dropped in Price As I Hoped It Would

Despite owning countless PS4-exclusive games, I would have switched if the PS5 had got cheaper—but it hasn’t. The PlayStation 5 was released in 2020, and yet the price hasn’t really shifted in the four years since.

Early on, with demand outstripping supply, most people had to pay over the odds in order to secure a PS5 console. The price then dipped slightly, but not enough to make me pull the trigger and finally buy one.

I’m old enough to remember several console generations and remember when the price of the hardware would drop over time with some level of consistency. But those times are clearly over, with the PS5 staying at roughly the same price.

If Sony suddenly cut the price in half, then that would be enough for me to purchase a PlayStation 5. But instead, the retail price of a PS5 has actually increased in some territories since launch—which is ridiculous.

3 There Aren’t Enough PS5 Games Worth Upgrading For

As someone who has owned all the previous Sony home consoles, from the original PlayStation all the way through to the PlayStation 4, I’m not completely immune to the lure of the PS5. In fact, I’m sure that I will be switching at some point; just not yet.

And one reason for that is the lack of PS5 games that I feel the need to play. Since launch, I have kept an eye on what’s being released on the PS5 and there have only been a handful of games that have made me wish I had a PS5.

This may not only be about the lack of triple-AAA games being released on PS5. I am also getting older, and don’t play console games as often as I used to. But still, so many years into the PS5’s lifespan, there should be more games that I personally want to play.

Grand Theft Auto VI could change everything here, as it’s only set to be released on the current-gen consoles. So, us gamers clinging on to our PS4s will be forced to upgrade if we want to play Rockstar’s latest epic.

4 Most PS5 Games Are Still Being Released on PS4

Tied in with the reason discussed above is the fact that most new games are also being released on PS4. Sure, the PS5 versions look and play better, but so far, that hasn’t been enough to lure me into upgrading to the newer console. Because I don’t own a PS5, I don’t know what I’m missing, so the PS4 versions of these games feel fine to me. For now.

This is a catch-22 for Sony and game developers. Right now, with so many people sticking with their PS4s, it would be unwise to cut such a huge potential audience out of the loop by only releasing a game on PS5. But the longer this goes on, the less likely people are to upgrade. So, there will come a tipping point when, for various reasons, games stop being released on PS4—but we’re not quite there yet.

5 The Price of New Games Is Just Too Expensive

Most new PlayStation 5 games retail for at least $60, with many priced even higher than that. Which, for someone who has rarely bought new games for many years, feels extremely high. While I completely understand that triple-AAA video games cost a fortune to develop and make, the high price of new games is a barrier to me hopping onto this console generation. Especially as, as I have already mentioned, I own too many older games as it is.

Regardless of inflation, it feels like the price of admission for gaming is higher now than it used to be. The retail price of games generally only buys you access to a basic experience these days, with even more money needed to unlock extra content.

So, beyond just the price needed to buy the hardware, upgrading to a PS5 means this particular hobby of mine becomes much more expensive. Especially when I can buy pre-owned PS4 games relatively cheaply.

Ultimately, I’m very likely to upgrade from PS4 to PS5 at some point. Unless Sony announces the PlayStation 6 before I’ve pulled the trigger. Which is unlikely. But for now, I’m happy with my PS4 and see no real reason to upgrade.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Friday, June 21, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#376)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “What you queue up for at places like Disneyland”
• Green: “When you want to say yes to someone’s plans”
• Blue: “The Tortoise and The Hare is another example of this”
• Purple: “Look for the slang terms for the part of the body we sit on”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 21, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #376 without running out of mistakes, here is the solution…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Amusement Park Rides”
• Green = “Approval”
• Blue = “Types of Come-From-Behind Stories”
• Purple = “Beginning With Synonyms for Rear End”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Amusement Park Rides” = FERRIS WHEEL, MERRY-GO-ROUND, ROLLER COASTER, TILT-A-WHIRL
• Green: “Approval” = CLEARANCE, GO-AHEAD, GREEN LIGHT, THUMBS-UP
• Blue: “Types of Come-From-Behind Stories” = CINDERELLA, DAVID-AND-GOLIATH, RAGS-TO-RICHES, UNDERDOG
• Purple: “Beginning With Synonyms for Rear End” = BUMPER-TO-BUMPER, BUTTERMILK, RUMPELSTILTSKIN, TAILGATE

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are all the words separated by hyphens. Seven of the 16 phrases on the board are hyphenated, which is clearly designed to catch players out.
2. The Blue category is tricky, as “stories of people coming from behind” is quite a broad category. I have also never heard of “Rags-to-Riches” or “Underdog”.
3. I personally found the Purple category the most difficult, as it’s tricky to see words within other words when you don’t know what you’re looking for!

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of your computer, so it needs to be powerful. It isn’t easy to compare CPUs, but by understanding the right metrics and using the best tools, you can compare different processors the right way.

Clock Speed Isn’t Everything

Clock speed and cores are the most heavily advertised processor specs. Clock speed is usually measured in hertz (e.g., 3.14GHz), while core count is usually advertised as dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or octa-core. But given these two specs, what makes one CPU better than another?

For a long time, it was simple: higher clock speeds and more cores meant better speeds. Processors today don’t depend on clock speeds and cores as heavily for performance because modern CPUs have several other parts that determine how fast they can perform.

In a nutshell, it comes down to how much computing can be done when all parts of a CPU come together in a single clock cycle. If performing Task X takes two clock cycles on CPU A and one clock cycle on CPU B, then CPU B might be the better processor, even if CPU A has a higher clock speed.

You also shouldn’t rely on clock speeds and core count as your only method of comparison. Clock speed comparison is helpful when choosing between CPUs from the same family with the same number of cores, but it isn’t necessarily helpful otherwise.

If you’re comparing Intel Core i3 vs. Core i5 vs. Core i7 processors or Intel Core i5 vs. Core i7 vs. Core i9 processors, then clock speed and number of cores don’t matter. And if you’re comparing Intel vs. AMD or an AMD A10 vs. AMD A8 vs. AMD FX, then clock speed alone won’t tell you much.

But between two processors in the same family, clock speed is a useful unit of comparison. For example, the Intel Core i5 12400 and 12600 processors have drastically different clock speeds despite having similar specs otherwise.

Check Single-Threaded Performance

The dirty little secret in the computer world is that even though you’re buying a processor with four cores, all four of those cores might not be used when you’re running applications. Most software today is still single-threaded, which means the program is running as one process, and a process can only run on one core.

So, even if you have four cores, you won’t be getting the full performance of all four cores for that application. That’s why you also need to check the single-threaded (or single-core) performance of any processor before buying it.

Not all companies explicitly release that information, so you’ll need to rely on third-party data from reliable resources like Passmark. With Passmark, you can search for your specific CPU model (which you can find through settings) and compare it to other popular models on the market.

You can also add models you’re interested in to your comparison list and weigh them out against one another. Single thread performance ratings are included in the comparison sheet, so determining which CPU will likely run applications the fastest is a simple feat.

Cache Performance Is King

The cache is one of the most under-appreciated parts of a CPU. In fact, a cache with poor specs could be slowing down your PC. So, you should always check the cache specs of a processor before you purchase it.

Cache is essentially RAM for your processor, which means that the processor uses the cache to store all the functions it has recently performed. Whenever those functions are requested again, the processor can draw the data from the cache instead of performing them a second time, thus making it faster.

Ideally, your processor’s cache size should have at least 64KB of L1 cache per core, but above 128KB is ideal for gaming or other resource-intensive activities. You can compare the cache sizes of CPUs with the main comparison table on Passmark. Cache size isn’t as important as other specs as long as it’s above a reasonable minimum, though, like the impressive 480KB of the CPUs above.

Integrated Graphics Matter, Too

Intel and AMD have combined the CPU and the graphics card into an APU. If you’ve ever purchased or built a gaming-oriented PC, you may know the difference between an APU, CPU, and GPU, but in simple terms, the APU saves space by combining them.

Because of recent technological changes, new processors can now usually handle the graphics needs of most people without requiring a separate graphics card. These graphics chipsets also vary in performance depending on the processor. Again, you can’t compare an AMD to an Intel here, and even comparing it within the same family can be confusing.

For example, Intel has Intel HD, Intel Iris, and Intel Iris Pro graphics, but not every Iris is better than HD. Meanwhile, AMD’s Athlon and FX series comes without graphics chips but costs more than the APU-centric A-Series, so you’ll have to buy a graphics card if you’re getting an Athlon or FX processor.

The Best Way to Compare CPUs

All of these factors come together to make CPU comparisons a difficult proposition. How do you know which one you should buy? The easiest and best way is to head to Passmark. Passmark is one of the best sites for an effective CPU comparison in minutes. This site explains the differences between processors in terms that any non-techie can also understand.

You’re not just limited to comparing CPUs, either: Passmark also has databases of information about video cards, hard drives, RAM, and pre-built PCs. Comparing CPUs on Passmark effectively only takes a few simple steps:

1. Search for CPUs you’re interested in, then scroll down and click Compare to add it to your list.
2. Once you’ve finished creating your list, click on the weighted scale icon in the upper right corner of your screen to access it.
3. Compare your CPUs. The main values you should look at are clock speed, core count, single thread rating, and L1 cache size.

If you want more information than Passmark offers, you may also like the AnandTech CPU Benchmark Tool. On AnandTech, you can browse in-depth benchmarks conducted by one of the best independent hardware review sites and even compare two processors side-by-side.

Researching the CPUs you’re interested in may take time. There’s nothing wrong with being thorough. As you grow more confident with comparing CPU benchmarks, finding the best value CPUs on the market will become an easy feat.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Thursday, June 20, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#375)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “Items that a building contractor or tradesperson needs”
• Green: “Items that anglers or fishermen and women need”
• Blue: “Items that a hairdresser or barber needs”
• Purple: “Words that can be paired with what emerges from an electrical storm”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 20, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #375 without running out of mistakes, here is the solution…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Bits of Hardware”
• Green = “Fishing Gear”
• Blue = “Hair Salon Fixtures”
• Purple = “Lightning ____”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Bits of Hardware” = NAIL, NUT, SCREW, WASHER
• Green: “Fishing Gear” = FLY, HOOK, LINE, SINKER
• Blue: “Hair Salon Fixtures” = CHAIR, DRYER, MIRROR, SINK
• Purple: “Lightning ____” = BOLT, BUG, ROD, STRIKE

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “sink” and “sinker” as two similar-sounding words, plus “washer” and “dryer” as two words that are often lumped in together.
2. Green was made tricky by the appearance of “fly” next to “hook,” “line,” and “sinker”. The latter is a well-known phrase meaning to be fooled completely, making “fly” stand out.
3. I personally found the Blue category the most difficult today, as I didn’t immediately lump these words in together. Maybe because I’m a certain age, and therefore follically-challenged.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Many modern games can easily take up hundreds of gigabytes of storage space on your drive. When a game is that big, performance is not only determined by your CPU/GPU combo but also by how fast your PC’s storage is.

That’s where SSDs come in. They’re faster, more reliable, and are getting cheaper by the day. So if you were looking for a reason to switch to SSDs on your gaming PC, here are six.

1 Faster Loading Times

One of the most prominent advantages SSDs hold over HDDs is the significantly faster data transfer speed. Not only does this help transfer files quickly, but this faster data transfer speed also translates to faster loading times in games.

Generally speaking, SSDs are about four times faster than HDDs in terms of both read and write speeds. While the exact figures will vary based on what specific HDD and SSD you’re comparing, SSDs will provide a much faster user experience overall.

This is achieved partly thanks to the PCIe interface that SSDs use, compared to the slower SATA port used by HDDs. Even if you compare a SATA SSD to a SATA HDD, the data transfer speed figures will favor the SSD, providing a significant boost in performance. If you feel like there are too many choices, we’ve got you covered with a list of the best PCIe 4.0 SSDs for gaming.

This is most prominent in AAA or open-world games that need to pull massive files from the drive. If you’re storing your games on an older HDD, chances are you’re going to spend a significant chunk of time waiting around for maps or stages to load. Using an SSD can save you plenty of hours in the long term that you would otherwise spend waiting on loading screens.

Multiplayer games also benefit from this. Some games like Valorant don’t launch a map for everyone on a server until every player is done loading. Even if you get decent a frame rate to drag you through the game, loading times can greatly impact your overall gaming experience.

2 Better In-Game Performance

Another side effect of an SSD’s fast data transfer speed is better in-game performance. Suppose you’re looking to upgrade your computer. In that case, a speedy SSD is one of the easiest, most impactful, and cost-effective upgrades that’ll visibly affect your PC’s performance, which in turn translates to far fewer hitches during gameplay caused by the game trying to load certain assets.

When you consider that modern AAA titles can make thousands of tiny read-and-write operations as you play, transferring hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes of data back and forth, faster data read and write speeds are your best friend.

However, do keep in mind that installing your game on an SSD isn’t a shortcut to an FPS boost. Your PC’s CPU/GPU combo still plays a big part in the game’s performance, but installing an SSD can help improve latency and prevent lag or stutter during gameplay.

3 Improved Graphics

While installing an SSD won’t make 720p games look ultra-realistic, the faster load times and better in-game performance do translate to better overall visual fidelity.

The way that most modern-day game textures work is that most objects have a low res texture when you’re further away from them, which is then replaced by a higher res texture when you’re nearby. When using an SSD, this swap between low-res and high-res textures is much faster as the game is able to load and swap textures faster.

So while your FPS will most likely remain the same, the game will likely look better as textures can be loaded in and out faster. Any ragged edges, misaligned or low-quality textures, and other visual glitches will also drop to a minimum. Once again, your CPU and GPU do play a bigger role here, but an SSD helps keep everything together.

4 Better Reliability Than an HDD

Compared to HDDs, SSDs don’t have any moving parts inside. This makes them more shock-resistant and durable, providing far better reliability than an HDD.

When you’re working with an HDD, there are a lot of factors you need to keep in mind. Since these drives have mechanical moving parts inside them, they tend to wear out over time. The moving assembly inside an HDD is also rather delicate, meaning even a small impact on the drive can put it out of action.

That’s not to say that SSDs can be chucked around thoughtlessly and will still function, but they offer far better durability and long-term reliability than HDDs. The average lifespan of an SSD is 5-10 years, compared to 3-5 years on an HDD. They’re also less likely to corrupt or have internal component failure.

5 A Quieter System

Now granted HDDs aren’t exactly rocket engines when it comes to sound, but they still make some sound due to mechanical components spinning inside the drive enclosure. On average, an HDD can produce nearly 20 to 40 dB of white noise when in use. What makes SSDs more reliable than HDDs also makes them silent in operation—they have no moving parts inside.

The sound problem might be amplified if you have a particularly noisy or old HDD. There’s a chance that the HDD’s sounds might get drowned out by your PC’s fans, but if you’re looking to run your gaming PC as quietly as you can, getting an SSD is the way forward.

6 Better Power Efficiency

Whether you’re using a gaming PC or laptop, chances are you already have a power-hungry CPU and GPU. When gaming, both these components are under stress and draw as much power as possible to give you the best performance. Depending on your power supply, this might not leave enough overhead for other components to function properly.

SSDs require far less power than HDDs to run and perform better in these cases. An SSD uses anywhere between one to four watts of power, while an HDD can go as high as 20 to 25 watts on startup and settle later at a relatively lower four to nine watts during regular operation.

Other than the aforementioned reasons, there are more, smaller ways that SSDs can enhance your gaming and overall PC user experience. SSDs are faster, consume less power, are more durable, and require less maintenance compared to HDDs, and that makes them the better choice for any PC use case.

With SSD prices continuously falling and drives with more capacity and faster data transfer speeds getting cheaper, there’s never been a better time to upgrade if you haven’t already.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Tuesday, June 18, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#373)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “What you can see on the clicker or zapper”
• Green: “When you want someone not to see something”
• Blue: “What a mixologist may stick in your cocktail”
• Purple: “The name’s Connections, Mr. Connections”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 18, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #373 without running out of mistakes, here is the answer…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Remote Control Buttons”
• Green = “Hide From View”
• Blue = “Drink Garnishes”
• Purple = “First Word in Bond Movie Titles”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Remote Control Buttons” = CHANNEL, MENU, POWER, VOLUME
• Green: “Hide From View” = BLOCK, COVER, SCREEN, SHIELD
• Blue: “Drink Garnishes” = CHERRY, OLIVE, SWORD, UMBRELLA
• Purple: “First Word in Bond Movie Titles” = CASINO, DIAMONDS, QUANTUM, TOMORROW

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “channel” and “screen” as two words that could be connected to television, “quantum” and “power” as two words that could be associated with energy, and “sword” and “shield” as two items that were used in medieval warfare.
2. I personally found the Blue category the most difficult today, despite drinking the odd cocktail. Partly because I’m more interested in the taste than the garnish, and partly because I have never had a sword stuck in my cocktail, so that threw me off.
3. I actually found the Purple category quite easy today, as I’m a big fan of the Bond movies. While “tomorrow” is a common word, the others are all words I associate with Bond movie titles before anything else.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Is Steam refusing to launch on your Windows computer, leaving you stranded without your favorite games? This could happen due to several reasons, but it’s nothing you can’t fix with the solutions listed below.

1 Check If Steam Is Down

If Steam opens but won’t get past the connection screen, or if it won’t load at all, there might be an issue with Steam’s servers. They might be experiencing an outage, causing all Steam clients to stop functioning.

There are websites like Unofficial Steam Status that tell you the current status of the app’s servers. If you see any downtime there, that’s probably why Steam is not opening on your computer.

2 Check Your Network Connection

There’s a chance that Steam can’t open due to an unstable network connection. If you suspect this to be the case, restart your router, as network hardware can malfunction if it runs for extended periods.

If that does not help, you can also switch to a different network connection and then try to load Steam again.

3 End the Steam Process Using Task Manager

If Steam opens but gets stuck on the initial screen, one of its app’s processes may be malfunctioning. To fix this, you can kill Steam’s processes using Task Manager and give it a fresh start.

Follow these steps to stop the Steam process using Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Select the Processes tab in the left pane.
3. Right-click on Steam in the processes list and select End task.

Once Task Manager closes Steam, reopen it, and see if it works.

4 Restart Your Computer and Check for Windows Updates

Steam may be failing to open due to temporary issues with your Windows PC. If that’s the case, restarting your PC will likely fix the problem.

Additionally, you should update your operating system. Running Steam on an older Windows version might cause a conflict and stop the app from working as usual.

Press Win + I to open the Settings app. Then, head to Windows Update and click the Check for updates button to download and install pending updates.

5 Allow Steam Through Your Firewall and Disable Your VPN

According to Steam, firewalls and other security apps might interfere with the Steam client. In this case, you should allow Steam through the Windows firewall. The same goes if you’re using a third-party antivirus. Try adding Steam to the exception list and check if this fixes the issue.

Similarly to antivirus software, VPNs could interfere with Steam functionality. If you can’t open Steam, turn off your VPN, or add Steam to its exception list.

6 Run Steam as an Admin

A lack of relevant permissions could prevent Steam from opening and functioning as expected on Windows. You can launch Steam as an administrator and see if that helps you open the app without any issues.

Here’s how you do that:

1. Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location from the context menu.
2. Find steam.exe in the files list, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
3. Hit Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
4. Steam should now launch with admin rights.

If this solves your problem, you can configure Windows to always open Steam with administrative privileges.

7 Avoid Running Steam in Compatibility Mode

Compatibility mode is a useful feature in Windows that allows you to run older programs on your PC. However, since Steam is already compatible with both Windows 10 and 11, running it in compatibility mode can cause issues.

It’s best to disable compatibility mode for Steam using these steps:

1. Right-click on the Steam’s shortcut and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab and uncheck the Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox.
3. Hit Apply followed by OK.

   

8 Delete the Steam Cache Files

Like other apps, Steam also creates and stores cache files on your computer. These cache files are sometimes the reason you have various issues with Steam. In this case, your best option is to remove all Steam cache files from your computer.

To clear the Steam app cache:

1. Close Steam if it’s running on your PC.
2. Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location.
3. Find and select the appcache folder.
4. Click the trash icon at the top to delete it.
5. Launch Steam and see if it works.

9 Flush the Steam Configuration and Refresh the App

Since Steam has many configuration files, the app comes with a command that lets you refresh the Steam configuration and installation on your computer. You can use this command to resolve many issues with Steam, including instances when it won’t open.

To refresh the Steam configuration files:

1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type the following command, and then hit Enter.

   steam: 

Once you run the above command, it will delete all the temporary files associated with Steam and log you out of the app. Following that, you shouldn’t experience any problems.

10 Check the Date and Time Settings

Having your Windows PC set to an incorrect date or time may not sound like much, but it can prevent apps like Steam from connecting to their servers. This can cause Steam to become stuck on the startup screen and prevent it from opening.

To avoid this, you can enable the automatic time option on your Windows PC using these steps:

1. Open the Settings app from the Start menu.
2. Head to Time & Language > Date & time.
3. Turn on the toggles next to Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.
4. Open Steam and see if it launches.

11 Reinstall Steam on Your Computer

If nothing else works, your last option is to uninstall and reinstall Steam on your computer. This will remove Steam and all of its files from your machine. Afterward, you can install Steam from scratch.

Reinstalling the app will fix most issues with Steam on your computer, including when the app refuses to launch.

To remove Steam from your computer:

1. Launch the Settings app on your PC.
2. Click Apps.
3. Find Steam in the apps list, click the three-dot icon next to it, and select Uninstall.

Once removed, head over to the Steam site using your web browser. Download and launch the Steam setup on your PC. After you reinstall Steam on your PC, it should open and work as expected.

Issues with Steam are very rare, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never encounter one at all. Thankfully, getting Steam back up and running isn’t too difficult if you apply the above tips.