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
Redditor brings ugly Windows 2000 aesthetics back to Windows 11 — and I love it
By Ben Wilson published
Nostalgia ❤ Stardock WindowBlinds combined with a fan-made theme makes this Redditor's Windows 11 desktop look like a time capsule from the millennium.
Best Steam Deck games 2023: 12 must-play classics
By Ben Wilson published
Top 12 Experience some of the best PC games practically anywhere with a selection from our Steam Deck roundup.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU half price for a limited time — save $150 on this mid-range gaming beast
By Ben Wilson published
DEAL AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X is discounted to almost half its usual MSRP for a limited time, don't miss out on this massive saving for a mid-range gaming CPU.
Aaron Greenberg visits Kojima Productions with Xbox Game Studios to discuss cloud engineering in cool hoodies
By Ben Wilson published
Xbox 🤝 Kojima Aaron Greenberg takes a trip to Tokyo, Japan, accompanied by Xbox Game Studios members to talk shop with Hideo Kojima and his team.
Dell's new XPS lineup: One desktop, two laptops — cutting-edge and customizable
By Ben Wilson published
New XPS Dell has refreshed its performance-grade XPS laptops and desktops with 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs and the latest NVIDIA RTX 40-series graphics.
Lenovo's Surface-like IdeaPad Duet 3i packs the Intel N-series CPU — but you won't find it in the US
By Ben Wilson published
Intel N Lenovo's new IdeaPad Duet 3i is a convertible 2-in-1 laptop featuring an energy-efficient Intel N-series CPU, set for release outside the US later this year.
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick review: Designed for Xbox, but it's better on PC
By Ben Wilson published
Review Turtle Beach aims for a broader crowd with the VelocityOne Flightstick designed for flight sims and space shooters on Xbox, but the console experience is flawed.
Save $200 on this Samsung 34" ultrawide monitor with FreeSync support
By Ben Wilson published
Deal At Walmart, Samsung is offering an ultra-affordable ultrawide monitor for a limited half-price sale. It's a fantastic opportunity to grab a 21:9 panel for less.
Secretlab's professional footrest takes better care of my posture than I do
By Ben Wilson published
Hands on Secretlab has all-new footrests to accompany its premium gaming chairs and sent me its adjustable steel option featuring hot-swappable top covers.
Rode's 5th Gen NT1 microphone supports XLR and USB with world's-first extras
By Ben Wilson published
Unclippable Rode's flagship NT1 condenser microphone has been updated with cutting-edge technology in this 5th Gen revision featuring unclippable 32-bit float recordings.
Best budget PCs 2023: affordable desktop computers
By Ben Wilson published
Cheap PCs Computers aren't known for being cheap, but there are affordable options that still pack a punch. Our top desktop picks will help you find your next budget PC.
Microsoft needs a new mascot for a GPT-powered Windows — Clippy or Cortana?
By Ben Wilson published
Clippy 2: Clip Harder Bing Chat is revolutionizing the web and could do the same for Windows as an assistant with a different name; something better than Prometheus, anyway.
Save $200 on Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 2 with a 256GB SSD for the price of 128GB
By Ben Wilson published
DEAL Don't miss out on this opportunity to grab the improved version of the beautiful budget laptop from Microsoft, temporarily reduced by a massive $200 at Best Buy.
AMD Radeon Adrenalin 23.2.1 graphics driver boosts game performance and more
By Ben Wilson published
More FPS AMD's latest Radeon Adrenalin Edition graphics driver boasts improvements to specific PC games alongside general bug fixes on Windows.
Best CPU cooler for AMD Ryzen 7 3700X in 2023
By Ben Wilson published
3700X Find the best CPU cooler for your Ryzen 3700X CPU, whether you prefer traditional air cooling or an AIO liquid alternative.
One of the BEST Alienware HDR QD-OLED gaming monitors is $100 off at Dell
By Ben Wilson published
DEAL The Alienware AW3423DWF has a gorgeous 34-inch QD-OLED display perfect for ultrawide HDR gaming, and it's back on sale with a massive discount.
HyperX discounts hardware for Valentine's Day — including the official Windows Central podcast mic
By Ben Wilson published
HyperX ❤ deals HyperX offers gaming hardware deals for Valentine's Day, so grab headsets, mice, and more for your favorite co-op companion or as a loving gift to yourself.
Monoprice wanted the Dark Matter Sentry USB mic to undercut the Blue Yeti — and they almost nailed it
By Ben Wilson published
Review Monoprice introduced its Sentry USB mic in the new Dark Matter gaming subbrand with a sci-fi style and RGB lighting, so how does it compare to the competition?
Google fumbles Bard AI with a glaring error — dropping Alphabet shares by 7%
By Ben Wilson published
AI hubris A Twitter promotion for Google's Bard AI displayed an erroneous message about the James Webb space telescope, dropping Alphabet's share price.
Front panel power switches — which side is positive or negative for your PC case?
By Ben Wilson published
+ PW - Building a PC is simple until you get to the microscopic PC case power and reset buttons. Figure out which way round to connect these tiny front panel switches.
Microsoft supercharges Bing and Edge with customized ChatGPT — so what about Windows 12?
By Ben Wilson published
Windows GPT Microsoft finally confirmed OpenAI integration in the all-new Bing search engine and Edge browser. Could an AI-powered operating system be next?
Best PCs for sim racing 2023: pre-built desktop options
By Ben Wilson published
PC racers The best desktop pre-built PC options for sim racing offer a more personalized experience than a console. Grab a ready-made computer and hit the race track.
Vertagear's SL5800 gaming chair is colorful, comfy, and easy to build — it's almost perfect
By Ben Wilson published
Review Vertagear gaming chairs are designed to maximize ergonomics and keep your body healthy during lengthy gaming sessions, and the SL5800 is so close to perfection.
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