At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Slim design and sturdy yet compact monitor stand Thunderbolt 5 connectivity with 96 watts of power Super-sharp 6K image with 224 pixels per inch Wide color gamut and great color accuracy Cons Frustrating menu system LG offers calibration software, but monitor doesn’t ship with a colorimeter No USB-A or Ethernet connectivity Our Verdict The LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S is a 6K monitor with great color performance and high-speed Thunderbolt 5, though it’s hampered by lackluster software and image quality configuration. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S Retailer Price $1,996.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The ranks of 6K monitors remain slim, but LG’s Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S adds another option. It separates itself from the alternatives with support for Thunderbolt 5, which includes a downstream port that can daisy-chain the connection to downstream displays or storage devices. It’s a good pick if you want to use Thunderbolt as a way to minimize cable clutter on your desk, but LG’s software support doesn’t stack up to the alternatives. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S specs and features The highlight of the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S is rather obvious. It’s the resolution. The 31.5-inch Nano IPS Black panel delivers a pixel count of 6144×3456. That’s a total of over 21 million pixels. Display size: 31.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 6144×3456 Panel type: Nano IPS Black Refresh rate: 60Hz Adaptive sync: None HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 600 Certified Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x Thunderbolt 5 / USB-C with DisplayPort and 96 watts of Power Delivery, 1x Thunderbolt 5 / USB-C DisplayPort MST-out (daisy chain), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 upstream, 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 downstream Audio: Yes, speakers included Extra features: LG Calibration Studio Supported OS: Windows, MacOS Price: $1,999.99 MSRP It’s not all about resolution, though. The LG 32U990A-S also includes Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and a few downstream ports, which include DisplayPort-out and two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. As you might expect, 6K resolution doesn’t come cheap, though your view on pricing may depend on your past experience with 6K displays. The LG 32U990A-S has a retail MSRP of $1,999.99 and so far has not received a significant discount. That’s a lot of money, and you can find some less expensive 6K alternatives, like the Asus ProArt PA32QCV. But other 6K monitors, such as the Dell U3224KB and of course the Apple Pro Display XDR, are much more expensive. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S design The LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S makes a good first impression. It’s constructed primarily from silver plastics that have a smooth, premium finish, though the stand includes metal elements for weight and durability. While the back of the display panel is simple, smooth plastic, the rear of the stand has an attractive art-deco finish. It’s unusual and helps the monitor stand out from its competition. The stand also has a compact flat base keeps the monitor upright. Though it’s small, the stand felt stable on my desk. It allowed even less wobble or shake than most monitors in this price category. The stand adjusts for height, tilt, and rotates (pivots) 90 degrees for use in portrait mode. It doesn’t swivel, though, which is a downside. The monitor has a 100x100mm VESA mount for using with third-party monitor arms and stands. Matthew Smith / Foundry However, the stand is not a tool-free design. Two screws must be installed with a screwdriver to assemble it. That’s unusual, though not unheard of, and it makes setup ever-so-slightly more complex than normal. LG also ships the monitor with an external power supply. This too is not unusual for a high-end monitor, but the power supply is large and bulky (at roughly 8 x 4 x 1.5 inches), so beware if you have a tight spot below or beneath your desk for the power supply. On the plus side, keeping the power supply external helps LG deliver the monitor’s slim, sleek look. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S connectivity While the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S is a 6K monitor, it’s also a Thunderbolt 5 monitor, and for some shoppers that could be just as important. The LG 32U990A-S has three video inputs. One is the Thunderbolt 5 port with DisplayPort and 96 watts of Power Delivery. That 96-watt figure makes the display capable of powering all MacBook Pro models, though only mid-range Windows laptops. The Thunderbolt 5 port is flanked by an HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 port. The monitor also has a Thunderbolt 5 downstream port with DisplayPort MST. Because of this, the monitor is capable of daisy-chaining connections to multiple downstream devices, including monitors and storage.This is useful because it turns a single Thunderbolt 5 connection into several Thunderbolt 5 connections. You can, for example, make a Thunderbolt 5 connection from your laptop to the LG 32U990A-S, then daisy-chain from the LG 32U990A-S to a second Thunderbolt monitor, and then continue the chain from that second monitor to external Thunderbolt storage (or another peripheral).However, the monitor’s connectivity is otherwise so-so. It has two downstream USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connections, but no downstream USB-A and no Ethernet. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Dell U3224KB is otherwise a better all-in-one hub for connectivity, as it has many USB downstream ports, Ethernet, and more power delivery (140 watts). But, in fairness to LG, the Dell is $1,000 more expensive, and sticks to Thunderbolt 4. The LG 32U990A-S also has a KVM switch and picture-by-picture features for managing multiple connections. That, however, is standard for this type of monitor. Finally, you should know that all the monitor’s ports face towards the rear. This is in contrast to most monitors, which usually have ports that face down. Rear-facing ports are more accessible for connecting and disconnecting ports, and I generally like them, but they also make wall mounting difficult. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S menus and features Unfortunately, the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S is saddled with a bad menu system, and it left me frustrated. The on-screen menu system is controlled with a responsive joystick tucked behind the center bezel. So far, so good. However, the menus themselves are not adequate. While the monitor does provide some decent image quality presets, including DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB modes, it doesn’t provide fine-grain, precise control of color temperature and gamma settings. That’s a disappointment. Annoyingly, the menu system appears vertically on the right side of the display. It feels rather odd when using the controls, as they are centered. It’s a system that would make more sense with a remote control, but the 32U990A-S doesn’t have one. Matthew Smith / Foundry LG also provides software utilities. This includes LG Switch, which is used to control some monitor settings and to switch between displays, including LG webOS displays. It’s okay, but not as feature rich (in terms of image quality features) as similar software from BenQ, Dell, and Asus. Calibration can be handled in LG’s Calibration Studio software. The LG 32U990A-S does not ship with a hardware calibrator, though, so you have to provide your own. That in turn makes the usefulness of the software suspect. After all, colorimeters ship with their own software, and I really can’t think of a reason to use the LG Calibration Studio software instead of the software shipped with your colorimeter of choice. And to add insult to injury, the LG Calibration Studio software was finicky about detecting a connected PC, so I found it unreliable in practice. Competitors like Dell and BenQ justify their own calibration software with additional features including built-in colorimeter hardware and the ability to manage multiple monitors remotely, which is useful if you need to calibrate all monitors on your desk or in a studio. But the LG 32U990A-S doesn’t provide these features. The LG 32U990A-S includes a light sensor for automatic brightness adjustment. This is a good feature to have, however, it doesn’t work well here. I found the automatic brightness adjustment was often too dim, and I couldn’t find a feature to manually adjust how the automatic brightness functioned. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S audio A pair of speakers are bundled in the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S, though LG’s specifications don’t say anything specific about their capabilities. To me, they sound like a basic pair of speakers in the 2- to 3-watt range. Audio quality is passable for podcasts or ambient music played at low volume, but the speakers lack the bass and volume to provide real impact. External speakers or headphones are recommended. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S SDR image quality The LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S is a 31.5-inch 6K monitor which, of course, means it provides superior sharpness. However, there’s more to the monitor than that. LG touts the display as a go-to choice for prosumers and creative professionals, and while the monitor’s menu system and software don’t live up to that, the monitor’s image quality certainly does. Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is brightness, and here the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S delivers a strong maximum SDR brightness result of 480 nits. Although this is not the brightest, it’s extremely bright, and it is also far more than what would ever normally be required for a computer monitor. Still, this is good news if you were planning to use the monitor in a bright environment. What’s less encouraging, though, is the monitor’s display finish. It’s a sort of semi-gloss coat that diffuses reflections, but the presence of reflections on the screen is still more noticeable than I’d like. It’s not on par with the matte finish of BenQ’s DesignVue monitors, or close to Apple’s Nano-Texture finish. Matthew Smith / Foundry Next we have contrast, where the LG 32U990A-S delivered a contrast ratio of 1500:1. That’s a bit lower than I had expected, given that the monitor has a Nano IPS Black panel. Still, it’s a mid-pack result and not bad for a modern IPS display. As with most LCD monitors, the LG 32U990A-S will show backlight glow when dark scenes are viewed in a dark environment. This is most noticeable when watching movies, streaming shows, or playing games. For that reason, people looking for a monitor that’s great for both work and play should consider an OLED alternative (though, unfortunately, no 6K OLED monitor is available to date). Matthew Smith / Foundry Now we come to color gamut, and this is where the LG 32U990A-S really comes through. The monitor delivered a color gamut that spans 96 percent of DCI-P3 and 100 percent of AdobeRGB, as well as 82 percent of Rec.2020. As the graph shows, these are excellent results even when compared to other prosumer and professional monitors, which already tend to deliver excellent color performance. Indeed, only a handful of monitors I’ve ever tested deliver a wide color gamut. This translates to a vivid, saturated image, and it also means you can work in wide color gamuts with confidence that you’re seeing a very wide swath of the colors that gamut is supposed to provide. Matthew Smith / Foundry In addition to a wide color gamut, the LG 32U990A-S has great color accuracy with an average color error of only 0.73. Importantly, no error was over a value of 2, so all of the colors tested were extremely accurate.While some other monitors are even more accurate, all the monitors in this comparison are leaders in color accuracy. It’s a tough crowd. In actual use, I found the LG 32U990A-S delivered color that appeared realistic. My only complaint about the LG’s color performance concerns its default color temperature, which I recorded at 7000K. That’s quite a bit off the preferred default target of 6500K, and it results in a color temperature that skews blue and sterile. The monitor does provide color temperature modes, but as mentioned earlier, these don’t claim to hit specific color temperature values in degrees Kelvin. You may need software calibration to dial it in. The monitor doesn’t have gamma settings that claim specific gamma values, either, but the monitor was able to provide a default gamma curve of 2.2, which was where I like to see it. Of course, sharpness is also a major strength of the LG 32U990A-S. The monitor’s 6144×3456 resolution, spread across a 31.5-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, translates to a pixel density of 224 pixels per inch. For comparison, a 27-inch 4K monitor has about 163 pixels per inch—so the 6K monitor’s leap in sharpness is quite significant. Whether the added sharpness is visible or significant will depend on your needs, however. Personally, I can tell a difference in sharpness from 4K to 6K, and I do like it—but I wouldn’t call it a must-have.However, the added resolution can have benefits besides sharpness. If you work with 4K video, for example, a 6K monitor makes it possible to view a 4K preview in your video editing software without entering a full-screen mode. Similarly, it helps photographers work with very high resolution photos with less use of zoom. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S HDR image quality The LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S supports HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. Testing the monitor’s HDR performance quickly showed that certification is earned, as the monitor reached a maximum HDR brightness of 748 nits—a great result. Keep in mind, however, that this monitor lacks a way to effectively control dynamic contrast across the display panel. Bright objects in a scene tend to up the brightness of the whole scene, even if they occupy only a small portion of it. The lack of contrast is a major limitation and degrades HDR image quality. HDR can be bright, but won’t necessarily show all the luminance detail expected of an HDR display. As such, I wouldn’t recommend using the HDR for movies and games. I also wouldn’t recommend it if you primarily create content in HDR. If you only need to occasionally view HDR to get a general idea of how it looks, though, the LG 32U990A-S is acceptable. LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S motion performance Given its 6K display resolution, it shouldn’t come as a shock to hear the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S sticks to a 60Hz refresh rate. While a higher refresh rate might be nice, it would prove impractical in many situations. The IPS panel also provides modest quoted pixel response times of 5 milliseconds (the best IPS panels quote a millisecond or less). In short, the monitor’s motion performance is mediocre. Fast moving objects show a lot of ghosting and fast camera pans across scenes can make details in the scene hard to discern. Scrolling text is also difficult to read. None of this is a mark against the monitor, because it’s true of all 6K monitors at present. Still, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re also considering 4K alternatives, as you can find 4K monitors with far better motion clarity. Is the LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S worth it? The LG Ultrafine Evo 32U990A-S is a competitive choice in the increasingly crowded arena of 6K monitors. It provides great color performance and color accuracy, as well as Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. The monitor makes some mistakes in usability, as it has a poorly implemented menu system, and LG’s software utilities are not on par with the competition. Still, if you want a 6K monitor with great image quality and plan to rely on Thunderbolt for connectivity, the 32U990A-S is a solid choice. 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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros High CPU and iGPU performance for a mini PC Good RAM and SSD expandability despite compact design Stable continuous performance thanks to good cooling system Modern connections including USB4 and dual 2.5G LAN Powerful AI acceleration for local AI workloads Cons At full load in 45-watt mode, the fan noise is clearly audible The built-in SSD limits the maximum possible transfer rates of the system Our Verdict The Alliwava GH8 is a good example of how much performance is possible today in the smallest of spaces. With the Ryzen 9 8945HS, it not only offers powerful CPU performance, but also added value for AI applications thanks to the improved NPU. It bridges the gap between a compact office computer and a powerful gaming station. In doing so, it leaves many competitors behind in terms of connectivity and cooling management. A real powerhouse for demanding users. Price when reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Alliwava GH8 Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Tech specs: Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.2 GHz, Zen 4 architecture) GPU: AMD Radeon 780M (12 cores, up to 2.8 GHz) RAM: 32 GB DDR5-5600 RAM (dual channel, expandable to 64 GB) Storage: 1 TB NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD (second slot available, up to 4 TB total capacity) Connectivity: Dual 2.5G LAN (Realtek RTL8125BG), WiFi 6 (Intel AX200), Bluetooth 5.2 Ports: 1 × USB 4.0 (Type-C), 1 × HDMI 2.1, 1 × DisplayPort 2.1, multiple USB 3.2 ports Operating system: Windows 11 Pro pre-installed Cooling: MSC 2.0 system with vapour chamber and dual fans Dimensions: 13 × 12.7 × 5.2 cm (L × W × H) Weight: approx. 580 grams The Alliwava GH8 aims to provide powerful notebook hardware in a compact mini PC case. It uses the latest high-end AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor from AMD’s Hawk Point series, which is specially designed for performance-oriented, space-saving systems. Does the Alliwava GH8 prove itself in our test, compared to similar devices? In testing, the Alliwava GH8 proves to be a high-performance solution for users who need a lot of computing power in a minimal footprint. Alliwava GH8: Design The Alliwava GH8 dispenses with large plastic elements and instead features a metal case with integrated mesh grilles. This choice of material primarily serves passive heat dissipation and gives the device a technical, functional aesthetic. The build quality is impressive, with precise gap dimensions and mechanically resilient sockets. Christoph Hoffmann With compact dimensions of 13 × 12.7 × 5.2 centimeters (L × W × H) and a weight of around 580 grams, the GH8 is less bulky overall than, for example, the models from Geekom (A7 Max and A9 Max) and Miniforum’s AI X1 Pro. It should fit easily on any desk, in the living room or in the home office. Thanks to the included VESA mount, it can also be mounted on the back of a monitor to save space. A key focus of the GH8 is its cooling design. Compared to earlier models such as the H90 Pro, Alliwava has visibly revamped the design. It features an efficient cooling design with large heat dissipation and an optimized dual fan system. The side ventilation grilles support even air circulation, which is particularly relevant during prolonged CPU and GPU loads. In noise-reduced operating modes, the system remains pleasantly quiet at around 35dB. This makes it significantly quieter than older, less thermally efficient mini PC generations. Christoph Hoffmann Alliwave GH8: Features The processor is the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (Hawk Point), a further development of the 7940HS used in the Geekom A7 Max, for example. With 8 cores and 16 threads at up to 5.2 GHz, the system covers demanding multitasking and content creation scenarios. The integrated Ryzen AI NPU is optimized for local AI processes such as image filters, audio noise reduction and on-device language models. Graphically, the GH8 relies on the Radeon 780M (12 CUs), which enables Full HD gaming at moderate quality settings and is thus expected to outperform the Intel competition in terms of frame stability. Our benchmark results below show whether this is indeed the case. Christoph Hoffmann Three performance profiles between 25 and 45 watts can be selected via the UEFI BIOS. This allows users to choose between maximum performance and quiet operation. The processor is flanked by a whopping 32GB of DDR5 RAM (manufacturer: Micron) with a clock speed of 5,600 MT/s. One critical point is the installed 1 TB NVMe SSD: measurements of 3,572 MB/s (read) and 2,029 MB/s (write) confirm a PCIe 3.0 standard connection, which falls short of the system’s capabilities. On the positive side, however, is the second free M.2 slot, which allows memory expansion up to 4 TB. Christoph Hoffmann The variety of connections is impressive for a device of this size. The interfaces for direct access are located on the front, with the USB4 port in Type-C format being particularly noteworthy from a technical point of view. This operates with a bandwidth of up to 40 Gbit/s and supports PCIe tunnelling. This makes the port not only suitable for transferring large amounts of data, but also for video output or connecting external graphics cards (eGPU). The front is complemented by two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, which provide a data transfer rate of 10 Gbit/s. Christoph Hoffmann The rear of the case is designed for permanent cabling. Here, two additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports are available, which are also specified at 10 Gbit/s. For devices with lower data throughput, such as keyboards, mice or printers, two additional USB 2.0 ports are available. Christoph Hoffmann This separation according to USB standards allows the processor’s fast data lines to be kept free for high-performance storage solutions, while the slower interfaces take care of the basic peripherals. In combination with the dedicated video outputs, this USB configuration allows multiple screens to be operated and integrated into complex working environments. Together with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1, up to four screens can be controlled simultaneously with 4K resolution at 60 Hz. This makes the GH8 a good choice for professional multi-monitor setups. On the network side, the compact computer boasts two 2.5 Gbit/s LAN ports. This also makes it interesting for special applications such as soft routing or as a responsive media server in the home network. WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 round off the modern connectivity package. Alliwava GH8: Operating System The Alliwava GH8 comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, which is activated with a local user account. On our test device, the operating system was Windows 11 25H2 Build 26200. Therefore, you may need to update when necessary after setup. We downloaded and installed various drivers via Windows Update, as well as the AMD drivers for the Radeon graphics card and the chipset. Although we are not looking at Windows 11 Pro in isolation, the synergy between the operating system and the GH8’s hardware is a decisive factor. The architecture of the Ryzen 9 8945HS is tailor-made for the modern Windows environment, as the system accelerates the new AI functions natively and efficiently in many areas. Instead of burdening the CPU cores with background tasks such as Windows Studio effects (background blur or eye contact correction in video calls), the system delegates these processes directly to the NPU (Neural Processing Unit). This not only ensures a smoother user experience, but also conserves the thermal reserves of the mini PC. The seamless integration is also evident in the automatic allocation of AI workloads within Creative Cloud or local Copilot applications, underscoring the GH8’s role as a future-proof AI workstation. Alliwava GH8: Performance With the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, the Alliwava GH8 positions itself as a powerful representative of the current mini PC upper class. It delivers a balanced result in benchmarks in terms of computing power, graphics performance and memory throughput. The installed processor is based on the Zen 4 architecture (“Hawk Point”) and integrates the Radeon 780M graphics unit. This puts it in the same performance range as demanding compact workstations. Compared to the newer Zen 5 generation, as found in the Sapphire Edge AI 370, for example, the 8945HS built into the GH8 offers an already established platform that has been supplemented by an optimized NPU for AI calculations. In combination with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a PCIe 4.0 SSD, the result is a system that not only handles classic office and productivity tasks, but is also designed to be stable for computationally intensive applications such as multitasking scenarios and local AI workloads. The hardware configuration is designed to make efficient use of the thermal capacities of the compact chassis. We determined the desktop computing power using the PCMark 10 benchmark test. The software gives us realistic values by processing everyday tasks one after the other. Christoph Hoffmann The benchmark sub-sections Essentials (9,814 points) and Productivity (9,066 points) show that everyday tasks, office work or multitasking run practically without delay on the GH8. The Digital Content Creation score of 7,810 points is somewhat weaker, leaving the mini PC almost 3,000 points behind the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and even 4,000 points behind the Geekom IT15 with Intel Core Ultra 9. In 3DMark’s CPU profile, the GH8 underscores its versatility: with 6,284 points at maximum threads and 956 points in the single-thread test, it achieves scores on par with the mobile Ryzen 9 8945HS. However, this places it around 20 percent below the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in the market environment. Nevertheless, the multithread scaling shows that even demanding computing operations or parallel AI processes are handled stably. Christoph Hoffmann The Time Spy score of 2,573 points is dramatically lower than the 4,244 points achieved by the IT15 with Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. The CPU points (10,150), on the other hand, are in the upper performance segment, which pays off in simulations, renderings or AI tasks. The results in benchmarks such as Steel Nomad (375 points) and Solar Bay (9,826 points) confirm that the GH8 translates its theoretical nominal performance into measurable results in 3D and ray tracing scenarios. These values illustrate the potential of the Radeon 780M within the Zen 4 architecture. The system delivers stable performance, especially with modern graphics interfaces. The Geekbench AI Pro values (2,941 single precision / 6,831 quantised) indicate solid AI acceleration, which is particularly relevant for on-device AI applications, edge computing or local LLM inference. Here, the GH8 even outperforms the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Christoph Hoffmann Less convincing is the SSD performance in Crystal Disk Mark: with 3,572 MB/s read and 2,029 MB/s write, the data storage is comparatively slow. Competitor models achieve values of 6,000 to 7,000 MB/s in read performance and more than twice the write performance. The SSD in the GH8 slows down the system in some areas. Interestingly, however, it’s in a similar speed range to the Alliwava H980 Pro. Christoph Hoffmann Is the Alliwava G8G worth it? In testing, the Alliwava GH8 proves to be a high-performance solution for users who need a lot of computing power in a minimal footprint. The decision to use the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS pays off especially in multi-core scenarios and with modern AI workloads, where the integrated NPU shows its strengths. While the CPU performance is beyond reproach, the integrated Radeon 780M positions itself as a solid basis for casual gamers and content creators, even if it lags behind dedicated graphics solutions or AMD’s latest Zen 5 generation, as expected. A clear plus point is the revised cooling concept, which reliably dissipates waste heat even in 45-watt mode, although a clearly audible background noise is generated under full load. The USB4 and dual 2.5G LAN equipment is future-proof. Only the factory-installed SSD detracts from the overall picture with its below-average transfer rates. Those who are willing to take matters into their own hands—which is easily possible thanks to the excellent expandability—will find the GH8 to be a versatile powerhouse. It confidently bridges the gap between a compact office computer and a powerful workstation, leaving many competitors behind in terms of connectivity. Read...

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Windows recognizes two network types for networks without a domain server: private and public. On a private network, other users can see your computer, and you can enable file and printer sharing. If the computer is set to a public network, sharing is disabled, the computer is invisible on the network, and the firewall allows fewer exceptions. By setting the network type, you can enable more functions in a secure, private environment. Higher security requirements are taken into account for a Wi-Fi network in a public space (like on a train or at an airport). For each new network connection, Windows selects the network type “Public,” which you can change to “Private.” The system remembers this setting when you reconnect to this network. However, due to a bug, Windows sometimes changes the classifications of Wi-Fi networks that are already known to the system, automatically switching private networks to public ones and vice versa. This is dangerous because a Wi-Fi network on a train, for example, could be classified as private, making your computer visible to fellow passengers. Hackers could then monitor your data traffic or launch targeted attacks on your computer. There are various methods to counter this unintentional change of network profile. The most radical is to delete all saved Wi-Fi networks in Windows. To do this, open “Settings” and go to “Network and Internet” –› “Wi-Fi” –› “Manage Known Networks.” Click on “Do not Save” for each individual network to remove it. When your computer reconnects to a previously known network, it treats it as a new one and you can select the appropriate network profile. It’s also possible to change the network type of a Wi-Fi network from private to public or vice versa. You can do this in the registry database: type regedit in the search field of the start bar and click through to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\NetworkList\Profiles.” Here you’ll find a list of subfolders with names consisting of cryptic character combinations in curly brackets. Each folder represents a saved Wi-Fi network. Click on the folders one after the other to view the data stored in the keys. The Wi-Fi name is listed under “Description,” and next to “Category” you can see whether it’s a private or public network. If it says “0x00000000 (0),” it’s a public network. The value “0x00000001 (1)” indicates a private network. To change this value and the network type, double-click on “Category,” enter 0 or 1 as the new value, and confirm with “OK.” It also helps to reinstall the driver for the network adapter. In some cases, Windows uses an outdated driver that causes the problem. To update the driver, right-click on the Start button and then left-click on “Device Manager.” Now click on the small arrow in front of “Network Adapters” and then right-click on the adapter you’re using. Select “Uninstall Device” –› “Uninstall.” Once the process is complete, close all windows and let Windows restart. The driver should be reinstalled. If it doesn’t reinstall and you’re unable to find the Wi-Fi entry in “Settings,” open Device Manager again, select “Network Adapters,” and click on “Action” –› “Scan for Hardware Changes” at the top. Another helpful measure is to reset the stored network settings in Windows. Open “Settings” in the Windows Start menu and click on “Network and Internet” –› “Advanced Network Settings” –› “Reset Network” –› Reset Now.” Finally, check the startup type of the Wi-Fi service. Type services in the search window, click on the “Services” result, double-click on “Automatic Wi-Fi Configuration,” and make sure the startup type is set to “Automatic.” Read...

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Chief executive of Retail NZ says she quit a ministerial advisory group because her relationship with its chairman became untenable. Read...

TL;DR: Get Visual Studio Pro 2026 on sale for $49.99 (reg. $499.99). Visual Studio Pro is one of the most popular IDEs you can use, but subscriptions are expensive. If you want a cheaper alternative that still gives you the most recent upgrades, you can actually get Visual Studio Pro 2026 on sale now for $49.99 (reg. $499.99). Visual Studio Pro is a 64-bit development environment for building modern apps on Windows. You can create cross-platform mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, web interfaces in C# with Blazor, and .NET or C++ software that targets Windows, Linux, or containers. Hot reload support lets you apply many code changes to running apps, which can shorten test and debug cycles. AI-assisted tools like Intellicode look at your existing code and suggest likely completions for lines and blocks, which cuts down on repetitive typing and can reduce simple errors. Codelens overlays information about authors, commits, test status, and references directly in the editor so you can see activity around a file without switching views. For teams, Live Share allows real-time editing and debugging sessions where collaborators join your environment without cloning the repository or installing every dependency. Access controls and session settings help you keep that process organized and secure. Visual Studio 2026 runs on current versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and supported Windows Server releases, with at least 4GB of RAM and a modern processor recommended. Right now, it’s only $49.99 to get Visual Studio Pro 2026 for life, but this sale ends soon. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

A VPN can actually offer advantages when gaming—despite some assumptions to the contrary. Here are three reasons why (and when) it can be worthwhile to use one. If you’re looking for an even more in-depth look at this topic check out our article of all the pros and cons of using a VPN while gaming. 1. Protection against DDoS attacks A DDoS attack is a targeted overload of an internet connection or server. It involves sending a large number of requests in a short period of time until the connection breaks down. For gamers, this means that online games are interrupted or cannot be started at all. For such attacks to be possible, the internet connection must be specifically targeted. In online gaming, this is possible in some cases because, depending on the game and connection technology, your own IP address is visible to other players or servers. This IP address then serves as a target for attack, directly overloading your private internet connection. A VPN prevents this by hiding your IP address. Instead of your private address, only the IP of the VPN server is visible to the outside world. Attacks no longer affect your own internet connection, and end up hitting a dead-end. Not every VPN provider is equally suitable when it comes to security and data protection. Check out our list of the best VPNs to see which services for gaming, privacy, security, and more. Our overall winner is NordVPN, and Surfshark is a great option if you’re on a budget. 2. Positive effect on ping and connection quality You read that right: there are certain situations in which a VPN can stabilize or even improve your connection. This depends primarily on the route the data takes between your connection and the game server. Internet service providers do not always route data packets via the most efficient route. Instead, they use detours or heavily congested hubs. A VPN can change this route and direct data traffic via more stable or better-connected routes. In such cases, the ping does not necessarily decrease, but the connection becomes more consistent and reliable. This is particularly noticeable with international game servers or during peak times. However, whether this effect occurs depends on several factors and can only be determined by direct comparison. Under certain conditions, a VPN can improve the connection. The quickest way to find out is to run a test.earthphotostock/Shutterstock.com 3. Access to additional servers and game regions Many online games use regional servers to keep connections stable and ensure fair competition. Players are automatically assigned to a specific region. A VPN changes the virtual location and thus enables access to game servers in other countries. This also allows you to use game regions that would otherwise be inaccessible. This is particularly relevant if you want to play with friends abroad or specifically use other server pools. A VPN also offers a direct alternative if you encounter problems with regional servers. Please note that not all games allow the use of a VPN. Some providers expressly exclude this use in their terms and conditions. Before using a VPN, you should therefore check whether its use is permitted for the game in question. When a VPN is not useful for gaming A VPN is not a “hack” for every gaming situation. In some cases, its use adds no value or even has a negative effect on the gaming experience. This is especially true for fast-paced, competitive online games where every millisecond counts. If your internet connection is already stable and the direct route to the game server is working optimally, a VPN will usually increase latency. In such cases, the additional detour via the VPN server outweighs the potential benefits. A VPN is also usually unnecessary for local or regional lobbies. If you are playing with players from your region and have no connection problems, you’ll hardly benefit from additional security at the network level. In addition, some games restrict or prohibit the use of VPNs. If you dial into other regions using a VPN, you risk restrictions or sanctions depending on the title. Especially in a competitive environment, the use of a VPN should therefore be carefully considered. In short: a VPN is not a standard tool for every game, but a situational addition. Read...