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| PC World - 21 Jun (PC World)Gaming laptops are some of the most exquisite in their class, combining fast processors with speedy storage and ultra-powerful graphics chips for serious visual performance.
Even so, no gamer has ever said they don’t need even more performance, that they’re perfectly content with their frame rate and visuals. Nope. More is almost always better!
But what can you do? Upgrading a gaming laptop isn’t as straightforward as upgrading a gaming PC. Unless you’re gaming on a Framework Laptop, you can’t just slot a new graphics chip in there and call it a day. You have to be a little more creative.
Here are several features and settings you can tweak to make your gaming laptop run even faster and make your games look better.
See also: The best gaming laptops worth getting
Use dynamic upscaling
One of the biggest advances in PC gaming in recent years has been in dynamic upscaling, where AI is used to enhance picture quality without demanding more resources, thereby improving performance while making the game look better, too.
This feature is available via Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), AMD’s FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), and Intel’s XeSS (Xe Super Sampling), and you can use dynamic upscaling in a range of games across various hardware.
More on this: AMD FSR 3 vs. Nvidia DLSS 3, compared
Whatever upscaling solution you have available, consider using it. DLSS in particular makes games look almost indistinguishable from higher native resolutions, and all of them deliver a big uplift in frame rates.
Enable frame generation
AMD
AMD
AMD
The most advanced graphics performance boosting technology in 2024 is, without a doubt, frame generation. This is an AI-powered technique that takes two rendered frames and AI-generates an in-between frame, making a smooth transition and boosting frame rates.
Frame generation is available via AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames feature and Nvidia’s DLSS 3 Frame Generation feature.
There are some concerns with frame generation—it isn’t ideal for latency and the image quality isn’t always the best—but there’s no denying that frame generation can take a sedate frame rate and make it much, much higher with no real effort.
The list of supporting games for each technology is still in the low double digits, but it’s growing! The feature is well worth enabling if you need a frame rate boost and your hardware and game support it.
Enable ReBAR/SAM
This is a feature that everyone should have enabled—especially if you have an Intel graphics card, as it’s almost mandatory to make Intel’s latest GPUs competitive with AMD and Nvidia.
It’s generally called ReBAR (Resizeable BAR), but AMD calls theirs SAM (Smart Access Memory) even though it’s essentially the same thing. Either way, the technology allows your CPU to access much more of your GPU’s video memory at a time, making it much more efficient.
Further reading: What is Resizeable BAR and how does it work?
ReBAR/SAM doesn’t tend to boost performance dramatically, but for a simple toggle in your driver suite or BIOS, it’s a great feature that’ll net a few more frames per second for near-zero effort. It’s even possible to get with a BIOS update on particularly old gaming PCs.
You already have ReBAR support if you have an Nvidia or Intel GPU, but you’ll need both an AMD CPU and GPU to enable SAM. Enable whichever one you can for a notable performance bump in most games.
Enable Windows Game Mode
Jon Martindale / IDG
Jon Martindale / IDG
Jon Martindale / IDG
Windows Game Mode is a special PC state that tells Windows you’re gaming so it should de-prioritize background applications.
Game Mode won’t stop those background apps entirely, though, so you might actually get better results by manually closing any apps that are particularly resource intensive. However, Game Mode only takes a second to turn on and it’s way more convenient.
Navigate to Settings > Gaming, then toggle Game Mode to On.
Want to tweak Game Mode a little more to make it even better? Check out our guide on fine-tuning Windows Game Mode.
Enable XMP/EXPO
Most RAM is capable of running far faster than stock settings, so manufacturers include a factory overclock setting known as XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) or EXPO (Extended Profiles for Overclocking).
This setting can be enabled in the BIOS to give your memory a real boost, improving overall system performance.
Not all laptops support XMP/EXPO, however, so if you find that your BIOS has no option for enabling this, you may be out of luck. Check the manufacturer’s website as it’s possible a firmware update will give it to you, but there’s no guarantee.
See also: The best gaming laptops under $1,000
Plug in before playing
Gaming on a laptop is often a tale of two experiences: gaming while plugged in and gaming on battery.
When your laptop is plugged in, it can bypass the battery entirely and draw all the power it needs right from the mains power. That doesn’t mean it’s going to suddenly become more powerful than it was before, but it does mean performing at full potential.
In other words, there’s no compromise made to save power or optimize efficiency—it’s pure, as-good-as-it-gets gaming performance. If you’re going to be gaming in one spot for an extended period of time, make sure to plug the laptop in. The difference can be dramatic.
Set the right power plan
Jon Martindale / IDG
Jon Martindale / IDG
Jon Martindale / IDG
What if you’re gaming on the go and can’t plug in? In that case, you must consider how long your battery is going to last. To help you manage that, Windows has several power plans to pick from, allowing you to prioritize performance or battery life as needed.
The efficiency-oriented power plans tend to put the CPU and GPU into lower power states, though, potentially locking you out of greater performance in an effort to keep the battery going for longer.
If you don’t care about that, or feel you can manage your battery life yourself, then switching to either Balanced or High Performance power plan (instead of Power Saver) can make a real difference.
When gaming while the laptop is plugged in, these power plans are unlikely to have as dramatic an effect—Windows may even switch to the High Performance plan automatically—but it’s still worth checking to make sure.
Note: Higher performance power plans can also affect other areas of operation, such as preventing your USB ports from sleeping, so your laptop may feel less responsive in lower performance power plans.
Adjust driver settings
Jon Martindale / IDG
Jon Martindale / IDG
Jon Martindale / IDG
Nvidia, Intel, and AMD graphics cards all have a number of settings in their driver suites worth tweaking. Often that’s where you’ll find ReBAR/SAM, but that’s far from the only tweak worth making.
For AMD gamers, you have AMD Chill, which can dynamically lower frame rates when there’s no motion on screen (e.g., in menu screens or when listening to dialogue). This keeps your laptop’s temperature down, allowing it to boost harder for longer when you actually need it.
AMD also has Radeon Boost, which can dynamically adjust resolution and other in-game factors for improved performance.
For Nvidia gamers, it can be a good idea to set the Power Management Mode to Prefer maximum performance and G-Sync to On (if your laptop supports it) to maximize performance and avoid screen tearing.
Both AMD and Nvidia have their own anti-lag technologies, too. If you’re playing competitive games or want to reduce input lag as much as possible, enable them to improve your reaction times.
Overclock CPU/GPU
Overclocking is when you manually increase the clock speed of a component—in this case, CPU and/or GPU—so that it runs even faster, unlocking greater performance.
Overclocking is typically better suited to desktop PCs because they’re better equipped for cooling and they don’t have as much concern for battery life or fan noise. But if your laptop’s components support overclocking, it can be a great way to boost performance.
Overclocking your CPU and/or GPU will produce more heat, leading to greater fan noise, and it’ll drain your battery faster. It may also reduce system stability, causing it to crash more often. So make sure to take your time and overclock your components safely.
Learn more in our guides to fine-tuning AMD Radeon graphics cards and fine-tuning Nvidia GeForce graphics cards.
Still not enough? More performance!
With all the above features and settings tweaks, your gaming laptop should be running faster than ever. That’s not all you can do to fully min/max performance, though!
See our guide to boosting laptop performance for a few extra tips on making your laptop as performant as possible.
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| ![](/n.gif) | | RadioNZ - 21 Jun (RadioNZ)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) The start-up technology sector appears to be thriving despite the downturn in the wider economy. Read...Newslink ©2024 to RadioNZ | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 21 Jun (PC World)Picture this, you’ve settled down to enjoy your favorite adult content, you’re alone, you’ve set the mood, everything is ready. But before you can click play, you’re asked to provide multiple pictures of yourself and official ID in good lighting with the documents clearly visible. Then upload all of this and pass it through an age verification system. And then still be in the mood to get back to your original business.
This is the recent reality for many in the U.S. after certain states have passed age verification laws for adult websites. In March of this year, the popular adult site PornHub went dark in Texas in order to protest new strict laws imposed by the state requiring just such verifications, following similar standoffs in other states.
Now, Pornhub is set to block access to five more states including Indiana, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska in response to similar age verification laws in those states as well. Fortunately, even if you live in one of these states, getting around site-specific geographical restrictions is easy enough with the right VPN. Below you’ll find more info about these new laws, how to use a VPN to access mature content, and why you should use a VPN no matter what websites you visit.
What are age verification laws and why do they matter?
AndrewFall/Shutterstock.com
AndrewFall/Shutterstock.com
AndrewFall/Shutterstock.com
In recent years, age verification laws have emerged in response to a growing concern that minors can too easily access adult content online. Regulations have long struggled to keep up with the rapid pace of technology and this is seen as a belated response to the current widespread availability of online pornography.
Porn and other adult content have been labeled by some as a public health crisis, with increasing rates of porn addiction and other negative psychological impacts seen as a concerning consequence, particularly to the younger generations.
It’s always been illegal for minors to visit a porn site, but previously this has usually been enforced with a simple self-verification check, asking users to confirm that they are over 18 years of age. Some officials see these as too simplistic and ineffective leading to a call for stricter age verification methods.
The first state to enact such a law was Louisiana in 2022. Since then, more states have followed suit and many more are considering them in their respective state legislatures as we speak.
The reason why this matters is that it has far-reaching effects not just for minors, but all of us. Beyond the possible First Amendment infringements, these laws can have serious consequences for a user’s personal data.
Most of these age verification systems require users to submit pictures of themselves and personal identification, which are uploaded and stored on a third-party database. Anytime personal data such as this is collected, it’s at risk from data breaches and exploitation by cybercriminals (or sovereign governments).
Furthermore, there’s the issue that these restrictions will drive people away from well-regulated and legal adult content sites to less secure, shady sources potentially further endangering users. It’s not dissimilar to previous attempts to regulate pirated content — most people won’t stop pirating content if you take down the site; they’ll just find an even dodgier site to access what they want.
Which states have an age verification law for adult websites?
PornHub’s official statement to those trying to access its content in Texas.
PornHub’s official statement to those trying to access its content in Texas. Sam Singleton
PornHub’s official statement to those trying to access its content in Texas. Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
Currently, nine states including Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia have already enacted laws requiring verification to access adult content sites.
Six more states, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, and South Dakota, are all poised to join them. Age verification bills in these states have cleared their respective legislative houses and appear on their way to becoming law soon.
Currently Pornhub is blocking traffic from residents in all nine of the states with active age verification laws. On June 12 they announced further restrictions, which will take effect in July, for residents of Indiana, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska.
How to use a VPN to access adult websites
When sites like PornHub are no longer accessible in your state, the best option to turn to is a VPN. By connecting to a VPN server located in a location that isn’t affected by the ban, you’ll once again have access to all of the site’s content.
When you connect to a VPN, all of your traffic is encrypted and routed through an independent server operated by the VPN provider. These servers can be located in different U.S. states, or different countries. While connected to one of these remote servers, your web traffic will exit through that server, appearing as if you’re browsing from that remote physical location instead.
If you find that you’re unable to access the adult content you want in your location, you can boot up your VPN and connect to a remote server. For example, if you’re located in Texas, where PornHub has a self-imposed ban, you can connect to a VPN server in another state and then go back to PornHub and, voilà, the content should be available once again.
As a side note, it’s also recommended to have a strong antivirus and ad-blocker installed and browse in incognito mode while accessing adult content. Adult websites are notorious for having annoying pop-ups and dubious links. Plus, incognito mode will save you the blushes of having these sites show up in your browser history — nobody needs to see your kinks laid out in Google’s autocomplete recommendations.
If you don’t already have a VPN or are in the market for a good option, check out our roundup of the best VPNs to help you decide.
PCWorld`s pick for best vpn
ExpressVPN
Read our review
Is it legal to use a VPN to access adult content?
Here is where the issue becomes tricky. There’s nothing inherently illegal about using a VPN in the U.S. The problem arises in what you do while connected to a VPN. Think of it like this, if it’s illegal to do without a VPN, then it’s still illegal to do with a VPN. For example, if you’re underage, accessing adult content is illegal with or without a VPN.
Since some laws vary state to state, it’s important to research and properly understand the laws and regulations surrounding adult content in your own legal jurisdiction before attempting to access any of this content — via VPN or not.
The content in this article should only be used as guidance to get around certain adult sites’ restrictions, such as PornHub’s recent embargo. It should not be construed as advice nor advocacy to circumvent any state or federal laws.
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| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 21 Jun (PC World)I hate having to search the house for that “one” wall charger that actually has enough oomph to fast charge my phone. But that issue is easily solved with a handful of fast chargers around the house.
And now’s a great time to stock up because Belkin’s Dual Wall Charger is currently on sale for $18 at Walmart, down from its usual $25.
This compact and speedy Belkin charger is perfect for when you need a reliable charging plug, whether at home or out and about.
This charger features dual USB ports—one 25W USB-C and one 12W USB-A, for a total output of 37 watts—and it has Programmable Power Supply (PPS) technology that dynamically adjusts voltage depending on what kind of device is plugged in.
It’s ideal for charging multiple devices simultaneously, and it’s versatile enough to work with iPhones, Samsungs, and more.
Another nice point: it’s tiny! While the prongs don’t fold away, it’s still small enough to toss in a bag and take with you while traveling if needed. Otherwise, keep it plugged in at home without being an eyesore.
If I were you, I’d hurry because this deal won’t last forever. With the Belkin Dual Wall Charger for just under $18, this is a great opportunity to save money on something you won’t regret.
This dual-USB Belkin wall plug is so cheapGet it now at Walmart
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| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 20 Jun (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) SmartBear has unveiled two AI-driven innovations for API and functional testing, integrating HaloAI technology to enhance software development efficiency. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 20 Jun (BBCWorld)This week Tech Life has a special programme about the technology of artificial limbs. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)While computer monitors seem to be more or less the same once you get past the size and the ports, that’s not really true. Even the most common type, the humble LCD, has a lot of sub-types. And while the differences between them are subtle, they can vary greatly in how they perform and how you use them.
The simple idea of a monitor hasn’t changed a lot since we all moved from cathode ray tubes (CRT) — the big, old-fashioned gray boxes that some of you are too young to remember seeing in real life — to relatively tiny liquid crystal displays (LCD). LCDs have been around for decades, first being paired with simple computer displays way back in the 1970s.
The physics of how they work are fascinating, complex, and frankly too much to cover in an article you probably Googled just to figure out something on a spec sheet. I’m going do my best to bottom-line the most common variants, and why you should know and care about them. I’ll be linking to the relevant Wikipedia articles if you want to do some deep dives on the actual physics behind these displays.
There are three major types of LCD panels used in computer monitors, including the screens built into laptops. These are twisted nematic field effect (TN), in-plane switching (IPS), and vertical alignment (VA).
Further reading: The best monitors
TN monitors
Twisted nematic LCDs are the oldest type of LCD still in use, with technology iterated since the original digital watch designs decades ago. The name comes from the fact that the molecules of liquid crystal that become electrified are literally twisted by 90 degrees between two glass plates.
Light shines through the liquid crystals and polarization filters, activating the pixel on the screen. Red, blue, and green pixels are combined in a sub-pixel array, and combined at variable brightness to create the desired pixel color.
In a TN panel, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees in their off state (left) between substrates.
In a TN panel, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees in their off state (left) between substrates.
Wikimedia Commons
In a TN panel, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees in their off state (left) between substrates.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
As an older and simpler technology, TN panels are generally reserved for budget monitors these days. TN panels are some of the cheapest on the market (if you can even find them), with poorer color accuracy, lower brightness, and slower refresh rates than the alternatives. Most dramatically, TN panels have notably poor viewing angles — move to either side of a TN screen, and the color will begin to distort.
This budget Dell monitor uses a TN panel, but it’s smaller, slower, and darker than most alternatives.
This budget Dell monitor uses a TN panel, but it’s smaller, slower, and darker than most alternatives.
Dell
This budget Dell monitor uses a TN panel, but it’s smaller, slower, and darker than most alternatives.
Dell
Dell
TN panels aren’t bad, per se, and they’re definite improvements on using a CRT. They also have surprisingly fast response times (the time between when the electrical signals for the image are sent to the monitor and when the image is displayed). But unless you’re deliberately looking for a bargain with an older monitor, you really shouldn’t be considering it for a new purchase.
IPS monitors
IPS stands for in-plane switching, referring to the fact that the molecules of liquid crystal are aligned parallel to the glass on either side, even when powered on. Once again, the reasons for this (and why it’s better than the crystal being twisted) are extremely complex.
But the benefit for consumers is that IPS monitors have fantastic color reproduction, allowing at least some of them to be incredibly accurate to true-life color. Some high-quality IPS monitors can cover 100 percent of the Digital Camera Initiative color space (DCI-P3).
Dell’s Ultrasharp line usually uses IPS panels for high color accuracy.
Dell’s Ultrasharp line usually uses IPS panels for high color accuracy. Dell
Dell’s Ultrasharp line usually uses IPS panels for high color accuracy. Dell
Dell
That means that if you’re working with graphics that will appear on anything professional, including a website, photograph, television broadcast, or signage, you want an IPS-LCD monitor instead of any of the alternatives. Since I do a lot of work in Photoshop for this job, I use IPS-LCD monitors at my desk. With IPS and VA monitors side by side, I can spot the latter’s lack of white balance even at a glance.
Further reading: The best gaming monitors
Here’s a photo of a close-up color grid taken by a Reddit user showing the color and brightness of IPS versus VA and TN in a relative visualization. Colors are brighter and more consistent on IPS with better viewing angles, which should be clear no matter what screen you’re actually looking at right now.
Reddit user /u/RampageIV
Reddit user /u/RampageIV
Reddit user /u/RampageIV
The downsides to IPS screens are that they’re the most expensive LCDs to make, pricier than both TN and VA, and they’re not as fast as VA in terms of refresh rates (expressed in hertz, starting at 60hz). So IPS isn’t great for gaming or anything dealing with high-speed animations, at least most of the time. It also has relatively slow response times, meaning a relatively slow rate between clicking your mouse and seeing the result on the screen.
This response time is still extremely fast in relative human terms — 5 to 10 milliseconds for typical panels — but it’s far slower than other LCD panel types, which can make a big difference for gamers. There are exceptions to this — see below.
VA monitors
If you find a monitor for less than a couple of hundred dollars, odds are excellent that you’re looking at a VA screen. These vertical alignment panels (with liquid crystals perpendicularly aligned to the substrate) are inexpensive and bright, so they’re great for most basic uses.
VA panels are often used in budget and mid-range monitors.
VA panels are often used in budget and mid-range monitors.
Matt Smith/Foundry
VA panels are often used in budget and mid-range monitors.
Matt Smith/Foundry
Matt Smith/Foundry
In addition to being bright, they’re also fast, which makes them ideal for gamers who want high refresh rates (expressed in hertz, the number of times the screen redraws its image per second). 120Hz or 144Hz is far more common with a VA monitor, with up to 175Hz being fairly easy to find even at lower prices. This makes them especially good for gaming.
High-refresh VA panels are also popular for gaming monitors and laptops.
High-refresh VA panels are also popular for gaming monitors and laptops.MSI
High-refresh VA panels are also popular for gaming monitors and laptops.MSI
MSI
While better than TN panels in terms of both brightness and viewing angle, and far faster than IPS panels, VA panels still aren’t as good as IPS for color accuracy or consistency. That’s a relative degree, of course — for most applications the colors are fine, especially if you like high saturation. But VA panels generally aren’t good enough for professional photo editing or video production.
The best of both worlds — fast IPS
What if you need the color accuracy of an IPS monitor, but you still want to do some gaming with higher refresh rates? Well you can — if you’re willing to spend a little more. Over the last few years monitor manufacturers have improved the refresh rates of IPS monitors, making them on par with budget and mid-range VA monitors.
These “fast IPS” screens offer much higher refresh rates than standard IPS, and some are among the fastest on the market. They’re also available in large sizes popular with gamers. But you will be paying a premium for a high-quality, high-speed panel, and that speed probably won’t be as fast as a VA design in the same price range. Anyone who needs “esports”-caliber speed probably won’t be satisfied.
This Alienware monitor has an IPS panel with a 500Hz refresh rate…but it’s also $650 for a 25-inch display.
This Alienware monitor has an IPS panel with a 500Hz refresh rate…but it’s also $650 for a 25-inch display. Matt Smith
This Alienware monitor has an IPS panel with a 500Hz refresh rate…but it’s also $650 for a 25-inch display. Matt Smith
Matt Smith
For my uses — a desktop setup that needs constant photo work in the day and the occasional high-speed game at night — a fast IPS screen is ideal.
Other types of monitor panels
There are many variations of the tech above that get into finer technical degrees, but there are a few others you might want to know about too.
OLED
“Organic Light-Emitting Diode” panels are considered some of the best on the market at the moment — possibly the best for some applications. OLED screens are already widespread on phones and wearables, and they’re gaining traction in high-end TVs and tablets, too.
OLED panels are extremely vibrant and have great contrast, but come at a high price.
OLED panels are extremely vibrant and have great contrast, but come at a high price. Matthew Smith / Foundry
OLED panels are extremely vibrant and have great contrast, but come at a high price. Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
OLEDs use a simpler structure than conventional LCDs, with a diode that emits light directly (instead of being backlit with a separate component) and doesn’t need a liquid crystal layer. The biggest advantage there is that when an OLED pixel is off, it’s completely off, with no backlight illuminating it even partially.
This gives OLED panels incredible contrast with “perfect” black levels, in addition to vibrant and accurate colors. They can also be made very speedy, with 240Hz being common.
So why not go with OLED all the way? Because despite being mechanically simple, large OLED displays are still very expensive, being produced in small numbers at monitor sizes. Prices are dropping, but at the time of writing an OLED monitor will still be double or triple the price of a similarly equipped LCD panel of any kind. Because of the sub-pixel layout on OLEDs, they’re also not great for reading text for extended periods of time.
Quantum Dot LEDs
This tech is sometimes shortened to QLED (not to be confused with OLED, though some companies might like you to!). Quantum dot screens are fundamentally similar to standard LCD panels, but they use incredibly tiny light-emitting particles as a backlight instead of the old cathode tubes or an array of LEDs.
This allows for much smaller lighting zones for an LCD panel, resulting in better contrast and brightness. The contrast of a high-quality quantum dot LED screen can get close to that of a “perfect” contrast OLED panel, but with more brightness and (sometimes) far lower cost.
MiniLED and MicroLED
Both of these technologies are essentially the same, with smaller and smaller light-emitting diodes replacing older and clunkier backlighting methods. Again, the advantage is that with a larger array of smaller LEDs being used to light up the picture, the brightness and contrast can be more finely and accurately controlled.
MiniLED and microLED panels use smaller, more closely-spaced backlights to create more precise zones of brightness and contrast.
MiniLED and microLED panels use smaller, more closely-spaced backlights to create more precise zones of brightness and contrast.
TCL
MiniLED and microLED panels use smaller, more closely-spaced backlights to create more precise zones of brightness and contrast.
TCL
TCL
MiniLED and MicroLED monitors are both variations of conventional LCD technology, offering a better picture while still not being quite as eye-popping as OLED. Again, you’ll generally find them at much lower prices.
eInk and ePaper
These monitors are extremely rare, expensive, and often only available in black and white. They’re also small compared to LCDs, and slow, with refresh rates at a fraction of even the slowest conventional screens.
So why would anyone want one? Because they’re easy on the eyes. And that’s not a euphemism, it’s literally true. With no backlight, and high contrast on a paper-like background, eInk and ePaper displays can let you read small text for hours in comfort. This is what makes eReaders like the Kindle so popular.
eInk and ePaper monitors are wonderful for reading, but not much else, and they’re extremely expensive.
eInk and ePaper monitors are wonderful for reading, but not much else, and they’re extremely expensive.
Boox
eInk and ePaper monitors are wonderful for reading, but not much else, and they’re extremely expensive.
Boox
Boox
Even the ones with an integrated light are front-lit (like really old phones or the original Game Boy), so the light is bouncing off the surface of the screen and isn’t shining directly into your eyes.
But at a price even higher than OLEDs, and with super-slow speeds that can make even browsing the web a bit of a chore, eInk displays are only useful if you’re reading text for hours at a time. They simply aren’t practical for a primary monitor in an all-around capacity.
Which monitor should you buy?
If all that stuff is making your head spin, or you don’t want to read any more spec sheets, you should check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best computer monitors. It’s constantly updated with the best and latest picks for gaming monitors, work monitors, monitors on a budget, ultrawide and large-format monitors, and more.
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| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 19 Jun (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) The surface mount technology market is set to soar, driven by advances in electronics, healthcare, telecom, and automotive sectors. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)Charging your phone shouldn’t be so complicated—and it doesn’t have to be if you just get the Anker 511 Nano 3 GaN charger. Now that it’s $13 at Amazon, down from its original price of $23, there’s never been a better time to snag one of these.
We’ve done a deep-dive analysis of the secret to buying the best iPhone 15 USB-C charger, and our own Gordon Ung concluded: “Just buy this Anker 511 GaN charger that’s tiny and can charge your phone at its maximum rate. I’m a big fan of [it] … and have personally purchased at least four of them for personal use and ‘loans’ to family members.”
Gordon further explains that the Anker 511 Nano 3 is the size of Apple’s original 5-watt USB-A charger but can supply up to 30 watts over USB-C. Plus, it has those folding prongs that make it easy to pack away and prevent it from accidentally breaking.
The Anker 511 Nano 3 harnesses the power of GaN technology, which means it can deliver high-speed charging in an ultra-compact form.
And while this is our absolute favorite charger for iPhones, it’s also really good for other devices, including laptops, Android phones, tablets, and almost anything else you’d need to charge.
It’s a clear winner, no contest. And given that the Anker 511 Nano 3 GaN charger is only $13 right now, you owe it to yourself to grab one of these while it’s still available at its best price.
The Anker 511 Nano 3 GaN charger is 43% offGet it on Amazon now
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| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsWell designed, compactUnique screen-lock button and iconsKeeps itself coolAttractive priceCan power three displaysConsSubpar performanceThree 4K displays only work at 30HzDoesn’t pass much power to a laptopOur VerdictThe Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station includes some quirks you might just love, but its subpar performance hurts its chances.
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The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station (BS-OH137) doesn’t seem like the best idea: a generic USB-C docking station capable of three 4K displays isn’t really feasible on paper. In the real world it’s a more practical solution than you might think, but I still wouldn’t advise pushing this dock to its limits.
Put simply, the Basus Spacemate offers the possibility of connecting three 4K displays at 4K resolution, but only at 30Hz apiece. That’s not especially comfortable to work with for long periods, so it’s probably better to think of this dock as a more conventional USB-C dock capable of connecting to just two 4K displays, provided that you have the right hardware. A few interesting gimmicks — a lock-screen button, light-up port icons, and a sticky-pad stand — add some wrinkles.
This is another dock that use Display Stream Compression (DSC), a technology found in HDMI 2.1-capable devices like laptops with Nvidia GeForce 3000-series discrete GPUs but also modern hardware like Intel 13th-gen Core chips and above. It’s visually lossless, which means that you won’t notice the compression algorithms taking effect. If your laptop is DSC-enabled, you’ll be able to connect three 4K displays at 30Hz, or two at 60Hz; if you don’t have DSC, you’ll be able to connect two 4K displays at 30Hz or one at 60Hz.
This review informs our list of the best USB-C hubs and dongles.
Display issues aside, this docking station has some quirks.
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station, from the front. The sticker decal (on in this photo) indicates the indicator lights. A USB-C and USB-A port offer connectivity.
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station, from the front. The sticker decal (on in this photo) indicates the indicator lights. A USB-C and USB-A port offer connectivity.Mark Hachman / IDG
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station, from the front. The sticker decal (on in this photo) indicates the indicator lights. A USB-C and USB-A port offer connectivity.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Physically, this is a rather nice little dock; it stands 4.5 inches high, sitting square with about 2.5 inches on a side. It has a braided USB-C cord built in, which measures about 2.5 feet along. I think it’s a little too big to tuck into your backpack, but you might feel differently. This dock does not include a power brick, so your laptop’s charger can be plugged into an input port, accepting up to 100W.
Some docks come with a stand; the Baseus dock comes with a sticky bottom that’s exposed by peeling back a layer. But I don’t even think that it’s necessary, as the dock remains stable without it. Overall, this dock feels well made, and I never noticed any problems with the aluminum chassis warming under load.
Ports include a 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C port on the front of the dock; neither supports charging. On the rear, you have the choice of using either HDMI or DisplayPort 1.4 for your first connection, then HDMI and DisplayPort, for your second and third display connections. On the rear you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, Gigabit Ethernet, and a pair of USB-A ports, very faintly labeled to identify one port at 480Mbps for a legacy mouse, and the other at 10Gbps.
When on, the top indicator light signals power and also locks your PC’s screen when tapped. The other icons signal which devices are connected.
When on, the top indicator light signals power and also locks your PC’s screen when tapped. The other icons signal which devices are connected.Mark Hachman / IDG
When on, the top indicator light signals power and also locks your PC’s screen when tapped. The other icons signal which devices are connected.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
For some reason, Baseus thought that the dock needed a button to lock your screen. A bright icon on the top of the dock shows that the dock is plugged in. When tapped, it performs the same function as the Win+L shortcut does.
The dock also includes several LEDs on the front of the dock to indicate that you’ve plugged devices into various ports, such as a cable that’s connected to the dock’s HDMI and DisplayPort ports. Again, this seems like over-engineering, though Baseus says that the LEDs will indicate if a device is inserted incorrectly.
Amazon’s web page listing shows a small number of reviews, many dissatisfied with the product’s stability. On the first laptop I tried, I could only get the second display to connect at 1440p, rather than 4K60. But that wasn’t the case on the small cadre of other testing laptops I plugged in, though I had to set the displays to the proper resolutions. That’s expected, however. I didn’t see any dramatic graphics glitches or instability. I did see a bit of jerkiness while playing a 2D game, however.
The rear of the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station offers a headphone jack, 1Gbps Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C power input plug, and then the mix of DisplayPort and HDMI video connections.
The rear of the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station offers a headphone jack, 1Gbps Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C power input plug, and then the mix of DisplayPort and HDMI video connections.Mark Hachman / IDG
The rear of the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station offers a headphone jack, 1Gbps Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C power input plug, and then the mix of DisplayPort and HDMI video connections.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station performance
I tend to evaluate stability over the course of about two days, using the dock for everyday office work, after-hours play, as well as the more formalized performance testing. I’ll sometimes use the dock even longer than that, just to cement my impressions. Again, I didn’t see any of the stability issues some consumers complained about. While this dock will drive three displays, however, I typically used it in a two-display configuration for comfort’s sake.
Because this dock isn’t powered (and the ports aren’t designed for charging) I didn’t bother testing that aspect of the dock’s performance. The dock transferred only 72W of power maximum to my laptop, however, which is less than what I would expect. I’m not sure the dock’s indicator lights are sucking up that much power, but that would be the likely culprit. Your laptop may complain that it’s not receiving enough power.
The dock’s performance was much slower than expected, streaming excepted; there, the Baseus dock dropped just 3 out of just over 10,000 test frames. That’s excellent. But the dock’s storage performance was just 113.2MB/s, with a score of 737; a rival USB-C hub from Dockcase transferred data at 138.9MB/s, producing a score of 903. Transferring data via copying files was also about 20MB/s slower than some of its rivals.
Baseus definitely put some thought into the design of its compact little docking station, and I appreciate that. However, the added features do unfortunately feel superfluous, and the performance is subpar. I think there are better alternatives in our list of the best USB-C hubs and dongles.
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