Central processing unit

AMD Ryzen 7000 processors are amazing. The 7800X3D and 7950X3D are the best gaming CPUs in the world, and the non-X3D versions offer an amazing mix of gaming performance and productivity. But there's one feature of these CPUs that's often overlooked: Eco Mode. This power limiting command does impact performance, but not as much as you think, and it craters the processors' power draw, making them even more incredibly efficient. Turning on Eco mode is a great way to reduce temperatures while maintaining the majority…

PC freezing, going slow, or running into hitches where it shouldn’t? Even if you have one of the best processors, high CPU usage could be to blame. Unfortunately, if you aren’t too computer savvy, what this means, what part of your computer causes the issue, and CPU failure symptoms are all sort of a mystery. So, what is CPU usage? Here, we’ll investigate high CPU usage, the factors that affect CPU utilization, and more. Image used with permission by copyright holder What is CPU usage? The processor, also known as…

Bram Naus / Unsplash So much of the world today is driven by data, so there’s a lot of need for data science and data modeling out there. That also means that there are more and more people getting into it, and if you want a laptop that’s well suited for these sorts of data-crunching tasks, well, then only certain things are going to work. That’s why we’ve collected our favorite picks for the best laptops for data science, ranging across various price points and spec configurations, so you can get something that…

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends I’m sorry to say it, but I’d be lying if I said otherwise. NPUs are useless. Maybe that comes off as harsh, but it doesn’t come from a place of cynicism. After testing them myself, I’m genuinely convinced that there’s not a compelling use for NPUs right now.  When you go to buy your next laptop, there’s a good chance it will have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside of it, and AMD and Intel have been making a big fuss about how these NPUs will drive the future of the AI PC. I don’t…

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends Intel announced a slew of new processors during CES 2024, including mobile and desktop CPUs and the new Intel Core Series 1 made for thin-and-light laptops. Some are destined to make the list of the best processors, but Intel’s naming conventions are only getting more confusing, with machines sporting both its old naming convention and the new Core Ultra rebrand in 2024. Starting with the Intel Core HX series, Intel is introducing five new CPUs made for gamers and creators, starting…

AMD just revealed its new lineup of desktop APUs with built-in graphics at CES 2024: the Ryzen 8000G series. According to AMD, the Ryzen 8000G lineup can run AAA titles without requiring a discrete GPU. Will these CPUs really rival some of the best processors when it comes to graphics performance? Here’s everything we know. AMD Equipped with AMD’s Radeon 700M graphics, these chips combine a CPU and a GPU, and AMD claims that the integrated graphics can compete against some of the most popular discrete graphics…

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends Intel may be getting ready to add to its lineup of the best processors, and this time around, we’re talking about a real monster of a CPU. A new leaked image of the rumored Core i9-14900KS tells us that its launch may not be that far away, and according to reports, the chip is said to be able to reach 6.2GHz right out of the box. But one question remains: Is this image even real? The photo was posted by HXL (9550pro) earlier today. HXL is a well-known leaker when it comes to CPUs, but…

When it comes to PC gaming, the GPU, or graphics processing unit, takes center stage as your primary ally. Responsible for rendering everything visible on the screen, from the user interface to high end 4K videos, the GPU bears the brunt of heavy lifting. To ensure optimal functionality, it's essential to provide proper care. Even if you have one of the best GPUs you can get, here are some ways to accelerate performance to even greater heights. Update your driversTo make sure your GPU operates at its best,…

Digital Trends I’ve said it once, and I’ll saw it again: 2023 wasn’t a great year for PC gaming. We saw some excellent games, but most were marred by poor ports that exhibited performance issues, bugs, and other game-breaking problems. Even at the end of the year, though, things are looking up, and I hope that trend continues into 2024. Rather than rehashing the performance issues we’ve seen on PC all year, I want to look forward. Here are the five things I want to see out of PC releases next year. GPU…

Kunal Khullar / Digital Trends The AI era is upon us. With generative AI continuing to push forward, companies like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are also talking about the hardware side of the equation. With the introduction of the NPU, which stands for neural processing unit, processes that use AI will be sped up — at least, in theory. Apple has been using an NPU in its chips for years now, so they aren’t exactly brand new. And yet, being heralded as the “next big thing” across various industries, they’re more important…