PCWorld

We pick the best laptops under $500. Intel Meteor Lake chips. Replacing the Framework’s CPU. Steam Deck 2 wishlist. Graphics card prices have plunged. WD Black SN850X SSD review. Speed up your PC.

PCWorld

Graphics card prices have plunged 50% this year • PC gamers are reveling in full shelves and sane sticker prices.

AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs: 5 key things you need to know • AMD says its Ryzen 5 processor can stand toe-to-toe with Intel’s best chip.

Microsoft Edge’s new sidebar widgets are actually worth using • It’s like a control panel for Windows functions.

Amazon’s upgrades to its entry-level Kindle should silence critics • The basic Kindle looks appealing once again—and possibly more so than the Paperwhite.

DuckDuckGo’s privacy-focused email service now open for all • The system strips out trackers and offers free alias addresses.

Blisteringly fast PCIe 5.0 SSDs debut in November • Twelve different vendors will supply PCI Express 5.0 SSDs.

PowerToys update adds OCR and two more free tools • Our favorite Microsoft freebie also gets a pixel screen ruler and an easy tool for adding accents.

This Minecraft virtual computer is powerful enough to play Minecraft • Yo dog, we heard you like to play Minecraft.

Best laptops under $500: Best overall, best OLED laptop, and more • These laptops are ridiculously cheap, but still capable for tasks.

WD Black SN850X SSD: Face-meltingly fast • Comes darn close to supplanting the FireCuda 530 in real-world testing as well as random ops.

Dell G2723H: An affordable 280Hz monitor • Simple design, blazing-fast speed.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro review: True wireless earbuds that can take on expensive rivals • These buds can comfortably hang with more expensive alternatives, but they do have their weaknesses.

HP Victus 15: A mediocre gaming laptop at a great price • No one said gaming on a budget would be easy.

The best wireless gaming keyboards: Best overall, best 60%, best for travel, more • For gamers who love a tidy desk and a fast connection.

INTEL IS BUILDING METEOR LAKE CHIPS LIKE YOU BUILD YOUR PC. IT’S A BIG DEAL • CHIPS ARE NOW BEING ASSEMBLED LIKE LEGOS, CONNECTED BY THE PCI EXPRESS–LIKE CIE INTERFACE LAUNCHED IN MARCH.

REPLACING THE FRAMEWORK’S CPU MADE ME A BELIEVER IN UPGRADEABLE LAPTOPS • FRAMEWORK’S PROMISE OF AN UPGRADEABLE LAPTOP JUST GOT REAL.

STEAM DECK 2 WISHLIST: WHAT WE WANT FROM VALVE’S NEXT-GEN HANDHELD • VALVE HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WILL MAKE MORE STEAM DECK DEVICES. HERE ARE SOME UNSOLICITED SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.

Speed up your PC with this 60-second tune-up tip • Disabling Windows startup apps is a dead-simple way to improve your PC’s performance.

How to sideload unsupported Android apps in Windows 11 • Access Android’s power with just a few steps.

Got a new PC coming? Here are 5 helpful ways to prepare for it • Get these things in order and the setup of your new PC will be much faster.

TechSpotlight • A video showcase of the latest trends