Alex Glawion, Author at CGDirector

How To Update The UEFI/BIOS on an ASUS Motherboard

March 8, 2024

The BIOS, or Basic Input Output System, is the very first thing that comes to life once you hit that power button.

Where to Download 3D Models? Our Favorite Sites for 3D Artists

February 26, 2024

When you’re knee-deep in a 3D scene and find yourself needing some foliage or background characters to fill the scene out, finding the right resources can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Graphics Card (GPU) Not Detected [How to Fix]

February 13, 2024

A graphics card is a critical hardware component that handles image and video rendering.

Computer Making Buzzing Noises – Why And How To Fix

January 30, 2024

Buzzing noises aren’t exactly music to the ears.

How to use multiple monitors with your Laptop (single HDMI)

January 4, 2024

Laptops are convenient devices that allow you to break free from the shackles of desktops — aka the immovable, clunky power bricks — and take the digital realm with you wherever you go.

Corona Renderer Benchmark Results [Updated]

November 15, 2023

Corona is a popular CPU-based render engine that has recently been acquired by Chaos.

Cinema 4D Viewport Performance Benchmark & Scores (Updated Results)

January 16, 2024

CGDirector’s Cinema 4D Viewport Performance Benchmark measures how snappy and smooth active work inside your 3D Software will be.

Cinebench 2024 Scores [CPU & GPU] (Updated Results)

January 19, 2024

Maxon’s Cinebench is one of the most popular CPU benchmarking applications on the market, and version 2024 continues this streak by, both, adding new features and overhauling its underlying render engine.

How to Fix Red CPU Light on Motherboard [2024 Update]

August 29, 2023

It’s the weekend.

How to Fix the “CPU Over Temperature Error” [Step by step]

October 5, 2023

There’s nothing more daunting than turning on your computer and seeing a glaring error message, especially if it reads “CPU Over Temperature.

Enscape System Requirements and PC Recommendations

July 15, 2023

Enscape is one of the foremost industry-leading visualization and rendering programs for professional architectural and interior rendering needs.

Adobe Animate System Requirements and PC Recommendations [2024 Update]

July 9, 2023

Are you an animation hobbyist looking to get into Adobe Animate?

How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor [2024 Update]

June 27, 2023

An extra monitor can boost your productivity tenfold.

How to Exit your BIOS [Get out of any BIOS to resume Boot]

October 5, 2023

The BIOS, or Basic/Input Output System, is firmware that’s often considered the “spine” of your PC since it holds everything together and ensures the various components boot up properly.

Computer Turns On and Off Repeatedly [Causes & Fixes]

June 19, 2023

There are a few things that strike fear in PC users’ hearts; the blue screen of death (BSOD), high internal temperatures, and loud buzzing noises, to name a few.

Troubleshooting ASRock Dr. Debug LED Error Codes – Everything You Need to Know

June 17, 2023

Ever wondered what the funky LED numbers on your ASRock motherboard mean?

Troubleshooting Gigabyte Motherboard LED Error Codes [Quick Fixes]

June 15, 2023

Is your GIGABYTE motherboard throwing strange error codes at you?

How To Fix Front (Case) USB Ports That Are Not Working On Your PC

August 27, 2023

USB ports, or Universal Serial Bus ports, are one of the most used (and essential) parts of your PC; they allow you to plug in all your necessary peripherals, such as your mouse and keyboard, and also carry out tasks like transferring files without any hassle.

How to Update Your MSI BIOS: The Easy Step-By-Step Guide

July 3, 2023

BIOS, which stands for Basic Input Output System, is an integral part of your computer that keeps things running efficiently; it ensures your PC boots without problems, makes sure the various components work together properly and also manages settings for the CPU, hard drive, fans, and more.

How to Measure/Figure Out Your Monitor Size [In 1 Minute]

May 2, 2023

Whether you’re looking to buy a new monitor or you just want to know how big your current one is, figuring out your monitor size is easy.

Best Seamless Image and Texture Pattern Generators

August 27, 2023

Are you a web or graphic designer working on a project that requires background images with no visible seams?

Internal vs. External SSDs — Differences and Which One to Choose

August 27, 2023

If you’ve ever gone to upgrade your storage, you’ve most likely stumbled upon different types of internal and external SSDs and wondered what the differences between them are.

How To Install Motherboard Drivers (Or don’t you need to?)

July 3, 2023

For a computer to function properly, several components — both big and small — need to work in unison.

Middle Mouse Button not working? [Our Favorite Quick Fixes]

June 14, 2023

You don’t realize how vital the middle mouse button is until it stops working.

How to fix a CPU Fan that’s not spinning [Or does it not need fixing?]

June 14, 2023

How do you fix a CPU fan that is not spinning?

Can You Run Two Different GPUs in One PC? [Mixing NVIDIA and AMD GPUs]

May 5, 2023

Can AMD and NVIDIA GPUs be “mixed?

Best Custom Mechanical Keyboard Websites [2024 Update]

May 5, 2023

A keyboard is one of the most important peripherals in one’s arsenal – it is a “tool” which we use on a daily basis for hours on end.

QHD vs. WQHD vs. 4K UHD – Which Resolution fits your needs best?

May 5, 2023

There is a multitude of features that should be taken into account when choosing a new monitor, and one of the most important is a monitor’s resolution.

How to Fix a Laptop that Won’t Connect to WiFi [2024 Guide]

June 14, 2023

Wi-Fi is the modern-day equivalent of gold; it gives us access to virtually every resource in the world, allows us to connect with friends, and even work with ease.

How to Tell Which Way Your PC’s Case & CPU Fans are Blowing

May 5, 2023

Are you trying to build or upgrade your PC, but you’re struggling with fan orientation?

Computer Randomly Turns On By Itself — 8 Typical Causes and Fixes

June 14, 2023

When your computer randomly turns on by itself, it can be a major cause for alarm.

How To Fix a Monitor That Keeps Going Into Power Saving Mode

May 5, 2023

Have you ever switched off your PC — or left it running for a long time without turning off your monitor — and noticed it entering power-saving mode?

Is ASRock a Good GPU Brand? [2024 Guide]

January 18, 2023

Even though the global GPU shortage is on its last legs (knock on wood), the market still hasn’t returned to its pre-pandemic state.

Why is my Computer slow all of a sudden? [Causes & Quick Fixes]

May 5, 2023

A slow computer can turn even the smallest of tasks into a tedious chore.

10 Ways to Stop a CPU From Overheating [Ranked]

May 5, 2023

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is known as the brain of your computer for a reason:

How Old Is My Computer? [5 Easy Ways to Find Out]

June 14, 2023

Nothing lasts forever — not even our computers.

CPUs with the highest Multi-Core Performance [Updated List]

November 4, 2023

The majority of modern CPUs have multiple cores.

What Does The Red Light On My Motherboard Mean? [& How to fix]

June 14, 2023

Some motherboards come with a dedicated set of LED diodes that indicate hardware errors — the kind that can occur when you try to boot up your system.

Can You Upgrade Your Laptop’s Processor? If So, How?

May 5, 2023

We have brains; computers have processors.

Monitor Goes Black For A Second [Causes & How to Fix]

January 2, 2024

There’s nothing more infuriating than your monitor suddenly going black for a second.

Samsung vs Crucial SSDs compared [A clear winner?]

December 28, 2022

SSDs are amazing.

Redshift System Requirements & PC-Recommendations

November 4, 2023

Redshift by Maxon is one of the best rendering engines available on the market.

Does It Matter Which SATA Ports You Use? [It does.]

October 27, 2022

Have you ever built a PC or tried upgrading the storage of a PC and, right as you came to the final step of connecting your SATA storage to your motherboard, ran into this view?

Best Ways to Reduce Your Computer’s Power Consumption & Electric Bill

May 5, 2023

PCs these days can draw a lot of power, especially if you’re running a high-end system.

Can You Use A Monitor Without A PC? [You can!]

June 14, 2023

I think it’s safe to say that modern PC monitors are having a mini-renaissance with how fast the technology is evolving with groundbreaking new additions that improve upon last year’s model in pretty much every conceivable way— perhaps aside from the price.

Where Are Dell Computers Made? [Mostly outside the US]

October 13, 2022

Dell has been a behemoth in the computing industry for what feels like forever.

AAFP Connector On Your Motherboard – What It’s For & How To Use It

May 5, 2023

Your motherboard (no matter its size) provides numerous different connectors and sockets, all of which have a singular purpose:

Boxed vs. Tray (OEM) Processor – What’s the difference?

October 10, 2022

If you’ve ever found yourself on the market looking for a used CPU, you’ve probably run into a listing like this.

PC POST / POSTing explained and Guidelines to fix Power-On-Self-Test Errors

May 5, 2023

POST, short for power-on self-test, is a series of tests and procedures your PC runs through before loading the operating system.

How To Reset An MSI BIOS? [All Possible Ways]

November 2, 2022

Your PC’s BIOS contains a myriad of different settings, all of which are designed to help you make the most out of your system and fine-tune its performance to your liking.

What Is “Rendering” in Digital Art? [2D/3D]

September 21, 2022

What is rendering?

Lumion System Requirements & PC-Recommendations [Updated]

September 14, 2022

Lumion is one of the best real-time rendering programs around for all your architectural rendering needs.

GPU MSRP List – AMD, Nvidia & Intel Graphics Cards

December 19, 2022

Graphics Cards Manufacturers set a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) when launching new SKUs that can be part of existing or new generations of products.

How To Know If All Your PC-Parts Are Compatible? [4 Fast Options]

November 2, 2022

It’s a wonderful experience, building PCs.

Which PC Keyboard Size Should I Get?

August 30, 2022

When figuring out your gaming or productivity setup, you must put a lot of thought into the main tools you will be interacting with.

Laptop Processors (CPUs) in Order Of Performance [Updated List]

December 28, 2022

Keeping track of modern Laptop CPUs’ performance and comparing them to their competition can be a frustrating endeavor.

How To Enter BIOS On Your Motherboard (MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, ASRock)

May 5, 2023

Being able to quickly access various system settings is of the utmost importance.

How To Check Your PC’s Power Consumption [4 Methods]

November 11, 2023

Whether it be for work, gaming, or entertainment, life is simply unimaginable without a PC.

CPUs with the highest Single-Core Performance [Updated List]

November 4, 2023

A Processor’s single-core performance is one, if not the most important indicator of how your CPU will perform in many workloads.

PCIe vs USB Wi-Fi Adapter — Which Is Better?

May 5, 2023

One of the most frustrating things about connecting your PC to the internet is that, sometimes, it feels like everything is going against you.

Intel CPU (Processor) List in Order of Performance

January 2, 2024

How are Intel CPUs ranked in order of performance – is there an easy list to check?

SketchUp System Requirements & PC Recommendations

June 14, 2023

SketchUp is one of the most well-known 3D modeling tools in the trade for its intuitive UI and modeling experience.

Are Intel Celeron CPUs Any Good? [Workloads Explored]

November 2, 2022

We’ve come a long way when it comes to CPU performance.

Samsung PRO vs Non-PRO SSDs Compared [Which One Do You Need?]

July 29, 2022

Samsung SSDs, known around the world as some of the best around, giving you prizewinning speed, lifespan, and reliability.

PSU Fan Up Or Down? [All Possible Positions Explained]

May 5, 2023

PSU cooling, not exactly something that’s talked about a lot.

Missing M.2 Screw? Here’s What You Can Do

December 28, 2022

How to Fix Photoshop Brush Lag [Try this first]

August 15, 2022

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most universally known programs around.

“No Signal” On BenQ Monitor [How To Fix]

December 10, 2022

If your BenQ monitor happens to be showing the dreadful “No Signal” message, you’re probably on the verge of panicking.

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) System Requirements & PC Recommendations

July 1, 2022

OBS, or “Open Broadcasting Software”, is a widely known and beloved piece of software that has brought the power of streaming and recording to the masses in an easy-to-understand yet feature-packed package.

What Are The Quietest / Most Silent Mechanical Keyboard Switches?

December 28, 2022

Silent keyboards are all the rage these days and, well, it’s easy to understand why!

Motherboard HDMI Not Working (Troubleshooting Guide)

September 3, 2022

Your motherboard is incredibly important as it connects all the different pieces of your system – it is the connective tissue that makes the entire PC and its peripherals work and function properly.

NVMe vs SSD – What’s The Difference?

November 24, 2023

NVMe this, SSD that, what are all of these things anyway?

Intel K vs KF vs F CPUs: What’s the Difference?

September 3, 2022

Processor naming schemes sure can get chaotic, and that holds true for both Intel and AMD.

How To Clean Your Graphics Card / GPU [The easy way]

September 3, 2022

Cleaning is the most important aspect of maintaining the health and performance of a PC that we all tend to *cough*ignore*cough* at times.

$IOR / Index of Refraction List For Common Materials [For Use In 3D Materials / Rendering]$

IOR / Index of Refraction List For Common Materials [For Use In 3D Materials / Rendering]

September 5, 2022

IOR, or “Index of Refraction.

Motherboard Audio Ports/Jacks Explained By Color

September 3, 2022

If you’ve ever plugged in anything audio-related to your motherboard, I’m sure you’ve seen the abundance of audio ports scattered on the side of your motherboard.

What Is Shared GPU Memory? [Everything You Need to Know]

September 3, 2022

When you have an integrated or dedicated GPU, your operating system will take up as much as half of your RAM and use it as shared GPU memory.

How Many CPU Cores & Threads Do You have? [How To Check]

May 5, 2023

The number of cores and threads your CPU has depends on several different factors including its brand, model, and generation.

How To Turn On A Motherboard Without A Case Or Power Switch

December 28, 2022

Turning on a motherboard or a PC without a case or power switch might seem impossible, but that actually couldn’t be further from the truth!

What Is a Good Idle GPU (Graphics Card) Temperature?

September 3, 2022

Ensuring that your GPU idle temperatures are as low as possible is of essential importance for the longevity of your Graphics Card.

How to Remove a Graphics Card From Your PC [Step By Step]

September 3, 2022

Let’s go over a process you’ll have to experience a bunch of times, especially if you’re a gamer:

Autodesk 3ds Max System Requirements & PC Recommendations

September 3, 2022

Autodesk 3ds Max, the more “industrial” alternative to its older brother, Maya, and one of the major titans of the 3D landscape.

How And Where To Plug In All Your Fans On The Motherboard [Updated Guide]

September 3, 2022

PC Fans.

How to Connect Your PSU Cables to Your Motherboard — Power Supply Cable Guide

September 3, 2022

Connecting your power supply cables sure can seem like a daunting task.

Autodesk Maya System Requirements & PC Recommendations

June 17, 2022

Autodesk Maya is one of if not the most famous 3D creation suites on the planet.

No RGB Header On Motherboard – What now?

June 17, 2022

The day has finally come and you’re just about to do a colorful upgrade of your system to bask in the sweet glory of all things RGB… only to realize your motherboard doesn’t have an RGB header.

New M.2 SSD Not Showing Up In BIOS [How to fix]

November 4, 2023

Motherboards these days offer several SATA connectors and M.

What To Do AFTER Building/Buying a PC? [Checklist + Do this first!]

September 3, 2022

Your PC is finally done!

CHA_FAN On Your Motherboard – Everything You Need to Know

December 28, 2022

Motherboards these days come in all shapes and sizes.

PCPartPicker Compatibility Warnings Explained

August 15, 2022

PCPartPicker is one of the greatest things that has happened to the PC creation process.

5 Great Reasons for building a small ITX PC (And what Case to use)

September 3, 2022

ITX builds are all the rage these days and, well, there’s a very good reason why:

How Long Do GPUs (Graphic Cards) Last?

May 6, 2022

GPUs, the heart to the brain which is your CPU.

Do You Have to Reinstall Windows After Upgrading CPU, GPU or Motherboard?

September 3, 2022

Do you have to reinstall Windows after installing new hardware, let’s say, the processor (CPU), motherboard, or graphics card?

Our 6 Favorite Free Photoshop Alternatives (2023 Update)

January 3, 2023

Photoshop is a piece of software so prolific that it has literally become a verb through which people describe how someone might’ve modified or edited an image.

Guide to CPU FAN RPM – What’s a good CPU FAN Speed?

June 17, 2022

Your CPU fan spins at different speeds, which helps keep your processor cool enough to run all your tasks efficiently.

Why Is My RAM Not Running at Full Speed? [5 Reasons and How To Fix]

August 15, 2022

RAM is one of the most surprisingly complicated aspects of building a PC.

ATX vs Micro-ATX vs Mini-ITX: What’s the Difference?

September 3, 2022

Like so many other components, motherboards, too, come in different sizes and form factors.

Guide to Motherboard Standoffs – Everything you need to know

September 3, 2022

Motherboard standoffs, the brass pillars upon which your motherboard is most likely standing on.

Beginner’s Guide To SATA Cables – Everything you need to know

September 3, 2022

With various uses and applications, SATA cables are quite effective in connecting various drives to your computer’s motherboard.

Integrated (iGPU) vs Dedicated Graphics Cards (dGPU) – Differences and Recommendations

September 3, 2022

Graphics cards come in various different shapes and sizes.

How To Clear CMOS On Your Motherboard?

October 22, 2022

Clearing your CMOS can help you with a wide array of problems.

Troubleshooting ASUS Motherboard Error Q-Codes — Everything you need to know

August 15, 2022

Has your ASUS motherboard ever given you some numbers or letters (also known as error codes) on that tiny display that’s on there nestled in the corner?

What RAM (Memory) Is Compatible With My Motherboard?

December 21, 2022

Not only are there many different types of RAM modules but many kinds of motherboards as well.

System FAN vs CPU FAN Headers – Difference & When to Use Which

December 11, 2023

You’re ready to plug in those Case or CPU fans but you’ve stumbled upon terminology you’re not all that familiar with?

How to Tell if Your Graphics Card Is Dying

May 4, 2022

GPUs are one of the most costly parts of a PC.

Motherboard Temperature Guide – What is a Safe Motherboard Temp?

September 3, 2022

What’s a normal Motherboard temperature, and when should you be worried?

Types of RAM – An Overview Guide to PC Memory

September 3, 2022

There are many different types of RAM (Memory) meant for different kinds of PCs and workloads.

What Is CSM In Your BIOS And What Is It Good For?

June 17, 2022

What is CSM, and how can you use it to get the most out of your computer?

How To Find Out Which CPU is compatible With Your Motherboard

November 21, 2022

Figuring out which CPUs are compatible with your motherboard can be tricky because of the many factors to consider.

Single-Sided vs Double-Sided Memory (SS vs DS RAM Modules)

September 3, 2022

What’s the difference between single-sided and double-sided RAM?

Best PC for Machine Learning – An entry-level Guide

November 30, 2022

Machine Learning (ML).

GPU Fans Not Spinning – How To Fix (or doesn’t it need fixing?)

September 3, 2022

GPU fans not spinning can cause all sorts of problems, from overheating and damaging the GPU to good old thermal throttling.

Types of M.2 Drives & Slots (An In-Depth Guide)

September 3, 2022

Which RAM Slots Should You Use?

November 25, 2022

RAM is one of the most well-known and deceptively simple parts of a computer.

What is “CG” or “CGI” and what is it used for?

March 28, 2022

CG this, CG that, we’ve all heard those two letters being used over and over again to describe many different things, but what does it really stand for?

AMD CPU (Processor) List in Order of Performance

December 13, 2022

How are AMD CPUs ranked in order of performance – is there an easy list to check?

Does a Motherboard affect performance? Workloads Explored.

March 18, 2022

Gone are the days when motherboards drastically affected PC performance, or are they?

Is Zotac A Good GPU Brand?

June 17, 2022

It can be challenging to buy a new GPU from the most desired manufacturers.

How to update your BIOS without a CPU

November 12, 2022

If you’re building a new computer and can’t turn it on, you may need to update the BIOS.

Substance Painter System Requirements & PC Recommendations

February 15, 2022

Substance Painter, or Substance 3D Painter if we were to follow Adobe’s novel naming schemes, is the crème de la crème of the world of 3D painting.

How To Tell If A Motherboard Has Wi-Fi

June 17, 2022

Wi-Fi.

Unreal Engine System Requirements & PC Recommendations

April 27, 2022

Unreal Engine.

What’s the Best 3D Render Engine (GPU & CPU) for your Needs?

May 2, 2022

“What is the best 3D render engine?

How Long Does Liquid Cooling Last?

April 28, 2022

Liquid cooling is one of the best tools you can use to keep your PC nice and chilly even under heavy loads.

How To Ground Yourself When Building A PC

April 27, 2022

Ever gone to a PC repair shop and/or pretty much any PC building tutorial video on the internet and seen this on the host’s hand?

Our Favourite Walk Cycle References – And where to find more

December 21, 2021

The humble walk cycle animation.

APU vs CPU – Differences, Benefits and Drawbacks

June 17, 2022

Have you ever wondered what the difference between an Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) is compared to a Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

How to Fix GPU Sag Before Lasting Damage

August 15, 2022

Have you ever casually looked over at your awesome PC one day and seen something like this?

Is it Cheaper to Build Your Own PC?

April 27, 2022

The PC building experience is wonderful.

How to Fix the “CPU Fan Error!” Message

December 13, 2022

“CPU Fan Error!

CPU Cores vs. Logical Processors & Threads

April 27, 2022

There’s so much to take into account when looking for a CPU.

Unity 3D System Requirements & PC Recommendations

April 27, 2022

Unity is a name known by developers of all kinds; from indie amateurs working from their parents’ basement to triple-A studios across the world.

What Does RTX & GTX Stand for in Nvidia GPUs?

February 8, 2023

As Nvidia continues to expand its presence on the GPU market, the company has started to split its offers into several lines.

Blender System Requirements & PC Recommendations

March 1, 2022

Blender, the once unknown underdog of the 3D software community has gone on to become a powerhouse of a 3D application, expanding not only into new 3D workflows but 2D as well.

Air vs AIO CPU Coolers: Which One Should You Choose?

April 29, 2022

Sufficient cooling is incredibly crucial for your CPU’s performance.

Best External GPU (eGPU) Enclosures

April 27, 2022

Looking for a way to beef up the struggling GPU in your laptop?

How Many Case Fans Do You Need? Workloads and other factors explored

April 27, 2022

In order to achieve the maximum level of performance from each and every component of your PC, you need to make sure they’re running at optimal temperatures.

Normal vs Displacement vs Bump Maps: Differences and when to use which

April 29, 2022

You might’ve heard the words “normal map” or “bump map” or any assortment of other weirdly named “maps” when you’ve been scouring the internet for texture maps.

CPU Base Clocks vs Boost Clocks – What are they and what are the differences?

April 27, 2022

Gone are the days when CPUs had fixed clock speeds, and comparing different models from various manufacturers was as easy as ranking them by their frequency.

Best Normal Map Generators – Our 6 Favorite Tools

November 9, 2021

If you’re new to the 3D world, you might’ve heard the words “Normal Map” or any other assortment of wonderful maps with wacky names being thrown around.

When Should You Upgrade Your CPU?

March 1, 2022

Are you due for a CPU upgrade?

How to Export an MP4 from After Effects (4 possible Ways)

March 1, 2022

Exporting an MP4 from After Effects directly seems to be more difficult than it should be.

Single Rank vs Dual Rank RAM: Differences & Performance Impact

April 29, 2022

Many small but distinct RAM specifications can add up to a significant boost in performance.

Curved vs Flat Monitors – Which Should You Pick?

April 29, 2022

Both curved and flat monitors have their advantages, and there are strong arguments to be made for choosing one over the other.

Best Laptops For Blender

June 30, 2022

A laptop for Blender?

Using the Wiggle Expression in After Effects – Ultimate Guide

March 1, 2022

The Wiggle Expression in After Effects (or AE Wiggle) is a great way to make objects move randomly, have some sort of idle Movement in character joints, animate a random camera shake, create wobbly text or animate a flickering light.

What Is JFP1 And How Do You Use It On Your Motherboard?

March 1, 2022

Ever seen a connector on your motherboard called JFP1?

What Is JCOM1 And How Do You Use It On Your Motherboard?

March 1, 2022

Ever seen a connector on your motherboard called JCOM1?

Best Mice For Blender

June 30, 2022

Mice.

Where do you Connect Your AIO Pump on your Motherboard?

November 9, 2022

You did it.

Workstation vs Gaming PC – What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

April 29, 2022

Have you ever wondered what makes one computer a ‘Workstation’ and another, a ‘Gaming’ PC?

How Much RAM (Memory) Do You Need? Different Workloads explored

November 22, 2022

Have you picked all the parts for a brand new PC, but can’t decide on how much RAM (Random Access Memory) you need?

Troubleshooting MSI EZ Debug LEDs: Everything You need to know

December 10, 2022

MSI’s EZ debug LEDs might seem like a trivial feature when purchasing a new motherboard, but it can save you hours when troubleshooting in case something does go wrong.

GPU vs Graphics Card vs Video Card: Are there any differences?

April 27, 2022

There are two things we can say about GPUs, Graphics Cards, and Video Cards:

How to Combine the Processing Power of Two (or more) Computers

April 4, 2022

What’s faster than one PC?

Best Laptops for 3D Modeling and Rendering [Updated Guide]

May 10, 2022

3D work on a laptop… It feels a bit wrong, doesn’t it?

GDDR5 vs GDDR6 – What’s the Difference and which do you need?

August 8, 2022

Random Access Memory (RAM) varies dramatically in performance, from one generation to the next; and this is particularly the case between GDDR5 and GDDR6.

How Long Does it Take to Build a PC? A Beginner’s Guide.

November 9, 2021

If you’re building a PC for the first time, you may be wondering how long the process is really going to take.

How to Enable RTX (Ray Tracing & Voice) On Your Nvidia GPU

April 2, 2022

Getting the most out of your PC hardware is paramount, and this is especially the case when it comes to Nvidia’s RTX – or ray tracing – functionality.

5 Best M.2 PCIe Adapters (For Mounting and Speeding Up Your M.2 NVMe SSDs)

November 9, 2021

The amount of allotted M.

Can You Use Two Different Brands of RAM (Mix Memory Modules)?

December 12, 2022

If you’re looking to purchase a new RAM kit – or upgrade your existing one – a question often arises is:

Can You Use Nvidia GPUs with an AMD CPU?

November 25, 2022

AMD is the only PC component manufacturer that builds both CPUs and dedicated graphics cards for the mainstream PC market.

Do you need ECC Memory (RAM) for your PC & Workloads?

November 8, 2021

Well, it depends.

Do You Need to Uninstall Your Old Graphics Drivers Before Installing a New GPU?

November 9, 2021

If you’re in the fortunate position of swapping your graphics card for a newer, more powerful unit, then you’ll want to make sure you have the appropriate software to support it.

Best 3D Modeling Software (Free & Paid) – A Senior 3D-Artist’s View

August 15, 2022

Are you looking for the best 3D modeling software?

How much is your Computer worth? (Guide to Valuating a PC)

December 18, 2021

Knowing how to valuate the worth of second-hand computer components is always useful, especially in a market where prices fluctuate strongly.

CUDA Cores vs. Stream Processors (And other GPU Cores Explored)

March 19, 2022

Ever went to go buy a fancy new graphics card and ran into technobabble like this?

How Hot is Too Hot for a GPU? – Graphics Card Temperature Guide

November 25, 2022

If your PC is stuttering, crashing, or if you’re simply not seeing the performance you would expect from your GPU, it may be an overheating issue.

Building the Best Workstation PC for ZBrush [2024 Guide]

January 3, 2023

Pixologic’s ZBrush is built to do one thing well, exceptionally well:

Cinema 4D System Requirements – What they don’t tell you

April 29, 2022

Although Cinema 4D’s official System Requirements seem fairly low, there’s more to them than meets the eye at first glance.

Server vs. Desktop CPUs: What are the differences?

May 24, 2022

A common question amongst our readers is which processor type they should choose:

CPU vs. GPU Rendering – What’s the difference and which should you choose?

April 12, 2022

Ever wondered what the difference between CPU and GPU rendering was and which one fits your needs best?

Top 5 Low-Profile Memory (RAM) Modules & Kits that fit almost anywhere

March 23, 2022

Buying the right RAM (Memory) kit is a crucial step towards maximizing the performance of your system.

Open-Air vs. Blower-Style Cooled GPUs – What’s the difference?

May 9, 2022

Have you ever wondered why some GPUs come with 3 Fans, some with 2 and many just have a single fan?

Insydium X-Particles Benchmark Results & CPU Performance compared

August 31, 2022

X-Particles is becoming more popular by the day and we are seeing a lot of requests from readers looking to build a PC for X-Particle Workloads.

Do CPUs Come With Thermal Paste? (And how to apply it properly)

December 28, 2022

Building a new PC can be a daunting task, but this experience can also be very exciting.

6 Best High-Quality Texture Sites (Free & Paid)

May 9, 2022

You’re done with modeling, UV unwrapping, and are ready to go.

Our 5 Favorite Low Profile CPU Coolers (for Small Form Factor Builds)

May 9, 2022

Looking for a great low-profile CPU cooler that fits your needs can be time-consuming.

Best Online Render Farms – Our Top 10 Favorite CPU & GPU Render Farms

May 9, 2022

Rendering too slow?

Everything About the Blender Undo, Redo, Repeat Last, and Adjust Last Operations

May 9, 2022

In this article, I will be explaining to you in great detail all of the possible ways you can undo, redo, repeat, and modify an operation in Blender.

Pro vs. Consumer GPUs – What’s the difference & Why so expensive?

April 14, 2022

If you’re looking for a graphics card that suits the demanding requirements of pro-level software, chances are your pro-software’s vendor recommends a Quadro or Radeon Pro GPU.

Do You need a CPU Cooler? All cases where you’ll need a CPU Cooler explained.

November 8, 2021

Whether you need a CPU Cooler or not might seem like a bit of an obvious question to some, but it can certainly be confusing to newcomers.

Best Low-Profile & Compact Graphics Cards (GPU) for your needs [2024 Guide]

August 12, 2023

If you’re looking to build a compact PC, whether it’s for gaming, work, or to use as a home theater (or a server), low-profile GPUs a must-have.

How long does Thermal Paste last? (Applied and Stored)

December 28, 2022

Thermal paste is a thermally conductive compound mostly used as an interface between a chip and a heatsink.

How much VRAM do you need? Professional and Gaming Workloads explored

May 9, 2022

Raw clock speeds and processing cores are not the only factors to consider when picking a graphics card.

Guide to PCIe Lanes: How many do you need for your workload?

December 10, 2022

When choosing the motherboard and processor for a PC build, a feature we see most builders often overlook is picking the right amount of PCIe lanes.

Adobe Lightroom CC & Lightroom Classic System Requirements and Recommendations

February 8, 2023

Post-processing and image management tools are crucial assets for any kind of photographer.

How to move the Camera in Blender (All possible ways)

September 25, 2021

Camera movement is one of the key elements to any animation, representing the lens through which the viewer sees your animated creation, framing and visually narrating the action (or inaction) displayed.

Adobe Illustrator System Requirements (And PC Recommendations)

February 8, 2023

Whether you’re a professional graphics designer working in Adobe Illustrator or a new talent that’s picking up the industry-standard program, it’s crucial to figure out Adobe Illustrator’s system requirements, first, to know what it’ll take to perform smoothly.

Best Workstation PC for DaVinci Resolve Studio [2024 Guide]

February 8, 2023

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video editing package in a unique market position.

Adobe After Effects System Requirements & PC Recommendations

May 9, 2022

Adobe After Effects is one of the most popular Motion Design & Compositing software on the market.

How to Update Blender (All possible ways)

May 9, 2022

Over the past few years, Blender’s industry adoption rate has skyrocketed, with the extra exposure and interest driving the contributions to the Blender Development Fund up.

CPU FAN vs. CPU OPT (When to use which)

December 12, 2022

Wondering what the difference between all those fan headers on your motherboard is?

Adobe Premiere Pro System Requirements & PC Recommendations

May 9, 2022

Video Editing is more accessible than ever.

NVLink vs. SLI and Multiple GPUs – Is it worth it?

May 9, 2022

It’s a reasonable enough assumption to make that if one new graphics card (GPU) can speed up your work by X amount, two will do the job twice as fast, right?

Best Renderers (Render Engines) for Blender in 2023

January 3, 2023

Blender is finally shedding its “quirky kid around the block” attire and donning a more serious and respected “3D powerhouse” one.

How to upgrade your PC (Beginner’s Guide)

February 8, 2023

Upgrading your system is an exciting experience that comes with a lot of benefits:

Adobe Photoshop System Requirements & PC-Recommendations

February 8, 2023

Adobe Photoshop is the most popular photo editor in the world.

How to check your PC’s Specs (CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage & More)

May 9, 2022

There are many reasons why you would want to check your PC’s specs.

How to Render Faster – In-Depth Guide to increasing Render Performance in 3D

September 3, 2022

We all want to render faster.

Cinebench R23 Scores [Updated Results]

January 9, 2024

There’s a newer version of Cinebench Available Here.

The Best Thermal Paste for your needs (Beginner’s Guide)

May 14, 2022

Every PC enthusiast knows that a cool PC is the best PC.

AMD Graphics Cards List in Order of Performance

May 11, 2022

There are so many different AMD Graphics Cards for purchase that it can get confusing at times.

Best Workstation PC For 3ds Max [Updated Guide]

February 8, 2023

Autodesk’s 3ds Max is as popular as it is demanding on your hardware.

Best PC / Workstation for Autodesk Revit [Updated Guide]

February 8, 2023

Revit is a powerful building information modeling (BIM) software that allows users to design buildings and their components in 3D, detail them in 2D and 3D, and access building information from the model’s database.

Best Workstation PC for ArchiCAD [2024 Guide]

January 3, 2023

ArchiCAD is a Building information modeling (BIM) CAD package developed by Graphisoft and used by students and professionals worldwide for architectural design and engineering, as well as architectural 3D modeling.

Fix Jumpy Mouse Movement across multiple Monitors (Free tool)

August 15, 2022

If you are working on multiple Monitors, chances are high that you have cursed Windows for not being able to properly move your mouse across them.

Render Engine Hardware Compatibility – CPU / GPU / Hybrid

May 9, 2022

This is one of the first things you need to know when planning a new PC for Rendering Workloads:

Best CPU Cooler for Intel i9-10900K

May 2, 2022

Intel’s i9 10900k Processor is an exceptionally powerful CPU.

How to Build your own Render Farm [Ultimate Guide]

August 11, 2022

Although building your own Render Farm might seem like an expensive or complicated endeavor at first, you’ll be astonished by how fast it pays for itself, how much time it frees up in a typical work-day, and you’ll wonder why you haven’t started building one much earlier.

Author: Alex Glawion