Ben Wilson
Ben is the editor for everything in our tech channel at Windows Central, including desktop PCs, the components inside, and practically any accessory. Since most of this hardware tends to be compatible with Xbox, he also keeps an Xbox Series S close by for testing headsets, external storage, and anything with enough versatility to cover all the bases. A lifelong gamer since his first console, the SEGA Mega Drive, he has an affinity for taking things to pieces to see how they work.
Pursuing a recent career in technology journalism follows over a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support roles, offering repairs and recommendations to consumers. A personal hobby in custom PC building built a strong desire to follow the latest cutting-edge hardware in a never-ending search to find the parts genuinely worth buying. Always on the hunt for the best value for money, he's fueled by a steady diet of caffeinated drinks and coffee-flavored food.
Forever a Windows XP fan, he's keeping up with the latest releases from Microsoft but dabbles in Linux to experiment with the inner workings of Valve's Steam Deck handheld. He'll look out for your best interests if you're considering tinkering with hardware upgrades and want the best bang for your buck. Find him on BlueSky @benwilson.net to ask questions or share opinions.
Latest articles by Ben Wilson
Govee AI gaming sync box kit hands-on: The immersive lighting I always wanted them to make
By Ben Wilson published
Hands on The AI gaming sync box, or H6601 for its slightly shorter name, promises to give me everything I wanted in an HDMI pass-thru solution from Govee.
Save $150 on Samsung's curved 27" Odyssey 240Hz QHD monitor for ultra-immersive gaming
By Ben Wilson published
21% off The Odyssey G6 is a beautifully curved gaming monitor packed with high-end gaming specs, now available from Samsung with a massive discount.
Dell's new Precision workstations and 2-in-1 Latitude laptops are powerful and eco-friendly
By Ben Wilson published
Eco Dell 🌎 Dell announces a massive expansion to its Latitude and Precision ranges of business-focused laptops and creative workstations running Windows 11, powered by Intel.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Bing Chat Edition — ambitious but brief
By Ben Wilson published
🤡 A secret version of Skyrim could be hidden inside Bing Chat, powered by ChatGPT-4, but with a severe flaw that leaves me wanting more.
Bing Chat helps gamers discover and create the best-ever PC mods
By Ben Wilson published
AI modding Find the best PC game mods with the help of ChatGPT-powered AI assistants like Bing Chat and enhance your titles with community-made add-ons.
Valve responds to OLED Steam Deck requests: It’s harder than you think
By Ben Wilson published
NO-LED Valve hears the community's requests for an OLED upgrade to the Steam Deck and explains why incremental upgrades haven't happened yet.
Bing Chat explains the news to me like I'm a monkey — literally
By Ben Wilson published
Smart monkey 🍌 Artificial intelligence is complex and scary for some, but Bing Chat calms my monkey brain and helps me make sense of the world.
Double your Steam Deck storage for half the price with $45 off the best SD card
By Ben Wilson published
53% off 🔥 Don't miss out on the chance to unlock extra storage on your Steam Deck at a massive discount, saving cash on this portable gaming PC.
Why I'm still gaming: A defense of the Xbox Series S
By Ben Wilson published
Xbox 🤝 Deck There's been plenty of hatred towards the Xbox Series S on social media recently, so I'm here to defend my favorite little console and its portable buddy.
Cherry's new travel-sized keyboard is a wireless wonder
By Ben Wilson published
Tiny typer Cherry's KW 9200 Mini is the renowned manufacturer's latest portable and rechargeable wireless keyboard.
Buggy NVIDIA driver 531.18 bloating some CPUs after gaming
By Ben Wilson published
+10% CPU NVIDIA's latest GeForce Game Ready driver 531.18 brought RTX Video Super Resolution alongside an unfortunate CPU usage bug.
Alienware AW2723DF review: The perfect 27" IPS gaming monitor dominates in 240Hz+
By Ben Wilson published
Review Alienware offers the ultimate choice for a 27" IPS panel, with an overclocked refresh rate prioritizing ultra-smooth framerates, but is it worth the price?
Redditor brings ugly Windows 2000 aesthetics back to Windows 11 — and I love it
By Ben Wilson published
Nostalgia ❤ Stardock WindowBlinds combined with a fan-made theme makes this Redditor's Windows 11 desktop look like a time capsule from the millennium.
Best Steam Deck games 2024: 12 must-play classics
By Ben Wilson published
Top 12 Experience some of the best PC games practically anywhere with a selection from our Steam Deck roundup.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU half price for a limited time — save $150 on this mid-range gaming beast
By Ben Wilson published
DEAL AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X is discounted to almost half its usual MSRP for a limited time, don't miss out on this massive saving for a mid-range gaming CPU.
Aaron Greenberg visits Kojima Productions with Xbox Game Studios to discuss cloud engineering in cool hoodies
By Ben Wilson published
Xbox 🤝 Kojima Aaron Greenberg takes a trip to Tokyo, Japan, accompanied by Xbox Game Studios members to talk shop with Hideo Kojima and his team.
Dell's new XPS lineup: One desktop, two laptops — cutting-edge and customizable
By Ben Wilson published
New XPS Dell has refreshed its performance-grade XPS laptops and desktops with 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs and the latest NVIDIA RTX 40-series graphics.
Lenovo's Surface-like IdeaPad Duet 3i packs the Intel N-series CPU — but you won't find it in the US
By Ben Wilson published
Intel N Lenovo's new IdeaPad Duet 3i is a convertible 2-in-1 laptop featuring an energy-efficient Intel N-series CPU, set for release outside the US later this year.
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick review: Designed for Xbox, but it's better on PC
By Ben Wilson published
Review Turtle Beach aims for a broader crowd with the VelocityOne Flightstick designed for flight sims and space shooters on Xbox, but the console experience is flawed.
Save $200 on this Samsung 34" ultrawide monitor with FreeSync support
By Ben Wilson published
Deal At Walmart, Samsung is offering an ultra-affordable ultrawide monitor for a limited half-price sale. It's a fantastic opportunity to grab a 21:9 panel for less.
Secretlab's professional footrest takes better care of my posture than I do
By Ben Wilson published
Hands on Secretlab has all-new footrests to accompany its premium gaming chairs and sent me its adjustable steel option featuring hot-swappable top covers.
Rode's 5th Gen NT1 microphone supports XLR and USB with world's-first extras
By Ben Wilson published
Unclippable Rode's flagship NT1 condenser microphone has been updated with cutting-edge technology in this 5th Gen revision featuring unclippable 32-bit float recordings.
Microsoft needs a new mascot for a GPT-powered Windows — Clippy or Cortana?
By Ben Wilson published
Clippy 2: Clip Harder Bing Chat is revolutionizing the web and could do the same for Windows as an assistant with a different name; something better than Prometheus, anyway.