Why Bluetooth headphones sound bad when the mic turns on
Music sounds fine until you join voice chat? Learn why Windows changes Bluetooth audio, how to test a separate mic, and when LE Audio can keep stereo.
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Hardware
Posts tagged Hardware, newest first.
1ms GtG vs 1ms MPRT: What Monitor Specs Mean
Both monitor specs can say “1ms,” but GtG and MPRT describe different things. See how MSI's specifications illustrate the difference, what ClearMR adds and which mode details to check.
BitLocker recovery after a BIOS update: what to do next
BitLocker can ask for its recovery key after a BIOS or UEFI change because the TPM sees a different startup state. Learn what to check now and how to prepare before the next update.
“Display driver stopped responding and has recovered”: what to check
A brief screen flash can mean Windows recovered a graphics timeout. Learn what the message tells you, what to record, how to roll back a recent driver update, and when to get hardware support.
Do You Still Need to Eject a USB Drive in Windows 11?
Quick removal changes how Windows handles cached writes. Learn when to eject USB storage, how to check its policy and what to do when a drive is still in use.
USB-C monitor not working? Check the port, cable and dock
Laptop charging but the USB-C monitor stays blank? Check video support, choose the right cable and isolate dock problems with a one-monitor Windows test.
Stop USB Drives Opening Apps with Windows 11 AutoPlay
Choose what happens when you connect a USB drive: open a folder, show a prompt or take no action. Set and test Windows 11 AutoPlay without disabling the drive.
Why your PlayStation controller shows Xbox prompts on PC
Your DualSense works, but a PC game shows Xbox prompts? Test Steam Input per game and learn when the game’s own button art is the limit.
Reset a Windows 11 PC Before Selling It: What to Back Up, Wipe and Check
Back up your files, choose the right Windows 11 reset settings, clean the drive for an ordinary sale and check what remains in cloud accounts.
Windows 11 SSD Health: Warnings and Life Estimate
Windows can report degraded NVMe reliability even when its life estimate looks high. Find the health page, understand its readings, and know what to back up first.
Frame generation vs FPS: what the extra frames actually change
Learn what frame generation adds, how it differs from upscaling, why displayed FPS is not the whole responsiveness story, and how to test it in your game.
Why games can stutter when a new effect appears
A first-use hitch may come from shader or pipeline preparation—but resource loading can look similar. Compare the same scene twice before changing settings.
Can You Charge a Laptop with USB-C? Check These 3 Specs
USB-C is a connector, not a promise that your laptop can charge from every port. Check the model's input, the charger's single-port USB-PD output and the cable rating; power banks need a separate capacity check.
File too large for your USB drive? Check FAT32 first
A USB drive can have plenty of free space and still reject one large file. Learn how to check FAT32's limit, choose between exFAT and NTFS, and protect your files before reformatting.
NVIDIA App vs GeForce Experience: What Changed in 2024?
NVIDIA App left beta on 12 November 2024. See what it brought together, which Control Panel options were still missing, and whether GeForce Experience users should switch.
What an 80 PLUS Rating Tells You About a PC Power Supply
Bronze and Gold grades describe efficiency at set loads. See the 115 V and 230 V thresholds, work through a wall-power example, and check an exact PSU certificate.
USB-C SSD Speed: Match the Port, Drive and Cable Before You Buy
USB-C describes the connector, not the transfer rate. Check the computer port, external SSD, cable and any hub to understand the connection's speed ceiling before you buy.
Intel’s 0x129 BIOS update: check your 13th- or 14th-gen PC
Intel’s 0x129 microcode update is delivered through BIOS releases, not Windows Update. Check the exact system model, follow the vendor’s notes and contact support if crashes are already occurring.
XMP or EXPO? Enable Your RAM Profile and Check Its Speed
If your memory is running below the speed printed on its box, a BIOS profile may be disabled. Check compatibility, enable XMP or EXPO, and confirm the reported rate.
V-Sync, VRR or an FPS Cap? A Practical Guide to Screen Tearing
Learn what V-Sync, variable refresh rate and FPS caps each do, then choose a setting to test against screen tearing on your PC.