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How to set up Windows 11 Hyper-V virtual machines

By admin September 6, 2024

How to set up Windows 11 Hyper-V virtual machines, You can create Hyper-V VMs in Windows 11 using a built-in Windows app or a new developer-oriented tool. Both come with gotchas. Here’s how it all works.

Though it may seem that virtual machines, a.k.a. VMs, have been around forever, Microsoft introduced its first version of the Hyper-V virtualization environment as part of Windows Server 2008. Hyper-V and its VMs didn’t appear in a Windows desktop operating system until May 2012 with the Windows 8 technical preview.

Since then, however, Hyper-V VMs have come to represent approximately 1 in every 10 VMs in global use. This is no small number, given that the cloud more or less runs on VMs of one kind or another. We’re talking billions and billions (and not hamburgers, either).

That said, Windows 11 users and admins have plenty of good reasons to run VMs on PCs on a vastly smaller scale than in the cloud. Among them are:

• The ability to run multiple OSes, including various versions of Windows 10 and 11 (or older, unsupported versions), Linux, and more, side-by-side. Among other benefits, this lets users run legacy applications not compatible with Windows 11.

• Supports virtual networks, complete with virtualized gateways, routers, servers, and network nodes on one or more private or public networks.

• Supports easy isolation and testing, useful to testing software, experimenting with specific configurations, and avoiding device or software conflicts with the host PC.

• Enables superior backup and disaster recovery capabilities, thanks to checkpoint and snapshot mechanisms, with recovery to other PCs or into the cloud easily done.

• Works through remote access and management, so that VMs can be maintained across multiple devices and locations, with secure boot, live migration, and lots of options for network storage.

Microsoft provides two tools for creating Hyper-V VMs in Windows 11. In this guide I’ll provide some background, discuss how to use each tool, and detail the drawbacks each entails.

How to set up Windows 11 Hyper-V virtual machines

Understanding VMs and hypervisors

Hyper-V is a kind of hypervisor: a program that can create, run, and manage one or more virtual machines on some kind of physical computer. Essentially, a hypervisor creates a runtime environment in which an administrator can define the properties of one or more VMs that run in its embrace.

Such properties include virtual processors and cores, virtual memory, virtual storage, virtual networking connections, and a virtualized operating system. VMs use such resources to run commands, programs, and more, each inside its own independent and isolated runtime environment.

From inside a VM, Windows looks and runs as it would on any computer. From outside the VM, the hypervisor handles interactions with the host OS and translates between virtual resources allocated to the VM and physical resources made available to the hypervisor.

PCs that run Hyper-V Manager (the hypervisor built into Windows) or other hypervisors, such as VMware Workstation, are called host PCs, where individual VMs function as hypervisor clients.

Requirements for a Windows 11 VM

Because a Windows VM represents an instance of a virtualized Windows operating system, Windows 11 VMs inherit the system requirements for Windows 11 itself. Hyper-V adds additional items to this list (they’re preceded by an asterisk):

• * Windows Edition: Windows 11 Enterprise, Education, or Pro. (Windows 11 Home does not support Hyper-V.)

• CPU: A 1.0GHz (or faster), 64-bit ARM or x86 CPU that supports second-level address translation (SLAT is its Intel name, RVI its AMD name, and “Stage-2 page tables” is what ARM calls it) is needed to run Windows 11 inside Hyper-V. Windows 11 also imposes CPU requirements for SSE4.2 instruction support for 24H2 or newer OS versions (specifically, the POPCNT instruction must be available).

• RAM: Windows 11 VMs need at least 4GB of RAM to operate, ideally on a physical PC equipped with 8GB RAM (or more). For Windows PCs that will run Hyper-V, you’ll want at least 4GB of RAM for the base OS and at least 4GB more for each VM you want to run in parallel. Thus, a Windows 11 PC with 32GB of RAM could handle up to seven Windows 11 VMs, but no more than that. Fewer is better, in fact.

• Graphics: The physical PC should support DirectX 12 or higher as well as a WDDM 2.0 (or higher) driver. Display resolution to accommodate a VM window should be 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) or better. This is the same as for the Windows 11 OS itself.

• * VM generation: VMs come in two forms: Generation 1 and Generation 2. A Gen 1 VM uses BIOS firmware and supports only limited hardware devices and features. A Gen 2 VM uses UEFI firmware and supports a much wider range of hardware devices and features. Microsoft recommends that admins always create generation 2 VMs if they can. Indeed, Windows 11 works only on a Gen 2 VM.

• Other noteworthy requirements: The physical PC should support the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot. Nearly all PCs built in mid-2018 or later should meet these requirements with ease, although TPM 2.0 must be enabled on some PCs.

Today, there are two ways to set up a Hyper-V VM in Windows 11: the standard way, and a developer-oriented way. The standard way uses Hyper-V Manager to create and configure VMs. The developer-oriented way, which made its debut in April 2024, uses a Microsoft utility named Dev Home (Preview). It’s available from the Microsoft Store.

As you will see, the developer-oriented way is simpler and less fraught with obstacles than the traditional one. But there’s a catch, as I’ll explain in the Dev Home section below.

Creating VMs with Hyper-V Manager

Although Hyper-V is included with modern Windows versions, it is not enabled by default. Thus, you must first turn Hyper-V on using the Windows Features element from Control Panel (Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off).

Turn on Hyper-V Manager

Click the top-level Hyper-V item. When you do so, you’re turning on both the Hyper-V platform itself (Hyper-V Platform) and Hyper-V Management Tools to run VMs through the Hyper-V Manager or through some remote access toolset (e.g., the Remote Desktop Connection, a.k.a. mstsc.exe, or the Remote Desktop app, ID=9WZDNCRFJ3PS).

I usually turn on the item labeled Windows Hypervisor Platform as well, as shown in Figure 1. Once you’ve selected these items, click OK and Windows will install and enable them for you.

Figure 1: Turn on top-level Hyper-V and the Windows Hypervisor Platform elements.

Windows Features will find, install and enable the elements necessary to run Hyper-V Manager — and along with it, the support necessary to run Hyper-V VMs inside its embrace. When Windows Features is done, it reports: “Windows completed the requested changes.” It also informs you that a reboot is needed to finish the installation process.

Thus, you must restart the PC before you can run or use the Hyper-V platform in any way. The easiest way to do that is simply to click the “Restart now” button at the lower right in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Click “Restart now” to get your PC ready for Hyper-V VM action!

Ed Tittel / IDG

After the reboot, typing “hyper” into the Start menu search box brings Hyper-V Manager up as its first choice, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Once rebooted, Hyper-V Manager is ready to run.

Ed Tittel / IDG

Run VM Quick Create using a provided OS

Accessing Hyper-V Manager from its host desktop — also known as running local, or local invocation — turns out to be the easiest way to set up a Hyper-V VM. The first time Hyper-V Manager is run, there’s literally nothing to see because no VMs are known to it yet. As you can see in Figure 4, each of the center panes for Hyper-V Manager reports “No VMs” or “No item.”

Figure 4: When run for the first time, Hyper-V Manager shows precisely nothing.

Ed Tittel / IDG

If you click Quick Create, the top item in the right-hand menu you can soon remedy this situation. By default, Microsoft provides pointers to various predefined runtime environments, including evaluation versions of Windows 10 and 11 aimed at developers and (until early July) three different Long Term Servicing (LTS) branches for Ubuntu Linux (which may be freely offered to anyone who’s interested).

The right-hand side of Figure 5 shows the details for the “Windows 11 dev environment” item, an evaluation copy worth installing as a short-lived example. Select the OS you want to install and click Create Virtual Machine.

Figure 5: Select Windows 11 dev environment (left), then click Create Virtual Machine (lower right).

Ed Tittel / IDG

This downloads a ~21GB Windows image file. (On my Lenovo P16 Mobile Workstation, a 12th-Gen x86 platform, that took about 5 minutes to complete, including image verification.) Then, Hyper-V Manager creates a VM, extracts the virtual boot/system disk, verifies the image again, and completes (this takes another 5 minutes or so), as announced in Figure 6. Click Connect to hook up the new test VM inside Hyper-V Manager.

Figure 6: VM successfully created. Next step: click Connect.

Ed Tittel / IDG

What happens next is that Hyper-V Manager opens a virtual machine window. You must start the VM to turn it on, as shown in Figure 7. If you were using an ISO (covered in a moment), this is when the process of installing Windows inside the VM would occur.

Figure 7: Before you can interact with a VM, you must start it up: click Start!

Ed Tittel / IDG

But because Microsoft has so kindly provided us with a predefined, ready-to-run VM for this development environment, clicking Start launches a boot-up screen (“Getting ready”) that grinds away for a minute or so. After that you’ll be able to log in to a Windows 11 desktop (account name User, no password). There’s your first Hyper-V VM!

Though this takes at least 15 minutes to work through, it’s about as fast and easy as creating a VM ever gets. Figure 8 shows the VM running inside a Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection window (see the legend on the title bar for confirmation).

Figure 8: The Windows 11 Dev Environment VM start menu shows a developer focus.

Ed Tittel / IDG

Setting up a VM from a predefined virtual hard disk (.vhdx file and configuration information) is incredibly simple. Basically, it means turning on and running an already set up VM that’s more or less ready to run.

VM Quick Create using an ISO

You can see another option for creating VMs if you look back to Figure 5, where you can navigate into a “Local installation source” by clicking that button at the lower left corner of the “Create Virtual Machine” window. This lets you navigate into local drives and pick an ISO — a disk image format used for Windows installations — from which to run VM setup. (See “The best places to find Windows ISOs” for some reliable sources.)

That approach offers the ability to pick any Windows version you might like, but because it requires OS installation into a new VM, it takes longer to work through. There’s more effort involved in getting configuration right, too.

By clicking the Local Installation source button shown in Figure 5 and navigating to the root of my E:\ drive where a May 30 Windows 11 Insider Preview ISO resides, I made it a target for a Hyper-V VM. You can see the results of this election in Figure 9, from whence you must click Create Virtual Machine (lower right) to proceed further with a local ISO.

Figure 9: By targeting an ISO through File Explorer, you open VM creation options to whatever the file system can see.

Ed Tittel / IDG

This time when you click Create Virtual Machine, the Hyper-V wizard works from the ISO. Because I accepted all defaults, this VM shows up as “New Virtual Machine” in Hyper-V Manager. I right-clicked that string in the top center pane (“Virtual Machines” and selected Rename from the pop-up menu to call it “Win11.26100.” It appears as such in Figure 10.

Figure 10: Renamed to Win11.26100 (for its primary Windows 11 build number), the new VM must now be installed.

Because we’re working from an ISO file, we must now install this OS image before it can run as a VM. This is where timing becomes sensitive: once you click Connect, then click the Start button, you must be ready to hit the proverbial “any key” (because any key will do) to start the installer running. If you wait too long, you’ll see a PXE boot message instead, and the install will go no further. Be prepared and act fast!

If all goes well, you’ll see the Windows 11 setup screen “Select language settings.” After that, it’s just matter of marching through the Windows install process, so I won’t track that further except to note that you will need a valid product key for whatever version of Windows you’re installing.

By default, you will encounter a problem: At some point, you’ll get the error message “This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements.” That’s because Hyper-V Manager Quick Create does not enable the Trusted Platform Module (TPM: special, secure chip-level storage used for hardware keys and other highly sensitive system data) by default.

Turn off the VM (click Action in the top menu, then click Turn off). In the main Hyper-V Manager screen, select the VM you’re installing (in this case, Win11.26100), then click the Settings option at the lower right. This opens the Settings page for the Win11.26100 VM. Click on Security. In the Security pane, you will see that while Secure Boot is enabled, TPM is not. Check the Enable Trusted Platform Module checkbox, as shown in Figure 11. Then click Apply and then OK.

Figure 11: TPM must be enabled before Windows 11 may be installed. Hyper-V Manager neglects to do this by default, so you must do so manually.

Now when you click Connect and get into the installer, it should run to the end.

Once the process is complete (it took another 40 minutes or so on my beefy P16 Mobile Workstation), you’ll see a typical Windows in a VM window. There you are: another VM for your Hyper-V collection.

Full-blown VM creation

In addition to the Quick Create option, Hyper-V Manager also offers a New > Virtual Machine option, as show in Figure 12. This provides more direct access to the various settings and selections possible when creating a Hyper-V VM.

Figure 12: The New > Virtual Machine action provides more control over details when creating a new VM.

Ed Tittel / IDG

Using this option opens a New Virtual Machine Wizard that walks you through the entire VM specification process, as shown in Figure 13. As you can see, it lets you specify a name, choose a file system location, select a VM generation, assign memory, and handle networking, virtual hard disk, and installation details. (Alas, you must still manage the TPM setting yourself manually, as described in the preceding section.)

Figure 13: The New Virtual Machine Wizard takes users through VM creation and settings, step-by-step.

In the screenshots that follow, I’ll create a new Windows 11 VM for version 24H2 (Build 26100.863) downloaded from the Insider Preview downloads page. Figure 14 shows the Specify Name and Location screen, where I’ve named the VM Win11.24H2. It uses the default storage location for a virtual hard disk file.

Figure 14: The VM name is set to Win11.24H2, after which you click Next to continue.

By default, all Hyper-V VMs are designated Generation 1. Since Generation 1 doesn’t support Windows 11 VM requirements, you must select the Generation 2 radio button to install a Windows 11 VM, as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15: Click the Generation 2 radio button to meet Windows 11 VM requirements.

The next step is to allocate 8GB (8,192MB) of RAM (double the default) for the Win11.24H2 VM, as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16: Double the defaults (8GB instead of 4GB) this time around, please.

The next step is to select the Default Switch option for the Connection field under the Configure Networking heading, as shown in Figure 17. Here again, it’s important to note the default is “Not connected,” which means the VM cannot access any networks. Default Switch enables the VM to connect to the networks to which the host PC has access. If you have other switches defined in your host configuration, they should appear in the pull-down menu for this VM setup item (and you’ll be able to use them, if you like).

Figure 17: Use Default Switch if you want the VM to have network (and internet) access.

The next step is to connect a virtual hard disk for the VM to use. Here again we’ll use the default location mentioned earlier. Other options include “Use an existing virtual hard disk” (this is how the dev environment described earlier gets its contents) and “Attach a virtual hard disk later” (allows users to otherwise finish configuring a VM without allocating or linking to a virtual hard disk). See Figure 18 for the details for Win11.24H2.vhdx.

Figure 18: This represents the default allocation (127GB) for Hyper-V VM virtual hard disks.

Next comes the fun part: providing a file system link to an ISO and electing how (or if) to install that image. This reads “Installation Options” on the left-hand side. In this case, we’ll link to the ISO I downloaded from the Insider Preview downloads page, and tell it to install the OS from that file, as shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19: The selected radio button instructs the installer to find a specific Windows 11 ISO file.

At this point, the wizard is finished, so click Summary on the left to show your work so far. It will show all the settings you’ve made. Click Finish to complete the VM creation process. Then, you’ll return to Hyper-V Manager, where you now see a VM named Win11.24H2 in the upper center “Virtual Machines” pane, as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20: The new VM, Win11.24H2, is turned off. That’s good!

Ed Tittel / IDG

You could try to connect to and start the install process for Win11.24H2 now, but we know one more change is needed — namely, to enable TPM under the new VM’s Security settings, as detailed before Figure 11 above. Once you’ve done so, you can get going on the install for this Windows 11 OS image, as described earlier in this story as well.

We’re done with the introduction to Hyper-V Manager and creating VMs. Now it’s time to dig into some down and dirty details.

A big Hyper-V Manager gotcha: remote VM access

By definition, all VM access is remote — that is, there’s no physical mouse, keyboard, or monitor attached to any VM. To interact with a VM, you must map virtual stuff onto real stuff — including the aforementioned peripherals but also CPUs, RAM, storage, networking, and yadda yadda yadda. Remember further that remote access is one of the benefits of VMs: indeed, they should readily support access across any network connection to a parent hypervisor.

Alas, when a remote connection uses the Windows remote desktop protocol (RDP) through Remote Desktop Connection or the Remote Desktop app, and that hypervisor is Hyper-V, things can get interesting. Let me explain how this can present obstacles above and beyond the gotchas I’ve already mentioned (issues getting the Windows Installer to start up for an ISO-based install, and the need to enable TPM for that install to actually work).

For starters, you can’t start a new Windows 11 VM from inside an RDP session, as it seeks to read and mount the targeted Windows 11 ISO to run its Setup.exe. For whatever odd reason, this works only from a local login on the host PC (not in an RDP session). If you click the Start button shown in Figure 7 in an RDP session, the VM won’t boot to run Setup.exe.

Indeed, if you click Start, you’ll get a black screen in the VM window, instead of running the Windows 11 installer. You must turn off the VM (click Action in the top menu, then click Turn off). Then click the Start button shown in Figure 7 from the physical host PC, using the local mouse or keyboard. Once Setup.exe is running, however, an RDP session shows the VM as you’d expect to see it, with the initial Windows 11 installer screen (see Figure 21).

Figure 21: Once Setup.exe is running, you can RDP into the VM, if you wish.

The next gotcha that makes itself felt occurs after you elect the Install now option that appears next. You will find you cannot copy and paste a Windows activation key into the Activate Windows prompt shown in Figure 22. Why? Because this only works in an enhanced session inside RDP, and you can’t elect that option until after Windows 11 is installed. Indeed, fixing this requires some fiddling to the Windows Hello login options. (Turned on by default, they don’t work with an enhanced session that permits copying and pasting from outside the RDP session into that session.)

Figure 22: When you get to the key prompt in Activate Windows, you’ll discover you cannot copy and paste a text key. Manual entry only!

You’ll have to enter the 25-character (letters and numbers) string for your chosen Windows key manually. Or you can use the 30-day eval for the Windows 11 developer environment instead (no key required but access doesn’t last very long).

But there’s one more RDP gotcha to surmount: you can’t log in to your new desktop until you uncheck the “Enhanced session” option in the View menu for the RDP session. Once you do that and log in, click Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, then turn off the toggle under “Additional settings” that reads For improved security…, as shown in Figure 23. Then you can switch back to an enhanced session and log in using a password or a PIN.

Figure 23: Note that “Enhanced session” in the View menu up top is unchecked. Turn off the toggle under “Additional settings.” Then you can re-enable that option so that cut and paste will work in RDP.

Getting past plain-vanilla VMs

Thanks to our earlier efforts in this story, you’ve got yourself some working Windows 11 VMs set up mostly using Hyper-V Manager’s defaults. By setting up the plain-vanilla, all-default Win11.26100 VM via Quick Create and the slightly modified Win11.24H2 VM that follows it through the New Virtual Machine Wizard, you can learn a lot about what makes a VM tick, as well as provisioning defaults.

Those defaults will change according to the configuration of the host physical PC on which Hyper-V Manager runs. That is, machines with fewer cores, less RAM, and less storage will produce default VMs with fewer cores, less RAM, and less storage than those machines with more cores, more RAM and more storage, like the formidable Lenovo P16 Mobile Workstation I used as my test machine, with 24 cores, 64GB RAM, and ~4 TB total storage, 2 TB on the boot/system drive.

In most cases, the defaults that Hyper-V Manager chooses for the VMs it creates on your behalf work reasonably well. For those already familiar with Hyper-V, feel free to change values up or down. IMO, reducing values from their defaults doesn’t make too much sense except perhaps for special cases (or underwhelming physical PCs).

For more info on Hyper-V and VMs: Microsoft Learning offers a free 45-minute module entitled “Configure and Manage Hyper-V virtual machines” for those who want more details. Also, there’s a series of tutorials at Windows 11 Forum under its Virtualization heading (54 in all, across a range of VM topics) for those who really want all the minutiae.

Creating VMs with Dev Home (Preview)

When Microsoft released v0.13 of its Dev Home (Preview) developer toolbox on April 23, 2024, I noticed they added support for “Environments” as something new. Microsoft explains that environments provide “… the ability to create, manage, and configure Hyper-V VMs and Microsoft Dev Boxes” (see the GitHub Dev Home Preview v0.13 release notes).

Many readers may be indifferent to Dev Boxes (an Azure service to enhance developer productivity through self-service access to preconfigured, project-oriented development environments in the cloud via Azure, for which a subscription is required). If those readers want to use Hyper-V VMs, however, they should NOT be indifferent to its VM capabilities, which require Windows 11 22H2 or later.

Because I’m only too familiar with the gotchas outlined in the previous section that can impede creation (and use) of VMs through Hyper-V Manager, I wanted to see if Dev Home (Preview) could do any better. I deliberately used an RDP session to run Dev Home on a remote PC. Inside Dev Home, I opened the Environments option, shown with a small blue highlight bar to its left in Figure 24.

Figure 24: Home Dev Environments shows existing VMs along with “New Virtual Machine.”

Notably, Dev Home brought up all VMs already defined on the P16, and their status (Stopped, Running, Saved); I guess that means they count as “Environments” from the tool’s perspective. More notably, clicking the Create Environment button at the upper right sped me through the steps to create a new Hyper-V VM:

1.Select Microsoft Hyper-V as the “environment provider.”

2.Enter NewVM2 in the field tagged “New virtual machine name.”

3.Select the 30-day evaluation for the “Windows 11 dev environment” as the Windows OS image source (it’s labeled an “Environment” below), purely as a test, as shown in Figure 25.

4.Click Create Environment (see lower right, Figure 25).

Figure 25: This screen shows you’ve chosen the Microsoft-supplied “Windows 11 dev environment” as your image source for a new VM.

Once you’ve clicked the Create Environment button, be prepared to wait a while. Dev Home must download the Windows 11 dev environment (over 20GB in size), then extract its interior files. On the P16 Mobile Workstation, that took about 15 minutes. Dev Home does report progress during this process, as you can see in Figure 26, which shows the download 76% complete.

Figure 26: Progress in downloading the ISO for the Windows 11 dev environment stands at 76%.

When the extraction process ends, the ISO is mounted and the VM ready to launch. You’ll see Environment information for your new VM (NewVM2, in this case) like that shown in Figure 27. You must click the Launch button (far right) to start the VM installation process.

Figure 27: Click the Launch button to fire off the Windows installer for the VM’s OS.

When you do that, a small VM window opens to present you with a Start button to fire things off. Figure 28 depicts that VM window: click that Start button!

Figure 28: Click the Start button to put Setup.exe to work to install the VM’s OS.

This starts the VM, which fires off the ISO image’s Setup.exe, at which point you’ll see a larger VM window labelled Hyper-V and a circular progress indicator. Then, you’ll be asked to size the VM window for further display (I recommend at least 1680 x 1050). At this point, a login window for a generic “User” (no password) appears, as shown in Figure 29. Remarkably, this took two minutes or less to complete. Click Sign in to get to the desktop.

Figure 29: Because the predefined User account requires no password, click “Sign in” and you’re done.

The next thing you’ll see is the NewVM2 desktop, a mostly bare-bones Windows 11 install that also includes Visual Studio 2022 and Ubuntu on Windows. It’s running the current build as I write this for an Enterprise Evaluation (22621.3447) version. I also checked: you cannot use a valid Windows 11 Enterprise key to activate this install (it rejects all keys).

But here we are, having installed a working Hyper-V VM for Windows 11 from start to finish inside an RDP session! Thus, the Dev Home approach completely sidesteps all gotchas one encounters when using Hyper-V manager, to wit:

• There’s no need to stop the VM after its first start, visit its Security settings and check the Enable TPM option as in Hyper-V Manager. Home Dev is smart enough to handle this in the background.

• It starts, installs and boots from inside an enhanced RDP session. No local login is required to start up the VM to run setup.exe for the first time.

• Built-in support for enhanced sessions also fixes the missing login prompt problem once the VM is up and running. There’s no need to tweak sign-in options, either. In fact, the OS doesn’t even show the “Only allow Hello logins” entry under Additional settings in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options as shown in Figure 4 earlier.

• Because enhanced sessions are turned on by default, you can cut and paste strings from outside the RDP session into the RDP session. That’s how I determined that a valid Windows 11 Enterprise key did not work to re-key the Windows 11 Dev image that Dev Home downloads and uses.

There’s just one problem: Dev Home environments don’t let you grab an arbitrary local ISO on a drive. You can only use Environments that Microsoft makes available (these are essentially the same as the “gallery images” shown in Figure 9 earlier in this story).

For any other Windows images you might want to run as VMs, you must use Hyper-V Manager and its quick or slow create processes — that is, unless Microsoft responds to my feature request to add access to local ISOs to Dev Home’s existing image options when creating a VM.

Net-Net: It really could be easier

What I learned from digging into Dev Home and its capabilities — especially when using RDP — is that it’s entirely possible for Microsoft to update and rationalize its Hyper-V VM creation process. Whether or not they choose to do so is up to them. I certainly hope they’ll figure this out, and do just that.

Ideally, Microsoft would fix Hyper-V Manager to make it Windows 11-aware (and friendly). And then they might add local ISO access to image selection options in Dev Home. Frankly, I’d be happy with either of these approaches (you can always tweak a VM created in Dev Home in Hyper-V Manager through its many Settings categories and options). Although it would be great to see both happen, I’m not holding my breath…

How to set up Hyper-V on Windows 11,
Hyper-V Windows 11 virtual machine guide,
Windows 11 Hyper-V setup tutorial,
Create virtual machines with Hyper-V on Windows 11,
Windows 11 Hyper-V installation steps,
Hyper-V virtual machine configuration Windows 11,
Enable Hyper-V on Windows 11 for virtual machines,
Hyper-V Windows 11 system requirements,
Virtual machine setup in Hyper-V for Windows 11,
Windows 11 Hyper-V best practices,
Configure virtual machines with Hyper-V in Windows 11,
Hyper-V vs VirtualBox for Windows 11,
Hyper-V Windows 11 network configuration,
Windows 11 Hyper-V enablement process,
Troubleshooting Hyper-V virtual machines in Windows 11

Hyper-V virtual machine setup guide,
How to create virtual machines in Hyper-V,
Hyper-V virtual machine tutorial,
Install and configure Hyper-V virtual machines,
Hyper-V virtual machine best practices,
Windows Hyper-V virtual machines,
Hyper-V virtual machine performance optimization,
Manage virtual machines in Hyper-V,
Hyper-V vs VMware for virtual machines,
Troubleshooting Hyper-V virtual machines,
Hyper-V virtual machine networking setup,
Hyper-V virtual machine requirements,
Backup Hyper-V virtual machines,
Hyper-V nested virtualization setup,
Hyper-V virtual machines on Windows 10

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Best dash cams 2024

By admin September 4, 2024

Best dash cams 2024, While you drive, there’s a lot happening, so a second pair of eyes can help you stay safe. A dash cam provides this extra vigilance and helps give you peace of mind while out on the road. The best dash cams monitor in high-res video what’s happening while you’re behind the wheel, with timestamps and GPS coordinates. They can even record while your car is parked, helping you keep tabs on your car while you’re away.

When choosing the best dash cam for your needs you should first consider if you want a front, front/interior, or front/rear model. Additionally, you’ll want to decide on how wide a viewing angle you’ll need. Then there are special features to take into account, such as voice control or parking assist. Since there are a number of reasons to use a dash cam, we understand that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. With that in mind, we’ve curated a list of the best dash cams of all types with various features and prices below.

For even more information on what to look for when buying a dash cam, scroll to our buyer’s guide under our best picks. And after you’ve bought a dash cam, save yourself some time and frustration by reading our guide on how to install a dash cam.

Updated August 20, 2024 to include our recent review of the Nexar Beam2 — a stylish two-channel dash cam that takes good captures which are automatically uploaded to the cloud via LTE, and offers an optional subscription service for connected geo-tagging, trip mapping, alerts, and accident sensing.

Nextbase 222X – Best budget front/rear dash cam

Pros

• Good front/rear-view day video

• Decent front/rear-view night captures

• 48-hour, battery-supported parking mode and after-incident capture

Cons

• Modest video quality compared to pricier Nextbase models

• Modular port, but no add-on modules

• No GPS

If you really want to save money, this Walmart-exclusive Nextbase 222X front-and-rear camera duo offers great value. The 1080p/720p video is a compromise, but video quality is still good, it has a nice magnetic mount, a clear 2.5-inch screen, and a battery-supported parking mode.

70mai 4K A810 – Best midrange front/rear dash cam

Pros

• Excellent front captures

• GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity

• Phone app

Cons

• So-so rear capture processing

• Non-standard rear camera cable

Best Prices Today:$152.99 at 70mai$179.99 at Amazon

The market today is now saturated with 4K-front/1080p-rear camera setups, but the 70mai 4K A810 stands out from the rest. It’s absolutely loaded with great features such as onboard GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for phone connectivity. The 3-inch IPS display provides a colorful and crisp image and it can be powered either via USB Type-A or Type-C cables. It also gives you advanced features like lane-departure and forward-collision warnings.

Best dash cams 2024

All of that plus the A810 captures crystal-clear 4K images with the front camera and 1080p with the rear camera. Most other competitors don’t offer nearly the same features or image quality for the price either. For these reasons, the 70mai 4K A810 is an absolute midrange bargain among dual-channel dash cams.

Cobra SC 400D – Best premium front/rear dash cam

Pros

• Excellent video captures, day and night, front and back

• 3-inch touchscreen display

• Voice control

• Alexa support (if you care)

• 2160p (4K UHD) if you want it

Cons

• Very expensive

• Rear camera isn’t removable

Best Prices Today:$374 at Amazon$399.99 at Best Buy

Our review of the Cobra SC 400D left us smitten. It’s pricey, yes, but it delivers the goods with stunning images—4K for the front, 1080p in the rear—day or night. In addition to that it has all the trappings of a premium product: a sturdy magnetic mount with integrated GPS, a crisp 3-inch touchscreen display, and Alexa support for finding businesses and the like when you are on the road. It can also be expanded with an optional 120-degree FOV cam for the interior.

Nextbase 622GW – Best premium front/rear runner-up

Pros

• Stellar day and night captures

• Modular add-on 1080p cameras provide interior and rear coverage

• Alexa voice control and automatic emergency notifications

Cons

• Expensive

Best Prices Today:$299.99 at Best Buy$374.99 at Amazon$399.99 at Nextbase

Prior to our review of the Cobra SC 400D above, the 622GW front/rear system was our hands-down favorite. And, really, it shares virtually all the same attributes as its rival—nice design and build quality, excellent day and night captures, drive mapping, a wonderful 3-inch display, emergency response to accidents, Alexa support, and the ability to add a third camera for interior views. Like the 400D, it carries a premium price tag. But in the end, you can’t go wrong with either model.

Viofo A229 Plus – Best 3-channel dash cam

Pros

• Front, interior, and rear cameras

• Discrete interior camera for versatile placement

• Colorful, detailed captures

• Rear captures are as good as the front captures

• Phone connectivity

Cons

• Lots of wires to hide

Best Prices Today:$269.99 at Amazon

A dash cam is all about monitoring and recording your surroundings, and for that it’s hard to beat a 3-channel system. Combining front view, interior view, and rear view, a 3-channel dash cam makes sure nothing is missed. The Viofo A229 Plus is our pick for best 3-channel system due to strong 1440p front and rear captures, 1080p interior captures, and a whole host of great additional features.

Not only do the front and rear view cameras offer solid resolutions, but the interior cam is discreet and all are easy to install. The Viofo A229 Plus also comes with an onboard mic for recording audio or receiving voice commands — an extremely convenient feature while driving. The A229 comes with GPS tagging, motion detection, and a parking mode as well. Needless to say, it’s chock-full of amenities and features. A 3-channel dash cam might not be for everyone, but if you need one, the Viofo A229 should be at the top of your list.

Vantrue N5 – Best for 360 degree view

Pros

• 4-channel, nearly surround coverage

• Good captures

• Embedded and watermarked GPS

• Voice control and phone connectivity

Cons

• Pricey

• Uses lots of storage

Best Prices Today:$399.99 at Vantrue

The Vantrue N5 offers the most complete coverage of any dash cam system we’ve ever seen. It comes with 4-channels including a front, rear, and dual cabin cameras (one in the front facing aft and another in the rear facing forwards). All of these cameras allow you to see not only what is happening outside your vehicle, but also within it, and they even catch some blind spots that front/rearview cameras might miss.

The N5 offers much more than just thorough coverage. It comes with watermarked GPS on board and excellent capture quality—the front cameras is capable of 1440p with superb night captures as well. You can also control the system via voice control and it offers great connectivity features as well. Overall, there is no other dash cam on the market that does a better job of capturing events in and around your car.

Miofive 4K – Best front-only dash cam

Pros

• Compact, fully integrated design

• Very affordable for 4K with GPS

• Friendly voice notifications

• 64GB of internal storage

• Good day and night captures

Cons

• Internal storage isn’t replaceable

• macOS won’t read the internal storage

Best Prices Today:$129.99 at Amazon

Prior to our review of the Miofive 4K, we would have tapped the Car and Driver Eye2 Pro as the best front-only dash cam with 4K, a fine product in its own right. But the Miofive costs $100 less, and offers integrated GPS as well as great video captures, 64GB of internal storage, a compact design, friendly voice notifications, and a super straightforward setup. So not only is this our favorite front dash cam with 4K, it’s our favorite front cam overall.

Garmin Dash Cam 57 – Best front-only runner-up

Pros

• Colorful, detailed captures day and night

• Small enough to hide behind your mirror

• Super-convenient magnetic mounting

• Phone and cloud connectivity

Cons

• No rear camera option

Best Prices Today:Not Available at Amazon

This small but mighty front dash cam has it all: great 1440p video with a 140-degree field of view, integrated GPS and driving assistance, good phone connectivity, an easy and convenient magnetic mounting system, and the backing of Garmin’s good name.

Viofo VS1 Mini 2K – Best tiny dash cam

Pros

• Super-small, handsome profile

• Very good day and night 1440p captures

• Voice commands/alerts and phone connectivity

• Integrated GPS

Cons

• No room for a display

Best Prices Today:$139.99 at Viofo

If you’re in the market for an unobtrusive, front-only cam that’s capable of capturing good-quality (1440p) day and night images, then the Viofo VS1 Mini 2K should be on your radar.

It only sweetens the deal that the VS1 Mini 2K also offers a GPS, along with voice commands and a phone-app interface, since the small size leaves no room for an on-unit display.

The camera’s body is tastefully styled, measure a mere 1.3 inches wide by 1.18 inches thick by approximately 2.85 inches tall, with a front lens that sits flush with the body. The unit easily slides in and out of a mount that affixes to your car with semi-permanent adhesive.

Support for voice commands let you operate the camera without distraction.

All in all, the VS1 Mini 2K has a clear edge over our previous favorite small dash-cam wonder, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2.

Cobra SC 201 – Best budget front/interior dash cam

Pros

• Excellent video, especially at night

• Front and interior cameras for ride-givers

• GPS with automatic setup

• Included 16GB SD card

Cons

• No captures without 12-volt

• Buggy software at the time of testing

• App does not support smartphones running Android 7 or older

Best Prices Today:$143.99 at Amazon$143.99 at Best Buy

Dash cams are all about capturing the action, and few do it better than the front/interior Cobra SC 201. The exterior night video, especially, is unsurpassed in its ability to show details in dark surroundings and it offers a laundry list of features including GPS and cloud uploads. The company even includes a 16GB SD card. It’s well worth the money for what you get—just don’t try to use the cloud functionality with an older phone OS.

Garmin Dash Cam Tandem – Best front/interior dash cam

Pros

• Very easy to install and use

• Compact profile

• Excellent magnetic mount

• 360-degree front/interior view (minus obstructions)

Cons

• Expensive

• Average captures

Best Prices Today:$246 at Amazon$299.99 at GarminNot Available at Adorama

Garmin’s front/interior camera is easy to install, features a compact body that helps it avoid detection, and has an excellent magnetic mount—all useful features that make up for the average 1440p/720p video capture quality. The Tandem doesn’t have a display; it nicely uses Bluetooth (as opposed to Wi-Fi) to connect to your phone, where Garmin’s easy-to-use app lets you configure settings—although the defaults are spot-on.

What to look for in a dash cam

We’ll step you through what to think about when you’re shopping for a dash cam, from video capabilities, recording options, power connections, and more.

Video capabilities

• Dual-channel support: This is what you’ll need if you want to run both front and rear, or interior (cabin-view) cameras. Interior cameras are generally situated on the dash cam, but rear cameras are separate and require additional cabling.

• A decently wide field of view: You’ll see cameras with as little as 90-degrees field of view, but you’ll catch more of what’s around you if you go for 120 to 140 degrees. Some cameras offer 160- to 180-degree lenses. Note that the wider the field of view, the more fish-eye distortion there is, and more processing is involved to compensate.

• Day and night video recording (night quality is a big variant)

• Infrared lighting is important if you want to assure good captures of nocturnal events inside the cabin of your vehicle.

• HDR (high dynamic range) isn’t necessary, but it does make for more detailed video because of better contrast. It also generally indicates richer color.

• WDR (wide dynamic range) is much like above, except it usually refers to only color and not contrast.

• Do you need 4K UHD? It’s easy to fall victim to the specsmanship of a higher-res image. In our tests, the gain in detail from 4K video (2160p) can vary, but the storage investment is consistently heavy: four times the storage of 1080p, or around 1GB for every three minutes of video. For most purposes,1080p is the more frugal everyday choice. Don’t avoid 4K UHD—which is a feature in our best overall picks—but read the reviews first so you know whether the cost is justified.

Recording options

• Continuous loop recording to minimize storage requirements. Video is recorded, then immediately overwritten at a specified interval unless saved. Video is saved (protected from overwriting) automatically when an incident is detected. Most dash cams will overwrite older recordings when they run out of space.

• Cloud storage is available with a few dash cams. Uploading to the cloud in real time is a nice hedge against damage and theft—assuming the thief isn’t smart enough to kill the dash cam immediately. It’s handy for those managing fleets of vehicles, too, as incident videos are safely stashed online.

• Self-powered recording when power fails, so that you can be sure to capture all of an incident. This requires a battery or large super-capacitor (see below in “Power connections”). The camera should have a setting that allows you to specify how long the camera runs off 12-volt before shutting down.

• Incident recording triggered by impact (G) sensors, or when in parking mode (see below), by motion detection.

• MicroSD card storage. Pricier dash cams bundle a storage card. Some come with larger cards, and some budget models come without. There are often bundles available with the card. Some cameras opt for hard-wired internal storage, like the Miofive 4K.

Power connections

Something most people don’t consider before they buy is that dash cams connect to a power source in your car via a physical cable. That cable can sometimes be tucked out of the way, but more likely than not you’ll have loose cable hanging somewhere. You can sometimes fix this with a longer or shorter cable (or a professional installation). Keep that in mind as you consider your power options:

• Auxiliary 12-volt power (adequate): Most vendors have stuck with powering their dash cams via the auxiliary 12-volt power socket (also known as the cigarette lighter) and USB cables. It can lead to an unsightly cable run, and the power disappears when you turn off the car, but it’s universal and easy.

• Hard-wired 12-volt power (better): Most vendors offer kits that connect the dash cam directly to a constant 12-volt source in your wiring harness behind the dash. This provides always-on power, but it isn’t particularly easy to install.

• OBD-II 12-volt power (better): Outliers like the Owl and PureCam use the OBD-II connector for constant 12-volt power. OBD-II-to-USB power cables are now available separately (as an alternative to hardwiring kits that draw constant 12-volt power from the wiring harness). I recommend one with a USB Type-A port, which will accommodate any dash cam. Most of those with captive cables I’ve seen are mini-USB. The only downside is a long cable run, as the OBD-II port is usually next to the driver’s left knee, under the dash.

• Rearview 12-volt power (better): Another option that features a super-short cable run is powering your dash cam using your auto-dimming rearview mirror. You can find adapters for this at Dongar Technologies. If your car qualifies, this is by far your best option.

• Battery (or super-capacitor) power: Many dash cams come with super-capacitors, which allow the dash cam to operate for a brief period after losing regular power—such as during a collision. They don’t record for very long though, and sometimes not at all. A battery gives you a better chance of recording an entire incident, even when 12-volt power is lost. If run time is sufficient, it also allows you to record for a while with the car turned off.

Other handy features

• Phone connectivity is not essential, but can make offloading video and configuring the dash cam easier. We’ve noticed just recently (12/15/2020) that phone apps are starting to require later versions of Android. If you’re rocking anything older than 8, keep that in mind.

• GPS: This feature could be the tipping point if you use your captured video to resolve a dispute. Watermarking the video is common, but when embedded into the video, GPS info is also immensely useful for mapping your travels. GPS will also automatically set the time in better cameras.

• Parking monitoring: This can mean two things. Running the dash cam continuously in low frame-rate mode to save card space and battery, or running in standby mode and awakening when motion or g-forces are detected. We’ve reviewed cameras that have a battery large enough to monitor the car with the 12-volt turned off for several days, but most cameras require a constant 12-volt source.

How we test dash cams

Few people are as well situated geographically as I am to test dash cams. Within two blocks there are major four- and six-lane thoroughfares, numerous bike lanes, joggers, dog walkers, oblivious ear-budded pedestrians, and a major bus nexus serving both public and private coaches. The opportunities for near-accidents are endless.

For every dash cam, I mount it in my car, judging the ease and convenience of doing so. Tip: Many dash cams rely on adhesive for mounting to your windshield. Hot conditions can make it next to impossible to remove the film that protects the adhesive. Remove the film in a cool environment, or place it in the fridge for a minute or two before installing it.

I put each dash cam through several days’ and nights’ worth of driving, recording video and judging the image quality. All the dash cams I’ve reviewed in the last couple of years take good daytime video. However, night video is often plagued by murky shadows and headlight flare. That said, quality is improving rapidly with the introduction of new sensors. Take a close look at the night shots in each review.

I try all the features: Buttons, display controls, apps. Aside from rear-view support and GPS, the most salient differences between the products are the interface controls and extra features, such as the lane departure and collision warnings that you get with some models. I try them…and I turn them off. In practice, they usually tell me I’m changing lanes, in heavy traffic, or have just been cut off. I know that. Additionally, the collision warnings generally come too late to do anything but distract you at exactly the wrong time.

Note that the one thing I can’t relate to you is the longevity of any dash cam, as my testing occurs over a relatively short amount of time. Please check user reviews on various sites and pay attention to the warranty.

FAQ

Do I really need a dash cam?

The use of dash cams in consumer vehicles is a relatively recent trend, and people have been driving just fine without them for a long time. However, while it might not be necessary, there are legitimate benefits to using a dash cam in your car.

Many people who purchase and install dash cams use them as a type of insurance policy for their actions and those of others on the road. Dash cams can protect you from other drivers in a number of ways. They can help you prove your innocence in the event of an accident. They may also act as a deterrent against aggressive drivers. And some dash cams come with features that have motion-sensor parking modes that can record any possible hit-and-runs or thefts while you are away from your car.

In the end, it’s ultimately up to you as to whether you believe the possible benefits of buying and using a dash cam are worth the investment.

Is it legal to use a dash cam?

Yes, in all U.S. states, dash cams are legal. However, it’s best to check with your particular state’s traffic laws to determine what type of dash cam you should use. For example, not all states allow a dash cam to be mounted to a windshield—it’s best to do a little research before you buy.

Will a dash cam drain my car battery?

Probably not. And by that, we mean almost certainly not. A standard dash cam with front and rear coverage, motion detection, and Wi-Fi all operating while your car is parked will only consume about 0.25 to 0.45 amps per hour. A typical small or midsize car battery is rated at 45 amp hours. This means that while your car is turned off it will take a few days for your car battery to get low from powering your dash cam.

Another feature that’s becoming more common in dash cams is a low-voltage cutoff as a safeguard against dead batteries. This feature automatically shuts-down your dash cam if it senses that the power drops below a certain threshold. So you can rest assured knowing that your dash cam won’t kill your car battery.

How much storage should I have for my dash cam?

Dash cams use removable SD or microSD cards to store recorded data. Unlike your phone or mobile device, which stops you from adding more pictures or videos when the memory is full, a dash cam instead just uses an overwrite function to record over old data. Therefore, you shouldn’t have to worry about your dash cam shutting off because the memory card is full.

That being said, if you want to ensure that you aren’t overwriting valuable old data, you’ll want to get an adequate-sized memory card, and consider the resolution at which the camera captures the video. 4K recordings take up a lot more space than 1080p recordings.

We believe that the sweet spot for a memory card is somewhere around 128GB. Even if you are recording in 4K, this will allow you to record continuously for around five hours, or around 20 hours if you record at 1080p. Thankfully though, memory cards are relatively cheap and you won’t need to break the bank if you opt for even more storage capacity.

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Best free antivirus 2024

By admin September 4, 2024

Best free antivirus 2024: Keep your PC safe without spending a dime Many of the big names in antivirus offer a free version of their security suites. Here are our top choices for free antivirus.

A lot of time is spent looking at the best paid antivirus suites, but free antivirus solutions are worth discussion, too. After all, free versions are based on their paid counterparts.

Good news is, when you see a free alternative to a paid version you like, you can safely assume the antivirus protection level is similar—save for any specific malware types the free version doesn’t cover.

To create this list of the top free antivirus programs, we looked at the top mainstream antivirus suites for Windows and selected the ones that offer a free version, as not all of them do. Then we looked at how well these suites performed in third-party detection tests. We also made sure they weren’t resource hogs, because software that slows down your PC is a pain in the rear, even when it’s free.

In the end, our selection came down to these top free antivirus suites.

1. Avast One Essential

Pros

• Convenient Smart Scan

• Great basic protection

• Flexible features

Cons

• Frequent pop-ups & notifications

Best Prices Today:Free at Avast

Avast One is a very highly rated antivirus program. With the free version of this suite you can run all the various virus scans. Most of the key Avast protections are also available, such as scanning new files added to your system, watching for malicious behavior from installed programs, a web browsing shield, and an email shield.

Avast Free even allows you to inspect your network and see the devices currently connected to your home router.

Avast Free uses a so-called smart scan to look for a variety of problems including browser threats, outdated apps, viruses and malware, and “Advanced issues” such as whether your webcam is protected from hijacking and the status of your firewall. However, the trick with those advanced issues is that to supposedly fix them, you need to start paying for the Avast One suite (about $50 per year for new subscribers).

What you don’t get for free is phishing protection, the sandbox to separate suspicious files from your system, webcam shield, password protection, a sensitive data shield, identity protections, VPN, and PC utilities. It does, however, provide basic ransomware protection.

As an alternative to Windows Security, Avast is surprisingly useful in its free version and is one of the most flexible options around.

2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free

Pros

• Solid antivirus and malware scanning

Cons

• No extra features

Best Prices Today:Free at Bitdefender

Bitdefender’s free antivirus may have gotten a makeover, but its premise remains the same—a laser focus on guarding your PC from viruses and other malware, including web threats. You can run a quick scan or full scan, as well as create your own custom scans. VPN access is included as well, but free users are limited to just 200MB of bandwidth.

And…that’s it for features. Everything else is kept under lock and key until you upgrade to a paid subscription. No password managers, PC tools, or additional ransomware defenses. It’s malware scanning and that’s it. Well, almost it. Bitdefender’s free edition includes anti-phishing safeguards—if you create a Bitdefender account to enable the app’s full protection.

What distinguishes Bitdefender is its high rating from independent security organizations, with some of the highest detection rates for malware whether you’re online or off. So even though it’s light on features, it’s heavy on the most important quality you need in free antivirus.

Best free antivirus 2024

3. Avira Free Security

Pros

• Easy to use and install

• Unobtrusive

Cons

• Many features missing from free version

Best Prices Today:Free at Avira

Avira Free includes antivirus protection, a basic password manager, file shredder, and a free VPN with an allowance of 500MB per month. It’s not as full featured as Avira Prime, but it’ll do for a free suite.

The free version scans your PC, and offers real-time protection for your desktop. But it lacks protection from web threats and email threats, as well as additional ransomware protection for your device. It also lacks the improved PC cleanup feature for clearing out old files in the Pro version.

Installation with Avira is easy, though it does prompt you to install its secure browser (completely optional), and automatically adds its Safe Shopping browser extension to already-installed browsers on your PC, like Microsoft Edge. Avira still uses more than one application for its features, with the most notable being Avira System Speed up for PC utilities and Avira Phantom VPN. If you want a free suite that splits its attention across a wider set of features, rather than concentrating on malware protection, this is the software to look at first.4. Windows Security

Pros

• Excellent protection for a free security suite

• Works out of the box

Cons

• Good protection, but there are higher-performing options

• No extra features to speak of

Finally, we come to Microsoft’s built-in security solution. Once upon a time, we wouldn’t even consider Windows Security (previously known as Windows Defender) for an article like this. Times have changed, however, and Windows Security is equaling the competition in terms of results from third-party testing houses.

Windows Security is very good. There are third-party options that have better detection capabilities based on independent tests, but so long as you’re not visiting sketchier places on the internet, you’ll stay protected. Windows Security is active by default in Windows 10 and 11, and it works in the background ensuring you’re protected from threats.

What you sacrifice with a free antivirus program

As you can see, there are several capable free antivirus programs for you to choose from. Still, we feel it’s important to point out what you don’t get when you opt for a free solution. Email protection, for example, is typically a paid feature—and something that people who are extremely active in a desktop email program might care about.

Also missing from the free suites are enhanced security features such as file protection (to ward off ransomware attacks), a sandboxed area for opening suspicious files, a sandboxed browser for shopping protection, an enhanced firewall, monitoring for malicious behavior from installed programs, webcam monitoring, and a password manager. Identity monitoring and other privacy services like a VPN usually require a paid subscription, too.

If, however, you’re only looking for basic antivirus protection that scans your PC and alerts you when there’s a problem, then one of these suites will do the job without costing you a cent.

FAQ

1.

Will antivirus software slow down my computer?

Maybe, but probably not. To ensure that there is no malware or other threats present, antivirus software scans files and programs on your computer. The longer the time frame between each scan, the more files they will need to check. These more intensive scans may have some noticeable effects on your computer speed. Therefore it’s recommended that you do more frequent scans or even run them at night so it doesn’t affect your computer usage.

While antivirus software can have some impact on the speed of your computer, it’s most likely not the only thing—or even the most prominent. Other factors such as unnecessary startup and background programs, insufficient RAM, or even undiagnosed malware can have more drastic effects on your computer speed than a simple antivirus scan.

2.

What should I do if my antivirus detects a threat?

Ideally, your antivirus software will quarantine and clean the infected files for you. However, this largely depends on which antivirus program you’re using.

In general, the antivirus will send a warning to you and try to quarantine the infected file in order to keep it from spreading. Once it has isolated the threat, the software will give you the option to remove the infection or delete the file altogether.

3.

What is the difference between a full scan and a quick scan?

A full scan performs a comprehensive and thorough check of your whole system. It usually checks your system memory, startup programs, system backup, email databases, hard drives, and any removable storage drives.

A quick scan only checks a few key areas including startup programs, system memory, and boot sectors. It may not detect all malware, but it can usually give you an idea if your computer has a virus.

We recommend doing a full scan once per week ideally when you’re not using your computer (such as late at night). A quick scan can be done anytime but it’s usually only necessary if you notice suspicious activity on your PC.

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Best browser games 2024

By admin August 30, 2024

Best browser games 2024, Here are the best browser games you can play with a low spec PC without having to commit to a big download, from RPGs to strategy games.

What are the best browser games? Modern computers are so powerful that you don’t need a beefy rig to play great games. As long as you have access to a stable internet connection, there’s a massive library of games that can be played from the comfort of your web browser.

It can be difficult to coordinate with several friends to find a game that everyone owns. Gone are the days of worrying about your friend’s empty Steam library or your low-spec PC – instead you can simply fire up these top browser games and start playing right away.

Whether you’re looking for a game to play for a few minutes before your lunch break ends or something to sink your teeth into after work, these free PC games have got you covered. Our list of the best browser games contains a mix of genres to ensure there’s something for everyone.

Hero Wars

Hero Wars is a simple clicker game that’ll be just what you’re after if you’re looking for a game that’s good at filling those brief windows of time. It’s all about building up a team of heroes and then having them battle against a selection of monsters and other players.

Best browser games 2024

Hero Wars is filled with daily challenges that start easy and slowly become more and more difficult as you play. There are so many heroes to unlock, and doing so will be a big part of the appeal for many players because they all fight in unique ways and some of them have interesting and unusual designs. Naturally, it tries to squeeze microtransactions out of you as you get further and further into it, but it’s definitely less predatory than some of the others out there.

Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming

The Game of Thrones HBO series may be finished, but the officially licensed browser game is just getting started. In Game of Thrones Winter is Coming, you play as a Westeros Lord who desperately wants to end the bloodshed between the Seven Kingdoms. Expand your kingdom to attract the attention of the characters from the show and recruit them to join your team.

Just like the source material, you’ll have to command a large army and fight your way through hordes of enemies to compete against the other Lords. The characters you recruit from the series, like Jon Snow, Lord Varys, and Arya Stark can be used to aid your army in battle, allowing you to turn the tide of any difficult fight.

Forge of Empires

Forge of Empires takes players to the beginning of the Stone Age to create a long-lasting city that evolves throughout the ages. InnoGames released this strategy game back in 2012 on browsers and has continued with regular updates. Not only can you play this city building game on your browser, you can take your progress with you with the iOS and Android apps.

As players discover new technologies to expand and develop their cities, they’ll make their way through 20 different Ages. Forge of Empires doesn’t stop at the Contemporary Era; with enough time you can progress all the way to the colonization of Venus.

Seafight

Fancy sailing the seven seas in one of the best pirate games to date? In this browser simulation game, there are both PvP and PvE maps, so you have the choice between battling terrifying sea monsters, where you can grind and gather resources, or you can go against other human players to assert yourself as master of the ocean.

The game has been around for years now, and developer, Bigpoint, has been refining and enhancing it the whole time. There’s a solid community of players and if you’re nervous about getting involved in a game like this so far into its lifespan, rest assured that you can join a guild so that you’re backed up by some of the more advanced players while you play.

Infinity Kingdom

While there are a lot of kingdom-building/strategy MMO browser games around, Infinity Kingdom stands out as a particularly great one. What makes it so cool? Well, if you love history, mythology, and folklore, you’ll be very pleased to hear that this game is a wonderful blend of them all, and to my brain that’s a absolutely delicious cocktail.

Using gacha mechanics, this game sees you building up an army of extraordinary characters, including the likes of Mulan, Merlin, Julius Caeser, Robin Hood, Sun Wukong, and an enormous selection of others. They all have different approaches to battle too, so you can build up a team that best suits your preferred battle tactics (or you can just choose the ones you like, you do you). Everyone’s experience with the game will be a little different, and there’s plenty to do from both a PvP and PvE perspective. Definitely worth trying.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War

If you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and strategy gaming, Tides of War is going to be a match made in heaven for you. In this game, you build your own base which you develop and enhance over time. This allows you to develop better resources, and then allows you to strengthen your army, and attack the bases of other players. It’s an endless cycle, but one that can become highly addictive. Along the way, you’ll not only meet familiar faces from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise but also many historic pirates.

Tentlan

There are a lot of browser strategy games like this one, but Tentlan gives a slightly different vibe in that you’re taking control of a Maya emperor. It’s an area of ancient history that you don’t often see explored in these types of games, and especially not in idle games, so props to the developers for that.

The setting means that you’re building a civilization in the heat of the rainforest, which is cool enough, but there are also tons of ancient rituals for your people to learn, and units like eagle and jaguar warriors for you to take out and raid barbarians with – or even do battle against other players. It’s a wonderfully unique strategy experience with something for PvP and PvE fans alike.

Anocris

Have you ever wanted to build your own ancient Egyptian city? Anocris tasks players with creating an Egyptian settlement that can stand the test of time. Over a 3,000 year period, you must build a powerful empire in an attempt to take over the Nile. While there are elements of actual history in Anocris, you also get to wield the power of the high priests of Amun as you tap into the power of the Ancient Egyptian Gods.

Eternal Fury: Resurrected

If you’re looking for a new browser game to play, chances are you want something that’s simple, stress-free fun and that’s exactly what you get with Eternal Fury. This is an RPG game that’s about grinding your way through various dungeons, which are all made up of a number of turn-based battles.

It’s one of those games where you feel like everything you do in it is productive in some way because it all factors towards you getting stronger. If you like that satisfying feeling of completing lots of micro-tasks to get more and more powerful, then this is a game that you might find yourself getting very addicted to.

Friday Night Funkin’

Though many browser games may not receive that much mainstream attention, Friday Night Funkin’ has achieved huge levels of popularity. For the few who haven’t heard of it, this rhythm game sees you playing as Boyfriend, a character who engages in singing contests and rap battles with a variety of colorful characters in order to impress Girlfriend.

Part of its broad appeal comes down to its gameplay. It’s similar to something like Dance Dance Revolution, but instead of moving your feet to match up with the arrows, you let your fingers do the walking and use the arrow keys on your computer. It’s simple, but the presentation is so charming that you’ll soon find yourself coming back again and again.

Elvenar

Historical city building is all well and good, but sometimes, it would be fun to create something a little more… magical. In Elvenar, you can choose to develop a mysterious Elven kingdom full of living buildings and fantastical creatures, or a more pragmatic and warlike empire in the name of humankind. It sets itself apart from other fantasy games with all these strategic, city-building elements.

But you’re not confined to the streets of your new home as the explore mode allows you to uncover many additional areas with new abilities, mysteries, and monsters. Or, if you’re feeling particularly belligerent, you can whip your magical troops into shape at the barracks before heading out to take on the neighboring provinces.

Travian: Legends

Travian has been knocking around for well over a decade, building up a loyal fanbase of MMO and strategy games enthusiasts and laying the foundations for many other entries on this list. Legends is its latest form, boasting gorgeous graphical upgrades while still being one of the few online games that doesn’t require a download.

The gameplay is refreshingly simple with very few hidden mechanics: you choose one of a handful of factions, find your tribe, and grow from a ramshackle village into a fortified, technologically advanced empire. You can keep yourself to yourself if you want, but if you do want to branch out there are also trades, alliances, and plenty of warfare to throw your clan into at a moment’s notice. There is some waiting around for buildings and actions to complete, but if you treat this as a relaxing game then you won’t find it too egregious.

Survivor Legacy

Evil businessmen have brought humanity to the brink of extinction by unleashing a zombie apocalypse on Earth. As one of the planet’s last remaining survivors, it’s your duty to put an end to the devastation.

In this post-apocalyptic world, players must assemble a squad filled with strong soldiers to rid the world of zombies. Clearing out zombie-infested areas reveals powerful survivors who can be recruited to your team. However, players must proceed with caution, as the enemies in this strategy war zombie game are lethal – you’ll need a powerful army to fight off the deadly horde.

Townscaper

Townscaper is a relaxing, totally directionless city-building game in which you don’t have to worry about any of the boring details like pollution, traffic, or tourist boards. You start with a simple stone island in the middle of the sea and then click either side or the top of it to create your first building.

Every click generates a new piece of your city, and as you continue expanding the foundations you’ll learn some of the rules that dictate how your clicks are turned into a postcard-perfect coastal metropolis. Give it just ten minutes and you’ll have something stunning. There’s a full version of Townscaper that you can buy on Steam, which has a few more building types and lets you build out further, but the browser-based version is an excellent way to whet your appetite.

Minecraft Classic

Minecraft Classic whisks you all the way back to those heady days of 2009 when Minecraft was in its infancy, so prepare for a barebones version of the sandbox game you know and love. You can run around, destroy blocks, and place them down, but that’s pretty much it. There’s no survival mode, no enemies, and a lot of the controls are significantly different from the current version of the game. However, you can invite some friends along to help you with your rustic Minecraft builds.

Catan Universe

One of the best board games of all time has made it to PC in a few different forms, but with this browser-based version, you don’t have to download anything to play it. At its core, Catan is all about expansion and settlement-building on a board with extremely limited resources. You want to develop your settlement with roads, resources, and buildings, but you’ll never have access to everything you need, which means you’ll need to hone your silver tongue to convince other players to trade with you.

There’s diplomacy, backstabbing, and some very, very pretty tiles -what’s not to love? Catan Universe also boasts an exceptionally thorough tutorial, so if you’ve always wanted to play the board game but can’t bear to sit through your friend’s terrible explanation then this is the way.

Kingdom of Loathing

Kingdom of Loathing is first and foremost a comedy game. You pick classes like pastamancer, seal clubber, or accordion thief, and then set out on a journey across a fantasy open world that playfully rips into RPG conventions every step of the way. Every encounter is a bit, but the constant joking never gets old not just because of its originality, but also because it’s underpinned by robust build options. If you find yourself falling in love then you can also check out West of Loathing from the same developers – it’s a very similar kind of deal, except it swaps out the fantasy tropes for Western ones.

Tetr.io

You know that puzzle game, the one usually labeled as the greatest of all time? It’s available in your browser as a solo and multiplayer game. Tetr.io is a fantastic Tetris clone that features a wide variety of players across all skill levels. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills in Sprint mode, or you want a short session of Marathon to pass the time, Tetr.io has you covered.

What makes Tetr.io so special is the level of customisation each player has. Minute details like Soft Drop Factor and Delayed Auto Shift can be carefully adjusted – if that means nothing to you, the default options are perfect for any casual players. For a lot of people, Tetr.io is the ultimate Tetris game due to its rich abundance of features and low barrier to entry for all players. It’s worth mentioning that there’s a whole io games genre in which almost every game is playable with a browser, so head to that list for more like this.

Powder Game

Powder Game is the quintessential school browser game that you play because every other website is blocked. In a small black square, players are given a blank canvas to experiment with over 30 different powders. Create an ice sculpture and see how it reacts when you pour acid, magma, and salt onto it. Fire lasers at C4-coated vines, then douse the flames with water and ice to see what happens. If you love elemental reactions, Powder Game lets you live out your wildest dreams.

Chrome Offline Dinosaur

The internet has unexpectedly gone down, so now work is out of the question. While you wait for someone to fix the internet, why not try Google’s endless runner? When you see the dinosaur on the ‘unable to connect to the internet page’, hit spacebar to start the game. Jump over the stacks of cactus to keep the dinosaur running for hours on end.

OpenArena Live

Remember Quake Live? id Software‘s classic PC game has since moved to Steam, but OpenArena Live has swooped in to take its place. OpenArena Live is a clone of Quake III Arena, giving players the full Quake experience right from their browser. You don’t even need to sign up to start playing; join public games using the server browser, or create a private server to play against your mates; simply send them a link and the game will handle the rest. If someone at the office hits you with “1v1 me” as a joke, send them a private match link to settle the score.

Spelunky

Derek Yu’s Spelunky has been ported to web browsers to ensure you never get any work done at the office. In this roguelike platformer, you play Guy Spelunky as he attempts to explore the dangerous mines, dense jungles, icy caves, and Egyptian temples in search of lost treasure.

Each playthrough is different as the levels are randomized, and you won’t be able to take your previous items with you. For such a simple game, there’s a lot of depth to Spelunky that you can discover if you put the time in. Spelunky is brutal at first, but the game is so addictive that you’ll spend hours trying to become a master treasure hunter.

Gartic Phone

Flex your drawing and comprehension skills in Gartic Phone, the free web browser game that crosses Pictionary with incredibly creative prompts from each player. The game arguably works better when your drawing skills aren’t top-notch, leading to some chaotic moments where each player is dumbfounded by what they’re looking at.

What makes this game so universal is that you can play it on practically any device, including your mobile phone. If you ever find yourself at an event with nothing to do, send a link to your mates to start up a game of Gartic Phone to get the party rocking.

Infinite Craft

Starting with some basic elements (fire, water, earth, and wind), your goal in Infinite Craft is to craft indefinitely. All you need to do is tap on your elements to fuse them, creating something entirely new. This is the perfect type of game when you’re sitting at a computer with nothing to do, simply work out which combinations of elements you haven’t tried yet.

Before you know it, you’ll be putting together waves of Megalodons to see how they react to different pools of water. What about when they come into contact with volcanoes? If we mix our giant shark with glass, we get an Aquarium, perfect for our city-base which appears to be surrounded by lighthouses and sand. What we will do from here? The possibilities are endless.

Stronghold Kingdoms

The MMORTS genre might not be as widely recognized as the best MMOs and MMORPGs, but it’s on the rise, and Stronghold Kingdoms is one of the best examples around. This massively multiplayer real-time strategy game casts you as a feudal lord or lady and sets you to work building and growing a medieval empire by besieging your rivals, researching invaluable new tech, and forming alliances with others. It does require a tiny download to play, but the download itself is tiny and the game should run on any rig.

Like many free MMO RTS games, Stronghold Kingdoms is packed with depth if you’ve got the time to sink into it, with political struggles between players and large-scale wars to navigate on your rise to success. And sure, the graphics certainly look like they come straight from the late nineties, but they’re nothing if not charming.

Codenames

One of our best online board games picks is also one of the top online games to play with friends for free, no download required. Codenames is all about word association. You and an opponent assume the roles of rival spymasters and you aim to work out where your fellow agents are in the field, which you do by taking turns to give one-word clues.

Of course, it’s also crucial that you don’t give any clues to the enemy, or accidentally prompt someone to guess the game-ending word. Setting a game up is mercifully simple, making this a great online game for Zoom calls, just be wary of forming vernacular vendettas with your besties.

Fallen London

Sunless Skies developer Failbetter Games has established itself as a fine crafter of narrative games since it came together in 2010. It’s there to see in one of the studio’s earliest efforts, too. Fallen London is a browser-based interactive narrative game that takes you to a Victorian and gothic take on the Old Smoke.

The city itself has been stolen, and it now rests underneath the rest of the world on the shore of the Unterzee. You’ve just arrived, and you’re down on your luck. That doesn’t mean you can’t rise to the top through the legal and illegal activities made available to you, though. Don’t sleep on one of the best story games just because you can play it in your browser.

Ditto

Like all great platformer games, Ditto has its own spin on traversal to keep you guessing through its many, many levels. Every level is divided in two, with a reflected version of your character copying all of your actions, albeit in a sort of shadow realm where the obstacles are slightly different. If your shadow version falls off a ledge or is killed by a monster then you both perish.

Cookie Clicker

Idle games are the ideal free online games if you’re too busy to play a game, and Cookie Clicker is one of the best examples of the genre around. You start with a giant cookie that you click on to produce more cookies, and then you spend those cookies on upgrades like automatic cookie-clicking fingers to click the giant cookie for you, grandmas to bake more cookies, or temples to pray for cookie-creating buffs. Before you know you’re producing hundreds of thousands of cookies per second.

Making numbers go up and up and up forever and ever is pretty addictive, so it goes. Cookie Clicker is one of the most famous computer games online, and the fact that it’s still being updated and played by thousands speaks to its endless appeal. It’s well worth trying, even if we did once famously say that you must never ever

Slither.io

Io games are some of the most relaxing games on PC and offer a great break from work or more focused gaming. Slither.io is pretty simple: you’re a worm who slithers around a circular petri dish-like space gobbling up food and growing in length. There are other player-controlled worms to avoid or consume depending on whether you’re smaller or larger than them. At its core, Slither.io is a survival game at heart as players fight to see who can outlast each other.

Hole.io

If you’ve played the endlessly charming Donut County then you’ll be familiar with the core gameplay of Hole.io. You play as a hole in the bottom of the world that expands as objects fall into it. You’ll start small by hoovering up pedestrians and fire hydrants before graduating to trucks, buildings, and eventually skyscrapers. If you’re after chill online games to play now, Hole.io will hoover up your attention almost immediately.

Card Hunter

This D&D-inspired card game mixes tabletop RPG elements with the deck-building gameplay of a CCG in a way that’s fresh and nostalgic all at once. You build a deck of cards for each of your party’s heroes by assigning them the weapons, armor, and trinkets you collect as loot on each of your adventures.

My Friend Pedro

My Friend Pedro may have since received a polished release on Steam, but the free online browser version that launched back in 2014 is still heaps of fun. This side-scrolling shooter is heavily inspired by Max Payne, so expect lots of slow-mo diving sequences and gratuitous gore.

Wonderputt

This gorgeous isometric putting game reveals the entire course to you right from the beginning. Though Wonderputt is closer to mini-golf than actual golf, we still consider this to be a worthy sports game. As you complete each section of the course, a brand new area reveals itself via interesting animations. There are some light puzzles to navigate – as you’d expect from a mini golf course – and a seductive level of depth as you try to beat your score (or just make par) with increasingly ambitious shots.

Tibia

Who says old games are bad? Tibia is a relic from an internet era where practically every online game was played through your browser. Originally released in 1997, this was one of the world’s first MMORPG games, and it helped pave the way for Runescape, World of Warcraft, and all the other fantastic games in that genre that came afterward. That it has survived all this time is a testament to the game’s qualities.

So what do you do in it? Well, essentially, you choose a job for your character (with all of them, of course, having unique strengths and abilities), and then you make your own way about the world – exploring dark, lava-filled dungeons, enchanting forests, bustling cities, tropical beaches, and many other locales as you fight a menagerie of strange creatures, and gather a horde of tantalizing treasures.

Zombs Royale

It really is quite incredible that one of the best battle royale games on PC is a free online browser game. Zombs Royale takes the simple assets and controls of Zombs.io and adds all the trappings of a PUBG-like, with a shrinking playable zone, random loot to scavenge, and 99 other players to outlive. It’s ridiculously fast-paced, so if you need to kill a couple of minutes and grab a poultry dinner then this one’s for you. It’s refreshing to see that the limits of free games with no downloads are still being pushed.

Zombs.io

Zombs.io is one of the best ‘survive the night’ style zombie games where you build a base, farm resources, build up your defenses, and prepare to hunker down after the sun goes down and the undead begin attacking your base. Like other io games there are plenty of other players to fend off, too, so don’t leave your base undefended during the day either.

The Password Game

The Password Game is the latest online-only game, with infuriating circumstances. You’re tasked with thinking of a secure password but it must meet certain criteria which get more and more intricate as the game progresses. If you’re looking for some tips or even just want to cheat your way to victory, we’ve got The Password Game answers in our dedicated guide.

And those are some of the best games you can play from your web browser. Alternatively, we’ve got all the upcoming PC games to watch out for in the coming months, whereas our list of the best PC games can get you caught up with the current cream of the crop. Finally, check out the top offline games to tide you over when your internet connection drops.

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The best old games and PC classics to play 2024

By admin August 30, 2024

The best old games and PC classics to play 2024, Classic games are the few that stand the test of time, so we’ve rounded up the very best old games that are still worth playing on PC today.

Looking for the best old games on PC? There are many perks to being a PC gamer, but we will save extolling them all for a day when we are feeling particularly inflammatory. For now, we will focus on just one: the best old games remain forever playable. Sometimes it takes a little more work, but it’s a lot easier than digging through your parent’s attic for an ancient console you think they still have.

Yes, even on the highest-end multi-cored rigs with the latest X-Titan Turbo Hydra Fulcrum Mk.III GPU, you can still boot up veteran strategy games, majestic ancient RPG games, trusty ol’ point-and-clicks, and other legendary games of yore. Below you will find a testament to those PC stalwarts like Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition that prove the best old games are truly timeless and deserve space on your SSD even to this day.

Age of Empires 2

It’s hard to imagine what the real-time strategy game landscape today would look like without Age of Empires 2. After all, Ensemble Studios’ 1999 classic is still played by many today – ourselves included. Even at launch, AoE 2 was hugely popular among RTS enjoyers, having shipped over two million copies within its first few months on shelves. While this isn’t a blockbusting number by modern standards, it’s worth remembering PC gaming wasn’t the monolithic entity it is today.

Age of Empires 2 has two core pillars to its gameplay. The first is its exemplary campaign, which takes you on a (dramatized) journey through the lives of historical figures like Joan of Arc, Barbarossa, and Genghis Khan – big hitters. There’s also its multiplayer offering, which allows you to progress through four ages – Dark, Feudal, Castle, and Imperial. As you develop your empire, you’ll unlock new technologies to improve everything from your economic output to your military might.

Whether you’re making a mad dash to the Castle Age to pen in opponents with fortified structures, or are looking to rush opponents with Scout Cavalry in an attempt to cripple their economy before they can even get it going, AoE 2 has remarkable strategic depth. To this day, tournaments are regularly held for the game, drawing in thousands of viewers. If you’re looking to get involved the good news is that the Definitive Edition of the game was launched in 2019, and continues to be updated to this day.

RuneScape 2

Though it can be considered the baby of the list, Runescape 2 is very much one of the best old games you can play on PC. Having arrived as an upgraded version of the original RuneScape in 2004, Jagex’s iconic MMO game has continued to thrive over 20 years after it first reached our monitors. It’s so popular today that its rereleased iteration, Old School RuneScape (OSRS), is often seen with a higher player count than the more modern RuneScape 3.

This medieval fantasy adventure will take you to the world of Gielinor – a land filled with dragons, elves, orcs, and more evil wizards than you can shake a wand at, OSRS is easily one of the best free MMO games you can sign up for today. Yes, its visuals haven’t held up in the way the likes of World of Warcraft have, but RuneScape has a certain charm to it that not even Blizzard’s glorious graphics can replicate.

The best thing about RuneScape 2 is it’s the perfect idle MMO. You can click and forget during all sorts of tasks thanks to its simple tick-based loop for many of its skills. If you’re looking to min-max your gaming time while studying for school, or working on that odious report in the office, then you can set up shop near a bunch of trees and crank up your Woodcutting XP, tabbing back in every couple minutes to click the next one. It’s an incredibly chill experience (provided you’re not trying to PvP or take down the endgame bosses), and one which you’d be remiss to miss out on.

Resident Evil

For the longest time, it was nigh-on impossible to get the original PC version of Capcom’s survival horror classic to work on modern devices. The only way to play this adventure legitimately would have been to play the admittedly amazing remake. That said, they’re completely different, not least because zombies could return if not beheaded or burned as Crimson Heads, who are significantly faster, harder to kill, and impossible to avoid.

However, in yet another surprise nobody saw coming from Capcom in 2024, the original Resident Evil PC version, complete with a handful of tweaks to circumvent some censorship, is back on GOG. Of course, everything’s intact: the tank controls, the dodgy script, and the hammy voice acting. But that’s what we love about the early 3D era of gaming. Games were becoming more of an event with the advent of CD technology giving developers more space to pop voice samples and primitive polygons.

So why is Resident Evil so revered, even in 2024? Everything that can feel restrictive is part of the design, from the tank controls and awkward aiming to prevent the game from being too easy to navigate to the fixed camera angles obscuring upcoming threats, with groans and shuffles adding to the tension. It’s also the start of a great trilogy of 90s survival horror, and the good news is that Resident Evil will be joined by the PC versions of the second and third games on GOG very soon. It’s an absolute must-play for anyone who loves horror games and now’s the best time to pick it up.

Max Payne

Despite Max Payne being Remedy Entertainment’s second game, this incredibly ambitious action game blends elements from John Woo movies and mature storytelling to create an all-time classic. In this third-person action game, the titular former NYPD detective has access to a slowdown mechanic, similar to bullet-time from The Matrix movies. Just like Neo, Max can perform leaps in slow motion, with both hands clutching his trusty pistols to take out enemies in front of him.

Whether you’re looking to return to Max Payne after a long absence or trying the game for the first time, you’ll be surprised at how well Remedy’s third-person shooter stands up to this day. If the story manages to hook you, you’re in luck as there are two more games in the trilogy to get through.

X-COM: UFO Defense

Strategy gaming meets turn-based tactics. The first X-COM game is still one of the best strategy games ever released on PC. This excellent old PC game inspired the team that went on to make Fallout, birthed several spin-offs and sequels, and was officially remade in 2012 as XCOM: Enemy Unknown – which is itself a classic. That’s some legacy.

In X-COM: UFO Defense, much like the remake, players must defend Earth from an alien invasion. In doing so, players must manage the clandestine X-COM group, choosing where to position bases and what technologies to research to make a desperate stand against the extraterrestrial threat. Players must also win battles on the ground using a squad of X-COM soldiers in turn-based tactical combat.

The game itself has aged brilliantly where gameplay is concerned, though it’s nowhere near as pretty as its modern-day remake. Assuming total control of mankind’s final barrier against the alien menace is still a joy: progressing through the research tree, turning your operatives into psionic super-soldiers, and deploying them in the field to kick xeno-butt never gets old. Fancy some modern XCOM instead? Check out our XCOM: Chimera Squad review.

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

A 2D platformer where absolutely everything can kill you in an instant: long falls, any enemy attack, grazing past an obstacle, overcooking a grenade… the list goes on. Its puzzles are complex, its gaps between saves overly long, and its enemies nearly impossible to avoid. Frustrating? Rewarding is the word you are looking for. Probably.

At the center of all this struggle is the titular Abe, an enslaved Mudokon who discovers the meat processing factory where he works is soon to be the slaughterhouse of his entire race. Abe breaks free and begins a quest for emancipation that the player can either go along with (making their journey much more difficult) or ignore. Choosing to steer a group of your fellow Mudokons into a volley of gunfire as a means of distracting an enemy is never an easy decision to make.

Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri

Like any Civ game, Alpha Centauri is all about colonizing a world, growing an empire, and competing and cooperating as you see fit with other factions vying for power. The twist? Set on a distant planet in the future, this old PC game is far more story-driven, forcing you to interact with mysterious alien lifeforms and races that previously inhabited the planet.

Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri fits the 4X games formula of empire-building, research, war, and diplomacy with an excellent story. Featuring fascinating factions and complex leaders, Alpha Centauri offers a more focused experience than the ‘blank canvas’ of the main series. The smaller scope of the game emphasizes everything that is great about this old game’s narrative, helping Alpha Centauri remain as memorable as always.

Baldur’s Gate 2

There is something about that beautiful, seemingly hand-drawn aesthetic of the Infinity Engine that is completely timeless, and Baldur’s Gate 2 uses that to deliver one of the best role-playing games of all time. Sure, you might still be working through Baldur’s Gate 3 right now, but it’s never a bad time to go back to the next best game in the series.

Gamers brought up on modern role-players may have trouble adapting to the tactical Dungeons & Dragons combat and plethora of dialogue, but it is precisely these traits that make Baldur’s Gate 2 endure as one of the best old PC games. The dark fantasy setting of Amn is a joy to explore with your party of companions, who are unforgettable for their excellent writing and catchy soundbites (“Go for the eyes, Boo!”). From its pretty pre-rendered backgrounds to its rich, mysterious world brimming with character, Baldur’s Gate 2 is truly ageless.

Planescape: Torment

This list will not turn into an ode to the great CRPGs of the ‘90s, we promise, but… just… one… more…

In contrast to Baldur’s Gate II’s classic, companion heroics, Planescape: Torment is a lonely, personal journey to uncover the lost memories of a person who has lived and died untold lives with no recollection of them. Set in a surreal otherworld of multiple planes and bizarre creatures that defy conventional fantasy tropes, Torment is one of the oddest and greatest videogame stories ever told. Focused more on dialogue and choices than combat, Torment encourages you to uncover its world through exploration, conversations, and clever, choice-filled questing.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

When we first assembled this list Morrowind was still relatively young, but now it’s nearly old enough to buy itself a beer we think it’s finally earned ‘classic PC game’ status. No doubt this will upset the PC gaming elders, who are probably lost in some procedurally generated Daggerfall township.

Morrowind doesn’t just represent the Elder Scrolls series’ arrival on the 3D scene, it’s also the game that cemented the layout for Oblivion and Skyrim, two of the most popular videogames of all time. There are dozens of all-timer questlines and the foundations of Skyrim’s character builds, and it’s all wrapped up in what’s probably the most interesting and immersive open-world games to date.

Half-Life

Back in 1998, Half-Life’s storytelling and the conviction of its fictional world were far beyond anything else in the genre. Indeed, they were beyond anything else in gaming.

The opening in which you fly through the Black Mesa Research Facility is magnificent. Radioactive waste passes by, witty comments sound out from speakers overhead, and doors open and close all around. Valve crafted a world full of minutiae and intricacies that you could pore over in between all the alien fighting and physics-based puzzling. Seamless level transitions and a narrative that never broke away from the first-person perspective make this game not only one of the best old games but one of the finest games ever made.

We’ve spent years waiting for the mythical Half-Life 3, but with the release of Half-Life: Alyx, our hunger for new Half-Life has only gotten more ravenous. Sounds like the perfect excuse to revisit – or begin – the series. If aging visuals really aren’t for you then the fan-made Black Mesa remake is officially out and receiving just as positive reviews as the original.

Deus Ex

Visually, Deus Ex has not aged as gracefully as some of the pixel-era games on this list, but its deep RPG systems, dense hub worlds, and intriguing conspiracy crackpot plot make it proper ‘PC games bucket list’ fodder.

The number of ways in which you can tackle the game’s missions still holds up today: You have countless means of molding JC Denton to your play style. Your choices about how you interact with the world all feel significant and, as a result, Deus Ex continues to be the gold standard that immersive sims, stealth games, and RPGs strive for, and remains one of the best old games on PC. If you want to see how the Deus Ex series has modernized over the years, check out our Deus Ex Mankind Divided review.

Outlaws

The lack of tribute to this gunslinging wild-western shooter is no less criminal than the exploits of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Outlaws was among the PC’s best first-person shooters, sprite-based or not.

Several gameplay innovations helped Outlaws stand out, including a manual reload system, and the first-ever sniper scope used in a shooter. The orchestrated Sergio Leone-inspired soundtrack is spine-tingling, and the animated cutscenes have that lovely LucasArts touch that provides context to the tough, rootin’ tootin’ gunfights taking place across trains, frontier towns, and other environs of the Old West. Outlaws is a goldmine of excellent stylistic and gameplay features in a classic FPS package and an exceptional old PC game at that.

The Longest Journey

Coming in the twilight years of point-and-click adventure games, The Longest Journey is a poignant swansong for the genre. You are April, an 18-year-old student who shifts between two contrasting realms to restore the mysterious force that allows them to exist harmoniously.

The contrasting realms of the magical Arcadia and gritty urban Stark realm are evocatively presented, and in both, you will meet characters as strange and well-rounded as your strong, troubled protagonist. Yes, it suffers from the point-and-click pitfall of absurdly cryptic puzzles, but they are worth toughing through to experience this beautiful interdimensional adventure. The Longest Journey’s sequel Dreamfall is also worth playing, though it is not quite on par with Funcom’s original.

Diablo II

The continuation of online support and the fact that Blizzard released patches for Diablo II up to the release of the official remake attest to the game’s enduring appeal as one of the finest old PC games.

The high-intensity action RPG mechanics, which have been emulated but rarely topped by other games over the years, and its grungy, well-animated pixel art set Diablo II apart. Its loot-‘em-up gameplay is so appealing that it does not need to move with the times. Blizzard’s perfection of this formula has allowed Diablo II to completely defy the typical videogame life cycle. You don’t have to track down an old copy of this either as Blizzard released a solid remaster in the form of Diablo 2: Resurrected. Check out our Diablo 2: Resurrected review for our complete verdict.

Fallout 2

Looking at the image above, it is easy to say that Fallout has come a long way since the isometric days. But that would ignore the tremendous narrative and mechanical depth hiding amidst those pixels and pre-rendered backdrops. Fallout 2 is on Steam and, in high-res and with cloud saves, this fantastic old game is all the more appealing to revisit.

Fallout 2 is not forgiving, and bad decisions or character development can essentially ruin your experience. But ride the wave of its deep systems and you have one of the greatest RPGs of all time. The range of factions, side-quests, and characters paint a rich picture of a post-apocalyptic world that is a grim joy to explore. It is harsh, bleak, and kind of ugly, but Fallout 2’s wild wasteland came to define the series. Take a look at our Fallout 4 review to find out what the series has transformed into.

Theme Hospital

Still one of the funniest and most whimsical building sims on PC, Theme Hospital is a unique gem that no developer has even dared try to emulate. Its sense of humour ranges from excellent soundbites of the receptionists urging patients not to die in the corridors, to the emergent chaos of a mass vomit breakout in the waiting areas. AI prodigy Demis Hassabis was even involved in the project as a young boy, making this literally the work of a genius.

The cutesy visual style, so great at conveying fictitious illnesses like Bloaty Head and Hairyitis, conceals a relentless and challenging sim. Up there with the best old PC games, Theme Hospital stands in a league of its own… unless you count spiritual successor Two Point Hospital.

System Shock 2

You never forget the confused fear you feel when a mutant is apologizing to you while battering your head in with a wrench. It is harrowing, deeply unsettling, and captures the dark spirit of this lonesome story in which you are hounded by a murderous AI aboard a spaceship.

Yes, System Shock 2 was sort of succeeded by BioShock, but it is a tonally different beast – a psychological horror that drips with a cold, claustrophobic atmosphere. Grab one of the mods that updates the graphics and lighting to revive that intense technophobia you felt all those years ago.

Quake

It is hard to imagine anything dislodging Doom’s place in the pantheon of PC gaming greats (don’t worry, it’s listed here). However, we think Quake meets id’s vision of demonic corridor-shooting executed most successfully. Of the two forefathers of those great franchises, Quake proves most affecting to revisit today. Doom’s Cacodemons and Hell Knight sprites look kitsch now, but Quake’s roster of far less recognizable abominations – all lipless mouths and faceless horrors – still manages to unsettle. They are helped by flawless sound design created in collaboration with Trent Reznor, and a medieval occult aesthetic that falls somewhere between Doom and Hexen.

The culmination of those elements – not forgetting its excellent arsenal of high-impact, heavy weapons – feels like id’s best attempt to pull together the elements they experimented with throughout the ’90s. Quake and its many sequels are all available with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, and we’ve found that they run superbly on modern PC setups – no frustrating compatibility modes are needed here.

Doom

Sure, we’ve already got Quake on this list, but where would modern PC gaming be without its sci-fi horror-based FPS sibling, Doom? Every boomer shooter fan has their preference between the two, so in the interest of pleasing everyone, we’ve included both.

Doom’s certainly the more colorful of the two and so is generally a lot easier to navigate, and you can also move a lot faster and more freely thanks to its slightly more open levels. Monsters take a bit less effort to kill and the levels are much less stingy when it comes to handing out ammo – it’s the better pick for cheap, run-and-gun thrills, while Quake offers a little more mastery and pure horror. This is also handily available via an Xbox Game Pass subscription and runs well on modern systems.

Starcraft

Starcraft may have been somewhat left behind by its shinier sequel, but even those not looking for a competitive experience could do a lot worse than revisiting one of the finest narrative RTS campaigns ever. Along with Warcraft 3, the original Starcraft represents pre-Activision Blizzard at its creative pinnacle.

Okay, so, in the same way that Warcraft owes a lot to Tolkien, this story of space marines, space bugs, and ethereal elder beings may owe a lot to Warhammer 40k, Aliens, and Starship Troopers. Everything owes a lot to Aliens, though, and that doesn’t stop this genre classic from holding up today. Come for the pitch-perfect execution of archetypal RTS games scaffolding, and stay for the character-focused sci-fi epic stuffed with juicy plot reveals.

The Curse of Monkey Island

While the first two Monkey Island titles are genre-defining adventure games, produced at the peak of LucasArt’s heyday, that doesn’t stop them from being a daunting proposition for modern gamers curious to see what all the fuss was about. Monkey Island 3: The Curse of Monkey Island may not have the best puzzles, the best story, or the best jokes, but it is the easiest to slip into for new players, and it’s still an excellent adventure game in its own right.

Featuring singing pirate barbers, a lactose-intolerant volcano god, and a giant chicken demon among its less ridiculous elements, The Curse of Monkey Island continues the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood, the world’s most useless pirate. A colorful cartoon aesthetic and a jaunty, moreish soundtrack top off this hearty mug of adventure game grog.

Now that you’ve taken a historical tour of our most cherished classic videogame memories, you know what to do: turn those old games, into ‘sold’ games. Okay, we’ll stick to writing, writing more list features, that is. And, if you want the cream of the crop both new and old, here are the best PC games of all time, or if you don’t want to splash the cash, here are all the best free PC games. For now, though, we’ll be going back to embracing the sweet, sweet nostalgia of our misspent youth.

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The Best Motherboards 2024

By admin August 28, 2024

Best Motherboards 2024, Building a new PC is all about choices and trade-offs. Picking between AMD and Intel is usually the first choice you have to make, but it certainly isn’t the most complicated. Instead, that honor goes to the motherboard; selecting one among the the dozens of brands is just the beginning. Typically, each board maker offers at least half a dozen different models based on a single chipset.

Of the hundreds of motherboards compatible with your choice of processor (Amazon returns 700+ results for ‘1150 motherboard’), which board will you choose? Not sure? Well, that’s okay, we’ve done a lot of the homework for you, and we aim to save you some time, money, and regret by sharing with you what we believe is the very best out there.

The Best Motherboards 2024

Best High-end AMD X670E Motherboard

Asrock X670E Taichi and Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming

In our roundup of the Best X670E motherboards, you will find models starting at around $300, with the most extreme motherboards reaching as high as $1,000. For a solid high-end board in this segment, you can check out those models in the $500 range which opens us up to the Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master and Asrock X670E Taichi.

From the other three options, the least impressive is the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master. For the same price the Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming and Asrock X670E Taichi are better equipped. Both boards wire in their primary and secondary PCIe x16 slots to the CPU for PCIe 5.0 bandwidth, the E Gaming is the most affordable X670 motherboard to provide three PCIe 5.0 enabled M.2 slots while the Taichi supports USB4 and eight SATA ports.

Frankly, picking between the Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming and Asrock X670E Taichi is difficult, they’re both excellent boards, albeit mighty expensive at $500, but they’re equally good in our opinion.

There’s also the Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Gene for $510 but that’s a MicroATX motherboard, the only mATX X670 board, so like the ITX version, it kind of just wins by default if you want a MicroATX X670 motherboard, and of course it’s an X670E version. It’s an extreme motherboard as well, the 16 teamed 110A powerstage vcore VRM is no joke, there’s two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, USB4 support, loads of USB ports, onboard buttons, debug LED codes, 2.5 Gbit LAN and WiFi 6, it’s an impressive but also ultra expensive mATX motherboard.

Best Affordable AMD B650 Motherboard

MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi

The MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi is the most affordable B650 board that includes Wi-Fi support and features 11 USB 3.2 ports. In terms of features it’s a well equipped MicroATX motherboard, though it lacks PCIe 5.0 support, you get the standard two M.2 slots and three PCIe expansion slots.

It includes 11 USB 3.2 ports, so that’s nice and you also get Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbit LAN. There’s basic Realtek ALC897 audio and the I/O panel is fairly basic we’d say, 8 USB ports in total, no Type-C, the audio and network connections along with a DisplayPort, HDMI output and a BIOS flash button.

As for the VRM, the vcore is powered by 8 Alpha & Omega 55A power stages, teamed in pairs for a 4-phase configuration. Cooling them are a pair of large black aluminum heatsinks, though they’re not connected, so these are individual heatsinks, no heatpipes.

It provides three PCIe slots and two M.2 slots, though none are PCIe 5.0 compatible. However, the eight 55A power stage vcore VRM performs well, making this a solid option at less than $160.

If you were considering other affordable B650 boards, the MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi is one of the better buys right now.

Best Overall Intel B660

MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi

If for any reason you decide you want to spend way too much on an Intel B660 motherboard, MSI, Gigabyte and Asus are all willing to accomodate you. Full disclaimer though, we highly recommend that as pricing approaches $200, you consider abandoning the B660 platform in favour of Z690, as quality boards such as the MSI Pro Z690-A start at $190.

For $190, you can get the MSI B660 Tomahawk WiFi, and while I would normally opt for the Z690 board, if you don’t care about CPU overclocking, it’s possible to argue that the B660 is the better value option.

For starters, you get Wi-Fi 6 and wireless networking of any form isn’t offered on the Z690 board. The B660 board also packs better USB support with five gen-2 ports on the I/O panel, whereas the Z690 model only offers two. The B660 board also gets a higher quality audio codec, though the difference will likely be minimal.

The MSI B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi is a better overall board with full M.2 heatsink coverage and a pre-installed I/O shield. Again, if you don’t care about CPU overclocking – you’re not going to buy a K-SKU part – then the B660 board is the better deal.

High-end alternatives to the MSI B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi include the Gigabyte B660 Aorus Master, which I can’t find anywhere, and then there’s the Asus ROG Strix B660-F Gaming Wi-Fi which is also MIA in the U.S., but available in other regions for $50 more than the Tomahawk. Frankly, it’s just not worth that premium, so the MSI B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi is the best high-end B660 motherboard.

Best All-Round AMD X570 Motherboard

Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra

There are considerably more options for those of you spending around $300. None of them can be considered bad choices, which should be no surprise given this is a rather high price to pay for a motherboard supporting a mainstream socket. With that said, you should know the MSI X570 Tomahawk has VRM performance that can surpass many of these at a lower price point, just make sure it’s got the features you want, since it’s still a mainstream level offering.

The winner in the $300 category is the Asrock X570 Taichi. The board did quite well in our VRM thermal testing and for $300 it packs loads of features including Wi-Fi 6, three M.2 slots with full coverage heatsink, eight SATA ports, high quality audio, Intel Gigabit LAN, plenty of USB 3 ports, BIOS Flashback, and much more. It’s also a great looking board with some nice lighting effects, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Two worthwhile runner ups can be either the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra or Asus ROG Strix X570-F Gaming.

Previous generation boards could also be considered for the savings. If you don’t need PCIe 4.0, you might want to check out the X470 Taichi. It’s a very good board that can be had for less, making it great value.

Best Intel Z490 Motherboard

MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk

With a little more budget, you can get some really nice boards for up around $200. From day one, a stand out which we featured in our early 10th-gen coverage is the MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk, it’s a great quality motherboard priced at $190. In our testing, the Z490 Tomahawk peaked at just 74 degrees running a Core i9-10900K clocked at 5.1 GHz using 1.35v, so you don’t need to spend big money to get the most out of Intel’s new 10-core processor, despite the fact that it is extremely power hungry when overclocked.

MSI has gone with a dozen powerstages for the vcore VRM on the Tomahawk, using a dozen 55A powerstages for a combined 660A capacity. MSI also includes massive heatsinks which weigh a combined 393 grams. For comparison, the MSI Z490-A Pro comes with 237 grams worth of heatsinks. You also get some nice features such as 2.5 Gbit LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 for 20 Gbps support and a few extra USB ports when compared to the cheaper boards.

Our alternative pick, the Gigabyte Z490 Vision G might be worth considering over the Tomahawk for two reasons: at $200, it’s the only Z490 board in this price range to offer three full length PCIe x16 slots, though only the primary slot is wired for full x16 bandwidth as LGA1200 processors don’t support enough PCIe lanes. The secondary slot is wired for x8 bandwidth and when in use will half the bandwidth available to the primary PCIe x16 slot. Then the third slot is wired for x4 bandwidth.

The Vision G also offers two extra USB 3.2 ports on the I/O panel, though it drops Gigabit networking while retaining 2.5 Gbit LAN. In terms of VRM performance the Vision G is roughly on par with the Tomahawk.

Also worthy of mention is the Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Elite. We have tested that board and it’s very good, but at the same price as the Tomahawk we tend to prefer the MSI board. The same is true for the Asus TUF Gaming Z490-Plus, overall another good board.

Best All-Round AMD B450 Motherboard

MSI B450 Tomahawk

If it’s possible to pony up an extra $40 we do recommend skipping over the cheaper entry-level boards. We realize it’s a big jump in price, but you do get a significantly higher quality motherboard that will handle any Ryzen CPU you throw at it with ease.

The extra investment opens up multiple options and the best examples include the Asrock B450 Gaming K4, MSI B450 Gaming Plus and MSI B450 Tomahawk. The options from Asus and Gigabyte aren’t good enough to consider in our opinion.

The MSI B450 Tomahawk is a serious standout here, packing an impressive feature set at the current $110 asking price. It’s also a nice neutral looking board, black and grey themed with a dash of RGB lighting that will suit all occasions. That said if you can afford it, our no compromise option is just $20 more and frankly it’s worth every penny.

Still if you’re stretching the budget as it is, then the Tomahawk is a reasonable compromise. You essentially get everything you’d typically need on a desktop motherboard with the addition of a quality VRM that operates at very safe temperatures, even with an overclocked Ryzen 7 processor.

MSI hasn’t skimped on the VRM components and they haven’t skimped on cooling either, providing big heatsinks on both the Vcore and SoC VRM and the heatsinks aren’t covered in tacky looking plastic shrouds. Price to performance the MSI B450 Tomahawk is hands down the best value all-rounder available at the moment.

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microSD and SD Card Buying Guide

By admin August 28, 2024

microSD and SD Card Buying Guide, Portable flash memory has never been more versatile, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the widespread availability and affordability of high-speed, large-capacity microSD and SD cards these days. Flash storage is not just limited to expanding the memory of your phone or tablet.

From drone footage to high-resolution professional cameras, and continuous recording needs of dash cams and surveillance systems, microSD cards have become the go-to choice for a variety of storage needs.

Although microSD cards are often favored for their compact size, full-sized SD cards continue to hold their ground, especially among professional photographers who demand the utmost reliability and performance.

In this guide, we explain all the different card classes and specs, helping you understand what will work best for you. Whether you’re an action camera enthusiast, a gaming aficionado seeking extra storage for your console, or a tech enthusiast embarking on your next project with a Raspberry Pi, this guide will provide the insights you need to make an informed choice.

The Basics: Size & Storage

All SD cards (short for Secure Digital), regardless of their size, use one or two small NAND flash memory chips – similar to those found in USB memory sticks and SSDs – and a tiny processor to manage the flow of data and instructions.

There are 3 standards for the dimensions, and they are incompatible with each other. In other words, a miniSD card reader won’t work with microSD cards (unless you use an adapter):

· Standard SD cards: 1.26 x 0.94 x 0.083 to 0.055 inches (32 x 24 x 2.1-1.4 mm)

· miniSD cards: 0.85 x 0.79 x 0.055 inches (21.5 x 20 x 1.4 mm)

· microSD cards: 0.56 x 0.43 x 0.039 inches (15 x 11 x 1 mm)

Standard SD cards all come with a small locking toggle, that enables/disables the ability to write or delete data on the card; however, mini and microSD cards don’t have this.

There’s also a further 5 categories within the size classes, that indicate the connection system and data capacity of the card:

· SD or SDSC (Secure Digital Standard Capacity): maximum storage of 2 GB

· SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity): More than 2 to 32 GB of storage

· SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity): More than 32 GB to 2 TB of storage

· SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity): More than 2 TB to 128 TB of storage

· SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output): Contain more than just storage. These cards sport an extra device that provides additional functions, such as a Bluetooth or GPS receiver.

SDSC is restricted to FAT12, FAT16, and FAT16B. SDHC is nearly always FAT32 and the XC/HC versions use exFAT. The exFAT file format was specifically designed for NAND flash devices and is likely to remain the standard for many more years.

SDSC, SDHC, and SDXC cards are supported in a wide range of devices, such as laptops, smartphones, drones, and digital cameras. The need for increased storage continually grows, thanks to bigger games, more complex apps, and cameras sporting ever higher resolutions – but there will always be an SD card for everyone’s needs and budget.

SDUC is still rather new, so it will be some time before we see produces routinely supporting it; 128 TB of storage should be enough for the majority of users for years to come.

SD Specification Evolution

The table above, from the SD Association, shows how the Secure Digital technology has changed over the past two decades and highlights just how quickly they grew in storage capacity. You’ll probably have also noticed that there’s even more to SD cards than just capacity: time to talk about performance.

Performance: Speed Classes

All SD cards use the little brass contacts at the end of the package to receive and send data. The interface between the card and the reading device has evolved with each specification revision – in some cases, the updated system just runs faster, but in others, the SD card has extra contacts to provide more channels for the data.

These differences have been classified in four speed classes, each organized by the peak bus throughput – or the measure of the max amount of bytes per second that can be transferred between the SD card and host device.

Not all NAND flash chips are the same, so the speed classes also indicate the minimum sequential write rate – the slowest speed at which data can be put onto the memory chip in a structured, rather than a random, way.

A microSD card sporting an extra row of contacts… for more performance

With so many speed classes to get your head around, it can be tricky to figure out what rating you really need. In the table below, we can see how they roughly compare.

The SD Association came up with the speed classification systems to help differentiate what cards are best suited to what purposes. The simple Class number is the most immediate indicator to the speed of an SD card, with Class 2 (2 MB/s) cards being toward the bottom of the spectrum and are best geared towards less demanding tasks, such as recording standard definition video.

At the other end of the scale, Class 10 (10 MB/s) cards are capable of recording or playing up to 4K video, although not at a very high frame rate.

Some SDHC and SDXC cards will also support Ultra High Speed (UHS) classification, which offers improved data transfer rates. There are 3 versions of this system and the first versions to appear (UHS-I and UHS-II) offer two speed modes: U1 and U3. The former is essentially the same as C10, but U3 provides three times greater throughput at 30 MB/s – good enough for 4K videos at a high frame rates.

UHS-I cards have just one set of contacts for sending and receive information, so when running at the higher speed, the bus will run in what is called Half Duplex mode: the SD card will only be able to receive or send data, at any one time. The later versions of UHS sport extra contacts, which permits Full Duplex (send and receive together), both to occur at the same time; however, in UHS-II this results in the bus being forced to run at the slower speed. UHS-III and SD Express don’t have this problem, and always run Full Duplex.

With SD Specification 5.0, the association provided another rating system: Video Speed. This classification is better at conveying its information, with Video Class 10 (V10), for example, applying to cards that have a minimum sequential write speed of 10 MB/s, through to Video Class 90 (V90 = 90 MB/s). At that speed, the playback and recording of 8K video at 60 to 120 fps becomes feasible.

Later on, the SD Association announced the SD Express specification – this version uses up to 2 PCI Express lanes to provide a huge increase in throughput.

SD Card Bus Speeds

Bus system	Peak throughput (MB/s)		PCI Express type	SD card supported
Default speed (DS)	12.5		Not used	All
High Speed (HS)	25		Not used	All
Ultra High Speed I (UHS-I)	50	104	Not used	SDHC, SDXC, SDUC
Ultra High Speed II (UHS-II)	156	312	Not used	SDHC, SDXC, SDUC
Ultra High Speed III (UHS-III)	312	624	Not used	SDHC, SDXC, SDUC
SD Express	985		PCIe 3 (x1 lane)	SDHC, SDXC, SDUC
SD Express	1970		PCIe 4.0 (x1 lane) PCIe 3 (x2 lanes)	SDHC, SDXC, SDUC
SD Express	3940		PCIe 4.0 (x2 lanes)	SDHC, SDXC, SDUC

SD cards utilizing UHS-III or SD Express faster specs are not widely available, despite the technologies being available for several years. But this is because the performance is only unlocked if the device using the card fully supports it, and that support remains mostly absent.

SD Express Speed Class	Minimum read/write performance (MB/s)
SD Express E150	150
SD Express E300	300
SD Express E450	450
SD Express E600	600

Briefly shown in the very first table is yet another category rating. The use of SD cards in smartphones and tablets, where the additional NAND flash can be used as working storage, requires more than just good throughput. The ability to handle lots of random data instructions (measured in IOPs, input/output operations per second) is key to ensuring consistent system performance, and in 2015 the SD Association created two further standards: Application Class A1 and A2.

Cards rated A1 are capable good for a random read performance of 1500 IOPS and random writes of 500 IOPS, while A2 significantly increases that, although this does require very specific hardware support. Additionally, the A1/A2 rating also means that the cards offers a sustained sequential write speed equal to that of V10.

Class	Min. Seq. Writes	Min. Random Read	Min. Random Write	Ideal Workload
A1	10 MB/s	1500 IOPS	500 IOPS	Editing and updating application data, not just storage
A2	10 MB/s	4000 IOPS	2000 IOPS	Specialized uses of the above

All of this makes the rating system somewhat of a minefield to navigate, but generally speaking, it can be broken down into 3 simple categories: general use/value for money, best possible performance, and maximum storage capacity.

For example, the average smartphone user will need something from the first category, whereas a high-end camera or video recorder, used by a professional photographer, will want to consider something from the other two more specialized categories.

What to Buy

Although this guide should have equipped you with the information you need to pick your own SD or microSD card, we went ahead and chose models for the three categories that stood out as offering the best combination of specification and price. We’re keeping this guide up-to-date throughout the year where the most notorious differences are in the capacity and value you can now get, essentially now you can buy much larger memory cards for relatively less.

Best Value microSD Cards

· Samsung Pro Plus microSD 256GB UHS-I U3 – $23 on Amazon

· Runner up: Samsung Pro Plus 512GB UHS-I U3 – $40 on Amazon

Best Value SD Card

· SanDisk Extreme Pro 256GB SDXC UHS-I V30 – $42 on Amazon

Samsung’s driving force in the flash drive market is not limited to high-speed SSDs and there’s a good chance that the company’s memory chips are in your phone, too. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see a Samsung-branded microSD cards listed here.

For only $23, the 256GB Samsung Pro Plus (UHS-1, U3) offers up to 180 MB/s reads and 130 MB/s writes, and it ships with an SD card adapter.

You can also choose a card with less capacity. The same Samsung microSD card with 128GB is down to $13. There are plenty of alternatives, but you should be aware that many are U1 cards; they advertise the same read speeds as the Samsung cards, but they have much slower writes of only 20-30 MB/s.

Best High Performance microSD Cards

· Smartphone/Tablet use: SanDisk Extreme 256GB UHS-I U3/V30 A2 – $30 on Amazon

· Video recording: Lexar Professional 1066x 256GB UHS-I U3/V30 A2 – $23 on Amazon

· Runner up: ProGrade Digital 256GB UHS-II U3/V60 – $109 on Amazon

Best High Performance SD Cards

· Lexar Professional 2000x 256GB SDXC UHS-II V90, U3 – $225 on Amazon

· Delkin 128GB Power microSDXC UHS-II V90, U3 – $80 on Amazon

· Sony Tough-G series 128GB SDXC UHS-II V90, U3 – $173 on Amazon

For a wide majority of users, the best value cards will be fast enough and will offer plenty of storage. However, for more specialized use, make sure you are buying a top performing card that’s right for the task, and that your device can take full advantage of the card’s rating.

If you want fast storage for a smartphone or tablet, you should be more concerned about fast random access and reading small files simultaneously. The SanDisk Extreme 256 GB is rated for faster A2 application performance (4000 read and 2000 write IOPS) and lists 200 MB/s sequential reads with 140 MB/s write speeds.

For movie recording on drones and video equipment, you want a card with the highest rating (UHS-II V60). The ProGrade Digital has been rated for 4K video recording and is relatively affordable at $109 for 256 GB.

UHS-II rated microSD cards are generally more scarce, but can be found in various brands if you look for them (the card reader must be UHS-II rated to take advantage of the faster memory).

If you want the best performance on full size SD, top performing SD cards such as Lexar Pro 2000x and the Sony Tough-G can reach 300 MB/s reads and better sustained writes in the larger form factor.

Best High Capacity microSD Card

· More storage: Lexar Play 1 TB UHS-I U3/V30 A2 – $73 on Amazon

· Good Alternative: Lexar Pro 1066x 256GB UHS-I U3/V30 A2 – $45 on Amazon

Best High Capacity SD Card

· More storage: SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB SDXC UHS-I U3/V30 – $140 on Amazon

· Faster Alternative: Lexar Silver Pro 1TB SDXC UHS-II U3/V60 – $269 on Amazon

If you simply need the max amount of storage you can get, 1TB cards are more affordable than they were before. You won’t find anything bigger for the price than Lexar’s Play 1 TB (UHS-1, U3/V30) on the microSD side. It might seem expensive at $73, but if you are routinely shooting 4K video, then you’ll welcome the extra capacity.

When it comes to the SD format and needing the highest capacity and storage, two top options emerge: the SanDisk 1TB Extreme (UHS-1, U3/V30, A2) and the faster Lexar Silver Pro (UHS-II, U3/V60). Both offer an excellent balance between performance and capacity, making them ideal choices if you want the capacity and are willing to pay a premium for it.

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Computer

How to use Microsoft Teams v1

By admin August 27, 2024

How to use Microsoft Teams v1, Learning how to use Microsoft Teams properly can save you heaps of time. It has a built-in whiteboard, video chat functionality, team organization tools, and integrates well with the Microsoft 365 productivity cloud and its suite of useful applications.

With both educational and business interactions increasingly moving online, it is more crucial than ever to effectively communicate and organize with large groups to achieve common goals, impart knowledge, and create a productive environment for work and learning. Read on to find out more about how to use Microsoft Teams.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is Microsoft Teams?

Created by Microsoft as a collaboration app, Teams combines the best features from Microsoft Classroom and Skype for Business to create a program capable of file storage, app integration, videoconferencing, instant messaging, VoIP calling, and granular organization of team and collaborators.

Teams has more than 270 million users around the world and is the most popular collaboration app with businesses. However, it is not only a business app. More than 1 million people use Teams as their primary messaging app as well.

The app itself is packed with functionality. For starters, people can silo different parts of their lives into independent Teams. For example, a person could have personal chats and work chats independent of each other. These are the nuts and bolts of what Microsoft Teams is.

Each Team has one-on-one chats (called Chats), group chats (called Teams Channels), file sharing, group whiteboards, and video calling with up to 100 people. There’s also the ability to schedule events directly in the app so everybody involved receives it in their calendars, and users can set reminders in the app.

Finally, there’s the ability to customize profile pictures for both individuals and entire groups, and users can set their availability status directly in the app so others know if they’re around or not.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to use Microsoft Teams v1

How to install Microsoft Teams on PC

Microsoft Teams is free to use. However, if you want to unlock full functionality with seamless syncing between OneDrive, Calendar, To Do, and other Microsoft apps, you’ll want a Microsoft 365 account. For mobile devices, simply head to the App Store, search for “Microsoft Teams,” and install the app.

Most modern Windows PCs come with Teams pre-installed. However, if your computer doesn’t have it, the process is straightforward.

Step 1: Download Teams from Microsoft.

Step 2: Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Microsoft Teams.

Step 3: Sign in with your Microsoft account when Teams opens.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to set up Teams for individuals

Teams is a fantastic communication tool for everyday use. Not only can you make video calls with your loved ones, but you can also text them via SMS directly from Teams!

Setting it up is straightforward and should only take a minute or two.

Step 1: In Windows, open the Start menu and select Teams. On Mac, open the Launchpad and click on Teams.

Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to set up Teams for organizations

Businesses and organizations can set up Teams just as easily as individuals. The difference is that the organization will need to invite members to join its Team. This process is simple enough, but each person on the team will need to install and set up Teams on their end.

Organizations will also need an active Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise subscription to work, and they’ll need a valid domain name. Another thing to note is the full Business or Enterprise versions of Teams are not available for academic institutions.

Once all team members have Teams installed, setting up Teams for everybody to use is simple. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open Teams from the Start menu or Launchpad (on Mac).

Step 2: Select Sign up for Teams.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Enter your organization’s identity and press Next.

Step 4: Enter your details, then select Set up Teams.

Step 5: Invite your team to join your organization.

Microsoft will email you a link you can use to invite your team members, or you can click on the Teams icon on the left-side menu and select Invite people at the bottom.

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How to chat in Teams

Chatting is arguably Teams’ strongest suit. Whether as an individual user or as part of an organization, chats keep you connected.

Microsoft Teams has the same chatting capabilities you would expect to find in other chat apps such as WhatsApp and iMessage. It is also a strong competitor to Slack when it comes to team-based chats. You’ll find the app fairly straightforward to use.

Step 1: Select Chat from the left-side menu bar.

Step 2: Select New Chat from the little box with a pen above it. You’ll find this in the Chat window to the right of the menu bar.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Type the name of the person or people with whom you wish to chat in the “to” field.

Teams will automatically suggest people in your organization or your contact list.

Step 4: Write your message in the Type new message field.

You can easily find all your chats in the Chat menu. Teams will keep them the moment you begin a new chat.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to use Channels in Teams

Channels are sections of your Team where you can keep everything organized by subject, projects, etc. However, they are called Teams, not Channels. Yet when it comes to usage, Microsoft calls them Channels, and the overall organization is the “Team.” It’s confusing, we know.

Channels (or Teams) are big group chats where entire teams of people (there it is again) can message each other, share files, join video conferences, and more. Admins can set roles within the team, such as Team Owner and Team Member. They can also designate moderators to manage content on the channel … err, team.

Each team automatically comes with a “general” channel, but if you’re running a business, you’ll probably want to break that down into more focused silos. Here’s how.

Step 1: Click on the Teams icon in the left-side menu bar.

Step 2: Click Join or create a Team at the bottom of the screen.

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Step 3: Choose whether to create a team From scratch or From a Group or Team to add any existing group or team contacts.

Step 4: Select Private, Public, or Org-wide for your Team’s privacy level, then enter a name and description.

Step 5: Select Create Team to finish the process. We have a more in-depth look at how to create a team in Microsoft Teams if you wish to explore the options further.

How to share files in Teams

One of Microsoft Teams standout features is the ability to share files large and small with your entire organization. OneDrive and Sharepoint can be embedded right into the application, giving you quick access to your cloud files on every device.

Step 1: From a chat window, select the Attach icon resembling a paperclip and click either OneDrive or Upload from my computer. You can also copy and paste the sharing URL into the compose-message box.

Step 2: Sharing files is exactly the same for channels, but the Attach options also include Recent and Browse Teams and Channels.

Step 3: After the file finishes attaching, select Send to share your file.

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How to use a whiteboard in Teams

Whiteboard access is one of the newest additions to Microsoft Teams, and it turns the platform into a productivity powerhouse for businesses and organizations. You can brainstorm, make diagrams, and doodle mindlessly while everyone watches.

The Whiteboard function is only available during a team meeting. However, admins will first need to enable the ability.

Step 1: (Admins only) Visit the Microsoft Teams Admin Center – opens in a web page.

Step 2: Click Settings.

Step 3: Select Services and add-ins.

Step 4: Scroll down to Whiteboard.

Step 5: Toggle Turn Whiteboard on or off for entire organization to “on.”

Step 6: Head to the Teams icon in the left-side menu bar of the Teams app.

Step 7: Find the Team (aka Channel) with whom you want to share a whiteboard.

Step 8: Click on the *Meet now * icon on the top-right corner of the Team chat (it looks like a film camera).

Step 9: Name your meeting and press Join now.

Step 10: Once in the meeting, select Share.

Step 11: In the Whiteboard section, select Microsoft Whiteboard.

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How to schedule events in Teams

You can easily schedule meetings and live events in Teams. and every member will be notified. Once they accept, the meeting or event will appear in their Microsoft 365 calendar. You can do this with recurring events as well.

Step 1: Go to the Teams tab in the left-side menu bar.

Step 2: Choose the team with whom you want to have a meeting.

Step 3: Click on Schedule a meeting under the chat box.

Step 4: Select Calendar on the left side of the meeting pop-up.

Step 5: Click on New meeting.

Step 6: Select the date and time for the meeting from the pop-up.

Step 7: Select Save.

Step 8: Alternatively, you can use the Scheduling Assistant to help you find the best time for a meeting with all the team members.

Scheduling Assistant is what Microsoft has down with Cortana, their now-defunct virtual assistant. Select this option, and the assistant will show you the free and busy times of your team members.

How to make video calls in Teams

Teams allows you to make one-on-one video calls or conduct group video calls with up to 100 participants. Everyone can chat, share files, and work on a whiteboard during these calls.

Step 1: From your chat list, select the New chat button.

Step 2: Enter the name or names of your contacts into the To field at the top of the chat.

Step 3: Select the Video call button resembling a camera to start a call. Note that you can record a Microsoft Teams meeting if this is required for review later.

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How to share your screen in Teams

You can share your screen with team members during a Teams video call. The process is easy. Here’s how.

Step 1: While in a Teams meeting, click Share in the center of the screen, then select the window, document, or screen to share.

Step 2: When finished, click Stop sharing in the bottom right.

Note that a red border appears around any content that you are actively sharing.

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How to check your messages and notifications on Teams

The Activity feed serves as a one-stop shop for viewing all messages, whether you joined or were given control of a team, replies to your posts as well as posts you’ve liked, suggested posts, and trending posts. You will receive a notification in both the Chat menu and Activity feed when you receive a message, but other notifications can be found only under Activities.

Any DMs sent between individuals or groups will remain private, whereas sending a message in a channel will cause a notification to appear in your Activity feed. Channel messages can also help you send preview cards that detail activities on the Teams app.

Note that if you are unavailable, you can set an out of office message in Microsoft Teams.

How to change your settings on Teams

While Teams offers a plethora of options including language, keyboard shortcuts, and app settings, here’s how to set up the three most important settings. Namely, how to change your profile picture, configure your privacy settings, and choose a theme.

Step 1: Select your Account icon in the top-right corner.

Step 2: Click Settings.

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How to change your profile picture on Teams

Step 1: From the Settings menu, select Edit profile.

Step 2: Select the Upload picture button to open a File Upload window.

Step 3: Select your new image, and click the Open button to upload your photo.

Step 4: Select Save.

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How to change your privacy settings on Teams

Select the Security tab to adjust your security settings, including Do Not Disturb, priority access, call-blocking, read receipts and survey participation.

Note that if you change the read receipt settings, you will have to close all chats for the settings to take hold.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to choose a theme on Teams

Step 1: From the Teams app, select your Account icon in the upper-right corner to open the main menu and click Settings.

Step 2: Select the General tab and decide between Default, Dark, and High Contrast.

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How to send an SMS with Teams

The great thing about Microsoft Teams is its ability to send SMS messages to non-Teams users. This function is a perk to using a personal Teams account that businesses don’t have.

Step 1: Click on the Chat tab in left-side menu.

Step 2: Select New Chat.

Step 3: Enter your recipient’s phone number in the To: field.

Step 4: Enter a name for your contact. They won’t see the name you assign — this is solely for your use.

Step 5: Type a message and send it.

Teams is jam-packed with functionality for organizations and individuals. Microsoft has clearly separated it from competitors like Slack by adding a host of features, from Whiteboard to SMS messaging. It’s no wonder Teams is one of the most used business applications in the world today.

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Movies

Best Murder Mystery Movies Of All Time Top 10

By admin August 27, 2024

Best Murder Mystery Movies Of All Time Top 10, Nothing beats playing detective from the comfort of one’s couch. A great way to do that is by watching the countless murder mystery movies out there guaranteed to thrill and entertain. These gripping whodunit films are meticulously crafted to be suspenseful and often twist-filled masterpieces that invite viewers to follow along as brilliant investigators search for enough clues to solve confounding cases.

From the voyeuristic classic Rear Window to the humorous modern hit Knives Out, the greatest murder mysteries in cinema reflect the best aspects of the enduring genre. Expect intriguing crimes, intelligent detectives, red herrings, shocking revelations, and even a healthy dose of dark humor from these whodunit movies that should be considered essential viewing for any fan.

10. Zodiac (2007)

Paramount Pictures

Everyone knows how the story of the infamous Zodiac Killer ends, or rather, doesn’t, with the string of murders in San Francisco in the late 1960s and 1970s still unsolved today. Despite this fact, director David Fincher masterfully infuses the journey toward a cold case with suspense, uncertainty, and unease in 2007’s Zodiac. The engrossing film revolves around three individuals who become increasingly obsessed with learning more about and finding the killer: cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), and detective Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo).

Fincher is a master of building atmospheric tension, and Zodiac is a great example of that. The movie transports viewers by meticulously re-creating that era, portraying a city gripped by fear and paranoia. It also notably uses methodical pacing, which mirrors the slow, frustrating process of real detective work that lasted over several years and took a toll on investigators and journalists alike. Of course, standout performances and a tense dynamic between Gyllenhaal and Downey Jr. have helped Zodiac earn the esteemed reputation it enjoys.

9. Clue (1985)

Paramount Pictures

Director Jonathan Lynn’s Clue blends black comedy and mystery to create a cult classic that would go unappreciated for several years. The 1985 film takes place in an isolated mansion where six guests are invited for dinner, but soon discover that they are all being blackmailed by their mysterious host. When that host suddenly drops dead, a frantic search for clues throughout the mansion ensues as the guests scramble to figure out who among them is responsible for the murder.

Based on the popular board game, Clue initially received mixed reviews, with many criticizing its then-novel premiere that involved showing different endings in different cinemas. It has since become beloved among murder mystery movie fans who appreciate its aspects that were ahead of its time. With its deadpan humor delivered with perfect timing by its ensemble cast and a witty script full of clever twists and turns, it’s not surprising that Clue is now often mentioned alongside the greatest films of the 1980s.

8. Memento (2000)

Summit Entertainment

For a murder mystery that unfolds in a non-linear fashion, look no further than director Christopher Nolan‘s mind-bending Memento. The 2000 neo-noir thriller follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man living with short-term memory loss, as he struggles to piece together the traumatic events of his wife’s murder. Unable to form new memories, Leonard gets creative and starts using Polaroid photographs, handwritten notes, and tattoos on his body to track his investigation. His search for the killer is complicated by his own narrative depicted in reverse chronological order, immersing audiences in a fragmented reality not too dissimilar from Leonard’s.

Nolan’s acclaimed film is known for its unconventional structure, which is both innovative and effective in the way it reflects the protagonist’s story. Pearce’s performance as a desperate man stuck in a maddening cycle of forgetting is intense and sympathetic, anchoring the entire story. Fans of the genre should know that Memento is certainly far from the typical murder mystery, with the unique viewing experience and its shocking twist likely to inspire a rewatch.

7. Memories of Murder (2003)

CJ Entertainment

Parasite may have been the film that turned director Bong Joon-ho into a household name, but that’s not the only great South Korean movie he has created. One worth seeing at least once is Memories of Murder, a crime thriller based on the true story of the country’s first recorded serial murders in the 1980s. It’s centered on two detectives, Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) and Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung), who approach their investigations differently as they follow a trail of brutal murders of young women in the rural province of Hwaseong. With mounting pressure from the public and authorities, the duo struggle to find any concrete evidence or reliable suspects.

As with several of Joon-ho’s works, Memories of Murder is chock-full of social commentary, particularly about the systemic issues that allowed a serial killer to exist for so long in South Korean society. It’s also full of dark, often slapstick humor that mocks the authorities’ incompetence in the face of such atrocious crimes. Considering it was only his second movie, it’s impressive how the 2003 murder mystery showcases so many of the filmmaker’s trademarks, with it benefitting greatly from Joon-ho’s attention to detail and brilliant use of shocking revelations.

6. Fargo (1996)

MGM

The Coen brothers‘ darkly comedic Fargo is a renowned crime thriller that revolves around a fake kidnapping set up by the financially struggling car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy). He hires two bumbling criminals, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), to abduct his wife so he can extort a ransom from his rich father-in-law. Things predictably go wrong, and with the tenacious and very pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) hot on their trail, the people responsible for a series of strange murders around the snow-covered landscapes of Minnesota and North Dakota are soon caught.

Fargo is known for its entertaining juxtaposition of good and bad, optimism and cynicism, and suspense and humor. With a realistic setting complete with authentic regional accents, it’s an immersive and often laugh-out-loud murder mystery that invites audiences into its quirky world. It also features one of Frances McDormand’s greatest performances to date as the persistent Marge, who stops at nothing to catch the culprits.

Best Murder Mystery Movies Of All Time Top 10

5. Se7en (1995)

New Line Cinema

Always present in any discussion of the best crime movies ever, director David Fincher’s Se7en is one of the grittiest and darkest entries in the genre. It follows two detectives, the seasoned William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and the newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt), who reluctantly work together when they’re paired to hunt down a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as inspiration for his murders. As they examine one grotesque crime scene after another, they realize that the murderer has a grand surprise in mind for his finishing act.

Fincher’s disturbing thriller achieved mainstream success despite initial detractors who called it too dark to ever appeal to a mass audience, but it’s that unnerving aspect that made it so popular in the end. Pitt and Freeman are impeccably cast as the duo, with Pitt, in particular, giving a career-best performance as a naive and increasingly brash detective. Of course, Se7en has become synonymous with its iconic twist ending, meticulously crafted to shock and underscore the calculating killer’s murderous and evil nature.

4. L.A. Confidential (1997)

Warner Bros.

L.A. Confidential is a stylish neo-noir crime thriller that takes place in 1950s Los Angeles. Here, an unsolved murder becomes the unifying element between three LAPD officers: the ambitious Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce), the brutish Bud White (Russell Crowe), and the smooth Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey). With each motivated by their career, a personal vendetta, or the limelight, their converging paths lead to a tumultuous experience when they investigate the Nite Owl massacre and discover a deep-rooted conspiracy.

Directed by Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential crafts a convincing and visually stunning world dripping with the glitz and glamor of the 1950s. With this backdrop, the intriguing case captures the three main characters’ attention, and the combination of classic police action with their strong personalities makes for an exciting two hours. L.A. Confidential unfortunately faced tough competition at the Academy Awards when it was up against the blockbuster Titanic, which ultimately overshadowed it. The movie has since received more recognition and is also often credited with boosting the careers of the then-relatively unknown actors Pearce and Crowe.

3. Knives Out (2019)

Lionsgate

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) suddenly drops dead just after his 85th birthday, the famous Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired anonymously to investigate the case in Knives Out. Blanc learns more about each member of the Thrombey family and soon discovers the dysfunctional group’s numerous layers of secrets, deceit, and lies. Key members of the family include Harlan’s eldest daughter, Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), his ambitious son-in-law, Richard (Don Johnson), his spoiled grandson, Ransom (Chris Evans), and his loyal nurse, Marta (Ana de Armas).

It isn’t an overstatement to say that director Rian Johnson reinvigorated the whodunnit with the popular 2019 crime movie. Daniel Craig is incredible as the Southern detective whose charm, wit, and razor-sharp mind guide viewers through the complex case explored through sharp interrogations and a series of flashbacks. Craig leads an ensemble cast that delivers powerhouse performances, with the 2019 film ultimately successfully offering a fresh take on the genre. It pays homage to classic Agatha Christie mysteries while modernizing the narrative through clever humor and a critique of contemporary social issues.

2. Chinatown (1974)

Paramount Pictures

Often considered the ideal representation of the neo-noir genre, Chinatown is a landmark film that follows private investigator J.J. “Jake” Gittes (Jack Nicholson) as he is hired by Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) to investigate her husband’s alleged infidelity. Set in 1930s Los Angeles, Gittes quickly learns that the case is not as simple as it seems. He soon uncovers some shocking secrets about the Mulwray family, which inevitably leads to one of the most grim and legendary endings in cinematic history.

Directed by Roman Polanski, Chinatown was pivotal in the 1970s when the New Hollywood movement was gaining momentum. Its multi-layered plot and flawless screenplay earned it widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike, with its deft balance of mystery and drama ensuring it remains a timeless masterpiece still worth watching today. Jack Nicholson‘s portrayal of the cynical yet vulnerable Gittes complements Faye Dunaway’s tragic femme fatale in what would prove to be a massively influential detective movie, despite its director’s later infamy.

1. Rear Window (1954)

Paramount Pictures

From the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock, 1954’s Rear Window is a genre-defining murder mystery and psychological thriller set in a small New York City apartment. It’s centered on L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies (James Stewart), a professional photographer confined to that apartment due to a broken leg. Bored out of his mind, he starts to spy on his neighbors through his rear window, using a telephoto lens to watch their day-to-day lives. When he witnesses what he thinks might be a murder, he asks his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly), and his nurse, Stella (Thelma Ritter), to help him find the truth.

Hitchcock proves that he indeed deserves the title, with each moment of Rear Window more suspenseful than the last. The tension only escalates when Jeff’s voyeuristic pastime turns dangerous and leads to an explosive confrontation. The film’s novel storytelling, innovative use of a single location, technical mastery, and compelling performances all make it a quintessential Hitchcock movie and one that’s consistently cited alongside the greatest ever made.

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Android

Best WiFi Hacking Apps For Android 2024

By admin August 27, 2024

Best WiFi Hacking Apps For Android 2024, .If you have an innate interest in becoming an ethical hacker, then you must learn how to hack WiFi networks around you. Many WiFi hacking apps for Android are available in the market today, which can help you to crack the WiFi passwords and gain easy access to the WiFi network. Many hacking apps can function either by rooting the Android device, or there are some which can also work on an unrooted device.

In this blog, we will read about the best WiFi hacking apps for Android available in 2024. It is advisable to test these apps on your WiFi network and not to pose a problem to others while doing so.

The best WiFi hacking apps are listed below, out of which we will first take a look at the WiFi password hacker apps without root followed by the WiFi hacking Android apps that need device rooting.

Best WiFi Hacker Apps for Android Devices Without Root:

1. WiFi WPS WPA Tester

This app can help in hacking a Wifi pin with the help of multiple algorithms (like Dlink, Arris, Zhao, etc.). Below are the features that make it one of the best WiFi hack apps for Android 11.

• This app is available for free and is very easy to use.

• If your device is working on an Android version 5.0 or higher than that, then there is no need to use root tools for your device.

• Breaks the Wifi password very swiftly.

Download

2. AndroDumper

This is an app that can work best for routers that are enabled with the WPS pin feature. This app can provide extra support in the case of Wifi routers of well-known companies like Huawei, Vodafone, Dlink, and Asus, to name a few. Moreover, the following features are also a reason we listed it as the best WiFi hacker app for Android without root.

• All you need to do is download the app from Google Play Store, and then upon starting its interface, it will display all the Wifi networks located around.

• Then the password of the selected Wifi network can be seen after the app runs the algorithms in the background.

• This app works on Android devices without the need to root the device if the Android version is 5.0 or above it.

• This is free to use an app that can break open the Wifi password within the blink of an eye.

• This app can work for rooted devices, as well.

Download

3. WPS Connect

This app can again work for all device routers that are using the WPS pin feature. Not only does it help in cracking open Wifi passwords of other networks, but it also helps in protecting your Wifi network by monitoring and detecting any hacking attacks, making it one of the best WiFi hacking apps for Android.

• This Wifi hacking app is not compatible with all sorts of Android devices, although it has been tested across the most commonly used Android devices.

• Download the app from Play Store.

• It can use various pins and also use many popular passwords cracking algorithms like Zhao or easy box PIN.

• Once you have recognized the Wifi network that you wish to hack, then you can use the app to detect the password. But there is no provision of identifying or connecting to a Wifi network automatically.

Download

4. WiFi Master Key APK

This is a popularly used Wifi hacking app used all across the world. This app is available in 19 languages currently and extremely safe and easy to use. The best part of using this app is that it is completely legal and ethical to use.

• Go to Play Store and then download this Wifi hacking app.

• You can search easily for all the available Wifi networks around with a single tap. Then choose the Wifi network that you wish to connect to and retrieve the security key of that network within the blink of an eye.

• What it does is not really hack the password of the network but rather shares the different networks that it can identify from its directory with the users.

• This app also lets you create and share hotspots among other users.

• But there is no encryption support provided, and this app cannot crack the password of an unregistered network.

Download

Best WiFi Hacker Apps for Android With the Need of Rooting The Device:

5. Free WiFi Password Router Key

Have you forgotten your router’s password? Well, worry no more. This Wifi password hacker for Android provides you with a complete list of all default passwords of Wi-Fi routers. Below are some of the notable offerings that make it one of the best Wifi router password finder apps in 2024.

• Fast, lightweight, and easy to use application.

• Provides support for renowned router brands like Cisco, Asus, Belkin, etc.

Download

6. Penetrate Pro

It works only with rooted devices. Moreover, it is among the best hacking apps for Android due to these features.

• This app can scan the Wifi networks available around and then crack open the security key.

• It can work with different kinds of Wifi routers and is also able to calculate the WEP/WPA keys.

Download

7. Reaver

Also known as RfA, this Wifi hacking app has a simple graphical user interface. This app functions on a lot of devices. All the settings are also easily visible due to the GUI.

• Reaver can detect WPS wireless networks automatically and then retrieve the WPA/WPA2 password in 2-5 hours.

• External scripts are also supported by this app.

Download

8. WiFi Kill

This is an application that you can use for ethical hacking. This hacking app is handy to protect your Wifi network from other hackers. Your device has to be rooted to use this app.

• When the app scans the network, it can display various users connected to it. You can then use the kill button to terminate the internet connection of the device itself. This way, you can prevent other users from using your network.

• This application has a simple user interface.

• The other features include displaying the network names, displaying the traffic consumed by a device, and also seizing the traffic of websites visited by the other devices.

Download

9. Aircrack-ng

Using this hacking app also offers the advantage of protecting your network. This app has been recommended by many Android developers as well as other hackers. This app is available on both Android and Ubuntu platforms and based on the Linux kernel. This app was developed at XDA Developers.

• This app needs a Wifi chipset that can support the monitor mode to run on your Android device.

• You will also need a wireless USB adapter and a USB OTG adapter.

Download

10. Nmap

This app can function in various operating systems and also on the Android platform. Mostly used by ethical hackers to find network vulnerability points, this app can function on rooted as well as unrooted devices, but rooted devices have accessible features to use.

• Convenient to use with various available features like finding ports and system details.

• This is an open-source app that can help you get all the latest updates for free.

Download

11. Shark for Root

This hacking app belongs to the Wireshark open-source packet analyzer, which is popular for its use as an analyzer of network traffic and communications protocol development.

• This is tcp dump-based app that works only on rooted Android devices.

Download

12. Fing – Network Tools

Hackers cannot hide when the Fing Network Tools is active. The app finds all the devices which are connected to the Wi-Fi network in a few seconds only. The software uses professional tools for analyzing the network which is used by security analysts and professional hackers. All your network-related issues will be solved with this app as it will evaluate the security level and block the intruders.

• The software has a simple and easy interface that can be used by all Android users.

• Easily finds and blocks intruders

• It offers high-level security to restrict the intruders

• It has been used by more than 40 million users worldwide

Download

13. Router Keygen

The Router Keygen is great hacking software as it will detect the key or password of the neighboring Wi-Fi, it is compatible with several router models including Pirelli Discus, Eircom, Verizon FiOS, and many more. It works better when used once per router. Once the key is generated you can easily connect with the network.

• Simple interface for the user

• Hack the passwords of neighboring routers pretty easily.

• A lightweight app that doesn’t requires much space of the phone

• Satisfactory user rating on Google Play Store

Download

14. WiFi Warden

WiFi Warden is the next name on this list of the best Wifi hacking apps for Android. The tool allows you to find out the password for any Wifi network with ease. Moreover, you can even find out the free and open networks around your location with ease and connect automatically.

• Connects to any network or hotspot easily

• Allows total control of your Wifi network

• Allows you to access blocked websites and other platforms.

Download

15. WIFI Password Hacker PRO

WIFI Password Hacker PRO is the next tool that you can use. This is a free solution that allows you to ascertain the password of any Wifi connection with ease. The tool boasts an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy for all to recover the Wifi password with a couple of taps.

• Allows you to surf all the available networks

• Helps in ascertaining the password for Wifi connections

• Three-tap performance

Download

Final Words: Best WiFi Hacking Apps for Android 2024

To conclude this article, we recommend you to use hacking apps for Android from the list of the Wifi hacking apps mentioned above. These apps can be used to test your network as well as protect your network from hackers. Ensure to use the above-listed Wifi breaker apps only for ethical purposes as this article is not in favor of promoting illegal Wifi hacking of other private networks.

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