Windows

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool User Guide

By admin February 8, 2024

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool User Guide, If you want to install Windows 10, you first have to create installation media such as a bootable USB memory stick or a DVD with the Windows 10 setup. Fortunately, that is a simple thing to do, as Microsoft developed the Media Creation Tool< for just that reason. If you want to learn where to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and how to use it to create a USB stick or download an ISO file with the latest Windows 10 May 2021 Update (also known as Windows 10 version 21H1), read this guide.

NOTE: This guide is based on Windows 10 May 2021 Update, the latest version of Windows 10, and MediaCreationTool21H1.exe, both officially released on May 18, 2021.

What you should know before you go ahead

Before creating an ISO file, a USB memory stick, or a DVD with the Windows 10 setup, you should first check these requirements and recommendations:

• You must have a working internet connection to be able to download the installation files.

• You must have sufficient free storage space on your hard disk or solid-state drive for the installation files. Microsoft recommends you have at least 8 GB of free space. However, the ISO file we last downloaded had 4.24 GB for the 64-bit version of Windows 10. When we chose to create an ISO file with both the 32-bit and the 64-bit setup, the file had 7.37 GB.

• If you want to create a USB memory stick, note that any data stored on it gets deleted. Media Creation Tool needs to format it before creating the bootable memory stick with the Windows 10 setup.

• If you want to create media with Windows 10 setup, you need to use a DVD or a USB memory stick with at least 8 GB of storage space.

• If you intend to upgrade your computer or device to Windows 10, make sure it meets the system requirements. You can check them here: Windows 10 Specifications.

• You must be logged in as an administrator on your computer to use the Media Creation Tool.

How to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

If you’re wondering what the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool is, here’s the answer: a small executable file made by Microsoft, that allows you to download Windows 10 and create your installation media both on USB devices or in an ISO file. Furthermore, the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool also lets you directly upgrade your current computer or device to the latest version of the operating system.

The next question you might ask is: “How do I get Windows 10 Media Creation Tool?” To download the Media Creation Tool, open your favorite web browser and go to this webpage: Download Windows 10. Scroll until you reach the “Download tool now” button found in the “Create Windows 10 installation media” section.

Microsoft asks you to download an executable file called MediaCreationTool21H1.exe, with a size of 18.5 MB. The file name ends with the version number of the latest Windows 10 update. In our case, 21H1 is the version number for Windows 10 with May 2021 Update. Save the executable file for the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool somewhere on your PC and then run it with a double-click or double-tap.

When you see the UAC prompt on your screen, choose Yes to allow the MediaCreationTool21H1.exe to run.

Depending on what you want to do, read the next section of this tutorial or the one after it.

TIP: The future versions of the MediaCreationTool21H1.exe file and of Windows 10 will have a different version number at the end. To learn more about Windows 10 versions, read: How to check the Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type.

Use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB memory stick with the Windows 10 setup

You can use the Media Creation Tool as a Windows 10 USB tool. In other words, it can download the Windows 10 setup files and automatically create a bootable Windows 10 USB memory stick, which you can then use to install the operating system on any computer. When the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool loads its user interface, it asks you to accept its license terms. Read the terms, and click or tap Accept to continue.

Media Creation Tool needs a few seconds to “get a few things ready.” Then, it asks whether you want to upgrade your PC or create installation media that you can use to install Windows 10. Check the second option: “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC,” and press Next.

Next, you can choose the Language, Edition, and Architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, or both) that you want to use for the Windows 10 setup media. By default, the Media Creation Tool uses the recommended options for your PC. It is best to leave these options as they are and just press Next. However, if you uncheck the box for “Use the recommended options for this PC,” you can set things in detail before moving on to the next step.

You are prompted about the media storage you want to use. Plugin the USB memory stick on which you want to store the Windows 10 setup files, select “USB flash drive” and press Next.

You see all the flash drives and external hard disks currently connected to your Windows computer or device. Select the one you want to use for creating Windows 10 installation media, and then press Next. Do not forget that all the data on the drive is going to get wiped during this process. Make sure that you have a copy of it before moving forward.

Once you have selected the USB flash drive, the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool starts to download the latest installation files. Depending on your internet connection speed and the load on Microsoft’s servers, this might take a while. All you need is patience.

Once the download of the Windows 10 setup files is over, it is verified for integrity. Then, the USB memory stick you selected is made bootable, with the newest Windows 10 setup. This process may take another couple of minutes.

When the process is finished, you are informed that the USB memory stick is ready. Click or tap Finish, and then you can use that drive to boot from and install Windows 10.

Safely remove the USB flash drive from your computer, and use it as you see fit.

TIP: To install Windows 10 without problems, read: How to install Windows 10 from DVD, USB, or ISO file.

How to use the Media Creation Tool to download an ISO file with the latest Windows 10 setup

You can also use the Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 setup ISO file. When the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool loads its user interface, it asks you to accept its license terms. Read the terms, and click or tap Accept to continue.

You are asked to choose what you want to do. Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC,” and click or tap Next.

By default, the Media Creation Tool chooses for you a recommended language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10. If you want to personalize these settings, uncheck the box for “Use recommended settings for this PC,” and make your selections. When you are done, press Next.

You are asked to choose which media to use. Select “ISO file” and click or tap Next.

The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool asks you to select where you want to save the ISO file and the name you want to give it. Browse your computer or device, choose the location that you want, choose a file name (by default it is named Windows.iso), and then click or tap the Save button.

Media Creation Tool starts to download the latest Windows 10 installation files to your computer or device. Depending on your internet connection speed and the load on Microsoft’s servers, this might take a while, so give it a couple of minutes.

Once the download is over, it is verified for integrity to make sure that everything is OK. Then, the ISO file is created in the folder you selected, with the file name you chose.

When the Windows 10 ISO file is created, you are shown where it was saved. Click or tap Finish.

You can burn the ISO file with the Windows 10 setup to a DVD or mount the ISO file in a virtual machine.

Did you have issues using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool?

As you can see, using the Media Creation Tool is intuitive and straightforward, even if you are not a technical expert. With our instructions, you should have no trouble creating a Windows 10 ISO setup file of your own or a bootable Windows 10 USB memory stick with all its setup files on it. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below.

What is the latest version of Windows 10? Check the version you have

The latest version of Windows 10 is 2022 Update or 22H2, build 19045, and it was released starting October 18th, 2022. This version doesn’t introduce new features, instead including only quality and security improvements. Still, it does keep the evolution process of Windows 10 alive and kicking. If you want to know whether you have the latest version of Windows 10 installed and how to check what version, build, or type of Windows 10 you’re using, read this guide.

What version of Windows 10 do I have? The quick method!

This method is fast and works the same, no matter what version of Windows 10 you have: use the Search bar next to the Start button, type winver, and press Enter, or click or tap the search result with the same name.

Alternatively, press the Windows + R keys to bring up the Run window, type winver, and press Enter or click or tap OK.

This command opens the About Windows box, where you see the Windows 10 version followed by the OS Build and the Windows 10 edition. For example, below, you see a PC with Windows 10 Pro and the 22H2 version, build 19045.

Is all this data confusing? Continue reading this tutorial to make sense of the version numbers you see, the OS Build, the Windows 10 edition you have, and so on.

How to check the Windows 10 version from the Settings app

This method works in all versions and editions of Windows 10, but things can look differently depending on the specific build you’re using. First, open the Settings app (the quickest way is to press Windows + I on the keyboard). Then, click or tap System.

On the left, scroll to the bottom and choose About. On the right, you see information about your system. The amount of information shown differs depending on the Windows 10 version you have installed. On the right, you see the lines with the data that interests you:

• System type – it tells you whether you use a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10

• Edition – it shares the edition of Windows 10 that you have: Pro, Home, Enterprise, Education, etc.

• Version – displays the version of Windows 10 currently installed

• OS Build – see the Windows 10 build number

These lines of information are positioned differently, depending on your version of Windows 10. For example, here is how the About section looks in the Windows 10 November Update from 2015. The lines we mentioned exist here too but are ordered differently.

How to check the Windows 10 version from PowerShell

If you prefer using a command-line environment, open PowerShell and type or copy and paste this command:

wmic os get version

Then, press the Enter key to execute it and see the information you’re looking for.

The Version number tells you the build of Windows 10 you have installed. In the earlier example, the build number is 19045, which comes after 10.0. With this number, you can then make sense of the exact Windows 10 version you’re using, so continue reading.

How to translate Windows 10 version numbers into feature updates

Until November 2021, Microsoft kept updating Windows 10, releasing two major feature updates each year. These feature updates have a specific version and a marketing name (like Creators Update or November 2021 Update) and come with new features, new apps, significant changes, and so on. As a result, Windows 10 has evolved a lot since it was first released in July 2015.

From November 2021 onwards, Microsoft has changed the Windows 10 release cadence to align with Windows 11, targeting annual feature updates in the second half of each year.

Getting back to your Windows 10 version, if you know the version number for your PC, here is how it translates into feature updates:

• Version 1507 or build 10240 – The initial release of Windows 10, launched in July 2015, codenamed Threshold 1.

• 1511 or build 10586 – The first significant update for Windows 10 was released in November 2015, called November Update, and codenamed Threshold 2.

• 1607 or build 14393 – The second major update is the Anniversary Update for Windows 10. It was launched a year after the initial release of Windows 10, in July 2016, and codenamed Redstone 1.

• 1703 or build 15063 – The third major update, named Creators Update for Windows 10. It was released in April 2017 and codenamed Redstone 2.

• 1709 or build 16299 – The fourth major update, also called Fall Creators Update for Windows 10. It was released in October 2017 and codenamed Redstone 3.

• 1803 or build 17134 – The fifth major update is named April 2018 Update for Windows 10. It was codenamed Redstone 4 and released in April 2018.

• 1809 or build 17763 – The sixth major update for Windows 10 is named October 2018 Update for Windows 10. It was codenamed Redstone 5 and released in October 2018.

• 1903 or build 18362 – The seventh major update for Windows 10. It is named May 2019 Update, and its codename is 19H1. The “19” stands for the year when the update is released, and the “H1” stands for the first update of that year. You can learn more about this codename change here.

• 1909 or build 18363 – The eighth major update for Windows 10, codenamed 19H2. It was named November 2019 Update and began rolling out on November 12, 2019.

• version 2004 or build 19041 – The ninth update to Windows 10, codenamed 20H1. It was called May 2020 Update and released later than other similar updates on May 27, 2020.

• 2009 or build 19042 – the tenth major update for Windows 10 is codenamed 20H2. Named October 2020 Update, it was rolled out starting October 20th, 2020. Cool date, isn’t it? 🙂

• 21H1 or build 19043 – the eleventh major update to Windows 10. Its name is May 2021 Update, and it began rolling out on the 18th of May 2021.

• 21H2 or build 19044 – the twelfth major update to Windows 10. It is named November 2021 Update and rolled out starting November 16th, 2021.

• 22H2 or build 19045 – the thirteenth major update to Windows 10. It is named 2022 Update and started rolling out on October 18th, 2022.

• 23H2 or build 19046 – the fourteenth major update to Windows 10 and probably the last. It’s probably going to be named the 2023 Update.

When will we get the last version of Windows 10?

According to this page on Microsoft.com, the retirement date for Windows 10 is October 14th, 2025. This means that we shouldn’t expect to get a new Windows 10 version past 2023 at the latest since that would imply the need to support this operating system past its October 2025 retirement date. However, these dates may change, and we’re keeping an eye on what Microsoft communicates about its future plans for Windows 10.

Windows 10 editions – what is different about them?

You can have one of the following editions of Windows 10 installed on your computer or device:

• Home – the most used edition of Windows 10. It is designed for home users and new devices sold in the retail space. It includes only consumer-oriented features and lacks business features like BitLocker encryption or virtualization.

• Pro – this version adds features for small business environments and power users, like BitLocker encryption.

• Enterprise – provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro, with additional features to assist network administrators and technology-oriented companies.

• Enterprise LTSC – the long-term servicing channel of Windows 10 Enterprise, released once every two or three years. It is supported with security updates for ten years after each new version.

• Education – it initially had the same features as Windows 10 Enterprise and was designed for academic organizations. Since the Fall Creators Update, its feature set has been lowered.

• Pro Education – a special edition of Windows 10 for the educational sector. It includes a “Set Up School PCs” app that allows provisioning settings using a USB flash drive. It does not have Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, or Windows Spotlight.

• Pro for Workstations – this edition is designed for high-end hardware, intensive computing tasks, and the latest server processors and file systems.

• S – a feature-limited mode of Windows 10 designed for retail and education. Its most important limitation is that you cannot install desktop apps unless distributed through the Microsoft Store. Also, Microsoft Edge is enforced as the default web browser, with Bing as its search engine. Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Pro Education can be run in S mode. Other editions cannot.

• N and KN – N versions are available only in Europe, while KN versions are available only in Korea, to comply with antitrust laws in those regions, where Microsoft has been found abusing its monopoly to hurt competing video and audio applications. These editions of Windows 10 remove Windows Media Player, Media Player, and other multimedia features. N and KN can apply to all other editions of Windows. Therefore, you can have Windows 10 Home N, Windows 10 Pro N, and so on.

• IoT – this edition is designed for low-cost devices like Raspberry Pi and specialized machines like robots, ATMs, POS terminals, or barcode scanners. There are two editions of Windows 10 IoT: IoT Enterprise and IoT Core.

NOTE: If you need help deciding what Windows 10 edition to buy, read: How much is Windows 10? Where to buy Windows 10 Pro or Home?

What is the Windows 10 OS build?

The OS Build number changes with each Windows 10 update you install. To help you understand, let’s take the following situation:

When Windows 10 October 2018 Update was released, it had version number 1809, and the OS build showed the value 17763.1. After the first update to Windows 10, the OS Build changed to 17763.55, while the version number remained the same. After the most recent update to Windows 10, launched in October 2022, the build number is 19045.2130.

The OS build number changes with each update made by Microsoft to Windows 10. This information is helpful for troubleshooting purposes. For example, when you encounter a bug and talk to a tech support engineer, the OS Build is critical to understanding the exact version of Windows 10 you’re using and what updates are necessary to fix the problem. You can learn more about the evolution of Windows 10 build numbers from this Windows 10 release information.

What is the Windows 10 system type?

This information only tells you whether Windows 10 uses the 32-bit or 64-bit register of the processor. Modern processors tend to be 64-bit, and their advantage is they can address and process much more data than 32-bit processors. So in most cases, Windows 10 should be 64-bit, which is a good thing.

Did you check what Windows 10 version you have?

Now you know how to find the Windows 10 version you have and what it means. Before closing this article, share your Windows 10 version, edition, and build number with us. We are curious to discover the most popular versions and editions with our readers.

Keep Reading

Computer

How to download Windows 10 for free

By admin February 8, 2024

How to download Windows 10 for free, Windows 10 is the most widely used PC operating system in the world right now. Obviously, it’s a good idea to keep a USB memory stick, a DVD, or an ISO file with the Windows 10 setup handy. You may need it for various reasons, whether it’s reinstalling Windows 10 on your laptop or assisting friends in trouble, when their computers malfunction.

Or, why not, even for upgrading a very old Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer. If you want to know how and where to download Windows 10, don’t worry. Here are three ways to get Windows 10 for free and legally, regardless of whether you need to download a 64-bit or 32-bit full version.

1. How to download Windows 10 from Microsoft using the Media Creation Tool

The best option to obtain Windows 10 is to use a small program that Microsoft provides to everyone for free: the Media Creation Tool. This small application allows you to download Windows 10 as an ISO file or to create a DVD or a USB drive with Windows 10 on it. You can download the Media Creation Tool from the Windows 10 website.

The app provides a straightforward and user-friendly interface. It allows you to choose between 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and includes different editions like Windows 10 Pro and Home. For more guidance, you can check out our tutorial: Windows 10 Media Creation Tool: Create a setup USB stick or ISO.

Download: Media Creation Tool.

How to download Windows 10 for free

2. How to get Windows 10 free (full version) with Rufus

Using Rufus is another great way to download Windows 10. Rufus is a handy application that allows you to create bootable drives from image files. What many don’t know, however, is that you can also use it to download operating systems, including Windows 10. To get the most recent version of the software, visit the Rufus website.

Once you get Rufus on your computer, run it and make sure you allow it to check for updates. Otherwise, you won’t be able to download Windows 10.

Then, click or tap the small arrow next to the Select button.

This opens a small menu with two options: Select and Download. Choose Download instead of the default Select option.

That will initiate a small wizard where you can tell Rufus that you want to get Windows 10. Choose it from the Version list and click or tap on Continue.

The next steps of the Download ISO image wizard in Rufus are as clear as they can be. All you have to do is select the options you prefer and click/tap Continue to move on to the next ones.

You can choose the Release (there’s only one option here at the time of writing: version 22H2 v1), then select what edition (Home, Pro, and Education are all inside the same ISO), what language, and what architecture you want to download (Windows 10 64-bit or 32-bit). In the end, you get to download the full version of Windows 10 by pressing the Download button.

TIP: If you’re interested, here’s what the latest version of Windows 10 is, and how the Windows 10 editions are different from each other.

Once you press Download, you’re asked where you want to save the Windows 10 ISO file. Select a location on your computer, choose a name for the ISO or leave the default one, and click or tap on Save to begin downloading it.

Rufus then starts downloading Windows 10 on your PC. While the process is running, you can monitor its status at the bottom of the window.

When the download is over, you’ll find the Windows 10 ISO file saved in the location you specified earlier. Then, you can use it to create a bootable DVD or USB memory stick with the Windows 10 setup. If you need help with that, check out this guide: How to make a bootable USB drive with Windows, Ubuntu, or FreeDOS.

Download: Rufus.

3. How to get a Windows 10 download from a safe site, like Softpedia

The third method I can think of is to get a Windows 10 ISO from websites that offer software downloads. However, this option has the highest risk because many of these websites are not trustworthy, and some may even hide malware in the downloads they provide.

Sadly, most of the big download sites that are reliable, such as FileHippo, CNET, and MajorGeeks, don’t have direct links for downloading Windows 10 ISO files. The only website with a good reputation that I found offering direct downloads for Windows 10 ISO files is Softpedia. Go to it, look for Windows 10, and you should see the download options in the first results.

Download: Windows 10 on Softpedia.

What is your favorite way to download Windows 10?

If you want to get Windows 10 for free, legally, and without any risks, these are the options you have. Do you have any other suggestions on how to download Windows 10? Which method do you like the most? Do you use the official Media Creation Tool from Microsoft, or do you prefer Rufus when creating a Windows 10 USB memory stick? Let me know in the comments section below.

How to restart a Windows 10 computer

Sometimes, you need to restart your Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC simply to give it a fresh new start. Some other times, you may have to reboot because you just installed a new app or driver, or maybe because Windows 10 updated itself. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways to restart Windows 10, and they’re all quite simple. I have a list of eight different methods for you to choose from and I’m curious whether you know them all, or just a few of them. Here they are.

1. How to restart Windows 10 using the Start Menu

If you want to restart your Windows 10 computer, the easiest way is to use the Start Menu. First, open the Start Menu by clicking or tapping the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Then, click or tap the Power button. From the options that appear, choose Restart to reboot your device.

If you have the Start Menu in full screen or you’re using Windows 10 on a tablet, things look a bit different. However, you can follow the same steps to restart your device: tap the Start button, go to Power, and tap Restart.

2. How to restart Windows 10 using the WinX menu

Another way to restart your PC is to use the power user menu, or the WinX menu for short. You can open it by pressing Windows + X on your keyboard or by right-clicking (or pressing and holding) the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Then, choose “Shut down or sign out” and click or tap Restart.

TIP: The WinX menu is one of the most powerful things in Windows 10, out of the box. But did you know that you can make it even more useful by editing its options? Here’s how to edit WinX.

3. How to restart Windows 10 using Alt + F4

You may already know that pressing the Alt + F4 keys closes the current application or window you’re using. But did you know that you can also use this keyboard shortcut to restart Windows 10? All you have to do for that is to go to the desktop by pressing the Win + D keys, and then press Alt + F4 to open the Shut Down Windows dialog box. In it, select the Restart option from the dropdown menu and press Enter or click/tap OK to reboot your Windows 11 device.

TIP: The Shut Down Windows dialog also lets you sign out of your user account or switch to another one if that’s what you want.

4. How to restart Windows 10 from the command line

For those who love working with commands, there are ways to restart Windows 10 from the Command Prompt or PowerShell too. Moreover, some commands can also be executed directly from a Run window if that’s what you prefer. Here’s how it all works:

4.1. How to restart Windows 10 using the “shutdown” command

Open a Command Prompt, PowerShell or Run window, and type the command:

shutdown /r

Then press Enter on your keyboard to restart your Windows 10 laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.

Once triggered, the command makes Windows 10 display a warning window (“You’re about to be signed out”), and after a short while, your computer restarts.

Please note that closing the warning doesn’t stop the restart process.

4.2. How to restart Windows 10 using the PowerShell Restart-Computer command

If you prefer using PowerShell, you can also use this command to restart your Windows 10 device:

Restart-Computer

Once executed, the command instantly reboots your Windows 10 computer. There are no other warnings displayed.

Note that this command only works in PowerShell or in a PowerShell tab inside Windows Terminal. You can’t use it in Command Prompt or in the Run window.

5. How to restart Windows 10 from the lock screen

You can also restart your device from the lock screen: you can see this screen before logging into Windows 10 or if you sign out or lock your device. On it, press the I/O icon from the bottom-right corner and then click or tap the Restart option.

6. How to restart Windows 10 with Control + Alt + Delete

If you have a Windows 10 PC with a keyboard, a quick way to get to the power options is to simultaneously press the Control, Alt, and Delete keys on your keyboard. Once you do, look for the I/O button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Click or tap on it, and you’ll see the usual power menu with Sleep, Shut down, and Restart. Choose Restart, and your Windows 10 computer will reboot.

TIP: There’s more to the Ctrl + Alt + Del screen than just power options. Here’s what Control Alt Delete is and what you can do with it.

7. How to restart Windows 10 using our Shut Down Windows shortcut

If you want to restart (or power off) your PC, you can also use our handy shortcut for the “Shut Down Windows” dialog box I’ve talked about in the third (Alt + F4) method of this guide. This shortcut is a little file we made for you, that works on any Windows machine, whether it’s Windows 10 or Windows 11. Here’s how to get it and use it: Download the shortcut for “Shut Down Windows”.

After you download it, run it, and it will instantly open the Shut Down Windows dialog box. In it, select Restart and either press Enter on your keyboard or click/tap the OK button.

8. How to restart Windows 10 using Simple Shutdown Scheduler

Last but not least, there’s also an app that I believe you’ll like: Simple Shutdown Scheduler. It can help you with scheduling or triggering immediate actions for shutting down or restarting Windows 10. Before installing it though, you will have to install the additional Windows 10 feature .NET Framework 3.5.

Then, open the app, go to the General tab, and pick the Restart action from the Immediate action dropdown menu. Once you do, hit the Go button next to it.

If you want to learn more about this app, check out this guide we published some time ago: Set your Windows PC to turn off or restart at certain time, with Simple Shutdown Scheduler.

How do you usually restart your Windows 10 computer?

You know now that there are many ways to reboot your Windows 10 device. Depending on what you prefer or need, you may use one or the other. Which one’s your favorite? Also, if you’re having any issues restarting your Windows 10 computer, feel free to leave a comment in the section below, and I’ll try to help.

How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

If your Windows is acting up or not booting at all, you may want to try Safe Mode to fix it. Safe Mode is a special way of starting Windows that only loads the essential stuff, so you can troubleshoot and repair the issues.

But sometimes, you need more than just the basics, like internet access. That’s where Safe Mode with Networking comes in handy. It’s a variation of Safe Mode that also lets you connect to the web and other networks. In this guide, I’ll show you how to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking using various methods, including from the command line and the graphical user interface of this operating system.

NOTE: This guide covers the ways in which you can boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode with Networking. If you’d like to know more about Safe Mode, what it is, and why it’s useful, you should read this article first: What is Safe Mode? Also, if you’re interested in starting your computer into standard Safe Mode without networking or internet access, read this tutorial instead: How to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode.

What is Safe Mode with Networking in Windows 10? What’s the difference between Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking?

The default Safe Mode starts Windows using only a few core services and drivers to avoid as many issues as possible. Unfortunately, the downside is that the minimal Safe Mode doesn’t let you connect to the network or the internet, so you’re kind of isolated.

That’s where the Safe Mode with Networking environment comes in handy. If you need to use the internet while in Safe Mode to make it easier to troubleshoot your Windows 10 computer, you should try Safe Mode with Networking. This option lets you start Windows with only the essential services and drivers, but it also includes the networking components. However, keep in mind that this only works with wired Ethernet connections. Safe Mode with Networking doesn’t work with Wi-Fi. That’s because wireless cards need more complex drivers that are not loaded by Windows 10 when running in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode with Networking can be tremendously helpful when you need to download repair tools from the internet or when your computer is infected with malware and you must download and run antivirus tools that are up to date. Now let’s see how to boot into Safe Mode with Networking in Windows 10. I’ll first cover the ways to start Safe Mode with Networking when you can’t log in to Windows 10 and then the ones to use when you can sign in with your user account.

How to boot in Safe Mode with Networking when you can’t log in to Windows 10

Having trouble starting or logging in to Windows 10? You can still boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking in order to fix the problem(s). Here’s how:

1. How to restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking using the Shift + Restart keyboard shortcut

One of the easiest methods to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode with Networking is to restart it while keeping the Shift key pressed. Furthermore, you can do that from the sign-in or lock screen without having to actually sign in with a user account on your Windows 10 computer:

Boot your Windows 10 PC as you would normally do. When you get to the sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while clicking the Power button, and then Restart.

After a short while, you should see a blue screen with four options: “Continue (Exit and continue to Windows 10),” “Use a device (Use a USB drive, network connection, or Windows recovery DVD),” “Troubleshoot (Reset your PC or see advanced options),” and “Turn off your PC.” Click or tap the third one: Troubleshoot.

On the Troubleshoot screen, choose Advanced options.

On the Advanced options screen, click or tap on “Startup Settings (Change Windows startup behavior).”

Next, on the Startup Settings screen, click or tap on the Restart button.

After a short while, Windows 10 restarts and gives you some options for how it will boot up. To make it go into Safe Mode with Networking, choose option number five: “5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking”. To select it, either press the number 5 key or the F5 function key on your keyboard.

Your Windows 10 computer will now restart and boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

2. How to open boot into Safe Mode with Networking when Windows 10 shows a black screen

If Windows 10 fails to boot normally three times consecutively, it automatically enters Automatic Repair mode the next time you try to start it. You can access the Safe Mode with Networking from there. Trigger the Automatic Repair mode manually by interrupting the normal boot process three times over: use the reset or the power button on your Windows 10 computer to stop it during boot.

If you use the power button, you might have to keep it pressed for at least 4 seconds to force the power off. When your Windows 10 computer enters the Automatic Repair mode, the first thing you see is a screen letting you know that the operating system is “Preparing Automatic Repair.”

After a short while, the Automatic Repair tries to diagnose the problems that keep your Windows 10 PC from booting successfully.

When the Automatic Repair screen is loaded, click or tap on the Advanced options button.

Then, the “Choose an option” screen loads. Click or tap on Troubleshoot and take the same steps shown in this guide’s first method. In short, follow this path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

3. How to restart in Safe Mode with Networking from the command line, with a Windows 10 installation disc or USB stick

If your PC doesn’t boot Windows 10, but you have access to another computer, you can use the working computer to create a Windows 10 installation DVD or USB memory stick. Download Windows 10 and create your own installation media. Then, insert the DVD or the USB memory stick into your non-working Windows 10 computer and boot from it. Wait for the Windows 10 setup wizard to load, and choose the language and keyboard layout you prefer. Then, click or tap Next.

On the next screen, don’t click/tap on Install now. Instead, look at the bottom left part of the wizard and click/tap on “Repair your computer.”

The screen called “Choose an option” loads. On it, click or tap Troubleshoot.

The Troubleshoot screen loads. On it, click or tap Advanced options.

A screen called Advanced options is loaded: click or tap “Command Prompt (Use the Command Prompt for advanced troubleshooting).”

To restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking from Command Prompt, run this command:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

After you press Enter on your keyboard, the Command Prompt should state: “The operation completed successfully.”

Close the Command Prompt and then click or tap on “Continue (Exit and continue to Windows 10)”.

After your PC restarts, Windows 10 will boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

IMPORTANT: To get back to normal boot after you’ve finished repairs, follow the same steps, but run this command instead:

bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

4. How to start Windows 10’s Safe Mode with Networking from a recovery drive

If you already have a recovery disk or you create one on another Windows 10 computer, you can use it to boot your broken Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode with Networking.

Plug the recovery drive into your Windows 10 PC and use it to boot. The first screen you see asks you what keyboard layout you prefer to use. Click or tap on the one you want.

Then, on the “Choose an option” screen, click or tap on “Troubleshoot (Reset your PC or see advanced options.” The next steps are the ones shown in the first method from this guide. Essentially, you should follow this path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

How to boot in Safe Mode with Networking when you can log in to Windows 10

If you want to boot your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode with Networking, and you can still log in normally, here’s are your options:

5. How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking using Shift + Restart

If you’re signed in to Windows 10, open the Start Menu. Press and keep the Shift key down, click the Power button, and select Restart.

After a short while, you should see a blue screen with four options: “Continue (Exit and continue to Windows 10),” “Use a device (Use a USB drive, network connection, or Windows recovery DVD),”, “Troubleshoot (Reset your PC or see advanced options),” and “Turn off your PC.” Click or tap on the third one – Troubleshoot – and then take the same steps shown in the first method of this guide. In short, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

6. How to reboot into Safe Mode with Networking using Windows 10’s Settings

You can also boot into Safe Mode with Networking if you use the Advanced startup settings from Windows 10. Start by opening the Settings app and then click or tap on the Update & Security section.

In the left sidebar, click/tap to select Recovery. On the right, click or tap the Restart now button from the Advanced startup section.

Then, Windows 10 loads the same “Choose an option” screen that I’ve shown in this guide’s previous methods. From here on, you should follow the same steps described earlier: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

7. How to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode with Networking using msconfig (System Configuration)

Another easy way to boot a Windows 10 computer into Safe Mode with Networking is to use the System Configuration tool, otherwise known as msconfig.exe. Launch System Configuration: a fast way to do this is to type system configuration or msconfig in the search box on your taskbar and then click or tap System Configuration.

In the System Configuration window, click or tap the Boot tab. Check Safe boot in the Boot options section, and then choose Network.

After you click or tap on OK, Windows 10 pops up a notification saying that you must restart your computer to make the changes. If you want to go into Safe Mode with Networking right now, click/tap on Restart. Otherwise, choose to “Exit without restart,” and when you’re ready, restart your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode with Networking manually.

When you restart, Windows 10 automatically enters Safe Mode with Networking. The first thing I found when that happened on my test computers was that Microsoft Edge launches automatically in this Safe Mode, loading the Windows help & learning website.

You can now use Microsoft Edge to navigate the internet and read help guides or download any repair tools you might need. Then, when you’re finished troubleshooting your PC, turn off Safe Mode with Networking by following the same steps in this chapter to disable the Safe boot setting from msconfig (System Configuration).

8. How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking from Command Prompt with the shutdown command

The last method I know for starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking relies on Command Prompt. Open CMD and execute the following command:

shutdown.exe /r /o

This command triggers a reboot of Windows 10 into its recovery environment. Immediately after you execute it, Windows 10 notifies you that it will sign you out.

You will then see the Choose an option screen, just like in the previous chpaters of this guide. From here on, follow the same path as in the first chapter: go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options -> Startup Settings -> Restart. Then, press 5 or F5 on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode Safe Mode with Networking.

That’s it!

Do you know other ways to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking?

In this article, I covered all the methods I know for starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking. And as you’ve seen, there are multiple ways to do this, some more complicated than others. While I tried to be as comprehensive as possible, there may be others that I missed, so if you have any other ideas, please let me know in the comments section. Also, if you have any questions or issues regarding this subject, don’t hesitate to ask.

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Featured

Best free mouse cursors for Windows 2024

By admin February 7, 2024

Best free mouse cursors for Windows 2024, Are you bored with the Windows user interface? Are you tired of its default customization options? Then maybe it is time for you to make your desktop look unique by downloading, installing, and using a new mouse cursor theme. There are plenty of cool cursors available on the internet.

Most of the pointers are animated, some are excellent for gaming or inspired by games, others are simply well-designed and fresh. In this article, we are going to share with you thirty of the best free mouse pointer schemes for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Let’s get started.

NOTE: You can install and use the following custom cursors in Windows 11, Windows 10, as well as older versions. Here’s how to tell what Windows you have. To make sure that the files are safe, we scanned them with ESET Internet Security.

How to install custom mouse cursors in Windows

Mouse schemes downloaded from the internet can usually be installed with the help of a file that is included in the archive file that you download. This file has an INF extension, and it’s usually named install.inf. Once you have downloaded the custom mouse cursor pack (usually a ZIP or RAR file), extract the files to a temporary folder on your computer or device, then follow the instructions from these tutorials, depending on whether the pack includes an INF installer file

• If the mouse cursor pack includes an INF file: How to install custom mouse cursors in Windows

• If there is no INF file included in the archive, to install the new cursors manually, follow the directions found in this tutorial: How to use custom mouse cursors and pointers in Windows

•

Also, if all you want is to change the size or color of your mouse pointers, not necessarily install custom new ones, read this tutorial: How to change the mouse pointer size and color in Windows.

Now, let’s look at what we think are the best free mouse pointers out there:

1. Numix Cursors

This is our favorite set of custom mouse cursors for Windows PCs. Numix pointers are smooth, elegant, and look entirely professional. Furthermore, the pack includes both dark and light versions of the cursors, and also install.inf files that you can run to easily install the mouse cursor theme you prefer.

Mouse cursor download: Numix Cursors

Best free mouse cursors for Windows 2024

2. Oxygen Cursors

Created for KDE, this mouse cursor set was ported to Windows and is one of the most famous mouse pointer sets of all time on DeviantArt. The set contains 37 different color schemes.

Mouse cursor download: Oxygen Cursors

3. Breeze Cursors for Windows

KDE is one of the most popular and beautiful desktop environments for Linux. Therefore, it also has some of the best mouse cursor themes you can find. That’s what inspired the Breeze Cursors for Windows pack. It features gray pointers with white borders and some orange and blue variations. Take a look at them in the screenshot below and, if you like them, download and install them. Unfortunately, this pack does not have an INF file, so you have to set each of the cursors manually.

Mouse cursor download: Breeze Cursors for Windows

4. macOS cursor pack for Windows

Are you a fan of MacOS? Did you recently switch to a Windows PC? Maybe you’d like to use some cursors that resemble the ones on your Mac. That’s what macOS cursor pack for Windows gives you.

The mouse pointers look great, and there are different sizes and types to choose from.

To download the cursor pack, go to the following webpage, tap or click on the green Code button, then on Download ZIP: macOS-cursors-for-Windows: With 2 types and 3 different sizes.

5. Windows 11 Cursors Concept v2

Since we presented a cursor pack similar to the ones used on macOS, it seems fair to show you one made specifically for Windows 11. The cursors come in two packs, Dark and Light, and both packs feature a clean design that perfectly matches the refreshed interface of Windows 11.

Download the cursors here: Windows 11 Cursors Concept v2 by rosea92

6. Android Material Cursors (Blue)

If you are an Android fan and you love Google’s material design a lot, maybe you would enjoy a taste of it on your Windows computer too, by using the Android Material Cursors scheme. Fortunately, it also comes with an INF file, so it is easy to install it.

Mouse cursor download: Android Material Cursors.

7. Overwatch Pointer

Overwatch is currently one of the most popular first-person shooter games, with over 60 million players around the world. If you’re one of them, or if you like gaming cursors, you’ll love the Overwatch Pointer cursor pack.

You can get the standard pack here: Overwatch Pointer, and the black version here: Blackwatch Pointer.

8. GTCC

GTCC is a custom cursor pack that offers clean and monochromatic pointers for Windows. The pointers are gray and have a curved appearance, unlike most other cursors in our list. Their shape has drawn our attention, and because we liked them, we believe some of you might too. Furthermore, you can easily install them on your Windows PC by running the install.inf file included in the pack.

Mouse cursor download: GTCC – cursor for Windows.

9. Opera Gx Cursor

Opera GX is a special version of the Opera browser, built specifically for gamers. The browser has some unique features: CPU, RAM, and Network limiters, Discord & Twitch sidebars and more. It also has a very particular design, which is now matched by this excellent cursor pack:

Mouse cursor download: Opera Gx Cursor

10. Volantes Dark Cursor Set

Here’s another dark cursor pack that we like. The archive includes standard-sized cursors, as well as smaller versions.

Mouse cursor download: Volantes-Dark.

11. Metro X1 Animated Cursors Set

Okay, too many dark cursors in the list, time to liven things up a little. The Metro X1 package has quite a few multi-colored cursors, if that’s your thing:

You can download the Metro X1 Cursor Set here: Metro X1 Animated Cursors Set.

12. Gant Cursor Pack

This cursor pack is based on the popular Gant icon set that is used for customizing Windows, Linux, etc. This pack of mouse cursors contains two color schemes: yellow and blue, and each of them has two cursor sets. In other words, there are a total of four sets of mouse cursors, located in four separate folders.

Mouse cursor download: Gant Cursor Pack

13. VS cursor (version 2.0)

This mouse cursor theme features a clean and simple design, with just enough color to keep it interesting. The archive contains two separate cursor packs, one with shadows and one without.

Mouse cursor download: VS cursor (version 2.0). The user who created this pack has also created quite a few other beautiful cursor packs. You can find all of them here: vladsukhetskyi – Interface Designer | DeviantArt.

14. Oxy-Neon Cursors

Do you want something more visible? Well, it doesn’t get much more visible than having neon-colored cursors. You have several colors to choose from: blue, orange, pink, red, white, and our favorite, ow-my-eyes green. Each set has its own installation file, so it’s super-easy to add the theme to your Windows device.

Download the mouse cursor theme here: Oxy-Neon Cursors.

15. Kuttu and Chinnu cursors

If you’re tired of the same ol’ designer cursors, with fluid design and macOS look, here’s a pointer pack that’s the complete opposite: made with free lines and hand drawing, without any design rules in mind. The creator of this pack also draws cartoon characters, and it shows:

Mouse cursor download location: cursors by anoop-pc.

16. Cursors Kawaii Cute Hello Kitty

For those who love the worldwide phenomenon that is Hello Kitty, here is a mouse cursor set featuring the cute Japanese icon. This cursor scheme does not contain an INF file. However, it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description.

Mouse cursor download: Kawaii Cute Hello Kitty. Please note that you have to wait 35 seconds before the download begins if you don’t want to create an account on the website.

17. Direction

Here is Direction, a more unusual set of mouse pointers, which you might enjoy. You can see how they look in the picture below.

Mouse cursor download: Direction

18. Mario Gant

Here’s a set of high-quality custom cursors based on the Super Mario character. Pretty awesome, right?

Mouse cursor download: Mario Gant

19. UNDERSized

A set of simple and small-sized cursors for those who like tiny mouse pointers.

Mouse cursor download: UNDERSized

20. Krystall CS

A unique and colorful mouse pointer set. This cursor pack does not include an INF file for easy installation. However, it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description to assign each custom mouse cursor manually.

Mouse cursor download: Krystall CS

21. Anathema Pink Cursor

How do you feel about the color pink? If you like it, here’s an excellent animated cursor pack by Anaidon-Aserra. The pack has a clean, modern design and contains 15 cursors (plus a few bonus ones).

The pack is available for download here: Anathema Pink Cursor. The good news is that if you like the design but dislike the color, you can also download the set in red, blue, and white.

22. Crystal Clear

Crystal Clear is a translucent mouse cursor set. If you want to see what is behind your mouse pointer, you should try this scheme. It uses material design and blends nicely with Windows’ flat UI.

Mouse cursor download: Crystal Clear v4.1

23. StartCraft 2

Are you a StarCraft fan? If the answer is yes, the StarCraft 2 mouse cursor theme is precisely what you might need to complete your StartCraft computer customization. The only downside is the fact that this theme does not offer any installer, so to get it on your computer, you have to follow the steps from its readme file.

Mouse cursor download: StartCraft 2

24. Radium 2

If you’re searching for a mouse cursor theme that’s intricate and simple at the same time, look no further, as Radium 2 is probably what you want. The detailed design and the beautiful shapes of the custom cursors will surely make you want them on your desktop. Radium 2 also includes an INF file that you can use to install the custom cursor theme on your computer.

Mouse cursor download: Radium 2

25. Vigyori 2

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t like emoticons? Why not try some emoticon-based mouse cursors? What could be better than seeing a smiling face each morning when you turn your computer on? For a brighter and happier desktop, try Vigyori (which, by the way, means Smile in Hungarian). ?

Mouse cursor download: Vigyori (2nd version)

26. Cupcake

Have you ever wished for a mouse cursor pack that is so cute that your heart melts? OK, maybe not yours, if you are a tough guy, but your daughter’s might, if you get the Cupcake mouse cursors on her Windows device.

Mouse cursor download: Cupcake

27. Mickey Mouse

This is yet another cute cursor scheme designed primarily for children, but also for some nostalgic grown-ups. ? If your children love Mickey Mouse and everything about it, you can surprise them with these “cartoon mouse” cursors.

Mouse cursor download: Mickey Mouse

28. Hirochi Sunburst AWD Cursors

If you happen to be passionate about racing cars, you’ll recognize the cursors in this pack immediately. They are all based on the Subaru Impreza WRX, and their quality is excellent: the archive contains both standard and high-resolution cursor packs. You don’t get an installation file, but you can follow the tutorial presented in the introduction to this article to install them on your system.

Download the cursor pack here: Hirochi Sunburst AWD Cursors.

29. Warframe Cursor Pack 1

Warframe is a role-playing third-person shooter that has captivated the hearts and minds of many gamers. The game itself is free to play and features superb graphics, and these two features are also present on this cursor pack inspired by the game.

Mouse cursor download: Warframe Cursor Pack 1.

30. ASUS ROG Cursor Set

We end this list with a cursor pack made for fans of the ASUS ROG brand. The pack contains 17 cursors which can be installed manually on your computer.

Download the cursor pack from here: ASUS ROG Cursor Set.

What is your favorite mouse cursor pack?

To create this article, we tried lots of mouse cursor schemes, and we shared the best we could find. We hope that you have enjoyed this roundup. If you did, do not hesitate to share it with others. Also, if you feel like searching for more mouse cursor schemes, you should try the Windows Cursors section from DeviantArt. It is a great place to start your search.

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Artificial Intelligence

10 Best AI Tools to Boost Productivity in 2024

By admin February 6, 2024

10 Best AI Tools to Boost Productivity in 2024, In the last month, a few new AI-powered sensations have swept the internet by storm. Tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and other AI productivity tools help people increase their workflow. Now, if you are in seek of more AI tools to boost productivity, then keep reading this article.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that’s becoming famous day by day as we are moving into 2024. It has the potential to change or help individuals or many industries by improving business operations, and healthcare among other things.

As a result, the demand for AI productivity tools is increasing among organizations and the people running small businesses are highly interested in implementing AI tools to gain a competitive edge.

AI tools offer a variety of benefits ranging from automating tasks to enhancing user interaction. As we approach 2024, there are many exciting AI tools that are available to help businesses and individuals.

In this article, we are going to discuss 10 AI tools to consider in 2024, each with its own unique capabilities and potential applications. whether you are looking to automate small tasks, enhance decision-making or gain deeper insights from the data, these tools can help you achieve your goals or unlock new possibilities in the world of AI.

1. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology and developed by OpenAI that allows us to generate a text-based response in human language. In the list of AI productivity tools it is one of the best tool. The language model can assist you with tasks such as generating essays and composing emails, and coding. The main aim to build this tool was to eliminate the problem of the traditional chatbot methods which we were using throughout the platforms like e-commerce, banking, etc and it works like a normal human being.

Features:

• Text Based Response: This can provide information on a variety of topics and responds to the user with text-based responses.

• Wrok Like Vartual Assistant: It can serve as a virtual assistant for managing little jobs.

• Language Feature: Analyze the language and suggest changes that can make the information more readable and accessible.

• User Recommendation: Recommend things like movies, restaurants, etc. based on the user’s input.

• Code Builder: Used to create code for different programming languages.

• Simple UI: ChatGPT is made to be simple to use and navigate while offering a warm and engaging experience.

• Subject Expert: This is able to converse about several different subjects at once and comprehend and react to difficult queries.

•Free: ChatGPT is free.

10 Best AI Tools to Boost Productivity in 2024

2. Hostinger AI Website Builder

Hostinger AI Website Builder is designed to help users build websites that are suitable for a variety of goals. This all-inclusive solution streamlines the process: after registering, provide information about your brand, and watch as the AI creates a unique website design in a matter of minutes. 24/7 customer support is provided in case you get stuck at any step.

The platform is extensive, covering duties like creating engaging material, choosing pertinent graphics, and combining crucial design components. The application ensures an amazing appearance and good search rankings for your site thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and integrated AI SEO tools. All of this is offered at a price that is exceptionally low. It’s free to try and $2.99 or ₹149 per month, get free hosting and domain and 30-days money back guarantee. The best part is no payment method attachment is required for accessing the free hosting service.

Features:

• AI Logo Generator: The logo maker produces a professional and AI-generated logo for your brand within a few minutes.

• AI Business Name Generator: Discover distinct business name concepts that mirror your brand identity – commence at no cost by inputting pertinent keywords into the search field.

• AI SEO Tool & AI Writer: Includes templates optimized for SEO and a multitude of SEO capabilities. To kick things off, your sitemap will be generated automatically – no manual work is required. Then, their AI tools can craft meta titles, descriptions, and alt texts, all contributing to improved search engine rankings.

• Ecommerce Features: Access a complete set of online selling tools at your disposal. Showcase upto 500 products, oversee inventory and order management, facilitate payment processing, and beyond. Enable hassle-free appointment bookings with just a few simple clicks.

• AI Heatmap: The AI Heatmap feature enables you to understand user interactions with your website. It visually represents the sections of your page that garner the highest engagement, empowering you to rearrange them based on user clicks and gaze patterns.

3. DeepBrain AI

DeepBrain AI is a cutting-edge video synthesis and the best AI video generator company that specializes in creating hyper-realistic AI humans. You can create stunning videos with just a script, and use photo-realistic AI avatars that can speak 80+ languages and gesture naturally.

It has the right template for you, whether you need a training video, a marketing video, a how-to video, or a news video. Creating high-quality videos manually is time-consuming and challenging. But, with the DeepBrain AI productivity tool, video production has become a lot more efficient and less time-consuming.

Features:

• AI Avatars: DeepBrain AI has 100+ fully licensed AI avatars that can support video production. It also gives you the option to create custom avatars for celebrities, politicians, brand ambassadors, and more.

• AI Video Generator: Create generative AI videos with just a script. Text-to-video conversion in 5 minutes and reduce the time and cost by 80%.

• Conversational AI Humans: Humanize the digital engagement by AI Humans that can listen and respond to your customers or users in real time. Also, integrates with chatbots and Large Language Models for natural conversations.

• Metahumans: Create immersive experiences with the upcoming 3D digital humans that are ready for the metaverse.

• This comes with marketing features built-in that can automate certain simpler activities, including creating tweets on any subject.

• It enables you to share your writing with others and work on writing projects with others.

• Flexible Text-to-Video Maker: Use text-to-speech to make your AI avatars speak any language. Select various video templates to start from and do hassle-free online video editing.

DeepBrain AI is the best AI video generator that can help you create amazing videos with ease. All of this is offered at a price of $30 per month and just $24 per month with the yearly plan. It also comes with a free trial. So, try it today, create a free AI video and see the difference for yourself.

4. Freepik AI Image Generator

Freepik’s AI image generator is one of many pioneering features provided by the online platform, placing users at the very center of creating out-of-this-world visuals for personal or commercial projects.

Its highly intuitive interface provides the perfect environment to get creative, and with an entire asset library at your fingertips, this is more than just a clever image generator. Let your inner perfectionist shine with the freedom to edit on the go. Change the style, size, color, and tone levels to squeeze the most out of your dreamlike image. Designed by creatives for creatives, Freepik’s AI image generator is amongst the most sought-after AI tools out there.

Features:

• Free to use: Sign up for free and generate up to 3 images per day

• Subscription benefits: Premium users can generate up to 400 images per day

• Beginners guide: An in-depth beginners guide to get you started

• Huge asset library: Support of a colossal asset library to help create stunning, functional designs

• Editing on the go: An in-browser editing tool that allows you to crop, scale, and retouch

• Fantastic quality: Highly detailed outputs that are generated in seconds

5. Personal AI

Personal AI is an advanced conversational AI tool that is designed to help you have smarter conversations with business partners, co-workers, and prospects. Whether you’re looking to automate responses, generate questions, or just have a more natural conversation.

You can automate responses to frequently asked questions, set up automated replies to emails, and even generate personalized messages for your clients or customers. It is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, regardless of your level of technical expertise. It can be accessed through various platforms, such as messaging apps, email clients, and social media, making it easy to stay connected and productive no matter where you are.

Features:

• Can be used to book flight tickets, check plans, and schedule meetings, it comes with a range of other powerful features to help you stay organized and productive.

• Has several built-in features like a to-do list, calendar, and reminders. This makes it easy to keep track of your tasks, appointments, and deadlines all in one place. Whether you’re managing a busy schedule or just trying to stay on top of your daily tasks.

• It has the ability to connect with all your other accounts and sync all your documents and notes directly. This means that you can access all your files and information from one centralized location, no matter where you are. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the go it can help you.

• This can create or send messages on your behalf in your own language. This feature is particularly useful for individuals who need to communicate with people who speak different languages. This can translate your messages into the language of the recipient, ensuring that you can communicate effectively and efficiently.

6. Synthesia

Synthesia is an advanced AI video creation platform that is designed to help you create professional-quality videos quickly and easily. Transforming text into a video within minutes, allows you to create engaging videos for a wide range of purposes, from marketing and advertising to educational and instructional content. its ability to generate videos in different languages and accents.

Whether you’re looking to create content for an international audience or just need to communicate with people who speak a different language, It supports multiple languages and accents and can help you reach a wider audience and communicate more effectively.

Features:

• It has a library of professional actors’ avatars that users can choose from to create their videos. With realistic movements, facial expressions, and gestures, these avatars add a human touch to your videos that help them feel more engaging and authentic.

• Ability to add consistent and professional voiceovers to your videos without the need for expensive equipment. Using advanced text-to-speech technology, it can generate high-quality voiceovers in a range of languages and accents, allowing you to create videos that sound professional and polished.

• Users have complete control over their videos, allowing them to edit and tweak them as needed. Whether you need to change the wording of a script, adjust the timing of an animation, or add additional elements to your video, its editing tools make it easy to customize your videos to your exact specifications.

• Has own built-in video editing tool and this tool allows you to edit your videos quickly and easily, without the need for external software. Whether you’re looking to add music, captions, or special effects, these editing tools give you the flexibility to create videos.

7. Replika

Replika is an advanced AI chatbot that is designed to interact with users in a way that feels natural and human-like. Unlike other chatbots that rely on pre-programmed responses, it uses an autoregressive model to generate responses that are unique to each conversation. As users interact with it, the AI learns more about them and their preferences, allowing it to tailor its responses to their specific needs and interests.

Features:

• It is designed to engage users in meaningful, two-way conversations that feel like they’re talking to a real person. By using natural language processing and machine learning, It can understand the nuances of human communication and respond in a way that feels authentic and personal.

• As users interact with it, the AI learns more about them and their interests, allowing it to generate responses that are tailored to their unique preferences. Whether you’re discussing your favorite hobbies, sharing your thoughts on a particular topic, or just looking for someone to talk to, it can provide personalized responses that feel like they’re coming from a close friend.

• It also has virtual assistant capabilities that can help users manage their daily tasks and stay organized. From setting reminders and scheduling appointments to providing helpful tips and advice, it is a versatile tool that can help users stay on top of their busy lives.

8. Flair.ai

Flair is an advanced AI design tool that is designed to help businesses create professional, branded content in a fraction of the time. With its modern and clean design, Flair is easy to use and navigate, making it a great option for designers of all levels of experience. By analyzing the content of your scene, Flair can become smarter over time, learning from your design choices and recommending improvements that can help you create even better content in the future.

Features:

• Flair allows you to simply drag and drop product images into the canvas, making it easy to create designs that showcase your products in the best possible light.

• It has a range of scene construction features that make it easy to create complex designs that incorporate multiple products and design elements.

• Used machine learning to provide smart prompt recommendations that can help guide your design choices and improve the overall quality of your content. Whether you’re looking for color suggestions, font recommendations, or design tips, Flair has the tools you need to create stunning, professional content in no time.

9. HeyDay

HeyDay is an AI-powered memory assistant that uses advanced technology to help you remember important information you’ve come across online. It allows you to save web pages and content for later use and integrates seamlessly with popular apps like Gmail, Slack, and Google Drive. With this, you’ll never forget important details or miss out on valuable information again.

Features:

• HeyDay uses machine learning algorithms to analyze your browsing history and suggest pages that may be relevant or useful for you to save.

• It helps you stay on top of important events and deadlines by sending you reminders and notifications about tasks you need to complete.

• This can integrate with popular apps like Gmail, Slack, and Google Drive, allowing you to save content and documents directly from these platforms.

10. Chinchilla

Chinchilla is an innovative AI tool that aims to provide an unparalleled experience in natural language processing. It has been designed to be more efficient than GPT-3 with its compute-optimal model and 70 billion parameters, which is four times higher data than Gopher. Additionally, it requires considerably less computing in terms of fine-tuning, making it more accessible and cost-effective for businesses.

Features:

• Requires considerably less computing in terms of fine-tuning.

• Impressive accuracy rate of 67.5%, surpassing the Gopher language model. With its larger size, three times the size of GPT-3 from OpenAI, it can generate more diverse and precise responses to user queries.

• It also offers support for multi-task learning, which enables it to perform various language-related tasks such as machine translation, text summarization, and question-answering. Its versatility and efficiency make Chinchilla a game-changer in the field of natural language processing.

Conclusion:

As we move further into the future, we can expect more advanced AI productivity tools to emerge. These tools will undoubtedly help individuals and businesses alike to streamline their processes, increase their productivity, and make more informed decisions. With the help of AI, we can analyze vast amounts of data in a matter of seconds and gain insights that were previously impossible. It is exciting to think about what the future holds for AI and the impact it will have on our lives. In the meantime, these 10 AI tools discussed here can be incredibly valuable assets for anyone looking to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in their personal or professional lives.

Best AI Tools to Boost Productivity – FAQs

Q1. What is fastest growing AI tools?

There are multiple tool that increase your work productivity like ChatGPT, Hostinger,Deepbrain AI, Freepik.

Q2. Is AI Tools are Free?

Yes, most of the AI tools like Google Bard, ChatGPT 3, DALL-E 2 are free but there are some AI tools that are not free.

Q3. How AI will impact productivity?

AI tool can easily prove a worker’s performance by as much as 40% compared with workers who don’t use it.

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Most Popular Torrent Sites Safe P2P List 2024

By admin February 5, 2024

Most Popular Torrent Sites Safe P2P List 2024, Numerous BitTorrent platforms facilitate downloading movies, TV shows, games, software, and more through P2P file-sharing technology. These torrent sites, known for their convenience in file downloading, have become popular among users.

However, the desire to consolidate torrent download results from various sites into a single, easily accessible location led to the emergence of torrent search engine sites. These platforms empower users to search for files and swiftly download corresponding torrents within seconds.

What is a Torrent?

A torrent serves as a repository of information facilitating the download of larger files from multiple sources. In contrast to conventional online file downloads, torrents involve acquiring small fragments of a file from diverse origins.

Factors such as internet speed and VPN reliability influence the download speed, emphasizing the necessity of using a VPN when engaging in torrent downloads or accessing torrenting websites.

Types of Torrent Sites

Torrent sites come in different forms, with two primary categories being notable:

1. Public Torrent Sites

Public torrent sites are open to all users, offering a platform for downloading and sharing various files without requiring invitations or registrations.

These sites, while easily accessible and boasting faster download speeds due to numerous active seeders, come with risks. Public sites lack verification or reliability checks, increasing the likelihood of encountering copyrighted or malicious content.

2. Private Torrent Sites

Private torrent sites operate as exclusive, invite-only communities where users must register and maintain a satisfactory sharing ratio for entry.

These sites implement stringent guidelines to enhance security and uphold content quality. The advantages of private torrent sites include:

Quality control: Dedicated uploaders on private sites verify the authenticity and quality of available torrents, ensuring a high standard of content.
Enhanced security: The invitation-only model reduces the risk of viruses or malicious files, with active moderation further preventing illegal content distribution.
Specialized content: Private torrent sites cater to specific interests, focusing on niches such as software, ebooks, TV shows, or movies. Some may also concentrate on content from particular languages or regions, providing a tailored and curated experience.

Here is the Ultimate P2P List for Best Torrent Sites that are Safe & Still Working

1. RARBG

Operating on the BitTorrent protocol, RARBG stands out as a P2P file-sharing site that provides high-quality torrents across diverse categories via magnet links.

Renowned for its multipurpose nature, like The Pirate Bay, RARBG boasts numerous verified seeders, offering users a reliable and personalized experience.

Particularly favored for movie torrents, RARBG curates a list of the top 10 downloads in categories like movies, XXX, TV shows, music, and games.

Its user-friendly interface allows easy navigation through content or specific searches using an effective torrent search engine.

Despite its popularity, RARBG faces restrictions in many countries, necessitating a VPN for torrenting.

Users should exercise caution with RARBG clones, as several are identified as scam sites, making it advisable to stick to provided mirrors.

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Most Popular Torrent Sites Safe P2P List 2024

2. Kickass Torrents

Kickass Torrents could be the answer if you’re on the hunt for diverse content. With an extensive torrent library boasting plenty of seeds and an active community, this platform stands out for its impressive collection of movies and TV shows.

Kickass Torrents has taken steps to enhance security by providing user verification information and detailing the seeder/leecher ratio for torrents.

This data empowers users to make informed decisions, opting for popular and secure torrents.

Despite its merits, Kickass Torrents has a drawback – the presence of ads and pop-ups that might disrupt navigation.

However, with an active ad blocker, users can mitigate this issue. Additionally, the platform faces bans in several countries, including Australia, Britain, and the USA.

The silver lining is that users can bypass these restrictions with a reliable VPN by rerouting their connection to a country where the site remains accessible.

Easy navigation and a user-friendly interface make Kickass Torrents a preferred choice for downloading games, music, apps, anime, books, movies, and more.

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3. 1337X

Counted among the most popular torrent websites, 1337X has garnered a significant fan base since its founding in 2007. Operating in numerous countries, this platform boasts an elegant interface with precise directories for seamless navigation.

While it faces bans in certain countries, it remains a go-to choice for many. Offering a vast torrent collection across various categories, 1337X caters to diverse preferences, whether users seek premium software, games, or movies.

The site’s commitment to diversity is evident, with new torrents regularly added, ensuring users can explore a broad spectrum of content.

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4. YTS

YTS stands out as the ultimate haven for movie enthusiasts among various torrenting sites. Operating across multiple domains, it has garnered immense popularity within the torrent user community.

As a successor to the YIFY group, YTS holds the second position among the most frequently visited websites, following closely behind The Pirate Bay.

Since its launch in 2011, this niche-oriented torrent platform exclusively focuses on movies, offering a comprehensive selection from the latest releases to classic and hard-to-find films.

With a user-friendly interface reminiscent of Netflix, navigating the website is a breeze. However, despite its popularity, it’s important to note that YTS has been implicated in indirect participation in anti-piracy measures, potentially compromising user data.

While acknowledged as one of the best movie-centric torrent websites, users are strongly advised to employ a robust VPN for added security when accessing YTS.

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5. Zooqle

For gaming enthusiasts seeking an extensive library for downloading video game torrents, Zooqle emerges as a prime choice. Boasting a collection of torrents not easily found elsewhere, this popular site hosts over 600 TV shows and a whopping 37,000 movies.

It has also gained popularity for software torrent downloads. With an impressive user interface and a convenient search bar, Zooqle ensures users can easily locate files of interest.

Each torrent has detailed information, including the resolution quality, upload time, and seeder/leecher ratio.

Additionally, the site offers a unique feature where users can search for movies or TV shows based on the cast, making it a versatile and user-friendly torrent platform.

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6. Torrent Downloads

Torrent Downloads, a veteran player in the torrent scene, has witnessed a gradual decline in traffic over time, currently boasting around five million monthly users. This decrease is attributed to the larger libraries of competitors like Pirate Bay and other torrent sites.

Moreover, government investigations have led to its unavailability in numerous regions. Despite these challenges, Torrent Downloads remains a viable choice for more obscure titles across various categories, earning it a spot in our list of top torrent sites.

Whether you’re hunting for an old video game or a rare book, a quick search on Torrent Downloads might yield fruitful results. Notably, Asian titles appear to feature prominently in their servers. During our testing, average torrent download speeds ranged between 2 to 3 MB/s, and occasional ad intrusions were noted.

For those bothered by ads, NordVPN offers a solution with Threat Protection Lite, an ad-blocker that also safeguards against malicious domains.

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7. The Pirate Bay

A torrent giant known to millions, The Pirate Bay has maintained its status as one of the world’s best torrent sites since 2018, available in 35 languages.

Despite a temporary shutdown in early 2020, it has successfully evaded multiple takedown attempts. With millions of torrent files estimated to be on the site, The Pirate Bay stands out as a secure platform, verifying uploaders to enhance user trust.

While no torrent site guarantees complete protection from malware, this verification minimizes the risk of infection. Boasting a vast community of seeders, The Pirate Bay ensures faster P2P downloads, even for older or less common torrents.

Its user-friendly interface allows for easy filtering of results by file format, quality, and gaming console, simplifying the torrent search process. The site’s minor downside includes a few ads, easily mitigated by using a trusted ad blocker.

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8. EZTV

For people seeking high-definition episodes of their favorite TV shows, EZTV emerges as a top-notch torrent site. While its library may not rival giants like The Pirate Bay, it excels in its TV show focus, offering a go-to destination for HD releases.

Boasting a commendable seeder/leecher ratio driven by its active community, EZTV garners approximately 20 million visitors monthly.

Whether in pursuit of the latest releases or older titles like “Two and a Half Men” or even more obscure shows like “Midsomer Murders,” EZTV caters to a broad range of preferences.

While occasional ad intrusion can be a minor nuisance, the library’s size and decent download speed ranging from 2 to 3 MB/s ensure a satisfying binge-watching experience.

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9. FitGirl Repacks

Serious gamers seeking the latest and most authentic gaming torrents need look no further than FitGirl Repacks.

Renowned for delivering games that closely mirror the original, FitGirl asserts that most offerings are 100% lossless and MD5 perfect. Notably, these games are compressed to nearly 90% of their initial size, facilitating faster downloads.

Each game on FitGirl comes with a summary detailing requirements, features, installation time, and a comprehensive game description.

With a convenient “Monthly Archive” section, users can effortlessly locate specific games. FitGirl stands as the optimal torrent site for gamers desiring authentic, safe torrents of both the latest releases and classic titles.

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10. LimeTorrents

LimeTorrents stands out as a premier torrent site for new releases, offering a seamless interface and an impressive seeder/leecher ratio for recent torrents.

Established in 2009, LimeTorrents boasts a library that rivals The Pirate Bay. With an average download speed ranging from 3 to 4 MB/s and close to 20 million monthly users, LimeTorrents delivers a solid torrenting experience.

Although currently banned in the UK, France, and Australia, access is still feasible with a reliable VPN. Noteworthy features include the ability to stream movies directly on the site, saving time on downloads.

While streaming proves reliable, LimeTorrents ranks lower on our list due to a scarcity of seeders for older torrents and occasional ad intrusion.

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11. Torrends

Torrends functions as a torrent search engine that aggregates torrents from popular sites such as The Pirate Bay and 1337x.

This time-saving tool provides users with the convenience of accessing results from multiple sites in one place.

While the download speed and other relevant metrics mirror those of the specific site Torrends.to pull data from, the platform stands out for its seamless design and minimal ad intrusion during testing.

With nearly five million monthly hits and a unique trending data set, Torrends.to proves advantageous for users in search of obscure titles, consolidating all results efficiently.

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12. TorrentGalaxy

As a newer yet prominent player in the torrent scene, TorrentGalaxy hosts a diverse array of content, spanning movies, TV shows, music, software, and games.

Recognized for its high-quality torrents, particularly in the realm of TV shows and movies, the site offers an Online streaming option, allowing users to stream video content without the need for complete downloads directly.

TorrentGalaxy goes the extra mile by providing detailed descriptions and user ratings for each torrent, empowering users to assess quality and reliability before initiating downloads.

Committed to user safety, the site actively moderates its content, promptly removing any torrents reported to contain malware.

While pop-up ads are prevalent, utilizing an ad blocker or a VPN with a built-in ad blocker, such as CyberGhost, proves effective in safeguarding downloads and blocking intrusive ads collectively.

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13. IPTorrents

Venturing into the realm of private torrenting sites, IPTorrents stands as a prominent player, distinguishing itself as one of the largest private torrenting platforms.

Entry to such sites requires an invitation, ensuring a more exclusive user base. IPTorrents prides itself on a substantial library, an active community, and a notable absence of intrusive ads.

The private nature of these torrenting sites enhances safety, creating a more challenging environment for users with malicious intentions.

A significant advantage lies in the generally higher streaming speeds observed on private sites compared to their public counterparts, attributed to members adhering to seeding quotas. For those willing to invest, IPTorrents stands out as one of the premier private torrent sites.

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14. Nyaa.si

When it comes to seeking out favorite Asian content, Nyaa.si emerges as the go-to destination. Boasting an array of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese content, encompassing software, anime videos, and audio, the majority of Nyaa.si’s offerings center around anime.

The website showcases an appealing user interface, ensuring easy access to its diverse content library.

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15. Torlock

For those prioritizing safety while downloading torrents, Torlock proves to be a prudent choice. This P2P site goes the extra mile by compensating users with $1 for every reported fake torrent, underscoring its commitment to user safety.

A notable feature is its retention of the “.com” domain name, indicating its well-established status. Torlock’s extensive library prominently features music, eBooks, and anime series.

The homepage conveniently showcases the most recent and popular torrents in each category. However, caution is advised, as many new releases fall under copyright protection, making their download illegal.

The site impresses with detailed file specifications for each torrent, including file size, upload date, seeders, and health, ensuring transparency in the downloading process.

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16. Snowfl

As one of the most reliable torrent search engines, Snowfl excels in simplicity and functionality. The website boasts a minimalistic interface, ensuring easy navigation for users.

Conducting a torrent search is straightforward using the search box, and correct spelling is crucial, as the engine doesn’t provide autocorrections.

Results offer the option to either visit the torrent site directly or utilize the magnet link for a seamless download experience.

A single ad appears below the search box, providing unobtrusive access to necessary information such as seeder and leecher ratios, along with file sizes.

Despite its reliability, Snowfl remains unblocked in most parts of the world, making it a trustworthy choice for those in search of torrents.

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17. TorrentFunk

TorrentFunk emerges as a popular torrenting platform, boasting an extensive database that caters to the preferences of torrenters.

Offering a diverse range of quality content in categories such as software, games, movies, shows, and music, users can effortlessly find nearly any desired title.

The platform’s verified status for torrents aids in distinguishing safe links from potential threats, while user comments provide additional insights.

Information on seed numbers and torrent health is readily available, enhancing the user experience. However, employing a VPN is strongly recommended due to intrusive ads on the site.

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18. SolidTorrents

SolidTorrents operates as a torrent search engine that aggregates torrent links from external sources, delivering the associated files to users. The platform boasts a user-friendly and tidy interface, facilitating easy navigation to locate desired content.

Various filters, including year, rating, and country, enhance the search experience. Despite its appealing interface, our tests revealed that SolidTorrents features outdated content across all categories, making it unsuitable for those seeking the latest movies or TV shows.

If you’re in search of up-to-date content, we recommend exploring our comprehensive list of free movie sites. Additionally, the platform’s library is relatively limited, primarily comprising TV series, movies, anime, videos, music, and software.

However, it does offer a selection of movies and shows in multiple languages from diverse countries, such as Japan and India.

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19. iDope

Completing the roster of the best torrent sites, iDope stands out with its swift downloads and the predominant use of magnet links, allowing users to obtain desired content without prior torrent downloads.

The user-friendly interface facilitates easy access to trending movies and TV shows. Although facing limitations such as a scarcity of seeders and a capped video resolution at 720p, iDope remains a go-to platform for high-quality video content.

As with TorLock, users may encounter challenges in downloading videos in 1080p, but the platform compensates with a diverse array of top-quality videos at 720p.

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20. Demonoid

The final selection on our compilation of top torrent sites is Demonoid, a reputable platform that emerged online in 2003 and has weathered legal challenges for nearly two decades.

Despite facing periods of adversity, including a prolonged 2-year downtime and the unexpected loss of its founder, alias Deimos, Demonoid made a triumphant return in 2019, now accessible through multiple mirror links.

Although restricted in the UK and Ukraine, the majority of global users can readily access Demonoid’s extensive torrent database, which encompasses diverse content niches and delivers above-average download speeds.

While the site’s overall interface may lack visual appeal and pose initial navigation challenges for some users, those who acclimate to it find the effort worthwhile for the wealth of content it offers.

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Final Thoughts

In conclusion, exploring the diverse landscape of torrenting platforms reveals a wealth of options for users seeking various forms of content.

The best torrent sites in December showcase a range of features and characteristics, catering to different preferences and needs. From the privacy-focused SkyTorrents to the exclusive realm of private torrent sites like IPTorrents, each platform offers a unique experience.

Users inclined toward anime can find a haven in AniDex, while those prioritizing security may turn to Torlock. The inclusion of specialized platforms like TorrentGalaxy for streaming options and FitGirl Repacks for authentic gaming torrents adds further depth to the torrenting ecosystem.

While public sites boast accessibility and speed, private communities enhance security and content quality. Ultimately, whether one seeks movies, TV shows, games, or specific niche content, the curated list provides a comprehensive guide for users navigating the dynamic landscape of torrent sites in December.

If you’ve any thoughts on 20 Most Popular Torrent Sites: Safe P2P List, then feel free to drop in below comment box.

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Best VMWare Alternative for Windows and MAC in 2024

By admin January 16, 2024

Searching for the best VMWare alternative? If yes, then we can help. In this article, we are going to discuss the 10 most deserving alternatives of VMWare for both Windows and Mac. Read the entire guide for complete information.

Every Mac user in the world has at least once felt that Windows is still on the top of the OS world and rules the desktop and laptop domain as well. Many cool and useful applications run on only Windows computers and are not available for Mac users. For example, Microsoft Office has the Access Database which has never been availed to Mac users. This list also includes some magnificent audio and video tools that are possessed by the ‘privileged’ Windows. And, don’t forget about those exciting A-list games that are only available for Windows and poor Mac users can’t feel anything but agony.

So, to relieve this pain and injustice the Mac users started using VM software and especially VMWare that allowed them to use any Windows software on their Macs.

Now, the question arises: what’s a VM and how is it able to let any person use two operating systems, simultaneously. Let’s get to the answer.

What is a VM or Virtual Machine?

A VM or Virtual Machine is virtualization software that allows a person to use an operating system of a company on another company’s PC. For example, a VM installed by Mac users mimics the hardware and functionality of Windows OS on their Macs. So, you can create a VM on your PC and then install Windows, Linux, or any other OS on your VM.

It’s a wonderful solution as it helps us to get the best of two operating systems at once. The only disadvantage in using a VM is that you need a pretty fast computer with a sufficient amount of free memory and storage to run an OS through VM because your computer is running two operating systems at one time.

VMWare is one of the VM software that is available on the internet and it is pretty popular among the users as well. But, if VMWare is popular then it certainly does not mean that it’s the best VM software present on the internet, and there are no VMWare alternatives available.

There are many programs like VMWare which have all it takes to be a competent VM software.

A List of 12 Best VMWare Alternatives in 2024 (Windows and Mac)

Here, we’ve listed some of the best VMWare alternatives for Mac and Windows that you can use if somehow you can’t use VMWare. So, the list of VMWare similar software goes as:

1. Venn

The first name on this list of the top-notch VM software is Venn. Venn is a robust tool that allows you to easily access any desktop or laptop with ease, remotely. Hence, it is one of the most trusted tools for remote connections. This cross-platform tool for both Mac and Windows makes it easy for any user to use the Windows apps and features on a Mac.

This VMWare alternative for Mac offers an amazing and not-so-common feature of virtual connectivity without the need to deploy a virtual machine. The data shared and the connectivity of the tool is entirely secure and encrypted.

This VM on your Mac is highly compliant with strict industry standards including NAIC, SEC, FINRA, NYS DFS, and many others. You can start, stop, or wipe any operation or data from a system with a single click of a button.

Instead of using a public gateway for connectivity, this is one of the best VMWare alternatives for Mac that uses a private company-routed gateway for maximum privacy and protection. The seamless integration of systems with Venn makes it easy for anyone to use a remote system efficiently; whether it is macOS or Windows-based.

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Read Also : Best Google Maps Alternatives in 2024

2. Parallels

Parallels is one of the top-notch VM software available on the internet and the thing that makes Parallels a robust VMWare alternative for Mac and Windows is that it always time its updates with Apple’s own updates with Macs.

Good performance is necessary when running Windows, Linux, or any other OS in a VM on your Mac. That’s why Parallels Desktop 17 includes a new display driver which has done the work of improving the 2D graphics performance of Windows by more than 25% which will get you smoother video playing and a better 2D gaming experience( so you’ll be able to play all the Windows-only platform games that are totally fun and desirable by Mac users.)

The pricing scheme is a little complicated but still, we’ll try our best, the standard edition of Parallels Desktop comes with a perpetual license that requires a flat fee of £79.99. However, you’ll need to pay for the future upgrades that you may require.

Or, you can subscribe to the standard edition for £69.99 per year and that’s a price that includes all the future upgrades. There’s also Pro Edition and Business Edition available for developers and large organizations. But, these only come under annual subscription which costs £79.99 per year.

Even so, Parallels Desktop is considerably less costly than many other VMWare alternatives for Mac available on the internet.

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3. Virtualization Manager

Virtualization Manager is a VM management and monitoring software that helps the user to optimize the VM and resolve any performance issues. This is compatible with many VM software like- VMWare, Microsoft Hyper-V, and so on.

Virtualization Manager is capable of managing virtual machines across hybrid, cloud, and on-premises. It also offers log monitoring that results in faster troubleshooting. The application can be combined with a Hyper-V environment. It provides predictive recommendations that help the user to get the most out of their VM. Virtualization Manager is simply one of the best apps in the list of ‘apps like VMWare’.

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4. VirtualBox

VirtualBox is an open-source emulator that runs on x86 computers. It is one of the top-notch VM software available on the internet. VirtualBox has always been praiseworthy because of its ability to create and manage virtual machines with much ease. VirtualBox is compatible with Windows, Linux, BSD, and much more.

VirtualBox supports the drag & drop functionality of Windows 10. It also allows its users to run any application on their PC. VirtualBox shares compatibility with Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris, and OpenSolaris. All these amazing features make the VirtualBox a perfect VMWare alternative open source.

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5. Boot Camp

Boot Camp is built-in software that automatically comes with your Mac. Boot camp is a top-tier VMWare alternative for Mac that allows its Mac users to switch between macOS and Windows whenever they feel like it.

This free virtual machine software helps you to update the AMD graphics driver for the Windows application in Boot Camp. As we said earlier, Boot Camp is a built-in software and you don’t have to download it externally. It allows the user to use the same keyboard for Apple and windows. Boot Camp is compatible with Windows versions- 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.

These are the things about Boot Camp that make it one of the best VMWare alternatives. If you’re not a Mac user and don’t have Boot Camp then let’s get on with some more VMWare workstation alternatives.

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6. Kernel Virtual Machine

Kernel Virtual Machine is a VM software for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization specifications. KVM offers a virtualization environment and a processor-specific module for running operating systems.

Kernel Virtual Machine allows us to run multiple VMs running unmodified Windows or Linux images. It also provides Hardware and Memory management support to its users. KVM also gives us the power of scheduling and resource control. In addition to that, it also has lower latency and higher prioritization.

KVM is also a great VMWare alternative and it has a good user response as well. One can consider it the best VMWare free alternative.

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7. Proxmox VE

Proxmox is another platform for quality virtualization. This free VM tool helps the user to combine Kernel’s emulator, LXC containers, and networking functionality in a single software.

Proxmox is a VMWare alternative open-source Virtual Machine that allows the user to manage clusters and it also provides disaster recovery tools with a built-in web management interface. Proxmox VE works relentlessly to provide flexibility and speed to your production environment. This software provides full-stack virtualization for Windows and Linux images.

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8. QEMU

QEMU is another user-friendly and top-rated virtual machine that helps the user to provide support for multiple OS to be run on any system.

QEMU also provides hardware virtualization. The thing that makes QEMU stand out in front of many VMs is that it can run on any system. There are no restrictions for the host OS. This system is written in C language. It can also be your perfect VMWare alternative. Let’s proceed to the next VMWare player alternative.

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9. VMWare Fusion

VMWare Fusion is a top-notch VMWare alternative for Mac and a renowned virtual machine. This is famous for its cloud computing and virtualization software. VMWare fusion allows its users to run multiple software of different operating systems at the same time.

Fusion provides integration with many development tools. With VMWare Fusion, you can connect with third-party software for data-center topologies.

This software is compatible with Windows, Linux, NetWare, Solaris, and many other OS on your Mac.

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10. Citrix Hypervisor

Another VMware alternative that provides better virtualization management across your environments is Citrix Hypervisor. The software offers the latest digital workspace by rendering applications and desktops to any machine from the cloud. Especially for Windows 10, it is a perfect virtual machine that simplifies the overall operational management, ensuring an HD (High Definition) user experience for accelerated workloads.

With this, users can get improved and advanced graphics and highly secure virtual environments. Collaboration on large files is easy and safe. In short, Citrix Hypervisor is the best way to support, speed, and secure virtual environments that automatically lead your IT flexibility.

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11. Microsoft’s Hyper-V

Whether you are a tech-savvy, software developer, or IT professional, all of you may need to run different operating systems. Hyper-V by Microsoft is software that allows you to run multiple operating systems as a virtual desktop on Windows. It particularly provides hardware virtualization that lets you create virtual switches, virtual hard drives, and other virtual devices that can be combined with virtual machines.

It allows you to run the software or program that needs an older version of Windows OS. The software can be considered as the best VMWare alternative that makes the task of creating and removing the numerous operating systems much easier. It also provides support for different versions of Linux and is compatible with cloud-based platforms.

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12. Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure

Here’s another one of the best VMWare alternatives for you. Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure is an amazing tool that you can take the help of in place of VMWare. The tool is also quite inexpensive when compared to VMWare. The tool also offers great flexibility to businesses and allows you to add or drop any aspect of the tool whenever required

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Closing Words on Best VMWare Alternative for Mac and Windows in 2024?

So, these were some of the best VMWare alternatives for Windows and Mac that you can consider. Examine each software and choose the one that performs the hardware virtualization best for you.

We hope this guide will help you in the best way possible. Please let us know through the comments box below if you have any questions, doubts, or further suggestions.

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Internet

Best Free Pinterest Downloader in 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

Best Free Pinterest Downloader in 2024, Pinterest is the ideal tool for generating new ideas and gaining inspiration. One may discover a wide variety of creative expressions, including images and films, that span almost any subject they can think of. Pinterest is a platform for visual discovery that was largely developed to assist users in locating photographs of topics that interest them. These photos may include ideas for home design, tasty recipes, gardening ideas, and more.

Although the majority of users are used to adding Pins to their boards, you can also download a picture from Pinterest to your computer or smartphone and store it for offline usage.

Here is all you need to know about how to save images from Pinterest to the memory roll of any digital camera.

8 Best Pinterest Image Downloader in 2024 to Get HD Photos

Have a look at the below-mentioned most popular free Pinterest image downloader!

1. Pincase

Source: Pincase

Introducing Pincase, a powerful tool designed specifically for downloading videos and images from Pinterest. With Pincase, users can effortlessly save their favorite content from Pinterest, whether it be captivating videos or stunning images.

Pincase is a user-friendly tool designed to enhance the downloading experience on Pinterest.com by providing a convenient and free video downloading feature. Additionally, the platform offers a convenient download feature that allows users to easily download various types of media, including images, GIFs, videos, and Story Pins.

This Pinterest image downloader simplifies the downloading process by incorporating a convenient download button positioned at the upper left corner of every pin. This feature enhances the user experience and makes it more efficient to save desired images. The extension has the capability to facilitate the download of various types of content from Pinterest, including images, gifs, videos, and Story Pins. The pincase batch image downloader feature is designed to significantly enhance the efficiency of your downloading process. The feature allows for the convenient downloading of multiple files, including gifs, images, and videos, all at once.

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Best Free Pinterest Downloader in 2024

2. SavePIN Pinterest Image Downloader

Source: SavePIN Pinterest Image Downloader

Are you tired of the repetitive task of manually downloading images from Pinterest? SavePin is a comprehensive and efficient solution that caters to all of your Pinterest image-downloading requirements. With our efficient Pinterest photo downloader, users can effortlessly and promptly acquire high-resolution images. By utilizing a simple and efficient process, users have the ability to effortlessly save numerous images simultaneously, granting them convenient and unrestricted access to their collection from any location and at any given time.

This free Pinterest image downloader is compatible with a wide range of devices, ensuring that users can access it seamlessly across various platforms. The tool is completely free from any potential risks or threats, ensuring the utmost safety and security. This product is designed to seamlessly integrate with and function effectively on a wide range of devices.

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3. Pinterest Image Downloader Online

Source: Pinterest Image Downloader Online

When it comes to watermark-free Pinterest image downloads, this is the greatest tool available. The versatility of the Pinterest Image Downloader Online tool allows for seamless compatibility across multiple platforms, including Android, iPhone, and PC. This eliminates the need for users to switch between different tools when utilizing their various devices.

Users can save several photographs at once with ease using a straightforward and effective approach, which gives them convenient and unlimited access to their collection at any time and from any location.

The compatibility of this free Pinterest image downloader extends to a diverse array of devices, enabling users to effortlessly utilize it on multiple platforms. The tool boasts a remarkable level of safety and security, as it is entirely free from any potential risks or threats. The design of this product ensures a smooth and efficient integration, allowing it to effectively operate on various devices.

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4. PINTDD

Source: PINTDD

Another best free Pinterest image downloader is PINTDD. It is designed to provide users with an exhilarating experience when it comes to downloading images from Pinterest. With this exceptional tool, users can easily and conveniently download their favorite Pinterest images online, making it the ultimate treat for those who find excitement in captivating visuals. With just a few simple steps, it is possible to effortlessly download Pinterest images onto various devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets, or smartphones within a matter of seconds. This Pinterest photo downloader provides users with the ability to unlock the vast world of Pinterest. It enables users to search for and acquire high-definition quality photos from Pinterest effortlessly.

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5. DotSave

Source: DotSave

DotSave.app is another meticulously crafted web-based Pinterest image downloader that offers users an unparalleled experience in downloading videos from the platform. With its seamless functionality and user-friendly interface, it stands out as the ultimate choice for those seeking a reliable and efficient Pinterest downloader.

The main objective of the website is to provide a convenient and easy-to-use solution for users who wish to download Pinterest videos and pictures onto their devices. This allows them to access the videos offline, use them for personal purposes, or incorporate them into various creative projects. Users can select from a variety of video formats (including MP4) and quality thanks to the website.

The feature enables users to customize the downloaded videos or pictures according to their individual preferences and requirements. Users are provided with the option to select their preferred download format, such as JPEG or MP4, for the content they wish to download from Pinterest. By providing users with increased control, they are able to ensure that the downloaded files are compatible with their specific intended use.

Users can select from a variety of video formats (including MP4) and quality thanks to the website. The feature enables users to customize the downloaded videos or pictures according to their individual preferences and requirements.

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6. Pintvideodownloader.com

source:Pintvideodownloader.com

Despite being a well-known and linked platform, Pinterest does not provide its users with a way to download images, photos, or pictures from the site. In order to get over this problem, Pintvideodownloader provides you with a Pinterest image downloader that lets you download pictures of your choice.

Pintvideodownloader is a specialized platform designed specifically to assist users in the process of downloading videos from Pinterest. In addition to its other features, the platform also provides users with the ability to download images, GIFs, and stories. The Pinterest Image Downloader is designed to provide users with a user-friendly experience, ensuring that they can easily download Pinterest images and achieve a high level of satisfaction.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Pintvideodownloader consistently maintains the high quality of images without any compromise. When you make a wish, you receive precisely what you desire, including the ability to download high-definition pictures without any degradation in their quality. When using Pintvideodownloader, users can download images without any worry as there is no watermark present on the downloaded images.

The software seamlessly integrates with a wide range of web browsers and operating systems, ensuring optimal compatibility and performance across different platforms. Hence, this versatile tool can be utilized on both mobile devices and computers.

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7. BotDownloader

Source: BotDownloader

Last but not least, the BotDownloader is another free Pinterest image downloader that you can consider. It is a user-friendly tool that allows you to effortlessly download images or photos from Pinterest. Whether you use a Desktop, Laptop, PC, Tablet, or Android Phone, this tool provides a seamless experience for accessing and saving Pinterest content. Additionally, users have the option to download Pinterest photos in either jpg or png format.

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8. Pinterest HD Image & Photo Downloader

Source: Pinterest HD Image & Photo Downloader

If you are still not quite satisfied with the best free Pinterest image downloaders provided above, then here’s another one to help you. Pinterest HD Image & Photo Downloader is an HD downloader that allows you to save images or videos from the Pinterest board. All you need to do is copy the URL of the link you want to save, paste it into the website, and download content with ease.

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Final Words- Pinterest Image Downloader in 2024

Pinterest gives users the ability to construct digital bulletin boards by compiling pictures and videos related to a variety of subjects. There is no need for you to continuously look for the pictures that you like while you are logging into your account online. You will have direct access to them via the board(s) that you manage as well as the boards that you follow.

You may avoid the hassle of taking screenshots every time you wish to save a picture on Pinterest by using the options that are now accessible to you so that you can download the image instead. Using either of the following free Pinterest image downloaders you can easily download and save a high-quality picture from Pinterest to your mobile device or desktop computer.

That’s all! We hope you found the article informative and helpful. If you have any questions or further suggestions regarding the same, then please feel free to tell us in the comments section below.

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Best Strategy Games for PC in 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

Best Strategy Games for PC in 2024, Strategy games come in a few different shapes and sizes, but what makes the following special is their unrivaled base-building features.Strategy games often involve micromanagement of various things that the player must master, ranging from logistics planning to providing optimal resources, to building a strong base that can serve as a foundation of the player’s winning move in the game. Most strategy games, be they real-time, simulation, or turn-based, have the element of base-building in their core gameplay loop.

The base building aspect of the game will usually involve the player having to gather resources and construct buildings as a starting point. This base will evolve to adapt to the game’s situation, although it has a heavier resource usage. The evolution of the base can also unlock a new gameplay loop for the player, keeping the game consistently fresh.

Factorio

The Factory Must Expand

Factorio is one of the best examples of how a strategy game can be centered around base building, as it becomes necessary for the player to have a well-built and well-defended fortress in order to ‘win’ the game. The real-time strategy game is also focused on resource gathering, making it necessary for the player to micromanage their resources optimally while defending the base from hostile invasion from the planet’s fauna.

From the importance of the Alt key to the value of construction bots, here are some valuable pointers for players who are new to Factorio.

With the game’s blueprint system, the base-building aspect of the game becomes more intense as the player will be able to build numerous unique building structures and customize their base, making each playthrough unique.

Best Strategy Games for PC in 2024

Cult Of The Lamb

Build A Base For An Upstart Cult

Creating a cult has never been more intense than while playing Cult of the Lamb, as the player will be controlling the role of a lamb that owes its life to a demon, and as a payment, tasked with creating a cult in the demon’s name. As part of the cult creation, the player is also tasked with building a proper base for the cult to thrive, and also act as a place of worship for its followers.

Farm layout is important in Cult of the Lamb, and these tips can help players keep things running smoothly.

Followers can be tasked with gathering resources to build up the base, and a plethora of other activities, including getting sacrificed to appease the demon. The survival aspect of the game makes it necessary for the player to build a well-balanced base without sacrificing an aspect, as it can lead to an early game over.

Base Of Operation Is Necessary Against Alien Invasion

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Fighting against an alien invasion that is overwhelmingly more advanced technologically can be insurmountable, but also fun to challenge in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Aside from undertaking missions to repel alien invasions, the player is tasked with creating a proper base for the organization to build up their soldiers in many aspects, including technological advancement and logistics.

The base-building aspect of the game can become intense once the player is faced with the problem of facing multiple problems that require priority above the others. For example, having a country with a huge amount of funds pull out of the organization’s funding can negatively impact the base’s performance as upgrades become scarce.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

Balance Resources To Achieve The Perfect Foundation For An Assault

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

Although the game’s age is over two decades, the gameplay loop of both micromanagement and base building still holds fresh against most modern strategy games due to its simple design, but hard-to-master concept. At the start of every game, the player will be tasked to gather enough resources to build up a base that is capable of training units to assault the enemy’s base.

Moreover, these bases can also hold unique, powerful buildings that acts as a high-risk, high-reward structure that enables the player to unleash superweapons, such as a nuclear silo.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination

Build A Proper Staging Base To Dominate Earth

World domination is not an easy feat to do, and it usually requires a genius leader at the head of an evil organization that is willing to do anything, including building a super-secret base as the foundation of their evil plan. Players of the game will need to have a well-optimized base layout to have a chance of winning the game.

Evil Genius 2 can seem daunting for players new to the strategy genre. Here’s how to start the journey towards world domination.

Moreover, having the proper base layout is crucial, as the different rooms inside the base enable the player to take more missions to grow their organization. A less-optimized layout of the base will have repercussions, especially towards the later stages of the game, as the Forces of Justice’s interference grows more intense.

Age Of Empires 2

The Best Base Is A Foundation For Good Offense

The classic real-time-strategy game Age of Empires 2 is still widely played to this day due to its timeless gameplay loop, which includes intense micromanagement of units, resource management, and proper base-building to enable the smooth development of an army. The base-building phase of the game is crucial enough to have a set of patterns on which building to build first, and technologies to research first, to keep up with the enemy’s development.

Moreover, building a well-connected network of walls with gates is also important, as a well-defended base will mean the player has a chance to mount a comeback after a failed assault on the enemy’s base.

Starcraft

The Staple For Both Base Building And Micromanagement

Veterans of Starcraft will know how crucial it is to have the right sequence of buildings made in their base, as less optimal buildings will hinder their development and rapidly lower their chances of victory. Combined with three unique factions, each with its unique buildings, Starcraft can be categorized as one of the best games that have base building as one of the core gameplay loops.

The base-building aspect of the game ranges from creating an optimal supply chain to build an army, to identifying a satellite base that is dedicated to resource gathering.

Total War: Warhammer 3

Total War: Warhammer 3, the conclusion to Creative Assembly’s Warhammer trilogy, is also its strangest and most experimental, letting players leave the traditional Total War sandbox every 30 or so turns to journey through the Realm of Chaos, where the domains of the Chaos gods exist, culminating in huge survival battles that draw from tower defence games, with fortifications, in-battle recruitment and waves of enemies.

The campaign proved to be divisive, but for those more interested in a proper sandbox, there’s always Immortal Empires. Available as free DLC for anyone who owns all three games, this mega-campaign pits every faction and legendary lord in the entire trilogy against each other in a gargantuan map. So that’s 278 factions and 86 playable legendary lords. It’s incredible. Total War at its most, well, total war.

Crusader Kings 3

Crusader Kings 3, the best strategy game of 2020, has usurped its predecessor’s spot on the list, unsurprisingly. It’s a huge grand strategy RPG, more polished and cohesive than the venerable CK2, and quite a bit easier on the eyes, too. At first glance it might seem a bit too familiar, but an even greater focus on roleplaying and simulating the lifestyles of medieval nobles, along with a big bag of new and reconsidered features, makes it well worth jumping ship to the latest iteration.

CK3 is a ceaseless storyteller supported by countless complex systems that demand to be mucked around with and tweaked. Getting to grips with it is thankfully considerably easier this time around, thanks to a helpful nested tooltip system and plenty of guidance. And all this soapy dynastic drama just has a brilliant flow to it, carrying you along with it. You can meander through life without any great plan and still find yourself embroiled in countless intrigues, wars and trysts.

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Total War: Three Kingdoms, the latest historical entry in the series, takes a few nods from Warhammer, which you’ll find elsewhere in this list, giving us a sprawling Chinese civil war that’s fuelled by its distinct characters, both off and on the battlefield. Each is part of a complicated web of relationships that affects everything from diplomacy to performance in battle, and like their Warhammer counterparts they’re all superhuman warriors.

It feels like a leap for the series in the same way the first Rome did, bringing with it some fundemental changes to how diplomacy, trade and combat works. The fight over China also makes for a compelling campaign, blessed with a kind of dynamism that we’ve not seen in a Total War before. Since launch, it’s also benefited from some great DLC, including a new format that introduces historical bookmarks that expand on different events from the era.

Europa Universalis 4

Paradox’s long-running, flagship strategy romp is the ultimate grand strategy game, putting you in charge of a nation from the end of the Middle Ages all the way up to the 1800s. As head honcho, you determine its political strategy, meddle with its economy, command its armies and craft an empire.

Right from the get-go, Europa Universalis 4 lets you start changing history. Maybe England crushes France in the 100 Years War and builds a massive continental empire. Maybe the Iroquois defeat European colonists, build ships and invade the Old World. It’s huge, complex, and through years of expansions has just kept growing. The simulation can sometimes be tough to wrap one’s head around, but it’s worth diving in and just seeing where alt-history takes you.

4X Old World

Few 4X games try to challenge Civ, but Old World already had a leg up thanks designer Soren Johnson’s previous relationship with the series. He was the lead designer on Civ 4, and that legacy is very apparent. But Old World is more than another take on Civ. For one, it’s set exclusively in antiquity rather than charting the course of human history, but that change in scope also allows it to focus on people as well as empires.

Instead of playing an immortal ruler, you play one who really lives, getting married, having kids and eventually dying. Then you play their heir. You have courtiers, spouses, children and rivals to worry about, and with this exploration of the human side of empire-building also comes a bounty of events, plots and surprises. You might even find yourself assassinated by a family member. There’s more than a hint of Crusader Kings here.

Civilization 6

You can’t have a best strategy games list without a bit of Civ. Civilization 6 is our game of choice in the series right now, especially now that it’s seen a couple of expansions. The biggest change this time around is the district system, which unstacks cities in the way that its predecessor unstacked armies. Cities are now these sprawling things full of specialised areas that force you to really think about the future when you developing tiles.

The expansions added some more novel wrinkles that are very welcome but do stop short of revolutionising the venerable series. They introduce the concept of Golden Ages and Dark Ages, giving you bonuses and debuffs depending on your civilisation’s development across the years, as well as climate change and environmental disasters. It’s a forward-thinking, modern Civ.

Sins of a Solar Empire

Sins of a Solar Empire captures some of the scope of a 4X strategy game but makes it work within an RTS framework. This is a game about star-spanning empires that rise, stabilise and fall in the space of an afternoon: and, particularly, about the moment when the vast capital ships of those empires emerge from hyperspace above half-burning worlds. Diplomacy is an option too, of course, but also: giant spaceships. Play the Rebellion expansion to enlarge said spaceships to ridiculous proportions.

After years of waiting, a sequel is finally on the horizon, thankfully. Sins of a Solar Empire 2 can already be played in early access for those who preorder it.

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Games

The best football games on PC 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

The best football games on PC 2024, Lead your club, country, or brightest youth prospect to victory in the best football games on PC, from near-perfect simulations to soap opera stories. It can seem tough to scratch that footballing itch, especially when there are only a few mainstream games that usually spring to mind. Sure, Football Manager is the undisputed king of the football management genre, and if you’re interested in a more player-controlled affair, it’s hard to argue with FIFA’s excellent game-day presentation.

What are the best football games on PC in 2024? It can seem tough to scratch that footballing itch, especially when there are only a few mainstream games that usually spring to mind. Sure, Football Manager is the undisputed king of the football management genre, and if you’re interested in a more player-controlled affair, it’s hard to argue with FIFA’s excellent game-day presentation.

Whether it’s an under-the-radar studio, an indie title, or a mash-up of different sports, there’s a football game for every fan. To shine a light on these underappreciated classics, we’ve compiled the best PC games for football fans.

Football Drama

Football meets real-time strategy and deck-based card battle games gameplay in this delightfully humourous Demigiant title. As existentially-troubled manager Rocco Galliano, you’re tasked with turning around the fortunes of the ailing Calchester Assembled Football Club.

Doing so won’t be easy though. Like Telltale games of old, player choice is a big part of Football Drama. You’ll regularly be in conversation with journalists, the club’s owner, criminal organizations, and even your house cat, and the decisions you make during these chats have positive or negative impacts on all aspects of your management journey. Get into a spat with the man who hired you, and you could be sacked within days of taking over. Do a deal with the mafia to throw a game and find the story leaked to the press, and you could have a baying mob of angry supporters at your door.

Football Drama’s turn-based match mechanics, coupled with the use of “shout cards” you earn based on your interactions, can swing results in or out of your favor, and add an intriguing layer to its FM-inspired match engine. Your team’s stamina and card usage are pivotal to winning matches, so strategically applying them in unison will be the difference between victory and defeat.

Games and the commentary can feel a bit repetitive after a while, and there are only seven endings you can unlock despite Football Drama’s huge branching narrative. With its unique blend of gameplay, droll humor, and literary-inspired plot, however, Demigiant’s title is one you should check out.

The best football games on PC 2024

Rocket League

This isn’t your typical football game, but Rocket League is technically a soccer-based title thanks to its arcade-style football mixed with rocket-fuelled cars and vehicles.

There’s so much to like about Psyonix’s popular game. Its fluid, physics-driven mechanics are a joy and give rise to different, awesome, and sometimes hilariously bad goals and moments. Its 3-on-3 matches are always intense and results can swing one way or the other based on whether you’re having a good session or not, who you’re teamed up with, and often sheer luck about where the ball lands.

Its customization options allow you to build a vehicle that is distinctly you, and there are various game modes for you to try out until you find your perfect fit. Online casual and competitive matches, an offline Season Mode, basketball and hockey-esque extra modes, and Mutator options are just a few game types available to you, which helps if you want to mix things up and try something new.

Add all of that together with the Rocket League Season Pass – where you can earn rewards, climb up the world rankings, and get XP boosts – and this is a driving-based football title that could rival FM for your time. Check out our Rocket League review if you want to know more.

Kopanito All-Stars Soccer

Have you ever wanted to see a game with no referee and players imbued with superpowers? Kopanito All-Stars Soccer will be right up your street if so.

Merixgames’ football title has been out for a while, but its cartoonish charm and skill-based gameplay mean that there’s plenty here to keep your interest. Regional tournaments and leagues, multiplayer support for up to five players, and four difficulty levels give you your money’s worth, and there’s even the option to turn your slick or amazing goals and celebrations into animated GIFs to send to your mates if you’re in bragging mode.

It’s the game’s superpower abilities that really make it shine, though. You can teleport away from opponents, fire a super-shot goalwards that knocks all players out of the way – goalkeeper included – and even use a magnet that pulls the ball alongside you. It’s wacky but rewarding, particularly if you become a master at the game’s control system, and you’ll feel satisfied when you finally beat the game’s hardest difficulty setting after weeks of honing your craft.

Football, Tactics & Glory

On the surface, this looks like an FM22 knock-off, but there’s more to Football, Tactics & Glory than that. Combining XCOM’s chess-like strategy with RPG elements, Creoteam’s original spin on the management sim genre provides a fun yet realistic take on player improvement and tactical game plans.

Its fully customizable player faces let you give your stars some personality – in comparison to FM22’s plasticine-esque regen faces – while its mod support allows you to add in real-life leagues and tournaments to keep things fresh. Add in a helping of Twitch integration, whereby viewers can interact with streamers, and your fans can play as big a role in your management journey as you.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to FM22’s in-depth mechanics – or a realistic footballing alternative to Blood Bowl – Football, Tactics, & Glory is a solid PC football game.

Behold the Kickmen

Imagine a football game that was developed by someone who had no idea what football was about. If you thought of something along the lines of Behold the Kickmen, you’d be right.

A frenetic soccer sim, Behold the Kickmen reinvents football by, well, inventing something else entirely. With gameplay mechanics that include ‘more kicking’ and ‘doing goals’, this tongue-in-cheek affair takes an amusing swipe at football fanaticism.

There’s a silly story mode to keep you engaged, while you can enable a mode in the options that turns the game into a dystopian bloodsport if things are getting a bit too serious for your liking. Its lack of multiplayer is a shame as it would be funny to batter your mates into oblivion, especially in bloodsport mode. For non-football fans who want to take the mickey by playing a soccer game, though, Behold the Kickmen, is a cheap, fun indie title.

Totoball

Table football, or Foosball as it’s commonly known, is fun, so if you like that then you’ll like this surprisingly effective PC port, Totoball.

Developed by Artur Rezende, Totoball is a carbon copy of the physical game we’ve all played and loved, whether that’s in common rooms and bars across the world. Like its real-life counterpart, Totoball’s mechanics are very simple – so much so that there are only two keys you need to use to play it.

Sure, you could venture out into the real world and play table football properly. For those days when you don’t feel like leaving the house, however, Totoball is an easy game to pass the time with.

Super Arcade Football

Remember when football games were top-down 2D affairs? Super Arcade Football replicates that aesthetic. Harking back to the days of Sensible Soccer and Italia ‘90, OutoftheBit’s retro-inspired title will have you wanting to dust off your old consoles to take a trip down memory lane.

It’s faster-paced than its predecessors and is graphically superior, but all the gameplay mechanic hallmarks are here. Different types of pitch – from dry to muddy to icy – are available to play on, simple controls such as pass, shoot, and move are all you need, and there is up to four-player support if you want a friend or three to join you.

Chuck in some funny match modifiers, including bigger goals and bouncy walls, and an online mode, and Super Arcade Football is a treat for those of you who grew up during the SNES and Mega Drive era.

Pixel Cup Soccer – Ultimate Edition

Pixel Cup is a love letter to isometric football games, like Sensible Soccer, with a little injection of modern technology. Local multiplayer is supported, and there are a variety of different competitions to dig into at your leisure. There’s even support for women’s football here, with the Women’s World Cup and Pixel Cup available to play – something that very few football games, FM included, have supported.

If Super Arcade Football doesn’t bring on the nostalgia rush you were hoping for, this might just push you over the edge. With a career mode, and even a playable Qatar World Cup, Pixel Cup Soccer may look simplistic, but it packs a lot under the hood.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2021

You can’t mention FIFA without talking about its fiercest rival, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series. PES 2021 doesn’t feature any upgrades from the previous year, instead, the devs focused on building eFootball 2022. Unfortunately, eFootball 2022 wasn’t the game fans were expecting as it quickly became the worst-reviewed title on Steam, with the 2023 version not doing much better.

Don’t worry, the modding community has saved the day once again. Using PES 2021 as a base, players have stuck to last year’s game as fans add in custom kits and teams. For solo players, Master League is one of the best single-player modes in any football game. In the Master League mode, players control a football club throughout several seasons. Not only will you have to deal with transfers, but creating unique training programs for the development of your players is crucial, especially for clubs without a large budget.

Football Manager 2024

While you won’t directly be contributing to the ball going into the goal, the Football Manager series puts you in the suit of one of the most important parts of any football team. Our FM24 review sings the praises of the newest entry in the series, which boasts a reworked agent system, advanced positional control, and, most importantly, the ability to import old saves into the new game. Perfect if you’ve been on that League 2 run for a few years now.

If you’re after one of the hardest FM24 challenges, check out our most difficult FM24 challenge saves, and if you want thing to look as realistic as possible, check out our guide on how to import FM24 kits and logo packs, so your team looks how they’re supposed to.

If handball being bad confuses you, and you don’t know where to start with the offside rule, we have the best sports games here, and if you would rather be the puppet master than the puppet, we have the best management games right here.

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Computer

Best laptops for CAD and 3D modeling 2024

By admin January 14, 2024

Best laptops for CAD and 3D modeling 2024, Are you heading off to college? Starting a new semester soon? It’s probably about time you upgraded your laptop or computer. But glancing at some of the best laptop deals will show you there are many options out there. What should you be looking for if there’s something specific you want to do, like taking notes with a stylus, researching on the internet, or even a little gaming on the side?

What about streaming some movies or shows with friends in your dorm? Don’t worry. That’s precisely what we’re going to review in this guide. We’ll cover all of the best laptops for college for the 2024 school year.

Apple MacBook Air M1 (2020)

Best Apple MacBook

As far as Apple products go, it’s older, yes, but the 2020 Apple MacBook Air M1 is still incredibly capable. It’s also affordable, which makes it accessible to college students on a budget. It comes packed with some excellent features and hardware, too. Like the stunning 13.3-inch Retina display, 18 hours of battery life, and super easy-to-use Mac OS. In our Macbook Air M1 review, we praised it for its excellent keyboard and touchpad, phenomenal battery life, rock-solid build quality, and the M1 chip’s power and performance at the time compared to Intel’s. We still stand by those praises today.

Best laptops for CAD and 3D modeling 2024

Lenovo Yoga 6 13-inch AMD

Best 2-in-1 laptop

With the base model starting around $600, for great specs, including an AMD Ryzen 7000 Series mobile processor, the Lenovo Yoga 6 2-in-1 is perfect for students on the move. The thin and light frame adds to the portability, with the convertible and touchscreen-enabled display excellent for just about any configuration you can think up. You can use it like a notebook to take class notes, prop it up to watch media, use it as a traditional laptop, and more. Plus, the visuals are vibrant and appealing on the 13.3-inch WUXGA full-HD display, and the audio-optimized speakers are Dolby Atmos compatible.

HP Pavilion Aero 13

Best bang-for-your-buck

Unsurprisingly, our HP Pavilion Aero 13 review praised this little machine that could for its quality, performance, battery life, minimalist design, and lightweight build. It weighs just over 2 pounds and is no burden, even better when tossed into a backpack or handbag. And while it is classified as a budget laptop — excellent for students — it also packs a decent amount of power under the hood. The base model for about $550 includes an AMD Ryzen 5 Series processor with AMD Radeon graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive.

The 13.3-inch display is full HD, operating at a 1900 by 1200 resolution. There’s no touchscreen, and it’s a bummer to see no backlit keyboard in the base model, but you can certainly make do.

Dell XPS 13 (9315)

Best no-nonsense option

You’ll find that, like most laptops, the Dell XPS 13 can be customized so that you can choose your RAM, storage, and more, with varying price points. The base model starts at about $799 for 8GB of DDR5 RAM — the fastest on the market today — Intel Iris Xe graphics and a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 10-core processor. It is an excellent student option because the price is reasonable, the performance is acceptable, the battery life is terrific, and the machine is reliable overall. Plus, the 13.4-inch full HD display doesn’t hurt either.

ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (2022)

Best for gaming

You should know that the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a powerful machine, but it’s also overkill if you only do schoolwork and everyday productivity tasks. However, if you want to do some gaming in your free time, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU pairs well with the Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of DDR4 system RAM. Depending on the system requirements, you can play most newer games on medium to high settings, some even higher than that.

It doesn’t have the best battery life, so you’ll need to stay near an outlet, especially if you’re playing games, but that’s a solid tradeoff for more power. It’s also a bit pricy for students on a budget, but that’s a tradeoff for the extra power.

How we chose these laptops for college

As a college student, likely on a tight budget, the compromises you’re willing to make for a great PC will always be different from those of someone with money to burn who wants the best. That doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want the best possible for your price range, but there are factors to consider that are more important than others.

Here’s what we prioritized when choosing laptops for college students:

Price

You have a budget, and you need to stick to it. We don’t blame you. That’s why we prioritized laptops from all affordable but capable brands, especially compared to more expensive counterparts. Aside from our gaming choice, which was selected for power above all, everything else on this list should be accessible.

Battery life

From studying in a library for long hours to hanging out in a friend’s dorm, you’ll probably opt for laptops with reliable battery life. Again, aside from our gaming pick, everything else on this list has excellent battery life to offer and should get you through most of your day, even without a quick charge.

Display

Even at a budget price, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a full HD resolution display in this day and age. Every laptop we selected has at least that or better.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

The 5 best laptops for CAD and and 3D modeling in 2024

Whether it’s engineering or game design, 3d modeling and CAD work has become very big in the past few years, especially with a lot of folks starting to do it at home for things like 3D printer files. Of course, not every laptop you pick up can handle doing that sort of work, so if you plan to do either, then going for a laptop that is fit for the job is important. To that end, we’ve collected our five favorite laptops across various price ranges and needs so that you can pick the perfect laptop for you.

Legion Pro 5 Gen 8

Best overall for 3D modeling

While the Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 is not necessarily the most powerful laptop on this list, it’s one of the best to balance specs with cost, so if you’re looking for a good mid-range option that ticks most of the boxes, then this is the one to go for. Under the hood, it runs an AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX Processor, which is a mid-to-high-end CPU that should handle most modeling tasks with ease. That’s especially true since it easily overshoots the recommended requirements for AutoCAD for a processor that can do more than 3GHz.

You also get plentiful RAM here with 32GBs of DDR 5 memory, which is also double the recommended 16GB for AutoCAD, although we’d actually say the ideal amount of RAM starts at 32GB, so you’re good. It’s also the newer and faster memory compared to DDR4, so it should perform better overall. As for graphical processing power, you get an RTX 4070, which is a solid mid-range gaming GPU that should handle most 3D modeling tasks relatively well and should be fine for most use cases.

In terms of screen size, we’re happy to say that it’s a very solid 16 inches, so there is lots of room to see details, and it even runs a 2560 x 1600 resolution, which is perfect without pushing the GPU too much. It can hit a peak brightness of 300nits, which isn’t that great if you’re in well-light areas, although the 165Hz refresh rate is certainly nice for a smoother experience. We should also mention that it’s a bit on the heavier side, so be sure to take that into account if you need to move around a lot.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16

Best powerful Laptop for 3D modeling

You might be thinking to yourself, “What is a gaming laptop doing on a list of 3D modeling laptops?” Well, it’s not a surprise that there is quite a big overlap when it comes to a good laptop for gaming and a good laptop for 3D modeling. For example, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has an Intel Core i9-13900H, one of the most powerful CPUs on the market, and just a grade below professional-grade CPUs like the Intel Xeon and the Ryzen Threadripper. As such, it’s more than happy to chug away at any 3D modeling tasks you send its way without too much hassle, assuming you aren’t doing anything crazy.

In a similar vein, the Zephyurs M16 runs an RTX 4090 under the hood, which is one of the best non-professional grade GPUs out there and, again, will easily handle most 3D modeling tasks you throw its way. That said, the inclusion of the RTX 4090 does mean that it drinks up electricity like it’s abundant, so the battery life is not that great, especially when you’re putting a lot of load on the GPU. It also means that it runs pretty hot, so these are two very important things to consider before buying in.

Luckily, the screen is excellent, with a 16-inch that runs a 2560 x 1440 resolution, which is always a nice addition to have. The same goes for the 240Hz max refresh rate, which you likely aren’t going to need for non-gaming needs, so setting it to 120Hz will give you a smooth experience while freeing up some processes for 3D modeling. We should also mention that you get a very impressive 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, which really puts this configuration of the Zephyrius M16 in a league of its own.

MacBook Pro 16

Best powerful MacBook Laptop for 3D modeling

If you’re in the Apple ecosystem or want a MacBook for 3D modeling, then you have to go for the absolute best that Apple has to offer, which is the M3 Max MacBook Pro 16, a bit of a mouthful but hard to beat in terms of specs. Actually, we would have probably picked the M3 Pro version to save a little, but sadly, the M3 Max version is the only one that has the 36GB of RAM that we consider to be ideal for 3D modeling. Even so, the M3 Max chip is the best that Apple has to offer, with a 14-core processor that will easily handle most tasks you throw at it.

Even better, the M3 Max also has a whopping 36 GPU cores, so it’s exceedingly well-suite for 3D modeling tasks, and some would argue that Apple has some of the best hardware for graphics rendering and work in general. That said, you should keep in mind that not all applications work on both Windows and MacOS, with MacOS sometimes missing out on a few, so be sure to check that your app is supported on MacOS before taking the plunge.

That said, if it does run on MacOS, then you’ll be happy to know that you get an SSD with 1TB of storage, so your apps will load fast, and you’ll have a lot of space for any files you need, which are likely a lot for this sort of work.

Finally, while not exceedingly important, the 16-inch screen of the MacBook Pro is just lovely, as it has a 3456 x 2234 resolution running on a Liquid Retina XDR display, the best one that Apple offers. Also, it’s a relatively portable laptop for its specs, so even though you’re paying a premium, it’s perfect for those who tend to move around a lot.

LG gram 17

Best thin and portable laptop for 3D modeling

Solid 3d modeling laptops don’t need to be big, bulky, and very expensive, and if you want something that’s very thin and portable, you can’t go wrong with the LG Gram 17. It sits at an incredibly 0.7 inches of thickness despite the fact that it runs an RTX 3050 under the hood. Now, granted, the RTX 3050 is a very entry-level GPU, but the fact that it has a GPU at all is impressive, and every little bit counts when it comes to 3D modeling. It also only weighs 3.2 pounds, which is equally impressive.

In terms of processing power, it has an Intel Core i7 Evo, so it’s more than capable of handling 3D modeling and clears the recommended specs of most apps by a good margin. That said, the RAM only meets the recommended specs with 16GB of DDR5 memory, and while we would have liked to see double that, it’s not going to grind any 3D modeling to a complete halt. As for storage, you get a 1TB SSD, so lots of space and quick loading of apps and data.

Finally, it’s worth touching on the fact that the display is very good, a 17-inch display that runs WQXGA and gives you a relatively large amount of space to do your work, and we hope you can appreciate that. Even so, one disadvantage of the larger screen is that, combined with how thin it is, it can feel a bit flimsy, which isn’t ideal for something this pricey. So, if you do end up buying this one, don’t treat it like a rugged laptop, but be sure to be somewhat gentle with it.

IdeaPad Gaming 3

Best budget laptop for 3D modeling

While budget options aren’t ideal for heavy-duty 3D modeling, they’re a good option if you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend a ton of money. Funnily enough, this is the second gaming laptop on this list, but we can’t deny that the IdeaPad Gaming 3 is also great as a budget 3D modeling laptop. For example, it has the same RTX 4050 as the LG Gram 17 but costs only half the price, so it’s excellent value if you don’t care as much about having a thin and light laptop.

Another thing that’s more value-oriented is the 15.6-inch screen, which only has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and only hits 45% NTSC, which isn’t that impressive. Also, it can only hit 250nits of brightness, which is equally unimpressive and means that it won’t deal with bright direct lighting or even bright indirect lighting. On the other hand, it can run at a 120Hz refresh rate, so it’s still going to give you a smooth overall experience when viewing it, as will the 16GB of DDR5 RAM. Again, it is not the ideal of what we’d like to see, but it is more than enough to cover the recommended specs of most apps.

As for processing power, you get the mid-to-high-end AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, which should handle most 3D modeling tasks without issue; plus, it’s generally a bit more power efficient and an excellent CPU for productivity. When it comes to battery life, you should expect around seven to ten hours, depending on what you’re using it for, with more general activity like watching a video taking up less battery.

How We Chose These Laptops for 3D modeling

Processing power

It’s probably not shocking to know that having a powerful CPU under the hood of any 3D modeling laptop is important since it’s one of the main number-crunchers of the CPU and goes a long way. That means that you should ideally aim for something like the Intel i7 or the Ryzen R7 as sort of the starting point, which is why most of our picks above are based around those processors.

In a similar vein, GPUs are also very important for 3D modeling, but this one is a bit more complicated due to the fact that there are consumer-grade GPUs and professional-grade GPUs. While professional-grade GPUs, like the Quadro family of cards, is excellent for 3D modeling, they are prohibitively expensive for most people, especially since high-end consumer GPUs have comparable specs. As such, we avoided any Quadro or professional-grade GPUs and instead focused on consumer GPUs that are cheaper and easier to find. Going with consumer GPUs also means that you have a lot more leeway in configurations and choices for laptops.

RAM

Memory is another important thing you’ll need to keep in mind, especially since a lot of more budget-friendly laptops tend to only go for 8GB. Unfortunately, the recommended specs for most CAD and 3D modeling software tend to sit at 16Gb, and even that is something we consider too low. Preferablly, we like to see something around 32GB or up, although anything above 32GB does tend to be quite expensive and will start giving you diminishing returns. So, if you’d like to go for a higher amount, just be sure that you actually are going to need it.

Screen

Ironically, the screen is the thing that will likely have the least impact on 3D modeling, mostly because it’s just a visual output more than anything else. So, while it would definitely nice to have a large 18-inch screen running 4K resolutions, 1080p is perfectly fine, as is a smaller screen. Also, smaller screens mean smaller laptops, so if you value portability, going with a smaller screen isn’t all that bad.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

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