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| PC World - 11 May (PC World)External USB/Thunderbolt drives are a super-convenient way to quickly back up your important files, as well as store any data that you don’t need on your computer’s internal storage. They’re also an extremely handy way to transport data between locations and devices.
While any of these would be a great reason to pick up an external drive, the advantages of having reliable backup is the number-one reason your setup isn’t complete without one. Why? Chances are you have important data on your PC that you can’t afford to lose. To protect that data you’ll want to do two things: store it off-site on the cloud if possible and back it up to an external drive. This way you ensure your data is completely safe should anything go wrong with your computer.
While we highly recommend that you consider cloud storage as a backup option, restoring from local storage is generally far, far faster than pulling your data down from the cloud. Therefore, an external drive should be your primary hedge against disaster.
Why you should trust us: We’re PCWorld. We’ve been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. We’ve seen it all and we know how to root out a drive’s strengths and weaknesses, using a combination of rigorous benchmark testing and real-world hands-on use. Below we offer our expert recommendations on the best external drives for everything from blazing-fast performance, to budget options, to portability, and more.
Updated May 10, 2024 to include two new additions to our list of recommendations: The SK Hynix Tube T31, a thumb drive that offers the performance of an SSD; and the SanDisk Desk Drive, which is a compelling SSD option for large backups. Read our summaries below to learn more.
Crucial X9 Pro – Best 10Gbps external SSD
Pros
Super small form factor
Great 10Gbps performance
Handsome design
Cons
Not the least expensive 10Gbps SSD available
Best Prices Today:
$94.99 at Amazon
Not everyone wants or even needs 20Gbps USB drive performance, which comes at a price premium anyway. The Crucial X9 strikes a compelling balance between top-shelf performance and affordability that should please the majority of users. In our benchmark tests, it traded top scores with the SK Hynix Beetle (our runner-up choice below), but at a significantly lower cost. Making it an indisputable win-win for consumers.
It’s also handsome, described by our reviewer as “a svelte object of desire.” More importantly, it feels well made, and is rated for IP55 dust and spray resistance, so you don’t have to baby this portable drive when you take it out.
Read our full
Crucial X9 Pro review
SK Hynix Beetle X31 – Best 10Gbps external SSD runner-up
Pros
Top 10Gbps performer
Compact, rounded design
Cons
Available only in pale gold
Pricier than the competition
Best Prices Today:
$96 at Amazon
As stated above, the SK Hynix Beetle X31 is every bit the performer as our top pick in the 10Gbps realm, with the two enjoying an equal number of wins in our benchmarks and handily besting the competition. But where the SK Hynix loses its edge is on price. Right now, it’s about $13 more for 1TB than the Crucial X9.
It’s also more blinged out. Peep that gold scarab-inspired exterior. It will sit proudly on any desk, and for some buyers that might make the extra cost worth it.
Read our full
SK Hynix Beetle X31 review
Crucial X6 Portable SSD (2TB) – Best budget 10Gbps external SSD
Pros
Ergonomic design
Good everyday performance
Very affordable for an external SSD
Cons
Performance tanks when cache runs out
Best Prices Today:
$49.89 at Amazon
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD is square to be hip (search Huey Lewis). Or placed in your hip pocket, at any rate. In a sea of portable SSDs whose shape and sometimes sharp edges makes them a literal pain when situated in your shirt or trousers, the thin, rounded-edge X6 is a sigh of relief. It’s not state-of-the-art fast, but it’s fast enough for most users and extremely affordable.
Read our full
Crucial X6 Portable SSD review
SK Hynix Tube T31 USB SSD stick – Best thumb drive SSD
Pros
Fast like an external SSD
Decently affordable
Small form factor
Captive Type-A USB connector
Cons
Costs more than the common thumb drive
Best Prices Today:
$79.99 at Amazon
There’s something to be said for the thumb drive form factor. It’s eminently portable, being both small and eschewing the necessity of a connector cable. It’s also versatile as it can slot into the ubiquitous USB-A port.
The SK Hynix Tube T31 combines all that thumb-drive convenience with SSD performance, for the best of the both worlds.
With 10Gbps NVMe storage, the wee Tube T31 performs like a cable-attached SSD, and definitively outperformed other thumb drives in its class. And while it’s priced relatively high compared to a standard thumb drive, it’s priced competitively for its performance.
There’s no better option if fast and cable-free storage is what you’re after.
Read our full
SK Hynix Tube T31 USB SSD stick review
Lexar SL600 Blaze – Best 20Gbps external SSD
Pros
Good 20Gbps performer
Top bang for the buck
Five-year warranty
Cons
4TB model not yet available
Best Prices Today:
$129.99 at B & H Photo
Let’s face it, the competition is very close in the top tier of 20Gbps external drives, with name-brand contenders trading wins up and down the benchmark charts. Nevertheless, a winner is a winner, and cumulatively, the Lexar nudged out our previous champ, Crucial’s X10 Pro, even if only by a hair.
The upshot is that you can expect excellent performance from the Lexar SL600. On top of that, it comes in a uniquely shaped form factor, complete with an opening to accommodate a lanyard, if that’s how you roll. You can even take the highly portable drive’s design a step further by opting for the SL660 variant that comes with RGB lighting around its miniature handle. The drive comes with the standard five year warranty.
When performance is this closely matched among products, the determining factor should be price. And in that respect, too, the SL600 is neck-and-neck with the Crucial X10 Pro, and priced slightly to significantly cheaper than some of its competitors, at least as of this writing — particularly at the 2TB level.
Teamgroup M200 – Best budget 20Gbps SSD
Pros
Fast everyday performance
Available in up to 8TB (eventually) capacity
Attractively styled
Cons
No TBW rating
Company will change components if shortages demand
Writes slow to 200MBps off cache
Best Prices Today:
$46.87 at Amazon
Rated for 20Gbps and selling for $90 with 1TB of storage, the Teamgroup M200 is an attractive (in a military fashion) external drive for the budget-conscious performance enthusiast.
It might not be as cheap as the Crucial X6, but for the extra outlay you get outstanding everyday performance — in many tests, it’s the fastest 20Gbps drive we’ve ever tested. At just 4.13-inches long and 2.18-inches wide and weighing under 3 ounces, it’s also extremely portable and its slick styling will appeal to gamers.
Read our full
Teamgroup T-Force M200 20Gbps USB SSD review
Samsung T7 Shield 4TB – Best 20Gbps high-capacity performance drive
Pros
Fast 1GBps sustained transfers
Excellent real world performance
Vast 4TB capacity
Svelte and handsome
Cons
Not cheap
Small 4K performance glitch under CrystalDiskMark 8 writing 4K files
Best Prices Today:
$319.99 at Amazon
Once our top pick overall, the Samsung T7 Shield has been overtake in raw speeds by the two newcomers above. But if the 2TB limit of the drives above has you feeling too confined, the T7 Shield 4TB is a good option.
The T7 Shield also leans into physical protection, with an IP65 ratings against particulate matter and water spray. Going hiking with your data? A T7 Shield is a good choice, and you can secure it with software-based password protection in lieu of a fingerprint.
With its top-tier speeds and large capacity, the T7 4TB model is capable of handling the largest end-user data sets on the go.
Read our full
Samsung T7 4TB review
Sandisk Pro-Blade Transport – Best 20Gbps modular storage
Pros
Fast 20Gbps performance
Modular storage
More affordable than you might think (as currently discounted)
Cons
Some non-fatal operational glitches
Best Prices Today:
$49.99 at Western Digital$159.99 at Amazon
The SanDisk Pro-Blade Transport is a portable SSD dock that can be thought of as a cross between removable media and high-speed NVMe. It comes with easy-to-use removable storage cartridges for fast rotating backup. Additionally, it’s a good way to organize projects by their own media as well. The SanDisk Pro-Blade Transport’s modular design allows users to expand their TB count over the same connection and keep everything together and organized in neat, handsome cartridges.
The cartridges come in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities and are all capable of transferring at speeds of 20Gbps. In our speed tests, the Pro-Blade’s cartridges did well in both synthetic benchmarks as well as real-world transfers, with good sustained speeds throughout both the shorter 48GB and longer 450GB read/write tests. We did notice a few hiccups though when the drive’s system would lock up and we needed to manually reboot it to fix the issue. These only came about during rigorous testing scenarios and aren’t likely to affect day-to-day usage. Also, this is something that SanDisk should be able to fix with a software update and it wasn’t a major issue anyways. Overall, this sleek storage system is a great option for organizing your storage and for those who need ultimate flexibility.
Read our full
Sandisk Pro-Blade Transport review
OWC Express 1M2 USB4 SSD – Best USB4/Thunderbolt combo external SSD
Pros
Over 30GBps transfers with USB4
Works with all USB and Thunderbolt 3/4 ports
Available unpopulated so you can leverage any NVMe SSD
Cons
A bit pricey when loaded with an SSD
Large (but beefy) for an external SSD
Best Prices Today:
$219.99 at OWC
Sure the SanDisk Pro-G40 is a fast, dual USB/Thunderbolt drive, but the OWC Express 1M2 takes fast USB transfers to a whole new level with USB4. The new USB4 technology allows for blazing-fast data transfer rates up to a maximum of 40Gbps — the same as Thunderbolt 4. And the OWC Express proves it. In our tests, it was the fastest external drive over every bus: Thunderbolt 4, 20Gbps USB, and 10Gbps USB. So no matter what you choose to use, the 1M2 is the ultimate drive for speed.
The drive itself looks very much like a giant silver heatsink (the pink hue is the result of lighting) and feels quite large and hefty compared to some of the other drives on this list. We don’t mind it as the whole design makes the drive feel like it means business, but it doesn’t make the 1M2 the most portable external SSD either. Regardless, the OWC Express 1M2 is currently one of the absolute fastest external drives around if you’re feeling the need for speed.
Read our full
OWC Express 1M2 USB4 SSD review
SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD – Best external SSD for backups
Pros
Available in large 4TB and 8TB capacities
Good 10Gbps performer
Attractive and unusual, if somewhat large, heat-shedding design
Cons
Requires AC adapter
Best Prices Today:
$249.99 at Western Digital
As the name suggests, the SanDisk Desk Drive isn’t meant to be portable, unlike many of the external drives on this list. It’s not only to bulky for a pocket, or even a laptop bag, but it also requires an AC adapter.
But that doesn’t detract from its utility, because the Desk Drive is really best suited for backups. That’s evident in the fact that it only comes in 4GB and 8GB capacities, priced competitively at $250 and $700 respectively.
Granted, that’s a lot more per-gigabyte than you’d pay for a backup hard drive. But with the Desk Drive you get brisk 10Gbps performance, and the assurance that comes from an SSD’s lack of moving parts. In other words, the price-per-performance makes it a wash with an HDD.
Read our full
SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD review
WD My Passport 5TB – Best external hard drive
Pros
Up to 5TB in capacity
Low price per gigabyte
Innovative and attractive styling
Cons
A bit slower than most external hard drives
Best Prices Today:
$112.25 at Amazon$149.99 at WD
If your primary need from an external drive is data backup, WD’s My Passport 5TB is for you. You want to know why? It’s right there in the name — that extra 1TB can be invaluable in this age of 4K/8K. Furthermore, you don’t need the speed of an SSD to perform maintenance backups, which can be scheduled for times that create the least possible disruption. And by going with a hard drive over SSD, you can save loads of money.
Read our full
WD My Passport 5TB external hard drive review
Our latest external drive reviews
Adata SD810: This is a solid 20Gbps drive, as long as you aren’t in the habit of writing very large amounts of data to it on a regular basis, because in our tests, the drive slowed down considerably in that scenario. That being said, the 4TB capacity is a particularly good value at just $300.
Lexar SL500: A stablemate of the Lexar SL600 — our pick for best 20Gbps external drive — the SL500 stands out for its very slim and attractive form factor. It has almost identical performance to the SL600, with the exception of performing slower than its sibling in our 48GB file writes.
Corsair EX100U: This handsome drive, which could easily slide into a pocket, isn’t a great all-around performer, but if you’re mostly concerned with light workloads it will handle those tasks capably. On sale, it could easily earn its keep in that regard.
What you need to know before you buy
Yes, USB4 will provide the same massive throughput as Thunderbolt 3 at lower prices eventually, and likely far more products too.
Yes, USB4 will provide the same massive throughput as Thunderbolt 3 at lower prices eventually, and likely far more products too.
Yes, USB4 will provide the same massive throughput as Thunderbolt 3 at lower prices eventually, and likely far more products too.
Capacity versus price
For most consumers, the primary shopping criteria for external storage are capacity and price. However, while you might think that the lowest-cost drives provide the most value–they don’t. In fact, dollar for dollar, cheaper low-capacity drives have always been the worst deal in terms of price per terabyte.
You can see the phenomena in the charts below where we compare the popular WD Elements desktop hard drive’s available capacities and prices. You’re paying more than twice as much per terabyte for the lowest-capacity drive versus the next step up. It’s almost as bad on the WD Elements Portable drive.
The worst value for an external hard drive is typically the lowest-capacity drive.
The worst value for an external hard drive is typically the lowest-capacity drive. IDG
The worst value for an external hard drive is typically the lowest-capacity drive. IDG
IDG
The best “value,” as you can see, typically means the most capacious hard drives. But it also means higher total cost, and not everyone needs maximum capacity.
How much capacity do you need?
So how much storage do you actually need? For backup, we recommend a drive that’s at least twice the capacity of the total amount of data residing on your PC’s internal storage.
If you have 1TB of storage in your PC, a 2TB drive allows you to make a full backup while keeping previous versions, as well as additional differential and incremental backups. I.e., the larger the capacity, the more backups over a longer period of time you can keep, or the more PCs you can back up to the same drive.
While a desktop hard drive (read 3.5-inch) provides far more capacity (up to 26TB currently if you’re a data center), it also requires a power cable, weighs more, and generally won’t be as shock resistant as a portable 2.5-inch hard drive. The latter is designed to take bumps in a laptop, even when powered up. Then again, if you really want rugged–go the SSD route.
Interface
The vast majority of external drives today are USB drives. However, USB comes in many speeds: 5Gbps, 10Gbps, 20GBps, and—eventually with USB4—40Gbps as with Thunderbolt 3/4. Ignore the version number (3.x) and look for the speed.
The USB Forum has changed its nomenclature to indicate throughput speed—SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps (formerly USB 3.x gen 1), SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps (formerly USB 3.x gen 2), and SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps (formerly USB 3.2 2×2). For the sake of brevity (and our sanity), we generally shorten those to, for example, USB 10Gbps, 10Gbps USB, 10Gbps etc.
All USB hard drives use a slower standard, typically USB 5Gbps. No hard drive, unless combined with other drives in RAID 0 or above, can saturate even the 5Gbps interface (roughly 500MBps real-world after overhead). Because of that, you’ll never see one rated higher.
Where SuperSpeed 10Gbps/20Gbps, USB4, or Thunderbolt are of value is with the aforementioned RAID hard drive setups, or more likely—an SSD. USB 10Gbps is fast enough for most users, and getting cheaper by the week. A 10Gbps Samsung T7 Shield can be had for $80 in a 1TB capacity.
Faster USB 20Gbps (Gen 2×2) basically doubles speed but moves you into a higher-price bracket, with the Seagate Firecuda Gaming SSD costing $100 for only 500GB of storage. Although far faster than 5/10Gbps, there still aren’t a lot of USB 20Gbps/USB4 ports out there.
Thunderbolt 3 and the newer Thunderbolt 4 (almost exactly the same thing with stricter implementation requirements) are the highest-performing interfaces for external storage. The key negatives are the premium pricing and a general lack of compatibility with the far more popular USB.
That said, there are dual Thunderbolt/USB SSDs available such as the Sandisk Pro-G40. The G40 is pricey at $160 for 1TB, but a fantastic drive for those who can afford it. Pure Thunderbolt external SSDs can be even pricier, as they’re almost all sold by Mac-oriented boutique vendors such as OWC and Sabrent.
The top drive uses the older, slower Mini-USB interface. The second drive features the connector that replaced it: Micro B SuperSpeed. The Orange drive features both a SuperSpeed Micro B and Thunderbolt 2 (mini DisplayPort connector). The bottom drive features USB-C or USB Type C.
The top drive uses the older, slower Mini-USB interface. The second drive features the connector that replaced it: Micro B SuperSpeed. The Orange drive features both a SuperSpeed Micro B and Thunderbolt 2 (mini DisplayPort connector). The bottom drive features USB-C or USB Type C.
The top drive uses the older, slower Mini-USB interface. The second drive features the connector that replaced it: Micro B SuperSpeed. The Orange drive features both a SuperSpeed Micro B and Thunderbolt 2 (mini DisplayPort connector). The bottom drive features USB-C or USB Type C.
Ports
External drives come with a variety of ports, though they’re gradually (and thankfully) consolidating on the orientation-agnostic Type-C connector. Here’s the list of connectors you might see on your drive:
USB 3 Micro-B — This wider, flatter port is still very common on many lower-cost portable and desktop external hard drives. It’s actually the same Micro USB port used on your phone, but with more data lines to hit USB 3.0 speeds. It’ll do 5Gbps and is fine for hard drives and SATA (internally) SSDs. Micro-B cables are generally Type-A on the PC end.
USB 3 Type-B is the larger, squarer version of USB 3.0 Micro B. Type B ports are becoming rare, though you might find one on older 5.25-inch enclosures, printers, and scanners. It supports speeds up to 5Gbps and cables are generally Type-A on the PC side.
USB Type-C or simply Type-C is the latest USB connector and the one the world is standardizing on. It’s small, easy to insert, and you don’t have to worry about which side faces up as with Type-A.
Keep in mind that Type-C refers only to the connector itself. What is carried over the wires varies greatly: USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbps) to USB 3.2 SuperSpeed 20Gbps, as well as USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 and any combination of them.
USB Type-A You won’t find this familiar rectangular port on any drive, but you will still find it on plenty of PCs and laptops as well as the male version on the other end of most Type-B and Type-C adapter cables.
Thunderbolt 2 is dead at this point. It’s found on older Macs, but even Apple put it out to pasture in 2017. There’s no need to invest in a Thunderbolt 2 drive unless it’s for legacy support issues. That said…
…Apple sells a bi-directional Thunderbolt 1/2 to 3 adapter if you need to connect the one generation to the other. The adapter does not, however, carry power, so bus-powered external drives (no power jack) will require a powered dock.
eSATA is another legacy port that’s disappeared from newer tech. Created for attaching external storage to your computer’s SATA bus, eSATA was a cheap way in its day to move beyond the toddling 60MBps performance of USB 2.0.
5Gbps USB 3.0 put the last nail in eSATA’s coffin. As with Thunderbolt 2, the only reason to invest in an eSATA drive is for use with older computers.
Two drives for backup?
There’s a fundamental maxim in backup, appropriately named the Rule of Three. It states that you should always maintain three copies of your irreplaceable data: the original data, a backup, and a backup of the backup.
Preferably, the two backups are kept in separate locations, one being offsite (online, or another location). Keeping a copy online is great for smaller amounts of data and certainly meets the offsite criteria.
However, for vast photo, audio, and/or video collections, external drives in pairs (or more), are a far faster solution. Especially with most broadband still being relatively limited in upstream speed.
For guidance on building out the best backup plan possible, see our roundups of the best cloud backup services and best Windows backup software.
How we test
Some of the older reviews you might find here feature results gathered on an Intel Core i7-5820K/X99 motherboard with 64GB of Kingston DDR4 memory running Windows 10. A discrete Gigabyte Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 card and Ableconn USB 3.2 2×2 20Gbps card (Asmedia 2142 controller) were used for connecting the external drives. An Asus USB 3.1/10Gbps (Asmedia 1142 controller) card was employed for some of the really old drives on the chart.
Subsequently, drives were tested using Windows 11 64-bit running on an MSI MEG X570/AMD Ryzen 3700X combo with four 16GB Kingston 2666MHz DDR4 modules, a Zotac (Nvidia) GT 710 1GB x2 PCIe graphics card, and the Asmedia ASM3242 USB 3.2×2 card. Copy tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk using 58GB of the 64GB total memory.
Currently, we’re using Windows 11 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are on the board and Intel integrated graphics are employed. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a Samsung 990 Pro 2TB which also runs the OS.
We run various synthetic benchmarks including Crystal Disk Mark 6/7/8, AS SSD 2, and Iometer. We also perform real-world transfer tests using a 48GB batch of small files and folders, as well as a large 48GB and 450GB files. The testbed boots from a NVMe drive, but the real-world (Windows) file transfers are performed to and from a 58GB RAM disk.
Note that all review charts feature results garnered from the same test bed.
External drive FAQ
1.
What is the difference between an SSD and an HDD?
HDDs (hard disk drives) have been around for more than 50 years. They are essentially boxes containing spinning platters with read/write arms that skim across them to detect the orientation of, or re-align particles in, the magnetic material that coats the platters.
SSDs (solid state drives), on the other hand, use flash memory and have no moving parts inside the drive. Data is instead stored in cells—aka, voltage traps—which are interconnected in a matrix. The matrix approach allows for data to be pushed or pulled to/from many different places at once and significantly increases both read and write speed—on the order of 100 times faster these days.
Generally speaking, SSDs are a better bet for your external drives due to their smaller size, faster speeds, and far superior ruggedness and durability. The main drawback to SSDs is that you pay quite a bit more per terabyte of storage. As technology and production techniques improve, the price of SSDs has and will continue to drop.
2.
How often should you back up your data?
Ideally, you should backup your data as often as possible. This is especially true if you are working on an important project or have data that you absolutely cannot afford to lose.
If you have your external hard drive connected to your computer at all times, it is a good idea to automate the backup process and have the drive back up your data every hour or so. If you disconnect or travel with your external hard drive, you should try to remember to back up your data onto it every time you change your data or at least every day. See our roundups of the best Windows backup software and the best online backup services to learn more.
3.
Why is my actual hard drive storage smaller than specified?
This comes down to the perceived size of storage (KB, MB, GB, TB) versus the actual size of that storage. Most consumers are led to believe that a Kilobyte (KB) is 1,000 bytes when it is actually 1,024 bytes. Most consumers then are led to believe that a Megabyte (MB) is 1,000 KB when it is actually 1,024 KB. So a manufacturer’s hard drive that claims to have 1 TB of storage actually has only 931.31 GB of storage. It is essentially a rounding error that manufacturers neglect to advertise because round numbers are easier to understand.
Another reason that actual storage may appear less than advertised is that hard drives have to be formatted to read and write data properly. When formatting, a portion of the storage space on the drive is allocated in order to catalog the data.
4.
How long does an external hard drive last?
The average lifespan of an external hard drive is about three to five years. However, this is highly dependent upon the make and model and the conditions of usage and storage. The more you use an external hard drive, the less reliable it becomes.
One way to guesstimate the lifespan of your hard drive is to look at the manufacturer’s warranty and the TBW (total terabytes written) number. You can determine the estimated daily amount of storage you write and then extrapolate from there to see how long you can continue to use it everyday until you reach the TBW. These numbers are not entirely reliable, and drives can last much longer than these two values, but they give an idea as to when you will likely begin to encounter issues.
5.
How do external hard drives fail?
There are a number of ways that an external hard drive may fail. They are especially susceptible to failure due to frequent mishandling, outdated drivers, connecting and disconnecting, and unsafe or forced ejections. To ensure that you keep your hard drive working properly, keep it stored in a safe place, try not to drop it, update your drivers, and make sure that you connect and disconnect it from devices properly.
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| | | PC World - 11 May (PC World)Antivirus software is a necessary tool in today’s online world. Attacks are only becoming more sophisticated, especially with the continued rise of AI. Even the most tech-savvy and cautious among us can drop their guard at wrong time or get tricked into exposing themselves to a malware, spyware, or ransomware vulnerability. Antivirus protection is an essential backup against such threats.
We’re not suggesting that PC security software is fool-proof, but it does a great job of protecting your computer against harmful malware and ransomware. Most systems come with security software baked into the OS, but this is often the bare minimum you need. Choosing to purchase more robust antivirus software will provide you with features such as an advanced firewall, sandbox environments for suspicious programs, and multi-device protection, among other things.
How do you choose a good antivirus? We’ve tested a multitude of offerings, including all the big names, so you don’t have to! When testing antivirus software, we look for products that strike a balance between excellent protection, a worthwhile selection of features, and minimal performance impact on your PC. For more information, you can read about how we test antivirus software below our picks.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been deep in the trenches of testing computer hardware, software, and services since 1983—including security suites. For antivirus apps, we continually evaluate popular or noteworthy software. We consider the user experience, strength of protection against threats (online and offline), and how well it addresses the ever-expanding types of attacks. Our guide on how we test antivirus software at PCWorld gives the full details of our review process, but for the results of our work, read on.
Update May 10, 2024: Want to further strengthen your security? A simple question can help keep your antivirus software’s workload a little lighter. We’ve also updated our AVG Internet Security and Avast One reviews to reflect the latest benchmark data from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Best antivirus of 2024 reviewed and ranked
Norton 360 Deluxe – Best antivirus for PC overall
Pros
Strong antivirus protection
Wide protection against major online threats
Simple, straightforward features
Cons
Performance impact on some PCs
User interface would benefit from consolidation
Upselling of additional services
Why we picked Norton 360 Deluxe
An ideal antivirus suite packs in a little of everything needed for security without costing a ton—and that’s why our pick for the best antivirus software of 2024 is still Norton 360 Deluxe. Despite its slightly awkward interface, this software’s wide protection and affordable pricing is ideal for most users.
This plan has just about everything most PC users need, without extra bloat. In addition to the antivirus engine and firewall to protect against malware and network threats, you get malicious link and attachment screening, dark web and privacy monitoring, and webcam safeguards. Norton also tosses in 50GB of storage for cloud backups, access to Norton’s password manager and VPN, parental controls, and PC utilities that include the ability to monitor for outdated software.
Those major extras—the password manager, VPN, and parental controls—have easy, simple interfaces, without feeling stripped to the bone. You’ll actually want to use them, unlike some rival plans from Norton’s competitors.
For antivirus performance, Norton doesn’t hit perfect marks across the board, but its online protection is strong. In tests performed by leading security research institutes, like AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware tests for November and December 2023, Norton detected 100 percent of the threats. Similarly, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for July through October 2023, Norton blocked 99.8 percent of the 512 test cases. And when tasked with the 10,007 samples in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, Norton 360 scored a 99.98 percent online protection rate and 99.7 percent online detection rate. Its 86.0 percent offline detection rate puts it in middle on the leaderboards, but fewer users go offline these days, much less plug in unknown USB drives into their systems these days. Most file transfers and downloads are done online now.
In our in-house benchmarks of system performance, Norton can hit a slower or older PC harder than other antivirus software during a full scan—at least, when faced with many new files. If you don’t do a lot of downloading or copying to your hard drive(s), the scans go pretty quickly and have a more minimal impact.
Overall, Norton is an excellent option for those looking to consolidate their online security protections into a single software interface. It has a couple of quirks (namely a dual user interface that can mildly slow navigation), but its strengths far outshine its weaknesses.
Who should use Norton 360 Deluxe
Norton 360 Deluxe works for everyone—it consolidates all the biggest protections you need online into one package, including parental controls. If you have trouble keeping up with security experts’ recommendations (or haven’t yet gotten around to following all of them), this suite centralizes and simplifies it all.
Read our full
Norton 360 Deluxe review
Avast One – Best overall runner-up
Pros
Good new design
Well priced
Excellent performance
Cons
Smart scan requires too much user intervention
Avast asks to install Google Chrome
Why we picked Avast One
Avast not only offers solid protection, but a simple, friendly interface. Combine that together with useful extra features and multi-device coverage, and you have a winning combo in Avast One.
Rounding out that top-notch antivirus and firewall are safeguards against remote webcam takeovers, malicious websites, and trackers—these keep you safe against major online threats. The Avast One plan also includes dark web monitoring (which looks for your email address in data breaches and alert you to compromised passwords), a VPN with up to 5GB of bandwidth per week, and protections for saved passwords in a browser. You get utilities to help you keep your PC’s drivers up to date, clean up your PC, and optimize your apps.
These features may sound standard, and to be fair, many of them can be found in rival software. But Avast makes staying on top of security dead simple, whether you’re a novice or a security veteran. Its default settings require little input to keep your PC protected, and if you want to dig in further or tinker, you still have that option, too.
In evaluations by leading security research organizations, Avast runs with the very top performers on the leaderboards. AV-Test gave it perfect scores for protection against zero-day and prevalent malware in its November and December 2023 evaluation. Meanwhile, AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 Malware Protection Test found that Avast blocked 99.97 percent of online threats, with similar marks for online and offline detection rates. In its July through October 2023 real-world test, Avast’s antivirus engine blocked 100 percent of the 512 samples. And the software had no real effect on system performance in our in-house hardware benchmarks.
So what keeps Avast out of the top spot, when its software outperforms Norton’s? The amount of features for its price. Norton’s performance isn’t perfect, but it’s about as good for online protection, which is where it counts. And the two software plans cost about the same—Avast One is $51 for 5 devices (or $70 for up to 30 devices) during the first year. The cost rises to $110 and $150, respectively, per year afterward. In the end, the more well-rounded subscription wins out.
Who should use Avast One
You’re someone who has a password manager already set up, don’t need parental controls, and prioritize the highest marks in threat detection tests. Avast One lacks the first two features, and takes top marks for catching both online and offline risks.
AVG Internet Security – Best budget antivirus suite
Pros
Top-rated antivirus protection
Expanded protection against malicious websites and remote attacks
Clean, straightforward interface
Cons
Some PCs may experience a performance hit during heavier workloads
Several features are a bit rudimentary
Why we picked AVG Internet Security
AVG is best known for its excellent free antivirus software, but there’s good reason to upgrade. AVG Internet Security not only offers more comprehensive protection, but also easy management of those tools. That can be valuable if you find keeping up with online threats too overwhelming or time consuming.
The Internet Security plan builds upon the free version’s protection against malware and web, email, and network threat by adding five features. You get safeguards for the passwords saved to your browsers; webcam takeovers; unknown access to files with sensitive data; malicious redirects for websites you’re trying to visit (aka DNS hijacking); and attacks conducted through Windows’ remote desktop protocol.
In addition to real-time scanning of your PC and network, AVG Internet Security watches for malicious websites as you browse online—and even monitors where your email address appears online. If it’s spotted in a data leak, you’ll get a notification in the app.
When tested by leading security organizations, AVG earned high marks for antivirus and malware protection. In AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware tests for November and December 2023, Internet Security detected 100 percent of the threats. Similarly, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for July through October 2023, AVG’s core antivirus component blocked 100 percent of the 512 test cases. When faced with 10,007 samples in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, it scored a 95.3 percent offline detection rate, 99.5 percent online detection rate, and 99.97 percent online protection rate, with just one false positive.
In our own PCWorld performance testing, AVG Internet Security had minimal impact on system resources during everyday tasks like video chatting and web browsing. Even a more intensive task like encoding a video was barely affected. However, during heavier Microsoft Office use, you can see a drop in performance when a full scan is happening—especially if you’re on an older or slower machine. Scheduled scans are timed to happen during off-hours by default, though, so most users won’t notice too much of a hit.
Despite its quirks (like advertisements for additional paid features), AVG Internet Security is reliable antivirus software with a user friendly interface—and at just $60 during the first year for 10 devices, it’s affordable, too. In fact, it’s solid enough to earn a recommendation despite how strong the free version is on its own.
Who should use AVG Internet Security
You need deeper control and more expansive protection from your antivirus software, but you don’t want to pay extra for features you don’t want. AVG Internet Security expands just enough on the company’s free antivirus to make it worthwhile, even though it lacks elements like parental controls, VPN, and a password manager.
Read our full
AVG Internet Security review
Trend Micro Maximum Security – Best antivirus for beginners
Pros
Mute Mode is an excellent feature for power users
PC Health Checkup helps clean-up your PC
Cons
Some of the privacy features didn’t work reliably
Data theft prevention not as robust as it could be
Best Prices Today:
$39.99 at Best Buy
Why we picked Trend Micro
The best antivirus suites are as simple as possible—one where the app lays everything out clearly for users of all stripes. Trend Micro Maximum Security nails this principle with some of the easiest navigation we’ve seen.
It also packs in extras beyond protections against malware, ransomware, and web threats that aren’t often found in rival software. For starters, you can open Chrome and Firefox in a sandboxed mode to protect your banking and other sensitive browsing sessions. You can also enter information like a credit card number, email address, or telephone number into the app and it will automatically warn you if that data is leaving your PC.
This suite also offers a browser-based password manager to safeguard your logins, as well as parental controls to filter websites, set time limits, and control access to Windows programs.
When tested by leading security research organizations, Trend Micro’s antivirus engine takes top marks for online protection. It scored 100 percent in AV-Test’s November and December 2023 evaluation, catching all zero-day and web/email threats, as well as currently prevalent malware. Likewise in AV-Comparatives’ malware protection test, Maximum Security locked in a 97.95 percent online protection rate. It caught all 512 samples in the July through October 2023 real-world protection test, too. However, Trend Micro isn’t as good at detecting offline threats, with a score of 57.1 percent, and also had a higher false positive rate than rivals.
Most PC newbies won’t be affected by these performance results, since they’ll be online all the time. Only those on an older or slower PC might feel the effects of running Trend Micro Maximum Security, especially if during a CPU intensive task like encoding—during our in-house benchmarks, we saw system performance drop under heavy load. But this kind of intensive work isn’t usually typical for less seasoned computer users.
If this easy-to-use, robust suite sounds appealing, it gets even better when you look at its cost. You’ll pay just $45 during the first year for five devices, and $76 every year thereafter. You can save more if you drop down to three devices, which is just $30 for the first year, and $46 every year afterward.
Who should use Trend Micro
Trend Micro Maximum Security is perfect for anyone wanting antivirus software that feels less intimidating to use—especially if you’ve got accounts and kids to protect. Maximum Security includes a password manager and parental controls, both of which are vital tools for online safety.
Read our full
Trend Micro Maximum Security review
Avira Prime – Best antivirus for beginners runner-up
Pros
Strong security with a reasonable subscription price
Well designed and user-friendly
Offers a host of features in the areas of security, privacy, and performance
Cons
No subscription option for fewer than five devices
Simplicity of app feels slightly at odds with the depth of the PC tools
Best Prices Today:
$59.99 at Avira Operations GmbH
Why we picked Avira Prime
Trend Micro Maximum Security may be our current pick for best beginner-friendly antivirus suite, but not for a lack of trying on Avira Prime’s part. In fact, Avira is arguably the better choice for those seeking more help with managing their PC.
In addition to a simple, clear interface for malware scans and online protections, Avira Prime offers a password manager, unlimited VPN, and a boatload of PC utilities for tuning up your computer. These tools aim to boost your computer speed, save on laptop battery life, keep apps and drivers up to date, enhance game performance, locate duplicate files, and securely delete sensitive data. You also get many backup options that extend beyond just documents.
The one major feature missing from Avira Prime (and partially the reason for its runner-up status) is a set of parental controls. You can’t use it to filter web content or monitor device usage.
For antivirus protection, Avira generally provides solid protection against malware and other threats, with high performance in tests done by security research institutions. In AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware evaluation for November and December 2023 (the most current as of this article’s publishing), it caught 100 percent of the threats. It did almost as well in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for July through October 2023, blocking 99.4 percent of the 512 test cases simulating online dangers. Meanwhile, in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, Avira scored a 99.97 percent online protection rate, 99.1 percent online detection rate, and a respectable 92.5 percent offline detection rate.
Avira only stumbles against more sophisticated, targeted threats—in AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Advanced Threat Protection Test, it spotted just 8 of the 15 test cases imitating threats like malicious scripts and fileless exploits. Rivals also missed test cases, however.
During our in-house benchmarks evaluating system performance, Avira Prime only minimally affects performance when left to run in the background. But when full scans are running, this security suite can hit slower and older PCs extremely hard if combing through every file—as can happen if you’ve added or changed large quantities of files on your computer. Most people won’t notice Avira running, though.
For those who want the comprehensive simplicity that this security suite offers, you’ll pay $60 for the first year, and then $105 for every year after. That slightly higher cost is the other reason Avira Prime couldn’t quite dethrone Trend Micro Maximum Security as our newbie-friendly pick.
Who should use Avira Prime
Avira Prime will likely feel best to users who want a simple antivirus suite, broad online protections, and robust PC utilities—and also want to use those latter tools for more confident management of their computer. Not every utility is a winner, but the overall set can help you identify and understand the more technical aspects of Windows and system upkeep. Parents will need to look elsewhere for controls that let them monitor and limit their kids’ PC use, however.
Read our full
Avira Prime review
McAfee Total Protection – Best for privacy
Pros
Good protection
Nice features like file shredder and home network analyzer
Cons
Mixed impact on performance
New app design is a little scattered
Best Prices Today:
$89.99 at McAfee
Why we picked McAfee Total Protection
Decades ago, McAfee made a name for itself for antivirus protection—but the company has kept the most current threats to PCs in its sights. These days, dangers extend beyond just malware to identity and privacy issues, and McAfee Total Protection addresses these just as much as it does ransomware and phishing sites.
That ID protection makes it stand out against competitors, especially if you’re willing to pay to scale up the level of service. The plan we tested included dark web scanning, which keeps an eye out for any of your personal information that you’ve shared with the app (email address, phone number, social security number, passport, driver’s license, date of birth, tax ID, credit card, usernames, and more). If any of those details show up in a data leak, you get notified. The app also offers to help change your password for an online account when applicable.
As a supplement for the identity protection, McAfee gives you a score on how well protected you are online, to help point out potential weak spots to fix. You also get access to a secure VPN to enhance both security and privacy—especially useful if you are on public Wi-Fi but need to conduct a sensitive transaction.
In evaluations by leading security research organizations, McAfee passed AV-Test’s zero-day and prevalent malware tests with scores of 100 percent in both November and December 2023. For AV-Comparatives, McAfee earned 99.6 percent in the real-world protection test between July and October 2023, with just one false positive. For the malware-protection test in September 2023, McAfee earned a 99.95 percent online protection rate and 99.2 percent online detection rate. Its offline detection rate was much lower, coming in at 65.2 percent, but unless you often connect USB sticks of unknown origin into your computer while offline, this score matters less. Most threats these days get on to a PC while connected to the internet.
More relevant is that mid-tier and budget machines could see some impact on system performance when running McAfee scans. During our benchmarks, where we ran a full scan during a variety of common tasks (web browsing, document editing, etc), we did notice some dips in performance. You can mitigate this effect by timing scans for off hours, though.
Currently, McAfee Total Protection is available through third-party sellers (McAfee has turned its attention to its slightly newer McAfee+ plans on its website). We like this version still because of how deeply affordable it is—for example, a license on PCWorld’s own software site is just $19 per year, which covers up to ten devices for one year.
Who should use McAfee Total Protection
Your personal information can be used against you online—and with data breaches so painfully common these days, it can be a relief to have help in tracking who has your info. For anyone who doesn’t have as much time to handle that work themselves, or even keep track of a separate service, McAfee can serve as a central spot for managing all your online security concerns.
Read our full
McAfee Total Protection review
Panda Dome Complete – Most feature-rich offering
Pros
Very easy-to-understand mobile-like interface
Contains some basic smart home network monitoring
Month-to-month pricing option
Cons
Good performance results but currently limited in third-party testing
Best Prices Today:
$30.10 at Panda Security
Why we picked Panda Dome Complete
All of the deluxe antivirus suites offer extra tools as part of their package, but if we had to pick one that stands out in this respect, it’d be Panda Dome Complete. And not only does it come with those noteworthy features, it also has one of the most striking interfaces we’ve seen. Similar to Microsoft’s Bing homepage, Panda Dome features a beautiful background photo, with the interface elements placed on top of it.
The two features that particularly stand out are Rescue Kit and the Virtual Keyboard. Rescue Kit helps when dealing with advanced virus problems—it lets you create a recovery drive to boot your PC and then disinfect the machine. If that doesn’t work, you can try the advanced virus detector that uses Panda Cloud Cleaner, which can run on your desktop or off USB stick to dive deeper into your system.
Meanwhile, Virtual Keyboard is a software keyboard you operate with your mouse. It’s supposed to prevent any keyloggers installed on your system from grabbing your login info, credit card details, or other sensitive data when you type them in.
Also included with Panda Dome Complete are utilities like an update manager for your Windows apps, a disk defragmenter, hard drive cleaner, and startup apps manager. It also packs in Wi-Fi protection (which lets you see what devices are connected to your network), a password manager, parental controls, and a VPN that offers 150 megabytes of bandwidth per day. These come in addition to the core antivirus protection and safeguards like a ransomware monitor for folders often targeted by such malware.
When evaluated by AV-Comparatives, a leading security research organization, Panda scored well in its real-world protection test for July through October 2023. The suite blocked 98.6 percent of the 512 test cases, with about 20 false positives. In the malware protection test for September 2023, Panda blocked 99.41 percent of more than 10,000 samples. Its offline detection rate was among the lowest, however, coming in at 59.8 percent—but few people these days plug in unknown USB drives into their PC while offline.
More importantly, Panda tracks close to Windows Security (Windows’ built-in antivirus defense) in antivirus protection performance, while providing a centralized interface for all of its many features—several of which you won’t find in many rivals, including Windows Security. It also has the most minimal impact on system performance in our in-house benchmarks. So minor, in fact, that in the real-world it works out to no difference.
As one of the most feature-rich offerings, Panda Dome Complete also one of the most expensive, too. You can purchase a subscription for $64.50 during the first year ($86 per year afterward), but that’s covers just one device. Fortunately, it only costs a little more to upgrade to a three device plan ($72 for the first year, $96 per year afterward) or five device plan ($79 for the first year, $105 per year afterward).
Who should use Panda Dome Complete
Panda Dome Complete puts a ton of features right at your fingertips—an ideal interface for those who want to dive into everything straight away. If you hate buried or oversimplified menus, you’ll feel right at home with this software.
Read our full
Panda Dome Complete review
Windows Security – Best free antivirus
Pros
Built into Windows 10 and 11
Settings are easy to review and customize
Integrates with other security aspects of Windows
Cons
Tends toward false positives, especially with SmartScreen
Lacks the advanced features found in third-party products
Why we picked Windows Security
If Windows’ built-in security suite already performs on par with the best free antivirus options—as we discovered in our roundup of the best free antivirus—you may ask yourself if you need the baggage of a third-party program. Sure, other antivirus programs might offer marginally better protection, but not enough to outweigh the convenience of rolling with Microsoft’s home-grown offering.
Windows Security is a multi-piece suite, with both well-known and newer protections. Most users will recognize Defender, which monitors for viruses and malware, and Firewall, which blocks malicious incoming traffic and suspicious outgoing traffic. But it also includes ransomware protections (including controlled access to folders, as well as data recovery via OneDrive integration), app restrictions, and even basic parental controls.
The most important of these protections are automatically enabled in Windows—you don’t have to lift a finger to get real-time antivirus scanning or network protection. You will have to manually switch on some features, though, including ransomware folder controls and file recovery. (To learn more, see our video on How to use Windows Security.)
In tests performed by independent security organizations, Microsoft’s antivirus protection holds up well. It scored a 6 out of 6 for protection against malware in AV-Test’s November/December 2023 evaluation, and also turned in perfect marks for performance and usability. Testing from AV-Comparatives showed similar strong performance against online threats—in the September 2023 Malware test, it scored 99.95 percent in online protection, and a slightly lower 95.8 percent detection rate. (The best antivirus suites still clock in at 99 percent or higher for online detection.) However, for offline protection, Microsoft’s Defender engine slides down to a mere 77 percent—over 20 percent lower than top antivirus rivals. But for most people, who are online at all times, this score won’t affect their protection as much.
You can find more features in other antivirus suites, like online privacy tools, a VPN, and encrypted cloud backups. But this free protection comes preinstalled on Windows machines and does a good job of keeping you protected from most threats.
Who should use Windows Security
You’re looking for lightweight, unobtrusive antivirus protection—and don’t mind configuring it, nor managing separate security tools to make sure you’re properly protected online. To get the most out of it, you must tinker with Windows Security’s settings. (You can learn more in our video on How to use Windows Security.) You also have to figure out your own online privacy tools, VPN, password manager, and encrypted cloud backup.
Read our full
Windows Security review
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 – Best Mac antivirus
Pros
Two-way firewall
Good performance
Cons
Mac-specific (no Windows / Android protection)
Why we picked Intego X9
As the headline reveals, the focus of this roundup is the best antivirus for Windows PCs, but many PC enthusiasts are the de facto IT for friends and family. If you want to help an associate or loved one achieve strong antivirus protection for an Apple machine, our colleagues at Macworld recommend Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9.
In the suite are two utilities. The better known one is VirusBarrier, which spots and eliminates malware threats—it was one of the first virus scanners on Mac. It comes paired with NetBarrier, a two-way firewall that watches for suspicious outgoing traffic from rogue apps on your Mac, as well as unusual incoming connection requests from the internet to your Mac. For the price of this suite, NetBarrier’s inclusion isn’t common, but definitely welcome.
As part of its protection, VirusBarrier X9 scans for threats on your Mac’s internal storage drive (including any downloaded email and compressed archives), as well as connected disks and iOS devices. The app quarantines suspicious files, which you can then mark as trusted, leave in quarantine, or try to have repaired.
In testing performed by independent research organizations, Intego’s VirusBarrier got high marks. It received an “Approved” rating in AV-Comparatives’ June 2023 test, detecting 99.4 percent of Mac malware, 97 of potentially unwanted applications, and 100 percent of Windows viruses (thus thwarting spread of infections to susceptible PCs). In AV-Test’s June 2023 evaluation, VirusBarrier earned a 5.5 out of 6 for protection, a 5 out of 6 for effect on Mac performance, and a full 6 out of 6 for usability.
In Macworld’s own testing, VirusBarrier caught all the samples thrown at it, including those designed for other platforms. It also correctly flagged a disk image tainted with a malicious installer.Overall, Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9 offers good compatibility with macOS while looking like a real Mac program, too. It costs just $25 (or £20.00) for the first year using this special Macworld link. If you need additional tools, like a backup utility, speed optimizer for your Mac, or parental controls, you can upgrade to the Mac Premium Bundle X9 for $40 for the first year (£23.99).
Who should use Intego X9
Intego VirusBarrier not only offers good compatibility with macOS, but it also looks like a real Mac program, too—making it an ideal match for anyone looking for an effective app that blends in seamlessly.
How to choose the best antivirus software
There are three basic requirements that an antivirus suite should meet:
High-detection rate for malware and other threats
Low impact on system resources
An easy-to-use interface
That’s not all to consider, however. These days, many security suites come with extras such as a backup service for your most essential files, Android and iOS apps for mobile security, a more advanced firewall, family protection (read: child restriction) features, and the right to use the program on multiple PCs. Access to a VPN and a password manager have become more common, too. Whether you need those extras depends on how much you’re willing to spend and your personal situation.
If you’re looking to go beyond the basics, our baseline recommendation is to find a suite that comes with a firewall, supports enough devices to cover what you own, and (if you don’t already have separate services set up) access to a password manager and VPN.
How we test antivirus software
Our approach to testing antivirus software is multi-pronged—we look not just at how well the suite catches malware and other threats (though that’s certainly a top factor), but other elements as well.
First, we take a look at the interface to determine how easy or complicated it is. Does the interface make it easy to get at essential tools like PC scans and password managers, for example, or is everything buried under multiple clicks? Are there elements that look like they should be clickable but aren’t? Are alerts interactive or purely informational, and do they make sense in context?
We also examine the features on offer. Every good antivirus suite should have the basics like scanning and real-time protection, but many vendors offer elements that go beyond basic security like password managers or firewalls. We try to discern whether any of these extra features are particularly useful, or just frills that look nice but don’t serve a practical purpose.
To test the suite’s demand on system resources, we run three benchmarks. The first is PCMark 10’s Extended test, which simulates a variety of workloads including editing spreadsheets, browsing the web, running video chat, and light gaming.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
We run the benchmark before the security suite is installed. Then we install the software, have it run a full scan on our Windows 11 test machine, and start a second run of the benchmark at the same time. Then we compare the overall scores to see if the decline between the two benchmark runs is significant.
We repeat the same process using UL Procyon, which simulates document editing in Microsoft Office apps—e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Then, as the harshest stress test, we use Handbrake to transcode a video before and after installing the antivirus software. On many home PCs, this encoding task utilizes 100 percent of the CPU. We then compare transcoding times to see if there’s any significant decline.
Our test machine is an Acer Aspire 3 15 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Each security suite is tested on a clean install of Windows 10 Home.
As for the antivirus suite’s detection capabilities, we rely on the opinions of security researchers dedicated to this task. We take into consideration reports from outlets such as AV Comparatives and AV Test.
We also take pricing into account and what you get for it.
When possible, we review security suites using a free trial to get a sense of what consumers see when they first try out a new product.
Still have questions about our review process? You can get even more details (and the philosophy behind why we test as we do) in our full explanation about our antivirus testing practices.
FAQ
1.
Is antivirus necessary in 2024?
Unfortunately, yes. Viruses, malware, and other online threats have only increased and become more sophisticated over time. Spending time on the internet or attaching any external drives to your computer without antivirus software is like going into battle without a stitch of armor.
2.
Does Windows 10/11 need antivirus?
In the basic sense, absolutely yes—which is why Windows 10 and 11 come with in built-in antivirus protection. But while Windows Security performs well, the best third-party antivirus software have even higher rates of detecting threats. The top antivirus apps also offer more control over settings, detailed logs of your PC’s activity, a more user-friendly interface, and additional features to strengthen your online security beyond just viruses and malware. So strictly speaking, a Windows PC doesn’t need third-party antivirus software, but you can benefit from more comprehensive online protection.
3.
Will antivirus software slow down my computer?
The short answer is maybe, but probably not. Antivirus software scans files and programs to ensure there is no malware or other harmful threat present. The longer the time frame between each scan, the more files the program will need to check. These intensive scans may have some noticeable effect on your computer speed. It’s therefore recommended that you schedule your scans to run more frequently and/or at night so as to not impact your computer usage.
While antivirus software can affect the speed of your computer, it is most likely not the only factor—or even the most prominent. Other factors such as unnecessary startup and background programs, insufficient RAM, or even undiagnosed malware can have more drastic effects on your computer speed than a simple antivirus scan.
4.
Should you pay for antivirus?
It depends on what antivirus features are most important to you. Do you just need a program that will scan, detect, and remove malware? Then go with a free version. But if you are looking for more advanced features such as the ability to block webcam hacking, run suspicious apps in a sandbox environment, and permanently delete sensitive files, then you should seriously consider upgrading to a paid premium antivirus service.
Overall, premium antivirus software is better suited to more complete coverage against threats—especially for inexperienced users. Children and seniors are particularly vulnerable to modern threats and therefore paid antivirus apps, which allow for multiple-device protection, may be a better option for families.
5.
How many antivirus programs are recommended for one computer?
These days, most antivirus software are full suites. They take over completely for Windows’ built-in protection, and that single suite is all you need. More than that, and the different apps can start to conflict with one another. So no need to double up!
6.
What should I do if my antivirus detects a threat?
In a perfect world, your antivirus software will halt and clean the infected files for you. However, this largely depends on which antivirus program you are using.
In general, the antivirus will send a warning to you and try to quarantine the infected file in order to keep it from spreading. Once isolated, the software will give you the option to try to remove the infection or delete the file altogether.
7.
What is the difference between a full scan and a quick scan?
A full scan performs a comprehensive and thorough check of your whole system. It usually checks your system memory, startup programs, system backup, email databases, hard drives, and any removable storage drives.
A quick scan only checks a few areas including startup programs, system memory, and boot sectors. It may not detect all malware, but it can usually give you an idea if your computer has a virus.
As to when you should do either, we recommend a full scan once per week, during computer usage downtime (such as late at night). A quick scan can be done anytime you like, but it’s usually only necessary if you notice suspicious activity on your PC.
8.
Do I need to update my antivirus software?
Absolutely! Keeping your antivirus software up-to-date is crucial in helping you to avoid the most recent threats.
That being said, most antivirus software today—whether free or paid—will default to automatic updates. This way you don’t need to worry about manually updating your software. It may still be worth checking to confirm that your antivirus is running the most up-to-date version from time to time.
9.
What features should my antivirus software have?
Great question—especially since antivirus software continues to add more and more components to help keep you safe online. At absolute bare minimum, your app should have a scanner to protect against malware and online threats like phishing sites and a firewall. But other services like remote access protection, individual file encryption, and a password manager can be helpful too. Our breakdown of antivirus software features lays out the details you need to know, so that you can decide what you need.
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| | | PC World - 11 May (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsHigh-quality switchesHot-swap socketsColorful style Sound dampening VIA programmingConsCramped number pad layoutThat’s it, it’s a darn good keyboardOur VerdictNuphy’s Air96 V2 keyboard brings tons of high-end features from conventional mechanical keyboards into a low-profile format, including custom switches, hot-swap sockets, and easy programming with VIA. It’s the best low-profile board around.
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Mechanical keyboards are flexible and comfortable, but big and bulky. Low-profile keyboards are sleek and travel well, but offer far fewer options. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? No. Thanks for reading this review, don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.
That’s what I would have said a month ago. But Nuphy’s take on the low-profile keyboard is the best I’ve ever used, specifically because it makes a lot of effort to overcome the form factor’s usual deficiencies. The Air96 V2 isn’t quite perfect, but if you want a smaller, sleeker keyboard without giving up some of the advantages of premium mechanical designs, this could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best mechanical keyboards to learn about competing products.
Nuphy Air96 V2’s design: Stylish
The Nuphy Air96 is a stylish and colorful take on the low-profile keyboard, inheriting a lot of design queues from premium Apple and Logitech designs. Two deviations are immediately obvious: the splash of color in the keycaps, and the full number pad squeezed into the horizontal space.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Let’s tackle that first part. Nuphy makes a lot of different keyboards, mostly conventional mechanical designs. So it’s no surprise that even here on a low-profile build, they’ve added a bit of distinction in the keycaps. On our gray review unit you get a yellow space bar, salmon Enter key, and a bit of teal on the Escape and num pad Enter keys, but the box also includes a few alternates in addition to Windows- and Mac-flavored command keys.
These keycaps deserve a little attention on their own. They’re shallow and slightly dished, as it usual for low-profile switches, but they’re also double-shot, high-quality PBT plastic. That means the legends will never wear off, and the texture is slightly grainy in a pleasing way.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
The stylish touches don’t stop there. While the top edge of the case is aluminum with a beady texture, the bottom of the body is translucent plastic, reducing weight for travel and adding a bit of flair. And while we’re on the topic of flair, note the colored keyboard feet, connection and power toggles on the top, and an engraved metal plate on the bottom where most manufacturers settle for a sticker. Fancy.
A tiny strip of LEDs on both sides of the keyboard adds animated flair and status indicators.
A tiny strip of LEDs on both sides of the keyboard adds animated flair and status indicators.Michael Crider/Foundry
A tiny strip of LEDs on both sides of the keyboard adds animated flair and status indicators.Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
One last bit of flash in the design is on the left and right sides of the keys, next to the Escape and Page Down keys respectively: a tiny RGB light strip. These function as power and status indicators, but you can also have them going all the time, in addition to (or independent of) the RGB lights under the keys. I don’t find these particularly useful, as their practical function could have been filled with a couple of single LEDs. But they do add just one more bit of distinction to the design.
Custom switches and hot-swap sockets
So that’s the skin-deep look at this sleek little number. But what’s under the hood? Just beneath the keycaps you’ll find Gateron low-profile switches. But not just any Red, Blue, and Brown selections. These switches have been customized by Nuphy (or more precisely, made to the company’s specific order by Gateron) with a little extra goodness.
Nuphy offers four customized alternatives to Gateron’s standard switches, playfully named and colored Cowberry (linear, no bump), Moss (tactile, slight bump with extra-strong springs), Daisy (linear, slightly stronger than Cowberry), Wisteria (tactile, lighter than Moss), and Aloe (linear, very light). In addition to the custom colors and springs, these get lubed right in the factory.
Nuphy’s custom Gateron switches (middle) versus a full-sized MX-compatible switch (left and right).
Nuphy’s custom Gateron switches (middle) versus a full-sized MX-compatible switch (left and right).Michael Crider/Foundry
Nuphy’s custom Gateron switches (middle) versus a full-sized MX-compatible switch (left and right).Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Our review unit came with Wisteria tactile switches, and a few single switches of the other flavors just to test them out. And I was shocked at how good they are, in conjunction with some of the other choices in the Air’s design. But more on that later. The reason that the retail package also includes alternate switches is that the keyboard’s switch sockets are hot-swap capable.
That’s a great feature to have in a normal mechanical keyboard, but it’s found a lot less often in low-profile boards. Not only because it’s a fairly expensive bit of added engineering, requiring an extra part on every single key, but because there are far fewer switch choices for low-profile boards since there’s no near-universal standard like Cherry MX.
Look closely and you can see the layer of vibration-absorbing foam between the switches and the PCB.
Look closely and you can see the layer of vibration-absorbing foam between the switches and the PCB.Michael Crider/Foundry
Look closely and you can see the layer of vibration-absorbing foam between the switches and the PCB.Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Nuphy has picked a switch that’s as wide open as it gets for low-profile designs with Gateron (it’s the same one Keychron’s low-profile boards use), commissioned several high-quality switch variations, and is selling them directly to users. It’s a set of decisions that gives their own customers tons of new options, and makes their own keyboards better. You get a gold star, Nuphy.
There are a couple of other features worth highlighting here, too. The Air V2 series offers the usual triple-device Bluetooth connection, plus a 2.4GHz direct dongle in the box. Again, this is something that’s becoming more common on high-end wireless mechanical boards (plus it’s standard for companies like Logitech), but it’s less common in the low-profile niche. Since this makes the keyboard viable for most gamers in conjunction with its 1,000Hz polling, it’s very welcome.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
The last big feature on the list is programming. Like Keychron, Nuphy has gone with VIA and QMK, open standards that fans of high-end designs will know and appreciate. Considering how most home-grown keyboard programming software ranges from “okay” to “head-smashingly terrible,” I think that’s the best way to go for anything that isn’t dedicated to gaming. It’s yet another solid choice.
Typing and gaming
How does all this come together for actually using the Nuphy Air? Shockingly well. Typing on the Air96 V2 has that deep, satisfying feel that you get from a premium mechanical keyboard, with the obvious exception of the deep key travel. Even the stabilizers for long keys, a frequent weak point, feel great.
This comes from a combination of quality switches (see above) and multiple layers of insulation for sound and vibration dampening. It’s an impressive feat, since the keyboard is obviously extremely thin. According to the company’s promotional material, there are three skinny layers of plastic and foam between the base circuit board and the top of the case. While it isn’t designed to be taken apart, you can see the top layer of foam when you remove the switches.
Typing on the Air96 V2 has that deep, satisfying feel that you get from a premium mechanical keyboard…
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
For the sake of comparison (and for fun, because this is my hobby too) I bought a set of Nuphy Moss switches and installed them in a Keychron K-series board, one of the only other keyboards that both uses Gateron low-profile switches and offers a hot-swap option. And while they’re a definite improvement over the standard Red low-profile switches, Nuphy’s Air keyboard body still has an undeniably superior feel and sound.
I don’t particularly like to game on low-profile switches, since I’ve spent decades playing with longer travel. And the Wisteria tactile switches in the review unit aren’t great for games, either. But with a speedy dongle connection, a wired option if you demand even more speed, and a choice of several linear switches, there are no particular red flags if you want to use the Air96 V2 for games.
The cramped number pad layout on the full-sized keyboard is my only real complaint.
The cramped number pad layout on the full-sized keyboard is my only real complaint.Michael Crider/Foundry
The cramped number pad layout on the full-sized keyboard is my only real complaint.Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
There’s only one thing that tripped me up while using it: the layout. Squishing the number pad (which I don’t particularly need) right next to the Enter key and arrow keys gave me more than the usual number of typos when adjusting to a new keyboard. Nuphy offers the same design in 75 percent and 60 percent layouts, the Air75 V2 and Air60 V2, respectively. I’d go for the mid-sized option myself, since the Air60 has a tiny right Shift key, but that’s me and my horrible typing habits talking.
Is the Nuphy Air96 V2 worth it?
Nuphy asks for $130 for the Air96 V2, though the fancy custom switches in our review unit bring the price up to $140. The smaller sizes get a $10 and $20 discount. That feels just about right considering both the premium materials and the lack of competition in this niche.
Consider that Logitech wants $110 for the MX Keys S and Apple asks $129 for the Magic Keyboard, both at full size, neither of which offer true mechanical switches, to say nothing of RGB or hot-swap functionality. Keychron’s K17 Pro is the closest analog to the Air96 V2, and it’s $119 for the same RGB and hot-swap options.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
But the K17 Pro and its siblings are Bluetooth-only, and don’t offer the better switches and sound dampening that Nuphy does as just $20 less. While Keychron has the same excellent VIA and QMK programming options, I’d give Nuphy the edge on pure quality of typing experience alone. The only thing Nuphy is lacking is an option for those who prefer a split/ergonomic layout.
And in more subjective terms, I just like the Nuphy’s poppy color options better. All three colorways for the Air series are appealing, and they offer extra keycap sets for a very fair $34 each.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
The Air96 V2 is simply the best low-profile mechanical keyboard I’ve tested. It crams tons of features and excellent typing into a tiny package, even if I’m not a fan of the squished full-sized layout. Then it covers that package with a splash of style, at a very fair price. If you want mechanical flexibility in a tiny, portable package, the Air V2 series is almost perfect.
Keyboards Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 11 May (PC World)The default pasting behavior of Microsoft Word is a nightmare, and has been forever. If you want to add a text or image using the standard option, you can easily mess up the entire formatting in the text if a completely different font suddenly appears. The horror!
After many years of complaints, Microsoft is finally listening to user feedback and changing the default behavior when pasting in Word. From now on, the source’s formatting will no longer be automatically retained. Instead, “Merge formatting” will be the new default for everyone, as Microsoft explained in a blog post this week.
This means that after the update, newly pasted text will take on the font size, font type, and color of the text written in Word. However, special features such as lists or italicized elements will be retained. If you want these elements to be automatically adapted to the Word text, you must select the option “Keep text only”.
How do I change the default behavior for pasting in Word?
To change the default behavior in Word, go to “File,” then “Options,” and finally “Advanced”. There you go to the sub-item “Cut, copy, and paste” and find the option “Paste from other programs.”
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You can now choose whether you would prefer to revert to the old version with “Keep original formatting”. Or you can select “Keep text only” if you prefer, which removes all formatting whatsoever.
The option is integrated from Word for Windows 2405, Build 17624.20000. However, it is not available for the web version or for Word for Mac.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Windows Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 10 May (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsCompact (18-liter)Optional glass side panel ships insideMouse, keyboardConsCable management could be betterA lack of configurabilityLack of dust filtersOur VerdictAcer’s Predator Orion 3000 gaming PC offers an attractively compact form factor, power, and price — with some extras thrown in.
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The Acer Predator Orion 3000 is an attractively compact prebuilt gaming PC that combines a powerful 13th-gen Intel Core i7 with a powerful midrange GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070. It might not be as configurable as we’d like, but it’s a solid option for high-performance 1080p and 1440p gaming.
PCWorld typically caters to the DIY audience, where we encourage you to buy separate components and build a finished PC. (Check out our YouTube channel for builds, breakdowns and more.) But everything from GPU shortages to just plain convenience can also push you to buying a prebuilt gaming PC.
You usually have one of three directions to pursue: buy from a boutique builder like Falcon Northwest, which can order and configure the right mix of parts; buy a prebuilt from a company that buys and combines third-party components; or select from a manufacturer like Asus, which either makes its own components or works directly with third-party suppliers.
Prebuilt gaming PCs come in a variety of shapes and sizes; you’ll want a compact model like the Acer Predator Orion 3000 if you’d like to save desk space. Smaller models can sacrifice airflow and future expansion capabilities.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 (PO3-650-UR17) is available in a single configuration, listed below, though you’re obviously free to upgrade it yourself. I couldn’t find it on Acer’s United States site, though it’s available in Canada. Customers living in the United States can buy it from either Amazon or Newegg.
You’ll need to pair this PC with a great gaming monitor. We’ve got tried-and-tested suggestions.
Acer Predator Orion 3000 (P03-650-UR17) specifications:
Processor: Intel Core i7-13700F
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 w/12GB GDDR6X video memory
Memory: 16GB DDR5-4400
Storage: 1 TB M.2 PCIe Gen4
Ports: 1 USB-C (20Gps, 2×2); 1 USB-A (10Gbps), 2 USB-A (5Gbps), 4 USB-A (480Mbps); 3 DisplayPort 1.4a; 1 HDMI 2.1, RJ-45 (Ethernet)
Wired Connection: Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless: WiFi 6e (AX211); Bluetooth 5.3
Operating system: Windows 11 Home
Dimensions (inches): 14.84 x 6.89 x 15.16in
Weight: 24.5 pounds
Colors: Black
Also in the box: Keyboard, mouse, glass window
Price: $1,699.99
Acer Predator Orion 3000: build and chassis
Out of the box, Acer’s Predator Orion 3000 is pretty simple. The box includes the chassis, the power cord, and a few extras: a mouse and keyboard as well as an optional glass side panel. That’s a nice touch, especially if you want a better view of the internal components as well as a way for the internal RGB lighting to illuminate your bedroom, office, or den. Otherwise, some of the internal RGB is somewhat muted.
Acer rates this compact little 18-liter minitower at about 15 inches tall by 15 inches deep — less than the height of a monitor, which makes it appropriate for either on top of or underneath your desk. Acer said that the case is a custom design, and the motherboard is, too. The included graphics card is made by “one of the largest ODM/OEM graphics makers,” an Acer representative said.
The power button lives on top of Acer’s desktop, but that’s the only control available from that location.
The power button lives on top of Acer’s desktop, but that’s the only control available from that location.Mark Hachman / IDG
The power button lives on top of Acer’s desktop, but that’s the only control available from that location.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
I prefer to keep my desktops below my desk, out of the way. Acer didn’t really design the Predator Orion 3000 for that configuration, however, as only the power button is top-mounted. All of the other ports are on the I/O panel on the rear (as expected) or on the right side of the front panel, which includes a USB-A port, 3.5mm jacks for headphones and mics, and the 20Gbps USB-C port to connect an external high-throughput SSD for gaming.
At 24.5 pounds, the chassis is easy enough to lift out of the box with an angled design that allows it to be gripped from the top, via a handle. Acer includes rubber feet on the bottom of the chassis, which keeps it from sliding about but will also mean that you have to lift it up even for small adjustments.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Acer Predator Orion 3000: Cooling and ports
Cooling is provided by two 92mm FrostBlade 2.0 fans — one on the front, and one on the rear –with four RGB LEDs mounted on the front and rear fans. These fans can be configured via the PredatorSense utility that Acer ships as a default app on most if not all of its gaming products. Additional fans are mounted on the CPU and GPU, all controlled by PredatorSense.
Air is pulled in from the front through a fan mounted at the bottom of the case, then routed through the chassis where it either exits via the rear exhaust fan or through a grille at the top of the case. Airflow appears to be just okay, though adequate for this design.
The cables aren’t sleeved, and this isn’t one of the latest premium cable-free designs, of course. One cable also traversed the front of the rear exhaust fan.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Acer says that the arced fan blade design helps keep the system cool while reducing noise, and I’d agree. The Predator Orion 3000 keeps very quiet, whether it be sitting idle on the desktop or under load. There was no distracting coil whine, either.
While some prebuilt PCs don’t shy away from using third-party components, Acer badges mostly everything under the Predator brand: the GPU, the memory (from Adata, hidden behind a Predator shield which populates two out of the four available DIMM slots) and an anonymous 500W (80 Plus Gold) power supply.
The exception is an PCIe Gen 4 SSD from SK Hynix, which fills an M.2 slot. (The other M.2 slot, underneath the graphics card, is filled by the Intel AX211NGW Wi-Fi/Bluetooth controller.) There are two physical 3.5-inch drive bays, both vacant.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
On the rear of the chassis lie the rest of the ports: the three DisplayPort 1.4a ports as well as the HDMI 2.1 port for connecting any available displays; and then the bevy of six USB-A ports on the back. None are marked, however. Acer tells me that the bottom two ports are rated at 5 Gbps, with the remainder supplying 480Mbits of legacy throughput. There are an additional three audio jacks here, too.
Acer Predator Orion 3000: Expansion and configurability
Acer tells me that both the motherboard and case are custom, so you probably won’t be able to swap out the motherboard for an upgrade. It even appears that part of the motherboard disappears into the case itself in one spot.
Acer includes the option to swap out the side panel (a metallic grille) for one made of EMI-compliant tempered glass. Acer makes this easy and convenient; two screws connect the existing side panel, and they can be removed via a screwdriver so you can slide the panel out. The tempered glass replacement has padding around the edge to dampen any vibration and to seal in the airflow. Attaching it is as easy as lining up the screw holes and tightening them. You can screw them in with a flat-head screwdriver, but hand-tightening seemed to work just fine.
I don’t see too much additional space for expansion, however. Two of the DRAM slots are empty, allowing for a maximum of 64GB if filled completely. Both 3.5-inch drive bays are available, too. But you’ll have to remove the Wi-Fi card to access the second M.2 slot, mounted underneath the graphics card; otherwise, the stock SSD fills the first. The Predator Orion 3000’s case doesn’t appear to leave enough room for additional fans, either.
Part of the chassis juts outward in the front, housing the input fan. But that part of the chassis really doesn’t seem to be (easily) user-accessible, even though Acer says that it is by removing the side panel and some screws. It actually appears that it might be removable via series of plastic pegs, but I couldn’t budge it.
The graphics card can be removed by unscrewing a screw on the outside of the case, which secures the mounting bracket that ships with the Predator Orion 3000. Two more screws secure the card’s bracket internally, and the cable runs make accessing them more difficult than they probably need to be. The graphics card can then be detached from the bracket itself. There’s not a whole lot of play in the Predator’s mounting bracket, probably less than an inch, so you’ll need a card whose length can fit the bracket, about 10.5 inches. I originally tried detaching the card from the internal bracket using an offset ratcheting screwdriver to get the card out, but gave up. The cable assembly didn’t give me enough space to access both retaining screws.
The Predator Orion 3000 doesn’t have any dust filters, which means that you may have to periodically open the case and try to blow out any lint or hair that penetrates the interior. That could be an issue, given that front assembly.
Acer also includes a small mouse and basic keyboard inside the box, adding to the value. Both are good starter peripherals, and useful if you’re migrating from a laptop equipped with a keyboard and touchpad. The keyboard, though narrow, has a full keypad to the right and is actually fairly comfortable to type upon, though it lacks a height adjustment. The mouse is a basic three-button mouse with scroll wheel, not rated for any particular frame rate. It slides easily, but I’d still recommend that you select from our recommended gaming mice (and favorite gaming keyboards) instead.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Acer Predator Orion 3000: Performance
As a re-entrance into the world of prebuilt gaming desktops, we don’t have any existing pre-built desktops to compare Acer’s Predator Orion 3000 to. For now, we’re going to compare it to a number of gaming notebooks — it’s not ideal, but you’ll also know how this desktop compares to the less powerful but mobile versions of this system.
I used stock settings for testing, which included the “Auto” settings in PredatorSense.
Regardless, some of the same benchmarks apply. I tested the Acer Predator Orion 3000 (P03-650-UR17) using PCMark 10, a good overall benchmark that measures performance across several applications, from web browsing, CAD work, and light gaming; along with Cinebench, which measures the relative CPU performance. In 3D graphics, we’ve stuck with 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmarks as a general indicator of 3D performance.
In general, the 13th-gen Acer Predator Orion, with a slightly slower GPU, seemed to outperform everything but the MSI Raider, which should be at or near the peak of 14th-gen mobile gaming hardware. One exception was PCMark, where it finished atop the heap.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Flip that on its head, though, when the Core i9 laptops come out to play. Yes, the desktop architecture performs well, but the Raider still beats it. Easily.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
That’s it for the CPU-centric benchmarks, though. Since this is a gaming PC, we look next at the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark.
The results aligned with how you might expect: The laptops with higher-end RTX 4000-series GPUs cluster at the top. The desktop-class RTX 4070 helps elevate the Acer Predator Orion 3000’s performance, though.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Since this is a gaming PC, of course, we’ve also added several games to the mix: Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro: Exodus, and Cyberpunk 2077. As a rule, gamers use 60 fps as the absolute minimum for gaming — and it typically depends on the game. A frame rate of 90 fps is preferred, with even smoother, better experiences produced by higher frame rates.
We can compare the Predator Orion 3000 to the notebooks, but most of the games we’ve tested seem playable. Note that we typically test at 1080p, however, so a higher resolution will result in slower frame rates. In general, the RTX 4070 should deliver exceptional 1080p and 1440p gaming alike, especially when you flip on Nvidia’s various DLSS features in games that support it.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a 2015 third-person action game developed by Crystal Dynamics, where Lara Croft jumps, scrambles, and shoots her way through Tibet. We test at 1080p using “Very High” settings, and the Predator Orion chews through the game.
Though the 2018 sequel, Shadow, was developed by Eidos-Montreal, though using an enhanced version of the Foundation engine developed by Crystal Dynamics. Again, the Predator Orion 3000 has no problems.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Metro: Exodus is a 2019 first-person shooter, which tracks the protagonist across the post-apocalyptic Moscow steppe. It uses the 4A Engine from 4A Games. We run our tests at 1080p resolution using the Extreme setting.
Here, the Predator Orion 3000 struggles with the increased complexity of the scenes. A framerate of 72 fps is probably marginal for many gamers.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Since we added Cyberpunk to our testing repertoire relatively recently, we don’t have a series of notebooks to compare it to. But we can say that the Predator Orion 3000 delivered 116 frames per second at 1080p, Ultra settings, without any upscaling active. That’s slightly less than the 123 fps that the MSI Raider delivered — so the notebook wins that round.
One note: You might not care about AI performance, but the rule of thumb seems to be that VRAM is king. This RTX 4070 includes 12GB of GDDR VRAM; if AI matters, you might want to choose (another) PC with more VRAM, perhaps running an RTX 4060TI with 16GB of VRAM.
Should you buy the Acer Predator Orion 3000?
Charging $1700 for a 13th-gen Core i7 combined with an RTX 4070 seems reasonable, though it also seems reasonable to assume you’ll want to spend about $55 or so and fill the available RAM slots with an additional 16GB (2x8GB) of DDR5 DRAM. That’s the only real (semi-)shortcoming, on paper, that needs addressing, and in the real world, the stock 16GB of memory should hold up just fine in the vast majority of games.
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Otherwise, the Acer Predator Orion 3000 is a nice, compact desktop that could use some improvements in cable management, but offers some value-added features like the side panel, mouse and keyboard. All of those add up to make the Acer Predator Orion 3000 a good value for 1080p and 1440 gaming.
Gaming Desktop PCs Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 10 May (PC World)Got a good deal on a refurbished PC or laptop? Congratulations. Now it’s time to give that blank slate the tools that every home office needs. Through May 12th only, new users will be able to get a Microsoft package that includes both Windows 11 Pro and Office Professional 2021 for $70.
If you haven’t worked on Windows 11 yet, you can expect the clean interface that Windows is known for, augmented by a time-saving AI assistant (Windows Copilot) and new security features like biometric login. And of course, Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows includes includes Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote.
Altogether, this bundle is rated an average of 5/5 stars by verified purchasers in the PCWorld Shop.
From May 6 through 12 only, you can get The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle.
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| | | PC World - 10 May (PC World)Discovering that a file has been corrupted can be a huge pain. Like many physical items, digital files can become broken, too. Fortunately, there’s a way to fix them, and it’s called EaseUS Fixo.
Trusted by IT experts, EaseUS Fixo has earned a 4.7/5-star rating on Trustpilot, and Macworld’s Chris Wiles writes, “EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard… is packed with features and very configurable, though, and well worth having around just in case of accidents.”
EaseUS Fixo is an all-in-one file repair toolkit that mends videos, photos, and files with a very high success rate. You can fix media from all kinds of storage devices, including cameras, dash cams, and smartphones. Videos, photos, and files in virtually any format can be repaired in a matter of minutes, giving you additional peace of mind and helping you recover irreplaceable memories and important documents.
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| | | BBCWorld - 10 May (BBCWorld)A new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History features jewellery from some of the genre`s biggest names Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
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