MakeUseOf

Gaming on Linux is better than ever, but these 5 tweaks make it even better

Dipan Saha — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 23:00:16 GMT

Gaming on Linux is better than it’s ever been before, with most titles just working out of the box with the defaults. That said, there are a lot more settings you can tweak to further fine tune your experience.

RAM prices made an old AMD platform the smartest homelab buy again

Dipan Saha — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 22:30:16 GMT

It’s no secret that RAM prices have shot up through the roof, and that DDR4 is currently the “sweet spot” for most buyers. DDR4 RAM might still be expensive, but not to the same degree as a similarly specced DDR5 kit. And it's only going to get worse.

The tiny numbers printed on your extension cord decide what's safe to plug in

Jonathon Jachura — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 22:00:16 GMT

The surge protector in my garage kept tripping. I had a portable AC (Honeywell) and a dehumidifier (which I forgot to turn off) plugged into it. Both units have compressors and were plugged into the same Anker power strip. If the AC unit and dehumidifier turned on at the same time, they'd pull more amps than the strip was rated for.

"sfc /scannow" doesn’t fix what most people think it does

Oluwaseun Bamisile — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 21:31:16 GMT

Whenever you're experiencing a weird glitch, performance issue, or apps simply misbehaving on your Windows PC, there's an 80% chance someone is going to tell you to "just run sfc /scannow." It has become synonymous with blowing into a Nintendo cartridge or cleaning the surface of a game disc.

My soundbar finally does surround after I changed one Roku audio setting

Michael Bizzaco — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 21:15:16 GMT

I’ve been a Roku devotee for about as long as streaming devices and smart TVs have been around. Over the last several years, Roku OS has expanded yet again, giving users access to additional apps, features, and settings. It pays to learn about some of these optimizations, especially if you have a soundbar and Roku device connected to the same TV (or if you own a Roku-branded TV). Roku OS leans on the idea of plug-and-play audio; just hook up the soundbar or external speakers, and the TV takes care of all the processing.

Used office PCs are the cheapest way to get more RAM right now

Gregory Gibson — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 21:00:16 GMT

I once bought an entire HP workstation just to get the 16 GB of RAM inside it. I needed unbuffered ECC memory for an Intel board, and the HP had exactly the right sticks I was looking for.

AMD is on track to outsell Intel, and it doesn’t own a single chip factory

Shaheer Khan — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 20:15:16 GMT

For the first time in history, AMD is set to outsell its rival Intel in the closing quarter of 2026. Though AMD and Intel have competed for over 50 years, it's only recently that Team Red started closing the gap.

The Logitech MX Keypad sounds great, but the software is why I picked the Stream Deck Neo

Brady Snyder — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 20:00:16 GMT

Repetitive processes, keystrokes, or commands in your workflow don't have to be a pain to execute. I became all too comfortable manually initiating keyboard shortcuts or digging through menus to trigger the same actions, tens or hundreds of times per day. That's when I finally gave in to the hype and tried a macro pad. Put simply, macro pads are configured to launch a series of actions or keystrokes with a single button press.

6 fantasy series that finish faster than anything Brandon Sanderson has written

Dan Selcke — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 19:30:16 GMT

Brandon Sanderson is one of the most successful fantasy authors alive, and we're about to see a lot more of him. Apple TV is adapting his Stormlight Archive and Mistborn books to the screen, which should funnel a lot of people back to the source material.

Google's Adaptive Charging keeps my Pixel battery healthy without costing me any battery life

Brady Snyder — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 19:00:16 GMT

Battery life isn't something I have to worry about on Pixel phones thanks to high-capacity batteries, convenient magnetic Qi2 wireless charging, and fast wired charging speeds. I'm envious of the faster speeds offered by brands like OnePlus or Motorola, but I always end my day with some phone battery remaining regardless. The question now isn't how to prolong your phone's daily battery life — it's how to extend your battery's lifespan.