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The best CPU choice for high end gaming, AMD’s 9800XD, drops below MSRP

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It’s only been around for the last 6 months, but the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has cemented itself as one of the best gaming CPUs on the market. With its hefty stacked 3D V-Cache, it has been the in-demand CPU for gaming since its launch and has previously been very hard to obtain. Now, with more available stock, we’ve seen the processor not only become readily available but also undergo its first price cut below the original MSRP.

Available at Amazon, you can now pick up the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor for $472. It’s not an absolutely massive saving, but it’s cheaper, and hopefully a sign that computer components may weather the storm in terms of pricing due to tariffs and other economic influences.

You can find more details of the performance of the Ryzen 7 processor in our detailed review of the 9800X3D. With an 8% performance gain on the previous generation 7800X3D, and easily outperforms the competition from Intel in gaming benchmarks. The 9800X3D is unlocked for overclocking and has minimal cooling requirements, making it the best choice for a high-end gaming rig.

The 9800X3D features eight cores and 16 threads, with a 120W TDP and is unlocked for overclocking. There is even integrated Radeon graphics, but you would of course want to pair this processor with a powerful graphics card for the best gaming experience.

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Gaming typewriter
Gaming Gear

A gaming typewriter is born from a once-forgotten matrix typewriter

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An old Optima SP 26 electric typewriter has found a new purpose in life. Although the typewriter was unrepairable and lacked several internal parts, an inventive Redditor, maniek-86, transformed it into a fully operational gaming typewriter.

Space is a luxury in these projects, as one repurposes old devices into functioning personal computers. According to the Redditor, the Optima SP 26 had minimal room available.

All components are closely packed within the typewriter, and sometimes some hot glue was necessary to keep everything in place. The creator does not appear to be a committed expert in converting vintage devices into sleeper PCs. Instead of utilizing cutting-edge hardware, the Redditor adapted the Optima SP 26 using spare components that were previously unused.


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The MSI H110M Pro-D serves as the core of the gaming typewriter. It’s an LGA1151 motherboard equipped with the H110 chipset, restricting the processor choices to older Skylake and Kaby Lake chips. The Redditor equipped the motherboard with an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 240GB SATA SSD. There’s even a discrete graphics card inside.

The 12-year-old GeForce GT 635 from the Kepler era powers the gaming typewriter. The Reddit user noted that the MSI H110M Pro-D has a “missing PCIe x16 slot,” which is peculiar given that the motherboard does include a PCIe 3.0 x16 expansion slot.

It’s unclear whether the expansion slot is damaged or the reasoning behind the “missing” comment. Despite this, maniek-86 utilized a PCIe riser to connect the graphics card to the motherboard, likely through one of the two PCIe 2.0 x1 expansion slots.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Reddit/maniek-86)(Image credit: Reddit/maniek-86)(Image credit: Reddit/maniek-86)

A modest 200W power supply powers all the components within the gaming typewriter. Additionally, maniek-86 included a small Wi-Fi card for wireless connectivity. Some components are glued together with hot glue to facilitate future upgrades. However, fitting a modern graphics card into the gaming typewriter may prove difficult with a 200W power supply. Furthermore, the bandwidth limitations of a PCIe 2.0 x1 expansion slot could bottleneck the graphics card’s performance.

The keyboard of the Optima SP 26 features a standard matrix design, allowing maniek-86 to connect the interface with an Arduino Leonardo microcontroller board. Although the keyboard is arranged in the Polish layout, the creator has remapped it to a standard U.S. layout.

Due to the limitations of the GeForce GT 635, the gaming typewriter will struggle to run AAA titles. However, it should be capable of running less resource-intensive games, such as Minecraft, Fortnite, Dota 2, or Counter-Strike 2. You may even get away with some modern titles if you keep the resolution and image fidelity under expectations.

Redditor maniek-86 posted a photo showing the gaming typewriter running Minecraft, but the frame rates achieved are unclear. Beyond gaming, the typewriter could function adequately as a standard PC for sending emails, browsing the Internet or social media, or performing everyday tasks such as creating documents in Microsoft Word or managing spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel. It’s not a bad way to recycle an electronic device that could have otherwise just ended up in the dump.

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IGN and Meta will host a Women in Gaming networking event on June 6 ahead of IGN Live
Esports

IGN and Meta will host a Women in Gaming networking event on June 6 ahead of IGN Live

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IGN and Meta will host a Women in Gaming event on Friday, June 6 as part of this year’s IGN Live event.

Taking place at the Magic Box in Los Angeles, the event promises to honour the women making waves in the games industry, and will feature curated panels with industry leaders.

Meta, meanwhile, will bring hardware demos to the event. A pop-up studio offering headshots will also be part of the mix, with make-up artists from NYX Professional Makeup providing touch-ups. Dentsu Gaming completes the list of sponsors for the event.

Those interested in attending Women in Gaming or finding out more information are encouraged to reach out to Kim Hatfield at IGN Entertainment.

IGN Live itself takes place on June 7 and June 8, with tickets available now. Participating publishers at the event include Xbox, Sega, 2K Games and Ubisoft.

GamesIndustry.biz is part of IGN Entertainment, the division of Ziff Davis that includes Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and VG247.



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This gaming mouse has a tiny fan inside to keep sweaty palms at bay
Gaming Gear

This gaming mouse has a tiny fan inside to keep sweaty palms at bay

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Pulsar’s latest competitive gaming mouse will literally help you keep your cool during intense matches. The gaming gear company joined forces with Noctua, known for its quiet fans in its signature earthy-brown tones, for a remix of its lightweight Feinmann mouse. The two brands wanted a solution for gamers whose hands get especially sweaty, leading them to jam a 4×4 cm Noctua fan inside a Pulsar mouse.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a computer fan inside a gaming mouse, but it will be the first one to house Noctua’s premium fans that keep noise to a minimum. Looking at the updated Feinmann mouse’s design, it’s a match made in heaven. Pulsar’s mouse already has large gaps in its shell to make for a lightweight build, but also a perfect opening for Noctua to squeeze its fans inside. Buying this mouse won’t magically boost you to Radiant in Valorant, but it won’t be sweaty hands holding you back.

Don’t forget this is a mouse made for competitive gaming, so it will share the specs from the original Feinmann that has a 32,00 DPI sensor and an ultra-fast 8,000 Hz polling rate. Considering the extra element, the Noctua collaboration will be heavier than the original at 65 grams and have a battery life of 10 to 11 hours, according to Pulsar. The mouse is still a prototype that was available to demo at Computex 2025, but it’s expected to hit the market later this year. With the Feinmann retailing for $179.95, don’t be surprised if the Noctua collab is more expensive than that.



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Asus Monitor
Gaming Gear

This Asus ROG Strix 25-inch 380 Hz IPS gaming monitor is down to $299

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It’s almost Memorial Day, but vendors are already lowering prices on some quality hardware. For example, we came across this deal on the Asus ROG Strix XG259QNS esports gaming monitor at Amazon. It usually costs around $379, but right now, it’s discounted to just $299.

The price might seem a little high, given that the screen is only 25 inches across. However, it’s got a little more going for it that sets it apart from your average gaming display. If you want to get an idea of what’s leading the market, check out our list of best gaming monitors to see what specs comprise our top picks.

The Asus ROG Strix XG259QNS is built around a 25-inch IPS panel with an FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080px, which isn’t the most dense on the market but should be plenty for most gamers. It can reach a refresh rate of 380 Hz and is paired with a response time that can get as low as 0.3 ms.

This gaming monitor covers 110% of the sRGB color gamut and can reach a maximum brightness of 400 nits. It’s AMD FreeSync Premium certified, guaranteeing low latency and framerate compensation (LFC). It doesn’t have any integrated speakers, but you do get a 3.5mm jack for connecting audio devices. As far as ports go, you get two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a DisplayPort port, and two HDMI ports for video input.

This appears to be part of Memorial Day weekend sales, but we’re unsure how long it will be available at this rate. You can find more information about the offer on Amazon’s official Asus ROG Strix XG259QNS product page.

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Elaine Marley, in pixel art
Product Reviews

Great moments in PC gaming: Getting so badly stuck on an adventure game puzzle I called the developer for a hint

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Great moments in PC gaming are bite-sized celebrations of some of our favorite gaming memories.

I try to never be one of those people who talk about how much better things were back in the day… and that’s really easy because everything sucked back in the day. Things are terrible these days, sure, but they were even worse “back in the day.” Any time anyone tries to tell you things were better in the past: they’re full of it.

That includes almost everything about videogames. I occasionally see people going off about how much better gaming used to be, but that seems like a weird stance to take. There are so many games now, so many varieties, so many options, and so many ways to play. It’s not perfect, not by far, but gaming is better than ever.


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And before anyone brings up the current discourse about $70 or $80 price tags on games, I can testify that games were crazy expensive back in the day, too. I recently looked up how much FMV game Phantasmagoria cost when I bought it back in 1995, and guess what? It was $70. At some retailers it cost $100! See, game prices always sucked.

But I’m not here to grouse about the price of early adventure games, I’m here to talk about what happened when I got stuck in early adventure games. I devoured point-and-click adventures in the late ’80s and early ’90s, and most of them had one thing in common: at least a few truly terrible puzzles in every one. Horrible logic, nonsensical design, just pure rotten puzzles that would bar your progress like a brick wall. When I got stuck back then, there weren’t any online walkthroughs to Google. There wasn’t even a Google.

To be clear: I am not speaking wistfully of the time before Google and online walkthroughs. Not being able to Google puzzle hints for terrible adventure game puzzles sucked. The internet is the worst, definitely, but not having the internet was more the worst. It was a dark, dark time.

We did have one option, and that was to call a hint line. Sierra On-Line, LucasArts, and Infocom had 1-900 numbers players could call to get hints for specific puzzles—though those calls cost around a dollar per minute. Think times were better before microtransactions? There have always been microtransactions because phones sucked back in the day, too.

I will pause here to allow Infocom fans to mention that before hint lines you had to send a letter to Infocom to get hints by mail. By mail. That wasn’t even a microtransaction: Infocom’s hintbooks cost like eight bucks, plus shipping.

So how, exactly, was this a great moment in PC gaming? Firstly, I was a young adult and wasn’t paying my own phone bill (thanks, Dad), so calling a hint line didn’t actually cost me anything (sorry, Dad). It was also just a cool concept. Calling LucasArts? On the phone? It was downright exciting for someone who loved Sam & Max, Star Wars, and the Monkey Island games. Who knew, maybe George Lucas himself would pick up the phone!

(Image credit: LucasArts)

He didn’t. No one picked up the phone. There was just a menu that would give you hints for certain puzzles. Then you could hang up and rush back to the computer and progress a bit further before getting stuck again. I didn’t call hint lines often—I was pretty stubborn and usually willing to bruteforce puzzles using the tried and true method of trying every single inventory item on every single other item, and character, and situation, until I finally broke through.

But I did call a few times, and I might not have gotten through a couple of games without the help those hint lines provided. Eventually, society got around to inventing the internet specifically so we could get help with videogame puzzles, and hint lines were no more. Ironically, the only way to use one now is to play one of those old adventure games. In Monkey Island 2, there’s a scene where Guybrush can call LucasArts for help while wandering around lost in his own game.

Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge – CALL 9-1-1 ACHIEVEMENT – YouTube

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DXRacer Craft with plant, desk, and pink wall in background
Product Reviews

DXRacer Craft review: a firm yet comfortable gaming chair with an excellent headrest but weak arms

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: One-minute review

The new DXRacer Craft is the latest upgrade in the brand’s line of high-end gaming chairs, promising supreme comfort and ergonomic features. In terms of looks, the Craft shows DXRacer has matured from its previous outings, omitting the typical gamer aesthetic that can plague chairs in this class. It’s even smart enough to furnish workspaces.

The build quality seems to match its sleek appearance. The leatherette upholstery on my unit was taut and neatly stitched, as well as feeling quite durable, although it’s not the most breathable material.

Sitting in the Craft is a comfortable experience for the most part. The seat is on the firmer side compared to what the best gaming chairs have to offer, but I still found it offered sufficient cushioning. It’s also quite wide and deep, which helps to get a comfortable position. What’s more, it adjusts well for height, especially at the lower end.


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The backrest is more plush and is easy to sink into. It has built-in lumbar support, which, while easy to adjust for prominence, lacks height adjustment, which isn’t ideal. However, it proved comfortable enough for my back, although I wish it were positioned a tad lower down.

The magnetic head pillow, though, is a standout feature of the Craft. Again, it’s firmer than other head pillows I’ve tried, but it’s still comfortable, while its side bolsters provide additional support when leaning your head to one side.

Assembly was easier than other gaming chairs I’ve put together, thanks to a few convenient touches. These include a slot in the bracket for the backrest, which made one of the most laborious aspects of building a gaming chair a lot less hassle.

For the price, the Craft represents great value for those in the UK, but not so much for those in the US. Still, it’s cheaper than some other big-name rivals, including the all-conquering Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, to which it comes close to matching in terms of quality, comfort, and adjustability. If you can handle a firmer seat and don’t mind the armrests, you could do a lot worse than the Craft.

(Image credit: Future)

  • DXRacer Craft at DXRacer for $479

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Price and availability

  • $499 / £368 / AU$759.99
  • Different size options and finishes
  • Well-priced compared to rivals

The Craft costs $499 / £368 / AU$759.99 and is available now. It comes in regular and plus sizes and two upholstery options: EPU leatherette and woven fabric. There’s only one stock color to choose from, but there are various collaboration editions with more extravagant finishes.

The price places the Craft at the higher end of the gaming chair market, although those in the UK get a much better deal. Regardless of territory, though, it’s still less than the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, which we think is still the best gaming chair around. It has better arms than the Craft, and it might just edge ahead in terms of overall build quality, but the Craft comes admirably close.

In the UK, the Craft is priced similarly to the Boulies Elite, which is comparable in many aspects, although that chair does have height-adjustable lumbar support. However, this and its other adjustments are awkward and clunky, which certainly isn’t the case with the Craft.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99

Dimensions

52.4 x 27.6 x 22.1in / 133 x 70 x 56cm

Max user weight

275lbs / 125kg

Min seat height

18.5in / 47cm

Seat width

22.2in / 56cm

Recline angle

135 degrees

Warranty

3 years

Material

Leatherette, fabric

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: Design and aesthetics

  • Great overall build quality
  • Leatherette not the most breathable
  • Less than solid arm rests

The Craft adopts the usual gaming chair silhouette, although thankfully, its design is more pared down than DXRacer’s of old. The all-black colorway of my unit imparts a level of elegance and makes for a more professional appearance, so it wouldn’t look out of place in an office environment.

The overall build quality of the Craft is commendable, with a solid frame that is mercifully lighter than you might expect. There are also some neat touches, such as magnetically attachable covers for the backrest brackets.

The upholstery is similarly premium. The stitching is neat and strong, and the EPU leatherette material on my unit appeared hard-wearing and durable. It also lacks the suede accents you often find on other PU gaming chairs, which I find rather pointless anyway. However, the leatherette finish might prove a little too thick to be breathable for those in hotter climes.

The arms, however, aren’t as solid as you might expect. There’s a fair amount of wobble to them, although this isn’t really noticeable unless you move around quite vigorously, but it’s worth mentioning still.

The castors offer a fairly smooth roll, although they do tend to grab somewhat on carpet, but not to a frustrating degree. I was more thankful for the rounded ends of the wheel base spokes, which means less pain if you happen to clip your heels or stub your toe on them, as I’m personally liable to do.

(Image credit: Future)

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Comfort and Adjustability

  • Firm but comfortable seat
  • Built-in lumbar, but not height adjustable
  • Excellent head pillow

The Craft is a comfortable chair to sit in. The seat is quite firm, which may deter some users, and may cause fatigue after really long sessions, but I personally found it provided enough cushioning.

It also offers plenty of depth, which is something I welcome and is considered a benefit from an ergonomic perspective. It’s quite wide too, which adds to its comfort levels, and the bolstering is largely flat so as not to intrude or encumber various seating positions.

I was pleased with the height range of the Craft as well. It lowered enough for my feet to comfortably touch the ground, which is rare in the various gaming chairs I’ve experienced. The tilt mechanism allows for gentle rocking and locks in place securely when desired.

The 4D armrests are comfortable enough, largely thanks to their width and adjustability. However, the padding is quite hard, which might be a dealbreaker for some gamers, and they don’t move inwards as much as I would like them to. What’s more, some of the adjustments are very stiff and don’t feel as well engineered as those on some other upmarket gaming chairs.

The backrest is very comfortable and offers more cushioning than the seat. It’s also reasonably wide, and the side bolsters curve well out of the way of your arms, so you’re not likely to hit them with your elbow.

(Image credit: Future)

All of these factors help to make the Craft an easy chair to sink into. It doesn’t recline to a full 180 degrees, though, but it still goes back quite far, and the lever to operate it is smooth yet secure.

It also features built-in lumbar support, although oddly, the adjustment dial is labelled as “Resistance”. Regardless, it’s relatively easy to use, and there aren’t too many twists between the two extremes of its range, as I’ve found with other gaming chairs.

Unfortunately, though, this lumbar support isn’t height adjustable, which will be a shame for those who don’t meet its set position. Personally, it was a touch too high for my liking, but it at least covers a wide area, which helps to even out the pressure it exerts on your back. There’s also plenty of adjustment when it comes to its prominence.

Surprisingly, the included magnetic head pillow is one of the highlights of the Craft –rivaling the most comfortable gaming chairs in this regard – with its firm yield offering cushioning and support in equal measure, while its contours fit the back of my head perfectly. I was also fond of its wingbacked design, which offers support for those who like to drift off in their chair.

DXRacer Craft gaming chair review: Assembly

The Craft proved easier to build than other gaming chairs. The instructions were clear, and the box contents were neatly packaged, which helped speed up the process. The chair’s relatively light construction made assembly less onerous than it would’ve been, and a few considerate touches, such as the preinstalled armrests and long double-sided Allen wrench, illustrate DXRacer’s commitment to improving convenience.

Best of all, there’s a slot on the right backrest bracket, which means you can easily slide in and align the backrest before you screw in the bolts. This is a real time-saver, and a feature I wish every gaming chair would adopt.

However, I should mention that the plastic cover for the recline mechanism arrived broken in the box. DXRacer was quick to send a replacement part, but the international shipping (from Europe to the UK) made the dispatch slower than it probably would’ve been domestically.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the DXRacer Craft gaming chair?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it…

DXRacer Craft gaming chair: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the DXRacer Craft if it doesn’t sound like your kind of gaming chair.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

DXRacer Craft

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 (Regular)

Boulies Elite

Price

$499 / £368 / AU$759.99

$549 / £469 / AU$799

$399 / £339 / AU$594

Dimensions

52.4 x 27.6 x 22.1in / 133 x 70 x 56cm

51.2 x 27.6 x 19.3in / 130 x 70 x 49cm

50.4 x 28 x 18.9in / 128 x 71 x 48cm

Max user weight

275lbs / 125kg

285lbs / 130kg

243lbs / 110kg

Min seat height

18.5in / 47cm

17.7in / 45cm

18.1in / 46cm

Seat width

22.2in / 56cm

18.5in / 47cm

20.9in / 53cm

Recline angle

135 degrees

165 degrees

165 degrees

Warranty

3 years

3 years

2 years

Material

Leatherette, fabric

Leatherette, fabric

Leatherette, fabric

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the DXRacer Craft gaming chair

  • Tested for full day
  • Used for gaming and productivity
  • Plentiful gaming chair experience

I tested the Craft for a full day, during which time I used it for gaming and for working. I made sure to try out all of its various adjustments.

I have been gaming for decades, and during that time, I’ve experienced numerous chairs, from gaming models to those designed for office and productivity. I have also reviewed a number of them previously.

DXRacer Craft: Price Comparison



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The Sennheiser HD 550 headphones on a wooden surface in front of a white brick background
Product Reviews

Sennheiser HD 550 review: near-perfect premium gaming audio

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Sennheiser HD 550 review: One-minute review

The Sennheiser HD 550 headphones are some of the finest audiophile headphones for gaming I’ve ever tested. This open-back model excels in its audio prowess, comfort, and simplicity in every manner of my testing, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for a top gaming headset for console or PC.

While cut from the same cloth as other Sennheiser headphones aimed at those who value audio quality above all else, the HD 550 headphones are very much intended to appeal to gamers who crave high-quality audio. They absolutely succeed in this: across PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC, audio is a dream.

Combine this with the expected excellence Sennheiser has for enhancing music, entertainment, and easy listening, and it really is a winner. It also means the HD 550 is ideal for work and everyday use, too.


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Price is perhaps one wrinkle on the score sheet, as it’s a little on the high side when you compare it to the immediate competition.

For example, you could bag a complete premium wired gaming headset like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro if you want more features and a built-in mic. You could even save money compared to the HD 550 while sticking with Sennheiser with slightly cheaper models like the HD 560S or 650 sets. Still, I think anyone buying them at their list price won’t feel any buyer’s remorse, such is the quality here.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

That begins with a simple and elegant design, but one that’s also robust and very comfortable. The open-back cup covers are made of high-grade metal mesh, while the strong plastic frame elsewhere inspires confidence. The synthetic leather of the headband and velour of the earcups are wonderfully soft, providing the right amount of cushioning and support.

Coming in at just 8.35oz / 237g, the HD 550 are incredibly light. You’ll barely notice that you’re wearing them, even after long sessions. There’s simplicity onboard too with only a 6ft / 1.8m cable attached (a 3.5mm to 6.5mm adapter is also provided).

All this comes together to provide an audio experience that I’ve not experienced for a long time – if ever. The HD 550 excels in all that you throw at it, and really can be the audiophile gaming-focused headphones you’ve been looking for. I’ve heard details in games I’ve not heard before, and enjoyed rich, atmospheric, multi-layered audio in game worlds. Combine this with Sennheiser’s established excellence for music, easy listening, and everyday use, and the HD 550 offers it all.

Brilliant for everything, and perfect for immersion-heightening single-player gaming, the HD 550 might be the last multiplatform gaming headset you ever need to buy – even if it’s not a traditional gaming headset.

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Price and availability

  • List price: $299.99 / $249.99 / AU$479
  • Premium gaming headset territory
  • Faces stiff competition from its Sennheiser brethren

At $299.99 / $249.99 / AU$479, the Sennheiser HD 550 headphones are pricey, but not wildly so. At this point, it’s pitched squarely against some great audiophile headphones and gaming headsets.

In terms of the latter, I see something like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro or the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro or 330 Pro headsets as comparable alternatives. These are different propositions in terms of feature set, target audience, and what they’re built to do, of course, but if you’re looking for something in this price range that’s focused on gaming, then this is the sort of competition the HD 550 has.

On the other hand, the HD 550 does face a lot of competition its own Sennheiser brethren. For example, the HD 560S is a tremendous set of headphones that can still very much hold their own in the gaming sphere. In the US, these are around $20 cheaper than the HD 550, but in the UK, they are a staggering £99, which is extraordinarily good value and hard to ignore if saving cash is one of your top priorities.

Overall, the value the HD 550 offers is still superb. However, when price cuts inevitably come, the HD 550 are going to be very hard to beat and extremely attractive as a pair of top audiophile headphones for gaming.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Sennheiser HD 550

Price

$299.99 / $249.99 / AU$479

Weight

8.35oz / 237g

Drivers

38mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile (where audio jack is present)

Connection type

3.5mm audio jack; 6ft / 1.8m cable (3.5 to 6.5mm adapter provided)

Battery life

N/A

Features

38mm transducer, 150 Ω nominal impedance, 6Hz – 39.5kHz frequency response, synthetic velour ear pads

Software

N/A

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Design and features

  • Open back design
  • Lightweight and wonderfully comfortable
  • No onboard controls or mic

The design of the Sennheiser HD 550 headphones is incredibly stripped back and sleek – there’s no overcomplication here, and if you’re familiar with Sennheiser’s style, then it’ll look satisfyingly recognizable.

It’s a symphony in black with metallic accents offered by the Sennheiser logo on the cups, and metallic edging adjacent to the ear cups punctuating that sleek look. The headband is made of faux leather and has a good amount of padding across almost its entire length to ensure head comfort, while the plush synthetic velour earbuds are delightfully soft and comfy around the ears, with the headphone’s clamping force being just right.

The ratchet on the headband for finding the right fit is also perfect, offering a good amount of resistance and hold, and you’ll also get a neat drawstring bag for the headset, too.

Under the hood, you have the 38mm, 150-ohm transducer (driver) offering a dynamic range of 6Hz to 39.5kHz. The driver is, of course, Sennheiser’s own, made in Ireland, and I’m told by the brand in terms of construction that “the diaphragm is made of a laminate plastic foil material. The voice coil is made of copper, and the chassis is made of plastic.”

Feature-wise, the HD 550 are equally simple and stripped back: there are no onboard controls here like you’ll find on gaming headsets, and there’s no microphone present either. All you have is the 6ft / 1.8m (non-braided, non-detachable) cable that ends in a slightly chunky 3.5mm audio jack connection, and that can also be fitted with a screw-on 6.5mm adapter.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Performance

  • Superb Sennheiser quality audio for games
  • Exceptional for music and entertainment
  • Perfect for immersive single-player gaming

In short, the Sennheiser HD 550, as a set of gaming and entertainment-focused headphones, are nothing short of spectacular. The headphones may well have killed off using a gaming headset for single-player games for me, and I have nothing but praise for the gaming audio it’s given me throughout my testing.

On PS5, the booming soundtracks and sound effects of Doom and Doom Eternal have never been given to me so fulsomely and richly, with each heavy metal riff and combat finisher move sounding as raw and dense as they should. In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, character dialogue was crisp and clear without ever being scratchy, and environmental noises were a joy.

Even the busiest of combat encounters in both translated well through the HD 550 headphones. The same was true for Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Botany Manor on Xbox, but also the delicate and detailed audio in games like Frostpunk 2 on PC, and Control, with its atmospheric and spooky audio that emanates from the FBC building and its tenants.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

The audio jack connection made it the easiest headphone set to use across all the platforms, too, which is a dream. Of course, you’ll be relying on your devices or an amp to really push the headphones as there’s no onboard volume dial, but simply managing them in such a way has provided me with some real excellence and memorable audio moments in games.

Using the HD 550 for work meetings and video calls is great too, though you’ll naturally have to team it with a standalone, separate mic. I did that with my SteelSeries Alias Pro, and the combination worked like a dream. There’s a warmth to ‘real life’ voices from the HD 550, and there were never ever any piercing peaks or rough troughs.

When I wasn’t in meetings, I kept the HD 550 on to soak up music, and I was treated to a truly fantastic experience here. Playing tunes from my usual playlists on Spotify, but also using hi-res audio on Tidal, and even down to browsing tracks and videos on YouTube, the HD 550 kept providing me with some of the finest audio I’ve experienced.

The excellent bass response is brilliant and almost gave me a new appreciation for Tool’s back catalog, and the mids and highs dealt beautifully with modern country and punk pop music, and even classical music such as Allegri’s Miserere and Jan Garbarek’s Officium record.

Taking all this sheer audio excellence and putting it in a sleek, comfortable, and lightweight headset like the HD 550 means Sennheiser has a real winner on its hands that is fantastic to wear and use at all times, and for a long time.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

Should you buy the Sennheiser HD 550?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Sennheiser HD 550 review: Also consider

Still not sold on the Sennheiser HD 550? Here are two competing headsets for comparison.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Sennheiser HD 550

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

Sennheiser HD 560S

Price

$299.99 / £249.99 / AU$479

$249.99 / £179.99 / AU$405

$229.95 / £169 / AU$339.95

Weight

8.35oz / 237g

16.08oz / 456g

8.46oz / 240g

Drivers

38mm

40mm

38mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile (where audio jack is present)

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile (where audio jack is present)

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile (where audio jack is present)

Connection type

3.5mm audio jack; 6ft / 1.8m cable (3.5 to 6.5mm adapter provided)

USB, 3.5mm audio jack

3.5mm audio jack; 6ft / 1.8m detachable cable (3.5 to 6.3mm screw-on adapter provided)

Battery life

N/A

N/A

N/A

Features

38mm transducer, 150 Ω nominal impedance, 6Hz – 39.5kHz frequency response, synthetic velour ear pads

40 mm Neodymium drivers, Bidirectional microphone polar pattern, ClearCast Gen 2 microphone, GameDac Gen 2 control panel

38mm transducer, 120 Ω nominal impedance, 6Hz – 38kHz frequency response, velour ear pads

Software

N/A

SteelSeries GG

N/A

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

How I tested the Sennheiser HD 550

  • Tested over the course of several months
  • Used in conjunction with PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and PC
  • Compared directly to the premium gaming headset competition

I have used the Sennheiser HD 550 headphones as part of my work and gaming setup for a few months now, integrating them into my setup and using them alongside a host of other gear to test them out.

On my two PlayStation 5 setups, I plugged the headphones into a standard DualSense Wireless controller to test them with my PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim. I used them on both consoles for hours at a time, and also plugged them directly into my PlayStation Portal, too.

On PS5, I played Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal, almost my full playthrough of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and all of my Indiana Jones and The Great Circle playthrough. I also gave the headphones a test on Xbox Series X, plugging them into a Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox controller or a Thrustmaster eSwap X2 controller to play games like Botany Manor and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

When testing on my RTX 3090 gaming PC, I plugged the HD 550 directly into the machine to play Frostpunk 2, Control, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, and then also teamed the HD 550 with a SteelSeries Alias Pro mic for work and video calls.

Putting the HD 550 set to test with music and entertainment, I used them as I normally would with the likes of Spotify and YouTube, but also hi-res audio providers like Tidal to really hone in on the audio offerings.

During my testing, I was able to compare the HD550 directly to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wired headset, the wireless variant, an Arctis Nova 7, and an Audeze Maxwell.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March – May 2025

Sennheiser HD 550: Price Comparison



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HDMI Connection
Product Reviews

More players. More choices. Unlocking HDMI gaming features

by admin



Gamers have more freedom and choices than ever to play in every room in their house, in other locations or even on the move, without breaking the bank. All major manufacturers of HDTVs include key HDMI® gaming features that make playing feel more immersive and responsive, reduce lag and maximize the overall experience.

Add in the choice of using 4K or even upscaled 8K, and you don’t have to play in an esports arena to get the full effects the game designers intend. The high adoption rate of HDTVs with the gaming features also means there are more choices for gamers than just relying on specialized gaming monitors; although both types of displays have multiple features and benefits that gamers should check, especially with the growing category of smart HDMI-enabled monitors.

Three HDMI gaming features make all of the difference. They include:


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  • Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which reduces or eliminates lag, judder, and frame tearing for more fluid and better detailed gameplay. VRR enables a gaming source, such as a console or computer, to deliver frames as fast as it can, which in many cases is slower than the normal static refresh rate.
  • Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which enables the ideal latency setting to be set automatically allowing for smooth, lag-free and uninterrupted viewing and interactivity. In many cases this is referred to as game mode, and it usually has to be set manually, which involves going through menus and settings and then switching back again for normal viewing.
  • Quick Frame Transport (QFT), which reduces latency for smoother no-lag gaming and virtual reality. QFT transports each frame at a higher rate to decrease “display latency,” which is the amount of time between a frame being ready for transport in the GPU and that frame being completely displayed.

Right now, many top manufacturers offer the benefits of these HDMI gaming features and at higher refresh rates such as 144 Hz and 165 Hz for smoother, more responsive gameplay.

Gaming monitors from many of these same companies and others are available with these HDMI gaming features with refresh rates up to 240 Hz, 280 Hz and even 480 Hz—but consider some may sacrifice resolution or luminance, so make sure to check the specs.

There’s other good news for gamers as well. Many portable game consoles can output to an HDTV, and most of them are equipped with HDMI technology, making these portables easy to connect. It has recently been announced by Nintendo that the new Switch 2 will be bundled with an Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable for HDTV connection. These portables include:

  • Mobile phones via a USB C to HDMI adapter and HDMI Cable.
  • Steam Deck via the Steam Deck Docking Station and an HDMI Cable.
  • Nintendo Switch via an HDMI Cable to a TV from the dock’s HDMI Out. Be sure to power the setup using a USB Type C plug to connect the Switch AC adapter to the dock’s AC Adapter terminal.
  • ASUS ROG Ally using an ASUS ROG Gaming Charger Dock connected to the TV via an HDMI Cable.
  • Lenovo Legion Go via the HDMI port on the USB-C dock.
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Pro via a micro HDMI to HDMI Type A Cable.

Of course, always be sure to connect to a TV with the correct HDMI® Cable to ensure support for the maximum bandwidth and feature set your gaming setup is capable of delivering.

The terms HDMI, HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI Trade Dress and the HDMI Logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners.



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The Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop with RTX 4090 is $900 off
Product Reviews

The Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop with RTX 4090 is $900 off

by admin



You have to be prepared to spend a significant amount of cash if you want a powerful gaming laptop, but you should also be on the lookout for any opportunities at savings. Take a look at Alienware deals at Dell, which has tempting offers like this one: the Alienware x16 R2 with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card with a $900 discount. From its original price of $3,600, it’s down to $2,700, which is still pretty expensive, but an excellent price for a device of its caliber. You need to hurry though, as it may be back to its regular price as soon as tomorrow!

Why you should buy the Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card that’s found in this configuration of the Alienware x16 R2 is an extremely powerful GPU. When you combine it with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and 32GB of RAM, which our guide on how much RAM you need says is the sweet spot for high-end gamers, you’ll enjoy an unparalleled gaming experience when playing the best PC games — and that’s even if you select the most demanding settings.

The Alienware x16 R2 is equipped with a 16-inch screen with Full HD+ resolution and a 480Hz refresh rate, which will allow it to give justice to modern graphics. You’ll be able to install several titles on the gaming laptop as it comes with a 2TB SSD, and with Windows 11 Home out of the box, you can start building your video game library as soon as you turn on the Alienware x16 R2 for the first time.

Gamers who want an upgrade should check out gaming laptop deals, as there are some excellent bargains on top-of-the-line models. Here’s one from Dell — the Alienware x16 R2 with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card for $2,700, for savings of $900 on its sticker price of $3,600. We don’t expect the discount to stick around for much longer though, so if you want to take advantage of this offer, there’s only one thing to do: add the Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop to your cart and finish the checkout process immediately.





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