Atari Cave

Computer Accessories & Peripherals

Computer accessories & peripherals compared on the specs makers publish, with who each pick suits and who should skip it.

30 articles

  1. 5 picks

    Best Powered USB Hub for Writers Who Plug In a Lot

    Which powered USB hub belongs on a writing desk? Four switched ports, a 9-port monster, and a card reader combo, compared by ports, power and switches.

    Top pick SABRENT 4-Port Powered USB 3.0 Hub

  2. 5 picks

    Best Silent UPS Battery Backup by Runtime and Watts

    Five UPS units compared on runtime, wattage and noise for a design desk. What actually keeps a workstation quiet during an outage, and which unit fits under a monitor stand without fan hum.

    Top pick APC UPS 600VA/330W Battery Backup for Computer

  3. 7 picks

    Best Portable USB Hub for Graphic Designers at Your Desk

    Bus power keeps you light; a wall adapter keeps a drawing tablet steady. Here's which USB hub matches your desk, from the 1.28 oz Anker to an 8-port atolla.

    Top pick Anker USB Hub, 4-in-1 USB Splitter

  4. 7 picks

    Best Compact USB Hub for Engineers Who Travel Light

    Seven USB hubs lined up on the specifications that decide a cramped bench: port count, weight, cord length, whether they carry their own power adapter, and what the warranty actually says.

    Top pick Anker USB Hub, 4-in-1 USB Splitter

  5. 6 picks

    Best Portable UPS Battery Backup: APC BE600M1 Wins

    A dropped file at 2% render progress is the failure mode nobody plans for. Here's how six UPS units compare on wattage, outlet count and weight, and which one belongs under a working desk.

    Top pick APC UPS 600VA/330W Battery Backup for Computer

  6. 6 picks

    Best Powered USB Hub for Graphic Designers: intpw Wins

    A working desk needs ports that hold up under a Wacom, two drives, a card reader and a phone on charge. Six powered hubs, ranked for design work.

    Top pick intpw Powered USB Hub 10Gbps

  7. 6 picks

    Best SDR Receiver by Frequency Range and Bandwidth

    Six SDR receivers compared by frequency range, tuner accuracy and bandwidth, with the Nooelec NESDR v5 leading on coverage and the RTL-SDR Blog V3 close behind.

    Top pick Nooelec RTL-SDR v5 Bundle

  8. 6 picks

    Best Compact UPS Battery Backup for a Dorm Desk

    Six small UPS units compared on runtime, outlet count and weight, with a clear winner for a cramped dorm desk and honest picks for anyone who runs a desktop tower.

    Top pick CyberPower ST425 Standby UPS Battery Backup and Surge

  9. 7 picks

    Best RGB Powered USB Hub for a Crowded Desk

    Seven RGB powered USB hubs, ranked by port count, wattage, and lighting control. The ZIUMIER L100 leads for busy USB 3.0 desks; a Sabrent stays cleaner.

    Top pick ZIUMIER Powered USB Hub

  10. 6 picks

    Best Budget USB Hub for Programmers: TP-Link Wins

    A working programmer's desk needs more USB ports than any laptop ships with. Here are six hubs ranked by what a coder actually plugs into them.

    Top pick Anker USB Hub, 4-in-1 USB Splitter

  11. 5 picks

    Best USB Hub When One Laptop Port Is All You Get

    Five USB hubs compared on ports, switches, weight and published warranty terms, with clear advice on which one suits a shared family laptop and which one belongs on a desk that never moves.

    Top pick Anker USB Hub, 4-in-1 USB Splitter

  12. 7 picks

    Best Budget USB Hub for Students: Picks by Profile

    One free port on a student laptop is never enough. Here's which cheap USB hub actually earns its spot in a backpack, and which pick fits which setup.

    Top pick Acer USB Hub 4 Ports

  13. 6 picks

    Best Budget Powered USB Hub for a Home Desk

    A cost-conscious guide to picking a powered USB hub that actually keeps your peripherals fed, with six ranked picks from 4 to 10 ports.

    Top pick atolla Powered USB Hub 3.0

  14. 7 picks

    Best Powered USB Hub for CAD Workstations

    Seven powered hubs compared for CAD workstations, ranked by port count, transfer speed and power budget. A 10Gbps 9-port model leads.

    Top pick intpw Powered USB Hub 10Gbps

  15. 6 picks

    Best Silent Powered USB Hub for a Cluttered Desk

    The intpw 9-Port 10Gbps hub wins on port mix and adapter headroom, but four other picks earn a place depending on what you plug in.

    Top pick intpw Powered USB Hub 10Gbps

  16. 5 picks

    Best UPS Battery Backup When Desk Space Is Tight

    Five UPS units compared on published capacity, runtime claims, outlet counts and footprint, with a named winner for desk-side use and clear thresholds for when a 1500VA tower makes more sense.

    Top pick APC UPS 600VA/330W Battery Backup for Computer

  17. 6 picks

    Best RGB USB Hub for Graphic Designers' Desk Setups

    Port count is not what decides an RGB USB hub. Power delivery and cable reach are, and only two of these six publish a wall adapter figure. Here is how the six compare, and which one belongs under a designer's monitor arm.

    Top pick ZIUMIER USB Hub 7 Port, RGB LED Strip USB Splitter for

  18. 7 picks

    Best Premium USB Hub for Writers: Atolla 8-Port

    A writer's desk fills up fast: keyboard, backup drive, card reader, headset, phone on charge. I lined up seven hubs and named the one that actually holds a working setup together.

    Top pick atolla Powered USB Hub 3.0

  19. 6 picks

    Best USB Hub for Remote Workers: Anker Wins

    Six USB hubs compared for home-office use. The winner weighs 1.28 oz and carries an 18-month warranty. The runner-up adds 4K HDMI and 100W passthrough.

    Top pick Anker USB Hub, 4-in-1 USB Splitter

  20. 7 picks

    Best RGB USB Hub: ZIUMIER L90 Leads the Field

    Port count is the wrong thing to compare on an RGB USB hub. Whether the hub carries its own power supply is what actually decides it, and only two of these seven do.

    Top pick ZIUMIER USB Hub 7 Port, RGB LED Strip USB Splitter for