Blogs

Is Your Broadband Ruining Your Online Gaming? Hidden Truth Behind Time-Delay In Broadband Packages

27th May 2022 by CCL Tech

Is your current broadband package ruining your online gaming? We've been doing some digging into UK broadband packages here at CCL and we've found that the majority of broadband providers are not providing a crucial piece of info that gamers need to know.

CCL Giveaway and Competition Winners

6th April 2022 by Mark Byrne

A complete list of CCL competition and giveaway winners. Congratulations to our winners!

TUF vs ROG - Which ASUS Gaming Monitor Should You Choose?

11th March 2022 by Mark Byrne

If you're buying a high specification gaming monitor, ASUS offer two options - TUF or ROG. But which one is right for your gaming style?

Which Storage Do You Need? WD Makes It Simple

4th March 2022 by Mark Byrne

Western Digital dominate the market with their storage products, from the fastest gaming SSDs to server racks. Here's how to choose your storage (and why)

Best PC Gaming Deals According To PC Gamers

31st January 2022 by Mark Byrne

We asked the PC gamers of Twitter and Facebook to tell us which gaming hardware deals caught their eye in early 2022.

The Evolution Of Intel 1969 - 2022

25th January 2022 by Mark Byrne

From the Intel 4004 processor to the latest 12th-gen and Evo CPUs, we explore the evolution of Intel - the world's largest chip-maker.

AMD FreeSync Monitors - Are They Worth It?

28th December 2021 by Mark Byrne

In this guide, we will answer the FAQ from our customers relating to AMD FreeSync, and help you choose the best FreeSync compatible monitor for your gaming PC.

What Happened To The Gaming Industry?

23rd November 2021 by Mark Byrne

If you have pre-ordered a game or spent any time on Reddit lately, you might be disappointed with the gaming industry. But can it be fixed?

Scariest games we've ever played - The CCL edition

29th October 2021 by Milyana Spence

Halloween is almost upon us, and this OctoooOOoOober here at CCL, we've come up with a list of the scariest, most anxiety-inducing games we've ever played.

Best Scary Games For Halloween 2021

26th October 2021 by Mark Byrne

If you're looking for a few chills this Halloween, here's a list of new and classic games to play with the lights off. if you dare.

Is a 144Hz Gaming Monitor worth the price tag?

21st October 2021 by Milyana Spence

If you have a gaming rig that can handle high refresh rates, is a 144Hz monitor actually worth the money?

Xbox Cloud Gaming: How Microsoft is giving Google Stadia run for its money

18th October 2021 by Milyana Spence

Google Stadia might have set out to disrupt the gaming industry, but Xbox Cloud gaming has set out to disrupt Stadia's mission.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Ryzen 7 5700G - Best Value Gaming APUs?

14th October 2021 by Mark Byrne

News of GPU pricing potentially coming down has raised hopes - but in the meantime, these integrated GPU chips may just tide PC builders over

The Top Games People Upgraded Their PC For - September 2021

12th October 2021 by Mark Byrne

There are a couple of surprise entries on our big list, but there are also some shoe-ins that we knew would appear there as well. When we asked "What was the last game you upgraded your PC for?", we expected AAA titles that were GPU and processor hungry epics - but we didn't expect such a eclectic mix!

What can a gaming PC do that a console can't?

11th October 2021 by Milyana Spence

It can't be denied that the consoles are becoming a lot more PC like in their gaming capabilities, but there are still a few things gaming PCs can do that consoles cannot.

Should you upgrade to Windows 11 on day-one for the 'Big Three' gaming features?

30th September 2021 by Milyana Spence

Windows 11 has been touted by Microsoft as the best Windows for gaming yet, and with the features and improvements they unveiled we believe it just might be.

RTX 3080 vs RTX 3080 Ti - Is the higher price tag still worth it?

27th September 2021 by Milyana Spence

The RTX 3080 Ti lands very nicely in between the RTX 3080 and the RTX 3090, but is it worth the higher price tag?

Unmissable Upcoming PC Games in 2021 and Beyond

22nd September 2021 by Mark Byrne

We take a look at some of the PC games coming out over the next few months and beyond that you just can't miss!

Gaming PC or a new gen console - What should you buy in 2021?

20th September 2021 by Milyana Spence

Is the console vs PC war still relevant? Maybe not as much anymore, but if you're looking to buy one platform, it can be difficult to decide where to invest the money.

Is Shill Journalism Killing Games Like Deathloop?

17th September 2021 by Mark Byrne

Deathloop: the latest AAA game with mixed public reviews after receiving 10/10 ratings by industry giants IGN. Shill reviews or difference of opinion?

A Brief History Of Modding (And Why FiveM Is So Popular)

16th September 2021 by Mark Byrne

What is FiveM? How did FiveM get more players than Rockstar's GTA Online on Steam? We take a look back at FiveM's humble beginnings and its future.

Can Aspyr do justice to The Knights of the Old Republic in a remake that won't involve Bioware or EA?

14th September 2021 by Milyana Spence

One of the staples of Bioware studios is being handed over to Aspyr for a remake, and it's not really a surprise.

4 games on Game Pass that run better on PC than on console (and Warframe)

13th September 2021 by Milyana Spence

Just a small selection of some of the titles from the Game Pass that are a significantly better experience on your gaming PC.

Haptic VR and Haptic Feedback Technology - Are We Close To Playing In The Oasis?

6th September 2021 by Mark Byrne

What is haptic feedback? What haptic VR suits and haptic VR vests are available? We take a look at the past, present and future of haptic gaming

Top 5 Best PC Case Mods Of 2021... So Far

3rd September 2021 by Mark Byrne

Although the title might suggest that this is one of those Channel 5 compilation shows you'll find close to Christmas, we just couldn't help but cover some of the awesome PC case mods we've seen in the last eight months.

Everything You Need to Know About Intel's Alder Lake Hybrid CPUs.

26th July 2021 by CCL Tech

If there's one thing that never seems to go away in the world of computers, it's the AMD versus Intel debate. With the upcoming launch of Intel's 12th-generation of processors, it looks like this debate won't be going anywhere soon. So, what exactly are Intel's Alder Lake Hybrid CPUs and will they live up to the hype?

What is Xbox Game Pass and is it worth it?

12th July 2021 by Kyle G

As you may have heard, Microsoft has a neat little service called Xbox Game Pass. Have you looked at this and thought "what on earth is this?". In this article we're going to break down what makes Xbox Game Pass so good and which version you should go for.

Pre-Built Versus Custom PC: Which Is Best For Gaming?

7th July 2021 by CCL Tech

If you want the best possible PC for gaming and at the best possible price (who doesn't?!), then should you buy a pre-built gaming PC or build a custom one from scratch? It's a question that we receive a lot here at CCL, and there are many different answers depending on what you want.

Nazare Gaming PCs Featuring RTX 3080 Ti

7th June 2021 by CCL Tech

Introducing Nazare, the new range of gaming PCs featuring RTX 3080 Ti graphics cards, built to the highest specifications and powered by Corsair iCUE.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Stock Official Response

22nd September 2020 by CCL Tech

NVIDIA's official response regarding the stock issues at launch.

Top PC Components of 2019!

2nd January 2020 by CCL Tech

We take a look at the most popular PC components you have bought in 2019 and specced up a PC with the results.

What is NAS?

14th November 2019 by CCL Technical

NAS helps keep your most precious moments in a safe and secure location. It is the ultimate media centre, allowing you to stream all of your favourite videos to any TV or mobile device.

CCL Computers nominated for two awards!

1st November 2019 by Kirsten van Terheyden

Computer Shopper is launching its 2019 awards and CCL Computers have been nominated for two categories!

Seagate FireCuda 2.5" and 3.5" Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)

20th February 2019 by Kirsten van Terheyden

Play faster, work smarter. Combining the latest NAND flash technology with a traditional hard drive for a compact blend of speed and capacity.

Compeition time! Win a limited edition NZXT H700 case bundle!

27th November 2018 by Rudolph T Reindeer

We are giving away a limited edition NZXT H700 case together with a Z370 motherboard and 650w power supply.

#TechTuesday - GIGABYTE Force K83 Mechanical Keyboard

1st May 2018 by Kirsten van Terheyden

A firm favourite amongst gamers, the Gigabyte Force K83 is a keyboard that's minimalistic to the eye, but dynamic in its ability.

2nd Generation AMD RYZEN Desktop Processors

27th April 2018 by Kirsten van Terheyden

Introducing the new Pinnacle Ridge AMD RYZEN desktop processors with improved performance and exclusive features.

Custom Build of the Week #5 - NVIDIA Battlebox

9th June 2017 by Elliot Carver

GeForce GTX Battlebox systems give you everything you need to step up your gaming experience.

Custom Build of the Week #4 - The Beast

26th May 2017 by Elliot Carver

This is The Beast. Intel Xeon E5 CPU and FOUR graphics cards because why not?

Custom Build of the Week #3 - Corsair 570X SLI

19th May 2017 by Elliot Carver

A high-end gaming system with an Intel Core i7-7700K processor and two GeForce GTX 1080s in SLI housed in a stylish Corsair Crystal 570X case.

Custom Build of the Week #2 - Phanteks Evolv Glass X99

12th May 2017 by Elliot Carver

Following on from last week's X99 build, we have yet another X99 custom build. This time however featuring the Haswell-E Intel i7 5820K overclocked to 4.0GHz.

Custom Build of the Week #1 - ASUS Rampage X99 Build

3rd May 2017 by Elliot Carver

This build is in a whole different league when it comes to PC performance. Featuring an Intel Extreme i7 6950X with 10 cores and 20 threads coupled with a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti.

GIGABYTE Z270-GAMING K3 Giveaway!

23rd March 2017 by Kirsten van Terheyden

We have partnered with GIGABYTE to give you a chance to win this GIGABYTE Z270-GAMING K3 motherboard!

CCL @ VR Arts

7th March 2017 by Kirsten van Terheyden

We attended the launch of VR Arts in Manchester last month. Here's what went down!

Has RGB Lighting Gone Crazy?

21st February 2017 by Mark Relton

Mark ponders the possible overuse of RGB lighting in modern components and builds.

PLAY Expo 2016

27th October 2016 by Dan Le Vannais

Dan has a look back at this year's PLAY Expo

Graphics Card Sag: A Solvable Problem?

7th October 2016 by Dan Le Vannais

Dan takes a look at the problems larger graphics cards can face.

EGX 2016

30th September 2016 by Dan Le Vannais

Dan returns to the NEC for this year's EGX show.

Whole-Home Wi-Fi Coverage with TP-Link

18th August 2016 by Elliot Carver

Tired of Wi-Fi dead spots in your home? The RE350 range extender expands your Wi-Fi to rooms your router can't reach.

Windows 10 Free Upgrade Offer Ends Soon

22nd July 2016 by Dan Le Vannais

Still on the fence about upgrading to Windows 10? The free upgrade offer ends July 29th

What's New at CCL?

3rd June 2016 by Elliot Carver

Here is a quick summary of all the new stock, deals and offers at CCL to kick off the summer spending spree!

TP-Link AV2000 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline Start Kit

26th May 2016 by Elliot Carver

The TL-PA9020P provides superior network performance that supports all of your online needs such as 4K HDTV.

PLAY Blackpool 2016

6th May 2016 by Dan Le Vannais

Dan's back with a report on Replay Events' latest show in Blackpool

TP-Link Archer VR900 Unboxing & Giveaway!

3rd May 2016 by Elliot Carver

Kirsten is unboxing the TP-Link VR900 AC1900 Dual-Band Gigabit Modem Router which we are also giving away to one of our YouTube subscribers!

Is It Worth Putting an SSD in a PS4?

15th April 2016 by Mark Relton

With SSD prices dropping constantly and larger capacity SSDs becoming more affordable, is it worth switching to an SSD in your console?

PLAY Expo 2015

19th October 2015 by Dan Le Vannais

Dan and the CCL team attend this year's PLAY Expo for another round of fun and games.

EGX 2015 Birmingham

4th October 2015 by Dan Le Vannais

The CCL team travel to Birmingham for the yearly EGX show to see some of this year's biggest upcoming games.

Batman: Arkham Knight PC Performance and Problems

29th June 2015 by Dan Le Vannais

Ahead of his upcoming review, Dan takes a look at the widely reported issues with the new Batman: Arkham Knight game.

Button Mash XI

5th June 2015 by Dan Le Vannais

Fun and games at a gaming event in our home town of Bradford

PLAY Blackpool 2015

11th May 2015 by Dan Le Vannais

Fun and games at the Blackpool PLAY exhibition

PLAY Expo 2014

17th October 2014 by Dan Le Vannais

The CCL team return to the annual PLAY Expo

CCL Computers at Insomnia 51

23rd April 2014 by Dan Le Vannais

CCL attend the first Multiplay event at the Ricoh Arena

CCL @ I50

13th December 2013 by Dan Le Vannais

Better late than never, here is Dan's look back at the last Insomnia event in Telford

PLAY Expo 2013

14th October 2013 by Dan Le Vannais

Dans thoughts on the PLAY Expo

Benchmarking in Focus - Fraps

23rd July 2013 by Dave Hall

Just another entry, listing the features of Fraps

Gangnam Style Turns 1

17th July 2013 by Dave Hall

Video has garnered over 1.7B views

What is SweetFX ?

17th July 2013 by Dave Hall

A quick look at a program that makes your games look less like a game

Benchmarking In Focus - 3DMark

5th July 2013 by Dave Hall

Another entry in our series about benchmarking programs

Benchmarking In Focus - AIDA 64

4th July 2013 by Dave Hall

Another entry, showcasing programs that are available to test and benchmark your PC

Benchmarking in Focus - PC Mark 7

3rd July 2013 by Dave Hall

Another entry, showcasing programs that are available to test and benchmark your PC

Does anyone really need a £2K+ PC ?

2nd July 2013 by Mark Relton

Mark asks the question

Benchmarking in Focus - Catzilla

1st July 2013 by Dave Hall

A New series showcasing some of the programs available that you can use to benchmark and test PC's

What is in a Sample ?

26th June 2013 by Dave Hall

In a new series of articles we hope to lift the lid on some of the stuff that comes into CCL, by offering product reviews and presenting arguments on why it did or didn't make the grade.

Game Length

24th June 2013 by Mark Relton

Can a game be too long ?

Connected Data Transporter - Two Weeks In...

24th June 2013 by Kyle G2

BLOG 2: Tom continues his adventures in the world of The Cloud. For those who have not come across the Transporter before, it is quite simply an ingenious NAS device that emulates services such as Microsoft's SkyDrive and the ever popular Dropbox.

Connected Data Transporter - The future of Cloud storage?

12th June 2013 by Kyle G2

BLOG 1: Tom takes a look at the new Transporter from Connected Data that allows anyone, anywhere to setup their own cloud storage system.

Is this going to be bigger than the internet and save the UK economy?

18th February 2013 by Adrian Wood

This could potentially rewrite the rules of manufacturing

Dizzy numbers of the week

18th February 2013 by Adrian Wood

Some people live in a different world to rest of us!

Loose Change

1st February 2013 by Adrian Wood

You might have more money than you think.

Custom mITX Server Build - Part 3

24th January 2013 by Martin Castaldo

Martin continues building the mITX HyperV server with lots of images!

RPG Classics Part 1 - The Witcher 2

22nd January 2013 by Peter Thomson

Taking a look at some of the finest RPG games ever created.

Waking Dead Blog: Introduction

21st January 2013 by Martin Robson

This blog will be a kind of mini-walkthrough/review, I'll start this post by giving an introduction to the walking dead series, and aspects of the game, so in my other blog posts, I can get straight to the action.

Custom mITX Server Build - Part 2

17th January 2013 by Martin Castaldo

Martin's motto is plan, plan, plan and then plan your build some more!

The Sims 3 - Is enough enough?

11th January 2013 by Sarah Connally

Are EA having a laugh with the reproduction of old Sims expansion packs? They could well be, but fans will need to vote with their wallets to get EA to take notice!

Custom mITX Server Build - Part 1

10th January 2013 by Martin Castaldo

Martin guides you through the picking of parts for his awesome mITX server build in this 5 part blog.

The Hunt For Missing Reindeer Is Over!

27th December 2012 by Richard Lumb

Christmas went ahead as usual this year thanks to our reindeer hunters helping Santa get them all back in-time to set off on Christmas Eve.

The conversation that changed my rendered world! Part 5

13th December 2012 by Martin Castaldo

Ponderings of a 30 year old gamer..

Games Worth A Lifetime Part 5 - Lights, Camera, Action!

12th December 2012 by Peter Thomson

The best games of our lifetime that deserve your attention.

AMD Never Settle Game Bundle 2/3 - Hitman: Absolution

10th December 2012 by Connell Parr

While I will do my best to avoid spoilers in my discussions of games it's not always possible to do so when conveying why and where a game excels or falls short.