Knowledge: hardware myths and facts, with sources
Short articles that put hardware myths to the test and back up facts. Every claim carries a source with a retrieval date, and nothing ships unchecked.
Every statement here carries its source, with publisher and retrieval date. What is only an inference says so, and what is open stays open.
- Articles
- 7
- Sources cited
- 14
- Last checked
- 8/18/2026
Narrow it down
7 articles
Knowledge base
- Knowledge baseIn depth3 min read
The standards behind your ping
Your ping tool is older than the internet you know, and every connection starts with waiting. Both facts are written in documents anyone can read.
Updated 4 of 5 key points carry a source - Knowledge baseIntermediate3 min read
Why your mouse feels different in games
Same mouse, two behaviours, and it is not your imagination: Windows itself documents that the desktop and games read the mouse in two different ways.
Updated 5 of 5 key points carry a source
Myth
- MythIntermediate2 min read
Are frames beyond your monitor's refresh rate wasted?
For your eyes, yes. For your hands, not quite. Your monitor shows a fixed number of frames, but you can still feel the time between moving the mouse and seeing the result.
Updated 3 of 3 key points carry a source - MythBeginner2 min read
Does a pricier CPU automatically mean more FPS?
Not automatically. CPU and graphics card work like two conveyor belts in a row, and your game only shows as many frames as the slower belt can deliver.
Updated 4 of 4 key points carry a source - MythBeginner3 min read
Does dust actually slow down your PC?
Almost right, but not the way most people mean it. Dust does not slow down a single calculation. It blocks airflow, and it is the temperature that ends up costing you frames.
Updated 4 of 4 key points carry a source - MythBeginner2 min read
Does Task Manager show your CPU temperature?
No. Task Manager shows you load, clock speed and memory for the CPU, but no temperature, and reading it out requires special privileges.
Updated 3 of 4 key points carry a source - MythBeginner3 min read
Do SSDs really wear out after a few years?
The worry dates back to the early days of SSDs. Run the number from the datasheet once, and the fear turns into a figure, a reassuringly large one.
Updated 4 of 5 key points carry a source