examining technology and putting it to use R&D

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO IMPROVING YOUR PC

TIP OF THE MONTH

TEMPORARY FILE DELETE

If it feels as though your PC is getting a little sluggish, clearing temporar y files can help to make things run faster and smoother. Press ‘Windows + R’ to open up the run application, then search ‘temp’ and then hit OK. This will open up a load of temporar y files, most of which will be unnecessar y. To clear all of these files, press ‘CTRL + A’ and then hit delete. Hopefully, this will help speed your computer up a little.

MAKE – USE – CREATE

58 Get the most out of the Registry Editor in Windows 11.

62 Japan’s 1980s home computer, the NEC PC-9800.

© MICROSOFT, WIKIMEDIA

66 Build It, using one manufacturer’s components only.

SAM LEWIS STAFF WRITER

INTEL’S NUC 12 MINI PC

With Intel’s latest NUC 12 Extreme Dragon Canyon gaming Mini PC in my possession, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s found its way into my living room—at the expense of my Wii console. The Intel NUC 12 is so compact it sits and hides neatly under my TV unit, and with the RGBs turned off, it’s actually a discreet little monster.

I’ve also been testing SCUF’s Instinct Pro, so I essentially have a console-killer combo that I can use in the evenings.

I’m not too thrilled about having to return the NUC back to Intel—the performance is just so impressive. Though I do feel guilty that I’m not pushing it to its absolute limits when playing older titles, I’m having a blast.

As sad as I’ll be when the NUC has to go back, I’ll be plugging the Wii straight back in as we have found our old Guitar Hero gear.

It’s kind of sad that we don’t get games like these anymore. Who remembers the Buzz controllers on the PS2? These party titles were so much fun when your pals came round and you’d gather round the TV, but now everything is all online. I’m not trying to sound like an old man who’s angry at modern life, I just miss that era of social gaming. So, while I’ll be rocking along to Guitar Hero World Tour in no time, I bet I’ll be rustier than an old trombone.

Advanced Windows 11 tips: Registry Editor

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO GET MORE from your Windows 11 setup, you’ve come to the right place.

In this issue, we’ll take a deep dive into your Windows Registry, which has been a vital component of Windows since the days of Windows 95. Basically, it’s a glorified database stored across several files (known as ‘hives’) containing various configuration settings that cover all aspects of your PC: its hardware, the apps you’ve installed, and—of course—Windows itself.

To simplify matters, most Registry changes can be made via other Windows tools such as Settings or Device Manager, or within an application’s own dialog boxes. However, other settings are hidden more deeply. Many Windows tweaking tools such as Ultimate Windows Tweaker (www.thewindowsclub.com) offer an easy way to make meaningful Registry changes without risk but doing so means you never understand what’s going on beneath the hood.