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You don’t need a satellite dish to watch DirecTV anymore, but before you sign up for a DirecTV streaming plan, make sure you pick the right one. DirecTV offers two streaming services today, one called DirecTV Stream and the other called DirecTV via Internet. They have nearly identical branding and many of the same channel packages, but they’re different in several important ways. The short version: If you want to avoid sneaky fees and long-term contracts, sign up for DirecTV Stream. But if you’re after a more traditional pay TV service with lower up-front costs, DirecTV via Internet might be worth a look. Let’s break down those differences in more detail: Channel lineups are the same, but prices vary If you’re looking for a big bundle of pay TV channels, DirecTV via Internet and DirecTV Stream offer the exact same channel lineups: Entertainment includes local stations, cable news, national sports channels, and entertainment channels. The total, non-promotional price is $87 per month with DirecTV Stream and $90 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet. Choice adds more sports channels and regional sports networks. The total, non-promotional price is $115 per month with DirecTV Stream and up to $123 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers). Ultimate adds more sports and movie channels. The total, non-promotional price is $130 per month with DirecTV Stream and starts at $153 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers). Premier adds premium networks such as Max and Starz. The total, non-promotional price is $170 per month with DirecTV Stream and starts at $198 per month with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers). For an in-depth comparison of the two services’ channel lineups, consult these PDFs for DirecTV Stream and DirecTV via Internet. DirecTV via Internet has long-term contracts with early termination fees Beware the fine print.Jared Newman / Foundry If you take only one thing away from this article, it’s that DirecTV via Internet has contracts, while DirecTV Stream does not. Read the fine print on DirecTV’s plan selection page, and you’ll see that the advertised price requires a 24-month commitment. Cancelling early invokes an early termination fee of $20 for each month left on your contract, up to $480 in total. By contrast, DirecTV Stream allows you to cancel anytime without penalty, the flip side being that prices aren’t locked in, so they can increase at any time. DirecTV via Internet has extra fees DirecTV via Internet has a couple of notable fees: Advanced Receiver Service: This mandatory $15-per-month fee covers the cost of a DirecTV set-top box for a single TV. Each additional box costs $7 per month, although you can use DirecTV’s streaming apps on third-party set-top boxes like Roku at no extra charge. Regional sports fees: These vary by market but can cost up to $18 per month. With DirecTV Stream, the advertised price is what you get, with no additional fees for equipment or regional sports channels–albeit with no guarantee that prices won’t go up in the next two years. Only DirecTV Stream has cheaper “Genre Packs” DirecTV DirecTV Stream now offers a handful of cheaper TV bundles that are focused on specific genres: MyEntertainment ($35 per month) includes a broad mix of entertainment channels and cable news, but no local or sports channels. Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) are also included, and Max will be added soon at no extra charge. Notable channels include HGTV, History, Discovery, and Bravo. MyNews ($40 per month) has the big three major cable news networks along with local NBC and Fox stations, plus CNBC, CNBC World, Fox Business, CNN International, i24, and Newsmax. MySports ($70 per month) has local ABC, Fox, and NBC channels, plus ESPN channels, Fox Sports channels, Turner channels (TNT, TBS, TruTV), all four league-specific channels, and USA, along with cable news. ESPN+ is included as well. MiEspañol ($35 per month) includes Univision, Telemundo, and dozens of other Spanish-language channels. DirecTV Stream’s bundle picker page has a full channel list for each genre pack, along with some optional add-ons. As of now, these cheaper genre packs aren’t available with DirecTV via Internet. DirecTV via Internet includes a streaming dongle, DirecTV Stream is bring-your-own DirecTV’s Gemini Air dongle and remote provides a more traditional TV experience.DirecTV So far, DirecTV via Internet doesn’t seem to have much going for it. Compared to DirecTV Stream, the service is more expensive, it locks you into a long-term contract, and you can’t take advantage of DirecTV’s more flexible genre packs. The one advantage DirecTV via Internet has is its Gemini Air streaming dongle that you’ll plug into your TV’s HDMI port. It closely mimics the cable TV experience, jumping right into live TV when you turn it on, and its remote is loaded with shortcuts for things like recording, channel-flipping, and the grid guide. It even includes number keys for jumping to your favorite channels. The dongle provides access to streaming apps such as Netflix and Hulu as well. With DirecTV Stream, you supply the hardware. DirecTV offers apps for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV/Google TV, Samsung TVs, iOS, and Android (there is currently no DirecTV Stream app for LG’s WebOS). It also works on the web and supports casting via Google Cast. On these devices, DirecTV Stream will behave like any other streaming app that you’d launch from the home screen. The DirecTV app is available for most streaming devices and works with either DirecTV via Internet or DirecTV Stream.DirecTV Can you buy a Gemini Air box to use with DirecTV Stream? Officially, no. But it is available from SolidSignal for $220, and many eBay sellers offer it for less. Once installed, it will work the same way with DirecTV Stream as it does with DirecTV via Internet, and you can still use it with other streaming apps if you cancel service. Still, the set-top box does represent an additional up-front expense with DirecTV Stream, whereas with DirecTV via Internet it’s rolled into your monthly bill. Depending on your choice of channel package and your level of commitment to DirecTV, you might come out ahead choosing DirecTV via Internet instead of DirecTV Stream. What about satellite? DirecTV still offers satellite service for new subscribers. The costs are mostly the same as DirecTV via Internet, and new subscribers get a Gemini box that’s similar to the Gemini Air model for internet customers. The only notable difference—aside from the delivery mechanism and the need to install a satellite dish—is that DirecTV via Satellite allows you to opt out of local channels for a $12-per-month discount. Which DirecTV should you choose? Most folks who are considering DirecTV should opt for DirecTV Stream. It’s cheaper in most cases, offers more flexible channel packages, and it doesn’t lock you into a long-term commitment. DirecTV via Internet is only worth considering if you don’t plan to change your TV habits for the next couple of years and want to use DirecTV’s own streaming dongle to access the service. Even then, you may still come out ahead choosing DirecTV Stream and buying a Gemini dongle on your own. Of course, there are lots of other ways to get TV these days. Check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services, or consider going bundle-free to maximize your savings. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

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As winter drags on and Spring Training gets underway, I’m itching to start thinking about baseball again. Too bad watching the games can still be an ordeal. In 2025, Major League Baseball has yet to rally its teams behind a cohesive strategy for streaming local ballgames. While some teams are partnering with the league on distribution, others are going their own way, working with regional sports networks, or clinging to expensive pay TV bundles. Factor in all the nationally-televised games scattered across cable networks and streaming services, and there’s a lot for baseball fans to think about. As I’ve done with the NBA and NHL, I’ll survey the scene of local baseball streaming options so you know what to expect when the weather warms up. In-market MLB streaming options at a glance Here’s where things stand for in-market baseball streaming options as of February 20, 2025: TeamSports NetworkSupported streaming bundlesStandalone optionsArizona DiamondbacksDiamondbacks TVDTV Stream, FuboDBacks.tv ($100/yr) *AthleticsNBC Sports CaliforniaDTV Stream, Fubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $18/moAtlanta BravesFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Baltimore OriolesMASNDTV Stream, Fubo–Boston Red SoxNESNDTV Stream, FuboNESN 360 ($30/mo or $330/yr)Chicago CubsMarquee Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboMarquee Sports Network ($20/mo)Chicago White SoxCHSNDTV Stream, FuboCHSN ($20/mo)Free over-the-airCincinnati RedsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Cleveland GuardiansGuardians TVTBDCleGuardians.TV ($100/yr) *Colorado RockiesRockies TV–Rockies.TV ($100/yr) *Detroit TigersFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Houston AstrosSpace City Home NetworkDTV Stream, Fubo–Kansas City RoyalsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Los Angeles AngelsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Los Angeles DodgersDTV StreamSNLA+ ($30/mo or $200/yr)Free with Spectrum internet + mobileMiami MarlinsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Milwaukee BrewersFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Minnesota TwinsTwins TVTBDTwins.TV ($100/yr) *New York MetsPrimary: SportsNet NYSecondary: WPIXSNY: DTV Stream, HuluWPIX: DTV, Fubo, Hulu, YTTVSNY ($25/mo or $125/yr) *WPIX games OTA onlyNew York YankeesPrimary: YES NetworkSecondary: Prime VideoDTV Stream, Fubo (YES only)Gotham Sports ($20/mo or $200/yr)Prime Video: $140/yrPhiladelphia PhilliesNBC Sports PhiladelphiaFubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $25/moPittsburgh PiratesSportsNet PittsburghDTV Stream, FuboSNP 360 ($18/mo)San Diego PadresPadres TVDTV Stream, FuboPadres.TV ($100/yr) *San Francisco GiantsNBC Sports Bay AreaDTV Stream, Fubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $18/moSeattle MarinersRoot SportsDTV Stream, Fubo–St. Louis CardinalsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Tampa Bay RaysFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Texas RangersRangers Sports NetworkDTV StreamVictory+ ($100/yr)Free OTA on FridaysToronto Blue JaysSportsnet–SportsNet+ ($20/mo or $180/yr)Washington NationalsMASNDTV Stream, Fubo–* Can be bundled with MLB.TV for $100 more ($95 extra for SNY) Looking at the league as a whole, in-market coverage falls into a handful of buckets: In-market MLB.TV: Currently, five MLB teams (Diamondbacks, Guardians, Rockies, Twins, Padres) are partnering directly with the league to distribute local games at $100 for the season. Fans of these teams are the biggest winners, as MLB offers a polished app with features like live-game DVR, alternate audio feeds, and whiparound league coverage from MLB Big Inning. Out-of-market MLB.TV games aren’t included, but you can add them for $100 extra, which is $50 off the regular price. MLB hybrids: In-market Dodgers and Mets games will also stream through the MLB app this year, but with Spectrum SportsNet and SNY handling the distribution, respectively. Pricing is higher than MLB.TV’s other in-market options, and there’s no mention of the usual MLB app perks such as Big Inning and live radio feeds. FanDuel Sports Network: Formerly known as Bally Sports (and, before that, as Fox Sports Networks), these are the channels operated by Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports Group). This year, the network will offer standalone, in-market streaming options for all its teams, either through the FanDuel Sports Network app or as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video. The price is $20 per month in both cases. The lone rangers: Instead of working with MLB or Main Street Sports Group, a bunch of teams have either spun up their own distribution plans or formed bespoke partnerships. Those include the Boston Red Sox (on NESN 360), Chicago Cubs (on Marquee Sports Network), Chicago White Sox (on CHSN), the New York Yankees (on Gotham Sports), Pittsburgh Pirates (on SNP 360), and Texas Rangers (on Victory+). OTA oddities: Compared to the NBA and NHL, baseball is making fewer forays into over-the-air distribution. The only team offering all local games for free with an antenna is the White Sox, whose games will air on CHSN. Mets fans will get some games on WPIX, and the Rangers Sports Network will offer free over-the-air broadcasts on Fridays, but that’s it. Peacock bundlers: Peacock is offering in-market access to its regional NBC Sports in Boston, Philadelphia, and northern California at an additional charge. The heads-in-the-sand: As of now, four MLB teams are pretending that cord-cutting isn’t real, and they will require a bloated pay TV package to watch their games in-market. The hall of shame includes the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals (both on MASN); Houston Astros (on Space City Home Network); and the Seattle Mariners (Root Sports); Commissioner Rob Manfred told The Athletic that it’s “made clear to the clubs that blackouts were a problem and that reach should be a priority,” but apparently these teams missed the memo. A lot could still change by opening day. The Cincinnati Reds, for instance, originally planned to drop FanDuel Sports Network for MLB.TV, only to reverse course last month, so other teams could potentially follow. Rumors of Peacock distributing NBC’s regional sports networks will hopefully pan out, but haven’t yet. Meanwhile, the Twins and Guardians haven’t announced which traditional pay TV providers will carry their newly established channels yet. It’s a fluid situation and I’ll update this story as things happen. National baseball streaming As in years past, the in-market streaming options above won’t spare you from the occasional blackout for nationally-televised games, nor will they entitle you to playoff coverage should your team survive into October. Still, whether you’ll need a big pay TV package to watch these games is a question of timing. Here’s where we stand: Max already offers live sports from TBS, currently at no extra charge beyond its standard plans, which start at $10 per month (with ads). This should cover the channel’s Tuesday night games and postseason coverage. ESPN and Fox both plan to offer standalone streaming services later this year, but timing and pricing is unknown. Apple TV+ continues to stream select games on Friday nights as part of its $11-per-month subscription. The Roku Channel will offer Sunday morning games for free. Will anyone bundle it all up? There’s definitely an opportunity for skinnier TV packages focused on broadcast, national, and regional sports coverage, but none have materialized yet. DirecTV’s MySports package, for instance, is cheaper than its standard plans at $70 per month, but it excludes regional sports for now. Comcast has its own “Sports and News” package for $70 per month, but it doesn’t include regional sports either. Fubo, meanwhile, says it’s working on a “Sports & Broadcasting” package as part of its impending takeover by Disney, but it hasn’t announced any specifics. That leaves the usual live TV streaming options, most of which don’t carry regional sports themselves, and continue to get more expensive. I don’t want to be too sour about all this. Standalone MLB streaming options are more plentiful in 2025—here in Cincinnati, for instance, Reds fans can finally watch without an expensive pay TV package—and unbundled options from Fox and ESPN will help, especially if they’re here in time for the playoffs. But for a league that’s now preaching the value of reach, it’s hard to look at the cohesion with other sports—consistent NFL broadcast coverage on Sundays, Apple’s blackout-free MLS offering—and not see a missed opportunity. Further reading: These are the best live TV streaming services. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Decently affordable for USB 3.2×2 Good 20Gbps performance Maintains decent speed during uber-long writes Cons Not the fastest of the breed Low TBW rating Our Verdict Good 20Gbps performance and handsome looks are Addlink’s formula for the P21 external SSD. It also maintains solid numbers when writing off secondary cache. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Addlink P21 USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps) SSD Retailer Price $138.44 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re looking for better-than-average 20Gbps performance that won’t break the bank, then Addlink’s P21 belongs on your short list. And thanks to modern TLC NAND, the write rate doesn’t sink precipitously when it runs out of secondary cache. Our only qualm, an exceedingly minor one, is a low TBW rating. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best external drives for comparison. What are the Addlink P21’s features? The Addlink P21 is a USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps) external SSD with NVMe internals. The SSD inside uses a Phison P27T controller, which means it’s DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 — it uses your device memory for primary caching duties. The NAND is 162-layer TLC, and of a modern variety according the test results. Though my artistic photos obscure the fact, the P21’s housing is actually midnight blue, not dark gray. It’s an aluminum-shelled enclosure that measures approximately 4.5-inches long, by 1.5-inches wide, by a half-inch thick and weighs 1.9 ounces. For what it’s worth, I find it a cut above average in appearance. One end of the drive sports the Type-C port and status light, while the other is home to a button that unlocks the slide out-tray that houses the electronics and NVMe SSD. That’s a bit unusual with pre-populated drives, and more normally a feature of buy-your-own-drive enclosures. The interior of the P21 revealing the 4TB WD SN850X inside. The P21 is warrantied for five years, but sports a rather low 300TBW rating (terabytes that may be written under warranty). That’s about half the TBW we normally see with TLC SSDs. It’s more in line with QLC SSDs, so I’m not sure of the reasoning. A button on the P21 unlocks a slide-out tray that houses the electronics and NVMe SSD — an uncommon feature in pre-populated drives. How much does the Addlink P21 cost? The P21 retails for $84.44/1TB, $149.44/2TB, and $312.44/4TB flavors according to Addlink PR. But at this writing, it can be found for less on Amazon, with the 2TB and 4TB going for $138.44 and $288.44, respectively. While the quoted prices are decent for 20Gbps 3.2×2 storage, prices in the category have dropped dramatically recently due the advent of USB4. I must admit that I find it a bit puzzling that vendors continue to release USB 3.2×2 SSDs rather than the more compatible USB4. Not that I don’t love a 20Gbps transfer rate, but USB 3.2×2 drops to 10Gbps on most Thunderbolt ports, where USB4 does not. How fast is the Addlink P21? The Addlink P21 isn’t the fastest USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps) SSD I’ve tested, but it’s hardly the slowest either — 7th among 16 drives of its ilk overall. If Addlink had sent me the 2TB version (like the other drives in the charts), it would likely have written the 450GB file more quickly and ranked higher. Bear in mind that all 20Gbps SSDs are pretty fast, and as you can see below, CrystalDiskMark 8 thought very highly of the P21 — reinforcing my theory about the 2TB version possibly ranking higher. As you can see, CrystalDiskMark 8 thought very highly of the P21’s sequential transfer prowess. Longer bars are better. CrystalDiskMark 8 was equally high on the P21’s random 4K transfer abilities. It blew away the other drives in the queued write test. Note that Windows does not use NVMe queues. CrystalDiskMark 8 was equally high on the P21’s random 4K transfer abilities. Longer bars are better. The P21 was very fast in our 48GB transfers, but was sabotaged to some degree by a slow folder read. The Crucial X10 Pro is aces at this kind of stuff. The other drives are the Lexar SL600 and Samsung T9. The P21 was very fast in our 48GB transfers, being slightly sabotaged by a slow folder read. The Crucial X10 Pro is aces at this kind of stuff. Shorter bars are better. The 1TB P21 ran out of secondary cache in about half the time of the 2TB competition, with the write rate dropping to the TLC’s native 650MBps to 850MBps. Most 2TB SSDs have enough secondary cache that the writes will never slow during this 450GB write. The 1TB P21 ran out of secondary cache in about half the time of the 2TB competition, with the write rate dropping to the TLC’s native 650MBps to 850MBps. Shorter bars are better. Note that the P21 never dropped below 600MBps even during multiple consecutive 900GB writes. Of course, this is more a testament to modern TLC which writes natively at the described speeds, than anything Addlink or Phison did. But there’s nothing worse that watching your SSD write below 100MBps as sometimes happened with old TLC and still happens with modern QLC. Again, the P21 might’ve ranked quite a bit higher if I’d tested the 2TB version. I’m going to go out on a limb here and rate it on par with everything USB 3.2×3 I’ve tested — other than the Crucial X10 Pro, which is a beast in real-world transfers. Should you buy the Addlink P21? Despite the low TBW rating, yes — at the right price. The P21 is a good performer, good looking, and won’t break the bank. But competition is fierce and any of the SSDs on the charts will serve you well. Please note that 20Gbps USB ports are hardly universal. If you don’t have one, go 10Gbps for a lot less money, or USB4. How we test Our storage tests currently utilize Windows 11 (22H2) 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 modules (64GB of memory total). Intel integrated graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, which also contains the operating system. Each test is performed on a newly formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that as any drive fills up, performance will decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, and other factors. The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped as well as the capacity tested. SSD performance can vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to read/write across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching (writing TLC/QLC as SLC). Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report (systems being roughly equal), by all means—let us know. Read...

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Back in December, Fubo launched a new plan called “Essential,” which didn’t carry regional sports channels and their associated hidden fees. Four months later, Fubo has removed Essential from its sign-up page for new subscribers, leaving its “Pro” plan as the cheapest option. While Fubo Pro carries the same $85-per-month list price as Fubo Essential, it also includes a regional sports fee, which adds at least $13 per month to the total. Fubo doesn’t disclose this until you reach the final checkout page. Essential—which actually does cost $85 per month—remains available for existing subscribers and those who are reactivating an expired subscription. Fubo spokeswoman Jennifer Press confirmed that it’s stopped offering the plan to new subscribers. “Since Fubo is a sports-first offering, consumers prefer the Pro base plan with regional sports networks, especially during baseball season,” she said via email. Fubo alternatives Most other live TV streaming services exclude regional sports from their lineups in many markets, including YouTube TV ($83 per month), Hulu + Live TV ($83 per month), and Sling TV (starting at $46 per month). That makes them quite a bit cheaper than the actual price of Fubo Pro, which starts at $98 per month after fees. And if you do want regional sports, there are other options. Most MLB, NBA, and NHL teams now offer direct-to-consumer services, with prices ranging anywhere from free in some markets to $30 per month in others. DirecTV, meanwhile, includes regional sports in its “Choice” and higher packages, and has started offering them as a $20-per-month add-on for its new $70 per month MySports plan. A cheaper option’s coming Although Fubo’s Essential plan isn’t available to new subscribers anymore, the company plans to launch a separate “Sports & Broadcast” package in the second half of this year. Fubo hasn’t announced a price, but sources have told Matthew Keys that it’ll likely cost between $50 and $60 per month. Further reading: Our top picks in live TV streaming services. The move is part of a broader recalibration for pay TV packages, which have become increasingly bloated and expensive over the years. TV providers are finally convincing programmers to allow for slimmed-down packages that focus on specific genres (though some resistance remains). As of now, it’s unclear whether regional sports channels will be available as part of Fubo’s forthcoming skinny bundle, but they probably won’t be mandatory. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

It’s easy to look strictly at the type of CPU and GPU you have when evaluating the kind of performance you’re likely to get in PC games. But beyond that lies another important stat, the CPU cache. Here’s why it’s so important in gaming and why it pays to maximize it. What is the CPU cache? The CPU cache is a high-speed memory unit located around the CPU that is used to store frequently accessed data and instructions from the main memory. The proximity of the cache so close to the CPU means that data can be retrieved a lot quicker than from the RAM memory itself, so having more cache can greatly speed up and improve the CPU’s performance. What’s the cache’s role in PC gaming? The above process applies to when you’re gaming too. Your PC’s CPU cache stores frequently used game data and instructions from the game you’re playing. By doing so, it allows the CPU to retrieve and process this information more quickly than if the CPU has to continually access your PC’s RAM. The CPU cache is important for reducing latency, maintaining consistent frame rates, and preventing stuttering in games. This is especially the case when playing triple-A games that have high computational demands for things like complex physics. Without enough cache, your GPU is forced to wait on your CPU to process instructions, which can create a bottleneck that will slow down your game. The type of game information stored in CPU cache can vary and include anything from AI algorithms to textures, models, or the instructions for rendering graphics. The more data a game has to process, the more useful it is to have a higher amount of cache that will keep your game running smoothly. Further reading: The truth about PC gaming on SSDs vs. HDDs, tested with real data How much CPU cache do you need? How much CPU cache you need for optimal performance depends on the type of game you’re playing and other factors like the number of cores in your CPU. As mentioned, you’re going to want more cache to run triple-A titles with a lot of data. Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry In fact, having more cache is even more important than having more CPU cores when your CPU has a lot to process; this has been shown to be the case in testing. In one test the testers demonstrated how a 67 percent increase in L3 cache netted a corresponding 18 percent increase in a CPU’s performance, while a 67 percent increase in the same CPU’s core count only netted a 6 percent increase in performance. As a guide, the following cache sizes are suitable for most modern PC games: L1 cache: 64KB per core L2 cache 256KB per core L3 cache: 32MB to 96MB As you can see there are different levels of CPU cache denoted by the letter L and their corresponding number.L3 cache is generally the most important kind of cache for PC gaming, since it can store a larger pool of data that is often shared among the CPU cores, so you’ll want to pay most attention to how much L3 cache a CPU has. How do you get more CPU cache? As for obtaining more CPU cache, you can’t just go out and buy new cache and install it like you can RAM. Instead, the best way to get more cache is to upgrade your CPU, or if you’re building a new rig, to choose a CPU that has the most higher-level cache as possible. The amount of cache a CPU has can be the standout difference between two CPUs with very similar specs. For example, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D are both high-end processors from AMD’s 7000 series with the same maximum boost clock speeds of 5.6GHz, but the Ryzen 9 7900X3D has 128MB L3 cache compared to the Ryzen 9 7900X’s 64MB L3 cache. The Ryzen 9 7900X3D’s additional cache and the fact that it sports AMD’s 3D V-cache technology means it performs better than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X in cache-sensitive games. For that reason, you’re going to want to compare the cache from different CPUs before you buy, as well as read a few benchmarks to get an overview of performance. Further reading: Why I never buy the best gaming hardware for my PC Read...

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