HST News Blog

We’ve all seen a radical change in our lives over the past year, one which no one would have ever predicted. There has, of course, been a lot of difficulty but in many cases, there have been some huge positives realised too. One of which is how beneficial working from home can be. Many employers had been reticent in the past, fearing that communication would break down, workers might be less productive or even use it as an excuse to skive. However, health needs have mandated working from home and this negative mindset towards it has changed for the better, hopefully forever.

With companies seeing benefits such as better engagement from employees due to improved work-life balance, increased productivity due to a lack of distractions, better mental health from no commuting and the flexibility of being at home, not to mention the reduced cost of overheads. The list continues. So it’s likely that the majority of employers will support at least a blend of office and home-working indefinitely and that means you need the right kit. Take a look at what you need to work from home to the best of your ability:

Machine power

If you complete a lot of tasks using intricate systems, use a large amount of data or just generally place a lot of demands on your computer, the last thing you want is it freezing, crashing or being on a general go-slow. So make sure you have one with a processor that has a big enough capability to get everything done in a timely manner such as this HP EliteOne 800 G1 with Intel i5 processor and a 500 GB hard disk drive. The 23-inch screen is also a touch operated, all in one to make life easier.

Portable and versatile machine

If you will be working in various places such as home and the office, or even attending meetings again whilst out and about, you’ll need a computer which is portable such as a laptop. These days, laptops don’t need to be of an inferior quality to their desktop counterparts as you can get similar power and functionality with ease. You will just need to remember your charger! If you’re after another touchscreen too, that doubles as tablet when required, consider something such as the HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2. It has an Intel i5 7^th gen processor so will be able to cope with more than you might realise, as well as an 8GB DDR.

Strong enough WiFi / broadband

It is rare that anyone could complete a full day’s work fully without access to the internet so you need to make sure yours at home is robust enough. Especially if there is more than one of you working there. If you’re using WiFi, you can have boosters installed in your home if the signal isn’t strong enough in the area you work. Or you could even use a hardwire to ensure there isn’t any drop outs. Make sure you get enough bandwidth to support your normal business function or you’ll struggle all day, every day you are working from home.

Extended displays

You may have got used to working from just a signal screen but by adding another, you can make your working life far easier. It can able you to have your emails or internet browser on one screen whilst you work on other items on the other. If you need to reference other materials too it saves you having to flick back and forth between windows which can get frustrating very quickly. If you are used to working from a laptop, having a higher screen will be better for your neck and spine health too as it is easier to have it at eye level. The majority of people who have two screens find it so beneficial they struggle to go back! If you think it will help you, check out bundles such as this Dell OptiPlex 7020 bundle with Intel i5 processor and two 19-inch screens. It also comes WiFi enabled with a keyboard and mouse too. And right now, it’s reduced so make the most of the saving and buy it now!

Working from home can be incredible for mindsets, productivity, engagement and so much more when you have the right set up. Make sure you have everything you need and you'll hopefully have a great deal of success working from home for the foreseeable future!

Here at HST, we are lovers of all things tech. Bright, shiny and new or second hand – each have their own merits. However, we do have a certain bias towards refurbished tech because we know just how fantastic it is. And we don’t say that lightly! Any kind of pre-owned equipment can occasionally be frowned upon but that’s usually because people don’t know the ins and outs. So take a look at our 5 reasons why you should choose refurbished tech next time you want to treat yourself:

1. New or nearly new

Many people wrongfully assume that refurbished always means well-used to the point of worn out and requiring repair. However, in some cases, refurbished could mean ex-display where the item has never even been purchased or properly used. It will still be fully checked and verified before re-sale however, and despite it being almost brand new, the price will not reflect that.

2. Great value for money

The fact that you aren’t buying a piece that is classified as ‘brand new’ by default means that retailers often can’t charge the same price for the item which is the first reason you might end up getting more for your money. Secondly, if something has been used in the past, despite the fact it will have been fully checked and verified, you’ll find you are paying a lower price for it. That way, your budget goes a little further.

3. Tested, approved, guaranteed

When you buy refurbished from an approved retailer such as HST, you can rest assured that anything sold as refurbished has been fully checked and verified by qualified technicians. As an extra comfort to give you peace of mind, we also offer a 1-year warranty on our items so in the unlikely event of any issues, you can get back in touch with us and we will sort it.

4. Get exactly what you want need

At HST, we build many of our refurbished machines ready to order so you will find that a huge range of our tech is fully customisable. This means you pay for exactly what you want or need and won’t be encumbered with a ton of kit that you’ll never make use of. Equally, you can upgrade the parts you need more from, giving extra storage or power as required.

5. Try something new

If you are considering starting a new hobby. Perhaps gaming, video editing or graphic design, the equipment you would need to do it properly can be extremely expensive. If you don’t know how much you will love this new vocation, it can make better sense to spend the minimum on the tech you need, so it won’t result a huge, wasted outlay if you decide not to pursue it any further.

Our top refurbished tech

Laptop

The Dell Latitude E5450 laptop includes an Intel i5 5^th gen processor, 4GB DDR and 320GB HDD but can have a variety of upgrades added in order to make it more suitable to your individual needs. It starts at just £260.

Desktop

The HP Compaq Pro 6300 PC comes with an i5 3^rd gen Intel processor, 4GB DDR memory and 250GB HDD included. However, you can upgrade many of the elements to your own personal requirements too. Before upgrades, the price is incredible at just £120.

Gaming PC

This HST Seven G Series gaming PC is perfect for those starting out in the gaming world. It includes 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD and a 2GB NVIDIA GT710 graphics card but is also open to upgrades, so if you want a little more, you can easily get it. It starts at just £269.

Well, 2021 seems to have started in an even more strange way than 2020 ended and we find ourselves confined to home once again. So if you have exhausted your at-home hobbies and are looking for something different to try, have you considered gaming? At HST, we think gaming is seriously underrated so we’ve put together this blog to help you see why you should make gaming your New Year’s resolution. After all, it’s never too late to make a resolution that will give you a great deal of enjoyment as well as other benefits too!

Entertainment for hours

We’ve all been concerned with our personal safety of late so self-protection has been key. But there is only so much you can watch on TV, books you can read and scrolling on your phone before you want something more stimulating. Gaming is the perfect activity because it will occupy you and allow you to flex your brain muscles in a fun and exciting way. Today’s games are so well-designed that they will engage you in ways other forms of entertainment simply will not. There are different universes, worlds, challenges, quests, levels, opponents, battles and so much more to contend with that you can choose ones which will suit you. The incredible graphics used will place more demands on your machine so a basic PC can’t handle it. If you’re starting out on your gaming lifestyle, something such as the HST Seven G Series gaming PC is perfect. It has 8GB of RAM and a 500GB SATA HDD as standard but is customisable too. In terms of graphics, it has a Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card too.

Stay social even when alone

For those who live alone, it can be incredibly hard to remain connected to any kind of social life when you can only see others outside and the weather is atrocious. Gaming online is one of the easiest ways to interact with others, make new friends and generally feel a part of something. And it’s perfectly safe too! Of course, you’ll need certain kit to make this happen such as a headset and so on. But when you buy the right bundle from HST, it’s included! Take a look at the HST F3 gaming dual screen bundle. Being able to develop a network of like-minded individuals who you can pass the time with is not only beneficial for those who live alone, but for anyone who wants to have their own hobbies and interests. This full set up gives you everything you need to be fully connected to get the most out of your online gaming experience.

Cerebral development

Gaming might seem a huge waste of time for those who are not in the know. But the reality is it can be excellent for cognitive processes and so much more besides. The simple act of using your brain in these ways will develop your strategic thinking capabilities, hand eye coordination, concentration skills and it can even help to improve your memory!

The reality of gaming is that it can enhance your life in many different ways both during a period of lockdown and after it too. From finding new interests, to making new friends, joining a community and even developing cognitive skills, you’ll benefit in so many ways. And whilst gaming kit can seem expensive, with the different gaming PCs on offer from HST, it can be more affordable than you think. Our machines are refurbished making them not only great quality (tested and verified by qualified technicians), they come with a 1-year warranty and are great value for money too. If you need any advice at all, give the experts at HST a call and we’ll be happy to help.

With 2020 well and truly behind us, it is time to look forward to the year ahead. So far, it is starting out in a similar way to 2020 but there is a bright future, certainly in the tech world. In fact, throughout last year, our reliance on technology was at its peak and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of this changing throughout 2021. Teaching for children is online, working from home is a necessity not a luxury, and we are even having to ‘see’ family via digital means. So let’s take a look at the top tech trends to expect in 2021…

More working from home

Offices have been forced to close on and off for months and throughout that time, not only employees but employers have seen huge benefit (beyond the protection against deadly viruses of course!). Work life balances have been greatly improved for many, there has been a benefit to the environment thanks to a reduction in pollutants from commuting, it has enabled staff to save money and productivity has improved. From an employer point of view, they have seen an increase in engagement due to this better balance for staff and improved productivity is always beneficial to a business. Sick rates (non-Covid related) have improved and attrition is likely to be better in the long run if staff are happier. Furthermore, companies can reduce the amount of office space they require which will save money. But all of this means there will be yet more working from home in 2021 and therefore employees need the right kit to ensure they can do their jobs properly. They will need power and speed which is offered in machines such as this Dell OptiPlex 7020 Intel i5 with Monitor Bundle. The extra monitor will be extremely useful when working from home.

Digitisation of communications

Laptops, tablets and of course smart phones mean that everyone is better connected than ever and with all this extra time on our hands, we are spending more than ever with our tech toys. This means that we expect to be able to communicate digitally at pretty much all times. Whether it’s a Zoom call with family to celebrate special occasions, or getting in touch with a company without having to get stuck in a long wait in a call centre or even just being able to order whatever we need from clothes to takeaway food, we all want to communicate online. This will continue for many years to come without a doubt and if you need something for your own personal comms, look no further than this HP EliteBook X360 G2 2-IN-1 Convertible Laptop with Intel i5 processor. With a touchscreen and tablet functionality it will be great for all purposes.

Tech for entertainment

With more free time than ever before, more and more of us have got used to entertaining ourselves with our tech toys and this will continue throughout 2021 and beyond. So you need to ensure you get the right stuff for your personal preferences. If gaming is your thing, then why not treat yourself to a high performance machine (with extras) such as this HST Seven G Series GT710 NVIDIA Gaming PC Bundle? It has all the elements you need to ensure your gaming experience is second to none including an Intel G Series processor, an Intel 2^nd Gen Motherboard and 2GB NVIDIA GT710 graphics card.

So why not make 2021 your year to embrace technology into your life even more? It’s one key way to pass the time in challenging periods and have a great time whilst you do!

Christmas is right around the corner and we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy time in these odd circumstances we find ourselves in. We are sure you have all your tech-based presents sorted and under the tree and we hope everyone will enjoy messing about with their new kit over the break.

Whilst 2020 has certainly been one of the strangest years, we’re still going to take a little look back at our top picks of tech for the year. Check them out here:

The best gaming PC

We didn’t have gaming PCs for sale for a while but we missed them so much we HAD to bring them back. And what a range we have. We’ve sold many different types over the year but the HST Seven i5 Quad Core has to be one of the best we offer in terms of performance and value for money. It starts at just £349 and has all the kit to enable you to play the games you love, plus comes with a widescreen monitor. There are multiple upgrade options too, if you want a little more from it.

The convertible laptop

Everyone loves a laptop and how portable it is. They can be extremely user-friendly and with the better performance and battery power of today, they can be great for work and play. The technology is advancing so well that ones such as this HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2 2-IN-1 Convertible Laptop. It has a fast dual-core processor and the screen flips so you can use it as a screen or a tablet too and starts at £499.

Best entry-level PC

We offer some great value PCs that are refurbished so you get more bang for your buck, without worrying about quality – they are all tested and verified by our exert technicians and come with a 1-year warranty. If you, or someone you know, needs a basic machine for web browsing, emails, word processing and so on, you won’t go far wrong with the Dell OptiPlex 790 PC Intel Core i3. It’ll meet all your basic needs and starts at just £95 before any upgrades are added.

Best top-end PC

For those of you who need a little more capability out of their PC, then we can offer some impressive power, again at great value. These PCs are also refurbished, offering all the benefits that brings from excellent value to the assurances of trusted engineers rebuilding them to a high spec. Take a look at this HST Optimus+ Intel i5 9400 which is fully customisable to give you even more tech to process what you need it to. It starts from £449 and has a range of benefits included already.

So that’s our round-up of the best kit of 2020!

We look forward to hearing from you all in 2021 and we hope that it pans out a little better than this year has! Despite what goes on in the world, keep checking our site and our social media and we will not only bring you amazing PCs, gaming PCs and laptops, we’ll also have some great offers for you to take advantage of too!

Have a great Christmas and happy New Year from all at HST.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, you may well be looking forward to some time to relax. It will no doubt be a little different than usual this year, with less time spent socialising with friends and family. And whilst this might not pose a problem for some, it will do for others. It also needs to be acknowledged that this year in general has been very different to what we have been used to. This might make us feel differently about the period in general and we need to be extremely mindful of looking after ourselves, as well as each other.

So what do we mean by that? Well, the challenges this year have been based around not seeing loved ones, a break in routine, anxiety about the dangers and the changes in lifestyle and for many they have been financial too. Even those who have seemingly had an ‘easier’ time of it may well have experienced some difficulties so it is important that we respect the fact we don’t know what others have been going through. Here are a few tips on how to ensure you practice self-care over the festive period:

Take time for yourself

This is really important as we can often feel like we are pulled in many different directions throughout the course of the year. When it comes to a period of rest, you need to ensure you spend some time doing the things that will allow you to recharge your batteries. For some, this might be sporting pursuits. But for others it might be becoming immersed in your online fantasy gaming world for some true escapism. If you are in the latter group, make sure you have the right kit, now and in the future with a machine such as this HST Seven G Series Customisable Gaming PC. It has all the features you will need to have an excellent gaming experience including 500GB 3.5” SATA HDD and Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card.

Connect with the ones you care about

You might not be able to see them much physically, but you CAN see them virtually so make sure you, and they, have the right facilities set up to make this happen as frequently as you need to. All you need it a laptop or laptop-tablet hybrid and you’ll be able to have video calls, send emails and interact over social media to your heart’s content! Have a look at something like this HP EliteBook X360 G2 2-in-1 convertible laptop. It has an Intel i5 7^th gen processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD so it’ll be able to hold a steady connection for your virtual chats!

Spend some time outdoors

Whilst the weather might not be the greatest at this time of year, if you wrap up, you won’t even notice! Getting some fresh air, having some exercise and taking time out of busy lives can recharge your batteries like nothing else and will give you a mental boost. You can also take the opportunity to go for a socially-distanced walk with friends and you might even see some sunshine too. But even if it’s a little grey, the health benefits of seeing daylight hours are well-documented. It’ll help you sleep and help your body make vitamin D.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

This year has been a difficult one so if you find yourself wanting to just do nothing for a while, or aren’t as productive as usual, try not to allow feelings of guilt to wash over you. This also extends to others too – try not to be too critical of them either, as you don’t know what battles they are facing. By being more tolerant, you’ll find this helps your overall mood too and we could all do with being a little kinder, couldn’t we?

Take time out for yourself this festive period and allow yourself to reset after what has been a hard year for all. You won’t regret it and you’ll be ready to start 2021 with a fresh new outlook and a positive mindset.

It may only be November, but we can’t avoid the Christmas conversation any longer and the most organised amongst us will be boxing off their shopping in no time at all. At HST, we obviously think that the perfect Christmas present always revolves around some new kit. Whether that be for a gamer, a student or even just an avid online shopper. We all use technology all the time so having the best to suit your needs would always be a welcome present! Plus, it doesn’t have to cost as much as you think.

So if you’re struggling with choosing the perfect Christmas present, here is some inspiration for your loved ones who might have something technical on their wish list. Take a look:

For the beginner

If you need to buy a gift for someone who is just starting out with their technology, we have plenty of suitable options. It could be for a tween starting secondary school or even a grandparent who wants to get connected to the outside world after being isolated for a long time. Whoever you are buying for, you won’t need to spend a fortune and buy them a machine capable of landing a man on the moon. Instead, a straightforward PC will be more than ample to handle whatever they need to use it for – browsing the net, emails, word processing and so on. This Dell OptiPlex 790 PC is perfect for all of this and at just £95, it’s a bargain too. It comes with an Intel i3 2^nd generation processor and 4GB DDR3 so will handle everything quickly enough, but you can upgrade elements if you so desire.

For the tech-lover

If there is someone on the list who seems to have everything because they don’t do much other than spend time tinkering with tech, then it seems that the perfect Christmas present for them would be to buy something they would get a lot of use out of. Such as a high-performance machine like this HST Optimus Customisable PC which starts at £470. It has an Intel Core i5-9400 2.9GHz, 8GB 2400Mhz Adata Premier RAM and Adata 256GB Ultimate SU800 M.2 SSD. But more than that, it can be customised to suit their needs perfectly. Yes, you might have to do some digging, but it will be worth it!

For the gamer

Gamers are notoriously pedantic when it comes to the spec of their kit and with good reason – it can really affect the quality of the experience. That’s why at HST we make sure out gaming PCs are incredible, like this HST F3 Gaming PC with dual screen bundle. It gives everything the gamer would want including keyboard, mouse, headset and two monitors plus it comes in blue or red! It includes 500GB 3.5" SATA HDD, XUM 8GB DDR3 and Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card so they will really feel part of whatever world they play in. It’s worth every penny at just £399.

For the socialiser

If you know someone who (prior to lockdown, of course) always seemed to be out and about, then a laptop is most likely to be their preferred method of getting online. This HP EliteBook 840 G2 Ultrabook is incredible value for money at just £240 and is powerful enough to handle multiple applications. It has an Intel i5-5300U processor, 4GB DDR3L memory and 250GB HDD. But again, it can be customised to suit individual needs. It’s a great, portable size offering everything needed whilst on the go.

At HST, our machines are refurbished to the highest standard so you know you are getting excellent quality all tested and verified by qualified technicians. It means you get a great price, plus they all come with a 1-year warranty so neither you, nor the recipient, will need to worry. So why not treat your loved ones to the perfect Christmas present from HST and get your Christmas shopping sorted sooner rather than later?

Now the second lockdown is well underway, it is possible you are in one of two positions. On the one hand, you might have learnt a lot from the last one or alternatively you are feeling stuck and bored once again. There are, of course, a multitude of ways to entertain yourself but if you’re into technology, one of the best ways (in our opinion) is to invest in some more kit. And do we have some new kit ready and waiting for you! We’ve recently added a range of gaming PCs to our site and we’re going to show you the pick of the bunch. When buying a PC from us, you will most likely be buying a refurbished machine that has been fully wiped, rebuilt then checked and verified by our team of experts. To give you extra peace of mind, they all come with a 1-year warranty as standard (which you can extend if preferred) too.

So read on to find out more about our favourite additions to our collection of gaming PCs…

HST F3 G Series

Coming in at the lowest end of the price range, this HST F3 G Series is incredible value for money at just £269. Its superior specification means it is perfect for playing high quality games long into the night and the Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card will ensure all the images look great too. It benefits from DDR3 SDRAM which has the ability to transfer data at twice the rate of its predecessor, the DDR2 SDRAM. It enables a higher bandwidth or peak data rates and has a quadrupled clock signal, conducting two transfers per cycle and this, coupled with the 64-bit wide DDR3 module, will enable a transfer rate of up to 64-times the memory clock speed. A range of other features make sure that this machine will do everything you should want it to, at a price you can afford - it's one of our best lower budget gaming PCs. But if you can stretch a little further and want to get more out of it, select a few of the optional upgrades and you’ll get even more storage, speed and power.

HST Seven i5 Quad Core

The first thing you notice about one of these gaming PCs is its incredible look which puts it on a par with even the priciest of gaming machines. But at £389, it’s still an excellent price to pay for all the fun you can have with it. It’s got an Intel i5 2nd generation processor, 500GB 3.5" SATA hard disk drive and comes with XUM 8GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM. The Nvidia GT710 2GB graphics card has 3D Vision Technology which, when configured with Nvidia GPUs, NVIDIA 3D Vision active shutter glasses and display, delivers stereoscopic 3D images for gamers, film lovers and photo enthusiasts alike.

HST Radier i5 Quad Core

Heading into the more elite gaming world is the HST Radier i5 Quad Core, which starts at £414 before upgrades are added. Its Intel Core i5 2nd Generation CPU has 4 cores and 4 threads operating at a frequency of 2.50 - 3.30Ghz. When it comes to the graphics, it benefits from the same cards as the previous two gaming PCs and it is worth mentioning that there are a few extra features including:

PhysX – this conducts accurate physics simulations to ensure games feel filled with life and movement.

Adaptive V-sync – this prevents the frame rate from stuttering and having the screen tearing as it is a smarter way to render frames.

DirectX 12 – this is the graphics technology from Microsoft which powers most of today’s premium games. The latest version offers tessellation for film-like geometric detail.

The CiT Raider case comes with its own benefits which you can read all about before speaking to one of our tech experts to make the right purchase for you. But rest assured, as gaming PCs go, it's one of the best and looks amazing too.

If you’re in any doubt as to which of the gaming PCs is right for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help. Passing the hours gaming on outstanding kit will certainly make lockdowns pass more quickly than many other activities so don’t delay!

In a comparatively short space of time, we have gone from having very little technology, and certainly very little in the home, to carrying a device in our pockets which is millions of times more powerful than the Apollo 11 guidance computers. Quite something when you think that the first mobile phone was only launched in 1973 and the first computer was finished in 1946. In less than 75 years, we have seen the world adapt to these new technologies beyond belief so much so that we now feel lost without it in our hand.

Fundamentally, technology has evolved to become much more intuitive than before, faster and can assist so many different areas of our lives. Those who don’t wish to be fully seduced by technology might challenge this but think about it; shopping has changed forever. Now we order things online to be delivered the next day with just a quick swipe. Our food shop is stored in our accounts and can be replicated week in, week out. Emails arrive in our inbox when we are just about to run out of our grooming products and you get adverts to remind you of how close you were to that last purchase.

And it’s not just shopping, it’s interacting and even socialising – particularly right now. Virtual, video ‘parties’ are commonplace. Our actions are no longer shared in conversations but in digital check ins and an abundance of photo uploads. Getting to destinations is a breeze and we can even see accurately how long it will take us thanks to the likes of Google Maps tracking the speed at which Android users are moving down the highways. We’re always on line and we need the tech to suit it.

The humble PC

Whilst we might have a smart phone capable of powering a rocket into space in our pocket, the PC is still one of the most widely used pieces of tech and with good reason. Still powerful enough to conduct the functions we need it to, the beauty of a PC in some ways is that it can be left behind when the time comes to step away from work and return to a family or social life. Allowing you to sit ergonomically at a desk so you don’t suffer health complaints, you can have a good set up with multiple monitors, keyboard and mouse to ensure you can accomplish all your tasks with ease for extended periods of time. Take a look at this HST Optimus+ Intel i5 9400, which will be powerful and fast enough for work and a little play too, if gaming is your thing to unwind.

Laptops

A laptop may spend more time on a desk or table than on your lap itself, but the beauty of it is that you CAN have it on your lap if needed and more importantly, that you can take it wherever you need to go. The early inventors of computers might never have predicted that computers would ever be this small but thank goodness they are! And now, batteries can last for hours and there can be significant processing power too, to ensure you can complete whatever you need to, wherever you need to. The Dell Latitude E7470 i5 is one of our favourite laptops thanks to its power, size and price.

Hybrids

The advent of smart phone technology has of course forced us all into accepting touchscreens as part of our daily lives. And this is also now being more widely adopted across the more traditional tech too. You’ll find it in PCs but largely in laptops which can double as a tablet such as this HP EliteBook X360 2-in-1 convertible. Multi-functional, it’s the perfect accessory for the modern world to allow you to do whatever it is you need to whilst on the move.

But what about the future? It’s hard to think where tech might lead us in the years to come, having had so many advances so far. But its use will be even more prevalent. We’re already seeing it helping to overcome the challenges posed by the current global pandemic from online ordering in bars and restaurants to limit human contact, to notifying us of when we have been exposed to a potentially lethal virus. Artificial intelligence is likely to be the next big focus and who knows where that may take us? But regardless of what’s next, it will no doubt be exciting and enhance our lives even further.

Changing rules every day mean many of us are struggling to know where we are up to and what we can and can’t do. There isn’t an immediate end in sight so the best thing to do is to stay at home as much as you can to keep yourself and others safe. But if staying at home fill you with a sense of horror at just how dull it will be, we are here to tell you how to beat the boredom!

Maybe it’s time to try something new with your tech to mix it up and give yourself a new challenge. If you’re already an avid gamer, perhaps you could try getting into coding for a change. Or if you use your tech for standard web browsing, social media and work, maybe it’s time you saw what all the gaming fuss is about?

Enter a whole new world

It’s very easy to dismiss gaming as something that’s not for you, for kids only and maybe that it’s not cool enough in your opinion. But how much do you really know about it? Yes, there are niche games out there which will most certainly not suit all tastes but are you aware of everything that’s available? Unless you’ve had more than a passing interest in gaming, the chances are you don’t really. You might think they are all fantasy worlds with dragons and warlocks, none of which holds any interest for you. But the reality is you can play a whole variety of games that can even exercise your grey matter. Military strategy, sporting pursuits, beat ‘em up, racing and even casual crime – the options are endless. And let’s not forget about the MMORP games. Massively multiplayer online role-playing games are a new-ish way of gaming that allows you to enter a world with others meaning you are not playing alone which is something that has no doubt been valuable during these strange times of isolation.

The right kit for gaming

Given we don’t know what the immediate future holds, if you are considering trying a bit of gaming to stave off any potential boredom, you’ll need a machine that can handle it. You might think your PC is pretty fast as it can process whatever work things you throw at it. But just wait until you try one of today’s game on it. The superiority of the graphics alone demands a high enough quality card. Take a look at these machines which will look after your gaming needs but will also be able to do what you need in your professional life too:

HST Optimus Ryzen 5 3400G 8GB Home/Office Customisable PC

This impressive machine has a range of key features including a Ryzen CPU that is well-suited to gaming thanks to its 3.7GHz speed, a stock cooler will ensure it doesn’t overheat too. It has 8GB of Adata Premier RAM as standard and an M.2 SSD 256GB Ultimate SU800 M.2 SSD from Adata too. The motherboard is Asrock A320M-HDV with multiple outputs (VGA, HDMI, DVI-D). And most importantly it has a Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics card with an Asus DRW-24D5MT x24 optical drive. You can also customise this machine to increase its specification if you want even more from it. But this will be more than enough for a first-time gamer!

HST Black Steel A10 9700 Quad Core Multimedia Customisable PC Bundle

This will look stylish wherever you house it and benefits from a great range of features such as an AMD A10 9700 CPU that has 3.5GHz. It also has 8GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2.400MHz and the same motherboard as the previous machine; an Asrock A320M-HDV. The graphics are provided by an on-board Radeon R7 card and the optical drive ASUS DVD R/W. This machine can also be upgraded but another key benefit is that it comes as part of a bundle so you won’t need to purchase anything else with it. Unless you want to of course!

Gaming might have a certain reputation but the intelligence and design that goes into them is nothing short of impressive, whether you want to play them or not. If you’ve always considered, why not take the plunge now and occupy your time at home with a new hobby?