From DIY weather and radio stations to a distro-hopping machine, there’s no shortage of fun projects you can build with a Raspberry Pi. That said, many of these ideas require some extra devices, sensors, or HATs for maximum efficiency. Having built dozens of practical, cool, and downright deranged projects over the years, here are some devices I always carry with my Raspberry Pi.

Ask any home lab enthusiast about the best way to self-host your favorite services, and you’ll hear the name Docker crop up now and again. While it’s undoubtedly the most popular containerization platform in the home server landscape, you’ve got several other options at your disposal.

When you see people comparing GPUs, things like FPS per watt aren't usually at the top. Users like to see how much performance they're getting for the price. Getting a more power-efficient GPU is always a bonus, but it's rarely a deal-breaker for gamers or enthusiasts. If you're a laptop user, however, things can look pretty different pretty fast. The same is the case with HTPC users or those running a workstation, where power bills might be a bigger concern.

Gaming on Linux is now viable enough that there's little reason to keep Windows installed unless there's an app or service you absolutely must run on Microsoft's OS. The various Linux distros offer impressive gaming experiences, especially on AMD and Intel hardware. AMD recently launched the Radeon RX 90 series, and I played around with the RX 9070 XT using Fedora and version 6.13.5 of the kernel. AMD's Linux drivers are baked into the kernel itself, so nothing else was required to enjoy the latest and greatest AMD GPUs, aside from FSR support.

A staple in gaming, MOBA games have dominated the landscape, partially on PC, for years. With massive player bases that rival and often surpass other genres, there’s a ton of fun to find in these games.

After integrating a network-attached storage (NAS) into your work or personal life, the next big step is to secure your data. While there are plenty of ways to keep your data safe on your NAS, encryption may stand out as something that enables maximum security against various kinds of threats. After all, you hold the encryption key, so nobody else can access your data, making encryption a no-brainer — but is it?

Ever since gaming PCs have been a thing, Windows has been the operating system of choice. However, Microsoft hasn't had the same success with handhelds. After the Steam Deck, SteamOS proved itself to be a better gaming system than Windows, and people began trying to get Valve's system onto their handhelds. Now, Valve has reportedly declared war on Windows by prepping a public release for SteamOS so you can turn anything you want into a Steam Deck.

A while ago, Microsoft rolled out an update that forced everyone's computers to upgrade to the new Outlook app. People weren't pleased, partially because it was done without their consent, but mainly because it was a pretty big step backward from the old app, with missing features and performance issues abound. Fortunately, there's a big "Go to classic Outlook" button in the client that lets you flee this nightmare and go back to more familiar pastures...that is, if the button actually worked.

Whether it's a festival or an occasion, gifting is a common practice to show gratitude towards the people around you. While it's definitely a wonderful gesture, there may be times when you forget to pick up a gift for a loved one. It could be because you were too caught up with work, or you just forgot it was someone's birthday. That's not the situation you want to be in, especially with close friends and family members. But, if you somehow end up there, don't worry. If you have a 3D printer, there are a ton of simple yet nice gifts you can 3D print -- some of which are quite functional too!

We've seen this SSD discounted before, and at $65 it was still a pretty good deal. But with this latest discount, Newegg is taking things to a whole new level. For a limited time, you can score Crucial's P310 1TB SSD for just $55 as it drops to its lowest price yet. While Newegg is offering a sizable discount, you're going to need to use the coupon code "CRUCDSFFTEN45" during checkout in order to get the price down to its lowest.

One of the cornerstones of any home lab is a powerful firewall to learn the ins and outs of traffic control, packet inspection, and other important security tools. While there are a ton of options for use, pfSense and its fork OPNsense are often used, partly because they're free to use, but also because there is a wealth of information out there to help guide you through initial setup stages and any complex scenarios you might want to create.

Pre-owned PC hardware has always been the savior for both budget builders and those who want to maximize value for money even when buying high-end components. In today's GPU market, however, going pre-owned isn't just an optional way to build a PC; it has almost become a necessity. Saving money is just a side effect of buying a used GPU — most people don't even have the luxury of seeing GPUs in stock. And when they find one available, it's usually marked up by several times the MSRP.