Al Bickham

Al Bickham

Hardware writer

Al's games-and-tech quilling began on PC Gamer Specials magazine in the year 2000, before moving on to PC Format and then out into game development. In the last 23 years he’s reviewed a bajillion games and assorted pieces of hardware, spent 13 years in game dev, built PCs, dry-stone walls, and ebikes, and logged 1000 hours in Fallout 76. His current obsessions are tiny PCs and sledgehammering every single object in Dysmantle into its constituent parts.  

Latest articles by Al Bickham

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT mini PC and AtomMan Venus UM790 mini PCs

Best mini PCs in 2024: The compact computers I love the most

By Al Bickham last updated

Teeny Peecees Looking for a super-compact games machine? Look no further.

Teeny Peecees
Beelink SER9 Mini PC on a wood background

Beelink SER9 mini PC review

By Al Bickham published

Strix-y A lovely little box of Strix.

Strix-y
Beelink GTi 12 mini PC

Beelink GTi 12 and EX Docking Station review

By Al Bickham published

One of a kind Fast, cheap, and oddly unique.

One of a kind
Assorted external GPU pictures

Thunderbolt vs OCuLink external GPU interface-off or: Why I wouldn't touch Thunderbolt with a bargepole for gaming

By Al Bickham published

Outside PC TL;DR: eGPU setups aren't coming for your desktop gaming PC anytime soon.

Outside PC
Zotac Zbox Magnus One gaming PC

Zotac Zbox Magnus One PC review

By Al Bickham published

Shoebox PC Desktop-level gaming performance in a sexy shoebox chassis.

Shoebox PC
Geekom AX8 Pro mini PC

Geekom AX8 Pro mini PC review

By Al Bickham published

The miniest Tiny but mighty. The AX8 Pro is not just a mini PC, it's the miniest PC.

The miniest
Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT mini PC

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT mini PC review

By Al Bickham published

Atomic The most cost-effective way to get a mini-PC with a discrete GPU.

Atomic
Minisforum Venus UM790 Pro mini PC

Minisforum Venus UM790 Pro mini PC review

By Al Bickham published

Smol and cool Compact, surprisingly powerful, and never breaks a sweat.

Smol and cool
Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti

Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti mini PC review

By Al Bickham published

Unpredictable A powerful mini PC with cutting-edge mobile tech, outstanding cooling, but oddly mercurial graphics performance.

Unpredictable
Ayaneo Retro Mini AM02 mini PC

Ayaneo Retro Mini AM02 mini PC review

By Al Bickham published

Awwww A gorgeous little retro-themed PC that is right at home playing retro and indie games on your TV.

Awwww
Asus ROG NUC 970 mini gaming PC

ASUS ROG NUC 970 mini gaming PC review

By Al Bickham published

All the money 1440p power in a tight and compact package, but at what cost?

All the money
LOTRWN 4

The Lord of the Rings: The War in the North preview

By Al Bickham published

Games
Total War Shogun 2 19

Total War: Shogun 2 review

By Al Bickham published

Strategy
The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings Thumbnail

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings preview

By Al Bickham published

The Witcher
Rift Screen 25

Rift: Planes of Telara Preview

By Al Bickham published

MMO
Shogun 2 story trailer

Shogun 2 multiplayer tested: clan warfare comes to Total War

By Al Bickham published

Strategy
total war shogun 2 capture_the_flag

Hands on: Shogun 2’s siege battles

By Al Bickham published

Strategy
starcraft 2 patch

Interview: Chris Sigaty talks Starcraft 2 pro strategy

By Al Bickham published

RTS
Quake live review - skelly explode

Quake Live review

By Al Bickham published

FPS
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Darksiders review

By Al Bickham published

Action
21454Campaign_1

Shogun 2: Total War campaign impressions

By Al Bickham published

Strategy
Amnesia 1

Amnesia: The Dark Descent review

By Al Bickham published

Survival & Crafting
amnesia thumb

The Wednesday Interview - Amnesia: The Dark Descent

By Al Bickham published

Survival & Crafting

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