The First Berserker: Khazan is an upcoming Soulslike game based on the iconic Dungeon & Fighter universe. The game is set to release on all major platforms in the coming months. While console players wont need to worry about hardware, PC players must ensure their system meets the requirements.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Were a couple weeks into 2025, and all the excitement of 2024s Black Friday season is behind us. But that doesnt mean some of the best deals arent still surfacing. Walmart once again has the LG B3 OLED going for just $798 for a 55-inch modelthis is the lowest price yet, matching their Black Friday deal. And with an OLED panel, this model is ready to challenge the many QLED displays you might be seeing at a sub-$1000 price. LG B3 OLED 55-inch TV $798.00 at Walmart $1,199.00 Save $401.00 Get Deal Get Deal $798.00 at Walmart $1,199.00 Save $401.00 The LG B3 OLED sits as something of a budget version of the LG C3, which PC Mag gave an "outstanding" rating in their review for its color, contrast, and design. The LG B3 carries over a lot of those same qualities. The OLED panel naturally has exceptional contrast, as black pixels simply turn off to deliver contrast that LCD-based panels cant match. And the B3 gets a similarly wide color gamut for beautiful visuals. These visual talents are paired with the LG B3s support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content.The LG B3 also has much in store for gamers. The display can run at up to 120Hz with both ALLM (auto low latency mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), allowing for super-smooth, responsive, clear gaming. Thats on top of another advantage OLED panels bring: their super-fast pixel response time, which helps avoid motion blur in games.

Sometimes, the best gaming headset doesnt need to be a gaming headset at all. While many people view these devices as their own niche, theyre ultimately still headphones, just with a boom mic and some fancy branding attached. While the general quality of dedicated headsets has improved over time, they still tend to cost more compared to a good pair of wired headphones (which, yes, still exist). If you need to chat with friends, you can always buy a microphone separately and get superior sound quality there as well.That said, we understand that many people just want the convenience of a headset with a mic built right in. So after testing dozens of contenders over the past couple of years, weve rounded up a few commendable gaming headsets and headphones that work well for gaming. As youll see, the two arent quite the same thing. Whichever way you go, though, all of our picks should make your game time more enjoyable, no matter which platform you use, and whether you play competitively or just for fun. What to look for in good gaming headphones The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Evaluating headphones is a particularly subjective exercise, so calling one pair the absolute best is something of a fools errand. At a certain point, whether you're an audiophile or not, everything becomes a matter of taste. For most, a headphone with a wide soundscape and strong imaging performance i.e., the ability to position sounds correctly, so you can more precisely tell where footsteps and other game effects are coming from will provide the most immersive gaming experience, the kind that makes you feel like your head is within a given scene. For that, you want a high-quality pair of open-back headphones. That is to say, an over-ear pair whose ear cups do not completely seal off the ear from air and outside noise. These are inherently terrible at isolating you from external sound and preventing others from hearing what youre playing, so if you often play games in a noisy environment, their benefits will be blunted. But in a quiet room, the best open-back pairs sound significantly wider and more precise than more common closed-back models. More up for debate is how a good gaming headphone should sound. If you want something thatll help you in competitive multiplayer games, you may prefer a headphone with a flatter sound signature, which'll keep a games mix from being overly boosted in one direction and is less likely to mask the smaller details of whats happening around you. A slightly brighter sound, one that pushes the upper frequencies a tad, may also work. Open-back headphones almost never have huge sub-bass, so you rarely have to worry about low-end sounds muddying up the rest of the signature. In this light, the fact that an overwhelming amount of gaming headsets are closed-back and bass-heavy seems counterintuitive. Lots of people love bass, though. And if you don't really care about competitive play, some extra low-end can add a touch of excitement to action scenes or rousing soundtracks. You still dont want a pair that boosts the low-end too hard as many gaming headsets do but the point is that what makes a pair immersive to one person may sound dull to another. Other gaming headsets we tested The PlayStation Pulse Elite. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Note: This is a selection of noteworthy gaming headsets and headphones weve put through their paces, not a comprehensive list of everything weve ever tried. PlayStation Pulse Elite (and Pulse Explore) The PlayStation Pulse Elite is a reasonable alternative to the Turtle Beach Atlas Air for PS5 owners, as it allows you to change volume, swap between different EQ presets, adjust the game-to-chat mix and mute the mic right from the consoles native UI. Its similar to the way AirPods integrate with iPhones. This pair also lets you connect to a second device over Bluetooth at the same time, and the planar magnetic drivers a rarity for $150 headphones do a decent job of reproducing smaller details. The sound profile as a whole is narrower and more uneven in the bass and treble than the Atlas Air, however, while the all-plastic design is comfortable but flimsy-feeling. It also doesnt do much to block outside noise, despite being closed-back, and the control buttons are awkward to reach. We also tested the in-ear version of these headphones, the PlayStation Pulse Explore, but found it too uncomfortable to wear over extended sessions. That one is limited to roughly five hours of battery life, too. Astro A50 (Gen 5) The Astro A50 (Gen 5) is effectively the same headset as the A50X, just without any HDMI ports on its base station. It costs $80 less, so its a worthy alternative to the Audeze Maxwell if you mainly play on one platform and want a superior microphone. But the ability to automatically switch between consoles is the thing that makes the A50X worth buying in the first place, so that convenience is still worth paying for if you game on multiple devices. The Corsair Virtuoso Pro. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Corsair Virtuoso Pro The $200 Corsair Virtuoso Pro is another one of the few dedicated gaming headsets with an open-back design. It has a relatively dark sound with mostly underemphasized treble and elevated upper-bass, though the highs are clearer here than they are on the Astro A40, and it still delivers a wider soundstage than most gaming headsets. We preferred this signature over Astros pair with some games, though in others it felt less balanced. The Virtuoso Pros mic is decidedly less muffled than the A40s but still sounds fairly thin, so its merely decent compared to the wider headset market. Its headband adjustment mechanism feels cheap, too, and you cant detach the mic without swapping cables out entirely. Its round, breathable ear cups and manageable weight do make it easy to wear, though, and it comes with a sturdy travel case for protection. Ultimately, its a decent buy, but its hard to justify over the more featured and easier-sounding Atlas Air. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless can last well over 300 hours at moderate volumes, which is remarkable and by far the best of any wireless model weve tested. Its light and not too snug on the head, and its powerful bass lends a real sense of excitement to in-game action. But it blunts more detail than the Atlas Air, Maxwell and A50 X, and its mic isnt as good. Several users have also reported latency issues when using the headset with HyperXs Ngenuity software, and theres no Xbox, Bluetooth or wired audio support. Still, if battery life is paramount, you may be able to look past all of that. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed If the Audeze Maxwell is out of stock, the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is another quality wireless headset worth considering. It sounds better than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, with satisfying but more controlled bass and more accurate mids, and its lighter on the head than the Maxwell. Logitech rates its battery life at 50 hours, but we found it to last much longer at moderate volumes. However, similar to the Astro A50 X, a dip in the treble makes it sound darker and more veiled than the Maxwell, and it doesnt have any HDMI-switching tricks to fall back on. Its mic also sounds less natural than those of the Maxwell, A50 X and Cloud Alpha Wireless. Plus, while it can connect over a USB dongle, Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable, it cant pair to two devices at once like Audezes and Astros pairs. Our biggest issue is the price: Value-wise, its in something of a no mans land at its MSRP of $250. Its a fine choice if it dips below $200, though. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro The wireless Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is tremendously comfortable and has a good mic, but its boomy sound is less refined and detailed than the Audeze Maxwell. As a closed-back headset, it also lacks the width of the Atlas Air. Theres no support for wired audio either. Logitech G535 Lightspeed The Logitech G535 is an impressively light (0.52 pounds) and comfy wireless headset thats often available for $100 or less. It has a relatively neutral sound signature: not flat, but not beholden to big, thumping bass. It can make details in the mids sound thin, and if anything it could use a little more sub-bass, but its an agreeable listen overall. However, its mic isn't especially full, and its 35-or-so-hour battery life is a significant drop from our top recommendations. It doesnt work with Xboxs wireless protocol or Bluetooth either, and it forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level. But if you dont want to spend a ton on a wireless headset, its a fine value. The Logitech G535 Lightspeed. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Xbox owners who want a more affordable wireless headset than the Audeze Maxwell could do worse than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X. Its another bass-forward pair, and its mic is comparable to that of the Cloud Alpha Wireless. It offers multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth and a 3.5mm cable. While it's marketed for Xbox, it can also connect to PCs and PS5s. Its 30-ish-hour battery life is well short of the Maxwell and Cloud Alpha Wireless, however, and its uneven treble can cause things like in-game dialogue to sound masked in certain titles. HyperX Cloud Alpha The wired HyperX Cloud Alpha often goes for $80 or less, and at that price its a decent middle ground between the Cloud Stinger 2 and Astro A40 if you really want a closed-back gaming headset. Its old, but its plush earpads and headband are comfy, and its detachable mic, while not superb, is still better than the one on the A40. Its treble is underemphasized, however, and again it sounds more in your head than Astro's pair. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is comfortable and has a noticeably clearer mic than the Astro A40. It also comes with a useful DAC that makes it easy to adjust the headsets EQ and game-to-chat mix on the fly. However, its closed-back design cant provide the same enveloping sense of width, and its default sound can sound piercing in the treble. Like the Virtuoso Pro, its also a bit too pricey, typically hovering in the $200 to $220 range. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is largely similar to its wired counterpart but adds a passable level of active noise cancellation. Being able to hot-swap battery packs and connect to multiple devices at once is also nice. Its not as convenient for multi-console play as the Astro A50 X, though, and it usually costs more than the Audeze Maxwell, which sounds better, has a superior mic and lasts longer on a charge. The Beyerdynamic MMX 200 (left) and HyperX Cloud III Wireless (right). Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Beyerdynamic MMX 200 The wireless Beyerdynamic MMX 200 locates in-game effects accurately, feels sturdy and has a great boom mic, but it sounds less articulate than the Audeze Maxwell, with heavily exaggerated bass and recessed lower-mids. There's no game-to-chat mix or custom EQ tools, which is tough for a $250 headset, and its 35-hour battery life is unremarkable. We also found its sweat-inducing ear cushions and headband to clamp down too tight for comfort. However, the built-in transparency mode is nice and the tight fit does a good job of isolating outside noise. Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro Theres nothing particularly bad about the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro: It uses the same drivers as the DT 900 Pro X, its velour earpads are comfy and its mic works well. Its just hard to recommend spending $300 on a wired-only headset when the Audeze Maxwell offers wireless functionality and similarly excellent sound with slightly less spiky treble and more even bass for the same price. The MMX 300 Pros mic isnt detachable either, and the closed-back design keeps it from sounding as wide as the DT 900 Pro X. HyperX Cloud III Wireless The HyperX Cloud III Wireless is comfy and can last up to 120 hours per charge but sounds less dynamic than the older Cloud Alpha Wireless, with weaker bass response. Like that pair, it also lacks a 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth audio support and Xbox compatibility. The Cloud Alpha Wireless still gets nearly three times the battery life, too, so it remains a better buy if you want a wireless headset for PC or PS5 in the $150 range. Sennheiser HD 490 Pro The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro are studio-focused open-back headphones that also work well for gaming. They come with two sets of ear pads, one that slightly elevates the bass and another that bumps the midrange, though they deliver impressive width and detail either way without pushing too hard in one direction. Theyre a pleasure to wear over long stretches, both lighter than the DT 900 Pro X and less stiff than the HD 560S. That said, they cost $400 and their sound profile is more of a nice alternative to our top picks than something clearly more natural or resolving. Most people dont need to pay the premium. Recent updates January 2025: Weve looked over this guide to ensure our picks are still accurate and added notes on a few more headsets weve recently tested, including the PlayStation Pulse Elite, Astro A50 (Gen 5) and Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro. November 2024: We've updated this guide with a new recommendation for the best dedicated gaming headset, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, and reorganized our picks accordingly. We've also added notes on other gaming-friendly headphones we've tested, including the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, and removed a couple of write-ups on headsets that are no longer available.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-gaming-headset-130006477.html?src=rss

Marvel snap is still unavailable in the US following TikTok ban.

When a red flag warning was issued in Los Angeles on January 7, a team at Amazon started reaching out to local nonprofits and fire agencies. In a warehouse outside the cityaround 60 miles east, in San Bernadino Countythe company had opened a wildfire disaster relief hub just months earlier, stocked with free firefighting equipment, from axes to boots to trauma kits.The hub, which sits inside part of a regular Amazon fulfillment center, is one of 14 disaster hubs that the company now runs around the world, donating all of the supplies and logistics support. The work started in 2017, after conversations with nonprofits about the challenges of logistics in a crisis. The more we spoke with first responders and nonprofits, we realized that its really, really hard to procure the right items at the speed that theyre needed, says Bettina Stix, director of disaster relief and food security for Amazon Community Impact. [Photo: Amazon]In some cases, roads are damaged or a disaster site is otherwise hard to reach. Its also typically difficult to find supplies in huge quantities. In L.A., for example, more than 7,500 firefighters and other first responders have been working on the ground.Amazon talks to nonprofits and government agencies well in advance of disasters to begin preparing pallets so theyre ready for delivery when theyre needed. Because each disaster is different, relief organizations argued at first that this type of pre-positioning wasnt possible. But as Amazon has worked with organizations over multiple disasters, it analyzes the data about what they use. Were able to say, in the last five disasters youve asked for these 10 items, she says.The supplies in each location vary based on which disasters are most likely. A disaster hub in Atlanta is stocked with supplies for hurricanes, for example, from temporary shelters to kits for cleaning up after flooding. The new hub in California opened last August as the first in the U.S. to focus on wildfires, built in recognition of the fact that climate change is making fires more likely and more extreme.[Photo: Amazon]For some organizations, the hubs help supplement existing warehouses. The Red Cross also has multiple warehouses across the U.S. stocked with supplies, but once there is a major disaster, these items really quickly get used, says Stix. And they dont have time to stock up for a second disaster. So what often happens with the Red Cross is theyre starting to come to us with requests for those second disasters.Other organizations dont have a stockpile of supplies themselves, and would have had to find the products and then separately deal with the challenge of finding a broker to supply trucks and make the delivery. Instead, we offer everything basically all in one, says Stix. We deliver a unique service for logistics.All of the items are requested by relief organizations, avoiding one common problem in disasters: donations often dont match what nonprofits actually need, leaving staff and volunteers to sort through disaster pollution. (In one memorable case after a hurricane in Honduras, there was so much unwanted clothing blocking a runway that a plane with necessary aid couldnt land.) Amazon aims to deliver the goods within 72 hours, though it can happen faster. In L.A., firefighters had some leftover supplies that Amazon had delivered for a previous fire in Malibu in December, so they didnt immediately need more. When they did put in a request, the pallets arrived around 24 hours later.[Photo: Amazon]At the hubs, Amazon warehouse staff handle the orders similar to how they handle regular Amazon ordersjust on pallets, instead of the usual consumer packagingand the deliveries go out on Amazons normal fleet of delivery vehicles. The company also separately makes donations from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods; in L.A., for example, it has delivered ready-to-eat meals, toiletries, pet food, charging stations, and other essentials to community centers, along with ingredients for a restaurant to cook 1,000 free meals. In total, so far, it has donated more than 300,000 items to at least two dozen local organizations. The company also donates technical support, such as extra cloud storage for Watch Duty, a free app that Los Angeles residents have been relying on for real-time updates on the fires.

A wall of timber louvres references traditional wooden beach shacks at this house in Byron Bay, Australia, completed by local architecture practice Son Studio.Named Bangalow Road House after the road that connects the town of Bangalow to Byron Bay and the coast, the three-bedroom family home occupies a compact corner plot.Son Studio's design aims to allude to the area's traditional beach houses while responding to the site's challenges, including its size constraints and the need to balance a desire for views with privacy.Son Studio has completed Bangalow Road House in Byron Bay"The client was aware of the significant challenges posed by the narrow 360-square-metre corner block, including its two street frontages, adjoining laneway and stringent height and side boundary constraints," Son Studio director Scott Jackson told Dezeen."They were interested in exploring how to challenge conventional building forms and notions of how a home should look and operate to achieve their programmatic goals on this compact site," Jackson added."By wrapping the house in a locally sourced timber and incorporating modern detailing, we created a structure that blends the raw tactile qualities of traditional beach houses with a modern interpretation."Bangalow Road House is formed of three volumesTo ensure a low profile, Bangalow Road House comprises three volumes, two of which sit at ground level. These contain a garage and the home's living areas, above which the first-floor bedroom block is perched on diagonal wooden supports.On the ground floor, privacy is achieved with a series of trees planted around the site's perimeter and a variety of timber screens, while the elevated bedroom volume is shielded to the north by a projecting screen of timber louvres.The timber louvres reference traditional wooden beach shacksThis separation of volumes and the screening between them creates what Son Studio calls a "fluid spatial experience" through Bangalow Road House."The project not only provides privacy by shielding residents from street view but also creates a fluid spatial experience that emphasises the progression of time through the ever-shifting light that filters throughout the home," Jackson said.Read: Anthony Gill Architects screens Australian house with fibreglass and plants"Moreover, the careful curation of vistas via these screens transforms the act of observation into a poetic encounter with the surrounding environment," he added.In the living spaces, the language of beach cabins is referenced through exposed wooden beam ceilings and a central fireplace, while the bedroom spaces above adopt a more minimal feel with plastered walls and ceilings.The interior is intended to evoke beach shacksFull-height windows and doors on the ground floor overlook a concrete patio and swimming pool that surrounds Bangalow Road House, sheltered beneath the wooden volume of the bedrooms above."Timber was selected as the primary material as it references the weathered, sun-bleached boards of traditional coastal beach shacks, a direct nod to the architectural vernacular of coastal living," explained Jackson."Beyond its aesthetic resonance, timber's adaptability enabled the design of screening elements that form a threshold between the street and the home, allowing the building to optimise its extended northern aspect while simultaneously crafting intimate and protected internal spaces."A concrete patio and swimming pool are sheltered by the upper volumeElsewhere in Byron Bay, interiors studio YSG recently updated a seaside home with "eccentric" and retro finishes and fittings that are intended to evoke the 1970s.Other Australian homes recently featured on Dezeen include Clifton House by Anthony Gill Architects, which is screened with fibreglass and plants, and an all-grey dwelling by Adam Kane Architects.The photography is by Rory Gardiner.The post Son Studio draws on "sun-bleached" shacks for Bangalow Road House appeared first on Dezeen.

Inspiration often emerges from unexpected sources. A walk in a forest can have you stumbling on fungi that become the inspiration for a new kind of sustainable material. Watching a crowded concert could give you an idea for the next big social media app. Those aha! moments often lead to interesting designs, even for the most mundane household items.One such innovative fusion is the Grip Hanger, a clothes rack that draws its design from the unique forms found on sport climbing walls. These walls mimic the natural rock formations climbers encounter, yet they are crafted with intentional shapes to enhance grip practice and skill development. Its almost a very loose and random association between two uses of the word hang, and yet it yields quite a stunning implementation that can add a bit of joy to your everyday life.Designer: Junho KangUnlike the randomness of natural rocks, the holds on climbing walls are meticulously designed to challenge and train climbers. The Grip Hanger cleverly incorporates this concept, with its Hold component mirroring the playful shapes of climbing holds. Their seemingly deformed shapes hide a deeper meaning to them, something you might not realize unless you take a closer look.This whimsical design gives the hanger itself a distinctive personality, Its hook mimics the way climbers hands grasp these holds, with thin metal fingers trying to grip those stone-like holds. This subtle design adds a touch of sport climbing flair to any room, or at least makes you pause and wonder why a hanger would look that way.Constructed from bent sheet metal, the clothes rack itself mirrors the angular, rugged aesthetic of artificial climbing walls. Its raw, brutalist design speaks to the architectural style often seen in urban landscapes, making it a bold statement piece. This edgy design goes beyond mere looks and provides sturdy support and a unique visual appeal that catches the eye.The Grip Hanger stands out with its modular functionality, featuring perforations that allow for the attachment of detachable shelves. This adaptability makes it not only a stylish addition but also a practical solution for organizing clothes and accessories. The design invites users to think creatively, transforming a simple clothes rack into an engaging, interactive piece of home decor.This innovative design challenges the conventional view of everyday objects, infusing them with creativity and fun. The Grip Hanger encourages us to look beyond traditional designs and embrace the unexpected, turning a mundane item into something extraordinary. Its playful yet functional approach serves as a reminder that inspiration can be found anywhere, even in the most unexpected places.It also demonstrates how anything can be a source of inspiration and ideas, even the ones you least expect. Its blend of sport climbing elements and practical functionality makes it a standout piece, adding character and charm to any space. The Grip Hanger is a testament to the endless possibilities that arise when creativity meets everyday utility.The post Sport Climbing Meets Design: The Playful Hanger for Active Homes first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Hellboy creator's new comic book, Bowling With Corpses, is steeped in myth and folklore.

The Chinese social media app, popular in the United States a week after being flooded by TikTok users, has added language translation features.

MacworldThere are lots of reasons why you might find that your MacBook wont turn on, or your Mac wont start up, but you probably just want to get it working again. Well run through the various checks and changes to make to get your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, or other Mac to turn on so you can start using it again.Read on for some simple tips that should get your Mac working, from the obvious stuff like checking the power connection, to performing a power cycle, starting in Recovery mode, and checking the file system. And if your Mac really is dead, well also tell you where to turn next.The fixes in this article apply to most recent versions of macOS. The menus and interfaces may look slightly different depending on which OS you are running, but their functions are in essence the same. Similarly, M-series Macs perform certain functions in a different way to older Intel-powered Macs, for example, the method for starting up the computer in Safe mode or Recovery will be different on an older Mac, well cover both methods where required.1.Check your Mac turns onFoundryFirst, lets find out if the problem is that your Mac wont start up, or that it wont turn on those might sound like the same thing, but theres actually a big difference.Press the Power button on your Mac. If you dont hear a startup chime, you dont hear any fan or drive noise, and there are no images, video, or visuals of any sort on your display, then your Mac isnt turning on at all. Youre not even getting to the point where it refuses to start up.A Mac that doesnt turn on calls for a different approach to one that doesnt start up. If your computer doesnt turn on then you need to do the following:i) Check your power connectionDont be the clich: check that the power is on and the Mac is plugged in correctly. Or if its a laptop, be sure that the battery isnt dead and if it needs charging give it a while to attempt to charge before concluding that it isnt going to work. If your MacBook wont charge read this.ii) Try a different power cable or adapterIt may be that the fault resides with the power cable. If youve got a friend with a Mac power cable that fits your machine, try it to see if that solves the problem. If it does, it could be a simple fix that involves getting a new cable. We advise against buying third-party power cables that arent made by Apple, as they are much more likely to be faulty and possibly dangerous, unless we have tested them in our Best USB-C and Thunderbolt charging cables.If you recently had a power cut, that could be responsible: your power adaptor could have been damaged in a power surge and you may need a new one.Finally, its possible that the cable is loose, and pulling it out and plugging it in again will solve the problem. But we doubt it will be that easy.Apple sells various cables for charging Apple Macs and laptops. You should find the one you need here: Apple power adaptors.Also read: Which MacBook charger do I need?iii) Disconnect all accessoriesUnplug all the accessories (such as printers and USB hubs) attached to your Mac. It could be that one of your peripherals is causing problems with the startup sequence.If you recently installed new RAM or a new hard drive in your Mac (both of which are something you can only do with old Macs), make sure they are correctly installed and compatible. (If possible, reinstall the old memory or hard drive and see if that helps.)If none of those steps work then its time to move onto the next stage.2.Perform a Power CycleFoundryIf you arent hearing any signs of life, you could perform a power cycle, which involves forcing your Mac to restart after killing the power to it.On a MacBook you hold down the power key for ten seconds. Youll usually hear a squeak as the Macs power is forcibly cut. Hopefully after waiting ten seconds and restarting, all will be well.If your Mac is a desktop you will need to unplug it and leave it unplugged for at least ten seconds before plugging it back in and attempting to restart.If performing a power cycle on your Mac doesnt help there are a few other simple things to try out before moving on to the more complicated steps.3.Check your displayFoundryIf youre using a desktop Mac such as a Mac Pro or Mac mini this could apply to you. If you dont have a separate display plugged in, you can skip this step.You could have a problem with the display you have plugged in, rather than the Mac itself. Have a listen to your Mac to see if its making any sounds during boot-up.It is possible that your Mac does turn on, but doesnt boot up because it cant access the display if thats the case you are most likely having trouble with the display hardware (rather than a broader startup issue).If you think its a problem with your monitor, then take a look at this Apple Support document for advice on troubleshooting a display. If your display isnt working the advice is to:Check the power supply to the Mac (and the power to the display if using a separate unit).Confirm that all cables are connected securely.Remove all display extenders and switches, and any other devices between the Mac and monitor.Unplug the video cable (if using a separate monitor) and plug it back in.If using more than one monitor in a daisy chain, unplug all monitors and test using just one.If possible, try to use a different display, or a different adapter (use DVI instead of VGA, for example).Apple also advises adjusting the screen resolution in System Settings (known as System Preferences in older versions of macOS.4.Boot up your Mac in Safe BootFoundrySafe Boot limits what checks and functionality your Mac focuses on during startup, and performs certain diagnostics. Its rare, but sometimes you can get your unhappy Mac to start up successfully with a Safe Boot, and then restart it normally, and everything returns to hunky-doriness. If you want more help with this step read: How to start a Mac in Safe Mode.To enter Safe Mode on an M-series Mac: Press and continue to hold the power button until you see the startup options appear on the screen. Choose the startup disk (Macintosh HD). Now press and hold Shift and then click Continue in Safe Mode. Then release the Shift key. You will see the words Safe Mode in menu at the top right of your screen.To enter Safe Mode on an Intel-powered Mac: Start your Mac up while holding down the Shift key. Safe Boot can take a while to start.To get more feedback about whats happening, you could start up an Intel-powered Mac while holding down Shift, Command and V: that enters both Safe Boot and something called Verbose Mode, which spits out some messages about what Safe Boot is actually trying to do as it goes.Now you are in Safe Mode we will discuss how to use Safe Mode to fix your Mac start up issues.While you are Safe Mode the interface will look very slightly different, with blocks of colour rather than transparency. The biggest giveaway is the Dock at the bottom of the screen, such as in the image below, for example.Once in Safe Mode you may be able to run certain checks (well run through these below) and make changes that could fix your Mac. For example you could reinstall macOS or update other software.If you find you can start up in Safe Mode it is probable that the issue is related to one of your startup items, in which case you should go to: System Settings > Users & Groups and remove all the items (click on -). You could use trial and error to work out which startup item is causing the problem.5.Reset the PRAM / NVRAMFoundryIn the pre-Intel, PowerPC, days, we talked about resetting the PRAM. On Intel Macs, the term is resetting the NVRAM. The NVRAM in M-series Macs is reset automatically, but there is a way to reset NVRAM on the M-series Mac we discuss that here: How to reset NVRAM.The name refers to special memory sections on your Mac that store data that persists even when the Mac is shut off, such as volume settings and screen resolution.Resetting that data isnt harmful, but quite frankly its also rarely genuinely useful. But it cant hurt.You might need to grow an extra finger or two for this one, or have a friend help you out. Heres how to reset the PRAM/NVRAM on your Intel-powered Mac:Hold down all of these keys: Command, Option (Alt), P and R, and turn on the Mac (its the same keys to reset the PRAM).Keep holding the keys down until you hear the Mac restart again.Listen for a second reboot, and then release the keys.On M1/M2 Mac resetting the NVRAM means using Terminal, the method is discussed in the article linked above.In some cases, after performing this step, your Mac will restart normally. In other cases, you might instead see a progress bar on startup. If the progress bar fills up and then the Mac starts up, youre probably good to go. In some cases weve seen, however, the Mac shuts down at around the halfway point in the progress bar.6.Reset the SMCFoundryIn some situations, you may need to reset your Macs SMC(System Management Controller). This is largely a last-ditch attempt to fix the current version of macOS before attempting to recover the data and moving on to reinstalling the OS.SMC is absent from M-series Macs so you cant reset it. However you can change the settings that the SMC used to look after. We discuss how to do this here: How to reset a Macs SMC. We also discuss How to reset the NVRAM, PRAM, and SMC on any Mac.Heres what to do if you want to reset the SMC (Intel Macs):On a Mac laptop:Shut down the MacBook.Unplug and then reconnect the power cable.Press Shift + Ctrl + Option/Alt keys and the power button at the same time.Now release all those keys and the power button at the same time.You may see the light on the power cable flicker.Restart your MacBook.On a Mac desktop:Shut down the Mac.Unplug it.Press the power button for 5 seconds.Plug the Mac back in.Turn on your Mac.7.Run Disk Utility in Recovery ModeFoundryIf your Mac is booting, but the operating system isnt loading up, you may have a corrupted drive. Luckily it is possible to fix this in Recovery Mode. We have a detailed tutorial on using Recovery Mode here, but well run thorough the basics below.Yet again, accessing Recovery Mode is a little different on an M-series Mac (read about the different ways of doing things on M-series Macs).The first step is to run Disk Utility. On a Mac running Mountain Lion or later, which will be the vast majority of Macs, you can run Disk Utility by booting into Recovery Mode.On an M-series Mac press and hold the Power button until the Mac starts up and eventually shows the start up options. Select Options > Continue. You will now enter Recovery.On an Intel Mac you need to make sure the Mac is turned off. If its not responsive because its stuck on a grey, blue or white screen, just hold down the Macs power button for several seconds until it gives up and shuts off. (Heres what to do to fix a Blue Screen of Death on a Mac.) Hold down the Command and R keys, and power the Mac back up again. Keep pressing Cmd + R while your Mac is booting up until you see the Apple logo.Now you are in Recovery mode heres what to do:Once your Mac starts in Recovery Mode you will gain access to Utilities. Click on the Disk Utility option. Locate your Macs drive probably Macintosh HD, select it.Click First Aid. If there are errors with your disk, Disk Utility should find them and will either repair them automatically, or will ask if you would like to repair them. Click Repair Disk if this is the case.In Recovery Mode you can also do the following:Restore from a Time Machine backup.Get help online.Install or reinstall macOS (we discuss this below).8.Revive an M-series Mac with ConfiguratorFoundryIf you have an M-series Mac and you still havent been able to revive it, the next option to try is to use a second Mac running Apples Configurator 2 to update the firmware.You will need a second Mac, a USB to USB cable, a web connection and Apples Configurator 2 software.Connect the two Macs with a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A cable.Open Configurator 2 software on the working Mac.Now on the non-working Mac press and hold the power button while also pressing the following key combination: Right shift, Left Option/Alt, Left Control. You will need someone to help you unless you have gigantic hands because you also need to be pressing the Power Button at the same time.After about 10 seconds let go of the keys, but keep pressing the Power button. Hopefully the M-series Mac will appear in the Configurator app on your second Mac by this point (the M-series Mac still wont show any screen activity though).The process is a little different for an M-series desktop, like the Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio.In this case you need to unplug it and wait for about 10 seconds.Press and hold the power button.Plug it in again, while still holding the power button.Release the power button.How to use the Configurator software to revive an M-series Mac.The M-series Mac should be showing in the Configurator software on the other Mac. Select the Mac you want to revive.Click on Actions > Advanced.Select Revive Device.This will revive the firmware on the M-series Mac.9.Back up if you havent already or copy what you can FoundryThis step should be taken prior to reinstalling macOS and it depends on your backup situation. You do make regular backups, or at least sync important documents, music and photos to the cloud, right?If youre not sweating at the moment, and are confident in your Time Machine or other backup solution, then skip to Step 10 below. But if you wish youd backed up your Mac then now is the time to see what you can salvage from the machine.For this, youll need a second Mac. If you havent got one then ask a friend. Follow these steps to use Target Disk Mode on an Intel Mac, or Mac Sharing Mode on an M-series Mac.Connect both Macs together. Youll need a USB-C to USB-C cable, or an older Thunderbolt or Firewire cable depending on the Macs being connected. Shut down your Mac (assuming youd been able to turn it on at all).Start up your Mac while holding down the T button on the keyboard.Keep holding the T button down as you hear the startup chime and keep it pressed until the Thunderbolt icon appears on your screen.This places your Mac in Target disk mode. In Target Disk mode your Mac acts like an external drive. You should now hopefully see the hard drive for your faulty Mac on your second Macs Finder.You should be able to grab the files you need from your unresponsive Mac, or even clone the entire hard drive to another external drive. Good luck!You may also like to try one of these options to recover data from a damaged Mac: Best Mac data recovery software we include our top choices: Wondershare, Data Rescue and Stella Data Recovery for Mac. 10.Reinstall macOSFoundryThis is pretty drastic, but if you have tried everything else, then reinstalling the operating system could remove the issue that is stopping the Mac from starting properly.Remember macOS Recovery from step 7 above? You can use it to reinstall macOS too.Boot into Recovery mode as above (hold the Command and R keys while you start up, or press and hold the power button if you are on an M-series Mac).Once in Recovery click to install the latest OS and follow the onscreen prompts.Our article on resetting a Mac to factory settings has more information on wiping a Mac and reinstalling macOS.11.Make a Genius Bar appointmentAppleIf youve made it this far and your Mac still doesnt work, youll need to take it to an Apple Genius Bar to see if they can help you fix it (or arrange for a repair under warranty). Hopefully you have got enough data from your Mac so as to be able to back up, or continue working on a new Mac.Wondering how many years your Mac should last for? Read: How long do Macs last? To recover lost data you could try the following apps we have reviewed: Wondershare RecoveritRead our reviewData RescueRead our reviewStellar Data Recovery for MacRead our review