<![CDATA[ Latest from PC Gamer in Ryzen ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/tag/ryzen Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:25:56 +0000 en <![CDATA[ 'Return of the king': AMD is bringing back the Ryzen 7 5800X3D for DDR4 platforms, launching it alongside the mid-range AM5 Ryzen 7 7700X3D ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/return-of-the-king-amd-is-bringing-back-the-ryzen-7-5800x3d-for-ddr4-platforms-launching-it-alongside-the-mid-range-am5-ryzen-7-7700x3d/ jqghAHiEodQFPUxaLxFPCP Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:25:56 +0000 Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:45:13 +0000

After being rumoured to do so for a few weeks now, AMD has confirmed it is indeed bringing back the Ryzen 7 5800X3D with AM4 10-year anniversary packaging, as well as a mid-range AM5 Ryzen 7 7700X3D chip.

From the top, the 5800X3D originally launched in 2022, but the updated model (celebrating 10 years of AM4) comes bundled with a Carbice ice pad and retails at $349. Offering eight cores and 96 megabytes of 3D V-Cache, it's still a decent AM4 CPU, and its compatibility with DDR4 is what may make it worth many thirsty PC Gamers' while. In AMD's press material, it announces the 5800X3D as the "return of the king".

If you're not looking to upgrade to AM5 or get DDR5 memory (thanks, memory crisis), the $349 MSRP is still a little under what you can expect to pay second-hand right now. Still, though, it feels like a lot for an older chip. It's just another sign of how bad the memory crisis has become, but it doesn't seem like a terrible buy if you simply have to build a PC right now.

The 2022 CPU 2022 got an 81% from us in our AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D review. Our Dave praised its 3D V-Cache and the chip's efficiency, but critiqued its heat and price point (which was at the time $450). The 10-year anniversary edition will be available from June 25 this year, and I'm sure that ice pad will be a welcome addition.

Alongside this, AMD has announced the Ryzen 7 7700X3D, an eight-core 120W AM5 chip coming in at $329. It will be available as soon as July 16, and comes with a boost clock of up to 4.5 GHz. With 16 threads and 104 MB of cache, it seems like a bit of a tough sell so far; it drops 500 MHz from the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which only fetches tens of dollars more at Amazon (around $370 as of the time of writing).

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D information on a chart, plus image of the chip
AMD
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D information on a chart, plus image of the chip
AMD

And this is all assuming you will actually get your hands on the chip at MSRP. As we've seen over the last few years, MSRP is no guarantee. Still, more options on the market, and more ways of using the same hardware are usually better for the customer—If you have more options to choose from, you can actually afford to shop around.

Alongside this, AMD has announced it will continue to support AM5 through 2029, so at least if you do make that upgrade to AM5 with the 7700X3D, you know you've got a few more years with it than you may have otherwise expected.

]]> <![CDATA[ Advanced Shader Delivery banishes long loads and shader stutter on first time launch, but only for certain games and there are a number of other caveats too ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/graphics-cards/advanced-shader-delivery-banishes-long-loads-and-shader-stutter-on-first-time-launch-but-only-for-certain-games-and-there-are-a-number-of-other-caveats-too/ iW3Qs7LAYJ2rEDReD3n7t3 Mon, 18 May 2026 11:45:01 +0000 Mon, 18 May 2026 11:45:07 +0000

I've got good news for many folks gaming on a Team Red rig: Microsoft's Advanced Shader Delivery is now supported by AMD RDNA 3, 3.5, and 4 GPUs. In other words, graphics cards from the Radeon RX 7000, 8000, and 9000 series now support this tech, via the latest Adrenalin drivers.

Advanced Shader Delivery was first announced back in 2025, exclusively for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X handhelds. To put it very simply, rather than your game of choice taking its time to compile and cache shaders the first time you launch it, this tech does all of that before you ever hit 'play'—but only so long as you're downloading games via the Xbox app.

Microsoft previously explained it had "partnered with teams across Xbox and at AMD to precompile [shader] data and distribute it at download." If you fancy a more technical deep dive than this, the Unreal Engine tech blog has the goods. Now, PC gamers running Windows on AMD hardware, who are also Xbox Insiders, can enjoy the same freedom from long load times and stuttering on a selection of 'key titles' that support the tech.

A number of recent releases benefit from this rollout to laptops and desktops with discrete AMD GPUs. According to the DirectX Developer Blog, a close partnership with the Forza Horizon 6 development team means that the game "showcases the advantage of ASD by dramatically improving loading times by 95%" from day one. The team claims that, on a machine with an AMD Radeon RX 7600 GPU and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800 CPU, ASD reduces the game's first-time load from 1.5 minutes to 4 seconds.

This latest rollout is part of a 'public preview' for Xbox Insiders, and not every game supports the tech. A full list of titles available via Xbox Wire here; besides Forza 6, supported title highlights include Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Silent Hill f, and Ninja Gaiden 4. In-game, you'll see a tiny ‘Precompiled shaders installed’ message in the launch window of supported titles—but, much like the faster load times, it's very much 'blink and you'll miss it'.

Scarecrow enemies

(Image credit: Konami )

The DirectX Dev blog post concludes with a 'call to action,' pointing game devs towards another post that "details how you can leverage the latest AgilitySDK to take advantage of the benefits of ASD." There are also plans to bring ASD to more devices, including an independent hardware vendor kit. Whether that means there are plans to bring ASD to GPUs besides anything on Team Red remains to be seen, though.

There's also currently no word on whether we'll see the streamlining shader tech come to Steam, Epic, or GOG. Presumably, any fresh implementation of the tech would still need to be tied to Microsoft's ecosystem, at least for the time being. Otherwise, freedom from long, first-time loads and shader stutter is why I'm happy to be a console gaming double agent.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-dual-edition-review/ KRANQaj5a8wn3yNwSR4yL9 Wed, 13 May 2026 16:28:06 +0000 Wed, 13 May 2026 16:28:11 +0000

AMD said it would "simply be too expensive" and that "games would not benefit." It was, of course, talking about why it had never launched a dual CCD Ryzen desktop processor with 3D V-Cache on both chiplets. There was no technical barrier, just a matter of pointlessness. And yet here we are, with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition. Yours for a mere $899.

For that princely sum of money, you're basically getting a Ryzen 9 9950X3D with 192 MB of L3 cache instead of 128 MB, a tiny 100 MHz knocked off the peak boost clock, and an extra 30 W slapped on to the TDP. The 9950X3D launched at $699, though you can often pick one up these days for around $60 less.

Is it worth spending $200 to $260 more for the Dual Edition? Taken at face value, the answer would appear to be an emphatic 'no'. AMD not only warned that it would be pointless for PC gaming, but it also avoided the topic entirely for the official launch of the chip.

Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition specs

A photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor mounted in a motherboard CPU socket

(Image credit: Future)

Cores: 16
Threads: 32
Base clock: 4.3 GHz
Boost clock: 5.6 GHz
L3 Cache: 192 MB (Total)
L2 Cache: 16 MB (Total)
Unlocked: Yes
Max usable PCIe lanes: 24
Graphics: Radeon Graphics (2 compute units)
Memory support (up to): DDR5-5600
Processor Base Power (W): 200
Maximum Package Power (W): 250
Recommended customer price: $899/£829

This isn't to say it's a bad processor—far from it, in fact—nor am I suggesting that all that extra cache is useless (check out some of the benefits the Dual Edition can offer scientific workloads and developers in Phoronix's tests). It's just that for high-end PC gamers or modest content creators, buying a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition would seem to be just throwing money away for no reason whatsoever.

That said, the dual cache nature of the 9950X3D2 does help to avoid one issue that has plagued all of AMD's X3D processors that have twin CCDs. The likes of the 7950X3D, 9900X3D, and 9950X3D rely on drivers to handle thread scheduling in games, so that all of the crucial threads get processed on the core chiplet that has the extra cache.

It didn't work all that well for the Ryzen 7000-series chips, though it was mostly solved for the 9000-series. Since the Dual Edition has extra cache on both CCDs, thread scheduling becomes less of an issue (though it's still important).

Plus, the CCD clocks are no longer asymmetrical. For example, with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, CCD0 peaks at 5.4 GHz, whereas CCD1 (without the cache) can hit 5.7 GHz. The 9950X3D2, on the other hand, can reach 5.6 GHz with either chiplet.

Does that actually make any difference in our battery of CPU benchmarks? Let's find out.

PC Gamer test PC specs

MSI MEG X870E Godlike X Edition | 32 GB Lexar Thor OC DDR5-6000 CL32 | Asus ROG Strix LC III 360 ARGB | Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 | Corsair MP700 2 TB | Gigabyte Aorus Elite 1000 W Platinum | Thermal Grizzly Der8enchtable

Gaming performance

Gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition
121
88
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
111
67
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
112
76
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
118
95
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
119
98
037.575112.5150
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra + DLSS Balanced) Data
ProductValue
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition 121 Avg FPS, 88 1% Low FPS
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 111 Avg FPS, 67 1% Low FPS
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 112 Avg FPS, 76 1% Low FPS
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K 118 Avg FPS, 95 1% Low FPS
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 119 Avg FPS, 98 1% Low FPS

Starting with our usual Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition drops a surprise right off the bat. Thanks to its 5.6 GHz boost clock, it nips ahead of the 9950X3D and 9800X3D by around 8% on average, but the real shock is just how much better the 1% low frame rates are.

That's possibly down to thread scheduling messing things up for the other chips, but whatever the reason is, it's an encouraging start for the hugely expensive processor. Things fall more in line with expectations with Baldur's Gate 3, but with Homeworld 3, it pulls another rabbit out of the hat.

Our Metro test has reached the end of its usefulness for separating high-end CPUs, as they're all pretty much the same, but repeated tests confirmed that the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition was indeed marginally faster than anything else we've tested of late.

A photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor mounted in a motherboard CPU socket

(Image credit: Future)

Separately, I did some performance tests with Factorio and got identical results to those for the 9950X3D; the figures aren't shown because it's a new version of our old Factorio benchmark, and it will take some time to go through all of the old chips and retest them.

There's one last surprise in the form of the CPU result in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. Traditionally, this is a test that has never particularly favoured AMD processors, but the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition counters that quite remarkably.

So it would seem that having both CCDs identical in terms of clock speeds and cache levels, thus avoiding any thread scheduling headaches, is of some benefit in PC gaming.

Content creation performance

Content creation performance

Single-core index score
Multi-core index score
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition
141
2484
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
139
2347
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
133
1307
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
145
2383
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
143
2435
07501,5002,2503,000
Cinebench 2024 Data
ProductValue
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition 141 Single-core index score, 2484 Multi-core index score
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 139 Single-core index score, 2347 Multi-core index score
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 133 Single-core index score, 1307 Multi-core index score
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K 145 Single-core index score, 2383 Multi-core index score
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 143 Single-core index score, 2435 Multi-core index score

Alas, the same cannot be said for our standard content creation benchmarks. While the 9950X3D2 does take a small lead over the 9950X3D, it's unlikely to be due to the extra cache. Instead, it's a case of the symmetrical and higher boost clocks that are helping out here, over the two other X3D chips shown.

But even small gains could be worth taking advantage of to some users, with the time saved accumulating over months of work offsetting the higher cost of the processor. However, countering that argument is the fact that there is an extra cost to using the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition, and it's all about power.

Power and thermals

Power and thermal performance

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition
108
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
108
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
67
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
108
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
111
037.575112.5150
Average CPU power consumption in Baldur's Gate 3 Data
ProductValue
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition 108
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 108
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 67
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K 108
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 111

For the 9950X3D2, AMD increased the thermal design power limit (TDP) to 200 W, compared to 170 W for the 9950X and 9950X3D. Interestingly, the PPT (package power tracking) limit is 250 W, which is only 20 W more than those other processors.

As you can see in our Baldur's Gate 3 benchmark, the Dual Edition chip doesn't come anywhere near to using that amount of power, but it's still a good deal more than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which gets by with a mere 67 W. AMD's full-spec dual-CCD models demand a fair bit more juice, but that's to be expected having twice as many core chiplets.

A photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor

(Image credit: Future)

The downside to having all those cores and cache is that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is quite a hot little chip. In games, it's not so bad, but when fully loaded up in Cinebench 2024, consuming over 240 W of power in the process, the CPU temperature reached 94 °C.

In fact, the cores frequently bounced off their thermal limits in that benchmark, and I suspect a more substantial cooling system than the Asus ROG Strix LC III 360 ARGB would help the processor to achieve an even better score. It doesn't do the chip any harm running at that temperature, and Ryzen 7000-series users will know exactly what I mean by that.

But if those kinds of numbers leave you uncomfortable, you're perhaps going to need a 420 mm AIO cooler or even a dedicated water loop to keep the chip's temperatures right down.

Overall verdict

A photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor, with PC components in the background

(Image credit: Future)

With my brief time with the Ryzen 9 9550X3D2 Dual Edition, I've come to the conclusion that AMD wasn't entirely right by saying dual 3D V-Cache is of no benefit to PC gaming. There are some scenarios where it does help, though it might be due to the symmetrical nature of the chip rather than the extra cache, and naturally, your gaming experience will only improve if it's currently limited by CPU, rather than GPU, performance.

That said, AMD was absolutely right when it said that it would be too expensive. While $899 isn't the priciest processor that Team Red has ever released for desktop PCs (the Athlon FX-62 from 2006 was over $1,000), it's arguably too much of a price hike over the 9950X3D to be worth it for a gaming PC.

Not that this will put off some gamers from forking out a huge sum of money just to have the most powerful gaming CPU in their rigs. Everyone else should just stick with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D or, if content creation is more important to you, just go with the Ryzen 9 9950X. Just think of all the DRAM you could buy with that extra cash. Hmm, maybe not.

]]> <![CDATA[ Best gaming laptops 2026: We've reviewed the best gaming laptops of this generation and these are our favorites ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/best-gaming-laptop/ SzNHLwEghGzpPKh5yJqW5F Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:38:34 +0000 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 03:55:05 +0000

The best gaming laptop is a modern technology flex. No longer are we exclusively talking about hot, heavy, and loud beasts the size of VCRs, we're finally in the realms of thin and light machines with genuine gaming chops as well as the ability to deliver stellar frame rates even on battery power.

This is why the Razer Blade 16 is my pick as the best gaming laptop of the lot. Its newer, slimmer chassis, RTX 50-series GPU with the BatteryBoost tech, and improved cooling make it an all-round great notebook.

But that's not to say that more traditional machines don't still have a place. While I love the latest Razer Blades, MSI's Vector 16 HX is still a delightfully anachronistic thing. It does have a large, old school chassis, and it does sound loud if you ramp it up, but it also delivers a great experience on a balanced setting and does so for a great price, making it my favorite mid-range machine.

If you're looking to save some cash, though, Lenovo's LOQ range has matured to the point now where it's my pick as the best budget gaming laptop you can buy today. It's stylish, well-built, and regularly discounted.

Quick list

Razer Blade 16 gaming laptopBest overall
1. Razer Blade 16

Expect to pay: $2,400 / £3,600

Lenovo LOQ 15 gaming laptopBest budget
2. Lenovo LOQ15

Expect to pay: $1,079 / £900

Razer Blade 14 gaming laptopBest 14-inch
3. Razer Blade 14

Expect to pay: $2,300 / £[out of stock]

MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptopBest mid-range
4. MSI Vector 16 HX AI

Expect to pay: $1,600 / £1,600

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptopBest high-performance
5. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10

Expect to pay: $2,700 / £3,400

Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptopBest 18-inch
6. Alienware 18 Area-51 18

Expect to pay: $2,980 / £2,249

The best gaming laptop

Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future

1. Razer Blade 16

The best gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H or AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 | GPU: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, or RTX 5060 | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5 | Screen: 2560 x 1600, 16:10 aspect ratio | Storage: 1 TB, 2TB Gen 4 SSD | Battery: 90 Wh | Dimensions: 14.9 ~ 17.4 x 250.5 x 355 mm / 0.59 ~ 0.69 x 9.86 x 13.98 inches | Weight: 2.14 kg / 4.71 lbs​ | Price: $2,400 / £3,600

Far slimmer than last-gen model
Great performance
Can run cool and quiet
GAMING ON BATTERY?!
Stunning screen
Great keyboard
Size still holds back the RTX 5090
Hugely expensive, especially in the US
RTX 5080 will get you the same frame rates, though might hurt your ears

We tested: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | RTX 5090 | 32 GB | 2 TB SSD

1 / 3

1080p gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
Razer Blade 16 | RTX 5090 175 W
63
34
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 | RTX 5080 120 W
50
44
Alienware 16 Area-51 | RTX 5080 175 W
65
47
020406080
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra) Data
ProductValue
Razer Blade 16 | RTX 5090 175 W63 Avg FPS, 34 1% Low FPS
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 | RTX 5080 120 W50 Avg FPS, 44 1% Low FPS
Alienware 16 Area-51 | RTX 5080 175 W65 Avg FPS, 47 1% Low FPS
You can see in the performance data the chassis is holding the RTX 5090 of the Blade 16 back, but the overall experience is key rather than the raw frame rates here.
Buy if...

✅ You want a do-anything gaming laptop: The Blade 16's portability and gaming chops mean that it's a machine that can be your beefy desktop rig as well as your mobile companion.

Don't buy if...

❌ You just have to have the outright highest performance: That thin chassis does hold back something like an RTX 5090, but if the experience is key to you, the Blade 16 nails it.

The bottom line

💻 The Razer Blade 16 is easily the best gaming laptop I've ever tested. It's a machine that's perfectly sized and setup for PC gaming in modern times, but also one that delivers an unprecedented level of gaming prowess away from a power socket. It's a do-anything notebook that can be your one PC to rule them all.

I'll say it again, the new Razer Blade 16 is the best gaming laptop I've ever used, and I've been messing around with them professionally for the best part of 20 years now. But it's not about the fact I've been using an RTX 5090-powered version, with some pleasing gaming grunt behind it. Because it's not. The real kicker, the real reason why this is the best gaming laptop is because the experience of actually using the device itself is a genuine pleasure—whether that's gaming, productivity, or just general laptopery.

The Blade 16 is the antithesis to practically all the failings of modern gaming laptops; historically chonky machines, with atrocious battery life, and horribly loud fans. Its smart "thermal hood" and improved overall thermal design, means the Blade 16, even at full volume, doesn't get its fan noise up to the same level as something like the Asus Zephyrus G16 or the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 I've also checked out. It is still noticeable, and you're not going to want to sit in a library with the fans on full, but it has none of the turbine whoosh of the Gigabyte or the whine of the Asus.

The other thing that has got me about the Blade is that it's actually a capable gaming laptop just on the battery alone. Some of that is Razer's design, but there is also the RTX Blackwell GPU architecture's ability to quickly shift gears in terms of the frequency and power draw, within the timing of a single frame, even. That efficiency delivers a huge difference in gaming away from the plug, and Nvidia's new BatteryBoost tech helps, too. Now, it will crush the in-game settings if you allow it to optimise them on its own, but it also comes with a context-aware algorithm that will drop the frame rate to 30 fps when it sees there's limited action on screen.

And then there's that screen. We've had other 1600p OLED panels side-by-side with it and the Blade's is absolutely best—and there aren't a ton of actual OLED panel manufacturers so there must be something to Razer's tuning and electronics going on here. All told, the Blade 16 is the do-anything gaming laptop I've always wanted. It can game like a champ on the latest games at high resolution and frame rates, it can even do it on battery, and will do it quietly, too.

Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop

Click through to read our full Razer Blade 16 (2025) review for all the performance and benchmark details.

The best budget gaming laptop

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
Future
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
Future
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
Future
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
Future
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
Future
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
Future

2. Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10

The best budget gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core i5 13450HX / AMD Ryzen 7 250 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 or 5060 | RAM: 16 GB DDR5-4800 / DDR5-5600 | Screen: 15-inch 1920 x 1080 @ 144 Hz IPS | Storage: 512 GB SSD NVMe PCIe 4.0 | Battery: 60 Wh | Dimensions: 15.6 ~ 23.9 mm x 359.9 mm x 258.7 mm / 0.94 x 14.17 x 10.19 inches | Weight: 2.3 kg / 5.07 lbs | Price: $1,079 / £900

Solid hardware pairings
Sleek refined design
Great 1080p performance
RAM and SSD config is frustrating
Battery life underwhelming

We tested: Ryzen 7 250 | RTX 5060 (115 W) | 16 GB DDR5-5600 | 512 GB SSD

1 / 2

1080p gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 | RTX 5060 | 115 W
36
24
Acer Nitro V15 | RTX 5060 | 85 W
29
14
Asus TUF Gaming A16 | RTX 5050 115 W
32
20
010203040
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra) Data
ProductValue
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 | RTX 5060 | 115 W36 Avg FPS, 24 1% Low FPS
Acer Nitro V15 | RTX 5060 | 85 W29 Avg FPS, 14 1% Low FPS
Asus TUF Gaming A16 | RTX 5050 115 W32 Avg FPS, 20 1% Low FPS
Despite the single channel memory of the LOQ, the actual gaming performance is impressive across the board, thanks to its high-wattage GPU
Buf if...

✅ You want a solid, reliable machine: The LOQ 15 isn't super stylish, but it's really well-built and comes with Lenovo's classically excellent laptop keyboard.

Don't buy if...

❌ You don't want a necessary upgrade path: The 512 GB SSD is the biggest issue with the cheaper LOQ 15 machines, and demands a relatively quick upgrade. The single channel memory, however, is less of an issue for gaming than we feared.

The bottom line

💻 The Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 sees the manufacturer committing some cardinal sins over memory sticks, but you only have to look at the top-end RTX 5060 gaming performance it achieves, and the outstanding build quality to understand what a great machine you're getting for the budget price it goes for.

There is one thing that would normally have me blowing up in genuine nerd-rage at this latest Lenovo budget laptop, but my broiling temper has been calmed by the one thing that will soothe a savage gaming beast: performance. The chart-topping gaming performance of the RTX 5060 at the heart of this LOQ system, when put against all the other RTX 5060 machines we've tested, means I can accept its other configuration crimes. And that makes the new Lenovo LOQ 15 the best budget gaming laptop of this generation.

The issue in question is the fact Lenovo has, to my eternal consternation, decided to fit its LOQ 15 machine out with just a single stick of 16 GB DDR5 memory, which instantly halves the available memory bandwidth that you would have seen if there were two sticks of 8 GB DDR5 in there. Same memory capacity, twice the bandwidth, and pretty much the same price.

And today, when the price of sourcing another 16 GB SODIMM to fit alongside it is utterly punitive, that feels like a bummer. Or would if the gaming performance wasn't actually really good. Despite the cut memory bandwidth, the 1080p frame rates are excellent and at least as good, if not better, than far more expensive RTX 5060-toting laptops we've tested. Throw in some judicious use of DLSS and Frame Generation and you're getting stellar gaming frame rates from a genuinely budget laptop.

It's also a beautifully built machine, too. The 1080p screen is vibrant—much better than last year's model—and matches the GPU perfectly. The chassis is smart, too, feeling less 'gamery' than laptops you might see from other vendors, and feels reassuringly solid, with that classic great Lenovo keyboard. Listed at around $1,300, I've already seen this machine drop to the $800 mark and I would expect to see it around those levels pretty regularly throughout the regular deals seasons of the year.

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop

Click throught to read our full Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

The best 14-inch gaming laptop

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
Future

3. Razer Blade 14 (2025)

The best 14-inch gaming laptop.

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 or 5070 | RAM: Up to 64 GB LPDDR5X-8000 | Screen: 14-inch 1800p @ 120 Hz / OLED | Storage: 1 TB SSD NVMe PCIe 4.0 | Battery: 72 Wh | Dimensions: 31.1 x 22.4 x 1.58 ~ 1.62 cm / 12.23 x 8.83 x 0.62 ~ 0.64-inches | Weight: 1.63 kg / 3.59 lbs | Price: $2,300 / £[out of stock]

That new chassis is fire
Doesn't sound like a jet
Lovely OLED display
Good battery life
It's a genuinely portable gaming laptop
Lower spec Blade costs more than higher spec alternatives
880M iGPU is a miss
No upgraded Blade 16 keyboard

We tested: Ryzen 9 AI 365 | RTX 5070 115 W | 32 GB RAM | 1 TB SSD

1 / 2

1080p gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
Razer Blade 14 | RTX 5070 115 W
45
28
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | RTX 5070 Ti 110 W
44
33
Asus TUF A14 | RTX 5060 105 W
33
14
Acer Predator Triton 14 AI | RTX 5070 110 W
40
25
015304560
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra) Data
ProductValue
Razer Blade 14 | RTX 5070 115 W45 Avg FPS, 28 1% Low FPS
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | RTX 5070 Ti 110 W44 Avg FPS, 33 1% Low FPS
Asus TUF A14 | RTX 5060 105 W33 Avg FPS, 14 1% Low FPS
Acer Predator Triton 14 AI | RTX 5070 110 W40 Avg FPS, 25 1% Low FPS
The Blade 14 has the sleekest chassis of the lot, but still manages to get great gaming performance out of its RTX 5070 GPU, even up against the more powerful chip inside the Asus G14
Buy if...

✅ You want a genuine compact gaming machine: The Blade 14 is everything I've wanted in a portable PC—powerful, thin, and with a decent battery life.

Don't buy if...

❌ If every penny counts: Razer is never the cheapest option, and you can buy cheaper 14-inch machines that will deliver higher frame rates, but none will offer the overall package and experience of the Blade 14.

The bottom line

💻 The Razer Blade 14 has staged an impressive comeback, with a price cut compared with the previous generation, a better OLED screen, and a slimline chassis that makes it the perfect compact gaming laptop.

For my money, the new Blade 14 is absolutely the best 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy today. Though that was certainly not the case in the previous generation, where Asus went straight for Razer's jugular, redesigning its Zephyrus G14 to create a beautiful little AMD-powered laptop that had our hearts aflutter.

But the slimmer chassis of the new Blade 14 makes it look far more modern than last year's chonker design. That was something which really put me off all the Blade laptops of the previous generation. But now we're back with the MacBook-ish aesthetic that means the new machine fits as well in a boardroom meeting as in your gaming den. Well, so long as you disable the green glow of that Razer logo on the lid anyways.

That slimmer chassis does mean Razer has had to do away with configurable memory, which means soldered memory and no option to upgrade down the line, at least not for the folk without solder for blood. That's mostly a non-issue for me, with the RTX 5070 version coming with 32 GB or 64 GB options at point of sale, but does give me pause for the RTX 5060 Blade 14. It's still more than $2,000 and comes with just 16 GB LPDDR5X and nowhere to go after that.

The Razer Blade 14 is the gaming laptop that I would actually want to be spending my own money on. I've spent a long while testing both this and the G14 together, and while the Asus is still a quality machine, I continue to use the Razer laptop as my daily driver today, for work and play. It delivers a better experience, is a better looking system, and though it is pricey (while still being cheaper than the previous generation) it's still the best 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy.

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop

Click through to read our full Razer Blade 14 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

The best mid-range gaming laptop

MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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4. MSI Vector 16 HX AI

The best mid-range gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 200HX series | GPU: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070 | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5 | Screen: 2560 x 1600, IPS, 16:10 aspect ratio | Storage: 1 TB, 512 GB Gen 4 SSD | Battery: 90 Wh | Dimensions: 22.2 ~ 28.5 x 357 x 284 mm / 1.12 x 14.05 x 11.18 inches | Weight: 2.7 kg / 5.95 lbs​ | Price: $1,600 / £1,600

Excellent RTX 5080 performance
Actually decent price point
Speedy CPU chops
Balanced mode is quiet and performant
Though it's offensively loud at top speed
Chonky, choppy chassis
Weak battery performance

We tested: Intel Core Ultra 9 275X | RTX 5080 | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB

1 / 3

1080p gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
MSI Vector 16 HX AI | RTX 5080 175 W
65
45
Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 | RTX 5080 175 W
61
43
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 | RTX 5080 1210 W
50
44
020406080
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra) Data
ProductValue
MSI Vector 16 HX AI | RTX 5080 175 W65 Avg FPS, 45 1% Low FPS
Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 | RTX 5080 175 W61 Avg FPS, 43 1% Low FPS
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 | RTX 5080 1210 W50 Avg FPS, 44 1% Low FPS
Across the board, the MSI Vector 16 produces chart-topping 1080p gaming performance
Buy if...

✅ You want an affordable, powerful gaming laptop: I've been surprised at just how well the MSI Vector 16 performs for the money, even when you knock if back to a quieter, balanced profile.

Don't buy if...

❌ You're after something more slight: The MSI Vector is an unashamedly chonky laptop, and if that's not for you, look elsewhere.

The bottom line

💻 The MSI Vector 16 HX AI will deliver impressive frame rates that you may not have expected from its relatively affordable position. It's not a budget laptop by any means, but considering the cost of competing RTX 5080 notebooks it's a very compelling gaming package.

When I first pulled the Vector 16 HX AI out of its packaging and started benchmarking it, I certainly did not expect it to be finding a spot in our best gaming laptop list. It's a chonky notebook and when you put it into top performance mode the thing sounds like a chinook trying to take off inside an echo chamber. But it's found a way into my heart and remains my pick as the best mid-range gaming laptop you can buy today.

My testing shows it delivers some of the highest gaming frame rates of any RTX 5080-powered gaming laptop we've tested in this generation. Because of those high frame rates, and the way MSI has managed its different preset modes, you're still getting gaming speeds in the balanced preset that matches many other systems' full speed modes.

And that calms down the fan noise to a level that is completely acceptable. Suddenly you have a gaming laptop which, while not a particularly svelte machine, is still able to deliver a thoroughly pleasing gaming experience.

Then there's the price. Even at its standard $2,500 price point that puts it below pretty much every other gaming laptop I've seen sporting the same Nvidia RTX 5080 mobile graphics chip. Cheaper and faster is a combo that I am always happy to get behind, and I will take a compromise if it comes in the shape of a bit of a thick machine.

MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop

Click through to read our full MSI Vector 16 HX AI review for all the performance and benchmark details.

The best high-performance gaming laptop

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gaming laptop
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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5. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10

The best high-performance gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX series | GPU: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, or RTX 5070 Ti | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5 | Screen: 2560 x 1600, OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio | Storage: Up to 2 TB Gen 4 SSD or 1 TB Gen 5 SSD | Battery: 99.9 Wh | Dimensions: 21.9 ~ 26.6 x 364 x 275.9 mm / 0.86 - 1.04 x 14.33 x 10.86-inches | Weight: 2.72 kg / 6 lbs | Price: $2,700 / £3,400

Stylish new chassis
Lovely OLED screen
Top gaming performance
Excellent power customisation options
Battery life is weak
Price is higher than RTX 5080 Razer Blade 16
It's a big boi laptop
And a fingerprint magnet

We tested: Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 | 32 GB DDR5-6400 | 2x 1 TB SSDs

1 / 2

Native (1600p) gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 5080 175 W
40
28
HP Omen Max 16 | RTX 5080 175 W
38
18
MSI Vector 16 HX AI | RTX 5080 175 W
39
30
010203040
Cyberpunk 2077 (Native res. RT Ultra) Data
ProductValue
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 5080 175 W40 Avg FPS, 28 1% Low FPS
HP Omen Max 16 | RTX 5080 175 W38 Avg FPS, 18 1% Low FPS
MSI Vector 16 HX AI | RTX 5080 175 W39 Avg FPS, 30 1% Low FPS
If you put the Legion 7i Pro up against any other RTX 5080-powered laptop it will smoke it. This is the fastest gaming laptop for a reason
Buy if...

✅ You want the fastest gaming laptop around: The Legion machine is an absolute performance beast. If you want both top performance and the ability to really tweak that performance how you want, the Lenovo delivers.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want to experience the promised battery gaming of the RTX Blackwell generation of laptops: The Legion Pro is a classic Lenovo gaming laptop, in that it really does not perform for long away from a power source.

The bottom line

💻 The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is simply the most powerful gaming laptop I've tested from this generation, beating even the gaming performance of the vastly more expensive RTX 5090 Blade 16. It doesn't have the portability or battery life, but if you're specifically after a gaming machine first and foremost, Lenovo has made a laptop just for you.

It may be another chonker of a gaming laptop, there is a real style to Lenovo's latest Legion Pro 7i design, and more than a little Alienware-esque flair, too. The geometric RGB rings around the rear exhaust ports on the machine, and the front light bar give it that effect, and a real eye-catching style. But it's the gaming frame rates which have made this Legion Pro 7i the best high-performance gaming laptop on our list.

And I've tested a bunch of them now. For me, if it's a question of a top two, then it's between the Blade 16 and this new Legion Pro 7i. In terms of pure performance alone you couldn't look beyond the Lenovo—it tops the Razer machine's RTX 5090 with a lower sticker price and theoretically weaker GPU—but if you want a do-everything notebook with genuine battery gaming chops, the Blade is 100% where it's at.

That Legion gaming performance comes at a cost, however, with either loud fans at the top performance preset, or weak gaming performance otherwise. Thankfully, the LegionSpace app comes to the rescue, offering a custom mode with a granular level of tweakery to please any PC nerd; to a level which is rather unprecedented and the sort of thing gaming laptops have been crying out for.

With it, I can restrain the excesses of the Intel CPU while letting the Nvidia GPU run free, keeping fan noise in check while I do so. This means there's little compromise to gaming performance, fan noise stays relatively low, and I can flip on the DLSS 4 extras, such as Multi Frame Gen and see frankly ludicrous gaming performance from this machine.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles

Click through to read our full Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

The best 18-inch gaming laptop

A photo of the keyboard of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with the display showing the Windows desktop
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A photo of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with its display showing Cyberpunk 2077's benchmark mode
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A close-up photo of the keyboard of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop
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A photo of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with its display showing the load screen of Cyberpunk 2077
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A close-up photo of the display of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, showing a screenshot of the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark
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A close-up photo of the left side of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, showing the exhaust vents for the cooling system
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A close-up photo of the rear IO ports of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop
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A close-up photo of the trackpad of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, fully illuminated with its built-in RGB lights
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6. Alienware 18 Area-51

The best 18-inch gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX or Ultra 9 275HX | GPU: From RTX 5060 to RTX 5090 inclusive | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5-6400 | Screen: 18-inch 1600p @ 300 Hz | Storage: Up to 12 TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD | Battery: 96 Wh | Dimensions: 410 x 320 x 24.3 mm / 16.14 x 12.6 x 0.96 | Weight: 4.34 kg / 9.57 lbs | Price: $2,980 / £2,249

RTX 5090 performance
Luxurious chassis
Great cooling
Three M.2 SSD slots inside
Ultra-high price tag
Cheap-feeling keyboard
Display is 500 nits and yet no HDR
Performance when unplugged

We tested: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Nvidia RTX 5090 | 64 GB DDR5-6400 | 2 TB SSD

1 / 2

Native gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
Alienware 18 Area-51 | RTX 5090 175 W | 1600p
48
36
MSI Raider 18 HX AI | RTX 5080 175 W | 2400p
18
11
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI | RTX 5090 | 2400p
20
14
015304560
Cyberpunk 2077 (Native res. RT Ultra) Data
ProductValue
Alienware 18 Area-51 | RTX 5090 175 W | 1600p48 Avg FPS, 36 1% Low FPS
MSI Raider 18 HX AI | RTX 5080 175 W | 2400p18 Avg FPS, 11 1% Low FPS
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI | RTX 5090 | 2400p20 Avg FPS, 14 1% Low FPS
Even with upscaling enabled, you can see how badly the gaming performance of these laptops is affected running at 4K resolutions. That's where the Alienware's 1600p screen wins
Buy if...

✅ You want desktop-like performance in a compact form factor. The Area-51 is a big laptop but won't leave you wanting in games or content creation.

Don't buy if...

❌ You value your wallet. You could buy a fine gaming laptop and a full desktop PC for the same amount of money.

The bottom line

💻 The Alienware 18 Area-51 is almost the best gaming laptop the company has ever produced, only being held back by a slightly disappointing screen and the weak performance away from a power source. It is definitely the best 18-inch gaming laptop, however. You're getting top-tier frame rates and productivity grunt and a really classy looking chassis, to boot.

There's something delightfully old-school about the new Alienware 18 Area-51. Its anodised aluminum chassis is anachronistic in all the right ways, while still feeling modern. I'm into it, is what I'm saying, especially in this large, desktop replacement form. In fact, right now, the Alienware 18 Area-51 is the best 18-inch gaming laptop you can buy. And we've tested a good few of this generation.

The Alienware's 2560 x 1600 screen maybe doesn't necessarily lend itself perfectly to that notion, maybe not for the budding video producer managing 4K video day-in, day-out. But what it does mean is that you can get great gaming performance out of both the mobile GPU at the machine's heart and the panel it's pumping pixels onto.

This is what the Alienware 18 Area-51 is actually best at, because when paired with the RTX 5090 mobile graphics chip you are able to get the most out of that powerful slice of GPU silicon. I have tested an RTX 5090 version of the HP Omen Max 16, and that does deliver marginally higher frame rates, but it's clear the serious cooling on offer with the Alienware machine is letting the Nvidia chip do its thing more than capably.

It's not a perfect desktop replacement, however. Honestly, in a high-priced 18-inch laptop I want a great screen, and this one just isn't. It's fine, but an OLED at least would be more than welcome, as would even a higher resolution panel. Sure, you do get 300 Hz refresh when powered directly from the discrete GPU itself, but it's still not a winner. Still, this is an excellent big-screen gaming laptop that beats out the rest of the 18-inch competition because of its quality cooling, funky chassis, and excellent overall gaming and computational performance.

A close-up photo of the trackpad of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, fully illuminated with its built-in RGB lights

Click through to read our full Alienware 18 Area-51 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

Best gaming laptop battery life

Gaming laptop

PC Mark gaming battery life (minutes)

Gigabyte Gaming A16

183

Asus TUF A14 (2025)

156

Razer Blade 16 (2025)

135

Razer Blade 14 (2025)

134

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Al

115

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)

112

Acer Predator Triton 14 Al

110

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

106

Gigabyte Aorus Master 16

102

MSI Crosshair 16 HX (AI)

101

MSI Stealth A18 HX AI

100

HP Omen Max 16

96

MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XW

93

Asus ROG Flow Z13

90

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10

89

MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XW

88

MSI Stealth 18 HX AI

82

Alienware 18 Area-51

81

Lenovo Legion 7i Pro Gen10

73

Alienware 16 Area-51

73

Asus ROG Strix G16

72

Acer Predator Helios 18 Al

71

Erazer Deputy 15 P1

59

Erazer Scout 15 E1

44

How we test gaming laptops

Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside

(Image credit: Future)

For the new generation of gaming laptops we have changed our testing suite for the new machines coming through in 2025. Part of that is bringing in more up to date games, but also ensuring that we're capturing both gaming at a consistent, comparative 1080p resolution as well as at each machine's native resolution.

We are currently using Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, Black Myth Wukong, F1 24, and Metro Exodus Enhanced Ed. as our GPU testing suite. This gives us a spread of third-person, first-person, driving, and RPG/strategy games to really push the machines being tested, and also allows us to feature the latest in GPU features, such as upscaling and frame generation.

As such, we have also included a 'real-world' benchmark for games where that makes sense in our reviews, where we utilise both Quality upscaling as well as frame generation where available. We also test without so that we can get a bead on how the hardware performs, but this metric allows you to see what sort of frame rates you can get in standard gaming.

As well as games, we use the industry standard 3DMark benchmarks of Time Spy Extreme, Port Royal—for ray tracing performance—and the storage benchmark to see how the system will work in terms of slick game loading.

We track both gaming temperatures, using Nvidia's Frameview application while capturing both average and 1% Low frame rates, and we also capture thermals of both CPU and GPU while engaging in more productivity lead testing.

On that count we run Cinebench 2024 for CPU-based rendering, 7zip 24.07 for general CPU performance, Blender 4.2.0 to test both CPU and GPU rendering performance, and Procyon to test a machine's AI image generation capabilities.

Finally, we use the PCMark 10 Gaming battery life benchmark to allow us to get a standard number for how long a machine will stand up to the rigours of modern gaming.

But we also run some experiential tests on a given system, which will involve using it as a day-to-day PC for work and play, ensuring we get a read on how well a machine performs across different use cases. We also check out a system's panel—we use Lagom's LCD test images to help discern things like black levels and white saturation as well as general desktop and gaming testing to see how it feels to use a laptop's screen.

It's also important to check the actual gaming frequency of both a laptop's GPU and CPU, to see how a given slice of silicon performs given the thermal constraints of different notebook chassis.

We will also open up every laptop, not only to see how easy it is to get the back off the different machines, but also to see whether it's possible to upgrade or repair anything inside them. It's important to see whether there might be a second M.2 SSD slot hiding away in there, or whether there is upgradeable memory, or whether some unscrupulous manufacturer has decided to just go with single channel memory or some such poor play.

Personally I also like to always write a review of a given laptop on the machine itself. That gives you a good feel about both the trackpad and keyboard, as well as the ergonomics of the chassis design, too.

We then bring all of that subjective and objective data together alongside the price to decide how well each machine we test stands up against all the other gaming laptops we've looked at in our combined decades of PC hardware testing.

How to spot the best deal

👉The latest gaming laptop deals are right here👈

Where are the best gaming laptop deals?

In the US:

Amazon - RTX 3050 laptops from Acer and Dell starting at $650

Walmart - cheap Gateway laptops. Remember them?!

B&H Photo - up to $500 off Lenovo, Asus, & MSI gaming laptops

Target - sub-$1,000 gaming laptops

Staples - up to $300 off MSI gaming notebooks

Lenovo - $1,000+ discounts on Legion laptops

Newegg - $500+ off RTX 30 series gaming laptops

Best Buy - save up to $500 on gaming laptops

Microsoft - up to half price on last-gen laptops

Dell - save over $300 on Dell and Alienware gaming laptops

In the UK:

Amazon - save on Asus, Razer, and Acer gaming laptops

Dell - Alienware and Dell Gaming laptops with up to £500 off

HP - Save £450 on HP Omen laptop powered by an RTX 3070 Ti

Overclockers - gaming laptop deals and components

Ebuyer - RTX 3060-powered gaming laptop for just £799.98

Very - save up to £450 on RTX 3070 MSI gaming laptops

Box - Just £1,916.99 for a Razer Blade 15 Base gaming laptop

Scan - up to £400 off gaming laptops from different manufactures

FAQ

What's the most important gaming laptop component?

When it comes to gaming, the obvious answer is the graphics card, but that's where things have gotten a little more complicated recently. With GPU performance now so dependent on cooling, you have to pay attention to what wattage a graphics card is limited to and what chassis it's squeezed into.

Laptop GPUs can come in a variety of different wattages, where something like an 45 W RTX 5060 will perform markedly worse than one rated to 100 W in a particular chassis. But both of those laptops might just be marketed as having RTX 5060 graphics.

The most important thing you can do when looking for a new gaming laptop is check what level of power the graphics silicon is running at. That might take some digging, but will be the difference between getting hobbled with a weakling of a machine and a frame rate chewing monster.

Which GPU is best for a laptop?

We've done a host of testing and you can check out our Best graphics card for laptops guide for all the details, but we think the overall best GPU for gaming laptops is the Nvidia RTX 5080 mobile. It can sometimes outperform RTX 5090 GPUs that have been jammed in the wrong kind of laptop chassis, and is starting to become more and more affordable.

If you're on a more limited budget, our pick as the best budget GPU for gaming laptops is the Nvidia RTX 5060 mobile. It has more of the graphics silicon to deal with the ray tracing good stuff, even if the RTX 5050 can often post similar rasterised gaming figures.

Should I worry about what the CPU in a gaming laptop is?

That really depends on what you want to do with your laptop. An 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen chip will allow you to do a whole load of productivity on the road, but honestly, it will have little benefit in gaming. As long as the CPU has at least six cores and 12 threads, and they're clocked high enough, it will be more than enough to deliver high-end gaming performance when paired with something like the RTX 5070.

What screen size is best for a gaming laptop?

This will arguably have the most immediate impact on your choice of the build. Picking the size of your screen basically dictates the size of your laptop. A 13-inch machine will be a thin-and-light ultrabook, a 14-incher will be a slimline gaming machine, while an 18-inch panel almost guarantees workstation stuff. At 16 inches, however, you're looking at the most common size of the gaming laptop screen and with that generally the best mix of size and gaming performance from the machine itself.

Are high refresh rate panels worth it for laptops?

We love high refresh rate screens here, and while you cannot guarantee your RTX 5070 will deliver 300 fps in the latest games, you'll still see a benefit in general look and feel running a 300 Hz display.

Should I get a 4K screen in my laptop?

Nah. 4K gaming laptops are overkill; they're fine for video editing if you're dealing with 4K content, but it's not the optimal choice for games. The standard 1080p resolution means that the generally slower mobile GPUs are all but guaranteed high frame rates, while companies are slowly drip-feeding 1600p panels into their laptop ranges.

A 1600p screen offers the perfect compromise between high resolution and decent gaming performance. At the same time, a 4K notebook will overstress your GPU and tax your eyeballs as you squint at your 16-inch display.

]]> <![CDATA[ This AMD-powered, Linux-running mini PC looks like a Steam Machine disguised as a vinyl record player, without the fancy controller ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-pcs/this-amd-powered-linux-running-mini-pc-looks-like-a-steam-machine-disguised-as-a-vinyl-record-player-without-the-fancy-controller/ M37Fuvg3owKe8xXFNCS9f8 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:38:36 +0000 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:38:53 +0000

While we wait with bated breath for the arrival of the Steam Machine, it appears another party has been busy developing its own competitor. The Playnix Console looks remarkably similar to a vinyl player (or the Xbox Series S) in terms of its 3D-printed chassis design, but it's in the specs sheet where the similarities to Valve's efforts really lie.

The Playnix Console comes from EmuDeck, a developer of emulation installers for the Steam Deck (via Videocardz). Underneath that funky chassis design lies a six-core, 65 W AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor, a 512 GB SSD, 2x 8 GB sticks of DDR4-3200, and an RX 9060 XT 16 GB GPU.

That's for the most recent batch, as the previous version had a Ryzen 5 5600 CPU and a single 16 GB stick of DDR4-3600. The listing page states that each batch is adjusted "based on the price of components (especially RAM) at the time of manufacturing."

Which in this case is still a slightly eye-watering $1,139 before shipping. Looking further into the specs, though, you do get a controller to go with your PC/console-a-like—although it's an 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless model rather than a fancy Steam Controller.

All of the hardware is upgradeable, too, which makes this much more of a mini PC build than your traditional console. A nice touch is the addition of Noctua and Thermalright fans to keep things chilled. The former makes some of our best gaming fan picks, don'tcha know.

A Playnix Console underneath a TV surrounded by traditional consoles and controllers

(Image credit: Retro Game Corps)

As for the software, the Playnix Console uses a custom Arch Linux distro that makes use of a Steam Gaming Mode to connect "seamlessly" with your existing Steam library.

On paper, this all sounds very good indeed. YouTube channel Retro Game Corps has already tested an earlier model, and found it to deliver 55-58 fps average performance in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K High settings, with FSR Quality upscaling.

That's pretty impressive for an all-in-one box, and a testament to the surprising amount of grunt you can squeeze out of the RX 9060 XT 16 GB tucked inside. The Playnix Console is advertised as a 4K-capable machine, and while you'll need to tweak some settings to get smooth frame rates at that resolution, those claims don't seem entirely unreasonable.

All in all, it looks like a suitable Steam Machine alternative while we wait for Valve's efforts to finally arrive. And while the Steam Machine's SteamOS implementation, intriguing controller design, and semi-custom AMD internals might be worth waiting for in the end, it's certainly interesting to see other providers jumping on the PC/console hybrid bandwagon in the meantime.

]]> <![CDATA[ Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/asus-rog-crosshair-x870e-glacial-review/ SBmHzYEMrrUupwaCSfJfbT Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:23:08 +0000

If you thought the ASUS Crosshair Hero motherboards were as extreme as it gets, the latest ultra high-end motherboard from ASUS takes things to another level. The ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial has a mind-blowing feature set and would keep any PC enthusiast busy with weeks of fun tinkering, but just as importantly, this is the first time this model has appeared on an AMD platform, highlighting just how dominant the company's CPUs are on desktop right now.

This flagship Socket AM5 motherboard won't disappoint either. Its massive EATX form factor barely has any free space, whether it's thanks to a lavish five-inch display, enormous heatsinks or extensive shrouds or unique DIMM.2 SSD expansion slots. You don't need a watercooling system to get the most out of it either as this model's VRMs are air-cooled. Obviously it's limited to a select few that can afford it, but it's always fun to dream. Let's take a look.

As its name suggests, there's only a white version of the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial, but any white hardware fans will undoubtedly love it. Much of the PCB is covered in removable heatsinks or shrouds, hiding unsightly ports, but they can be removed to aid cable tidying with most being held in place using magnets. This includes the large cover sporting the ROG logo, which you'll likely want to remove as it covers the primary PCIe slot.

It doesn't just go back in the box, though, as it can attach magnetically to your case. The enormous M.2 heatsink above it features a heatpipe to aid cooling while an even larger one sits underneath the ROG-themed shroud below and cools two further M.2 ports. The eagled-eyed might have noticed the specifications indicate the presence of seven M.2 ports and just three of those are on the PCB, including two that are PCIe 5.0-capable.

ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial

Socket

AMD Socket AM5

Chipset

AMD X870E

CPU compatibility

AMD Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 desktop

Form factor

ATX

Memory support

DDR5-4800 to DDR5-9600 (OC), up to 256 GB

Storage

7x M.2, 4x SATA

USB (rear)

2x USB4 Type-C 40 Gbps, 4x USB 3.1 Type-C 10 Gbps, 8x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps

Display

2x DisplayPort over Type-C

Networking

Realtek 10G LAN, Wi-Fi 7

Audio

Realtek ALC4082

Price

$1200| £945 | $AU 1,949

Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
Buy if...

✅ You want the most desirable AMD Ryzen motherboard ever made: The crazy specifications are matched only by the board's price tag and visual prowess and would impress any enthusiast.

Don't buy if...

❌ You haven't already maxed out the rest of your PC: This is the ultimate in PC extravagance, but a board costing 80 percent less would still handle high-end hardware perfectly fine

The other four are located in pairs on both a DIMM.2 module next to memory slots and on a PCIe expansion card. The former houses a pair of PCIe 4.0 M.2 ports while the latter has two PCIe 5.0 M.2 ports that are cooled by a single massive heatsink. Sadly, you'll need to drop your GPU's PCIe lane count to eight if you want to use the expansion card and of the two PCIe 4.0 M.2 ports on the additional DIMM.2 card, one only has two lanes.

The five inch screen is configurable in the board's software, both with preset displays offering animated graphics and system sensor data or with your own designs. It can also slide forwards to make room for rear case fans. It's one of the largest displays we've seen on a motherboard and looks absolutely stunning too. On the other side of the board is a small removable fascia that hides a magnetic mount for a memory cooling fan. It's cable-free and uses contact pins for speed and power while being tuneable in the software or EFI as normal.

Other perks of the monstrous price tag are 60 W power delivery over the front panel Type-C header, an ESS audio DAC and a pogo pin connector for compatible ASUS wireless AIO liquid coolers. The Rear I/O panel has even more eye-popping features such as six USB Type-C ports including a pair of USB4 ports and a pair of 10 Gbps Ethernet ports for what is possibly a first on a consumer-focussed motherboard.

This is all in addition to practically every tweaking and overclocking feature you can imagine such as power and reset buttons, dual BIOS switch, 2-pin thermistor header, LED POST code display eight fan headers, two of which capable of dishing out a massive 36W.

Overclocking and fine-tuning your fans is easy thanks to an excellent EFI, but it's one that's appealing to both newcomers and hardcore overclockers too so whatever angle you're coming from, it won't disappoint. The software is a little bloated and requires you to install multiple apps just to get at the more popular fan control and RGB lighting areas, but they make it simple to control your fans, lighting and the LCD screen from within Windows.

The VRM temperature peaked at 56 °C on our open air test bench leaving lots of room for overclocking with more cores than our Ryzen 9 9900X CPU. The individual chipset heatsinks saw some impressively low temperatures too with the peak across the dual X870 chipsets being 41 °C, which is one of the lowest AMD results we've seen.

Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
1 / 3

Gaming performance

Avg FPS
1% Low FPS
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial
114
82
MSI MEG X870E Godlike X
111
72
MSI MEG X870E Ace Max
113
84
ASRock X870 Nova WiFi
109
72
Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro
111
78
NZXT N9 X870E
116
76
037.575112.5150
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra + DLSS Balanced) Data
ProductValue
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial 114 Avg FPS, 82 1% Low FPS
MSI MEG X870E Godlike X 111 Avg FPS, 72 1% Low FPS
MSI MEG X870E Ace Max 113 Avg FPS, 84 1% Low FPS
ASRock X870 Nova WiFi 109 Avg FPS, 72 1% Low FPS
Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro 111 Avg FPS, 78 1% Low FPS
NZXT N9 X870E 116 Avg FPS, 76 1% Low FPS

The average CPU package power in games of 117 W and peak power in heavy processing of 170 W was a little higher than the average, but with so many extra components such as dual 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, DIMM.2 module, expansion card and memory fan, this was going to be a possibility. The best SSD temperature was using the PCIe expansion card where we recorded a peak of 61 °C. However, the onboard heatsinks were 10 °C and 16 °C warmer so the card is potentially worth using if you want the best temperatures, especially for multiple SSDs.

There's little doubt the ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial is probably the most crazy and ultra high-end motherboard we've ever seen. While its price tag means it's firmly out of reach for all but a select few, it's a rare case of being more than just willy waving. It's beautiful, dripping with cutting edge features, has fantastic cooling and doesn't fall short in any single area, except if you were expecting an integrated waterblock like previous models have often had.

Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future
Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard
Future

Plenty of similar boards have failed to make us consider taking out a bank loan, but ASUS has definitely managed it here. The ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial can keep your hardware cool, house up to seven SSDs, has dual 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, 60 W front panel Type-C power delivery and dials visual prowess and unique features up to 11.

Even opening its accessory box feel like a premium experience. Ultimately, we're highly envious of anyone that gets to experience building a PC using this motherboard. In the same way a Bugatti Chiron is something nearly all of us will never get close to owning, most have been glued to reviews and drag races featuring it, and seeing one in person would be a special experience. In the same way, we can all aspire to owning the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial and appreciate the fact it exists, even if we'll never own it.

]]> <![CDATA[ MSI MEG X870E Ace Max review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/msi-meg-x870e-ace-max-review/ KdUdJNJfpqQifqQhW3vyfc Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:48:34 +0000

MSI has had a sizeable gap in its high-end X870E product stack, with its Carbon Wi-Fi option sitting well below the likes of the ultra high-end Godlike models, which now have several variations. The older X670E chipset benefitted from an additional model, the MEG Ace, and it’s this model that finally makes the transition to AMD’s latest high-end chipset in the form of the MEG X870E Ace Max.

Offering more features and added aesthetic tweaks than the Carbon Wi-Fi, but with a substantially lower price tag than the cheapest Godlike models, the MEG X870E Ace Max is an imposing beast bristling with high-end features. These include 10 Gbps Ethernet, dual PCIe 5.0 SSD support and loads of overclocking and tweaking features that will keep you busy for days.

As well as offering the new features of all of MSI’s new Max range of AMD motherboards such as a 64 MB BIOS for new feature and CPU support and independent base clock frequency adjustment with jumpers for on-the-fly tweaking, you get all the other benefits of the flagship X870E chipset and then some.

There are a pair of USB4 Type-C ports and the added bandwidth of this chipset means that the slowest USB ports on the rear I/O panel are USB 3.1 10 Gbps. It has nine of the latter by way of Type-A ports and a further two Type-C offering the same speed too. The front panel Type-C port that hooks up to your case is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps and even offers 60 W power delivery for fast charging laptops or power banks courtesy of an extra PCIe power connector.

MEG X870E Ace Max specs

An MSI MEG X870E Ace Max motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Socket: AMD Socket AM5
Chipset: AMD X870E
CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 desktop
Form factor: ATX
Memory support: DDR5-4800 to DDR5-8400 (OC), up to 256 GB
Storage: 5x M.2, 4x SATA
USB (rear): 2x USB4 Type-C 40 Gbps, 2x USB 3.1 Type-C 10 Gbps, 9x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps,
Display: 1x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort over Type-C
Networking: Marvell 10G LAN, Wi-Fi 7
Audio: Realtek ALC4082
Price: $699 | £599 | $AU 1,322

The headline feature list is a long one. You get 10 Gbps Ethernet as well as 5 Gbps port, and dual PCIe 5.0 M.2 support, although to run PCIe Gen 5 SSDs the second slot requires the USB 4 Type-C ports to be disabled, while the first slot requires the third PCIe slot to remain empty. However, all M.2 ports are cooled on both sides by heatsinks so SSD temperatures should not be an issue. The onboard audio includes Realtek’s ALC4082 codec as well as an ESS DAC.

The massive VRM heatsinks, which cool an impressive 18+2+1 power delivery, are topped with a large illuminated holographic display and the top M.2 heatsink is equipped with an illuminated Ace logo. Powered up the MEG X870E Ace Max is sure to turn heads. MSI has included all of its DIY features too, such as a GPU release button, tool-free M.2 SSD and heatsink installation and quick-connect aerials for the Wi-Fi 7 module.

Including MSI’s EZ Conn-Cable (V2) which splits a header on the PCB into 3-pin and 4-pin RGB connectors plus a 4-pin fan header, there are nine fan headers in total. The PCB also includes two thermal sensor headers, three more 3-pin ARGB headers, a water cooling system water flow header and voltage measuring points plus power and reset buttons.

An MSI MEG X870E Ace Max motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

There are more buttons on the rear I/O panel too, including a CMOS clear button, one for USB BIOS Flashback and another called a smart button, which defaults to reset but can be configured to other tasks in the EFI. The EFI itself is generally excellent with an appealing color scheme and layout plus superb fan control.

The software is a little clunky and slow, but you are able to tweak your fans and lighting easily within Windows, albeit often with less granular control than the EFI when it comes to fan speed.

Motherboard benchmarks - AM5

MSI MEG X870E Ace Max
149
NZXT N9 X870E
148
Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi Ice
150
ASRock X870 Nova WiFi
148
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
147
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi
149
MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi
147
037.575112.5150
Samples per minute
Blender 4.2.0 (junkshop) Data
ProductValue
MSI MEG X870E Ace Max 149
NZXT N9 X870E 148
Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi Ice 150
ASRock X870 Nova WiFi 148
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi 147
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi 149
MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi 147

PC Gamer test bench
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme | RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR5-6000 | Storage: 2 TB Corsair MP700 | PSU: MSI MAG AB50GL 850 W | OS: Windows 11 24H2 | Chassis: Open platform | Monitor: Dell U2415

The VRM temperature only just topped 60 °C with our open air test bench and minimal airflow so in a well-cooled case there should be even lower results and plenty of room for overclocking, even with AMD’s flagship 16-core CPUs. Both chipsets on the PCB are cooled by a single large heatsink and the peak temperature sat at 61 °C, which is reasonable given the heatsink is comparatively small for X870E.

The CPU package power was 10 W lower in games than the MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi and NZXT N9 X870E at 120 W but we have seen lower, such as the MSI MEG X870E Godlike X, which draw only 104 W in the same tests. Things were near identical under heavy loads though. As usual, the extra premium didn’t result in much extra performance at our stock speed settings, but the average PCIe Gen 5 SSD temperature of 68 °C was one of the lowest we’ve seen and kept our super-fast SSD well away from throttling.

An MSI MEG X870E Ace Max motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)
Buy if...

✅ You want a super high-end motherboard without taking out a bank loan: This is still a pricy motherboard, but it’s one of the cheapest to include ultra high-end features such as 10 Gbps Ethernet, dual PCIe 5.0 SSD support and 60W Type-C power delivery

Don't buy if...

❌ Your other hardware doesn’t include an RTX 5090: You’ll need to max out the rest of your system before splashing cash otherwise better spent on a faster graphics card or larger SSD

This is a monster motherboard that doesn’t just tick all the boxes when it comes to premium features, but includes plenty of future proofing too with 10 Gbps Ethernet, 64 MB BIOS, Wi-Fi 7 plus PCIe 5.0 SSD and GPU support. As usual with AMD’s flagship chipset, there’s enough bandwidth to offer loads of USB ports and PCIe slots, including USB4, although there are some situations that result in shared bandwidth.

Still, it does pip mighty competition in the like of the ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero in a few areas, costing $100 more mind you, but does look set to cost less than its own refreshed replacement, the ROG Crosshair X870E Dark Hero and about the same as Gigabyte’s X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice. Ultimately, at this price, most boards have similar features so it usually comes to aesthetics and perhaps a dose of brand loyalty. Thankfully, MSI has certainly created a droolworthy motherboard that’s significantly cheaper than its Godlike range, but still packs an enormous punch.

]]> <![CDATA[ MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/msi-mag-b850-gaming-plus-max-wifi-review/ enrnCgUnwLfyUurcCPTM6N Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:48:31 +0000

We’re in the middle of AMD’s 800-series chipset lifecycle and several manufacturers including MSI have seen fit for a motherboard refresh. This often includes tweaks to designs to improve performance, include modern features or even add support for new CPUs. The MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi will retail for around $260, so what do you get for your money?

Its headline features aren’t huge, but could be useful for those that want to maximise their future proofing or have an additional easy way to overclock their system.

Firstly, the BIOS size has increased from 32 MB to 64 MB, which opens the door to housing drivers such as Wi-Fi controllers directly in this storage space, allowing Windows to access your Wi-Fi network during installation. Future features and CPU support are also reasons for a larger BIOS according to MSI.

A base clock generator chip allows for separate adjustment to this frequency so it’s not tied to the rest of the system, providing an additional way to overclock and gain free performance. You can even adjust this on the fly outside of the EFI using two jumpers on the PCB.

MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi specs

MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Socket: AMD Socket AM5
Chipset: AMD B850
CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 desktop
Form factor: ATX
Memory support: DDR5-4800 to DDR5-8200 (OC), up to 256 GB
Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA
USB (rear): 2x USB 3.1 Type-C 10 Gbps, 1x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A 5 Gbps, 4 x USB 2.0
Display: 1x DisplayPort
Networking: Realtek 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7
Audio: Realtek ALC897
Price: $259 | £TBC | $AU TBC

MSI has gone all out here with the white theme on this $260 B850 chipset motherboard, even including the PCIe and DIMM slots as well as the CPU cooler mounting brackets and GPU release button mechanism, so if you have a white PC case, it’s already a contender. It’s attractive, uncluttered, but does lack its own RGB lighting, if that’s your thing.

Aside from its minor feature updates that include the 64 MB BIOS as well as separate base clock adjustment and physical jumper buttons to tweak that on the fly, the usual bits are here such as PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 SSD support, although cooling for the latter may be an issue due to the tiny heatsink included here, which is also devoid of underside cooling too.

Still, the heatsink and SSD installation across the board in its three M.2 slots are all tool-free so there are no tiny screws to deal with. The first M.2 slot is PCIe 5.0 compatible, the second PCIe 4.0 with four lanes, but the third is PCIe 4.0 with only two lanes, so you’ll likely want to avoid that one unless your SSD specifically meets that slower speed.

MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi on a desk.
Future
MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi on a desk.
Future

The MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi also has an impressive four PCIe slots, which are made up of the primary PCIe 5.0 slot, a PCIe 4.0 slot with four lanes and two PCIe 3.0 slots with just a single lane each, so there’s no much flexibility here. The slower slots here also share bandwidth with the PCIe 4.0 slot, which gives up two lanes if either of the former are used. Due to the number of slots, the board also has an additional 8-pin PCIe power connector.

Fans and RGB lighting headers are plentiful with seven 4-pin headers for fans, including one using MSIs EZ Conn-header connector and it’s included splitter cable. In total there’s also one 4-pin and four 3-pin and RGB headers. There does seem to be an unusual number of headers on the board in general, but this is partly thanks to a pair of 2-pin headers being added to provide on-the-fly base clock adjustment.

MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi on a desk.
Future
MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi on a desk.
Future
MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi on a desk.
Future

If you like plenty of fast USB ports, unfortunately this is one area that’s left wanting. The Type-C front panel port only offers USB 3.0 speed rather than sprightlier USB 3.2 Gen 2x2’s 20 Gbps. The rear I/O panel has a very mediocre six Type-A ports and four of those are only USB 2.0. This is no worse than this board’s predecessor, but then it currently costs considerably less.

We do get a pair of USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps Type-C ports, but it also cuts corners with audio too, only mustering Realtek’s low-end ALC897 codec rather than ALC4080 or ALC1220. The rear I/O panel does at least have buttons for clearing the CMOS and using USB BIOS Flashback and there’s also 5 Gbps Ethernet.

Motherboard benchmarks - AM5

MSI MEG X870E Ace Max
149
NZXT N9 X870E
148
Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi Ice
150
ASRock X870 Nova WiFi
148
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi
147
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi
149
MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi
147
037.575112.5150
Samples per minute
Blender 4.2.0 (junkshop) Data
ProductValue
MSI MEG X870E Ace Max 149
NZXT N9 X870E 148
Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi Ice 150
ASRock X870 Nova WiFi 148
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi 147
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi 149
MSI MAG B850 Gaming Plus Max WiFi 147

PC Gamer test bench
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme | RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR5-6000 | Storage: 2 TB Corsair MP700 | PSU: MSI MAG AB50GL 850 W | OS: Windows 11 24H2 | Chassis: Open platform | Monitor: Dell U2415

The VRM and chipset temperatures both remained under 60 °C, which isn’t bad considering they were dealing with some extended high-load tests with hardware such as AMD’s Ryzen 9 9900X and a high-end SSD. There’s certainly scope for pushing the CPU a little further with Precision Boost Overdrive or manual overclocking.

Buy if...

✅ You want a white motherboard and additional future-proofing as well as modern features: While the likes of a 64MB BIOS, Wi-Fi 7 and PCIe Gen 5 might not be useful at the moment for many, they will be within the lifetime of AMD’s current socket.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want the best value: It’s processor is nearly $100 cheaper and the competition offers a lot more for less so you pay a premium for its short list of upgrades

The benchmark scores were on par with more expensive boards too, with the 147 scored in Blender and 1,763 in Cinebench’s multi-thread score closely matching those of the mighty and hideously expensive MEG X870E Godlike X, with the same being true in our game tests. One area it was a little below par was the CPU power, which was on average around 30 W higher in our game tests. This is likely down to the more basic discrete P-PACK power phases used.

The benefits of a 64 MB BIOS are still unclear and likely won’t have an impact immediately. AMD’s next generation of CPUs is already slated to work on 800-series chipset motherboards so these benefits will likely be revealed a little further into the future. The independent base clock overclocking is certainly useful, but most only venture as far as Precision Boost Overdrive features so may have limited appeal. Still, MSI should be applauded for going the extra mile.

The biggest issue, though, is that while it has solid performance and somewhat cool VRMs, it’s just too expensive compared to equivalent options. Even MSI’s own MAG B850 Tomahawk costs less and is better in nearly every way. Unless you must have its new features, then we’d suggest either it or white alternatives such as the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 Ice are much better buys.

]]> <![CDATA[ One leaker's cryptic post suggests that AMD's next Ryzen lineup will have some serious core configurations across the range ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/one-leakers-cryptic-post-suggests-that-amds-next-ryzen-lineup-will-have-some-serious-core-configurations-across-the-range/ Zd6eFnGUprafAAPc39frhN Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:21:18 +0000

With all the processor news of late being focused on Intel's new Panther Lake chips and its forthcoming Nova Lake monsters, it would be perfectly understandable if you'd completely forgotten about AMD and its next-gen Zen 6 architecture. If you have, then don't worry, because one cryptic message from a well-known leaker suggests we're in for a treat.

The person in question is HXL on X, who has a pretty good track record of dropping snippets about CPUs and GPUs that turn out to be spot on later down the line. Their latest missive is quite brief, though, comprising just two lines: "6 8 10 12" and "8+8 10+10 12+12."

As the post contains nothing else, one is left to ruminate as to what they're talking about, but my money would be on the core configurations for AMD's next series of desktop Ryzen processors. Ever since Zen 2, Team Red CPUs have consisted of two or three chiplets: one or two for the cores (Core Complex Dies, CCDs) and one input/output block (IO Die, IOD).

Take any desktop Ryzen chip over that period, though, and you'll see that each CCD houses eight cores, no matter what model it is. Yes, I know that Ryzen 5 processors only have six cores, but the CCD itself still has eight: it's just that two of them are disabled. However, the general expectation for Zen 6 is that AMD will move to a 12-core CCD, and either HXL is confirming that as a 'leak' or they're simply musing on the possible configurations that such CCDs will offer.

So, let's break it down then. The "6 8 10 12" line suggests to me that AMD will release single-CCD Ryzen models that sport those specific core amounts. If so, then the next Ryzen 7 model would be a 12-core, 24-thread processor, whereas at the moment, it's an eight-core, 16-thread configuration.

A delidded AMD Ryzen 9000 series processor held in a hand, showing the two CCD and one IOD chiplets

Those top two chiplets could be housing 50% more cores in Zen 6. (Image credit: AMD)

Where the discussion gets interesting is when you move further down the line. Previous Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 models have been four and six-core chips, respectively, but here we have three possibilities. So two Ryzen 7 SKUs and one Ryzen 3, or the other way around? Could it mean that AMD abandon using odd numbers for SKU families and switches to use even values, i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8 and so on?

I suspect not because, despite AMD's penchant for creating some truly confusing SKU names, it would stop making sense once you got the dual-CCD models. Presently, these are exclusive to the Ryzen 9 family, which currently consists of the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9950X, plus their X3D variants.

Using HXL's nomenclature, these are 6+6 and 8+8 configurations, resulting in 12-core, 24-thread and 16-core, 32-thread processors. But with 12-core CCDs, you obviously get one additional SKU that fits in between the top and bottom Ryzen 9 CPUs.

So, by using a larger CCD, AMD would have the opportunity to create at least seven processor models and at launch, these would be X variants, like the 9700X or the 9600X. A little further down the line, we'd get the non-X models, possibly one for each tier, taking the Zen 6 family to 14 chips in total.

Four, eight, and six cores each. Zen 6 could make these look piffling. (Image credit: Future)

And finally, we can expect to see X3D and iGPU-less versions appearing at some point, too. Theoretically, as many as seven of each, leading to a grand family of 28 next-gen Ryzens to choose from. Crikey.

What might seem horribly complicated to a novice PC gamer is mana from heaven for AMD, because it means there are more options to fit various Zen 6 dies into than before. That results in fewer wasted dies, which ultimately helps to improve AMD's bottom line. If Zen 6 CCDs really are 12 cores in size, then be prepared to see a veritable rampage of Ryzens at some point this year.

]]> <![CDATA[ Best gaming laptop 2026: I've tested the best laptops for gaming of this generation and here are the ones I recommend. ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-laptops/best-gaming-laptop-2026-ive-tested-the-best-laptops-for-gaming-of-this-generation-and-here-are-the-ones-i-recommend/ NDPYnrWkcu8hdxnTPvpvPm Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:54:58 +0000

If there's one thing we know at PC Gamer it's the best gaming laptops. We review every new generation of machines, every year, and with every new graphics generation. That's how we know that these are the best gaming laptops, because we've tested a huge range of machines in our time.

So, if you want to know what the best gaming laptop is for a budget, for the best performance, in a compact size, or even at a mahoosive scale, we've got a list of six great gaming notebooks that will cater to all needs.

Our experts

The best gaming laptop

Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future
Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
Future

1. Razer Blade 16 (2025)

The best gaming laptop.

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or AI 9 365 | GPU: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, or RTX 5070 Ti | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5 | Screen: 2560 x 1600, 16:10 aspect ratio | Storage: 1 TB, 2TB, 4 TB (2+2 TB) Gen 4 SSD | Battery: 90 Wh | Dimensions: 14.9 ~ 17.4 x 250.5 x 355 mm / 0.59 ~ 0.69 x 9.86 x 13.98 inches | Weight: 2.14 kg / 4.71 lbs​

Far slimmer than last-gen model
Great performance
Can run cool and quiet
GAMING ON BATTERY?!
Stunning screen
Great keyboard
Size still holds back the RTX 5090
Hugely expensive, especially in the US
RTX 5080 will get you the same frame rates, though might hurt your ears

Our favorite config:

Razer Blade 16 | Ryzen AI 9 365 | RTX 5080 | 32 GB LPDDR5x | 1 TB SSD
The RTX 5090 is the most powerful GPU in mobile form, but it is held back by the slimline chassis. It still delivers great frame rates, but RTX 5080 GPUs in other machines, even the limited Zephyrus G16, offer similar performance. For that reason, and for the saving in cost, I'd recommend the RTX 5080 as the go-to Blade 16 configuration.View Deal

We tested: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | RTX 5090 | 32 GB | 2 TB SSD

The bottom line

💻 The 2025 edition of the Razer Blade 16 is easily the best gaming laptop I've ever tested. It's a machine that's perfectly sized and setup for PC gaming in modern times, but also one that delivers an unprecedented level of gaming prowess away from a power socket. It's a do-anything notebook that can be your one PC to rule them all.

Read our full Razer Blade 16 (2025) review for all the performance and benchmark details.

I'll say it again, the new Razer Blade 16 is the best gaming laptop I've ever used, and I've been messing around with them professionally for the best part of 20 years now. But it's not about the fact I've been using an RTX 5090-powered version, with some pleasing gaming grunt behind it. Because it's not. The real kicker, the real reason why this is the best gaming laptop is because the experience of actually using the device itself is a genuine pleasure—whether that's gaming, productivity, or just general laptopery.

The Blade 16 is the antithesis to practically all the failings of modern gaming laptops; historically chonky machines, with atrocious battery life, and horribly loud fans. It has a chassis with a 30% reduction in overall volume and uses a smart "thermal hood" which sits over the fans and heatsink, giving some extra space to shift air around without making the overall feel of the machine anywhere near as thick as the Blade 16 has been. We're getting back to the slimline feel of the original Blade 15 and that is a welcome return to form.

That cooling hood, and improved overall thermal design, means the Blade 16, even at full volume, doesn't get its fan noise up to the same level as something like the new Asus Zephyrus G16 or the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 I've also checked out. It is still noticeable, and you're not going to want to sit in a library with the fans on full, but it has none of the turbine whoosh of the Gigabyte or the whine of the Asus.

And even when you rein the fans in, knocking the cooling performance down a notch or two, the thing will still deliver great frame rates. Partly that's where Nvidia's new Multi Frame Generation party trick comes into its own on mobile, allowing you to dial the hardware down while still enjoying high frame rates at the same time.

Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
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Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside
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That also helps on battery when you're gaming, as does the GPU architecture's ability to quickly shift gears in terms of the frequency and power draw, within the timing of a single frame, even. That efficiency delivers a huge difference in gaming away from the plug, and Nvidia's new BatteryBoost tech helps, too. Now, it will crush the in-game settings if you allow it to optimise them on its own, but it also comes with a context-aware algorithm that will drop the frame rate to 30 fps when it sees there's limited action on screen. Think something like an inventory or dialogue screen.

I've already noted how much slimmer the chassis design is, but it's still feels beautifully rigid—even if it is still a total fingerprint magnet—but the keyboard is soooo much better now, too. The extra travel really makes it a pleasure to type on, in a way not a lot of chiclet keyboards are.

And that screen. We've had other 1600p OLED panels side-by-side with it and the Blade's is absolutely best—and there aren't a ton of actual OLED panel manufacturers so there must be something to Razer's tuning and electronics going on here.

All told, the Blade 16 is the do-anything gaming laptop I've always wanted. It can game like a champ on the latest games at high resolution and frame rates, it can even do it on battery, and will do it quietly, too.

The best budget gaming laptop

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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2. Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10

The best budget gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core i5 13450HX / AMD Ryzen 7 250 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 or 5060 | RAM: 16 GB DDR5-4800 / DDR5-5600 | Screen: 15-inch 1920 x 1080 @ 144 Hz IPS | Storage: 512 GB SSD NVMe PCIe 4.0 | Battery: 60 Wh | Dimensions: 15.6 ~ 23.9 mm x 359.9 mm x 258.7 mm / 0.94 x 14.17 x 10.19 inches | Weight: 2.3 kg / 5.07 lbs

Solid hardware pairings
Sleek refined design
Great 1080p performance
RAM and SSD config is frustrating
Battery life underwhelming

Our favorite config:

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 | Ryzen 7 250 | RTX 5060 | 1 TB SSD | 32 GB (2x 16 GB) DDR5
Our biggest issue with the spec of the LOQ that we reviewed is that it comes with a single stick of 16 GB memory, which instantly halves the bandwidth otherwise available to a pair of 8 GB sticks. The only option really is the upgrade to 32 GB (or buy yourself a second 16 GB stick), but that does up the price by $65, be warned.View Deal

We tested: Ryzen 7 250 | RTX 5060 (115 W) | 16 GB DDR5-5600 | 512 GB SSD

The bottom line

💻 The Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 sees the manufacturer committing some cardinal sins over memory sticks, but you only have to look at the top-end RTX 5060 gaming performance it achieves, and the outstanding build quality to understand what a great machine you're getting for the budget price it goes for.

Read our full Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

There is one thing that would normally have me blowing up in genuine nerd-rage at this latest Lenovo budget laptop, but my broiling temper has been calmed by the one thing that will soothe a savage gaming beast: performance. The chart-topping gaming performance of the RTX 5060 at the heart of this LOQ system, when put against all the other RTX 5060 machines we've tested, means I can accept its other configuration crimes. And that makes the new Lenovo LOQ 15 the best budget gaming laptop of this generation.

The issue in question is the fact Lenovo has, to my eternal consternation, decided to fit its LOQ 15 machine out with just a single stick of 16 GB DDR5 memory, which instantly halves the available memory bandwidth that you would have seen if there were two sticks of 8 GB DDR5 in there. Same memory capacity, twice the bandwidth, and pretty much the same price.

It's annoying and just done because it's cheaper to have a ton of 16 GB modules to use across the board and not have to buy up some 8 GB sticks for the proles. Lenovo will let you upgrade to 32 GB, which gives you two 16 GB SO-DIMMs, for another $65, but it is annoying when 16 GB is still good enough for a budget machine. Doubly annoying when the Ryzen CPU at its heart thrives on memory bandwidth.

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10 gaming laptop
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But that is still an excellent chip, a rebadged Ryzen 7 8840U with the same quality integrated GPU if you want to save some battery power on the go. Which you will away from the plug because the battery life is pretty poor.

What isn't poor, however, is that gaming performance. Despite the cut memory bandwidth, the 1080p frame rates are excellent and at least as good, if not better, than far more expensive RTX 5060-toting laptops we've tested. Throw in some judicious use of DLSS and Frame Generation and you're getting stellar gaming frame rates from a genuinely budget laptop.

Listed at around $1,300, I've already seen this machine drop to the $800 mark and I would expect to see it around those levels pretty regularly throughout the regular deals seasons of the year.

It's also a beautifully built machine, too. The 1080p screen is vibrant—much better than last year's model—and matches the GPU perfectly. The chassis is smart, too, feeling less 'gamery' than laptops you might see from other vendors, and feels reassuringly solid, with that classic great Lenovo keyboard.

In short this is a great budget gaming laptop, just with a bit of a memory problem. Though that's a relatively easy, and cheap fix. As is the limited 512 GB SSD config, too, because thankfully there is a second, easily accessible M.2 slot in there.

The best 14-inch gaming laptop

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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3. Razer Blade 14 (2025)

The best 14-inch gaming laptop.

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 or 5070 | RAM: Up to 64 GB LPDDR5X-8000 | Screen: 14-inch 1800p @ 120 Hz / OLED | Storage: 1 TB SSD NVMe PCIe 4.0 | Battery: 72 Wh | Dimensions: 31.1 x 22.4 x 1.58 ~ 1.62 cm / 12.23 x 8.83 x 0.62 ~ 0.64-inches | Weight: 1.63 kg / 3.59 lbs

That new chassis is fire
Doesn't sound like a jet
Lovely OLED display
Good battery life
It's a genuinely portable gaming laptop
Lower spec Blade costs more than higher spec alternatives
880M iGPU is a miss
No upgraded Blade 16 keyboard

Our favorite config:

Razer Blade 14 | Ryzen 9 AI 365 | RTX 5070 115 W | 32 GB RAM | 1 TB SSD
The RTX 5070 version is really the only one we would recommend from the three SKUs on offer. The RTX 5060 version is still really expensive and forces you to suffer with 16 GB RAM, while the higher spec version charges another $300 for a 2 TB SSD and 64 GB RAM. The 32 GB RTX 5070 machine is absolutely the sweet spot.View Deal

We tested: Ryzen 9 AI 365 | RTX 5070 115 W | 32 GB RAM | 1 TB SSD

The bottom line

💻 The Razer Blade 14 has staged an impressive comeback, with a price cut compared with the previous generation, a better OLED screen, and a slimline chassis that makes it the perfect compact gaming laptop.

Read our full Razer Blade 14 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

For my money, the new Blade 14 is absolutely the best 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy today. Though that was certainly not the case in the previous generation, where Asus went straight for Razer's jugular, redesigning its Zephyrus G14 to create a beautiful little AMD-powered laptop that had our hearts aflutter.

The slimmer chassis of the new Blade 14 makes it look far more modern than last year's chonkier design. That was something which really put me off all the Blade laptops of the previous generation. But now we're back with the MacBook-ish aesthetic that means the new machine fits as well in a boardroom meeting as in your gaming den. Well, so long as you disable the green glow of that Razer logo on the lid anyways.

It's a little heavier than the G14 still, despite being essentially the same size, but it's still easily picked up in one hand and will comfortably slip into your day bag for your trip to the office or school and won't weigh you down. It feels reassuringly solid, with Razer's classic unibody chassis giving it a rigidity that speaks of a robust laptop you really can take everywhere with you. And it will also happily survive away from a plug socket on your travels, too, as we've tracked gaming performance that measures well over two hours, so standard desktop battery life is well above that.

That slimmer chassis does mean Razer has had to do away with configurable memory, which means soldered memory and no option to upgrade down the line, at least not for the folk without solder for blood. That's mostly a non-issue for me, with the RTX 5070 version coming with 32 GB or 64 GB options at point of sale, but does give me pause for the RTX 5060 Blade 14. It's still more than $2,000 and comes with just 16 GB LPDDR5X and nowhere to go after that.

The limited spec options are a bit of an issue on the surface for the Blade 14, especially with the inevitable comparison to the new Zephyrus G14. The Asus laptop can be configured with RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, or RTX 5080 GPUs, making more powerful options on offer for those who want the raw performance, while the Blade 14 is restricted to the 8 GB RTX 5070 as the top GPU offering.

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop
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For some, with a bee in their bonnet about 8 GB GPUs, that will be a deal-breaker. But having personally tested the RTX 5070 Blade 14 against the RTX 5070 Ti G14 there really isn't a lot between them even at the native 1880 x 1800 resolution of their identical (and identically gorgeous) 120 Hz OLED displays. And when you have the twin boons of DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation the Blade 14 remains a solid gaming device.

More concerning for the RTX 5070 Ti-toting Zephyrus G14, however, is its new cooling design. There is an unpleasant dual-tone fan noise which becomes truly distracting when pushing the Asus laptop at all in-game. The only solution I found to deliver a decent aural experience was to use the manual configuration options to restrict power, which ended up restricting the gaming performance to that of the lower spec Blade 14 anyway. With both machines running at a similar level of fan noise they essentially run at the same speed.

The Razer Blade 14 is the gaming laptop that I would actually want to be spending my own money on. I've spent a long while testing both this and the G14 together, and while the Asus is still a quality machine, there's only one I'd be looking to buy myself, and that's the Razer. It delivers a better experience, is a better looking system, and though it is pricey (while still being cheaper than the previous generation) it's still the best 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy.

The best mid-range gaming laptop

MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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4. MSI Vector 16 HX AI

The best mid-range gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 200HX series | GPU: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070 | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5 | Screen: 2560 x 1600, IPS, 16:10 aspect ratio | Storage: 1 TB, 512 GB Gen 4 SSD | Battery: 90 Wh | Dimensions: 22.2 ~ 28.5 x 357 x 284 mm / 1.12 x 14.05 x 11.18 inches | Weight: 2.7 kg / 5.95 lbs​

Excellent RTX 5080 performance
Actually decent price point
Speedy CPU chops
Balanced mode is quiet and performant
Though it's offensively loud at top speed
Chonky, choppy chassis
Weak battery performance

Our favorite config:

MSI Vector 16 HX AI | Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 | 16 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD
The price/performance ratio of the RTX 5080 version of the Vector 16 was a big surprise when I first tested the machine, and very much endeared me to it. The overall package delivers great gaming frame rates, even without the fans whirring up to full force, and so long as you don't mind being permanently plugged in.View Deal

We tested: Intel Core Ultra 9 275X | RTX 5080 | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB

The bottom line

💻 The MSI Vector 16 HX AI will deliver impressive frame rates that you may not have expected from its relatively affordable position. It's not a budget laptop by any means, but considering the cost of competing RTX 5080 notebooks it's a very compelling gaming package.

Read our full MSI Vector 16 HX AI review for all the performance and benchmark details.

When I first pulled the Vector 16 HX AI out of its packaging and started benchmarking it, I certainly did not expect it to be finding a spot in our best gaming laptop list. It's a chonky notebook and when you put it into top performance mode the thing sounds like a chinook trying to take off inside an echo chamber, but it's found a way into my heart and is my pick as the best mid-range gaming laptop you can buy today.

My testing shows it delivers some of the highest gaming frame rates of any RTX 5080-powered gaming laptop we've tested in this generation. Because of those high frame rates, and the way MSI has managed its different performance modes, you're still getting gaming speeds in the balanced preset that matches many other systems' full speed modes.

And that calms down the fan noise to a level that is completely acceptable. Suddenly you have a gaming laptop which, while not a particularly svelte machine, is still able to deliver a thoroughly pleasing gaming experience.

Then there's the price. Even at its standard $2,500 price point that puts it below pretty much every other gaming laptop I've seen sporting the same Nvidia RTX 5080 mobile graphics chip. Cheaper and faster is a combo that I am always happy to get behind, and I will take a compromise if it comes in the shape of a bit of a thick machine.

MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop
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Though I will say that chassis does have some design quirks which I'm not so happy with. Mostly that's down to the severe, almost serrated edge that seems to have been explicitly designed to cut into your wrists as you type. The keyboard response also isn't that pleasing, with a slightly squishy feel to the travel of the keys themselves, and—on a completely aesthetic note—I really don't like the font, either.

As a whole package, the Vector 16 HX AI is still a quality machine. The 1600p IPS screen may not have the impact of an OLED display, but it's still bright enough and fast enough at 240 Hz, to not have me minding overmuch. I'm also into this machine when the back panel has been removed; just look at those heatpipes! Oh, and when the back's off you can also directly and easily access a spare M.2 slot to expand your storage—considering the RTX 5070 Ti version comes with a frankly miserly 512 GB SSD, the ease of expanding that is certainly welcome, and arguably necessary.

So, if you're after top gaming performance without paying top dollar, the MSI Vector 16 HX AI will absolutely deliver, just don't expect to be gaming on the go with this hefty chassis and limited gaming battery life.

The best high-performance gaming laptop

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gaming laptop
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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5. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10

The best high-performance gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX series | GPU: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, or RTX 5070 Ti | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5 | Screen: 2560 x 1600, OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio | Storage: Up to 2 TB Gen 4 SSD or 1 TB Gen 5 SSD | Battery: 99.9 Wh | Dimensions: 21.9 ~ 26.6 x 364 x 275.9 mm / 0.86 - 1.04 x 14.33 x 10.86-inches | Weight: 2.72 kg / 6 lbs

Stylish new chassis
Lovely OLED screen
Top gaming performance
Excellent power customisation options
Battery life is weak
Price is higher than RTX 5080 Razer Blade 16
It's a big boi laptop
And a fingerprint magnet

Our favorite config:

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 | 32 GB DDR5-6400 | 1 TB SSD
The RTX 5080 version is the one I'd want—the RTX 5090 is honestly a ludicrous extra price premium for I doubt a huge amount of extra gaming performance. That puts this SKU, with just a 1 TB SSD, below the cost of an equivalent Blade 16 laptop and will higher frame rates to boot. And I wouldn't be surprised if the pricing came down below the $3K mark by the end of the year.View Deal

We tested: Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 | 32 GB DDR5-6400 | 2x 1 TB SSDs

The bottom line

💻 The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is simply the most powerful gaming laptop I've tested from this generation, beating even the gaming performance of the vastly more expensive RTX 5090 Blade 16. It doesn't have the portability or battery life, but if you're specifically after a gaming machine first and foremost, Lenovo has made a laptop just for you.

Read our full Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

It may be a real chonker of a gaming laptop, but there is a real style to Lenovo's new Legion Pro 7i design, and more than a little Alienware-esque flair, too. The geometric RGB rings around the rear exhaust ports on the machine, and the front light bar give it that effect, and a real eye-catching style. But it's the gaming frame rates which have made this Legion Pro 7i the best high-performance gaming laptop on our list.

Lenovo has also ditched the side vents in this generation, leading to a far slicker look to the Gen 10 chassis. And, while it is a thick laptop, it doesn't feel like some sort of notebook throwback to the naughties, and that extra girth has allowed it to create the conditions to deliver, on the whole, the best gaming performance I've seen in any of the laptops I've tested from this latest generation of machines.

And I've tested a bunch of them now. For me, if it's a question of a top two, then it's between the Blade 16 and this new Legion Pro 7i. In terms of pure performance alone you couldn't look beyond the Lenovo—it tops the Razer machine's RTX 5090 with a lower sticker price and theoretically weaker GPU—but if you want a do-everything notebook with genuine battery gaming chops, the Blade is 100% where it's at.

That Legion gaming performance comes at a cost, however, with either loud fans at the top performance preset, or weak gaming performance otherwise. Thankfully, the LegionSpace app comes to the rescue, offering a custom mode with a granular level of tweakery to please any PC nerd; to a level which is rather unprecedented and the sort of thing gaming laptops have been crying out for.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 gaming laptop from various angles
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With it, I can restrain the excesses of the Intel CPU while letting the Nvidia GPU run free, keeping fan noise in check while I do so. This means there's little compromise to gaming performance, fan noise stays relatively low, and I can flip on the DLSS 4 extras, such as Multi Frame Gen and see frankly ludicrous gaming performance from this machine.

Obviously the gaming performance is why the Legion Pro 7i has a place in our best gaming laptop list, but it's absolutely worth mentioning the stellar OLED screen—it's bright and crisp, and comes with a glossy coating to accentuate its contrast levels—and the always excellent Lenovo keyboard.

I'm not such a fan of the small, yet responsive, trackpad, but honestly I'm going to have a gaming mouse plugged into this thing for the most part.

If all I wanted was the most performant gaming laptop around, then I would be absolutely hell bent on trying to find the cash to bag myself a Legion Pro 7i. The package as a whole is excellent, with just a note of concern over the launch price of the RTX 5080 system. Fingers crossed it follows past Lenovo history and we see this machine drop in price—that could make it one of the best value gaming laptops, too.

The best 18-inch gaming laptop

A photo of the keyboard of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with the display showing the Windows desktop
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A photo of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with its display showing Cyberpunk 2077's benchmark mode
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A close-up photo of the keyboard of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop
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A photo of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with its display showing the load screen of Cyberpunk 2077
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A close-up photo of the display of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, showing a screenshot of the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark
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A close-up photo of the left side of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, showing the exhaust vents for the cooling system
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A close-up photo of the rear IO ports of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop
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A close-up photo of the trackpad of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, fully illuminated with its built-in RGB lights
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6. Alienware 18 Area-51

The best 18-inch gaming laptop.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX or Ultra 9 275HX | GPU: From RTX 5060 to RTX 5090 inclusive | RAM: Up to 64 GB DDR5-6400 | Screen: 18-inch 1600p @ 300 Hz | Storage: Up to 12 TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD | Battery: 96 Wh | Dimensions: 410 x 320 x 24.3 mm / 16.14 x 12.6 x 0.96 | Weight: 4.34 kg / 9.57 lbs

RTX 5090 performance
Luxurious chassis
Great cooling
Three M.2 SSD slots inside
Ultra-high price tag
Cheap-feeling keyboard
Display is 500 nits and yet no HDR
Performance when unplugged

Our favorite config:

Alienware 18 Area-51 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Nvidia RTX 5080 | 32 GB DDR5-6400 | 2 TB SSD
We tested out the RTX 5090 version of the xenomorphic 18-incher, but while it is going to deliver higher gaming frame rates and beefier AI chops, you're looking at another $600 for the privilege. The RTX 5080 version then is the sweet spot between price and performance. Oh, and also specifically the version without the CherryMX low-profile keyboard would be our recommendation, too.

We tested: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Nvidia RTX 5090 | 64 GB DDR5-6400 | 2 TB SSD

The bottom line

💻 The Alienware 18 Area-51 is almost the best gaming laptop the company has ever produced, only being held back by a slightly disappointing screen and the weak performance away from a power source. It is definitely the best 18-inch gaming laptop, however. You're getting top-tier frame rates and productivity grunt and a really classy looking chassis, to boot.

Read our full Alienware 18 Area-51 review for all the performance and benchmark details.

There's something delightfully old-school about the new Alienware 18 Area-51. Its anodised aluminum chassis is anachronistic in all the right ways, while still feeling modern. I'm into it, is what I'm saying, especially in this large, desktop replacement form. In fact, right now, the Alienware 18 Area-51 is the best 18-inch gaming laptop you can buy. And we've tested a good few of this generation.

The Alienware's 2560 x 1600 screen maybe doesn't necessarily lend itself perfectly to that notion, maybe not for the budding video producer managing 4K video day-in, day-out. But what it does mean is that you can get great gaming performance out of both the mobile GPU at the machine's heart and the panel it's pumping pixels onto.

This is what the Alienware 18 Area-51 is actually best at, because when paired with the RTX 5090 mobile graphics chip you are able to get the most out of that powerful slice of GPU silicon. I have tested an RTX 5090 version of the HP Omen Max 16, and that does deliver marginally higher frame rates, but it's clear the serious cooling on offer with the Alienware machine is letting the Nvidia chip do its thing more than capably.

And certainly more so than the Razer Blade 16. Though, in its defence, that was a necessary concession from Razer to make a deliciously slim chassis.

A photo of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop, with its display showing the load screen of Cyberpunk 2077
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A close-up photo of the rear IO ports of the Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop
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The gaming performance is excellent with the RTX 5090 version we reviewed, and so is the content creation and productivity chops of this machine. The Intel processor at its heart may not be as efficient, or have as good an integrated GPU inside it, but it's still an outstanding computational architecture.

Even the nominally faster Core Ultra 9 285HX inside the MSI Raider 18 HX AI can't keep up with the Alienware, as its cooling allows the Core Ultra 9 275HX chip to deliver more in terms of raw compute power.

It's not a perfect desktop replacement, however. Honestly, in a high-priced 18-inch laptop I want a great screen, and this one just isn't. It's fine, but an OLED at least would be more than welcome, as would even a higher resolution panel. Sure, you do get 300 Hz refresh when powered directly from the discrete GPU itself, but it's still not a winner.

Still, this is an excellent big-screen gaming laptop that beats out the rest of the 18-inch competition because of its quality cooling, funky chassis, and excellent overall gaming and computational performance.

Best gaming laptop battery life

Gaming laptop

PC Mark gaming battery life (minutes)

Gigabyte Gaming A16

183

Asus TUF A14 (2025)

156

Razer Blade 16 (2025)

135

Razer Blade 14 (2025)

134

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Al

115

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)

112

Acer Predator Triton 14 Al

110

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

106

Gigabyte Aorus Master 16

102

MSI Crosshair 16 HX (AI)

101

MSI Stealth A18 HX AI

100

HP Omen Max 16

96

MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XW

93

Asus ROG Flow Z13

90

Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen10

89

MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XW

88

MSI Stealth 18 HX AI

82

Alienware 18 Area-51

81

Lenovo Legion 7i Pro Gen10

73

Alienware 16 Area-51

73

Asus ROG Strix G16

72

Acer Predator Helios 18 Al

71

Erazer Deputy 15 P1

59

Erazer Scout 15 E1

44

Also tested

The above gaming laptops are the ones we recommend you spend your hard-earned cash on if you're looking for a new machine, but they aren't the only ones we've reviewed. We regularly test different gaming laptops to make sure we're recommending only the absolute best.

These are the machines we've looked at recently that didn't make the cut...

Framework 16 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (100 W) | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 2 TB SSD
Framework has done what Alienware failed to do: deliver on its promise of upgradeable laptop graphics cards, generation-on-generation. But the premium pricing of the laptop alone, as well as that of the RTX 5070 GPU module, gives the Framework ecosystem an entry barrier so high it will be insurmountable for many PC gamers.
PC Gamer score: 73%

Read the full Framework 16 (RTX 5070 upgrade) review.View Deal

Gigabyte Aero X16 | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 | Nvidia RTX 5070 85 W | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD
Although it touts an epic design language and a beautiful color-accurate display, its underwhelming GPU and middling storage performance leave a lot to be desired.
PC Gamer score: 69%

Read our full Gigabyte Aero X16 review.View Deal

Acer Predator Triton 14 AI | Intel Core Ultra 9 288V | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 8GB (110 W) | 32 GB LPDDR5X | 1 TB SSD
The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI looks good on paper, with chips from the newest generations of Intel and Nvidia. And when it comes to gaming it's got the goods too, though it can't quite decide whether it wants to be a gaming or creative machine. What lets it down is that similar laptops from Asus and Razer are cheaper and can perform better, which rather kicks the legs out from under the Triton.
PC Gamer score: 70%

Read our full Acer Predator Triton 14 AI review.View Deal

Gigabyte Gaming A16 | Intel Core i7 13620H | Nvidia RTX 5060 (85 W) | 32 GB DDR5-5200 | 1 TB SSD
Beautiful design, top-tier internal hardware (albeit with an aging CPU), but with a particularly low TGP on the RTX 5060, it absolutely hammers the frame-rates down to the point you end up questioning whether it's a 5050 in disguise.
PC Gamer score: 73%

Read our full Gigabyte Gaming A16 review.View Deal

Alienware 16 Area-51 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Nvidia RTX 5080 (175 W) | 32 GB DDR5-6400 | 2 TB SSD
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a great pick for someone looking to game primarily on a laptop and still have some semblance of portability. It lacks an OLED panel, which is its biggest miss, and performance is a touch slower than some we've seen. But it more than makes up for these with a price tag lower than others offering the same level of quality.
PC Gamer score: 80%

Read our full Alienware 16 Area-51 review.View Deal

MSI Stealth 18 HX AI | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Nvidia RTX 5080 (150 W) | 64 GB DDR5-6400 | 2 TB SSD
The MSI Stealth 18 HX AI is not the fastest gaming laptop out there. Despite that, it's huge and bright and runs games at decent framerates, so what are we worrying about?
PC Gamer score: 73%

Read our full MSI Stealth 18 HX AI review.View Deal

Asus TUF Gaming A14 | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 | Nvidia RTX 5060 (110 W) | 16 GB LPDDR5x-7500 | 1 TB SSD
This gaming laptop is ideal for those who want to be able to take their laptop around with them and use it for more than just gaming. Its subtle design and form factor make it very portable, and its RTX 5060 GPU has surprisingly strong gaming chops, especially with frame gen enabled. You can probably get a little better performance for cheaper, but probably not in such a great form factor and premium chassis.
PC Gamer score: 89%

Read our full Asus TUF A14 review.View Deal

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti (110 W) | 32 GB LPDDR5X-8000 | 1 TB SSD
The strangely inconsistent fan noise really takes the shine of this generation's G14, despite it still being a delicious device, with a beautiful OLED screen, and decent gaming performance. But with a new Blade 14 rectifying all the issues Razer's compact machine has had over the past couple of years, it certainly suffers by comparison.
PC Gamer score 83%

Read our full Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review.View Deal

HP Omen Max 16 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 (175 W) | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD
The HP Omen Max 16 as tested offers 1% low frame rates that are lower than other RTX 5080 laptops, and slightly lower frame rates overall. That's not to say it's not a good laptop—it's well built, has a good screen and plenty of overall grunt. It all depends on whether you're prepared to wait for the drivers to catch up.
PC Gamer score 75%

Read our full HP Omen Max 16 review.View Deal

Asus Zephyrus G16 (2025) | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | RTX 5080 (120 W) | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD
While the Zephyrus G16 is still a beautiful, hyper-portable gaming laptop with genuine style, fitting it with an Arrow Lake-H CPU has left it with questionable thermals and fan noise. The RTX 5080 inside is surprisingly capable, but the G16 has lost enough of its shine overall to make the Razer Blade 16 seem ever-more attractive.
PC Gamer score 77%

Read our full Asus Zephyrus G16 (20250) review.View Deal

Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 (175 W) | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD
A seriously powerful gaming laptop, but at that performance level it becomes an unpleasant thing to use. You can tone things down without losing too much performance, but as a physical device it still doesn't spark joy for your three-grand outlay.
PC Gamer score 78%

Read our full Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 reviewView Deal

Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) | AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 | 32 GB LPDDR5X-8000 | 1 TB SSD
They keep trying to make 'gaming tablets' happen, but Asus has not yet cracked this powerful, portable form factor. The 2025 version of the ROG Flow Z13 is better thought of as a gaming laptop with a detachable keyboard, an eye-watering two grand price tag, and a questionable performance-per-dollar value.
PC Gamer score: 59%

Read our full Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) review.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | RTX 4070 (80 W) | 32 GB LPDDR5X | 1 TB SSD
With a wonderful screen, solid specs, and great battery life for non-gaming needs, this is a nice laptop but it's quite expensive and that GPU is a bit low.
PC Gamer Score: 70%

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra review. View Deal

MSI Titan 18 HX A14V | Intel Core i9 14900HX | RTX 4090 (175 W) | 128 GB DDR5 | 6 TB SSD (total)
While the components inside are top-notch on paper, in the real world the Titan 18 HX makes very little sense. It's cantankerous, old-fashioned, and somehow brutally overbuilt yet flimsy at the same time. The best of the best? Not even close.
PC Gamer score: 49%

Read our full MSI Titan 18 HX A14V review.View Deal

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | RTX 4080 | Intel Core i9 14900HX | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 2x 1 TB SSD
From speedy storage, to masses of RAM, and a superb CPU, there's a lot to love about the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. It's a real shame that, while it performs superbly (particularly in Thermal Mode), the battery life is pretty awful. Still, it's otherwise a seriously impressive machine.
PC Gamer score: 88%

Read our full Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen9 review.View Deal

Acer Nitro 14 | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS | RTX 4050 | 16GB LPDDR5X | 512 GB SSD
Mismatched and overpriced, this laptop is impressively designed with smart cooling and a good looking chassis—but this doesn't make up for its woeful price point, low storage, and soldered memory.
PC Gamer score: 55%

Read our full Acer Nitro 14 review

Asus ProArt PX13 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | 32 GB DDR5
Asus' creative laptop, including the NPU-equipped Ryzen AI 9 processor, is an easy machine to live with if you're a content creator, but as a gaming machine it feels out of its comfort zone.
PC Gamer score: 70%

Read our full Asus ProArt PX13 review.View Deal

Asus TUF A14 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia RTX 4060 (100 W) | 16 GB LPDDR5x-7500 | 1 TB SSD
The new Asus TUF A14 is a genuinely delightful gaming machine. It's rocking my favourite 14-inch form factor, and it might just be my favourite 14-inch gaming laptop, too. It's powerful, affordable, looks great, and could be your everything laptop for work and gaming, too.
PC Gamer score: 88%

Read our full Asus TUF A14 review.View Deal

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i | Core i7 14650HX | RTX 4060 | 16 GB DDR5 (1x 16 GB) | 512 GB SSD
The Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 needs another RAM stick, double the storage capacity, and a bigger battery to win me over for the money.
PC Gamer score 58%

Read our full Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Gen 9 review.

Razer Blade 14 (2024) | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 32 GB DDR5 | 1 TB SSD
Supremely well crafted and one of the fastest RTX 4070 laptops we've tested. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most expensive RTX 4070 laptops we've tested and at this price, we'd expect to see OLED or mini-LED screens being offered. The IPS one here is still very nice, though.
PC Gamer score: 83%

Read our full Razer Blade 14 (2024) review.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 | Intel Core i9 14900HX | RTX 4090 (175W) | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 2 TB SSD |
A hefty slab of a gaming laptop, the Strix Scar 18 is a very impressive machine for a number of reasons, not least its truly fabulous 240 Hz Mini LED screen. While the performance is up there with some of the best, it's a bit cantankerous—and doesn't feel as refined as you'd hope for an ultra-premium lappy.
PC Gamer score: 78%

Read our full Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 review.

Gigabyte Aorus 16X | Intel Core i7 14650HX | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 32 GB DDR5 | 1 TB SSD
The 2024 version of the Aorus 16X is a solid gaming laptop, with all the performance you'd expect from its hardware. In this price sector, the competition is fierce and the Aorus doesn't have anything special to make it stand out from the crowd. It's definitely worth a look, though, especially if you find one with a discount.
PC Gamer score: 75%

Read our full Gigabyte Aorus 16X review.

HP Omen 16 | Intel Core i7 13700HX | Nvidia RTX 4080 | 32 GB DDR5 | 2 TB SSD
The HP Omen 16 laptop fails to deliver the expected level of performance and value when compared to its counterparts in the 16-inch RTX 4080 laptop category. It falls short because of its lackluster CPU and GPU performance, higher price point, bloatware issues, and subpar gaming experience. Not a great combo, for sure.
PC Gamer score: 68%

Read our full HP Omen 16 review.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 | Intel Core i9 13980HX | Nvidia RTX 4080 | 16 GB DDR5-4800 | 1 TB SSD
The ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) model comes in hot, not just in terms of impressive gaming performance but inevitably temperature-wise, too. While it sometimes matches the more expensive gaming laptops in this year's lineup, the rest of the spec lets it down.
PC Gamer score: 70%

Read our full Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) review.

MSI Cyborg 15 | Intel Core i7 12650H | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16 GB DDR5-4800 | 512 GB SSD
While quiet and cool, the MSI Cyborg 15 lacks the oomph expected of an RTX 4060-powered gaming laptop. Frustrating software and a lack of upgradeability make for a clumsy attempt at a competitively-priced machine.
PC Gamer score: 50%

Read our full MSI Cyborg 15 review.

MSI Titan GT77 HX | Intel Core i9 13950HX | Nvidia RTX 4090 | 64 GB DDR5-4000 | 4 TB SSD
For this much money, we want a machine to feel special, not like it's struggling to cope with the top-rated hardware baked inside it. The MSI Titan feels like a gaming laptop running at the ragged edge of performance and decency. Its excess feels vulgar, not special, and we simply cannot recommend it on raw performance alone.
PC Gamer score: 53%

Read our full MSI GT77 HX review.

Alienware X14 | Intel Core i7 12700H | Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB | 16 GB PLDDR5-5200 | 1 TB SSD
An aesthetically pleasing laptop with solid 1080p gaming performance that falters only in the face of its more aggressively priced competitors. Still, if you've got the cash, this is a respectable choice of hardware.
PC Gamer score: 78%

Read our full Alienware X14 review.

Alienware m17 R5 AMD | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT | 1080p | 240 Hz |
The config I suggest is a little less overkill than what was reviewed. Instead of the 4K display, a speedier 1080p 240Hz display is a better fit to maximize frames on some of your favorite games and save a couple of bucks.
PC Gamer score: 83%

Read our full Alienware m17 R5 review.

MSI Stealth GS66 | Intel Core i9 12900H | Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti | 32 GB DDR5-4800 | 2 TB SSD
A very, er, insistent cooling array certainly wants you to know the Stealth GS66 is doing something. And what it does, it does pretty well, but the pricing and the strange spec choice, combine with the gaming volume to make it a tough machine to love or to recommend.
PC Gamer score: 73%

Read our full MSI Stealth GS66 review.

Corsair Voyager a1600 | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS | AMD Radeon RX 6800M | 32 GB DDR5-4800 | 2 TB SSD
The Corsair Voyager makes for an intriguing laptop for streamers, but it isn't quite there yet when it comes to functionality and polish. There are some neat features on display—including the best laptop keyboard you'll ever use—but it's too pricey for the performance on offer.
PC Gamer score: 72%

Read our full Corsair Voyager a1600 review.

Gigabyte Aorus 17 XE4 | Intel Core i9 12700H | Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti | 16 GB DDR4-3200 | 1 TB SSD
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 XE4's strong core specification focuses on what matters to gamers, although it's undermined by its noisy operation and its sheer size isn't for everyone.
PC Gamer score: 84%

Read our full Gigabyte Aorus 17 XE4 review.

Acer Nitro 5 | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Nvidia RTX 3070 | 16 GB DDR4-3200 | 1 TB SSD
The Acer Nitro 5 doesn't look like much, but it's a modestly powerful mid-range gaming laptop that'll check a lot of boxes for you. For others, it's a low-key laptop that they wouldn't be embarrassed to take out in public to sneakily play video games at a coffee shop.
PC Gamer score: 83%

Read our full Acer Nitro 5 review.

How we test gaming laptops

Razer Blade 16 (2025) gaming laptop with RTX 5090 inside

(Image credit: Future)

For the new generation of gaming laptops we have changed our testing suite for the new machines coming through in 2025. Part of that is bringing in more up to date games, but also ensuring that we're capturing both gaming at a consistent, comparative 1080p resolution as well as at each machine's native resolution.

We are currently using Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, Black Myth Wukong, F1 24, and Metro Exodus Enhanced Ed. as our GPU testing suite. This gives us a spread of third-person, first-person, driving, and RPG/strategy games to really push the machines being tested, and also allows us to feature the latest in GPU features, such as upscaling and frame generation.

As such, we have also included a 'real-world' benchmark for games where that makes sense in our reviews, where we utilise both Quality upscaling as well as frame generation where available. We also test without so that we can get a bead on how the hardware performs, but this metric allows you to see what sort of frame rates you can get in standard gaming.

As well as games, we use the industry standard 3DMark benchmarks of Time Spy Extreme, Port Royal—for ray tracing performance—and the storage benchmark to see how the system will work in terms of slick game loading.

We track both gaming temperatures, using Nvidia's Frameview application while capturing both average and 1% Low frame rates, and we also capture thermals of both CPU and GPU while engaging in more productivity lead testing.

On that count we run Cinebench 2024 for CPU-based rendering, 7zip 24.07 for general CPU performance, Blender 4.2.0 to test both CPU and GPU rendering performance, and Procyon to test a machine's AI image generation capabilities.

Finally, we use the PCMark 10 Gaming battery life benchmark to allow us to get a standard number for how long a machine will stand up to the rigours of modern gaming.

But we also run some experiential tests on a given system, which will involve using it as a day-to-day PC for work and play, ensuring we get a read on how well a machine performs across different use cases. We also check out a system's panel—we use Lagom's LCD test images to help discern things like black levels and white saturation as well as general desktop and gaming testing to see how it feels to use a laptop's screen.

It's also important to check the actual gaming frequency of both a laptop's GPU and CPU, to see how a given slice of silicon performs given the thermal constraints of different notebook chassis.

We will also open up every laptop, not only to see how easy it is to get the back off the different machines, but also to see whether it's possible to upgrade or repair anything inside them. It's important to see whether there might be a second M.2 SSD slot hiding away in there, or whether there is upgradeable memory, or whether some unscrupulous manufacturer has decided to just go with single channel memory or some such poor play.

Personally I also like to always write a review of a given laptop on the machine itself. That gives you a good feel about both the trackpad and keyboard, as well as the ergonomics of the chassis design, too.

We then bring all of that subjective and objective data together alongside the price to decide how well each machine we test stands up against all the other gaming laptops we've looked at in our combined decades of PC hardware testing.

How to spot the best deal

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FAQ

What's the most important gaming laptop component?

When it comes to gaming, the obvious answer is the graphics card, but that's where things have gotten a little more complicated recently. With GPU performance now so dependent on cooling, you have to pay attention to what wattage a graphics card is limited to and what chassis it's squeezed into.

Laptop GPUs can come in a variety of different wattages, where something like an 45 W RTX 5060 will perform markedly worse than one rated to 100 W in a particular chassis. But both of those laptops might just be marketed as having RTX 5060 graphics.

The most important thing you can do when looking for a new gaming laptop is check what level of power the graphics silicon is running at. That might take some digging, but will be the difference between getting hobbled with a weakling of a machine and a frame rate chewing monster.

Which GPU is best for a laptop?

We've done a host of testing and you can check out our Best graphics card for laptops guide for all the details, but we think the overall best GPU for gaming laptops is the Nvidia RTX 5080 mobile. It can sometimes outperform RTX 5090 GPUs that have been jammed in the wrong kind of laptop chassis, and is starting to become more and more affordable.

If you're on a more limited budget, our pick as the best budget GPU for gaming laptops is the Nvidia RTX 5060 mobile. It has more of the graphics silicon to deal with the ray tracing good stuff, even if the RTX 5050 can often post similar rasterised gaming figures.

Should I worry about what the CPU in a gaming laptop is?

That really depends on what you want to do with your laptop. An 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen chip will allow you to do a whole load of productivity on the road, but honestly, it will have little benefit in gaming. As long as the CPU has at least six cores and 12 threads, and they're clocked high enough, it will be more than enough to deliver high-end gaming performance when paired with something like the RTX 5070.

What screen size is best for a gaming laptop?

This will arguably have the most immediate impact on your choice of the build. Picking the size of your screen basically dictates the size of your laptop. A 13-inch machine will be a thin-and-light ultrabook, a 14-incher will be a slimline gaming machine, while an 18-inch panel almost guarantees workstation stuff. At 16 inches, however, you're looking at the most common size of the gaming laptop screen and with that generally the best mix of size and gaming performance from the machine itself.

Are high refresh rate panels worth it for laptops?

We love high refresh rate screens here, and while you cannot guarantee your RTX 5070 will deliver 300 fps in the latest games, you'll still see a benefit in general look and feel running a 300 Hz display.

Should I get a 4K screen in my laptop?

Nah. 4K gaming laptops are overkill; they're fine for video editing if you're dealing with 4K content, but it's not the optimal choice for games. The standard 1080p resolution means that the generally slower mobile GPUs are all but guaranteed high frame rates, while companies are slowly drip-feeding 1600p panels into their laptop ranges.

A 1600p screen offers the perfect compromise between high resolution and decent gaming performance. At the same time, a 4K notebook will overstress your GPU and tax your eyeballs as you squint at your 16-inch display.

]]> <![CDATA[ Best gaming PC builds: Shop all our recommended system builds as we ride out the RAMpocalypse ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-pc-build-guide/ Wd2hU55EeST6tjpJQopGJQ Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:48:56 +0000 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:48:14 +0000

For those about to build a gaming PC, we salute you. These are the dark times for PC building, with the RAMpocalypse doing very bad things to almost every facet of selecting parts for your next setup. But we're still big fans of building your own PC here at PC Gamer—it may not be any cheaper now, with price increases all round, but you get to learn all about how a PC is pieced together. That can be incredibly helpful knowledge if you ever need to upgrade or troubleshoot your machine.

And, as silly as it might sound, it also creates a bit of a bond between you, too.

But yes, RAM and SSD pricing is nothing short of ridiculous right now. It's had quite the knock on effect on the overall price of our builds, although we're still doing our darndest to find the best deals on components that we can. It's looking like a rough year for pricing on anything with a memory module, so shop carefully, and make sure you compare prices before laying down your cash.

The first step to building your own PC is choosing your components. Below you'll find three gaming PC builds, starting from a vaguely affordable build (we've really tried, here) to a high-end rig at, well, likely more than most of would want to spend. All the hardware components in this guide are parts I'd pick if I were building my own PC, and I've been using my own experience and our expert reviews to guide me. The key components have been tested on our test bench to ensure they meet expectations.

If this isn't what you're looking for, you can skip the whole building thing and get one of the best gaming PCs prebuilt or snap up a cheap gaming PC instead. But trust me, PC building can be a whole lot of fun. Go on, give it a go.

Shop the best value PC Gamer build

A gaming PC case, CPU, and graphics card arranged on a circuit board-style background

(Image credit: Thermaltake, AMD, Gigabyte)

The 'budget' gaming PC build is arguably the hardest of all the builds to create, because it requires a level of compromise that can become uncomfortable. And, honestly, any notion of 'budget' is a long way from where we are right now.

But there are some things that are hard to compromise, even on a budget machine; we want 16 GB of DDR5 memory at a time when memory prices are sky-rocketing, and we need a 1 TB SSD to feel comfortable. That's why we're well over our initial budget of around a grand here.

You might also be unhappy to see an 8 GB graphics card, but the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is a very capable little graphics cruncher for the cash, and makes use of its VRAM wisely. We used to have the RX 9060 XT 8 GB in this slot, but after some comprehensive VRAM testing, the Nvidia card makes more sense—even if it is more expensive.

The Ryzen 7 7600X is a very solid gaming chip, and while yes, we'd love a 7500X3D or 7600X3D, those are over $100 more for that bit of extra L3 cache. Still, you're getting decent Zen 4 performance, and six cores and 12 thread of processing power. It's no slouch, basically.

An Asus TUF Gaming B650EM-E WiFi AMD mATX Motherboard on a circuit board-style background
Asus
TUF Gaming B650EM-E WiFi

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU

AMD
Ryzen 5 7600X

A Gigabyte Eagle Max 8 GB RTX 5060 Ti on a green/gray circuit board-style background
Nvidia
RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB

Thermaltake Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU cooler

Thermalright
Peerless Assassin 120 SE Dual 120mm

Be Quiet! Pure Power PSU

be quiet!
Pure Power 12 BP003US 750W 80 Plus Gold ATX 3.1

SanDisk WD_Black SN7100 SSD

WD_BLACK
SN7100 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen4

Corsair Vengeance RAM
Corsair
Vengeance RGB 16 GB (2x 8 GB)DDR5-5200

A Thermaltake S100TG case
Thermaltake
S100TG

AOC gaming monitor
AOC
Gaming 27G4XE

Gamakay x Naughshark NS68 keyboard
Gamakay
x NaughShark NS68

Logitech G305 Lightspeed
Logitech
G305 Lightspeed

Corsair HS55 Stereo
Corsair
HS55 Stereo

Shop the PC Gamer mid-range build

An MSI graphics card, an AMD CPU, and a Corsair PC case

(Image credit: MSI | AMD | Corsair)

This is essentially the sweet spot of PC gaming builds: the mighty mid-ranger. We're still trying to be disciplined with our spend, making sure to keep it to a relatively strong sub-$2,000 budget, and we actually have succeeded. Ideally you would want 32 GB of RAM for a bit of future-proofing, but memory is costing the earth right now (thank those AI data centers springing up all over the place, and their voracious appetite for memory). A 16 GB setup is still enough for a gaming PC right now, if you want to save some cash.

Likewise, you can save some money going for a 1 TB SSD again instead of the 2 TB drive we have pegged in here. Windows does hog up some space, and game sizes aren't getting smaller, so we would always rather have that space.

Your eight-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7700X CPU is a great mid-range choice here, and now the RTX 5070 has dipped around its MSRP, and the RX 9070 XT is still frustratingly pricey, it's now a far more reasonable pick for a new graphics card.

Asus TUF Gaming B650E motherboard
ASUS
TUF Gaming B650E-E WiFi AM5 B650

AMD Ryzen CPU
AMD
Ryzen 7 7700X

MSI graphics card
Nvidia
GeForce RTX 5070

Thermaltake Peerless Assassin 120 SE cooler
Thermalright
Peerless Assassin 120 SE / Dual 120mm PWM Fans

Corsair Vengeance DDR5 memory
Corsair
Vengeance RGB 16 GB (2x 8 GB)DDR5-5200

Be Quiet! Pure Power PSU

be quiet!
Pure Power 12 BP003US 750W 80 Plus Gold ATX 3.1

Crucial P310 SSD
Crucial
P310 2 TB

Corsair Frame 4000D PC case
Corsair
Frame 4000D

KTC gaming monitor
KTC
H27T22C-3

Gamakay x Naughshark NS68 keyboard
Gamakay
x NaughShark NS68

Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed gaming mouse
Razer
DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed

HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset
HyperX
Cloud Alpha

Shop the PC Gamer high-end build

A Gigabyte RTX 5080 graphics card, an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, and an Arctic Xtender PC case on a circuit board-themed background

(Image credit: Gigabyte/AMD/Arctic)

Hey, at least we kept around the $5,000 mark, eh? Yes, this is the high-end build and that means we've got a bit more of a blank cheque when it comes to filling out the parts list. That's not something that would have happened if we'd stuck with the RTX 5090 as our GPU recommendation. That card alone tops the $4,000 mark right now.

Even the RTX 5080 is getting on for around $1,500 pricing at the moment, but at least it's vaguely attainable for a high-end PC. Though it is making do with just 16 GB of VRAM, yet is also likely to be one of the few to get away with that level of video memory for a while, at least on the Nvidia side.

We haven't skimped on the other aspects of the build, but have also not gone overboard just for the sake of it. In recommending the Ryzen 7 9800X3D over the far more CPU core-happy Ryzen 9 9950X3D you could say we're being miserly, but any performance benefits you get with the bigger AMD chip are miniscule when we're talking about gaming prowess. If you want your rig to be doing more productivity based tasks, then the big boi Ryzen might be a good bet.

MSI X870E motherboard
msi
MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU
AMD
Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Gigabyte Nvidia graphics card
Nvidia
GeForce RTX 5080

Be Quiet! Light Loop CPU cooler
be quiet!
Light Loop BW022 360 mm

Crucial Pro DDR5 memory
Crucial
Pro 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 6400MHz CL38

Seasonic PSU
Seasonic
Prime TX-1300 SSR-1300TR2 1300W 80+ Titanium ATX 3.0

Crucial T710 SSD
Crucial
T710 4 TB

Arctic Xtender PC case
Arctic
Xtender

MSI MPG 321URX gaming monitor
MSI
MPG 321URX

Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 gaming keyboard
Asus
ROG Strix Scope II 96

Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro gaming mouse
Razer
DeathAdder V4 Pro

An Audeze Maxwell 2 gaming headset on an orange/pink circuit board-themed background
Audeze
Maxwell 2

]]> <![CDATA[ Ryzen still rising: AMD's processor revenue climbs 34% from last year, thanks to 'multiple generations' of Zen-powered chips ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/ryzen-still-rising-amds-processor-revenue-climbs-34-percent-from-last-year-thanks-to-multiple-generations-of-zen-powered-chips/ dJeoM7mHJ8AwDFQhb2xm2U Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:47:00 +0000 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:47:09 +0000

AMD's latest earnings call has revealed something that gamers might have already guessed: its Ryzen desktop and mobile CPUs have been selling like hotcakes.

According to AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su: "In client, our PC processor business performed exceptionally well.

"Revenue increased 34% year over year to a record $3.1 billion, driven by increased demand for multiple generations of Ryzen desktop and mobile CPUs," said the AMD chief. "Ryzen CPUs topped the best-seller lists at major global retailers and e-tailers throughout the holiday period."

That certainly tracks with our estimation of AMD's current desktop CPU lineup. Our best gaming CPU guide is a complete AMD chipfest at the moment, with all six of our categories taken up with its current and previous-gen offerings.

And while Intel still has existing arrangements with many system builders to keep itself in the game, its Arrow Lake desktop chips have failed to impress us overall.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

Dr. Lisa Su also said that, "Sell-through of Ryzen CPUs for commercial notebooks and desktops grew by more than 40% year over year in the fourth quarter, and we closed large wins with major telecom, financial services, aerospace, automotive, energy, and technology customers."

Still, when it comes to mobile CPUs, there's a new looming threat for AMD on the horizon.

Despite Dr. Su's claims that "Our new Ryzen AI 400 mobile processors deliver significantly faster content creation and multitasking performance than the competition", Intel's Panther Lake mobile CPUs have proven to be very impressive in our testing to date.

Most of the new Ryzen mobile chips are simply Strix Point refreshes with minor tweaks—which, in AMD's ongoing battle with Intel in the mobile sector, look to be a little old-fashioned in comparison to Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 lineup.

An Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip held between two fingers

(Image credit: Future)

How this impacts the mobile CPU market in 2026 is yet to be seen, although a Mercury Research report late last year suggested that Intel's previous mobile offerings made up a massive 78.1% of the market in Q3 of 2025. How much of a dent AMD has made in that share over its bumper holiday period will be interesting to see once those independent figures have been collated once more.

Still, AMD certainly looks to be in a good place in the processor market overall right now, and it certainly has a lot to crow about in regards to its recent CPU success. Aside from Panther Lake, though, could Intel's upcoming Nova Lake desktop chips put up enough competition to slow down AMD's current rampage? We'll have to wait until much later in the year to find out.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD and partners confirm Ryzen CPU with dual 3D V-Cache chiplets is coming but gamers are unlikely to see the benefit ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-and-partners-confirm-cpu-with-dual-3d-v-cache-chiplets-is-coming-but-gamers-are-unlikely-to-see-the-benefit/ enpuR5uYRSjvQjaq67hHH Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:11:57 +0000 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:12:18 +0000

AMD has teased the launched of a new Ryzen processor with two chiplets, each of which will include a healthy dollop of 3D V-Cache.

As reported by ComputerBase, AMD told journalists to "stay tuned" regarding the launch of such a chip. If this wasn't convincing enough, Alienware China has announced a new Area-51 gaming PC with the new chip, which it notes as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2. Furthermore, system builder Systronix has also listed a workstation with the chip.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 will likely deliver 16 cores, 32 threads and 192 MB of total L3 cache.

All of which not only suggests the chip is set to launch, it's happening sometime soon, and it probably should have been included in AMD's CES 2026 announcements. Its absence is a little strange, as AMD had to lean pretty heavily on the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and new Ryzen AI Max chips to (barely) carry the show for gamers. Though this isn't the first time AMD has pulled a product announcement from CES at the last moment; anyone remember the missing RX 9000-series GPUs of last year?

Though is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 for gamers? You'd think so, considering the abundance of cache on X3D processors as the main driver of their world-class gaming performance. However, there's a reason that existing dual-chiplet X3D chips do not use 3D V-Cache technology on both core clusters.

CES 2026

The CES logo on display at the show.

(Image credit: Future)

Catch up with CES 2026: We're on the ground in sunny Las Vegas covering all the latest announcements from some of the biggest names in tech, including Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Asus, Razer, MSI and more.

Until now, only a single chiplet on a dual-chiplet processor (9900X3D and 9950X3D) has more added cache via the chip-stacking technology. Through software, AMD aims to keep game threads to a single chiplet (CCD), to reduce latency from travelling from one CCD to another via Infinity Fabric. So, a 9950X3D may have 16 cores, but games ideally only run on eight—the cores in the CCD with the 3D V-Cache.

AMD knows this better than anyone. Hence why, even as far back as this time last year, AMD said that, while it could make a chip with 3D V-Cache on both chiplets, there wouldn't be much benefit for gamers.

"Such a processor would simply be too expensive and games would not benefit from a second CCD with 3D V-Cache to the same extent as the step from 32 to 96 MB L3 cache for one CCD," AMD said to HardwareLuxx at the time.

That's not to say there's no benefit in some cases, though the performance-per-dollar might be awful as the extra cache is sure to inflate the cost for the already near-$700 Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Gamers would likely benefit more from a 12-core CCD design, like that rumoured for Zen 6—though this has been rumoured for a while now and not yet materialised.

Other applications might make good use of those 16 cores, however, and there are other applications that benefit from having lots of L3 cache close to the cores. That's why AMD does offer server-grade chips with 3D V-Cache, such as the AMD Epyc 9684X with a whopping 1152 MB of L3 cache onboard. This chip costs $14,756—providing you buy 1000 or more to receive the, ahem, discount.

So, is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 even going to be billed as a gaming product when it arrives? From the look of that Systronix system above, it might find more use in workstations aiming to offer lots of L3 cache for a fraction of the cost of an Epyc chip. Though I'm sure it'll sell to some gamers looking for the best of the best, even if it's in name only with very little actual benefit.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD may resurrect some older CPUs to help users dodge the worst of the RAM crisis ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-may-resurrect-some-older-cpus-to-help-users-dodge-the-worst-of-the-ram-crisis/ LjqYektVrcWqHi2Z2fXxAS Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:44:08 +0000

AMD may bring back some older products to allow users to dodge the worst of the RAM crisis.

In a roundtable discussion that our sister site, Tom's Hardware, took part in, Ryzen chief David McAfee responded to a question about the difficulties facing PC builders in 2026.

McAfee said that AMD is "certainly looking at everything that [it] can do to bring more supply and kind of reintroduce products back into the ecosystem to satisfy the demands of gamers that maybe want that significant upgrade in their AM4 platform without having to rebuild their entire system."

He's also cited as saying it's something AMD is "very actively working on."

The AM4 socket that is used by older processors, such as the Ryzen 5000 series, supports DDR4 memory. This being much more affordable than DDR5, used by the AM5 platform and Ryzen 7000/9000 series chips, today.

CES 2026

The CES logo on display at the show.

(Image credit: Future)

Catch up with CES 2026: We're on the ground in sunny Las Vegas covering all the latest announcements from some of the biggest names in tech, including Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Asus, Razer, MSI and more.

You can thank the RAM crisis for that. DDR5 RAM kits that were selling under $100 until August, 2025 are now as much as $440. You can purchase 32 GB of DDR4 RAM for around $179—nowhere near as affordable as it once was, likely as it was planned to be phased out until recently, but far cheaper than the newer standard. While performance is reduced through the use of DDR4 and older processors that support it, you can still get great performance.

It's not much of a stretch for AMD to reintroduce older CPUs. The company has continued selling older AM4 chips for some time, including new X3D processors as recently reviewed as 2024. Though last we heard, AMD had discontinued the famed Ryzen 7 5700X3D as it phases out the last of AM4 and moved onto pastures new, including old/new chips like the Ryzen 5 7500X3D.

But this might be tacit confirmation of those older CPUs returning once again. We shouldn't need these chips in the market, but unfortunately, they're maybe our best hope for keeping budget PC gaming alive and well through the year.

Of course, AMD is really keen to get people continuining to buy chips, and by extension, motherboards from its partners, too. Motherboard sales were reportedly down 50% in late 2025, compared to late 2024 and the RAM crisis is showing no sign of slowing, which is deterring buyers.

McAfee said at the roundtable that AMD's partners are seeing higher numbers of CPU-only purchases as people look to upgrade their existing machines rather than go all-in on a new platform.

Similarly, you could revisit older Intel chips, which offer both DDR4 and DDR5 support, depending on the motherboard. AM4 and LGA1700 motherboards with DDR4 support on are fairly easy to find at low prices, though often with the latter, only very basic models intended for simple workstations.

AMD isn't the only company said to be bringing back older products. While merely a rumour, and less convincing than this from AMD's McAfee, Nvidia is reportedly considering resurrecting the RTX 3060.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD launches its fastest gaming CPU yet, though the new Ryzen 7 9850X3D is clocked just 8% higher than the 9800X3D ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-launches-its-fastest-gaming-cpu-yet-though-the-new-ryzen-7-9850x3d-is-clocked-just-8-percent-higher-than-the-9800x3d/ CeQq4xwZGCzvJAGYk5RCaW Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:30:00 +0000 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:48:34 +0000

A new year, a new CES event, where the world's biggest tech companies show off their latest and greatest new products. In the case of AMD, however, it's pretty much a case of 'more of the same, but just a little bit faster'. And when it comes to the newly launched Ryzen 7 9850X3D, that 'little' really isn't very big at all.

The listed specifications for the Ryzen 7 9850X3D are entirely unsurprising, not least because all the previous leaks and rumours on the new chip all tallied on the point of it just sporting a small increase to the boost clock. It's literally just a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with a 7.7% overclock.

(Image credit: AMD)

It's not the first Zen 5 X3D processor that AMD has released that's faster than the 9800X3D, though. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D has two core chiplets (CCDs), one with 3D V-cache, and one without. When it comes to boost clocks, the latter can hit 5.7 GHz, whereas the former topped out at 5.5 GHz in the tests I carried out in my review of the 9950X3D.

This suggests that the CCDs rolling off TSMC's production lines are generally very high quality, resulting in a surfeit of CCDs that, when they've also gone through the V-cache packing routine, are more than capable of running over 5.2 GHz.

You might think that this would mean that AMD could just churn out a whole host of 9800X3D processors and reduce the price a bit, but I should imagine that shareholders are happier seeing Team Red just roll out another processor model to use up all those decent CCDs.

(Image credit: AMD)
CES 2026

The CES logo on display at the show.

(Image credit: Future)

Catch up with CES 2026: We're on the ground in sunny Las Vegas covering all the latest announcements from some of the biggest names in tech, including Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Asus, Razer, MSI and more.

There's no indication of what the Ryzen 7 9850X3D's price tag will be yet. However, since you can get the 9800X3D for $469 at Amazon and the 9950X3D for $676 at Amazon, it will obviously be pitched somewhere between the two. Best case scenario? It'll be $499—$20 more than the 9800X3D's launch MSRP.

However, AMD's best gaming CPUs are substantially better than any Intel Core Ultra 200S processor, so it will probably set the price higher than this. When there's little to no competition around, you basically have a free pass to do whatever you like.

So, does this mean that the new Ryzen 7 9850X3D isn't going to be worth buying? The answer to that question will come down to how expensive it is. The standard Ryzen 7 9800X3D isn't known for being great at overclocking (or rather, it's quite a challenge getting it above 5.4 GHz), but it will happily run at 5.2 GHz across all cores in tests.

If the new Ryzen 7 9850X3D can do the same thing but at 5.6 GHz, then that might be of interest to gamers and serious overclockers looking to get the absolute best performance or benchmark results possible. For everyone else, you're going to be looking at an uplift of 2 to 5% in games, compared to the 9800X3D, according to AMD.

Should the price tag only be the same degree higher, then it'll be a potential buy for many a PC gaming enthusiast. Any more expensive and you'll just be better off leaving it alone.

]]> <![CDATA[ Rumours suggest AMD might raise CPU prices but some industry sources disagree ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-is-reportedly-raising-the-prices-of-its-cpus-just-months-after-admitting-it-charges-more-than-its-competitors/ NQPMtngWdLEghLND7qDLSh Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:21:17 +0000 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:01:49 +0000

It seems like it's only going to get harder to put together a gaming PC for a decent price in coming months, as reports suggest AMD will be increasing the cost of its CPUs.

According to a report from Overclock3D citing "industry sources", AMD is reportedly looking to raise prices on its 9000-series CPUs, as well as "AMD's older products".

OC3D claimed yesterday that the price hike will happen on the night of December 1, though we are unlikely to see the results of any such hike until the cost is pushed onto the buyer.

The price change is reportedly at the distributor level, and therefore, down to those distributors to, well, distribute that price difference. With Cyber Week on, and deals still live, many sellers will be capitalising on that momentum to keep deals around for a little longer. It might not be until the sales fervour wears off that we see the impact of any increase, if one actually happens. Obviously, that's not guaranteed yet.

There are currently ongoing price hikes with RAM and, to a lesser degree, SSDs, though AMD's argument is said to be unrelated. Unfortunately, that means we don't have much information on why specifically AMD might be raising its prices, but we have reached out to AMD for comment on this story.

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X

(Image credit: Future)

There have been separate reports of AMD raising the prices of its GPUs, too. If both reports prove to be true, buying that all team red rig could come with price hikes on the RAM, storage, GPU, and CPU, but it's not like an Nvidia build would fare much better.

In any other year, one could reasonably argue that AMD raising its prices is an open goal for Intel, who could do with putting one on the scoreboard with its latest Arrow Lake generation. But Chipzilla's latest chips have been strong productivity choices at best, and overpriced, underperforming gaming picks at worst.

We review and tally up the best CPUs for gaming, and a quick look at our list should prove this point. Spoilers, we don't reckon a single Intel CPU is worthy of a spot on our list, with everything from best high-end, to best budget, to best overall all being AMD picks.

Intel still puts up a good fight when it comes to its handheld and laptop chips and its integrated GPUs, though.

In September this year, AMD stated that it charges "more for our CPUs than our competitor" and that "customers feel good about that price." There appears to be a comfort expressed with the major lead AMD has over its competition, and its chips are the best in the business, as far as desktop gaming is concerned. Not too long ago, it was the other way around, and we'd be used to hearing Intel making the same sorta arguments.

With memory prices suggested to stay high past 2028, this all paints a stark picture for PC gamers or anyone looking to upgrade in the next half-decade. And with companies like AMD and Nvidia reporting record profits recently, it's clear who the winners and the losers are when it comes to PC hardware—consumers certainly don't appear to be in the former category.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD has just launched the Ryzen 7 9850X3D with zero fanfare, and I think I understand why ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-has-just-launched-the-ryzen-7-9850x3d-with-zero-fanfare-and-i-think-i-understand-why/ DVWsw56kxRVPNaosPrSXob Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:35:23 +0000 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:38:18 +0000

It's not even a debate: the best CPU for gaming by far is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and that's been the case ever since it launched. And before that, it was the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. And before that... you get the picture.

But, it seems that AMD is now quietly looking to dethrone its own top chip with a slightly improved version, dubbed the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The CPU has just appeared on AMD's driver page (spotted by Olrak29) with zero fanfare and zero details. Love that for us—we get to speculate a bit.

The truth is, we've already had some leaks about the 9850X3D in the last few months, so we have an idea of what to expect, but none of it has come directly from AMD. At least we now know the processor exists, so chances are that the specs are real, but you never know with these leaks.

Previously, another Twitter leaker, ch11eddog, said that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D would come with a 120 W TDP, eight cores and 16 threads, 96 MB of L3 cache, and a boost clock speed of 5.6 GHz. That gives it a 400 MHz advantage over the 9800X3D.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

A little bit of extra clock speed isn't much to write home about, especially when the CPU's greatest strength lies in its humongous 3D V-Cache, not in the frequency. But hey, it's an upgrade, so if it's true, I'll take it. Still, this quiet launch leaves me with more questions than answers at this stage.

Realistically, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is probably just a bunch of so-called "golden samples" of the 9800X3D released under a new name with slightly higher clocks. I'm guessing that there aren't too many of them to land on the shelves right now, given the fact that AMD hasn't even bothered to make an announcement about its release. It could also be that the French support page that it appeared on just jumped the gun and the 9850X3D wasn't meant to be announced yet.

Besides the confirmed specs, I'm curious about the pricing. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has held steady in terms of cost, although there's a rare discount on it now as part of Cyber Monday PC deals. It normally retails for $479, but now, it's down to $449.

Given the consistent demand for AMD's best gaming CPU, I don't see this new Ryzen 7 9850X3D being any cheaper—but how much more will it cost? AMD can hardly charge a fortune for a slightly higher clock speed, so I'm hoping we'll get it around the $500 mark.

Photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

The aforementioned leaker also spoke about another potential AMD CPU, and that one sounds a lot more exciting, if I'm being honest.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 introduces a whole new "X3D2" moniker, implying a dual 3D V-Cache configuration, which would reportedly lead to 192 MB of L3 cache. That's a massive uplift over the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which sports 128 MB. It's also said to have a slightly lower clock speed: 5.6 GHz vs. 5.7 GHz, and a much higher TDP of 200 watts.

That monstrosity would be of little interest to pure gamers though, as we're just fine with the 9800X3D. Right now, both CPUs are kind of up in the air; the 9850X3D exists, but isn't available anywhere, and the 9950X3D2 may still turn out to be a fever dream.

]]> <![CDATA[ (Sold out) RAM prices are ridiculous but Newegg is literally giving sticks away with this AM5 motherboard—easily the best Black Friday motherboard deal ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/ram-is-in-high-demand-but-newegg-is-literally-giving-sticks-away-with-either-of-these-am5-motherboards-for-black-friday/ dNdzG3rR8RGTuMJZmez6cZ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:06:27 +0000 Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:06:00 +0000

A good home for a Ryzen 9000- or 7000-series processor. It has Wi-Fi 6E, a decent selection of ports, and one PCIe 5.0 NVMe slot. Though there's room for two more PCIe 4.0 SSDs, too. This model is an mATX size, which means it's a little smaller than a standard ATX but will fit in more compact cases.

Key specs: 8+2+1 | AM5 | 1x PCIe 5.0 NVMe | 2x PCIe 4.0 NVMe | 1x Type-C USB 10 GbpsView Deal

This is the best motherboard deal right now—not because it's particularly affordable, but because it comes with free RAM.

That's right, in a market when RAM prices have doubled, even tripled or quadrupled, in the past few months (thanks, AI), you can get some for free over at Newegg by purchasing this qualifying motherboard.

Added as a free gift, you will receive a set of Team Group 16 GB (2x 8 GB) DDR5-6000 memory. That's right in the sweet spot for a modern Ryzen processor.

The memory kit's CAS latency of 38 is a little high compared to some top-notch kits, but with a value of $129 right now, and competing kits often going for more, that's a big saving for any full PC build.

As for the motherboard, it's using the B850 chipset and offers PCIe 5.0 NVMe slots and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. It has eight USB ports, ranging from USB 2.0 to USB 3.2 Type-C, though doesn't come with USB4—that's reserved for more premium X870 models. It'd be nice to see a few more USB ports here, especially as the TUF model comes with not one but two DisplayPort outputs, and a single HDMI, but that's just the way it is with the B850 chipset sometimes.

If it weren't for the RAM, I'd recommend this cheap X870 model instead. It offers all the benefits of X870 for not much more than a B850. Plus there are some more affordable B650 models if you want to go cheaper still. But it's tough to argue with either of these B850 models due to the free memory.

The TUF is also discounted outside of the free RAM offer: down from $220 to $170, a 22% saving.

Newegg does note that this deal only comes with the extra RAM "while supplies last". I'm not sure how upfront that info will be when the time comes and the RAM is all gone, so just be prepared to cancel your order or get a refund if it doesn't come through.

I'm currently tracking deals on PC parts in our PC components deals page, which is updated live by yours truly. So check that out for anything else you might be after to get your next PC build over the line for less.

There are a few good AMD CPU deals right now, such as the Ryzen 5 9600X for $195. A good fit with this motherboard and free RAM.

👉Check out all of Newegg's motherboard deals here👈

]]> <![CDATA[ Black Friday SSD deals 2025: the fastest PC storage at the lowest prices ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/black-friday-ssd-deals/ j49t9AxDD4D6Ynw6QHWuaL Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:17:07 +0000 Sat, 29 Nov 2025 10:15:10 +0000

We're through the Black Friday looking glass now, and staring directly at the Cyber Monday deals to provide the best discounts on storage over the next week or so. I've carried out one final update to this page so that the SSD deals and discounts are all refreshed up to this point, but this is the last update of the year for Black Friday. But don't worry, because we'll continue to update with the freshest info on our Cyber Monday page 👇

👉Check out our Cyber Monday SSD deals for the very latest updates👈

Since we regularly review the best SSDs for gaming, we already know which ones are actually worth your money, and we regularly track prices for the best SSD deals every week. So we're not just recommending any old drive with a couple bucks knocked off it. We've spotted plenty of legit discounts on speedy NVMe SSDs and external SSDs that will be a perfect upgrade for your PC. Just make sure you've got an open slot or speedy USB port.

Where are the best Black Friday SSD deals?

💾 1 TB SSD - Crucial P310 | $80 @ B&H Photo
💾 2 TB SSD - Crucial P510 | $140 @ Best Buy
💾 4 TB SSD - Crucial P310 | $240 @ B&H Photo

Black Friday SSD deals: Up to 512 GB

At this capacity, the G50 hardly fits the bill for a gaming drive or even a main storage drive. Still, it should be fine for a scant few documents or other small files kept away from your boot drive.

Key Specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 5,000 MB/s read | 5000 MB/s writeView Deal

Though not the most spacious SSD, it's still hard to beat on value alone. Add to that the fact this DRAM-less drive is well suited to being a place to stash your operating system alongside a few games from your ever-growing Steam backlog, and that price just makes sense.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 6,600 MB/s read | 6,000 MB/s write

Price Check: Newegg $146 | B&H Photo $61.99View Deal

The MP44L isn't a fast SSD, but it is very good value for money. While we don't recommend anyone use this size of capacity for a main storage drive, it's fine if you just want something to store important documents from the boot drive.

Key Specs: M.2 2280 | PCIe 4.0 | 5,000 MB/s read | 3,700 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $64.99View Deal

Black Friday SSD deals: 1 TB

Crucial's performance claims are very much peak values and the real-world numbers are generally lower (as we found when we reviewed the 2 TB version), but at this price, it's a great way to boost your Steam Deck's storage and get a handy speed bump. There are cheaper 2230-size SSDs to be found but they're not as fast as this one.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,100 MB/s read | 6,000 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $93.99View Deal

Though not the most spacious SSD, it's still hard to beat on value alone. Add to that the fact this DRAM-less drive is well suited to being a place to stash your operating system alongside a few games from your ever-growing Steam backlog, and that price just makes sense.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,100 MB/s read | 6,000 MB/s write

Price Check: Newegg $94.00 | Amazon $103View Deal

Though left in the dust by fellow PCIe 5.0 drive, the WD Black SN8100, Crucial still can't be beat when it comes to balancing price against performance. Though not the speediest internal SSD, the P510 still offers proper Gen 5 performance for the cost of a Gen 4 drive—check out our full review.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 5.0 | 11,000 MB/s read | 9,500 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $114.95 | Amazon $114.95View Deal

Okay, so our tests demonstrate it's slightly slower than the advertised speeds, but the actual sequential performance still isn't bad. Couple that with a very reasonable price point, plus its practically frosty temps, and you might well be looking at your next upgrade.

Key specs: NVMe | 7,400 MB/s read | 6,500 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $149.99View Deal

This SSD is no slouch and still offers some of the best in class 4K read performance (read our full review here). Though this drops the DDR4 DRAM cache and instead opts for a single-sided design, it's still got the same versatile form factor that perfectly suits this heat-sinkless drive to PCs, consoles, and laptops.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,250 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $99.99 (backordered)View Deal

For anyone looking for a cheap, spacious drive offering serious performance, this is a genuinely brilliant SSD for the money. Our review of the 4 TB version clearly shows just how good it is.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,400 MB/s read | 6,500 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $119.95View Deal

Samsung's relatively new 990 Evo Plus range has a lot going for it (check out our review) but its launch price was too high. This deal goes a long way to rectify that but for a DRAM-less SSD, it's still a bit pricey. If you're a fan of Samsung's excellent Magician software, then it's worth considering, but there are SSDs for less money that are just as good.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,150 MB/s read | 6,300 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $129.85View Deal

This is still our favorite SSD for gaming, despite the strong competition and volatile prices. Unlike the cheaper SN770, the SN850X encapsulates the best PCIe 4.0 offers in terms of performance (check out our review). That makes it a great fit for a boot drive with space to spare for your game library, and at this price, we're happy to pay the premium for its higher speed.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,300 MB/s write

Price check: Best Buy $114.99 | Amazon $109.99View Deal

Samsung's 990 Pro is a very solid SSD (read our review of the 2 TB model). Its reputation was previously damaged due to some drives dying unexpectedly but that's since been resolved with firmware updates. If you simply must have a Samsung SSD then this one is pretty good, but there are better options out there too.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,450 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $109.99 | Best Buy $109.99 | B&H Photo $109.99View Deal

Black Friday SSD deals: 2 TB

This Team Group drive isn't the fastest compact SSD you can stick in your Steam Deck, but it is one of the cheapest 2TB drives you'll be able to find for your wee handheld gaming PC. And it will also be a little quicker than the stock drive the Deck ships with, too.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 5,000 MB/s read | 3,500 MB/s write | Steam Deck + ROG Ally compatible

Price check: Newegg $160.99 | Amazon $144View Deal

Crucial's performance claims are very much peak values and the real-world numbers are generally lower (as we found when we reviewed this 2 TB version), but at this price, it's a great way to boost your Steam Deck's storage and get a handy speed bump. There are cheaper 2230-size SSDs to be found but they're not as fast as this one.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,100 MB/s read | 6,000 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $199View Deal

Though left in the dust by fellow PCIe 5.0 drive, the WD Black SN8100, Crucial still can't be beat when it comes to balancing price against performance. Though not the speediest internal SSD, the P510 still offers proper Gen 5 performance for the cost of a Gen 4 drive—take a look at our full review.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 5.0 | Up to 11,000 MB/s read | Up to 9,500 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $244.75 | Amazon $184.00 | B&H Photo $149.99 (w/ heatsink)View Deal

One of the best PCIe 4.0 offers in terms of performance (check out our review). That makes it a great fit for a boot drive with space to spare for your game library but while it's super fast and reliable, prices are really volatile.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,600 MB/s write

Price check: Best Buy $199.99 | Walmart $139.99 (out of stock)View Deal

This budget SSD is packing in a lot of space for just under $0.05 per GB, and while it might be QLC memory and comes without DRAM cache, it's still an impressively quick drive for the money, with strong sequential performance.

Key specs: PCIe 4.0 | Up to 7,100 MB/s read | up to 6,000 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $149.00

Priced out of the listView Deal

To get the most out of this SSD, you'll likely still want to pop a dedicated M.2 heatsink on it or use the ones on your motherboard. Otherwise, you're getting stellar PCIe 5.0 performance.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 5.0 | 13,600 MB/s read | 10,200 MB/s write

***No longer a good deal***View Deal

Samsung's relatively new 990 Evo Plus range has a lot going for it (check out our review) but its launch price was too high. This deal goes a long way to rectify that but for a DRAM-less SSD, it's still a bit pricey. If you're a fan of Samsung's excellent Magician software, then it's worth considering, but there are SSDs for less money that are just as good.

**see other deals**

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,250 MB/s read | 6,300 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $205.00View Deal

Samsung's 990 Pro is a very solid SSD (read our review), albeit pricey for what it is. It's reputation was damaged due to a habit of dying unexpectedly but that's been resolved with firmware updates. If you really must have a Samsung SSD then this one is pretty good, but there are better options to be found.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,450 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $169.99 (out of stock) | B&H Photo $169.99View Deal

Samsung's 9100 Pro isn't the first SSD we'd recommend at 2TB storage (read our 77% review), but as Black Friday rages on, it's one of the few decent discounts still left in stock.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 5.0 | 14,700 MB/s read | 13,400 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $199.99 View Deal

This is the best performing SSD that you can find with a decent offer on right now. It runs up to 14,500 MB/s, pretty much at the limit for PCIe 5.0, but more importantly it has really good random 4k performance. That matters for gaming. It's not quite SN8100 levels, but that's not really discounted right now, and this is darn close.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 5.0 | 14,500 MB/s read | 13,800 MB/s write

***No longer a good deal***View Deal

Presenting only small gains over the SN850X, this SSD is no slouch and still offers some of the best in class 4K read performance (read our full review of the 1 TB model). Though this drops the DDR4 DRAM cache and instead opts for a single-sided drive design, it's still got the same versatile form factor that perfectly suits this heat-sinkless drive to PCs, consoles, and laptops.

**see other deals**

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,250 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Amazon $175.06 | B&H Photo $175.06View Deal

If you absolutely must have the fastest possible SSD, you need to get a Gen5 model. Team Group's Z540 is ridiculously quick in benchmarks, but no game that takes advantage of that speed exists yet. As with all Gen5 SSDs, it's very expensive and runs really hot, so it's probably best to wait for the next round of PCIe 5.0 SSDs before taking the plunge.

**see other deals**

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 5.0 | 11,700 MB/s read | 9,500 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $219.99View Deal

You can expect top performance out of this drive, which is impressive for the price. This version without a DRAM cache makes it a little less responsive than the DRAM-equipped NEM-PA model, despite having a slight advantage in stated straight-line performance. Unfortunately, this drive's price is volatile, but it's still one of the better-value 2 TB drives with a heatsink right now.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $114.99 (sold out)

***Quite expensive for 2 TB***View Deal

Black Friday SSD deals: 4 TB and up

This budget SSD is packing in a lot of space for just under $0.05 per GB, and while it might be QLC memory and comes without DRAM cache, it's still an impressively quick drive for the money, with strong sequential performance.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,100 MB/s read | 6,000 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $349.95View Deal

This might not be the fastest of drives, but it's difficult to argue with this much storage for this price. With a sequential read/write of 5,000 MB/s and 4,500 MB/s, it's still not what you'd call slow and should be fine for gaming; plus it comes from a reliable brand.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 5,000 MB/s read | 4,500 MB/s write

Price check: Amazon $296.97View Deal

This is a good drive for bulking out your storage, especially for a Steam library. It uses QLC NAND than its sibling, the slightly more expensive MP44, and that means it is a bit slower when it gets down to the raw NAND speeds, but thankfully that won't happen unless you're moving huge files around on the regular.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,400 MB/s read | 6,200 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $290.99

**NOT WORTH IT**View Deal

This is a massive amount of NVMe storage for the cash, working out at a mere four cents per GB. The US75 might not technically have the fastest read and write speeds of all the Gen 4 drives on the market, but it's absolutely no slouch either, and would make a seriously brilliant games storage drive. Or anything else, for that matter.

**see other deals**

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,000 MB/s read | 6,500 MB/s write

Price check: Amazon (Sold out)View Deal

This Team Group boasts some mighty specs for the money, though it's actually the same hardware as in the Lexar NM790. The sequential read/write speeds are extremely high but it can only sustain them over short bursts. At this price, it's well worth putting up with that limitation. Read our full review of this SSD for more info.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,400 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $330.99 (backordered)

**NOT WORTH IT**View Deal

Ignore the lack of discount and just focus on the fact you're getting 4 TB of one of our historical favorite gaming SSDs (check out our review) for a reasonable price. If 4 TB still isn't enough for you, then there's the 8 TB version of the SN850X, but at $679, it's more than double the price of two 4 TB drives.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,600 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $325.00 | Best Buy $349.99View Deal

And here's that usually very pricey, larger capacity model. We love the 1 TB version of this SSD (check out our review), but at close to $700, this 8 TB SSD often costs more than double the price of two 4 TB drives.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,600 MB/s write

Price check: B&H Photo $679.99 | Amazon $679.99 | Best Buy $679.99View Deal

Black Friday external SSD deals

Our top pick for the best budget external SSD. Not only does this external drive maintain its peak transfer speed for over six minutes, it's also dinky enough to attach to the end of your lanyard. Thumb drive, who? But without a hard-wearing, shock-proof shell, or even an IP rating for dust protection, perhaps you're better off treating this budget drive like a little prince.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2 | 1,050 MB/s read and write

Price check: Newegg $99.99 | B&H Photo $101.99 | Best Buy $94.99View Deal

Not all external SSDs need to be big and bulky. This Team Group PD20M is just 40 g in weight and 8.2 mm thick, making it very portable. It's also MagSafe-compatible so you can attach it to the back of an iPhone and extend its storage, with an appropriate cable. As with all fast external SSDs, you'll need a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps) port to get the full speed.

**OOS - 27/11/25**

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2x2 | 2,000 MB/s read and writeView Deal

Small, light, and very fast in the right USB port, this little SSD might be all you need for your external storage requirements. While we didn't think it offered a great amount of drop resistance in our review, the SD810 is rated to IP68, so it'll fend off dust and water ingress nicely.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2x2 | 2,000 MB/s read and write

Price check: Newegg $243.99View Deal

Crucial is a big name in SSDs, and the Micron-owned brand is offering a small saving on this 2 TB external model. The drive comes in an anodized aluminium shell with a rubberized base and is just 65 x 50 mm big. There's an integrated lanyard hole too, if you want to wear it, which hides a drive activity light.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2 | Up to 1,050 MB/s read and write

Price check: Newegg $198.04 | Best Buy $109.99View Deal

Samsung's external drives have a better recent history than its internal SSDs, so we've no hesitation in recommending the T7 for any professional looking for a large amount of storage that can be safely taken from place to place. They're designed to be rugged and fast, a potent combo. Oh, and they're available in three colors. Don't forget that you'll need to have a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port in your PC to get the best speed.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2 | 1,050 MB/s read | 1,000 MB/s write

Price check: Best Buy $144.99 | Amazon $144.99View Deal

This external SSD is the fastest we've tested, both in terms of sustained write speeds and also RND4k performance (which is great for gaming). It looks and feels the premium part too. Just make sure you have a 40 Gbps USB4 port that can make good use of it before you pull the trigger.

Key specs: USB4 40 Gbps | 3,800 MB/s read / 3,700 MB/s write

Price check: Amazon $281.14 | Newegg $280.00 | Newegg (blue version) $219.99View Deal

Though still expensive, the asking price for this high capacity drive puts other big, beefy external SSDs to shame. It's the same size as the X6 model but has double the read/write performance, though you will need to plug it into a 20 Gbps USB port to get the most out of it.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2x2 | 2,100 MB/s read | 2,000 MB/s writeView Deal

We've said it once, so we'll say it again: fast both in terms of sustained write speeds and also RND4k performance, this is a particularly premium feeling external gaming SSD that typically comes with a price tag to match.

Key specs: USB4 40 Gbps | 3,800 MB/s read | 3,700 MB/s write

Price check: Newegg $619.99View Deal

Black Friday internal SSD deals in the UK

Where are the best Black Friday SSD deals in the UK?

For just storing documents, this small SATA SSD is a lot faster than a traditional HDD and Lexar makes reliable and robust SSDs. You're still better off getting an NVMe M.2 SSD for games and your operating system, though.

Key specs: 2.5-inch | SATA 6 Gb/s | 550 MB/s read | 520 MB/s writeView Deal

This is one of our favourite SSDs for gaming right now. Unlike the cheaper SN770, the SN850X encapsulates the best PCIe 4.0 offers in terms of performance (check out our review). That makes it a great fit for a boot drive with space to spare for your game library, and at this price, we're happy to pay the premium for its higher speed.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,300 MB/s write

Price check: Scan £99.98View Deal

This SSD is definitely a good bit slower than the newer SN5100 model. Still, plenty of space at this price point might make the compromise worth your while.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 5,150MB/s read | 4,850MB/s write speedView Deal

Prices for the XS70 are some of the most variable I've seen for an SSD, so it's perhaps worth waiting to see if the price dips again before picking one up. It packs rather a large bang for your buck with its fast read and write times, at least. While the software side of things may be a little lacking, we were impressed with this drive's overall performance and value proposition.

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,300 MB/s read | 6,800 MB/s writeView Deal

Presenting only small gains over the SN850X, this SSD is no slouch and still offers some of the best in class 4K read performance (read our full review here). Though this drops the DDR4 DRAM cache and instead opts for a single-sided drive design, it's still got the same versatile form factor that perfectly suits this heat-sinkless drive to PCs, consoles, and laptops.

Key specs: PCIe 4.0 | 7,250 MB/s read | 6,900 MB/s write

Price check: Scan £269.98View Deal

It's a lot of money to spend on a storage drive but it's actually great value for money. Trying to find a high-quality 4 TB SSD around £200 in the UK is pretty impossible right now but this Lexar is well worth the extra money. There are cheaper SSDs with the same capacity but they won't have anywhere near the same performance or longevity.

**see other deals**

Key specs: NVMe | PCIe 4.0 | 7,400 MB/s read | 6,500 MB/s writeView Deal

Black Friday external SSD deals in the UK

Small, light, and very fast in the right USB port, this little SSD might be all you need for your external storage requirements. While we didn't think it offered a great amount of drop resistance in our review, the SD810 is rated to IP68, so it'll fend off dust and water ingress nicely.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2x2 | 2,000 MB/s read | 2,000 MB/s writeView Deal

Crucial is a big name in SSDs, and the Micron-owned brand is offering a small saving on this 1TB external model. The drive comes in an anodized aluminium shell with a rubberized base and is just 65 x 50 mm big. There's an integrated lanyard hole too, if you want to wear it, which hides a drive activity light. If this isn't enough storage for you, the 2 TB version is only £105.99 on Amazon.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2 | 1,050 MB/s read and writeView Deal

If you need a small external SSD but don't want to sacrifice capacity or performance, then Crucial's X10 Pro is a great choice. It's the same size as the X6 model but has double the read/write performance, though you will need to plug it into a 20 Gbps USB port to reach full speed.

Key specs: USB 3.2 Gen2x2 | 2,100 MB/s read | 2,000 MB/s writeView Deal

FAQ

What should I look for in a Black Friday SSD deal?

It's easy to get carried away at this time of year, but if you know how much you want to spend and what sort of SSD you're after, you'll be in good stead.

Capacity is a good starting point. At the moment, we're looking at some excellent 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB offers. A 512 GB SSD will still afford you a lot of speed storage for a boot drive, with enough space for a handful of games, depending on the size, but this capacity is very slim nowadays.

Then think about the interface. Chances are, if you've been rocking a PC for the last five years, you'll have an M.2 slot in your motherboard with NVMe support. However, it's worth digging into the specifics of your motherboard to ensure it can support booting from such drives as not all can. Check out the manufacturer's pages and maybe forums too.

It's also worth thinking about which version of the PCIe interface your storage slots operate on. On the AMD side, from the Ryzen 3000-series and up you should expect to have PCIe 4.0 slots on your motherboard, and from Intel's 11th-Gen Rocket Lake chips the same should be true. PCIe 4.0 drives are the more mainstream option today, which are widely supported, whereas the faster PCIe 5.0 standard is only just entering the market. These are expensive and not necessarily worth it for gamers just yet.

There are some things to look out for, however. Some budget PCIe 3.0 drives only operate at x2 speed, which means they're half as fast as the standard x4 NVMe SSDs. These are pretty rare nowadays but it's worth double checking. It's also worth ensuring your M.2 SSD is an NVMe drive. There are some M.2 SSDs that still operate over the SATA interface and can only reach a maximum theoretical speed of 600 MB/s, while even a PCIe 4.0 drive can hit over 7,000 MB/s.

Will prices drop any lower?

There are always reasons to hold off on making a new purchase whenever you are thinking about making one. Whether it's the potential for a new generation of techie goodness on the horizon—either cutting prices on existing models or delivering tangible higher performance—or because there might be an imminent sale looming.

When picking out SSD deals we take all of this into consideration, and where we think prices on something might significantly drop on the big day itself we simply won't recommend it. But all of the products here we either believe won't significantly drop much further in terms of their pricing, or are just good deals that we wouldn't hesitate recommending if you wanted to make a purchase today.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD's dual V-Cache uber CPU gets a (rumoured) name and a high-clocked single-die cousin: Give it up for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 and Ryzen 7 9850X3D ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amds-dual-v-cache-uber-cpu-gets-a-rumoured-name-and-a-high-clocked-single-die-cousin-give-it-up-for-the-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-and-ryzen-7-9850x3d/ 249TQAyZn5jsK5qyE57JAZ Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:24:55 +0000

That AMD is planning a dual-die Ryzen CPU with added 3D V-Cache goodness on not just one but both CPU core tiles has been rumoured for some time. But now we have apparent further details of the chip, including naming and claimed clockspeeds. Oh, and there's an updated and higher-clocked single-die V-Cache Ryzen chip, too, to sit above the existing Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

According to X leaker chi11eddog, up front and centre we have the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, a 200 W, 16 core, 32 thread beast of a CPU. In really simple terms, it's similar to the the existing Ryzen 9 9950X3D. But as the rather ungainly "2" tacked onto the end of the model name implies, it gets another slab of 3D V-Cache added to the second CPU tile, otherwise known in AMD parlance as a CCD or Core Complex Die. The 9950X3D only has V-Cache on one tile.

The result will be fully 196 MB of L3 Cache memory. That's pretty nifty. But what about clock speeds? The leak claims the chip's maximum Boost clock is 5.6 GHz.

At first glance, that seems a little odd. After all, the 9950X3D is rated at 5.7 GHz. However, the assumption here is the the 9950X3D2's 5.6 GHz figure is for both CCDs. With the 9950X3D, only CCD1, the tile without the added V-Cache, runs at 5.7 GHz. CCD0 with the V-Cache runs slightly slower at 5.5 GHz.

More of an unambiguous improvement when it comes to clock speeds, at least according to this leak, is the Ryzen 9 9850X3D. It's also rated at 5.6 GHz maximum boost clock. But that is a fairly hefty 400 MHz uptick from the 5.2 GHz Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

In terms of all other specs, the 9850X3D looks to be a dead ringer for the 9800X3D. So that's eight cores, 16 threads, 96MB of L3 cache and a 120 W TDP. The 9850X3D, then, looks set to be the weapon of choice for gamers.

Photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor

Will double the V-Cache mean a whole load more money? (Image credit: Future)

The appeal of the 9950X3D2 is a bit trickier. The extra eight cores won't be a guaranteed benefit for many games. Meanwhile, the cost of having V-Cache on both CPU tiles is likely to be punitive.

"Such a processor would simply be too expensive and games would not benefit from a second CCD with 3D V-Cache to the same extent as the step from 32 to 96 MB L3 cache for one CCD," is what AMD itself said back in January when cross examined on the prospect of a Ryzen CPU with V-Cache on both CPU tiles.

The existing 9950X3D goes for about $680 in bare bones trim, currently. The dual V-Cache model would presumably add at least another $200. AMD might even position it as some kind of ultra high-spec halo model, at which point a nice round number like $999 for the fully boxed retailed version might get the marketing bods excited. If that's the case, it'll be a pretty terrible value proposition.

The 9800X3D, meanwhile, is currently a $460 chip or $555 for the fully boxed retail item. The 9850X3D is just a clockspeed bump, so here's hoping AMD doesn't crank up the price on that one too much.

]]> <![CDATA[ Take advantage of the Prime Day PC deals to build your own RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC with better components and a price to match prebuilt systems ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-pcs/take-advantage-of-the-prime-day-pc-deals-to-build-your-own-rtx-5070-ti-gaming-pc-with-better-components-and-a-price-to-match-prebuilt-systems/ GmgVPF8GnABeAcseLGR8UX Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:35:45 +0000 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:11:08 +0000

A collection of PC parts on a pink background with the PC Gamer Recommends badge in the top right.

(Image credit: Corsair, MSI, PNY, Be Quiet!, V-Color, AMD, Crucial, Future)

Dawn of the final day for Amazon's Big Deal Days and yet there's still plenty of offers around. I've found an entire gaming PC's worth of parts to highlight below.

This is a gaming PC I'd be happy with. I've not made any major sacrifices or cut any corners here. It's also only a fraction more expensive than the best deal we've found on an RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC ($1,749), and I prefer my choice of chip, chassis, memory, and cooler. I've check compatibility on all the parts and it's ready to go. The only catch is you have to build it yourself.

If you prefer to buy one prebuilt, check out our page filled with October Prime Day gaming PC deals. I won't judge... much.

Get the build: $1,762

Corsair caseChassis
Corsair Frame 4000D RS (three fans included)

A good-looking chassis that I've reviewed personally. You could take advantage of Corsair's iCUE Link system here, though I've done so in the past and, well, I prefer the regular option. That's what I've gone for here: three RS120 fans are pre-fitted to the front of this case and that's where they'll stay. I don't think we'll need a dedicated exhaust fan as we'll use the large liquid cooler to push the hot air out the system.

$95 @ Amazon

PNY graphics cardGraphics card
PNY Geforce RTX 5070 Ti OC

This is the sort of high-end GPU I can get on-board with. It's close to an RTX 5080 without the prohibitive price tag, has plenty of VRAM for demanding games, and it's actually pretty good on power considering the performance. It's well-balanced, and importantly, actually at MSRP. PNY do offer generally a little cheaper construction that some but this card has three fans and a chunky heatsink to keep things chill.

$750 @ B&H

AMD CPUCPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

This is the best gaming chip from the previous generation of Ryzen chips, the 7000-series. It's since been replaced by the 9800X3D, though you'll have to spend another $50 or more to get that. The thing is here, you don't merely get a CPU, you also get a liquid cooler chucked in for free.

Well, sorta free. You can buy this processor on Amazon for $60 less right now, but it doesn't include the free cooler. Since the cooler is a good one, MSI's MAG CoreLiquid A13, and my go-to budget pick is currently over $85, this Newegg deal comes out as the best value.

$399 @ Newegg (use code FTTE2523 for the full discount)

MSI liquid coolerLiquid cooler
MSI MAG Coreliquid A13 360

As far as freebies go, this is a good'un. A large 360 mm liquid cooler with some decent fans and even RGB lighting. We've not reviewed this model, but I've checked out the CoreLiquid P13 recently and had qualms with the screen, not the cooler, and Antony checked out the CoreLiquid A15 earlier in the year and liked that a lot.

The Corsair Frame 4000D has room for this cooler via its Infinirail system in the top of the case. This also means you can leave it in the set-up it arrives in (exhaust, push) and be ready to go without much fuss.

Free with CPU @ Newegg (worth $115)

Msi Mag B850 Tomahawk Max Wifi Motherboard, Atx - Supports Amd Ryzen 9000/8000 / 7000 Processors, Am5-80a Sps Vrm, Ddr5 Memory Boost 8400+ Mt/s (oc), Pcie 5.0 X16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 5g LanMotherboard
MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi

This B850 motherboard has plenty to offer by way of connectivity, with a heap of Type-C ports and WiFi 7 support. There's only a single PCIe 5.0 slot, but that's okay, and it is lacking USB4 unlike more expensive X870 boards. Though there are heatsinks across the remaining NVMe slots and it has a 5G LAN port. Importantly, it's great value for money at $190. That's lower than it has been over the past few months, at around $210.

$190 @ Amazon

V-COLOR Manta XSky DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 1.25V SK Hynix IC RGB Gaming Desktop Upgrade Memory Module Black, for AMD EXPO TMXSAL1660830KWKRAM
V-Color Manta XSky DDR5-6000 32GB (16 GBx2) CL30

Woah, V-Color saves the day here with a really affordable and surprisingly decent-looking kit. I've used some white V-Color sticks for a long time, and they're a trusty set. This is the cheapest RAM kit I can find right now that's both 6000 MT/s and CL30. That's a lower latency than some popular kits around, which are often around the CL36 mark. They're also AMD EXPO friendly.

$88 @ Newegg

Crucial P510 2tb Gen5 Nvme Ssd, Up to 10,000 Mb/s, Pcie 5.0 M.2 2280 Ssd, Internal Solid State Drive, Compatible With Laptop, Desktop, +acronis Software - Ct2000p510ssd8-01SSD
Crucial P510 2 TB

This SSD is single-handedly bringing PCIe 5.0 prices down to what we'd expect to buy a PCIe 4.0 drive for. So, why not make use of the available slots on the motherboard and get a faster boot drive for it? You could save some cash on a 1 TB model for $80, but I'd personally go all-in on 2 TB and not have to worry about buying any more storage for at least a month. That's a joke—uninstall your old games, sheeple!

$132 @ Amazon

be quiet! psuPower supply
be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 850 W

I use this power supply for a lot of my PC builds here at PC Gamer. It's trust, dependable, the cables are a good length, and it's fully modular. For this build in particular it's handy for the inclusion of a 16-pin power connector for the graphics card, bypassing the need for any ugly adapters. You could grab the newer 1000 W model for a little more headroom for upgrades down the line, but honestly 850 W should be just fine for a while yet.

$108 @ Newegg

]]> <![CDATA[ I build multiple gaming PCs a month and this is my favorite so far this year—here's what you'd need to build it yourself ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-pcs/i-build-multiple-gaming-pcs-a-month-and-this-is-my-favorite-so-far-this-year-heres-what-youd-need-to-build-it-yourself/ gQzSp4c6ZLk8FgAfUQWjh9 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:57:30 +0000 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:00:49 +0000
A gaming PC in the process of being built, using Radeon and Ryzen components and an Asus Pro Art PA401 PC case.
Future
A gaming PC in the process of being built, using Radeon and Ryzen components and an Asus Pro Art PA401 PC case.
Future
A gaming PC in the process of being built, using Radeon and Ryzen components and an Asus Pro Art PA401 PC case.
Future
A gaming PC in the process of being built, using Radeon and Ryzen components and an Asus Pro Art PA401 PC case.
Future
A gaming PC in the process of being built, using Radeon and Ryzen components and an Asus Pro Art PA401 PC case.
Future
A gaming PC in the process of being built, using Radeon and Ryzen components and an Asus Pro Art PA401 PC case.
Future

Sometimes less is more, and this PC build epitomises that concept. I can't claim all the credit; the Asus ProArt PA401 is a gem. The wood finish down the front panels, the all-black interior, and the clever switches that make it a breeze are all to thank for that. Now I do realise the irony of saying less is more and placing two sticks of G.Skill's finest gold-plated, faux-crystal RAM sticks in there, but they don't look anything near as garish as they sound.

This is an all-AMD gaming PC; my slight obsession with using the Ryzen 7 9800X3D in full force here. It's a powerful gaming chip for a reasonable price—3D V-Cache working a treat for improving frame rates. If you wanted to improve further, you could opt for the 16 cores of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, but you'll pay a tall fee for that. No, the 9800X3D works great here, and most of all in combination with the Asus Prime 9070 XT I've selected to go with it.

Get the build: $2,168 | £2,018

Asus ProArt caseChassis
Asus ProArt Case PA401 Wood Edition

Sticking a wooden panel on a chassis is a common occurrence these days, and I'm all here for it. Though Asus somehow makes it look even more tasteful than normal. The PA401 also has a few satisfying switches hidden in plain sight, to control fan speeds, open panels, and prevent accidental power offs. Oh, and two big front-facing fans are included here. You can read our PA401 review for more.

US: $140 | UK: £120

Gigabyte X870e Aorus Pro Amd Am5 Lga 1718 Motherboard, Atx, Ddr5, 4x M.2, Pcie 5.0, Usb4, Wifi7, 2.5gbe Lan, Ez-Latch, 5-Year WarrantyMotherboard
Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro

Only the best for this machine: we're going for the X870E chipset, which offers massive connectivity and keeps AMD's top gaming chip in check. Read our X870E Aorus Pro review for more.

US: $280 | UK: £317

Asus Prime-Rx9070xt-O16g Prime Radeon Rx 9070 Xt Oc Edition Graphics Card ,pcie 5.0, Hdmi/dp 2.1, 2.5-Slot DesignGraphics card
Asus Prime RX 9070 XT 16 GB

AMD finally has a hit on its hands in the RX 9070 XT. It's competitive with the RTX 5070 Ti, and, most of the time, cheaper too. Not necessarily this particular model, though. Read our Asus Prime RX 9070 XT review for more.

US: $710 | UK: £595

AMD CPU boxCPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

AMD has paired up with the manufacturing might of TSMC to stack more L3 cache beneath the CPU cores on the 9800X3D. It makes for a much faster gaming chip. Read our Ryzen 7 9800X3D review for more.

US: $477 | UK: £400

G.skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo Series Ddr5 Ram (amd Expo) 32gb (2x16gb) 6000mt/s Cl28-36-36-96 1.40v Desktop Computer Memory U-Dimm - Gold (f5-6000j2836g16gx2-Tr5ng)RAM
G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo Series DDR5-6000 32 GB

Did I say less is more? On the surface, these sticks don't really fit that ethos, but honestly they're rapid, low-latency and blend in better than you think.

US: $210 | UK: £210

Crucial P510 2tb Gen5 Nvme Ssd, Up to 10,000 Mb/s, Pcie 5.0 M.2 2280 Ssd, Internal Solid State Drive, Compatible With Laptop, Desktop, +acronis Software - Ct2000p510ssd8-01SSD
Crucial P510 2 TB

PCIe 5.0 SSDs are finally reaching critical mass and now affordable enough to make them worth it sometimes. I've swapped to this Crucial P510 from the Biwin Black Opal X570, as tested below, as the Biwin isn't yet available in the US. The P510 is a top replacement, however. Read our P510 review for more.

US: $132 | UK: £150

Corsair PSUPSU
Corsair RM850x

Modular, plenty of connections, and neat cables. My only complaint with Corsair's unit is the darn cable combs I have to install myself—WHY?

US: $130 | UK: £131

Asus Prime Lc 240 Argb All-In-One Aio Cpu Liquid Cooler Amd: Am5 & Am4 Intel: Lga 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x Specially Designed Cpu Contact Area, Finned Channels, Infinity Mirror, Pre-Installed Argb FansCooler
Asus Prime LC 240

The PA401 chassis is limited on headroom, so the Asus Prime LC 240 ARGB is about as big as I can go. I'm a fan of the RGB lighting and it's easy to install, though.

US: $89 | UK: £95

Performance

⬇️ Click to load benchmark data ⬇️

We put every build through its paces, testing the latest games and putting the CPU under pressure to ensure stability.

This PC is 'Custom PC #12' in the charts below.

]]> <![CDATA[ 'Are we going to bet the company's road map on chiplets?' AMD's CEO Lisa Su reminds us how fortunate it was that its executives all said yes ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/are-we-going-to-bet-the-companys-road-map-on-chiplets-amds-ceo-lisa-su-reminds-us-how-fortunate-it-was-that-its-executives-all-said-yes/ GWwbzn3FyyxQLcsJtemAu7 Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:26:36 +0000

Given how much AMD dominates the world of CPUs and gaming in general, it might seem strange to picture such a company on the verge of bankruptcy, being billions of dollars in debt and with few good products on offer. That was the state of AMD over 20 years ago, but thanks to some inspired engineering decisions, those days are now in the distant past. And in a recent interview, CEO Lisa Su tells us that one such choice was betting almost everything on chiplets.

The interview took place on Reid Hoffman's YouTube channel, a venture capitalist and co-founder of LinkedIn, amongst many other strings to his bow. The two hosts chatted with AMD's CEO, Dr Lisa Su, about her past and what led her to become a chip engineer, as well as all things AI, of course.

For me, the most interesting part was when Su talked about AMD's decision-making process, which ultimately led to the likes of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D being the most sought-after CPU by PC gamers.

"We were in a place where the world in semiconductors, for 30 years, really was driven by Moore's law—the idea that every two years or every 18 months you could double the productivity—and so it was all about scaling, scaling, scaling, scaling. But scaling was changing and we saw that change, and yes, we made a few bets."

When it comes to designing any kind of HPC (high performance computing) processor, any bet that you make takes time to bear fruit, if at all. I'm not talking about a period of a few months, or even a year or two. The timescales involved are around a decade or so, and while that might seem like a ludicrously long time, in the world of processors, that only covers a handful of product cycles.

In other words, such bets carry considerable risk. But one in particular turned out to be more than worth it.

Su continued: "We made the bet that scaling would slow down, and we had to innovate in different ways, and perhaps one of the largest innovations is we were the first to really put high performance computing in sort of breaking it up into what we would call chiplets."

It's hard to overstate just how important this move was for AMD and perhaps the CPU industry as a whole. Its Zen architecture, launched eight years ago in 2017, was considerably better than earlier designs but still relied on monolithic fabrication (i.e. everything in a single die), which can be costly to scale across every sector.

Splitting its CPUs up into multiple dies, aka chiplets, meant that AMD only needed to make three discrete chips, but it could then use them to make processors for laptops, desktop PCs, workstations, and full-blown servers. Intel, on the other hand, was making completely different chips for each market.

A close-up image of an AMD Zen 2 CCD chiplet, against an orange background, taken by Fritzchens Fritz
Fritzchens Fritz
A promotional image showing a stylized render of an AMD Ryzen 3000 series processor without a heatspreader, showing two CCD chiplets and one IOD chiplet.
AMD
A presentation slide from AMD, showing the overall design and chiplet structure of a Ryzen 3000 series processor.
AMD

It might seem like such an obvious move these days, but given how earlier mistakes backfired drastically for AMD, you'd be forgiven for thinking that its leaders were cautious about it all. Not so, it would seem.

"You know those meetings, back in the day, when I would sit with our technical fellows and we would make that big decision of 'hey, are we going to bet the company's roadmap on chiplets?' and we said yes," said Su, looking pleased as punch. "We had a lot of learning. I mean, I can say there were products that worked really, really well, and there were products that worked not so well, but we learned a ton from the process of that."

Another interesting topic that's discussed in the interview is how AMD has focused almost entirely on HPC. For example, despite the breadth of its processor portfolio, it doesn't make chips for phones. Dr Su explains why this is:

"Our driving force at the time was to decide what we could be best at. I really believed—my CTO Mark Papermaster has been my partner on this journey—we believed that we could be bet the best in high performance computing, and at the time, high performance computing wasn't as exciting as it is today because AI wasn't as big as it is today and the cloud was you know kind of on a different path."

AMD's Dr Lisa Su holding a Zen 4 processor

(Image credit: AMD)

More specifically, she remarks: "There was a lot of conversation on 'hey Lisa, you know AMD should be making smartphone chips' and then when you look at where things have evolved, you actually realise that companies have sort of fundamental DNA in terms of what they're good at. We are just really good at building big computers, that's what we think about every single day."

It's certainly all worked out very well for AMD. It makes the best CPUs, it dominates the console sector, it has a significant foot in the FPGA market, and as things currently stand, it boasts share prices more than 4.5 times higher than Intel. Despite its vast AI revenue stream, Nvidia's shares are just 10% higher than AMD's.

With everything Su says in the interview, it's clear what the next decade of AMD will look like: more chiplets, more HPC, more being the best at something. A stark contrast to 20 years ago.

]]> <![CDATA[ The ROG Xbox Ally X priced at $1,000 and available to preorder in October, making it officially the most expensive 'Xbox' ever ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/handheld-gaming-pcs/the-rog-xbox-ally-x-priced-at-usd1-000-and-available-to-pre-order-in-october-making-it-officially-the-most-expensive-xbox-ever/ TbhPnKaMQ68kPzEtWew8Z7 Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Xbox's latest device isn't a new console: instead, it's a set of familiar-looking handheld gaming PCs, and very expensive ones at that. After months of teases, rumours, and speculation, we finally have the official pricing details. You will be able to preorder both the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X as of today, with the standard Ally fetching $600 and the Xbox Ally X costing $1,000.

The cheaper of the two devices, the white $600 ROG Xbox Ally comes with a Ryzen Z2 A processor, which offers eight RDNA 2 cores and a boost frequency of up to 1800 MHz. This is almost the same as the Steam Deck, which comes in at half the price, and benefits from the lightweight, Linux-based SteamOS. Not a good start for Microsoft.

Up next is the black ROG Xbox Ally X, which has the new Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip in it and comes in at $1,000. This chip was recently benchmarked against the Z1 Extreme, which you will find in the still rather great original ROG Ally X. Despite the upgrade to three Zen 5 and five Zen 5c cores (as opposed to eight Zen 4), the Z2 Extreme only sees a performance uplift of 12% in Cyberpunk 2077 with both machines at 25 W.

Dropping down to 17 W, that same test saw a 22% difference. Effectively, the Z2 Extreme only really sees a noticeable improvement over the Z1 Extreme in environments with lower power draw and resolution. Memory bandwidth is a problem with the shiny new CPU, which is a far cry from the ludicrously high memory of Strix Halo.

Ryzen Z1 Extreme vs Z2 Extreme

APU

Ryzen Z1 Extreme

Ryzen Z2 Extreme

CPU cores

8 (Zen 4)

3 (Zen 5) + 5 (Zen 5c)

CPU threads

16

16

CPU base/boost clocks

3.3 / 5.1 GHz

2.0 / 5.0 + 3.3 GHz

GPU compute units

12 RDNA 3

16 RDNA 3.5

GPU boost clock

2.9 GHz

2.9 GHz

RAM

24 GB LPDDR5x-7500

24 GB LPDDR5x-8000

This means, in many cases, you will see little uplift from Z1 Extreme to Z2 Extreme, which feels decidedly, well, not very extreme. The Z2 Extreme is a Strix Point chip, with the same architecture as the HX 370, but with fewer cores. It has effectively the same GPU but a less powerful CPU.

We tested the HX 370 a while back, comparing the 16-CU 890M iGPU found on that chip to the 12-CU 780M found on the ROG Ally X. Even with a good deal more power as we were comparing a laptop to a handheld (54 W to 30 W), we saw roughly a 20% improvement in average FPS in Horizon Zero Dawn. In F1 22, that was a 31% improvement.

Comparing the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V in the MSI Claw 8 AI+ with the HX 370 in the OneXPlayer F1 Pro, we found them to be very comparable chips, with the former being significantly cheaper. Importantly, the Z2 extreme is less powerful than the HX 370, and still more expensive than the Claw 8 AI+.

With companies like Ayaneo and GPD cramming Strix Halo into upcoming handhelds, and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 outselling expectations (despite being a $1,000+), it seems like the gaming handheld PC space is only getting more expensive. The 256 GB Steam Deck (that launched three years ago) is still a budget darling, and is down to as little as $320 right now.

Should you want to preorder either Xbox Ally (something I'd advise against until more testing comes in), you can do so right now, and it should arrive at your door on October 16. If I were shopping around for a beefy handheld, I think my money would be going on the impressive MSI Claw 8 AI + instead, though, with its great Lunar Lake chip, lovely screen, and excellent battery life.

]]> <![CDATA[ Despite its $1,000+ price tag, Lenovo Legion Go 2 pre-orders have 'substantially exceeded' expections, resulting in cancellations and delays ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/handheld-gaming-pcs/despite-its-usd1-000-price-tag-lenovo-legion-go-2-pre-orders-have-substantially-exceeded-expections-resulting-in-cancellations-and-delays/ hQEGaHe6owvHc2xxGC3LzQ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:56:10 +0000

If you've preordered yourself a Lenovo Legion Go 2, you might want to look through your emails because there's a chance your order has been delayed or, even worse, cancelled entirely.

Lenovo decided to do an AMA (where users are encouraged to ask questions on Reddit) as users were finding out about their preorder delays (via Tom's Hardware), and then didn't directly answer any of the questions posed about said delays. "Ask Me Anything - except shipping", says one user.

Two days later, the description of the AMA was changed to display new information from the Lenovo team. "As many of you have noticed, we’ve been missing in action since we started this thread because we had to get our stuff together behind the scenes. It is our mistake for not looping in the right people in the first place to answer all your questions hence why we temporarily left this thread idle."

This is followed up by a confirmation that some Lenovo Legion Go 2s have, in fact, been delayed. It says, "The truth is pre-orders for the Legion Go Gen 2 has substantially exceeded our projections, leading to unforeseen delivery range extensions".

Two days after this, another edit was made to the original thread. The good news is that Lenovo has been making more units available at more retailers, which is estimated to improve availability in the future. The bad news, however, is that Lenovo will "cancel some pre-orders placed directly on Lenovo.com."

We’re the Lenovo Legion team - Ask Us Anything about the Legion Go Gen 2! from r/LegionGo

Lenovo justifies this decision, stating, "We don’t believe in holding onto customer payments for products we can’t ship in a timely manner." What exactly a 'timely manner' means is still up for debate, but one user claims their delivery window shifted from September 22-23 all the way to the end of November.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 comes packed with a Ryzen Z2 processor (with the more expensive models getting the Z2 Extreme) and an 8.8-inch 144 Hz OLED display with VRR. Like the last one, it comes with detachable controllers, and it has a kickstand for easy placement. The downside to all this tech is that even the cheapest SKU (that comes with a standard Z2) will cost you $1,100. The Z2 Extreme version fetches $1,350.

Still, it's rather impressive to think a $1,000+ gaming handheld can pull in so many preorders that Lenovo didn't anticipate it. It's just a shame that customers who ordered via Lenovo's official site will see the largest changes to their shipping estimates.

]]> <![CDATA[ Nvidia and Intel joining forces could be seen as anti-AMD, but it just serves to highlight AMD's advantage with Ryzen and Radeon under one roof ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/nvidia-and-intel-joining-forces-could-be-seen-as-anti-amd-but-it-just-goes-to-highlight-amds-advantage-with-ryzen-and-radeon-under-one-roof/ i4MLK5jY2HUcuH6azJBGy8 Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:18:41 +0000 Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:20:00 +0000

You've likely heard the news by now: Intel and Nvidia have agreed to build a new range of products together. These co-developed chips will fuse Intel's x86 architecture with Nvidia's RTX graphics chiplets. The idea being, if you bring together both companies' tech, it's possible to deliver something more flexible, more desirable than either company can deliver on its own.

The benefits for the two companies are clear enough. Nvidia needs processors for GPU-accelerated server racks, and despite its best efforts to buy Arm, that fell through, dashing any hope of becoming a fully-integrated hardware company with it. Intel needs a helping hand in a few ways. The company is struggling with a falling share price and recently struck a deal with the US government to buy a share of the business, and getting an in with one of the richest companies on the planet isn't a bad get. Though supercharging its processors with more capable and powerful graphics chips has a few big benefits, too. To some degree in gaming, sure, but mostly AI.

"I think these are going to be revolutionary products. I know that all of us working on it are super excited about it," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a joint conference with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

"Nothing of its kind has ever been built before."

You might have something to say about that last statement if you work for AMD. The company is able to deliver competitive products across both CPU and GPU in-house. That's been embedded into its DNA since it bought ATI, and only improved on and amplified since with the growing success of its Zen architecture (with admittedly a few ups and downs in between—a story for another time), and delivered many generations of APU. If anyone has shown the capability to consistently deliver a combination of high-performance processors and graphics in a single chip or system-on-chip (SOC), it's AMD.

AMD is dominant in games consoles, through its semi-custom division and partnerships with Microsoft and Sony, for precisely this reason. It's been highly successful here, scoring these console manufacturers as repeat clients for multiple generations, and according to current expectations for at another generation to come. In the PC space, we have products such as the newly-released Ryzen AI Max 300 Series to point to, a processor line-up we've tested multiple times in various forms this year.

AMD Strix Halo

(Image credit: AMD)

You might then consider this move from Intel and Nvidia to be pretty anti-AMD. I'm sure Dr. Lisa Su and other AMD executives have had a few emergency meetings to discuss yesterday's announcement—which saw AMD's share price dip sharply and then largely recover. Though there's definitely a positive way of framing it for the red team:

It just goes to show how much of an advantage AMD has if it plays its cards right.

No matter the promise of integration between Intel and Nvidia, no two competing companies will ever be able to collaborate quite as well as multiple departments within the same company. The sharing of GPU IP, if any such sharing occurs, between Intel and Nvidia would have to be pretty tight to keep either party out of the other's biggest secrets, especially as both companies sort of dabble in similar sectors (Nvidia with Arm partnerships, Intel with Arc GPUs).

AMD's advantage also extends deep into the technological stack. Let's take Intel's Foveros technology, for example. This is a way of lashing chiplets (tiles, in Intel speak) together onto a single interposer to operate as a single chip. We've seen this in action with various mobile architectures, Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake, but also since come into play with desktop chips. It's also the key to these future x86 RTX SOCs.

"Intel has the Foveros multi-technology packaging capability, and it's really enabling here," says Jensen. "And the reason for that is because, as we all know, Nvidia's GPU technology is based on TSMC foundry. And this is one of the extraordinary things that you can do, connecting Nvidia's chiplets with Intel CPUs in a multi-technology packaging capability and multi-process packaging technology."

AMD APU coloured blue

(Image credit: AMD)

AMD has similar chiplet technology. It's used chiplets across both of its Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU products at various points throughout the past decade, even before Intel got around to it, and to huge success. Though the processor I'd point to here is the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 in the Framework Desktop, or to a slightly lesser degree, the Ryzen AI Max 390, a chip I recently tested in my Asus ROG Flow Z13 review. The more powerful of the two here, the 395, comes with desktop-grade components inside an ostensibly mobile part: that's 16 Zen 5 cores and 40 Radeon 3.5 CUs. All connected via an interconnect specially designed for this chip to deliver high bandwidth, low latency, and low power.

Not only does this sound a lot like what I'd expect a high-performance x86 RTX SOC might one-day deliver (noting here we don't actually know what these are yet, they're a long way off), with the exception of being AMD's x86 and GPU components instead, it also has those smaller details in interconnect, packaging and software from the same company. Now, you can argue whether there's always been a fluid relationship between AMD's many teams in the past, but in the future, especially one that relies more and more on AI, it could play an increasingly important role.

Framework Desktop PC

(Image credit: Future)

This is all about AI, right? The Ryzen AI Max 300-series wasn't really intended for gaming. I mean, it's decent enough for playing any number of modern games, but it's easily defeated in price/performance by a discrete GPU and a lower core-count chip. We've not rated it for gaming in either of the products we've used it in. No, these chips do best when loaded up with a significant amount of memory, allowing them to run AI models with a huge number of parameters, such as the new gpt-oss-120b from OpenAI or Alibaba's 253 billion-parameter model.

AI capabilities are seemingly the endgame for AMD here, as it builds out big bandwidth, big GPU, low-power chips. As much as it looks to be a target for Intel and Nvidia. If the future of AI is an increasing amount of local compute, and local compute powered by a GPU, rather than an NPU, then it's AMD that has the headstart in actually delivering that. Especially on mobile, which is a growing slice of the PC market. AMD also has the benefit of having more time to develop on these products over the next few years, whereas Intel and Nvidia's partnership is only in its nascent stage.

So, none of this spells doom for AMD to me. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, right?

]]> <![CDATA[ AI, take the wheel: Gigabyte's latest motherboards will 'intelligently dynamically' improve performance of Ryzen chips by up to 25% in games through a built-in AI model ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/ai-take-the-wheel-gigabytes-latest-motherboards-will-intelligently-dynamically-improve-performance-of-ryzen-chips-by-up-to-25-percent-in-games-through-a-built-in-ai-model/ zsqo2zER8oosLEEJSzCD6n Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:11:11 +0000

Gigabyte has just released three new motherboards with on-board AI to tune your Ryzen processor for top performance in games, even promising up to a 25% improvement. Thanks, bot.

Back at Computex, Taiwan's biggest tech show, we heard about the latest version of Gigabyte's X3D Turbo Mode, a technology that would squeeze the ever-loving heck out of your Ryzen processor to extract every drop of performance out of it. This technology, aptly-named X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, works by analysing what a chip is doing and adjusting frequency, power, core count, and balancing temperature to improve performance dynamically.

Gigabyte announced the tech but the motherboards fitted with it had been a no-show. Until now. The X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice, X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice, and X870E Aorus Pro X3D Ice are now officially available (though yet to show up at any retailer).

"Our proprietary X3D Turbo Mode 2.0 intelligently dynamically optimizes gaming performance up to 25% by built-in AI model, delivering exceptional gaming experience and productivity that adapts to your usage scenario in real-time," Gigabyte says.

"Up to 25%" improvement—that's a greater improvement than the company previously noted, which suggests in the time between Computex and now, Gigabyte has found a game that takes to bot-boosting better than most. Though Gigabyte doesn't specify which games we'll see that sort of leap in. In slides seen by WCCFTech back in May, it noted Cyberpunk 2077 with a 15% increase with Turbo Mode 2 turned on.

These X3D motherboards also integrate Gigabyte's D5 Bionic Corsa tech, which sounds like a new racing game but I assure you it's actually more AI gubbins to max out your memory speeds. Gigabyte claims DDR5 could be boosted up to 9000 MT/s here—though AMD Ryzen chips don't necessarily love uber-fast memory speeds, or at the very least, they're not always worth the extra dosh.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice motherboard on a gradient background.
Gigabyte
The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice motherboard on a gradient background.
Gigabyte

Let's focus on the Master X3D Ice, the daddy of the new lineup. This motherboard comes with 18 + 2 + 2 "Twin Digital" VRM, 8-layer PCB, support for that 9000 MT/s RAM speed, and plenty of PCIe 5.0 slots for both add-in cards and storage. It also features four Type-C ports on the rear IO. Nice. The other two boards are slightly scaled-back versions, though all use the X870E chipset and come with an additional 8-pin PCIe power connector to power a 65 W USB Type-C connector. That's pretty neat.

All three motherboards only come in white. That just goes to show how white components have shifted from a niche to mainstream in recent years.

"This revolutionary motherboard embodies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in PC building technology. Every feature has been meticulously designed to enhance the user experience while delivering uncompromising performance," Gigabyte says.

Though it's really this Turbo Mode 2.0 tech that I want to see in action. Will it keep the chip at reasonable temperatures and stick to power limits, or will it be a bit of a novelty and easily beaten by a human? I'm sure the latter is true in the right hands, but dynamically shifting performance on-the-fly might be a good way to get the best of both worlds, providing Turbo Mode 2.0 really is a "one-click" solution as Gigabyte claims.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD candidly admits 'we charge more for our CPUs than our competitor' and that 'customers feel good about the price' ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-candidly-admits-we-charge-more-for-our-cpus-than-our-competitor-and-that-customers-feel-good-about-the-price/ o2nRSbqtQ6fgNYQwpeuoBE Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:39:15 +0000

You can't fault AMD for its honesty. Not when it is unambiguously, almost proudly, admitting that it charges more for its CPUs than Intel.

At the Communicopia+ Technology Conference held recently by the high-status bean counters at Goldman Sachs, AMD's Executive VP & GM of Data Center Solutions Business Unit, Forrest Norrod, was remarkably frank about AMD's CPU pricing. "We charge more for our CPUs than our competitor does," Norrod says, "and the reason is because we're giving superior value."

Norrod doesn't call out Intel by name. But it's clear enough who that "competitor" is. "We're giving performance, we're giving reliability," Norrod goes on, "we're giving things that allow us to charge for that technology and for the customers to feel good about the price that they're paying."

Norrod was speaking primarily about AMD's server CPUs, which he pointed out have been a massive success story for the company. "According to [market research outfit] Mercury, we're at 41% share on server CPUs, up from essentially zero when we started this journey about seven years ago. And our share continues to grow there very rapidly on the CPU side. We picked up about eight points of share in the last 12 months. And if anything it's picking up speed."

Back on ye olde desktop, AMD doesn't seem to quite carry the same bravado. Right now on Newegg, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X are priced within a single dollar of each other, at $539.99 and $538.99 respectively.

That implies AMD doesn't think the 9950X is superior to Intel's 285K. Then again, the going rate for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is currently $699 on Newegg. Draw your own conclusions, as they say, although you could argue the X3D chips with their added V-cache currently operate in a segment of their own. But isn't that the point Norrod was making? That AMD will charge more when it offers more?

Anywho, one corollary where all this could be a bit concerning is graphics. Even as things stand right now, it's hard to argue that AMD is offering a clearly superior value proposition with its RDNA 4 GPUs, such as the Radeon RX 9070 XT. You're looking at $700 for one of those.

That's a graphics card that falls in between the RTX 5070, which can be had for $550, and the RTX 5070 Ti, which is available for around $750, for pure raster rendering performance, but which most gamers would agree doesn't match the Nvidia options for features like upscaling and ray-tracing support.

In other words, AMD doesn't have clearly the best GPU tech right now, but it's still pricing its graphics cards pretty high. If you then consider Norrod's comments above about server CPU pricing and the way AMD positions the X3D gaming CPUs, well, you have to wonder whether AMD bringing out a new generation of GPUs that match or even beat Nvidia across the board would do much if anything to help bring prices down.

That probably reflects the fact that a mere duopoly of companies supplying the market with gaming GPUs is never going to create the same dynamic of competition as four or five companies going after gamers. Heck, even three with the addition of Intel would be really welcome.

Asus Prime RX 9070 XT graphics card

AMD's GPUs already feel pretty pricey... (Image credit: Future)

Moreover, the problem with AMD when it comes to gaming GPUs of late, is that all the evidence points to the company choosing not to produce graphics cards in really big numbers.

As we reported, the latest data from JPR shows AMD's PC graphics card market share actually falling, despite the latest full quarter of sales figures coming after the release of RDNA 4 graphics cards. Admittedly, we haven't quite got a full picture of how RDNA 4 and particularly the newer and presumably higher-volume Radeon RX 9060 XT cards are performing. But it certainly doesn't look like AMD has flooded the market.

Instead, it seems more like AMD is taking a low-risk approach. If it makes cards in relatively low volumes, they're pretty much guaranteed to sell out even when priced up near the Nvidia competition. And that probably means fat profit margins without the need to book a larger and more risky and expensive production allocation at Taiwanese chip maker TSMC, where all AMD GPUs are currently made.

If all that is roughly the case, you can understand why AMD does it. But it's not much help for gamers who remember the days not so long ago at all that $500 was a pretty hefty chunk of change for a GPU. Now it barely gets you on the bottom rung of the mid-range. Ouch.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD blames toasted AM5 sockets on motherboard makers pushing their luck with CPU settings ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-blames-toasted-am5-sockets-on-motherboard-makers-pushing-their-luck-with-cpu-settings/ DUCFEetdpt8dUJe5UDrRnE Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:50:57 +0000

We've been reporting on toasted AMD AM5 CPU sockets for a while now. Back in April, a Reddit thread catalogued over 100 dead CPUs. AMD then told us, "Following a joint investigation, AMD and ASRock identified a memory compatibility issue present in earlier BIOS versions, which has been rectified in the latest BIOS."

However, in a new interview with Korean website Quasar Zone (via Tom's Hardware), AMD has somewhat changed its tune. AMD's David McAfee and Travis Kirsch said (they're quoted as one, so it's not clear who exactly said what, and also note this is a machine translation from Korean), "this issue arises because some ODM BIOSes do not adhere to AMD's recommended values."

In other words? Motherboard makers are pushing their luck with settings to squeeze out a touch more performance. AMD hasn't been specific, but obvious candidates include power limits and voltages.

AMD hasn't said if any specific measures are being taken to resolve or prevent any further toasted chips or boards, and simply recommends keeping your BIOS updated.

"We always recommend everyone update their motherboard BIOS to the latest version. This is because it incorporates additional features, performance improvements, and troubleshooting solutions," the pair are quoted as recommending.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor

Our test rig running a 9800X3D in a Gigabyte board has been stable since December. (Image credit: Future)

That said, AMD did hint that the sheer complexity of modern PC platforms and particularly AMD systems, including support for overclocking and automated power delivery optimisation, is implicated. "One thing to add is that one of the downsides of the flexibility AMD offers is that competing platforms often limit the number of motherboard and CPU combinations available for a given platform.

"AMD, on the other hand, offers a wide range of combinations, and also supports PBO and overclocking. This means there are a vast number of possible scenarios. While this is a complex issue, we are working closely with our partners to resolve issues and further evolve the platform," AMD said.

For the record, the previously reported failures seemed to not be chipset specific, with roughly 45% of reports involving the X870 chipset, about one-third for the B850, and the B650 and X670 also implicated with a few kills of their own.

Since our April story, the internets have been relatively quiet on the subject, so it may well be that BIOS updates have largely mitigated the problem. In sum, if you're running a PC with an AM5 socket, keeping the BIOS right up to date does seem wise.

]]> <![CDATA[ HP announces an updated set of Omen Max 45L RTX 5090 rigs with Ryzen CPUs, but no word on price yet leaves me worried ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-pcs/hp-announces-an-updated-set-of-omen-max-45l-rtx-5090-rigs-with-ryzen-cpus-but-no-word-on-price-yet-leaves-me-worried/ bpLA7XJpuzDKB2S4qF2fLS Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0000
HP Omen Max 45L gaming PC on a white and black gradient
HP
HP Omen 45 and the Omen Max 45L side by side
The 45L on the left and the Max 45L on the rightHP

One thing I've noticed recently is that, with the price of RTX 5090 cards being so ludicrously high, even infamously overpriced gaming brands like Alienware have relatively reasonable prebuilts. This leaves a gap for other manufacturers to take the lead, and HP is just one of many to throw its hat in the ring.

Announced today, HP is launching the Omen Max 45L, an upgrade of sorts to its 45 L range of PCs. Besides having 'Max' written up the top left-hand side, it's not a hugely dissimilar-looking rig. The GPU slot in the board has a bracer around it, and the power going to the CPU comes in from underneath rather than on top, but it's otherwise a fairly familiar rig.

The Max 45L not only goes up to a Ryzen 9 9950X3D and up to an RTX 5090, but it also comes with HP's Cryo Chamber cooling system. This same system is present in the 45L, but HP now claims it can deliver "up to a 7.5 degree drop in CPU temps" thanks to it. Previously, that claim was just 6 degrees Celsius.

These tests were done with a 2024 Omen 35L with Ryzen 9 9950X3D and an Omen Max 45L with the same specs. It is worth noting that the Max 45L is a larger case, so all things aren't totally equal here, even though they have the same basic build. Given the similarity to the standard 45L's thermal claims, it seems likely that the Max 45L won't have much more efficient thermals than the standard 45L. We'll have to get our hands on one to confirm this.

You can see the full potential specs for a Max 45L below:

Up to

Processors

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

AMD Ryzen 7 9700X

Graphics

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070

Memory

128 GB DDR5-5200 MT/s

64 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s

32 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s

32 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s

16 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s

Storage

2 TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD

1 TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 SSD

2 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD

1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD

512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD

Power supply

1200 W GOLD ATX 3.1 fully modular power supply

1000 W 80 Plus Gold certified ATX 3.1 fully modular power supply

1200 W 80 Plus Gold certified ATX power supply

850 W 80 Plus Gold certified ATX 3.1 fully modular power supply

As well as this, today saw the announcement of new refreshes to the Omen line. The HP Omen 35L range of desktops now goes all the way up to a Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU and RTX 5090 GPU, though it doesn't have Cryo Chamber cooling.

A new 'Stealth' line of 35L machines has been announced, which does away with the RGB lighting and puts all those components into a slick black case. The spec sheet for the Stealth line doesn't appear to have a 128 GB memory option, like the Max 45L and 35L, but everything else is the same.

It seems like the 35 L and Max 45 L will offer similar gaming performance, with the latter being cooler. Both machines offer the same IO, with the Max 45L being 8 kg heavier.

They also both have a selection of fully modular power supplies, though the Max 45L come with a 360 mm liquid cooler (rather than the 240 mm in the 35L) and the Max 45L comes with three 120 mm front fans, whereas the 35L comes with two 140 mm fans. The 35L also goes down to a slightly lower Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and the Max 45L doesn't. You can also get an RTX 5060 or 5060 Ti 35L rig.

The HP Omen 35L Stealth on a black and white gradient

The HP Omen 35L Stealth (Image credit: HP)

Though you can get a 45L right now with an RTX 5090, you can't seem to buy a version with a Ryzen CPU. This means the Max range seems to be not only adding a bigger case plus a shroud around the GPU and slightly different cable management, but it appears to be adding the Ryzen option.

Finally, the HP Omen 16 lineup of laptops will be getting a refresh, now coming with an RTX 5070 Ti. Where the PCs only come with Ryzen CPUs, these laptops only come with Intel ones.

Unfortunately, we don't have any word yet on pricing or release date, though we can expect from both its claims and the lower available specs of the 35L that the Max 45L will cost a premium. It just needs to cost less than $5300 at the higher end to instantly beat out the Alienware Area-51 for me, though coming with a Ryzen chip will certainly help.

]]> <![CDATA[ Ryzens and Radeons revitalise AMD's revenues but export restrictions delete data center profits, causing share prices to slip ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/ryzens-and-radeons-revitalise-amds-revenues-but-export-restrictions-delete-data-center-profits-causing-share-prices-to-slip/ QsxgTe8m9cALAchnenmQi3 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:10:18 +0000

If you're a fan of AMD and its red-hued CPUs and graphics cards, you'll be pleased to know that the huge demand for Ryzens and Radeons has done wonders for its streams of income. In its latest financial report, AMD says that its total revenue of $7.7 billion is 32% better than this time last year. However, export restrictions on its mega-bucks AI processors have resulted in its data center division making a loss for the first time in six months.

You can skim over the details yourself in the Q2 financial report summary, and at first glance, you might be puzzled as to why AMD's share prices have fallen since the release of the data.

After all, the Client and Gaming Division—covers all Ryzen CPUs, desktop and mobile, Radeon GPUs, and semi-custom chips—has been doing extremely well. Revenue for this sector is up 69% compared to Q2 2024, with a split of $2.6 billion for Client and $1.1 billion for Gaming.

The latter is actually 73% better than last year, thanks to "an increase in semi-custom revenue and strong AMD Radeon GPU demand." And it's not just PC gamers buying Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs and Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics cards that's helping to fill the coffers, as AMD says that a "significant uptick" in sales of Dell PCs with Ryzen processors helped in no small way.

Business and commercial PCs have traditionally been Intel's domain, but the whole Crashgate affair with Raptor Lake, the underwhelming response to Arrow Lake, and general concerns over Team Blue's future will have certainly given OEM and system builders the heebie-jeebies. Any hopes that Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors would be the perfect alternative to x86 chips have also faded.

AMD presentation slide from its 2025 Q2 financial report.
AMD
AMD presentation slide from its 2025 Q2 financial report.
AMD
AMD presentation slide from its 2025 Q2 financial report.
AMD

That's booted the door wide open for AMD to stomp in, wave its chiplets about, and grab all the contracts it can.

Its data center division has also enjoyed improved revenues, albeit nothing like as big a jump as with C&G, coming in at 14% better than last year. The total income was $3.2 billion, but the operating income was a loss of $155 million, in part due to US export restrictions on its MI308 data center GPUs. "These restrictions led to approximately $800 million in inventory and related charges," AMD says.

The relatively small revenue increase, the inventory cost, and the fact that Nvidia's data center revenues are in another league entirely are why AMD's shares took a small tumble after the financial announcement.

Not that this seems to be worrying Team Red in the least bit, as it expects revenues to continue improving—predicting a Q3 total of $8.6 billion—and if it can get the nod to start selling AI chips to China again, then the money is really going to start rolling in.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD said it would be too expensive and of no real benefit to gaming, but if one rumour is to be believed, a dual 3D V-Cache Ryzen is actually in the pipeline ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-said-it-would-be-too-expensive-and-of-no-real-benefit-to-gaming-but-if-one-rumour-is-to-be-believed-a-dual-3d-v-cache-ryzen-is-actually-in-the-pipeline/ 28uVgEAmsYANZbzgeqWj47 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:20:38 +0000 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:29:52 +0000

If the sales of Nvidia's $2,000+ RTX 5090 have proved one thing, it's that there are plenty of PC gamers out there who are willing to spend any amount of money to have the most extreme hardware possible in their rigs. So, if the rumour that AMD is planning to release a desktop Ryzen processor with 192 MB of L3 cache turns out to be correct, then there will be another painfully pricey part for enthusiasts to spend their hard-earned cash on.

The rumour in question comes from X user chi11eddog (via ComputerBase), who claims AMD has a new Zen 5 Ryzen CPU in the pipeline. It's basically a Ryzen 9 9950X3D but with a 3D V-Cache tile added to all the CCDs (Core Complex Die) in the CPU package, pushing the total L3 cache up to a heady 192 MB, and power limit from 170 W to 200 W.

While AMD has done this for workstation and server-grade chips, such as the EPYC 9184X (12 CCDs, 768 MB of L3 cache), it has never done so for a desktop processor. "Such a processor would simply be too expensive and games would not benefit from a second CCD with 3D V-Cache to the same extent as the step from 32 to 96 MB L3 cache for one CCD," it said back in January when asked why.

If you prise the heatspreader off a Ryzen 9 9950X3D, you'll spot three chiplets on the green circuit board. The largest is the IOD (Input/Output Die), which contains a little integrated GPU and controllers for RAM, PCIe lanes, and USB ports. Nestled nearby are two CCDs—the processing cores and cache—but one will look slightly different from the other. That's because there's a slice of 3D V-Cache, 64 MB in capacity, bonded to the underside of that CCD.

Through a combination of Windows' thread scheduler and AMD's hardware and software, the instruction threads generated by a game are sent to the cache-heavy CCD, leaving the other one to handle everything else. The L3 cache in Ryzen chips is a victim cache, storing data that's booted out of a core's L2 cache when there's no room for it.

AMD 3D V-Cache stacked chips up close render

The first generation of 3D V-Cache Ryzen chips had the extra L3 cache bonded on the top of the CCD. (Image credit: AMD)

Many games greatly benefit from this, as it means the cores don't have to wait for data to be hauled over from system memory. Cache takes up a lot of space within a CPU die, which is why AMD developed its 3D V-Cache tech, to greatly increase the L3 cache capacity without making the chips massively bigger.

Today's big games are developed for consoles and PCs, and the CPUs in the former are all eight-core, 16-thread processors. Hence why AMD has always stuck 3D V-Cache on just one CCD for its gaming-focused Ryzens: games just don't create enough cache-sensitive threads to warrant the need for 16-core processors with mountains of L3 cache.

So, if this rumour is indeed true, why would AMD release a Ryzen 9 CPU with both CCDs packed with 3D V-Cache? Well, as I pointed out at the very start, Nvidia has sold an awful lot of GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, even though they're at least $2,000 in price. You can buy an entire gaming PC for that kind of money, but it doesn't put enthusiasts off. And I dare say that something like a $1,000 Ryzen with 192 MB of L3 cache would be treated in the same way.

Even if it's only 5% better than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, there would be enough PC gamers out there, keen on snapping up, say a 9990X3D, for AMD to consider making it. And it really wouldn't cost them all that much to do so because it has to produce Zen 5 CCDs with 3D V-cache for four SKUs: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Ryzen 9 9900X3D, Ryzen 9 9950X3D, and the laptop Ryzen 9 9955HX3D.

Adding one more SKU shouldn't be a major drain on the supply of the special CCDs, especially given that a 9990X3D isn't going to sell in the same kind of numbers as the 9800X3D.

Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that the X post actually mentions two new Ryzens, but the other specs are identical to those of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. What that could be is the Zen 5 version of the Ryzen 7 5700X3D, i.e. a 9800X3D but with lower clock speeds. A cheaper 9800X3D would certainly go down very well.

Photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, all of this is just conjecture based on a single X post (though the user in question does have a history in making correct claims about future AMD chips), and none of it might never happen. If it does, though, all it will do is further confirm AMD's dominance of the gaming CPU market. So long as we still get affordable processors that are great for games, lower down the stack, then I'm okay with it doing whatever it wants in the ultra-enthusiast space.

]]> <![CDATA[ It's the scantest of rumours but given AMD's track record, I actually believe the claim that the Ryzen 9000G series will be nothing more than an 8000G refresh ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/its-the-scantest-of-rumours-but-given-amds-track-record-i-actually-believe-the-claim-that-the-ryzen-9000g-series-will-be-nothing-more-than-an-8000g-refresh/ TFeJ9HrNk8Qa4EwKa7BYa Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:10:26 +0000 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:40:05 +0000

Although they take a while to appear with each new generation of Ryzen processors, AMD always converts some of its laptop processors into desktop CPUs to give entry-level PC gamers an all-in-one option. But one rumour is to be believed, then the forthcoming Ryzen 9000G chips are unlikely to be well received because it's being claimed that they're just a refresh of the previous 8000G series.

That's according to a post on Chiphell (via X-user HXL), and I know exactly what you're thinking: "One random post on a forum doesn't mean it's true." The thing is, AMD does have form in the whole churning out old hardware under a new name malarky. For example, just two months ago, the Ryzen 8000HX lineup was announced, but none of them are Zen 5-powered processors; they're just rebadged Zen 4 Ryzen 7000HX chips.

It's the same story with AMD's Ryzen AI 200 range. They sound all new and funky, but they're literally just Hawk Point Ryzen 8040 processors, and some of those are refreshed models, too.

So it's hardly an outlandish claim, one to be immediately cast out with the trash, that AMD's plan for the Ryzen 9000G desktop APU range is to simply take the previous generation 8000G chips and just spruce them up with a clock bump and a shiny new sticker.

In some ways, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Ryzen 7 8700G is a pretty decent desktop APU, with an integrated graphics chip that's identical to that in the Asus ROG Ally X. Pair that CPU with some fast, dual-channel DDR5 RAM, and you've got the basis for a nice entry-level gaming PC. However, the 8700G isn't exactly cheap ($280 at Newegg), and I can't imagine AMD would sell new Ryzen 9000G processors at a lower price.

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G

(Image credit: Future)

The real problem is that AMD just doesn't have a suitable laptop APU to refurbish into a desktop variant that's substantially better than any 8000G. Or at the very least, not without significantly hiking up the price.

For example, the Ryzen AI 350 might look like a good option, given that its iGPU uses AMD's mobile-focused RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, but it still only has eight compute units (same as the 8700G), and the clock speed isn't much higher. The CPU side of the processor isn't spectacular either.

More importantly, though, AMD is selling a lot of these right now in laptops and probably wouldn't want to sell the best-running chips as low-volume desktop APUs. A Strix Halo chip would be a huge upgrade, but it's so big and expensive that it would probably be cheaper to just buy an AM4 CPU and a cheap graphics card.

AMD Strix Halo

Strix Halo would be an awesome desktop APU. Awesomely expensive, that is. (Image credit: AMD)

In other words, the simplest and cheapest option for AMD is to simply take the existing 8700G processors, give them a minor bump in clock speeds all round, and then slap Ryzen 9000G on the boxes. That's hardly going to set the market on fire, but the desktop APU sector is no scorcher as it is.

So yes, it's a whisper-thin rumour from one source in a random thread on a discussion board. AMD could actually just skip the whole 9000G series idea until it has something better to use, but I'd genuinely bet a bob or two on it being true.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD unleashes up to 96 cores of Zen 5 with its new Threadripper 9000 Series chips ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-unleashes-up-to-96-cores-of-zen-5-with-its-new-threadripper-9000-series-chips/ XebsTNvuDZXjCURBZ3ykb8 Wed, 21 May 2025 03:00:00 +0000 Wed, 21 May 2025 08:43:08 +0000

Workstations get all the fun stuff. First, there was Maxsun's dual-GPU graphics card, now we're eyeing up 96 cores of Zen 5 from AMD. To be fair to the red team, it also announced the RX 9060 XT over at Computex, so us gamers got a little love too, but I remain a little envious of how much power is on offer for professionals.

The Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series and Pro 9000 WX-Series marks AMD's latest in its chunky workstation-grade chips.

Codename 'Shimada Peak', the line-up is led by the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX. It has 96 cores, 192 threads, and boosts up to 5.4 GHz. It also has 384 MB of L3 cache, which is the same as the previous generation.

The cache size is an important figure to note. There have been rumours floating around that AMD might import 3D V-cache technology, available on both desktop Ryzen and server Epyc chips to massively boost L3 cache, to its Threadripper lineup. There's no evidence of that here, at least not for this first batch.

The top chip uses 12 CCDs (chiplets containing eight cores each) and each CCD has 32 MB of cache. That's the standard amount for Zen 5.

AMD Ryzen Threadipper 9000 Series chip renders.

(Image credit: AMD)
Computex 2025

The Taipei 101 building and Taipei skyline in Taiwan.

(Image credit: Jacob Ridley)

Catch up with Computex 2025: We're on the ground at Taiwan's biggest tech show to see what Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and more have to show.

These chips aren't short of much, however. A 5.4 GHz boost isn't bad for a chip of this size and only on the very tippy top chips do you see a considerable drop-off in base clock. The 9995WX runs at 2.5 GHz base clock, which is to be expected with 96 cores firing on all cylinders with a 350 W TDP.

There are some 'HEDT', or high-end desktop, chips that are aimed less at the pro crowd. These are led by the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X, with 64 cores, 128 threads, and 256 MB of L3 cache.

The new 9000 Series uses the same sTR5 socket as its predecessor, 'Storm Peak', otherwise known as the 7000 Series.

These new chips are expected to arrive in June this year. If you're interested, I'd start saving now. Threadripper has been a rags to riches story: starting out as a dream of a few engineers and becoming a chip lineup that can cost as much as $10,000 per chip. Ouch.

]]> <![CDATA[ This odd but surprisingly well-priced mini ITX motherboard from Minisforum packs an embedded AMD X3D processor ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/this-odd-but-surprisingly-well-priced-mini-itx-motherboard-from-minisforum-packs-an-embedded-amd-x3d-processor/ U9xy7ujD3UuiRHfMq2XQLi Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:41:32 +0000

Ask any PC enthusiast 'What are the best CPUs for gaming?' and you'll get a practically unanimous response: one of AMD's Ryzen X3D processors. They work well in just about any build, from no-expense-spare builds down to compact budget rigs, so if you're looking to make your own small form factor gaming PC, you're probably hunting around for the best mini ITX motherboard to house the Ryzen X3D chip. SFF specialist Minisforum has just announced one such board, but it's an odd one, for sure.

The BD790i X3D is a pretty cool-sounding name for a mere motherboard, and to make it even more special, Minisforum will ship the board with a Ryzen X3D CPU. If you already have such a processor then you might want to look elsewhere, because in the case of the BD790i X3D, the chip is built into the circuit board itself. (via HKEPC Hardware).

Yes, that's right—it's an embedded system, whereby the motherboard houses a Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, normally found inside a high-end gaming laptop. This is basically a 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor but with lower boost clocks and a much lower power limit. Where the desktop chip can reach up to 5.7 GHz and 120 W, the mobile variant is limited to 5.4 GHz and 75 W.

The rest of the BD790i X3D is pretty much standard fare for an AMD mini ITX motherboard: two RAM slots, one PCIe Express slot for a graphics card and two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for SSDs. However, because the embedded CPU requires a specialised heatsink, there's little room on the rear IO panel for connection sockets, and you get just five USB ports.

If you grab a normal mini ITX motherboard for AMD AM5 processors, such as the Asus ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WiFi (currently our top pick in this category), then you'll find twice as many USB ports and all of the same WiFi, LAN, and storage options as the BD790i X3D. Actually, it's somewhat better because it has SATA ports, whereas the Minisforum board doesn't.

A promotional image of the Minisforum BD790i X3D embedded mini-ITX motherboard

(Image credit: Minisforum)

So why would you even consider the embedded option over a normal setup? Well, it's mostly about price: Minisforum is currently selling the BD790i X3D for $599, whereas if one heads over to a retailer, a Ryzen 9 7950X3D will set you back $699 on Amazon. Add another $200 or so for a mini ITX motherboard and cooler, and you're looking at way more money.

Of course, one could pick a cheaper X3D chip—the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is now $390 on Amazon—and it'll be just as good, if not slightly better, than the BD790i X3D in gaming, thanks to its higher power limit. But since Minisforum's embedded setup is limited to 100 W in total, it'll churn out less heat. For SFF builds, dealing with less heat means having to deal with fewer fans, and it makes for an easier build.

Your next upgrade

Nvidia RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card on different backgrounds

(Image credit: Future)

Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.

The Ryzen 7 7945HX3D is a better processor for content creation and heavily multithreaded productivity tasks than the eight-core, 16-thread 7800X3D, so the BD790i X3D might be useful for an ultra-compact, multi-purpose build.

I personally wouldn't pick one up, though, even though I'm a big fan of the weird and wonderful when it comes to PC components. The dearth of USB ports puts me off the most, but I also prefer to have full control over my choice of cooling solution.

It's possible that Minisforum's heatsink can be easily removed and swapped for something else, but then you're probably just better off sticking with a normal setup.

Given how expensive PC building is becoming at the moment, the BD790i X3D might actually sell quite well, as a decent price tag is a rare sight these days. Stranger things have happened in the world of gaming PCs, that's for sure.

]]> <![CDATA[ As games become ever more multithreaded, Intel's hybrid CPU design might start to lag behind AMD's simpler but more effective architecture ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/as-games-become-ever-more-multithreaded-intels-hybrid-cpu-design-might-start-to-lag-behind-amds-simpler-but-more-effective-architecture/ 7wdKeBNNx42oPMVeH4qe4W Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:33:18 +0000

AMD and Intel have taken very different approaches to increasing the core counts of their processors. In the case of Team Red and its Ryzen CPUs, it went down a chiplet route, putting a block of cores and cache into one tiny chip, that can be easily doubled or more to get extra cores.

Intel, on the other hand, decided that it would stuff two different types of cores into its chips and, even though it now uses a tiled/chiplet approach for its latest processors, the 'hybrid' architecture shows no sign of changing. In fact, it's become even more hybrid than it was for the original design in Alder Lake that appeared in 2021.

Arrow Lake ushered in some radical changes from Intel's usual layout and features, with hyperthreading (aka simultaneous multithreading) being dropped, and the P- and E-cores being mixed together within the die, rather than being separate blocks of cores.

Intel Alder Lake chip render over gradient background

Intel's Alder Lake design: eight P-cores with eight E-cores (Image credit: Intel)

From the very start of this hybrid approach, games have required an extra helping hand, either from Windows or Intel software (IAO, Intel Application Optimization), to make sure that crucial threads are processed by the P-cores only. However, in the past few years, the number of threads games rely on has increased substantially and with the loss of hyperthreading in Arrow Lake, E-cores are now coming into play a lot more.

To show you what I mean, I've sampled the CPU usage of two high-end PCs in five different games. One rig is a CyberPowerPC, with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and RTX 5080 graphics card. The other is a Core Ultra 7 265K setup, with an RTX 4080 Super handling all the pixels. Sure, they're far from being equivalent platforms, and it's unfair to pitch the $477 9800X3D against the $323 265K.

However, I'm not looking at performance here; I'm just looking at how the CPU's cores are getting used. Of course, CPU utilization graphs in Task Manager tell you absolutely nothing about how 'hard' those cores are being used and if one is showing 100% utilization, it doesn't mean that it can't be used further.

In the videos below, you'll see core utilization for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on the left, and the same again for the Core Ultra 7 265K on the right.

Cyberpunk 2077 CPU usage

Let's start with a classic, Cyberpunk 2077. As a massive open-world game, replete with hundreds of objects and characters constantly moving about, you'd expect it to be very heavy on the CPU. To a certain extent, it is, but once you crank up the graphics settings, that central processor takes a back foot to the GPU.

I've recorded the usage with CP2077 at 4K and maximum graphics settings (i.e. path tracing), along with DLSS Quality and frame generation enabled. You can clearly see that none of the cores in the Ryzen 9800X3D are being significantly utilized, bar the first and third cores.

Task Managers display logical processors in order of core 1 (thread 1, thread 2), through to core 8 going from left to right, top to bottom. Since the Core Ultra 7 265K doesn't support simultaneous multithreading, the logical processors are the actual cores.

(Image credit: Intel)

For all Arrow Lake chips, Task Manager goes P-core 1, P-core 2, then E-cores 1 to 4, followed by P-cores 3 to 6, then E-cores 5 to 12, and finishes with the last two P-cores (7 and 8)

Cyberpunk 2077 is coded to push threads onto P-cores in hybrid CPUs and you can see this quite clearly, with P-1 and P-5 under the most utilization, followed by all of the other P-cores being worked roughly the same. The E-cores are doing something but it's nothing very heavy, it seems.

HWInfo64 shows the clock speeds for the various cores (note that it starts at core 0, which is how it's technically measured out) and for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, it also shows which are the 'preferred' cores—these are the ones that Windows will direct threads to as a preference. As you can see, cores 0 and 3 are being utilized a little more than the others, but it's a stark contrast to the 265K.

Stalker 2 CPU usage

Stalker 2 uses Unreal Engine 5 for everything and it can churn quite a few threads, mostly for handling the parallel issuing of command lists for the graphics. Just like CP2077, Stalker 2 is a massive open-world game and its CPU workload is clearly higher than Cyberpunk's.

Both the 9800X3D and 265K are being worked hard here at 4K, maximum settings, with DLSS Quality and frame generation, but the Arrow Lake chip's P-cores are once again taking the brunt of the processing. Where the 9800X3D has plenty of capacity to absorb an increase in CPU utilization, the 265K is somewhat limited by the fact that it only has eight P-cores for eight threads.

Assassin's Creed Shadows CPU usage

Another open-world game, another engine, but it's a similar story in Assassin's Creed Shadows. However, note that some of 265K's E-cores are being utilized almost as much as the P-cores, though again we can see that P-1 and P-5 are the favoured cores for the game's primary threads.

After the 40-second mark in the video, the CPU utilization settles down and both chips have spare capacity; more on the Ryzen than the Core Ultra, but it doesn't seem like the use of the E-cores in Shadows causes any problems.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered CPU usage

While the three games we've seen so far haven't been especially heavily multithreaded, that all changes with The Last of Us Part 2. It has multiple threads for handling its asset streaming system, which leverages DirectStorage to reduce the CPU overhead, along with more threads for conducting background shader compilation.

Three of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's cores are significantly loaded up, with a further two not that much less. The remaining three cores (don't forget that two graphs in Task Manager here represent two threads on one core) operate between 40% and 50% utilization, which is notably more than what we've seen so far.

The E-cores in the 265K are also being tasked more than in the other games, though the first four aren't doing a great deal, but once again, it's those two P-cores that are being loaded right up.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 CPU usage

I've saved the best to last! Flight Simulator 2024 throws a wall of threads at the CPU and it's an absolute torrent in the first 30 seconds of the flight. Asset streaming, netcode handling for world downloads, and complex flight dynamics all want a sizeable share of the processor's capabilities.

Things eventually settle down and both chips have all their cores utilized by around 40% or more, and in the case of the 265K's P-cores, it's considerably more. To the point that if the game asked more of them, it's possible that they wouldn't have the capacity and the slower E-cores would feel the squeeze.

Are hybrid CPU designs good enough for gaming?

Yes, this is just a handful of examples, and it's certainly not a scientifically-balanced comparison, but I have examined other games and there's a definite trend towards heavier multithreading. I'm sure some of you will be thinking "About time!" because we've had eight-core, 16-thread chips for years now.

All of this has got me wondering about Intel's hybrid CPU architecture, especially now it's all hyperthreading-free. The E-cores in Arrow Lake are certainly very capable but it comes down to one simple question: Is it better to have one core handle two game threads or two different cores handle them instead?

AMD's chiplet approach to CPU cores has been hugely successful. (Image credit: Fritzchens Fritz)

The former is a simpler approach and it's one that Windows PCs and consoles have been designed around for many years. We're far off ever needing a CPU with support for more than 16 threads, but in the case of AMD, its main gaming chips process every thread with near-equal levels of capability.

Not so in the case of Intel where you ideally want the P-cores to be doing everything. However, you're only getting eight of them, for eight threads, and once they're loaded up to the hilt, the slower E-cores have to get used. In the case of The Last of Us Part 2 and Flight Simulator 2024, they're getting used regardless of core preference.

I think it's fair to assume that Intel will retain its hybrid design for many years to come; likewise, it's safe to assume that E-cores will always be less capable than P-cores (otherwise they'd just be classed the same). That means in the not-too-distant future, games that generate more than eight heavy threads are potentially going to run slower on Intel chips than AMD ones.

Your next upgrade

Nvidia RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card on different backgrounds

(Image credit: Future)

Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.

Or are they? After all, two threads on one core have to share resources (cache, logic units, etc), so they're not necessarily processed at the same rate. It's possible that two threads on a Ryzen core get churned out at roughly the same rate as two threads on an Intel P- and E-core. It would need significantly more investigating to know this for sure.

If I were a game developer, I doubt I would have the time to do this properly so I'd have to rely on AMD and Intel's engineers to ensure that their processors all behave as expected. Predictability helps save time in fine-tuning performance and it's perhaps one aspect of why Microsoft and Sony used AMD CPUs in their consoles.

With rumours pointing to AMD sticking 12 cores in each CCD (Core Complex Die) for Zen 6, rather than the current eight, Intel's hybrid approach might just find itself lagging ever further behind the simpler but clearly effective design. How Team Blue responds to this, if it comes to pass, will be interesting to see.

]]> <![CDATA[ ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/asrock-b850-steel-legend-wi-fi-review/ 5eZjKne28VCHkEtVqZbe Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:34:42 +0000 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:34:46 +0000

White PC cases are very common these days but finding hardware to color-match with them can be tricky. Thankfully, there’s a growing number of motherboards and graphics cards to choose from when it comes to creating a clean, white PC and the ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi is one of the cheapest options out there for doing so if you’re building an AMD PC using a Ryzen 7000 or 9000-series CPU.

It doesn’t go quite as far with the white as Gigabyte and its Aorus Elite Ice motherboards, though, which have white ports and sockets for items such as memory modules and PCIe devices, However, the equivalent of the ASRock B850 chipset model we’re looking at today retails for noticeably more on Gigabyte’s side. The B850 chipset also brings with it the flexibility to drop certain features you might expect to see on a modern AMD motherboard.

For the ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi, that cut comes in the form of USB4, which is optional on this chipset, and has been dropped from a variety of similar boards too as it’s deemed unnecessary given its expense and niche appeal that likely don’t match up with what is essentially a low-end motherboard in the overall scheme of things.

Ultimately, it also depends on what else ASRock has decided to cut from the specs list as to whether the ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi is a decent option in its own right, aside from its color scheme.

ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi specs

ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Socket: AMD Socket AM5
Chipset: AMD B850
CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000/9000 desktop
Form factor: ATX
Memory support: DDR5-4800 to DDR5-8000 (OC), up to 256 GB
Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA
USB (rear): 2x USB 3.1 Type-C 10 Gbps, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps, 3x USB 3.0 Type-A 5 Gbps, 4 x USB 2.0
Display: 1x HDMI 2.1
Networking: Realtek 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7
Audio: Realtek ALC4082
Price: $233 | £211

For just over $230, it’s a great-looking motherboard, although, up close those white trimmings are more of a light silvery grey than pure white, but would still look better in a white PC case than a black motherboard. The 14+2+1 power phase design is cooled by two large heatsinks, with similar chunks of aluminium dealing with three of the four M.2 SSD ports too.

At mid-board is a single PCIe 5.0 M.2 port that’s equipped with a large tool-free heatsink, while the rest of the M.2 ports are all PCIe 4.0 and all can be used at the same time at full speed, with the only sacrifice being the second PCIe slot. Being able to run a PCIe 5.0 graphics card, SSD and three additional PCIe 4.0 SSDs at the same time is quite impressible for what is a low end motherboard, even if graphics cards won’t benefit for a few years in terms of actually offering higher frame rates.

Only of those ports lacks a heatsink and the lower ports use one single heatsink that will need tools to install.

ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future

There are six fan headers to choose from, which is the bare minimum we’d expect on an ATX board to offer the flexibility to power multiple CPU cooler fans, pumps and several case fans without having to use splitter cables. There’s a generous four RGB headers too, made up of three 5V 3-pin and one 12V 4-pin. ASRock even managed to include some RGB lighting on the board itself under the long M.2 heatsink at the bottom.

As it’s ditched the expensive USB4 support, ASRock has managed to avert downgrading other features such as the audio or Wi-Fi, with Realtek ALC4080 included, while Wi-Fi 7 is the latest standard offered across both Intel and AMD platforms right now. The future-proofing continues with a USB 3.1 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps Type-C front panel header, which can power the latest external SSDs and shove data to them at over 2,000 MB/sec.

ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future

What it lacks in fan headers it makes up for in Type-A USB ports on the rear I/O panel with nine in total, although only just over half of these are faster than USB 2.0. Still, there’s also two Type-C 10 Gbps ports here too plus you get a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port and a USB BIOS Flashback button too. Quick words on ASRock’s software and EFI, as there’s not much to write home about. They’re fairly basic and definitely not as fresh and snazzy as equivalent Asus alternatives, but still provide easy access to commonly used options.

PC Gamer test platform

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme | RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR5-6000 | Storage: 2 TB Corsair MP700 | PSU: MSI MAG AB50GL 850 W | OS: Windows 11 24H2 | Chassis: Open platform | Monitor: Dell U2415

Buy if...

✅ You want a white motherboard and decent feature set for not much more than $200: It might lack USB4 but it has nearly everything else, although its colors lean more towards silver than white.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want all the trimmings: It lacks premium extras such power, reset and CMOS clear buttons, POST code displays and extensive tool-free features.

Sadly there were no VRM or chipset temperature readouts to delve into and compare, but the result from our PCIe Gen 5 SSD was encouraging at a peak of just 71°C, so well away from the throttling dangerzone. There were certainly no warning signs with the CPU package power either, which were within single figures of the Asus ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi and Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi Ice, while the Cinebench scores were close too.

The Blender Junkshop result of 149 was just a single point behind the Gigabyte and two behind the Asus board, but in games things seem to have improved potentially thanks to software updates, with a higher Factorio score, average frame rate in Baldur’s Gate 3 and again in Cyberpunk 2077. This was all while consuming less power too.

If you want a motherboard for a white-themed PC and can’t stretch to Gigabyte’s Aorus Elite Wi-Fi 7 Ice models, then the ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi is a worthy alternative that’s future-proofed for PCIe 5.0 graphics cards and M.2 SSDs and cooled the latter comfortably too. It has plenty of USB ports and even manages to offer USB 3.1 Gen 2x2 on the front panel.

However, it lacks USB4, which may become more useful in future, especially as it supports Thunderbolt 4 too, and while it has USB BIOS Flashback, it lacks most other similar features. While the Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite Wi-Fi 7 Ice also lacks USB4, it offers more in the way of features, more expensive M.2 SSD cooling and tool-free features and goes all-out with a white color scheme too.

]]> <![CDATA[ ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/asrock-phantom-gaming-b850i-lightning-wi-fi-review/ 9CHBLTt6cr9CAaSkqMfvnc Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:34:37 +0000 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:34:42 +0000

If you’re looking to build a Mini-ITX PC using one of AMD’s Ryzen 7000- or 9000-series CPUs then there’s quite a range of Mini-ITX motherboards to choose from, bolstered relatively recently by the launch of the B850 chipset that mostly brings lower price points than X870 and X870E. One of these is the ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi, which will leave you with change from $300.

Still not exactly cheap. It also has both current and previous generation chipset options to consider for similar prices or less as well as sizable variations in its own price depending on where you are. The key benefit here is that unlike B650 chipset options such as ASRock’s own Phantom Gaming B650I Lightning Wi-Fi, the PCIe x16 slot is PCIe 5.0 compatible.

The issue for the Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi, though, is that there’s very little else that’s new given the near $100 price difference between those boards. Both support PCIe 5.0 SSDs, both have one PCIe 5.0 M.2 port and one PCIe 4.0 M.2 port along with Wi-Fi 6E.

The benefits are worth considering, though, as they relate to audio performance and CPU power delivery, which could make up at least some of that sizeable price difference. What’s more of an issue is that the likes of the Asus ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming Wi-Fi have active VRM cooling while Gigabyte’s B650I Aorus Ultra boasts three M.2 ports and both are cheaper. Let’s see how the ASRock fares overall.

Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi specs

ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Socket: AMD Socket AM5
Chipset: AMD B850
CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000/9000 desktop
Form factor: Mini-ITX
Memory support: DDR5-4800 to DDR5-8200 (OC), up to 128 GB
Storage: 2x M.2, 2x SATA
USB (rear): 1x USB 3.1 Type-C 10 Gbps, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A 5 Gbps, 4 x USB 2.0
Display: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB/DisplayPort
Networking: Realtek 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E
Audio: Realtek ALC1220
Price: $290 | £194

Compared to the Phantom Gaming B650I Lightning Wi-Fi, it’s a similar design here, with the benefits of an additional two CPU power phases and also better audio in the form of Realtek’s ALC1220 instead of ALC897. That’s about it, though, and both boards have very small M.2 heatsinks for dealing with hot-running PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Another competitor is ASRock’s own B650E PG-ITX Wi-Fi, which includes an actively cooled M.2 heatsink. Other than that, though, the Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi seems to be almost identical, yet costs about $30 less.

One feature that seems to be hard to find especially on B-series chipset Mini-ITX boards is USB4, but Gigabyte has managed to shoehorn this in to the X870I Aorus Pro Ice, which costs about the same and also includes Wi-Fi 7 and a snazzy white color scheme. As if the venerable Asus ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming Wi-Fi wasn’t enough to worry about, the ROG Strix B850-I Gaming Wi-Fi adds Wi-Fi 7 to the equation as well as actively-cooled VRMs while costing the same as ASRock’s offering. These boards especially makes the Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi feel a little expensive for the features on offer.

ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future

It does have a decent seven Type-A USB ports backed up by a USB 3.1 Type-C port, and unlike the Gigabyte the X870I Aorus Pro Ice, has an optical output and even boasts a 2-pin thermal probe header. However, one of those is also included on the Asus ROG Strix B850-I Gaming Wi-Fi. The M.2 heatsink, as well as being small, lacks underside cooling for the SSD so its unlikely to tame most double-sided PCIe 5.0 SSDs, while the second port is located on the rear of the PCB and lacks a heatsink completely.

We’d maybe have liked to see the third of three fan headers located with the others at the top edge of the PCB, if only to be able to access it more easily in a cramped Mini-ITX case, but otherwise the smaller heatsinks to mean wide CPU cooler compatibility and most liquid coolers we tried such as the Arctic Liquid Freezer III and NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB fit fine. Our biggest issue, though, was the EFI, which just feels dated clunky especially compared to those from Asus.

PC Gamer test platform

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme | RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR5-6000 | Storage: 2 TB Corsair MP700 | PSU: MSI MAG AB50GL 850 W | OS: Windows 11 24H2 | Chassis: Open platform | Monitor: Dell U2415

Sadly, there were no VRM temperature readouts, but there was a chipset sensor and the result of 68°C was noticeably cooler than the Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi at 73°C, but still noticeably warmer than any ATX motherboard we’ve tested. Gaming performance was mostly similar to the Asus board as well as its bigger siblings we’ve tested recently, although Factorio exhibited the same slower results we’ve seen from a few other boards including the Asus ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi, which are seemingly isolated results.

The average CPU package power in games and content creation of 99W and 162W respectively were again level with other boards, closely matching the mighty Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi, with results just a tiny bit slower in Cinebench R24 too. Sadly, one area the Asus board fared far better was in cooling our PCIe 5.0 SSD, which started throttling right at the end of our stress test, hitting 82°C, while the Asus board peaked at just 74°C.

ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi motherboard on a desk.
Future
Buy if...

✅ You want plenty of USB ports and maximum CPU cooler compatibility: It has more USB ports than the competition and its smaller heatsinks also mean excellent CPU cooler support.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want the most features for your money: In the US at least, it’s priced far too high and for similar cash you can have features such as Wi-Fi 7 or USB4 support on the competition’s boards that also feature better EFIs.

The ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning Wi-Fi does a decent job of bringing AMD’s overclocking-enabled B850 chipset to the Mini-ITX form factor, but the price is a little high for what it offers. The competition at this price includes the Asus ROG Strix B850-I Gaming Wi-Fi, which has a far superior EFI and Wi-Fi 7 as well as an actively-cooled VRM heatsink.

The Gigabyte X870I Aorus Pro Ice looks far better and includes USB4, Wi-Fi 7, a larger M.2 heatsink and more tool-free features. Where the ASRock board excels is its decent number of rear Type-A USB ports and CPU cooler compatibility. The rest largely depends on where in the world you are, but in the US right now, it’s the same price as aforementioned better options from Gigabyte and Asus, while in the UK, it’s over £100 cheaper.

Here it suddenly makes a lot more sense as a budget-conscious Socket AM5 Mini-ITX motherboard that matches or betters older boards. We’d still love for ASRock to revamp it’s EFI and the M.2 heatsink can’t cope with most PCIe 5.0 SSDs. But if you can find it for significantly less than the Asus alternative, it’s much better value, so long as you use a PCIe 4.0 SSD or third party SSD heatsink.

]]> <![CDATA[ Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/motherboards/asus-rog-strix-x870-i-gaming-wifi-review/ zwdFPAEG5XHLS7ghV2Attk Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:34:29 +0000 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:34:34 +0000

While ATX motherboards don’t vary much in their design and layout, the same can’t be said of Mini-ITX motherboards. Like the cases that go with them, manufacturers have different approaches to cram everything into a 170 mm x 170 mm PCB, allowing them to offer a similar experience to full-size motherboards.

The Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi is no exception, building on the drool-worthy ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming Wi-Fi and going all-out on features. You get USB4 ports, PCIe 5.0 SSD and GPU support, Wi-Fi 7 and like the old model, there’s even a desktop sound card giving you quick access to even more ports and features.

Despite Mini-ITX being a niche option, though, there’s stiff competition, not least of all from B-series chipset options including those from Asus itself.

This means there’s a spotlight on the Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi’s price tag of $450 and whether it’s worth a sizeable premium over cheaper models when all are dealing with severe PCB real estate limitations. There are premium options from the competition and what if anything is better than its X670E sibling, although the latter is now end of life and rarely available so a comparison here is more out of interest than a potentially better option.

Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi specs

Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Socket: AMD Socket AM5
Chipset: AMD X870
CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000/9000 desktop
Form factor: Mini-ITX
Memory support: DDR5-4800 to DDR5-8600 (OC), up to 128 GB
Storage: 2x M.2, 2x SATA
USB (rear): 2x USB 4 Type-C 40 Gbps, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps, 4x USB 3.0 Type-A 5 Gbps, 4 x USB 2.0
USB (ROG Strix Hive II): 1x USB 3.1 Type-A 10 Gbps, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C 10Gbps
Display: 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB/DisplayPort
Networking: Realtek 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7
Audio: Realtek ALC4080
Price: $449 | £400 | AU$703

Starting with what’s new and the biggest change is the move from X670E to X870 for the chipset. All extreme versions of AMD’s desktop chipsets use two physical chipsets in tandem, meaning the original board had to find a way to cram two onto an already packed PCB. However, as we said earlier, Mini-ITX is never boring, as Asus decided to mount it vertically on a separate PCB. The downside, though, was that it was cooled by the M.2 heatsink that already struggled to deal with SSDs.

This time there’s just one, so the lower M.2 port gets the heatsink all to itself. Now that X870 supports PCIe 5.0 GPUs, X670E lacks any significant advantages that can be worked into the tight confines of a Mini-ITX motherboard. Despite the older chipset sporting twice the 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps USB and SATA port counts of X870, both boards have the same two SATA ports and the ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi actually has more USB ports in total.

Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

These include two Type-C USB 4, one Type-C USB 3.1, four Type-A USB 3.1 and three USB 2.0 on the rear panel plus USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C ports on the included external ROG Strix Hive II sound card. The rear I/O panel also includes a CMOS clear button and USB BIOS Flashback button, along with 2.5 Gbps Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7 antennas.

The vertical heatsink stack for the SSDs houses one PCIe 5.0 M.2 port at the top with a second port limited to PCIe 4.0 beneath. Thankfully, despite the close proximity of the heatsink to the CPU socket, the motherboard supports large liquid coolers such as the Arctic Liquid Freezer III and NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB, at least with the tubes at the top of the motherboard.

Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Neither top M.2 port is cooled on both sides, so you’ll see better temperatures with single-sided SSDs. The top port is easy to access, but the lower one needs a few minutes to disassemble the heatsinks to get at it. The two SATA ports are located on yet another daughterboard that connects to two vertical Type-C ports next to the memory modules, which also provides two USB 2.0 headers and the front panel header.

The board uses a 10+2+1 phase power delivery with a single large heatsink. Both it and the M.2 heatsinks are actively cooled by two tiny, embedded fans. These don’t seem to spin up, even under extended loads, but you can’t fully control them in the EFI or software either than to switch the VRM fan to full speed, where it sounds hideous. Hopefully it’s only in extreme situations where they’d become a problem.

PC Gamer test platform

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB Extreme | RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR5-6000 | Storage: 2 TB Corsair MP700 | PSU: MSI MAG AB50GL 850 W | OS: Windows 11 24H2 | Chassis: Open platform | Monitor: Dell U2415

The average frame rate in Cyberpunk 2077 was on par with other boards we’ve tested recently at 117 fps, powered on by an RTX 4070. In Baldur’s Gate 3 its average of 114 fps was the highest we’ve seen of any recent board, while its average Factorio benchmark time of 19.4 secs was mostly on par too.

The CPU temperature in games was a little high, though, despite using the same cooling as the ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi for example, where the latter was 6°C cooler. The gaming CPU package power of 101 W might explain this as it’s one of the highest we’ve seen for the Ryzen 9 9900X CPU we use for testing.

The Blender and 7zip results were again within fractions of what other boards achieved so nothing much to write home about there. The VRM and chipset temperatures were more interesting, though, with the chipset being by far the hottest we’ve seen at 73°C, while the VRMs were a middling 53°C. The CPU package power under full load in Cinebench was much more in line with the rest of the field at a peak of 162 W, while achieving a decent score of 1,833 in Cinebench R24’s multi-core test.

Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi motherboard on a desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Perhaps the best result is that our PCIe 5.0 SSD was just about tamed by the relatively small and single-sided heatsink, peaking at 74°C and in doing so avoiding throttling that starts at 80°C or so.

Buy if...

✅ You want the pinnacle of Mini-ITX motherboards on AMD’s Socket AM5: The most feature-packed mini motherboard for AMD’s current socket offers USB4, PCIe Gen 5 SSD and GPU support, good SSD cooling and a USB 3.1-equipped external soundcard.

Don't buy if...

❌ A B850 chipset motherboard will suffice: The elaborate heatsinks and external sound card come mean its $150 more than Gigabyte’s X870I Aorus Pro Ice and Asus’ own ROG Strix B850-I Gaming Wi-Fi.

It’s always great to see some out-of-the-box thinking and exotic design with motherboards and the Asus ROG Strix B850-I Gaming Wi-Fi makes the current crop of ATX motherboard look boringly similar by comparison. The design is functional, though, as it provides enough cooling to handle the heat from the latest CPUs and SSDs, while clearing the way for probably the best connectivity of any Socket AM5 Mini-ITX motherboard.

We do have slight concerns over the chipset fans as Asus doesn’t have a great track record here that owners of this board’s X570 predecessor will attest to, while the lower M.2 SSD is a pain to get to buried under layers of heatsinks. Some small form factor fans dislike the Hive external sound card too and there’s also nearly no tool-free features.

The biggest issue, though, is the price. At $450, it’s $150 more than Gigabyte’s X870I Aorus Pro Ice and Asus’ own ROG Strix B850-I Gaming Wi-Fi, which is a huge premium that could be better spent on a better graphics card or higher capacity SSD. However, if you’re building the Mini-ITX PC of your dreams and just want the best board you can get, while it’s not perfect, the Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming Wi-Fi is undoubtedly it.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-review/ M4ak7cKg7MG4jErREr9VUd Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:40:24 +0000 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:48:59 +0000

Nine months ago, in July 2024, AMD launched its Zen 5 CPU architecture and the Ryzen 9000-series of processors. Compared to the previous generation, there wasn't a significant difference in performance, although subsequent Windows updates and motherboard BIOS revisions did improve matters a touch. For PC gamers, though, the real interest was elsewhere and we had to wait until November to get our hands on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

AMD already held the gaming CPU crown with its Ryzen 7 7800X3D but the new chip easily grabbed the gaming tiara and firmly jammed it onto its head. But now there's a new Ryzen chip, one that's even faster than the 9800X3D in games and offers far superior performance in productivity and content creation tasks.

It is, of course, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and having spent a whole week pushing it through every possible benchmark I could think of, I can tell you now, it is the new champion of CPUs, gaming or otherwise.

Well, almost.

Let me start by explaining what the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is all about. Essentially, it's nothing more than a Ryzen 9 9950X—same cores, same clocks, same power—with one of the CCDs (Core Complex Dies) being home to a slice of 2nd generation 3D V-Cache. Or you can think of it being a Ryzen 9 9800X3D, but with an extra eight cores, 16 threads, a higher boost clock, and more power.

Ryzen 9 9950X3D specs

Photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

Socket: AMD AM5
Lithography: TSMC N4 (CCD) | N6 (IOD)
Cores: 16
Threads: 32
Base clock: 4.3 GHz
Boost clock: 5.7 GHz
L3 cache: 128 MB (32 MB + 96 MB, inc. 64 MB 3D V-Cache)
L2 cache: 16 x 1 MB
Memory support: DDR5-3600 to 5600, 192 GB max
TDP: 170 W
Socket power: 230 W
Price: $699 | £660

Perhaps a better way of looking at it is that the 9950X3D is a 7950X3D, but with all its foibles fixed. Although they both have the same boost clock of 5.7 GHz, the new chip can sustain a higher clock speed for much longer due to having a much higher power limit. That's come about due to how AMD now bonds the 3D V-Cache slice to its CCDs.

Previously, the extra L3 cache was bonded to the top of the chiplet and while that was relatively easy to implement, the sliver of silicon acted as a thermal barrier so AMD had to reduce either the clock speeds or the power level to prevent the chip from overheating.

In the case of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, the cache is underneath the CCD, so the core's heat now has a direct path to the heatspreader and cooling solution.

Another issue that plagued the 7950X3D was the fact that games could only take advantage of the 3D V-Cache if their threads were processed by the correct CCD (i.e. the one with the extra cache). That requires the use of Windows Game Bar, along with special drivers to give the operating system's thread management system a helping hand.

However, it didn't always work, but AMD reckons it has the problem licked with an updated Provising Packages Service (PPS) and 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer.

Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Cores

16

16

8

16

Threads

32

32

16

32

Base clock (GHz)

4.3

4.3

4.7

4.2

Boost clock (GHz)

5.7

5.7

5.2

5.7

L3 cache (MB)

128

64

96

128

TDP (W)

170

170

120

120

CPU package limit (W)

230

230

162

162

These two pieces of software now correctly recognise what processor is installed (so no more reinstalling Windows, just because you've stuck an X3D dual-CCD CPU in your gaming PC) and correctly identify when a game is running and shoves all its threads onto the 3D V-Cache core chiplet (specifically, CCD0).

And in cases where that's still an issue, AMD now also has an Application Compatibility Database, which lists games that aren't picked up properly by the PPS, and the thread management system then just limits how many threads can be generated in the first place. The end result being that, no matter what, they'll end up being run on CCD0.

However, one thing that hasn't changed is that CCD0, the chiplet with the 3D V-Cache, still doesn't boost as high as CCD2 in certain loads. I ran a cycle of single thread tests across each core individually, and all those in CCD0 peaked at 5.5 GHz, whereas those in CCD1 would consistently hit the 5.7 GHz maximum.

That means games are never going to enjoy AMD's declared boost speed for the processor, so while the Ryzen 9 9950X3D seems much faster than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on paper, in reality, it's only 0.3 GHz or 6% quicker. At least it won't matter for any all-core workout, such as offline rendering or video encoding, as all the cores will be running around 5.0 to 5.2 GHz.

Gaming

Photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

PC Gamer test rig
Motherboard: Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master (N10 BIOS) | Cooler: MSI MAG LiquidCore I360 | RAM: 32 GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 CAS28 | GPU: GeForce RTX 4070 | Storage: 1 TB Samsung 990 Pro | PSU: Corsair RM850x Shift 850 W | OS: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 | Chassis: Open platform | Monitor: Acer XB280HK

For testing the performance of the Ryzen 9 9950X in our CPU benchmark suite, AMD not only sent in a processor sample but also a motherboard, RAM kit, and an SSD pre-loaded with Windows and AMD drivers. For the original Zen 5 launch, there were various problems with system configurations used by reviewers and those used by AMD's engineers, so getting a full, ready-to-use package helped get around this problem.

I used a different SSD and installed my own copy of Windows, just to see if there was any noticeable difference, but I got the same results in every test that you'll see below. That said, my second installation tried to install newer drivers than those provided by AMD and they resulted in some games not running correctly, so it's clear that AMD hasn't rolled out the new PPS, optimizer, and database just yet.

To ensure a fair comparison, I retested the Ryzen 9 9950X in the same system, and used the AMD-supplied RAM kit in an Intel Z890 platform for testing a Core Ultra 9 285K. The 9800X3D results are from when we first reviewed the chip and it's possible that a more recent motherboard BIOS, fully up-to-date Windows installation, and the same RAM kit would give marginally better figures. But as you can see below, it doesn't really matter.

Ignoring Total War: Warhammer 3 for the moment, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is either on par or slightly faster than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Exactly as you'd expect it to be, given all that I've mentioned so far in this review. In the cases where the 9950X3D takes the lead, it's almost certainly down to a combination of the 9950X3D's higher clock speeds and slightly snappier RAM.

As to what is going on with Warhammer 3, though, it's obviously a game that doesn't benefit from the presence of 3D V-Cache, but you'd think it would show some gains from running a processor with higher clock speeds. I tried all kinds of things, such as different power profiles, fullscreen vs windowed, and thread limiting, to see if it would make any difference but to no avail.

This isn't the first time that Warhammer 3 has thrown up some odd behaviour and it's a notable entry on AMD's Application Compatibility Database, so it's almost certainly not something we're doing wrong.

In terms of capability and price tag, the nearest competitor to the 9950X3D, outside of AMD's portfolio, is the Core Ultra 9 285K—and it's a considerably weaker gaming CPU. The difference between AMD's X3D processors and Intel's best Arrow Lake chip in Baldur's Gate 3 and Factorio is quite shocking to see.

One feature offered by the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master motherboard is an X3D Turbo Mode. Activating this in the BIOS disables CCD1 and simultaneous multithreading, turning the 16-core, 32-thread processor into an eight-core, eight-thread oddity. Running through the gaming benchmark suite produced some interesting results.

Just flick back and forth between the two charts above and you'll see exactly what I mean. Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 enjoy very minor improvements, whereas Warhammer 3 takes a bit of a beating in its 1% low frame rates. Homeworld 3, on the other hand, sees a 24% gain to its average fps and an astonishing 28% increase in the low frame rate.

Not that I'd recommend using the setting just for one game. After all, what's the point in spending all that money on a monstrously capable CPU, only to remove most of its functionality for a single game.

Productivity and content creation

There's only one reason why anyone would really consider the Ryzen 9 9950X3D for their desktop PC and it's all about versatility. If that rig is used for more than just gaming, such as editing videos and photos, doing offline rendering or 3D animation, then having a processor with lots of cores is a must.

This is something that the Ryzen 9 9950X already excels at, apart from Cinebench, which the Core Ultra 9 285K was marginally better at—was being the operative word here, as the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D now hold that crown together. They also take it in turns at being the best in the other benchmarks.

Both chips are notably superior to the 285K in rendering, file compression and decompression, video encoding, and photo editing. They're better than the 9800X3D for an obvious reason—they have twice the cores to throw at such tasks.

What's important to note here is that the 9950X3D isn't compromised to any noticeable degree by having one CCD with lower peak clocks, compared to the 9950X which can ramp up both chiplets to the same 5.7 GHz maximum.

Conclusion

Photo of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor

(Image credit: Future)

So far, we've seen that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 9800X3D-like gaming performance, for the most part, and 9950X-like productivity speed. It really does seem to be the ideal jack-of-all-trades chip, though there are some caveats.

The first being that AMD's most expensive desktop CPU is nowhere near as power-efficient as the 9800X3D and Intel's 285K in gaming. That should come as no surprise, of course, because even though the non-3D V-Cache chiplet isn't really doing anything in games, it will still consume power while chipping away on background tasks.

Buy if…

✅ You need the best gaming and best content creation in one chip: The 9950X3D is very nearly the ultimate all-around, all-capable desktop processor.

Don't buy if…

❌ You want value for money: At $699, the standard 9950X is cheaper and not exactly slow in games. And the 9800X3D is much cheaper.

That also means it runs hotter than the eight-core X3D and Arrow Lake chips—not massively so but enough to make you think twice about what cooler would be best to pair with the 9950X3D. I used a 360 mm AIO liquid cooler and that coped well enough, though I wouldn't want to try my luck with an air cooler in heavy processing workloads. An average power consumption of just under 200 W in Cinebench is a fair amount of heat to shift for any cooling system.

Another thing that has to be discussed is the fact that the 9950X3D's dual CCD nature still causes issues in some games, despite AMD's work on improving its drivers and thread management system. It may be the case that this is something that can never be fully overcome but at least it seems to be less of a problem than it was with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. For the 9800X3D, though, it's not a problem at all.

Lastly, there's the matter of the price tag. At $699, it's $50 more than the Ryzen 9 9950X (though this chip is available for a lot less now) and it's $100 more expensive than the Core Ultra 9 285K. While it's nothing like the $1,300 days of the Athlon 1000 (pretty much 24 years ago to the day), it's still a huge chunk of money to hand over for a desktop CPU. It's a product for a niche market and it's priced accordingly.

The 9950X3D is, though, a far superior processor to the 285K and for the right person, that extra $100 will be a small price to pay for the better gaming performance and market-leading content creation chops. For common-or-garden PC gamers, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is still the one to pick.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD's 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X is the cheapest it's ever been, apart from yesterday, when it was four cents cheaper ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amds-12-core-ryzen-9-9900x-is-the-cheapest-its-ever-been-apart-from-yesterday-when-it-was-four-cents-cheaper/ PDxY7CCHBF8xBZ5nqiW5bj Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:21:02 +0000

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | 12 cores | 24 threads | 5.6 GHz boost | 64 MB L3 cache | AM5 socket | 120 W TDP | $499 $379.27 at Amazon (save $119.73)
Overpriced when it was launched last year, AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X is actually a stellar all-round processor thanks to its high clock speeds and mountain of L3 cache. There are better choices for gaming but it's no slouch in this aspect whatsoever.

9900X price check: Newegg $379.27

Sometimes you think you've stumbled across a fantastic deal, only to discover it was actually cheaper in the past. That was very much the case when I thought the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X processor was the lowest it's ever been. Except it wasn't. It was at its cheapest yesterday. Fortunately, you're only missing out on that bargain by a whole four cents.

So why should you consider this Ryzen chip over anything else? For PC gaming, you want the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, but that has an MSRP of $479, and good luck finding one at that price. High demand has decimated stocks, so if you do happen to stumble across one, it's unlikely to be for that kind of money.

The Ryzen 9 9900X is a multithreaded monster so it's ideal for content creation tasks, but so too is Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K. That also has 24 threads but it's far more potent in offline renders and video editing than the 9900X. However, it's not as good in gaming and it also costs $599 at Newegg.

This is the beauty of the Ryzen 9 9900X—it's a jack-of-all-trades processor but that doesn't mean it's particularly weak in any one area. In fact, it's strong all-round and the only things I didn't like about it when I reviewed it last year were the price and the poor performance when working in Eco mode.

If you don't need all those threads and just want something that's great for gaming, but isn't too pricey, then you're better off going with the Ryzen 7 9700X ($307 at Amazon). With a 60 W TDP, it's very easy to cool, too.

I have a bit of a soft-spot for AMD's 12-core Ryzen processors. They often get overlooked but that's actually a good thing, as it forces the price down over time, and right now, spending $379 at Amazon for a 24-thread, super speedy processor seems like a great deal to me.

And I'd be happy to pay that extra four cents, any time.

]]> <![CDATA[ One eager beaver PC builder has decided it can't wait any longer and has spilt the beans on AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D mega chip, two weeks before all the reviews ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/one-eager-beaver-pc-builder-has-decided-it-cant-wait-any-longer-and-has-spilt-the-beans-on-amds-ryzen-9-9950x3d-mega-chip-two-weeks-before-all-the-reviews/ wDaVQbmdUmDJSjUmVkmXg6 Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:20:47 +0000

If you're someone who spends a lot of time gaming and using the same rig to grind through demanding content creation tasks, you might be holding off buying a PC upgrade until the reviews of AMD's forthcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D go online. But if you're as impatient as one particular system builder, pretty much everything you need to know about how well the chip performs is now out in the wild.

The eager beaver in question is a Bulgarian company, PCBuild, which published some benchmark results for AMD's most powerful desktop CPU on Facebook before taking the post down. Fortunately, Videocardz managed to snag all the juicy details before it disappeared.

Ostensibly nothing more than a Zen 5 version of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, the 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread processor, split equally over two CCDs (Core Complex Dies). As with its predecessor, the new CPU has 64 MB for 3D V-Cache bonded underneath one of the CCDs, with the other one left as normal.

PCBuild posted a screenshot of the core clock speeds, while the chip was grinding through a Cinebench R23 benchmark, and one can see that the first eight cores hit a maximum of 5.4 GHz, whereas the other eight hit 5.7 GHz. That difference in speed is due to the presence of 3D V-Cache and we saw how the extra cache required the clocks to be reduced in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

The Ryzen 7 9700X has a maximum clock speed of 5.5 GHz, whereas the 9800X3D is 300 MHz slower at 5.2 GHz. It looks like AMD has used the same clock reduction for the 9950X3D because the 9950X, on which it is based, has a maximum clock speed of 5.7 GHz for both chiplets.

As for the results themselves, PCBuild posted a single core score of 2,279 and a multi-core score of 42,413 in Cinebench R23, which is there or thereabouts the same as a Ryzen 9 9950X.

The reason why they're so similar is because in cases where every core is loaded to the hilt, the clock speeds drop right down, and PCBuild had shown figures suggesting the chip ran at an all-core speed of 4.9 GHz during the benchmark.

One thing that's still unknown at this stage is how well Windows and AMD's drivers ensure that all of a game's critical threads are being handled by the chiplet with the 3D V-Cache.

This was a bit of an issue at times with the Ryzen 7950X3D but the situation is a lot better now than it was when the processor first launched. Back then you needed to install everything just so and in a very specific order and have every setting in Windows just right for it to all work. And even then, it would sometimes spit the dummy out, forcing one to use Process Lasso to force threads onto the V-Cached chiplet.

Your next machine

Gaming PC group shot

(Image credit: Future)

Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.
Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.

Hopefully, we won't see a repetition of this with the 9950X3D but I wouldn't be surprised if things didn't go completely to plan. For example, from the very beginning with the Zen 5 dual-CCD processors, AMD said that the best gaming performance is achieved by using the Balanced power profile in the old Control Panel in Windows, followed by using Balanced or Best Performance in Windows settings.

However, I found that games ran better when both profiles were set to 'High' and that's still the case now.

It won't be long before all the full reviews of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D are online and you'll be able to judge yourself whether it's worth buying or not. Even if it's priced out of your wallet's reach, sales of that chip may help to ease up on the demand for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which would be good news for PC gamers looking to upgrade their rigs.

]]> <![CDATA[ Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) review ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-laptops/asus-rog-flow-z13-2025-review/ pTF9psXFvbwqCLfeUDjNRk Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:53:11 +0000 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:51:07 +0000

For as long as I've been writing about PC hardware, I've hoped for a processor with an integrated GPU that was genuinely good for gaming. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is that chip. It's a mobile API that's desktop-grade in a few ways, with a Radeon 8050S bringing 32 Compute Units (CUs) of graphical power and a 12-core CPU. Stuffed inside the sleek and gorgeous Asus ROG Flow Z13—a gaming tablet with all the makings of a modern gaming laptop, minus the integrated keyboard and trackpad—it should be a match made in heaven.

So why aren't I more excited?

Asus ROG Flow Z13

Before I wax overly lyrical about the chip inside the ROG Flow Z13, let's talk about the ROG Flow Z13 itself. It really is something special, being the latest generation in a lineup of gaming tablets from the ROG skunkworks. Whereas early generations of gaming tablet were hulking machines you stood little chance of holding in your hands for long periods of time, let alone handed to your child to stop them from crying, they have become more sophisticated designs over the years.

This year's Flow Z13 is definitely more what I'd call usable as a traditional tablet. It offers a 13-inch touchscreen, a generous 16:10 aspect ratio, and its 500 nit brightness is higher than many IPS panels on the market. You need that brightness when you're out and about, which, for all intents and purposes, you might be with the Flow Z13. And, to that end, it comes with Gorilla Glass 5 with a DXC coating to reduce glare on sunny days. It even has a 13 MP camera on the rear of the screen, in addition to the 5 MP front-facing camera, for when you have a mid-life crisis and start taking all your photos with a tablet instead of your phone. The front-facing camera's IR capability does mean you can use Windows Hello for swift, easy logins, and that's a neat feature to have on a tablet.

ROG Flow Z13 specs

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.

(Image credit: Future)

Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390
Architecture: Zen 5/RDNA 3.5
Cores/threads: 12/24
Memory: 32 GB LPDDR5X-8000
Memory bus: 256-bit
SSD: 1 TB Kioxia BG6 PCIe 4.0 (KBG60ZNS1T02), up to 6,000 MB/s read
Screen: 13.4-inch IPS
Resolution: 2560 x 1600, 16:10 aspect ratio, 180 Hz refresh rate
Connectivity: 2x USB4 (Type-C), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x audio jack, 1x microSD reader
Camera: 13 MP rear-facing camera, 5 MP front-facing IR camera
Dimensions: 30 x 20 x 1.49 cm (11.81 x 8.03 x 0.59-inches)
Weight: 1.2 kg (2.65 lbs)
Price: $2,000

Though I won't go as far to say it's a direct iPad replacement. The main thing is that it's still absolutely massive. The 13-inch screen is as large as an iPad Pro, but where the iPad Pro is around 5.1 mm thick, the ROG Flow Z13 is three times that at 15 mm. Where the iPad Pro 13-inch is 0.582 kg, the Flow Z13 is 1.2 kg. These things are not the same, and it makes a difference if you intend to actually use this thing as a tablet.

No, the Flow Z13 is much more a 'laptop-like' device, akin to the Microsoft Surface Pro, and must be used as such. It has a built-in stand on the rear, which lets you sit it upright at a variety of angles, from nearly bolt upright to nearly laying flat. The low angles are quite useful when using the on-screen keyboard, though it's not a great experience typing on the screen when it's more upright. I feel like one of my cats pawing at the screen, which they are wont to do with a tablet like this. Don't worry, you can protect the screen from sharp mitts with the included keyboard and trackpad attachment.

For most typing tasks, you'll want to connect the magnetically attached keyboard and trackpad attachment. Again, like the Surface Pro, it offers a lightweight, fabric-backed construction and offers more tactile typing and traditional trackpad duties for the touchscreen device, while doubling up as a handy screen protector. The Flow Z13 is largely inseparable from the keyboard and trackpad accessory for this reason, which does suggest maybe bolting a better keyboard and trackpad to it would be a smart idea—I wonder what we'd call such an invention?

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future

Yep, I'm being horribly facetious, but I've used the Flow Z13 for nearly a week now and I've yet to see the reasoning behind its tablet-like design. Shifting the hot components away from behind the keyboard and instead installing them behind the screen means the keyboard surface is slightly less hot to the touch, though it's largely a non-issue either way. There's still a processor getting nice and toasty somewhere, and while it's not under your fingers, it's still causing fans to whirr from behind the screen.

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future

The tablet design means all the ports have shifted to beside the screen. There are two USB Type-C ports on the left-hand side of the screen, alongside a HDMI port, MicroSD slot, and proprietary power port. The power cable protrudes from the edge of the screen, and since you'll be wanting to keep this thing powered up while gaming, it's a sight you better get used to. I don't love it. You can charge via USB Type-C, with a respective wattage power brick attached, which was a relief when I left the proprietary charger on my desk in PC Gamer towers. Though a 60 W charger isn't powerful enough to keep it fully juiced up under load.

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future

On the right hand side sits the power button, volume control, Type-A port, audio jack, and Command Center key. Through the Command Center, you can adjust power profiles, fan speeds, and more. For my testing, I stuck it in Turbo mode to let the Ryzen AI Max 390 run wild, and at least compared to some gaming laptops, the high speed whirr of the fans isn't too loud. I'd still recommend a pair of headphones, however.

I'm just going to drop the next bit of information and then very swiftly move on before you have a chance to process it fully—I'll remonstrate about it at far greater length towards the end: The ROG Flow Z13 costs $2,000. Okay, moving on!

AMD Ryzen AI Max 390

AMD Strix Halo

(Image credit: AMD)

The Ryzen AI Max 390, part of the Strix Halo family, is everything I've been dreaming of from a slice of mobile silicon. It's truly a monster, with 24 threads from 12 of the latest Zen 5 CPU cores. These are split across two six-core clusters, on two separate chiplets, known as CCDs, and each cluster comes with 6 MB of L2 cache and 32 MB of L3 cache. Altogether, we're looking at ostensibly a mobile equivalent of a Ryzen 9 9900X, albeit with lower clock speeds at just 5 GHz boost and 3.2 GHz base—this chip was binned for efficiency, not speed.

Though the CCDs on Strix Halo are equivalent to the desktop Zen 5 parts, including using the same 4 nm process node and AVX-512 extensions, they are joined together using a different interconnect. AMD needed to reduce the power consumption of the mobile chip and the desktop interconnect was the first thing to go, replaced by a lower-power option. Same bandwidth, lower latency, lower power—this interconnect has a lot going for it, though it costs more to make. That's a good thing to remember later in this review.

That only covers two of three chiplets on the Ryzen AI Max 390—there's a third, and it's much larger than the other two. This is the I/O die, containing some uncore components for the chip, which means your memory controllers, interconnects, etc. There's also a 50-TOP NPU to one side of the chip, though I could take it or leave it. As, I expect, will most people.

The highlight is what resides in the centre of the I/O die: the Radeon 8050S. This features 32 CUs and uses the RDNA 3.5 architecture, specially designed for low-power applications. This isn't the top configuration for this GPU, however. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395's Radeon 8060S has 40 CUs, and presents the best possible performance from the Strix Halo design. The Max 390 option comes in at a lower price compared to the top model, though, as we'll get to later in this review, cost doesn't appear to have been a limiting factor for the ROG Flow Z13.

The Radeon 8050S is an extraordinarily large GPU for one plonked inside a processor, and not its own discrete chip. It's over 2x larger than the Radeon 780M powering many of today's best handheld gaming PCs, and double the Radeon 890M in one of today's most powerful handhelds, the OneXFly F1 Pro. Yet there's room to spare for a more powerful model. In many ways, its desktop equivalent is the RX 7600 XT, which also has 32 CUs, hewn from the similar but not identical RDNA 3 architecture. One difference we've noted is the L1 cache, which has doubled from 128 KB on the RDNA 3 desktop card to 256 KB on the Radeon 8050S. Otherwise, L2 cache and Infinity Cache (also known as MALL) remain identical at 2 MB and 32 MB respectively.

The Infinity Cache is important in boosting bandwidth in certain situations, and more so than its desktop counterpart. This GPU has access to the same memory pool as the rest of the chip, which in the case of the ROG Flow Z13, is 32 GB of 8,000 MT/s LPDDR5X. Though shared, you can hand the iGPU a higher allocation for system memory with a few tweaks in Armoury Crate. I set the system to allocate 8 GB of system memory to the iGPU, as per Asus' recommendation, and it says it's likely to set this by default following an update in future. To make up for a bit of the bandwidth lost by not having dedicated graphics memory, the memory interface is double that of the RX 7600 XT at 256-bit.

So, in essence, what we've got in Strix Halo is a huge desktop-grade CPU, reasonably large GPU (or huge iGPU in another light), and a decent memory subsystem. Now, what does all that get me?

Performance

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.

(Image credit: Future)

The ROG branding, and a price tag not that unusual for an RTX 4080 gaming laptop in the sales, come with certain expectations for gaming performance. Lower those expectations—the Radeon 8050S manages to outperform the slowest 45 W RTX 4060 mobile chips we've tested by a small margin, but is consistently slower than a middling 75 W RTX 4060. It's much slower than a 110 W RTX 4060, and if you throw any game with ray tracing into the mix, the AMD chip lags further behind. It's only occasionally faster than the 110 W RTX 4050 in the Acer Nitro 14.

Power makes a huge difference to the performance of any mobile chip, which is why I can see how the larger Max+ 395 might claim near RTX 4070 performance against a power-limited RTX 4070. Otherwise, the RX 7600 XT never got close to the RTX 4070 with GDDR6 memory, so why would almost the exact same architecture with limited bandwidth do any better? For this Max 390 chip, even a 90 W RTX 4070 in the compact ROG Zephyrus G14 absolutely trounces it.

High-end prices for sub-par gaming performance isn't selling me on the gaming tablet form factor or AMD's uber-powerful iGPU. At least the CPU component fares much better in testing, and in this regard, it's the Max 390 that's doing the trouncing.

The 12 cores of the Ryzen AI Max 390 make mincemeat out of Cinebench R23, easily outscoring every other AMD or Intel chip in the laptops I've used for comparison. Even scrolling through the benchmarking results for all 50 or so laptops we've tested, the Max 390 is only beaten by Intel's fastest 13th and 14th Gen processors in single-threaded scores, and by the power-hungry Core i9 14900HX in the most expensive laptops for multithreaded performance. It also performs well in the encoding benchmark, X264.

With impressive CPU performance and disappointing GPU performance, this form factor seems to make more sense as a powerful creative device than one intended primarily for gaming. Perhaps with a pen/stylus it would make for a powerful sculpting or illustration device. I've seen some suggest previous models have come with a pen on occasion, yet I only have a conspicuous pen-shaped hole in the box where I assume one might've sat—perhaps it varies from model to model.

I've seen Strix Halo compared to Apple's M-series in-house Arm chips, and often favourably so. In that case, I get it. It does make more sense as that sort of high-end prosumer chip that does it all with more memory than God (up to 128 GB). Imagine that in a Mac Mini lookalike. Call it the Zen Mini. Or the Strix Mini, since Asus owns the NUC design now. Now that sounds interesting. In a gaming tablet, eh, not so much.

As for power efficiency, there is a glimmer of hope here for the Max 390. It performs like a low-power RTX 4060 while using a little less power than an RTX 4060 and CPU combined. The Max 390 has a configurable TDP up to 120 W, and I measured it with an actual power consumption of 68 W while gaming. That's for both CPU and GPU, which are reported together.

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.

(Image credit: Future)

For comparison, let's consider the ROG Flow X13. It has a 60 W RTX 4060 with a 45–65 W Ryzen 9 7940HS. In theory, the Flow X13 only amounts to 125 W in total, though in our testing we measured the GPU draws only 35 W on average, bringing it down a little closer to the actual measured power draw on the Flow Z13. Unfortunately I don't have the Flow X13 to hand to measure its exact CPU power draw, but it's likely landing a degree more power-hungry than the Z13 while delivering lower performance.

At 90 minutes of uninterrupted gaming, the Flow Z13 and Ryzen AI Max make a decent pairing for improved battery life versus many gaming laptops. A run time of 90 minutes isn't entirely unattainable by a regular gaming laptop—we've seen various models manage it over the years, including some with beefier GPUs than an RTX 4060—but the Flow Z13 is certainly longer lasting than a number of machines, especially other low-power 4060 machines.

Verdict

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.

(Image credit: Future)

I'd love to review the ROG Flow Z13 as a gaming tablet, a form factor that's sort-of new and sort-of exciting (they've been trying to make them happen for good few years now), but since I've found I've been using it exclusively in laptop mode for the better part of a week, I cannot lie to myself. It's a laptop with a detachable keyboard and it's no better than most laptops for that feature. It's also hella expensive.

The reason I'm not yet satisfied with either the iGPU or the Flow Z13 on the whole is that it's entirely unattainable for many PC gamers. This is not the dedicated GPU killer that it's made out to be, or was hoped to be in the lead-up to launch. It's maybe a step on that journey for AMD, a proof of concept that discrete GPU performance is possible for an iGPU, and I do really hope it leads to better things. But in this form factor, with this price and performance, there's little in the way of real-world benefit for a user. Just because other iGPUs are affordable doesn't mean this is. The performance-per-dollar value is horrible.

Even considering the impressive but not groundbreaking battery life, you're still largely going to be gaming while connected to an outlet, or need one after an hour and a half, and in this instance you need to carry around the Flow's large 200 W power brick with you. I don't remember one of those coming with my iPad.

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future
An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.
Future

Even if you desperately want a premium ROG laptop experience, you can buy one of the best gaming laptops out there, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, with an RTX 4060 and OLED screen, for just over $1000 on Best Buy. That's half the price of the Flow Z13. It's not like AMD's RDNA 3.5 architecture is really all that new and exciting. Wait around a little while longer and the RTX 50-series will be here, which is also not shaping up to be that new or exciting, but it might make for ever sterner competition for AMD's Strix Halo chips. I can't believe I'm going to say this but the RTX 50-series should at least be better value for money.

There is a split between how much I want to appreciate the performance, gram-for-gram, that the Flow Z13 offers and what the Max 390's iGPU and CPU components might mean for future chip designs, should AMD bother to make any more. I hope it does. Though my struggle is the device in front of me, which isn't all that great for this chip's inclusion. I can't give it a higher score because I think this chip might lead to something amazing in the future, and again, I hope it does. Though I'm fairly certain you won't see a current Strix Halo chip anywhere near cheap enough to make it worthwhile as a gaming laptop stand-in—this chip feels expensive and its application here is suggestive of higher costs to manufacture and implement than other contemporary chips.

An ROG Flow Z13 (2025) set up on a desk with the detachable keyboard and charger.

(Image credit: Future)
Buy if...

✅ You have a real need for a powerful tablet: Say, you're a creative that dislikes Apple products and you need something portable with power. This might be a good device for that on account of the beefy CPU component, but only if you have deep pockets.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want a gaming laptop: This isn't a good proposition for gamers looking for performance-per-dollar or top-tier gaming performance on the go.

❌ You want a handheld gaming PC: This isn't as convenient as an ROG Ally X or Steam Deck. Similarly, you would get much better battery life out of one of the latest handhelds.

Would I recommend a friend buy this device? Absolutely not. This isn't a chip designed for a gaming device and it shows. Mahesh Subramony, AMD Senior Fellow, said of Strix Halo "[it's] intended to be a workhorse" and called it "[almost] a Threadripper in the palm of your hands" in an interview with Chips and Cheese. I totally agree with that, considering it shredded most of the competition in CPU testing. It is a beast in many ways, just not many of them of any large benefit to gamers with sensible credit limits.

I remain quietly hopeful of what AMD can do in the APU space that it largely dominates—larger GPUs on power-savvy chips with competitive prices, that's the dream. A chip as universally adopted as the Ryzen 7 7840HS or 8840HS is for handhelds, but with a significantly beefier GPU could put discrete GPUs out of business for low- to mid-range gaming laptops. But that's not what the Ryzen AI Max 390 offers, nor the ROG Flow Z13. For now, this is a fun experiment for gamers, but let's leave it at that for the time being.

The Flow Z13 is not a gaming device I would recommend someone actually purchase. Get back to me in a generation or two when this stellar technology is cheaper.

]]> <![CDATA[ One lucky Walmart employee bought two Ryzen 7 7800X3D chips for $99 each and immediately cashed them out for over $700 on eBay ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/one-lucky-walmart-employee-bought-two-ryzen-7-7800x3d-chips-for-usd99-each-and-immediately-cashed-them-out-for-over-usd700-on-ebay/ XGYiPQpai4HWBvY6ctUAHQ Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:40:13 +0000 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:58:01 +0000
7800 3d is 99$ at my Walmart from r/pcmasterrace

With one Walmart closing its electronic section, an employee finished a 12-hour shift by purchasing two leftover Ryzen 7 7800X3Ds for just $99.75 each. They promptly posted them on eBay and sold them in hours for four times that. That's a tidy profit for the buyer and still a good CPU for its resold price.

Over on Reddit (via VideoCardz), user Global-Pickle5818 posted the whopping deal they had found. $350 below its MSRP, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D was selling for $99.75 as the Walmart they work at was remodelling and the components section was closing alongside it. It is unclear right now if they plan on reopening it but much of the tech in-store had been there for some time and the Ryzen CPUs were some of the last stock available.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D was our previous choice for the best CPU for gaming before the arrival of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at the end of last year. The 7800X3D is currently powering my home rig and it's still an excellent chip, despite being surpassed.

Rather predictably, the announcement on Reddit is filled with Redditors chancing their arm at buying the CPU for hundreds under retail and grudgingly congratulating the poster. The reason these CPUs sold for so cheap is that the store was selling off its components for 50% off for weeks prior to the lucky moment the original Redditor had found. Before this, they had managed to pick up an RTX 4070 for $350, and this 75% off deal on CPUs was the very last of the stock.

Though the Reddit user doesn't clarify which of the recent listings are theirs, a recently sold entry seems to be from their rough location, the top of the surface behind the CPU is the same as one image previously posted, and it seems to have sold around the same time they announced it had. If this listing is the correct one, it suggests the user managed to make $600 in profit from their purchases (not including shipping and travel costs).

This profit was made whilst also undercutting the recommended price on eBay by $30 reportedly. Global-Pickle5818 had tried to purchase the other two CPUs the store had in stock but they had been sent to the store for shoppers who purchased them online for full price (ouch). If they had managed to grab all four of the CPUs to sell on eBay, they would have made enough profit to buy themselves a whole new rig, or maybe even an RTX 5080 if they were lucky enough to find one.

That's not a bad way to end a long shift.


Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

]]> <![CDATA[ Claims about AMD moving to a 12-core chiplet design for Zen 6 have got me all kinds of excited for the next generation of X3D processors ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/claims-about-amd-moving-to-a-12-core-chiplet-design-for-zen-6-have-got-me-all-kinds-of-excited-for-the-next-generation-of-x3d-processors/ VeZM2dk85K5ptc3qjW28ki Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:54:14 +0000

In 2019, AMD started a new paradigm in processor design, with its Zen 2 architecture and the use of chiplets. Since then, every CCD or Core Complex Die has been home to eight cores—no more, no less. However, if one tech leaker is to be believed, then Zen 6 will mark a new era for AMD, as it's being claimed that the next generation of CCDs will sport 12 cores each.

The leaker in question is Moore's Law is Dead and yes, I know. Buckets of salt. Press X to doubt. Pigs will fly. Cats and dogs, living together. All those things. Anyway, the claim that Zen 6 CCD will be a 12-core design was announced in its latest YouTube video and I have to admit that the images purporting to be for a next-gen laptop APU, showing the larger CCDs, do look a bit like a quickly-knocked-up render.

But let's assume it is true and that the Ryzen 10000-series, assuming AMD isn't going to change the nomenclature, will be full of entries like a Ryzen 7 10700X with 12 cores, 24 threads and a Ryzen 9 10950X with 24 cores, 48 threads. What would this mean for gaming? To be honest, not an awful lot.

The reason for that is simple: Few games at the moment absolutely demand a processor with more than 8 cores and 16 threads. And in the cases of those that do generate a small mountain of threads, the bulk of the workload is still only done via five or six of them. Having more cores by itself won't change anything.

However, it's when you start to look beyond the standard Ryzen processors that things get more interesting. The Ryzen 5 lineup has always been a 6-core, 12-thread design where the CPU has one CCD, just like Ryzen 7 chips, but two cores are disabled. Zen 6 Ryzen 5s could potentially be eight-core processors—and if they're priced the same as current Ryzen 5s, then such CPUs would be all most people would ever need.

For me, though, the really interesting possibilities are with the X3D models. The latest ones, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the forthcoming Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 9950X3D, are single and twin CCD designs respectively, and sport a 64 MB slice of L3 3D V-Cache on one CCD. A Ryzen 7 10800X3D would be a 12-core, 24-thread CPU with at least 112 MB of L3 cache and quite possibly even 144 MB.

The reason for this is that moving to 12 cores in the CCD would require the normal L3 cache embedded in the chiplet to be increased to 48 MB, from the 32 MB. AMD could stick to using 64 MB for the 3D V-Cache slices in Zen 6 but I suspect that the demand from the additional cores would require this to be changed to 96 MB instead.

Better still, where the likes of the Ryzen 9 7900X3D and 9900X3D have to deal with the fact that only six cores get access to the 3D V-Cache directly and their other six cores have to do this via the IOD (Input/Output Die), the 10800X3D would have all 12 cores hooked up to that sweet, sweet cache without having to deal with any inter-CCD latencies.

In short, a Ryzen 7 10800X3D with its 12-core CCD and (pleasepleaseplease) 144 MB of L3 cache would make a Ryzen 9 9900X3D look a bit feeble in comparison. That's because you'd not only have a fantastic gaming chip but also one that's better in productivity and content creation workloads. And a Ryzen 9 10950X3D (24 cores, 48 threads, 192 MB L3 cache) would be an absolute monster.

The original 8-core Zen 2 CCD. Fritzchens Fritz at his best. (Image credit: Fritzchens Fritz)

Of course, all of this is pure conjecture based on a completely unsubstantiated rumour. At worst, it's nothing more than a flight of fantasy. But I suspect that Zen 6 will probably be the right time for it to update its CCD design to make the new architecture stand out from the crowd, especially after the muted reception Zen 5 received.

With each successive release of RDNA, I've become less and less interested in what AMD has been bringing to the world of graphics processors. What it could have lined up next for Zen, though, has got me all kinds of excited and I genuinely can't wait to see what the Ryzen 10000-series will be like. Just don't rename it something like Ryzen AI 10 Plus Extra, please AMD?


Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

]]> <![CDATA[ 3DMark benchmarks show off AMD's big daddy Strix Halo laptop chip in action and I'm a little underwhelmed ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-laptops/3dmark-benchmarks-show-off-amds-big-daddy-strix-halo-laptop-chip-in-action-and-im-a-little-underwhelmed/ mnzitUW2hWoivpkX3VJZWH Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:42:03 +0000

Strix Halo, AMD's upcoming and extremely large APU, has finally seen some benchmarks in 3DMark Time Spy. These early results are in line with its Geekbench debut last December. This is not only a potential affirmation of what we previously saw but a sign its performance may be a little worse than we expected (hoped).

Over on the Baidu forums (as spotted by Wccftech), two pictures were posted, one of which showing what was claimed to be the AMD Radeon 8050S integrated GPU but the CPU's OPN actually suggests it is the 8060S-equipped AI Max+ 395. This is more than likely just a prelaunch software or database issue. This device managed to achieve a GPU score of 10,106 and a CPU score of 5,571 points in 3DMark Time Spy.

For clarity, that GPU score places what is currently assumed to be the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 around 2,000 points in the GPU category ahead of the average score of laptop RTX 4050 scores on 3DMark's website, and just a few hundred points behind laptop RTX 4060 scores. 3DMark is a pretty good benchmark for understanding graphical power though it's important to note it's not the be-all and end-all of gaming performance. A wider suite of games might give a better idea, but nevertheless this is a good starting point to figure out where AMD's top APU lands.

Ryzen's APU goes without a dedicated GPU, like those measured laptops above, which means if the score holds firm in actual testing, we might be able to expect RTX 4060 laptop performance out of this chip when it lands in gaming laptops, and at least one tablet from Asus.

We were hoping for a little more from the big leap in graphics cores to make the larger APU worth it over more power-savvy numbers for handhelds, like the Ryzen AI 9 HX 390. AMD previously suggested the top-end chip would perform similarly to an RTX 4070 gaming laptop (well, tablet) but these early figures put it closer to an RTX 4060 laptop. Discrete performance from an integrated GPU is still impressive but not quite what we were expecting.

It reportedly took AMD four goes to actually get the Strix Halo APU right and that's because it's more bespoke than one might think on first look. Strix Halo uses its own Zen 5-based CPU CCDs and it uses a new way to interconnect them, as the methods to get the Ryzen 9 9950X up and running saw limitations in power efficiency.

This power efficiency could allow the chip to become less power-hungry, which is a natural boon for the battery life of gaming laptops. That being said, the configurable wattage of this chip goes all the way up to 120 W and any change in the power of a given machine could make for large fluctuations in performance.


Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.
Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.

]]> <![CDATA[ Just in case you've forgotten all about them, AMD posts a less-than-convincing argument as to why AI PCs are better than any other type of PC ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-pcs/just-in-case-youve-forgotten-all-about-them-amd-posts-a-less-than-convincing-argument-as-to-why-ai-pcs-are-better-than-any-other-type-of-pc/ RwYA8gSqpdJ436nKbByQXD Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:00:11 +0000

The most commonly used tech phrase in the PC industry last year was 'AI PC' and, according to Intel at least, we were promised that such computers would "save people hours weekly through built-in artificial intelligence." So far the interest in AI PCs has been somewhat muted so AMD has decided that the best way to solve this is to explain exactly why AI PCs are better than non-AI PCs.

It's done this via a simple post on X, highlighting what an AMD AI PC can do better than a common-or-garden PC: "Handle AI tasks more efficiently with the world's most powerful built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which supports the CPU and GPU for faster and smarter everyday use." On the other hand, non-AI PCs "can run AI tasks, but lack[s] an integrated NPU. AI runs on the CPU and GPU, but with less efficiency for multitasking."

Well, there you have it. Surely that's all the convincing anyone would need to go out and buy a spangly new AI PC with an NPU-equipped AMD Ryzen processor, right? AMD clearly doesn't think anyone actually needs to know any kind of specifics about the 'faster and smarter everyday use' bit because we all want our PCs to be faster and smarter. Every day.

The CPU in my main PC has an NPU (it's an Intel one) but as of yet, it's not been used for anything other than running a single benchmark to see it being used. Last year, I sat through a press briefing from one big system vendor in which it spent a good deal of time explaining why AI and an NPU were going to make things so much better.

I know how an NPU can be used but I'm still totally none the wiser as to what real, tangible benefit they bring to the PC industry as a whole. Let me clarify: With an NPU, one can run a small AI algorithm locally, without having to send lots of data to a distant cloud server, which means you retain far more privacy over your details and content that are being AI'd. Summarising your notes, for example, or improving your CV—that kind of thing.

But as AMD points out, your PC can do that without an NPU. It just uses the CPU or GPU to do it instead. Ah, but that's less efficient, you might say (or at least, AMD does). How much less efficient is it? Is it slower, a lot slower; does it involve a lot more power, draining your laptop's battery faster or using up more electricity from an outlet?

Without specifics, in the form of real-world examples being showcased in front of you, I can't imagine anyone will be nodding sagely at AMD's words and being converted into a champion of the AI PC. To be blunt, it's such a weak attempt at promoting AI PCs, that AMD has potentially done more damage than good.

While X isn't well-known for inviting reasoned and well-balanced comments these days, the replies to AMD's post are not in the least bit surprising. "Scam," writes one user, whereas another expounds more with "I'm good with the non-AI PC. I can't really think of anything AI does which would benefit me as an actual creator." Only one reply was positive, though there was not a great deal there at the time of writing.

Your next machine

Gaming PC group shot

(Image credit: Future)

Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.
Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.

To be fair to AMD, though, I don't think there's any reasoned argument that would make a tech-savvy buyer deliberately seek out an AI PC, even if they're a fan of generative AI or the like. The reason is that such users are already using their non-AI PCs to do all of this, either via the cloud or locally via the GPU. An NPU can be used to handle a RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) algorithm, to improve the results from a locally-run LLM but I've not seen any general-use software do this yet.

AMD's latest laptop processors are fantastic chips, and any one of those paired with an Nvidia RTX GPU will make for a potent computer capable of blasting through AI workloads. If your portable PC is on its last legs, then by all means, grab an AMD 'AI PC' and enjoy a blisteringly quick computer, that's equally capable of gaming and content creation. The fact that it will sport an NPU doesn't really add to that, though at least it doesn't detract from it.

Cutting-edge technology always needs a 'killer app' to make it really take off but we've yet to see that for the little NPU. Until then, it looks like we'll just have to put up with more half-hearted marketing exercises that will leave us all still wondering the same thing: What use is AI to me?

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD's CEO Dr Lisa Su claims 'highest sell-out in many years' for desktop processors and the company is 'catching up with some demand' for gaming CPUs ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amds-ceo-dr-lisa-su-claims-highest-sell-out-in-many-years-for-desktop-processors-and-the-company-is-catching-up-with-some-demand-for-gaming-cpus/ X4UCY2JomZvBdXCXftLgVV Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:35:22 +0000

While excitement (or derision) might currently be directed towards Nvidia's new graphics cards and AMD's upcoming ones, let's not forget that the past few months has seen the introduction of new CPU line-ups from both Intel and AMD. From Intel, we had the somewhat underwhelming Core Ultra 200S 'Arrow Lake' line-up, and from AMD, we had the first of its 9000-series 'Zen 5' processors. And on the latter front, AMD's now claiming pretty spectacular success.

During AMD's recent Q4 2024 earnings call (transcript here), AMD CEO Dr Lisa Su explained that the company "saw our highest sell-out in many years, as we went through the holiday season, launching our new gaming CPUs." Given we've been unable to find reasonably priced AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs in stock since launch, this tracks.

Stock sell-outs are, of course, not always due to over-demand but can also be due to under-supply. This is something we're well aware of in the wake of the Nvidia RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 launch, which some are calling a paper launch, ie, a launch in name only with little actual stock to back it.

The 9000-series most certainly wasn't a paper launch, but stock has been hard to come by. Dr Su says: "We actually think that what we're seeing is very strong adoption of our new products [...] Frankly, [the gaming CPUs] have been constrained in the market, and we've continued shipping very strongly through the month of January as we are catching up with some demand there."

This is good news amidst the mixed, however, as the earnings call also highlights that the gaming graphics division isn't doing too well—although some of that could be to do with the company nearing the end of a desktop GPU and console GPU generation. On this front, we'll have to see how well the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT do when they launch in a month or so.

On the CPU front, we can't forget that the market has kind of been set in AMD's favour, too. Yes, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best CPU for gaming on the market by quite a margin, but the competition hasn't exactly been compelling, either. Intel's latest Core Ultra 200S line-up hasn't pushed the boat out very far and many of its 13th and 14th Gen CPUs were plagued with instability issues.

In other words—and not to deny the genuine prowess of AMD's latest desktop and mobile processors—given Intel's offerings, I'd be more surprised if AMD's client CPU division wasn't doing well.

Of course, this is saying nothing of the mobile side. AMD's latest AI 300 'Strix Point' mobile processors have been adopted not only in laptops but also in the OneXPlayer OneXFly F1 Pro, with presumably more handhelds to come. Intel's not empty-handed on this front either, though, as a Core Ultra 200V 'Lunar Lake' mobile processor sits inside the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Lunar Lake processors are very efficient, but for gaming they seem to struggle to compete with the brute graphical horsepower of Strix Point chips.

The two companies' offerings here are much closer than on the desktop side, though. That's probably why Dr Su says: "Going into the first quarter, we do expect seasonality in there. But the part of our business that is performing better than seasonality is the desktop portion of the business."

Great stuff, Su, just get those shelves stacked with fresh Ryzen 7 9800X3D chips and let us satiate that demand. I've seen enough 'out of stock' signs already this year.


Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

]]> <![CDATA[ Old AM4 CPUs including the Ryzen 5000 still make up 50% of AMD's sales today ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/old-am4-cpus-including-the-ryzen-5000-still-make-up-50-percent-of-amds-sales-today/ JVfF3KtdbA5JYd7LJBpJsV Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:25:38 +0000 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:05:00 +0000

"You'd be surprised. On a global scale, the split between AM4 and AM5 is not far off from 50/50." So, says David McAfee, AMD head of Client Channel Business, of AMD's current CPU sales (via TechPowerUp).

In other words, half of the CPUs AMD is selling today are still made for the old AM4 socket. And, of course, the last family of chips made for the AM4 socket was the Ryzen 5000. The Ryzen 7000 and latest Ryzen 9000 CPU families both go into the current AM5 socket.

McAfee does concede that split isn't universal to all markets. "Different markets have different preferences. North America and Western Europe skew toward higher-end AM5 builds," he says. But still, it's near 50/50 overall.

For context, the AM4 socket first appeared back in 2016 while the newest family of Ryzen CPUs for AM4, the Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 chips, was first released in late 2020. But here we are in 2025 and half of AMD's desktop CPU sales are still AM4-based.

Actually, that shouldn't be a huge surprise. CPU performance gains tend to be incremental. A Ryzen 7 5800X3D, for instance, is still a very good gaming CPU. Likewise, a 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X will tear through content creation in a thoroughly modern manner.

Indeed, in most gaming benchmarks, the 5800X3D is still roughly on par and often faster than Intel's latest Core Ultra 9 285K flagship GPU. And that's running at 1080p to expose and CPU bottleneck. At 1440p or perhaps 4K, especially with a new and graphically demanding game running at high detail settings, you'd struggle to feel the difference between the 5800X3D and the latest 9800X3D beast because the limitation on frame rate won't be the CPU.

What's more, as recently as June last year, AMD actually launched two new-but-old Zen 3 chips for the AM4 socket, the eight-core Ryzen 7 5800XT and the 16-core Ryzen 9 5900XT. It followed those two up in October with the six-core Ryzen 5 5600XT, further demonstrating that there's life yet in the old AM4 dog.

In fact, the longevity of AM4 feels like it keys into a broader trend. I bored on recently about how much stamina the Nvidia RTZ 4090 has. It's just been replaced by the new RTX 5090. But it's still a fundamentally very powerful GPU and I'd take it all day long over the new RTX 5080 and its minimal raster performance gains over the old 4080 and relatively measly 16GB of VRAM.

Long story short, the 4090 will be very, very close to the top of the GPU performance tree for about four years. That's a long time. The 5800X3D is two and half years old and still going strong.

Anyway, the point is that generational gains in performance from core PC components seem to have slowed somewhat. On the one hand, it's always slightly disappointing when a new CPU or GPU comes out and doesn't blow away existing chips. On the other, it means your PC stay current for longer. And that's probably a good thing overall.


Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D CPUs are rumoured to launch at the end of March at roughly the same time as the RX 9070-series GPUs ]]> https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/amds-ryzen-9-9950x3d-and-9900x3d-cpus-are-rumoured-to-launch-at-the-end-of-march-at-roughly-the-same-time-as-the-rx-9070-series-gpus/ TGNKz4zD8dbAASLRpDuHrD Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:42:17 +0000 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:04:59 +0000

CES 2025 saw the announcement of some exciting new Zen 5 CPUs from AMD, not least two X3D additions that we've been anticipating for some time. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D look like they might be some seriously powerful CPUs, and now the latest scuttlebutt suggests they might be coming at the end of March, alongside some long-awaited RDNA 4 graphics cards.

That's according to French hardware website Cowcotland, who's sources say that the new AMD 3D V-cache-sporting chips will make an appearance at roughly the same time as the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT.

AMD's David McAfee had previously tweeted that gamers will get their hands on the new GPUs in March, so that all lines up rather nicely if true.

As does the naming scheme, giving that these are the latest 9000-series CPUs, potentially launching next to the 9070-series GPUs. What a difference a digit makes, ey?

As for the chips themselves, the specs are pretty monstrous. The 9950X3D is a 170 W TDP chip with 16-cores and 32-threads with a boost clock of 5.7 Ghz and 144 MB of total cache, whereas the 9900X3D has 12-cores, 24-threads, and 140 MB of cache, with a slightly slower 5.5 GHz boost clock.

Cores / ThreadsBoost clockTotal cacheTDP
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D16 / 325.7 GHz144 MB170 W
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D12 / 245.5 GHz140 MB120 W
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D8 / 165.2 GHz104 MB120 W

Compare those specs to our current best CPU for gaming, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and you can see why hearts are a flutter in anticipation of the new chips. The 9800X3D is the fastest gaming CPU we've ever tested, but with eight cores, 16-threads, and 104 MB total cache, it looks like it's firmly outmatched by its new siblings—when it comes to multi-threaded workloads at least.

Still, there's always price to consider. While the new AMD mega-CPUs are likely to be top performers, if the 9800X3D can still monster ahead of the Intel competition at a more reasonable price point, it might still be the chip to go for this generation to get the best bang for your buck. Time will tell. Still, if these rumours prove out, it looks like we won't have too much longer to wait.


Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.
Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.
Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.
Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

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