Computing Buying Guides
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Best RTX 4090 GPUs in 2024
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the best GPU you can buy right now. Here are our favorite after-market and reference design picks.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is a powerful graphics card and one of the best available for desktop PCs. There's also a version included inside the best RTX 4090 laptops. Being one of the best graphics cards, you'll need to ensure your power supply can keep up with the immense requirements. If everything is good, you will have access to one of the best gaming experiences with a 4K gaming monitor. To help get you on the right track, I've rounded up some of our favorite Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs.
Best PC power supply units (PSU) in 2024
If you're looking for the best power supply units on the market, then we've got some really good options in this collection for you PC.
The power supply unit (PSU) is responsible for taking alternating current (AC) from your home or office circuit and converting it to direct current (DC), which can then be passed to the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and other components. It's a vital part of any system as a stable electricity supply is paramount to reliable operating and getting the most out of your parts. We're updating this shortlist of recommended power supplies for your next PC build.
Best Mac games on Steam in 2024
Did you know that Steam is accessible on Mac? There are tons of great games you can choose from
Macs are wonderful for computing, communicating, and entertainment. For a while, the latter didn't include gaming, but these days, playing video games on Mac is easier than ever. There are so many ways to play different games on the latest Macs, with one popular method being through the Steam storefront. The platform has been around for over two decades and has become the primary place to buy and download games to play on your computer, whether you use Windows, Linux, or Mac. It’s easy to download Steam games on a Mac, and many are affordable and often on sale via promotions. So, which are the best games for Mac on Steam? Our team weighed in to provide their picks.
Apple's MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are some of the best laptops money can buy, especially since the introduction of Apple Silicon. The MacBook Pro is the best Mac for professionals who need monster power, while the MacBook Air is much better for those who are always on the move. These laptops have fantastic built-in screens, but one display often isn't enough for multitaskers who are taking full advantage of macOS Sonoma. Fortunately, you can invest in a portable monitor, which accompanies you and your Mac wherever you go, and to help you out, we've rounded up some of the best you can buy right now.
Best Raspberry Pi alternatives
The Raspberry Pi is just one of many great single-board computer options available for a variety of projects.
The Raspberry Pi is one of the best SBCs (single-board computers) on the block, especially following the recent release of the Raspberry Pi 5. However, the sheer popularity of the Raspberry Pi is also its greatest shortcoming, as the manufacturer consistently struggles to keep up with the demand. So, instead of waiting for this name-brand SBC to be restocked by its manufacturer, consider looking into one of the many Raspberry Pi alternatives available. There are plenty of inexpensive SBCs that outperform basic RPi models, as well as more powerful SBCs better suited for AI and ML applications than the pricier RPi models. No matter how you plan to use your SBC, you’ll find a viable non-Raspberry Pi option among our top picks.
Apple's MacBooks are the most popular laptops out there, and for good reason. Since 2020, the company has been making some of the absolute best laptops on the market, thanks in big part to Apple Silicon processors giving them performance and efficiency you just can't find anywhere else.
Nvidia launched the GeForce RTX 4070 Super in early 2024 to fit in between the existing RTX 4070 and RTX 4080 graphics cards. Like other Nvidia Super GPUs that came before it, the RTX 4070 Super is essentially a beefed-up version of the RTX 4070, offering additional memory bandwidth and AI power for better overall gaming performance. Brands have launched their aftermarket RTX 4070 Super cards with custom cooling and overclock, so I've rounded up the best GPUs I'd recommend for a capable 1440p gaming rig.
Best CPUs for RTX 4070 in 2024
The RTX 4070 is a fantastic graphical powerhouse, but all that performance could be wasted if not paired with the right CPU.
The RTX 4070 is a decent step up from the RTX 3080, thanks to the better ray tracing performance and DLSS 3. While the pricing isn’t exactly earning Nvidia any extra points, the best RTX 4070 graphics cards are worth considering if you want to build a powerful new PC. It certainly makes more sense than buying the more expensive 4080.
DDR5 is the next generation of system memory for desktop and laptop computers and the best motherboard with the necessary DIMM slots is required to use it. We've put together a list of only the best DDR5 motherboards for AMD and Intel processors, allowing you to enjoy faster RAM speeds and other new features over DDR4. You'll find a mix of budget-friendly, affordable motherboards as well as some more premium and enthusiast-grade options in this collection.
Best single board computer in 2024
If you've been thinking of tinkering with a SBC, we break down the most common ones and why you'd want them.
If you're into hobbyist projects, chances are you must have heard of Single-Board Computers (SBCs), which are fully functional computers despite their small sizes. SBCs have been around for a while, though it was only after the release of the first Raspberry Pi in 2012 that these palm-sized systems finally gained some traction. Although SBCs lack the firepower of a full-fledged gaming PC, these self-contained boards possess everything from embedded processors to input and output ports that you’d need to build your project.
Best RAM for AM5 in 2024
The AMD AM5 platform is powerful, but which RAM is best for pairing with it?
When AMD first released the Ryzen 7000-series CPUs, the bar to entry was fairly high as it required a new motherboard and new RAM. Since then, prices have steadily come down, so the total cost of ownership is more affordable. The release of the B650 chipset brought mid-range and budget motherboard options to the market. And DDR5 RAM prices have dropped drastically, down to around the prices for comparable DDR4 capacities.
Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2024
If you want to build a small PC, you're going to need a Mini-ITX motherboard. Here are our picks for some of the best.
Planning to build a compact PC? There's a good chance the small form factor PC cases you're considering will support motherboards up to a maximum size. Mini-ITX are the smallest form factor motherboards and we've compiled a list of the best Mini-ITX motherboards for AMD and Intel processors. They're best suited to smaller cases as they're considerably more expensive and offer worse functionality than larger ATX motherboards due to restricted space on the PCB. Here are our favorite Mini-ITX motherboards.
Best GPUs for under $300 in 2024
If you're building or upgrading a gaming PC on a budget, then these are the best GPUs that will get the job done for under $300.
Any PC gamers planning to build or upgrade their rigs are in a tough spot, as graphics cards seem to be getting outdated faster and faster. On top of that, GPU manufacturers are increasingly shifting their focus to making cards for AI applications, leaving gamers in the lurch. Things are much better now than during the crypto-mining boom and supply chain issues of 2020-2021 when GPU prices skyrocketed. PC builders looking for the best GPU under $300 have quite a few options in 2024.
The constant clicking and scrolling sounds from a mouse may not be a big distraction for most, but they can be highly undesirable in many situations. For example, if you're someone who burns the midnight oil working on their PC, the mouse sounds can become quite bothersome for those sleeping in the same room. Situations like these call for a silent mouse that can help you engage in productive tasks without worrying about disturbing your surroundings. Switching to a quiet mouse is also beneficial if you prefer a noise-free working environment.
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor is considered to be a mid-tier chip yet offers impressive performance with six physical cores and a total of 12 threads. Like other AM5 processors from AMD, the Ryzen 5 7600 only supports DDR5 RAM. We've rounded up our favorite picks for getting the most from this CPU and you can find the best RAM for the Ryzen 5 7600 in this guide.
Best SSDs for Lenovo Legion Go in 2023
Lenovo's Legion Go is a great handheld gaming PC, but what if you want more storage than the included SSD?
The world of Steam Deck alternatives is always expanding these days, and Lenovo is one of the biggest players to join the fray with the Legion Go. This is one of the biggest and most versatile gaming handhelds around, with a large 8.8-inch display and removable controllers much like Nintendo's Joy-Con, making it more flexible than the Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally.
Best pens for Lenovo Yoga laptops in 2024
Lenovo Yoga laptops support the AES pen protocol, and these great pens will deliver a quality inking experience.
If you're buying a new Lenovo laptop, you'll almost certainly want to consider one of the many great convertibles from the Lenovo Yoga line. Whether it's the premium Yoga 9i, the mid-range Yoga 7i, or even the futuristic dual-screen Yoga Book 9i, you can flip the screen around to tablet mode (or any other mode), open an inking app, and let your inner creativity fly. Or, if you're using your device for work, you can sign PDFs and annotate the screen. Inking simply gives you more ways to enjoy your device.
Apple's M3 MacBook Air is an impressive machine, and the M2 MacBook Air is still an exceptional computer in its own right. These are sleek, well-designed Macs that come in different sizes and sport powerful chips. However, they aren't always cheap, so you'll want a solid case to keep yours safe and sound from drops and scratches.
Best 5G laptops in 2024
With 5G connectivity slowly rolling out in more regions, here are some of the best 5G laptops that you can buy today! Check it out!
It’s rare these days to be without some sort of connection to the internet, as most of us have a smartphone with cellular data plans. It’s an always-ready gateway to online information or tools, but it’s not the most productive way to get work done. To get the same level of connectivity on the go, some laptop models have internal cellular modems to give 4G LTE or 5G cellular support.
Best Lenovo Legion Go docks in 2023
Expand the connectivity options of Lenovo's handheld with these docks
Lenovo has jumped into the handheld gaming scene with the Legion Go, the newest competitor to the Asus ROG Ally and Valve's Steam Deck. Since the Legion Go only comes with two USB4 ports, docks are a great way to go if you need to expand the connectivity options of your new handheld console. Docks can also be quite convenient for charging your Legion Go. It's important to note that manufacturers have yet to make docks specifically for the Lenovo Legion Go; however, we can tell from dimensions that, thankfully, many of the docks for the Steam Deck should fit Lenovo's handheld all the same.