7 Red Flags When Choosing Cheap PC Components
Building a budget gaming PC? Don't let a pricey GPU trick you into cutting corners elsewhere. Here are 7 components you shouldn't cheap out on if you want smooth, reliable performance.
Desktop pc articles
Zalman's jet engine-inspired CPU cooler is now available
WTF?! Electronics with loud fans are often compared to jet engines, but Zalman deliberately designed its newest CPU cooler to resemble one. The Zet 5 is the latest in a series of flamboyant designs introduced this year. For some PC builders, fluorescent lighting is no longer enough.
This new AIO cooler packs more displays than your entire setup
Jonsbo's new cooler packs four LCD screens for extreme customization
Maingear's Retro95 gaming PC blends 90s nostalgia with modern muscle
Based on SilverStone's retro-themed chassis
Intel Arrow Lake refresh to add NPU capabilities, Copilot+ features to desktop PCs
Gamers won't have much of a reason to upgrade
MSI's new Toy Story PC features Buzz Lightyear GPU, Woody motherboard, and more
Featuring five themed components
Intel's Nova Lake-S CPUs to bring massive architectural overhaul, up to 52 cores
Intel aims at AMD's Zen 6 with radical Nova Lake-S redesign
TechSpot PC Buying Guide: 2025 Update
Ready to build a new PC in 2025? Our updated TechSpot PC Buying Guide features four builds for four budgets, covering everything from entry-level to high-end, with smart picks for today's market.
If one PC creates 20dB of noise and another makes 40dB, how louder is the second PC?
Also: what are humming, rattling and whining PC noises?
The Asus TUF Gaming T500 is a mobile CPU-powered desktop for better thermals
Up to Intel Core i7-13620H mobile CPU means to deliver desktop-level gaming
10 Tech Enthusiast Guilty Pleasures: (A.K.A. Expensive Gear We Need)
We've all thought about it: What would we buy if money were no object? Most people have mental lists of extravagant, unnecessary-but-awesome tech they'd snatch up if they ever hit the jackpot.
Nvidia launches GeForce RTX 5060 series with three new GPUs, tries to hide the 8GB versions
Pricing complicates things, but the excuses about the lack of 8GB review samples are baffling
Is DDR5-8000 Worth It? The Ryzen AM5 Test
Thinking about upgrading to AMD's AM5 platform? We've tested nearly everything from CPUs to motherboards – now it's time to revisit DDR5 memory performance, including G.Skill's new CL26 and DDR5-8000 kits.
Holographic PC fans are here, and RGB may never look the same
The fans are now available for purchase at $45.99 each
Apple iMac: The Computer That Saved the Company
Before the iPhone or iPod, Apple's comeback began with the iMac. In 1998, the Bondi Blue desktop revolutionized home PCs, rescued Apple from near bankruptcy, and set the stage for its future success.
E-waste or Linux? Charities face tough choices as Windows 10 support ends
In a nutshell: As Microsoft prepares to end free security updates for Windows 10 in October, a significant challenge looms for charities that refurbish and distribute older computers to those in need. With an estimated 240 million PCs unable to meet the stringent hardware requirements for Windows 11, these organizations face a difficult decision: provide potentially insecure Windows 10 systems, send them to e-waste recyclers, or explore alternative operating systems like Linux.
Apple Mac Studio gets reviewed: incredibly fast, incredibly expensive
The 2025 Mac Studio is an incredibly powerful machine powered by the M4 Max chip, and even more so with the M3 Ultra. This latest version adds Thunderbolt 5, though its high price makes it overkill for most users.
Apple refreshes Mac Studio: M4 Max starts at $1,999, M3 Ultra from $3,999
The most powerful Mac ever made
Framework's first-ever desktop PC packs AMD's Ryzen AI Max, priced from $1,099
Use Framework's Mini-ITX case, or supply your own
The rise of on-device AI is reshaping the future of PCs and smartphones
How AI is moving from the cloud to your devices
Asus unveils NUC 15 Pro mini PC with Intel Core Ultra 200 CPUs and up to 96 GB of memory
Price and availability yet to be announced
AMD's AM4 platform is still going strong after many years, AMD reports a 50/50 sales split with AM5
The very definition of lasting appeal
Why it matters: It's been almost three years since AMD launched the AM5 chipset alongside Ryzen 7000 CPUs. But according to a company executive, global sales of AM5 and the previous-gen AM4 are split 50/50, illustrating how the socket that supports Zen 1 through to Zen 3 remains popular.
Cableless GPU design supports backward compatibility and up to 1,000W
New GPUs would include motherboard power connectors and conventional 12V-2x6 connectors
DisplayLink looks to bring phone-as-PC docking to all Android devices
Your phone can even drive a dual-monitor setup with this bad boy
The PC market saw modest growth last year, and 2025 is looking uncertain
Lenovo leads the market as shipments rise 1.8% in Q4 2024