Rigged Up
Build guides, component reviews, buying advice for DIY PC builders and upgraders
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AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review
AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a champ for low-settings 1080p gaming with a high-end graphics card, but it's pricey and not for every PC gamer.
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 (2024) Review
Lenovo’s Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 gaming desktop powers through 4K games in style, rocking an easily upgradable case with slick, customizable RGB lighting.
The Best Graphics Cards for Compact PCs in 2025
Outfitting a compact PC for 4K and VR, or a tiny budget tower for 1080p gaming? These are our favorite small Nvidia GeForce, AMD Radeon, and Intel Arc graphics cards for your next PC build or upgrade.
The Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming in 2025
Here's how to shop for a right-priced graphics card for playing games on today's best-value monitors—1,920 by 1,080 displays—along with the top-rated GPUs in our testing.
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review
The Core Ultra 5 245K is more energy efficient and runs cooler than its predecessor, but its CPU performance is a mixed bag, and its gaming performance disappoints.
Unboxing Asus ‘Arrow Lake’ Gear! A First-Look Z890 Motherboard & More
An ROG Z890 Maximus Hero board, an over-the-top Ryujin cooler, and a special new kind of RAM highlight the nuances of Intel's just-launched desktop platform. Take a look.
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Review
Intel's flagship "Arrow Lake" CPU, the Core Ultra 9 285K, delivers reduced power consumption, dedicated AI silicon, and promising platform improvements. The one big question mark: Its performance is superb in some tasks but subpar in others, though this may improve with software updates.
Falcon Northwest Talon (2024, Core Ultra) Review
The legendary Falcon Northwest Talon gaming PC is an enthusiast’s dream machine, now made even better with Intel's first Core Ultra processor for desktops.
Asus TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi Review
The Asus TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi is a worthwhile-value X870 AMD motherboard. It brings native Zen 5 support, new looks, the latest connectivity, and several DIY-friendly and AI features for easier use.
Lian Li Lancool 207 Review
An unusual pivoted power-supply mount sets apart the Lancool 207, a Lian Li mid-tower PC case. A low price and a handsome aesthetic bolster its value cred.
Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master Review
Gigabyte's flagship X870E Aorus Master is among the pricier AM5 motherboards using AMD's very latest chipset, but its clever layout and creature comforts make it a first-rate ATX pick for high-end AMD PCs.
Fractal Design Era 2 Review
A lushly appointed compact gaming case, Fractal Design's Era 2 is an excellent combination of internal design genius and external styling mastery.
The Best CPUs for 2025
Whether you're upgrading your desktop PC or building a new one, choosing the right processor is the most crucial and complex choice you will make. Let's simplify it! Here's how to make sense of AMD's and Intel's lines, backed by dozens of our deep-dive reviews.
The Best CPUs for Gaming in 2025
Buying the right processor for PC gaming might seem complicated—especially with AMD's multiple Ryzen families and Intel's many Cores and "Lakes." Here's everything you need to know, plus our top picks based on PC Labs' deep-dive CPU reviews.
Asus TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB Review
Asus' TUF Gaming GT302 PC chassis supports the company's Back to the Future (BTF) cable-hiding scheme and offers great cooling, offset by ho-hum noise control in its stock configuration.
Crucial P310 Review
The Crucial P310 PCI Express 4.0 internal SSD offers adequate gaming and slightly better general-storage performance, though it isn't a particularly good value.
Ditching High-End Graphics Cards Could Give AMD an Edge in the GPU Wars
AMD has tipped plans to deprioritize competing in the flagship graphics card market. That could be good thing...especially for buyers of budget cards.
Hands On: iFixit's New Soldering Iron and Power Station Is Portable, Powerful, and Fast
The beginner-friendly FixHub Smart Soldering Iron and Portable Power Station is USB-C-powered and reaches soldering temperature in under five seconds.
SilverStone Fara 514X Review
A little pricier than some competitors, SilverStone’s Fara 514X ATX case offers plenty of effective, good-looking fans and a mostly solid build experience.
Streacom DA6 XL Review
Artistic flair is what Streacom’s unique DA6 XL is all about. It’s an open-frame Mini-ITX PC case that will reward careful component selection (and cable-hiding judo) with a stunning compact build.
