Guides and how-tos
Practical hardware advice: what to buy, how to install it and what the specs actually mean.
September 22, 2026
Core Ultra 200S Plus vs Ryzen 9000: Which Platform to Build in 2026
Intel's refreshed Core Ultra 200S Plus and AMD's Ryzen 9000 aim at different priorities. Here's how to actually choose between them.
September 22, 2026
AMD Zen 6 (Ryzen 10000): Release Date, Specs, AM5 Support and Should You Wait
AMD has listed Olympic Ridge as AM5 compatible on its own technical portal and extended AM5 support to 2029. Desktop Zen 6 is widely reported for 2027. Here is what is confirmed, what is leaked, and whether to wait.
September 22, 2026
Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 vs 9950X3D: Is Dual 3D V-Cache Worth It?
AMD's dual-edition chip extends V-Cache to both CCDs. Here's whether that actually matters for gaming versus heavier multi-threaded work.
September 22, 2026
Best Thermal Paste for Laptops (2026): Why Pump-Out Ruins Regular Paste
Laptop coolers flex and cycle in ways desktops don't, which causes ordinary thermal paste to pump out over time. Here's what actually holds up.
September 22, 2026
DDR5 RAM Price Tracker: What 32GB Kits Cost This Week
AI-driven DRAM demand has pulled manufacturing capacity away from consumer memory. We're tracking 32GB DDR5 kit pricing on a recurring basis as it moves.
September 22, 2026
RAM Shortage 2026: Why Prices Doubled and What to Do About It
Consumer DDR5 pricing has climbed sharply due to AI demand pulling DRAM manufacturing capacity away from consumer kits. Here's the actual cause and what it means for builders.
September 22, 2026
NAND Shortage Explained: Why SSDs Cost Double What They Did Last Year
SSD prices are tracking the same AI-driven supply squeeze hitting RAM. Here's why NAND flash capacity is being pulled away from consumer drives.
September 22, 2026
Best DDR5 RAM for Ryzen 9000 and Core Ultra 200S
Ryzen 9000 and Core Ultra 200S respond differently to memory speed and timing. Here's how to match a kit to your platform without overpaying.
September 22, 2026
RTX 50 Super: Release Date Rumors and What to Expect
Nvidia's Super refresh has had its reported timing shift more than once. Here's what's consistently reported versus what's still unconfirmed.
September 22, 2026
SSD Price Tracker: PCIe 5.0 Drives This Week
PCIe 5.0 SSDs sit at the sharp end of the NAND flash shortage. We're tracking pricing on a recurring basis alongside our DDR5 tracker.