Cpus
22 articles in this category
Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Should You Save on Last-Gen or Pay for Zen 5 X3D?
May 18, 2026
Zen 4's 16-core X3D against Zen 5's 16-core X3D, same AM5 socket, very different value math. Pick by buyer cohort and workload.
Core Ultra 9 285K vs Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Which Flagship Should You Buy in 2026?
May 18, 2026
Intel's 24-core Arrow Lake flagship versus AMD's 16-core X3D flagship, by workload. Pick by gaming, productivity, platform longevity, or QuickSync need.
Ryzen 5 9600X vs Core Ultra 5 245K: Which Mid-Range CPU Should You Buy in 2026?
May 18, 2026
AMD's 6-core gaming-tilted Zen 5 versus Intel's 14-core Arrow Lake hybrid. Pick by gaming, productivity mix, build efficiency, or platform horizon.
Best B650 Motherboards for Ryzen 9000 (2026): Mid-Tier AM5 Picks by Build Profile
May 18, 2026
B650 is the AM5 value lane for Ryzen 9000. We pick 5 boards by build profile, with a BIOS-update buying framework built in.
How to Choose a CPU and Motherboard
May 18, 2026
The buyer's framework for picking a CPU and motherboard pair: use case first, socket second, chip tier third, then the board class that matches.
Valorant Pro Gear & Peripherals Guide: What Top Players Use
May 18, 2026
See the exact gear Valorant pros use—mice, keyboards, monitors & headsets. Find out which pro equipment can boost your aim, speed & comfort.
Intel vs AMD 2026: The Right CPU for Gaming & Work
May 18, 2026
Intel vs AMD CPUs in 2026 — Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Ryzen 9 9950X3D, and Core Ultra 9 285K compared for gaming and productivity. Live US pricing on every pick.
Best AMD Gaming CPUs 2026: Ranked by Price-to-Performance
May 17, 2026
The best AMD gaming CPUs for 2026, ranked by price-to-performance — from budget Ryzen 5 picks to the 9950X3D, with live US pricing on every tier.
Best CPUs for Gaming in 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget
May 17, 2026
The best gaming CPUs for 2026 across every budget — from Intel’s Core i5 picks to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D — with live US pricing and frame-rate guidance.
Best CPUs for Forza Horizon 6 (2026): Five Picks by Tier
May 17, 2026
Best CPUs for Forza Horizon 6 in 2026, picked by tier. X3D rules high-refresh freeroam crowds; the budget and Intel paths cruise 1440p fine.
Ryzen 7 9700X vs Ryzen 7 9800X3D
May 17, 2026
Ryzen 7 9700X vs 9800X3D: when the X3D cache pays back for your library, when the 9700X's lower TDP and price hold up, and how to decide by workload.
Best CPUs for Baldur's Gate 3 (2026): Five Picks by Tier
May 17, 2026
Best CPUs for Baldur's Gate 3 in 2026, picked by tier. X3D cache wins Act 3 Lower City; the budget and Intel paths still clear Acts 1 and 2 cleanly.
Ryzen 9 9900X3D vs Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Which 12 or 16 Core X3D Should You Buy?
May 17, 2026
Ryzen 9 9900X3D vs 9950X3D, by workload. Pure gaming or hybrid creator? We unpack the asymmetric CCD topology and pick the right one for your build.
Best CPUs for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (2026): Five Picks by Tier
May 15, 2026
Best CPUs for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in 2026, picked by tier. X3D cache rules photogrammetry-heavy hubs; the budget and Intel paths fly cruise fine.
Best B850 Motherboards (2026): Mid-Tier AM5 Picks by Build Profile
May 14, 2026
B850 is the AM5 mid-tier sweet spot for Ryzen 9000 builds. We pick 5 boards by profile, from flagship ATX to compact ITX.
Best CPUs for Path of Exile 2 (2026): Five Picks by Tier
May 13, 2026
Best CPUs for Path of Exile 2 in 2026, picked by tier. X3D cache rules endgame map juicing; the budget and Intel paths still clear 6-portal Atlas runs.
Best DDR5 RAM for the Core Ultra 9 285K (2026 Picks)
May 13, 2026
Best DDR5 RAM for the Core Ultra 9 285K: 5 kits by workload. DDR5-6400 UDIMM is the gaming sweet spot. CUDIMM 8400 unlocks Arrow Lake's productivity ceiling.
Best CPUs for Counter-Strike 2 (2026): Five Picks by Tier
May 13, 2026
Best CPUs for Counter-Strike 2 in 2026: five picks across competitive tiers from 144 Hz to 480 Hz OLED, with X3D cache analysis and 1% lows benchmarks.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs 9800X3D: Is the Upgrade Worth It? (2026)
May 12, 2026
Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs 9800X3D in 2026. Where each X3D wins, the upgrade tax math, and the buyer profile each chip is built for.
Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (2026 Picks)
May 12, 2026
The 9800X3D doesn't need a flagship VRM. We pick 5 AM5 motherboards by build profile: flagship, premium, value, B650E budget, and ITX.
Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs Core Ultra 9 285K (2026 Verdict)
May 11, 2026
Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs Core Ultra 9 285K in 2026: gaming benchmarks, productivity wins, power draw, and AM5 vs LGA1851 longevity. Which one wins your build?
Best DDR5 RAM for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D
May 11, 2026
A focused guide to the best DDR5 RAM kits for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D: why DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO is the AM5 sweet spot, which exact SKUs to buy, and how to avoid the 4-DIMM performance trap.