Rigged Up
Build guides, component reviews, buying advice for DIY PC builders and upgraders
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Lian Li x DAN Cases B4-mATX Review: This MicroATX Chassis Is a Real Shape-Shifter
Strong value, clever modularity, and fine build quality for the money make the Lian Li x DAN Cases B4-mATX collaboration a standout MicroATX chassis—provided you plan your component clearances and cable routing carefully.
$72.72
Cooler Master Q300L V3 Review: Unbeatable Value for MicroATX Builds
At a tidy $44.99 MSRP, Cooler Master’s Q300L V3 MicroATX PC case packs the modularity and flexibility of models twice its price. It’s the best-value extreme-budget chassis you can buy today.
$39.99
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs. Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus: AMD Wins Games, Intel Wins Everything Else
One CPU tops the gaming charts. The other crushes it in productivity, integrated graphics, and overall value. Here's why Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the smarter buy for most PCs—and when the popular Ryzen 7 9850X3D makes sense.
These 4 DIY Builds Blow Away Valve's Steam Machine, and One Saves You $150
Valve's long-awaited Steam Machine is finally here, but it's not as affordable as anyone had hoped. I've pieced together parts to help you build four alternative PCs that are cheaper, punchier, or both.
SilverStone FLP03 Review: Build a Beige Box That Actually Rocks
SilverStone’s retro-styled FLP03 MicroATX PC case stands out for its ‘90s beige-box look and wide range of build options. It’s a flexible, nifty, but pricey walk down PC memory lane.
$179.99
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D Review: Zen 4 Strikes Back at Intel With a Glancing Blow
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D is a capable desktop processor for a dedicated gaming PC, but its older design and lackluster CPU performance make it tough to recommend more broadly.
$329.00
Samsung SSD 990 Review: An M.2 With Mojo, But Perplexing Pricing
Samsung's SSD 990 M.2 drive delivers on-point PCI Express 4.0 performance, solid management software, and robust security, but its lofty launch pricing leaves us pining for a markdown.
$229.99
The Best Cheap SSDs for 2026
Still booting from a hard drive? Storage prices may be rising, but these budget-minded solid-state drives will give your poky PC a big speed boost. We've tested dozens; these are the best.
Corsair Frame 4000D Wood RS (2026) Review: Grain Expectations
Corsair's modular Frame PC case platform comes into its own with the Frame 4000D Wood RS, which bundles premium looks, on-point cooling, and serious upgrade flexibility at a surprisingly reasonable price.
$109.99
The Best Graphics Cards for Compact PCs in 2026
Outfitting a compact PC for 4K and VR, or a tiny budget tower for 1080p gaming? These are our favorite Nvidia GeForce, AMD Radeon, and Intel Arc graphics cards that come in smaller sizes for your next PC build or upgrade.
The Best M.2 SSDs (Solid State Drives) for 2026
Today's fastest internal SSDs come in the super-small "gumstick" M.2 format. Here's how to buy the right M.2 SSD, along with deep-dive reviews of today's top models.
The Best Gaming PCs for 2026
You can't buy a more powerful gaming platform than a tricked-out desktop. Here's everything you need to know, part by part, to pick the right prebuilt gaming PC, plus current favorites culled from PC Labs' top-rated reviews.
The Best Motherboards for 2026
Building a desktop PC, or upgrading an aging one? Here's all you need to know about choosing the right motherboard—plus, our top tested picks in boards for the latest AMD and Intel CPU platforms.
The Best CPUs for 2026
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.
Fractal Design Pop 2 Vision Review: Elegance Under Glass
The design, materials, and performance of Fractal Design’s ATX-format Pop 2 Vision suggest a PC case that should cost 30% to 40% more than it does.
$99.99
The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D Is Back From the Dead, But I Wish It Wasn't
At Computex, AMD introduced a new 3D V-Cache desktop processor and resurrected an old one. Here's why you should think carefully before buying either one.
ASRock AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE Steel Legend 12GB OC Review: A Midrange Standout in a Chaotic GPU Market
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE is a capable midrange graphics card for gaming and a good fallback if you can't find an RX 9070 or RTX 5070 at list price.
$549.99
NZXT H2 Flow Review: A Mini-ITX Skyscraper for Big GPUs
Fitting a full-length graphics card into a small-footprint box, the NZXT H2 Flow’s vertical-yet-retro look hides monster gaming power.
$149.99
Buying or Building a PC in the RAM Crisis? Here's How to Avoid Paying the 'AI Tax'
Building or buying a PC in 2026 just keeps getting more expensive, with memory and storage prices surging. I've been building PCs for a long time, so here's how I would save my money.
The Best Budget CPUs for 2026
Upgrading or building out your workhorse PC on a tight budget? Here's how to shop for the right AMD or Intel processor for less than $300, along with the top-performing chips in our benchmark tests.
