PC Hardware Reviews

If 2021 was a breakthrough year for personal computer hardware, then 2022 was a harsh reality check. This is why. Supply chain bottlenecks and chip shortages are causing problems. For the better part of 2018, it was quite difficult to get any new gear, and when it was, it often carried an exorbitant markup.

That isn’t to say, however, that PC makers slowed down. In 2022, we evaluated some very astounding technology, including next-generation SSDs and laptops that are light years ahead of their predecessors. Do you like to watch videos online? Significant advancements were made in 2022 to hardware that enhances one’s appearance and voice for maximum impact. And since what you do with all that computational power is just as important, we’ve expanded this year’s list to include the greatest software available.

PerformancePSU, staff of professional computer users and reviewers were polled for their recommendations. We won’t waste any more time; here is the top desktop computing gear and software of 2022 and 2022. Yes, we’re excited about next year since many of the triumphs on this list will stay highly important until even newer goods begin debuting in 2022, particularly given the fact that the chip scarcity shows no signs of abating.

CPU:Intel’s 12th generation “Alder Lake”

Intel’s new 12th-generation “Alder Lake” Core series of hybrid CPUs have a blend of high-performance and high-efficiency cores, and they are beautiful. After three hard, rebuilding seasons, Intel is back in championship form once again. Alder Lake is the clear winner for those who can afford the starting price of cutting-edge DDR5 memory, and while the flagship Core i9-12900K doesn’t completely dominate AMD’s fabulous Ryzen 9 chips in all things, it offers enough of a performance lead in some very important areas—such as content creation apps and (if you squint your eyes enough, gaming)—to make it the clear winner.

Corsair MP600 Pro XT (SSD)

The MP600 Pro XT from Corsair arrived late in the year, but we were happy to see it when it did. Its speed is comparable to that of the lightning-fast Seagate FireCuda 530, although it costs less and comes in larger sizes (1 and 2 terabytes) and is more widely accessible. Since Seagate’s powerhouse model tends to be in limited availability, Corsair’s contender generally comes out on top in the contest for the greatest SSD.

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs): Ryzen 5000

This award is often titled “Finest graphics card,” and it is given annually to the best new discrete desktop video card. It’s true that several new graphics cards, from 1080p-focused options like the Radeon RX 6600 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 to 4K behemoths like the $1,200 GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, were introduced in 2022. However, the graphics industry was hit the hardest by the lack of chips, since cryptocurrency miners rely on graphics cards to generate digital coins for real-world value. It’s not surprising, but it is nonetheless disheartening, that every single new graphics card released this year has had astronomical list prices, has sold out very immediately upon release, and is now being resold on sites like Ebay and Craigslist for double the original list price. Gross.

Because of this, we’re shifting gears this year. The GPU cores included in AMD’s game-ready Ryzen 5000G APUs, still available in both DIY and multiple prebuilt systems, are the greatest gaming choice for most people with moderate budgets, not a graphics card. It’s possible to “create a Ryzen 5 5700G computer today” and “get great CPU performance” and “get OK gaming performance,” respectively, according to our evaluation. Though you may need to turn down certain visual settings for optimal performance, esports games and even triple-A titles may be played at a playable framerate at 720p or 1080p. The Ryzen 5 5600G costs $259 and the Ryzen 7 5700G costs $369, and that’s before you buy a motherboard to put them in. Bear in mind that in addition to the CPU, you are also receiving a workable GPU alternative. In addition, you’ll be happy to know that we have many available.

Plugable’s TBT3-UDZ is the finest Thunderbolt Dock

 PerformancePSU, The TBT3-UDZ from Plugable is without question the finest Thunderbolt dock ever created. Plugable has an innate understanding that Thunderbolt docks are about displays (particularly, two 4K60 screens), hence it has two HDMI and two DisplayPort connectors to support any setup. There are a plethora of other connections and a powerful 96 watts of charging capacity. The creature has my undying admiration.

What’s the catch? This is a very rare item. The Plugable TBT3-UDC3 is a more compact, affordable, and widely accessible alternative to this device, which is the best Thunderbolt dock on the market. Get it while you can. Now.