Custom PC is the UK’s best-selling magazine for PC hardware, overclocking, gaming and modding. Every month, Custom PC is packed with in-depth hardware reviews, step-by-step photo guides and informative features, all with a focus on tinkering with your computer’s insides. Along the way, you’ll also find hard-hitting tech opinion, game reviews and all manner of computer hobbyism goodness, from small Pi projects to extreme PC mods.

Intel’s last stronghold falls

Custom PC

ZEN PHILOSOPHY • AMD is now in a very strong position against Intel, and Richard Swinburne thinks even more options will turn up next year

NOT ACTUAL GAME FOOTAGE • As the ASA clamps down on misleading casual game adverts, Tracy King analyses the implications for the wider game industry

Incoming

Rumour control • WE PRESENT SOME OF THE LATEST UNCONFIRMED TECH GOSSIP. TAKE THESE STORIES WITH THE APPROPRIATE PINCH OF SALT

Letters • Please send us your feedback and correspondence to letters@custompcmag.org.uk

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AMD RYZEN 7 5800X/ £410 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

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AMD RYZEN 9 5900X / £500 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

WHAT’S THE BEST MEMORY FOR AMD ZEN 3 CPUS?

HOW TO OVERCLOCK AMD’S ZEN 3 CPUS

NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX3090 / £1,399 inc VAT • SUPPLIER nvidia.com

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CORSAIR H100I ELITE CAPELLIX / £150 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

LG ULTRAGEAR 38GN950 / £1,500 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

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ACER NITRO VG271UP/ £299 inc VAT • SUPPLIER overclockers.co.uk

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ROCCAT ELO 7.1 AIR / £90 inc VAT • SUPPLIER game.co.uk

CHILLBLAST AERORGB / £40 inc VAT • SUPPLIER chillblast.com

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CORSAIR K100 / £230 inc VAT • SUPPLIER overclockers.co.uk

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ASUS TUF A15/ £999 inc VAT • SUPPLIER currys.co.uk

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LENOVO LE / £2,199 inc VAT • SUPPLIER laptopsdirect.co.uk

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CYBERPOWER INFINITY 910RTX/ £2,099 inc VAT • SUPPLIER cyberpowersystem.co.uk

Custom kit • Phil Hartup checks out the latest gadgets, gizmos and geek toys

Speed demons • Antony Leather checks out the latest PCI-E 4 NVMe M.2 SSDs to see which super-fast drives are worth your cash

1TB CORSAIR FORCE MP600/ £172 inc VAT • SUPPLIER cclonline.com

1TB GIGABYTE AORUS NVME GEN4 SSD/ £169 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

1TB SABRENT ROCKET NVME 4.0/ £165 inc VAT • SUPPLIER amazon.co.uk

1TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO/ £216 inc VAT • SUPPLIER ebuyer.com

Wireless mechanical keyboards • Want the freedom of wireless without compromising on typing quality? Edward Chester checks out the burgeoning market for wireless mechanical keyboards

KEYCHRON K2 VERSION 2/ £84 inc VAT • SUPPLIER keyboardco.com

LOGITECH G613/ £100 inc VAT • SUPPLIER currys.co.uk

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LOGITECH G915 TKL/ £199 inc VAT • SUPPLIER currys.co.uk

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RAZER BLACKWIDOW V3 PRO/ £230 inc VAT • SUPPLIER razer.com

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ROYAL KLUDGE RK61/ £50 inc VAT

How we test

CUSTOM PC AWARDS

Elite • Our choice of the best hardware available

RAY OF LIGHT • Real-time ray tracing is an amazing technology wasted in the pursuit of realism in fast-paced games, argues Rick Lane

Serious Sam 4 / £30.99 inc VAT

Crusader Kings III / £41.99 inc VAT

MAFIA: DEFINITIVE EDITION/ £34.99 inc VAT

TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER 1 + 2/ £ 44.99 inc VAT

REALITY CHECK • It’s not impossible. Rick Lane used to bullseye womp rats in his T-16 back home

Zen 3 IN...