Wednesday, 8 September 2021

The best PC case 2021: top cases for your desktop computer

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More than just to showcase the epic RGB lighting on your internals, the best PC cases exist specifically to give those components shelter and protection. The ideal PC case is designed to keep them away from dust and debris as well as ensure that they are getting more than enough ventilation to keep them cool and working optimally. 

It’s wise therefore to invest in a topnotch PC case, whether you’re building your own PC for your work-from-home setup or putting together a computer for gaming. Choosing the perfect PC case for your needs isn’t going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it to ensure that the new graphics card and the new processor you’ve spent a lot of money on stay in tip top shape. You should also find one that offers excellent ventilation, especially if you have the more powerful components, and has additional empty bays for future-proofing in case you’d like to upgrade or add more later on.

If you don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place as we’ve collected the best PC case 2021 has to offer. Also, be sure to check out our price comparison tool for the best deals.

Corsair iCUE RGB 5000x at an angle on a white background

The Corsair iCue RGB 5000X has good cooling, a lot of space for efficient building, and three Corsair RGB fans. (Image credit: Corsair)

1. Corsair iCue RGB 5000X

An imposing (and expensive) tower of glass

Form factor: Mid-tower | Dimensions: 520mm x 245mm x 520mm (L x W x H; 20.47 x 9.65 x 20.47 inches) | Mobo compatibility: ATX | PSU support: Bottom mount | I/O: (1x) USB 3.1 Type C, (2x) USB 3.0, (1x) Audio in/out

Incredibly stylish and open design
Great out-of-the-box airflow
Attaching and removing most removable internal pieces is frustrating

A hulking glass beast is what you’re getting with the Corsair iCue RGB 5000X whose offerings include good cooling – thanks in large part to its mesh coverings around the top and bottom panels, a lot of space for efficient building, and three Corsair RGB fans. And, it delivers all those while looking incredibly sleek, albeit massive. It might be a bit pricey for some folks, but for those whose top priorities include airflow and space, it’s worth the price.

Read the full review: Corsair iCue RGB 5000X

Fractal Design Meshify-C at an angle on a white background

The Fractal Design Meshify-C has a unique style. (Image Credit: Fractal Design)

2. Fractal Design Meshify-C

The best mid-tower PC case

Form factor: Mid-tower | Dimensions: 395 x 212 x 440mm (L x W x H; 15.6 x 8.3 x 17.3) | PSU support: ATX | I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x HD audio in/out, power button, reset button | Includes: 2 x Dynamic X2 GP-12

Freshly designed in multiple ways
Reasonable price
USB 3.0 cable is too short Front
PSU dust filter is hard to remove

It is extremely rare to see any PC case that even vaguely resembles the Fractal Design Meshify-C. Given that the front of the case is entirely made of a mesh material sectioned off into an array of polygonal shapes, the Meshify-C has a unique style – without compromising on function. With two fans pre-installed, cooling is (forgive us) a breeze, even if the Meshify-C is held back by a number of obstacles. 

Nanoxia Deep Silence 4 at an angle on a white background

The Nanoxia Deep Silence 4 is quiet as a mouse. (Image Credit: Nanoxia)

3. Nanoxia Deep Silence 4

The best Micro ATX PC case

Form factor: Small form factor | Dimensions: 380 x 200 x 480mm (W x H x D; 15 x 7.9 x 18.9 inches) | PSU support: ATX | I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HD audio in/out, power button, reset button, two-channel fan control | Includes: 2 x 120mm fans, 2 x modular HDD cages for up to five hard drives

Low-noise
Onboard dual-zone fan controls
 Not many extras 

As its name suggests, the Nanoxia Deep Silence 4 has the sole purpose of being quiet as a mouse. This silence-focused case is a well-balanced Micro ATX chassis that’s affordably priced, without sacrificing room for expansion. That’s right you can fit even the biggest, most powerful graphics cards in the Nanoxia Deep Silence 4. The fact that you will never hear it go above 30 decibels is just icing on the very taciturn cake. 

  • This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Phanteks Evolv Shift X. 

NZXT H200i at an angle on a white background

NZXT H200i integrates a ton of the same features as its Micro ATX and mid-tower equivalents. (Image Credit: NZXT)

4. NZXT H200i

The best Mini-ITX case

Form factor: Small form factor | Dimensions: 210 x 349 x 372mm (8.3 x 13.7 x 14.6) | Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX | PSU support: ATX | I/O: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x audio/mic, 3 x fan channels with max 10W per channel output, 1 x RGB LED port support up to 4 x HUE + LED strips or 5 x Aer RGB fans | Includes: 1 x Aer F120 Case Version top fan, 1 x Aer F120 Case Version rear fan

Built-in Smart Device RGB control
Adaptive noise reduction
Slightly pricey

Every single day mini-ITX gets more popular, and closer to toppling Micro ATX. And, it makes sense – why not spring for a small computer that can get just as much work done as a full tower? NZXT’s new H-series case line manages to integrate a ton of the same features as its Micro ATX and mid-tower equivalents, with mesmerizing, built-in and smart device-controlled RGB lighting and an adaptive noise sensor that sees improvement only by way of the Grid+ V3 fan controller.

Phanteks Evolv Shift X at an angle on a white background

Phanteks Evolv Shift X is flexible to the point that it looks natural placed under a TV as it does on a desk. (Image Credit: Phanteks)

5. Phanteks Evolv Shift X

The best home theater PC case

Form factor: Small form factor | Dimensions: 170 x 650 x 274mm (W x H x D; 6.7 x 26.1 x 10.8 inches) | Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX | PSU support: SFX, SFX-L, ATX (160mm max) | I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, power button, RGB button | Includes: 2 x 140mm fan, 1 x power supply cover, 1 x pump bracket, 2 x SSD bracket, 1 x PCIe x16 Riser cable, 1 x 8-pin CPU extension cable

Plenty of room for beefy components
One-of-a-kind aesthetic
 Massive for Mini-ITX

When you first look at the Phanteks Evolv Shift X, it looks more like a sound bar than one of the best PC cases, but this helps it vanish into any living area or studio setup. It’s flexible to the point that it looks natural placed under a TV as it does on a desk, next to one of the best gaming monitors. It may only be compatible with a Mini-ITX motherboard, but the Phanteks Evolv Shift X offers tons of space for components and liquid cooling loops. If this case is  a little large for your preference, you can get the smaller Phanteks Evolv Shift for easier management.

Fractal Design Define R5 at an angle on a white background

The metallic and blue LED-lit face of the Fractal Design Define R5 is simple, yet elegant. (Image Credit: Fractal Design)

6. Fractal Design Define R5

The best silent PC case

Form factor: Mid-tower | Dimensions: 232 x 451 x 521mm (W x H x D; 232 x 451 x 521 inches) | PSU support: ATX | I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, audio in/out, power button with LED, HDD activity LED, reset button | Includes: 2 x Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 140mm fans, velcro straps

User-friendly (and handsome) design
 Affordable price
 Definitely not tool-less

Fractal Design wins again with the Define R5, yet another mid-tower case with a gorgeous aesthetic. The metallic and blue LED-lit face of this case is simple, yet elegant, and is accompanied by noise dampening materials throughout its interior. In spite of the detachable ModuVent panels and drive trays not being toolessly accessible, it’s incredibly easy to build a system inside of the Fractal Design Define R5, plus it’s not as expense as you’d expect from a PC case with such a pretentious name, either.  

Cooler Master H500P Mesh at an angle on a white background

The Cooler Master H500P Mesh's beautiful RGB-packed case has plenty of room for airflow. (Image Credit: Cooler Master)

7. Cooler Master H500P Mesh

The best high airflow case

Form factor: Full-tower | Dimensions: 544 x 242 x 542mm (L x W x H; 21.4 x 9.5 x 21.3 inches) | Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX, E-ATX (12 x 10.7 inches) | PSU support: Bottom mount, ATX PS2 | I/O: USB 3.0 x2, USB 2.0 x2, Audio in & out (supports HD audio) | Includes: 2x 200 x 25mm RGB fan, 1x 140 x 25mm fan

Great airflow
Gorgeous RGB lighting
Not as big as other full towers

Cooler Master is kind of known for, well, cooling things – and the Cooler Master H500P Mesh is evidence of how it got there. This beautiful RGB-packed case has plenty of room for airflow, even accommodating up to 360mm radiators on the top and front for when you really want to take your cooling to the next level. Add on top of that the RGB lighting and tempered glass side panel and you have the potential to build something beautiful with this case. Go for it.

Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass at an angle on a white background

Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass has a deceptively large amount of space for future expansion. (Image Credit: Corsair)

8. Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass

The best budget PC case

Form factor: Mid-tower | Dimensions: 492 x 201 x 433mm (L x W x H; 19.4 x 7.9 x 17 inches) | PSU support: ATX | I/O: 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x headphone port, 1 x microphone port, power on button, reset button | Includes: 1 x 120mm LED front fan

 Attractive price 
 Very aesthetic 
 Only includes 1 case fan 

If you’re looking to save a few bucks, while still getting one of the best PC cases, look no further than the Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass. Not only does it have plenty of space for airflow, it also has a deceptively large amount of space for future expansion, meaning that even at this low price point, you won’t have to worry about fitting a full-sized graphics card. And, when you’re done building, the tempered glass side panel will allow you to show off your handiwork. 

Antec Cube at an angle on a white background

The Antec Cube is without a doubt the best PC case for Razer fans. (Image Credit: Antec)

9. Antec Cube

The best PC cube case

Form factor: Small form factor | Dimensions: 365 x 250 x 460mm (H x W x D; 14.4 x 9.8 x 18.1 inches) | PSU support: ATX | I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, I/O button, audio in/out | Includes: 1 x 120mm rear exhaust fan mount

Ample space for power and cooling
Integrated fan controller
Wildly expensive
Less than satisfactory performance

The Antec Cube is without a doubt the best PC case for you Razer fans out there. While Razer hasn’t made its own desktop PC (not yet, anyway), you can build a Mini-ITX gaming PC, pretending it’s a razer product. You see, Antec partnered with Razer to bring its signature green-infused flare to the Cube, a small form-factor chassis. Complete with a deceptively high amount of space for future expansion, the Antec Cube is also compact enough to travel with. 

Phanteks Evolv X at an angle on a white background

The Phanteks Evolv X squeezes dual-system compatibility in a mid-tower. (Image Credit: Phantex)

10. Phanteks Evolv X

The best dual-system PC case

Form factor: Mid-tower | Dimensions: 240 x 520 x 510mm (W x H x D; 9.45 x 20.5 x 20.1 inches) | PSU support: E-ATX | I/O: 1 x Thunderbolt 3, 1 x Mic, 1 x Headphone, 1 x Reset button, RGB mode button, RGB color button | Includes: 3 x Premium 140mm fans

Attractive 
Plenty of space 
Expensive 

Who says dual-system builds have to be in a hulking full-tower case? The Phanteks Evolv X takes dual-system compatibility and squeezes it into a mid-tower. Even with that second Mini-ITX motherboard installed,  there’s plenty of room for E-ATX motherboards and power supplies, and ample cooling. It is pricey for a mid-tower case, but with all this functionality, it kind of has to be. It’s thanks to all of these high-end features that the Phanteks Evolv X is one of the best PC cases around today. 



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Best CPU cooler 2021: top CPU coolers for your PC

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Even the most powerful processors can be rendered useless without the best CPU cooler keeping things frosty. It doesn’t matter whether you have a kitted-out gaming PC or a more affordable computer for work, the processor, graphics card, and motherboard inside can overheat – and therefore throttle performance – when facing extremely demanding tasks. And, only a quality cooling solution can keep them running at their peak efficiency.

No one wants to see their PC throttle when performing demanding tasks or worse, catch fire because they got too hot. A CPU cooler ensures that the processor inside that PC you're building or upgrading stays cool and in tip-top shape, as well as better for overclocking. To keep things appealing to RGB fans, some even boast cool RGB lighting.

Keep things chill by installing one of the best CPU coolers to keep those internals working optimally. These are our top picks, alongside our price comparison tool so you can get the best price available.

Noctua NH-D15 at an angle on a white background

Image Credit: Noctua

1. Noctua NH-D15

Best CPU cooler

Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM3+, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 1500 RPM | Noise volume: 19.20dbA – 24.60dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 160 x 150 x 135mm | Weight: 2.91 pounds (1.32kg)

Whisper quiet
Six-year manufacturer’s warranty
Too big for some PC builds

The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best CPU coolers you can buy in 2019 simply because it performs just as well as – if not better – than some liquid coolers, while costing a fraction of the price. You might not be too familiar with Noctua’s name, as they’re relatively small in the CPU cooler world, but its business is revolves around designing coolers, so you know that when you buy one of their products, you’re getting a product by people who really know their craft. On top of delivering a fantastic cooling performance, the NH-D15 is nearly silent as well. 

Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition with its RGB lighting on at an angle on a white background

(Image credit: Cooler Master)

2. Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition

Better than ever before

Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 1150 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: 650 - 2,000 RPM | Noise volume: 8 - 30 dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 120 x 79.6 x 158.8 mm | Weight: 1.54 pounds (700g)

Improved performance
Easy installation
Quiet fan
RGB lighting just ok

Cooler Master’s Hyper 212 CPU RGB cooler is back with a vengeance, and sporting a sleek gun-metal black brushed aluminum finish to boot. It’s not only jet black look that’s upping this CPU cooler’s cool factor – though it does help what with that aluminum top cover and nickel plated jet black fins to complete the look. It’s also easily one of the best CPU coolers on the market with its stacked fin array that ensures least airflow resistance, four heat pipes that boast Direct Contact Technology to better battle the heat, and a wide speed range for fine-tuning cooling performance and silent operation.

Noctua NH-L9 at an angle on a white background

Image Credit: Noctua

3. Noctua NH-L9

Best low-profile CPU cooler

Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 1156/1155/1151; AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/FM1/FM2 | Rotation frequency: Up to 2500 RPM | Noise volume: 14.8dbA – 23.6dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 206 x 184 x 37mm | Weight: 1.03 pounds (0.47kg)

Ultra compact
Six-year manufacturer’s warranty
Only 92mm fan

Noctua is an Austrian manufacturer that does one thing, and one thing only: make the best CPU coolers and fans. What this means is that even though the Noctua NH-L9 is tiny, it is still more than capable of insane cooling with no compromises. This is a fantastic cooler for anyone with a smaller build, or even if you’re using a ton of large components, and you’re not comfortable with liquid cooling.

NZXT Kraken Z-3 at an angle on a white background

(Image credit: NZXT)

4. NZXT Kraken Z-3

Personalize your all-in-one liquid cooler

Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel Socket LGA 1151 – 2066, Intel Core i9 / Core i3 – i7, AMD Socket AM4, TR4, AMD Ryzen 3 – Ryzen Threadripper | Rotation frequency: 500-1,800 + 300 RPM | Noise volume: 21-38dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 143 x 315 x 30mm

Total customization
Superior performance
Premium price

Whether you’re going for 360MM or 280MM, the NZXT Kraken Z-3 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for liquid cooling. First of all, thanks to its vibrant 2.36-inch LCD screen that’s capable of displaying 24-bit color, this liquid cooler allows total customization so you can fine-tune settings as well as display your favorite images and animated gifs. More importantly, it delivers impressive liquid cooling performance and is easy to install. 

Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix with its RGB lighting on at an angle on a white background

(Image credit: Corsair)

5. Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix

Brighter is better

Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066, AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4, sTR4 | Rotation frequency: Up to 2,000 | Noise volume: 36dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 322 x 137 x 27mm

Insane performance 
Brighter RGB lighting
Only minor improvement over predecessor

The Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix continues Corsair’s tradition of outstanding liquid coolers. It couples excellent cooling, thanks to its split-flow copper cold plate and its low-noise centrifugal pump, with bright RGB lighting, due to the use of Capellix LEDs. And, the RGB lighting is, in true Corsair style, customizable through the company’s proprietary iCue software. If you want a powerful liquid cooling system that looks good too, the Corsair iCUE H115i Elite is a perfect choice.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage with its RGB lighting on at an angle on a white background

(Image credit: Cooler Master)

6. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage

Cool and hypnotic

Type: Liquid cooling | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: up to 2000 ±10% RPM | Noise volume: 27dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 277 x 120 x 27 mm | Weight: 2.11 pounds (1,237g)

Threadripper support
Gorgeous RGB lighting
Pricey

With the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage in your gaming rig, you won’t only end up playing for hours on end without worrying about thermal throttling or overheating. You might just an hour or so admiring your CPU, especially if you have one of those glass-window cases, as this CPU cooler is indeed hypnotically pretty. It’s mostly thanks to its transparent pump design that lets you see the impeller spinning while bathed in different RGB lighting, like a colorful spinning wheel at a funhouse. Performance-wise, it definitely deserves a spot in our best CPU coolers list, with its PPS+ glass fiber housing and nozzle that provides temperature and liquid resistance, EPDM rubber O-Ring that helps eliminate liquid emission, and a low-resistance radiator that increases flow rate, heat exchange efficiency and cooling performance.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120R RGB with its RGB lighting on at an angle on a white background

Image Credit: Cooler Master

7. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120R RGB

The best compact liquid cooler

Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 2000 RPM | Noise volume: 6dbA – 30dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 83.6 x 71.8 x 52.7mm

 Luminous RGB lighting 
 Premium build 
 A little expensive 

There isn’t a single component that can’t be improved through RGB, and Cooler Master is well aware – jumping on the RGB bandwagon with the MasterLIquid ML 120R RGB. What’s more, it integrates some of the first addressable LEDs seen on a liquid cooler. This all-in-one liquid cooling solution isn’t just about aesthetics – it features an oxidation free pump and an efficient radiator. This means that not only will it last longer – but it’ll keep your CPU cooler, and all without giving up too much case real estate, which is why it’s made our best CPU coolers list.

Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120 at an angle on a white background

(Image credit: Arctic)

8. Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120

A multi-compatible all-in-one

Type: Fan and liquid cooling | Compatibility: Intel 1200, 115X, 2011-3*, 2066* *Square ILM; AMD AM4 | Rotation frequency: 200 – 1 800 RPM | Noise volume: 0.3 Sone | Dimensions (W x D x H): 157 x 120 x 38 mm (radiator), 98 x 78 x 53 mm (pump) | Weight: 932 g

Strong performance
Easy mounting on Intel
Single radiator fan

You’re getting your cool plate, radiator, and pump in one with the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120, but that’s not all. Its pump clocks down to consume 80% less power and produce much less noise when cooling isn’t vital, and its water loop is practically maintenance-free, sealed with fibre-reinforced EPDM tubing. Plus, it’s easy to mount and very affordable, making it among the best value CPU coolers in the market today.

Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF at an angle on a white background

Image Credit: Corsair

9. Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF

Best low-profile CPU liquid-cooler

Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 115x; AMD FM2 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 1,800 RPM | Noise volume: 36dBA – 42dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 167 x 57 x 84mm | Weight: 2 pounds (0.91kg)

Guaranteed leak-free tubing
Compact, all-in-one form factor
Blower style cooler

Even if your budget will allow you to really go all-out on a serious liquid cooling solutions, if you have a smaller PC case, you’ll likely not have enough space. That’s where something like the Corsair Hydro H5 SF comes into play. Even on the smallest PC cases, you’re able to use this CPU cooler to keep your CPU chilled, even if you have some beastly overclocks happening. Plus, because it’s a closed loop, you don’t even need to worry about maintenance. Set it up, and let it do its thing – you won’t be disappointed. 

NoFan CR-95C at an angle on a white background

Image Credit: NoFan

10. NoFan CR-95C

Best fanless CPU cooler

Type: Passively cooled heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – 1156; AMD AM2 – AM3+; FM1 | Noise volume: 0dBA | Dimensions (W x H x D): 180 x 148 x 180mm | Weight: 1.6 pounds (0.73kg)

You won’t hear a peep
Works well with low-power CPUs
Exorbitantly massive
95W TDP limitation

Rounding out our best CPU coolers list is the NoFan CR-95C. You’ve probably never heard of NoFan – unless you’re already neck deep into the rabbit hole that is silent PC assembly. The South Korean component company specializes in helping enthusiasts reach that 0dBA silent sweet spot. In doing so, of course, will severely limit your set-up in terms of power, with its CR-95C fanless solution being limited in compatibility to processors whose TDP fall below 95W. Still, the NoFan CR-95C is worth a shot if you want to build a low-power computer that completely blends into the background.

  •  This Product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Noctua NH-L9 

MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero at an angle on a white background

(Image credit: CoolerMaster)

11. MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero

Best CPU cooler for overclocking

Type: Liquid cooler | Compatibility: LGA1200 | Noise volume: < 35 dBA pump, 8 - 26 dBA fan | Dimensions (W x H x D): 394 x 119.6 x 27.2 mm radiator, 57.3 x 57.3 x 92.2 mm pump, 120 x 120 x 25 mm fan

For Intel’s high-TDP chips
Has a condensation barrier
Loud pump

Powered by Intel’s Cryo Cooling Technology, the MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero from Cooler Master allows increased performance for Intel’s high-TDP chips by letting them reach higher frequencies at lower voltages. This liquid cooler boasts a 360mm radiator and fans that are able to spin at low rpm while delivering a high air pressure to air flow ratio. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer who loves to overclock or a content creator with demanding processing needs, this is the best CPU cooler for you.



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The MSI GE76 Raider Review: Tiger Lake Plus Ampere Equals Framerate

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Let us pretend we are desktop people, thinking about building a new system. What would we look for? If we are after a gaming system, clearly we need a big GPU. A very beefy CPU is a nice touch as well if we want to keep the GPU fed. Plenty of memory, lots of storage, and maybe lots of ports for expansion. Add in a nice RGB keyboard, perhaps a high refresh display, and lots of cooling. Now let us imagine we pack that into a 2.9 kg / 6.4 lb package. That seems impossible, doesn’t it? What if we added in a 99.9 Wh UPS as well? Now that is really crazy. Let me present to you the MSI GE76 Raider, which brings all of this together into the 2021 version of MSI’s Raider series of gaming laptops.



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Tuesday, 7 September 2021

IBM Power10 Coming To Market: E1080 for ‘Frictionless Hybrid Cloud Experiences’

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Last year IBM presented details about its new Power10 family of processors: eight threads per core, 15 cores per chip, and two chips per socket, with a new core microarchitecture, built on Samsung’s 7nm process. New technologies such as PCIe 5.0 for add-in cards, PowerAXON for chip-to-chip interconnect, and OpenCAPI for a super wide memory support made Power10 sound like a beast, but the question was always about time to market – when could customers get one? Today IBM’s Power10 E1080 Servers are being announced, aimed squarely at the cloud market.



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Intel Arc: everything we know about the new GPUs

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Intel Arc is official, and with it the graphics card world will soon be a mighty scrum between Teams Blue, Red, and Green. But how much do AMD and Nvidia have to fear from this latest player in on the GPU scene, and how confident are we that Intel Alchemist, the first Arc card we're expecting to see, will earn a spot on our best graphics cards list when it drops?

While this might be Intel's first go at making a line of discrete gaming graphics cards, Intel has been making GPUs for a while now in the form of Intel Iris integrated graphics, and it's Iris Xe graphics have been pretty impressive, given the constraints of its platform integrated with Intel Tiger Lake CPUs.

We did get our first look at a discrete Intel Iris Xe graphics card at CES 2020, and we even got to play around with them a little bit. But even though those early efforts looked good, it remained to be seen how well the final product would turn out.

That is, of course, still the case since we haven't gotten our hands on the Intel Arc graphics card yet, but we won't have to wait too much longer with a release date expected less than a year away. So what else do we know so far about the Intel Arc? Let's take a look.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Intel’s line of discrete graphics cards
  • When is it out? Q1 2022, possibly as early as January 2022
  • What will it cost? No one knows yet

When is Intel Arc going to be released?

The Intel Arc release date is a bit fuzzy this far out, but Intel is giving a Q1 2022 release date for their first lineup of Intel Arc graphics cards. This lines up pretty neatly with CES 2022, so it wouldn't be shocking to see an announcement or even a full blown launch in January 2022.

We don't know how the cards will break down by model yet, or how many different cards will be featured under the Intel Arc codename "Alchemist" – which, we have to admit, is a pretty cool code name – so it's too soon to tell how many cards are going to be released in Q1 2022.

We expect though that there could be at least three cards competing in the three tranches against AMD and Nvidia, with high-end, midrange, and low-end cards featuring different amounts of VRAM and core counts to compete against rival cards from Team Red and Team Green.

We know that Intel Arc will definitely have some midrange offering that will pit it against the RTX 3070 and RX 6700 XT, and will likely have something for the low end as well. Whether it will compete against the higher-end RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT, much less the RTX 3090 and RX 6900 XT are open questions at this point.


Intel Xe prototype shroud design

Intel Xe prototype shroud design (Image credit: Future)

How much will Intel Arc cost?

It is far too soon to tell how much Intel Arc graphics cards will cost, but we expect that they will be competitively priced against rival AMD and Nvidia cards, if for no other reason than that they will have to be, otherwise what is the point?

Of course, much of the discussion around price and pre-announcement discussion points to Intel aiming more towards competing with AMD than with Nvidia.

An interview with Russian YouTube channel Pro Hi-Tech, that was subsequently taken down, saw Intel senior vice president of architecture saying that Intel Arc would aim for the mainstream market, which begins around $200 (about £165, AU$300). 

Intel has clarified that Koduri was talking about the mainstream market starting at that price point and not future Intel graphics cards starting at that price point, so they appear to be giving themselves some wiggle room on future pricing. 

That said, it doesn't appear that they are gunning for the brass ring right out the gate and looking to challenge the Nvidia RTX 3090, so whatever Alchemist comes out with, we may see it more targeted towards the Nvidia RTX 3070 and the AMD RX 6700 XT on the high end, which would put a cap on the MSRP at around $600 / £500 / AU$1,000.

Intel Xe HPG logo

What can Intel Xe graphics cards do? (Image credit: Intel)

Intel Arc specs

Unlike just about everything else about Intel Arc, there are some things we do know about Intel Arc's specs, courtesy of Intel itself.

During Intel's recent Architecture Day event, where Intel Arc was given some considerable attention, we learned that Intel Arc will be seriously competitive when it comes to real-time ray tracing, AI super sampling technology – directly competing with Nvidia DLSS and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution – to upscale graphics, and mesh shading.

Intel released a video demonstrating its latest tech during its Intel Arc announcement and it definitely looks impressive. 

We do know that the Intel Xe-HPG architecture that Intel Arc will be based on features a core count of 4096, which is higher than both the AMD RX 6700 and RX 6800, though this falls short of that of the Nvidia RTX 3070.

If Team Blue can get the pricing right on Intel Arc, it could easily pose the greatest challenge to AMD, and even supplant it for second place in the graphics card market as the graphics card to get if you are in any way budget-conscious.



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AMD Ryzen prices are falling – should Intel be concerened?

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AMD’s Ryzen CPUs have been scarce over the last few months after a rapid rise in popularity and demand dried up available inventory. If you've been trying to get your hands on one then we have great news – not only are they readily available across most of the global retailers we checked, many sites have also applied a generous discount to the most of the Zen 3 line-up.

A report conducted by Overclock3D that focused on the UK market reveals that coveted products like the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X have dropped from £530 ($730 / AU$990) to £450 ($620 / AU$840).

VideoCardz reports that the same CPU actually got a bit more expensive in the US market, sitting at around $590-610 from the initial launch RRP of $549, but the rest of the Ryzen 5000 series is, on average, 12% cheaper in the US, 18% in the UK and 16% in EU.

Red Ryzen hot deals

Overclock3D also pulled some pricing examples from Amazon, but it's important to remember that a conversion from the UK pricing doesn't necessarily reflect the MSRP of other regions.

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600X – Launch price £290 (around $400 / AU$540) – Current Price £246 (around $340 / AU$460)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 5800X – Launch Price £429 (around $595 / AU$800) – Current Price £355 (around $490 / AU$660)
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5900X – Launch price £530 (around $730 / AU$990) – Current Price £450 (around $620 / AU$840)
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5950X – Launch price £750 (around $1,030 / AU$1,340) – Current Price £719 (around $990 / AU$1,340)

It's likely that an announcement is coming from both Team Red and Team Blue within the next few months to officially introduce the next generation of CPU architecture, so is it worth snapping up a deal on the current gen offerings? We certainly think so.

It's completely unnecessary to upgrade your CPU for every generation released (unless you have some serious cash to burn), so if you've been looking for an opportunity to grab a good deal then the available stock and lower prices we're seeing are as good a time as any.

With an ongoing chip shortage, it's also a gamble if the current generation of Intel and AMD CPUs will see stock levels and prices remain appealing to consumers, especially with production planned (and likely prioritized) for new architecture. There's a good chance that prices will fall further after the release of Alder Lake and the Zen 3 refresh, but the current market is anyone's guess so we could also find ourselves looking at hiked prices again in the coming months.


Analysis: Should you switch to AMD?

AMD vs Intel

(Image credit: Future)

With the Alder Lake processors on the horizon, (and leaks suggesting great promise in terms of the performance) upcoming hardware could be a lifeline for Team Blue against AMD. Even with the above discounts, Intel processors are a more affordable option right now for many and previous reports have shown that the market share between both companies is starting to balance out.

The Zen 4 Ryzen CPUs aren't expected until towards the end of 2022 and Intel has previously cited supply issues, which leaves plenty of time for folk to snap up these cheaper AMD deals, and for further reductions to be made.

Ultimately, the processor brand you choose is either going to be down to personal preference on optimizations, or whichever product best suites your budget and existing system.

If you're unsure, you can check out our guide on AMD vs Intel to see which team you should be siding with, but remember - both companies have their respective pros and cons. 



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Does an AMD Chiplet Have a Core Count Limit?

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When it was announced that AMD was set to give a presentation at Hot Chips on its newest Zen 3 microarchitecture, I was expecting the usual fare when a company goes through an already announced platform – a series of slides that we had seen before. In the Zen 3 presentation this was largely the case, except for one snippet of information that had not been disclosed before. This bit of info is quite important for considering AMD’s growth strategy.



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