Category: PC Hardware

Clickety-clack! Clickety-clack! Clickety-clack!

We can’t put our finger around it, but hearing the clicky switches on a mechanical keyboard as you type away is just magical. We just want to press every key possible on our mechanical keyboard.

Does it have something to do with the nostalgic feeling of listening to typewriters from way back? Or does it have something to do with listening to the sound of clicks and clacks that makes you think you’re productive?

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably thinking about transitioning from membrane keyboard to a mechanical keyboard because your friends told you to get one. But you’re probably wondering: are mechanical keyboards worth it?

We’ll answer that question and more in this article.

What’s A Mechanical Keyboard?

Mechanical keyboard or not, all keyboards are basically the modern adaptation of typewriters. But mechanical keyboards are more or less just a step ahead of the typewriter in terms of evolution.

Mechanical keyboards were just as popular back then in the 1980s thanks to companies such as Cherry MX and IBM who made these accessories affordable. Unlike membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards use physical switches underneath each key. Each key is composed of metal contacts that are held together by a spring.

When a key is pressed, the connection between the metal contacts and the physical switch is what causes the clickety-clacking noises for which mechanical keyboards are famous.

But one important feature of a mechanical keyboard is their simultaneous keystroke accuracy. Because the keys are comprised of individual switches, mechanical keyboards are better at picking up keystrokes that are pressed simultaneously than membrane keyboards. This is called a key rollover feature and will depend on the keyboard. Some mechanical keyboards recognize up to a half a dozen simultaneous keystrokes, while others are built to recognize every keystroke.

What Do We Know About Keyboard Switches and Brands?

One of the primary factors that answer our question “are mechanical keyboards worth it?” is the mechanical switches and their brands.

A switch is the most important component of a mechanical keyboard that helps you determine its quality and experience. And there are different brands of switches, so you get a different experience.

The most popular brands of mechanical switches are:

• Cherry Mx Switch
• Outemu Switch
• Kailh Switch
• Gateron Switch

Now these are just some of the most popular, and probably premium, mechanical keyboard switches in the market right now. But you get what you pay for in terms of quality and performance. These switches are also utilized by popular computer paraphernalia companies such as Steelseries, Razer, and Logitech to name a few.

If you’re on the lookout for a mechanical keyboard, look for these brands of switches.

What Are The Different Switch Types?

We talked about the different brands of mechanical keyboard switches, and we know that they’re all built differently. What’s similar across all brands of switch are their color coding.

You may see something like RED SWITCH or BROWN SWITCH listed on a keyboard’s box. This is an example of the color coding used by mechanical keyboards. How noisy they are will depend on the Switch types listed below:

• Clicky Switches – Considered the noisiest switch and makes clicking noises when pressed
• Tactile Switches – Quieter than clicky switches, but has more feedback to it
• Linear Switches – Very smooth typing experience

This infographic below categorizes the colored switches and their corresponding switch types:

What’s A Membrane Keyboard?

A lot of gaming keyboards nowadays are mechanical keyboards, but there are still a handful of brands out there that make use of membrane keyboards.

The membrane keyboards are what you’d consider the modern version of a mechanical keyboard. They were popular back in the 1990s and dominated the industry because they were easy to produce and cheaper to purchase. They were also easier to maintain than mechanical keyboards because membrane keyboards are more resistant to dirt and dust.

If mechanical keyboards function with the use of physical switches, membrane keyboards use connecting circuits via a layer of rubber or silicone installed underneath the keys. The membrane is composed of domes situated under each key, so when the key is pushed, the rubber membrane is pressed into the dome and into the corresponding circuit.

What Are Pros and Cons of Using Mechanical Keyboards?

Now that we know the difference between membrane and mechanical keyboards, it’s time to talk about the pros and cons of each.

Pros of Using Mechanical Keyboards

Most mechanical keyboards may differ from one another in terms of brand and build quality, but you do enjoy similar benefits of using them such as:

Customization

The biggest advantage of using mechanical keyboards is its customization. Most mechanical keyboards, if not all of them, can be tweaked, upgraded, and changed accordingly.

If you don’t like the clicky sounds of the keys, then you might want to go for red Cherry MX switches.

Do your fingers or wrists hurt after a long gaming session? Some custom mechanical keyboards have ergonomic accessories such as a wrist pad that you can install. Some gaming keyboards are also advertised as ergonomic keyboards, catering to those with hand or arm-related conditions such as RSI or Carpal Tunnel.

The customization alone is one benefit that makes mechanical keyboards worth the purchase. Imagine an entire keyboard that you can customize based on your needs and wants. And you might even find a mechanical keyboard community in your area too.

Durability and Quality

Mechanical keyboard switches, like Cherry MX switches, are a lot more durable and sturdier than any rubber dome keyboards (membrane keyboards). Membrane keyboards run the risk of membrane tearing with excessive use, and can withstand far less keystrokes than mechanical keyboards.

For mechanical keyboards, switches and keys are replaceable so you can just buy them off from stores like Amazon or any other retail store.

Easy To Clean

Mechanical keyboards are easier to clean and maintain because the keys and switches are removable. You just need to purchase a couple of tools that will help you remove them, and you’re done!

Membrane keyboards, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. Once you tear up any of the rubber dome keyboards while cleaning, you’re done. Dust and grime also stick to the membrane layer and are a bit difficult to remove unless you wipe

Programmable Keys

If you ever wondered why a gaming keyboard is categorized as such, then you need to know that a gaming keyboard that’s mechanical has programmable keys.

What do we mean by programmable keys? Well, a gaming keyboard will have a set of keys not usually found in typical keyboards. Sometimes, they’re labeled as Function Keys (i.e. Fn1, Fn2, and so on), but regardless of the name, these keys easily stand out.

These programmable keys, by default, don’t do anything. But keyboards like Razer will come with their own software like Synapse, allowing you to program these keys accordingly per game. You can’t do this with a membrane keyboard, even if they’re branded as a gaming keyboard.

Better Typing and Gaming Experience

Mechanical keyboards provide better gaming and typing experiences for anyone. For typing, mechanical keyboard switches are easier to press and a lot more responsive than membrane counterparts. But don’t bring your clicky keyboards to the office, otherwise you’ll end up annoying everyone else. Thankfully, there are keyboard switches that are silent and don’t make a lot of noise when pressed.

For gaming, mechanical keyboards have taller keys that are easy on the fingers, and gamers swear that their actions are more precise than on a membrane keyboard. Other keyboard intensive tasks also feel better on a mechanical keyboard

Cons of Using Mechanical Keyboards

This isn’t going to be a one-sided article, so we’re also discussing about the disadvantages of owning or buying mechanical keyboards.

Price

One of the biggest drawbacks to owning or buying a mechanical keyboard is that it’s pricey. Now you’ll probably see mechanical keyboards worth about $20 to $30, but these are not the branded ones nor will they have all of the features that are found in branded keyboards.

The brand of mechanical switches also plays a huge part in determining how expensive a keyboard is. For example, keyboards with Cherry MX switches may be a lot more expensive than those with Gateron or Oetemu switches. Wireless keyboards will also be a lot more expensive than their wired counterparts.

If you were to go for the branded ones like Ducky, Royal Kludge, or Keychron, then you’re probably spending at least $80 for a decent keyboard. Brands like Razer, Steelseries, and Corsair may go as high as $200 to $300. Yes, there are mechanical keyboards that are that expensive.

But the best mechanical keyboards aren’t determined by their price, but by what they can do. For brands like Ducky and Royal Kludge, their mechanical keyboards offer full customization and connectivity for up to three devices (for their wireless keyboards).

Customizing a whole keyboard can also be pricey, especially if you’re going down that rabbit hole. Customized switches and keys and even a customizable keyboard frame will cost you a few hundred dollars too.

Who’s Meant To Use Mechanical Keyboards?

Now, don’t get us wrong. Everyone who wants to have an enjoyable typing experience is meant to use a mechanical keyboard. They’re just a league of their own compared to membrane keyboards. And once you get started with using a mechanical keyboard the first time, you’re never going to want to use any other type of keyboard.

People who love to play games or who work with keyboard intensive tasks like writing will appreciate mechanical keyboards more than the everyday user.

Are Mechanical Keyboards Worth It or Not?

Ultimately, this answer is tied to what you want out of your mechanical keyboard. If there’s going to be some substantial usage, then mechanical keyboards are the way to go. Their far more durable and feel better under your fingers.

But you don’t need to buy keyboards worth $200 or so. A good brand like Ducky or Royal Kludge will set you back at least $60 to $80, and they’re both popular amongst keyboard enthusiasts.

Your PC motherboard is probably the most important component in your gaming rig. It houses all the other components such as CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage devices to name a few. You may think of it as the foundation on which your gaming rig is built.

But like all PC hardware, motherboard temps are susceptible to overheating, leading to a gradual degradation of the motherboard itself and even going as far as damaging the other components.

In this article, we’ll talk about how to maintain normal motherboard temperature without relying too much on ambient temperature and other hardware. We’ll also talk about the different factors that contribute to an increase in your motherboard’s temperature.

How Hot is Too Hot For Motherboard Temperatures?

Motherboard temperatures may go up and down, depending on the usage. Different components such as the CPU and GPU generate heat in different ways, but the heat dissipation is more or less one and the same for all components inside your rig.

If we were to create a yardstick for ideal motherboard temperatures, we’d be looking at something between 68 degrees and 176 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius).

A CPU also has the same range of temperatures as your motherboard’s temperature. GPU temperature may also fall within the same range, depending on usage. Under normal workloads, your temperature should be below 60 degrees Celsius or hit the low 70s. But when you’re gaming, editing a video, or doing something that requires intensive CPU and GPU processing power, you can expect temperatures to reach 80 degrees Celsius, or at least close to it.  

Now, there’s a caveat. Your cooling system, such as intake and exhaust fans, might play a factor in determining motherboard temperature. If you’re running a liquid cooling system, then you can expect your rig to hit at least 70 degrees Celsius even when working heavy loads.

What’s Considered Safe Motherboard Temperature?

This might be considered a broad question because different motherboards from different brands will have different temperature ranges, but the discrepancy isn’t that great.

There are two things to look at to determine what a safe motherboard temperature is.

Computer Under Light Use

If you’re just doing non-intensive work like surfing the net, or doing productivity-related tasks, your motherboard temperature hovers between 20 and 50 degrees Celsius. These are considered normal for light use because the motherboard isn’t being overworked, nor are the other components.

Ambient temperature might contribute to some increase in temperature, but not by a lot.

If you have unusually high temperatures going above 50 degrees Celsius when doing light work on your PC, then you might have some computer hardware issues, or you might have a couple of programs making the GPU or CPU work unnecessarily.

A quick troubleshooting session here would involve checking out the case fans and the cooling system itself to ensure that the PC is cooled off properly. If everything is okay at a glance, meaning the intake fans and exhaust fans are working properly or that there are no obstructions that would prevent hot air from coming out of the PC case, then, you might want to double-check software.

Computer Under Intensive Use

When your computer is put to work, like you’re doing a heavy session of gaming or video editing, then your motherboard temperature will increase by up to 80 degrees Celsius. The increase in motherboard temperature is caused by an increase in GPU temperature and CPU temperature.

If you have the latest models for CPUs and GPUs then they are capable of handling higher temperatures past 80 degrees Celsius without throttling.

Throttling is a safety feature found in CPUs and GPUs that prevents them from overheating. When a CPU or GPU is pushed to its limits, meaning all the cores are working, then the temperature will skyrocket. CPUs and GPUs can tolerate high temperatures past their limit, but not for a long time. When they’re about to overheat, the CPU or GPU will intentionally shut some of the cores down to cool off. This goes on for a few minutes, depending on how high the temperatures were, and you’ll notice a massive dip in performance temporarily when this happens.

How Do You Know Your Motherboard Is Overheating?

Now we already discussed safe motherboard temperatures and the range you’re looking at is between 20 degrees Celsius (on idle) and 85 degrees Celsius (under maximum load). But depending on the manufacturer, some motherboards can tolerate higher temps.

We also talked about overheating in the previous paragraph. A video card or processor will overheat when under heavy load and will slow itself down when needed. But how will you know your motherboard’s temperature is too much?

These are the common signs of overheating motherboard and what you can do to prevent it from happening.

The System Keeps Shutting Down For No Reason

If you find your PC randomly shutting down for no reason, especially during idle sessions, then your motherboard temperature is probably higher than normal.

The reason why your motherboard shuts down is because it’s trying to keep temperatures within a normal range, or at least within the safe temperatures that it was built to withstand. If your motherboard doesn’t shut down, then it might throttle its performance to give itself time to cool off.

If this happens more than once every hour, then you’ll probably need to check if there is something that’s preventing hot air from being expelled from the computer case, or if something’s blocking cool air from coming in. You might also want to check if your computer’s fans are functioning as they should.

Blue Screen of Death or BSOD

The notorious Blue Screen of Death or BSOD is another product of an overheating motherboard, and this is often caused by hardware or driver issues.

Your CPU or GPU temperature might also be too hot that it forces itself to shut down in the middle of a full load of work. When this happens, try to give your computer some time to cool off and to go back to whatever it is that you were doing.

If for some reason you still encounter BSOD even when the unit is idle, then you might have issues with your motherboard, processor, or video card.

Unusual Noises or Rattling Inside System Unit

Albeit rare, overheating motherboards might also make random rattling noises and will indicate that there’s a problem with case fans.

When you hear rattling noises, chances are your case fans are either overworked, not working properly, or there’s something that’s dislodged and hitting the fans. Either way, when you hear unusual noises, turn off your PC immediately to determine the cause before you damage other parts.

How Do You Fix High PC Temperatures?

We now know that an overheating motherboard can cause complications, with the worst one being computer failure. You’ll need to end up replacing the entire motherboard and PC parts that were damaged.

To prevent this from happening, we need to go over different ways to prevent overheating.

Check Case Fans Inside

One of the most common causes of overheating is case fans not working properly. You’ll need at least two fans working to maintain airflow and ventilation. One intake fan brings in cool air and one exhaust fan expels hot air out.

When there’s enough air circulating inside the system unit, components are kept within a reasonable temperature range regardless of workload.

Disable Overclocking

Depending on the motherboard manufacturer, overclocking is a solid cause of overheating. Now, some GPUs and CPUs are meant to be overclocked, which means they’ll be able to withstand higher temps than their non-OC counterparts.

Overclocking becomes a problem when there’s not enough airflow inside or if you’re doing more than you should.

A lot of first time builders and enthusiasts often overlook an important component for their gaming rigs: the power supply. Power supplies are important because it serves as the lifeblood of the PC. Without it, your PC won’t just run at all.

They are often overlooked because of several factors:

• The tech specs are too difficult to understand sometimes
• It’s difficult to find out what brands make an efficient power supply
• Budget constraints can take its toll

A modular power supply is just as important as choosing what kind of RAM or GPU to run with your rig, and in this article, we’re going to go over the best 650 PSU or power supply unit in the market right now.

We consider them to be the best 650W PSU because of their features and pricing.

What Is The Best 650w PSU For You?

Listed below are the best 650w power supplies in the market. We’ll take note of certain features like top notch build quality, incredible efficiency, and other details.

These are not arranged in any particular order, so feel free to go over any noe of them and see which is the best for you.

EVGA SuperNOVA 650

Technical Specs

• Combined +3.3V and +5V output: 120W
• +12V output: 649.2W
• +5Vsb output: 15W
• -12V output: 3.6W
• Operating Temperature: 0° to 50°C
• Weight: 2.64 kg or 5.82 lbs
• Dimensions: 86mm x 150mm x 150mm (HxWxL)
• Price: $130+

Why Consider It?

• +80 Gold efficiency
• 10 years warranty
• Provides support for Eco Mode, which helps keep the PSU quiet during low to medium workloads
• Full support for DC to DC conversion
• Fully modular power supply

Why Avoid It?

• A lot more expensive than other brands
• Does not have surge protection, fan failure protection features, and inrush current protection
• No semi-passive operation

First on our list is the EVGA SuperNOVA 650w, which you can find for about $60 to $130 online. The SuperNOVA lineup of power supplies is widely known for their top notch build quality, rectifiers, and capacitors. Power delivery is also very reliable especially during full workloads.

The EVGA SuperNOVA 650w is based on an OEM design from FSP and boasts of a 10-year warranty, 80+ Gold efficiency, 100% Japanese capacitors, and 135mm high-quality industry grade fan.

Because the EVGA SuperNOVA 650w is fully modular, power cables are easy to organize. If you’re ever in the market for a power supply, the EVGA SuperNOVA 650w is a solid pick.

Thermaltake Toughpower GX1

Technical Specs

• Combined +3.3V and +5V output: 100W
• +12V output: 588W
• +5Vsb output: 12.5W
• -12V output: 6W
• Operating Temperature: 5° to 40°C
• Dimensions: 86mm x 140mm x 150mm (HxWxL)
• Price: $80+

Why Consider It?

• High quality components
• 80+ Gold Certification
• Compact power supply

Why Avoid It?

• A bit pricey
• No OCP, OTP, UVP surge protection

Up next we have the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1, and it’s difficult to not include this bad boy on this list. The Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 is an excellent power supply and is one of the few PSUs that have an RGB feature, so if you have an RGB build in mind, this might be worth considering.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 may not be a fully modular PSU, but it does allow you to vertically mount the unit. This is a common feature found in most Thermaltake’s Core cases, so you’re more likely to pair those cases with the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 comes with 80+ Gold efficiency rating, 120mm hydraulic bearing fan with 10 RGB LED lights, and a dedicated RGB lighting button that allows you to control color and RPM.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GX1’s capacitor is Japanese and can tolerate max temperatures up to 105°C.

Silverstone Essential ET650-B

Technical Specs

• Combined +3.3V and +5V output: 120W
• +12V output: 600W
• +5Vsb output: 15W
• -12V output: 3.6W
• Operating Temperature: 0° to 40°C
• Dimensions: 86mm x 140mm x 150mm (HxWxL)
• Price: $73 to $78

Why Consider It?

• High quality components
• Silent operation
• Compact design and lightweight
• OVP, SCP, OPP, OCP Support

Why Avoid It?

• 80+ Bronze Certification
• No UVP, surge protection, or fan failure protection

The Silverstone Essential 650E is a robust power supply unit despite being Bronze-rated. If it had a Gold rating, this would be the best pick amongst 650w power supplies.

Just like Thermaltake, Silverstone is a well-known manufacturer for power supplies, so you can’t go wrong with picking this one. The Silverstone Essential 650E also comes in a sub-$80 price range, making it a cheap PSU for people on a tighter budget than most.

SeaSonic S12III 650W

Technical Specs

• Combined +3.3V and +5V output: 120W
• +12V output: 648W
• +5Vsb output: 12.5W
• -12V output: 3.6W
• Operating Temperature: 0° to 40°C
• Dimensions86mm x 140mm x 150mm (HxWxL)
• Price$69.99

Why Consider It?

• Seasonic is a respected brand for power supplies
• Extremely quiet operation
• Full support for OVP, SCP, OCP, and OPP
• Compact design

Why Avoid It?

• A little pricey
• 80 plus Bronze certification
• No surge protection, UVP, OTP, fan failure protection, and inrush current protection

Another respectable brand is Seasonic, known for not only their power supplies but also other components. The brand is widely respected in the industry and experts have classified Seasonic PSUs to be some of the best in the PSU market.

On this list, they have the Seasonic S12III and comes with an 80+ Bronze Efficiency rating. Combined with a 5-year warranty, the Seasonic S12III is a cheap PSU but with high efficiency that’s competitive with other PSUs in the market.

The Seasonic S12III comes with a 120mm sleeve bearing fan that helps you regulate the fan speed and giving you more control for noise output. It’s not exactly a guaranteed silent operation with the Seasonic S12III, but the noise output is respectable enough.

Enermax Cyberbron

Technical Specs

• Combined +3.3V and +5V output: 110W
• +12V output: 552W
• +5Vsb output: 12.5W
• -12V output: 3.6W
• Operating Temperature0° to 40°C
• Dimensions: 86mm x 140mm x 150mm (HxWxL)
• Price$49.99

Why Consider It?

• High quality components
• UVP, OVP, SCP, and OPP support
• Compact design
• Affordable

Why Avoid It?

• No surge protection, UVP, OTP, fan failure protection, and inrush current protection

Just because it’s a cheap PSU doesn’t mean that it’s a bad choice. The Enermax Cybertron is on this list for a good reason. First, it’s one of the few 650w power supplies in the market that’s under $50 and with Bronze+ certification. It also has all the common features of the other power supply units on this list, so there’s nothing to hate about the PSU.

You also get a 3-year warranty with the Enermax Cybertron, so definitely a solid choice for people who’re looking for entry-level hardware or those on a tight budget.

The Wrap Up

The best power supplies in the market don’t need to cost you an arm and a leg, but you’ll definitely need to set aside some funds for it.

Power consumption is going to be the biggest point of consideration when it comes to picking power supplies. Of course, if you are going to run an Nvidia RTX graphics card on your rig, you’ll need more than 650w for these power hungry components.

But if you’re just getting started and you don’t mind getting one of the 650w power supplies, then you just need to go for something that’s at least 80 plus gold certified.

Modular PSUs are also good for consideration if aesthetics is one of your goals in building a rig. Modular PSUs are great at managing power cables than non-modular ones, but they’ll be a bit more expensive though.

Graphics cards are not only expensive, but they’re just as confusing. Today, you’ll find that one graphics card model will have different names or suffixes, making it difficult for you to select which one’s actually the one you need.

One of the most popular and confusing suffixes is “Ti”, a designation that goes along with Nvidia graphics cards. But what does Ti stand for in GPU and what exactly do they tell us about a particular model?

What Does Ti Mean in a GPU?

Ti means Titanium and is a suffix or designation that’s specific to the Nvidia line of graphics cards. The Ti label is part of their naming scheme and is used to indicate that a given graphics card is upgraded or a better version of the regular counterpart.

Simply put, a Ti variant performs better than a non Ti version.

For example, let’s look at one of the most popular RTX graphics cards: the GeForce RTX 3080 and the GeForce RTX 3080Ti. Both of these GPUs have the same features and specs, but the 3080Ti currently has more upgrades than the regular 3080. The 3080Ti has 10,240 CUDA cores while the 3080 only has 8,704. In terms of memory, the 3080Ti has 12GB while the 3080 only has 10GB.

Nvidia GPUs will also follow the same features. Ti models will have more CUDA cores and may have higher memory than the non Ti counterparts.

Does It Really Matter If The Nvidia GPU is Labeled as Ti?

Well, the answer is both YES and NO. If cost is an issue, then non TI counterparts are relatively cheaper than the Ti versions. For example, a Zotac Gaming Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 will cost you about $369, while the Zotac Gaming Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060Ti will cost you $459. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 used as an example in the previous paragraph will cost you about $699 while the 3080Ti hovers at about $1,199 to $1,499.

But if pricing is not an issue and you want the best bang for your buck, you’ll definitely want to go for the Ti graphics card. Additional power and performance always come in handy, but it will depend on the graphics card. Getting the latest Ti GPU is the best thing to do.]

Ti Graphics Cards vs Non Ti Graphics Cards

Okay, now that we understand what a Ti graphics processing unit is and why they’re so different from the non Ti versions, let’s take a closer look at some of the latest Nvidia cards.

First we look at the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, the cream of the crop of Nvidia graphics cards.

GeForce RTX 3090

• CUDA Core Count — 10496
• Boost Clock (GHz) — 1.7
• Base Clock (GHz) — 1.4
• VRAM — 24GB GDDR6X
• Memory Interface Width — 384-bit
• Graphics Card Power (W) — 350

GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

• CUDA Core Count — 10752
• Boost Clock (GHz) — 1.86
• Base Clock (GHz) — 1.67
• VRAM — 24GB GDDR6X
• Memory Interface Width — 384-bit
• Graphics Card Power (W) — 450

The comparison shows us at first glance that the GeForce RTX 3090Ti has more CUDA cores than the regular 3090. We’re talking about 10,496 CUDA cores for the regular version and 10,752 CUDA cores for the TI version.

Base and boost clock speeds are also different, with the TI version packing more than the non Ti version.

The VRAM for both Ti and non Ti GPUs are equal at 24GB, and other specs such as memory interface, ray tracing cores and tensor cores, and architecture are similar. But the 3090Ti does draw in more power at 450 watts as opposed to the regular 3090’s 350 watts.

Simply put, game titles run on the 3090Ti will probably result in better performance, but not really that much. For example, running the Witcher 3 on ultra settings and with ray tracing on (thanks to their latest December update) on a 3090Ti will probably get you a few more FPS than the regular 3090. But at that point, it’d already be moot considering that anything past 60FPS is barely noticeable to the human eye.

As you can see, the discrepancy between an RTX 3090 and RTX 3090Ti is a good example of the marginal difference in terms of performance. But there are other graphics cards from Nvidia that show us something else.

For the next model, we have the GeForce RTX 3060 and the GeForce RTX 3060Ti with their specs below:

GeForce RTX 3060

• CUDA Cores — 3584
• Boost Clock (GHz) — 1.78
• Base Clock (GHz) — 1.32
• VRAM — 12GB
• Memory Interface Width — 192-bit
• Graphic Card Power (W) — 170

GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

• CUDA Cores — 4864
• Boost Clock(GHz) — 1.67
• Base Clock (GHz) — 1.41
• VRAM — 8GB
• Memory Interface Width — 256-bit
• Graphic Card Power (W) — 200

CUDA core count for the 3060Ti is at 4,864 while the regular 3060 sits at 3,584. But this is where it gets interesting. The 3060Ti has a slower boost clock than the regular 3060, but the base speed of the 3060Ti is faster.

The 3060’s VRAM sits at 12GB of GDDR6, while 3060Ti sits at 8GB. Power consumption is similar to the 3090. The 3060Ti consumes more power but the discrepancy isn’t that huge compared to the 3090/3090Ti comparison.

But according to some benchmarks found online, the regular 3060 is marginally slower than the 3060Ti (roughly at 35%).

But why did Nvidia have a lower VRAM for the 3060Ti than the 3060? Well, no one really knows. All that’s important is that performance-wise, 3060Ti is far more powerful version than the regular counterpart.

The Wrap Up!

Ti graphics cards will get you that extra performance that you need, but at a cost. Literally. Ti variants are far more expensive than the regular variants. You’re looking at spending a few hundred dollars more for a Ti GPU.

Ti graphics cards don’t really have a more superior technical improvement but the difference in performance is marginal to say the least.

If you want to save money on buying a new GPU, a regular variant will give you everything that you need. Investing in a Ti variant or a Super variant even is considered an upgrade from the regular variant, so that’s something to consider.

Intel processors are dominating the CPU market, all thanks to their 12th generation Alder Lake line of processors. Despite having a slow couple of years, Intel processors are on the verge of a comeback, but that won’t last long as AMD will be releasing their Ryzen 7000 processors very soon.

In this list, we’ll be going over the best Intel processors in the market right now, both high-end ones and budget-friendly ones.

The Best High-End Intel Processors

This section covers all the best processors, assessed based on their overall performance. Note that these processors are on the higher side of the price ranges, but every one of them is considered a great buy.

So, without further ado, let’s get on with the list.

Intel Core i7-12700K

The Best Intel Processor for Gaming

What makes it good?

• Cheaper than the Intel Core i9-12900K
• Higher performance in gaming compared to other processors
• Overclocking

What makes it bad?

• Definitely not as good as the i9-12900K
• Needs additional cooler

Price range

• About $350

One of the most solid choices for overall performance is the Intel Core i7-12700K, and is a considerable alternative to the i9-12900K (for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on the golden waffle).

The Intel Core i7-12700K is part of the Alder Lake line of Intel processors, so performance and price are right up there. The Intel Core i7-12700K comes with 12 cores, 8 allocated for performance and 4 for efficiency, and almost comes close to the i9’s core count at 16 cores. The base speed is 3.6GHz and overclocked to 5.0GHz.

If you want to avoid thermal throttling, the i7-12700k needs a serious cooling system (either a high-powered air cooler or an AIO cooler).

Did we mention that the Intel Core i7-12700K is $200 cheaper than the i9-12900K with only a marginal gap in terms of performance?

Intel Core i9-12900KS

Fastest Intel Processor In The Market

What makes it good?

• Amazing performance for single-core and multi-core
• DDR5 memory support
• The industry leader in gaming performance

What makes it bad?

• Expensive
• Needs adequate cooling solutions
• Power consumption is high

Price range

• About $700 to $730

The Intel Core i9-12900KS is dubbed the king of processors right now, and the Intel Corporation has done such an amazing job with this beast of a CPU.

The Intel Core i9-12900KS is specially-binned and overclocked 12900K that’s able to push its overall performance further than any of the other Intel CPUs. Now, the 12900K may be a bit ahead of the Intel Core i9-12900KS, but it’s still the fastest CPU you can get your hands on in 2022.

The Intel Core i9-12900KS has 16 cores, 8 designated for performance and 8 for efficiency, and 24 threads. The clock speed of the Intel Core i9-12900KS is higher than the 12900K, sitting at 5.5GHz (the 12900K sits at about 5.2GHz). And yes, 16 cores are more than enough for gaming.

The Intel Core i9-12900KS is the best Alder Lake processor right now, or up until we see an Intel Raptor Lake processor. But that’s still a few years down the road.

But even though it’s the fastest CPU in the market, it has a few downsides to it. First, it’s an expensive processor. You’re looking at about $700 or so to purchase the Intel Core i9-12900KS, and compared to the other midrange processors, you’re not exactly looking at a huge jump in overall performance. Sure, the Intel Core i9-12900KS has higher performance but it’s not noticeable when you compare it to a Core i7-12700K.

On top of that, the Intel Core i9-12900KS is a power-hungry CPU as it has higher TDP demands compared to the other processors on this list, or any other CPUs in the market.

But if budget is not an issue and you just want the best performance possible that money can buy, the Intel Core i9-12900KS is a solid pick.

Intel Core i9-12900K

The Best High-End Intel Processor Right Now

What makes it good?

• Outperforms a lot of the AMD Ryzen processors, most specifically the Ryzen 9 5950X
• Also cheaper than the Ryzen 9 5950X
• DDR5 Support
• Excellent overclocking
• PCIe 5.0 for supported motherboards

What makes it bad?

• Can get too hot
• High power consumption

Price range

• $580 to $620

When we’re talking about speed, performance, and power, nothing really comes close to the Intel Core i9-12900K (except for the KS counterpart). The Intel Core i9-12900K sports 16 cores and single-core boost speeds hitting 5.2 GHz. Other than the Intel Core i9-12900KS, the Intel Core i9-12900K is currently the best CPU in the market for gaming, productivity, and everything else in between.

Its AMD counterpart, the AMD Ryzen 5950X, is 30% underpowered and also relatively more expensive than the Intel Core i9-12900K. But the closest thing that could ever come close to the Intel Core i9-12900K from the AMD processors is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and proves itself to be a solid rival.

But what really sets the Intel Core i9-12900K processor is not its gaming power but rather, its content creation capabilities. From video editing to graphics design, the Intel Core i9-12900K is powerful enough to carry out heavy rendering processes.

The downside to the Intel Core i9-12900K is that it’s a power-hungry processor, which is pretty much a standard of most of Intel Alder Lake’s hybrid architecture.

If you can spend $100 more for a processor, the Intel Core i9-12900KS would be a better choice. But if not, the Intel Core i9-12900K is still solid enough and can get you through at least 5 more years of gaming or content creation without upgrading it.

Intel Core i5-12600K

A Great Intel Processor For Multitasking and Gaming

What Makes It Good?

• Great price-to-performance ratio
• The excellent gaming performance and productivity performance
• Multitasking is solid thanks to its hybrid architecture

What Makes It Bad?

• Not the most powerful CPU on the market, but decent enough for its generation

Price Range

• $230 to $250

If there was ever one CPU that you need to purchase for gaming or for productivity, it’d be the Intel Core i5-12600K. It’s not the best or the fastest processor in the market, but it’s a solid overall processor in itself.

The Intel Core i5-12600K comes with 10 cores, with 6 cores designated for performance and 4 for efficiency. Now comparing this to the Intel Core i7 and i9 processors, the Intel Core i5-12600K puts up a fight as it provides gamers with extra bandwidth for those heavy processing tasks.

The Intel Core i5-12600K outpaces even the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and the latter just so happens to be three times more expensive. But when we’re talking about CPUs for gaming desktops, the Intel Core i5-12600K reigns supreme.

While the hybrid architecture makes it breeze through AAA games without difficulty, the Intel Core i5-12600K doesn’t shy away from being a decent processor for workstations. Content creation such as streaming or video editing using the Intel Core i5-12600K is smooth as silk.

Intel Core i5-11600K

Excellent Previous Generation Intel Processor

What Makes It Good?

• The best midrange CPU
• Gaming performance is superb
• Cheaper than the latest CPUs

What Makes It Bad?

• Previous generation CPU
• Not worth paying at full price

Price Range

• $200 to $220

Just because it’s a previous generation processor doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve to be on the list. The Intel Core i5-11600K proves to be a decent option for gaming and productivity-based workstations, even though we have some of the latest processors within the same price range.

Intel Core i5-11600K’s architecture isn’t exactly perfect, and it’s far worse than the Core i5-12600K honestly. However, the Intel Core i5-11600K is a decent pick if you’re on a tight budget, or if you’ve spent more on your graphics cards than you should’ve.

In terms of gaming performance, the Intel Core i5-11600K stands its ground with AAA games such as Death Stranding and proves that you don’t need current generation processors for high-end gaming.

For productivity and other non-gaming tasks, the Intel Core i5-11600K blows the AMD processors out of the water thanks to its superb single-core performance.

All in all, the Intel Core i5-11600K makes it to this list for what it has to offer in terms of speed and performance. Is it worth paying the full price? Nope. For $20 more, you could already purchase the i5-12600K. But if the Intel Core i5-11600K is discounted, then it’s worth considering.

Intel Core i9-12900H

Best 12th Generation Intel Core i9 Mobile Processor

What Makes It Good?

• The best mobile processor in the market for laptops
• The best laptop processor for gaming and productivity
• Decent power consumption even at higher performance levels

What Makes It Bad?

• Difficult to find
• Expensive as the laptops they come in

Price Range

• $1,500 to $2,500 (depending on the laptop)

Gaming laptops are now getting the best processors packed into them, and Mobile Alder Lake processors are slowly becoming the new standard. In this case, the Intel Core i9-12900H is the best one in the industry.

As seen in the image, the Intel Core i9-12900H is found in a lot of high-end laptops like the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17. And believe us when we say that the Intel Core i9-12900H does not shy away from performing.

The Intel Core i9-12900H is a high-end processor packing 14 cores (six for performance and eight for efficiency) and 20 cores combined with 24MB of Intel Smart Cache. Clock speeds are capped at 5.00 GHz on Turbo mode.

Combined with the RTX 30-series graphics cards, the Intel Core i9-12900H is a beast. There are other powerful mobile processors out there, but nothing compares to what the Intel Core i9-12900H can do in terms of performance, speed, and power.

Best Budget Intel Processor List by Performance

We’ve covered the high-end processors from the Intel Corporation, and you’re paying a lot of money for higher performance that’s guaranteed at best. But believe it or not, there are budget options out there that can still get you the performance that you need.

In terms of benchmarks, these may not be the best for the most demanding games, but they’ll get you through.

Intel Core i5-10400F

The Best Budget Intel Core Processor

What Makes It Good?

• Really affordable
• Price-to-performance ratio is solid
• Best for non-demanding games or older games

What Makes It Bad?

• You need a discrete GPU

Price Range

• $120 to $130

First on the list is the Intel Core i5-10400F which is a solid pick for the $100-price ranges. The Intel Core i5-10400F comes with 6 cores and 12 threads and runs on 2.9 GHz base clock speed. Overclocking puts you through 4.3 GHz easily, which is impressive, to say the least.

The Intel Core i5-10400F is $80 to $100 cheaper than the 10600K, but bears the same specs. However, the Intel Core i5-10400F requires a discrete GPU or graphics card. Other than that, the Intel Core i5-10400F is great for what you need out of it.

Rendering videos isn’t a problem with the Intel Core i5-10400F, and gaming on the Intel Core i5-10400F is decent enough. Combine it with a nice graphics card and you’ll get yourself a midrange gaming rig that could run the latest games, albeit not just at the highest settings possible.

Intel Core i3-12100F

The Best 12th Generation Processor Under $100

What makes it good?

• An upgrade from the Core i3-10100F
• The best processor for light gaming and productivity tasks
• Good price-to-performance ratio

What makes it bad?

• Needs a discrete GPU

Price range?

• Less than $100

Older Intel processors became relevant as soon as the current-generation Intel Alder Lake processors were released. Much of the previous generation processors were dethroned by their 12th generation counterparts, but to say that the previous generation is underperforming would be unfair.

The Intel Core i3-12100F is one of those processors who were dethroned, but don’t underestimate this CPU. It’s considered as the best entry-level CPU for both gaming and productivity tasks, but don’t expect a lot from it.

The Intel Core i3-12100F is equipped with 4 cores and 8 threads, with overclocking speeds hitting 4.3 GHz, so it still packs a punch to say the least for the price range. While the Intel Core i3-10100F is from the Alder Lake line of processors, it doesn’t share the same hybrid architecture as the current generation processors as it only has P-cores (cores intended for performance). But it doesn’t mean that the Intel Core i3-12100F is unstable.

The Wrap Up

If we have to recommend one processor for highest performance possible, it would be the Intel Core i9-12900K. While the KS version is a little bit more powerful, the performance leap from the Intel Core i9-12900K is barely noticeable.

You’re looking to spend about $600 to$700 for the Intel Core i9-12900K, less so if you get it at a discounted price. Combine this processor with something like an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 or RTX 3090, you’d have one hell of a gaming rig that should run the latest AAA games on ultra settings.

A computer hardware that we’re all familiar with, but don’t really know much about, is the USB header. We know that these are the slots to use to insert our storage devices, webcams, headsets, and other devices.

But how important is it for you to know what a USB header is? Well, it’s important enough that it’s going to help you build new PC’s better in the future.

In this article, we’ll be talking about what a USB header is and what they can do for your system.

What Are USB Headers?

A USB header is a connector on the motherboard that lets you connect a USB port found on your PC case. If a PC case has USB ports, it will also come with plugs that let you connect to the correct USB headers.

Much like USB ports, there are different versions and types of USB headers.

What Are The Different Types of USB Headers?

Now, there are four types of USB headers:

1. USB 2.0 Header
2. USB 3.0 Header
3. USB 3.1 Gen 2 Header
4. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Header

Your PC case will let you know what kind of USB header you’ll need to use. Essentially, USB 2.0 headers will be intended for USB 2.0 ports and USB 3.0 ports will be for USB 3.0 headers, and so on.

USB 2.0 Header

USB 2.0 headers are small and their pins are arranged in a 5×2 grid. However, this header only has 9 pins in total. The missing pin from the array serves as a key for helping you align the plug correctly.

USB 3.0 Header (or USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 1)

The USB 3.0 header contains 19 pins arranged in a 2×10 array. This USB header goes by different names such as:

• USB 3.0
• USB 3.1
• USB 3.1 Gen 1
• USB 3.2 Gen 1

You’ll know the USB header’s name on the motherboard’s book or spec sheet, depending on when it was manufactured. The latest motherboards usually have USB 3.2 Gen 1 header, while older motherboards might have the same USB header but under different names.

Motherboard manufacturers also take into consideration when the USB standard changes. If the USB standard changes the nomenclature, then motherboard manufacturers will follow suit.

But more or less, they’re all the same. A PC case containing USB headers 3.0/3.1 Gen 1/3.2 Gen 2 ports will come with the corresponding USB 3.0 header cable.

USB 3.1 Gen 2 Header (or USB 3.2 Gen 2)

Unlike the first two USB headers, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 header is unique in terms of its form factor. It doesn’t have pins sticking out, which makes it unique from the previously mentioned USB headers.

In modern or newer motherboards, this is known as USB 3.2 Gen 2 header.

A USB 3.1 Gen 2 header has a very unique form factor. It does not have pins sticking out like the rest of the USB headers.

In the recent motherboards, this is known as the USB 3.2 Gen 2 header. 

If you have a PC case with a relevant port, then it will come with the following cable. 

USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Header

USB 3.2 headers are similar to the 3.1 headers, but the difference is that 3.2 headers are dual channels and labelled as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 on spec sheets.

These are similar to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 headers above. However, they have dual channels are specifically labelled as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 on the specifications.

These are quite rare and only a select few top of the line motherboards feature this at the moment.

How Do You Connect USB Ports to USB Headers?

Now that we identified the different USB headers, it’s time to move on to something called Internal USB Cable. This cable acts like an extension cable that allows you to connect USB port to a USB header.

Today, there are two kinds of internal USB cables. One cable will have a USB header jack and one cable will have individual wires for each pin. While both are essentially the same, the latter is a bit complicated to connect. So if you don’t secure the connection properly, you’ll probably encounter the error “USB Device Over Current Status Detected”. This is also a common error when you put your PC on the carpet.

So to avoid this, you’ll need to learn about the different connectors used by an Internal USB Cable.

• VCC Pin – This is known as the Voltage Common Collector or VCC. This connector is responsible for carrying +5V signal to the USB ports. This connector will also have the letters VCC on its label, or you can easily tell it apart from its wire color, which is red.
• DATA- Pin – This connector is located right next to the VCC pin and dons a white colored wire. The DATA- Pin is responsible for transmitting downstream data connections.
• DATA+ Pin – Much like the Data- Pin, the DATA+ pin is responsible for the upstream data connections and maintaining proper communication between USB and your PC. The DATA+ Pin is right next to the DATA- Pin and is a green wire.
• GND Pin – This is called the Ground Pin, which helps reduce electromagnetic interference. The last pin that we have sends back the voltage carried by the VCC pin. The GRND Pin ensures that there’s no additional current flowing from the motherboard to the device and vice versa, so you avoid short circuiting.

Is the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Header The Same as Thunderbolt 3?

Unfortunately, both are completely different from one another as Thunderbolt 3 uses a different header. Thunderbolt 3 is a lot faster than the USB 3.0 ports since it transmits data up to 40Gbps. USB 3.2 and 3.2 Gen 2×2 only hit 10Gbps and 20Gbps, respectively.

Newer motherboards are equipped with one or two Thunderbolt 3.0 or higher.

How Do You Install More USB Headers?

You have the option of installing more USB headers for your system using one of two methods:

1st Method – DIY USB 2.0 Header Duplication

You can turn a single USB header into a port for 2 cables if your motherboard has USB 2.0 headers. And this functionality is supported without any problem.

But you need to do some rewiring to make this possible.

1. Take a pair of tweezers or any precision instrument to flip open the plastic tabs at the edge of the second USB header cable.
2. You’ll need to extract the wires and pins from the second cable before placing them inside the ones for the first, which should be directly beside matching colors.
3. Your formerly empty pins on the USB 2.0 header will now allow both devices to work simultaneously and flawlessly.

But this method only works for USB 2.0 headers, so if you’re planning to add more headers for USB 3.0 or a USB Type E Header, then you’ll need to purchase a separate hardware.

2nd Method – Using PCIe USB Headers or USB 3.0 to USB Type E Header

You can get more USB headers if you use the PCIe or PCI Express slot, which is another new feature of most motherboards released over the last two years.

Ideally, you want to look for PCIe Expansion Cards that come with onboard USB headers, regardless if you just want to add USB 2.0 headers or other versions. But apart from PCI Express cards, you’ll also see smaller devices that go on top of the original USB header.

For example, you’ll find a converter for a USB 3.0 Header to USB Type E Header (for Type C ports.But take note, these are niche devices so don’t expect big brands to carry these types of products. A quick search on Amazon will lead you to small companies selling this type of converter.

AIO vs custom loop is an endless debate between PC builders. Individually, their cooling performance is on a different level compared to just using air coolers.

If it’s your first time building a PC from the ground up, you might be wondering about using AIO and custom loop cooling, but don’t know which one to actually use.

But before anything else, let’s talk about liquid cooling solutions in general. In reality, there are so many of them out there. There is no ONE TRUE liquid cooling solution, and each of them has its own level of cooling performance.

What you’ll choose will be determined by how much money you’re willing to spend on a cooling solution and what kind of hardware will need such powerful cooling in the first place. Obviously, a gaming PC will need more cooling performance as opposed to a PC that’s just used for office and productivity tasks.

In this article, we’ll talk about two popular liquid cooling solutions, namely AIO and custom loop liquid cooling, or what others might call a custom cooling loop or full custom loop.

Between AIO vs custom loop, which one would be more practical for the average gamer? And which one is better in terms of cooling performance?

What Is AIO Liquid Cooling or All In One Liquid Cooling?

AIO liquid cooling, or All In One liquid cooling is made up of several parts, namely:

• Radiator
• Pump
• Water block
• Tubes

Unlike custom loops, AIO liquid coolers are prebuilt and assembled. It will only take about 15 to 30 minutes to install it in your casing. Because everything’s assembled by the manufacturers, the chances of leaking are close to nil at this point.

However, cooling performance on a typical AIO liquid cooling setup is lower than a custom loop water cooling.

Why Even Choose AIO In The First Place?

An AIO liquid cooler is far more commonly used than a custom loop cooling system and for good reasons. If you’re jumping into the water cooling bandwagon, here are a few good reasons why AIO liquid coolers just can’t be beaten.

Easy to install

As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, AIO liquid coolers are easier to install as they’re already assembled by the manufacturers themselves. You don’t even need to fill up the loops or do leak tests because the manufacturers have done it before you did.

All you really need to do is install the radiator, screw in the fans, mount the water block, and there you have it. Even if you have doubts about your capability to install AIO coolers, there are tons of YouTube videos out there on how to do it properly.

Affordable

Top-of-the-line AIO coolers are probably priced at around $200 or $300, but the cheapest custom loop setup could cost at least $500. You see how big of a price difference there is between AIO vs custom loop?

And the fact is that you don’t need to spend $200 or $300 to get decent performance. You could get yourself a Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix and it will cool your entire gaming PC for years to come.

Saves time

This CPU cooler will only take you about 15 minutes to half an hour to install, whereas a custom loop might take you an entire day (and we’re not even exaggerating).

AIO coolers already come assembled and prebuilt by the manufacturers. It’s a whole system that’s basically plug-and-play at this point.

Fewer chances of leaking

We’re not saying that an AIO cooler is leak-proof. Rather, an AIO cooler’s chances of leaking are low. Because the various components are packed already by the manufacturers, they’ll have already done cursory checks on the quality of individual parts.

The leak tests will have already been done by the manufacturers long before they packed the tubes and various components in. If there ever was a leak, you wouldn’t even know about it because they’d have already replaced it.

What Is Custom Loop?

Custom loop, or custom water cooling, is the peak of liquid cooling solutions. Everything about custom looping is handpicked, piece by piece. From the big cooling fans to the radiators to the cables.

Custom water cooling is a lot more expensive than AIO cooling, and a lot more tedious and more difficult too. Now, AIO coolers only cover the CPU, but a custom loop liquid cooling solution will cover everything from the CPU to the RAM to the GPU.

The downside? Apart from being expensive, they require regular maintenance.

Why Bother With a Custom Loop Then?

If AIO liquid cooling can do the job, why do people even want to bother with a custom loop? Well, an AIO cooler only covers the CPU block and does not include all the other hardware. It’s a potent CPU cooler if you really want to describe AIO cooling in a couple of words or less.

For custom water cooling, this is where the big boys come and play. These are the people who’re mindful about both thermal performance and cooling performance. The people who run a custom loop liquid cooler will need all the cooling help they need as they push their hardware to the limit.

So what kind of benefits do PC builders get from these powerful coolers?

Performance

One thing that people overlook when it comes to a full custom loop is its unparalleled performance. And the reason why you’re getting the best performance is that your custom water cooling loop is composed of top-of-the-line parts.

Aesthetics

Custom loop systems are simply beautiful to look at. We’re not just referring to colored liquid coolant running down through the pipes, but how the entire gaming PC looks with it.

Covers Whole System

An AIO cooler only covers the CPU, whereas the custom loop will cover everything on the system unit. Your graphics card, RAM, and even your power supply are cooled off with a custom liquid cooler.

Much like Lord of the Rings, the custom loop is the one liquid cooler to rule them all.

The Wrap Up

All right, between AIO vs custom loop, which one is better suited for you?

If you want reliability and affordability, an AIO cooler is better suited for you. It does a good job of keeping your CPU block cool, but that’s about it. It’s far better than using an air cooler for sure, but AIO can only do so much.

But if you have the money to spend and you want your PC to look like something out of Cyberpunk 2077, then a custom water cooling loop is the one for you. However, you’ll need to spend a lot of money to get the best custom cooling system possible.

Aspiring PC builders often overlook an important component: GPU cables. These are power cables that connect your graphics card to the power supply.

But they’re more than just power cables. GPU cables can help with your power supply’s power management. How much power your GPU actually needs is going to be determined by your GPU cable.

Low-end and mid range graphics cards end up using a PCI Express x16 slot for their power souce, but you’ll find that graphics cards on the high-end spectrum will use either 6-pin or 8-pin PCI Express power connectors.

Confusing? Don’t worry, we’ll go over the different GPU power connectors and tell you how you can tell them apart.

What Are The Different Connectors?

PCI Express x16 Connector

Most modern motherboards come with a PCI Express x16 slot, or PCIe. This gives you a maximum of 75 watts of power. If your motherboard has multiple PCIe x16 slots, you’ll be able to connect more GPUs using two separate cables at the risk fo increasing power requirement.

Some good examples of GPUs that don’t need more than 75 watts of power are:

• GeForce GTX 1030
• GTX 1050 2GB Variant
• Radeon RX 550
• Radeon RX 460

6-Pin Connector

6-pin connectors provide your GPU with an added 75 watts of energy. If your graphics card uses a PCIe x16 slot, it will draw power from the power supply unit or PSU directly. This gets you up to 150 watts of energy for your graphics card.

High-end graphics cards often find 150 watts to be sufficient, but not for all of them. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 needs more than 320 watts and 750 watts of system power. For most mid range graphics cards, 150 watts is more than enough and will often feature a 6-pin power connector.

8-Pin Connector

Like the 6-pin connector, an 8-pin connector delivers an additional 150 watts of power to your graphics card. A graphics card that needs more than 150 watts of power will usually come with either one 8-pin connector or two 6-pin connectors.

However, there will always be some exceptions because of power hungry graphics cards. The GeForce RTX 3060 from Nvidia comes with both a 6-pin and 8-pin connector because it requires about 170 watts of power. There are also instances where one GPU will come with two 8-pin connectors, which give you a total of 375 watts of power.

Then you have the rarest instances where a GPU will come with three 8-pin connectors. These are considered top-of-the-line graphics cards for expert builders who want to overclock. A good example of a video card like this is the GeForce RTX 2080Ti Lightning Z.

12-Pin Connectors

Speaking of power hungry graphics cards, the release of the Nvidia RTX 3000 series introduced users to the 12-pin power connectors. This was a move that Nvidia found to be necessary as these graphics cards needed more power. Rather than relying on a combination of 6-pin and 8-pin connectors.

12-pin connectors are the same size as an 8-pin connector, but the former draws in more power. However, external power supply units or PSUs can’t really accommodate 12-pin connectors as of yet so Nvidia released an adapter that would connect two 6-pin connectors into its card’s 12-pin slot.

What Are Adapters or Converters for Connectors?

Sometimes, your graphics card’s connectors might not be compatible with your PSU’s slots, or vice versa. But thankfully, a company called Molex designed something to help deal with compatibility issues back in the 1950s. This is why converters or adapters for connectors are referred to as Molex Adapters or Molex Converters.

And we’re going to list down the different types of adapters.

6-Pin to 8-Pin PCI Power Adapter

Did you just buy a high-end GPU? It’s more likely to use an 8-pin connector. And if you have an old power supply, chances are it’s not going to be able to house a 6-pin connector.

4-Pin Molex to 6-Pin PCIe Adapter

This cable is used for computers that run a graphics card with a 6-pin power connector and a PSU without one. This means that your power supply unit is old and outdated, so it’s time for an upgrade. If you’re keen on using your old PSU, then this is the adapter you’ll need to use.

2x 8-Pin to 12-Pin PCIe Adapter

12-pin power connectors are relatively new, so it’s no surprise that the majority of new PSUs can’t accommodate them. If you bought a 3000-series GPU, Nvidia will include a dual 8-pin to 12-pin power adapter.

SATA to 8-Pin PCIe Power Adapter

This power adapter will convert SATA connectors to 8-pins, so you’re going to have two SATA connectors connected for one 8-pin connector.

SATA to 6-Pin PCIe Adapter Cable

Similar to the power adapter above, except it converts your SATA connector to a 6-pin connector instead. But this isn’t advisable as the SATA connector may not be able to handle that much power surging through it.

What If You Accidentally Used a CPU’s Connector to A GPU?

Even if you’re the clumsiest person alive, this wouldn’t be possible. GPU power connectors have different holes and shapes compared to a CPU, as seen below:

Source: linustechtips.com

You wouldn’t be able to insert the CPU’s connector to the GPU, or vice versa unless you force the cables in.

The Wrap Up

Most graphics cards would probably use 6-pins to 8-pins, unless you’re buying the new 3000-series from Nvidia. Easy installation is the name of the game for these GPU cables, and all you have to do is align the connector to the slot and you’re done.