Custom PC UK

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

Welcome • Custom PC Issue 221

Custom PC

WHAT’S NEW WITH WI-FI 7 • Richard Swinburne delves into the latest upcoming wireless standard, although he’ll be sticking with wired Ethernet

SCAM SCHOOL • Tracy King looks at a campaign by Lloyds Bank and UKIE to teach gamers to avoid scams

RAZER BRINGS OUT NON-GAMING ‘PRO’ PERIPHERALS

DRM LIMITS GAME ALDER LAKE GAME SUPPORT

NOCTUA INTRODUCES LGA1700-SPECIFIC COOLERS

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

MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4/£246 inc VAT • SUPPLIER box.co.uk

ASUS TUF Z690-PLUS WIFI D4/£260 inc VAT • SUPPLIER box.co.uk

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO/£520 inc VAT • SUPPLIER novatech.co.uk

NZXT H510 FLOW/£90 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

CORSAIR H150i ELITE LCD/£250 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

HUAWEI MATEVIEW GT 27/£449 inc VAT • SUPPLIER huawei.com

AOC U28G2XU/£568 inc VAT • SUPPLIER amazon.co.uk

RAZER WOLVERINE V2 CHROMA/£149 inc VAT • SUPPLIER razer.com

LOGITECH MX KEYS MINI/£100 inc VAT • SUPPLIER logitech.com

SCAN 3XS VENGEANCE TI/£3,499 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

CHILLBLAST FUSION PANTHER/£1,999 inc VAT • SUPPLIER chillblast.com

CUSTOM PC MINCE PIE MEGATEST • We apply our demanding testing principles to the latest festive pastry treats to find this year’s top mince pie

NANOLEAF LINES/£ 179.99 inc VAT • SUPPLIER nanoleaf.me

MARSHALL MOTIF ANC/£179.99 inc VAT for 2TB • SUPPLIER marshallheadphones.com

ALL PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW COME WITH A FREE DIGITAL SUB

Graphics grand prix • If you’re lucky enough to have over a grand to spend on a new GPU, which one should you buy? Ben Hardwidge checks out the five top options at realistic retail prices

AMD RADEON RX 6800 XT/£1,070 inc VAT • SUPPLIER overclockers.co.uk

NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080/£1,184 inc VAT • SUPPLIER cclonline.com

AMD RADEON RX 6900 XT/£1,350 inc VAT • SUPPLIER overclockers.co.uk

NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 Ti/£1,490 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3090/£2,150 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

Soft touch • If you’re not keen on the clatter and cost of mechanical keyboards, then a rubber dome switch keyboard is your best bet. Edward Chester puts seven of them to the test

ASUS TUF GAMING K1/£55 inc VAT • SUPPLIER amazon.co.uk

COOLER MASTER MS110/£50 inc VAT • SUPPLIER overclockers.co.uk

CORSAIR K55 RGB PRO XT/£75 inc VAT • SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

LOGITECH G213/£35 inc VAT • SUPPLIER currys.co.uk

RAZER CYNOSA CHROMA/£50 inc VAT • SUPPLIER amazon.co.uk

ROCCAT MAGMA/£50 inc VAT • SUPPLIER roccat.com

STEELSERIES APEX 3 TKL/£50 inc VAT • SUPPLIER steelseries.com

How we test

Elite • Our choice of the best hardware available

IMMERSIVE SINS • Deathloop shows that it’s time for the immersive sim to come out of its shell, argues Rick Lane

Hot Wheels Unleashed/£39.99 inc VAT

Deathloop/£49.99 inc VAT

Sable/£19.99 inc...