The short answer: for most new AM5 builds, start with a good B850 motherboard rather than automatically buying X870 or X870E. My default pick is the MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI II. Spend less with the MSI PRO B850M-A WIFI, move to the X870 Tomahawk when USB4 matters, or choose the ProArt X870E-CREATOR when … Read more
The short answer: if you specifically want B840, I would start with the MSI B840 GAMING PLUS WIFI for a normal ATX gaming PC. Choose the ASUS PRIME B840-PLUS WIFI when you need three onboard M.2 positions, or the GIGABYTE B840M AORUS ELITE WIFI6E for a more compact Micro-ATX build. Before buying any of them, … Read more
The short answer: the MSI MAG B860 TOMAHAWK WIFI is the B860 motherboard I would start with for most full-size Intel Core Ultra builds. Choose the ROG Strix B860-F if four M.2 slots and better onboard audio matter, the MSI PRO B860M-A for a more economical Micro-ATX system, or the B860I AORUS PRO ICE for … Read more
The short answer: the MSI MAG B860 TOMAHAWK WIFI is the motherboard I would start with for most Core Ultra 5 250K Plus builds. Spend less with the MSI PRO B860M-A WIFI if Micro-ATX works for your case, or move to the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 when CPU/BCLK tuning and Intel 200S Boost are … Read more
The short answer: the MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI is the motherboard I would start with for most Core Ultra 7 270K Plus builds. Choose the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 when value matters more than 5Gb networking, or the ROG Maximus Z890 Hero when you will actually use its six M.2 slots and flagship-level … Read more
RTX 5060 CPU pairing guide A faster processor cannot fix an 8GB graphics card running out of memory or a game that is already GPU-limited. Start with the PC you own, the games you play, and the cost of the entire platform. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. The short answer For a new gaming PC, … Read more
The Ryzen 9 5900XT is one of AMD’s most efficient high-end CPUs, and because it only pulls around 65 watts, you don’t need to overspend on cooling. But which cooler makes the most sense? In this guide, we will review the 3 best picks: one budget option that proves you don’t need to spend big, … Read more
The best CPU for most new RX 9060 XT builds is the Ryzen 5 9600X. Choose the Ryzen 5 5600 when an AM4 board and DDR4 save substantial money, or the Ryzen 5 7600X3D when your actual games need more CPU headroom. Already own a capable processor? Try the GPU before buying a replacement CPU. … Read more
