Outfitting a compact PC for 4K and VR, or a tiny budget tower for 1080p gaming? These are our favorite small Nvidia GeForce, AMD Radeon, and Intel Arc graphics cards for your next build or upgrade.
ByMichael Justin Allen Sexton
Michael Justin Allen Sexton
Analyst
My Experience
For as long as I can remember, I've had love of all things tech, spurred on, in part, by a love of gaming. I began working on computers owned by immediate family members and relatives when I was around 10 years old. I've always sought to learn as much as possible about anything PC, leading to a well-rounded grasp on all things tech today. In my role at PCMag, I greatly enjoy the opportunity to share what I know.
Read Full Bio
&John Burek
John Burek
Executive Editor and PC Labs Director
My Experience
I have been a technology journalist for almost 30 years and have covered just about every kind of computer gear—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my long tenure as an editor, a writer, and an advice columnist. For almost a quarter-century, I worked on the seminal, gigantic Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital counterpart), aka the phone book for PC buyers, and the nemesis of every postal delivery person. I was Computer Shopper's editor in chief for its final nine years, after which much of its digital content was folded into PCMag.com. I also served, briefly, as the editor in chief of the well-known hardcore tech site Tom's Hardware.
Read Full Bio
UpdatedJune 7, 2023
- RELATED:
- Best Graphics Cards
- Best Graphics Cards for 4K Gaming
- Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming
- Best Graphics Cards for VR
Our Top 8 Picks
Best Compact Budget Nvidia Graphics Card Jump ToDetails Best Compact Budget AMD Graphics Card Jump ToDetails Best Compact Budget Intel Graphics Card Jump ToDetails Best Compact Mainstream Nvidia Graphics Card Jump ToDetails Best Compact Mainstream AMD Graphics Card Jump ToDetails Best Compact Mainstream Intel Graphics Card Jump ToDetails Best Semi-Compact Nvidia Graphics Card for 4K Jump ToDetails Best Semi-Compact AMD Graphics Card for 4K Jump ToDetails Zotac GeForce GTX 1650 Super Twin Fan
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G
Asrock Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming 12G
AMD Radeon RX 7600
Intel Arc A770 Limited Edition
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
The Best Graphics Card Deals This Week*
- Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4060 8GB Twin Edge OC 8GB Card — $319.99
- MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 12GB GDRR6 Graphics Card — $289.99(List Price $459.99)
- XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900XT 20GB Graphics Card — $739.99(List Price $819.99)
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti OC 12GB Graphics Card — $819.99(List Price $899.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
A hulking,full-tower PCis always your best option if you want room for the highest-end graphics cards, general upgrades, or all the terabytes of storage you could ever reasonably afford. But these days, you don't necessarily need one if you want a powerful PC that can handle editing high-def or 4K video, playing new AAA games at 4K, and poweringvirtual-reality (VR)headsets.
As more and more PC enthusiasts and boutique-PC builders have shown interest incompact performance systems, many case makers have offered up comparatively compact chassis that have room for midsize or even full-sizegraphics cards. For instance, the shoebox-shapedSilverStone Sugo 14has room enough for a graphics card over a foot long. That means the largest and most powerful cards available should have just enough clearance in that case.
A handful of similarly compactPC cases have an even smaller footprint, yet enough room for beastly graphics cards. (You'll want to check the specs.) Just note that specialized compact cases like these usually require a MicroATX or Mini-ITX motherboard, rather than a more standard (and often less expensive) full-size ATX motherboard. Their unusual proportions mean that they may be able to take big video cards, but not big mainboards.
But sometimes, you just want to go as small as possible. Recent video-card generations in families like the new GeForce RTX 40 series and Radeon RX 7900 series have really let themselves go, stretching wide as they amp up the power. But some smaller models are still on the market, and sometimes, a compact card is all you need given your display resolution and what you'll do with the PC. Read on for our picks for the top compact graphics cards for 2023, followed by a guide to shopping for a card that will fit you, and your PC, right.
Our Experts Have Tested 19 Products in the Graphics Cards Category in the Past Year
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.See how we test.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Zotac GeForce GTX 1650 Super Twin Fan
Best Compact Budget Nvidia Graphics Card
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
Zotac's punchy GeForce GTX 1650 Super Twin Fan is markedly better than the non-Super GTX 1650 and a solid version of this mainstream GPU. It gives budget-focused 1080p gamers a better option against competing AMD cards in the same price bracket.
PROS
- Much faster than original non-Super GeForce GTX 1650 in 1080p and 1440p gaming.
- Runs quiet.
- Priced competitively.
- Impressively small in our Zotac test sample.
CONS
- Underperforms on some games.
- Runs hotter than the non-Super GTX 1650.
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | Nvidia Turing TU116 |
GPU Base Clock | 1530 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 1725 MHz |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 4 GB |
DVI Outputs | 1 |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 1 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 6.2 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 100 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 6-PIN |
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Learn More
Zotac GeForce GTX 1650 Super Twin Fan Review
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G
Best Compact Budget AMD Graphics Card
3.5 Good
Bottom Line:
Gigabyte's take on AMD's Radeon RX 6500 XT budget GPU provides nearly rock-solid 1080p PC gaming performance in AAA and multiplayer titles, but it runs hot and packs unneeded ray-tracing cores.
PROS
- 1080p performance on par, in most games, with cards of similar list price
- Performance tier isn't attractive to cryptocurrency miners
CONS
- RT cores unnecessary due to low performance
- Outrun by GTX 1650 Super on several tests
- Runs hot compared with similar cards
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | AMD Navi 24 |
GPU Base Clock | 1717 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 2815 MHz |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 4 GB |
DVI Outputs | |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 1 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 7.56 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 107 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 6-PIN |
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Learn More
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G Review
Asrock Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC
Best Compact Budget Intel Graphics Card
2.5 Fair
Bottom Line:
Intel's entry into the consumer video card market, the Arc A380, is a welcome challenge to the AMD and Nvidia duopoly. But the poky performance and instability issues of this Asrock sample make it clear that Intel's got lots of work to do to compete.
PROS
- Aggressive budget pricing
- Quiet during use
- Modest power consumption
CONS
- Uninspired performance in our gaming test suite
- Not stable in some games we tried
- Some DirectX 11 games will present challenges to launch and run
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | Intel Arc A380 |
GPU Base Clock | 2250 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 6 GB |
DVI Outputs | |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 1 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 7.4 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 75 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 8-pin |
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Learn More
Asrock Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC Review
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming 12G
Best Compact Mainstream Nvidia Graphics Card
3.5 Good
Bottom Line:
Suited to 1080p and 1440p gaming, EVGA's smaller XC Black Gaming 12G version of the GeForce RTX 3060 is an able performer, though Nvidia's own RTX 3060 Ti outshines it on value.
PROS
- Fast frame rates in multiplayer titles
- Compact card design
- Reasonable overclocking performance
CONS
- Nontrivial performance drop versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
- Minor gains over previous (RTX 2060) generation
- Pricey for its performance class
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | Nvidia Ampere GA106 |
GPU Base Clock | 1320 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 1777 MHz |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 12 GB |
DVI Outputs | 0 |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 7.94 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 170 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 8-pin |
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Learn More
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming 12G Review
AMD Radeon RX 7600
Best Compact Mainstream AMD Graphics Card
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
AMD's Radeon RX 7600 is an excellent graphics card for running modern games maxed out at 1080p—just stay at that resolution!—and 60fps.
PROS
- Effective performance at 1080p resolution
- Competitively priced
- 8GB of GDDR6
- Compact design in reference board suggests compact partner-card designs are possible
CONS
- Poor performance above 1080p
- Lackluster showing in legacy games
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | AMD Navi 33 |
GPU Base Clock | 2250 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 2625 MHz |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 8 GB |
DVI Outputs | |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 8 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 165 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 8-pin |
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Learn More
AMD Radeon RX 7600 Review
Intel Arc A770 Limited Edition
Best Compact Mainstream Intel Graphics Card
3.5 Good
Bottom Line:
The Arc A770 Limited Edition is Intel's first credible effort at breaking into the discrete graphics market. It has issues with older games, but its pricing, huge pool of memory in our test card, and general performance solidify its place in the graphics conversation.
PROS
- Enormous 16GB pool of video memory in test card
- Well priced for a 16GB card
- Decent performance, especially at 2K and 4K, especially given the first-gen architecture
CONS
- Performance is inconsistent across games and synthetic tests
- Older games are problematic
- Support for Resizable BAR is a requirement
- Uphill climb for XeSS adoption
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | Intel DG2-512 |
GPU Base Clock | 2100 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 16 GB |
DVI Outputs | 0 |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 11 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 225 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 6-pin, 1 8-pin |
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Learn More
Intel Arc A770 Limited Edition Review
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
Best Semi-Compact Nvidia Graphics Card for 4K
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
Nvidia's "Ada Lovelace"-based GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition doesn't upend the graphics-card field, but its decent performance, fitting price, and compact size (the last, a rarity these days) make it a smart choice for serious players.
PROS
- Solid performance for 4K play or high-refresh 1440p
- Impressive ray-tracing performance
- Reasonably priced
- Cool operating temperature
- Smaller than many other next-gen cards
CONS
- Lackluster performance in older games
- Smaller performance jump than the previous xx70-class card
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | Nvidia AD104 |
GPU Base Clock | 1920 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 2475 MHz |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 12 GB |
DVI Outputs | 0 |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 9.56 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 200 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 12VHPWR |
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Learn More
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Review
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Best Semi-Compact AMD Graphics Card for 4K
3.5 Good
Bottom Line:
AMD's Radeon RX 6700 XT is a worthy competitor to Nvidia's lineup of midrange GPUs—but you'll want to stick with recent, optimized titles.
PROS
- Competitive frame rates, in games that are optimized
- SAM testing sees frame-rate gains in select titles
- Debut MSRP is $20 below that of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3070
CONS
- DirectX 11-based games may run significantly slower than on competing Nvidia cards
- Higher temperatures under stress than competing Nvidia cards
- Radeon reference design is underwhelming compared with Nvidia's RTX 30 Series Founders Editions
- Coil whine under load in our sample card
SPECS
Name | Value |
---|---|
Graphics Processor | AMD Navi 22 XT |
GPU Base Clock | 2424 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 2581 MHz |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 12 GB |
DVI Outputs | 0 |
HDMI Outputs | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | |
Number of Fans | 2 |
Card Width | double |
Card Length | 10.5 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 230 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 6-pin, 1 8-pin |
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Learn More
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Review
Buying Guide: The Best Graphics Cards for Compact PCs in 2023
Measure Twice: How to Tell Which Graphics Cards Will Fit Your PC's Case
For graphics-card considerations specifically (which is likely why you landed here), the most important thing is how much card clearance the PC chassis that you own (or are considering buying) has available. This is often listed on the chassis' product page under "specifications," or in an online manual. But in a pinch, you can pop off the side panel and do a rough estimate yourself, with a tape measure or ruler.
Inside the case, find the area where the PCI Express card expansion brackets are, usually at the back. This is the spot where the video-output ports on a graphics card will show through the back of the chassis. Measure from there, parallel to the PCI Express slot into which you'll install your card, to the first obstruction you run across. That's your maximum card length, assuming your card does not have power connectors sticking out of its trailing end. If it does, you'll need to compensate for that. (Most of the time, these days, the connectors are on the top edge of the card.)
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
If you want to fit a high-endgaming card, also be sure there's room for mounting the card across two expansion slots, because just about all such cards occupy at least two bracket positions across. Some very compact PC cases may not have very much space between the PCI Express slot you'll use for a card and the nearby case wall, which might prevent you from installing a card at all. If you're upgrading an existing system, at least an eyeball check is much advised.
The distance between the bracket area and the nearest object on the other side of the case (often a hard drive mount or bay, or the wall of the case itself) will determine how long a graphics card your system can handle. If the case has 10.5 inches of clearance or more, you'll be able to fit at least some high-end cards, including a subset of ultra-high-end cards based on, say, Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3070 orGeForce RTX 3080. This also includes AMD's high-end options like the Radeon RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT, which both measure in at exactly 10.5 inches each in reference versions. But some third-party versions of these cards are longer (much longer), so you need to check the details. Example: We've seen a few GeForce RTX 3070 cards under 10 inches, and some RTX 3060 Ti cards above 12 inches. Check those specs.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
For smallerPC casesthat still have room for a full-height graphics card, though, you'll need an air-cooled card that may be 8 inches long or less. These are often Mini-ITX-mainboard cases that are very tight on space. That 8 inches may sound generously big enough, but as gaming-class graphics cards go, that's not much wiggle room. But even here these days, you have a few options on that front.
Can Your Power Supply Handle a New Video Card?
Another factor to consider when building a compact PC is power supply (PSU) cable routing. While many cards on the market will keep their power-pin connection ports on top of the card (and equally as many compact or Mini-ITX cases are made to support this design), a few may opt to put the pin connector on the rear-facing edge of the card instead.
If you're already working in a constrained space and every inch of the total card measurement matters, you'll want to be sure that wherever your card plugs into the PSU (if it does at all, more on that below) is accommodating to all the other parts and pieces you're trying to squeeze into a confined area.
That said, many compact cards won't even ask you for a dedicated PSU power connection in the first place. Several options we have tested, including the75-watt Zotac GeForce GTX 1650 OC, don't need an external connection because they already pull all the watts they need from the PCI Express slot they're plugged into.
Keep in mind that these cards have limitations on the amount of graphical horsepower and overclocking capacity they can support without an external power source. But if those aren't major concerns of yours, then you might want to go this route to avoid any cabling issues in the first place.
Low-Profile Graphics Cards: A Low-Clearance Alternative
You'll note that we've talked about cardlength, but not much about cardheight. A few thin PC cases (usually flat, broad ones meant for home-theater-PC use) accept only what are called "low-profile" expansion cards, among them low-profile PCI Express graphics cards. These cards are much shorter in the vertical dimension than an ordinary video card, and they can be outfitted with what's known as a low-profile or "half-height" bracket. (You twist a screw or two to install the shorter bracket in place of the ordinary one.) This enables the card to mount on the vertically smaller PCI-slot frame.
There's usually room for just two ports on a half-height bracket, or in a few cards we've seen, the half-height bracket is two slots wide, allowing for a third port. So know that multi-display connectivity is often a bit compromised on these cards, especially with the low-profile bracket attached.
(Credit: MSI)
Because low-profile boards are much smaller in surface area (and thus the room for a graphics chip, power circuitry, and cooling apparatus is reduced), they are budget-minded, basic cards, meant as a step up from CPU-integrated graphics or to add support for multiple displays.
So, Which Compact Graphics Card Should I Buy?
As always, size and features for video cards based on a given graphics chip can vary significantly, depending on the model and the card maker. Nvidia and AMD make "reference cards" based on their graphics processors. Third-party partners—MSI, Sapphire, Asus, and many others—then make and sell their own branded cards, some of which adhere to the design of these reference boards. They also offer "custom" versions with slight differences in shape and size, the configuration of the ports, the amount and speed of onboard memory, and the cooling fans or heat sinks installed.
Compact video cards fall into that custom class. Because of that, if you're shopping for a card for a compact system, or you have a particular case in mind, be sure the size, power, and cooling demands of the card you're buying match up with the chassis you're planning on putting it in. Few things in the gaming world are more frustrating than getting a promising new graphics card in the mail, or carting it home from the local superstore, only to find out it doesn't fit in your PC, or your power supply doesn't have the juice (or requisite connectors) to get it going.
If you have a bit more room to play with in your PC case, check out our roundup of the bestgraphics cards for 4K gaming, which will be bigger cards. (Also check out our master guide tothe best graphics cardsoverall, heedless of size.) And complete your custom build with one of the topM.2 solid-state driveswe've tested. These tiny SSDs are a perfect match if you're space-strapped.
Compare SpecsThe Best Graphics Cards for Compact PCs in 2023
Our Picks | Zotac GeForce GTX 1650 Super Twin FanSee It$189.99 at Amazon | Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4GSee It$275.00 at Amazon | Asrock Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OCSee It$139.99 at Newegg | EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Black Gaming 12GSee It$610.00 at Amazon | AMD Radeon RX 7600See It$279.99 at Amazon | Intel Arc A770 Limited EditionSee It$279.99 at Newegg | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070Check Stock$549.99 at Best Buy | AMD Radeon RX 6700 XTSee It$672.10 at Amazon |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Editors'Rating | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 3.5Editor Review | 2.5Editor Review | 3.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 3.5Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 3.5Editor Review |
Graphics Processor | Nvidia Turing TU116 | AMD Navi 24 | Intel Arc A380 | Nvidia Ampere GA106 | AMD Navi 33 | Intel DG2-512 | Nvidia AD104 | AMD Navi 22 XT |
GPU Base Clock | 1530 MHz | 1717 MHz | 2250 MHz | 1320 MHz | 2250 MHz | 2100 MHz | 1920 MHz | 2424 MHz |
GPU Boost Clock | 1725 MHz | 2815 MHz | 1777 MHz | 2625 MHz | 2475 MHz | 2581 MHz | ||
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 4 GB | 4 GB | 6 GB | 12 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 12 GB | 12 GB |
DVI Outputs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
HDMI Outputs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | ||||||||
Number of Fans | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Card Width | double | double | double | double | double | double | double | double |
Card Length | 6.2 inches | 7.56 inches | 7.4 inches | 7.94 inches | 8 inches | 11 inches | 9.56 inches | 10.5 inches |
Board Power or TDP | 100 watts | 107 watts | 75 watts | 170 watts | 165 watts | 225 watts | 200 watts | 230 watts |
Power Connector(s) | 1 6-PIN | 1 6-PIN | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin | 1 6-pin, 1 8-pin | 12VHPWR | 1 6-pin, 1 8-pin |
Where to Buy | $189.99 at Amazon $159.00 at Newegg | $275.00 at Amazon $315.36 at Walmart | $139.99 at Newegg | $610.00 at Amazon $329.99 at Newegg | $279.99 at Amazon $269.00 at Newegg | $279.99 at Newegg | $549.99 at Best Buy $599.99 at Newegg | $672.10 at Amazon $439.99 at Newegg |
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Further Reading
The Best Graphics Cards for 4K Gaming in 2024
ByJohn Burek&Michael Justin Allen Sexton
The Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming in 2024
ByMichael Justin Allen Sexton
The Best Graphics Cards for VR in 2024
ByJohn Burek&Michael Justin Allen Sexton
The Best Graphics Cards for 2024
ByJohn Burek&Michael Justin Allen Sexton
How to Update Your Nvidia and AMD Drivers For Better GPU Performance
ByAlan Bradley
What Graphics Card Do I Have?
ByWhitson Gordon
How to Build a PC: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide
ByJohn Burek
Silent Running: How to Fix a Noisy Computer Fan
ByWhitson Gordon
TRENDING
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Editors' Choice
For as long as I can remember, I've had love of all things tech, spurred on, in part, by a love of gaming. I began working on computers owned by immediate family members and relatives when I was around 10 years old. I've always sought to learn as much as possible about anything PC, leading to a well-rounded grasp on all things tech today. In my role at PCMag, I greatly enjoy the opportunity to share what I know.
I wrote for the well-known tech site Tom's Hardware for three years before I joined PCMag in 2018. In that time, I've reviewed desktops, PC cases, and motherboards as a freelancer, while also producing deals content for the site and its sibling ExtremeTech. Now, as a full-time PCMag analyst, I'm focusing on reviewing processors and graphics cards while dabbling in all other things PC-related.
Read Michael Justin Allen's full bio
Read the latest from Michael Justin Allen Sexton
- The Best CPUs for Gaming in 2024
- The Best Graphics Cards for 4K Gaming in 2024
- The Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming in 2024
- The Best Graphics Cards for VR in 2024
- The Best Graphics Cards for 2024
- More from Michael Justin Allen Sexton
About John Burek
Executive Editor and PC Labs Director
I have been a technology journalist for almost 30 years and have covered just about every kind of computer gear—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my long tenure as an editor, a writer, and an advice columnist. For almost a quarter-century, I worked on the seminal, gigantic Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital counterpart), aka the phone book for PC buyers, and the nemesis of every postal delivery person. I was Computer Shopper's editor in chief for its final nine years, after which much of its digital content was folded into PCMag.com. I also served, briefly, as the editor in chief of the well-known hardcore tech site Tom's Hardware.
During that time, I've built and torn down enough desktop PCs to equip a city block's worth of internet cafes. Under race conditions, I've built PCs from bare-board to bootup in under 5 minutes.
In my early career, I worked as an editor of scholarly science books, and as an editor of "Dummies"-style computer guidebooks for Brady Books (now, BradyGames). I'm a lifetime New Yorker, a graduate of New York University's journalism program, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Read John's full bio
Read the latest from John Burek
- The Best Windows Mini PCs for 2024
- The Best All-in-One Computers for 2024
- The Best Gaming Keyboards for 2024
- The Best Portable Scanners for 2024
- The Best External SSDs for 2024
- More from John Burek