Every buying guide on this site follows the same process. It is written down here so you can hold us to it.
1. Shortlisting
We start from what is actually available and in stock, not from what launched with the biggest press push. Products that are discontinued, permanently out of stock, or only sold through unreliable third-party sellers are cut before testing.
2. Testing
Hands-on work is done on an instrumented bench with a PCIe riser, clamp meter and per-rail power logging. Where we have not personally tested a unit, we say so in the guide and explain what our recommendation is based on instead — long-run owner reports, verified measurements from independent labs, or direct comparison with a near-identical model we have tested.
3. Ranking
Picks are ranked by how well they serve a specific reader, not by an overall score. “Best for competitive FPS” and “best on a tight budget” are different questions with different answers, and we answer them separately rather than crowning one winner.
4. Updating
Guides are re-checked on a rolling schedule and whenever a major replacement product ships or a pick goes out of stock. Update dates on our pages reflect a real review of the content, not an automated timestamp bump.
5. Corrections
If we get something wrong, we correct it and note the change. Report errors to [email protected].
Independence
We do not sell placement, do not accept paid links, and do not let manufacturers review copy before publication.