Our 5 Favorite Low Profile CPU Coolers (for Small Form Factor Builds)
May 4, 2021
Looking for a great low-profile CPU cooler that fits your needs can be time-consuming.
Hardware
Wondering what CPU is the absolute best for rendering? Or what GPU is the best for Video Editing? We did too when we started building our own rigs!
Our hardware section is a treasure-trove of knowledge for those who need help with picking hardware.
We do the heavy lifting for you, testing hardware, finding performance benchmarks, and coming up with recommendations that help you decide on your next upgrade specific workloads.
Not only do we cover the best hardware, but we also offer value-oriented suggestions for those on a tight budget.
From high-end hardware that’s the very best to fantastic bang-for-buck options, we remain focused on giving you valuable insight and making your purchase decisions easier.
Need Help? We reply to every article comment! :)
Pro vs. Consumer GPUs – What’s the difference & Why so expensive?
April 25, 2021
If you’re looking for a graphics card that suits the demanding requirements of pro-level software, chances are your pro-software’s vendor recommends a Quadro or Radeon Pro GPU.
![Best Low-Profile Graphics Card (GPU) for your needs [2021 Guide]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2021/04/Best-Low-Profile-GPUs-Twitter_1200x675-420x236.jpg "Best Low-Profile Graphics Card (GPU) for your needs [2021 Guide]")
Best Low-Profile Graphics Card (GPU) for your needs [2021 Guide]
April 22, 2021
If you’re looking to build a compact PC, whether it’s for gaming, work, or to use as a home theater (or a server), low-profile GPUs a must-have.
How much VRAM do you need? Professional and Gaming Workloads explored
April 23, 2021
Raw clock speeds and processing cores are not the only factors to consider when picking a graphics card.
The Best Motherboard Brands (And what to beware of)
April 9, 2021
We often get questions like – ‘What’s the best motherboard brand?
Guide to PCIe Lanes: How many do you need for your workload?
May 1, 2021
When choosing the motherboard and processor for a PC build, a feature we see most builders often overlook is picking the right amount of PCIe lanes.
2021 Motherboard Buying Guide for Workstations [How to Buy a Motherboard]
April 15, 2021
Picking the right motherboard is one of the most complicated but critical tasks when you’re getting parts together for a brand-new PC build.
Where to buy PC-Parts, CPUs & Graphics Cards in your Country
April 6, 2021
Well, it’s 2021, and stock issues still plague buyers worldwide.
CPU FAN vs. CPU OPT (When to use which)
May 10, 2021
Wondering what the difference between all those fan headers on your motherboard is?
NVLink vs. SLI and Multiple GPUs – Is it worth it?
April 11, 2021
It’s a reasonable enough assumption to make that if one new graphics card (GPU) can speed up your work by X amount, two will do the job twice as fast, right?
Samsung EVO vs QVO SSDs Compared – Which one’s better?
March 28, 2021
Samsung—possibly the most prolific SSD brand on the market—recently released a new line of SSDs to go with their other popular options, the Samsung 870 QVO.
How to upgrade your PC (Beginner’s Guide)
April 15, 2021
Upgrading your system is an exciting experience that comes with a lot of benefits:
Our Favorite Gifts for Animators & the technically inclined
May 3, 2021
Picking gifts for a loved one is never easy.
LGA vs. PGA and how to fix bent CPU Socket Pins
April 11, 2021
If you’ve ever shopped for processors and motherboards, you might’ve encountered terms like ‘sockets,’ ‘LGA1200,’ and so on.
The Best Thermal Paste for your needs (Beginner’s Guide)
January 4, 2021
Every PC enthusiast knows that a cool PC is the best PC.
AMD Graphics Cards List in Order of Performance
March 27, 2021
There are so many different AMD Graphics Cards for purchase that it can get confusing at times.
Core i9 10900K and Core i5 10600K Review for CG-Workloads: 3D Viewports Still Love Intel
April 15, 2021
Yes, I know.
Fix Jumpy Mouse Movement across multiple Monitors (Free tool)
December 18, 2020
If you are working on multiple Monitors, chances are high that you have cursed Windows for not being able to properly move your mouse across them.
How to Clean and Maintain Your PC (Beginner’s Guide)
March 28, 2021
Few things are more frustrating than a PC that takes ten minutes to load your favorite Software and Games.
![Best B550 Motherboards for AMD Ryzen CPUs [2021 Guide]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2020/07/BestB550Motherboards_Twitter-1200x675-1-420x236.jpg "Best B550 Motherboards for AMD Ryzen CPUs [2021 Guide]")
Best B550 Motherboards for AMD Ryzen CPUs [2021 Guide]
April 15, 2021
After numerous delays, motherboards with the B550 chipset for AMD processors have finally started popping up on the market.
Best Smallest ATX Cases for Compact PC Builds in 2021
April 22, 2021
Most of us wouldn’t say no to a PC stuffed with beastly hardware, but not everyone has the desk or floor space to stash a tower the size of a child.
Render Engine Hardware Compatibility – CPU / GPU / Hybrid
December 29, 2020
This is one of the first things you need to know when planning a new PC for Rendering Workloads:
Best Z490 Motherboards for Intel 10900K, 10700K, 10600K CPUs
April 15, 2021
Intel’s 10th Generation lineup has brought back competition to the market, in a way at least, by enabling hyperthreading across the entire product stack.
The 2021 Monitor Guide to Refresh Rates and Response Times
January 5, 2021
If you’re serious about gaming, especially competitive gaming, then the topics of refresh rate, response time, and input lag are likely of great importance to you.
Best Modular Power Supplies of 2021 – 550W / 650W / 850W / 1000W
April 22, 2021
Picking a suitable power supply is critical, as it’s one of the core elements of your PC build.
Best CPU Cooler for Intel i9-10900K
April 22, 2021
Intel’s i9 10900k Processor is an exceptionally powerful CPU.
![Buying The Best Gaming CPU For You [2021 Guide]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2020/05/BestCPUForGaming-Twitter_1200x675-420x236.jpg "Buying The Best Gaming CPU For You [2021 Guide]")
Buying The Best Gaming CPU For You [2021 Guide]
April 12, 2021
Buying a processor (CPU) may seem intimidating at the outset, especially if you aren’t a tech expert.
![Best Motherboards for Gaming [2021 Guide]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2020/05/BestMotherboardsForGaming_Twitter-1200x675-1-420x236.jpg "Best Motherboards for Gaming [2021 Guide]")
Best Motherboards for Gaming [2021 Guide]
January 23, 2021
Whether you’re building a PC for gaming or work, a motherboard remains one of your PC’s core components.
Set up your Home-Office & What PC-Parts you’ll need
April 14, 2021
Roughly 5% of people who work do so from home.
Best Curved Monitors For Content Creators
April 15, 2021
Curved Monitors are becoming more and more popular, especially for Gaming.
The AMD Threadripper 3990X Review for Content Creators
April 15, 2021
AMD’s Threadripper lineup launch, featuring overwhelming 24 and 32-core CPUs, left a trail of dizzy Intel HEDT and even enterprise-class Xeon processors in its wake.
Finding The Best NVMe SSDs: Value, Speed, Optane, and more
January 23, 2020
Today, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about NVMe SSDs.
What is the Best GPU for Video Editing and Rendering?
April 11, 2021
Buying a new graphics card (GPU) can be tough, especially if you aren’t familiar with all the nitty-gritty tech jargon involved.
Best Motherboards for 3rd Gen AMD Threadripper CPUs 3990X, 3970X, 3960X
July 2, 2020
With the release of AMD’s Threadripper 3000 processors (3rd Generation Threadripper), Intel has finally lost the lead in both single-core and multi-threaded workloads.
The Best External Drives for your needs (Hard-Drive & SSD)
April 15, 2021
What is the best external hard drive for you?
![Best Motherboards for i9 9900k, i7 9700k [Intel 9th Gen CPUs]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2019/11/BestMotherboards-Twitter_1200x675-420x236.jpg "Best Motherboards for i9 9900k, i7 9700k [Intel 9th Gen CPUs]")
Best Motherboards for i9 9900k, i7 9700k [Intel 9th Gen CPUs]
April 15, 2021
Intel’s consumer CPUs have always remained a step ahead of their AMD counterparts when it comes to single-thread performance.
The Best Time to buy Computer Parts
January 21, 2021
In this article, we’re going to discuss the best time of the year to buy PC hardware.
The Best Case Fans for your PC
April 22, 2021
In this article, we’re going to teach you all you need to know to purchase the best case fans for your needs.
![The absolute Best 4K Monitors you can buy today [2021 Guide]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2019/09/Twitter-1200x675-420x236.jpg "The absolute Best 4K Monitors you can buy today [2021 Guide]")
The absolute Best 4K Monitors you can buy today [2021 Guide]
April 15, 2021
Today, we’re going to help you find the best 4K monitor for your needs.
Best CPU Coolers for AMD Ryzen Threadripper CPUs (Review Roundup)
April 22, 2021
AMD’s Threadripper CPUs were designed to deliver incredible performance at shockingly low prices.
Intel Core vs AMD Ryzen CPUs (Benchmarks & Comparison)
April 23, 2021
With the launch of Ryzen 5000 CPUs (5950X, 5900X, 5800X, and 5600X), AMD has surpassed even Intel’s most premium offerings.
Best Memory (RAM) for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs 3900X, 3700X, 3600
April 23, 2021
Wondering what RAM would be perfect for your Ryzen PC Build?
Best Motherboards for AMD Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs 5950X, 5900X, 5600X
April 25, 2021
On the lookout for a motherboard that pairs well with a Ryzen 5000 CPU like the 5950X?
Best PCIE Riser & Extension Cables for heavy GPU Workloads
May 6, 2021
PCIe Riser and Extension Cables have become more and more important in recent years.
Best Monitor for Graphic Design, Video Editing & 3D Animation (Updated)
April 14, 2021
The great thing about buying a Monitor for Graphic Design, Video Editing, Photo Editing, or 3D Animation and CAD, is that all of these tasks are visually demanding and therefore require very similar features from a Monitor.
Western Digital Blue vs. Black Series – Which is best for your needs?
March 16, 2021
When it comes to hard drive brands, it’s difficult to find a more famous and trusted name than Western Digital Corporation (otherwise known as WD).
Single vs Dual vs Quad Channel Memory on Ryzen Threadripper (Benchmarks)
March 27, 2021
Does Single vs Dual vs Quad Channel Memory impact performance on Ryzen Threadripper CPUs?
Parts Needed to Build a PC (Computer Parts List & Explanation)
January 16, 2021
What Computer Parts do you need to build a PC, you ask?
Memory Clock Speeds Comparison on AMD Threadripper (Benchmarks)
April 11, 2021
AMD Threadripper CPUs are the unchallenged King of the High-End Desktop.
Octanebench Benchmark Results (Updated Scores)
January 6, 2021
OctaneBench is the currently most popular GPU Rendering Benchmark.
Nvidia Graphics Cards List In Order Of Performance
April 11, 2021
A list of Nvidia Graphics Cards in order of performance is something I keep looking for myself.
PC-Builder: Find The Best Parts For Your PC & Workstation
April 21, 2021
Quickly find the best Parts for your PC & Workstation.
How Much RAM Do You Need For Photoshop
January 28, 2021
Knowing how much RAM (System Memory) you need for working in Photoshop can be quite tricky at times because there are so many factors to keep in mind.
What Does Ti mean in a GPU
March 27, 2021
Graphics Cards have complicated naming schemes and it can get confusing very fast, especially with the rate at which new GPUs are released.
How Much RAM Do You Need For Video Editing
April 17, 2021
Are you thinking about getting a new Video Editing Desktop PC or a Video Editing Laptop or want to upgrade your existing one?
![Best CPU For Rendering [2021 Guide]](https://www.cgdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2017/04/BestCPUForRendering-Twitter_1200x675-420x236.jpg "Best CPU For Rendering [2021 Guide]")
Best CPU For Rendering [2021 Guide]
May 6, 2021
Have you ever wondered what Processor (CPU) is best for rendering?
Best Hardware for GPU Rendering in Octane – Redshift – Vray (Updated)
April 15, 2021
Graphics Card (GPU) based render engines such as Redshift, Octane, or VRAY have matured quite a bit and are overtaking CPU-based Render-Engines – both in popularity and speed.