All the top tech to hit the magic 90% mark in our rigorous testing as well as the ones which fell waaaaaay short.
We’re an exacting bunch here on PC Gamer, and we have the highest standards. We know our gear, and we’ll only hand out the highest review scores to the kit that meets, or exceeds those standards. And, of the 200+ PC gaming products we’ve reviewed over the course of 2022, only 19 have managed to get over the 90% mark.
Yes, we still use the hundred point range, get over it.
It’s a somewhat surprising list, with some names you might not expect to be in there, and some you might have thought would make it into the top echelons of PC gaming gear this year. I definitely reckon you’ll be surprised to see which brand managed to get the absolute highest score of the year.
The fact there’s no AMD or Nvidia kit repping in the top tier of our reviews is likely not a surprise, and is largely a symptom of the fact that both have launched new hardware with unrealistic price tags. And that doesn’t win them any favours with us.
But with everything from gaming headsets, to CPUs, to PCs and screens, there’s a good spread of gear to whet your appetite. And then, just to balance out all the positivity, I’ve dropped the five lowest scoring products in at the bottom.
Seems like I’m the mean one, too, because all of the lowest scores were handed out by yours truly. Ain’t I a stinker?
The highest rated PC gaming gear of 2022
90%
If the high price of X670E motherboards turns you off, this affordable X670 alternative delivers almost all of the goodies at a much more affordable price.
For
Good value for moneyStrong VRMGood connectivity options
Against
Cheap audioB650/E competition
90%
On the eve of a new generation of PCIe Gen 5 SSDs, SK Hynix has rolled out what proves to be one of the very fastest Gen 4 drives yet. There are cheaper options that are only slightly slower, but if you want the very best, this is the drive to beat right now.
For
Excellent all-round performanceNo major weaknessesCompetitive on price with direct rivals
Against
Runs a tiny bit hotUnspectacular 4K performanceBetter value is available elsewhere
90%
The Aftershock Ultracore is a highly customizable and gorgeous machine with impeccable attention to detail. If you want a desktop to show off as much as enjoy using, it’ll be hard to find something better.
For
Immaculate presentationHighly customisableEasily upgradeable
Against
Expensive compared to a DIY buildNo Radeon graphics optionThe 5800X3D is overkill unless you are a gaming purist
90%
The Razer Enki Pro has plenty of premium appeal with a price tag to match. It’s extremely comfortable, well built and will work for most body heights and weights, making it a fantastic addition to luxury gaming setups.
For
Extremely comfortable for a racing seatMagnetic memory foam headrestPremium metal construction
Against
Eye-wateringly expensiveNot especially rich in features
90%
I couldn’t recommend a better wireless gaming headset than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. They sound amazing and the battery lasts what feels like forever. Plus they’re comfortable for long sessions. These may not have the versatility of headsets with more connections, but if what you want is a wireless headset that works amazingly with your PC, this is the one to buy.
For
Battery life that can only be described as witchcraftExcellent for listening to musicPrecise, powerful audio is great for gamingVery comfortable
Against
Microphone isn’t up to par with the rest of the headsetThey aren’t the loudest headphones
91%
The Kone XP has everything the discerning gamer needs: great ergonomics, tons of accessible buttons, and glorious RGB lighting.
For
Excellent feel in the handOutstanding RGB aestheticsButtons are all easily accessibleExcellent performance in gamesGreat for productivity too
Against
Not wirelessLimited control over RGB
91%
The Wooting 60HE is a superb gaming keyboard with genuine benefits for PC gamers of all kinds. The Wootility is one of the best peripheral applications out there too.
For
Leading analogue featuresGenuinely beneficial in-gameThe best application around……which can even run in your browserVibrant RGB effectsExcellent qualityHighly customisableSpare switches included
Against
No adjustable feet60% size isn’t for everyonePBT keycaps currently US onlyF1 games don’t play nice with analogue functions
91%
It’s a lot of money if you’re thinking about it as just a chassis, but with a bundled 750W PSU, liquid cooling, and routed cabling, it’s your best bet for a quality minimal fuss, mini-ITX gaming PC build.
For
Great to build intoExtra coolingRouted cabling is a blessing
Against
Doesn’t support tall RAM modules
92%
The NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Kit isn’t exactly a pre-built PC, as you have to actually piece it together yourself. Still, a cut above the competition when it comes to component selection, and you’ll understand and care about your PC that much more too because of it.
For
Good components for the moneyGenuinely fun to put togetherClear building guide…
Against
Some parts of the guide are genericAnd it takes time
92%
Seasonic maintains its top spot in the power supply game with its excellent PSU platform, and with a stellar 12-year warranty you can be sure this PSU is built to last.
For
High performance and silent operationHigh-quality components and top build qualityFully modular12-year warranty
Against
High OCP on all rails, especially the minor ones
92%
The Thronmax MDrill One Pro comes out of nowhere to unseat some of the better-known and pricier brands. Offering excellent audio, stylish good looks, and onboard controls with no need for extra software, this is an excellent mic.
For
Excellent no-fuss audioBeautiful design and solid buildOn-mic level monitoringNo software needed
Against
No control over sidetoneBest audio requires a boom arm
93%
Mountain has taken all it’s learnt from its first keyboards and created the best-feeling, most usable 60% gaming keyboard I’ve ever used. It’s solid, reliable, responsive, and offers the best typing experience around. It’s also good-looking and surprisingly expandable with the numpad accessory, alternative switches, and PBT keycaps.
For
Great typing feelReassuringly robustResponsiveOptional modular numpad is great
Against
Base Camp software remains a minor weak pointOverall package gets expensive
93%
The Beyerdynamic MMX 100 is as close to perfection as a wired gaming headset can get thanks to its impressive sound, comfort, and build quality.
For
Excellent audio performanceComfortable for all-day useBeautiful design and build qualityVery good microphone
Against
Fiddly volume dial
95%
The Kaiser 3 is named well, it’s a great chair that coats your butt and body in plush PVC leather, accompanied by an adjustable magnetic neck pillow and lumbar support.
For
Adjustable lumbar support4D armrest Seat size
Against
Placement of the lumbar support knobs
The Top 4 best products of 2022
95%
It’s been an incredibly long time coming. But OLED awesomeness has finally come to the PC. LCD technology still has the edge for latency, but this quantum dot-enhanced OLED screen is incredible when it comes to contrast, HDR performance, and response. Net result? Simply one of, if not the, best gaming monitors ever.
For
Fabulous contrast and coloursStupendous pixel responseGenuine HDR capability
Against
Not a great all-purpose panelLatency isn’t a strong pointNo HDMI 2.1
95%
Without the unprecedented overclocking potential inside the i5 12400 I’d be heartily recommending this chip forms the basis of your next budget gaming PC build. With it, this processor stands a good chance of becoming the legendary processor of Intel’s Alder Lake generation.
For
Great stock performanceLow powerStays coolHoly hell, does it overclock
Against
BCLK OC may get patched outRequires a whole new motherboard
96%
The inclusion of four more E-cores turns this processor into a 14-core chip with the multithreaded performance to deliver in high-demand applications, and that makes it a great fit for streaming, content creation, editing, and more. The Core i5 13600K is much more of an all-round powerhouse than I had expected it to be.
For
Gaming performance close to a Core i9 12900KMultithreaded performance close to a Core i9 12900KBasically a Core i9Fairly efficientCheaper 600-series platform available
Against
Hotter and hungrier than the Core i5 12600KSlower than last-gen in some games
98%
The Corsair AX1600i is the highest performance PSU available on today’s market, even several years after its release. Corsair did well to be the first to adopt GaN MODFETs and the totem-pole APFC converter in a desktop PSU and this gamble paid off. If there were a PSU to get close, it’d be the Be quiet! Dark Power Pro 1500W, but Corsair takes the top spot here.
For
Powerful with top performance in all sectionsHigh build qualitySilent operationSoftware control
Against
Super expensiveSmall distance between peripheral connectors
The five worst products of 2022
57%
Maybe the excessive bass response works for your musical tastes, but the weak battery life, and sacrificing audio in favour of low latency gaming, makes me want to swerve the Gravastar buds.
For
Strong gamer aestheticDoubles as a bottle opener
Against
Bass-heavy audioWeak battery lifeLow latency mode sacrifices sound quality
52%
There’s active noise cancelling, ambient mode, long battery life, and a long-range wireless connection. A great feature set, then, but the Barracuda Pro is absolutely a worse headset than Razer’s far cheaper, and better-sounding BlackShark V2 Pro.
For
Lots of featuresLong-range wirelessSolid battery life
Against
ANC isn’t great in gamesConnection static, and sometimes flakyAudio is a bit lacklustreOver $100 more than better headsetsPoor mic clarity
47%
A graphics card built to offer the barest minimum of hardware, fails to move the game on, and feels like the most cynical, GPU-crisis graphics card we’ve seen yet.
For
It’s in production
Against
Ephemeral MSRPWeak 4GB capacityLast-gen gaming performance
43%
This is a gaming chair simply not designed for me. The mesh fabric should be comfortable, but the thick plastic frame keeping it taut jabs in all the wrong places.
For
The armrests are niceThe head cushion is squishy
Against
Really uncomfortableThey want money for this
43%
The MelGeek Pixel ought to be everything I’m looking for in a wireless enthusiast gaming keyboard. Ultra-customisation, from the switches to the keycaps, and with the added bonus of LEGO compatible studding across the entire board. And yet it delivers an abysmal typing experience and the brick compatibility is a definite let-down, too.
For
Functional wirelessHotswappable switchesPackaging is cute
Against
Terrible typing experienceToo flexible plastic chassisLot of moneyLacks the QA of a genuine LEGO product
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