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RTX 5070 Ti Review: 1440p, 4K and the RX 9070 XT

LK Wood IV — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 22:00:25 +0000

The RTX 5070 Ti makes sense for path tracing, DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation or CUDA work. For a 1440p gaming build, check whether your games resemble TechSpot’s mixed 52-game average or its individual path-tracing tests. The October 7, 2026 Newegg sample put the Gigabyte Ti $340.99 above the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT; the 3.5-out-of-5 score reflects that spread.

The reservation is price. NVIDIA announced the card at $749 on January 6, 2025, and no Founders Edition exists to hold that number. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the lowest new Ti on the first page of Newegg-sold listings was a Gigabyte WindForce OC at $1,169.99, about 56 percent over the launch price (derived).

This review evaluates the RTX 5070 Ti using NVIDIA’s documentation and the independent tests cited below; it adds no new TechFuelHQ lab measurements. I have not tested this card, so the first person here is judgment only.

The version and fit to check

NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 family page, read October 7, 2026, prints the reference figures below; die and unit counts come from TechPowerUp’s ASUS TUF OC review of February 20, 2025.

Item	Specification	Why I would check it
GPU	GB203, 70 of 84 SMs and 48 of 64 MB L2 enabled (TechPowerUp)	Same die as the RTX 5080 with parts switched off
Shaders	8,960 CUDA cores, 70 RT cores, 96 ROPs (TechPowerUp)	Explains the 12 to 13 percent gap to the 5080
Clocks	2.45 GHz boost, 2.3 GHz base	Partner cards run higher; the TUF OC is rated 2,588 MHz
Memory	16GB GDDR7, 256-bit, 28 Gbps, 896 GB/s	77 percent more bandwidth than the RTX 4070 Ti (TechPowerUp)
Total graphics power	300 W	15 W above the RTX 4070 Ti Super (Tom’s Hardware)
Required system power	750 W	ASUS lists 850 W for the TUF OC
Power connector	One 16-pin (12V-2x6, per Tom’s Hardware); NVIDIA specifies 2x 8-pin through an adapter, or a 300 W-or-greater Gen 5 cable	Partner adapters vary: the ASUS Prime ships a 3x 8-pin adapter (Tom’s Hardware)
Outputs	3x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1x HDMI 2.1b	The TUF OC adds a second HDMI
Video engines	2x ninth-gen NVENC, 1x sixth-gen NVDEC, AV1	Streaming and editing
Founders Edition	None	No fixed-price reference model

Size is the fit fact buyers get wrong. NVIDIA’s table says length and slots vary by manufacturer, because every RTX 5070 Ti is a partner board. The ASUS TUF OC measures 329 x 140 x 62.5 mm across 3.125 slots. Tom’s Hardware lists the ASUS Prime at 304 mm and 2.5 slots, and KitGuru quotes MSI’s 303 mm for the Ventus 3X OC in the buying panel. Tom’s Hardware also notes NVIDIA made no Founders Edition, just as it made no 4070 Ti or 4070 Ti Super card.

A 300 W rating specifies board power; it does not establish connector safety. Read the partner card’s installation instructions before routing or bending its power cable.

How fast it is

At launch the generational step was small. TechSpot’s launch review (February 19, 2025, MSI Ventus 3X OC at reference clocks, Ryzen 7 9800X3D) put the RTX 5070 Ti 7 percent ahead of the RTX 4070 Ti Super at 1440p and 12 percent behind the RTX 5080. At 4K the margins were 11 percent ahead and 13 percent behind. With ray tracing and quality upscaling it averaged 51 fps at 4K, 13 percent over the 4070 Ti Super.

The other launch suites land in the same place. TechPowerUp measured 4K raster parity with the RTX 4080, RTX 4080 Super and RX 7900 XTX, and a ray-tracing lead of over 42 percent on the 7900 XTX. Tom’s Hardware averaged just over 60 fps at 4K ultra, 14 percent ahead of the 4070 Ti Super. KitGuru placed it 5 percent behind the 4080 Super at 4K and gave it 8/10, and GamersNexus found the 5080 generally 9 to 16 percent better.

That is RTX 4080 speed.

Native 4K at maximum settings is the edge. TechPowerUp found several titles under 60 fps there without ray tracing or upscaling, called the card awesome for 1440p high refresh and pointed demanding 4K buyers to the RTX 5080.

The 2026 data matters more for the buying decision, because the rival changed. TechSpot’s 52-game test of May 22, 2026 (GeForce driver 596.49) put the RTX 5070 Ti only 1.4 percent ahead of the RX 9070 XT at 1440p and 84 against 81 fps at native 4K, yet with ray tracing at 1440p it led by 15 percent in Cyberpunk 2077 and 56 percent in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and in Doom: The Dark Ages with path tracing it ran 31 fps, 63 percent faster, though TechSpot notes upscaling is needed to make that playable. Tom’s Hardware’s best-GPUs guide, updated October 2, 2026, averaged 92.0 fps at 1440p and 52.8 fps at 4K across 19 games with ray tracing and no upscaling, against 85.3 and 47.4 for the RX 9070 XT. The RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT page goes game by game.

Older cards gain a lot. TechSpot measured 103 percent more performance than an RTX 3070 at 1440p.

Tom’s Hardware’s launch notes on a Minecraft ray-tracing bug and Control rendering errors date from February 2025. I found no 2026 source saying either still applies.

Power, thermals and noise

The card runs at or under its rating. Tom’s Hardware’s PCAT v2 capture put the ASUS Prime 12 W under its 300 W TGP at 4K ultra, at 66 °C. KitGuru read 283 W at 4K on the Ventus, and GamersNexus saw 264 W on the Prime in Final Fantasy XIV at 4K. TechPowerUp’s power page rates its gaming efficiency behind only the RTX 5080. Light load is the weak spot, with idle, multi-monitor and video-playback power 21 percent above the RTX 4070 Ti Super. TechSpot’s 2026 test found the RX 9070 XT typically draws about 20 percent more.

Coolers decide the noise. TechPowerUp’s temperature table has the TUF OC at 61 °C and 30.8 dBA on its default BIOS, 25.4 dBA on the quiet one, and the MSI Ventus OC at 68 °C and 40.9 dBA. KitGuru also measured its Ventus at 40 dBA, while GamersNexus read 29.2 dBA from the Prime.

The Ventus in the buying panel is the loud card in these tables.

If that bothers you, the RTX 5070 Ti undervolt guide is where I would start. NVIDIA lists 750 W for its reference system, while ASUS lists 850 W for its TUF OC. Follow the specification for the actual board. The PSU wattage calculator sizes the rest of the system, and the RTX 50-series PSU guide covers cables.

Price and the alternatives

At $749 this was an easy recommendation. TechSpot’s launch math gave it a 16 percent better cost per frame than the RTX 4070 Ti Super, and called it “a complete flop” at $900 or more.

The October 7 sample sat well above that line. Newegg’s untagged search on October 7, 2026, included a $1,169.99 Gigabyte WindForce OC, whose stock status varied across captures; several more, including the MSI Ventus 3X OC, cost $1,179.99. The site’s RTX 5070 vs 5070 Ti page recorded $1,149.99 on September 26, 2026. Tom’s Hardware’s price tracker (September 28, 2026) shows $1,119 against a $729 lowest ever, TechPowerUp put the Newegg median at $1,100 in July and August, and TechSpot (August 31, 2026) called it the third most overpriced GPU, 44 percent over MSRP globally. The best 2026 dip Tom’s Hardware reported was an ASUS Prime at $899.99 at Newegg on Prime Day, reported by Tom’s Hardware on June 22, 2026.

The alternatives, read at Newegg on October 7, 2026 as new in-stock cards sold by Newegg:

Card	Price	Gap to the 5070 Ti (derived)	Speed against the 5070 Ti
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC	$829.00	$340.99 less (29.1% below the Ti); the Ti costs 41.1% more	1.4% behind at 1440p (TechSpot)
MSI RTX 5070 Gaming Trio OC	$869.99	$300.00 less	74.0 vs 92.0 fps at 1440p (Tom’s Hardware)
ASUS Prime RTX 5080	$1,599.99	$430.00 more; 36.8%	8 to 16% faster (Tom’s Hardware)

TechSpot’s November 2 market survey put the two GPUs at $1,250 and $870 in its later US October sample. Those were the survey’s lowest in-stock listings, not retail prices we observed on November 2. The $380 difference is another reason to compare exact boards before buying.

The RX 9070 XT row decides the score. Tom’s Hardware still names the RTX 5070 Ti its best high-end card, yet warns buyers spend “as much as 53% more cash right now for just 5% more baseline performance”. I read that as a premium worth paying only by someone who uses what it buys. The RTX 5070 Ti vs RTX 5080 page covers the step up.

Waiting has no date. Asus told Hardware Unboxed in January 2026 that there were no current plans for the RTX 50 Super refresh, and TechPowerUp attributed the postponement to a shortage of high-capacity GDDR7. The same week Hardware Unboxed reported the RTX 5070 Ti as end-of-life; Asus denied it to Tom’s Hardware, and NVIDIA said it continues to ship all GeForce SKUs (PCWorld).

The $340.99 gap has two percentages. Against the $1,169.99 Ti, the $829.00 Radeon cost 29.1% less. Against the Radeon, the Ti cost 41.1% more. The 3.5 score reflects those October 7 listings and how sharply the result changes between the mixed suite and a path-traced game.

Who should buy it

You play path-traced or heavily ray-traced games at 1440p or 4K and want DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation.
You run CUDA or NVENC work that benefits from this GPU, or a local model that fits its 16GB; the gain justifies the premium in your own quotes.
You want a 16GB NVIDIA card, but the speed gain of an RTX 5080 is worth less to you than the difference between the two delivered prices.
You are upgrading from an RTX 3070-class card (TechSpot measured 103 percent more performance at 1440p).

Who should skip it

Your games resemble the mixed 52-game test, which put the Ti only 1.4% ahead at 1440p; check whether the Radeon still costs less where you shop.
You own an RTX 4070 Ti Super or RTX 4080. Tom’s Hardware says RTX 40-series owners should give this generation a pass.
Your budget is about $900, where the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 XT buys most of the performance.
You are holding out for a Super card or a return to $749. Neither has a date.

Before checkout, measure the exact board against the case; the TUF OC is 26 mm longer than the Ventus (derived from the makers’ figures).

Sources

The original Newegg listings and benchmarks were read on October 7, 2026. The later TechSpot survey is identified separately.

NVIDIA, RTX 5070 family specifications - cores, clocks, memory, power, connectors, outputs, codecs.
NVIDIA newsroom, RTX 50 Series announcement (January 6, 2025) - $749 launch price, Founders Edition list.
ASUS, TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC specifications - size, outputs, 850 W.
TechPowerUp, ASUS RTX 5070 Ti TUF OC review (February 20, 2025) - die, bandwidth, conclusion, thermals and noise, power. Read on Internet Archive copies after the live pages returned 403.
TechSpot, RTX 5070 Ti review (February 19, 2025) - launch and RT averages, RTX 3070 gain, cost per frame.
TechSpot, RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT in 52 games (May 22, 2026) - margins, per-game RT leads, power gap.
Tom’s Hardware, RTX 5070 Ti review (February 19, 2025) - spec table and 16-pin connector, with page 2, page 4, page 5 for the driver notes, page 8 and page 9 for the verdict.
Tom’s Hardware, best graphics cards (updated October 2, 2026) - 19-game averages, RTX 5080 gap.
KitGuru, MSI RTX 5070 Ti Ventus 3X OC review (February 19, 2025) - 4K margin, 283 W, 40 dBA, length.
GamersNexus, RTX 5070 Ti review (February 21, 2025) - 5080 gap, 264 W, 29.2 dBA.
TechPowerUp, RTX 5070 Ti production report (January 16, 2026) - Asus statement via Hardware Unboxed, Super refresh postponed. Read on an Internet Archive copy.
Tom’s Hardware, Asus denies discontinuation (January 16, 2026) - Asus and NVIDIA statements.
PCWorld, Asus denial (January 16, 2026) - NVIDIA shipping statement.
Tom’s Hardware, GPU price tracking (September 28, 2026) - $1,119 and $729.
TechPowerUp, RTX 50 median prices (August 11, 2026) - $1,100 Newegg median. Read on an Internet Archive copy.
TechSpot, GPU pricing Q3 2026 (August 31, 2026) - 44 percent over MSRP, third most overpriced.
Tom’s Hardware, $900 ASUS Prime deal (June 22, 2026) - $899.99 at Newegg.
Newegg, RTX 5070 Ti search, in stock and sold by Newegg (untagged), with N82E16814932771 at $1,169.99 and N82E16814137933 at $1,179.99.
Newegg comparators (untagged): N82E16814126746 RX 9070 XT at $829.00, N82E16814137938 RTX 5070 at $869.99, N82E16814126776 RTX 5080 at $1,599.99.
Amazon, MSI RTX 5070 Ti Ventus 3X OC, ASIN B0DV9GC9SR - model identity only, no price.

Where to buy the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16G Ventus 3X OC: Check Amazon · Check Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

PC Builder: Parts Picker with Compatibility Checks

LK Wood IV — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

What this PC part compatibility checker checks

Pick a CPU and the motherboard list narrows to boards with the same socket. Pick a board and the RAM list narrows to its DDR type. With parts chosen, the checker flags six conflicts: a CPU and board on different sockets, a board chipset the CPU does not support, RAM of the wrong DDR type, a PSU below the calculated threshold or the GPU maker’s published minimum, a motherboard form factor the case does not list, and a graphics card longer than the case allows.

It does not check cooler fit, RAM QVL or rated speed, DIMM and PCIe slot allocation, a free M.2 or SATA slot for the drive, PSU connectors, or the board’s BIOS version; those live in the component manuals. Before ordering, I’d read the case manual for cooler height and radiator room.

The parts come from an open dataset of 126 editor-picked entries, all in the dropdowns above and downloadable as /data/pc-builder-parts.json.

A GPU family does not have one board length. Match the exact partner model or part number in the picker: the 344 mm XFX MERC 310 RX 7900 XTX Black is longer than AMD’s 287 mm reference RX 7900 XTX. A named board’s dimensions do not apply to another card with the same graphics chip. If you choose a generic RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9060 XT, the picker asks for the exact card before it can answer the case-fit question. Match the manufacturer’s dimension to the clearance left by your front fans or radiator.

How to check a PC parts list before ordering

Work from the parts that constrain everything else. Choose the CPU and motherboard first, then confirm the socket and chipset. Match the board’s DDR generation when you choose memory. After that, fit the motherboard and graphics card to the case, and compare the selected power supply with both this tool’s calculated threshold and the graphics-card maker’s requirement.

The green result covers only those implemented checks. Open the exact motherboard support page and manual before checkout to confirm the CPU is on its support list, the BIOS requirement, the memory configuration, available M.2 and SATA connections, and any shared PCIe lanes.

For example, MSI’s official specification for the B650 Tomahawk used in the worked example lists its AM5 CPU families, DDR5 memory, three M.2 sockets and the lane-sharing condition on its third M.2 slot. Then use the case manual for cooler height, radiator placement and cable room, and the power-supply page for the connectors in the box.

This is also the boundary on an upgrade check. You can select a replacement CPU, motherboard, memory kit, graphics card, case or power supply and test it against the other selections. The picker works only from selections you enter; it has no way to inspect the PC on your desk, identify its motherboard, rate performance, compare benchmark scores, track used prices or quote a live build total. Use the published build guides as complete starting lists; use this page to catch the supported fit conflicts in a list you have chosen.

Which motherboard goes with an RTX 5070 or 5070 Ti?

The graphics card does not choose the motherboard. Start with the CPU. Its socket and supported chipsets decide which boards belong on the list. Then choose the board size and memory generation. Check the graphics card against the case, power supply and the board manual’s slot layout. In this picker, an RTX 5070 or 5070 Ti therefore belongs beside a CPU-and-board pair you already validated rather than in a search for a special “5070 motherboard.”

For a board already inside a Windows PC, open PowerShell and run:

Get-CimInstance Win32_BaseBoard | Select-Object Manufacturer, Product, Version

Microsoft’s Win32_BaseBoard reference defines those fields as the motherboard maker and product, plus its version. Use the returned model to find the manufacturer’s support page and manual, then enter the closest exact parts here. A generic desktop or laptop model name is not a substitute for the board model.

Use the right page for a PC-part comparison

This builder compares fit, a conservative power estimate and broad performance tiers. It does not compare frame rates or application benchmarks.

For GPU performance, use a matched comparison such as RTX 5070 versus RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5070 Ti versus RX 9070 XT. To inventory the processor and graphics card before comparing upgrades, start with the PC bottleneck calculator’s inventory steps; it also identifies the installed memory and motherboard.

Is this a PCPartPicker alternative?

Yes, for a narrower job. PCPartPicker’s company profile says its service provides part-selection and compatibility guidance, compares prices across merchants, and creates shareable parts lists. It does check compatibility. Its catalog, merchant comparison and sharing model cover more than this page’s deliberately small, editor-picked dataset.

Use this picker when you want six named fit checks, an openly published CC BY dataset, and equal Amazon and Newegg handoffs without a stored price claim. Use PCPartPicker when you want its broader catalog and merchant comparison. A green result is still a screening step. Neither tool replaces the manuals. Check the exact component support pages before ordering.

Start with a published parts list

The linked $1,500 and $2,500 guides open their authored parts lists here. Every item stays in the list, including cooling and other parts outside the picker. Only exact matches load automatically; a similar model, memory timing, capacity or case variant is not substituted. The $2,500 link opens the guide’s As tested (my rig) column, not its build-fresh alternatives.

The coverage line separates the authored list from the selected parts the tool can check. Selecting all seven picker categories is a count, not a compatibility verdict. When you change a selection, the original authored item and your substitution stay distinguishable. Copying the parts list includes both, and the share URL preserves your selections and removals. The guides’ dated prices are not a live total.

How much SSD space to reserve for Windows 11

Microsoft’s current Windows 11 requirement is 64GB or greater available disk space, and it warns that updates and individual features can need more. That is an installation minimum. It does not promise that every finished Windows 11 setup occupies one universal amount. Plan the SSD around Windows and update headroom, then allow for applications, games and your own files; do not treat 64GB as a practical whole-build allocation. The storage selection here checks neither free space nor an installed Windows footprint.

Worked examples

These examples use part IDs that remain in the current dataset and the same compatibility and power formulas the tool runs in your browser. Dollar totals are intentionally omitted because the v2.1 dataset has stored no retailer prices since 2026-08-01.

Mainstream 1440p AM5 build: known power budget, unknown card length

Inputs: CPU cpu-r5-9600x (Ryzen 5 9600X, tdp_w 65, AM5, tier mid) · Motherboard mb-b650-tomahawk (MSI B650 Tomahawk WiFi, AM5/B650, DDR5) · RAM ram-ddr5-32gb-6000 (G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30) · GPU gpu-rx-9060-xt-16gb (RX 9060 XT 16GB, tgp_w 160, board length unknown, tier mid) · Storage ssd-sn850x-2tb · PSU psu-750w-gold · Case case-meshify-2 (341 mm with the stock front fan, up to 360 mm with the front path clear)
Result: The power estimate is 375 W (65 + 160 + 150 W for the rest of the system). The 20% margin gives a calculated 450 W PSU estimate. AMD’s published minimum for the RX 9060 XT is also 450 W, shown on its own line. Because this GPU entry identifies a family rather than an exact board, the builder asks for the card length before calling its fit. Check the selected card manufacturer’s power requirement and the case cooling layout.

RTX 5080 example: 800W calculated estimate, 850W manufacturer reference requirement

Inputs: CPU cpu-r7-9800x3d (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, tdp_w 120) · Motherboard mb-b850-edge · RAM ram-ddr5-32gb-6000 · GPU gpu-rtx-5080-fe (RTX 5080 Founders Edition, tgp_w 360, length 304mm) · Storage ssd-sn850x-2tb · PSU psu-750w-gold (750W) · Case case-h7-flow (410mm GPU clearance)
Result: Retailer checks “14 current retailer links” (Amazon first, with Newegg beside it) · Calculated power estimate 630 W (CPU + GPU + 150W system) · Calculated PSU estimate 800W (20% margin, rounded up to the next 50W) · GPU maker’s published minimum “850W (NVIDIA reference-system minimum for this GPU family). The PSU check uses this figure: it is higher than the calculated threshold.” · Performance tier “Flagship — 4K + path tracing” · Red error: “PSU below the calculated threshold: 630W + 20% margin = 756W, but RM750x (2024) 750W 80+ Gold is 750W. Calculated PSU estimate: 800W. NVIDIA’s published minimum for this GPU family is higher, at 850W, so that is the figure to meet. A partner card’s own requirement can differ.” Swapping to the RM850x (850W) meets both figures and clears the PSU warning. The B850 board name still needs an exact model check.

The arithmetic is (120 + 360 + 150) × 1.2 = 756W, rounded up to 800W, and it is a calculation, not a measurement. NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 specifications list 850W required system power and base that minimum on a PC configured with a Ryzen 9 9950X; NVIDIA says requirements differ by configuration. For a partner card, use that maker’s specifications, and buy for the higher figure. The builder compares the selected PSU with the higher of its 756W threshold and NVIDIA’s 850W.

What this is

A real PC build picker. Choose a CPU and the motherboard dropdown only shows boards that fit the socket. Pick a board and the RAM dropdown filters kits by DDR memory type. The summary panel calculates power from rated CPU and GPU watts plus a 150W system allowance, calculates a PSU estimate with a 20% margin, shows the GPU maker’s published system minimum where the dataset has one, and sets the performance tier from the lower of the CPU and GPU tiers. For a selected part with a canonical product match and current retailer verification, it shows the dated exact-product identity and link. When that check expires, or when a part has no registered exact offer, it uses the authored Amazon and Newegg searches instead. The tool stores no retailer price or stock claim.

Compatibility warnings cover CPU socket and chipset, DDR memory type, the calculated PSU threshold and the GPU maker’s published minimum, motherboard form factor and GPU length. The case check compares exact GPU length with the case’s listed maximum. Where two layouts have different limits, it identifies the front fan or drive position you need to check. Check cooler mounting and radiator clearance separately. Use the motherboard manual for DIMM population and PCIe slot allocation, and its QVL for the exact RAM kit and configuration. Share a build by copying the URL bar.

Why this exists

Most PC-builder sites are either link-out farms or PCPartPicker reskins. This one is opinionated about the parts list: each entry is editor-picked, and the notes explain why it is in the dataset. It does not quote a live build total, check coolers or allocate expansion slots. Check current stock at the retailer. It can prevent the common hard failures — a card longer than the case’s documented maximum, DDR4 in a DDR5 board, or a PSU below the calculated margin — and link to current retailer pages or searches for your selected parts.

The underlying parts dataset is published openly under CC BY 4.0 at /data/pc-builder-parts.json — you can fork it, remix it, or build your own picker on top of it. Required attribution: TechFuelHQ PC Builder Parts Dataset, CC BY 4.0. The same applies to every TechFuelHQ open dataset.

Assumptions and sources

Component power, socket, RAM-type, and clearance figures are the entries in the published /data/pc-builder-parts.json dataset, transcribed from manufacturer product pages. The dataset stores no retailer prices or stock status by design (since 2026-08-01). Exact retailer links carry their own visible link-check date and automatically return to an authored search after that check expires; unregistered parts use searches from the start.
MSI’s MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi specification, read October 11, 2026, is the primary source for the example board’s AM5 CPU families, DDR5 memory, storage sockets and lane-sharing note. The board’s current support page and manual remain the checkout authority.
PCPartPicker’s company profile, read October 11, 2026, describes its part-selection and compatibility guidance, merchant price comparison and shareable parts lists. PCPartPicker’s own site blocked automated retrieval during this check, so this comparison does not infer its detailed compatibility rules.
Microsoft’s Win32_BaseBoard reference, read October 11, 2026, defines the motherboard class and its manufacturer, product and version fields.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements, read October 11, 2026, gives 64GB or greater available disk space as the minimum and notes that updates and features can require more storage.
The estimated draw adds a flat 150W system allowance for the board, drives, fans, and lighting on top of CPU and GPU rated power - a TechFuelHQ working assumption, deliberately conservative for a single-GPU build. The CPU figure is a specification value: for AMD processors it is TDP, a thermal rating rather than a power limit, and for Intel it is base power, or maximum turbo power on K-series parts.
The calculated PSU estimate applies a 20% margin over the calculated draw and rounds up to the next 50W - a TechFuelHQ sizing rule. The PSU calculator follows a different rule: it adds 20% to an itemized allowance that starts from a CPU power limit, steps up to retail sizes and applies the GPU maker’s minimum, so it can show a higher figure for the same parts. Use it to size the CPU allowance. Neither figure models transient power spikes or checks connectors; the GPU manufacturer’s requirement comes first.
The GPU maker’s published minimum is NVIDIA’s or AMD’s reference-system figure for the card’s GPU family, read from the specification pages listed under the PSU calculator’s sources and stored per card in the dataset. A card with no figure on file is marked as such; the builder does not estimate one. The PSU check uses the higher of this figure and the calculated threshold.

PC Builder Parts Dataset 2026: Verified Specs and Verification Dates

LK Wood IV — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-07-24 · Updated 2026-11-10 · ~7 min read · St. Louis County, MO

The PC Builder parts dataset, with dates and limits attached

126 parts in 7 categories: CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, storage, PSU, and case.
125 rows have a structured source URL. The remaining MSI board needs an exact model name.
Six implemented compatibility checks. BIOS support, memory QVL, cooler fit, storage slots, lane sharing, connectors, and some physical clearances remain manual.
Prices were removed on 2026-08-01. They were Amazon-observed street prices, and our Amazon Associates participation means Amazon price data only appears through Amazon's approved mechanisms. The change log below has the full story.
Open data (CC BY 4.0). Fork it, remix it, or build on it with attribution.

The short version

This page is the canonical home of the TechFuelHQ PC Builder parts dataset. Version 2.3.0 contains 126 off-the-shelf components. The interactive PC Builder reads this file and runs six comparisons: CPU socket, supported chipset, RAM type, motherboard size, GPU length, and a PSU threshold.

That is a bounded result. The picker does not certify an entire build. A missing BIOS record, QVL entry, RAM rank, endurance rating, connector requirement, slot map, or clearance stays unknown until you check the exact manufacturers’ documentation.

Freshness is the dataset’s founding rule. Every row carries the date it was last verified, and a date only moves when the row is actually re-confirmed. Rows have been retired under that rule. On 2026-08-01, the same rule retired an entire field. The details are below.

Why the prices left, in plain language

Until 2026-08-01 this dataset also carried street prices. The 97 rows added in the 2026-07-29 expansion each recorded a price observed on Amazon.com, attributed to the exact listing it was read from. That attribution was the right way to publish an observed number. It also made the arrangement untenable. TechFuelHQ participates in the Amazon Associates program, and the program’s policies only permit showing Amazon price data through Amazon’s own mechanisms, which keep displayed prices current. A dated public snapshot, openly licensed for reuse, is not that.

So the price fields came out: price_usd, price_source, and price_asin on all 97 expansion rows. The 29 pre-expansion rows went through the same review that day. Their original methodology note lists Amazon among the retailer sources, and without per-row attribution there is no way to clear an individual figure as non-Amazon. Their prices came out too. The dataset now carries no prices. The specifications, compatibility fields, and existing structured source URLs stayed in place.

To compare power-supply prices, use the dated PSU histories in the data catalog. Each history names its exact part number and weekly source. Those prices are separate from the PC Builder specifications file.

What the dataset covers

JSON contract	Current value
Dataset version	`2.3.0`
Rows	126 across 7 categories
Structured `source` URLs	125 present; 1 absent
Per-row `last_verified`	1 on 2026-10-02; 96 on 2026-07-29; 23 on 2026-07-24; 6 on 2026-06-09
RAM rank fields	0 of 13 RAM rows
Storage endurance/TBW fields	3 of 15 storage rows

Category	Rows	Rows with a structured source URL	Fields present in this category
CPU	30	30	cores, threads, boost clock, TDP, socket, RAM type, supported chipsets
GPU	25	25	VRAM, board power, GPU maker’s minimum system power, length, PCIe label, performance tier
Motherboard	16	15	socket, chipset, RAM type, form factor, M.2 slot count, PCIe generation
RAM (DDR5)	13	13	capacity, kit size, speed, CAS latency, RAM type
Storage (SSD)	15	15	capacity, interface, form factor, rated read and write speed
Power supply	12	12	wattage, efficiency rating, modularity, electrical-generation label, PCIe 5 connector count
Case	15	15	supported motherboard sizes, max GPU length, max CPU-cooler height

Keep two dates separate. last_verified is the earlier whole-row review. source_check.date covers only the named fields: for example, checking the power rating of a GPU family does not establish its board length. One MSI board still needs an exact model before a source can be assigned.

Will this graphics card fit?

A GPU family name does not identify a board length. The XFX Speedster MERC 310 Black is 344 mm (part number RX-79XMERCB9); AMD’s reference RX 7900 XTX is 287 mm. The picker labels the XFX board by name and part number. If yours is the reference card or a different partner board, the XFX fit result does not apply.

The ASUS Astral RTX 5080 OC measures 357.6 mm long. The Meshify 2 Compact allows 341 mm with the stock front fan in the card’s path. That is 16.6 mm too short. Fractal’s layout guide gives 360 mm without the front fan or radiator in that path, leaving just 2.4 mm for this card’s length. Check the actual cooling layout, card thickness and power cable before buying.

A family name cannot answer the same question. The four generic 5060 Ti, 5070, 5070 Ti and RX 9060 XT entries now leave length empty. The picker asks for the board maker’s dimension instead of using a guessed length. It still uses the 16 GB RX 9060 XT’s 160 W reference rating for its power estimate.

What the PC Builder can answer

The map below follows the checks that are implemented in the PC Builder code. It does not promote every field in the JSON to a compatibility rule.

Do the CPU and board use the same socket?

Fields: cpu.socket and motherboard.socket. Actual check: the builder filters the board list by socket and warns on a mismatch. Limit: a matching socket does not prove that the installed BIOS supports that CPU.

Does the CPU list the board chipset?

Fields: cpu.supported_chipsets and motherboard.chipset. Actual check: the builder normalizes AMD/Intel prefixes, then checks the board chipset against the CPU list. Limit: the list does not encode a board’s BIOS version or the update process it may need.

Is the RAM generation the same?

Fields: motherboard.ram_type and ram.ram_type. Actual check: the builder filters RAM by type and warns when the types differ. Limit: it does not check the exact kit against the board QVL, DIMM rank, speed at a given DIMM count, or memory-training behavior.

Does the case list the board size?

Fields: motherboard.form_factor and case.supports_form_factors. Actual check: the builder normalizes ATX, Micro-ATX/mATX, and Mini-ITX/ITX labels, then warns if the case does not list the board size. Limit: this is motherboard mounting support. It does not prove cooler, radiator, PSU, cable, or side-panel clearance.

Is the GPU shorter than the listed case limit?

Fields: gpu.length_mm, case.max_gpu_length_mm and, where sourced, the case’s gpu_clearance layout limits. Actual check: a card longer than the case’s maximum triggers a conflict. Between two identified layout limits, the picker asks you to verify the installed layout. At or below a listed limit, it makes no whole-build fit guarantee. Limit: it does not model front radiators, drive cages, power-plug bend space, or card thickness.

Is the selected PSU below the calculated threshold?

Fields: cpu.tdp_w, gpu.tgp_w, gpu.psu_min_w, and psu.wattage_w. Actual check: the builder adds CPU TDP, GPU TGP, and 150 W of system overhead and applies a 20% margin. It warns when PSU wattage is below that threshold or below psu_min_w, the GPU maker’s published reference-system minimum, whichever is higher. Limit: the threshold is an estimate. It does not measure draw or transients. psu_min_w is a GPU-family figure and is null on 7 of the 25 GPU rows; it does not verify a partner card’s own power requirement or any connector requirement.

Storage is selectable, but the builder does not run a storage-slot check. The JSON has a storage interface string and a motherboard m2_slots count. It lacks the per-slot protocol, occupancy, lane-sharing, and disablement data needed to prove that a compatible slot is free.

Use this map as a stop line: when a question depends on a field absent from the named check, on a model-specific support document, or on the physical arrangement inside the case, the JSON has not answered it and the selection still needs review against the exact parts involved.

What still needs a manual check

BIOS and CPU support: read the exact motherboard revision’s CPU-support table and minimum BIOS version. No structured BIOS evidence appears in this dataset.
Memory QVL and DIMM layout: check the exact kit part number, CPU generation, DIMM count, target speed, and motherboard QVL. All 13 RAM rows lack a structured rank field. Missing rank is unknown, not single-rank or dual-rank.
SSD endurance: the 2 TB SN850X and 2 TB T705 each carry a 1,200 TBW rating; the 4 TB SN850X carries 2,400 TBW. These are manufacturer write-endurance ratings, not predicted failure dates. The other 12 drives lack a structured rating. See the WD model table and Crucial T705 capacity table.
Slots and lanes: inspect the motherboard manual for M.2 protocols, shared lanes, disabled ports, and the slots already occupied. A coarse M.2-slot count is not a free-slot result.
Cooler, radiator, GPU, and cable clearance: compare the exact dimensions and the case layout you will use. A published maximum can change with a front radiator or drive cage installed.
Power connectors and PSU fit: verify the GPU’s exact connector requirement, the PSU’s native cables, PSU mounting format and length, and cable space in the case. Wattage alone does not answer those questions.

If one of those records is missing, the result is needs a manual check. It is not evidence that the parts are compatible, and it is not evidence that they are incompatible.

How verification works

Verification is a deliberate, sourced pass. In the 2026-07-29 expansion, any candidate part whose specifications could not be confirmed against a page that loaded was dropped rather than estimated. Forty-one candidates went that way, including every part from several vendors whose sites refused automated retrieval. That constraint is visible in the data. NVIDIA add-in-board rows skew toward ASUS because it was the one board partner whose specification pages could be read. PCIe lane counts appear only where a retrieved page stated them explicitly.

The same pass retired one DDR5-7200 kit whose stored figure had drifted far from anything observable in the market. The row came out. The 2026-08-01 price removal is that same rule applied at field scale.

Where the specs come from

I may earn a commission if you buy through this affiliate link.

The JSON links a specification source for 125 parts. On November 4 we checked named power, fit, memory or endurance fields for 28 previously unlinked rows. Open each source and read its source_check.fields before reusing it. The 97 earlier links keep their previous review dates. The unsourced MSI B850 Edge WiFi entry needs a board label or exact part number; the similarly named Edge Ti is not proof of identity.

Performance-tier labels are TechFuelHQ editorial assessments based on aggregate review consensus. Where a part appears in a TechFuelHQ open bench dataset, its tier is anchored to first-party measurements. Treat the labels as rough tiering rather than head-to-head benchmark claims.

Use the data (CC BY 4.0)

The PC Builder parts dataset is released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. You may share and adapt it, including commercially, as long as you attribute TechFuelHQ and link back.

Attribution line (copy-paste):

TechFuelHQ PC Builder Parts Dataset (CC BY 4.0). TechFuelHQ PC Builder Parts Dataset (CC BY 4.0)

The raw JSON carries the per-row last_verified dates and the full methodology note in _meta, so downstream projects can key off both directly.

The same JSON is mirrored on Kaggle for dataset discovery. The canonical file served here is version 2.3.0 and contains no price fields; this page owns the correction history and current compatibility contract.

Change log

2026-11-10, v2.3.0. Added psu_min_w to all 25 GPU rows: the GPU maker’s published reference-system minimum for the card’s GPU family, with its maker, source page and check date. 18 rows hold a figure; 7 are null. For six of them no figure has been checked for that exact model; for the RX 7900 GRE, AMD’s page was checked on 2026-10-02 and lists none. The values are the ones the PSU Wattage Calculator already publishes with their sources, and no vendor page was re-read for this change. The builder’s PSU check now uses the higher of its calculated threshold and this figure.
2026-11-04, v2.2.0. Added source links to 28 rows and field-specific checks to 40. Named the exact partner card and part number on 11 formerly generic AMD/Intel listings, including two corrected ASRock lengths. Corrected two board memory limits, case dimensions and the 16 GB RX 9060 XT reference power; recorded separate conditional GPU clearances for the Meshify 2 Compact and Ridge; added three SSD endurance ratings. The builder now asks for exact GPU dimensions when a family entry cannot establish fit.
2026-10-23, page contract refresh. Matched this page, Dataset schema, FAQ, chart, and alt text to v2.1.1. Added the generated row/date/source census and mapped the visible limits to the checks the PC Builder actually runs. No JSON row or builder behavior changed.
2026-10-02, row verification. One GPU row carries this date. It is the dataset’s newest row-level verification, not a whole-dataset verification date.
2026-09-29, v2.1.1. Expanded every AM5 CPU’s supported_chipsets list to the AM5 chipsets named by AMD. The dataset note keeps the BIOS-update caveat for Ryzen 8000 and 9000 CPUs on 600-series boards.
2026-08-01, v2.1.0. Prices removed from the 29 pre-expansion rows after the same policy review. Their original methodology note lists Amazon among the retailer sources and no per-row attribution exists to separate the figures. The dataset is now entirely price-free. Three dollar-band part notes were retiered to plain tier language.
2026-08-01, v2.0.0. Price fields (price_usd, price_source, price_asin) removed from the 97 expansion rows for Amazon Associates program-policy compliance. Three part notes that referenced observed prices were rewritten. Specs, compatibility fields, and source pages stayed in place. Re-pricing from non-restricted sources is planned.
2026-07-29, v1.2.0. Expansion from 30 parts to 126. Per-row source provenance was introduced, one stale row was retired, and 41 unconfirmable candidates were dropped rather than estimated.
2026-07-24, v1.0. Initial public release with 30 parts.

The dataset version at each change is recorded in the raw JSON’s _meta, and dataset_version above always matches the file being served.

PC Builder: interactive parts picker for this dataset’s implemented compatibility and PSU-wattage checks
TechFuelHQ Datasets for the dataset home, license posture, and provenance
DDR5 RAM buying guide for choosing RAM beyond the dataset’s type check
$2,500 7800X3D + RTX 5080 4K build for these parts in a published build

RTX 5080 Review: Is the 4K Gain Worth the Price Gap?

LK Wood IV — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 22:00:24 +0000

The RTX 5080 makes sense when the extra frames at 4K change how you play. In the 4K raster suite below it averaged 77.4 FPS; the RTX 5070 Ti averaged 68.6. Divide each board’s delivered price by that board’s frame rate. At similar feature support and the same 16GB capacity, that is a better starting point than comparing either card with its launch price. My 4.4 out of 5 rating is the same as in my ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review.

The reservation is price. NVIDIA announced the RTX 5080 at $999 on January 6, 2025 for a January 30 launch. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the lowest of the six new listings sold and shipped by Newegg on the search page I checked was the ASUS PRIME-RTX5080-16G at $1,599.99, about 60 percent over that launch price (derived from 1,599.99 against 999). The silicon did not change. The price did.

This page reviews the RTX 5080 as a GPU family across several partner boards. The readings for my own card come from the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC that I benchmarked over June 8 to 11 of 2026, with a June 28 telemetry log, and published in the ROG Astral review and its open dataset. The separately normalized comparison index uses cards from my retired test bench; the other board results come from the named reviews cited inline.

I add no new measurements here.

The version and fit to check

NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 specification page, read October 7, 2026, prints the reference figures below. The right-hand column is where partner boards diverge.

Item	NVIDIA specification	Why I would check it
GPU	Blackwell GB203, 10,752 CUDA cores	Same die as the RTX 5070 Ti; the 5080 needs a fully enabled chip (Tom’s Hardware)
Clocks	2.62 GHz boost, 2.30 GHz base	ASUS lists 2,760 MHz default for the Astral OC
Memory	16GB GDDR7, 256-bit	Same capacity as the RTX 4080 Super and RTX 5070 Ti
Total graphics power	360 W	My Astral OC ships at a 400 W limit
Required system power	850 W	ASUS recommends 850 W for the Astral OC too
Power connector	3x PCIe 8-pin via the bundled adapter, or one 450 W-or-greater PCIe Gen 5 cable	Check the connector, adapter and PSU guidance for the board you buy
Founders Edition size	304 mm long, 137 mm wide, 2 slots	The Astral OC is 357.6 x 149.3 x 76 mm, 3.8 slots
Maximum GPU temperature	88 °C	The ceiling for every thermal figure below
Outputs	3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI; 4K at 480 Hz or 8K at 165 Hz with DSC	The Astral adds a second HDMI 2.1b
Interface and codecs	PCIe Gen 5; DLSS 4; 2x ninth-gen NVENC, 2x sixth-gen NVDEC	Dual encoders matter for streaming

KitGuru’s spec recap fills in the SM count NVIDIA’s page omits. The RTX 5080 is a full implementation of the GB203 die with 84 SMs and 84 RT cores plus 336 Tensor cores, and its 30 Gbps GDDR7 delivers 960 GB/s, a 30 percent increase over the RTX 4080 Super.

Capacity stays at 16GB. Only the bandwidth moved.

Two fit facts decide whether the card goes in at all. Length and slot count belong to the board: the Founders Edition is a 2-slot card at 304 mm, while my Astral OC is about 54 mm longer (derived from ASUS’s 357.6 mm) and hangs vertically on the HYTE Y60’s riser. The connector is the other. For the Founders Edition, follow NVIDIA’s 450 W-or-greater native cable or three 8-pin adapter instructions; check the individual partner board and PSU manual. The slot generation matters less; my card links at PCIe 4.0 x16.

How fast it is

The generational gain is small. TechSpot’s 17-game suite (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, driver 566.36, January 29, 2025) put the RTX 5080 4 percent ahead of the RTX 4080 Super at 1440p; at 1080p it only matched the 4080 Super. At 4K the gap opened to 11 percent over the 4080 Super and 8 percent over the RX 7900 XTX. With ray tracing and quality upscaling TechSpot measured 5 percent at 1440p and 9 percent at 4K.

Tom’s Hardware’s 16-game rasterization suite (January 29, 2025) found 9 percent over the 4080 Super at 4K ultra. KitGuru’s 12 games (9800X3D, 64GB DDR5-6000 CL30) landed at 9 percent at 1440p and 13 percent at 4K; KitGuru called that gain “clearly disappointing”. GamersNexus (January 31, 2025) measured 112 FPS in FFXIV Dawntrail at 4K, about 15 percent better than the 4080 Super, against 139 for the RTX 4090 and 182 for the RTX 5090, and called the card “a boring product generationally”.

Three suites, and every answer sits between 9 and 13 percent at 4K.

The ceiling above it is far away. Tom’s Hardware’s conclusion says the RTX 5090 is “over 50% faster on average” at 4K; KitGuru put the 5080 15 percent behind the RTX 4090 and 34 percent behind the RTX 5090 at 4K. The site’s RTX 5090 vs RTX 5080 page works through that pair. The floor below it is close. Tom’s Hardware’s RTX 5070 Ti review (February 19, 2025) explains that the 5070 Ti uses the same GB203 with 83 percent of the cores enabled and “may be up to 17% slower than the 5080, give or take, for 25% less money”, with the gap “only 5~10 percent” in memory-dependent tasks. Read the RTX 5070 Ti vs RTX 5080 comparison before paying the difference.

My own card confirms the tier. On my hand-tuned profile the Astral ran Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra raster at 4K at 58 FPS average with a 49 FPS 1 percent low, and Alan Wake 2 RT Ultra with DLSS Quality at 49 and 38. In the site’s 4K raster index, with the RTX 4080 Super at 100, the RTX 5080 FE scores 114 and the Astral on my manual profile 123; the FE and the Ada cards were measured on my retired 2024 to 2025 bench and normalized as the dataset documents.

Multi Frame Generation separates the RTX 5080 from the RTX 4080 Super in a way no raster chart shows. In path-traced Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K on my tuned card, native rendering gave 19 FPS at 95 ms of PC latency, while DLSS Quality alone gave 40 FPS at 45 ms. With DLSS Quality still on, MFG 4x raised the displayed frame rate to 135 FPS and added 17 ms of latency, to 62 ms. TechPowerUp’s DLSS 4 table for the Founders Edition in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing runs 35 FPS at 55 ms native to 120 FPS at 74 ms with MFG x4, against 54 and 196 for the RTX 5090; the table does not state its resolution (archive capture of March 20, 2026 after a live 403).

I did not repeat those five 4K FPS tests at stock settings or measure the noise with a meter. I did record stock gaming power and temperatures separately; the readings follow below.

Power, thermals and noise

The Founders Edition drew less than its rating in these gaming tests. Tom’s Hardware’s PCAT v2 measurements averaged 297 W at 4K ultra against 299 W for the RTX 4080 Super, far below the 360 W TGP. KitGuru’s 12-game average was 242.3 W at 1080p, and at 4K eight of twelve games drew under 300 W. GamersNexus’s interposers read 298 W in FFXIV at 4K and 330 W in F1 24 at 4K with ray tracing.

Temperatures follow. TechSpot’s Founders Edition peaked at 63 °C after an hour of The Last of Us Part I at 4K maxed in an enclosed ATX case, at 266 W average. GamersNexus saw 65 to 66 °C on the GPU and 72 to 75 °C on memory. KitGuru’s 30-minute stress test held the GPU just below 65 °C, 2 dBA quieter than the RTX 5090 FE with the meter at one foot, and heard no coil whine.

TechPowerUp’s temperature and noise table (open bench, microphone at 50 cm; archive capture of September 15, 2026 after a live 403) puts the boards side by side. The Founders Edition ran 67 °C at 36.8 dBA. The ASUS Astral OC ran 62 °C at 36.3 dBA on its performance BIOS and 70 °C at 25.8 dBA on its quiet BIOS, and MSI’s Suprim SOC managed 60 °C at 25.5 dBA. My Astral matches that picture. At stock it games at 266 to 340 W and 63 to 72 °C with load noise near-silent. My June 28 HWiNFO64 log recorded the hand-tuned profile in two windows of about 16 and 10 minutes, separated by nearly an hour without readings. Across 308 samples taken about five seconds apart within those windows, the card averaged 261 W, 56 °C and 3,202 MHz. Every sampled throttle flag was zero. The file cannot rule out throttling between samples or during the gap.

Coil whine on my card scores 1 in the site’s database, audible only in uncapped game menus.

NVIDIA and ASUS specify 850 W for the boards above. Check the PSU recommendation and supported cable for your exact board and system; the RTX 50-series PSU guide sizes the rest of the system. If the stock fan curve is louder than you want, the RTX 5080 undervolt guide is the next step.

Price and the alternatives

The launch price was $999 on January 6, 2025. The October sample was higher. On October 7, 2026 the untagged Newegg search for an RTX 5080 graphics card showed 36 first-page listings, six of them sold and shipped by Newegg, from the ASUS PRIME-RTX5080-16G at $1,599.99 to the ASUS TUF OC at $1,899.99; the Sources list carries every item number. Tom’s Hardware’s price tracker, modified September 28, 2026, lists the best US RTX 5080 price at $1,638 against a $929 lowest-ever, and its September 1, 2026 report put the card at $1,549, 55 percent over MSRP, blaming component supply diverted to enterprise AI customers.

At the two October quotes, the 5070 Ti offered more frames per dollar. A Gigabyte Eagle RTX 5070 Ti sold and shipped by Newegg cost $1,179.99 on October 7, 2026, so the 5080 premium was $420, or 35.6 percent (derived), for 12.8 percent more 4K raster speed in Tom’s Hardware’s GPU hierarchy updated June 24, 2026 (77.4 against 68.6 fps, 42.1 against 36.7 with ray tracing, 14.7 percent; the percentages are mine), or up to 17 percent by Tom’s launch-review estimate.

At an RTX 5070 Ti quote of $1,179.99, a 5080 would have had to cost about $1,331 to match its cost per frame in the cited raster test ($1,179.99 × 77.4 ÷ 68.6). With a different quote, plug that price into the same calculation. On November 5 the exact ASUS Prime listing showed Newegg’s own offer as out of stock. A marketplace offer or another 5080 is a different comparison; check the seller, delivered price and return terms again. In its November 2 pricing survey, TechSpot recorded different U.S. October prices: $2,200 for the 5080 and $1,250 for the 5070 Ti. Those were model-level samples, not quotes for the two boards above.

The next tier was much more expensive in the checked sample. The untagged Newegg RTX 5090 search on October 7, 2026 started at $6,885.90 for a Gigabyte Windforce OC; I did not read the sellers of those cheapest listings. Tom’s Hardware’s tracker listed $6,995 as the best US RTX 5090 price on September 28, 2026, more than four times the cheapest RTX 5080 (derived). At those quotes, paying several times more for a 5090 changes the budget as well as the performance target. Waiting has no date attached either. TechPowerUp reported on February 5, 2026, citing The Information, that NVIDIA postponed the RTX 50 Super refresh, including a planned 24GB RTX 5080 Super, because 3GB GDDR7 is going to AI products (archive capture of July 13, 2026 after a live 403), and Notebookcheck’s June 8, 2026 report, citing Benchlife, points at CES 2027 while noting contradictory earlier reports. In a statement the previous year, NVIDIA told Tom’s Hardware on September 15, 2025 that Founders Editions “continue to be in production”, and told Wccftech in January 2026 that it still ships all GeForce SKUs while memory supply is constrained.

One launch-era condition matters for a used purchase. Tom’s Hardware reported on February 8, 2025 that driver 572.16 caused black screens on the RTX 5080 and 5090, and TechRadar on March 6, 2025 covered the 572.70 driver’s claimed fix, with users still reporting problems then. I found no 2026 firmware or hardware revision.

The 4.4 rating reflects the 5080’s 4K performance and the 16GB limit. For a 1440p or budget-limited buyer, the October comparison favored the 5070 Ti on cost per frame. If today’s quotes are close, use the 4K numbers for the games and settings you actually run.

Who should buy it

You game at 4K on a 120 Hz or faster display and want ray tracing or path tracing with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, which the 5070 Ti handles with less headroom.
You want more 4K headroom than the 5070 Ti delivers in your games, but a 5090 at its actual delivered price is outside your budget.
Your workload scales with CUDA cores or the two NVENC encoders, such as streaming or paid compute.
Your case clears the exact board (304 mm and 2 slots for the FE, 357.6 mm and 3.8 slots for the Astral OC) and you have checked the PSU and cables for that board and the rest of your system.

Who should skip it

You play at 1440p or 1080p. TechSpot measured just 4 percent more frames at 1440p than the RTX 4080 Super. At the October 7 board quotes the 5070 Ti cost $420 less; compare the gap on the offers you can buy.
You need more than 16GB for 4K path tracing with frame generation, or local LLMs above the 16GB tier; Tom’s Hardware found Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at 4K with full RT and frame generation overflows it.
You own an RTX 4080 Super. The upgrade is 9 to 13 percent at 4K in the named suites, and Tom’s Hardware calls the benefits “pretty thin”.
You can wait for official specifications. TechSpot’s November 2 report describes a 24GB successor as a rumor; neither that report nor the earlier accounts confirm a release date.

Before checkout, measure the board you picked against the case rather than the Founders Edition dimensions on NVIDIA’s page.

Sources

NVIDIA: GeForce RTX 5080 specifications - CUDA cores, clocks, memory, 360 W TGP, 850 W PSU, connectors, FE dimensions, 88 °C limit, outputs, codecs. Read October 7, 2026.
NVIDIA newsroom: Blackwell GeForce RTX 50 Series announcement (January 6, 2025) - $999 launch price, January 30, 2025 availability, RTX 5090 $1,999. Read October 7, 2026.
ASUS ROG: ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC specifications - dimensions, slot count, PSU recommendation, boost clocks and outputs of my card. Read October 7, 2026.
TechFuelHQ: ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review - every first-person measurement on this page, published June 12, 2026 and updated October 3, 2026.
TechFuelHQ: ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC first-party dataset - the CC BY 4.0 dataset (v1.4.0) with method notes, the telemetry CSV and the 4K raster index.
TechSpot: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review (January 29, 2025) - 17-game averages, RT summary, closed-case thermals. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5080 review, rasterization page - 16-game suite percentages. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5080 review, power and thermals page - 297 W against 299 W at 4K ultra, PCAT v2. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5080 review, conclusion - 5090 over 50% faster, Indiana Jones 16GB overflow, “pretty thin”. Read October 7, 2026.
KitGuru: Nvidia RTX 5080 review (January 29, 2025) - 12-game averages, 4090 and 5090 gaps, 242.3 W, stress-test thermals and noise, die and bandwidth specs. Read October 7, 2026.
GamersNexus: RTX 5080 Founders Edition review (January 31, 2025) - FFXIV 4K results, GPU-only power, FE thermals, “boring product generationally”. Read October 7, 2026.
TechPowerUp: RTX 5080 FE review, DLSS 4 page - Cyberpunk 2077 RT latency table. Live URL returned 403 on October 7, 2026; verified on the Internet Archive capture of March 20, 2026.
TechPowerUp: RTX 5080 FE review, temperatures and fan noise page - FE, Astral OC and Suprim SOC temperatures and dBA. Live URL 403; verified on the archive capture of September 15, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5070 Ti review (February 19, 2025) - 83 percent of GB203 cores, up to 17% slower for 25% less, fully enabled chip note. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: GPU benchmarks hierarchy 2026 (Jeffrey Kampman, last updated June 24, 2026) - 4K raster averages of 77.4 fps (RTX 5080) and 68.6 fps (RTX 5070 Ti), 4K ray-tracing averages of 42.1 and 36.7; the 5080 leads by 12.8 and 14.7 percent respectively, with the 5070 Ti as the denominator. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: GPU price tracking (modified September 28, 2026) - $1,638 best US RTX 5080 price, $929 lowest ever, $6,995 RTX 5090. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5090 now costs at least $5,000 (September 1, 2026) - RTX 5080 at $1,549, 55% over MSRP, AI supply diversion. Read October 7, 2026.
TechPowerUp: No RTX 50 Super GPUs this year (February 5, 2026) - Super refresh postponed, 24GB RTX 5080 Super, 3GB GDDR7 to AI. Live URL 403; verified on the archive capture of July 13, 2026.
Notebookcheck: RTX 50 Super launch tipped for CES 2027 (June 8, 2026, updated October 5, 2026) - Benchlife claim and the contradictory-report caveat. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: NVIDIA confirms delisted RTX 50 Founders Editions are not discontinued (September 15, 2025) - “continue to be in production” statement. Read October 7, 2026.
Wccftech: NVIDIA realigns RTX 50 production (January 15, 2026) - “continue to ship all GeForce SKUs” statement while memory supply is constrained. Read October 7, 2026.
Tom’s Hardware: NVIDIA investigating RTX 5090 and 5080 instability (February 8, 2025) - driver 572.16 black screens. Read October 7, 2026.
TechRadar: 572.70 driver black-screen fix (March 6, 2025) - claimed fix after 572.60, users still reporting problems. Read October 7, 2026.
Newegg: RTX 5080 graphics card search (untagged) - 36 first-page listings and their prices. Read October 7, 2026.
Newegg RTX 5080 product pages, all read October 7, 2026, sold and shipped by Newegg unless noted: ASUS PRIME-RTX5080-16G, N82E16814126776 at $1,599.99 (limit 1); MSI Ventus 3X OC White, N82E16814137912 at $1,679.99; ASUS PRIME OC, N82E16814126744 at $1,699.99; Gigabyte Windforce OC, N82E16814932754 at $1,699.99; MSI Gaming Trio OC, N82E16814137910 at $1,799.99; ASUS TUF OC, N82E16814126743 at $1,899.99 on the search page; ASUS ROG Astral OC, N82E16814126742 at $2,265.59 on the search page, with the buy box resolving to marketplace seller TELeasy.
Newegg: RTX 5070 Ti graphics card search (untagged) and Gigabyte Eagle RTX 5070 Ti, N82E16814932769 - $1,179.99, sold and shipped by Newegg. Read October 7, 2026.
Newegg: RTX 5090 graphics card search (untagged) - listings from $6,885.90 for a Gigabyte Windforce OC (sellers of the cheapest not read). Read October 7, 2026.
Amazon RTX 5080 graphics-card search - about 700 results with exact RTX 5080 boards on the first page; no prices recorded. Read October 7, 2026.

Where to buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (any board partner): Search Amazon · Search Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

RTX 5060 Review: Can 8GB Hold 60 FPS at 1080p?

LK Wood IV — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:00:38 +0000

The RTX 5060 works best at 1080p. On October 7, 2026, Newegg listed the Gigabyte Gaming OC V2 at $459.99, about 54% above the $299 launch price. The ASRock Challenger RX 9060 XT 16GB was $519.99, a $60 difference. That gap, plus those 8GB limits, explains my 3.0 rating. The Gigabyte Windforce OC in the buying panel was a different $499.99 board.

Eight gigabytes is the only RTX 5060 configuration NVIDIA lists. The memory limit shows up in some games at 1440p and even in certain 1080p settings. The price comparison above is dated; the hardware did not change with it.

This review evaluates the RTX 5060 using the manufacturer’s documentation and the independent tests cited below; it adds no new TechFuelHQ lab measurements. I have not tested an RTX 5060.

The version and fit to check

NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 family page gives the reference figures below. The connector row is specific to the Gigabyte card in the buying panel.

Item	Specification	Why I would check it
GPU	Blackwell GB206, 3,840 CUDA cores	Same die as the 5060 Ti, which has 4,608; the 5060 has 17 percent fewer (TechPowerUp)
Clocks	2.50 GHz boost, 2.28 GHz base	MSI’s Gaming OC adds 2 percent at 1080p and 3 percent at 1440p from its factory overclock and higher power limit (TechPowerUp)
Memory	8GB GDDR7, 128-bit	448 GB/s, 65 percent more than the RTX 4060 (TechSpot)
Total graphics power	145 W	The RTX 5060 Ti is rated at 180 W
System PSU	550 W recommended for the Windforce OC 8G	NVIDIA’s 550W figure uses a Ryzen 9 9950X system. Check how much your whole PC needs under load.
Power connector	One PCIe 8-pin on the Windforce OC 8G	Use a PCIe lead made for your PSU. Its plug alone tells you nothing about the unit’s capacity.
Interface	PCIe Gen 5	Eight lanes, not sixteen
Maximum GPU temperature	89 °C	The ceiling for the thermals below

Length belongs to the board. TechPowerUp measured the Zotac Solo at 165 mm long; the MSI Gaming OC was about 250 mm. Neither is the board in the buying panel. Gigabyte lists the Windforce OC 8G, GV-N5060WF2OC-8GD, at 199 × 116 × 40 mm with one 8-pin power connector. If a front radiator leaves 190 mm from the rear bracket to the obstruction, reject the Windforce: it is 9 mm too long. Extra length also does not establish side-panel or power-cable clearance.

The slot matters too. TechPowerUp calls the x8 link “generally not an issue”, while TechSpot warns it “becomes a major issue for those on older hardware, especially when restricted to PCIe 3.0”, because a card that overflows its VRAM leans on that link.

How fast it is

NVIDIA launched the card on May 19, 2025. Windows Central reported in advance that NVIDIA would not give the press early drivers and that many major reviewers would already be at Computex, which opened May 20. TechSpot benchmarked it in a hotel room at the show and called the launch “a PR disaster”; GamersNexus bought its own cards.

The results agree anyway. TechPowerUp’s 24-game suite (May 27, 2025; 1080p, no ray tracing or upscaling) puts the RTX 5060 level with the RTX 4060 Ti, 26 percent ahead of the RTX 4060 and about 25 percent ahead of the Arc B580, while the RTX 5060 Ti on the same chip runs 15 percent faster. In its MSI review (July 14, 2025) TechPowerUp found the RX 9060 XT “a bit faster” in both its 8GB and 16GB versions.

TechSpot’s 18 games (May 22, 2025; Ryzen 7 9800X3D) land in the same place. At 1080p the 5060 matched the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 3070, trailed the RX 7700 XT by 6 percent and beat the RTX 4060 by 22 percent. GamersNexus (overclocked Core i7-12700KF) measured the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB 15 to 25 percent faster and called the 5060 “about the same as a 3070”.

That is a 2020 RTX 3070 tier at a 2026 price. The GPU hierarchy places it, and the GPU comparison tool lines it up against the card you own.

Where 8GB runs out

TechPowerUp is blunt: “1080p is really the only resolution that you should consider the RTX 5060 for.” TechSpot’s 1440p runs show why. Stalker 2 averaged 6 fps. Oblivion Remastered averaged 34 fps with 18 fps 1% lows, and The Last of Us Part I “fell apart” with ultra quality. In some games the frame rate looked fine while textures were missing.

Even 1080p has limits. With ray tracing and the highest textures, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle “will even crash during level loading” in TechPowerUp’s testing, and the reviewer recommends targeting 7GB of VRAM use there. TechPowerUp also saw some games run slower than on the RTX 4060 8GB at higher resolutions.

Counter-Strike 2 behaved differently. TechSpot measured 370 fps at 1440p, slightly ahead of the RX 7700 XT.

Which texture setting meets a 60 FPS target?

Pick the target before reading the average. My example asks whether the first-percentile frame rate also reaches 60 FPS. That’s a measure of the slower frames, not the absolute minimum. ComputerBase’s May 18, 2026 setup used the RTX 5060 8 GB, Ryzen 7 9800X3D and GeForce 596.21. All three examples output 1920 × 1080 with DLSS Quality.

Game and tested preset	Reference textures: average / 1st-percentile FPS	Lower textures: average / 1st-percentile FPS	Would I use it for this target?
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Hyper with medium textures on 8 GB, RT	55.7 / 50.8	89.4 / 76.5	Yes, if lower textures look acceptable to you.
Hogwarts Legacy, Ultra with RT	60.9 / 46.9	60.8 / 52.7	Neither run meets it, despite both averages topping 60.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Ultra	76.6 / 65.5	78.5 / 66.6	Keep the original textures for this test scene.

What if your slot is PCIe 4.0? The table uses the reviewer’s standard PCIe 5.0 runs. On PCIe 4.0, Indiana Jones at the same medium textures returned 41.8 / 38.2. There’s no corresponding low-texture result for that link in the chart, so if you own a PCIe 4.0 PC and plan to run this game, you cannot count on the 76.5 figure. Try the same scene twice. Keep upscaling fixed and check how the textures look as well as how slowly the worst frames arrive.

Ray tracing and DLSS 4

Alan Wake II at 1080p with DLSS Quality averaged 36 fps in TechSpot’s test, 20 percent ahead of the RTX 4060. TechSpot’s verdict is that 8GB “is insufficient for ray tracing in modern titles”.

Frame generation helps less than the marketing suggests. TechPowerUp found it adds about 1GB of VRAM use and needs a base of roughly 40 to 50 fps before the added latency stops being noticeable. In Alan Wake 2, x2 gave the best experience while x3 and x4 added too much latency, and in Dragon Age: The Veilguard the reviewer turned it off to keep memory for textures. Tom’s Hardware agrees that 8GB “isn’t enough to consistently enable framegen in the titles where you’d really want it”.

TechPowerUp notes the Arc B580 lacks the DLSS Transformer model. I would treat DLSS upscaling as the reason to pick this card over the B580, and frame generation as a bonus for games already near 50 fps.

Power, thermals and noise

NVIDIA’s 145W rating covers the card. Gigabyte specifies one PCIe 8-pin input and recommends a 550W PSU for the Windforce OC 8G. Before reusing a PSU, check its continuous output and estimate the CPU, GPU and other parts together in the PSU wattage calculator. Leave room above the estimated peak. If you have a modular unit, check the cable against the exact PSU model instead of borrowing one that fits.

Board limits differ. The MSI Gaming OC raises the default to 155 W with a 170 W maximum; the Zotac Solo allows no increase.

Both coolers stay far under 89 °C. TechPowerUp’s noise table (microphone at 50 cm) lists the MSI Gaming OC at 65 °C and 29.2 dBA under load, with fans stopped at idle. The single-fan Zotac Solo ran 70 °C at 32.0 dBA and has no idle fan-stop.

Price and the alternatives

At its $299 launch price TechSpot worked out $5.35 per frame, and TechPowerUp called $300 “the best of the whole market”. At $330, TechSpot already declined: “it’s not a product we can recommend at that price.” GamersNexus answered “No”.

Then prices rose. TechSpot’s August 31, 2026 survey put the cheapest US cards around $450, 51 percent above MSRP, and tied the rise to memory pricing. Tom’s Hardware’s tracker, updated September 28, 2026, lists a $449 best US price against a $279 lowest ever, with $499 and $779 for the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB and 16GB. The GPU price index includes the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. Its basket does not cover the base RTX 5060 or the 8GB Ti, so it cannot confirm a trend for those cards.

On October 7, 2026 Newegg’s lowest-price sort showed three new RTX 5060s at $459.99 and refurbished cards from $409.99. The Gigabyte Windforce OC behind the buttons listed at $499.99. The neighbours that day:

Card	Cheapest new at Newegg, October 7, 2026	Against the RTX 5060
Arc B580 12GB	$329.99	About 20 percent slower at 1080p (derived; TechPowerUp puts the RTX 5060 about 25 percent ahead)
RTX 5060 Ti 8GB	$499.00	15 percent faster, same 8GB (TechPowerUp)
RX 9060 XT 8GB	$499.99	“A bit faster” (TechPowerUp)
RX 9060 XT 16GB	$519.99	Nearly 30 percent faster at MSRP (TechSpot)
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB	$799.99	15 to 25 percent faster (GamersNexus)

The RX 9060 XT 16GB decides the score. TechSpot’s review of it said it “makes the RTX 5060 largely irrelevant”, with nearly 30 percent more performance and twice the VRAM for $50 more at MSRP. On October 7 the gap was $60. It also draws more power: TechSpot measured it 21 to 27 W above the RTX 5060 Ti at the system level, and NVIDIA rates the 5060 Ti 35 W higher than the RTX 5060 (180 W against 145 W). The RTX 5060 Ti vs RX 9060 XT showdown covers that tier.

The counterpoint is real. Tom’s Hardware’s best-GPU guide, updated October 2, 2026, still names the RTX 5060 the best card for 1080p, and TechPowerUp’s launch verdict was positive. Those keep it out of the avoid band.

In TechSpot’s US price survey, published November 2, the lowest in-stock US RTX 5060 was $450 and the RX 9060 XT 16GB was $620 in the October sample. That was $170 extra, not the $60 difference between the two October 7 Newegg cards. For 1080p, look at the settings you can turn down before stretching the budget that far.

Who should buy it

You play at 1080p, mostly esports or older games, and want DLSS 4 upscaling for less than an RTX 5060 Ti costs.
You want to keep your PSU and it meets Gigabyte’s 550W recommendation for the Windforce OC 8G, has room for your full build’s peak draw, and has its own compatible PCIe 8-pin lead available.
You need a short card; the Zotac Solo is 16.5 cm.
The delivered 16GB alternatives are outside your budget, and you accept lower texture settings.

Who should skip it

You game at 1440p or plan to. TechSpot’s 6 fps in Stalker 2 is the warning.
You want ultra textures or ray tracing in 2025 and 2026 releases.
A 16GB RX 9060 XT fits your budget at the delivered price, especially for 1440p.
You already own an RTX 3070 or RTX 4060 Ti class card. TechSpot and GamersNexus put the 5060 level with that tier.

A buyer who can stretch further should see the $1,500 RTX 5060 Ti 1440p build for what the next tier needs around it.

Sources

All read October 7, 2026. TechPowerUp returned 403 that day, so its pages were verified on Internet Archive captures.

NVIDIA RTX 5060 family specifications - cores, clocks, memory, 145 W, 550 W, connector, 89 °C, one 8GB configuration.
TechPowerUp, RTX 5060 Zotac Solo conclusion (May 27, 2025) - die counts, 24-game results, 1080p advice, Indiana Jones crash, launch verdict.
TechPowerUp, Zotac Solo card page - dimensions, single fan, no backplate.
TechPowerUp, temperatures and noise - MSI and Zotac load temperatures and dBA.
TechPowerUp, MSI Gaming OC conclusion (July 14, 2025) - fit, power limits, overclock gains, RX 9060 XT comparison, x8 note, frame generation.
Gigabyte, Windforce OC 8G specifications - GV-N5060WF2OC-8GD; recommended system supply and the board’s power connector.
TechSpot, RTX 5060 review (May 22, 2025) - $299 MSRP, bandwidth, PCIe 3.0 warning, 18-game and 1440p results, $5.35 per frame, verdict.
GamersNexus, RTX 5060 review (July 21, 2025) - 5060 Ti gap, RTX 3070 parity, verdict.
TechSpot, RX 9060 XT 16GB review (June 4, 2025) - “largely irrelevant” comparison, system power.
TechSpot, RX 9060 XT 8GB review (June 6, 2025) - 16GB advantage of 17 to 184 percent.
Windows Central, RTX 5060 launch (May 8, 2025) - planned May 19 launch without early press drivers, reviewers at Computex, Computex opening May 20.
TechSpot, Q3 2026 GPU pricing (August 31, 2026) - $450, 51 percent over MSRP.
Tom’s Hardware, GPU price tracker (September 28, 2026) - $449 best, $279 lowest.
Tom’s Hardware, best graphics cards (October 2, 2026) - 1080p pick, frame generation caveat.
Newegg RTX 5060 8GB search, lowest price first - PNY Dual Fan, Gigabyte Gaming OC V2 and Windforce Max OC V2 at $459.99; refurbished from $409.99.
Newegg Gigabyte Windforce OC, N82E16814932804 - $499.99, in stock.
Newegg competitor searches, lowest price first - RX 9060 XT 16GB $519.99; RX 9060 XT 8GB $499.99; RTX 5060 Ti 8GB $499.00; RTX 5060 Ti 16GB $799.99; Arc B580 $329.99.
Amazon Gigabyte Windforce OC 8G, ASIN B0F8LDHQ7Y - exact model for the buying panel; no price recorded.

Where to buy the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G (GV-N5060WF2OC-8GD): Check Amazon · Check Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The $2,500 RTX 5080 + 7800X3D 4K Build for 2026

LK Wood IV — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-06-19 · ~15 min read · St. Louis County, MO

The author's actual Ryzen 7 7800X3D, ROG STRIX B650-A, NZXT Kraken 360, T-Force DDR5, and ROG Astral RTX 5080 system, photographed in June 2026. The CPU is installed beneath the pump block.

June 2026 build notes. This is the rig I actually run, priced as a build you can put together today. A Ryzen 7 7800X3D paired with an RTX 5080, on AM5, with the memory, storage, cooling, and power supply that make a 4K card behave like one. The headline parts (CPU and GPU) come to about $1,570 in June 2026; the full build lands in the $2,500 to $2,900 range depending on the RTX 5080 model you choose and where the 2026 memory and storage shortage has prices parked the week you buy.

The as-tested column identifies the machine in the photo. The build-fresh shopping list uses a standard 5080; its historical total is not the cost of duplicating this particular Astral rig today.

I am writing this one differently from a spec-sheet build. The GPU benchmarks below are not lifted off a launch slide or paraphrased from a YouTube video. They are first-party numbers I measured on my own ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC, on this exact 7800X3D platform, and published in full in the open bench dataset. Where I lean on someone else’s testing for broader context, I name the source.

If you want the framework behind every choice here rather than the receipt, the how to choose a PC build guide walks the decision in order. This article is the high-end worked example.

Who this build is for (and who it isn’t)

Use this build if your question concerns a particular 4K workload. A 4K OLED tells you how many pixels the panel displays; it does not tell you which games the GPU can render at its refresh rate. For a 1440p workload, the tested 5060 Ti build is a closer reference. Choose by game, quality mode and target rather than panel size alone.

It is also a build for people who want one machine that does more than game. The 16GB of GDDR7 and 32-64GB of system RAM mean this same box runs local AI models, handles 4K video work, and doubles as a serious workstation. If pure gaming is the only goal and budget is tight, you do not need to be here — the 5080 is a want, not a need, above 1440p.

If you already own this platform, start by comparing one saved scene with your current target. Keeping the CPU and card is a useful result when that test passes.

The parts list with June 2026 prices

Every price below is a real US price I confirmed in June 2026, with a source. Two line items — RAM and storage — are caught in a genuine 2026 price spike driven by AI demand draining the DRAM and NAND supply, so I have given those as ranges and told you where to check live pricing. Tax is not included. The “as tested” column is the exact part on my bench; the recommended column is the sensible buy if you are building fresh.

For today’s cash outlay, mark reusable hardware separately and check current offers for the remaining exact SKUs.

Part	Recommended (build fresh)	As tested (my rig)	Price (June 2026)
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8C/16T, AM5)	Ryzen 7 7800X3D	~$320
GPU	RTX 5080 16GB (standard AIB)	ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC	$1,250+
Motherboard	B650E ATX (PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi)	ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi	~$180-200
RAM	32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 (2×16GB)	64GB DDR5-6000 (2×32GB)	$120-400
Storage	2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe	Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB (PCIe 3.0, owned)	$200-285
Cooler	360mm AIO, or a good air tower	NZXT Kraken 360	$110-200
PSU	850W ATX 3.1, 80+ Gold	EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT (1000W)	$110-130
Case	Dual-chamber or mesh mid-tower	HYTE Y60	$150
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home	~$40
Total (recommended)			~$2,500-2,900

Open this parts list in PC Builder — As tested (my rig)

All 9 authored items stay in your list. The picker can load 3 exact matches; the other 6 items remain visible without automated checks. The prices above remain the guide's dated observations.

Reviews, data and comparisons for parts in this build

CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Authored part resources

Review: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Review (2026): Keep It or Upgrade?

GPU: ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC

Authored part resources

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16GB family comparisons

Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi

Authored part resources

Review: ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi Review: AM5 for the Homelab

Storage: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB (PCIe 3.0, owned)

Authored part resources

Review: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB Review (2026): A PCIe 3.0 Keeper

PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT (1000W)

Authored part resources

Review: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT Review: Gold PSU After the GPU Exit

A few notes on the line items that matter.

I may earn a commission if you buy through this affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This is the installed processor (Ryzen 7 7800X3D on Amazon or Newegg). For the case for retaining it, see the 7800X3D comparison and long-term review. Confirm price and availability at checkout if you need to buy one.

GPU: RTX 5080 16GB. The June fresh-build list budgets for a standard card; the Astral review identifies the premium board actually used.

My own ROG Astral RTX 5080 review measures exactly how much that factory OC is worth (about 2-3% for free), and the answer is: not enough to pay a $500 premium for. The benchmark dataset puts Time Spy Graphics at 32,350 stock and 33,200 factory OC, about 2.6% higher. That comparison uses the same Astral card; a different model and a price difference today need their own comparison.

Motherboard — B650E, ~$180-200. My bench runs an ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A. For a fresh build I would spec a B650E board for the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, which lets a future GPU run at full Gen5 bandwidth. Current ASUS B650E listings sit around $180-190 on Best Buy and Micro Center. B650E is the no-regret choice: it takes the 7800X3D today and any AM5 chip through Zen 6 with a BIOS update.

RAM — 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30, $120-400. This is the line that hurts in 2026. A memory shortage tied to AI infrastructure demand has sent DDR5 prices up several-fold (the full breakdown of why): Tom’s Hardware’s RAM price tracker and TweakTown’s reporting that 64GB of DDR5-6000 now costs more than a PlayStation 5 tell the story. A solid value 32GB kit can still be found near $120-150; name-brand CL30 kits run $300-540. Buy 32GB (2×16GB) at DDR5-6000 CL30 for the AM5 sweet spot — I run 64GB only because I keep VMs and local models resident, which is the one case where more RAM actually earns its price. Check PCPartPicker for the live number the week you buy; this is the single most volatile part in the build.

Storage: 2TB Gen4 NVMe in the June fresh list. My bench drive is an older 1TB; on a 4K rig where modern installs run 150GB each, 2TB is the floor. For a new quote, add your installed games, working files and free-space allowance before pricing a larger drive.

Cooler: NZXT Kraken 360. I run an NZXT Kraken 360 because the LCD looks right behind glass and I had it on the bench; the NZXT Kraken Core 360 RGB lists at $129.99. That listing belongs to the June price check. When reusing a cooler, verify its AM5 mounting kit and installed clearance.

PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT on the bench; 850 W in the June fresh list. I run a 1000W EVGA SuperNOVA because I have had a supply die mid-game and now overbuy, but ASUS recommends 850W for this exact board. Its GPU readings alone can’t size a whole-system PSU. Check the prospective PSU’s cable set, the card’s requirements and the case routing space; the cabling section covers the Astral’s supplied adapter.

Case: HYTE Y60, June 2026. I run a HYTE Y60 at $149.99. It is a beautiful case with one real warning: the panoramic glass design makes GPU clearance tight, and a thick triple-fan 5080 needs checking against the spec before you buy. Check the dimensions against the particular cooler, glass panel and cable routing you will use.

4K gaming benchmarks: first-party numbers on this exact rig

I tested the ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC on this 7800X3D with my hand-tuned GPU Tweak III User Mode 2 profile. These five configurations cover three games at 4K output. Two used DLSS Quality; they are not native-rendered results. The open bench dataset contains the original averages and 1% lows.

Reading the game rows: the published dataset identifies the five configurations as the hand-tuned GPU Tweak III User Mode 2 profile. All five used 4K output; the two marked DLSS Quality used a lower internal render resolution.

Game (4K)	Avg FPS	1% Low	Settings
Cyberpunk 2077	58	49	Ultra, raster, no upscaling
Cyberpunk 2077	50	41	RT-Ultra + DLSS 4 Quality
Cyberpunk 2077	19	15	Path Tracing, native, no DLSS
Alan Wake 2	49	38	RT + DLSS 4 Quality
Black Myth: Wukong	34	27	Cinematic preset

Native path tracing in Cyberpunk gave me 19 FPS on average and 15 FPS at the 1% low. The latter is a summary of slower frames, not the slowest frame in the run. I have no matching stock or factory-OC FPS results for these configurations, so the table doesn’t tell me how much tuning gained.

What would justify a purchase? Take an existing owner who wants at least 60 FPS average and a 50 FPS 1% low in Cyberpunk at native 4K Ultra, RT off. The tested 58/49 misses both thresholds. It does not prove the owner needs a new CPU or that a standard 5080 will match the Astral. Repeat the same scene on the actual machine, try one acceptable setting change, and retest. If it passes, retain the machine. If native rendering is non-negotiable, seek an exact-mode comparison for a replacement. A multi-frame-generation number from the next table does not answer that native target.

DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation: what makes 4K path tracing playable

I used the same manual profile for the Cyberpunk 2077 path-tracing runs. The latency in this table is PC latency, measured with Reflex on at each step:

The dataset’s methodology identifies the manual profile and Reflex for the DLSS ladder. The latency column measures PC latency.

Mode	FPS	PC Latency
Native path tracing (no DLSS, no FG)	19	95 ms
DLSS 4 Quality (no frame gen)	40	45 ms
+ Multi-Frame Gen 2×	90	55 ms
+ Multi-Frame Gen 4×	135	62 ms

DLSS Quality with frame generation off measured 40 FPS and 45 ms of PC latency, against 19 FPS and 95 ms at native resolution. MFG 2× then reached 90 FPS and 55 ms; 4× reached 135 FPS and 62 ms. Those are measurements from this scene on this card, not a guarantee about input lag on another setup.

How the 5080 sits in the broader 4K picture

My dataset is deliberately RT-heavy. For breadth across a wider raster suite, published testing fills in the rest. KitGuru’s review found that “at 4K the gains over the 4080 Super do get slightly wider, with the 5080 now 13% faster on average,” while it “still lags behind the RTX 4090 by 15%.” That third-party +13%-over-the-4080-Super figure is a near-exact match for my own first-party generational index, which put the 5080 Founders Edition at 114 against a 4080 Super baseline of 100 (+14%) — two independent measurements landing in the same place. The takeaway: the 5080 is comfortably a 4K card in raster, mid-100s FPS in most mainstream titles, a notch behind the much pricier 4090, and the DLSS 4 ladder above is what extends that to the heaviest ray-traced games.

Do you need the 9800X3D?

Start with the 7800X3D you have. What is the second processor meant to improve: a specific slow scene, the frame-rate cap you can sustain, or the time to finish a project?

The 7800X3D vs 9800X3D comparison gives a starting point for a CPU shortlist. The important comparison here is one this build did not make: the same GPU, game, scene and settings on both CPUs. The five runs use the 7800X3D throughout. They cannot tell an existing owner what moving to a 9800X3D would recover.

If a competitive game or a production job is the reason to change, time that workload. Do not use a slow path-tracing result to justify a CPU swap for compilation or high-refresh play. For a simultaneous gaming and production purchase, see the 9950X3D vs 9800X3D comparison.

Power: what this build actually pulls

This is the part people guess at. Here is what I measured, not what a box claims. On my own card, board power ran 266-340W in games and topped out near 360W under a sustained stress load, with brief transient spikes into the 500-600W range. The June 28 sensor CSV contains sampled board power, not a fast transient trace or a wall-meter reading. Its highest sample was 325.73 W. It cannot verify the shorter 500–600 W spikes listed in the thermal table. The 450–500 W figure for the assembled PC is an estimate.

How to read the power table: the released dataset labels its measurements as GPU board-sensor readings. Its stock column gives 266–340 W gaming and 360 W under stress; its manual column gives about 271 W gaming. Both columns list 500–600 W transients. The release supplies summary rows, not a wall-meter series or a timestamp and duration for each spike.

ASUS specifies an 850 W recommended supply for the exact Astral OC. Check your own components with the PSU estimate, then resolve the cable and case questions below. For an energy bill, enter the whole PC’s average idle and load readings from the wall, hours at load and electricity rate in the power cost calculator. If the watts are estimates, the bill is an estimate too. A 1000 W PSU rating is its capacity, not the amount this PC draws.

Build notes from my own bench

A few specifics from running this platform that the spec sheet will not tell you.

Memory speed on AM5. My kit is rated DDR5-6000 but I run it at 5800. Getting DDR5 fully stable at its rated speed on AM5 can be a fight, and after a weekend of BIOS tuning I dropped to 5800 and stopped. In actual gaming the difference is 1-2 FPS. Set EXPO, confirm it boots stable, and do not lose a weekend chasing the last 200 MHz.

GPU clearance in a glass case. The HYTE Y60’s panoramic glass makes for a gorgeous build and a tight fit. When I had a thick RTX 4080 in here previously, the front glass panel would not seat. Measure your specific 5080 model’s length and thickness against the case spec before you order — a triple-fan OC card is a real clearance risk in dual-chamber cases. The PC builder tool checks case-clearance and PSU compatibility as you pick parts.

The 4K rig expansion project preserves the starting machine. Open its as-tested list in the picker; the fresh-build alternatives are not the loaded selection. A family-only 5080 does not identify this cooler. ASUS lists the exact Astral at 357.6 × 149.3 × 76 mm. Check your installed fans, radiator, occupied slots, glass clearance and power-lead space before recording a fit.

Match the GPU cable to the PSU you actually have. For the fresh-build PSU above, check that its own PCIe Gen 5 cable is compatible and rated for at least 450 W. If using the ROG Astral RTX 5080 O16G’s supplied adapter, connect its three inputs to three separate PCIe 8-pin cables made for your PSU. NVIDIA documents both RTX 5080 power options. The EVGA 1000 GT review identifies the cables listed for 220-GT-1000-X1. Do not assume a modular cable from a different supply is compatible.

Undervolt the GPU. The 5080 responds well to a light undervolt — you can shave board power and temperature with no measurable FPS loss. I cover the exact curve in the RTX 5080 undervolt guide; it is the single best 20 minutes you can spend after the build is done.

For a different card, capture your stable baseline and compare the same scene after one change. The five gaming rows above document the manual overclock profile, separate from the undervolt experiment.

Cheaper and pricier alternatives

This build is one point on a line, not the only answer.

Step down to 1440p (~$1,500): if you are not on a 4K panel, the $1,500 RTX 5060 Ti 1440p build is the recommendation: same no-regret philosophy, a card sized correctly for 1440p, and a much smaller bill.
The same platform, a smaller GPU: the 7800X3D + B650 + DDR5-6000 base here is the right foundation at several price points. Drop to an RTX 5070 Ti and you have a strong entry-4K build for a few hundred less; the GPU is the only part that changes.
Compare actual cash: open the as-tested picker and choose Price this parts list, or start with the blank worksheet. Confirm each exact new or used board, seller, return terms, shipping, tax and quote date. Carry retained parts at zero new cash only when they fit and work. An unknown required purchase leaves a subtotal, not a finished cart.

Verdict

The 7800X3D/Astral results make a useful reference for the five published configurations. For a different target, compare the guide’s closest row and repeat it on the current machine before spending. Choose a standard 5080 or a different CPU only on evidence for the specific board and workload you are buying.

The build-fresh ranges belong to June 2026; a current cart needs fresh quotes. As I wrote in that build: “the numbers above are real — measured on the rig in front of me, with the full dataset published so you can check my work.”

How to Choose Your PC Build: CPU, GPU, PSU, RAM (2026)
The $1,500 RTX 5060 Ti 1440p Build
Ryzen 7 7800X3D vs 9800X3D: Should You Upgrade?
ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC Review · First-Party Bench Dataset
Which Local LLM Fits Your GPU in 2026? VRAM Tiers
A rig like this runs the most demanding games, but they need their anti-cheat happy: Easy Anti-Cheat fix guide and Star Citizen performance & troubleshooting.
PC Builder · PSU Wattage Calculator · Power Cost Calculator

Sources

Safe GPU Temperature: Read Your Card's Exact Limit

LK Wood IV — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 02:47:23 +0000

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-10-04 · Updated 2026-10-11 · St. Louis County, MO

TL;DR · Safe GPU temperature

Use the limit for your exact card. A GPU is inside its operating range while its core temperature remains below that maximum and it is not reporting thermal slowdown. On a supported NVIDIA card, add the current core temperature to the current T.Limit margin. That sum is the card's maximum operating temperature.

There is no universal safe GPU temperature.

NVIDIA currently lists 85 C for the desktop RTX 5070 and 90 C for the RTX 5090.

The same 85 C reading is the limit on one card — and leaves 5 C on the other.

Those numbers are not interchangeable. The useful question is how much room remains before this card reaches its limit.

What “normal” means at idle and while gaming

Start with the model.

Normal is a relationship between the exact card, its workload and its own limit. An idle reading should be compared with that card’s idle baseline. A gaming reading should be captured during the game you actually play, then checked for remaining headroom and falling clocks. The manufacturer sources reviewed here do not prescribe one universal idle, gaming or “optimal” temperature range.

A PC also has no single “computer temperature.” CPU, GPU core, GPU hotspot, memory and storage sensors have different limits. Use this page for the GPU core; use the CPU temperature guide for the processor, and do not judge one sensor by another component’s range.

For Fahrenheit, use (C × 9/5) + 32. NVIDIA’s 85 C desktop RTX 5070 maximum converts to 185 F, while its 90 C RTX 5090 maximum converts to 194 F. Those converted values are limits, not recommended targets. If you need the live reading first, use the Windows and command-line temperature checks.

Read the exact limit with nvidia-smi

Open Terminal or PowerShell on a PC with an NVIDIA driver and run:

nvidia-smi --query-gpu=name,driver_version,temperature.gpu,temperature.gpu.tlimit --format=csv

The two temperature fields have different jobs:

temperature.gpu is the current core temperature.
temperature.gpu.tlimit is the number of degrees remaining before the maximum operating temperature.

Add them.

current core temperature + current T.Limit = maximum operating temperature

That is the whole calculation.

NVIDIA’s current nvidia-smi documentation defines T.Limit as a signed, relative reading rather than an absolute temperature and warns that the sensor is unavailable on some products; if the command returns N/A, skip to the specification-page method below.

The RTX 5080 result on this site

On September 14, 2026, my RTX 5080 on driver 616.56 returned 42 C for the core and 46 C for current T.Limit:

42 C + 46 C = 88 C

A later reading returned 41 C plus 47 C, again 88 C, matching the Maximum GPU Temperature on NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 specification page.

The method matters more than the idle reading. Although the current temperature moves with the workload, the sum identifies the ceiling built into the card’s current temperature-limit reporting, which is the number a generic range cannot supply.

What zero and negative T.Limit values mean

For the same RTX 5080, nvidia-smi -q -d TEMPERATURE reported this ladder:

nvidia-smi field	Reported value	Temperature on this 88 C card	What NVIDIA says can happen
Current T.Limit	46 C	Core was 42 C	46 C of operating headroom remained
Max Operating T.Limit	0 C	88 C	Software may optimize clocks for thermal conditions
Slowdown T.Limit	-2 C	90 C	Hardware may optimize clocks to cool the GPU
Shutdown T.Limit	-5 C specification	Above 93 C	Below this margin, the GPU may shut down for protection

Stop at zero. On this card, 88 C is the maximum operating point. The negative slowdown and shutdown values describe protection beyond that point; 93 C belongs to the protection ladder rather than the usable operating range.

NVIDIA’s manual says a current T.Limit of 0 C or lower means the GPU may optimize its clock based on thermal conditions. That makes the reading easy to use:

Positive T.Limit: operating headroom remains.
Zero T.Limit: the core has reached maximum operating temperature.
Negative T.Limit: the core has passed that maximum and is in the protection ladder.

NVIDIA RTX 50 maximum GPU temperatures

These are NVIDIA’s desktop reference or Founders Edition figures, verified on October 2, 2026. NVIDIA says add-in-card specifications can vary, so use the board maker’s page for a custom model when it publishes a different limit.

GPU	NVIDIA maximum GPU temperature
GeForce RTX 5090	90 C
GeForce RTX 5080	88 C
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti	88 C
GeForce RTX 5070	85 C
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti	87 C
GeForce RTX 5060	89 C
GeForce RTX 5050	87 C

The five-degree spread is why copied temperature charts fail: an RTX 5070 at 85 C is already at NVIDIA’s maximum, while an RTX 5090 at the same temperature still has 5 C left.

The sequence is not monotonic. NVIDIA lists 89 C for the RTX 5060 and 85 C for the RTX 5070.

How much headroom should a healthy card have?

The NVIDIA sources reviewed here do not prescribe one fixed margin for daily use.

Start with the card. Then look at the workload and its behavior.

My hand-tuned ROG Astral RTX 5080 produced a useful real load check: across two recording windows of about 16 and 10 minutes, the core averaged 56 C and the highest of 308 readings was 60 C, 28 C below its published maximum. The throttle register read zero on every recorded row. The full log and method are in the ROG Astral RTX 5080 review and its open telemetry dataset.

That is one card, one cooler and one case. The logger paused for nearly an hour between its two recording windows. Use 60 C as the highest temperature it sampled; the file has no readings during the pause.

Look at three things under the workload that matters:

Headroom: a positive T.Limit means the core remains below its maximum.
Clock behavior: a temperature at the limit with falling clocks means cooling is controlling performance.
Stability: crashes, shutdowns or a temperature that suddenly rose from the card’s own baseline need diagnosis even when a generic chart calls the number normal.

If the card reaches its limit during ordinary gaming, use the GPU overheating guide to separate airflow, dust and cooler-contact problems. That page owns the fault diagnosis; this one owns the limit.

If T.Limit is unavailable

Run the temperature query anyway. temperature.gpu works on NVIDIA discrete GPUs covered by the manual even when the relative limit sensor does not.

Do not guess. Find the exact model on the GPU maker’s specification page and look for Maximum GPU Temperature, Maximum Operating Temperature or a model-specific thermal limit. NVIDIA’s own RTX 50 table shows that adjacent models can differ.

For an add-in card, check its board maker; for a laptop, check the laptop maker, because NVIDIA’s desktop specification pages describe reference or Founders Edition designs and explicitly say board-partner specifications may vary rather than defining every card sold under the same GPU name.

If you only need the current number, the GPU section in the temperature-check guide covers Task Manager and the shorter nvidia-smi command.

Core, hotspot and memory are different readings

Keep the readings separate. The equation on this page uses the GPU core temperature; it does not turn a hotspot or memory-junction reading into a core reading or give either reading the core’s limit.

If the core stays below its maximum but hotspot or memory is much warmer, compare like with like. The GPU overheating guide explains the core-to-hotspot gap and what a widening gap changes about the diagnosis.

Sources

NVIDIA nvidia-smi documentation, Temperature fields, accessed October 2, 2026.
NVIDIA desktop specifications for the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 family, RTX 5060 family and RTX 5050, accessed October 2, 2026.

RTX 5080 Prebuilts: September 2026 Survey of 36 Listings

LK Wood IV — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-08-18 · Updated 2026-10-12 · 14 min read · St. Louis County, MO

This ranking describes the September 1, 2026 field. Later stock and destination checks are listed separately and do not refresh the whole comparison. The ABS winner’s original item page now describes another model. Use the parts and warranty columns as a checkout checklist; re-rank the exact systems available today at their delivered prices.

The September 1 picks at a glance

Every finalist shares one core: Ryzen 7 9800X3D, GeForce RTX 5080 16GB, 32GB of DDR5, and a 2TB NVMe drive. Two of the three listings state the split: the ABS reads 2x16GB and the Andromeda 16 GB x 2. The STORMCRAFT listing gives no module count. The table ranks what the product name hides: price and seller first, then the warranty and the power supply that decided the tie. Prices are what Newegg’s buy box showed a signed-out US visitor between 3:04 and 3:11 pm Central on September 1, 2026.

System	Newegg price, Sept. 1	Sold and shipped by	Warranty as listed	Power supply as listed	Board
1. ABS Kaze II Ruby Sept. 1 pick	$2,999.99	Newegg	1 year parts, 1 year labor	Gamdias HELIOS P2-1000G, 1000W 80 Plus Gold (model named)	GIGABYTE B850 GAMING WIFI6
2. STORMCRAFT Phantom	$2,999.99	Newegg (backordered, September 3 estimate)	2 years parts, 3 years labor	850W 80 Plus Gold, model not named	B850
3. Andromeda Insights V3 Ultra 50	$2,999.99	Newegg; also sold on Amazon by Andromeda Insights	2 years parts, lifetime labor (US based)	850W 80 Plus Gold, model not named	B850

A price tie at $2,999.99 made disclosure the deciding column. Three systems cost the same. One of them tells you what is inside. That decided it.

How I ranked the systems

I read every Ryzen 7 9800X3D + RTX 5080 desktop that Newegg’s search returned on September 1, 2026: 36 qualifying listings, 14 of whose product pages I opened and captured in full, 8 of those also read live in a browser for the buy box, and the other 22 read only as the search tile. I also read the equivalent Amazon field and twelve direct builders. Seven of them gave me product pages I could read, and those seven fill the eight rows below because Skytech appears twice. The other five gave me nothing: HP, iBUYPOWER, Micro Center and MSI blocked or timed out, and Lenovo returned a page with no product cards on it at all. I have not tested any of these machines. What I ranked is what a buyer can verify before paying. Nothing else counts here.

The floor. Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5080 16GB, 32GB DDR5 as two modules, a 2TB NVMe drive, and at least 850W. NVIDIA lists 850W as the required system power for the 360W RTX 5080, and the RTX 50-series PSU guide explains when 1000W is worth paying for.
Disclosure. A listing that names the power supply model, memory kit, board, drive, and cooler removes a return-window investigation. Silence is a cost, not a premium feature. This column decided the tie.
Warranty and seller. Sold and shipped by the retailer beats a marketplace seller at the same price, and two years of parts coverage beats one.
Price, dated. Newegg’s buy box on September 1. The Newegg affiliate feed deposited that morning carried two of the three picks: it agreed on the Andromeda and listed the ABS $300 higher, and the STORMCRAFT Phantom was not in the feed at all; the afternoon buy box is what a shopper saw, so that is the figure here.
Identity. The title, item number, and destination page had to describe the same machine. Rows that described different hardware were discarded.

RGB earned nothing. A struck-through “regular” price earned nothing either. I care about the checkout number.

1. ABS Kaze II Ruby: the only listing that names every part

The Kaze II Ruby wins because its listing answers the most expensive hidden question. Which power supply? Newegg’s spec table names the power supply as a Gamdias HELIOS P2-1000G, 1000W 80 Plus Gold. The other two finalists list an 850W Gold unit and stop there. Of the 14 Newegg product pages I opened and the 22 search tiles I read, no other listing names its power-supply model.

The rest of the list is complete. That is rare at this price:

PNY GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7
Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Kingston FURY 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6400
Team Group NV5000 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
GIGABYTE B850 GAMING WIFI6
Bitspower 360mm AIO in the ABS KAZE II ATX case
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, Windows 11 Home

At $2,999.99 it is sold and shipped by Newegg with a 15-day return window. The warranty is the shortest of the three picks at one year of parts and labor, and that is the trade: the best documented of the three carries the plainest coverage. Because ABS is Newegg’s house brand there is no Amazon listing of this exact system; the Amazon control below is a labelled search of the current field, not this machine.

Search Amazon Search Newegg

The September listing’s parts disclosure is the standard to ask another seller to meet. Its original item page now opens a different ABS model; the control searches for the named configuration. Confirm every part before treating a replacement listing as the same machine. If two years of parts coverage decides the purchase, compare the STORMCRAFT entry.

2. STORMCRAFT Phantom: the longest warranty in the spec fields I read, if you can wait

The Phantom (model PH980XDCC-580N1) costs the same $2,999.99 and carries the longest warranty term in the fourteen Newegg spec tables I captured: two years of parts and three years of labor. The Andromeda’s listing promises lifetime labor in its bullets, but Newegg’s spec table for it carries no warranty fields at all, and a term Newegg records is the one I can hold a seller to. The bullets name a B850 board, 32GB of DDR5-6000, a 2TB Gen4 drive, a 360mm AIO, and an 850W 80 Plus Gold supply without a model name.

Stock was the catch. Newegg showed the Phantom as backordered with a September 3 restock estimate, so the buy button read “Back order.” That was the September 1 delivery estimate. Check today’s delivery promise. Amazon carries a listing that describes the same configuration, sold by STORMCRAFT PC, under model number PH980XDCC-580S1 where Newegg’s reads PH980XDCC-580N1; confirm with the seller which unit ships before ordering there.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01

Choose the Phantom when today’s written warranty and delivery date fit your needs. Ask STORMCRAFT for the power supply model before paying; a photo of the side label settles it.

3. Andromeda Insights V3 Ultra 50: the same-price twin on both retailers

In the August 18 edition of this guide the Andromeda was my value pick, at $2,799.99 then. On September 1 Newegg’s buy box read $2,999.99. The gap is gone. What remains is the pick for a buyer who wants the same core parts with a choice of retailer.

Newegg’s spec table lists an AMD B850 chipset, 32GB of DDR5-6000 as two 16GB modules (“16 GB x 2”), a 2TB NVMe drive, liquid cooling, and an 850W power supply. The listing’s own bullets add that the drive is Gen 4.0, that the 360mm AIO carries a digital display, and that the unit is 80 Plus Gold, still with no model name. Both listings state two years of parts coverage and lifetime labor, US based. Newegg sells and ships its copy directly and quoted two to three business days to ship; the Amazon copy of the same Ultra 50 V3 is sold by Andromeda Insights.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01

Buy it when you already shop at one retailer and want the other’s return policy or payment terms to be the deciding factor. One question stays open. The power supply is unnamed here too.

The rest of the field on September 1

These are the other qualified 9800X3D + RTX 5080 systems whose listings I opened, with the reason each finished below the picks. Every other qualifying listing Newegg’s search returned falls into a rejection class in the section after the direct builders. Newegg prices are the buy box at capture; direct-builder prices are from each builder’s own page the same afternoon. Amazon prices are not shown here. Each row carries its own retailer control, so a comparison does not end at the table; the retailer buttons in these rows are affiliate links, as disclosed at the top of the page.

System	Price, Sept. 1	As listed	Why it ranks lower
ZOTAC MEK (MEK5080BA9800DBR5)	$3,299.99	B850 board; 850W 80 Plus Gold, unnamed; 1 year parts and labor on Newegg, Amazon adds a 3-year graphics card term; Newegg sold by Newegg, Amazon sold by Amazon.com	$300 over the picks; Windows 11 Pro and the three-year GPU warranty are the reasons to pay it Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Search NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
Skytech Hawkeye	$2,999.99	X670 board; 850W Gold ATX 3.0, unnamed; 1 year parts and labor; Newegg, sold by Skytech (marketplace)	Same price as the picks but a marketplace seller, and the listing says component brands may vary Search Amazon Search Newegg
Skytech Azure 3 (Montech XR White)	$3,099.99	B650 board (Newegg spec table); 850W Gold ATX 3.0, unnamed; 1 year parts and labor (seller bullet); Newegg sold by Skytech, Amazon sold by Amazon.com	GPU brand may vary per the listing; $100 more than the Hawkeye for a different case Check Amazon Search Newegg
Skytech Blaze 5 (Montech TG3)	$3,099.99	X870 board; 850W Gold ATX 3.0, unnamed; 1 year parts and labor (seller bullet); Newegg, sold by Skytech (marketplace)	The Hawkeye’s seller and disclosure story for $100 more, in a different case Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
Skytech King 95 (Montech King 95 White)	$3,099.99	B650 board; 850W Gold ATX 3.0, unnamed; 1 year parts and labor (seller bullet); Newegg, sold by Skytech (marketplace)	A B650 board at $100 over the picks; the case is the draw Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
Acer Nitro UD.P02AA.070	$3,299.99	Board not listed; 850W, no efficiency rating listed; 1 year parts, 1 year labor; Newegg, sold by Newegg	No board named and no efficiency rating for its 850W unit, at a $300 premium Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
CLX Set (TGMSETRTU5C01BM)	$3,389.99	Board not listed; 850W, no rating listed; warranty not stated on the page; 2 x 16GB DDR5; Newegg, sold and shipped by CLX, with a second Newegg-shipped offer at $3,329.99 on the same page	Board, power supply rating, and warranty all unstated, and two prices on one page Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
Thermaltake T6WT-X870 (white)	$3,746.99	X870 board; 850W, no rating listed; 1 year parts, 1 year labor; Newegg, sold by Newegg; “components brands may vary”	$747 over the picks for an X870 board and a white case Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
Thermaltake Reactor 9880	$3,799.99	X870 board; 850W, no rating listed; 1 year parts, 1 year labor; Newegg, sold by Newegg	ToughRam DDR5-6400 and an X870 board do not justify $800 over the picks Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-01 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-01
Cooler Master TD5 Pro	not shown	Gigabyte B850 Gaming WF6 board; Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V3 (model named); 1 year parts and labor; Amazon only, sold by Amazon.com	The only other listing I opened that names its power supply; Amazon-only, so no Newegg price to compare against Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-24 Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-24

Direct builders, bought from the maker

Direct builders sell the same core parts without a retailer in between. None of these links pay TechFuelHQ anything. They are here because a fair comparison needs them, and their buttons are plain links to each builder’s page.

Builder and system	Price, Sept. 1	As listed	Verdict
Starforge Voyager IV Pro (AMD)	$3,599.99	Asus Prime B850-Plus WiFi; MSI MAG A850GN PCIe 5 (model named); 2 years parts and labor, lifetime support	The only build here that names its power-supply model, with a named board and a two-year warranty, for $600 over the picks Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
CyberPowerPC Gaming PC Master 9500	$3,169	ASUS PRIME B850-PLUS WIFI; 1000W 80 Plus Gold, model not named; 2 years parts, 3 years labor	The cheapest build here that names its board, with the STORMCRAFT-class warranty; estimated ship date September 9 at capture Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
Skytech Tempest #3356-W (direct)	$3,099.99	B650; 850W Gold ATX 3.0; 1 year	Same machine family as the Newegg Skytech rows, bought from the builder Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
Skytech O11 Vision #2566-B (direct)	$3,399.99	X870; 850W Gold ATX 3.0; 1 year	Pay $300 for the X870 board and the Lian Li case Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
Maingear Retro98 5080	$3,499	MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi; 850W 80 Plus Gold, model not named; 1 year limited	Named board and Kingston FURY Beast DDR5-6000, at my ceiling; showed sold out at capture Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
Corsair VENGEANCE a7500	$3,799.99	X870; Corsair 1000W 80 Plus Gold fully modular, model not named; 2 years	One of two other 1000W Gold units among the builders tabled here, CyberPowerPC’s being the other, and Corsair’s own brand without a model number, but backordered with a September 8 to 15 ship window when captured Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
NZXT Player Three	$3,799.00	B850 (“brand varies”); 850W 80 Plus Gold, model not named; 2 years	4TB of storage explains part of the premium; board brand and power supply model are unnamed Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01
Alienware Area-51 (AMD)	$5,076.99	Board not listed; 850W Gold, model not named; 12 months onsite	Skip: $2,077 over the picks with a 1TB drive Open builder pageLink checked 2026-09-01

What I rejected and why

Most of the RTX 5080 towers in the search results fail one of these tests. Most fail quietly.

A lower-tier processor at the same price. Core Ultra 7 and Ryzen 7 9700X versions of these same cases appeared at $2,799.99 to $2,999.99 in Newegg’s search, and Skytech’s own page lists a 7800X3D Azure 3, the 1TB #1954-W, at $2,799.99. Newegg’s variant selector offers a 7800X3D Azure 3 too, at 2TB, without printing a price for it. A 7800X3D is a fine chip, but at the same price it is less hardware.
Sixteen gigabytes of memory or a 1TB drive. Skytech’s King 95 ships a 1TB drive in two $3,099.99 configurations, and ArsenalPC’s $3,929 Hyte X50 pairs the 9800X3D and RTX 5080 with 16GB of DDR5 and a 1TB drive. ArsenalPC’s $4,309 TD500 Mesh has 64GB, and still boots from a 1TB NVMe. That is an immediate upgrade bill on a new flagship PC.
An undersized or undescribed power supply. Below 850W is out. “850W” with no rating still needs a question to the seller before checkout.
Marketplace ambiguity. Boutique listings in the same search results ran from $3,400 to $5,700 (Velztorm, ArsenalPC, AVGPC, Hyper Cyber), and their search tiles showed no disclosure advantage over the picks. I opened only one of them, the Velztorm at $3,410.25, which was sold and shipped by the seller rather than Newegg, and that adds a seller-policy layer. What the other three disclose on their own product pages I did not capture.
The wrong hardware behind a familiar name. Product families reuse a name across configurations; the Andromeda V2, listed at $3,199.99 by a marketplace seller, carries a B650 board, not the V3’s B850. The item number is the product.
Listings I did not open. Newegg’s search also returned Skytech King 95 configurations at $3,223.99 and $3,399.99, and Azure 3, Blaze 5, and King 95 variants at $4,099.99, whose product pages I did not capture. They repeat the seller and disclosure story of the Skytech rows above at a higher price, and I do not rank a listing I have not read.

What a 9800X3D and an RTX 5080 deliver, measured

I have not benchmarked any of these prebuilts. TechFuelHQ has measured a retail RTX 5080 (an ASUS ROG Astral OC, in a Ryzen 7 7800X3D system), and the results below belong to that card and tower. Cooling, power limits and clocks can differ in a prebuilt.

4K gaming. In the ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review, I tested the hand-tuned GPU Tweak III profile, not a stock prebuilt. Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra raster averaged 58 fps with 49 fps 1% lows; Alan Wake 2 at RT Ultra with DLSS Quality averaged 49 fps; Black Myth: Wukong at Cinematic averaged 34 fps. Native path tracing in Cyberpunk ran at 19 fps, and DLSS 4 Quality with 4x Multi-Frame Generation lifted that to 135 fps at 62 ms of PC latency.
Power and heat. The June 28 log from my hand-tuned Astral averaged 261W of board power and 56 °C on the GPU core. Its highest power reading was 326 W. All 308 sampled throttle flags were zero, but the logger paused for nearly an hour between its two runs. Those readings cannot establish what the whole tower drew. For the 7800X3D + RTX 5080 build, ASUS recommends 850 W for this Astral OC; check the exact board and PSU in a prebuilt.
Local AI. The open RTX 5080 LLM throughput dataset recorded gpt-oss:20b decoding at 187 to 190 tokens per second with about 14 GiB of graphics memory resident on the August 12 capture. A 16GB card runs a 20-billion-parameter model entirely on the GPU; that is a real second job for any of these towers, not a marketing line.

The processor is the same in every pick. AMD lists the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at 8 cores and 16 threads with 96MB of L3 cache and a 5.2GHz maximum boost. NVIDIA lists the RTX 5080 at 10,752 CUDA cores with 16GB of GDDR7. Within this field, cooling and the installed card model decide the small gaps.

At 1440p, a cheaper card usually delivers the experience without forcing the rest of the build into this price band. Spend there first; the 4K GPU guide maps that break point. If your monitor is still 1440p at 144Hz, spend against the display before paying for unused headroom. If that cheaper card is the RTX 5070 Ti, the RTX 5070 Ti prebuilt guide runs this same survey on the 9800X3D machines built around it.

Card, tower, or monitor bundle?

This page ranks complete RTX 5080 towers. If the purchase is the graphics card alone, use the RTX 5090 versus RTX 5080 comparison for the tier decision. Then compare the exact board’s dimensions and cooler, the seller and warranty, and the current price. An RTX 4080 prebuilt belongs with the RTX 4080 versus RTX 4090 guide and the same whole-system checkout audit below; the dated RTX 5080 prices on this page do not price an older tower.

Treat a monitor bundle as two purchases. Apply the tower audit to the PC, then confirm the monitor’s exact model, resolution, refresh rate, panel type and ports. Check the seller plus the warranty and return terms separately. A bundle label is not evidence that either half is the right configuration.

The price ceiling for a 32GB, 2TB build

My cutoff for this specification is roughly $3,500 before tax. Past it, show me why:

64GB instead of 32GB, or 4TB instead of 2TB
a premium factory-overclocked RTX 5080
a named power supply, a named board, and a longer warranty, together
a service package you would pay for on its own

The direct builders show where the line sits. CyberPowerPC’s Master 9500 buys a named ASUS B850 board, a 1000W Gold unit, and a two-year parts, three-year labor warranty for $3,169, if a September 9 ship date is acceptable. Starforge’s Voyager IV Pro buys a named board, a named MSI unit (the MAG A850GN PCIe 5, listed by model with no wattage or efficiency rating given), and a two-year warranty for $3,599.99; Corsair’s a7500 buys Corsair’s own 1000W Gold unit, no model number given, and an X870 board for $3,799.99. All three are defensible. A basic 32GB, 2TB tower at $3,700 with an unnamed power supply is not. If you are willing to assemble the machine, load the same parts into the PC Builder and compare the bill against the $2,500-class RTX 5080 build.

The 60-second checkout audit

Do this after clicking through and before payment.

Match the item number to the exact row in this guide.
Confirm Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5080 16GB in the selected configuration; several of these pages carry other processors under the same name.
Look for two memory modules. If the page is silent, ask, or check immediately after delivery.
Find the power supply model. If only a wattage is listed, ask the seller for the model before the return window closes.
Confirm the board chipset and count open M.2 slots.
Read who sells it and who ships it.
Open the warranty and return terms.
Screenshot the final configuration, price, and delivery promise. Then pay.

If one of those fields changes, re-rank the machine. Start over. Two towers wearing the same family name can differ in the power supply, memory layout, board, seller, and return path, and on a heavy glass-sided tower the expensive failure is discovering after delivery that the machine differs from the tile while the only remedy is packing it up again.

Where to buy the STORMCRAFT Phantom (9800X3D, RTX 5080): Check Amazon · Check Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

RTX 5070 Review: 1440p Gaming, 12GB and the RX 9070

LK Wood IV — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:00:33 +0000

The RTX 5070 is a 1440p choice for a buyer who uses NVIDIA software or plays games that benefit from its ray tracing. On October 7, 2026, the MSI Gaming Trio OC was $869.99 at Newegg, $170 above the ASRock RX 9070 and about 58% above the GeForce’s $549 launch price. My 3.0 score reflects that comparison.

The second reservation is memory. The card keeps the 12GB of the RTX 4070 it replaced, and TechSpot measured 13 fps in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at 1440p with full ray tracing and DLSS Quality, where a 16GB RTX 4070 Ti Super managed 47.

This review evaluates the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 using the manufacturer’s documentation and the independent tests cited below; it adds no new TechFuelHQ lab measurements. I have not tested an RTX 5070.

The version and fit to check

NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 family page, read October 7, 2026, prints most of the figures below. The die, SM and bandwidth figures come from the specification table in Tom’s Hardware’s review, because NVIDIA’s page omits them.

Item	Specification	Why I would check it
GPU	Blackwell GB205, TSMC 4N, 263 mm², 31 billion transistors (Tom’s Hardware)	Same 4N node as the RTX 4070’s AD104, which caps the generational gain
Cores	6,144 CUDA cores; 48 SMs, 48 RT cores, 192 Tensor cores (Tom’s Hardware)	NVIDIA lists 8,960 CUDA cores for the RTX 5070 Ti
Clocks	2.51 GHz boost, 2.33 GHz base	Tom’s Hardware’s FE averaged more than 300 MHz above rated boost at 1440p
Memory	12GB GDDR7, 192-bit; 28 Gbps, 672 GB/s (Tom’s Hardware)	Same capacity as the RTX 4070 and 4070 Super
Total graphics power	250 W	NVIDIA lists 650 W required system power
FE power connector	2x PCIe 8-pin via the bundled adapter, or one 300 W-or-greater PCIe Gen 5 cable	Partner boards vary
Founders Edition size	242 mm long, 112 mm wide, 2 slots	NVIDIA says partner sizes vary by manufacturer
Outputs	3x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1x HDMI 2.1b; 4K at 480 Hz or 8K at 165 Hz with DSC	PCIe Gen 5 interface
Features	DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation; 988 AI TOPS	Multi Frame Generation needs an RTX 50-series card

Two fit facts trip buyers. The board decides length and slot count. The Founders Edition is a 242 mm, 2-slot card, but the ASUS Prime OC Amazon listing (ASIN B0DS6WPTLL) calls that board a 2.5-slot design, so measure against the card in your cart. The connector is the other: the Founders Edition takes two 8-pin cables through the adapter in the box or one PCIe Gen 5 cable rated 300 W or more, and partner boards choose their own.

PCIe generation matters less. TechPowerUp’s conclusion says its scaling tests found bandwidth “won’t be a problem” unless the machine is ancient.

How fast it is

Against the RTX 4070 the gain is real. TechPowerUp’s 25-game suite (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, raster only, March 4, 2025) put the Founders Edition 22 percent ahead of the RTX 4070 at 1440p and 25 percent ahead at 4K. That places it level with the RTX 4070 Ti and 10 percent behind the RTX 4070 Ti Super. With ray tracing the lead over the 4070 shrank to 15 percent at 1440p.

Tom’s Hardware’s 16-game rasterization suite (native, ultra settings) measured 19 percent over the RTX 4070 at 1440p and 22 percent at 4K, while running 20 percent slower than the RTX 5070 Ti at 1440p and 24 percent slower at 4K. Its six-game ray-tracing suite, with upscaling and frame generation off, averaged 70 fps at native 1440p.

Against the RTX 4070 Super there is almost nothing. TechSpot’s 16-game average (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, GeForce 572.60) had the 5070 just 1 percent faster at 1440p and 5 percent faster at 4K, and called it “little more than a slightly discounted 4070 Super with $50 knocked off the MSRP.” KitGuru’s 12 games agreed at 1440p and found eight ray-traced games “a wash” against the 4070 Super. KitGuru scored it 7/10 and TechSpot 60. GamersNexus called NVIDIA’s “4090 performance” launch claim “an absolute, flat-out lie” given 12GB against 24GB.

The AMD comparison splits by workload. TechSpot’s RX 9070 review (18 games) had the RX 9070 4 percent faster at 1440p and 8 percent faster at 4K in mostly raster games, while the RX 9070 was 16 percent slower than the RTX 5070 across six ray-traced games at 1440p with upscaling. One tier up, TechSpot’s 57-game comparison (May 25, 2025) put the RX 9070 XT 17 percent ahead at 1440p. The site’s RTX 5070 vs RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti vs RTX 5070 pages cover the NVIDIA steps on either side, and the GPU hierarchy places all of them.

Where 12GB runs out

TechSpot’s Indiana Jones result is the clearest limit. At 1440p with full ray tracing and DLSS Quality the RTX 5070 averaged 13 fps against 47 fps on the RTX 4070 Ti Super, and at 4K the game crashed to the desktop. KitGuru found the framebuffer bottlenecked Indiana Jones, Spider-Man 2 and Ratchet & Clank, often pushed over the edge by frame generation. TechPowerUp draws the line at resolution. Its data shows 12GB is sufficient at 1440p even with ray tracing but runs short at 4K with ray tracing and frame generation in several titles, and it calls the card “definitely not future-proof for 1440p” unless settings come down. It recommends the card for 1440p, not 4K, and its sample gained 13 percent from a manual overclock. It also says DLSS 4 Transformer upscaling at Quality looks like native, sometimes better, which stretches the 12GB further.

Power, thermals and noise

The RTX 5070 rarely uses its full 250 W rating. TechPowerUp’s conclusion puts gaming draw around 230 W, with efficiency near the top of its charts. Tom’s Hardware’s power page averaged 242 W at 4K, about 20 percent more than the RTX 4070, and KitGuru measured 208 W across twelve games at 1440p.

NVIDIA lists 650 W of required system power. Run your own parts through the PSU wattage calculator; the RTX 50-series PSU guide covers the 5070 alongside the larger cards.

The Founders Edition cooler is the weak part. TechPowerUp measured a 77 °C peak at 38 dBA, against 29 dBA for a Zotac Solid that also sold at MSRP. KitGuru recorded 40 dBA at one foot, louder than the RTX 5090 FE, and blamed the smaller cooler. Tom’s Hardware’s meter at 10 cm read 50 dB(A) in a Cyberpunk 2077 stress test, the loudest card in its collection.

Those outlets measured at different distances. Compare inside one test.

TechSpot’s single test is the useful one. Under full load the FE peaked at 72 °C and 39 dBA, a Gigabyte Eagle ran 63 °C at 35 dBA and drew 20 W less, and an ASUS Prime ran 62 °C at 34 dBA. If noise matters, I would shortlist a partner board before the Founders Edition.

Price and the alternatives

NVIDIA announced the RTX 5070 at $549 on January 6, 2025, and cards went on sale March 5, 2025, the day after the reviews (KitGuru). Tom’s Hardware’s verdict gave it 3.5 stars, said 4 stars would apply at $549, and warned that a card selling for $899 “would rank lower”.

TechSpot’s August 31, 2026 tracker put the US price at $800, 46 percent above MSRP, against $630 for the RX 9070. Tom’s Hardware’s price tracker, updated September 28, 2026, listed a best US price of $819 and a lowest-ever $479.

On October 7, 2026 the untagged Newegg search showed the MSI Gaming Trio OC at $869.99 as the cheapest in-stock card Newegg sold itself, the same price the site recorded for that listing on September 26. A Gigabyte Eagle listed at $849.99 was out of stock, and Newegg’s next offer was a Gigabyte AERO at $899.99. The competing cards Newegg sold that day change the decision. An ASRock Challenger RX 9070 16GB cost $699.99, so the RTX 5070 cost 24 percent more (derived) for a card TechSpot found slower in raster. A Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 GRE 12GB cost $569.99; TechSpot’s 15-game GRE comparison put the GRE about 5% behind the RTX 5070 at 1440p and 6% behind at 4K. A Gigabyte Eagle RTX 5070 Ti cost $1,179.99, 36 percent more (derived), and in Tom’s Hardware’s suite the RTX 5070 ran 20 percent slower than the Ti at 1440p and 24 percent slower at 4K.

Waiting has no date. TechPowerUp reported on February 5, 2026, citing The Information, that the RTX 50 Super refresh, including a planned 18GB RTX 5070 Super, was postponed because 3GB GDDR7 went to AI products. Notebookcheck’s June 8, 2026 report relays a Benchlife claim of a CES 2027 announcement and calls scepticism warranted. NVIDIA told Wccftech in January 2026 that it continues to ship all GeForce SKUs.

TechSpot’s US price survey, published November 2, found the RTX 5070 at $900 and the RX 9070 at $700 in its later October sample. The GeForce premium was $200 there, versus $170 between the October 7 MSI and ASRock cards. Those are two dated comparisons. If your quotes are closer, check the separate ray-tracing results rather than applying the October score by itself.

Who should buy it

You game at 1440p with DLSS 4, want NVIDIA’s ray-tracing lead and Multi Frame Generation, and find a quieter partner card near its lowest street price.
You need CUDA or NVIDIA’s encoder for work, and 12GB covers your workloads.
You are upgrading from an RTX 3060 or RTX 3070 and no RX 9070 is in stock for less. A prebuilt with an RTX 5070 is the other route.

Who should skip it

You play path-traced games at 4K or keep cards for years. The RX 9070 and RTX 5070 Ti carry 16GB.
You can buy an RX 9070 for less, as Newegg sold it on October 7, 2026.
You own an RTX 4070 Super. TechSpot and KitGuru put the 5070 1 to 5 percent ahead.
You expect an RTX 5070 Super soon. NVIDIA’s family page lists only the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070.

Before checkout, check the board’s length, slot count and power connector against your case and power supply, not the Founders Edition figures.

Sources

Every source was read on October 7, 2026 unless noted.

NVIDIA, RTX 5070 family specifications - cores, clocks, memory, power, connector, size, outputs, DLSS 4; no Super listed.
NVIDIA newsroom, RTX 50 Series announcement (January 6, 2025) - $549 launch price.
TechPowerUp, RTX 5070 FE review conclusion (March 4, 2025) - 25-game and RT percentages, 230 W, 77 °C, 38 dBA, 12GB verdict, DLSS 4, PCIe scaling. Live URL 403; verified on the archive capture of May 22, 2025.
Tom’s Hardware, RTX 5070 review (March 4, 2025) - specifications; rasterization; ray tracing; power, clocks and noise; verdict.
TechSpot, RTX 5070 review (March 4, 2025) - 16-game averages, Indiana Jones, score 60, thermals and noise by board.
KitGuru, RTX 5070 review (March 4, 2025) - 12-game averages, 12GB titles, 208 W, 40 dBA, 7/10, March 5 retail launch.
GamersNexus, RTX 5070 FE review (March 13, 2025) - verdict on the 4090 claim.
TechSpot, RX 9070 review (March 7, 2025) - RX 9070 against RTX 5070.
TechSpot, RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070 in 57 games (May 25, 2025) - 17 percent at 1440p.
TechSpot, GPU pricing Q3 2026 (August 31, 2026) - $800 RTX 5070, $630 RX 9070.
Tom’s Hardware, GPU price tracking (September 28, 2026) - $819 best, $479 lowest ever.
TechPowerUp, no RTX 50 Super this year (February 5, 2026) - Super refresh postponed. Live URL 403; verified on the archive capture of July 13, 2026.
Notebookcheck, RTX 50 Super tipped later (June 8, 2026) - CES 2027 claim.
Wccftech, RTX 50 production (January 15, 2026) - NVIDIA ships all GeForce SKUs.
TechFuelHQ, RTX 5070 vs RTX 5070 Ti - September 26, 2026 Newegg read at $869.99.
Newegg, RTX 5070 search (untagged) - listings and sellers.
Newegg item pages, Newegg’s own offers: MSI Gaming Trio OC, N82E16814137938 $869.99; Gigabyte Eagle, N82E16814932775 $849.99, out of stock; Gigabyte AERO, N82E16814932773 $899.99; RX 9070 Challenger, N82E16814930138 $699.99; RX 9070 GRE Pulse, N82E16814202478 $569.99; RTX 5070 Ti Eagle, N82E16814932769 $1,179.99.
Amazon product pages, identity only, no prices: MSI Gaming Trio OC (ASIN B0DYFXGDJF); ASUS Prime OC (ASIN B0DS6WPTLL), 2.5-slot.

Where to buy the MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Gaming Trio OC: Check Amazon · Check Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Best GPUs Under $500: 1080p Picks and the 16GB Tradeoff

LK Wood IV — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 22:00:25 +0000

The Arc B580 and RTX 5060 fit the $500 cap in two October 2026 samples. The RX 9060 XT 16GB did not. On October 7, the Sapphire Pulse and ASRock Challenger were $519.99 at Newegg, $19.99 over budget. That was a small stretch for 1440p compared with dropping to an 8GB card.

The size of that stretch matters. TechSpot’s US price survey, published November 2, found the B580 at $350, the RTX 5060 at $450 and the RX 9060 XT 16GB at $620 in its later October US sample. At $120 over budget, I would keep a firm $500 cap rather than count on finding the earlier $519.99 offer.

This is a sourced guide. I have not tested any of these cards; the guide evaluates them using the manufacturer’s documentation and the independent tests cited below, and it adds no new TechFuelHQ lab measurements. Amazon prices are never published here.

Card	Role; Newegg price read Oct 7, 2026	Why it is here	The reason to pass
Intel Arc B580 12GB	Value pick; $329.99	12GB; 5% ahead of the RTX 4060 at 1080p (TechPowerUp)	Lost 18% on a Ryzen 5 5600 (TechSpot); one sensibly priced new listing
NVIDIA RTX 5060 8GB	NVIDIA pick; $459.99	22% ahead of the RTX 4060 at 1080p (TechSpot); DLSS	8GB; “really the only resolution” is 1080p (TechPowerUp)
AMD RX 9060 XT 16GB	Stretch pick, $20 over; $519.99	16GB; 3% behind the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (TechPowerUp)	Over budget that day; 20% behind the 5060 Ti in TechSpot’s ray tracing set
NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 8GB	Fastest under the line on paper; $499.00 marketplace, $501.99 sold by Newegg	Matches the RX 9060 XT at 1440p (TechPowerUp)	8GB at $500; under the line only through a marketplace seller
AMD RX 9060 XT 8GB	Skip; $499.99	Price check only	The 16GB card cost $20 more; 35 against 73 fps on PCIe 3.0 in F1 25 (TechSpot)

How I chose

Performance comes from named suites with dates. TechPowerUp’s 2025 Q2 suite does the cross-reference, because one conclusion page ranks the RX 9060 XT against both RTX 5060 Ti memory sizes and the RTX 5060. TechSpot’s 12- to 18-game suites and KitGuru’s 12-game geomeans check it.

Prices are untagged Newegg search and product pages read on October 7, 2026, with item numbers recorded. A pick had to be under $500 that day. Where a marketplace seller held the buy box, I say so.

The market sets the stakes. TechSpot’s August 31, 2026 update found graphics card prices up 15% in one month across ten regions, and it named AMD’s use of GDDR6 instead of GDDR7 as one reason Radeon prices held up better.

Waiting for a refresh is no plan either. No RTX 50 Super card has launched as of October 7, 2026. TechPowerUp’s January 15, 2026 report (updated January 16) quoted ASUS saying the planned CES launch of the Super refresh was postponed with no plans for a series refresh, and its February 5 report, citing The Information, said NVIDIA had postponed the refresh entirely. Its July 7 report found RTX 5080, 5070 Ti and 5070 Super entries in Seasonic’s PSU calculator and no sign of an RTX 5060 Super. None of those reports came from NVIDIA, and none puts a Super card under $500. The GPU hierarchy places each card in its tier, and the GPU price index tracks dated prices against MSRP.

Intel Arc B580 12GB, the value pick

Intel’s ARK page lists 20 Xe cores at 2670 MHz, 12GB of 19 Gbps GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus for 456 GB/s, 190W total board power, a PCI Express 4.0 x8 link, a 600W minimum power supply and a $249 recommended customer price.

TechPowerUp’s review put it 5% ahead of the RTX 4060 at 1080p and almost 15% ahead of the RX 7600. The Intel reference card ran at 30 dBA and 73°C. Against the RTX 5060 the gap depends on resolution: TechPowerUp has the 5060 around 25% ahead at 1080p, while TechSpot’s 18-game suite has it 6% ahead at 1440p. The B580 cost $130 less on October 7, by my arithmetic from the two Newegg prices. That is the value case.

The condition is the CPU. TechSpot’s re-review swapped a Ryzen 7 9800X3D for a Ryzen 5 5600, and the B580 lost 18% on its 12-game 1080p average while the RTX 4060 lost 4%. At 1080p that took it from ahead of the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 to noticeably slower than both; at 1440p, where it lost 9%, its lead over the 4060 shrank from 14% to 4%. The Last of Us Part I fell from 75 to 53 fps. TechSpot tested those two CPUs and nothing between them, so I would pair this card only with a fast current processor and send anyone on an older chip to the RTX 5060.

Check the board too. TechPowerUp lists Resizable BAR as a requirement and measured 34W at idle unless ASPM is enabled in the BIOS and the Windows power plan is changed.

Supply is thin. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930131) cost $329.99. Newegg sold and shipped it, and it was in stock. The only other new listing was an Intel Limited Edition at $590.00; seven out-of-stock Newegg Refreshed units filled the rest of the first page. TechSpot’s mid-2026 update found Battlemage cards harder to find, with fewer models than in April, and its August 31 read put the B580 25% above MSRP in the US.

I may earn a commission if you buy through these affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB, the NVIDIA pick

NVIDIA lists 3,840 CUDA cores, a 2.50 GHz boost, 8GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, 145W total graphics power, one PCIe 8-pin and 550W required system power. TechPowerUp notes it runs at PCIe 5.0 x8.

It is a 1080p card, and a good one there. TechSpot’s 18-game suite had it level with the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 3070 at 1080p and 22% ahead of the RTX 4060. TechPowerUp measured it 26% ahead of the RTX 4060, with the RTX 5060 Ti 15% faster and the RX 9060 XT, in both memory sizes, a bit faster than the 5060 too. It rates the 5060 a better buy than the B580 for the DLSS Transformer model and frame generation. DLSS is the reason to pay more. The MSI Gaming OC it tested ran at 65°C and 29 dBA.

The 8GB buffer is the limit. TechSpot recorded a 6 fps average in Stalker 2 at 1440p and inconsistent frame times in The Last of Us Part I at 1440p ultra, and TechPowerUp calls 1080p “really the only resolution” for it.

If your monitor is 1440p, skip this card and read the 16GB section below.

Launch was $299 per TechSpot, and its August 31 read put US pricing 51% above MSRP after a 32% jump in one month. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Gigabyte Gaming OC V2 (N82E16814932828) cost $459.99 and was sold by Newegg; two Zotac cards followed at $469.99. That $459.99 is about 54% over launch, derived from those two figures. It is why the B580 holds the value slot.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, when it is worth exceeding $500

At $499 this would be the top pick. On October 7 it was $519.99.

AMD’s 16GB product page lists 32 compute units, 16GB of GDDR6 at up to 20 Gbps on a 128-bit bus for up to 320 GB/s, 160W typical board power, a 450W minimum power supply and a PCIe 5.0 x16 link. Launch price was $349 per KitGuru.

TechPowerUp’s suite has it 3% behind the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at both 1080p and 1440p and 43% ahead of the RX 7600 XT at 1440p, with the RTX 5060 15% behind. TechSpot averaged 70 fps across 18 games at native 1440p, “just a frame or a percent” behind the 16GB 5060 Ti there and 6% behind at 1080p. KitGuru’s 12-game geomean had it 7% behind the 16GB 5060 Ti at 1440p, about level with the RX 7700 XT, and 8% ahead of the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB.

Ray tracing splits the reviewers. TechSpot’s ray tracing set has it 20% behind the 5060 Ti; TechPowerUp calls it “essentially on par” at a similar 3% margin and says DLSS gives the better upscaling and frame generation experience. The RTX 5060 Ti vs RX 9060 XT showdown covers that pair in depth. Power is modest, about 170W in gaming per TechPowerUp and 159.1W at 1440p per KitGuru.

Price is the only objection. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Sapphire Pulse (N82E16814202457) and the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930140) both cost $519.99 sold by Newegg, and the ASUS Dual was $529.99. TechSpot called it the most overpriced Radeon relative to MSRP in late August, 32% over in the US. Yet the cheapest RTX 5060 Ti 16GB was $799.99 on the same read, so the Radeon was the closest of those 16GB models to $500 in the October 7 sample, and Tom’s Hardware’s tracker listed a $499 best US price on September 28. I would set an alert at $499 before I would buy an 8GB card at that money. Confirm the listing says 16GB.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, fastest on paper

NVIDIA gives both memory sizes 4,608 CUDA cores, a 2.57 GHz boost and 180W total graphics power, with one 8-pin and 600W required system power, and launch prices were $379 for the 8GB card and $429 for the 16GB card per Tom’s Hardware.

No dedicated 8GB review was read for this guide, and TechPowerUp had no 8GB samples at launch. The 16GB card was 13% ahead of the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB at 1440p there and 15% ahead of the 4060 Ti across 16 games in TechSpot’s review. For the 8GB card, TechPowerUp’s RX 9060 XT conclusion says it “just matches” the RX 9060 XT at 1440p, and KitGuru found the 16GB Radeon 8% faster at 1440p.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the cheapest new listing was the MSI Shadow 2X OC Plus (N82E16814137978) at $499.00, offered by marketplace seller MobileMonster rather than Newegg; a refurbished PNY Dual Fan OC (N82E16814985070) was $449.99. The cheapest card Newegg sold itself was the Gigabyte WindForce (N82E16814932797) at $501.99. TechSpot put it around $500 in late August, 32% over MSRP, and called it “a horrible GPU.”

That Newegg-sold card was $18 cheaper than a 16GB RX 9060 XT that KitGuru measured 8% faster at 1440p (the $18 is my subtraction). The case for it is narrow. Only the separate $499.00 marketplace offer fit a strict $500 limit before tax and shipping. The $501.99 retailer offer did not.

At the October 7 prices, I would have paid the $18 difference between the two retailer offers for the 16GB Radeon at 1440p. Recheck the gap before making the same choice.

The $1,500 RTX 5060 Ti build shows a complete system around the 16GB version.

Search AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB, the one to skip

AMD’s 8GB product page lists 150W typical board power with the same 450W minimum supply and PCIe 5.0 x16 link as the 16GB card, and the launch price was $299 per Tom’s Hardware’s tracker.

TechSpot’s 8GB review is titled “Not Good.” In Doom: The Dark Ages at 1440p with the Ultra preset and FSR quality upscaling, the 16GB card was 17% faster on average with 27% higher 1% lows. Its 16GB review said saving $50 for an 8GB card is “effectively throwing money away.”

On October 7 the saving was $20. Twenty dollars bought double the memory.

Older boards make it worse. TechSpot’s PCIe test forced the link mode in the BIOS of a Ryzen 7 9800X3D system, and in F1 25 at the very high preset the 16GB card on PCIe 3.0 averaged 73 fps while the 8GB card managed 60 fps on PCIe 5.0, 42 fps on PCIe 4.0 and 35 fps on PCIe 3.0, 53% slower than the 16GB card on the same interface. In Monster Hunter Wilds at 1440p ultra with quality upscaling, the 16GB card on PCIe 3.0 was twice as fast. The test was run on this exact card, and it is the clearest measured case of an 8GB buffer overflowing on an older board.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the cheapest 8GB listings cost $499.99, a PowerColor Reaper (N82E16814131876) from marketplace seller Halfmoon Tech Store and an XFX Swift OC sold direct by XFX. The cheapest sold by Newegg was a Gigabyte Gaming at $509.99. Skip it. Both buttons below search for the 16GB card instead; sort by price and skip every listing that says 8GB.

Search AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Search NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

Power supply and slot checks

Check the board you are buying before reusing a power supply. ASRock’s B580 Challenger 12GB OC lists 650W and one 8-pin input; Gigabyte’s Windforce OC 8G specifications list 550W and one 8-pin. The 600W reference figure for the Intel B580 is below ASRock’s recommendation for the Challenger. The PSU calculator helps account for the CPU and other components.

The B580 uses PCIe 4.0 x8 and both RTX 5060 cards PCIe 5.0 x8 (TechPowerUp says the RTX 5060 series runs at x8, not x16), while both RX 9060 XT cards use a full x16 link per AMD. TechPowerUp calls 8GB a reasonable compromise at 1080p with textures turned down a notch and upscaling. Buy every 8GB card on this page for that setting.

What I left out and why

The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is out. Its cheapest new listings at Newegg on October 7, 2026 were $799.99, about 86% over its $429 launch price by my arithmetic, and only 3% faster than the RX 9060 XT 16GB in TechPowerUp’s suite. Supply has been in question since TechPowerUp’s January report of production ending; NVIDIA replied that it continues to ship all GeForce SKUs, and ASUS told Tom’s Hardware the card was not discontinued and blamed the supply swings on the memory shortage. The RTX 5060 Ti vs RTX 5070 comparison covers the tier above.

The RX 9070 GRE is the step-up. AMD lists 12GB of GDDR6, 220W typical board power and a 650W minimum supply. TechSpot averaged 84 fps at 1440p across 15 games, 25 to 26% ahead of the RTX 5060 Ti, and said it needs to be a $500 product at most. At Newegg on October 7, 2026, the in-stock Sapphire Pulse was $569.99, $69.99 over the $500 cap. The $549.99 ASRock Steel Legend was out of stock. Check the delivered price of a card you can order before raising your budget.

The RX 9070 started at $699.99 at Newegg. I did not price the Arc B570 for this page; TechSpot calls it increasingly difficult to find. The RTX 5050 only matches the RTX 4060 per TechPowerUp. The RX 7800 XT and RTX 4060 sat at $519 and $530 best US prices in Tom’s tracker, both over the line.

Sources

All sources accessed October 7, 2026.

NVIDIA: RTX 5060 family: specifications, power and system-power figures.
AMD: RX 9060 XT 16GB: specifications, 160W, 450W minimum, x16.
AMD: RX 9060 XT 8GB: 150W, 450W minimum, x16.
AMD: RX 9070 GRE: 12GB, 220W, 650W minimum.
Intel ARK: Arc B580: specifications, 600W minimum, $249.
TechPowerUp: RX 9060 XT Nitro+ OC review (June 5, 2025): margins, ray tracing, DLSS, power, 8GB compromise.
TechPowerUp: RTX 5060 Gaming OC review (July 14, 2025): margins, PCIe x8, thermals, RTX 5050 note.
TechPowerUp: RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC 16GB review (April 16, 2025): 4060 Ti margin, no 8GB samples, PCIe 5.0 x8 link.
TechPowerUp: Arc B580 review (December 12, 2024): margins, idle power, noise, Resizable BAR.
TechPowerUp: RTX 5060 Ti 16GB production report (January 15, 2026, updated January 16): NVIDIA and ASUS statements, Super refresh.
TechPowerUp: No RTX 50 Super GPUs this year (February 5, 2026): The Information’s report that the Super refresh was postponed.
TechPowerUp: RTX 50 Super GPUs surface online (July 7, 2026): Seasonic calculator entries for RTX 5080, 5070 Ti and 5070 Super, no RTX 5060 Super.
TechSpot: RX 9060 XT review (June 4, 2025): 1440p average, margins, 8GB verdict.
TechSpot: RX 9060 XT 8GB review (June 6, 2025): Doom margins.
TechSpot: RX 9060 XT PCIe test (June 19, 2025): results by PCIe mode.
TechSpot: RTX 5060 review (May 22, 2025): margins, 8GB cases, $299 launch.
TechSpot: RTX 5060 Ti 16GB review (April 16, 2025): 1440p margin.
TechSpot: Arc B580 re-review (January 11, 2025): Ryzen 5 5600 losses.
TechSpot: RX 9070 GRE review (June 2, 2026): 1440p average, price verdict.
TechSpot: GPU pricing Q3 2026 (August 31, 2026): monthly rise, percent over MSRP.
TechSpot: GPU pricing mid-2026 (July 31, 2026): Battlemage supply.
KitGuru: RX 9060 XT 16GB review (June 4, 2025): $349 launch, margins, power.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5060 Ti 16GB review (April 16, 2025): launch prices.
Tom’s Hardware: GPU price tracking (updated September 28, 2026): best US prices, MSRPs.
Tom’s Hardware: Asus denies discontinuation (January 16, 2026): ASUS statement.
Newegg: Arc B580 and N82E16814930131: $329.99, $590.00.
Newegg: RTX 5060 and N82E16814932828: $459.99, $469.99.
Newegg: RX 9060 XT 16GB and N82E16814930140: $519.99, $529.99.
Newegg: RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, N82E16814137978 and N82E16814932797: $499.00 marketplace, $501.99; refurbished PNY N82E16814985070 at $449.99.
Newegg: RX 9060 XT 8GB and N82E16814131876: $499.99, $509.99.
Newegg: RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RX 9070 GRE and RX 9070 searches: over-budget prices.
Amazon product pages (untagged) for ASINs B0DNMH4KQM, B0F8LDHQ7Y and B0F8B59WP7: identity only, no prices.

Best Budget GPUs: Arc B580, B570 and Alternatives for Older PCs

LK Wood IV — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:00:21 +0000

If you have a recent CPU, the Arc B580 is where I would start. Its 12GB gives you room for textures, and it beat the RTX 4060 by 7% at 1080p in TechSpot’s 12-game launch suite. The October 7, 2026 Newegg sample put the ASRock Challenger B580 at $329.99, $40 above the B570.

The $350 line moved. TechSpot’s US price survey, published November 2, recorded the lowest in-stock US models in its later October sample at $350 for the B580 and $290 for the B570. The gap had grown to $60 before tax or shipping, and the B580 was no longer strictly under $350. Check your delivered price and your CPU before choosing.

This is a sourced guide. I have not tested any of these seven cards; the picks rest on the manufacturer specification pages and the independent suites cited at each claim, plus untagged Newegg and Amazon product pages read on October 7, 2026. Amazon prices are never published here.

Card	Tier; Newegg price read Oct 7, 2026	Why it is here	The reason to pass
Intel Arc B580 12GB	Best under $350; $329.99	12GB; ahead of the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 (TechSpot, KitGuru)	Loses 18% on a Ryzen 5 5600 (TechSpot); one in-stock model
Intel Arc B570 10GB	Cheapest worth buying; $289.99	10GB; Tom’s “cheapest graphics card worth buying”	13% slower than the B580 at 1440p (TechSpot)
AMD RX 7600 8GB	Older-CPU fallback; $339.99	Matches the B580 on a Ryzen 5 5600 (TechSpot)	8GB; slower than the B580 on a current CPU
NVIDIA RTX 5060 8GB	Step-up; $459.99	DLSS 4; 22% ahead of the RTX 4060 (TechSpot); no Arc CPU penalty	8GB; 54% over its $299 launch price
AMD RX 9060 XT 16GB	Buy-once; $519.99	16GB; within a percent of the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at 1440p (TechSpot)	49% over launch; RX 9070 GRE close above (Tom’s)
NVIDIA RTX 5050 8GB	Skip; from $404.65	Price check only	Slower than the RX 7600 (TechSpot) at $40 to $55 under an RTX 5060
AMD RX 9060 XT 8GB	Skip; from $499.99	Price check only	$20 under a 16GB card TechSpot measured 17% to 184% faster

How I chose

Performance comes from named suites with dates. For the Arc cards that is TechSpot’s 12-game B580 suite from December 2024, its January 2025 re-review on a Ryzen 5 5600 and its B570 review. For the 2025 cards it is TechSpot’s 18-game suites for the RTX 5060, the RTX 5050 and the RX 9060 XT, KitGuru’s 12-game geomeans and the 19-game table in Tom’s Hardware’s guide updated October 2, 2026. GamersNexus does not publish suite averages, so I quote its printed ranges rather than single-game bars.

Prices are the untagged Newegg first pages and product pages read on October 7, 2026, with the item number recorded for each listing. Where a buy box named a marketplace seller instead of Newegg, I say so.

The market matters this month. TechSpot’s August 31, 2026 pricing article recorded a 15% climb in one month across ten countries and a market 28% above launch MSRP excluding the RTX 5090, with memory cost as the cause. TechSpot’s August 30 guide and Tom’s October 2 guide both say no new launches are on the horizon. Waiting is a bet with no date attached. The GPU hierarchy places every card here in its tier, and the GPU price index tracks the dated prices behind this page.

Intel Arc B580 12GB: 12GB on a recent CPU

Intel’s ARK page lists 20 Xe cores at 2670 MHz, 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus for 456 GB/s, 190W board power, a PCIe 4.0 x8 link and a $249 recommended price. The ASRock Challenger is 249 mm long and two slots thick with one 8-pin, and its Newegg specification tab recommends a 650W supply.

The case for it is the memory and the suite results. TechSpot’s 12-game average on a Ryzen 7 9800X3D put it 7% ahead of the RTX 4060 and 8% ahead of the RX 7600 at 1080p, and 14% and 21% ahead at 1440p. KitGuru’s 12-game average was 59 fps at 1080p, 9% ahead of the RTX 4060 and 16% ahead at 1440p. A year later TechSpot’s 16-game head-to-head had it 14% faster than the RTX 5050 at 1080p with 23% better 1% lows, and its August 30, 2026 guide calls it clearly better than the RX 7600 and similar to the RTX 5060.

The reservations are real. TechSpot’s re-review swapped in a Ryzen 5 5600 and the B580 lost 18% on the 1080p average while the RTX 4060 lost 4% and the RX 7600 6%; widening the suite to 50 games cut its 1440p lead over the RTX 4060 from 14% to 5%. KitGuru logged crashes in Star Wars Outlaws and Cyberpunk 2077 at launch and would not recommend it outright. GamersNexus measured about 35W at idle and 141 to 170W in games. Tom’s tracker said in September 2026 that frequent driver updates have improved Arc; no October 2026 driver review was opened for this page, so I cannot say more than that.

Tom’s October 2 guide calls the B580 a bad deal against the B570, about 12% more speed for 25% more money. I side with the 12GB card for the $40, because every 8GB card below carries a documented cliff at 1440p.

The launch price was $249. TechSpot put the US street price 25% over that in late August 2026, and Tom’s tracker listed $329 as the best US price on September 28. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930131) was $329.99, marked down from $355.15; Newegg sold and shipped it with a limit of five. It was the only in-stock new B580 on the first page.

I may earn a commission if you buy through these affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Intel Arc B570 10GB: when the saving over the B580 is large enough

Intel’s ARK page lists 18 Xe cores at 2500 MHz, 10GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus for 380 GB/s, 150W board power and the same PCIe 4.0 x8 link; it prints no price. Tom’s Hardware recorded the $219 launch price. The ASRock Challenger is 249 mm with one 8-pin and a 600W recommendation on its Newegg page.

TechSpot measured it 13% slower than the B580 at 1440p on a 9800X3D and roughly level with the RTX 4060 and RX 7600, with power 8 to 14% below the B580 and about 20 watts above the RTX 4060; its verdict was that $200 is the most it should cost. GamersNexus put the B580 15 to 16% ahead in its charts, measured about 30W at idle, and on a Ryzen 5 5600X and Core i5-12400 found no meaningful change outside Baldur’s Gate 3. Tom’s October 2, 2026 guide names it the cheapest graphics card worth buying, just over 60 fps on its 2026 1080p raster suite and a few frames shy of the RTX 5050, with 10GB keeping it off the 8GB cliffs.

So why is a card TechSpot capped at $200 a pick at $289.99? Because it was the least expensive new current-generation option in our dated sample, and the alternative at this money on October 7 was a $339.99 RX 7600 with 8GB.

TechSpot found it 19% over launch in the US in late August and often one or two listings per region. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930134) was $289.99, down from $307.49 and sold by Newegg with a limit of five; the GUNNIR Photon OC was $339.00. The same CPU caveat as the B580 applies.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB: the fallback for an older CPU

Tom’s Hardware’s spec table lists Navi 33 with 32 compute units and 2,048 shaders, 8GB of 18 Gbps GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus for 288 GB/s, a 165W rating and a $269 launch price in May 2023. The ASRock Challenger on Newegg is 269 mm long on a PCIe 4.0 x8 link with one 8-pin and a 550W recommendation, so check case clearance.

It is the slowest card on this page. TechSpot’s 15-game suite had the RTX 4060 3% ahead of it at 1080p and level at 1440p, and the B580 beat it by 8% and 21% in TechSpot’s launch suite. The case for it is narrow. In TechSpot’s re-review on a Ryzen 5 5600 the B580 fell to roughly RX 7600 speed with weaker 1% lows, while the RX 7600 itself lost only 6% in the CPU swap. A buyer on AM4 or a 10th or 11th-gen Intel board who needs a card under $350 with mature drivers gets the same frame rate from the RX 7600 without the Arc overhead. TechSpot’s August 2026 guide says to skip it for a $250 B580, and that holds whenever a B580 is in stock under $350.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930093) was $339.99, down from $360.49 and sold by Newegg with a limit of two; the next new listing was an XFX Speedster at $399.99, and at that price the answer is no.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB: the 1080p GeForce option

NVIDIA lists 3,840 CUDA cores, 8GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, a 2.50 GHz boost, 145W total graphics power, a 550W system supply and one 8-pin on a PCIe Gen 5 link; TechSpot prints 28 Gbps memory for 448 GB/s. The Gigabyte Gaming OC V2 on Newegg is 281 mm long, and the Gigabyte and PNY listings both describe the link as x8.

TechSpot’s 18-game suite put it 22% ahead of the RTX 4060 at 1080p and 27% ahead at 1440p, where it led the Arc B580 by 6%. GamersNexus printed a range of 6% to 27% over the 4060, commonly about 20%. Tom’s 19-game geomean reads 64.0 fps at 1080p and 41.2 fps at 1440p with no upscaling, and Tom’s keeps it as the best 1080p card because DLSS 4.5 is in practically every game while XeSS is not. It carries none of the Arc CPU penalty, which makes it my pick for anyone on a Ryzen 5 5600-class system who can stretch past $350.

The 8GB buffer is the reservation. TechSpot recorded one title falling to a 6 fps average at 1440p when memory ran out, Tom’s says 8GB is not enough to consistently enable frame generation, and GamersNexus called 8GB at this class ridiculous.

The price is the other. Launch was $299 per TechSpot; its August 31 read put US pricing 51% over that after a 32% jump in one month. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Gigabyte Gaming OC V2 (N82E16814932828) was $459.99; Newegg sold and shipped it with a limit of two. A PNY Dual Fan at the same price showed marketplace seller PlatinumMicro in its buy box. The RTX 5060 Ti vs RX 9060 XT page covers the tier above, and the $1,500 RTX 5060 Ti build shows what a system around that tier costs.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB: the card to buy once

AMD’s own product page returned a 404 during research, so the figures are Tom’s Hardware’s spec table quoting AMD: Navi 44 with 32 compute units and 2,048 shaders, a 3130 MHz boost, 16GB of 20 Gbps GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus for 320 GB/s with 32MB of Infinity Cache, 160W for the 16GB card and a $349 launch price in June 2025. Newegg listing titles describe a PCIe 5.0 x16 link. The ASRock Challenger on Newegg is 249 mm with one 8-pin and a 550W recommendation.

TechSpot averaged 70 fps across 18 games at native 1440p, a frame or a percent behind the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, 6% behind it at 1080p and 43% ahead of the RX 7600 XT; its verdict was that this should be the least expensive GPU anyone considers buying. KitGuru’s 12-game geomean had it 6% behind the 5060 Ti 16GB and 4% ahead of the 5060 Ti 8GB at 1080p, 7% behind and 8% ahead of the same pair at 1440p, and 38% ahead of the RX 7600 XT, drawing 158.1W on average with the whole system under 300W at the wall. GamersNexus printed a 2% to 17% lead over the RTX 5060 at 1080p, typically 10%. Tom’s 19-game geomean reads 70.9 fps at 1080p and 48.6 fps at 1440p.

Price is the only argument against it. TechSpot called it the most overpriced Radeon relative to where it should sit, 32% over launch in late August, and Tom’s October 2 guide dropped it from its pick list because the RX 9070 GRE is about 25% faster at 1080p for about 10% more money. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Sapphire Pulse (N82E16814202457) and the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930140, down from $551.49 with a limit of one) were both $519.99 sold by Newegg. That is 49% over launch and the ceiling of this guide.

Make sure the listing says 16GB. The 8GB card shares the name, and buying it by mistake removes the one reason to spend this much.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB: skip it above $300

NVIDIA lists 2,560 CUDA cores, 8GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, a 2.57 GHz boost and 130W of total graphics power on one 8-pin with a 550W supply. Tom’s Hardware’s review notes the memory runs at 20 Gb/s for 320 GB/s; its verdict was overpriced at the $249 launch price, with 8GB meaning Multi-Frame Generation is not always available when it is needed most.

TechSpot’s 18-game 1080p average was 66 fps, 3% behind the RX 7600, and it noted the RTX 5060 cost 20% more for just over 30% better performance; the card drew 131W in that test, which is its one real advantage. TechSpot’s later head-to-head had the B580 14% ahead. Tom’s October 2 guide reads 49.5 fps at 1080p and says there is no way a buyer should pay the north-of-$400 prices it was heading toward. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the cheapest listings were a Zotac Vespera at $404.65 from a marketplace seller, the Gigabyte Low Profile OC (N82E16814932817) at $409.99 sold by Newegg and the MSI Shadow 2X OC (N82E16814137982) at $419.99. That is 62 to 69% over launch for a card slower than a $339.99 RX 7600.

The links below exist so you can check the price the verdict rests on.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-11-10 Search NeweggLink checked 2026-11-10

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB: skip it within $50 of the 16GB card

Same Navi 44 as the 16GB card with a 150W rating per Tom’s Hardware, which wrote that the 16GB card should never be slower. TechSpot’s 8GB-versus-16GB test at 1440p with FSR Quality measured the 16GB card 17 to 22% faster in ordinary cases, 145 to 184% faster when the 8GB buffer overflowed and 52% faster on a PCIe 3.0 Core i7-8700K system, and told readers to avoid the 8GB versions of both the 5060 Ti and 9060 XT.

In August 2026 at $280 TechSpot called it probably the best sub-$300 value. That argument is gone.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the PowerColor Reaper (N82E16814131876) was $499.99 with marketplace seller Halfmoon Tech Store in its buy box and the Gigabyte Gaming OC was $509.99 sold by Newegg, so the gap to the $519.99 16GB cards was $10 to $20. Tom’s also reports that 8GB supply largely dried up in mid-2026. Buy the 16GB card.

Check AmazonLink checked 2026-10-07 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-10-07

Memory, CPU overhead and the PSU

Tom’s October 2026 guide calls 8GB the bare minimum for the latest games at 1080p, and the tests above show where that floor gives way at 1440p. The B580’s 12GB and the B570’s 10GB are why both Arc cards made the October 7 shortlist despite the CPU overhead documented in the B580 and B570 sections. If your CPU is older than a Ryzen 5 7600 or Core i5-12400, weight the RTX 5060 or RX 7600 and use the GPU comparison tool for the pair you are deciding between.

For two examples with one 8-pin input, ASRock’s B580 Challenger 12GB OC recommends 650W and Gigabyte’s Windforce OC 8G specifications list 550W. The board-partner pages on Newegg ask for 500W (PowerColor Reaper 8GB) to 650W (ASRock B580), and the PSU calculator sizes the rest of the system. Lengths of the seven linked cards, read from the Newegg specification tabs, run from 197 mm for the MSI RTX 5050 Shadow to 281 mm for the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Gaming OC V2. One more fit fact. The Arc cards, the RX 7600 and both RTX cards run x8 links, so a PCIe 3.0 board halves their bandwidth; the RX 9060 XT is the one card here on a full x16 link. NVIDIA’s DLSS support note explains why an older RTX card can still use Super Resolution.

What I left out and why

The October 7 search included RTX 4060 listings described as new. The lowest-priced Newegg listing on October 7, 2026 was $519.00 from a marketplace seller shipping from Hong Kong and the cheapest Newegg-sold card was $536.65, more than an RTX 5060 that TechSpot measured 22% faster at 1080p. Tom’s tracker also warns that remaining RTX 40 stock has a high chance of being second-hand or ex-mining hardware.

The RTX 5060 Ti 8GB started at $499.00 on Newegg’s first page the same day, within $20 of the RX 9060 XT 16GB, and TechSpot calls it a horrible GPU; the 5060 Ti vs 9060 XT page covers that tier. The RX 9050 returned zero listings on Newegg on October 7, 2026 and TechSpot calls it diabolically bad. The RX 9060 non-XT appears in Tom’s tracker at a $269 MSRP with no retail listing read. The RX 7600 XT 16GB sat at a $695 best price in the same tracker against a $329 MSRP. The RTX 3060 12GB gets a $250 mention in TechSpot’s August guide but no retailer read was made for it.

Used cards get a caveat and no prices. GamersNexus noted in July 2025 that used RX 6700 XT listings ran about $250 to $400 and RTX 3060 Ti listings $150 to $260; those are 2025 numbers, and no current used price was read for this page.

Sources

All sources accessed October 7, 2026.

Intel ARK: Arc B580: specifications and $249 price.
Intel ARK: Arc B570: specifications, no price.
NVIDIA: RTX 5060 family: specifications, 145W, 550W supply.
NVIDIA: RTX 5050: specifications, 130W, 550W supply.
Tom’s Hardware: RX 9060 XT 16GB review (June 10, 2025): AMD spec table, launch prices, 160W and 150W.
Tom’s Hardware: RX 7600 review (May 24, 2023): spec table, 165W, $269.
Tom’s Hardware: Arc B570 review (January 16, 2025): $219 launch price.
Tom’s Hardware: RTX 5050 review (September 26, 2025): 320 GB/s, verdict, MFG note.
Tom’s Hardware: Best graphics cards 2026 (updated October 2, 2026): 19-game geomeans, B570 pick, B580 versus B570, RTX 5050 comment, 9060 XT 8GB supply, RX 9070 GRE, 8GB minimum, no launches.
Tom’s Hardware: GPU price tracking (updated September 28, 2026): best US prices, RTX 40 warning, Arc driver note.
TechSpot: Arc B580 review (December 12, 2024): 12-game averages.
TechSpot: Arc B580 re-review (January 11, 2025): Ryzen 5 5600 losses, 50-game note.
TechSpot: Arc B570 review (January 16, 2025): 13% behind the B580, power, $200 verdict.
TechSpot: RTX 5060 review (May 22, 2025): 18-game averages, 6 fps VRAM case, 448 GB/s, $299 launch.
TechSpot: RTX 5050 review (July 7, 2025): 66 fps average, 131W, RTX 5060 comparison.
TechSpot: RTX 5050 vs Arc B580 (December 18, 2025): 14% lead, 1% lows.
TechSpot: RX 9060 XT 16GB review (June 4, 2025): 70 fps at 1440p, 5060 Ti comparison, verdict.
TechSpot: RX 9060 XT 8GB review (June 6, 2025): 16GB versus 8GB margins.
TechSpot: RTX 4060 review (June 28, 2023): RX 7600 comparison.
TechSpot: The best GPUs, early to mid 2026 (August 30, 2026): B580 versus RX 7600 and RTX 5060, 9060 XT 8GB at $280, RTX 3060 mention, no launches.
TechSpot: GPU pricing Q3 2026 (August 31, 2026): percent over MSRP per model, monthly rise, RX 9050 and 5060 Ti 8GB comments.
KitGuru: Arc B580 review (December 12, 2024): 59 fps average, driver crashes.
KitGuru: RX 9060 XT 16GB review (June 4, 2025): 12-game geomeans, 158.1W.
GamersNexus: Arc B580 review (December 11, 2024): idle and gaming power.
GamersNexus: Arc B570 review (January 27, 2025): B580 lead per game, 30W idle, low-end CPU tests.
GamersNexus: RTX 5060 review (July 21, 2025): 6 to 27% over the 4060, 8GB comment, used 3060 Ti listings.
GamersNexus: RX 9060 XT 16GB review (July 24, 2025): lead over the RTX 5060, used 6700 XT listings.
Newegg: Arc B580 search and ASRock Challenger B580: $329.99, seller, 249 mm, 650W.
Newegg: Arc B570 search and ASRock Challenger B570: $289.99, GUNNIR $339.00, 600W.
Newegg: RX 7600 search and ASRock Challenger RX 7600: $339.99, 269 mm, 550W.
Newegg: RTX 5060 search and Gigabyte Gaming OC V2: $459.99, 281 mm, PNY seller.
Newegg: RX 9060 XT 16GB search and ASRock Challenger 16GB: $519.99, limit one, 249 mm.
Newegg: RTX 5050 search and MSI Shadow 2X OC, exact-model search (former item N82E16814137982 now opens another MSI card; October 7 read remains historical): $404.65 to $419.99, 197 mm.
Newegg: RX 9060 XT 8GB search and PowerColor Reaper: $499.99, marketplace seller, 500W.
Newegg: RTX 4060 search: $519.00 marketplace, $536.65 Newegg-sold.
Newegg: RX 9050 search: zero listings on October 7, 2026.
Amazon product pages (untagged) for ASINs B0DNMH4KQM, B0DQYM2MHX, B0C626FFG2, B0F8LDHQ7Y, B0F8B59WP7, B0FFVFD58L, B0F9QS3L7B: exact-model identity only, no prices.

Best Graphics Cards for 1080p, 1440p and 4K Gaming

LK Wood IV — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:36:20 +0000

At 4K, the RX 9070 XT averaged 81 fps to the RTX 5070 Ti’s 84 in TechSpot’s 52-game comparison. On October 7, 2026, I found the ASRock Steel Legend Radeon at $819.99 and the Gigabyte WindForce Ti at $1,169.99 on Newegg. That $350 difference made the Radeon my pick for that pair. Check your games separately if ray tracing matters to you.

TechSpot’s US price survey, published November 2, supplies a second October comparison. Its lowest in-stock US listings were $870 for the RX 9070 XT and $1,250 for the 5070 Ti, a $380 gap. It also found the RX 9070 GRE at $700, outside the $600 tier the October 7 Sapphire card fit. Compare the price delivered to you with the examples below; the GPU hierarchy compares speed.

I have tested one of these cards, the ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC in my own rig. The rest is sourced.

Amazon prices are never published here. Every Amazon button below is a model search, and every Newegg button is a Newegg product page identified by its item number read on October 7, 2026.

Tier	Pick	Newegg, Oct 7, 2026	Why	Skip
Under $350	Intel Arc B580 12GB	$329.99	12GB, ahead of the RTX 4060	RTX 5050, $419.99
Under $500	GeForce RTX 5060 8GB	$459.99	26% over the RTX 4060, DLSS 4	RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, $499.00
About $520	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB	$519.99	Within 3% of the 5060 Ti 16GB for 35% less	RX 9060 XT 8GB, $499.99
Under $600	Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB	$569.99	The only card near launch price	RTX 5070, $869.99
$700 to $900	Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB	$819.99	96% of the 5070 Ti at 4K for 70% of its price	RTX 5070, $869.99
About $1,200	GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB	$1,169.99	DLSS 4 MFG, the best ray tracing under $1,500	RTX 5080: $430 more for roughly 14–15% over the Ti in the cited launch tests
Over $1,500	GeForce RTX 5080 16GB	$1,599.99	The fastest card near a sane multiple of launch	RTX 5090, $6,885.90 marketplace

How I chose

For the October 7 examples I checked fourteen Newegg search pages, one per model, and recorded the boards and prices shown. A product number identifies a listing; the seller and stock can change on the same page. The later TechSpot survey records the lowest available model in each region, not the same named board at the same seller.

Performance comes from TechPowerUp and TechSpot for the averages, with KitGuru and GamersNexus for measured power and Tom’s Hardware for its October 2, 2026 rankings. TechPowerUp returned HTTP 403 to every direct read on October 7, so its conclusions were checked against Wayback Machine snapshots of the same pages. The GPU comparison tool holds the per-card data.

One card won each slot, the cheapest card faster than everything under it with the memory to last. Every 8GB card loses at 1440p in the suites cited here, so none is a pick above $460.

Intel Arc B580 12GB: textures and CPU overhead

The B580 was the 12GB option under $400 in the October 7 comparison. Intel’s ARK page lists 20 Xe cores at 2670 MHz, 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus for 456 GB/s, 190W board power, a PCIe 4.0 x8 link, a 600W supply and a $249 recommended price. The CPU behind it matters more than any of that.

TechPowerUp measured it 5% ahead of the RTX 4060 at 1080p without upscaling, at 185 W in games. TechSpot’s 12-game launch average on a Ryzen 7 9800X3D was 7% over the RTX 4060 at 1080p and 14% at 1440p; then its re-review widened the suite to 50 games and the 1440p lead fell to 5%, and with a Ryzen 5 5600 in the socket the B580 fell 16% behind the RTX 4060 at 1440p in one title. That driver overhead is the reservation, so pair it with a recent CPU or buy the RTX 5060. Tom’s Hardware’s October 2 guide calls the B580 a bad deal, 12% more speed than the $259 Arc B570 for about 25% more money, and names that card the cheapest credible gaming GPU.

I would pay the difference for 12GB. I did not re-read the B570 at Newegg, so it gets no buy block.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930131) was $329.99, discounted from $355.15, and it was the only Newegg-stocked new B580 in stock on the first page; Intel’s Limited Edition was a $590.00 marketplace listing and every other model was a refurbished card shown out of stock. That search returned one qualifying in-stock model at the quoted price. The skip at this tier is the RTX 5050, $419.99 at Newegg (MSI Shadow N82E16814137982) the same day for a card TechPowerUp measured 5% behind the B580.

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB: 1080p with DLSS

The RTX 5060 was the 1080p GeForce pick under $500 in the October 7 sample. NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 family page lists 3,840 CUDA cores, 8GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, a 2.50 GHz boost, 145 W of total graphics power, a 550 W supply and one 8-pin connector. TechPowerUp measured it 26% ahead of the RTX 4060 at 1080p, around 25% ahead of the Arc B580 and roughly level with the RTX 4060 Ti, with the RTX 5060 Ti 15% faster. TechSpot’s 18-game average matched the RTX 4060 Ti and ran 22% over the RTX 4060. DLSS 4 comes with it.

8GB is the reservation. TechSpot recorded one title collapsing to 6 fps at 1440p when the buffer overflowed, and TechPowerUp notes that Indiana Jones crashes when memory runs out. Buy it for 1080p.

On this card 1440p is a settings exercise, and I would not promise it.

The launch price was $299 per TechSpot, and TechSpot’s tracker had the US price 51% above that by late August. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Gigabyte Gaming OC V2 (N82E16814932828) and the PNY Dual Fan OC (N82E16814133997) were both $459.99, Newegg-stocked and in stock. Skip the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, from $499.00 at Newegg (MSI Shadow N82E16814137978) the same day; Tom’s Hardware’s 21-game face-off measured it 18% behind the 16GB card at 1440p ultra and 39.6% behind in the ray-traced titles, and TechPowerUp has it only 15% faster than the RTX 5060.

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AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB: memory for 1440p

Sixteen gigabytes for $519.99 is the whole case. AMD’s specification page lists 32 compute units, 2,048 stream processors, a 3130 MHz boost, 16GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus for 320 GB/s, 160 W board power and a 450 W supply.

Check that the listing says 16GB before you pay. The 8GB card shares the name.

TechPowerUp’s 2025 Q2 suite put it 3% behind the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at 1080p and 1440p and 11 to 15% ahead of the RTX 5060, with ray tracing also within 3% of the 5060 Ti. KitGuru’s 12-game geomeans were less kind, 6% behind at 1080p and 7% at 1440p, and it measured 158.1 W averaged over twelve games. TechSpot’s 18-game 1440p average was 70 fps, a frame or a percent behind the 5060 Ti. FSR 4 instead of DLSS 4 is the trade, and I would take it at this money.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Sapphire Pulse (N82E16814202457) and the ASRock Challenger (N82E16814930140) were $519.99, while the cheapest RTX 5060 Ti 16GB on the same day’s search was $799.99. That is 54% more money, derived from those two reads, for a card the suites above put 3 to 7% ahead, and Tom’s Hardware calls about $800 far too much money for the gaming performance on offer. The skip at this tier is the RX 9060 XT 8GB, $499.99 at Newegg (PowerColor Reaper N82E16814131876) the same day; TechSpot’s 8GB review measured the 16GB card 17% faster in VRAM-bound tests and 52% faster on a PCIe 3.0 Core i7-8700K system, and its verdict was “Not Good”.

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AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB: check the price gap

The Sapphire GRE listed $20.99 above its $549 launch price on October 7. AMD’s specification page lists 48 compute units, 3,072 stream processors, a 2790 MHz boost, 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus for 432 GB/s, 220 W board power and a 650 W supply. Tom’s Hardware’s review (June 2, 2026) prints a $549 launch price and notes memory bandwidth down 33% against the RX 9070, which makes 12GB and 4K ray tracing the limit.

TechSpot’s 15-game average was 84 fps at 1440p and 48 fps at 4K, identical to the old RX 7900 GRE, about 5% behind the RTX 5070 at 1440p and 6% at 4K, and 25 to 26% ahead of the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. Tom’s October 2 guide ranks it fifth, about 30% faster than the 9060 XT at 1440p for about 10% more money.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the Sapphire Pulse (N82E16814202478) was $569.99 and the ASUS Prime EVO OC (N82E16814126841) $579.99, both Newegg-stocked.

The skip is the RTX 5070, $869.99 at Newegg (MSI Gaming N82E16814137938) the same day, 53% more than the GRE by those two reads, a 12GB card that TechPowerUp calls definitely not future-proof for 1440p and that TechSpot puts only 5 to 6% ahead of the GRE.

At the October 7 prices, I would choose the GRE over the RTX 5070 for rasterized games unless NVIDIA software or the ray-tracing results justified the extra $300.

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AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB: the 4K comparison

The RX 9070 XT earns this spot for its 4K results at the two October price gaps above. AMD’s specification page lists 64 compute units, 4,096 stream processors, a 2970 MHz boost, 16GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus for 640 GB/s, 304 W board power and a 750 W supply, so run the PSU calculator first; KitGuru measured 320 W on an ASRock Taichi run at reference clocks on its Quiet BIOS, 16 W over AMD’s 304 W rating. Against the RTX 5070 Ti it is close. TechSpot’s 52-game test (May 22, 2026) reported 84 fps for the 5070 Ti and 81 for the 9070 XT at 4K. At 1440p the cards finished within 2 fps. The October 7 Gigabyte GeForce cost about 43% more than the ASRock Radeon ($350 divided by $819.99). KitGuru measured the XT 6% faster than the 5070 Ti in 1440p and 4K rasterization and 15% slower in 1440p ray tracing. In TechSpot’s Doom path-tracing test at 1440p, the RTX 5070 Ti averaged 31 fps, 63% faster than the RX 9070 XT. The site’s 5070 Ti vs 9070 XT page goes deeper on that pair.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the ASRock Steel Legend (N82E16814930136) was $819.99 and the Sapphire Pulse the site reviewed $899.99. The cheapest RTX 5070 Ti that day was $1,169.99, so at 4K the 9070 XT delivered 96% of TechSpot’s frame rate for 70% of the money, both ratios derived from the figures above. Tom’s Hardware ranks it second behind the 5070 Ti and argues the roughly $300 premium amortizes to about $60 a year for NVIDIA’s software. I take the other side at a $350 gap.

The cheaper alternate is the RX 9070, $699.99 at Newegg that day (ASRock Challenger N82E16814930138). TechSpot measured it 8% slower than the XT over 18 games at 1440p and 4% faster than the RTX 5070, and GamersNexus measured 224 W at 1440p. At 15% less money it is the quiet-case pick. The RTX 5070 at $869.99 is the skip again, $170 more than the RX 9070 for a slower 12GB card.

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB: when ray tracing matters

Buy the 5070 Ti when DLSS 4 multi-frame generation or heavy ray tracing is the point. NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 family page lists 8,960 CUDA cores, 16GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, a 2.45 GHz boost, 300 W of total graphics power, a 750 W supply and two 8-pin connectors, with no Founders Edition. The launch price was $749 per NVIDIA’s January 6, 2025 announcement.

TechPowerUp measured it 28% ahead of the RTX 4070 Ti at 4K, matching the RTX 4080 Super and RX 7900 XTX, with about 300 W in games. TechSpot’s raster averages put it 12% behind the RTX 5080 at 1440p and 13% at 4K, and its verdict at $750 was almost certainly a much better buy than the RTX 5080. Tom’s Hardware’s October 2 guide ranks it first at a $1,099 median street price. The reservation is the price. At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the cheapest new listing was the Gigabyte WindForce (N82E16814932771) at $1,169.99, sold and shipped by Newegg and in stock per its untagged product page read the same day, with five more models at $1,179.99; that is 1.56 times the launch price. A January report that Asus had ended the card was denied; Tom’s Hardware (January 16, 2026) printed Asus’s statement that its RTX 5070 Ti models are not discontinued or marked as end-of-life.

The $1,599.99 ASUS Prime RTX 5080 was $430 above the $1,169.99 Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti on October 7, or about 37% more. TechSpot’s launch averages put the Ti 12% behind the 5080 at 1440p and 13% behind at 4K. Measured from the Ti instead, the step up to the 5080 was about 14% and 15% respectively.

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16GB: the next step at 4K

The RTX 5080 is the next step up for a 4K build if its gains justify the price of the exact board. NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 page lists 10,752 CUDA cores, 16GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, a 2.62 GHz boost, 360 W of total graphics power, an 850 W supply and three 8-pin cables through the adapter or one 450 W-rated PCIe Gen 5 cable. The launch price was $999 per NVIDIA’s announcement. TechPowerUp measured it 14% ahead of the RTX 4080 Super and 15% ahead of the RX 7900 XTX at 4K, with 325 W in games and the title of most power-efficient graphics card in gaming.

This is the one card on the page I own. My ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review says: “It is the card in my own rig, hung vertically on the riser of a HYTE Y60 next to a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a ROG STRIX B650-A, 64 GB of DDR5-6000 and an NZXT Kraken 360, driving a Gigabyte AORUS FO48U 48-inch 4K OLED.” At stock it “games at 266 to 340 W and 63 to 72 °C, near-silent”, and in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with path tracing “native ran 19 FPS at 95 ms PC latency, DLSS Quality alone 40 FPS at 45 ms, MFG 2x 90 FPS at 55 ms and MFG 4x 135 FPS at 62 ms, all with Reflex on and my manual profile.” I rated it 4.4/5. ASUS lists that card at 357.6 mm and 3.8 slots against 304 mm and 2 slots for the Founders Edition, so measure the case before you order one.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 the cheapest 5080 was the non-OC ASUS Prime (N82E16814126776) at $1,599.99, 1.60 times launch; my ROG Astral OC (N82E16814126742) was $2,265.59, up from the $2,099.99 my review recorded on September 26. TechSpot’s tracker had the 5080 55% over MSRP in the US on August 31. The reservation is 16GB at $1,600.

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The RTX 5090 is the skip at the top

TechPowerUp measured the RTX 5090 35% faster than the RTX 4090 at 4K, with a 575 W power limit and about 30 W at idle, and its RTX 5080 Founders Edition review puts the 5090 52% faster than the 5080. The launch price was $1,999 per NVIDIA.

At Newegg on October 7, 2026 no card sold by Newegg was in stock: its three listings (N82E16814932762, N82E16814500649, N82E16814500656) were marked out of stock with no price shown. Marketplace listings started at $6,885.90 for a Gigabyte WindForce OC (1FT-000A-00930, seller Slava computers), and the cheapest ROG Astral, $7,969.99 under N82E16814126824, was offered by marketplace seller Tech 4 All per its untagged product page read the same day; the $7,899.99 Gigabyte item on the page is the AORUS AI BOX enclosure, not a card. That $6,885.90 marketplace listing was about 3.44 times the $1,999 launch price and 4.30 times the $1,599.99 ASUS Prime RTX 5080 sampled the same day. At those prices, I would buy the 5080 for gaming.

What I left out and why

RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. $799.99 at Newegg on October 7, 2026 against the $429 launch price in Tom’s tracker; the RX 9070 GRE runs 25 to 26% ahead of it in TechSpot’s suite for $230 less.
RTX 5050, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, RX 9060 XT 8GB and RTX 5070. Each is the named skip in its tier above, with the dated Newegg price and the test it failed.
Arc B570 10GB. The ASRock Challenger B570 was $289.99 at Newegg on October 7, $40 less than the B580. The budget GPU guide identifies the exact board and compares both on older CPUs.
RTX 50 Super. Unannounced, so nothing to buy. TechPowerUp reported on February 5, 2026 that the refresh was postponed because the 3GB GDDR7 modules are going to AI products, and Notebookcheck (June 8, 2026, citing Benchlife) points at CES 2027.
RX 9050, RX 9060 non-XT, Arc B770. None appeared in the fourteen Newegg searches read on October 7, 2026, and I opened no source for them.
RX 7800 XT. Tom’s tracker lists $519 as its best US price, but no 2026 review or Newegg read was made for it.

Sources

Intel ARK: Arc B580 specifications, read October 7, 2026: B580 specifications and $249 price.
NVIDIA RTX 5060 family, RTX 5070 family and RTX 5080 pages, read October 7, 2026: cores, memory, power, PSU and connectors.
NVIDIA newsroom, January 6, 2025, read October 7, 2026: $1,999, $999 and $749 launch prices.
AMD RX 9060 XT, RX 9070 GRE and RX 9070 XT specification pages, read October 7, 2026: compute units, clocks, memory, board power, PSU minimums.
TechPowerUp conclusions, each verified from a Wayback Machine snapshot on October 7, 2026 because the live site returned HTTP 403: Arc B580, RTX 5050, RTX 5060, RX 9060 XT, RTX 5070 FE, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080 FE (also the 52% RTX 5090 margin), RTX 5090 FE and the no RTX 50 Super report of February 5, 2026: the percentages, power figures and launch prices quoted at each card.
TechSpot reviews, read October 7, 2026: Arc B580, B580 re-review, RTX 5060, RX 9060 XT 16GB, RX 9060 XT 8GB, RX 9070 GRE, RX 9070, RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT, 52 games and RTX 5070 Ti: the suite averages quoted at each card.
TechSpot GPU pricing Q3 2026 (August 31, 2026): US percent over MSRP per card.
KitGuru RX 9060 XT 16GB review (June 4, 2025): 12-game geomeans, 158.1 W; KitGuru RX 9070 XT review (March 5, 2025): raster and RT margins, 320 W on the Taichi.
GamersNexus RX 9070 review (March 7, 2025): 224 W at 1440p.
Tom’s Hardware Best Graphics Cards 2026 (updated October 2, 2026): rankings, B580 against B570, the 5060 Ti 16GB verdict, the $1,099 median and the $60 a year argument.
Tom’s Hardware GPU price tracking (updated September 28, 2026): best US prices.
Tom’s Hardware RTX 5060 Ti 8GB vs 16GB face-off (August 16, 2025): 21-game geomeans.
Tom’s Hardware RX 9070 GRE review (June 2, 2026): $549 launch, bandwidth down 33%; Tom’s Hardware: RX 9070 GRE below MSRP (October 6, 2026): Asus model below $549.
Tom’s Hardware: Asus denies RTX 5070 Ti discontinuation (January 16, 2026): the Asus statement.
Notebookcheck: RTX 50 Super tipped for later (June 8, 2026): CES 2027 report via Benchlife.
TechFuelHQ ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review (June 12, 2026): the first-party rig, power, latency, rating and September 26 price facts quoted above.
Newegg searches, untagged, read October 7, 2026, each price and item number printed at its claim: intel arc b580, rtx 5050, rtx 5060 8gb, rtx 5060 ti 8gb, rtx 5060 ti 16gb, rx 9060 xt 16gb, rx 9060 xt 8gb, rx 9070 gre, rtx 5070 12gb, rx 9070 16gb, rx 9070 xt, rtx 5070 ti 16gb, rtx 5080 and rtx 5090; untagged product pages N82E16814932771 and N82E16814126824, read October 7, 2026 for seller and stock state.

Best GPU for 4K Gaming 2026: Which Tier Makes Sense

LK Wood IV — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-06-10 · Updated 2026-10-12 · St. Louis County, MO

I would start a new 4K gaming build with the RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT, then spend more only to fix a specific shortfall. The RTX 5080 is the step up when the extra performance earns its price in your games. The RTX 5090 is for maximum native speed or a workload that needs 32GB. None guarantees a fixed frame rate across every title.

Choose the target before the card

Name the games, preset, ray tracing, and refresh target first. Native rendering, upscaling, and generated output frames answer different questions. A 120 FPS counter with frame generation does not establish the responsiveness of 120 rendered frames per second: when a benchmark combines an internal rendering resolution below 4K, generated frames, and a different ray-tracing preset, it answers a different buying question from the native-4K result you are using to judge the card.

For a new build, 16GB is my starting point for texture headroom. It is a buying judgment. A game’s actual settings and memory use decide whether that capacity is enough; no card here comes with a guarantee about future releases. NVIDIA’s specification tables list 16GB for the 5070 Ti and 12GB for the 5070. The 5080 has 16GB; the 5090 has 32GB. The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC specification lists 16GB on that board.

Chasing 240Hz at 4K? The 4K 240Hz guide explains the native-rendering and frame-generation limits. Match the mode you plan to use before comparing numbers.

The DLSS 4 MFG factor

In my ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review, I ran Cyberpunk 2077’s path-traced benchmark at 4K output on my manual GPU Tweak III User Mode 2 profile. Reflex was on for all four runs. The latency column is the game’s PC Latency measurement in milliseconds.

Mode	Average output FPS	PC Latency (Reflex on)
Native	19 FPS	95ms
DLSS 4 Quality (no MFG)	40 FPS	45ms
DLSS 4 Quality + 2× MFG	90 FPS	55ms
DLSS 4 Quality + 4× MFG	135 FPS	62ms

These are tuned FPS results. The June dataset lists stock power and temperatures separately.

With DLSS Quality alone, the scene averaged 40 FPS at 45 ms. Switching on 4× MFG raised displayed output to 135 FPS, but PC Latency rose to 62 ms. I would use those generated frames for smoother motion. I wouldn’t use the 135 figure to predict the response of a native 135 FPS game or the speed of a stock card. My log has no matching stock or factory-OC FPS result for this scene.

NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 launch explanation describes generating up to three extra frames per rendered frame on RTX 50-series hardware. Support depends on the game and software. Keep an upscaling-only result beside an MFG result when comparing cards.

AMD’s current FSR documentation calls its ML upscaler FSR Upscaling; some games retain the FSR 4 label. In-game FSR Frame Generation and driver-level AFMF are separate features. Check the supported game and its requirements against your driver and card. Choose image quality and responsiveness in that game rather than treating the names as equivalent benchmarks.

GPU tier breakdown for 4K (2026)

The following picks describe roles. They do not rank today’s cheapest offer. Use the GPU hierarchy for a wider field.

RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 Ti: start here

These are the first two I would compare for a gaming build. TechSpot’s May 22, 2026 52-game comparison tests both at 1440p and 4K with two quality presets, including different ray-tracing conditions. Its setup uses a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, DDR5-6000 CL30, Windows 11 25H2, NVIDIA 596.49, and AMD 26.5.2 drivers. The winner changes with the game and preset; heavy settings can still require upscaling.

Buy the RX 9070 XT when the games you play perform well on it and its delivered price saves enough to matter. Choose the 5070 Ti when those tests or the software you use justify NVIDIA’s premium. The 5070 Ti versus 9070 XT guide carries the direct decision.

RTX 5080: more headroom, still check the game

Our ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC review has full first-party 4K gaming data across Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and three other titles, along with the DLSS 4 MFG ladder on path-traced Cyberpunk. For the full rig this card goes in — parts, June 2026 prices, and the 4K benchmarks on a 7800X3D platform — see the $2,500 RTX 5080 + 7800X3D 4K build.

Use those rows for their stated presets. The path-traced native result above is 19 FPS. A blanket native-4K 60 FPS promise would give the wrong buying advice. A factory overclock or a bigger cooler also needs an exact-board comparison before it earns a premium.

Verdict: The recommendation for buyers who want 4K as the primary use case and whose games benefit enough to justify the step above the 5070 Ti.

RTX 5090: pay for a defined requirement

GamersNexus’s January 31, 2025 RTX 5080 review puts the 5090’s 4K lead over the 5080 between 30% and 68.9% across its tested games, commonly 45% to 55%. That is a dated game suite, not a promise for every current title.

The extra graphics memory can matter alongside gaming. Buy the 5090 when a particular workload needs it or a measured native-performance shortfall justifies the full system cost. The 5090 versus 5080 comparison covers that decision.

Lower tiers: fit the compromise to the game

A 16GB RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT can make sense for lighter games or reduced settings on an existing 4K screen. I would choose the larger tiers above for a new demanding 4K build. The 5060 Ti versus 9060 XT comparison is a 1440p test; it does not establish native-4K performance.

Price the exact board

NVIDIA’s January 2025 launch announcement gave starting prices of $749 for the 5070 Ti, $999 for the 5080, and $1,999 for the 5090. Those are launch anchors. They do not establish a currently available price or the cost of an ASUS Astral or another partner board.

Decision	Compare before paying
RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti	Same-game FPS and lows, features you use, exact delivered quote
Step up to RTX 5080	Gain in those games divided by the price premium; exact cooler and power requirements
Step up to RTX 5090	Native-performance shortfall or a workload needing 32GB, plus PSU and case costs
Complete prebuilt	Exact CPU, memory layout, SSD, PSU model, seller, warranty, and return path

Record the model, seller, stock state and capture date with each quote. Include shipping and tax, then compare the warranty. The GPU price index carries dated observations. A September tower survey or a launch price does not price an October card.

Power and fit before checkout

Use the exact board’s manual. NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 reference page lists 360W Total Graphics Power and 850W Required System Power, based on a Ryzen 9 9950X build. The 5090 page lists 575W and 1000W. These are manufacturer reference requirements; partner cards and the rest of the system can differ.

Check card length, thickness, cable clearance, the PSU’s exact model, and the supported cable or included adapter. Use only modular cables the PSU maker lists as compatible with that exact model; Corsair’s compatibility chart shows why the cable type and model matter. Follow the card and PSU manufacturers’ instructions. The PSU calculator helps plan capacity, while the RTX 50-series PSU guide covers the connector checks.

For a complete tower, the RTX 5080 survey and RTX 5090 survey compare September 2026 listings. Recheck the exact system and today’s delivered quote before ordering.

GPU Overheating? Confirm It Actually Is Before You Fix Anything (2026)

LK Wood IV — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-07-10 · Updated 2026-11-05 · St. Louis County, MO

A temperature overlay flashes 90 °C midway through a game. What does the label say? On a GPU, the core, the hottest monitored point and the memory can all report different numbers. Before touching the cooler, find out which one you saw and whether performance changed when it climbed.

Step 1: Is it even overheating? Read core vs hotspot first

Use your normal game at stock settings. Open HWiNFO or the board maker’s monitoring tool and note the exact card model and the name of the sensor. On supported Radeon cards, AMD Software’s Performance Metrics separates GPU current and junction temperatures and can log clock speed and fan RPM alongside them.

What you see	What to compare
GPU temperature	Match the sensor to the exact board’s specification. NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 reference specification lists 88 °C maximum GPU temperature. Don’t apply it to a hotspot or to another card.
GPU hotspot or junction	Compare it with the simultaneous GPU temperature. If either reading is missing, leave the difference unknown.
Memory or memory junction	Keep it separate from the GPU hotspot; compare only with guidance for that exact memory/board combination.
Falling clock speed	Check the reported reason, if available. NVIDIA distinguishes thermal limiting from a power cap; a lower clock on its own doesn’t tell you which occurred.

If the temperature climbs to the specified limit or the system becomes unstable, end the load. There is no need to run a stress test to force a shutdown. If the core reading stays within spec but the card crashes, keep the driver and artifact checks available.

RTX 50-series: check the monitoring tool and version

The early advice that an RTX 50-series hotspot was readable only through NVIDIA’s internal MODS tool is out of date. CPUID’s HWMonitor release history lists an RTX 50 hotspot-reading fix in HWMonitor 1.65.1, released July 16, 2026. That is evidence for this tool’s support, not a promise that every monitoring app exposes the same field on every card.

For a delta check, use a supported tool and record its version alongside the card model. Read GPU hotspot and GPU core from the same load session; do not substitute memory junction. If the hotspot field is absent or implausible, skip the calculation until you have a valid reading. Core temperature, clock changes and throttling behavior can still help investigate the problem, but a crash alone does not establish a thermal fault.

The reason the distinction matters is visible in an earlier repair case: Tom’s Hardware’s July 11 report described a Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti showing about 67–68 °C core in Windows while Paulo Gomes read 107 °C hotspot with MODS. That case predates the HWMonitor fix; it does not describe today’s support in all tools.

For comparable reports, the GPU hotspot delta census records the sensor tool, version, workload and sampling method separately.

Step 2: Compare the same card under the same load

Pause on one sample. Hotspot 98 °C, core 72 °C? The gap is 26 °C. That number alone cannot tell you whether dust, the cooler mount, the thermal interface or another condition caused it. Don’t subtract separately recorded peak values that may have occurred minutes apart.

Have an older log? Repeat the game scene at stock settings and record the room temperature and fan speed, because a case that took in cool air in January may behave differently in a warm room even when the card and its cooler haven’t changed. Write down the game, the time under load and the tool version. No older log? Start one now. If the same scene repeatedly brings on a thermal limit or lost performance, send both runs to support.

Reading the gap: core vs hotspot

Three illustrative pairs of simultaneous readings. The difference is arithmetic. It does not diagnose the condition of the cooler.

core hotspot

What these examples show: Two cards can report the same core temperature and different hotspots. Compare the same card under matched conditions before drawing a conclusion.

Illustrations only. Use a supported GPU hotspot sensor; memory junction is separate. techfuelhq.com

Step 3: Check airflow, then decide whether service is needed

Keep the cooler on the board. Start with the case and see what changes in the same scene.

I may earn a commission if you buy through these affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. Clean the dust. If the intake filters or accessible fins are visibly blocked, clean them according to the board and case makers’ instructions. Power down, open the case, and blow the fins and fans out with a can of compressed air (Amazon, Newegg) — hold the fan blades still so they don’t spin and generate a charge. Don’t forget the case intake filters, which choke airflow to the whole system.

2. Fix case airflow. A cool GPU needs cool air reaching it. Make sure intake and exhaust fans are working and unobstructed, the PC isn’t buried in an enclosed desk cabinet, and cables aren’t blocking the front intake. Adding one or two case fans (Amazon, Newegg) for a card that’s starved for airflow often drops temps several degrees for very little money. If a GPU fan has actually stopped, that’s its own problem — see GPU Fans Not Spinning.

3. Check the fans at stock settings. During ordinary play, compare the fan RPM or fan command with whether the fans turn. A stopped fan at idle can be normal; a fan that no longer spins when commanded under load is a useful service symptom. A frame-rate cap may reduce the workload, but the lower reading afterwards isn’t proof the cooler was faulty.

4. Preserve the baseline. If the card was overclocked or undervolted, return it to its standard profile for this check. Cooler after a tune? Power and performance may have changed too. For a service request, keep the run at the manufacturer’s settings so the technician can see what happened before any tuning changed the conditions.

5. Get model-specific service advice. Send the board maker the exact model, the matched run and any thermal-limit or fan-failure evidence before removing the cooler. Read the warranty for your product and region; for instance, ASUS’s U.S. graphics-card guidance distinguishes customer-caused damage from a covered hardware fault. If the maker confirms that an out-of-warranty card needs a user-serviceable repair, get the specified materials and procedure first. A temperature gap cannot tell you what thickness of pad to buy, or whether you need thermal paste (Amazon, Newegg) at all.

When it’s not really the temperature

A crash can have several causes. If the sensors do not show a thermal limit, a driver fault or unstable overclock remains possible. If games crash to desktop or you get black screens without high temps, see Fix GPU Driver Crashes. If you’re seeing weird colors, flickering, or graphical glitches, hot VRAM can cause it — but so can a dying card, and those need a different diagnosis: GPU Artifacts vs Dying VRAM. If the whole machine reboots under load, record what you can about the CPU temperature and the power-loss symptoms. A normal GPU reading doesn’t diagnose either one.

If the card runs its normal workload within its documented limits, there is no need to chase a lower number with the fans at maximum speed. Fans stuck at 100% are a separate fault to investigate.

The quick version

Name the sensor. Match your exact card and the reading on screen to its documentation.
Check the workload. Save a short log of the same scene at stock settings. If no valid GPU hotspot reading exists, skip the subtraction.
Check the consequence. Look for an actual thermal limit, unstable behavior or a fan that fails to turn when commanded.
Choose the next step. A blocked intake is something you can see. An unexplained change is a reason to check with support, not an instruction to dismantle the board.

Sources

NVIDIA RTX 5080 specifications and NVIDIA’s monitoring reference: a model-specific maximum and separate supported temperature and clock-limit fields.
AMD performance logging: names, units and log capture for supported Radeon metrics.
CPUID HWMonitor release history: the RTX 50 hotspot reading was fixed in 1.65.1 on July 16, 2026. The attributed earlier repair case above is one board, not a service threshold for a family.
ASUS U.S. service criteria: examples of damage treated separately from a covered failure.

General diagnostic guidance for desktop GPUs in 2026; check your specific card’s documentation for exact figures. Found an error? Email contact@techfuelhq.com with the article URL.

Tailscale Remote Access for the Homelab (2026 Setup Guide)

LK Wood IV — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-11-05 · ~12 min read · St. Louis County, MO

The traditional homelab remote access setup — port forwarding, DynDNS, OpenVPN with certificate management, firewall rules — takes an afternoon to set up correctly and another afternoon to debug when something breaks. Tailscale does the same thing in 20 minutes, handles NAT traversal automatically, and gives you a web UI to manage devices instead of config files scattered across three machines.

This guide sets up Tailscale on a Proxmox host with subnet routing — one node on your LAN that routes Tailscale traffic to every other device on your network, including things that can’t run Tailscale themselves.

What Tailscale is (and isn’t)

Tailscale is a mesh VPN built on WireGuard. Each device you install it on gets a stable IP address in the 100.x.x.x range (the Tailscale IP space, also called a tailnet). Devices try to reach one another directly. If the networks prevent that, they can use an encrypted relay connection.

What it is not: a traditional VPN that routes all your traffic through a central server. By default, only traffic to other tailnet devices goes through Tailscale. Your normal internet traffic goes direct. You can enable exit nodes if you want full traffic routing, but that’s optional.

This guide keeps services private to your tailnet. If you want someone without a Tailscale client to reach a service, that’s a separate choice: Tailscale Funnel can make it public. Tailscale vs Cloudflare Tunnel compares the paths. For a family TV, start with the actual client: Tailscale has apps for Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV, but not Roku or webOS. The Jellyfin remote access guide works through those cases.

For homelab use, the workflow is:

Install Tailscale on your Proxmox host (or a dedicated LXC/VM)
Enable subnet routing to advertise your home LAN
Install Tailscale on your laptop/phone
Access every device on your home network from anywhere

No port forwarding. No exposed ports. No certificate drama.

Subnet routing advertises your LAN’s exact CIDR (for example 192.168.1.0/24). If you’re not sure of the network address or range to advertise, the subnet & CIDR calculator confirms it from any IP and prefix so you don’t accidentally route the wrong block.

Step 1: Install Tailscale on your Proxmox host

SSH into your Proxmox host and run:

curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh

This installs the Tailscale daemon and CLI. After install:

tailscale up

You’ll get a URL — open it in a browser, log in with your Tailscale account (Google, GitHub, or Microsoft SSO, or email), and authorize the device. After authorization, run:

tailscale status

You should see your Proxmox host listed with a 100.x.x.x IP. At this point, the host is in your tailnet and you can reach it from any other Tailscale device. But only the Proxmox host itself — not your NAS, your router’s admin page, or any other device on your LAN.

Step 2: Enable subnet routing

Subnet routing lets this one Tailscale node advertise your entire home LAN to the tailnet. Every other device on your LAN becomes reachable without installing Tailscale on each one.

First, enable IP forwarding on the Proxmox host:

echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' | tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
echo 'net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 1' | tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sysctl -p /etc/sysctl.conf

Then re-run tailscale up with the subnet flag. Replace 192.168.1.0/24 with your actual home LAN range:

tailscale up --advertise-routes=192.168.1.0/24

Check your home LAN range if you’re unsure:

ip route show | grep -v tailscale

Look for a line like 192.168.1.0/24 dev vmbr0 — that’s your LAN range.

Approve the subnet in the Tailscale admin console. Subnet routes require explicit approval before they become active.

Open login.tailscale.com/admin → Machines
Click your Proxmox host → Edit route settings
Enable the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet

After approval, any Tailscale device with subnet route acceptance enabled can reach devices on 192.168.1.0/24 through your Proxmox host.

On client devices. On macOS and iOS, subnet routes are accepted automatically. On Linux clients, run:

tailscale up --accept-routes

On Windows, route acceptance is in the Tailscale system tray menu.

Test it: from your phone (on cellular, not WiFi), try pinging a device on your home LAN by its local IP:

ping 192.168.1.1

If the router responds, subnet routing is working.

Step 3: Enable MagicDNS and resolve local names

MagicDNS lets you reach devices by hostname instead of IP. Enable it in the Tailscale admin console → DNS → Enable MagicDNS.

After enabling, devices in your tailnet are reachable by hostname.your-tailnet-name.ts.net. Your Proxmox host becomes something like proxmox.coral-raccoon.ts.net.

Add your local DNS to Tailscale. If you’re running Pi-hole or a local resolver (common with a homelab), you can push its IP to all Tailscale clients as a nameserver:

Tailscale admin → DNS → Add nameserver
Enter your Pi-hole’s Tailscale IP (100.x.x.x) or LAN IP
Enable “Override local DNS” if you want all DNS going through Pi-hole even when away from home

Now you can SSH to proxmox or open the Proxmox web UI at https://proxmox:8006 from anywhere on your tailnet — without remembering IPs or fighting DNS.

Step 4: Running Tailscale in an LXC (optional)

If you’d rather not install Tailscale directly on the Proxmox host (to keep the host clean), run it in a dedicated LXC container configured as the subnet router.

Create a Debian 12 LXC in Proxmox. In the LXC options, enable:

Features → TUN device — required for Tailscale’s WireGuard tunnel

Then inside the LXC:

apt update && apt install -y curl
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh

Enable IP forwarding inside the container:

echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
sysctl -p

Then:

tailscale up --advertise-routes=192.168.1.0/24

Approve the subnet in the admin console as before. The LXC acts as the Tailscale gateway for the whole network while keeping the Proxmox host itself clean.

Step 5: SSH key setup for password-free access

Once Tailscale is running, you can SSH into your Proxmox host via its Tailscale IP. To make this keyless:

# On your laptop — generate a key if you don't have one
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "homelab-access"

# Copy to Proxmox host
ssh-copy-id root@100.x.x.x # use Proxmox's Tailscale IP

Add an entry to ~/.ssh/config on your laptop:

Host proxmox
HostName 100.x.x.x
User root
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Now ssh proxmox from anywhere connects through Tailscale. Works on cellular, works through hotel WiFi, works through CGNAT — no port forwarding, no exposed SSH port on the internet.

Tailscale ACLs: limiting access

By default, every device in your tailnet can reach every other device. For a personal homelab this is fine. If you’re sharing the tailnet (letting a family member access the Plex server but not the Proxmox UI), use ACLs.

In the Tailscale admin console → Access Controls:

{
 "acls": [
 {
 "action": "accept",
 "src": ["tag:homelab"],
 "dst": ["*:*"]
 },
 {
 "action": "accept",
 "src": ["tag:family"],
 "dst": ["100.x.x.x:32400"]
 }
 ],
 "tagOwners": {
 "tag:homelab": ["autogroup:owner"],
 "tag:family": ["autogroup:owner"]
 }
}

This allows your homelab-tagged devices full access, while family-tagged devices can only reach port 32400 (Plex). Tailscale ACLs use a JSON5 format documented at tailscale.com/docs/features/access-control/acls.

Troubleshooting

Connection goes through a relay (DERP). Run tailscale status and look for relay in the connection type. This usually means direct peer connection failed due to both sides being behind strict NAT. Check if your home router has UPnP or if you can open UDP 41641 on the external interface — that helps Tailscale establish direct connections.

Subnet routes not working. Confirm you:

Ran tailscale up --advertise-routes=... with the right CIDR
Approved the route in the admin console
On the client, ran tailscale up --accept-routes

Can’t reach a specific device on the subnet. Make sure the device’s default gateway is your home router, not a Proxmox bridge. Devices need to send return traffic back through the router, which routes it to the Proxmox subnet router.

Tailscale service down after Proxmox update. Proxmox updates occasionally reset package configurations. Check systemctl status tailscaled and journalctl -u tailscaled if Tailscale stops working after an update.

What about Headscale?

Headscale lets you run the coordination server. Check two things before moving your devices: how you reach private services, and whether anyone reaches a public URL through Funnel.

The v0.29.4 feature matrix marks MagicDNS, subnet routers, exit nodes and Taildrop as supported. Funnel is unchecked. If a public URL depends on Funnel, keep that service on its existing path until you have tested an alternative from a device outside the tailnet. An SSH connection between two members tests private access only.

Relays are a separate dependency. Headscale’s DERP guide explains that enabling your own relay adds it alongside Tailscale’s default relays. The guide also shows how to inspect the relay map on a client. Check which relays are available before removing any fallback; one self-hosted relay alone is a single point of failure.

A separate VPS is optional. Under Headscale’s hosting requirements, a reachable home server with public addressing and HTTPS on port 443 can qualify. Off-site hosting gives you another failure boundary if the homelab loses power or internet. Could you still log in if that host lost power? Keep another way in. In my Headscale guide, I explain how to weigh a working private route against the cost of maintaining your own control server and what I have not tested.

Persistent setup with systemctl

Make sure Tailscale starts at boot:

systemctl enable --now tailscaled

This is set by default during install, but verify it if you’re on a minimal install. Without this, Tailscale stops on reboot and your remote access disappears.

Accessing your homelab remotely is step one. Protecting it with a UPS is step two — Tailscale can’t help you if the power cuts out while you’re away. The Power & Cost Calculator shows what running a always-on Tailscale gateway node costs per year. Prefer to run your own coordinator with no cloud dependency? The WireGuard self-hosted VPN guide covers setting up a WireGuard server in a Proxmox LXC as a direct Tailscale alternative — or, if you want to keep Tailscale’s zero-config mesh experience while owning the control plane yourself, NetBird vs Tailscale weighs the open, self-hostable option.

Sources

Tailscale KB: subnet routers – official documentation for advertising a LAN range so non-Tailscale devices are reachable through one node.
Tailscale KB: manage permissions using ACLs – official reference for the JSON access-control policy used to scope device-to-device access.
Headscale documentation – official docs for the open-source self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server.

PoE Power Budget Calculator: Will Your Switch Power It All?

LK Wood IV — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

One switch, three different limits

Will six devices work on a 125 W switch? It depends which six ports you can use. Open Check a particular switch and enter the free, enabled ports by their maximum supported IEEE class. Count each physical port once. A data-only uplink cannot power a camera; an occupied PoE port cannot serve a second directly attached device.

On a device’s datasheet, find its maximum draw and the standard required for the features you actually need. Use the switch’s remaining PoE output budget after existing loads or reservations. The number on its AC power supply is not that budget. If you only know the watts, the tool will show a planning estimate and identify the missing information.

Worked examples

Device list	Wattage plan	What you can conclude
Two 13 W access points and four 8 W cameras. Average cable: 20 m.	72 W for six devices: 58 W at the devices, about 1.8 W in estimated cable loss, then 20% headroom.	The inputs alone do not identify the class of a camera, the number of powered ports or the switch’s remaining budget.
Three 13 W access points, six 8 W cameras and two 20 W PTZ cameras. Average cable: 30 m.	160 W for 11 devices: 127 W at the devices, about 6.0 W estimated loss, then 20% headroom.	Look up the PTZ model’s requirement for the mode you want. An unused lower-power port doesn’t make up for a missing higher-power one.
Four 13 W access points, eight 8 W cameras and four 6 W phones. Average cable: 25 m.	175 W for 16 devices: 140 W at the devices, about 5.5 W estimated loss, then 20% headroom.	A 250 W available budget is 75 W above the plan. If that switch has only eight free powered ports, the 16 devices still cannot all connect directly.

Now return to the six-device example. Suppose the two APs specify class 4 and the four cameras specify class 3. Two free class 4 ports and four free class 3 ports provide six compatible connections. Full class allocations total 121.6 W (2 × 30 W plus 4 × 15.4 W), more than the 72 W planning estimate.

125 W available: the switch covers both figures. Once you confirm the device specifications, available watts and port ratings, the entered switch checks pass.
100 W available: the wattage estimate fits, but 100 W cannot cover 121.6 W in full class allocations. Check the switch’s actual negotiated or configured reservations before counting on all six devices.
125 W, but only one class 4 port: the second AP has no suitable port, even if five class 3 ports sit unused.

When to keep an input unknown

The initial device draws are examples. Don’t treat a class as known because the device idles below a wattage threshold. A device may require a particular power mode for its radio, heater or motor. Check the manufacturer’s sheet and the switch’s per-port settings; an advertised chassis maximum may apply to only some ports. Ubiquiti’s power and mode guide shows how these requirements vary across products.

A mains-powered injector supplies its device independently; allow a data port if it uses this switch. A converter powered by the switch still consumes a powered port and budget: enter the converter’s upstream requirement, including its attached load, as the switch load once. For a passive or proprietary device without a verified independent supply, choose the unresolved option. Do not connect it until you verify the voltage, wiring and source. Only verified independent supplies are excluded from the switch total.

How the two power figures work

The planning estimate adds device-side watts, divides by one minus the cable-loss fraction, adds the selected headroom, and rounds up to a whole watt. The length allowance is our estimate: 0.15 × average metres / 100. It is not a measurement of cable resistance. The default 20% buffer is adjustable. In August 2026 we corrected the formula to divide by the remaining fraction, because the assumed loss is a share of power sent from the switch.

Full class reservations use the switch-side values in the Ethernet Alliance’s PoE class table. A switch may reserve a class allocation even when a device draws less. Cisco’s guide to power management modes describes how available power and port settings affect admission. Neither calculator figure measures negotiated watts or verifies the installed cable.

The budget networking gear guide covers switch choices. For a separate data uplink, see the 10GbE home networking guide.

Memory Management BSOD? Don't Buy RAM Yet (2026)

LK Wood IV — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-08-26 · ~11 min read · St. Louis County, MO

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (stop code 0x0000001A) is the blue screen that sends people shopping. The name points straight at your RAM, the forum replies say “run memtest,” and in 2026 — with kit prices multiplied by the memory crunch — a replacement is a three-figure purchase you want to be sure about before you make it.

Microsoft’s reference page for the bug check is blunter and more useful: it says a severe memory management error occurred - meaning Windows caught its own memory bookkeeping corrupted. Bad RAM does that. So does a memory overclock the sticks were never guaranteed to hold, a driver writing where it shouldn’t, and a failing drive feeding corrupt paging data back into memory.

Start with the change that fits your machine. If the crashes began when you enabled a memory profile, returning to default settings is cheaper than buying a kit. If the first dump parameter points to a driver, start there.

The new-RAM question, answered first

The question people attach to this stop code, in these exact words in the forum threads about it, is do I need to buy new RAM? Fair question. Here is the answer.

Not yet. Probably not at all. The diagnosis is free either way.

Nobody publishes cause-frequency telemetry for stop codes, this site included, so instead of a percentage claim you get an ordering built from what each test costs you to run and what a wrong guess costs you to buy. The ranking is by price. A BIOS toggle costs ten minutes. An overnight MemTest86 run costs a night; a SMART check, two minutes. A mistaken RAM purchase in this market costs real money.

In our corrected August 24, 2026 DDR5 observations, the cheapest retained 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 kit was $529.99 at Central Computers. The cheaper Best Buy listing was a CL38 part. That dated replacement cost is a reason to test the existing memory before ordering another kit.

The price-crisis explainer covers why. At those prices, you run every free test before you spend a dollar.

Step 1. Read the signature - when does it hit?

The same stop code behaves differently depending on what’s causing it, and the pattern of when it appears is the cheapest diagnostic you own. Each signature below starts you at a different step.

Match your crash pattern, start at that step

One stop code, several causes. The timing of the crashes routes you to the cheapest test that fits your machine — ordered by cost of test, not by a frequency claim.

New build, new sticks, XMP/EXPO just enabled, or a fresh BIOS update The memory profile is the prime suspect — the rated speed was never guaranteed. Step 2 (JEDEC test) first.

Only under load — games, rendering, big compiles — fine at idle Marginal memory stability that holds until heat and bandwidth stress it. Step 2 if you run a profile, then Step 3.

Nothing changed, crashes getting gradually more frequent More frequent crashes give you more chances to compare dumps. Check memory and drive health before pricing parts. Step 3 (MemTest86), then Step 4 (SMART).

At boot, during disk-heavy work, or sfc keeps finding new corruption Paging data coming back corrupt from the drive is in play. Step 4 (drive health) before any RAM spend.

Laptop or stock OEM desktop — no profile, nothing changed Skip Step 2; there's no overclock to revert. Step 3 to test the memory, then Steps 4-5.

Seeing different stop codes each time, or restarts with no blue screen at all? That's a whole-system problem, and this page is too narrow for it. techfuelhq.com

A different code on each crash, or hard restarts with no blue screen, means this page is too narrow for you - unstable power can produce both, and PSU failure symptoms covers how to confirm it. And if your machine is a laptop or an unmodified OEM desktop, skip straight past the next section: there is no XMP/EXPO profile to revert, so your path is Step 3 onward.

Step 2. The ten-minute test that beats an overnight one

This fork is for machines where a memory profile is enabled or the hardware recently changed - a self-built desktop running XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD), new sticks in an old board, a BIOS update that reset or “upgraded” memory settings.

XMP and EXPO are overclock profiles. The number on the box does not tell you whether the module reaches that rate by default or by enabling a profile. Check the exact part number against its datasheet and the motherboard’s memory support list. Whether the advertised profile holds depends on the sticks, the board, and your specific CPU’s memory controller together.

An error at a faster profile can disappear at standard timings. PassMark recommends retesting there: it lets you compare the configuration that failed with one that asks less of the memory system.

So run the cheap experiment before the long one:

Enter BIOS and disable XMP/EXPO (set the memory profile to Auto/Default). Memory drops to JEDEC speed.
Use the PC normally for a day - include whatever load used to trigger the crash.
No repeat at default settings? Keep them there and note the workload and observation time. A quiet day makes the profile worth investigating; it cannot certify the sticks. Use the DDR5 buying guide to tell the module’s specified default from its optional profiles.
Crashes continue? Leave the profile off, save the next dump, and test the memory configuration at these settings.

Two configurations earn a specific warning here. Populating all four DDR5 slots drops the speed a board can hold stable below the kit’s rated profile - the buying guide’s four-DIMM section covers how far and why. And a new AM5 build that has never been stable is the textbook case of an EXPO profile the board never validated — on a week-old machine, check this before anything else.

Step 3. Test the sticks so the result means something

The field’s standard advice is “run memtest.” The part nobody explains is how to read what comes back, so results get misread in both directions - people replace healthy kits, and people trust a quick pass that proved nothing.

Run the real test. MemTest86 boots from a USB stick, outside Windows, which matters because the test gets the hardware to itself instead of sharing it with the very memory manager whose crash you’re chasing. Set it running when you go to bed. A badly failing stick usually errors fast; marginal instability can take hours, and PassMark notes the first pass is shorter than the ones after it.

Windows’ built-in Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe) is the tool Microsoft’s own 0x1A reference suggests, and it’s a reasonable quick screen — but it finishes in minutes, and minutes of testing is weak evidence against a fault that needs a warm, loaded system to show itself. Treat its “no errors” as nothing found yet, never as proof the RAM is good.

Read the result like this.

Any error counts. PassMark’s troubleshooting doc is direct about this: in the vast majority of cases, reported errors are valid. There is no acceptable-errors threshold. One error is a fail.
A failure belongs to the tested configuration. MemTest86 also exercises parts of the CPU and motherboard. Record the memory settings, how many modules were installed and whether the error repeats. If the test passes only after you disable XMP or EXPO, keep the default settings while you investigate.
Compare one variable at a time. On a desktop with removable modules, shut down and unplug before swapping them. Test stick A and stick B in the manual’s recommended single-module slot, with the same settings and test. If just A fails repeatedly, it is the stronger suspect. If the manual permits another single-module slot, repeat both there. Errors that stay with one slot suggest a slot or channel problem. If both pass alone but fail together, record the pair as the failing configuration.

In one DDR4 user’s test, two sticks in A2 and B2 produced errors. Swapping them cleared the first pass; putting them back made the errors return. That reproduced a configuration on that machine. It didn’t identify a defective stick.

If Windows saved a crash dump, read its first parameter before picking a part. Open the latest available dump from C:\Windows\Minidump in WinDbg and run !analyze -v. The PAGE_FAULT walkthrough covers the mechanics. For 0x1A, Microsoft’s subcode table turns the hex into a lead:

Parameter 1	What Microsoft’s table says it means	Where it points
`0x403`	Page table and page frame numbers out of sync; probably a hardware error, especially when two parameters differ by a single bit	Compare parameters 3 and 4; this does not name a stick - Step 3
`0x41790` / `0x41792`	A page table page, or a PTE, has been corrupted	Memory corruption with no named culprit - Steps 2-3
`0x3f`	An in-page operation failed its CRC check; the remaining parameters give the page-file offset and the actual and expected CRCs	Investigate the paging I/O path. The mismatch does not identify a faulty SSD - Step 4
`0x1233` / `0x4477`	A driver mapped or wrote memory illegally	Investigate drivers using the dump and recent changes - Step 5

Use it as a compass. A subcode won’t close the case alone, but it stops you testing blind - 0x3f in particular moves the investigation to storage before you’ve spent anything on memory.

Step 4. The storage crossover nobody checks

A paging read returned data that did not match the expected checksum. That is what 0x3f records. The offset can help locate the paging operation, but it doesn’t say where the data changed. Start with the drive holding the page file; compare the crash time with storage events and check the drive’s own diagnostics.

The check costs two minutes, which is why it belongs before any purchase.

Read the drive that actually hosts the page file in CrystalDiskInfo. Back up if you see a warning, then compare error counts over time. A health report can corroborate storage trouble or miss it. NVMe Percentage Used estimates endurance consumed; a rising percentage by itself does not diagnose this crash.
If the drive is also slow, disappearing from Explorer, or dropping out entirely, back up before anything else, because a failing drive’s remaining life is a budget you spend carefully.
Storage-flavored blue screens tend to travel together: DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION showing up alongside this one moves storage up the list.

One pattern is worth naming. sfc /scannow that finds and repairs corruption, then finds new corruption a few days later, is not sfc being thorough. Something is corrupting files between runs, and this whole page is the list of suspects.

Step 5. Drivers and Windows - the bounded half

The software half is real, and it’s deliberately late in this order because its tests cost more time than a BIOS toggle and prove less than a memory test. Work it when the hardware half is clean, or immediately when a crash names a driver.

Save the driver name and version. A .sys file on a crash stack is a lead. Compare multiple dumps and the time of the last driver change before updating or rolling back a driver. The GPU driver crash guide covers graphics-specific repair.
Timing matches a Windows or driver update? Roll it back (Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates) and see whether the crashes leave with it.
System files: sfc /scannow, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, from an admin Terminal. These repair the damage corruption already did; they do nothing about what caused it.
Still crashing without a clear lead? Save the dumps for support. If one of them reports 0x139, the KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE guide shows how to read its first parameter. Leave Driver Verifier off an everyday PC.

If 0x1A returns after reinstalling Windows, compare the old and new dumps. Did the first parameter match? Did the same driver version come back through Windows Update? Did the memory profile change? Those comparisons can narrow the cause. Recurrence alone cannot identify a bad part. Without the old dump, keep the new one as your starting point.

If a stick really is dead - replacement, priced

Consider a warranty claim when errors repeatedly follow one module across supported configurations while its comparison module passes under the same conditions. Keep the slot, settings and error logs for the vendor. If both modules fail only in one slot or only as a pair, hold off on a replacement kit; the test has not isolated a faulty module.

On August 24, 2026, the corrected tracker CSV retained three kit lines. The cheapest was a Corsair Vengeance CL30 kit at $529.99. The October 11 correction explains why the original $469.59 CL38 listing did not qualify. Those are past listings, not a price quote for a replacement today.

The crisis explainer covers why prices tripled to quadrupled and when relief might come. Three rules keep the purchase from becoming a second problem:

Replace the kit, not the stick, when you run paired modules. Mixing a new stick into a surviving half-kit means unmatched silicon negotiating shared timings - the exact recipe for the marginal instability you just spent a week diagnosing. Kits are sold, binned, and validated together.
Don’t panic-buy four sticks. Two sticks of the capacity you need beats four sticks of half that; the four-DIMM ceiling applies double during a price crunch, when 2x32GB money is tempting to split into cheaper 4x16GB mistakes.
Size it once, deliberately. If you’re replacing anyway, the DDR5 buying guide sorts 32GB, 64GB and 96GB by workload, which stops both under- and over-buying.

I may earn a commission if you buy through this affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you’ve settled on a spec, a matched 32GB DDR5-6000 kit (Amazon, Newegg) is the mainstream pick - check current prices against the index’s direct-retailer observations before you commit.

Keeping it stable

The fix that lasts is the boring one. Run the profile your specific combination proved it can hold - which sometimes means JEDEC, and that’s fine; the measured gap between JEDEC and a rated profile in typical desktop work is small enough that stability wins the trade.

Two sticks, matched, in the slots your board’s manual names. Retest with MemTest86 after any BIOS update that touches memory settings, because “updated defaults” have re-enabled more than one profile that a machine had banished for cause.

And keep the one habit that makes every future blue screen cheaper: when it crashes, read the stop code and the subcode before touching anything. This page covers 0x1A; 0x139 and 0x50 each use different parameters. If the screen instead says VIDEO_MEMORY_MANAGEMENT_INTERNAL with code 0x10E, use the graphics-memory diagnosis; the similar name belongs to a different Windows subsystem.

Sources

Stop code identity and subcodes: Microsoft’s Bug Check 0x1A MEMORY_MANAGEMENT reference (retrieved 2026-08-25) - the severe-memory-management-error definition, the parameter-1 subcode table including the probable-hardware-error and in-page CRC entries, and its suggestion to run Windows Memory Diagnostic. The multi-cause framing and test ordering here follow that document’s own subcode taxonomy, corroborated across Microsoft Q&A, Reddit r/techsupport and r/overclocking, Tom’s Hardware, and LinusTechTips forum threads on this code.
Memory testing doctrine: PassMark’s MemTest86 troubleshooting documentation (retrieved 2026-08-25) - errors are valid in the vast majority of cases, not all errors are the RAM itself (CPU/cache/motherboard are possible), controlled module comparisons and the limits of isolating a failure, and retesting at standard non-XMP timings when BIOS settings are aggressive. Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe), WinDbg’s !analyze -v, and CrystalDiskInfo SMART reading are standard documented tools.
Pricing: TechFuelHQ’s own DDR5 RAM price index - dated, per-capacity observations at named direct US retailers with the method and rejection log published; figures above are the 2026-08-24 capture. Market context in the RAM & SSD price crisis explainer.

Windows 10/11 instructions, current for 2026 builds. Settings paths may sit one step elsewhere on older versions. Report problems to contact@techfuelhq.com.

Critical Process Died? Check the Drive First (2026)

LK Wood IV — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-11-05 · ~10 min read · St. Louis County, MO

Two minutes. That’s what the most useful test for CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED costs, and most of the guides I’ve read bury it beneath the same sfc /scannow, DISM, and “reset your PC” ritual. The stop code (0x000000EF) means a process Windows refuses to run without has terminated. Those processes, and everything they depend on, live on your system drive, so the drive’s own health report is the cheapest evidence you can collect. Collect it first. A bad result rewrites the entire plan; a clean one costs you nothing.

The other thing the generic checklists skip: your situation changes the order. A PC that crashes once a day but reaches the desktop, a PC stuck in a boot loop, and a PC that blue-screens at the logo every single time are three different problems wearing the same stop code. Start by picking your lane.

Is this a generic blue screen or CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED?

A blue screen of death is Windows stopping after it detects a condition it cannot safely continue through. The stop code identifies the failure class. This page applies when the screen names CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, 0xEF, or 0x000000EF. Microsoft’s 0xEF reference defines it as a critical system process terminating.

Do not use this repair order for a black screen with no stop code or for a computer that loses power instantly. Those symptoms do not establish 0xEF. If the PC restarts before you can read the blue screen, photograph the next code or check Reliability Monitor after Windows loads. When the code is 0xEF, protect files first when booting is unstable, check the system drive, then repair Windows files. The sections below walk that exact order.

Random restarts, other stop codes and a blank screen

When a PC repeatedly restarts, record whether it shows a stop code, loses power, or leaves Windows running behind a blank display. Microsoft’s restart and stop-code guidance applies to Windows 10 and 11. A stop-code screen can be blue or black depending on the Windows version. A blank screen with no code is a different observation.

For repeated BSODs, save the code and crash time, check recent hardware or driver changes, and preserve available dumps before repair. If normal startup fails, use Microsoft’s linked Safe Mode and recovery instructions. A PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA code belongs with the 0x50 diagnosis; continue below for confirmed CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED.

If Event Viewer records Kernel-Power 41, it confirms that Windows did not shut down cleanly; Microsoft says it does not establish the cause by itself. Its BugcheckCode is decimal, so 239 corresponds to 0xEF. A zero value does not prove a faulty PSU or exclude a crash whose details could not be saved. Match the event with the observed symptom.

For a tower that starts then immediately switches off, use the power-on diagnostic. For a running computer with a blank display, use monitor no signal. Keep unexpected shutdowns separate from a Windows restart that displays an update message.

A crash after changing Secure Boot

Record the exact stop code and firmware change before blaming Secure Boot. The association needs confirmation. Follow the PC maker’s recovery procedure, keep the BitLocker recovery key available, and avoid repeatedly changing boot mode, storage mode and security settings together. Microsoft’s Secure Boot guidance directs users to the manufacturer’s instructions; disabling it is not a general BSOD repair.

What CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED means

Windows designates a short list of processes as critical. If one of them terminates, the OS declares its own integrity suspect and stops on purpose. Microsoft’s bug-check reference for 0xEF names the built-in set: csrss.exe, wininit.exe, logonui.exe, smss.exe, services.exe, conhost.exe, and winlogon.exe. These handle sessions, logins, and services. Windows cannot limp along without them, so it doesn’t try.

That framing explains why this code is so unhelpfully broad. Anything that kills or corrupts one protected process fires the same blue screen: a system file damaged on disk, an update that shipped a bad component, a driver or antivirus interfering with a process it shouldn’t touch, a drive returning garbage when the process’s code is read, or RAM corrupting it after it loaded. The code names the victim, never the killer. The rest of this page identifies the killer cheaply, in an order that doesn’t destroy evidence.

Step 1: Which of the three situations are you in?

CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED: pick your lane before you touch anything

Same stop code, three different problems. The fix order below depends on which of these describes your machine — and one lane carries real data risk.

A

You can still reach the desktop

It crashes, reboots, and lets you back in. You have the easiest lane: run the drive check now (Step 3), then work the software half (Step 4).

B

Boot loop — it starts, blue-screens, repeats

Sometimes it offers “Preparing Automatic Repair.” Your path runs through the recovery environment (Step 5): uninstall the last update, reach Safe Mode, run the drive check from there.

C

Instant blue screen at the logo, every time

Safe Mode fails too. Highest data risk in this lane — secure files first (Step 2), then test the drive outside Windows (Steps 5–7).

Different code on your screen? Each one routes differently. techfuelhq.com

One more routing check before you commit to this page. If your blue screens alternate between codes, the pattern outranks any single code: in this cluster’s triage, a machine that also throws DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION moves storage up the list. If you also see KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE, keep that dump and read its first parameter before choosing a test. A machine that sometimes restarts with no blue screen at all belongs on PSU failure symptoms, which covers power-side causes this page won’t.

Step 2: If your files matter, secure them before any repair

Skip this step only if everything on the machine is backed up or expendable.

A reset reinstalls Windows, and disk or system-file repairs can modify the only copy of your files. If the drive is already reporting read errors, start with the data you cannot replace. The GNU ddrescue manual explains why you should repair a copy when the source has I/O errors.

So, before the repair steps:

Lane A (desktop works): copy irreplaceable files to another drive or cloud storage and open a few files from the copy. If read errors interrupt the copy, stop and use the recovery path below.
Lane B (boot loop): reach Safe Mode via the recovery environment (Step 5) and copy files out from there.
Lane C (no boot at all): if Windows cannot start but the drive is readable, you may be able to copy files by attaching it to another PC. If it disappears, repeatedly fails reads, or makes new clicking or grinding sounds, stop using it. If this is the only copy of irreplaceable data, consider professional recovery before further attempts.

Keep chkdsk C: /r off a suspect drive until your files are safe. Microsoft documents that /r reads across the volume and includes the repairs performed by /f. A healthy SMART report is not a backup. If the original has read errors, have the data recovered or imaged; run filesystem repairs on a copy.

Step 3: Check the drive first — the two-minute test the checklists bury

I check the drive because its condition changes what I can safely do next. A health warning sends me back to the backup in Step 2. I also compare storage events with the crash time: a single old counter does not tell me why Windows stopped.

After protecting irreplaceable files, open CrystalDiskInfo (from Crystal Dew World) and select the system drive. Record its model and the time of the reading. Check three things.

The health banner. A warning on the boot drive is reason to protect your files before repairs. A healthy banner cannot rule out a drive, connection or controller problem.
SATA SSDs and hard drives: if the device reports reallocated, pending or uncorrectable sectors (05, C5 and C6), save the raw counts, time and model. A rising count alongside repeated read failures is more useful than a single historical value.
NVMe SSDs: compare Media and Data Integrity Errors and Available Spare with earlier readings. Microsoft’s NVMe field reference defines Percentage Used as estimated endurance consumed. Even 100% is not proof that the drive failed.

Three outcomes:

No warning and no symptoms of storage trouble → try Step 4. If disk errors later coincide with the crashes, return to the drive check.
Warnings on the system drive → back up while the files are accessible, before repair attempts. Step 7 explains what evidence supports replacing the drive.
Clean, but the machine also intermittently loses sight of the drive (BIOS sometimes misses it, Explorer drops it, cold boots fail but restarts work). That’s a detection fault SMART can’t score. Check the connector, the cable and the M.2 seating; a drive that drops off the bus mid-session kills critical processes just as dead as a corrupt one.

I lead with this check on any blue-screening machine I touch, whatever the code turns out to be. It’s the highest information-per-minute test I know of in Windows troubleshooting. For 0xEF specifically, the community’s post-mortems back the ordering: the long-running r/techsupport thread in the sources ends at a dying system SSD behind recurring crashes under load, and BleepingComputer’s forum regulars open at the hardware layer too, starting with one-stick RAM isolation. That’s their experience, and experience isn’t telemetry; I have no cause-frequency data for this code, and I’ve seen none published. But when the free two-minute test and the expensive failure mode point at the same component, you run that test first.

SMART has one limit, and the same r/techsupport thread is the proof. The drive that caused those recurring crashes still reported healthy — no pending sectors, no uncorrectable errors, just a quiet health-percentage slide from 99 to 95 over a few months — and cloning to a new SSD is what ended the crashes. So read a clean report as a screen rather than an acquittal. It moves storage down the list; disk errors in Event Viewer (Step 4) or a drive that intermittently vanishes move it right back up, whatever the banner says.

Step 4: The software half, cheapest fixes first

With the files safe and no sign of ongoing read trouble, check the software timeline. A healthy drive report alone cannot establish a software cause.

Undo whatever changed. If the crashes started inside a week of a Windows update, remove it: Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates, newest quality update first. If a driver updated right before the trouble (GPU, storage, antivirus), open Device Manager, right-click the device → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver. A crash with a birthday usually has a parent, and removal is faster than repair.

Read the crash instead of guessing. Two built-in tools, five minutes:

Reliability Monitor (press Start, type reliability) draws a day-by-day timeline. Look at what landed on the machine (updates, driver installs, app installs) immediately before the first red X. That timestamp correlation is the most useful piece of software evidence I know how to collect.
Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System, sorted around the crash time. Repeated disk/storage errors (source disk, stornvme, volmgr) before each crash reopen the storage question no matter what SMART said. A service failing over and over names a software culprit.
Want the exact victim? A free minidump reader (WhoCrashed or BlueScreenView) pointed at C:\Windows\Minidump shows what was on the stack when the system stopped. For 0xEF a single dump often just confirms a critical process died. The pattern across several dumps is what talks, and if a third-party .sys file keeps appearing, that driver is your suspect.

Then repair system files, in this order:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Run both from an elevated Terminal, DISM first, because it repairs the component store that sfc pulls its replacement files from. Reboot after. These two fix damaged Windows system files, a real 0xEF cause, and that is the whole list. They cannot fix a third-party driver, a filter driver from a misbehaving antivirus suite (uninstall it properly with the vendor’s removal tool if the timeline implicates it), or hardware.

If crashes continue past this point with a clean drive, you’re into Step 6 territory: memory.

Step 5: Locked out — the boot-loop path through WinRE

Lanes B and C run the same fixes without a desktop. Before you start, grab your BitLocker recovery key from another device (aka.ms/myrecoverykey, signed into your Microsoft account), because recovery tools can demand it. Windows opens the door itself. Microsoft’s documented trigger is two consecutive failed attempts to start Windows, and the standard field method exploits exactly that: hold the power button to kill the machine the moment the Windows logo appears, twice, then boot a third time into “Preparing Automatic Repair” → Advanced options.

From Troubleshoot → Advanced options, in this order:

Startup Repair. Let it run once. It fixes a specific class of boot-path damage and takes minutes.
Uninstall Updates → latest quality update. The cheapest targeted move when the loop began right after Patch Tuesday.
Startup Settings → restart → 4 (Safe Mode) or 5 (with networking). Reaching Safe Mode is the big prize: it loads a minimal driver set, and from there you can run the Step 3 drive check, copy files out, roll back drivers, and uninstall recently added software. A machine stable in Safe Mode but crashing normally is pointing at a third-party driver or service.
System Restore, if you have restore points, returns Windows’ own files and registry to a pre-crash state without touching your documents.
Command Prompt, for the offline file repair: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows. One catch. WinRE sometimes letters your Windows volume differently, so run diskpart → list volume first and substitute the letter that actually carries Windows.

The one tile I would leave alone for now is Reset this PC. A reset is the reinstall-first play. It forfeits your files-first sequencing (Lane C readers may not have copied anything out), and if the underlying cause is the drive, you’ll watch the fresh install fail the same way in a week. Reset is a fine last software step once the drive has been cleared and the files are safe.

If even WinRE won’t load and Lane C is fully dark: reseat the drive and its cable (or the M.2 screw and slot), try the other SATA port, and test the drive in another machine per Step 2’s rescue path. At that point you are diagnosing hardware, not Windows.

Step 6: RAM and the rest of the ladder

Memory is the other part that kills critical processes — a protected process corrupted in RAM dies just like one fed bad data from disk. The tests are free; the parts aren’t.

Run MemTest86 from a USB stick overnight (or mdsched.exe, the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic, for a faster first pass). Any red errors condemn the configuration, not necessarily one stick.
Keep the slot fixed first. On a desktop with removable RAM, shut down and unplug it before each swap. Use the board manual’s single-module slot and default memory settings. Run the same test on each stick and label the results. If an error repeats on stick A while stick B passes, A is suspect. If the manual allows a second single-module slot, compare both sticks there too. Failures that track a slot point toward that slot or its memory channel; failures that appear only with both sticks installed do not identify either one. PassMark explains why a memory error alone cannot name the faulty part.
Running XMP or EXPO? Set memory back to default JEDEC speed and retest. If you also saw KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE, that guide shows how to compare a profile change with what the crash dump recorded.
Power sits at the bottom of the ladder. If the machine also hard-restarts with no blue screen, shuts off under load, or needs several tries to cold-boot, the storage and RAM symptoms may both be downstream of an unstable supply. Cross-check PSU failure symptoms.

Run the free tests before buying anything. Replacement parts are painfully expensive right now (the RAM & SSD price tracker has current numbers), which makes a guessed-wrong purchase a three-figure mistake. Evidence first, wallet second.

Step 7: If the drive is the verdict — rescue, then replace

A fresh Windows install that also crashes does not establish a failing drive. First protect the files. Look for independent storage evidence: repeated read failures on the system drive, increasing media errors, or a drive that disappears across known-good connections. A worn drive deserves attention, but a wear estimate or a stop code by itself does not explain the crash.

The order is fixed. Data off first, then replace. Copy files out per Step 2’s lanes (Safe Mode if Windows still opens; USB enclosure on another PC if it doesn’t). If the drive holds something irreplaceable and is deteriorating fast, weigh a professional recovery service before more DIY power-on hours.

I may earn a commission if you buy through this affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Then swap it. A current-generation 1TB NVMe SSD (Amazon, Newegg) is the straightforward replacement for a desktop or laptop with an M.2 slot — check your board’s manual first, and a SATA-only machine needs a 2.5-inch SATA SSD instead. Our homelab NVMe picks hold up equally well as desktop boot drives. I would not reuse a drive with climbing reallocated sectors for anything — not as a game drive, not as scratch space. Its next failure has your data on it.

If 0xEF returns on the replacement drive, save the new crash dump. Compare it with the earlier dump. Note which driver versions and hardware were present in both installations. Check which updates were reapplied. Microsoft recommends comparing multiple dumps and the events just before each crash. The repeat alone does not identify RAM, power or another drive to buy.

Keeping it from coming back

A machine that has thrown 0xEF once earns two habits. Recheck CrystalDiskInfo in a month; sector counts that moved again settle any lingering doubt about a drive that squeaked by. And keep the pattern rule in reach: a rebuilt machine that starts throwing different stop codes has only reshuffled the problem, and the changing-codes signature points at memory or power.

Two cases sit outside this page. Domain-managed and BitLocker-locked corporate machines belong to your IT department, which holds keys and imaging tools you don’t. And one more exists: a 0xEF can come from third-party software whose service was configured with the restart-the-computer recovery option Microsoft documents for developers; the fix there is removing that software. Everything else above is reproducible on any Windows 10 or 11 PC with a USB stick and a screwdriver.

Sources

Stop-code identity and the critical-process list: Microsoft’s Bug Check 0xEF: CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED reference — a critical system process terminated; built-in critical processes include csrss.exe, wininit.exe, logonui.exe, smss.exe, services.exe, conhost.exe, and winlogon.exe; a developer-created service with its recovery option set to restart the computer can also trigger the check.
Recovery-environment entry behavior (WinRE starts automatically after two consecutive failed attempts to start Windows): Microsoft’s Windows Recovery Environment documentation. Menu labels in Steps 4-5 follow current Windows 11 builds — see the wording note below. BitLocker recovery keys: aka.ms/myrecoverykey.
Repair-command syntax: Microsoft’s sfc command reference (including the offline /offbootdir and /offwindir forms) and DISM image-repair documentation (/Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth).
Community corroboration for the failing-drive association with recurring 0xEF (experience reports, not telemetry — read in full before citing): the r/techsupport thread whose top answer traced recurring crashes to a dying system SSD that still showed healthy SMART, and BleepingComputer’s Stop Code: Critical Process Died (0xEF) forum thread, where staff open with hardware isolation (one RAM stick, drive health).
Tools: drive health via CrystalDiskInfo SMART/NVMe readouts — the NVMe fields (Percentage Used, Available Spare, Media and Data Integrity Errors) are defined in the NVM Express Base Specification’s SMART/Health log; minidump reading via WhoCrashed (Resplendence) and BlueScreenView (NirSoft) against C:\Windows\Minidump; memory via MemTest86 (PassMark) and Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe).
Windows 10 end of standard support (October 14, 2025) and consumer Extended Security Updates: Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support guidance.

Written against current Windows 11 and Windows 10 builds; menu wording drifts across updates. Corrections: contact@techfuelhq.com.

GTA 6 Storage Guide: PS5 SSDs and Xbox Expansion

LK Wood IV — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:24:50 -0500

Check the storage screen before shopping for a GTA 6 drive. Start there. Spend on expansion only after deciding which games need to stay installed, how often moving the others is acceptable, and whether the same crowded library will become a problem again a month after launch.

Rockstar lists GTA 6 for November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Official GTA 6 page. If you still need the console itself, start with our GTA 6 console buying guide; storage is a separate decision.

How much room to free before preload

Rockstar now specifies up to 212 GB of available space, depending on the device. That is an installation requirement. It does not establish a 212 GB network download, a mandatory extra reserve or an exact figure for every console.

Digital preload starts November 10: midnight in your local time zone on PS5, and 00:00 GMT worldwide on Xbox Series X|S. On both consoles, you can start playing at local midnight on November 19. See Rockstar’s regional timetable. The boxed edition contains a download code and is scheduled for retail availability starting November 12. If you bought the box, you need the code before you can download.

Audit the games you intend to keep

Record the free space on the storage location where you intend to install GTA 6. On PS5, Settings > Storage shows the available space, and game installations can be managed separately from saved data. Sony’s storage guide.

Target the installations you no longer need; keep saved progress out of your cleanup plan.

Write down the games you expect to play during launch week, including someone else’s favorites if you share the console. A game you have finished belongs on a different list from the multiplayer game your household opens every night. Start with one easy removal, check the space again, and stop clearing the library when it matches what the household uses instead of chasing an arbitrary round number. Ask before deleting somebody else’s installation.

Choose between an archive and games ready to play

Your situation	Sensible next step
Plenty of removable installations	Compare the drive’s available space with Rockstar’s 212 GB upper limit or your console’s displayed figure
Games you want to keep locally but rarely launch	Consider compatible USB storage as an archive
A PS5 library you want immediately playable	Compare compatible internal M.2 SSDs
An Xbox Series X\|S library you want immediately playable	Compare compatible Storage Expansion Cards

Sony allows PS5 games to be stored on USB extended storage, but they cannot run there. PS4 games can run directly from it. Sony’s USB guidance. On Xbox, USB can archive newer games, while a compatible expansion card provides storage from which Series X|S games can run. Microsoft’s storage explanation.

An archive suits a patient library keeper. Buy playable expansion when you want to select a game and start it without first reorganizing storage. For a small active library, clearing space and keeping the money is the better choice. A shared console changes the calculation: if one person wants a long single-player session while another expects to jump back into their regular multiplayer game later that evening, keeping both installations available solves a real household problem without anyone having to justify their game to the person managing the drive. Price that convenience against the total cost of expansion.

Build a storage budget without guessing GTA 6’s size

Use the figures shown by your console. This worksheet is a planning tool; its example is hypothetical and predicts nothing about GTA 6.

Symbol	What you enter
F	Free space on the intended installation drive
R	Space recovered by removing or relocating games from that drive
H	Spare room you personally choose to leave unused
G	Space required on your device; use the displayed requirement, or 212 GB as the planning ceiling

Your installation budget is F + R − H. Subtract G from that budget. If the result is negative, that is how much more you need to free under the assumptions you chose.

Suppose your console has 90 GB free. Removing two games recovers 110 GB, and you choose to keep 40 GB spare. That leaves 160 GB for the install. Against the 212 GB planning ceiling you are 52 GB short on that drive. The 40 GB is your choice, not a Rockstar requirement. If your console shows a lower requirement for your copy, do the subtraction again before buying anything.

Repeat the exercise with the games you refuse to remove. Use that second pass to set a spending limit, because it ties the purchase to the library you want available throughout the year instead of letting excitement about one release decide how much storage you buy.

PS5: buy capacity and the correct cooling assembly

Sony specifies a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe drive with 250GB–8TB capacity and effective cooling within its stated dimensions; its sequential read figure of 5,500MB/s or faster is a recommendation, rather than a mandatory minimum. M.2 SATA drives are unsupported. Follow Sony’s instructions for your console model. PS5 M.2 requirements.

Compare the complete purchase. A bare SSD and a version with a suitable heatsink are different propositions. An assembly whose fit is clearly documented beats a vague listing with a more impressive headline speed.

Our Samsung 990 PRO review and WD_BLACK SN850X review provide the next comparison. Already considering an older model? Read the Samsung 980 PRO review before replacing it. Check the exact capacity and cooling version you plan to order.

A first-time PS5 M.2 installation requires formatting, which erases existing data on that SSD. Sony also requires each game’s data to stay on one storage location. Sony installation guidance.

Avoid treating separate pockets of free space as one combined installation budget.

Xbox: check the connector before the capacity

Xbox Storage Expansion Cards use the console’s dedicated expansion port. Microsoft’s primer distinguishes these cards from USB HDDs and SSDs, which serve a different role for games requiring Series X|S storage performance. Both Series X and Series S have the expansion port. Xbox Wire storage primer.

Check the listing carefully. For a larger collection of current games ready to launch, choose a compatible expansion card; for a shelf of games between playthroughs, price an archive separately and decide whether you are willing to move installations when your plans change. Reject any listing that leaves the storage type unclear.

Make the purchase solve the right problem

A single-game player should wait for the installation requirement and clear room first. A household that keeps switching games has a stronger case for expansion. Someone who already owns suitable archive storage should try reorganizing the library before ordering another drive.

Keep the display budget separate too. Our GTA 6 TV and monitor guide tackles that choice. Neither purchase belongs on the list merely because the release is close.

Before moving a large game, refresh the free-space reading for the actual destination. A second drive with space on it does not increase the amount available to a single installation on the first.

Sources

Rockstar’s GTA 6 page and Take-Two’s preorder announcement.
PlayStation support: storage management, M.2 SSD installation, and USB extended storage.
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S storage primer.

Ollama in Docker with GPU: Stop Installing CUDA Inside WSL2 (2026)

LK Wood IV — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-08-15 · ~9 min read · St. Louis County, MO

If you are on WSL2, the most common first move is the wrong one, and it feels like progress while you make it.

The presence of nvcc inside your distro proves you have a compiler. It tells you nothing about whether Docker can pass through the GPU.

NVIDIA’s CUDA on WSL guide separates the Windows display driver from development tools inside Linux.

WSL gets its CUDA driver interface from Windows. Do not install the Linux cuda-drivers or nvidia-open packages inside the distro. There is a version distinction here: starting with CUDA 13.4 the generic cuda meta-package no longer installs a driver. The compiler toolkit is still unnecessary for the prebuilt Ollama image.

You do not need a driver inside WSL. You already have one. It came from Windows.

The two toolkits people conflate

This is the root of it. The naming is genuinely unhelpful:

Package	What it does	Needed for Ollama in Docker?
CUDA Toolkit (`nvcc`, headers)	compiles CUDA applications	No
NVIDIA Container Toolkit (`nvidia-container-toolkit`)	lets Docker hand a GPU to a container	Yes

They share a brand. Nothing else. nvcc --version printing happily tells you precisely nothing about whether Docker can reach your GPU — I have watched that exact screenshot get posted as evidence in bug reports where the real failure was that the container toolkit was never installed.

You want the second one.

On Debian or Ubuntu running its own Docker Engine, install the toolkit there. If your WSL terminal is a client of Docker Desktop for Windows, skip these Linux daemon steps. Docker Desktop uses its WSL2 backend; the GPU driver belongs on Windows.

curl -fsSL https://nvidia.github.io/libnvidia-container/gpgkey \
 | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-container-toolkit-keyring.gpg
curl -fsSL https://nvidia.github.io/libnvidia-container/stable/deb/nvidia-container-toolkit.list \
 | sed 's#deb https://#deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-container-toolkit-keyring.gpg] https://#g' \
 | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-container-toolkit.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y nvidia-container-toolkit

For a Linux Docker Engine you manage, follow the NVIDIA runtime configuration. For the standard rootful engine, run sudo nvidia-ctk runtime configure --runtime=docker, then restart that Docker daemon when interrupting containers is safe. The linked guide has different commands for rootless Docker.

Running it

docker run -d --gpus=all \
 -v ollama:/root/.ollama \
 -p 127.0.0.1:11434:11434 \
 --name ollama ollama/ollama

docker exec -it ollama ollama run llama3.2

Drop --gpus=all and you get a working CPU install. That is a reasonable first move: it confirms the rest of your setup before you start fighting the GPU layer, and it means a later failure has exactly one new variable in it.

For AMD, the image and the flags both change:

docker run -d --device /dev/kfd --device /dev/dri \
 -v ollama:/root/.ollama -p 127.0.0.1:11434:11434 \
 --name ollama ollama/ollama:rocm

Note the volume is named.

/root/.ollama holds your downloaded models, and those are large. An anonymous volume there is how people re-download forty gigabytes after a cleanup — see which prune command eats data for why that happens.

Where 11434 really listens

There is bad advice in circulation. It says Ollama binds 127.0.0.1 by default, so publishing the port is safe.

That is true of a native install. It is not true of this image. The official container sets OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434 in its Dockerfile, so inside the container it listens on everything, and whatever you publish with -p is genuinely reachable.

The local API does not require authentication. Leaving the IP out of a published port normally binds it on all host interfaces. For a local client, keep the explicit loopback address used above. On Docker Engine releases older than 28, Docker documents a same-network exception to localhost isolation; update the engine or leave the port unpublished before relying on that boundary.

docker port ollama 11434/tcp
curl --fail http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags

The first command should report 127.0.0.1:11434. The second lists installed models; an empty list on a new install is fine. If the mapping instead shows 0.0.0.0 or [::], the API is not confined to host loopback. Correct the mapping and recreate the container using the same named model volume.

Compose, where `--gpus` does not exist

This is the second thing that costs people an evening.

--gpus=all is a docker run flag. Compose does not accept it as a service key, and the error you get does not point anywhere useful.

services:
 ollama:
 image: ollama/ollama
 volumes:
 - ollama:/root/.ollama
 ports:
 - "127.0.0.1:11434:11434"
 deploy:
 resources:
 reservations:
 devices:
 - driver: nvidia
 count: all
 capabilities: [gpu]

volumes:
 ollama:

Two rules inside that block, both documented and both easy to trip:

capabilities is not optional. Docker’s docs state that omitting it errors on service deployment. It looks like decoration and it is required.
count and device_ids are mutually exclusive. Pick one, or it errors.

There is also a newer top-level gpus: attribute if your Compose version has it, which is less verbose for the common case.

The WSL2 restriction nobody mentions

On WSL2, NVIDIA documents that only --gpus all is supported.

You cannot filter by index or UUID.

So a compose file pinning device_ids: ['0'] is documented as not workable under WSL2, even though the identical file is fine on native Linux. If you have two GPUs in a Windows box and were planning to give one to Ollama and keep the other for something else, that plan does not survive contact with WSL2.

That single limitation is the strongest argument I know for putting the LLM host on native Linux rather than WSL2, assuming you have the choice, and it is the kind of constraint that only shows up after you have already built the thing around the assumption that a GPU is a GPU.

Adding Open WebUI

The obvious next step is a browser interface. Open WebUI’s official stack runs it alongside Ollama, and their :cuda image tag is documented as Nvidia GPU support, to be paired with --gpus all.

Open WebUI’s two-service Compose stack publishes the UI and leaves the Ollama service without a published host port. The UI container can reach the API by service name on their shared network. That keeps the raw API off the host’s published interfaces. On native Linux, the host itself may still reach the container’s bridge IP; see Docker’s bridge-network behavior.

If only the UI needs inference, keep the backend unpublished and use http://ollama:11434 from the UI container. If a host application needs inference too, use the loopback mapping above. For a different computer you control, forward a local port through authenticated SSH to the Docker host’s loopback address; do not expose the raw API on your router.

Past a chat UI, the next layer most people add is tool access via MCP servers. Before connecting a stack of them, know the resident cost: we measured 11 popular MCP servers at 178-422MB of RAM each on the same box class this guide targets.

Verifying the GPU is doing the work

The failure mode here is quiet. Everything runs. It just runs slowly, on the CPU, while you assume otherwise.

docker exec -it ollama nvidia-smi

This command checks whether the NVIDIA management utility runs in the container. An error by itself does not identify a driver fault. Verify the engine’s GPU support first, then run a prompt and use Ollama’s own report.

While the model is loaded, run docker exec ollama ollama ps. The PROCESSOR column distinguishes CPU, GPU and a split placement; compare it with the Ollama FAQ. Fan noise does not tell you where the model ran. For fit by model size, see local LLMs by GPU VRAM.

What I have not tested

I have not run the ROCm image. The command above comes from Ollama’s documentation and I have no AMD card here to confirm it against, so treat that line as documented rather than verified by me.

I have not tested the newer top-level gpus: Compose attribute, and Compose version support for it is exactly the sort of thing that varies by distro package.

I have not benchmarked WSL2 against native Linux for inference throughput. I believe native is better and I have not measured it.

The wrapper question, though, I have measured: Ollama against bare llama.cpp on the same RTX 5080 put the decode gap on dense models at 2-6%, with the whole serving stack — HTTP, sampling, model management — costing about 13% against the raw engine loop. None of the dramatic slowdowns the forums promise showed up.

What getting it wrong costs

Installing a second driver inside WSL can disrupt the Windows-provided interface. Verify which engine runs your container before changing anything in either operating system.

The -p 11434:11434 mistake costs more, and it costs it quietly. An unauthenticated inference API on a public address does not announce itself. It just becomes somebody else’s free GPU until you notice the electricity bill or the fan noise.

Where to buy the The GPU is the whole decision: Search Amazon · Search Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Paperless-ngx Docker Setup with OCR and Auto-Tagging (2026)

LK Wood IV — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-06-12 · ~14 min read · St. Louis County, MO

Drop a scanned PDF into a folder and Paperless can turn its text into something you can search. How long that takes depends on the scan, polling interval and queue. It is the paper half of a personal archive; the web half belongs to a self-hosted read-it-later app.

Choose the stack from the documents you own. For a box of PDF scans and phone photos, Paperless can run OCR without either office-conversion service. For a mixture of scans, Word files and exported email, use the five-service example below. The file-format list for the pinned 3.0.5 release separates built-in image and text support from optional Office parsing.

The full stack

Paperless-ngx is not a single container. For production use you need five services:

Container	Role
`paperless-ngx`	Core app, web UI, OCR processing
`paperless-db`	PostgreSQL — document metadata, tags, correspondents
`paperless-redis`	Task queue for background OCR jobs
`paperless-tika`	Document text extraction (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ODT)
`paperless-gotenberg`	PDF rendering of non-PDF documents for OCR

The 3.0.5 installation guide calls for a Redis-compatible broker and supports PostgreSQL, SQLite and MariaDB. Here, Valkey is the broker and PostgreSQL stores the catalog. Do not remove the broker to simplify a scan-only setup. For a fresh installation with no Office or EML inputs, omit the Tika and Gotenberg services, their two dependency entries and the three PAPERLESS_TIKA_ settings together.

Directory layout

Create this before writing any compose files:

mkdir -p /opt/paperless/{consume,data,db,export,media}

consume/ — drop documents here for auto-processing
data/ — Paperless application data (classification models, search index)
export/ — output of document_exporter command for backups
media/ — archived original files and thumbnails

Docker Compose

This block is for a new installation. The official PostgreSQL image changed its default layout in PostgreSQL 18: mount /var/lib/postgresql, with database files under 18/docker. The resulting host path here is /opt/paperless/db/18/docker.

Already using the earlier block? Stop before changing the mount. Keep every existing data directory and Docker volume. From the working database, check SHOW data_directory; and inspect the container’s mounts to locate the actual cluster, then make a logical dump. Restore that dump into a separate PostgreSQL 18 instance using the corrected mount and verify Paperless there before switching. A mount edit is not a database migration; pointing at an empty path can initialize a different cluster. Follow the image’s upgrade guidance when changing PostgreSQL major versions.

services:
 paperless-db:
 image: postgres:18
 container_name: paperless-db
 restart: unless-stopped
 environment:
 POSTGRES_DB: paperless
 POSTGRES_USER: paperless
 POSTGRES_PASSWORD: CHANGE_THIS_PASSWORD
 volumes:
 - /opt/paperless/db:/var/lib/postgresql
 healthcheck:
 test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U paperless"]
 interval: 10s
 timeout: 5s
 retries: 5

 paperless-redis:
 image: valkey/valkey:9-alpine
 container_name: paperless-redis
 restart: unless-stopped
 command: valkey-server --save 60 1 --loglevel warning

 paperless-tika:
 image: docker.io/apache/tika:3.3.1.0  # the image the official compose uses as of 2026-08-22
 container_name: paperless-tika
 restart: unless-stopped

 paperless-gotenberg:
 image: gotenberg/gotenberg:8
 container_name: paperless-gotenberg
 restart: unless-stopped
 command:
 - gotenberg
 - --chromium-disable-javascript=true
 - --chromium-allow-list=file:///tmp/.*

 paperless:
 image: ghcr.io/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx:3.0.5
 container_name: paperless
 restart: unless-stopped
 depends_on:
 paperless-db:
 condition: service_healthy
 paperless-redis:
 condition: service_started
 paperless-tika:
 condition: service_started
 paperless-gotenberg:
 condition: service_started
 ports:
 - "127.0.0.1:8010:8000"
 volumes:
 - /opt/paperless/data:/usr/src/paperless/data
 - /opt/paperless/media:/usr/src/paperless/media
 - /opt/paperless/consume:/usr/src/paperless/consume
 - /opt/paperless/export:/usr/src/paperless/export
 environment:
 PAPERLESS_REDIS: redis://paperless-redis:6379
 PAPERLESS_DBENGINE: postgresql  # required on v3; v2 inferred it from PAPERLESS_DBHOST
 PAPERLESS_DBHOST: paperless-db
 PAPERLESS_DBNAME: paperless
 PAPERLESS_DBUSER: paperless
 PAPERLESS_DBPASS: CHANGE_THIS_PASSWORD
 PAPERLESS_TIKA_ENABLED: 1
 PAPERLESS_TIKA_ENDPOINT: http://paperless-tika:9998
 PAPERLESS_TIKA_GOTENBERG_ENDPOINT: http://paperless-gotenberg:3000
 PAPERLESS_URL: http://127.0.0.1:8010
 PAPERLESS_SECRET_KEY: CHANGE_THIS_SECRET_KEY
 PAPERLESS_TIME_ZONE: America/Chicago
 PAPERLESS_OCR_LANGUAGE: eng
 PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_POLLING_INTERVAL: 60 # renamed from PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_POLLING in v3
 PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_RECURSIVE: 1
 PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_SUBDIRS_AS_TAGS: 1
 USERMAP_UID: 1000
 USERMAP_GID: 1000

Check these settings before starting:

PAPERLESS_DBPASS and POSTGRES_PASSWORD — must match, must not be the default
PAPERLESS_SECRET_KEY — generate with openssl rand -hex 32
PAPERLESS_URL — the URL you’ll access Paperless from (used for CSRF protection)
PAPERLESS_TIME_ZONE — your local timezone (see IANA timezone list)
PAPERLESS_OCR_LANGUAGE — three-letter Tesseract language code; eng for English, deu for German, fra for French, spa for Spanish

First-run setup

cd /opt/paperless
docker compose up -d

# Create the admin user
docker compose exec paperless python3 manage.py createsuperuser

Create the admin account before exposing the application to other users. On the Docker host, visit http://127.0.0.1:8010 and sign in. For a remote host, forward port 8010 over authenticated SSH to its loopback address, then open the same local URL. Do not open the raw port on your router. The upstream setup guide describes the initial superuser setup. Use a current Docker Engine; older releases have a localhost publishing exception.

Reverse proxy with Nginx Proxy Manager

After the admin account works, choose the HTTPS name people will actually use. Set PAPERLESS_URL to that exact origin and recreate the Paperless service to apply it. An NPM container needs a private Docker network in common with the Paperless web service. Its own loopback address belongs to the proxy container. Keep the database and document-conversion services off that shared proxy network.

In NPM:

On the shared network, add a Proxy Host for the chosen name. Set its forward scheme to HTTP and its destination to paperless:8000. Confirm both services are on that network before changing DNS.
Enable SSL with Let’s Encrypt
Advanced tab — add these headers:

proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto https;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
client_max_body_size 50M;

The client_max_body_size 50M is necessary for uploading large scanned documents through the web UI. Without it, large PDFs return 413 errors.

Subdirectory-to-tag mapping

The compose file includes PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_SUBDIRS_AS_TAGS: 1. This means if you create subdirectories inside the consume folder, files dropped there get automatically tagged with that folder name:

consume/
financial/ → documents tagged "financial"
medical/ → documents tagged "medical"
insurance/ → documents tagged "insurance"
tax/ → documents tagged "tax"

This is the fastest way to build an organized archive from the start — your scanner or phone app can save to the right subfolder and the tag appears automatically.

Auto-tagging with matching rules

After the initial setup, configure correspondents and document types via the Admin panel (Settings → Correspondents and Document Types) or through the main UI.

A matching rule checks the OCR’d text and applies metadata automatically. Examples that work well:

Correspondent: Chase Bank

Matching algorithm: Any word
Match: Chase, JPMorgan
Auto-assign correspondent: Chase Bank
Auto-assign tag: financial

Correspondent: IRS

Matching algorithm: Any word
Match: Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, IRS
Auto-assign correspondent: IRS
Auto-assign tag: tax, federal

Document type: Insurance

Matching algorithm: Any word
Match: policy number, deductible, premium, coverage
Auto-assign document type: Insurance Policy

Try a statement from a known correspondent and an unrelated document. Check which tags were applied to each before feeding in a whole box of scans. A rule that matches both is too broad.

Supported file types

Start with one expendable test document from each format you plan to keep. Put a unique word inside each file so you can check the text search separately from whether the original opens.

Format	Handling
PDF with a text layer	Try searching for the original word before changing OCR settings
Scanned PDF, JPEG, PNG or TIFF	Built-in image processing and OCR; check the configured language
Plain text	Built-in text import; OCR is unnecessary
DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODT and other supported Office formats	Enable Tika and Gotenberg and set their service endpoints
EML email export	Enable the optional integration; try a representative exported message

The 3.0.5 configuration reference describes the optional services. If a file is missing, check its consumption task before submitting it again. If it is present, open the original and search the extracted text. Those are different checks: a successful image preview does not prove that OCR recognized a particular word.

Performance and resource usage

At idle with no active processing:

Container	Idle RAM
paperless-ngx	~180 MB
paperless-db (PostgreSQL)	~50 MB
paperless-redis	~10 MB
paperless-tika	~200 MB
paperless-gotenberg	~60 MB
Total	~500 MB

During OCR of a 10-page scanned PDF: the Paperless container CPU spikes to 80–100% on one core for 5–15 seconds per document. OCR is CPU-bound. On an Intel N100, single-document OCR takes about 8–12 seconds per page. A multi-core machine processes documents faster because background task workers scale with CPU count.

For bulk imports (100+ documents), set PAPERLESS_TASK_WORKERS to match your core count:

PAPERLESS_TASK_WORKERS: 4 # For a 4-core host

Back up your archive

Paperless-ngx backup strategy has two components:

1. PostgreSQL database dump

docker compose exec -T paperless-db pg_dump -U paperless paperless \
 > /opt/paperless/export/paperless-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

2. Document export (optional but useful)

The document_exporter command writes all archived documents plus a manifest JSON to your export directory:

docker compose exec paperless document_exporter /usr/src/paperless/export

The export can be read by Paperless’s document importer. Before treating it as a backup, import it into a separate, compatible test instance: compare the document count, open an original, search for text, and check an expected tag and correspondent. A database dump by itself does not contain the original document files.

Schedule both to run nightly via a cron job or systemd timer, then send the output to off-site storage.

What to back up:

Path	Contents	Required for restore
`/opt/paperless/media/`	Original document files + thumbnails	Yes
`/opt/paperless/data/`	Classification models, search index	Yes
`paperless-$(date).sql`	Database dump	Yes
`/opt/paperless/export/`	Human-readable document export	Optional but recommended

Scanning workflow that works

The consume folder approach works best when your scanner can write directly to it over the network. Two reliable paths:

Network scanner with SMB/FTP support: configure the scanner to save to a Samba share backed by the consume directory. On Linux, a simple smb.conf entry makes /opt/paperless/consume accessible as \\server\paperless-consume.

Mobile scanning: apps like Microsoft Lens, Adobe Scan, or Genius Scan save to any cloud storage or network share. Point them at an SMB or WebDAV share backed by the consume folder. Alternatively, use Nextcloud as the intermediary — Nextcloud can watch a folder and copy files to the consume directory via an automation. The Nextcloud AIO setup guide covers the WebDAV configuration.

Manual drop: for documents you already have digitally, drag them into the consume directory via scp, a mounted SMB share, or the Nextcloud interface.

Upgrading Paperless-ngx

The example pins an exact image tag. Pulling 3.0.5 again does not select a later patch. Review the intended version and its release notes, take a restorable backup, and update the tag deliberately:

image: ghcr.io/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx:3.0.5

To upgrade to a new minor release:

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Paperless runs database migrations automatically on startup. No manual migration step needed for minor version upgrades. For major version bumps, read the release notes first. v3.0.0 (released 2026-07-22) made PAPERLESS_DBENGINE mandatory for PostgreSQL, renamed PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_POLLING to PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_POLLING_INTERVAL, dropped the positional arguments of pre/post-consume scripts, removed API v1 and document encryption, and decoupled the OCR settings from archive-file generation — the v3 migration guide lists every renamed and removed setting (checked 2026-08-22). The compose above already carries the v3 names.

Common problems

A document has no searchable text: Check the file type and the consumption task. For a scanned PDF or image, inspect OCR settings, the document language and the scan itself. For a failing Office or EML import, also inspect Tika and Gotenberg connectivity. Restarting those optional services will not fix a blurry image.

413 Request Entity Too Large: NPM’s default body size limit is too low. Add client_max_body_size 50M; to your NPM proxy host’s Advanced configuration.

CSRF verification failed: PAPERLESS_URL is set incorrectly. It must match the exact URL you access in the browser — including the scheme (https://), domain, and no trailing slash.

OCR’d text looks garbled: wrong language set. English documents being OCR’d with German (deu) will produce garbage. Check PAPERLESS_OCR_LANGUAGE matches your document language. Multiple languages are supported with a + separator: eng+deu for bilingual archives.

Consumer not picking up files: check that the consume volume mount in the compose file points to the right host path. Use docker compose exec paperless ls /usr/src/paperless/consume to confirm the container sees the files you dropped.

For the broader self-hosted stack this lives in, the 12 best self-hosted apps guide covers how Paperless-ngx fits alongside Immich, Nextcloud, and Vaultwarden. For file sync to mobile so you can scan from your phone, the Nextcloud AIO setup guide covers WebDAV and folder sync configuration.

Sources

Paperless-ngx GitHub – official project repository for the document management app, Docker images, and configuration.
Gotenberg Documentation – official docs for the PDF rendering service Paperless uses for non-PDF formats.
Apache Tika – official project site for the text and metadata extraction toolkit behind Office-file parsing.
Tesseract OCR Documentation – official manual for the OCR engine and the language codes used by PAPERLESS_OCR_LANGUAGE.

PC Randomly Freezes: Sort the Freeze, Then Fix It (2026)

LK Wood IV — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-10-02 · ~10 min read · St. Louis County, MO

Two seconds. By default, that is how long Windows waits on a graphics card before it decides the card has hung and resets it. Storage has a timer of its own. When either runs out, Windows writes a record. It writes another at the next start if the last session did not shut down cleanly.

Read those records first and the list of suspects gets short.

A PC that restarts or switches off by itself is a different fault. My PSU failure symptoms guide starts there. A game that hitches while everything else keeps running is stutter, which has fixes of its own.

Freezes for seconds, after a few minutes, or until restart?

Write down which result you can repeat before changing anything:

Symptom	What to record first
A short pause, then everything resumes	The exact time, active app, and Task Manager CPU, memory, and disk activity. Match that time to the storage and resource events below.
The display freezes but sound or another screen continues	Whether Ctrl+Alt+Delete or Win+Ctrl+Shift+B responds. Follow the display-hang branch before treating it as a complete system lock.
It freezes after a few minutes of the same workload	The task, elapsed time, temperatures, and whether default CPU/RAM settings change the result. Timing alone does not prove overheating.
Nothing responds until a forced restart	Record what you could still observe, then examine the preceding events. A restart record is not the cause of the hang.

The same observations help on a laptop. Use its maker’s diagnostics and thermal settings; do not transfer desktop voltage or fan settings to it. Change one thing, repeat the same task, and retain the result even if it did not help.

Microsoft’s Event ID 41 guidance explains why an unexpected restart can lack enough information to name the cause. A log gap is a limit on the evidence, not proof that the power supply failed. The event checks below help you separate a recorded failure from a forced restart after an unexplained lockup.

If only a game download is slow and the rest of Windows remains responsive, use the Steam download checks. Download throughput and a frozen PC need different measurements.

While it is frozen, check what still responds

All six checks together take under a minute. Work down the list and note the first one that gets a response.

Move the mouse. A cursor that still moves means Windows is running and something it depends on has stalled.
Press Caps Lock and watch its light. This is Microsoft’s own test. If the light no longer changes, the computer may be in what Microsoft calls a hard hang.
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. If Task Manager opens, look for a program marked Not responding, select it and choose End task.
Press the Windows key with Ctrl, Shift and B. Microsoft documents it as the shortcut that resets the graphics driver, and a beep or a flicker means it ran.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del. Microsoft’s freeze guide uses it as a test of whether Windows still answers. If the security screen appears, sign out or open Task Manager from there.
If nothing answers, note the time, then hold the power button until the PC turns off. The log is sorted by time and you will want it.

Match what you saw to a kind of freeze

What you saw	Kind	Where to start
Cursor dead and the Caps Lock light no longer changes	Hard hang	The log, then hard hang
Picture frozen or black while the Caps Lock light still changes	Display hang	Display hang
Cursor moves, windows stop answering, and it comes back by itself	Stall	Stalls that recover
One program greys out and everything else works	Program hang	Stalls that recover
It freezes at wake from sleep or soon after power-on	Power state	Sleep and power-on

After the restart, read what Windows wrote down

Start with the quick view. Press the Windows key with R, type perfmon /rel and press Enter, which Microsoft’s command reference lists as the switch that starts Reliability Monitor, then pick the day of the freeze. A session you ended with the power button shows as an entry reading “Windows was not properly shut down.” Note its time.

Then open the full record. Press the Windows key with R, type eventvwr.msc, and in the tree on the left go to Windows Logs, then System.

The record of the restart

Find the Critical record from the source Kernel-Power with Event ID 41, stamped at the moment the PC came back up. On my desktop, Windows 11 Home 25H2 build 26200.9457, its text reads “The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.”

That sentence names three possibilities and picks none. Microsoft’s guide to the event agrees. The record is written at the next start, after the fact, and by itself it may not hold enough to say what happened. Two fields in its details narrow it.

BugcheckCode is zero when Windows recorded no stop error. Any other value is the code of a stop error, written in decimal.
PowerButtonTimestamp is nonzero when Windows recorded the power button being held. It can stay at zero after a hang, because a hung system may have been unable to write anything.

A BugcheckCode above zero turns a freeze into a stop code with a name. Five of them have a page here, and the name is the one Windows prints in capitals with underscores, as in MEMORY_MANAGEMENT.

BugcheckCode	In hex	Stop code, linked to my page for it
26	0x1A	Memory management
80	0x50	Page fault in nonpaged area
239	0xEF	Critical process died
278	0x116	Video TDR failure
313	0x139	Kernel security check failure

For any other number, switch Windows Calculator to Programmer mode, enter the value as decimal and read it as hex, then look it up in Microsoft’s Bug Check Code Reference.

The minutes before it

A second record, Event ID 6008 from the source EventLog, prints the time the last session died: “The previous system shutdown at” a time and date “was unexpected.” Microsoft’s guide says to look for anything suspicious before that time in both the System and the Application log, and these are the records I would look for, with the wording from my desktop.

Source and Event ID	What the record says	What it means and where to go
WHEA-Logger 18, 20 or 46	“A fatal hardware error has occurred,” with the component named	The hardware reported its own fault. Go to hard hang.
WHEA-Logger 17, 19 or 47	“A corrected hardware error has occurred,” with the component named	A part is making errors that are still being caught. Go to hard hang.
Event ID 129, under the storage driver’s name	“Reset to device, [device], was issued.”	The drive stopped answering and Windows reset it. Go to stalls.
disk 153	“The IO operation at logical block address [address] for Disk [number] … was retried.”	A request to the drive failed and was sent again. Go to stalls.
disk 7, 11 or 51	A bad block, a controller error, or an error “during a paging operation”	The drive, its cable or its controller reported an error. Go to my SSD health check.
Display 4101	“Display driver [name] stopped responding and has successfully recovered.”	The graphics card hung and Windows reset it. Go to display hang.
Resource-Exhaustion-Detector 2004	“Windows successfully diagnosed a low virtual memory condition,” then three programs	The PC ran low on memory. Go to stalls.
Application Hang 1002, in the Application log	“The program [name] … stopped interacting with Windows and was closed.”	One program hung. Go to stalls.

Microsoft’s driver documentation describes WHEA-Logger as the provider meant for desktop users, with a readable message carrying the main details. On my desktop those messages name the part: Processor Core, Memory, or a device given by its bus address and vendor ID. Event ID 129 is filed under the storage driver’s own name. On my desktop the registered ones are stornvme for NVMe drives and storahci for SATA.

A hard hang with nothing else in the log

A hard hang followed by a forced restart can leave only Event 41 with a zero bugcheck code. So can a sudden loss of power or a stop error that Windows could not record. Microsoft’s Event 41 guide explains why the event alone cannot tell those cases apart. Its checks include overclocking, memory, power and overheating. Start with the one your symptoms or last change point to.

Undo the last change. On a Tom’s Hardware Forum thread from October 2022, the owner of a Ryzen 5 5600X and RX 6600 had hard freezes in games, with the keyboard’s lock lights no longer changing and a hard reset the only way out. Their only recent change was a new 240 Hz monitor. They reported a week without a freeze after turning FreeSync off on it. A second member with a Ryzen 9 3950X and RTX 3080 reported two weeks without one after a Windows update and a UEFI update. Neither replaced a part.
Put everything back to stock. Turn off the memory profile first. Intel describes XMP as overclocking the memory, and AMD’s full name for EXPO is Extended Profiles for Overclocking, so both fall under Microsoft’s first check. Then remove any overclock or undervolt on the processor and the graphics card. My memory management guide covers why a rated memory profile can be unstable on healthy sticks and how long to run at default before you trust the result.
Test the memory. Press the Windows key with R, type mdsched.exe, and choose “Restart now and check for problems (recommended).” The result lands back in the System log from the source MemoryDiagnostics-Results: Event ID 1101 or 1201 when it found no errors, 1102 or 1202 when it “detected hardware errors.” Save the result. If the quick pass is clean and the freezes continue at stock settings, record how long the next test runs so support can tell what the machine has already been through. Intermittent faults can escape a single run.
Check heat under the load that triggers the freeze. How to check CPU temp covers the tools, and CPU overheating sorts a real fault from a chip running hot by design.
Suspect power last, because it is the hardest to test. My PSU failure symptoms guide has the tests. Its main sign is a shutdown or restart under load, and it lists freezes among the signs of unstable power.

WHEA-Logger records change the order. If the text names Memory or Processor Core, skip to steps 2 and 3.

A display hang

Microsoft’s display driver documentation says the frozen look often comes from the graphics card being busy, typically during game play, so that it stops updating the screen. By default Windows gives it two seconds. Then it resets the driver, and the only things you see are a flicker and a message that the display driver stopped responding and has recovered. Display 4101 is that reset in the log.

One recovered reset is Windows working. A run of them is a fault, and so is a BugcheckCode of 278, the stop code Windows raises when a reset fails or resets pile up. My GPU driver crash guide has the order, which starts with a clean driver install and every overclock and undervolt back to stock.

Stalls that recover

Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc the next time it happens, or straight after, and look at which column is full. Then match it to the log.

The drive stopped answering

Windows times every request it sends to a drive. Microsoft’s write-up of Event ID 129 describes what happens when that timer runs out: the storage driver decides the device has stopped responding, resets it and retries what was waiting. Anything that needs the drive has to wait for that, and I take that wait to be the pause you feel. The write-up is about storage area networks. The report below shows the same event on a laptop.

One Windows 11 laptop owner on Microsoft Q&A described it in March 2025. The cursor lagged, the machine stopped answering, Task Manager showed the disk at 100 percent, and every freeze lined up with a 129 followed by a run of 153s. It had gone on for over a year. ASUS had the laptop twice and replaced the motherboard. System file repairs, a factory reset, a BIOS update and a driver reinstall did not end it either, and their last post said they were looking at a new SSD.

So read the drive’s health first. My SSD health check reads an NVMe drive from Settings with no download and names the tool a SATA drive needs. If it reports a warning, copy your files off first. Microsoft’s write-up of Event 153 says an occasional timeout can be normal and frequent retries mean a storage problem to correct. A clean health report with 129s still arriving moves my suspicion to the connection: on a SATA drive I would swap the data cable, and on an M.2 drive I would reseat it.

Windows ran low on memory

Event ID 2004 names the three programs that were using the most virtual memory when Windows ran low. Look for a repeat. If the same program leads every time, close it, update it or replace it. I would add RAM only when the three are programs you need open together.

One program, or a service behind it

Application Hang 1002 names the program. Update it or reinstall it. When the log names nothing and the stalls continue, a background service is my next suspect. Microsoft’s clean boot procedure turns off every service that is not Microsoft’s, then has you turn them back on half at a time until the stall returns.

Damaged system files

Microsoft lists freezing among the symptoms of corrupted system files. Its repair takes two commands in an administrator Command Prompt, in this order.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

They repair Windows files and nothing else. On a drive that is still logging 129s, I would expect the damage to return.

Freezes at wake or soon after power-on

A hang on the way into sleep or out of it makes me suspect a driver first, then the firmware. Check the BugcheckCode for 159. That is stop code 0x9F, DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE, which Microsoft defines as a driver in an inconsistent or invalid power state, and it is the number in Microsoft’s own Event ID 41 example. I would update the chipset and graphics drivers from the maker’s site, then the BIOS. Until the freezes stop, use Shut down in place of Sleep.

A freeze soon after power-on that never follows a restart makes me suspect fast startup. With it on, Microsoft’s documentation says Windows saves the kernel and its loaded drivers to the hibernation file at shutdown and loads that file at the next start. I read that as a driver in a bad state at shutdown coming back in the same state at power-on. Restart is different. The option’s own description says restart is not affected.

To turn it off, press the Windows key with R, type powercfg.cpl and press Enter. Select “Choose what the power buttons do,” then “Change settings that are currently unavailable,” and clear “Turn on fast startup (recommended).” Then give it a week of cold starts.

What I would leave for last

A reset or a reinstall. A Microsoft Q&A thread from January 2025, marked as the same question by more than 40 people, is about a freeze of three to four seconds that kept returning, and it ends with a reset that the last post says solved it. Nobody in the thread asked what the System log showed. The cause was never named. The laptop owner with the 129s had a factory reset too, and the freezes came back.

Only Event 41? Even after a week at stock settings and a clean memory test, that still doesn’t tell you which part to replace. On the next freeze, write down the time. What was running? Did the keyboard respond? If you had to hold the power button and the next boot adds another Event 41, start with the entries before the freeze and save any storage, display or hardware error near that time along with the memory test result and the settings you used. Take that record to support before buying a board or power supply.

Steam Slow Download Speed: Find the Real Bottleneck

LK Wood IV — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-09-18 · Updated 2026-11-05 · ~10 min read · St. Louis County, MO

TL;DR · Steam download speed

Check the units first. Speed tests count bits, Steam counts bytes. A 74 Mb/s line and a 9.25 MB/s Steam download are the same speed.
Then read the byte plan. Open steamapps\appmanifest_<appid>.acf and compare BytesToDownload with BytesToStage.
Stage far above download? Steam plans more local work than downloading. If the network goes quiet while disk activity and progress continue, let that stage finish.
Stage close to download? Those totals don’t identify the wait. If the network is slow while disk activity stays low, read the per-host rates in logs\content_log.txt and compare a nearby region.
Before anything else on a gigabit line: confirm the adapter negotiated 1 Gbps and not 100 Mbps.

Byte figures are from 46 updates in my own Steam log, September 2 to 16, 2026. Everything else is Valve documentation or the threads named below.

A slow Steam download is two different problems sharing one progress bar, and almost every guide treats it as one. What you get instead is a list of eight to thirteen client toggles in a row, tried in hope, with nothing in it that tells you which of the two problems you are looking at.

On September 14, 2026 I worked through Bing’s top ten for this query and read the four how-to pages in it that would load. Their fix lists ran from eight items to thirteen. Not one of them opens the file where Steam writes down exactly what it is about to do before it does it.

Read that file first to see how many bytes Steam expects to move. Then watch one slow interval to see which activity is holding up the update.

Which problem you have

What you see	First thing to check	Go to
Steam’s number looks about one eighth of your speed test	Bits against bytes, and no fault at all	Step 1
Download crawls, disk light is busy, game is large and already installed	Steam rebuilding packed files	Steps 2 and 3
Download crawls, disk barely moves, fresh install	Network or content server	Steps 4 to 6
Speed is fine on other apps but only Steam is slow	Region, route or security software	Steps 5 and 7
Download stops with “Content File Locked”	A blocked write rather than a slow one	Steam content file locked
Steam will not open, or hangs signing in	The client, not the download	Steam not opening
Local file copies to a NAS are slow too	Storage or SMB, not Steam	10GbE at home

If the download drops to zero or keeps pausing

If Steam’s network line falls to 0 B/s while disk activity continues, read the byte plan in Step 2 before treating it as a broken connection. Steam may be rebuilding packed files from data already on the drive, so the network can go quiet while staging continues. The BytesToStage total and content_log.txt show whether that is the job in progress.

Both graphs flat? Look for a logged error. If there is none, check Steam’s status and the Limit Download Speed setting before following Valve’s cache or region steps below. If traffic resumes but stays slow while the disk is idle, compare the rates for that interval. A corrupt-disk or Content File Locked error has a separate file-lock repair path.

Step 1. Settle the units before you change anything

It is the first answer the most recent of the threads below reached for, and it costs nothing to check.

Internet connections are sold in bits per second. Steam reports downloads in bytes per second. A byte is eight bits, so one transfer produces two numbers that differ by a factor of eight. Valve publishes a conversion table for exactly this confusion, tucked inside a collapsed block on its slow-downloads article headed “Example download speed conversions”, and the bottom row of it lists a 50 megabits/second connection against 6.25 MB/S.

Watch it play out. In a Steam Community thread opened on September 3, 2026, the poster set a 74.15 Mb/s speed test against what they wrote down as a 9.1 Mbps Steam download, and asked why the thing had suddenly broken overnight. The first reply did the arithmetic. Steam’s readout is in bytes, so that 9.1 was 9.1 MB/s, and 74 Mb/s divided by eight comes to about 9.25 MB/s. Two numbers, two units, one speed. Nothing was broken.

To make the two numbers comparable, open Steam, Settings, Downloads and tick Display download rates in bits per second. Valve also points out that the speed shown in your system tray is your local network link rate rather than your internet speed, which is why a “1 Gbps” adapter tooltip proves nothing about your actual connection to the outside world.

Multiply your Steam figure by eight. If the result lands anywhere near your speed test, your download is already running as fast as the line you pay for, and every remaining step on this page is going to tell you the same thing in more words. You are done here.

Step 2. Read the byte plan

Here is the part the usual checklist misses.

Before Steam starts an update it works out three totals and writes them down. How many bytes it must download, how many it will reuse from files you already have, and how many it will stage onto your drive. Those totals live in two places. You can open both right now.

The easier one is the game’s manifest. Go to steamapps in your Steam library folder and open appmanifest_<appid>.acf in Notepad. Two lines matter:

"BytesToDownload" "7305760"
"BytesToStage" "2217366028"

That is the real file on my desktop as I write this, for Total War: WARHAMMER III. Steam needs 7.31 MB off the internet and is going to write 2.22 GB to my SSD. Most of the planned bytes are local; the two totals alone do not say how long either phase ran.

The fuller version is logs\content_log.txt in your Steam folder. Search it for update started and you get a line per update:

[2026-09-02 15:12:44] AppID 1142710 update started : download 1220164112/42976779808,
store 0/0, reuse 0/0, delta 0/0, stage 2008143587/81633734737

The second number in each pair is the total. That update had 42.98 GB to download and 81.63 GB to stage.

I parsed all 46 update records in my log, covering September 2 to 16, 2026. The pattern is consistent and it is not subtle:

Update	Download	Stage	Stage ÷ download	Time
Wallpaper Engine, fresh content	2.15 GB	2.13 GB	0.99	21 s
WARHAMMER III, large content update	42.98 GB	81.63 GB	1.90	637 s
WARHAMMER III, routine patch	1.70 MB	2.21 GB	1,298	53 s
WARHAMMER III, routine patch	7.31 MB	2.22 GB	304	5 s

The Wallpaper Engine entry staged about as much as it downloaded. Some patches to a large packed game staged hundreds of times as much as they downloaded. Seventeen WARHAMMER III patch records landed in that fortnight, and every one of them pulled between 1.70 MB and 18.27 MB off the internet while writing between 2.21 GB and 4.73 GB onto the drive.

Suppose a 2 MB patch takes a minute. Watch that minute. If the network finishes in the first few seconds while Steam keeps reading and writing the game files for the rest, you know why a faster connection would make little difference to this patch.

Step 3. When the drive is the wait

Valve documents why this happens, in the developer documentation rather than the support pages. SteamPipe splits every file into roughly one-megabyte chunks so it can send only the changed ones. Packed files break that.

Valve’s guidance to developers spells out the consequence: to update a 25 GB pack file, SteamPipe always builds a new 25 GB file, and if the update only requires 10 bytes of changes it still copies almost the entire 25 GB from the old file to the new one. The documentation then says, plainly, that depending on the client storage hardware this can be a very slow process.

That is the whole mechanism. The reuse figure in the log is Steam reading your existing install back off the drive to build the replacement, which is why my 1.70 MB patch shows 1.97 GB of reuse sitting next to it in the same line. The sum will not quite close. Stage runs about 240 MB above download plus reuse on that patch, Valve does not document what else it counts, so read stage as the size of the write job.

Valve has also acknowledged the confusion in the client. The September 9, 2021 client update rebuilt the Downloads page, and the release notes say that previously the progress bar would only display the downloading content progress but not the disk allocation process, which would make an update appear completed when it was not.

What to do about it:

Leave it alone and let it finish. On my Samsung 970 EVO Plus most of those multi-gigabyte staging passes took two to seven seconds. The slowest took 53 seconds, and that was a patch that downloaded 1.70 MB and wrote 2.21 GB.
Before moving a library, watch one slow patch. If network activity falls while the drive keeps reading and writing the installed game, a long staging phase is a reason to try that game on an SSD you already own. Compare a similar update before buying a new drive.
Give the drive headroom. Valve’s documentation says Steam builds the new file alongside the old one and only then commits, so a patch needs room for both copies at once. How a nearly full drive behaves beyond that is my inference, not something Valve states.

I used an NVMe drive. My log can show the time spent on that drive; for spinning disks, the relevant evidence here is Valve’s description of the patch process. If your games sit on a spinning disk and every small patch turns into a long wait, check the byte plan in Step 2 and watch the Downloads graph through the slow part. A large staging total tells you where to look, not how much time the drive took.

I may earn a commission if you buy through these affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-18 Search NeweggLink checked 2026-09-18

Once the drive is fast enough, Steam will move the library for you. Settings, Storage, pick the new drive, then move the games across rather than reinstalling them.

Step 4. Read the per-host rates

When stage and download totals are close, start with the Downloads graph. If Steam receives data slowly for a sustained interval while local disk activity stays low, compare the rates in the log for that interval. If disk activity or patching progress continues after network traffic stops, a different region won’t speed up that local step. Both types of work can overlap.

Search content_log.txt for stats: while an update runs. Steam logs one line per content server it is pulling from, plus an aggregate line:

[2026-09-02 15:17:11] stats: (SteamCache, 273) cache8-ord1.steamcontent.com:
2943899992 Bytes, 193 sec (121.74 Mbps). 5301 Hits / 439 Misses (92 %, 93 % bytes)
[2026-09-02 15:17:11] stats: (Invalid, 0) : 17440492742 Bytes, 291 sec (480.29 Mbps)

On my desktop that big update ran across ten Chicago hosts at once. Each one sat between 71.45 and 121.74 Mbps in the sample above, and across the whole fortnight no single host ever went above 185.95 Mbps. The two aggregate lines for that update read 480.29 and 591.67 Mbps. The minute-by-minute samples peaked at 850.26 Mbps, which is 85 percent of my gigabit port. Steam also logged how many servers it had been handed, between 30 and 35 each time.

That is what a healthy download looks like on my box. No single host is fast. The client makes up the difference by using many of them at once.

Compare the combined rate of the active hosts with the throughput you normally see on that connection. One slow host or a low host count does not identify the cause. If aggregate throughput is low while disk activity is low too, try a nearby region on the same connection. If the transfer reaches its usual rate but the update keeps running, look at what Steam and the drive are doing after the transfer.

The same lines appear on Linux. An Arch Linux forum post from March 2025 shows a user’s log with five Frankfurt hosts at 11.76 to 13.97 Mbps and a 64.25 Mbps aggregate, which is the same diagnostic on a much slower route.

Step 5. Change the download region, with a reason

Valve’s position is that Steam picks a content server based on where you are. If downloads run slower than expected, its article tells you to check the download region under Steam, Settings, Downloads, then to try various regions near your location until one performs better.

The community evidence says this works often enough to try and not reliably enough to trust. All of the following are from threads I opened:

On the night of October 10, 2024, several people reported sudden slow downloads within hours of each other. One switched away from US servers to Ukraine or London and got expected speeds back. Another thanked the thread for the region tip and said it helped. A third tried Denver and Phoenix and still faced a two-day estimate for Baldur’s Gate.
A reply posted on February 7, 2023 to that same 2021 thread came from someone in the Netherlands who switched to Germany, Hamburg. They reported going from 5 MB/s to a steady 45 MB/s after a decade of slow downloads.
A different 2021 poster was pinned at 1.4 MB/s for over a month. They had already worked through multiple regions, several drives, three filesystems, both wired and wireless, and even a different house. Region changes did nothing for them.

Several strangers going slow on the same evening points at a region or a route. One machine slow for a month while everything else on the network is fine does not. That person belongs in Step 6.

Step 6. Confirm the link you think you have

A gigabit connection that negotiated at 100 Mbps caps Steam at roughly 12 MB/s, and Steam has no readout that would tell you the link is the reason. The client just looks slow.

In the Arch Linux thread above, the first reply was exactly this. That user had gigabit service. They went and read the link rate, and found their network card had negotiated a 100 connection instead of a 1000. On Windows, open PowerShell and run:

Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, InterfaceDescription, LinkSpeed

Mine reports Intel(R) Ethernet Controller (3) I225-V at 1 Gbps. If yours says 100 Mbps on a gigabit line, replace the cable before anything else and reseat both ends.

Valve’s network troubleshooting article makes the related point about wireless. It says wireless and powerline connections can cause intermittent failures due to interference and recommends testing Steam over a direct wired connection. That matters more than it sounds. In the December 2024 thread where a poster spent the afternoon toggling disk write caching, they mentioned in passing that the PC was on Wi-Fi, and nobody went back to it.

Valve’s article also notes that a connection with problems only at certain hours, its example being evenings between 5pm and 11pm, may be shaped by the provider.

Step 7. The client settings worth checking, in one pass

These are the toggles the other guides lead with. They are worth a minute each, once the two diagnostics above have told you which half of the problem you are in.

Limit Download Speed. Steam, Settings, Downloads. Confirm it is off. Valve notes that the rates listed there are in kilobytes and megabytes a second while most connections are rated in bits, which is a reliable way to set a limit eight times tighter than you meant to.

Security software and VPNs. Valve keeps a list. Anti-virus hooks very deep into user systems and can affect disk and network operations. VPN software has the potential of preventing the Steam client from reaching the Steam network.

Valve names download accelerators specifically and says they should be disabled while using Steam, and says peer-to-peer programs have the potential to consume a large portion of your bandwidth or other system resources if not properly configured. Valve’s slow-download article adds that some third-party applications can cause Steam to use incorrect content servers, which is the mechanism behind “only Steam is slow”. Disable one temporarily, restart Steam, retest, then turn it back on.

Clear Download Cache. Steam, Settings, Downloads, at the bottom. Valve says it can solve problems with games that will not download or start, that it will not affect your currently installed games, and that you will need to log in again afterwards. It fixes downloads that are stuck. It will not make a working one faster.

Steam server status. Valve’s network article puts checking its own status page first, ahead of every local step, on the reasoning that a system-wide outage explains the symptom and nothing you change at home will help until it clears. It takes one look.

What not to do

Do not edit steam_dev.cfg to disable HTTP/2 on Windows. The three config lines circulating for this come from ValveSoftware’s Linux issue #10248, opened in November 2023 and closed as completed on October 15, 2024. The header on that issue now tells readers the problem is solved and to use a newer distribution.

The HTTP/2 variable it names, @nClientDownloadEnableHTTP2PlatformLinux, is Linux-scoped in its own name; the other two are undocumented client internals with no platform in them at all. I found no Valve documentation for any of the three. You would be setting undocumented client variables against a bug that was fixed on a different platform.

Do not toggle disk write caching on a guess. The advice circulating for this points in both directions at once. In a January 2022 thread about disk usage swinging between 100 MB/s and zero, one reply said their own write caching had been switched off and that turning it back on made a huge difference.

In December 2024, a poster was told the opposite, turned write caching off on a Kioxia Exceria G2, and reported that nothing had really changed, after which the person advising them concluded the storage angle was a dead end for that machine. The byte plan and the disk graph give you a way to investigate the slowdown before changing a disk policy.

Do not reinstall Steam for a speed problem. It is a large action for a symptom that has cheap diagnostics, and it carries a real risk if you do it the wrong way. Valve’s update and installation article says to reinstall Steam to the same location where it is already installed, that installing into the same location will preserve all installed games, and then warns in capitals that uninstalling Steam will delete all game content. The Steam not opening guide covers the safe route if you ever do need it.

Do not read a nearly idle Task Manager as proof. Two of the posters above opened with it. The one who started the October 2024 thread wrote that most of the performance metrics in Task Manager were barely even moving, and the 2021 poster listed never going above 5 percent on CPU, memory or disk. A staging pass that reads and rewrites 2 GB on an NVMe drive finishes in seconds. A one-second glance at Task Manager will miss it completely.

The nuclear option and what it costs

Still slow? If you see low aggregate rates in several regions while the drive does little work, and the adapter and security checks above haven’t explained it, you can compare network paths without changing the PC. Try a small download over a phone hotspot.

Watch your data allowance. Return to your original network after the test. A faster result on the hotspot narrows the search to differences between the paths. If both are slow, the remote service or the same patch stage could affect both tests. Save the timestamps and the transfer and disk activity for support.

The 2021 poster who was stuck at 1.4 MB/s had effectively run this test by trying a different house entirely. That is the point at which to stop changing Steam settings.

What I checked on my own machine

Windows 11 Home, build 26200.9457, on September 18, 2026. Steam installed to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam, library on a Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe, networking through an Intel I225-V at 1 Gbps. The steam.exe file version reads 10.96.30.42, which is the file version on disk rather than the build number the About dialog shows.

I read content_log.txt and the appmanifest_*.acf files with Steam and every game closed, parsed all 46 update started records between September 2 and September 16, and timed each one against its matching scheduler finished line. I started no download and changed no Steam setting for this page, so every figure here comes from updates that happened on their own.

The gap I cannot close from this box is the slow-storage case. My staging passes finish in seconds because the drive is fast. The claim that a slow drive turns those same passes into a long wait rests on Valve’s SteamPipe documentation and on the community reports above rather than on any measurement of mine.

Sources

Best Budget NAS Build 2026: 4-Bay DIY in the Drive + RAM Crunch

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-11-05 · ~13 min read · St. Louis County, MO

The TrueNAS box I would build on September 23, 2026 is an AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U barebone at $379.00 from AOOSTAR’s own store, one 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM, a 256GB NVMe boot drive and two Seagate IronWolf 8TB drives in a ZFS mirror. The parts come to $1,186.76 for 8TB of mirrored storage, with everything except the box priced at Newegg that day. It is for someone who wants TrueNAS Community Edition on a compact box that averaged 8.7W at idle in Notebookcheck’s test of an SSD-only unit, has eight Ryzen cores for Plex, a few containers or a small VM beside the storage, and keeps two bays empty for the next pair of drives.

I may earn a commission if you buy through these affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Part	Pick	Price, September 23, 2026	Where to buy
Box	AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U barebone (Ryzen 7 5825U, 4 bays, dual 2.5GbE)	$379.00 AOOSTAR direct, US warehouse, in stock ($512.99 plus $5.99 shipping from a Newegg marketplace seller)	Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Memory	Silicon Power 16GB DDR4-3200 CL22 SO-DIMM	$93.79 (Silicon Power’s Newegg store)	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Boot drive	Patriot P300 256GB NVMe	$53.99 (Patriot’s Newegg store)	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Storage	2× Seagate IronWolf 8TB (ST8000VN004), mirrored	$329.99 each at Newegg, $659.98 the pair	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Total	8TB usable, ZFS mirror	$1,186.76

The box is the only part not priced at Newegg. Buying it from the Newegg marketplace seller instead, at $512.99 plus $5.99 shipping, makes the build $1,326.74. A WD Red Plus 8TB was $345.00 at Newegg the same day; a pair cost $30.02 more than the two IronWolf drives. Spindle speed alone does not tell you which pair will sound quieter in this chassis.

The other picks, and what to skip

Unraid instead of TrueNAS: the same box with 32GB of DDR4, the $49 Starter licence and the same drives comes to $1,329.55 (Build B below).
Used DIY: a refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini (i5-8500T, 16GB, 512GB SSD) at $272.22 on September 24 (the mini PC guide's 256GB listing was $179.99 on September 23) plus a Yottamaster 4-bay USB-C enclosure at $157.61 delivered ($145.99 plus $11.62 shipping), both on Newegg. For replaceable media only.
Skip the WTR Pro N150: AOOSTAR's own store no longer lists it, and a Newegg marketplace seller wanted $592.99 for the barebone, $213.99 more than the faster 5825U.
OS: TrueNAS CE 25.10 for storage-first · Unraid 7.3 for mixed drives + smooth Docker · OMV 8 for lightweight Linux NAS.
Skip: QNAP TS-464-8G at $639.00 empty and Synology DS425+ at $599.99 empty, both at Newegg. Each costs more than the 5825U box with 16GB fitted and brings a slower quad-core chip.

Newegg prices read from each product's page on September 23, 2026; the AOOSTAR prices from AOOSTAR's store the same day. Power figures are from Notebookcheck's review of both boxes (May 29, 2025) and minipc-review.com (August 22, 2026).

The budget-NAS math changed in 2026 — twice

The drives. Through 2026, Western Digital and Seagate pointed essentially all of their high-capacity (nearline) hard-drive output at AI and cloud, and consumer NAS drives took the hit. WD CEO Irving Tan told investors the company’s nearline capacity is “fully allocated through calendar year 2026,” with order books not reopening until the first half of 2027 (winbuzzer.com, 2026-02-18; xda-developers.com). Some NAS-drive SKUs climbed 30–50% off their mid-2025 lows. The two drives in this build are $659.98 of its $1,186.76.

The RAM. DDR5 memory prices roughly tripled from late 2025 into 2026 as the same AI buildout consumed DRAM output. Chip-level pricing went from about $6.84 per GB in September 2025 to about $27.20 per GB by December — nearly a fourfold jump in one quarter — and consumer module prices followed, with analysts expecting the crunch to run into 2027 (Tom’s Hardware RAM price index; Wccftech, memory crisis roundup). On September 23, 2026 Newegg sold a Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM for $229.99. The 5825U takes DDR4-3200 instead, and 16GB of that was $93.79 the same day. That $136.20 gap is one more reason this build sits on the 5825U.

If you are choosing the box rather than the drives, which NAS operating system is still doing the job at month eight is the harder question; the hardware carries the first month.

Weighing a prebuilt against parts? Five years of each, costed. The electricity turns out to be the small half of the gap.

Budget NAS prices, September 23, 2026

Newegg prices come from each product’s own page on September 23, 2026; the two AOOSTAR direct prices come from AOOSTAR’s store the same day. Barebone means no RAM and no drives.

Build	Component / SKU	Price (USD)	Source
Turnkey pick	AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U (barebone)	$379.00 AOOSTAR direct (regular $399.95); $512.99 plus $5.99 shipping from a Newegg marketplace seller	Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Turnkey efficient	AOOSTAR WTR Pro N150 (barebone)	$592.99 from a Newegg marketplace seller; not listed on AOOSTAR’s store	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
DIY value pick	Refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini (i5-8500T, 16GB, 512GB SSD)	$272.22 from a Newegg marketplace seller (SJ Computers LLC, September 24)	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-24 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-24
4-bay USB-C DAS	Yottamaster 4-bay USB-C enclosure	$145.99 plus $11.62 shipping, $157.61 delivered (Yottamaster’s Newegg store)	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Step-up (past budget)	AOOSTAR WTR MAX (8845HS, 6+5 bays, 10GbE SFP+)	$659.00 AOOSTAR direct (regular $699); $903.99 from a Newegg marketplace seller	Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Comparison: turnkey commercial	Synology DS425+ (diskless; Newegg lists the DS423+ only in third-party bundles with drives)	$599.99	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Comparison: turnkey commercial	QNAP TS-464-8G (diskless)	$639.00	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Comparison: turnkey commercial	Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen2 AS1204T (4-bay, diskless)	$282.99 from a Newegg marketplace seller	Check AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23
Comparison: turnkey commercial	TerraMaster F4-425 Pro (N305 8-core, 8GB, dual 5GbE)	$699.99 (TerraMaster’s Newegg store)	Search AmazonLink checked 2026-09-23 Check NeweggLink checked 2026-09-23

Add drives. On September 23, 2026 Newegg sold a Seagate IronWolf 8TB for $329.99 and a WD Red Plus 8TB for $345.00. Four IronWolf drives, 32TB raw and 24TB usable in RAIDZ1, cost $1,319.96, nearly three and a half times the box.

The budget escape hatch is recertified enterprise drives: Seagate Exos pulls from sellers like ServerPartDeals are where the homelab crowd shops in the shortage. Budget for a burn-in test and a shorter warranty.

Run your own drive counts through the NAS & RAID storage calculator to see raw-vs-usable capacity across RAID levels before you buy.

A Synology DS425+ was $599.99 at Newegg on September 23, 2026 with zero storage, and a QNAP TS-464-8G $639.00 empty. Both lock you into proprietary software, both charge extra for features that should be free, and both come with a CPU you'd be embarrassed to put in a laptop. For less, the 5825U box with 16GB of RAM and a boot drive costs $526.78, with eight cores and your choice of operating system.

On the Synology question specifically: the company's 2025 Plus and Value models (DS925+, DS1825+, DS425+) shipped with a drive-compatibility list that threw warnings on third-party Seagate and WD disks and pulled features. Synology reversed course in DSM 7.3 (October 2025) -- third-party drives work again on those 2025 models with full monitoring and alerts, and with every storage feature (mjtsai.com, 2025-10-09). So the drives are not locked today. But Synology framed the reversal as "in the meantime" while it keeps testing additional drives, with no promise that 2026 models stay open. The read: the company walked it back under sales pressure, the lock-in instinct is still there, and building your own box sidesteps the whole question.

The used enterprise hardware crowd will tell you to grab a retired Dell server. Fine, if you want 120W at idle and a machine that sounds like a hair dryer. The smart budget NAS in 2026 is a small 4-bay box with efficient silicon and an OS matched to your actual needs. Here's how to build one.

The Hardware: Two Barebone Boxes That Make Sense

The NAS enclosure market for DIY builders used to be terrible. You either bought a proprietary Synology/QNAP shell or hacked together a desktop case with drive cages. The AOOSTAR WTR Pro changed this. Two models, both with 4 SATA bays, dual 2.5GbE, and compact form factors designed specifically for NAS duty.

Correction, September 24: The watts below are Notebookcheck's idle and load readings for each box. This page had printed them as readings at different drive counts and had called the Intel box an N100; Notebookcheck tested an N150.

AOOSTAR WTR Pro N150 (was N100) — The Efficiency Pick, If You Can Find One

Price: not listed on AOOSTAR's own store on September 23, 2026; $592.99 barebone from a Newegg marketplace seller
CPU: Intel N150 (4C/4T, the N100's Alder Lake-N successor)
RAM: 1× DDR5 SO-DIMM (add your own)
Storage: 4× SATA bays + 1× M.2 NVMe
Network: 2× 2.5GbE

AOOSTAR has superseded the original N100 SKU with an N150 "upgraded N100" variant -- same Alder Lake-N efficiency class, a modest clock bump, the same ~6W-class TDP and Quick Sync iGPU. The Intel N100/N150 is the darling of the low-power homelab world and for good reason. This chip was designed for efficiency-first workloads. Notebookcheck tested an N150 unit (review published May 29, 2025) and measured 9.3W minimum, 14.3W average and 18.7W maximum at idle, and 24.6W average in 3DMark06 with a 27.9W peak in Cinebench R15 Multi. That's the whole system at the wall, CPU and board together.

Four cores, four threads. No hyperthreading. For a NAS serving files over SMB and running a few Docker containers, that's plenty. Where it falls short is heavy transcoding or running a bunch of VMs alongside your storage — the N100 simply doesn't have the threads for it. If your NAS is a NAS and nothing more, the N100 is the right chip.

The M.2 NVMe slot gives you a fast boot drive or ZFS SLOG/L2ARC cache. Dual 2.5GbE means you can bond two links or run one for management and one for data, which matters once your network is upgraded to 2.5GbE.

Availability, September 23, 2026: AOOSTAR's store no longer lists the N150, so a new one comes from marketplace stock: $592.99 barebone from a Newegg marketplace seller. The 5825U at $379 direct is $213.99 cheaper and faster, which is why this guide leads with it.

AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U — The Multitasker

Price: $379.00 barebone direct from AOOSTAR on September 23, 2026 (regular $399.95); $512.99 plus $5.99 shipping from a Newegg marketplace seller
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (8C/16T)
RAM: 2× DDR4 SO-DIMM, up to 64GB
Storage: 4× SATA bays
Network: 2× 2.5GbE

At $379 direct it is the cheapest new 4-bay AOOSTAR, and the US-warehouse barebone was in stock on AOOSTAR's store on September 23. It comes with eight cores and sixteen threads. The Ryzen 7 5825U is a full mobile processor with real multi-threaded grunt. If you want your NAS to double as a lightweight homelab node (Plex transcoding, a few Docker containers, maybe a small VM), the 5825U gives you the headroom.

The idle power story is more nuanced than the headline numbers suggest. Notebookcheck measured the 5825U WTR Pro at 5.5W minimum, 8.7W average and 13W maximum over a minute at idle, with a Metrahit Energy meter and a monitor attached. Its spec table lists the test unit's storage as one 512GB SSD and the review does not mention hard drives in the power test, so count your drives on top. Those idle numbers are lower than the N150's. minipc-review.com's review (August 22, 2026) prints higher plug readings for the 5825U: 15W to 18W at idle with only NVMe SSDs fitted, and 23W to 24W with four hard drives. It does not say who took them or with what meter.

The catch is load power. Notebookcheck measured the 5825U at 46.2W average in 3DMark06 and a 67.5W peak (the peak came in a Prime95 stress run), against the N150's 24.6W 3DMark06 average and 27.9W Cinebench R15 Multi peak: about 1.9 times the N150's average and 2.4 times its peak. If you're doing heavy transcoding regularly, your electricity bill will notice. If your NAS mostly idles and occasionally serves files, the 5825U's lower idle draw in Notebookcheck's test means it's cheaper to run 24/7 than the N150.

The 64GB DDR4 RAM ceiling is important for TrueNAS builds. ZFS loves RAM, and having two SO-DIMM slots means you can start with 16GB and upgrade to 64GB later by replacing it with two 32GB modules. The N100 model's single DIMM slot is more limiting.

If you need more than four bays or 10GbE, AOOSTAR's newer WTR MAX (Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, 6+5 bays, dual 10GbE SFP+, USB4, Oculink) steps up to $659 direct from AOOSTAR (regular $699) on September 23, 2026, and $903.99 from a Newegg marketplace seller. It is past the budget brief here.

Buy the AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U barebone: Amazon · Newegg marketplace ($512.99 plus $5.99 shipping) · AOOSTAR direct ($379.00 on September 23, 2026)

To estimate electricity cost from the dated test unit, open the power calculator with Notebookcheck's 5825U readings. It starts with the measured 8.7 W average idle and 46.2 W 3DMark06 load for the listed one-SSD configuration. The review does not identify hard drives in that configuration. Four load hours per day are an editable example; measure your own drives and workload.

N150 WTR Pro (efficiency pick) 5825U WTR Pro (8-core)

Idle minimum

9.3W

5.5W

Idle average — the number that matters for a 24/7 box

14.3W

8.7W

Idle maximum

18.7W

13W

Load average (3DMark06)

24.6W

46.2W

Load peak

27.9W

67.5W

The 8-core 5825U idles lower than the N150 (8.7W vs 14.3W average), so for a box that mostly sits there serving files it is cheaper to run 24/7. It only loses under load, where its peak is ~2.4× the N150's. Pick on your real duty cycle, not the peak number.

Every 10W continuous ≈ 87.6 kWh/year ≈ $16.12 at the $0.184/kWh US residential average (EIA, June 2026). Readings from Notebookcheck's review of both boxes; each test unit's listed storage was one 512GB SSD.

techfuelhq.com, 2026

Drives: Buy Two Now, Add Two Later

A mirror (RAID 1 / ZFS mirror) gives you redundancy on day one and defers half the drive cost: $659.98 for the IronWolf pair now, and the other two bays stay empty until you need them. Which specific drives to buy (CMR vs SMR, the WD Red Plus vs IronWolf Pro tiers, and the recertified $/TB math) is its own decision, covered in depth in the best NAS hard drives guide.

Seagate IronWolf 8TB (ST8000VN004): Amazon · Newegg, $329.99 at Newegg on September 23, 2026. CMR, 7200 RPM, includes IronWolf Health Management. A mirrored pair is $659.98 for 8TB usable. The faster 7200 RPM spindle runs a little louder.

WD Red Plus 8TB (WD80EFPX): Amazon · Newegg, $345.00 at Newegg on September 23, 2026. Also CMR, 5640 RPM, designed for NAS duty. A mirrored pair is $690.00, $30.02 above the IronWolf pair.

On September 23 the IronWolf was $15.01 a drive cheaper at Newegg, so buy the IronWolf unless the box sits in a room where you will hear a 7200 RPM spindle seek; then the WD is worth the $30.02. For a genuine budget build, recertified enterprise drives go further (see the next section). For drives of 20TB and up, where the rebuild time decides the layout, see the six-bay rebuild math.

The 2026 Drive Question: New, Recertified, or Shuck?

Because drives now dominate the budget, where you buy them is the most important call you'll make. Three routes:

New NAS drives. IronWolf 8TB at $329.99 and WD Red Plus 8TB at $345.00, both at Newegg on September 23, 2026. New retail stock with a manufacturer warranty. Check the exact model and region for coverage; buying new does not establish how loud the array will sound. If your data is irreplaceable and you don't want to babysit drives, pay for new.

Recertified enterprise (Seagate Exos and similar). This is the homelab budget path in 2026, and it's what the r/DataHoarder and r/truenas crowd actually buys during the shortage. Sellers like ServerPartDeals and goHardDrive move recertified enterprise disks at the best dollar-per-TB you'll find. If you're torn between a recertified Exos and a new IronWolf Pro, our NAS hard drive guide prices both in the same table. The caveats: warranties are shorter (often ~1-2 years, seller or limited manufacturer), enterprise 7200 RPM drives idle louder and warmer, and you should run a burn-in test the day they arrive. Redundancy matters more here -- run ZFS or parity and let the array absorb a bad drive. Plan capacity and parity with the NAS & RAID storage calculator, and if you're pairing this with Proxmox, the ZFS on Proxmox guide covers pool layout and scrubs.

Shucking external drives. Pulling the bare drive out of a cheap external enclosure used to be the classic discount move. It still works, but the same shortage that lifted bare-drive prices has compressed the shucking discount, so the savings are thinner than they were in 2024. Worth a look on a deal; don't plan the budget around it.

Picking Your NAS Operating System

The hardware is the easy part. The OS decision is where most people get stuck, and the wrong choice can mean a rebuild six months in. All three are legitimate and built for different users; the four-way comparison with Proxmox goes deeper than this section, and the storage-backend guide covers running one inside the other.

TrueNAS Community Edition — The ZFS Purist

Price: Free (Community Edition)
Minimum RAM: 8GB (for up to 8 drives; more is better)
Filesystem: ZFS (mandatory — it's the entire point)

On the two-drive mirror in this build, an OpenZFS scrub checks stored blocks and can repair a bad block from the good copy. That protects against a different failure than a backup: if you lose the whole box, you need a copy elsewhere.

The RAM requirement is real. ZFS uses ARC (Adaptive Replacement Cache) aggressively, and starving it below 8GB leads to poor performance. The old "1GB of RAM per TB of storage" rule overstates it for a home box: 16GB runs this build's 8TB mirror, and a full 4× 8TB array (32TB raw), with a few apps. The 5825U WTR Pro's 64GB ceiling and dual DIMM slots make it the better TrueNAS chassis.

Community Edition is the Linux line that used to be called SCALE, and its apps run as Docker containers. Version 25.10.7 was the current download on September 23, 2026. The download page also documents the upgrade path from the FreeBSD-based CORE 13.0-U6.8.

Unraid — The Flexibility Play

Price: Starter $49 (6 devices) / Unleashed $109 (unlimited) / Lifetime $249
Minimum RAM: 8GB (16GB+ recommended for VMs)
Filesystem: XFS per drive, parity-based redundancy

Unraid takes a fundamentally different approach to storage. Each drive is an independent XFS filesystem, and parity is calculated across drives. The practical advantage: you can mix drive sizes. A 4TB, an 8TB, and a 12TB can all live in the same array as long as the parity drive is the largest. Try that with ZFS or traditional RAID.

The community app ecosystem is Unraid's real draw. Docker containers and VMs are first-class citizens with a point-and-click interface. Installing Plex, Nextcloud, or Home Assistant is a five-minute affair. For users who want a NAS that does everything and don't want to touch a terminal, Unraid is the most approachable option.

The cost is real but reasonable. The Starter license at $49 covers 6 storage devices: the four bays and a cache SSD, with one to spare. For a 4-bay build, that's all you need. Unleashed at $109 removes the device limit; Lifetime at $249 also includes lifetime updates.

Unraid offers two different layouts here. You can choose a ZFS pool or an individual ZFS disk in the parity array. The individual disk can detect a corrupt block, but it cannot repair that block by itself. For family photos, budget for a separate backup whichever layout you buy.

OpenMediaVault — The Lean Option

Price: Free
Minimum RAM: 1GB (4GB comfortable / 8GB+ recommended)
Filesystem: ext4, XFS, Btrfs, ZFS (via plugin)

OMV is Debian with a web UI for NAS management. That's not a criticism — it's the lightest option by a wide margin. If you want a NAS and nothing else, OMV runs on almost nothing. The 1GB minimum is real: it will function on minimal hardware.

For users who are comfortable in Linux and want a pure NAS without the overhead of TrueNAS or the cost of Unraid, OMV is the right call. It serves SMB and NFS shares, runs rsync jobs and handles basic Docker management. It doesn't try to be a hypervisor or an app platform.

One important note: OMV is not supported in an LXC container. If you're planning to run it inside Proxmox, it needs a full VM. This matters for homelab users who want to consolidate a NAS into an existing Proxmox node.

	TrueNAS CE	Unraid	OpenMediaVault
Price	Free	$49–$249	Free
Min RAM	8GB	8GB (16GB+ for VMs)	1GB (4GB ideal)
Filesystem	ZFS (native)	XFS + parity	ext4 / XFS / Btrfs
Data integrity	Checksumming + self-heal	Parity only	Depends on FS
Mixed drive sizes	No	Yes (killer feature)	With SnapRAID plugin
Docker support	Native (apps)	Native + app store	Via plugin
VM support	Basic (KVM)	KVM + GPU passthrough	No
Proxmox LXC	N/A (standalone)	N/A (standalone)	Not supported
Best for	Data integrity purists, ZFS enthusiasts	All-in-one NAS + media + Docker + VMs	Pure NAS on minimal hardware

techfuelhq.com, September 2026

Sample Builds With Real Costs

Both builds use the prices at the top of this page: the box from AOOSTAR's store and every other part from Newegg, read September 23, 2026. The calculator below adds the same numbers.

Build A: 5825U TrueNAS Mirror — The Reference Build

AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U barebone: $379.00 (AOOSTAR direct)
Silicon Power 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM: $93.79 (Newegg)
Patriot P300 256GB NVMe boot drive: $53.99 (Newegg)
2× Seagate IronWolf 8TB, mirrored: $659.98 ($329.99 each, Newegg)

Total: $1,186.76 for an 8TB ZFS mirror: $379.00 plus $93.79 plus $53.99 plus $659.98. The box averaged 8.7W at idle on Notebookcheck's SSD-only test unit, about $14 a year at $0.184/kWh before the drives. minipc-review.com's plug readings (15W to 18W without hard drives, 23W to 24W with four) come to $24 to $39 a year, from 15W with no hard drives to 24W with four.

AOOSTAR specifies DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM memory for the 5825U, so the DDR5 prices elsewhere in this guide do not apply to it; the $93.79 module above is DDR4-3200.

Prefer the N150? Its barebone was $592.99 from a Newegg marketplace seller on September 23, $213.99 above the 5825U, and it takes DDR5 at $229.99 for 16GB. With the same boot drive and drives it comes to $1,536.95.

Build B: 5825U Unraid Multitasker — The Do-Everything Box

AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U barebone: $379.00 (AOOSTAR direct)
2× Silicon Power 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (32GB): $187.58 ($93.79 each, Newegg)
Patriot P300 256GB NVMe (cache pool): $53.99 (Newegg)
2× Seagate IronWolf 8TB: $659.98 ($329.99 each, Newegg)
Unraid Starter license: $49 (one-time, six storage devices)

Total: $1,329.55 for 8TB usable with parity protection and a capable app platform ($379.00 plus $187.58 plus $53.99 plus $659.98 plus $49; the calculator below shows the same total for this selection). It is the same box and drives as Build A, so Build A's power figures are the nearest published readings. You get 8 cores of Ryzen grunt for Plex transcoding and Docker workloads (the Plex and Jellyfin NAS guide covers transcoding hardware), plus room to grow to 64GB RAM and four drives. In 2026, "grow to 64GB later" is a real budget line, so size your RAM for what you'll actually run.

CHASSIS

OPERATING SYSTEM

SEAGATE IRONWOLF 8TB DRIVES

RAM

16GB

$1186.76

Parts total

~$14

Box at idle, a year (drives not counted)

Chassis $379 (AOOSTAR direct) + 2× IronWolf 8TB $659.98 (Newegg) + 16GB DDR4 $93.79 (Newegg) + 256GB NVMe $53.99 (Newegg)

Electricity is the box alone at Notebookcheck's average idle, 8.7W for the 5825U and 14.3W for the N150, running 24/7 at $0.184/kWh. The drive count does not change it.

Who Should Build What

The 5825U + TrueNAS Build

You want to use a ZFS mirror and check its integrity with regular scrubs
You want a compact NAS for files and a few containers, and can check populated noise and power for your room
You don't need heavy transcoding or VM workloads on the same box
You're comfortable with TrueNAS's opinionated approach to storage management

The 5825U + Unraid Build

You want a NAS that also runs Plex, Docker containers, and maybe a Windows VM
You plan to mix drive sizes as you expand over time
You prefer a point-and-click interface with a strong community app ecosystem
The $49 Starter license fits your budget and you want the most approachable setup experience

Either Chassis + OMV

You want the leanest possible NAS — file sharing and backups, nothing else
You're a Linux user who's comfortable managing services via a lightweight web UI
RAM is limited and you don't want ZFS's memory overhead
Budget is absolutely maximized and even $49 for Unraid matters

The Verdict

On September 23, 2026 the 5825U TrueNAS build costs $1,186.76 with two IronWolf 8TB drives. A Synology DS425+ with the same two drives comes to $1,259.97, and a QNAP TS-464-8G to $1,298.98. The DIY box is $73.21 cheaper than the Synology and brings 16GB of RAM against the DS425+'s 2GB, and eight Ryzen cores against a quad-core Celeron.

The gap is small, so buy the DIY box for its OS flexibility, the RAM and cores, dual 2.5GbE and room to repurpose the hardware. Recertified drives can cut the drive bill further, but the WTR Pro takes SATA drives only: skip SAS listings, and compare warranty as well as price.

Either DIY build lets you change the OS or reuse parts later. For a NAS beside your desk, noise is a separate decision. Synology lists 21.6 dB(A) for the DS425+, measured at idle with SSDs and microphones one metre away. That does not rank it against a WTR Pro seeking across two hard drives. Before paying extra for a quieter machine, look for both units measured at the same distance with the same drives running the same workload.

Build a NAS box that exactly fits the role

If you’d rather pick parts yourself instead of buying a turnkey AOOSTAR, the TechFuelHQ PC Builder is a free, open-source picker with socket / RAM / PSU compatibility checks and a CC BY 4.0 parts dataset. Pair it with the Proxmox vs TrueNAS vs Unraid decision guide to pick the OS, and the 10GbE homelab networking guide if your storage is fast enough that 2.5GbE becomes the bottleneck. A DIY case with its own power supply needs sizing for spinning drives; the PSU wattage calculator counts each 3.5-inch drive at its 22W spin-up peak.

Choose the NAS role before the chassis

A cheap NAS is only a good value when its storage layout and software match the network and job. For a storage-first home server with two equal drives, start with the TrueNAS mirror build above. TrueNAS’s current hardware guide calls for at least 8GB of memory, a separate SSD boot device and two equal-size devices for one storage pool; this build clears those minimums.

For an array that will grow one disk at a time or mix capacities, choose Unraid and make the parity disk at least as large as the biggest data disk, as the official array guide requires. For a small Debian-based file server where you are comfortable choosing the storage plugins yourself, use OpenMediaVault.

Keep adjacent projects out of the base build until the role demands them. A rackmount chassis changes the noise and power plan along with the backplane and controller, so it is outside this compact four-bay brief. An SSD pool, 10GbE link or Plex transcoding box also needs its own workload decision. Use the NAS hard-drive guide for CMR and endurance choices, including warranty, the Plex and Jellyfin NAS guide for media hardware, and the 10GbE guide only after the storage side can outrun 2.5GbE.

Once the parts are installed, follow the operating system’s own installer and storage-creation documentation rather than treating a buying guide as a setup wizard. Decide the pool or parity layout first, create shares second, then add apps. If Proxmox is part of the plan, use the storage-backend guide before installing either layer; virtualized storage changes which system should own the disks.

Case, rack and all-flash NAS decisions

For a DIY NAS case or bare server chassis, count usable drive bays after the motherboard, HBA, power supply and cables are installed. Check motherboard and PSU form factors, cooler height, HBA clearance, drive airflow, rail support and the rack’s usable depth. A hot-swap backplane also needs the right drive interface and enough controller links. TrueNAS’s hardware guide recommends direct disk connections where possible, at least 6Gbps SATA III for hot-swap backplanes, and an HBA or controller in passthrough/JBOD mode rather than hardware RAID.

A rack NAS trades chassis depth for density and front-accessible drives. The compact four-bay 5825U may fit a shallow shelf. For a living space, check the populated unit’s idle and seek noise at your seating distance. Choose rackmount only after measuring the rack and confirming rails, backplane, controller, PSU and acoustics from the exact chassis documentation. That checklist answers “server rack NAS” more reliably than calling one case universally best.

For an SSD-based NAS, choose media and networking together. The TrueNAS guide notes that flash is much faster and insensitive to vibration, but says to size quality, power-loss safety and write endurance for the workload; NVMe devices can also need dedicated heatsinks. It warns against USB-connected SSDs as primary TrueNAS storage because device serials can be reported inaccurately. Native SATA, U.2 or M.2 bays with adequate cooling are the safer starting point. If the pool can outrun 2.5GbE, plan the 10GbE path at the same time.

How to use the NAS from Windows, macOS or Linux

Create the storage pool first, then make a dataset and a user account for the share. For Windows and mixed-device homes, SMB is the usual choice; NFS is the Unix-like option. TrueNAS warns against sharing the root or pool-level dataset, so create a child dataset and set its permissions before starting the SMB service.

On Windows, enter \\nas-name\share-name in File Explorer or make it persistent with net use Z: \\nas-name\share-name /PERSISTENT:YES. On macOS, use Finder > Go > Connect to Server and enter smb://nas-name. On Linux, install the CIFS client package and mount //nas-name/share-name at a local mount point. TrueNAS documents all three paths in its SMB share guide. Give each person their own account and grant only the datasets they need.

Sources and methodology

Prices read on September 23, 2026 between 17:28 and 17:40 CDT. Newegg prices come from each product’s own page, the buy-box price and seller as Newegg showed them; where the seller was a marketplace store rather than Newegg, the page says so. The AOOSTAR WTR Pro 5825U and WTR MAX prices come from AOOSTAR’s own store, US warehouse variant. Each NAS OS version comes from its project’s download page the same day, and the Unraid licence prices from its purchase page. Power figures are sourced from the published third-party reviews cited inline.

Primary sources cited:

AOOSTAR product pages — manufacturer specifications and pricing
Newegg — product-page prices for every part except the two AOOSTAR boxes
ServeTheHome NAS reviews — third-party AOOSTAR, Minisforum, and SFF reviews
Notebookcheck, Aoostar WTR Pro review, 2025-05-29 — idle and load readings for the 5825U and N150 units, Metrahit Energy meter
minipc-review.com, AOOSTAR WTR Pro review, 2026-08-22 — plug readings for the 5825U without hard drives and with four
TrueNAS hardware guide, read October 11, 2026 — official minimum hardware and storage guidance
TrueNAS SMB share guide, read October 11, 2026 — official dataset, user, service and Windows/macOS/Linux mounting steps
Unraid array documentation, read October 11, 2026 — official parity sizing and array-expansion guidance
OpenMediaVault prerequisites, read October 11, 2026 — official architecture and hardware guidance
September 23, 2026 prices: AOOSTAR direct (WTR Pro 5825U barebone $379.00, regular $399.95, US warehouse in stock; WTR MAX 8845HS barebone $659.00, regular $699; no WTR Pro N150 in the store’s 26 products); Newegg: Seagate IronWolf 8TB ST8000VN004 $329.99, WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFPX $345.00, Silicon Power 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM $93.79, Patriot P300 256GB NVMe $53.99, Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM $229.99, Synology DS425+ $599.99, QNAP TS-464-8G $639.00, Asustor AS1204T $282.99, TerraMaster F4-425 Pro $699.99, refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini i5-8500T 16GB $301.68 (re-read September 24: $272.22 from SJ Computers LLC, the buy box the page links), Yottamaster 4-bay USB-C $145.99 plus $11.62 shipping, and marketplace listings for the WTR Pro 5825U ($512.99 plus $5.99 shipping), WTR Pro N150 ($592.99) and WTR MAX ($903.99); TrueNAS download (25.10.7); Unraid download (7.3) and Unraid pricing ($49 / $109 / $249); OpenMediaVault (8.5.9)
winbuzzer.com, 2026-02-18 — “Hard Drive Prices Surge 50% as AI Data Centers Buy Out 2026 Supply” (WD CEO Irving Tan nearline-allocation quote)
xda-developers.com — Western Digital sold out of hard drives through 2026
Tom’s Hardware — RAM price index 2026 — live DDR5/DDR4 pricing through the 2026 shortage
Wccftech — memory crisis roundup — DDR5 chip pricing ~$6.84/GB (Sep 2025) → ~$27.20/GB (Dec 2025), shortage projected into 2027
mjtsai.com, 2025-10-09 — Synology reverses third-party-drive restriction in DSM 7.3 (DS925+/DS1825+/DS425+)
ServerPartDeals recertified-drive category — recertified Seagate Exos pricing (verify at purchase; $/TB varies weekly)

Email corrections to contact@techfuelhq.com.

Once your NAS hardware is chosen, the ZFS on Proxmox guide covers pool creation, ARC tuning for shared hosts, and Sanoid snapshot automation — all applicable to TrueNAS SCALE and standalone Proxmox storage nodes.

Immich Setup and Google Photos Migration Guide (2026)

LK Wood IV — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-06-11 · ~14 min read · St. Louis County, MO

Two photos called IMG_0001.jpg can show the same time on the camera and still be different originals. Our small Google Takeout rehearsal included that pair. Both survived the archive, but a third photo appeared under a different calendar date in the archive metadata. The sample and its results show how to tell a time-zone conversion from a lost timestamp.

For the Immich vs PhotoPrism vs Ente comparison, see the self-hosted photo library showdown.

Hardware requirements

Immich’s requirements list 6 GB of RAM and two CPU cores as minimums, with 8 GB and four cores recommended. Reserve that memory for the VM if the host also runs other services. Keep the PostgreSQL data on local storage, preferably an SSD; original photos can live on a separate disk or NAS. On Proxmox, use a full Linux VM for Docker Compose. Immich discourages nesting Docker inside an LXC.

ML indexing and the initial upload have separate queues. Their durations depend on photo/video mix, model, CPU/GPU, storage and concurrent jobs. Measure a representative batch on your server and watch job progress and failures before estimating a large import. GPU support can accelerate eligible ML jobs; it does not set a completion deadline for the whole migration.

Step 1: Deploy Immich with Docker Compose

Create the Immich stack directory:

mkdir -p /opt/stacks/immich && cd /opt/stacks/immich

For a new installation, choose one Immich release. Use its Compose file, environment file and server tag together. The example pins v3.3.6. Run the downloads in the empty stack directory; -O would overwrite an existing file.

version=v3.3.6
release="https://github.com/immich-app/immich/releases/download/$version"
wget -O docker-compose.yml "$release/docker-compose.yml"
wget -O .env "$release/example.env"

In .env change the existing IMMICH_VERSION entry to v3.3.6. Set UPLOAD_LOCATION to the directory for your managed photos (for example /mnt/photos/immich) and DB_DATA_LOCATION to a separate directory on a local disk. For a new database, set DB_PASSWORD to a fresh random alphanumeric value. Keep this file private. Create the chosen photo directory before startup. Keep your current credentials and follow the upgrade instructions if you already have an installation.

Start Immich:

docker compose up -d

Immich starts four containers, immich_server, immich_machine_learning, immich_redis (a Valkey image, despite the name) and immich_postgres (PostgreSQL with VectorChord). The separate immich-microservices container that older guides list was folded into the server (official compose checked 2026-08-22). Use docker compose ps to see when the server becomes healthy; a starting database can delay the first login.

Access the web UI at http://your-host-ip:2283. Create the admin account on first launch.

Step 2: Configure storage and external libraries

UPLOAD_LOCATION is the root of the managed media tree. Its layout depends on whether the storage template is enabled. Don’t assume your originals live in a year/month directory or move files around inside the managed tree.

For photos you already organise yourself, use an external library. Mount the host folder into immich-server with :ro, for example /mnt/photos/archive:/mnt/external/archive:ro. Recreate the container after changing its mounts, select Administration → External Libraries, and add the path inside the container (/mnt/external/archive). The read-only mount protects the source files; it does not back them up.

For Google Takeout imports and new phone backups, let Immich manage the storage via the Upload path.

Step 3: Mobile backup setup

Immich mobile app is available on iOS and Android (search “Immich” in the App Store / Play Store).

After installing:

Open the app → enter your server URL: http://192.168.1.10:2283 (or your NPM domain if you’ve set that up)
Log in with your account
Tap the profile icon → Backup → configure backup on WiFi only or on any network
Enable “Background Backup” in the app settings

For background backup to work reliably on iOS:

Go to iOS Settings → Immich → allow background app refresh
On iOS, the Immich app must be opened periodically to trigger background sync (iOS background task limitation)

For full automatic background backup on Android, enable the “Ignore Battery Optimization” option in the app.

Step 4: Enable hardware ML acceleration

If indexing is slow, check which jobs are waiting first. The machine-learning container can use a compatible GPU for face detection and smart search. Upload and database work use different resources.

NVIDIA GPU (CUDA):

In docker-compose.yml, under immich-machine-learning:

 immich-machine-learning:
 image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}-cuda
 deploy:
 resources:
 reservations:
 devices:
 - driver: nvidia
 count: 1
 capabilities: [gpu]

On a Linux Docker host, follow NVIDIA’s Container Toolkit installation and configuration. On Proxmox, the GPU must first be available inside the Linux VM running Docker. If that VM cannot see the card, changing the Immich image will not give it access.

Intel GPU: OpenVINO for machine learning

 immich-machine-learning:
 image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}-openvino
 devices:
 - /dev/dri:/dev/dri

After changing the image and adding device access, redeploy:

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Run a machine-learning job and inspect docker compose logs immich-machine-learning for the available ONNX Runtime providers when the model loads. For CUDA, look for CUDAExecutionProvider; check for errors and device activity while the job runs. Elapsed time alone cannot identify the device. See machine-learning acceleration for the provider on your hardware. Intel Quick Sync and VAAPI belong to the separate video-transcoding settings.

Step 5: Migrate Google Photos via Takeout

Request your Takeout export:

Go to takeout.google.com
Deselect everything, then select “Google Photos” only
Choose “Export once”, maximum file size (50GB per archive), .zip format
Google emails you when the export is ready. Its Takeout help gives a range of minutes to days, depending on the amount of data.

Download all the zip files to your server. The archive count depends on your library size and the maximum archive size you selected. At up to 50 GB per archive that is a serious one-time download, so if your ISP enforces a monthly cap, check it against your normal usage with the data usage calculator before you kick it off.

Check a small Takeout before moving the library

The sample kit (ZIP) contains synthetic JPEGs, the Takeout ZIP, the actual archive output and a small verifier. It works without a server or Google account. On November 5, 2026, we ran immich-go 0.32.0 in archive from-google-photos mode on Windows. Five JPEG entries produced three distinct originals. Here is what the counts miss:

What went into Takeout	What came back from the offline archive
Two different pictures named `IMG_0001.jpg`, both taken at 01:30 on November 1, 2020	Both files matched their source hashes. One camera recorded −05:00 and the other −06:00: 06:30 and 07:30 UTC, an hour apart.
Two of the three originals each appeared in a second album	Each original appeared once on disk. Their JSON records retained all five memberships across the three albums.
One JPEG recorded January 2, 2021, 00:15 at +05:30	The embedded time stayed intact. The archive JSON showed January 1 at 12:45, −06:00. Both mean January 1 at 18:45 UTC.

Unzip the kit and run python -B verify.py all from its folder with Python 3.11 or later. It checks the original bytes, both camera time fields and each photo’s albums. It also rejects a deliberately damaged copy that still has the right file count. See the individual results and hashes. This exercise used three JPEGs; it did not upload to an Immich account, restore its database or test videos, GPS or a mobile timeline.

Import a sample into your Immich account

Install the immich-go release for your operating system and CPU. Check your server’s version against the release notes. Keep the Google sidecars alongside the photos; the uploader accepts the original ZIP parts directly. Use a small separate export, or the synthetic takeout-fixture.zip from the kit, for a first pass. Store your own test exports separately from the full migration.

Create an API key for the destination user. On a Linux host with Bash, the following reads it without putting the key into shell history. Run it from the extracted kit against your own local disposable test instance; change the ZIP path for your separate sample. Wait for processing before comparing the result.

(
 read -rsp 'Immich API key: ' IMMICH_GO_UPLOAD_API_KEY; echo
 export IMMICH_GO_UPLOAD_API_KEY
 immich-go upload from-google-photos --server=http://127.0.0.1:2283 \
 --pause-immich-jobs=false --sync-albums=true --takeout-tag=false ./takeout-fixture.zip
)

In Immich, download each original from the sample. Match its SHA-256 to the source, check the displayed date in the time zone you expect, and open each album to see which photos it contains. For the supplied ZIP, compare against the three hashes and album lists in expected.json. The clock change makes the two same-name photos easy to confuse. Repeat the same upload once into that test account and check again. If another copy appears, a date changes, or a sidecar goes unmatched, keep the export and investigate before importing the rest. A byte-identical duplicate and a re-encoded copy of the same scene need not be treated alike.

Once the sample passes, supply all the ZIP parts of your real export in one invocation (for example, replace ./takeout-fixture.zip with /mnt/staging/takeout-zips/*.zip). Inspect skipped files and errors; long-running thumbnail and search jobs have their own queues. Revoke the temporary import key when you finish.

After import completes, let Immich run ML indexing on the new photos. In the web UI → Administration → Jobs → Face Detection: queue this job to run. It can take hours on a large library.

Step 6: Reverse proxy with Nginx Proxy Manager

Get your Immich accessible at a clean URL instead of 192.168.1.10:2283:

In Nginx Proxy Manager → Add Proxy Host:

Domain: photos.yourdomain.com
Scheme: http
Forward to: immich-server container name (or LAN IP if separate host)
Port: 2283
SSL: enable with your wildcard cert
Set client_max_body_size on the proxy host above the largest upload you intend to accept. A bounded value can work; Immich’s reverse-proxy example uses 50000M. A value of 0 removes this limit.

Update the mobile app: replace the server URL with https://photos.yourdomain.com.

Step 7: Backup strategy

Immich’s official backup documentation is thorough. The short version:

What to back up:

The full UPLOAD_LOCATION tree for managed photos and videos. Back up any external library from the original mount separately.
A database backup for asset paths, accounts, album relationships and metadata. A SQL dump does not contain the JPEGs.

PostgreSQL backup:

The current manual backup procedure uses pg_dump for the Immich database. Save this script as /usr/local/sbin/immich-db-backup on the Docker host and give it root ownership and mode 0700. Match the container name, database name and username to your Compose configuration. It writes a temporary file in the destination directory, rejects failed or empty dumps, checks gzip integrity, and publishes the final filename only after those checks pass:

#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail
umask 077
backup_dir=/mnt/backups/immich
tmp=
trap '[[ -z "$tmp" ]] || rm -f -- "$tmp"' EXIT
trap 'logger -p user.err -t immich-backup "Immich database backup failed"; printf "%s\n" "Immich database backup failed" >&2' ERR
install -d -m 0700 "$backup_dir"
tmp=$(mktemp "$backup_dir/.db-XXXXXX.sql.gz")
docker exec immich_postgres pg_dump --clean --if-exists \
 --dbname=immich --username=postgres | gzip > "$tmp"
gzip --test "$tmp"
# Read the whole stream so pipefail also catches decompression errors.
gzip --decompress --stdout "$tmp" | \
 awk '{ bytes += length($0) + 1 } END { exit(bytes == 0) }'
final="$backup_dir/db-$(date -u +%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ).sql.gz"
mv -- "$tmp" "$final"
tmp=
printf 'Completed backup: %s\n' "$final"

Run it once and inspect the completed dump before scheduling it. Failures return a nonzero exit code and reach syslog and stderr. Connect your scheduler’s failure reporting to a monitored destination and test a failure alert; a local log entry alone cannot notify you. After configuring mail delivery, save this as /etc/cron.d/immich-backup with root ownership and mode 0644, replacing the address:

MAILTO=your-monitored-address@example.com
0 3 * * * root /usr/local/sbin/immich-db-backup

Keep the dump and originals from a consistent point in time. For the restore drill, use your saved Compose version on a separate test host with copies of the media and a fresh database. Do not point the test at the live folders. Follow the matching version’s official restore instructions, start with a fresh database, and use psql --single-transaction --set ON_ERROR_STOP=on for a manual import. Check that accounts and albums return, metadata matches, and sample originals and videos open. Record which dump and Immich version you restored and whether the checks passed. Gzip validity alone does not prove database or file recovery.

Photo backup via restic:

If you’re running restic for off-site backups, add UPLOAD_LOCATION and your database dump directory to the backup paths. Check that the backup copy is independent of the source disk and that a sample original opens from it.

Check the resolved host paths in docker compose config before choosing your backup sources. A named volume or a directory called “photos” does not identify the originals on its own.

Common issues

ML indexing not starting: Check that immich-machine-learning container is running: docker compose ps. If it’s restart-looping, check logs: docker compose logs immich-machine-learning. CUDA issues usually show as “CUDA not available” — verify the NVIDIA Container Toolkit is installed and the container has GPU access.

Google Takeout import skipping files: Inspect the exact skip or error message. Locate the source JPEG and JSON across all the ZIP parts, then compare the downloaded original and album on the server. A dry run can help explain what the uploader plans to do; it cannot prove the file was stored.

Mobile app can’t connect: Verify the server URL includes the port if you’re using the direct IP (http://192.168.1.10:2283). When using Nginx Proxy Manager, check DNS and the TLS certificate first. A request-body limit applies to large uploads; it does not explain a failed login connection.

Thumbnails not generating: Jobs in Immich run asynchronously. After a large import, the thumbnail and ML jobs queue behind each other. Check Administration → Jobs — each job type shows queued/active/failed counts. Failed jobs usually indicate a storage permission issue on UPLOAD_LOCATION.

Comparing Immich to PhotoPrism and Ente before committing? The self-hosted photo library showdown covers all three. For access from anywhere, Tailscale or WireGuard give your mobile app a direct path to Immich without exposing the server publicly.

Sources

Immich Docker Compose install – official docs on the recommended compose deployment, .env config, and container set.
Immich Backup and Restore – official docs on backing up the upload location and PostgreSQL database.
immich-go – upstream repository for the uploader and its Takeout sidecar handling.
Installing the NVIDIA Container Toolkit – official guide for the host toolkit required for CUDA machine-learning acceleration.

PPI & Pixel Density Calculator: Monitor Sharpness (2026)

LK Wood IV — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This tool calculates the pixel density (PPI, pixels per inch) of any display from its resolution and diagonal size, then tells you what that density means in practice. Enter a width, height, and screen size, or tap a preset for a common monitor. You get the PPI, the pixel pitch in millimeters, the total megapixels, an approximate “retina” distance, and a plain-English sharpness verdict.

The framing: PPI does not decide sharpness on its own - viewing distance does. A phone needs far higher density than a monitor because you hold it close.

For a desktop screen at arm’s length, roughly 90 PPI is the usable baseline rather than a crisp one, about 110 looks clean and 140-plus is very sharp, so you do not need phone-class numbers on a monitor you sit back from. The “retina distance” figure is the point beyond which individual pixels get hard to resolve for normal vision.

GPU workload depends on the resolution you render. Moving from 32-inch 1440p to 27-inch 1440p raises PPI without adding pixels to a frame. To size a graphics card for a given resolution, see the GPU Comparison Tool; to work out a screen’s exact aspect ratio, use the Aspect Ratio Calculator.

Worked examples

These are this calculator’s own outputs, computed with the same formula the tool runs in your browser — so you can see a real answer without touching a single input.

27-inch 1440p monitor — the tool’s default state and the ‘27" 1440p’ preset (2560x1440 @ 27 in)

Inputs: w = 2560 px, h = 1440 px, d = 27 in
Result: 109 PPI. Verdict: ‘Sharp’ (mid). Pixel pitch 0.233 mm, 3.7 MP, retina distance 32 in (80 cm). Moving the same 2560 × 1440 pixels onto a 32-inch screen changes their spacing, not their count.

27-inch 4K monitor — the ‘27" 4K’ preset, the upgrade the page’s own prose compares against 27-inch 1440p (3840x2160 @ 27 in)

Inputs: w = 3840 px, h = 2160 px, d = 27 in
Result: 163 PPI. Verdict: ‘Retina-class’ (hi). Pixel pitch 0.156 mm, 8.3 MP, retina distance 21 in (54 cm). At the same size, native 4K has 2.25 times as many pixels as 1440p.

32-inch 1440p monitor — the ‘32" 1440p’ preset. Same resolution as example 1, bigger panel, so the tier rule flips from ‘Sharp’ down to ‘Standard / a bit soft’ (2560x1440 @ 32 in)

Inputs: w = 2560 px, h = 1440 px, d = 32 in
Result: 92 PPI. Verdict: ‘Standard / a bit soft’ (lo). Pixel pitch 0.277 mm, 3.7 MP, retina distance 37 in (95 cm). The 32-inch display has about the same density as 24-inch 1080p, even though it has more pixels in total.

How this pixels-per-inch calculator works

This screen PPI calculator uses the standard pixel density formula: the diagonal resolution in pixels divided by the diagonal size in inches. It takes the square root of the width squared plus the height squared to get the diagonal in pixels, then divides by the screen’s diagonal in inches.

That single number, pixels per inch, is what makes a 27-inch 1440p monitor (about 109 PPI) look crisper than a 32-inch 1440p one (about 92 PPI) even though both have the same resolution. The result also reports pixel pitch in millimetres for the datasheets that list density that way, plus total megapixels and an approximate retina distance, so you can judge sharpness for your actual viewing distance rather than from resolution alone.

One disambiguation, since plenty of people land here searching for a “DPI calculator”: a mouse’s DPI is a pointer-sensitivity setting rather than a screen measurement, and that belongs in the mouse sensitivity converter instead.

What PPI to aim for at your distance

Density only matters relative to how far you sit. For a desktop monitor at arm’s length, the useful band is roughly 90 to 160 PPI. A 24-inch 1080p and a 32-inch 1440p screen each measure about 92 PPI. At 27 inches, 1440p measures about 109 PPI. Compare them at the same distance; the larger screen is not rendering any more pixels.

Around 140 and up (32-inch 4K and denser) is very sharp but usually wants some operating-system scaling so menus are not tiny. Below about 80 PPI, individual pixels and jagged edges start to show at a desk. Phones and tablets run far higher numbers only because you hold them close.

27-inch 1440p versus 4K, and scaling

At 27 inches, 1440p is about 109 PPI and 4K is about 163 PPI, so 4K is visibly sharper, especially on text and fine detail. The trade-offs: 4K is about 2.25 times the pixels, so it needs a stronger graphics card for the same frame rate, and at 27 inches it usually wants around 150 percent display scaling to keep the interface readable.

If you mostly game and chase frames, 1440p is the easier target; if you read, code, or design a lot and have the GPU for 4K, 27-inch 4K is a real step up in clarity. To check a panel’s exact ratio alongside its density, use the Aspect Ratio Calculator.

Assumptions and sources

PPI is pure arithmetic - diagonal pixels (the square root of width squared plus height squared) divided by diagonal inches - and pixel pitch is its inverse, 25.4 mm divided by PPI. No external data enters the core numbers.
The “retina distance” applies the common one-arcminute visual-acuity convention (normal 20/20 vision resolves about 1/60 of a degree); this is a TechFuelHQ implementation of that convention, stated as an approximation for typical eyesight rather than a vendor specification.
The sharpness bands (about 90 PPI usable, 109 the desktop sweet spot, 140+ wants scaling) are TechFuelHQ editorial thresholds for arm’s-length desktop viewing, stated so you can shift them for your own distance and vision.

PSU Calculator: Power Supply Wattage Calculator

LK Wood IV — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Short answer: most gaming PCs need a 550W to 850W power supply, and the graphics card decides which end you land on. An RTX 5060 build is comfortable on 550W, an RTX 5060 Ti on 600W, an RTX 5070 on 650W, an RTX 5070 Ti on 750W, an RTX 5080 on 850W, and an RTX 5090 on 1000W — NVIDIA’s own published minimums.

AMD publishes a 450W reference-system minimum for the RX 9060 XT, 650W for the RX 9070, and 750W for the RX 9070 XT. Pick your exact parts in the power supply calculator above: it calculates component demand separately and uses the higher of that result and the vendor floor.

How to check your PSU’s wattage

Look at the power supply itself. Its label names the model; Corsair, for one, puts that label on the side or top of the unit, with a part number that starts CP-. Look the model or part number up on the maker’s site and its product page usually gives the wattage.

That figure is the unit’s capacity. Your PC only draws what its parts need. Add them up in the calculator above and compare its minimum with the unit’s rated wattage.

Worked examples

These are this calculator’s own outputs, computed with the same formula the tool runs in your browser — so you can see a real answer without touching a single input.

Mainstream 1440p gaming build — Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RTX 5060 Ti (OC model), 2x DDR5, one Gen3 NVMe, 3 case fans, one AIO, ATX board. The calculator opens with the CPU allowance blank and withholds a result. Enter the stated 120W allowance to reproduce this worked example.

Inputs: CPU = Ryzen 7 7800X3D, explicit user CPU allowance = 120W; GPU = RTX 5060 Ti OC (200W peak); DDR5 sticks = 2; Gen5 NVMe = 0; Gen4 NVMe = 0; Gen3 NVMe = 1; SATA SSDs = 0; HDDs = 0; case fans = 3; AIO = 1; USB/misc = 10W; motherboard = ATX (45W)
Result: Peak draw 409W | Calculated minimum 550W | NVIDIA floor 600W (650W at the retail sizes compared) | Displayed minimum 650W | Optional half-load size 850W. The vendor floor, rather than the component calculation, sets the displayed minimum.

High-end 4K gaming build — Ryzen 7 9800X3D + RTX 5080 Founders Edition, 2x DDR5, one Gen5 and one Gen4 NVMe, 6 case fans, one AIO, ATX board

Inputs: CPU = Ryzen 7 9800X3D, explicit user CPU allowance = 120W; GPU = RTX 5080 Founders Edition (360W peak); DDR5 sticks = 2; Gen5 NVMe = 1; Gen4 NVMe = 1; Gen3 NVMe = 0; SATA SSDs = 0; HDDs = 0; case fans = 6; AIO = 1; USB/misc = 10W; motherboard = ATX (45W)
Result: Peak draw 587W | Calculated minimum 750W | NVIDIA floor 850W | Displayed minimum 850W | Optional half-load size 1200W. The vendor floor, rather than the component calculation, sets the displayed minimum.

Homelab NAS / Proxmox box — Ryzen 5 5600X on a Micro-ATX board, no dedicated GPU, one NVMe boot drive and six 3.5-inch hard drives, four case fans, air cooler

Inputs: CPU = Ryzen 5 5600X, explicit user CPU allowance = 65W; GPU = No dedicated GPU / integrated only (0W); DDR5 sticks = 2; Gen5 NVMe = 0; Gen4 NVMe = 0; Gen3 NVMe = 1; SATA SSDs = 0; HDDs = 6; case fans = 4; AIO = 0; USB/misc = 10W; motherboard = mATX (35W)
Result: Peak draw 266W | Calculated and displayed minimum 550W | Optional half-load size 550W. No GPU vendor floor applies. The six drives account for 132W of that peak, at 22W each while they spin up.

PSU wattage by graphics card

In a balanced, gaming-first build the graphics card is the single largest draw — roughly 45% of system peak on an entry card and up to about 75% on a flagship — so it is the fastest way to a starting number. Every row below carries its own source, because two different kinds of number appear in this table and the difference matters.

Graphics card	Board power	Minimum PSU	Basis for the PSU figure
GeForce RTX 5090	575W TGP	1000W	NVIDIA published minimum
GeForce RTX 5080	360W TGP	850W	NVIDIA published minimum
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti	300W TGP	750W	NVIDIA published minimum
GeForce RTX 5070	250W TGP	650W	NVIDIA published minimum
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti	180W TGP	600W	NVIDIA published minimum
GeForce RTX 5060	145W TGP	550W	NVIDIA published minimum
GeForce RTX 4090	450W TGP	850W	NVIDIA reference-system minimum
GeForce RTX 4080 / 4080 Super	320W TGP	750W	NVIDIA reference-system minimum
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super	285W TGP	700W	NVIDIA reference-system minimum
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (non-Super)	285W TGP	700W	NVIDIA reference-system figure
GeForce RTX 4070 / 4070 Super	200W / 220W TGP	650W	NVIDIA reference-system minimum
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti / 4060	165W / 115W TGP	550W	NVIDIA reference-system minimum
GeForce RTX 3090 reference	350W graphics card power	750W	NVIDIA RTX 30-series reference system
GeForce RTX 3070 reference	220W graphics card power	650W	NVIDIA RTX 30-series reference system
GeForce RTX 3060 reference	170W graphics card power	550W	NVIDIA reference-system figure
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB reference	130W graphics card power	550W	NVIDIA reference-system figure
GeForce RTX 3050 6GB reference	70W graphics card power	300W	NVIDIA reference-system figure
Radeon RX 9070 XT	304W TBP	750W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 9070	220W TBP	650W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB / 8GB	160W / 150W TBP	450W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 7900 XTX	355W TBP	800W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 7800 XT	263W TBP	700W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 7700 XT	245W TBP	700W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 7600 XT	190W TBP	600W	AMD published minimum
Radeon RX 6600	132W typical board power	450W	AMD published minimum

RTX 3060, RTX 3050 variants and RTX 4070 Ti

Read the capacity label on an RTX 3050. NVIDIA gives the 8GB reference card 130W graphics-card power and 550W required system power; the 6GB version is 70W / 300W. The RTX 3060 reference figure is 170W / 550W. These values come from the separate columns in NVIDIA’s comparison table. Choose the matching option here, then account for the rest of your build and your card maker’s instructions.

The RTX 4070 Ti without “Super” has a 285W TGP and 700W reference-system requirement in that table. It shares those two numbers with the Ti Super, but that does not make the cards interchangeable. NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series reference system uses a Ryzen 9 5900X; its RTX 30-series comparison uses a Core i9-10900K. Neither figure is a measurement of your own PC’s wall power.

The calculator’s retail choices start at 550W. That is why the 3050 6GB’s published 300W system figure can still produce a 550W tool minimum, even with a modest CPU. It does not revise NVIDIA’s specification. The itemized demand calculation can also require more than a vendor floor.

RX 6600, RTX 3090 and a 650W PSU for RTX 3070

AMD lists 132W board power and a 450W minimum PSU for the RX 6600. NVIDIA lists 350W / 750W for RTX 3090 and 220W / 650W for RTX 3070. The graphics-card number is not the entire PC. NVIDIA bases these RTX 30-series system figures on a Core i9-10900K configuration and says requirements vary with the system and board manufacturer. The source links in their rows provide the exact specifications.

A suitable 650W unit meets NVIDIA’s RTX 3070 reference-system figure; that does not certify every 650W supply or every overclocked partner card. Check the exact card’s instructions, PSU condition, connectors and the rest of the build. Choose the new reference option in the calculator to apply its published floor alongside the component calculation. RX 6600 and RTX 3090 follow the same method; no extra legacy-card multiplier is added.

Why a vendor floor can differ from the calculator. A vendor minimum is a whole reference-system figure: NVIDIA’s own note on the RTX 5090 states its 1000W figure is based on a system built around a Ryzen 9 9950X, while AMD documents the processors used for its RX 7000-series figures. The number therefore carries assumptions about a processor and other parts you may not own.

The calculator also produces an itemized minimum from your selected CPU, GPU estimate, board, memory, storage, cooling, and miscellaneous load, adds 20%, and steps up to a retail size. It uses whichever is higher: that calculated demand or the published vendor floor. It does not apply a vendor floor where the primary specification omits one, as AMD’s current RX 7900 GRE specification table does.

Buying or keeping a supply? In the 409W example above, the component allowance plus 20% is 491W, but the generic GPU family floor is 600W. That makes 650W the first size on this tool’s shopping list. A suitable 600W unit you already own reaches the numeric requirement; check the exact card, the unit’s continuous 12V rating and its compatible cables before deciding to keep it. Where your board has its own documented requirement, use that guidance for its stated configuration.

The optional half-load size is a separate comparison. For an example where the itemized calculation exceeds the vendor figure, see the RTX 50-series PSU guide.

How this power supply calculator works

No vendor’s calculator shows you its math. Here is ours, in full.

1. It sums component power allowances. The CPU term is a configured socket/package limit or an explicit allowance. Intel desktop presets use Maximum Turbo Power (MTP); AMD, N100 and custom selections require you to enter a limit. GPU figures come from the dropdowns; everything else is itemized and added: motherboard (about 45W for ATX, less for Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX, more for EATX), 5W per stick of RAM, 10W per Gen5 M.2 drive, 8W per Gen4, 6W per Gen3, 3W per SATA SSD, 22W per hard drive (the spin-up peak, when drives draw most), 2W per case fan, 12W for an AIO pump and fans, plus whatever you enter in the miscellaneous field (10W by default, for fan controllers, RGB, capture cards, and similar).

That total is your estimated peak allowance. It is a sizing budget, not a measured maximum at the wall. Board overhead and the separate 20% margin remain estimates.

2. It adds 20% and checks the published GPU system minimum. When a selected Intel desktop CPU has a lower manual power limit than its stock Maximum Turbo Power, the load estimate reflects the lower setting, but buying capacity still covers stock. With no built-in CPU power figure, enter a limit that covers the settings you could return to. Compare the resulting requirement in watts with the continuous output on an existing PSU label.

3. It shows the first size on the shopping list that meets that requirement. The comparison uses 550, 650, 750, 850, 1000, 1200 and 1500W, then 100W increments. Those steps don’t change the requirements of the parts or rule out a supply between steps. A GPU with no published figure in the selector needs a separate board check.

4. It shows what half load would mean. This optional size aims for about 50% of capacity under the sizing allowance and never falls below the minimum. The table shows the percentage of each unit’s rated output your entered load would use. It does not predict fan speed or a particular model’s efficiency.

The transient-spike question, answered

Modern graphics cards pull microsecond spikes well above their rated power, and this is where PSU advice usually turns into “buy double.” It should not.

Intel’s ATX 3.0 design guide sets explicit excursion brackets a compliant unit must survive, and they are tiered by duration rather than being one blanket number:

Excursion	Maximum duration
200% of rated power	100 µs
180% of rated power	1 ms
160% of rated power	10 ms
120% of rated power	100 ms

The qualifier matters as much as the number. That 200% bracket applies to units above 450W that ship a native 12VHPWR / 12V-2x6 connector. A smaller unit, or one without that connector, is held to a lower bar — 150% at 100 µs. So “my PSU is ATX 3.x, it handles 200% spikes” is only true for the larger, natively-connectored units.

Where it applies, though, it settles the sizing question: a 750W unit in that class is built to ride out a 1500W spike lasting 100 microseconds. That headroom is already in the standard, so on a qualifying unit you do not buy a bigger PSU to cover transient spikes — you buy a compliant one. On an older ATX 2.x unit paired with a high-wattage card, leave more room, because it was never designed to these brackets.

The connector on the graphics card matters. NVIDIA specifies either its supplied adapter with three PCIe 8-pin cables or one 450W-or-greater PCIe Gen 5 cable for its RTX 5080 Founders Edition. AMD lists two 8-pin connectors on the reference RX 7900 XTX. Wattage alone cannot tell you which cable fits. We are still not going to tell you whether 3.1 raises or lowers the transient bar relative to 3.0, because we have not read a source that compares the two brackets directly, and we do not publish spec claims we have not read.

Check the cable against the manual for your exact PSU. (We have since read Intel’s ATX v3 design guide for a different figure — the low-load efficiency point it sets at 10W — which is covered in the PSU tier list.)

One more that vendor calculators skip: if your unit is multi-rail, total wattage is not a single pool. A 1000W multi-rail supply may cap one 12V rail well below the card’s draw, and a high-wattage GPU fed entirely from that rail can trip over-current protection on a supply that is nominally huge. Follow the rail distribution in your PSU’s manual and use separate cables rather than daisy-chaining one pigtail.

Reading the three numbers

Continuous vs. peak vs. transient. A PSU’s headline number is its continuous rating — what it can deliver all day. Your parts list a peak draw, which the calculator sums. Transient spikes are the third number, and the standard above covers them. A unit sized only to the raw continuous total, with no margin at all, can trip its over-current protection under load, which shows up as a random shutdown rather than an error message.

Efficiency depends on the supply and the load. The 80 PLUS program tests specified load points. To compare two supplies’ energy use, check their test results at the output your PC actually uses, then apply your own electricity rate. Our EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT review identifies its tested sample, and the power and cost calculator converts wall draw into an annual cost.

Keep undervolting separate from buying capacity. One RTX 4090 owner reported 398W at stock and 358W with a tune in Cyberpunk 2077. Those readings describe one card and workload. The software profile can be turned off; do not subtract the 40W when choosing a supply. Use the stock board allowance and the applicable manufacturer requirement. The undervolting guide explains testing and rollback; the results database distinguishes workload readings from a general savings claim.

If your PC is already shutting down

An undersized or failing supply looks the same from the outside: reboots under load, shutdowns in games, a PC that will not post. PSU failure symptoms covers how to tell a dying unit from an undersized one, and the FAQ below covers testing a supply and finding out which one you already own.

These are conservative component estimates. Real-world idle draw is far lower, and your actual numbers depend on overclocks and the specific models you choose — for a full parts list with compatibility checking, use the PC Builder, and for where each card lands on speed, see the GPU hierarchy.

CPU power connectors: what does “12 pin” mean?

Count the sockets separately. For example, ASUS lists one 8-pin +12V and one 4-pin +12V connector in the TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi manual. That is an 8+4 motherboard arrangement, not a single 12-pin GPU socket. Your own board may use a different arrangement.

Use the CPU/EPS cables specified for that exact PSU and follow the motherboard manual for which sockets must be populated. Seasonic’s cable guide distinguishes CPU 4+4 from PCIe GPU connectors. Do not substitute a GPU cable or force a matching-looking modular plug. A wattage calculation cannot verify connector compatibility.

Can software measure the PC’s actual power usage?

Software can expose supported component sensors. It does not turn a GPU reading into whole-PC wall power. On a machine with NVIDIA’s driver utility available, this read-only command requests its power report:

nvidia-smi -q -d POWER

NVIDIA’s documentation defines GPU power readings for the board and says unsupported data appears as N/A. Read the field’s scope and units. Do not count a reported power limit as actual consumption, or add a component reading to a larger total that already includes it.

For electricity use at the outlet, measure the PC’s AC input with a suitably rated plug-in power meter, following its instructions. Record which devices are connected. Component DC demand and wall AC draw differ because the PSU loses some energy during conversion; Corsair explains that distinction. This calculator estimates a build’s demand for sizing. It is not a live power meter.

Corrections

2026-10-23 - Component edits now withhold stale estimates. A blank, negative, fractional or out-of-range component count pauses the result while you edit. A negative count becomes a visible zero when you leave the field; other invalid counts need correction. Sharing requires a valid visible scenario. Zero components are allowed, but the selected AMD CPU still needs its separate power allowance. The 409W worked example above requires entering 120W; it is not a result shown on page load.

2026-08-15 — Core i7-14700K peak draw corrected from 192W to 253W. The CPU dropdown is documented above as carrying peak figures, and its other Intel entries do exactly that: the i9-14900K and i9-13900K rows both use 253W, which is Intel’s published Maximum Turbo Power for those parts.

The i7-14700K row carried 192W, which matches neither of Intel’s two published power figures for that processor — Intel ARK lists it at 125W Processor Base Power / 253W Maximum Turbo Power (read from Intel’s own specification page on 2026-08-15). The 61W understatement flowed straight into every calculation a 14700K owner ran, pushing peak draw, the minimum size and the recommended size all low. Corrected to 253W, which restores the table’s own Intel convention.

Scope note: this correction covers the one row re-derived from the vendor page. Several other rows in the same dropdown appear to carry base TDP where the page promises peak — AMD entries in particular, whose peak package power (PPT) AMD does not publish on its product pages. I have recorded those as open findings in my audit log and left them unchanged until each is checked against its source; see the caveat below.

2026-08-29 — three Intel rows corrected from base power to Maximum Turbo Power. The same defect class as the 14700K entry above, in three more rows: Core i5-14600K and Core i5-13600K both carried 125W, and Core Ultra 5 245K carried 125W. In every case that is Intel’s Processor Base Power, not the peak figure this dropdown is documented as carrying.

Corrected to Intel’s published Maximum Turbo Power — 181W for the i5-14600K and i5-13600K, 159W for the Core Ultra 5 245K. The understatement was worth one retail PSU size on mainstream pairings: an i5-13600K with an RTX 5070 Ti computed 514W and recommended a 650W unit, where the true 570W peak recommends 750W — and 570W of 650W is 88% load, which this page’s own efficiency table flagged at the time as “Over — risk of shutdowns under peak load”.

Change-safety note: correcting these three removed the last value="125" option from the CPU dropdown. A shared link carrying cpu=125 would previously have landed on no option at all and silently computed with a 0W CPU. The URL restore path was hardened first, in the same change, to ignore any value the dropdown does not offer and keep its default selection instead.

2026-10-12 - CPU sizing now uses a declared power-limit convention. The old AMD presets mixed TDP, PPT and unexplained figures: for example 200W for the 9950X, 230W for the 7950X, and 120W for X3D models. Those values no longer feed the calculation. AMD, N100 and custom selections require a CPU power allowance; an empty or invalid value withholds peak and PSU sizes. Intel desktop presets keep their published MTP figures and accept an explicit override for a changed board limit.

Read the configured socket/package ceiling from BIOS or Ryzen Master and enter watts. Check the setting for the profile you plan to use, including PBO or Eco changes. TDP describes a thermal specification and does not supply this allowance. A complete stock-PPT table for these AMD SKUs was not established by this check, so the calculator supplies no replacement guessed constant. The field is included in shared links.

2026-09-29 — two AMD rows raised to AMD’s board power, and the RTX 5060 Ti floor corrected. The RX 7700 XT row carried about 200W and the RX 7600 XT row about 150W, both labeled as peak draw. AMD’s own specification pages list 245W and 190W typical board power, so a peak figure below them understated both builds. Both rows now carry AMD’s figures.

The two RTX 5060 Ti options floored the headline at 550W, while the table above and NVIDIA’s page give 600W. They now floor at 600W, rounded up to 650W, and the tool’s own default build changed with them: its minimum reads 650W where it read 550W.

The same pass fixed two things in the tool itself. The efficiency table flagged every size above 80% load as a shutdown risk, including the minimum the headline recommends, which can load a unit to 83%; it now judges each size against that minimum and against your peak. And two worked examples above had drifted from the tool: the 4K build did not apply NVIDIA’s 850W floor for the RTX 5080, and the NAS build still counted hard drives at 12W each after the tool moved to 22W. Both now print what the tool prints.

2026-10-02 — GPU share links and vendor floors corrected. GPU selections in new share links now use a stable option ID. Older links saved only wattage, which cannot identify a card when values collide: 360W can mean an RTX 5080 Founders Edition or an RTX 4080 Super OC, and those families have different vendor floors. When an old wattage is ambiguous, the tool now restores the wattage as “model unknown,” applies no vendor floor, and asks the reader to select the exact GPU. It no longer silently chooses the first match.

The same pass added primary-source reference-system floors for the RTX 40 series and AMD cards where NVIDIA or AMD publishes one. AMD’s live pages now provide the RX 9070 XT (304W TBP / 750W minimum), RX 9070 (220W / 650W), RX 9060 XT 16GB (160W / 450W), and RX 9060 XT 8GB (150W / 450W). The RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT links below replace the dead URL patterns previously checked. The generic RTX 5060 Ti option retains NVIDIA’s 600W reference floor; ASUS independently lists 550W for its specific Dual RTX 5060 Ti 8GB OC board, which is recorded as a board-specific exception in the PC Builder dataset.

Sources

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series official specifications (total graphics power and minimum system power requirement) — RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 family, RTX 5060 family — verified live 2026-07-24; the 5070 and 5060 family pages re-verified 2026-07-25, and the 5060 family page again on 2026-09-29 (RTX 5060 Ti: 180W, 600W required system power; RTX 5060: 145W, 550W).
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series official specifications — RTX 4090 (450W TGP / 850W required system power), RTX 4080 family (320W / 750W), RTX 4070 family (285W / 700W for 4070 Ti Super; 220W / 650W for 4070 Super; 200W / 650W for 4070), and RTX 4060 family (165W / 550W for 4060 Ti; 115W / 550W for 4060) — verified live 2026-10-02. NVIDIA says these figures represent Founders Edition or reference designs and add-in-card specifications can vary.
Intel ATX 3.0 / ATX 3.1 desktop power supply design guides — the 200%-of-rated power-excursion requirement for microsecond transients (Intel ATX 3.0 PSU power excursion).
AMD Radeon RX 9000-series official specifications — RX 9070 XT (304W TBP / 750W minimum), RX 9070 (220W / 650W), RX 9060 XT 16GB (160W / 450W), and RX 9060 XT 8GB (150W / 450W) — verified live 2026-10-02.
AMD Radeon RX 7000-series official specifications — RX 7900 XTX (355W / 800W), RX 7800 XT (263W / 700W), RX 7700 XT (245W / 700W), and RX 7600 XT (190W / 600W) — verified live 2026-10-02. AMD’s current specification table lists 260W board power for the RX 7900 GRE but no minimum PSU, so the calculator does not assign that option a vendor floor.
ASUS, Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB OC specifications and recommended PSU table — ASUS lists 550W for this specific board with a Core i5 / Ryzen 5 class CPU; NVIDIA’s generic RTX 5060 Ti reference-system figure is 600W. Verified live 2026-10-02.
Intel desktop processor power: Processor Base Power and Maximum Turbo Power from Intel ARK product specification pages — Core i7-14700K (125W base / 253W turbo), read 2026-08-15. The CPU dropdown carries the turbo figure, because the calculator sums peak draw.
Component draw coefficients are this calculator’s own published figures, listed in full in the methodology section above.
Corsair, Find Part & Serial Number Labels — a Corsair PSU’s label is on the side or top of the unit; part numbers begin with CP-. Read 2026-09-28.
AMD Ryzen Master reference guide, April 2022, page 24, defines PPT as socket power capacity in watts; the current Ryzen Master utility page links the current user guide and documents profiles and BIOS controls. Checked 2026-10-12. These documents support the input convention, not a stock PPT value for every CPU in this selector.

Kernel Security Check Failure (0x139): What to Check First

LK Wood IV — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · 2026-07-13 · St. Louis County, MO

A PC starts crashing the evening after a graphics driver update. Another starts after you turn on a memory profile. Both blue screens can say KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE. Start with one question: “What changed on my PC before the first crash?” If you remember a particular driver or setting, write it down now, while you can still compare the failing setup with the last one that worked.

Save what Windows saw

Note the time, the exact stop code and what you were doing. In Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System, look for device or driver errors just before that time. Save the event details along with the crash record.
If Windows wrote a small dump, copy the matching .dmp from %SystemRoot%\Minidump to a private folder. Keep older dumps too. No file there? Record “no dump found” and check Startup and Recovery → Write debugging information. Microsoft explains where Windows stores small dumps and what they can miss. Don’t provoke another crash to get one.
In WinDbg, choose File → Open Crash Dump and open the copy. Enter .bugcheck in the debugger to display the code and its four parameters. The first value after the code is the one to look up. These are Microsoft’s instructions for reading an existing dump; if you prefer, keep the file and let support read it.

What does the first parameter mean?

Microsoft’s 0x139 reference defines parameter 1 (often labelled Arg1). Here are three entries you can act on without guessing what part to replace:

First value	What Windows detected	What to do with that information
`0` or `2`	A check caught a buffer overrun on the stack.	Save the stack trace and any driver version that changed. Neither value identifies a memory stick.
`3`	A link in a kernel list (`LIST_ENTRY`) was damaged.	Compare other dumps. Windows may have found the broken link later, while unrelated code was using it.
`5`	A function received an argument it treats as invalid.	Keep the calling stack with the dump for whoever maintains that code. The value alone doesn’t name the caller.

Another number? Keep the raw value. WinDbg shows the arguments in hexadecimal; Microsoft’s parameter table uses decimal. For example, a first argument ending in 0014 with only zeros before it means 0x14, or decimal 20: the cryptographic self-test entry. Looking up decimal 14 would lead you to a different fault. If the value has no matching entry, give it to support as printed.

A driver developer’s posted traces illustrate why the call stack still matters: several crashes showed Arg1 = 3, but the stacks included different paths through graphics, driver-framework and windowing code. Those are observations from that investigation, not three different parts to replace.

Choose one check that fits the timeline

A driver or device changed. Record its old and new versions. If one device driver changed just before the first crash and the manufacturer offers a supported rollback, use that for the device in question, then try the same ordinary activity again without changing other drivers or memory settings. For a graphics-specific lead, see the GPU driver crash guide. A single .sys name is a clue. If crashes continue, compare the next dump with the first instead of uninstalling everything in the stack.

A memory profile or RAM configuration changed. Back up important files. If you use BitLocker, make sure you can retrieve the recovery key before changing firmware settings. If you enabled XMP or EXPO, note the current setting and disable just that profile for a comparison at the board’s default memory settings. Leave voltages alone. The DDR5 guide explains the profile names. Did the same activity crash at the old settings? A quiet evening is useful to record, but doesn’t settle an intermittent fault.

If MemTest86 reports an error, save the report and the configuration it tested. PassMark explains that the test exercises the processor, caches and motherboard as well as RAM; incompatible parts can also produce errors. On a serviceable desktop, follow the board manual; shut down and unplug the PC before moving modules. Compare one module at a time in the same supported slot at default settings. Does the error follow one module? That’s useful evidence for support. If both modules test clean individually and errors appear only with the pair installed, the result doesn’t tell you which stick to buy.

No clear change, or the PC won’t stay up. Stop changing settings. Keep your backup and any existing dumps. If the PC loops at startup, skip further experiments and use a trusted recovery or support route. Driver Verifier is for test and debugging machines: it can deliberately crash Windows. Leave it off an everyday PC. If another stop code appears, keep it as a separate entry: 0x1A MEMORY_MANAGEMENT and 0x50 PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA have their own parameters.

What to give support

Copy this record once per crash. Two records showing the same trigger and first parameter can be more useful than a list of every fix you’ve tried. Share a dump privately with someone you trust; leave recovery keys and identifying details out of public posts.

Crash date, time and activity:
Stop code and first parameter (or "no dump found"):
Windows build; device and driver version:
Latest change before the first crash:
One change tried, or "none":
Same activity afterwards: crashed again / no repeat yet / not tried

Correction, November 5, 2026: The original guide prescribed a fixed order of tests. The revised guidance uses the crash parameters and recent changes to choose the next check, and limits Driver Verifier to a test system.

EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT Review: Gold PSU After the GPU Exit

LK Wood IV — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-06-13 · Updated 2026-11-05 · ~9 min read · St. Louis County, MO

Rating: 4.3 / 5

The EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT is one of the better PSUs I’ve used. Its maker exited the GPU market in 2022, but that event does not settle a PSU warranty question. For a purchase today, compare the exact unit’s condition and documented coverage with its price.

I ran the SuperNOVA 1000 GT in my primary build — Ryzen 7 7800X3D, ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC, ROG STRIX B650-A, 64GB DDR5 — for an extended period. This is the review that follows real use.

What EVGA shipped

The cable counts and case dimensions below are for 220-GT-1000-X1, the model in EVGA’s manual. Check the part number on the PSU label before applying them to a used unit.

Capacity: 1000W
Efficiency rating: 80 Plus Gold
Modular: fully modular
Fan: 135 mm fluid dynamic bearing fan; ECO mode can stop it at light load.
ATX connector: 1× 24-pin
EPS/CPU connectors: 2× 8-pin (4+4)
PCIe: five cables, eight 6+2-pin plugs in total. The PSU’s cable list does not include a 16-pin GPU adapter.
Warranty: 10 years (verify current EVGA warranty support before relying on it)
Dimensions: 150 mm deep, 150 mm wide and 86 mm high.
Internal platform: not verified for the 1000 W model.

The fully modular design lets unused cables stay in the bag. On a secondhand unit, check what the seller actually supplies. The EVGA manual says to use the included cables or EVGA cables specifically listed for this PSU; a plug that fits does not establish compatibility.

Efficiency in practice

The 80 PLUS test report for the EVGA 1000 GT identifies this model by name. On February 15, 2021, the lab tested a sample at a nominal 115 V, 60 Hz (test ID 6411). At half load, it took 546.80 W from the outlet to deliver 505.64 W of DC power: 92.47% efficiency.

Nominal load	AC input at the wall	DC output to components	Efficiency
10%	116.54 W	101.60 W	87.18%
20%	222.10 W	202.79 W	91.30%
50%	546.80 W	505.64 W	92.47%
100%	1,127.90 W	1,004.14 W	89.03%

At my typical gaming load (~450W combined system draw), the 1000 GT runs at 45% utilization.

That 45% is the share of the 1,000 W rating used by the build. The efficiency figures above describe four load points on the lab’s certification sample. The report gives no efficiency measurement at exactly 450 W and does not identify the internal platform maker.

For your bill, enter wall power in the Power & Cost Calculator. For example, if a wall meter reads 495 W during four hours of gaming and 80 W for the other twenty hours, that is 3.58 kWh per day. At an illustrative $0.184/kWh, the whole day averages about $20/month over a year; the four gaming hours alone account for about $11/month. Substitute your readings and rate. Those example wattages are not measurements of my PC, and a 1000 W rating is not a 1000 W electricity draw.

Zero-RPM mode

At typical gaming loads with a 7800X3D and RTX 5080, the fan spins but spins slowly — it’s one of the quieter components in the build. At idle or light workloads, the PSU is completely silent.

EVGA’s manual describes ECO as stopping the fan under low to moderate loads and starting it again when needed. The manual gives no fixed turn-on wattage.

Cabling: PCIe and 12VHPWR

Count cables, not loose plugs. The 220-GT-1000-X1 cable table lists two PCIe cables with one 6+2-pin plug each and three with two plugs each. The second plug on a split cable is not another cable from the PSU.

The adapter belongs to the graphics card in this example. ASUS lists a three-input adapter with the ROG Astral RTX 5080 O16G. To use it, connect each input to its own compatible PCIe 8-pin cable from the PSU. NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 specification calls for three PCIe 8-pin cables with the adapter, or one compatible PCIe Gen 5 GPU cable rated for at least 450 W. Do not substitute a two-input adapter for this card.

For another card, check its exact model and supplied adapter. If you cannot identify a used modular cable or establish that it belongs to the PSU, stop before connecting it. Neither the purchase year nor a 1000 W label tells you which cables came with it.

EPS / CPU power

The EVGA manual lists two 4+4-pin EPS cables and directs you to the motherboard documentation to determine which CPU power sockets to populate. Use EPS cables for those sockets and PCIe 6+2-pin cables for the graphics card. CPU package power is not a measurement of current through an individual connector.

The EVGA situation: what it means for buyers

EVGA’s GPU-market exit does not determine coverage for an individual power supply. The official PSU warranty endpoint redirected to the company’s homepage when checked on September 8, 2026, so this review cannot confirm current eligibility or service availability from that page.

For a new or used unit, record the full part number and suffix, the purchase channel, the original shipment or purchase date, and the seller’s proof of purchase. Compare those details with current EVGA terms and seek confirmation before counting on coverage. A used sale alone does not justify a blanket denial of every transferable warranty.

For any alternative PSU, make the same check. A printed warranty duration and a retailer listing do not establish that a particular seller or unit qualifies. Price the risk only after you know what the purchase includes.

What to buy instead (if warranty matters)

These are alternatives in the 1000 W class. Check the current seller and warranty eligibility before purchase:

PSU	Efficiency	Warranty	Approximate street
Corsair RM1000x (2024 rev)	80+ Gold	10 years	~$150
Seasonic Focus GX-1000	80+ Gold	12 years	~$170
be quiet! Straight Power 12 1000W	80+ Platinum	10 years	~$160
Fractal Design Ion+ 1000W	80+ Platinum	10 years	~$180
Cooler Master V1000 Gold	80+ Gold	10 years	~$130

The Corsair RM1000x (2024 revision) is a comparable fully modular, 80 Plus Gold alternative with a listed 10-year warranty. Compare its current price and seller terms with the exact EVGA offer; this review has not tested either seller’s warranty service. For how all of these rank against the wider current market — with each placement sourced to a professional test — see our PSU tier list.

Verdict

The SuperNOVA 1000 GT hardware is excellent and I’d use it again in a build where warranty coverage isn’t the deciding factor.

Compare the asking price, condition and verified warranty eligibility. At price parity, prefer the unit whose seller and coverage you can confirm. A discount can change the choice, but this review cannot assign warranty eligibility from the brand name or a new/used label alone.

Rating: 4.3/5 — the hardware assessment stands; purchase advice depends on the exact unit’s condition, price and verified coverage.

For the motherboard in this build, see the ROG STRIX B650-A review. Use the PSU Wattage Calculator to size the supply and the Power & Cost Calculator to price the wall watts and hours you enter. The cost calculator does not model a PSU’s efficiency curve.

Publication date corrected November 5, 2026. This page first appeared June 13, rather than June 18 as previously listed. How the publication date was confirmed.

Where to buy the Corsair RM1000x (new-purchase alternative): Check Amazon · Check Newegg. Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Data Usage Calculator: Estimate Your Monthly Internet GB

LK Wood IV — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Use the activity estimate if you are choosing a plan and have no meter reading. It estimates monthly internet data usage in gigabytes from per-person activity and household downloads. If you already have service and need to decide whether a transfer can wait, the billing-cycle worksheet starts from the whole household’s measured use and your own allowance.

Streaming can be a large part of the total when you enter several hours a day. For its streaming line, I use Netflix’s published maximum rates of up to 1 GB/hour SD, 3 GB/hour HD and 7 GB/hour 4K (Netflix source). The separate YouTube, music, video-call, gaming and browsing rates are TechFuelHQ working estimates, identified below. Downloads count separately. I compare the result with measured router or provider usage before choosing a data allowance.

Check your own plan. The calculator retains 1,229 GB as its reference threshold; that is a tool convention, not a decimal conversion of 1.2 TB.

Three people watching two hours of HD on one TV each night use one stream. Enter two hours in Shared-screen streaming and zero those hours out of individual streaming: at 3 GB/hour that is 180 GB over 30 days. Three separate HD screens playing for the same two hours would use 540 GB at that rate. Neither estimate should be added to a household meter total.

To turn a download size into a time estimate at your connection speed, use the Transfer Time Calculator; if you’re sizing a home network to carry all this, see the 10GbE home networking guide.

How long will 3 GB of data last?

I divide the data allowance by the activity’s hourly use: hours = GB available / GB per hour. Using Netflix’s published maximum rates, a 3 GB allowance gives these estimates:

Netflix quality setting	Data per hour, up to	Time for 3 GB at that rate
Low	0.3 GB	10 hours
Medium	0.7 GB	About 4 hours 17 minutes
High, HD	3 GB	1 hour
High, Ultra HD	7 GB	About 26 minutes

These calculations spend the whole allowance on one activity. Downloads, background sync and other apps leave less for video. Actual streaming use can be lower than the published maximum.

For mobile data, I check the phone’s per-app usage meter before choosing a rate. A social-media feed with autoplay video is a different workload from text-only web browsing. Wi-Fi moves that traffic to the connected network; it does not make the data transfer disappear.

Worked examples

These are this calculator’s own outputs, computed with the same formula the tool runs in your browser — so you can see a real answer without touching a single input.

One person, ordinary HD household — this is the tool’s own default state, i.e. exactly what the calculator shows the moment the page loads

Inputs: Streaming 2 hr/day at HD 1080p; YouTube 1 hr/day at 1080p; music 2 hr/day; video calls 1 hr/day; gaming 1 hr/day; web & social 2 hr/day; downloads 50 GB/month; 1 person sharing.
Result: 344 GB / month. Daily average 11.5 GB. 28% of a 1.2 TB cap (green bar). Headroom to 1.2 TB: 885 GB. Biggest user: Streaming. Verdict: “Moderate use (344 GB). Comfortable under a 1.2 TB cap. Streaming is your biggest line - if you want to trim, that is where to look first.”

Two people who both watch 4K, plus a couple of big game downloads — the household the page’s FAQ says will hit the 1.2 TB cap

Inputs: Streaming 3 hr/day at 4K; YouTube 1 hr/day at 1080p; music 1 hr/day; video calls 1 hr/day; gaming 2 hr/day; web & social 2 hr/day; downloads 150 GB/month; 2 people sharing.
Result: 1,635 GB / month. Daily average 54.5 GB. “over a 1.2 TB cap by 406 GB” (bar full and red). Headroom: over cap. Biggest user: Streaming. Verdict: “Over the reference cap (1,635 GB). You would exceed a 1.2 TB limit. Compare your provider’s actual plan and overage fees. Review streaming, the largest line in this estimate, for usage you can reduce.”

One remote worker who is on video calls all day and downloads a lot of games — the case where the tool’s Downloads override rule fires and names Downloads as the biggest line even though video calls are the largest hourly activity

Inputs: Streaming 1 hr/day at HD 1080p; YouTube 0.5 hr/day at 1080p; music 3 hr/day; video calls 4 hr/day; gaming 2 hr/day; web & social 3 hr/day; downloads 200 GB/month; 1 person sharing.
Result: 530 GB / month. Daily average 17.7 GB. 43% of a 1.2 TB cap. Headroom to 1.2 TB: 699 GB. Biggest user: Downloads (200 GB of downloads beats 180 GB/month of video calls). Verdict: “Moderate use (530 GB). Comfortable under a 1.2 TB cap. Downloads is your biggest line - if you want to trim, that is where to look first.”

A mid-month reset: download now or wait?

Suppose your usage period starts April 15 and resets May 15. The account meter shows 420 GB through April 29: 15 complete days with 15 left. A one-time 120 GB transfer is already in the 420. Leave it in the total, but remove it from the daily pace: (420 − 120) ÷ 15 = 20 GB per day. At the same pace, another 300 GB of ordinary use is still to come.

Allow 60 GB for a required upload outside that routine. Deferring a separate 180 GB download gives 420 + 300 + 60 = 780 GB; doing it now gives 960 GB. With a fictional 900 GB allowance, deferring leaves 120 GB this period; doing it now exceeds the allowance by 60 GB. At an illustrative $10 per started 50 GB block, with no waiver or fee ceiling, that is two blocks ($20). A $15 add-on for these same dates costs $5 less than downloading now, but $15 more than deferring. Without the fee terms, the 60 GB overage is still known in this projection; the charge is unknown.

The worksheet’s Load photo migration example button fills these numbers. For a real move from Google Photos to a home server, use your export size and your allowance. As a provider-specific counterexample, Xfinity’s legacy-plan FAQ lists both a courtesy policy and a monthly fee maximum. Neither is implied by a generic block price.

Assumptions and sources

The streaming rates (up to 1 GB/hour SD, 3 GB/hour HD and 7 GB/hour 4K) are Netflix’s published limits. The calculator uses these maxima as fixed inputs; lower actual usage produces a lower total.
YouTube rates (1 GB/hour at 720p, 1.5 at 1080p, 7 at 4K) are TechFuelHQ working estimates of typical delivered bitrate, not a conversion of a published figure. YouTube’s own recommended sustained speeds are headroom targets for a reliable stream - 2.5 Mbps at 720p, 5 Mbps at 1080p, 20 Mbps at 4K, or roughly 1.1, 2.3 and 9 GB/hour - but a recommended connection speed does not establish actual usage. Actual usage varies with the specific video.
The 1.2 TB reference cap applies to eligible older plans in Xfinity’s data usage plan FAQ, checked September 26, 2026. Xfinity says its new plans include unlimited data. Check your bill for the allowance and charges that apply to you.
The video-call (1-2.5 GB/hour), music, gaming (~0.1 GB/hour of play), and browsing (~0.2 GB/hour) rates are TechFuelHQ working estimates for this calculator, not provider-published rates or a measured population average. Compare them with your own usage records.

12 Best Self-Hosted Apps and Services 2026 to Replace SaaS

LK Wood IV — Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

By LK Wood IV · Published 2026-05-01 · Corrected 2026-10-07 · Updated 2026-10-10 · 15 min read · St. Louis County, MO

The twelve homelab apps I would run in 2026 are Immich for photos, Nextcloud AIO for files, Vaultwarden for passwords, Paperless-ngx for paper, Jellyfin for media, AdGuard Home for DNS, Tailscale for remote access, Home Assistant OS for the smart home, AudioBookshelf for audiobooks, n8n for automation, BookStack for a wiki and Uptime Kuma for monitoring. Each one replaces a subscription. Ten run as Docker containers, Home Assistant OS wants a VM, Tailscale installs on the host, and all twelve fit on one 32 GB mini PC.

Cancel the subscription. Keep the software.

The SaaS you stop paying for → the self-hosted app that replaces it, and the RAM to plan for it.

Google Photos→Immich6 GB

Google Drive / Dropbox→Nextcloud AIO4 GB

1Password / LastPass→Vaultwarden256 MB

Evernote / Dropbox Scan→Paperless-ngx2 GB

Plex Pass / Netflix→Jellyfin4 GB

Pi-hole / NextDNS→AdGuard Home256 MB

Paid VPN / ZeroTier→Tailscale~0

Apple / Google Home→Home Assistant OS2 GB

Audible→AudioBookshelf1 GB

Zapier / Make→n8n1 GB

Notion / Confluence→BookStack1 GB

UptimeRobot→Uptime Kuma256 MB

The tradeMonthly bills → one 32 GB mini PC. All 12 fit in ~24 GB of RAM.

techfuelhq.com · RAM to plan per app; Immich and Home Assistant at their documented minimums

TL;DR · The 12-app stack at a glance

Photos: Immich (replaces Google Photos)
Files / sync: Nextcloud AIO (replaces Dropbox + Google Drive + Office)
Passwords: Vaultwarden (replaces 1Password / LastPass)
Documents: Paperless-ngx (replaces filing cabinet + scanner cloud)
Media: Jellyfin (replaces Netflix-style streaming)
DNS / ad blocking: AdGuard Home
Remote access: Tailscale (free Personal plan: 6 users, unlimited user devices)
Smart home: Home Assistant OS
Audiobooks: AudioBookshelf
Workflow automation: n8n (replaces Zapier)
Notes / wiki: BookStack (replaces Notion / Confluence)
Monitoring: Uptime Kuma

Full stack runs on a 32 GB mini PC + 1 TB NVMe. RAM is the bottleneck — Immich + Nextcloud + HA in a VM eats 12–14 GB before any user load.

Correction, September 8: the Immich v3.1.0 setup now uses /data and matching auxiliary files. Tailscale can use encrypted relays. Existing installations should check their mounts before importing more photos.

The scannable table — 12 apps, what they replace, what they need

#	App	Replaces	Difficulty (1–5)	Plan for	Killer feature	Verdict
1	Immich	Google Photos / iCloud Photos	3	6 GB RAM, 2 cores, Docker	ML face + object search that genuinely beats Google’s UI	Ship it. v3.2.0 to v3.2.2 listed no breaking changes.
2	Nextcloud AIO	Google Drive / Dropbox / Workspace	3	4 GB RAM, 2 cores, 40 GB disk	One container manages the whole stack including backups	Use AIO. Skip the manual compose.
3	Vaultwarden	Bitwarden cloud / 1Password	1	256 MB RAM	Bitwarden-compatible, runs on a potato, end-to-end encrypted	Easiest win on the list.
4	Paperless-ngx	Evernote / Dropbox Scan / paper	3	2 GB RAM, OCR is CPU-hungry	Tika + OCR + tagging makes paper actually searchable	Replace your filing cabinet.
5	Jellyfin	Plex / Netflix / Disney+	2	4 GB RAM, Intel N100 or 11th-gen+ iGPU for transcode	No subscriptions, no phoning home, hardware transcoding works	Still the Plex-killer. AMD GPUs remain weak for transcode.
6	AdGuard Home	Pi-hole / NextDNS	1	256 MB RAM	DNS-over-HTTPS upstream + per-client rules in a clean UI	Picked over Pi-hole for the better UI.
7	Tailscale (or Headscale)	ZeroTier, paid remote-access VPN	1 (Tailscale) / 4 (Headscale)	Negligible	WireGuard mesh that punches NAT and “just works”	Tailscale free tier is enough for most. Headscale if you want to host the control plane.
8	Home Assistant OS	Apple Home / Google Home / SmartThings	4	2 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 32 GB disk	Local control, no cloud dependency, every protocol	Run it as a VM, not a container.
9	AudioBookshelf	Audible / Libby	2	1 GB RAM	Tracks progress per-user across devices, podcast support included	Drop-in for an Audible library you already own.
10	n8n	Zapier / Make / IFTTT	3	1 GB RAM	500+ integrations, queue mode for real workloads	Beats Zapier for anything serious. Fair-code, not open source; you maintain it.
11	BookStack	Notion / Confluence (read-mostly)	2	1 GB RAM	Books → Chapters → Pages structure that doesn’t fight you	Picked over Outline for simpler hosting.
12	Uptime Kuma	UptimeRobot / Better Stack	1	256 MB RAM	Self-hostable status page for friends and family	The first thing every homelab should add after DNS.

What got cut and why

Plex — not a SaaS replacement; it is the SaaS. Jellyfin replaces Plex.
Pi-hole — voted out for AdGuard Home. The DNS-over-HTTPS upstream and per-client rules in AdGuard’s UI are meaningfully better, and the Docker deploy is identical in difficulty. Pi-hole still works fine if you already run it. One deliberate disagreement inside this site: the self-hosting starter order still opens on Pi-hole, because for someone’s first container the smaller footprint and the mountain of beginner documentation matter more than DoH. Both guides are pointing at the same job. This is a preference, not a correctness call.
Seafile — solid block-sync, but Nextcloud AIO has closed the gap and the ecosystem (calendar, contacts, office) is broader.
Plausible CE / Umami / Mealie / FreshRSS / Linkding — all good, all on the bench. They didn’t beat the 12 above on either daily use or obvious SaaS replacement. If a self-hosted bookmark manager is specifically what you’re after, Linkding is fine but the two strongest options get their own head-to-head in Karakeep vs Linkwarden.
Mail-in-a-Box / Mailcow — explicitly cut. Self-hosted outbound email in 2026 still gets your IP scored as suspicious by Microsoft and Google more often than not, and inbound MX is fine until your dynamic IP changes or your ISP blocks port 25. Use a paid relay (Fastmail, Migadu, Proton) and move on.
Matrix / Mattermost / Rocket.Chat — a self-hosted chat server is its own category, not a general SaaS swap, so it sits outside this list. There is also no drop-in clone of Discord’s text-plus-voice bundle in 2026, and the voice/video story is the part most roundups skip. If replacing a Discord community or a team chat is what you actually want, the self-hosted Discord alternatives comparison breaks down which tool fits and the voice/video reality. Worth knowing before you pick: Mattermost gates production SSO behind paid plans, and Rocket.Chat, which moved its advanced identity sync to paid tiers in 2021, now says LDAP and SAML will need a Premium module from version 9.0.0; the newest release on September 23, 2026 was 8.8.1, so 9.0.0 had not shipped. The self-hosted SSO tax tracker documents both with verified receipts and free-SSO alternatives.

A difficulty score of 1 is “single container, defaults work, ten-minute deploy.” A 5 is “you’ll read documentation for a weekend and read it again at the next major upgrade.” Most of the 12 land at 1–3. The apps that survive in homelabs are the ones where the 80% case is boring.

Where to start

Do not stand up Immich and Home Assistant on day one. Deploy the ten-minute wins first, then climb in this order.

The build order — don’t deploy all 12 at once

Climb the effort curve. Each phase earns you the confidence for the next.

Phase 1 · Day one

Ten-minute wins. Single container, defaults work.

Vaultwarden AdGuard Home Uptime Kuma Tailscale

Passwords, network-wide ad blocking, monitoring, remote access. Under 1 GB combined. Back up the password vault and keep a way to restore DNS and remote access.

Phase 2 · First weekend

Your media and library. An afternoon each.

Jellyfin Immich AudioBookshelf BookStack

The apps you’ll actually open daily. Immich’s first library import pins a couple of cores for hours — start it before bed.

Phase 3 · Once you’re hooked

The heavy hitters. Read the docs; plan a weekend.

Nextcloud AIO Paperless-ngx n8n Home Assistant

Real commitments with real upside. Home Assistant is a hobby more than a deploy; run it as a VM.

techfuelhq.com · ordering by setup difficulty (see the table above)

The top 5 — full setups

1. Immich — the Google Photos replacement that finally works

The mobile app uploads from iOS and Android in the background, the ML stack identifies faces and objects locally, and the timeline UI beats Google Photos for most operations. The catch is RAM. Immich’s requirements page sets a 6 GB minimum and recommends 8 GB, and the first library import pins a couple of cores for hours. Moving an existing library over is its own job; the Google Photos to Immich migration guide covers Takeout and immich-go, and Immich vs PhotoPrism vs Ente covers the case for end-to-end encryption instead.

v3.2.2 was the newest release on September 23, 2026. This setup uses the v3.2.2 Compose file. Keep its files together; mixing releases can break the setup. For an upgrade, follow the Immich installation guide and the target release’s instructions.

Save the YAML below as docker-compose.yml in a dedicated directory. Download v3.2.2 example.env into that directory and rename it to .env. Also save v3.2.2 hwaccel.transcoding.yml under that exact filename. The extends block reads it even when you select cpu.

Edit .env before starting:

Set UPLOAD_LOCATION to your media directory (./library in the example). It mounts at /data inside the server.
Set DB_DATA_LOCATION to local database storage (./postgres in the example). The database does not support network shares.
Replace DB_PASSWORD=postgres with a random password using only A-Za-z0-9, as the release’s example instructs.
Keep DB_USERNAME=postgres and DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich. Set IMMICH_VERSION=v3.2.2 to match the explicit image pins below.
Optionally set TZ to your timezone.

The example selects cpu for software transcoding. On an Intel iGPU host with /dev/dri available, change it to quicksync; both services exist in the linked file. That selects device access for the container; configure hardware transcoding in Immich using its transcoding guide.

Critical detail: Immich is not a backup. The database can corrupt. Use Immich’s official backup guide and keep originals on a separate disk from the Immich Postgres.

# docker-compose.yml - Immich v3.2.2
name: immich

services:
 immich-server:
 container_name: immich_server
 image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:v3.2.2
 extends:
 file: hwaccel.transcoding.yml
 service: cpu # use quicksync for a compatible Intel iGPU host
 volumes:
 # Do not edit the next line. If you want to change the media storage location on your system, edit the value of UPLOAD_LOCATION in the .env file
 - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/data
 - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
 env_file:
 - .env
 ports:
 - '2283:2283'
 depends_on:
 - redis
 - database
 restart: always
 healthcheck:
 disable: false

 immich-machine-learning:
 container_name: immich_machine_learning
 # For hardware acceleration, add one of -[armnn, cuda, rocm, openvino, rknn] to the image tag.
 # Example tag: v3.2.2-cuda
 image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:v3.2.2
 # extends: # uncomment this section for hardware acceleration - see https://docs.immich.app/features/ml-hardware-acceleration
 # file: hwaccel.ml.yml
 # service: cpu # set to one of [armnn, cuda, rocm, openvino, openvino-wsl, rknn] for accelerated inference - use the `-wsl` version for WSL2 where applicable
 volumes:
 - model-cache:/cache
 env_file:
 - .env
 restart: always
 healthcheck:
 disable: false

 redis:
 container_name: immich_redis
 image: docker.io/valkey/valkey:9@sha256:70739f85ad2ee01a726a965584a0f94895f01b0c60b3cc8b0aeef11eaa6888cf
 healthcheck:
 test: redis-cli ping | grep -q PONG || exit 1
 restart: always

 database:
 container_name: immich_postgres
 image: ghcr.io/immich-app/postgres:14-vectorchord0.4.3-pgvectors0.2.0@sha256:bcf63357191b76a916ae5eb93464d65c07511da41e3bf7a8416db519b40b1c23
 environment:
 POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD}
 POSTGRES_USER: ${DB_USERNAME}
 POSTGRES_DB: ${DB_DATABASE_NAME}
 POSTGRES_INITDB_ARGS: '--data-checksums'
 # Uncomment the DB_STORAGE_TYPE: 'HDD' var if your database isn't stored on SSDs
 # DB_STORAGE_TYPE: 'HDD'
 volumes:
 # Do not edit the next line. If you want to change the database storage location on your system, edit the value of DB_DATA_LOCATION in the .env file
 - ${DB_DATA_LOCATION}:/var/lib/postgresql/data
 shm_size: 128mb
 restart: always
 healthcheck:
 disable: false

volumes:
 model-cache:

From this directory, run docker compose config to check interpolation, then docker compose up -d. Before importing your library, upload a disposable photo, recreate the containers, and confirm it remains available. Keep backups of both the media directory and database; container recreation is only a persistence check.

2. Nextcloud AIO — file sync, calendar, contacts, managed by one container

The official Nextcloud All-in-One project ships everything — Apache, PHP, the database, Redis, the office stack, Talk, the backup container — managed by a single mastercontainer that you talk to over a web UI on port 8080. It is the right answer for new self-hosters and for experienced ones who got tired of debugging PHP-FPM at 1 a.m.

# One-liner from the official AIO README
sudo docker run \
 --init \
 --sig-proxy=false \
 --name nextcloud-aio-mastercontainer \
 --restart always \
 --publish 80:80 \
 --publish 8080:8080 \
 --publish 8443:8443 \
 --volume nextcloud_aio_mastercontainer:/mnt/docker-aio-config \
 --volume /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro \
 ghcr.io/nextcloud-releases/all-in-one:latest

The latest tag here is the AIO mastercontainer, which the project explicitly maintains as the supported entry point — the actual Nextcloud server image underneath gets pinned by AIO to a tested release. That’s the one place I make an exception to the “no :latest” rule. If you want full version control, watch the Nextcloud AIO releases page and use a digest pin instead.

A new AIO v14.1.1 instance (September 11, 2026) installs the Calendar and Contacts apps and switches on Talk, Imaginary, Whiteboard plus an office suite, which is now Euro-Office rather than Collabora. Collabora is still a card you can pick instead. Once any optional container is on, the AIO interface asks for at least 2 GB of RAM, a dual-core CPU and 40 GB of storage.

For the complete setup — NPM reverse proxy config, Office activation, CalDAV/CardDAV client setup, and AIO backup — see the Nextcloud AIO Docker setup guide.

3. Vaultwarden — Bitwarden, on a potato

Vaultwarden is a Rust reimplementation of the Bitwarden server API by dani-garcia. The newest release on September 23, 2026 was 1.37.3 (September 13), per the Vaultwarden releases; it adds rate limiting on the prelogin and auth-request endpoints and revokes 2FA remember tokens when credentials or 2FA change.

Do not deploy 1.36.x. 1.37.0 shipped fixes for ten GitHub security advisories (eight listed issues). They include two SSRF issues on the icon endpoint, cross-organization cipher access, and an organization-policy bypass on directory import. The maintainers state it “is required for support with clients with version 2026.7.0+.” Take the newest 1.37.x patch rather than 1.37.0. 1.37.1 repaired organization invites that 1.37.0 broke. The maintainers say 1.37.2 “is required for support with clients with version 2026.8.0+.” It is fully compatible with the official Bitwarden apps, browser extensions and desktop clients, which is the whole point — your phone doesn’t know it’s not talking to Bitwarden’s cloud.

# docker-compose.yml — Vaultwarden, version-pinned
services:
 vaultwarden:
 image: vaultwarden/server:1.37.3-alpine
 container_name: vaultwarden
 restart: unless-stopped
 environment:
 DOMAIN: "https://vault.example.lan"
 SIGNUPS_ALLOWED: "false" # flip to true for first user, then back
 # The admin page stays off until ADMIN_TOKEN is set. To turn it on, run
 # docker run --rm -it vaultwarden/server:1.37.3-alpine /vaultwarden hash
 # then uncomment the next line, paste the PHC string it prints, and
 # write every $ as $$ so Compose does not treat it as a variable.
 # ADMIN_TOKEN: "$$argon2id$$v=19$$m=65540,t=3,p=4$$..."
 volumes:
 - ./vw-data:/data
 ports:
 - 8222:80

WebSocket notifications run on the main port since 1.29.0, so the old WEBSOCKET_ENABLED variable is ignored and not in the file above. Two things people miss. Vaultwarden needs HTTPS, because browsers only expose the web vault’s crypto APIs over HTTPS; put it behind Caddy or Traefik with Let’s Encrypt, or use Tailscale Funnel for a zero-config TLS path. And back up ./vw-data somewhere off the host — a vault you can’t restore is a vault you don’t have. The Vaultwarden on Proxmox setup guide covers Caddy reverse proxy, the Tailscale-only setup path, and an automated SQLite backup script with online backup API support.

4. Jellyfin — Plex without the company

Jellyfin is the mature fork of Emby. It does what Plex does — library scanning, transcoding, apps for phones and TVs — without phoning home, without watching your viewing history, and without a “Pass” subscription gating hardware acceleration. The feature-by-feature case is in Jellyfin vs Plex.

Jellyfin 12.1 shipped September 15, 2026, a week after 12.0; the last 10.11 release was 10.11.11 in June. LinuxServer publishes no bare 12.1 tag. The file pins the full build tag.

# docker-compose.yml — Jellyfin with Intel Quick Sync transcoding
services:
 jellyfin:
 image: lscr.io/linuxserver/jellyfin:12.1ubu2604-ls50
 container_name: jellyfin
 environment:
 - PUID=1000
 - PGID=1000
 - TZ=America/Chicago
 - JELLYFIN_PublishedServerUrl=http://192.168.1.50:8096
 devices:
 - /dev/dri:/dev/dri  # Intel iGPU passthrough for QSV
 volumes:
 - ./config:/config
 - /srv/media:/data/media:ro
 ports:
 - 8096:8096
 restart: unless-stopped

Intel Quick Sync is what makes Jellyfin viable on a budget mini PC. Jellyfin’s hardware selection guide names the Core i5-11400, Pentium Gold G7400 and N100 as integrated-graphics picks, and warns that Intel 10th-gen and older iGPUs are losing QSV support on Linux.

AMD GPUs remain the weakest transcode option in 2026. Jellyfin’s own hardware selection guide calls AMD “the least preferred choice” for its sub-par H.264 encoders before RDNA 4 (RX 9000). It says the poor encoder quality and driver support apply “even on Linux”. If your homelab is AMD-only, plan for direct-play clients (NVIDIA Shield, Apple TV, a recent smart TV). The Jellyfin team also keeps a clear hardware acceleration matrix; read it before you buy a box.

5. Home Assistant OS — local-first smart home

Home Assistant replaces Apple Home, Google Home, and SmartThings at once, and the cloud-dependency stories from those vendors keep getting worse. It is not easy; deep automation takes real time.

The recommended path in 2026 is still Home Assistant OS running as a VM rather than the Docker container. The Container install “does not have access to apps”, which is what Home Assistant has called add-ons since the 2026.2 release, and those apps (Mosquitto, Zigbee2MQTT, ESPHome, the official Z-Wave stack) are most of what makes HA worth running. Supervised installs lost support with 2025.12.

For a Proxmox host, the community-maintained Home Assistant OS VM script (the successor to tteck’s helper scripts) creates the VM with 2 vCPUs, 4 GB of RAM and a 32 GB disk. The VM then boots an installer image that you finish from its console. Home Assistant’s own minimum is 2 GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs. Pass through a USB Zigbee/Z-Wave coordinator if you have one. See the Proxmox vs TrueNAS vs Unraid comparison for which hypervisor fits your situation.

The Home Assistant 2026.3 release notes confirmed the move to zstd-compressed container images. The notes put the floor at Docker 23.0.0 / containerd 1.5.0. A Docker host that has not been updated past those versions will fail to pull the image, while any modern Docker is fine. Read release notes before every monthly upgrade. HA breaks integrations a few times a year. Upgrades are not background tasks.

The other 7 — short notes

AdGuard Home (replaces Pi-hole, NextDNS, your router’s bad ad blocker)

Pin adguard/adguardhome:v0.107.79, the newest release on September 23, 2026 (August 18); the Docker tag keeps the v, and there is no floating v0.107 tag. Point your router’s DHCP DNS at the AdGuard container IP and every device on your network — phones, smart TVs, the IoT garbage — gets DNS-level filtering with zero per-device setup. The DoH/DoT upstream config is in the UI; switch it to Quad9 or Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 and you’ve also leaked less DNS to your ISP than you did last week.

The AdGuard Home + Local DNS on Proxmox tutorial covers the LXC setup from scratch: port 53 in an unprivileged container, the OISD plus Steven Black blocklists, local A records for pve.lan / nas.lan, and an optional Unbound recursive resolver that cuts upstream providers out entirely.

Tailscale (replaces ZeroTier and a paid remote-access VPN)

Yes, Tailscale is technically a SaaS for the coordinator. The free Personal plan on the pricing page (September 23, 2026) covers 6 users, unlimited user devices and 50 tagged resources, and exit nodes count as tagged resources. That is enough for almost every homelab. Direct connections are preferred. When a direct path fails, DERP servers or peer relays can carry the traffic; all three paths remain end-to-end encrypted with WireGuard. See Tailscale connection types.

If you are choosing between Tailscale and ZeroTier, see ZeroTier vs Tailscale. If you genuinely refuse the coordinator, Headscale is the open-source alternative — but plan for a difficulty score of 4 rather than 1. And if the real question is how to reach these services from outside your LAN at all, Tailscale vs Cloudflare Tunnel covers the private-network-versus-public-tunnel split and the current free-tier limits.

AudioBookshelf (replaces Audible)

If you already own audiobooks (legitimately, ideally), AudioBookshelf gives you per-user progress sync, mobile apps, and podcast support in a single container with no companion services. The official apps are free and both still labelled beta: Android is on Google Play, but iOS is a TestFlight beta that was full on September 23, 2026, so an iPhone household may be waiting for a seat.

Podcast RSS auto-download is built in. Pin ghcr.io/advplyr/audiobookshelf:2.36.1 (September 16, 2026, per the releases) rather than :latest, per the no-:latest rule above. Full setup with library directory structure, mobile app config, metadata matching, and Tailscale remote access is in the AudioBookshelf Docker guide.

n8n (replaces Zapier, Make, IFTTT)

Over 500 integrations by n8n’s own count, a queue mode for production workloads that the free Community edition includes, and the ability to drop into JavaScript when the visual builder won’t do what you need. It is not open source. n8n ships under its Sustainable Use License, which allows use “only for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or personal use”. SSO, environments or log streaming need one of the paid plans.

Pin a release tag of n8nio/n8n; the stable channel was 2.40.5 on September 23, 2026. The 2.0 release (December 8, 2025) removed the Start node, dropped MySQL and MariaDB as databases and renamed the release channels from latest/next to stable/beta, which is the kind of change a floating tag delivers without warning.

BookStack (replaces Notion as a wiki / docs site)

For pure note-taking, Obsidian beats every self-hosted option. For a team or family wiki — recipes, runbooks, “how the network is set up” — BookStack is the right answer. Outline is also good but the hosting story is harder. The stack is two containers, BookStack plus MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+.

Pin lscr.io/linuxserver/bookstack:26.05.5 rather than :latest, per the no-:latest rule above. 26.05.5 (September 14, 2026) and 26.05.4 before it were both security releases. Do not stop at an older 26.05 tag. Configure LDAP if you’re already running Authentik or Keycloak for unified auth.

Uptime Kuma (replaces UptimeRobot, Better Stack)

Once you have 12 services running, you need to know which one died at 2 a.m. before your family tells you the internet is “broken.” Use louislam/uptime-kuma:2, which pointed at 2.5.5 (September 16, 2026) on September 23. Not :latest: the project’s Docker Hub page marks that tag deprecated, and it still points at the 1.x image. The Uptime Kuma Docker guide covers where to run it so it survives the outage it is meant to report, and the self-hosting essentials guide puts it in the first-week stack.

Paperless-ngx (replaces Evernote scan, Dropbox Scan, paper)

Drop a PDF in the consume folder, OCR runs, the document is tagged, you can full-text-search five years of mail in seconds. Pin ghcr.io/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx:3.2.1, the newest release on September 23, 2026 (September 20). The project publishes no bare :3 tag; use a full release tag or a floating minor such as :3.2.

Run PostgreSQL next to it. The docs recommend it for multi-user or higher-throughput setups over the default SQLite, and v3 requires PAPERLESS_DBENGINE to be set for PostgreSQL or MariaDB, because v2 inferred the engine from PAPERLESS_DBHOST and v3 no longer does. Word or Excel documents and email files need Tika and Gotenberg containers alongside; the configuration docs require both servers for them. The full compose stack with correspondent auto-tagging, subdirectory tag mapping, and NPM HTTPS is in the Paperless-ngx setup guide.

Best self-hosted services beyond the twelve

The list above covers the apps with the clearest SaaS swap. Two more jobs come up often: automation and blogging. Both have a short, sourced answer. Before you move any service home, read the port-publishing note at the end of this section.

Best self-hosted automation: n8n or Home Assistant

Two entries on the list automate things, and they cover different ground. n8n moves data between web services and APIs, the way Zapier does. Home Assistant automates devices in your home. Home Assistant’s automation guide splits every automation into a trigger, an optional condition and an action, and builds them in the visual editor under Settings, then Automations & scenes. Choose n8n when the trigger is a web event or a schedule across services. Choose Home Assistant when the trigger is a sensor, a person arriving or a device changing state.

If you pick n8n, its self-hosting overview says that without a license key it runs as the free Community edition, and it names Docker Compose as the best fit for production deployments with databases and additional services. n8n’s Docker Compose guide serves the editor on port 5678. It also covers three limits that matter:

The default SQLite database sits inside the container unless you mount a volume for it.
For a production instance, n8n says to use PostgreSQL instead.
The guide asks for at least 4 GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs, because its stack includes a Docker-in-Docker sandbox for n8n Assistant. The 1 GB figure in the table above does not cover that stack.

Self-hosted blog platforms: Ghost and WordPress

A blog is a different kind of replacement from the twelve apps. It swaps a hosted publishing service for a web server you maintain, so the requirements decide the choice.

Ghost is built around a narrow stack. Ghost’s hosting docs list the officially supported setup as Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04 LTS with Node.js 22 LTS and MySQL 8.0 or 8.4, served by NGINX under systemd. The server needs at least 1 GB of memory and a non-root user for running the ghost commands. Other operating systems, databases or web servers can work, but Ghost says they are not officially supported. Self-hosters also pay separately for email newsletter delivery, plus analytics and a CDN. The Docker Compose install is labelled a preview, and it is the route Ghost points to for self-hosting its social web and web analytics features.

WordPress accepts more. WordPress.org recommends a host with PHP 8.3 or greater, MariaDB 10.11 or greater or MySQL 8.0 or greater, and HTTPS. Apache or Nginx is recommended, but any server that supports PHP and MySQL will do. Older PHP 7.4 and MySQL 5.5.5 still run it, though both have reached end of life.

Pick Ghost if you want a publishing tool on its tested stack. Pick WordPress if you need the wider hosting choice. As with the apps above, plan backups and put a reverse proxy in front of either one.

Check what Docker publishes before you move a service home

The compose files on this page publish ports such as 2283 (Immich), 8222 (Vaultwarden) and 8096 (Jellyfin) without a host address. Docker’s port-publishing page calls publishing insecure by default, because the port becomes available to the outside world as well as the Docker host. Adding 127.0.0.1 to the publish flag, as in -p 127.0.0.1:8080:80, limits the port to the host itself. Docker’s firewall page adds that published container ports are diverted before ufw sees them, so a ufw rule does not protect them. If a service should only be reachable through a reverse proxy or Tailscale, bind it to localhost.

What hardware runs all 12

The table’s RAM figures add up to about 22 GB with all twelve running at once. Budget 24 GB, which means a 32 GB box. CPU is less of a problem than people think. Immich’s machine learning is the spike, and the rest idle hard.

Best Mini PCs for a Homelab in 2026 picks the Minisforum MS-01 for a host you plan to grow and a used OptiPlex 7060 Micro or ThinkCentre M720q to start cheap, with 32 GB as the practical minimum. The used 8th-gen boxes run the stack, but if Jellyfin will transcode, buy an N100 or an 11th-gen-or-newer chip, for the QSV reason above. Boot from NVMe and keep media on a separate disk. The Proxmox vs TrueNAS vs Unraid comparison covers the OS choice, and the Proxmox mini PC setup walkthrough takes a new box from USB stick to first VM.

An old gaming PC in a closet skips the purchase; the repurpose-as-server guide covers it, and the PC Builder checks socket/RAM/PSU/GPU-clearance compatibility if you build a tower instead. If the stack outgrows a single 2.5GbE link, the 10GbE homelab networking guide covers the cheap switch options.

Does it save money?

Four of the subscriptions this stack replaces, at the vendors’ monthly-billed list prices on September 23, 2026, come to $54.96 a month. Google’s 2 TB plan, now sold as Google AI Plus, is $9.99. 1Password Families is $7.99, Plex Pass $6.99 and Zapier Professional starts at $29.99. Annual billing lowers 1Password to $5.99 and Zapier to $19.99 a month.

The Self-Hosting Break-Even Calculator takes your own subscriptions, hardware price and electricity rate and returns the month the box pays for itself.

Can my internet plan handle the first photo migration?

Before you download a photo library to the new server, check when your home internet allowance resets. Google Takeout lets you download a Photos archive without deleting the Google copy. Count the download across your home internet connection once. Copying that archive from a laptop to Immich entirely over your local network does not send it through the ISP a second time. Uploading an off-site backup is a separate transfer if your provider counts uploads. Split the work into batches if needed; keep a verified copy before removing anything from the old service.

Here is a sample decision using a 900 GB allowance from April 15 through May 14. By the end of April 29, the household meter shows 420 GB, including a 120 GB one-time transfer that already finished. That leaves 300 GB of ordinary use over 15 days, or 20 GB/day. If the next 15 days look similar, reserve another 300 GB for normal use. You also need a 60 GB off-site upload before reset. That puts you at 780 GB before the optional 180 GB photo download. Downloading it now projects 960 GB, or 60 GB over. Waiting until May 15 leaves 120 GB of room this period and moves the download into the next one.

If your plan charged per started 50 GB block, 60 GB of excess would use two blocks. Whether that costs money depends on the rate, any courtesy allowance and any fee ceiling on your account. The billing-cycle worksheet compares both dates and lets you enter an unlimited add-on price if it covers this period.

Sources

Each version and tag below was checked against the project’s releases on September 23, 2026, each requirement against its docs and each price against the vendor’s page.

Releases: Immich, Nextcloud AIO, Vaultwarden, Paperless-ngx, Jellyfin, AdGuard Home, AudioBookshelf, n8n, BookStack, Uptime Kuma, Rocket.Chat
Requirements and setup: Immich requirements, Nextcloud All-in-One, Vaultwarden wiki, Jellyfin hardware selection, Home Assistant installation, Paperless-ngx configuration, BookStack installation, n8n Community edition features
Plans and prices: Tailscale, Google One plans, 1Password, Plex, Zapier

Email corrections to contact@techfuelhq.com.

How to Choose Your PC Build: Which Parts Should You Keep?

LK Wood IV — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This guide walks the decision the way I actually make it — what to choose first, how each component constrains the others, and where to let a calculator do the math instead of guessing. It’s framework, not a fixed parts list; for a concrete example, the $1,500 RTX 5060 Ti build puts every choice here into one real receipt.

A reader with a working PC and a reader with an empty desk can use the same parts list and should rarely buy the same cart. Start with the thing you want to do that you cannot do comfortably now.

Set the frame-rate target

For example: Cyberpunk 2077, built-in benchmark, 2560×1440 Ultra, RT off, native rendering, frame generation off; at least 75 FPS average and a 60 FPS 1% low. Pick targets you would notice in play. A 1% low summarizes slower frames; it cannot promise every frame stays above that number.

In the Ryzen 7 7700 and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB build report, the May runs on that machine give two different answers:

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p output	Reported average / 1% low	Against a 75 / 60 target
Ultra, RT off, no upscaling	78 / 62 FPS	Both pass. If your machine repeats that result in the scenes you play, keep the GPU and CPU.
Ultra RT, DLSS 4 Quality	71 / 56 FPS	Both miss. This is a separate rendering mode. Try a setting change before adding a part to your cart.

The published 1440p table does not specify a frame-generation setting. If your own repeated run with frame generation off clears the first target, keep the parts. Want ray tracing instead? The two rows changed both RT and upscaling, so subtracting them would not isolate the cost of either. They also leave a 120 FPS target unanswered.

For 4K, use the 7800X3D and manually tuned Astral 5080 results. Those runs use different hardware, output resolution and tuning; they cannot tell you how much faster the 5080 would make this 1440p PC.

If the PC misses: isolate one change

Use the same save, camera path or built-in sequence. Keep the driver, power profile, background workload and capture duration fixed. Note any FPS cap or V-Sync setting. CapFrameX can record and compare runs; use the same metric settings each time. Repeat the starting run so you know whether the difference you see is larger than its normal variation.

What happens in your scene?	Next test	Purchase decision
Performance stops at exactly the configured cap.	On the same scene, temporarily raise the cap if you want to know what headroom is available; restore it afterward.	A cap you chose is not evidence you need a faster CPU.
Lowering only render resolution improves the repeated slow section.	Restore the original resolution. Try one GPU-heavy setting at a time, then decide whether you accept the picture.	Keep the card if an acceptable setting passes. Otherwise compare cards measured in that game and mode.
Lower resolution barely changes the slowdown, or the results jump around between runs.	Check the frame-time trace and what the PC is doing at that moment. Repeat a quiet run, then test one suspected cause.	Leave the limiting part unknown. One utilization percentage or a pairing estimate does not justify a processor purchase.

If you are starting from scratch, use independent tested configurations at your intended settings to shortlist a CPU/GPU pair. For rendering, compilation, local inference or homelab use, substitute a representative project and a time or capacity limit. A gaming FPS result cannot settle those jobs.

What fits: check the exact parts before checkout

Start with the 1440p parts list in PC Builder or the 4K as-tested list. Keep the guide’s model beside each picker selection. A catalog entry for a family, a different board partner or a similar case does not establish that your card fits.

Item to retain	Evidence to check	What can stop the order
GPU and case	The ASUS Dual OC 5060 Ti 16GB is 229 × 120 × 50 mm and uses one 8-pin connector. The ROG Astral 5080 OC is 357.6 × 149.3 × 76 mm and uses a 16-pin connector. Check your case with its actual fans, radiator and neighboring cards installed.	A guide photograph, the GPU family name, or the case’s empty-shell maximum alone. Leave the fit unresolved until length, thickness, side-panel and cable space check out.
Board, CPU and memory	Use your exact board revision’s CPU support list, required BIOS, RAM type and population instructions. For a kit already in the machine, record capacity and part number; see the DDR5 buying guide.	A socket match alone does not establish firmware support or stability at the kit’s overclock profile.
Power, cooling and storage	Check the PSU model and its approved cables against the card maker’s instructions. Use the PSU estimate for capacity, then check cooler mounting, height, drive slots and free storage on your build.	A wattage estimate cannot identify a compatible modular cable. A new cooler, cable or case required by a change belongs on the shopping list.

If your exact model is missing, leave it on the list. Do not accept a similar part just to fill a picker slot.

Parts list, prebuilt, mini PC, or upgrade?

For a complete tower, ask the seller for the exact board, memory configuration, PSU and case, in addition to the CPU and GPU on the box. The guides to RTX 5070 prebuilts, 5070 Ti systems, 5080 systems and 5090 systems cover model identification, warranty and return terms at each tier. For a mini PC, check the exact memory and storage expansion options before treating a cheaper configuration as equivalent.

Price the change, not the machine you already own

In my May 1440p build notes: “Total real out-of-pocket was $789 for the new parts, which lines up with the $1,498 BOM after counting the bench inventory at current street prices.” Those are May prices. The 4K guide’s parts table pairs my exact bench parts with a June fresh-build list. To find what you need in cash today, price only what you still need to buy.

After selecting the actual models in PC Builder, choose Price this parts list to carry them into the worksheet in the same tab. Guide-only items stay marked separately; selections alone do not establish fit, price or ownership. You can also start with a blank build-cost worksheet. Mark what you are keeping; enter zero cash for a confirmed reused part, not for an item you haven’t priced. Check each new or used offer’s SKU, condition, seller, return terms and date. Include shipping, tax and required extras. Keep possible resale separate from cash needed at checkout.

For example, with a $350 cash ceiling, a hypothetical $310 replacement plus $15 shipping and $24 tax leaves $1. If a different PSU is required and still unpriced, $349 is only the known subtotal. If the old machine passes the target, the cost of keeping it for this job is $0 in new parts. That is a valid finished build decision.

TechFuel HQ

RTX 5070 Ti Review: 1440p, 4K and the RX 9070 XT

The version and fit to check

How fast it is

Power, thermals and noise

Price and the alternatives

Who should buy it

Who should skip it

Sources

PC Builder: Parts Picker with Compatibility Checks

What this PC part compatibility checker checks

How to check a PC parts list before ordering

Which motherboard goes with an RTX 5070 or 5070 Ti?

Use the right page for a PC-part comparison

Is this a PCPartPicker alternative?

Start with a published parts list

How much SSD space to reserve for Windows 11

Worked examples

What this is

Why this exists

Assumptions and sources

PC Builder Parts Dataset 2026: Verified Specs and Verification Dates

The short version

Why the prices left, in plain language

What the dataset covers

Will this graphics card fit?

What the PC Builder can answer

Do the CPU and board use the same socket?

Does the CPU list the board chipset?

Is the RAM generation the same?

Does the case list the board size?

Is the GPU shorter than the listed case limit?

Is the selected PSU below the calculated threshold?

What still needs a manual check

How verification works

Where the specs come from

Use the data (CC BY 4.0)

Change log

Related reading

RTX 5080 Review: Is the 4K Gain Worth the Price Gap?

The version and fit to check

How fast it is

Power, thermals and noise

Price and the alternatives

Who should buy it

Who should skip it

Sources

RTX 5060 Review: Can 8GB Hold 60 FPS at 1080p?

The version and fit to check

How fast it is

Where 8GB runs out

Which texture setting meets a 60 FPS target?

Ray tracing and DLSS 4

Power, thermals and noise

Price and the alternatives

Who should buy it

Who should skip it

Sources

The $2,500 RTX 5080 + 7800X3D 4K Build for 2026

Who this build is for (and who it isn’t)

The parts list with June 2026 prices

4K gaming benchmarks: first-party numbers on this exact rig

DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation: what makes 4K path tracing playable

How the 5080 sits in the broader 4K picture

Do you need the 9800X3D?

Power: what this build actually pulls

Build notes from my own bench

Cheaper and pricier alternatives

Verdict

Related on TechFuel HQ

Sources

Safe GPU Temperature: Read Your Card's Exact Limit

What “normal” means at idle and while gaming

Read the exact limit with nvidia-smi

The RTX 5080 result on this site

What zero and negative T.Limit values mean

NVIDIA RTX 50 maximum GPU temperatures

How much headroom should a healthy card have?

If T.Limit is unavailable

Core, hotspot and memory are different readings