What a 12 months 2022 has been for hardware. Right after a pandemic-induced drought, the skies lastly rained incredible launches upon parched enthusiasts. Whether a holdout for a new processor or graphics card, or an keen lover of transportable Computer gaming, your persistence was richly rewarded.
So for completely opposite causes than 2021, deciding on our top picks for the once-a-year The Comprehensive Nerd awards was the moment again rough heading. The dialogue involving Gordon Ung, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee, Keith Could, and Adam Patrick Murray received downright heated about our favorites of this 12 months. By the time the staff settled on the 8 winners for 2022, everyone was downright fatigued. And probably a very little unhappy.
Want to know what set off the fireworks? Proceed reading for a recap of the success, along with the arguments that set Gordon and particularly Brad off. (Sorry, manager.) For the total dialogue, verify out the online video embedded beneath. Also, preserve in brain that these picks are merely the favorites as nominated and voted on in live overcome debate by the members of our Entire Nerd podcast, which focuses on deeply geeky fanatic-level tech. Be absolutely sure to look at out our separate roundup of the finest Computer components and software program of 2022 for PCWorld’s wider listing of champions, as properly as our roundup of the very best perform-from-residence tech of 2022.
Greatest CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Both of those Intel and AMD released significant hitters this calendar year, with 13th-generation Raptor Lake and Ryzen 7000 blowing earlier their predecessors on benchmark charts. With how substantially uncooked ability they offer, you’d think that the top pet dog Main i9-13900K would have been a shoo-in for this pick. Gordon, our resident CPU reviewer, absolutely did.
Regrettably for Gordon, democracy prevailed. The rest of the crew a lot most popular the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, AMD’s excellent bookend to the AM4 era. Offered the 5800X3D’s latest street price ranges, the vast majority felt this chip features excellent general performance in the parts most men and women care about—gaming and streaming—while also showcasing AMD’s extraordinary new V-Cache tech. It also did not harm that this extremely-highly effective CPU can slip into your present motherboard as a rather easy and very low-expense upgrade.
One large thing that arrived out of this discussion: Each and every person defining what helps make a products a favourite of the 12 months, rather than the very best (a shift in concept for these 2022 Nerdies). This results in being very pertinent in the subsequent topic, GPUs.
Most effective GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Poor Brad. On the a single hand, 2022 noticed the start of new graphics playing cards, conserving him from nevertheless a different calendar year of enduring a get for built-in graphics as our GPU select. Even so, on the other hand, he had to commit a large amount of effort for the bulk to concur on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 as the beloved.
In spite of clear evidence of the 4090’s futuristically rapid efficiency, Adam and Keith countered tricky with Intel’s new Arc graphics playing cards as their preferred of the year—despite the A770 and A750 showing up to the desk with concerns (like motorists). The pair defended Intel passionately, touting the effort (and the awareness paid to the mid-variety) as worthy of most loved position. Most likely not best, but beloved.
Let’s just say the conversation got downright psychological speedy, long lasting practically twice as prolonged as the CPU discussion and achieving an rigorous fever stage right before Adam and Keith last but not least cracked. (At Alaina’s instigation.) In the close, the GeForce RTX 4090’s confront-melting pace and unlocking of all-new gaming experiences—no-compromises ray tracing and 120Hz+ 4K gaming, alongside with the introduction of AI-run DLSS Body Generation—earned this brutal graphics card a really hard-received crown. It’s a beast for material creation, as well.
Most effective situation: Fractal Layout North
Like 2021, a ton of excellent new conditions arrived available in 2022—and at all dimensions. No matter if you wished a thing modest and modular like the Phanteks Evolv Change XT, a tidy case that supports optical drives like the Fractal Design and style Pop Mini Air, or a very however meaty box like the Lian Li Lancool III, everybody got anything novel and new.
But none ended up as fresh new as the Fractal Structure North, a mid-tower airflow case with standard proportions but an initial consider on a slatted front panel. Fairly than plastic or metal, Fractal utilized wood, with your preference of stain colours. It’ll mix in with most of today’s present-day property decor, too, provided how well-known mid-century modern day is suitable now. The Fractal Design North also provides fantastic airflow, cooling effectiveness, and buildability. Which is a phrase, appropriate?
Our only criticism? There’s not a more compact mini-ITX variation available. But. (Ahem.)
Greatest Pc accent: Valve Steam Deck
Accessories are defined as merchandise that include price or utility, or boost the appearance of the most important product. Which implies you can rely a great deal of items that aren’t just keyboards, mice, headphones, and the like. For example: The Steam Deck. In fact, not just for example, provided that we picked it as our favorite Pc accent.
Of course, it is a pc unto alone. But for how it’s utilized in the genuine world—as a enhance relatively than replacement for a gaming rig—it’s more an accent than an impartial device, allowing you to carry on your games absent from your desk (or your house all jointly). Adam and Keith couldn’t halt talking enthusiastically about their Steam Decks, and even individuals of us without 1 system to finally rectify that. Valve essentially managed to make a moveable gaming handheld a actuality, and Linux gaming a actuality, all for under $400. Bravo.
Very best laptop computer: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Deciding upon a notebook (substantially like a laptop or computer case) typically boils down to your requirements and private taste. Which will make selecting a consensus favored hard.
But Asus’s advancements to its Zephyrus G14 (moreover a hefty support from AMD’s outstanding Ryzen 6900HS and Radeon RX 6800S) served the enterprise win this class two times with the similar product. (Nicely, technically, the 2020 and 2022 styles.) It is fast, potent, lightweight, and even sports a futuristic mini-LED display on its exterior for exhibiting notifications, battery lifestyle information, songs visualizations, and extra. At $2,500, this version of the ROG Zephyrus G14 isn’t low-priced, but you get a large amount in this 3.8-lb notebook. And it is a entertaining device. Significantly, appear at that AniME Matrix exhibit on its lid!
Very best merch: Paul’s Components 8-bit Laptop equipment

Paul’s Components
Sponsored by: The Complete Nerd Outrage Pony T-Shirt
These days, you can buy a great deal of superb goods that not only support your preferred creators, but spend homage to your pursuits in just the suitable ways, way too. It is not all t-shirts and mugs, possibly: Acquire for instance the ratcheting screwdriver from the Linus Tech Tips keep or GamersNexus’ perennially common mod mat.
But for this 12 months, nostalgia received our hearts (and our pounds). Above on the retailer for Paul’s Components, you can uncover majestic 8-bit renditions of PCs and Computer areas. T-shirt, hoodie, or mug—it does not make a difference which version you pick out. We just love how it merges our modern lives with the common points of our youth.
Best innovation: Valve Steam Deck
Editor’s take note: A earlier version of this short article mentioned 3D V-Cache as the winner of this group. This was a miscalculation and not the accidental reveal of an alternate timeline wherever Brad and Alaina’s favorite obtained its owing. We regret the error.
For unlocking the shackles on Computer gaming and earning it possible to perform your substantial Steam backlog everywhere, the Steam Deck won our Ideal Accessory award this year. But its sheer existence is also of observe: As the fruits of a decade of operate, it last but not least gave everyday living to the desire of actively playing video games on a console-sized Personal computer that remained a Pc. If you want to play online games outdoors your Steam library, you can.
Also, powering that accomplishment is an remarkable technological trick—seamless integration of Proton, the application layer that permits Steam Deck house owners to perform Home windows video games on Linux. And incredibly, Valve priced the whole bundle in the similar assortment as an actual console. No matter if the Steam Deck in the long run boosts Linux gaming across the board remains to be witnessed, but for basically being in this article on this earth, the Steam Deck nabbed the the greater part vote and cinched a acquire.
Worst craze: Pricing

Brad Chacos/IDG
We mean pricing on new components launched in 2022, but genuinely, it is the expense of everything in 2022. MSRPs maintain climbing.
Contrary to 2021, when charges ballooned due to mining, scalping, logistics woes, and basic shortages on merchandise we all wished, this year we experienced to belly better list charges for new launches. Of training course, not all hardware bloated in value and dropped in worth, but GPUs like the $1,200 RTX 4080 and the impending $899 Radeon RX 7900 XT certain feel overpriced relative to their specs. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors presently received major criticism for their perceived significant price. Are we entitled to quick components at decline-chief charges? No. But it feels like the madness will never stop.