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If 2021 was a banner year for PC hardware, expectations came crashing back down to earth in 2022. The reason? Chip shortages and the supply chain crunch. Simply getting your hands on new hardware proved to be frustratingly difficult for most of the year, and even when you could find something to buy, it often sold for a staggering mark-up.

But that doesn’t mean PC vendors took their foot off the gas. We tested some truly impressive hardware in 2022, including blazing-fast next-gen SSDs and notebooks that run laps around yesteryear’s models. Are you into streaming video? Hardware that helps you look and sound as impressive as possible took major strides forward in 2022. And this year we’re expanding our list of top picks to include the best software available, as what you use all that computing power for is just as vital.

For this list, we asked NextGen’s tech experts to share their favorite picks in their areas of expertise. Without further ado, this is the best PC hardware and software of 2021 and 2022. Yes, we’re looking forward to next year, because until even newer products begin launching in 2022, many of the wins on this list will remain very relevant, especially with no end to the chip shortage in sight.

Best thin-and-light laptop: HP Spectre x360 14

PC laptop buyers have an embarrassment of riches to pick from, but for most people, a 360-convertible is the apex machine. Convertibles are basically indistinguishable from traditional clamshell notebooks, but give you all the flexibility of a tablet as well. That means you get touch and even pen support on top of the usual touchpad/keyboard combo.

Our pick for the best thin-and-light laptop easily goes to HP’s wonderful Spectre x360 14, built on Intel’s latest 11th-gen Tiger Lake CPU with Xe graphics. It offers screen options ranging from 1920×1080 IPS to a 3000×2000 OLED display, and with its 66 watt hour battery, you can expect all-day battery performance. Its stylish diamond-cut exterior also tells the world that you actually think differently, too.

Best gaming laptop: MSI GE76 Raider

You know MSI’s GE76 Raider is something special when you have none other than Apple tapping it for comparisons to the hyped-up MacBook Pro with its M1 Max to the GE76. Even better, Apple actually admits that its very best M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 is slower than the Raider in the comparison.

While we don’t think the two laptops are in the same category to even merit the comparison, we’re not surprised Apple focused on MSI’s killer gaming laptop. With its 8-core Intel 11th-gen Core i9-11980HK “Tiger Lake H” processor, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 GPU pushing a smoking 165 watt TGP rating, and a buttery smooth 360Hz gaming panel, this hefty 6.6 pound laptop packs some serious gaming and productivity firepower. Did we mention all the RGB, too?

Best GPU: Ryzen 5000 APUs

Usually, this category is called “Best graphics card,” casting a spotlight on the best discrete desktop video card released over the past 12 months. And sure, several new graphics cards were released in 2021, from 1080p-focused offerings like the Radeon RX 6600 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 to heavy-hitting 4K behemoths like the $1,200 GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. But the chip shortage’s effects were felt most acutely in the graphics space, exacerbated by incredible demand from crypto-currency miners who use their graphics cards to mint virtual coins for real-world profits. Understandably—though disappointingly—every new graphics card launched this year hit store shelves with staggering price tags, though they also sold out instantly only to appear on second-hand retailers like Ebay and Craiglist at up to twice the price of those already-inflated MSRPs. Gross.

Are you planning to upgrade your computer this 2022? 2020 caused most people to buy their own personal computers to work from home. With this, people found that using their own personalized work stations more convenient, prompting them to look for ways to upgrade them. What’s great is that the 2022 CES showcased the newest computer upgrades coming out later in the year. These included amazing hardware upgrades, mostly aimed towards laptops. This makes 2022 the year with the most hype around the upgrades it offers. In case you missed out on what the visual presentation showcased, read what we have below. Learn the different laptop and computer hardware upgrades 2022 has in store for you.

Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU

The biggest announcement to date is Nvidia’s newest RTX graphics card. The GeForce RTX 3060 has a 12GB VRAM of GDDR6 memory, which is way more than other graphics cards nowadays provide. With performance matching RTX 2070 Super, its price can range from 329 to 500 USD. This makes it the cheapest new GPU released in recent years. It’s always good to see a more affordable next-gen graphics card to keep the market healthy. Though not all games will need a 12GB VRAM, it’s a welcoming change that gives all gamers hope.

iBuyPower Revolt 3 MK3 PC Case

The iBuyPower Revolt 3 MK3 got the most improvements from last year’s Revolt 2 RGB. It changed from a glass-heavy design and now stands as a compact tower with many open vents on all sides. It gives a functional look that provides more ventilation to keep the systems cool. It’s equipped with a small form factor and has a top handle, making it easy to transport. It can also come with a hook on each side for you to hang your headset. The only problem we’re seeing is the noises it could make when running. With all those components all around the case, you might not have the ability to dampen its sounds. Despite this, it’s a trade-off we can afford if it means a convenient functionality and service. Its cooling capabilities mean that your computer won’t sustain as many damages, reducing the need for computer repairs.

Intel Tiger Lake H35

We could see the launching of the Intel Tiger Lake Processor during the first quarter of 2021. This will be the first micro tech architecture that Intel will make over the past five years. It has processor support of about PCIe 4.0 that can come with the new PCU microarchitecture. The processor runs a clock speed of 5.4 GHz at its peak and supports Ryzen’s new CPUs. Intel might not compete with AMD’s graphics, but it will give a fight when it comes to the user’s choice. With the Tiger Lake H35, Intel might have hit a sweet spot that will offer lots of speed and performance.

Acer Predator XB273U NX Monitor

Acer Predator’s XB273U NX showcases 1440p resolution monitors. It places Acer in a good spot as another option to choose instead of buying an expensive graphics card. Though running the monitor with a high-end GPU is optional, it still has a fast refresh rate with a 0.5s response time. It covers about 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, giving a high-quality picture. The monitor has an HDR-capable panel making it emit less blue light than standard LCD. The eye-catcher of this pc hardware upgrade is its G-Sync Esports panel. It includes a reflex latency analyzer to help you adjust your response when gaming.

Asus ROG Claymore II

The Asus ROG Claymore II is a mechanical keyboard designed in favor of gamers. It has customizable macro keys and features its own ROG RX Blue or Red optical switches. This hardware upgrade gives more features to gamers who keep using the Numpad . The keyboard saves space as its Numpad slides on and snaps into its right side. The Numpad it has also offers more controls, like a volume dial for convenient changes in volume. The keyboard connects either by wireless connection or USB-C cable. The USBC port supports fast charging and can pass through other devices. Remember that if you’re going to use it wirelessly, make sure to get a 4,000mAh battery.

MSI Stealth 15m

The MSI stealth 15m is another line of MSI products that focuses on gaming. Though you can put expensive hardware upgrades in your laptop, the 15M can come with a built H35 intel core. It’s a cheaper option for us who only want to have the right performance laptop. Its quad-core chip runs with a large thermal envelope of 35 watts. The 10nm process it has should make its core capable of running around a 5GHz boost clock than a 14nm 10th-gen chip.

EVGA Z590 Dark