TechRadar Urges PC Gamers to Avoid Overpaying as RAM and GPU Prices Soar

TechRadar said current PC games are optimized with console parity in mind and must run on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, so a GPU from 2020 or 2021 or later should remain adequate. For players willing to spend, the article recommended replacing keyboards, mice and headsets, which the average PC gamer changes every four to five years. It cited recent mouse options including Logitech's G Pro X3 Superstrike with second-generation HITS technology, Razer's Viper V4 Pro and Corsair's Sabre V2 MG, and pointed to improvements in battery life, 2.4GHz wireless stability and weight reduction.

For keyboards, TechRadar highlighted magnetic sensor technology using Hall Effect or TMR, including Rapid Trigger, which resets a key when the user lifts a finger and offers actuation sensitivity as low as 0.1mm versus the standard 2mm depth of mechanical decks. The report said magnets and light sensors also reduce moving parts and potential failure points. It recommended Logitech's G X2 Rapid, Cherry XTRFY K5 Pro TMR, Corsair's Clipper Pro Mini 60 and Razer's Huntsman V3 HE 8KHz, with prices around £100/$100 to $200/£200 depending on wired or wireless connectivity and form factor.

TechRadar also pointed to AI-powered upscaling from Nvidia DLSS 5, AMD FSR 4 and Intel XeSS 3, which render at a lower native resolution and use AI to scale the image to the target resolution. The article said this can deliver playable framerates of 60fps or above at 1440p and even 4K on budget or mid-range graphics cards. It added that Frame Generation and MFG interpolate generated frames with natively rendered ones, doubling or tripling total framerate alongside the resolution increase. Although flagship 4K cards such as the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are selling for as much as $9,000, TechRadar said modern GPUs from 2020 onward, including the RTX 30 series and RX 5000 line, can use the technology, though demanding software will require compromises such as targeting lower resolutions.