Maximum PC – Issue 230 – June 2024

Maximum PC Issue 230: A PC Builder’s June 2024 Briefing 💻

Maximum PC’s June 2024 issue (Issue 230, Vol 29 No 6) leads with a question that matters to anyone watching component prices: how much gaming PC can you build without a dedicated graphics card? The cover feature follows a budget build around AMD’s Ryzen 5 8600G and compares it with systems using an Intel Arc A750 and a Radeon RX 7600 XT. The goal is not just to see what runs, but to measure what kind of frames per dollar you actually get from each approach.

No GPU? No Problem — The 8600G Experiment ⚙️

The issue’s DIY feature puts AMD’s integrated graphics to work in a gaming build, then benches it against discrete-GPU alternatives. Readers get a practical look at how modern integrated graphics handle 1080p gaming, where the compromises appear, and why the answer may depend on the games and settings you care about. It is a useful read for builders trying to keep costs down without giving up too much performance.

AI PCs, Security, and the Software You Use 🔐

Beyond the cover build, this issue examines the AI PC wave in “AI PCs: What You Need To Know.” The feature asks what these systems can do, what they cost, and whether they are worth buying now. Security coverage includes “Been Hacked?” with advice on what to do if your PC has been compromised, plus a guide to building your own WireGuard VPN for safer public Wi-Fi use. A Photoshop how-to explores the software’s new AI features for photo editing and graphic work.

Hardware on the Bench

The review section includes the Sapphire RX 7900 GRE Pulse, a 2TB Seagate FireCuda 540 PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD, the HP Omen 45L, and the XGIMI Horizon projector. These reviews sit alongside the magazine’s regular quickstart news, the best gaming laptops list, and columns covering the latest developments in PC hardware and software.

Who This Issue Is For

Maximum PC Issue 230 speaks to PC builders, hardware enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone trying to make sense of AI PCs, security risks, and the current graphics card market. Whether you are planning a budget build or just keeping an eye on the next upgrade, the issue offers tested opinions and step-by-step guidance rather than vague speculation.