Custom PC UK — January 2021 (Issue 208)

AMD’s Ryzen 5000-series chips take center stage in Custom PC UK Issue 208, a hardware-focused January 2021 issue that puts new processors, graphics cards and storage through their paces. Alongside component reviews, it offers practical guidance on memory and overclocking, with plenty for PC builders and gaming enthusiasts to explore.

Ryzen 5000 under the microscope 💻

The issue tests the Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen 7 5800X, then takes a closer look at AMD’s Zen 3 architecture. Readers will also find advice on choosing memory for the new processors and a guide to overclocking them. Together, the reviews and explainers offer context for understanding both the chips’ performance and the decisions involved in building around them.

Big hardware, close comparisons

Elsewhere, the magazine reviews Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3090 and compares PCIe 4.0 SSDs. A look at LG’s 38-inch ultrawide display considers the appeal of a larger screen, while a group test of wireless mechanical keyboards addresses a familiar desktop nuisance: cables.

Better cooling and sharper pixels

Practical features examine the cooling implications of the RTX 3080 Founders Edition design and show how liquid-metal thermal paste can be used to improve GPU and laptop cooling. The issue also investigates integer scaling, a way to make low-resolution graphics look deliberately crisp rather than blurred on modern displays.

More to explore

Additional coverage includes Star Wars: Squadrons, a Raspberry Pi 4 tablet project built around the RasPad 3, and a discussion of automatic CPU overclocking. From component testing to cooling and display details, Issue 208 brings together hands-on reviews and technical features for readers who like to know what is happening inside their PC.