The Best Hardware of 2016

October

AOC G2460PF


The feature any self-respecting gamer should have at the top of their priority list when buying a new monitor is variable refresh rate technology. Sadly, Nvidia's G-Sync remains expensive, but AMD's more widely available FreeSync is far more consumer-friendly, as this £200 AOC screen proved. With a 144Hz refresh rate, all manner of display inputs, and the full suite of physical adjustments, the G2460PF is a screen to be reckoned with and pretty much perfect for pairing with an RX 480.

Nanoxia Project S


It's always great to see companies try something a little different in the world of cases, and the Project S certainly fits that bill. With a drawer-style design, the guts of this case can be rolled out on wheels, giving you all the room you could possibly need to install your high-end hardware. Once closed, the thick aluminium front panel and tempered glass roof (or side panel if you stand it vertically) make it one sexy case. In fact, we were so enamoured by it that we decided to use it for a full water-cooling build with hardline chrome tubing. Check out the end results here.

Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Tempered Glass


What do you get when you take an already excellent case design and add a tempered gl... wait, we already answered that. One of a number of cases in Phanteks' impressive lineup to receive a glass upgrade, the Pro M is the company's answer to NZXT's S340. Consequently, this case is the answer to the S340 Elite. It's a brilliant all-rounder, and a great candidate for showing off your build in style without breaking the bank. It offers more water-cooling and expansion potential than the NZXT alternative, but lacks its VR credentials. Whichever you go with, you're unlikely to come away disappointed, and these are the two mainstream cases to beat in 2017.