Upgrading, A-to-Z
How strong is your upgrading fu? Newbs rightly feel a sense of trepidation installing a $600 prize videocard, but even power users would be wise to refresh themselves on the basics of choosing, buying, and installing upgrades for their rigs. With big, colorful pictures and a minimum of three-syllable words, Maximum PC goes from component to component showing you which upgrades matter the most.

The Maximum PC Gift Guide
We're geek on the outside, and if you cut us in half, you'd see geek on the inside, too. So you can trust our judgment when it comes to finding the best gifts of the year for the geek in your life (or for yourself--it's none of our beeswax). From the Magic 8-Ball of the 21st century to the DIY robot beer waitress, we've got fun stuff for every budget. Operators are standing by!

Get On Your Case!
We're beating the crap out of a truckload of new PC cases, including Cooler Master's latest flagship enclosure, the CM Stacker. Check in next month for the verdicts!

Plus!
Reviewed: Western Digital's 400GB Caviar drive and the second rev of Zalman's legendary Resorator!