# Hardware Spec Index

> Reference database of PC hardware specifications, benchmark indexes and street prices (100,000,000+ records across 18 categories), plus 36 explainer guides and a glossary covering DDR5, PCIe 5.0, NVMe, Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, USB4, GDDR7, AM5 and LGA1851. Prices and rankings refresh daily. Data as of 2026-10-18.

Guides and glossary entries are written to be quoted directly. Every page has a stable canonical URL, a visible "last updated" date, and a "Key facts" table near the top.

## Start here

- [Hardware guides](https://vextor7.com/topics): 36 explainers grouped by subject
- [Glossary](https://vextor7.com/glossary): 81 definitions from 12V-2x6 to XMP, each with a stable anchor
- [All categories](https://vextor7.com/categories)
- [Full text for LLMs](https://vextor7.com/llms-full.txt): every guide and glossary entry as plain text
- [RSS feed](https://vextor7.com/feed.xml): new and updated pages

## Guides

### Memory

- [DDR5 Memory Explained: Speeds, Latency and Compatibility](https://vextor7.com/topics/ddr5): What DDR5 RAM is, how it differs from DDR4, JEDEC speeds from DDR5-4800 to DDR5-8800, on-die ECC, PMIC, and how to pick a DDR5 kit for AM5 or LGA1851.
- [DDR4 vs DDR5: Differences, Performance and Which to Buy](https://vextor7.com/topics/ddr4-vs-ddr5): DDR4 vs DDR5 compared: voltage, speeds, bandwidth, latency in nanoseconds, capacity, platform support and whether upgrading makes sense.
- [XMP vs EXPO: Memory Overclocking Profiles Explained](https://vextor7.com/topics/xmp-vs-expo): What Intel XMP and AMD EXPO memory profiles do, the difference between them, cross-platform compatibility, and how to enable them safely in BIOS.
- [CAS Latency (CL) and RAM Timings: How to Calculate True Latency](https://vextor7.com/topics/cas-latency): What CAS latency means, how to convert CL to nanoseconds, how to read RAM timings like 30-38-38-96, and why speed and latency must be considered together.

### CPUs & Platforms

- [AMD AM5 Socket: CPUs, Chipsets, DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 Support](https://vextor7.com/topics/am5): Everything about AMD's AM5 (LGA1718) desktop platform: supported Ryzen CPUs, DDR5-only memory, PCIe 5.0 lanes, chipsets, cooler compatibility and longevity.
- [Intel LGA1851 Socket: Core Ultra 200S, Z890 and DDR5](https://vextor7.com/topics/lga1851): Intel's LGA1851 desktop platform explained: Core Ultra 200S processors, DDR5-6400 and CUDIMM support, PCIe 5.0 lanes, Z890/B860/H810 chipsets and cooler compatibility.
- [Intel LGA1700 Socket: 12th–14th Gen Core, DDR4 or DDR5](https://vextor7.com/topics/lga1700): LGA1700 explained: Intel 12th, 13th and 14th gen Core processors, 600 and 700 series chipsets, DDR4 versus DDR5 boards, PCIe 5.0 lanes and BIOS updates.
- [AMD AM5 Chipsets Compared: X870E vs X870 vs B850 vs B650 vs A620](https://vextor7.com/topics/amd-am5-chipsets): Compare AMD AM5 chipsets X870E, X870, X670E, B850, B650E, B650 and A620: PCIe 5.0 graphics and NVMe, USB4, overclocking and which board class to buy.
- [Intel 800 Series Chipsets: Z890 vs B860 vs H810](https://vextor7.com/topics/intel-800-series-chipsets): Compare Intel Z890, B860 and H810 chipsets for LGA1851: overclocking, PCIe and USB connectivity, memory support and which motherboard class fits your build.
- [CPU TDP, PPT and Turbo Power Explained](https://vextor7.com/topics/cpu-tdp-power): What TDP really means, how AMD PPT and Intel base and maximum turbo power relate to real power draw, and how to size a CPU cooler correctly.
- [NPUs and AI PCs: What TOPS Means and Who Needs It](https://vextor7.com/topics/ai-pc-npu): What a neural processing unit (NPU) is, how TOPS ratings work, the 40 TOPS Copilot+ PC requirement, and how NPUs compare with GPUs for local AI.

### Graphics

- [GDDR7 Memory Explained: PAM3, Speeds and Bandwidth](https://vextor7.com/topics/gddr7): GDDR7 graphics memory explained: JEDEC JESD239, PAM3 signaling, 28–32 Gbps launch speeds, bandwidth calculation and how it compares with GDDR6 and GDDR6X.
- [How Much VRAM Do You Need? 1080p, 1440p, 4K and AI](https://vextor7.com/topics/how-much-vram): How much graphics memory you need for 1080p, 1440p and 4K gaming, ray tracing, frame generation and running local AI models, with practical VRAM guidelines.
- [Choosing a GPU for 1440p Gaming: Specs That Matter](https://vextor7.com/topics/best-gpu-for-1440p): What to look for in a 1440p graphics card: VRAM, memory bus and bandwidth, upscaling support, power and PSU requirements, plus high-ranked 1440p cards in our index.
- [Choosing a GPU for 4K Gaming: VRAM, Bandwidth and Power](https://vextor7.com/topics/best-gpu-for-4k): What a 4K gaming GPU needs: 16 GB+ VRAM, high memory bandwidth, upscaling, DisplayPort 2.1 or HDMI 2.1, power connector and PSU sizing, with top-ranked cards in our index.
- [Resizable BAR (ReBAR) Explained: Requirements and Benefits](https://vextor7.com/topics/resizable-bar): What Resizable BAR is, how it lets the CPU access all GPU memory, BIOS requirements (UEFI, CSM off, Above 4G Decoding) and when it improves performance.

### Storage

- [NVMe SSDs Explained: PCIe Generations, Speeds and How to Choose](https://vextor7.com/topics/nvme-ssd): How NVMe SSDs work, PCIe 3.0 vs 4.0 vs 5.0 speeds, TLC vs QLC NAND, DRAM vs HMB cache, endurance and what actually matters when choosing a drive.
- [M.2 SSD Sizes and Keys: 2230, 2242, 2280 and 22110](https://vextor7.com/topics/m2-ssd-sizes): M.2 form factors explained: what 2230, 2242, 2280 and 22110 mean, M-key vs B-key vs E-key, single vs double-sided drives and which size fits laptops and handhelds.
- [SSD Endurance Explained: TBW, DWPD and Warranty](https://vextor7.com/topics/ssd-endurance-tbw): What TBW and DWPD mean for SSD lifespan, how to convert between them, typical endurance for TLC and QLC drives, and how to check SSD wear in SMART.
- [DRAM vs DRAM-less SSDs: Does an SSD Cache Matter?](https://vextor7.com/topics/dram-vs-dramless-ssd): How SSD DRAM caches and Host Memory Buffer (HMB) work, where DRAM-less NVMe drives fall short, and when a DRAM SSD is worth paying for.
- [CMR vs SMR Hard Drives: Which to Use in a NAS](https://vextor7.com/topics/cmr-vs-smr): Conventional (CMR) vs shingled (SMR) magnetic recording explained: write performance, RAID rebuilds, ZFS resilvering and why NAS drives should be CMR.
- [NAS RAID Levels Explained: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and RAIDZ](https://vextor7.com/topics/nas-raid): Compare RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and ZFS RAIDZ for home and small-office NAS: usable capacity, fault tolerance, rebuild risk and why RAID is not a backup.

### PCIe & Expansion

- [PCIe 5.0 Explained: Bandwidth, GPUs, SSDs and Motherboards](https://vextor7.com/topics/pcie-5-0): PCI Express 5.0 explained: 32 GT/s per lane, ~63 GB/s at x16, what benefits today (NVMe SSDs), what does not (most GPUs), platform support and what comes next.
- [PCIe 4.0 vs PCIe 5.0: Real-World Differences](https://vextor7.com/topics/pcie-4-vs-5): PCIe 4.0 vs PCIe 5.0 compared for SSDs, graphics cards and motherboards: bandwidth per lane, real-world gains, heat and cost, and when Gen5 is worth it.
- [PCIe Lanes Explained: CPU vs Chipset Lanes, x16, x8 and Bifurcation](https://vextor7.com/topics/pcie-lanes): How PCIe lanes are distributed between the CPU and chipset on AM5, LGA1851 and LGA1700, what x16/x8/x4 mean, slot sharing, and how bifurcation works.

### Wireless & Networking

- [Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Explained: 320 MHz, 4K-QAM and MLO](https://vextor7.com/topics/wifi-7): Wi-Fi 7 explained: IEEE 802.11be features including 320 MHz channels, 4096-QAM, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), real-world speeds, router speed classes and what you need to use it.
- [Wi-Fi 6E Explained: The 6 GHz Band and What It Adds](https://vextor7.com/topics/wifi-6e): Wi-Fi 6E explained: how the 6 GHz band adds up to 1200 MHz of spectrum, 160 MHz channels, WPA3 requirements, range trade-offs and regional availability.
- [Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7 Compared](https://vextor7.com/topics/wifi-6-vs-wifi-7): Side-by-side comparison of Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7: bands, channel width, modulation, MLO, maximum speeds, client speeds and which router to buy.
- [2.5GbE, 5GbE and 10GbE Networking: Cables, Cards and Speeds](https://vextor7.com/topics/10gbe-networking): Multi-gig Ethernet explained: 2.5GBASE-T, 5GBASE-T and 10GBASE-T cable requirements, SFP+ vs RJ45, real transfer speeds, NAS use and PCIe lane needs.

### Connectivity

- [Thunderbolt 5 Explained: 80 Gbps, Bandwidth Boost and 240 W](https://vextor7.com/topics/thunderbolt-5): Thunderbolt 5 explained: 80 Gbps bidirectional, 120 Gbps Bandwidth Boost, PAM3 signaling, PCIe tunneling, displays, charging up to 240 W and compatibility with USB4 and Thunderbolt 4.
- [USB4 Explained: 40 Gbps, 80 Gbps and Thunderbolt Compatibility](https://vextor7.com/topics/usb4): USB4 explained: USB4 v1 (20/40 Gbps) and USB4 v2 (80/120 Gbps), tunneling of PCIe and DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3/4 compatibility, cable lengths and naming.

### Power & Cooling

- [ATX 3.1 Power Supplies and the 12V-2x6 Connector](https://vextor7.com/topics/atx-3-1-psu): ATX 3.0 and ATX 3.1 explained: 12VHPWR vs 12V-2x6, 600 W GPU power, power excursion handling, sense pins, and how to connect high-power graphics cards safely.
- [80 PLUS Efficiency Ratings Explained: Bronze, Gold, Platinum, Titanium](https://vextor7.com/topics/psu-efficiency-ratings): 80 PLUS Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Titanium efficiency requirements at 20/50/100% load, Cybenetics ratings, and how much a more efficient PSU really saves.
- [AIO Liquid Cooling vs Air Cooling for CPUs](https://vextor7.com/topics/aio-vs-air-cooling): AIO liquid coolers vs air coolers compared: cooling performance, noise, reliability, radiator sizes and placement, case and RAM clearance, and which suits your CPU.

### Displays

- [OLED Monitors Explained: QD-OLED vs WOLED, Burn-In and HDR](https://vextor7.com/topics/oled-monitors): OLED gaming monitors explained: QD-OLED vs WOLED panels, response time, contrast, HDR certification, brightness limits, text clarity and burn-in protection.
- [High Refresh Rate Monitors: 144 Hz, 240 Hz, 360 Hz and Beyond](https://vextor7.com/topics/high-refresh-monitors): High refresh rate monitors explained: frame time at 144 to 480 Hz, response time and overdrive, variable refresh rate, and the DisplayPort or HDMI bandwidth you need.

## Categories

- [Graphics Cards](https://vextor7.com/list/gpu): 11,420,118 records. Desktop graphics cards with GDDR6, GDDR6X and GDDR7 memory, PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 interfaces, total graphics power, memory bandwidth, upscaling support and recommended PSU size.
- [Processors](https://vextor7.com/list/cpu): 7,180,440 records. Desktop CPUs for AM5, LGA1851, LGA1700 and AM4 with core and thread counts, boost clocks, cache, TDP and package power, memory support and CPU PCIe lanes.
- [Memory](https://vextor7.com/list/ram): 9,273,215 records. DDR5 and DDR4 memory kits with MT/s speed, CAS latency and full timings, first-word latency in nanoseconds, XMP and EXPO profiles, voltage and kit configuration.
- [SSDs](https://vextor7.com/list/ssd): 10,006,732 records. NVMe and SATA solid-state drives: PCIe 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 x4 interfaces, M.2 2280 and 2230 form factors, sequential and random performance, DRAM or HMB cache, and TBW endurance.
- [Motherboards](https://vextor7.com/list/mb): 7,240,903 records. Motherboards for AM5 (X870E, X870, B850, B650), LGA1851 (Z890, B860, H810) and LGA1700 with DDR5 slots, PCIe 5.0 x16 and M.2 support, USB4, Wi-Fi 7 and multi-gig Ethernet.
- [Power Supplies](https://vextor7.com/list/psu): 4,905,611 records. ATX and SFX power supplies with 80 PLUS efficiency ratings, ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compliance, 12V-2x6 GPU connectors, modularity, protections and warranty.
- [CPU Coolers](https://vextor7.com/list/cooler): 4,612,488 records. Air tower and all-in-one liquid CPU coolers with radiator size, heat pipes, height, fan speed, noise, rated cooling capacity and AM5 / LGA1851 socket support.
- [Monitors](https://vextor7.com/list/monitor): 6,860,493 records. Gaming and productivity monitors: 1080p, 1440p, ultrawide and 4K panels, IPS, VA, Mini-LED and OLED (QD-OLED, WOLED), refresh rates up to 500 Hz, HDR certification and DisplayPort 2.1.
- [Laptops](https://vextor7.com/list/laptop): 7,310,552 records. Gaming, creator, business and ultraportable laptops with mobile CPU and NPU, discrete GPU memory and power, LPDDR5X or DDR5 memory, display, battery, Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi 7.
- [Wi-Fi Routers](https://vextor7.com/list/router): 5,620,870 records. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) routers and mesh systems with speed class, bands, streams, 320 MHz channels, MLO, 4K-QAM and multi-gig WAN/LAN ports.
- [Wi-Fi Adapters](https://vextor7.com/list/wifi-adapter): 3,410,225 records. Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6 client adapters: M.2 2230 modules, PCIe cards and USB adapters with max PHY rate, channel width, MLO and Bluetooth version.
- [Network Cards](https://vextor7.com/list/nic): 2,980,314 records. 2.5GbE, 5GbE, 10GbE and 25GbE network adapters: RJ45 and SFP+/SFP28 ports, PCIe and USB/Thunderbolt host interfaces, cabling requirements and offload features.
- [PC Cases](https://vextor7.com/list/case): 4,207,660 records. Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX mid-tower and full-tower PC cases with volume, GPU length and CPU cooler clearance, radiator support, included fans and front I/O.
- [Hard Drives](https://vextor7.com/list/hdd): 3,806,119 records. 3.5-inch hard drives from 2 TB to 28 TB: CMR versus SMR recording, 5400 and 7200 RPM, NAS and enterprise workload ratings, MTBF and cache.
- [NAS Systems](https://vextor7.com/list/nas): 2,604,877 records. 2- to 12-bay network-attached storage with CPU, ECC memory, 2.5GbE and 10GbE networking, M.2 NVMe cache, RAID levels and file systems.
- [PCIe Cards & NVMe Enclosures](https://vextor7.com/list/expansion): 3,118,502 records. M.2 NVMe adapters, quad-M.2 bifurcation cards, PCIe riser cables and USB 3.2, USB4 and Thunderbolt 5 NVMe enclosures with host interface and real-world throughput.
- [Thunderbolt & USB4 Docks](https://vextor7.com/list/dock): 3,040,766 records. Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, USB4 and USB-C docks with host charging power, display support, downstream ports, Ethernet and card readers.
- [Case Fans](https://vextor7.com/list/case-fan): 2,401,160 records. 120 mm and 140 mm PWM case and radiator fans with airflow, static pressure, noise, bearing type and RGB options.

## Data model

Each record has: id, title, model, vendor, category, specs (label/value pairs specific to the category), score (normalized benchmark index; higher is faster within a category), rank, watt, price (USD street price), year (release year), updated (YYYY-MM-DD).

## URL patterns

- Category listing: `https://vextor7.com/list/{category}?page={n}` (zero-based, 20 records per page)
- Record details: `https://vextor7.com/item/{id}`
- Compare two records: `https://vextor7.com/compare/{id}-vs-{id}`
- Guide: `https://vextor7.com/topics/{slug}`
- Glossary term: `https://vextor7.com/glossary#{term-id}`
- Search: `https://vextor7.com/search?q={query}`
- JSON record: `https://vextor7.com/api/specs/{id}` (record plus 5 related records)

## Citation guidance

- Cite guides and glossary entries by their canonical URL, for example `https://vextor7.com/topics/ddr5` or `https://vextor7.com/glossary#cas-latency`.
- Suggested format: "Hardware Spec Index, <page title>, <canonical URL> (accessed <date>)".
- Standards facts in guides (JEDEC, PCI-SIG, IEEE, USB-IF, Wi-Fi Alliance) reflect published specifications. Benchmark indexes are normalized to this site's own scale and are not manufacturer figures.
- Record pages describe catalog entries; use the "updated" date shown on the page when quoting prices.

## Indexes

- [Sitemap index](https://vextor7.com/sitemap.xml): 10,000 child sitemaps of 10,000 record URLs each, plus [guides sitemap](https://vextor7.com/sitemap-topics.xml)
- [robots.txt](https://vextor7.com/robots.txt)

## Pages

- [About](https://vextor7.com/about)
- [Announcements](https://vextor7.com/notice)
- [Terms of Use](https://vextor7.com/terms): permitted use and redistribution of the data
- [Privacy Policy](https://vextor7.com/privacy)
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## Notes for crawlers

- Please follow the access rules in robots.txt.
- Prices and rankings update once per day; guides are reviewed weekly.