Maximum PC: Holiday 2024 (Vol. 29, No. 13)

Maximum PC: Holiday 2024 — Gear of the Year and Intel’s New Era 💻

Maximum PC’s Holiday 2024 issue (Vol. 29, No. 13) is a year-end special built around the hardware that defined 2024. The centerpiece is the annual Gear of the Year awards, where the editors name the 18 best PC products of the year—spanning chassis, SSDs, peripherals, portables, and even a projector. It’s a focused look at what actually earned a place in a PC builder’s setup.

Build an Intel AI PC with Core Ultra and Z890 ⚙️

The cover build takes on Intel’s first desktop chip with an AI-friendly NPU. You’ll find a step-by-step guide to assembling a Core Ultra system, plus hands-on testing of the new Z890 motherboard platform, including the Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Hero. Benchmarks cover gaming, AI workloads, and efficiency, giving a clear view of where the new generation shines and where it still has something to prove.

Gear of the Year: The 18 Best PC Products of 2024

From mini PCs to high-end laptops, the awards section highlights the components and complete systems that stood out. The issue also includes a dedicated list of the best mini PCs for anyone who wants a tiny, off-the-shelf machine, along with buying advice and real-world testing notes.

History of Ray Tracing 🎮

Nate Drake traces the evolution of ray tracing from a revolutionary rendering technique to a core part of modern gaming graphics. It’s a useful read for understanding why lighting, reflections, and shadows have become such a central part of GPU performance discussions.

AMD vs Intel Gaming Laptops

Jarred Walton puts integrated graphics through an exhaustive benchmark suite to answer a practical question: which laptop graphics options are worth your money? The comparison covers both AMD and Intel solutions, helping readers make sense of what games will actually run well on a portable PC.

Windows Tips, News, and How-To Guides

Beyond the big features, this issue includes a guide to removing bloatware from Windows, advice on playing Windows FPS games on Linux, and a tutorial on using Windows Mobile Hotspot. The news section catches up on AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D sellout, Nvidia’s GeForce Now changes, and Apple’s Mac Mini M4. Regular letters, comments, and lab reviews round out the issue.

Who Should Read This Issue

This issue is aimed at PC enthusiasts, builders, and anyone planning a hardware upgrade. Whether you’re curious about Intel’s Core Ultra platform, comparing gaming laptops, or looking for the year’s best components, the mix of buying advice, technical analysis, and step-by-step projects offers plenty to work with. It’s a snapshot of where desktop and mobile PC hardware stood at the end of 2024.