How We Choose and Score Products
Every product in our guides is chosen by the ComputerScout team. This page explains how, so you can judge our recommendations for yourself.
What we look at
Popularity with UK buyers. We start with what people in the UK are actually buying, using best-seller rankings and availability at major UK retailers. A brilliant product you can't buy here doesn't help anyone.
Performance. We study manufacturer specifications and published independent benchmark data to see how products compare in the things that matter: frame rates for graphics cards, real-world speed for storage, and so on.
Value. We weigh each product against what it typically costs and against its closest rivals. A slightly slower product that costs much less can be the better buy.
Reliability and support. Warranty length, the manufacturer's track record, and patterns in owner feedback all count.
What the scores mean
Our scores are editorial ratings out of 10. They reflect how strongly we recommend a product for the people it's aimed at, not a single benchmark result.
- 9.0 and above: outstanding. Among the best you can buy, with very few compromises.
- 8.0 to 8.5: excellent. A great choice, usually with one or two trade-offs to be aware of.
- 7.0 to 7.5: good, but only for the right buyer.
Scores are relative to the product's category and price range, so a 9.0 budget card isn't as fast as a 9.0 high-end card, but it's an outstanding buy for its price.
Keeping it independent
Brands don't pay to be included and can't see or approve our recommendations before they're published. We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links (see our disclosure), but we earn the same rate whichever product you choose, so there's no reason for us to steer you towards one over another.
Keeping it up to date
We review our guides regularly and whenever important new products launch or prices change significantly. Each guide shows the date it was last updated. If you spot something that's out of date, please let us know.