Today's hardware roundup covers a mix of compact builds and budget peripherals, highlighted by the $799 GEEKOM IT13 Max mini PC and the 1,200W FSP DAGGER PM SFX-L power supply. The GEEKOM IT13 Max delivers solid Meteor Lake performance for esports and productivity, though soldered RAM and a 500 GB SSD will limit long-term upgradability. Corsair's new Hall-effect controller and the Epomaker Nex Lite mouse chase low-latency and affordable gaming niches, while Alphacool's rebranded Apex 2 thermal paste proves compound consistency beats brand logos. XPG and MONTECH round out the showcase with clean RGB memory and a stepped mid-tower, but reviewers warn that Maxsun's new B850M motherboard is already priced above MSRP.
Today's Hardware Roundup: SFF power, budget mice, and rebranded thermal paste
From a 1,200W SFX-L power supply to a $799 Meteor Lake mini PC, these are the reviews worth your time right now.
Today’s round of hardware reviews leans heavily into compact builds and budget peripherals, with a healthy dose of reality checks on pricing and upgradability. If you’ve been eyeing a small-form-factor rig or just want to refresh your desk setup without emptying your wallet, there’s a lot to sift through. The good news is that most of these parts actually deliver on their promises. The bad news is that you still need to read the fine print.
Small Form Factor & Desktops
MONTECH took a different approach with the TG3 chassis. Vortez notes the stepped interior adds visual depth without drowning the build in RGB, and the ARGB strip inside the PSU shroud kicks in when you want a little color. It’s a showcase case, but one that actually lets the hardware speak. Not bad for a clean build aesthetic.
Vortez: MONTECH TG3 Review
MONTECH has taken a slightly different route with the TG3, creating a mid-tower chassis that puts the focus firmly on presentation without turning the whole thing into an exercise in excessive RGB and tempered glass. The MONTECH TG3 combines a clean, contemporary exterior with a distinctive stepped interior, giving the system inside a little more visual depth and providing additional space for displaying components or decorative pieces. Large tempered-glass panels naturally make the hardware the star of the show, while the ARGB illumination integrated into the PSU shroud adds some colour when required. It is a design that should appeal to those wanting a showcase build, but without the case itself demanding more attention than the hardware.
The GEEKOM IT13 Max lands at $799 and packs a first-gen Core Ultra 9 185H with Intel Arc graphics. TechPowerUp and Tom’s Hardware both ran it through the wringer. Day-to-day work is smooth, and esports titles run well. The catch sits in the specs sheet. Soldered memory and a 500 GB SSD will pinch you the moment you start filling the drive. Tom’s Hardware asks whether Meteor Lake still makes sense in 2026. It does, though you will likely need external storage to keep the machine feeling fresh.
TechPowerUp: GEEKOM IT13 Max Review
The GEEKOM IT13 Max combines a Core Ultra 9 185H, Intel Arc graphics, broad connectivity, and solid esports and lighter gaming performance in a compact desktop. It handles everyday work well, although buyers should consider whether the tested configuration's soldered memory and 500 GB SSD will be enough over the long term.
Tom's Hardware: Geekom IT13 Max 2026 review: Meteor Lake rides again in a $799 mini PC
Is a first-gen Core Ultra 9 still worth it?
Geekom IT13 Max 2026 review: Meteor Lake rides again in a $799 mini PC
Keep in mind that compact desktops are a compromise by design. You trade upgradability for footprint, and the GEEKOM is no exception. However, at the same time, it handles lighter workloads and everyday productivity without breaking a sweat.
JSAUX’s FlipGo Horizon Pro tries to do everything at once. It’s a dual-screen portable monitor that won’t replace your primary display for color-critical work or competitive gaming. Tom’s Hardware calls it a jack of all trades, master of some. The versatility is hard to argue with, but the tradeoffs are real.
Tom's Hardware: JSAUX FlipGo Horizon Pro dual-screen portable monitor review: Jack of all trades, master of some
Unmatched versatility for a dual-screen portable monitor
JSAUX FlipGo Horizon Pro dual-screen portable monitor review: Jack of all trades, master of some
Peripherals & Cooling
Alphacool dropped the Apex 2 thermal paste, and IgorsLAB didn’t pull any punches. The black syringe actually contains Halnziye’s HY-P17. Rebranding compound is common, and the paste performs fine. What matters here is consistency and price, not which logo sits on the nozzle. If you need thermal compound and don’t want to overpay, the Apex 2 sits in a reasonable middle ground.
IgorsLAB: Alphacool Apex 2 Review: HY-P17 Thermal Paste Twin
With the Apex 2, Alphacool is launching a new thermal paste that, on closer inspection, is less new than the product name initially suggests. Behind the black two-gram syringe is not an independent Alphacool formulation, but a paste manufactured and filled by Halnziye that corresponds to the Halnziye HY-P17. This is initially neither surprising nor problematic. Many brands do not develop thermal pastes entirely themselves, but rely on specialized manufacturers that handle the formulations, mixing, degassing, and filling. What matters, therefore, is not which logo is printed on the syringe, but whether the material performs thermally, is manufactured reproducibly, and is offered at a reasonable price.
The mouse space is getting crowded, but the Epomaker Nex Lite is carving out a niche. APH Networks and Funky Kit both gave it a run. It’s pitched as a budget wireless option with premium-ish specs, and the performance backs up the claim. Not groundbreaking. It’ll do.
APH Networks: Epomaker Nex Lite Review
In between the two cities of Calgary and Edmonton, there is a smaller place right in between called Red Deer. Every time I drive between the two larger cities, I think about stopping in the middle before I realize I have no reason to do so. However, one thing that is visible from the highway is a large windmill built on top of a store called Donut Mill. I have always wanted to go there because of the whimsical nature of the building and donuts that are a bit more niche or special. It was not until two weeks ago that I finally went for donuts. It was neat to see how many unfamiliar flavors were available in the store. In addition to the standard ones, they had many glazed and filled options. I especially liked their Orange Creamsicle and Boston Cream. Even so, my favorite donut is still a honey cruller, which is readily available from any donut shop. Despite all the options and flavors I have seen and tried, there is something special about something basic or readily available. It may not be the most exotic option, but it will do in a pinch. In a similar vein, today we have the Epomaker Nex Lite. Epomaker is marketing this as a budget-friendly mouse with capable performance and unique features. How does the Nex Lite perform and will it be what users want? Let us read on to find out!
Funky Kit: Epomaker Nex Lite Mouse Review
The gaming mouse market has evolved rapidly in recent years, with manufacturers striving to deliver lighter designs, improved wireless performance, and increasingly powerful sensors without sacrificing comfort or battery life. Whether you’re competing in fast-paced esports titles or tackling everyday productivity tasks, finding a mouse that strikes the right balance between performance, features, and value is more important than ever. The EPOMAKER Nex Lite enters this competitive space with an impressive specification sheet, aiming to provide a premium wireless experience at a price that’s accessible to a wide range of users.
Corsair dropped the CLIPPER PRO MINI 60 Hall-effect controller, and IgorsLAB measured a wired end-to-end latency of 5.9 ms at 8,000 Hz. The numbers hold up in gaming tests. Hall-effect sticks are still a niche play, but the latency figures are hard to dismiss.
IgorsLAB: Corsair CLIPPER PRO MINI 60 review: Hall-Effect, 5.9 ms
The Corsair CLIPPER PRO MINI 60 achieves a wired end-to-end latency of 5.9 ms at 8,000 Hz and performs convincingly in gaming tests.
XPG’s Novakey RGB DDR5-6000 32 GB CL30 kit brings an infinity mirror design to the memory slot. TechPowerUp says it runs clean on both Intel and AMD boards, and the eco-friendly materials are a nice touch. Style and performance without the premium price tag.
TechPowerUp: XPG Novakey RGB DDR5-6000 32 GB CL30 Review
The XPG Novakey RGB DDR5-6000 32 GB CL30 memory kit is a standout for both gamers and productivity users, offering solid performance with dual 6000 MT/s profiles for Intel and AMD systems. Its unique RGB infinity mirror design and eco-friendly materials add flair, making it an attractive choice that balances style and performance without breaking the bank.
Maxsun’s Terminator B850M Pro II looks solid on paper. Comparable feature set to pricier B850 options, but Tom’s Hardware flagged that US pricing is already sitting above MSRP. Budget boards are great until they aren't.
Tom's Hardware: Maxsun Terminator B850M Pro II Motherboard Review: Comparable features, but US pricing is over MSRP
Maxsun makes some waves in the budget B850M space, but current pricing thwarts a blessing over the competition.
Maxsun Terminator B850M Pro II Motherboard Review: Comparable features, but US pricing is over MSRP
The FSP DAGGER PM 1200W rounds out the roundup. SFX-L form factor. 1,200 watts. Vortez is testing it against the RTX 5080 and 5090, which is exactly the audience it’s targeting. If you’re building an SFF rig for next-gen GPUs, compact high-wattage PSUs are the hardest part of the puzzle. Early numbers look promising, though we need sustained load data under a 5090 before calling it.
Vortez: FSP DAGGER PM 1200W PSU Review
Can a compact SFX-L PSU deliver 1200W without compromising performance? We put the FSP DAGGER PM 1200W through extensive testing, examining its voltage regulation, cooling, acoustics, internal design and value for high-end SFF builds. Is this one of the best 1200W SFX-L PSUs for RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 systems?
The SFF space is still tightening, and the budget tier is getting surprisingly competitive. Let us know which of these caught your eye.
