Editorial Policy

Benchmarks are evidence, not marketing. RigTuner's job is to show what a part changes in a real build before you spend the money.

Research and testing

We start with primary information: manufacturer specifications, manuals, warranty terms, BIOS and driver notes, and current pricing from major US retailers and manufacturer stores. Then we put the hardware to work. Gaming results come from repeatable real-workload testing at settings a buyer is likely to use, alongside productivity, thermals, noise, power, and stability checks when they matter to the part.

We compare like with like and name meaningful variables: driver version, game patch, BIOS, memory settings, and test resolution. A clean chart that skips the cost of a PSU, cooler, or platform swap is not useful budget advice. Our How We Test page has the full bench and method.

Review chain

Marcus Vale writes or assigns the first draft, including the test notes and buying recommendation. Every recommendation is reviewed by an editor or a second tester for factual claims, math, settings, and whether the conclusion matches the results. The editor approves the final copy for publication.

Supplied hardware, unusual test conditions, and material conflicts are disclosed in the article. If a result cannot be repeated or explained, it does not become a confident recommendation.

Updates and last-updated policy

Hardware advice ages. We review major buying guides on a regular cycle and update them when a launch, meaningful price move, driver or BIOS change, game patch, or test result could change the buying call. Material changes receive an updated date and a note about what changed. Small spelling or layout fixes may not receive a separate update note; performance claims and verdicts do.

Corrections

If we get a number, specification, disclosure, or recommendation wrong, we correct it plainly. Send the article URL, the issue, and supporting evidence through our corrections page. The editorial team checks the claim, updates confirmed errors, and adds a correction note when the change is material to a purchase decision.

Sponsorships and affiliate links

RigTuner may earn a commission when you buy through an affiliate link, and we may run advertising or sponsored placements. Those relationships pay for the workshop; they do not buy a review, a score, a ranking, or approval of editorial copy. Sponsorship and affiliate activity stays separate from editorial decisions, and paid material is labeled. We choose what to test and what to recommend based on the build, the workload, and the budget—not on who pays the best referral rate.