In my recent research to build a new gaming rig, I found it pretty challenging to navigate the sea of hardware choices out there. Picking the right components with the right price/performance ratio for the right budget is hard. What complicates matters further is that when you find build guides by reputable sites, their choices vary wildly. There is no consistency. Luckily, there are excellent resources like this very forum to turn to for help. Still, I feel like there is a missed opportunity for a site that keeps a constantly updated database of computer parts and assigns "meta scores" to them. For general tech, such sites exist and are extremely helpful. My favorites:
[*)http://www.thewirecutter.com
[*]http://www.gdgt.com
Is it because PC parts are so varied? The Logical Increments Guide keeps a list of recommended parts for different budget tiers and it's great. But that's a far simpler implementation of the idea. It lists the following as sources for more information:
It is strongly encouraged to visit these sites to get more in-depth info:
Anandtech - The best (Orion's opinion) hardware reviews. Objective and detailed. Active, high quality forums too.
Tomshardware - Another classic hardware review site. Great info and forums.
JonnyGuru - The best site for power supply reviews
TechPowerUp - Detailed reviews, good forums. Tends to get into more technical depth.
FrostyTech - The best site for heatsink reviews.
Bit-Tech - Another quality review site with forums.
HardOCP - Known mostly for their hardware forums, and their reviews that concentrate on what settings games are playable at.
Guru3D
SilentPCReview - If you're interested in minimizing the noise of your system, go here.
Overclockers - As the name suggests, lots of info for overclockers.
VR-Zone
HardwareCanucks
DonanimHaber
Lots of the same PC hardware components released are reviewed by a bunch of these sites. It's the perfect prerequisite for a "meta score". (By the way, don't you think that techreport.com also belongs on their list? )
What do you think? Why does this not exist yet?