Maximum PC

Maximum PC,formerly known asboot,is an Americanmagazineand website published byFuture US.It focuses on cutting-edgePChardware, with an emphasis on product reviews, step-by-step tutorials, and in-depth technical briefs. Component coverage areas include CPUs, motherboards, core-logic chipsets, memory, videocards, mechanical hard drives,solid-state drives,optical drives, cases, component cooling, and anything else to do with recent tech news. Additional hardware coverage is directed at smartphones,tablet computers,cameras and other consumer electronic devices that interface with consumer PCs. Software coverage focuses on games, anti-virus suites, content-editing programs, and other consumer-level applications.

Maximum PC

Holiday 2018 cover
Editor	Zak Storey
Categories	Computing
Frequency	Monthly
Total circulation (2011)	192,611
First issue	August 1996 (asboot) September 1998 (asMaximum PC)
Company	Future US
Country	USA
Based in	San Francisco
Language	English
Website	www.maximumpc( dead link )
ISSN	1522-4279

Prior to September 1998, the magazine was calledboot.bootand sister magazineMacAddict(nowMac|Life) launched in September 1996, when Future US shut downCD-ROM Today.

In March 2016,Future USannounced that theMaximum PCwebsite would be merged withPCGamer,appearing as the hardware section of the website from that point forward. The magazine was not affected by this change. Browsing to the http://MaximumPC /forum site no longer forwards to the forums and instead forwards to the Hardware section of PCGamer.

The final shipped print issue of Maximum PC was the April 2023 edition.New issues will continue being distributed through digital magazine formats.

Product reviews

Product ratings are rendered by editors on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. The only product to receive an "11" rating wasHalf-Life 2in January 2005, raising some objections from readers.

Outstanding products are also given a "Kick Ass" award. Exceptional products with a "9" rating and all products with a "10" rating receive this award.

Each review also includes a "Pros and Cons" section, providing a quick summary of the product. Shortly after the "Pros and Cons" first appeared, the editors began attaching humorous notations to their entries, many beingpunsor word play on the product itself or its function. For example, in a review of two monitors, one section is captionedLCD(pros) vs.LSD(cons). In another it isliquid crystal(pros) vs.crystal meth(cons). Other "Pros and Cons" comparisons have usedB-58vs.XB-70,Miley Cyrusvs.Billy Ray Cyrus,Delicious vs. Malicious,3dfx Voodoo2vs.3dfx Voodoo3,Nvidia RIVA 128vs.Nvidia RIVA TNT,AA Batteriesvs.D Batteries,Fast Times at Ridgemont Highvs.The Fast and the Furious,PCBvs.QVC,Counter-Strikevs.Hexen II,Matrixvs.Matrix Reloaded,10012vs.90210,Marsvs.SARS,Super TroopersvsStarship Troopers,Comedy Centralvs.Lifetime,QWERTYvs.DVDRAM,Jimi Hendrixvs.Jimmy Fallon,Liberty Bellvs.Taco Bell,KVM,vs.Kia,Form Factorvs.Fear Factor,Nvidiavs.Chlamydia,RAID 1vs.Police raid,Fat Tire Alevs.Budweiser,Collegevs.The Real World,andPowered Subvs.Togo's Sub.

Notable features

• How To– detailed guides for things like creating a RAM disk or sharing a mouse and keyboard between two PCs.
• Ask the Doctor– advice for fi xing computer-related problems.
• R&D– a look into the inner workings of commonly used hardware today.
• In the Lab– a behind-the-scenes look atMaximum PCtesting. This section often includes humorous features sometimes involving "torturing"interns.
• Softy Awards– a yearly roundup of the staff's favorite new software (mostly utilities)
• Facebook poll– A monthly question about anything to do with tech. It includes comments from readers that are usually funny.
• Quickstart– a selection of brief news items bringing readers up to speed on notable events in PC technology.
• Comments– reader mail and questions
• Dream Machine– an annual attempt to build the best-performing PC on the market, using the best components and techniques available.
• Build It– a monthly walk-through of a new and interesting PC build, such as a computer submerged in mineral oil.
• Geek Quiz– an annual computer/technology quiz that claims it will have even the most hardcore geeks grinding their teeth.
• Gear of the Year– a review of the best PC parts for the current year.
• Tech Preview– an annual sneak-peek of upcoming hardware.

Circulation

The magazine claims a 2010 circulation rate-base of 250,000.

Maximum PCalso provides an archive of back-issues in PDF format free of charge on their website. This archive currently reaches back to the December, 2003 issuealthough nothing new has been published since the October 2014 issue.

All but a few of theMaximum PCissues published from October 1998 to December 2008 are available to view on various archival websites, such asGoogle Book Search.

Staff

• Editor-in-Chief:Guy Cocker
• Staff Writers:Christian Guyton, Sam Lewis

Maximum PCalso has many freelance contributors, including Ian Evenden, Kris Butterill, Chris Lloyd, Jarred Walton, John Knight, Alex Cox, Neil Mohr, Phil Iwanuik, and Matt Hanson.

Maximum Tech

In September 2010, theMaximum PCeditors started producing a quarterly magazine focusing on consumer tech. The basic idea ofMaximum PC"Minimum BS" would be preserved in the magazine.The last issue ofMaximum Techwas the Sept/Oct 2011 issue.

Italian edition

AnItalianedition ofMaximum PCwas launched in December 2004 byFuture Media Italy,the Italian division ofFuture Publishing,and ceased publishing after only six issues.

See also

• Custom PC– British magazine with same focus

External links

• Official website
• Maximum PCforums
• Maximum PC No BS Podcast
• Maximum PC MagazineatArchive.org