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View Full Version : Where can you find unbiased reviews on computer hardware?


milkytooth
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:21 PM
As we know, most of the reviewers receive free samples of the components they review. Therefore, their opinions are often, at least in my opinion, tainted with biases (conflict of interest). I wonder if there is any websites that provide unbiased product reviews. Do you mind posting the links here. Thanks in advance.

From my own experience, I usually read the user opinions on amazon.com but no all products receive lots of feedbacks.

Best regards,

Majoram
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:28 PM
Try hardware forums and just ask user opinions.

Also I find HardOCP to be pretty good though they are very particular about reviews and it comes out after most other reviews do.

McLaren__F1
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:38 PM
Tomshardware?

ShadowVlican
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:40 PM
just use a little common sense

if the review site gives an award for every product they review and list no cons about the product, chances of bias are high

i personally enjoy reading hardocp and the tech report... they are not scared to give their two cents no matter the product

zrepiV
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:42 PM
http://www.anandtech.com
http://www.hardocp.com/
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/
http://www.madshrimps.be/
http://xbitlabs.com/
http://www.silentpcreview.com/

Just several of the ones I look at an occasional basis.

Amourek
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:47 PM
Unfortunately I don't think there are many completely unbiased review sites. Because computer hardware only appeals to a relatively small audience, they're not financially viable unless they receive advertising dollars and/or review samples from the various manufacturers, which is of course a conflict of interest.

The larger sites do generally offer honest reviews, but when they know something's going to get a bad review, they won't publish it as not to damage their relationship with the manufacturer (so they'll continue to get free stuff from them).

The ones zrepiV mentioned are pretty reliable though.

AzN_RiverdaleCI
Jan 19th, 2008, 02:47 PM
or ask RFD members, especially SB.

zrepiV
Jan 19th, 2008, 03:01 PM
Unfortunately I don't think there are many completely unbiased review sites. Because computer hardware only appeals to a relatively small audience, they're not financially viable unless they receive advertising dollars and/or review samples from the various manufacturers, which is of course a conflict of interest.

The larger sites do generally offer honest reviews, but when they know something's going to get a bad review, they won't publish it as not to damage their relationship with the manufacturer (so they'll continue to get free stuff from them).

The ones zrepiV mentioned are pretty reliable though.

Heh, my thoughts exactly. I was too lazy to type up a similar response :P

terrybear
Jan 19th, 2008, 03:45 PM
http://www.tomshardware.com/ *
http://www.anandtech.com *
http://www.hardocp.com/
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/
http://xbitlabs.com/ *

Are the main reading ones for the day* I also check the other ones out as well.

For more of my rumor sneak peak sites I'm latly reading

http://www.fudzilla.com/

CameraBill
Jan 19th, 2008, 05:02 PM
keep in mind forums are always infiltrated with motivated responders.

tritium4ever
Jan 19th, 2008, 06:47 PM
Also I find HardOCP to be pretty good though they are very particular about reviews and it comes out after most other reviews do.

Are you kidding me? For years they outright boycotted OCZ for no real reason shamelessly plugging every single Corsair product they ever came across. They have absolutely no credibility because of that.

Forums are a mixed bag. Half the time you can find honest reviews, half the time you get people trying in vain to justify some purchase they've made.