How specguide_score works
specguide_score is spec-based automatic scoring, not advertising. It combines CPU (35%), NPU/AI (20%), RAM & expandability (15%), connectivity (10%), value (15%), and power efficiency (5%) into a 0–100 score.
Prices update value scores automatically. Products without benchmarks use CPU tier estimates marked as "Est."
This page documents exactly what the site's scoring code computes. Nothing is hand-adjusted, and affiliate relationships have no input into any score.
1. Weights by category
| Category | Weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| CPU performance | 35% | Geekbench6 multi-core (or CPU tier estimate with "Est." badge) |
| NPU (AI) | 20% | Vendor NPU TOPS ÷ 50 (capped at 50 TOPS) × 100 |
| RAM & expandability | 15% | Base capacity 60% + max expansion 40% (min-max normalized) |
| Connectivity | 10% | USB4/TB +30 · 10G LAN +30 (2.5G +20) · WiFi7 +20 (6E +10) · 4+ USB +15 · HDMI+DP +15 (cap 100) |
| Value | 15% | Performance ÷ price unit → min-max normalized across all products |
| Power efficiency | 5% | Performance ÷ TDP (W) → min-max normalized across all products |
2. Normalization
Benchmark, RAM, value, and efficiency use min-max normalization against the full product set, mapped to 0–100:
Adding a product or updating a price recomputes every score. The score is a relative position within the current database, not an absolute grade.
3. Worked example — current #1, Beelink SER9
| Category | Weight | Category score | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 35% | 93 | 32.5 |
| NPU | 20% | 100 | 20.0 |
| RAM & expandability | 15% | 68 | 10.2 |
| Ports | 10% | 90 | 9.0 |
| Value | 15% | 0 | 0.0 |
| Power efficiency | 5% | 0 | 0.0 |
| specguide_score | 71.8 | ||
4. CPU tier table (benchmark fallback)
Products without a measured Geekbench6 multi-core result use this tier value and are flagged "Est." in lists and detail pages.
| CPU | Tier score |
|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 9955HX | 95 |
| Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | 93 |
| Ryzen 9 8945HS | 92 |
| Ryzen 9 7940HS | 88 |
| Core Ultra 9 185H | 88 |
| Ryzen 7 8845HS | 85 |
| Ryzen 7 8745HS | 83 |
| Ryzen 7 7840HS | 82 |
| Core Ultra 7 258V | 82 |
| Core Ultra 7 155H | 80 |
| Ryzen 7 7735HS | 78 |
| Ryzen 5 8645HS | 72 |
| Core i7-12650H | 70 |
| Core i7-1360P | 68 |
| N355 | 48 |
| N305 | 42 |
| N100 | 30 |
5. Missing data & ties
- Missing items: weights renormalized among available categories
- No NPU = 0 points (not missing — it's a real weakness)
- No benchmark: CPU tier estimate with "Est." badge
- Tiebreak: value → CPU → lower price
6. Data & revenue transparency
- Prices are collected via retailer APIs; value scores recompute automatically on updates.
- Buy buttons are affiliate links, marked AD. We may earn a commission, but affiliate status never feeds into any score.
- Corrections and disputes: email link in the site footer or the community forum.