AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Last Updated: June 2026

At The Hardware Core, transparency and independent reporting are our highest operational priorities. We cut through the corporate marketing machine to deliver data-driven market tracking and component analysis. To keep this platform entirely free from restrictive manufacturer sponsorships and intrusive display advertisements, we utilize affiliate links to monetize our content.

This page outlines exactly how these links function and details our absolute commitment to editorial integrity.

1. What is an Affiliate Link?

An affiliate link is a structured URL that tracks the source of a web referral to an online retailer. When you click an affiliate link on this website and purchase a product (such as a processor, graphics card, or memory kit), we receive a small percentage-based commission from the vendor at absolutely zero additional cost to you.

The price of the item remains exactly the same whether you use our link or navigate to the retail site independently. These minor commissions directly fund our testing equipment, server infrastructure, and independent investigative reporting.

2. Our Core Commitment to Integrity

Many technology platforms recommend components simply because they carry high retail commission structures. We strictly reject that practice.

Data Over Kickbacks: Every piece of PC hardware we feature or link to in our build matrices or market indicators is selected strictly based on raw performance testing, cost-to-performance scaling, and genuine market value.
The Flaw Rule: If a product line fails to deliver value, is poorly engineered, or is trapped inside an artificial retail price spike, we will explicitly tell you to avoid it. We will never alter our testing data or consumer guidance to chase an affiliate payout.
Decoupled Review Process: We do not accept paid product endorsements, nor do we allow retail distributors or hardware manufacturers to preview our content or influence our market tracking conclusions.

3. Mandatory Program Disclosures

To satisfy global consumer protection laws and specific platform operating agreements, we maintain explicit compliance with major distribution channels:

Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

The Hardware Core is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Additional Retail Networks

We may also utilize tracking links for major consumer tech platforms and specialized component retailers (such as Newegg, B&H Photo, or manufacturer direct webstores) under these identical truth-in-advertising rules.

4. Where You Will See Disclosures

In strict accordance with modern Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, a separate policy page is not enough. To protect our readers, you will find clear, unavoidable notices right before you ever engage with our links:

On Editorial Articles: A plain-English disclosure statement sits directly beneath the main page headline, positioned well before any external product links appear.
Inside Component Tables: Individual outbound retail links within our build guides or market price tracking lists are marked clearly with inline identifiers or indicators.
On Video Content: Our companion video descriptions and overlays explicitly state when external hardware shopping links generate operational revenue.

5. Contact and Accountability

If you ever have a question regarding our hardware testing procedures, a retail link, or our monetization methods, please connect with us directly via our primary administration channel. We build this platform for the hardware community, and your trust is our most valuable asset.

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