Tech News

  • Team Group MP34 M.2 NVMe SSD 512 GB @ TechPowerUp

    Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 | By: Dennis

    TeamGroup is an interesting memory company.  They often have these HUGE booths at Computex but rarely send out samples for review.  That isn't a bad thing by any stretch but, it does suck since they have (or had) some really good stuff.

    Team Group's MP34 M.2 NVMe SSD comes at exceptional pricing of only $80 for the tested 512 GB version, that's less than 16 cents per GB. This puts it really close to SATA drives and QLC M.2 SSDs, with better performance at the same time.

    This is one of the popular NVMe SSD drives, or NAND on a stick.  Funny thing is there was a time I was 100% against SSD drives however that has changed with the advent of "real" SSD speeds via NVMe.  Really the only thing you need to look out for is what controller is being used since not every controller is made the same.

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  • Cooler Master Releases the new MasterBox Q500L

    Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 | By: Dennis

    LOS ANGELES, CALIF., APRIL 2, 2019 – Cooler Master, an award-winning PC components company, today, announces the launch of the new MasterBox Q500L. Featuring the same external dimensions of the previously launched Q300L, the Q500L is capable of supporting a full ATX motherboard.

    High-Density Builds
    The latest addition to the Q Series, the MasterBox Q500L pushes the standards of a compact ATX chassis. Using a special bracket, the internal layout places the power supply on the top/front of the chassis to fully utilize space while offering ample component clearance. Even with an ATX power supply, clearance for the graphics card can reach up to 360mm and up to 270mm if the PSU is longer than 160mm. Paired with support for a 240mm radiator up top, the MasterBox Q500L fits fully-sized powerhouses like a glove. 

    • Minimized Dimensions for Standard ATX – The MasterBox Q500L supports standard ATX motherboards and PSUs, with a body depth and height of only 386 x 381mm.
    • Fully Perforated Chassis – The top, front, rear, and bottom panels are fully perforated to offer airflow for various cooling configurations.
    • Movable I/O Panel – Orientation for the chassis is versatile, with the option to move the I/O panel to retain accessibility.
    • Vertical and Horizontal Position – The case can be oriented vertically or horizontally. Rubberized screws also function as feet to supplement horizontal orientation.
    • Vertical PSU Placement – The PSU is positioned on the front of the chassis to fully utilize internal space. The bracket can be relocated depending on hardware configuration and motherboard form factor.
    • Magnetic Dust Filters – The magnetic dust filters feature a unique design. Magnets allow for quick removal and installation for easy cleaning of the dust filters with rubber stompers to keep the filters in place.
    • Clean Routing Space – Behind the motherboard tray, 27-30mm width of space is offered for cable management with the entire perimeter acting as a channel for cables.
    • Edge-to-Edge Transparent Side Panel – The side panel displays system builds in full view.

    Configurations May Vary
    The included bracket can be utilized to mount the PSU in various locations for different hardware benefits. If a mini ITX motherboard is used in the Q500L instead of a standard ATX motherboard, the power supply can be mounted in the conventional position of the bottom, rear to allow for increased front panel ventilation. For top radiator clearance, the power supply can be shifted to a lower position in the top/front to accommodate for radiators mounted on the top panel. Although cooling configurations can change, depending on the build and form factor, the Q500L is entirely perforated to offer as many combinations as possible.

    One Size Fits All
    All signature features of the Q Series are shared with the MasterBox Q500L, from the movable I/O panel to its capability of orienting horizontally or vertically. Since the entire Q Series shares one size, all accessories are backwards compatible. This includes the handles, feet, I/O panel and panels from its predecessors. Future iterations of Q Series models will also uphold this philosophy, ensuring the evolution of the entire series and the versatility of each model. The MasterBox Q500L takes the Q Series’ signature features and applies them to standard ATX, all in a deceptively small yet robust chassis. 

    Pricing & Availability
    The MasterBox Q500L will be available for pre-sale in North America, today, for a starting MSRP of $59.99 USD.
    For more information, please visit: http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/case/MasterBox-Series/masterbox-q500l.html

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  • G.SKILL Announces OC World Cup 2019 Competition

    Published: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 | By: Dennis

    We are proud to announce the launch of the 6th annual G.SKILL OC World Cup 2019 competition, with the total cash prize pool increased to an astounding $25,000 USD. This time around, the top 9 contestants (previously 6) from the Online Qualifier stage will be invited to the G.SKILL booth at Computex 2019 to battle it out on the OC World Cup live stage for the grand prize of $10K USD. It will be very much appreciated if you could share this great announcement with your community.

    $25,000 USD Total Cash Prize Pool

    Taipei, Taiwan (8 March 2019) – G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is excited to announce the 6th Annual OC World Cup 2019. The online qualifier competition stage will be held from March 13, 2019 until April 16, 2019 on hwbot.org. The top 9 winners of the online qualifier will be qualified to join the live competition at the G.SKILL booth during Computex 2019 week from May 29th to 31st and compete for a chunk of the $25,000 USD cash prize pool.

    Annual World Class Event of the OC Community

    With the participation of top overclockers from around the world and carefully designed rules, G.SKILL OC World Cup is considered as one of the most challenging overclocking competition by professional overclockers. The G.SKILL OC World Cup consists of three rounds: Online Qualifier, Live Qualifier, and Grand Final. The top 9 winners of the Online Qualifier will receive eligibility to enter the Live Qualifier stage during Computex 2019 and demonstrate their finest LN2 extreme overclocking skills at the G.SKILL booth.

    Online Qualifier Stage

    The Online Qualifier round will be hosted on HWBOT.org from March 13 to April 16, 2019. For this stage, 4 particular benchmarks are selected to test each overclocker's memory overclock tweaking skills: Highest DDR4 Frequency, SuperPi 32m, Geekbench 3 Memory Performance single core, and 3DMark11 on integrated graphics processors. Participants must use G.SKILL DDR4 memory kits and the specified Intel platforms. 

    And for participants of the Online Qualifier stage, one lucky draw winner will be randomly selected to win a Trident Z Royal DDR4-3600 CL16 16GB (2x8GB) memory kit. For more event details and rules, please visit the competition webpage on HWBOT’s OC-eSports webpage: 

    http://oc-esports.io/#!/round/gskill_ocworldcup_2019_online_qualifier

    Raising the Total Cash Prize Pool to $25,000 USD

    To give back to the extreme overclocking community, G.SKILL will be raising the total cash prize pool to $25,000 USD for OC World Cup 2019. The champion will receive a whopping grand prize of $10K USD – the largest single cash prize sum in the overclocking community. Additionally, for the first time in the history of OC World Cup, the total number of contestants for the Live Qualifier stage will also be increased from 6 to 9 participants to provide more opportunities for the overclocking community.

    For a breakdown of the cash prize at OC World Cup 2019, please see below:

    • Champion: USD $10,000
    • 2nd: USD $3,500
    • 3rd: USD $2,500
    • 4th: USD $2,000
    • 5th: USD $1,800
    • 6th: USD $1,600
    • 7th: USD $1,400
    • 8th: USD $1,200
    • 9th: USD $1,000
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  • Goodbye HardOCP - Hello Intel @ [H]ard|OCP

    Published: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 | By: Dennis

    Well this is a bit of a surprise, Come April 1st HardOCP will be "mothballed" with the current Editor in Chief, Kyle Bennett, taking a position at Intel to be the Director of Enthusiast Engagement.

    When I first started getting into hardware one of the first sites I paid attention to was HardOCP.  At the time Kyle had been part of several "networks" that helped make early sites popular through advertising and promotions.  Of course, it also helped that the content Kyle posted was engaging and focused on the enthusiast PC world and I modeled much of what I did on Ninjalane.com after what I saw on HardOCP.

     Of course as website owners there comes a time when you have to ask yourself "What is my future?".  Lately the landscape of hardware review has quickly dried up.  Advertising dollars largely went away 8 years ago and the rise of Techutainment has really driven the audience away from "learning" about hardware to watching other people "play" with hardware (while also making silly faces.)  Over the past several years we have seen Scott from TechReport and Ryan from PC Perspective take on jobs in the industry while individual reviewers have been taking jobs with hardware makers for years.  Why not?, they are the defacto technical experts that can not only use the products but also talk about them.

    Hopefully, with Kyle helping Intel re-engage the enthusiast community we can start to see resurgence in PC Hardware which will lead to a reason to upgrade and a reason to build your PCs.  Many people forget that it has always been the vocal minority that drives what hardware makers do and when that voice is silenced we get things like gold motherboards, hard drive docks and RGB ecosystems.

    Effective April 1, 2019 I will be taking on the position of Director of Enthusiast Engagement for Intel’s Technology Leadership Marketing group. Intel wants to reconnect with the top of the high-performance consumer pyramid which contains hardware enthusiasts, overclockers, gamers, and content creators. This is the part of our community that has great influence through word of mouth and online engagement. I’ll be focusing on helping Intel get back in touch with this audience and re-establishing a voice and dialog on where the company is going with its future technologies. If you are reading this, you are very likely already part of this group.

    All the best Kyle! 

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  • Cooler Master Releases New NR Series Cases

    Published: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 | By: Dennis

    LOS ANGELES, CALIF., MARCH 19, 2019 – Cooler Master, an award-winning PC components company, today announces the release of the NR series with two new cases: The MasterBox NR400 and the MasterBox NR600. The NR series streamlines form and function to provide a minimalistic design and bold performance.



    Two models launch alongside each other, each supporting a different form factor. The smaller MasterBox NR400 supports up to mATX motherboards, while the larger MasterBox NR600 supports up to standard ATX motherboards. Marked only by the iconic solid stripe from the original N Series, the new NR Series applies modern technology to a timeless design by incorporating both filtration and airflow in the fine mesh front panel.

    • Minimalistic Mesh Design - Elegant design elements are applied to mesh for optimal thermal performance.
    • Optimal Thermal Performance – The full mesh front panel and ventilated top panel provide a high potential for thermal performance.
    • Flush Tempered Glass Side Panel – The tempered glass side panel, fastened by thumbscrews on the rear panel, keeps the surface completely flush.
    • Headset Jack – The single 4 pole headset jack features both audio and microphone capabilities simultaneously so separate jacks are not needed.
    • Graphics Card Support Up to 346mm (NR400) / 410mm (NR600) – Generous clearance space is provided to support the latest graphics cards.
    • Cable Management – High quality, longer length rubber grommets paired with generous clearance behind the motherboard offers ample room for cable management.



    “Keeping the NR Series minimal on the outside meant paying a keen attention to structural details. Two examples, in particular, are the mesh used in the front panel and the structure of the two-part side panel,” Said Matteo Stracciari General Manager of Cases at Cooler Master. “A single-layer, fine mesh makes up the entire front panel, achieving efficient airflow while also acting as a dust filter while the tempered glass side panel sits completely flush against the chassis and the PSU shroud to form a two-part showcase of tempered glass and steel.”

    Thermal performance is at the core of the NR Series, with the combination of two pre-installed fans for intake and exhaust and the fine mesh front panel. Generous support for radiator mounting and unrestricted ventilation on the top and front panel ensure that even the most demanding components are efficiently cooled while the two USB 3.1 gen 1 ports at the top of the case provide ample connectivity for everyday use.

    The NR Series challenges the stereotype of minimal cases by introducing bold performance to a pure and simple design.

    Pricing & Availability
    The MasterBox NR400 and NR600 will be available for pre-sale today for a starting MSRP of $59.99 and $69.99, respectively. Models vary per region, for more information please visit: http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/case/MasterBox-Series/masterbox-nr400.html and http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/case/MasterBox-Series/masterbox-nr600.html.

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  • Funky Kit Review - Thermaltake WaterRAM RGB Liquid Cooling Memory

    Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2019 | By: Dennis

    If the motherboard is the heart of a computer then the RAM it just attached 'cause computers are not body parts.

    Now, with that being said Thermaltake is a cooling, case, psu, keyboard, mouse, headset company that is now offering memory so they can pimp their RGB enabled memory cooling block.  This block only works on their memory and fits quite well into their cooling ecosystem.

    Its not "great" memory but in the world of "don't touch PCBs" I'm not sure anyone will care after seeting the amazing RGB light display.

    The Thermaltake WaterRam RGB is not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you’re like me who loves RGB and to want to watercool your ram, then these are memory kits you want.

    I like how Funky Kit mentioned Tea in their "hook".  Other than that, its watercooled ram modules everybody!

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  • CORSAIR Launches DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR4 Memory

    Published: Thursday, February 28, 2019 | By: Dennis

    Latest Edition of CORSAIR’s Flagship DRAM Line Introduces New CAPELLIX RGB LED Technology

    Fremont, CA, February 21st, 2019 – CORSAIR®, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the launch of DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR4 Memory, raising the bar once again for premium, world-class DRAM. DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB delivers the high performance that custom PC enthusiasts demand for their cutting-edge systems, while renewing the celebrated and iconic design of DOMINATOR PLATINUM. A fully updated aluminum heatspreader, hand-sorted memory chips, frequencies up to a record-setting 4,800MHz, and individually addressable RGB lighting – a first for a DOMINATOR PLATINUM module – combine to create DDR4 memory that’s in a class of its own.

    Each module of DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB represents the pinnacle of premium craftsmanship, starting with a custom 10-layer PCB that guarantees signal quality and stability. Every memory chip is hand-sorted and tightly screened to ensure tight response times and high-frequency performance, with kits available from 3,000MHz to an incredible 4,800MHz, with ample headroom for overclocking. DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB stays cool even under extreme stress thanks to CORSAIR’s patented Dual-Path DHX cooling technology, which cools the module through both the anodized aluminum heatspreader and copper planes embedded directly into the PCB.



    A die-cast zinc-alloy top bar houses DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB’s 12 ultra-bright CAPELLIX RGB LEDs, the first time CORSAIR has used this all-new LED mounting method. At just 0.2mm³, CAPELLIX LEDs improve upon conventional LEDs in almost every measurable way, able to shine brighter and last longer, while using less power with higher energy efficiency. This results in more vivid, stunning lighting than with any other RGB memory currently available, without impacting performance or thermals thanks to their greatly reduced power consumption.

    CORSAIR iCUE software enables powerful control and customization over DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB. Make sure your memory is running at its full potential with real-time system monitoring that tracks temperature and frequency. iCUE’s dynamic RGB lighting customization lets you choose from dozens of pre-set lighting profiles, or create your own patterns and effects with complete control over each individual LED. iCUE can also synchronize lighting across all of your iCUE-compatible devices for truly intricate system-wide lighting effects.

    DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB is available in a wide array of capacities and frequencies and sold in kits of two, four, and eight modules. DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB also becomes the fastest air-cooled production memory kit available today with the 4,800MHz, 2 x 8GB kit, running on ASUS Z390 Maximus XI GENE and Z390 Maximus XI Apex motherboards and an Intel® Core i5 8600k CPU.

    For PC building enthusiasts who demand both uncompromising performance and gorgeous visuals to complement the look of their system, DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB is strictly in a class of its own.

    Availability, Warranty and Pricing
    CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR4 Memory is available immediately from the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors, as well as direct from the CORSAIR webstore. Some select SKUs of CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR4 Memory are exclusive to the CORSAIR webstore.

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  • OPPO Exec Questions Foldable Phone User Experience

    Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | By: Dennis

    With all the hype around the new foldable phone technology I am asking myself "why" and by the sounds of it so is this OPPO Exec.

    Oppo VP Brian Shen took to Weibo today to unveil the company’s foldable phone concept. It looks like the same kit used by Huawei and it’s unclear if Oppo will release the device. Shen notes the company doesn’t think a foldable phone improves the user experience, which is why the company is hesitant to move the device into production.

    This is a smart move from the Chinese phone company.

    While OPPO isn't a mobile device company in the US they are very popular in AsiaPacific and in a way I share his concerns.  For instance we have all witnessed "tech for the sake of tech", we had an entire year where motherboards were gold colored, and we’ve seen the rise and fall of the dedicated overclocking motherboard and the slowly escalating competition to add more stuff to motherboards including RGB and watercooling components.

    These I would view as advances for the sake of advancement.  They do nothing to improve the user experience of a motherboard beyond the niche market for which they are designed and most of them ended up being partially responsible for the downfall of the custom enthusiast motherboard market.

    Will foldable phones meet the same end??  I think yes.

    Thing is, right now companies are dealing with the peer pressure from "vocal" consumers who are attacking companies who haven't been playing follow the leader.  It will be interesting to see how this situation "unfolds" and if we are lucky Oppo VP Brian Shen can say "Told you so".

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  • MSI MEG X299 CREATION @ TechPowerUp

    Published: Monday, February 18, 2019 | By: Dennis

    Have to admit I'm a little jealous here.  When I was at Computex 2018 MSI had just launched the X399 MEG for Threadripper and I was very impressed with not only the motherboard but the pack of accessories.  One notable is the M.2 expansion board allowing you to run M.2 drives and not impact board locations for other expansion cards like the all important 4-Way graphic card setups that NVIDIA refuses to support and capture cards.

    From the elite family of products dubbed MEG (MSI Enthusiast Gaming) comes another cutting-edge board with unique features and accessories. The MEG X299 CREATION is yet another board that promises to go above and beyond, so I took the review and turned it to 11.

    MSI has been really good about including "auto overclocking" support with all of their motherboards with the latest version being a performance dial which, you guessed it, goes to 11.

    Full ArticleVisit Website

  • Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB NVMe Linux SSD Benchmarks @ Phoronix

    Published: Monday, February 18, 2019 | By: Dennis

    Given that we live in a Windows world it is sometimes easy to forget that there is another OS popular with PC Enthusiasts.

    Linux

    Guess what? Linux can use NVMe SSDs too!

    Announced at the end of January was the Samsung 970 EVO Plus as the first consumer-grade solid-state drive with 96-layer 3D NAND memory. The Samsung 970 EVO NVMe SSDs are now shipping and in this review are the first Linux benchmarks of these new SSDs in the form of the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB MZ-V7S500B/AM compared to several other SSDs on Linux.

    96-Layer NAND is the new corner stone of affordable SSD storage allowing you to pack more data into less space.  But, what does it do to the performance?

    Full ArticleVisit Website
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