General Tech | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:07:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png General Tech | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 CyberPowerPC slashes prices in Easter sale https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/cyberpowerpc-slashes-prices-in-easter-sale/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/cyberpowerpc-slashes-prices-in-easter-sale/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:00:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=653021 Easter is just around the corner, which means we are starting to see new deals popping up. CyberpowerPC has a particularly good one at the moment, with a well spec'd and fairly priced RTX 4080-powered gaming rig. The new CyberpowerPC Ultra 77 X8S PC is now available, packing an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, often …

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Easter is just around the corner, which means we are starting to see new deals popping up. CyberpowerPC has a particularly good one at the moment, with a well spec'd and fairly priced RTX 4080-powered gaming rig.

The new CyberpowerPC Ultra 77 X8S PC is now available, packing an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, often hailed as the best CPU for gaming on the market today. Joining this powerhouse processor is an MSI RTX 4080 Super graphics card, setting you up for high refresh rate gaming, even at 4K resolution. You'll also benefit from Nvidia's latest features, like DLSS 3, which can supercharge frame rates using AI.

The whole PC is expertly built, with clean cable management and ARGB fans throughout, housed in a Corsair 4000D airflow chassis, so you shouldn't see any temperature issues arising.

The full spec for this PC can be found below:

  • Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow Gaming Case – Black
  • Fans & ARGB Upgrades: 4x CyberPowerPC Hyperloop 120mm ARGB & PWM Fan Kit
  • CPU (Processor): AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D – 8-Core 4.20GHz, 5.00GHz Turbo – 96MB L3 Cache Processor w/ Radeon Graphics
  • Graphics Card (GPU): MSI GeForce RTX™ 4080 SUPER – 16GB GDDR6X – HDMI, DP – Real-Time Ray Tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 3 (Single Card)
  • CPU Cooling: Be Quiet Dark Rock Slim Air Cooler
  • Motherboard: MSI PRO B650-S WIFI: ATX w/ Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2, 2x M.2
  • Memory (RAM): 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5/5200mhz Corsair Vengeance Memory
  • PSU (Power Supply): InWin P85FII 850W 80+ Gold ATX 3.0 Gaming Power Supply
  • Primary Storage (NVMe Drives): 2TB WD Green SN350 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD – 3200MB/s Read & 3200MB/s Write (1 Drive)

Naturally, there are a number of customisation options available, so you can add in a monitor, add extra storage drives or even kit the system out with a capture card so you can jump straight into streaming or capturing game footage for video content.

With its standard spec, this PC costs £2199 (with VAT). There are other Easter deals available too, with RTX 4070 Super PCs found at around £1679, or an RTX 4060-equipped gaming PC for under £900. You can find all of CyberpowerPC's deals, HERE.

Additionally, those ordering before the 4th of April will be in for a chance to receive a golden ticket with their order, which can be redeemed for a free chocolate hamper, so you can have some snacks ready to go for some evening gaming.

KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for a new gaming PC at the moment? Are you considering going with a CyberpowerPC build? 

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EVGA RMA blunder sees customer lose 22TB of storage drives https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/evga-rma-blunder-sees-customer-lose-22tb-of-storage-drives/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/evga-rma-blunder-sees-customer-lose-22tb-of-storage-drives/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:45:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=652605 While EVGA may not be in the graphics card market anymore, the company is still ticking with power supplies, with some units being very popular in the US. Unfortunately, EVGA is making headlines this week for the wrong reasons, after an RMA customer had 22TB worth of SATA drives killed by a replaced power supply. …

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While EVGA may not be in the graphics card market anymore, the company is still ticking with power supplies, with some units being very popular in the US. Unfortunately, EVGA is making headlines this week for the wrong reasons, after an RMA customer had 22TB worth of SATA drives killed by a replaced power supply.

The power supply is the heart of your PC, supplying power to all critical components. This is the exact reason we always advise on picking up a reputable unit, backed by high efficiency certification and strong reviews. Unfortunately, this isn't always a recipe for success though. Over on Reddit, a user has reported that an RMA'd EVGA power supply has killed off 22TB worth of storage.

The issue begins when the user's EVGA GQ1000W power supply exhibited coil whine, so EVGA had them hand on to their modular cables and reclaimed the power supply. The Redditor was then sent back an ‘identical' unit, but was not informed that the replacement PSU had new internal pinouts. As a result, 12V of power was sent to the SATA drives through older 5V cables, essentially frying all of the connected drives.

When contacting EVGA support, a customer service representative did send out a new batch of cables compatible with the pinouts from the newer version of this PSU, but the damage was already done and the drives were defunct.

As spotted by Tom's Hardware, EVGA did not offer to replace the impacted drives, despite this blunder. If important information had been passed on properly, this entire situation could have been avoided, but due to lapses in communication, this user is now out of an expensive collection of drives and recovering whatever data was on them may not be possible.

Fortunately, this is a rare issue and isn't the sort of thing we hear about very often. One thing is for sure though, more care needs to be taken in the PSU RMA process to ensure customers have the right cables when getting a replacement unit, and we should all be paying a little more attention to our modular cables and their compatibility with future power supplies.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Has anything like this ever happened to you when replacing a modular power supply?

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Apple gearing up to launch new M3-equipped OLED iPads https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/joao-silva/apple-gearing-up-to-launch-new-m3-equipped-oled-ipads/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/joao-silva/apple-gearing-up-to-launch-new-m3-equipped-oled-ipads/#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:30:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=652170 According to the latest rumours, Apple is all set to introduce its new M3 iPad Pro line-up, featuring OLED panels instead of the mini-LED displays currently used in these devices. The 11-inch and 12.9-inch variants of the M3 iPad Pro are expected to be unveiled on March 26th. However, there is no concrete evidence to …

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According to the latest rumours, Apple is all set to introduce its new M3 iPad Pro line-up, featuring OLED panels instead of the mini-LED displays currently used in these devices. The 11-inch and 12.9-inch variants of the M3 iPad Pro are expected to be unveiled on March 26th. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim, as the date seems to be based on an estimate of when third-party protective covers for the iPad Pro will become available on Amazon.

ITHome (via Wccftech) brought the release date of the protective cases to our attention. While it is exciting to hear about the potential release of the M3 iPad Pro, we should take the rumoured date of March 26th with a grain of salt, as there isn't any concrete evidence to support it.

The M3 iPad Pro is expected to be announced via a simple press release, similar to the M3 MacBook Air. Besides packing the new M3 chip, the upcoming iPad Pro tablets are expected to use OLED instead of mini-LED panels, theoretically allowing Apple to make the new devices thinner than their predecessors.

Other possible changes would include the inclusion of MagSafe wireless charging and small design modifications. Additionally, Apple might announce a new Magic Keyboard attachment featuring a larger trackpad and an aluminium deck, giving the iPad Pro a similar look and feel to a MacBook keyboard.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: The iPad Pro has been due an OLED upgrade for quite some time. It has been rumoured time and again, but perhaps 2024 will finally be the year. With the new M3 chip, it will also be interesting to go back and see how games like Death Stranding and Resident Evil Village perform. 

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The Lexar SL500 supports Apple Pro Res recording with the iPhone 15 Pro https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/the-lexar-sl500-supports-apple-pro-res-recording-with-the-iphone-15-pro/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/the-lexar-sl500-supports-apple-pro-res-recording-with-the-iphone-15-pro/#respond Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:00:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=652161 Lexar's latest portable SSD has arrived, bringing with it faster speeds, USB Type-C connectivity and wide compatibility for gaming PCs and consoles, as well as smartphones like the iPhone 15.  The Lexar SL500 Portable SSD features a slim, aluminium unibody, making it small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, or on the …

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Lexar's latest portable SSD has arrived, bringing with it faster speeds, USB Type-C connectivity and wide compatibility for gaming PCs and consoles, as well as smartphones like the iPhone 15. 

The Lexar SL500 Portable SSD features a slim, aluminium unibody, making it small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, or on the back of an iPhone. With USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, you can expect read/write speeds of up to 2000MB/s and 1800MB/s. This makes it a decent option for portable game installs, whether they be for PC, Xbox One, or the PS4. Due to the requirements for running Xbox Series X/S and PS5 games from a secondary drive, you would only be able to use the drive for storing current-gen console titles.

The big selling point here is the mobile support. The SL500 Portable is compatible with Apple Pro Res recording, so you can shoot video straight to the drive at full 4K and 60FPS with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max. The SSD also comes with Lexar DataShield 256-bit AES encryption to keep files protected.

The SL500 Portable SSD is available in 2TB at $229.99 and will be available in a 4TB capacity at the end of Q2.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you in the market for a portable SSD? 

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ECS unveils new Liva Z5 Mini PCs with Intel 14th Gen processors https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/ecs-unveils-new-liva-z5-mini-pcs-with-intel-14th-gen-processors/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/ecs-unveils-new-liva-z5-mini-pcs-with-intel-14th-gen-processors/#respond Tue, 19 Mar 2024 08:58:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651993 ECS is back with a new round of mini PCs. The new Liva Z5 Plus, Liva Z5E Plus and Liva Z5F Plus are built for industry-specific applications, with the ability to connect up to four displays to power things like electronic whiteboards, airport flight systems and Point of Service systems. The new Liva Z5 series …

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ECS is back with a new round of mini PCs. The new Liva Z5 Plus, Liva Z5E Plus and Liva Z5F Plus are built for industry-specific applications, with the ability to connect up to four displays to power things like electronic whiteboards, airport flight systems and Point of Service systems.

The new Liva Z5 series is powered by Intel 13th and 14th Generation Core processors, offering up to 10 cores to efficiently handle tasks, as well as support for WiFi 6E, enabling fast data transmission speeds and playback. While small and compact, these systems also support multiple storage drives, so they can be upgraded with M.2 NVMe SSDs, or a 2.5-inch SSD or HDD. To ensure high-speed connectivity, the system also boasts two 2.5G ports and support vPro and physical TPM for added security.

Designed for vertical industry applications, LIVA Z5 Plus and Z5E Plus are certified as Intel Edge Software Recommended Hardware. Serving as ideal solutions for multi-display industrial needs, they boast 4K/UHD image processing, two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort and USB Type-C with Alt DP. The Z5E Plus, in particular, features four COM interfaces, seamlessly connecting to various industrial applications such as POS systems for quick checkout processes and barcode scanners for accurate tracking and management of goods.

In addition to supporting a multi-display solution for up to four screens, the fanless design of the LIVA Z5F Plus provides an ideal solution for industrial environments, where dust accumulation can lead to maintenance costs and shorten a system's lifespan.

KitGuru Says: You can learn more about the ECS Liva Z5 series, HERE.

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MSI Claw to launch in the US this week https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/msi-claw-to-launch-in-the-us-this-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/msi-claw-to-launch-in-the-us-this-week/#respond Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:30:30 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=650671 MSI officially unveiled its first gaming handheld, the MSI Claw, back at CES. While we have hardware specs, we don't yet have an official launch date. Over in the US though, the handheld should be available as early as this week. 

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MSI officially unveiled its first gaming handheld, the MSI Claw, back at CES. While we have hardware specs, we don't yet have an official launch date. Over in the US though, the handheld should be available as early as this week. 

Starting on the 8th of March, the MSI Claw handheld will be available in the US. A product listing on Newegg is already live. This seems to be part of an initial ‘first wave', with a second wave of MSI Claw handhelds coming to the MSI store on the 12th of March, followed by wider retail availability via Best Buy and Micro Center on March 15th.

The MSI Claw will be one of just a few Intel-powered handheld gaming PCs on the market. The most popular solutions at the moment, like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, both use an AMD APU instead. The Claw will have an Intel Meteor Lake chip under the hood, with Xe graphics cores to provide some extra horsepower for gaming.

The handheld will also have a 7-inch, 1080p/120Hz display, integrated controllers and USB-C charging. Future versions of the Claw handheld are already in the works, MSI confirmed to IGN.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see final tests and comparisons between the MSI Claw and other handhelds in the weeks ahead. Are you thinking about picking one up when they become more widely available? 

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Overclocker sets new SuperPi world record with 9GHz G.Skill memory https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/matthew-wilson/overclocker-sets-new-superpi-world-record-with-9ghz-g-skill-memory/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/matthew-wilson/overclocker-sets-new-superpi-world-record-with-9ghz-g-skill-memory/#respond Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:30:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=649759 We've seen G.SKILL memory used to break plenty of overclocking records over the years and that trend isn't slowing down in 2024. This week, G.Skill announced that South Korean overclocker, SAFEDISK, has set a new SuperPi-32M world record using Trident Z5 DDR5 memory. In collaboration with Asus ROG, Intel and G.Skill, the extreme overclocker known …

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We've seen G.SKILL memory used to break plenty of overclocking records over the years and that trend isn't slowing down in 2024. This week, G.Skill announced that South Korean overclocker, SAFEDISK, has set a new SuperPi-32M world record using Trident Z5 DDR5 memory.

In collaboration with Asus ROG, Intel and G.Skill, the extreme overclocker known as SAFEDISK has set a new SuperPi-32M overclocking world record, completing the benchmark in under 3 minutes. The system that achieved this record was equipped with G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 memory, an ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard and an Intel Core i9-1400KF.

The memory was overclocked to an impressive DDR5-9052 with 32-48-45-36 timings with Liquid Nitrogen used for cooling, allowing the CPU to reach as low as -188°C and the memory as low as -60°C.

While these memory speeds are currently only achievable with extreme cooling methods, DDR5 memory speeds are still improving, with standard kits available with speeds of up to 8000MHz.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Another impressive overclocking and benchmark record has been set. Now, the race is on for the next person to try and beat these results.

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Qualcomm is bringing local AI to Android and 5G to more devices https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/qualcomm-is-bringing-local-ai-to-android-and-5g-to-more-devices/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/qualcomm-is-bringing-local-ai-to-android-and-5g-to-more-devices/#respond Mon, 26 Feb 2024 11:48:25 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=649689 Mobile World Congress kicks off today and as you would expect, Qualcomm has plenty to show this year. With the whole tech world moving towards AI, we've seen plenty of new PC hardware designed with AI acceleration in mind. Now, Qualcomm wants to bring those same AI capabilities to mobile devices. We'll start off with …

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Mobile World Congress kicks off today and as you would expect, Qualcomm has plenty to show this year. With the whole tech world moving towards AI, we've seen plenty of new PC hardware designed with AI acceleration in mind. Now, Qualcomm wants to bring those same AI capabilities to mobile devices.

We'll start off with Qualcomm's new AI Hub, which is a free tool for developers to access over 75 AI and generative AI models to aid in building AI powered features for applications, all while being optimised to run efficiently on Snapdragon chips. Features like live translation and transcription could be utilised using AI locally without the need for an internet or data connection.

The AI Hub is a “comprehensive AI model library” of over 75 different AI and generative AI models, built to help developers “quickly and easily integrate pre-optimized AI models into their applications,” according to Qualcomm. Adding the models in some cases should be as simple as adding a few lines of code, Qualcomm claims, and they're all explicitly optimized to run efficiently on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms. At MWC this week, Qualcomm will be showing off the world's first AI large language model to run on an Android phone. The company will also be showing off an LMM with audio reasoning capabilities, running on a Windows PC, presumably powered by a Snapdragon X Elite processor, which will be available in Windows laptops later this year.

In a preview last week, Qualcomm said that its Snapdragon X Elite chip can deliver 3x faster image generation using GIMP and Stable Diffusion, compared to an Intel Core Ultra processor, so we're expecting to see some very interesting competition in the laptop space later this year as the Snapdragon X Elite begins to roll out. We should see much more on this at Computex this Summer, as Qualcomm CEO, Cristiano Amon, is due to host a keynote at the event, focused on the Snapdragon X Elite. Presumably, various OEMs will also begin showing off their laptop designs around this time too.

Moving on to connectivity, Qualcomm has also unveiled its new FastConnect 7900, utilising WiFi 7 and AI powered QoS to handle traffic efficiently without inspecting the contents of packets. The Snapdragon X80 5G Advanced Model is another new smart piece of tech, enabling Gigabit 5G speeds on cheaper devices, using satellite communication to speed up signal acquisition.

The final product we'll be focusing on in this article is the Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Gen 3 Ultra. This device can be used to add 5G connectivity to fixed items, like PCs, with an antenna inside the housing that moves to lock on to the best available signal.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you needed proof that the AI market is moving fast, this is it. In just a few years we've moved from AI processing being limited to massive data centres, to being locally run on PCs, to now being supported on mobile devices. Now we'll have to see what developers can do with all of this new hardware.

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We are hiring – Technical Review Writer applications open! https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/announcements/matthew-wilson/we-are-hiring-technical-review-writer-applications-open/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/announcements/matthew-wilson/we-are-hiring-technical-review-writer-applications-open/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 11:08:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=649077 We reviewed a lot of products through 2023 and we're setting our sights on doing even more in 2024. We are looking for someone new to join the team and to create written reviews, primarily focused on the more technical side of hardware...

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We reviewed a lot of products through 2023 and we're setting our sights on doing even more in 2024. We are looking for someone new to join the team and to create written reviews, primarily focused on the more technical side of hardware.

Any experience in this sector is beneficial, however, we are open to all applicants who can give a sample of written work so we can assess abilities. This person must have high technical ability and knowledge.

KitGuru is a great company to work with, we are all tech enthusiasts who enjoy gaming, so we all have very similar interests. Behind the scenes it is very close knit environment and many of our team have been with us for more than a decade.

To be considered for this position you need:

  • Skillset to write well in English.
  • The ability to meet tight deadlines.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • A high level of technical knowledge.
  • This is a freelance position.

The successful applicant must be based in the United Kingdom. If you are interested and feel you can meet the criteria above and want to work in this fast moving and exciting sector then please send your CV along with any samples of your work to our Editor in Chief, Allan Campbell – allan(at)kitguru.net. We would like to see samples of your work, but please note we are looking for applicants who can produce written articles in the in-depth KitGuru style, so your submissions should reflect that. This applicant does not need to create video content.

KitGuru says: We look forward to receiving your application. 

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Nvidia’s winning streak continues with record Q4 revenues https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidias-winning-streak-continues-with-record-q4-revenues/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidias-winning-streak-continues-with-record-q4-revenues/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:21 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=649503 Back in November, we learned that Nvidia saw massive growth from the sales of its AI accelerators, leading to a huge $18.4 billion in revenue for the quarter. Now, Nvidia has published its Q4 results and somehow, more records have been shattered.  Nvidia's Q3 revenue for the year grew by a massive 206 percent year-on-year. …

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Back in November, we learned that Nvidia saw massive growth from the sales of its AI accelerators, leading to a huge $18.4 billion in revenue for the quarter. Now, Nvidia has published its Q4 results and somehow, more records have been shattered. 

Nvidia's Q3 revenue for the year grew by a massive 206 percent year-on-year. For Q4, there is an even bigger jump, with a 409 percent year-on-year increase for its datacentre arm. In total, Nvidia's Datacentre business generated $18.4 billion in Q4 and the company as a whole generated $22.1 billion.

By contrast, the sales of gaming-oriented products like RTX GPUs, generated $2.9 billion in revenue during the quarter, which is consistent with its sales during Q3. While we didn't see growth here from Q3 to Q4, Nvidia does note that this is a 56% increase from Q4 year-on-year.

Overall, Nvidia made $60.9 billion for the year, which is a 126 percent increase compared to the previous year. Speaking on the growth Nvidia has seen, CEO, Jensen Huang, points out that the booming accelerated computing and AI markets are the big drivers, but adds that Nvidia RTX, which only launched in 2018, is now a “massive PC platform for generative AI”.

Nvidia launched new RTX 40 Super graphics cards this year, and, based on the company's usual release cadence, should be on track to launch next-gen GeForce graphics cards in either late 2024 or early 2025.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Nvidia bet on generative AI early and the pay-off is pretty clear at this point. 

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Cooler Master is suing several AIO makers for patent infringement https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/cooler-master-is-suing-several-aio-makers-for-patent-infringement/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/cooler-master-is-suing-several-aio-makers-for-patent-infringement/#respond Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:00:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=649195 Cooler Master has recently filed a lawsuit against SilverStone, Enermax, and their joint OEM Apaltek. Cooler Master has accused the three companies of infringing on its patents. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  According to TechPowerUp, Cooler Master claims the three companies have violated three …

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Cooler Master has recently filed a lawsuit against SilverStone, Enermax, and their joint OEM Apaltek. Cooler Master has accused the three companies of infringing on its patents. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. 

According to TechPowerUp, Cooler Master claims the three companies have violated three of its US patents. The alleged infringing products include SilverStone's IceMyst 240, PF240, PF240W, IceGem 360, VIDA 240 Slim, and RGB Controller, as well as Enermax's Aquafusion ADV, Liqmax III ARGB, Liqtech 360 TR4 II Slim, and RGB Controller. Apaltek, which is being sued as the original technology provider for SilverStone and Enermax, does not sell any products under its name.

Cooler Master specifically claims that the pump-inside-radiator design and the ARGB mini-controller are its inventions and that the core design of the coolers also infringes on its patents. The company is seeking damages and legal fees as relief.

One of the defendants has responded to the lawsuit, stating that Cooler Master's behaviour is that of a “bully”, due to the accusations levied at smaller competitors, while excluding other Apaltek customers.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Patent infringement lawsuits are never quick, so it could take some time before this situation is resolved but we'll be keeping an eye out for updates. 

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Netgear Orbi 970 Series launches with WiFi 7 and £2,000 price tag https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/netgear-orbi-970-series-launches-with-wifi-7-and-2000-price-tag/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/netgear-orbi-970-series-launches-with-wifi-7-and-2000-price-tag/#respond Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:45:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=648934 The next generation of Netgear Orbi has arrived. The new Orbi 970 series aims to futureproof networks, making the jump to the WiFi 7 standard to support massive speeds for many devices simultaneously. Building on the foundation of WiFi 6E, WiFi 7 expands channels to 320MHz. The Orbi 970 Series harnesses this power to ensure …

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The next generation of Netgear Orbi has arrived. The new Orbi 970 series aims to futureproof networks, making the jump to the WiFi 7 standard to support massive speeds for many devices simultaneously.

Building on the foundation of WiFi 6E, WiFi 7 expands channels to 320MHz. The Orbi 970 Series harnesses this power to ensure seamless connectivity throughout your home, supporting all devices simultaneously. This is achieved with several key features, including a 10 Gig internet port, combined with 10Gbps and 2.5Gbps ethernet ports. Quad-Band technology and an enhanced backhaul should maintain uninterrupted high-speed WiFi throughout your home, and Smart Connect will automatically put you in the fastest WiFi band for each connected device.

The Orbi 970 is protected with Netgear Armor, which is powered by Bitdefender, one of the more popular anti-virus solutions currently available. Users will also have access to easily manageable parental controls to track or place restrictions on online activity. The basic features are free, but a premium subscription is also available.

The Orbi comes as a two pack with one satellite (Orbi RBE972), or alternatively, for those needing expanded coverage, as a three pack with two satellites (Orbi RBE973) which blankets up to 8,200 sq.ft. – 10% more than the previous model – and supports up to 200 devices. Additional satellites can be added to extend coverage further, each equipped with high-speed Ethernet ports.

A package included 1 year of Netgear Armor, as well as the Orbi with two satellites, is available to pre-order now, priced at £2,199.99. Pricing for the 2-pack bundle and pricing for individual satellites is still TBC.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: At this price point, there aren't going to be many people lining up to buy these for their homes. For businesses though, this level of expense may be worth it.

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Nvidia launches Chat with RTX – a locally run, offline and customisable AI chatbot https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/nvidia-launches-chat-with-rtx-a-locally-run-offline-and-customisable-ai-chatbot/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/nvidia-launches-chat-with-rtx-a-locally-run-offline-and-customisable-ai-chatbot/#respond Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:01:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=648154 Nvidia is bringing offline AI chatting to millions of RTX powered PCs today with the launch of Chat with RTX. Here we give the low down on this new tool and its capabilities.

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ChatGPT took the world by storm in 2023 but now we're getting to a point where AI-powered chat applications can be installed and run locally, without needing an online connection. Nvidia is bringing offline AI chatting to millions of RTX powered PCs today with the launch of Chat with RTX. 

Chat with RTX was first announced in January. The app uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), in conjunction with TensorRT-LLM, which users can customise by granting access to specified files and folders. Running locally, Chat with RTX can pull information from text, PDF, doc and XML files, so you can swiftly have the app retrieve data for you. There is also a YouTube transcript function, so you can paste in a YouTube playlist and have the app generate a local transcript. You can then ask the bot questions about the content to sift through what you need.

I've had access to Chat with RTX for a few days already. The initial download is substantial, coming in at over 30GB, and the final install size can be as high as 100GB, depending on the AI models you have installed. To start off with, Chat with RTX will have access to two AI models, Mistral and Llama. The former is a model created by ex Meta and Google employees, while the latter is a model created and released by Meta.

Installing the app takes some time. On my system with a Ryzen 9 5900X and RTX 4080, the install took around 20 minutes, with the LLM install taking the longest amount of time. The install time can take as much as one hour depending on your internet connection and hardware. After the installer wraps up though, loading up the app takes very little time and works impressively quick considering it is running locally.

As the app runs offline, you don't run the risk of exposing your sensitive data online, and you have greater control over what the AI has access to and can pull from. In its base form, Chat with RTX only has access to the RAG folder it comes with, so it can answer some basic questions regarding Nvidia RTX products and features, but won't be able to go beyond that. With that in mind, you'll want to point the app to your own dataset folder.

The most obvious use case to me is as an office assistant, being able to quickly bring up information needed for a task without having to do a manual search. For editors, being able to pull in YouTube transcripts accurately will also save a lot of time. Transcribing a single video takes less than a minute, but as this portion of the app does require contacting servers, the speed may vary depending on how many active users there are, as well as your own internet connection. It will be interesting to see if there is any noticeable slowdown now that the app is widely available for all users.

For local data processing, Chat with RTX is not meant to be a ChatGPT replacement. The app works by breaking down data into chunks, which are then selected based on relevance to your query. So it works well for quickly finding specific facts present in documents, but it doesn't work well for tasks that require ‘reasoning', like summarising a set of documents into key bullet points.

Chat with RTX also does not currently have the ability to remember context, so you won't be able to ask follow-up questions based on your original query. Whether or not this functionality will change over time remains to be seen, but running machine learning and massive data sets locally isn't exactly feasible for the majority of users.

Chat with RTX can be downloaded directly from the Nvidia website. You will need an RTX 3000 or RTX 4000 series graphics card to run the application.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Chat with RTX is interesting in its current form but now that it is out in the wild, we will be keen on seeing what AI enthusiasts come up with as they aim to get the most out of this new tool. 

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Acer unveils impressive Predator gaming and lifestyle tech for 2024 https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/acer-is-expanding-its-product-lineup-with-new-predator-laptops-monitors-and-a-e-scooter/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/acer-is-expanding-its-product-lineup-with-new-predator-laptops-monitors-and-a-e-scooter/#respond Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:01:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=647514 Acer has recently unveiled a slew of new products. From monitors to laptops, Acer will show all its new products at Intel Extreme Masters, running from February 9th to the 11th. We'll be getting a new look at Acer's very impressive SpatialLabs 3D tech, alongside a very unexpected product… an Acer Predator Extreme e-scooter.  Acer …

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Acer has recently unveiled a slew of new products. From monitors to laptops, Acer will show all its new products at Intel Extreme Masters, running from February 9th to the 11th. We'll be getting a new look at Acer's very impressive SpatialLabs 3D tech, alongside a very unexpected product… an Acer Predator Extreme e-scooter. 

Acer has introduced the Predator SpatialLabs View 27 gaming monitor, expanding the company's stereoscopic 3D display range and allowing gamers to delve further into 3D worlds. The SpatialLabs TrueGame utilises patented shader and driver technology to create distinct 3D profiles based on existing depth data from the games. The Predator SpatialLabs View has a 27-inch 2D-3D switchable 4K display with a 160Hz refresh rate, 400 nits brightness, and Delta E< 2 colour accuracy.

There's also the Predator Z57, a 57-inch gaming monitor with a DUHD (7680×2160) resolution at 120Hz. It has 2304-zone MiniLED technology, a wide 32:9 aspect ratio, and 1000R curvature. The VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification means the monitor's brightness peaks at a minimum of 1000 nits. Moreover, we have the Predator X34 V3 with a 34-inch curved MiniLED display with a 21:9 ultrawide QHD (3440×1440) resolution. Its 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms G2G response are perfect for gaming, and in conjunction with the 1500R curvature, DCI-P3 94% colour gamut and VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification, it makes the experience more immersive. Last but not least, Acer's newest OLED models are the 39-inch Predator X39 and the 34-inch Predator X34 X. They provide wide viewing angles of up to 178 degrees, a UWQHD (3440×1440) resolution, up to 240Hz refresh rates, and 0.01ms pixel response times.

Moving on to the laptops, Acer's Predator Helios 18 and 16 have been equipped with the newly released Intel Core i9 CPU 14900HX. In addition, they're powered by up to an Nvidia RTX 4090 Laptop GPU (MGP up to 175W). The laptops come with 16 and 18-inch (16:10) WQXGA or Mini LED displays with up to 250Hz refresh rates, up to 1000 nits of peak brightness, and up to 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. Acer has also revealed the new Predator Helios Neo 18 and 16 laptops, a cheaper alternative to the Helios laptops. These are powered by up to an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPUs and up to Nvidia RTX 4070 Laptop GPUs with a maximum graphics power of 140W (Turbo mode).

The Predator Extreme e-scooter was designed to provide the power and performance of an off-road motorcycle packed into a compact iron frame. Equipped with a dual suspension system, rear spring shock absorber, 960-watt peak power output, 40Nm of torque, 10-inch crocodile tyres, and an IPX5 rating, it is built to explore a variety of terrains. For adrenaline junkies, the Predator Extreme's forward-facing posture and low centre of gravity allow for greater manoeuvrability and navigation across all terrains. The scooter's sturdy structure also allows riders to perform tricks such as wheelies, jumps, curb hops, and more. Meanwhile, urban commuters can easily switch between its 6 kph, 15 kph, and up to 25 kph speed modes to drive freely around the city and through off-road locations. The Predator Extreme e-scooter is an eco-friendly alternative to motorcycles, featuring a removable 10.5 ah / 36 V lithium-ion battery that significantly cuts carbon emissions. The battery can be fully charged in about four hours and can go up to 35 km on a single charge.

The Predator SpatialLabs View 27 will be available in EMEA in Q1 2024 for €1,999. The Predator Helios and Helios Neo laptops will all be released in the UK in February, with the Helios 18 starting at £2999, the Helios 16 at £2199, the Helios Neo 18 at £1999, and the Helios Neo 16 at £1699. As for the new Predator monitors, they're coming out in Q2 2024, with the Predator Z57 going for €2,399, the Predator X39 for €1,499, the Predator X34 X for €1,299, and the Predator X34 V3 for €849. Lastly, the Predator Extreme e-scooter will be available in EMEA in Q2 2024, starting at €1,299.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Of all that Acer has in store for us, what are you most interested in?

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CES 2024: Lexar launches its first PCIe 5.0 SSD and other storage devices https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/matthew-wilson/ces-2024-lexar-launches-its-first-pcie-5-0-ssd-and-other-storage-devices/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/matthew-wilson/ces-2024-lexar-launches-its-first-pcie-5-0-ssd-and-other-storage-devices/#respond Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:53:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=643345 At CES this week, we had the chance to swing by the Lexar booth to check out their new line-up for 2024. Aside from new super-fast and gaming oriented SSDs, we also see some new professional storage devices for videographers or photographers. At CES this week, Lexar is showcasing its first PCIe 5.0 SSD, the …

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At CES this week, we had the chance to swing by the Lexar booth to check out their new line-up for 2024. Aside from new super-fast and gaming oriented SSDs, we also see some new professional storage devices for videographers or photographers.

At CES this week, Lexar is showcasing its first PCIe 5.0 SSD, the NM1090 M.2 SSD with heatsink, capable of delivering maximum read and write speeds of 12,000MB/s and 11,000MB/s. The new Play M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 SSD is also on the way, designed to fit in newer gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck or newly announced MSI Claw, offering maximum read/write speeds of 5200MB/s and 4700MB/s respectively.

Rounding out the high-performance hardware is Lexar's new Ares RGB DDR5 memory kits, offering speeds up to 8400MHz, making them amongst the fastest available currently.

On the professional side, we saw the CFexpress 4.0 Type-B Card Diamond, offering maximum read speeds of 3600MB/s and a maximum write speed of 3300MB/s, making it one of the fastest cards of its type in the market. There is also a CFexpress 4.0 Type-A Card, with maximum read/write speeds of 1800MB/s and 1650MB/s. If you need something a bit smaller, then the Lexar Professional Gold microSD UHS-II cards are on the way and are recommended for use with GoPros and other cameras. These SD cards have maximum read/write speeds of 280MB/s and 180MB/s respectively, with capacities up to 256GB.

Finally, we also have the new Armour 700, a portable SSD with a rugged design, intended to withstand harsh environments to keep your data safe.

KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for a new SSD this year?

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CES 2024: Phison details new controllers to power next-gen storage devices https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/ces-2024-phison-details-the-new-controllers-that-will-power-the-next-generation-of-storage-devices/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/ces-2024-phison-details-the-new-controllers-that-will-power-the-next-generation-of-storage-devices/#respond Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:00:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=643066 Phison is pushing the limits of low-power and high-performance storage devices with its new range of PCIe and USB controllers. From enterprise NAND flash storage to portable handheld gaming system upgrades, Phison has it covered, offering a growing range of controllers for drives and devices in all market segments. At CES 2024, Phison will be …

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Phison is pushing the limits of low-power and high-performance storage devices with its new range of PCIe and USB controllers. From enterprise NAND flash storage to portable handheld gaming system upgrades, Phison has it covered, offering a growing range of controllers for drives and devices in all market segments.

At CES 2024, Phison will be showcasing its latest solutions, designed to address the need for low-power data storage and NAND storage solutions. Starting with the Phison PS5031-E31T, it's a low-power PCIe 5.0 controller with a 4-channel DRAMless design for mid-range PCIe 5.0 solutions, offering up to 10.8 GB/s of bandwidth and 8 TB of maximum capacity.

If you need increased capacity and accelerated performance, a PCIe 5.0 E26 controller with I/O+ technology like the Phison PS5026-E26 Max14um is the way to go. This controller is Phison's most powerful device in its class, with 14GB/s+ sequential read performance. Moreover, it was tested on PCMark 10 and 3DMark Storage Tests, where it scored over 1000MB/s, making it the world's first controller to achieve this milestone.

For the next generation of low-power, high-performance PCIe Gen4 SSDs in a 2230 form factor (suitable for gaming handhelds), Phison is launching the PS5027-E27T controller. Lastly, Phison PS2251-21 (U21) is the world's first USB4 single-chip solution for small portable devices in conventional and unconventional form factors. It delivers up to 4GB/s of performance in a compact form factor.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Phison's impressive controller lineup will undoubtedly push the release of even more PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Hopefully, that will drive their prices down, making upgrading to the latest generation of SSDs more affordable.

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CES 2024: The Omen Transcend 14 is the lightest 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/ces-2024-the-omen-transcend-14-is-the-lightest-14-inch-gaming-laptop-you-can-buy/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/ces-2024-the-omen-transcend-14-is-the-lightest-14-inch-gaming-laptop-you-can-buy/#respond Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:59:08 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=643016 Today at CES Leo spent some time looking at the new Omen Transcend 14 laptop. It is very thin and light, but packs up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor under the hood, which also means it benefits from Intel's new AI Boost technology.

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Today at CES Leo spent some time looking at the new Omen Transcend 14 laptop. It is very thin and light, but packs up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor under the hood, which also means it benefits from Intel's new AI Boost technology.

On the display side, you get a high-resolution OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR, covering 100 percent of the DCI P3 colour gamut and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The laptop can be configured with up to 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory, a 2TB M.2 SSD and up to an RTX 4070 GPU, which is impressive for a laptop this thin – it is also currently the lightest gaming laptop in its class. You can find the full spec sheet below:

Operating System Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro
Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (up to 4.8GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 24MB L3
cache, 16 cores, 22 threads) OR Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (up to 5.1GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 24MB L3
cache, 16 cores, 22 threads)
Memory 16GB LPDDR5x-7467MHz RAM OR 32GB LPDDR5x-7467MHz RAM
Internal Storage 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
512GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
Display 35.6 cm (14″) diagonal, 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, 48-120Hz, 0.2ms response time, UWVA,
edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, Low Blue Light, SDR 400 nits, HDR 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3
Variable Refresh Rate support
VESA True Black HDR 400
TUV+Eyesafe Display for Low Blue Light
Flicker-free
IMAX Enhanced certified
Webcam HP True Vision 1080p FHD IR camera with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual
array digital microphones
Connectivity 1x Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C 40Gbps signalling rate (USB Power Delivery,
DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge)
1x USB Type-C 10Gbps signalling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort™ 1.4, HP Sleep and
Charge)
1x USB Type-A 10Gbps signalling rate (HP Sleep and Charge)
1x USB Type-A 10Gbps signalling rate
1x headphone/microphone combo (Compatible with 3.5mm 4-conductor jack with stereo
audio and mon0 mic
Wireless Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless card
Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless card
Modern Standby (Connected)
HP Extended Range Wireless LAN
Battery Life Up to 11.5 hours
6-cell, 71Wh Li-ion polymer
140W USB Type-C power adapter
Audio HyperX Audio Control; Dual speakers; DTS:X® Ultra, HP Audio Boost 2.0

The Omen Transcend 14 utilises rear venting for the cooling system, and it means that around the sides, we just have ports and connectors, which is a first for an Omen laptop.

Once this laptop arrives in the UK, you'll be able to get it through Currys with a free HyperX Cloud 3 headset thrown in so you can jump straight into gaming. Alternatively, you can opt for another HyperX product or a Steam voucher to grab some new games. Pre-orders are live now, starting at £1,699.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you all think of the Omen Transcend 14? We look forward to seeing it again closer to launch and taking a deeper look at it.

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CES 2024: Razer show off new products and software to enhance your setup https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/ces-2024-razer-show-off-new-products-and-software-to-enhance-your-setup/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/ces-2024-razer-show-off-new-products-and-software-to-enhance-your-setup/#respond Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:30:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642800 Razer is expanding to more markets thanks to various products revealed at CES 2024. Besides new chairs and a USB-C dock, Razer has also revealed a haptics gaming cushion, a monitor light bar, and various software updates. The Razer Iskur V2 is a new chair developed in collaboration with esports players and ergonomic experts. With …

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Razer is expanding to more markets thanks to various products revealed at CES 2024. Besides new chairs and a USB-C dock, Razer has also revealed a haptics gaming cushion, a monitor light bar, and various software updates.

The Razer Iskur V2 is a new chair developed in collaboration with esports players and ergonomic experts. With its 6D adjustable and adaptive Lumbar Support System, the Iskur V2 conforms to the natural curvature of your spine, providing a perfect fit tailored to individual needs. This mechanism adjusts to your body's weight and posture in real-time, allowing for complete customisation through its integrated lumbar curve adjustments. You can fine-tune the lumbar's protrusion and height to ensure a comfortable experience.

The Iskur V2 also features high-density foam cushions, providing a balanced combination of support and comfort. The reactive seat tilt and the recline functionality (up to 152º) allow gamers to find their perfect angle for intense gaming and relaxation periods. This chair is crafted with EPU-grade synthetic leather, delivering a premium feel and durability against daily use. The Iskur V2's 4D armrests offer extensive height, position, and angle customisation, while the memory foam head cushion provides tailored head and neck support for gaming marathons. The Razer Iskur V2 is now available for $649.99 or €699.99.

The Razer USB C Dock is a portable 11-port USB C dock designed to meet your connectivity needs, whichever they are. Compatible with Chromebooks and Windows and Mac laptops and desktops, the 11-port design includes 4x USB-A ports, 2x USB-C ports, a Gigabit Ethernet interface, an HDMI port (4K 60 Hz), a 3.5 mm audio combo jack, and UHS-I SD/MicroSD card slots.

Crafted from thermally optimal aluminium alloy, the dock's unibody design is strong and offers efficient thermal management, making it robust and lightweight. Moreover, the dock supports 85 W laptop charging, ensuring your devices stay powered and ready. The Razer USB-C dock is now available starting at $119.99/€139.99.

In addition, Razer has introduced Razer Sensa HD Haptics. Showcased through Project Esther, the Razer Sensa blurs the lines between physical reality and virtual worlds, making every in-game action more real via haptic feedback. This software-device integrated platform uses Interhaptics technology so that developers can control the haptics' directionality, multi-actuator experiences, and multiple-device integration between different platforms and peripherals. Additionally, the software offers a plug-and-play solution made possible via automatic audio-to-HD-haptics conversion.

Project Esther, the world's first HD Haptics Gaming Cushion, is the first product to use Sensa HD. It features wideband, high-definition haptics, delivering complex and realistic tactile sensations. True-positional haptics with 16 haptic actuators creates a genuine sense of in-game direction, distance, and location. Moreover, the adjustable straps for universal fit make it compatible with most gaming and office chairs. Lastly, the Razer HyperSpeed Wireless offers ultra-low latency for gaming and seamless media content enjoyment from compatible devices.

Razer also recently launched the Aether Monitor Light Bar as part of the Aether Gamer Room collection. Featuring dual lighting technology and front-facing and rear-facing LEDs, this light bar was designed to cater to gamers and workers who spend long hours at their systems. The Aether Monitor Light Bar has an ultra-high Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 95, ensuring vivid and natural lighting across a substantial area. The Aether Monitor Light Bar measures 60 x 30cm and has 500 Lux of output. Moreover, it is compatible with Razer Chroma RGB. With over 16.8 million colours and a range of lighting effects, the Chroma RGB integration transforms any gaming space into a dynamic and reactive environment.

The Aether Monitor Light Bar is designed to complement most monitor sizes and curvatures and features a secure and adaptable mounting mechanism. The user interface is also designed to be user-friendly, with capacitive touch controls for seamless interaction. Users can easily modify brightness, colour temperature, and Chroma Effects, making customisation intuitive and accessible. As for connectivity, the Aether Monitor Light Bar is powered by the new universal standard of smart home connectivity and can work with all other smart home devices and controllers supported by Matter. Users can adjust settings and create automated routines with the Razer Gamer Room app, bringing all devices into one integrated ecosystem. The Aether Monitor Light Bar is priced at $129.99/€149.99 and will be available in March 2024.

Lastly, Razer has recently announced new advancements in its software suite, aiming to enhance the user experience and expand functionality. First, Razer Synapse is now available in open beta, bringing various performance improvements, a streamlined interface, and more customisation options. Then there's the new standalone Chroma app, a one-stop solution for all Chroma RGB customisation needs. This app allows users to easily apply Quick Effects or utilise Chroma Generate to add lighting effects to images. The standalone Chroma app is now available to download.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Interested in any of Razer's reveals at CES 2024?

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CES 2024: Cooler Master shows off PC hardware line-up https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/ces-2024-cooler-master-shows-off-pc-hardware-line-up/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/ces-2024-cooler-master-shows-off-pc-hardware-line-up/#respond Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:30:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642590 CES is here, and Cooler Master has much to show during the event. New components, a unique-looking system, and a Mini-LED monitor are just some of the new hardware on the way for 2024. Starting with its new AIO CPU cooler, the Cooler Master G11 AIO uses a dual pump and dual chamber design, a …

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CES is here, and Cooler Master has much to show during the event. New components, a unique-looking system, and a Mini-LED monitor are just some of the new hardware on the way for 2024.

Starting with its new AIO CPU cooler, the Cooler Master G11 AIO uses a dual pump and dual chamber design, a 360mm radiator, and Mobius fans to cool up to 300W of CPU. Customisation is a key feature of the G11 AIO, as you can even 3D-print some parts to make it look more unique. If you prefer an air cooler, Cooler Master is also introducing the V8 3DVC. It has a redesigned vapour chamber and “Superconductive Composite” heat pipes and can handle up to 300W of power. Then, there's also the new Mobius 120 Slim fan, perfect for smaller enclosures with limited space.

Moving on to the new cases, the new Masterbox 600 looks worth keeping your eyes on. It supports motherboards with back connectors, 420mm radiators, and 410mm-long graphics cards. The case also comes with three Sickleflow 140mm fans and a CF120 on the rear. The other case shown by the company is the TD500 Max, featuring a 360x38mm Atmos radiator, a GXII 850W ATX3.0 Max version PSU and Mobius 120P ARGB fans out-of-the-box. For an even easier building experience, the case comes with these components already pre-installed and pre-routed and provides a two-stage power connector for easier cable management.

As for the new PSUs, there's the X Silent Edge fanless PSU, which uses an “advanced” heat pipe technology to keep the PSU cool without needing a fan. Available with 850W and 1100W, it supports digital monitoring via MasterCTRL software and uses Infineon IC chips and an active bridge rectifier to increase efficiency and performance. Additionally, there are the X Silent Max PSUs, packing Mobius fans and an enhanced modular thermal structure to cool the unit. Like the X Silent Edge, it supports digital monitoring and MasterCTRL software and features an active bridge rectifier and Infineon IC chips.

Besides components, Cooler Master also unveiled the Masterhub. Due to its different modules, this modular platform can be used by content creators, PC enthusiasts and streamers. As part of the streaming kit, there's the 15XKEY module with 15 customisable LCD keys, complemented by the 2XROLLER and the 5XFADER modules. Then, there's the creator kit, which adds a 1xDial and 3xKnob modules. The Masterhub is set atop an aluminium stand that supports vertical and horizontal placements. Cooler Master promises to increase app support and launch larger modules based on community feedback.

Cooler Master also revealed its new Mini-LED GP2711 monitor. With a unique heatsink and thermal back cover for fanless cooling, the new monitor offers a 3000:1 contrast ratio, so it should be VA. The panel uses Quantum Dot, enhancing colour reproduction and covering 93.5% Adobe RGB and 95% DCI-P3 colour gamuts. Its refresh rate is 165Hz, while the response time is 1ms (<4 ms GtG). The monitor comes factory calibrated with a Delta E ≤ 2 and is TUV Certified Eye Comfort, featuring a Low Blue Light mode and flicker-free technology. It includes USB-C connectivity with video output and 15W power delivery.

We have the Sneaker X Bounce PC system for the most unique product of the bunch. Limited to 1000 units, it was designed in collaboration with graffiti artist Bounce to give it a street look. It features detachable speakers with DTS Studio Sound, LED lights and a wireless speaker design inspired by the Bounce Rabbit.

KitGuru says: Cooler Master has an impressive lineup of products to show at CES 2024. Of everything on display, what products would you like to have at home?

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Lexar rolls out new gaming hardware line-up for 2024 https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/lexar-rolls-out-new-gaming-hardware-line-up-for-2024/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/lexar-rolls-out-new-gaming-hardware-line-up-for-2024/#respond Sun, 07 Jan 2024 15:30:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642591 Ahead of CES 2024, Lexar has unveiled its new line-up of hardware. Launching at the show next week will be a slew of new PCIe 4 and PCIe 5 SSDs for modern gaming systems, as well as a new mini SSD option for gaming handhelds. Lexar also has its hands in professional storage, with bespoke …

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Ahead of CES 2024, Lexar has unveiled its new line-up of hardware. Launching at the show next week will be a slew of new PCIe 4 and PCIe 5 SSDs for modern gaming systems, as well as a new mini SSD option for gaming handhelds. Lexar also has its hands in professional storage, with bespoke options for photographers and videographers.  

At CES, Lexar will showcase its new Professional CFexpress 4.0 Type-B Card Diamond series. Harnessing the capabilities of PCIe Gen 4 technology, this series boasts a maximum read speed of 3600 MB/s and a maximum write speed of 3300 MB/s, making it one of the fastest cards of its type in the market. Moreover, the company will also show the Professional CFexpress 4.0 Type-A Card Gold series, with maximum read speeds of 1800 MB/s and write rates of 1650 MB/s.

Continuing with the professional-oriented products, Lexar is introducing the Professional Gold microSD UHS-II cards, which GoPro recommends for use with their action cameras. Offering maximum read speeds of 280 MB/s and maximum write rates of 180 MB/s, these cards have capacities of up to 256GB. Lastly, there's the Armour 700 portable SSD, featuring a rugged design to withstand the harshest settings and maximum read and write rates of 2000 MB/s.

Lexar is also introducing its first PCIe 5.0 SSD, the Professional NM1090 M.2 PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD (with heatsink), capable of delivering maximum read and write speeds of 12,000 MB/s and 11,000 MB/s. Lexar will also showcase the NM800 Pro M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (already available) and its most recent edition, which incorporates an integrated heatsink and has up to 8TB of storage.

Lastly, Lexar is introducing the Play M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 SSD for portable gaming consoles and M.2 2230 compatible laptops. It has maximum read speeds of 5200 MB/s and maximum write rates of 4700 MB/s and benefits from SLC dynamic cache to make load times and downloads quicker. Besides storage, Lexar is also demonstrating the Ares RGB DDR5 memory at CES 2024, clocking up at 8400MHz with timings as low as CL40.

KitGuru says: We'll be at CES next week so keep an eye out for more from us straight from the show floor!

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The Xbox Series S Toaster is officially a real product https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/the-xbox-series-s-toaster-is-officially-a-real-product/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/the-xbox-series-s-toaster-is-officially-a-real-product/#respond Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:30:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642451 The meme has become real. Following the launch of the Xbox Series X mini fridge, Microsoft has now released the Xbox Series S toaster. The toaster costs $39.99 and, for now, seems to be exclusive to the US. Wario64 (via VGC) found the toaster available on the Walmart website. Instead of being used for playing …

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The meme has become real. Following the launch of the Xbox Series X mini fridge, Microsoft has now released the Xbox Series S toaster. The toaster costs $39.99 and, for now, seems to be exclusive to the US.

Wario64 (via VGC) found the toaster available on the Walmart website. Instead of being used for playing games on a TV, as consoles usually do, the Series S toaster can toast bread or bagels while simultaneously stamping the Xbox emblem onto the side using its internal heat coils. Even your toast will be Xbox-branded.

The toaster is designed with a slot long enough to hold two pieces of bread side by side, so it's pretty standard-sized. Additionally, it includes various toast browning settings, a removable crumb tray, a bread ejection mechanism, and an automated shutdown feature.

With rumours surrounding the possible release of a new Xbox Series console, we wonder what kitchen appliance its design would be based on. With the fridge and toaster already picked, the new console could be inspired by a microwave, a stove, or even an air fryer.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you like Microsoft's idea of embracing the meme and launching these console-lookalike kitchen appliances? Would you get the Xbox Series S toaster if available in your region?

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MSI’s upcoming gaming handheld leaks ahead of CES https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/msis-upcoming-gaming-handheld-leaks-ahead-of-ces/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/msis-upcoming-gaming-handheld-leaks-ahead-of-ces/#respond Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:00:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642583 A few notable handheld PC competitors have popped up over the past year. In 2024, MSI will be joining them with the now leaked MSI Claw handheld.  Like the Steam Deck, MSI's handheld is all one solid piece, so the controllers aren't detachable. However, based on leaked marketing images, it does appear that the buttons …

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A few notable handheld PC competitors have popped up over the past year. In 2024, MSI will be joining them with the now leaked MSI Claw handheld. 

Like the Steam Deck, MSI's handheld is all one solid piece, so the controllers aren't detachable. However, based on leaked marketing images, it does appear that the buttons light up, as well as the area around the joysticks.

What really sets this handheld apart from the likes of the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion or ROG Ally is the hardware under the hood. While the latter three all use AMD hardware, MSI's handheld will utilise an Intel Meteor Lake processor. We speculated on the idea of Intel powered handhelds after seeing a Meteor Lake graphics preview at Intel Innovation last year. MSI's handheld seems to be the first.

While a proper announcement should be coming soon with CES just around the corner, Videocardz has already got hold of the technical spec sheet and some images have leaked from other sources too, like the tweet above.

The handheld will be powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with an iGPU with 8 Xe-cores. It may also come with up to 32GB of RAM.

We don't yet have details on the display, pricing, expected performance or battery life. We also don't know the underlying operating system, but we would guess it will be Windows-based. We should learn more details at CES next week. An earlier teaser image posted by MSI suggests exactly that.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It will certainly be interesting to see how this matches up to the various AMD-powered handhelds already on the market. 

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MSI unveils Limited Edition Monster Hunter hardware ahead of CES https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/msi-unveils-limited-edition-monster-hunter-hardware-ahead-of-ces/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/msi-unveils-limited-edition-monster-hunter-hardware-ahead-of-ces/#respond Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:30:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642543 At the Tokyo Game Show last year, MSI had a surprising announcement. The company is teaming up with Capcom to produce new limited edition PC hardware for the 20th Anniversary of Monster Hunter. Now ahead of CES, the new MSI x Monster Hunter hardware has been officially revealed, including a new limited edition laptop, graphics card, case, AIO cooler, motherboard, monitor and even a game controller.

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At the Tokyo Game Show last year, MSI had a surprising announcement. The company is teaming up with Capcom to produce new limited edition PC hardware for the 20th Anniversary of Monster Hunter. Now ahead of CES, the new MSI x Monster Hunter hardware has been officially revealed, including a new limited edition laptop, graphics card, case, AIO cooler, motherboard, monitor and even a game controller.

The Monster Hunter series has been popular in Japan for decades but it only recently became a huge franchise in the west with the release of Monster Hunter World. The more recent game, Monster Hunter Rise, has also been very popular, selling millions of copies worldwide. The franchise is celebrating its 20th anniversary in March 2024 and we can expect plenty of Monster Hunter themed MSI PC hardware to commemorate the occasion.

The MSI x Monster Hunter limited edition range will include:

  • MSI Crosshair 16 HX MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Gaming Laptop
  • MSI GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti 8G GAMING SLIM MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Gaming Graphics Card
  • MSI FORCE GC30 MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Gaming Controller
  • MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Liquid Cooler
  • MSI MPG GUNGNIR 300 MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Gaming Case
  • MSI MPG Z790 EDGE MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Gaming Motherboard
  • MSI MAG 274QRF QD E2 MONSTER HUNTER EDITION Gaming Monitor

Each of these products will be showcased at MSI's CES booth next week. We'll be at CES this year delivering news straight from the show floor, so expect to see plenty from us in the week ahead.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to create a Monster Hunter themed PC setup using some of MSI's new limited edition hardware? 

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New Windows 11 laptops will ship with a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/new-windows-11-laptops-will-ship-with-a-dedicated-copilot-key-on-the-keyboard/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/new-windows-11-laptops-will-ship-with-a-dedicated-copilot-key-on-the-keyboard/#respond Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:59:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=642429 CES is coming up and as expected, a slew of new laptops are due to be announced, with much of the marketing set to revolve around AI functionality. As part of this push, Microsoft is now working with OEMs to ensure that new Windows laptops ship with a new keyboard key to launch the Windows …

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CES is coming up and as expected, a slew of new laptops are due to be announced, with much of the marketing set to revolve around AI functionality. As part of this push, Microsoft is now working with OEMs to ensure that new Windows laptops ship with a new keyboard key to launch the Windows 11 Copilot feature. 

Copilot has been available to Windows 11 users for a while now, acting as a new AI-based digital assistant for tasks, similar to ChatGPT but not quite as clever just yet. As more professionals and creators begin to leverage AI tools in their daily tasks, Microsoft is banking on the Copilot key being a useful feature for new laptop buyers.

Some of the newly announced Dell XPS laptops will feature the Copilot key on the keyboard and we can expect plenty of other OEMs to do the same thing. We'll see just how prevalent the Copilot key will be soon, as more laptops are announced and shown off at CES, which kicks off on the 8th of January.

AI will continue to be a key focus for Microsoft this year, particularly as the company works towards Windows 12, which will aim to “blur the lines” between local and cloud-assisted computing. Windows 12 is rumoured to be heading our way later this year. If true, we should have some solid details on the new OS before the summer.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Having a Copilot key doesn't necessarily need to be an issue, but if it is placed in a position where you may accidentally press it often, then it will be viewed as an annoyance and likely drive users away. Fortunately, there will likely be ways to disable it if needed. 

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TSMC expects to create chip packages with over 1 trillion transistors by 2030 https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/tsmc-expects-to-create-chip-packages-with-over-1-trillion-transistors-by-2030/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/tsmc-expects-to-create-chip-packages-with-over-1-trillion-transistors-by-2030/#respond Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:30:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=641930 At IEDM, TSMC shared its plans to provide MCM-based chips with over one trillion transistors and monolithic chips with over 200 billion transistors by 2030. To accomplish that target, the company said it is working on 2nm-class N2 and N2P production nodes, as well as 1.4nm-class A14 and 1nm-class A10 manufacturing processes, all due by …

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At IEDM, TSMC shared its plans to provide MCM-based chips with over one trillion transistors and monolithic chips with over 200 billion transistors by 2030. To accomplish that target, the company said it is working on 2nm-class N2 and N2P production nodes, as well as 1.4nm-class A14 and 1nm-class A10 manufacturing processes, all due by 2030.

TSMC is optimistic that it will develop its next-generation production nodes over the next five to six years, even though process technology development has slowed down in recent years as chipmakers encounter technical and financial challenges. The company faces the same obstacles as other firms, but it is confident in its abilities as the world's largest foundry.

TSMC predicts that even more complex monolithic circuits with over 100 billion transistors will be available shortly, as Nvidia's 80-billion-transistor GH100 remains one of the most complicated monolithic processors on the market. However, building such massive processors becomes more complex and costly, leading many organisations to adopt multi-chiplet architectures, such as AMD's Instinct MI300X and Intel's Ponte Vecchio.

According to TSMC, this trend will continue, and in a few years, we will witness multi-chiplet systems with over a trillion transistors. To achieve that, TSMC anticipates breakthroughs in packaging technologies, too. At the same time, monolithic chips will become more complex, with monolithic CPUs comprising 200 billion transistors.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Although the development of new process nodes is slowing down, it's nice to see that, at least up to 2030, there are plans to keep increasing transistor density at a steady pace.

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MSI is developing two ATX12VO-ready motherboards and a PSU https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/msi-is-developing-two-atx12vo-ready-motherboards-and-a-psu/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/msi-is-developing-two-atx12vo-ready-motherboards-and-a-psu/#respond Wed, 27 Dec 2023 15:00:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=641880 The industry is planning to transition away from the traditional ATX standard, which has been in use for decades, to a new standard known as the Intel ATX12VO (Advanced Technology Extended 12 Volts Only). This departure from PSUs with multiple voltage rails (3.3V, 5V, and 12V) to the new single rail (12V) standard brings several …

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The industry is planning to transition away from the traditional ATX standard, which has been in use for decades, to a new standard known as the Intel ATX12VO (Advanced Technology Extended 12 Volts Only). This departure from PSUs with multiple voltage rails (3.3V, 5V, and 12V) to the new single rail (12V) standard brings several benefits.

One of the main advantages of the ATX12VO is that it supplies power at a single voltage (12V) directly to the motherboard, making power conversion inside the PSU unit more efficient. This efficiency stems from the elimination of numerous voltage rails, reducing complexity. Although Intel introduced this new standard three years ago, it has not gained widespread adoption in the industry yet. However, it is expected to become more prevalent in the market in 2024, as suggested by upcoming products from MSI (via HardwareLuxx).

Image credit: HardwareLuxx

MSI is planning multiple ATX12VO products, including the Pro B650 12VO WiFi, targeting the AMD AM5 socket type. This will be the first AMD AM5 motherboard to support the ATX12VO standard. MSI also plans to launch an ATX12VO-ready motherboard for the Intel platform, the Pro H610M 12VO. Naturally, MSI is also set to introduce a 12VO power supply.

It has been indicated that most ATX12VO products will be directed at pre-built systems, so a DIY release may still be some ways off.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru asks: Do you agree with the move to the new ATX12VO standard? How long will it take for the industry to fully adopt the ATX12VO?

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HP Omen OLED monitor set to launch at CES https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/hp-omen-oled-monitor-set-to-launch-at-ces/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/hp-omen-oled-monitor-set-to-launch-at-ces/#respond Sun, 24 Dec 2023 12:00:11 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=641784 HP's HyperX and Omen brands plan to expand their lineups with a few new gaming products at CES 2024. Besides gaming peripherals such as keyboards, headsets, mice and controllers, HP's gaming brands are also launching a new 4K OLED gaming monitor and new laptops. According to Windows Report, there's a lot to expect from HP's …

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HP's HyperX and Omen brands plan to expand their lineups with a few new gaming products at CES 2024. Besides gaming peripherals such as keyboards, headsets, mice and controllers, HP's gaming brands are also launching a new 4K OLED gaming monitor and new laptops.

According to Windows Report, there's a lot to expect from HP's gaming brands at CES in January. Starting with the laptops, HP's Omen will reveal the Transcend 14 and a new version of the Transcend 16 upgraded with new Intel Core Ultra CPUs, up to Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics, a new 240Hz OLED screen and AI features.

Image credit: Windows Report

Moving on to the new monitor, the Omen Transcend 32  features a 32-inch 4K display, 240Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1000 nits (HDR). The new display supports AMD FreeSync as well as Dolby Vision. It's also the first gaming monitor with separate switchable USB ports and features a built-in KVM switch. Moreover, it employs the Omen Tempest Monitor cooling technology to minimise burn-in. Its connectivity options include a DisplayPort 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.1 ports, 1x USB-C port (DP Alt mode and 140 W PD), 3x USB-A 3.2 ports, a USB-C 3.2, and 1x USB-C (15W) for communication.

As for peripherals, HyperX is releasing three new HX3D collections: Valkyrie, Werewolf and Nature. Each of these includes themed keycaps, headset toppers and earcups. There's also a new lineup geared towards younger customers. This new series of gaming gear consists of the HyperX Cloud Mini, HyperX Cloud Mini Wireless, and the HyperX Clutch Tanto game controller. These accessories come in various colours and have audio protection below 85dB. While the Xbox-certified controller is only available in black, it's multiplatform compatible.

Lastly, HyperX is also set to launch new Alloy and Rise keyboards, Pulsefire mice and a new Haste 2 Mini.

The Rise is a 75% gasket-mounted keyboard with customisable RGB illumination and a clever ambient light sensor. In addition, they have a variety of top plates (blue, black, white), badge packs, media dial, and hot-swappable switches. As for the Haste 2 Mini, this wireless mouse is designed specifically for on-the-go gaming. Available in black and white, it's 16% smaller than the Haste 2 and weighs only 59g.

KitGuru says: Of all of the new HyperX and Omen products to be revealed at CES 2024, are there any that you would like to test?

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The Alphacool Apex Stealth drama, so far https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/the-alphacool-apex-stealth-drama-so-far/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/the-alphacool-apex-stealth-drama-so-far/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:16:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=641449 There has recently been a bit of a kerfuffle in the tech reviews scene. Igors Lab, a well-known and respected site appeared to make some errors while testing the new Alphacool Apex Stealth metal fans, something that was made clear when other reviewers tested the same set of fans. What followed is a pretty messy …

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There has recently been a bit of a kerfuffle in the tech reviews scene. Igors Lab, a well-known and respected site appeared to make some errors while testing the new Alphacool Apex Stealth metal fans, something that was made clear when other reviewers tested the same set of fans. What followed is a pretty messy series of events…

While the original Apex Stealth fan review was published by Igor, he said he was not the one to conduct the fan testing. That task was apparently handled by a freelancer, Pascal, who also has his own YouTube channel for tech videos. The review praised Alphacool's new fan design, citing them as revolutionary and better than the competition. It was also an ‘exclusive', going live well ahead of other reviews.

After this, Alphacool asked Igor if they could use the review results for some marketing material and went live with pre-orders, showcasing the Igor's Lab results. In hindsight, this should not have happened but at the time, the errors in the original review were not clear.

Other independent reviewers tested the same fan to find that their results did not line up with those of Igor's Lab at all. Aris over at Hardware Busters, Sweclockers and Roman ‘Der8auer' all reported less impressive performance results, amongst a few other sites. This is particularly interesting to KitGuru as we are still due to get a set of Alphacool Apex Stealth fans for a custom build in the new year. Not a dedicated review, as such, more as part of a build project our modder James Dawson will be creating.

The logical assumption here would be that there was some kind of mistake with the Igor's Lab testing and the follow-up to that would be going back and re-analysing the fans and test conditions.

Instead of doing this, Igor's Lab updated their review, confirming that the testing was done by a freelancer. That same freelancer then uploaded a (now-removed) YouTube video, in which he stood by his testing, despite the evidence that an error had potentially been made. Re-uploads of the video were later copyright claimed and taken down as well – although parts of it are included in Der8auer's lengthy video on this subject.

In our industry, mistakes do happen from time to time but the best approach is to always inform the readers of the error and go back to re-do the testing. It is something that can be fixed and doesn't need to be a blemish on anyone's reputation. If anything, the tech enthusiast audience values integrity and transparency on that level.

In an updated statement on the matter today, Igor confirmed plans to go back to revalidate the test setup and re-test these fans to do right by the readers and correct the situation. Additionally, Alphacool no longer has the marketing material featuring Igor's results live.

This statement does raise a few more questions though. The freelancer who conducted the original testing for Igor was later hired by Alphacool and now has a role at the company but is currently within a probationary period. Additionally, Igor states that he has since learned that the manufacturer was aware of the fan's weaknesses back in October when the original results were published, so we have to wonder why questions weren't raised about the results in the first place, before publishing. We'd also have to question why Alphacool thought it would be okay to use those results for marketing pre-orders.

Igor also asserts that chat logs between Pascal and Alphacool were deleted, alongside documents containing more information about the fans and OEM test results.

There is blame to be placed on all sides in this situation, which appears to keep getting more and more questionable as new information continues to come to light. Alphacool has not yet issued a statement on the matter but it seems pretty clear that one needs to be made.

We aren't just jumping on the bandwagon, we've worked with Alphacool in the past ourselves and as we reported on the announcement of these fans, we think it is important to inform readers of recent developments. I have heard from a source close to a small PC parts store here in the UK that a bunch of pre-orders for these fans have been cancelled over the last couple of weeks, so it is clear that the original review did push a number of customers into pre-ordering. As a result, allowing the original review's results to be used in marketing for pre-orders was certainly a mistake.

KitGuru Says: What do you all make of the situation? We'll be following it closely to bring updates as they come to light. 

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TSMC 1.4nm process node revealed during IEDM https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/tsmc-1-4nm-process-node-revealed-during-iedm/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/joao-silva/tsmc-1-4nm-process-node-revealed-during-iedm/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:30:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=640757 During the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) Future of Logic session, TSMC announced that their 1.4nm manufacturing process is already under development. Additionally, they reiterated that mass manufacturing using their 2nm-class fabrication technology is scheduled to begin in 2025. According to a graphic shared by Dylan Patel (via Tom's Hardware), TSMC's 1.4nm node is …

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During the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) Future of Logic session, TSMC announced that their 1.4nm manufacturing process is already under development. Additionally, they reiterated that mass manufacturing using their 2nm-class fabrication technology is scheduled to begin in 2025.

According to a graphic shared by Dylan Patel (via Tom's Hardware), TSMC's 1.4nm node is officially known as A14. TSMC has not yet stated when they plan to start high-volume manufacturing (HVM) on A14 or its specifications. Still, the company representative claimed that N2 is still slated for late 2025 and N2P for late 2026. As such, A14 should be coming by 2027-2028.

It's unlikely that A14 will have vertically stacked complementary field-effect transistors (CFETs), but TSMC is currently exploring the possibility. Therefore, like N2, A14 will most likely depend on the company's 2nd or 3rd generation gate-all-around FETs (GAAFETs).

To enable new levels of performance, power, and features, nodes like N2 and A14 will require system-level co-optimisation. However, it remains to be seen if TSMC will use high-NA EUV lithography equipment for their A14 process technology. While high-NA EUV lithography methods reduce the reticle size, their adoption will introduce new challenges for chip designers and chipmakers.

KitGuru says: Like with most modern process nodes, do you think Apple will be the first to use the A14 process node on one of its SoCs?

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Leo talks DDR5 with AMD’s Martijn Boonstra https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/leo-talks-ddr5-with-amds-martijn-boonstra/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/leo-talks-ddr5-with-amds-martijn-boonstra/#respond Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:00:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=640210 We dig into the details of EXPO and talk about the balance between clock speed and latency...

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KitGuru is working on a feature about DDR5 memory, and the research is turning out to be rather more enjoyable than we would have expected. We have spoken to Dan Ragland at Intel and he was so enthusiastic that we decided to publish the conversation as a separate video. Now it is the turn of Martijn Boonstra, an AMD Product and Development Manager, as we dig into the details of EXPO and talk about the balance between clock speed and latency.

You can rest assured that we also asked Martijn one of the more important questions of our times, whether RGB lighting is good, excellent or brilliant. It turns out the most important tip for gamers is to set your lighting to red as that guarantees 1,000fps. We think Martijn was joking but honestly, it is tricky to be certain.

Watch via YouTube below:

KitGuru Says: Our conversations with Intel and AMD about DDR5 have been illuminating so far – stay tuned for more from Leo soon!

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