computex 2018 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:41:16 +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 computex 2018 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Computex 2018: Riotoro demos its resizeable case, Project Morpheus https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-riotoro-demos-its-resizeable-case-project-morpheus/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-riotoro-demos-its-resizeable-case-project-morpheus/#respond Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:46:15 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376571 With Computex 2018 now over, we have just a couple more stories to bring you from the show floor. One of these comes from Riotoro, as it showcased its very unique Project Morpheus case that can be resized from ATX to Micro ATX form-factors, and vice versa. In practice, this means the case can either …

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With Computex 2018 now over, we have just a couple more stories to bring you from the show floor. One of these comes from Riotoro, as it showcased its very unique Project Morpheus case that can be resized from ATX to Micro ATX form-factors, and vice versa.

In practice, this means the case can either be a shorter, slight wider chassis with 5 expansion slots accessible, or it can be slightly taller and narrower, with a full complement of expansion slots available. Important to note is that although the size changes, you don't have to switch motherboards – a standard ATX motherboard is used for both configurations, the size of the case just changes as mentioned above.

Clearly, the idea is that you might start out with a single graphics card and thus not need the extra height of a standard ATX case, so you can opt for the shorter version of the case. Down the line, perhaps you add in an extra graphics card or sound card, or you want to add extra storage – well, then you can make the case bigger.

You may think that making such changes to the case would be a bit of a faff, but thankfully Riotoro has thought of that as well, as the entire ‘resizing' process will tool-free. We say ‘will be tool free', as the case is currently in the early prototype stage so at the moment you have to use a screwdriver as per the video above. The final product, however, will utilise a tool-free design.

Lastly, Riotoro is also keen to point out the performance-oriented design of the case. Not only does it give you the flexibility of being able to change the size of the case, but almost all of the exterior panels are vented for airflow. This certainly bucks the current trend where cases are adding more glass panels with closed-off designs.

KitGuru says: The Riotoro Project Morpheus case is certainly unique, and I have to say it looks quite promising. It is not quite ready to go on general sale just yet, but if you want to register your interest, head over to Riotoro's website.

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Computex 2018: Monsterlabo demos its passively cooled chassis https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-monsterlabo-demos-its-passively-cooled-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-monsterlabo-demos-its-passively-cooled-chassis/#respond Sat, 09 Jun 2018 17:01:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376385 Earlier on in the week, Leo went to visit Seasonic, and while he was there he came across something quite interesting – an entirely passively cooled Mini ITX chassis from Monsterlabo. The chassis, inventively named ‘The First' because it is Monsterlabo's first case, may be of the Mini ITX form factor but it looks fairly …

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Earlier on in the week, Leo went to visit Seasonic, and while he was there he came across something quite interesting – an entirely passively cooled Mini ITX chassis from Monsterlabo.

The chassis, inventively named ‘The First' because it is Monsterlabo's first case, may be of the Mini ITX form factor but it looks fairly large because the upper half is filled with a huge finned heat exchanger. It uses heatpipes to connect the cold plates on your CPU and GPU to the heat exchanger and then you rely on cool air being drawn in at the bottom of the system and rising through the heat exchanger.

If used entirely passively, the cooling system is rated with a 200W TDP – but with a single 140mm fan from Noctua blowing air over the heat exchanger, the TDP rises to a not inconsiderable 400W. That means you can get away with some decent hardware installed, with a GTX 1080 and and i7-8700K giving a combined TDP of 275W.

KitGuru says: It will be interesting to see how this case pans out, as it looks like this is still very much early days for Monsterlabo. Be sure to watch our video for the full low-down.

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Computex 2018: Hands on with new Alphacool watercooling gear https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-hands-on-with-new-alphacool-watercooling-gear/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-hands-on-with-new-alphacool-watercooling-gear/#respond Sat, 09 Jun 2018 13:59:05 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376354 If you saw Leo's recent video where he builds a mega £10,000 dual system rig, you will have noticed plenty of Alphacool gear. Naturally, Leo jumped at the chance to take a look some new liquid cooling hardware from the German company, including an all new lineup of radiators. The new radiator range is dubbed NexXxoS Silver …

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If you saw Leo's recent video where he builds a mega £10,000 dual system rig, you will have noticed plenty of Alphacool gear. Naturally, Leo jumped at the chance to take a look some new liquid cooling hardware from the German company, including an all new lineup of radiators.

The new radiator range is dubbed NexXxoS Silver Nickel Radiator, and that tells you the most significant thing about these radiators – they are regular copper radiators from Alphacool, but the fins are nickel plated and the side panels are made of stainless steel. You may think this could raise the issue of mixing metals – a cardinal sin in a liquid cooling loop – but Alphacool is keen emphasise the fact that the liquid will only be touching copper, so there is no problem there. So far, the new Silver Nickel range is available in 240, 280 and 360mm lengths, with 30 or 45mm thicknesses.

We were also able to gets hands on with the new Eisbaer Extreme AIO. We saw this back at CES 2018, and it is essentially a hefty AIO liquid cooler that positions the pump in the radiator housing, rather than on the CPU block as is standard. This allows Alphacool to use a standard XPX block for the CPU, while cosmetically the quick-disconnect fittings are now black rather than blue which will complement a wider range of PC builds. Lastly, the tubing for the Eisbaer Elite no longer has visible anti-kink rings on the exterior, which again makes it look that bit better than previous models.

Circling back to Leo's epic £10,000 build, if you give that video a watch you will notice Leo is using some pretty cool-looking GPU blocks. These are the new Eiswolf GPX Pro blocks, now available for Vega and GTX series graphics cards. These again have a bit more emphasis on the visual side of things, with both a clean and stealthy aesthetic that is likely to appeal to the DIY watercooling crowd.

Lastly, on the off-chance you have a new Intel Optane SSD900P, Alphacool was also showing off its plexi waterblock for those SSDs, dubbed Alphacool HDX. Given how the fastest SSDs are prone to thermal throttling, if you have spent a lot of cash on your SSD you will likely want to remedy that, and watercooling it with the HDX seems like a good solution, though of course we are yet to test that for ourselves.

KitGuru says: Alphacool always has plenty of new liquid cooling gear to show off at Computex, and this year was no different. Don't forget to watch Leo's mega PC build for a full look at the new GPX Pro blocks and more.

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Computex 2018: ASRock demos new B450 motherboards and more https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-asrock-demos-new-b450-motherboards-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-asrock-demos-new-b450-motherboards-and-more/#respond Sat, 09 Jun 2018 12:16:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376319 On our last day at Computex 2018, Leo was able to visit ASRock to see a range of new B450 motherboards, ASRock's new family of graphics cards as well as some showcase systems. Starting with new B450 motherboards, the first model we saw was the B450 Gaming-ITX/AC. This continues ASRock's tradition of creating impressive, fully-featured …

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On our last day at Computex 2018, Leo was able to visit ASRock to see a range of new B450 motherboards, ASRock's new family of graphics cards as well as some showcase systems.

Starting with new B450 motherboards, the first model we saw was the B450 Gaming-ITX/AC. This continues ASRock's tradition of creating impressive, fully-featured Mini-ITX motherboards, but obviously in a much smaller form-factor. Not only does it support memory speeds of 3466MHz and beyond, but there's also 2x USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and support for 4x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, with two of those coming via an internal header. If you are thinking of pairing this motherboard with a Raven Ridge APU, there is also HDMI and DisplayPort graphics outputs, while Intel 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 is supported natively.

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Moving onto the B450M Pro4, this is obviously a slightly larger motherboard in the Micro ATX form factor. Accordingly, it has 2 extra PCIe slots (one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe 2.0 x1 slot) when compared to the ITX model, which allows for AMD CrossFireX support.There is no WiFi or Bluetooth support, though, while there is also no DisplayPort output. This suggests it would be a good motherboard for those who want the overclocking capabilities of the B450 chipset, without the extra cost of added features likes WiFi and extra display outputs.

The last new motherboard we saw was the B450M-HDV. This is essentially a budget-oriented Micro ATX B450 motherboard, as demonstrated by the more basic cosmetic appearance of the board. The PCIe 2.0 x16 slot of the B450M Pro4 is also missing, while the Realtek audio codec (ALC887) is not of the highest calibre. However, for those with just a single expansion card, the B450M-HDV should be quite reasonably priced.

Leo was also able to get a look at ASRock's Phantom graphics card series. This line consists of various RX 550, 560, 570 and 580 cards, as well as one blower-style Vega56. While the cards don't look like high-end offerings, we have to remember this is ASRocks first foray into the graphics card market, so they are likely playing it safe with the first generation of cards. We will also have a review of a Phantom card coming soon, so stay tuned for that.

Lastly, ASRock was also showing off a couple of custom systems built using ASRock hardware. While we don't have full specs for each, we saw one system from Kevin Chen, Martin Liu and Wu Shi-Min that is built around the Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/AC. There was also a very good-looking rig from Stuart Tonks built around the X399M Taichi complete with Bitspower watercooling hardware.

KitGuru says: B450 is likely to prove a popular chipset for those who want to overclock, without spending extra for X470 motherboards. With the three models we saw today, ASRock is likely to have something for everyone.

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Computex 2018: Closing press conference rounds out a successful week https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-closing-press-conference-rounds-out-a-successful-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-closing-press-conference-rounds-out-a-successful-week/#respond Sat, 09 Jun 2018 09:56:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376311 With Computex 2018 now officially over, our man Leo was at the closing press conference to gather any final nuggets of information. As usual, TAITRA – the organising body behind Computex 2018 – had plenty of facts and figures to share. Foremost among these is the fact that, as of 12PM June 9th, Computex 2018 …

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With Computex 2018 now officially over, our man Leo was at the closing press conference to gather any final nuggets of information. As usual, TAITRA – the organising body behind Computex 2018 – had plenty of facts and figures to share.

Foremost among these is the fact that, as of 12PM June 9th, Computex 2018 hosted 42,284 international visitors, from a grand total of 168 countries which just goes to show the reach this trade show has. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most visitors came from the United States, with Japan, China and Hong Kong close behind.

A lot of the focus has already switched to Computex 2019, and the news was announced that a second site will be opening in Nangang. This means Computex 2019  will use both Nangang 1 and Nangang 2, along with TWTC (Taiwan World Trade Centre) 1.

While TAITRA claims Nangang 2 will add another 1700 booths, it is worth mentioning that a ‘booth' is a unit of area, so 1 booth does not equal 1 exhibitor. ASUS, for instance, occupied 100 booths at Computex 2018, which equals two large areas on the show floor.

However, with Nangang 1 currently holding 2000 booths, and Nangang 2 set to add another 1700, however you slice it – it looks like Computex 2019 will be bigger than ever.

KitGuru says: Computex 2018 has proved to be another successful show, and we hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the event. We will certainly be back for Computex 2019.

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Computex 2018: Hands on with MSI motherboards, monitors and more https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-hands-on-with-msi-motherboards-monitors-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-hands-on-with-msi-motherboards-monitors-and-more/#respond Sat, 09 Jun 2018 09:33:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376285 Before heading home after a long week in Taipei, both Leo and Briony stopped by MSI's booth at Computex 2018. They got hands on with all sorts of tech, including X399 motherboards, 240Hz monitors with RGB lighting, as well as a whole range of new peripherals. The first thing to catch Leo's eye was the …

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Before heading home after a long week in Taipei, both Leo and Briony stopped by MSI's booth at Computex 2018. They got hands on with all sorts of tech, including X399 motherboards, 240Hz monitors with RGB lighting, as well as a whole range of new peripherals.

The first thing to catch Leo's eye was the Meg X399 Creation motherboard. This is obviously designed for Threadripper CPUs, and its headline feature is its whopping 16+3 power phase design. Given that we now believe there won't be a X499 chipset, this beefy power delivery system should ensure compatibility with upcoming 32-core Threadripper CPUs.

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We then moved over to look at some of MSI's monitors – a relatively new venture for the company. Not only did we see the Optix MPG27C that KiGuru has recently reviewed, but there were also a couple of new models. These include the Oculux NXG251, a compact 24.5in monitor with a whopping 240Hz refresh rate that is coupled with support for G-Sync. We also got hands-on with the Optix MAG271CR, another curved 27in model with a 144Hz refresh-rate and RGB lighting. This model is unique in that it can be controlled via an app on your phone, allowing you to turn it off or disable the lighting without having to get off the sofa and move across the room.

Moving back to motherboards, the new B450 chipset boards also caught Leo's eye. First up was the B450 Tomahawk which has a new larger chipset heatsink, as well as another heatsink that is so large it extends over the rear I/O. However, speaking of I/O, Leo was concerned by the lack of any DisplayPort video output as that is surely a backwards step in 2018. For those looking for something slightly more basic, the B450-A Pro obviously retains the same B450 chipset, but makes a few cosmetic and internal header changes to keep pricing down.

Elsewhere, Briony also took a look of plenty of new peripherals from MSI. You can read our full story on this new range over here, but for those who want a quick recap, we saw a new mouse, two new keyboards and one very funky headset stand.

The new mouse is named the GM50, and comes with a price tag of $59.99. It has a relatively large ergonomic shape, while keeping the weight to just 93g. It is also notable that the GM50's RGB lighting is controlled from the mouse itself, meaning there is no need for any extra software. If you are looking for a new mouse mat to go along with the GM50, MSI was also showcasing a soft RGB mat for just $39.

Moving onto the GK60 – the first of MSI's new mechanical keyboards – this will cost $109.99 and has a raft of impressive features for the price. These include Cherry MX switches, an aluminium top-plate and – of course – RGB lighting. There is also an emphasis on the anti-slip keyboard feet positioned on the underside of the board, as MSI reckons too many boards wobble when you hint the space key too hard.

We also saw another new keyboard – the GK50 – which is interesting given it sports low-profile Kailh switches. Both Cooler Master and Ducky have unveiled low-profile keyboards that use the new Cherry MX Low-Profile switch, so the fact that MSI is using Kailh switches instead is definitely noteworthy. The board also sports RGB lighting and an aluminium top-plate, while the underside of the keyboard has a dedicated cable management channel to allow for cleaner routing of your mouse/headset wires.

Lastly, in what turned out to be one of Briony's favourite products from Computex 2018, we also saw a concept headset stand named Gaming Premium Stacker. The cool thing about this is its wireless Qi charging base, as well as the unique holographic display which can be used to show system information like CPU usage, or display a custom logo. This is only a concept at the minute, though, so we don't have any information on pricing or availability.

KitGuru says: There was a lot of things to see at the MSI booth, with that unique headset stand proving to be one of Briony's favourite products of the week. Let us know if anything else caught your eye.

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Computex 2018: Varmilo and Ducky showcase new keyboards https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-varmilo-and-ducky-showcase-new-keyboards/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-varmilo-and-ducky-showcase-new-keyboards/#respond Sat, 09 Jun 2018 08:22:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376274 While Computex has now come to an end, we have just a couple more stories to bring you from the show floor. The first of these is definitely one for any mechanical keyboard enthusiasts out there, as we went hands-on with new models from both Varmilo and Ducky.   Starting with Varmilo, the first item …

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While Computex has now come to an end, we have just a couple more stories to bring you from the show floor. The first of these is definitely one for any mechanical keyboard enthusiasts out there, as we went hands-on with new models from both Varmilo and Ducky.

 

Starting with Varmilo, the first item we saw from the Chinese manufacturer was the Varmilo Ti. The name refers to the titanium alloy used for the frame of the board, which is manufactured entirely by CNC machining, and we can tell you it is a very hefty board. Varmilo even claims that over 70 hours of work goes into making just a single board – and this is reflected in the price, as the Varmilo Ti will set you back a cool $4500.

Perhaps more affordable for the everyday customer is the Varmilo V Motion at $170. This looks like a fairly standard mechanical keyboard, though the brushed metal finish is quite appealing, but it has quite a significant party trick – it uses motion to control the lightning. In practice, this means you can move your hand around and even gesture with your fingers, and your movement will be recognised and translated into changes to the keyboard's lighting.

Moving over to Ducky now, the first thing we saw was Ducky's new Blade with low-profile Cherry MX switches – which actually makes it the third low-profile mechanical keyboard we have seen this week, after offerings from MSI and Cooler Master. Despite its small form-factor, the Blade still sports low-profile doubleshot PBT keycaps, aluminium side trimmings as well as a detachable USB-C interface. The Blade will be available for $160 at either the end of this year, or early 2019.

Also priced at $160 is the new Shine 7. This packs in a lot of features for the price, including the zinc alloy used for the exterior of the board, Cherry MX RGB switches, doubleshot PBT keycaps, support for Ducky Macro 2.0, as well as a detachable USB-C interface

If the standard Shine 7 looks a bit too plain for you, however, there is also a limited edition Year of the Dog Shine 7 available. There will only be 2018 units manufactured, and the unique design is thanks to tattoo artist Michael Chan who worked with Ducky to create the keycap design. This limited edition will set you back $200.

KitGuru says: There was plenty for keyboard enthusiasts to get excited about at the Ducky/Varmilo stand – I am personally very taken with the Varmilo Ti, although I don't think I could afford one.

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Computex 2018: Leo and Briony talk best new products, nothing from Nvidia – and plenty of RGB! https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-leo-and-briony-talk-best-new-products-nothing-from-nvidia-and-plenty-of-rgb/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-leo-and-briony-talk-best-new-products-nothing-from-nvidia-and-plenty-of-rgb/#respond Fri, 08 Jun 2018 15:59:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376213 KitGuru reviewers Leo Waldock and Briony Hannam have been up and down Taipei all week, covering pretty much everything there has been to see at Computex 2018. With the show now drawing to a close, the two got together to discuss their favourite products of the week, the noticeable lack of anything new from Nvidia, …

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KitGuru reviewers Leo Waldock and Briony Hannam have been up and down Taipei all week, covering pretty much everything there has been to see at Computex 2018. With the show now drawing to a close, the two got together to discuss their favourite products of the week, the noticeable lack of anything new from Nvidia, and the sheer amount of RGB lighting.

As per the video discussion, it is safe to say Leo loves the look of the new Phanteks Evolv X – let us know if you'd like to see a review of that case, and perhaps Leo might even do a full-on custom loop with it. Briony was also very taken with the new Cooler Master MK850 mechanical keyboard, though at $229 it is certainly not cheap! An honourable mention goes to the MSI headset stand that features both a Qi charging pad and a holographic display.

While we didn't see anything new from Nvidia – the wait for next gen consumer graphics cards continues – Leo and Briony also discuss upcoming Threadripper 2 CPUs – including the 32-core monster – as well as the news that Intel will be launching 28-core chips as well.

Lastly, the two also touch on the inescapable amount of RGB lighting at the show, as well as the need for a single RGB standard to tie everything together.

KitGuru says: We hope you have enjoyed our Computex 2018 coverage – it has certainly been hard work! If you have a favourite product from the show, or want to see us review something, do let us know.

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Computex 2018: 8Pack, Der8auer, noblechairs and more at Pro Gamersware booth https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-8pack-der8auer-noblechairs-and-more-at-pro-gamersware-booth/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-8pack-der8auer-noblechairs-and-more-at-pro-gamersware-booth/#respond Fri, 08 Jun 2018 14:08:56 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376217 With Computex 2018 now winding down, our man Leo still found time to visit the Pro Gamersware booth where he found an assortment of brands and PCs present. Foremost among these were the £30,000 8Pack Orion X system, as well as two phase-change cooling systems from Der8auer. While the two 8Pack systems – the Orion …

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With Computex 2018 now winding down, our man Leo still found time to visit the Pro Gamersware booth where he found an assortment of brands and PCs present. Foremost among these were the £30,000 8Pack Orion X system, as well as two phase-change cooling systems from Der8auer.

While the two 8Pack systems – the Orion X and Infin8 Hunter – undoubtedly stole the show, we also saw a few new cases from Kolink. These include the Horizon, the Prototype W as well as one as-yet unnamed model. All three cases sport glass panels and RGB fans, and while the internal chassis look quite typical, we can expecting pricing to be competitive.

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Leo also got a look at the noblechairs range, including the Epic and Icon chairs – both of which have won ‘best chair' awards from the EHA. A new model – Hero – was also on show which looks quite similar to the Epic, but with integrated lumbar support, negating the need for a separate lumbar cushion.

Lastly, world renowned overclocker der8auer also had a few things to show off, including a phase-change CPU cooling unit which looks very industrial. However, our man Leo does not believe this is an actual product but is more of a technical showcase. Der8auer also had a completely submerged system, using dual phase-change submerged cooling, named Aqua Exhalare sporting an overclocked i7-7800x and GTX 1080.

KitGuru says: Be sure to watch the video for the full low-down of the Pro Gamersware booth, though the 8Pack systems definitely steal the show.

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Computex 2018: Hands-on with the MSI PS42 laptop https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/matthew-wilson/computex-2018-hands-on-with-the-msi-ps42-laptop/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/matthew-wilson/computex-2018-hands-on-with-the-msi-ps42-laptop/#respond Fri, 08 Jun 2018 12:49:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376507 Having heard the news of new laptops from MSI earlier in the week, our man Leo ventured to see the new PS42 – a thin and light from MSI in a swish silver body. The new laptop is notable for its very portable body, as the whole machine weighs just 1.19KG. With the body of …

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Having heard the news of new laptops from MSI earlier in the week, our man Leo ventured to see the new PS42 – a thin and light from MSI in a swish silver body.

The new laptop is notable for its very portable body, as the whole machine weighs just 1.19KG. With the body of the PS42 coming in at 15.9mm thick as well, the overall look very sleek and refined. This is only furthered by the new brushed aluminium silver chassis, something that is quite new from MSI given the company's penchant for black and red gaming machines.

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In terms of hardware, the PS42 will come in a variety of configurations, but it will of course be using the latest 8th Gen mobile CPUs. These will be of the ‘Ultra Low Power variety' so we can expect the top-end processor to be the quad-core i7-8550U. Backing up the CPU is the Nvidia MX150, the successor the the previous GeForce 940MX. I wouldn't expect to be playing AAA titles with this GPU, but it will certainly be significantly faster than integrated graphics.

Elsewhere, the 1920x1080p panel can be calibrated to ‘close' to 100% sRGB out of the box, while there is also a fingerprint scanner embedded in the trackpad. I/O is also plentiful, with a full-size SD card reader, 2x USB-C ports, 2x USB Type-A, HDMI output and a headphone jack. The battery life is rated at 10 hours, but of course we will have to test this for ourselves.

KitGuru says: The PS42 looks an impressive thin and light. I am particularly taken with the silver aluminium body – what do you guys think? It is certainly different to MSI's other models.

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Computex 2018: 8Pack demos incredible £10,000 Polaris MK2 watercooled system https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/dominic-moass/computex-2018-8pack-demos-incredible-13000-polaris-mk2-watercooled-system/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/dominic-moass/computex-2018-8pack-demos-incredible-13000-polaris-mk2-watercooled-system/#respond Fri, 08 Jun 2018 10:10:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376142 8Pack has a history of building ridiculous PCs with insane custom loops – if you don't believe us, just look at the £30,000 Orion X. Over at Computex 2018, we met with 8Pack to see his latest creation, the £10,000 Polaris MK2. While there is undoubtedly some top-notch hardware inside the rig – including the …

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8Pack has a history of building ridiculous PCs with insane custom loops – if you don't believe us, just look at the £30,000 Orion X. Over at Computex 2018, we met with 8Pack to see his latest creation, the £10,000 Polaris MK2.

While there is undoubtedly some top-notch hardware inside the rig – including the 12-core i9-7820X, an Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme and 2x GTX 1080 Tis – Ian ‘8Pack' Parry reckons the system is ‘more of a visual revision than anything else' as the chassis has been changed from the previous Caselabs model to a  Lian Li PC-V3000. 8Pack says this gives a ‘smoother and more stylish' look, which I suppose you would expect for £13,000!

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Nonetheless, however you slice it, this is a monster rig that would not only blitz through games, but also prove to be a productivity powerhouse thanks to the 12 -ore CPU, which has been overclocked to 4.7GHz across all cores. We have to say, the custom watercooling gear – particularly the figure-of-eight plate – also looks absolutely incredible.

The full system spec is as follows:

  • ROG Rampage VI Extreme
  • Intel i9-7920X
  • EKWB and OCUK custom loop (1x quad radiator, 1x triple radiator)
  • 2x ROG Strix GTX 1080 Ti 11G
  • T-Force 8Pack Dark PRO 64GB DDR4 3200
  • Samsung 960 PRO NVMe 1TB
  • Samsung 850 EVO SATA 1TB
  • WD Red Pro SATA HDD 5TB
  • SilverStone Strider ST1500
  • Lian Li PC-V3000

If you want to buy one of these rigs, head over to Overclockers UK. The spec listed there isn't quite the same as what we were shown, but the system can be modified upon request.

KitGuru says: The Polaris MK2 is a stunning rig of epic proportions. If you want a killer system that looks as good as it performs, look no further. Be prepared to pay for it, though!

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Computex 2018: MSI expands its line of peripherals https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/dominic-moass/computex-2018-msi-expands-its-line-of-peripherals/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/dominic-moass/computex-2018-msi-expands-its-line-of-peripherals/#respond Fri, 08 Jun 2018 09:15:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376118 While MSI has been making peripherals for some time, over the last year or two the company seems to be taking this market more seriously than ever. This is demonstrated by the new products announced at Computex 2018, including a keyboard, mouse and a very funky headset stand concept. First of all, MSI is releasing …

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While MSI has been making peripherals for some time, over the last year or two the company seems to be taking this market more seriously than ever. This is demonstrated by the new products announced at Computex 2018, including a keyboard, mouse and a very funky headset stand concept.

First of all, MSI is releasing a new keyboard to its GK line. We have already reviewed the GK40 and GK80 this year, and now the GK60 has been announced. This is a full size mechanical keyboard, sporting Cherry MX Red switches, RGB backlighting and an aluminium top-plate. Interesting, MSI has also added extra secure rubber feet to the bottom of the board – including one right under the space bar – to prevent any unwanted slipping. The GK60 is due in Q3 2018 and will cost $109, so hopefully less than £100 in the UK.

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There was also one more keyboard at MSI's booth, though we do not have a name or expected price for this one yet. What we can tell you, though, is that it is a low-profile mechanical keyboard due for release next year. However, rather than using Cherry's new low-profile switch, this board uses Kailh switches, which are the same as we have seen in the recent MSI GT75 Titan laptop. That could make it an interesting competitor to Cooler Master's new low-profile boards we saw yesterday.

Elsewhere, the MSI GM50 is a new ergonomic mouse, with plenty of RGB lighting and a $59.99 price tag. It has a relatively large shape – similar to the Zowie EC series – and weighs 93g. We are not yet sure on the specific sensor used, but at this price we would expect a PMW 3360. The RGB lighting is also notable in that it is controlled directly from the mouse, so there is no need for software. MSI was also showing off a new range of silk cloth mouse pads to go with the GM50.

Lastly, we also saw a very interesting headset stand from MSI named the Gaming Premium Stacker, though it is only a concept at this point. Essentially, this has two interesting features – a Qi charging base, and a holographic central cylinder. The latter feature is particularly novel, as it can be customised to display various bits of system information like CPU/GPU usage and more. Again, this is a concept – so we don't have any pricing or availability information, but it is certainly a unique idea.

KitGuru says: New peripherals are always fun – but what about that holographic headset stand?! Would you guys be interested in something like that? Let us know.

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Computex 2018: Peripherals galore at Cooler Master’s booth https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/dominic-moass/computex-2018-peripherals-galore-at-cooler-masters-booth/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/dominic-moass/computex-2018-peripherals-galore-at-cooler-masters-booth/#respond Thu, 07 Jun 2018 11:26:53 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=375908 While Cooler Master's core business may be CPU coolers and cases, the company has a very broad product portfolio, and that is set to get even broader with a myriad of new peripherals unveiled at Computex 2018. We had Briony on hand to show you all of the new gear. Starting with new keyboards, the …

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While Cooler Master's core business may be CPU coolers and cases, the company has a very broad product portfolio, and that is set to get even broader with a myriad of new peripherals unveiled at Computex 2018. We had Briony on hand to show you all of the new gear.

Starting with new keyboards, the first things to cover are the CK530 and CK550. These are RGB mechanical keyboards with the CK530 being a tenkeyless (TKL) design while the CK550 is full size. While they are not Cooler Master's flagship boards, they still offer aluminium top-plates for a rigid build and mechanical switches. Availability is expected this month for the CK550, with the CK530 following at the end of this year or early 2019. Pricing for the CK530 is not yet confirmed, though the CK550 will cost £74.99.

We also saw the SK620, SK630 and SK640 boards which are unique in that they use Cherry's low-profile mechanical switch that was announced at CES 2018. These boards also have aluminium top-plates, RGB lighting and on-the-fly controls. The SK620 – a 60% form-factor board – is due in Q1 next year, but the SK630 (TKL) and SK640 (full size) are due later this year.

Sitting at the top of the pile, there is the MK850. This is a full-size board with pretty much every feature you could ask for – Cherry MX switches, dedicated multimedia keys, 5 macro keys, removable wrist rest and aluminium construction. The real kicker is the ‘Aimpad' technology, which was first demoed to us back at CES 2018. This is essentially Cooler Master's marketing name for the analog input technology the MK850 supports – meaning each key is able to recognise how much pressure you are applying, and your in-game movement/control varies accordingly. The MK850 will retail for $229, so hopefully around the £200 mark in the UK, though that it is still right up there with the most expensive keyboards we have ever tested.

Moving onto mice, the CM310 is a new entry-level gaming mouse that will retail for just $29.99. It sports a symmetrical design, with the PMW 3325 sensor and plenty of RGB lighting. The CM310 will be available in July.

Cooler Master's MM531 is an updated model of the MM530 we reviewed last year. The shape appears to be exactly the same, and it also retains the PBT panels of the MM530, with the main difference being a slight reduction in weight. The optical sensor is likely to be the same PMW 3360, and it is rated up to 12,000 DPI. However, this will only be available in North America, exclusively through Best Buy.

Completely new, however, is the flagship MM830. This is due early in Q3 2018, with a price of £69.99, and sports an all-new shape and optical sensor rated up to 24,000 DPI which is quite absurd. It also has an OLED screen on the left hand side of the mouse, similar to the Rival 700, which can be used to display in-game information like kills per round. There is also a large thumb rest with four rubberised side buttons on the left hand side.

We also saw a RGB headset stand that we don't not currently have a name for, and that is not due until next year. It sports RGB lighting, 2x USB passthrough ports, 1x 3.5mm jack input – but most interestingly, it can also charge your phone wirelessly which is a great feature. Pricing is unclear at this stage.

In terms of actual headsets, we got hands on with the MH751 and MH752. Both headsets share the same design, build and mic as far as we can tell – the principle difference is that the MH751 connects via a 3.5mm jack, whereas the MH752 comes with a USB dongle to allow for virtual 7.1 surround sound. Both are due in Q3 of this year, the MH751 will be $79.99, while the MH752 will cost an extra $20.

Lastly, we come to the MH710. This is actually a pair of in-ear earphones from Cooler Master that are designed to be for both gaming and listening to music. This is thanks to a unique button on the back of each earbud which changes the emphasis of the MH710's sound – it can either have a more focused and clear mid-range, which would be good for music, or it can emphasise the bass for an immersive gaming experience. The MH710 sports 10mm drivers and also comes with a variety of different ear tips, allowing for a custom fit. Pricing is $59.99, with availability from Q4 2018.

KitGuru says: Wow! Cooler Master has unleashed a tonne of new peripherals – I am personally quite taken with the CK530, but let us know what has caught your eye.

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Computex 2018: Phanteks demos Evolv X and more https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/dominic-moass/computex-2018-phanteks-demos-evolv-x-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/dominic-moass/computex-2018-phanteks-demos-evolv-x-and-more/#respond Thu, 07 Jun 2018 08:53:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=375883 KitGuru has reviewed almost all of Phanteks' cases that have been released over the last few years, and it seems there will be no shortage of future cases to look at as Phanteks has unveiled a host of new products at Computex 2018. Our man Leo was at the Phanteks suite to get the low-down …

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KitGuru has reviewed almost all of Phanteks' cases that have been released over the last few years, and it seems there will be no shortage of future cases to look at as Phanteks has unveiled a host of new products at Computex 2018. Our man Leo was at the Phanteks suite to get the low-down on all the new cases.

As you can tell from the video, there are plenty of new things to talk about from Phanteks. Perhaps most interestingly, the Evolv X chassis looks like a real contender to be case of the year. It is the successor the highly-regarded Enthoo Evolv, and while it looks very similar from a distance, it has undergone plenty of significant changes. Foremost among these changes is the new front and top panel design, as the single biggest flaw with the original Evolv and Evolv TG was the restricted airflow. Now, the Evolv X has much larger cutouts in its panels to allow for increased airflow.

There is lots more to talk about with the Evolv X, too. The addressable RGB lighting on the front and sides of the case is new, as are the hinged tempered glass panels which occupy both sides of the case. The rear side also sports new cable management covers which should keep things looking tidy, which is especially important considering the side panel is glass so all of your cables and wiring will be on show.

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Phanteks is also keen to emphasise the fact that the Evolv X is highly customisable, meaning that users have plenty of control over what they can build in the case. For instance, there is support for a separate Mini-ITX motherboard in the roof of the case via an additional bracket, which allows the user to build two systems inside a single case. Alternatively, you can deck the whole case out with drive bays and have up to 9x SSDs or up top 10x HDDs, while there is also extensive radiator support for those who want to build a custom loop.

The Evolv X is slated to cost $199, so UK pricing in the region of £180-200 seems realistic.

Elsewhere, we also saw a completely new family of cases, named ‘Neo', which comes under the Metallicgear brand – so technically not Phanteks, but we can expect the same Phanteks DNA to run through these cases.

This new range is designed to offer quality systems on a budget – keeping the Phanteks brand as the more premium offering – and so far it consists of four different cases: Neo, Neo Micro, Neo Mini and Neo-G Mini. The Neo is an ATX chassis, Neo Micro is – yep, you guessed it – Micro ATX, and Neo Mini is of course Mini ITX. The Neo cases offer RGB lighting, glass panels and sleek designs for under $100.

KitGuru says: There were plenty of new products on show at the Phanteks suite – the Evolv X looks particularly exciting. Be sure to watch our video for the full run-through.

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Computex 2018: Leo visits the extensive Gigabyte suite https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-leo-visits-the-extensive-gigabyte-suite/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-leo-visits-the-extensive-gigabyte-suite/#respond Wed, 06 Jun 2018 11:28:11 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=375753 As usual, when we went to see Gigabyte at Computex 2018, the company had taken over the entire 36th floor of the Taipei 101 tower. Our man Leo gave them a visit and look us round for a video tour of everything going on. As you can tell, there were plenty of products – both …

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As usual, when we went to see Gigabyte at Computex 2018, the company had taken over the entire 36th floor of the Taipei 101 tower. Our man Leo gave them a visit and look us round for a video tour of everything going on.

As you can tell, there were plenty of products – both new and old – on show at Gigabyte's suite. Perhaps the most interesting new product on show was the Aorus RGB DDR4 memory modules. Despite being a dual-channel kit, the memory we saw consisted of four modules, with two of those being dummies which are there just to make the RGB effect even more cohesive.

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There was also a range of laptops on offer, though given Intel's 8th Gen mobile CPUs were announced earlier this year – and there are currently no new GPUs on the market – these were models we have seen before. For those interested, the Aero 15X – with both 1080p 144Hz and 4K 60Hz panels – was present, as was the monstrous Aorus X9 DT.

We also saw a range of motherboards, including the Z370 Aorus Gaming 7-OP – the ‘OP' referring to Intel Optane which allows for hard drive caching. Lastly, Gigabyte also had its RX 580 Gaming Box on display, which is an external GPU dock, and it can now be used with Apple Macs & MacBook models via Thunderbolt 3.

KitGuru says: It may not have been filled with brand-new products, but Gigabyte had a lot of enthusiast grade tech on offer at Computex 2018. Let us know if anything in particular has caught your eye.

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Computex 2018: KitGuru shows you around Aerocool’s private suite https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-kitguru-shows-you-around-aerocools-private-suite/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/dominic-moass/computex-2018-kitguru-shows-you-around-aerocools-private-suite/#respond Tue, 05 Jun 2018 13:56:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=375613 On the eve of Computex, our team over in Taiwan managed to sneak in a visit to Aerocool's giant suite at the W Hotel. Here, they got a look at a range of current and upcoming products, including RGB power supplies, new cases, RGB fans and some peripherals. While there are a range of new …

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On the eve of Computex, our team over in Taiwan managed to sneak in a visit to Aerocool's giant suite at the W Hotel. Here, they got a look at a range of current and upcoming products, including RGB power supplies, new cases, RGB fans and some peripherals.

While there are a range of new products showcased in the video – including Aerocool's peripheral line up, as well as some funky electric up/down desks – the theme seemed to be bringing RGB ‘bling' at a lower price point. This is encapsulated by the new Glo case, which is expected to retail for just £60, but retains two funky RGB LED strips down either side of the front panel.

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RGB seems to be a bit focus for Aerocool, but we also saw a new range of budget-oriented power supplies – the Bravo and Whiskey models – which have 80+ Bronze and 80+ White efficiency ratings, respectively. These seem to be basic, no-frills models which should appeal to the PC builder on a tight budget.

For a full overview of Aerocool's new products, be sure to check out the video at the top of the page.

KitGuru says: there was plenty of RGB action going on in the Aerocool suite – has anything in particular caught your eye?

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