GTX 1060 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:18:27 +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 GTX 1060 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Remedy ships update for Alan Wake 2 with new optimisations to support older GPUs https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/remedy-ships-update-for-alan-wake-2-with-new-optimisations-to-support-older-gpus/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/remedy-ships-update-for-alan-wake-2-with-new-optimisations-to-support-older-gpus/#respond Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:55:53 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=650706 Alan Wake 2 was a pretty demanding game at launch, but after spending some additional time optimising the game further, Remedy now has the game at a point where it can actually lower the game's PC system requirements.  The minimum PC system requirements for Alan Wake 2 have now been updated, recommending an RX 5600 …

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Alan Wake 2 was a pretty demanding game at launch, but after spending some additional time optimising the game further, Remedy now has the game at a point where it can actually lower the game's PC system requirements. 

The minimum PC system requirements for Alan Wake 2 have now been updated, recommending an RX 5600 XT or GeForce GTX 1070 to play the game at 1080p with low settings. The new optimisations are all present in the game's new 1.0.16.1 update, which is now available to all PC players. Currently, Alan Wake 2 is exclusive to the Epic Games Store.

Initially, Remedy had not recommending older GTX 10 series or RX 5000 series graphics cards due to the use of DirectX 12 Ultimate features like mesh shading, which aren't officially supported on those GPUs. However, it has since improved rendering without mesh shaders and as a result, those with older systems will now be able to play the game.

The game is still an intensive one to run, so do keep that in mind. Getting 60FPS on a GTX 10 series GPU will likely be a struggle.

New performance improvements will also impact newer GPUs. Digital Foundry has done some testing with the new patch already, benchmarking the older Pascal-era GPUs, as well as newer GPUs like the RTX 4070. In the case of the RTX 4070, they noted a 14 percent performance uplift.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm still working my way through Alan Wake 2 after switching away from Xbox to the PC version. Have you tried the game with the new update? Have you noticed improved performance? 

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GTX 1060 vs RX 480 vs RX 580 – Pascal vs Polaris in 2021! https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/gtx-1060-vs-rx-480-vs-rx-580-pascal-vs-polaris-in-2021/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/gtx-1060-vs-rx-480-vs-rx-580-pascal-vs-polaris-in-2021/#respond Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:00:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=520169 It's time for battle - GTX 1060 vs RX 480 vs RX 580 in 2021 - FIGHT!

The post GTX 1060 vs RX 480 vs RX 580 – Pascal vs Polaris in 2021! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It may be hard to believe, but we are approaching the fifth anniversary of the GTX 1060's original launch, and the same can be said for AMD's RX 480. Both GPUs have acquired somewhat of a legendary status within the PC community, with the GTX 1060 still ranking as the single most popular GPU according to Steam's Hardware Survey. It's high time, then, to revisit these GPUs and find out which has aged most gracefully in 2021.

Alongside the GTX 1060 6GB and the RX 480 8GB, we're also including the RX 580 8GB, the card that superseded the RX 480 when it launched in April 2017. All three GPUs have been tested in twenty games, at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. Do note that we opted to use ‘High' settings in most games, instead of ‘Very High' or ‘Ultra' settings, to ensure the data presented is both more realistic, and more useful, for this calibre of graphics card.

Test System

We test using a custom built system from PCSpecialist, based on Intel’s Comet Lake-S platform. You can read more about it over HERE, and configure your own system from PCSpecialist HERE.

CPU
Intel Core i9-10900K
Overclocked to 5.1GHz on all cores
Motherboard
 ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Wi-Fi
Memory
 Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3600MHz (4 X 8GB)
CL 18-22-22-42
Graphics Card
Varies
System Drive
  500GB Samsung 970 Evo Plus M.2
Games Drive 2TB Samsung 860 QVO 2.5″ SSD
Chassis Fractal Meshify S2 Blackout Tempered Glass
CPU Cooler
 Corsair H115i RGB Platinum Hydro Series
Power Supply
 Corsair 1200W HX Series Modular 80 Plus Platinum
Operating System
Windows 10 2004

For the cards used, Nvidia's GTX 1060 Founders Edition is joined by the AMD RX 480 8GB reference card. There was no reference model for the RX 580 however, so we are using the Sapphire's Pulse model. The latest drivers at the time of testing were used, so for Nvidia that was the 466.77 driver, and for AMD we used the Adrenalin 21.5.2 driver. All twenty games are as follows, ordered alphabetically.

Game benchmarks

Kicking off with Assassin's Creed Valhalla, we're testing with the High preset. At 1080p it's all very close between the three GPUs we're testing, with the RX 580 proving nominally faster than the GTX 1060, but only by a single frame on average. Relatively speaking, that gap does increase at 1440p, with the RX 580 proving 5% faster than the GTX 1060, buts that's only a difference of 2FPS. No GPU was able to prevent the 1% lows dipping below 30FPS at this resolution either.

Next up is Borderlands 3 and once more the GTX 1060 and RX 480 are absolutely neck-and-neck here, both delivering fractionally less than 50FPS on average. The RX 580 delivers an extra 7% performance compared to the 1060, but again, whether you'd notice that extra 3.6FPS is another matter. At 1440p, the GTX 1060 falls away, actually coming in 12% slower than the RX 480, though neither GPU is delivering particularly smooth frame rates at this resolution.

Remedy's Control is next and this is a very interesting one. Over the last couple of years it's become a bit of a poster child for Nvidia, as the game is heavily optimised for the Turing and Ampere architectures. It seems Pascal wasn't quite given the same attention however, as the RX 580 crushes the 1060 here – the AMD GPU is actually 20% faster at 1080p. At 1440p, the results do get compressed somewhat, but the RX 480 and 580 are still convincing winners here, something I certainly didn't expect when testing this title.

Meanwhile, for Cyberpunk 2077 we opted for High settings, but that really is too stern a test for these GPUs, even at 1080p. For what it's worth, both Polaris GPUs deliver higher frame rates than the GTX 1060 across the board, but the results are so compressed it hardly matters. You'd definitely want to drop down to medium, or even low settings with this calibre of GPU when playing Cyberpunk.

Next up is one of the more recently-released games we are testing, and it's Days Gone. Using the High preset, all three GPUs are good for an average of 60FPS at 1080p. The RX 580 is fractionally faster than the 1060, but by less than 3%, so it really is too close to call. That also goes for 1440p, where we're getting a very playable experience from any of the GPUs tested, with the GTX 1060 slotting in between the RX 480 and the 580.

Death Stranding is a particularly well optimised title and we were actually able to get away with maximum settings here, with all three GPUs still averaging over 60FPS at 1080p – so that's really not a bad showing for cards that are 4-5 years old. The RX 580 is strongest at 1440p, delivering about a 10% boost over the GTX 1060, though the RX 480 sits much closer to its Pascal rival.

Moving on, Doom Eternal is arguably the first game we've tested where there's a real, tangible difference between these three GPUs, as the Polaris cards absolutely crush it here. The RX 480, for instance, is 23% faster than the GTX 1060, while the RX 580 turns that into a huge 36% advantage. You are still getting a great gaming experience from the 1060, it's just the AMD cards are that much faster. The same goes for 1440p, where the 1060 is still averaging over 60FPS, but the RX 580 is 42% faster, delivering just shy of 90FPS.

As for F1 2020, despite being highly impressive in terms of the visuals, this game delivers great performance, with all three cards tested hitting over 100FPS at 1080p. Once more though, it is the Polaris GPUs coming out on top, though the RX 480 and 1060 are basically neck and neck. That's the same at 1080p or 1440p, with the RX 580 coming on strongest at the latter resolution, where its 10% faster than the GTX 1060.

Next is Far Cry New Dawn, and despite being a DX11 title, it's the AMD GPUs which are again the faster cards here, when typically we'd expect Nvidia to be stronger. The GTX 1060 is 6% slower than the RX 480 for instance, while it's 9% behind the RX 580 at 1080p. The AMD GPUs do even better at 1440p as well, with the RX 580 beating the 1060 by a 14% margin, though it is still worth pointing out the GTX 1060 is still doing a great job here when using the High preset.

Gears 5 however, gives the GTX 1060 its first clear victory over the two Polaris GPUs. At 1080p it proves a whopping 25% faster than the RX 480, though that is cut to 16% when compared to the RX 580, and this is despite Gears being an AMD-sponsored titled. At 1440p, both AMD GPUs catch up significantly however, with just a 2FPS difference between the 1060 and the 580 now, though the 1060 is still decently faster than the 480.

Hitman 3 is another new title released in 2021, but it still runs very well on these GPUs when using high settings. The GTX 1060 and RX 480 are as fast as each other at 1080p, with the RX 580 just edging ahead by a few frames. Not much changes as we step up to 1440p either, the RX 580 is 15% faster than the GTX 1060, but that's a difference of less than 7FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn is another very close one, with the GTX 1060 just about coming in the fastest of the three GPUs, but I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference when actually gaming. Horizon is also a little too demanding for these cards at 1440p, so you'd want to dial back the settings a bit more to get the frame rates higher.

Moving onto Metro Exodus, this is another title where we see a clear advantage to the GTX 1060. It's 14% faster than the RX 580, increasing to 23% when compared to the RX 480, all at 1080p using the High preset. Things are definitely closer at 1440p, but it's still Team Green that has the advantage in this one, with a 9% lead for the 1060 over the RX 580.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the complete opposite however, this time it is Team Red in the ascendancy. We are once more seeing double-digit leads for the Polaris GPUs, with the RX 480 proving 21% faster than the GTX 1060 at 1080p. The scaling stays pretty consistent at 1440p as well, though frame rates are lower here, and we can see the GTX 1060 is unable to keep he 1% lows above 30FPS using these settings.

Resident Evil Village continues that trend. GTX 1060 still delivers a very smooth experience at 1080p, but the RX 480 is 23% faster, while the RX 580 is a whopping 30% faster here. The Polaris GPUs deliver a much smoother experience at 1440p too, averaging close to the 60FPS mark, while the GTX 1060 just cannot keep up. Once more, the RX 580 is over 30% faster, so it's definitely a win for AMD.

Next is Shadow of the Tomb Raider and this is a game where all three GPUs perform much closer together. The RX 480 is still just about faster than the GTX 1060 at both 1080p and 1440p, but there's really not a lot in it. The RX 580 however, is between 11-16% faster, though the real-world frame rate difference doesn't seem as significant as those percentages might suggest.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is actually pretty similar to Shadow of the Tomb Raider, just in reverse. That means the GTX 1060 is the fastest GPU of the three we've tested, but it's still not going to make much of a difference either way. That's particularly the case at 1440p, where it's just 6% faster than the RX 580, though it's 16% faster than the RX 480.

And Total War Saga: Troy shows an almost identical trend to Jedi: Fallen Order, with the GTX 1060 sitting top of the pile, but only a touch ahead of the RX 580. The RX 480 is further back though, proving 13% slower than the 1060 at 1080p. That doesn't really change either as we step up to 1440p, the frame rates are obviously lower, but the scaling is pretty consistent.

Our penultimate game is going to be Watch Dogs: Legion, and once more we're looking at a very close affair. The RX 580 is nominally faster at 1080p, but whether you'd notice 58FPS versus 54FPS is another matter entirely. It does pull away from the GTX 1060 by a 13% margin at 1440p, but that's still a real-world difference of just 5FPS.

Lastly, we close with another strong victory for Team Red. In Wolfenstein: Youngblood, the RX 580 proves 13% faster than the GTX 1060, and that's actually true of both the 1080p and 1440p results. The GTX 1060 is much closer to the RX 480 however, and you would have to say the frame rates are still exceptionally good no matter which of these three GPUs you are using.

Average results

Rounding out the games testing with a look at the average results, it's probably not a surprise to see things are as close as they are. Over the twenty games we tested, at 1080p there is less than a single percentage point difference between the GTX 1060 and RX 480, five years on from their release. The RX 580 is the fastest of the three GPUs however, coming in 8% ahead of the GTX 1060, but it's still not a crushing victory. That does increase at 1440p however, to a 12% margin over the 1060, while the RX 480 also proves 4% faster than Nvidia's card at that resolution.

One thing we did also log over the course of the twenty games, was power draw. Measuring power of just the graphics card, we can see the GTX 1060 is easily the least power-hungry GPU, drawing about 45W less than the RX 480, and 65W less than the RX 580 at 1080p.

Interestingly, that means the GTX 1060 is easily the most efficient of these three GPUs, delivering 42% more performance per Watt when compared to the RX 480, increasing to 52% against the RX 580.

It's certainly something, but to give you an idea of the real-world cost involved – let's say you game for 3 hours a day, 365 days a year. Based on the average UK cost of electricity (18.54p/kWh as of December 2019), the total yearly cost for each of three GPUs is as follows:

  • GTX 1060 6GB: £21.28 per year.
  • RX 480 8GB: £30.81 per year.
  • RX 580 8GB: £34.71 per year.

So while it can certainly add up over time, and there also other considerations such as heat, the difference in operating cost based on the efficiency numbers isn't as large as you might think.

Closing Thoughts

Thus concludes our ‘Pascal vs Polaris' revisit. Five years on (or four, in the case of the RX 580), it has been fascinating to see how these cards perform today. As shown, AMD’s RX 580 has aged the best of the three GPUs we tested, but I really do think it’s quite impressive just how well the GTX 1060 and RX 480 are still able to manage in 2021 – 60FPS gameplay is very achievable at 1080p when using high image quality settings, even in the latest games, and that really is good going.

One thing I did notice though, while there's not a lot of difference between all three GPUs in most of the games we tested, in the titles where the RX 480 and RX 580 came in faster than the GTX 1060, it tended to be by a larger margin than the games where the GTX 1060 proved the faster card.

Take the likes of Doom Eternal, Red Dead Redemption 2, Control and Resident Evil Village – there the RX 580 came in 20%, 30%, even 40% faster than the GTX 1060. On the other hand, the GTX 1060 was at most 16% faster than the RX 580, and that was in Gears 5. Granted, on most occasions the GTX 1060 was still doing very well, but there are a handful of examples where the AMD GPUs just delivers that next level of performance.

Interestingly, the GTX 1060 does seem to be selling for slightly less on eBay UK, with prices typically around the £220-230 mark. The RX 480 meanwhile is more like £280, with the RX 580 pushing up to about £300 and sometimes higher.

If you’re really desperate for a new GPU now, personally I’d go for the GTX 1060 and save the cash for when current-gen GPUs are available at more reasonable prices. That will depend on what games you play, as you may feel it worthwhile to spend more to get more, particularly if you mostly play the likes of Doom Eternal or Red Dead Redemption 2.

The main takeaway, however, really has to be just how great it is to see all three of these GPUs still delivering very solid performance in 2021.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you own one of these GPUs? If so, how's it holding up for you? Current-gen cards are clearly faster, but it's impressive to see there's still life left in these 5 year-old GPUs.

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Nvidia might combat rumored RX 590 with a GTX 1060 with GDDR5x memory https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidia-might-combat-rumored-rx-590-with-a-gtx-1060-with-gddr5x-memory/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidia-might-combat-rumored-rx-590-with-a-gtx-1060-with-gddr5x-memory/#respond Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:52:47 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=392147 With Nvidia's RTX 20-series graphics cards now being out in the wild, we weren't expecting much more GPU news for 2018. However, from the sounds of it, both Nvidia and AMD have one more thing cooking. AMD is rumoured to be launching an RX 590 and Nvidia could be prepared to answer with a new …

The post Nvidia might combat rumored RX 590 with a GTX 1060 with GDDR5x memory first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
With Nvidia's RTX 20-series graphics cards now being out in the wild, we weren't expecting much more GPU news for 2018. However, from the sounds of it, both Nvidia and AMD have one more thing cooking. AMD is rumoured to be launching an RX 590 and Nvidia could be prepared to answer with a new GTX 1060 variation.

Last week, a 3DMark listing showed the RX 590, with a reported 10 percent performance boost over the RX 580. This would put Polaris in further competition with the GTX 1060. According to a recently spotted change to Nvidia's website, the company plans to answer this with a new GTX 1060 equipped with 6GB of GDDR5x memory, offering more memory bandwidth over the standard GDDR5 models.

The Nvidia website now lists the GTX 1060 6GB spec with GDDR5/X memory, indicating that an updated SKU is on the way. Memory speed is still listed as 8Gbps but most GDDR5X modules run between 10-12Gbps.

This could have been a mistake that flew under the radar as Nvidia was updating its website for the RTX 20-series launch. All we can do now is wait and see how things play out.

KitGuru Says: The GTX 1060 has been on quite the journey with different versions. Its almost hard to believe that there could be another one in the pipeline but here we are. We'll update this if more information comes to light. 

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MSI launches P65 Creator laptops with 8th Gen Intel CPUs and Nvidia graphics https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/matthew-wilson/msi-launches-p65-creator-laptops-with-8th-gen-intel-cpus-and-nvidia-graphics/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/matthew-wilson/msi-launches-p65-creator-laptops-with-8th-gen-intel-cpus-and-nvidia-graphics/#respond Mon, 03 Sep 2018 16:49:53 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=385554 During IFA in Berlin last week, MSI launched its latest laptop, the ‘P65 Creator', a sleek white laptop that is primarily built for designers and photographers but also packs a punch for gaming. With the P65, MSI doubled down on design, creating a brushed aluminium and pearl white version. The bezel around the display is …

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During IFA in Berlin last week, MSI launched its latest laptop, the ‘P65 Creator', a sleek white laptop that is primarily built for designers and photographers but also packs a punch for gaming.

With the P65, MSI doubled down on design, creating a brushed aluminium and pearl white version. The bezel around the display is very thin and the laptop is very compact, measuring in at just 17.9mm thick and weighing 1.88kg. The 15.6″ Full HD display utilises MSI's own ‘True Color' technology, bringing it close to providing 100% of the sRGB spectrum.

Under the hood you will find an 8th Gen Core i7 processor and up to 32GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM. The white version comes with an Nvidia GTX 1070 Max-Q while the silver edition comes with either a GTX 1050 or a GTX 1060 Max-Q graphics card.

For storage you get an M.2 SSD combo. Total storage will depend on which specific model you pick up, but you are likely looking at 256GB for the entry level. I/O connectivity also differs depending on the white or silver version. On the white edition you'll get a Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a HDMI, a Mini DisplayPort, an SD card reader and connections for ethernet, a microphone and headphones. On the silver edition, everything remains the same with the exception of the Thunderbolt port, which is traded for a USB 3.1 Type-C connection instead.

We are still waiting on final pricing but expect to see these laptops hit the market very soon.

KitGuru Says: I've been tempted to switch out my MacBook Pro for a Windows alternative lately so to me, the P65 Creator does seem quite tempting. Are any of you planning on buying a new laptop this year?

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Falcon Project X VR Ready Gaming PC Review https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mike-jennings/falcon-project-x-vr-ready-gaming-pc-review-w-ryzen-5-2600x-gtx-1060/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mike-jennings/falcon-project-x-vr-ready-gaming-pc-review-w-ryzen-5-2600x-gtx-1060/#respond Tue, 07 Aug 2018 08:36:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=378863 Got £1150 to spend on a new gaming rig? We look at the Falcon Project X VR Ready Gaming PC

The post Falcon Project X VR Ready Gaming PC Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Falcon Project X VR Ready Gaming PC is a mid-range PC that attempts to provide ample gaming power inside a chassis that’s impressively compact – and for a price that undercuts most of its competition. We give you the full low-down on this system to let you know if it is worth buying.

This £1,150 rig serves up processing grunt from a second-generation AMD Ryzen chip, and it’s paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card plus solid memory and storage options. And, impressively, Falcon allows for loads of customisation on its website – so it’s easy to change the parts if they don’t take your fancy.

Falcon-Project-X-VR-Ready-Gaming-PC-Review-on-KitGuru-INTRODUCTION-650

Specifications:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X (3.6Ghz – 4.2GHz)
  • CPU cooling: Aerocool P7-L240 with 2 x 120mm fans
  • Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix X470-F Gaming
  • Memory: 8GB AData XPG Z1 2,666MHz DDR4
  • Graphics Chipset: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
  • Storage: 256GB AData SX6000 SSD, 1TB Seagate Barracuda HDD
  • Case: Aerocool Quartz RGB
  • Front ports: 1 x USB 3, 2 x USB 2, 2 x audio
  • Rear ports: 7 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x PS/2, 1 x optical S/PDIF, 5 x audio
  • Networking: Gigabit Ethernet
  • Power supply: Aerocool Integrator 600W
  • Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • Warranty: 3yr labour with 2yr parts

Total cost £1149.99 inc VAT.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Nvidia bundling GPUs with Kingston SSDs https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/ryan-burgess/nvidia-bundling-gpus-with-kingston-ssds/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/ryan-burgess/nvidia-bundling-gpus-with-kingston-ssds/#respond Thu, 26 Jul 2018 12:23:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=380821 GPU prices are returning to normal and new bundles are coming into play. Nvidia is now bundling GTX 1050TI and GTX 1060 graphics cards with 120GB and 240GB SSDs.

The post Nvidia bundling GPUs with Kingston SSDs first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It isn't uncommon to come across a free item with a GPU purchase. Usually you'll get a free game, but this month Nvidia is trying something a bit different, instead bundling some of its Pascal graphics cards with 120GB and 240GB SSDs from Kingston.

Nvidia kicked off the GPU/SSD bundle in the UK and Europe earlier this week. Essentially, if you pick up a GTX 1050Ti, you'll get a free 120GB SSD from Kingston and if you shell out for a GTX 1060, you'll get a 240GB SSD. Like always though, there are some caveats involved.

It seems that only certain EVGA and MSI graphics cards are included in this promotion for the time being. You'll also need to be sure you are buying from a participating retailer, which currently includes Nvidia's own site, Ebuyer and Scan.

You'll be looking at around £260 for a GTX 1060 with a 240GB SSD, which isn't a bad deal. Perhaps these bundles could even be a sign that Nvidia is in ‘stock clearing' mode, as new GPUs are rumoured to be just a short while away.

KitGuru Says: If you are in the market for a new mid-range GPU and an SSD, well now is as good a time as ever to splash the cash. Do you think we should see more GPU and PC hardware bundles in future?

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MSI GS65 Stealth 8RE Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/msi-gs65-stealth-8re-review-they-flipped-the-motherboard/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/msi-gs65-stealth-8re-review-they-flipped-the-motherboard/#respond Thu, 24 May 2018 10:31:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=374107 It's slim, sleek and stylish - but what about that flipped motherboard?!

The post MSI GS65 Stealth 8RE Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
MSI GS65 is a thin and light laptop that is powered by a combination of Intel 8th Gen. CPU and Nvidia GTX graphics, but we know that’s not going to be the focus of your attention. For one thing MSI has adopted a black and gold colour scheme, rather than the usual black and red, and for another, just look at that screen. It measures 15.6-inches on the diagonal but looks much smaller as it has a tiny bezel – around 5mm in thickness. When the laptop is running you will also appreciate the way the 144Hz refresh rate almost breaks new ground. We say ‘almost’ because we saw the same refresh-rate with the Gigabyte Aero 15X so yes, we’re excited by GS65 but you need to know we have seen some of these features before.

Note: if the above images are not displaying properly, you may need to disable Ad Block as it is known to interfere with our display code.

Specification:
Screen Size: 15.6-inch
Screen Type: FHD 1,920×1,080, 144Hz, 7ms, Narrow Bezel, IPS-Level
Backlight: LED
Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H Processor 2.2 GHz-4.1GHz, 9MB Cache
Memory: 16GB DDR4-2666MHz, dual channel
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060, 6GB GDDR5
Storage: 256GB Samsung NVMe SSD
Wireless: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 and Bluetooth 5
USB Ports: 3x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen2, 1x Type-C USB 3.1 Gen2
Display outputs: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x Mini Display Port.
Dimensions: 357.7mm x 247.7mm x 17.7mm
Weight: 1.8kg
Operating System: Windows 10 Home

We had a solid plan to review the MSI GS65 Stealth 8RF with GTX 1070 Max-Q, however that plan came off the rails. First we ran a preview of the MSI GS65 and then we waited for MSI us sent us a full retail version of the laptop for our review. In the meantime we reviewed the Gigabyte Aero 15X which shares a large number of features with the GS65. When we finally got to benchmark the GS65 8RF we were slightly disappointed as the results were consistently below those of the Aero 15X.

We had some back and forth with MSI and they decided the smart move was to send us the GS65 8RE with GTX 1060 graphics which caused a certain amount of delay as we had to wait for stock to arrive. It also meant that your man Waldock had to test a second laptop ,but on the plus side of the ledger KitGuru has been able to test two SKUs of GS65 along with the Aero 15X. Has anyone else managed that? We don’t think so.

The main impression you get when you sit in front of the GS65 is that the huge bright screen fills the lid from edge to edge. In fact the screen is mid-sized, however the tiny bezel is a real winner, the ‘IPS-level’ technology looks good and the high 144Hz refresh rate means there is no chance of judder or blur at any time. In addition the chassis is thin and light, which is always desirable, however it feels a bit slab-like and doesn’t exude the feeling you get when a chassis has been milled from a billet of aluminium. The vented cover behind the keyboard flexes to an alarming extent and when you flip the laptop over you can clearly see the bottom cover is screwed in place.

The ports and connectors are arranged on the left and right hand sides where everything is within easy reach, although you don’t get an SD card slot. Added to that, the laptop feels good to type on although it has to be said the keys have very little travel. The SteelSeries keyboard is a decent size (MSI has chosen to ditch the NUM pad) and the touchpad is located centrally just where you would hope to find it. While the RGB keyboard is pleasant enough when you set it to a single static colour, the moving Rainbow pattern won't be for everyone.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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PC Specialist’s new RECOIL II gaming laptop has arrived https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/pc-specialists-new-recoil-ii-gaming-laptop-has-arrived/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/pc-specialists-new-recoil-ii-gaming-laptop-has-arrived/#respond Wed, 09 May 2018 14:24:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=372912 PC Specialist is bolstering its gaming laptop line-up today with the official launch of the RECOIL II. This new 15.6-inch gaming laptop slims things down with a new brushed aluminium chassis, while offering plenty of gaming power with new Intel 8th Gen processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics. This is PC Specialist's first Intel 8th …

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PC Specialist is bolstering its gaming laptop line-up today with the official launch of the RECOIL II. This new 15.6-inch gaming laptop slims things down with a new brushed aluminium chassis, while offering plenty of gaming power with new Intel 8th Gen processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics.

This is PC Specialist's first Intel 8th Gen laptop. While you'll get the choice between a 4GB GTX 1050Ti or a 6GB GTX 1060 on the graphics side, you'll get an Intel Core i7 8750H processor as standard, with a 2.6GHz base and 4.3GHz boost clock speed. For RAM, the base model comes with 4GB of 2133MHz DDR4, but you can configure it all the way up to 32GB of 2400MHz DDR4 memory.

In terms of aesthetics, the RECOIL II is one of the sleekest gaming laptops around, measuring in at just 19mm thick. It also lacks branding, so you won't have to stare at logos all over the place. You can see it for yourself in the gallery below:

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Given how much power is being packed in, extra attention needs to be paid to PC Specialists' thermal solution. Under the hood, there are three heat pipes running across the hardware, connected to two blower style fans which draw in air via two side vents, and blow the heat straight out of the back, similar to other laptops.

The keyboard on the laptop is mechanical, which is a big bonus. It also sports RGB lighting, which has become the standard in recent years. The display is a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 LED panel, though it is limited to 60Hz. For storage, you get a 500GB HDD, but you can configure the laptop with up to two m.2 SSDs, or a SATA SSD instead.

You can check out the RECOIL II configurator at the PC Specialist website. Pricing starts at £930, but will rise depending on the various upgrades you make. If you're interested in winning a GTX 1060-equipped RECOIL II, then you can check out our giveaway for one.

KitGuru Says: I really like the design of the RECOIL II, the lack of branding gives it a stealthy, understated look, which I personally prefer. Are any of you currently shopping around for a new gaming laptop?

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Nvidia responds to its latest drivers causing issues for GTX 1060 users https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/damien-cox/nvidias-latest-drivers-are-causing-issues-for-gtx-1060-users/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/damien-cox/nvidias-latest-drivers-are-causing-issues-for-gtx-1060-users/#respond Fri, 04 May 2018 11:45:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=371784 Update (4/5/18): Last week, GeForce GTX 1060 users reported that Nvidia’s latest 397.31 was causing issues with installation, looping them into an endless cycle of failures and restarts. Nvidia has now responded to the community’s complaints, assuring them that a fix is on its way “very soon.” “We will be releasing a new driver very …

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Update (4/5/18): Last week, GeForce GTX 1060 users reported that Nvidia’s latest 397.31 was causing issues with installation, looping them into an endless cycle of failures and restarts. Nvidia has now responded to the community’s complaints, assuring them that a fix is on its way “very soon.”

“We will be releasing a new driver very soon with a fix for this. I understand how inconvenient it is,” reads Nvidia’s reply. For now, it’s advised that those affected should “disable and then re-enable your GPU” within the device manager, causing the driver to reload, and possibly “revert back to driver 391.35 until our new driver is released with a fix.”

Rolling back has been proven to work, but not always via a smooth process. Some required a full wipe using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), a third-party software designed to rigorously clean systems from graphical drivers.

Even though GeForce GTX 1060 users are getting the brunt of it, owners of other models aren’t coming out unscathed. On top of previous reports that an EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW GPU owner has claimed to be affected, the thread containing Nvidia’s response shows that the issues can affect almost anyone from a GTX 980 up.

Nvidia is on the case, however, and it shouldn’t be too long before the problem is put firmly behind us, even if it has taken a full week to address.

Original story (27/04/18): With the release of BattleTech and Frostpunk comes Nvidia’s 397.31 Game Ready drivers, aiming to optimise performance across its range of graphics cards. Unfortunately, it’s causing more trouble than its worth for some users, with many reporting that they are suffering from continuous installation failures.

The reason for the issue is currently unknown, however the Nvidia community forums suggest that it is primarily GeForce GTX 1060 owners that are having the problems. Owners of other cards have chimed into the same post, with one running an EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW GPU, however it is unclear if the user is experiencing the exact same issue.

Given that the GeForce GTX 1060 is the most widely used card on Steam’s hardware survey, this is likely to be a fairly widespread issue. It is possible that the faulty drivers are causing problems outside of the 1060, so users of other GPUs might want to hold off updating as well, just in case.

For some, installation is never ending with constant prompts to reinstall the driver only to have it fail. Others have been experiencing a plethora of other problems, with one reporting loss of sound in his monitor’s speakers.

Some users have managed to successfully revert back to the previous driver with minimal problems, showing that 397.31 has issues. This doesn’t always work, however, with one user having to clean his entire system with third-party software Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) before the old 391.35 would work as intended.

Luckily, developer Wagnardsoft offers DDU for free, helping users to completely uninstall display drivers and software. It’s commonly used when users switch over to a different brand of GPU, although this seems like a good use of the tool too.

Discuss on our Facebook page, or over on Twitter.

KitGuru Says: Although it hasn’t commented on the situation, Nvidia’s dropped the ball on this one. I wouldn’t be surprised if another driver lands in the next couple of days, so patience is key for those affected. Have you experienced any issues with the latest drivers?

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Xiaomi has launched its first gaming laptop https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/xiaomi-has-launched-its-first-gaming-laptop/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/xiaomi-has-launched-its-first-gaming-laptop/#respond Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:03:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=368514 Xiaomi, the fifth largest smartphone maker in the world, is now venturing into the world of gaming. Xiaomi has branched out into mainstream laptops in the past, but this time around, Xiaomi is targeting gamers in China with the Mi Gaming Laptop, which packs a 15.6-inch display, a 7th-Gen Core i7 CPU and a GTX 1060. …

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Xiaomi, the fifth largest smartphone maker in the world, is now venturing into the world of gaming. Xiaomi has branched out into mainstream laptops in the past, but this time around, Xiaomi is targeting gamers in China with the Mi Gaming Laptop, which packs a 15.6-inch display, a 7th-Gen Core i7 CPU and a GTX 1060.

There are configuration options as with most gaming laptops, so those that need something cheaper can opt for the GTX 1050Ti variant. The GTX 1060 version can also be configured with up to 16GB of RAM. Both versions of the Mi Gaming come with a 1080p wide colour gamut display, a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD.

Xiaomi won't be bringing this particular laptop to the west for the time being. However, price conversions show that the higher-end GTX 1060 version will sell for around $1,440 US dollars. It's a pretty nice looking laptop too, with a brushed aluminium chassis, slim side bezels, an RGB keyboard and plenty of USB 3.0 and Type-C ports.

KitGuru Says: As far as looks go, the Xiaomi Mi Gaming is reminiscent of the Razer Blade. Perhaps at some point it will spread outside of China and compete with the likes of Asus, MSI, Alienware, Gigabyte, etc. 

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Overclockers UK Cobalt Overclocked Gaming PC Review – 8350K & GTX 1060 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-morris/overclockers-uk-cobalt-overclocked-gaming-pc-review-8350k-gtx-1060/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-morris/overclockers-uk-cobalt-overclocked-gaming-pc-review-8350k-gtx-1060/#respond Fri, 02 Mar 2018 10:18:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=364561 Overclockers UK is offering an i3-8350K and GTX 1060 rig for £1230. Is it a good deal?

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Intel's Core i5 used to be the bare minimum for a gaming PC. If you went below to a Core i3, Pentium or Celeron, you would be restricting your system to just two physical cores. With the launch of Coffee Lake, however, the Core i3 now offers four physical cores (but no Hyper-Threading), making it similar to earlier Core i5s – only cheaper. Our first look at the new Core i3 as a gaming contender comes from Overclockers UK in its Cobalt Overclocked Gaming PC.

The Core i3 in question is the 8350K, which is the obvious choice due to it being the only multiplier-unlocked version of the i3. It runs at a nominal 4GHz, but Overclockers has set the processor permanently to 4.8GHz across all four cores, and backed this up with a three-year warranty. In theory, you could be getting similar single-threaded gaming performance to a stock (not overclocked) Core i7-8700K, for half the price.

Alongside the Core i3 are 16GB of DDR4 memory and an ASUS GeForce GTX 1060 Turbo 6GB graphics card. There's an SSD as boot drive and regular hard disk for plenty of game storage, capable Alpenfohn Brocken CPU air cooling, and an attractively LED-lit Phanteks Eclipse chassis to put everything in. All this comes for a reasonable £1,234.94 inc VAT, so the Overclockers UK Cobalt promises huge gaming abilities for a reasonable price. Let's find out if it delivers on that promise.

System Configuration:

  • Phanteks Eclipse P300 Glass Midi Tower Case – Black.
  • Phanteks RGB LED Strip Starter Kit.
  • Intel Core i3-8350K 4.0GHz (Coffee Lake) Socket LGA1151 Processor (overclocked to 4.8GHz).
  • ASUS TUF Z370-Plus Gaming Intel Z370 (Socket 1151) DDR4 ATX Motherboard.
  • Alpenfohn Brocken ECO CPU Cooler – 120 mm.
  • ASUS GeForce GTX 1060 Turbo 6144MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card.
  • Team Group Vulcan T-Force 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-24000C16 3000MHz DDR4 Memory.
  • 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD 2.5in SATA 6Gbps SSD.
  • 1TB Seagate BarraCuda 7200rpm SATA HDD.
  • Cougar VTX 550W 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply.
  • Windows 10 64 bit.
  • 3 Years Warranty – Collect and Return.

Price for this system (at the time of writing): £1,234.94 (inc. VAT)

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Razer Blade Pro Review (w/ Core i7; GTX 1060) https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/mike-jennings/razer-blade-pro-review-w-core-i7-gtx-1060/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/mike-jennings/razer-blade-pro-review-w-core-i7-gtx-1060/#respond Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:35:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=363411 Razer has a new Blade Pro - this time with a GTX 1060 and 1080p display. Is it worth £2099?

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We’ve seen Razer Blade laptops before, but nothing like the Blade Pro. This updated machine is designed to appeal to gamers and professionals in equal measure – and it does that by mixing superb design with high-end components. With the model in question being the slightly cheaper GTX 1060 variant, can the Blade Pro do enough in terms of price-to-performance? Let's find out.

The slick looks and powerful silicon is paired with a selection of tasty extras, too, including Killer-branded networking, a 120Hz IPS screen and an innovative repositioning of the keyboard and trackpad – but you’ll have to pay more than £2,000 for this slim, powerful machine. Can it possibly be worth it?

Specifications:

  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel core i7 7700HQ (2.8Ghz – 3.8GHz)
  • Display: 17.3” 120Hz Full HD LCD in LED backlight 1920×1080 16:9
  • Memory Supplied: 2 x 8GB
  • Memory Type: DDR4
  • Memory Speed: 2,400
  • Max Memory Support: 32GB
  • Graphics Chipset: nVidia GeForce GTX 1060
  • Graphics Memory: 6GB GDDR5
  • Storage: 256GB M.2 SSD
  • Keyboard Type: Chiclet
  • 1 Ports: 4
  • HDMI Port(s): 1
  • Microphone/headphone Jack(s): 1
  • Card Reader: SD (XC/HC)
  • Audio: 2.0 sound by Realtek
  • Wireless LAN – Intel 2×2 802.11ac
  • Bluetooth: V4.2
  • Webcam: Full HD type (30fps@1080p)
  • Warranty: 1yr RTB

Total cost £2,099 inc vat.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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MSI Raider GE63VR 7RE 120Hz Gaming Laptop Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/ryan-redfield/msi-raider-ge63vr-7re-120hz-gaming-laptop-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/ryan-redfield/msi-raider-ge63vr-7re-120hz-gaming-laptop-review/#comments Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:49:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=356335 It has a 'gamer friendly' 120hz panel, but do the rest of the specs stack up?

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Another week, another red-accented RGB gaming laptop. But MSI’s new Raider series isn’t just a decent mid-range laptop with an RGB keyboard thrown in, like the Asus ROG Strix GL753VD we looked at recently. The Raider name stands for hardcore gaming, and even the lowliest member of the range which we’re looking at here brings some kick-ass specs to the table.

First an overview: there are several distinct models in the MSI GE Raider VR family, with the main differentiator being that all-important GPU. Our GE63VR 7RE (also known to his friends as “MSI GE63VR 7RE(Raider)-045UK”) starts off with a GeForce GTX 1060, the minimum mobile Nvidia solution that’s marketed as VR-capable. Next up is the 7RF model with a 1070, and several variations offering this card.

So with a relatively lowly GTX 1060, where do the hardcore gaming bits come in? Well, the GE63VR Raider 7RE’s 15.6in display sports a 120Hz panel with 3ms claimed response time and 100% sRGB “True Color 2.0” technology, which should make for smooth and hopefully good-looking gaming – as long as that 1060 can keep up of course.

Then there’s highlights like its Core i7 CPU, SteelSeries RGB gaming keyboard with per-key lighting, impressive Dynaudio speaker solution with twin woofers, ESS SABRE HiFi Audio DAC, USB LED lighting (yes really), Killer DoubleShot Pro Gb LAN, advanced Cooler Boost 5 system with dynamic control, and more.

Based on specs then, it seems MSI has done a good job of putting together a well-balanced mid-range system for the gamer on a somewhat limited budget. But as always the proof is in the pudding (or in this case, the metal-alloy and plastic chassis), so join us as see just how well this Raider can live up to its name.

MSI GE63VR Raider 7RE Specs

  • OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ (7th gen), quad-core, 2.8-3.8GHz, 6MB cache, 35-45W TDP, socket 1440
  • Memory (installed / supported): 8GB / 32GB DDR4 (16GB on our review model)
  • Memory slots: 2
  • Storage (main): M2 256GB SSD (Kingston RBU-sns8152s3256GG5)
  • Storage (secondary): 1TB 7200RPM 2.5” HDD (Seagate BarraCuda ST1000LM048)
  • Graphics card (integrated): Intel HD 630
  • Graphics card (dedicated): Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (GP106), 6GB GDDR5
  • Display (size, resolution, Hz, Type): 15.6″ (16:9), FHD (1920×1080), 120Hz, TN
  • Touch support: no
  • Keyboard type, design, backlit: membrane, chiclet, RGB backlit
  • Connectivity (wireless)
    Wi-Fi 802.11 AC (Killer)
    Bluetooth V4.2
    Connectivity (physical)
    Audio: 1 x Microphone-in jack, 1 x Headphone-out/SPDIF jack
    Data: 1 x USB 3.1 TYPE C port(s), 3 x USB 3.0 port(s)
    Network: 1 x RJ45 LAN
    Video: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1 x mini DP 1.2
    Card: SD(XC/HC)
  • Optical drive: no
  • Webcam: yes, HD
  • Speakers: 2x 2W stereo, 2x 3W woofer
  • Dimensions (WxDxH): 383 x 260 x 27.5 mm
  • Weight: 2.39kg (with battery)
  • Battery: integrated, 51Wh
  • Warranty: 24 months (EU)
  • Price: £1500 inc. VAT at time of review

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 will drain battery while plugged in when gaming https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/microsofts-surface-book-2-will-drain-battery-while-plugged-in-when-gaming/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/microsofts-surface-book-2-will-drain-battery-while-plugged-in-when-gaming/#comments Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:11:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=355095 The inclusion of a GTX 1060 might make the Surface Book 2 a capable laptop for games, but it's power supply seems to hamper that.

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Over the last week, some issues have been spotted with Microsoft's new Surface Book 2 laptop. Not only have tests shown throttling issues, but it looks like the charger supplied with the laptop can't keep the battery full during gaming sessions.

The Surface Book 2 ships with a GTX 1060 graphics card, making it a decent little machine for gaming, as well as productivity. However, as tests have shown, this laptop is not necessarily fit for long gaming sessions at full power. Speaking with The Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that “in some prolonged gaming scenarios”, with the Power Mode slider set to ‘best performance', the Surface Book 2's battery “may discharged while connected to the power supply”.

The amount of battery drain that occurs depends on the game, screen resolution and maximum load placed on the GPU. If you play games in modes other than ‘best performance', then performance drops quite a bit as the GPU will be throttled. This essentially means that despite the inclusion of a GTX 1060, the Surface Book 2 isn't necessarily a great machine for work and play, assuming you like to keep up with modern Triple A titles.

The power supply that comes with the laptop is designed to supply 95 watts of power to the device. The GTX 1060 can draw between 70 and 80 watts under full load, meanwhile the processor draws 25 watts in high-power mode. Put simply, the charger simply can't provide enough power to the laptop to run it in max performance mode. Using one of Windows 10's power efficient modes will cut down performance, so you won't be getting the best out of your GTX 1060.

KitGuru Says: The Surface Book 2 isn't marketed as a gaming machine, but the inclusion of a GTX 1060 means it should be very capable. Unfortunately, the power supply simply isn't up to snuff in that regard. Destiny 2 will drain the laptop's battery by 10 percent an hour, even when plugged into a wall, so don't expect to get much intensive gaming done with this machine.

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KitGuru visits ASRock HQ: ITX X299, Theadripper and more https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/dominic-moass/kitguru-visits-asrock-hq-itx-x299-theadripper-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/dominic-moass/kitguru-visits-asrock-hq-itx-x299-theadripper-and-more/#comments Mon, 30 Oct 2017 15:21:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=352234 We went on a trip to ASRock HQ in the Netherlands - and there was plenty to see!

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At the end of last week, three members of Team KitGuru (myself included) found ourselves over in the Dutch city of Nijmegen. If you've never heard of the place, then rest assured – I hadn't either. But in that city, nestled in an industrial estate, lies ASRock's European HQ – including a warehouse filled to the rafters with boxes upon boxes of motherboards and other PC products.

We were there thanks to Peter Fest, ASRock's technical marketing specialist, who was keen to focus our attention on four key products for ASRock – the world's only X299 Mini-ITX motherboard, the X399 (Threadripper) Taichi motherboard as well as the Z370 Extreme4.

The last product, however, was not a motherboard – it was a mini PC complete with GTX 1060 graphics. But we'll get to that soon.

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Starting with the X399 Taichi motherboard, Peter described this one as a perfect balance of aesthetics, performance and value – making it seem a very attractive proposition. It obviously supports the latest Threadripper processors, socket TR4, but also boasts support for three Ultra M.2 slots, 11 power phases and four PCIe x16 slots – all capable of delivering the full 16 PCIe lanes. We actually have a full review of this motherboard coming soon, so stay tuned for that.

Next up, the ever popular ‘Extreme' motherboard series – this time, the Z370 Extreme4. This motherboard is clearly befitting the ‘Extreme' moniker given its support for DDR4 memory running at 4333+MHz, as well as its 12 power phases, 2 Ultra M.2s slots and support for eleven USB 3.1 ports. The first thing I noticed about the board, though, is how it sports a lovely two-tone grey/black colour scheme which looks very good to my eye, so perhaps this could be one for the extreme overclocker who has a soft-spot for good-looking pieces of kit.

After that, it was time to see the glorious X299E-ITX/ac – the world's only Mini-ITX X299 motherboard. Here at KitGuru we loved the predecessor – the X99E-ITX/ac, giving it a whopping 9.5/10. As such, there was a lot of excitement to see the new model, and we were not disappointed.

One of the biggest features of the new board is support for quad-channel memory – something the original X99 board lacked. As it would be impossible to get four full-size DIMM slots on an ITX board, ASRock did something very smart and included 4 SODIMM slots instead, so the new board will take laptop memory modules which are a fair bit smaller.

That moved also allowed ASRock to use a standard LGA 2066 socket, whereas the X99 board used a narrow ILM socket. Essentially that means the X299-ITX/ac is compatible with standard coolers, as no narrow ILM mount is required. All in all, if you are looking for big power in a small form-factor, the X299E-ITX/ac is well worth a look.

Lastly, we got hands on with the DeskMini GTX/RX, something quite different in that it is not a motherboard at all, but a barebones mini PC kit. Most impressively, the DeskMini is just 2.7 litres in volume yet includes a GTX 1060 graphics chip in MXM format. The Micro STX format motherboard also uses the B250 chipset, meaning Intel's 7th gen chips can be used as well. That means the DeskMini could be a very capable gaming PC, but in a tiny form-factor. With pricing set to be around £700-£750, that sounds quite appealing to me.

KitGuru says: It was great to visit ASRock and get hands-on with the company's latest products. Stay tuned for our X399 Taichi review, as well as more motherboard/mini PC content coming soon.

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Microsoft announces Surface Book 2 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/microsoft-announces-surface-book-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/microsoft-announces-surface-book-2/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2017 16:09:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=350697 After plenty of rumours and even some talk of the Surface line up getting scrapped, today Microsoft announced the Surface Book 2, it’s most powerful Surface Book ever. The new laptop comes with an updated design and bumps up the internals to feature Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics and an Intel 8th Gen processor. The original …

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After plenty of rumours and even some talk of the Surface line up getting scrapped, today Microsoft announced the Surface Book 2, it’s most powerful Surface Book ever. The new laptop comes with an updated design and bumps up the internals to feature Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics and an Intel 8th Gen processor.

The original Surface Book launched two years ago, so this upgrade has been a long time coming. Over on the Windows Blog, Microsoft’s head of devices, Panos Panay, writes that the Surface Book 2 is a laptop intended to “push the limits of what technology can do”. It was primarily built for creators, a running theme for Microsoft this year with two Windows 10 ‘Creators Updates’ spread several months apart.

In order to make this the most powerful Surface laptop ever, Microsoft went with Intel’s new 8th Gen Kaby Lake processors, while also providing Nvidia GTX 1050 and GTX 1060 options, both of which pack enough grunt to run Microsoft’s new Windows 10 ‘Mixed Reality’ platform. It is said to be twice as powerful as the Macbook Pro, while still providing excellent battery life. According to Microsoft, this laptop should support up to 17 hours of video playback in a single charge.

The detachable display/tablet design is still present, though there are now 13-inch and 15-inch options available. Microsoft has managed to cut down the overall weight of the system too, with the 13-inch coming in at just 3.38lbs and the 15-inch weighing 4.2lbs.

Pre-orders for the Surface Book 2 go live on the 9th of November in the US as well as a few other select countries around the world. Shipping begins on the 16th of November.

KitGuru Says: It seems Microsoft was keen to supress any rumours of the Surface line getting scrapped as this announcement seems to have come out of nowhere. It seems like a decent upgrade all around hardware-wise. Have any of you used the original Surface Book? What do you think of the Surface Book 2?

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Razer’s latest Blade Pro adds a GTX 1060 and cuts $1,700 off the entry price https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/matthew-wilson/razers-latest-blade-pro-adds-a-gtx-1060-and-cuts-1700-of-the-entry-price/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/matthew-wilson/razers-latest-blade-pro-adds-a-gtx-1060-and-cuts-1700-of-the-entry-price/#comments Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:08:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=345859 Back in March, Razer bolstered its Blade Pro lineup of laptops with a new version powered by the GTX 1080. However, not everyone needs such a powerful GPU for gaming on the go, so now, Razer is offering a GTX 1060 version of the Blade Pro, which coincidentally also cuts the entry level price down …

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Back in March, Razer bolstered its Blade Pro lineup of laptops with a new version powered by the GTX 1080. However, not everyone needs such a powerful GPU for gaming on the go, so now, Razer is offering a GTX 1060 version of the Blade Pro, which coincidentally also cuts the entry level price down by a massive $1,700.

The new Razer Blade Pro's display has been changed too. Rather than a 4K G-sync display, the new GTX 1060 model comes with a 1080p/120Hz screen, which is going to be a much more friendly pairing for the 1060.

Other specs include an Intel Core i7 7700HQ, 16GB of RAM (configurable up to 32GB) and a 256GB PCIe SSD/2TB HDD combo. While the more expensive Razer Blade Pro comes equipped with the company's new low profile mechanical key switches, this cheaper model cuts back to traditional membrane switches.

The new 17.3-inch Razer Blade Pro starts shipping in September, starting at $2,299.

KitGuru Says: If I was shopping for a laptop personally, I'd go with a GTX 1060/1080p combo over a GTX 1080/4K one any day. While the new Blade Pro is cheaper, it still comes at a premium, so you'll need deep pockets to pick one up.

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Alienware 13 R3 (Amazing OLED screen with QHD resolution) https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/alienware-13-r3-amazing-oled-screen-with-qhd-resolution/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/alienware-13-r3-amazing-oled-screen-with-qhd-resolution/#comments Mon, 24 Jul 2017 09:01:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=340829 We were sent the R3 version with OLED panel. It really is a sight to behold.

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The Alienware 13 R3 has been upgraded from an Intel Skylake CPU to a 7th Generation Kaby Lake which seems like the oldest of old news in July 2017. If we were here to discuss the Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU it would be an incredibly brief review along the lines of ‘Nice CPU, seen it before. Thanks.’

There is a far more significant story in the OLED screen, which is one of the options that is available for this 13.3-inch laptop. The base model of Alienware 13 R3 comes with a 1,366×768 TN panel that has a brightness of 200 nits. Other parts of the specification of that model include a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and GTX 1050 graphics, which sounds fairly uninspiring. Other models in the range offer you a Full HD 1,920×1,080 panel with IPS technology and a brightness of 300 nits, powered either by the same Core i5 and GTX 1050 or a more beefy combo of Core i7 and GTX 1050 Ti. Truth be told we didn’t feel much excitement about either of those models.

Thankfully the review sample we were sent by Alienware is the Big Kahuna with the OLED screen and a mighty QHD resolution of 2,560×1,440 which is a heck of a lot of pixels packed into a 13.3-inch screen. The screen brightness is 400 nits and it has touch control.

Rounding up the specification we have GTX 1060 graphics and an increase to 16GB RAM so it is fair to say the appeal of this particular Alienware 13 R3 stands or falls on the OLED screen (Spoiler alert – it looks amazing).

Alienware 13 R3 Specification:
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ (2.8GHz-3.8GHz)
Display: 13.3-inch 2,560×1,440 OLED with touch control
System Memory: 16GB DDR4-2400MHz SO-DIMM
Chipset: Intel HM175 Express Chipset
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GDDR5 6GB
Storage: 256GB Toshiba XG3 NVMe
I/O Ports:
1x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini-DisplayPort 1.2
2x USB 3.0 (Type-A)
1x USB 3.0 (Type-C)
1x Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C)
2x Headset Jacks
1x Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port
1x DC Jack
Realtek audio
Wireless LAN: Killer 1435 2×2 (802.11ac, a/b/g/n compatible)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth V4.1
HD Webcam
Noble Lock Port
Battery: Li Ion 76Wh
Power Adapter: 180W
Dimensions: 330mm (W) x 269mm (D) x 24mm (H)
Weight: 2.6kg
OS: Windows 10 Home

We make a number of points in our video about the look and feel of the Alienware 13 R3 because the truth of the matter is that it is a bit of an oddball. The screen is small however the laptop is neither thin or light and the fact you can fold the screen back 180 degrees is an interesting idea.

During the video we suffered a minor annoyance as the screen brightness often dims to save power. It was frustrating that we couldn’t find the appropriate setting in the power profile or screen settings, and the explanation is that we were looking in the wrong place. Alienware includes Tobii Aware eye tracking software which is used in a small handful of games to allow you to aim your weapon at enemies simply by looking at them. The Tobii software also detects when you are sat in front of the laptop so if you turn the laptop to face a camera and then sit next to the laptop the screen goes dark. It’s not a problem folks, it’s a feature.

At first glance the sample laptop we were sent by Alienware is the fully pimped version, however that isn’t quite accurate as you can increase the RAM to 32GB and plump for a 1TB SSD which would take the total price up to £2,500. That’s a lot of money for a laptop that contains the same hardware as a Gigabyte Aero 15 or Razer Blade, so the burning question is what we think about that OLED screen.

As you will have seen in our video we found the OLED technology looks amazing. The colours are remarkable and make an IPS panel look quite pedestrian, which is quite an achievement. The 400 nit brightness is certainly bright but doesn’t describe the way the individual pixels act as light sources with an amazing graduation between colours that is utterly seamless.

If you have ever seen an overly compressed photo of the sky where there is noticeable banding as the picture changes from one shade of blue to the next, then all we can say is that the OLED screen on the Alienware 13 R3 is the exact opposite. While we may not have massively impressed by the laptop as a whole, we liked the LED keyboard, loved the illuminated touch pad and were blown away by the OLED screen.

Testing

We are starting to get a bit jaded about the combination of Core i7 and GTX 1060 as we have seen it so often but the fact is that it works very well. Alienware has given the graphics a tough job as the QHD screen has 78 percent more pixels than a Full HD panel and it would doubtless help if this laptop packed a GTX 1070 GPU.

Mind you that would be a lot of hardware to control inside a relatively small chassis so we should probably be grateful that Alienware stuck with the GTX 1060. This makes it pretty much essential for you to play your games at 1080p and adjust image quality to keep the frame rate sufficiently high.

Cooling Performance

We couldn’t dismantle the chassis far enough to reveal the cooling system so we have to assume the unconventional cooling module projecting from the rear of the chassis uses conventional heatpipes. However Alienware has done the job it is clear they have put the emphasis on low noise as both CPU and GPU run into the 90s degrees C under synthetic stress test loads. Under more normal circumstances such as 3D Mark you can expect the CPU and GPU to top out at 80 degrees C which is perfectly acceptable.

Acoustics performance

The cooling fans ramp up rather slowly under load without any nasty bursts of noise. This is a fairly quiet laptop that performs well and it is clear that Alienware has engineered the fans curves to make the 13 R3 as civilised as possible.

Battery life

The Alienware has decent battery life and looped PC Mark 8 for 3 hours 36 minutes which is the identical time to the Gigabyte Aero 15. This is good news as it translates to seven hours or more in daily use. The downside is that Alienware has constructed the chassis in such a way that if the battery requires replacement it would involve a full strip down of the laptop.

Closing Thoughts

If we had been sent the most basic version of the Alienware 13 R3 with Core i5, GTX 1050 graphics and low resolution TN panel we are quite sure there would have been a wailing and gnashing of teeth in the KitGuru office.

In all probability things wouldn’t have been much better with the Full HD resolution IPS panel as as the basic laptop is nothing special, and we say that knowing full well that Alienware has quite the reputation. It doesn’t feel right criticising Alienware in such a sweeping way but the size and weight of the 13 R3 present a real problem.

The 13 R3 has a small 13.3-inch screen however the laptop itself is fairly chunky and heavy. Added to that, the cooling module that projects from the rear of the chassis means you need a bag or cover that is more appropriate to a 14-inch (or larger) laptop. In other words if you buy an Alienware 13 R3 you have to endure the limitations of a small 13.3-inch screen without the benefits you might expect from a slender, light and compact laptop. This makes little sense and while we acknowledge the tweaks and extras that Alienware has added, such as the illuminated touchpad and various pieces of software they do not make a fundamental difference.

By contrast the OLED screen is absolutely amazing. We don’t much fancy the touch control aspect of the screen as the amazingly shiny coating is a magnet for fingerprints, but OLED technology is an absolute wonder. The Alienware 13 R3 has given us a taste of the future and we now want to see a larger version of this panel on a better laptop such as Razer Blade. Or perhaps we will get lucky and Gigabyte will update the Aero 15 with an OLED screen, which really would be something to see.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.

Buy from Dell direct Price £1,849 inc VAT (review specification) HERE

Pros:

  • Fabulous OLED screen.
  • Illuminated touch pad.
  • Cooling fans are fairly quiet.
  • All day battery life.

Cons:

  • Surprisingly heavy at 2.6kg.
  • The cooling module makes it rather bulky.
  • Touch control on this shiny OLED screen causes messy fingerprints.
  • The price is high for a laptop with 256GB SSD.

KitGuru says: The OLED screen on this Alienware 13 R3 laptop is fabulous.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Gigabyte Aero 15W-CF2 (15.6-inch laptop with a tiny screen bezel) https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/gigabyte-aero-15w-cf2-15-6-inch-laptop-with-a-tiny-screen-bezel/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/gigabyte-aero-15w-cf2-15-6-inch-laptop-with-a-tiny-screen-bezel/#comments Mon, 17 Jul 2017 08:40:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=340709 It has been the year of super sexy laptops - and this time we look at the Aero 15 from Gigabyte.

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The Gigabyte Aero 15 is an intriguing laptop for two main reasons. The first is the way it packs a mid-sized 15.6-inch screen into a laptop that appears to have a 14-inch chassis – that 5mm bezel on the sides and top edge is remarkably slender. The second point is that we rather expected this sleek, light and stylish laptop would be branded as an ‘Aorus', rather than a ‘Gigabyte'. The explanation we were given is that the Aero 15 runs Windows 10 Professional which means it is intended for business users.

We aren't so sure a business user will want a laptop with GTX 1060 graphics and a keyboard with RGB illumination. It sounds like a gaming laptop to us, no matter what Gigabyte has to say on the subject.

Specification:
Display: 15.6″ FHD 1920×1080 16:9 Wide Viewing Angle anti-glare display LCD
Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Processor Cores: 4
Processor Clock Speed: 2.8GHz-3.8GHz
Solid State Drive Supplied: 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
Memory Supplied: 2 x 8GB DDR4-2400MHz
Memory Socket: 2 x SO-DIMM
Max. Memory Support: 32GB
Graphics Chipset: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
Graphics Memory: 6GB GDDR5
Chipset: Intel HM630
Audio: Integrated
Speakers: Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre
LAN Speed: 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
Wi-Fi: 802.11ac/b/g/n
Bluetooth: V4.2+ LE
USB 3.0 Ports: Type-A x3
Thunderbolt 3: x1
HDMI Port 2.0: x1
Mini Display Port: x1
Audio Combo Jack (Microphone / Headphone): x1
Battery Pack: Li-Polymer 94.24Wh
Security: Kensington Lock
Card Reader: SD
Web Camera: HD
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Dimensions: 250mm x 356.4mm x 19.9mm
Product Weight: 2.1kg
Warranty: 2 Years

Putting aside the question of whether the laptop is a Gigabyte or an Aorus, there is no denying that it looks good and feels impressively light. As you doubtless noticed in our video, our reference point for the Aero 15 is the Razer Blade which is high praise as we adore the Blade.

The fact is that the Blade is smaller in all three dimensions and is also slightly lighter however the CPU, GPU and RAM inside both laptops are almost identical.

Where the Gigabyte Aero 15 stands apart is the way is crams in that 15.6-inch screen while the use of the tiny bezel keeps the chassis down to a compact size. The size and resolution of the screen in a laptop is a matter of personal taste but the fact is that when a Windows 10 laptop uses a 14-inch, 13.3-inch or 12.5-inch you inevitably end up scaling the display to 125% or 150%. This can be aggravating as you cannot necessarily see everything you want in a given window. By contrast the Aero 15 can be set at its native resolution of 1,920×1,080 with the scaling at 100% and your reviewer found the experience was simply better than laptops such as the Blade.

In a perfect world a laptop would be a mobile phone with a proper mouse, keyboard and a screen that stretched or folded out to a size of 15-inches. In the meanwhile the form factor of the Aero 15 pretty much does it for us.

You may feel the emphasis on screen size is unwarranted but the fact is that in many respects the hardware inside the Aero 15 is unexceptional. It consists of a Core i7-7700HQ, 16GB DDR4-2400MHz RAM, GTX 1060 graphics and 512GB SSD which is all good stuff but it has become mainstream for a laptop costing around £2,000.

Pack in the larger screen and we’re starting to take interest. Add in all day battery life and things are looking good, whether it is for game play or more boring stuff such as spread sheets.

Perhaps the weakest part of the Aero 15 is the way the hardware has been garnished with various bits of Gigabyte software to add a number of functions. Gigabyte Fusion controls the RGB lighting in the keyboard, Smart Update handles updates for the BIOS, driver and utilities and Smart Manager is a series of utilities for other functions such as fan control or switching off the Wi-Fi.

These pieces of software do a decent job but they feel exactly like the sort of thing you expect to get from a motherboard manufacturer, rather than a control suite that comes with a Lenovo ThinkPad. Put it this way, we can see no reason why a laptop aimed at business users would have the option of lighting the keyboard with a Rainbow Marquee.

Testing

The cooling system in the Aero 15 is interesting as it draws in air from a channel in front of the screen and expels it through the ventilated bottom cover of the laptop. The heatpipes inside the laptop look quite conventional and we have no doubt the cooling system could easily manage the Core i7 and GTX 1060 chips. It seems the temperatures have been allowed to rise near the permitted limits to keep noise as low as possible.

The idle temperatures are in the 50s Celsius, which is 10 to 20 degrees higher than Razer Blade. Under maximum load the Aero 15 runs the CPU at 90 degrees and the GPU at 83 degrees with obvious signs of throttling, but in regular use this wasn’t an issue.

Acoustics performance.
This is a very quiet laptop. In our video it is quite possible you will not be able to hear the cooling fans as the microphone is above the laptop while the exhaust is on the underside. It is an interesting idea that presumably helps to reduce the noise of the laptop.

Battery Performance

In our PC Mark 8 test the Aero 15 ran for 3 hours 36 minutes in a continuous loop which you can double to seven hours in the real world. It depends on your definition but we reckon that’s close enough to ‘all day’ to make us very happy.

Closing Thoughts.

Gigabyte places a fair amount of emphasis on the aesthetics and styling of the Aero 15, and one of our biggest gripes with this laptop was that they sent us the black version, rather than orange or green. That’s fair enough for a business laptop but our simple outlook on life is that if we’re getting an RGB keyboard we want the matching in your face colour scheme.

Other aspects of the styling work well, in particular the slender chassis and the tiny screen bezel which makes the Aero 15 appear considerably smaller than its true size. Honestly, our first impression was that it is the same size as the Razer Blade when it is actually larger (and slightly more heavy). It took us a while to realise the cooling system draws in air through a channel behind the keyboard and in front of the screen which is then exhausted through the bottom of the casing.

We have minor concerns these exhausts might get blocked by soft surfaces, such as bedding, however this approach makes a good deal of sense. The exhaust vents are larger than the fans, where you usually expect to see nozzles in the side and rear of the chassis that are necessarily smaller than the thickness of the chassis. This could be a problem in a 19.9mm laptop where you are cooling a Core i7 and GTX 1060 so the approach taken by Gigabyte with Aero 15 means they can run the fans low, slow and quiet.

This is an interesting laptop that performs very capably. We don’t quite buy the idea that it is intended for business users and hope the software receives a polish to make it more sophisticated but overall we were very impressed by the Aero 15.

More details on the Aero 15 at the Gigabyte website HERE

Buy from Overclockers UK for £1899.95 inc vat HERE. You can see all the coloured options HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.

Pros:

  • Lovely aluminium chassis is less than 20mm thick.
  • The tiny screen bezel allows them to pack a 15.6-inch screen in a small chassis.
  • AAS (Azimuthal Anchoring Switch) screen technology has a very wide viewing angle.
  • Very good battery life.
  • 150W power adapter has a USB port that can be used to charge your phone.

Cons:

  • Since when do business laptops have an RGB keyboard?
  • They sent us the plain black version rather than orange or green.
  • Gigabyte software is a collection of utilities, rather than an integrated whole.
  • CPU temperature causes throttling under stress test load.

KitGuru says: Gigabyte Aero 15 is a sleek laptop with a tiny screen bezel that looks very appealing.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Razer Blade (Kaby Lake Core i7) with Razer Core / GTX 1080 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/razer-blade-kaby-lake-core-i7-with-razer-core-gtx-1080/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/razer-blade-kaby-lake-core-i7-with-razer-core-gtx-1080/#comments Mon, 24 Apr 2017 12:05:58 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=331464 The Razer Blade with GTX 1060 not cut it? Why not upgrade it with a full on desktop GTX 1080 instead via the CORE system?

The post Razer Blade (Kaby Lake Core i7) with Razer Core / GTX 1080 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
We began our recent review of the 2017 Razer Blade by telling you that Razer had updated the graphics chip from GTX 970M to GTX 1060. The laptop has continued to evolve and now it’s the turn of the CPU which has been changed from Intel Core i7-6700HQ Skylake to Core i7-7700HQ Kaby Lake.

The only other change we found in the specification was a minor update from DDR4-2133MHz RAM to DDR4-2400MHz. As you will see in our video this means the revised Razer Blade is effectively unchanged.

Razer Blade Kaby Lake Specification:
Processor Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core (2.8GHz/3.8GHz)
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 VRAM
System Memory 16 GB DDR4-2400MHz
SSD 256GB Samsung PM961 PCIe M.2
Screen 14.0-inch IPS Full HD Matte, 1,920×1,080 resolution
Wi-Fi Killer Wireless-AC 1535 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.1)

Ports and connectors:
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
USB 3.0 port x3 (SuperSpeed)
HDMI 2.0 video and audio output
3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo port

Other features:
Built-in 2Megapixel webcam
Built-in stereo speakers
Array microphone
Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre Edition
7.1 Codec support (via HDMI)
Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) security chip embedded
Anti-ghosting keyboard with per-key lighting powered by Razer Chroma Razer Synapse enabled with programmable keyboard, track pad, back lighting, and fan control
Kensington security slot
Compact 165W power adapter

Battery Built-in 70Wh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery
Size 17.9 mm (Height) x 345 mm (Width) x 235 mm (Depth)
Weight 1.89 kg
Operating System Windows 10 64-bit

We admire the quality of the hardware and love the look and feel of the aluminium chassis. Our sample came with a Full HD 1,920×1,080 2K display that looks superb, just like it did before.

You won’t be surprised to hear that our list of Pro and Con points is almost exactly the same as before, with one minor change. Previously we failed to criticise the way the keyboard backlights provide a light show that looks great but which doesn’t light the characters on the keys. This can lead to a frustrating search for the @, ! or % key that really shouldn’t be necessary and we didn’t pay this sufficient heed in the previous review.

So this is effectively the same laptop and that earns Razer another award from KitGuru, however that isn’t the basis for an interesting review.

Happily the day was saved as Razer sent us its Core unit which is intended to be paired with the Razer Blade Stealth laptop to beef up the relatively feeble Intel HD Graphics 620 GPU.

The idea is that you install a graphics card in the Core up to 310mm in length (either AMD or Nvidia works perfectly well) and then connect the Core to your laptop using the supplied Thunderbolt 3 cable. This prompts the Core to power up and act as both an external graphics unit and also as a docking hub.

The Core provides 4x USB 3 ports along with Gigabit Ethernet and includes a 500W power unit with two 6+2 connectors that had no problem powering our reference GTX 1080. We installed the Razer GPU Switcher software in order that we could choose between the GTX 1060 GPU inside the laptop or the GTX 1080 in the Core, and then we were set to roll.

Testing

As you will see in our video the simple shift from GTX 1060 to GTX 1080 doesn’t make a massive difference to game play or frame rates. In 3D Mark you can see the graphics score leap forward but this doesn’t deliver much benefit in the real world. We started our testing with the Core and GTX 1080 powering the laptop display however this turned out to be a poor idea as the graphics data shares the Thunderbolt 3 cable with the data that is heading the other way. Disabling the laptop screen and outputting from the Core to an external display gave an increase of a handy 5-10 frames per second over the previous set-up.

We then increased the screen resolution to 2,560×1,440 where we saw frame rates that were similar to those delivered by the basic laptop i.e. GTX 1060 on internal 2K display.

Our final stop was to increase the resolution to 3,840×2,160 and weren’t massively impressed by the results as the laptop hardware wasn’t really up to the job. We had been able to comfortably play games at 1080p and now, after a massive graphics upgrade, we were now able to play the same games at 1440p which seems like a pretty lousy return for £1500.

It was clear the Core unit was delivering the goods while the bottleneck was the 45W TDP mobile Kaby Lake CPU. This may sound like a terrible failure but actually highlights the importance of the CPU in a gaming laptop. We have seen high end laptops with dual GTX 1080s that struggle to perform and know full well that desktop CPUs give an edge you simply don’t get with a mobile chip.

On a more positive note our testing convinced us that Razer has chosen a sensible pairing of CPU and GPU as the GTX 1060 is an excellent graphics chip for a high end mobile CPU.

Cooling Performance.

Thermal images showing the laptop idling and then with CPU and internal GTX 1060 under full load.

And these thermal images show the laptop with the external GTX 1080 doing the heavy lifting.

As you can see, the Core housing allows the GTX 1080 to remain lovely and cool.

We didn’t discuss cooling in the video however there are a couple of points of interest. The first is that this Kaby Lake model has higher idle temperatures for the CPU and GPU than we saw with the previous Skylake model. Loaded temperatures are the same so we have to conclude that Razer has adjusted the fan curve to reduce low load noise.

Secondly, and more interestingly, when we used the Core with GTX 1080 this removed the load from the GTX 1060 GPU inside the laptop. This reduced the loaded CPU temperature from 88 degrees C to 69 degrees C, which shows how much effect the GPU has on the cooling of the CPU.

Acoustics performance.
Razer Blade continues to be fairly noisy under load but we don’t have much in the way of complaints. This is a very slender laptop that packs a decent CPU and GPU and the result is a certain amount of heat. Razer deals with this as well as can be expected so while we would like the Blade to be silent we accept this is not possible and will instead put up with the noise that is produced.

Closing Thoughts.

The Razer Blade continues to be superb. While we found the Razer Core graphics housing to be interesting and to work superbly well, it ultimately proved irrelevant. Yes, you can add a better graphics chip to the Razer Blade but the benefit you gain is marginal and the cost is prohibitive.

Comparing the new, slightly revised Razer Blade with Kaby Lake CPU to the recent, slightly lesser Razer Blade with Skylake is fairly pointless. The two laptops are effectively identical and while the Kaby Lake offers a slightly faster CPU we would happily buy the Skylake if we found it on sale at a discount.

We have to assume that Razer will update the Blade when the 8th Gen Intel Coffee Lake CPU comes down the pipe, however we see no reason to think this will require a major change to the hardware. Give or take, one way or the other, Razer Blade is the definitive 14-inch laptop for 2017.

Razer Blade (Kaby Lake Core i7) – Product details HERE

Price £1,799.99

Buy link: HERE (change the drop down for the different configurations and prices) (£1,800-£2,670)

Discuss on the Facebook page HERE

Pros:

  • The IPS screen is excellent.
  • Aluminium chassis looks superb and feels amazing.
  • GTX 1060 graphics drive games along.
  • Keyboard illumination works very well.
  • Glass touch pad is good.

Cons:

  • The hinge cover is plastic.
  • Keyboard illumination doesn’t show the secondary functions.
  • RAM chips are soldered on motherboard so memory cannot be upgraded.
  • Mouse buttons are rather small.

KitGuru says:  The latest Razer Blade with Kaby Lake is epic!

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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ASUS to refresh GTX 1080 and GTX 1060 with faster memory https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/asus-to-refresh-gtx-1080-and-gtx-1060-with-faster-memory/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/asus-to-refresh-gtx-1080-and-gtx-1060-with-faster-memory/#comments Thu, 30 Mar 2017 10:46:06 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=327978 Back when Nvidia first announced the GTX 1080Ti, the company also announced some improvements coming to its older Pascal cards. The GTX 1080 and GTX 1060 were both due to get faster RAM modules and now, it looks like board partners are catching up with that, as ASUS has revealed refreshes for its custom cooled …

The post ASUS to refresh GTX 1080 and GTX 1060 with faster memory first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Back when Nvidia first announced the GTX 1080Ti, the company also announced some improvements coming to its older Pascal cards. The GTX 1080 and GTX 1060 were both due to get faster RAM modules and now, it looks like board partners are catching up with that, as ASUS has revealed refreshes for its custom cooled GTX 1080 and TX 1060, which will include the improved RAM.

First up is the ASUS ROG Strix GTX 1080. The card will still have 8GB of GDDR5X memory but it will be running at faster 11Gbps speeds. Previously, the GTX 1080 shipped with 10Gbps RAM. As for core clock speeds, they will likely remain similar to the previous GTX 1080 Strix. Cooling will also be slightly improved this time though, as the new Strix will ship with ‘Max Contact' technology, which uses a better copper heat spreader to improve thermal transfer.

The GTX 1060 will also be getting some changes. The DirectCU II cooled GTX 1060 will now ship with 6GB of 9Gbps RAM. Similarly to the GTX 1080, this is 1Gbps faster than what was available previously.

With ASUS preparing its own custom boards with faster memory, it will likely only be a matter of time until we see other board partners follow suit with their own revised GTX 1080s and GTX 1060s.

KitGuru Says: I'll be interested in seeing how much of a difference this new memory really makes in regular usage scenarios. Hopefully we can see some comparisons soon. Are any of you guys planning on picking up a GTX 1080 or GTX 1060 soon? Are you waiting on models with faster memory on board before buying?

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Nvidia ‘Prepare for Battle’ promo now includes the GTX 1060 https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidia-prepare-for-battle-promo-now-includes-the-gtx-1060/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidia-prepare-for-battle-promo-now-includes-the-gtx-1060/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:14:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=327848 Over the last couple of months, Nvidia and Ubisoft have been teaming up to run a ‘Prepare for Battle' promotion. This essentially meant that anyone buying a GTX 1080 or a GTX 1070 would be able to redeem a free copy of either For Honor or Ghost Recon Wildlands. While this promo was previously reserved …

The post Nvidia ‘Prepare for Battle’ promo now includes the GTX 1060 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Over the last couple of months, Nvidia and Ubisoft have been teaming up to run a ‘Prepare for Battle' promotion. This essentially meant that anyone buying a GTX 1080 or a GTX 1070 would be able to redeem a free copy of either For Honor or Ghost Recon Wildlands. While this promo was previously reserved for high-end hardware, today, Nvidia has expanded it to include mid-range GPUs as well.

Going forward, those buying a GTX 1080Ti, GTX 1080, GTX 1070 or a GTX 1060 (3GB or 6GB) will be eligible for this deal. As Nvidia puts it, the GTX 1060 is the ‘ideal GPU' for both of Ubisoft's recent releases for those looking to play at 1080p/60 frames per second at high settings.

Both games included in this bundle also support Nvidia's ANSEL technology. This screenshot tool paves the way for some incredible in-game photography as users can downsample captures from insanely high resolutions, adjust different effects and move the camera to get the best angle for the shot.

Aside from Ghost Recon Wildlands and For Honor, Ansel is also supported in Mass Effect: Andromeda, The Witcher 3, The Witness, Paragon, War Thunder, Watch Dogs 2, Obduction, Dishonored 2 and Mirror's Edge Catalyst.

KitGuru Says: It's nice to see deals like this expanded to include mid-range GPUs. At its price point, the GTX 1060 does seem to make the most sense for 1080p gaming in particular. Are any of you planning on grabbing a new GPU soon? 

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GTX 1080 Ti launch: other announcements you might have missed https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/gtx-1080-ti-launch-other-announcements-you-might-have-missed/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/gtx-1080-ti-launch-other-announcements-you-might-have-missed/#respond Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:00:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=323674 While the GTX 1080 Ti was of course the main announcement from Nvidia's event yesterday, we were also briefed on a few other announcements throughout the day that you might have missed. Here we give you the low-down on some of the highlight announcements stretching beyond the GTX 1080Ti. In-case you missed our initial coverage …

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While the GTX 1080 Ti was of course the main announcement from Nvidia's event yesterday, we were also briefed on a few other announcements throughout the day that you might have missed. Here we give you the low-down on some of the highlight announcements stretching beyond the GTX 1080Ti.

In-case you missed our initial coverage of the GTX 1080Ti launch, you can find all of the details on that over HERE. This article is all about the other key announcements you might have missed.

Let's start with the GTX 1080 – Jen-Hsun of Nvidia announced a $100 price-cut for the GTX 1080. This will certainly please those looking for a high-performance card but whose wallets can't quite stretch to meet the $699 1080 Ti price-tag. You can read our full review of the GTX 1080 over HERE.

Next up, this announcement concerns the GTX 1080 and GTX 1060 cards – Nvidia have announced that both these cards will be getting a new, overclocked SKU. Essentially, with the GTX 1080 Ti, Nvidia is using ‘next-gen', faster GDDR5X memory from Micron. However, they also want to make sure the GTX 1080 and 1060 benefit from the memory improvements, too. This means there will now be a 1080 model with 11Gbps GDDR5X memory (1Gbps faster than the original model), while there will also be a 1060 6GB SKU with 9Gbps GDDR5 memory, another 1Gbps increase over the original.

The next announcement will be good news for those who like to record their gameplay – Shadowplay is getting a new ‘highlights' feature. Essentially, where devs support it, Shadowplay will now be able to recognise key moments in a game – for example, a double or triple-kill. Shadowplay then automatically saves these key moments as ‘highlights' – which you can edit and upload to your favourite social media, all while staying in-game. This new feature will debut in LawBreakers, a 5v5 FPS from Boss Key Productions. For a quick example of this feature, check out the video above!

Lastly, I want to touch on Ansel – Nvidia's technology which allows you to capture beautiful in-game photos in high-detail. Nvidia announced that they are making Ansel available to all developers via a public SDK library – meaning developers can now implement the feature into their game without having to partner with Nvidia to do so. Given there have been 200,000 Ansel photos taken in The Witcher 3 alone, Ansel looks set to continue being a popular feature in many games to come.

KitGuru says: These are just a few key but smaller announcements that you might have missed from the GTX 1080 Ti launch last night. Let us know what you think in the comments!

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Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 Gaming Laptop Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/aorus-x3-plus-v7-cf1-gaming-laptop-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/aorus-x3-plus-v7-cf1-gaming-laptop-review/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:58:23 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=321765 A GTX 1060 and Kaby Lake i7 combined with a 14"-class 3K display. How is the Aorus X3 Plus v7?

The post Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 Gaming Laptop Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The brand new Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 follows the usual Aorus philosophy of packing a good deal of gaming hardware in a laptop chassis that seems impossibly thin. Not, admittedly MacBook Air thin, but Aorus is playing in a different league as this gaming laptop measures only 22.9mm in thickness.

As the name suggests the Aorus X3 Plus v7 uses a seventh generation Intel Kaby Lake CPU along with a GTX 1060 GPU and 16GB of DDR4 memory to drive along gaming performance. The display uses a panel with IGZO technology that has an unusual QHD+ resolution of 3,200 x 1800. Aorus has a track record of using esoteric screen resolutions so this 3K panel has 6 Megapixels, which is rather more than the Aorus X5 v6 which had a panel that was also nominally 3K but with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,620 or 5 Megapixels.

It is clear that Aorus is stepping up every aspect of the new X3 Plus v7 with the intention of delivering a top notch gaming package in a tiny chassis.

Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 specifications:

Processor: Intel Core i7-7820HK
Processor Clock Speed: 2.9GHz-3.9GHz
Graphics Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
Graphics Memory: 6GB
Screen Size: 13.9″
Screen Type: IGZO QHD+
Backlight: LED
Screen Resolution: 3,200×1,800 (‘3K')

Memory Supplied: 2x 8GB DDR4-2,400MHz
Memory Size: 16GB (2x8GB)
Max. Memory Support: 32GB
SSD Drive: 1x 512GB M.2 PCIe

LAN: Killer LAN
Wireless LAN 802.11ac : Intel Wireless-AC 8260
Bluetooth Version: v4.2
Webcam: Yes
USB 3.1 Type-C Port: 1
USB 3.0 Type-A Ports: 3
HDMI 2.0 Port: 1
Mini Display Port: 1
Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Microphone Jack: 1
Headphone Jack: 1
Security: Kensington Lock

Battery: 73Wh
Dimension: 330mm (W) x 264mm (D) x 22.9mm (T)
Weight: 1.8 Kgs
Operating System: Windows 10

Warranty: 2 Years

As our photos of the innards show, the compact chassis leaves very little space for the components. The battery requires about one third of the available room, the G.Skill DDR4 memory and Lite-on SSD sit in the centre and the CPU, GPU and coolers take up the remainder of the space.

It comes as no surprise the chiclet keyboard has relatively short travel keys however that is fine. Our gripe with the keyboard is that the ten keys are outboard of controls such as Backspace and Enter. We can be thankful the touchpad and mouse buttons use a conventional layout. This is a small laptop but Aorus hasn’t felt the need to make any dramatic changes to cram in all the hardware.

The ports and connectors on the back and two sides are neatly arranged. On the rear we have Ethernet and the power point, on the right there are two USB 3.0 and a card reader, along with the power button. On the left you’ll find the headset jacks, mini DisplayPort, HDMI, another USB 3.0 type A and a USB 3.1 type C. That’s a full house of everything we want to see on a laptop.

It is also worth noting the compact 150W power brick includes a USB port so you can plug in your phone to charge while you’re running the laptop off the mains.

Testing

We ran through our usual suite of games and 3DMark and were impressed by the way the Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 handles games at 1,920×1,080 or 2K. It was a different story at the native resolution of 3,200×1,800 or 3K as the GTX 1060 GPU cannot handle the resolution without pulling back on image quality. This is no surprise but is simply a fact of life.

If you want to play games above 2K you are best advised to pack a GTX 1070 GPU, rather than GTX 1060.

Cooling Performance.

Aorus has a tough job on its hands keeping gaming hardware cool in such a tiny chassis however it manages the job very capably. No doubt it helps that the total power draw is a relatively lowly 150W (that power supply works hard) but nonetheless Aorus has to make the system work correctly. The Kaby Lake CPU tops out at 82 degrees C and the GPU hit 76 degrees, which are each four degrees cooler than the similar Razer Blade laptop.

Under extreme load when the Aorus was drawing 150W we saw the CPU temperature bouncing off 90 degrees and temporarily throttling.

During our testing the CPU ran at a high idle temperature of 46 degrees; it is our guess this is a deliberate policy to reduce cooling noise to a minimum.

Acoustics performance.

We have complained about the noise from various Aorus laptops over the past few years. Take two GPUs in SLI or a single beefy GPU and you have plenty of heat to shift. Pack the hardware in a slender chassis and the fans work overtime, hence the noise. This X3 Plus v7-CF1 is the best of the Aorus laptops we have seen. Again, no doubt the relatively modest power draw helps, but it shows that Aorus has adjusted the fan curve to suit and this is welcome. The Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 is not a quiet laptop and we consider the Razer Blade to be better in this respect but you get more performance with this laptop and  therefore have to make allowances.

Closing Thoughts.

We approached the Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 with trepidation, wondering how it would perform and whether it would be as noisy as a high speed train arriving at the platform. All the big questions were answered favourably as the new Kaby Lake processor pulls the performance along nicely.

The GTX 1060 GPU does a fine job however it has a tough task pushing the high resolution IGZO display. In fact, we don’t see much point in the 3K display and while the laptop looks superb it would surely look very similar with a 2K panel and you wouldn’t have to muck around adjusting the resolution or image quality when you played games.

This is a thin and light gaming laptop that does a decent job and has no obvious problems and to be frank, that is a welcome improvement from Aorus. The pricing is interesting as the 512GB SSD helps keep the price below £2,000 and while we would prefer 1TB of storage we can see why Aorus went down this path.

In many respects, Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 is competing directly with Razer Blade. This is an uneven battle as the Aorus loses a certain amount in terms of build quality and overall finish but wins it back with overall performance, thanks to the faster CPU.

Whether or not you buy an Aorus cap, shirt and hoody to go with your new laptop, well that’s a completely different matter.

The Aorus X3 Plus v7-CF1 is available to buy at Overclockers UK for £1889.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Thin and light.
  • Excellent IGZO technology display panel.
  • Decent 1080p gaming performance.
  • Solid battery performance.
  • USB port on the power brick for charging your phone.

Cons:

  • Cooling fans are audible, even when you unzip files or install games.
  • Keyboard layout is annoying.
  • GTX 1060 graphics struggle to power the 3K display at high image quality settings.

KtGuru says: Aorus has made welcome improvements with the X3 Plus v7-CF1.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Cyberpower Infinity X55 VX System Review https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/dominic-moass/cyberpower-infinity-x55-vx-system-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/dominic-moass/cyberpower-infinity-x55-vx-system-review/#respond Wed, 30 Nov 2016 09:28:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=312427 With Christmas fast approaching, you may well be considering treating yourself to a brand new gaming PC. However, Brexit has hit prices pretty hard when it comes to buying components – some GTX 1080s now cost almost £900, for example. So what if you want a fast yet cost effective PC that can still deliver …

The post Cyberpower Infinity X55 VX System Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
With Christmas fast approaching, you may well be considering treating yourself to a brand new gaming PC. However, Brexit has hit prices pretty hard when it comes to buying components – some GTX 1080s now cost almost £900, for example. So what if you want a fast yet cost effective PC that can still deliver the goods? Cyberpower think their £999 Infinity X55 VX system is up to the job.

Given the psychological effect of being priced under £1000, Cyberpower hopes their Infinity X55 VX will prove an enticing deal as we head towards Christmas. Packing a Core i5 and GTX 1060 6GB, it has the makings of a decent gaming PC. However, before coming to any conclusions we run the Infinity X55 VX through our intensive benchmarking suite, including some of the most demanding games you can play.

main1

Specification:

  • Cyberpower ARC 649 tempered Glass case
  • Intel Core i5 6402P 2.8GHZ CPU
  • MSI GTX 1060 6GB
  • Intel 600P 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD
  • 16GB Corsair LPX 3000MHZ RAM (with Red LED)
  • 1TB WD Caviar Blue HDD
  • Cooler Master Hyper 212 LED cooler
  • 500W Cooler Master B500 PSU
  • Windows 10 Home Edition

Price: £999

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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PCSpecialist Defiance III 17.3 Laptop (w/ GTX 1060) https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/dominic-moass/pcspecialist-defiance-iii-17-3-laptop-w-gtx-1060/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/dominic-moass/pcspecialist-defiance-iii-17-3-laptop-w-gtx-1060/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2016 12:52:24 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=305972 Here at KitGuru we have already seen the monster that is the Asus ROG GX800VH – featuring dual GTX 1080s. However, with the price expected to be upwards of £5000, it is out of reach for most laptop gamers. That is where the PCSpecialist Defiance III comes in. It sports a Pascal GTX 1060 GPU, quad-core …

The post PCSpecialist Defiance III 17.3 Laptop (w/ GTX 1060) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Here at KitGuru we have already seen the monster that is the Asus ROG GX800VH – featuring dual GTX 1080s. However, with the price expected to be upwards of £5000, it is out of reach for most laptop gamers. That is where the PCSpecialist Defiance III comes in. It sports a Pascal GTX 1060 GPU, quad-core i7 processor and 16GB DDR4 memory, all in an attractive chassis. At £1349, it is still an investment, but do its features make the price worthwhile?

Given that the PCSpecialist Defiance III utilises a desktop GTX 1060, which we reviewed here, we can expect great performance on the 1080p, 17.3in display. A 512GB M.2 SSD is accompanied by a 1TB SSHD, and given the array of USB ports (Type-C and Type-A) also included, the Defiance III looks like a very exciting proposition on paper.

We put the Defiance III through its paces and see how it fares.

main1

Specifications

  • Chassis & Display Defiance Series: 17.3″ Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920×1080)
  • Processor (CPU): Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 6700HQ (2.6GHz, 3.5GHz Turbo)
  • Memory (RAM): 16GB HyperX IMPACT 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 8GB)
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 – 6.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM – DirectX® 12.1, G-SYNC
  • Storage: Hard Disk 1TB SEAGATE HYBRID 2.5″ SSHD Drive, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (5400 rpm). M.2 SSD 512GB SANDISK X400 M.2 2280 (up to 540MB/R, 520MB/W)
  • Memory Card Reader: Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
  • AC Adaptor: 1 x 200W AC Adaptor
  • Sound Card: Intel 2 Channel High Def. Audio + MIC/Headphone + SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3
  • Bluetooth & Wireless: GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8260 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) + BLUETOOTH USB
  • Ports: 5 x USB 3.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
  • Battery: Defiance Series 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (60WH)
  • Keyboard: DEFIANCE SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
  • Operating System: Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
  • Notebook Mouse: INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
  • Webcam: INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
  • Warranty: 3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Nvidia launches the 3GB GTX 1060 https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidia-launches-the-3gb-gtx-1060/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/matthew-wilson/nvidia-launches-the-3gb-gtx-1060/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2016 13:33:37 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=303404 Back before the GTX 1060 launched, we did hear whispers of a cheaper, 3GB version of the card and today, Nvidia officially launched it. Going forward, if you don't quite have the budget for a 6GB GTX 1060, then you can pick up the slightly cut down 3GB version for £189.99. There are a couple …

The post Nvidia launches the 3GB GTX 1060 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Back before the GTX 1060 launched, we did hear whispers of a cheaper, 3GB version of the card and today, Nvidia officially launched it. Going forward, if you don't quite have the budget for a 6GB GTX 1060, then you can pick up the slightly cut down 3GB version for £189.99.

There are a couple of differences between the 6GB and 3GB GTX 1060, as they use slightly different configurations. Memory and clock speeds between the two cards remain the same but the 6GB GTX 1060 features 1280 CUDA Cores, while the 3GB GTX 1060 features 1152.

GTX-1060

Nvidia won't be offering additional frame buffer options for either GTX 1060 going forward, these will be the only two versions. Retail availability should hit in the next few weeks with prices starting at £189.99, though partner cards with custom coolers could end up costing more.

A new Game Ready driver will be coming today too, adding in support for this new GTX 1060.

KitGuru Says: We don't know how much of a performance gap there will be between these two GPUs just yet so it will be interesting to see comparisons and reviews. Would you be tempted to go with the 3GB GTX 1060 at its proposed price point? Do you think there is enough of a gap between it and the 6GB version?

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Palit GTX 1060 Super JetStream 6GB Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/ryan-martin/palit-gtx-1060-super-jetstream-6gb-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/ryan-martin/palit-gtx-1060-super-jetstream-6gb-review/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2016 07:59:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=302934 As a mid-range GPU the most affordable GTX 1060's from Nvidia partners are likely to attract the eye of PC Gamers looking to upgrade on a tight budget. Palit answers this call directly with a more price-aggressive alternative to ASUS, MSI and other brands with its JetStream GTX 1060s. Palit offers a number of GTX …

The post Palit GTX 1060 Super JetStream 6GB Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
As a mid-range GPU the most affordable GTX 1060's from Nvidia partners are likely to attract the eye of PC Gamers looking to upgrade on a tight budget. Palit answers this call directly with a more price-aggressive alternative to ASUS, MSI and other brands with its JetStream GTX 1060s.

Palit_GTX1060_SuperJetStream (2)

Palit offers a number of GTX 1060 options but its the stock-clocked JetStream and overclocked Super JetStream graphics cards that arguably deliver the best combination of cooling, features, value and performance. Notable inclusions are semi-passive fan operation, RGB lighting, a dual BIOS and uprated-quality “Turbo Fans” which are similar in nature to MSI's Torx Fan.

The Super JetStream has an overclock that matches the ASUS GTX 1060 STRIX OC, 1620MHz core and 1847 MHz boost, though the memory remains at stock which should give the ASUS GPU a slight performance edge. The baseline JetStream model retains stock Nvidia clock speeds but should have a higher average boost clock speed than the Founders Edition by averting thermal throttling.

Palit also has an entry-level GTX 1060 Dual that sacrifices some features of the JetStream (dual BIOS, RGB and up-rated fans) to target a lower price point.

The price point of all three Palit cards, including the GTX 1060 Super JetStream, is lower than Nvidia's GTX 1060 Founders Edition and equivalent offerings from ASUS, MSI and others. Palit also charges only a nominal price premium for the overclocked model over the stock model which should give other video card brands some food for thought.

Customers in North America won't be able to buy the Palit Super JetStream as Palit doesn't sell to the North American market, the company pulled out in 2009. Though many of the Palit Microsystems sub-brands, Gainward and Galaxy for example, still retain a strong presence.

GPU Nvidia GTX 1060 Founders Edition
Palit GTX 1060 JetStream  Palit GTX 1060 Super JetStream
Base Clock 1506 MHz 1506 MHz 1620 MHz
GPU Boost Clock 1708 MHz  1708 MHz  1847 MHz
Memory Clock Effective
8008 MHz 8008 MHz 8008 MHz
Memory Bandwidth 192 GB/s 192 GB/s 192 GB/s
Price (£/$) £275/$300  £265 /$N/A £270 / $N/A

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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nVidia launches Pascal graphics for laptops https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nvidia-launches-pascal-graphics-for-laptops/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nvidia-launches-pascal-graphics-for-laptops/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2016 08:00:48 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=302847 Nvidia has launched GeForce GTX 10 series graphics chips for notebooks and the big news is that these are full Pascal chips, rather than M (for mobile) parts. We are still waiting for the full specs from Nvidia but as things stand we have some basic details on the first three models GTX 1080, 1070 …

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Nvidia has launched GeForce GTX 10 series graphics chips for notebooks and the big news is that these are full Pascal chips, rather than M (for mobile) parts.

We are still waiting for the full specs from Nvidia but as things stand we have some basic details on the first three models GTX 1080, 1070 and 1060:-

  • GTX 1080, 2560 cores, 1733MHz boost, 8GB memory, 10Gbps GDDR5X (replaces GTX 980 TDP)
  • GTX 1070, 2048 cores, 1645MHz boost, 8GB memory, 8Gbps (replaces GTX 980M TDP)
  • GTX 1060, 1280 cores, 1670MHz boost, 6GB memory, 8Gbps (replaces GTX 970M TDP)

Desktop parts for reference:-

  • GTX 1080, 2560 cores, 1733MHz boost
  • GTX 1070, 1920 cores, 1683MHz boost
  • GTX 1060, 1280 cores, 1708MHz boost

Base clock speeds and typical clock speeds are a bit vague, and we consider those quoted boost speeds are best thought of as ‘up to’ figures. The reason we are being cautious is that the thermal design of a laptop has a critical impact on CPU and GPU speeds. To add further room for confusion Nvidia is positively encouraging its laptop partners (Sager, Gigabyte, Lenovo, Clevo, EVGA, Alienware, Asus, MSI, HP, Acer, Razer, Origin and XMG, globally, plus the likes of PC Specialist in the UK) to overclock the heck out of GTX 1080.

Maxwell could overclock by 80-100MHz however we are told Pascal can overclock 200, 250 or maybe 300MHz. Notebooks do not support over-volting so results will vary as Nvidia involuntarily proved. During a briefing where cameras were banned they showed Doom running with a +225MHz overclock and the demo crashed twice. They had clearly practised this demo, presumably successfully, and when they returned to the demo later it ran successfully without any further explanation.

At launch GTX 1080 can be overclocked and 1070 and 1060 overclocking will follow a couple of months later i.e. they launch at stock clocks. It seems clear that cheaper GPUs such as GTX 1050 will launch in time.

The layout of the various GPUs does not follow exactly the same configuration as the desktop Pascal chips. GTX 1070 stands out as the mobile chip has 2,048 cores operating up to 1,645MHz while the desktop GTX 1070 has 1,920 cores that run up to 1,683MHz. In other words the new mobile chip has a slightly higher count of CUDA cores that operate at a slightly lower clock speed. Nvidia told KitGuru ‘it just worked out better that way.’

Nvidia refused to discuss TDPs for the new GPUs. They did, however, state that GPU performance should be within ten percent of the desktop Founders Edition which sounds pretty darn impressive.

Gaming on battery power is entirely possible (VR requires mains power) however the life of your battery will clearly be a limiting factor. Nvidia’s BatteryBoost software has been redefined and they claim up to 30 percent more gaming on battery with Pascal. You can cap the frame rate at a chosen point between 30fps and 60fps, or simply disable BatteryBoost and go for maximum performance

Nvidia is pushing G-Sync displays at 120Hz and 2,560×1,400 resolution and we were told there will be at least one panel that is both 120Hz and 2,560×1,400. Nvidia seems to be making very little effort to push 4K displays on gaming laptops and we can entirely see their point.

Yes, they said, you can play games at 4K and 60fps with High Quality settings however 1080p, 120Hz and 120fps in some games is likely to give you a better gaming experience.

The sooner we have a Pascal gaming laptop on review the better and then we can see for ourselves.

In the meantime, here's a selection of the laptops and features that were on show at the launch. To show off the LED lighting on some models they were in ‘low light' areas:-

Asus GL502
GTX 1060
G-Sync
Asus-GL502

MSI GT73
GTX 1080
120Hz Display
G-Sync available
VR-MSI-GT-73-pic-1
 MSI-GT73-pic-3 MSI-GT73-pic-1

MSI GS43
GTX 1060
Thin form factor
VR-MSI-GS43-pic-1
VR-MSI-GS43-pic-2

HP Omen
GTX 1070
With optional G-Sync
VR-HP-Omen-pic-3
VR-HP-Omen-pic-1 VR-HP-Omen-pic-4

Acer Predator 15
GTX 1070
With G-Sync
Acer-Predator-15-pic-1

Asus G752
GTX 1070
120Hz display
G-Sync available
Asus-G752-pic-1
Asus-G752-pic-7  Asus-G752-pic-3

Clevo P775
GTX 1080
4K Display
G-Sync
Clevo-P775-pic-1

EVGA SC17
GTX 1070
4K Display
G-Sync available
EVGA-SC17-pic-3 EVGA-SC17-pic-2

MSI GS63
GTX 1060
4K Display
Thin form factor
MSI-GS63-pic-1 MSI-GS63-pic-4 MSI-GS63-pic-5

MSI GT62
GTX 1070
G-Sync
MSI-GT62-pic-2 MSI-GT62-pic-4 MSI-GT62-pic-5

MSI GT72
GTX 1070
120Hz
G-Sync available
MSI-GT72-pic-1 MSI-GT72-pic-4 MSI-GT72-pic-7

Razer Blade
GTX 1060
Thin form factor
Razer-Blade-pic-1

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MSI GTX 1060 6GB Gaming X Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/ryan-martin/msi-gtx-1060-6gb-gaming-x-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ryan-martin/msi-gtx-1060-6gb-gaming-x-review/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2016 07:58:30 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=301910 There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a GTX 1060 graphics card, Nvidia's mid-range GPU is the most fiercely contested by all its graphics partners. MSI's Gaming Series interpretation of Nvidia's GPUs has been a winning formula in this competitive market in the past, let's see if MSI's latest iteration …

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There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a GTX 1060 graphics card, Nvidia's mid-range GPU is the most fiercely contested by all its graphics partners. MSI's Gaming Series interpretation of Nvidia's GPUs has been a winning formula in this competitive market in the past, let's see if MSI's latest iteration has what it takes to continue that success.

MSI_GTX1060_GamingX (2)

With five MSI graphics cards to choose from for Nvidia's new GTX 1060 MSI is naturally trying to draw the buyer's attention towards the more prestigious and expensive Gaming Series variants. The design philosophy is consistent with recent MSI graphics cards, even the keen observer will find there's fairly little to differentiate the MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X from Gaming variants of the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080.

The sixth iteration of the Twin Frozr cooling solution is the primary selling point for MSI's GTX 1060 Gaming – a tried and trusted blend of copper heat pipes, two large fans and semi-passive fan operation. The overall design and appearance is familiar with an established red and black colour scheme, though a styling facelift and RGB lighting does bring it into 2016.

MSI is effectively offering the same graphics twice with Gaming and Gaming X models, the only obvious difference between the two being pricing and clock speeds (see below table). ASUS has implemented a similar strategy with its GTX 1060 STRIX but MSI seems to have the edge with more aggressive pricing, even if ASUS has opted for a larger overclock on the flagship model.

The out of the box frequencies are a somewhat contentious point after a controversy embroiled a number of graphics card vendors, ASUS and MSI included, for shipping review samples at higher clock speeds than retail samples.

In this review we're testing the MSI card with its default Gaming Mode profile that is shipped to customers, a better performing “OC Mode” profile can be toggled using MSI's Gaming App software which raises the maximum boost from 1784 to 1809MHz and the memory from 8 to 8.1 GHz.

GPU Nvidia GTX 1060 Founders Edition
 MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X  MSI GTX 1060 Gaming
GPU Cores 1280 1280  1280
Base Clock 1506 MHz  1569 MHz  1518 MHz
GPU Boost Clock 1708 MHz 1784 MHz  1733 MHz
Total Video memory 6144 MB 6144 MB  6144 MB
Memory Clock Effective
 8008 MHz  8008 MHz   8008 MHz
Memory Bandwidth 192 GB/s  192 GB/s  192 GB/s
Bus Width 192-bit 192-bit 192-bit
Price (£/$) £275/$300  £300/ $290 £290/ $280

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