multireview | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:26:00 +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 multireview | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 RX 7900 GRE 4-way Round Up (Gigabyte + Sapphire) https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/rx-7900-gre-4-way-round-up-gigabyte-sapphire/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/rx-7900-gre-4-way-round-up-gigabyte-sapphire/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:01:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=650877 We check out no less than four RX 7900 GRE models from Sapphire and Gigabyte

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In for review today we have no less than four RX 7900 GRE partner cards – three from Sapphire and one from Gigabyte. It's safe to say we weren't blown away by the AMD reference model when the formerly Chinese-exclusive GPU launched globally at the end of February, so can AMD's partners improve things and make this a product worth buying?

In alphabetical order, the first model we are looking at today is the Gigabyte RX 7900 GRE Gaming OC, sporting a triple-fan cooler, dual-BIOS and reasonably aggressive factory overclock. Then we have the Sapphire RX 7900 GRE Nitro+, with a triple-slot cooler that looks as good as ever, along with dual-BIOS and plentiful RGB lighting. The Sapphire RX 7900 GRE Pure is the first time we have looked at an all-white Pure model from Sapphire, and rounding out the show we have the Sapphire RX 7900 GRE Pulse, with the Pulse family proving to be a dependable wallet-friendly option over the last few years.

RX 7900 XTX RX 7900 XT RX 7900 GRE RX 7800 XT RX 7700 XT
Architecture RDNA 3 RDNA 3 RDNA 3 RDNA 3 RDNA 3
Manufacturing Process 5nm GCD + 6nm MCD 5nm GCD + 6nm MCD 5nm GCD + 6nm MCD 5nm GCD + 6nm MCD 5nm GCD + 6nm MCD
Transistor Count 57.7 billion 57.7 billion 57.7 billion 28.1 billion 28.1 billion
Die Size  300 mm² GCD

220 mm² MCD

300 mm² GCD

220 mm² MCD

300 mm² GCD

220 mm² MCD

200 mm² GCD

150 mm² MCD

200 mm² GCD

150 mm² MCD

Compute Units 96 84 80 60 54
Ray Accelerators 96 84 80 60 54
Stream Processors  6144 5376 5120 3840 3456
Game GPU Clock Up to 2300MHz Up to 2000 MHz 1880 MHz 2124 MHz 2171 MHz
Boost GPU Clock Up to 2500 MHz Up to 2400 MHz Up to 2245 MHz Up to 2430 MHz Up to 2544 MHz
ROPs 192 192 192 96 96
AMD Infinity Cache 96MB 80MB 64MB 64MB 48MB
Memory 24GB GDDR6 20GB GDDR6 16GB GDDR6 16GB GDDR6 12GB GDDR6
Memory Data Rate 20 Gbps 20 Gbps 18 Gbps 19.5 Gbps 18 Gbps
Memory Bandwidth 960 GB/s 800 GB/s 576 GB/s 624 GB/s 432 GB/s
Memory Interface  384-bit 320-bit 256-bit 256-bit 192-bit
Board Power  355W 315W 260 W 263W 245W

First, let's take a quick look at the specs. The RX 7900 GRE is using the same Navi 31 die that we first saw with the RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT, but it has been significantly cut-down. Still, using the same die means we find a 300mm² Graphics Compute Die, based on TSMC's 5nm node, flanked by six 37mm² Memory Cache Dies (though two are disabled for the 7900 GRE). In total, the Navi 31 GPU packs 57.7 billion transistors.

While a full Navi 31 GPU packs in 96 Compute Units, the 7900 GRE is cut down to 80 CUs, 4 fewer than the 7900 XT, and each CU houses 64 Steam Processors, for a total of 5120 shaders. There's also 80 Ray Accelerators – one per CU – and 192 ROPs.

As for clock speed, AMD has de-coupled the clocks, so the front-end and shaders can operate at different clock speeds in a bid to save power. With the RX 7900 GRE, all four cards tested today come factory overclocked – the Nitro+ has a boost of 2391MHz, the Pure has a boost of 2333MHz, the Pulse is at 2293MHz, while the Gigabyte Gaming OC clocks at 2391MHz.

The memory configuration is where we see the biggest change compared to the 7900 XT, however. With two of the six MCDs disabled, the RX 7900 GRE packs 16GB of GDDR6 memory clocked at 18Gbps, operating over a 256-bit memory interface, for total memory bandwidth of 576 GB/s. 64MB of Infinity Cache is also present, which allows AMD to claim an ‘effective memory bandwidth' of up to 2265.6 GB/s.

Power draw for the RX 7900 GRE is also rated at 260W Total Board Power (TBP), but the Sapphire Nitro and Gigabyte Gaming OC have increased this closer to 300W, while the Pure and Pulse are just above 260W TBP.

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8-way AIO Showdown – KitGuru’s 2023 CPU Cooler Round-Up https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/8-way-aio-showdown-kitgurus-2023-cpu-cooler-round-up/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/8-way-aio-showdown-kitgurus-2023-cpu-cooler-round-up/#respond Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:00:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=636881 It's a mega 8-way CPU AIO cooler showdown to find the best out the bunch!

The post 8-way AIO Showdown – KitGuru’s 2023 CPU Cooler Round-Up first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
There have been plenty of new AIO CPU cooler launches this year, for the most part we have covered them through individual reviews which you can find on the website and our YouTube channel. But we have been left with a stack of coolers to take a look at before the year is out, so today we have an AIO showdown where we will take a brief look at the specs and features of eight AIO coolers, test them on our Intel Core i9-13900K system and let you know which of these coolers are worth spending your hard-earned cash on before the year is up.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
01:08 Lian Li Coolers
02:01 Lian Li GA II LCD 360 – Unifan SL-INF 120 Version
07:08 Installation and discussion
09:55 Lian Li GA II Trinity Performance
15:03 Installation and discussion
17:38 Sharkoon S90 White 360
22:10 Installation and discussion
22:57 Silverstone ICEMYST 360 + 420 + IMF70 70mm Fans
28:30 Installation and discussion
30:33 Be Quiet! Pure Loop 2 360 V2
35:31 Installation and discussion
37:00 Enermax LiqMaxFlo 360 AIO
40:55 Installation and discussion
42:06 Valkyrie SYN360
48:01 Installation and discussion
48:36 Cooler and testing details
49:37 Noise output
50:18 100% fans
51:16 40dBA noise normalised
51:52 1400rpm fans
52:39 James thoughts

We have two coolers from Lian Li, the Galahad II Trinity Performance and LCD, both 360mm and in white. Two more from Silverstone with 360mm and 420mm versions that feature a unique clip on VRM fan solution. Valkyrie is a new name in the cooling space to me but has an interesting 360mm LCD-clad AIO that’s worth a look. Enermax is back with some new LIQMAXFLO coolers featuring an active VRM cooling fan on the CPU block and we have a couple of more basic budget coolers from Sharkoon with the S90 RGB white and be quiet!’s revised Pure Loop 2 360.

We've rounded up all the specs, features, and the usual pro's and con’s, as well as the performance charts below for you to browse through. However, if you want to see the coolers in all their glory make sure you check out the video in the YouTube link at the top of this page. There's a lot to get through so let's get cracking.

Lian Li Galahad II LCD 360 – UNIFAN SL-INF 360

Price and availability:

  • 280mm ARGB – $229.99 Black / White
  • 360mm ARGB – $249,99 Black / White
  • 360mm SL-INF 360 – $289.99 Black / White

All are available now in the UK from Overclockers UK for £269.99 for the SL-INF 360 version HERE

Features:

  • Available in Black or white, 280mm and 360mm. A total of 3 versions with either 120mm / 140mm ARGB PWM fans or a 360mm version with SL-INF 120 fans and an L-Connet controller.
  • Based on the Asetek Generation 8 pump design with a low-profile CPU block which is more suitable for an LCD display.
  • 2.88” IPS LCD Screen with 480 x 480 resolution to display system info, images, gifs etc, controlled by Lian Li L-Connect 3 software (hub included).
  • 45-degree rotary fittings on the tubing at the radiator side and 90-degree rotary fittings on the CPU block.
  • 30mm thick aluminium radiator with single wave fin design.
  • 6-Year warranty.

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA1700 / LGA1200 / LGA115X, AMD AM5 / AM4
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H) 360mm: 399.5 x 120 x 30mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120mm x 25mm
  • Pump Speed: 3600 RPM
  • Fan Speed: 2100 RPM
  • Fan Airflow: 3 CFM Max
  • Fan Pressure: 66 mmH2O Max
  • Fan Noise Level: 29 dBA
  • Fan Bearing Type: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Fan Power Connector: PWM
  • LCD Screen type: IPS 480 x 480 resolution
  • Warranty: 6 Years

Pros:

  • Very impressive thermal performance.
  • Low noise output.
  • Fan RGB Effects are the best I have seen.
  • Cooling hardware is easy to install.
  • LCD/FAN control is easy using the L-CONNET software.
  • Premium-looking product.

Cons:

  • A lot of unnecessary wiring and connections.
  • Two USB motherboard headers are required.

Rating: 9.

Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance 360

Price and availability:

  • Available in black or white 360mm size only.
  • $169.99 USD MSRP.

Available in the UK from Overclockers UK priced at £169.99 HERE.

 Features:

  • Available in black or white colour schemes.
  • Apaltek OEM.
  • Interchangeable pump top covers are included with three different looks.
  • Daisy chainable fans with integrated cable covers help to tidy up the wiring.
  • Switchable performance mode of the fans via an in-line switch for high-speed mode or reduced noise mode (lower maximum RPM).
  • 45-degree rotary tube fittings on the radiator side and 90-degree rotary fittings on the CPU block end.
  • Fan / Pump speed and RGB lighting are controlled by Lian Li L-Connet 3 software, but also standard type cables which can be connected to motherboard headers.
  • 5-year warranty

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA1700 / LGA1200 / LGA1151, AMD AM5 / AM4
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H): 396 x 130 x 32mm
  • Tubing Length: 385mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 28mm
  • Pump Speed: 4200 RPM
  • Fan Speed: L: 200~2300 RPM (Max.) H: 200~3000 RPM (Max.)
  • Fan Airflow: L: 81.9 CFM (Max.) H: 109.6 CFM (Max.)
  • Fan Pressure: L: 4.15 mmH2O (Max.) H: 6.99 mmH2O (Max.)
  • Fan Noise Level : L: 29 dB(A) H: 38.1 dB(A)
  • Fan Bearing Type: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Fan Power Connector: 4-Pin (PWM)
  • Warranty: 5 Years

Pros:

  • Installation is quite simple.
  • No additional RGB fan / hub is required.
  • PWM fans / Pump.
  • High-speed fan mode gives great performance.

Cons:

  • Fans are very loud at max RPM in High-speed mode.
  • Lots of wiring is permanently attached / needs to be connected to the pump.
  • Lots of cable management needed to look neat.

Rating: 8.5.

Silverstone ICEMYST 360mm and 420mm + IMF70 70mm fans

Price and availability:

  • Available in 360mm and 420mm versions.
  • MSRP – $170 USD – 420 and $140 USD – 360

UK buyers can pick up the Silverstone IceMyst from Amazon UK, the 360mm version is available for £127.28 HERE and the 420mm is £146.38 HERE.

Features:

  • Seamless 360-degree rotatable pump top cover.
  • Daisy chained fans feature a modular cabling design to simplify connections.
  • A slightly convex copper cold plate ensures firm contact with the CPU.
  • High static pressure fans optimised for use with radiators.
  • IMF70 70mm fans can be attached to the CPU block to cool other motherboard components.
  • The IceMyst is equipped with dual-zone ARGB lighting on the fans and the pump top cover.

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA 115X/1200/1700/2011/2066, AMD socket AM5/AM4
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H): 120mm (W) x 28mm (H) x 396mm (D)
  • Tubing Length: 460mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x25
  • Pump Speed: 3,100 ±10% RPM
  • Fan Speed: 500 ~ 2,200 RPM
  • Fan Airflow: 74 CFM
  • Fan Pressure: 4mmH2O
  • Fan Noise Level: 1 dBA max
  • Fan Power Connector: 4 pin PWM & 4-1 pin ARGB (5V LED)
  • Warranty: 1 year in North America/Australia, 3 years in the UK.

Pros:

  • Daisy-chained fans keep cables somewhat tidy.
  • Adding IMF70 Fans could keep other components cooler.
  • Installation isn’t too complicated.
  • Decent thermal performance in all configurations that we tested.
  • The price seems reasonable.

Cons:

  • Short warranty – 1 Year in North America/Australia.
  • Adding IMF70 fans makes the CPU block very tall.
  • RGB lighting is quite dim and there is a lot of light bleed from LEDs around the fan hubs.

Rating: 8.

Sharkoon S90 RGB White 360

Price and availability:

  • Available in Black or white.
  • MSRP – €129  / £133.

The Sharkoon S90 White is available from Amazon UK for £ currently HERE.

Features:

  • A small pump / CPU block design for a compact look.
  • The Sharkoon S690 is equipped with two ARGB lighting zones on the fans and the pump top cover.
  • Daisy-chained fans provide easy and tidy-looking cable management out of the box.
  • Full control over fan and pump speed with PWM.
  • A rotatable Sharkoon logo on the pump top means the logo will always be in the correct position no matter of the cooler orientation.
  • Micro-skived copper cold plate.

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel® Socket LGA 115X / 1366 / 1200 / 1700 / 2011 / 2011-3 / 2066, AMD® TR4 / TRX4 / AM5 / AM4 / AM2 / FM2 / FM1 / AM3+ / AM2+ / AM2
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H): 392 x 121 x 27.5 mm
  • Tubing Length: 400mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 25 mm
  • Pump Speed: 1,600 ~ 3,200 rpm ± 6 %
  • Fan Speed: 600 ~ 2,000 rpm ± 10 %
  • Fan Airflow: 65 CFM
  • Fan Pressure: 90 mmH₂O
  • Fan Noise Level: 35 dB(A)
  • Fan Power Connector: 4-Pin PWM
  • Warranty: 2 Years

Pros:

  • Quick installation process.
  • Looks good.
  • All standard motherboard header connections.
  • PWM speed control.

Cons:

  • Poor performance compared with some rivals at high fan RPM and 40dBA.
  • Noisy at high RPM.
  • Noticeable light bleed from fan LEDs
  • Short warranty.

Rating: 7.

Be quiet! Pure Loop 2 360 V2

Price and availability:

The original Pure Loop 2 launched in October 2020 and the FX version with be quiet! Light Wings ARGB fans launched in August 2022.

  • Available in 120 / 240 / 280 and 360mm sizes.
  • MSRP – 120mm $99.90, 240mm $114.90, 280mm $124.90, 360mm $139.90.
  • UK buyers can pick up the Pure Loop 2 360 for £124.99 from Overclockers UK HERE.

Features:

  • The latest version of the Pure Loop 2 is equipped with a double decoupled pump mounted in line on the radiator tubing with PWM speed control.
  • The LED ring around the pump top cover is now illuminated with ARGB lighting rather than single-colour white LED lighting.
  • New Pure Wings 3 fans replace the Light Wings fans previously found on the FX version and the Pure Wings 2 fans that were included with the original Pure Loop 2.
  • This new version of the Pure Loop 2 is a muted version of the Pure Loop 2 FX which is reflected in the lower price.
  • A fill port is integrated into the radiator and a top-up fluid bottle is included with the cooler, so users can top up the system when necessary.
  • Pure Wings 3 is be quiet’s first fan to feature closed-loop motor control which feeds back fan speed information to the control circuit and adjusts the target fan speed – almost like a cruise control on your car.

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel 1700 / 1200 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155, AMD AM5 / AM4
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 397 x 27
  • Tubing Length: 400mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 25
  • Pump Speed: 4000 – 5500 RPM PWM Control
  • Fan Speed: 2100 RPM WPM Control
  • Fan Airflow: 9 CFM
  • Fan Pressure: 41 mmH2O
  • Fan Noise Level: 9 dBA (Max)
  • Fan Bearing Type: Rifle Bearing
  • Fan Power Connector: 4-pin PWM
  • Warranty: 3 Years

Pros:

  • Very quick and simple installation.
  • No additional fan or RGB controllers are required for the cooler to operate.
  • The new RGB lighting on the pump housing looks good.
  • Reasonable price.

Cons:

  • Performance lagging behind rivals at high fan speed and at 40 dBA noise normalised.
  • Individual cables connected to a splitter for fans feel quite dated now.

Rating: 7.5.

Enermax LIQFLOMAX 360

Price and availability:

  • Available in 240mm, 360mm and 420mm sizes as well as a non-RGB fan version in 120, 240 and 360mm sizes.
  • MSRP: 360mm – €129, 420mm – €159, 240mm – €109.
  • Available on Amazon US and Amazon EU, the 360mm is currently €150 on Amazon.de, but at the time of writing this article, it is out of stock.

Features:

  • LIQMAXFLO is equipped with a chunky 38mm thick radiator for optimal cooling.
  • Dual chamber pump featuring patented shunt-channel technology with enlarged coolant inlet and optimal flow design increases pressure by 30% and flow by 20% which enhances cooling efficiency.
  • A refillable radiator design with an integrated fill port and maintenance kit supplied which includes top-up coolant.
  • The pump, VRM fan and radiator fans are all PWM controlled.
  • CPU block top cover is removable and can be rotated to ensure the Enermax logo is in the correct orientation no matter which way the cooler is installed.
  • The cooler comes with a thermal compound pre-applied to the copper cold plate.

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA 1700 /1200 /115X / 2066 / 2011, AMD AM4 / AM5
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H): 400 x 120 x 38mm
  • Tubing Length: 400mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H):120 x 120 x 26.8mm
  • Pump Speed: 1200 – 3000 RPM PWM control
  • Fan Speed: 500 – 1800 RPM PWM Control
  • Fan Airflow: 03 CFM
  • Fan Pressure: 4 mmH2O
  • Fan Noise Level: 46 dBA
  • Fan Bearing Type: N/A
  • Fan Power Connector: PWM and 3-pin 5v ARGB
  • Warranty: 5 Year

Pros:

  • Easy installation.
  • NO RGB controller is required to work.
  • Quiet operation even at max fan speed.

Cons:

  • Fan RGB lighting is quite dim and there's a significant LED light bleed.
  • The VRM fan can be quite loud at high speed.
  • Amazon's price is higher than MSRP so not such good value.
  • Performance isn’t as good as expected.

Rating: 7.5.

Valkyrie SYN360

Price and availability:

  • Available in black or white and 360mm or 240mm versions.
  • SYN240 starts from €169 MSRP.
  • SYN360 is €201 for the black version and a few Euros more for the white version, However, availability is absent in the UK at least.

Features:

  • 4-inch LCD screen with 320 x 240 resolution can display animation, photos and essential PC performance parameters. The screen is controlled by the Valkyrie software.
  • Micro-skived copper cold plate base and high RPM pump for optimal cooling performance on modern Intel and AMD desktop processors.
  • Low evaporation tubing with braided sleeving reduces coolant loss over time.
  • Addressable RGB fans with PWM speed control.

Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel 1700 / 1200 / 115X / 2066 / 2011, AMD AM4 / AM5
  • Radiator Dimensions (L x W x H): 397 x 120 x 27mm
  • Tubing Length: 425mm
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 25mm
  • Pump Speed: 2900 RPM
  • Fan Speed: 800-2150 RPM (± 10%)
  • Fan Airflow: 80 CFM
  • Fan Pressure: 800-2150 RPM (± 10%)
  • Fan Noise Level: 800-2150 RPM (± 10%)
  • Fan Power Connector: 4-pin PWM and 3-pin 5V ARGB
  • Warranty: 5 Years

Pros:

  • Decent thermal performance at high fan speed.
  • Nice bright looking LCD display
  • RGB Effects on the fans look good
  • Thermal performance is okay.

Cons:

  • Red accents are not suitable for all systems with different colour schemes.
  • Using an SDCard for displaying images and gifs on the LCD screen is an odd choice.
  • The implementation of on-screen info looks crude.
  • The 5-year warranty is good.

Rating: 7.5.

Test System Specifications:

  • CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K
  • Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master
  • Memory: 32GB (2 X 16GB Modules) Kingston Fury  DDR5-6000
  • Graphics card: Gigabyte RX 7900 XT Gaming OC
  • Storage: 500GB Corsair MP600 PCIe Gen4 NVME M.2 SSD
  • Power Supply: Seasonic Prime TX-1000
  • Chassis: Open Test Bench
  • Thermal Compound: Arctic MX-6
  • Operating System: Windows 11 Version 22H2

Testing Methodology:

We are primarily focussing on the performance of each cooler at 100% fan speed and also when locked to 40dBA noise output but for this showdown, we have added in a fixed 1400RPM fan test. We will focus on cooling performance using a manual overclock with all-core frequency and VCORE locked to 5.5GHz/4.3Ghz (P/E Cores) 1.3v with level 5 LLC in the BIOS.

  • The test data is logged using HWINFO and the final 10 minutes of the data is calculated to find the average CPU Delta temperature and then plotted in the charts.
  • For testing, we use a 30-minute looped run of Cinebench R23 and record the steady-state CPU temperature at the end of the test. This ensures that the CPU has had ample time to warm up and reach a steady state under all of the coolers.
  • The ambient is maintained at 19-21 degrees Celsius. Where there is variation beyond this temperature range, we add extra repeated tests to ensure consistency. However, this is well controlled now with A/C.
  • We also test each cooler with at least two fresh installs (typically three) to mitigate the likelihood of poor mounting spoiling results.
  • Ambient temperature and humidity are controlled via a mini split air conditioning system inside the test room. Ambient temperature is maintained between 19-21C, Temperature delta figures are shown in the charts (ambient temperature is deducted from the measured component temperature).

Test Scenarios

  • 100% Fan/PUMP Speed.
  • 40dBA Noise Normalised.
  • Fixed 1400 RPM Fan speed with max pump speed.

Test Results:

Acoustics

We will start by looking at noise output which gives us a good indication of thermal performance based on noise.

The Lian Li Galahad II and Enermax LIQMAXFLO are the quietest of all the coolers by a noticeable margin. be quiet! lives up to its name being next in the chart but I expected less noise from the Pure Wings 3 fans, however they are high-speed versions running up to 2300 RPM so they are running faster than both the Galahad II LCD and the LIQMAXFLOW fans.

All the other coolers run at +50dBA so the noise output of the rest is quite noticeable at maximum RPM and could be a little distracting for some users.

Thermal Performance – 100% Fan Duty Cycle

With all coolers fans maxed out at 100% duty cycle results are quite interesting because both Lian Li Galahad II coolers top the charts here even though they are two completely different coolers from separate OEM suppliers.

Even though the Trinity Performance tops the charts, the performance of the LCD version seems more impressive due to its lower fan speed and noise output but it's still only a couple of degrees hotter on performance compared with the Trinity Performance.

Both Silverstone and Valkyrie coolers are quite evenly matched in terms of performance at max fan speed just a couple of degrees behind the Lian Li coolers, which is a good outcome considering the price of the Silverstone coolers is significantly lower.

However, the final three coolers from Sharkoon, Enermax and be quite! Are a fair way off the performance of the others with average temperatures at max RPM 5 or 6°C higher, which is a little disappointing considering they all use 360mm radiators.

Thermal Performance – 40dBA Noise Normalised

At 40dBA noise normalised again the Li Lian coolers both top the charts with very similar performance. Like the previous test, at 40dBA the Silverstone IceMyst 420 is close behind, the IceMyst 360 is a couple of degrees hotter and the Valkyrie SYN360 is holding its thermal performance too.

The be quiet! Pure loop 2 shows an improvement in thermal performance at 40dBA and is very closely matched by the Enermax LIQMAXFLO but the Sharkoon S90 white suffers when the fans are limited to 40dBA noise output.

Thermal Performance – Fixed 1400 RPM Fan Speed

For an additional test, we fixed all the cooler's fan speeds to 1400 RPM. This resulted in a change at the top of the chart with the Silverstone IceMyst 420 having the advantage of larger fans. Still, the Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance was very close to the IceMyst 420mm performance, and the Galahad II LCD again wasn’t far behind at all.

The performance of the Valkyrie SYN360 dropped off a little at 1400 RPM relative to its performance in the other tests, the Enermax, Sharkoon and be quiet! coolers are not far behind, however, there's almost 10 10-degree delta between the top and bottom coolers which is significant when you take into account that the Silverstone IceMyst and be quiet! coolers are similarly priced, which means that the Silverstone AIO looks like better value for money.

Overall, the Lian Li Galahad II coolers are a little more expensive but their performance is excellent in any scenario which makes them my all-around favourite while the Silverstone IceMyst offer the best value in terms of performance.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Both of the Lian Li Galahad II coolers topped the charts in almost all of our tests showing outstanding thermal performance on the Intel Core-i9 13900K. For us, the best all-round package is the Galahad II LCD if you have the budget for it. If you are looking to be a little more savvy with your money, you can't go wrong with the Silverstone IceMyst coolers which offer good thermal performance and decent RGB lighting effects at an affordable price. If it is all out raw performance that you need then the Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance is your best bet.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Cooler Master MA824 Stealth vs DeepCool Assassin IV https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/cooler-master-ma824-stealth-vs-deepcool-assassin-iv/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/cooler-master-ma824-stealth-vs-deepcool-assassin-iv/#respond Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:00:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=632716 It's a head to head battle between these two new big air coolers, but which one will win?

The post Cooler Master MA824 Stealth vs DeepCool Assassin IV first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
We have reviewed several AIO coolers in recent months, some good and some less impressive. But today it’s the return of air coolers as we have two very similar spec and similarly priced dual tower air coolers to review. So instead of an individual review for each cooler, we are putting these two head to head to find out which one is the best.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:37 Pricing
01:13 Assassin IV technical details
01:46 MA824 Stealth technical details
02:50 Assassin IV accessories box
03:37 MA824 Stealth accessories box
04:25 Assassin IV close look
07:37 MA824 close look
10:08 Installation process
11:55 Testing the coolers
12:25 Noise Output
12:53 Thermal performance / 40dBa
13:56 James thoughts on the coolers

The Cooler Master MA824 Stealth and DeepCool Assassin IV are very similar CPU coolers. They both have large dual aluminium fin stacks, solid copper CPU contact plates and come with two fans. However, the MA824 Stealth trumps the Assassin IV in one area, the Assassin IV has seven 6mm diameter heat pipes while the MA824 Stealth has eight superconductive composite heat pipes which could be the difference in performance between the two coolers, we will find out later in this review.

Both coolers also share similar MSRP pricing with the DeepCool Assassin IV being slightly cheaper out of the two with an MSRP of £84.99 while the MA824 Stealth is a little more at £89.99. If you look at online retailers you will find the Assassin IV selling at its MSRP but the best price currently for the MA824 Stealth seems to be a little above the MSRP at almost £100. So the Assassin IV has the edge when it comes to value for money but that doesn’t mean it’s the best buy, does it?

DeepCool Assassin IV Features:

  • Seven 6mm diameter heat pipes with a solid copper CPU contact plate.
  • Large dual aluminium heat sink fin stacks with a black coating for an elegant look and optimal airflow.
  • The cooler is equipped with 120mm and 140mm DeepCool FDB fans and a heatsink-mounted switch for swapping between performance and quiet fan modes.
  • The heat sink design allows for unobstructed RAM clearance on AMD AM4/AM5 and Intel LGA 1700/1200/115X desktop platforms with two fans installed.
  • Total height of 164mm for improved compatibility.
  • An optional 3rd fan bracket is included for users to add an additional 120mm fan if required.
  • 6-year warranty.

DeepCool Assassin IV Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility – LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1156, LGA1155, AM5, AM4
  • Dimensions (L x W x H) – 144×147×164 mm(L×W×H)
  • Heat Sink Material – 7 x Ø6mm Heat Pipes, Aluminium Fins
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H) – 140×140×25 mm(L×W×H) / 120×120×25 mm(L×W×H)
  • Fan Speed – 500-1700 RPM±10% (performance mode)
  • Fan Airflow – 1 CFM / 58.06 CFM (performance mode)
  • Fan Pressure – 44 mmH₂O / 2.1 mmH₂O (performance mode)
  • Fan Noise Level – ≤29.3 dB(A) (performance mode)
  • Fan Bearing Type – Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Fan Power Connector – 4-Pin (PWM)
  • Warranty – 6 years

MA824 Stealth Features:

  • MA824 Stealth is equipped with eight New Superconductive Composite heat pipes with different internal textures at the bottom and top of the heat pipe for improved heat dissipation – fine texture at the bottom on the evaporator side and coarse texture at the top on the condenser side.
  • Uses two fans – one 135mm central and a 120mm front Mobius series fan.
  • Large solid copper CPU contact plate and dual aluminium heat sink fin stack with an all-black stealth design coating.
  • 120mm front fan allows for a maximum RAM clearance of 42mm for improved compatibility.
  • High-performance Cooler Master thermal paste is pre-applied to the base of the cooler.
  • Compatible with all current desktop CPU platforms including Intel LGA1700/1200/115X and AMD AM4/AM5.
  • 5-year warranty.

Cooler Master MA824 Stealth Specification:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility – LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1156, LGA1155, AM5, AM4
  • Dimensions (L x W x H) – 2 x 150.6 x 165.6 mm
  • Heat Sink Material – 8 Heat Pipes, Aluminium Fins
  • Fan Dimensions (L x W x H) – 135mm Fan: 135 x 135 x 26 mm, 120mm Fan: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
  • Fan Speed – 135mm Fan: 0-1550 RPM ± 15%, 120mm Fan: 0-1950 RPM ± 15%
  • Fan Airflow – 135mm Fan: 63.6 CFM (Max), 120mm Fan: 63.1 CFM (Max)
  • Fan Pressure – 135mm Fan: 1.92 mmH₂O, 120mm Fan: 2.69 mmH₂O
  • Fan Noise Level – 135mm Fan: 24.6 dBA (Max), 120mm Fan: 22.6 dBA (Max)
  • Fan Bearing Type – Loop Dynamic Bearing
  • Fan Power Connector – 4-Pin (PWM)
  • Warranty – 5 years

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Streamplify Glow Light 14 and Mount Arm Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/mat-mynett/streamplify-glow-light-14-and-mount-arm-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/mat-mynett/streamplify-glow-light-14-and-mount-arm-review/#respond Tue, 13 Jun 2023 14:57:30 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=613571 Streamplify have added the Glow Light 14 and Mount Arm to their ever growing list of streaming gear

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Streamplify has recently added to its portfolio of streaming gear by releasing the Glow Light 14 and the Mount Arm. As the name suggests, the Glow Light 14 is a compact LED panel, while the Mount Arm offers a versatile desk mounting solution for microphones, camera, lights and anything else that will connect to the cold shoe mount rail that runs across the top of it. Can these two new pieces of streaming equipment add something to your content creation arsenal without breaking the bank?

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:30 Some details
01:30 Glow Light 14
05:00 Light test
06:52 Mats thoughts on the light
07:26 Mount Arm
10:50 Real world testing

Glow Light 14

Glow Light 14 Specifications:

  • Brand – Streamplify
  • Model – GLOW LIGHT 14 Ring Light
  • Max Power Consumption – 40W
  • Power Supply – AC 100-240V
  • Number of LEDs – 210
  • Mount Stand – Included
  • 91cm max height
  • CRI ≥ 90
  • Max Brightness – 2500 lumens
  • Brightness Levels – 20
  • Colour Temperatures – 4
  • 3000K – 6000K
  • Control – LCD touch panel, Wireless remote control
  • Dimensions Diameter – 14” / 36cm
  • Accessories – Desk clamp

Mount Arm

Mount Arm Specifications:

  • Brand –  Streamplify
  • Model – MOUNT ARM
  • Materials- Steel, ABS plastic
  • Maximum Reach – 75cm
  • Swivel – 360°
  • Adjustment Angle – 210°
  • Maximum Weight Load – 2.5kg
  • Desk Clamp Maximum – 65mm
  • Screw Mount – 3/8”
  • Screw Adapter – 5/8”, 1/4″
  • Cable Management – 4 x adjustable clips
  • Accessories – Universal microphone clip, Ball head adaptor, Smartphone holder, Hex key

You can buy the Streamplify Glow Light 14 for £79.99 from Overclockers UK HERE, with the Streamplify Mount Arm set at £44.99 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Glow Light 14

Pros:

  • Very bright.
  • Convenient and easy to use controls.
  • Solid mounting system.
  • Wide range of temperature adjustment.
  • Slim design.

Cons:

  • Plastic handles on clamps and fixings.
  • No RGB option.
  • Plastic construction leaves a bit to be desired.

Rating: 8.5.

Mount Arm

Pros:

  • Versatile and useful cold mount rail
  • Good range of included attachments
  • Nifty cable management feature

Cons:

  • Only available in white
  • Can sag a bit with a heavy mic and other items mounted
  • Mostly plastic construction
Rating: 8.

KitGuru says:  The Glow Light 14 is a really good, clean light source that can be adjusted be temperature adjusted  to suit your need. The Mount Arm is a very versatile and clever product that will suit a wide range of use cases and is not a ‘streamer' specific item. Both of the Streamplify products do feel very ‘budget' in terms of build quality, but they make up for that with the pricing. After using these two products, I'm excited to see what Streamplify bring to the table next.

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DDR5 Round-Up: Crucial, G.SKILL, Kingston, KLEVV Tested https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/ddr5-round-up-crucial-g-skill-kingston-klevv-tested/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/ddr5-round-up-crucial-g-skill-kingston-klevv-tested/#respond Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:00:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=594946 Luke puts four different DDR5 memory kits through their paces on the AM5 platform

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Realistically, DDR5 is now the go-to option for enthusiasts upgrading their system; the latest-and-greatest mainstream CPUs from AMD and Intel support the newest memory technology, albeit with Intel’s options also being able to run DDR4. And modern motherboards allow for kits to operate well over a lofty 5GHz RAM speed.

Given AMD’s still recent launch of the AM5 platform and the fact that we have a handful of kits to review, this seemed like a good opportunity to throw a few of the DDR5 sets onto the new AM5 platform and see how they perform.

Watch via our Vimeo Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE

We have already taken a look at the memory subsystem in our launch review of AMD’s new Ryzen 7000 series Zen 4 processors, so make sure you check out that video and written review.

The sweet spot for Zen 4 now seems to be DDR5 6000MHz speed. But, is cheaper RAM really a big performance downgrade? And do 32GB DIMMs help performance? Let’s take a closer look at the four kits we will be checking out today.

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AMD Ryzen 9 7900 & Ryzen 7 7700 Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-9-7900-ryzen-7-7700-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-9-7900-ryzen-7-7700-review/#respond Mon, 09 Jan 2023 14:00:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=589559 Luke checks out AMD's new 65W CPUs - the 7700 and 7900 (non-X)

The post AMD Ryzen 9 7900 & Ryzen 7 7700 Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
AMD’s Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series processors were introduced with a positive reception when they launched back in September 2022. Performance was strong, frequency was impressive, and the overall platform features were very user friendly. With that said, it wasn’t all plain sailing. The 170W TDP Ryzen chips guzzled power and they ran at lofty temperatures – often hitting 95C. And the story wasn’t too dissimilar for the 105W TDP Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5, either.

With those points in mind – as well as the proven excellent performance even at lower power levels – AMD has made the decision to release 65W TDP non-X chips in the form of Ryzen 9 7900, Ryzen 7 7700, and Ryzen 5 7600.

Other than the reduced TDP and therefore operating frequencies, these non-X chips are practically the same as their X-rated siblings.

It’s the same TSMC 5nm process, the same 32MB of L3 cache per core chiplet, and the same IO Die with PCIe Gen 5, DDR5, and RDNA 2 iGPU support.

AMD does, however, include a Wraith Prism cooler with the Ryzen 9 and Ryzen 7 and the Wraith Stealth for the Ryzen 5.

MSRP is $429 USD for the Ryzen 9 7900, $329 USD for the Ryzen 7 7700, and $229 USD for the Ryzen 5 7600. Those price seem pretty reasonable given the current retail market competition.

Pricing in the UK, however, is different. The Ryzen 9 7900 is £439.99, the Ryzen 7 7700 is £339.99, and the Ryzen 5 7600 is £239.99. Even by the usual dollar-to-pound standards, that is a very poor conversion for us Brits.

I guess the weak pound and strong dollar really does not help.

Will those price points and the inclusion of a Wraith CPU cooler make the non-X chips a tempting proposition? Let’s look at the performance and find out.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AMD Ryzen 9 7950X & Ryzen 7 7700X ‘Zen 4’ Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-9-7950x-ryzen-7-7700x-zen-4-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-9-7950x-ryzen-7-7700x-zen-4-review/#respond Mon, 26 Sep 2022 13:00:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=575644 We check out the brand new AMD Zen 4 CPUs, starting with the 7950X and 7700X

The post AMD Ryzen 9 7950X & Ryzen 7 7700X ‘Zen 4’ Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
AMD launched its Ryzen 5000 – Zen 3 – desktop processors back in late 2020. Coupled with the venerable AM4 platform, the variety of 7nm-built chips have proven incredibly successful. But that AM4 platform has been around for six years. It’s time for an update. Enter the new AM5 platform, with the first chips for this new platform, the Zen 4 Ryzen 7000 series, launching today.

We are examining the 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X flagship and the 8-core Ryzen 7 7700X. The 12- and 6-core reviews will follow in the near future. With a new underlying – Zen 4 – architecture, DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 support on the AM5 platform, and manufacturing using TSMC’s 5nm process node, let’s take a closer look at the £739.99 Ryzen 9 7950X and the £419.99 Ryzen 7 7700X.

AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X has 16 cores and 32 threads with 64MB of L3 cache and 16MB of L2. This 5nm, dual-CCD chip features a rated base clock of 4.5GHz and a maximum boost clock up to a lofty 5.7GHz. A 170W rated TDP means up to 230W of stock-clocked package power is allowed. That is a large uptick versus previous Ryzen chips which mandates no included CPU cooler, as is the case for all Ryzen 7000 series chips.

The $699 USD Ryzen 9 7950X will sell for £739.99 including VAT in the UK. That’s similar to the launch price of the Ryzen 9 5950X. Competition comes in the form of the incumbent Ryzen 9 5950X at £520 currently, as well as the £620-£700 Core i9-12900K or KS on the advanced, DDR5-capable Z690 platform. Until Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake launches shortly, that is.

AMD's Ryzen 7 7700X has 8 cores and 16 threads with 32MB of L3 cache and 8MB of L2. This is a single-CCD chip, so it just has the 5nm-fabbed core chiplet alongside the 6nm-built IO Die. Base clock is rated at 4.5GHz with maximum boost listed as 5.4GHz thanks to its 105W TDP.

The $399 USD Ryzen 7 7700X will sell for £419.99 in the UK.

Competition for the new 8-core comes from several vectors; the £380 Ryzen 9 5900X and £440 Ryzen 7 5800X3D on the affordable AM4 platform, in addition to the £430 Core i7-12700K on the advanced Z690 platform. Once again, until 13th Gen replaces it shortly.

With the two processors on review today having been overviewed, let's take a deeper look at the Zen 4 architecture and AM5 platform.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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KitGuru Games: Razer Kishi V2 – Not quite a ‘zero compromise’ controller https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/mustafa-mahmoud/kitguru-games-razer-kishi-v2-not-quite-a-zero-compromise-controller/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/mustafa-mahmoud/kitguru-games-razer-kishi-v2-not-quite-a-zero-compromise-controller/#respond Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:32:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=566127 Razer recently released the Kishi V2 USB-C mobile gaming controller, and after getting my hands on it I can safely say that, objectively speaking, the Razer Kishi V2 is the best mobile gaming controller currently available – though it’s far from perfect...

The post KitGuru Games: Razer Kishi V2 – Not quite a ‘zero compromise’ controller first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The term ‘mobile gaming' is a loaded one, conjuring images of freemium titles, microtransactions and predatory practices. While a large majority of the games available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store fall into such categories, the power of these slim little smartphone slabs are in many ways unrivalled and can be used to play hundreds, if not thousands, of console games.

Playing video games using touch inputs is unfortunately a wholly subpar experience and serves as the primary factor holding mobile gaming back. Accessory manufacturers have tried to circumvent this limitation for years, though unfortunately their capabilities were unable to match their ambitions. Razer recently released the Kishi V2 USB-C mobile gaming controller, and after getting my hands on it I can safely say that, objectively speaking, the Razer Kishi V2 is the best mobile gaming controller currently available – though it’s far from perfect.

The Razer Difference

First things first: What is the Razer Kishi V2? It is a £99.99 USB-C universal mobile gaming controller which according to the manufacturer “brings a console-class gameplay experience to your smartphone”. Indeed, the controller comes with all the buttons, joysticks and triggers that one might need and then throws in a couple extra on top for added functionality.

Most notably, the Kishi V2 comes with two additional shoulder buttons making for a total of three on each side. Sandwiched next to the R1/L1 shoulder buttons and the analogue triggers are small but highly useful M1/M2 buttons, which can be programmed however you wish. Razer quite smartly made the M1/M2 buttons small enough to not get in the way of the other shoulder buttons, while increasing their depth so that they are distinctly felt when gripping the controller. The Kishi V2 also features two additional non-standard buttons – one which will start recording your screen, while the other takes you straight to the Razer Nexus app.

Speaking of the app, Razer’s Nexus companion is what allows you to customise all of the Kishi’s controls while simultaneously serving as a game launcher. The Nexus app collates all of your currently installed games while also recommending other controller-compatible titles available for purchase on the Google Play Store. For an individual new to gaming on mobile, this game discovery functionality could prove quite useful thanks to its focus on console-like titles as well as its minimalist aesthetic. As someone intimately familiar with the Play Store and its games however, the Nexus launcher feels in many ways like a glorified billboard. That being said, it is still a must-have for its button customisation functions alone – and the remainder of its ‘features’ can be easily and safely ignored if you so desire.

As mentioned, this isn’t my first rodeo into the world of gaming on mobile. I own multiple different Android controllers, from the Gamesir x2 to the Hyperkin Smartboy which has helped me to identity and appreciate the subtle yet significant improvements made by the Kishi V2 – though also its drawbacks.

The Good

As mentioned, there are very few USB-C mobile controllers, and even fewer with analogue triggers. Luckily, the Razer Kishi V2 is one of the few with such functionality. Admittedly, not too many games actually take advantage of analogue triggers, with the main genre to utilise it being racing games. Still, regardless of whether it is used all the time or not, the triggers being analogue in nature helps to create a more console-like sensation in the hands, thanks to its plentiful button travel while also giving you a ridge to rest your fingers on when not using them.

Speaking of buttons, triggers aside, the Razer Kishi V2 makes use of “cutting edge microswitch buttons” and a mechanical D-pad for tactile and immediate responsiveness. While certainly smaller than a dedicated console controller, the buttons are all comfortably placed and the D-pad is both large enough and accurate enough for all your 2D gaming needs. My Gamesir X2 and Hyperkin Smartboy both exhibit occasional mis-clicks with their D-pads, especially when rolling from one input to another. I did not encounter any such issues with the Kishi V2. The reliability of a controller is one of its most important aspects and the Kishi V2 passes with flying colours.

That being said, while the buttons are objectively good, I personally prefer the softer, mushier clicks of a rubber membrane button and D-pad. I must stress however that this is a personal preference and differs from person-to-person. That being said, a large number of console controllers both new and old use rubber membrane buttons, meaning that you are more likely to have experience with rubber membranes and so might need some time to get used to the clickiness and short travel of microswitch buttons. I understand why Razer would opt for such buttons seeing as how both the short travel and loud click make for an immediately recognisable sensation in the fingers – highly useful for multiplayer or competitive titles – but I simply prefer otherwise.

Though not uncommon for mobile controllers which connect to your phone via USB-C, the Kishi V2 features passthrough charging, allowing you to charge your phone through the controller’s USB-C slot. The Gamesir X2 also includes passthrough charging, though the Hyperkin Smartboy does not – so it’s not always a guarantee.

The final positive I’d like to comment on is the overall hand feel. While there isn’t one single aspect to the controller which puts its above others, the purposeful curvature of the device helps it to rest nicely within my hands, and the slim retractable yet stable bridge leaves plenty of space for your fingers to grip the controller. Whether using the triggers and sticks to drive a car in Forza, or making use of the D-pad and buttons for some old-school platforming, the Kishi V2 offered flexibility in way I was able to hold the system, allowing me to shift my grip to suit the game – though I must say 2D titles felt especially nice with it.

The Bad

Unfortunately, the analogue sticks are not to my liking. Though I cannot confirm whether they are the exact same sticks used for the Nintendo Switch, they certainly look and feel identical. I did not suffer any stick drift, and I cannot say whether they will develop such an issue in the future, but as with the Nintendo Switch, the Kishi’s analogue sticks feature very little Z-depth and the circumference of their rotation leaves very little space for accuracy. To be fair to Razer, it is quite tough to fit any decent analogue sticks in a controller that small and so most gaming handhelds released these days use Switch-like sticks.

Interestingly, the Gamesir X2 opted for its own solution, using analogue sticks which manage to take up a similar amount of space while feeling significantly better to use. Positioned diagonally like the Kishi V2, Gamesir X2’s analogue sticks are twice as tall while also featuring a thicker stem and greater rotational circumference. These three changes make for a much more accurate and console-like experience – though nothing can compare to the sticks of an actual console controller of course.

With all that said, if you do not mind the sticks on the Nintendo Switch, then you won’t find any issues with the Kishi’s. In fact, you might have a slightly better experience with the Kishi due to its more ergonomic design when compared to the flat slab that is the Nintendo Switch. Even so, it’s far from my favourite analogue experience (though in all transparency, I actively despise the Switch’s Joy-Cons).

The extendable back bridge is designed to fit almost any major USB-C smartphone. My 6.7 inch Google Pixel 6 Pro easily fits with plenty of room to spare. The Kishi also comes with two sets of replaceable adapters, meaning all but the most fringe of phones should easily fit. That being said, as the controller is comprised entirely of plastic, there is very little grip for the top of the phone especially, meaning that it can slide and pivot with very little force.

Your phone won’t fall out of the grip thanks to the pressure of the controller’s retractable bridge, however a thin layer of rubber on the inside would have easily eliminated this issue, making for a much more solid and secure feeling grip. As mentioned, the controller is nearly entirely plastic, which is fine, however the textured back of the Kishi V2 would have also benefited from being made of rubber instead – though this critique falls more in the line of personal preference.

The final flaw of note comes from the Kishi’s USB-C connector and its rigidity, though in order to explain, I must once again refer to its competitors. The Gamesir X2 offers a slightly elongated USB-C connector which is also capable of tilting up and down. This implementation offers two key advantages: It allows for greater case support and is more likely to stand the test of time. Razer has noted that the Kishi V2 is able to support SOME phone cases, and I can certainly see that being true.

Unfortunately, when trying to use the Kishi with the Pixel and its case, the added depth of the phone’s USB-C port is just slightly out of reach for the Kishi, meaning that for me, using the controller means removing the phone's case. The elongated USB-C connector on the Gamesir X2 meanwhile is just about long enough to allow me to use the controller with my case on, and its flexibility means that I can connect the phone at an angle and then anchor it into place without causing any strain to either the controller itself or the phone. I’m not saying that the Razer Kishi will ruin your phone’s USB-C port, but its rigidity means that it has the potential to cause more damage should any excessive pressure be put on the connector accidentally or not.

Conclusion

All of these nit-picks aside, the Razer Kishi is the best USB-C Android gaming controller I’ve used thanks to its small form factor, reliable build quality and comfortable hand feel. It may have a healthy number of small issues, but none of them (aside from maybe the Switch-like analogue sticks) really detract from the overall experience while gaming.

There are certainly enough drawbacks to give some people pause, however if you are looking for a USB-C smartphone controller (and there is more than enough software out there to justify it), the Razer Kishi V2 gets most of the fundamentals right – and the M1/M2 buttons alone are enough to warrant a heavy consideration, especially if you want to use your phone for emulation.

Now that I have the Razer Kishi V2, the Gamesir X2 will most likely be retired. I've owned a dozen or so handheld consoles over the course of my life, and yet my Pixel 6 Pro in combination with the Kishi V2 is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable – second perhaps only to the Steam Deck. Of course, the Steam Deck is pushing the limits of what a handheld is, and so it’s quite an unfair comparison. That being said, with Razer claiming the Kishi V2 to be a “zero compromise” peripheral, I feel it important to push back slightly on such a statement. The Kishi V2 is great, but as I explained, it is far from an uncompromised experience.

Even so, you’d be hard pressed to find a USB-C Android controller which offers a comfortable hold in a slim and light chassis while also including analogue triggers; extra reprogrammable buttons; and reliable build quality. The Razer Kishi V2 manages to do all these things and more, making it an attractive package, both physically and functionally.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you interested in the Razer Kishi V2? Have you owned any USB-C Android controllers? What's a dealbreaker for you when it comes to controllers? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Rating: 8.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Trust Peripheral Set Review – Redex, Callaz and Thian https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/jack-woodhams/trust-peripheral-set-review-redez-callax-and-thian/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/jack-woodhams/trust-peripheral-set-review-redez-callax-and-thian/#respond Wed, 13 Jul 2022 08:29:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=566265 We check out a keyboard, mouse and headset from Trust - all attractively priced

The post Trust Peripheral Set Review – Redex, Callaz and Thian first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are taking a look at a number of peripherals from Trust – the Redex wireless gaming mouse, the Callaz TKL mechanical gaming keyboard and the Thian wireless headset. Trust is known for delivering non-nonsense products at an affordable price, but how do these compare to other options on the market, and are they worth buying?

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:52 Redex mouse unboxing and design
02:27 Shape and grip styles
03:04 The sensor – PAW 3325
03:55 Battery life
04:36 Buttons and soundtest
05:42 RGB and software
08:08 Callaz keyboard unboxing
08:57 Build quality and aesthetics
09:57 Layout / RGB
11:01 The biggest problem area…
11:54 Switches and sound test
13:27 Thian headset unboxing
14:27 On-ear controls / comfort
16:26 Battery life and sound
17:17 Mic and mic test
18:58 Closing thoughts

Redex Wireless Gaming Mouse

Specifications:

  • Ambidextrous design
  • 2.4gh wireless with up to 10m range
  • 6 programmable buttons
  • RGB
  • UPE gliders
  • 200-10,000 DPI
  • Sensor: Pixart Paw 3325
  • 20g Max acceleration
  • 100 ips tracking speed
  • 125-1000hz polling rate
  • Weight: 86g
  • Size: 112mm  x 54mm x 39mm#
  • Works with Windows and MAC OS (USB port required)

You can purchase the Redex Wireless Gaming Mouse for £34.99 from GAME HERE.

Pros

  • Affordable with a good build quality.
  • Ambidextrous and comfortable in the hand.
  • Subtle but confident RGB.
  • LED off mode to save battery.
  • DPI indicator light and up to 7 stages.
  • Scroll has good resistance and isn’t loud.

Cons

  • On the heavier side (by modern standards) at over 80 grams.
  • Few battery options in the software.
  • Thumb marks already visible after less than a month.

Rating: 8.

Callaz TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Specifications:

  • TKL form factor
  • 87 keys total
  • ABS keycaps
  • Outemu Linear red switches
  • 1.8m non-detachable braided USB A cable
  • 8ms response time
  • Winlock key
  • 20 RGB modes
  • Weight: 660g
  • Works on Windows and MAC OS (USB port required)

You can purchase the Callaz TKL Keyboard for £44.99 from GAME HERE.

Pros

  • Outemu switches are surprisingly pleasant to type with.
  • TKL design means more space for your mouse.
  • Metal top plate aids durability..
  • Decent RGB modes.

Cons

  • ABS keycaps are already showing paint wear after less than a month.
  • Non-detachable USB cable.
  • RGB limited, no static single colour mode.
  • Stabilisers are not the best, big keys like space, enter etc are rattly.
  • Rubber pads underneath aren’t very good at keeping the keyboard stable.
  • Rubber pads on the feet are already peeling off.
Rating: 6.

Thian Wireless gaming headset

Specifications:

  • 5.8Ghz wireless
  • 3.5mm audio cable and USB C charging cable included
  • Over-ear, closed back design
  • Frequency response: 20hz – 20Khz
  • Driver size: 40mm
  • Neodymium magnets
  • Ear-cup material: synthetic leather, cloth material (mesh fabric)
  • Adjustable headband

You can purchase the Thian wireless headset for £44.99 (was £59.99) from GAME HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros

  • Great sound when factoring in the price.
  • Understated design so can be used in professional settings.
  • The microphone is clear and crisp.
  • The bendable microphone is solid and stays in position.
  • Mids and highs sound clear with a good low-end (bass).
  • Lightweight enough to wear for hours of use.

Cons

  • Drivers touched my ears on my unit which led to discomfort.
  • Style can be a bit boring.
  • No noise cancellation on the microphone (but it’s still clear).

Rating: 7.5.

KitGuru says: Of these peripherals from Trust, the mouse is the best product in terms of price-to-performance ratio. The keyboard is hugely disappointing with worn-down keycaps after just 3 weeks of use. The headset, in spite of its lightweight design, isn't the comfiest, but it does deliver quite good sound for the price. With all of these products, there's one thing to remember, they are budget items, so don't expect them to deliver in every department.

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NZXT H7 Review – Go with the Flow https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nzxt-h7-review-go-with-the-flow/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nzxt-h7-review-go-with-the-flow/#respond Wed, 25 May 2022 15:00:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=561441 Leo checks out the latest series of cases from NZXT - what does he reckon?

The post NZXT H7 Review – Go with the Flow first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
You are getting three reviews for the price of one today as NZXT has launched a series of cases named H7 that are closely related. The base model is H7, then we have the Mesh version H7 Flow, and at the top of the tree is the H7 Elite. With the previous H510 Elite and H710i leaving room for improvement, it's time to find out what NZXT is bringing to the table in 2022.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:27 Background
01:05 H710, Plastic pegs!
03:01 H7 Elite
04:50 H7 Base Model and Flow
06:35 Elite – RGB fan hub
07:07 Flow stripped – sharing panels07:40 Fan support and filters
08:27 Leo’s guess
09:01 Some niggles
09:23 Hardware for the build
09:55 Storage capabilities
11:10 Accessories and other features
11:44 Front of the case
12:18 Installing the hardware
13:07 Noise Testing
15:58 Thermal Testing and Results
18:45 Leo’s Closing Thoughts

Main features

  • Tool-less panels and SSD tray for easy installation
  • Tempered glass side panel that showcases the beauty of the case.
  • Front supports up to 3x 140mm fans, top supports 3x 120mm fans, and rear 1x 140mm fan.
  • Front and top side support up to 360mm radiator, rear supports 140mm radiator.
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A x 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C x 1, and Headset Audio Jack x 1 on the top panel.
  • All-new cable management system and cable bar
  • Supports vertical optional Vertical GPU Mounting Kit with Gen 4 PCIe Riser

Specification:

  • Motherboard support: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
  • Power supply support: ATX
  • Expansion slots: 7
  • Included fans:
  • H7 and H7 Flow 2x F120Q 1,200rpm at front and rear
  • H7 Elite 3x F140RGB 1,800rm front, 1x F140Q 1,200rpm rear.
  • Fan mounts: 3x 120mm/140mm front, 3x 120/2x 140mm roof, 1x 120/140mm rear
  • Radiator mounts: 360mm/280mm front, 360mm/280mm roof, 120mm/140mm rear
  • 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None
  • Internal drive bays: 2x 3.5-inch/2.5-inch, 4x 2.5-inch.
  • Front I/O ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Headset Jack
  • Dimensions: 480mm H x 505mm D x 230mm W

As we demonstrate in our video the three models of NZXT H7 are based on the same core chassis and they are defined by the front panel and the configuration of the fans. The showstopper is the H7 Elite which has three RGB fans at the front of the case that provide an impressive lightshow.

Cooling Performance

Test System:

  • Processor: Intel Core i9-11900K (8 cores/16 threads)
  • CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
  • Motherboard: NZXT N7 Z590
  • Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600MHz
  • Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon RX6800 XT 16GB
  • Power supply: NZXT C1000 Gold 1000W
  • SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4.0 M.2 NVMe
  • OS: Windows 11

CPU Cooling

Graphics Cooling

Cooling Performance Overview

There is a ton of information in these charts and the obvious takeaway is that the Flow front panel works best when combined with the 140mm fans running at high speeds. That will come as no surprise but when you refer to our video you will hear the huge changes in noise levels and there are times when the H7 can be very noisy indeed. In other words, the H7 can work well however you will need to strike a balance between noise and cooling.

Closing Thoughts

Our starting point for this review of the H7 family starts in 2019 with the H510 and H710, which were interesting cases that leant heavily on looks and styling, and rather less on performance.

It was clear from the first moment the three models of H7 have been improved, starting with the addition of a Flow model that has a front panel that clearly has the potential to work well. In addition we were delighted to find the panels are tool-free as that makes life considerably easier.

Those changes to the panels are welcome, however they fix problems that should never have existed in the first place. When we dug in further and found the specification of the fans made little to no sense it felt like 2019 all over again.

The high end Elite has three ARGB 140mm PWM fans at the front of the case that are practically sealed behind glass. Essentially that means they are intended to supply a light show and the cooling is a mere sideshow. By contrast the H7 and H7 Flow only pack two 120mm fans which will clearly save on the Bill Of Materials however the fans are fairly basic and are voltage controlled, and that is a real shame on a case priced at £120.

NZXT can fix the H7 with some tweaks that fall far short of an overhaul but right now they still have work to do.

You can buy the NZXT H7 and H7 Flow for £119.99, and the H7 Elite for £179.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Good support for radiators, fans and storage.
  • Price is fair.
  • Cable management works well.
  • Decent front IO panel with USB Type-C.

Cons:

  • Airflow in the Elite is bizarre. Three PWM fans behind glass!
  • Basic and Flow versions have 1,500rpm fans with voltage control.
  • Black cases have glass which is very heavily tinted.
  • Elite RGB and fan control requires NZXT CAM software.

KitGuru says:The NZXT H7 family has potential, however the performance of the fans and airflow caused your reviewer a fair amount of frustration.

NZXT H7:

Rating: 7.5.

NZXT H7 Flow:

Rating: 8.

NZXT H7 Elite:

Rating: 7.

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AMD Ryzen 7 5700X & Ryzen 5 5600 Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-7-5700x-ryzen-5-5600-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-7-5700x-ryzen-5-5600-review/#respond Mon, 23 May 2022 11:00:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=561025 Say hello to the new, lower-cost Ryzen 7 5700X and Ryzen 5 5600

The post AMD Ryzen 7 5700X & Ryzen 5 5600 Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 5800X have been the company’s go-to six-core and eight-core models since their introduction in late 2020. Healthy performance offerings coupled with numerous price drops made them firm fan favourites for a long period of time. But in late 2021, Intel struck back with formidable competitors in the 12th Gen Alder Lake line-up – most notably the sub-£300 Core i5-12600K.

AMD knew that a retaliation blow was a necessity, particularly given the hefty price drops already applied to Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 5800X SKUs. And this is where the new, lower-cost Ryzen 7 5700X and Ryzen 5 5600 come into the picture.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
01:00 AMD 5700X / 5600 details
04:04 Comparison procedures
05:49 Clock speeds
06:47 Test results
09:07 Gaming results
12:05 Power Consumption
12:57 CPU temperatures
13:37 Precision boost Overdrive tuning
14:15 Manual overclocking
15:15 Overclocked results
16:07 Luke's closing thoughts

Ryzen 7 5700X has 8 cores and 16 threads with 36MB of total cache – 32MB of which is L3. Base clock is listed at 3.4GHz – 400MHz slower than the 5800X – and maximum boost clock is 4.6GHz – 100MHz slower than the 5800X.

Notably, the 5700X’s TDP is 65W rather than the 105W of the 5800X. This will likely have a considerable influence on the actual Precision Boost 2 operating speeds of both chips. Particularly as neither come with a boxed cooler and so a good AIO or air heatsink is anticipated for usage.

In the UK, the Ryzen 7 5800X is around £290-310, but mainly around £310. Whereas the new 5700X is around £270. Intel’s notable competitor is the £270 Core i5-12600K that features six Performance cores and 4 Efficient cores for sixteen total threads.

Ryzen 5 5600 has 6 cores and 12 threads with 32MB of L3 cache and 3MB of L2 cache. Base clock is listed at 3.5GHz – 200MHz slower than the 5600X – and maximum boost clock is noted as 4.4GHz – 200MHz slower than the 5600X, though this remains to be seen in actual operation.

TDP for both Ryzen 5 chips is 65W and they both ship with the same AMD Wraith Stealth CPU cooler. So, I am anticipating very comparable real-world operating clocks from both of the Ryzen 5 parts. And if that is the case, it may make the newer – cheaper – Ryzen 5 5600 a bit of a bargain compared to its X-specced sibling.

The 5600X street price is around £190-210, but mainly £210. The new Ryzen 5 5600 is £180. Intel’s £165, twelve-thread Core i5-12400F is the notable competitor.

For completeness, the new processors use the same single Zen 3 chiplet built on TSMC’s 7nm process technology alongside the standard 12nm-built Ryzen 5000 IO Die.

If we focus on the platform for these new Ryzen chips, AMD looks to have a strong advantage versus Intel’s competing solution when it comes to ease-of-deployment. Users on older B450 or X370 motherboards who want a quick, drop-in upgrade aren’t going to care that the expensive Z690 platform is more feature rich and supports DDR5.

With that said, those opting for a brand-new motherboard alongside their non-K Intel processor will likely find the B660 platform to be a strong – albeit more expensive – contender to AMD’s B550 solutions.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AMD RX 6950 XT, 6750 XT & 6650 XT Review ft. Sapphire https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/amd-rx-6950-xt-6750-xt-6650-xt-review-ft-sapphire/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/amd-rx-6950-xt-6750-xt-6650-xt-review-ft-sapphire/#respond Tue, 10 May 2022 13:00:58 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=559538 AMD's RX 6X50 refresh is here, but what performance gains are on offer?

The post AMD RX 6950 XT, 6750 XT & 6650 XT Review ft. Sapphire first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today sees the launch of AMD's latest GPUs – the RX 6950 XT, 6750 XT and 6650 XT. Based on the same RDNA 2 architecture and 7nm process as the rest of the RX 6000 series, this launch is best described as a mild refresh, with the core GPU make-up remaining unchanged. Instead, we are simply getting higher clock speeds and faster memory modules – so just how much more performance is on offer from these new models?

Unlike previous AMD launches, today we are not focusing on an ‘MBA' reference design. Instead, Sapphire sent us its Nitro+ design for the RX 6650 XT and 6750 XT, while we are looking at the brand-new Nitro+ Pure for the RX 6950 XT.

These are factory overclocked models, with increased power limits and dual-BIOS support, which are all features that enthusiasts will be interested in. Let's find out just how good these cards are.

RX 6950 XT  RX 6900 XT  RX 6750 XT RX 6700 XT RX 6650 XT RX 6600 XT
Architecture RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2
Manufacturing Process 7nm 7nm 7nm 7nm 7nm 7nm
Transistor Count 26.8 billion 26.8 billion 17.2 billion 17.2 billion 11.1 billion 11.1 billion
Die Size  519 mm² 519 mm² 336 mm² 336 mm² 237 mm² 237 mm²
Ray Accelerators 80 80 40 40 32 32
Compute Units  80 80 40 40 32 32
Stream Processors  5120 5120 2560 2560 2048 2048
Game GPU Clock Up to 2100MHz Up to 2015MHz Up to 2495MHz Up to 2424MHz Up to 2410MHz Up to 2359MHz
Boost GPU Clock Up to 2310MHz Up to 2250MHz Up to 2600MHz Up to 2581MHz Up to 2635MHz Up to 2589MHz
ROPs 128 128 64 64 64 64
AMD Infinity Cache 128MB 128MB 96MB 96MB 32MB 32MB
Memory 16GB GDDR6 18Gbps 16GB GDDR6 16Gbps 12GB GDDR6 18Gbps 12GB GDDR6 16Gbps 8GB GDDR6 17.5Gbps 8GB GDDR6 16Gbps
Memory Bandwidth 576 GB/s 512 GB/s 432 GB/s 384 GB/s 280 GB/s 256 GB/s
Memory Interface  256-bit 256-bit 192-bit 192-bit 128-bit 128-bit
Board Power  335W 300W 250W 230W 180W 160W

Before diving into the review, it's worth quickly recapping the core spec of the new cards. In essence, AMD has simply taken the existing RX 6900 XT, 6700 XT and 6600 XT, and added a factory overclock alongside faster memory modules. As you can see, the fundamental makeup of each GPU is unchanged – core count, RT cores, ROPS and Infinity Cache is all the same. It just comes down to GPU and memory frequency.

That does also necessitate an increase to power draw, with the RX 6950 XT rated at 335W, the 6750 XT at 250W and the 6650 XT at 180W. All three Sapphire cards we are looking at today have even higher power limits though, but we are on hand to utilise our best ever GPU power testing methodology in this review, so read on for our most detailed power testing yet.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti Review ft. MSI & Palit https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/nvidia-rtx-3090-ti-review-ft-msi-palit/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/nvidia-rtx-3090-ti-review-ft-msi-palit/#respond Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:00:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=554971 Nvidia's RTX 3090 Ti is finally here, but just how much faster is it?

The post Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti Review ft. MSI & Palit first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While the RTX 3090 Ti was officially announced back at CES 2022, we've had to wait until now to hear more about Nvidia's new flagship GPU. That's right, the RTX 3090 Ti launches today, and we are checking out both the MSI Suprim X and Palit GameRock OC models. But how much faster is this new card compared to the RTX 3090? And will it really guzzle 450W of power? We discuss all that and more in this review.

We've mentioned that this is a ‘new' GPU, which I suppose is technically true, but the reality is the Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti is using the same GA102 silicon we have been familiar with ever since the launch of the RTX 3080 10GB and RTX 3090 24GB back in September 2020. Yes, it has been tweaked with a few extra cores, higher clocks and faster memory, but it's very much an Ampere GPU, fabbed on Samsung's 8nm process, so don't expect wild performance gains over the vanilla RTX 3090.

Due to the increase in power draw however, the two cards we are looking at today are easily the largest I have ever seen, with both the MSI RTX 3090 Ti Suprim X and the Palit RTX 3090 Ti GameRock OC dwarfing even the RTX 3080 Ti. We take a closer look at each of these days in the subsequent pages of this review.

RTX 3090 Ti RTX 3090 RTX 3080 Ti RTX 3080 RTX 3070
SMs 84 82 80 68 46
CUDA Cores 10752 10496 10240 8704 5888
Tensor Cores 336 328 320 272 184
RT Cores 84 82 80 68 46
Texture Units 336 328 320 272 184
ROPs 112 112 112 96 96
GPU Boost Clock 1860 MHz 1695 MHz 1665 MHz 1710 MHz 1725 MHz
Memory Data Rate 21 Gbps 19.5 Gbps 19 Gbps 19 Gbps 14 Gbps
Total Video Memory 24GB GDDR6X 24GB GDDR6X 12GB GDDR6X 10GB GDDR6X 8GB GDDR6
Memory Interface 384-bit 384-bit 384-bit 320-bit 256-bit
Memory Bandwidth 1008 GB/Sec 936 GB/Sec 912 GB/Sec 760 GB/Sec 448 GB/Sec
TGP 450W 350W 350W 320W 220W

Let's first recap the exact makeup of this GPU however. We've mentioned the RTX 3090 Ti uses GA102 silicon, but it's the first time we have seen a fully populated die. That means the RTX 3090 Ti incorporates 84 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), and thanks to Ampere’s SM structure with its two FP32 datapaths, each SM houses 128 CUDA cores, giving a total of 10752. This is an increase of 256 cores compared to the RTX 3090, an extra 2.4%.

Ampere also places one RT core, and four Tensor cores, in each SM, giving a total of 84 RT cores and 336 Tensor cores. This is accompanied by 336 texture units and 112 ROPs which are housed directly within each graphics processing cluster (GPC), with 16 ROPs per GPC, and 7 GPCs in total for RTX 3090 Ti.

Clock speed is another area where Nvidia has made improvements compared to the RTX 3090. The RTX 3090 Ti has a reference clock of 1860 MHz, a boost of 165 MHz against the RTX 3090, though both of the partner cards we test come factory overclocked. We test real-world clock speed behaviour later in this review.

For the memory, Nvidia is using the same 384-bit bus as found with the RTX 3090. The memory allocation itself remains with 24GB of GDDR6X, but the kicker is these modules themselves have been upgraded to new 21Gbps chips. This brings total memory bandwidth up to over 1TB/s, hitting 1008GB/s to be precise.

Lastly, for total graphics power, Nvidia rates the RTX 3090 Ti for 450W, an increase of 100W, or 28.6% compared to the vanilla RTX 3090. Both cards we are looking at today push this further still, with a 480W power limit for the Suprim X, and a 460W limit for the GameRock OC. Of course, we are on hand to utilise our best ever GPU power testing methodology, so read on for our most detailed power testing yet.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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ASUS Moonlight White Peripheral Collection https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/jack-woodhams/asus-moonlight-white-peripheral-collection/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/jack-woodhams/asus-moonlight-white-peripheral-collection/#respond Wed, 09 Mar 2022 11:11:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=551816 We test out a keyboard, headset and mouse set from ASUS - all in Moonlight White

The post ASUS Moonlight White Peripheral Collection first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are checking out the ASUS Moonlight White Peripheral Collection, which includes the ROG STRIX SCOPE NX TKL keyboard, ROG STRIX Impact II mouse and the ROG STRIX GO CORE headset. This set has a great visual style and each product offers a variety of features, so here are our in-depth thoughts…

Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction
01:10 ROG Strix Scope NX TKL Keyboard
03:12 Functions and Key Caps
03:56 Switches and sound test
04:38 Switch quality / typing / RGB
05:54 Armory Crate Software
06:12 Jacks thoughts on the keyboard
06:48 ROG Strix Impact II Moonlight White
08:15 Fingertip grip – ridged sides / buttons & scroll wheel
09:08 Underside / six buttons / dpi modes
10:28 Sound test of buttons
10:44 Swapping out switches
11:22 Optical sensor and specs
12:08 RGB and Armory Crate customisation
13:42 Jack's thoughts on the mouse
14:38 ROG Strix Go Core Headset
17:09 Two Controls and Microphone test
18:23 Earcups and Sound Quality
20:08 Jack's thoughts on the headset
20:38 Jack's Closing thoughts

ROG STRIX SCOPE NX TKL Keyboard

Specifications:

  • Key Switches: NX Red, Brown or Blue
  • USB 2.0 with 1.8m braided USB C to type A cable
  • 80% size (TKL)
  • Actuation force 45g (red), 43g (blue), 55g (brown)
  • Per-key RGB Lighting
  • Full N-key rollover
  • All keys are programmable except for FN
  • Weight: 880g with cable
  • Size: 35.6cm x 13.6cm x 3.9cm

You can purchase the ROX STRIX SCOPE NX TKL Keyboard for £129.00 from eBuyer HERE.

Pros

  • Premium build quality with aluminium top plate.
  • Stealth button to quickly hide all your windows.
  • Detachable USB-C cable.
  • Vibrant, vivid RGB lighting.
  • The 2-way colour scheme looks fantastic.
  • NX switches feel fast and responsive.
  • TKL size gives more space for mouse.

Cons

  • Space bar sounds a bit clanky.

Rating: 9.

ROG STRIX IMPACT II Mouse

Specifications:

  • Optical Sensor with max 6200 dpi
  • 220 IPS tracking speed
  • 30g max acceleration
  • Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
  • 1000hz polling rate
  • Omron 50M switches (replacable)
  • Soft rubber cable
  • Dimensions: 12cm x 6.2cm x 3.9cm
  • 1 DPI button + 5 programmable buttons
  • Weight: 79g

You can purchase the ROG STRIX IMPACT II for £41.57 from eBuyer HERE.

Pros

  • Comfortable.
  • Removable switches to extend the lifespan.
  • Vibrant, vivid RGB lighting.
  • The pivoted mechanism offers a great click feel.
  • Lightweight so good for FPS gamers.

Cons

  • Cheap-feeling rubber cable.
  • LEDs at the front can’t be seen by the user.
  • The scroll wheel has little resistance.
  • Side buttons are quite narrow.

Rating: 8.

ROG Strix GO CORE Headset

Specifications:

  • Interface: 3.5mm with Mic and Audio Splitter included
  • 40mm Neodymium magnet drivers
  • Works with PC, MAC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S
  • Impedance: 30 ohm
  • Unidirectional detachable microphone
  • Stereo headset with support for Windows Sonic Virtual 7.1
  • Weight 252g

You can purchase the ROG STRIX GO CORE for £79.99 from Box HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros

  • Great high-quality Hi-Res audio.
  • The microphone is good for the price.
  • Foldable design for portability.
  • Lovely little design touches throughout.
  • Plenty of cushioning and lightweight.

Cons

  • No RGB.
  • The sound is a little trebly and there are no ASUS provided EQ options.
  • Plastic build can feel a bit cheap.

Rating: 8.

KitGuru says: The Moonlight white peripheral collection from ASUS ROG is a great set offering a great option for gamers wanting a slightly different look. All three products have impressed, but the keyboard is the biggest winner here.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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RTX 3050 – Inno3D Twin X2 OC & MSI Gaming X https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/rtx-3050-inno3d-twin-x2-oc-msi-gaming-x/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/rtx-3050-inno3d-twin-x2-oc-msi-gaming-x/#respond Fri, 04 Feb 2022 13:05:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=548689 We test two more RTX 3050 AIB cards - one from MSI and one from Inno3D

The post RTX 3050 – Inno3D Twin X2 OC & MSI Gaming X first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Following on from our launch-day RTX 3050 review, today we are supplementing that initial coverage with a look at two more custom cards. The first comes from Inno3D in the form of the RTX 3050 Twin X2 OC, while we also have MSI's RTX 3050 Gaming X to test. We find out how they perform, while also comparing the cards to Gigabyte's Eagle and Palit's StormX OC models.

We have two more AIB RTX 3050 cards to review today. The Inno3D RTX 3050 Twin X2 OC is, as the name suggests, a dual-fan model that ships with a 45MHz factory overclock. It also sports a metal backplate and grey shroud, though there is no RGB lighting.

Alongside that, we also assess the MSI RTX 3050 Gaming X. This is MSI's flagship RTX 3050 offering, with an eye-watering £369.99 MSRP. For that money we get a 67MHz factory overclock, metal backplate and a single RGB zone. As we will see, MSI has also beefed-up the VRM slightly compared to the other RTX 3050s we have reviewed so far.

GPU RTX 3080 RTX 3070 RTX 3060 Ti RTX 3060 RTX 3050
SMs 68 46 38 28 20
CUDA Cores 8704 5888 4864 3584 2560
Tensor Cores 272 184 152 112 80
RT Cores 68 46 38 28 20
Texture Units 272 184 152 112 80
ROPs 96 96 80 48 32
GPU Boost Clock 1710 MHz 1725 MHz 1665 MHz 1777 MHz 1777 MHz
Memory Data Rate 19 Gbps 14 Gbps 14 Gbps 15 Gbps 14 Gbps
Total Video Memory 10GB GDDR6X 8GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6 12GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6
Memory Interface 320-bit 256-bit 256-bit 192-bit 128-bit
Memory Bandwidth 760 GB/Sec 448 GB/Sec 448 GB/Sec 360 GB/sec 224 GB/sec
PCIe Interface PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x8
TGP 320W 220W 200W 170W 130W


GPU-Z: Inno3D Twin X2 OC (left), MSI Gaming X (right)

As a cut-down GA106 GPU, the RTX 3050 sports a total of 20 streaming multiprocessors (SMs).Thanks to Ampere’s new SM structure with its two FP32 datapaths, each SM houses 128 CUDA cores, giving a total of 2560.

Ampere also places one RT core, and four Tensor cores, in each SM, giving a total of 20 RT cores and180 Tensor cores. This is accompanied by 80 texture units, and 32 ROPs which are now housed directly within each graphics processing cluster (GPC), with 16 ROPs per GPC, and 2 GPCs in total for RTX 3050.

Rated clock speed is carried over from the RTX 3060, as we find the same 1777MHz boost clock. Of the two cards we are looking at today, both are factory overclocked, with the Inno3D shipping with a 1822MHz boost clock, while the MSI has a 1845MHz boost clock.

Memory is provided by 8GB of GDDR6, clocked at 14Gbps. Over the narrower 128-bit memory interface, we see total memory bandwidth hit 224 GB/s, a reduction of 38% against the RTX 3060. The PCIe interface has also been shaved down, with a PCIe 4.0 x8 connection, instead of the full x16 allocation.

Lastly, for total graphics power, Nvidia rates the RTX 3050 for 130W, a 40W (24%) decrease compared to the RTX 3060 that seems broadly in line with the reduction in core-count.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Wireless & M4 Air Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/andrew-munro/asus-tuf-gaming-m4-wireless-m4-air-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/mouse/andrew-munro/asus-tuf-gaming-m4-wireless-m4-air-review/#respond Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:32:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=546429 ASUS has two new symmetrical mice - one wireless, one ultra lightweight

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Today we’re checking out two new mice from ASUS, the ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Wireless and the ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air. The M4 Air is an ultra-lightweight, 47-gram wired mouse and comes in with a price tag of £47.99, while the M4 Wireless is a battery-operated wireless mouse with Bluetooth 5.1 and 2.4GHz wireless, priced at £53.99. Which is right for you? We find out today.

ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air:

M4 Air specifications:

  • USB 2.0 TUF Paracord Cable
  • PAW3335 Sensor
  • Up to 16,000 DPI
  • 400 IPS
  • 40G Acceleration
  • 1000Hz Polling Rate
  • 60M Click lifespan
  • 5 Programmable buttons
  • Weight without cable: 47G
  • Dimensions: 126 x 63.5 x 39.6 mm

You can purchase the ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air from Overclockers UK for 47.99, HERE!

Pros:

  • Ultra-lightweight at 47g.
  • Very flexible cable.
  • Great performance.
  • Comfortable ambidextrous design.
  • Antibacterial coating is (supposedly) hygienic.

Cons:

  • Paracord cable bunches up, could snag on desks.
  • No RGB LEDs.

Rating: 8.5.

ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Wireless:

M4 Wireless specifications:

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 & RF 2.4GHz
  • PAW3311 Sensor
  • Up to 12,000 DPI
  • 300 IPS
  • 35G Acceleration
  • 1000Hz Polling Rate via 2.4GHz Wireless
  • 60M Click lifespan
  • 5 Programmable buttons
  • AAA or AA Battery support – both AAA & AA included
  • Battery life: AA Battery RF 2.4GHz: 134 hours
  • Battery life: AA Battery BLE: 232 hours
  • Battery life: AAA Battery RF 2.4GHz: 53 hours
  • Battery life: AAA Battery BLE: 100 hours
  • Weight without cable & dongle: 62g
  • Weight with AAA battery & converter: 77g
  • Weight with AA battery: 86g
  • Dimensions: 126 x 63.5 x 39.6 mm

You can purchase the ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Wireless from Overclockers UK for 53.99, HERE!

Pros:

  • Affordable price point.
  • Great performance.
  • Both Bluetooth 5.1 & RF 2.5GHz Wireless supported.
  • Supports and comes with AA & AAA batteries (+ AAA adapter).
  • Antibacterial coating is (supposedly) hygienic.

Cons:

  • No wired option.
  • No RGB LEDs.

Rating: 8.5.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Both mice performed admirably for approximately £50 each and we think that’s the perfect price bracket for them. It’s great to see both the Air and Wireless variants so that you have a choice between ultra-lightweight and wireless.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Nvidia RTX 3050 Review ft. Gigabyte and Palit https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/nvidia-rtx-3050-review-ft-gigabyte-and-palit/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/nvidia-rtx-3050-review-ft-gigabyte-and-palit/#respond Wed, 26 Jan 2022 14:00:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=547556 The RTX 3050 is here - surely it can't be as bad as the RX 6500 XT, right?

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Just a week on from the disastrous launch of AMD's RX 6500 XT, today we are checking out something I sincerely hope will be… better. It's admittedly a low bar to clear, but I am of course talking about Nvidia's RTX 3050 – the company's first RTX GPU in the sub-£300 price bracket, arriving with a $249/£239 MSRP.

Officially unveiled back at CES 2022, the RTX 3050 is an important milestone for Nvidia. When it first debuted RTX technology with the 20-series, the most affordable GPU was the RTX 2060, priced at a not-inconsiderable £329. For the RTX 3050, the MSRP is set at £239, and while we know that figure is almost certainly somewhat detached from reality, it's still going to be interesting to see exactly what an ‘entry level' RTX graphics card looks like in 2022.

Unlike on the mobile side, where Nvidia has a dedicated GA107 GPU for RTX 3050/3050 Ti mobile chips, for the RTX 3050 the company is re-using its GA106 GPU, making it – in essence – a cut-down RTX 3060. Is it enough to stand out from 12 months of mediocre product launches? We're about to find out…

GPU RTX 3080 RTX 3070 RTX 3060 Ti RTX 3060 RTX 3050
SMs 68 46 38 28 20
CUDA Cores 8704 5888 4864 3584 2560
Tensor Cores 272 184 152 112 80
RT Cores 68 46 38 28 20
Texture Units 272 184 152 112 80
ROPs 96 96 80 48 32
GPU Boost Clock 1710 MHz 1725 MHz 1665 MHz 1777 MHz 1777 MHz
Memory Data Rate 19 Gbps 14 Gbps 14 Gbps 15 Gbps 14 Gbps
Total Video Memory 10GB GDDR6X 8GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6 12GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6
Memory Interface 320-bit 256-bit 256-bit 192-bit 128-bit
Memory Bandwidth 760 GB/Sec 448 GB/Sec 448 GB/Sec 360 GB/sec 224 GB/sec
PCIe Interface PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 4.0 x8
TGP 320W 220W 200W 170W 130W

As a cut-down GA106 GPU, the RTX 3050 sports a total of 20 streaming multiprocessors (SMs).Thanks to Ampere’s new SM structure with its two FP32 datapaths, each SM houses 128 CUDA cores, giving a total of 2560.

Ampere also places one RT core, and four Tensor cores, in each SM, giving a total of 20 RT cores and180 Tensor cores. This is accompanied by 80 texture units, and 32 ROPs which are now housed directly within each graphics processing cluster (GPC), with 16 ROPs per GPC, and 2 GPCs in total for RTX 3050.

Rated clock speed is carried over from the RTX 3060, as we find the same 1777MHz boost clock. Of the two cards we are looking at today, the Gigabyte Eagle ships with reference clocks, while the Palit StormX OC sees this increased by 30MHz out of the box.

Memory is provided by 8GB of GDDR6, clocked at 14Gbps. Over the narrower 128-bit memory interface, we see total memory bandwidth hit 224 GB/s, a reduction of 38% against the RTX 3060. The PCIe interface has also been shaved down, with a PCIe 4.0 x8 connection, instead of the full x16 allocation.

Lastly, for total graphics power, Nvidia rates the RTX 3050 for 130W, a 40W (24%) decrease compared to the RTX 3060 that seems broadly in line with the reduction in core-count. We are using our new GPU power testing methodology in this review, so read on for our most detailed power and efficiency testing yet.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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SilentiumPC Fortis 5 & Fortis 5 Dual Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/luke-hill/silentiumpc-fortis-5-fortis-5-dual-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/luke-hill/silentiumpc-fortis-5-fortis-5-dual-review/#respond Fri, 21 Jan 2022 13:00:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=546592 Luke checks out two air coolers from SilentiumPC, at about £50-55 each

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We have already examined the Fera 5 Dual from SilentiumPC and were thoroughly impressed by what the relative newcomer to the CPU cooling market had to offer. Now we are taking a look at the company’s higher-end heatsink offerings; the single-fan, £50 Fortis 5 and the dual-fan, £55 Fortis 5 Dual.

Video Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction and pricing
00:55 The coolers / fans
03:29 Install/mounting
04:50 Test Setup
06:07 Test results
09:24 Closing thoughts

SilentiumPC Fortis 5 & Fortis 5 Dual

In terms of accessories, SilentiumPC provides compatibility for modern Intel and AMD sockets (except TR4), a small tube of thermal paste is included, and both coolers get clips for dual fan setups.

Of course, only the Fortis 5 Dual comes with two fans. But other than that, the products are basically the same.

Starting out with a look at the heatsink itself, SilentiumPC utilises a standard aluminium fin array and chooses not to coat the fins to change their colour. There is a black plastic top shroud for some added visual pizzazz, though.

Fin spacing is not particularly dense, so there are clear signs of this heatsink being optimised for low-speed, low-noise fan usage. The heatsink is heavily asymmetric by design but there is clear guidance as to which orientation should be used; the flat side at the front – DIMM – side.

Dimensions wise, the fin array is 159mm tall, by 144mm wide, by 82mm thick. Though it doesn’t fill that entire thickness dimension because of the curved backside shaping of the array.

Running through the aluminium fin array are six 6mm diameter copper heatpipes. These are actually nickel-plated copper for improved appearance and corrosion resistance. Not that you really see them with that plastic top cover on the cooler. Though, the Heatpipe Direct Touch base shaves down the nickel plating and is bare copper for preferential heat transfer. Offset alignment of the heatpipes is used to try to distribute heat around the fin array.

By default, the Fortis 5 comes with a Fluctus 140 fan, but the Fortis 5 dual adds on a Fluctus 120 secondary fan. The Fluctus 140 PWM fan operates at 300-1400 RPM, which is an impressive control range, even if somewhat moderate speed at the top end. The Fluctus 120 PWM fan on the Fortis 5 Dual also runs at 300-1400 RPM, which is quite slow at the top-end for a 120mm unit.

Importantly, the low-speed values that the fans can run at give them strong semi-passive operation abilities. If your motherboard can support semi-passive cooling, these fans should also be able to do it.

Both fans utilise Fluid Dynamic Bearings and quote a MTBF of 100,000 hours. This – impressively – gives SilentiumPC the confidence to back up the cooler with an impressive 6-year warranty.

The mounting hardware is easy to install. Threaded stand-offs are screwed into the default AM4 backplate before a metal mounting plate is screwed into position. Thermal paste can then be applied before the cooler is sat and screwed into position.

Then, the fans can be attached via their metal clips. And you can daisy-chain the fan connectors if you’re short on motherboard headers.

The final mount is secure and looks good in my opinion, and the solidity of the installation is strong.

Thanks to the cooler’s asymmetric and offset design, there is plenty of room for graphics cards. And tall memory modules stand a slightly higher chance of fitting, though don’t necessarily count on this with the market’s biggest sticks! Do watch out for interference with tall VRM heatsinks on the rear-IO side, though.

Oh, and if you want any form of lighting, you’ll have to opt for the slightly more expensive – £60 – Fortis 5 ARGB single-fan version.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Streamplify Streaming Gear Review – full streaming setup! https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/andrew-munro/streamplify-streaming-gear-review-full-streaming-setup/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/andrew-munro/streamplify-streaming-gear-review-full-streaming-setup/#respond Fri, 14 Jan 2022 13:00:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=545962 We check out a full streaming setup from newcomers Streamplify

The post Streamplify Streaming Gear Review – full streaming setup! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It’s 2022 and live streaming is bigger than ever, but if you’re thinking of getting started then you’re probably held back by the huge outlay in cost to get up and running. Don’t worry! We have a new company entering the scene to help you out. Streamplify is a brand-new company and their sole purpose it to offer affordable live streaming products, specifically for those on a tight budget or those starting out. We’re going to check out all 6 of their launch products, while asking the question- is budget gear actually good enough? Let’s find out.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction
01:30 The products in for review
03:07 The Mic Tripod
04:46 The Mic Arm
05:49 The Cam
06:55 Webcam test with audio
09:55 The Light 10
10:55 The Light 14
12:18 The Screen Lift
13:51 Setting it all up in OBS
15:28 Testing the setup
17:44 Improving the lighting to help the webcam
19:13 Andy’s overall thoughts

CAM specifications:

  • 2MP CMOS Sensor
  • 1080p60
  • Glass lens
  • 90degree viewing angle
  • Auto focus
  • 2 inbuilt microphones
  • Privacy filter that, when shut, mutes the microphones
  • Non-detachable 200cm USB-A
  • Included desk tripod stand

You can purchase the CAM for £59.99 from Overclockers UK HERE!

Update 14/01/2022: Streamplify have got in touch and told us they are aware of the CAM's ‘fuzziness' issue – they are currently looking into a fix, be it firmware or a hardware update.

Update 18/01/2022: Streamplify have send in the follow update:  The frequency of the webcam can be adjusted to 50 or 60Hz using the Windows Camera App or in OBS, this will eliminate or reduce the flicker issue with the CAM.'

Pros:

  • 1080p 60FPS.
  • Privacy filter mutes onboard microphones when shut.
  • Easy to set up.
  • Auto focus is good, doesn’t hunt.

Cons:

  • No software for fine adjustments.
  • Easily overexposes.
  • Flickering when using 50Hz lighting. See above update.

Rating: 8.

MIC ARM specifications:

  • Condenser microphone
  • Cardioid pickup pattern
  • 16bit – 48kHz sample rate
  • 100Hz-18kHz frequency response
  • 5mm headphone jack
  • Volume dial and mute via mic controls
  • RGB LED effects
  • Detachable USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C cables included
  • Included pop filter & shock mount
  • Desk mounted scissor arm included

You can purchase the MIC ARM for £69.95 from Overclockers UK HERE!

Pros:

  • Good audio quality.
  • Onboard controls are handy.
  • Plug & play.
  • RGB LED effects can be changed or turned off.
  • Included pop filter & shock mount.

Cons:

  • Microphone arm is quite flimsy with no height adjustment.

Rating: 8.

MIC TRIPOD Specifications:

  • Condenser microphone
  • Cardioid pickup pattern
  • 16bit – 48kHz sample rate
  • 100Hz-18kHz frequency response
  • 5mm headphone jack
  • Volume dial and mute via mic controls
  • RGB LED effects
  • Detachable USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C cables included
  • Included pop filter & shock mount
  • Desk mounted tripod stand included

You can purchase the MIC TRIPOD for £59.99 from Overclockers UK HERE!

Pros:

  • Good audio quality.
  • Onboard controls are handy.
  • Plug & play.
  • RGB LED effects can be changed or turned off.
  • Included pop filter & shock mount.

Cons:

  • Tripod desk stand is made from cheap plastic, could wear over time.

Rating: 8.

LIGHT 10 Specifications:

  • 26cm
  • 10 watts power consumption
  • USB-A 5V/2A
  • 480 Lumens – 10 adjustable light levels
  • Adjustable olour temperature 3000 – 6000 Kelvin
  • Included control box on USB cable
  • Desk tripod stand included 20cm – 25cm adjustable
  • Camera ball mount x1, smartphone gooseneck holder x1

You can purchase the LIGHT 10 for £19.99 from Overclockers UK HERE!

Pros:

  • Great price point.
  • Easy to use with onboard controls.
  • Good temperature adjustments.
  • Easy to install a camera or phone.

Cons:

  • Lower quality plastic design (acceptable given the price point).

Rating: 8.

LIGHT 14 Specifications:

  • 36cm
  • 36 watts power consumption
  • AC 100 – 240V
  • 2250 Lumens – 10 adjustable light levels
  • Adjustable colour temperature 3000 – 6000 Kelvin
  • Included IR remote control – 2x AAA batteries requires, not included
  • Adjustable touch control on the front of the panel
  • 2x USB charge ports on the back of the panel
  • Tripod stand included 0.5m – 1.7m adjustable
  • 2x camera ball head mounts, 2x phone holder mounts

You can purchase the LIGHT 14 for £64.99 from Overclockers UK HERE!

Pros:

  • Very bright.
  • Lots of temperature adjustments.
  • Onboard controls and remote control included.
  • Great height adjustment on the tripod.

Cons:

  • AAA batteries for the remote are not included.

Rating: 8.

SCREEN LIFT Specifications:

  • Hydraulic rod design
  • Open size 152 x 197cm
  • Retracted size 160 x 12 x 10cm
  • Load weight of lift 120N = 12.2KG
  • Lifecycle of lift 30K times
  • Oxford cloth material – Green
  • Water repellent
  • Lockable wheels included 1.5inches

You can purchase the SCREEN LIFT for £129.95 from Overclockers UK HERE!

Pros:

  • Excellent quality green screen material.
  • Stays taught for better Chroma Key results.
  • Very easy to set up and store.
  • Hydraulic system is smooth and stays at any height.

Cons:

  • Wheels are difficult to install properly with included wrench.

Rating: 8.5.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Overall, yes, a lot of these products do feel fairly budget to the touch and yes, they do lack some of the features you will find from the likes of Elgato, but in use everything worked very well. We think Streamplify have managed to hit their goals and promises of making affordable streaming gear that works very well for those just starting out or on a tight budget.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AIOs with Screens – Corsair vs Thermaltake Tested https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/luke-hill/aios-with-screens-corsair-thermaltake/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/luke-hill/aios-with-screens-corsair-thermaltake/#respond Mon, 10 Jan 2022 13:00:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=545475 Luke checks out two AIO coolers, both with integrated screens. Just how do they work?

The post AIOs with Screens – Corsair vs Thermaltake Tested first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
We continue to be largely amazed by just how many additional features manufacturers can squeeze onto an AIO liquid cooler. In a world where RGB fans and pump covers are commonplace, the latest trend seems to be LCD screens on the pump-block unit. Let’s take a look at two 360mm LCD-equipped AIOs – one from Corsair and one from Thermaltake.

Video Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction
01:17 Corsair H150i Elite LCD 360mm
03:41 Corsair Installation
04:02 Thermaltake Toughliquid Ultra 360 360mm
07:02 A quick comparison
07:24 Thermaltake warranty – disappointing
07:53 Thermaltake Installation
09:39 Testing setup and configuration
10:58 Test results
13:13 Results from coolers locked at 40dBa
13:44 PBO Temps and clocks
14:39 Motherboard VRM Temps
15:17 Lukes closing thoughts

Corsair H150i Elite LCD

Starting out with the Corsair H150i Elite LCD, this is a roughly £250 360mm liquid cooler with a 2.1” user-adjustable screen. As is typical for Corsair, you get a 5-year warranty.

Three 120mm ML RGB Elite series fans drive airflow through the unit. These PWM-controlled fans operate at up to 2000 RPM according to our testing, and their speed range of 450-2000 RPM – as well as Zero-RPM compatibility – is fantastic for creating low-noise operation when preferred. Lighting for the fans is handled by an array of LEDs that shine brightly through the translucent blades and look very eye-catching.

Controlling the fans is the bundled Corsair iCUE COMMANDER CORE unit. This can control up to six individual fans in terms of speed and RGB lighting. The fan spots are very conveniently numbered. And the cable connections for this unit are vast, but not intrusive or biased to the front side like we see from some competing coolers. Instead, Corsair uses a single – large – cable on the front side to connect with the pump unit.

Corsair uses a conventional 27mm-thick aluminium radiator. This is backed by 380mm-long low-permeation rubber tubes that are sleeved black and have very good flexibility. The 56mm x 56mm copper coldplate supports all modern sockets including LGA 1700 and Threadripper. Within this chunky unit is housed the speed-adjustable pump that we saw topping out around 2700-2800 RPM.

The 2.1” IPS screen clips onto the underlying pump unit for a seamless integration. Resolution is 480×480 natively with a 30Hz refresh rate, and brightness is rated up to 600 nits, which is very solid indeed. Corsair rounds the glossy display with an LED ring that is also controllable.

In fact, the entire cooler features absolutely superb control through iCUE. The image or GIF on the 2.1” screen can be adjusted and messed with, the RGB lighting border can be controlled, and synchronisation with the LEDs on the fans is superb. There is also ample speed control and the ability to set several profiles. iCUE is simply fantastic, even if it is quite resource heavy

Installation is incredibly easy on AM4, and it is quick. You install a few posts onto the default AMD backplate and then screw the block into place. Cable management is also fine given Corsair’s smart approach for biasing cables towards the chassis rear side – where they are hidden. And then iCUE can take care of the rest of the job.

Thermaltake Toughliquid Ultra 360

Thermaltake’s Toughliquid Ultra 360 is a 360mm AIO liquid cooler with a 2.1” display that retails for £265 but is currently on offer for around £240 at Scan. Warranty for the unit is two years according to Scan, and I cannot find any other major UK retailers with stock. Two years is incredibly disappointing for a £240+ AIO liquid cooler, especially when the Corsair competitor offers five years warranty.

Three of Thermaltake’s TOUGHFAN 12 Turbo fans handle airflow. These 120mm blowers are rated at 500-2500 RPM, which is a very good speed range, and they are controlled by a standard 4-pin PWM connection to a motherboard header. So, noise-adjustment abilities should be good, especially when coupled with the rubber anti-vibration mounting pads.

Interestingly, though for the 2021 market, the fans do not feature RGB LED lighting. This feels like an odd design choice when an LCD display on the pump unit is usually an upgrade that comes after RGB lighting on the other components of the AIO.

Thermaltake uses the standard 27mm-thick aluminium radiator. The 400mm rubber tubes are sleeved black to improve their appearance and reduce the likelihood of evaporation. Though they do seem less flexible than some of the other 360mm AIOs we have used recently – notably the Corsair unit and a 360 AIO from Sapphire. Thankfully, entry point into the pump-block unit is adjustable for some enhanced flexibility.

Just like Corsair, Thermaltake also uses a well-size copper coldplate that will suffice for even large heatspreader applications. Though the official specifications do not highlight support for the biggest of them all – Threadripper.

A once again very chunky casing houses the 3200 RPM pump. A 3-pin cable fan cable is used to provide power to the pump, and this indicates that it is a DC unit with limited speed control abilities (versus PWM).

The 2.1” TFT-LCD screen features a resolution of 480×480, just like the Corsair competitor. Thermaltake’s connection approach is via a Micro-USB cable that splits out into an internal USB 2.0 header. That’s absolutely fine as Thermaltake also does a good job of minimising the quantity of messy cables around the front.

The LCD screen can be manually rotated to align with the orientation inside one’s chassis. This is a basic but perfectly functional approach.

Controlled through the TT Plus RGB 2.0 software, a reasonable amount of useful information can be displayed on the screen. There’s liquid temperature or frequency for example. And if you’d prefer, that can be switched out for a JPG or GIF for true customisation.

I would say that Corsair’s iCUE ecosystem is undeniably sleeker. But Thermaltake’s does a good job at handling the duties that people actually want.

Installation on AM4 is one of the most frustrating processes I have experienced for any CPU cooler – air heatsinks included. In fact, I do not know why Thermaltake needed to make the process so long-winded and complicated.

A custom backplate with a rubber damper is balanced in position, without any form of sufficient retention. A user then needs to position four plastic spacers on the posts from the unsecure backplate and just hope that it doesn’t fall off. Then the block is positioned on those spacers before being screwed down.

A wrong move in one position, or a little too much force in another direction, and the backplate comes crashing off. And it crashes off whilst taking the screws or plastic spacers with it… or throwing them into other components such as our graphics card shroud!

Put simply, the process requires more than two hands to become straightforward. I have long thought that be quiet! has the most frustrating installation method with many of its air coolers. But I think Thermaltake has just taken this (non) victory with the Toughliquid Ultra 360.

I simply do not know why Thermaltake needed to make the approach so needlessly difficult. But at least the cooler looks good in the end.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AOC GH200 and GH300 Headset Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/christina-munro/aoc-gh200-and-gh300-headset-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/christina-munro/aoc-gh200-and-gh300-headset-review/#respond Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:00:47 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=537023 AOC is now making peripherals - let's check out a couple of their headsets

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Today we’re checking out not one, but two headsets from AOC! That's right, AOC – the monitor manufacturer – is now in the peripheral business, and here we are looking at both the GH200 & GH300 gaming headsets, with detachable microphones, 50mm neodymium drivers and more. The GH200 comes in at just over £25, while the GH300 comes in at around £45, but which will come out on top? Let’s find out!

GH200

GH200 Specifications:

  • Detachable omnidirectional microphone
  • Stereo
  • Compatible with PC, console & mobile
  • 50mm drivers
  • In-line controller featuring volume, mute/unmute
  • Wired 3.5mm/Y-splitter connectivity
  • Braided 1.8m cable
  • Dimensions: 195 x 100 x 160mm
  • Weight: 326.5g

You can purchase the AOC GH200 headset, for £26.22, HERE!

Pros:

  • Much better microphone quality.
  • Great price.
  • Comfortable.
  • Lighter than the GH300.
  • Good adjustability & build quality.

Cons:

  • Styling and colourway isn’t as attractive as the GH300.

Rating: 8.

GH300

GH300 Specifications:

  • Detachable omnidirectional microphone
  • Virtual 7.1 surround (PC only)
  • 50mm drivers
  • RGB LED on ear cups
  • In-line controller featuring volume, mute/unmute, RGB on/off
  • Wired USB 2.0
  • PC, console & mobile via USB
  • Software support via PC
  • Braided 2.0m cable
  • Dimensions: 195 x 100 x 160mm
  • Weight: 363.5g

You can purchase the AOC GH300 headset, for £46.24, HERE!

Pros:

  • Clean design.
  • RGB.
  • Comfortable.
  • Good adjustability & build quality.

Cons:

  • Poor microphone quality.
  • Large, chunky and budget feeling control box.
  • Software is very basic and not intuitive.

Rating: 7.

KitGuru says: While we think the GH300 has a slightly better aesthetic with the classic red and black theme, plus 7.1 virtual surround sound, we actually think the GH200 is a better offering. It's cheaper while offering a better microphone and better connectivity options via the 3.5mm and splitter cable.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AOC AGON Peripheral Roundup – AGK700, AGM700 & AMM700 https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/andrew-munro/aoc-agon-peripheral-roundup-agk700-agm700-amm700/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/andrew-munro/aoc-agon-peripheral-roundup-agk700-agm700-amm700/#respond Mon, 22 Nov 2021 09:49:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=537263 Today we're checking out three different peripherals, all from AOC's AGON range

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Today we’ve got a roundup review for you, taking a look at three products from AOC’s AGON peripheral range. We’re checking out the AGK700 keyboard with Cherry MX Red switches, macro G-Keys and more that comes in at £109.99, the AGM700 wired mouse with a PMW 3389 sensor and Omron switches that’s £29.99, and finally the AMM700 RGB LED mouse mat for £14.99.

AOC AGK700 keyboard

Specifications:

  • Full size keyboard
  • Cherry MX RED switches
  • 50m lifespan
  • 5 Macro keys
  • All programmable keys
  • Media controls
  • Full NKRO
  • 100% anti-ghosting
  • 1000Hz polling rate
  • RGB LED backlit
  • 5 On-board profiles
  • Premium aluminium alloy top plate
  • 1x USB 2.0 type-A passthrough port
  • Magnetic leather detachable wrist rest
  • 2x wired USB 2.0
  • 8m braided cable
  • Dimensions: 457 x 236 x 33mm
  • Weight: 1626g

You can purchase the AOC AGK700, for £89.99 HERE – on offer from its regular price of £109.50.

Pros:

  • Good build quality.
  • Very comfortable wrist rest.
  • Cherry MX Red (or Blue) switches.
  • Full NKRO, 1000Hz polling rate & 100% anti-ghosting.

Cons:

  • ABS keycaps.
  • Very loud spacebar/enter/backspace keys.
  • £20 price cut would make it even more competitive.

Rating: 8.

AOC AGM700 mouse

Specifications:

  • Connectivity: wired USB 2.0
  • 8m braided cable
  • Symmetrical right-handed design
  • Omron switches 50m click
  • 8 Programmable buttons
  • RGB LED zones
  • 3 on board memory profiles
  • Adjustable weight system 5x5g up to 25g
  • PixArt PMW3389 optical sensor
  • 16,000 DPI
  • 6 DPI levels
  • 400 IPS
  • 1000Hz 1ms Polling rate
  • 50G Acceleration
  • Dimensions 123.8 x 63.4 x 37.9mm
  • Weight: up to 148g

You can purchase the AOC AGM700, for £29.99, HERE!

Pros:

  • Good performance overall.
  • Great sensor and switches.
  • Very clicky buttons, none are spongey in feel.
  • Rubber grips on both sides.
  • Comfortable.

Cons:

  • Very heavy even without weights.
  • Weights don’t come out easily.
  • Build quality isn't fantastic.
  • Buttons are slightly noisy.

Rating: 8.5.

AOC AMM700 mouse mat

Specifications:

  • Wired USB 2.0
  • Cable length: 1.8m
  • Braided fibre cable
  • Medium size
  • Top material: micro textured cloth surface
  • Bottom material: anti-slip rubber base
  • RGB LED illumination
  • Dimensions: 357 x 256 x 13mm

You can purchase the AOC AMM700, for £14.99, HERE!

Pros:

  • Affordable.
  • Very good surface material.
  • Good grip on the underneath.

Cons:

  • No USB passthrough, you lose 1x USB port to power it.
  • RGB LEDs aren’t consistent, leads to inconsistent lighting.
  • Not very bright.

Rating: 7.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: The AGK700 is a solid keyboard, the AGM700 mouse is worth the sub-£30 price tag but we'd pass on the AMM700 mouse mat due to the inconsistent lighting. However, if bought together as a bundle then it makes for a complete and matching setup.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AZIO IZO Collection Review – Keyboard, Mouse and Numpad https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/jack-woodhams/azio-izo-collection-review-keyboard-mouse-and-numpad/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/jack-woodhams/azio-izo-collection-review-keyboard-mouse-and-numpad/#respond Mon, 08 Nov 2021 12:00:09 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=537704 AZIO's IZO collection is visually appealing - but is the beauty only skin deep?

The post AZIO IZO Collection Review – Keyboard, Mouse and Numpad first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we're looking at Azio's IZO Collection, a unique and attractive peripheral set consisting of a wireless keyboard, mouse and numeric pad. The set offers a bunch of great features and definitely looks good on paper, but is it worth the £190 price tag for the full set?  

Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction
00:57 IZO Keyboard
08:20 Hybrid connect mode / battery life
10:10 Lighting control and dial
11:13 Switches
11:57 Key sound test
12:17 Gaming experience
13:02 Criticisms
13:26 IZO Numpad (it's also a standalone calculator!)
17:14 IZO mouse
18:18 Weight, details, noises, design
21:58 Mouse Sensor
22:22 Overall experience with the mouse
23:22 Jack's closing thoughts on the products

IZO Keyboard

Specifications:

  • Interface: Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Hybrid
  • Switch type: Gateron Blue Mechanical Switch
  • NKRO: 6-Keys via Bluetooth / NKRO via USB
  • Backlight: 21 Backlight Modes with White LED
  • Battery: 5000mAh
  • OS Support: Windows 10 & Above & MacOS
  • Dimensions: 320 x 150 x 42 mm
  • Weight 793g

You can purchase the IZO Mechanical Keyboard for £104 from IZO HERE!

Pros

  • Great looking keyboard.
  • USB and Bluetooth Hybrid Modes.
  • Clicky, tactile Gateron Blue Switches.
  • Compact and sleek design.
  • Unique F keys for productivity.
  • 21 different LED backlight modes.

Cons

  • Cheap plastic ABS body for the price.
  • USB cable isn't braided and is kinked.
  • The Dial can be unresponsive when pressed off centre.
  • Gold keycaps seem low-quality ABS and get marked easily.

Rating: 7.5.

IZO Mouse

Specifications:

  • Optical Sensor: PixArt PAW3212
  • DPI: 1000 / 1600 / 2400
  • Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
  • Battery: 1000 mAh
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0 & 5.0 / 2.4G RF-USB
  • Buttons: 3 (Including Scroll Wheel)
  • Cable: USB Cable (non-braided)
  • OS: Support: Windows 10 & Above / MacOS
  • Dimensions: 104 x 64 x 39 mm
  • Weight: 87.6 g

You can purchase the IZO Wireless Mouse for £38 from IZO HERE!

Pros

  • Bluetooth and RF functionality.
  • Ambidextrous design.
  • Fairly affordable.

Cons

  • Size could limit appeal.
  • Cheap plastic feel.
  • Low quality sensor.
  • Switches hard to actuate.
Rating: 6.5.

IZO Numpad/Calculator

Specifications:

  • Interface: Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Hybrid
  • Switch type: Gateron Blue Mechanical Switch
  • NKRO: 6-Keys via Bluetooth / NKRO via USB
  • Backlight: 9 Backlight Modes with White LED
  • Battery: 1000mAh
  • OS Support: Windows 10 & Above & MacOS
  • Dimensions: 92 x 150 x 42mm
  • Weight 221g

You can purchase the IZO Mechanical Numpad for £52 from IZO HERE!

Pros

  • Unique design for a numeric pad.
  • Clicky, tactile switches.
  • PBT double-shot key caps.
  • Good LED backlighting.
  • Clear and big LCD display in calculator mode.

Cons

  • Expensive for a numeric pad.
  • Battery life doesn't last long.
  • Only 9 LED modes (fewer than the keyboard).

Rating: 7.
Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Although a unique and visually impressive collection, the IZO collection misses the mark slightly and is expensive too. The keyboard is the best of the set offering good quality key caps, Gateron Blue Mechanical switches and great LED modes. The numpad and mouse however are disappointing, especially considering the amount of alternatives at the price point.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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DDR4 Round-Up: Corsair, G.SKILL, Kingston, PNY, Predator Tested https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/ddr4-round-up-review-corsair-g-skill-kingston-pny-predator-tested/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/luke-hill/ddr4-round-up-review-corsair-g-skill-kingston-pny-predator-tested/#respond Thu, 21 Oct 2021 10:28:25 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=536253 Luke takes a look at six different DDR4 memory kits

The post DDR4 Round-Up: Corsair, G.SKILL, Kingston, PNY, Predator Tested first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
With DDR5 just around the corner and ready to steal the limelight, we thought it would be a good opportunity for us to look at a few different DDR4 kits with a variety of different operating specifications. We have mainstream, flashy bling, and uber-high-frequency kits from Corsair, G.SKILL, Kingston, PNY, and Predator.

As is clear, the majority of our samples run at 3600MHz. This has emerged as the new go-to option for DDR4 memory, especially with the beneficial tie-in frequencies on the AMD platform.

We will be testing these sets on our usual go-to AMD Ryzen 9 5950X test system, but also with a keen eye on which kits may perform well as partners for DDR4-equipped Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake motherboards.

Let’s take a closer look…

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AMD RX 6600 Review ft. ASUS and Gigabyte https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/amd-rx-6600-review-ft-asus-and-gigabyte/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/amd-rx-6600-review-ft-asus-and-gigabyte/#respond Wed, 13 Oct 2021 13:00:08 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=535148 We check out the latest GPU from AMD - the RX 6600

The post AMD RX 6600 Review ft. ASUS and Gigabyte first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Following on from the launch of the RX 6600 XT back in August, today AMD has announced its newest GPU, the RX 6600 (non-XT). Using a cut-down version of Navi 23 silicon, AMD claims the RX 6600 offers ‘powerhouse performance for 1080p', with the company's first-party data showing this new GPU trading blows with Nvidia's RTX 3060. Today we put this new GPU through its paces, comparing it to a range of both current and previous-generation graphics cards.

As with the RX 6600 XT, there's no AMD reference design for the RX 6600, instead AMD is relying on its board partners to come up with their custom designs. Today's review focuses on two such cards – the ASUS RX 6600 Dual and the Gigabyte RX 6600 Eagle. Both are clocked at reference specifications – so there's no factory overclocking involved – though the Eagle uses a triple-fan cooler compared to the dual-fan design of the ASUS… Dual.

In terms of pricing, AMD has set a £299.99 MSRP for the UK market, with a $329 MSRP for those in the US. This is a £30/$50 reduction compared to the RX 6600 XT, though we have been hearing real-world cost is looking closer to £400, if not higher.

Still, we have a review to get on with, so today we are testing the RX 6600 over 12 modern games, comparing it to the likes of the RTX 3060, RX 6600 XT, RX 5600 XT and more. We also have extensive power and performance-per-Watt data, alongside the thermal and acoustic performance of these two custom cards.

RX 6800 XT RX 6800  RX 6700 XT RX 6600 XT RX 6600
Architecture RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2 RDNA 2
Manufacturing Process 7nm 7nm 7nm 7nm 7nm
Transistor Count 26.8 billion 26.8 billion 17.2 billion 11.1 billion 11.1 billion
Die Size  519 mm² 519 mm² 336 mm² 237 mm² 237 mm²
Ray Accelerators 72 60 40 32 28
Compute Units  72 60 40 32 28
Stream Processors  4608 3840 2560 2048 1792
Game GPU Clock Up to 2015MHz Up to 1815MHz Up to 2424MHz Up to 2359MHz Up to 2044 MHz
Boost GPU Clock Up to 2250MHz Up to 2105MHz Up to 2581MHz Up to 2589MHz Up to 2491MHz
ROPs 128 96 64 64 64
AMD Infinity Cache 128MB 128MB 96MB 32MB 32MB
Memory 16GB GDDR6 16GB GDDR6 12GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth 512 GB/s 512 GB/s 384 GB/s 256 GB/s 224 GB/s
Memory Interface  256-bit 256-bit 192-bit 128-bit 128-bit
Board Power  300W 250W 230W 160W 132W

Let's first look over the key specifications of the GPU. Using the same 237 mm² Navi 23 silicon as its XT counterpart, the RX 6600 is cut-back in a few key areas. It houses 28 Compute Units (CUs), so that's four fewer than the 6600 XT, for a total of 1792 stream processors, or 256 fewer than the XT model.

RDNA 2 houses one ray accelerator per CU, so there’s a total of 28 with the RX 6600. Four texture units per CU gives a total of 112, while there’s also 64 ROPs. Clock speed has been pared back slightly though, with a rated boost clock of 2491 MHz, down from 2589MHz with the 6600 XT.

As for the memory configuration, this is broadly the same as the RX 6600 XT, meaning there's a narrow 128-bit memory interface paired with 8GB of GDDR6 memory. The memory itself is clocked slower however, at 14Gbps instead of 16Gbps, reducing total memory bandwidth by 12.5%, as it hits 224 GB/s. There is still 32MB of AMD’s Infinity Cache.

Lastly, total board power (TBP) is rated at 132W, a reduction of 28W, or 17.5%, compared to the RX 6600 XT. We are using our new GPU power testing methodology in this review, so read on for our most detailed power and efficiency testing yet.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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MSI Silent Case Kit: Quietude 100s / Coreliquid S360 / Silent Gale P12 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/msi-silent-case-kit-build-quietude-100s-coreliquid-s360-silent-gale-p12/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/msi-silent-case-kit-build-quietude-100s-coreliquid-s360-silent-gale-p12/#respond Wed, 06 Oct 2021 19:56:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=534268 MSI is targeting low noise operation with the release of new a silent case kit!

The post MSI Silent Case Kit: Quietude 100s / Coreliquid S360 / Silent Gale P12 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are taking a look at MSI’s new silent case kit, which consists of a new low-noise focused mid-tower chassis, a 360mm AIO cooler and some silent and stealthy-looking 120mm fans. We thought the best way to test this silent case kit would be to create an MSI-themed build… so here it is!

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:56 Parts overview
01:55 MPG Quietude 100S Case
09:30 MEG Silent Gale P12 Fans
10:29 MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
13:46 The plan – and build components
15:16 System build
20:25 Silent Gale P12 fans -thoughts and install
22:11 Ventilation and CPU cooler install
25:05 Power Supply Installation
26:08 Rest of the Install (timelapse)
28:43 Build is finished!
29:43 A look at cooler software
30:59 James discusses the build and case quality
33:47 Thermal tests and closing thoughts

We have been told the MSI silent case kit is expected to be available for purchase as a bundle, while the individual components will also available separately from late October to early November.

The case is the MSI MAG Quietude 100S, a mid-tower ATX chassis featuring removable noise insulated panels, dual RGB lighting zones, a hinged tempered glass side panel, fan speed control via a front panel button with one 120mm silent fan pre-installed in the rear panel.

Included with the case is a single MEG Silent Gale P12 120mm fan, which is a new line of silent, zero RPM fans from MSI. The fan blade design is optimised for maximum airflow with a 32-degree angle and constructed from a high strength liquid crystal polymer to reduce vibration at maximum RPM. A hydro-dynamic bearing, anti-vibration rubber mounts and a frame design with an angled curvature all help to reduce noise. The speed range of Silent Gale P12 is 0-2000RPM controlled by PWM signal, the fans are backed by a 6-year warranty for peace of mind.

Silent Gale P12 fans can also be found on a new AIO liquid cooler from MSI. The MSI MPG Coreliquid S360 is the latest instalment in the MSI AIO range with a focus on low noise output with a 0RPM fan mode, high-performance cooling from the Asetek generation 7 pump unit and unique aesthetics from the CPU block mounted 2.4-inch IPS screen that allows users to display hardware information or add their own personal touch with customisable graphics and videos.

MAG Quietude 100S Features

  • Low noise chassis design featuring noise dampening material, removable noise insulated front and top panels and a low noise MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 120mm fan pre-installed as a rear exhaust.
  • Dual ARGB lighting zones on the PSU shroud and the base of the chassis below the front panel. RGB lighting can be controlled via a button on the front panel or by connecting to compatible motherboards.
  • Three-stage fan speed control button located on the front panel I/O. Settings can be adjusted between zero, 70% and 100% RPM depending on user preference.
  • Extensive front panel I/O connectivity including two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port and dual 3.5mm audio jacks for headphone and mic.
  • VGA support bracket integrated into the motherboard tray designed for compatibility with graphics cards of varying size and weight.
  • Generous cooling hardware support, up to seven fans in total or up to 360mm radiators can be installed in the roof or the front of the chassis.
  • Support for E-ATX/ATX/M-ATX and Mini ITX motherboards. Maximum supported CPU cooler height up to 175mm, supported maximum GPU length of 380mm and up to a maximum PSU length of 220mm.

MEG Silent Gale P12 Features

  • Liquid crystal polymer fan blades with a 32-degree blade angle for optimised airflow performance.
  • Hydro-dynamic bearing and anti-vibration gaskets help reduce noise caused by friction and vibration. An angled and curved frame design reduces turbulence while enhancing static pressure.
  • Zero noise mode with a speed range of 0-2000RPM controlled by PWM signal. Each fan comes with a 300mm long 4-pin PWM extension cable.
  • Maximum airflow 56.2CFM, maximum air pressure 2.21 mm-H2O and maximum noise level of 22.7 dBA.

MEG Coreliquid S360 Features

  • Equipped with a 2.4-inch IPS screen that can display hardware information, custom images, video and more. The IPS display is mounted directly on top of the Asetek Generation 7 Pump housing.
  • 0 RPM fan mode for near-silent operation. Outfitted with three MSI Silent Gale P12 fans with a PWM speed range of 0-2000RPM.
  • A 60mm downdraught fan is sandwiched between the CPU water block and the IPS display which helps dissipate heat from the surrounding components such as the VRM and M.2 SSD.
  • The fan speed and customisation of the IPS display can be controlled and adjusted via the MSI Centre software.
  • Compatible with all current mainstream desktop platforms from Intel and AMD including the upcoming Intel LGA1700 (Alder Lake) socket and AMD Ryzen Threadripper.

The Build

System Specification

Using the MSI silent case kit to build a system was a pleasant experience overall. The MAG Quietude 100S chassis seems like decent quality as a whole, some areas could be improved but alignment with the motherboard standoffs, rear I/O, PCIe cut-outs and power supply mounts all seem good, everything fit into place in the chassis as it should. There is plenty of space for cooling too, installing the 360mm radiator at the front was easy, however, tubing outlets had to be at the top which is sub-optimal.

The case allows for large graphics card installation, the Radeon 6600 XT looked quite small inside the case so there is loads of space to install larger high-end cards, even with a front-mounted radiator. Space around the motherboard is good too, with case fans installed in the roof, there is still room to access the top EPS power connectors and top fan headers which is a bonus.

With the silent top panel fitted, fans mounted in the roof are pretty pointless. However, they can be connected to the integrated fan hub and set to zero RPM via the front I/O fan switch. If the user feels that they need more airflow during demanding workloads, the top panel can be easily removed and the fans switched on. Installing an AIO at the top of the case is only a good idea when the silent panel is removed permanently.

The MSI MEG Coreliquid S360 is Asetek based so it's easy to install. Screw in four standoffs to the stock AM4 backplate, lower the CPU block in position over the CPU and tighten in place using four thumbscrews to install the block, it's that easy. The Integrated 2.4-inch IPS display and fan/pump speed can be configured via the MSI Centre software.

MSI includes two options for fixing the MEG Silent Gale P12 fans to the chassis. Either standard coarse thread fan screws or plastic tool-free clips can be used. I chose to use the screws since the build will be disassembled shortly after the video and I have found in the past that this type of plastic clip can sometimes be awkward to remove and easily damaged upon removal if you are not careful.

With all the silent case kit parts installed into the system, it looks stunning. The build has a very stealthy dark appearance with the AIO, fans and case all being black and minimal RGB lighting. A hint of purple illumination was added to the memory and case lighting to match the colour of the border around the AIO display, but this build would have also looked great with no RGB at all.

Thermal/Noise Performance Testing

This is a showcase build rather than a typical review, however, as well as finding out how good this case, cooler and fans are to build a system with, we wanted to measure how well the silent case kit holds up in terms of thermal performance and just as importantly how quiet the system is under load.

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark in a loop for 30 minutes to fully load the CPU. This should give the CPU enough time to reach its constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the CPU cooler handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels. No GPU load was introduced to the test as we didn't want GPU heat and noise to affect results.

We first measure the thermal performance with the case in its default configuration, so all silent panels, tempered glass and steel side panels are installed. The system is then left to fully cool down, silent panels removed and the same stress test runs for a second time to see how this configuration affects thermal performance and noise levels.

During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All fans and pumps (where applicable) will be set to their silent fan curve profile, controlled by the MSI Centre software/Motherboard BIOS as this is recommended by MSI. The additional Silent Gale P12 fans installed to the roof of the chassis are set to zero RPM for the duration of the test.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average CPU temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then calculated to get the average. Ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 17-19⁰C.

Noise levels are measured by placing a noise meter 300mm from the front of the chassis while the stress test is running and the peak noise level during the test is recorded. The noise floor (ambient noise level) in the room is 36dBA.

Thermal Performance Overview

As you can see, with the silent fan profile used to control AIO fan speed, there is little difference in terms of thermal performance with the case in its default, silent configuration or with the silent panels removed. This means that even with the relatively closed design of the front panel, sufficient airflow is passing through the side, top and front vents which is good for a case of this type.

CPU boost frequency during both tests was very consistent at 4.3GHz – 4.35GHz average. So no matter how the case is configured, system performance is on a pretty equal level.

Noise levels Under Load

Similar to thermal performance, noise levels are virtually identical whether the case is in its silent (Default) configuration or not. Using the silent fan profile, noise levels were so low under load that the system noise output was barely above our noise floor (Ambient noise level) which is very impressive when you take into consideration how well the case/cooler handled thermals too.

Closing Thoughts

I enjoyed building a system using this “Silent case kit” from MSI. Taken as a whole the chassis was perfectly fine to use for a high-end build. However, there were a couple of areas where MSI could improve the design. The silent panels were a bit fiddly to remove, the front panel often brought the dust filter with it when removed as the dust filter didn’t seem like a perfect fit, but overall the case is pretty well built and feels sturdy structurally.

MSI’s front I/O fan switch could have been a little more conservative in terms of fan RPM. The switch has three stages, zero, 70% and 100% RPM. Running at 70% RPM, the three Silent Gale P12 fans installed in the chassis roof were noticeably audible. Since this is a low noise case I think 70% fan speed for the first RPM stage is a bit aggressive, 50% fan speed or lower would be better for a lower noise output while still allowing decent airflow.

A vented PSU shroud isn't my cup of tea either, I completely understand why it's there to help with airflow etc but it can look untidy seeing all the PSU cables underneath the PSU shroud, and for me, the whole point of a PSU shroud is to make the system look neat.

Positives definitely outweigh the negatives though, especially if we are talking about the kit as a whole. The case has some premium features such as noise insulated panels, a hinged tempered glass side panel, real brushed aluminium trim on the front, not plastic made to look like brushed aluminium and the fact that MSI has included an integrated VGA support bracket is pleasing, as it can be very useful if you install a high-end heavy graphics card.

The MSI MPG Coreliquid S360 cooler also has a premium feel to it, which it should do with a £250 price tag. There are a handful of AIOs with integrated CPU block displays on the market but MSI added a downdraught fan too, which helps to cool critical components surrounding the CPU such as the VRM and M.2 drive which is a nice feature. Also, the stealthy, dark look with no RGB looks great in my opinion.

Like the Coreliquid AIO, the MAG Silent Gale P12 fans have a premium look and feel. The build quality of the fan frame is very solid, the choice of screws or tool-free installation is a bonus and the included 300mm 4-pin extension cable came in handy in our build. At low RPM the fans seem to move plenty of air as our thermal performance test proves. Multiple fans are also very quiet when operating at low speed.

Overall, the MSI silent case kit is a very solid premium product. I love the stealth looks and the high-quality build of the AIO and fans especially, the case is ok but there are plenty of very good alternatives at around the same price point. We've been told this will be available as a bundle purchase and if you want to buy any of the parts separately, they will start hitting retail shelves from late October/early November.

MSI MAG Quietude 100S is priced at £129.99 MSRP and is estimated to be available in late October/early November in the UK. The MEG Coreliquid S360 should be available in early November with an MSRP of £249.99 and the MEG Silent Gale P12 fans are expected to arrive in the UK in Q1 2022. No official UK price for the fans is available just yet, however, the U.S MSRP is $39.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

MSI MAG Quietude 100S

Pros:

  • Sound insulated panels.
  • Good cable management space.
  • Decent airflow/cooling for a solid front case.

Cons:

  • Front panel /filter is not a great fit.
  • Fan speed switch RPM is too aggressive for a low noise system.
Rating: 7.5.

MEG Coreliquid S360

Pros:

  • No RGB.
  • Solid premium build quality.
  • Good thermal performance.

Cons:

  • CPU block is very bulky.
  • Not cheap.
Rating: 8.

 

MEG Silent Gale P12

Pros:

  • Slick stealthy appearance with solid build feel.
  • Quiet at low/medium RPM.
  • Included extension cable.

Cons:

  • UK availability is way off.
  • UK pricing is currently unclear.
Rating: 8.

 

KitGuru says: As a whole package, the MSI silent case kit is a lovely bit of kit to build a system around. Noise levels under load are very low and I think it all looks very slick when put together. What do you guys think of this new low noise gear from MSI?

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X570Silence – ASUS and Gigabyte Motherboards Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/x570silence-asus-and-gigabyte-motherboards-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/x570silence-asus-and-gigabyte-motherboards-review/#respond Mon, 04 Oct 2021 11:55:50 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=534013 X570S is here and Luke checks out two options from ASUS and Gigabyte

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AMD’s X570 platform has been superb since its launch in July 2019, but B550 stole some of its thunder in summer 2020. Especially because B550 was fully passive and had some updated features given its 1-year newer status. With X570, only a couple of the ultra-high-end boards were passive – most had an annoying chipset fan.

Not happy with the highest-end AM4 options just sailing into the sunset until AM5 arrives, the motherboard vendors have brought out some new X570 motherboards often designated ‘X570S’. And these boards are passively cooled without a chipset fan, thus eliminating one of the most annoying features for the X570 offerings in general.

Before you get too excited about the ‘new X570S' chipset, we spoke to AMD and they confirmed that there is no real difference with the chipset silicon itself. There is no new process node or adjusted feature set. Instead, the motherboard vendors have more or less taken it upon themselves to use X570S as a marketing term for the chipset… but it’s still X570!

To be perfectly frank though, that is not such a bad thing. X570 is still a superb platform, with PCIe Gen 4 connectivity throughout and a high-bandwidth four-lane highway between the CPU and chipset. Realistically, the only downside to X570 motherboards as they have currently existed on the market has been the chipset fan. But now, better cooling implementations from the motherboard vendors have that annoyance fixed.

Anyway, that’s enough for the introduction. We will be examining a couple of passive X570 motherboard from ASUS and Gigabyte.

We have the £360 ASUS ProArt X570-Creator WiFi that is intended for prosumers with personal workstation type use cases. And the £340 Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master which carries on from the original X570 Aorus Master by intending to be an all-round enthusiast option with a high-end, but not over the top price tag.

Let’s take a closer look at both of these motherboards.

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Deepcool CG560 / AK620 Build – Noctua D15 Battle! https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cg560-ak620-build-noctua-d15-battle/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cg560-ak620-build-noctua-d15-battle/#respond Sun, 26 Sep 2021 10:50:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=532941 Deepcool has a new airflow case and dual tower cooler, but how do they stack up to the competition?

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Since ditching its Gamer Storm branding, Deepcool has gone all sensible and grown up with a new slick looking company logo and subtle packaging completely shaking off the gaming tag that is often used by some to make products seem ‘better than they are'. We have been expecting a new wave of Deepcool products for a while and today we get the opportunity to look at two products from this new Deepcool era. But are they any good? Let's find out.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction
01:02 Peel Porn – removing side panels
01:46 Deepcool CG560 up close
09:54 Deepcool AK620 Dual Tower CPU Cooler
12:53 The build specifications
14:07 Basic Install (timelapse)
14:39 LGA1700 bracket chat
16:01 System build (timelapse)
19:26 System build Discussion
22:43 Measuring Thermal Performance
24:57 James closing thoughts

Kicking off is the Deepcool CG560 mid-tower chassis, the first Deepcool case I have seen since the company transitioned to its new look. There is no sign whatsoever of Gamer Storm or anything gaming related when reading up about the CG560 which is something I like. Too often products are given a gaming tag, as if gaming means better or more expensive when most of the time it simply isn't. So if the CG650 isn't a gaming case then what is it?

Well, yes the CG560 can be used to build a gaming system inside, in fact, Deepcool specifically says in its marketing bumf that the CG560 is “ready for the high-end components of your upcoming new build” so this case should be perfect for a gaming system or high-end office system, video editing machine, CAD system or whatever. To put it to the test, we decided to build a high end, Deepcool themed system using the CG560 and the new Deepcool AK620 dual tower air cooler.

As well as the CG560 Deepcool has launched the CG540, another case of the same specification and design but with a tempered glass front panel as an alternative to the “crosshair” vented panel of the CG560, so users can choose between high airflow or not. The CG540’s tempered glass also sports a “crosshair” pattern but it is still a solid glass panel.

The new Deepcool AK620 CPU air cooler is a compact dual tower cooler, featuring dual fluid dynamic bearing 120mm fans with a speed range of 500-1850 RPM and PWM control. The AK620 is compatible with all current Intel and AMD mainstream desktop platforms and has a maximum heat dissipation rating of 260W, which should be enough to cool high performance CPU's.

We will test the performance of the Deepcool AK620 later, but first, let’s take a look at the features of this new cooler and mid-tower case to see how they stack up against the competition. The CG560 chassis is set to be released in October priced at £74.99 MSRP and the AK620 is out in September with an MSRP of £59.99.

Deepcool CG560 Features:

  • Mid-tower ATX chassis that supports E-ATX/ATX, Micro ATX and Mini ITX motherboards.
  • Airflow optimised front panel design with stylish “crosshair” pattern mesh and large side vents to allow for ample airflow to enter the system.
  • Equipped with four cooling fans, 3 x 120mm front-mounted RGB fans and a single 140mm black non-RGB fan as a rear exhaust.
  • Supported cooling hardware includes a total of up to 6 x 120mm fans or 5 140mm fans. The front panel supports 360mm, 280mm or 240mm radiators. Either 240mm or 280mm radiators can be installed in the roof and a 120mm or 140mm fan can be installed in the rear panel.
  • Storage options include two 2.5-inch drive bays mounted on the rear of the motherboard tray. A HDD caddy located under the PSU shroud can also accommodate two 3.5-inch drives.
  • CPU coolers up to 175mm tall, graphics cards up to 380mm long can be installed in the main compartment and power supplies of up to 160mm in length can be installed under the PUS shroud (with the HDD caddy in place)
  • Includes dust filtration on the front panel, top panel (Magnetic) and below the power supply vent.

Deepcool AK620 Features:

  • High-performance dual tower cooler with 6 copper heat pipes and a maximum heat dissipation power of 260W.
  • Includes two low noise (28dBA) 120mm fans with fluid dynamic bearings and a speed range of 500-1850 RPM controlled by PWM signal.
  • Precision machined convex copper base plate and dense aluminium fin stack array.
  • Dimensions are 129mm x 138mm x 160 mm (heatsink with fans installed) and 43mm RAM clearance height.
  • Compatible with all current Intel and AMD mainstream desktop platforms including Intel LGA2066/2011-v3/2011/1200/1151/1150/1155 and AMD AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2/FM2+/FM2/FM1.

System Installation

We wanted to test Deepcools claim that the CG560 is “ready for the high-end components” which we did by installing a high-end gaming system inside the chassis. Overall the build went very smooth. We may have made it easy going with our selection of hardware using a CPU air cooler, an M.2 SSD, no 2.5 or 3.5-inch storage and by using the stock fans. Nevertheless, this is still a very powerful build.

Installation of components such as the motherboard and graphics card were hassle-free since there is plenty of space inside the chassis and things such as the motherboard standoffs, rear I/O cutout and PCI slot cutout all lined up very well. The core chassis structure feels solid and well put together, the only slight minor issue I had with build quality was with the cheap, flexible plastic front panel which in no way impacts the build experience.

Having four fans included with the case is a real bonus and is probably ample for most systems, three of the fans being RGB is an added bonus and thankfully Deepcool doesn’t require any fancy (or annoying, decide for yourself) RGB controllers for the RGB to work. Either connect directly to the motherboard using the supplied 3-pin 5v ARGB cable or use the RGB hub that is built into the case, which allows you to skip through various RGB colour schemes and patterns using the button on the front I/O panel.

One thing missing from the CG560 that might irritate some users is a USB Type-C port. However, this doesn’t concern me too much as most peripherals still ship with USB-C to USB-A cables anyway. What did irritate me slightly is the fact that Deepcool has taken away the GPU support bracket that we have seen in its previous cases, and in this build, it would have been very useful as the Sapphire RX 6800 is suffering from unsightly GPU sag which would have been eliminated if the GPU support bracket was there.

So building a high spec system inside the CG560 can be easy, likewise is the installation of the new AK620 cooler. The installation is so simple that it can be done without any hassle while the motherboard is fitted to the case and with the system stood upright (vertical). Noctua’s SecuFirm2 installation for example is difficult to do with the system upright due to the fiddly spacers and screws arrangement, the Deepcool installation method is better in my opinion.

To install the AK620, remove the stock AM4 plastic brackets, screw the Deepcool standoffs to the stock AM4 backplate, attach the Deepcool AM4 brackets to the standoffs using thumbscrews, bolt down the cooler to the brackets using the supplied long reach Philips screwdriver and clip on the fans, simple as that. Overall the installation should take no longer than 10 minutes, even the most novice PC builder should find it a breeze.

The cooler offers 43mm RAM clearance with the fans fitted flush to the top of the heatsink (as they are fitted out of the box). There is some adjustment possible by moving the clips/fans up on the heatsink, we had to move the fans up by approximately 5mm to clear the G.SKILL Trident Z RGB memory which isn't excessively tall RAM. If used with something like Corsair Dominator Platinum RAM with taller heatsinks, more adjustment of the AK620 fan height will be necessary which will, in turn, increase the overall height of the cooler so watch out for this if you have limited cooler height in your case.

Thermal Performance Testing

As well as finding out how good this case and cooler are to build a system with, we wanted to measure how well the Deepcool AK620 holds up in terms of performance against a similar rival dual tower cooler, one of the best on the market, in fact, the Noctua NH-D15S.

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 and Heaven benchmark simultaneously for 30 minutes to fully load the system. This should give the whole system enough time to reach its constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the CPU cooler handles the thermal demand.

First measuring the performance of the Deepcool AK620, letting the system fully cool and then repeating the same test on the system with the Noctua NH-D15S installed as a comparison. During the thermal performance test, ambient air temperature is 22-24⁰C.

Only stock case fans will be used unless otherwise specified. All fans and pumps (where applicable) will be set to their silent fan curve profile as controlled by the motherboard BIOS. The Case will be in its default configuration for testing meaning that all panels and dust filters are installed and stock fans are in the default locations as set by the factory.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU/GPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average CPU/GPU temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO.

Test System Specification:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
  • Motherboard: Asrock X570 Steel Legend
  • Memory: 32GB kit (4x8GB Modules) G.SKILL Trident Z RGB DDR4-3600 C16
  • Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX 6800 Nitro+
  • Storage: 2TB Kioxia XG6-P PCIe Gen3x4 NVME M.2 SSD
  • CPU Cooler: Deepcool AK620 dual tower
  • Power Supply: Deepcool DQ750-M-V2L 750W 80+ Gold
  • Case: Deepcool CG560 Mid Tower
  • Case Fans: Deepcool CG560 stock fans
  • Operating System: Windows 10 21H1

AK620 Thermal Performance

Interestingly the Deepcool AK620 and the Noctua NH-D15S are very evenly matched in terms of thermal performance during our test. Initially, this seems quite impressive of the AK620 since it costs considerably less than the D15S. However, we must note that the AK620 uses two 120mm fans while in its standard configuration the D15S has just one fan.

Nevertheless, the AK620 MSRP price is at least £20 cheaper than the D15S. Adding another fan to the D15S may improve thermal performance but this would bump the cost up even further, around £20-£25. With this in mind and with the AK620 being a more compact package, it seems like excellent value for money performance.

It is also worth mentioning that with the CPU coolers fans running in the silent motherboard fan profile during the test, coolers produced virtually the same noise levels at around 41dBA, which is very quiet for a system under high load. Again this is another major plus point for the Deepcool AK620.

Final Thoughts

My initial thoughts about the Deepcool CG560 chassis was that it had the feel of a case that had been designed to a cost with its less than premium flexible plastic front panel, but after spending some time building a system in the case my mind changed a little. The build quality of the chassis frame seems very sturdy and installing a system inside turned out to be a very straightforward and hassle-free process.

Granted, we didn’t push the case to its limits in terms of storage or cooling by using only a single M.2 SSD and the AK620 dual tower air cooler. However, we suspect that most systems that will be built inside this case will be of a similar configuration anyway. Maybe an AIO will be used in some scenarios but even with an AIO fitted in this case you shouldn’t come up against any major challenges with the build.

Installing the motherboard, GPU and power supply were simple, all the standoffs, cutouts and screw holes lined up perfectly. The four fans included with the case operated quietly when connected to the motherboard and run with the silent profile in the ASRock X570 Steel Legend BIOS. The inclusion of four fans with a case under £100 seems like good value too, especially when three of those fans are ARGB and include a standalone controller, ideal if your motherboard doesn't support ARGB connectivity.

Taken as a whole, the Deepcool CG560 is a good case. It has good airflow that should be enough to keep high-end systems cool, it supports an extensive range of hardware and it's not a bad looking case either. Overall build quality is slightly let down by the cheap plastic front panel and I can't understand for the life of me why Deepcool didn’t include the very handy GPU support bracket that we have seen in its other recent cases.

In contrast, Deepcool has absolutely nailed it with the AK620. This is possibly the best value high-performance dual tower air cooler on the market. At under £60 MSRP with great build quality, excellent thermal performance and low noise output, the AK620 seem like a bargain. To be trading blows with the Noctua D15S during our test was very impressive.

Yes the Deepcool AK620 has one more fan than the D15S but it is also at least £20 cheaper to buy. Adding an extra fan to the D15S might mean it outperforms the AK620 but this would also mean the price of the D15S increases by an additional £20-£25, which makes the AK620 sound like exceptional value for money.

The AK620 is a more compact package compared with dual-tower coolers such as the D15, D15 and the Deepcool Assassin 3, which means it has less cooling surface area but it still performs great and the smaller area taken up inside the chassis by the AK620 means it will be compatible with smaller chassis. Also, noise output of the AK620 during our test was neck and neck with the D15S which is an achievement in itself.

So, if you are looking for a high performance, low noise dual tower air cooler, the Deepcool AK620 is definitely worth considering. If you can get over the bendy front panel and missing GPU support bracket, the Deepcool CG560 chassis won't be a bad purchase either. The Deepcool AK620 is available in September priced at £59.99 MSRP while the CG560 will be available for purchase in October priced at £74.99 MSRP.

Deepcool CG560 Score

Rating: 8.

Pros:

  • Includes four fans, 3 RGB.
  • Good cooling support.
  • Easy to build a system in.

Cons:

  • Cheap feel to the front panel
  • Missing the handy GPU support bracket seen in other Deepcool cases.

Deepcool AK620 Score

Rating: 9.

Pros:

  • Easy installation.
  • Good value for money.
  • Excellent thermal performance.

Cons:

  • No LGA1700 bracket in the box

KitGuru says: While the CG560 had some minor flaws, it is still a decent chassis for high specification systems. The AK620 on the other hand seems like an exceptional value, high performance and quiet CPU cooler. I like it a lot, What do you guys think?

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ASUS ROG Z590 Motherboard Round-Up https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asus-rog-z590-motherboard-round-up/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asus-rog-z590-motherboard-round-up/#respond Wed, 23 Jun 2021 08:27:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=520234 We check out no less than three ASUS ROG Z590 boards - but which is right for you?

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Z590 is still fresh to the market and may appeal to users who have reason to buy the Intel platform. As such, we are taking a look at three ASUS ROG Z590 motherboards in the premium end of the market – the ROG STRIX Z590-I Gaming WiFi, the ROG STRIX Z590-E Gaming WiFi, and the ROG Maximus XIII Hero.

The three specific motherboards that we are examining are the ROG STRIX Z590-I Gaming WiFi, the ROG STRIX Z590-E Gaming WiFi, and the ROG Maximus XIII Hero.

ASUS' ROG STRIX Z590-I Gaming WiFi is a premium mini-ITX motherboard that comes in at around £320 in the UK. The ROG STRIX Z590-E Gaming WiFi is an upper-mid range ATX board with many enthusiast features and costs around £340 typically. And the roughly £460 Maximus XIII Hero effectively sits in enthusiast territory as we have seen from ASUS’ recent promotion of the Hero SKU up the product stack.

Let's take a closer look at each of these ROG Z590 motherboards.

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ASUS ZenBook 13 & Flip S – Ryzen 7 5800U vs Core i7-1165G7 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/luke-hill/asus-zenbook-13-flip-s-ryzen-7-5800u-vs-core-i7-1165g7/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/luke-hill/asus-zenbook-13-flip-s-ryzen-7-5800u-vs-core-i7-1165g7/#respond Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:29:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=516740 We check out two ASUS ZenBooks, one Intel and one AMD

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Historically, premium 13″-class ultraportable laptops have been the domain of Intel low-power chips. However, AMD fought that position fiercely with Zen 2 Ryzen 4000U and aims to continue doing so with Zen 3 Ryzen 5000U.

In this review, we have a couple of very comparable ASUS ZenBook 13” laptops and we will be using them to pit AMD’s new Ryzen 7 5800U APU against Intel’s competing Core i7-1165G7. With both chips running at relatively low power states around the 15W mark – not the 25W+ gas guzzling mode we often see in bigger gaming-type devices – this should make for an interesting comparison.

13”-class ultraportable laptops can be ideal for those who need a decent amount of processing grunt alongside excellent battery life and the ability to quickly sling the device into a backpack or handbag on the way to work or school.

We want to see just how fast AMD's new Zen 3-based Ryzen 7 5800U APU is for ultraportable configurations. And we test that by running the AMD chip inside an ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED UM325S laptop. Direct comparison for a Tiger Lake Core i7-1165G7 processors at equivalent power modes comes from the ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED UX371 laptop.

Let's take a closer look at these two devices.

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