Tech News
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ADATA Launches its Gold Edition XPG Z1 DDR4 Overclocking Memory
Taipei, Taiwan – December 30, 2014 – ADATA® Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today launches the Gold Edition of its XPG Z1 DDR4 overclocking memory, clocking in at the outrageously high speeds of 3000/3200/3300/3333MHz. Besides supporting the latest Intel® Haswell-E platform, ADATA’s XPG Z1 Gold Edition DDR4 also provides ultimate performance for gamers, overclockers and PC enthusiasts, and also features higher power efficiency.
Performance Matched by Great Power EfficiencyDDR4 memory surpasses legacy DDR3 with improved performance and lower power consumption. The operating voltage of XPG Z1 has decreased from 1.5V to 1.35V, a 10% reduction of power that helps your system operate at a lower temperature for more stable operation. With speeds of up to 3333MHz, CL16-16-16 timings and a transfer bandwidth reaching 26.6GB/s, the XPG Z1 Gold Edition provides unparalleled data transfer efficiency. In addition, the built-in Intel® XMP 2.0 Serial Presence Detect (SPD) allows quick and easy installation without changing BIOS settings, all while facilitating full system usage and enhanced stability. This adds up to a true game-winner for overclockers seeking an extra edge.Looks Cool, Acts Cool!The XPG Z1 Gold Edition features a jet wing-inspired design with a race-car carbon texture that embodies the pursuit of extreme performance. Thanks to its unique Thermal Conductive Technology and 10-layer PCBs with 2oz of pure copper, the XPG Z1’s chips contact the heat sinks directly, thus ensuring that the IC and PCB operate at an evenly distributed temperature. This lends to a markedly reduced electrical resistance and reduced power consumption. Combined as one unit, all of these attributes bolster the XPG Z1’s signal transfer quality and overall performance.Maximum Durability and ReliabilityThe XPG Z1 DDR4 DRAM memory module is made with high-quality chips selected through a strict quality filtering process. It also uses top quality Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) that effectively extend its serviceable lifespan. Additionally, ADATA memory modules provide customers a lifetime warranty for maximum assurance, all backed by excellent customer service.About ADATAADATA Technology, one of the world’s largest vendors of DRAM Modules and USB Flash Drives, provides complete memory solutions, including memory cards, solid state drives, and portable hard drives. ADATA products are internationally recognized by Germany’s iF Design Award, red dot Award, CES Best of Innovations Award, Japan’s Good Design Award, Best Choice of Computex Award, and Taiwan Excellence Gold Award. The company’s slogan of Love, Life, Dreams, embodies the ADATA brand and the role of innovative memory products in the human pursuit of universally cherished ideas. For more information, please visit www.adata.com. -
Asus Crossblade Ranger @ LanOC Reviews
Ummm. Crossblade Ranger?
So last week I took a look at Asus’s AM3+ board, today I have the chance to take a look at a more recent AMD based ROG board called the Crossblade Ranger. Asus launched the Crossblade Ranger not to long ago and as you can tell from the lack of any numbers in the name this is their first Republic of Gamers FM2+ board. Why did they take so long to bring one out? Frankly the FM2+ platform was always designed to be more of a mainstream platform but that didn’t stop some people from using them for gaming. Asus noticed there was interest in a gaming focused board and here we are. Today I’m going to dive into the Crossblade Ranger and see what kind of features Asus packed in then after that I will get it on the testbench and make sure it performs like it should as well.
The name reminds me of the "Flaming Blade" from Foxconn back in the day. The motherboard looked awesome but didn't really have a good name.
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ASUS GTX 980 STRIX DC II OC Video Card Review @ [H]
I never fully understood how [H] tests their video cards using the subjective image IQ method but when you have an overpowered GPU like the GTX 980 it really doesn't matter.
Today we delve into the ASUS GTX 980 STRIX DC II OC, which features custom cooling, 0dB fans and high overclocking potential. We'll experiment with this Maxwell GPU by overclocking it to the extreme. It will perform head to head against the ASUS ROG R9 290X MATRIX-P in today's most demanding games, including Far Cry
The nice thing about the STRIX card is that it should come with a factory overclock (though seesm to be missing), larger cooler and upgraded VRM for LN2 action if you are so inclined. Their overclocking tests look pretty good though they didn't compensate for "real" turbo speeds bur rather relied on what GPU-Z was reporting.
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Asylum Review Block: Motherboards and the stuff that holds them
I have an amazing review block for you today and this one stretches even back a month or so. First up is a long list of motherboard reviews including a few Asus titles and a *cough*ECS*/cough* board that someone will think is the ducks guts.
After your motherboard tour I bring you to the case section, be sure to check out the Thermaltake designs, they are aimed to please (if you catch my drift)
Motherboards without daughterboards for your building pleasure
- Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z @ LanOC Reviews
- ASUS Maximus VII Impact LGA 1150 Motherboard Review @ [H]
- Gigabyte X99-UD7 WiFi Mainboard Review on Technic3D
- ASRock X99 OC Formula Motherboard Review – Designed For Overclocking <-what a dumb way to send out your news release
- ECS Z97 Machine Motherboard Review @ Guru3D
- ASUS X99-A Motherboard Review @ Legit Reviews
- Asus Z97 Pro (Wi-Fi ac) Socket 1150 Motherboard Review @ HotHardware
- ASRock Z97 Anniversary Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets
- ASUS X99-A LGA 2011-v3 Motherboard Review @ [H]
- ASUS X99 Rampage V Extreme Motherboard @ PureOverclock
- ASUS RAMPAGE V Extreme review @ Bjorn3d
Cases aka Chassis for your junk
- Thermaltake Core V71 Case Review on Technic3D
- Lian Li PC-O5SX @ techPowerUp
- Surprise, Surprise – Thermaltake Core V51 Mid-Tower Chassis Review @ Techgage
- SilverStone Raven RVZ01 @ techPowerUp <- classy and small
- In Win D-Frame Mini Case Review @ ThinkComputers
- Thermaltake Core V51 Midi Tower Review @ NikKTech
- Corsair's Carbide Series Air 240 revisited <- npt sure why but all of their news has single quotes, they must want the XSS attackStay tuned there will likely be another review block in the next few weeks along with from friendly banter back and forth.
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ASUS ROG GeForce GTX 980 Poseidon review @ Guru3D
Not much I can say about this. It is a factory watercooled GTX 980 from Asus that can operate on air or water depending on your system configuration.
so, its like a frog right? Yes
Join us in a review of the liquid cooled ASUS ROG Poseidon GTX 980. The card has 4 GB graphics memory, is energy efficient and factory overclocked for you. Oh and hey, it overclocks very nicely as it is armed with a massive liquid cooling block (DirectCU H2O), a custom PCB, quality components and a factory overclock this product is bound to perform, whilst staying silent.
The card also features a custom VRM so it should overclock rather well. Break out the ice cubes we're going chilled.
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Say what? Mobile is Exploding!!
Ok, so this is interesting.
I have been checking some things and the readership of this site has changed a little. As of this month only 37% of readers are located in the US and while my snapshot is showing 82% of them are using mobile devices the total readership of mobile users is only 15%.
Looks like I have to do a better job attracting US readers (Thanks Google) and need to build a mobile friendly CSS. The new layout works well on a tablet but it doesn't scale well when viewed on a phone.
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HW Labs Black Ice Nemesis 360GTX Radiator Review @ HiTech Legion
There was a time when I knew everything there is to know about watercooling and while things change I am reminded that some of the fundamentals of cooling PC chips with water remain the same.
That being said HiTechLegion has posted a review of... a radiator.
In looking at the new Nemesis 360GTX, I saw a lot of buzzwords thrown out there by Hardware Labs; “Stealth”, “Supercruise”, “Dark Matter”. Buzzwords usually scare me a bit, as it seems they usually turn out to be a gimmicky name for something either underachieving or completely irrelevant. Thankfully, that is not the case with the Nemesis 360GTX.
This is not just any radiator but one with a really long name with an increased chance that I would totally buy one.
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LEGO The Hobbit & LEGO Lord of the Rings now on NVIDIA GRID
Some interesting developments in the NVIDIA camp.
To celebrate the premier of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies movie we are releasing a pair of Middle-earth related titles on NVIDIA GRID. LEGO The Lord of the Rings and LEGO The Hobbit are two family-friendly games we hope will provide some quality holiday gameplay to SHIELD owners.
LEGO The Lord of the Ringsis an action-adventure game from developer Traveller’s Tales set in the universe created by J. R. R. Tolkien and based on the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. LEGO The Lord of the Rings follows the original storylines of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The game is loaded with humor and has over 80 playable characters to explore the open-world of Middle-earth.
In addition, we are making the follow-up, LEGO The Hobbit, available on GRID. LEGO The Hobbit wasalso created by Traveller’s Tales and isbased on the first two Hobbit films, An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug. You can play as your favorite characters from The Hobbit films, including Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves: Thorin, Fíli, Kíli, Óin, Glóin, Dwalin, Balin Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori and Oriand visit mystic Middle-earthlocations including Bag End, Hobbiton, The Misty Mountains, Goblin-town, Mirkwood, Lake-Town, Dol Guldur, Rivendell and The Lonely Mountain.
Owners of SHIELD Tab and SHIELD portables can play both of these games for free from the cloud on the NVIDIA GRID gaming service until June 30, 2015.
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LG could introduce an 8K beast at CES 2015 @ Digital Trends
Ok so this will have early adopters a little miffed and the hardware enthusiasts rather confused. 8K seems like a nice round number and even before anyone has yet to perfect the 4K display.
Of course you have to keep in mind that CES is all about advancements and a good majority of the times shown there never actually make it to market. 8K might be nice but it will be a few years before it is affordable.
8K means a total of 33.2 million pixels, which translates to 7,680 x 4,320 resolution. Surprisingly, the display will be a “tiny” 55-inch set. That’s quite small compared to LG’s unwieldy 98-inch 8K TV prototype showcased at IFA 2014 in Berlin. It’s small even compared to current 65-inch, 4K televisions.
I'm still waiting for 4K games and legit 4K movies, once that happens I might start thinking about 8K picture quality goodness.
@ 15Hz
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China will get their own version of Borderlands
This seems like a really big deal. At first I thought it was just a random copy by some Chinese developer but this article cites that 2K and Gearbox are involved.
Chinese publisher Shanda Games is working with 2K Games and Gearbox Software to bring Borderlands Online to that market in 2015, according to Kotaku. It will launch on PC and mobile platforms. Borderlands Online will have players to choose from one of four character classes, each based on one of the originals from the first Borderlands.
The story goes on to talk about how the new game is a MMO which seems to support the ending in the pre-sequel where the guardian tells us that Lilith will need all of the vault hunters she can get.
I was never a fan of MMO games and I hate to say it but if Borderlands goes MMO i'm gonna drop the microphone and walk off the stage. (Not the Podcast one, that bad boy is expensive.)
