Tech News
-
New Podcast and Capture System Build
It has been a couple weeks since CES 2015 concluded and things are just now getting back to normal. I do regret not visiting more people during the show but as I have mentioned before the CES show is more about relationship building than the tech. At least in how it pertains to Hardware Asylum.
The first order of business post CES was the building of a specialized PC for the Hardware Asylum Podcast. This box will replace my aging Asus Slate as the primary recording machine and will open up a variety of new directions we can take. The new machine is a simple box consisting of "extra" parts I had laying around the Hardware Asylum Labs and while it may be a little overkill for recording audio that won't be its only purpose.
The System
Core i7 4770k
MSI Z97i Gaming
Corsair Dominator Platinum 8GB
Samsung 120GB SSD
Toshiba 1TB HDD
Avermedia Game Broadcaster HD
InWin BP655 MiniITX ChassisSome of you may remember this build from my MSI MOA qualifier where I attempted to broadcast my overclocking runs on Twitch.TV. Sadly the internet here in the lab isn't all that great so instead I messed around with OBS and recorded some things.
Well, the system has been repurposed and with any luck will help bring some variety to the Podcast and my rare overclocking runs.
-
Gigabyte Raptor Gaming Mouse @ PureOverclock
Raptor gaming mouse you say? Why yes, this is a mouse named for a very cool bird, that eats rodents.
Gigabyte is targeting a rather specific crowd in the gaming peripheral world: those who want a claw-style mouse. We don’t see many of these, and the Gigabyte Raptor gaming mouse looks sleek and comes with a few interesting features. Not only is it a claw mouse, but it’s also nearly ambidextrous. Interesting, to be sure. But will it alienate mainstream users, or zero in on those who want something special? Let’s take a closer look at the Gigabyte Raptor and make the call.
I do like the colors but can never seem to get past the crazy squared off edges.
-
G.SKILL Breaks Fastest DDR4 Memory Frequency Overclock at 4255MHz!
Taipei, Taiwan – 13 January 2015 – G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid-state storage, is extremely excited to announce a new memory record for fastest DDR4 memory frequency, set at 4255MHz CL18-18-18!
This amazing achievement was attained on the Asus Rampage V Extreme motherboard (X99 chipset) and with the Intel i7-5960X processor, all under sub-zero liquid nitrogen cooling. Below is a screenshot of the record validation by CPU-Z. (Source: http://valid.canardpc.com/zqe93e)About G.SKILL
Established in 1989 by PC hardware enthusiasts, G.SKILL specializes in high performance memory and SSD products, designed for PC gamers and enthusiasts around the world. Combining technical innovation and rock solid quality through our in-house testing lab and talented R&D team, G.SKILL continues to create record-breaking memory for each generation of hardware and hold the no. 1 brand title in overclocking memory. -
Asus Rampage V Extreme Motherboard Review @ Hardware Slave
I have always been a fan of Asus motherboards, they are red and usually pretty badass. The Rampage V was on display quite often at CES and likely the availability and ease of use played a big factor in that.
Hardware Slave has a review posted and you might give it a look.
With the advent of the X99 Chipset from Intel, a bunch of new motherboards are needed to support this. Intel also released a revised Intel i7 CPUs to support this. Not only that but with the chipset and CPU releases, a new CPU socket was released at this same time; the LGA 2011-v3. While most manufacturers have the elite line of high kit, there is probably no better known range than the Rampage series.
The LGA 2011-v3 socket and X99 chipset release means you need to buy a new CPU, your old X79 CPUs will not fit, and not only that, you will need some DDR4. You may be reading this for a lot of reasons, one may be about parting with your cash for a top of the line CPU, memory and motherboard. The Asus Rampage V Extreme is the top of the range at this time, and should be a consideration on anyone’s wish list for that full ATX SLI or Crossfire mother of all rigs.Eventually I might start reviewing Asus stuff again but, sadly some of that is out of my hands. So, unless I open the pocketbook it might remain that way for awhile.
-
No Podcast This Month
Hate to make this a repeating thing but due to #CES2015 and various other scheduling conflicts there will not be a Hardware Asylum Podcast episode this month.
We should be back on schedule for February with an extended mainshow followed by the ever popular and un-edited "Extra"
Thanks for listening!!
-
January Custom Case Giveaway
Hello Everyone, As was announced in the latest Hardware Asylum Podcast Extra I am hosting a custom case giveaway this month featuring the famed HAF Stacker and super cool Raven 4. Both cases are painted up in a tasteful shade of Automotive Pearl Orange and ready to go out the door.
Check out the contest page for more details on how to enter.
The contest ends on January 31st
Good Luck!
-
The Best PC Cases of 2014 @ ThinkComputers
You know I have done an article like this before, it was called "The 4 Best X79 Motherboards - You will never see" and was basically looking at limited edition motherboards and how quickly the products get moved to EOL status, sometimes within weeks of their launch.
I can respect doing round-ups of review products and know that case reviews are few and far between but, ya, some of the cases on this list.
ThinkComputers is excited to bring you our own twist on the yearly list. For some people who are putting together a system their PC case is not high on the priority list, but for serious system builders and enthusiasts a PC case is extremely important. Your PC case of course holds your hardware, but it is also something to show off that hardware. We have reviewed quite a few different PC cases this year, I think out of all products we review cases the most. So we present to you 2014’s Best PC Cases as reviewed by ThinkComputers.
Lets see if I was to compile a list.
Most over the top: InWin S-Frame
Best SFF: Azza-Z
Best Case of 2014: Silverstone Raven 5 -
Func MS-2 Gaming Mouse @ PureOverclock
As I sit here struggling with a soon to be broken button my loyal trusty Logitech G5 I have started looking at gaming mice. Sure, there have been plenty of mouse reviews on Hardware Asylum but they have all been done by other reviewers leaving me with an idea as to what I want but nothing really to try out.
I'm pretty sure the Func MS-2 isn't going to be on "my" list but maybe it will work out for you.
We’ve recently seen a few new products Func, a company that has been making a push further into the gaming peripheral market. The lastest is the MS-2 gaming mouse, with premium features but an affordable price tag. However, the MS-2 sits right in the midst of a highly competitive mouse market dominated by several very popular products, backed by industry stalwarts that have ruled the roost for quite some time. That may change, however, as the MS-2 looks to battle the competition with bold claims of better features and solid ergonomics. Can the Func MS-2 capture our attention and live up to expectations? Let’s find out.
As they say, there is a lot of mice in the sea, go catch you some.
-
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.
