Hardware Asylum CES 2025 Coverage
I would like to thank Yeyian Gaming for helping sponsor Hardware Asylum during CES 2025. The Consumer Electronics Show starts Jan 9th and runs through Jan 12th.
Yeyian Gaming offers an wide range of solutions for the PC gamer including pre-built PCs to fully customized gaming computers with an online configurator. Their builds feature the latest in computer hardware including Intel Ultra, AMD Ryzen 9 and the latest in Nvidia RTX.
Be sure to check them out at https://us.yeyiangaming.com and the Venetian Tower if you'll be attending CES 2025.
Tech News
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Sapphire Radeon R9 290 Vapor-X 4 GB @ techPowerUp
Sapphire's R9 290 Vapor-X comes highly overclocked out of the box, matching R9 290X in performance. The card's triple fan, triple slot cooler manages temperatures very well and offers a unique feature: you decide whether the card idles with one or three fans running, letting you focus on temperature or noise.
Looking at the spec sheet, the Vapor-X 290 looks to be a marked improvement over the base reference model, both in improved cooling, to performance from the factory overclock, which can hopefully outshine the pricetag and the size of this triple-slot swallowing beast. The fan control to switch which fans run when idle are located on the card itself. Think we'll ever see the option to be able to make those adjustments on the fly through the software someday?
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Asylum: Review Block - Kitchen Sink Edition
It has been awhile since I posted a review block so, here goes.
Storage
- Thecus N5550 Network Attached Storage Review @ Modders-IncThe Illustion of Control
- BitFenix Recon 5-Channel Touchscreen Fan Controller Review @ HiTech LegionSending Packets
- Linksys WRT1900AC Router Review @ Hardware CanucksCooling With Liquid
- XSPC DDC Photon 170 Reservoir/Pump Combo @ PureOverclockCapture Your Components
- In Win 904 Case Review on Technic3D
- SilverStone Precision PS10 Computer Case Review @ APH NetworksStay tuned for more review site antics with Hardware Asylum
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Gigabyte Z97X-GAMING G1 WIFI-BK (Intel LGA 1150) @ techPowerUp
Duing Computex I was given the opportunityto see the Black Edition testing room at the Gigabyte factory. The whole process makes sense from a marketing standpoint since you get a longer warranty and the peace of mind that the motherboard and video card you are buying has already been stress tested.
Of course on the flip side you have to get over the fact that you are buying a used motherboard. So when you see a BK in the name that is why you are paying extra.
Black is really an absence of color, or light, all there was before time began. Now, there is the Z97X-GAMING G1 WIFI-BK, Gigabyte's top-tiered Black Edition board. So powerful it can create black holes itself, the Gigabyte Z97X-GAMING G1 WIFI-BK is here to take your gaming experience to a whole new level.
Another cool thing about the new Gigabyte Gaming motherboards is 4-way SLI support, Killer NIC and high-end audio like on previous G1 boards. They really are some of the best AIO gaming boards out there.
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PowerColor Devil 13 Dual GPU R9 290X @ Guru3D
OMG, dual R9 290X Devil 13 card!?!
We review the beast, the dual Radeon R9 290X based PowerColor Devil 13. It's hotter than hell, demonic and hinted as a disciple of the Devil himself, yes, as we review the PowerColor Radeon R9 295x2 Devil13 with 8 GB graphics memory. The card is a dual-GPU based graphics card that comes with two Hawaii XT GPUs, these two GPUs are fully enabled on all Shader Processors and run up-to a cool 1018 MHz each.
These cards may be super exclusive and not much better than a Lightning but, damn the marketing is cool.
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SilverStone Raven RV05 Rotated Computer Chase Review @ [H]
I have been a huge fan of the Raven series since the introduction of the Raven 1 back in the day. Since then they have released four different versions of the case with the Raven 2 being one of the most popular.
The Raven 5 uses the same rotated motherboard layout so the cables and heat exit out the top but removes the external 5.25" drive bays and attempts to make the case smaller and more compact. When I saw this case at CES I was a little shocked at the design direction but realized that the Raven series isn't about keeping with tradition but rather exploring the possibilities.
Lets hope it pays off.
The SilverStone Raven series of cases long ago broke the mold when it comes to "normal" computer chassis. Its design execution has always been good and the Ravens' airflow characteristics are excellent. Today SilverStone pushes the new Raven RV05 out there a little bit further in terms of design and function.
Be sure to read the editor notes at the end of the review, For once both Kyle and I are in full agreement.
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Tegra K1 Gaming is Near: NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet & Controller Preview @ Techgage
It seems I'm never in the right place or on the right meeting to get the scoop on NVIDA SHIELD and by the looks of it, I'm missing out!
I made a prediction a couple of months ago that the next SHIELD release we’d see would be an upgrade to the original – but with a dose of Tegra K1. As it turns out, I was wrong. However, like the SHIELD portable, NVIDIA’s just-announced SHIELD Tablet and Controller are two products that portable gaming fans should get excited about.
The nice thing about SHIELD devices is that they can take on any form factor and still kick some serious gaming arse.
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Sennheiser G4ME ONE Review @ ChipLoco
These look comphy.
Sennheiser G4ME ONE is not the best looking headset available at the moment but it’s certainly not the ugliest. Compromises are made on the visual appeal in order to provide the ultimate gaming experience.
Everyone is different when it comes to headphones, I prefer the over ear configuration and require good padding at the top and soft ear cups. These look great and might be on my list to try next.
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Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2 Card Reader Review @ Bigbruin
There was a ton of cool stuff at Computex, the big computer trade show in Taiwan, and while I will say with 100% confidence that the show didn't offer anything really "new" there are a few perks.
The Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2 was a great little product and while it may get better exposure at CES I was really pleased to get one during my meeting. It would appear that BigBruin also has a review posted of the G2 and has this to say.
While these new features help make this an even more appealing device for travelling professionals, it still offers the same features that made the first version great for professionals and families. Being able to stream/share files with a handful of different wireless device simultaneously is still the key selling point, and the MobileLite Wireless G2 still handles that task with ease.
Like I said in our review, this is a perfect all-in-one device that solves a few unique issues I had traveling and even adds a few convenience features I may start using in the future.
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NZXT Kraken X61 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler Review @ HardOCP
Looks like NZXT has built a successor to their previous 280mm AIO cooling platform, the X60. The new X61 still sports the 280mm radiator and twin 140mm fans, but has added a few new updates. The biggest, is the highly touted variable speed system, allowing the fan speed on the radiator fans to increase as the CPU heats up. Now if GPU waterblocks continue to see their popularity increase, maybe there's a chance one day we'll see a DIY version to loop in the video cards as well.
NZXT is known to many enthusiasts for its computer cases but not so much for its Kraken series of CPU closed loop liquid coolers. After a year of design NZXT has introduced its new Kraken X61. Its claim to fame is that it is the "world's first variable speed liquid cooler."
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Republic of Gamers Announces Maximus VII Formula Z97 Motherboard
Republic of Gamers unveiled a new Z97 motherboard, along with hinting at a limited edition Watch Dogs Z97 Formula package as well.
The full press release is linked below. Attached is a teaser of the board and some of the features.
The Maximus VII Formula is about to arrive in a retail store near you! Packed to the gills with top-notch hardware like CrossChill Copper (yep, this years’ is 100% copper cored), mPCIe Combo III, SupremeFX Formula 2014, an updated ROG Armor design, two SATA Express ports and much more.
