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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Sennheiser GSX 1000 Audio Amplifier @ TechPowerUp
It is not every day that you see an Audio Amplifier with a digital display and yet, here you go.
The Sennheiser GSX 1000 Audio Amplifier is a beautiful external USB sound card equipped with the best 7.1 virtual surround sound system we've heard so far, and a host of other interesting features primarily aimed towards hardcore gaming.
If I could be so bold in saying, this thing is damn ugly. I like the interface. The grey ring looks like a volume knob and the digital display is large and in change but the square shape and mini kickstand is just stupid.
But that's me, and I could be wrong. Maybe it’s a terrible tragedy.
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ADATA XPG Gammix S10 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (512GB) @ The SSD Review
I have to be honest here, I saw S10 in the title and was wondering what a mid-sized truck from Chevy had to do with NVMe storage. Then I saw it was from ADATA and it all clicked.
Absolutely nothing.
Yep, it's true, one of the most popular pickups in the mini trucking scene really has nothing to do with computer storage and last I remember the S10 has never made it to Taiwan and if it had with the amount of rain they get it would have quickly rusted out. So, I can only conclude that ADATA is working on something big for their high performance storage market and was hoping I would notice.
Last year, ADATA’s gaming branch, XPG, released their newest product line, the Gammix series, and within that, they released the XPG Gammix S10 M.2 NVMe SSD. This SSD is quite sleek and high-end looking, with its flashy red with black heatsink and blacked out PCB, but its performance doesn’t quite match its looks. Although one would think that because it comes with an added heatsink that it is one of the fastest hottest running SSDs out, the truth is actually the contrary. It features a Silicon Motion SM2260 controller and Micron’s first gen 32-layer 3D TLC NAND, which is the same hardware as the slowest NVMe SSD we have tested to date, the Intel 600P. It’s not a terribly bad thing though, it’s just not quite the beast one would be led to believe it is judging by appearance alone. It is, however, stated to deliver faster write performance than the 600P, so there is an improvement we look forward to seeing in today’s testing.
Hey, Silicon Motion SM2260. That is the same controller Crucial is using on their MX500 and BX300 SATA drives. Seems like a good thing.
On the positive the XPG Gammix S10 does come with its own heatspreader.
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16 Piece Computer Tool Kit From Phanteks
When building a computer there are three things you will need.
- Tools
- Computer Parts
- Some idea that certain parts attach to other parts
Notice that I listed "Tools" at the top of the list. Well, the reason for that is simple, even with tool-less cases there are certain parts of the computer assembly process that require a screw driver or a wrench (spanner for "other" parts of the world)
So what tools do you need? That is where Phanteks comes in, they have put together a very solid set of tools that should cover almost every tool you will need to assemble a computer, even some bits specific to watercooling components like pumps and blocks.
Ideal for first-time builders and enthusiasts, the 16 pieces tool kit includes: Allen wrench, 1pc magnetic extendable screwdriver handle, 13pcs bits (H2.0, H2.5, H3.0, H4.0, T15, T20, PH00, PH0, PH1, PH2, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0mm hex socket bit), and flexible shaft. Compact for travel, the included black case helps keep the tools in place and organized.
90% of computer building requires a standard #2 Philips screwdriver. You might need a socket to install a motherboard standoff and a standard screw driver to take the lid off the paint you'll use to customize the case but, for the most part a #2 is all you need.
And.. wouldn't you know it, Phanteks includes one.
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EVGA X299 Micro Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers
Sometimes you have to "think" about computers to actually really get into them. And by getting into them I'm talking about what makes a motherboard something you really want to buy.
EVGA always has three motherboards for each series they release, typically we see an E-ATX board, ATX board, and Micro-ATX board. Their X299 line is no different and today we are going to be checking out the X299 Micro, which is EVGA’s Micro-ATX X299 board. Considering how powerful the X299 platform is you could really build as pretty amazing smaller form factor system perfect for LAN parties. This board supports 2-way SLI, has M.2 support, USB 3.1 support, 802.11ac WiFi, and even RGB header support. If you are looking to build a small, but powerful X299 system this could be the perfect board for you! Let’s take a look and see what it is all about!
When it comes to motherboards EVGA is playing the market really smart. They offer three high-end boards that capture all of the major segments of the market. No need to have 50 SKU's, no need to cater to what China wants. Simply build a board with the right features and people will buy them.
The X299 Micro is a pretty good board built on the Micro ATX form factor. It supports all of the X299 features and allows you to put all of that into a rather small package. (don't tell the SO
)Be sure to check out our review of the EVGA X299 Micro, you know to see what either of us might have missed.
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Samsung 860 Evo SSD Review @ Vortez
I would have to agree that Samsung seems to have the performance corner in the SSD market. Of course being that I grew up in Micron's back yard I tend to have a soft spot for the local talent but, in a world where you can make more money selling components over complete products there isn't much to argue about.
Samsung is, without doubt, one of the largest figures in the ever-growing SSD scene, offering some of the fastest and most reliable solutions currently available to the average consumer; that dominance doesn’t prevent them from pushing the envelope, however. Today we look at the latest Samsung 860 Evo, a drive designed for mainstream users within a PC or laptop.
I will admit I am a Samsung fan, performance is there, price is there and in terms of availability you can have that too. The drive featured in this review is a standard SSD so it will have the SATA limitations but is still plenty fast over any rotational drive on the market.
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G.SKILL Releases World's Fastest DDR4-4700MHz Trident Z RGB Memory Kit
Taipei, Taiwan (5 February 2018) – G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is thrilled to announce the world’s fastest Trident Z RGB memory kit at an extreme speed of DDR4-4700MHz CL19-19-19-39 1.45V 16GB (2x8GB). Not only is this kit the first retail DDR4 memory kit to reach DDR4-4700MHz, it’s also the first RGB-enabled kit to reach this extremely high level of frequency speed. This ultimate memory kit is achieved with highly-screened, high-performance Samsung DDR4 B-die ICs and validated on the MSI Z370I GAMING PRO CARBON AC motherboard and Intel® Core™ i7-8700K processor.
Reaching the World’s Fastest Memory Frequency with RGB
Ever since the first release announcement of the G.SKILL Trident Z RGB series at the end of 2016, DDR4-4266MHz had reigned as the highest frequency speed for an RGB memory kit. Over the past year, the G.SKILL R&D team has been dedicated to break through this technology bottleneck and aimed to provide an even higher speed RGB memory to PC enthusiasts. Today, all the hard work is finally paying off. G.SKILL successfully developed the world’s fastest RGB memory kit at a blistering DDR4-4700MHz, while maintaining ultra-low timings at CL19-19-19-39.Engineered for Reliability
Designed for high-stability, this Trident Z RGB DDR4-4700MHz memory kit has proven itself through stress-testing on the MSI Z370I GAMING PRO CARBON AC motherboard and Intel® Core™ i7-8700K processor.XMP 2.0 Support & Availability
This ultra-fast G.SKILL Trident Z RGB memory kit is equipped with the latest Intel XMP 2.0 profile for easy one-click memory overclocking, and will be available from authorized G.SKILL distribution partners in 2018 Q2. -
8 Years Later: Does the GeForce GTX 580 Still Have Game in 2018?
This seemed like a pretty good title. We all know about the GTX 580 and how it has been around for awhile and at the time it was a pretty powerful GPU. EVGA also released what some would call the BEST overclocking video card using the GTX 580 GPU and it stands today as the only card with a fully unlocked BIOS. I will also admit that one of the only 4-way SLI systems I have ever run was with GTX 580 cards. Two reference cards and two MSI Lightning cards.
Despite having to use two 1200w power supplies and some crazy big fans to ensure cool air was getting into the coolers it was pretty damn fun.
Today we're turning our clocks all the way back to November 2010 to revisit the once mighty GeForce GTX 580, a card that marked the transition from 55nm to 40nm for Nvidia's high-end GPUs and helped the company sweep its Fermi-based GeForce GTX 480 under the rug.
Oh yes, the GTX 480, that was a monster of hottness and not the good kind. People joked that you could fry an egg on the heatsink and even posted pictures of it happening. Turn the cooling fan off on any GPU and you too could fry eggs.
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der8auer Skylake-X Direct Die Frame
Some of you may remember when regularly did competitive overclocking. While I didn't get famous from the exercise it was super fun and one of the many things I do to promote Hardware Asylum. (well, at the time, Ninjalane)
The LN2 container I used was designed and built by der8auer and was amply named "BEAST". It is a raw copper container with a short aluminum extension. It was "fast" and generally worked extremely well. Since then der8auer expanded his LN2 container designs and started working for CaseKing as a product developer.
His latest design, the Skylake-X Direct Die Frame, is a marvel of engennering and allows you to properly run your Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors without a lid.
We have all heard about delidding which is the process of removing the Intel heatspreader to replace the thermal compound. This can often lower processor temperatures and is a needed upgrade for LN2 overclocking.
With this device you can remove the lid completely and mount your heatsink directly on the die. This can lower processor temperatures by 5-10c over delidding alone and even more when you consider a stock LGA 2066.
Rumor is these will be sold on Amazon at some point but are currently available at CaseKing assuming you live in Europe.
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ENERMAX unveils powerful mining machine PSU and charming RGB gaming gear
Chino, CA – ENERMAX, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance PC hardware products, introduces new power supply units, CPU coolers, fans, and cases at CES 2018, one of the world's largest consumer technology shows.
With the introduction of the top-end MaxTytan PSU series in 2017, ENERMAX unveils a new mining version of MaxTytan 1250W power supply for hardcore mining rigs at the tech show. The full modular, 80PLUS® TITANIUM-rated 1250W power supply is equipped with Wattage Meter for users to monitor real-time power consumption; moreover, the mining 1250W PSU features a unique Turbo Switch, a boost button maximizing the PSU fan speed (up to 3100 RPM) to effectively dissipate the heat generated by the hardcore ICO mining machines.
ENERMAX demonstrates SABERAY, its flagship RGB-sync gaming case with amazing RGB lighting strips featuring ENERMAX LED Lighting technology. Users can control lighting brightness, modes and colors via the RGB-sync-ready motherboards or via the built-in control button on the top of the case. Designed with airflow in mind, the beautiful SABERAY will include two meshed panels and one acrylic panel, so users will be able to run all meshed or one meshed and one acrylic, depending on users’ configuration; the quick release front and top panels are interchangeable. The mid-tower RGB gaming castle can support 360 / 280 / 240mm radiators, providing users with greater flexibility in liquid cooling configuration.
At CES, ENERMAX debuts LIQTECH II, new all-in-one water coolers with TDP support up to 500W+ for Intel and AMD systems, using the same ENERMAX EF1 pump as found in the LIQTECH TR4 cooler that is tailor-made for AMD’s top-end Threadripper CPU. The EF1 pump’s flow rate is up to 450 L/h, which is 7 times powerful than its peers. Meanwhile, LIQTECH II is equipped with a water-block that supports RGB-sync lighting; the RGB lighting can be managed by RGB-sync-ready motherboards. LIQTECH II will be available in 3 radiator sizes: 240, 280, and 360mm.
In Q1 2018, ENERMAX will launch LIQFUSION, its first addressable RGB liquid CPU cooler for Intel and AMD platforms. This all-in-one liquid cooler has an exclusive RGB-sync water-block with patented flow indicator, which enables users to easily monitor the status of coolant flow. Together with visually appealing ENERMAX addressable RGB fans, this addressable RGB liquid cooler can create charming RGB lighting effects. LIQFUSION features a refillable design and will be available in 240mm radiator size.
For detailed information regarding ENERMAX new products, please visit our website (www.enermaxusa.com) or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EnermaxUSA) for more updates.
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Patriot EVLVR Thunderbolt 3 Portable SSD
Breakthrough tech powered by Phison’s E8 PCIe controller and features Thunderbolt™ 3 connectivity, available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, JANUARY 8, 2018 - PATRIOT, a global leader in performance memory, SSDs, gaming peripherals, and flash storage solutions today announced the new addition to their performance SSD line, The EVLVR Thunderbolt™ 3 Portable SSD, offering an evolution in SSD technology.
The EVLVR Thunderbolt™ 3 Portable SSD outpaces the speeds of traditional external SSDs by three-fold. With outstanding speed delivered by the Phison E8 PCIe controller and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, the EVLVR can reach up to 1500MB/s in sequential read and up to 1000MB/s in sequential write speeds. On top of being extremely fast, the EVLVR is also power efficient and does not require any external power supply. Thunderbolt™ 3 brings Thunderbolt to USB-C at speeds up to 40 Gb/s, creating one compact port that does it all. With Thunderbolt 3 a single cable now revolutionizes connection technology – simultaneously supporting high-resolution displays and high-performance data devices while also supplying power.
The name “EVLVR” is an abbreviation for “evolver”, and the technology itself presents a major evolution in SSD technology. According to Les Henry, Vice President of Engineering at Patriot, “We are pleased to add the Patriot EVLVR Portable SSD to our SSD line, and our team is especially proud of implementing Thunderbolt™ 3 which allows Patriot to build high-speed and high-quality portable storage solutions.”“We are happy to be able to collaborate with Patriot in bringing a high-performance and power efficient external SSD experience to the Thunderbolt™ 3 eco-system,” said KS Pua, Chairman and CEO of Phison. “We believe the Thunderbolt™ 3 device market will experience a healthy growth in the coming years.”
The Patriot EVLVR will be available to the public for purchase in March 2017 via the Patriot website, select e-tailers, and various retailers. Prices will be as follows: 256GB/$199.99; 512GB/$289.99; and 1TB/$489.99.
