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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MSI GTX 1080 Ti Lightning Z 11 GB @ techPowerUp
You really have to wonder how good a particular product is when the reviewer actually calls out the price in the review description. I'm not going to diss at almost a grand for a GTX 1080 Ti you really want to know if it is worth it.
Lightning is MSI's flagship card for the GTX 1080 Ti Series. Our review of the Lightning Z, which is the highest clocked variant, confirms it has the best cooler of all GTX 1080 Tis; delivering lowest temperatures and lowest noise at the same time. The Lightning Z is also the fastest GTX 1080 Ti we ever tested, but isn't exactly cheap at $999.
On a side note, I find it interesting how NVIDIA claims the Pascal architecture is super power efficient but programs them to run hot to save power and lower operational noise. THEN, you have companies like MSI offering triple slot coolers like this was the GTX 580 era all so they can say it delivers the lowest temperatures.
I'm like, no s#it, the cooler is super oversized and comes with triple cooling fans what did you expect?.
Super excessive and I love it.
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Ballistix Elite 3466 MHz DDR4 @ techPowerUp
It is hard not to be a fan of Ballistix memory given the Crucial and Micron are local companies. In terms of overall speed Ballistix is right up there with other performance memory modules but does lack when it comes to "overclocking" modules.
Ballistix Elite DDR4 sticks have been granted a speed bump all the way up to 3466 MHz. We take the 8 GB DIMMs for a spin on Intel's Z270 platform because these sticks are still too Elite for AMD systems.
Crucial/Micron will be releasing some Ballistix Tracer modules later this year that promise to be more than just a throwback to lighted modules from days gone by. Full RGB LEDs and a decent amount of performance to boot.
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ASRock X299 Taichi @ techPowerUp
Looking back at the X99 launch I can see and feel a major difference in the level of excitement surrounding the new X299 platform. Things are just down. I think some of that might be the lack of quality reviews from respected websites followed by a lack of available product.
TechPowerUp has posted a review of the ASRock X299 Taichi which, if I remember correctly, is their mainstream gamer'esq motherboard line that everyone loves because of the price.
The ASRock X299 Taichi comes with a fresh look that's still familiar. Boasting support for Intel's latest Skylake-X processors, the board features dual LAN, integrated Wifi, three M.2 ports and outstanding audio performance. Yet again ASRock manages to impress!
The board does look pretty darn pimp and even has some gears to show you how much work it can do. (you know cause that is a thing)
oh and this
On Monday, the 19th of June, at approximately 6:45 PM, there was a knock on my door. I was lying on the living room floor with my legs up on the seat of my office chair, sleeping. You see, I'm kind of between houses right now, with my worldly possessions strewn across two cities. My supple leather couch that I love to melt into is at the OTHER house, not this one, so I had to deal with it.
Uhh, I'm not sure if that is a good thing or just some asshat trying to tell the world how exclusive and cool they thing they are. Either way, I Like it
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Intel Core i7 7740X processor review @ Guru3D
The Core i7 7740X was a highlight processor of Computex 2017 due to some of the insane overclocking numbers the large quad core processor could turn out. While on the subject of cores, most tech YouTubers got all triggered on the quad core nature of the Core i7 7740X which simply tells me they are scraping for subject matter.
For this test we'll review the quad core Core i7 7740X from Intel. Yes this is Kaby Lake -X, the more affordable processor that you will need to seat on a X299 motherboard. Albeit limited towards dual-channel memory, the processor does a good job, as well as it being tweakable towards 5.2 GHz on all cores.
I have one of these processors in the lab and with any luck will be pushing it to its limit alongside my delidded Core i7 7700K that loves to clock.
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EVGA GTX 1080Ti Kingpin Edition Seen in the Wild!
Ever since the announcement of the EVGA GTX 1080Ti Kingpin edition during Computex 2017 enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the release of the coveted new graphics card that not only promises to up your social status among your friends on Twitter but also is guaranteed to deliver 2000Mhz+ overclocking support.
On July 3rd EVGA released the following photo to their twitter account proving that the KPE is real.
I might have mentioned this before but when Pascal launched "last year" it created a buying frenzy for the new platform and a HUGE void in the enthusiast community that was once filled with overclocking. I’m not talking about casual overclocking either but extreme overclocking with liquid nitrogen and TONs of excessive voltage.
The launch of the EVGA Kingpin edition marks the resurgence of overclocking on the NVIDIA platform. Granted the GPU won’t scale like the 980Ti but anything north of 2000Mhz is a huge improvement,
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The Day Crypto Mining got Bigger than Gaming
When searching out Podcast topics for our July episode I stumbled across something rather exciting that I normally would have 100% ignored, Cryptocurrency. More specific GPU mining for Ethereum. Much like with the Bitcoin craze some 4'ish years ago people have started paying attention to Ethereum and as you can imagine the price started to rise.
However, unlike Bitcoin which is no longer cost effective to mine, the Ethereum system is still new enough that you can mine using GPUs and trade them for a decent amount of cash. In turn this has created a worldwide shortage of gaming video cards much like it did with Bitcoin back in the day.
There is one difference though. With this craze ASUS has decided to sell a specialized video card dedicated to crypto mining. This new product is basically a video card with a specalized GPU and no video output. That keeps the card cheaper and removes it from the second hand market where someone might repurpose the card for gaming. As you can imagine this is a pure calcuation card similar to the NVIDIA tesla used in super computers and installs similar to a PhysX card in any high-end gaming right..
What really amazes me is how crazy people get when it comes to "get rich quick" schemes. I will admit this craze ihas GPU manufactureres making loads of money but, at the expense of gamers and enthusiasts who actually want to use the product for what it was intended. This in turn creates shortages followed by price hikes and angry consumers.
Or, angry hardware reviewers who can't get their hands on a MSI lightning Z because demand is so high that they don't need to spend money on doing hardware reviews. That alone has made me want to boycott GPU mining however the hardware enthusiast in me finds it interesting to see the elaborate systems people have put togehter even if it won't play Crysis.
I found several sites talking about Ethereum
Web Articles
- Ethereum Mining Spurring Growth For AMD And Nvidia
- Something called Ethereum is suddenly all over the news
- Nvidia, AMD Planning GPUs for Mining Cryptocurrency
- AMD and Nvidia Creating Cryptocurrency Mining GPUs
- AMD and NVIDIA go after Bitcoin miners with new video cards
- ASUS MINING-P106-6G -
Adesso AKB-636UB Typewriter Keyboard @ techPowerUp
OMG, how many times is this keyboard design going to be "white boxed?"
At CES 2017 I saw two companies with thsi keyboard on display and since my review of the AZIO MK Retro Mechanical Keyboard I have seen 3 more from various companies.
Granted I "might" have seen this one before but still.
Adesso has a typewriter-inspired USB mechanical keyboard now, with round keycaps, a black and silver trim, and Outemu Blue clicky switches. Priced below $100, this also has novel twist-style feet to appeal to typists both old and new.
Still comes with blue switches and yet from a different company. Maybe if we wait long enough someone will release this retro design with a Cherry brand.
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ASUS ROG Strix Evolve Review @ Vortez
Before too long every company that makes computer hardware will be making "everything". Well ASUS kinda started it but, name a company and there is a chance they make something outside of what they are known for.
In this case we have ASUS building ambidextrous gaming mice with 50 million clicks and RGB. Seems good right?
Featuring a properly-done ambidextrous design, OMRON switches claiming a lifespan upwards of 50 million clicks, RGB lighting with ASUS Aura Sync and a 7200DPI optical sensor, let's see what the Strix Evolve is made of in testing.
I'm not gonna diss, this mouse looks pretty good and has a solid sensor.
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MSI announces GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Lightning Z
OMGOMGOMG
Legendary Lightning strikes again!
MSI is proud to officially announce the latest of its legendary LIGHTNING graphics cards. Built to be perfect, the new GeForce® GTX 1080 Ti LIGHTNING Z combines cutting edge new technology with proven features such as TRI-FROZR design with TORX 2.0 Fans, SuperPipe technology and Military Class 4 components. The GeForce® GTX 1080 Ti LIGHTNING Z is nothing short of an engineering masterpiece.
Unmatched Thermal Design
MSI Torx Fan 2.0MSI’s reputation in thermal design is well-known to be excellent. The improved TRI-FROZR design on the GTX 1080 Ti LIGHTNING Z utilizes two 10cm and one 9cm TORX 2.0 Fans combining the advantages of both traditional fan blade and dispersion fan blade, generating huge amounts of airflow while remaining virtually silent. Two 8mm SuperPipes transfer heat much faster to the fins, enabling up to a whopping 700W of heat dissipation.Mystic Light Sync with Brilliant RGB Effect
MSI’s Mystic Light enables you tocustomize the RGB effects of your hardware to give your system a different look whenever you feel like it. Using the MSI Mystic Light software, you can even synchronize colors and effects of your graphics card, motherboard, case-fans and peripherals. Give yourself or the audience a show!
Dual BIOS and Enhanced Power Design
The special LN2 BIOS on the card provides extreme overclockers more capibility for overclocking records without special hardware modifications. By removing restrictions, the full potential of the graphics card is unlocked. The enhanced power design contains more power phases than other models to ensure plenty of power is available for record-breaking performance. LIGHTNING’s custom 10-layer PCB is fitted with 14 phases for GPU and 3 phases for Memory to ensure power delivery can handle the most extreme loads.
MSI Dual BIOS with special LN2 BIOS
Military Class 4 Components
Military Class 4 Components
Equipped with Military Class 4 components, the MSI GTX 1080 Ti LIGHTNING Z is built to deliver the best quality and stability. The components have gone through rigorous testing by a third-party laboratory to satisfy the MIL-STD-810G standard. Featuring DrMOS 60A power phases, the highest rated available ensuring plenty of power. Hi-C CAP cores, Super Ferrite Choke, and Solid CAP, each aspect of the LIGHTNING Z ensures the best possible performance.On-board and in control
With MSI's exclusive OC kits you're in complete control of the GTX 1080 Ti LIGHTNING Z. V-Check points allow you to accurately measure GPU, Memory and PLL voltages. Multiple Temp Monitor checks the real-time temperatures of the GPU, Memory and PLL while Quadruple Overvoltage allows you to overvolt those same components in order to achieve higher clock speeds.
Availability
The GeForce® GTX 1080 Ti LIGHTNING Z is expected to be available in July.Specifications
Core Clock
1721 MHz / 1607 MHz (Lightning Mode)
1695 MHz / 1582 MHz (Gaming Mode)
1582 MHz / 1480 MHz (Silent Mode)
Memory Clock
11120 MHz (Lightning / Gaming mode)
11016 MHz (Silent mode) -
Intel X-Series Launch Day
Core i9 marks a turning point in Intel marketing from a "We will NEVER" to a "Hey that is a good idea" And this isn't so much platform, cores or pissing off snoflake youtubers but simply expanding a product family to include more diversity.
Diversity is good, or so they say.
Web Reviews
- Core i9 7900X processor and MSI X299 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review
- MSI X299 GAMING PRO CARBON AC Review @ Vortez
- Intel Core i9-7900X And Core i7-7740X CPU Review: Skylake X and Kaby Lake X Debut
- Intel Core X Series i9-7900X and i7-7740X @ LanOC ReviewsI'm sure more reviews will come forward as time goes on.
