Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

Tt eSPORTS BLACK Snow Edition Laser Gaming Mouse Released

Tt eSPORTS, the leading expert in professional eSports gaming peripherals is releasing the new BLACK Snow Edition laser gaming mouse. The BLACK Snow Edition updates come via feedback from the community. Tt eSPORTS noticed a demand for a new Avago laser engine of up to 5700 DPI, glossy white surface coating , as well as more memory for storing profiles. The BLACK Snow Edition‘s updates build upon the original popular Tt eSPORTS BLACK gaming mouse. The BLACK Snow Edition features a glossy surface finish – for an alternative grip to the matte finish of the BLACK, an updated Avago 5700 DPI laser sensor, and blue LED illumination – on the mousewheel, DPI indicator, and Dragon logo. The new onboard memory […]

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

MSI GP70 and GP60 Gaming Notebooks Unveiled

Slim and slight, MSI’s GP70 Leopard and GP60 Leopard presents better performance of the latest laptops for online gaming competitions. Under the hood, these NBs meet your need for machines that with good performance with better gaming experience. In addition, they sport envelope-pushing Steelseries gaming keyboards, unique Audio Boost for headsets sound enhancement solution. Easy to Take and powerful, these NBs will give you the furious advantage in HD gaming competitions. MSI has received high marks for its high-end gaming laptops, the good performance but compact gaming design in new gaming notebooks. They featured Intel’s 4th Generation Quad Core processor and new Generation NVIDIA GeForce 840M discrete graphics. Specially designed to meet the demands of online gamers around the world. […]

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DirectX 12 Forza Motorsport 5
Product PreviewsBy Olin Coles

GDC14: Microsoft DirectX 12 Debuts

At the 2014 Game Developers Conference (GDC14) this morning, Microsoft revealed their new DirectX 12 graphics API built upon Direct3D 12. The briefing was light on solid details and heavy on imagination, but still revealed enough solid evidence to provide a working proof in concept prototype that portends to offers real-world performance benefits. Overall, Direct3D 12 can be summed up as: performance optimizations derived through refined allocation of processor resources.

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Technology EditorialsBy Olin Coles

Microsoft DirectX 12 and Windows 7 Support

At the 2014 Game Developers Conference (GDC14) this morning Microsoft revealed DirectX 12, built upon Direct3D 12. For those who ride the cutting edge of game development, the latest features announced in Direct3D 12 are strikingly similar to those already present from one of their partners: AMD’s Mandle API. Benchmark Reviews will deliver a preview of DirectX 12 features and improvements in a parallel article, and focus on one very important question in this piece: will DirectX 12 support the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system?

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

GIGABYTE P34G v2 14” Ultraforce Gaming Laptop Announced

20.9mm thin Gaming Laptop, with GeForce® GTX 860M Graphics GIGABYTE, a leading brand in the IT industry, announced the 14” Ultraforce gaming laptop P34G v2, measuring just 20.9mm thin and weighing 1.67 kg. The sleek P34G v2 boasts an understated sandblasted aluminum look with elegant matte finish exuding understated luxury. P34G v2 is the answer to the growing demand of mobile gaming, delivering a heavyweight gaming experience without the bulk and heft synonymous in the gaming laptop category. This new breed of gaming laptop grants gamers superior mobility as well as uncompromised performance, readying users with full-throttle gaming on major titles and bringing a whole new definition to gaming on the go. The simple yet sleek style makes P34G v2 […]

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

ASRock AM1H-ITX, AM1B-ITX and AM1B-M AM1 Motherboards Unveiled

AMD has recently announced their AM1 platform which comes up with a brand new APU and socket combination. The soon to be released APUs consists of four CPU cores along with the perfect integrated graphics architecture, supports up to DDR3 1600MHz, and bears the AMD Athlon™ and AMD Sempron™ APU brands. To welcome this new platform, ASRock releases 3 AM1 motherboards today, including AM1H-ITX, AM1B-ITX and AM1B-M (Two Mini-ITX and one Micro ATX board). The top of the line board of the innovative AM1 Series APU motherboards – AM1H-ITX is unprecedentedly equipped with dual power input options. Replacing the traditional power supply connector with a DC-In jack that draws power from 19V power adapters. Plus a 24-pin ATX power connector […]

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

Kinivo’s WID380 Wireless Enhanced USB Adapter Introduced

USB adapter adds Wi-Fi capability to your computer and boosts connectivity speed, signal and reliability Kinivo, producer of quality mobile accessories, today announces their WID380 Wireless Enhanced USB Adapter, an all-in-one solution for enhancing existing Wi-Fi capabilities or adding the freedom of wireless Internet to your desktop or later laptop models. Kinivo’s WID380 Wireless Enhanced USB Adapter adds dimension, increases speed, improves signal strength and heightens overall wireless Internet performance, establishing a more reliable network between your Internet router and laptop or desktop. The new WID380 delivers your device’s best wireless connection, maximizing performance and providing your signal a boost with speeds up to 300 Mbps for immediate high-speed wireless connectivity at home, work or hotspot locations. The WID380 is […]

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Product PreviewsBy Olin Coles

GDC14: AMD RapidFire and Cloud Gaming

At the 2014 Game Developers Conference (GDC14) this morning, AMD revealed full-functional working demonstrations of their AMD RapidFire Graphics API technology harnessing the power of Cloud-based streaming 3D applications. A bare-bones system with no software installed located Crysis 3 on a Cloud gaming server, and within moments the player was earning frags (actually, he was desperately trying). On the surface this concept may not sound terribly interesting, but it stands to disrupt how we obtain and play video games and graphical design software. For desktop and mobile users software no longer is downloaded or installed; games and applications are essentially a click away.

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

Rapoo 6080 Mouse and 6610 Mouse Announced

Rapoo announces the availability of the Bluetooth Optical Mouse 6080 and Dual Mode Optical Mouse 6610 – the newest additions to its collection of wireless peripheral products. Designed for an enhanced experience and smooth user control, the 6080 and 6610 are ideal for browsing the web, playing games, office applications, and more. The Bluetooth Optical Mouse 6080, $19.99 (pictured above left), utilizes Bluetooth 3.0 technology to connect with a range of devices like most notebooks and Ultrabooks with up to 33-feet of working wireless range. This means that it does not need a USB adapter to establish connection leaving the device’s USB ports open for other needs. The 6080 boasts a comfortable grip, and smooth, responsive cursor control because of […]

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

ZENS Qi Wireless Power Bank Launched

ZENS, developer of innovative wireless charging solutions that meet and exceed the most stringent consumer demands, announces the launch of its next generation wireless charging products. As a market leader in the field of wireless charging, we are adding two unique products to our offering. The ZENS Qi Wireless Portable Audio Speaker and the ZENS Qi Wireless Power Bank are intended for those consumers who want to enjoy wireless charging on the go, making sure they will never be out of power when traveling. The new Samsung Galaxy S5 does support Qi wireless charging using the optional Samsung ‘Wireless Charging Cover’ or Samsung ‘S View Cover Wireless’ for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Especially now that the micro USB is covered […]

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

ZTE9 FunBox Home Entertainment Console Released

‘FunBox’ to offer users superior all-in-one gaming, video-chatting and online video experience from ZTE and The9; online sales to start on JD.com next month ZTE9 Limited today released the FunBox, the world’s fastest home entertainment console, bringing consumers and families a unique high-performance all-in-one gaming, video-chatting and online video experience. “The FunBox has opened up new possibilities in the home entertainment space” The FunBox combines the world-leading engineering of ZTE and the video game development expertise of The9 to deliver genuine innovation to the consumer electronics industry, shaking up the home entertainment market in China. ZTE9 is a joint venture between ZTE Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mobile devices, and The9 Limited, one of China’s foremost video […]

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Crucial M550 SSD Package Crucial M550 Solid State Drive Review
StorageBy Olin Coles

Crucial M550 Solid State Drive Review

Crucial’s C300 solid state drive introduced SSDs to the SATA-6Gb/s interface, followed by the Micron M500 SSD series which will continue in the mainstream value segment. With the Crucial M550 SSD, Micron introduces their brand’s first premium-level product series. Utilizing a new Marvell 88SS9189 controller on the Crucial M550 SSD, read speeds reach 550 MB/s while write speeds attain 500 MB/s. M550 promises 90,000 random IOPS reads, and up to 85,000 random IOPS writes. 20nm Micron 64GB and 128GB NAND flash components are used in M550, which improves overall performance and enables lower-capacity drives to perform nearly as well as the higher capacity counterparts.

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

AOC’ 4 TAA Approved Monitors Introduced

AOC unveils four new user-friendly displays designed for home, government and education workplaces AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, today announces four new Trade Agreement Act (TAA) approved monitors ideal for home office, government and education environments. Ranging from 20 to 24 inches, the user-friendly LED displays feature AOC’s exclusive productivity enhancing and energy-saving software that allows users to customize power consumption configuration and viewing conditions. Not only are the monitors eco-friendly and Energy Star certified, they also offer slim and modern designs, and can be mounted to the wall for maximum space efficiency. The four AOC TAA approved monitors include the 20-inch class e2060Swda-TAA display, the 22-inch class e2260Swda-TAA and e2260Swdn-TAA models, and the 24-inch e2460Sd-TAA display. […]

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

LG G Pro 2 Smartphone Released

First LG Smartphone with Knock Code™ and OIS+ Makes its Debut Overseas LG Electronics (LG) today announced the start of sales of G Pro 2 in the Asia Region in markets including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippine, Vietnam and Indonesia among others. The device was first introduced to a global audience at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month where the smartphone was well received for its innovative UX features, superb display and advanced camera functions. “With its 5.9-inch Full HD IPS display, versatile camera functions and user-oriented UX features, we expect the LG G Pro 2 to make a strong impression with Asian customers.” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Asian consumers […]

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Roccat_Ryos_MK_Pro_MX_Brown_Gaming_Keyboard_Right_Angle_View
PeripheralsBy Steven Iglesias-Hearst

ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Gaming Keyboard Review

PC Gaming is not dead, it’s just that there isn’t as much innovation happening to steal the headlines. Tablets, Laptops and Consoles are taking the limelight. Sure they’re great for intermittent gaming but can’t really compete with the ultimate solution – The humble PC. ROCCAT is making its debut into the thriving mechanical keyboard market with three variants of its Ryos MK Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. In this review, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the top of the line ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (model# ROC-12-851-BN – US Layout) with Cherry MX Brown switches and individual backlit keys.

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ROCCAT_Siru_Pitch_Black_Mousepad_Angle_View
PeripheralsBy Steven Iglesias-Hearst

ROCCAT Siru Gaming Mousepad Review

Optical and laser mice will work fine on just about any smooth surface they encounter. So what is the point of a mousepad? To answer that question we would need a science lesson so we will sum it up with one word: Friction. Everyone has their own preference and ROCCAT has many different gaming surfaces to cater to those needs. Today, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the ROCCAT Siru Pitch Black Desk Fitting Gaming Mousepad model# ROC-13-070. The Siru mousepad is unlike any mousepad I have seen before, it is a high speed wafer thin surface and is truly non-slip thanks to an innovative backing surface. Read on to find out more.

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Elder Scrolls Online Scenery Caught Between Worlds: Elder Scrolls Online
Video Game GuidesBy David Shields

Caught Between Worlds: Elder Scrolls Online

Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is the next iteration of the Elder Scrolls video game series, set to release later this year. Unlike most previous iterations of the series, the Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO game, not an RPG. Furthermore, development of ESO was given to Zenimax Studios as opposed to Bethesda, who normally develops the Elder Scrolls games, although both companies are owned by Zenimax media.

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

Nikon 1 V3 and 1 NIKKOR VR Cameras Unveiled

The world’s fastest*1 continuous shooting rate with AF tracking, performance with tracking of moving subjects that exceeds that of digital SLR cameras, and capable of full-scale operation The first Nikon 1 camera to be equipped with a vari-angle touch screen LCD monitor and Wi-Fi® capability Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the new Nikon 1 V3, the latest addition to the V series of Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable lenses that propose new forms of imaging expression. Along with the Nikon 1 V3, Nikon is also releasing the new 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM, a normal zoom lens compatible with the CX format and covering the 10-30mm range of focal lengths. The 1 NIKKOR VR […]

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Headset mic BitFenix Flo Gaming Headset Review
AudioBy Patrick Cook

BitFenix Flo Gaming Headset Review

BitFenix, a company best known for their chassis development, has decided to venture into the peripherals market. The BitFenix Flo gaming headset, model BFH-FLO-KWSK1-RP, is their first attempt at the audio accessory market. The BitFenix Flo is a headset that is aimed at both PC gamers, and users on the go. With a removable microphone and interchangeable cables, the Flo can be used for that heavy gaming session at the PC or easily converted to be taken on the road.

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

BIOSTAR J1800NH Motherboard Introduced

BIOSTAR has announced the J1800NH motherboard with the on-board Intel Dual-Core Celeron J1800 processor in a mini ITX form factor size of 17x17cm for flexible use. The J1800NH boards come with the Intel Celeron J1800 Dual-Core processor already installed and it supports one DDR3L 1333/1066MHz memory slot for a maximum of 8GB of memory. It features an integrated graphics chip with enough performance for most home and office applications. The J1800NH board is ready for building a universal multimedia system due to its HDMI and analog VGA-out, and high definition audio with the Realtek ALC662 6-Channel HD Audio chip. The boards are equipped with modern high quality solid capacitors, the X.D.C (eXtreme Durable Capacitors). These are low ESR and high […]

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Technology EditorialsBy Derek Smith

The Future: USB 3.1 or Intel Thunderbolt?

The 2014 CES Introduced USB 3.1 as a future new standard for USB data transfers. Competition has been the driving force of the computer industry since the beginning, and the consumers have been the greatest benefactor to this constant technological race. Just when you thought you had the latest and greatest USB 3.0 on your new computer system, along comes USB 3.1. Was there something wrong with USB 3.0, and did it really need an update? Yes and No.

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

Sceptre X505BV-FMDR 50-inch LED HDTV Announced

Sceptre increases its selection of Roku Ready, energy efficient HDTVs with the new 50-inch LED HDTV featuring SRS TruSurround HD Sound technology and an estimated yearly energy cost of only $16.7. Sceptre’s X505BV-FMDR is the ideal choice for users seeking an outstanding multimedia experience in a thin, elegant and affordable HDTV. Packed with features, Sceptre’s newest HDTV has ultra-slim borders, brushed textured bezel and incorporates technologies such as SRS TruSurround HD Sound to enhance user audio enjoyment and MHL technology to connect mobile devices to the HDTV. MHL technology directly connects mobile devices to the HDTV using a single MHL cable, transmitting up to 1080P high-definition video and surround sound audio while simultaneously charging the connected mobile device. By using […]

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Azza XT1 Front Alternate View AZZA CSAZ-XT1 Full-Tower Gaming Case Review
CasesBy Meng Vang

AZZA CSAZ-XT1 Full-Tower Gaming Case Review

The AZZA XT1 Full-Tower Gaming case has it all. With great features offered in only some of the highest-end products, the AZZA XT1 makes a great case for consumers on a larger budget and even some enthusiast who want to go with a full-fledged customized water cooling system. It also features a lot of expand abilities for multiple hard drives and solid state drive configurations. The AZZA XT1 will accommodate XL-ATX motherboards thanks to its full-tower design. With this accommodation, it has a total of eight expansion slots at the back of the case allowing flexible and unlimited expand abilities.

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PAPAGO! P3 Dashcam Review
CamerasBy David Ramsey

PAPAGO! P3 Dashcam Review

The PAPAGO! P3 Dashcam is the company’s top-of-the-line dashboard camera unit, with many extra features beyond just recording what it sees out the windshield. Its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) includes Stop and Go, LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System) and FCWS (Front Collision Warning System), as well as a number of other capabilities.

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Manufacturer NewsBy News Reporter

ASUS AM1M-A and AM1I-A Motherboards Announced

High-value AMD AM1-socket-based SoC motherboards packed with exclusive ASUS technologies including 5X Protection, UEFI BIOS and USB 3.0 Boost ASUS today announced AM1M-A and AM1I-A, two exciting new motherboards that support the latest AMD AM1-socketed SoC (system-on-a-chip) Athlon™ and Sempron™ series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs). These revolutionary APUs with AMD R Series graphics combine high processing power, advanced Microsoft® DirectX® 11.1 graphics, and Fusion controller hubs (FCHs) in one small, efficient package — improving performance by over 50% compared to the previous (‘Brazos 2.0’) generation of AMD APUs. With low power consumption and excellent graphic performance from the APUs, both AM1M-A and AM1I-A are great-value choices for desktops and home-theater PCs (HTPCs). High-endurance quality and ASUS-exclusive features AM1M-A and AM1I-A […]

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