MSI's gaming monitor lineup has seen various additions in the past couple of years, with designs that cater to all kinds of gamers. These monitors come in four different tiers, from the high-end MEG series to the gaming-minded MPG series, the entry-level MAG series & the budget G-Series. The company has a vast array of options in 24, 25, 27, 32, 34, 40, and 49" options and a total of 17 models within its OLED lineup, which range from 27, 32, 34, and 49" options. The company recently refreshed its QD-OLED lineup with new options that come with improved panels, […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/msi-mpg-271qr-x50-qd-oled-gaming-monitor-review-500hz-80-gbps-support-with-built-in-npu-powered-oled-care-3-0/

Corsair's gaming equipment is one of the leading ones out there, not just in terms of the experience they bring onboard, but the manufacturer is a primary adopter for newer standards in the peripheral segment, which is why their newest Vanguard Pro 96 is a keyboard that I wasn't expecting at all. While this is one of the first times I have reviewed a Corsair keyboard, there's no doubt that the Vanguard Pro 96 stands out in several aspects, which we'll discuss in depth ahead. Corsair Vanguard Pro 96: Wired Connectivity, Amazing Typing Experience & an Elegant Design Corsair's Vanguard […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/corsair-vanguard-pro-96-review/

The latest SSD to join Kingston's line-up of data centre class drives is the DC3000ME, Kingston’s first PCIe 5.0 enterprise SSD, using a PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe U.2 interface.

The DC3000ME range is available in three capacities: an entry-level 3.84TB model, a 7.68TB model, and the flagship 15.36TB drive we are reviewing here. The drive uses a Marvell Bravera SC5 16-channel NVMe SSD controller, which looks after Micron 232-layer 3D eTLC B58R NAND flash memory running at 2400MT/s.

Kingston quotes a maximum Sequential read figure of up to 14,000MB/s across the range. Write figures quoted are up to 5,800MB/s for the 3.84TB drive, 10,000MB/s for the 7.68TB drive and up to 9,700MB/s for the 15.36TB model.

4K read/write performance is quoted as up to 2,700,000 IOPS and 400,000 IOPS, respectively, for the 15.36 TB model. The 7.68TB drive gets ratings of up to 2,800,000 IOPS for reads and up to 500,000 IOPS for writes. The 3.84TB drive gets the same 2,700,000 IOPS as the 15.36TB model with writes rated up to 300,000 IOPS.

The drive comes with a host of additional features that this market segment demands, including: hardware-based power loss protection, full diagnostics (including telemetry, Flash wear, temperature, health, etc), AES 256-bit and TCG Opal 2.0 encryption and namespace management support (128 namespaces supported).

Kingston rates the power consumption of the DC3000ME as 8W for idle, 8.2W maximum reads, and 24W maximum writes. The drive has an endurance rating of 1 DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) / 28,032TB TBW over the length of the 5-year warranty.

Physical Specifications:

• Usable Capacities: 15.36TB.
• NAND Components: 232-Layer Micron B58R eTLC.
• NAND Controller: Marvell Bravera SC5.
• Cache: n/s.
• Interface: PCIe Gen 5 U.2.
• Form Factor: 2.5in,15mm U.2.
• Dimensions: 100.50 x 69.8 x 14.8mm.
• Drive Weight: 152.3g.

Firmware Version: ELFA01.2

The post Kingston DC3000ME 15.36TB SSD Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Battlefield 6 has a lot on its shoulders. EA put the effort of four studios together under the Battlefield Studios banner (Motive, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and DICE) to try and get a win for the series after the overall loss that was Battlefield 2042. As of last week, it has to try to get people to forget that, in a year's time, EA will likely be a very different company under its new ownership, despite what chief executive officer Andrew Wilson might claim. It also has to try to compete with an annual franchise that makes up for nearly half […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/battlefield-6-battlefield-is-mostly-back/

A short time ago we did a review of the MemBlaze Pblaze7 7A40 Gen5 Enterprise SSD and this SSD contained  T-Head Zhenyue 510 (also known as TH7700) 16-channel Gen5 SSD controller, along with 8-pieces of YMTC Xtacking 3.0 (X3-9070) 232-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory capable of running at up to 2400MT/s.  That SSD was …

The post Memblaze Pblaze7 7946 Gen5 6.4TB E3.S Enterprise SSD Review – Meet the Mixed Workload Database King appeared first on The SSD Review.

With an MSRP of just £209, the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA is easily the cheapest monitor we have reviewed all year. Despite that, its spec sheet still looks impressive, with a Fast IPS panel that offers a 1440p resolution and 260Hz refresh rate, alongside a claimed sRGB colour accuracy deltaE of less than 2. The kicker is the 27M2N3501PA isn't actually retailing for £209 – it's currently on sale at just £150 here in the UK, with that price promo running until the end of October. Surely it's too good to be true?

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:53 Meet the 27M2N3501PA
01:33 Design first impressions
02:28 I/O and OSD
04:21 Out of the box testing
06:48 sRGB mode + calibration
07:40 Response time testing
09:19 UFO motion clarity examples
10:36 Real world gaming experience
12:30 Closing thoughts

For the uninitiated, Philips' Evnia gaming arm currently offers a range of product series, with the 27M2N3501PA we're reviewing today sitting in the entry-level 3000 series. That means it won't have the same bells and whistles as a more premium SKU from the 8000 series – there's no Ambiglow lighting, for instance, while the HDMI ports are of the 2.0 variety, rather than HDMI 2.1. But for just £150, is the core gaming experience any good? That's what we will find out today.

 

Specification:

• Panel Size: 27 inch / 68.5 cm
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• LCD Panel Type: Fast IPS
• Backlight Type: W-LED system
• Pixel Pitch: 0.2331 x 0.2331 mm
• Brightness: 300 cd/m²
• Display Colours: 1.07 B (8+FRC)
• Colour Gamut (Typical): Adobe RGB 90%, DCI-P3 95%, sRGB 120%, NTSC 105%*
• Contrast Ratio (Typical): 1000:1
• SmartContrast: Mega Infinity DCR
• Viewing Angle: 178º (H) / 178º (V) @ C/R > 10
• Picture Enhancement: SmartImage game
• SmartResponse: 1 ms (Grey to Grey)*
• Maximum Resolution: 2560 x 1440 @260 Hz (DP Overclock*, 8 bits), 2560 x 1440 @144 Hz (HDMI, 8 bits)
• Effective Viewing Area: 596.736 (H) x 335.664 (V) mm
• Scanning Frequency: HDMI 30-230 kHz (H) / 48-144 Hz (V); DP 30-400 kHz (H) / 48-260 Hz (V) (Overclock)*
• sRGB: Yes
• Delta E: <2 (sRGB)
• Flicker-free: Yes
• Pixel Density: 109 PPI
• Adaptive Sync: Yes
• HDR: HDR 10 supported
• Smart Sniper: Yes
• Smart MBR Sync: Yes
• Stark Shadow Boost: Yes*
• Smart MBR: 0.3 ms*
• Smart Crosshair: Yes
• Shadow Boost: Yes
• Signal Input: HDMI 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1
• Sync Input: Separate Sync
• Audio (In/Out): Headphone out
• HDCP: HDCP 1.4 (HDMI/DP), HDCP 2.3 (HDMI/DP)
• Built-in Speakers: 2 W x 2
• Plug and Play Compatibility: DDC/CI
• Height Adjustment: 130 mm
• Pivot: ±90 degrees
• Swivel: ±30 degrees
• Tilt: -5 to 20 degrees
• Power Supply: Internal, 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz

The post Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA Review (Budget 1440p/260Hz) first appeared on KitGuru.

If we look back several years, one couldn’t get an enterprise level SSD without direct company contact, and putting a face to business…maybe even with a firm handshake.  Things have changed and, as much as many might think easy access may be good or bad, we are seeing ‘off the shelf design’ far more often …

The post Silicon Motion MontTitan Gen5 7.68TB Enterprise SSD Review – Reference Design Kits Highlight the MonTitan appeared first on The SSD Review.

Corsair's K70 family of keyboards has been around for a long time, first launching with the K70 Vengeance all the way back in 2013. Today we’re looking at the latest in the series, the K70 Pro TKL, packing in all the gaming features you could ask for – Rapid Trigger, FlashTap (SOCD), 8K polling, adjustable actuation distances and more. On paper the K70 Pro TKL can do everything, but what’s it like to actually use?

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:55 Pricing and Design
01:40 Rotary Dial and special buttons
03:12 Wrist rest and board underside
04:27 Switches and sound test
05:52 Keycaps
06:15 The Real World Gaming Experience
08:07 Customisation without iCUE
08:30 iCUE installed
09:32 Closing thoughts

Specifications

• Keyboard CUE Software – Supported in iCUE
• Media and Volume Controls – Yes
• Keyboard Size – Tenkeyless
• Wrist Rest Included – Magnetic detachable, with leatherette cover and memory foam cushion
• Keyboard Report Rate – Up to 8,000Hz
• Keyboard Form Factor – TKL (Tenkeyless)
• Keyboard Color – BLACK, WHITE
• On Board Memory – 8MB
• Onboard Profiles – 5
• Keyboard Product Family – K70
• Keyboard Type Size – K70
• Adjustable Height – Yes
• Wired Connectivity – USB 3.0 or 3.1 Type-A
• Keyboard Connectivity – Wired
• Keyboard Cable Material – Tangle-free rubber
• WIN Lock – Dedicated Hotkey
• Media Keys – FN Shortcuts
• Key Rollover – Full Key (NKRO) with 100% Anti-Ghosting
• Keyboard Matrix – 87 Keys
• Key Switches – CORSAIR MGX V2
• Keyboard Warranty – 2 Year
• Keyboard Compatibility – PC, Mac, or XBOX One with USB 3.0 or 3.1 Type-A port|Windows® 10 or macOS® 10.15|Internet connection for iCUE software download
  Weight – 1.46kg

You can buy the UK layout version of the K70 Pro TKL keyboard with ABS keycaps directly from Corsair for £169.99 HERE.

Pros:

• Very customisable.
• Convenient ‘game mode’ button.
• Stellar gaming performance and feel.
• Included wrist rest.

Cons:

• Poor quality keycaps on non-US layout models.
• Plasticky case.
• Rotary dial has some wobble.

KitGuru says: The K70 Pro TKL offers great gaming performance and a wide feature set, but is let down by poor quality keycaps and a plasticky case.

The post Corsair K70 Pro TKL Keyboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.

SSD manufacturers are emerging in the market with great frequency these days, giving mainstream competitors like Crucial, TeamGroup, and Samsung a run for their money by providing decent value and performance as well. Similarly, a newer vendor, 'GiGimundo,' which was previously active on retail platforms, approached us with one of their popular offerings, the GS5 PCIe Gen 4.0 storage drive, and here's an extensive review. When I first looked up the company's name on Google, I saw that the manufacturer doesn't entirely specialize in storage products; rather, it has diversified into portable drives, USB hubs, and other accessories. It's safe […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/gigimundo-gs5-2tb-gen4-ssd-review-with-heatsink/

In today's video we’re reviewing the Fractal Epoch PC case. It uses the same core design as the Fractal North with a few tweaks. It supports radiators up to 360mm at the front and offers tempered glass or solid side panel options. The case features optimised airflow with multiple fan mounting points and supports ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. We’ll cover build quality, cooling performance, and component compatibility in today's review, so let's dive in…

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:49 Update / Colours / Pricing
01:35 Hardware Support
02:08 Dimensions and Mobo Support
02:42 Front Panel Connectivity
02:54 Panels / Dust Filters / Cooler Support
04:59 Fans / Radiator Support
06:16 GPU Support
07:00 PSU section
07:48 Cable cutouts
08:21 Air Cooling Configuration
08:33 Cable Management Support
09:32 Storage Support
10:26 Installing the PSU
10:49 Rear Of The Case
11:15 Accessories / included fans
12:33 Test System hardware
13:37 Test Methodology and Results
15:03 James Closing Thoughts

Fractal Epoch Features:

• The Fractal Epoch features a clean, modern aesthetic with a focus on simplicity and sleek lines, equipped with Ventilated mesh front and top panels to promote natural airflow
• It’s a compact mid-tower that accommodates graphics cards up to 372 mm in length and CPU coolers up to 170 mm in height. It supports ATX, mATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards.
• It is designed for ease of use, featuring tool-free access panels on the front, top, and sides, as well as handy cable management with cable routing grommets and fixed straps to maintain a clean build.

Specifications:

• Case Type: Mid-Tower
• Dimensions (LxWxH):447 x 215 x 469 mm
• Net Weight: 7.69 kg (Solid), 7.81 kg (TG), 7.86 kg (RGB)
• Motherboard Support: ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX
• Back Connect Motherboards: N/A
• Expansion Slots: 7
• Storage bays: 2 x 2.5”/3.5”, 2 x 2.5”
• Max GPU Length: 372 mm (without front radiator)
• Max CPU Cooler Height: 170mm
• PSU Type: ATX
• Pre-installed Fans: 3 x 120 mm ARGB (Front)
• Fan Support: 2 x 120 / 140 mm (Top) 3 x 120 / 2x 140 mm (Front) 1 x 120mm (Rear)
• Radiator Support: 120 / 240 mm (Top) 120 / 240 / 280 / 360 mm (Front) 120mm (Rear)
• Dust Filters: PSU
• Front I/O: 1 x USB Type-C 20 Gbps, 2 x USB Type-A 5 Gbps, 1x Audio/Mic Combo Jack

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.

Test System Specification:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Motherboard – MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
• Graphics Card – Gigabyte RTX 5080 Gaming OC 16G
• Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIE Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – MSI MPG CORELIQUID P13 360
• Power Supply – FSP Hydro PTM X Pro 1200W Platinum
• Case fans – Stock
• Chassis – Fractal Epoch Black TG Light Tint
• Operating System – Windows 11 24H2

Thermal Performance Overview

We tested the case thermals with a 360mm AIO as intake at the front, and with the case in several different configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with the 360mm AIO at the front, no exhaust fans and with all panels installed.

In the default configuration, the case does a good job of keeping the CPU and GPU cool, with average load temperatures of 54°C over ambient for the CPU and 50°C over ambient for the GPU, which is good for a compact chassis.

Adding a couple of fans to the top as exhaust has a small effect on GPU temperature, dropping it by 2°C, but the CPU temperature is unchanged.

There's no additional change in either the CPU or GPU by adding a rear exhaust fan, but removing the side panel lowers the GPU temperature further, so the case has some restriction with the mesh panels, but it's not excessive and the temperature of both the CPU and GPU are well under control with all panels fitted.

Noise Output

Since the component temperature under high load is controlled in the Epoch, noise output in any configuration is quite low when the fan curve is set manually.

Adding top and rear fans doesn’t increase noise at all, as the internal system temperature is kept low, so fans don’t need to ramp up above 1000rpm. Removing the side panel actually decreases noise a little, as the GPU is running cooler and at a lower fan speed.

Closing Thoughts

Fractal has used the core chassis of the North for the Epoch it is clear to see. Still, the wood front and additional side fan mounts have been stripped away, along with the fabric side panel, and there's a revised front I/O, along with some other minor changes. This means the Epoch is a little cheaper but still in the £100-£120 price bracket where it has some fierce competition.

That said, it’s a decent case in terms of airflow and cooling, the hardware support for a compact ATX chassis is pretty good, albeit with some caveats such as only front-mounted 360mm radiators and tight space at the top. But you can still squeeze in a big high-end graphics card even with a front radiator as well as ATX motherboards. A removable top panel would have improved top access, but it isn’t included in the Epoch which is a shame.

Those problems aside, it’s a very well-built case and lives up to Fractal's usual high build quality standards. Aesthetically, it’s a modern but simplistic style which should be to most people's taste, however that can be subjective. It is reasonably priced, though, at around £100-£120, depending on colour and configuration chosen. Overall, it's worth considering if you're in the market for a high airflow compact ATX, but there are some good alternatives worth checking out before you rush out to buy the Epoch.

The Fractal Epoch is available to purchase now from Scan priced from £99.98 for the standard version HERE and £119.99 HERE for the ARGB version.

Pros: 

• Compact dimensions save desk space.
• Thermal performance is good for a compact case.
• Available in different colours/configurations.

Cons:

• Lacking key cable management cut-outs.
• Tight for space at the top, highlighted by a non-removable top panel.
• Cooling limitations due to the size.
• Fierce competition at this price point.

KitGuru Says: If you don't like wood but like the compact size and hardware support of the North, then Epoch is the perfect alternative.

The post Fractal Epoch Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.

One might be inclined to think a company exudes confidence with respect to data storage when the first line in their product brief is, ‘The world’s fastest data center SSD’.  After all, storage speed these days, especially in the enterprise and data center world, is much more complex than a simple high throughput read and …

The post Micron 9550 MAX Gen5 12.8TB Enterprise SSD Review – Its Commanding Performance Draws that Line in the Sand. appeared first on The SSD Review.

The PC AIO cooler market is flooded with budget 360mm options currently and a lot have the same style with basic RGB on the fans and CPU block. So when be quiet! said it had a 360mm AIO with a customisable CPU block for under £100, well we were keen to take a look. The Pure Loop 3 LX comes with ten custom CPU block foils to give your system a unique look, but does it still offer the trademark be quiet! low noise and solid performance? Let’s find out.

be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX Features:

• Pure Loop 3 LX is equipped with vibrant ARGB lighting and customisable CPU block illumination options via the included ten lighting foils, with additional illumination from the included be quiet! Light Wings LX 120mm high-speed fans.
• Daisy-chained wiring connects fans in series, saving on splitter cables and motherboard fan headers with fewer shorter cables for a cleaner look, while the CPU block top cover is rotatable for always correct orientation.
• The powerful PWM pump is equipped with a 6-pole 3-phase motor combined with a copper micro-channel cold plate, providing smooth and quiet operation and high-performance cooling.

Specifications:

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155, AMD AM4/AM5
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Radiator Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 52mm (Incl. Fan)
• Radiator Tube Length: 400mm
• CPU Block/Pump Dimensions: 68.5 x 93.4 x 48.7 (H x W x D)
• Pump Speed: 3000 – 5500 rpm
• Cold Plate Material: Copper
• Pump Connector: 4-pin PWM
• VRM Fan: N/A
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
• Fan Speed (PWM): 2100 rpm (max)
• Fan Max Airflow: 61.8 CFM
• Fan Max Static Pressure: 2.51 mmH2O
• Fan Noise: 36.9 dBA (max)
• Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
• Fan Connector: 4-pin PWM
• LCD Screen: N/A
• Warranty: 3 Years

be quiet! ships the Pure Loop 3 LX in a cardboard box with a black background, a large image of the cooler and logos are on the front and on the rear are smaller images of all the swappable CPU foils used to customise the cooler. Inside the contents are protected by a cardboard crate.

Fans included with the cooler are be quiet! Light Wings LX 120mm units with PWM speed range up to 2100 rpm, equipped with a rifle bearing and opaque fan blades illuminated with ARGB lighting once the cooler is powered up. Fan cables are daisy-chained to keep things looking neat.

be quiet! uses a standard 27mm thick aluminium radiator in the Pure Loop 3 LX, it has 12 waterways and a dense fin pitch with tubing fixed at the radiator tank. The black coating is smooth and with a satin finish. The quality looks high and there's no branding on the radiator.

It’s a very compact CPU block design in the Pure Loop 3 LX with dimensions of 68.5 x 93.4 x 48.7mm (H x W x D), the top is illuminated with diffused RGB lighting and there is a choice of 10 custom foils with different designs for the user to choose from. An opaque plastic top goes over the top of the foil for a finished look.

Tubing is manufactured from flexible EPDM and measures 400m long. It's covered with a premium braided sleeving with rotary 90-degree fittings at the CPU block to allow for adjustment in the position of the tubes when installed. At the base is a micro-skived copper cold plate.

The Pure Loop 3 LX uses all standard wiring connections, so 4-pin PWM for the fan and pump power/speed adjustment and standard 3-pin 5V connection for ARGB. There are no hubs or software required for the cooler to fully function.

Accessories bundled with the Pure Loop 3 LX include all the required mounting hardware to install the cooler on current Intel and AMD desktop CPU sockets, plus a small tube of thermal compound, ten CPU block foils,  a few zip ties and a paper copy of the installation manual.

The post be quiet! Pure Loop 3 LX 360mm AIO Review first appeared on KitGuru.

iBuyPower is mostly known for its pre-built systems and is one of the most popular system integrators in the world. The company has recently started diving into peripherals as well, and has a couple of gaming peripherals in its arsenal, including mice and keyboards, officially announcing its entry into the peripheral market. However, there are currently three keyboards available on the official iBuyPower store: MEK 4, MK9 RGB, and the MK9 Pro RGB. The MK9 Pro RGB is its latest offering, delivering a 96% form-factor and positioned in the budget segment. I have been using it for a couple of […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/ibuypower-mk9-pro-rgb-review/

Geekom's A9 Max is an intriguing mini PC, packing in AMD's potent Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and the Radeon 890M iGPU. That sits alongside 2TB of NVMe storage and 32GB of DDR5 memory, all housed in a metal chassis that's less than 1L in volume. It certainly sounds good on paper, but what's it like to use in the real world, and could it really replace your traditional desktop? We find out today…

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:52 Pricing and core spec details
01:52 Design, first impressions
02:25 Connectivity options
03:37 Accessing internals + upgrade options
04:46 CPU behaviour / power modes
06:06 General system performance
06:29 AI performance, iGPU VRAM testing
07:59 Gaming test setup
08:28 Counter Strike 2
09:02 COD: Black Ops 6
09:29 Cyberpunk 2077
09:58 F1 25
10:31 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
10:53 Marvel Rivals
11:18 Thermals + noise
12:29 Closing thoughts

Specification:

• Form Factor: 135 mm × 132 mm × 46.9 mm
• CPU: AMD Ryzen CPU (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370)
• TDP: 54W
• Video Engine Processor: AMD Radeon 890M Graphics
• Memory: Dual channel DDR5 262PIN 5600MHz
• Maximum Memory: Up to 128GB
• Audio: HDA CODEC
• Storage:
  • 1 × M.2 2280 SSD (NVMe × 4 Gen 4)
  • 1 × M.2 2230 SSD slot (NVMe × 4 Gen 4)
• I/O Ports:
  • 1 × rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
  • 1 × rear USB 2.0 Type-A
  • 3 × front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
  • 1 × front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (Always On)
  • 1 × USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt mode / PD in (back panel)
  • 1 × USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt mode (back panel)
  • 1 × 3.5mm front stereo headset jack
  • 2 × RJ45 (back panel)
  • 2 × HDMI 2.1 FRL (back panel)
  • 1 × DC in (back panel)
  • 1 × Power Button
  • 1 × Kensington Lock
  • 1 × SD Card 4.0
• Ethernet: 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps RJ45 × 2
• Ethernet LED Indicators: 10/100 Mbps Off / 1000 Mbps Orange / 2500 Mbps Green
• Wireless LAN: M.2 Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Kensington Lock: Yes
• DTPM 2.0: Support DTPM 2.0
• Battery: RTC coin battery
• Adapter: 19 V power supply adapter (120 W) with geo-specific AC cord (IEC C5)
• PCBA Dimension: 127.6 × 127.2 × 1.6 mm
• Certification: CE, FCC, CB, CCC, SRRC, RoHS
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 (64-bit)
• Operating System Features: Support Modern Standby
• Accessory: VESA Mount (121.8 mm × 116.5 mm × 1.0 mm)

The A9 Max is listed for £999 on both Geekom's website and on Amazon, while we were also sent a 6% discount code (A9MAXKT6) for Geekom's website. Please note this is not an affiliate link and we do not get a kickback from any purchases.

Pros

• Clean and premium all-metal chassis, just 0.8L volume.
• Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is a strong all-round CPU.
• Radeon 890M iGPU is capable for 1080p low settings gaming.
• Spare M.2 2230 slot.
• Up to 128GB memory is supported.
• Plenty of connectivity options.
• BIOS allows users to adjust the memory available to the iGPU, up to 24GB.
• Well-managed thermals.

Cons

• Lacks front USB-C or OcuLink.
• Performance mode gets very loud (but the Normal mode is fine).
• WiFi antenna cables make reassembly very fiddly.
• You definitely pay for the small form-factor.

KitGuru says: The Geekom A9 Max is a compact, sleek and versatile mini PC. It's not quite perfect, but it packs a punch despite its diminutive dimensions, making this well worth buying.

The post Geekom A9 Max Mini PC Review (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) first appeared on KitGuru.

Following on from our previous look at a ‘Powered by MSI’ desktop from Stormforce – which arrived in a sorry state – today it is the turn of Cyberpower PC and their MSI Project Zero PBM Essential prebuilt desktop. Featuring a Core Ultra 7 265KF, RTX 5070 Ti, 64GB of memory and as many MSI components as you can fit in a PC in 2025… can this two-and-a-bit grand desktop deliver a better experience this time around?

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:49 Core Config / Price
04:31 The MSI Z890 Tomahawk
05:54 PSU
06:08 AIO
07:10 Case / Fans
08:19 Mats thoughts on the build
09:15 Config and some issues
10:08 Plague Tale: Requiem
11:00 Cyberpunk 2077
12:25 CounterStrike 2
13:06 Hogwarts Legacy
14:08 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
14:43 Marvel Rivals
16:11 The gaming experience
16:39 Clock Speeds / Thermals / Power Use / Noise
18:13 Thermal Footage
18:35 Noise levels
18:53 Closing Thoughts

Specifications:

• Case: MSI MAG Panoramic 100R Project Zero Gaming Case – Black
• CPU (Processor): Intel® Core Ultra 7 265KF: 20 Cores [8P Up to 5.50GHz / 12E Up to 4.60GHz], 125W TDP, 36MB Cache
• CPU Cooling: MSI Coreliquid E360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler, Ultimate OC Compatible – Black
• Cooling Upgrades: Thermal Grizzly Premium Thermal Paste
• Motherboard: MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI: ATX w/ PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2, 4x M.2
• Memory (RAM): 64GB (2x32GB) DDR5 5200MT/s Corsair Vengeance Black
• Graphics Card (GPU): MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB GAMING TRIO OC GDDR7 – HDMI, DP – NVIDIA DLSS 4, NVIDIA Reflex (Single Card)
• PSU (Power Supply): MSI MAG A1000GL PCIE5 1000W 80+ Gold ATX 3.1 Fully Modular Gaming Power Supply
• Primary Storage (NVMe Drives): 2TB MSI M480 M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD – 7000MB/s Read & 6800MB/s Write (1 Drive)
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home (No Recovery Media)
• Warranty Service: DESKTOP STANDARD WARRANTY: 5 Years' Labour, 2 Years' Parts, 12 Months' Collect and Return plus Life-Time Technical Support

The core specs are confirmed in the following CPU-Z and GPU-Z screenshots:

Over in our full video review on YouTube we put the Project Zero PBM Essential through its paces across 6 different games at both 1440p and 4k. The system shows strong 1440p gaming performance, running respectable framerates in pretty much all of the titles we tested. We also dove in to the benefits and frame gains that can be achieved when utilising DLSS 4 and frame generation, as can be seen by some of the screenshots below. For full details of all titles that we tested, head over to YouTube and watch the review in full.

A Plague Tale: Requiem (1440p – Max Settings)

A Plague Tale: Requiem (1440p – Max Settings – DLSS Performance and Frame Generation On)

Counter Strike 2 (1440P – Max Settings)

Counter Strike 2 (4K – Max Settings)

Cyberpunk 2077 (4K – Max Settings)

Cyberpunk 2077 (4K – Max Settings – DLSS Performance and 4X Multi Frame Generation On)

Closing Thoughts

CyberPowerPC have done a decent job of putting this ‘Powered by MSI' system together. Cable management is good and it's clear to see that the machine has been built with care. The overall aesthetic is great, with the MAG Pano 100R PZ case being a great platform for showing off the components. The GPU in particular is a stunner with its dragon cut-out backplate.

Gaming performance on the most part was great, excelling at 1440p and being helped at 4K with the use of DLSS and Frame Generation – love em' or hate em', they're both features that are here to stay.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows for the MSI Project Zero PBM Essential desktop, though. XMP was not enabled before the machine was delivered to us and the graphics card driver was a few months out of date – both things are an easy fix, but could go unnoticed by less ‘techy' customers picking up a system from CyberPowerPC.

We'd also say the choice of RAM leaves a bit to be desired – 5200MT/s speeds (after we enabled XMP) and CL40 timings are not particularly cutting edge either.

You can buy the MSI Project Zero PBM Essential desktop directly from CyberPowerPC for £2149.20 HERE

Pros:

• Good 1440p gaming performance.
• Latest gen Nvidia GPU offering DLSS and Multi Frame Generation for 4K gaming.
• Good cable management.
• Reasonable pricing.

Cons:

• XMP not enabled by Cyberpower PC.
• System memory is slow (5200MT/s CL40) and does not have RGB to match the rest of the build.
• GPU driver was a few months out of date.

KitGuru says: The MSI Project Zero PBM Essential is a decent gaming desktop that's been built well and will handle 1440p gaming with ease. It was let down by a few missing finishing touches during the build though and could definitely benefit from some faster (and flashier) memory.  

The post CyberPowerPC MSI Project Zero PBM Essential Prebuilt Gaming Desktop Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Redragon is one of the peripheral vendors out there that caters to the budget segment of the market, and their offerings are seen as a great value in terms of the quality and performance they bring to the table. The K719 PRO wireless keyboard is one of the more solid options from the company, which utilizes linear mint switches, features a dedicated TFT screen, and, more interestingly, comes with a great design language, so let's dive into the review. Redragon K719 PRO Wireless Gaming Keyboard: Tri-Mode Connectivity With Decent Typing Experience Before we dive into the hands-on review, let's discuss […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/redragon-k719-pro-wireless-gaming-keyboard-review/

Regular readers will know I absolutely love a GPU revisit, so that is exactly what we are doing today! In this content piece, sponsored by Gigabyte, we’re finding out just how far AMD’s fastest RDNA GPUs have come since their launch back in 2019 – taking both the 5700 and 5700 XT and stacking them up against three of the latest RDNA 4-based Gigabyte cards. Is it finally time to upgrade if you’re still hanging onto one of the OG RDNA models? Let’s find out.

In this video we pit the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 16G, Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G and Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G against the RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT to see exactly how far things have come since RDNA 1 launched in mid-2019. We test a variety of games, including AAA and competitive titles, while also looking at ray tracing performance and FSR 4 upscaling.

00:00 Intro
00:55 Meet the Gigabyte cards
01:47 Test setup
02:37 COD Black Ops 6
04:01 Cyberpunk 2077
05:19 Forza Horizon 5
06:48 Horizon Forbidden West
08:07 Kingdom Come Deliverance II
09:23 Marvel Rivals
10:31 Starfield
11:39 Star Wars Jedi Survivor
12:42 Ray tracing vs RDNA 2
14:27 FSR 4
15:11 Closing thoughts

To learn more about the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 16G click HERE. It's currently listed for £360 on OCUK HERE.

To learn more about the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G click HERE. It's currently listed for £540 on OCUK HERE.

To learn more about the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G click HERE. It's currently listed for £630 on OCUK HERE.

KitGuru says: Be sure to watch the video for the full performance comparison, and thanks to Gigabyte for sponsoring this GPU revisit.

The post RX 5700 XT Revisit: Gaming Benchmarks vs RDNA 4 first appeared on KitGuru.

Sucker Punch's eleventh game since its foundation, Ghost of Yōtei, launches in a week on PlayStation 5. It's been well over five years since the launch of Ghost of Tsushima, the longest time span between Sucker Punch games in the studio's history, but that's no big surprise considering that the development of triple-A games continues to get longer and more challenging. Make no mistake: Ghost of Yōtei is absolutely a triple-A game at its core, and it couldn't be any different given the enormous success of its predecessor (which I loved, as you might recall). Ghost of Tsushima wasn't just […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/ghost-of-yotei-exploring-the-price-of-vengeance-in-17th-century-ezo/

Today we take a look at DeepCool's GamerStorm PN1000M power supply, priced at 129.99 euros in Europe. They have both white and black versions of the units for sale in various parts of the world. This Cybenetics Gold-rated unit is fully modular and is offered in various capacities. It is also ATX 3.1 compliant and ships with fluid dynamic bearing fans.

OEM partner for these power supplies is CWT, a company who in recent years has stepped up their game significantly in my opinion. Some of their units are performing very well indeed in various categories. This unit today is based on their CSZ platform.

DeepCool have prices for various models in this range – availability is limited to certain countries right now.

Watts	MSRP (EURO)
PN650M	89.99
PN750M	99.99
PN850M	109.99
PN1000M	129.99
PN1200M	149.99

Product Specifications:

• Fully modular
• ATX v3.1 Compliant
• Cybenetics Gold and 80 Plus Gold Certified.
• 10-Year warranty
• 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan

The post DeepCool GamerStorm PN1000M ATX v3.1 PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.