Today we're taking a look at the Cougar MX600 Max RGB, an airflow-focused mid-tower PC case designed for high-performance gaming systems. It comes equipped with two 200mm ARGB PWM front fans, supports graphics cards up to 400mm long, 360mm radiators in the top panel, and offers extensive compatibility for modern hardware. Cougar has also included features like a dual-curve airflow ramp, a modular front I/O panel and a detachable top cover to make building and maintenance easier. In this review, we'll find out if those features combine to make the MX600 Max RGB a case that's worth buying…

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:55 Key details, pricing
01:49 Removing side panels
03:44 Front of the case
05:16 Internals – fan/rad support
07:09 Motherboard support
08:55 Cable management features + rear
10:04 Right-hand side area
13:13 Accessories + extras
14:00 Thermals + noise
16:31 Smoke visualisation
16:59 Closing thoughts

Features:

• Airflow-First Design – The MX600 Max comes equipped with two huge 200mm ARGB PWM front fans and a 120mm ARGB PWM rear fan. Combined with Cougar's dual-curve airflow ramp and heavily ventilated front panel, designed to deliver airflow directly to the system's critical areas.
• Excellent Hardware Compatibility – The MX600 Max supports graphics cards up to 400mm long, 360mm radiators in the roof, CPU coolers up to 170mm tall and Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX and ATX motherboards, giving you plenty of flexibility for a high-end build.
• Designed to Make Building Easier – The fully detachable top cover simplifies radiator and fan installation while the modular front I/O panel can be mounted at the top or bottom of the case to suit your setup. Removable dust filters also make system maintenance much easier.

Specifications:

• Case Type: Mid Tower
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 235 x 514 x 482 (mm)
• Materials: Steel, Plastic, Tempered Glass
• Motherboard Support: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX
• Reverse Connector motherboard support: Yes
• Expansion Slots: 7
• Storage bays: 5” x 1, 2.5” x 4
• Max GPU Length: 400mm
• Max CPU Cooler Height: 170mm
• PSU Type: ATX up to 200mm
• Cable Routing Space: 35mm (Behind motherboard tray)
• Supplied Fans: 2 x 200mm (Front) 1 x 120mm (Rear)
• Fan Support: 120mm x 3 / 140mm x 2 (Top), 200mm x 2 (Front), 3 x 120mm with shroud reomved (R/H Side), 1 x 120mm (Rear), 120mm x 2 (Bottom)
• Radiator Support: 360mm / 280mm / 240mm (Top)
• Dust Filters: Front, Top, R/H Side, Bottom, PSU Shroud
• Front I/O: USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C x 1, USB 3.0 Type-A x 2, 4 Pole Headset Audio Jack x 1, RGB Button
• LCD Screen: N/A

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 represents 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 – Gigabyte X870 Aorus Stealth ICE
• Graphics Card – MSI RTX 5080 Gaming Trio OC White
• Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB Modules) Corsair Dominator Titanium DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIE Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – Montech HyperFlow Digital 360
• Power Supply – Seasonic Focus GX1000 ATX3 Fully Modular 80+ Gold
• Case fans – Stock
• Chassis – Cougar MX600 Max RGB
• Operating System – Windows 11 24H2

Thermal Performance Overview

We test case thermals using a 360mm AIO as exhaust at the top and with the case in several different fan configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with the top 360mm AIO cooler, 2 x 200m front intake fans, a single 120mm rear exhaust fan and with all case panels installed.

Thermal performance from the Cougar MX600 Max is very impressive overall. In its default configuration the case keeps both the CPU and GPU temperature under control at 55°C over ambient, showing that the pre-installed airflow setup is well optimised.

Removing the front and top panels and dust filters, produces no meaningful improvement, which tells us those panels cause very little restriction to airflow. The biggest improvement however, comes from fitting optional floor intake fans which reduce GPU temperature by 3°C compared to the default setup, while maintaining the same CPU temperature. This setup is ideal for optimising GPU performance.

Noise Output

Noise performance from the Cougar MX600 Max is also quite impressive. In its default configuration, the system reaches 47dBA under full load, which is a reasonable result given the large 200mm front intake fans and included cooling setup. Interestingly, removing the tempered glass side panel and adding floor intake drops noise output by 3dBA to 44dBA,  showing that the extra GPU cooling also reduces GPU fan speed and noise.

Removing the front panel, along with the front and top dust filter makes no difference to noise levels compared with the default setup, which shows that Cougar has done a good job optimising airflow through the chassis. The only configuration that increases noise is removing the front air scoop and adding side intake fans, which raises noise output to 49 dBA while offering no real thermal advantage.

Closing Thoughts

The Cougar MX600 Max is a very easy case to recommend. It does exactly what its design to do, offering high airflow and extensive hardware compatibility without overcomplicating the design. The pair of pre-installed 200mm PWM ARGB intake fans, combined with the mesh front panel, provide excellent cooling performance straight out of the box. There's very little to be gained from removing panels or filters, which indicates that Cougar has optimised the airflow well. If you're looking to optimise GPU cooling, fitting PSU shroud intake fans can knock a few degrees from GPU temperatures, but the gains are relatively small as the default cooling setup is already effective.

Hardware compatibility is another strong point. It supports graphics cards up to 400mm long, 360mm radiators in the roof, tall air coolers, back-connect motherboards and loads of 2.5” storage, so there's very little this case won't accommodate. Building inside the MX600 Max is straightforward too; there's loads of space to work, generous cable-routing cut-outs, plenty of clearance behind the motherboard tray and integrated Velcro straps helping to keep cables managed and looking tidy. The overall build quality is solid throughout which gives the MX600 Max a premium feel despite its competitive pricing.

There are only a couple of minor negative points to consider before buying. The first is the size of the chassis, it is a mid-tower, but feels bulky compared with some ATX cases that offer similar hardware support. It may not be ideal in terms of size to run it on a desktop space. The second is radiator support at the front of the case. Cougar has prioritised the large 200mm intake fans, which means there's no option to install a front-mounted radiator. For most users this won't matter, particularly given the excellent top-mounted 360mm radiator support, but it does reduce options for custom cooling.

Overall, the Cougar MX600 Max is an excellent airflow-focused chassis that gets the basics right. It combines solid thermal performance, sensible acoustics, good hardware compatibility, an easy building experience and great build quality with a sensible MSRP. Unless you specifically need front radiator support or a more compact chassis, the MX600 Max is easy to recommend and deserves to be considered alongside some of the best airflow cases in its price bracket.

Pros: 

• Lots of space to work with.
• Great thermals and low noise.
• Included fan/rgb hub.
• Good price.

Cons:

• A little large for a mid tower.
• No front radiator support.

KitGuru says: Unless you specifically need front radiator support or more compact dimensions, the Cougar MX600 Max is a serious contender if you're looking for a well-built, high-airflow chassis.

The post Cougar MX600 Max RGB Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.

It's been four years since the AMD AM5 motherboard platform and the 600-series motherboards launched. Since its launch, the platform has seen the launch of several CPUs in the Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, and Ryzen 9000 families. While the 600-series motherboards provide great features & compatibility with newer Zen 5 CPUs, motherboard makers are always looking to enhance user experiences through the latest technologies, so AMD has introduced a new chipset line called the 800-series. AMD also introduced both X870 and B850 series chipsets for high-end and mainstream AM5 motherboards. Both of these chips provide brand-new designs and brand-new features […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/gigabyte-b850-aorus-elite-x3d-motherboard-review/

The Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless SD enters the market at £119, attempting to bridge the gap between an ergonomic gaming mouse and a productivity powerhouse. Its standout feature is a dedicated Stream Deck button that summons a virtual Stream Deck directly to your screen, allowing for endless macro customization. But does cramming streamer-focused software features into a heavy, ergonomic shell make for a compelling daily driver, or does it compromise the fundamental gaming experience?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:59 Stream Deck button
02:10 Compromises for the button?
04:15 Spec discussion + wireless performance
05:23 Clicks + soundtest
07:18 Software – web hub
08:49 Battery life
09:34 Coating + textured sides
10:25 Closing thoughts
11:38 Post-edit Update!

Specifications:

• Weight: 89g official specification (Weighed at 92g).
• Connectivity: Wireless via USB Dongle (Extender included).
• Polling Rate: Up to 8000Hz (1000Hz recommended).
• Scroll Wheel: Smooth, tactile, with side-to-side scrolling.
• Special Features: Dedicated Elgato virtual Stream Deck button.
• Software: Configurable via Corsair Web UI or iCue desktop app.
• Price: £119.

Closing Thoughts

The Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless is a niche product that struggles to balance its unique software capabilities with its physical hardware. The integration of the virtual Stream Deck is interesting but only to a select few. Having a highly customizable macro pad pop up on your screen at the press of a conveniently located thumb button can be a productivity dream, however accommodating this feature seems to have compromised the core gaming experience. At 92 grams, it feels heavy and fatiguing for competitive play, completely lacking the agility found in modern more lightweight alternatives.

Furthermore, the fundamental physical interactions are a mixed bag. While the scroll wheel is fantastic and the side buttons feel great, the main clicks suffer from significant pre- and post-travel, making them feel hollow and sluggish. Add in a slippery rubberized side coating, and the £119 price tag becomes a little hard to justify.

If you value aim and agility, there are much better mice on the market; if you desperately need Elgato macros, you are likely better off buying a physical Stream Deck or leaving the macros and shortcuts to your keyboard.

You can buy the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless SD for £119 HERE.

Pros:

• The Elgato button integration offers incredibly powerful, customizable virtual macros.
• The scroll wheel is excellent, featuring smooth tactility and side-to-side scrolling.
• Exceptional battery life that easily lasts over a week of heavy use.
• Corsair is pushing towards a Web UI, eliminating the strict need to install iCue for basic functions.

Cons:

• At 92g, it is too heavy and fatiguing for competitive gaming.
• Main clicks feel hollow and sluggish with noticeable pre- and post-travel.
• The side coating is slippery and provides poor grip with even a little sweat.
• Sub-par dongle range requires the use of the included extender cable right next to the mouse for reliable performance.

KitGuru says: The Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless offers clever Elgato Stream Deck integration, but its heavy weight, hollow clicks, and slippery coating make it a tough sell for serious gamers.

The post Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless SD Mouse Review first appeared on KitGuru.

GMKtec has been making Mini PCs for years now. They are based out of the technology hub of Shenzhen, China, and have maintained strategic partnerships with AMD, Intel & Microsoft, and currently offer a wide array of solutions, all the way from entry-level to enthusiast-grade designs based on mobility chips from AMD & Intel. The latest offering from GMKtec that targets the high-end segment with Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 SoCs. For this, GMKtec is introducing its EVO T2S, which is a follow-up to the EVO T1 we tested last year with the Core Ultra 9 285H chip. The new […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/gmktec-nucbox-evo-t2s-intel-core-ultra-x7-358h-mini-pc-review/

Although Game Freak is primarily known as the developer of the Pokémon series, the Japanese developer has worked on other projects unrelated to the massively popular franchise. None of them became truly successful, as they were relatively minor projects compared to the behemoth that is the Pokémon franchise. As the developer's history outside of the Pokémon franchise is not well known, many were surprised when Beast of Reincarnation was announced back in 2023 as Project Bloom. Although the Japanese developer only handled creative direction and the overall project management, leaving much of the actual development to external partners, Game Freak's name […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/beast-of-reincarnation-review-turn-based-meets-action-in-one-of-the-years-best-action-rpgs/

G.Skill has sent us two kits of their new Trident Z5 NeoX RGB DDR5 memory that features AMD EXPO Ultra Low Latency technology. The claim is that we will see 4% improvement in performance with absolutely no work required. Naturally those were claims we simply had to check.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:50 Setting the scene for EXPO
04:47 So what’s EXPO ULL?
06:58 Testing ULL…
09:04 Benchmark data
13:08 Gaming results
15:32 Pricing discussion
16:27 Closing thoughts

Key features

• Designed for AMD Ryzen desktop processors and the AMD AM5 platform, the Trident Z5 NeoX RGB series memory kits are engineered to achieve up to their rated speeds when the “AMD EXPO Technology: Featuring Ultra Low Latency” memory overclock profile is enabled in BIOS. The AMD EXPO ULL memory overclock profile includes G.Skill tuned sub-timings that deliver greater performance on supported hardware and BIOS. It is the ideal memory solution for PC enthusiasts to build a high performance AM5 platform for PC gaming or content creation.
• Extra Tuned Sub-Timings for Extra Performance Potential
  Going beyond memory frequency and primary latency timings, the Trident Z5 NeoX RGB series is engineered with optimised memory sub-timings to further improve latency and memory performance when AMD EXPO ULL profile is enabled. Enabled by “AMD EXPO Technology: Featuring Ultra Low Latency”, G.SKILL is able to fine-tune a broader range of memory parameters than before, unlocking additional performance potential for gaming, content creation, and memory performance demanding computing workloads.
• Engineered for Performance and Quality
  Built with carefully screened DDR5 memory ICs, the Trident Z5 NeoX RGB memory kit is rigorously validated to ensure exceptional performance, quality, and stability on supported hardware configurations for PC gamers, enthusiasts, and performance-focused PC users.
• Experience Extreme Performance of AM5 Systems
  The Trident Z5 NeoX RGB is optimised to complement modern AMD Ryzen desktop processors. Combined with optimised overclock timings in the AMD EXPO ULL memory overclock profile, this memory kit is designed to extract extreme performance from AMD AM5 platforms.

Watch our video on YouTube at 2160p HERE

Specification:

• Heat Sink Colour: Black, White
• SPD Speed: 4800MT/s
• SPD CAS Latencies: 40-40-40-77
• SPD Voltage: 1.1V
• Test Speed: 6000MT/s
• Test CAS Latencies: 30-38-38-32
• Module size: 16GB
• Packaging: 16GBx2
• Operating voltage: 1.35V
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

Performance and Overclocking

Test system

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and 9850X3D
• Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
• Memory:
  • 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 CL28
  • 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX RGB DDR5-6000 CL30
  • 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX RGB DDR5-6000 CL36
  • 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo RGB DDR5-8000 CL38
• Graphics card: PowerColor RX 9070 XT Red Devil 16GB
• CPU cooler: Phanteks Glacier One 360D30
• SSD: 1TB Crucial T700 Gen 5 M.2 NVMe
• Power Supply: Antec Signature 2200
• OS: Windows 11 25 H2

Geekbench 6.7 Multi Core

In Geekbench 6.7 Multi Core the two blue bars are for Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the five yellow bars are Ryzen 7 9700X. We can clearly see that EXPO ULL gives a small advantage over regular EXPO settings.

AIDA64 Memory Copy 

The AIDA64 Memory Copy shows EXPO ULL running well on the G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX RGB kits.

Assassin's Creed Mirage at 1440p

In Assassin's Creed Mirage at 1440p we can plainly see that EXPO ULL has minimal benefit for a Ryzen 3D CPU and delivers around 3% boost for a regular Ryzen 7 CPU.

Closing Thoughts

AMD claims that EXPO Ultra Low Latency will deliver small benefits over regular EXPO, and that lines up perfectly with our own findings. The inner workings of EXPO ULL are completely invisible to the end user and place the burden on the motherboard companies who have to carry out more research while they are developing their BIOS files, which we consider to be excellent news for the customer.

The snag, obviously, is the current outrageous cost of DDR5 memory. There is very little chance you are considering a memory upgrade for your PC on your existing set-up. This means you are only likely to encounter EXPO ULL when you either build a new PC or carry out an extensive upgrade, perhaps when AMD launches Zen 6 early in 2027.

Pros:

• EXPO ULL gives a useful boost over regular EXPO
• One click to enable – the BIOS does all the work
• Rock solid stability

Cons:

• Buying any DDR5 memory at present is a grim experience
• 3D Ryzen CPUs have less to gain than regular CPUs

KitGuru says: G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX RGB gives us a clear and welcome view of AMD EXPO ULL technology.

The post G.Skill Trident Z5 NeoX w/ EXPO ULL! first appeared on KitGuru.

The AULA AG60 Pro is a compact 60% gaming keyboard built around magnetic switches, bringing features like adjustable actuation, rapid trigger and deep customisation to a much lower price point than we typically see. On top of that, it pairs those gaming-focused features with a full CNC aluminium chassis, giving it a surprisingly premium feel considering the $160 asking price. The question is, does it actually deliver where it matters in real-world use, or are there compromises hiding beneath the surface?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:16 Pricing discussion
02:01 Design impressions
03:34 Semi-transparent caps + RGB
04:26 Keycaps, switches, stabilisers
05:59 The soundtest!
06:25 Build quality
07:12 Gaming performance
09:23 Web control interface
10:29 Closing thoughts

Specifications

The post AULA AG60 Pro Keyboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we are checking out the CyberPowerPC Infinity U7 Plus, a gaming prebuilt that comes with Intel’s 270K Plus CPU, an RTX 5070 Ti and 32GB of DDR5. What makes this interesting, though, is that it’s priced at £2099 – the exact same figure as the last CyberPower system we reviewed, but that only came with an RTX 5070… so how has CyberPower done it? We’re going to take a close look at this system and find out…

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:47 Recapping our last CyberPower review
01:41 New MA-01 chassis
02:18 CPU, AIO, memory
03:18 SSD + GPU
04:19 Mobo, PSU + build
05:16 CPU, GPU behaviour
06:27 Noise and thermal imaging camera
07:03 CPU + system benchmarks
07:27 Gaming benchmarks: 5070 Ti vs 5070
10:22 4K gaming performance
12:25 Closing thoughts

• Special offers: Norton 360 VPN & Security for Gamers (1-year licence), Treeapp tree planting contribution
• Case: CyberPowerPC MA-01 Mid-Tower Gaming Case (Steel Gray, includes 6x ARGB 120mm fans)
• Processor (CPU): Intel® Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (24 cores: 8P up to 5.50GHz, 16E up to 4.70GHz, 125W TDP, 40MB cache, Intel Graphics)
• CPU promotion: Intel 26Q2-05 Spring Game Bundle (digital)
• CPU cooling: CyberPowerPC Elite ARGB 360mm AIO liquid cooler (black)
• Cooling upgrades: Thermal Grizzly premium thermal paste
• Motherboard: MSI PRO Z890-S WiFi (ATX, PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2, 3x M.2)
• Freebies: Intel 26Q2-10 Motherboard Game Bundle
• Memory (RAM): 32GB DDR5 5600MT/s (2x16GB)
• Graphics card (GPU): NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB
• Power supply: Cooler Master Elite 850W 80+ Gold fully modular
• Primary storage: 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
• Sound: High-definition onboard audio
• Bluetooth: USB Bluetooth dongle
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home (no recovery media)
• Fast track service: Ready to ship same business day if order confirmed by 2PM
• Warranty: 5 years labour, 2 years parts, 12 months collect & return, lifetime technical support

You can buy the Infinity U7 Plus from CyberPowerPC for £2099 HERE.

Pros

• Cheaper than building it yourself.
• Clean chassis with knob-controlled RGB.
• Great for 1440p or 4K gaming.
• RTX 5070 Ti offers peace of mind with its 16GB framebuffer.
• Runs quiet and cool.
• Tidy cable management on front and back.

Cons

• Memory isn't the fastest at DDR5-5600 CL40.

KitGuru says: It's very hard to argue with the spec on offer from the Infinity U7 Plus, and the fact that it's cheaper to buy this than build an equivalent system yourself makes it a bit of a no-brainer.

The post CyberPowerPC Infinity U7 Plus Review (270K Plus + 5070 Ti) first appeared on KitGuru.

I love OLED displays, and I am not shy to say they are the future. It's hard not to recommend an OLED display, especially when they are now abundant in the market. While major monitor makers are prioritizing high refresh rates, the latest OLED technologies, better HDR performance, and higher resolutions on conventional OLED monitors, Uperfect is trying to build the perfect catalog featuring only portable displays. I have been testing Uperfect monitors for a while now, and almost every display has impressed me. I particularly loved the UColor O2 16-inch OLED display, which is one of the brightest OLED […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/uperfect-gr14bu-portable-oled-touchscreen-monitor-review/

Today we're taking a look at the new Corsair Frame 5000D Wood RS PC case. At first glance it might just look like the regular Frame 5000D with a fancy wooden front, but Corsair has actually made a few interesting changes under the hood. Along with the solid wood front panel, you get a pair of huge 200mm intake fans, a full-length tempered glass side panel, a more compact PSU shroud, and an updated front I/O layout with three USB Type-C ports. So, is this just a cosmetic refresh, or has Corsair really improved one of its flagship cases? Let's find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:50 Pricing and Info
03:00 Front I/O
03:25 Features / Removing panels
04:35 Hardware / Cooling Support
06:01 Inside the Case / Options
07:21 Air Cooler Support
07:38 GPU Support
08:07 Motherboard Support
09:09 Back of Case
10:17 Cable Routing / Drives
13:00 Floor of Case
13:38 Accessories
15:10 Testing Methodology
15:40 Thermal and Noise Performance
17:05 Closing Thoughts

Features:

• Real Wood, not Wood-effect – The standout feature of the Frame 5000D Wood RS is the new FSC-certified solid wood front panel. It gives the FRAME 5000D a much warmer, more premium look while still allowing plenty of airflow through the front of the chassis.
• Big Fans, Low Noise – The original 140mm intake fans are swapped for a pair of massive 200mm RS200 fans that can shift plenty of air at lower RPM, keeping cooling performance high and noise low.
• Cleaner Layout Inside and Out – A full-length tempered glass side panel, a more compact PSU shroud and updated front I/O with all USB Type-C connectivity all help modernise the Frame 5000D, giving you a better view of your hardware and a more up-to-date feature set.

Specifications:

• Case Type: Full Tower
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 542 x 250 x 556mm
• Materials: Steel, Glass, Wood, Plastic
• Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX
• Reverse-connector motherboard support: Yes
• Expansion Slots: 8 x Horizontal / 3 x vertical
• Storage bays: 3.5” x 1, 2.5” x 4
• Max GPU Length: 425mm (w/fans)
• Max CPU Cooler Height: 175mm
• PSU Type: ATX
• Cable Routing Space:
• Supplied Fans: 2X RS200, 1x RS140 pre-installed
• Fan Support: 3 x 120mm,3 x 140mm (Top), 2 x 200mm, 3 x 120mm, 3 x 140mm (Front), 3 x 120mm, 3 x 140mm  (R/H Side), 1 x 120mm, 1 x 140mm  (Rear), 1 x 120mm (Bottom)
• Radiator Support: 420mm 360mm 280mm 240mm (Top), 420mm 360mm 280mm 240mm (Front), 420mm 360mm 280mm 240mm (R/H Side), 140mm 120mm  (Rear)
• Dust Filters: Front, bottom, right side
• Font I/O: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (5Gb/s), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (20Gb/s), PWR Button, Combo Mic/Headphone Jack
• LCD Screen: N/A

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 represents 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 MEG X870 Godlike X
• Graphics Card – Gigabyte RTX 5080 Gaming OC
• Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIE Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – Corsair Nautilus 360 RS ARGB AIO
• Power Supply – Corsair RM1200x Shift
• Case fans – Stock + Noctua A14x25 G2 for thermal testing
• Chassis – Corsair Frame 5000D Wood RS
• Operating System – Windows 11 24H2

Thermal Performance Overview

We test case thermals using a 360mm AIO as exhaust at the top and with the case in several different fan configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with the top 360mm AIO cooler, 2 x 200mm front intake fans and a single 140mm rear exhaust fan and with all case panels installed.

Thermal performance is about as good as you could expect for from a case like this. In the default configuration we see the CPU steady-state average at 55°C over ambient while the GPU is at 52°C . Adding extra side or floor intake fans doesn’t really change temperatures, just one or two degrees C drop on the GPU, suggesting the stock airflow is already well optimised.

Removing the tempered glass side panel makes almost no difference at all, shaving just a single degree off the CPU while leaving GPU temperatures unchanged. In other words, Corsair's pair of 200mm front intake fans are doing exactly what they're supposed to, delivering plenty of airflow straight out of the box without the need for additional fans or a change of configuration.

Noise Output

Noise follows a similar path to thermal performance; in this test, the case fans are fixed at low RPM, so they are virtually silent. The only noise comes from the CPU cooler and GPU fans. Since there isn't a massive change in temperature with the case in either configuration, the noise output stays pretty consistent.

Across all configurations, the idle noise is essentially identical; the only drop in load noise occurs with the glass side removed, as the CPU and GPU temperatures are at their lowest, but the drop in noise is just 1dBA, which is hardly noticeable in real-world situations. So, in terms of thermal performance, if you keep the case fan speed to a sensible level, noise is very well optimised out of the box.

Closing Thoughts

The Frame 5000D Wood RS is a worthy refresh of the original Corsair Frame 5000D. The addition of a real wood front panel gives it a much more premium look without sacrificing airflow, making it stand out from the mesh and tempered glass cases currently on the market. It feels like a more mature design, and the option of Black/Walnut or White/Oak should appeal to anyone looking to build a PC with either a black or white theme.

Performance is equally impressive. The pair of 200mm front intake fans provide excellent airflow while running at relatively low speeds, resulting in excellent cooling performance without generating excessive noise. Our testing showed little to be gained from removing panels or adding extra intake fans, which tells you Corsair has done a solid job of optimising the stock airflow configuration straight out of the box.

That said, the build experience isn't quite as polished as the cooling performance. Installing the motherboard proved more awkward than expected, with the motherboard backplate making it difficult to line everything up. Graphics card installation also felt unnecessarily fiddly, as the opening around the PCIe slots doesn't leave much room to manoeuvre cards into position, particularly if your motherboard has chunky rear-mounted heatsinks around the M.2 area. Neither issue is a deal-breaker, but they're the sort of frustrations you don't expect from a case at this price point.

Overall though, the positives outweigh the negatives. The Frame 5000D Wood RS looks great, it delivers excellent thermal performance and quiet operation, and retains all the flexibility of Corsair's modular Frame ecosystem. The installation quirks knock points off what is otherwise a very capable chassis. So if the mature aesthetics, airflow and upgradeability are your thing, this should be on your parts list for your next build, unless you need something smaller, the Frame 4000D Wood is your perfect alternative.

The Corsair Frame 5000D Wood RS is available to purchase now from Scan priced at £159.95 HERE.

Pros: 

• Big front fans keep the system cool and quiet with great airflow.
• Wood front gives a more premium look.
• Lots of space for hardware and cooling.

Cons:

• Motherboards with backplates can be difficult to install.
• Graphics cards can be tight to get into the PCIe slot.
• Quite large for a basic gaming system.

KitGuru says: Corsair has made some worthy changes to the Frame 5000D, which means it still offers great airflow and cooling but now with premium looks too!

The post Corsair Frame 5000D Wood RS Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we are taking a look at one of the latest power supplies to join MSI's PLS range, the MAG A1200PLS, a 1200W Platinum-rated unit. To address ongoing concerns surrounding the 12V-2×6 power connector, MSI has incorporated its new GPU Safeguard technology, which monitors the connector for abnormal current conditions and provides an immediate audible warning if an issue is detected. The same buzzer system also monitors the cooling fan and will alert the user should a fan failure occur.

The MAG A1200PLS is a fully modular unit and is currently on sale in the UK for around £180 inc vat.

The post MSI MAG A1200PLS Platinum PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.

The Wooting 60HE V2 is one of the most talked-about hall effect keyboards on the market, and for good reason. Built around magnetic switches and packed with features like rapid trigger, adjustable actuation and SOCD, it’s aimed squarely at competitive gamers. But with a price tag to match its reputation, does it actually deliver where it matters?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:20 Key info + pricing
02:24 Design
04:33 Let’s talk gaming features
07:10 Internals + DIY elements
08:25 Soundtest
09:39 Wootility web software
11:48 Closing thoughts

Specifications

The post Wooting 60HE V2 Keyboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo has typically taken a grab-bag approach with the Splatoon franchise, mixing different modes of gameplay together into a single package -- single-player, PvP multiplayer, co-op base defense, and more -- but with the upcoming Splatoon Raiders, they're taking more of a focused approach. This spinoff is primarily a single-player adventure (although there is the option to play co-op) that zeroes in on combat and a looter-shooter-style progression system. Is Splatoon Raiders a successful expansion of this fishy series? Or has Nintendo gone and painted themselves into a corner? Swim on to find out... Splatoon Raiders casts players as the […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/splatoon-raiders/

Today we're taking a break from high-end OLED and mini LED monitors to focus on something more affordable. But despite retailing for just £179 here in the UK, AOC's Q27G4ZR has an impressive spec sheet, packing in a 27in IPS panel with a 1440p resolution and 260Hz refresh rate, alongside G-Sync Compatible certification and a claimed 1ms response time. Let's find out exactly how good this screen really is…

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:51 Key details
01:24 Design + ergonomics
02:10 Connectivity options (are very budget)
02:51 OSD navigation
03:53 Factory calibration analysis
05:59 sRGB mode + calibration
07:15 Response time testing
09:13 Motion clarity (BlurBusters UFO)
09:53 Real-world gaming experience
11:09 Closing thoughts

If the spec and price of the AOC Q27G4ZR sound familiar, it certainly has a number of similarities when compared to the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA that we reviewed at the end of last year, and it's an almost certainty that both screens are using the same panel.

Still, we know from experience that's no guarantee of similar performance, so let's take a closer look and find out if the Q27G4ZR is worth buying.

Specification:

• Screen size: 27.0″ / 68.58 cm
• Flat / Curved: Flat
• Panel treatment: Antiglare (AG)
• Pixel pitch: 0.2331 mm
• Pixels per inch: 108.8
• Panel resolution: 2560 x 1440
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Panel type: Fast IPS
• Backlight type: WLED
• Max refresh rate: 260Hz OC / 240Hz native
• Response time (GtG): 1 ms
• Response time (MPRT): 0.3 ms
• Static contrast ratio: 1000:1
• Dynamic contrast ratio: 80M:1
• Viewing angle (CR10): 178 / 178
• Display colours: 16.7 Million
• Brightness: 400 cd/m²
• Sync technology (VRR): Adaptive Sync
• NVIDIA G-SYNC: NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible
• HDMI: HDMI 2.0 x 2
• DisplayPort: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1
• Audio output: Headphone out (3.5mm)
• Digital signal frequency (vertical): HDMI 48–144Hz / DP 48–260Hz
• Digital signal frequency (horizontal): HDMI 30k–230kHz / DP 30k–400kHz
• HDR: VESA Certified DisplayHDR 400
• Blue light technology: Low Blue Mode
• Colour space (sRGB) CIE 1976: 123.6%
• Colour space (DCI-P3) CIE 1976: 95.2%
• Colour space (Adobe RGB) CIE 1976: 91.4%
• Flicker-free: Flicker Free
• Bezel colour (front): Black
• Cabinet colour (backside): Black, Red
• Cabinet finishing (backside): Matt
• Removable stand: Yes
• Speaker power: 2 W x 2
• Kensington lock: Yes
• VESA wallmount: 100 x 100
• Tilt: -3° ±2° ~ 21° ±2°
• Height adjust: 130 mm
• Swivel: -28° ±2° ~ 28° ±2°
• Pivot: -90° ±2° ~ 90° ±2°

The post AOC Q27G4ZR Review (Budget 1440p/260Hz) first appeared on KitGuru.

I absolutely love world firsts. Even more than that, I love seeing genuine technological innovation. Not long ago, we introduced the Longsys Gen4 mSSD, and we were fortunate enough to receive the drive directly from Longsys Chairman Huabo Cai, giving us the opportunity to publish what turned out to be an unexpected world exclusive. That …

The post Longsys Gen5 2TB mSSD Review – 13GB/s Speed & up to 8TB Capacity in a 25 Cent Piece Sized Storage Device appeared first on The SSD Review.

Remarkable's Paper Pure replaces Remarkable 2, and it is quite good.

AMD's AM5 platform has been a solid entry, featuring some of the best chips on the market and a wide variety of entry-level and high-end options to select from. Despite the AM5 launch, AMD was still focusing on releasing the more mainstream and budget-tier solutions for the older AM4 socket, which still holds the majority share, but the company has recently started to launch affordable CPU options in its AM5 segment. The Ryzen 5 7600X was one such example. But with recent component price hikes, it has become even more vital to support older lineups. The commitment to AM4 remains […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/amd-ryzen-7-7700x3d-4-5-ghz-3d-v-cache-cpu-review-the-budget-x3d-champ-for-am5/

When AMD announced the Ryzen 7 7700X3D at Computex 2026 we were baffled. This CPU uses Zen 4 technology that launched early in 2022 and is slightly slower than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D that we reviewed in 2023. Furthermore it requires the use of DDR5 memory which currently sells for crazy high prices and that makes the idea of saving a small amount of money on your CPU fairly pointless. Wait until the end of the video and you will find there is a real kick in the pants.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:56 Leo's Analysis on this launch
03:29 Moving from to Ryzen 7 2700X to 5800X3D?
08:20 7700X3D Analysis
10:22 Adding the 7800X3D
11:37 Adding the 9850X3D
13:05 Speed Run
13:48 Launch Pricing Mess and Verdict

Performance and Testing

Test systems:
CPU: Ryzen 7 2700X, Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard: Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus
Memory: 16GB G.Skill FlareX DDR4-3200
Graphics: Gigabyte RTX 2060 Super 8GB

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X3D, Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 7 9850X3D
Motherboard: Asus ProArt B850-Creator WiFi Neo
Memory: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000

Common parts:
CPU cooler: Phanteks Glacier One 360
Graphics card: PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
Power supply: Antec Signature 2200W

Cinebench 2026 Multi Core

In Cinebench 2026 Multi Core we see the Ryzen 7 7700X3D performs fairly poorly, exactly as we would expect. This is a relatively weak 8-core CPU that relies on 3D V-Cache to give decent gaming performance, however that technology provides no help in Cinebench.

Far Cry 6 at 1080p

Far Cry 6 at 1080p is an interesting test for the Ryzen 7 7700X3D as it shows the AM5 platform has a distinct advantage over AM4 in gaming. The result is that this weak Zen 4 CPU performs well, despite its obvious limitations.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p shows a significant gap between each of the CPUs and an impressive 203fps on average for the Ryzen 7 7700X3D.

Closing Thoughts

AMD's launch in 2026 of the Ryzen 7 7700X3D with Zen 4 technology and 1st Gen 3D V-Cache makes sense, provided you come at things from a specific direction.

Imagine you are building a new gaming PC and want to keep costs to a minimum while also keeping an eye of the upgrade path to Zen 6 and possibly to Zen 7. In that context a slow Zen 4 CPU with 3D technology could fill a particular niche.

The problem is money. If you are saving £30 or £40 on the CPU while spending an extra £250 on a kit of DDR5 memory things looks a bit bleak.

The wheels completely fell off this particular vehicle when AMD announced that Ryzen 7 7700X3D will go on sale at exactly the same price (£294.99 SEP) you currently pay for Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This is madness as it immediately renders the Ryzen 7 7700X3D as a pointless product.

You will be able to buy the Ryzen 7 7700X3D for £294.99.

Pros

• Decent gaming performance thanks to 3D V-Cache technology.
• There are heaps of Socket AM5 motherboards that are compatible with this CPU.
• This CPU offers an easy upgrade path to Zen 6 next year.

Cons

• The price makes no sense.
• DDR5 memory is horribly expensive.

KitGuru says: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D could be an interesting entry point to AM5 gaming, however their pricing strategy has mucked things up entirely.

The post AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D Review: Zen 4 in 2026?! first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in 2023, T-Force by TeamGroup introduced its first Gen5 SSD solution, the CARDEA Z540. Based on the Phison E26 controller, this SSD offered up to 12.4 GB/s speeds, making it a solid option back then. At the moment, there are plenty of Gen5 SSD controllers in the market, Phison has its new E28 and E31T, the SMI SM2508 is doing great, and InnoGrit, along with Samsung, has its own solutions offering really fast storage capabilities on NVMe products. TeamGroup has also streamlined its product family over the years, now leveraging the G-series branding in "GE", "GC", and "GA". The […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/team-group-t-force-ga-pro-gen5-2-tb-nvme-ssd-review-tuned-specs-for-entry-level-gen5-builders/