Tech News

  • Lexar Announces New Professional NM700 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe SSD

    Key Features:

    • High-speed PCIe Gen3x4 interface: 3500MB/s read and 2000MB/s write1 - NVMe 
    • M.2 2280 form factor
    • Get 6.5x the speed of a SATA-based SSD2
    • Ideal for high-intensive users
    • 3D NAND
    • Features LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check)
    • Shock and vibration resistant with no moving parts
    • Five-year limited warranty

    San Jose, USA, May 20, 2020 – Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, today announced the new Lexar® Professional NM700 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe SSD to its family line of SSD products.

    As the need for faster performance and uninterrupted application experiences increases, Lexar has developed a solution to keep videographers, photographers, and designers in the driver’s seat with speeds of up 3500MB/s read, and 2000MB/s write. The NM700 is supported by PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe and built with 3D NAND flash for higher capacity and more efficiency without unnecessary slowdowns.

    “The Lexar Professional NM700 allows our high-intensive users to experience improved performance with speeds that will keep them in front of any task. This new SSD solidifies our commitment to improving our SSD portfolio and meets the demands of our customers’ needs,” said Joel Boquiren, Director of Global Marketing. 

    Lexar® Professional NM700 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe SSD is available in EMEA and APAC this month at an MSRP of $79.99 USD (256 GB), $110.99 USD (512 GB), and $199.99 USD (1 TB).

    Lexar® Professional NM700 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe SSD is available in the US (Latin America) next month at an MSRP of $79.99 USD (256 GB), $110.99 USD (512 GB), and $199.99 USD (1 TB).

    1Up to 3500MB/s read transfer, write transfer speeds lower. Speeds based on internal testing. Actual performance may vary.

    2Comparison based on internal testing. Actual performance may vary.

    All Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing in the Lexar Quality Labs, facilities with more than 1,100 digital devices, to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability. For more information visit www.lexar.com

  • Intel Z490 and 10900K Launch Day

    Truth is I have a couple boards in the lab and at least one of them will get posted a little later today.  Until then check out some of these reviews from around the web.

    Z490 Motherboards
    MSI MEG Z490I Unify @ TechPowerUp
    ASRock Z490 Taichi @ TechPowerUp
    ASRock Z490 PG Velocita @ TechPowerUp
    ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-E Gaming @ TechPowerUp
    SUPERO Pro Gaming C9Z490-PGW Motherboard @ Funky Kit
    ASRock Z490 Steel Legend Motherboard @ Funky Kit

    And the Intel Core i9
    Core i5 10600K and Core i9 10900K  processors @ Guru3D
    Intel Core i9-10900K and i5-10600K @ LanOC Reviews
    Intel Core i9-10900K & i5-10600K Review: Comet Lake-S Benchmarks @ HotHardware
    Intel Core i5 10600K + Core i9 10900K Linux Performance Benchmarks @ Phoronix
    Intel Core i9-10900K and Core i5-10600K Review @ Vortez
    Intel Core i9-10900K Processor Review @ ThinkComputers.org

    Stay tuned for more!

  • MSI MEG Z490I Unify Preview @ TechPowerUp

    As hardware enthusasits we need to consider that there is hardware out there that doesn't fit our "mold" for the perfect component.  The motherboard might be too small to run all of the expansion cards you have. or the video card might not have a large enough VRM for the type of overclocking you want to do.

    However, just because the product doesn't fit your mold doesn't make it a waste of time.  For instance one of the most versitle motherboard platforms is the Mini ITX.  These boards are full featured, small and somewhat inexpensive.  They lack in memory support and.. can't run multiple expansion cards but generally have everything you need onboard.

    Kinda like this board from MSI.

    MSI has packed a lot of power into a small package with the MSI MEG Z490I Unify. Featuring a stealthy black aesthetic and a VRM config with 90 A power stages, the MSI MEG Z490I Unify could be a top choice for overclockers. Just how much can MSI stuff into a Mini-ITX footprint?

    Just imagine what you could do with 90 Amp power stages and enough plastic covers to build a sport bike!

  • Unlock the Full Potential of the New ROG Maximus XII Formula With EK VRM Bridge

    In the column of "cash grab" and "most worthless part ever" we have this.

    What we have is a distro block that connects the CrossChill VRM cooler found on the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula (Ideally already designed and sourced from EK) to an EK waterblock that you place on the CPU. 

    So, instead of connecting a pipe from your CrossChill to the CPU block you place this distro plate over the whole thing covering the EK block you just bought and the sleek VRM cooler you paid EXTRA for.  Not to mention the Maximus XII Formula is already a $500.00 USD motherboard so I have to ask "why?"

    ----- SNIP -----

    EK, the leading liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is ready to support the newly-released ROG Maximus XII Formula motherboard with a unique, patent-pending liquid distribution VRM Bridge. The EK-Quantum Momentum VRM Bridge ROG Maximus XII Formula D-RGB is a purpose-engineered connection piece that bridges the existing integrated CrossChill EK III VRM cooling and the CPU water block into a single entity. The ROG Maximus XII Formula is the carrier of the iconic Maximus motherboard series, while the EK-developed VRM Bridge solution will help bring out its full potential.

    The EK-Quantum Momentum VRM Bridge

    The EK-Quantum Momentum VRM Bridge is the only off-the-shelf solution that will bridge multiple liquid cooling components with a unique mounting mechanism. It is specially made for the ROG Maximus XII Formula, and upgrading from any previous motherboard will be easy since you’ll be able to reuse any of the existing Intel-socket-compatible EK-Quantum Velocity CPU water blocks.

    EK’s RnD team spent countless hours developing and perfecting this VRM Bridge solution. And since diamonds are made under pressure, after several iterations, the result was a second to none diamond-shaped product that impeccably integrates with aesthetics of the ROG Maximus XII Formula motherboard.

    ----- SNIP -----

    Now, I will give them this. the VRM bridge does look cool and I'm sure some idiots will be tripping over themselves to get one.

  • ASRock Z490 PG Velocita Preview @ TechPowerUp

    ACEEEEEEEE RoCK!!!!!

    I shouldn't embelish too much, they only ever sent over one motherboard for review and last time I talked to them at Computex they pimped their GPU Mining rigs.  *roll*

    However, this board is pretty cool, per the usual it looks like an ASUS Strix with different colors.  happy smile

    The ASRock Z490 PG Velocita is ready for Comet Lake with Socket LGA 1200. "Velocita" is ASRock's latest edition to the award-winning Phantom Gaming motherboard line and features 2.5 Gb/s LAN, PCIe 4.0 readiness, and an uncompromising VRM thermal solution with three fans.

    I am very impressed that they had a sample on hand to get photos so, props!

  • COLORFUL Launches iGame Z490 VULCAN X V20 and CVN Z490 GAMING PRO V20 Motherboards

    April 30th, 2020 Shenzhen, China – Colorful Technology Company Limited, professional manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards, all-in-one gaming and multimedia solutions and high-performance storage is proud to announce its latest line-up of Intel motherboards featuring the Intel Z490 chipset – the iGame Z490 VULCAN X V20 and CVN Z490 GAMING PRO V20 motherboards. Designed to support the latest 10th generation Intel Core processors, these motherboards feature the latest cutting-edge technologies to create the ultimate desktop PC for high-performance gaming and content creation.

    For faster networking, the latest COLORFUL Z490 series motherboards come equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard and 2.5 Gigabit LAN. The motherboards also sport new looks with futuristic styling with immersive RGB lighting. It also features advanced thermal technologies to keep the system running smooth and stable.

    iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20: Serious Power for Power Users
    The iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 packs serious firepower to knockout triple-A games and demanding content creation workloads with a combination of the latest technologies and cutting-edge thermal cooling. The iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 supports up to a 10-core 10th generation Intel Core processor and its 12+2 power phase design offers superb CPU overclocking for advanced users. Furthermore, it sports futuristic CyberPunk styling with immersive RGB lighting in multiple lighting zones. The motherboard has dual Turbo M.2 slots with Intel Optane Technology support for the latest and fastest NVMe drives. For lag-free gaming, the iGame Z490 Vulcan X V20 comes with an Intel 2.5 Gigabit LAN and an Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking. The iGame Z490 Vulcan X is the perfect choice for power users that wants to harness the full power of the 10th generation Intel Core processors.



    Key Features:
    14-phase I.P.P iGame Pure Power: 12+2 Power Phase design with 8+4-pin ATX power connectors to deliver superb overclocking stability to the 10th generation Intel Core processor.

    Silver Shark 2.0 Cooling Armor: Made using advanced Aluminum extrusion, the heatsink armor has an improved air fin design that increases contact area delivering improved heat dissipation.

    iGame Vacuum Heating Tube: COLORFUL’s advanced VRM MOSFET heatsink with improved heat transfer efficiency that effectively reduces power supply temperature in CPU overclocking.

    COLORFUL Advanced BIOS: Update BIOS without CPU and memory. The BIOS has a Simple Mode offering average users a user-friendly BIOS interface and an Advanced Mode offering full functionality that meets the needs of advanced users.

    Intel Networking: Latest Intel I225-V 2.5Gigabit LAN controller and Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless network card to deliver ultra-fast networking for gaming and content creation.

    CVN Z490 GAMING PRO V20: Ultimate Gaming Motherboard
    The CVN Z490 GAMING PRO V20 is the ultimate gaming motherboard sporting all the essential features for building a high-performance gaming PC. The motherboard supports up to a 10-core 10th generation Intel Core processor and comes with a 10-power phase design. The motherboard features the new iGame Dynamik Light software that controls addressable RGB lighting and synchronize with other supported ARGB devices. The CVN Z490 GAMING PRO V20 delivers immersive gaming audio with its Realtek HD audio chip with Hi-Fi Audio Chip Guard and Nichicon Audio Capacitor to deliver pure high-definition audio.

    Key Features:
    iGame Dynamik Light Software: Controls supported ARGB lighting connected on the three 5V 3-Pin ARGB and two 12V 4-Pin RGB connectors of the motherboard. Software offers full customization and synchronization with other supported ARGB devices.

    Hi-Fi Audio and Audio Golden Line: Realtek Audio Chip with Hi-Fi Audio Chip Guard to eliminate interference and deliver pure high-definition sound while Audio Golden Line effectively reduce high frequency noise.

    Nichicon Audio Capacitor: Premium-grade capacitors that delivers high quality sound.

  • ASUS Prime X299 Edition 30 @ TechPowerUp

    Motherboards have come a long way.  What was once just a PCB has transformed into industrial works of art with epic shrouds, integrated lights, strategic reinforcements and amazing performance.  The only thing missing is not knowing what will happen next.

    During Computex 2019 I got to see the ASUS X299 refresh motherboards and one of the highlights was their 30 year anniversary X299 Prime.  The board is an amazing work of art with just the right amount of everything.

    The ASUS Prime X299 Edition 30 is a celebration of 30 years of design innovation by one of the world's most prominent hardware manufacturers. Featuring active VRM cooling, 16 Vcore power stages, an OLED display, and a new Smart Control Console, can this flagship stand up to 30 years of high expectations?

    I like how the reviewer baits us with a question asking if the board can stand up to 30 years of high expectations.  I’m pretty sure 30 years ago nobody at Asus could have imagined a board like this would ever get released or even see the need for all that fluff just getting in the way and raising the cost.

    30 years ago was a different time and this is the board of the future.

    Actually, the board isn't much different from what you would find with any X299 ROG, just a different paint job and a few less gaming features.

  • Antec P82 Flow Computer Case Review @ APH Networks

    Antec, now there is a name I haven't heard in a long time. 

    You know, back in the day Antec was pretty good and really one of the few names in town offering custom computer hardware.  Sadly, the luster has been lost but, every once in awhile something will slip out, a little nugget and it is up to us to decide if it is gold or... 

    The Antec P82 Flow is sleek looking computer chassis with tempered glass and a focus on airflow, but has room for improvement when it comes to cable management and fan control

    For this case, I'm not sure what to think.  They claim "Flow" and given the number of fans I can see why.  I also see that YT channels are crapping all over this case due to the "GN Effect" where cases without direct airflow get highlighted as bad products.  There are no bad products just bad reviewers applying their standards to products that aren't in the same league and then exploiting it for clickbait.

    Or we can compare it to dating.  Reviewer sees a dime but is so far out of their league they miss the true gems because of misplaced standards.

  • Corsair Dark Core RGB Gaming Mouse

    Looks like Corsair is at it again with their coordinated launch of gaming hardware and this time they are hitting us with a wireless mouse.  Despite the claims that wireless mice are actually pretty good I'm old school in saying that wired hardware is the best.  Heck wired anything typically offers better performance and is often times cheaper.

    Check out some of the web reviews for the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro: (cause: you know Corsair didn't send me one, again...)
    - Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro @ TechPowerUp
    - Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Gaming Mouse Review @ ThinkComputers.org
    - CORSAIR DARK CORE RGB PRO SE Wireless FPS/MOBA Gaming Mouse Review @ Madshrimps.be
    - Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless Optical Mouse Review @ APH Networks
    - Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro? gaming mouse @ Guru3D
    - CORSAIR Dark Core RGB PRO SE Review @ Vortez

    One of these days I might finally get Corsair to send me something, its only been something like 17 years!!

  • Patriot P300 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD Review @ CDRLabs

    Some say that NVMe is the name of the game.  Others say that winning the game is the only thing that matters.  And, well the winners combine the two.

    Patriot's P300 SSD is a great choice for the cost-conscious consumer looking to boost the performance and storage capacity of their desktop or notebook computer. This compact, M.2 form factor SSD is powered by Phison's PS5013-E13T controller and is available with up to 1TB of KIOXIA's (Toshiba) 96-layer BiCS4 3D NAND. Combine this with a PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe 1.3 interface and you have a drive capable of delivering 25% higher transfer speeds and IOPs than PCIe Gen3 x2 solutions. In our sequential read and write tests, the 512GB version of the P300 was able to read at speeds as high as 1,740 MB/s and write at speeds in excess of 1,549 MB/s. It also did reasonably well in our random write tests, producing nearly 159,000 IOPS, but lagged behind many of the other PCIe SSDs when doing random reads at low queue depths

    I'm not going to say that the P300 is the fastest drive out there but it is pretty darn affordable and the way I see it, any chance you can run a NVMe drive in your rig you are on the path towards a great thing called faster response time.