Tech News
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Hardware Asylum Podcast on Podcat
Have you heard of our Podcast? The Hardware Asylum Podcast is a bi-weekly computer hardware show recorded by computer enthusiasts that covers a variety of topics from Computer Hardware, Overclocking and Computer Gaming. Every once in awhile we stray off topic to cover hobbies and travel which helps to fill the time and gives you something new to listen to.
If I say so myself, the show is well refined. We treat it like a real program with quality audio and solid topics unlike some other hardware shows where the audio is "muddy" or filled with overused laughter. The Podcast is also kept around 30min long making it bite sized enough to consume on a morning commute, again, unlike other hardware shows that drag on for over an hour.
I'm not sure about you, but 30min seems to be the perfect length to making a show interesting and to completely cover a particular topic.
One of the biggest problems with Podcast shows is: "How do you Find and Listen to Podcast Shows?" With videos you can visit YouTube however with audio there isn't a centeral CDN. Instead we have index sites that allow you to search for shows based on certain keywords but really won't suggest what to listen to.
Index sites like iTunes are the facto standard and are largely limited to Apple users. Google Music is now indexing Podcasts and crappy monitary sites like Stitcher and Blubrry are just in it for the money.
Podcat is a little different and they call it the IMDB of podcasts. If you are interested in checking out the Hardware Asylum Podcast check our the Podcast page on Hardware Asylum or load up the Podcast RSS from Google Music, Podcat or even iTunes.
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noblechairs EPIC Series Real Leather Gaming Chair @ techPowerUp
As computer enthusiasts there is one thing we do more than just about anyone, Sit. Now, I'm not talking the lethargic "sitting on your ass" style of sitting but rather a casual sit down so enjoy the latest DLC release from the game you just paid $100 USD for. It might only be for 30minutes (as is the case with any DLC release) or could be for several hours if you are raiding in Overwatch or hacking away at some marvelous code for your next project.
Thing is, to make your sits more enjoyable you must cradle the butt in something soft. It shouldn't be too warm and never too cold. It should breath well so to prevent sweat build up and most of all it should look good in your computer room for those times when you are out doing burnouts or playing golf.
e.g. When you are not in your computer room.
Of course in things I would likely never review there is the classic gaming chair. Many gamers and computer folk lust over the perfect gaming chair and gaming furniture builders take full advantage. TechPowerUp has posted a review of a really nice looking gaming chair from Noblechairs as part of their Epic series of Real Leather Gaming Chairs.
We have the chance to evaluate a top-notch (and expensive) gaming chair from noblechairs. This real leather EPIC series chair has a terrific look and is comfortable enough to make you forget its high price tag.
Personally the only chair worth its pricetag is the Aeron Chair by Herman Miller. Not only do they look amazing but caress the butt in ways that allow you to sit for longer than you should while still providing support and comfort.
I have one and totally support this message.
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Intel looks to add Wi-Fi and USB 3.1 support into next-generation chipsets
As we begin moving towards a total SOC there are still some technologies that work best as an external PHY on your motherboard. Wi-Fi has always been an external device and works well that way allowing the user to determine if they want/need the technology and more importantly gives them a choice of which "speed". (eg: ac,n,a,b,g etc) However that was during the time where everything was pretty volatile and nobody had settled on one standard.
The same is true of USB. At one point I read that Intel wanted to replace it completely and now they want to solidify it in a chipset?
I get it though, there is no innovation by doing the same thing over and over again and let’s face it there has been 0 performance advance since the launch of Sandy Bridge so "why not"
Intel reportedly is planning to add USB 3.1 and Wi-Fi functions into its motherboard chipsets and the new design may be implemented in its upcoming 300-series scheduled to be released at the end of 2017, according to sources from motherboard makers. Intel declined to comment on market speculation.
The decision is expected impact existing third-party Wi-Fi and USB 3.1 chip makers including Broadcom, which is a major supplier of notebook WLAN chips, Realtek Semiconductor, a major supplier of desktop WLAN chips and ASMedia Technology, which has a major share in the USB 3.1 market.
Although ASMedia is expected to see dropping orders for USB 3.1 host chips, the standardization of USB 3.1 technology will accelerate development of USB 3.1-based devices and increase demand for related chips and 10G signal redrivers and retimers, allowing ASMedia to land new orders.Sadly, going this direction will send ASMedia and Killer the way of "Sound Blaster" and that makes me sad.
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Crucial MX300 2TB Review @ Vortez
I'm pretty new when it comes to SSD reviews but can recognize when something super cool hits the market. On the surface the Crucial MX300 seems like every other SSD on the market. It has similar performance to any other SSD, comes with a familar interface and the same 2.5" small form factor. What makes this drive different is that it doesn't cost $1000 USD for 2TB of storage all because of 3D NAND.
In the spotlight is the Crucial MX300 SSD. After already reviewing the 750GB model, we’ll be turning to the newly released 2TB edition today to see how this large capacity SSD handles our benchmark suite. Is it finally time to swap out all of those mechanical drives?
I currently have the 750GB limited edition MX300 drive on the test bench and am so far really impressed. My biggest surprise? Weight, or in this case the lack there of.
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Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti G1 Gaming 4 GB @ techPowerUp
As a hardware reviewer it is fun to watch the news inbox and see when certain products launch. Of course it is disappointing to see a product launch that I wasn't aware of or should have been a part of. but, that is how things go.
In this case we have a product launch that is a couple weeks late or right on time if we consider the Lord of the Rings, W1zzard connection.
Gigabyte's GTX 1050 Ti G1 Gaming is a highly overclocked custom design variant by the company, featuring a dual-fan cooler that provides excellent temperatures and incredible low noise levels at the same time. During desktop work and media playback the fans even stop completely.
Personally I really liked the GTX 1050 Ti, it seemed like a good card with some decent performance and affordable pricetag. Gigabyte also pushed things a bit by adding their Windforce cooler and healthy overclock.
Be sure to check out my review of the Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti and find out if the card can be overclocked.
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Cooler Master MasterFan Pro 120 and 140 Cooling Fans Review @ APH Networks
Ok here is a fun review of things that spin around and blow air all over the place. yes, I am talking about fans, more specifically computer fans, and more specifically still the new Cooler Master MasterFan series.
I got to take these guys out for a "spin" and found them to be very good provided you pick the right one for your application. You see each fan is noise controlled meaning that their RPM limits were set based on how much noise it produced. This puts more emphasis on the style of the fan to determine how it is best used.
Bottom line, More pressure for radiators and Less pressure for open air cooling in a PC chassis. The MasterAir Balance is for those of you who cannot decide and want something in the middle. (hint: it is actually pretty good, kinda)
The Cooler Master MasterFan Pro series provides excellent airflow, air pressure, and low noise level performance at a reasonable price.
Ok, not to discredit the review but taping tissue to a fan and snapping a photo isn't really all that beneficial. Now someone who builds an air testing chamber and records how long it takes to move a certain amount of air is something else.
Be sure to check out my review on the Cooler Master MasterAir fan series.
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20 of the Worst PC Setups - October 2016 @ ThinkComputers
Ahh the joys of running a forum where people post some pretty disturbing things. Computer related things like bad desks, dusty computer fans and a mouse on the left side.
Which one bothers you the most?
"I’m sure at some point you’ve had a bad PC setup. Maybe moving into a new place, waiting for a new desk to arrive or you just ran out of room. I can remember my horrible PC setups from when I was living at the dorms in college. If you have ever ventured over to the Shitty Battlestations sub-reddit you will find a lot of horrible PC setups. We will are going to pick 20 each month and feature them as 20 of the Worst PC setups for that month. Here are some of the bad ones from Octboer!"
As much as I say cooling doesn't matter I do get a little annoyed when folks use a Hyper 212 Evo when they really should pick something better like an AIO or Noctua. But, hey its not my money.
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G.SKILL Announces the Fastest Trident Z DDR4 64GB(4x16GB) kit at 3600MHz
Taipei, Taiwan (4 November 2016) - G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is thrilled to announce DDR4 64GB(4x16GB) memory kit at extreme speed of 3600MHz CL17-19-19-39 1.35V. Featuring high performance Samsung 8Gb ICs, this new memory kit is the fastest DDR4 64GB(4x16GB) kit and will join G.SKILL's flagship Trident Z family.
With heavy content creation workloads and the complexity of modern PC games, the need for higher capacity memory kits is growing dramatically in the enthusiast PC community. The 3600MHz 64GB(4x16GB) kit provides an ultimate combination of capacity and speed, which makes it an ideal choice for building an extreme performance PC. The following screenshot shows rigorous test of the new memory kit, validated with the Intel® Core™ i5-6600K processor and the ASUS Z170-DELUXE motherboard.
Supporting XMP 2.0 for easy overclocking and trouble-free setup, this ultimate kit will be available via G.SKILL worldwide distribution partners in December.
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Gigabyte to push Aorus motherboards and graphics cards
Gigabyte has been teasing this development on social media for the past few weeks and I am rather excited to see what they come up with. Aorus has typically been the name associated with their gaming line and it is only natural that they would add the name to their other line of gaming products.
Gigabyte Technology is planning to release motherboards and graphics cards under its independent gaming brand Aorus. Existing Aorus-branded products include gaming notebooks, mice, keyboards and peripherals, and Gigabyte is looking to strengthen the gaming brand to compete against its competitors such as Asustek Computer's Republic of Gamers (ROG) and Micro-Star International's (MSI) Gaming series.
Gigabyte will begin selling Aorus branded motherboards in early January 2017, starting with Intel's new 200-series chipsets, while graphics cards will need to wait until AMD and Nvidia release new high-end GPUs.
Meanwhile, Asustek is mainly pushing its ROG brand for top-end gaming products and ROG Strix for high-end products. In addition to motherboards, graphics cards and notebooks, Asustek also sells desktops, monitors, keyboards, mice, earphones, and microphones under the ROG brand.
CES should be an exciting time for Gigabyte this year.
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Fractal Design Define C @ techPowerUp
It would appear that today is launch day for the Fractal Design Define C computer case and based on the photos it looks....
Just like every other Fractal Design computer case I have ever seen.
The Fractal Design Define C is an optimized version of the open-air design we have seen in the Define S. Lacking the usual internal and external drive bays and with a more compact size and somewhat simplified but modernized interior, it will be interesting to see whether it can hold its own.
Oh well Define S vs Define C, that makes a little more sense. Honestly I know that external 5.25" drive bays are going away and that in their absense many case designers are struggling to do something with the empty space.
The "copout" is to just block off the panel and pretend it doesn't exist or is hiding something behind a door. Or in the case of the Define C, simply blocking blocking the panel off and pretending it doesn't exist.
#lamesauce
