Tech News
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Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G Graphics Card @ Funky Kit
FunkyKit published a review of the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 EAGLE OC ICE SFF 12G, a compact graphics card designed for small form factor (SFF) PC builds. The card features 6,144 CUDA cores, 12GB of GDDR7 memory, and a factory overclocked boost clock of 2.587 GHz. Built on NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, it supports the latest 4th Gen ray tracing and 5th Gen Tensor cores, along with DLSS 4. The ICE SFF model is equipped with a refined Windforce cooling system and a sleek white shroud, making it not only thermally efficient but also visually appealing for compact rigs. The card supports DisplayPort 2.1b and HDMI 2.1b outputs, with the ability to drive displays up to 8K at 165Hz using DSC.
" If Gigabyte can keep this graphics card as close to MSRP as possible, then it's definitely worth a look ... It offers great aesthetics, a Small Form Factor size, and provides decent 1440p gaming performance that's on par with the RTX 4070 Ti thanks to its overclocked GPU. "
In real-world performance, the RTX 5070 ICE SFF shines in 1440p gaming, offering excellent frame rates and support for modern rendering features. It fits easily in mini-ITX or other SFF enclosures without sacrificing much in terms of thermal headroom or noise levels. While the 12GB VRAM is suitable for most current games, it may become a limitation in future AAA titles at higher resolutions. Overall, FunkyKit awarded the card a score of 8.2 out of 10, praising its compact size, good thermal design, and solid performance, though they noted its premium pricing and limited VRAM could be drawbacks for some users.
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Oblivion Remastered Handheld Performance @ TechPowerUp
TechPowerUp reviewed the performance of Oblivion Remastered on handheld gaming devices, specifically the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. Built with Unreal Engine 5 for visuals while retaining the original gameplay engine, the remaster brings modern graphics like Lumen lighting and supports DLSS, FSR, and XeSS. However, performance on handhelds is a mixed bag. On the Steam Deck, the game struggles to maintain 30 FPS even at low settings, with stuttering and noticeable visual downgrades. The ROG Ally offers slightly better results, handling medium settings in some areas, though it too requires compromises in draw distance and texture quality.
Oblivion Remastered came out of nowhere and made quite an impact. The game is Steam Deck Verified but can it indeed achieve playable performance on Valve's handheld PC, or on the ASUS ROG Ally for that matter? Find out in our handheld performance review.
While this remaster is designed with handheld gaming in mind, players must accept trade-offs in visual fidelity and performance to make it playable. Despite the technical limitations, the core Oblivion experience remains intact, enhanced with modern lighting and UI tweaks. For fans of the original game eager to explore Cyrodiil on the go, Oblivion Remastered offers a nostalgic and portable journey—just don’t expect flawless performance on current handheld hardware.
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Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-8400 2x24GB DDR5 RAM Review @ APH Networks
APH Networks reviewed the Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-8400 2x24GB memory kit, highlighting it as a premium offering for high-performance PC builds. Featuring a sleek aluminum heatspreader, medium-height profile, and SK hynix M-die ICs, this CUDIMM kit delivers exceptional stability and bandwidth, particularly on Intel platforms. Running at 8400 MT/s with CL40 latency and 1.45V, it comes in both black and white variants, with a clean design and solid thermal management to match. Benchmarks in AIDA64, PCMark 10, and 3DMark confirmed its strong memory performance across productivity and content creation workloads.
"The Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-8400 2x24GB CUDIMMs deliver top-tier performance to make the most of the latest Intel CPUs."
While overclocking beyond its rated speed proved limited, the kit performed excellently out-of-the-box and is competitively priced at around $340, with an optional RGB version available. APH Networks praised the Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-8400 for its combination of aesthetics, stability, and performance, recommending it as a worthwhile upgrade for enthusiasts looking to push the limits of DDR5 without compromise.
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Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Gaming Keyboard Review @ Madshrimps.be
Madshrimps recently reviewed the ASUS ProArt X870E Creator WiFi motherboard, highlighting its impressive features and performance. The review emphasizes the board’s robust VRM design, which ensures stable power delivery even under heavy workloads. This stability is particularly beneficial for demanding creative applications such as video editing, 3D rendering, and graphic design. Additionally, the ProArt X870E Creator WiFi boasts an array of connectivity options, including multiple USB ports, Thunderbolt 4, and Wi-Fi 6E, making it ideal for seamless data transfers and high-speed wireless connections.
" As the SteelSeries Apex PRO Gen 3, Huntsman V3 Pro is the ultimate keyboard for competitive gamers, integrating the latest technologies such as adjustable actuation, Razer Snap Tap, Rapid Trigger Mode and direct integration with controller buttons. The actuation force is lighter than with the well-known CHERRY MX Reds for a faster reaction speed, while the PBT Double-Shot keycaps are made to withstand intensive use. "The cooling solution is also noteworthy. The board’s advanced heatsinks and fan design effectively manage temperatures even when the system is pushed to its limits, ensuring optimal performance without thermal throttling. Madshrimps points out that while the motherboard comes with a relatively high price tag, its comprehensive feature set and reliability make it a worthy investment for professionals and enthusiasts seeking top-tier performance in their creative workflows. The review concludes by recommending this motherboard for those who prioritize stability, advanced features, and seamless connectivity.
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Crucial CUDIMM DDR5-6400 128GB CL52 @ TechPowerUp
TechPowerUp published a review of Crucial’s 128GB DDR5-6400 CL52 (CUDIMM) memory kit.
This kit targets users requiring extremely high memory capacity, such as for workstations and professional content creation. Running at DDR5-6400 speeds with CL52 timings, the modules are non-ECC and unbuffered, focusing on stability and compatibility rather than pure overclocking performance.
Crucial has taken a significant step forward with its Classic Series by introducing 64 GB DIMM sizes. The DDR5-6400 JEDEC 128 GB (2x 64 GB) memory kit featured in this review is specifically designed for content creators, data scientists, and individuals requiring large amounts of system memory for local processing. In this review, we'll delve into the benefits of this memory kit and explore how you can harness its potential to enhance your productivity and workflow.
In testing, the Crucial kit delivered reliable results with good bandwidth and latency figures relative to its rated specifications. TechPowerUp emphasized that while these modules are not intended for enthusiasts chasing extreme memory overclocking, they offer a strong balance of performance, capacity, and cost-effectiveness for mainstream platforms supporting large memory footprints. Overall, the review praised Crucial's DDR5-6400 CUDIMM kit for its solid stability, plug-and-play operation, and practicality for users who prioritize memory capacity and reliability over aggressive tuning.
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Intel Core Ultra 9 285H in the ASUS 15 Pro Plus NUC Mini PC Review @ Guru 3D
Guru3D recently published a review of the ASUS 15 Pro Plus NUC Mini PC, featuring Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285H processor. The compact system showcases impressive capabilities for a device of its size, leveraging Intel’s Meteor Lake architecture with integrated Arc graphics. In testing, the Core Ultra 9 285H delivered solid multi-core performance and notable improvements in AI-related tasks, thanks to its integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit). The built-in Arc GPU, while capable for light gaming and multimedia, still falls behind discrete GPU options for more demanding workloads.
"The Asus NUC 15 Pro Plus is a compact mini PC designed to meet technical demands with a focus on efficient processing and AI performance. The system integrates a range of Intel Core Ultra processors, including the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, along with several alternatives such as the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H, Ultra 5 235H, 255H, and 225H."
Guru3D highlighted the NUC's excellent build quality, efficient thermal management, and strong connectivity options, making it a compelling choice for professionals seeking a powerful, compact workstation. However, the review also pointed out that under sustained heavy loads, the NUC's thermal constraints could impact CPU boost behavior slightly. Overall, the ASUS 15 Pro Plus NUC with Core Ultra 9 285H is seen as a strong step forward for compact PCs, especially for productivity and AI-driven tasks, though it may not fully satisfy users seeking high-end gaming performance.
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Lexar Launches New Line of PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 SSDs Designed to Enhance Gameplay and Professional Applications
Built to accelerate performance and reduce lag and load times for gamers and creative professionals
San Jose, CA, USA, April 24, 2025—Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce the NQ780 M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD and the Professional NM1090 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD, designed to provide the peak performance needed to keep every game running smoothly.
The Professional NM1090 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD delivers speeds up to 14,000MB/s read and 13,000MB/s write1 to provide superior performance for professional-grade systems. Its 6nm controller optimizes heat control for more efficient performance and customers can pair it with an AMD Ryzen or Intel i9 processor for a next-level game experience. The drive features DRAM Cache and SLC dynamic cache to greatly enhance data transfer speeds to reduce wait times and improve system responsiveness.
The NQ780 M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is designed with premium technologies to deliver read/write speeds up to 7000/6000MB/s and to prevent system lags for both games and work applications. A single-sided design and Intelligent Power Control make it perfect for laptops. Plus, the drive comes with the Lexar DiskMaster SSD management tool so users can perform firmware updates and monitor drive health.
“If you’re a casual gamer looking for an upgrade, or a creative professional who needs serious speeds to power through projects, Lexar SSDs are able to deliver the performance to improve any system,” said Joey Lopez, Director of Marketing. “We’re excited to see our range of PCIe storage solutions optimize the systems of students, gamers, professionals, and everyone in between.”
The NQ780 M.2 2290 PCIe Gen 4.4 NVMe SSD is available in 1TB for an MSRP of $79.99, 2TB for an MSRP of $149.99, and 4TB for an MSRP of $289.99.
The Professional NM1090 PRO PCIe 5.0 is available in 1TB for $179.99, 2TB for an MSRP of $269.99, and 4TB coming this summer.Key Features of Professional NM1090 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD- Provides speeds up to 14,000MB/s read, 13,000MB/s write
- A powerful 6nm controller optimizes heat control for efficient performance
- DRAM-based with SLC dynamic cache to improve performance and reduce latency
Key Features of NQ780 PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD- High performance meets exceptional value
- Delivers read/write speeds up to 7000/6000MB/s
- HMB and SLC cache technologies improve performance and user experience and reduce latency
Availability
Lexar NQ780 M.2 PCIe Gen 4.4: Amazon
Lexar Professional NM1090 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD: Amazon
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Colorful iGame B860M Ultra V20 Review @ TechPowerUp
TechPowerUp reviewed the Colorful iGame B860M Ultra V20, a microATX motherboard built on Intel's B860 chipset, aiming to deliver strong value and modern connectivity at a sub-$200 price point. Priced at just $165, it’s tailored for Intel's new Core Ultra Series 2 (Arrow Lake) processors and comes with a feature-rich layout, including support for DDR5-9200 (OC), PCIe Gen 5 graphics, and a Gen 5 M.2 slot. The board’s silver-white aesthetic and sizable heatsinks offer both form and function, making it a good fit for small form factor builds without sacrificing style or thermal performance. TechPowerUp highlighted its appeal in cases like the Lian Li A3-mATX and ASUS Prime AP201, where microATX boards can deliver great bang for the buck.
"It's great to see a reasonably solid motherboard from a motherboard manufacturer outside the usual crowd of four, and the good news is that the Colorful iGame B860M Ultra V20 didn't fail completely in any area. As you'd expect for a lesser known brand and very reasonably priced motherboard, there have certainly been cuts, and a few parts that are in need of improvement before we'd consider going as far as an award."
Functionally, the B860M Ultra V20 doesn’t support CPU overclocking due to chipset limitations, but it compensates with robust connectivity and smart layout decisions. It includes Wi-Fi 7, 2.5G Ethernet, USB4 (40 Gbps), multiple high-speed USB ports, and Realtek ALC1220 audio—features not often found together in this price segment. The board also impressed in tests with its stable performance and effective power delivery via a 12-phase VRM. While it lacks premium extras like debug LEDs or onboard buttons, the overall value proposition is clear. For users building a next-gen Intel system on a budget, TechPowerUp sees the iGame B860M Ultra V20 as a well-rounded, feature-dense option that delivers far more than its modest price suggests.
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Scythe Shuriken 3 CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org
ThinkComputers wrapped up their review of the Scythe Shuriken 3 CPU cooler by emphasizing its niche appeal—this is a cooler designed specifically for ultra-compact systems. With a height of just 39mm, it’s ideal for builds under 13 liters in volume, such as the Fractal Design Terra, where vertical clearance is extremely limited. The low-profile design ensures it won’t interfere with other components like RAM, M.2 slots, or VRM heatsinks. Though small, it manages to handle a Ryzen 5 9600X without exceeding thermal limits, and Scythe includes optional mounting screws for users who want to upgrade the stock 16mm fan to a more standard 25mm one.
"Finding a good air cooler for a small form factor or low-profile build can be hard. Many coolers that are made for small form factor systems still have a lot of clearance issues and some can be extremely hard to install. Scythe wants to solve that with their Shuriken 3. The Shuriken 3 is only 39mm tall (including the fan) making it one of the smallest CPU coolers that we've ever reviewed! The big question is will it actually provide enough cooling power? Read on as we find out!"
That said, the review cautions against pairing the Shuriken 3 with anything above a mid-range (5-class) CPU, as its thermal performance isn’t suited for high-end workloads. While installation is straightforward—even with the motherboard already mounted—the thermal paste comes in a less convenient packet instead of a syringe. Priced at $39.99, it’s a solid option for small form factor builders on a budget, offering one of the most compact cooling solutions available. ThinkComputers ultimately awarded the Shuriken 3 a 7 out of 10, noting that while performance is modest, its size and compatibility make it a valuable choice for tight spaces.
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Corsair VOID Wireless v2 Wireless Gaming Headset Review @ APH Networks
APH Networks reviewed the Corsair VOID Wireless v2, highlighting its appeal for gamers seeking a lightweight, breathable, and highly versatile headset. The VOID Wireless v2 supports both RF wireless and Bluetooth connections, making it compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Equipped with 50mm neodymium drivers, it offers Dolby Atmos spatial audio, a 70-hour battery life, and a comfortable design with breathable cushioning—ideal for long gaming sessions, especially in warmer environments. The review appreciates Corsair's updated packaging and notes the headset's strong first impression with its clean design and broad device compatibility.
The Corsair VOID Wireless v2 is a lightweight and comfortable wireless RGB LED gaming headset, but its sound tuning can be improved to make it perform better in-game.
When it came to performance, the headset delivered solid audio quality with clear mids and strong bass, while the omnidirectional microphone provided acceptable voice clarity for in-game chat and calls. The physical controls, such as the volume wheel and USB-C charging port, were easy to use, though the headset lacked some premium features like active noise cancellation. Nonetheless, its lightweight frame (303g), long battery life, and multi-platform support make it a great all-rounder. APH Networks concludes that the VOID Wireless v2 is a well-priced and comfortable option for users who prioritize extended wireless freedom, cross-platform flexibility, and immersive spatial sound.
