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Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

AMD has the most stable drivers says report
Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II Review
Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ 27in 4K/144Hz HDR Monitor Review
Biostar B360GT3S Motherboard Review
Corsair Carbide 275R Review
Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB 3200 MHz DDR4 Review
Deepcool Gamer Storm Castle 240 RGB Review
Fast Photo Sifter Review
FSP CMT Series CMT520 RGB Tempered Glass Case Review
GAMDIAS ACHILLES P1 L Extraordinary RGB Illuminated Gaming Chair Review
GeForce GTX 1060 3GB vs. Radeon RX 570 4GB: 2018 Update
HyperX Alloy Elite Gaming Mechanical Keyboard Review
HyperX Cloud Flight Gaming Headset Review
Jim Keller Interview
Kingston UV500 240GB (M.2) Solid State Drive Review
MSI Z370 PC Pro Motherboard Review
Shuttle XPC Cube SZ270R9 Barebones PC Review
Sonic Mania Plus Review
The 2018 six-core MacBook Pro with eGPU gives the iMac Pro a run for its money



AMD has the most stable drivers says report

AMD commissioned research was done by quality assurance experts QA Consultants. Independent third-party software quality assurance and testing experts, QA Consultants, has just published a report regarding PC graphics driver stability. The headlining determination from QA Consultants, following its extensive testing is that "AMD drivers are the most stable in the industry for gamers and workstation users alike". Before we go on, even though the lab insists it is fully independent, it is worth considering the fact that AMD commissioned this report.

Read full article @ Hexus

Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II Review

We already tested the current Arctic Accelero Hybrid III 140 graphics card cooler on OCinside.de. Today we are testing the Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II, an universal graphics card cooler from Arctic. Since the Arctic Twin Turbo II is available for a few years now, we are curious to see if it can still handle current graphics cards like a Palit GeForce GTX 1070 Ti Dual. More about this in the following GPU cooler test report.

Read full article @ OCInside.de

Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ 27in 4K/144Hz HDR Monitor Review

The Asus PG27UQ surely has to be one of the most anticipated gaming products in recent history. First unveiled a year and a half ago, this is the first monitor to offer not just a 4K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, but true HDR with a full array local dimming backlight as well.

On paper it’s the ultimate 27-inch gaming monitor that should provide stunning image quality and competitive gaming performance. The downside? Well, aside from it having been delayed for so long, there’s the fact it costs an eye-watering £2229.

Whichever way you look at it, that’s a somewhat ludicrous figure for a 27-inch gaming monitor, no matter how good it is. But, such is the level of technology here that it’s not totally unreasonable either.

Read full article @ KitGuru

Biostar B360GT3S Motherboard Review

When Intel released their 8th generation "Coffee Lake" processors back in October 2017 they were released alongside the enthusiast-class Z370 chipset.  That was the only chipset you could use with these new processors at the time.  Now you have the option of H370, B360, and H310.  The B360 chipset differs from H370 in a few different ways, first you only have support for a single x16 PCI-E slot, only 12 PCI-E lanes (compared to 24), fewer USB ports, and there is no CPU or memory overclocking.  Today we will be checking out a B360 board from Biostar.  This is actually our first look at a B360 board, but also our first look at a board from Biostar.  The Biostar B360GT3S motherboard is part of Biostar's Racing line, which is a gaming line within their product stack.  Let's take a look and see if there is a lower-cost alternative to getting a Z370 motherboard.

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

Corsair Carbide 275R Review

The Corsair Carbide 275R is not meant to turn heads, that is the job of the Obsidian series. Instead, it offers an extremely solid, functional, and inclusive feature set to cater to a broad audience with the understated looks to match. Couple that with a fair price tag and you have yourself an easy choice when going for a solid, functional, and useful system.

Read full article @ TechPowerUp

Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB 3200 MHz DDR4 Review

Today we are reviewing the fresh series of Corsair Vengeance memory. It is the Pro RGB version that arrived in a kit of 4x 8GB 3200 MHz DDR4 modules. Make no mistake as there are faster options in the line-up, but this frequency hits a sweet spot (relative in price/performance). It sits roughly in the middle of the range, as the maximum frequency for the series is a whopping 4000 MHz. If that kit can reach that number, maybe this kit (our review kit) also has some extra juice to be squeezed out of it? Of course, you can always stay at the safe and advertised frequency + latencies using the Intel XMP 2.0 memory profile. But we'll take it up a notch today.

Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB, as the name suggests, has RGB lighting and that feature is nowadays very common in RAM. It has been introduced to the market by G.Skill and their TridentZ RGB series. We have tested Corsair’s first RGB ram at guru3d over a year ago. In the meantime, many other vendors provided their releases, including Team Group, Geil and Ballistix or Patriot. Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB looks extraordinary nice, and should easily attract customers (yep, you guys!), the PC gamers. As for Vengeance Pro RGB, even modules as fast as 4000 MHz are available, and Corsair claims that up to 4600 MHz is within reach (we do wonder what latencies that would require). That’s however really is extreme performance. According to Corsair, each module is built using carefully screened ICs for extended overclocking potential.

Read full article @ The Guru of 3D

Deepcool Gamer Storm Castle 240 RGB Review

With the Gamer Storm Castle 240 RGB, Deepcool has an all-in-one watercooler in its portfolio, that comes with the a rather slim radiator and apparently two 120 millimeter fans. At a first look the design is looking good while you get a black radiator and a fan with gray fan blades. Overall we're curious to see this cooler is action.

Read full article @ ocaholic

Fast Photo Sifter Review

Sorting through photos doesn't have to be a pain. One of the beauties of digital photography is that you can take hundreds or even thousands of photographs that can be stored on a single memory card. This helps you make sure that you get the right shot and also lets you save images in multiple formats such as RAW and JPEG.

The downside of digital photography is that you can end up with a plethora of near duplicates and unused images that you need to sort through. Fast Photo Sifter simplifies this process and makes it easy to delete your unwanted photos.

Read full article @ Windows Central

FSP CMT Series CMT520 RGB Tempered Glass Case Review

FSP is a familiar name in power supplies, and in the last year we have also seen the company branch out with CPU coolers (with the excellent Windale series reviewed last year) and cases. The latest of these enclosures is the CMT520, the second in their CMT series and featuring front and side tempered glass panels to showcase no fewer than four included RGB fans.
Glass can of course present some obstacles to cooling performance, particularly when the front intake is covered (as the gap between glass and fans becomes crucial), so we will see if the cases performance is equal to the elegance of its looks in this review.

Read full article @ PC Perspective

GAMDIAS ACHILLES P1 L Extraordinary RGB Illuminated Gaming Chair Review

When we first started testing/reviewing gaming chairs just over 3 years ago we never thought they could actually replace office chairs but that's exactly what has happened to a large degree since gaming chairs have found their way not only into people's homes but also their office and work places (judging both from people we know and from what we see published online). Price and looks may have been the two most important factors for this (obviously) but we shouldn't rule out ergonomics/support since there are many gaming chairs out there that offer exactly what many people of all sizes have been looking for a long time. GAMDIAS released their very own line last year and after many requests finally today with us we have their top of the line ACHILLES P1 L Extraordinary RGB Illuminated Gaming Chair.

GAMDIAS emphasizes on the fundamentals, complemented with creativity and service. GAMDIAS Technology was founded in 2012, successfully creating the gaming brand known as GAMDIAS. Not only do we aim to set the bar for quality and practically, but also to go above and beyond in our designs. Further supplementing our motto: Gaming Art in Motion, we will continue to invest heavily on designs, transcending GAMDIAS products to an artistic pantheon.

The ACHILLES P1 L (L stands for large - the regular P1 is slightly smaller) may offer RGB illumination (thanks to two LED strips mounted at the rear of the chair - you can customize both the colors and effects via GAMDIAS HERA software) and thus improved looks compared to most other gaming chairs out there (especially for gamers) but that's not its only interesting feature. For starters the ACHILLES P1 L is available 5 different colors (all black/white black/red black/blue black/yellow black) and features a PVC (Polyvinylchloride) leather cover (vinyl), metal frame for increased durability, good amount of foam padding (specific numbers are not available but judging from other chairs we've had here I’d say around 55-65kg/m3 for the seat and 55-60kg/m3 for the backrest - will update this part if we get any new information), 4D adjustable armrests (height, front/back and rotation), adjustable footrest, premium 60mm caster wheels, class-4 gaslift (supports up to 200kg total including the top body of the chair), height adjustment mechanism (can raise the chair up to 10cm), 5 star aluminum base, removable neck and back/lumbar support cushions, backrest adjustment (up to 150 degrees) and up to 12 degrees tilt function. As for size the ACHILLES P1 L may not be the largest one to ever reach our lab but it does come close since it features a tall (86cm) and wide (55cm) backrest along with a wide (54cm) and deep (47cm) seat.

Read full article @ NikKTech

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB vs. Radeon RX 570 4GB: 2018 Update

Today we're revisiting a mid-range GPU battle between the Radeon RX 570 4GB and GeForce GTX 1060 3GB. It's been a little over a year since we compared these two head to head in an extensive 28 game battle, so we thought it was about time to take another look now that GPU prices seem to be coming back down to more reasonable prices.

Read full article @ TechSpot

HyperX Alloy Elite Gaming Mechanical Keyboard Review

”I truly believe that Kingston is trying to prove HyperX has a place in the gaming peripheral market, with the same quality of its memory incorporated into everything else. The Alloy Elite's Cherry MX switches are rated for 50 million clicks, providing long life for your gaming adventures. Every switch is also raised to allow for easy cleaning, so if you happen to eat while gaming and a crumb falls onto the keys, it's no problem to pop off a keycap and remove it. I have cleaned out this keyboard more than once over the year, as I have a serious problem of eating pizza over keyboards!

Read full article @ OCC

HyperX Cloud Flight Gaming Headset Review

My first pair of wireless headphones was Noontec's Zoro II Wireless. I ended up using them a whole lot, even after I had finished reviewing them. While the Zoro II is a good pair of portable, on-ear headphones, I want a quality set of over-ear cans with a decent microphone for gaming with friends when I'm sitting at my desk. As a result, I've continued to use wired headsets with my PC.

My headset of choice since I reviewed it has been HyperX's Cloud Alpha. Wireless gaming headsets have been popping up more and more frequently of late, but I like the Cloud Alpha so much that I didn't think I would switch over to something wireless for some time yet. Little did I know that the Alpha was soon to be challenged by a new, wireless sibling: the Cloud Flight.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

Jim Keller Interview

You asked for it, and we were able to get 30 minutes with the big man himself. Jim Keller falls into the rockstar category of engineers: lots of ideas with vision and a very successful record. Jim has been able to turn a product market around by leading processor design teams, such as with Apples A4 and A5 processors, or AMDs K8 and Zen microarchitectures. Recently he was hired by Intel as the Senior Vice President of the Silicon Engineering Group, with an emphasis on SoC design and integration, although not much more was said, leaving everyone to scratch their heads as to exactly what projects fall under his remit. With Intels money and design at his fingertips, we asked Jim what exactly his role now entails, how he is integrating into Intel, and what the plans are for the future.

Read full article @ Anandtech

Kingston UV500 240GB (M.2) Solid State Drive Review

"I think your spiritual gift is generosity," I whispered to my friend during church service one Sunday morning when the pastor was talking about spiritual gifts. "Can I have $20?" My friend looked over and said, "Do you have the gift of prophecy? Tell me about my future!" Not willing to let the moment go, I gave him my prophecy of the day. "You will give me $20." Even though my friend is quite generous and I certainly do not have any prophetic abilities, life is all about seizing the moment to maximize your impact -- whether it is cracking a joke, landing a good job, or bringing the right product to market. But how can one find out what is the right thing to do at the right time? More often than not, it is foresight, which I have briefly touched on in my Antec High Current Gamer Bronze 750W report. But if you have the luxury of doing everything under the sun, at least one of them is going to hit it out of the park, right? A few weeks ago, I looked at the Kingston UV500 240GB SSD in the traditional 2.5" SATA form factor. However, not everyone wants an SSD in the traditional 2.5" SATA drive size, and Kingston understands this. To ensure they have the entry level solid state drive market completely cornered, the UV500 is also available in M.2 and mSATA form, which we will look at the latter in detail in the coming weeks. But for now, we will look at the M.2 version of the Kingston UV500 240GB. What is special about its hardware and how will it perform? Read on to find out!

Read full article @ APH Networks

MSI Z370 PC Pro Motherboard Review

Looking for a Z370 motherboard on a very tight budget? MSI's Z370 PC Pro could be for you. As a general rule the Intel B360 and H370 chipsets offer a more affordable route into Intel’s 8th Generation “Coffee Lake” CPUs, than the Z370 chipset. However, there are a number of Z370 motherboard options that are as affordable, if not cheaper, than many B360 or H370 models. MSI manufactures a number of those low-cost Z370 options including the Z370 PC Pro.

Read full article @ KitGuru

Shuttle XPC Cube SZ270R9 Barebones PC Review

We love barebones systems here at eTeknix, they take so much of the fuss out of system building, while still leaving plenty of customisation options. The latest XPC Cube from Shuttle looks set to be perfect for everything from LAN gaming, home gaming, the office, even HTPC use. Equipped with a motherboard, PSU, chassis and CPU cooler all ready to rock. That means you just drop in a CPU, GPU, memory and storage, and you’re ready to rock.

While not for everyone, the capability of rapid deployment is certainly appealing, especially in the B2B market. However, with its RGB from panel lighting, and compact and stylish aluminium exterior, the SZ270R9 is certainly offering more appeal for the home user market.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Sonic Mania Plus Review

Being a Sonic fan isn’t easy. You can only be let down so many times before you begin to doubt your own memories. Was this series ever any good? Were even the 16-bit Genesis classics overrated? Thankfully, Sonic Mania arrived last year, easing many fans’ troubled minds – yes, old-school Sonic was still fun, if done right. Enthusiastic fans downloaded Sonic Mania in droves, turning a niche experiment into a legit hit.

Now that the enduring popularity of classic Sonic has been proven, Sega is rolling out the expanded Sonic Mania Plus, which will receive a full retail release. This new package adds a variety of features, including two new characters, Encore Mode, and a spiffy 32-page art book for those who buy a physical copy. Is Sonic Mania Plus worth another spin? Let’s find out…

Read full article @ Wccftech

The 2018 six-core MacBook Pro with eGPU gives the iMac Pro a run for its money

Between the benefits, the constraints, and the price of Apple's top "Pro"-level machines, the MacBook Pro gives the iMac Pro a a solid fight for the crown of Apple's best machine. AppleInsider looks at how close the battle is — and how an eGPU could be the deciding factor.

It's been a long time since Steve Jobs outlined Apple's plan to have clear differences between its portables and desktops, plus its consumer and its professional users. Even so, at first glance a professional user with a demanding job is likely to ignore a MacBook Pro and presume the iMac Pro is needed.

Read full article @ Apple Insider