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Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

15 small business access points review: The up-to-date office
ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac Review
ASUS Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1 Motherboard Review
ASUS X99 Sabertooth Review
Cooler Master V Series 550 W
Corsair Strafe RGB MX Silent Gaming Keyboard Review
Creative Sound BlasterX H5 Review
D-Link DCS-2630L Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera Review
Diamond Multimedia STREAM2TV WPCTV3000 Miracast, iPlay, & DLNA Endpoint Review
Hands On with the new Microsoft Band 2 Charging Stand
Install Windows 7 Games on Windows 10
Oak Leaf Dimmable LED Desk Lamp Review
OZONE Blast Ocelote World 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound Headset Review
Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX Case Review
QNAP TS-251+ Network Attached Storage Review
Samsung 950 Pro Review: The next step in mainstream SSD performance
Scythe Ninja 4 CPU Cooler Review
Scythe Ninja 4 CPU Cooler Review
Shuttle XPC NC01U Nano Review
The Absolute Worst SSD Myth That You Shouldn’t Believe
Use GWX Control Panel to stop Windows 10 upgrade prompts
Using a Graphics Card as a PhysX Processor - Beneficial or Not?



15 small business access points review: The up-to-date office

These days it is more and more common to use wireless networks in office environments. To see which products are available and how they compare, we examined the feature set on offer by 13 access points currently on the market, and of course tested them for performance.

Within the network technology segment, the professional market tend to be at the front while the lower priced and positioned (consumer)-models come later on. As such, the 10Gbit-switching slowly becomes more affordable for businesses and will eventually slowly drip down to the lower price range. Looking at our previous tests we can see that even on the “lowly” gigabit switches features as PoE – an expensive extra in the beginning – are now also available on the lower priced models. The same applies to software functionality. Options such as a VPN set-up or port merging (lacp) and creation of vlans do not have to cost you the shirt. Nowadays you can set up a VPN server also on the high-end consumer routers.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac Review

ASRock attempts to pack big board features into its Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac, but can this Mini ITX motherboard stand up to its larger rivals in overclocking and value?

Read full article @ Toms Hardware

ASUS Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1 Motherboard Review

Since the release of the Z170 series of motherboards we have looked at numerous ASUS offerings. Everything from entry level -A, to the impressive Deluxe and even multiple Republic of Gamers motherboards. However, we have not taken a close look at one of ASUS’ more popular lines: The Ultimate Force (TUF) series. As a perennial favorite amongst users who want durability above all else this oversight is rather glaringly obvious in hindsight. Today we fix this issue by reviewing the Z170 Sabertooth, what may be one of the best looking and arguably most advanced ASUS boards on the market today.

The idea behind TUF series motherboards is relatively straightforward: combine features usually only reserved for ASUS’ high end mainstream consumer line, with a design that takes a page from the server side of the marketplace. These boards are tested to extreme levels and carry an extended warranty of 5 years (versus the 3 years of other boards), highlighting the confidence ASUS has in these products and we’ve experienced exactly that. One of our X58 Sabertooth boards was overclocked to extremely high levels and still lives on within a system we donated to a local charity all these years later.

In recent years the Sabertooth series has proven so popular that ASUS has felt the need to make two models intended for slightly different rice brackets: the Mark 1 and the Mark 2. The largest difference between these two models is the Mark I is intended for more enthusiast-grade users who can justify its asking price, whereas the Mark II is the more value-oriented model. At this time ASUS has not released a Z170 based Mark 2 (that may change soon) and as such we will only be putting the Mark 1 under the microscope today.

Read full article @ Hardware Canucks

ASUS X99 Sabertooth Review

Also when it comes to their X99 line-up ASUS has a Sabertooth motherboard in its portfolio. As usual it comes with features like the thermal shield and a metal reinforcement plate on its backside. The Sabertooth is always an interesting model and we're definitely curious to find out what it can do on the following pages.

Read full article @ ocaholic

Cooler Master V Series 550 W

Cooler Master added three low-capacity members featuring a fully modular cabling design and Silencio fan to their V series. Today, we will take a look at the smallest V model with 550 W capacity, which is among the most efficient PSUs at light loads.

Read full article @ techPowerUp

Corsair Strafe RGB MX Silent Gaming Keyboard Review

The glut of mechanical keyboards with per-key RGB lighting continues with the release of Corsair’s Strafe RGB Cherry MX Silent series. In addition to features such as extremely versatile programmable lighting, a pass-through USB port, optional textured key caps, and a detachable wrist rest, Corsair adds a unique to them (for now) “silent” version of the Cherry MX Red key switch.

Read full article @ Benchmark Reviews

Creative Sound BlasterX H5 Review

Creative are an ever present entity in the real of gaming audio and as such it is no surprise to see a new range of gaming products under the Sound BlasterX naming. Though learning from the current market curve, the SBX H5 takes a trick out of the book of design from the likes of which many will be familiar with. Whether you want to reference Beyerdynamic, Takstar, QPad and the HyperX Cloud, the resemblance in the design of the frame is similar. This is a good thing. While the QPad and the later HyperX Cloud, audibly, are incredibly good, they still aren't the perfect product in some respect.

Adding their own twist to this steel and brushed aluminium recipe, Creative have imbued it with their full spectrum 50mm drivers and sonic know how. The earcups are large, leatherette covered memory foam, the headset is completely modular with an included braided 4 pole to 4 pole with in-line remote for maximum versatility in regards to the PC and games consoles. Then there is the design, which is sleek, mature with an understated elegance which shows more class.

Read full article @ Vortez

D-Link DCS-2630L Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera Review

Home security cameras have become so affordable it seems silly not to employ one or more in protecting your office or residence. Most of these cameras feature narrow fields of view, which limits the area being monitored. To address this issue D-Link has released the Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L). This camera offers a 180-degree wide eye field of view. By using de-warping technology D-Link flattens out the curved image created by the wide angle lens.

While numerous Wi-Fi cams offered lower resolution video, the DCS-2630L provides Full HD 1080P resolution camera with a 3 MP progressive CMOS sensor. This lens has a 180° horizontal Field of view and the ability to see up to 16 feet in complete darkness using the built in infrared LEDs.

Read full article @ Technogog

Diamond Multimedia STREAM2TV WPCTV3000 Miracast, iPlay, & DLNA Endpoint Review

With the explosion in the use mobile devices for storing and playing content it is important to pick the right technology to push your media to the big screen when sharing the experience with multiple people. Whether it is photos, family videos, or Netflix choosing an endpoint which meets all your needs is essential. It is not hard to find a single device that handles Miracast or iPlay, but finding one that has both, plus DLNA, and can do digital and analog output is quite a bit more difficult. Diamond’s $90/£110 WPCTV3000 includes each of those features on its spec sheet; let’s see if it can deliver.

Read full article @ Missing Remote

Hands On with the new Microsoft Band 2 Charging Stand

If you are looking for a charging stand for your Microsoft Band 2 then check out this new offering from the Microsoft Store.

Read full article @ WinSupersite

Install Windows 7 Games on Windows 10

Games that Microsoft shipped with Windows 7 are fundamentally different from those that it included in Windows 8 or 10. Windows 7 games were the last that were shipped as programs for example, and there were significant differences in the selection of games when compared to Windows 8 or 10.

Read full article @ gHacks

Oak Leaf Dimmable LED Desk Lamp Review

If you’ve got a desk chances are you need a desk lamp for it so why not get an LED one as they’ve gotten better and brighter and they’re just less expensive to operate and they last longer than incandescent bulbs do. Today for review I’ve got an dimmable LED desk lamp from a company called Oak Leaf and I’m very happy with it. This lamp has an integrated USB port in the base to charge your stuff and it has three different color temperature setting along with five levels of brightness for each temperature setting. The lamp is very well made and it looks great. Read on to learn more..

Read full article @ Technogog

OZONE Blast Ocelote World 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound Headset Review

Sometimes when i look back at the time when i first started playing games in my 80386DX (beginning of the 90's) it's hard for me to believe the how much things have changed in the PC gaming industry. I'm not talking about CPUs and GPUs since these were bound to change (besides back then we did jump from a 80286 to the 80386DX so that wasn't something new), I’m referring mostly to gaming peripherals such as gaming mice, keyboards and headsets. You see back then we enjoyed every available game (who remembers The Lost Vikings or Prince Of Persia?) with just a plain keyboard, ball mouse and a pair of tiny speakers or a pair of low-cost headphones much like the ones bundled with the SONY Walkman cassette players. Today as you all know things have become far better but also far more complicated since the market offers a huge selection of gaming peripherals aimed to cover even the last gamer out there. Today we are taking a look at one of the latest gaming headsets released by OZONE Gaming the Blast Ocelote World 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound Headset.

OZONE Gaming Gear, is an European brand of gaming peripherals that revolves around the concept “It’s all about Evolution”. OZONE is a brand created by and for gamers, the evolution is part of our gaming life, we all want to improve and evolve into a better gaming contender. OZONE is committed to the development, engineering and evolution of innovative gaming peripherals with a unique style and the best performance, to allow gamers to exceed their limits and become the best. It’s all about evolution. In the recent years the gaming industry has developed into the ultra-competitive arena that we see today, and the gamers have also developed into a more demanding, sophisticated and exigent consumer. There is an ever increasing demand for better design, increase number of functions and higher performances. Due to the development of newer and better gaming peripherals, the market has suffered a transformation. New segments of high performance gaming accessories have grown to become more specialized and subdivided. But this change in the market has also come accompanied of an increase in the price levels of those products. OZONE provides customers a wide range of gaming peripherals. Everyone from the occasional user to the professional gamer is ensured to find a OZONE product at a reasonable price which will fit their requirements to enjoy their favorite games.

OZONE Gaming has equipped the Blast Ocelote World with two 44mm neodymium magnet stereo drivers which feature a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz with 119dB (+-3dB) sensitivity and 50 Ohm impedance and a flexible Omni-directional microphone with a frequency response of 100Hz-10KHz, -42dB (+-3dB) sensitivity and 2.2 KOhm impedance. The Blast Ocelote World also features a metallic frame, foldable design for both earcups, pulsating LEDs on the exterior of the earcups (OZONE calls it Lighting FX), automatic mute function for the microphone (when positioned upwards), in-line audio controller and a 3m long cable. As usual the 7.1 virtual surround sound feature comes from a built-in USB sound card (most likely placed inside the in-line controller) and according to OZONE gaming it offers 360 degrees sound without the need for extra drivers (something which we are about to test for ourselves).

Read full article @ NikKTech

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX Case Review

You probably wouldn’t believe it, but the case we’re about to take a look at comes from a company that has only been in the PC case game since 2013. Formed in 2007 with PC cooling as their target market, Phanteks has only been dropping bombs on the hardware market since 2011 with their superbly performing CPU coolers. They soon followed their CPU coolers and fans with some of the best cases we have seen. Based on the mantra that “no job is impossible” and listening closely to what builders and modders want, Phanteks has been stunning us with cases that truly deliver exactly what we need time after time. Considering how long they have been designing and producing cases it’s astonishing just how many models they have. With such meteoric success I have to wonder if there is going to be a point when they miss? Can Phanteks truly keep making cases that are unique and nearly perfectly suited to our needs? Read along as we find out if today is the day Phanteks slips or shines with one of the newest models in one of their most popular lines, the Evolv ATX mid tower case.

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

QNAP TS-251+ Network Attached Storage Review

Much like in a business environment but on a smaller scale, we as home users, have an insatiable appetite for data. Our internet connection bandwidth has increased to the point where some can get speeds of 1 gigabit per second. Application sizes have increased. Some game installs reach 50 GB in size.

Read full article @ Modders-Inc

Samsung 950 Pro Review: The next step in mainstream SSD performance

Since the arrival of the XP941 last year, and later on the SM951 NVMe, we have been waiting for a more affordable mainstream version. Recently Samsung delivered just that with its new SSD 950 Pro Series. Made exclusively in the M.2 2280 form factor, the new 950 series comes in either 256GB or 512GB capacities -- priced at $190 ($0.74/GB) and $350 ($0.68/GB), respectively.

Read full article @ TechSpot

Scythe Ninja 4 CPU Cooler Review

Winter in Calgary is very much like a roller coaster. The temperatures seem to rise or fall randomly, and it is possible to go from temperatures well below zero to temperatures above zero in one day. For me, this is the most frustrating part of winter, since it feels like it cannot decide if it wants to be warm or cold -- much like choosing which restaurant to go to for dinner. I have to wake up early in the morning, scrape the ice off of my car, and go through the process of heating it up. However, when I leave the university in the afternoon, I have to carry all the extra layers I had on to keep me warm just hours ago back to my vehicle. Then there is getting into the car in a colder state than I would have liked, and a few minutes later, wondering why it was so hot. Other than this, I love winter, and I love to go skiing. Sleeping during the winter cold is also much easier than sleeping in the summer heat. It is probably a good thing I ended up in Calgary with short summers and cold winters. I always remind myself in the cold, you can always add on an extra layer, but in the summer, you can only take off so many. What we can see here is controlling the environmental temperature during warm and cold seasons is of crucial importance; much like controlling the temperature in your computer. Keeping your components cool is very important for their longevity, since if they are constantly too warm, it will greatly reduce their life in the long term. Furthermore, if the temperature rises too much, it can cause thermal throttling during gaming sessions, causing a drop in performance, making it very important to find good cooling to ensure your computer parts are happy at all times. Today, we have the Scythe Ninja 4 CPU cooler in for review. Read on to find out if it is as deadly and silent as a ninja!

Read full article @ APH Networks

Scythe Ninja 4 CPU Cooler Review

Founded in 2002 within the Akihibara district of Tokyo, Japan, Scythe is a global distributor and manufacturer of high quality computer parts. With offices in the USA and Germany, in addition to R&D facilities in Taiwan in China, Sycthe has grown from their humble beginnings and today are well known with PC enthusiasts around the world. While known for producing excellent heatsinks with an emphasis on quiet operation, Scythe perhaps is best known for their amazing Gentle Typhoon series of fans. With the Ninja 4 CPU cooler that we are reviewing today, Scythe is attempting to remind enthusiasts that they can provide excellent CPU cooling solutions at an amazing value.

While Intel continues to make strides in reducing the heat output of their CPU’s, the popularity of aftermarket CPU cooling applications are at an all time high. Since Intel has never chosen to remedy the poor stock cooler included with their processor, any user who wants to overclock or run a stock CPU comfortably in high performance scenarios is going to be looking towards an aftermarket cooling solution. While AIO units have become popular, there is still an appreciable amount of users who refuse to liquid cool their CPU’s, leaving a market for high performance air coolers.

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

Shuttle XPC NC01U Nano Review

Small, smaller, the smallest one ever? Shuttle has on the NUC market with their new and tiny NC01U. It is so small that you can mount this fully fetched Windows 10 Ready PC behind your monitor. With power consumption below 10 Watts this thing offers incredible fun. Armed with an Intel Celeron 3205U Processor clocked at 1.50GHz and then combined with M.2. SSD, a decent chipset, USB 3.0 ports, 2.5" SSD support as well as AC WiFi and a Gigabit LAN jack you will be surprised to see what this product offers.

The end-users who might be interested in a product like this need to be found in the SOHO, Net PC or HTPC space. The Shuttle NC01U with its incredibly small size will fit anywhere, and armed with Windows 10 is it fast enough for normal web-browsing, office applications like Word amd Excell but sure, even some simplistic work with Photoshop would not be a problem. Though the Shuttle NC01U does not have a very fast processor, it does offer enough performance for everyday PC usage. Next to that you can easily hide this unit behind your monitor, or HDTV. With that in mind, this easily can be a product that accelerates and post processes high definition movies and music, preferably the content is streamed over a network. And that's where we land at net-tops and mini-tops. In its bare essence this is pretty much a tiny PC that is armed with that 2-core Processor clocked at 1.50GHz. The embedded GPU that houses inside the processor is fast enough to decode and accelerate 1080P video content perfectly, it comes with connectivity like HDMI and even DisplayPort. It has one Gigabit Ethernet jack and fully fetched AC WiFi as well.

Read full article @ Guru3D

The Absolute Worst SSD Myth That You Shouldn’t Believe

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are great, but there are still too many people who arent willing to pick them over more familiar Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). That’s because there are several myths surrounding SSDs, and one in particular thats notorious: the myth that SSDs aren’t durable. While it’s true that SSDs can handle only a finite number of writes, there are several other factors at play in deciding how far the life of an SSD will stretch. 

Read full article @ MakeUseOf

Use GWX Control Panel to stop Windows 10 upgrade prompts

If you are still looking for a way to stop the Get Windows 10 app from prompting you about upgrading to Windows 10 then this program is the right tool.

Read full article @ WinSupersite

Using a Graphics Card as a PhysX Processor - Beneficial or Not?

Recently we reviewed the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 980 AMP! graphics card, and a good point popped into our mind, what the heck do we do with our old graphics card? Take a read to find our whether it is beneficial to use your older graphics card to process PhysX!

Read full article @ TechnologyX