Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro gets a thorough teardown alongside direct performance measurements against integrated audio during idle tasks and gaming sessions. Meanwhile Noctua pushes its NH-D15 G2 chromax.black air cooler into a market now dominated by 360mm liquid cooling solutions that typically run cooler. Gamers will appreciate the TCL 27R944K display since it pairs Mini LED brightness with highly responsive frame rates for competitive play. The collection also rounds out with budget friendly gear like the lightweight Sharkoon SKILLER SGM70W mouse before finishing on the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-A motherboard that balances modern connectivity against more affordable competitor boards.
Audio: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro Review
Cooling: Noctua NH-D15 G2 chromax.black Review: Air vs 360mm AIO on Intel and AMD
Displays: TCL 27R944K 165 Hz gaming monitor review: Mini LED with high brightness and high performance
Headphones: OneOdio Studio Max 2 Wireless DJ Headphones review: 45mm drivers with Ultra-low Latency
Input: Sharkoon SKILLER SGM70W Review
Motherboards: ASUS ROG Strix X870E-A Gaming Wi-Fi 7 Neo Review
Audio:
IgorsLAB: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro Review - Teardown and Direct Measurement Compared to Onboard Sound in Idle and Gaming
So today we are testing the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro. Creative and the Sound Blaster series are among the names that hardly need any explanation in the PC audio field anymore. Anyone who has dealt with PCs long enough has at some point either owned a Sound Blaster or at least known someone who was firmly convinced that, without a dedicated sound card, everything fundamentally sounds only half as good.
Cooling:
The PC Enthusiast: Noctua NH-D15 G2 chromax.black Review: Air vs 360mm AIO on Intel and AMD
The Noctua NH-D15 G2 chromax.black has big shoes to fill. As the successor to one of the most respected CPU air coolers ever made, it enters a market now dominated by large 360mm AIO liquid coolers that offer lower temperatures and cleaner aesthetics.
Displays:
Tom's Hardware: TCL 27R944K 165 Hz gaming monitor review: Mini LED with high brightness and high performance
Great picture, smooth and responsive gaming
TCL 27R944K 165 Hz gaming monitor review: Mini LED with high brightness and high performance
Headphones:
Neowin: OneOdio Studio Max 2 Wireless DJ Headphones review: 45mm drivers with Ultra-low Latency
These headphones, targeted at DJs and professional audio studios, include a wireless transmitter that can connect your guitar or studio deck.
Input:
TechPowerUp: Sharkoon SKILLER SGM70W Review
Equipped with PixArt's PAW3395 sensor, Huano main button switches, and 8000 Hz wireless polling, the right-handed ergonomic Sharkoon SKILLER SGM70W can be configured without software and weighs only 49 g. Despite costing just $39.99, the SKILLER SGM70W even comes with glass mouse feet.
Motherboards:
TechPowerUp: ASUS ROG Strix X870E-A Gaming Wi-Fi 7 Neo Review
This ASUS X870E Strix Neo Refresh is a motherboard built to handle current and future CPUs with great performance, features and looks to match. The competition is fierce, though, and cheaper B850 options are getting ever more capable too.
