AMD offers to improve your gaming experience by offering free games bundled with select graphics cards.
Get Dead Island 2 and Callisto Protocol with AMD graphics and raise your game!
From now until 4th February 2023, every purchase of RX6000 series cards at participating retailers will come with up to two games for free. All purchases of the selected cards will come with the zombie-slaying sequel Dead Island 2. Purchases of the RX6700 and higher will also get the highly anticipated sci-fi survival horror, The Callisto Protocol. Additionally, The Callisto Protocol comes with AMD Radeon inspired weapon skins, a digital skin and special character.
A full list of eligible graphics cards can be found on the AMD Raise the Game bundle offer page. The free games will be given as game codes that can be redeemed online at www.amdrewards.com/terms.
More FPS with FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.2
Alongside the free games giveaway, AMD has also announced FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 2.2. AMD’s temporal upscaling answer to nVidia’s DLSS technology, FSR 2.2 promises to bring improved framerates and enhanced visuals.
Up to 218 games already supported by AMD’s FidelityFX Super resolution upscaling tech.
FSR 2.0 was announced earlier in May 2022, with up to 218 games combined supported by the technology and its previous 1.0 iteration. FSR 2.2 support will begin its rounds of the gaming sphere starting with its first game, Forza Horizon 5. AMD has also announced that FSR 2.2 will be free to download for game developers on GPUOpen.com soon though no specific date was mentioned. This should help speed up FSR 2.2 support for more games in the near future. Gamers can maximize their FSR and Radeon graphics card experience with the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™. This enables enhancements such as 4K gaming with DirectX 12 Ultimate and DirectX Raytracing (DXR).
For more information on AMD’s Raise Your Game Bundle and FidelityFX Super Resolution technology, visit AMD’s official website.
Microsoft is ushering in the “new era of computing” for Windows PC by unveiling the latest iterations of Surface devices.
The Surface Pro 9, available for pre-order Nov 8th in, new Sapphire (top) and Forest (bottom) colors.
Surface Pro 9 with Intel and SQ®3 platform choice, two new colors and pre-order goodies
From 8th November to 28th November 2022, the Surface Pro 9 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia. Microsoft has also announced two new color variants, Sapphire and Forest, for more variety. To sweeten the deal, a Surface Pro Signature keyboard and other free gifts (worth up to RM1288) will be given along with every pre-order. Every purchase of the Surface Pro 9, pre-order or otherwise, will receive a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365.
The Surface Pro 9 now comes with two platform choices. There is the Intel Evo platform powered by the 12th Gen Intel® Core processor with Thunderbolt™ 4. The other is the Microsoft SQ®3 platform powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon with 5G connectivity, exclusive for Surface for Business users.
Both Intel and Qualcomm variants of the Surface Pro 9 will share the same build quality and core features. This includes the 13.3-inch PixelSense Display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Microsoft’s custom G6 chip that enhances the inking experience with tactile feedback. The Surface Pro 9 comes with options of Intel i5, i7 or SQ®3 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage, with prices starting at RM5299.
New line of Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt 4 and more pre-order goodies
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt™ 4
Microsoft also unveiled the new range of Surface Laptop 5, available for pre-order from 8th November 2022 in Malaysia. All pre-orders will receive a free Microsoft Arc Mouse and other free gifts (worth up to RM998). All purchases of the Surface Laptop 5 will receive a a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365 as well.
With prices starting from RM5299, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants. Variants have options of 12th Gen Intel i5 and i7 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. All Surface Laptop 5 comes with the signature 3:2 PixelSense display and now with Thunderbolt™ 4 to further boost productivity.
AMD’s RDNA 3 GPU architecture has just launched less than two weeks ago. While details are still quite scarce, the new GPUs launched in their livestream looked promising. There was not to say plenty in terms of variety in their launch too.
They launched two flagship class GPUs within the Radeon family. You can say hello to AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 and RX 7900 XTX. In their launch, they say that their flagship RX 7900 XTX performs at least 15% better than the older RX 6950 XT in games. Thanks to RDNA 3 technology, which is also an evolution from RDNA 2, AMD’s latest GPUs can maintain and even lower the GPUs’ power consumption while delivering the same amount of processing power. At the same time, AMD has upgraded its encoders to ensure that the new GPUs can work with videos and rendering much better than the RX 6000 series Radeon GPUs.
Of course, you do not only have to buy the GPU directly from AMD. You can get your hands on AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX from AMD’s board partners like ASUS and their new TUF Gaming line up of AMD GPUs. Welcome to the TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs.
The basic construction and design of ASUS’ TUF Gaming GPUs are not completely different from AMD Radeon’s original design. Like AMD’s reference GPU, the ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XT has the same 20GB of GDDR6 RAM. If you want something more cutting edge, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX offers 24GB in GDDR6 RAM.
TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Source: ASUS
It is a big card, this one. In its entirety, the GPU takes up to 3.63 slots within your desktop PC. All that cooling is required to keep the 6,144 stream processors with 384-bt memory interface. But this much weight is never good on a PCB. That is why ASUS built the GPU with a die-cast frame holding a solid aluminium backplate and shroud to ensure that the weight does not stress the PCB out too much. For even more security, there is a GPU stand that is included when you buy the Radeon RX 7900 XTX.
The large structure houses a combination of large heatsinks and fan designs that allows for up to 13.8% more airflow and up to 8% more static pressure over TUF Gaming’s last generation AMD Radeon flagship card even at lower fan speeds allowing for a quieter card despite its power. You can also choose between two BIOS presets for either a quieter experience or more powerful performance mode.
The new RDNA 3 GPU packs an HDMI 2.1 port for up to 8K 165Hz display connections. You will not get that kind of graphics for most AAA games played on the GPU though, even if you can find a display to match that. Still, it is nice to know that you are futureproofed. You also get three DisplayPort 2.1, which is technically even better than HDMI 2.1 currently. Unlike NVIDIA’s latest and greatest, the AMD GPU still needs three 8-pin connectors from your PSU to work.
TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XT
Source: ASUS
The new high-end AMD GPU packs just a little under 800 stream processors at 5,379. It is still anything but a slouch though. It is paired with 20GB of GDDR6 RAM and 320-bit memory interface, which is still a plenty and rather fast.
The Radeon RX 7900 XT also features a 3.63-slot design that houses plenty of cooling capabilities while remaining quiet. At the same power draw, the GPU runs faster, cooler, and quieter than the older Radeon RX 6900 GPU. That also means that if you truly want to overclock the GPU, you have even more headroom than before.
Price and Availability
While ASUS has announced and unveiled the new AMD GPUs, there are no official dates teased by the board makers. There is also currently no official pricing from them just yet. We are expecting them to be available sometime soon after the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and Radeon RX 7900 XTX reference GPUs arrive in Malaysian shores. You can expect prices to be higher than the reference cards too thanks to the beefier cooling solution that the TUF Gaming variants offer. More on the new AMD Radeon GPUs from ASUS can be found on their website.
In the world of fast-paced First Person Shooter (FPS) games, resolution is not everything. You want a display that responds as fast as you can move, you want everything to be fluid and clear as you pan your mouse everywhere to get your targets and still be precise. Since your opponents will be moving, a sharp image while you move is crucial for you to get the kill and be as accurate as possible. Of course, you want a fast-responding display too, one with the least input lag possible.
Source: BenQ
The XL2566K is BenQ’s latest ZOWIE gaming monitor made specifically with competitive FPS gamers and the big stage in mind. It is their flagship esports monitor which will no doubt find its way to competitive stages around the world. It packs 360Hz, which also means that CS:GO players can be even sharper than before with up to 360 frames every second projecting on their display.
Then there is DyAc+ technology that is proprietary to ZOWIE. It offers an added clarity in fast motions. Often, just refresh rate alone is not enough to ensure that your image is crystal clear and razor sharp in fast movements. You need a clever sharpening technology like DyAC+ to clean out your image and offer you extra details in the image. The result is a sharper image all around even when your target is at a distance.
It is not an IPS display though, instead you get the less premium TN and there is good reason for that. IPS displays can hit 360Hz in refresh rate, but there are disadvantages to IPS displays. Firstly, it’s response time is slower than that of TN panels. TN panels are also cheaper to produce, making the ZOWIE monitor a little more accessible. Secondly, TN panels offer a better and more reliable response times to IPS displays. The expense? Your picture quality and colours suffer a little bit. But this is the world of competitive FPS gaming. That means that your picture quality matters less, and performance is what you want.
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
Source: BenQ
They have also put a lot of thought in designing the product to be as ergonomic as possible for FPS gamers. The 24.5-inch display features a sturdy base that is optimally shaped to allow for a tighter mouse configuration. That not only allow FPS gamers to have a tighter set up for more precision, you take up less space on your desk too. Of course, the stand is height adjustable with tilt adjustment too. You can swivel it a little bit to create more room for your mousepad. It also comes with two side shield panels to ensure that you minimize glare from other light sources.
ZOWIE’s XL2566K is now available on BenQ’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada. You can get your hands on one as well at BenQ’s authorized resellers across the nation. It will set you back MYR 2,949, which is pretty steep for a Full HD monitor understandably. It is a rather niche display though, if you think about it. It serves a very specific purpose, that is to ensure that you are competitive. More information n the new ZOWIE XL2566K TN 360Hz DyAc+ monitor can be found on their website.
Working on-the-go is pretty much the name of the game in the modern corporate world. Thanks to the advances in technology too, the concept of working from anywhere in the world is made a reality. With laptops that offers battery life beyond a full workday, you can technically open your laptop from anywhere and get work done at any time.
To be fair, battery technology has not progressed all that much. The Lithium battery that we are used to today has been the same battery technology that we have seen over the past 10 years. What has progressed though is our understanding of silicon technology and how to make transistors smaller, more powerful, and even more efficient. With Intel’s modern Core processors at least, it finally happened, we have laptops that can run on battery longer than 10 hours on a single charge.
That leads us to this Acer TravelMate P6 made for the corporate world. It is also made for corporate employees who travel. In that sense, it is made to last for an entire day on a single charge. It is meant to be whipped out and get you productive anytime, anywhere.
At MYR 6,680, it is not exactly the most affordable laptop for corporate use. In fact, there are many thin-and-light laptops that cost less. The Acer Swift 5 for example, offers the same Intel Core i7, more RAM at 16GB, and better touch screen display while costing about MYR 600 less.
So, what makes this TravelMate P614P special? Why does it cost more than the Acer Swift 5? Is it worth its asking price? Should you get it? We dive right in.
Design
It looks just like any other laptops out there. It is rather unassuming. There is not much in terms of angles and tapers. It is just a rectangular piece of kit that is made mostly out of aluminium. You also get an Acer logo on the top right corner behind the display.
Even the colour is rather plain in its Navy Blue guise. The only other colour you can find on the device is the chrome strips that are also the hinges that holds the bottom and top half of the laptop together.
Then you open it up and the simplistic approach continues with the aluminium bezels surrounding a 14-inch Full HD display. The keyboard and trackpad are pretty much standard designs with the power button integrated into the layout instead of it being a separate button placed elsewhere. That way, you save same spaces on top for a slightly roomier keyboard and larger trackpad.
Because most of the laptop is made from aluminium, it feels solid with minimal flex all around. There is a little bit of play in the aluminium bezels, though not at alarming levels. We suspect that it was because the bezel also houses the webcam.
Hardware
The Acer TravelMate P6 we have here is not an entry-level device. You get a powerful 11th generation Intel Core processor that powers Windows 11 Pro. There is no discrete GPU here though, just Intel’s Iris Xe graphics.
Specifications
ACER TravelMate P614-52
As tested
Processor (clock)
Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor 2.80 GHz quad-core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.70GHz) and 12MB cache
GPU
Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Display
14” IPS Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 aspect ratio
Memory
8GB LPDDR4X 1TB PCIe® NVMe™ 3.0 M.2 SSD
Networking and Connections
Intel WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 2x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 1x Type-A 1x HDMI 2.0 1x MicroSD card reader 1x 3.5mm AUX Jack
Battery
Lithium Ion battery with up to 20 hours of battery life (quoted) 65W Type-C power adapter
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
Miscellaneous
HD camera Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Far Field Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4 MIL-STD 810H Windows Hello with Facial Recognition
Features
Of course, at over MYR 6,000 you need some selling points. This one is a business specific laptop, which also means security is everything. Leaks at your work is not an option.
Windows 11 Pro
The Pro variants of Windows has always been the just a little bit better than the Home variants. There is no difference in terms of the user interface. Everything should be familiar to a Windows 11 home user, or even Windows 10 users.
Windows 11 Pro is designed with security in mind. On the Pro edition, you can set passwords on your drives with BitLocker. BitLocker also allows you to lock your PC remotely until you can recover it or forever, jus to make sure that your data is safe even when your device is not.
Windows Hello Security
Yes, all Windows PC comes with Windows Hello function. But that does not mean that every PC does what the TravelMate P6 does with Windows Hello.
Most Windows PC must settle with Window Hello Pin. The TravelMate P6 boasts facial recognition with IR blaster that allows you to use it in lower light condition too. You can use the fingerprint sensor if you want to, or if you choose to cover you webcam with the physical webcam cover.
There is also an added advantage to having an IR blaster right next to your webcam. Your PC knows if you are in front of the laptop or not. That way, the PC locks the moment you move away from the laptop to keep prying eyes from all your important documents. Once you come back, the TravelMate P6 unlocks in no time and you are back at it.
Simple Keys
Backlit keyboard is sort of expected. While it is a normal thing for modern laptops, it is still something highly appreciated, especially indoors and in low-light conditions. On the Travelmate P6, the backlighting is a soft backlight glow that does not attack your eyes.
In certain situations, we find the keyboard backlighting dim. The good thing is that we would have to turn the display’s brightness down a notch to match the backlit keyboard. That way you strain your eyes less.
There is an issue though. You cannot adjust the brightness of your keyboard backlight; it is either on, or off. The backlight also turns off on its own after about 30 seconds. We would appreciate some adjustments on the backlighting.
Acer has been really stepping up in their keyboard game, especially ones on their productivity laptops. The chiclet style backlit keyboard should be quite a familiar one if you have worked with Acer laptops before. You get pretty much the same layout with the power button still integrated into the layout on the Function rows. The power button now doubles as the fingerprint sensor but is not backlit. You can hardly mistake its position though.
While we have been complaining about this sort of layout, Acer sort of solved it by offering a power button that feels completely different than other keys. To hit your power button and get your Travelmate P6 going, it must be a deliberate press. It also prevents accidental turn offs.
The keyboard itself feels good, despite its limited travel. The bottom out feels rather solid but not harsh. They are not mushy either, just the right amount of tactility, bounce, and feedback. You can type long emails without getting too fatigued. The size of the keyboard is quite perfect for various hand sizes to get comfortable with.
Full I/O Ports
The slim form factor means that the Travelmate P6 is lighter and more portable than regular laptops. Its 14-inch display is just the right size that it is easily pocket able while remaining productive use cases. Its thickness is also perfect to work with when it comes to a full-sized USB Type-A and HDMI port.
Of course, the Travelmate P6 comes with two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 capabilities. That means you can connect with more than one monitor. This time, the Acer Travelmate P6 charges via either USB Type-C ports by default. There are no proprietary ports here, which also means that your bundled charger can also be used to charge all your USB Type-C devices.
On the other side is a MicroSD slot and a 3.5mm combo jack. While we appreciate a form of memory card reader, we think that a fully sized SD card slot would have been a better deal. Still, MicroSD cards are more accessible now, so it may not be such a bad thing.
WiFi 6 Connectivity
WiFi 6 is not technically an exclusive feature on the Acer TravelMate P6. It is technically a standard feature of all modern computing devices you see today. But it is worth talking about.
The current WiFi standard is still relevant. Many homes are still working with regular WiFi technology. Once you go on WiFi 6 though, you might not be able to downgrade.
We have a 500Mbps internet connection at home with our service provider’s default WiFi 6 router. In all our tests, we could constantly hit speeds well above 300Mbps. While the quality of the router does play a big role in the internet speed the signal can carry, the graph from Speedtest tells us that connection is rather stable, even at lower signal strengths, and that is important in work from home situations.
Performance – Intel’s 11th Generation Core + Iris Xe Power
No, it does not have Intel’s Arc GPU to work with. It has Intel Iris Xe, one of Intel’s newer GPU implementations for mobile computing. This came before Intel’s new Arc GPUs, and there are currently not Arc GPU for the mobile platform just yet, be patient.
Multitasking & Productivity
While the Iris Xe is an integrated GPU, it is a proven platform for most productivity situations. It is even capable of light video editing work. Intel quotes 4K video editing capabilities, it is possible, but you need some patience. You are better off rendering your videos with older gaming laptops once you are done with your edits on the TravelMate P6.
If you are not hard pressed on working with videos with the Travelmate P6, it works well. The one we have here is Intel’s 11th generation Core i7 processor. It is not the same one you will find in gaming or the latest laptops, but it is still potent. The only thing we think that might be holding back the Travelmate P6’s potential is its limited RAM at 8GB.
While 8GB of RAM is enough for Windows 11 Pro to work with, we think that it is at the edge of what is acceptable in terms of multitasking. The laptop does tend to struggle a little when we try to have too many tabs open at once on Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. We think that at its selling price, the Acer Travelmate P6 deserves a larger RAM as well with the option to expand.
In that sense though, you should not be left wanting too much more from the laptop. The Travelmate P6 is made for mostly Word processing, PowerPoints, emails, and viewing Excel sheets. In those functions, the device will cope well with no struggles.
Entertainment
It does most of the entertainment stuff well enough too. The display only does 1080p Full HD. Netflix and Prime Video app should work smoothly and have no trouble making use of the full 1080p resolution of the display with the provided hardware. If you have a 4K display, you can easily take advantage of that via the USB Type-C or HDMI ports and Netflix and app projecting at 4K resolution.
Battery Life
One of the biggest plus points of this Acer Travelmate P6 is its long battery life. In our typical use, with about 10 tabs open across Microsoft Edge and Firefox, three Microsoft Word documents open, and music streaming, the Travelmate P6 manages more than 12 hours of combined continuous use without charging. We did not wait for the battery to completely drain, but if we leave the laptop charged throughout the evening, we did not have to be break out our charger the next day.
Display and Audio
Like we mentioned that you get a 14-inch Full HD display. It is a 16:10 aspect ratio display, which is an aspect ratio we can fully get on board with. The aspect ratio is also why you can get a 14-inch display in a body that is no larger than a traditional 13-inch laptop.
We think that Full HD is adequate on a 14-inch laptop made for work. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel will not look any better on a higher resolution display. At the same time, a higher resolution display might mean that everything from your desktop icons to quick launch menu be even smaller than they are necessary, making navigation a pain.
For entertainment, the IPS display is not the most colour accurate display you can find on a laptop. It does not need to be though. Colours are vibrant enough for movies and videos to look good and immersive. You will not be wanting to do full colour grading work with the monitor, but at least you get a good and enjoyable colour range to entertain yourself with.
In terms of Audio, the Travelmate P6 comes packing DTS audio tuning. You still don’t want to expect big sounds from the tiny speakers from the laptop though. It is acceptable, the audio. The quality may not be the best. This laptop does not feature a subwoofer too, which means you get a rather tiny bass response from it.
For video calls, it works rather well. If you are not sitting in a crowded environment, the speakers are rather excellent. There are far-field mics as well on the laptop to ensure that it picks up your voice just as it sounds. While you are not getting the best video quality from the webcam, your audio, probably the most important thing in a video call, is clear.
The Acer Travelmate P6 – Not Perfect, But Quite Fitting
At MYR 6,680, the Acer Travelmate P6 is not what you would call budget friendly; it is an expensive laptop. For the same money, you can set yourself up with a mid-range gaming laptop. For less money, you can get yourself a high-end thin-and-light PC, albeit without Windows 11 Pro.
The extra money you pay to get this over other thin-and-light laptops buys you more security. It buys you a well thought fingerprint sensor and power button combo. It also buys you a webcam and IR blaster that does Windows Hello and cleverly locks your PC when you move away for a quick toilet break. You get convenience with a microSD slot, fully sized USB Type-A, and HDMI ports. That money also gets you a long-lasting battery life like no other. You can get to the office, work without charging your laptop, go home, and work some more before getting your charger out to ready the laptop for the next day.
You want to remember that this laptop is made to do work, to be worked on. It fulfils those duties reliably and more. In those regards, your MYR 6,680 is not necessarily spent on things you can measure. Your hard-earned money, or company’s money is spent on a reliable hardware that you can count on when it comes to getting your work done.
Before LG releases their new LG monitor that you see here, the only manufacturer you could get a smart monitor that works like TV, but for PCs, is Samsung. If you have not known yet, Samsung’s SMART monitors for PCs work pretty much like their smart TVs. You get Tizen OS for smart TV, you can install all sorts of apps for the TV, and work it exactly like a TV, even without a PC connected to it.
While they are the only one producing monitors of this kind, we think that the product comes with a lot of potential for smaller working set-ups and even homes. The larger sized smart monitor at 32-inch offers 4K resolution and affordable entertainment option for those who are looking for a dual function display in a smaller space. You do not need to get a separate TV box or Chromecast for it, and that makes it a viable TV replacement at a much smaller and digestible form factor.
Samsung’s position as one of the biggest names in smart TVs is a big plus for the to produce PC monitors with their proprietary TV Operating System (OS) too. So comes the question, what about others? What about LG? LG answers with this one, the 32SQ780S.
Source: LG
The new SMART Monitor, as LG names it, is a new 32-inch monitor for the PC. Its 32-inch VA panel offers 4K UHD resolution, perfectly in line with the latest of smart TVs. Serving it natively is LG’s WebOS 22 that also powers LG’s latest large form factor TVs. The 32-inch 4K monitor also offers 90% in DCI-P3 colour gamut with HDR10 support for the best in-class entertainment experience. WebOS 22 gives you access to apps like Netflix and YouTube without even being connected to any PC or consoles. At the same time, the built-in 5-watt dual channel stereo speakers should be a good enough audio source for users.
With WebOS, the LG SMART Monitor is not just an entertainment hub too. It can be your smart home hub with ThinQ hub. You can control any compatible smart home appliances with no fuss. While it does not offer Chromecast natively, you can still project your smartphone to the display via MiraCast.
The best part of the LG SMART Monitor is the fact that the monitor comes with LG’s clever Ergo Stand that gives the LG monitor flexibility like no other for monitors in its class. With the stand, you not only save table space and real estate for a larger working surface and storage. You also get to put or orient your monitor in any way you like for your working or entertainment comfort.
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
Source: LG
The 32-inch 4K 32SQ780S UHG LG SMART Monitor will be available in early November 2022 in the United States first. They say that other markets should follow soon after, that includes Malaysia. There is no official pricing that has been provided yet at least for Malaysia. You can expect them to price the monitor at about the same price as Samsung’s offerings.
If you are into video production, or if you are looking to start your own podcast and streaming career or hobby, you might be familiar with Rode. They are known currently to make some high-quality audio capture products for video and podcasting work at a fraction of the price of what you want to consider as “professional” grade gears. While they have been regarded also as some of the best and most sought-after brand in the world of audio capture for videos and podcasts, they feel like they have not tapped into one market: the gaming industry.
While this was not really a thing 10 years prior, streamers are a thing now. Where there are gamers, there will be streamers in the current video games industry. Of course, Rode must be part of that action. Introducing the Rode X line-up.
Unlike the usual Rode stuff, you get for your video cameras, the Rode X sub-brand does not offer you any regular audio capture hardware you might be used to. You do not get a mixer, or a mic with XLR output. You instead get a software solution to accompany USB connected mics for your PC.
In a way, this makes high-quality podcast type mics a lot more accessible to aspiring streamers. USB type connection also makes the technology a lot simpler to work with. Users do not need an inherent knowledge on operating the traditional audio capture gears like a mixing console, getting digital outputs to work with their PC, or even choosing between dynamic and condenser type mics. You simply plug the mics in, and you are ready to go, almost.
Instead of a physical mixing console, you get UNIFY, Rode’s proprietary software for the Rode X range of devices. Via UNIFY, users can fine tune their mics to their own desired qualities, make themselves sound good, or at least to levels and qualities they are happy with. There is a built-in high-pass filter mode, APHEX Aural Exciter, and Big Bottom within the software itself for you to have complete control over your voice.
They also say that the UNIFY PC app also simplifies audio routing, mixing, and processing. We are guessing that this could also mean that the app might be able to support multiple Rode X mic inputs at the same time on a single PC, which is always a blessing since Windows’ audio routing is rather frustrating with multiple inputs.
XCM-50 – Simply Plug, and Play
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
The simplest mic to work with in their stables is the XCM-50. While this is their entry-level product, Rode says that it still offers professional grade sound quality with features made for gamers and streamers. It is not just made for streaming purposes; it is also made for gamers that are looking to up their team chat quality.
It is a condenser type microphone, which also means it needs power. It gets it from the USB type-C port from the back of the device to be connected to a USB port on your PC. If you need to hear yourself, or even hear whatever you want to hear on your PC, there is a dedicated 3.5mm AUX jack for you to plug into. That also means that the condenser mic is not just your regular input mic, it is also your external DAC, sort of.
It is designed to pick up your voice and only your voice. The cardioid polar pattern can be quite narrow, and you need to be speaking directly into it for it to pick up. That also means that it is going to reject most of the noise that is around you to ensure that your teammates or audiences hear only you and not the noise your cat makes beside you. There is also an internal pop filter already so you do not need to get another that will get into your face.
XDM-100 – Professional and Natural
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
Source: Rode X
If you are more familiar with audio gear, and just want to have the best type of voice for your multiplayer gaming, streaming, and podcasting purposes, then you go for the more premium XDM-100. It is larger than the entry-level condenser, which is quite normal for a dynamic mic. You also get an input volume control knob alongside a 3.5mm AUX jack for your headphone output.
Because dynamic mics are passive mics, they tend to sound a lot more natural than condenser mics, and this holds true for the XDM-100. Since it tends to be less sensitive than condensers, you generally want the mic to be closer to you. That way, it naturally cancels out noise that is further out from its central pick-up area. It naturally rejects keyboard noises and mouse clicks, for example. With built in pop filter, you are going to sound good however you speak.
The mic has built-in pre-amp, which is rather necessary for dynamic mics. That also means that it offers high-quality 24-bit/48kHz audio for that crisp and natural radio voice. Of course, you also get high-pass filter, APHEX Aural Exciter, and Big Bottom like the XCM-50. The UNIFY app also allows you to set a noise gate just to make sure that your streams are free of noise.
Price and Availability
The Rode X XCM-50 and XDM-100 are now available for purchase, but only in select regions. There is no specific local availability (Malaysia) mentioned. The XCM-50 will set you back US$ 149 (MYR*) while the XDM-100 is available for US$ 249 (MYR*). They are not exactly cheap, but they are significantly more accessible than full-on professional-grade podcasting set-ups. While they are only available in select regions, we are also confident that you might be able to get your hands on one or pre-order one from your favourite resellers (audio and video gear stores) in Malaysia. More on the Rode X can be found on their website
The invention of USB Type-C is a significant one. It brought the USB invention to the modern world. It ushered in a new era of standard connectivity. It is also a rather important aspect in the world of high wattage fast charging devices. It also allowed a single USB port to turn into so much more than just one port. It is a charging port, data port, DisplayPort, and even an HDMI port. Intel calls their own proprietary technology for a multipurpose USB Type-C the Thunderbolt technology.
Thunderbolt technically did not start out as a USB technology though. Thunderbolt needed its own proprietary port to work on its own. That never really caught on. The USB Type-C 3.1 standards brought in an entirely new possibility with Thunderbolt. In its current standard, with the latest available Intel processor, Thunderbolt is in its fourth generation; hence, Thunderbolt 4.
Thunderbolt 4 brings about DisplayPort 1.4 capabilities alongside HDMI 2.0, up to 40Gbps data transfer speeds, and even 10 Gigabit networking. You can even charge laptops that require less than 100W charge speeds. All that, and you still have USB 3.0 capabilities with a USB dongle.
Thunderbolt 4 is impressive, but to keep up with the times, it needs an update. It needs to keep up with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0 standards. Intel does one better with USB4 v2. We are guessing that the next generation Thunderbolt would be named Thunderbolt 5 and still go along with USB Type-C port, but Intel might have a different idea when the first laptops arrive with USB4 v2 standards.
Instead of keeping up to DisplayPort 2.0, the new USB4 v2 standard is capable of DisplayPort 2.1 port standards. That also means that it can transfer up to 80 Gigabits every second in either direction. One way, up to 120 Gigabits of data can be transferred every second for the best type of display experience you can find on any device.
Like Thunderbolt 4, the new Thunderbolt standard can also support PCIe data throughput. That means you can plug in your GPU externally and make use of more powerful GPUs to run with your thin-and-light laptop. In this case, USB4 v2 is now capable of the lates PCIe 5.0 standards for twice the throughput from the previous Thunderbolt 4.
Intel says that the USB4 v2 standards will also be compatible with previous versions of Thunderbolt, USB, and DisplayPort. While it might simply mean that it will still be able to work with devices in the previous generation, it could also mean that Intel is sticking with USB Type-C as its main connection method. Even if they decided not to stick with USB Type-C, they might be able to get manufacturers and accessory makers play ball with their new designs.
The biggest thing that has happened to gaming for the past few years is not really the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X. They are great, they are revolutionary, but they are rather regular and expected. You still need to be sat in one location and get it plugged to a display to fully enjoy them. The most important thing that has happened in gaming over the past few years is portable gaming, or mobile gaming.
What really started this handheld gaming phenomena is not really the smartphone. It is more to do with Nintendo’s Switch. Later, Steamdeck revolutionized the handheld gaming space again bringing the entire strength of Steam’s gaming library for PC games to a handheld device no bigger than a hard cover Harry Potter book.
Then Razer comes along with the Razer Edge. The Razer Edge is unique, not really a Nintendo Switch with exclusive titles. It is not exactly a Steamdeck competitor in the hardware space as well.
Source: Razer
Where the Steamdeck is powered by a swatch of PC like parts, AMD’s Zen 3 CPU with integrated GPU, for example, the Edge is made more like a smartphone. It is powered by Qualcomm’s snapdragon G3x Gen 1 platform. That is also an exclusive for Razer, the most powerful integrated processing chip that Qualcomm can produce at this time clocking up to 3GHz on it eight-core Kryo design.
It makes plenty of sense though the Razer Edge is not made to be a smartphone. It is made purely for gaming on the go and to be the best at it. But since it is Qualcomm, there is some smartphone qualities about the handheld device. You get to opt for 5G connectivity for example, so you can technically game anywhere you want to game. You also get WiFi 6E, which is technically still a brand-new technology even for the PC space.
If display quality is what you are looking for, the Steamdeck and Nintendo Switch has nothing on this handheld. It packs a 6.8-inch AMOLED display that refreshes at 144Hz boasting Full HD+ (2400 x 1080). It is technically the most advance display you can find on any handheld device in its class.
Source: Razer
So, what can a handheld device that is built purely for gaming with smartphone class hardware can do? It can run on Android, obviously. In that case, you can play Android games like PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends Bang Bang. It also comes with Epic Games Launcher app out-of-the-box which also means that it will run games like Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe with no issue.
It is not just made for mobile games though. It is designed with cloud gaming in mind too. So, if you have and active subscription on Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming and you want to take them out to the world, you can.
That is not all though. While you will not be able to install PC games directly on your Razer Edge, you still can play them. The Razer Edge is the only handheld gaming device out there that comes with the ability to play Steam games at 144Hz via Steam Link remote play. You also get access to Moonlight, and Parsec. We are guessing that Razer might get PlayStation remote play available on the Razer Edge soon too. Sure, you want to be constantly connected to the internet, that is why you might want to get yourselves the 5G variant.
The Razer Edge is technically just an integrated handheld device that works like a smartphone. You can detach it from the new Razer Kishi V2 Pro that it will come with. That also means that you can even use the controllers with your smartphone, if you like. But then again, you would want to be using your Razer Edge for all your games.
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
Source: Razer
The Razer Edge will be available only in the United States for now January 2023 onward. It will only be available in stores and Razer.com in its WiFi only variant at launch. Yes, there will also be a 5G variant as we mentioned, but it will only be available later and exclusively from Verizon. The WiFi variant of the Razer Edge will retail for US$ 399.99 (MYR 1,885*) at launch. Unfortunately, there are no mentions on its availability and official pricing in other regions currently. More information on the Razer Edge can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.71 as of 18/10/2022 on xe.com
Yes, you read that right. You read Bionic Shark Fans, not Fins, and you are reading that right, it is not a typo. Now that we got that out of the way, let us talk about NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 as envisioned by Gigabyte.
NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 40 series promises a lot of performance and power. The ADA Lovelace architecture, as they call it, is claimed to be miles ahead of its competition and is significantly more powerful than NVIDIA’s older 30 series GPUs. Of course, we are all waiting to see if that claim can be substantiated.
While we are waiting around though, NVIDIA’s board partners are not. One of them, GIGABYTE has started introducing new GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs for the market. They did away with not just one GPU offering; they are offering four variants of the GeForce RTX 4090 alone.
AORUS MASTER
Source: GIGABYTE
First up is the AORUS MASTER GPU. Like all the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 cards released by Gigabyte, the AORUS MASTER offers better cooling performance with up to 30% more static pressure while reducing noise by up to 3dB. All this is possible thanks to Gigabyte’s latest WINDFORCE bionic shark fan design, and the AORUS MASTER gets three of them lined with RGB rings to keep the card cool in all kinds of conditions. Those are on top of larger heatsinks over the previous generation GPUs.
The AORUS MASTER cards also offer an LCD read out at the side of the card. The read out allows you to personalise your PC’s look even further with your own graphics and what not. If not, you can access and monitor critical stats like power consumption, GPU temperature, and even its fan speed.
To ensure that the GPU always works at optimal temperature, it is not just about having bigger coolers. It is also about using the right components in the construction of the card. That is why Gigabyte opted for aerospace grade PCB alongside Dual BIOS and 24+4 power phase design underneath an upgraded metal backplate to keep every component running at lower temperatures. Of course, the back plate also adds some rigidity to the card to minimise GPU sagging for a better look overall.
GIGABYTE GAMING OC
Source: GIGABYTE
Then there is the GIGABYTE GAMING OC card. It is no AORUS, but it is still an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU which also means it packs a lot of power. It comes with the same WINDFORCE fan blade design as the AORUS MASTER. The WINDFORCE fans also uses graphene nano lubricant that is supposed to extend the fan’s life by up to 2.1 times compared to regular double ball bearing fans. The GAMING OC GPU also has three of the WINDFORCE fans that comes with the same RGB Halo from the AORUS MASTER GPU to keep everything cool alongside ULTRA DURABLE certified components. Dual BIOS should keep the card operating at lower noise levels.
GIGABYTE WINDFORCE
Source: GIGABYTE
Sometimes you do not need the extremities that the AORUS MASTER offers. You do need the flashy RGB that the GAMING OC card offers too. You just want something that works. That is the GIGABYTE WINDFORCE NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 card.
It still packs the same WINDFORCE coolling system, which also means you should not be getting any less cooling performance with the entry-level GeForce RTX 4090 GPU from GIGABYTE. Like its more extreme brothers too, it has a large vapour chamber in direct contact with the GPU to keep everything cool and optimised. It even comes with Dual BIOS to keep things quiet when you need it to.
AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE
Source: GiGABYTE
The AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE is GIGABYTE’s answer to keeping the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 optimally cool in more extreme loads. It offers everything that the AORUS MASTER card offers, but with a slightly different cooling solution. Instead of relying on regular fan and heatsinks, it comes with a large water block and all-in-one aluminium radiator attached with three 120mm fans to keep things icy cold.
Space management with liquid cooling designs are usually quite complex. You want to think about the placement of the radiators, especially if you are also going with an all-in-one cooling solution for the CPU as well. To make things easier, the inlet and outlet ports are placed at the back of the card, so that it is easier to place the radiator. The pipes are also 460mm soft tubes to give you that extra flexibility in radiator placements.
GIGABYTE UD1000GM and UD850GM Power Supplies – PCIe 5.0 Empowerment
The new GPUs are rather power hungry with a quoted TDP of up to 450W. That is not even considering the spikes that the GPUs might go through from time to time. You need a power supply with a tonne of capacity. Since these are PCIe 5.0 cards too, you want your PSU to have PCIe 5.0 support out of the box for the best experience with the GPUs.
Introducing GIGABYTE’s UD1000GM and UD850GM 1000W and 850W power solutions made for PCIe 5.0 parts. As per PCIe 5.0 standards, the PSU offers a high-quality 16-pin connector that supports up to 600W of power output should your GPU need it. It is also a modular design with detachable cables for convenient cable management.
Price and Availability
There are no mentions on its local availability just yet. There are also no specific mentions on its pricing. You can expect the GPUs to be available once the reference cards from NVIDIA goes to market. You can also expect prices to be on the higher end of the scale compared to the reference cards with all the custom cooling solutions and components on their cards. More on GIGABYTE’s custom solutions for NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs can be found on their website.
