Tag Archives: gamer

Accessories, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle

Rode Launches Rode X – Made for Gamers and Streamers

October 26, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

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

Computers, Lifestyle, News

An AMD Twist for the Acer Nitro 5 (2020)

August 24, 2020 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

We reviewed the Acer Nitro 5 a few weeks ago and we thought that the gaming notebook is one of the best value-for-money devices of the year. It was worth MYR 4,899 and packs quite a lot of punch for that money.

You get a powerful Intel Core i7 (up to) and a not-so-entry-level NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti for your money. You now get 8GB of RAM and 512GB in SSD too in the entry-level gaming notebook. To sweeten the deal, the display is an IPS panel with 144Hz in response rate.

We did not think that it could be better in value, the Nitro 5. Acer proved us wrong with AMD though. The new Acer Nitro 5 now comes in AMD flavour for those looking for some distinction.

You are still getting the same 8GB RAM and 512GB in SSD storage. You also still get a 15.6-icnh IPS panel at Full HD resolution and refreshes at 144Hz. There is still the always reliable Killer Ethernet E2600 ethernet port. Even the keyboard is still the same 4-zone RGB type.

The differences are a little more than skin deep in this case. It comes packing AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800 8-core CPU power paired to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 instead of the GTX 1660Ti. While it might sound like a small downgrade, the differences are more minute than you know with the Intel pairing.

But the differences do not end at the hardware though. It is also differently priced at the same time. The Acer Nitro 5 with AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is now available across the nation via authorised retailers and official online stores at MYR 4,099. That is MYR 800 in difference to the top specced Intel variant of the Acer Nitro 5. With the current Acer Day promotion, the AMD variant of the Acer Nitro 5 is available for MYR 3,999. For more information on the Acer Nitro 5, do check out their website.

Computers, News

The New ASUS ROG STRIX gaming Notebooks with Liquid Metal Cooling Comes to Malaysia!

July 28, 2020 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Standing out in the world today is difficult. This statement cannot be truer in the gaming notebook PC segment. Everywhere you look, gaming notebooks look very similar to each other. At this point too, every gaming notebook have nearly the same design language – understated, simple, clean. Do not get us wrong though. We are not saying that they look bad, quite the opposite. There is nothing wrong too with the ‘blended in’ look and goal.

Still, we also understand that there are some who still wants something outrageous. There is still a market for a ‘different’ looking hardware. Something that stands out, but still looks decently fitting in a meeting room anyway. Something like an ASUS ROG STRIX.

The SCAR Edition

The ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR Edition has always been one of our favourite series of gaming notebooks. The new ROG STRIX SCAR 15 for 2020 comes with an Intel Core i7-10875H CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (up to) combination for raw horsepower in AAA titles. You get up to 16GB (8GB x 2) RAM configuration within the beastly body of the STRIX SCAR 15 as well for a crazy amount of Google Chrome tabs open at the same time.

Of course, as with the SCAR 15 naming scheme, you get a 15.6-inch Full HD display. It is an amazing display to work with though. 240Hz refresh means you can see everything clearly. 3ms response time means there is no noticeable delay from input to action. 100% sRGB means you get colours and depth like no other.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

Of course, all these things combined will produce a vast amount of heat. In addition to ASUS’s cooling technology, ASUS have replaced the thermal paste for the CPU and GPU with liquid metal for better cooling efficiency and effectiveness.

STRIX G – for Gaming

The liquid cooling technology does not stop at the SCAR edition ASUS ROG STRIX notebooks though. The ASUS ROG STRIX G15 and G17 also gets the liquid metal treatment for better cooling in heavy usage. We start with the STRIX G15.

The ASUS ROG STRIX G series comes packing with plenty of power still. It is no SCAR, but it still has the power of an Intel Core i7-10750H hexa-core processor. The combination of the powerful CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is still plenty enough to run AAA games at higher settings. You still get 16GB (8GB x 2) of RAM memory too, to take advantage of the powerful CPU and GPU.

Storage comes in a 1TB SSD flavour. In case that is not enough, there is two more M.2 slots for upgrades. HDD tray? That is so last year.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

The ASUS ROG STRIX G15 comes with a reasonably fast 15.6-inch Full HD display too. You get 144Hz out of it still. It is no pantone validated display though. Still, the IPS technology is known for its highly accurate and vibrant colours.

The ASUS ROG STRIX G17 on the other hand comes with a larger 17.3-inch Full HD display. It refreshes at 144Hz as well. It is a much faster responding display at 3ms response time though. This would be the one that you want to work with if you are into accurate colours too at 100% sRGB colour gamut rating.

Pricing & Availability

The ROG STRIX SCAR 15 starts at MYR 7,499 (G532L-VAZ069T) and tops out at MYR 7,999 (G532L-WAZ085T). The ASUS ROG STRIX G15 and G17 starts at MYR 6,699 (G512L-VHN146T) and MYR6,199 (G712L-UH7082T), respectively. The ASUS ROG STRIX G17 tops out at MYR 6,699 (G712L-VEV067T) though. The ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR Edition and STRIX G series is now available in Malaysia.

Android, Mobile, News

ASUS ROG Phone 3 Launched – Third Time’s the Charm

July 23, 2020 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Before we go on; no, ASUS’ ROG Phone and ROG Phone 2 were not rubbish. They were amazing smartphones, if I might have to say. We really liked the first-generation ASUS ROG Phone and we think that it can still hold its own today. The ROG Phone 2 was not revolutionary per say but it was still a brilliant smartphone on its own. Its expanded arsenal of accessories made it something quite special to behold, if not expensive.

The third one we see today is not exactly revolutionary as well. It is more of a step up, an evolution rather, to the ROG Phone 2. To be fair though, following up on two brilliant smartphones is difficult even for the biggest brands in the world.

The ROG Phone 3 seems to do the job well enough though. Yes, it may just be an evolution, but it does not mean that the device is a boring one.

We start with the display, because that is going to be the first thing that will greet you when you open the box and unwrap the protective plastic cover. This thing packs the fastest display you can find on any smartphone today. While it only pushes Full HD 1080p resolution to your face, it refreshes at 144Hz. That is 20Hz more than the OPPO Find X2, just saying. All that and you still get HDR10+ and Delta E < 1 colours for a bright looking, fresh looking images on the 6.59-inch AMOLED display covered by a Corning Gorilla Glass 6. The display did not grow in size though, 6.59-inch is big enough. True to its gaming roots and purpose, the ROG Phone 3 boasts 270Hz in response rate too giving a super quick 25ms touch response and 18ms slide response. That is as fast as it gets at this point now.

No edge-to-edge nonsense with a cut out here. You still get a bottom lip and a forehead on the device big enough to fit a 24-Megapixel camera and a proper looking earpiece. The earpiece also doubles as a front-firing speaker. It is not just any speaker though. Paired with the bottom speakers you are getting a DTS:X speaker system with individual amplifiers for each speaker. Sadly, you do not get a 3.5mm AUX jack though.

Still, dig deeper and you find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ System on a Chip (SoC). This may just be the most powerful smartphone in the world currently since it packs something that is even more powerful than the outgoing Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. You get up to 3.1GHz in clock speed, 10% more performance than the Snapdragon 865 SoC. The SoC is rivalling most entry-level gaming PCs these days.

Plenty of power also means plenty of heat. The ROG Phone 3 packs a big heatsink that you can see from the partially transparent glass back. That heatsink is technically bigger than before, which means you get better cooling performance mechanically as well. If that is not enough, you get a fan dock thing out-of-the-box anyway (Aero Active Cooler 3). That fan dock thing now has a kickstand so that you can prop it up on a table. But the fan dock also allows the ROG phone III to be cooled more aggressively. Combine that with ASUS ROG UI’s X Mode, and you are getting a smartphone that rivals gaming PCs.

Of course, Air Trigger makes it back in the ROG Phone 3. This is probably the ASUS ROG Phone’s main party piece. The Air Trigger is in its third generation with the ROG Phone III. The third generation Air Trigger supports more gestures and input now. This also makes the ROG Phone III a highly competitive smartphone for eSports, if not unfair.

Move to the back and you will find a 64-Megapixel main camera flanked by a 13-Megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and another macro sensor to produce great photos. This is still a smartphone anyway; you want the cameras to be good. While this is a gaming smartphone, the camera functions are not getting sidelined though. You get four microphones for the best video recording experience. This is your all-in-one device.

Of course, you cannot have an all-in-one device without requiring some power draw. The SoC itself should be quite demanding on its own. That is why ASUS fits a large 6,000mAh battery pack within the svelte body. How is this device fitting a larger battery in the same sized body of the ROG Phone II? Sorcery perhaps, but we do appreciate bigger batteries in modern smartphones.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

That should give you enough confidence to game with Google Stadia all day if you want. ASUS has partnered with Google Stadia for this device to ensure that there are enough contents for you to play with. It finally makes sense for you to get all the accessories that might come with the ASUS ROG Phone 3. So far, ASUS has only announced the Nintendo Switch-esque Kunai gamepad and a few cases.

Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS

The ROG Phone III will come in three variants. The cheapest will be the ROG Phone 3 STRIX (Qualcomm Snapdragon 865) variant will come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for EUR€ 799 (approx. MYR3,934). For EUR€ 200 (EUR€ 999, approx. MYR 4,917) more, you get 512GB of memory and 12GB of RAM. The one you might want to get your hands on to rival your friend’s gaming PC though is the top-of-the-line 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage variant at EUR€ 1,099 (approx. MYR 5,409). These are not local pricing though. We are expecting prices to be around the same as the older ASUS ROG Phone 2 on all its variants. That is MYR 2,499, MYR 3,499, and MYR 4,499 for the ROG Phone 2 Strix and two other ROG Phone 2 variants. ASUS Malaysia is touting a Mid-September release locally for the ASUS ROG Phone 3. In that case, all we can do is wait for a while more.

techENT