Cougar NxSys AERO Gaming Chair Review

Cougar NxSys AERO Gaming Chair Review

Cougar thinks it has the "Next System" in gaming chairs and, on its face, seems to have it all, but is the NxSys AERO the perfect fit for your office?

Ducky One X is the world's first keyboard to use ground-breaking Induction switches

Kosta Andreadis | Peripherals | Jun 6, 2024 3:29 AM CDT

A new type of keyboard switch? Yes, and we got to go hands-on with the new Ducky One X at Computex 2024 - which features the latest keyboard innovation from Cherry (the creators of the iconic Cherry MX): Induction Switches. These are similar to the magnetic switches we've recently seen that allow you to adjust the actuation point. Lower and faster for gaming, higher for typing to get a more tactile feel.

Ducky One X is the world's first keyboard to use ground-breaking Induction switches

However, this analog keyboard style requires sensors that use more power, which is why you don't see wireless keyboards with adjustable magnetic switches and long-lasting batteries. With Induction Switches, coils are built into the PCB, and the new switches detect electrical changes as they approach.

We were told that this technology has existed in the keyboard space for a few years, but this is the first time it all comes together in switch and keyboard form. The result is less power required, which means the new Ducky One X will support low-latency wireless, Bluetooth, and wired.

Continue reading: Ducky One X is the world's first keyboard to use ground-breaking Induction switches (full post)

Phison shatters Computex 2024 with insane Apex Storage X16 Gen5 at 54.8 GB/s speeds

Jak Connor | Storage | Jun 6, 2024 3:23 AM CDT

Phison has earned itself a Computex 2024 TweakTown award for its crazy build that uses 16 SSDs with Phison's E26 technology with an Apex Storage card to achieve data transfers of 54.8 GB/s in a single PCIe Gen 5 slot.

Phison shatters Computex 2024 with insane Apex Storage X16 Gen5 at 54.8 GB/s speeds

I was lucky enough to get a full demo of the new system at the Phison booth where it was explained me to the system was using an Apex Storage X16 PCIe 5.0 card that was equipped with 16 SSDs using Phison's E26 controller. These drives, working together, managed to reach a staggering sequential read of 56 GB/s, sequential write of 54 GB/s, random read of 20M IOPS, and a random write of 19M IOPS. And all on a single PCIe card slotted into a motherboard.

We reviewed the impressive Phison E26 controller back in January, and were blown away by its incredible speeds and now seeing sixteen of these SSDs working together in front of us during a live demo has really put into perspective the incredible industry-leading work Phison is doing in the SSD space. Congratulations to Phison for what it has achieved with this build, the speeds here are truly remarkable and shouldn't be understated.

Continue reading: Phison shatters Computex 2024 with insane Apex Storage X16 Gen5 at 54.8 GB/s speeds (full post)

Sabrent Apex X16 Rocket 5 Destroyer tested: takes 16 x Rocket 5 4TB SSDs for 64TB of Gen5 SSD

Anthony Garreffa | Storage | Jun 5, 2024 5:09 PM CDT

Sabrent is now teasing its new Apex X16 Rocket 5 Destroyer, which can handle an incredible 16 x Rocket 5 4TB Gen5 SSDs for a monster 64TB of Gen5 SSD in a single PCIe slot. Check it out:

Sabrent Apex X16 Rocket 5 Destroyer tested: takes 16 x Rocket 5 4TB SSDs for 64TB of Gen5 SSD

As you can see, there are two parts to this story: the back side of the Apex X16 Rocket 5 Destroyer features 8 x M.2 slots, for a total of 16 x M.2 slots. But... Sabrent isn't finished there, the company teases: Even though these two cards are impressive, with unmatched speed and capacity, we are not stopping here. Apex has turned the sliders up to 11 with this new AIC.

Today, we are showing a few teaser pictures of the Sabrent Apex X16 Rocket 5 Destroyer and the first set of benchmark numbers. As you can see this new Gen 5 card from Apex holds 16 of our Rocket 5 4TB SSDs for a maximum capacity of 64TB of the fastest Gen 5 SSDs on the market, Sabrent's Rocket 5 drives.

Continue reading: Sabrent Apex X16 Rocket 5 Destroyer tested: takes 16 x Rocket 5 4TB SSDs for 64TB of Gen5 SSD (full post)

Intel's next-gen Xe2 'Battlemage' GPU: 50% perf uplift, Lunar Lake first, discrete GPUs later

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Jun 5, 2024 4:58 PM CDT

Intel has officially unveiled its next-gen Xe2 GPU which will drop into Lunar Lake CPUs later this year, while next-gen Arc "Battlemage" discrete GPUs will arrive after.

Intel's next-gen Xe2 'Battlemage' GPU: 50% perf uplift, Lunar Lake first, discrete GPUs later

During the Intel Tech Tour 2024 event, Intel fellow and ex-NVIDIA staffer Tom Peterson talked all things next-gen Xe2 GPU architecture. Intel is making things easier to understand with its next-gen GPU architecture, where instead of using LP, LPG, HP, and HPG naming schemes (which can be confusing for people), Intel is calling its next-gen GPU lineup Xe2. Internally, the company will still use codenames, but they won't be used on the client side moving forward.

Intel has designed its next-gen Xe2 GPU from the ground up, with higher utilization, improved work distribution, and less software overhead. There are multiple (major) problems that were inside of Xe "Alchemist" GPUs, which are now fixed in Xe2. Intel has promised some major IP performance efficiency for Xe2, with performance gains of up to 12.5x in particular use cases.

Continue reading: Intel's next-gen Xe2 'Battlemage' GPU: 50% perf uplift, Lunar Lake first, discrete GPUs later (full post)

Using Windows 11 but want Windows 10's File Explorer back? There's a dead easy trick to do that

Darren Allan | Software & Apps | Jun 5, 2024 1:51 PM CDT

If you're a Windows 11 user who misses the old File Explorer from Windows 10, here's some good news.

Using Windows 11 but want Windows 10's File Explorer back? There's a dead easy trick to do that

It's possible to access Windows 10's File Explorer within Windows 11 using a frankly unbelievably simple trick, allowing for the old interface to be used whenever you want a break from the new UI - or indeed when you want to avail yourself of the ability to drag and drop files into folders in the address bar.

(If you recall, that functionality didn't make the cut for Windows 11 - though to be fair, it is finally returning in testing right now).

Continue reading: Using Windows 11 but want Windows 10's File Explorer back? There's a dead easy trick to do that (full post)

Phanteks Evolv X2 Case presents a stunning floating GPU design in an affordable package

Kosta Andreadis | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Jun 5, 2024 11:29 AM CDT

The fishbowl PC case aesthetic is extremely popular, where multiple glass panels present a multi-angle look at your build's various components, cooling setup, and RGB action. At Computex 2024, one of the best we saw was the new Evolv X2 from Phanteks, which makes the GPU look like it's floating and part of a space station from the future.

Phanteks Evolv X2 Case presents a stunning floating GPU design in an affordable package

The Evolv X2 from Phanteks is still in the design or testing stage, so it might undergo a few minor revisions before launch, but what we saw was immediately impressive. Thanks to the aluminum interior panels (available in black, silver, and gold), it shares a similar style and aesthetic with NVIDIA's Founders Edition graphics cards for the GeForce RTX 30 and 40 Series.

We asked the team at Phanteks why they chose a ROG Strix GPU to showcase the case (which, admittedly, looks excellent in the Evolv X2) and not a Founders Edition card. We weren't the first, so we can probably expect some cool shots of the Evolv X2 from Phanteks with an FE GPU at some point before launch.

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ASUS unveils a world's first 27-inch OLED gaming monitor at Computex 2024

Jak Connor | Displays & Projectors | Jun 5, 2024 11:16 AM CDT

ASUS has been dominating the gaming monitor space for quite some time, and now it's officially showcased what many competitive gamers would consider the cream of the crop when it comes to gaming monitors.

ASUS unveils a world's first 27-inch OLED gaming monitor at Computex 2024

Introducing, the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDP, a 26.5-inch 2560 x 1440p (QHD) OLED gaming monitor that comes with a blistering fast 480Hz refresh rate. ASUS has said the 480Hz refresh rate makes the PG27AQDP a world's first in its specific specification. Additionally, the PG27AQDP has a 0.03ms response time thanks to its OLED pixel technology, and will come with the latest Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology that enables 30% higher peak brightness and 20% wider viewing angles over previous ROG OLED monitors.

As for connectivity, we expect the PG27AQDP to feature "extensive" options that will include DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1. Notably, the PG27AQDP uses a third-generation WOLED panel from LG that will be cooled with a custom fan-less heatsink. Furthermore, ASUS says the PG27AQDP will come with DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compliance, and ELMB support. As you can probably imagine, ASUS is aiming the PG27AQDP directly at eSports gamers that want as many frames per second as they can possibly get.

Continue reading: ASUS unveils a world's first 27-inch OLED gaming monitor at Computex 2024 (full post)

Corsair 9000D is a beast of a case that can support up to two systems and over 20 fans

Kosta Andreadis | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Jun 5, 2024 10:56 AM CDT

It's hard to miss the Corsair 9000D; it's a monster of a case. Now, you might have a large PC chassis once or twice before, and if you're at Computex 2024, you probably have walked past dozens or hundreds on the show floor. As the successor to the 1000D, the new Corsair 9000D (which we saw up close) is something else - a beast that lives up to its size with build quality, features, and design touches to make it a true one-of-a-kind.

Corsair 9000D is a beast of a case that can support up to two systems and over 20 fans

The Corsair 9000D Airflow supports two PCs: a full-sized gaming rig and a second mini-ITX rig that could be used as a streaming setup. It doesn't stop there, as there's room for almost a dozen SSDs, 21 (yes, twenty-one) 120mm fans, and enough room for two 480mm radiators or five 360mm radiators.

At Computex 2024, Corsair displayed a fully built 9000D with an awe-inspiring water-cooling setup with multiple tubes and piping neatly hidden alongside the cables. The case supports the latest BTF motherboard designs from ASUS and others, which feeds into the unique front I/O setup.

Continue reading: Corsair 9000D is a beast of a case that can support up to two systems and over 20 fans (full post)

ASUS achieves a world's first with a stunning new ROG Swift OLED gaming monitor

Jak Connor | Displays & Projectors | Jun 5, 2024 10:25 AM CDT

ASUS has showcased yet another world's first gaming monitor at Computex 2024, and the monitor that has achieved "world's first" status is a 4K display with a 240Hz refresh rate.

ASUS achieves a world's first with a stunning new ROG Swift OLED gaming monitor

ASUS was kind enough to give me a demo of the new gaming monitor on the showroom floor at Computex 2024, explaining how the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDP is a first in its category of OLED gaming monitors. The PG32UCDP is a 32-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and a dual mode that enables users to switch between 4K 240Hz and 1080p at 480Hz. The dual mode is the feature that earns the PG32UCDP its "world's first" categorization.

The company stated the PG32UCDP is the "world's first dual-mode gaming monitor", and the feature enabling users to switch between 4K 240Hz and 1080p at 480Hz will give users the option of choosing between high fidelity gaming, or a high refresh rate. This feature will be particularly useful for gamers that flex between titles with incredible graphics and competitive titles such as Valorant, League of Legends, and Overwatch 2.

Continue reading: ASUS achieves a world's first with a stunning new ROG Swift OLED gaming monitor (full post)

ASUS showcases crazy world's first gaming monitor at Computex 2024

Jak Connor | Displays & Projectors | Jun 5, 2024 9:28 AM CDT

ASUS has kicked off Computex 2024 with several big announcements and one of them was the ROG Strix XG27UCG

ASUS showcases crazy world's first gaming monitor at Computex 2024

The company behind some of the best gaming monitors on the market gave me a tour of their booth at Computex, where I was demoed the new ROG Strix XG27UCG. ASUS ROG claims to have achieved a world's first with the XG27UCG as it has the following specifications: 27-inches, 4K resolution, Fast IPS and 160Hz refresh rate. While that may seem quite standard for a high-end gaming monitor from ASUS there is one feature that differentiates the XG27UCG and that feature is called dual mode.

ASUS explained to me the ROG Strix XG27UCG is the world's first dual-mode LCD monitor to support Frame Rate Boost, which enables users switch between 4K at 160Hz to 1920 x 1080 at 320Hz. Notably, the dual-mode means ASUS has natively built in support for the aforementioned resolutions and refresh rates. Other specifications are as follows: 1x USB-C port with DP Alt Mode and 15W of power delivery, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 1ms response time (GtG).

Continue reading: ASUS showcases crazy world's first gaming monitor at Computex 2024 (full post)