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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit review: taking PC gaming to the ultimate level

8:00 am | March 28, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: North America, PC, RGB | Comments: Off

Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Two-minute review

Gaming immersion can only take you so far until your RGB starts to plateau. Luckily, the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, Govee's latest addition to its smart lights line, picks up the slack.

I want to preface this review by saying that I am a big fan of the brand and a proud owner of some of its products including the Glide Hexa Light Panels and the Govee TV Immersion Kit, which has truly elevated movie nights at my apartment. But, I honestly do think that the brand has outdone itself with this new release.

With the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, it takes its immersion technology to the next logical place - PC gaming, and it's taking it to new heights.

Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit testing images — Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit displaying *Psychonauts 2* colors. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

While the Govee TV Immersion Kit in its early iteration was a little rougher around the edges, using a simple camera to essentially capture the colors being displayed on your TV and sending those signals back to a control box that then tells the lights what colors to display, this AI Gaming Sync Box Kit has elevated the system in such a way that you're getting more accurate colors and faster, real-time light synchronization.

Like the TV Immersion kit, it comes with a light strip designed to stick to the back of your display and two light bars that sit on either side of that display. What's different here is that instead of a camera and a small control box, you're getting an HDMI AI Sync Box. This sync box connects to your gaming PC or gaming laptop via HDMI then to your monitor, also via HDMI, to ensure near-perfect, low-latency light synchronization.

What's more, this sync box uses Govee's AI technology called CogniGlow, which processes "images and the voice information of millions of audio-visual entertainment scenes and combines information to create corresponding lighting effects." As a result, the colors being projected are incredibly accurate and matche what's being displayed on your monitor for the ultimate immersion.

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If you think you're not techie enough to set up the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, don't fret. Govee provides clear and simple instructions in the manual, and the process is pretty easy as well. I think that the hardest part is sticking the light strip to the back of your monitor (it's just long enough to fit 27- to 34-inch displays), which could mean some careful measuring and a lot of reaching over if you don't have a lot of space to work with. But, the rest is fast and easy if you follow the instructions.

After the physical setup, you just need to download the Govee app on your phone, add the smart light kit as a device, and you're all set. Govee also provides instructions for that.

Besides, you’re not really in any danger of breaking something if you’re a gaming backlighting newbie. The strip light is pretty robust, and light bars, though made out of plastic, are sturdy as well. Each light bar has a stand that keeps it upright – although neither is heavy enough to keep wobble at bay. Just be mindful that if you’re shaking your desk, these will dance around like stiff skydancers.

The HDMI AI Sync Box comes with its own lighting as well, one that matches the rest of the backlighting, naturally, and has all the ports you need in the back (three HDMI inputs, one of which has ARC support, one HDMI out, and two USB-C out that you use to connect the light strip and the light bars). There’s an HDMI input button in front that you use to switch input sources, and a power button. This is the one thing I find annoying about the kit – it doesn’t turn off when you turn off your input source so you have to manually turn it off as well. Luckily, it works with Alexa and Google Assistant so you can do so without lifting a finger. Or you can use the app on your phone.

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The whole Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit has 24 individual LED lights (not including the lights on the sync box), 14 on the light strip, and 5 on each light bar. So, you’ll definitely get the full immersion here, especially since each one is customizable via the app. You can set the color on each, apply different scenes (lighting effects) on the whole kit, or even sync to the music playing from an outside source (it has a built-in mic for this very purpose).

The best thing about this is that when in video mode, the kit syncs its display colors to the ones on your monitor. This isn’t just reserved for games as it works perfectly with videos as well. I played some amazing videos on YouTube (video credit to UltrawideVideos, Armadas, and Ronald Soethje) during testing, and those lights display incredibly accurate colors with practically zero lag. The colors overall are so bright and vibrant, they’ll display beautifully even when the room it's in isn’t completely dark.

It’s with PC games where this kit really shines, however. Apart from using AI for its lighting synchronization, it also boasts real-time content-reactive syncing that’s responsive enough to keep up with games running at up to 240fps.

In addition, it offers more than 30 customized game lighting effects per game so that the kit lights up during game highlights. In League of Legends, for example, it lights up every time I use an ability or when my team kills an enemy, which not only adds to my immersion but also makes the whole thing all the more fun.

The only thing about this specific feature is that currently, the kit only has support for two games: League of Legends and Apex. Support for more PC games to come later, with Valorant and Overwatch 2 slated for release soon, but it’s just LoL and Apex for now.

For all other titles, you’re still getting that content-reactive syncing. I tested the kit with vibrant games like Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Sable, and Psychonauts 2, and it delivered the same level of immersion as with the YouTube videos.

Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $299.99 (about £245 / AU$450)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US

The Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit is now available in the US for $299.99 (about £245 / AU$450), which is pretty steep considering that the Govee DreamView T1 Pro TV Backlight, the newer version of the immersion kit, is under $200/£200. But considering its gaming integration and intuitive AI technology, it makes sense that it's pricier.

If you're in the UK and Australia, unfortunately, it's not yet available in those regions. However, it's available for purchase now in the US.

Value: 4 / 5

Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Specs

Should you buy the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit?

Buy it if...

You want full gaming immersion
This bathes your monitor in lights displaying matching colors, which increases your immersion.

You love RGB lighting
Take your gaming setup's RGB lighting to the next level with this RGBIC kit, which reacts and syncs to the content on your display in real time using AI, delivering more dynamic lighting.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
It's not cheap, but it's worth the investment if you can afford it.

Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Also consider

How I tested the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit

I tested the setup for a little over a week
I used it for gaming and media consumption
I tested it with several different games, including LoL, and with the Govee app

I set up the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit in my gaming laptop kit, testing it for about a week and using it while gaming and streaming videos. I also tested the different customizations and effects available on the Govee app as well as its game integration on League of Legends.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Philips Momentum 279M1RV review: the best PC monitor for Xbox console gaming

1:07 am | March 26, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: PC | Comments: Off

Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Two-minute review

There are a lot of 4K 144Hz gaming monitors out there, but there are few as good as the Philips Momentum 279M1RV. It fits into a very particular niche among the best gaming monitors in that it is designed for both PC gaming and console gaming, and it does both extremely well.

Whether you have the best gaming PC or an Xbox Series X|S or PS5, with 144Hz for PC and 120Hz for consoles, you're able to get the fastest 4K performance for all of your games, which is great after being locked into 60Hz for so long.

That said, there are a lot of gaming monitors and gaming TVs out there, so what makes the Philips Momentum 279M1RV so special? Frankly, it's price. It has a retail price of $749.99 / £759.95, which is significantly cheaper than many of the best 4K monitors of this size.

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A Philips Momentum 279M1RV on a desk next to an Xbox — (Image credit: Future/John Loeffler)

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For gamers, in addition to the fast refresh rate, there is also a fast response time of 1ms, making it a great option for casual esports players.

In standard mode, you get 450 nits of brightness, but this can be pushed up to 600 nits in HDR mode. The monitor panel features nano IPS/W-LED with DisplayHDR 600 as well as a very wide color gamut across sRBG (133%), Adobe RGB (110.1%), and DCI-P3 (98%), making this an excellent creative's monitor as well, so this little display can really do just about everything and does it very well.

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Best of all, for console players, you get three HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning that you can have three consoles plugged in at once and have all of them benefit from 120Hz refresh, which is something you don't see that often. Most of the best gaming monitors for Xbox Series X and best gaming monitors for PS5 only have one HDMI 2.1 port, so you need to swap out ports fairly regularly.

It's a small feature, but it's a notable one that multi-console players like myself absolutely appreciate.

If there were a criticism I have of the Philips Momentum 279M1RV, it'd be the fairly weak speakers and the somewhat awkward footprint. The former isn't as big a deal since most of us have a good gaming headset handy, but if you don't, don't expect miracles from this monitor's built-in sound.

The footprint is more a matter of personal taste. The stand is easy enough to assemble and is plenty sturdy, but the rather tall T-bar for a stand makes it difficult to use the space under the monitor for a soundbar like the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro. Again, it's definitely not a deal breaker, but if you really like to have a pristine setup, it's something to note before dropping this much cash on a monitor.

Should you decide to do so, however, you won't be disappointed. The Philips Momentum 279M1RV is a phenomenal display with great features for both PC gamers and console fans at a very fair price, making it a strong contender for one of the best monitors we've reviewed this year.

Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $749.99 / £759.95 (about AU$1,090)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Philips Momentum 279M1RV is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for $749.99 and £759.95 in the US and UK, and about AU$1,090 in Australia. This puts it well north of the best cheap gaming monitors and many of the best gaming monitors generally as well, but for a 27-inch 4K 144Hz gaming monitor, this is actually pretty affordable.

The Sony Inzone M9 4K 144Hz monitor is nearly $900, as is the BenQ Mobiuz EX2710U, but the HP Omen 27U is $699, which makes it slightly cheaper.

Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Specs

Should you buy the Philips Momentum 279M1RV?

Buy it if...

You're a PC and a console gamer
Thanks to its ample ports capable of 120Hz or higher, you'll get outstanding performance whether you're gaming on a PC or a console.

You want a well-priced 4K 144Hz monitor
This isn't the cheapest 4K 144Hz monitor, but it's one of the cheapest you'll find, and given its performance, it's an excellent value.

Don't buy it if...

You don't have a console
This monitor's best features are meant for console gamers, so while it's great for PC gaming, you can find cheaper PC-specific monitors out there.

You're on a budget
We all want the best, but this monitor is still a pretty premium item. There are cheaper 1440p displays that will get you great performance for much less.

Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Also consider

How I tested the Philips Momentum 279M1RV

I spent more than a month testing the Philips Momentum 279M1RV
I used it for work, gaming, and content creation

To test the Philips Momentum 279M1RV, I used it extensively as my primary monitor at home.

I used the monitor for extensive work, content creation, and for gaming on both PC and both Xbox and PS5 console.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed [Month] 2023

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra review: the Jack of all trades of Ultrabooks

12:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: PC, UK, US | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Two-minute review

Samsung has released its latest refresh on its Galaxy Book line of laptops. The most luxurious of the three, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, is an Ultrabook that's meant to give users a top-notch experience in productivity, creative work, and even gaming.

The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is an absolute stunner of a portable machine, offering excellent specs and a gorgeous display all in a sleek and sexy package. Though I often lament the lack of colors in these laptop lines, the Book3 Ultra is one of those exceptions. It has more heft in its form factor than the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro or Pro 360, but it’s still very lightweight and thin for the 16-inch display, at 0.65 inches and less than four pounds.

Pricing is quite high, as it starts at $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875) for the base model and $2,999.99 (£3,049 / around AU$5,610) for the upgraded model. Right now, there’s a US-only sale that drops prices to $1,799.99 for the base model and $2,399.99 for the upgraded version. Australia is left out in the cold, with no official access to the Book3 Ultra at all.

The display is a beautiful 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED screen, which complements its variety of uses that all require a high-quality screen. The keyboard feels smooth and is easy to type on thanks to the wide and well-spaced keys. And thanks to the 16-inch display, there’s even plenty of space for a num lock pad. The touchpad is large and equally smooth, with a great response.

Its port selection has some decent variety: one HDMI 2.0 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 3.2 Type-A port, an audio jack, and one MicroSD slot. I do wish the Ultrabook had an extra Type-A port and an ethernet port, but overall there’s enough coverage for most uses, which is still a leg up on many other Ultrabooks especially.

Performance-wise is great across the board, with productivity being the best use for this laptop. However, if you need a machine that can handle creative and editing projects, as well as some pretty good gaming, then this laptop can also perform well. This is thanks to the 13th-gen Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 CPU that’s built into the laptop, with the former upgradable to the Core i9 and the latter to an RTX 4070 for even better performance.

But the brand new crown jewel of this new line of Galaxy Book3 laptops is the addition of several Samsung file and internet sharing features like Multi Control, Quick Share, Microsoft Phone Link, the Expert RAW app, and Instant Hotspot. This ecosystem of file-sharing and more serves as a true challenge to Apple’s own excellent file-sharing features and makes having multiple Samsung devices worth it.

With all these positives, there’s one major drawback which is battery life. If you’re streaming movies or TV shows then you’re getting less than five hours before needing a recharge. And for pure work, about six or so hours is all you’ll have before needing a recharge, so it won’t even last a full day at the office.

All things considered, however, this is still one of the best laptops 2023 has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Price & availability

black Ultrabook closed — (Image credit: Future)

Starting at $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875)
Available now in the US and UK

At the time of this writing, there’s a laptop deal in the US for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, which lowers the pricing to $1,799.99 for the base model and $2,399.99 for the best version.

However, the regular pricing for the base model, which is also the review unit that I received, is $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875) which includes the Core i7-13700H CPU and RTX 4050 GPU. If you want the upgraded version with the Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, that’ll set you back $2,999.99 (£3,049 / around AU$5,610).

As for availability, you can easily nab both models in the US and the UK through the Samsung online store. Unfortunately, Australia is out of luck, with none available through official means. You’ll either have to import one or order from third-party retailers and auction sites.

Price score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Specs

closeup of component stickers — (Image credit: Future)

The specs for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra review unit sent to me are as follows: Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD of storage.

There’s also an upgradable version of the laptop which features the following specs: Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD of storage.

Specs score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Design

Sleek and sexy chassis
Great display and keyboard
Samsung filing sharing ecosystem is excellent

The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has an absolutely gorgeous, sleek design. It’s an Ultrabook wearing a sexy black chassis and has a light and thin form factor for its 16-inch display. The display itself is a 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED screen that features 400 nits of brightness normally, and when it’s using HDR that increases to 500 nits. The refresh rate is a variable one that can be adjusted between 48-120Hz depending on your needs.

It has a nice, wide keyboard with well-sized keys and a num lock pad on the side. The touchpad is humongous and well-balanced in its sensitivity. Its audio quality is also excellent, sporting a clear sound that degrades very little at max volume. The webcam is a standard 1080p resolution, and though it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of an HP camera, the image quality is still quite decent even in poor lighting conditions and sharp in good lighting. There’s an HDR mode and a facial smoothing filter with different levels.

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screenshot of Samsung's Multi Control feature — (Image credit: Future)

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But arguably the most anticipated new feature is one I tested out extensively: the new Samsung ecosystem, which is meant to finally unify Samsung devices like its smartphones and laptops. Connecting a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to the Book3 Ultra through the necessary software and Bluetooth connection, I found that I could transfer photos and other files with ease, as well as display my phone screen on its display, as well as make phone calls, send text messages, and more.

I’m not one for needing a united ecosystem of devices, usually preferring to purchase whatever individually best suits my needs. However, these features have piqued my interest, and I finally understand why it’s so coveted among Apple users, as it genuinely makes so many tasks that much faster and easier. Having multiple Samsung devices is worth it now, as long as it keeps being supported. Also, the process of linking up your phone and laptop should be a little more streamlined and less complicated at first, but thankfully it becomes more intuitive as you go along.

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black Ultrabook keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

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black Ultrabook on side and techradar logo displayed

(Image credit: Future)

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black Ultrabook on side and techradar logo displayed

(Image credit: Future)

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Design score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Performance

black Ultrabook open and excel doc displayed — (Image credit: Future)

Can run work applications and creative programs with ease
Can game on high settings with any PC game

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Benchmarks

Here's how the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Night Raid: 25,584; Fire Strike: 13,479; Time Spy: 6,228
Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 14,093 points
GeekBench 5: 1,768 (single-core); 12,310 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Home Test): 6,762 points
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 4 hours, 45 minutes
Civilization VI (1080p, Ultra): 92 fps; (1080p, Low): 96 fps

General performance for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is very well-rounded, a Jack of all trades if you will. Though it doesn’t have a particular speciality, its greatest function is that it’s an all-around workhorse that can tackle most creative and editing tasks alongside productivity and even higher-end gaming. It’s an expensive machine, but it’ll handle whatever you through at it and quite well at that, meaning you won’t have to purchase separate laptops to accomplish different tasks.

Testing using productivity and rendering benchmarks like Handbrake, CrossMark, and PugetBench for Adobe CC found that, while the results weren’t the top of the class, they are comparable to another Ultrabook with similar performance: the Apple Macbook Pro 16 outfitted with the M2 Max chip. Though the Book3 Ultra was beaten out in every test result, it wasn’t by an extremely high margin either, with the largest being less than 400 in the PugetBench Photoshop and CrossMark tests.

The 13th-gen Core i7 CPU works like magic, and it's definitely the key to the Book3 Ultra’s success, being able to run a wide range of applications and programs without breaking a sweat. However, the GPU is no slouch either. This is our first look at the RTX 4050 mobile chip, and its performance is excellent across the board. Though obviously not beating out a dedicated gaming laptop, it absolutely sweeps the last-gen competition in benchmark test scores, and even better, plays nice with the CPU. There’s no sign of the bottleneck that CPU performance hits when paired with a 4080 or 4090.

Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm ran at 95fps on low settings and 92fps for higher settings, which is very impressive. I also ran two other benchmarks to see those results, Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman 3. For the former, I tested on high settings without ray-tracing or DLSS, and the results were a surprisingly solid 31fps on average, though you shouldn’t turn on ray-tracing because even with DLSS on it chugged along at 14FPS. Hitman 3 on high settings netted about 76fps for the Dartmoor benchmark and 98fps for the Dubai, which are both great numbers.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Battery

closeup of battery display — (Image credit: Future)

Terrible battery life
Charges fast

Bottomline, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has a terrible battery life. Through productivity work, you can get it to last around six hours at most, and with streaming and gaming, you’ll be getting less than five hours. Most likely the battery drain is due to the RTX 4050 powering it, and I would imagine the 4070 GPU would be even worse.

I did notice that it has a 77Whr battery, which is a bit on the low side for a machine packing a 4000-series card. It charges quickly for that same reason, taking less than one hour for a full charge. But this is a laptop that needs to stay on AC power, especially if you’re doing any intensive work or play.

Battery score: 2 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra?

Buy it if...

You want excellent productivity and gaming performance
This laptop can balance both, plus any editing or creative projects that you need to be done. It's the ultimate workhorse in a gorgeous chassis.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
Though this is a high-quality laptop that can truly do it all, it also comes at a steep price. The average worker or creative person might have trouble affording it.

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Also consider

If the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra?

I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra for several weeks
I tested it using productivity and creative applications, as well as gaming
I stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test

First, I tested the general weight and portability of the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra by carrying it around in a laptop bag. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to thoroughly test out the processor and graphics card. Finally, I used a variety of programs and applications to test out both battery life and general performance during work-like conditions, as well as gaming benchmarks to test the RTX 4050 GPU.

The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is meant to be a portable laptop with a thin and light chassis. I had to spend a good amount of testing not only on performance issues but looking for any ventilation issues. I also tested out battery life to see how long it could last off AC power.

I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they perform as a work machine.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Alienware Aurora R15 review: this next-gen gaming experience comes with a hefty price tag

9:21 pm | March 4, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: PC, Total War, UK, US | Comments: Off

Alienware Aurora R15: Two-minute review

The Alienware Aurora R15 is the latest refresh in the Aurora line of PCs, coming after the Alienware Aurora R13. The latter was a performance monster, so much so that the weak CPU cooler couldn’t keep up and caused massive overheating issues. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the R15.

Alienware is Dell’s premium brand of gaming PCs and laptops, and for good reason too. Not only do the gaming machines have some of the most unique and visually appealing designs and color palettes out there, but they’re also some of the best performing with the highest quality of specs out there.

The Alienware Aurora R15 is no exception to this golden rule, and it has received substantial upgrades. Notably, the cooling and ventilation system has had a massive overhaul. It now features 240mm liquid cooling that’s upgradable to 240mm Cryo-tech liquid cooling, five 120mm fans, a hexagonal side-venting for better airflow, and voltage regulator heatsinks on the motherboard for better cooling.

Long story short, I haven’t experienced a single issue with overheating or even just regular heating. The PC could be running Cyberpunk 2077 for three hours, and it wil still maintain an excellent internal temperature.

Its other specs are quite impressive — even the lowest priced one at $1,399.99 (around £1,175 / AU$2,085) has a respectable 13th-gen Intel Core i5 13400F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB of SSD. The one I received for review is the most powerful version, which is priced at a whopping $4,499.99 / £4,799.00 including VAT (around AU$6,700) and features a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900KF, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD (boot) along with 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s (storage).

And while the pricing is outrageous, it matches the premium quality of both the absolutely stunning side glass chassis and the components themselves. The PC comes in two colors: Dark Side of the Moon and Lunar Light, which are both equally gorgeous and solely depends on your aesthetic preference.

Thanks to its specs, it is a bit on the heavy side, but it is surprisingly tame compared to other slightly larger PCs. It also has an impressive port selection that fits any possible need you may have for this PC. And thankfully the front batch of ports is not on the top of the PC, so less of a chance of getting dust in them.

Alienware Aurora R15: Price & availability

Alienware Aurora R15 on a table — (Image credit: Future)

Starting at $1,399.99 (around £1,175 / AU$2,085)
Available now in the US and UK

Dell’s Alienware line has always been premium in both price and quality, and the Alienware Aurora R15 is no exception, as most configurations are quite expensive. However, Dell does offer one that, at the time of this writing, is a solid deal at $1,399.99 (around £1,175 / AU$2,085) - at least for those in the US. The UK only has the two most expensive configurations available, and Australia has none at all.

The unit I received for review is the most expensive model you can purchase, costing at the time of this writing $4,499.99 (£4,799.00 including VAT / around AU$6,700). This version comes with top-tier specs including a 13ᵗʰ Gen Intel Core i9-13900KF processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card.

Price score: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora R15: Specs

The specs for the Alienware Aurora R15 review unit sent to me is as follows: 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900KF processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD storage. As you can tell, this is the highest possible configuration that you can get for this unit, and it chews up and spits out any PC game on the highest settings.

If you’re in the US, you can also purchase a much cheaper model with a solid configuration, though you’ll probably have to upgrade the RAM and storage space. This model comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 13400F processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.

There are also several other models in the US to choose from, with my personal favorite for those who want to have a powerful gaming machine without breaking the bank too much. This configuration comes with a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 13700F processor, an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card (which is nearly comparable to the RTX 3070), 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD storage, and it’ll set you back $2,249.99 (around £1,883 / AU$3,344).

Specs score: 5 / 5

Alienware Aurora R15: Design

Striking design with a daring oval-shaped chassis
Nice port selection
Extensive cooling

One of the most prominent features of nearly any Alienware device is how striking and downright stunning each PC and laptop design is. The Alienware Aurora R15 continues this trend with a daring oval-shaped chassis complemented by both a glass side and one of two gorgeous color palettes to choose from.

The oval chassis not only creates a stark contrast to the more mainstream box look but also helps to shave off pounds from the overall unit. While it’s still a bit heavy, it’s more than possible for a single person to lift on their own, which I tested out by moving it around my apartment.

The overall port selection is quite excellent, with several USB Type-A and Type-C ports available for use in both the front and back. However, I do wish more Type-C ports were placed in the front, at least two of them versus only one since having to use the three in the back can be a bit annoying.

There are tons of other ports like a headset port, audio/microphone port, optical S/PDIF port, coaxial S/PDIF port, ethernet port, several HDMI ports, center/rear/side surround ports, an external antenna port, and line-in/out ports. There are also two slots for security: a Kensington security-cable slot and a padlock slot. There’s a port for pretty much any need you could possibly have.

A huge shoutout to the massively improved ventilation system on this PC. As I mentioned before, the previous R13 model has significant overheating issues due to the weak CPU heatsink. But this time around, Dell has gone above and beyond in its efforts to prevent this with 240mm liquid cooling that’s upgradable to 240mm Cryo-tech liquid cooling, five 120mm fans, a hexagonal side-venting for better airflow, and voltage regulator heatsinks on the motherboard for better cooling.

While it seems a little over the top, if you’re purchasing the model with an RTX 4090 graphics card, you need the extra cooling since a not-less-than-zero percentage of those cards like to catch on fire when overheated.

Design score: 5 / 5

Alienware Aurora R15: Performance

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Performance beyond incredible
Ventilation keeps PC cool at maxed-out settings

Alienware Aurora R15: Benchmarks

Here's how the Alienware Aurora R15 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Night Raid: 92,439; Fire Strike: 44,258; Time Spy: 30,392; Port Royal: 25,124
Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 35,033 points
GeekBench 5: 2,176 (single-core); 22,813 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Home Test): 9,609 points
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 201 fps; (1080p, Low): 488 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 154 fps; (1080p, Low): 155 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 183 fps; (1080p, Low): 254 fps

The performance of the Alienware Aurora R15 is beyond incredible, blowing any gaming PC outfitted with previous-generation hardware out of the water with ease. I compared the R15 with another desktop PC I recently reviewed, the Acer Predator Orion 7000, to see how current-gen components would fair in benchmarks, and the differences in performance are like night and day.

Keep in mind that the Orion 7000 is no slouch, outfitted with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and an RTX 3080 graphics card. But for instance, when running the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark on both PCs on Ultra settings, the Orion 7000 averaged at a great 63FRS while the R15 ran at 154FPS, nearly twice the framerates (this was without DLSS turned on). Comparing Dirt 5, the former averaged at 82FPS and the latter managed 183FPS, over 100 points difference.

Deciding to push things a little further, I tested out both Cyberpunk 2077 and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, the latter of which is a technical marvel on PC, to some excellent results. I completely maxed out graphics settings on Cyberpunk and set the framerate requirement to about 240, then ran the benchmark with and without DLSS. The latter managed to stay at a consistent 27FPS, while the former immediately shot up to and stayed at an average of 59FPS.

Meanwhile, maxing out Spider-Man’s graphics with DLSS on and setting the framerate requirement to about 160FPS, I tested out web-swinging through the metropolis and combat on the hardest difficulty with tons of civilians and gun-wielding bad guys around. The former scenario saw the framerate stay above 100FPS, and in the latter, I never saw the framerate dip before 150FPS. It was staggering how incredible the graphics and performance were while running butter smooth all the while.

And the best part was that ventilation made for an experience that kept the PC running nice and cool. It seems that Dell took to heart the missteps of the R13 and created a cooling system that could fully support the power of its components.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Alienware Aurora R15?

Buy it if...

You want a beautiful gaming PC
Between the gorgeous oval chassis that comes in two colors and the side glass panel that lights up to showcase the components, this is a showstopping PC.

You want a powerful gaming machine
The performance on this machine is beyond outstanding, able to play any PC game on its highest settings and maintain incredibly high framerates.

You need top-notch ventilation
Learning from its past mistakes, this PC has several fans, liquid cooling, and improved vents around the chassis to ensure it never overheats, even during intense sessions.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
While the cheapest option is nice to see, it's still not a budget machine and the highest configurations are eye-watering in cost.

Alienware Aurora R15: Also consider

If the Alienware Aurora R15 has you considering other options, here are two more gaming PCs to consider...

How I tested the Alienware Aurora R15

I tested the Alienware Aurora R15 for about a week
I tested PC games at both low and high settings
I used a variety of benchmarks as well as general gameplay to test performance

First, I tested the general weight of the Alienware Aurora R15 by lifting it up and around my apartment. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to test out both the processor and graphics card, as well as in-game gameplay performance. Finally, I stress-tested out titles like Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered and Cyberpunk 2077 in various settings to see both overall performance and ventilation quality.

The Alienware Aurora R15 is specially made as a gaming PC, which meant the brunt of my testing revolved around checking game performance and looking for any ventilation issues.

I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they work during both casual and intense gaming sessions.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Alienware AW720H review: experience immersive hi-res gaming through sound

1:00 am | March 3, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: PC | Comments: Off

Alienware AW720H: Two-minute review

The Alienware AW720H is finally putting Alienware on the peripherals map. The gaming brand might not be a newbie in the gaming headset world, but while it's already established itself a major player in the gaming PC and gaming laptop game, it has always kind of sat on the side lines of the peripherals market.

Its new wireless gaming headset is changing that, coming in strong with hi-res audio that instantly elevates your listening experience, whether it's a new PC game you're immersing yourself in or the latest blockbuster to come out on streaming. And, while that crisp and detailed audio is enough to convince me, the addition of Dolby Audio support rounds it out beautifully, making it among the best that have ever pumped audio into my ears.

Naturally, it comes with that coveted-but-never-replicated Alienware design stamp. If you've ever owned or seen an Alienware laptop or PC, then you'll know immediately what I mean when I say that the Alienware AW720H fits right in. Putting it next to my own Alienware laptop makes it look like its offspring, which is cool if you're as big of a fan as I am of the brand.

Alienware AW720H on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

It's got that same sleek and rounded space-age vibe, the same RGB-lit alien logo, the same Lunar Light colorway (though it also comes in Dark Side of the Moon as well). The ear cups have a unique shape to them, which I do appreciate and look like if K-2SO from Rogue One and one of the battle droids from The Phantom Menace had babies, and the memory foam ear pads with a breathable fabric cover keeps things cool and comfortable during intense game sessions.

If you tend to sweat while playing, you'll appreciate that fabric cover, even if you're missing out on the luxuriously plush leatherette finish that many high-end gaming headsets come with.

That comfort extends to the headband that comes with its own adjustable suspension band, which I find effective at keeping the pressure off your head and keeps things nice and airy.

I do, however, wish that the design suited those with smaller heads like mine better. In an effort to make the Alienware AW720H fit most gamers, Alienware has also inadvertently made it a little too big. Because there's plenty of space where my head should be, I find that I have to drag the suspension band lower, which then puts a lot more space between my head and the headband, which in turn makes it look weird on me.

Still, there's lot here to make me love the headset enough to risk me looking like I'm cosplaying as Princess Leia. I love the voice prompts that tell you things like when your mic is on or when the headset is powering down. And I appreciate the albeit minimal app support that let's you (1) customize the RGB lighting on the alien logo, and (2) customize the audio and toggle surround sound.

The surround sound customizations are done on the Dolby Access app, which you do have to enable and access on the Alienware Command Center. It gives you five surround sound presets for different types of media, each with its own finetuning such as the EQ preset options (i.e. you can choose the game preset then pick between "detailed," "balanced," "warm," or "off" EQ). There are also three customizable options where you can enable surround sound, volume leveling, and adjust a 10-band EQ.

The preset EQ options in the app are subtle enough that some listeners may have trouble distinguishing between them. But, they are still very useful if you prefer your audio to have a little more clarity or a little more mid-range.

The Dolby Atmos surround sound is nicely implemented. When on, I can feel everything expanding, sounding wider and more three dimensional. While the sound quality isn't as sharp or detailed, the good news is that it doesn't sound hazy like most virtual surround sounds.

At default, however, the Alienware AW720H already sounds fantastic. In Hogwarts: Legacy, I get a great sense of space because of its nice wide soundstage even without Dolby Atmos enabled. There's also very accurate imaging; I can feel the different elements in the environment and where they are in relation to my own movements.

In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, there's a lot of bass and I can hear all the small elements - each of the rot spirits, for example - individually. The audio is very detailed and very crisp, adding to my immersion.

There is something weird going on with the bass. When watching Wakanda Forever: Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, I find that anything that's deep sub-bass is just not there and anything that's not true bass isn't artificially pumping up the low end. However, those that are in the low frequencies above the sub-bass are pretty prominent. This means that your experience with the bass will vary depending not just on the media itself but also the different frequencies used in individual titles.

The mid range does have a little bit of a boost, making it a little richer-sounding. Some might prefer it to be a little less full, but the way it is on the AW720H is already pretty good. The volume is well-controlled. There's plenty of volume for use, but you’ll probably have to turn it up all the way.

There's also a lot of battery on tap - 30 hours, more specifically. And, fast-charging is on hand should you forget to charge, giving you about six hours of gameplay after 15 minutes of charging. In fact, I haven't charged my test unit once during my time with it after that initial full charge.

And, finally, the mic... This boom mic that cleverly retracts into the left ear cup when not in use sounds loud and clear, though a little compressed and mid-range heavy, which is typical for many boom mics. While there's little bit of sibilance, it's pretty good at minimizing plosives.

Unfortunately, it has no background noise rejection so louder sounds around you will be heard clearly by folks on the other side of that call. Though background noise do get slightly quieter when user is speaking, it’s still prominent enough to be distracting.

Alienware AW720H: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

At $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235), the Alienware AW720H wireless gaming headset may not be cheap, but it is competitively priced, sitting in the same price range as other top-quality wireless gaming headsets and is cheaper than some of the higher-end ones.

Its price is comparable to the highly-rated SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, which boasts solid neutral sound quality and plenty of customizations via the Sonar app, while slightly pricier than the Corsair HS65 Wireless, which has an incredibly immersive soundstage and long-range connectivity.

Alienware AW720H: Specs

Should you buy the Alienware AW720H?

Buy it if...

You want an affordable hi-res gaming headset
The Alienware AW720H delivers impressive, highly detailed audio and an immersive soundstage for less than you'd expect.

You need both style and substance
It boasts that Alienware stamp, which means it looks just as good as it sounds.

Don't buy it if...

You're penny-pinching
It's affordable, but it's not what I would consider budget. If you're on a tight budget, there are cheaper options.

You need a mic with background noise rejection
While its mic sounds clear and crisp, it doesn't do a good job of rejecting background noise.

Alienware AW720H: Also consider

How I tested the Alienware AW720H

One-week testing
Tested for PC gaming and streaming

I put the Alienware AW720H through rigorous testing of playing PC games and streaming blockbusters to really what its surround sound and hi-res audio are made of. I chose, for example, Kena: Bridge of Spirits to see just how detailed the headset's high frequencies are since the game has a lot of environmental noises that typically shine with hi-res audio devices, and Hogwarts: Legacy to check just how wide its soundstage and how accurate its imaging is, especially with Dolby Atmos enabled. I also put on Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion to test its bass frequencies.

I also played around with the Alienware Command Center and the Dolby Atmos app to gauge the level of customizations available to users and the differences among the sound profiles and modes on hand. Naturally, since they're just as important as sound quality, I also gave special attention to its fit, comfort, and battery life.

I've been testing gaming headsets, headphones, and other audio devices for years, writing reviews for several tech publications, including TechRadar, before I joined the team as a TechRadar Editor.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Corsair PC Build Kit review: great PC building starter for those with a bit of cash

8:00 pm | February 16, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, PC, PSU, RAM | Comments: Off

Corsair PC Build Kit: One-minute review

If you don’t know already, Corsair just launched its very first PC Build Kits, so naturally we had to test them out for you.

Now, I should preface this by saying that the last time I built my own computer was back in college – practically an entire lifetime ago. And, back then, we didn’t really have things like Wi-Fi/Bluetooth cards and these massive graphics cards that look less like cards and more like portable weapons of mass destruction sent from the future. So, essentially, my knowledge of modern PC building is just slightly above that of an average person – and only because I know about all the components that one needs to build it.

Then again, that just makes me the perfect consumer to invest in one of these Corsair PC Build Kits. Those that know their stuff, after all, are more likely to pick out every component and part themselves, which is a big part of the appeal of building your own PC.

The question is, are the new Corsair PC Build Kits well worth it for lay people, whether its those who have zero experience but want to learn sans the pressure of getting the right parts, or those who simply do not have the time to do the digital legwork?

The one thing that might discourage potential customers is the price of entry of these gaming PC kits. The cheapest of the three configurations will set you back $1,199.99 (about £995 / AU$1,740), which is admittedly a lot for casual users. However, that isn’t anything different from what you’d expect from Corsair, as the brand does, in its own words, aim to “deliver a great gaming and PC experience with every build. We did not want to sacrifice quality, warranty, and performance” just for the sake of offering budget-friendly options.

And, you’re also paying for convenience here. The Corsair PC Build Kits essentially takes the amount of painstaking research behind building a PC (and the risks that come with not doing it properly) off your hands and into theirs. So that when you get all the components and parts at your doorstep, you only need to lay them all out and follow the instructions diligently.

I am a massive fan of that, and as someone who is essentially a newbie, the kit that Corsair sent me not only made it easy for me to build my own PC, but it also turned me into a convert.

Getting a pre-build PC? Please! Where’s the fun in that?!

Corsair PC Build Kit: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $1,199.99, $1,499.99, $1,999.99
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Only available in North America at the time of writing

Corsair PC Build Kit: SPECS

Here is the Corsair Novice PC Build Kit configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: Asus B660-PLUS 16GB DDR4
Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0
Chassis: Corsair 4000D Airflow
Fans: 2x non-RGB fans
PSU: Corsair CX550M

To make this hobby more accessible, Corsair is not launching one but three different potential builds. The most affordable, which is the one I put together, goes for $1,199.99 and includes a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, a 1TB M.2 SSD and the basic essentials for the rest of the build.

Moving to the $1,499.99 version means upgrading the GPU to an RTX 3070 as well as getting RGB-equipped liquid cooling and case. Finally, the most expensive build, which goes for $1,999.99, will upgrade that CPU to an Intel Core i9, the RAM to 32GB, and GPU to one of the latest from Nvidia, the GeForce RTX 4070.

As pricey as that may seem, other PC build kits are not necessarily going to give you a better price for the same level of components. For instance, picking the same or similar parts on PCPartPicker resulted in a slightly higher price tag.

Value: 4 / 5

Corsair PC Build Kit: Packaging

Neatly packed
Not a lot of wasteful packaging materials in the main box

I personally appreciate products that come neatly packaged, and that’s how my Corsair PC Build Kit arrived. Every single component came in its own packaging – apart from the SSD card and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card, which came in their own plastic bags for some reason (though this might just be for test units) – then piled neatly on top of each other next to the Corsair PC case that occupied half of the box.

Another thing I appreciated is the lack of packing peanuts or styrofoam in this main box. Though Corsair could have chosen to use those to really secure all the individual boxes, it went with packing pillows instead. Less packaging waste, less things to put away.

Packaging: 4.5 / 5

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Corsair PC Build Kit: Assembly

Unpack, organize and build
Video tutorial needs improving
Instructions missing some bits

One thing to know about Corsair’s PC Build Kits is that you’re not getting that PCPartPicker iBuyPower experience here of picking out every single internal component yourself (you can check out Corsair’s custom PC builder for that too). However, being a building PC newbie who also doesn't have the time to do proper research on things like compatibility, I appreciated the fact that because Corsair already picked out all the stuff for me, all I need to do is build the PC.

Not that that part doesn’t have its share of challenges either. I do feel that building a PC is easier for me as I already know the technical terms and basic foundations like how everything should be connected to the motherboard. I can imagine how getting started might be a bit of a head-scratcher for those who absolutely have zero knowledge of what’s inside a computer, however.

Before you do get started on building the PC, my biggest advice here is to give yourself a lot of space – space to lay out all the components so that you’ll easily find every single bit you need without needing to dig through piles, and space to do the building. That should ease any stress you might encounter during the process.

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Corsair also really does try to make things more palatable and less challenging for the uninitiated. You don’t need to deal with things like applying thermal paste (it’s pre-applied to the CPU), which is something that some folks find a little daunting. Corsair’s PC cases, which are obviously the PC cases it’s using for these pre-builds, also already come with fans – with Novice kit having the Corsair 4000D Airflow case and the second and third tiers coming with the RGB version – so that’s also less work for you.

For the rest, you just have to read through and follow the instructions. Just know that Corsair is using an older video tutorial, which seems to be geared towards folk who kind of already know the basics. It’s more of an overview rather than a step-by-step process, so I’m really hoping that Corsair will roll out a new one that’s much easier to follow if you know pretty much nil about PC building.

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Luckily, Corsair’s online instruction manual has instructions specific to each kit. And, while I didn’t take a look at the other two, I can tell you that the instructions for the Novice kit are mostly easy to follow, taking you through every step and even providing images, which prove very useful when you’re figuring out which ports you should be plugging those I/O cables into, for example. It takes you through most things from beginning to end, essentially from which panels of the PC case you should remove to prep it to setting up Windows 11 after your PC’s very first boot.

But fair warning; the instructions are not perfect. There were missing bits here, like where exactly to insert the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card on the motherboard. This wasn’t a big deal to me as I knew where it was supposed to go, but this is also something that a complete novice would definitely not know.

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The hair-pulling bit for me, trying to follow every single step in the instructions faithfully, is the missing bit about the I/O (input/output) plate. The instructions tell you how to install the motherboard, but it doesn’t remind you to make sure to secure the I/O plate first before you install the motherboard. I also forgot about the plate, having accidentally buried it in all that discarded packaging (this is why you have to almost be meticulously organized when building a PC).

So, what ended up happening was me completing all the steps only to find out that there was a very unattractive gaping hole in the back of the PC. And, trust me, there’s no way that plate was going in there after the motherboard had been secured with screws, which meant that, you guessed it, I had to unplug everything, unscrew the motherboard, put that pesky plate in place, then redo the whole thing again! The second time was a lot faster, since I already knew where everything went, but it was still a time drain.

I admit that I was very apprehensive at first about whether or not I did everything correctly, so much so that when I had everything ready, I literally grabbed a bucket of water and brought it to my desk because I was scared that my build was going to burst into flames and burn the house down. This is why I think that Corsair should roll out kit-specific video guides that really take you through everything.

But, everything worked perfectly the first time I turned the thing on and took me right through the Windows 11 setup, which says a lot about Corsair’s instruction manual.

Assembly: 4.5 / 5

Corsair PC Build Kit: Performance

Novice kits delivers good performance at 1440p
Doesn’t get too loud or too hot

Don’t expect an Intel Core i5 13400F chip and an Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card to take you very far in gaming, even if you’ve got a 16GB DDR4 memory backing it all up. This is exactly what you’re getting, however, if you go for the Novice kit – the same basic configuration that I received as my “test unit”. Corsair itself recommends this kit to those who are “interested in building their first gaming PC,” which means that it was never going to be kitted out with cutting-edge tech.

Still, Corsair has done a great job of putting these components together. I wouldn’t recommend this kit for 4K gaming, with the middle one being better-suited to meet such demanding gaming needs, but it performs admirably whenever I’m gaming on high or ultra settings at 1440p.

Playing Hogwarts Legacy on it is a favorable experience, even with ray tracing at low, as it delivers a smooth performance with no noticeable lags. I have seen the occasional minor stutter and noticed that the fans tend to get a little louder – though not too loud to be distracting. Same deal with Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which it handles beautifully, giving me smooth gameplay even when I’m battling the bosses.

Of course, setting everything on ultra, including ray tracing, then removing the frame rate cap is a slightly different deal. Both games start to fumble a little with stuttering and lags becoming more apparent and frequent. However, they’re still more than playable and would, in my opinion, satiate most folks out there, especially those who aren’t massive gamers.

Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Corsair PC Build Kit?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Corsair PC Build Kit: Report card

First reviewed February 2023

How I tested the Corsair PC Build Kit

Read more about how we test

PSVR 2 review – PS5 VR is the real deal

4:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: PC, PSVR, VR | Comments: Off

PSVR 2 specs

Resolution: 2,000 x 2,040 per panel
Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz
Display: OLED HDR
Field of view: 110 degrees
Audio: Dedicated headset audio via 3.5mm headphone jack
Connection: USB-C
Tracking: IR camera with Tobii eye-tracking
Requires: PS5

PSVR 2 is finally here, and it’s got a lot of expectations to live up to. Sony’s first-gen PSVR headset was a mixed bag: affordable, but poor per-panel resolution and serious visual compromises on PS4 left many wanting a better experience. Nearly seven years on, PSVR 2 has vastly improved on pretty much everything that the original headset set out to do.

Every aspect of PSVR 2 seems tailor-made to both address the first headset’s shortcomings and capitalize on the power of the PS5. Higher texture quality in PSVR 2 exclusives like Horizon: Call of the Mountain really stand out thanks to the headset’s 2,000 x 2,040 panel resolution. It also helps that there are significantly fewer hoops to jump through to get PSVR 2 set up in the first place: just one USB-C cable is all you need to get it up and running on PS5.

It speaks volumes that PSVR 2’s only major drawback is its price. Being more expensive than the PS5 console may turn away many. But in the grand scheme of things, it beats many of the best VR headsets on the market when it comes to specs and price, even the Valve Index.

So while PSVR 2 is absolutely a luxury purchase, I’m confident in saying those who do take the leap will be getting their money’s worth and then some.

PSVR 2: price and availability

Undoubtedly the biggest hurdle to overcome with PSVR 2 is its price. At $549 / £529 / AU$879. The fact it’s more expensive than the PS5 could well turn away many potential buyers. The headset can be pre-ordered from the PlayStation Direct store and should arrive within its launch week (February 22 - 28).

You won’t get very far with PSVR 2 without some compatible games. Sony knows this, and has created a PSVR 2 bundle that includes its marquee launch title, Horizon: Call of the Mountain. The bundle will set you back $599 / £569 / AU$959.

PSVR 2’s pair of Sense controllers are included in the box, but spare pairs can be bought from PlayStation Direct for $49 / £39 (around AU$70).

PSVR 2: design

Similar in look and feel to original PSVR
Blissfully simple setup via a single USB-C cable
Fits comfortably with adjustable headband

Sony’s clearly taken much care in its design of the PSVR 2. Both aesthetically and ergonomically, it’s similar to the original PSVR, but the kit’s overall design has been refined for a more comfortable experience.

The most immediately noticeable improvement with PSVR 2 comes in how you set it up. And thankfully, it’s as easy as connecting a single USB-C cable (included) into your PS5. That’s it. Unlike the first PSVR, you don’t have to worry about making room for a mess of wires and adaptors. PSVR 2, aside from a very quick and easy first-time setup, is plug-and-play in its purest form.

That initial setup will walk you through almost every aspect of PSVR 2’s design. It’ll introduce you to the slider that adjusts the headset’s distance from your eyes, as well as the rear headband’s dial that helps secure the device on the back of your head. You’ll also be given a chance to adjust PSVR 2’s focus slider, which helps minimize image ghosting and provide sharper image quality.

Another big plus is that little to no outside light is let in when the headset is fixed on, an aspect that's key to immersion on PSVR 2 and a clear improvement over the original device.

Despite being relatively light, the headset doesn’t feel cheaply made

The PSVR 2 headset is also relatively lightweight, meaning it’s unlikely you’ll cause your body any undue stress during play both seated and standing. Mileage will vary from player to player, but I clocked in a two-hour session on Horizon: Call of the Mountain without any kind of neck strain. It was the rest of my body that needed a rest, of course, given the physical nature of standing VR sessions.

Despite being relatively light, the headset doesn’t feel cheaply made. The adjustable headband is cushioned and should provide a comfy fit for most users. Meanwhile, on-headset sliders like the rear headband adjuster feel sturdy and tactile.

If I have any gripes with the PSVR 2 headset’s design, it would be the placement of its on-board buttons. Both the power button and camera function are located on the underside of the headset, and thus can be a little fiddly to press, especially as they’re slightly concave. It’s a minor inconvenience, though, and one that muscle memory will soon sort out.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

PSVR 2: features

Headset camera is a welcome inclusion, if a little grainy
Eye tracking works almost perfectly
Console dashboard can be unresponsive at times

One fantastic addition PSVR 2 borrows from other top headsets, such as the Quest 2, is a passthrough camera that’ll pause the action to give you a look at your surroundings, without needing to take it off. Activated by an on-device button, the camera displays in monochrome and is quite grainy, but extremely useful for when you need to pick up your Sense controllers and do a final check of your VR playing space.

Many PSVR 2 games also support the headset’s new eye-tracking feature. It’s largely used to browse menus simply by looking at your desired option, and calibration for the feature is introduced to you upon initial setup.

For the most part, it works great, though it can feel a little skittish when looking at menu items that are fairly close together. Overall, though, eye tracking feels like a promising feature that I’m looking forward to seeing implemented for wider gameplay purposes.

As with the previous PS4 headset, PSVR 2 can seamlessly bring up your PS5’s dashboard at the press of one of the Sense controllers’ Home buttons. Well, almost seamlessly. The dashboard itself, displayed through PSVR 2’s lenses, is relatively low-resolution. There doesn't appear to be a big improvement over the first PSVR in this area, and thus it's difficult for me to recommend Cinematic mode as a result.

On top of that, it can be slightly unresponsive depending on if you have a game open at the time, updating at a sluggishly low refresh rate. It’s certainly jarring going from a 120Hz experience in-game to sub-60Hz on the dashboard, and may disorient you slightly.

Features score: 4 / 5

PSVR 2: performance

Excellent image quality
Headphones provide strong immersive audio
Image ghosting an occasional issue

I can’t speak highly enough about the leap in image quality between PSVR and PSVR 2. The original’s 960 x 1,080 per eye resolution – paired with the visual compromises games like Skyrim VR had to take to run at 90-120Hz – meant that PSVR games had a rather smeared look. It was a particularly bad experience if you’re like me and suffer from motion sickness easily.

PSVR 2 has largely solved this issue. Panel resolution has jumped up to 2,000 x 2,040, allowing for a much greater level of clarity. This is especially evident in games like Horizon: Call of the Wild and Kayak VR, where the impressive texture detail is allowed to stand out thanks to that higher resolution.

Despite these vast improvements, you may still encounter a degree of image ghosting. This creates a slight afterimage akin to a delayed motion blur, and can be quite distracting or immersion-breaking. However, this will depend on the visual quality of any given PSVR 2 game, as well as the setting of your lens slider.

PSVR 2's headphones greatly benefit from the console’s proprietary 3D audio

Adjusting this to create a sharper image minimizes this issue greatly, though this does mean that the lenses can start to press firmly against your nose. It’s worth experimenting with the slider with each game to find your perfect balance of comfort and image quality.

Thankfully, in my testing, I found that all PSVR 2 games were able to maintain a locked 90Hz or 120Hz experience. That’s not just great news for gameplay, but when paired with some games’ implementation of vignetting (darkening the edges of the display) really helps to reduce motion sickness and improve immersion overall.

The PSVR 2 experience is made even better by its headphones, too. Much like PSVR, these headphones are wired to the headset itself. PSVR 2's headphones greatly benefit from the console’s proprietary 3D audio.

Spatial audio is an especially great feature in VR, and gaming on PSVR 2 is all the better for it. I especially loved this for Kayak VR, a game with a wide dynamic range, which led to a fantastic mix of satisfyingly sloshy paddling and distant chirps of various fauna. Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite are standout audio experiences here, too; their layered, immersive soundtracks really come to life thanks to PS5’s 3D audio.

Performance score: 5 / 5

PSVR 2: Sense controllers

Superb motion accuracy
Haptics feel a little understated
Poor battery life

PSVR 2 includes its bespoke Sense controllers in the box. You’ll get a pair of these, one for each hand, and each acts like two halves of a DualSense wireless controller. The Sense controllers evenly split face buttons, analog sticks, and triggers between one another, while both have a Home button for easy access to the PS5 dashboard. Meanwhile, the Options/Pause button is found on the right controller, and holding the button for a few seconds universally realigns your display.

The Sense aren’t the best VR controllers I’ve ever used, lacking the quality feel of Valve Index’s pair. But they certainly get the job done. Motion accuracy is pinpoint, and the circular design ensures you’ll be able to pull off more specific motions with ease.

The Sense controllers themselves are on the cheaper side in terms of cost, which is great if you fancy picking up a spare pair. However, this does mean that some of their features take a step back. The controllers support haptic feedback, but in testing multiple games, the feature did feel a little flat, especially compared to the excellent implementation on DualSense and DualSense Edge.

Battery life is also a slight issue. I clocked in five to six hours on a full charge. And given that they are two controllers, you will have to charge them separately via USB-C. And with PS5’s USB port already being taken up by the PSVR 2 unit itself, you may find this impacts the length of your VR sessions if you don’t switch to a DualSense pad while they charge.

Sense controllers score: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy PSVR 2?

Buy it if...

You want a premium VR experience
PSVR 2’s specs are among the best on the market, and the headset sets an impressively high bar for future console VR devices.

You want games you can’t play anywhere else
PSVR 2 will grow even stronger as more exclusive games roll in. Horizon: Call of the Mountain is certainly a strong start and undoubtedly the headset’s killer app.

You’re looking for ease of use
PSVR 2 is blissfully easy to set up, and with just a single wire connecting it to PS5, eschews the need for a complex array of cables and adapters.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget
PSVR 2 is an expensive piece of kit, and thus has a very niche appeal. If you’re even slightly unsure, avoid picking it up for the time being.

You’re after a PC headset
PSVR 2 won’t work on PC out of the box. If you’re interested in PC-based VR, consider a headset like the Quest 2 or Valve Index.

Evercade EXP review: an accessible handheld for budding retro collectors

Apple Mac mini (2023): forget Windows 11, this is the best PC you can buy

6:16 pm | January 23, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Apple Mac, PC | Comments: Off

Apple Mac mini (2023): Two-minute review

The Apple Mac mini (2023) was a surprise launch alongside the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) and MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023), and while a lot of attention has focused on the two new laptops, it would be a crime to ignore the Mac mini (2023).

While we were all expecting Apple to announce the M2 Pro and M2 Max, alongside follow-ups to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks from 2021 at some point, the new Mac mini was a genuine surprise, and once more details emerged, that surprise turned increasingly pleasant.

The Apple Mac mini (2023) now comes with an M2 chip – the same powerful SoC that can be found in the latest MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022), and that offers a substantial boost in performance compared to the M1 Mac mini from 2020.

Rear shot of the Mac mini (2023) and its ports — (Image credit: Future)

However, Apple also surprised everyone by announcing a version of the Mac mini (2023) that comes with the brand-new M2 Pro chip. This is also featured in the high-end MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch and offers a huge amount of power. Along with more unified memory (up to 32GB), the Mac mini (2023) is now a seriously impressive workstation PC.

Perhaps best of all, Apple has packed all this new power into the same compact dimensions that many of us have come to love about the Mac mini. You’d be seriously pushed to find a computer that matched the performance on offer here in a similar size.

Apple’s final surprise regarding the Mac mini (2023) may be the best, however, as the base model now comes with a new lower starting price of $599 / £649 / AU$999. This is incredible value for money, and after using the Mac mini (2023) for a range of tasks, including ultra-high definition video editing and music creation, I can safely recommend this to pretty much anyone.

Once again, the Mac mini has quietly won us over without having to hog the limelight.

Apple Mac mini (2023) review: Price and availability

New, cheaper starting price
Base model just $599 / £649 / AU$999
M2 Pro model starts at $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$1,999

The Mac mini (2023) had a surprise announcement on January 17, 2023, with pre-orders going on sale as soon as the news broke. Pre-orders will start arriving on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, the same day that it’ll also be available in Apple stores and from other retailers.

However, people in Australia will need to wait a little longer, with deliveries starting on February 3, 2023. Apple has not commented on the reason for this delay, but I assume it’s down to logistics.

The appearance of the new Mac mini wasn’t the only surprise, as Apple also announced a new starting price of $599 / £649 / AU$999 for the base model. This is a welcome deviation from the trend of gadgets getting more expensive with each passing year, and it’s $100 / £100 / AU$150 less than what the original Mac mini M1 debuted at.

This base configuration comes with an M2 chip (the same found in the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) that launched last year), which is a step up from the M1 chip found in the 2020 model, and also comes with 8GB of unified memory and 256GB SSD. That price is incredibly compelling, as you’re getting a compact PC you can fit almost anywhere, and as we’ve seen with the M2 MacBooks last year, the M2 chip offers excellent performance, even when it comes to workloads such as video editing and rendering.

It's by far the best value mini PC you can buy right now, with other compact PCs either more expensive, such as the Intel NUC, or nowhere near as powerful. The closest Windows-based mini PC out there is the Geekom Mini IT11, which is slightly cheaper, but does not offer the same sleek design, nor does its quad-core Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor and integrated graphics come anywhere close to rivaling the M2 chip.

The base model alone, then, is impressive enough already, but you can configure it to perform even better. You can upgrade the amount of memory up to 24GB for an additional $400 / £400 / AU$600, and you can get up to 2TB storage, which will cost you an additional $800 / £800 / AU$1,200.

You can also get the Mac mini (2023) with the new M2 Pro chip, which launched alongside the PC, and features in the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) and MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023). This is an exciting development, as it’s the first time a professional-grade chip has been included in the Mac mini, turning it into a viable compact workstation for creatives, and anyone who wants extra power in a small PC, but finds the asking price of the Mac Studio to be too high.

The Mac mini with M2 Pro starts at $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$1,999, and this will get you an Apple M2 Pro chip with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, along with 16GB memory and 512GB SSD storage.

For an additional $300 / £300 / AU$450, you can get a more powerful M2 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU. Upgrading to 32GB memory will cost you $400 / £400 / AU$600, and is the only memory upgrade option.

Price score: 5/5

Apple Mac mini (2023) review: Specs

Apple Mac mini (2023) comes in three main configurations; two with the M2 chip and one with the M2 Pro chip. Currently, there are no Mac mini models that come with the more powerful M2 Max chip, and no news regarding whether such a model will appear later down the line.

Each of these options can be configured to change the chips, add more memory (up to 24GB with the M2 and up to 32GB with the M2 Pro), and increase the available storage up to 2TB (8TB for the M2 Pro model).

Bottom of the Mac mini (2023) — (Image credit: Future)

Apple Mac mini (2023) review: Design

Same design as previous model
Small enough for any desk
More ports on the M2 Pro version

The Mac mini (2023)’s design is pretty much identical to the Mac mini from 2020, and that’s no bad thing. It remains small and unobtrusive, with a solid metal case and the large Apple logo on the top.

It’s small enough to place almost anywhere. You could hide it behind a monitor and turn it into an iMac-like device. In fact, Apple recommends doing exactly this with its Studio Display monitor, but I’m not too sure, as I wasn’t much of a fan of that display, and there are much better and more affordable screens out there (check out our best monitors for the Mac mini guide for our recommendations).

The M2 Mac mini is exactly the same in terms of things like weight and depth, at 1.41 x 7.75 x 7.75-inches (3.58 x 19.70 x 19.70 cm) and 2.6lbs / 1.18kg (the M2 Pro weighs more, however, at 2.8lbs / 1.28kg) and support for headphone jacks (the M2 Mac mini supports high-impedance headphones as well). However, when you look around the back, you’ll notice some slight changes.

In terms of ports, the M2 Mac mini has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (four for the M2 Pro version), two USB-A ports, and one HDMI port. It also has a gigabit Ethernet port for internet and network connectivity (Wi-Fi 6E is also built-in). The HDMI port of the M2 version can output at 4K and 60Hz, while the M2 Pro model can output up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz.

The Mac mini (2023) also features built-in speakers, giving you sound notifications and text-to-speech capabilities via Siri without the need for plugging in speakers, which is particularly useful for accessibility.

Overall, the design remains pretty unchanged, but I don’t really mind. It does the job so well at being a compact and sleek PC that it doesn’t need much in the way of improvements. Unlike some mini PCs, the Mac mini isn’t modular or upgradable, which remains a shame, but as an Apple device, it’s probably not too surprising.

Design score: 4/5

Mac mini (2023) plug and cable — (Image credit: Future)

Apple Mac mini (2023) review: Performance

Big step up in performance compared to M1
M2 Pro is excellent
Keeps quiet and cool

Benchmarks

Here’s how the Mac mini (2023) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Cinebench R23 CPU: Single-Core: 1,649; Multi-Core: 14,786
Geekbench 5 Single-Core: 1,954; Multi-Core: 15,266
PugentBench Photoshop: 978
Premier Pro: 894
Blender: Monster: 126.88; Junkshop: 73.03; Classroom: 56.62

The Apple Mac mini with M2 features the same 8-core CPU/10-core GPU silicon that we saw in the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13-inch in 2022. I reviewed both those models for TechRadar, and I found the performance of the M2 to be an impressive jump compared to the M1 chip. Apple’s certainly getting comfortable with making computing chips.

The model I got in for review is the M2 Pro model, but I’m reasonably sure that the performance of the Mac mini (2023) with the M2 chip will be pretty close to the M2 models of the MacBook Air and 13-inch Pro. If that is indeed the case – and I’ll hopefully get hold of an M2 Mac mini at some point to confirm – then you’re looking at an impressively versatile mini PC that, for the price, easily outperforms the competition. If you were disappointed with the price rise of the MacBook Air (M2, 2022), then the Mac mini (2023) with M2 is almost half the price - though, of course, no screen, keyboard, or mouse is included in the price.

The M2 Pro model finally makes the Mac mini a PC worthy of consideration if you’re looking at doing intensive creative work on it, and you can get two variants of the M2 Pro: the 10-core CPU/16-core GPU version (with six performance and four efficiency cores) and a 12-core CPU/19-core GPU version (with eight performance cores/four efficiency cores).

I performed similar tests on the Mac mini as I did with the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review, including editing 8K movie files and making projects in Ableton Live 11 using a MIDI keyboard, and as with the MacBook, the new Mac mini performed brilliantly. Running synthetic benchmarks, such as Cinebench, which puts the chip under heavy graphical and computational loads, again showed just how close the new MacBook Pro 16-inch and Mac mini perform.

The model of Mac mini I used has an M2 Pro with a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU, 1TB storage, and 16GB of memory, which will cost $1,799 / £1,899 / AU$2,749, if you configure it on Apple's website. A 16-inch MacBook Pro would set you back $2,699 / £2,899 / AU$4,299. That's quite a difference in price, and while you're not getting a screen with the Mac mini (and the display of the 16-inch MacBook Pro really is fantastic), or the portability, the fact that the Mac mini offers such close performance for so much less really is impressive.

Apple has made big strides in improving the efficiency of the M2 Pro chip, and while that is arguably more important when it comes to the MacBook, as better efficiency can lead to longer battery life, it’s also welcome with the Mac mini. Due to its compact size, the Mac mini can keep working without producing too much heat, and that means it also doesn’t need to use its fans that often, leading to a pleasingly silent PC. In these days of ever-higher energy bills, the efficiencies brought in by the M2 and M2 Pro are certainly welcome, especially if you’re planning on using the Mac mini for long periods of time.

Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Mac mini (2023)?

Buy it if...

You want a compact PC
Apple has done it again – this is the best compact PC you can currently buy, regardless of which model you go for.

You want an affordable way to get a Mac
At $599 / £649 / AU$999, the base model is brilliant value, and the cheapest way to get hold of a new Mac.

You were eying up the Mac Studio
The Mac Studio is a fantastic compact PC for serious workloads, but the Mac mini (2023) kitted out with the M2 Pro is a very compelling alternative for a lot less money.

Don't buy it if...

You want a mobile device
While the Mac mini has the style and performance of the most recent MacBooks, it’s not a device you can use anywhere – it needs to be plugged into a monitor and power.

You want an upgradable PC
The Mac mini isn’t modular, and it can’t be opened up and tinkered with. If you want a mini PC that you can upgrade in the future, then look elsewhere.

You don’t like macOS
As an Apple product, you’re going to have to make do with macOS Ventura. It’s a perfectly fine operating system, but if you’re determined to stick with Windows or Linux, you’ll need to consider an alternative.

Apple Mac mini (2023) review: Also consider

If our Apple Mac mini (2023) review has you considering other options, here are three more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Apple Mac mini (2023)

Mac mini (2023) box — (Image credit: Future)

I used the Mac mini over a weekend as my main computer
I edited 8K video on it and performed other tasks
I ran our usual suite of standardised benchmarks

Apple delivered the Mac mini (2023) at the same time as the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023), which I also reviewed, and I spent several days using both products. I also spent a weekend using the Mac mini (2023) as my main PC and wrote up parts of the review using it.

I loaded up some 8K video files to see how the Mac mini handled intensive creative tasks, as well as transcoded a 1080p video and browsed the internet using both Safari and Chrome. I also created some multi-track music projects in Ableton Live, which is a popular tool for recording music.

I’ve reviewed and used many small form factor PCs throughout my career, including all of the latest Mac minis, and have used this experience to compare the Mac mini (2023) with its nearest rivals.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2023

BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ review: if you’re going OLED, you may as well go big

12:45 am | January 8, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: HDMI, OLED, PC | Comments: Off

BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ: Two-minute review

OLED PC gaming panels are now arriving thick and fast, the latest example of which is the new BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ, a 48-inch monster of a monitor. It's also fully 4K and good for 120Hz refresh. In a word, wow.

In fact, this thing is so big it pushes the very notion of what a PC monitor can be right to the limit. In a conventional desktop setting and at a viewing distance of a couple feet, it's surely too big at 48 inches, even if it does have a monitor-style stand with a degree of tilt adjustment. That said, there's no height adjustment, which limits your options in terms of placement and ergonomics.

Ultimately, it's unclear what the optimal usage model is for this class of monitor. It's hard to see someone sitting right in front of it like a conventional PC monitor - so it's hard to recommend it as one of the best gaming monitors. The question is why you'd go for it over one of the best OLED TVs with similar specs. Hold that thought.

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BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ in an office setting — (Image credit: Future | Photo by Jeremy Laird)

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The BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ also looks just like the rest of the Mobiuz gaming monitor range with its geometric design, plus silver and orange accents. The slim bezels on three sides of the panel, meanwhile, plus a relatively large chin are likewise standard BenQ Mobiuz design language. The overall vibe is game-y without being over the top or adolescent.

As for the broader technical details, the 48-inch OLED panel is sourced from LG and sports a full 4K pixel grid and thus a native resolution of 3,840 by 2,160. It's huge. BenQ claims a pretty modest peak brightness of 450 nits, though it doesn't specify the maximum window size at which that figure is attained. Full screen brightness is 135 nits, which is modest even by OLED standards.

That said, it's very speedy thanks to 0.1ms response, which is way faster than any LCD-based gaming monitor, plus 120Hz refresh. Yes, there are monitors with much higher maximum refresh rates. But 120Hz is arguably plenty for a 4K monitor. Even the latest and greatest graphics cards will struggle to hit 200 fps or more in modern games, after all.

Add in support for both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, and you have a recipe for very smooth gameplay. On paper, the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ looks good in terms of color fidelity and accuracy, too, thanks to 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 digital cinema gamut. Oh, and you also get BenQ's Trevolo audio solution including a 2.1 speaker system with a 10W subwoofer.

As for connectivity, that's where the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ really separates itself from an otherwise similar OLED TV. First, you get the obligatory pair of HDMI ports. Importantly, they're HDMI 2.1 spec and so support 120Hz refresh. That makes this a good candidate for sharing between a gaming PC and one of the latest 120Hz-capable consoles from Sony or Microsoft.

To that you can add the much more PC-centric DisplayPort 1.4 interface, which again supports the full 120Hz. What you absolutely won't see on an OLED TV, however, is the EX480UZ's USB-C connection complete with 90W of power delivery. So, you can drive this huge monitor with a laptop while keeping the laptop itself charged. Nice. Oh, and you also get an IR remote for accessing the OSD menu, which is handy on this large a monitor.

Anyway, if that's all the critical speeds and feeds covered off, how well does this monster monitor actually perform? The short answer is that it depends. At its best, it's pretty impressive. At its worst? You'll wonder where all the money went.

The key issue is brightness. OLED panels generally don't do full-screen brightness terribly well. For a TV, that's usually not a major issue as it's relatively rare for a TV to display something uniformly bright across the whole screen or at least a large majority of the screen.

But on the PC, that's quite normal. You might have a light-colored wallpaper or a couple of browser windows open showing mostly white webpages. In those scenarios, the brightness of the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ drops right back. What's most distracting is how much the brightness varies. Let's say you have Windows running in dark mode with a browser open showing a mostly dark interface, like Netflix for instance.

In that scenario, the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ looks great. But switch to a browser tab with a mostly white background and the brightness drops dramatically and the screen looks very dull overall.

That's the screen's ABL or automatic brightness limiter doing its thing. In mitigation, that's all much less of an issue playing games or watching movies. But even then it can catch you out. Some of the brighter outdoor scenes in a game like Cyberpunk running HDR can have the ABL kicking in pretty obviously. At this price point, that's hard to accept.

The upside, of course, involves pretty much perfect black levels and excellent contrast. The pixel response is seriously zippy, too. Add in the 120Hz refresh and the overall responsiveness is truly excellent, provided you have a seriously powerful GPU.

But fundamentally, this OLED panel lacks outright punch, something that's only more obvious in day-to-day PC usage as opposed to playing games and watching movies. Even by OLED standards, the brightness is disappointing. Monitors using Samsung's QD-OLED panel tech, including the Alienware AW3423DW are markedly better when it comes to full screen brightness.

When you factor in this screen's hefty price tag, it's very hard to justify the brightness limitations and clunky feel in day to day use - let alone recommend it as one of the best monitors right now. The excellent connectivity is nice, but if it's OLED tech for a desktop PC you're after, a 34-inch option from the best ultrawide monitors that use Samsung's QD-OLED tech is currently by far the better choice. And if you want a really big 4K screen for gaming, an OLED TV is likewise superior value.

BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $2,049 / £1,599 (about $AU2,950)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and the UK

The new BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ is currently clocking in at $2,049 / £1,599 (about $AU2,950). We suspect the US price in particular will drop a bit fairly quickly. But even with several hundred dollars shaved off, it will still be a very expensive display.

For starters, it looks like poor value next to 48-inch OLED 4K TVs which can be had for less. So, you're paying a very large premium for the added connectivity. It also makes it hard to accept the limitations that come with the LG-sourced OLED panel BenQ is using here. It's likewise worth noting that various 34-inch ultrawide monitors based on Samsung's QD-OLED tech, like the Alienware AW3423DW, make for much better, if admittedly smaller, PC monitors and can be had for a lot less money.

Value 2 / 5

BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ: Specs

Should you buy the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ?

Buy it if...

You want that OLED experience with PC connectivity
The BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ uses LG's familiar OLED tech in a 48-inch 4K and adds full PC features including DisplayPort and USB-C connectivity.

You appreciate really fast response
At just 0.1ms response, this huge panel is way faster than evern the very best LCD monitors, including the latest mini-LED monitors.

Don't buy it if...

You want a really punchy panel
The full screen brightness is super disappointing, something that's only more obvious when attached to a PC as opposed to being a pure TV

You want value for money
At this price point, you can choose from some of the very best PC monitors, including OLED displays based on Samsung's more suitable QD-OLED tech.

BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ: Also consider

How I tested the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ

I tested the monitor for one week
I tested it for web, gaming, movies, the works
I used it on both PC and Mac, over HDMI and DisplayPort

I put the BenQ Mobiuz EX480UZ through its paces with a proper PC workout. I used it to browse the web, do a little work, stream video and most importantly game.

I ran both regular HDR content and HDR content and played games that both majored in visual thrills and also titles that are all about frame rate and response. I used test videos to assess the panel's brightness over a range of window sizes, compared the response to competing displays and snuffed out its latency levels.

I've been testing PC monitors since the early days of flat panels for many of the leading trch titles. I've seen all the major new OLED monitors, including Alienware and Philips' new 34-inch models, plus Corsair's 45-inch Flex, not to mention countless mini-LED models, so I can directly compare this new BenQ to its most important and relevant competitors.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

NCH Software Debut Video Capture review

2:28 pm | September 7, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: PC | Comments: Off

NCH Software provides a lot of video editing tools for both Mac and Windows users. Debut is one of them - one of the best free screen recorders for capturing your screen, webcam, and audio all at once, for a very reasonable price if you upgrade from the free version.

We decided to re-review this essential bit of software to see how the latest version compares to the best screen recorders we've tested.

NCH Software Debut Video Capture: Pricing

Free for personal use, subscription or lifetime license for commercial use

Any good software needs to be paid for, right? Well… not necessarily. You might be surprised to learn that if your needs are solely for personal use, Debut Video Capture is actually free.

Download the software from the Debut Video Capture homepage by clicking here and you’ll see this quote: “Get it Free. A free version of Debut video capture software is available for non-commercial use only. If you will be using Debut at home you can download the free version here. No signup required.”

Be warned: you will get constant reminders to confirm your non-commercial status every time you launch the software.

There are multiple different editions of the software, mostly depending on whether your needs are commercial or not. Personal use is free, as we’ve mentioned earlier. Should you wish to, or need to purchase a licence, you’ll be pleased to learn you have the option to get yourself a perpetual licence.

The Pro Edition (which covers you for business use) usually costs $70, although you can currently grab a copy for $50.

The Home Edition (licensed for non-business use) is usually $60, but available for $40 as of this writing.

If you’re a fan of subscriptions, you can rent the Pro version for around $4 a month (billed quarterly), the advantage being that you get all future upgrades for free as part of your plan.

Pricing: 4/5

NCH Software Debut Video Capture: Interface

NCH Software Debut Video Capture during our review — Debut is very versatile, allowing you to record the whole screen or just a portion of it (Image credit: NCH Software)

So many options can be a little overwhelming for newcomers

At first glance, Debut’s interface isn’t especially stylish. It feels pretty dated, as if it came straight out of the 90s, with big square buttons at the top, although we do note that these icons have been redesigned since we last looked at the software. New menus have also made an appearance, most notably the Effects and Recordings tabs. Select any tab and the big icons on display are replaced with contextually different ones.

The redesign is most welcome and makes it much easier to find the tools you’re looking for. You’ll find tools to capture the whole screen, narrow that down to a cropped section of said screen, or just select one open window. You can control your webcam, choose its resolution, decide to make it full screen, or as an overlay. You have the ability to connect other devices and record from there, even through a network, and if you have more than one screen connected to your computer, you get to choose which one to focus on.

This is all very impressive, especially for software that’s free (or, if you need it for commercial purposes, is relatively inexpensive compared to competitors like Camtasia, EaseUS RecExperts, and FlashBack Express).

You’ll also find a handful of visual effects (although if you want the full-fat content, check out the best VFX software). These include adding text captions and watermarking footage. There’s also a green screen tool, and a handful of color filters (black and white, negative, and sepia), very basic colour correction, the ability to record keystrokes (a handy feature when making tutorial videos), and setting up a camera overlay.

Be aware that these effects are applied during the recording process: you cannot alter them in post, limiting their usefulness and versatility. Still, having tools is better than not having them, as long as you’re aware of their limitations.

Take a trip to the Settings tab, to see all the ways you can customize the software.

These are conveniently divided into categories, such as video, audio, hot-keys, mouse, and so on. There’s even an option to schedule your screen captures, and even make that a regular occurrence.

There are a lot of options here, which could easily intimidate newcomers to this software. The good news is, you only need to hit the big red Record button to start a new video (by default this captures your entire screen). You can worry about the fine-tuning as you get more comfortable with the software.

Interface: 4/5

NCH Software Debut Video Capture: Recording

Great on a PC, audio issues on a Mac

When it works, Debut Video Capture works great. We were able to capture video, record the computer’s audio, have our webcam as an overlay - everything worked as expected.

The video streams are recorded separately, and it’s advised you wear headphones, so the audio from the computer doesn’t bleed into the audio from your microphone. But this is standard fare for screen recording programs.

You’ll be offered an option to do ‘fast-selection’. It’s recommended when capturing gameplay for instance, to make sure you get the highest frame rate while recording. We found that this setting gave better results all round, so we kept it as the default for all future recordings.

There is, however, a huge caveat: all this is fine on the PC, but we encountered a pretty big problem when trying to do the same on the Mac. It wasn’t the visuals - those were fine, as was the webcam. The problem we had was with the audio. Try as we might, we couldn’t get the software to record any audio coming from the Mac itself. The software kept trying to install a special audio driver, but it kept failing - we tried this with multiple Macs and got the same results. Put it this way: we know the system audio can be recorded separately as it works with other screen recording software on the same machines, just not with Debut.

Your mileage may vary, of course. Perhaps there’s this magic button, tick box, or menu hidden from view which would fix this problem, and make that driver magically work. Unfortunately, our experience during the course of the review was marred by this.

Recording: 3/5

NCH Software Debut Video Capture: Editing

Top and tail your video and not much more

With previous versions, your editing capabilities were limited to trimming the start and end of a recording. Now, even that is a paid-for feature. This means you cannot do any editing whatsoever with Debut Video Capture. Full stop. This is a disappointing miss in software with so many hits.

Thankfully, since your recordings are saved separately, your clips are primed to be edited elsewhere. You even have numerous format options when it comes to exporting both the audio and video files. “But what about that big ‘Edit’ icon in the Recordings section?”, we hear you ask. That’s NCH Software not being shy about promoting its VideoPad video editing software package. Click on it and it’ll open the software should it already be installed on your computer. If it’s not there, clicking on that button will immediately start the downloading and installation process.

For more dedicated post-production tools, we reviewed the best video editing software and the best free video editing software.

Editing: 1/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want an excellent, affordable screen recorder for PC
Debut Video Capture is ideal if you’re in the market for a very affordable and excellent screen capture tool - as long as you’re on a PC. It’s still worth considering if you’re on a Mac and don’t mind not recording the computer’s audio (unless there’s an easy solution we missed of course).

Don't buy it if...

You prize simplicity over all
If you feel intimidated by so many customization options, or you’re on a Mac and audio recording is important to you, Debut Video Capture might not strike all the right chords.

For more screen recording tools, we've also tested out the best screenshot tools for Mac.

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