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Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered review: A more than worthy remaster
8:00 pm | December 9, 2024

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

Developer Aspyr, fresh from remastering the first three Tomb Raider games, has cleaned off its brushes and given vampiric poster-boy Raziel his own substantial makeover in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered. Every character from the main players in Crystal Dynamics' time and space-bending epic right down to the lowly grunts and creatures has received new, highly-detailed models.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on:
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date:
December 10, 2024

We’ve seen similar levels of uplift in Aspyr’s previous efforts but nothing on this scale. Raziel himself, as the character players will spend almost all of their time viewing, has obviously received the biggest overhaul. Raziel’s wraithlike figure now appears more tangible than before.

His previous skull-cap-like hair is now a thick black bonnet, complete with his trademark bangs that hang down before his glowing white eyes and his garb, the clan banner used to mask his horrific disfigurement sporting high-resolution textures while his exposed bones and muscles now protrude convincingly through his blue skin.

Raziel’s transformation, and that of everything in Legacy of Kain 1&2 Remastered, is easy to admire thanks to Aspyr’s use of the original source code, enabling players to instantly flick between new and classic visuals with a single press of the right analog stick.

Throughout my playthrough, I found myself frequently swapping graphics modes to see how extensive Aspyr’s remaster ventured and I was consistently impressed. The aforementioned assortment of grunts, the low-level enemies that Raziel dispatches along his blood-soaked vendetta, have received a remarkable level of reworking, with all new art assets that go above and beyond a simple texture swap.

This is also true of the collections’ pantheon of grotesque bosses with Raziel’s devilish foes now presented with reworked geometry, hair, skin, bone, and gore that revels in the dark and twisted nature of Nosgoth.

Speaking of the land of Nosgoth, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered decorates every surface with high-resolution textures that preserve the overall look and feel of the originals and adds a copious amount of details to intricate stone carvings around the gothic chambers, stained glass windows within strongholds and the twisted, haunting sinewy strands of the spectral realm.

Elevated Raziel… not reduced

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing the upgraded visuals in a side-by-side comparison

(Image credit: Aspyr)

While long-time fans will likely get a kick out of the new visuals, giving Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered a lick of paint is only half the battle when rereleasing these titles in 2024, with a revamp of the twenty-five-year-old control scheme requiring just as much attention.

Thankfully, the remaster brings a substantial improvement to the somewhat clunky controls of the original release and marries the new scheme with a welcome bump up to a solid 60fps.

While Soul Reaver 2 always had the cameras mapped to the right stick on controllers, its forebearer required players to rotate the camera around Raziel using the L2 and R2 buttons (on PS5). The original controls also meant that players couldn’t move the camera through the Y-axis, which often made looking for a way forward a cumbersome exercise in trial and error.

Aspyr has rightly corrected this issue with a camera now tied to the right stick and, to highlight just how much care and attention has gone into this remaster, they’ve even created new, moody sky boxes to accommodate Raziel’s newfound ability to look up.

Best bit

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing the player character in an expansive environment

(Image credit: Aspyr)

Hearing the late Tony Jay’s booming voice as the Elder God at the start of Raziel’s quest transported me back to 1999. Jay’s vocal performance here is one of the all-time greatest and the exceptional script gives him plenty of juicy lines to chew on, and the upgraded visuals make the Elder God seem that much more of an unsettling presence than before.

The vastly improved camera controls aren’t the only new feature that makes navigating Nosgoth a smoother experience. A brand-new map and onscreen compass remove the frustration of finding your way around the sprawling realms. Purists may be pleased to hear that the map and compass are optional and easily deactivated, however, the maps of Nosgoth, created in collaboration between Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics, and key members of the Legacy of Kain community are truly beautiful works of art that shouldn’t be ignored.

The only area that could benefit from further modernization is the combat. While Raziel must still dispatch vampiric foes, either by impalement, submerging in water, engulfing in fire or bathing in sunlight, before given these opportunities the actual hack-and-slash gameplay of hand-to-hand combat hasn’t aged particularly well and is faithful to a fault.

While the ability to lock on, block (in Soul Reaver 2), and perform dodges have all returned, there’s no way to cycle through targets when facing off against multiple foes. The modern control scheme also means Raziel always feels considerably overpowered against his adversaries from the get-go, making combat throughout both games a bit of a bore. Some of the unlockable powers and skills alleviate the monotony somewhat but it’s a shame we didn’t see some improvements to the basic scrapping.

Thankfully, brawling has always played second fiddle to exploration and puzzle solving in Soul Reaver and the intricate mind-benders are back and, thanks to the various control tweaks, easier to navigate than ever before.

A loving legacy

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing combat in action

(Image credit: Aspyr)

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered evolves beyond a simple visual touch-up in other ways too, adding new features and a heap of goodies for fans and newcomers to dig into.

For those who can’t resist getting a bit snap-happy during their gameplay sessions, a new photo mode is available, although it’s currently a little rudimentary. Pausing the action by pressing in on both analog sticks together gives players free control of the camera and some basic vignette options to toy around with.

It’s functional, but lacks the extensive options available in many other photo modes, with elements such as frames, filters, character poses, and changeable facial expressions all missing. Some of these options were also absent from the Tomb Raider Remastered photo mode at launch before being added in a post-launch patch so hopefully Soul Reaver will receive the same improvements down the line.

Performing much better though is the raft of extras available from the main menu. It’s frankly overwhelming how much high-quality content is on offer here. Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered packs in everything including galleries showcasing concept art, renders, and fan cosplays, a music player to listen to the soundtracks from both games, a movie viewer, and beautifully produced scripts for each title.

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered and the lost levels content

(Image credit: Aspyr)

The undeniable standout here though is the Lost Levels. Previously cut sections from the first game have been restored to a playable state and offer a glimpse into an alternative conclusion to Soul Reaver. Each of the small disconnected playable areas presents an interesting curio more than anything you’ll spend a lot of time in but it’s great to see what could have been and be able to poke around in levels that never saw the light of day.

Introduced by a written foreword from pillar of the Legacy of Kain community and creator of The Lost Worlds fansite, Ben Lincoln, the Lost Levels demonstrates the love and passion that has gone into remastering these classic titles. The Lost Levels acts as a reward of sorts for the fans who have supported the series and yearned for another entry since the last game in the franchise, Legacy of Kain – Defiance, released in 2003.

Whether you’re new to the franchise or a returning player, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is an exceptional package that improves on almost every aspect of these classic titles and delivers two unmissable epics that every gamer should experience.

Should I play Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered?

Play it if...

You love the originals
The bonus content included with Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is exceptional. Aspyr has gone the extra mile by harnessing the passion of key figures within the Legacy of Kain fanbase to provide an extensive, lovingly crafted treasure trove of bonus features for fans and newcomers to experience and enjoy.View Deal

You thirst for a powerful narrative
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered
brings together two of the most poetic narratives in gaming history. Every line in the script carries impressive heft, the characters are exceptionally well realized with best-in-class voice acting and the whole thing is wrapped up in a new, gorgeous skin.View Deal

Don't play it if...

You want thrilling combat
Boss encounters aside, scuffles in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered remain painfully faithful to their gameplay origins from a quarter of a century ago.View Deal

Accessibility

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered provides only a few, basic accessibility options for players. Subtitles are enabled by default in both games and are clear to read with a subtle grey background to them. Controller settings can be tweaked with optional vibrations and adjustable stick sensitivity.

Aspyr has included new in-game maps, a compass, and gameplay hints in both titles to make navigation through Nosgoth easier for players and all of these features are optional and easily disabled in the pause menu.

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing the main character jumping

(Image credit: Aspyr)

How I reviewed Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered

I played through the campaigns of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered over a week while seeking out as many secrets as I could find. I explored all of the newly curated bonus content including reading through the various scripts, viewing all of the gallery content, and playing around in the new Lost Levels.

I played Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered on PS5 on a 4K Sony Bravia TV, with my DualSense controller and PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset for the most part and occasionally through the built-in TV speakers.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve also played Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain after it was released on PS+ Premium and revisited the original PS1 and PS2 versions of both Soul Reaver games, enabling me to appreciate and analyze the differences in controls, visuals and playability to the new remaster.

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 review
10:32 am | December 2, 2024

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

This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.

Buy a ThinkPad and you know you’re buying a trustworthy and reliable machine for day-to-day work – and make no mistake, this is an all-out business laptop. This is the first-generation ThinkPad E16, available with AMD or Intel chips, and is currently something of a bargain as Lenovo is slowly bringing Gen 2 models to the market.

Lenovo’s E series of ThinkPads are designed for affordability, but despite this it looks and feels like almost every ThinkPad you can imagine. It comes, as usual, with a completely matt black style that isn’t for everyone but does make an immediate statement of corporate intent. The chassis is aluminum aside from the plastic bottom, and it feels reassuringly solid. It comes with one year of Lenovo’s Premier Support cover, complete with next-business-day repair.

Sideview of the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1

At 1.8kg this chunky laptop isn’t designed for life on the move (Image credit: Future)

You can expect speedy performance, too. Our review sample included the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, which it no longer ships with, so the price above includes the closest offering: a 7430U. This has a lower peak frequency, 4.3GHz to 4.5GHz, but with the same six cores and 12 threads you can expect similar speeds as in our tests. Those who need more should spend an extra £80 on the Ryzen 7 7730U, as this gives you eight cores and 16 threads.

Our tested system included 16GB of RAM, but the price includes 24GB: 16GB soldered, 8GB via a SODIMM. If you need even more, you can choose the 72GB model (40GB/32GB) as that only costs an extra £35 at the time of configuration. Less impressive are AMD’s integrated AMD Radeon graphics, especially compared to the discrete graphics seen elsewhere.

In terms of results in our tests, “solid” is the word. The Ryzen 5 and AMD graphics pairing doesn’t match up well to Intel’s 12th or 13th Gen processors and Intel Iris Xe graphics, as a glance at the graphs on p94 makes clear. Still, it won’t slow you down in office tasks, and that’s reflected in its fourth place in the PCMark Essentials benchmark and second position in the Productivity test. It’s content creation – or any task that requires heavy work across multiple cores – where this laptop falls down.

Notably, any tests that focused on the graphics chip also dragged it down the table. When it comes to gaming, think light. The E16 came second from last in 3DMark’s Time Spy DirectX 12 benchmark, and couldn’t even hit double digits for frames with low settings in the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark. Its battery-life tests were slightly better, typically lasting around seven hours, but at 1.8kg this chunky laptop isn’t designed for life on the move.

Slap it on a desk, though, and the ThinkPad E16 is the epitome of strong, function-focused design. A square lid covers an expansive keyboard, complete with number pad and minimal key shrinkage – there are even separate arrow and PgUp/PgDn keys. The keys don’t have the cushioning of more expensive ThinkPads, with a relatively snappy 1.5mm travel, but they’re clearly designed for heavy use over the lifetime of the laptop and feel solid. As ever, Lenovo’s TrackPoint cursor controller sits above the touchpad, and thanks to a pair of buttons it’s fairly intuitive even for new users.

Top-down view of the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1's keyboard and monitor

A number pad adds to the laptop’s functionality (Image credit: Future)

The ThinkPad’s webcam is clear if a little lacking in saturation, and its speakers are what you’d expect from a business laptop: fine for video calls, but they miss some low-end so headphones or external speakers are the best bet for anyone wanting to enjoy music or films with deeper audio. The microphone records clear audio, with our recorded test delivered back to us in a voice that was wholly familiar, without distortion or a skewed pitch.

One area where the budget shows itself is the screen. sRGB coverage was joint lowest at 54%, while its average Delta E of 4.79 again pushed it close to the bottom of the table. This is not a laptop for photographers. However, its anti-glare covering ensures it’s always visible, especially when paired with a peak brightness of 348cd/m2 and solid 1,159:1 contrast ratio. You might notice slightly fuzziness on text, with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution across a 16in display equating to 141ppi, but at least there’s plenty of room; viewing two windows side by side is bearable.

Ultimately, a business-focused laptop is best for business-focused tasks. That rings true for this ThinkPad, which is comfortable dealing with apps, office work and most multitasking outside of content creation. If you want to break out of pure office gridlines, this isn’t the laptop to opt for, but if you’re looking for a largely desk-based workhorse backed with a great warranty then it’s a strong choice

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HP All-in-One 27 cr-0014na PC review
11:49 am | November 22, 2024

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

This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.

The first sign of any product’s quality comes when you unpack it from its box, especially when it’s honed to hit a budget. Does it feel too light, look too plasticky? Have corners been cut that make it horrible to use? In short, does it feel cheap?

So it was with an inward sigh of relief that I started assembling the HP All-in-One 27. Finished in all white, it looks classy, while the stand not only includes 100mm of height adjustment but a felt-covered base. That may sound trivial, but it shows the attention to detail often lacking in budget laptops and PCs.

HP has also taken account of this machine’s environmental impact, using 40% post-consumer recycled plastic, 10% recycled metal and even using “recycled” coffee grounds as speckles in the plastic. Sadly, that isn’t reflected in any kind of smell.

Rear view of the HP All-in-One 27 cr-0014na PC's monitor stand

The stand includes 100mm of height adjustment (Image credit: Future)

Another nice touch is the 1080p camera built into the top bezel. You slide this up when needed – I kept it up as it’s great for face recognition – and down if you’re worried about privacy. It isn’t the world’s finest webcam, capturing a grainy image with such a wide angle that I had to lean in close to fill the frame, but at least the mic works well.

A basic wireless keyboard and mouse set come in the box. The keyboard’s plastic keys have the same cushioning as a park bench, and it’s so light that it will be pushed out of position by an extra vigorous keypress. But it includes useful function keys, particularly the brightness up/down for the screen: I looked in vain for other physical controls for the display, or software control in the various HP utilities. The mouse is a simple two-button affair, unless you count the clickable scroll wheel, and both it and the keyboard connect to the PC via the same USB dongle.

This leaves three USB-A ports free, with a solitary USB-C port keeping it company. Aside from one USB-A 2 port, all these are limited to USB 3.2 Gen 1’s 5Gbits/sec transfers, which is unnecessarily mean. Especially when the supplied SSD offers only 512GB of storage. While you can theoretically get inside this device to replace the drive, as well as the 16GB of RAM (supplied via two 8GB DDR4 SODIMMs), you’ll need time, patience and skill.

Close-up of the HP All-in-One 27 cr-0014na PC's built-in camera

The 1080p camera built into the top bezel is a nice touch (Image credit: Future)

HP sticks to Wi-Fi 6 rather than 6E, but it’s always nice to see a physical Ethernet port (gigabit, not 2.5GbE), and there’s a bonus in the form of an HDMI 1.2 output. This spec is getting on for 20 years old, which is reflected in the fact that the highest-resolution screen you can connect at 60Hz is 1,920 x 1,080. Still, if you have a 1080p screen knocking around it could be useful.

I could be critical of the HP’s 27in panel, as it’s a non-touch 1080p unit with a pixel density of 82ppi. Not great, but at typical viewing distances I was never irritated by a lack of sharpness. It helps that colors are a strong point: it covers 95% of the sRGB space with good accuracy – its average Delta E is 0.68 – while a peak brightness of 275cd/m2 is fine for use indoors.

The HP All-in-One is a surprisingly strong choice for films, too, with a pair of beefy 2W speakers that handle explosive scenes and music equally well. Not to the point of audiophilic delight, perhaps, but enough that you can listen to Spotify while working. Their only weakness is lack of volume, but there’s enough oomph to fill a study.

Some might criticize this PC’s power, too, as it includes a relatively timid Core i7-1355U. That’s now been usurped by Intel’s Core 7 processor 150U, but this would only give you a minor speed bump; they share the same basic design of two P-cores and eight E-cores, but the 150U’s peak frequency is higher (5.4GHz vs 5GHz). Besides, this machine is extremely nippy; you’ll only wish you had a more powerful CPU, such as the Ryzen 9 in the Geekom A8 opposite, is if you max out the cores when coding or editing.

HP All-in-One 27 cr-0014na PC benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

HP relies on the Iris Xe graphics built into the processor, and that means any modern game is out of bounds. To make Shadow of the Tomb Raider playable I dropped to 720p resolution and Lowest settings for an average of 37fps; at 1080p, it was a shaky 23fps.

But this machine isn’t designed for games, and despite its year-old processor and elephant’s graveyard of old standards – HDMI 1.2, really? – I ended up enjoying my time with the HP All-in-One 27. Would I have liked it more if the screen was 1440p, the keyboard less Lego-like and there was a shade more power inside? Yes, undoubtedly. At this price, however, I’m willing to overlook such flaws. It offers quality where it counts – the design, the build quality, the screen, the speakers – and £799 is extremely competitive.

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CyberPowerPC Infinity X145 Elite review
11:24 am | November 12, 2024

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This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

Timing is everything when buying a gaming PC. You want to squeeze every last morsel out of your budget at the moment of purchase, and right now, CyberPowerPC is backing Intel’s mid-range Core i5-14400F processor due to its bang-per-penny: you have ten cores and 16 threads when you need them, but a single core can push up to 4.7GHz using Intel’s Max Turbo mode. A generous 32GB of DDR5 RAM means that memory will never be a bottleneck.

The Intel chip’s main partner in crime is Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, which inevitably don’t have the numbers of the RTX 4070 Super in the Palicomp system opposite – their respective scores of 10,518 and 18,932 in 3DMark Time Spy underline the difference in power – but are enough for fluid 1440p gaming.

You may have to compromise on detail settings if you want to hit 100fps, however. At High detail, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged 80fps, Dirt 5 hit 97fps, Shadow of the Tomb Raider broke through to 103fps but Metro Exodus Enhanced managed only 63fps. Moving to Ultra detail dropped those respective results to 53fps, 77fps, 93fps and 59fps. 4K gaming is too ambitious with this set of games, only breaking the 60fps barrier when I activated DLSS in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

CyberPowerPC Infinity X145 Elite benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

For this PC’s foundation, CyberPowerPC chooses the MSI Pro Z790-S WiFi, which is part of MSI’s professional series. That means no RGB, with chunky black heatsinks the order of the day. This includes a shield to cover the main M.2 drive, a fast 1TB WD Black SN770, with a second M.2 slot available.

You also get Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 built in, while the rear of the board offers a 2.5GbE LAN port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (20Gbits/sec) and six USB-A ports. There’s no support for case-mounted USB-C ports, which may be one reason why CyberPowerPC opted for the Eluna 243 chassis. This includes three USB-A ports conveniently located along the front, next to the power button. The button kept sticking in my tests, but when I brought this to the attention of CyberPowerPC it assured me the problem had now been fixed.

That’s a relief, because this is a nice-looking chassis, with a subtle white grille effect on the front that allows the trio of RGB fans to shine through in a subtle haze rather than a blast of color. Naturally, there’s a tempered glass panel on the side to give an unimpeded view, which will be dominated by the 120mm RGB fan atop the Cooler Master air cooler. Having read Lee Grant’s views on liquid coolers this month, I’m more than happy with that choice.

The chic and spacious chassis of the CyberPowerPC Infinity X145 Elite

The Eluna 243 chassis provides lots of room for expansion (Image credit: Future)

This provides ample cooling to Intel’s Core i5 processor, which performed to its full in every test: along with the Geekbench 6 scores below, it scored 13,829 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while switching to the newer Cinebench 2024 (the scores aren’t comparable with R23) it hit 837 in the multicore section, 106 for a single CPU core and 9,747 in the GPU-specific test. That compares to 1,028, 110 and 18,785 for the more expensive Palicomp PC opposite.

CyberPowerPC Infinity X145 Elite's elegant air cooler and fan

A 120mm RGB fan sits on top of the air cooler (Image credit: Future)

CyberPowerPC’s choice wins for efficiency, however, consuming 52W at idle and peaking at 309W across our tests. It was a quiet guest in my lab, too, only going above a low hum when playing games. A high-quality 650W, 80 Plus Cooler Master power supply means you have plenty of “power budget” if you decide to upgrade any components, while there is room for internal expansion thanks to three empty PCI-E slots. Technically two DIMM sockets are also free, but you’ll need to switch coolers as its fan overlaps the first slot. Remove the chassis’ left-hand panel and you’ll also find space for three more drives, with one 2.5in drive mounting plate and caddies for two 3.5in disks.

I also appreciate the five-year warranty, with the first two years covering parts, labor and courier costs; the final three years are labor-only, and you’ll need to stump up for shipping to CyberPowerPC UK’s Gateshead base. In fact, I liked everything about this PC apart from the niggles I faced with that power button.

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Framework Laptop 13 (DIY Edition, AMD) review
2:53 pm | November 5, 2024

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

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

Framework takes a different approach from most laptop makers, with an emphasis on reparability. It even adopts a modular approach to ports, so you can swap a USB-A port for an HDMI connector on the fly.

As my guide to building a Framework opposite shows, however, this isn’t a DIY system in the same way that you might build a desktop PC. Framework supplies the chassis with the motherboard and display built in, so all you’re doing is adding the SSD, memory, keyboard, ports and bezel of your choosing. Install Windows or Linux, and the relevant drivers, and you’re done.

Or you can buy a laptop preassembled and pre-loaded with Windows. There isn’t a huge difference in the price, but I would expect most readers to choose the DIY approach.

View of Framework Laptop 13 (DIY Edition, AMD) hardware

You can pick from (and then fit) a multitude of keyboard languages (Image credit: Future)

Chip choice

Framework sent me its top AMD version of the Laptop 13, which features a Ryzen 7840U, but it offers an à la carte menu of chips. For instance, you can choose from Intel’s Core Ultra range or save money by opting for a 13th generation Core CPU.

There’s also a choice of display. My review unit included the basic 60Hz panel with a 2,256 x 1,504 resolution, but for an extra £130 Framework offers a 2,880 x 1,920 screen that goes up to 120Hz. This also comes with a more advanced webcam; the one bundled with my laptop produced solid 1080p results – fine for business calls – but forget effects such as background blur. There’s no IR sensor for Windows Hello logins, either, but Framework includes privacy switches for the webcam and the microphones.

One of the many great things about Framework’s approach is that if something goes wrong you can fix it or replace it, and that includes the display and the motherboard. With a strong community and detailed resources from Framework, you may prefer to dig out your screwdrivers rather than taking the laptop to a repairer.

Full metal jacket

Despite its modular nature, the Framework 13 is a compact and slim laptop. It’s well made, too, with no obvious weak points. The only area where it arguably falls behind rivals is for style, with a simple, utilitarian look. I like the simplicity, but others may prefer a more stylish design. You can choose colored bezels, keyboard covers and expansion ports if you want to liven things up.

There’s nothing fancy about the keyboard, either, but the action is deep and solid, with only a trace of cushioning. Ham-fisted typists will find it clacks loudly, but those with a gentler typing style will be rewarded with quiet strokes. The UK layout includes a double-height Enter key, with the only compromise being half-height up/down cursor keys and some function doubling.

A nicely proportioned and slick touchpad sits beneath, with a fingerprint sensor above. This worked perfectly throughout.

Framework Laptop 13 (DIY Edition, AMD) keyboard is simply but sleek

The design may be utilitarian, but the Framework Laptop 13 is well built (Image credit: Future)

Plain Jane screen

It’s a shame Framework sent me the model with the cheaper screen, as this is one area where the Laptop 13 falls behind rivals. There’s nothing wrong with its resolution or refresh rate, but color coverage could be better: it’s tied to the sRGB space, covering 96% out of a 100% volume, and that means DCI-P3 coverage is stuck at 71%. Colors lack punch as a result, but accuracy is respectable (0.63 Delta E average) and it goes up to 467cd/m2. The panel’s native color temperature of almost 7000K means whites look a fraction “cold”.

You can always hook it up to an external screen. The only connector that Framework stipulates is USB-C, as this is used for charging (and data/monitor duties), which leaves three for you to play with – it’s possible to swap them out whenever you like – so if you need DisplayPort or HDMI then add them to your order. Or take your pick from USB-A, Ethernet, microSD, or even storage expansion cards.

Sideview of the Framework Laptop 13 (DIY Edition, AMD) showing three available ports

You can take your pick of connectors for the three spare ports (Image credit: Future)

Need for speed

With a Ryzen 7840U inside my test system, I expected fast speeds. And that’s exactly what I saw. AMD’s Zen 4 architecture remains strong, with a 2,600 result in Geekbench 6’s single-core test and a solid 11,388 in the multicore test; having eight cores means it now falls behind the fastest chips from Intel and Qualcomm. It was a match for the Copilot+ PCs in Cinebench 2024, though, with 790 in the multicore section and 104 in the single-core test.

AMD’s Radeon 780M graphics are roughly on a par with Intel’s Arc chips, scoring 2,902 in 3DMark Time Spy. At the panel’s native resolution, it coped well in both Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt 5 so long as I kept to the lowest detail settings, averaging 39fps and 44fps respectively. Switching to High proved too big a challenge, with frame rates toppling to 24fps and 28fps.

Unlike the Copilot+ PCs I’ve tested this month with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips inside, the Framework Laptop 13’s fan lets you know when the CPU is being pushed. It doesn’t help that Framework uses a single fan for cooling, but those who like a quiet existence should either choose a different laptop or stick to undemanding tasks.

Battery life is respectable, lasting 9hrs 12mins in the light-use test and a superb 16hrs 26mins when left idling. But don’t expect speedy recharging from the modestly sized 60W adapter, going from zero to 45% in half an hour.

Framework Laptop 13 (DIY Edition, AMD) benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

Final thoughts

Buying a Framework laptop isn’t the best choice for those who seek instant gratification. It will take at least five business days to ship your custom order, and if you want the latest parts – such as the new screen and webcam combo – then you’ll have to wait for the next batch to arrive, similarly to a Kickstarter project. Even so, the wait should be a few weeks at most.

Instead, this is a long-term purchase. One that will last for years – a decade even – and so it makes sense not to rush in. While rivals are undoubtedly sleeker and sexier, I love Framework’s approach to modularity and reparability.

You’re paying a slight premium for this, but you’re also supporting a company that lives and breathes sustainability, which you simply won’t find if buying from one of the big brands.

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Acer Aspire S32 All-In-One PC review
10:44 am |

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

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

Most all-in-one PCs include 24in or 27in panels, but Acer is thinking big with the Aspire S32. This includes a 31.5in display, and the company doesn’t stop there: via a set of pogo pins at the rear, it bundles a veritable feast of add-ons.

The first is a plain 1080p webcam, which is more than good enough to use for video calls. Second comes a 720p camera with a ring light: tap the top and it cycles from off to full-blast white. And the third is a strip light that switches between white, yellow or a mix of the two. All of the add-ons work via USB-C, too, so you can mix and match.

Acer also bundles an enormous detachable touchpad. This can even act as a graphics tablet, so those with artistic leanings can use the bundled stylus – which clips via magnets to the side of the touchpad when not in use – to sketch. And if you use the Aspire S32 as a surrogate TV in a den or student digs then you can detach the touchpad and use it from sofa distances. I spent a very enjoyable ten minutes watching Greg Davies’ The Cleaner – the pad works like a gigantic remote, with controls for volume and brightness – from this distance until I remembered I had to actually write this review.

Acer Aspire S32 All-In-One PC sleek touchpad and stylus

A giant detachable touchpad sits at the base, along with a stylus (Image credit: Future)

Audio could be improved: soundtracks lack the gusto their creators intended, and even though I pushed the volume to the maximum (with minor distortion), I would have liked more. However, the image quality is more than good enough for TV viewing and work.

It has three minor weaknesses as a PC monitor. Some might want more detail than 2,560 x 1,440 when stretched across 31.5 inches, although in practice I found its 93ppi sharpness fine even when sitting up close.

Second, color accuracy only just the right side of acceptable, with an average of 2.62. And third, its native color temperature is a yellow-tinged 5653K, so those who like crisp whites will be disappointed.

The panel has one big strength that arguably outweighs its flaws, which is color coverage. With 90% of the DCI-P3 gamut in view, even Hollywood films look good on this all-in-one, and a peak brightness of 347cd/m2 is plenty, too.

Sideview of Acer Aspire S32 All-In-One PC 31.5 in display with mouse and keyboard

The huge 31.5in display provides superb colour coverage (Image credit: Future)

You won’t find the latest silicon inside, but I have no argument with Intel’s Core i7-1360P processor. It remains a speedy performer in everyday use, even if it doesn’t wow in benchmarks. Here, it was hampered by having 8GB of RAM rather than the 16GB you’ll find in retail units; this will also significantly boost its graphics performance. I would expect around 2,000 in 3DMark Time Spy rather than the 1,415 it returned in my tests, while Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s 15fps at 1080p would hopefully be boosted to over 25fps (at Lowest settings).

Acer Aspire S32 All-In-One PC benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

All the computer components are crammed into the stand, which is perhaps one reason why the height isn’t adjustable; there simply isn’t room to fit in a sliding mechanism. That means you’re stuck with the bottom of the panel sitting around 150mm above the desk and the top 550mm above desk height, which means it will tower over most people.

The other downside of cramming the electronics into the narrow stand is that things get hot. I could hear the low hum of the fan throughout my time testing this PC, growing to a loud whirr in more intense benchmarks. I had also hoped for more than one USB-C port, but with a total of four USB-A ports, an SD card slot, gigabit Ethernet and two HDMI ports (one output, one input) there’s no shortage of connectivity overall.

Wi-Fi 6E is another welcome inclusion.

One USB-A port is needed for the wireless keyboard and mouse connector, which are of precisely the quality you would expect for bundled extras. Acer is more generous with its storage, throwing in a 1TB SSD.

Despite my criticisms, I grew fond of this machine. Even when hampered by that 8GB of RAM it sped through everyday tasks, while all the extras lift it above the normal all-in-one. Then again, so does the price: at £1,499 it’s too expensive. If that price drops – and I suspect it will – then I might just be tempted to nab one for my future den.

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MSI Cubi NUC 1M review
10:26 am | October 23, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: , | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 361 of PC Pro.

Last year, Intel stopped developing its popular NUC mini PCs, signing an agreement with Asus that it would “manufacture, sell and support the Next Unit of Compute (NUC) 10th to 13th generation systems product line, and to develop future NUC systems designs”. I assumed that meant Asus would have the monopoly on the NUC name, but not so: MSI has entered the fray with its Cubi NUC line, and assures me that more will follow in the coming months.

You can buy the Cubi NUC 1M as a barebones system, with the Core 3 100U version costing £349 inc VAT. Core 5 120U and Core 7 150U versions are available for £449 and £519 respectively (prices from scan.co.uk). Or you can buy Cubi NUCs as complete systems, supplied with RAM, SSDs and Windows 11 Pro. Here, I test the top-end version, with a Core 7 150U, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

MSI Cubi NUC 1M mini PC

The Cubi NUC 1M is a great mini PC provided that all-out power isn’t a priority (Image credit: Future)

Arguably, this is a 14th gen NUC as Intel released the 150U earlier this year. However, Intel seems intent on adopting more confusing names for its chips with every release, and the 150U actually has much more in common with the 13th generation Core i5-1335U than the new Core Ultra line. It still uses the Raptor Lake architecture, includes two P-cores and eight E-cores, and there’s no NPU for local AI tasks.

Like all U series chips, the 150U is designed for maximum efficiency rather than all-out speed. When I pushed it to extremes, the Cubi’s fan kept at a low-pitched but audible hum, but its power consumption peaked at 61W (it’s 15W when idle). That compares to 101W from the Geekom A8 Mini PC (see issue 359, p62) when I tested it with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS.

While the Core 7 150U holds its own in single-core tasks, outperforming the Ryzen 9 8945HS in Geekbench 6 with a score of 2,635 versus 2,561, there’s a gulf in benchmarks that test all cores. In Geekbench, the Geekom A8’s 13,237 return is light years away from the MSI’s 8,651, and the gap grew in Cinebench R23 with 16,615 against 6,342.

MSI Cubi NUC 1M benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

The gulf in performance continued into gaming, as illustrated by the Geekom’s return of 3,215 in 3DMark Time Spy, almost twice the MSI’s 1,711, and where the Ryzen’s 780M graphics proved good enough for 35fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider (at 1080p High settings) the MSI could only rustle up 22fps.

So, if all-out speed is your priority, the Cubi NUC is not your best choice. However, few people need such power, especially in businesses where MSI is certainly targeting this mini PC. For instance, it includes two 2.5GbE ports, one of which can be used for out-of-band management, while those IT directors who need to show they’re making environmental strides will appreciate that 43% of the plastics are PCR. MSI takes renewables seriously, too, with 92% of its factory’s power coming from renewable sources.

I also asked MSI about its customer support. You’ll be buying from a reseller rather than direct from MSI, but for businesses its approach is to have a ready supply of buffer stock so that faulty units can be swapped out and then fixed at MSI’s recently established UK service center. It’s hardly Dell next-business-day on-site support, but there is a plan.

MSI Cubi NUC 1M two port system

The Cubi’s impressive range of connectivity includes two 2.5GbE ports (Image credit: Future)

The Cubi should be of particular appeal to any business wanting to mount mini PCs on a monitor. If you buy a compatible MSI display then its power switch can also switch on the PC, but otherwise MSI supplies an external power switch that sits at the end of a cable and means users don’t need to reach round the back. You can even power the Cubi via USB-C, with up to 100W of power, massively simplifying cable management. There are two USB-C ports here, both supporting Thunderbolt 4, and when you add Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, four USB-A ports, a microSD card reader and two HDMI 2.1 ports it’s hard to think of something that isn’t included.

Those looking for a home entertainment system will be pleased to discover those HDMI ports support CEC (so universal remotes will work), and there are plenty of ways to extend storage. A second M.2 socket sits empty, albeit M.2 2242 rather than 2280, and you can mount a 2.5in SSD externally via four screw slots on its bottom. Or plug fast external storage into the USB-C ports.

As ever with NUC designs, the big advantage of the Cubi is its ability to squeeze into any situation. Here, you could use the Cubi for digital signage (the Core 3 version will be fine for such tasks), in schools, in businesses and in homes. It isn’t the fastest mini PC around, nor the smallest, but for versatility it’s an absolute winner.

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PCSpecialist 14 Lafité AI AMD review
10:33 am | October 22, 2024

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

This review first appeared in issue 361 of PC Pro.

Dell’s Inspiron 14 Plus is currently the cheapest Copilot+ PC around, but if that’s still too much and your heart is set on an AI PC, then the PCSpecialist Lafité AI AMD may be the answer.

Rather than featuring one of AMD’s new Ryzen AI 300 series chips, PCSpecialist saves a chunk of cash by opting for last year’s AI hotshot, the Ryzen 8845HS. Its NPU offers 16 TOPS compared to the 55 TOPS of the Ryzen AI 370 HX in the trio of Asus laptops on review this month, which means no Recall or Cocreator built into Windows, but you can take advantage of third-party software enhanced for NPUs. So far, that mainly means video-editing and photo-editing software (think removing background noise), plus blurring effects in video calls.

PCSpecialist 14 Lafité AI AMD - 2

(Image credit: Future)

You’re also buying an eight-core, 16-thread processor, and one that typically stands up well compared to Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H. You can see that in the single-core performance in Geekbench 6, with a result of 2,532 above the 2,349 of the LG gram Pro. I saw the same in Cinebench 2024, where the Lafité scored 105 to 99 of the LG, and it also performed in the multicore section: 871 versus 660. It was only in Geekbench 6’s multicore test that PCSpecialist’s machine came second, with 9,875 to the gram Pro’s 12,646.

PCSpecialist provides 16GB of RAM, leaving one SODIMM socket free. That hampers gaming performance, which you can see in the Lafité’s 1,749 return in 3DMark Time Spy – the Radeon 780M graphics here typically return a score closer to 3,000 – and our gaming benchmarks. At 1080p Low settings, the Lafité returned averages of 28fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Cyberpunk 2077, and 36fps in Dirt 5.

These frame rates should jump by around 50% if you install a second SODIMM.

It’s easy to do this yourself as just a few crosshead screws keep the base in place. You can also replace the 512GB SSD, a budget SolidIGM drive that offers fast 3,515MB/sec sequential reads but 1,606MB/sec writes.

PCSpecialist 14 Lafité AI AMD benchmarks

(Image credit: Future)

The budget again shows in the chassis, which is made of metal but doesn’t exude the class of its big-name rivals. It’s also a porky 18.5mm thick and weighs 1.4kg. The 100W power supply is similarly chunky and adds 330g of weight, but it does its job quickly: the Lafité went from empty to 93% in an hour. Battery life is strong for such an affordable gaming laptop, lasting for 12hrs 2mins in our light-use test, but that’s an area where Qualcomm powered laptops are far superior.

You can’t expect a top-grade panel at this price, but PCSpecialist makes a much better pick than Dell with the Inspiron. Not only does this IPS panel produce great whites, it covers 99% of the sRGB gamut with excellent accuracy (an average Delta E of 0.29), and brightness peaks at a respectable 375cd/m2. Add a 120Hz refresh rate and pin-sharp 2,880 x 1,800 resolution and it’s an undoubted highlight. The speakers are again good for the price.

PCSpecialist 14 Lafité AI AMD chassis

The chunky chassis is made of metal but doesn’t exude class (Image credit: Future)

I’m less enamored by the keyboard, which feels like someone forgot to add the springs, but it’s functional, includes a backlight and suffers from no obvious layout issues. The touchpad is similarly basic, and the buttons too “clicky” for my liking, but again I guide your eyes to this laptop’s asking price. I’m less forgiving about the woeful webcam, with a fuzzy image I’d be embarrassed to use on a call. At least it supports Windows Hello.

PCSpecialist 14 Lafité AI AMD keyboard

The keyboard and touchpad are basic but functional (Image credit: Future)

While I would like more than one USB-C port, which is needed for charging, it is at least USB-C 4. And there are three USB-A ports, two of which support 10Gbits/sec transfers. A 3.5mm jack and full-size SD card slot complete the hardware, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 covering the wireless side.

I have my criticisms, but the price is simply exceptional. Add in the three-year warranty – even allowing that parts are only covered for the first year – and it’s impossible to argue with. I would immediately buy and fit a matching 16GB Corsair DDR5-4800 SODIMM to give gaming a boost, but otherwise this is a great laptop for those who prioritize specs over slick design.

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Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Acer gets in the PC gaming handheld game, but is it enough to Blaze a trail out of a crowded field?
12:00 am | September 7, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers | Tags: , | Comments: Off

We've got another PC gaming handheld on the market to take on the venerable Steam Deck: the Acer Nitro Blaze 7, and it looks like it might be a very strong contender against the current handheld champ, the Asus ROG Ally X.

The Blaze 7's specs are pretty solid. In terms of hardware, it is sandwiched below the ROG Ally X but definitely above the ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and well above what the Steam Deck can offer.

This includes a 7-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen with a variable refresh rate up to 144Hz, up to 2TB PCIe SSD storage, and 16GB LPDDR5x memory running at 7500MT/s.

The real star here, though, is the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS SoC powering the whole thing. This is a slight step up from the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme SoC found in the ROG Ally, Legion Go, and ROG Ally X, though only really in terms of its AI performance. 

While the core counts in the CPU and GPU are the same, as are their speeds, you do get a dedicated NPU in the Ryzen 7 8840HS that should help offload some AI tasks. How much this helps with AMD Radeon Super Resolution (AMD's hardware-based upscaler) remains to be seen, though.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Design

The ports on an Acer Nitro Blaze 7

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Design-wise, if one thing is immediately noticeable about the Blaze 7, it's that it feels a bit bulkier than the recently released ROG Ally X. However, it is nearly identical in terms of dimensions and is even a little bit lighter. Part of that comes from the ridged hand grips on the back of sides of the device, which felt a bit deeper than on other handhelds I've used recently. The spec sheet on the Blaze 7 isn't exactly clear on whether that difference is real or just my imagination.

The chassis is black plastic with white and red accents around the device, something I haven't seen on other devices. If nothing else, people around you will know you're playing on a Blaze 7 rather than some other gaming handheld.

The back of the Acer Nitro Blaze 7

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Regarding ports, you get a lot here, including two USB4 ports, one on the top and one on the bottom, which will definitely make this thing easier to dock. Furthermore,  since the bottom port is Thunderbolt 4, it will support video output and power delivery.

The battery, meanwhile, is a substantial 50WHr, meaning you should be able to get solid gaming time in before you need to plug it in.

One noticeable component that is missing is any of the back macro buttons you get on the ROG Ally. Personally, I never use those on the ROG Ally X unless my ADHD-addled brain gets fidgity, as even a video game beamed right at my face from my hands isn't enough to keep the restlessness away.

The rest of the buttons are the standard dual-stick, control pad, and ABXY buttons, as well as two triggers and two bumpers along the top of the device. You also get a power button with a built-in fingerprint reader, volume buttons, a view button, a menu button, a dedicated Acer Game Space button, a mode switch button, an Acer quick menu button, and (my favorite) a pop-up keyboard button. 

Acer Game Space, meanwhile, is an all-in-one solution for managing your game library across different apps and storefronts that works reasonably well. It does remind you, though, just how terrible Windows 11 is as a platform for these kinds of handhelds.

Also of note is the heat vent along the top of the device. While playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the Blaze 7, that area of the device did get noticeably hot. This isn't unexpected — after all, energy = heat — and it wasn't something I noticed when holding the device as intended. I only felt the heat when my hand accidentally touched the vent (and the heatsink fins therein), so just something to keep in mind.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Performance

The Acer Nitro Blaze 7 in a masculine hand

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

So I didn't get to run any benchmarks on the device, unfortunately, but Acer did conveniently have Shadow of the Tomb Raider running on the device I got some time with, and they enabled AMD's framerate tool to show the FPS on the device as you played it.

There were a couple of stutters here and there, but nothing you wouldn't get on any other device like this. On the whole, though, the Blaze 7 consistently got around or above 60FPS at 1080p with medium settings with FSR tuned to performance mode.

On a seven-inch screen, these settings looked fantastic, and the frame rate was very consistent unless you walked around an area with very complex geometry (and not really the temples so much, as you'd think, but more the people in the village seemed to be the worst offender).

We'll have to do a lot more testing to see how the device fares against the competition, but in my time with it, the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 looks like a very solid performer vis a vis its competition.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Price & availability

Unfortunately, we know nothing about the price or release date of the Nitro Blaze 7 at this time, though pricing and availability will surely be coming in the next few weeks.

That said, we can definitely expect it to be cheaper than the ROG Ally X since that handheld has 8GB more RAM than the Nitro Blaze 7, and memory right now is very expensive. Since the ROG Ally X sells for $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,599, the Nitro Blaze 7 needs to come in well below that to be competitive, so somewhere around $700 / £700 / AU$1450.

Any higher than that, and you're better off getting the ROG Ally X for the extra RAM.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Final thoughts

From what I've seen, the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 doesn't do anything especially well. It looks to be a fairly competent gaming handheld when it eventually goes on sale, but it's not without its charms.

I won't lie; the built-in keyboard button is something every handheld needs. Games that require keyboard input for names and other information really don't handle a virtual keyboard well and often never give you the option to use one. You're forced to try to escape to the desktop to bring in a keyboard from there, which can be a huge hassle in the middle of gaming.

The Ryzen 7 8840HS processor is also a solid improvement since it will bring some NPU power to bear, and hopefully, AMD RSR and other AI functions can properly leverage it.

All that is still an open question though, but I am excited to see what the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 can really do once we get a unit in for a more proper review.

MSI Titan 18 HX review: a gaming colossus
8:52 pm | May 2, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming Laptops | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

MSI Titan 18 HX: Two minute review

The MSI Titan 18 HX returns in 2024, reclaiming its title as the best gaming laptop for those looking to splurge on the most over-the-top desktop replacement money can buy.

The Titan 18 HX, like its 2023 predecessor, the MSI GT77 Titan HX, is a $5,000 desktop PC masquerading as a gaming laptop. Clocking in at just under 8 lbs/4kg, you're going to feel this one if you ever have to actually carry it anywhere, and most backpacks out there won't even fit it. This laptop, then, will be relegated to your desk with the occasional trip to another room at most.

While it sacrifices portability, it does come with some absolutely bonkers hardware, including a 175W RTX 4090 mobile GPU, a 95W Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, up to 128GB DDR5 RAM, and up to 4TB SSD storage, with one of its three M.2 SSDs slots being a PCIe 5.0 interface for the best SSD speeds possible (though it doesn't come with a PCIe 5.0 drive, you'll have to provide that yourself). Throw in the world's first 18-inch 120Hz 4K+ mini LED display with 120Hz refresh and HDR1000 certification, and you have the most decadently specced gaming laptops I've ever tested.

And before you say it, mini LED isn't an OLED, I know, but I honestly prefer mini LED displays on gaming laptops, and this one can get you 112% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, so video editors and other creative pros might want to take note of this one as well.

Design-wise, this laptop is an improvement over its predecessor in a number of ways, not the least of which is that it does introduce some grey into the chassis to help break up the super-aggressive gamer black styling of the GT77 Titan HX (and even adds some light blue accent touches to the rear), as well as introducing a seamless trackpad and more refined curves into the keydeck.

The Titan 18 HX's mechanical keyboard, meanwhile, features Cherry MX ultra low-profile switches that are a dream to type on, and the seamless trackpad is adequate for basic use; but as with any gaming laptop, you'll probably want to use the best gaming mouse you have handy while actually gaming.

Given the laptop's size, MSI was able to pack in some powerful speakers that provide a much more immersive audio experience than you'll find on a lot of other laptops. Of course, you'll have to turn the volume up to drown out the whine of the laptop's cooling system, which can get noticeably loud under strain. You can adjust this in the MSI Center, though it will come at the cost of performance.

Speaking of performance, gaming on this laptop is an absolute joy. The very best PC games run buttery smooth at max settings, and while enabling ray tracing at the laptop's native 3840x2400p resolution on some titles will require you to use DLSS upscaling to get a playable framerate at 4K, that's the case with even the best graphics card in a desktop PC.

Still, for the amount of money this laptop will cost you, you could also be forgiven for asking if it's really worth the price. If you're the type to ask such a question, don't worry, it's an easy question to answer: this laptop isn't for you. If you want the absolute best gaming performance in a theoretically portable form factor and money isn't an object for you? Well, you are exactly the person this laptop is designed to cater to, and you won't find many, if any, better gaming laptops on the market than the MSI Titan 18 HX.

MSI Titan 18 HX: Price and availability

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • How much is it? Starting at $4,999.99 / £4,379.98 / AU$6,999
  • When is it available? It is available now.
  • Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia

The MSI Titan 18 HX is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $4,999.99 / £4,379.98 / AU$6,999. All configurations come with an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and 4K+ mini LED display, and the US has two configurations on sale right now. They both feature an Nvidia RTX 4090 mobile GPU and 4TB storage, with the only difference being a choice between 64GB or 128GB RAM.

In the UK, the Titan 18 HX starts with an Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB PCIe 4.0 storage, and goes up as high as an RTX 4090 with 128GB RAM and 4TB storage. In Australia, the Titan 18 HX starts with an RTX 4080 GPU, 32GB RAM, and 2TB storage, and goes up to an RTX 4090, 128GB RAM, and 4TB storage.

In no universe is this a cheap gaming laptop, and it's challenging to think of another 18-inch laptop that goes quite this hard on the specs. Even the Alienware m18 R2 pulls back from a full 4K display, much less 4K+, and tops out at 64GB RAM. Even upping the m18 R2's storage to 8TB with everything else maxed out doesn't even bring you up to the MSI Titan 18 HX's starting price.

Again, I can't stress this enough, only those with the deepest pockets need consider this one.

  • Value: 2.5 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX: Specs

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

This is easily the most obscenely configured gaming laptop I've ever laid hands on, and I wouldn't be surprised if you could still play the latest AAA games at max settings at 4K for the rest of the decade. The hardware will likely physically fail on you before this thing is rendered obsolete when it comes to gaming or high-end performance.

  • Specs: 5 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX: Design

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • Gorgeous mini LED display
  • Improved chassis aesthetics
  • Ports galore
  • Low-profile mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches

The MSI Titan 18 HX introduces several improvements over last year's Titan, while generally keeping the fairly Decepticon-like aesthetic that the Titan is known for.

Starting with the sheer size of the thing, it's slightly bigger than its predecessor, a feat I didn't think possible. It also adds about 0.5 lbs to its weight, making it by far the heaviest laptop I've used in at least a decade or more.

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An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Opening it up, you'll find a low-profile mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches for some seriously smooth typing. The trackpad has gone seamless, as well, offering a glassy but responsive surface for your palms and fingertips to glide over. The trackpad itself is responsive, with good feedback, though a gaming mouse or controller is recommended for higher-level precision.

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The Titan 18 HX comes loaded with 4x2W up-firing speakers on either side of the keyboard, as well as 2x2W subwoofers for extra bass, all of which work together to create some very rich sound, at least as far as laptop speakers go.

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The IR webcam also gets an upgrade over last year's model, now at full HD as opposed to 720p, and features a physical privacy shutter, which you always love to see on a laptop.

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The display though is the big feature here with a speedy 120Hz refresh rate on a 3840x2400p mini LED panel that is bright and vibrant. It also has VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification for a fantastic color contrast with deep blacks, and covers 112% of the DCI-P3 color gamut according to our tests.

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In terms of ports, having a chassis this big means you can cram in a lot of ports, and the Titan 18 HX does not disappoint. You get three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DP output (with one featuring PD3.1 certification for fast charging devices), one HDMI 2.1 port that can push 120Hz video at 4K, an SDCard slot, an RJ45 ethernet port, and a 3.5mm combo jack. You even get a Kensington lock slot for good measure.

Overall, this is one of the best-looking MSI gaming laptops I've seen this year, and its wealth of features, ports, and more make it a standout device before we even get to its performance.

  • Design: 4.5 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX: Performance

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • Best-in-class performance
  • Able to hit 60 FPS at 2400p on most games without upscaling
  • Upscaling can get you 60 FPS or better in games with ray tracing turned on

This gaming laptop absolutely puts some of the best gaming PCs to shame with its performance. Its 2400p resolution understandably taxes the hardware when playing high-end games at its native resolution at max settings, but in titles like Assassin's Creed Mirage, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Far Cry 6, the Titan 18 HX is easily able to clear 60 FPS at 4K on its highest settings, and that's not even factoring in any graphics upscaling.

Turn upscaling on, where available, and you can push the limits of the display's refresh rate on most games. If you factor in ray tracing, though, you can get in the neighborhood of 60 FPS or higher with appropriate upscaling, and on games like Cyberpunk 2077, it's an absolute necessity if you want to max everything out and get a better-than-just-playable frame rate. 

Looking at its competitors, though, among the other 18-inch gaming laptops we've tested in our labs so far this year, none can match what the MSI Titan 18 HX brings to the table in terms of performance. The fact its competitors are all limited to 1600p QHD+ displays means that if you want the absolute bleeding edge of what laptop gaming can deliver in terms of 4K visual spectacle, the Titan 18 HX is really your only option.

  • Performance: 5 / 5

MSI Titan 18 HX: Battery life

An MSI Titan 18 HX on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • Terrible battery life, but it'll rarely be on battery power anyway
  • Charging to full will take you a couple of hours

Understandably, battery life is not this laptop's greatest strength, but to call it a weakness is a bit unfair. This is not the kind of laptop you'll use unplugged for any length of time, as you would one of the best ultrabooks or a MacBook Pro.

This is a desktop replacement, so even though its two hours and 40 minutes of battery life while surfing the web is a pretty funny data point for a $5,000 laptop, you'll never actually use the Titan 18 HX this way outside of extremely rare instances. Its bulk will make it difficult to bring it anywhere period, much less somewhere that doesn't have an available wall outlet.

Still, compared to other 18-inch gaming laptops, the Titan 18 HX's battery performance still falls about 20% below the class average of three hours and 27 minutes. That means it doesn't get a total pass from me on battery life, but it is hardly a factor anyone should realistically consider for a laptop like this.

  • Battery Life: 2.5 / 5

Should you buy the MSI Titan 18 HX?

Buy the MSI Titan 18 HX if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If my MSI Titan 18 HX review has you considering other options, here are three other laptops to consider:

How I tested the MSI Titan 18 HX

  • I spent about a month testing the Titan 18 HX
  • I used our standard suite of benchmark tests
  • I primarily played games on the Titan 18 HX, though I also used it for general computing and content creation

I spent about a month with the MSI Titan 18 HX, using it as an everyday work machine at home while gaming at night once work was done. I also used it for content creation work with Adobe Photoshop.

This is a gaming laptop, first and foremost, so I tested it with our standard battery of gaming benchmarks and other benchmarks that check for CPU, GPU, and overall system performance.

I've been reviewing laptops for TechRadar for nearly half a decade now, and as a lifelong PC gamer, I know how games should run on given hardware, and how much that hardware should cost you to maximize the value to the consumer. I also have a Master's Degree in Computer Science, so I'm able to really dig in and analyze the nitty-gritty of the hardware in a way many other reviews can't.

  • First reviewed May 2024
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