BenQ's new monitor: DyAc+ tech for improved accuracy, less motion blur

Anthony Garreffa | Displays & Projectors | Jan 5, 2020 10:05 AM CST

CES 2020 - BenQ has just announced its new ZOWIE XL2740 gaming monitor, offering a new 27-inch TN Film panel with a native 1920 x 1080 resolution and super-fast 240Hz refresh rate.

BenQ's new monitor: DyAc+ tech for improved accuracy, less motion blur

The new ZOWIE XL2740 monitor is aimed at esports gamers, with LFC for low frame rate, a super-fast 0.5ms GtG response time along with the 240Hz refresh rate. But it's the addition of DyAc+ technology that impresses me, with BenQ and ZOWIE touting it improves accuracy and reduces motion blur... kay. DyAc+ (Dynamic Accuracy Plus) can be used instead of Adaptive-Sync, minimizing blur when the frame rate better matches the display refresh rate.

BenQ is using a 27-inch 1080p TN Film panel display, 0.5ms GtG response time, 1000:1 contast ratio, 32 cd/m2 brightness, 170/160-degree viewing angles, 8-bit color, and standard sRGB color gamut. We have tilt, height, swivel, and rotate adjustments with a slew of connectivity between DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4, and old school dual-link DVI connectors. There's also some USB ports, as well as a 3.5mm headphone and mic jack.

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Dell announces new UltraSharp 42.5-inch 4K IPS monitor at CES 2020

Anthony Garreffa | Displays & Projectors | Jan 5, 2020 9:30 AM CST

CES 2020 - Dell has just announced its new UltraSharp U4320Q monitor, offering a large 42.5-inch size and native 4K resolution on an IPS panel.

Dell announces new UltraSharp 42.5-inch 4K IPS monitor at CES 2020

The new Dell UltraSharp U4320Q has been made for users who want a premium monitor that has the ability to replace multiple smaller screens, since its 42.5-inch size and native 3840 x 2160 resolution fit the bill. We have 350 nits of brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 5ms GtG response time, 178-degree viewing angles. It's a 60Hz refresh rate, so don't go expecting any insane 49-inch 5120 x 1440 @ 240Hz action here.

One of the points of Dell's new UltraSharp U4320Q monitor is the built-in Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture feature, which lets you have 4 different PCs on the monitor at once. You'll have to have your inputs all set up correctly, but having 4 completely different PCs being displayed on a single monitor is a helluva thing.

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Dell's new 86-inch 4K touchscreen is for the office, not Crysis

Anthony Garreffa | Displays & Projectors | Jan 5, 2020 9:11 AM CST

CES 2020 - Dell has just unveiled the flagship office monitor, with its new 86-inch Interactive Touch Monitor set to get purchased by the 1% business types who want the absolute best.

Dell's new 86-inch 4K touchscreen is for the office, not Crysis

The new Dell Interactive Touch Monitor has an 85.6-inch 4K IPS-based panel, with both anti-glare and anti-smudge coatings (you wouldn't want to get fingerprints on this, would you -- but it is a touchscreen after all). Dell has its ComfortView technology included, which will adjust the blue light for easier-on-your eyes meetings.

Dell's new monitor supports up to 20 simultaneous touch points, so you can have people playing finger Twister on this without a problem, or they can be drawing all over it with Dell's new and improved dual-tip styluses. Dell includes dual 20W speakers, a bunch of HDMI outputs, USB Type-A, USB Type-B, and USB Type-C connectors, and even a full-sized DisplayPort.

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Samsung's new Galaxy Book Flex Alpha rocks QLED display for $830

Anthony Garreffa | Laptops | Jan 5, 2020 8:30 AM CST

CES 2020 - Samsung has just introduced some new members of its Galaxy Book family of laptops, but with cheaper models including the new Galaxy Book Flex Alpha.

Samsung's new Galaxy Book Flex Alpha rocks QLED display for $830

Samsung's new Galaxy Book Flex Alpha rolls out as a cheaper 2-in-1 laptop wqith a QLED display, so in reality it's a slightly less premium version of the Galaxy Book Flex, but also cheaper. We have a rotating 13.3-inch 1080p QLED display, with a square design and thinner bezels than the previous-gen units.

Inside, Samsung configures the new Galaxy Book Flex Alpha with Intel's latest 10th-gen Comet Lake CPUs, either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and either 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. Samsung is touting up to 17.5 hours of battery life from a single charge, which is all done through an easy single USB-C cord.

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So, BlackBerry has teamed with Damon Motorcycles for EV superbike

Anthony Garreffa | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Jan 5, 2020 8:02 AM CST

CES 2020 - The Consumer Electronics Show is always a special time of the year, it has some of the most fringe tech out there -- but we also find hidden gems like this: BlackBerry has teamed with Damon Motorcycles on a new EV superbike.

So, BlackBerry has teamed with Damon Motorcycles for EV superbike

BlackBerry is known, at least now, for its Android-based smartphones -- but the original part of its company in Research in Motion (RIM) is here in BlackBerry Limited form, making enterprise software. This software comes in the form of BlackBerry's QNX operating system, which will be the basis for the CoPilot warning system on Damon Motorcycles' new Hypersport Pro Electric Superbike.

The Hypersport Pro Electric Superbike system as a whole will feature radars, cameras, and other sensors that will track speed, and the direction of objects moving close to the bike. The early warning system would warn riders when there is an upcoming safety concern, with BlackBerry promising that the advanced collision system is "highly secure" and that it has "enhanced situational awareness" and provides an "increased peace of mind" for riders.

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Segway is making a self-balancing electric pod for adults

Anthony Garreffa | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Jan 5, 2020 7:03 AM CST

CES 2020 - Segway is making waves at CES 2020 this year, teasing off its new prototype electric vehicle that it is calling the S-Pod -- and it looks like a wild ride.

Segway is making a self-balancing electric pod for adults

Segway teamed with Ninebot on the new prototype TV that weighs 330 pounds and has a top speed of 24.8 miles per hour, while in its current prototype state it has up to 43.5 miles of travel in it from its battery. Segway's new S-Pod is a personal transport vehicle that the company describes as a "first-class smart transporting pod".

The S-Pod is powered by gyroscopic, self-balancing technology that makes sure you'll never fall out of it -- and while the original Segway could be controlled by leaning forward or to the side, the new S-Pod has its movement manipulated with a tiny joystick in the right side of the seat for maximum laziness. Segway says it'll also have a detachable built-in pad, too.

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Samsung's new zero-bezel 8K TV rocks AI 'quantum processor'

Anthony Garreffa | Displays & Projectors | Jan 5, 2020 6:08 AM CST

CES 2020 - Samsung has unveiled its beautiful new premium 8K TVs, meaning the rumors were real on the exciting new bezel-less TV from Samsung. We now know it's real, with Samsung packing an insane 8K resolution, with it also setting a "new standard" for TV screens with its Infinity Design.

Samsung's new zero-bezel 8K TV rocks AI 'quantum processor'

There's virtually no bezel or frame on Samsung's new TV, and it's oinly 15mm thick, too. Samsung is powering the new TV with an AI "quantum processor" that handles the revamped UI, and upscales any source of video up to 8K. It will also access your TV through your antenna, streaming services, or more through a universal guide.

Samsung packs in what it calls AI ScaleNet technology that streams 8K on networks that only have bandwidth that handles 4K, where it will compress an 8K video source down to 4K, stream it over the internet -- which is where the AI takes over, upscales it it back to 8K resolution. Interesting, but it's something I'd want to try in person. I use an 8K monitor myself and 8K videos from YouTube require around 120Mbps -- but throw in compression and AI and we have some interesting stuff going on.

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ASRock Radeon RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming: fastest custom RX 5600 XT?

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Jan 5, 2020 5:24 AM CST

ASRock is coming out swinging with its own leaks on their custom Radeon RX 5600 XT graphics card, that the company will be calling their RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming D3.

ASRock Radeon RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming: fastest custom RX 5600 XT?

The new ASRock RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming D3 is a factory-overclocked Radeon RX 5600 XT, offering up the Navi 10 at its fastest GPU clocks yet (before it's even announced) at 1355, 1560, and 1620MHz boost GPU clocks respectively. It still has 6GB of GDDR6 at 12Gbps on a 192-bit memory bus, all powered with a single 8-pin PCIe power connector.

ASRock is using a smaller PCB here with its RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming D3, at just 29cm -- but the card has a larger cooling system that runs right over the PCB. I'd love to see a custom version of this with the cooler running up to the edge of the PCB for smaller, mITX gaming PCs powered by the ASRock RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming D3 graphics card.

Continue reading: ASRock Radeon RX 5600 XT Phantom Gaming: fastest custom RX 5600 XT? (full post)

ASUS Zephyrus G15: first gaming notebook: AMD's Ryzen 7 4800HS teased

Anthony Garreffa | Laptops | Jan 5, 2020 5:05 AM CST

CES 2020 - ASUS has just had its new Zephyrus G15 gaming laptop leak, with the ASUS Zephyrus G15 packing an unannounced AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS processor.

ASUS Zephyrus G15: first gaming notebook: AMD's Ryzen 7 4800HS teased

ASUS will be offering up two different models of its ASUS Zephyrus G15 gaming laptop and its 15.6-inch displays, with a 1080p 144Hz IPS panel and a 240Hz display. As for the GPU, we won't be seeing Navi inside of gaming notebooks just yet so ASUS is providing either a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB or GeForce RTX 2060 6GB graphics card.

Inside, the ASUS Zephyrus G15 gaming laptop can be configured with up to 32GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, 512GB or 1TB of NVMe storage, Wi-Fi 6 technology, a 76Wh 4-cell battery, a 180W PSU, and it comes in at 2.1kg in total.

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XFX Radeon RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO STAGING leaked, looks great

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Jan 5, 2020 4:36 AM CST

Today is the day of custom Radeon RX 5600 XT graphics cards leaking, with our first look at the custom MSI Radeon RX 5600 XT MECH (and MECH OC) models but now we're getting a look at XFX's own custom RX 5600 XT.

XFX Radeon RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO STAGING leaked, looks great

XFX's upcoming Radeon RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO STAGING has a strange name, and I seriously do not know why it's called this. The original THICC branding was kinda cool as a tongue-in-cheek thing, but PRO STAGING? Yeah, I don't know. The new XFX Radeon RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO STAGING has factory overclocking at up to 1460MHz in game mode, but we don't know anything more about its boost clocks.

We should see the XFX Radeon RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO STAGING coming in faster than MSI's second-best RX 5600 XT MECH OC (the GAMING series will beat the MECH series). But XFX's new card will also include the same 6GB GDDR6 at 12Gbps on a 192-bit memory bus.

Continue reading: XFX Radeon RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO STAGING leaked, looks great (full post)