Intel's 10-core Core i7-6950X desktop CPU costs $1,723
Computex 2016 - Intel has announced its new 10-core 3GHz i7 6950X desktop CPU at its press conference in Taipei, but the chip comes with a staggering price tag.
If you've been looking forward to Intel's celebrated Broadwell-E lineup with its insane 10-core Core i7 6950X CPU, then we have kind of a buzzkill: the processor will cost $1,732. For that premium price, you'll get one of the "most powerful chips" has ever created. With 20 threads, the Core i7 6950X Extreme Edition is fully optimized for simultaneous compute-intensive mega-tasking like 4K gaming while rendering video in the background, and Intel boasts that the i7 6950X renders 3D twice as fast as the Intel Core i7 6700K.
As we expected, Intel also announced three more CPUs in the Broadwell-E Extreme Edition lineup: the 8-core Intel Core i7 6900K ($1,089), the 6-core Core i7 6850K ($617) and Core i7-6800K ($434). Every CPU in the Extreme Edition lineup is unlocked for easy user overclocking, and the processors are all based on Intel's new 14nm Broadwell-E silicon. Check below for full specs on each CPU as well as key features.
Continue reading: Intel's 10-core Core i7-6950X desktop CPU costs $1,723 (full post)
New ASUS ROG Swift rocks an insane native 240Hz with NVIDIA G-Sync
Computex 2016 - Not content with smashing the refresh rate barrier with the new ASUS ROG Swift 180Hz G-Sync monitor, ASUS has just one-upped itself with a new G-Sync monitor that sports 240Hz refresh rates.
The new ASUS ROG Swift PG258Q display promises to completely redefine everything we knew about responsiveness. The PG258Q sports a 24.5-inch full 1920 x 1080 panel that combines with a native 240Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA's G-Sync adaptive sync tech, and an incredible 1ms gray-to-gray response time to "eliminate lag and frame rate stutter for the smoothest, fastest, and most breathtaking gaming visuals imaginable."
The PG258Q is optimized for multi-monitor setups thanks to its narrow bezel, and features a titanium and copper color scheme outfitted with built-in LED light effects to add some flair to your setup. On the software side, the ROG Swift PG258Q comes with ASUS GamePlus and ASUS GameVisual to boost in-game performance and visuals.
Continue reading: New ASUS ROG Swift rocks an insane native 240Hz with NVIDIA G-Sync (full post)
GIGABYTE launching mechanical keyboard, gaming mouse and mousepad
Computex 2016 - GIGABYTE is focusing on gamers with a new line of peripherals and accesories that includes a mechanical keyboard, a mouse, and a mousepad.
First up is the XK700 keyboard, which features Cherry MX switches, 16.8M RGB lighting that's customizable per key, and full N-key rollover functionality (so simultaneous keystrokes always register as you'd expect them to). The design looks to be simplistic with a clean silver and black colour scheme -- just the way we like it.
Then there's the XM300 gaming mouse, which houses the Pixart 3988 optical sensor and the "ultra durable" Omron Switch (said to be good for 20 million clicks). Like the XK700, it also features customizable 16.8M RGB lighting.
Continue reading: GIGABYTE launching mechanical keyboard, gaming mouse and mousepad (full post)
GIGABYTE GTX 1080 XTREME shows VR, overclockers some love
Computex 2016 - Following up the GIGABYTE GTX 1080 G1 card from last week is the GIGABYTE GTX 1080 XTREME, as seen at Computex. Whereas the former appears to interested in striking a balance between temperature and performance, the XTREME seems to go all out.
For starters, GIGABYTE's second offering sports extra HDMI connectors, primarily for VR purposes. Then it "guarantees [...] higher overclocking capability." So it's safe to say it's not holding back, at least not much.
Other features include Windforce stack fans with alternate spinning design, 16.8M customizable colour lighting, aerospace-grade PCB coating, and four-year warranty with online registration.
Continue reading: GIGABYTE GTX 1080 XTREME shows VR, overclockers some love (full post)
Adblock won't be pre-installed on ASUS phones after all
Computex 2016 - The deal between Adblock Plus and ASUS is apparently off: new ASUS smartphones and tablets won't come pre-installed with Adblock Plus.
According to Mobile Geeks, ASUS has terminated the deal to automatically enable Adblock Plus on its first-party smartphone and tablet web browser.
"Of course, we must also have consideration for our brand image and we cannot be in connection with the company, who has apparently been sued by various media," an unnamed ASUS rep told Mobile Geeks at Computex 2016. Furthermore, Google Chrome has replaced ASUS homegrown web browser on the company's latest ZenFone trio
Continue reading: Adblock won't be pre-installed on ASUS phones after all (full post)
ASUS reveals new 34-inch curved 3440 x 1440 Designo ultrawide monitor
Computex 2016 - ASUS shows off its new premium curved 3440 x 1440p ultrawide Designo displays that will round out the company's new line of enthusiast hardware.
The new ASUS Designo Curve MX34VQ packs 3440 x 1440p into a stylish 34-inch curved panel at a 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio. The panel features a curvature of 1800R, and sports two beefy 8W Harmon Kardon stereo speakers amplified with ASUS SonicMaster technology. As an added bonus, the display's circular base doubles as a wireless Qi charging pad for mobile devices.
ASUS also revealed the non-curved 16:9 27-inch Designo MX27UC 4K display. The MX27UC features a 27-inch IPS display at 3840 x 2160 resolution that features Type-C support with some surprising additions like DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB Type-C Power Delivery (power and data over the same cord). The 27-inch Designo MX27UC 4K is also outfitted with a pair of 3W Bang and Olufsen speakers.
Continue reading: ASUS reveals new 34-inch curved 3440 x 1440 Designo ultrawide monitor (full post)
Samsung PM971-NVMe shrinks the SSD in more ways than one
Samsung is mass producing a NVMe PCIe solid state drive in a single ball grid array (BGA) package -- an industry first.
The PM971-NVMe as it's known features 16 of Samsung's 48-layer 256Gb V-NAND chips, one 20nm 4Gb LPDDR4 mobile DRAM chip, and a high-performance Samsung controller. For storage, you get a maximum of 512GB; for speed, you'll see 1,500MB/s and 900MB/s read and write, respectively, with the aid of the company's proprietary Turbowrite technology, as well as 190K and 150K random read and write IOPS, making it 1500 times faster than an HDD.
Size and weight are some of the key draws: the drive measures 20mm x 16mm x 1.5mm, weighs just one gram, boasts a volume one-hundredth that of a 2.5" SSD or HDD, and a surface area one-fifth of what you'd see with an M.2 SSD. As such, it can fit just as easily in an ultra-slim notebook as it can your desktop PC.
Continue reading: Samsung PM971-NVMe shrinks the SSD in more ways than one (full post)
New GIGABYTE BRIX mini-PC rocks a GTX 950 for quad-display FHD gaming
Computex 2016 - GIGABYTE has unveiled its new BRIX Gaming UHD mini-PC that's designed for 1080p gaming and running applications in 4K UHD.
GIGABYTE's new BRIX Gaming UHD ultra-compact mini-PC sports a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 video card along with an Intel Core i7 Skylake-U processor to enable easy 1080p gaming across four displays, as well as applications in 4K UHD.
Users can slot in two DDR4 2133MHz SO-DIMM RAM sticks for high-performance speeds, and there's room for two 2.5" HDD/SSD's at 7 and 9.5 mm thickness via two 6Gbs SATA 3 slots. Ontop of those storage options, two M.2 SSD's can be equipped for high-speed storage.
Continue reading: New GIGABYTE BRIX mini-PC rocks a GTX 950 for quad-display FHD gaming (full post)
GIGABYTE's new AIO features full-sized GPU slot
Computex 2016 - GIGABYTE has a sweet looking new AIO for your system building pleasure. Dubbed the HKC X320 Plus, it features an R1800 Samsung curved panel, ultra thin PIO, a full-sized GPU slot, a backcover that's easy to take apart and put back together, and USB 3.0 support. Oh, and if you're worried about heat (as you should always be), it accommodates natural dissipation on top, while negative pressure dissipates the heat on bottom.
The display is your stock 1920x1080 60Hz, but interestingly, the panel is VA, which generally makes for good viewing angles, blacks, and contrast compared to other popular panels, but poor response times and ghosting. Response time here is GTG 8ms, while colour is measured at 10.7B; viewing angle is measured at 178 degrees both vertically and horizontally.
See below for supported hardware. There's no word yet on launch date or pricing, but stay tuned.
Continue reading: GIGABYTE's new AIO features full-sized GPU slot (full post)
MSI's first Intel 200-series chipset motherboard is feature heavy
Computex 2016 - Last week we reported Intel was likely to unveil its 200-series chipset at Computex and while that hasn't happened yet, we have a tease from MSI. The motherboard manufacturer was seen showing off what it calls the Z2T0 Anniversary board (speculated to be a typo for Z270 Anniversary), which is believed to be a socket LGA1151 motherboard based on Intel's new technology.
The heat sink design and PCB markings are not finalized, but already the board is described by TechPowerUp as "pretty loaded with features that rival the current Z170A-Gaming M7."
Selling points for the 200-series include increased I/O performance and added PCIe 3.0 lanes, among other features.
Continue reading: MSI's first Intel 200-series chipset motherboard is feature heavy (full post)