Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

AMD FX-8320 vs Core i5-6600K - 2D Performance
Apacer AS720 Dual Interface SSD 240GB
ASUS Strix Radeon R9 Fury And The State Of DirectX12 Performance
CactusVPN Review
Eurocom Monster 4 (GTX970M)
Gainward GTX 1060 Phoenix GS Review
Gigabyte Z170X Ultra Gaming Motherboard Review
How to Add Photos as Reminders Using Cortana
Install WebERP On Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) Server
Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum RGB Tunable Gaming Mouse Review
Nitro Concepts C80 Comfort Carbon Class Gaming Chair Review
Palit GameRock Premium GTX 1070 Graphics Card Review
Radeon RX 480 vs GeForce GTX 1060 FCAT Frametime Analysis Review
Rig of the Month - July 2016
Samsung Gear Fit 2 Review
Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480 OC 8GB Graphics Card Review
Sapphire RX 480 Nitro + OC 4GB & 8GB Review
Tesoro Gram Spectrum Gaming Keyboard Review
The 24 best indie games on PC and consoles
The Best Keyboards
Vertagear PL6000 Gaming Chair Review

AMD FX-8320 vs Core i5-6600K - 2D Performance

There is a variety of customer groups in need of as much processing power as possible. Especially in the field of content creation, which includes editing pictures and videos or even rendering a complex scenery with beautiful effects, performance improvements quickly translate into higher income by the end of the month. With this series of articles we're going to compare two processors. The CPUs tested are being run at stock clocks as well as overclocked and apart from that we will also vary the memory frequency. It is our goal to show which CPU is how much faster or slower than another one.

Read full article @ ocaholic

Apacer AS720 Dual Interface SSD 240GB

When you think of innovation in the storage industry you typically think of things like M.2 and SATA Express that help enable even faster transfer speeds. Well, a while back I was contacted by a lesser known company in the storage industry called Apacer. They had all of the standard products of course but there was one specific product that really caught my eye. This was their AS720 SSD, at first glance, it wasn’t especially innovative. But I noticed that along with the SATA connection on one end, it also had a new USB 3.1 Type C connection on the other end. This really got me thinking about how useful an SSD with dual interfaces could be. For starters, it is worlds smaller than the normal 2.5 inch USB storage devices because it doesn’t need a thick casing on top of the hard drive or SSD like most external USB drives. I was also thinking about how useful it could be when cloning your old drive to your new SSD, especially with laptops that aren’t going to have two SATA connections. So today I’m going to take a look at Apacer’s dual interface SSD. I’m going to dig inside and see what makes it tick, then test both interfaces to see just how well they both perform.

Read full article @ LanOC Reviews

ASUS Strix Radeon R9 Fury And The State Of DirectX12 Performance

DirectX 12 is gaining momentum with both game developers and hardware manufacturers, and as a result, gamers as well. The Windows 10 enabled, low-level API is being adopted in more and more titles, with both legacy and cutting-edge game engines now taking advantage of it. Using an ASUS STRIX Radeon R9 Fury graphics card, along with a few other more mid-range GPUs, we cooked up a performance analysis shootout of sorts. Here, we'll pit DX12 against DX11, using a variety of today's popular game titles that leverage the new API, so we can see what performance looks like and if there are significant, tangible gains. This isn't intended to show which GPU manufacturer or GPU architectures have a performance edge in DX12, but rather simply what DX12 can do versus DX11...

Read full article @ HotHardware

CactusVPN Review

Moldova-based CactusVPN has 'only' been around since 2011, but tailored products and keen pricing has won the product plenty of attention.There's no "one-size-fits-all" plan, for instance. Instead the company offers a "US VPN" (four servers in the USA), a "UK VPN" (six servers in the UK), a "Liberty VPN" (four servers in the Netherlands, two in Romania), a "VPN + Smart DNS" (all the servers in the other plans plus Smart DNS), and a separate Smart DNS plan.At least the pricing is simple, at $6.99 (£5.30, AU$9.28) per month for the full-strength "VPN + Smart DNS" and $4.99 (£3.84, AU$6.72) for everything else.

Read full article @ TechRadar

Eurocom Monster 4 (GTX970M)

Eurocom looks to impress with its ultra portable 14 inch Monster 4. Weighing in at just 2kg / 4.4lbs, it is light, but don't let its small size fool you. It comes configured with an Intel Core i7 6700HQ and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M, which gives it quite the punch for such a tiny system.

Read full article @ techPowerUp

Gainward GTX 1060 Phoenix GS Review

Gainward was founded in Taipei, Taiwan all the way back in 1984 and became an NVIDIA partner in 2001; proving they are no stranger to the manufacturing of computer products and more specifically graphics card technology.

Following on from the myriad of NVIDIA 10-series launches, Gainward has been on-hand to provide gamers with their take on this fresh lineup of GeForce GTX graphics cards and today we’ll be exploring the delights of their newly released GTX 1060 Phoenix Golden Sample.

In the spotlight today is the GTX 1060 Phoenix GS. Gainward’s Golden Sample cards have been the mainstay through many generations and are representative of the brands best offering. The graphics card we’ll be looking at today features a custom design with a dual-cooling fan configuration, as well as a factory overclock taking the GPU to just 7.5% over the reference settings. Will a tame overclock to the GPU and a reluctance of any memory overclock still deliver good results? Let’s find out!

Read full article @ Vortez

Gigabyte Z170X Ultra Gaming Motherboard Review

Gaming is a large part of the enthusiast hardware world and is often mistaken to be the same thing. While it is true that gamers will go to great lengths to get the best performance from their system that doesn’t always include overclocking, in fact sometimes performance isn’t speed but aesthetics and expandability.

In this review I will be looking at the Gigabyte Z170X-Ultra Gaming motherboard built for the LGA 1151 Skylake processor. Ultra Gaming is a new product that was launched around Computex alongside the lighted Designare and features many of the new technologies found on those high-end motherboards.

Read full article @ Hardware Asylum

How to Add Photos as Reminders Using Cortana

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is adding some pretty awesome new stuff. One of the new features that has me most excited is the ability to create reminders with photos in Cortana. Generally, reminders arent the most exciting thing in the world, but adding a bit of visual flair certainly goes a long way towards sprucing them up. To use the feature, youll need to create a reminder in Cortana just as you normally would.

Read full article @ MakeUseOf

Install WebERP On Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) Server

webERP is a complete web based accounting and business management system that requires only a web-browser and pdf reader to use. It has a wide range of features suitable for many businesses particularly distributed businesses in wholesale, distribution and manufacturing. When combined with a 3rd party interactive desktop Point Of Sale system it can also form the hub of a dispersed multi-branch retail management system. A fully integrated webSHOP is also available as a 3rd party add-on. webERP is as an open-source application and is available as a free download to use with all the PHP code written in an accessible way for you to add your own features as needed.

Read full article @ Ubuntu Geek

Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum RGB Tunable Gaming Mouse Review

One of the primary reasons people buy personal computers is to play games (some a lot, some a little, we all do at times) and that's why the gaming market is currently so strong that it even made VR happen and will most certainly continue to improve on it for the years to come (needless to say VR development will benefit other areas of the industry as well). Of course the two most popular gaming peripherals right now are still keyboards and mice and as some of you may already know Logitech has released numerous models aimed to cover every gamer out there. One of those was the excellent G502 Proteus Core tunable gaming mouse which scored extremely high in all our tests and since Logitech recognized its value (they actually listen to what gamers say and want) they just released the updated version of the G502 the Proteus Spectrum RGB Tunable Gaming Mouse which we have here with us today.

Focused on innovation and quality, Logitech designs personal peripherals to help people enjoy a better experience with the digital world. We started in 1981 with mice, which (new at the time) provided a more intuitive way of interacting with a personal computer. We became the worldwide leader in computer mice, and have reinvented the mouse in dozens of ways to match the evolving needs of PC and laptop users. Since those early days, we have expanded our expertise in product design beyond the computer mouse, with a broad portfolio of interface devices that are the “last inch” between you and your computer or your console game, digital music or home-entertainment system. With products sold in almost every country in the world, Logitech’s leadership in innovation now encompasses a wide variety of personal peripherals (both cordless and corded), with special emphasis on products for PC navigation, gaming, Internet communications, digital music and home-entertainment control. For each of our product categories, we study how our customers use their digital devices, and then our designers and engineers set their sights on how we can create a better experience with those devices – richer, more comfortable, more fun, more productive, more convenient, and more delightful.

After placing the specification sheets of the G502 Proteus Core and the G502 Proteus Spectrum right next to each other it's not hard to see that both mice are pretty much identical with sole difference the addition of RGB lighting (16.8 million colors) for the two available lighting zones of the second. So once again under the hood we find the same primary buttons manufactured by OMRON (20 million clicks) and the same optical (IR) Delta Zero sensor that features a maximum resolution of 12.000DPI (Dots Per Inch) with 40G's of acceleration, maximum speed of 300IPS (Inches Per Second) and 1000Hz polling rate. This sensor also supports angle-snapping and features a very useful calibration system that analyzes the type of surface the mouse is on and makes all necessary changes to offer the best possible performance/precision. We all liked using the original G502 Proteus Core (largely thanks to its ergonomic grip and weight adjustment system) so we're interested to see whether or not Logitech also changed other aspects of the mouse and not just its lighting system.

Read full article @ NikKTech

Nitro Concepts C80 Comfort Carbon Class Gaming Chair Review

Gaming chairs are big business, but for many consumers, they can often be quite a financial burden, with many models costing in excess of £200 and like any high-quality chair, sometimes much more than that. Nitro Concepts think they have the answer with their C80 series, blending all the style and quality you would want, at a price that isn’t going to hurt your wallet (as much).

“Like all models of the Carbon Class, the Nitro Concepts C80 Comfort gaming chair in black is a high-quality gamer seat with valuable polyurethane (PU) imitation leather covering and an excellent price-performance ratio. This representative of the Comfort Series relies on especially high sitting comfort and, accordingly, possesses a thick padding in the seat and contact areas. The straight-lined shape of the relaxing seating area as well as the cushioned backrest and armrests invite the user to linger on comfortably and offer the pleasant sitting experience of a living room armchair.” – Nitro

Read full article @ eTeknix

Palit GameRock Premium GTX 1070 Graphics Card Review

NVIDIA’s latest flagship, the GTX 1080 is capable of astounding performance but the current asking price is well beyond what most enthusiasts are prepared to pay. This is particularly the case in the UK as custom models can easily exceed £620 and I’ve noticed major price rises during the past few weeks. Arguably, the extremely high pricing is due to a number of factors including low supply, Sterling devaluation as retailers usually buy stock in USD and manufacturers realising they can charge more than the Founders Edition. It’s evidently clear. that the GTX 1080 represents poor value at the moment and consumers are re-considering the lower-tier Pascal option, the GTX 1070.

Even though the GTX 1080 is an incredible feat of engineering and able to cope pretty well with 4K gaming demands, the GTX 1070 provides a better price to performance ratio and has enough horsepower to defeat the Titan X. Some might claim that it’s still overpriced, but in my view, it’s the better option compared to the GTX 1080. Today, we’re taking a look at an aftermarket GTX 1070 from Palit which sports a really stylish white and blue colour scheme. Not only that, the graphics card utilises an extraordinary cooling solution which contributes to its mammoth size. The Palit GameRock Premium GTX 1070 features a 1670MHz core clock, 1873MHz boost and GDDR5 memory running at an effective speed of 8500MHz. This compares favourably against the Founders Edition specification. Unfortunately, I haven’t received a Founders Edition sample to offer a direct comparison but the performance numbers should give us an indication of the user-experience at a number of resolutions.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Radeon RX 480 vs GeForce GTX 1060 FCAT Frametime Analysis Review

The mid-range segmented Radeon RX 480 and GeForce GTX 1060 have recently been released, in this review we will be analyzing frame time/pacing in combination with FCAT. With FCAT (Frame Capture Analysis Tool) we can easily detect and visualize if there are any problems related to rendering content in terms of stuttering or oddities.

For this article we'll test both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12. Recent updates allow us to add the latest DX12 titles into this article as well. To check all this, we revert to our FCAT measuring setup, which we'll explain again in the next few pages. This technique allows us to record each frame rendered precisely up to the millisecond. The beauty of this technique is that it measures at the monitor output side, that means everything you can observe with your eyes (or not) is measured.

The focus for this article today is the Radeon RX 480, as the GTX 1060 already has had an FCAT review. For the FCAT we rely on DVI output and the reference Radeon RX 480 doesn't have one.

Read full article @ Guru3D

Rig of the Month - July 2016

We just adore PC related hardware & think you do too. And sometimes you guys really make a PC that really stands out. We ask you to answer a few simple questions and send in photos of your rig. Each month we'll have a look at the entries and perhaps pick you and post your PC with photos and everything here at Guru3D.com. Here you can find out what you need to do and win a nice prize courtesy of Corsair.

Read full article @ Guru3D

Samsung Gear Fit 2 Review

In the market for a new fitness tracker? As you'll soon read, the Samsung Gear Fit 2 is a fine choice for fitness newcomers and veterans alike. In fact, it's a good enough option that we've added it to our list of best fitness trackers.The first Samsung Gear Fit was a fitness tracker through and through, but with a tinge of smartwatch mixed in. Since its release in 2014, many similar options have jumped into the fray, including the Microsoft Band 2 and Fitbit Blaze.And, in being one of the first to hit the scene, it actually got a lot right. The Super AMOLED display was (and still is) gorgeous, and its balance of fitness and smart functions helped to set a standard for devices to come down the line. But for all that it accomplished, we were left wanting something with a little more substance.

Read full article @ Techradar

Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480 OC 8GB Graphics Card Review

The RX 480 is AMD’s flagship product in the Polaris range and designed to make premium VR gaming more accessible to a mainstream audience. While a great deal of media publicity surrounds higher-end products like the GTX 1080, it’s important to remember that this is a niche section of the market. According to AMD’s internal research, a staggering 84% opt for a graphics card within the $100-$300 price range. Up to this point, the overwhelming majority of affordable graphics card struggled to cope with the vigorous demands of modern games especially when using a 1440P or ultrawide monitor. Thankfully, the RX 480’s astounding price to performance ratio encourages more people to give the PC platform a try and ensure those with a tighter budget can still enjoy a rewarding experience. Of course, there is competition from the recently launched GTX 1060 and it will be interesting to compare the performance results. Sadly, the RX 480’s launch was overshadowed by reports of the card exceeding the PCI-E power specification although this has since been rectified in a driver update. Also, the stock cooler wasn’t great which resulted in temperatures around 85C. This restricted the overclocking headroom substantially and the noise output from the blower design left a lot to be desired. After speaking to AMD, they’ve acknowledged that AIB partners will produce better designs and the reference model was simply a way of introducing the Polaris series.

When it comes to aftermarket AMD solutions, Sapphire is up there with the best and has a long standing history of designing a number of impeccable coolers. The Tri-X and Nitro graphics cards quickly gained a reputation for their extraordinary build quality and low temperatures. The company’s latest endeavour is already catching people’s attention and looks like a major upgrade compared to the RX 480’s default configuration. Sapphire’s custom version supports two profiles; a silent mode which prioritises quiet operation and features a 1266MHz clock. Selecting the boost mode, allows you to acquire a maximum speed of 1342MHz. Please note this is for the 8GB model and a cheaper 4GB edition supports a boost up to 1306MHz. Other notable additions include removable fans, a stylish yet subtle RGB lighting system and new dual ball bearing fan design. Priced at £249.95, the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480 OC is only £27.96 more than the cheapest XFX reference unit and is much cheaper than I initially envisioned. This raises the question, is the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480 OC the best value graphics card on the market today? Let’s find out!

Read full article @ eTeknix

Sapphire RX 480 Nitro + OC 4GB & 8GB Review

We supplement our analysis of AMD partner RX 480 cards today by looking at the two Sapphire Nitro+ OC models, in 4GB and 8GB capacities. The Sapphire cards ship with custom cooling solutions, out of the box clock enhancements, LED lighting and PCB improvements. At price points of £199.99 and £249.95 inc vat for the 4GB and 8GB cards respectively, they certainly look to be competitively priced.

Read full article @ KitGuru

Tesoro Gram Spectrum Gaming Keyboard Review

Customization and performance are the two major points that are front and center when we talk about gaming peripherals and with the new age of lighting and full RGB devices, aesthetics are starting to become as important as ever. With Tesoro's self-proclaimed high end keyboard we look forward to seeing what the GRAM spectrum (http://technologyx.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3d9b6193ffd32dd60e84fc74b&id=3569beee86&e=1230c2ab07 GRAM SPECTRUM http://technologyx.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3d9b6193ffd32dd60e84fc74b&id=3029ee9dfb&e=1230c2ab07) has to offer.

Read full article @ TechnologyX

The 24 best indie games on PC and consoles

Want more Limbo? We've added its spiritual successor at number 10 on our list! No one can agree on exactly what the definition of an indie game is. Some combination of a small studio, a weird idea and no publisher is the nearest we can get to agreement. But – to paraphrase Potter Stewart – you know one when you see it, and we've picked out the best indie games, plus a few that we're eagerly anticipating.We admit this is a somewhat foolhardy exercise, as so many great indie games are released each day – and each game's community is so rabidly aggressive that to pick out highlights is like dipping a hand with a cut pinky into a shark tank and waiting.

Read full article @ TechRadar

The Best Keyboards

These are our picks for best keyboards whether you are looking for a gaming-centric keyboard, a space-saving wireless option, something that can connect to multiple devices over bluetooth, get some work done, or control your HTPC from the couch.

Read full article @ TechSpot

Vertagear PL6000 Gaming Chair Review

Late last year we took a look at the Vertagear SL4000 gaming chair and while we were impressed by its comfort, we did run into some quality control issues with the build. Vertagear has since taken feedback from its early chairs on board and now, it has moved on to its new P-line of gaming chairs. Today we are taking a look at the Vertagear PL6000, which aims to offer industrial strength construction and superior ergonomic features.

Read full article @ KitGuru