Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

AMD lists Radeon RX 500X series for OEMs
AMD Navi is no high end GPU
Azulle Byte3 Fanless Apollo Lake Mini PC Review
be quiet! Dark Rock 4 Air CPU Cooler Review
Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU Coolers Review
be quiet! Dark Rock 4 Pro Air Cooler Review
be quiet! Dark Rock 4: Ready To Rock On Air?
Civilization VIs Rise and Fall expansion reviewed
Colorful C.B360M-HD Deluxe V20 Review
Cougar Phontum Review
Falkon Browser Review
Genius Pen Premium Capacitive Stylus Review
ID-Cooling Dashflow 240 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
Lenovo Explorer Windows Mixed Reality Headset Review
Masters of Anima Review
MSI GE63 Raider RGB 8RF Gaming Laptop Preview
Netgear Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming Router Review
Street Fighter Success: How Capcom is Getting the Series Back on Track
TerraMaster F4-220 NAS Review

AMD lists Radeon RX 500X series for OEMs

A few days short of a full year, AMD  rebranded the Radeon RX 500 series for OEMs. Bear in mind that back when it was launched, on April 18th, 2017, the Radeon RX 500 series was pretty much based on Radeon RX 400 series graphics cards with the same Polaris GPUs but on a more refined 14nm manufacturing process, calling it the Polaris Evolved.
It appears that we won't have to wait until June/July to see a five to six percent performance improvement as it was seen in a rather blurry crystal ball, as these are just simple rebrands for OEMs, something that both AMD and Nvidia have been convicted before..

Read full article @ Fudzilla

AMD Navi is no high end GPU

Think of it as the Radeon RX 580 / 480 replacement. It will be small, and is likely to perform as well as the Vega 14nm that shipped last year. In the Nvidia performance world Navi should perform close to Geforce GTX 1080 which is quite good for the mainstream part but probably on part of the mainstream part planned after the high end part.

Fudzilla has already reported that Vega 7nm is not a Gaming GPU. This might cause some confusion as there are two different abbreviations floating around. GPU as in General Purpose Unit, or GPU as a graphics processing unit. What we meant by saying Vega 7nm is not a GPU, we want to make crystal clear that Vega 7nm will not be a gaming part.

Read full article @ Fudzilla

Azulle Byte3 Fanless Apollo Lake Mini PC Review

Azulle might not be a familiar name unless you have been browsing for mini PCs lately, as the company offers various small form-factor computers and accessories on Amazon.

Today we will take a close look at their Intel Apollo Lake-powered Byte3 mini PC which starts at $179.99 (and goes up to $337.99 depending on configuration), and provides another fanless solution to this category. Does our $199.99 quad-core version, which includes Windows 10 Pro, stand out? Read on to find out!

Read full article @ PC Perspective

be quiet! Dark Rock 4 Air CPU Cooler Review

At CES 2018 be quiet! featured some of their latest editions in the market for their air cooling range. Having had a look ourselves, we have been anxious for some time to see exactly how this would perform under the scrutiny of testing.

We at eTeknix have always had a soft spot for air-coolers. While AIO coolers may be (or at least look) the more innovative design, air-coolers are, in function at least, simplicity itself.

Offered as a less expensive alternative to the Dark Rock Pro 4, which sees a simultaneous launch, we are curious to see how this stacks up against it. For a less money, what is the performance of the be quiet! Dark Rock 4 going to be? In addition, can it handle high-performance cooling when put to the test?

Read full article @ eTeknix

Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU Coolers Review

The Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU air coolers by be quiet! are the 4th in line to carry that specific name right after the highly successful Dark Rock 3 and Dark Rock Pro 3 models released back in 2014. As a matter of fact both the 3 and 4 models are very similar (both in terms of design and size) so if we had to guess it would seem that be quiet! took the former line back to the drawing board further tweaked it and released it again. Strangely enough although the Dark Rock 4 shares almost the exact same measurements as its predecessor (159x136x96mm vs 160x137x97mm) and is actually lighter (920g vs 976g) it features a higher TDP (thermal design power) of 200W (as opposed to 190W of its predecessor). The same applies for the Dark Rock Pro 4 but this time over although it's also roughly as large (163x136x146mm vs 163x137x150mm) and as heavy (1130g vs 1197g) as it predecessor they both feature a TDP of 250W. The similarities however don't end there since both the Dark Rock 3 and 4 feature the same number of fins (51) and heatpipes (six 6mm ones) and of course the same is true for the Dark Rock Pro 3 and 4 models (90 fins - 45 on each of the two heatsinks - and seven 6mm heatpipes). The same wave contour fin design was also used in the new Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 models (just like with their predecessors) along with similar brushed aluminum diamond cut top covers (we like the new ones better). The same 120mm PWM SilentWings fan was also used both in the Dark Rock 3 and 4 models (1400RPM/67.8 CFM/20.8dBA). So what did be quiet! change in the new Dark Rock 4 and Dark Rock Pro 4 models? Well for one they used a nice looking black coating which according to them thanks to its ceramic particles helps with heat transfer (even if it doesn't however it still looks great). We were also surprised to see that be quiet! used different SilentWings fans for the Dark Rock Pro 4 and to be more specific although the Dark Rock Pro 3 came with a 120mm (1700RPM/57.2CFM/21.5dBA) and a 135mm one (1400RPM/67.8 CFM/20.8dBA - same as the Dark Rock 3/4) the Dark Rock Pro 4 comes with two slower 120mm (1500RPM/50.5CFM/18.9dBA) and 135mm (1200RPM - no other data is available at this time but we expect a CFM placed at just over 60 with just below 19dBA of noise).

Read full article @ NikKTech

be quiet! Dark Rock 4 Pro Air Cooler Review

At CES 2018 be quiet! featured some of their latest editions in the market for their air cooling range. Having had a look ourselves, we have been anxious for some time to see exactly how this would perform under the scrutiny of testing. At the time, we were highly impressed with the looks and knew from previous models that the Dark Rock series was to be taken seriously.

In addition, we were, if nothing else, curious to see the changes to the mounting system which for the prior model (the Dark Rock Pro 3) was perhaps one of the hardest we had ever encountered. It is no joke to suggest that it was one of the rare occasions where we nearly gave up on a review. Not because we wanted to, but because it was simply just a nightmare to fit.

Read full article @ eTeknix

be quiet! Dark Rock 4: Ready To Rock On Air?

For every flagship is a flanking vessel that rides shotgun to protect against predators--or, in this case, competitors. Along with its top-shelf Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU cooler, be quiet! sent us for review its newly designed "non-Pro" Dark Rock 4 CPU air cooler. The Dark Rocks represent the pinnacle of the be quiet! cooler line, all of them adorned with sleek industrial designs. The Dark Rock 4 slots in just below the Pro 4 in the company's pecking order.

This cooler comes topped with an anodized, brushed-aluminum cover plate. Each of the cooler's 6mm-diameter heatpipe ends pokes through the plate, covered by a black aluminum cap. A closer look at the aluminum fins themselves reveals that they are a bit thicker than the kind you will see on most heatpipe tower coolers, further emphasizing that be quiet!'s product engineering didn’t take shortcuts with this line. Once the cooler is installed, the top of the Dark Rock 4 is highly visible. Considering that the black plate is the one face that’s always going to be seen in a transparent-sided PC, we consider this a good thing.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Civilization VIs Rise and Fall expansion reviewed

Once upon a time, I had an exercise regime and could see my feet. Now, I have conquered the world more times than I'd like to admit. Many of you fellow Civilization players may share that joy. Civilization VI's new Rise and Fall expansion has been out for a few weeks, and given the popularity of the previous games among the local nerds, we thought we should put together a review.

First, some background. Civilization VI is the latest in the long-running franchise of turn-based 4X strategy games that started back in 1991. Players pick a historical civilization, start off with two units (a settler and a warrior), build cities, trade, research, conquer, spread religion, and hopefully rule the world. A game runs until somebody achieves a victory condition like global conquest, cultural or religious expansion, or settling on Mars. The Civ games have always been addictive, and the series could well have spawned the "just one more turn" feeling many gamers experience when playing well past their planned bedtime.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

Colorful C.B360M-HD Deluxe V20 Review

Intel has finally launched a lower-priced alternative to Z370, the B360 chipset. With this launch, Colorful readies the C.B360M-HD Deluxe V20, a Micro-ATX board boasting Z370 performance at a significantly lower price.

The first B360 board I got my hands on is the Colorful C.B360M-HD Deluxe V20. Colorful Group is a China-based manufacturer of all manner of consumer electronics, from ATX power supplies to hi-fi players. The company is best known for their graphics cards and, of course, their motherboards. To put the Colorful C.B360M-HD Deluxe V20 in context, I first need to briefly run through some of the changes to the B360 chipset from Z370.

B360 has support for only one PCI express 3.0 x16 slot and an M.2 slot, while the Z370 chipset offers up to three PCI Express slots (1x16, 2x8, or x8x4x4) and up to three M.2 slots. Also changed from Z370 is that native support of USB 3.1 Gen2 is included with the B360 chipset, which is a welcome addition. One major change from Z370 is the removal of overclocking support even on unlocked "K" processors. RAM overclocking is also not supported. Core i3 processors will support up to 2400 MHz and Core i5 and i7 processors will support up to 2666 MHz.

Read full article @ TechPowerUp

Cougar Phontum Review

The Cougar Phontum is one of the newest additions to the $50 gaming headset market. It sports a dual-chamber design, comes with two different sets of ear pads, and aims to be used both in your gaming room and on the go.

The Cougar Phontum is an interesting new addition to the company's gaming headset lineup. It falls within the $50 price bracket, and what makes this interesting is the fact that Cougar already makes one of the most popular headsets of that exact price, the Immersa (reviewed here). However, while the Immersa is a standard stay-at-home device, versatility is the name of the game when it comes to the Phontum. It sports a detachable microphone and comes with two pairs of easily swappable ear pads—a thick pair for at home and a much thinner one meant to be used on the go.

Read full article @ TechPowerUp

Falkon Browser Review

The world of browsers is a weird one. There are many programs out there, but in essence, it all boils down to only several rendering engines and their numerous forks, spin offs and adaptations. You may think you have a lot of choices, but you don't.

In the KDE world, there have been many players - Konqueror, rekonq, QupZilla - and now Falkon, and I have probably forgotten some. Falkon, you ask? Yup. QupZilla used to be the official KDE browser until it was renamed, rebadged and slightly revamped as Falkon. Well, the official domain name is still the old one, but the use of the letter k is the giveaway, right. Is it any good, you ask some more. Well, that is something we shall answer today.

Read full article @ Dedoimedo

Genius Pen Premium Capacitive Stylus Review

We loved last year’s Samsung Galaxy Note7 and were sad to return it to Samsung before we could complete our review. We are glad to see it return as the Galaxy Note FE, but if you are one of those who were impressed by the Note7, you will be even more impressed with the new Samsung Galaxy Note8. It is literally in a class of its own.

In fact, we are so impressed with the Samsung Galaxy Note8 (Price Check), we gave it our Editor’s Choice Award. Find out why we think it deserves no less!

Read full article @ TechARP

ID-Cooling Dashflow 240 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

ID-Cooling may not be a name you are familiar with. The company was announced in 2013 during Computex. Although ID-Cooling is relatively new, they are looking to make a splash in the flooded AIO liquid cooler market with their new Dashflow series of RGB AIO liquid coolers. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I’ll be comparing the performance of the Dashflow 240 against previous coolers I have tested.

Currently, the Dashflow 240 is the only cooler in the line-up. With the ever increasing popularity of RGB-everything, ID-Cooling has stepped up to the plate with RGB sync. Dashflow 240 can sync with ASUS Aura, MSI Mystic Light, and is Gigabyte RGB Fusion Ready. For those with a motherboard without RGB sync capabilities, ID-Cooling includes a controller giving you full control over the RGB functionality of the Dashflow 240.

Read full article @ Benchmark Reviews

Lenovo Explorer Windows Mixed Reality Headset Review

The Lenovo Explorer Windows Mixed Reality headset is a portable VR headset that's affordable and lightweight, and will fit on a small head. If you're looking for a headset to share with your kids, this is among your best bets right now.

Microsoft launched the Windows Mixed Reality platform in October, which added virtual reality and augmented reality to the Windows 10 operating system. Rather than build its own hardware, Microsoft focused on the software side of the platform and turned to a handful of hardware partners to take care of the headset manufacturing. The company partnered with well-established PC hardware designers such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung to bring a variety of Windows Mixed Reality headsets to the market. Microsoft set the minimum specifications for the headsets, and it developed a reference controller design for the motion controllers, and it gave the headset partners the freedom to customize and improve the designs as they saw fit.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Masters of Anima Review

Despite its generic name, Masters of Anima offers a surprisingly fresh take on action RTS. Exploring a vibrant and varied world, players are invited to control five soldier variants to fight a cartoonish villain.

Masters of Anima never takes itself too seriously, with a seam of almost cringe-worthy jokes running through the story and several of the set pieces. It fits well with the bright cartoon atmosphere the game visually depicts, even if it’s not always funny. The fantastic locations, beautiful color palette, and crisp lines make the game stunning to look at with its own unique, timeless style. It might not have the extraordinary vistas of Horizon Zero Dawn with its downward perspective, but it isn’t trying to compete either. Masters of Anima is a game that knows exactly where it limits are, and rarely tries to overdo them.

Read full article @ Wccftech

MSI GE63 Raider RGB 8RF Gaming Laptop Preview

The MSI GE63 Raider RGB Edition gaming laptop was first revealed at CES 2018, featuring a sports car-inspired design and RGB lighting. We had some time with it at the launch event, so check out our hands-on video of the Raider RGB Edition and its key specifications!

First announced at CES, the MSI GE63 Raider RGB Edition is inspired by sports cars and the love for RGB lighting. It was crafted for ultra-illumination with RGB lighting on the top cover, keyboard and USB ports. The top cover features 24 separate zones of RGB lighting with more than 16.8 million colours to choose from!

Read full article @ Tech ARP

Netgear Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming Router Review

Netgear hardware meets DumaOS. The importance of a fast, stable and secure connection within the home has placed renewed focus on the once-humble router. Today's latest solutions are designed to serve as the home's central hub, with dizzying speed claims, the ability to service multiple wireless clients simultaneously, Gigabit LAN, and centralised file sharing featuring as the most common value adds. The next item on the hit list appears to be gaming optimisation, with many of the key names in the industry presenting new gear designed to minimise lag and latency in favour of smoother gameplay.

Truth be told, the first gaming routers to appear on the scene were merely masquerading as a gamer's best friend, but recent additions have proven that network optimisation can enhance the in-game experience. One of the best examples to date is the WRT32X, a collaborative effort between Linksys and Killer that can detect and prioritise network traffic to ensure latency-sensitive data is given right of way.

Read full article @ Hexus

Street Fighter Success: How Capcom is Getting the Series Back on Track

In February 2016 Capcom released Street Fighter 5 to mixed reviews. Although fans had been excited to use the new V-Gauge system, many felt let down by what was on offer.

In particular, fans said that Street Fighter 5’s story just wasn’t substantial enough. The story content was also said to be so simple that even a baby was able to complete it. The game’s online content was also slammed for having no penalty system (and therefore there were many rage-quitters who made the gameplay unenjoyable).

Understandably, fans were upset by the Street Fighter 5 situation and felt disheartened by Capcom’s work on the series. Thankfully though, the company has taken steps since to remedy this and get back into gamers’ good books.

Read full article @ Play3r

TerraMaster F4-220 NAS Review

The TerraMaster F4-220 a 4-bay NAS which features an Intel J1800 dual-core CPU, which is approaching mid-range by NAS standards. This is complemented with 2GB RAM and a single gigabit Ethernet port. These specifications seem perfectly adequate for a home/small office NAS, but as we’ll find out later, the hardware is only part of the picture. A significant benefit with buying off-the-shelf NAS devices is that they should come paired with excellent on-board software which can makes use of all that hardware. TerraMaster uses the “TOS” custom operating system, which appears to boot from an internal USB drive.

Read full article @ PC Review