Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

AMD Ryzen 9 3900 Tested: Unreleased 65W Processor Sets World Records
AMD Ryzen CPUs to Get Plenty of Microcode Improvements
ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 Review
CORSAIR Hydro X Series XD5 Pump/Reservoir Combo Review
Creative Stage Bluetooth Sound Bar with Subwoofer Review
D-Link COVR 2202 Tri-Band WiFi Mesh System Review
Gears 5 Review
NZXT H500 Vault Boy PC Chassis Review
Patriot P200 1TB SATA3 SSD Review
Patriot Viper VP4100 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD Review
Phanteks Enthoo Luxe 2 Review
The 10 Best iOS 13 Features You Should Try Out
Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB Memory DDR4-3200MHz 16GB Kit Review
Ultimate Hacking Keyboard Review
V-Color Prism II RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3600MHz Memory Review
WD My Passport 5TB DAS Review

AMD Ryzen 9 3900 Tested: Unreleased 65W Processor Sets World Records

The Ryzen 9 3900X brings 12 cores and 24 threads to the mainstream desktop, setting a new record for the platform, but it also brings a beastly 105W TDP. AMD still has a few Ryzen 3000 CPUs it hasn’t released, though, and the first hints of the new 12-core 24-thread Ryzen 9 3900 came with the company’s recent introduction of its PRO series. But we know a consumer version, likely with the exact same specifications as the PRO model, is coming to market, and after a quick word with a vendor, we now have the Ryzen 9 3900 and have already set a few world records.

The power-saving version of the Ryzen 9 3900X has a staggeringly low TDP of 65W. To achieve this, the processor runs at a lower base and boost speed, but otherwise, it is the same as its “X” counterpart. Like all Ryzen models, it is a fully unlocked CPU, meaning overclocking is on the menu, and has the same cache capacity and hierarchy as its bigger, faster brother, the Ryzen 9 3900X that sucks down a whopping 105W.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

AMD Ryzen CPUs to Get Plenty of Microcode Improvements

According to the finds of Planet 3DNow, owners of AMD's Ryzen CPUs will receive a new microcode update said to feature many performance fixes and improvements that bring additional features. Dubbed as AGESA 1.0.0.4, new microcode improvement should bring over 100 new features that don't just include bug fixes and such, but rather additional features that owners of Ryzen CPUs will appreciate.

Leaked by MSI's "Insider Show" YouTube series host Eric Van Beurden, he revealed that new microcode will arrive next month after getting tested by motherboard manufacturers for stability and compatibility with existing models of motherboards. Unfortunately, Van Beurden didn't reveal anything specific about what features will be present with the new AGESA microcode update, however we can expect to see plenty of new additions, and possibly higher CPU performance that further firmware optimizations bring.

Read full article @ techPowerUp

ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 Review

ASRock is back with one of the hippest X570 motherboards I have seen to date, it is the ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 and as you can guess from its name, this puppy offers an ITX form factor, you house some of the best features of X570. Also, it is one of the faster motherboards for your Ryzen Generation 3 processor while offering PCIe Gen 4.0 and AX Wifi.

AMD has been going strong over the past year, rattling all the cages with an Intel logo on them. From top to bottom they have been able to compete with Intel. With Zen2 (codename 'Matisse') AMD is introducing a new line of processors starting at hexacore processors in the entry-level to mainstream segment (yeah, you read that right), eight and twelve cores for the mainstream to high-end, and up to 16-core Ryzen processors for the enthusiast level. It is batpoop crazy when you think about what AMD has accomplished in, what has it been, two years time? Sure, the initial ZEN Ryzen processors had a bit of a rocky launch with the inter-core latency discussion, 1080p gaming performance as well as memory support. But the tide turned with each month that passed, and over time more and more people would actually consider an AMD processor-based PC for their next purchase.

Read full article @ The Guru of 3D

CORSAIR Hydro X Series XD5 Pump/Reservoir Combo Review

We began our coverage of CORSAIR's Hydro X series of custom watercooling products with the XC9 CPU water block in July, and last month saw the review of the Hydro X XG7 GPU block. I had brought up then that there would be more articles continuing down this path, and here we are as threatened! This time, we move away from the water blocks and on to something more universal and just as critical to a PC custom watercooling loop with the Hydro X Series XD5 pump/reservoir combo unit. A two-in-one of sorts, we thanks CORSAIR again for sending along a review sample to TechPowerUp!

Given it continues the trend of very long product names, I am henceforth using "Hydro XD5 pump/reservoir combo" for CORSAIR's first open loop pump and reservoir, if only to save my fingers a touch. That aside, the name shows that the excellent Xylem D5 pump is used, which is still the go-to recommendation for a pump with a great balance of a quiet operation, high flow performance, and reliable longevity. The reservoir itself uses the rectangular cuboid shape with more pronounced edges instead of sharp corners, a design move that has become popular recently with several manufacturers, including Watercool and Swiftech going with thick borosilicate glass. Looking to continue their attempt at providing more user and cost-friendly products, CORSAIR has gone with polished nylon instead. We will go over this and more in the review beginning with a look at the specifications below.

Read full article @ TechPowerUp

Creative Stage Bluetooth Sound Bar with Subwoofer Review

I’ll never forget the first home theater system I set up in my living room. This was when smart TVs were first a thing. Now, in place of going to the movies, we could watch movies in the comfort of our own home on a 75″ screen with 5.1 Dolby surround sound. However, with streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu now being available in the palm of your hand, the need for these elaborate home theater systems are far less than they were even 10 years ago. Even news and other programs are no longer watched on a television in the living room. Instead, we use other devices, such as phones and computers. But even though we now consume most of our content on our phones, PCs and other devices, why should we have to deal with earbuds, headphones or terrible built-in speaks? If you ask the people over at Creative, they’ll say we don’t.

Introducing the Creative Stage 2.1 channel Bluetooth soundbar with subwoofer. The Creative Stage can be used in several different ways and with several different devices. With the ability to be used through Bluetooth, Optical, AUX, and ARC through your TV, the Creative Stage is a very versatile soundbar. This lightweight, remote control soundbar is designed to mount under any monitor or a TV and puts out a total system peak power of 160 watts. So, we put the Creative Stage through several real-world tests to see how well it stands up to other audio solutions.

Read full article @ Modders-Inc

D-Link COVR 2202 Tri-Band WiFi Mesh System Review

A while back we took a look at D-Link's first foray into mesh networking and were left impressed with the performance. Since then many competitors have upped their game and so too has D-Link. Recently they sent over the D-Link COVR 2202 which is an AC2200 Tri-band mesh network. The inclusion of the extra 5GHz channel as a dedicated backhaul should make a
significant improvement in my Wi-Fi, so let's see how this actually stacks up.

Read full article @ Bigbruin.com

Gears 5 Review

When I, and probably everyone else, think of Gears of War, the first thing that comes to mind is just how badass Marcus Fenix is. The dude was a wrecking ball throughout the original trilogy. Even though another man bearing the Fenix name is the main protagonist in Gears of War 4, Marcus still finds a way to steal the show. Now, with Gears 4 under their belt, developer The Coalition was ready to mix things up a bit with Gears 5.

Read full article @ MMORPG

NZXT H500 Vault Boy PC Chassis Review

This the special variant from NZXT- the H500 Vault Boy Limited Edition where they’ve made 1,000 units of these. Apart from the Fallout 4 theme, it is the H500 essentially. This is a compact mid-tower PC case. NZXT started making case for a while- and I owned one of them imported from Directron- the NZXT Nemesis Elite Edition. Fun times!

The H500 does not have a front panel ventilation. While I appreciate its minimalistic design, many would love to see NZXT cases providing front mesh for direct airflow. While this will always be a subject of debate depending on the case and the build (and the user’s preference), NZXT cases are preferred by multiple system builders. PCPartsPicker lists its white and black variant right on the top, with maximum number of 5 stars votes for the Fractal Meshify-C.

Read full article @ Hardware BBQ

Patriot P200 1TB SATA3 SSD Review

Mid-July Patriot announced its P200 SATA SSD, intended as a storage solution based on a value price positioning. We had the opportunity to test the 1TB model. This SATA SSD was built with SMI 2258XT or a Maxio MAS0902A controller. The P200 is an SSD with a storage capacity of 256GB / 512GB / 1TB or 2TB. The drive uses SATA and, according to the manufacturer, this series achieves read speeds of up to 530 MB/s and write speeds of up to 460 MB/s. The TBW values for this SSD are between 160 TB for the 256 GB version, and up to 1000 TB for the 2 TB version. It’s a budget offer (the 1 TB version is sold for about 110 USD). At first glance – it looks like a good choice for gamers or just people looking for a cheap replacement of HDD

“The P200 series is available in capacities ranging up to 2 TB meeting current market demands for more storage options. Featuring the latest SMI 2258XT series controller (256-1 TB with 2258XT, 2 TB with Maxio controller), Patriot's P200 achieves speedy transfer speeds of up to 530 MB/s Read, and 460 MB/s Write, improving your system's performance. With its low profile and compact design, P200's 7 mm thickness will fit into any system seamlessly while reserving extra space on the motherboard trays for better air circulation and cable management.”

Read full article @ The Guru of 3D

Patriot Viper VP4100 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD Review

Our excitement stems from the fact that potential performance gains offered by PCIe Gen4 can be immediately realized with PCIe Gen4 SSDs. The same cannot be said for Gen4 graphics cards that use the next gen bus, because current graphic cards do not even fully exploit the full bandwidth of PCIe Gen3 x16. Consumer NVMe SSDs are another story altogether. Because consumer NVMe SSDs typically use 4 PCIe lanes, it has not taken long for most flagship SSDs to be able completely saturate the PCIe Gen3 x4 interface with sequential performance. We've been stuck at a maximum of about 3,600 MB/s sequential performance for well over a year now because of the limited bandwidth available from a PCIe Gen3 x4 interface.

Read full article @ TweakTown

Phanteks Enthoo Luxe 2 Review

Phanteks is back with the Enthoo Luxe 2 - and Leo loves it!

The original Phanteks Enthoo Luxe was one of the first reviews I wrote for KitGuru back in 2014, so it is clear that Luxe 2 has had a long period of development. In essence Phanteks has taken the principle of the original Luxe, added in the dual-system function of the Mini XL from 2016 and then topped it off with the aesthetic of the Phanteks Elite from 2017. The headline news with the Luxe 2 is that it supports dual systems (provided one is Mini-ITX), allows you to install a huge array of cooling and a practically unlimited number of hard drives and SSDs.

Read full article @ KitGuru

The 10 Best iOS 13 Features You Should Try Out

In September 2019, Apple finally rolled out its highly anticipated iOS 13 and iOS 13.1 updates to millions of iPhone users across the globe. And as with every major iOS refresh, theres a barrage of exciting new features and changes designed to further perfect Apples mobile OS formula. In this article, well take a look at the very best of the new features you should take advantage of in iOS 13. 1. Dark Mode The long-awaited Dark Mode has finally arrived in Apples latest software update.

Read full article @ MakeUseOf

Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB Memory DDR4-3200MHz 16GB Kit Review

Today, we’ll be taking a quick look at the Thermaltake Toughram RGB Memory – DDR4-3200 16GB Kit. These memory kits are Intel XMP 2.0 ready and come in as a pair of 8Gb modules. They’re rated to run at DDR4-3200 speeds with a memory timing of 16-18-18-38 @ 1.35V.

A few months ago we reviewed the WaterRAM RGB Liquid Cooling Memory, which was Thermaltake’s first attempt in delivering performance memory for the watercooling enthusiasts. They performed satisfactorily based on its speed, price and features. The RGB waterblock gave it a unique design and feature, that no other memory manufacturer offered. However, the memory modules itself did not have RGB integrated but relied on the RGB waterblock.

Read full article @ FunkyKit

Ultimate Hacking Keyboard Review

It's unique keyboard week here at MMORPG! Well, not quite, but that won't stop us from bringing you another interesting keyboard following yesterday's Planck EZ. Today, we're looking at the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. It features a sixty-percent split layout, huge programmability, full mouse control, and innovative thumb modules so you never need to take your hands from home row. The price? $275. Is it worth it? Let's dive in and find out.

Read full article @ MMORPG

V-Color Prism II RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3600MHz Memory Review

V-Color entered the gaming memory market in 2013 and entered the North American sales market in 2014. In recent years they have started to make a name for themselves by offering good quality memory modules at rock bottom prices. Their newest DDR4 memory kit, PRISM II RGB, has gotten a fair bit of attention as it is often the lowest priced DDR4 RGB kit on popular retailers like Amazon.com.

For example, the V-Color PRISM II RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 kit is available for $79.99 shipped. If you want something a little faster you can step up to the V-Color PRISM II RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 kit for $88.99 shipped.

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

WD My Passport 5TB DAS Review

Cost-conscious consumers with bulk storage requirements need to rely on hard drives. On the portable front, HDD vendors have been using 2.5" drives in external bus-powered enclosures to serve the market. Seagate was the first vendor to put out a 5TB portable bus-powered drive, and Western Digital recently introduced a slew of 5TB models of their own. Similar to Seagate, Western Digital has also adopted SMR platters for their portable hard drives over the last couple of generations. Today, we take a look at features and characteristics of the WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive.

Read full article @ Anandtech