Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

A Visit to Atomic Filament
ABOX Qi Wireless Charging Stand Review
ADATA XPG Z1 DDR4-4600 16GB Dual-Channel Memory Kit Review
AMD Ryzen 7 2700 3.2 GHz Review
AMD Ryzen 7 2700 CPU Review
Antec Mercury 240 AIO Liquid Cooler Review
ASRock AB350M Pro4 (AM4) Motherboard Review
City of Brass Xbox One Review
Cooler Master Mastercase H500P Mesh Review
DJMax Respect (PS4 Pro) Review
German IT Distributor Publishes AMD+Intel Roadmaps: Z490, Z390, 8-Core CFL in Q4
Icy Dock MB524SP-B FlexiDock Review
In Win 101C and Polaris RGB Fans Review
Intel Optane SSD 905P Review
Intel Z390 to support existing Coffee Lake S CPUs
Macrium Reflect 7 Review
MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon Review
Nerdytec Couchmaster Cycon Ergonomic Tech Seating Review
Neverwinter Companions Guide for Support Classes
Noontec TerraMaster F4-420 4-Bay NAS Review
Onyx Boox Max 2 13.3" Tablet Review
Raijintek Orcus 240 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC Hi-Res Gaming Audio System Review
The Acer Swift 3 SF315-41 Review: Ryzen Meets Laptop

A Visit to Atomic Filament

A few weeks back while visiting SeeMeCNC to pick up my new Artemis I had an interesting opportunity pop up. You see last year when SeeMeCNC moved to a much larger building Atomic Filament moved from California into the same building. Well, they invited me (and my wife) over to check out their setup. This in itself is interesting, I’ve never seen filament being made, but what a lot of people don’t know is Atomic Filament is basically the Area 51 of the printing community. They are known for extremely high-quality filament, but to protect that they are very careful on who can come visit.

Read full article @ LanOC Reviews

ABOX Qi Wireless Charging Stand Review

There comes a time in everybody’s life at which you get fed up of the amounts of cables you have lying around your house; cables to charge your phones, cables to charge your camera, cables to connect your camera to your computer, etc. etc. etc. I do a big house clean every so often, and one the most hated chores is cable-tidying….which normally turns out to be shoving all cables that are in plain view to the backside of the desktop or drawers where they inevitably gather dust.

Qi wireless charging has been around for a good few years now, utilised by many Android smartphones, so when FunkyKit was offered to test the ABOX Qi wireless charging stand, we thought it would be just like any other of the wireless chargers we have.

Read full article @ FunkyKit

ADATA XPG Z1 DDR4-4600 16GB Dual-Channel Memory Kit Review

It wasn't until a fellow reviewer at TweakTown asked me a few questions on whether or not some new DDR4 he had requested for testing would work, which I was made aware of the existence of what we are looking at today. Initially, the question asked was if 4600MHz RAM would work with an 8700K clocked to 5.2GHz. After much discussion in general terms, curiosity prevailed, and the question was asked as to which kit he was attempting this. Much to our surprise, he had gotten his hands-on some ADATA sticks that were not even in existence on the XPG product page.

So after an email or two, we got our hands-on a kit, so that we could see what was possible, as the only other set of DDR4 we have tested at this speed was sent to us by Corsair. Once the memory arrived at our door, we found that they are so new, that retail packaging was not included, just two sticks, well protected, inside of a cardboard box. With a bit of deductive reasoning, we concluded this ADATA XPG memory is from the Z1 series based on the red, uniquely shaped, heat spreader design. With this series, ADATA does describe things which will benefit the buyer, but what we find most important is their mention of the usage of more copper in the PCB for more stable transfer of data, but also the cooling effect that comes along with it. ADATA also mentions the use of top-quality ICs, and what we found on the PCBs proves they went for the best of the best.

Read full article @ TweakTown

AMD Ryzen 7 2700 3.2 GHz Review

The Ryzen 7 2700 is the cheaper, sub-$300 sibling of the flagship 2700X, and has nothing disabled on-die. It even comes with an unlocked multiplier, and nearly half the TDP rating, which makes it the most energy-efficient processor we ever tested in multi-threaded workloads.

The Ryzen 7 2700 that we review today is based on AMD's new 12 nm "Pinnacle Ridge" silicon, which for all intents and purposes, is AMD's answer to Intel's 8th generation Core "Coffee Lake" processor family. This silicon implements the company's "Zen+" architecture, which is an incremental update to "Zen," rather than a major architectural revision. The 12 nanometer process allows AMD to lower voltages, and use it to crank up clock speeds. It also presents the company with an opportunity to improve the on-die "SenseMI" logic, with updates to Precision Boost and XFR, that more efficiently increase clock speeds of the processor in response to multi-threaded workloads.

Read full article @ TechPowerUp

AMD Ryzen 7 2700 CPU Review

It is time to have a look at the non-X model Ryzen 7 2700. This eight-core processor is 30 bucks cheaper compared to the 2700X model, it also frees itself from a 105W TDP, as the 2700 runs a 65 Watt TDP only. The essence, heck even the hardware is the same, however, the 2700 is clocked substantially lower and the X models are better binned and has better default clock frequencies. If you are willing to tweak a bit yourself, you can save cash and retrieve the very same performance. The Ryzen 7 2700 has eight-cores and sixteen threads priced pretty at just 299 USD, a pretty looking value price. But is it the better piece of silicon for proper threading and gaming? Well, let's find out!

AMD has been going strong the past year, rattling all the cages with an Intel logo on it. From top to bottom they have been able to compete with Intel, introducing quad-core processors in the entry-level segment, six and eight-core for the mainstream, and up to 16-core processors with Ryzen Threadripper at the enthusiast level PCs. It has been a year already ever since AMD launched the first generation Ryzen processors. It had a bit of a rocky launch with the inter-core latency discussion a 1080p gaming performance as well as memory support. But the tide definitely turned for AMD as more and more people are considering to purchase an AMD processor-based PC, for their next purchase. The memory compatibility issues are mostly all gone, of course, we'll look at game performance in this article as well. But yes, things are looking good.

Read full article @ The Guru of 3D

Antec Mercury 240 AIO Liquid Cooler Review

When it comes to system cooling, Antec is probably not one of the first names that would could to mind. In fairness, there is a reason for that. Although Antec has produced a number of coolers over the years, they are perhaps best known for their power supplies. They do, of course, produce other things as well, but you get the idea. It doesn’t help when they also limit themselves to solely producing AIO liquid coolers.

Given their somewhat limited cooler range, we haven’t had much call to review them. That is until Antec released the Mercury 240 cooling system. This cooler operates with a double fan radiator. In addition, Antec has also in the series provided a much larger pump-block to allow for a more efficient liquid coolant flow.

Read full article @ eTeknix

ASRock AB350M Pro4 (AM4) Motherboard Review

Thanks to ASRock, we’ll be taking a look at the ASRock AB350M Pro4 Motherboard. This motherboard comes in a micro-ATX form factor and features AMD’s B350 chipset, suitable for all Ryzen processors (AM4 socket), including their newest APUs

A couple of months ago, AMD launched their newest APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) in the form of the Ryzen 5 2400G with integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics. This is was a real game changer. Yes, that’s right … Radeon RX Vega graphics built right into chip!

Read full article @ FunkyKit

City of Brass Xbox One Review

Can you make it to the end?

City of Brass is a first-person "rogue-lite" game which puts you in the shoes of a thief trying to acquire a fabled treasure in the heart of a city. The title is inspired by the Arabian Nights as it takes place in what appears to be an ancient Persian metropolis. The titular "City of Brass" was undone by its love of gold and buried beneath the sands. However, through the power of a magical amulet and genie, it resurfaces once more.

Read full article @ Windows Central

Cooler Master Mastercase H500P Mesh Review

Companies are constantly coming up with new ways to dispel that heat and ensure those massive gaming systems are ice cold. Cooler Master has presented us with one of their latest innovations that will help solve this problem, The Cooler Master Mastercase H500P Mesh. With its Brushed Medium Grey color, the H500P is an elegant and seemingly simple case. Don’t be fooled! This Mid Tower case has so many different cooling configurations, it will be hard for the average builder to decide which to use. Let’s see if we can cover a few of those configurations as we discuss the H500P Mesh!

The Cooler Master Mastercase H500P Mesh arrives in a black box with the typical information you see. Where you may notice a bit of a difference from many case boxes is how they describe the features of the H500P. Instead of a block diagram of the features, they have written them into a great paragraph on the back.

Read full article @ Modders-Inc

DJMax Respect (PS4 Pro) Review

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Pentavision has returned from development hell to bring fans one last hurrah for a rhythm series that has endured since the days of the PlayStation Portable. DJ Max Portable, while in a similar mold as that of Konami’s Beatmania series, has retained its own identity as a masterclass rhythm series filled with a diverse range of Korean club hits across a wide range of musical genres. While Pentavision themselves may no longer exist, the studio has reformed into Neowiz and brought the band back together for a lasting tribute to the dozen-plus years of DJ Max. In a fitting name of tribute for the first PS4 release of the DJ Max series, DJMax Respect celebrates those years when Korean rhythm games were able to gain a foothold in an ever-growing Japanese arcade market.

Read full article @ Wccftech

German IT Distributor Publishes AMD+Intel Roadmaps: Z490, Z390, 8-Core CFL in Q4

With Computex just around the corner, a lot of thought is being put to exactly what are we expecting to see at the show. There are questions about AMD’s next generation Threadripper parts, and when Intel is going to launch the Z390 chipset whose name has been floating around for a number of months now. Due to a video published online by bluechip Computer, an IT Distributor based in Germany, some more information is starting to come through.

The 30 minute presentation posted to YouTube was a webinar hosted for its business partners. In the video they go through what the rest of 2018 should look like from AMD and Intel, particularly when it comes to chipset offerings. Normally this information is held under NDA until launch, but companies like these will often brief their commercial partners in advance of new products and platforms. Typically this info is also under NDA, but the video was posted to YouTube.

Read full article @ Anandtech

Icy Dock MB524SP-B FlexiDock Review

Who doesn't know it? Programs and games are getting bigger and bigger but there is no more room for additional SSDs in the case. The Icy Dock FlexiDock MB524SP-B should help. This is a mobile rack that offers up to four 2.5-inch drives in a 5.25-inch bay. How and if this works well, we show on OCinside.de in the following review.

The Icy Dock FlexiDock MB524SP-B comes in a chic but plain cardboard box. A 3D barcode decorates the lower area and refers to the manufacturer’s side.

Read full article @ OCinside.de

In Win 101C and Polaris RGB Fans Review

Your case is the first thing people see when looking at your PC. However, it’s often the part of the system people put the least emphasis on since it has no effect on performance. This is true; however, it has a huge effect on the overall aesthetic of your build. With so many companies producing cases, it’s hard to know where to start. I usually recommend starting with a company that has a good reputation in the community. There are few companies that have that kind of reputation for beautiful, high-quality builds such as In Win, makers of the very popular 909. Most people equate In Win with expensive cases such as the D-Frame and the Winbot. Although In Win is widely known for making some of the most unique, and expensive cases, they also make quite a few budget-oriented cases with the same style and quality In Win is known for.

Read full article @ Modders-Inc

Intel Optane SSD 905P Review

Intel is upping the ante in the enthusiast storage space again, with a brand-new 3D Xpoint-based drive called the Optane SSD 905P. As its name implies, the Optane SSD 905P isn’t a major departure from the Optane SSD 900P that was released a few month back, but Intel was worked a bit of magic to improve performance in a few ways. Peak capacity of the drive has also been doubled, and a new, edgier design language makes a debut – complete with integrated lighting.

We put the Intel Optane SSD 905P through a battery of benchmarks on our updated test bed and have our results laid out for you on the pages ahead, but before we dig in, let’s cover some specs and take a quick tour of the drive. As a precaution, you’ll probably want to hide your credit card and temporarily lock your PayPal account...

Read full article @ HotHardware

Intel Z390 to support existing Coffee Lake S CPUs

We finally have a confirmation of Z390 chipset supporting existing Coffee Lake S CPUs. SuperMicro Z390 This is the first trace of SuperMicro's upcoming Z390 motherboard (C9Z390-CG-IW). What is particularly interesting about this leak is the fact that this motherboard was equipped with Core i7-8700T processor, the low-power 6-core CPU already available in stores. Update: we also have a proof of Z390 supporting Core i7-8700K (added below). This means that Z390 will support both upcoming 8-core and existing 6-core 8th Gen Core CPUs. In other words, the Z390 has the same LGA1151 socket as other 300-series motherboards.

Read full article @ VideoCardz.com

Macrium Reflect 7 Review

Backup is in the eye of the disk holder. Today, we have a long, thorough review of Macrium Reflect 7, a free system imaging software for Windows, covering setup and installation, backup, clone and restore options, backup procedure, bootable rescue media creation, restore from live Windows PE image on BIOS/UEFI hardware and redeployment test in a virtual machine, editable XML configuration files, scripting, scheduling, many other features, and more. Have fun.

Read full article @ Dedoimedo

MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon Review

The MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon is capable of overclocking and was able to deliver a final overclock of 4000MHz on my Ryzen 7 1800X. The rub is that you are limited to multiplier-only overclocking for the CPU cores. This puts my chip at a slight disadvantage as it can run just about everything short of 4100MHz. With the latest BIOS updates, running 3000MHz plus memory speeds really is not a problem and helps drive system performance up as memory speeds increase. Most of this is possible thanks to MSI knuckling down and building a solid board using its Military Class VRM and DDR4 Boost packages.

Read full article @ OCC

Nerdytec Couchmaster Cycon Ergonomic Tech Seating Review

As a frequent couch keyboard, mouse and laptop user I always put my devices on my lap or a couch cushion. A lap or couch cushion is not the most ergonomic solution but readily available. The nerdytec COUCHMASTER Cycon retails for $149.00. It is an intriguing lap desk concept to solve the ergonomics of marathon computer and gaming sessions.

Read full article @ MissingRemote

Neverwinter Companions Guide for Support Classes

It can be confusing to select companions if you play a support class. DPS classes are pretty straightforward: choose companions that boost your damage output. However, support roles can be a bit more confusing. The main idea is to choose companions that either buff your party, debuff the enemy, or boost your stats that contribute to your support role. This list is going to include the companion names, Active Bonus, and relevant buff powers.

Read full article @ OCC

Noontec TerraMaster F4-420 4-Bay NAS Review

It has been a while since we had a look at one of TerraMaster‘s NAS devices, so it’s nice to have another one in the office. Today I’m taking a closer look at the F4-420 (Product Link) which is a 4-bay NAS powered by a quad-core Intel processor. That’s already a great base for anything, and the OS has also evolved since our last review.

TerraMaster’s F4-420 is built with an Intel Celeron J1900 (Bay-Trail) processor. It is a quad-core processor with 2GHz and a 10W TDP. That makes it perfect for NAS usage. With 4 cores, you’re free to multi-task with multiple services without the risk of one thread blocking another. At the same time, the low TDP keeps the temperature low while also offering power efficiency and low running costs. TerraMaster also gave the F4-420 4GB DDR3 memory, which again, allows for a lot of things to run simultaneously. Whether you’re developing your websites on it, running intranet features, an email server, or use it for media streaming, it should handle it all with ease.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Onyx Boox Max 2 13.3" Tablet Review

E Ink is one of those initially promising technologies that ultimately has lived a bit of a disappointing life. After the introduction of the original E-reader devices such as the Amazon Kindle, we were promised a future of all signage being replaced with readable, but electronically controllable E Ink displays. Even color E Ink displays teased us with very limited product rollouts.

However, E Ink has not been a magical cure-all. Lower demand and more difficult production methods mean that the cost of these displays remains much higher than other commodity technologies like LCD. Additionally, even though E Ink has substantially improved from the first E Ink displays, refreshing the display remains a slow process and a deal breaker for applications such as notebooks and tablets.

Read full article @ PC Perspective

Raijintek Orcus 240 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

We’ve mentioned it before and it’s still true today, the AiO market is jammed full with competition making innovation a struggle for even the most experienced Engineers and R&D teams. Enter the Raijintek Orcus 240 all in one liquid cooler. Immediately you notice the cylindrical device attached to the tubing and know that something is different here. While most companies are sticking with the tried and true pump on block combo the German designed and Thai built Orcus 240 (thank you Raijintek for the simple name) took the pump and placed it externally on the tubing. This left space for a reservoir/flow meter on top of the block and of course you also find RGB leds everywhere. No doubt innovation was at the top of the bill for this cooler, but let’s find out what that nets Raijintek in terms of performance, ease of use, and quality.

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC Hi-Res Gaming Audio System Review

After finishing up with the hardware setup, we have started using the system in the regular PC mode; The Forest game is quite atmospheric and the Arctis Pro can assist with its optimized drivers in order to deliver an interesting experience. Next, we did try Mad Max and the large 40mm drivers were able to deliver good lows so the engine sounds and gunshots were represented well, which were a pleasure to listen at higher volumes.

After switching the GameDAC to the Hi-Res Mode, we have done some research and found out that there is not a lot of 24/96 audio material out there. You would be in luck if you do own a Tidal subscription or you can search 24-bit FLACs in order to benefit from the capabilities of the ESS Sabre 9018 Reference DAC. HDtracks contains a wide variety of albums that can be purchased for later playback at high resolution.

Read full article @ Mad Shrimps

The Acer Swift 3 SF315-41 Review: Ryzen Meets Laptop

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a chance to review a laptop powered by an AMD CPU, but Acer has now launched the Acer Swift 3 powered by Ryzen Mobile, and we’ve got a chance to look at one. AMD has had a tough run in the laptop space over the last couple of years, but with the release of Ryzen in 2017, they are hoping to turn their fortunes around. But a big part of that will be having their partners package Ryzen into laptops that are of high quality, so that’s where Acer comes in.

Read full article @ Anandtech