Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

Acer ED273 27in Monitor Review
Acer Predator Helios 500 Review
Acer Swift 7 Laptop Review
Adata XPG Spectrix D80 DDR4-3600 16GB (2x 8GB) Memory Review
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Processor Review
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX CPU-Z screenshot leaks out
Asus ROG Strix GL12 Review
Asus TUF X470-Plus Gaming Review
Buffalo TeraStation 5810DN 8-Bay 32TB Preloaded NAS Review
Can ENHANCE's Desktop Duo Bring Quality Mechanical at Consumer Price Points?
Corsair CX450 PSU Review
Crucial MX500 1TB 2.5" 3D NAND SSD Review
Enermax RevoBron 700W Power Supply Review
Flexispot Electric Height Adjustable Desk (E2) Review
Fractal Design Focus G Mini Review
GTX 1060 6GB vs the RX 580 8GB vs the GTX 980 4GB revisited
HP ZBook 15u G5 Review
ID-Cooling Dashflow 240 Review
Lian Li Strimer Review
MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC & Tomahawk Review
Samsung 860 EVO 1 TB SSD Review
StarTech USB-C Docking Station Review
Tesoro Gram XS Keyboard Review
Tested: One of the Best-Selling (No Brand) Gaming Monitors on Amazon
WarioWare Gold Review

Acer ED273 27in Monitor Review

Curved screens used to cost a considerable amount of money, so it’s surprising to see Acer’s ED273 deliver its curvature in 27in form for around £170. Lots of 27in screens are more expensive than this even without the curve – so this is already a potential bargain.

This isn’t a member of the Predator gaming range, however. It has a few benefits for that type of user, but it’s not specifically aimed at gamers. The 27in diagonal is home to a Full HD VA panel, rather than the 2,560 x 1,440 resolution that is frequently found at this screen size. The VA technology generally provides great contrast, but has other drawbacks.

In particular, the response is just 4ms grey-to-grey, although this is normal for VA and IPS panels, with only TN usually being faster. Acer itself claims an immense 100,000,000:1 contrast, but this will be with dynamic contrast enabled, and we’ve seen a more believable 3,000:1 mentioned by unofficial sources. The brightness level is a fairly minimal 250cd/m2.

Read full article @ KitGuru

Acer Predator Helios 500 Review

The Acer Predator Helios 500 is a massive gaming notebook that’s easy to overclock and upgrade, but its display could be a little brighter.

There’s no doubt about it, the Predator Helios 500 is a full-on desktop replacement. It’s a chunky beast, but at least it’s an attractive one. Gone are the blacks and reds of last year’s Helios; this model has a dark blue aesthetic. The dark blue plastic top case has two subtle stripes around the Predator logo in silver with a teal outline. On the back, two vents jut out with massive grilles and blue fans.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Acer Swift 7 Laptop Review

Yes, the Acer Swift 7 is the world’s thinnest laptop, and it manages good battery life. But its svelte styling comes with a last-gen CPU, a touchpad with no click, and an oddly jumbled keyboard.

Acer says its Swift 7 ($1,699.99) is the thinnest laptop in the world, at less than 0.4 inches and, holding it in our hands, we don’t doubt the company’s claims. The design is incredibly impressive and almost impossibly sleek, it gets long long battery life and offers 4G LTE capability, but there are myriad trade-offs to consider.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Adata XPG Spectrix D80 DDR4-3600 16GB (2x 8GB) Memory Review

Adata’s stunning “Liquid Cool” D80 covers match the hype, but can its DDR4-3600 specs match its rivals?

The flashiest memory model from Adata, XPG Spectrix D80 uses a liquid capsule at the top to create some of the appearance of liquid cooling without all the extra plumbing. Adata calls it “liquid cool,” and these cool looks are matched with enhanced timings at data rates from DDR4-2666 to DDR4-3600. The kit we examined performed very well in four-DIMM configurations, but its mediocre two-DIMM performance is undermined by availability issues that force U.S. buyers to buy two twin-packs in order to achieve a performance level that matches those good looks.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Processor Review

This past year has been a real exciting one for processors. Before AMD launched their original Ryzen processors they were basically written off and dominated in the CPU world by Intel. AMD changed all of that with Ryzen, which proved to be one of the most exciting product launches in AMD history. It gave real competition to Intel in mainstream desktop space, so much so that Intel rushed out their “Coffee Lake” chips which came with increased core counts. At that time Intel remained on top with their 6-core, 12-thread Core i7-8700K, but today we are still going to see if that remains true. We have the new flagship AMD Ryzen 7 2700X which is a 8-core, 16-thread part which retails for only $329. Will this be the new king in the mainstream desktop platform? Read on as we find out!

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX CPU-Z screenshot leaks out

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX up to 4.1 GHz Today we have a CPU-Z screengrab showing Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX processor running on MSI's X399 MEG Creation, which was first showcased at Computex. A source, which provided the material, claims that chip shown in the photograph was provided by AMD (it is probably safe to assume this is a review sample or production sample provided to motherboard makers). According to the source the screenshot showcases Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX boosting up to 4.1 GHz (Precision Boost mode). We are yet in the process of confirming what W stands for in the model name.

Read full article @ VideoCardz.com

Asus ROG Strix GL12 Review

The Asus ROG Strix GL12 is an esports-ready PC with lots of ports and an attractive design, but it’s pricey for its specs.

Asus’ new desktop is competition ready. The $1,449.00 ROG Strix GL12 is built for esports first, with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) GPU, a factory-overclocked Intel Core i7-8700K and a swappable SSD bay to quickly add new files or games that are too big to fit on your boot drive. It has loads of easily accessible ports for all of your peripherals, too. But that CPU may be overkill for esports games, which drives up the price a bit. Asus has also weighed down the desktop with bloatware that you’ll want to get rid of before gaming.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Asus TUF X470-Plus Gaming Review

Can Asus' value-focused TUF X470-Plus Gaming set the pace for the TUF Alliance on AMD's updated Ryzen platform?

On the surface, the Asus TUF X470-Plus Gaming looks to be a low-end board with Asus branding slapped onto it. Fortunately, the frugal facade is misleading, as this TUF motherboard performs quite well in all but one metric, making it a good overall product and a great foundation for an AMD-based TUF Alliance gaming build.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Buffalo TeraStation 5810DN 8-Bay 32TB Preloaded NAS Review

Today, I’m welcoming a new brand into our NAS review category: Buffalo. Buffalo has been on the market with storage solutions for a very long time, but this is the first of their NAS devices I have the pleasure to test and review. And what a start it is. The TeraStation 5810DN (product link) is quite the impressive device with 10GbE capabilities and a quad-core processor. It also comes pre-loaded with drives in various configurations, from 16TB to 64TB raw capacity.

To some people, a NAS pre-loaded with drives is a good thing, to others, it’s a bad thing. To me, it’s neutral. There are ups and downs to both sides. Since this NAS comes with drives loaded, let’s focus on the benefits of that.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Can ENHANCE's Desktop Duo Bring Quality Mechanical at Consumer Price Points?

ENHANCE Gaming releases a refresh on their mechanical keyboard line up with the MMO/MOBA-geared THEOREM and the FPS-tuned SCORIA keyboards. We got our hands on the pair in order to answer a simple question: Can ENHANCE get the precision of mechanical keyboards onto more desks with their track record of affordability and options? Let's find out.

Read full article @ MMORPG

Corsair CX450 PSU Review

Corsair's CX450 is built by two OEMs: CWT and Great Wall. Is one better than the other? We tested both to find out.

Corsair's budget-oriented CX450 is unique in that it's manufactured by two different OEMs--Great Wall and Channel Well Technology (CWT)--each of which uses a distinct platform. The only way to tell them apart is by their RPS numbers, reference designators given to each model. Both configurations share the CX450's principal weakness: fixed cables. However, they both utilize modern platforms featuring LLC resonant converters and voltage regulation modules, along with high-quality fans.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Crucial MX500 1TB 2.5" 3D NAND SSD Review

Crucial was hard at work in creating the successor to the MX300 SSD, aptly named the MX500. Whereas the MX300 showcased Micron's 32-layer 3D NAND flash memory, the MX500 showcases Micron's latest 64-layer 3D NAND flash memory, and this has enabled Crucial to increase the warranty length on the new MX500 to 5-years, instead of the 3-years offered on the MX300. I always tell people that a SSD is arguably the best single upgrade one can make for their computer. So without further ado, let's take a look at the Crucial MX500 1TB SSD and see what improvements Crucial have managed to achieve.

Read full article @ ModSynergy.com

Enermax RevoBron 700W Power Supply Review

The Enermax RevoBron 700W is a computer power supply that looks to satisfy those of us not looking to spend an arm and a leg on PSUs. It saves us a few dollars in that it is Bronze level efficiency and semi-modular. For $90 however, it is chock full of cool features, and if it shows to be a good PSU, it may be very well worth the price.

Read full article @ HardOCP

Flexispot Electric Height Adjustable Desk (E2) Review

Are you in the market for a new desk? Flexispot might just have the answer for you with their Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk. Featuring a classy, clean look, it's big enough for virtually any gamer but is the ability to stand worth $399? Read on for our full review to find out!

Read full article @ MMORPG

Fractal Design Focus G Mini Review

The Fractal Design Focus G Mini is the smaller of two cases within the Focus family. They are both geared towards system integrators and DIY builders who want an affordable case with the quality and feature set that Fractal Design is known for.

Read full article @ TechPowerUp

GTX 1060 6GB vs the RX 580 8GB vs the GTX 980 4GB revisited

It’s been over two years since BTR last compared the RX 480 8GB versus the GTX 1060 6GB, and versus the GTX 980 4GB. Originally when the GTX 1060 launched, it was slower than the GTX 980, but faster than the RX 480. However, within a year, the RX 480 almost caught up to the GTX 1060 in performance. Since then AMD has re-released the RX 480 with slightly faster clocks as the RX 580, and it has surpassed the GTX 1060 overall in performance. But what about today?

For this retro evaluation, we are going to test our Gigabyte RX 480 8GB G1 Gaming Edition, now overclocked to stock RX 580 speeds, against our EVGA GTX 1060 6GB SC edition downclocked to stock Founders Editions speeds, and against our Founders Edition of the GTX 980 4GB to see if anything has changed. Since the RX 480 and the RX 580 are identical cards except for their core speeds, for simplicity’s sake we will refer to our overclocked Gigabyte RX 480 as “RX 580”.

Read full article @ BabelTechReviews

HP ZBook 15u G5 Review

Is it a workstation or a powerful Ultrabook?

HP makes some beautiful premium laptops — just look at the Spectre lineup — alongside a wide range of other products, like gaming desktops, portable 2-in-1s, and workstations. The last in that list doesn't exactly sound like it's something sexy, but HP has attempted to bridge the gap between premium and workhorse with the ZBook 15u G5.

It's the thinnest and lightest device in the Z workstation lineup, so you can expect some performance compromises while also meeting requirements for design software and hitting targets for security and ease of use. Let's take a look at what you can expect from the ZBook 15u, and whether or not it's the right laptop for you.

Read full article @ Windows Central

ID-Cooling Dashflow 240 Review

ID Cooling Dashflow 240 stuns with vibrant RGB lighting and premium fittings.

Following the current trend of "‘make everything RGB," the Dashflow 240 AIO (all-in-one) from ID-Cooling features a boldly pronounced pump housing, functional compression fittings and two incredibly luminous, 4-pin capable 120mm RGB fans. The result is a wonderful, filling glow of color and a handsome cooler design to match almost any build motif. It seems, though, that ID-Cooling focused more of their R&D dollars on the lighting display and appearances than overall cooling performance.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Lian Li Strimer Review

Lian Li's Strimer turns your ATX cable into an animated rainbow (or your color of choice). It looks good an is easy to install, but we'd like an off button.

Depending on where you stand, RGB lighting is either a fun way to customize your PC, or an eye-searing scourge that’s infecting the previously dark and cozy corners of the computer world. Well, bad news for those who lean toward the latter: Lian Li’s $40 Strimer brings RGB to yet another area of your case- the previously rainbow-forsaken realm of the 24-pin ATX power cable.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC & Tomahawk Review

There are only minor differences between the AMD X470 and B450 chipsets used on the new MSI B450 motherboards; you get two fewer Gen2.0 PCI-E Lanes, four fewer SATA ports and no SLI support. You still get Cross Fire support but only 2way, the same as the B350 chipset. What you gain is the StoreMI and Precision Boost Overdrive, so you can use the free StoreMI program with an inexpensive 2TB HDD and 256GB SSD drive to gain enhanced storage capacity and speed.

Read full article @ Neoseeker

Samsung 860 EVO 1 TB SSD Review

Samsung's 850 EVO has reigned supreme in the SATA SSD market for a long time. It earned our recommendation when it launched all the way back in 2014 and has been the 800-pound gorilla of client SSDs ever since. Samsung was the first to produce a non-planar TLC NAND drive, and the 850 EVO's success has affected the shape of the entire SSD market since. Pick up a random SSD and peer inside, and the odds are high that you'll find 3D TLC NAND of some kind staring back at you.Non-planar NAND technologies–whether "3D," "BiCS," or "V-NAND"–have become the de facto standard for mainstream solid-state storage. And that's not likely to change soon, unless more exotic technologies  coalesce from the vapor. The only credible threat comes from quad-level-cell NAND . For now, QLC products seem to be targeted towards enterprise-y "write once, read many" workloads, where the technology's inevitably.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

StarTech USB-C Docking Station Review

StarTech has their hands in a lot of markets, but as the docking station has become increasingly popular with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, they have looked outside of the box to design some unique solutions. The MST30C2HDPPD or as we will call it from here on out, the USB-C Dock is the latest solution to come from StarTech. This solution tackles an array of storage, charging and connectivity issues all within one device. Starting with connectivity; on the front we have audio and a single USB charging port while on the back we have two USB 3.0 ports, gigabit ethernet and two DisplayPort connections capable of 4K30 in a single monitor mode or 1080p60 over two monitors. To round things off the top of this docking solution offers a single 2.5" SATA drive bay. As far as charging is concerned this dock does support fast charging and up to 60W via USB-PD 2.0

Read full article @ TweakTown

Tesoro Gram XS Keyboard Review

The Tesoro Gram XS is a gorgeous ultra-thin keyboard with tactile keys, but unrefined software and design quirks weigh it down.

The Tesoro Gram XS is not your average gaming keyboard. It differentiates itself from the competition with low-profile mechanical switches and chiclet-style keycaps. But what really stands out is its stylish, slim design and colorful lighting effects that glow beneath a fresh white paint job. Design quirks and overly simplistic software are definite shortcomings, but the Tesoro Gram XS remains a decent option for anyone looking to game on the go — and turn some heads while doing it.

Read full article @ Tom's Hardware

Tested: One of the Best-Selling (No Brand) Gaming Monitors on Amazon

Today we're looking at a monitor from a brand we’ve never used before, but one that gets heavily requested: Viotek. They’re popular on Amazon and make some of the cheapest gaming monitors you can get, so we’re interested to see how they stack up and whether it’s worth buying this sort of monitor over a better known brand option.

The monitor we have to review today is the Viotek GN32LD. This FreeSync display is 31.5-inches in size, and packs a curved 1440p VA LCD that tops out at a 144 Hz refresh rate. It’s priced at $470 through Amazon, which is around the mark of some other budget brands like Pixio and MSI that have monitors based on the same panel, but it’s a lot cheaper than the Asus ROG Strix XG32VQ or Samsung C32HG70 for example.

Read full article @ TechSpot

WarioWare Gold Review

It wasn’t long ago that I was stressing in my Go Vacation review that a sheer variety of minigames, activities, can be a massive draw in a game, but if those activities are sub-par, well, they can be a struggle to enjoy. The Yakuza series understands this, with a fantastically detailed supply of minigames and activities to indulge in every entry in the series.

The WarioWare series is a bit of a different breed to either of them, honestly. Instead of having a large variety of detailed, but smaller experiences, there are no minigames here. Instead, there are microgames – dozens upon dozens of them, and they are thrown at you with such speed and ferocity that you won’t even have time to notice that, most of them, are barely worthy of a GameJam entry. But that is absolutely the draw of WarioWare Gold. The games are so small, short, and simple, that the challenge isn’t in playing them, it’s in being able to complete them with speed and accuracy.

Read full article @ Wccftech