Here todays reviews and articles:

Alien: Isolation review: Cold, harsh, and unforgivable
Antec EDGE 550W Power Supply Review
ASUS GeForce GTX 980 Strix review: the first non-reference GTX 980
be quiet! SFX Power 2 300W Power Supply Review
Blackphone review: putting a price on privacy
CM Storm NovaTouch TKL Premium Keyboard Review
Cooler Master Storm Devastator Keyboard/Mouse Set Review
G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 16 GB 3000 MHz Kit (4x 4GB DDR4)
GAMDIAS ZEUS Laser Gaming Mouse (GMS1100) Review
Gamer Storm Maelstrom 240 Review
ICY DOCK ICYCube MB561U3S-4S 4 Bay External HDD Enclosure Review
Intels i7-5960X + X99 Motherboard On CentOS 7.0 Has Some Pains
Micron M600 M.2 SATA SSD Review (256GB)
Nokia Lumia 530 First Impressions
PCSpecialist Predator X99 System Review
Some thoughts on the performance of SSD RAID 0 arrays
SteelSeries Siberia RAW Prism
Tesco Hudl 2 hands-on review
Tesoro Kuven.pro True 5.1 Gaming Headset Review
Toshiba Satellite L70-B-11C Review
Up close and personal with the MSI GT72 Gaming Laptop
Zalman H1 Review

Alien: Isolation review: Cold, harsh, and unforgivable

Stunning, terrifying aesthetics can't save a stealth game broken at its core.

Read full article @ Ars Technica

Antec EDGE 550W Power Supply Review

Today we are looking at Antec's latest PSU series, the EDGE, which the company markets as "the pinnacle of power supplies". Bold statements aside, only medium capacity units are available and silence seekers are their main target. We're reviewing the lowest capacity model of the series, with a maximum output of just 550 Watts, which means this is a PSU that could be used by a larger number of users. Let's see how it performs.

Read full article @ Anandtech

ASUS GeForce GTX 980 Strix review: the first non-reference GTX 980

As a hardware enthusiast, you will no doubt know that Nvidia introduced the GeForce GTX 980 and 970 a few weeks ago. Within our extensive review, we wrote that Nvidia let us know that all GeForce 980 boards initially available for purchase would simply be reference models. Nothing could be further from the truth, as ASUS was able to provide us with their GeForce GTX 980 Strix, a GTX 980 with a custom cooler and PCB design, just a week after the GTX 980's initial release. Is this video card a better choice than the reference model?

As is indicated by its name, ASUS' first non-reference GTX 980 belongs to the Strix series, a relatively new line of gamer-oriented video cards and game accessories. As with previous Strix boards, the cooler should more or less remind you of the eyes of an owl.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

be quiet! SFX Power 2 300W Power Supply Review

When a compact ATX power supply just isn’t compact enough you have to think outside the box, or use a new form factor. The SFX and TFX form factors are two of the most common small form factor power supplies aside from the standard ATX that is so common in desktops. The SFX form factor measures in at 100×125×63.5 mm compared to TFX at 146×83×64mm. SFX is short and stubby while TFX is long and thin. In that sense TFX is more server orientated when server racks tend to be long and thin. Conversely SFX is more orientated towards compact computer systems that are not so obscurely shaped. Very few power supply vendors produce SFX or TFX units for the consumer market due to the fact demand is so low. However, be quiet! being the smart company they are have seen the trend towards SFX and TFX power supplies in recent years as small form factor builds have become more fashionable.

Today we are looking at the be quiet! SFX Power 2 300W power supply which conforms to that minuscule SFX standard. 300 watts may not sound like a lot but with an Intel Core i7 4770K and GTX 750 Ti based system you could run a complete gaming rig off of 100 watts or so. With an extra 200 watts to spare there is scope for anything up to a GTX 770 in theory, providing you don’t overclock either too hard. Lian Li, Thermaltake, SilverStone and many more case vendors produce compact cases taking advantage of SFX PSUs. Therefore what I am getting at is the fact that building a tiny SFX based system has never been easier to do.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Blackphone review: putting a price on privacy

Whether it's government agencies, identity thieves, opportunistic hackers or marketers, everyone wants your personal data. As we live more of our lives than ever online, we're increasingly aware of how much data we produce, and the need to protect it. With smartphones playing a key role in our always-connected lifestyle, there's a new breed of services and devices for consumers who want to stay off the grid without going offline. Leading the charge is the Blackphone, a $629 handset that prioritizes privacy over everything else. Running a custom, secure version of Android and shipping with a wealth of privacy tools preinstalled, it claims to be an "unparalleled product" where data protection is concerned. Thanks to the awesome folks at online retailer GSM Nation, who were kind enough to send one for review, I've been getting to know the device and finding out how it keeps data safe from prying eyes.

Read full article @ Engadget

CM Storm NovaTouch TKL Premium Keyboard Review

Simply put, the CM Storm NovaTouch Keyboard is a serious keyboard that a data input worker, analyst, researcher or writer would, by the end of a busy day, greatly appreciate.

Read full article @ Modders-Inc

Cooler Master Storm Devastator Keyboard/Mouse Set Review

Much like Guest Writer Brian Cheung's family, I too have been looking at purchasing a car. If you have read the Behind the Scenes profile page, you will know I have been driving a Chevrolet Cobalt. While this car is not exactly known for its reliability or responsiveness, it has been good enough to get me from Point A to Point B without very much drama or horror. My dream car has always been one of the following: The Chevrolet Camaro, or the Subaru Impreza WRX (Now known as the Subaru WRX). I know my first car will not be either one of these cars, as I am still a student, and I will have other cars to purchase in my lifetime. I was talking with Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Kwan about purchasing my first car, and I mentioned two options that were on my mind: The Nissan Micra, and the Mitsubishi Mirage. Honestly, the only thing that attracted me was the starting pre-tax price of under $10K. At this dollar, you get a box with four wheels and some attractive low fuel consumption. Sure, there are lots of features that are not standard, like power windows, Bluetooth integration, or even air conditioning, but it still is a functionally able car. Since I am still a single guy, I also probably do not need the extra room that comes with larger vehicles. The fact is, some potential car buyers out there are looking for something to just get them to their intended destination. They could buy a used car, but the thrill of having a new one may be on their mind. Similarly, when Cooler Master revealed their CM Storm Devastator keyboard and mouse set, I was a bit shocked at the lack of features. Yes, it is functionally able to get your work done with some gaming on the side, but at the time I questioned if it was really any good. Before I write it off though, I saw the price tag, and then took a second glance. And a third. The Cooler Master Storm Devastator boasts a price of just under $30 for both a keyboard and mouse, and it is one of the few combinations that have flashy LEDs underneath. I had the chance to get a closer look at this and thankfully today, you can too!

Read full article @ APH Networks

G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 16 GB 3000 MHz Kit (4x 4GB DDR4)

Built with some of the highest possible speeds without being the most expensive kit, the G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 3000 MHz C15 kit is a treat for both overclockers and gamers alike. Featuring a brand-new look that includes a new heatspreader design, the G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 3000 MHz kit is ready to take your system to the limit and beyond.

Read full article @ techPowerUp

GAMDIAS ZEUS Laser Gaming Mouse (GMS1100) Review

GAMDIAS Technology is a new eSports company that focuses on PC gaming peripherals, from gaming mice to keyboards and headsets. Established in 2012, their name is an amalgam of GAM (Gaming Art in Motion) and DIAS, the Latin word for god. In short, GAMDIAS means "god of gaming"!

Despite the Latin origin of its name, GAMDIAS adopts an ancient Greek mythology theme for its products, naming them after Greek gods and goddesses. In fact, they claim that each product will have a patented function that reflects the characteristics of the deity they are named after.

Today, we are going to take a look at the GAMDIAS ZEUS laser gaming mouse. For those who don't know their Greek mythology, Zeus is the "Father of Gods and men" as well as the god of sky and thunder. As the name implies, this is their top-of-the-line gaming mouse.

Let's check it out!

Read full article @ Tech ARP

Gamer Storm Maelstrom 240 Review

DEEPCOOL was founded in 1996 and provided desktop and server coolers for ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) partners. The company has since expanded and offers a nice line of CPU, notebook, hard drive, and server coolers. It also has individual fans, power supplies, and even a new line of computer cases, including the recently released Steam Castle. With its focus on customer service and satisfaction, DEEPCOOL is a leader in the cooling market.

GAMER STORM is a sub-brand / offshoot of DEEPCOOL, and is obviously its gaming persona. Within GAMER STORM is a range of high performance fans and CPU coolers (and even one VGA cooler) targeted at gamers looking for that extra kick. Now we have GAMER STORM's first entry into the highly competitive market of AIO (all-in-one) liquid coolers. The Maelstrom series consists of three models: 120K (entry level), 120 (mid-range), and 240 (top of the line). We have the 240 today, so to leave a mark in the crowded AIO market, the Maelstrom 240 will have to turn out some impressive numbers. And in case you were wondering, the word "maelstrom" means a very strong swirling body of water, like a whirlpool.

Read full article @ OCC

ICY DOCK ICYCube MB561U3S-4S 4 Bay External HDD Enclosure Review

Storage, it always seems like we need more of it, especially with file sizes increasing for media and more importantly games. While some of you may have cases that give you ample space to load them up with hard drives there are others who have small form factor system or even work from a laptop where storage space is limited. There is where external hard drive enclosures come into place. Today we are taking a look at a pretty awesome 4-bay external hard drive enclosure that supports 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives and has both USB 3.0 and eSATA connections. The enclosure I am talking about is ICY DOCK’s ICYCube MB561U3S-4S. Let’s load it up with drives and see what we can do with it.

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

Intels i7-5960X + X99 Motherboard On CentOS 7.0 Has Some Pains

For those that may have picked up the incredibly-fast, $1000+ Intel Core i7 5960X CPU with a new required motherboard bearing the X99 chipset, be prepared for potential troubles if you're planning to install CentOS 7.0...

Read full article @ Phoronix

Micron M600 M.2 SATA SSD Review (256GB)

Along with the rest of the M600 family, the M.2 SSDs use Micron’s newest 16nm NAND that allow the drives to hit a better cost-per-GB than their earlier products. As with previous drives they feature RAIN reliability technology, adaptive thermal monitoring, TRIM, S.M.A.R.T., and DevSleep. They also feature power-loss protection for data-at-rest to prevent corruption in case of a power failure.

These M600 M.2 SSDs are also self-encrypting drives (SED) that have AES 256-bit hardware encryption from the built-in controller encryption engine and are TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE1667 compliant to support the Windows eDrive standard.

Read full article @ The SSD Review

Nokia Lumia 530 First Impressions

The new low-end of the market. Back in July, when Microsoft first announced the Lumia 530, I was unimpressed with the specs. As I note in Nokia Lumia 530 Preview, the device is a step down from its predecessors, the Lumia 520 and Lumia 521, and its place in the sweet spot of the Windows Phone lineup has been usurped by the superior Nokia Lumia 635, which is a fine little handset. So why would anyone choose a Lumia 530?

Read full article @ WinSupersite

PCSpecialist Predator X99 System Review

Today we look at one of the latest systems from popular UK system builder PCSpecialist. Their X99 Predator system is loaded with high end components, including AMD’s flagship R9 295X2 graphics card, an Intel i7 5820k six core processor and an Asus X99-S motherboard. The Predator ships in a Corsair Air 540 Chassis and is overclocked extensively for every customer. Is it worth the £2,299 inc vat asking price?

Read full article @ KitGuru

Some thoughts on the performance of SSD RAID 0 arrays

With the price of the SSDs dropping, you probably already thought about installing two SSD units on your computer and configuring them as a RAID 0 array, which, at least in theory, increases the performance of the SSD. But what is the real-world performance gain of such configuration? Does the stripe size affect performance? If so, what is the best number to use? These some of the questions we will try to answer in this article.

Read full article @ Hardware Secrets

SteelSeries Siberia RAW Prism

While I suspect the Siberia V3 and even the Siberia Elite Prism will get the most attention with SteelSeries introducing an entire new product lineup. They also slipped in a new product the Siberia RAW Prism. We already know that Prism represents the full color lighting and Siberia is their most popular audio line. In the past we have seen RAW mice, in those cases they dropped the fancy features and sold the basic gaming mouse at a lower price. So with that we can come to the conclusion that the Siberia RAW Prism is their new budget friendly gaming headset. Frankly this isn’t an area that SteelSeries has competed in very much, they have always stuck with the mid-range audio products and more recently a little on the higher end with the Elites. Because of that I’m excited to see what they put together.

Read full article @ LanOC Reviews

Tesco Hudl 2 hands-on review

Budget tablet impresses with 8.3in Full HD screen and Intel Atom chip. TESCO LAUNCHED the Hudl 2 on Friday, as it goes after the 50 percent of the UK population that still don't own a tablet device.

At just £10 more expensive than the original Tesco Hudl, the Hudl 2 retains the budget status despite improving on its predecessor in almost every aspect. There's a larger, higher resolution display, an improved processor and the latest version of Android onboard, but not everyone likely will be so taken by the tablet's pre-loaded bloatware.

Read full article @ The Inquirer

Tesoro Kuven.pro True 5.1 Gaming Headset Review

Today we’re looking at a true 5.1 gaming headset from the likes of Tesoro Technology, an up and coming gaming peripheral company based in Northern California that’s been around since 2011 and not to be confused with the petroleum refining company Tesoro Corporation. The headset is officially called the Kυνέη.pro, in the Greek spelling of the mythological Helm of Darkness owned by Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. However, Tesoro also spells the product name as Kuven.pro.
Tesoro Kuven.Pro True 5.1 Gaming Headset

Tesoro specializes entirely in gaming peripherals and was the first to bring a multicolor backlit mechanical keyboard to the market with the Lobera Supreme back in 2013. However, unlike the Corsair Gaming K70 RGB, the Lobera Supreme is not able to customize the light color of individual keys. Tesoro has grown its presence in Asia and Europe, and is a sponsor for Virtus.pro, a Russian professional gaming organization.

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

Toshiba Satellite L70-B-11C Review

The traditional desktop replacement laptop has lost prominence over the last few years thanks to the growth in gaming notebooks and mobile workstations, but there's still plenty to like about larger laptops such as the Toshiba Satellite L70-B-11C. For starters, it costs £599, or $935 in the States (about AU$1,011) – half the price, or less, of dedicated gaming or workstation notebooks with 17.3-inch screens. It also means you're getting more for your money when compared to rival machines: the Toshiba Satellite S50D-A-10G is cheaper but it's got a 15.6-inch screen and AMD internals, while the Lenovo Flex 2 15 is smaller, although it benefits from a 300-degree hinged mechanism.Underwhelming designThe price puts this machine firmly in mid-range territory – and its design does, too. The Satellite's exterior is made from plastic, and much of the material feels hollow and cheap rather than solid and reassuring. Its looks aren't much cop, either: the champagne-tinted metallic plastic is coated with a subtle lined pattern. It's a better look than the plain metallic colour of the Satellite S50D, but it still can't match the dark, brushed finish used on the Lenovo.There's a rattle from the wrist-rest, and the middle of the screen's casing depresses easily when it's pushed. Pressing the base panel saw the keyboard's shape distort. Such mediocre build quality means that we'd only travel with the L70 if it was protected by a case or sleeve.Despite the lack of strength, the L70 still weighs 5.9lb (2.7kg) and is 1.33-inch (34mm) thick, so you'll notice when it's slung inside a bag. Both rival machines, with their 15.6-inch screens, are smaller.It's not too satisfying to use the Toshiba's keyboard or trackpad, either. The keyboard is large enough, and its layout is fine, but the L70's typing action is hampered by a familiar Toshiba trait: a lack of key movement.

Read full article @ Techradar

Up close and personal with the MSI GT72 Gaming Laptop

Without doubt, the MSI GT72 2PE Dominator Pro was one of the best received laptops we have ever seen in the KitGuru Lab. But still pictures can only take you so far. We were lucky enough to get MSI Laptop Guru Kian into the studios for an on-camera walk through on this beast of a box.

Read full article @ KitGuru

Zalman H1 Review

Auto Heat Ventilation on a £100 full-tower chassis. Remember the 'Auto Heat Ventilation' concept being teased by Zalman back at CES 2014? Well, it's now ready for retail and arrives as part of a new full-tower chassis dubbed the H1.

Priced at £99.99, the H1 is designed to offer system builders something a little different and is described by the manufacturer as a "luxurious case for high-end users."

Read full article @ Hexus