Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles, including The 20 Most Important Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows PCs, Lian Li PC-Q30 Aluminium Mini ITX Tower Chassis Review, ASUS X79 Deluxe Review, Google Nexus 7 (2013), and OCZ Fatal1ty 550 W



The 20 Most Important Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows PCs @ Howtogeek

Keyboard shortcuts are practically essential for using any type of PC. They'll speed up almost everything you do. But long lists of keyboard shortcuts can quickly become overwhelming if youre just getting started. This list will cover the most useful keyboard shortcuts that every Windows user should know. If you havent used keyboard shortcuts much, these will show you just how useful keyboard shortcuts can be. Windows Key + Search The Windows key is particularly important on Windows 8 especially before Windows 8.1 because it allows you to quickly return to the Start screen.

Read more: The 20 Most Important Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows PCs @ Howtogeek

ROCCAT Raivo Stealth Black Mousepad Review @ OCC

Starting with the Cons: the Raivo only has a few, but for a mousepad that is one too many. The biggest issue I have isn't the semi-sharp edges. While they are not enough to cut you, it is definitely uncomfortable to lean your wrist on for a long period of time. The mousepad feels like a piece of cardboard with some color added to the front. It's not a good feeling after a few hours of gaming and the only solution would be to get a gel pad, which adds to the final cost.

Read more: ROCCAT Raivo Stealth Black Mousepad Review @ OCC

Cooler Master Glacer 240L Liquid CPU Cooler Review @ HiTech Legion

So, let’s say you are the owner of a company that builds solar powered mousetraps. They are more expensive than traditional mousetraps, many models by a wide margin. Yet, your top end mouse trap is not able to catch more mice than traditional traps costing significantly less. They also have quirks that traditional mousetraps do not. They are louder, more prone to failure due to more necessary parts, can only catch one mouse at a time and also cause irreparable damage to other expensive household items when they fail. Really your only marketing tactic is pushing the fact that they are solar, and therefore simply must be better.

But, let’s say your marketing scheme works, and your mousetraps are regarded as being the pinnacle of their function. Then it happens….someone introduces a solar mousetrap to the market that offers significantly better trapping rates than your product, operates more quietly, can catch several mice at once and has a longer MTBF. What do you do? Well, you could sit back and hope that no one notices since your iTrap name is now synonymous with solar mousetraps (see: iPhone, Apple – Part One). If that doesn’t work, you could simply improve your mousetrap to compete (see: ideas, obvious but seemingly antiquated). Or you could simply sue your competitor under the claim that you not only invented solar mouse traps, but the sun to power them and the mice they catch were your idea in the first place (see: iPhone, Apple – Part Two – how suing Samsung and Google will likely only serve to get them angry). Speaking of mousetraps, did you ever hear about the time the Swiftech H220 got banned in the US?

Read more: Cooler Master Glacer 240L Liquid CPU Cooler Review @ HiTech Legion

Xigmatek Vector P700 80-PLUS Platinum 700 Watt Power Supply Review @ HiTech Legion

Some may think that the whole zombie thing has gotten played out….and it probably has at this point. Mind you, it is nowhere near as played out as teen/twenty-something vampires, and Bram Stoker is probably rolling over in his grave at this point. That is, if he isn’t actually a vampire, in which case he apparently lives in a really nice pad in California with an entourage. But, back to zombies and why we have had a period of such fascination with them.

Given that the fascination came at a time of such economic and social turmoil, one has to wonder if we were all subliminally hoping for endless life or rebirth. Or did we just see the state of the US economy as a brain and flesh eating nightmare well represented by a zombie apocalypse? Strangely, though, we also saw some companies that we believed were left for dead rise up again. One of those companies is Xigmatek. After a quiet period, Xigamtek has begun releasing more of their innovative designs into the market, including the new Vector line of PSUs.

Read more: Xigmatek Vector P700 80-PLUS Platinum 700 Watt Power Supply Review @ HiTech Legion

Lian Li PC-Q30 Aluminium Mini ITX Tower Chassis Review @ eTeknix

Today we take a look at one of the latest chassis designs from legendary manufacturer Lian Li. Lian Li have built up an impressive reputation in the PC industry for producing some truly amazing products, their chassis designs have always been known for their premium quality, well-engineered and innovative designs and their extensive use of light weight aluminium. I’ve spent time using Lian Li chassis in the past and they’re always impressive in one way or another which is just one of the reasons I’m looking forward to testing this new chassis today.

The PC-TU100 was on display earlier this year at Computex and its one of the smallest and most unusual chassis around, well ok it’s not that unique, but it does have a funky little carry handle on it that really makes it stand out from most other chassis designs.

Read more: Lian Li PC-Q30 Aluminium Mini ITX Tower Chassis Review @ eTeknix

ASUS X79 Deluxe Review @ Vortez

One of the few new motherboards to arrive on the scene after the launch of the I-BE range of CPUs, the ASUS X79 Deluxe looks to give the enthusiast everything they are looking for from a high end platform. The ASUS Deluxe range has been around for quite some time now and has always been regarded as the all rounder, the motherboard that caters for everyone’s needs whether you're an overclocker, gamer or for use as a media station. The deluxe has most bases covered and because of this it is perhaps one of the most time served and successful motherboard ranges to date.

The current model continues this trend of providing everything what 99% of the PC community desire. But is this enough? Most PC users have opted to base their rig around the less complex Z68 chipset so the X79 platform remains a niche platform for those who put performance above anything else, money included!. Now with cost being low down the list of priorities, it could be argued that those buying into the X79 platform will inevitably opt for the high end motherboards such as the ASUS Rampage Extreme. Be under no illusion that the Extreme is a formidable gaming and overclocking motherboard but the deluxe we have for review today can be compared favourably as an all round X79 platform. Some people would rather save the £100 or so pounds more it would cost for the Extreme and instead invest in a better graphics card or SSD. Whichever position you find yourself in, if you are on the lookout for a motherboard which on the face of it at least appears to have it all, read on because this motherboard is well worth your consideration.

Read more: ASUS X79 Deluxe Review @ Vortez

Thermaltake Frio Extreme CPU Cooler @ NikKTech

Although watercooling in general seems to be gaining ground thanks to the numerous custom watercooling kits and AIO solutions introduced/announced recently by quite a few manufacturers there's no denying that normal CPU Air Coolers still have much life left in them and to many people they are still the primary choice to keep their CPUs cool at a low cost. This is i guess the one thing that normal air coolers have that watercoolers don't so even if you just want to spend 20 bucks for a CPU Cooler chances are you will find at least one model in the market and it even might be a good one at that. However performance always comes at a cost and so the really powerful Air Coolers rival the AIO Liquid Coolers both in terms of cooling efficiency and price. Well the massive Frio Extreme by Thermaltake is one such CPU Air Cooler and we've been testing it for the past 3 days to see exactly how it fairs against the competition.

Read more: Thermaltake Frio Extreme CPU Cooler @ NikKTech

AOC e1659Fwu USB Monitor Review @ TestFreaks

Multiple monitor setups are great for multitasking and improving productivity. I have been using a dual monitor setup for several years and definitely prefer it over the single monitor configuration. Running this type of setup with a desktop is simple while replicating it with a laptop can be a little more complicated.

With the introduction of USB monitors using DisplayLink technology, adding a portable external monitor such as today’s review item is as simple as plugging in a thumb drive. AOC’s previous USB based monitor the e1649Fwu used USB 2.0 for the connection, while today’s review model the e1659Fwu USB Monitor uses the faster USB 3.0 connection. This connection theoretically will provide higher quality images through the higher bandwidth of the faster USB format.

Read more: AOC e1659Fwu USB Monitor Review @ TestFreaks

HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 @ Neowin.net

Today we review the latest generation of the HP MicroServer line, designed for the home and SMB market segments. Tune in later in the week to see how you can win the server for yourself!

Read more: HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 @ Neowin.net

Google Nexus 7 (2013) @ Neowin.net

Google has refreshed its Nexus 7 tablet with a better display, a new rear camera and a slimmer, lighter design - but it costs more too. Can it still prove that the best things come in small packages?

Read more: Google Nexus 7 (2013) @ Neowin.net

ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula Motherboard Review @ Madshrimps

ASUS delayed the release of the Maximus VI Formula till after Computex 2013. We got a glimpse of the board at the ASUS booth and it looked at first glance like a TUF/ROG hybrid. The ROG series are renown as high end motherboards, stunning looks and high performance; however not engineered solely for gamers, but the enthusiast and extreme overclockers get their sweets too. Usually the ROG series had 3 members: the mATX Gene, the midrange Formula and the flagship, the Extreme board. With the Z87 series, ASUS throws an entry level priced ROG in the mix with the Maximus VI Hero board and even a mITX board, the Impact. The Hero is comparable as being the vanilla board of the Republic of Gamers line up. The small mATX Gene VI gives those with small cases the option to install a top class motherboard; the Formula for those that seek a full ATX board packed with features, yet still at an affordable price level. The flagship Extreme board is the most expensive and targeted at those that want either the best of the best or the ultimate board that can push the envelope, no matter the cooling method used.

Read more: ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula Motherboard Review @ Madshrimps

Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 Gaming Keyboard for PC Review @ Madshrimps

Gaming on a budget but still willing to purchase one well-built gaming keyboard from a respected manufacturer? Then the S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 may be for you since it retains some of the important features of the more expensive variants and can be bought in 3 color variants: black, white and red, in order to match the other peripherals.

Read more: Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 3 Gaming Keyboard for PC Review @ Madshrimps

Zowie Celeritas Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Pro Gaming Keyboard Review @ eTeknix

Zowie have made their name in the gaming industry by being laser focused on pro gaming and eSports, and rightly so, because when it comes to making high performance gaming equipment there really isn’t a better testing ground than competitive gaming. The pros want the best tools for the job, the peripheral or component that will give them that advantage over their opponents, no matter the cost. Then at the end of the day, you’ll find consumers will want the same hardware because they know it’s the product used by winners, much like how Formula 1 works to promote consumer cars brand names.

The Zowie Celeritas has some bold claims to it and given Zowie’s heritage of working closely with some of the biggest pro gamers in history such as Abdisamad ‘SpawN’ Mohamed, Young Ho ‘Flash’ Lee and Ho Jun ‘Ho-Jun’ Moon, all of whom helped develop this keyboard, we know they mean business. In a bid for maximum performance the Celeritas features mechanical switch keys, with 18K gold plated switches, gold plated USB connection, nylon key caps and most importantly the fastest response time of any keyboard on the market today.

Read more: Zowie Celeritas Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Pro Gaming Keyboard Review @ eTeknix

OCZ Fatal1ty 550 W @ techPowerUp

OCZ revamped their Fatal1ty PSU series with two new models. Today, we will take a look at the smaller 550 W unit featuring a fully modular cabling design and an LED fan. This unit can, according to OCZ, deliver its full power continuously at up to 45°C and is ideal for Haswell gaming rings.

Read more: OCZ Fatal1ty 550 W @ techPowerUp