Here a roundup of todays hardware reviews:

ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer Motherboard Review
ASUS Maximus VII Ranger Review
Bitfenix Colossus Micro Review
Bloody RT5A Gaming Mouse Video Review
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens Review
Compro TN4230 Outdoor PoE IP Camera Review
Diamond R7 250 Boost Review
Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 XS71HDU USB Sound Card Review
Edge Boost Server 7mm SSD Review
HiFiMAN HE-560 Planar Magnetic Headphones
Iiyama ProLite T2735MSC Review
Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler Review
NZXT H440 review: radical design causes lack of fresh air
Poweradd Pilot 2GS 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Battery Pack Review
Razer Sabertooth Review
Sentey Lumenata Pro Gaming Mouse Review
Tt eSPORTS Poseidon Z Illuminated Gaming Keyboard Review
Turtle Beach Titanfall Atlas Multi-Format Gaming Headset Review
Z97 & Z87 Motherboard Charts: 32 Models tested - Update ASUS Maximus VII Gene

ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer Motherboard Review

Sitting in the middle of ASRock’s current Z97 gaming motherboard line-up, the Fatal1ty Z97X Killer targets the fierce sub-£130 marketplace. Can its feature set, overclocking capabilities, and general performance allow it to stand out in a hotly-contested segment of the market?

Read full article @ KitGuru

ASUS Maximus VII Ranger Review

When Intel introduced their Z87 Chipset almost one year ago, ASUS decided to round-off the lower end of their Maximus portfolio with the Maximus VI Hero. Meanwhile Intel has launched the Z97 chipset and they're again expanding their ROG lineup by another entry level model. This time the board is called Maximus VII Ranger and the new model marks the entry into ASUS's ROG class. With this board the worlds largest motherboard maker is targeting mainly gamers and therefore there should be quite a few interesting features.

Read full article @ ocaholic

Bitfenix Colossus Micro Review

Colossus M is one of the latest cases from BitFenix.​ This enclosure is compatible with mATX and mini-ITX motherboards, and offers a very sophisticated design. In addition to the classic lines, the Colossus features a SofTouch finish and aggressive multicolor LED strip, which the manufacturer calls LiteTrak.

Read full article @ ocaholic

Bloody RT5A Gaming Mouse Video Review

Here we have the Bloody RT5A gaming mouse by A4Tech, reviewed by Kaeyi Dream, featuring both wired and wireless operation.

Read full article @ HardwareHeaven.com

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens Review

The 70-200mm focal length has been one of the most versatile and popular zoom ranges available. First introduced in March of 1995 the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM has been one of the go to lenses for sports, portraiture, and journalism across the world. Canon has four 70-200mm lenses in their lineup, two f/2.8s and f/4s with and without IS. As a portrait photographer I find the f/2.8 aperture is a must have over the f/4 versions to completely isolate your subject and stray from any distractions or environmental flaws. Thus is why I sold my 70-200mm f/4L USM earlier this year and purchased this f/2.8 version. Though it lacks image stabilization and the weather sealing that its newer 70-200mm f/2.8L USM IS II brother has, it is around $1,000 cheaper and lighter, making it a much better bang for your buck.

Read full article @ TechnologyX

Compro TN4230 Outdoor PoE IP Camera Review

Security cameras that run over a standard IP network are becoming more of a common place in the home and in a commercial environment, partly due to their ease of setup and the seamless integration in to an existing backbone, but also the ease of scaling the system up to the levels that we find in our supermarkets [for example] where tens, if not hundreds of cameras are connected in to a single environment. The additional benefit of utilising IP cameras though is the ability to connect into the system from a remote location and use it as though you are on the site itself. This is not where the selling points end though; power delivery to the cameras is another factor that has to be taken into account and with so many cameras in some instances being required, or the position where they required not the convenient for the purpose of mains power, the capacity to power the cameras directly from the network switch and through a single cable with the data to the camera, makes the speed of installation and the ease of expansion much quicker and easier.

Over the cameras that we’ve looked at previously, the TN4230 that we have here today is capable of being powered via PoE (Power over Ethernet) and additionally it is IP66 rated, meaning that it is suitable for installation outside, where exposure to the elements will test its resistance against whatever the weather can throw at it – just as well I’m in the UK for this part of the review seeing as our weather patterns change on a near daily basis. Alongside the option to connect the camera through an Ethernet cable, the TN4230 does allow for analogue connections to be made through a BNC interface with a mic-in and audio-out supplied through two 3.5mm ports. A digital relay output and RS-485 terminal further add to the feature set, allowing the camera to be connected to an existing security system where required and a power terminal is on hand for situations where PoE is not available.

To compliment the various connectivity options, the TN4230 boasts a 1600 x 1200 UXGA 2MP sensor, which although not 1080p, is near enough HD quality and along side infra-red low-light operation we also find 4GB of on-board storage available through a microSD card, two-way audio and even a heater to keep the camera warm during cooler periods. At this point I’ll note that whilst cooler operation is better for computer hardware, in an external environment, cooler temperatures bring moisture which is not the best companion inside an electrical device. Cloud access through Compro’s C4Home mobile app and desktop management through the included ComproView software make light work of checking up to see if everything is as it should be with the capacity to send out alerts via email when pre-defined events occur; such as motion detection. All this for around £260 may seem expensive but as we are about to find out, a hands on look around the camera may justify the price point.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Diamond R7 250 Boost Review

In this ever-blossoming technology industry there are smaller companies that are often overshadowed by their behemoth competitors. There are many reasons why this occurs but one of the most common assumptions is that the smaller company is lower quality. The thinking has been that the smaller guy can’t make a product as well as the bigger guy. Diamond has been striving to prove that assumption to be false. They believe they can be a smaller company yet still offer quality and value. Diamond sent us an AMD based GPU: their R7 250 with Boost. Let’s see how well their promise holds up. We will take a moment to learn about Diamond before we put the R7 250 through some tests.

Read full article @ PureOverclock

Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 XS71HDU USB Sound Card Review

With over a decade of experience in computer audio, Diamond is no stranger to PC sound cards and we come into this review with hopes for a positive impression of the Xtreme Sound 7.1 XS71HDU. Since just about every computer has USB ports, a USB sound card, unlike an internal desktop sound card, is useful to laptop owners and all-in-one computer owners or even people who want to share this device across different systems. The XS71HDU is the newest entrant in Diamond’s lineup of Xtreme Sound cards which includes an older USB card also called Xtreme Sound 7.1, but different model name...

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

Edge Boost Server 7mm SSD Review

Geared toward servers and data centers, the Edge Boost Server 7mm SSD utilizes an enterprise-level LSI-SandForce controller to achieve strong read/write and IOPS speeds. The SATA 6 Gb/s interface is rated to achieve up to 560 MB/s sequential reads and 530 MB/s sequential writes (240GB model — other capacities vary). Random 4K read speeds are stated as 45,000 IOPS, with random 4K write speeds of 80,000 IOPS (240GB model — other capacities vary).

Read full article @ The SSD Review

HiFiMAN HE-560 Planar Magnetic Headphones

HiFiMAN's latest high-end headphones are put to the test. The new HE-560s feature improvements across the board both in terms of sound and comfort. Design wise it is a long departure from the older HE-series headphones in the sense that they feature a suspended headband design and wooden cups.

Read full article @ techPowerUp

Iiyama ProLite T2735MSC Review

10-point touch on a 27in, full-HD display. The release of Windows 8 and iterative updates has provided renewed purpose for touchscreen monitors. Regularly found as options in mainstream laptops and all-in-one PCs and, now, available as standalone screens, touchscreen and Windows 8 makes sense and is a key selling point for various manufacturers.

Monitor expert Iiyama has more than 50 touch-enabled screens in its arsenal. Split into five categories defined by the touch method - resistive, saw, projected capacitance, optical and infrared - most are designed for digital signage or point of sale/point of information, with the best all-round screens using projected capacitance as the input method.

Read full article @ Hexus

Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler Review

No matter what record is broken or what new height achieved, there will be an old timer who will compare it unfavorably to a legend. When Hank Aaron broke the all-time home run record, to many he was still “no Babe Ruth”. But, how could that be? He broke Ruth’s record, obviously he must be better. Was it simply the legend of Ruth that made people feel this way? Was it a looking back through rose colored glasses? Or was it something else?

Read full article @ HiTech Legion

NZXT H440 review: radical design causes lack of fresh air

NZXT cases are always unique looking and we often get requests to test them. The recently announced NZXT H440 also sparked a lot of interest which is probable partly due to some of the radical design choices that NZXT made. The front of the case is one solid piece and there are no 5,25" bay and this gives the case a very striking appearance, but like we are used to from NZXT they have given a lot of thought to the design. In our recent tests of the Phantom 530 and the H230 we found cooling performances a little lacking. The H440 probably won't change that being a silent case but we are interested to see how it will fare when compared to 13 other silence oriented cases.

NZXT's H-series cases are aimed at silence. The are designed to make the least amount of noise possible and dampen any sound produced by the rest of the components. It's noteworthy that NZXT equipped this case with a windown despite it being a quiet case. The H440 isn't cheap with an average price of £95, this is less than the H630 however.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

Poweradd Pilot 2GS 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Battery Pack Review

It seems portable batteries are very popular lately as I’ve got another one for review but this one is from a different company than all the others, the company is called Poweradd and the battery is called the Pilot 2GS and it’s a 10000mAh capacity battery with dual USB ports. The one blatantly different thing I’ve noticed about these batteries is that even though they’re getting larger in capacity, they’re getting smaller in size and that can only be a good thing of course. The Pilot 2GS has dual UBS ports as I mentioned, one is 1amp and the other 2.1amps so you can charge virtually any USB enabled device, tablets, phones, mp3 players, pretty much anything and that makes it a very valuable thing to have when you need some extra power on the go. Read on to learn more…

Read full article @ TestFreaks

Razer Sabertooth Review

While Razer is best known for its line of mice and keyboards, the company has a whole slew of products that span the gaming spectrum. Razer lives by its motto, "For Gamers. By Gamers." If the company's founders Robert Krakoff and Min-Liang Tan think gamers want something, no matter how obscure, they will have their engineers create it. This was of course no more apparent than with the unveil of the Razer Nabu smartband at CES 2014.

The product I'm reviewing today is the Razer Sabertooth Elite Gaming Controller for Xbox 360, or Razer Sabertooth for short. Despite the "for Xbox 360" portion of its full name, it's fully compatible with Windows XP and up, as long as you have a free USB 2.0 port. I first laid eyes (and fingers) on the Razer Sabertooth at CES 2013 and was immediately impressed. It had a solid construction, additional multi-function buttons, an OLED screen, and simply seemed like a substantial improvement over its predecessor, the Razer Onza.

Now, after more than a year, I finally get my hands on my very own Razer Sabertooth. Will it live up to my expectations and be as good as I remember? I guess it's about time we find out.

Read full article @ OCC

Sentey Lumenata Pro Gaming Mouse Review

What is the point in purchasing a gaming mouse vs a regular mouse? When you make the decision to invest in a quality gaming mouse, such as the Sentey Lumenata Pro, it goes without saying that you won’t only be using the mouse for gaming. With the features and responsiveness this mouse offers, it will easily become your “go to” mouse for all of your objectives.

Read full article @ Benchmark Reviews

Tt eSPORTS Poseidon Z Illuminated Gaming Keyboard Review

It seems like pretty much everyone offers a mechanical gaming keyboard these days, and most of them feature Cherry MX mechanical switches. These of course come at a cost to the manufacturer, making mechanical keyboards more expensive. Well Tt eSPORTS wants to change all of that. Today we are checking out their Poseidon Z Illuminated Gaming Keyboard that features Tt eSPORTS certified Blue mechanical switches that are rated for 50 million keystrokes. These blue mechanical switches are built for built for speed and durability, offering a pronounced tactile feel and audible click feedback. Using these switches with a proven keyboard design and backlit illumination Tt eSPORTS hopes to get a mechanical keyboard in the hands of most people with a low MSRP of $89.99. On top of that they have backed this keyboard with an industry first 5 year warranty. Let’s dive in...

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

Turtle Beach Titanfall Atlas Multi-Format Gaming Headset Review

Turtle Beach is one of the biggest gaming brands around, having earned a great reputation for producing a wide range of headset products that cover a wide spectrum of budgets. Whilst I’ve seen and heard a lot of good things from their budget models, the really exciting stuff is obviously at the upper end of the budget scale. The latest addition to their range certainly falls into the premium bracket, with an RRP of £119.99 (and many retailers selling at around £140) they’re obviously not targeted at your average gamer.

With the release of Titanfall came a huge wave of associated merchandise and peripherals, the Titanfall Earforce Atlas is the official headset of EA’s new FPS and as such it should be one of the best headsets around to enjoy one of the most popular games on the market right now. Designed to work with the Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC, the Atlas offers improved value for money as it works on multiple formats, hopefully negating the need to own more than one headset. I also know that since this headset features a 3.5mm jack plug, it’s perfectly compatible with the PlayStation 4 and mobile device, something work keeping in mind if you’re not an Xbox fan.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Z97 & Z87 Motherboard Charts: 32 Models tested - Update ASUS Maximus VII Gene

In our comparison tables, meanwhile you find benchmark values regarding 32 recent Z97 and Z87 motherboards. Furthermore we do not comment the benchmark values. The idea and also the goal is to present to you a market overview which helps you choose the right motherboard.

Read full article @ ocaholic