Here a roundup of todays reviews and articles:

Asrock M8 Z97-600W
Creative Sound Blaster ROAR SR20A Bluetooth Portable Speaker Review
Dragon Age: Inquisition VGA graphics performance Review
Enermax LIQMAX 120S
Far Cry 4 Review
G.Skill Phoenix Blade 480GB PCIe x8 SSD Review
Hudl 2 Review
Iiyama ProLite GE2488HS Review
Introducing the KUDOZ Z-9 Gaming Mouse
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, Watchband Hinge And Intel Core M Deliver Thin And Light Performance
Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse Review
Nokia Lumia 830 Review
NVIDIA GRID Review; Game Streaming Gets a Makeover
NZXT Kraken X31 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
QNAP HS-251 Review
Steambox Part 3 – Installing Windows 8.1 and General System Performance
The TR Podcast 166: Reader questions, Asus answers, and our mobile recs
Zotac ZBOX CA320 nano PLUS Review: A Fanless AMD mini-PC

Asrock M8 Z97-600W

Today we are checking out the new Asrock M8 barebone computer which has been updated from the previous model to support Intel’s Haswell processors by using the Z97 chipset. While the award winning chassis by BMW Group DesignworksUSA remains the same, Asrock has included a number of other noteworthy updates, such as the 600w SFX power supply...

Over the years we have built countless gaming computers, and the ones that are smaller in stature tend to impress us the most. We appreciate systems that manage to stand with full tower rigs in our benchmarks while maintaining a tiny footprint.

Read full article @ Legion Hardware

Creative Sound Blaster ROAR SR20A Bluetooth Portable Speaker Review

A couple of weeks ago we uploaded a review of the latest portable Bluetooth speaker by Ultimate Ears called the BOOM which although very good still was far from perfect and thus our quest for the best portable speaker didn't stop there. What followed however had little to do with the review and much to do with our readers since many of you asked about what we're looking for in a portable wireless speaker that all the models we've tested so far were obviously unable to deliver. Well the answer is really easy so aside a very good build quality we're also looking for a well-designed portable wireless speaker with excellent audio reproduction, powerful volume levels and plenty of features. Unfortunately with the exception of just a couple of models such as the TDK A73 Boombox and the Creative Sound BlasterAxx AXX 200 (both very good but still not flawless) all others fell short in at least one of the above categories. With the brand new Sound Blaster ROAR SR20A Bluetooth Portable Speaker Creative seeks to win the hearts of audiophiles and regular consumers alike but is it capable of doing so?

Creative is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products. Famous for its Sound Blaster sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment with cutting-edge audio solutions, premium wireless speakers, wireless headphones and portable media devices. Today, Creative re-invents the Sound Blaster, which has a user base of over 400 million, with its ground-breaking Sound BlasterAxx that aims at the new mobile networked generation by bridging the worlds of the computer, smartphones, and tablets. Creative’s proprietary technologies, innovative hardware, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment - anytime, anywhere.

The Sound Blaster ROAR SR20A is very much similar to the Sound BlasterAxx AXX 200 which we had the chance to review a while back so once again under the hood we find the SB-Axx1 audio processor, support for HFP/aptX/AAC (although this time over Bluetooth V3.0 was used) and several identical features including voice recording capability, built-in rechargeable battery which can also be used to recharge compatible portable devices, NFC (Near Field Communication) sensor, microSD card slot, integrated WMA/MP3/WAV player, SBX Pro Studio technology (intelligently enhances audio in real-time) and external USB sound card functionality. The ROAR SR20A however is quite improved compared to the AXX 200 since aside Bluetooth V3.0 connectivity (and its extras compared to v2.1) it also has a 6000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that gives the speaker up to 8 hours of music playback (the AXX 200 came with a 5200mAh one), siren function which you can use whenever you need to grab the attention of those around you, Tera Bass technology for improved bass levels at low volume levels, ROAR technology which instantly boosts the loudness, depth and spaciousness of the audio, Link Security Mode which basically allows you to setup the security setting of the speaker (open to all, open to only devices that have been paired with it in the past, open to just 2 devices), bedtime mode which gradually reduces the volume levels and shuts down by the time you're asleep, MegaStereo technology that allows you to connect two ROAR SR20A portable speakers via cable for a larger soundstage and finally it also features dual amplifiers (bi-amped) used to power the two 1.5" high frequency drivers made out of durable biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate material (AKA Mylar), one 2.5" active subwoofer and two passive radiators (the AXX 200 only featured two stereo drivers). Sounds impressive right? Well time to find out if it really is.

Read full article @ NikKTech

Dragon Age: Inquisition VGA graphics performance Review

We take out a dozen or so graphics cards and benchmark First Dragon Age: Inquisition. Join us in this article where many graphics cards are being tested with the new First Dragon Age: Inquisition. We have a look at DX11 performance with the newest graphics cards and technologies. The new and popular title is looking great from a graphics point of view.

Sprawling hills, green pastures, flowing rivers, lots of demons – The Hinterlands of Ferelden are a lovely place. Not that other regions of Thedas are better off. Rifts that link the physical world to the demonic Fade have appeared across the land, allowing hideous monsters to pour through and terrorize as they please. To make matters worse, mages and templars cut each other down at every turn, leaving plenty of collateral damage in their wake. Now, as the leader of the newly-formed Inquisition, it’s up to you and your band of heroes to strengthen your cause through politics and battle and put an end to all the chaos. You’ll need a sharp tongue and a sharper blade if you’re to succeed – thankfully, Dragon Age: Inquisition, a massive RPG by the developers at BioWare, gives you all the tools you’ll need to restore order. BioWare is a developer whose roots are in PC gaming, you can bet this version of Inquisition is the real deal. It's fine-tuned for good mouse and keyboard play; it's got pretty ok visual and interface options to tweak; and, of course, it's got 4K resolution and even AMD Mantle support.

As such today we'll show you graphics cards tested on three resolutions, Full HD (1920x1080), WHQD (2560x1440) and Ultra HD (3840 pixels × 2160 lines), we will peek at graphics memory usage, frame-time micro-stuttering performance and quality versus performance. But first, let's talk about how the game plays on PC and what it is all about.

Read full article @ Guru3D

Enermax LIQMAX 120S

Feature rich, the LIQMAX 120S from Enermax is an AIO CPU cooler ready to rock. Utilizing a 120 mm radiator and single-fan design, it makes up for what it lacks in specs with its features. Offering exceptional mounting pressure, an adjustable PWM RPM range, and removable fan blades for easy cleaning, it might just be the cooler you have been looking for.

Read full article @ techPowerUp

Far Cry 4 Review

Should we visit Kyrat or let the Crab Rangoon get cold? In my opinion, Far Cry 4 is definitely a game worth playing, though it may be worth putting off so that hopefully some of the graphical issues can be addressed. The stuttering may be bad, but the broken shadows are just, well, broken, and break the experience to a degree. Hopefully both will be fixed before long, because they both hurt the game. Far Cry 4 is very fun and if you are looking for a good, modern open-world FPS, it is definitely worth considering. Forgive the graphical issues for a bit and you have some solid gameplay that lets you dominate your enemies at the end, but earn the right to do so as you progress. The story telling is also very good with some of the writing creating very interesting characters you want to hear talk more. The graphical problems may be worth giving you pause though, before making the purchase.

Read full article @ OCC

G.Skill Phoenix Blade 480GB PCIe x8 SSD Review

Everybody loves speed, and there’s no easier way to enhance the snappiness of general usage tasks than by using a solid state drive. But the primary storage interface – SATA 6Gbps – saw its speed limit reached by fast SSD’s more than two years ago. If you wanted higher performance, multiple SATA drives in RAID or a dedicated PCIe solution were the ways to go. In its 480GB Phoenix Blade, G.Skill has opted to provide both; there’s a four-controller RAID 0 configuration for high speed numbers and a PCIe 2.0 x8 interface for ample bandwidth allocation.

Read full article @ KitGuru

Hudl 2 Review

Tesco's second budget tablet could have Google and Apple worried. THE HUDL 2 has arrived on supermarket shelves in time for Christmas, and sees Tesco looking to win over the 50 percent of Brits who don't yet own a tablet.

The firm seems to think it has a better chance than Apple and Google at doing so. The Hudl 2 costs just £129, and potentially half that price for savvy Clubcard holders.

Read full article @ The Inquirer

Iiyama ProLite GE2488HS Review

An affordable gaming monitor with a lightning-fast response time. The features that are required for a monitor to attain ‘gaming monitor’ status will undoubtedly vary depending on who is asked. Broadly speaking, the characteristics of a gaming monitor that matter the most are a low response time and high refresh rate while colour accuracy and resolution take a back seat. The demand for fast panels inside gaming monitors has led to twisted nematic (TN) panels remaining remarkably popular despite IPS and IGZO panels offering more vibrant and colour-accurate experiences.

Today’s review item, the Iiyama ProLite GE2488HS, claims to be a monitor for ‘Pro Gamers’ thanks to its headline 1ms response time. That aside, the rest of the specifications are run-of-the-mill for a 24in monitor; a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, a TN panel-based design, 60Hz refresh rate and a competitive price point.

Read full article @ Hexus

Introducing the KUDOZ Z-9 Gaming Mouse

KUDOS Z-9 Gaming Mouse. Speed is the key: the KUDOS Z-9 responds to your commands with no delay and gives you a considerable competitive speed advantage over your opponents. Customise your KUDOS Z-9 Gaming Mouse with its easy-to-use and extensive programming function to suit the way you game. All this is rounded off by the KUDOS Z-9 Configurator app, allowing you to easily customise your driver settings – without sacrificing precious gaming time calling up the driver menu. The effects of changing are felt instantly. Among other things, the self-explanatory interface lets you switch profiles, assign keys and adjust the sensor resolution, paving the way to victory.

Read full article @ FunkyKit

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, Watchband Hinge And Intel Core M Deliver Thin And Light Performance

We recently go our hands dirty, so to speak, with the new Core M 5Y70 Broadwell-powered Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro ultrabook. Contrary to Intel's design goal with Broadwell, the Yoga 3 Pro is not a fanless design, but instead is a super-thin, ultra-light convertible ultrabook with a premium, high resolution 3K display with a crisp 3200x1800 native resolution. And though the Yoga 3 Pro is crazy-thin and light at just 2.6 pounds, its cooling fans are barely audible under load. In addition, this machine has a design feature that is a first for notebooks. Its "watchband" style hinge allows the machine to flip and contort all the way back into tablet mode and anywhere in between--and look good while doing it...

Read full article @ HotHardware.com

Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse Review

Often times it can be difficult for laptop and tablet users to adjust from working with their home setup to doing work on the road. Moving from a full-size external keyboard and mouse to the device's smaller keyboard and touchpad or a travel-size mouse can be uncomfortable. As someone who works this way fairly often, I feel it is important to point out when I come across something that helps create a consistent computing experience whether I am at home using my Surface Pro 3 on its dock or working remotely at a coffee shop. Microsoft's Wedge Touch Mouse is just such a device, though you wouldn't necessarily think so based on its design.

Read full article @ Windows Central

Nokia Lumia 830 Review

Somewhere between the budget Lumia 735 and the flagship Lumia 930, you'll find the Lumia 830. Not quite a flagship, the Lumia 830 aims at the higher end of the middle market, competing against the Galaxy S5 Mini and HTC One Mini 2 on contract with prices on EE hitting £33.99pm to get the Lumia 830 for free with 4GB of double speed 4G and free EU roaming. Alternatively, you can also get it for £19.99 with no extras and a £59.99 upfront fee. In the US, it's available for $99.99 with an ATT plan. If you're looking for more freedom, the Lumia 830 can found for £280.99 on PAYG or £304.99 SIM free. In the US, you can buy it for US$449.99 without a service plan, while in Australia you can pick it up for AU$535 at JB HiFi.

Read full article @ Techradar

NVIDIA GRID Review; Game Streaming Gets a Makeover

NVIDIA’s SHIELD Tablet is seen by many as a great all-round mobile device that offers excellent battery life, high end processing power, an affordable price and several gamer-centric features that make it stand out in a crowded market. Now NVIDIA is moving SHIELD’s possibilities to the next level with the inclusion of their GRID gaming service which has begun rolling out in beta form. We’ve been intensively testing it for the last week and while there still may be a few kinks to iron out, GRID could become the “killer app” of on-demand gaming services.

Read full article @ Hardware Canucks

NZXT Kraken X31 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

Often times we receive several items at the same time that a manufacturer would like us to review. Typically this occurs when a new line of products has been released or a major update has been done and today is exactly that. With the introduction of their CAM software, NZXT has released an updated version of most of their products featuring this new connectivity. Today we’ll be taking a close look at NZXT’s newest 120mm AIO, the Kraken X31. NZXT has some notoriously well loved and great performing coolers in their armory, let’s find out if their newest, smallest offering lives up to those same standards.

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

QNAP HS-251 Review

NAS appliances can be used to both share files and stream media to home entertainment systems, but the boxes involved can be both ugly and noisy. Some also require additional hardware, like an Xbox, to connect to the TV. Which is where QNAP's HS-251 scores as it's not only good looking but, with no fan, it's very quiet too. It can also be attached directly to a TV via HDMI, but it's far from cheap and something of a specialist purchase. Little bigger than your average DVD player, the HS-251 is designed to be seen rather than heard, housed in a reassuringly solid case with a brushed alloy top and glossy black mouldings all round. Access is via the front panel, held on with magnets and easily removed with two drive bays beneath to take either 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA disks of your own choosing.

Read full article @ Techradar

Steambox Part 3 – Installing Windows 8.1 and General System Performance

Last week we took some time and built a sub-$400 system that was to be dedicated to gaming with the SteamOS, a Steambox if you will. Later in the week, we took a look at the SteamOS, what it takes to install it, and a look at some of the capabilities of the SteamOS. While the SteamOS has some potential for gaming, there are just a number of things holding it back at this point. The two biggest issues I see the SteamOS facing right now are lack of games support, and the lack of additional features. The complete steam library consists of over 9000 game titles which is quite a few games, the SteamOS & Linux however, support only 1495 games at this point. Unfortunately, many of the games that arent supported are the more popular series like Call of Duty (love it or hate, its a popular series). The hardware that I used for the Steambox looks pretty solid per the specifications, but there is limited testing that I can do in the SteamOS and Linux. I was able to run the Unigine Heaven 4.0 benchmark in the SteamOS article here, but that was about it. So to test the hardware I'm going to toss on a Windows 8 install and run the system through an array of gaming benchmarks.

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

The TR Podcast 166: Reader questions, Asus answers, and our mobile recs

Join us for special guests, listener mail, endless laughs, and also some tech stuff.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

Zotac ZBOX CA320 nano PLUS Review: A Fanless AMD mini-PC

Over the last couple of years, mini-PCs in the ultra-compact form factor (UCFF) have emerged as one of the bright spots in the troubled PC market. Zotac is no stranger to this segment. In fact, their nano xs units came to the market before the Intel NUC, even though the NUC is credited with kickstarting the UCFF trend. Almost all the mini-PCs that we have evaluated before have been based on Intel CPUs. However, Zotacs recently launched ZBOX C Passive Cooling Series of mini-PCs includes an AMD Temash-based SKU, which we promptly requested for review. Read on to identify what AMD brings to the table for the passively cooled mini-PC market.

Read full article @ Anandtech