Intel NUCs Featuring Skylake-U CPUs Revealed
The Intel Next Unit of Computing, NUC, is a barebone system offering from the CPU manufacturer. According to a leaked roadmap Intel is planning to release two new NUCs for the upcoming Skylake-U processors. One using an i3 will be available in the third quarter of this year, and another using an i5 will be available in the fourth quarter. The new units will have Intel HD 6xxx graphics and support for 32GB of dual channel memory. A multitude of connection options include mini HDMI, mini DisplayPort, USB 3.0, SATA3, M.2 SSDs, and wired and wireless networking. The NUC will be actively cooled though passively cooled enclosures are expected from third parties.
Source: Fanless Tech
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G.SKILL Announces Trident Z DDR4 Memory
G.SKILL has unveiled its latest memory creation, the Trident Z series of DDR4, at Computex this week. The Trident Z series hopes to build on the success of the TridentX series which is "known as the most powerful overclocking memory series in the PC enthusiast community." Aluminum heat spreaders are included to help keep the memory cool with various color accents to match the memory to different system color schemes. The memory will be available starting next month in dual and quad channel configurations.
Source: Press Release
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Steam Institutes New, General Refund Policy
Valve is not exactly known for its customer service, but has pledged to improve things. A major step in that direction has been taken today as the company has revealed a broad Steam Refund policy. In general, if you have purchased a game within the past 14 days and not put more than two hours into it, you can get a refund for any reason. If your situation puts you outside of those ranges, do not give up hope as the company is still willing to take a look at the request.
This refund policy also covers DLC, in-game purchase, bundles, and pre-purchased titles as well, but a little differently. DLC has the same 14 day limit, but the two hour limit applies to the base game, and starts counting from the DLC purchase time. There are exceptions for some third-party DLC though, such as DLC that irreversibly levels up a character. In-game purchases have a 48 hour limit on them, provided the item has not been consumed, modified, or transferred. Currently this only applies to Valve games, but other developers will have the option to allow refunds on items, following the same terms. Pre-purchases can be refunded for up to fourteen days after the release date, so not just the purchase date. As bundles are refunded in full, you must spend less than two hours in all of the bundled content.
If something is exempted from the refund policy, it will be stated during check-out. Refunds will be made either to the appropriate payment method or to the Steam Wallet. You cannot get refunds on movies or gifts, and if you are VAC banned on a game, you cannot refund it. Obviously Valve will not tolerate abuse, and may stop offering refunds if it believes you are abusing the policy. However, it does not consider refunding a game prior to a sale, and then purchasing it again at the reduced price abuse, which may come in handy when the summer sale gets going.
To request a refund or other assistance, visit help.steampowered.com.
Source: Steam
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Bethesda Releases New Fallout 4 Teaser and Countdown
The Fallout hype train is effectively out of control, after Bethesda dropped a major teaser earlier today. The studio released an image of a black and white television test pattern through various social media accounts, each bearing the message and hashtag "Please Stand By." The link that accompanied these posts leads to none other than the official Fallout website, where the same image awaits visitors.
In addition to the Indian-head test pattern, the site also features a countdown that ends tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM PDT. What happens then is anyone's guess, though just about everyone is expecting (or hoping for) a Fallout 4 announcement. Another, less exciting speculation involves a possible HD remake of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.
This year marks the first time Bethesda will be holding their own press conference at E3 in Los Angeles. As such, fans have been throwing around rumors of every possible major announcement they can think of, from a new Fallout to a Dishonored sequel. The studio has been mostly quiet on the matter, except when dispelling misinformation.
Rumors going as far back as 2012 place Fallout 4 in Boston, picking up during or after the events of New Vegas. An anonymous source on Reddit claimed Bethesda was doing research on the New England region and working closely with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Source: Twitter
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Ubisoft Reveals Plans for E3 2015
E3 is coming up quick so we can expect to be seeing some announcements soon. Today Ubisoft has released some of its plans for the convention, including that they will be showing off, with hands-on demoes, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Tom Clancy's The Division, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege. It will also be announcing several other new games, so we will have to wait until then to learn what they are.
Aisha Tyler is returning to host the Ubisoft conference and for any fans able to make it to E3, they can check out the Uplay Lounge to see new games and a series of Master Classes and Star Players Ubisoft has brought together. The Master Classes will cover new, upcoming titles, while the Star Players are gamers Ubisoft has invited to E3, as they represent the passion and diversity of its gaming communities. The lounge will be open June 16 and 17, in the afternoon.
For everyone else unable to attend E3, Ubisoft will be live-streaming via YouTube, Twitch, and UPlay. Also the UbiBlog will show off features and previews of the titles from E3.
Source: Ubisoft
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Metro Redux Demoes Come to Consoles
For any consoles gamers out there who are interested in the Metro Redux games, demoes are coming for you to try out. Deep Silver announced today that the Trial functionality of both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are being used to deliver Metro 2033 Redux and Metro Last Light Redux to those players interested. The demoes can be downloaded on the Xbox One, worldwide, and from the PlayStation Network in Europe today, and will be in the US Playstation store soon.
Both demoes go for about a third of the games, with the 2033 demo including the first eight chapters (up to Dead City) and the Last Light demo including the first nine (up to Theater). If you play and choose to purchase, saves and progress will seamlessly transfer to the full versions. The CEO of developer 4A Games says they were inspired by the original shareware release of Doom, and is why they are giving so much of the games away.
You can check out our Metro Redux Review by following that link. Be aware though that it covers the PC releases.
Source: Deep Silver
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MSI Shows Off New Laptops, PCs, Video Cards, and Motherboards at Computex
Computex is a time where companies show off much of what's in store for the coming year, and MSI is certainly no exception to that. The company has a little bit of everything it's showing at Computex this year, so let's dive right in to see what it has to offer. MSI has its GT72 gaming laptop on display, which features NVIDIA G-SYNC as well as eye-tracking technology for better immersion. The eye-tracking technology comes by way of a partnership with Tobii Technology and will have a live demo of how it works. Hardware-wise, the GT72 features a GTX 980M GPU with 8GB GDDR5 and a 17.3-inch screen. The GT80 laptop has an 18.4-inch screen, an Intel Core i7 CPU, GTX 980M GPUs in SLI, and a full-size mechanical keyboard. Dropping down a little bit, we get the GS60/70 and GE62/72 laptops, which feature Nahimic audio performance technology to enhance your soundscape and deliver 7.1 virtual surround through stereo speakers. The Prestige laptops feature GTX 950M/960M GPUs and MSI True Color Technology to deliver 100% of the sRGB spectrum.
When we get away from the laptop side of things, we end up on the desktop and all-in-one area. The Nightblade MI is something MSI calls a "lean, mean, gaming machine," as its a smaller variant of the Nightblade PC, but still manages to fit in the latest Intel Core i7 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce video card. For all-in-one PCs, MSI has two different models: the MSI Gaming 24GE 4K and the AG270 2QC 3K. The 24GE 4K features a 24" 4K screen, an Intel Core i7 CPU, a GTX 960M GPU, and Nahimic Audio Enhancer to deliver a machine primed for 4K gaming or video editing, among others. The AG270 2QC 3K features a 2560x1440 screen, an Intel Core i7 CPU, GTX 970M graphics, and Yamaha speakers to get you into your games.
Of course, MSI also has some video cards and motherboards it's introducing at Computex, so don't feel like it's all about laptops and PCs. The new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti gets the MSI treatment with the Twin Frozr V-equipped GTX 980 Ti GAMING 6G. That new cooler features dual fans, an LED MSI GAMING Dragon that is controlled via the MSI Gaming App for some sweet case visuals, and cool and quiet gaming performance. There's also the GTX 980 GAMING 4G video card, which also gets the Twin Frozr V cooler, and both it and GTX 980 Ti GAMING 6G card get a backplate with a dragon motif. MSI also has a pair of SLI Bridges for 2-Way or 3-Way setups that features a backlit MSI GAMING shield and a refined look for an SLI setup.
For motherboards, MSI is showing off the X99A GAMING GODLIKE motherboard, which is the first motherboard to feature RGB LEDs for some amazing visual customization. Controlled by the Mystic Light app, more than 2,000 colors are possible with it, so whatever strikes your fancy is possible. The motherboard also features Audio Boost 3 PRO for crystal clear audio and lossless compression; Turbo M.2, SATA Express, and USB 3.1 for blazing fast data transfers; and the Killer DoubleShot-X3 PRO and the Killer 1535 WiFi module for Internet connectivity. MSI also has another X99 motherboard, the X99A GAMING 9 ACK, which is meant for gamers and enthusiasts desiring the best performance possible. Packing USB 3.1, a premium style, and plenty of features to make any gamer/enthusiast happy, the X99A GAMING 9 ACK could be the highlight of your Haswell-E setup. If you don't want to make quite that leap, MSI also has its Z97 and H97 line for Haswell, and with a BIOS update, the new Broadwell CPUs.
All this and more can be seen at MSI's booth at Computex, with release dates and prices expected out before long.
Source: Press Release
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CRYORIG Introduces the A Series Hybrid Liquid Coolers and Pi IoT PSUs
CRYORIG has some new products it is introducing at Computex, with both liquid CPU coolers and a power supply series getting the royal treatment. The liquid CPU coolers belong to the A Series and are hybrid liquid cooling designs, where a 70mm Airflow Circulator fan is attached to the CPU block to help reduce temperatures in the surrounding components by up to 10 °C. The fan can be removed and attached however you like, so you can have it pointed at the VRMs, the video card(s), or the RAM. It's a PWM model that spins at up to 3,000RPM, but can dynamically adjust based on need, and should be virtually inaudible over any other system fan. CRYORIG's A Series Hybrid Liquid Coolers come in three different models, with the A40 and A40 Ultimate featuring a 240mm radiator with 120mm fans, and the A80 featuring a 280mm radiator with 140mm fans. Both the A40 and A80 feature 25mm thick fans, while the A40 Ultimate bumps it up to 38mm thick fans.
The company's Pi power supply series is one that may seem like any other power supply, until you get to one important feature that sets it apart. CRYORIG designed the Pi PSUs with Internet of Things (IoT) support to help minimize the hassle of configuring a Wake on LAN/Wake on WAN remote desktop function. Thanks to the Zero Hassle Hardware Wake feature, the Pi PSU can be paired with a smartphone over WiFi to perform the remote desktop capabilities you want. You can turn on your system after a power outage, turn it off to prevent damage during a storm, make sure you turned off your PC before heading on a trip, or any other function you can think of. Fan speed control, energy usage, power management, and more can all happen in the future with Pi and IoT, so it'll be very interesting to see where CRYORIG takes it. As for the PSUs themselves, they come in 660, 860, and 1000 watt models, range between 80 PLUS Gold to 80 PLUS Platinum, and are cooled by a 120mm PWM fan.
The CRYORIG A Series Hybrid Liquid Coolers will be available this summer, although prices are not yet known. The Pi power supplies are a proof of concept model to show what the Internet of Things is capable of, and are slated to arrive next summer.
Source: Press Release
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Hardware Roundup: Tuesday, June 2, 2015, Edition
Computex keeps rolling right along with product announcements and reveals, but we do have some reviews to help you pass the time, too. There is a look at the Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX case, a mid-tower model that incorporates many different features and designs to make one truly unique case. We have a couple different CPU coolers for you to consider based on whatever type of cooling you need. The Corsair H80i GT liquid CPU cooler allows for minimal noise and high performance, so it could be perfect for anyone wanting to step into the world of watercooling. On the other side is the Scythe Ashura CPU cooler, a compact, 120mm air cooling model that may prove how looks can be deceiving.
Cases
Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV ATX Mid-Tower @ PC Perspective
CPU Cooling
Corsair H80i GT @ ThinkComputers
Scythe Ashura @ Benchmark Reviews
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Patriot Announces Viper Line of Accessories
Patriot has today announced its Viper line of gaming accessories. The company already offers Viper Memory, and by adding a mechanical keyboard, two mice, and a headset, the company hopes to create an ecosystem of accessories for gamers.
The V760 Viper keyboard features anti-ghosting keys with full spectrum LED backlighting, covering some 16.8 million colors. It also has a removable magnetic palmrest for ergonomic comfort and support, twelve multimedia keys, and six programmable macro keys.
The two mice are both designed with gamers in mind, but come in at different ranges. The V560, pictured on the right, is targeted at the high-range and uses a laser lens with up to 8200 DPI, is weighted, and sports ceramic foot pads for easy gliding. The V530, on the left in the picture, is a mid-range mouse with an optical lens with up to 5000 DPI.
The V360 headset has 7.1 virtual surround sound capability and ergonomic ear cups, for improved comfort. The controls for the headset are located on the earcups, instead of the cord, to keep the weight distribution even.
Source: Press Release
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Fractal Design Launches New Products at COMPUTEX 2015
Fractal Design, which brings consumers products that feature Scandinavian design and quality, has launched a few new products at this year’s COMPUTEX in Taipei. The new products include the Node 202 chassis, the Node 202 with a bundled Integra SFX power supply unit, the Core 500 computer case, and updated Kelvin T12, S24, and S36 models.
The Node 202 is a highly versatile case that supports Mini-ITX motherboards and can be placed horizontally or vertically. The case provides consumers with separate motherboard and graphics card chambers and includes strategically placed air filters that help to ensure a dust free case interior. The Node 202 with the Fractal Design Integra SFX power supply offers consumers with all of the benefits of the Node 202 along with a 450W 80PLUS Bronze PSU that features specialized cables for the case as well as a three-year warranty. The Core 500 is a compact chassis that is roughly double the size of the Node 202, and while it only supports Mini-ITX motherboards, it does offer support for ATX power supplies, tall CPU cooler towers, and water cooling gear. The Kelvin series by Fractal Design has been updated with Dynamic GP-12 PWM fans, an included 9V speed adapter, and improved dedicated fill port design and quality.
The Node 202, the Node 202 with the Integra SFC 450W PSU, and the Core 500 feature an MSRP of $79.99, $139.99, and $59.99, respectively.
Source: Press Release
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Patriot Introduces EP Pro microSD 4K Capable Card
Patriot has officially introduced its latest addition to its 4K capable cards, the EP Pro microSD card. The company, which happens to be a leading manufacturer of USB Flash, mobile accessories, computer memory and SSDs, notes that the EP Pro microSD card is fully compliant with the latest SD Association specifications for Class 10 UHS-I U3 cards, and is perfect for sport enthusiasts and professional photographers. The Patriot EP Pro microSDXC card offers speeds of up to 95MB/s read and 80MB/s write, and is perfect for capturing continuous still images in HD and shooting videos in Full HD, Ultra HD and 4K2K.
The EP Pro microSD, which comes in both 32GB SDHC and 64GB SDXC capacities, will be available to purchase in July of this year.
Source: Press Release
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Available Tags:Intel , DDR4 , Steam , Ubisoft , MSI , Motherboards , Hardware ,
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