General Gaming Article |
- iBuyPower Announces Limited Edition CLG Competition Gaming PCs
- Build a PC: Recommended Builds (August 2013)
- How to Build a NUC
- Microsoft to Drop SkyDrive Branding Following Defeat in Trademark Case
- 17-inch Laptop Review Roundup: Gigabyte P2742 vs CyberPower Fangbook X7-200
- Headphone Microphone Head-to-Head
- Ex-Mozilla Chief is Now Head of Security Software Maker AVG
- Microsoft Office Mobile for Android Arrives
- Tablet PC Shipments to Trounce Notebooks at a Rate of 2:1 in 2014
- Microsoft's Bumbled Surface Strategy Generated Just $853 Million in Revenue
| iBuyPower Announces Limited Edition CLG Competition Gaming PCs Posted: 31 Jul 2013 08:19 PM PDT The official CLG PCs will begin shipping in SeptemberLos Angeles-based boutique system builder iBuyPower has announced a new range of limited edition gaming PCs in partnership with storied eSports outfit Counter Logic Gaming. Designed with the needs of competitive gamers in mind, the CLG-branded machines are now available for pre-order starting at $1099. There are three models to choose from, each of which is highly configurable and boasts a custom NZXT Phantom 530 case that bears the LoL team's logo on its transparent side panel. "We've stayed true to our mission since day one of committing to the eSports scene. We want to support and give back to the community," said Darren Su, VP of iBuyPower, in a press release. "CLG told us that fans demanded something competitive and we listened." Where specs are concerned, iBuyPower is confident that the $1099 Official CLG System 760, the $1669 Competitive CLG System 770, and the HotShotGG Edition have plenty of firepower and won't let gamers down: "Available with up to an Intel Core i7-4770K CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 graphics, 16GB of DDR3-1600 memory, 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD and sealed-loop liquid-cooling, the CLG systems will plow through any game." Follow Pulkit on Google+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Build a PC: Recommended Builds (August 2013) Posted: 31 Jul 2013 04:11 PM PDT Baseline, performance, and ultra PC builds!What time is it? It's time to build a PC with our Blueprints! This month, we've built three rigs at three approximate price points: Budget, Baseline, and Performance. Budget gets you a capable but affordable rig, Baseline gets you a powerful that is suitable for gaming and content creation at 1080p, and Performance gets you even more. These rigs are lab-tested and editor-approved. Feedback is, of course, welcome. Tell us what you think!
Although Haswell has arrived, bringing with it a budget Intel Core i5 (as well as the high-end stuff), we haven't gotten hands-on with a budget-appropriate motherboard, so our entry-level system will remain Ivy Bridge for now. We are bumping the system RAM up from 4GB to 8GB, however, since we found a good deal on some Crucial sticks. This will give the rig some more breathing room for multitasking. To make room in the budget, we dropped the modular power supply and went with a 550W "Smart" unit from Thermaltake. We've used the 630W version around the office and it's been great. We also saved some cash by switching from Asus to MSI's Radeon HD 7790 card. We spent a little extra to upgrade the SanDisk SSD to the Ultra Plus for a bit more speed.
We are aware that this build is a bit pricey for a "baseline" budget, but we're performance junkies. An unlocked Intel Core-i5 CPU, beefy Gigabyte motherboard, and muscular video card are just par for the course. The Radeon HD 7950 is a bit long in the tooth, but its low price and high performance combine with AMD's "Never Settle: Reloaded" game bundle to make it one hell of a compelling video card. AMD's FX-8350 CPU, however, isn't as consistently speedy as the Core i5-4670K. The SSD ecosystem continues to evolve at a steady clip, with Samsung producing the 840 Evo line just as we were going to print. It's super-fast right out of the box, sports fancy DRAM caching tech, and it smokes the SanDisk Extreme that we had in here last month.
Compared to the Baseline config, our Performance build adds 10 Benjamins to the sticker price and nets us a full-tower case, Intel X79 motherboard, 850-watt power supply, fully roided GPU, water cooling, and bigger and faster storage. We could have gone with a Haswell-based system, but we prefer leaving ourselves extra bandwidth on the PCI Express bus for multiple video cards (which is also why the PSU gets a 350-watt bump). Speaking of which, nothing from AMD comes close to the Nvidia GTX 780, which gets within spitting distance of a GTX Titan after some overclocking. EVGA's "ACX" dual-fan cooling system will also keep temps and noise under control. The Samsung 840 Evo SSD takes over from the 840 Pro this month, though, as its combo of raw speed, caching features, and price are the best we've seen yet. The Pro will be getting the caching software in the future, at which point it may overtake the Evo. But for now, the new guy is king. The NZXT 530 updates the 630 with better aesthetics and cable management. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 31 Jul 2013 03:13 PM PDT How to build Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC)This month's Build It is a bit of a reach for us here at Maximum PC, simply because we're used to building PCs that are powerful enough to require an intervention from the local overclocking support group. However, we can't ignore the rise of the small PC, or the living room PC, or whatever you want to call these Lilliputian rigs that are suddenly as popular as raging against the OS hate crime named Windows 8. This little machine in particular, the Intel NUC, which stands for Next Unit of Computing, seemingly came about as a reaction to the surprisingly popular Raspberry Pi, which is a tiny bare-bones PC that originated in the UK early last year and sells for just $25. Though the Raspberry Pi was designed to be an affordable gateway drug into the world of command-line hacking, the Intel NUC is a much more complete solution that Intel says is perfect for home entertainment, commercial kiosks, or just quiet, affordable computing. Since the NUC (pronounced Nuck, though we like to call it the Nuke) doesn't include all the bits that you need to make it run, we figured it was a prime candidate for a Build It article.
Nuctural SelectionThe first stage of NUC acquisition involves deciding which NUC to purchase—there are two different SKUs available as of press time. Both have the same basic specs for storage, RAM, and wireless, in that they have none, so you'll have to BYO. They both feature the same 1.8GHz Core i3-3217U Ivy Bridge dual-core Hyper-Threaded CPU soldered to the motherboard, which won't accept a skyscraper heatsink for overclocking, sadly; and both also have three USB 2.0 ports. They then diverge, with one featuring dual HDMI ports for multi-display action, Wi-Fi, and Gigabit Ethernet, and the other sporting one HDMI port, Wi-Fi, and a Thunderbolt port. The dual-HDMI unit features an all-black chassis and will set you back $290, while the T-bolt version goes for $310 and sports a Corvette-like cherry-red roof. There are also two more NUCs coming soon: a high-end NUC with a Core i5 processor and USB 3.0, and a low-end NUC with a Celeron/Atom processor. For this build, we chose the dual-HDMI NUC (model DC32171YE) because we wanted to use it as a quiet, out-of-the-way PC instead of a typical streaming-media-center box. Its core components include two SO-DIMM slots, an mSATA slot for an SSD, a wireless PCI Express port, three USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and two HDMI ports. Audio is provided by the HDMI or Thunderbolt ports, but you can't connect your speakers to the NUC. There's also a power brick (but oddly no cable that plugs into the wall) and a VESA mounting bracket included. The NUC includes a 3-year warranty and a box that plays the Intel commercial jingle when you open it. INGREDIENTS
Click the next page to see each installation step. 1. Open the CaseIn order to gain access to the NUC's innards, you'll need to remove the bottom panel from the device, which thankfully is quite easy. Since Intel figures you probably won't be popping open the chassis very often to swap out parts, it's gone ahead and secured it with four easy-to-remove Phillips head screws (image A). The screws are all captured, too, so you don't have to worry about losing them once you pop off the NUC's ventilated door. With the door removed, we see there's also a way to remove the motherboard from the chassis by removing three more small screws. Though putting a door on the little bugger isn't a big deal, it's appreciated since Intel could have theoretically made the NUC a closed system in an attempt to reduce support calls.
2. Let's Have a Look AroundWith its dome removed we can finally have a look around the NUC to see where everything goes. As you can probably tell, this is the belly of the little beast, or the underside of the mainboard (image B), as the Core i3 processor and heatsink/fan assembly are on the other side of the board where active cooling is required to keep things chilly. Down here in passive-cooling land we have a half-length mini PCI Express slot for the wireless card, the full-length mini PCI Express slot for the mSATA drive, two SO-DIMM RAM slots, and one empty header labeled Front Panel. You can't see them but there are Wi-Fi antennae encircling the enclosure; you can see where they attach to the Wireless card. The tiny little mobo rests inside what looks like a crude metal soap dish, though the Intel Desktop Board logo is proudly displayed. We have heard that despite Intel's plans to get out of the motherboard game after Haswell, it does have a roadmap for the NUC, so plan on seeing several more iterations of this bambino rig in the months to come.
Click the next page to learn how to install the RAM, the OS, and more.
3. RAM THE RAMThe NUC includes two SO-DIMM slots, so you'll need to acquire some laptop RAM, or as our Patriot Memory was labeled, "Ultrabook" RAM. We snagged two 8GB SO-DIMMs of Patriot DDR3 PC3-10600 memory, which run at 1,333MHz. We could have gone with 1,600MHz RAM, but we've had some weird experiences previously with overclocked RAM, so for now we're playing it safe. The RAM sticks cost $40 apiece and are a little bit of a splurge for this system's budget, but we threw caution to the wind and maxed out the NUC's memory capacity. Installation is just like it is with a laptop, requiring you to push the DIMMs in at an angle (image C), then slowly push them down until they snap into place.
4. Wire Up the WirelessThe NUC sports a form factor known as uCFF, which stands for "ultra-compact form factor." This means it's tiny, so Intel had to stack some components on top of one another like tenants in a high-rise, and two of these tenants are the wireless card and the mSATA card, which sit on top of one another with about a millimeter between them. Due to this arrangement, you must install the wireless card first, which is as easy as sliding the card into the slot (image D) and then attaching the antennae that Intel has prewired to the chassis and dropped down right where the card rests. We connected the black lead to the plug labeled Main and the white lead to Aux, but there's no wrong way to do it. We chose a Wireless N card from Intel but any half-size mini PCI Express card will do. The Intel Wireless N card costs $30, and gave us a consistently strong signal in the office.
5. SATA-L-UpChoosing which mSATA SSD you will use in the NUC is arguably the most important decision you and your doctor will make, as it's the only user-upgradeable component that will have a tangible effect on performance. Sadly, modern mSATA SSDs lag behind the blazing-fast 2.5-inch SSDs we all use today, so shopping for one is a bit disconcerting, as names like Samsung, Corsair, and OCZ are nowhere to be found. Instead the choices boil down to Intel, Crucial, Adata, and Mushkin. Since consumers don't typically purchase mSATA SSDs, the pickings are slim. However, the new SandForce SF-2281-powered 525 Series from Intel are a glimmer of hope, as they ride the SATA 6Gb/s interface and are equivalent to the totally fast 520 Series 2.5-inch drives, so we went with the fat 240GB version. To install the drive we simply inserted it into the keyed slot and then secured it using the provided screw (image E). And yes, we know this is an expensive SSD, so please don't write us letters saying we spent too much on the drive. This is really just a way to get a good look at what the NUC can do, and a 120GB SSD should offer similar performance.
6. Install the OSWe used a USB optical drive to install our OS. We then went to the Intel website and loaded the wireless and Intel QS77 chipset drivers onto a USB key in order to get them onto the NUC. Once that was accomplished, we were good to go. All in all, we had the OS installed to our Intel SSD in roughly 10 minutes, and after Windows Update ran a zillion times and rebooted even more, we were finally up and running within an hour (SP2 please, Microsoft). The first thing we did was to run the Windows Experience Index test, which showed us a score of 5.9—pretty dang good for a munchkin rig like this. To put it in context, the AMD Brazos–based Zotac Zbox Nano XS scored just 3.9 in the same measurement.
The NUC in the Real World, Overheating, and ConclusionsWe were pleasantly surprised by the NUC, mostly because we've always had a "size matters" mantra in our heads that subliminally controls our expectations about a PC's performance. Given the NUC's small size, and our experience with other pocket PCs like the Raspberry Pi and the Zotac Zbox, we expected the NUC to largely suck from a performance point of view. But it didn't. For web browsing, watching movies, and running MS Office it felt just as fast and responsive as any other PC we've used lately. Though you're probably inclined to think its speedy nature is partly due to the Intel 525 Series SSD, we also tried it with a garden-variety Intel 310 SSD, and that felt quite responsive, too. Since the NUC includes decent onboard graphics care of the Core i3 processor, we fired up Far Cry 3 and Portal 2 to see whether either was playable. Sure enough, the NUC had some major issues with Far Cry 3, but was able to just barely play Portal 2 at native 1080p resolution with all settings on Medium. For kicks, we ran 3DMark 11, and the NUC scored P581. So, gamers need lowered expectations. Media streaming, however, is great. Among the media files we tried on the NUC was a 10GB HD rip of Avatar, which ran on the NUC flawlessly. The same file brought the AMD Brazos–equipped Zotac to its knees. The playback stresses the CPU and GPU quite a bit, not to mention the SSD, so we were seriously impressed by its ability to smoothly play such a massive file. Now, for the bad news: We played around with the Thunderbolt version of the NUC and it overheated in testing. Initially, we suspected faulty RAM since RAM can cause random shutdowns, but when we took the top off the NUC we noticed that the SSD and wireless card were burning hot, so we threw a fan on it and all problems vanished. Obviously, that's not a good long-term solution, but Intel is aware of the problem and is working to rectify it. Whether that involves redesigning the mobo so there's more room between the PCI Express connectors or upping the fan speed remains unknown. All in all, the NUC is nifty, if not slightly defanged for its lack of USB 3.0. We love its small size, decent amount of horsepower, and silent operation. We would totally buy this for our moms if the overheating issue is rectified. We'd also wait for Gen 2 of the NUC, as the thought of a Core i5 processor and USB 3.0 sounds like a tasty recipe for a quiet, out-of-the-way PC. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft to Drop SkyDrive Branding Following Defeat in Trademark Case Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:53 PM PDT The English High Court had recently ruled against MS in a trademark claim filed by British Sky BroadcastingMicrosoft was the first truly big tech company to jump on the cloud storage bandwagon when it launched Windows Live Folders in August 2007. Within days of its initial release, the service had its name changed to Windows Live SkyDrive. Now, the cloud storage service, which has come a long way in terms of features and functionality since then, is once again about to have its name changed. Unlike last time,though, this upcoming name change won't be voluntary. This is because a British court recently ruled against Microsoft in a trademark case dating back to June 2011, ruling that the name "SkyDrive" infringes upon British Sky Broadcasting Group's (Sky) rights in the "Sky" mark. Despite initially announcing that it would appeal the English High Court's decision, Microsoft has now decided against it. Instead, the company has reached an understanding with Sky, whereby the latter will let the former use the SkyDrive name "for a reasonable period of time to allow for an orderly transition to a new brand." "We're glad to have resolution of this naming dispute, and will continue to deliver the great service our hundreds of millions of customers expect, providing the best way to always have your files with you," Microsoft said in joint press release announcing the settlement. Although the press release does acknowledge that the settlement contains "financial and other terms", their exact nature remains confidential. Follow Pulkit on Google+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17-inch Laptop Review Roundup: Gigabyte P2742 vs CyberPower Fangbook X7-200 Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:08 PM PDT Two large, affordable gaming notebooks go fang-to-fangGaming notebooks can be quite pricey, but Gigabyte's P2742 and CyberPower's Fangbook X7-200 remind us that we don't need to break the bank to get PC gaming on the go. Not only are both of these 17.3-inch notebooks affordable at around $1,500, they also both feature the same Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor. Which one is worth your hard-earned money? Read on to find out. Gigabyte P2742While it's hard to find a 17.3-inch gaming notebook that's truly portable, the P2742's 16.2x10.9x1.9-inch chassis is relatively svelte compared to others in its size class, including CyberPower's Fangbook. With a carry weight of eight pounds, 6.1 ounces (more than two pounds lighter than our "smaller" 15.6-inch MSI GT60 zero-point), the P2742 just barely passes as a notebook you could travel with.
The P2742 is available with a spicy orange cover, but we received a boring matte-black one. Although its simple, unadorned appearance might not scream gaming notebook—where are the tell-tale flashy LEDs?—its top cover features angular beveled edges that add some flare. Under the hood, the Gigabyte features a 2.4GHz Core i7-3630QM Ivy Bridge processor with a Turbo ceiling of 3.4GHz, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a GeForce GTX 660M with 2GB of GDDR5 memory. It also packs a 128GB SSD and a hefty 1TB HDD. While the P2742 boasts a newer CPU than our zero-point's 2.3GHz Core i7-3610QM processor, it wasn't able to beat it in any of our CPU-intensive tests. At its best, the Gigabyte CPU was neck-and-neck with our zero-point in our x264 benchmark. GPU-side, Gigabyte's offering didn't perform any better, trailing the ZP by 13 percent in 3DMark 11 and 23 percent in our STALKER benchmark. In our experiential gameplay test, we were able to squeeze by with max settings on Dota 2 (a Source Engine game) with average frame rates in the mid-30s at 1080p. Running the more graphically intensive Far Cry 3, we had to use the default low settings to attain playable frame rates at 1080p, which is a far cry from how great the game can look. The P2742 reminds us that the GeForce GTX 660M is no match for the GeForce GTX 670M, even if it has upgraded from Fermi to the more efficient Kepler architecture. Above the fold is a matte 1920x1080 resolution display, which doesn't offer the widest viewing angles we've seen from a TN panel, but is perfectly serviceable. The P2742's trackpad has a coarse, almost sandpaper-like texture, which helps set it apart from the smooth surface of the palm rest. The trackpad supports Windows 8 gestures like swiping from the side and corners to bring up menus, but we found this irritating, as it often interfered with basic gestures. Luckily, disabling this feature fixed these issues, but there were still rare instances where the touchpad was unresponsive to our swipes. We had no complaints about the P2742's keyboard, which worked well whether gaming or typing. One big issue we encountered was an error code that prevented us from installing Steam, requiring us to reformat the notebook to get it working. Gigabyte says ours was an isolated incident and that they have tested other units without such issues. That problem aside, Gigabyte's P2742 can play the majority of games today, but it isn't as future-proof as we would like and is unable to play more graphically intensive games beyond medium-to-low settings. For $150 more, we recommend getting the much more powerful Fangbook. Still, considering its affordable price tag, spacious storage, and relative portability, there's still use for the P2742 yet. Gigabyte P2742 Byte Affordable; relatively portable; spacious storage. Bite Could use a beefier GPU.  $1,400, www.gigabyte.com Benchmarks
Our zero-point notebook is an MSI GT60 with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM, 12GB DDR3/1600, two 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm hard drives, a GeForce GTX 670M, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. STALKER: CoP tested at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, Tessellation, and contact hardening. Specifications
CyberPower Fangbook X7-200While Gigabyte's P2742 is somewhat portable, the same can't be said of CyberPower's Fangbook. It uses MSI's popular bulky chassis design—the same design used by our MSI GT60 zero-point, except in a larger 16.8x11.3x2.1-inch form factor with a 17.3-inch TN display, Ã la the iBuyPower CZ-17. When we asked CyberPower why this particular chassis was becoming so popular, the company pointed to its spacious design, which offers good airflow, and the fact that consumers like its aesthetic.
The Fangbook features TRON-esque LEDs around the speakers, keyboard, and trackpad. Even though CyberPower uses a chassis we've seen time and time again, the Fangbook does make a few tweaks. First and foremost, the cover implements a futuristic armor design, which is reminiscent of the Crysis Nanosuit. In addition, the laptop features blue LEDs peppered about the case and a red-LED-backlit keyboard. This gives the notebook a very TRON-esque vibe that asserts its gaming status loud and clear. While the Fangbook doesn't have the most impressive specs ever, you're getting a lot for $1,550, including a 2.4GHz Core i7-3630QM CPU, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and a GeForce GTX 675MX videocard. This is the first time we've reviewed a gaming laptop with a 675MX, which has 4GB of GDDR5 RAM and performance between a 680M and 670MX (MX cards are slightly faster than their M counterparts). While you don't get as much storage space as Gigabyte's P2742, you're still getting a 60GB Intel 520 Series SSD and a 750GB mechanical hard drive. Thanks to these specs, the Fangbook was able to outrun our zero-point in every test. The gains weren't crazy in our CPU-intensive benchmarks (Stitch.efx, ProShow, x264)—all within 5 percent of each other—which makes sense given that the Fangbook's CPU is only 100MHz faster than the zero-point's. The performance differences were more apparent when we ran our GPU-intensive tests. The Fangbook was able to best the GT60 by 13 percent in STALKER and double-digit percentages in 3DMark 11. Clearly, the Fangbook was able to put the 670MX's extra CUDA cores, faster clocks, and additional RAM to good use. In our experiential gameplay tests, the Fangbook was able to run Dota 2 maxed out at 1080p with silky-smooth frame rates in the mid-50s. In Far Cry 3, the Fangbook was able to run at the default medium settings with frame rates in the mid-40s. We also ran the game on high, where the laptop yielded an average 30fps, though the inconsistent dips make this ill-advised. The Fangbook's keyboard features anti-ghosting keys, which means the computer will recognize numerous button presses simultaneously. While the keyboard works well for gaming, it's not great for word processing; keypresses seemed to require more pressure than they should. We felt the same about the two buttons below the trackpad. One feature we did like is the sub-woofer at the bottom for a 2.1 audio setup, which adds a little extra oomph to the auditory experience—something generally lacking in notebooks. If you can get past the fact that the Fangbook is a heavy desktop replacement, you'll find a powerful gaming rig for an absolute steal of a price. We liked our MSI GT60 zero-point when we first reviewed it in December 2012, but the Fangbook is considerably more powerful, comes with an SSD, and offers a much larger screen for only 50 bucks more. We say it's well worth the price of admission. CyberPower Fangbook X7-200 Fangs Powerful gaming rig; great price; good battery life. Bangs Really bulky and heavy; keyboard and trackpad require too much force.  $1,550, www.cyberpowerpc.com Benchmarks
Our zero-point notebook is an MSI GT60 with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM, 12GB DDR3/1600, two 500GB Seagate 7,200rpm hard drives, a GeForce GTX 670M, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. STALKER: CoP tested at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, Tessellation, and contact hardening. Specifications
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| Headphone Microphone Head-to-Head Posted: 31 Jul 2013 11:15 AM PDT Three attachable microphones duke it outFor whatever reason, audiophile-quality headsets don't exist unless you can spring for something like the $250 Sennheiser PC 360. Fortunately, you don't have to use a dedicated headset anymore and can stick a capable microphone right onto your beloved headphones. The Zalman ZM-MIC1, the AntLion ModMic 2.0, and ModMic 3.0 are all priced under $50 and are aimed at headphone users. All three of the microphones attach to any set of headphones. Both ModMics are paired with a magnetic clasp that attaches to the side of your headphones with an adhesive tape. The microphone itself is then held in place by a magnet. The system works remarkably well and makes for an easily removable and re-attachable system. Zalman decided to go with something a bit more simple and attached a clip to the ZM-MIC1 which allows you to literally slide the microphone onto your headphone cable. They also all use the pink 3.5mm jack on your rig which means that they're susceptible to interference. Use them with a dedicated sound card or your front panel ports if at all possible. We put them all through their paces to find out which one you should pair with your audiophile headphones.
AntLion ModMic 2.0 Round 1: Audio QualityThe AntLion ModMic 2.0 is the clear winner in audio quality. Voices sound so crisp and clear that it's easy to forget that you're not hearing an actual person in front of you. The problems start when you've got any sort of background noise. Crystal clear recordings come at a cost—the fan you have in your window or that mechanical keyboard you type on will come through with your voice. ModMic 2.0 voice + keyboard recording AntLion recognizes this problem and has tried to solve it with the ModMic 3.0 which has active noise cancellation. This has a negative effect on the richness of recordings. Keyboard and mouse clicks are muffled, but voices lose some of their fullness. Your recordings will still be crisp and clear, but you just won't sound as good as you do with the 2.0. ModMic 3.0 voice + keyboard recording The Zalman ZM-MIC1 is surprisingly capable. Despite being the smallest microphone we tested, it sounds decent. Voices sound a little hollow, but are otherwise alright. Your friends won't have any problems hearing you on Vent, but you probably don't want to be podcasting with this microphone. It's a step below the 3.0 despite the lack of any noise cancellation. Zalman ZM-MIC1 voice recording Zalman ZM-MIC1 voice + keyboard recording There's a clear difference between the audio quality of the ModMic 2.0 and the other two contenders. Take a listen to the audio recordings and experience the difference firsthand. Winner: AntLion ModMic 2.0 Round 2: DurabilityThis one goes to the Zalman ZM-MIC1. As a small microphone on the end of a disc encased in plastic, this thing should be pretty much impossible to destroy. Although there's only a tiny bit of strain relief on the end of the cable, it's long enough to have some slack if you accidentally yank on it. Although the ModMics aren't weak, they're definitely not as durable as something that's encased entirely in plastic. The ModMic 2.0 is a step above the 3.0 with its flexible boom and one-piece construction. AntLion was a bit more ambitious with the 3.0 and added a detachable boom. The unfortunate part is that the microphone itself is a lot harder to bend and can easily get kinked. The simplicity of the ZM-MIC1's construction gives it the edge in durability. Winner: Zalman ZM-MIC1
Zalman ZM-MIC 1: small and affordable. Round 3: LookThere's something about the ModMic 3.0 that screams professional. A stiff boom microphone that is hard to bend may not be the best thing if you're trying to position it correctly, but it sure does look amazing. Add in the little plastic clip that braces the cable against the microphone itself to prevent the microphone from moving, and you've got an attachable microphone that looks like it was built onto the headphones at the factory. The ModMic 2.0 uses the same magnetic clasp to affix the microphone to the side of one of your headphone cans, but the larger boom and flexible wire make it look a bit more messy. At the same time, the understated design of the ZM-MIC1 is something that we appreciated. Aside from the silver Zalman bezel, the microphone is small and unobtrusive which is ideal for an accessory that attaches to your already stylish headphones. This category's a tie between the simplicity of the ZM-MIC1 and the sleek lines of the ModMic 3.0. Winner: AntLion ModMic 3.0 and Zalman ZM-MIC1 (Tie) Round 4: Noise CancellationThe ModMic 3.0 is a shoe-in for this category because it's the only unidirectional microphone in this head-to-head. Unlike the omnidirectional microphones in the ModMic 2.0 and ZM-MIC1, the 3.0 only records sound from a single direction. As a result, keyboard noises and other background noise are noticeably quieter on ModMic 3.0 recordings. Background noise is a huge nuisance for the 2.0 and the ZM-MIC1. The ModMic 3.0 is the clear winner in noise cancellation even if it doesn't complete silence background noise. Winner: AntLion ModMic 3.0 Round 5: CompatibilityBoth the ZM-MIC1 and the ModMic 2.0 are usable immediately after plugging them into an unoccupied 3.5mm jack on your PC. They don't require any extra drivers, but won't work with combo jacks (headphone and microphone in one). The ModMic 3.0 is a whole different story. AntLion is well aware of the ModMic 3.0's compatibility issues and has compiled a list of compatible sound cards. The biggest problem is iffy support for Realtek HD drivers which rules out compatibility with the majority of integrated sound cards. We were fortunate enough to get the 3.0 working with Realtek HD drivers after a bit of tinkering, but your mileage may vary. This one's a tie between the ModMic 2.0 and ZM-MIC1 which both worked without a hitch. Winner: AntLion ModMic 2.0 and Zalman ZM-MIC1 (Tie)
Round 6: ValueAt $9 on Amazon, the ZM-MIC1 is an absolute bargain. You'll be hard pressed to find any microphone, attachable or otherwise, that's as affordably priced. Although it doesn't sound nearly as good as the ModMic 2.0, its performance is more than acceptable. Pay $32 for the ModMic 2.0 and you'll have a great microphone for actual voice recordings that is a bit overkill for casual Skype calls. An extra $4 will net you the 3.0 which gives you a removable boom, wire clip, and noise cancellation—a lot of features for a meager price hike marred only by the 3.0's compatibility issues. Winner: Zalman ZM-MIC1 And the Winner Is...Our first impression was to give the edge to the ModMic 2.0, but at the end of the day it's hard to argue with a $9 microphone that just works. The Zalman ZM-MIC1 looks great, sounds okay, and works with pretty much everything. It may not be the best microphone in this head-to-head, but it's the most affordable and will work fine for anyone who just needs a cheap microphone to use on Skype. If you need something with better audio quality, you can spring for the ModMic 2.0 or 3.0 depending on the environment you'll be using your microphone in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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