| CES 2014: Gigabyte Suite Tour [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST  Gigabyte brings a bunch of Brix to CES
Rodney Dangerfield was a famous comedian who often lamented he got no respect. What does that have to do with technology? Well, you could consider integrated graphics the Rodney Dangerfield of technology. Integrated graphics have historically been laughably weak for any kind of real gaming, up until Intel announced Iris Pro. You can find Iris Pro graphics in Gigabyte's new Brix Pro system, which we captured on video at CES. As Gordon notes in the video, we reviewed the Brix Pro for a future issue of the magazine. While we can't reveal the verdict just yet, we can say that the system is fast. In the video below, you can see the Brix Pro running Battlefield 4 rather smoothly, which is pretty impressive for a system this small. Gigabyte also brought to CES a Brix NAS box. Unlike most NAS boxes, the Brix is small enough to hold in your hand. It's also running a version of Android powered by a Haswell processor. Here it is: Moving right along, Gordon caught on camera a bunch of different Brix systems, including a Celeron powered system based on Intel's Bay Trail architecture. Among the crop of Brix systems were a few ARM-powered boxes desgined to run Android. Lastly, Gigabyte had on display the GA-Z87X-UD7TH motherboard. What sets this board apart are two Thunderbolt 2 compliant ports. Take a look: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CES 2014: MSI Suite Tour [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:35 AM PST  A look MSI's upcoming Intel and AMD motherboards
MSI is in a tight race with ASRock to become the third largest motherboard maker behind heavyweights Asus and Gigabyte. ASRock took a slight lead in 2013, but looking ahead, MSI is expected to leapfrog into the No. 3 spot with 8 million motherboard shipments. Either way, system builders will have plenty of MSI motherboards to sift through in 2014, several of which we had a chance to glimpse at CES. Gordon captured on video several Intel motherboards aimed at gamers. Included in the lineup of upcoming mobos is a mini-ITX board with a ton of SATA ports and running the Z87 chipset. Smaller size boards are fast becoming popular, especially with Steam Machines gaining momentum. Here's a closer look: Prefer AMD? Don't worry, MSI has you covered. Like the Intel lineup, MSI is readying AMD boards of varying size and feature-sets, including a mini-ITX version of an FM2 board. More here: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CES 2014: Asus Suite Tour [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:15 AM PST  Gordon takes you through Asus' product lineup
Asus came to CES locked and loaded with some big time product announcements, among them a 28-inch 4K Ultra HD monitor for $800 and a 27-inch G-Sync monitor, also for $800 (check out our video coverage if you haven't already). The company could have stopped there and called its visit to CES a success, but it didn't. Asus brought some other products to the show, which Gordon will walk you through in a few videos. Kicking off the tour is a look at a prototype motherboard, the Z87 Deluxe SATA Express. The board features two SATA Express ports, each one consisting of two SATA 6Gbps ports and a PCI-E connector. SATA Express devices use a cable that occupies all three ports to achieve faster speeds than a single SATA 6Gbps port alone can provide. Have a look: Asus also showed off its ROG Front Base. It's a front panel device with a 4-inch LCD and various ports. It works with the latest ROG motherboards and allows you to overclock and monitor vitals. There's also a boss button that tosses your out of any game you're playing (or app) and into the desktop. More here: Finally, we take a look at a brand new M70 desktop PC for mainstream users. One cool thing about this system is that it has an intergrated UPS to keep you up and running in the event of a power outage. Here it is: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CES 2014: Digital Storm Unveils Bolt II, World's First Liquid Cooled Steam Machine [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 10:38 AM PST  Gordon gets up close and personal with the Bolt II
Digital Storm's original Bolt introduced gamers to a console-like box filled with PC hardware. It was essentially a Steam Machine before such a thing existed, minus Valve's Steam OS. This time around, Digital Storm's Bolt II is a bona fide Steam Machine that once again comes in a small form factor (SFF) chassis, only now it runs both Windows and Steam OS, and is liquid cooled to boot. According to Digital Storm, no other Steam Machine uses liquid cooling. The Bolt II keeps things cool with a "best-in-class" 240mm radiator, large perforated ventilation areas over the graphics card, a top panel that transfers excess heat out of the system while pulling cold air in, and an "expertly engineered airflow design." Digital Storm isn't yet sharing specific configuration details, though the boutique builder made it clear that its system won't cost the same as an Xbox One or PlayStation 4. "We are not looking to compete with console pricing," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development. "We're taking aim at the high end of the market, targeting consumers that demand the best possible gaming experience and who are looking for a PC capable of playing any title on their new 4K display." That said, the Bolt II will be available later this month starting at $1,899. Update After we ran this story, Gordon had a chance to visit with Digital Storm and see the new Bolt II system in person. As Gordon notes in the video below, the second iteration is a little wider and taller than the original so that it can now accommodate water cooling. Have a look at Gordon dives inside the Bolt II: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CES 2014: Cooler Master Shows Off HAF Stacker Case and Mechanical Keyboards [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST  Jimmy Thang tours Cooler Master's booth
Case and PC peripheral maker Cooler Master has been kicking out some nifty gear the past few months, including the HAF Stacker. Cooler Master made sure to bring its modular case design to CES where Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang had a chance to check it out up close and on camera. In addition, Cooler Master also demonstrated a few brand new cases and some sweet new mechanical keyboards with unique transitional lighting effects. Cooler Master already unveiled the HAF Stacker, but going forward, the company plans to flesh out the ecosystem with new options and accessories such as a side window, optical drive adapter, and more storage options. Shown in the video below is the new window option, which definitely adds to the aesthetic in a positive way, plus the new cases Cooler Master has on tap for 2014. Check it out: We're big fans of mechanical keyboards, and Cooler Master had a few on display at CES. Cooler Master showed off some neat lighting effects, including one in which the keys illuminate as you press them. It almost looks like your fingers are literally sparking the keyboard. Have a look: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CES 2014: A Tour of MSI's Gaming Laptops, Steel Series Engine, and All-in-One PCs [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 07:59 AM PST  A look at MSI's upcoming mobile and AIO products
The hustle and bustle of CES can be overwhelming at times, but that didn't stop Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang from dashing down the strip to where MSI is holed up for the week. Once inside MSI's hotel room, Thang flipped the switch on his video camera while reps talked about a number of products, including a next-generation GE Series gaming laptop. Like the last generation laptop, this new build comes with a Steel Series backlit keyboard, only now it's not limited to a single color; it now uses a full color backlit keyboard. There's also a deeper level of customization, which allows you to change the color, program each individual key, and more. Have a look: Along with upgraded hardware specs, MSI's next-generation laptops will also feature an updated Steel Series Engine keyboard software. What this does is make it easy for users to create macros. Every key is fair game, whether you're creating quick launch commands or several keystrokes rolled into one. Check it out: Finally, MSI offered up a glimpse of its all-in-one gaming system. As currently configured (and currently available to purchase), MSI's gaming-centric AIO runs on a Core i7 processor and Radeon 8970M GPU. It has a 10-point touchscreen that's flicker-free to reduce eyestrain. While it's great for touch-oriented games, MSI says it's capable of running titles like Battlefield 4. MSI will release another model later this year, the AG240. It's a 24-inch AIO with secretive hardware -- "next gen processor, next gen GPU." MSI says it will come out around the end of Q1 or beginning of Q2. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Gigabyte Kicks Off Aorus Brand with Thin SLI Gaming Laptop [Video] Posted: 08 Jan 2014 06:53 AM PST 
Gordon check out the Aorus X7 Gigabyte's over-the-top marketing for its newly created Aorus brand is a bit cringe worthy at times (check out the Aorus "About Us" page), but it's introductory X7 laptop is a different story. After you wade through the marketing hype, what you'll find is a slim and light SLI gaming laptop with two Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M GPUs inside. According to Aorus, it's the thinnest and lightest GTX SLI laptop in the world. The X7 is just 0.9-inches thick and weighs 6.39 pounds. That's a bit heavier than your typical ultrabook. but quite a bit lighter than your average desktop replacement laptop. Aorus claims it's a third of the height and two-thirds the weight of any available top-tier gaming laptop with a single GTX 780M. Cooling chores are handled by a full aluminum chassis with four vents, five thermal pipes, and two fans. Other features include a 17.3-inch Full HD display, up to 32GB of DDR3L-1600 memory (four slots), 4th Generation Intel Core i7 4700HQ processor, two mSATA slots (128GB and 256GB SSD options) and a single 2.5-inch slot (500GB, 750GB, and 1TB HDD options), backlit keyboard, three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, D-Sub, mini DisplayPort, SD card reader, mic and headphone ports, built-in 2W speakers, 1.3MP webcam, Killer LAN chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and choice between Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.1 Pro. The Aorus X7 will be available by March with prices ranging from $2,099 to $2,799. Update Maximum PC Deputy Editor Gordon Mah Ung had a chance to explore the Aorus X7 in person. Here's a look at this skinny laptop running Nvidia Surround: This is a pretty sweet looking laptop with a glass touchpad and dedicated macro keys, which you can see in the following video on the left-hand side of the keyboard. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Intel Core i7 4770 Haswell, Adata XPG SX900 256GB SSD, and More! Posted: 08 Jan 2014 05:51 AM PST |
