General Gaming Article |
- I Listened to Sennheiser's $55,000 Headphones
- CES 2016: Spying CyberPowerPC's Two-In-One Desktop PC [Video]
- CES 2016: In-Win Shows Off Premium H-Frame 2.0 and Prototype Black Hole [Video]
- Samsung Intros Frameless Curved Monitor and More
- CES 2016: Eve Valkyrie Dev Talks About Oculus [Video]
- CES 2016: AMD Talks Polaris GPU, HDR Monitors, and FreeSync [Video]
- CES 2016: MSI Shows Off Vortex Gaming PC and Eye Tracking Technology [Video]
- CES 2016: Cozying Up with Corsair [Video]
- At $600, the Rift is Expensive, and Not
- Polk Audio Striker Pro Review
| I Listened to Sennheiser's $55,000 Headphones Posted: 07 Jan 2016 04:30 PM PST There are very few times in my life that I've had the chance to try out something as incredible as Sennheiser's new Orpheus headphones. It's really difficult to describe just how good these headphones sound.  To appreciate the fidelity being delivered by the Orpheus's electro-static drivers, you'll have to be somewhat open-minded. Audio is almost completely subjective, especially at the high end. If you're going from a pair of $30 headphones to a pair that costs $1,000, you'll hear a substantial difference. But going beyond $1,000, it becomes increasingly difficult to spot the nuances. Listening to the Orpheus is a whole ritual in its own right. The process plus the knowledge of its cost definitely makes you preconditioned to how "good" the headphones sound. Pressing the power knob on the front of the marble platform starts the 24-second procedure that brings the Orpheus to life. The vacuum tubes and control knobs smoothly slide out and begin to glow a soft orange, letting you know you're about to be plunged into exquisite audio nirvana.  The Orpheus uses electro-static diaphragms to produce its audio. This allows transients (or high frequency sounds) to be produced with incredible speed. When I say speed, I mean the speed at which the diaphragms can oscillate in a controlled manner to produce accurate sound. For mids and highs, the Orpheus can't be beat. They're that good. Even without a completely silent room, I could definitely appreciate the clarity being produced. But what about bass response? These aren't your boomy bass machines like you'll find at the local Best Buy store. The Orpheus is designed to give you tight, accurate bass with excellent extension. I wasn't disappointed. The bass is tight, thanks to the Orpheus's large diaphragms. You could literally feel the headphones vibrate on your head. The sound isn't boomy, and the bass never drowns out the other frequencies.  Right now I have a set of Oppo PM-1 planar magnetic headphones, which cost $1,200 and sound incredible. I mean, I was literally blown away when I first listened to them. Are the Sennheiser Orpheus better by $53,800? That's a really difficult question to answer. It depends on what you appreciate and what you want. It also largely depends on your budget. Different people appreciate different things. What pleases one person may not please another. Some might say that the cost of the Orpheus makes them ridiculous, but there's something to be said about the incredible engineering, materials, thought, and performance that you're getting. You're also buying more than just a product. You're literally getting a whole experience. In terms of practicality, it's like comparing an everyday commuter car to say, a Ferrari. Different things for different experiences, for different people. I really wish I could have listened to Sennheiser's finest creation in a completely silent environment. CES is definitely not the place to audition audio equipment of any kind. With audio products, there's always incredible difficulty in conveying how good or bad something sounds—you just can't do it appropriately with just words. It's like describing something visual to a blind person. The new Orpheus is incredible without question. How incredible though, depends entirely on what you're after. |
| CES 2016: Spying CyberPowerPC's Two-In-One Desktop PC [Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2016 12:18 PM PST Seeing double We've heard of dual-CPU and dual-GPU configurations, but two separate computers inside a single chassis? That's what CyberPowerPC concocted, and it's not a prototype, but a real system. Why two PCs? It's for playing games and streaming at the same time. By handing off streaming chores to a dedicated system, gamers don't need to worry about dropped framerates or degraded performance from trying to share resources. We caught up with CyberPowerPC to check out its Pro Streamer in person. It's a nice looking system with two power buttons on the outside -- one for each configuration -- and liquid cooling on the inside. The setup we looked at had two graphics cards and an AverMedia streaming card inside, though you can customize the build. There are three baseline configurations to build upon, the Pro Streaming I100 starting at $1,899. the Pro Streaming I200 starting at $2,635, and the Pro Streaming I300 starting at $3,119, all available now. CyberPowerPC also brought along its 34-inch all-in-one PC. When you think of AIO systems, gaming doesn't usually come to mind, but this particular setup has an Intel Core i7-6700K processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics card. Combined with a big, curvy panel, this is one badass AIO. Have a look: |
| CES 2016: In-Win Shows Off Premium H-Frame 2.0 and Prototype Black Hole [Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2016 11:56 AM PST Uptown case design Would you pay $799 for a computer case? In-Win is banking on there being a market for premium enclosures that cost a king's ransom, one of those being its new H-Frame 2.0, one of the company's signature cases that was on display at CES. The H-Frame 2.0 is an updated version of the original that was shown at Computex several years ago. This new version is compatible with liquid cooling units, supports several fans, and is an open air, full-tower chassis. For added bling, there's customizable lighting that you can control with buttons on the side. The case will remember your previous light setting, so you don't need to cycle through to your favorite scheme every time you turn the PC on. The H-Frame 2.0 comes with a special 1050W power supply -- the only one the case will work with -- that is modular. When it's running, you can see the components inside the PSU. While the H-Frame 2.0 will come out sometime this year, In-Win also had on display a prototype chassis that may or may not see the light of day. It's a pretty trippy case with an indented front panel that's mirrored and outlined with RGB lighting. It's supposed to resemble a sort of black hole, and in person, it looks like it goes on forever. Check it out: |
| Samsung Intros Frameless Curved Monitor and More Posted: 07 Jan 2016 11:30 AM PST This week during CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Samsung claimed the "world's first" title with the introduction of its new Samsung CF591, a "frameless" curved monitor. The company also introduced two other "framed" monitors at the show, the Samsung CF390 and the CF391, both of which are also curved. All three support AMD's FreeSync Technology, including the new FreeSync over HDMI, making them a great addition to a PC system with an installed AMD graphics card. The CF591 sports a 1080p 27-inch screen with a screen curvature of 1800R. Other display features include 250nit brightness, 3000:1 contrast ratio, 4ms response time, and a color gamut of 81 percent NTSC. There's one DisplayPort 1.2 connector, two HDMI 1.4 connectors, audio input, two 5W speakers, and 178 degree viewing angles. As for the CF391 and the CF390, they feature screens measuring 32" and 27" respectively. The CF391 also provides a contrast ratio of 5,000:1 while the CF390 has a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. Both have a curvature of 1800R, 1920x1080 resolution, 250nit brightness, 4ms response time, 72 percent NTSC color gamut, and 178 degree viewing angles. However, unlike the "frameless" model, these two displays provide only one HDMI port. There are also no built-in stereo speakers and no audio input options. But that's okay, as many consumers and gamers may not want their audio pumped through small display speakers, optioning for a fuller sound via a separate audio system. That makes these displays a great choice if all the customer needs is an update in the visual department. What's really exciting about all three monitors is that they support AMD FreeSync. That means the refresh rate on the screen will match the frame output generated by the AMD GPU (sorry Nvidia folks, this isn't for you). Gamers and professionals alike should see less screen tearing and lag in their games and GPU-heavy applications. Unfortunately, the maximum 60Hz refresh rates are pretty low, especially considering the native 1920x1080 resolution; 40-144Hz displays are available, and we've found those to be far better for gaming. "Our cutting-edge monitors are designed for a variety of users, whether they are mastering the latest video game, working on a visually demanding presentation, or unlocking new interactive possibilities across a range of usage scenarios," says Andrew Sivori, Vice President, Consumer Electronics IT Product Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. Samsung did not provide actual pricing and availability, although the panels are likely to be released soon. |
| CES 2016: Eve Valkyrie Dev Talks About Oculus [Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2016 11:18 AM PST A virtual discussionOculus Rift is finally here, at least in pre-order form. It's available to pre-order for $599 (read our thoughts about the price point), starts shipping in March, and comes with a few extra goodies, including Eve: Valkyrie, a multiplayer dogfighting shooter set in the same Eve universe as Eve Online. We met up with Adam from CCP, one of the game developers behind the Oculus launch title, to talk about Eve: Valkyrie. Adam told us that Eve: Valkyrie will support the Oculus Touch controllers, though whether that support comes on day of release or not is something that's yet to be determined. There will be three different ship types in Eve: Valkyrie, one that's balanced, one's that more heavily armored, and one that can both heal other ships and lay down minefields. Something that's been in development since the first version of Oculus Rift is how tracking missiles work. The aiming is tightly integrated into the VR experience, requiring the user to look around to lock onto targets and guide the missiles to them. This is supposed to facilitate the VR experience by encouraging the user to look around and become immersed. Check out the video for more of what Adam had to say about Eve: Valkyrie, including motion sickness and his thoughts on pre-order pricing. |
| CES 2016: AMD Talks Polaris GPU, HDR Monitors, and FreeSync [Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2016 10:55 AM PST Taking a peek at Polaris AMD is moving to a 14/16nm FinFET process technology on its GPUs, that's something we've known for some time now. But what exactly will it be and when? AMD's next generation GCN architecture will manifest in Polaris, which is scheduled to arrive around the middle of the year. That's a long wait if you're looking to upgrade right now, though AMD deserves credit for breaking tradition and giving us a heads up so far in advance. If you haven't done so already, check out our Polaris coverage from earlier in the week. One of the main benefits of moving to FinFET is that it helps with power leakage. We caught up with AMD at CES to talk more about this and Polaris in general. AMD had a pair of systems running side-by-side, one powered by Polaris and another running Nvidia's GeForce GTX 950. The identically configured systems (save for the GPU) were plugged into a power meter to measure the wattage required to achieve 60 frames per second at 1080p. The Polaris system hovered around 85W while the GTX 950 system used about 145W. What's promising about the demo is that this is the first silicon based on Polaris. AMD will make revisions, both on the hardware and software sides, between now and release that could drive performance-per-watt improvements to over 2X compared to Nvidia. AMD also talked about displays and how most of today's panels are stuck at SDR and based on standards that are decades old. That's true even of IPS panels. According to AMD, the next step is HDR, which has better colors and contrast ratios Take a look: Also of note is that AMD and its partners are bringing HDMI support to FreeSync. HDMI on its own isn't able to process FreeSync information, so what AMD was write an extension to the spec, one that can be used with both HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 monitors. What's neat about this is that no special HDMI cable is needed, just a compatible Radeon graphics card, AMD's Crimson driver, and a compatible display. |
| CES 2016: MSI Shows Off Vortex Gaming PC and Eye Tracking Technology [Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2016 10:17 AM PST Don't call it a Mac Pro When you're informed that there's a mighty vortex in the area, you do one of two things -- run away or check it out with camera in hand. We opted for the latter, making our way to MSI's booth at CES to check out its new Vortex desktop gaming PC. The cylinder shaped PC will draw inevitable comparisons to Apple's Mac Pro, but they're two very different beasts. Whereas Apple is targeting professional users and content creators, MSI has gamers in its sights. That much is apparent just by looking at the two machines. It's not overly big -- about 6.5L -- though it's packed with Intel's latest silicon and dual graphics cards. To keep those parts cool, MSI's cooling scheme pulls air in from the bottom and creates a sort of cyclone, with hot air expelled out of the top. According to MSI, it's a quiet system, even when stressed. Take a look and let us know what you think: Outside of funky looking desktops, MSI is invested in gaming laptops. One nifty development in that area is integrated eye tracking technology in the company's GT72S Tobii. There are three infrared facial and eye tracking sensors in the bezel of the laptop that can detect where a user is looking on the screen. For what purpose? It's to add another level of immersion. For example, if you're looking at an object, the screen might display details about it. You can also initiate actions by looking at certain objects, like grappling onto ledges in Assassin's Creed. The laptop will be available later this month priced at around $2,500. It will be bundled with Tom Clancey's The Division, which is just one of many games to support Tobii eye tracking. MSI also showed us a few other laptops, including ones that have already been released. Take a look: |
| CES 2016: Cozying Up with Corsair [Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2016 09:42 AM PST On the case with CorsairCorsair recently announced an aggressively themed case, the Spec-Alpha, intended for gamers. It's a unique design that's unlike any previous chassis Corsair has put out, and to get a closer look, we sent out our seasoned CES sleuth Jimmy Thang with camera in hand. He met up with George Makris, Corsair's product manager for cases, who gave us a detailed look at the Spec-Alpha. One thing George pointed out about the case is that it doesn't have an optical drive. The sacrifice was made in order to give the $79 enclosure better airflow and cooling options (it can fit a liquid cooling radiator up front). We also got an up close and personal look at two of Corsair's more conservative cases, the Carbide 400Q and 400C. The "Q" is for quiet, as the 400Q sports sound dampening material, while the 400C features a large side window to show off your hardware and cable management skills. Check them out: Corsair also had on display its Strafe RGB keyboard. In attendance was Matt Wilkinson, head of tech for Hazard Games, who spoke with us about how Corsair's keyboard lighting can affect gameplay. The Strafe RGB allows for per-key lighting customization. Not only does this allow for easier identification of directional and weapon keys, but it also opens the door to some neat effects. For example, Matt showed us a configuration that had the Function keys mimic the health bar, so as your health in the game depletes, lighting on the Function keys disappears. Have a look: |
| At $600, the Rift is Expensive, and Not Posted: 07 Jan 2016 01:55 AM PST VR is actually happening for real now, and you can order yourself an Oculus Rift today and be part of the first few people to try a final Rift. There's a lot of excitement now that everyone knows when they're going to have a finished Rift to play with. But what about that sticker price of $600? For a long time, we've been saying that in order for VR to really take off, it needs to be accessible. The Rift needs to be at a price point that's affordable to the mass market. Only with mass market adoption will VR truly take off. Just look at 3DTV and what a flash in the pan that turned out to be. In fact, we believe that VR needs to be as ubiquitous as TV for it to be truly revolutionary. From this standpoint, the Rift is not the revolution we've been waiting for. In fact, the Rift 2 won't be either. But is the Rift expensive? Well, consider this: When Amazon launched its original Kindle it was pricy. It wasn't widely adopted. But further iterations of the Kindle proved to be very affordable for many people. Now you can get a Kindle for less than $100. The Rift has plenty of technologies going for it. We doubt that Oculus is even making much of a profit from the presale of the Rift at $600. Consider the components. You have the sensor camera, the controller, and the Rift itself. The actual head unit contains custom-designed lenses, a high-resolution screen, headphone speakers, IR LEDs, head-tracking components, and the custom-molded casing. If you're familiar with the manufacturing game, there's always a minimum order quantity to meet before a manufacturer will make something for you in volume. The DK2 sold a little over 100,000 units. At the factory side, 100,000 units isn't a lot of units. It's actually a very low number. If NVIDIA ordered only 100,000 units of the GTX 980 Ti GPU from TSMC, the full graphics card would easily be over $1,300, perhaps much more. Oculus is pricing its Rift at a number it can live with, not one it can profit from. The first batches have already sold out, and the ship date has slipped to June for the next batch. If we're generous, we'll say there were 500,000 units sold. At this volume, the $600 price tag makes some sense. It's not expensive for its volume and what it is. If this were two decades ago when giant and primitive VR head units were seen only in Hollywood movies, the Rift would easily cost multiple thousands of dollars. Right now, only PC gamers with powerful machines can take advantage of the Rift. If you're new to PC gaming or you're running a system that's two or three years old, the Rift has a high barrier to entry. If you're a casual gamer, you're not going to get one either. If you don't play games, you won't get one. The number of use cases right now is tiny. There's still a lot of work to be done. Oculus and Facebook need time to build more awareness. They also need more time to build up developer relationships. More content, more use cases, more of everything. The community is in an uproar over the Rift's $600 price tag, as it feels betrayed by the promise of VR for everyone. We understand the feeling. If the Rift 2 costs half the Rift's pricing when it comes out, it still won't be a mainstream product. But the Rift 3 might hit that sweet spot. This is a stepping stone to get VR to eventually where it needs to be; then all Oculus needs to do is iterate for a few generations. Oculus hasn't broken any promises of delivering an amazing VR experience. You can get true VR now, but if you're looking for a revolution, that day isn't today. |
| Posted: 07 Jan 2016 12:00 AM PST Headsets can be incredibly personal devices, especially when you use them in places besides the computer chair. Polk Audio's Striker Pro is a headset that we found ourselves wearing a lot, at—and away from—the keyboard. At a glanceHard-hitter: Great build quality; street-friendly styling; comes with connectors for PC, phone, and XBox. Sucker-punched: No surround sound; heavy; awkward mic arm. We got our first look at the Striker Pro P1 during E3 2015, and we had the chance to play with them for a couple of months now. At E3, the headset was being advertised with the announcement of the Square Enix's new Hitman game, which is due out this spring. Both the Striker Pro P1 and the Striker Pro Contract Edition are functionally the same (and the same price), with the Contract Edition offering unique serialized numbers inside the ear cups and a Hitman-themed color scheme. The first thing to know about the Striker Pro P1 is that it's a stereo headset. There's no 7.1 USB surround here (like the HyperX Cloud II), or the ability to jack into your sound card's 7.1 3.5mm jacks (like the Roccat Kave). Instead, the Striker Pro P1 comes with three different cables. The PC cable has mic and stereo 3.5mm jacks, and is longer than the other cables. The mobile cable comes with a mic/stereo combined jack with an inline mic and remote. The last cable is for console controllers. When we picked up the P1, we noticed how deceivingly heavy these little cans are. For many gamers, a heavy headset is a no-go, so that is something to consider. For us however, the weight wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The nearly all-metal design feels durable as hell. We've transported this headset in a backpack without any protection, and they haven't broken or looked too much worse for wear. (That is, save a few scratches that may be visible in photos; sorry about that.) These are headphones you can really put through the ringer and use every day, and there's a lot to be said for that.  The metal construction includes the headband, which applies plenty of pressure to keep the cans in place. The metal headband also doesn't make us cringe when we flex it, like plastic headbands often do. The leatherette ear cup padding is nice and provides reasonable isolation. The sound comes in clear and is comparable to a pair of AKGs DJ headphones (K-181DJ) we have. The lack of surround makes it hard to see this headset competing with top-tier gaming headset in first-person shooters, RPGs, and simulators. However, as a stereo headset, they'll be just fine for MOBAs and strategy titles, and gamers who aren't picky about surround. The Striker Pro P1 also has a detachable boom mic. We like detachable mics, since it lets us use the headset in "everyday" places like walking down the street, in the coffee shop, or on mass transit, without looking odd. Points to Polk for making these stylish for the street. We also like the fact the mic is detachable because we're not big fans of the mic. Positioning the arm of the mic feels like posing one of Gumby's arms or legs. We felt this was odd, and we kept wondering to ourselves if the mic would stay in place once we put it where we wanted. For headphones that cost $150, we'd like a better mic arm. At the end of the day, the Striker Pro is a solid headset that qualifies as a solid go-to headset that you can use at the desk, in the living room, and on the street. We like the versatility, even if it comes at the price of surround features. If you have to get just one headset to perform multiple roles, this headset will serve you well. However, if you want a more full-featured surround experience, this isn't the headset you're after. |
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