| Phantom One Desktop Packs a Punch, is Portable as a Six Pack of Suds Posted: 10 Feb 2015 01:00 PM PST  Style meets substance
The folks at One Technology dropped us a line to us know about its Phantom One, a desktop PC that's currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. Not just any desktop, but one that is high performance and "designed to look beautiful on your desk," according to the project's Kickstarter page. It's also compact -- to give you an idea, they shot a photo of the Phantom One next to a six back of Coronas. It's an interesting design that uses aluminum for structural integrity and "aesthetically pleasing materials such as acrylic and bamboo" for the shell, which itself is laser cut to allow for small details and accents. "Our approach was to go against conventional cases that allowed too many choices that users may or may not want. We opted for a completely different design that allowed us to go against standard dimension ratios," One Technology explains. "As a result, Phantom One fits perfectly on any desk and looks great doing so. With a volume smaller than some "next-gen" consoles, you can have a powerful desktop capable of productive means or hardcore gaming without sacrificing the look or size." The team also claims that its Phantom One Bamboo will be the world's first and only bamboo desktop. That's a neat bragging right if it's true, though it apparently comes at a cost -- these systems are a bit pricey, which we'll get to in a moment. Given the compact size, One Technology had to figure out thermals, so what they did was create a "five thermal dissipation system" to avoid recycling hot air inside the case. In addition, both the CPU and GPU are given their own cold air source, the accompanying video explains. They also made the hinges double as heat vents. Alright, what about the hardware? Inside you'll find an Intel Core i7 4790K nestled into an Asus Z97i-Plus mini ITX motehrboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Other specs include 16GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GeForce GTX 970 graphics card, 450W power supply, and Windows 7 64-bit. That's about $1,200 worth of hardware before factoring in the case, and that's where this project may have a tough time. Cost of entry to bring one home through Kickstarter is $1,900 for the "Sleek Black Version," and $1,950 for the bamboo model. The team is looking to raise $50,000 so they can start selling them at $2,400 and up. You can find out more on the project's Kickstarter page. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Kingston Launches Updated HyperX Cloud II Headset Posted: 10 Feb 2015 12:19 PM PST  Now with better USB sound
Kingston said it's begun shipping its new HyperX Cloud II headset featuring a retooled USB sound card audio control box with 7.1 virtual surround sound. It's a hardware-based solution that doesn't require any special drivers -- just plug it and get grooving (or fragging) with independent audio and microphone volume control. There's also a button to toggle on 7.1 virtual surround. When it's on, the headset is supposed to emulate having seven positional speakers. These things are hit or miss -- usually miss -- though we'll reserve judgement until we've have had a chance to try on a pair for ourselves. For chatter bugs, Kingston says the microphone is digitally enhanced with noise cancellation, auto gain control, and echo cancellation, all of which is processed through the USB sound card. A look at some specs: - Transducer Type: dynamic Ø 53mm
- Frequency Response: 15Hz–25,000 Hz
- Nominal SPL: 98±3dB Operating principle: closed
- Nominal impedance: 60 Ω per system T.H.D.: < 2%
- Power handling capacity: 150mW
- Sound coupling to the ear: circumaural
- Ambient noise attenuation: approx. 20 dBa
- Headband pressure: 5N
- Weight with microphone and cable: 320g
- Cable length and type: 1m + 2m extension
- Connection: single mini stereo jack plug (3.5 mm)
Color options include red, gun metal, and limited edition pink (coming soon). MSRP looks to be $150, as that's how much they're going for on Kingston's website, though street pricing is closer to $100 shipped (check Newegg and Amazon). In related news, Kingston also launched its second gaming surface, the HyperX Fury Pro Gaming Mouse Pad. It's made of cloth material and soft padding. There are four sizes and they're portable, which we take to mean that they roll up. No word yet on price or availability. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Let Google Check Your Account Security and Receive 2GB of Drive Storage Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:42 AM PST  Easier than a trip to the doctor
Free storage is out there for the taking. Earlier today we told you about Microsoft's desire to reward you with 100GB of free OneDrive storage simply for signing up for Bing Rewards. Well, it turns out Google is in a giving mood as well, just to a lesser extent -- in recognition of today being Safer Internet Day, Google will inflate your Drive storage by 2GB just for taking a quick security checkup. It's a quick and painless procedure that Google says will take you 2 minutes to complete, though when I ran it, I was finished in about 30 seconds -- I needed to verify the phone number associated with my main account. The checkup also gives you a chance to view your recent activity for anything suspicious, as well as disable access for less secure apps and double-check your account permissions. "While everything stored in Drive is always encrypted in transit and at rest in Google's custom-built data centers, this checkup ensures you're making the most of the 24/7 protection you already get from Google. As our way of saying thanks for completing the checkup by 17 February 2015, we'll give you a permanent 2 gigabyte bump in your Google Drive storage plan," Google says. You can run the checkup tool at any time, something Google advises doing every so often just to make sure there's no funny business going on. Ready to give it a go? Just click here. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Nvidia Releases Game Ready 347.52 WHQL Evolve Drivers Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:14 AM PST  Driver release coincides with Evolve's debut
Nvidia says its been working with publisher 2K Games and developer Turtle Rock Studios to make Evolve "awesome on the PC." Part of that means a new driver release -- Nvidia's Game Ready 347.52 WHQL drivers are now available to download, offering day one support for the anticipated shooter. The latest driver package also contains one-click game setting optimizations within GeForce Experience. "Just in time for the highly anticipated title Evolve, this new GeForce Game Ready driver ensures you'll have the best possible gaming experience," Nvidia states in the release notes (PDF). Included in this release is support for GeForce Experience one-click OPS profiles and SLI configurations so you can enjoy Evolve on day one and get the most out of your GeForce GPU. In addition, we are delivering performance improvements across GeForce GPUs that will immediately benefit a wide variety of titles at various resolutions." Nvidia seems super stoked about Evolve, dedicating a blog post to waxing excited about the game. The GPU maker also posted a bunch of in-house benchmarks and is hosting half a dozen Evolve wallpapers in sizes ranging from 1024x768 to 3840x2160. Other than tweaks for the newest shooter, Nvidia's 347.52 WHQL drivers feature new and updated profiles: - Alone in the Dark: Updated SLI profile
- Black Desert - Updated SLI profile
- Dying Light - Updated SLI profile (previously released via GeForce Experience)
- Evolve - Added SLI profile
- H1Z1 - Added SLI profile Heroes of the
- Storm - Updated SLI profile
- Saint's Row - Gat out of Hell - Added SLI profile
- Total War: Attila - Added SLI profile
- Triad Wars - Added SLI profile
You can grab the new drivers here. And while you're clicking links, our sister site PC Gamer posted a review of Evolve. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Corsair Adds H100i GTX and H80i GT Liquid Coolers to Hydro Series Line Posted: 10 Feb 2015 09:26 AM PST  Don't lose your cool
Maintenance free liquid cooling options are all around, and many of them belong to Corsair -- the company's been releasing liquid CPU coolers at a ferocious pace, it seems. In fact, Corsair just announced two new chilly companions for your CPU, the Hydro Series H100i GTX with 240mm radiator and H80i GT with 120mm radiator. Both options feature a next generation cooling block like the one found on the recently released H110i GT. Since it sports a 240mm dual-fan radiator, the H100i GTX is a bit bigger overall. It has an improved coldplate and pump design, tool-free mounting bracket for faster installation, and built-in Corsair Link support for configuring fan and pump speeds, along with the RGB LED lighting. The self-contained cooler supports Intel LGA 115x, 1366, 2011, and 2011-3 platforms, and AMD AM2, AM3, FM1, and FM2 boards. It carries an MSRP of $120 and is backed by a 5-year warranty. As to its smaller sibling, the H80i GT, it uses an "extra thick" radiator that measures 38mm wide, which is 13mm more than the H100i GTX. It's also a single-fan solution, but otherwise shares the sames specs, including support for the same Intel and AMD sockets. The H80i GT is also a little more affordable at $100 and comes with the same 5-year warranty. If you want to know how the specs compare to other models in Corsair's Hydro Series link, the company posted a handy chart on its website. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Bing Your Way to 100GB of Free OneDrive Cloud Storage Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:02 AM PST  No credits required for this Bing Reward
Microsoft is giving away (or lending, if you prefer to view it that way) 100GB of OneDrive cloud storage for two years when you sign up for for Bing Rewards, a free program that rewards you for using Bing (imagine that!). And if you're already a Bing Rewards member, you're eligible as well. There are no points required to cash in on this deal, you just have to stake your claim by February 28, 2015. "No credits required! Get 100GB of OneDrive storage for two years," Microsoft says. "Keep your photos, videos, and documents in one place. Access an share them from all your devices." This is a neat deal even if you don't use Bing. While the intent is to bring more users into its rewards program and ultimately increase Bing's market share, you can claim your 100GB of OneDrive storage immediately after becoming a member and continue using your search engine of choice. If you do decide to keep using Bing, you can earn other rewards, which are typically redeemed by trading in points you've earned simply by searching the web. There are a few caveats with regards to the OneDrive promo. The first is that the free storage is good for two years, though by then, who knows what additional offers will be available. Secondly, there's really no benefit to Office 365 subscribers, who already have access to unlimited OneDrive storage (on an as-needed basis). And finally, the promotion is only available to U.S. residents. You can sign up for Bing Rewards here. If you're already a member, go here to claim your 100GB. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Display and Storage Edition! Posted: 10 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST |
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