Tech News
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Spent some time at the BoiseLAN 13
Published: Monday, February 19, 2024 | By: DennisThis history of LAN Parties and Boise goes back a long way. First there were the garage LANs hosted by someone at their house and was a great way to hang out, play some games and pound back a few drinks. The first big LAN was hosted by Boise Frag Fest in the Boise Bomb Shelter and then later at the Karcher Mall in Nampa before ultimately being disbanded. Our very own Darren helped run those events and is one reason we both took interest in the BoiseLAN.
This last weekend was the 13th BoiseLAN hosted at a venue called Trailhead and was the first time back there since BoiseLAN 9.0 and well before the lockdown. The Trailhead is a Business Development space in Boise and turns out to be a pretty good location with easy access to parking, freeway and some great food.
Hardware Asylum first got involved with BoiseLAN 2.0 where we hosted a prize giveaway to help promote the Hardware Asylum Podcast and give away some great prizes. Since then, we have always given back to the event typically with adding computer hardware to the prize raffle and hosting computer related events like Overclocking with Liquid Nitrogen.
If you are interested in some of those past events check out our associated articles below.
- Hardware Asylum Sponsors The Boise LAN 2.0
- First Annual Hardware Asylum CaseMOD contest at Boise LAN 10
- Boise LAN 10 and the Hardware Asylum CaseMOD Contest (Podcast)
- DICE Overclocking at the BoiseLAN 4.0 (Podcast)
For BoiseLAN 13 the intent was to provide some prizes with no side agenda however, once attendees learned that a Thermaltake CTE750 was on the prize table many naturally stopped by to ask about it and find out what Hardware Asylum was all about.
Below are some photos from the event.
If you are curious about BoiseLAN and would like to get involved check out their Discord channel and Website.
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CS LIVA Z5 Plus Mini-PC (Intel Core i5-1335U) @ TechPowerUp
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | By: DennisThere was a time when I could not be bothered with Mini-PCs. They were extremely underpowered and offered very little to the computer hardware enthusiast. However, it would seem that times are changing, not so much out of innovation but rather stagnation.
Early in my PC building career you could see some common names across the available hardware. In my area the computer shops were focused on offering "in expensive" hardware since cheap sells and names like Biostar, PC Chips and.. ECS were very common. If you wanted a name brand part, you had to order out of a catalog.
So, here we are, faced with a situation. The future of the desktop PC is presented in this review and by none other than ECS, As Morpheus once said "Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony"
The ECS LIVA Z5 Plus delivers robust performance and efficiency. With its remarkably low-noise operation, it proves to be an excellent choice for settings like a home office, kiosk, or digital signage.
Of course, many of the Mini-PCs on the market are still underpowered because, like computer shops of the early 2000's, cheap sells. Had ECS included a Core Ultra processor then this would become a viable desktop replacement. Not a gaming rig but, very decent for what most people "need".
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Yeston GeForce RTX 4080 Super Sakura Sugar review @ Guru3D
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | By: DennisAnime seems to be the new thing for hardware makers to exploit in their designs. Having been a fan of all types of animated shows for many years I am left wondering "What took them so long??"
Yeston has launched the RTX 4080 SUPER, with the Sakura series' top-tier model under review. This release introduces a GPU that stands out for its distinctive design, catering to enthusiasts who favor the Sakura series' unique visual appeal. A prominent characteristic of these cards is the white PCB, distinguishing them within the industry. The card comes with a factory overclock setting of 2640 MHz, enhancing its performance capabilities.
Most everyone went total schizoid over the 7900 XTX edition of this card and well, now it is time to shine with the RTX 4080 Super.
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AZIO Retro Classic Prestige Mechanical Keyboard Review @ ThinkComputers
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | By: DennisNormally, I am usually skipping over keyboard reviews. We do them here, and they make for great content but... they are a keyboard, you type on them, that translates into INPUT or stupid phrases that get you banned from society.
What caught my eye with this review is that we have reviewed a similar keyboard back in 2016!! The AZIO MK Retro Mechanical Keyboard.
Overall, the design was unique but, I found it difficult to type on so, if you want a keyboard to look retro and be as functional as a retro bit of hardware then SCORE. Otherwise, you might want to keep looking. The Classic Prestige at ThingComputers looks to have tweaked the keycaps to make them more square, and thus easier to type on.
Back in 2016 AZIO released a keyboard that was incredibly unique at the time called the MK Retro. The keyboard was inspired by classic typewriters with circular keys. It was a hit and soon after they released the Retro Classic which has the same type of style, but used materials like leather and zinc alloy. There has been many iterations since then of this iconic keyboard and today we have a brand new one, the Retro Classic Prestige. This brings with it a new keycap design that is not as circular, a black wooden and gunmetal frame, mechanical key switches that are hot-swappable, and both wired and wireless connectivity.
Seems AZIO is back at it again, might have to reach out and see what is going on.
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Funky Kit Review - GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER GAMING OC 16G Graphics Card
Published: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 | By: DennisThe hot new video card on the block is the "slightly" improved "SUPER" gaming cards from NVIDIA. The Super cards are a modification of the TI cards which is a modification of the base cards and for some reason people are going ape shiz over them.
With any luck NVIDIA will plan out their next generation card naming better so we dont' have to deal with all this bad naming BS.
However, what is not bad is Gigabyte graphics cards. Sure, they dont' have the massive VRMs found on better cards, and sometimes the coolers seem oversized or not sized enough but, we still love them.
(and this isn't one of those big belt buckle type cards, it may be compensating but has the power to back it up)
With an overclocked GPU cooled by Gigabyte's WindForce Cooling system, featuring a massive heatsink with 9 heatpipes, and 3 x 110mm unique blade RGB ring fans, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Gaming OC is no doubt, a phenomenal graphics card designed for the most extreme of enthusiast gamers. It outperforms everything we've tested to date, all except of course, the RTX 4090.
Wow, just look at those specs!!
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Radeon RX 7600 XT 16GB - Sapphire Pulse OC @ Guru3D
Published: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 | By: DennisIn the world of hardware reviews there is always the question on if anyone will bother reading the article or, if they are just there to look at the pics.
I think the answer to that question is contained in this paragraph that I lifted from the review.
The design is massive, reaching almost 30cm and two and a half slots thick. The spinners keep the product cooled down whilst not being too noisy. Thermal behavior is primarily determined by key thermal limits, with fan performance closely linked to the GPU junction temperature, a target fan RPM of 1600 RPM, and memory temperature.
The spinners keep the product cooled. That could be small ladies or crazy fans, or maybe the only fans for the small ladies as they overclock their video cards.
I think that might be a review that people will read, or you could check out the Sapphire review over at the Gru.
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NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4070 Ti Super Launch Day
Published: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | By: DennisIt has been a while since I have done one of these review blocks. We can thank Google and the endless number of content spammers, content thieves and grey hat SEO scammers for making the casual sharing of articles across like minded review sites a punishable offence.
Seriously, Google will disown you for sharing "low quality" content, which also brings up the question of:
- what is low quality content?
- is my content low quality?? - or -
- is the quality of the content related to who is posting the content vs who is posting the link to the content???
Readers like you will never lose a wink of sleep over this and are likely yelling at your screen right now saying "where is this review list you promised us?"
Or, you have up and left already because, "who has time to read this garbage!". Which then, begs the question. "Does low quality content matter if nobody bothers to read it?"
There will be time to discover this and more AFTER we learn about all of the hardware sites that actually got an RTX 4070 Ti Super to review. **
Web Reviews
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition @ TechPowerUp
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Super Dual @ TechPowerUp
Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Super Ghost @ TechPowerUp
PNY GeForce RTX 4070 Super Verto @ TechPowerUp
Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 Super Trinity @ TechPowerUp
Nvidia RTX 4070 SUPER Founders Edition @ LanOC Reviews
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Founders Edition Review
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Super TUF OC @ TechPowerUp
Palit GeForce RTX 4070 Super JetStream OC @ TechPowerUp
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Super Aorus Master @ TechPowerUp
Guru3D GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER OC edition reviews
ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super TUF @ TechPowerUp
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Ventus 3X @ TechPowerUp
Zotac GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Trinity @ TechPowerUp
PNY GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Verto OC @ TechPowerUp
Galax GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super EX White @ TechPowerUp
Palit GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Jetstream OC @ TechPowerUp
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Ti SUPER @ LanOC Reviews
Multiple GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER reviews at Guru3DHave you noticed a trend??
Ya TechPowerUp is by far the least scared of Google and puts in the most effort to let their readers and assoicate websites know when they release a review. In this case, flex over how many cards they got from different vendors. Had this been a TechTuber channel the host would be complaining about getting "YET ANOTHER" graphics card to review.
Pfft, you shouldn't cry like a little girl with a skinned knee and shit, be happy for your success or go back to bussing tables and washing dishes.
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Alphacool Apex Stealth 120 mm Fan @ TechPowerUp
Published: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | By: DennisI was able to see this fan in person during CES 2024 and it is quite nice. Personally, I am not a fan of the captured fan blades, they do offer a lower noise footprint but, just seem wrong. The RGB lighting and all metal frame, on the other hand, are quite nice.
The Alphacool Apex Stealth is a unique new fan which uses a metal frame and a patent-pending decoupling mechanism to be one of the quietest fans in the market. It performs reasonably well and has a long RPM range to be versatile with different use cases too. There are two max speed options as well as four colors/finishes to choose from.
Thees fans will make for nice upgrade parts in custom PC builds where the fans are the highlight.
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AVerMedia Unveils Its Cutting-Edge HDMI 2.1 PCIe Capture Solutions for the Ultimate Streaming Experience
Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | By: DennisRevealing Cutting-Edge HDMI 2.1 Technology and Budget-Friendly 4K Capture Card
San Jose, California – January 16, 2024
AVerMedia Technologies., a leader in digital audiovisual solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest PCIe capture cards — the HDMI 2.1 Live Gamer 4K 2.1 (GC575) and Live Streamer ULTRA HD (GC571). These innovative devices cater to the diverse needs from sophisticated and entry-level streamers, complementing AVerMedia's line of capture card solutions and positioning AVerMedia as a pioneering force in the industry.
After the successful launch of the HDMI 2.1 Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2), AVerMedia introduces the PCIe version, Live Gamer 4K 2.1, offering users a more expansive range of choices. Michael Kuo, President and CEO of AVerMedia, stated, “Whether you're seeking to play the latest 4K games, looking for HDMI 2.1 compatibility, or preferring PCIe connectivity, we've been continually expanding our capture card line to meet the needs of the streaming community.”
AVerMedia's flagship Live Gamer 4K 2.1 (GC575) stands as the world's premier consumer-grade HDMI 2.1 PCIe capture card. Engineered to revolutionize the streaming experience globally, it maximizes the potential of HDMI 2.1 technology. Boasting features like up to 4K144 pass-through HDR/VRR, the card ensures every gameplay moment is transmitted with breathtaking clarity and fluidity. Supporting up to 4K60 capture, it empowers streamers to capture their cherished gaming memories with unparalleled precision.
For those exploring the world of live streaming for the first time, the Live Streamer ULTRA HD (GC571) is designed to lower the entry barriers. It caters to individuals with a limited budget yet is pursuing high-quality 4K streaming and capturing. Aside from 4K streaming and capturing, the Live Streamer ULTRA HD (GC571) also offers user-friendly features, effortless operation, and low-profile PCB design, all while being affordable.
As a free and dedicated software to these capture cards, AVerMedia's RECentral allows simultaneous streaming and broadcasting to multiple platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. It can also effortlessly integrate with preferred third-party capturing and live-streaming platforms, providing a seamless experience for users.
Redefine the gaming and streaming experience, elevate gameplay, captivate audiences, and embrace future-proof streaming technology with AVerMedia's Live Gamer 4K 2.1 (GC575) and Live Streamer ULTRA HD (GC571).
Live Gamer 4K 2.1: Available now at a suggested retail price of US$269.99
Find it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPXMDKF9?ref=myi_title_dp
Live Streamer ULTRA HD: Available now at a suggested retail price of US$179.99
Find it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPHX86HW?ref=myi_title_dp
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AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K 2.1 GC575 @ TechPowerUp
Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | By: DennisI have been using an Avermedia Game Broadcaster HD in the Hardware Asylum Podcast machine YEARS now and is one of the primary ways we do game and video captures for the Podcast and YouTube channels. The capture card was great as it offered VGA and HDMI inputs and I figured it would be great for overclocking streams.
Sadly, Avermedia stopped support for the C127 it when Windows 10 launched and the card was so picky about resolution and refresh rate that it became almost impossible to use.
It would seem that we finally have another option available in the PCI Express based HDMI video capture arena that is also half height. The form factor is extremely important for most streamers given that stream boxes are designed to be small. This would also include the podcast machine in the Hardware Asylum Labs.
The eagerly awaited PCI Express HDMI 2.1 capture card is here! The AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K 2.1 GC575 is the new go-to choice for the most demanding live streamers and content creators, at least those who prefer the PCI Express interface over 10 Gbps USB-C or don't have the latter at their disposal.
I might have to pick one up.
