2018 has been one of the best years for NAS where we’ve seen some of the most groundbreaking and outstanding devices from brands like QNAP.

Way back in spring, they released one of their most silent NAS devices around; and finally, after quite some time, we were finally able to get our hands on the QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS. So today, we’re going to see if this device really does live up to their quality, as well as our expectations when it comes to such devices. Plus, we’ll get to know if it’s just as good as any other product from QNAP.

Generally, this isn’t one of the most cost-efficient NAS devices around and is considered quite pricey; but despite this, it is packed with a ton of great features so investing in this kit might just be a smart idea.

To begin, let’s check out what’s in store for us and see the other items included in the package of this NAS device from QNAP. Then after, let’s look deeper into this kit to see if it’s something that will suit your needs.

QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS Review – What’s in the Box?

The packaging of this device is contemporary, clean, and appealing; plus, it also comes with a lot of necessary information that tells us about the NAS’ hardware and also the software capabilities that it can perform. The box of the HS-453DX Silent NAS is quite large but it’s to keep the device from acquiring breakages and such while in transit; plus, additional space is also necessary for the additional items that are included in the package.

Inside, a good selection of accessories are available, and aside from the HS-453DX Silent NAS device, other items that were present in the box include the external power supplier, two CAT 6A-RJ45 LAN cables, mains power lead, the newly styled QNAP remote control, adhesive heatsink panels for the M2 SSD drives, hard drive screws for 2.5 and 3.5-inch media, plus a quick-start installation manual and warranty details.

The Product

QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS Review

The HS-453DX Silent NAS from QNAP sports a new CPU that works perfectly for this NAS device. The company also made use of the HDMI 2.0 – A for enhanced 4K 60-Hz playback, a combination of SSD media & hard drive; plus, they also included a 10 gigabit Ethernet connection. With all of these enhancements, the HS-453DX Silent NAS has the potential of becoming one of the best network storage devices from the company to date.

Taking a look at this device’s rear panel, it not only has network ports, but it also features the dual USB 3 and 2 ports, as well as a single Type C USB port. Audio can be handled efficiently with the presence of the dual 3.5-millimeter dynamic mic jacks, a 3.5-millimeter line out, as well as internal speakers and the company’s RM-IR-004 remote control handset.

Noticing that the HS-453DX Silent NAS is a fan-less device, you may be wondering how it even releases heat produced by the LFF hard disks. It actually all lies on the lid which is a huge piece of aluminum that weighs more than a kilo. It functions as a passive heatsink that fits perfectly against the available hard disk carrier trays; also, it sports an additional aluminum block which sits right at the top of the CPU.

Its front panel is held in place via two magnetic panels right at the center; it can be removed easily which will then reveal two bays for the hard drive. These have their own locking mechanism, a LED drive health / access indicators, as well as its own power button. Each of the bays available also has its own lock switch that helps stop the drives from accidentally being removed or ejected while in use.

The drive trays has a metallic design which sports screw holes for the SSD media and hard drive. You will be able to operate the HS-453DX Silent NAS using just one drive, or you can completely populate the NAS with two other drives that have either the RAID 1 or 0 configuration, depending on your needs.

As we mentioned earlier, the lid can be easily detached just by removing the recessed screws underneath when you flip the device over.  Inside, you’ll find a little motherboard situated in the middle of the drive carriers that have 2 SO DIMM memory slots, as well as dual M2 SATA SSD slots that accept card lengths of 2,280.

Just like every other lid made of the same material, it tends to get warm when you’re using it. So avoid putting anything on it, and make sure that it has proper airflow around it. If you plan to fit M2 SSD cards, make sure that you use the provided heat pads to avoid any chances of overheating.

HDMI Output

When it comes to the HDMI output, the HS-453DX Silent NAS has surely been improved with regards to the 4K media. The device comes with double HDMI ports that supports 4K media; however, one of these is HDMI-2.0 which can support 4K movies at 60-Hz.

Once you start utilizing the NAS for multimedia for primary applications like Kodi and Plex, then you’ll be able to easily watch media with very high resolution right at the comfort of your home. And with the included remote control of the device, everything will be more convenient and versatile especially when it comes to controlling numerous NAS functions.

Its second HDMI port also supports audio over HDMI especially if you have this type of setup. Plus, both the HDMI ports can be utilized by the HS-453DX Silent NAS in conjunction with a mouse and keyboard for functions like surveillance stations with the Surveillance Station & QVR Pro software, as well as stand alone PCs with a virtualization or container station app that’s included with this device.

NAS Interior

Inside the NAS, we can say that it features a smart layout of quality hardware. And to guarantee total heat dissipation across the top-most panel, every internal hardware is presented across a uniquely designed motherboard that is specific to the HS-453DX Silent NAS.

A closer look at the primary CPU of this NAS device shows that there’s just a little layer of heatsink between the lid and the CPU while also featuring a familiar type of thermal paste.

An Intel J4-105 quad core CPU is set within the NAS and has a frequency of 1.5-GHz which can go up to as high as 2.5-GHz; this is for whenever the system requires it. When looking at the lid that was removed earlier, you’ll find an extra aluminum heatsink panel that is specially made to aid in further dissipation of the CPU into the top panel. Not only that, but there’s also some extra thermal paste between the two layers. Aside from the memory and the CPU, there are also two slots for internal M2 SSD which are both for 6-GBs SATAs; thing is, you can also use these to install a full-length M.2 SSD due to the screw holes that are present on the device.

Generally, these M2 SSD storage bays can be utilized in different ways, and the most common manner of using this is as an SSD read / write, by which these quicker storage media types are utilized to aid existing hard drive storages. Also, you can assemble an independent RAID volume across the drives using a RAID 0 environment while utilizing the external 10-GBe connection to make a really fast external and internal storage volume. This is great for editing live video or image files on the device.

Once completed, you’ll also be able to automatically or manually transfer the completed work to a hard drive volume to the other two HDD bays via RAID 1 or 0 environment. With that, the work can be distributed across the internet or network directly to your clients, colleagues, customers, or even family, as necessary. With just the basics, we already think that this NAS device is surely a great, quiet, and compact editing device.

Product Features

Actual 4K to Enjoy Better Multimedia Experience

The QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS features the advanced UHD Graphics-600 which allows it to support transcoding in real time, as well as dual channel 4K H.264 hardware decoding. This lets you convert videos to universal file formats which you can play smoothly on a multitude of devices.

With this feature, you can also watch 4K 60FPS media files via HDTV by using the HDMI 2.0 output, as well as the Plex Media Server for streaming media files to mobile phones and other devices. The RM-IR = IR004 of the remote controller can be changed via QButton to set specific actions for each of the buttons. This makes using the NAS more convenient.

Roon Even without a PC

The HS-453DX Silent NAS supports the Roon Server application which can be found in the App Center of QTS. The music player, Roon, identifies all the music you store in the HS-453DX Silent NAS and adds them to its interconnected music library.

With that, you can simply browse and play the music you want with Roon applications is compatible with devices that are designed for multiple-zone multimedia tasks. This lets you provide excellent performance, SSD caching, music streaming, and more.

Impressive Speed and Performance

The HS-453DX Silent NAS operates with the Intel’s Celeron J4-105 1.5GHz quad core processor, which bursts up to 2.5GHz. It comes with 4GB DDR4 memory and supports 6Gbps SATA drives to deliver and maintains high read & write speeds. It also has the AES-NI encryption enabled and has two slots for M.2 2280 SATA SSD.

Delivers Necessary Connectivity for Superb Entertainment

The HS-453DX Silent NAS comes with a stylish set-top design, allowing you to placeit along with your devices for home theater. It offers a lot, in terms of connectivity so it can meet all your needs; these include USB 3.0 types A and C ports, USB 2.0 ports, dual HDMI output, a 3.5-millimeter lineout and others. The NAS also offers an accessible hard drive layout so you can easily add or remove hard drives that measure 3.5 inches.

Improved Media Viewing with SSD Over Provisioning and Caching

The HS-453DX Silent NAS has a HDD + SSD hybrid structure. While SSD costs go lower, you can set up an SSD cache, allocate apps to the SSD, or instantly move most accessed files to the SSD via Qtier technology. This is to achieve the highest access speed rates.

Since it supports software-defined SSD RAID extra OP or over provisioning, the NAS allows you to distribute additional OP space, which optimizes the random write speeds of the SSD while also extending its lifespan.

Accessible Files Wherever You Go

This NAS stores files and data centrally and supports NFS, SMB / CIFS, and AFP protocols for file sharing across Mac, Linux, UNIX, and Windows devices. Since the HS-453DX Silent NAS also features Qsync, the NAS becomes a secure high-capacity data center for synchronizing files. Anything uploaded to the NAS will be available for all computers, laptops, and mobile phones linked to it.

Fully Control the System Status and Data Security

QNAP Notification Center combines all its notification settings and apps into a single application to provide central management and more convenience. The Security Counselor also scans the HS-453DX Silent NAS to detect any potential weakness and offers recommendations to enhance its security.

Specifications

The QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS is especially made for you and every other home user who wants to have the best media features, silent running, 10-GBe performance, and quality looks that would look perfect in any part of your home. And even if this NAS device is only 43 millimeters high, this sleek device is packed with a ton of excellent hardware which is definitely good, in our opinion.

This device also has a ton of room for two SFF or LFF of hard disks in Hot-Swap carriers, and it also gives you dual internal M2 SATA SSD slots which gives this NAS device its 4-bay classification. The HS-453DX Silent NAS is emphasized by the Intel’s Celeron quad core processor, 4K transcoding, HDMI 2.0 output, and 10-GBe high-speed connection. It sports a unique and contemporary design that is great for workstation areas in your home since it comes with a fanless feature for a more silent operation.

When it comes to its performance, the QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS device can boost up to a total of 677-MB/s when it comes to read / write speed. Since the device is also designed with M.2 2280 SSD slots, you’ll be able to have the NAS work as a hybrid storage solution that features SSD caching for improved overall performance during heavy loads. Furthermore, the device also has an integrated 10G-Base-T 5 speed port (10-G / 5-G / 2.5-G / and 100-M).

Just like every other similar QNAP device under its category, the HS-453DX Silent NAS gives you a whole collection of multimedia apps like 4K dual channel real time transcoding, and Plex media Server that streams media to DLNA devices,  Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, as well as Google Chromecast. The HS-453DX Silent NAS also supports software defined SSD RAIDs extra OP or over provisioning which allows you to readily allocation extra OP space. This is to enhance the SSD random write speed and to also aid in promoting a much longer SSD life cycle.

The CPU also makes use of UHD Graphics-600 GPU from Intel that is piped through to the HDMI ports on the rear. This delivers up to a total of 4K video quality at an output of 60-Hz. The HS-453DX Silent NAS also offers you gigabit and 10-GBe N-Base-T ports with the recent letting it support speed that goes up to 56-GBe via the current Cat-5e cabling.

Using the Product

As a multimedia NAS device, this HS-453DX Silent NAS from QNAP is definitely worth investing in. With its Hybrid Desk Station or HD Station application installed, we were able to link an HD TV to the NAS device, logged in the local interface, then utilized the HD Player application to watch our movie, listen to music, and check out our photo collections without any issues.

The NAS is perfect for a Plex setup at home as it looks stylish and takes up minimal space. The NAS handled everything that we threw at it and Plex ran like an absolute dream.

The playback controls for movies are generally comprehensive, and the remote worked perfectly fine with everything.

The HD Station gets even better as it displayed a desktop on our television where we utilized the plugins to immediately access different services like Facebook, YouTube, as well as load browsers like Firefox and Chrome. When you install QNAP’s Surveillance Station application, you’ll be able to use the local application to pipe IP camera feeds right to your television.

All in all, we’re giving the QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS a double thumbs-up for its excellent performance and highly notable features.

Software: QTS 4.4

The HS-453DX Silent NAS is integrated with the QTS operating system which allows you to create a number of data and network-attached storage environments specifically for your business and home needs. This QTS 4.4 software makes your device more efficient, productive, and reliable; and with its multiple new refinements and features, the software empowers both business and home users with a build that is perfect for this high-speed era.

With the latest software available, this HS-453DX Silent NAS device will give you an outstanding range of backup and data protection features. The Snapshots and Storage app manages scheduled point in time shots of NAS volumes & iSCSI LUNs, as well as providing features for sample data recovery.

All the remote and local backup tasks are handled via the Hyper Backup Sync applications which can also secure data to a plethora of cloud storage providers.

Features of the QTS 4.4

Notification Center – Stay Up-to-Date 24/7

The Notification Center feature consolidates every QTS system events, logs, and alerts, giving you a single application solution for notifications, instead of having to set up a number of settings across multiple apps.

Security Counselor

This special feature checks for any form of weaknesses while offering various recommendations to ensure that your data is safe against different attack methods. It also makes use of anti-malware and anti-virus solutions to help protect your HS-453DX Silent NAS.

Reinforce your QNAP NAS with Iron Wolf Health Management from Seagate

The Iron Wolf Health Management or IHM is a feature from Seagate that helps protect your data’s health. When using this feature, the overall reliability of your system will be enhanced by giving you actionable intervention, prevention, as well as recovery options.

Advantages of Streamline Storage Management, SSD, and Data Recovery

The storage efficiency of this QTS 4.4 software has been greatly improved and now includes optimizations for increased productivity to remove possible bottlenecks. It also aggressively supports advanced SSD cache arrangements, flexible storage space allotment, and restorations from the remote snapshot vaults to give you increased performance and reliable computing / storage solutions.

Great Configurable & Virtualized Structure

The developed Network and Virtual Switch application enhances the interfunction between the containers, QNAP NAS virtual machines, as well as other available devices. Including a new virtual private network protocol, total network topology mapping, and more, the QTS 4.4 software gives you a value-packed and high-performance functionality for the QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS.

Hybrid Desk Station or HD Station

The HD Station is a platform that lets you link your HS-453DX Silent NAS to a monitor or TV that is HDMI-compatible. This will allow you to directly and instantly access your multimedia content while also utilizing other available applications.

Conclusion

The HS-453DX Silent NAS delivers more than what we expected and it’s also probably one of the best NAS devices we’ve tried. Thanks to the SSD cache upgrade option and memory expansion, the NAS has room for greater expansion in the future.

The sleek lines of this silent NAS makes it a great choice as an entertainment center for your home. Plus, the new QTS software offers a ton of free multimedia applications. It’s a great device to keep home users entertained and satisfied.

And while HS-453DX Silent NAS costs more than other standard NAS devices in the market, it’s still a better device – it looks great, works quietly, and it delivers excellent performance.  If you’re looking for a centralized storage for home use, we highly recommend the QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the HS-453DX for around $969 AUD from your local retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post QNAP HS-453DX Silent NAS Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

When it comes to bolstering your total data storage volume, using a number of NAS devices can boost management cost and intricacy. Luckily, QNAP came up with their expansion enclosures to give everyone an economical solution for improving the total storage space of your NAS device. This is while simultaneously streamlining maintenance and management tasks.

QNAP is today’s leading networking, computing, and storage solutions provider who just recently launched the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure – a device that can be linked to the NAS or PC using the Type C USB 3.0. It is a multipurpose product that can be utilized to add storage space to your NAS while also serving as a hardware-based RAID storage device for NAS and computers. Not only that, but the TR-004 provides a highly beneficial cross platform file-sharing plus increased flexibility for users. It also acts as an intuitive and high-efficiency storage expansion alternative.

This new TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure from QNAP features an integrated hardware RAID component and more contemporary USB C connectivity. With this, the expansion box from QNAP can be utilized by NAS drives, Mac OS, PC systems, and the Linux Systems.

Let’s learn more about this RAID expansion enclosure from QNAP and see what cool & interesting things it has in store for us.

QNAP TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure Review – What’s in the Box?

We got our hands on the QNAP TR-004 just recently and it arrived in a rather simple retail box which was, of course, branded. The company gave it a nice touch despite it being simple. Also, , they were able to do away with such a design for the package since a majority of users who’d be purchasing this would be QNAP users currently having their own capacity requirements. So even if QNAP’s NAS expansion packages aren’t really that exciting or eye-catching, the boxes are quite useful in a way.

When you open the package, you’ll immediately see the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure which is set securely in place. Aside from the TR-004, other items that are present in the box include an AC power adapter, a USB Type C to Type A connecting cable, a power cord, 2 drive tray keys, a USB cable clip, a total of 16 screws for the 3.5-inch drives, as well as 12 screws for the 2.5-inch drives. Of course, QNAP also included a quick installation guide to make the entire process of installing easier on your part.

The Product

QNAP TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure Review

When we finally got the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure out of its box, we were met with a very familiar exterior for it’s casing. We’ve already seen this type of plastic chassis used for other QNAP NAS devices and we really don’t mind this at all.

The front portion of the product features a total of 4 plastic hard drive bays, as well as numerous LEDs; things that you would see on a NAS device that denotes a system and drive access, plus health and notification for any kind of issue. Unlike the older QNAP NAS expansions, the TR-004 has a more compact and less noticeable design which can easily blend with your environment.

If you take a look at the trays of the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure from QNAP, they sport a screwless design with a body made entirely of plastic. Though it is worth noting that if you plan to utilize SSD or higher capacity 14 or 16TB HDDs, you won’t have to worry about connecting them since the package includes the necessary accessory pack for installation. Additionally, its bays can be locked to avoid any unwanted, intentional, or accidental removal. When you look at the base of the TR-004, you’ll notice its ventilation set along the base of the device. The company positioned the vents in this area to better assist active airflow and to allow it to work as an extra ventilation bay located at the side of the product. This greatly helps air travel through and over the inner RoC.

If you flip the device, you’ll find that it’s really similar to the QNAP NAS, but the difference between the two is that the TR-004 lacks the LAN / Network / RJ-45 connectivity. This product, although it offers its own RAID 5 / 6 handling, needs a link to the NAS to be able to boost your current RAID. Yet another interesting aspect about the device is that it can be utilized as a USB RAID 5 and 6 storage for standalone utilization with Mac, Windows, or Linux computers. Similarly, if you have the RAID for your PC or Linux in a general file system, you can easily disconnect this and instead, connect it to a NAS device to make all of the contents available from your NAS and other shared network devices.

The USB connection of the device is a USB Type C, though it does make use of the USB 3.1 1st Generation, it still comes in handy compared to the USB Type A. This makes it compatible with the new systems that have changed to a more practical connection. The accessory pack that comes with the device has a USB Type A to C cable which is necessary for linking the TR-004 to your NAS / Mac / computer using a classic USB Type A. For the RAID, there are a collection of dip switches located on the rear portion of this product. These are utilized for setting the hardware functionality of the RAID.

Details of each configuration have been designated on the information panel located on the TR-004. This will assist you in configuring the proper RAID setup just for you. After, you can power up the device which will establish a RAID environment that will go across the present drives. This is generally the primary reason why the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure from QNAP is an interesting device for the NAS. Until now, every expansion chassis for the NAS concerns the NAS’ CPU supporting and creating an existing raid on them. This results in the CPU having to work more to maintain the storage environment, and this, in turn, greatly influences the read and write speeds.

Not only that, but if the RAID is controlled by the NAS devices and it suddenly gets disconnected in error from the host storage because of a power outage, it can clearly damage both the original NAS RAID and the expansion storage. So, to eliminate and prevent this issue, having a NAS expansion like this TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure is the best option. Of course, you will still need to treat your storage adequately, yet the handling of the external RAID only means that it will be able to handle sudden disconnections better; plus, it will also have boosted read and write speeds from having a RAID handling chip.

The TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure lets you easily increase the capacity of your PC or QNAP NAS device. Not only that, but it can also be used as a DAS or direct attached storage device which will allow you to immediately access contents simply by linking it with a USB.

The TR-004 has a total of four 3.5-inch SATA drive bays along with a couple of RAID setup options; it also has a USB 3.0 Type C connection to provide you with a more reliable and protected storage extension solution. What makes the TR-004 efficient is that it is equipped with a DIP button at the back panel of the device. It works by altering the disk setup of the device. Other notable aspects of this device include the single-touch copy button, status indicators, and the eject button.

The TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure also supports JBOD, individual, and RAID 0 / 1 / 5 / 10 storage setups. All QNAP NAS users can utilize the TR-004 together with their NAS devices when it comes to making a storage pool. This is by utilizing the Storage and Snapshots application that is in the QTS. Alternatively, it can also be used as an external storage of the NAS, can be used with PCs to further promote file exchange and sharing, while supporting the exFAT system as well.

If you are a PC user that has a limit when it comes to storage upgrade choices, then you can also utilize the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure as an expansion unit. Also, a special QNAP External RAID Manager utility can aid these users change RAID setups, view disk health, check logs, and also update the TR-004’s firmware.

When it comes to power consumption, the HDD on standby is at 4.17 Watts while it goes up to 18.21 Watts during operations. For its operating temperature plus the relative humidity, the TR-004 is from 0 ~ 40°C, 5 ~ 95% RH. When it comes to the compatibility of the QNAP TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure, it can work with the 3.5 and the  2.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s; also, it is compatible with the 2.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s, Solid State Drives.

For the TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure, it’s dimensions is 68.5 x 160.2 x 219 millimeters (H x W x D) while it weighs a total of 1.85 kilograms.

Product Features

Effective Storage Enhancement with RAID Support

We can definitely say that the TR-004 is a perfect storage expansion solution for computers, especially laptops that do not really have the capacity to install bigger and higher capacity drives. With its 4 3.5-inch SATA drive bays and supporting RAID setups, this raid expansion enclosure form QNAP allows you to store a large number of date while securing these against possible drive failures.

Aids Various RAID Levels

The TR-004  is able to support a number of RAID setups; and based on your requirements and needs, you’ll be able to switch between software or hardware-controlled RAID modes. Shift the DIP switches to their corresponding positions to get the perfect RAID mode: RAID 0, JBOD, RAID 1/10 or RAID 5. Another great thing about this is that you can configure the settings via your QNAP NAS; or, you can also use the QNAP External RAID Manager utility on your PC.

Flexible Storage Configuration + Management

Compared to the other RAID enclosures, the TR-004 gives you a software-controlled setup for better management flexibility. Everyone can setup the RAID and audit disk health via Storage & Snapshots Manager on a QNAP NAS. The QNAP External RAID Manager utility can also be utilized for this.

The Raid Expansion Enclosure as a Conventional NAS Solution

Since it is an external hardware RAID device, the TR-004 functions on its own and does not need to have any extra NAS system resources. When compared to other enclosures like the UX 500P, the TR-004 utilizes lesser NAS system resources.

Expand the capacity of your NAS

The device provides another way for you to enhance and stretch their NAS storage capacities. And by linking the device to the NAS, and also by utilizing the Storage & Snapshots Manager, you and all other users can readily setup, as well as manage the storage expansion.

The TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure is able to support a number of NAS storages and file management uses. This lets you establish storage pools, organize files using Qfiling, and find files with Qsirch.

External Storage for your NAS

One interesting way to use the TR-004 aside from expanding the NAS’ capacity is to use it as a complimentary storage for moving or backing up data. It also lets you physically shift big data collections that requires a great network bandwidth. And while linked to the NAS, you can easily monitor the status and health of the TR-004.

Cross-Platform File Sharing

Cross-platform file sharing is possible and it can also immediately add storage space to your PC. Just use the DIP switch to configure and setup the RAID mode, or just manage this by utilizing the QNAP External RAID utility.

Using the Product

The QNAP 4-bay DAS worked perfectly and just as expected; also, the hardware RAID including the QTS monitoring of drives is excellent. There was a little less full integration than we hoped, yet the price point for this device was excellent given the software / hardware RAID substitutes.

We were slightly debating about getting another NAS device for extra storage but when we learned of this product, we just had to see if it would be a great substitute for the task. We simply formatted the drives, plugged the NAS, then we immediately had additional drives online without messing up the current setup that we have.

After our simple test, we can definitely say that the TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure can really work as a real expansion unit to enhance the volume in a QNAP NAS device. Also, it really is notable for its functionality so you won’t go wrong with it. Generally, you won’t be able to do this using a 3rd party option, and when it comes to the price range, it came out as more reason le than what we expected so that’s really a good thing.

All in all, we’re giving the TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure a double thumbs up for its quality and excellent performance & functionality.

Software

The QNAP TR-004 USB 3.0 RAID Expansion Enclosure allows you to securely store your files. It can be used to expand the capacity of your NAS device or your PC, and it can also be utilized as a direct-attached storage device for your Mac, Windows, or Linux computers.

Over the years, QNAP allows physical to virtual or P2V on network-attached storage devices. This is from hosting various virtual machines in the Virtualization Station to using containerized apps located in the Container Station. With the QTS 4.3.6, the company has set another achievement by developing a better version of virtualized networks. The new software-based architecture lets users maximize the use of limited physical network resources for unlimited applications, and centrally manage the whole network structure with a well-visualized map for network topology. Aside from that, users can also flexibly distribute network resources with just a few clicks. It also allows you to efficiently use and move a lot of virtual applications on QNAP NAS.

The QTS 4.3.6 turns QNAP’s network attached storage devices into an SSD-aware storage. This comes with the software-based SSD additional provisioning with advanced SSD caching. The flexibility it grants to adjust the over-provisioning of the SSD allows for improved SSD endurance and performance so you can have the potential to achieve enterprise-grade SSD performance levels from cost-efficient consumer SSDs.

Conclusion

Generally, the QNAP TR-004 RAID Expansion Enclosure will be a really interesting product for those who already have their own QNAP NAS device. It is necessary for expanding your storage and it not only works as this. The TR-004 is a fresh new way to increase your storage while simultaneously, it’s also a great product that functions as a more stable way to increase your storage so that it can also guarantee that your read and write speeds are preserved. It is also a robust solution that even if you choose to improve your host NAS device at a much later time, it can be converted or reused as a USB backup device.

Overall, it’s a great device and we’d highly recommend this to everyone who needs higher and bigger capacity drives.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the QNAP TR-004 for around $350 AUD from your local PC retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post QNAP TR-004 Raid Expansion Enclosure Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

The QNAP TS-332X is the company’s second model of their multifaceted 3-bay NAS collection which features support for RAID 5 and 3 M.2 SSD slots. And just like every other QNAP consumer product, the TS-332X appears simple when it comes to exterior. But the thing is, this new NAS device sports a comprehensive collection of useful and efficient features.

Today, we got our hands on the 2GB TS-332X from QNAP and we’re going to check out its features, the software it uses, and if it performs excellently like other similar devices from the company. First up, let’s see what’s inside the box.

QNAP TS-332X Review – What’s in the Box?

The packaging of the QNAP TS-332X is something that you’d expect from the company; plain and simple, but with all the necessary details and information that you’d need about the product. Of course, you’ll see a couple images of the NAS device featured on the exterior.

Inside the box, you’ll find the TS-332X NAS device together with a host of different accessories. All of them are kept in place so you don’t need to worry about the items clashing and hitting at each other during transit. With that, the items that are in the package include the TS-332X, a power cord, two ethernet cables, an AC adapter – specifically the SP-2 Bay 90 Watts, the M.2 SSD heatsink, a 2.5-inch HDD / SDD drive tray base, and an installation guide.

The Product

QNAP TS-332X Review

The QNAP TS-332X can be considered as the most LED featured NAS device that you will encounter. First off, it has a set of multicolored indicators specific for the system’s health, system status, network access, and LED for each of the hard drive bays. Plus, there are also 3 lights for each of the internal SSD bays. It’s also good that these lights can be fine-tuned via the QTS software that is included within the NAS device. It’s also pleasing to know that there are dedicated LED indicators on the device; but if you don’t really want to use them, you can simply switch them off anytime.

The QNAP device also has a dedicated power button which can be seen on the front part of the NAS. Aside from this, the TS-332X also sports the popular inclusion of a single-touch USB copy button that is necessary for  backing up an external drive into the NAS device, or vice versa. What always comes in handy is the ventilation on this TS-332X from QNAP which is better and more discreet compared to other similar devices. For its front panel, it displays ventilated and angled slots to aid the flow of air from the rear fan. Moreover, there is additional ventilation beneath the drives of the TS-332X which are found at the base of this NAS.

Just like with other similar devices, this NAS from QNAP comes with one rear cooling fan that helps maintain sufficient internal temperature within the TS-332X. The fan’s RPM or rotation per minute can be manually or automatically adjusted based on the needs of the device. Since the external chassis is primarily made of plastic, noise is somewhat low which can be decreased further by lowering the fan RPM.

Positioned in a much more adequate spot on the device, you’ll also find two 1GbE LAN ports, the RJ45, that will let you have network access through the port; or, you can combine with port trunking / link aggregation to effectively double the speed and upload from the NAS device to your network. Just remember that you will need to link to your network or directly with the TS-332X using the 2 LAN cables that are included. This is to get the necessary speed on your linked device.

It is worth noting that the SFP + is mainly designed for long-distance cabling and it also arranges the box into something more like a remote setup device. With that, this level of connectivity linked with the three SSD slots within the device means that the TS-332X has both the internal and external bottlenecks removed. Together with these external transmission connections, the QNAP TS-332X also comes with two additional USB ports that are made for connecting further external storage, wireless dongles, UPS devices, expansion devices like the QNAP UX-500P, TR-004, the UX-800P, and a lot more.

Notice that just like every other new QNAP NAS device, this TS-332X NAS also comes with a rear speaker to provide you with necessary real-time details; it also offers you alerts, audio output, and other useful things that you’d need. If you want, you can also mute this if the idea of having the NAS device giving out impromptu notifications and reminds seem annoying to you. Once you remove the three screws, the side panel of the NAS’ chassis can be taken out; so with that, you’ll be able to see an entirely metal framework for its internal build. You’ll also notice that it has quite a distinct layout of media across the NAS with all the storage aligned to the primary board. The fan will guarantee controlled temperatures, and the M.2 SSD media bays come with heatsinks.

The 3 hard drive bays have a plastic build and comes in a screwless design.One of the bays even feature a removable bedding that is utilized for holding a 2.5-inch SSD drive up to 23.5 millimeters high.

The TS-332X sports the Annapurna Labs which is an Amazon company Alpine AL 324 quad core, 1.7GHz Cortex A57 processor that has a 2GB DDR4 RAM that is upgradable to 16GB. Not only that, but it also offers 3 SATA 6Gb/s drive bays.

The TS-332X features a total of 3 M.2 SSD slots; when you combine these with the 10G connectivity and RAID storage, you will see outstanding and quality performance. Classic NAS devices generally have two primary bottlenecks – the external and internal bottlenecks. The internal is when the speed of installed media isn’t high or adequate enough to match the demands; for the external one, it is when your network connection linked to the NAS device is lower compared to the data being read or written by the drives. The basic network speed is 1GbE or 100 MB/s.

Product Features

Quad Core CPU & 10GbE SFP+ Port

When processing the AES 256-bit NAS full volume description, the QNAP TS-332X gives you unparalleled encryption performance while simultaneously guaranteeing the safety of sensitive data kept in the NAS. With the quad core CPU and 10GbE SFP + port, the NAS provides a big speed enhancement that is advantageous for large data applications, backup & restoration, fast data transfers, and loaded applications.

M.2 SSDs for Cache Acceleration / Efficient Tiered Storage

The TS-332X features the SSD caching while it also supports up to a total of 3 SATA 6Gb/s M.2 SSDs with a total of 2,280 form factors which are sold separately. You can set a high-capacity SSD for enhancing IOPS applications that are demanding; or, you can create a RAID 5-tiered storage with redundancy protection and balanced performance. The Qtier technology authorizes the TS-332X with automatic tiering that aids in continuously optimizing storage efficiency across the M.2 SSDs, high-capacity HDDs, and 2.5-inch SSDs with a round-the-clock boost. The brand new Qtier 2.0 also features the IO awareness that allows the SSD-tiered storage with cache type of reserved space necessary to handle the burst I/O in real time. This greatly increases the advantages of and benefits of the SSD.

Have Optimized SSD Performance with Additional Over-Provisioning

As the SSD prices continue to become more cost-efficient for small businesses and home users, this is considered as one of the best times to utilize your SSDs for your NAS device to further enjoy better and quality performance, smoother multimedia experience, quicker file backups, as well as optimized virtualization apps.

The newest QTS 4.3.5 takes the functionality of SSDs further just by supporting the SSD RAID additional OP (over provisioning) that allows you to allocate extra OP space from 1% – 60%. Not only that, but it is also advantageous for optimal SSD random write speeds, plus, extended lifespan with improved endurance. Now, you can utilize an affordable consumer SSD for the TS-332X, alter the SSD OP, then acquire endurance and performance levels that are similar to the enterprise-grade SSDs.

Well-Rounded & Multi-Point Backup

The Hybrid Backup Sync or HBS gives you a flexible and reliable backup + disaster recovery solution to help various organizations when it comes to routinary backup jobs with high-productivity and cost-efficiency. This helps centralize backup, synchronization and restoration for you to readily transfer all data located in the TS-332X  to other QNAP NAS devices, USB storage, remote servers, or cloud storages. Backing up Mac or Windows data to the NAS device is also generally effortless; this is by utilizing QNAP’s NetBak Replicator utility, or the Time Machine from Apple.

Elegant Look + Effective Airflow

The TS-332X  sports an elegant and stylish appearance that also sports an industrial design idea to give effective airflow and enhanced cooling. This is to ensure seamless performance even under heavy loads. This tool-less 3.5-inch hard drive installation process lets you have an easier and quicker system setup and maintenance while its front panel LEDs help with the viewing the system status.

Enhance the IT Environment with the 10GbE Switch from QNAP

The company’s 10GbE / NBASE T unmanaged switches lets you immediately upgrade your network environment at a very budget-friendly price. Having a 10GbE network will let you fully enjoy extremely fast transfer speeds; plus, these will also enable concurrent real-time access to larged NAS-based data via multiple workstations which are generally great for multimedia and video editing. The company also provides you with a 10GbE PCIe network expansion card specific for Linux / Windows computers. This will allow you to take advantage of environments for high-speed LAN.

Expand Storage Space with other QNAP NAS Devices + Virtual JBOD

The QNAP VJBOD or Virtual JBOD is considered as a network-based JBOD that lets you easily expand your TS-332X’s storage capacity with the help of unused storage space from other NAS devices. These non-utilized storage capacity of the TS-332X can be fixed in place as a local disk for other NAS devices; or, you can also create a virtual storage volume or pool to operate NAS services which will help increase storage use.

Software

QTS 4.3.6

This TS-332X from QNAP is more than just your typical hardware since it features the QTS 4.3.6 software. This specific software is included with the NAS device and is generally one of the best and most efficient operating systems and user interfaces available for every user in both business and home environments.

The QTS 4.3.6 turns your NAS device into a more efficient, productive, and reliable product; and with its numerous refinements and new features, the software enhances the performance of the TS-332X to make it more suitable for this high-speed period. The software also comes with the QSync which is made for backing up different devices to the NAS on a timely basis.

It comes with the file station to manage your files easily and it helps you with sharing and permission allocation. Download station is also present which is necessary for managing HTTP / NZB / FTP / BT downloads and RSS feeds for updates and podcasts. For better file organization, QFiling and QSirch are also included which also helps in the removal of waste or duplicates. If you’ll need to synchronize and migrate between Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3 etc. you have the Cloud Drive to help you with such tasks.

The software also includes a couple of features for organizing catalogue image collections, music streaming and playback media to internet / network devices. These are the Photo Station and Music Station which can come in handy as well. Of course, QNAP also included the Video Station to their software which is also important for playing media via internet / network, as well as for transcoding up to a total of 4K.

Other features that are also available include the Container Station for management of micro / compact virtual environments, the Surveillance Station and QVR Pro, and the Linux Station.

You can also use third party applications such as iTunes Server, Plex Media Server, Acronis True Image Backup, SugarCRM, Malware Remover, and TV-Mosaic. For the desktop client applications, these include QSync, QFinder, QVR Pro, and Surveillance Station Client.

Notification Center

For the Notification Center application present in the QTS 4.3.5, it consolidates every QTS system alerts and events to give you a single-application solution for notifications, This is to avoid configuring individual settings in a variety of applications. This features keeps you informed 24/7 of your NAS device’s status including streamlined notification operations, as well as system log review in just one window.

Security Counselor – The Security Portal for the NAS Device
Security Counselor works by checking any weaknesses and provides various  recommendations to protect all your data against multiple attack processes. The security portal also integrates Anti-Malware and anti-virus solutions to help you protect your QNAP NAS.

Reinforce the QNAP NAS with the Iron-Wolf Health Management from Seagate
The Iron-Wolf Health Management or IHM from Seagate continuously helps in protecting the health of all your data. When utilizing the supported Iron-Wolf Pro or the regular Iron-Wolf hard drives, all system reliability is enhanced by offering you an effective and actionable prevention, recovery, and intervention options.

RAID Storage Expansion for the NAS and PC
On a daily basis, countless files and data are produced which lets the RAID Storage Expansion help you in storing these securely. It can be utilized to boost the capacity of the NAS or PC, and can also be utilized as a direct-attached storage device for your Windows, Mac, Linux, or NAS device.

Easy to Configure Virtualized Structure for Flexible Deployment
The enhanced Network & Virtual Switch application boosts interoperability between containers, the QNAP NAS, virtual machines, as well as other devices. These include full network topology mapping, the latest virtual private-network protocol, and a whole lot more.

Bring out the Full Benefits of Streamline Storage Management, SSD, and Data Recovery

Storage efficiency has been enhanced in the QTS 4.3.6 which includes improvements for high-speed connectivity to delete any possible bottlenecks. This aggressively supports SSD over provisioning, restoring from remote snapshots vaults, advanced SSD cache setups, plus flexible storage space distribution. With that, the QTS 4.3.6 offers high-performance and good computing / storage solutions.

QVR Pro Surveillance Station

The new QVR Pro surveillance station from QNAP lets you manage a dedicated storage space that is necessary for surveillance information on the TS-332X. It also allows you to leverage the benefits of storage management from the QTS. With the surveillance station, storage space allocation, camera management, camera live viewing, as well as the playback has been simplified. Not only that, but you can also utilize the QVR Pro Client mobile application to monitor your camera from anywhere; or, utilize USB webcams as an ONVIF network camera with the QUSB Cam2 application.

The QVR Pro also supports the regular fisheye cameras that are available in the market; not only that, but it also features the QDEWARP technology that converts distorted portions of the original images into proportioned ratios. The Pro also gives you industry-leading functions such as allowing the image of a single fisheye camera to be viewed simultaneously in 9 channels from different angles, as well as hardware accelerated and cross-platform decoding for fisheye images.

It’s good that the QVR Pro guarantees increased surveillance performance for enhanced security while simultaneously offering deployment flexibility. In the past, the surveillance station only offered event recording and notifications for high-end cameras with built-in motion detection, but today, the QVR Pro gives you motion detection even for a variety of USB webcams and cost-efficient cameras as long as they are able to stream footages to the QVR Pro.

The QVR Pro also lets you establish more secure surveillance systems for your home and office on a very affordable budget.

Mobile Application

The mobile application of QVR Client Pro offers numerous display layouts while allowing you to simultaneously keep track of the multiple channels. When viewing a single channel, you can instantly switch between playback and live modes. When your internet connection is capped / metered or slow, you can select the low bandwidth mode to have a stream that is bandwidth optimized without affecting the recording quality. Additionally, you can also use the app to remotely manage PTZ cameras and preset points of cameras. Other features are also present, including mobile notifications and camera view via the e-map.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for fast storage, the QNAP TS-332X is the best NAS since it offers better hardware and software support. It’s also a solid base of operations for NAS users who are more experienced in the field. The greatest advantage of this NAS is that it is powerful for editing files larger than 10GbE, yet it’s still affordable. If these are the things you’re looking for in a network attached storage, then the TS-332X from QNAP is the best option for your needs.

Where to Buy

The QNAP TS-332X can be had for around $650 AUD from you local computer retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post QNAP TS-332X Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Security cameras were once considered useless devices, unless you own a bank or are working in one, and need to protect a safe filled with other people’s properties and valuables. Yet throughout the years, the technology has decreased and its price dropped down to the degree wherein regular consumers can make their homes more secure with the help of a Wi-Fi-enabled system.

Although this is the case, these security cameras still don’t come off as cheap by any means, but if you can’t put a good price on security, it’s definitely an option that should be thoroughly explored.

Today, we’ll be focusing on the D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT which is a security camera system that is categorized into two different parts: one is a hub that links to your cameras and router. This can be placed in different areas of your home, and if there are any sounds or movements detected, will report and notify you with such.

D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT Review – What’s in the Box?

Our OMNA DCS-2802KT from D-Link came in a nice sturdy package that’s simple yet really eye-catching. The company used a the sky blue and white theme for the device’s box and we think that this approach is really nice and very refreshing.

The front portion of the box features an image of the wireless security camera and the name D-Link on the upper-left portion of the package. On the lower part of the package, there is a strip of white that goes around the rest of the box, and this is where the product’s features are being displayed. On the sides, you’ll see another image of the device, yet there are indications on certain parts of the device to show what the functions are. You will also find some other important information about the device to give you a better idea of what its specifications and features are.

Inside, you will find the D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT; there are a total of two cameras in the box which can be used for inside or outside your home. Not only that, but you also get a Wi-Fi hub / base station that is used to connect the camera. Other than this, other items that are in the package include the following: two mounting brackets, a micro USB power adapter, mounting arm, DC power adapter, one Ethernet cable, and a quick installation guide.

The Product

D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT Review

The two OMNA DCS-2802KT’s in the box are very easy to setup, and once you’re done with the configuration process, you’re good to go. Just like the Arlo Pro 2, the D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT is charged using a micro-USB and can be magnetically popped onto a half-ball mount which can be screwed to your wall. Remember that the camera’s battery can’t be removed, so you will have to go through instances of downtime while its battery charges. But don’t worry since charging the device doesn’t occur often.

The OMNA DCS-2802KT cameras are IP65-rated waterproof and are powered by durable rechargeable batteries; it only means that the system is very easy to configure for DIY individuals. The OMNA DCS-2802KT hub sure can support up to a total of 4 cameras despite only having two present in the box; though keep in mind that there isn’t any way of purchasing extra units as of the moment.

Not only is the camera very easy to set up, but it also provides you with fantastic video quality once you’ve configured it for use. It offers 1080p fully colored visuals in the day, and very crisp and clear quality night vision images at night; plus, it also reaches around 15 feet in total.

The OMNA DCS-2802KT is built-in with two ¼-inch megapixel progressive CMOS sensor which features a 1.9-millimeter focal lens; it also has an aperture of F2.2 and a 7.5-meter IR illumination distance. The security camera also includes integrated ICR filters, a microphone, and also a speaker while its angles cater to horizontal 115°, diagonal 135°, and vertical 64° views.

For the video resolution, its main profile is 1080p that goes up to 24 FPS; for the second profile, it’s 720p at up to 14 FPS. The camera makes use of a wireless 802.11 n/g/b connectivity with WPA / WPA2 encryption; not only that, but the company also integrated Bluetooth 4.0 in this device. The OMNA DCS-2802KT also has a micro SD card slot, an ethernet port, plus a single USB 2.0 port. For the power adapter, it has 100 – 240 Volts AC, 50 / 60Hz for the input, while its output is 5 Volts DC 2-A.

The D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT camera is also powered by a 6700 mAh rechargeable li-ion battery which is said to last for months before you actually need to charge them.

Product Features

Stay Connected to your Home Even When Away

If you need to check your home and your loved ones while you’re away, you can easily do this with the OMNA DCS-2802KT since the camera kit comes with an integrated high-quality and full HD sensor that helps capture very detailed and crisp snapshots, as well as full HD quality videos. You’ll be able to see everything clearly even in every corner.

4 Simultaneous Views in a Single Complete Perspective

You will be able to see more than just a single camera feed on the same screen with mydlink’s multi-view mode. It is a free application included with the OMNA DCS-2802KT where you can have all your live feeds segregated in just one place. This will let you easily scroll down and up to check on everything that’s happening in your home. The OMNA DCS-2802KT is also a camera kit that lets you record up to a total of four concurrent streams.

Wire-Free Features for Flexible and Better Security

Since the OMNA DCS-2802KT is a wireless device, you can position the security camera in any area you want. D-Link’s camera will provide you with ultimate flexibility to help you better keep an eye on the areas in your home. Since there are no wires to deal with, you don’t have to bother with drilling holes into your walls; plus, you don’t need to worry about intruders simply cutting off your camera’s wires.

Continued of Performance with just One Charge

The OMNA DCS-2802KT’s batteries don’t drain fast since these come with 6,700 mAh rechargeable lithium batteries, giving you continuous surveillance for a number of months with just one charge. It’s the best choice for homeowners who need excellent and long-lasting performance.

Works Excellently Outdoors

These OMNA cameras feature rated IP65 weatherproof casing which protects the cameras against rain, snow, and wind. It’s a great choice for extending your home’s surveillance system in outdoor areas that are hard to reach.

All Footage Stored in Cloud

You don’t have to worry about losing your camera footage since OMNA’s Premium subscription for mydlink allows you to take snapshots and record video clips to the cloud which can be accessed at any time. Playback recordings from the cloud or download footage to your mobile phone.

See More in Low-Light

Usually, surveillance cameras are no longer effective in low-light environments, which can be disappointing especially if it costs a fortune to get one. Fortunately, this OMNA DCS-2802KT has impressive night vision capabilities that let you see even when the surroundings are dark. This OMNA camera not only features round-the-clock monitoring, but it’s also integrated with an infrared LED that makes the camera record videos even in complete darkness, up to a distance of 7.5 meters.

Compatible with the Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT

The OMNA DCS-2802KT works excellently with Alexa and Google Assistant. With that, you can stream live videos from your camera to Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Echo Spot, or Echo Show. This lets you keep track of everything right at the comfort of your couch.

Hear and Be Heard

This OMNA camera from D-Link comes with an integrated speaker and microphone so you can speak to the other members of your home even when you’re not around. You can also hear the audio of live videos via live viewing. With your mobile device, you can talk and broadcast audio live.

PIR Motion Detection

With the integrated PIR motion detection, your OMNA camera can recognize movements from heat source such as the human body. This feature is extremely useful and effective even in low-light environments.

Professional Surveillance Expansion

If you need additional cameras to help you monitor your home, the OMNA DCS-2802KT comes with a Wi-Fi hub that can hold up to four connected cameras. This allows you to easily add wire-free cameras when necessary. Whether you need it at the backyard or basement, the OMNA solves your problems with surveillance cameras.

Specifications

Camera Hardware Profile

• 1/4” 2 megapixel progressive CMOS sensor
• Minimum illumination: B/W mode (IR LEDs on): 0 lux
• Lens focal length: 1.9 mm
• Aperture: F2.2
• 7.5 metre IR illumination distance
• Angle of view: Horizontal: 115°, Vertical: 64° Diagonal: 135°
• Built-in Infrared-Cut Removable (ICR) Filter
• Built-in microphone and speaker

Image Features

• Pinch to Zoom Digital zoom
• Configurable sound detection level
• Time stamp and text overlay
• Configurable resolution
• Configurable motion detection windows

Video Compression

• H.264 streaming
• JPEG for still images

Video Resolution

• Main Profile 1080P (1920 x 1080) at up to 24 fps
• Second Profile 720P (1280 x 720) at up to 15 fps

Audio Support

• MPEG-2 AAC LC

Connectivity

• 802.11n/g/b wireless with WPA/WPA2 encryption
• Bluetooth 4.0

Network Protocols

• IPv4, IPv6, ARP, TCP, UDP, ICMP
• DHCP client

Event Management

• Motion detection
• Sound level detection
• Event recording to external Hard Drive or MicroSD card²
• Event notification and snapshot/video clip download to mobile device
• mydlink Cloud Recording²

Mobile Support

• mydlink app for iOS and Android devices¹,³

Physical Weight

• 240 grams  ± 5%

Power Adapter

• Input: 100 to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
• Output: 5 V DC 2 A (Micro-USB)

Power Consumption

• Standby:  <0.28 mW ± 5%
• Active Day Mode: <1,200mW ± 5%
• Active Night Mode: <1,880mW ± 5%

Temperature

• Operating: -20 to 45 °C
• Storage: -20 to 70 °C

Humidity

• Operating: 10% to 95% non-condensing

Hub Hardware Profile

Connectivity

• 802.11n/g/b wireless
• microSD card slot
• One USB 2.0 Port
• One Ethernet Port

Network Protocols

• IPv4, IPv6, ARP, TCP, UDP, ICMP
• DHCP client

Physical Weight

• 195 grams  ± 5%

Power Adapter

• Input: 100 to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
• Output: 12 V DC 1.5 A (Micro-USB)

Power Consumption

• Maximum: 18 watts ± 5%

Temperature

• Operating: 0 to 40 °C
• Storage: -20 to 70 °C

Humidity

• Operating: 10% to 95% non-condensing

Certifications

• CE
• CE LVD
• FCC
• ICES
• RCM

Using the Product

The D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT is very user-friendly and easy to install. You can set this up in almost any non-submersible spot, and since it is a wireless device that comes with a magnetic back, you’d have a difficult time finding a place where you can’t install this.

Its Wi-Fi hub can be installed indoors then linked to your internet router with the use of a some network cabling; lastly, you can pair this with your smart device via D-Link’s mydlink app. You just need to load the application, add your device, then scan through the QR code located at the back of the hub.

The real appeal to this is the noise and motion detection. Every single time anything moves within the OMNA DCS-2802KT’s field of vision, the device will snap a quick video before logging this. You’ll also get an instant alert to be able to check the clip right away. Its video quality is excellent and you’ll get to see crystal-clear videos with 1080p resolution; another notable aspect of the device is that it can even work adequately in the dark.

All the videos will be stored in your cloud for a certain period of time depending on the amount you’ll be spending in terms of subscription. The good thing about this is you don’t need to decide and choose right away since there’s already a year’s worth of Premium plan included in the package. This gives you unlimited shots from up to a total of five cameras which will be stored for a total of two weeks.

All in all, we can say that the D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT performed excellently and we’re giving the company two thumbs-up for making a security camera that is very efficient and reliable.

Software

You’ll be able to view the OMNA DCS-2802KT using the supporting application called the mydlink app. You can download this on your smartphone to be able to view the area of your home where you setup the security camera. But what we really liked about the kit is that you can link this to your smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, or even IFTTT which is really convenient.

But what makes this product stand out from other similar cameras is that it features noise and motion detection, so anytime as long as it’s within its field of vision, the camera will log then send you a notification. This will make it easier for you to check on your home via smartphone. You’ll be able to download recorded clips to your phone if you ever need to share your footage.

There are also additional features that come with the OMNA DCS-2802KT that you’ll also find pretty useful. The hub has a built-in siren can hit around 100 decibels; so basically, if there’s an intruder around, the alarm would scare them away in a heartbeat. It’s a great device since you can switch and leave this on when you won’t be home for a period of time. Not only that, but the OMNA DCS-2802KT comes with a 2-way mic which can be really useful for communication. Below are the key features of the mydlink application:

Provides Peace of Mind at all Times

The mydlink app lets you keep track of every single camera you add in your home which helps ensure security. It’s like an additional pair of eyes that lets you monitor the different places of your home. The mydlinkapp is a useful and convenient application that is easy to use for you to manage all recorded and live audio and video.

View for 5 Preset Cameras with Multiview

If you need to use multiple cameras and want to view everything at once, Multiview solves this issue. The mydlink app gives you a clear view of the feeds of every single surveillance camera that is installed and connected. It provides an instant bird’s eye view around your home.

Share and Access Now or Later

The mydlink cloud recording lets you easily share the things you’ve captured on your favorite applications. You can choose to share it immediately or later since you can save all footage to the cloud. With that, you can still access these files anytime and anywhere. Advanced filtering options such as Event Type, Device, Date, and Location are also present so you can easily find a clip you are searching for.

Approve or Reject with the Access List

The mydlink app features the Access List which lets you restrict viewing and access on specific devices and grant access to your approved list selected devices.

Conclusion

Overall, the D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT Wire-free Camera Kit is the excellent surveillance system for keeping your entire household safe and fully monitored. The best thing about this camera kit is that it doesn’t make your house look unsightly unlike other security cameras in the market. It’s great for indoor and outdoor use as well.

If the two supplied cameras aren’t enough for your home, you can simply expand the system with additional four cameras. Its water-resistant features, siren features, and motion detection are some of the things that make this camera kit the excellent device for surveillance.

The battery of the cameras last more than three months without charging which is really impressive, and a year of premium cloud storage makes it much better. We really liked that it operates with IFTTT automation which makes the camera work with other smart home devices such as automatically switching the lights on upon detection of sound or motion. IFTTT sends an alert to people you choose to be notified with alerts during these situations.

Another thing we liked is the ease of installation. The camera doesn’t have any wires so we didn’t need an external power source for this. The mounting brackets that come with the kit make the installation process stress free. If you’re looking for the perfect surveillance cameras for your home that is durable, efficient, and effective, we highly recommend the D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT for you.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the D-Link Omna for $799 from over at the official D-Link website.

D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-08

5.0Overall Score

The post D-Link OMNA DCS-2802KT Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Elgato is one of the companies that has done a lot to enhance the experience of pressing buttons. This is for making one action occur in an application ever since it presented the original Stream Deck. The free software that’s included is much simpler with more additional integrated features and options. So with that, making folders is easier, faster, and so is establishing profiles that immediately populate the Stream Deck. This is all depending on the programs that you’ve opened.

The very first Stream Deck from Elgato instantly became a staple item for video game streamers; but if you’re one of those who thought that it was a bit too pricey or big, the company has come up with a smaller and a more affordable option for you. Elgato is out once again to prove that power and all the good things can come in small packages, and this is with their brand-new Elgato Stream Deck Mini.

Read on and learn more about this device and check out its features, functions, performance, and if it’s something worth purchasing.

Elgato Stream Deck Mini Review – What’s in the Box?

The Elgato Stream Deck Mini came in a really quirky designed prism-shaped package which was really unique and interesting in our opinion. It’s a great way to catch the attention of people, and it’s something that we really appreciate since Elgato veers from the norm. The front part of the package features an image of the Stream Deck Mini, together with its name and the company’s logo at the top. You’ll also find the slogan which is just underneath, while the branding can be found at the bottom-right corner of the box.

When looking at the back of the package, you will see a few details and information on the Stream Deck Mini, as well as a couple of technical specifications. For the additional items in the package, this includes the quick start guide, and the safety documentations.

The Product

Elgato Stream Deck Mini Review

First off, let’s begin with the basics for the device; the unit functions just like your regular Stream Deck. You’ll be using the same software and interface as your previous unit, the same system used for configuring the key functions, as well as the same programming for numerous profiles.

Whatever your preference is, or anything you planned to do with the regular device, you’ll be able to make this happen with the Elgato Stream Deck Mini. The only difference here is that instead of having a total of 15 buttons, you’ll only have to work with six which is better and less confusing. Another great thing about this is you won’t have to bother doing any of the Alt-Tab switching to get to what you want.

The Elgato Stream Deck Mini retained a lot of the features of the original device such as the LCD buttons, USB interfacing, as well a the same software platform. You’ll also be able to setup scene swaps, send broadcast tweets, post pre-written chats, or even set up sound effect pop-ups and gifs on your streams. It’s also a very well-constructed device with solid plastic that does not break or creak. It’s also complete with a rubberized base to lessen any signs of drifting on your desk.

The drivers are available via Windows Update, making configuration as easy and quick as plug and play. The software is also very convenient to use, integrating and detecting your available scenes, broadcast, and more. You’ll also get to program LCD buttons using your own icons or animated gifs to create attractive and fun displays. A lot of integrated functions feature visual cues as well, so you know when an attempted function has been received properly by stream services, or when you’ve decided to mute your mic.

Product Features

Works with your Favorite Platforms

Whether you use Streamlabs, OBS Studio,YouTube, Twitch, Mixer, Twitter, or other tools, Stream Deck Mini integrates these with your favorite tools. The device can automatically detect your sources and scenes to make your social media channels work and you can do anything with just a tap.

Meets and Grows with  your Requisites

Turn each key into folders so you can easily access as many actions as you need. You can also save smart profiles and key configurations for various apps and games. You can also switch between the profiles on the go and share them with other creators.

Small yet Powerful

The Stream Deck Mini comes with the same features that its predecessor, the Stream Deck, used to have. You can get the same functionality and versatility to increase your production value.  The same time-saving features have also been added to the device to boost audience engagement. It’s also ultra-compact package that’s easy to bring anywhere you go.

Improves Workflow

Having to remember keyboard shortcuts are no longer a problem with the Stream Deck Mini. With hotkey actions, you can easily launch websites, open applications, access folders and pre-composed texts. Control anything you want without having to make a guess.

Bring out your Creativity

When you use the Stream Deck Mini, you can make use of videos, GIF images, as well as sound bites. With this device, your options have no limits.

Get Personal

Making the Stream Deck Mini yours is simple – just drag and drop the actions to the keys and select ready-made icons to use for each button or create your own.

Extreme Multitasking

Multi Actions is something you’d definitely love if you like executing actions with one tap of a key. Assign as many actions as you want for one key and launch everything with a tap. You can choose to execute actions one by one or simultaneously.

Innovative Execution of Actions

You no longer need to navigate countless windows or rely on automated plugins for a single action and to increase your production value.

Specifications

The actual chassis of the Elgato Stream Deck Mini is made from plastic yet it feels sturdy and durable which is good. The entire device is adequately sized, and does not measure over 3.3 x 2.4 x 2.3 in inches. It has a cable that measures 1.5 meters in length, and the device weighs a total of 160 grams. The Elgato Stream Deck Mini also comes with a total of six customizable LCD keys; plus, its interface integrates the USB 2.0 cable. Lastly, system requirements would be Windows 10 64bit, or the MacOS 10.11 or the later versions.

Using the Product

Setting up each of the switches couldn’t get any easier because once you plug the single USB cable then download the Elgato Stream Deck application, you’re pretty much good to go. You’ll have a selection of shortcuts for some of the most popular streaming applications like YouTube, Twitch, Streamlabs, XSplit, Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, Mixer, Elgato Game Capture, and a lot more.

The basics are generally easy: mapping commands to a button is a simple drag and drop method. Then, you can edit a couple of information, set a title to it, then change the typeface if you want.

Its initial setup is just as easy and the only thing that you’d need is good internet connection to be able to download the software before plugging in the device. It’s good to note that the company reminds you to avoid using a USB hub, and that you should install this directly to your USB port on the computer.

The next step should be to launch the software then follow all the instructions provided on your screen. Once you’ve completed this, you can start with the customization process. Elegato recommends that you use the png or jpg files that have a resolution of of 72 x 72 to give you the best results. A service called the Key Creator is also offered, and it’s a tool on the official website that lets you create your own custom and personalized icons that will be displayed on the Stream Deck Mini. If not, you can opt to utilize one of the premade ones.

The Stream Deck Software works with both Stream Deck Mini and the regular Stream Deck. The program works with Youtube, Twitch, social media, as well as within your system. You could have a profile for streaming and another one for daily tasks. To add commands, select one of the six keys, then click and drag a command from the window’s right portion to the key you chose. If you plan to use it for social commands, use the settings section to add your accounts.

If you are an advanced user, you will appreciate Stream Deck Mini’s flexibility. We really liked Multi-Action which lets us begin OBS streaming, as well as posting a tweet about the start of the stream. Along with those task, this feature also allows us to send messages to Twitch and Mixer, all at once. We were also able to scroll a graphic across the stream to thank one of the audiences for tipping us. We were also able to play a corresponding sound and send messages to the Twitch chat.

We didn’t forget to check out the Stream Deck Mini’s performance, so we’ve tried using it for about five days to see just how well it works. And in all honesty, this is exactly what we’ve been searching for. We’re not really streamers, but we sure are gamers and you can also say that we’re IT pros; we’re always looking for cool and efficient ways to interact with the computer via icons on the desktop or keyboard / mouse.

The games that we play have tons of key binds, and we also do a lot of audio listening while playing these games; so with the functionality and efficiency of this Stream Deck Mini, it’s really amazing that we were able to seamlessly control things without having to minimize the games. We’ve seen a couple of comments saying that they can’t get the device to run key combos while in-game, but really, you just need to run the Stream Deck engine as an admin. This is because the game or another app is running. Any application or game that isn’t running as Admin can readily be utilized without having to use this setting. With that, you’re all good to go.

The Stream Deck Mini from Elgato is a very snappy device, and we also didn’t experience any type of lags when we pushed down buttons. You can easily create folders which is specifically a button that gives you an entirely new set of buttons. You can somehow consider this as a folder on your smartphones when you group a collection of applications in one place. This is an extremely nice feature and we didn’t really expect that the device would even do this; but it does, and we’re really happy about it.

For the size, we think that the Elgato Stream Deck Mini is perfect. The buttons are just right to the touch and aren’t too small that you’d have to completely divert your attention to press them. It’s good that the company really made this device easy to use since you’ll be able to dim or brighten the buttons depending on your preferences or the environment. We find this really appealing especially when engaging in night gaming since the lights won’t beam right into your eyes.

The Elgato Stream Deck Mini is something very progressive, and it is also a device that everyone can conveniently benefit from. You will be allowed to access anything from your computer like social media, Netflix, photoshop, multimedia, your favorite websites, and more. We tried a couple of different configurations with it and surprisingly, it was able to handle anything that we came up with; plus, setting up and configuring the device was easily which makes it even better.

Just remember that the keys, although they are comfortable to the touch, are slightly bigger than your keyboards’ keys; also, these are very much customizable. You’ll be able to add photos  and even create your own via Photoshop and the Elgato software.  All in all, using the Elgato Stream Deck Mini was really enjoyable, and we’re giving it a thumbs-up for its excellence.

Conclusion

The Stream Deck Mini is simply a more compact version of the regular Stream Deck. Since not everyone needs 15 configurable keys, the company has released a smaller device with six keys.

For the Stream Deck software, integrating this with broadcasting software was absolutely easy. In fact, it was easy with any Windows software since the Stream Deck software can perform macros and hotkey actions. You can even try using the Stream Deck Mini with creative programs including Sketchable or Adobe Photoshop.

The Stream Deck Mini is an excellent tool and if you’re looking for something that will greatly improve your streaming experience, we highly recommend this device.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Elgato Stream Deck Mini for around $130 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post Elgato Stream Deck Mini Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

If you notice, RGB is everywhere in this day and age; and when you inspect some parts, RGB lighting can be quite useful in a lot of ways. Not only that, these kinds of lighting are very much attractive and aesthetically pleasing. Though not everyone is into the RGB fad, as some would claim, it is still excellent for a variety of purposes like demonstration purposes and a whole lot more.

Today, we’re going to focus on the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM which is a really nice product featuring these RGBs. It’s a fresh series from Corsair and we’re going to showcase the kit of 16GB (2x 8GB) that we got. Make no mistake into thinking that it’s all just aesthetics and visuals; this Vengeance RGB Pro is one of the fast options in the line-up and performs just as great.

If you’ve become interested in this RAM from Corsair, then we’ve got you covered. We’ll be checking out more about the product, its features, how well it performs, and if it’s something that’s worth investing in.

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM Review – What’s in the Box?

When our Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM arrived, it came in a simple yet sturdy packaging despite being just a cardboard box with a protective plastic shell. This is to safeguard the modules that are inside the package.

When looking at the front portion of the box, you’ll find the speed and memory size printed on the upper right corner. An image of the RAM is featured in the middle to give you an idea of how it looks even before opening the package. You’ll also find the name of the product written just below the image, and it’s large enough for everyone to see. On the back, you’ll find various important details about the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM.

Inside the package, you’ll find that the modules are kept in a tight-fitting plastic clamshell container. What’s nice is that Corsair made sure to keep each of the modules separated from one another to keep them from clashing against each other while in transit.

The Product

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM Review

The Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM looks pretty good in every angle. Both of its sides are quite similar though one features a label that informs you the product category of the stick. The other side shows you the product label of the module.

The kit’s heat-spreader does not come with any difficult texture designs and it almost features the same style from the earlier Vengeance RGB. It may appear as simple but the portion just below the RGB’s glowing portion features a couple of holes. These are the most notable differences between this Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM  and the previous RAM. Generally, these types of implementations would be adequate for any build, regardless of what kind of hardware is being used. With that, we think that it’s really a smart decision all in all.

For one who complains about how such stickers can break how the sticks look, it’s quite a good alternative in our opinion. You’ll get to see that both use the very same space.

The anodized heat-spreader runs from one edge to the other, barely ceasing at the ends. There are also little ICs found on each side of the modules, yet specifically, these sticks are single sided.

Product Features

Visualize, Sync, and Memorize

The overclocked Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 memory lights up your memory with spectacular RGB lighting while it delivers excellent and effective DDR4 performance.

Ready for Overclocking

Each module of the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM is designed using a custom performance PCB which provides improved signaling, as well as ICs that are screened carefully for for the best reliability and overclocking performance on the newest Intel and AMD DDR4 motherboards. The XMP 2.0 profiles have been preconfigured for reliable automatic overclocking.

Smart Control without Limits

Each of the individual LEDs can be customized and controlled for limitless RGB lighting effects. For presets, you can choose from Tetris, Helix, Maze, Rainbow White, and Spectrum Corrosive.

Style and Speed

A custom design is used for the RAM under the Vengeance RGB Pro series and these have been tested extensively to deliver both speed and style with no compromise.

Dynamic Multi-Zone RGB Effects

Each module of the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM featureten RGB LEDs that are ultra-bright to light up your system. You can bring out your creativity and make the most unique patterns and effect since you have full control over all individual LEDs.

Simple, Clean, and Beautiful

The layout of the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM makes use of a patent pending technology which allows for stunning RGB effects without the need to use cords and wires. This results in a clean, simple, and stylish build.

Using the Product

When it comes to setting up the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM, it’s really just as simple as slipping in your modules in the DIMM slots on the latest AMD and Intel DDR4 motherboards, then running the Corsair iCUE, without the need for extra wires or cables.

What’s more, you won’t have to trade style for speed when it comes to the Vengeance RGB Pro since this is tightly screened for improved performance, and is compatible with XMP 2.0 with just one motherboard setting. Even with increased speed performance right out of the box, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM also features good overclocking credentials that one would expect from high-speed memories from Corsair.

An aluminum heat-spreader and custom-performance PCB in black or white provides you with the highest quality and reliability for signal; plus, it also has outstanding cooling that provides you with a lot of potential to boost your memory.    

When it comes to the performance with the default XMP profile, the product was really good for this type of kit. We tried playing with the timings and quite interestingly, we were able to get that bit of extra from the DDR4 RAM. Just remember that you’ll really get different results when testing the product with a variety of systems.

For us, the most vital element when it comes to the RAM is its stability, and with the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro, it was really rock solid, had zero issues, and its XMP profiles functioned flawlessly.

The iCUE Software from Corsair is an additional bonus to the RAM which provides you with tons of options to play with things like the RAM’s color, from a solid shade for every RAM stick, to a variety of color for each of these. You can choose from color pulse, rainbow, and the color shift. In the software, you’ll be able to get a plethora of very useful data about your hardware; plus, you will also get to control every other hardware that you have that’s made by Corsair. Of course, you just have to make sure that the device is supported first.

The main feature of the RAM is the lighting. When we tried it, we saw that it was really bright enough to light up almost every part of your internals. It’s also adequately saturated to handle almost every color that you’ll throw at it. This is also a very flexible device to use it as a stunning display. Since the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM supports a couple of configurations, we can say that it’s the closest match to a modern keyboard’s lighting options like the K-75. You’ll get to do pulses, sweeps, the full monty, and even strobing.

All in all, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM is an excellent RAM that performed excellently in our tests. We didn’t experience any occurrences of problems or issues which makes it an even better device. So with that, we’re giving two thumbs up to the Vengeance RGB Pro and Corsair as well.

Software

Corsair’s iCUE software is one of the best RGB customization programs we’ve ever tried, and that includes customizing the Vengeance RGB Pro. The software lets you bring your system to life with powerful RGB lighting control. It synchronizes across all of your iCUE compatible devices and these include memory, RGB LED light strips, mice, keyboards, and more. With its power, you can create customized temperature alerts, as well as change the color of each memory module’s LED for performance read in one glance.

iCUE also allows you to customize a lot of preset lighting profiles or assign colors to each LED on multiple lighting layers to make something fully personalized. Only your imagination is your limit. It offers flexible ways to configure your RAMs colors and patterns. Since it covers all compatible Corsair components, the same effects can be synchronized. You don’t have to use other programs such as Corsair’s Link or the older version of iCUE which is CUE.

One of the great features of this program is the dynamic in-game lighting which reflects what is happening on screen. A lot of effects are practically and instantly applied as well.

Corsair’s iCUE is absolutely intuitive which made it easy for us to use. If you have multiple iCUE-compatible devices connected to the software, it will automatically detect and and display the available configuration settings for the device. For the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM, you will find Lighting Effects, DIMM Setup, Timings, Notifications, and Graphs.

Overall, the control panel has a minimalist design which we really appreciate. At the top part of the interface is where you’ll find all the connected Corsair devices. When using this to configure the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM, we didn’t experience any issue. We were able to set up the DIMMs accordingly with the installed modules. For the kit’s lighting effects, these can be synchronized to other Corsair RGB devices to produce aesthetic RGB effects for your build.

The next tab shows the frequency and timings for you to monitor if everything is fine. This can be useful especially during extreme overclocking. The device settings is where you can change the language, adjust brightness, set the temperature unit, as well as update the firmware.

Conclusion

RGB is one of the newest tech trends and we’ve seen it being integrated in almost all devices in the past few years. Though it’s not something that everyone wants, but we think anyone would really appreciate the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM. It emits bright, vibrant colors that stand out and make any build look absolutely stunning. The color cycle is also smooth, which is great since it appears classier compared to other devices.

Another thing we liked about the Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM is its build quality. The anodised aluminum heat spreaders are coated in matte black and feature a powder finish. It build is also solid, which makes it look more durable than other RAMs in the market. Although it’s just a small detail, the black PCB is another nice touch that keeps its aesthetics.

When it comes to looks, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM is really unique which we think is another bonus. Aside from its looks, it also delivered great performance. The software was easy to use and the RAM instantly responds to the configurations we’ve made. All in all, it is excellent and we give Corsair two thumbs up for this RAM. If you are looking for a RAM that offers great aesthetics and performance, we highly recommend Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM.

Where to Buy

You can pick up a Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM kit starting for around $200 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-12

5.0Overall Score

The post Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

When we speak of RGB DDR4 memories, it appears that there’s this kind of generation gap that’s been occurring. With a ton of kits that are now supporting some of the major motherboard brands and companies right out of the box. This includes complete assimilation with software that is able to control the LED lights of your board.

That step is surely going to the right direction, especially now that more are beginning to support both AMD and Intel systems. Now, the Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM from Patriot does all of these, but it also has more things up in store for you.

This time, we’ll be talking about this specific device, which are modules from the company that are very much interesting, especially with their exceptional RGBs that highlight the RAM’s beauty. Aside from that, the modules are highly on par with almost every premium memory module out in the market today. So to learn more about this specific product, Let’s head on and dive straight into the review about the Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM. First, Let’s go check out what’s inside the box.

Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM Review – What’s in the Box?

We have the white RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM which came in the usual colorful and aesthetic package from the company. It’s quite eye-catching, so you’ll never miss out on their products. Now taking the first look at the front portion of the box, you’ll get to see the module’s RGB functions which are compatible with almost all lighting sync systems from different brands. Some of these include the Gigabyte RGB Fusion, ASUS Aura Sync, Asrock’s Polychrome Sync, and the MSI Mystical Sync.

There’s also a “Gamer Certified” monogram fixed on the front part of the package, and you’ll also see the regular details and specifications here. These information display the RAM which is the PC4 25600, 3200MHz.

When you look at the back of the box, you’ll be able to determine that the device’s RAM includes a lifetime warranty which is really something convenient for all. The rest of the details on the box feature your regular brief introduction about the product, as well as some social media links of the company. As soon as you pull off the modules from the package, you’ll get to see that Patriot added a couple of cool stickers together with the modules themselves. These are specifically a pair of Viper stickers that you can use to stick on devices or items you like; and of course, you can put it on your RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM.

The Product

Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM Review

The modules of the RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM sports a really elegant and classy heatsink that comes with a shiny logo of Patriot. It can be located between the modules.  We consider this to be the best looking RAM we’ve ever seen since it comes with a really attractive design, it has a white PCB, it looks really nice and clean, and it can match almost any kind of motherboard around. When it comes to its aluminum heat spreader, the RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM has a textured matte finish which makes it look even better. It has thick and rather huge light bars which is really good for the RGB lighting’s area.

On the sticker, you will be able to see that the Viper RGB is a kit of two 8GB plus 3200MHz, as well as CL-16 at 1.35V. These days, 16GB is considered to as an adequate amount of memory to have a proper gaming computer. And for the best compatibility and performance, we highly recommend using the pre-configured XMP profile.

The snake head logo found in the middle of the stick appears very reflective with cutouts for its eyes to glow. We also really liked the effect of the texts that were placed right on top of the bar for the logo of Viper. It’s basically big and stands out just right without it taking over the entire stick. The module’s height is around 45.4 millimeters and it shouldn’t really be an issue for the air coolers and the AIOs that are out in the market.

The heat spreader doesn’t really function as a temperature improver, but it does shift the heat from the chips to the fins. This makes heat dissipation a lot more even throughout the entire module without leaving any hotspots. Apparently, it should allow for improved overclocking, and despite that, there shouldn’t be a problem with the cooler. Lastly, the RGB strip is controlled and powered by the DIMM slots, so no extra power is necessary for this.

Product Features

Improve your Build

The Viper RGB Series is the most competitive when it comes to specifications since it is Patriot’s highest segment in OC DRAM product lines. The high-quality aluminum heat shield features a special design which features the best that Viper has to offer. Its captivating design will make your build look better than ever. Aside from that, it effectively dissipates heat to ensure excellent performance even when using the heaviest and most demanding programs.

For Extreme Performance

The memory modules of Patriot’s Viper RGB Series were made for extreme performance. It’s fully compatible with the newest AMD and Intel platforms to provide your build a seamless connection. The Viper RGB Series delivers outstanding stability and performance. The RGB lighting also gives the most colorful dimensions for your build. It comes with five various lighting zones that are completely customizable via the RGB software.

Viper RGB Heatshield

The heatshield of the Viper RGB series was made to display the company’s signature Viper head. The company’s designers spent a long time to ensure its perfection. The linear aesthetic and magnificent angles featured on the front portion of the device were inspired by the company’s logo. Basically, it was made to be unique among the boring rectangular RAMs that are common in the market.

Easy to Use Software Application

The software used for the RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM is easy to follow anyone can customize their own device and make the most of its stunning 16-million RGB color spectrum.

5 Customizable RGB zones

Each RGB zone can be customized so you can completely change the lighting effects based on your liking. With that, you can easily add some flare to your PC.

Using the Product

The Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM is a great option for any motherboard that you have. It also works for different platforms or brands, so even if it’s white, it will blend really nicely with other color schemes. What we liked about the Viper RGB is that there are tons of things that come into play; getting it up and running, as well as changing its settings, was really simple and very easy. Compared to most of the software solutions for RGB memories that are available, the whole process was easy.

Not only is it easy to install, but it is also very convenient and easy to use thanks to the software. The Viper RGB Software Application was also able to let us customize the RGB LEDs with ease even in all five different zones. We just made a few quick clicks and everything went according to how we wanted. If you think about it, there are also some other brands that have functional and great software, but these are a bit cumbersome. As for some other sticks, they don’t have any software at all, so we’re really happy about this.

We’ve also noticed that the Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM’s performance was just as good as other similar products. Leaving them at their XMP or extreme memory profile will leave you pleased; yet if you choose to install and combine the right hardware, then its overclocking performance becomes excellent as well.

Getting to use these Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM for both Intel and AMD systems without having to worry about a single thing is also very nice. Since the Ryzen-based systems aren’t really at the top when it comes to memory compatibility, it was really nice to be able to add these sticks to our test systems and having them up and running at their perfectly-rated speeds without any issues at all. Patriot focused and worked on making their Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM function effectively just like how every memory should, making it widely compatible with both hardware and software.

When we powered it up, everything lit brightly and there wasn’t just a single color present. You can set a couple of stunning transitions, as well as fading effects to make things more personalized. The heat spreader makes for an excellent background just for the RGB; and as for the backlight, it’s evenly expanded based on illumination. Overall, it’s a very good product that performed well. It reached our expectations so we’re giving the Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM a solid thumbs-up.

Software

The Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM, as the name says, has excellent RGB functions included, and works perfectly. Patriot offers the Viper RGB Software Application that allows the management of lighting in an easier and more convenient way. Just keep in mind that this application may come in conflict with similar applications such as Aura Sync, Mystic Light Sync, RGB Fusion, and Polychrome Sync to name a few.

You won’t need to install or run any other utility or application since you can do all of it from a single place. If you have to deal with just your new memory, then Viper has a utility for this. The software does not control or manage other brands’ RGB memory modules since it’s specifically designed to work only with the Patriot Viper RGB series. First, you’ll need to set the heat shield color – white / black – then after this, you’re all set. To give you an idea about the lighting effects, the ones available are the following: dark, viper, breathing, heartbeat, aurora, marquee, and neon.

Overall, the software was very easy to manage and work with, so you shouldn’t experience any problems or issues. Plus, we didn’t experience any stability problems which was really good.

With the software, you just need a couple of clicks to change the pattern or colors for the different LED regions of the DIMMs. Just click the box for a specific region, then click a color, and you’re done. Not only that, but this software provides you with an easy and convenient option to change the images displayed to match the sticks that are installed in the system. This will make understanding what you’re changing in the software much easier to comprehend.

Getting the sticks installed then lit is when all the fun things begin. The default design that’s offered is really nice and unique compared to most of the RGB sticks that are around. And seeing the sticks light up together along with varying colors in each region is really good. If you want, you can also choose to switch off some regions to give a more dramatic appeal.

Conclusion

To conclude our review, we really think that the Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM from Patriot is one of the coolest hardware devices that we’ve ever tested. We didn’t dislike anything about this RAM since it’s packed with the perfect features; plus, it performs excellently while also delivering stunning aesthetics.

Aside from the excellent performance that it delivered, we really liked the RAM’s appearance. The Viper RGB DD4 had the best aesthetic elements for every RGB enthusiast who loves decorating their rig. We think that it’s design is perfect; when we tested its RGB lighting, the results were great. It can also be easily changed via the RGB Software which can be downloaded from the company’s website. All in all, the Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM is the best memory kit if you’re looking for outstanding performance and aesthetics.

Where to Buy

You can purchase a Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM Kit starting at around $200 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post Viper RGB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

With their name at the top of the market, Kingston is still one of the biggest flash memory and DRAM vendors, globally. While their best game is in the USB / flash card storages and DRAMs, the company’s also a primary player in the market of SSDs. And with the unstoppable and continuous RGB train that’s passing each stop in your computer, the SSD is definitely one thing that can’t be forgotten; that also goes for the Fury RGB 480GB SSD from HyperX.

If you think about it, this isn’t really something new to the market, but it is something that the company seems keen on sharing with every enthusiast of RGB lighting. So with that, we’re going to focus the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD which, as the name states, has an adjustable support for RGB lighting. Let’s start off with what’s inside the box.

HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD Review – What’s in the Box?

What we have is the 480GB SSD and it comes in a sturdy, durable package with a huge image of the device right on display. Together with this, there are also a few icons that exhibit that this drive makes use of 3D NAND; plus, it has RGB included.

The box’s rear displays a total of three images of the colors shown as an inclusion of the RGB cycle. Beneath these are the contents of the box listed both in French and English. To the side of this is a note that talks about the 3-year warranty that Kingston supports the drive with.

When you open the box, you’ll find the Fury RGB 480GB SSD fit perfectly in place; plus, other items that you’ll find in the package includes the installation kit that is filled with a ton of bobs and bits that you’ll need for setting up the device. There’s an included 3.5-inch bracket, as well as mounting screws that are necessary for installing the Fury RGB in your desktop computer.

Also included are the external USB 3.0 enclosure with the USB 3.1 Type-A to the mini USB cable, one screwdriver with two bits, and an RGB connection cable. Another inclusion in the package is the activation key for the Acronis True-Image HD cloning software which is something that you can download from the official Kingston website. Lastly, the company also included a quick startup guide, as well as some other HyperX marketing materials.

The Product

HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD Review

Generally, the packaging that they used was a bit basic but it had all the information that you’d need so we’re not complaining about this. Though once you unbox the device, you’ll realize that the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD has that very nice and premium feel to it. We’ve already had a couple of SSDs that felt light and a bit cheap and this is compared to the sturdier, more solid, and metallic build of the HyperX SSD.

What’s nice about the Fury RGB 480GB SSD from HyperX is that it can fit and match any build, even the more high-end computers that you’d want to show off. The front part of the SSD is tough and can be considered as an item coming from the military. Its perforated metallic sections aid in diffusing the lighting while simultaneously enhancing the device’s appearance when it’s switched off. The opposite side is quite simple and features just the usual four-drive mounts and the product’s label.

Thanks to its RGB lighting, you’ll get a third connection right at the end of the drive together with the usual SATA data and power. The micro USB links to the 4-pin RGB connection found on your motherboard; if it’s left unpopulated, the device will boot in a static red.

Once you remove the lid from the drive, it will reveal a white plastic back on the lid’s design where the cutouts for the RGB LED lights shine through. Speaking of the LEDs, there are a total of 75 on one side of the PCB, so if there’s no control for the RGB, the drive will automatically default to a red light scheme, giving the drive a slightly edgy appearance once it gets powered up. On the other portion of the PCB, you’ll find the rest of the components that are vital for the SSD. There are a total of four Kingston-branded Toshiba Bi-CS3 64-layer 3D TLC-NAND packages together with the Marvell 88-SS 1074 four-channel controllers. Plus, there’s also a DRAM chip included.

RGB LEDs

The Fury RGB 480GB SSD makes use of 75 internal RGB LED modules that are fixed onto the same PCB just like the Storage-related components. All the LED lights are distributed to give you adequate amounts of coverage for the backlit logo of HyperX, as well as its edge highlights. Its light passes through a thin white sheet of plastic that functions as a diffuser; it also goes through a perforated metal sheet that adds a bit of texture to its lighting effects.

The two layers also block light which is most likely why the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD needs a lot of LEDs. The light forces the device to be a bit thicker at 9.5 millimeters compared to most SATA SSDs at 7 millimeters.

Lighting Controls

The HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD has controllable lighting via the connector that’s next to the SATA data and power connectors. The company made use of a USB micro-B connector, but isn’t electrically compatible with the USB. Instead, the included adapter cable with the drive should be utilized to link to a 4-pin 12 Volt RGB header found on the motherboard, or on any other lighting controller. This will allow the lighting’s color to be modified as a group since individual management of the LED lights is not possible.

Alternatively, if the LED cable isn’t connected, the drive will shift to default, illuminating the red LEDs via the 12-Volt supply found on the SATA power connector. This is while the rest of the Fury RGB 480GB SSD makes use of the 5-Volt supply just like how a regular SATA SSD would. These LED lights can also be controlled and powered via the LED cable even when the power connector of the SATA does not provide any power.

Once it’s installed, the RGB at the top of the drive will immediately catch everyone’s attention, either as a simple glow through the air vents or directly at the back of the transparent panels.

Product Features

Dynamic RGB Lighting

With the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD, you can enhance your system’s appearance and performance. This update comes along with all the necessary upgrade for smooth performance and stunning RGB effects. The drive has a light bar that makes your rig look more stylish.

Sync RGB Devices with Daisy Chain

The HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD allows you to daisy chain with other compatible RGB devices for you to have a more stunning and stylish rig that every builder would love to have.

Aggressive Styling

Say goodbye to those bulky squared builds with the design of the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD. Its top case is made to emphasize its lighting, which is perfect for builders who don’t want to skip on both performance and style.

Ten Times the Speed of a Hard Drive

With a Marvell controller and 3D NAND, the Fury RGB works faster with speed rates of 480 MB/s write and 550 MB/s read. These also make the SSD extra efficient and durable.

Specifications

The SSD conforms to the dimensions set by the usual 2.5-inch factor. Compared to latest 2.5-inch SSDs in the market, the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD comes with an all metallic case with a thickness of 9.5 millimeters. The company made use of the SATA 6 Gbps and is compatible with the older SATA standards and can work at diminished performance. Take note of the small micro USB connector that’s on the left side of the SSD. It is where you connect the RGB cable from your computer’s motherboard.

The lighting system isn’t controlled via the SATA interface, but it is managed by a separate 4-pin connector that is linked to the RGB headers of the motherboard. This approach makes it compatible with the ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, and the ASRock RGB Sync. This is to prevent you from having to install proprietary software for the RGB controls. The Fury RGB’s cable comes with a pass-through header that’s specifically designed for the RGB signal so you can easily link extra RGB-capable hardware coming from any manufacturer.

The SSD portion of the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD has a total of four 3D TLC chips, one 512 MB Kingston DDR-3 chip, and a Marvell 88-SS 1074 controller. Like almost every TLC-based SSD, this Fury RGB 480GB SSD from HyperX runs portions of its flash in SLC mode to get higher performance. Its limited warranty is based on the SSD Life Remaining (3 years) which can be found via the Kingston SSD Manager.

Using the Product

The HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD was much heavier compared to the stock SSD from the WD that came with our gaming rig; plus, it also appears to have been made better and with higher quality which is really good. It doesn’t come with a SATA connector, though you don’t have to worry since you can use a connector from an existing drive; though it does include a mini USB cable and RGB connector. And since HyperX has all the necessary accessories that you’d need, you’d be able to install the Fury RGB 480GB SSD right out of the box without needing any other additional item. Honestly, we had more issues in finding a good spot to position our PC than we did with cabling.

We’ve mentioned earlier that its default color is red which is pretty cool since we already have our machine loaded with a lot of red LEDs. Though if yours isn’t sporting the red theme, it’s totally fine. It still looks good with other colors so you’re still good to go, and you’ll still be able to show off your awesome gaming rig to fellow gamers.

When it comes to the software, we really liked that it lets you use the drive as a backup for your original SSD. If we needed, we could easily use the Fury RGB 480GB SSD as a backup just in case our original drive stops working for whatever reason. As for the RGB LEDs, using it is very straightforward especially when utilizing it on a platform that completely supports this. Basically, if you’re using a gaming rig and aren’t utilizing an SSD, you’re definitely missing out on real efficient performance. We’d go to as far as saying that any PC you’re running should have an SSD like the Fury RGB for excellent performance and a quick boot up.

Conclusion

The HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD features a rock-solid metal case which gives it its high-quality appearance and feel. When it comes to its build, it seems like the highest-quality among all SSD’s we’ve had in our hands. Although it gets warm due to its LEDs, it’s really far from overheating which is another plus to this SSD.

RGB effects are definitely the HyperX Faury RGB 480GB SSD’s stand-out feature. After installation and seeing the RGB effects, we saw how stunning the SSD looked in out build. For the perforated lighting zones, we also think that these looked great against the drive’s enclosure. All in all, we really love the RGB effects and the everyday performance of the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD. We really think that its design is great while it also works excellently with its glass case. Usually, SSDs are hidden behind a case but with the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD, you can have both performance and style.

If you’re looking for your own SSD that is solid, stylish, durable, and efficient, we highly recommend the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD for around $139 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post HyperX Fury RGB 480GB SSD Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

A photographer’s job may seem like an easy task, but they face their own set of challenges especially when they work on the field. One of their usual concerns is to guarantee that their data is always completely backed up. And while they rely on keeping around two copies of their photos on various memory cards, there are some photographers who choose to manually back up their images via dedicated backup device or laptop.

For so many years now, WD or Western Digital, as most people know them, has been giving us backup solutions that are designed for photographers. Their WD My Passport Wireless SSD collection of devices targets both professionals and enthusiasts alike, who want to be able to make backups for their work without any hassles or issues while at work.

But if you take a good look at things, the My Passport Wireless SSD isn’t really the first kind of Wi-Fi-enabled portable storage device the company has in their collection. The device is a hard drive model launched back in the year 2016 and if you observe, it’s practically the same as this current SSD unit except for three specific areas: transfer speed, durability, and the price.

The WD My Passport Wireless SSD is a device that can offer you greater and better durability since its storage is a solid state. This only means that compared to the Wireless Pro’s mechanical hard drive, there aren’t any moving parts that are easily broken; plus, it will be able to take and withstand more scrapes, bumps, and everyday scrambling through your camera bag.

Let’s learn more about this wireless SSD, its features, how it performs, and if it’s really a good device to have for all you photographers out there. With that, let’s head on and check out what’s inside the box.

WD My Passport Wireless SSD Review – What’s in the Box?

The device comes in a simple but sturdy package which provides you with an image of the My Passport Wireless SSD on the center. Below this, you will see a list of the capacity and connectivity of the drive for your convenience. At the back of the box, you will find more details about the device’s compatibility, as well as a diagram of its enclosure inputs to its right.

When it comes to the items inside, of course, you have the My Passport Wireless SSD, one USB 3.0 cable, the drop protection bumper, and a power adapter.

The Product

WD My Passport Wireless SSD Review

The WD My Passport Wireless SSD sports the same square-like body just like its disk-based predecessors. However, it now has a rubber bumper sleeve which fits perfectly along the corners while also providing adequate protection against falls and knocks. It isn’t one of those types of devices that are waterproof or invincible, but with the fitted sleeve, it should be able to handle falls from about a meter high. The SSD drives are also better and more resistant to occurrences like knocks compared to the classic hard disks.

With the presence of the rubber bumper sleeve, the My Passport Wireless SSD is 135 x 135 x 30 millimeters and weighs only under half a kilo, making it slightly bigger than your usual portable drive whether you’re using a classic hard disk or SSD. Compared to most portable drives that are around, the My Passport Wireless SSD is not something you can keep in your pocket; also, you should remember that it’s designed not as a companion device, but a replacement for traveling with your laptop.

With its size, it’s surely more convenient and lighter than carrying your laptop with you, wherever you go. With that said, we’re really glad that Western Digital decided to create this device which makes everything more convenient and easy.

If you take a look at one side of the drive, you will see a spring loaded SD slot which is something that you’ll find in cameras. We like that Western Digital made it more secure, so when you insert an SD card, it will move entirely into the slot without having any parts of it sticking out. If you need to get the card out, just press it until it gets pushed in so it will spring out sufficiently from the slot. This slot reads at a speed of up to 65 MB/s; though it isn’t really the fastest around, it’s still faster compared to the older My Passport Wireless model.

On the other side of the device, there are two buttons present, as well as two ports. There is the primary power button on the left side which switches the drive on with just a quick push, then it switches off once again if you press it longer. Next one would be the USB 3 port which is utilized for charging and connecting the My Passport Wireless SSD directly to PCs to give you the fastest data speed for transferring.

Next to the USB 3 port is the classic USB 2 port which is necessary for charging external devices such as smartphones using the 6700 mAh internal battery as a power bank, or for linking external card readers. When it functions as a USB port, the data speed is fairly quick and were glad that it works adequately. Lastly, on the right side is another button that functions to check the battery life or for initiating the SD card. For its battery, it is indicated by blue LED lights on the upper part of the drive that you can easily setup the drive to immediately backup the SD card’s contents as soon as it’s linked or inserted whenever necessary.

The WD My Passport Wireless SSD is compatible with Windows 7, 8.1, or 10, Mac OS X El Capitan, High Sierra, or Sierra. The device requires the DLNA / UPnP or the Plex-enabled devices that are utilized for streaming.

It has a total capacity of 1TB and makes use of SD 3.0 card slot, and the USB 2.0 for importing. The interface also has 802.11 ac/n Wi-Fi.

Product Features

Shock-Resistant, One-Touch Card Copy

The My Passport Wireless SSD is a multi-purpose portable drive that allows you to preserve media files that you captured via cameras and drones. Its one-touch copy button lets you backup videos and photos using the integrated SD card reader or the built-in USB port even without having a laptop or a program.

Durable SSD

Since the My Passport Wireless SSD, your files are safeguarded from vibrations, shock, and drops up to 1 meter, even when the drive is being used.

Integrated SD Card Reader

The My Passport Wireless SSD has a built-in 3.0 SD card. With its read and write speed rate that reaches a maximum of 65 Mbps, the device allows for easy backing up of files when you don’t have your computer or other devices and software.

Long-Lasting Battery Life

The battery life of the My Passport Wireless SSD depends on your usage, but generally, it can last up to 10 hours of use. You’ll have no problems even if you take this on a long trip or if you stream videos on the road.

Faster Transfer Speed

Access speed and transfer rates are faster with this portable SSD. When using the USB 3.0 port to move files from your computer, you can enjoy read speeds that go up to 390 MB/s4.

Import Media from Card Readers

Aside from the one-touch copy button, the My Passport Wireless SSD also has a convenient USB 2.0 port allows you to easily move files from compatible card readers, as well as external USB storage devices

4K Streaming and Wireless Access

The My Passport Wireless SSD creates its exclusively fast 802.11 ac WiFi connection. This allows for wirelessly connecting your phone to view and gain access to some files. Streaming 4K videos is also smooth even when done directly to your mobile devices. There are also third party applications that you can use to edit videos immediately.

Also a Power Bank

The My Passport Wireless SSD from Western digital allows you to charge your mobile phone camera, and other devices even without an electrical outlet. It stores up to 6,700 mAh and it provides up to 1.5A of power.

Using the Product

Much older hard drives that were utilized for other Western Digital wireless drives are undeniably decent performers; but when it comes to this My Passport Wireless SSD, it is surely more convenient and efficient compared to the others. This is most especially when it comes to wireless transfers. It’s because it has about threefold speed boost when it comes to transferring files to and from your computer or through Mac using the USB.

During our tests, we were able to clock a top speed of 384 MB/s and 381 for its write. When it came to acquiring the contents of our SD Card via the onboard card reader, we were able to see transfer speeds to be smooth and non-erratic which is good.

The SD transfers completed smoothly just as well. We inserted an SD card and we didn’t have to wait for more than five seconds to actually get it mounted on our device. We didn’t experience any instances where the status lights just kept blinking and had to remove the card and just try again.

For the mobile applications, it’s relatively easy and quick to browse through files and folders. Streaming multimedia content was just as seamless as well so we’re pretty happy about this. There were also no occurrences of hiccups when we tried streaming recorded 4K drone footages on the My Cloud app for the iOS. For the application’s integrated player, the 4K videos did not have any form of pauses which usually happens when buffering such. Via smartphone over Wi-Fi connection, 4K videos played seamlessly so we were really thrilled to see such amazing performance from this device.

All in all, we can definitely say that the performance of the My Passport Wireless SSD from Western Digital is great, and we’d highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

Software

The WD My Passport Wireless SSD can work as a wired or wireless storage device for computers. The My Cloud App is also useful when you want to leave your laptop at home and access your content with your phone or tablet wherever you are. This free My Cloud application can be used for iOS and Android devices. The best thing about this app is that it’s easy to setup and use.

Conclusion

The My Passport Wireless SSD from Western Digital is extremely versatile that allows you to backup media files without the need of a laptop or power supply. Its integrated slot for SD cards automatically copy the contents of your cards; plus, it lets you view and access files with just your computer or phone tablet. We were really amazed with these features since we never saw any other device that could do all of these.

With the integrated Wi-Fi, the My Passport Wireless SSD works like a NAS or a wireless media server. You can share the storage withmore than one computer, phone, and tablet to stream content to DLNA or players that are compatible with Plex such as smart TV’s. Aside from that, you can also use it as a power bank.

If you’re looking for the best multi-purpose SSD for creatives who need to access and backup data on the go, we highly recommend the WD My Passport Wireless SSD.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the WD My Passport Wireless 1TB SSD for around $660AUD from your local retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post WD My Passport Wireless SSD Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

The past year, we were able to check out HyperX’s very first gaming mouse which was the Pulsefire FPS. It was a really impressive device and the company did follow this with a more advanced model called the Surge RGB. For HyperX’s third try, they split the difference between their two previous devices through a midrange mouse that is known as the Pulsefire FPS Pro.

A lot of pro-level gamers consider this a great upgrade to everyone’s gaming mouse, and it’s also a great shot for improving your RGB style and headshots. But is this Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse a device that you should add to your gaming rig setup? And are the features and its performance up to par with your needs and requisites?

Today, we’re going to check out this gaming mouse from HyperX, what it’s all about, it’s features, and how well it performs. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look at what is included inside the box.

HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro Review – What’s in the Box?

The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse is packed in a mostly white retail box that displays an angled view of the device inside. A couple of the gaming mouse’s features like the RGB lighting and NGenuity compatibility are highlighted on the package’s front.

When looking at the back of the box, you’ll see a top down view of the device plus extra highlights like a few images of the RGB lights. There’s also a note regarding the included two-year warranty, as well as the free technical assistance that’s included. Not only that, but it also lets every gamer know that the company is ready to stand behind all of their products.

Other than the Pulsefire FPS Pro itself, there are other items present in the package and these include a quick startup guide, the support information card, and the HyperX Welcome Card. The quick startup guide provides you with a couple of tips on calibrating the mouse using the onboard controls which is really convenient. Though keep in mind that the real customization happens via the NGenuity app.

The Product

HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro Review

If you’ve already seen an ergonomic, right-handed gaming mouse in the past, then the Pulsefire FPS Pro from HyperX should look very familiar. It is a medium-sized device with a raised center that facilitates either claw or palm grips. On each side of the mouse, there are extremely textured and coarse finger rests for better comfort and feel.

The device also makes use of durable and efficient Omron switches which is just like the previous gaming mice from the company. HyperX also claims that it will last over 20 millions clicks. Also, the buttons on this gaming mouse indeed provides a really satisfying tactile response with every press you make.

When looking at the Pulsefire FPS Pro, it is a six-button gaming device and these include the right, left, clickable mouse wheel, two left-facing thumb buttons, as well as the DPI selector at the center. This is the general loadout for gaming mice of this age and it’s more than enough for FPS or first-person shooter fans. The Pulsefire FPS Pro is crafted with a metal-like finish with rubberized grips with an industrial durbar design.

The mouse’s lighting has been improved from the earlier version: the non-pro type is only offered with the red shade for the backlight whereas the Pulsefire FPS Pro makes use of the full RGB lighting which significantly helps augment the color palette.

Light is discharged from the HyperX logo located on the palm rest and the mouse wheel, hitting the DPI selector which is behind the mouse wheel. It will flash the equivalent color to let you know the sensitivity that you’ve chosen.

On the bottom portion, there are two huge frictionless pads called the Skates unlike most of the mice that have pads that are half the size of one dime. The Skates help the Pulsefire FPS Pro glide smoothly across most surfaces which is really great.

These are also over 2 inches long where the bottom one is an inch wide while the one on top is almost an inch. A much closer look at the sticker located at the bottom of the mouse displays the device’s power requirements, model number, certificates, and other information about the device.

Product Features

Superior Pixart 3389 Sensor

To deliver excellent performance and accuracy, the Pulsefire FPS Pro is equipped with the Pixart 3389 Sensor which provides smooth, responsive tracking up to 16,000 DPI without hardware acceleration. With that, you can experience the precision you’ve always needed for shooting before your opponents even get the chance to attack.

Ergonomic Design with Comfort

The Pulsefire FPS Pro features and ergonomic design to perfectly fit your hand. It also has textured side grips so it securely stays in your hands and does not slip during quick movements. With Omron switches, the mouse also gives crisp, tactile feedback to let you know that your clicks have been registered.

Six Programmable Buttons

The Pulsefire FPS Pro gives you six buttons that you can customize via the HyperX NGenuity software. With its internal memory, you don’t have to keep the program running when you update the mouse, unlike other competing products. The software is well-made since it features intuitive menus, a wide range of options, and support for a lot of profiles.

Save Profiles to Onboard Memory

Aside from configuring each buttons present in the gaming mouse, you can also store up to three setups directly to the mouse’s onboard memory and take your settings wherever you go.

Smooth and Controlled Gliding with Extra-Large Mouse Skates

The Pulsefire FPS Pro features extra-large skates that provide a solid base for the mouse. This makes gliding smoother and more controlled so you can easily do both track and flick.

Specifications

The Pulsefire FPS Pro from HyperX is a wired and ergonomic gaming mouse that has 1 RGB lighting zone. It has a total of six buttons and makes use of the Omron switches that gives you a total of 20 million clicks. The mouse’s sensor is an optical type, specifically the Pixart PWM-3389 and has 16,000 DPI for its max resolution. Total IPS speed is 450, 50G for its maximum acceleration, while the polling rate is 1,000 Hz.

The cable of the device is a braided one and without this, the Pulsefire FPS Pro weighs 95 grams. For its dimensions, the gaming mouse is 71 (W) x 128 (L) x 42 (H) millimeters. Lastly, the mouse uses the NGenuity software and it comes with a 2-year warranty from the company.

Using the Product

We tried using the Pulsefire FPS Pro on a variety of games, and even if it’s considered as an FPS mouse, we felt that it was like a very efficient all-purpose mouse which is good. The design and build of the device is suitable and adequate for any type of game that’s out in the market.

The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro is also well-designed and has great ergonomics; its buttons send a satisfying, tactile feedback, and the slightly embedded DPI alternator button effectively prevents accidental alterations in the DPI. The smooth, extra-large mouse skates on its underside ensures easy cleaning and support for fast movements.

The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro responsive and quick in every task in the games we’ve tried – from building bases to defeating various opponents, we were able to do everything the right way, thanks to the precision that this mouse delivers.

The Pulsefire FPS Pro is really for FPS gamers. It glides smoothly, has a lot of DPI settings, and it’s highly customizable. Its DPI options can go higher than any other mouse we’ve tried, which gives users great control on its setup. All in all, we think that this is an excellent FPS gaming mouse.

Software

HyperX NGenuity is straight forward software that is easy to use. Here, you can customize the settings of your HyperX products such as setting button bindings, assigning colors to each key on your keyboard, programming or storing macros, adjusting your audio, checking a device’s remaining power, as well as setting up colors for keys or zones.  This program gives you as much control as you want.

HyperX Ngenuity also features a library of presets for the top-rated games; this lets you quickly select, install, and play a game. For new features and compatible HyperX devices, you can check out the support section.

For its interface, it remained the same as it was in the previous year. Navigating through the menus and settings was easy, allowing us to get the hang of it in a short span of time. Now, when it comes to customizing the mouse’s buttons, you can choose from four RGB lighting presets – solid color, breathing, color cycle, and trigger. We think that each preset looks vibrant and we really like the fact that we were able to select a hues with a color wheel. We also got to choose the corresponding tone that flashes when adjusting the DPI and there’s another option for selecting how many DPI presets you want to use for the selector button.

Conclusion

HyperX is well-known for creating top-notch devices with competitive prices, and the Pulsefire FPS Pro is another addition to their list of the company’s high-quality product. It meets the wants and needs of every gamer and using it felt really nice, especially for fast first-person shooting games. The mouse was not only comfortable, but it was also precise and responsive. Of course, its RGB effects and its settings is another great feature of this gaming mouse.

We think that the HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro is excellent – stylish, high-performance, and comfortable. We think its design is great and we highly recommend it especially to gamers who are looking for the best FPS mouse for their gaming needs.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the HyperX Pulsefire FRP Pro for around $89 AUD from your local retailer. For more information head on over to the HyperX product page.

The post HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

The Hero series has always been the go-to board for a lot of generations to receive all the ROG Maximus goods without any of the flagship prices like that of the Extreme or Formula boards. ROG only provides features such as pre-mounted I/O Shield, dedicated water-cooling headers, a single click AI-powered overclocking, and a multi-zoned Aura Sync lighting with headers will give you all the things that a gaming enthusiast would require with a price that’s on the more mainstream side.

The ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi is the perfect device to introduce anyone to the Republic of Gamers or ROG. It is generally Z390 gaming motherboard that features smart cooling, substantial power, and quick memory support under a stealth-like skin. It is packed with popular ROG features: from the single click overclocking & cooling, to the Aura Sync Illumination, so with that, you can truly say that the Maximus XI Hero WiFi is ready to perform and is designed for customization.

Today, we’re going to look into the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi which is a board positioned at the higher-end region of what’s being considered as the mainstream sector. Also, this board has other extra awesome features that will surely pique the interest of everyone. Want to learn more about this product? Then we’ve got you covered; so sit back, enjoy, and let’s start off with what’s inside the box.

ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi Review – What’s in the Box?

When we received our Maximus XI Hero WiFi, it’s basically just like every other ROG product box that we’ve come across in the past: a sturdy red box with cool red & black accents combined with tons of subtle details. It’s basically just a cool-looking standard cardboard package that features the signature color scheme that has always been part of every ROG product for sometime now.

You can also note that the logo of ASUS ROG on the upper-right portion of the package is very easy to see, and it’s also the first implication that the Maximus XI Hero WiFi is a gaming / enthusiast-aimed product. Aside from these, the front portion of the box also displays a list of the support for Intel’s 8th gen core processors, the NVIDIA SLI, Optane Memory, ASUS Aura Sync and the AMD Crossfire technologies.

For the package’s rear, it displays an image of the board in the center and is all lit up; it also displays the features and specs surrounding it such as the M.2 heatsink, Supreme FX Technology, RGB addressable headers, and more. The box’s ends also have the model in color shifting fonts, as well as the ASUS and ROG logos.

Once you start opening the package, you’ll be greeted with the huge red ROG eye, and a message that says “ Welcome to the Republic”. The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi can be seen completely on its own tray under the clear protective cover. Beneath the tray, you’ll find the famous ROG sticker sheet, and underneath this are the three compartments that conceal all the other extra accessories and items in embossed flaps.

Just like every other ROG boards, the accessories included in the Maximus XI Hero WiFi’s package are quite immense. You’ll get the user guide, a 20% coupon to the site CableMod.com which is good for a collection of cables or extensions that are customized based on your preferences and specific power supply. Additionally, you’ll also get a free coaster with the package. The usual SATA cables are present, but you’ll also get stuff like M.2 screws, a couple of RGB extension cables, the ASUS Q-Connector, an HB SLI Bridge, Wi-Fi antenna, and the ROG case badge that’s inside the drive disk sleeve.

The Product

ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi Review

The ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi comes with a silver and black theme. It’s a top-tier device so you’re sure to expect a ton of features packed in this amazing motherboard. It comes in your regular ATX form factor, though you can take note of the dynamic design language of the board that goes all the way from top to bottom, and is something that the Maximus series is widely known for.

The Maximus XI Hero WiFi stays in the regular ATX footprint but still provides you with a total of 4 memory sockets, dual M.2 sockets with built-in heatsinks, and twin-armored PCIe x16 slots that are specifically for the GPUs. The motherboard’s rear doesn’t have anything interesting on it, but it’s really nice that it’s sleek and clean. The motherboard has the 8 + 2 + 2 Extreme Engine Digi+ VRM supply, and it also makes use of the micro-fine alloy chokes, as well as the 10,000-hour rated metal black capacitors.

All ROG motherboards guarantee high-quality overclocking, as well as the best stability on unlocked 8th and 9th generation processors. The company themselves state that the motherboards provide 5GHz+ overclocking capacities across all the eight cores, utilizing their AI-assisted overclocking technology with the 5-way optimization.

Top of the Board

At the top portion of the board, you’ll see Intel’s LGA-1151 socket center and front with a really nice ROG socket cap, one 10-phase VRM encircling the left and top sides of the socket; a 4-pin fan header is found next to the M.2 socket that is kept beneath the heatsink just under the socket.

The bottom-half of the board is partially covered with the SupremeFX Audio and the chipset heatsink that mixes with the second M.2 slot heatsink. 2 PCIe x16 slots are armored and can function at x16 / x0 or x8 / x8 from the CPU. It also features the lower x16 slot’s x4 electrical from the PCH, and also the 3 open ended slots for the PCIe x1. You’ll be getting 6 SATA ports, an extra fan header, one USB 3.1 Type C header, plus a primary 24-pin power connection.

At the top of the main power network, you’ll get a reset and power button, as well as a Q-code display. Also along the top, you’ll have two additional RGB headers, 3 4-pin fan headers, plus CPU power inputs that are made up of an aux 4-pin and 8-pin EPS connection. The power is being sent to the CPU via 10-phase VRM featuring a huge heatsink that’s moderately tucked beneath the rear I/O cover. Both the M.2 slots feature heatsinks that come with pre-applied thermal pads. The bottom portion supports up to a total of 22,110-sized drive while the chipset heatsink gleams with the Aura Sync-enabled RGB.

Rear I/O

There’s a lot to get excited about like the two big heatsinks for the Maximus XI Hero WiFi’s pair of M.2 ports, a lot of testing and overclocking tools, the reset and power buttons, as well as the LED post code display found on the PCB. There’s also the CMOS clear buttons and USB BIOS Flashback on the rear I/O panel.

The board displays a couple of sizeable heatsinks connected with a heat pipe underneath. There’s also an 8 + 2 phase power delivery coming from the 4 PWM signals, plus power stages along with the low and high-side MOSFETS. Display coming from the iGPU is managed via Display and HDMI port. Two USB 3.1 1st generation ports in blue, and a total of 4 USB 3.1 2nd generation ports are in red together with a Type C connection. Intel WiFi is here with a 2 x 2 setup supporting the MU-MIMO, and also the regular SupremeFX-powered optical output and audio ports.

PCIe Slots

The Maximus XI Hero WiFi features three 3.0 PCIe x16 slots which can be organized in these slot setups with graphics cards: the one-way process – x 16 | x0 | x4, the two-way process – x8 | x8 | x0, and the three-way process – x8 | x8 | x4. When you take a look at these, they are the PCI express gen 3.0 arrangements which are good for the standard graphics card structure, up to the 2-way SLI / Crossfire.

This Maximus XI Hero WiFi motherboard comes with an 8-pin and additional 6-pin power connector, and you’ll also get 4 DIMM slots that can be utilized for dual channel memory.

Product Features

The Hero for High-Performance Gaming

The ROG Maximus XI Hero is a powerful Z390 gaming motherboard and is the best introduction to the Republic of Gamers. It comes with smart cooling technology and faster memory support. With its notable ROG features, the Maximus XI Hero is ready to deliver high-performance whether it’s for cooling, overclocking, or Aura Sync Illumination.

Impressive Performance

The Maximus XI Hero WiFi features a dedicated onboard clock generator, cooling options for keeping thermals under control, as well as support for the most recent high-performance memory. These make the Hero provide an effective foundation for your next gaming rig.

DDR-4 4,400 MHz+

Whether you’re looking for high frequencies or tuning timings for low latency, the Hero offers you the necessary tools to completely utilize the full potential of the Coffee Lake architecture which features carefully optimized trace pathways that keep the integrity of the signal. Aside from that, the acclaimed ROG firmware also gives all the important tweaks that ensure the stability during maximum memory performance. For heavy multitasking, load up with a memory kit with high density or utilize a focused setup that provides the bandwidth that your favorite apps and games require.

Designed for Overclocking

By default, each of Coffee Lake’s main bus frequencies have been acquired from the same reference clock, which limits the control and flexibility that is required to utilize the platform’s full overclocking potential. A dedicated onboard clock generator is present in the ROG Maximus XI Hero; this supplies dynamic reference clocks to the major subdomains and cores of the CPU. With that, you have the freedom to arrange each MHz of headroom from the system.

OptiMem II

ASUS reimagined the motherboard trace routing to offer Intel’s latest CPUs unrestricted access to memory bandwidth. The OptiMem II carefully plots memory signal pathways across various PCB layers to lessen vias. This technology also increases shielding zones that dramatically reduce crosstalk To further improve overclocking headroom for configurations that are completely stacked, ASUS has included a highly customized T-Topology design that brings time-aligned signaling.

Control your Own Rig

To have effective command of your rig, quick and intuitive control is essential. Because of that, ASUS has equipped the ROG Maximus XI Hero with simple yet flexible tools that allow you to tweak almost everything in the system. With the 5-Way Optimization Technology, you can enjoy smart automated tuning or dive deep into the UEFI BIOS for full control. From audio to storage, Hero makes fine-tuning everything easier so no one would have a hard time to make the most of the system speed.

Fully Personalized

With the Aura Sync that synchronizes effects to all compatible ROG components, you can enjoy endless personalization to make your build more stylish than ever.

Complete Cooling Zone

The most comprehensive cooling controls can be found only in the ROG Maximus XI Hero. The settings of the cooling system can be changed by using the Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI BIOS

Specifications

The motherboard uses the Intel Z390 chipset and has an ATX form factor. It supports the Intel Socket LGA 1151 V2 for the CPU while also featuring dual-channel, 4 slots, and a maximum of 64GB for its memory support.

The Maximus XI Hero WiFi is integrated with the 8-channel ROG SupremeFX S-1220, as well as the Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.1, and an 802.11 AC Wi-Fi.

Available ports include one LAN, mic, line in, audio out, optical S / PDIF out, six SATA 6Gbps, two USB 3.1 Type-C, 3 USB 3.1 Type-A, an M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 32Gbps / 6Gbps up to 2,280, four USB 3.0, and six USB 2.0. For the dimensions of the Maximus XI Hero WiFi, it measures 305 x 244 millimeters. Notable extras would be Wi-Fi aerials, the M.2 heatsink, and the RGB LED extension cable.

Ready for Socket-1151 9th / 8th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold & Celeron Processors

The Maximus XI Hero WiFi supports the Socket-1151 for the 8th and 9th generation Intel Core, Celeron and Pentium Gold processors with built-in memory plus PCI Express controllers to readily assist onboard graphics output with dual channel DDR-4 memory. There’s also the 16 PCI Express 3.0 / 2.0 lanes for better and enhanced performance.

Intel Z390 chipset
The Intel Z390 is a single chipset design that gives you enhanced performance by using the serial point to point links; plus, allowing boosted stability and bandwidth.

Using the Product

Of course, we’re not going to skip talking about the Maximus XI Hero WiFi’s performance, so let’s start off with the power consumption. When on idle, the PC usually consumes about 65 Watts – a number that depends and varies per motherboard being used; this is also based on the PSU or efficiency used. Remember that we’re measuring the whole computer and not just the power consumption of the processor. And if you add optical drives, sound cards, HDDs, and more, your regular computer can really differ from our numbers.

For overclocking, the Maximus XI Hero WiFi did not have any issues at all and overclocking to 5GHz was a simple experience and everything went smoothly which is really good. There were also no heating issues, so with that said, the Maximus XI Hero was really rock-solid throughout our tests. Basically, we were able to get really good results for overclocking so the Maximus XI Hero is getting a thumbs up from us.

Now for gaming, it’s very much spot on. The frame rates were way up there and were basically head to head with the other Z390 boards that we’ve tried. It performed really great, so if you’re looking to build a gaming PC that’s feature-packed, then we’re definitely recommending the Maximus XI Hero WiFi and you won’t be disappointed in any way.

Overall, the Maximus XI Hero WiFi’s performance was excellent right out of the box, even if we purposely switched off ASUS’ tweaks for the sake of our tests. If you’ll be building your system with the Maximus XI Hero WiFi, you’ll just need to switch on the AI overclocking since it’s really extensive and covers all your needs with ease. With that, we really loved how the Maximus XI Hero WiFi performed, so we’re giving this product, and ASUS, a double thumbs-up.

ASUS AI Suite III

The software used for the AI Suite III comes with most of the apps of Maximus XI Hero. Aside from that, it has other available tasks such as PC Cleaner file remover, EZ Update for ASUS update servers, a Windows-initialized version of the USB BIOS Flashback which provides firmware updates. A system information page is also present in the software. Below are the included applications in the software:

Armoury Crate

The Armoury Crate portal is a brand-new application that regularly updates you with the newest releases of BIOS and drivers. Its interface is easy to use and it can be configured to display various information such as bug patches, security updates, gaming events, the most recent ROG news, as well as special offers.

Armoury Crate is usually enabled in the BIOS by default but in case it’s not, you will have to enable this first before you can use it. When you do so, you get a message upon hitting Windows, then it instantly installs LAN drivers. Once it establishes a network connection, it begins downloading Armoury Crate.

When the installation is done, the usual EULA greets you. The landing page provides ROG news and other various information. The wrench icon lets you install other missing utilities and drivers. From there, you simply wait for everything to finish its download and installation. All in all, it’s easy since you only need a few clicks to get everything fully set up and ready to run.

ASUS Aura RGB

ASUS Aura RGB is the software that controls the lighting of the Rear I/O Area, Digital RGB Headers, and the analog RGB. Here, you have a few options for the RGB effects and these include Static, Dynamic, Dance, Flash, and Temperature mode.

Dual Intelligent Processor 5

The Dual Intelligent Processor 5 is a powerhouse where you can find everything related to performance optimization. In this application, you can switch profiles to manual or auto overclocking, as well as change fan settings and voltages. Aside from those, you can easily clean out temporary and various unnecessary files with just a few clicks. It runs like a desktop widget and provides quick access to performance & cooling profiles, and PC cleaner without having to fully open the application.

Game First IV

Another application in the AI Suite III is the GameFirst IV which lets you keep track and control traffic of all three LAN connections. It also displays statistics and other vital information. The application automatically runs in intelligent mode and while it does, it prioritizes traffic depending on its purpose. You can also switch to manual mode to fully control the application.

Conclusion

We find the ROG Maximus XI Hero really impressive since it’s well-designed and performs excellently. Specifically, we really liked the AI overclocking tool which is an all-new feature that overclocking newbies would really appreciate. Even those who are totally new to voltages and multipliers will find this tool useful.

For the design of the board, it’s more well-rounded compared to the previous boards from the same series and we think that this has a better design. In terms of features, the Maximus XI Hero is really balanced; plus, its UEFI BIOS is really excellent and the software is more polished this time. A few tweaks in the BIOS enhanced overclocking features and improved stability, while the software has a wide range of great applications available to make the most of the motherboard.

The ROG series has become a big hit for the past few years. With their products, you’re sure to get what you expect and the same goes for this high-performance motherboard. If you’re looking for a well-designed motherboard that is packed with a lot of great features and has impressive RGB effects, we highly recommend the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi for around $500 AUD from your local retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-13

5.0Overall Score

The post ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero WiFi Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

With the launching of the RTX 2060, there is also the appearance of the collection of brand new partner cards, and Gigabyte is making their own cards which they based on the RTX 2060. One of these feature the Gaming OC Pro which has the WINDFORCE-3X cooling system. It has the patented alternate spinning fans, the RGB lighting that connects to the RGB Fusion 2.0, and the metal protective backplate.

Out of the box, this Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G comes with a factory boost clock of about 1830MHz. The device also takes the second spot in the company’s lineup for their RTX 260 cards, but even if this is the case, the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G still holds its own with the highly notable triple fan WINDFORCE design, as well as a customized PCB design specifically made for overclocking.

Sounds like something you’d need for your gaming rig? Then you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to be focusing on the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G from Gigabyte and we’ll learn more about this device, what its features are, how well it performs, and if it’s something just as good as what the company claims it to be.

Let’s start off with what’s inside the box.

Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Review – What’s in the Box?

The RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Gigabyte graphics card comes in the usual retail package from Gigabyte which features a kind of mechanical eye on the front area. Also on the front portion of the package, you will immediately know what the main features of the device are. Some of these include RGB lighting, the WINDFORCE 3X cooler, and the fact that this card is overclocked right out of the box.

The package of this device has a couple of regular information written such as the necessary NVIDIA wrap around branding at the bottom-right corner. Of course, you’ll also find Gigabyte’s brand name at the top left corner of the package. Unlike other similar products, the model’s name is quite small and is somewhat hidden along a couple of icons that display its features. But generally, the huge mechanical eye is what takes up most of the space on the front part of the package. And if you notice, it appears really close the logo of ASUS Strix.

Flipping the package, you’ll find a couple of the main features detailed at the back of the box. This is where you’ll have an idea of how the card looks like since there is an image of the product there. The company also decided to display an image of the backplate at the top edge to show the RGB lighting. As for any other information, the box has a line sketch of the rear I/O so you’ll know the connection options that are available; but when it comes to the specifications, you’ll only find a system requirements list. Additionally, there’s a run-down of the links behind the card.

The top portion of the package features Gigabyte’s name printed on the far left corner of the package while on the right, you’ll find the GeForce RTX 2060 there. On the rear portion, there are noticeable highlighted prints on the rear side of the package, and a total of 13 different languages there. For the outer packaging, the left side of this has Gigabyte printed on the top portion of it, followed by the information for the VRAM and three fans in the cooling solution.

Opening the package, you’ll see the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G together with a utility CD, the driver CD, and a quick startup guide. The device itself is placed in an anti-static container and fits perfectly in the foam housing of the package. There’s an upper box where you’ll find the guide and CD.

The Product

Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Review

When looking at the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G, you’ll notice that it appears just like the other Gigabyte RTX series graphics cards that they have. The device has a black shroud combined with grey highlights; plus, it also features black fans which give off a sleek and classy design. It’s quite longer compared to the other RTX 2060 devices and measures 280.35 millimeters in length.

At the back of the card, notice that it comes with a backplate which is a thinner sheet metallic plate. This gives us an idea that the company opted for a cheaper option to give everyone a more budget-friendly device. It’s also more fine compared to the MSI and Founders’ edition which features an immensely thick shroud and backplate. Its thin design saves you from having a heavy gaming OC and it simultaneously protects the device from any damages from accidental drops.

If you take a better look at it, you’ll also see that it looks a whole lot better compared to a bare PCB, with this being the most exposed portion of the card when installed. Gigabyte made sure that their brand is flipped around; this is to allow you to read this properly even when installed. The fan shroud’s end slightly stretches past the PCB to conceal the rather odd heatpipe tips that stick out of the heatsink’s end.

On the top edge of the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G, you’ll see the power connection. The view provides you with a better image of the notched PCB for the current connection, the second unused area, and the heatsink; thus, leaving adequate room for the second connection. They run the power plug that’s been flipped around to save as much room as possible for the heatsink; also, this allows extra room to get your fingers in to easily unlock the clip whenever necessary. At the top edge, as well as portions of the grey highlights, you’ll find the Gigabyte logo which is lit by RGB LEDs that all runs in one color and not individually. There aren’t any other lighting on the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G which a lot of people will surely appreciate.

When it comes to the PCI bracket, it has a lot of ventilation built into it even if its cooling design won’t really push a lot of airflow towards that specific direction. You’ll get a total of three DisplayPort connections as well as a single HDMI.

For the heatsink, this block is made up of composite heat pipes that combine the phase transition and thermal conductivity to effectively manage heat transfers between solid interfaces, thus, boosting the cooling capacity.

The base of the heatsink is a direct-touch heatpipe external layer which makes direct contact with the present GPU die. It allows for a faster way for dissipating heat from the core. Gigabyte is one of the few manufacturers of GPUs who continue to make use of direct-contact surfaces while other companies have switches to nickel-plated cold plates. It will be quite interesting to see how the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G will perform compared to the nickel-plated designs that we’ve tried before.

Aside from the primary GPU heatsink, there is an extra secondary heatsink for the MOSFET and VRAMs, offering more dissipation power when it comes to the cooling design. Lastly, we have a metallic black plate which comes with heat pads. These are necessary to guarantee smoother heat transfers on the back. The card features a fully customized PCB design with a 6 + 2 Phase Ultra Durable design that makes use of premium components. This will allow the device to deliver improved core stability and overclocking when running applications that are graphics intensive.

Product Features

Alternate Spinning Technology

With three fans and Alternate Spinning, the major problem with cooling is turbulence, but is solved because of this specific feature. Since the fans rotate in the same direction, the airflow is opposite between these, delivering turbulent airflow which reduces the efficiency of heat dissipation. For the Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G, the middle fan rotates in the opposite direction unlike the two other fans on its sides that share the same direction. This lessens the turbulence and improves the airflow pressure to enhance cooling performance.

Windforce 3X Cooling System

The Windforce 3X cooling system features three unique blade fans, each measuring 80 millimeters. These feature four composite copper heat pipes, 3D active fan functionality, as well as heat pipe direct touch. These work together to deliver efficient heat dissipation for improved performance at lower temperatures.

3D Active Fan

The 3D Active Fan offers semi-passive cooling. Here, fans remain off when the GPU is handling a low power game or low load. This allows users to quietly enjoy gaming while the system is running light or idle. The fans will start working depending on the GPU load and its temperatures. With that, smooth and quiet operation can still be achieved even with low application loads.

Heat Pipes Direct Touch GPU

The pure heat pipes’ shape improves heat transfer and allows for maximum direct contact area with the GPU. The heat pipes also conceal the VRAM through a large metal plate contact to guarantee proper cooling.

Composite Heat Pipes

The composite heat pipes combine phase transition and thermal conductivity to make heat transfer between to solid interfaces effective. This is another feature of the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G that enhances its cooling capacity.

Extremely Durable & Overclocking

The RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G makes use of 6 + 2 power phase layout for the MOSFET to work at lower temperatures. It also features load balancing and an over-temperature protection design for each MOSFET. Together with those two features are the chokes and capacitors that are Ultra Durable-certified to deliver the best performance while maintaining longer life for the system.

Turing Architecture and Ray Tracing

For the RTX 2060, NVIDIA has included the Ray Tracing features in the recent Turing GPU. This provides lifelike shadows, reflections, and lighting which is beyond the limits of what traditional rendering techniques can produce.

Ray Tracing was introduced together with the new 20-series which were named RTX. Real-time Ray Tracing finally happens with the new RT cores. This technology has been presented in 1968 by Arthur Appel and became more widely known around the 1980’s. However, using Ray Tracing needed an extremely high processing power which could only be offered by a very few mainframe computers and a couple of workstations. Today, around 40 years later since its introduction, real-time Ray Tracing is brought to everyone by GPUs designed with the Turing Architecture, and you will find this on GeForce RTX series of graphics cards such as the Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G.

Specifications

When it comes to this device’s specifications, the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G features the 1920 CUDA cores, 48 ROPs, and 120 TMUs. Turing TU-160 die that is utilized on the card is based from a 12nm method and has a die that measures around 445mm². Its core clocks for the card are preserved at 1365MHz for the base, while for boost is 1680MHz.

The card comes with two slot designs with a dimension of 280.35 x 116.45 x 40.24 millimeters (L x H x W). The triple fan design can be seen on the WINDFORCE 3x that have three 82-millimeter fans. These come with a distinct blade fan design that can split airflow via triangular edge on the fan’s blade, leading this smoothly via the 3D stripe-curve on the fan’s surface. This design improves the airflow compared to the classic fan designs.

Using the Product

We just recently assessed that the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G is a gem when it comes to performance that rivals the GTX 1070-Ti; and in certain situations, it even rivals the GTX 1080 which is really amazing.

The noise a device emits is vital, and it’s something that a lot of people don’t really appreciate. If your video card happens to sound like a jet engine while in use, then that’s something to be concerned about. But luckily with the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G, the noise levels were really low and even when we cranked up the fan speed at 100%, everything was still quiet and that’s something we highly appreciate.

While testing the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G, it was really very quiet and the fans only switched on when the temperature goes over 55 degrees. Even if the fans only reached 50%, the RTX 2060 Gaming OC was still able to maintain the card’s coolness, reaching only around 64 degrees Celsius. Most other GPUs we have tested also sound rather noisy when the fan speeds increase however this wasn’t the case with the RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G, and with that, we can definitely say that it is the most quiet GPU with fans when maxed out.

The RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G features RGB lighting but the nice thing about this is it isn’t over done. You’ll see the Gigabyte logo on the side light up via the RGBs and you’ll also get to manage this using the RGB fusion. If you want to tune the card, you can use the AORUS Engine software which works just as well.

Conclusion

The graphics cards from Gigabyte’s 20-series provide excellent balance between attractive design and its ability to fit well with a number of popular components. The best thing about this is that you get both, along with excellent performance for an affordable price.

The Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G is one of the best graphics card that offers both style and performance. It runs at stock speeds up to 2010 MHz if you are not into overclocking. Otherwise, if you like pushing your hardware to its maximum performance, the gaming OC Pro will not disappoint you.

With the Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G’s superior thermal and overclocking performance, great looks, but better overclocking on the memory, we think that this is one of the best graphics cards in the market. If you’re looking for one that can deliver excellent overclocking performance while providing effective cooling, we highly recommend the Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G.

Where to Buy

You can pick up a Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro for around $629 AUD from your local computer retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-13

5.0Overall Score

The post Gigabyte RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

You probably think that you have the best computer unit around; you may even consider it as something perfect that it won’t encounter any slow down or issues when used. Unfortunately, this is impossible, since it can eventually run into some kind of problem in the long run. But thanks to memory-hungry operating systems, having adequately fast RAM is more vital for the best computers than ever.

So if your PC is beginning to slow down, then it’s probably time for you to start searching. And if you aren’t really that familiar with the computer hardware scene, then you’ll really have a tough time searching for the best RAM in the market or a better and more enhanced RAM for your system.

But do remember that this is one of the challenges when it comes to RAM, there are a ton of different types with varying capacities, sizes, and speed which will make searching for the best and most adequate product for your computer difficult.

To make things a lot of easier for you, we’re going to be talking about the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM from Corsair – RAM that has been refreshed and enhanced to include the company’s latest Capellix RGB LED lights. This makes the RAM have a richer and more vibrant design. It’s still the same high-level and quality RAM that we know of and really love, so it may be something that you could appreciate just as well.

For starters, let’s go ahead and see what’s included inside the box of this Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM from Corsair.

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM Review – What’s in the Box?

Corsair was able to alter the standards in the marketplace when it comes to high-end memory, but when you think about it, producing beautiful memory is simply not enough. Every consumer who pays premium prices always expects that their whole experience with the RAM is premium too. And with Corsair, they sure don’t disappoint in any way.

Let’s begin with the packaging. When we got our 32GB Kit of Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM, it came in a full colored package that sports embossed letterings for added style to the box. It also features a glossy image of the memory to give you a pretty good idea of how it looks. There are a couple of details on the package, including features and specifications of the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM.

When you open the box, you will find the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM positioned safely in an individual plastic clamshell-like packaging. The individual sticks are placed neatly in high-density foam to ensure that the RAM is protected from any unnecessary damages. All these create a high-end and quality feel that we’ve all expected from Corsair’s Dominator line.

The Product

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM Review

These brand new modules are packed in the typical compact-styled case featuring the standard design that Corsair used for its predecessors. There are a couple of differences like the use of anodized aluminum on the RAMs sides, as well as a redesigned and stamped aluminum cooling fins that are used for accommodating the Capellix LED lights.

When you look at the top part of these modules, the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM has a design that exhibits the branding of Dominator in the center that is illuminated by Capellix LED lights and isolated LEDs that flank it on each side. If you compare this to the much older Dominator Platinum DDR4’s design, which sports subtle white LEDS beneath the cooling fins and a solid top bar, this current RAM offers a much more impressive and interesting appearance.

The DIMMs are a total of 4 black 8GB sticks with a speed of 3200MHz. It has a really sleek and classic look, and what’s cool about it is that the heat spreader and PCB are black like most of the motherboards that sport black PCBs.

We really love the combination of the aluminum heat spreader and black PCB; and when you’re looking at it based on style, this RAM is a very aesthetic and stylish kit. The Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM is a dual and quad-channel kit.

The heat spreader is made specifically to improve the heat dissipation which will allow for enhanced overclocks and tweaks. Thing is, since you’re opting for this type of RAM, you won’t really need to overclock their memory since the tweaking has already been made for you. Because of its RGB theme, the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM is not a low profile memory, so it’s something to consider especially with height positioning and heatpipe coolers. Thanks to the metallic bar, the memory has a very sturdy build, and it can also be inserted right into the DIMM slots easily.

Capellix LEDs

Developed by both Corsair and the Taiwan-based firm, Primax, Capellix technology is different from the classic SMD or Surface Mount RAM LEDs by not using the package layer and fixing the LED substrate straight on the PCB. This doesn’t only allow the utilization of smaller LEDs, but the use of greater ad more enhanced energy efficiency. Meaning, you’ll get brighter lights but with lower consumption of power.

The company states that the LED lights from Capellix can go up to 60% brighter, use just up to 40% lesser power, and have up to a total of 35% extended service life compared to SMD LED lights. The main benefits of such improvements will be wireless gaming devices, allowing a more noticeably extended battery life for RGB-enabled wireless headsets. It will also make things possible for acquiring reasonable battery life from wireless gaming keyboards featuring the per-key LED lights.

But even more than just wireless gaming devices,  products such as the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM will surely benefit. The company designed their newest memory modules with a total of 12 Capellix LED lights each. This only means that extra power can be focused on supporting the performance from the kit.

Product Features

The Apex of Building Top-Notch Memory for 25 Years

Corsair Dominator has been the company’s face of superior, high-performance memory. With the company’s legacy and experience, the most advanced DDR4 memory has been produced, which is the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM.

Excellent Performance and Reliability

Corsair is a leader when it comes to manufacturing RAM, making these the most reliable if you’re building your ideal gaming rig. This is why world-champion overclockers, high-end system rig builders, and extreme gamers trust on Corsair.

Improved Performance with a Dominator Platinum LED Fan

Out of the box, overclocking headroom is already present in the Dominator Platinum DDR4 modules already. When you push the memory to its extreme performance levels, you don’t have to worry about cooling since the design of the Dominator Airflow Platinum is made to perform quietly while delivering the most efficient cooling.

Made for Intel 100 Series Sytems

The Dominator Platinum DDR4 modules are made to make the most out of bandwidth, capacity, and clock speeds of the DDR4 platform. These modules have been tested across a number of 100 Series motherboards to see ensure reliable performance.

Supported by XMP 2.0 for Automatic, Trouble-Free Overclocking

XMP 2.0 standard supported by Intel 100 Series motherboards and the Dominator Platinum are completely compatible. Switch this on and you can automatically adjust to the fastest speed that is safe for your kit. This helps the memory deliver excellent performance.

Using the Product

When basing it on a performance standpoint, the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM sure lives up to its name. Each kit undergoes a rigid screening process with hand-sorted memory chips to guarantee heightened stability right out of the box; this also includes an acceptable amount of overclocking headroom. This is a method that Corsair has shined and excelled at throughout the years, specifically with their Dominator series, and the Platinum RGB is no exception.

Taste is something personal, but we think that it’s a bit difficult to not appreciate the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM. Even when you have the LEDs switched off, the memory still looks classy and sharp which is really good. When it comes to overclocking the RAM you should have quite a bit of headroom available for you to get some good overclocks going with this RAM.

It’s a really good product, and for those who really enjoy having RGB lights, the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM will surely become a favorite. It gave us top-notch stability, innovative features for lighting, and a very sleek appearance which is great. With its quality, stability, aesthetic appearance, as well as innovative lighting, the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM sure makes it worth every penny.

iCUE Software

Former Corsair softwares CUE and LINK has been merged to create iCUE which improves greatly each month. The overall software works excellently and is updated frequently. iCUE lets you illuminate your system with a lot of dazzling preset lighting profiles, as well as customize your own profiles; you can also synchronize these with other iCUE compatible products that are connected to the application. Basically, you can monitor, program, and manage your RAM, PSU, keyboard, headset, AIO cooler, RGB cooler, and everything else that is compatible to the software. Aside from that, you can stay informed with frequency readings and real-time temperature with this software.

Using iCue Software

The control panel of iCUE has a minimalist layout which we really liked. This is because it makes the arrangement look cleaner and more simple to use. On the interface’s top portion, the software displays the connected Corsair devices. You can create actions such as DPI adjustments, timer countdowns, macros, remappable key assignments, and more. Configuring the lighting portions of your peripherals and devices can also be done through the software.

In this extensive suite, you can set up your preferences in several profiles. For example, you can configure button assignments and DPI levels when you have a Corsair mouse connected to the software. For the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM, you can tweak the lighting based on your preference. The Dashboard feature can be used to track fan speed, CPU temperature, DPI levels, and more.

Like most Corsair devices, the Dominator Platinum RGB is displayed as its own device in the software’s Dashboard. When you go to the menus and options, you can access the DIMM Setup page so you can see to it that the software knows the proper layout and order of your modules. You can also check out for the current memory timings, historical temperature graphs, and per-module temperatures.

Of course, the RGB lights of this RAM are the main highlights. You can choose between four software and twelve hardware lighting modes. Like the different products of the company, you can preview the changes in the lighting which include direction, speed, or color rotation.

In the memory’s firmware, the hardware lighting modes are stored and will continue being displayed. Even if you change the modules into another system that doesn’t have iCUE until the user changes it. For software lighting modes, updating these is faster and it also offers unique functionality which include light changes linked to audio visualization, but you will need iCUE to operate. When in software mode, all LEDS will remain switched off if iCUE is not installed or running.

Additionally, users can customize their own lighting arrangements, as well as select pre-made RGB lighting effects. You can individually program the Capellix RGB LEDs on each module since the point and click process is very simple.

For those who already have RGB devices from Corsair, there are also some Lighting Link modes that let you easily set up lighting effects across every device you own. The software’s Instant Lighting feature is present for you to instantly change the color of all connected Corsair RGB devices with just one click.

Finally, you can also add timings, frequency, and memory temperatures as a widget to your iCUE Dashboard or iCUE Space Interface which is similar to Windows Action Center.

Features of the iCUE Software

• Stunning Synchronized Lighting Effects

With just one click, You can synchronize RGB lighting across all your Corsair devices that are compatible to iCUE. You can create fascinating dynamic lighting effects with multiple layers since the whole color spectrum is for you to fully control.

• Game Integrations with the power of iCUE

iCUE enhances your gaming experience from your monitor to your desktop. In the program, you will find in-game actions and effects that will illuminate your software-compatible components and peripherals for an impressive gameplay.

• iCUE Tutorials

Tutorial videos on setting up and customizing your own profiles for power, temperature, and lighting are available for you to make the most of iCUE.

Conclusion

When it comes to RGB devices and PC components, Corsair has been one of the best brands in the market. From components to peripherals, the company has always released excellent products.

We think that the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM is excellent. From looks to performance, our overall impression of this product is positive. We really like its matte black heat spreaders made from anodized aluminum, as well as the RGB LED top bar design which give it premium looks and feel.

This RAM is one of the best that we’ve tried. It performs well, emits colors that are not too bright, and it also looks stylish. The bulletproof quality makes it look classy and durable. After testing the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM out, we’re really looking forward to see other devices that will be integrated with the Capellix LED.

With the Capellix LEDs, Corsair was able to make the Dominator Platinum series more exciting upon releasing this RAM. The lower power draw of the Capellix LEDs lessened potential performance impact. Also, the bright clean look of the Capellix LEDs guaranteed that the modules would look great in any PC build. When it comes to the RAM’s performance, the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM can be subtle, intense, or in between.

All in all, it delivers both performance and style which is another thing we really appreciate. With all of these features, we highly recommend that you get the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM if you’re looking for the best memory.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM from your local computer retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-14

5.0Overall Score

The post Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 RAM Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Without a doubt, Corsair is one of the brands that has gained a lot of recognition, and because of this, they don’t really need to have a grand introduction to the vast computer enthusiests around. With them being in almost all things related to PC components, it’s most likely you’ve had or currently have a device from them.

Though when it comes to their power supplies, Corsair has always been one of the most noted manufacturers for these. These specific products are considered the most popular from the company; so with this in mind, the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU will surely be among their best products around.

The Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU is a brand new titanium-rated power supply that fits perfectly as a quality product. If you know all about your power supplies, you’re surely going to love what the AX850 has in store for you.

The Product

Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU

Of all the PSU manufacturers out there, Corsair is possibly the one that displays great pride in their units. They thoroughly select their components with utmost care to provide everyone with optimal performance in all possible categories. With their AX1600-i, this required the company to enhance and upgrade beyond silicon, thus, transitioning to the use of gallium nitride to keep the 1600-Watt device in a small form factor while simultaneously providing users with top-notch efficiency levels.

Their AX series’ leading PSU brand is primarily reserved for the best units that they produce; so, their latest AX850 Titanium PSU maintains this aspect, moving their sub 1000-Watt AX brand to the period of 80+ titanium – the highest possible efficiency rating that is available for every consumer PSU. This device is also designed to impress and will surely deliver only the best.

The AX850 Titanium PSU from Corsair carries the branding that one would expect from the company; in other words, it’s a very sleek and classy design with silver hints and highlights. In terms of its design, the company put great effort into its style to add an appealingly aesthetic touch to it.

But despite this, the AX850 is made specifically for business purposes, hence, its sleek, classy, and sophisticated design. When looking at the AX850 Titanium PSU, it highlights the brand, Corsair, which comes off as both suitable and subtle for the entire design of the product.

Inputs that are specific for the modular power supply cables are all marked to aid users in ensuring that the proper cables are going to the right places. While some are set in a mirrored design, the top-bank cables aren’t. Though the cables link with a great level of security which is great. The rear portion of the power supply comes with adequate vents to promote passive airflow – one of the company’s designs that has the cooling fan running whenever necessary. The rear has two switches – one for the power and the other for the zero-RPM fan mode. This is generally a more enhanced version of the regular operations which decreases the fan usage.

For the fan’s design, it’s generally nice with an aesthetic design to the case that highly accentuates the horizontal divisions for air intake. This is another touch that adds more sparkle and to the design. Aesthetically, there really isn’t much to the AX850 Titanium PSU’s design, but what’s present on the device is excellence. The Corsair AX850, compared to other similar products, appears more professional and sleek; there aren’t any RGBs on it, but the PSU is just pleasing as is.

A Look Inside the Corsair AX850 TItanium PSU

The AX850 Titanium PSU’s OEM is Seasonic, while on the main PCB, you’ll find a couple of little heatsinks there. Know that the gold PSUs feature an extremely low energy loss, the reason why operational temperatures are low so you won’t need to have bigger heatsinks.

The AC holder makes use of the Yun Pen EMI line filters which include all the necessary elements for the device: an X and 2 Y capacitors, plus two coils and an MOV. You will also find a thermistor together with an electromagnetic relay that bypasses this once the PSU begins to decrease energy losses. This lets it cool down adequately. Close to the thermistor and relay is the ICE-2QR-4765 quasi resonant PWM controller which handles the PSU’s standby mode.

The bridge rectifiers, specifically the GBU-1506, are cooled passively via heatsink. In the APFC, a total of three MOSFETs separates the transitional DC voltage that comes from the bridge rectifiers into consistent pulse sequences.

The two parallel reservoir / soothing capacitors are from Nippon Chemi-Con while the two primary swatches are 60-R160-C6. The PSU makes use of the LLC resonant converter to acquire better and more enhanced efficiency; for the resonant controller, there’s a CM-6901 which is housed on a vertical daughterboard that’s positioned adjacent to the resonant inductor. The controller operates and manages the primary switches in the PWM mode at light loads, while the FM mode at increased loads. Seasonic opted to steer clear from utilizing a built-in transformer so the two transformers are used for the resonant converter, simultaneous with the primary transformer.

In the secondary, there are a number of smaller heatsinks which keep the four IPD-031N-06L MOSFETs utilized for the +12V generation. These MOSFETs are present on the solder area of the main PCB, and are also cooled from a casing via a thermal pad. With two DC-DC converters, the minor rails are generated from +12V. To minimize the distance that the current has to travel to, the converters are placed on the modular PCB. This decreases the loss of energy. The two converters make use of four PD-060N-03L MOSFETs and an APW7159 PWM controller. In the secondary portion and on the modular PCB, you will find a lot of polymer capacitors which guarantees top-notch performance, as well as longer lifetime. One of the few electrolytic capacitors present is from Nippon Chemi-Con and is used in 5VSB regulation.

For the PSU protections, these handle a PS-223 which has been included by an LM-393 Dual Voltage Comparator. The San Ace 120 cooling fan that is present in the CPU is provided by SANYO DENKI. Furthermore, the workmanship and soldering quality of the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU is really high.

Product Features

The Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU comes with notable features that are sure to be efficient and beneficial for all. The AX850 provides world-class electrical performance with their minimal noise and superior voltage to guarantee top-notch and consistent power for your computer. This is to keep your system stable while also unlocking the true potential of the motherboard when it comes to overclocking.

Just like every other power supply devices under the AX series, the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU makes use of 100% electrolyte capacitors. These offer stable power and long-term reliability that you’d look for in a Corsair power supply. Its cooling fan doesn’t rotate until it’s necessary. This allows for almost silent operation during low and average loads.

With the true FDB or Fluid Dynamic Bearing 10-millimeter cooling fan, the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU delivers powerful airflow and quiet operation, which result in longer life span. The efficiency of this PSU’s power reaches up to 94% to reduce noise, energy consumption, temperatures, and your power bill.

The side labels of the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU are magnetic and customizable to match your build’s style. These labels come in blue, red, or white. The cables are also fully modular; only use what you need for quick and simple installation. For the cables that you won’t be using, these can be stored in the cable bag.

Lastly, the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU is backed by a 10-year warranty just like in all AX series power supply units. With that, you can guarantee reliable operation that will last. Corsair’s customer service and technical support are ready to help you.

Specifications

Certain specifications are present for the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU which make it a really good device. The PSU goes with the V2.4 version and comes with 1 ATX connector. When in use, the AX850 consumes about 850 Watts of power while its output rated temperature is measured at 50℃. Corsair integrated the FDB Bearing technology to make this more efficient for use and its total MTBF is 100,000.

What’s more, the AX850 Titanium PSU has the 80-Plus efficiency titanium with the ATX PSU form-factor, has a zero RPM mode, and is completely modular. We liked what Corsair used for their cable since it’s an all-black sleeved cable, making it more secure and protected.

The AX850 Titanium PSU comes with 2 EPS connectors, a floppy connector, 16 SATA connectors, and 6 PCIe connectors. For its dimensions, the PSY is 170 x 86 x 150 millimeters, while its fan size is 135 millimeters. Additionally, this is a multi-GPU ready device that comes with a 10-year warranty provided by the company.

Conclusion

A lot of people do not get excited over power supplies since these are not the types of components that improve a system’s performance. It is the most underappreciated component when it comes to the PC building world. However, power supplies are actually the most important element of all systems since it functions as an interface that makes all the other components of your PC work. Without this, the rest wouldn’t work and using a sub-standard PSU will put everything at risk.

Few companies such as Corsair are passionate with power supplies just as they are for system components. With the AX850 Titanium PSU, you can make your current drive make its way to higher capacities.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU for around $319 AUD from your local computer retailer. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post Corsair AX850 Titanium PSU appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

If you are using myhomeworkdone.com to complete your late assignment, it is likely Netflix has something to do with it. Whether you love movies or not, it is most likely that you have watched something on Netflix.  Starting as an online DVD rental company in 1998 to rival the then dominant Blockbuster Video, Netflix now reigns when it comes to video content production and streaming. As of Q3 2018, Netflix boasted 137.1 million users.

If you are an avid movie buff, there are some interesting facts about Netflix that will give you more insight into this streaming platform.  This article highlights some of these fascinating facts you probably never knew.

• • Netflix Outranks Cable TV in the US: It might sound unreal but this is a fact which shows how much viewers love the freedom of choice. Netflix boasts have more than 50 million U.S. subscribers while only 48.61 million people still pay for traditional cable service.

• • The only drop in viewership: Netflix viewership dropped 10% during August 2017’s total solar eclipse.

• • Netflix rules the internet: According to Sandvine, overall, 35.2% of all internet traffic in North America is due to Netflix.

• • The interesting reason behind Netflix: A $40 late fee by Blockbuster forced founder Reed Hastings to think about online movie rentals.

• • Half of Netflix viewers are viewing cheaters: According to company data, Forty-six percent of couples around the world caught a TV show on Netflix ahead of their partner when they are not around.

• • Blockbuster turned down Netflix several times: Blockbusters was sure Netflix wouldn’t go anywhere and turned down an offer to buy the streaming company for $50 million. Eventually Blockbuster died, and Netflix is now worth $20 billion.

• • No one knows about the DVD warehouses: There’s secrecy around locations of the DVD warehouses, and even employees are sworn to secrecy.

• • Netflix’s First Name on Paper Was Kibble: In addition to Replay.com, Directpix.com, andcom, the founders tried several names but Kibble was the first on paper for incorporation purposes.

• • Test Movie Still on Site: Netflix made a test movie known as “Example Show,”and it is still on site. The 11-minute film isn’t for consumers to buy.

• • Breaking Bad: Netflix’s most-watched show is Breaking Bad which made TV history and remains one of the most popular TV shows.

• • Good video content is not easy to find: True Netflix boasts 125 million hours of content butthe number of movies and TV shows has dropped by 50% making it increasingly difficult to find decent content.

• • Netflix is a great place to work: Employees start at eighteen dollars an hour and take as many days off as possible, and of course Netflix subscription is free. Working from home for the company is also possible.

• • Netflix has over ne petabyte of video content: A petabyte is equivalent to 1024 terabytes or a million gigabytes, and that’s how big Netflix’s library is.

There’s so much to learn about Netflix. If you have found someone to do homework for you as you catch up with your favorite TV series, these fascinating facts will make your viewing even more interesting.

The post The Most Fascinating Facts about Netflix appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

SYDNEY, 20 March 2019 – A slow computer is a problem we can all relate to. You’re working on an urgent document or deep in gaming warfare, only for your computer to freeze and progress be halted. This phenomenon is often blamed on ‘the computer’ in general but, in many cases, it is simply a result of insufficient memory.

In fact, when Crucial recently surveyed 2,000 PC users, the company learned that it takes users just 60 seconds on average before they lose their temper over a slow or frozen computer – something experienced by around half of all computer users on a daily to weekly basis.

Jim Jardine, Director of DRAM Product Marketing at Crucial explained, “Memory is one of the most critical components in your computer, allowing your system to perform many of its everyday tasks, such as browse the Web, edit an Excel spreadsheet, or experience the realism of the latest game. And yet, the problem of insufficient memory can be overlooked – or worse, not identified in the first place.”

There are a number of easy to spot signs that you can look out for to find out if your computer is in need of a memory upgrade. You probably experience them already, but don’t associate them with memory.

Jardine added, “The signs are found in the most common programmes we run day to day, so you’ll be able to identify them quickly. Here’s the top 5 things to keep an eye on. Firstly, do you have to wait for letters and words to appear as you type? This is a clear sign that you’re in need of additional memory. Upgrading from 2 gigabytes (GB) to 4GB can reduce the loading time and reduce the chances of your computer freezing. If you frequently use word processing or spreadsheet software, upgrading to 8GB can provide improved responsiveness and diminish the chance of your computer freezing.”

Web browsers failing to open new tabs quickly is another sure-fire sign according to Jardine who added, “Is there a lag between clicking to open a new browser tab and the moment it opens? This is common with web browsers, as they use so much active data. Increasing memory from 2GB to 4GB can speed up the responsiveness, and up to 8GB can greatly improve responsiveness. It’s worth noting that memory won’t affect the speed of your internet connection, but it will run more efficiently.”

Video and its playback speed can always be problematic and according to Jardine is another red flag where lack of memory is concerned. He continued, “Are you experiencing choppy or frozen playback when you stream video? Like web browsing, streaming video relies on internet speed, but your computer needs enough GBs of memory to run everything in the background while streaming video. 4GB memory can reduce the risk of choppy or frozen playback. 8GB can improve multitasking and reduce playback problems.”

Enjoyable gaming can suffer terribly from lack of memory, especially if there’s slow command execution while gaming. Jardine says, “Do you frequently find yourself waiting for your commands to be executed during game play? Many games require at least 4GB of RAM to run, but it’s recommended to install at least 8GB to run them well. There’s nothing worse than losing a kill streak on COD because your computer is struggling to keep up – install 8GB of RAM to start with and scale up to 16GB if necessary.”

Jardine also points to slow responsiveness to clicks during photo and video editing as a warning sign adding, “Do you have to wait for software to catch up to your clicks while editing photos and video? Photo and video editing apps, such as Photoshop® and Final Cut®, require more system resources than many other kinds of software, and, while system requirements may call for less, if you don’t have at least 8GB of RAM, your computer may not be able to run them at all. Since they flood your system with active data – the data your computer regularly or continuously accesses – you need enough GBs of RAM to hold it all.”

While the casual or irregular user may experience these problems and turn a blind eye, heavier users often become impatient, frustrated and demotivated.

Jim Jardine concluded, “The next time you’re working on a spreadsheet, streaming video or gaming, keep an eye open for the above signs and, if you spot them, take action to install the memory that best fits your needs. A system scan quickly reveals compatible memory for any computer, helping even the most casual of users to make slow load speeds and freezing a distant memory.”

The post Crucial Reveals 5 Signs That It Might Be Time For a Memory Upgrade appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

Noctua have presented its new NH-U12A premium-quality quiet CPU cooler. The NH-U12A is the latest, 5th generation of Noctua’s award-winning U12 series of 120mm size coolers. Conceived to push the envelope of the 120mm form factor, it combines two of Noctua’s flagship model NF-A12x25 PWM 120mm fans with a completely redesigned heatsink featuring 7 heatpipes and an increased fin surface area for superior heat dissipation. This way, the NH-U12A can rival the performance of many 140mm sized coolers while offering 120mm class case and PCIe compatibility.

“The original NH-U12 was the very first product we introduced back in 2005 and the U12 series has been at the core of our product line-up ever since,” explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “Today, we’re proud to continue this successful legacy by introducing the 5th generation that provides even better quiet cooling performance, which enables it to compete with much larger units while offering superior compatibility. In a nutshell, the NH-U12A is an ideal choice for customers who are looking for a cutting-edge cooler that’s hassle-free to integrate in most setups.”

First introduced in 2005, Noctua’s NH-U12 series has won more than 600 awards and recommendations from leading international hardware websites and magazines. The NH-U12A is the latest addition to this prestigious series that has established itself as a benchmark for premium-quality quiet 120mm coolers. Thanks to its completely revised, thoroughly optimised 7 heatpipe layout, 37% more fin surface area (as compared to the NH-U12S) and a dual fan push/pull configuration that uses the new, state-of-the-art NF-A12x25 fans, the NH-U12A pushes the performance envelope in the 120mm class and can actually match or even outperform many 140mm sized coolers.

At the same time, the NH-U12A offers significant advantages in RAM, case and PCIe compatibility when compared to larger 140mm class coolers: Due to its asymmetric design, it does not overhang the RAM slots on Intel LGA115x and AMD AM4 based motherboards, which ensures easy access and 100% compatibility with modules that have tall heat-spreaders. As far as case compatibility is concerned, the 158mm tall cooler is short enough to fit most modern mid- or high-end tower cases. Measuring 125mm wide (including fan and fan clips), the NH-U12A stays clear of the top PCIe slot on most standard ATX or Micro-ATX motherboards, ensuring optimum compatibility with multi-GPU setups.

Topped off with the trusted, pro-grade SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system, Noctua’s proven NT-H1 thermal compound and a full 6-year manufacturer’s warranty, the NH-U12A is a deluxe choice that combines top-tier performance with excellent compatibility and outstanding quietness of operation.

Price and availability

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is EUR/USD 99.90. The cooler is already available via Noctua’s official Amazon and eBay stores: https://noctua.at/en/nh-u12a/buy

The post Noctua Presents NH-U12A Premium Class 120mm CPU Cooler appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

With the Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses, you can readily focus on all tasks at hand via these hands-free smart glasses that are Si-OLED-powered. This smart device can effectively deliver a plethora of content at lower latencies from a collection of devices that use USB-C or HDMI connectivity.

Its design and comfort is key, and the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses were designed and fashioned with commercial applications in mind. Its durable and solid build, as well as its features made for comfort, only mean that this can be worn anytime and anywhere by you and everyone else around. It is made to fit comfortably despite prolonged periods of use, no matter what your head shape or size is, or if you wear glasses.

If this is something that you’re finding interest in, or if it’s something that you already want to have, then we’re going to give you more information and all other good reasons to get your hands on these smart glasses from Epson. First up, let’s go and check out what’s inside the box of the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses.

Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses – What’s in the Box?

When we received our Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses, we noticed that it came in a very clean-looking cardboard box. Though it i it does appear simple just like the packaging from other Moveiro products, this one is slightly more modest-looking compared to the Epson BT 300 or even the BT 350.

To continue, the front of the box displays an illustration of the smart glasses. Above this is the name Epson, while below the illustration is the name of the product and its model. Other than that, there are no other details and information written on the box and Epson really did keep things simple so you can just go straight to opening the package to see the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses itself.

When you open its lid, you will find two pieces of cardboard which keeps the items under it, protected while in transit. You will see that Epson really took a lot of time with their packaging since each of the accessories that are included in the box are individually packed in its own plastic wrap. This is to guarantee that each item will arrive at your doorstep, complete and intact.

The items in the box include an AC adapter, USB cable, plug attachment, belt clip screw, belt clip, cable retainer, one dark clip-on shade, a carrying case that contains the Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses itself, a user manual, and a quick setup guide.

The Product

Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses has a compact interface unit that sports the HDMI and USB Type C ports specifically for connecting all your video sources. These glasses feature a built-in cable that also links to the interface unit. It allows you to easily build a connection between the two; plus, the interface unit can also be clipped to your pocket, belt, strap, or even a backpack. To hear the audio of your video, there’s also a port for your headphones on the built-in cable of the smart glasses.

It will receive power using the provided AC adapter that easily plugs in the micro USB port located on the interface unit. When you link your video source using the Type C port instead of the HDMI, power will be sent from the video source to the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses together with the video data. This will let you use the smart glasses without necessarily being connected to any wall outlet which is really convenient. Not only that, but an external USB battery pack, which includes a 5 Volt, 1.5A output, can be linked for added power.

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses also features an integrated camera that can be utilized by SDK developers. The function of this camera will need one SDK software development kit which can be made via the developer’s guide that can be seen on the official website of Epson. The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses also have a nice hinge-based, flexible design that lets the device comfortably fit almost every head size; plus, these are also durable and safe for every day and continuous use.

This augmented reality or AR display functions excellently with both the USB C and HDMI for videos to get a great number of compatibility with all the latest variants of devices. The USB Type C is generally versatile and convenient for this contemporary age since it gives you adequate power while simultaneously transmitting video & data. Plus, it also works seamlessly with most of the latest non-Apple smartphones.

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses from Epson can have you connect up to a total of 1080p – 60 video sources to USB Type C or HDMI inputs. This will let you view the contents with up to 720p – 30 HD resolution which is perfect.

At some point, you will still be able to see through the thin and translucent glass, making you feel like you’re simply wearing a regular pair of eyeglasses. What’s interesting about this device is that you can also connect cameras, drone monitors, laptop, game consoles, Android phones since these have USB outputs, and every other video source to the smart glasses to fully enjoy content anywhere: whether you’re outdoors, indoors, walking around, sitting and chilling, and so much more. You can also wear these Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses over your regular pair of glasses, but just make sure that these are 5.8 inches or less in width.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality or AR is a kind of technology that allows you to enjoy an interactive real-world surrounding. It is where every object in the real world is augmented by  computer-generated affective data. There are times when these are made across various sensory modalities such as auditory, visual, haptic, olfactory, and somatosensory.

Augmented Reality is caused by superimposing data such as images, sounds, and text on our world. Unlike virtual reality that places you in a computer-generated environment, AR enhances the reality that you normally see instead of replacing it.

Product Features

Highly Transparent Si-OLED Display

The wearable Si-OLED display of the Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses is transparent for you to have a second screen experience. This feature flawlessly blends the outside world and digital content.

USB Type C and HDMI Support

Just like we mentioned earlier, the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses from Epson is compatible with the USB Type C and HDMI 1.4 output devices. Aside from these, the smart glasses is also fully compatible with almost all the Android mobile devices that are available today.

No Need for External Power to Use the Device

When you use the Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses with a compatible USB Type C output device, you won’t need or even have to bother having an external power source to make the device running which is a convenient feature of this device from Epson.

Dual Binocular Display

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses is also a great device for stereoscopic 3D content. This is because both the lenses of the device provides you with its own display that is within your field of vision.

High Definition Front Facing Camera

When the Augmented Reality content is triggered, taking high-quality POV images and videos will be hands-free due to the 5 Megapixel front facing camera. When the camera is being used, its LED indicator flashes.

Impressive Photo Quality

With the Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses, you can HD display that is as high as 720p and high brightness to ensure the crispness and vivid hues. These smart glasses can bring your digital content to life and It doesn’t matter whether you’re watching a movie or simply experiencing the magic of augmented reality,

ANSI Z87.1 Safety Certified Glasses

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses are ANSI Z87.1 Safety Glass compliant. This means it features a protective shield that allows you to wear this in various commercial environments that require you to wear safety glasses.

High Contrast to Bring True AR to Life

Aside from the Si-OLED micro display technology that enhances the AR display, the Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses has a high contrast ratio of 100,000:1 which makes projected digital content blend excellently with the real world. With that, the unused display space appears completely transparent.

HDCP 1.4 Support:

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses from Epson has HDCP 1.4 support that is necessary for copyright protection. With this feature, it allows you to readily access any protected content which can really come in handy.

Spectacular Wearable Technology

Epson developed the Moverio BT-35E to complement the most notable drone technologies of the world and to give everyone a view of the world in a whole new level. With the high resolution transparent display, Moverio BT-35E brings you a breathtaking FPV or First Person View wearable technology so you can enjoy your drone video in HD

High Performance Smart Glasses

The integrated Intel Atom x 51.44 GHz quad-core CPU helps ensure smooth performance even when running the most demanding applications that are heavy with content. With the Moverio BT-35E featuring an array of sensors such as motion sensors in the controller and headset, microphone, GPS, as well as the camera. With that, Epson made creating unique and stunning experiences possible.

Specifications

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses from Epson has a display of 720p that appears just like a screen that measures around 80 inches at 16.4 feet or 5 meters. Its video input is an HDMI 1.4 and the USB Type C DP Alt-Mode 1.2 while its available sensors include the ambient light sensor, compass, accelerometer, and the gyroscope. Refresh rate of these smart glasses is at 30 Hz and its camera sports a 5 megapixel lens.

The Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses has a waterproof rating of IPx2 but keep in mind that this is for the headset only. The power input of this device is either the USB Type C or the USB Micro B and has a total audio output level is below 27 mV.

The smart glasses’ operating temperature is from 5 to 35 degrees Celsius and humidity reaches from 20 to 80% without any condensation. Of course, you would need to store the device in a clean and properly ventilated area with a storage temperature of -10 to 60 degrees Celsius with just 10 to 90% humidity, with no condensation.

When we speak of its power supply voltage interface box, for DC input, it goes for 5.0 Volts, 1.5A via Micro USB-B or the 1.5A with the USB Type C. for its power supply voltage AC adapter, it goes for 100 – 240 Volts AC + / – 10%, 50 | 60 Hz with the micro USB cable.

Optical Display

The display type of this device is the Si-OLED or the Silicon Organic light emitting diode, and its driving method is the mono-crystalline silicon active matrix with a refresh rate of 30 Hz. The BT-35E has a 23-degree diagonal field of view, plus a screen size with projected distance measuring at 40 inches at 2.5m – 320 inches at 20m. The display size is a 16:9 or 0.43-inch wide panel that offers you 1280 x 720 pixels in total.

Dimensions and Weight

The headset, without the shades, measures 193 x 189 x 30 millimeters and its interface box is 85 x 52 x 15 millimeters. Now for its weight, the headset, without the harness and shade, is 119 grams while the interface box is 45 grams without its cable retainer and belt.

Using the Product

When we tried and looked through this Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses, we can’t deny that we really had an outstanding view before us. Everything was clear, crisp, more detailed, and all the colors appeared to be more vibrant than usual.

These glasses also include the dark shield which is pretty impressive just as well.  The dark shield is useful especially for watching films in an environment that is bright, and if you prefer to have a more cinematic appeal to your visuals.

When it comes to comfort, we were really surprised when we wore the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses for prolonged periods. We didn’t encounter any issues, problems, or even pains despite using it together with prescription glasses.

They weren’t annoying or disturbing in any way, so we really think that this device was really designed for ultimate comfort for everyone to enjoy. With that, we’re giving the Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses two thumbs up for its excellent performance and comfort.

Applications of the Epson Moverio BT-35E

There are various applications of augmented reality; in fact, this can be as simple as a text notification or as complex as instructions for performing a surgical procedure. AR can highlight specific features, improve understandings, as well as provide data that is easily accessible. Mobile and business apps are just some of the many AR applications that drive its continuous development.

For Epson’s Moverio BT-35E, these smart glasses have been designed with commercial applications in mind. Since it features a durable build for total comfort, it can be worn repeatedly for long periods of time.

Epson’s focus on a wide variety of commercial applications differentiates the Moverio series from competitors’ smart glasses. The BT-35E has been designed for major functions. This made the Moverio range popular with business customers and ISVs or independent software vendors.

For healthcare, the Moverio BT-35E can be used as a primary or secondary display. Instead of having to turn around to check the monitor, a doctor can focus on his or her patient. With the help of these smart glasses, the doctor can keep a more natural position. When it comes to engineering applications, the BT-35E can be used as display for tasks that need enhanced efficiency and low latency such as remote assistance.

Conclusion

Overall, the Epson Moverio BT-35E works excellently. We had a magnificent view while looking through the glasses and we really enjoyed using it with our drone. After trying these smart glasses out, we truly agree that these are designed for everyone, whether you’re a regular user, a developer, or someone who does industrial work. With its SDK, you can completely use all sensor and camera data via the app. Another thing we appreciate that it can be used both indoors and outdoors since it has a flip-up shade. For additional convenience, it also comes with a neck strap.

An impressive feature of the Moverio BT-35E is that it’s made for anyone – you even if you don’t have 20/20 vision, you can still wear these smart glasses over your prescription glasses. It’s fully adjustable with temple arms that easily move in and out. This makes things more convenient compared to other AR devices that feature a box shape that you have to hold all the time. Basically, this is the best pair of smart glasses that we’ve used.

If you’re looking for the excellent smart glasses for augmented reality, we highly recommend the Epson Moverio BT-35E.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the Epson Moverio BT-35E for $1199 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post Epson Moverio BT-35E Smart Glasses appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

The JBL Free X truly wireless headphones provide you with the real JBL signature sounds that comes in an intelligent and intuitive package. The JBL Free X is a great in-ear wireless device so it’s completely free from any wires that would often get tangled when in use; plus, it’s also easy to use and is flexible for music, calls, and perfect for an active lifestyle.

You’ll get to enjoy 24 hours of continuous playback: with 4 hours of non-stop listening plus 20 more hours of backup from the included smart charging case. There is the presence of the Comfort Stay Secure Fit ergonomics that include 3 ear-tips plus 2 gel sleeves with different sizes, providing you with a tailor fit device for every day and active use.

The company also claims that this device is IPX5 certified, so you’ll have a worry-free splashproof earpiece that you can fully enjoy. Its design will allow you to keep the music playing no matter what: whether through rain or shine, you can listen to your favorite tunes with the Free X from JBL.

But are these earpieces really as good as what JBL claims it to be? Does it perform well and do these produce outstanding audio that you’ll fully enjoy? If this device has piqued your interest, then we’ve got you covered, because today, we’ll be talking about the Free X, its features, specifications, performance, and if it’s something that’s really worth investing in.

JBL Free X Review – What’s in the Box?

These smart wireless earphones come in a clean-looking box which has a convenient hang tab right at the top. The front of the package displays an image of the Free X while the company’s name is written on the upper left portion of the package which is really easy to see.

Below this, you will find the name of the model, as well as some information about the product written there. On the sides, you will see other images of the device, but in different angles to give you a better idea of how the wireless earplugs look. At the back, there are other details about the Free X such as a few of its features and the like.

Inside, you will find the JBL Free X wireless smart earphones. We got the white one and it really looks classy and clean which is something that we greatly prefer.

There are other items present which include the charging case, two sets of gel sleeves with two sizes (medium and large), three sets of silicone ear tips (small, medium, and large), one micro USB charging cable, a safety sheet, the quick start guide, the warranty, and a warning sheet.

The Product

JBL Free X Review

The JBL Free X earphones has a nice and distinct look which makes it a decent compact pair of earbuds that has a premium feel to it. It looks and feels great compared to other truly wireless earphones that we tried, which is a really good thing for starters.

The earbuds are narrower if you compare these to other models that are out in the market. The feel of these earbuds are durable and dense; plus, they’re also more conveniently sized than models like the Samsung Gear Icon X.

What’s good about these earphones is that the pair comes with a charging case that sports a see-through cover so you can easily note and determine the charging status of the device without having to open the case. This is a really nice and convenient touch that JBL added to their Free X smart true wireless earphones.

Easy Management and Control

These earphones have really simple controls with easy to press physical buttons for ease of use. The right earbuds’ button functions as the play, pause, and answer button; plus, it also triggers the voice assistance which triggers when you press the button two times.

For the left earbuds, it is a dedicated button specifically for changing tracks. When you press the button once, it will advance to the next track, while pressing it twice will rewind and shift back to the previous tune. This is an efficient control scheme and is also very easy to use; it also has decent feedback which makes it even better.

Though you should remember that the JBL Free Xsport does not sport a volume button, so if you need to lower or increase the volume, you’d need to use your smartphone to adjust this.

Breathable and Comfy

The JBL Free X is extremely breathable which makes them a great pair of smart earphones for working out. These barely cause any change in the temperature even after long hours of intense working out. This is all because of its design wherein the earbuds do not cover and fully conceal your ears.

Product Features

Completely Wireless

With the JBL Free X, you can experience wireless freedom whether you listen to music, or manage your calls. Since it has no wires, it is easier to use; this allows you to do both tasks while working out.

JBL’s Signature Sound

The JBL Free X lets you experience its immersive signature sound so you can have a more enjoyable audio experience.

Combined Playback for 24 hours

You can enjoy a whole day of wireless audio with the JBL Free X since its battery can last for 4 hours of continuous playback. From the charging case, it has additional 20 hours of backup power. In total, you can use the earphones for 24 hours.

Specifications

The JBL Free X ear tips are made from silicon and makes use of the Bluetooth 4.2. For each ear, there’s a single driver present which is 5.6 millimeters in size with an impedance of 16 Ohms.

Its lithium ion polymer battery has a dynamic frequency response range of 10Hz to 22kHz, and it takes a total of 2 hours to fully charge from empty. When it comes to talk time, the device goes on for a total of 4 hours while play time is just the same.

Using the Product

Of course, we tried and tested the performance and qualities of the JBL Free X earphones, and we can start off by talking about the sound quality. The earphones are above-average pieces and when we tried them, these delivered deep, punchy, and powerful bass.

It’s treble was great too, and we were able to enjoy clear and warm mid-range as well. This makes the earphones really versatile and very suitable for various genres of music: from pop, to rock, classical and jazz, even audiobooks and podcasts are great with the Free X.

The bass of these smart true wireless earphones are outstanding and is a deep but also clear bass which is great. Also, the response throughout the entire range is virtually flat and well-balanced. So overall, its mid-range is adequately-balanced, producing a clear, warm, and enjoyable mix that you’ll surely enjoy, because honestly, we really did.

We loved the device’s treble range performance, and its response was even throughout the entire range. The headphones also have an excellent and consistent frequency response.

We were able to acquire consistent treble and bass delivery each time we used the device.

Its connection was excellent too. We were able to go as far as ten meters from the phone and were still able to maintain a solid and strong connection which we really think is great. And for its battery, we were using these buds for a couple of weeks, and we’d usually listen to music for a total of three hours each day.

All in all, we consider these smart and true wireless earphones an outstanding device, so we give it a thumbs up for performance.

Conclusion

The sound quality of the JBL Free X was beyond the company’s high standards. The best and most important thing about these earbuds is that everything was just right; there were no disproportionate emphasis such as excessively high frequencies. Because of that, we were able to enjoy both music and calls with these earphones.

It’s audio quality is above average for critical listening. Its bass is well-balanced while the bass and treble sound neutral. With that, the JBL Free X is able to cater to most music genres since everything is just right. The overall sound quality is great if you’re looking for simplicity and balance for your music.

We also appreciate how it’s made. It’s portable, lightweight, comfortable, and completely wireless; plus, it has a comfortable and stable fit in the ears which make it great for sports. It’s control scheme is also simple and easy to use. Another great thing about these earphones is that they come with additional rubber sleeves in different sizes so you can choose which one fits best in your ears.

If you’re looking for a great pair of wireless earphones that you can use while working out, the JBL Free X is the best device for you.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the JBL Free X wireless headphones for only $199 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

The post JBL Free X Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.

In this day and age, there are tons of portable speakers that you can choose from in the market; yet despite this, there doesn’t seem to be any of these from the major audio companies and brands that are made to attract the interest of children in every possible way.

Then again, there really isn’t any need for this since a good speaker can be used by anyone and everyone, young or old. The only issue here is that sometimes, the regular speakers look too ‘adult-like and serious’, or maybe their features are a little too rich and difficult for the younger ones. Plus, kids prefer eye-catching and bright-colored items.

It’s a good thing that JBL came up with the JR POP which is the company’s very first Bluetooth speaker designed just for the little ones. The kids can start partying and enjoying their favorite music and parents won’t have to worry since the device is made entirely of quality, safe, and durable materials; plus, it is also fully waterproof which makes it even better.

What’s more, it comes with a rechargeable battery to allow the kids to have fun and enjoy listening up to five hours of music playtime. It’s integrated light mode will engage kids, teens, and all the young audio fans with their favorite music, anytime. The device is also portable, with straps, and is sized perfect enough for little hands to hold.

Of course, the JBL JR POP also provides the little ones with excellent JBL signature sounds, so what more could the kids ask for?

Now if you’re wondering if this device is as good as it seems, and if it’s something worth purchasing, then sit back, relax, and continue reading as we fill you in with all the information about the device, it’s features, how it performed, and if it’s really something worth purchasing.

JBL JR POP Review – What’s in the Box?

The cool-looking Iris Purple JBL JR POP that we got arrived in this simple looking container. It’s really nice that the company placed the device in a see-through container so you can readily view the device even when it’s still packed.

There aren’t a lot of details written on the package, just the brand and device’s name, and a couple of designs that make the product more appealing and eye-catching.

Together with the JBL JR POP, you will find a micro USB charging cable, a quick start guide, a safety sheet, sticker papers, plus the warranty card.

The Product

JBL JR POP Review

The JBL JR POP is a little and compact device that weighs adequately for children. The color of the device that we have is the attractively eye-catching Iris Purple which even we loved. The speaker also comes with an integrated light show that is reminiscent to the company’s Pulse lineup; however, the only difference is that the LED ring here covers less surface area than those of the Pulse devices.

There’s also a removable, built-in strap which makes the device easier to carry and bring around; it’s also a convenient piece to allow the little ones to hang this device whenever necessary. The cool thing about the speaker is that it is fully waterproof because of having the IPX7 rating. This only means that the JR POP can be submerged up to a meter and can readily withstand rain, splashes, or getting rinsed.

The speaker also has a forward-facing grill that is decorated with the company’s logo which covers the 3-Watt mono driver.

Along the side panel of the speaker is a collection of buttons that function as the power, Bluetooth, volume, and the LED lights. The minus and plus buttons on the JR POP work simultaneously with smartphones or a tablet’s primary levels. This light show can be switched off or on, and it also spins a dazzling ring of pastel and rainbow colors along the dial of the speaker.

Despite its size, the JBL JR POP is loud enough for everyone in the room to enjoy the music. Though of course, it can’t output the bass bonanza that seems like it would shake the house down; but at maximum volume, the JR POP’s audio sure is louder than what you’re thinking when it comes to a child’s speaker.

Another good thing to note about the device is that it is really easy to pair. Once that’s done, your device will be remembered. Then, it will be automatically paired when both of the devices are powered and within the allowed range.

When it comes to the battery, the company estimates that this speaker’s battery life can last around 5 hours in total. However, the results may vary depending on your volume levels.

Product Features

Child-Friendly Design

The speaker is made up of rugged materials and its strap is made from thick fabric. With that, you can ensure that it will withstand every bump. Aside from that, its compact size is perfect for children’s small hands. Its weight is only 121 grams which is light enough for kids to carry around.

IPX7-Rated Waterproof

The JBL JR POP is waterproof so you don’t have to worry about this getting wet. With that, kids can buckle the speaker on their bags with. What’s interesting about this is that its USB port doesn’t have a rubber cap and even if that’s the case, it will not get damaged.

Lighting Effect

The JBL JR POP has a ring of LED lights that illuminate vibrant colors. The lights dance to the music in random movements. If the lights are unwanted, these can be disabled.

When you stop the music and the Bluetooth stays connected, the flashing lights do not stop but these slow down instead. The speaker’s power also does not automatically switch off when Bluetooth is not connected.

Comes with Cute Stickers

Just like JBL’s headphones for kids, there are stickers included in the JR POP package for children to customize their speakers.

Indented Buttons

Unlike common speakers that have protruding buttons, those of the JBL JR POP are indented. Pressing the buttons will be difficult for adults but for children, this will be easy since they have small and thin fingers.

Battery Life

The JBL JR POP can last for 5 hours which is just right for kids.

Specifications

The JBL JR POP uses 3 Watts for the output power to readily provide continuous music playback for up to five hours. For its dimensions / measurements, the speaker is small at just 3.97 x 8.78 x 7.55 centimeters, though its battery capacity goes all the way to 600 mAh which is really something. The total charging time would be around 2 hours, and it makes use of the 4.2 Bluetooth type.

Using the Product

We really think that it’s a fun and refreshing idea for the company to create such a device. And in all honesty, we really liked the idea of JBL having a speaker for kids to use when they’re playing or having fun playtime together.

And when speaking of its build, the JR POP is really a durable piece which is perfect for kids to use since they tend to be a bit rougher than necessary. With that, we tried submerging the speaker in water and just as the company claimed, it is a fully waterproof device and it still worked perfectly despite us submerging this for a couple of minutes.

When it comes to the buttons, they’re really easy to press and are made specifically for children who have smaller fingers than us adults.

We tried letting kids use the JBL JR POP and even its fabric strap is durable since they tried hanging this on various objects and the speakers nor the strap acquired any damage. We really think it’s an excellent design for young ones since it’s perfectly shaped for easy handling and it has a brilliant color. The lights are an additional bonus that enhance the speaker’s appearance, and it’s another thing we really appreciate.

We think that the JBL JR POP is perfect for parties, picnics, birthdays, and more. Its audio quality, appearance, durability, as well as the features that come with it is all great. Surprisingly, it performs very well which isn’t common for devices designed for kids.

Conclusion

What makes the JBL JR POP absolutely child-friendly is that it’s IPX7 rated waterproof. The light show is a great bonus to the device since it adds to the fun of listening. Since it’s designed for kids, we were really surprised with the volume levels that it was capable of reaching. Since volume is usually limited in your audio source or device, the JBL JR POP can play these at a higher volume.

If you’re a fan of JBL’s previous portable speaker models such as the Clip 3 and Go 2, the JR Pop is another great option that comes at an affordable price. If you’re looking for a good present for children, the JBL JR POP is an excellent gift for them.

The JBL JR POP is really designed for kids so you can ensure it durability and long life span. Aside from that, its audio output is great as well.

Where to Buy

You can pickup the JBL JR POP for only $49 AUD. For more information head on over to the official product page.

JBL JR POP Review

Design

Features

Performance

Usability

Value

2019-03-27

5.0Overall Score

The post JBL JR POP Review appeared first on The Streaming Blog.