Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Review: Pro’s & Con’s

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060

An overview of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 is certainly going to cost a little bit more than the graphics card in the Nvidia lineup that it is replacing, the truth of the matter is it is light years ahead of that older technology and a real standout when compared to ALL of the new graphics cards Nvidia has released.

Every single year, one particular model in the Nvidia lineup is overhauled and supercharged from top to bottom compared to its predecessor – and this year the honor goes to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060. Pumped up like never before, this is an absolute monster of a graphics card that can still be classified as a “midrange” card even if it is a full-blown heavy hitter.

If you’re looking to upgrade your card and run the latest graphics intensive video games on your PC at the highest levels without losing any frames along the way, this is the beast you’ll want to toss into your box.

Coming complete with full HD and QHD capabilities, the ability to play games at 4K with absolutely zero lag whatsoever, and even ready to accommodate games that leverage next-generation technology like ray tracing right out of the gate this is a graphics card that’s going to set you up for years of gaming come at a very affordable price tag.

You’ll be amazed at just how well the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 punches above its weight class, especially since it is slated right there in the midrange lineup to go toe to toe with the new AMD Radeon RX 5700. That card is anticipated to be $30 more expensive than this one from Nvidia and not nearly as capable or as complete.

Features

As we highlighted earlier, the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 is a major step up from its predecessor.

Featuring 6 GB of the latest 14 Gbps GDDR6 video memory, as well as 50% more CUDA cores to handle all of your processing heavy lifting, it should come as no surprise to anyone serious about gaming that the folks at Nvidia have outdone themselves once again

These black and green cards have always been regarded as the industry leader, and even though AMD has made major inroads and improvements over the last decade or so Nvidia cards – like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 – still lead the pack thanks to their feature set and innovative technology.

This is not a card designed with 1080p HD gaming in mind but instead, a game that is more than comfortable handling 1440p – true 4K – right out of the box, even when you are running Full HD settings. There aren’t a lot of other cards on the market today that can offer this kind of performance (particularly at this price point) without really crippling your frames per second.

That isn’t ever going to be a problem with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060.

The heartbeat of this new graphics card is a Turing TU106 GPU. This is a slightly modified version of the GPU that was leveraged in the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 (the next card up in the Nvidia lineup), which means you’re getting a slightly watered-down version of one of the most high-end video cards on the planet calling all the shots your “midrange” card.

You should know that there is zero SLI support with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 card. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, either, as SLI is really starting to fall out of favor as the Nvidia company instead looks to pivot away from running dual cards and instead just running a single card with more horsepower than ever before.

Only the folks at Nvidia really understand how they’ve been able to squeeze so much extra power when it comes to graphics by eliminating a secondary card, but everyone universally agrees that they’ve not only been able to do it but they are doing it better than anybody else out there as well.

There’s a reason why almost every single one of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 reviews out there speaks to the power, the performance, and the capabilities of this card without even really mentioning SLI all that much. Cards like this have made SLI outdated and obsolete, even though it’s GPU technology that isn’t all that old at all.

Pros

  • Incredibly strong refresh rates even when running 1440p Full HD resolutions
  • Very competitively priced and stacked up against current generation “midrange” cards
  • Super high-quality construction materials throughout (no surprise when you’re talking about and video)
  • Display port, HDMI, and DVI ports guarantee that you have plenty of modern and legacy connectivity options
  • The blazing-fast card offers super-smooth performance, particularly when paired with high-end modern processors and RAM modules
  • Isn’t going to run as hot as a blast furnace even when you have settings maxed and are playing games for hours on end

Cons

  • Some unoptimized AAA games (especially those that use ray tracing) are going to push this card to the max right out of the gate and particularly in years to come

Pricing

We have talked a couple of times in this quick Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 review that the graphics card is slightly more expensive than the predecessor it is replacing in the Nvidia lineup, but that’s to be expected when you’re talking about all the game-changing new technology that this major upgrade includes.

At the same time, we’re really only talking about a price increase of about $30 over the graphics card it is replacing. There aren’t too terribly many Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 reviews out there that are going to complain about this small extra investment necessary to get such outsized performance in return.

Interestingly enough, its closest competitor in the world of graphics cards today comes from AMD and that competing graphics card is actually $30 MORE expensive than this card (the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060) – which makes it $60 more expensive than the previous iteration of this graphics card.

When you lay it out like that it really becomes a no-brainer kind of decision to snap up this new technology from the folks at Nvidia just as soon as you get the opportunity to do so.

Reviews

“This is literally the greatest graphics card I have ever owned, and I’ve been building gaming PCs for more than two decades. Right out of the box it offered plenty of horsepowers to play AAA titles like Battlefield effortlessly, even when I had my settings dialed through the roof. I brought them back to earth a little bit (like you should with every first-person shooter) but am still amazed by the performance”.

“I thought ray tracing was going to be kind of a gimmick, little bit of marketing mumbo-jumbo, and wouldn’t really help put games over the top. After installing this graphics card and playing a couple games with ray tracing ready to rock and roll I can freely admit I was wrong. This changes the way lighting works in games and it is so much more immersive. Nvidia has a homerun on their hands with this card!”

“Trying to pick between the new Nvidia card (this one) and the new AMD card was pretty tough considering help far AMD has come in the last few years. The thing that really put me over the top with the inclusion of the high-end GPU, the blazing fast video RAM, and the fact that Nvidia just seems to do a better job at making midrange and top-tier video cards than AMD does. I don’t regret this choice even a little bit!”

Final Verdict

You’ll have a tough time finding even just a handful of Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 reviews out there that aren’t glowingly positive when they speak about everything that this card has to offer.

Featuring incredible build quality (which is what you should expect from a hardware manufacturer like Nvidia), the kind of durability you expect, as well as slick engineering that cuts this card down from the big and bulky cards of the past to something a lot more streamlined – and a lot more energy/heat efficient – and it’s easy to see why this is so special.

Plenty of people are gearing up to overhaul their PC gaming box with all of the new video cards and processors coming out. AMD is a worthy contender for sure (which wasn’t always the case), but this Nvidia card is light years ahead of anything that they are able to bring to the table right now.

If you are serious about squeezing every single drop of power and performance out of your new video card, and want to guarantee that your new PC is as “future proof” for upcoming games – especially AAA titles – you’ll want to be sure that you are running the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060.

The fact that it is 4K ready straight out of the box and comes with plenty of “juice” to handle ray tracing (the next big breakthrough in videogame graphics and lighting) makes this a no-brainer decision.

 If you want the best of the best when it comes to graphics cards you go with Nvidia – and that means grabbing Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 ASAP!

Intel Core i9 990k Review

Intel core i9-9900k review

A short introduction to Intel Core i9 990k

If we are being brutally honest, the cold hard truth of the matter is that most modern processors that are unveiled today are anything but exciting or intriguing.

Tiny little speed increases just aren’t enough to move the needle any longer, and we seem to have hit the threshold where adding even more cores to the party just really doesn’t do all that much (at least from a marketing or excitement side of things).

At the same time, however, new processors like the Intel Core i9 990K are incredibly exciting for a certain subset of the PC population – gamers that are looking to squeeze every single drop of power and performance out of their system as humanly possible.

Most people following the PC hardware industry would say that Intel has been sitting on their hands for a little while as AMD chipped away at their market, and really didn’t start to push the envelope as far as speed and performance are concerned until AMD started ramping things up in just the last two or three years.

Well, while Intel remains the 800-pound gorilla in the computer processing world AMD has been carving them up left and right – and the Intel Core i9 990K is a knockout punch designed to set the upstart AMD back where Intel believes they belong.

Find out in this quick Intel Core i9 990K review whether or not that’s what happened or if that punch was slipped.

Features

One of only two Intel processors (mainstream processors, anyway) to be made leveraging octa-core technology, the thread count of this new Intel Core i9 990K is absolutely off the charts for Intel chipsets.

Featuring 16 threads, this Coffee Lake Refresh is a real game-changer for those serious about PC gaming and is designed to at last outpace what AMD has been doing with their second-generation Ryzen processors for quite a while now.

It’s clear right from the jump that Intel sees the Intel Core i9 990K as the answer to that second-generation AMD chipset, particularly when you look at the rest of the features it brings to the table.

This new chip is rated at a base frequency of 3.6 GHz but has the ability to be cranked all the way up to 5.0 GHz on single core operation, or all the way up to 4.7 GHz when you’re running between six and eight cores at the same time.

Combine that with the fact that the Intel Core i9 990K runs 400 MHz higher clock speeds right out of the gate but that it also has the opportunity to tightly integrate each of these individual cores and these hyper threads with blazing fast speed all without adding a tremendous amount of extra heat to your PC at the same time.

Unbelievably, the Intel Core i9 990K continues to run in the same 95 W thermal package as the previous iteration of the original Coffee Lake CPUs that Intel put out just a short while ago.

To help better control thermal operation Intel also made sure to feature 100% soldered and tightly integrated heat spreader technology throughout the entirety of the Intel Core i9 990K. This guarantees that it is going to run a lot cooler than the previous iteration, with a lot of popular benchmarks out there showing the Intel Core i9 990K running 10°C cooler than both previous versions of this same chipset.

That’s a huge deal, particularly for PC gamers that are looking to stick this new processor into gaming rigs that have all kinds of other hardware – especially oversized GPUs – that are going to be cranking quite a bit of heat as it is. By controlling temperatures through the processor and still offering top-flight speeds you get something really special here.

Best of all, you aren’t going to have to go with an entirely new motherboard when you make the upgrade to the Intel Core i9 990K, either.

100% compatible with all Z370 motherboards (just like the previous version of this chipset) you are going to be able to drag and drop this new processor right into your existing rig without any headache or hassle.

To be completely honest, this chipset running at “standard” speeds is not exactly the world’s most impressive gaming processor quite the way that Intel claims it to be in a lot of their Intel Core i9 990K reviews.

As soon as you start to overclock things, however, the clause really come out and this monster starts to tear things apart.

You’re going to want to push this at least a little bit harder than its 3.7 GHz setting that it comes clocked with initially, but whether or not you bump it all the way up to 5.0 GHz or 4.7 GHz (depending on the cores you are running) is really all going to come down to your comfort level and your overall thermal property control inside your box.

Pros

  • Generation Intel hyperthreading performance is on par (and even a little bit better) than AMD chipsets
  • Thermal control shouldn’t be an issue with the new features this chipset includes straight out of the box
  • Super energy efficient as well as highly durable
  • Stable build with updated drivers and legendary Intel support
  • Designed specifically with PC gaming in mind and really lets you take advantage of incredible processing power when under heavy load

Cons

This chipset – the Intel Core i9 990K – is brand-new technology and a little bit on the expensive side of things

Pricing

At the end of the day, we are talking about a brand-new processor from the folks at Intel and that means that you are going to see a pretty hefty price tag attached.

When you get right down to it, however, if you want to squeeze every single drop of power and performance out of your gaming PC you expect to pony up a little bit for key hardware – and it doesn’t get any more important than the processor calling all the shots on your set up.

The overwhelming majority of the Intel Core i9 990K reviews out there are glowingly positive about this chipset and most feel that the price is right in line with what you get for the money. This is a premium option with a premium price tag.

Reviews

“Upgrading to the brand-new Intel Core i9 990K was super simple, considering the fact that I already had a motherboard set up for Z370 chipsets. The whole process took about five minutes from start to finish (and a good chunk of that was looking for my thermal paste) and now my computer really flies”

“Intel has a homerun chipset on their hands with this little gem. While the price tag was a little steep it has exceeded all of my expectations. I couldn’t be happier!”

“The beautiful thing about running a PC is that you can upgrade parts and components on a needed basis. I had the previous version Coffee Lake processor and was skeptical about whether or not this refresh was going to make all that much difference. Boy did I have nothing to worry about! This thing is lightning fast, has cleared up some pretty serious bottlenecks from my previous gaming rig, and has me pushing the boundaries of my gaming more than I would’ve thought possible with this generation”

Final Verdict

Though Intel was certainly a little late to the party when it came to introducing a new mainstream octa-core processor in the Intel Core i9 990K, the time that they took definitely allowed them to get everything “just right”.

This is a top-flight processor through and through, one that people serious about PC gaming are really going to appreciate but also a processor that folks in the video and photo editing world (as well as other creators using resource-intensive and processor-heavy applications) are going to fall head over heels in love with as well.

The drivers powering this processor are still pretty new (which is to be expected) but most of the Intel Core i9 990K reviews out there right now have already talked about the stability and the sheer performance these baseline drivers make possible. Intel is obviously going to collect as much data about this new chipset as they can and push out updated drivers every so often (like they always do), which means this chipset is only going to get better and better from here on out.

At the price tag, you’re looking at one of the true top end processors on the market today. Anytime you are looking at a flagship Intel product you’re looking to pay a premium, and that’s true here with the Intel Core i9 990K for sure.

Of course, that premium price tag means you get a very premium processor as well. Intel is not a name that coasts on their previous reputation, and certainly isn’t dropping the ball when it comes to technological advances or investments in their hardware.

AMD is pushing Intel harder than ever before with some pretty incredible advances of late and that only makes the Intel Core i9 990K shine even brighter. This is a top-flight processor worth a top-flight price tag, and the kind of processor that you can use to power your system for years and years to come.

The 3 Best PC Cases To Buy Today

best pc case

A short intro to the Best PC Case

The best PC cases are an integral part of a computer’s well being. There are a whole lot of different components that go into making sure a computer can function to its best ability.  Without all of the necessary bits, a computer alone can do absolutely nothing.  It takes a village with a computer.  But once that team of worker bees comes together and is operating flawlessly, who protects those that are busily doing their jobs.  Who stands guard?

There are a number of things that can happen to an unprotected ‘organization’ if you will, e.g. a child can knock it off the table and cause extensive damage, liquid can find its way into the internal compartments, dust can accumulate throughout the vents leading to the inside of the unit.  There needs to be a shield encasing the whole thing so nothing can destroy what’s happening inside and this is where our PC cases come into play.  Having your computer inside of a case will ensure that, no matter what happens, the case will take the abuse not the computer.  The consumers on Amazon reviewed some of the best PC cases on the market and felt that these three were among the finest quality.  Let’s check them out.

Corsair Crystal 570X RGB Mid-Tower Case 3 RGB Fans, Tempered Glass

This Corsair case is clearly the ultimate in PC cases with clean, clear tempered glass that covers the entire chassis, every part of your build is showcased for your audience to view.  This will include three brilliant LED fans that offer a built-in controller. The case allows upwards of six PC fans and is suited for 240 mm, 280 mm, 360 mm as well as 120mm for radiators.  In the front and on top of the chassis are removable trays which will offer more space outside the chassis.  Cable management is made so you can be organized with routing channels and velcro straps. Cool air is not hindered by the drive cages which are moved out of its way.  Drive installation is tool-free and allows three-point filter access making the case easy to build as well as maintain.

FEATURES

Front, top, and sides of the case consist of 4 panels of tempered glass. There are 3 fans with LED including controller.

Six case fans are possible with the ability for 120 mm, 240 mm, 360 mm, and 280 mm.

Cable management, as well as organization, is kept simple with cable route channels and velcro strapping.

PROS

  • Beautiful glass sides showcase the build.
  • Allows up to 6 case fans.
  • Cables can be organized.
  • LED fan lights nice addition.
  • Installation is tool-free, maintenance is easy.

CONS:

  • Folks wanted more bling with the colors.  Not really a con, the color is pretty, some just wanted a massive light show but otherwise loved it at 5/5.

PRICE:

The price for this case on Amazon goes for $159.98.

REVIEWS:

The best PC case reviews showed major love for this case with a majority of ratings at 5 * / 5 *.  The first reviewer felt that this was the best case ever, major sexy look to it, a total work of art, will buy again, highly recommend.  The full tempered glass view is perfect for a PC build.  It is well designed, strong, solid, big and ominous and deserves respect, allows easier access to your motherboard headers, airflow is amazing and helps keep everything running cool, metal is durable but not too heavy, cable management works well, and overall a beautiful, well-constructed case.

NZXT H500i – Compact ATX Mid-Tower PC Gaming Case

NZXT boasts that its H500 series highlights their vision of the modern-age PC build with user-friendly water cooling install, features for cable routing that are well managed, as well as SSD trays that are quick release. There are two strips of LED and Aer F fans along with a gorgeous tempered glass panel that will allow you to show off your build. There are routes for the cables along with straps on the underside of the motherboard tray for ease with the wiring.  The cable bar was upgraded in order to be adjustable so the building operation can be much easier.  The layout for storage makes airflow optimal as well as a spacious interior.   The SSD trays which are quick release from the PSU shroud are also capable of being fixed behind the motherboard tray.

FEATURES

  • This quality of this case is premium made of steel with slick design and produced in four different color variations.
  • CAM powered controller for RGB and digital fan includes fans which are pre-installed as well as strips of LED for the ultimate in personalization.
  • This case offers optimal cooling as well as balanced noise reduction for the ultimate gaming experience.
  • There are pre-installed routes as well as straps for the best in cable management.
  • Beautiful tempered glass side panel offers the ability to show off your entire build with clean, clear brilliance.
  • Fans (2)  Aer F 120 mm are included for awesome airflow, 28 dBA for Noise CFM .

PROS:

  • Optimal cooling.
  • Noise reduction.
  • LED strips.
  • Tempered glass to show off the build.
  • 2 fans for ultimate in airflow.
  • Best in cable management possible.
  • Affordable for value given.

CONS

Read all of the instructions when using the CAM software so that you can get the best possible results that they are offering for you. The reviewers who followed instructions were over the moon with this 5/5.  Some did not follow instructions.

PRICE:

The price as listed on Amazon goes for $92.99.

REVIEWS:

The best PC case reviews were all nearly perfect in every category for this particular case.  The first reviewer found this to be a very solid case with an impeccable paint job and perfectly placed lights. Installation was easy with the cable routes and straps making things very simplified.  Airflow is perfect.  CAM software worked flawlessly and is simple to maneuver.  This case offers a very quiet design, plenty of areas for fans, mounting points for up to 5 SSDs with 2 on the PSU shroud.  Overall, a great case with plenty of room to spare.

AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower with Acrylic Side Window

This case offers an unusual front panel that shows off a backslash of LED that offers upwards of 13 modes of lighting, 6 are flow and 7 are solid modes.  The side is made of durable acrylic through which you can show off your gaming build while the case itself is offered in either black or white.  Supports memory cards or SD r micro SD coming from the top panel and is built for the ultimate performance.  240mm radiator supports liquid cooling within the front panel.  120 mm fan enhances air cooling from on top.  The case offers a dual chamber for the best ventilation as well as dust filters which are removable for easy cleaning.

FEATURES

  • Acrylic side window, LED backslash on the front panel..
  • Liquid cooling supported, fan at the top with air cooling supported.
  • Fan bracket design of VGA for the ultimate in cooling performance. Has dual chambers for enhanced ventilation.

PROS

  • Liquid cooling supported.
  • Acrylic side wall for showing off gaming build.
  • LED backslash for bling.
  • Dual chambers for extra ventilation.

CONS

There’s no tempered glass, its acrylic.  It’s not a con, really, just informative.  It still shows off the gaming build in an awesome way and folks still love this case.

PRICING:

The price for this case as listed on Amazon is $48.99.

REVIEWS:

The best PC case reviews were all awesome for this piece of equipment.  The first reviewer felt that it was an A1 case for the price, amazing, very sturdy, offers 2 sata III cables, really roomy. Cable management was pretty easy, lots of buttons and inputs on top. Good space for the PSU as well as 2 hard drive slots.  Cleanest build ever is done. Looks like it could cost more than it does.  And overall for the price, this was a fantastic computer housing.

CONCLUSION

We don’t often think about protecting the things that we’re building but the PC cases are necessary to take care of all of the hard work that we put into our computers. They allow us to show off all of that hard work with the glass or acrylic windows that they offer.  They protect all of that hard work from any type of abuse that may come to it through our fault or anything or anyone around it.

The best PC case selections that are offered here have been bought and installed by some seasoned computer and gaming builders who know their way around systems. They found these cases to be worthy of protecting their builds and showing them off. There are different price points and different varieties that hopefully you can find one that will help you protect your hard work too.

The 3 Best Mini ITX Case To Buy Today

best mini itx case

A short intro to the Best Mini ITX Case

If you are getting ready to build a new PC but do not want it taking up the entirety of your desk or floorspace, a mini ITX case is a way to go.

Compact but offering plenty of room for full-featured hardware and components, you get the best of all worlds when you invest in a top-tier mini ITX solution. Of course, finding the best mini ITX case can be a bit of a tall task – especially with so many worthy options out there to pick and choose from.

Below we highlight three of the very best solutions available right now, the kind of mini ITX cases that can protect your PC components, add a lot of style to your PC build, and not take up a gigantic amount of space along the way.

Let’s dig right in!

NZXT H200i

Overview

Essentially just a shrunken down version of what many people consider to be the very best midsized tower on the market, the H 700i from this same manufacturer, you get all of the build quality, all of the options, and all of the special features that you’d expect from a full-size case in this mini ITX footprint.

The NZXT smart hub is featured in this case, alongside two dedicated fans, a single RGB LED strip, and a price point that is tough to beat. If you’re going to be running a mini ITX case this definitely belongs at or near the top of your list!

Features

Integrated fan options are a huge bonus for those that want to build a gaming PC inside of a mini ITX case, and this particular option features dual fans already set up and ready to go – but a lot of other temperature control features abound here as well.

The Smart Hub technology guarantees that you have full digital fan control over ALL of your fans, plenty of room to expand cooling options, dedicated space for water cooling solutions, and cable management slots that help you to improve airflow throughout.

Combine that with the fact that this is one of the best-looking cases on the market today and it’s easy to see why so many people feel it is the very best mini ITX case money can buy!

Pros

  • Super compact but incredibly well designed with room for full-size graphics cards and other components
  • Integrated RGB LED for custom lighting solutions
  • CAM Powered Smart Device technology right out of the box

Cons

  • Liquid cooling can be a little tricky to get set up with this compact format

Pricing

You won’t have to worry about blowing your entire PC build budget on this mini ITX case, that’s for sure. It is incredibly affordable for everything you get out of it.

Reviews

“This is one of my favorite mini ITX cases on the planet, a compact little cube that is slick looking, easy to work with, and has some of the best cable management in the business”

“Being able to toss a full-sized graphics card (and then some) into this mini ITX format case is a huge bonus”

“Everything about this case is intelligently designed, making it one of the easiest cases to build with – especially for beginners”

Conclusion

If you want a top-flight case that is slick looking, features top-of-the-line construction materials, and helps you better optimize and manage your PC build this is a case you’ll want to look into for sure.

In Win A1

Overview

Another “shiny little cube”, a lot of people think that this particular mini ITX case pushes the boundaries of what the small format solutions are capable of – and this review definitely agrees.

You’ll be almost amazed at just how much full-size hardware and top-tier technology you can shoehorn into this tiny little mini ITX case, all without your components feeling cramped or crowded. Cables are already preinstalled and pre-managed (with a 600 W power supply already tucked in and ready to go as well), helping you significantly when it comes to the overall design and the engineering of your cable management.

Features

Airflow on this unit is almost impossibly great, considering the fact that all of your components are going to feel like they are sitting right on top of one another. But because of the pre-existing cable management and pre-run cables that we already highlighted above the bulk of the heavy lifting for cable management has been handled for you – keeping your case clean and unencumbered.

A couple of nice modern features, including integrated wireless charging at the top of your case, really helped to set this apart from the rest of the pack. This is as forward-thinking a mini ITX case as you are going to find, even if it isn’t quite capable of supporting the biggest liquid cooling stations with large radiators and tons and tons of storage.

Pros

  • Smart cable management guarantees that your airflow stays unencumbered for easy temperature control
  • Built-in 600 W power supply keeps overall build costs low and eliminates some cable management, too
  • Integrated wireless charging pad for phones and tablets is a game-changer

Cons

  • There isn’t support for 3.5” standard hard drives with this mini ITX case

Pricing

Very affordable, especially when you factor in the internal 600 W power supply you get as a “throw in” you’ll be blown away by just how inexpensive this option is when stacked up against the rest of the competition. It is easily one of the best mini ITX cases available.

Reviews

“The inclusion of that wireless charging pad really helped to put this compact monster over the top for me. I love having it sitting on my desk now!”

“Have no idea how they were able to offer this case as inexpensively as they do with an included 600 W power supply that is rock solid”

“Was looking for a compact mini ITX case that wasn’t going to feel all that limiting when I built my PC. This was the one that fit the bill best”

Conclusion

Though there are some limitations (particularly when it comes to liquid cooling and 3.5” HDD support), there are so many other reasons to fall in love with this mini ITX case that you’d have to be crazy not to consider it moving forward!

Corsair Crystal 280X RGB

Overview

Those looking to fully RGB out there new mini ITX case are going to want to get their hands on this Corsair option ASAP!

Designed specifically to meet mini ITX specifications but allowing for the biggest, baddest, and most technologically advanced PC hardware components are browned this is a laser light show of a case thanks to the RGB solutions built throughout.

Clean lines, high-end specs, and easy build components make this one of the best mini ITX cases you’ll find today.

Features

RGB everywhere!

Two preinstalled RGB fans are already set up and ready to go to help with your temperature management, but they are also completely customizable with the internal Lightning Node PRO controller that allows you to set up your RGB lighting in any and every way you see fit.

There are other RGB components and RGB lighting options that you can fully outfit this Corsair case with as well, helping you to really make this case your own with no headache or hassle.

Like the other Corsair Crystal series cases, this mini ITX option has three smoked glass panels that feature tempered glass, allowing you to show off your components and your RGB lighting in a modern way.

A variety of cooling options are featured throughout the case as well to keep temperatures low – even if you’re running the biggest PC components on the market today. This case may be a mini ITX set up but it is designed with big builds (internally, anyway) in mind.

Pros

  • Plenty of room to build the PC of your dreams inside of a mini ITX footprint
  • Beautiful design with intelligent cooling technology throughout
  • Cable management is effortless with this case

Cons

  • There aren’t any Type C USB 3.1 ports available on this case

Pricing

Slightly more expensive than the other two options we highlighted in this quick review, most people find this case to be well worth the premium price tag thanks to the overall build quality and space inside you’ll have for larger components or more heavy-duty cooling systems.

Reviews

“This case from Corsair is absolutely gorgeous! Love the RGB set up, love how it keeps temperatures cool, and really love that I can throw a full-sized graphics card in it with room to spare”

“Dual chamber design made cable management a no-brainer. I didn’t have to worry about fiddling with my cables but instead tucked them off to the corner, out of sight and not restricting airflow”

“This mini ITX case is a little monster, with plenty of room for the build of your dreams and then some – all without taking up a lot of valuable real estate on your desk”

Conclusion

Corsair makes some of the best PC cases on the planet, and this mini ITX version is absolutely no exception. Top-tier build quality throughout, innovative features abound, and intelligent cooling technology makes this a rock-solid contender.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to mini ITX cases like the ones that we highlighted above you never have to feel like you are handicapping your new PC build with smaller, underpowered components.

Through some amazing engineering and wizardry, all of these mini ITX cases are able to offer almost unlimited internal space for your components without chewing up a lot of extra floor space or space on your desk at the same time.

You can’t go wrong with any of them!

The Best PC Fans To buy in 2019 FOr your Desktop

best pc fans

A short intro to the Best PC Fans

Best PC Fans are crucial for a gaming computer. The enemy for any computer is going to be heat.  That is especially true of the gaming computer as they are using the high-grade graphics cards along with faster CPU and are operating challenging games for numerous hours at a time on any given day.  In order for the expenses that you put into all of this top-of-the-line equipment to be well-maintained and not burn up, you need to invest in additional cooling elements to protect these things.  This is generally where the PC fans come into play. 

The sole function of these fans is to eliminate the hot air that is produced within your PC and put much cooler air in its place from outside.  How many of these fans you use will be determined by the type of case that you use.  A lot of the more modern game towers are suited to allow multiple options for fan mounting.  You’ll need one for intake as well as one for exhaust and don’t forget your filters. If you have dust accumulation it will act as a blanket which will add heat.  Dust will also cause the machine to falter and possibly fail. You want to keep the dust at a minimum and clean the filters often.

Most fans will come with arrows to show the direction the air should flow but keep in mind the other fans within the system such as CPU and GPU that could affect the flow.  Let’s check out the best PC fans that Amazon reviewers bought, used and preferred.

Corsair Air Series AF120 LED Quiet Edition High Airflow Fan Twin Pack

The Corsair fans offer LED lighting along with awesome cooling operation.  There is brilliant LED lights combined with quiet airflow with the Corsair case fan.  These are not like the standard case fans in that they offer blades which have been custom designed for the delivery of air at a higher volume.  The aesthetic is dramatic as the four LED lights beam against the translucent, frosted texture of the blades.  The Air Series AF Fans are recommended to be used in unrestricted spaces with a clearance of at least 3 cm and are perfect to be placed at the rear or on top of the PC case.  Also, do well for intake fans as with bottom intakes or side panels.

FEATURES:

  • Size of Fan 25 mm x 120 mm.
  • dBA at 25.2, Noise in dBA.
  • CFM at 52.19, Airflow in CFM.
  • mm/H2O at 0.75, Static Pressure at mm/H2O
  • RPM at 1500, Power Draw in at + 12V .40 A
  • Single or double packs available.
  • Requirements:  Motherboard that offers a 3-pin fan connector (open standard)

PROS:

  • Very quiet operation.
  • LED add an element of aesthetics.
  • Airflow significant.
  • Cools quickly and efficiently.
  • Affordable price for the value.

CONS:

You need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when you install so that you can get the best results with the fans.  Not a con, but installing can be tricky and it’s important to follow directions.

PRICE:

The price for this unit on Amazon goes for $21.99.

REVIEWS

The best PC fans reviews showed that these fans are perfect for cooling the computers down and do so quickly. The LED lights are ‘epic’ and give an awesome effect. The noise level is nearly nonexistent.  The airflow is a really good, excellent and quiet cooling solution, the design is sturdy and good quality, solid fans for a good deal, no shaking or wobbling, and overall ‘buy them, they’re incredible’.

upHere 5V 6-pack 120mm Silent PWM Intelligent Control 5V Addressable Fan Motherboard

With upHere colorful fans, you can create an aesthetic of a beautiful rainbow of colors with 8 awesomely brilliant LED lights.  You can maintain different effects of the lights with controls that offer multiple choice and varying modes of static, breathing or multiple cycles of colors.  Fan speed can range upwards of 600 to 1700 rpm at your control with the minimizing of noise as well as maximizing airflow.  There are 9 blades which is unique to these fans at 120mm PWM designed to create much more airflow which brings cooling efficiency all while maintaining super quiet performance.  These fans are built with a bearing that is engineered to provide prolonged usability.  Operation noise is greatly reduced with the self-lubricating hydraulic bearing using a friction-reducing, high-quality material. 

FEATURES:

  • 8 pcs of RGB LED customizable lights which are independently programmable providing brilliant lighting effects.
  •  Perfectly compatible with your PC case for the balance of airflow, optimization of cooling performance, and just-right air pressure.
  • Nine-blade design is engineered to bring superior air pressure.  The frame has scientifically designed air channel to reduce noise that may be caused by the airflow turbulence.
  • The motherboard runs the fan at the precise speed due to the PWM functionality.  This will minimize the noise and assure the necessary cooling.
  • 12-month warranty

PROS:

  • Super quiet operation.
  • Awesome air control.
  • Superior cooling capability.
  • Affordable.
  • Variable speed that you can control.
  • LED lights with different effects.

CONS:

The price is super for all that you get for the money.  Not so much a con but you may spend a lot of money buying them for friends and family.

PRICE:

The price for these fans on Amazon is $45.99.

REVIEWS

The best PC fans reviews showed a lot of positivity for these fans, many  5 * / 5* favorites.  They felt they got an awesome price for the value of the fans.  They are nice and quiet but do an amazing job.  Some said this is a great product, pure excellence, amazing and very sturdy, ‘slick’, push a good deal of air, beautiful color quality, easy to install, and overall the simplistic response was ‘buy them’.

Pccooler 120mm Fn Moonlight Series, PC-3M120 LED Computer Case Fan – PWM PC Cooling

This fan is boasted as one of the tops of the line in PC fans.  It is a full functioning PWM fan. The speed is able to be controlled and can go from 1000 to 1800+.  There are multi-colored LEDs that you can control including 6 colors going in rotation.  They simultaneously light up and follow a circle to chase the rotation.  Oil spillage and friction are reduced by the hydraulic bearing which will bring about noise reduction and keep up an efficient performance which leads to a longer life as well as the most consistent dissipation of heat. The cable for the fan is 60 cm long which is great for a majority of computer systems and ideal for gaming users.

FEATURES:

  • You can control the speed at 1000-1800+10% rpm. 
  • LED provide varying lighting effects including 7 different colors, 6 lighting modes, as well as streamer effects.
  • Shockproof pads allow no vibration while the fan is operating, 8 silicone pads.
  • Lifetime in 30,000 hrs for the hydraulic bearing for greater dissipation of heat and noise reduction.
  • 2-year manufacturer warranty

PROS: 

  • LED lighting show is phenomenal.
  • Easy installation.
  • Awesome quality for the price.
  • Long hydraulic bearing life.
  • Shockproof pads limit vibration.

CONS:

This comes with most products, not a negative, but working with the cables on this unit can be a bit tricky.  Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s suggestions in order to get your units to function the way you need them to.

PRICE:

The price for these fans as listed on Amazon run $38.99.

REVIEWS:

The best PC fans reviews on these units found a plethora of 5 * / 5 * ratings.  Folks loved these fans as they are quiet, efficient and effective at doing air control, heat dissipation, and the lighting is amazing.  The quality bars none, amazing, Some folks felt that these fans seemed to be carefully manufactured with fine details and attention to design.  The airflow is great, a tremendous value, and overall will be highly recommended.

CONCLUSION

It’s very important to take good care of your computer. Every detail can make or break whether it functions properly especially if it has too much heat happening.  If you’re using your computer aggressively and on a daily, hours at a time schedule, you need to take measures to make sure you are giving it the proper cooling components to help dissipate the amount of heat that its taking on.  Otherwise, you’re system is going to go up in smoke and along with it, take all of your work.

The best PC fans as reviewed on Amazon were bought and used by folks who work with their computers on a consistent and constant basis.  They know what is required to make their systems operate at top peak and they found these three options to be among the finest quality.  If you find that your computer is getting far too hot, you may want to try one of these selections as a solution.  It’ll save your computer in the long run.

The 3 Best Capture Card for PC Gaming To Buy

best capture card for gaming

A short introduction to the Best Capture Card for PC Gaming

Everyone wants the opportunity to show off their successes, right?  The same can be said for gaming play.  Capture cards can be used in recording gameplay videos that can later be uploaded to the Internet.  The card gives you the best chance for live streaming as well as transforming old DVDs into High Definition.  It can be an overwhelming task at times to determine which capture card is best suited for your gameplay. 

Many capture cards allow you to record play and have a webcam up simultaneously.  You can also use the card to edit videos with their basic editing features.  The cards are able to capture video signals from external devices using the HDMI connection.  This is especially efficient when using two different PC’s.  The capture card allows for easy transfer of data from one PC to the next. 

As with many options in the gaming industry, there are many capture cards to choose from.  We will look at three of the best capture cards for PC gaming.  We know that gamers who like to play at a competitive FPS rate while capturing, recording, and streaming all at the same time need a reliable card to get the job done.

If you are still trying to figure out if you need a capture card or not, some of the key capture card features include: assisting in high quality data streaming, use custom overlays for streaming to stand out amongst other streamers, streaming is lag-free with a very high-quality production value, and helps in the management and creation of video clip library, even on external storage.  If any of the above interests you, then you should check out three of the best capture cards for PC gaming.

The kind of capture card that you choose for your PC gaming will depend on the type of system that you have.  Some of the screen capture devices are geared towards recording rather than broadcasting footage.  Be sure to keep an eye out to make sure that you purchase the right card for your goals.  It is also important to keep a lookout for the interface that is provided.  You want to have software that is capable of handling programs like OBS or XSplit.  Once you have all of these ideas in mind, you are ready to shop around for the capture card that is most suited to your PC gaming interests.

Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro

The Elgato Game Capture received 4.1 stars out of 5 on Amazon and comes in at a price of $162.00.  The card allows you the opportunity to stream and record your Xbox, Nintendo Switch or Playstation gameplay.  There is also built-in live streaming for programs such as Twitch and Youtube with a capture bitrate of up to 60 Mbps. 

The HD60 Pro has optimum video capture with a dedicated encoding that will unlock your content with the highest caliber possible.  Unlimited capture provides you with the opportunity to treasure every detail.  No matter the tone or the texture, you will capture your videos at the highest possible quality.  While it is performing all of these tasks, it is helping to keep your project file sizes small and load on the CPU minimal.  And, the HD60 Pro has no problems when you want to bump up your resolution for a Youtube upload.  Master Copy provides you with the opportunity to steam to Twitch and record your gameplay in sharp quality.  Each element of your stream is saved as separate tracks that can be edited at any time.

Flashback recording gives you the opportunity to go back in time and capture some of your best moments.  A built-in live commentary adds your voice into the big game.  For your CPU, it requires Intel i5-4xxx quad-core or better.  The program works very hard to keep things as simple as possible for you so that you can focus on recording, playing, and streaming.

Customers have been extremely pleased with its ability to record gameplay with very clear audio.  Content creators will love this product because it permits you to record your screen while making a tutorial video on the PC.  They saw almost no glitches in the videos, which is a huge bonus for gamers. 

AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K

Amazon sells the AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K for $269.99 and it comes with a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.  It eloquently captures 4K HDR content while securing frames that capture up to 240 FPS.  In addition to capturing videos, you will be able to capture them in HDR for an even clearer distinction.

RGB lighting can be added to the mix to really made your card set stand out.  Three preset modes are available to for you to jazz up your Live Gamer 4K.  The Live Gamer is able to stream simultaneously to multiple platforms all while being the first gaming software to record HDR content.  Editing is no problem either as the bundled CyberLink PowerDirector 15 is packed full of features with intuitive 4K video editing to help you a standout amongst all your gaming friends.

Its guarantee of ultra-low latency is comforting to all gamers in knowing that their content is not going to get slowed down or interrupted.  You will be able to keep on playing, streaming, recording, and editing without any lags in the video.

Customers who purchased this item really enjoyed the quick plug and play feature that it presented.  Some systems may require a little bit more installation than just a plug and play, but the installation process is very simple.  The card allows gamers to play at higher levels without distortion.  Many people found the price to be extremely reasonable considering the high quality of the product.  Capturing images is simple and no scaler is needed.

Razer Ripsaw HD Game Streaming Capture Card

The Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card is priced at $159.99 on Amazon with 3.5 stars out of 5.  The goal of the capture card is to complement your designated streaming PC on console and PC setups.  It produces high-quality footage with sound audio, the gameplay will look exactly as you want it to look for your audience.

Full HD 1080p at 60 FPS makes this a powerful performing streaming device.  Users have full customization and control over the gaming setup.  Multiple audio services can easily be received while broadcasting microphone audio of both the game and the player.  They promise zero latency and no syncing delay.  In addition to being compatible with your PC, you can also use the card with PS4 and Xbox One.

Two HDMI ports, mic jack, and USB-C power provide you with all the essentials you need to get moving in the right direction.  You can connect your microphone across two PCs by connecting the microphone to a monitoring output.  It allows for a smooth flow between two PCs while allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.

Customers noticed a big difference between the old Razer’s with this one.  The old ones were cheap, but this new Razer is very durable and strong.  The 4K passthrough is amazing and allows you to enjoy 4K 60 FPS gaming.  Windows will download everything for you when you initially set up the program.  People really enjoy the cleaner look that the Razer Ripsaw provides and believe it’s a very worthwhile streaming capture card.

In Conclusion

All three gaming capture cards provide a vast array of differences to enhance your gaming play.  Each offers unique features that will provide you with choices in what type of capture card fits your niche.  Each of the three capture cards provide an all around experience that will be suitable for just about all gamers.  4K streaming is always a popular question gamers ask when deciding on a gaming capture card.  Since only the most expensive devices support 4K streaming, it is considered a luxury among gamers.  It is not a necessity and will increase the price if you decide to purchase that.

It is important to realize that many gaming consoles will advertise that they include game-capturing software, but in reality, the software is very limited.  You may be only able to capture a few minutes of footage.  This is a prime reason why people decide to look into purchasing capture cards.  They help take your content to a whole new level and make you look professional in your abilities.

They act as pass-through devices between your game console, your computer, and your display.  They ultimately enhance your gaming experience by allowing you the opportunity to gain confidence in your abilities and to show it off, professionally, to the rest of the world.  They can be on the more expensive side, but if you are truly into all the aspects of gaming, purchasing a gaming capture card is a must for all gamers.  Do your research and homework ahead of time to make sure that the card is compatible with your systems and that the card will complete the tasks that you intend it to.  The three listed above provide three great choices to start your search with.

The 3 Best External Hard Drivesv To buy in 2019

best external hard drive

A short introduction to the Best External Hard Drives

The best external hard drives for you will be based on what you will be using the hard drive for.  There are so many different varieties on the market in a multitude of sizes, shapes and price ranges.  Knowing what to get can at times become especially confusing, so you need to determine the purpose for buying it, how you’ll be using it, where you’ll be using it-under what conditions it will be kept.  Some folks may need an external hard drive that can take abuse where others just need one that will be kept in a safe, well-maintained area. 

The idea is to get an external hard drive that is actually bigger than what your anticipated usage may be. This is necessary as you don’t know what you may decide to use it for in the future. You want to be sure the unit you buy has plenty of storage for any potential content need possibilities and it doesn’t end up being too small somewhere down the road.  Also, if you have plans to upgrade your computer, you will want to buy an external hard drive with that notion in mind being prepared to have a unit that will go along with that upgrade.  Let’s take a look and see what the consumers on Amazon feel may be among the best external hard drives on the market.  They’ve used these units and can let us know how they operate.

Seagate Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD

This hard drive is boasted as an awesome option to use for expanding the storage of your computer.  It is super user friendly and intuitive.  It connects right into the USB port and allows you to just drag and drop your content that needs to be switched into the external hard drive with ease.  The Seagate offers a USB 3.0 port what gives quick moving of even larger capacity files and it is backward compatible using USB 2.0.  The storage with this unit is 8TB which will reasonably allow this device to backup all content from your computer. It is so simple that you just need to plug it in and start, no special programs need to be used.  It’s not harmful to leave it plugged in either in order to have access to your material always as you would with the internal hard drive. There are no complex configurations or difficult settings with this unit.  This can be used for added storage or for backup purposes and is able to be used with Windows 8, 10, 11.  The no-hassle, ease of use and reasonable price makes this a must-have for an external hard drive.

FEATURES:

  • 8TB of humongous storage allotted for music, movies, photos, or whatever you may need it for, and you can take it with you anywhere whether it be your office or at home or even a school library.
  • Windows or Mac computers external hard drive that you can use to back up quickly with simple drag/drop action.
  • Computer will automatically recognize once plugged in with absolutely no kind of software needed.  It’s the perfect PC drive or laptop hard drive.
  • USB 3.0 cable of 18” included along with a power adaptor of 18W.
  • One-year manufacturer’s warranty.

PROS

  • User friendly, easy set up.
  • Affordable.
  • Perfect compact size.
  • Tons of storage space.

CONS

  • Not really a con but you may need to get busy creating content in order to fill up all of this storage.

PRICE:

The price for this unit as listed on Amazon is $139.99.

REVIEWS:

The best external hard drives reviews came in with nearly all perfect scores for every category.  Folks love the tiny, compact size of this hard drive compared to the large amount of storage that it holds. It’s small but very powerful.  They found the set up to be so simple and usage to be even easier.  There were many who would highly recommend this to other users saying it works like a charm.  Others said an absolutely great purchase.  It doesn’t get in the way because it’s such a great size. They can buy/download games until their heart desires and still have a multitude of storage. Some said very nice, good choice, and overall they said they’d buy another one to backup their backup.

Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive

The Western Digital allows affordability and portable storage on the go.  You can take it wherever you need to have access to your files with you whether you’re at the library, the cafe, anywhere you want to set up shop you can transport this hard drive with ease. This unit offers dependability and storage of high capacity with a data transfer that is super fast.  This unit provides the latest USB 3.0 compatibility but it is also able to backward adjust to USB 2.0 for convenience.  Western Digital provides auto-backup software, hardware encryption, password protection, and shock resistance.  It is a small, lightweight design makes it the ideal companion on the desktop for staying out of the way.

FEATURES: 

  • USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0.
  • Data transfer is super quick.
  • Enhances the performance of PC.
  • WD quality is both high capacity as well as dependable.
  • Manufacturer offers a 2-year limited warranty
  • NTFS formatted to go with WIndows 10, 8.1 or 7.  Other operating systems may need to be reformatted.  Depending on the hardware, compatibility may differ based on configuration and operating system.

PROS:

  • Storage space amazing.
  • Easy setup.
  • User friendly.
  • Affordable.
  • USB 3.0 is backward compatible to 2.0.

CONS:

  • Make sure that you follow instructions when setting up and transferring so you get optimal results.  Not a con, but sometimes folks don’t follow instructions and have issues.

PRICE:

The price for this unit as listed on Amazon came in at $59.99.

REVIEWS:

The best external hard drives reviews for this unit were positive with folks being very happy with their purchase and the amount of storage capacity that this unit provides.  They definitely recommend it to others looking for a decent external hard drive.  One person bought two and is very happy. Small, lightweight, easily portable and awesome amount of capacity, love it, small and speedy, excellent piece of equipment, and overall big drive in a little space–much more than thought it would be.

Toshiba HDTB 410XK3AA Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0

The canvio basics offer a sleek, portable style that you can take anywhere with you and carry in a purse, backpack, lunch pail, briefcase with absolutely no problem.  You have the convenience of carrying your most important files wherever you go and gaining access at any point of the day whenever you need them with the simplicity and durability that this external hard drive offers. The unit provides high-capacity storage along with user-friendly setup and ease of use operation, not to mention fast access to the content that you have saved within the drive.  The Canvio Basics is powered by 3.0 USB, super speedy offering quick-moving and organizing of all of your files.  It allows for backward compatibility with USB 2.0 as well.  It provides an easy plug-in to play performance.  It is ready to use without any need to have software of any type.  Drag-drop files with your PC or laptop.

FEATURES:

  • Profile design is slick with black matte finish and resistance to smudges.
  • Plug in and ready to go, user-friendly with no need for software to be installed.
  • Gives added capacity to your PC as well as other devices that are compatible.
  • 2.0 USB backwards compatible without the need for an AC power cord.

One-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.

PROS:

  • User friendly.
  • Affordable.
  • Tons of storage.
  • Lightweight, small, portable.
  • Backwards compatible to 2.0 USB.

CONS:

– Not really a con, but if you carry it in your pocket, need to be careful it doesn’t slip out and get lost. 

PRICE:

The price for this unit on Amazon is $47.99.

REVIEWS

The best external hard drives reviews for this unit were excited about the price for the value that they received.  They feel it has excellent read/write performance, easy to use, compact size is perfect, love Toshiba, great to have for on the go, very wide compatibility range, ‘don’t know why didn’t buy sooner’,  and overall excellent product that works well with consoles.

CONCLUSION

Having one of the best external hard drives is important as our computers generally don’t give us enough space for the amount of content that we are producing in the world today.  There is just so much with a lot of us working from home nowadays and many, many gamers in the industry.  The reviewers on Amazon felt that these three were among the best and provided them with the most amount of storage for their present needs and will well into the future.  Hopefully, one of these will meet the requirements that you have as well.

The Best AMD Motherboard To Buy in 2019

best amd motherboard

How to pick the Best AMD Motherboard

Choosing the best AMD motherboard is the most important decision a gamer can make when doing a build. The motherboard is the foundation of the computer system. It comprises all of the other parts of the computer including things like the CPU, graphics card, as well as pretty much any other element that the computer will need in order to be at all operational.  If the motherboard becomes incapacitated, the PC cannot function without it, having to wait until the motherboard is repaired or a new one is installed in its place.  The dependability of the motherboard is essential for gamers doing a build to support their gaming, and gamers are super aggressive with their PCs generally playing daily and for long periods of time, so the motherboard needs to be able to handle that load.

It is critical when you buy your motherboard that you take into account everything that you will need to put into your build plus anything that you may want in the future.  You want to be prepared for any expansions or upgrades that you may have in mind down the road and account for those.  You don’t want to get simply enough and then find that you aren’t prepared when you need later. Amazon looked at the best AMD motherboards that their consumers rated after using them for a period of time.  The three listed here were among the top-ranked.

ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII

Control panel laid out in a dashboard-style allows fine-tuning with almost every respect of the system,  This interface will allow perfect balance within the operation as well as stability, cooling, and efficiency. Supported WiFi provides the ultimate in speeds for your network along with enhanced capacity and improved operation when in poor WiFi zones for the optimal in gaming use with wireless connection convenience. Performance is elevated with NVMe SSD RAID and up to 22110 with Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot support.  Use up to 2 PCIe 4.0 devices to make a RAID configuration in order to get the satisfaction of incredible transfer of data speed on the AMD Ryzen platform.  Features cooling options that are the most comprehensive. Autodetection of PWM, as well as DC fans, are supported by every onboard header. 

FEATURES

Offers AM4 socket. AMD Ryzen 2nd and 3rd Gen processors ready with upwards of 2 M.2 drives, 3.2 USB Gen2, AMD to maximize speed and connectivity.

Thermal comprehensive design, Heatsink active PCH, Aluminium M.2 heatsink, cooling zone ROG.

Networking of highest performance, WiFi onboard, Ethernet 2.5 gaps and Ethernet Gigabit bot with the protection of ASUS Languard, GameFirst V supported software.

System-wide automated tuning which provides cooling profiles and overclocking suited for your specific rig.

PROS

  • Good build quality.
  • WiFi capability.
  • Awesome cooling options.
  • Fast data transfer speeds.
  • User friendly.

CONS

This is not a con, but just informative.  Make sure this is going to be compatible with everything that you are using for your system prior to purchasing. Some didn’t look at every detail in that way.

PRICING:

The price for this AMD motherboard on Amazon was $379.99.

REVIEWS:

The best AMD motherboard reviews for this unit were 5 * / 5 *.  This board was well received with no issues and good quality being a major plus.  The one thing that the folks seemed to make sure of was that they did extensive research before they made a purchase because the motherboard is the be-all of the system.  They were very happy with the number of USB ports provided as well as the fact that there is WiFi with the unit.  It is powerful and offers M.2 slots.  Overall, awesome, love this board.

MSI Performance Gaming AMD X470

This is boasted as providing the best for online gaming with the least latency and managed bandwidth.  It supports Crossfire AMD gaming with no limit to the number of custom options available and loaded with features for gaming that are exclusive to this board. This motherboard is touted as giving the optimal experience in gaming for its users on the market.  It has been designed for those who are hardcore, aggressive gamers as well as PC enthusiasts. 

FEATURES:

  • AMD Ryzen supported.
  • Memory DDR4-3200+(OC) supported.
  • BIOS award-winning, high-resolution font that is scalable, search and favorites functions.
  • Offers the least latency and managed bandwidth for the best in online gaming with LAN protect.

PROS

  • Affordable for the value that is offered.
  • Easy installation.
  • Awesome BIOS.
  • Allows for expansion.

CONS

Not really a con because you can use the manufacturer’s directions but there is no color coding for audio jacks.  Easy to figure out, though.

PRICING:

The price for this unit as listed on Amazon was $127.99.

REVIEWS:

The best AMD motherboard reviews found this unit to be top rated in every category.  They felt it was a great value in a budget board with solid performance, works perfectly, flawless operation, lots of flexibility as to where you can place hookups, looks clean but sophisticated, wasn’t difficult to set up, super stable board, everything spaced out nicely, BIOS easy to work with, and overall this has been a fantastic board.

Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite

AORUS is boasted as offering the most extreme of gaming performances for gamers the world over.  This motherboard provides a lengthy list of awesome features in order to enhance users’ audio, performance, and data-transfer needs.  The performance of the AMD Ryzen processor is enabled through the advanced power and thermal design which makes this motherboard the ideal for those who want the perfect AMD gaming system platform. Gigabyte remembers durability in offering a thermal solution to the M.2 SSD/ M.2 Thermal Guard will stop throttling as well as bottlenecks with the high-speed M.2 SSDs while it dissipates the heat prior to it causing a problem.

FEATURES:

  • AMD 3rd Gen supported Ryzen and 2nd Gen/ Radeon Vega Graphic Processors.
  • Heatsink, extended VRM.
  • Dual NVMe and PCIe ultra-fast x4, Thermal Guard and M.2.
  • 12-phase VRM digital.

PROS:

  • Affordable for the great value.
  • Ultra cooling so no overheating.
  • Designed for gamers.
  • Simplistic.
  • Solid, durable board.

CONS:

– Always make sure when you buy your motherboard that you are getting more than what you need so that you are able to expand into the future.  This isn’t a con but just informative.  You don’t want to get just enough and then be stuck with not enough down the road.

REVIEWS:

The best AMD Motherboard reviews found 5 * / 5 * for this board with the first reviewer feeling that this offers a fantastically built 12 + 2 phase VRM, absolutely the best value for the price.  A really nice looking board than any seen, offers proper cooling which gives a great sense of security for the system, and overall none better than the Gigabyte X570.

CONCLUSION

Taking on building a computer can be a challenging prospect and deciding exactly where to start and how much you should invest and what are the most important elements are all questions that just nearly put a person on the edge. The first thing is to understand that getting the right equipment is going to make everything a whole lot easier and that is especially true with a gaming PC.  It is so much simpler to play and win a game if the PC is running at its optimal performance and top speed. 

The motherboard is going to be the PCs most important feature because obviously nothing will work without it. It is basically the control center of the computer. It will further decide the number of upgrades and expansions that you will be able to perform in the future. This decision is one that you need to put a lot of time, though, and research into so that you get the very best for your needs and that of your computer system.  You don’t need to spend a fortune on your board.  There are good boards for reasonable prices and your money is better invested in other aspects such as the graphics card and the CPU cooler.

Each one of the three selections that were listed here has the potential to be the best AMD motherboard as the folks that reviewed them were all PC enthusiasts or gamers and found them to be of the top quality on the market.  They did an amazing job for what they needed them for and provided beyond their requirements.  These are the people that you want to listen to when making a purchase of this importance.  They know what they’re talking about and this should be where your search begins.

HyperX Cloud Alpha Review: Pro’s & Con’s

HyperX Cloud Alpha

A short intro to the HyperX Cloud Alpha

Gaming is all the rage these days and quality headsets are a must.  There needs to be strong sound quality and a microphone that allows users to communicate with each other throughout the game.  It is imperative that the headphones are able to block out external noise so that the gamer can maximize their gaming experience.

When making a decision to purchase a headset, there are many factors that the consumer should keep in mind.  The first area that many people will focus on is price.  The HyperX Cloud Alpha costs around $89.00, which is in line with the average price of a solid headset.

The next key decision to make is what kind of platform you will be using the headsets for. The good news is that the HyperX Cloud Alpha is compatible with all of the major systems.  It can be used with your PC, PS4, PS4 Pro, Xbox One, and Xbox One S.  Not every headset is compatible with all of these systems, so it is important to know exactly what you need out of the headset.

Features

Comfort is of the utmost importance for gamers.  Most gamers will spend several hours in front of screen playing games.  If they have to wear headsets that are not comfortable, they are not going to be able to enjoy the full experience.  Gamers want to have earpieces that contour to their ears and will provide comfort and a seal from outside noise.  The HyperX Cloud Alpha has dual-chamber drivers that will give your audio more distinction and clarity by reducing outside noise and distortion.   Known for its signature red memory foam earpieces, the HyperX Cloud Alpha delivers with comfort and an expanded headband.

Microphone quality is next on the list of important components of a reliable headset.  The microphones provide clarity when speaking so that other users that you are playing with can clearly understand what you are trying to say.  This is a huge component of many games and users enjoy having the ability to talk with their friends or other gamers throughout their battles.  The HyperX Cloud Alpha comes with a detachable noise-cancellation microphone.  Gamers can easily plugin or unplug, depending on what they are using the headset for.  The microphone frequency response is 50-18,000Hz, which is very solid frequency response.

Finally, there is a huge focus on sound quality.  More and more games are being made with an emphasis on the sound effects that they include.  Players want to be able to hear every little footstep and crackling noise that the game has to offer.  A good headset allows gamers the ability to hear the game exactly as it was designed to be heard.  The dual chambers provided in the HyperX Cloud Alpha separate the bass for a cleaner and smoother sound.  They also give the audio more distinction and clarity by reducing distortion.  Its groundbreaking design is one of a kind and one that users will clearly be able to reap the benefits from.

You will have many options to choose from when purchasing a gaming headset.  But, based on the specifications many people look for in a headset, the HyperX Cloud Alpha really delivers in all areas.  With over a thousand reviews on Amazon, the HyperX Cloud Alpha received four out of five stars.  The headsets are easily customizable with additional HyperX software.  Its durable steel frame creates a longer-lasting product that can withstand the test of time.

Throughout many phases, the HyperX Cloud Alpha will offer limited edition colors.  The latest features a purple and white colorway.  Otherwise, your headset will come with a black and red colorway or a blue and black variety.  All three-color schemes make the product look very sleek and eye-appealing to all gamers.

As mentioned above, the pricing is right in line with most other headsets.  On Amazon, used prices can run as low as $58.51 to $61.84.  New headsets range from $89.00 to $138.  The prices will vary even more if you choose to go with the blue or the purple color.  They will be raised slightly if you choose one of them.

The HyperX Cloud Alpha is widely recognized for its groundbreaking, Dual Chamber Drivers design, which gives users more audio distinction and clarity.  They help to separate the bass from the mids and the highs, allowing for a much cleaner sound.  And, it is sturdy enough to handle multiple players using it and adjusting to fit their head size.

Customers have raved about the HyperX Cloud Alpha.  One customer commented on the quality they received for its price point.  That customer was extremely pleased with the comfort the headset provided them.  Another customer commented on the fact that they were the most comfortable headset ever.  They said that the headset felt extremely light and tight on the ears to really engulf the sound. 

Many of the customers were comparing the HyperX Cloud Alpha headsets to other headsets that they have used in the past.  Most commented on the fact that this headset was much better compared to a lot of the more expensive options out there.  The microphone quality was a common compliment that was given.  The ability to fully hear and understand what others were saying was extremely noticeable.

If you are not a gamer, you don’t realize the importance of such a quality headset.  Customers go through tons of headsets during their gaming days, but the HyperX Cloud Alpha headset seemed like the one that people kept and used the most.  People commented on how great the sound was if you added an amp with the headset.  They said the quality of the sound was very enhanced and you felt like you were right in the middle of the fire zone.  Customers felt as though they could hear directional noises well with front, rear, left, and right footsteps coming in clearly.  And, for gamers, having the ability to hear what is going on around them cannot be understated enough.

One review on Amazon was not thrilled with the ear cushions.  HyperX Cloud Alpha immediately responded to the customer and sent them a new set of ear cushions with thicker inner padding.  This shows that HyperX Cloud Alpha is committed to quality products and wants to see all of their customers happy.  This is a definite plus for any gamers who are looking for security when it comes to their headsets.  HyperX Cloud Alpha wants to produce the best headsets for gamers because they understand the importance of what a good headset can do to the gaming experience.

The ability to mute the microphone and switch the volume with ease was praised by customers.  And, even better, they liked that the microphone cord was removable and replaceable in the event that something happened to it.  Nobody wants to have to purchase a whole new headset for minor problems. 

Another customer even mentioned the fact that they have never made a review on Amazon before but were compelled to share their positive experience with the headset.  As with almost every review, comfort was praised.  They mentioned that the ear cups were soft and easily usable, even for people who wear glasses.  The customer also felt that the cups ventilated well because they never experienced any heat while playing for a prolonged period of time.  The sounds were crisp and easily distinguishable.  The directionality was spot on and the customer was able to know where everyone was that were involved in the game.  The braided cable also provided a safety feature to keep the headset from breaking or ripping.  The removable microphone allows the user the ability to listen to music when it’s removed and then be allowed to quickly switch it back to their PC or gaming system when involved in a game. 

It was very easy to see why the HyperX Cloud Alpha has received so much praise.  And, what stood out the most was how consistent everyone was with their reviews.  They tended to comment on the exact same things to really drive home the point that this is one of the most quality headsets available to gamers.  Between the price and the quality of the product, the HyperX Cloud Alpha was not matched for other headsets. 

When gaming first gained popularity, headsets were seen as a luxury item.  Nowadays, it is a necessity to increase your experience and ability to compete with others.  Gamers today really focus on the noises and sound effects that are coming from the game and quality headsets that can block out external noise is really important.  Surround sound and being able to track where people are coming from can be the difference between life and death to a gamer. 

Finally, having a good headset helps people socialize.  With social media, people today are not learning how to properly communicate with one another.  Having a headset with the quality that HyperX Cloud Alpha provides helps to teach people how to effectively communicate directions to one another.  Communicating with other people would not be possible without the effectiveness that headsets bring.

Conclusion

There are many expensive options out there for you, but for the price and the quality, HyperX Cloud Alpha is the way to go to enhance your gaming experience

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Choosing the Best G Sync Monitor in 2019

best G Sync Monitor

The Best G Sync Monitor To Buy

If you love gaming, it is only natural that you want to enjoy the best gaming experience possible, However, in the past, this has not always been easy due to a range of issues that resulted in substandard quality for gamers. There are various aspects you have to look at when it comes to getting the most out of your gaming experience, one of which is the monitor.

Created by Nvidia, G Sync monitors have become ab absolute essential for those that want to enjoy the best gaming experience. There are various options available, and by finding the best G Sync monitor, you can look forward to a smooth on-screen experience whenever you are gaming. All you need to do is decide one the best G Sync monitor for your specific needs. In this guide, we will look at several of the top options to help you with your decision.

The Top G Sync Monitor Options

There are various options available to those who want to find the best G Sync monitor for the most explosive and exciting gaming experience. Some of the top picks include:

Dell Gaming Monitor S2417DG 24-Inch with G-Sync

If you want to find the best G Sync monitor at an affordable price, this monitor from Dell could be the ideal solution. This Dell gaming monitor is available in 24-inch and 27-inch models and offers QHD resolution. This means that the clarity you get is stunning with almost twice the screen detail of full HD. For those that want to enjoy a fabulous gaming experience, this is the perfect option.

Features

This gaming monitor offers a range of features to help you to make the most of your gaming. It comes with a number of pre-set modes, which makes it simple and convenient to match up to the right mode based on the genre of the game you are playing. The screen is a flicker-free one, which means that you won’t have to worry about eye strain and discomfort while playing. You can also adjust the monitor in terms of pivoting and tilting, which means you get to benefit from ergonomic comfort while you are playing your favorite games.

In addition to this, the monitor comes with Nvidia G Sync technology and offers the quickest refresh rate available with a 1ms response time. With its GHD resolution, you can be certain of crystal-clear graphics no matter what sort of game you are playing. With the increased comfort levels that you get with this monitor, you can enjoy gaming for even longer. Thanks to the high-performance visuals, you will be able to look forward to a new lease of life when it comes to your gaming entertainment.

Another thing to bear in mind is that this monitor comes with a super-slim bezel, which makes it easy for you to benefit from a dual or multiple monitors set up to further boost your gaming experience. The customizable settings will help to ensure you get to enjoy gaming just the way you like it, with experiences that are tailored to suit your individual needs and preferences. In terms of comfort, clarity, and affordability, this is a great choice for gaming enthusiasts.

Pros

  • Affordable pricing
  • Super-slim design
  • Excellent range of features
  • High specification including G Sync

Cons

  • There are no notable cons with this monitor.

Summary

The superb performance that you can look forward to with this monitor means you won’t have to worry about ghost images, stuttering, or screen tearing. You also won’t have to worry about lagging, which can further enhance your enjoyment while gaming. Instead, you can enjoy speedy, real-time play that will take your gaming to a whole new level.

LG 32GK850G-B 32-Inch QHD Gaming Monitor

For those that want a slightly larger monitor on which to enjoy their favorite games, this model from the respected tech manufacturer LG is a great choice. While it comes at a higher price than the previous one, it does offer the bigger screen along with a wide range of features and benefits to look forward to. When you use this monitor, you can see your games come to live with the crystal-clear images and QHD resolution LG integrates into the model.

Features

With this monitor, you benefit from 2460 x 1440 resolution and it is Nvidia G Sync compatible, which means you can look forward to a faster, more immersive gaming experience with screen tearing, ghost images, and lagging. It also has a 144Hz refresh rates, so you will be able to enjoy a much smoother game and you will really notice the difference compared to the traditional monitors you may have been using previously.

Another great thing you get with this monitor is LED sphere lighting, which you can then adjust with a range of different colors and light modes. This will further enhance your gaming experience and enables you to customize the lighting to suit your needs and preferences. This monitor comes with a variety of additional features such as dynamic action sync for superior action as well as Black stabilizer to provide greater clarity in scenes that are dark. There is also the Crosshair feature, which is ideal for improving accuracy if you enjoy first-person shooter gaming.

You can look forward to stylish design with this monitor, which comes with an ultra-thin bezel. It can also be adjusted to ensure maximum comfort while you are playing your games, with adjustable pivot and tilt. You will also benefit from an almost borderless and seamless visual display if you opt for a dual or multi-screen setup thanks to the ultra-thin bezel.

Pros

  • Larger screen
  • Customizable lighting
  • Lots of cool features
  • Ideal for all sorts of gaming genres

Cons

  • With this monitor, there are no cons that we could find.

Summary

For those who are serious about gaming and who want to take their gaming experience to the next level, this monitor ticks all the boxes. You can look forward to the peace of mind that comes with using a monitor from a respected manufacturer and you will notice a big difference in terms of quality, comfort, and enjoyable when it comes to your gaming. With this monitor, you can look forward to superior, smooth gaming each and every time.

ViewSonic XG2560 25-Inch G Sync Gaming Monitor

With this stylish, high-tech gaming monitor, you will really notice the difference when it comes to the quality and enjoyment of your game play. This is a monitor that comes with a range of features and also ensure you get to benefit from total comfort when you are enjoying your favorite games. With many excellent reviews, you can purchase with confidence when you opt for this monitor. You can also select from a range of other screen sizes including 27- and 32-inch options.

When you choose this monitor, you can look forward to full HD with 1080p resolution along with a rapid 1ms response time and a 240Hz refresh rate. All this coupled with Nvidia G Sync technology means you can look forward to a gaming experience that is smooth, fast, free from ghost images and screen tearing, lag-free, and superior in every way. The crystal-clear images will make your gameplay all the more immersive and exciting.

The ergonomic stand that comes with this monitor means you can adjust it to ensure optimal comfort when you are playing. This not only means you can look forward to playing in greater comfort but also that you can look forward to playing for longer. There are many superb pre-set visual mode options you can select from too, which means you can truly customize your gameplay to suit your preferences. This gaming monitor offers superb quality and speed, which means it can keep up with the instant decisions and actions you need to use when playing.

Pros

  • Choice of monitor sizes
  • Ergonomic design for comfort
  • High-spec design for superior gaming
  • Feature-rich monitor

Cons

  • We could find no cons in relation to this monitor

Summary

Other features you get with this monitor include Black stabilization to improve detail when there are darker scenes, Game Mode Hotkey, and Ultra Low Motion Blur Technology. All this adds up to a gaming experience like no other, so you truly can enjoy the next level in gaming when you use this monitor. In addition, you will benefit from a 3-year warranty, which enables you to benefit from even greater peace of mind.

The Bottom Line

No matter which of these G syncs monitors you decide to choose, you will immediately notice a huge difference compared to the regular monitor you may have been using. These monitors all offer adaptability, versatility, and high specifications, which means you can look forward to a superior gaming experience each and every time. For those who love to game, these monitors will enable you to take your gaming entertainment to the next level. Customizing your gaming has never been easier thanks to the high-tech features that these monitors can provide.