Sony A7S II Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Review — The Low Light Beast Rises Once More

101It seems like everyone is into cameras nowadays. Some are making a living out of it while others are just looking to take the best shots for their VSCO grid or Instagram. One of the biggest pains in photography is low light.
You’ll either have a picture that will let you barely see anything or see everything but with some weird grains as if you were watching TV about half a century ago. However, there is one that stood above the rest. Above other mirrorless cameras and even above DSLRs, that’s what we’re taking a look at today.
Sony A7S II: The Low Light Beast

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

When the world saw the release of the Sony A7 II, most people were already wondering if there was going to be a newer version of the infamous low light beast. After all, the in-body image stabilization of the A7 II is it’s prowess. It makes shooting a hell of a lot easier, and that can really help with low light photography and potentially omit the need for a tripod.
The Sony A7S has been known for a number of years to be an excellent camera for low light and high ISO shoots. The ‘S’ in the A7S stands for ‘Sensitivity’ and it’s not exactly meant for everyone. After all, it’s a 12.2 megapixel shooter, and you’ve definitely seen plenty of other Sony cameras with more than 20 megapixels, but this is still a full-frame camera nonetheless.
What’s the point of it being reduced to 12 megapixels compared to its 2 other brothers? Well, unlike the Sony A7R II which has a 42 megapixel sensor to capture massive amounts of details and the A7 II being the middle point of the A7S II and the A7R II, the A7S II does the opposite of what the A7R II is doing in order to have massive improvements in low light performance.

Together with the Sony A7S II, Sony has given us the FE 85mm F1.4 GM for us to use together with the camera. The 85mm is gonna make it tricky for regular shots but since it’s an F1.4 lens, I know I’m gonna have fun taking some hipster shots with shallow depth of field everywhere I go.
What You Need to Know

The Sony A7S II has a crazy ISO range of 50 – 409,600, internal 4K video recording capabilities with full pixel readout without pixel binning in full-frame format, Full HD 120fps and 4x/5x slow motion recording, gamma assist display, time code and optional XLR audio inputs.
And just like the Sony A7 II, the A7S II also has the 5-axis image stabilisation system, and BIONZ X image processor. Furthermore, there’s a silent image capture mode, continuous shooting rate of 5fps, and an enhanced auto focus system with 169 AF points which can operate down to light levels as low as EV -4.

The A7S II also features a dust/moisture-resistant magnesium alloy body, 0.78x magnification XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, tiltable 3-inch LCD screen, and NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity. Everything looks fantabulous just by looking at this but honestly, I wished that they’d use a fully articulating screen instead. It’s a minor issue for me but it might not be the same for others.
The Sony A7S II is a mirrorless camera and not a DSLR. This means that it’s smaller and lighter than most DSLRs out there. According to our scale, it weighs in at 646g. However, it gets ridiculously heavy when you pair it together with the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens, which weighs in at 845g. Combine it and you’ll get 1.49kg to lug around, which sorta beats the purpose of having a mirrorless.
Even with that said, the Sony A7S II is a beast in its own league, as its performance is better than a lot of DSLRs out there. You’ll see it for yourself in just a bit.
Ease of Use

The Sony A7S II is a sturdy piece of machinery. It doesn’t feel like it was cheaply made but I suppose that’s what happens when you use a magnesium allow body. The body’s design makes it easy to grip the camera without feeling like it’s about to fall to the floor and have you crying for destroying an expensive camera.
The power on switch is at the same position as the shutter button. It’s most likely designed this to save on space as this is a mirrorless camera. There are 4 dials on the Sony A7S II, one to select the camera mode (aperture priority, manual mode, etc.), one to adjust exposure, and the other 2 that you can set yourself via the settings menu. Since I’m using the FE 85mm F1.4 GM, I don’t need to have 1 dial to adjust the aperture so I ended up having the remaining 2 used for adjusting shutter speed and ISO.

The Fn (function) button doubles as a Wi-Fi button letting you connect to a smartphone over Wi-Fi or NFC if your smartphone features it. You can add additional features to the camera using Sony PlayMemories apps, with apps available for free or alternatively for a fee.
As a former user of the Sony RX100 MK III, the settings menu is largely the same on the Sony A7S II, so it’s pretty straightforward for me. Whether you need to switch region settings, change resolutions for images and videos, or connect the camera to your smartphone, everything can be done and it’s generally not an issue.
That is, unless you’ve come from a camera that utilizes touchscreen and you’re familiar with the Sony camera’s user interface, in which case, it might be a bit frustrating. But, if you take the time to learn about it, you’ll get used to it in no time. After all, the Sony menu system is clearly laid out and easy to use. Everything you need is there, you just need a bit more time with it.
Connectivity

Just like many other Sony cameras you see today, you can connect the Sony A7S II to other devices with the use of Wi-Fi. You can even connect to your smartphone to transfer some photos over. However, you’ll need to use the PlayMemories Mobile app in order to do that.

From there, you can choose to either the select the photos you want via your smartphone or the camera itself. With the app, you can also install some applications for your camera which will give some added functions but there’s really nothing vital that you would need that camera can’t do.

And the other thing that the app allows you to do is to use your smartphone as a remote view/control. This will be helpful since the Sony 7S II doesn’t have a fully articulating screen. If you ever need to record yourself and there’s no one around to help, this feature is a lifesaver.

To make connecting to other devices easier, you can use NFC for a faster way of pairing the devices. You’ll still end up using the Wi-Fi anyway, and it’s more of an easier way to connect without filling the password and what not. I actually had a hard time with this as it doesn’t seem to connect easily with my phone. I had to several times to get it done but since it was this painful, I just didn’t bother with it anymore.
The Sony A7S II has a MicroUSB out for transferring photos and a Micro HDMI out to connect with external displays. Since it’s capable of clean HDMI output, you can connect to external recorders or capture cards and record videos from there. It’ll be like having a really high-end webcam for professional streamers.
Regular Day Shots with the Sony A7S II
I’ve taken quite a number of shots with the Sony A7S II, with the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens of course. Most of them were from Comic Fiesta 2016 at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, with just a couple from elsewhere. I’ve also listed the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO used for each picture so you’ll know what settings I’ve used.
On an added note, I’ve used the ‘Vivid’ creative profile as I feel that it makes the pictures captured by the camera look better but that’s just my opinion.
ISO 2500, f/1.4 aperture, 1/8000 sec shutter speed
ISO 2500, f/2 aperture, 1/400 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/2 aperture, 1/160 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/500 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/500 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/4 aperture, 1/30 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/4 aperture, 1/60 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/5 aperture, 1/2000 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/5 aperture, 1/160 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.7 aperture, 1/125 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.7 aperture, 1/400 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.7 aperture, 1/80 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.7 aperture, 1/250 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.7 aperture, 1/200 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.7 aperture, 1/200 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/125 sec shutter speed
All of the pictures were taken by hand, no tripod, monopods, or stabilizers used. I have to say that it’s very easy to shoot with the Sony A7S II. Especially with focus peaking, it easily tells me what is currently being focused in the frame.
While experts will not need to use Zebra or focus peaking to get a nice shot, not everyone can do the same, and focus peaking definitely helps. Since touchscreen is not available in here, focus peaking is probably the beginner’s saving grace in getting the subject to focus.
One thing’s for sure, I’m impressed by how easy it is to get an awesome picture with this camera.
Night Shots with the Sony A7S II
Now for what the Sony A7S II excels in, when there’s not much light around. I decided to take a picture at night here from our office building with the camera mounted on a tripod.
I used Aperture Priority mode to determine the necessary shutter speed needed and adjusted the ISO from the lowest all the way to the max possible ISO. Aperture is constant in all picture at f/1.4. Enjoy the view:
ISO 50, f/1.4 aperture, 1 sec shutter speed
ISO 100, f/1.4 aperture, 0.4 sec shutter speed
ISO 200, f/1.4 aperture, 1/5 sec shutter speed
ISO 400, f/1.4 aperture, 1/10 sec shutter speed
ISO 640, f/1.4 aperture, 1/15 sec shutter speed
ISO 1000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/25 sec shutter speed
ISO 1600, f/1.4 aperture, 1/40 sec shutter speed
ISO 3200, f/1.4 aperture, 1/80 sec shutter speed
ISO 6400, f/1.4 aperture, 1/160 sec shutter speed
ISO 10000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/250 sec shutter speed
ISO 16000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/400 sec shutter speed
ISO 25600, f/1.4 aperture, 1/640 sec shutter speed
ISO 40000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/1000 sec shutter speed
ISO 64000, f/1.4 aperture, 1/1600 sec shutter speed
ISO 102400, f/1.4 aperture, 1/2500 sec shutter speed
ISO 204800, f/1.4 aperture, 1/5000 sec shutter speed
ISO 409600, f/1.4 aperture, 1/8000 sec shutter speed
As you can see from ISO 50 to ISO 1600, the pictures look great. In ISO 3200, you can start to see a little noise in the night sky but it’s still not bad. Even at ISO 10000, the areas that are lit well still look awesome while the dark areas become grainy.
The pictures start going real bad from ISO 64000 onwards, with everything looking grainy. The picture taken with maximum ISO at 409600 makes it look like someone trying to take a picture at night with a cameraphone in the 1990s. It’s just that bad but no one utilizes ISO that high for taking pictures anyway.
Conclusion
The Sony A7S II, as well as the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens, is clearly not catered for everyone. Some professionals may require more than 12 megapixels for work purposes while others may not need that high of a resolution. It’s an easy to use camera that anyone can use, especially if they’re familiar with Sony’s interface but the price tag itself will scare a lot of people away.
I’m also a believer that in order to get a good picture, a good lighting is necessary so don’t focus too much on having a camera with superb low-light capabilities. The next best thing to this camera that is more pocket-friendly and well-rounded would be the Sony A7II. If you know for a fact that you’ll be doing a lot of low-light shots, this will be the camera for you…if you can afford its asking price.
I want to do more with this camera, like video for instance but with the lack of the kit/zoom lens, it’s kinda tough to do that. The only hiccup I had with this camera is the fact that it’s hard to connect with my phone via NFC. An articulating screen would be nice but not everyone needs it I suppose. With that, I award the Sony A7S II with our Silver Pokdeward!

Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Acer Predator Gaming Chair x OSIM Pre-Orders Are Now Open in Malaysia

Previously, we reported about the Acer Predator Gaming x OSIM, the massage gaming chair hybrid, during the [email protected] global launch event a few months ago. If you were one of the people excited to get your hands on it, pre-orders for the chair are now open in Malaysia.
Pre-Orders for Acer Predator Gaming Chair x OSIM Now Open in Malaysia

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The Acer Predator Gaming Chair x OSIM went quiet after the initial reveal at the [email protected] global launch event. Now, it has been revealed that the massage gaming chair hybrid will be made available sometime in late October 2020. It will also be retailing for RM4,899.
However, if you pre-order it anytime from now until 20th September 2020, you can get the chair at half the price, which is RM2,399. Moreover, the first 100 pre-orders will be getting the OSIM uVision 3 Eye Massager free of charge.
The pre-order for the Acer Predator Gaming Chair x OSIM will be available exclusively online, so you can’t do that at a physical store. This is particularly helpful given that we still do have the pandemic to worry about. If you’re interested to pre-order, you can head on over to the official OSIM Malaysia website by clicking right here.
Source
Pokdepinion: I do want one but I definitely can’t afford it. It’s gonna be so comfortable to game on that.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Neffos X1 is officially launched in Malaysia — Prices start at RM 769

Neffos is a subsidiary brand of TP-Link, which is a well-known name in networking products officially launched its Neffos X1 and Neffos X1 Max smartphones today in Malaysia. The first announcement was on September 2016, offering unparalleled value to users to stay closer to everything and everyone around them.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The Neffos X1 features a 5″ 720p IPS display, while the Neffos X1 Max sports a more expansive 5.5″ 1080p IPS display. The Neffos X1 Max has slim bezels at 2.75mm, while the smaller Neffos X1 has 2.95mm ones. Both are also incredibly thin, with the Neffos X1 Max being a mere 7.75mm and the Neffos X1 comes in at 7.95mm. Both devices share the MediaTek Helio P10 chipset, paired with up to 3GB of RAM for Neffos X1, while the Neffos X1 Max packs up to 4GB of RAM.

Camera wise the two Neffos X devices are also equal, with 13 MP rear cameras with an f/2.0 aperture and 5 MP front cameras. The bigger device packs a 3000 mAh, while the smaller of the two comes with a 2250 mAh. Both feature fingerprint scanners on the back, and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. The Neffos X1 is now available in Cloudy Grey and Sunrise Gold color, Neffos X1 is priced at RM769 (2GB/16GB), RM849 (3GB/32GB) meanwhile the bigger Neffos X1 Max priced at RM999 (3GB/32GB), RM1199 (4GB/64GB) and will be hit the stores in March 2017.

In addition, an exclusive online promotion will be launched on Lazada.com, where the first 50 buyers will have the opportunity to own the Neffos X1 2GB RAM with 16GB internal storage in Cloudy Greay color along with a bundle Groovi Bluetooth speaker worth RM159, a phone case and screen protector.

For more details regarding the Neffos X1 please click here, Neffos X1 Max here and their official facebook page at Neffos Malaysia.
Specifications:

Device
Neffos X1
Neffos X1 Max

OPERATING SYSTEM
Android 6.0, Marshmallow
Android 6.0, Marshmallow

DIMENSIONS
142 x 71 x 7.95mm
152 x 76 x 7.85mm

PROCESSOR
64-bit octa-core 1.80 GHz CPU
64-bit octa-core 2.00 GHz CPU

STORAGE
Up to 32GB with microSD Card support (up to 128GB)
Up to 64GB with microSD Card support (up to 128GB)

MEMORY (RAM)
Up to 3GB
Up to 4GB

DISPLAY
5.5-inch HD (1280 x 720p)
5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080p)

BATTERY
2250 mAh
3000 mAh

REAR CAMERA
13MP PDAF
13MP PDAF

FRONT CAMERA
5MP
5MP

SIM CARD
Dual nano SIM
Dual nano SIM

AUTHENTICATION
Fingerprint reader
Fingerprint reader

BASE COLOR
Cloudy Grey, Sunrise Gold
Cloudy Grey, Sunrise Gold

Price (RM)
 RM 769 (2GB/16GB) RM 849 (3GB/32GB)
 RM 999 (3GB/32GB) RM 1199 (4GB/64GB)

Pokdepinion: The Neffos X1 not only have a nice-looking design but its specifications is quite decent for a device with the price tag.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Not sure what games to buy for yourself right now? Well, here’s our picks of the 5 best games to look out for this July 2018.
Pokde Picks: 5 Awesome Games to Look Out For in July 2018
Warhammer: Vermintide 2

The sequel to Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is a first-person action game set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe during the early days of the apocalyptic End Times. Following the events of the previous game, antagonist Grey Seer Rasknitt has captured the 5 Heroes of Ubersreik.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

This led to the construction of the Skittergate portal in place of the Ubersreik remnants, which will allow the Chaos Champion Bödvarr Ribspreader and his Rotblood army easy access to the border-city of Helmgart. However, the portal failed to activate and the resulting destruction frees one of the 5 Ubersreik heroes, Markus Kruber. Thus began his journey to reunited with the rest and save their beloved home.

Fun fact, the End Times in Warhammer: Vermintide 2 refers to an apocalyptic event which ended in the destruction of the Warhammer World. This game, as well as its predecessor, serve as an explanation as to how the world ended up being destroyed.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 will be coming to the Xbox One on 11th July 2018, with a PlayStation 4 release coming later this year.
Octopath Traveler

Developed with a nostalgic adventuring experience in mind, Octopath Traveler is a role-playing game with high-definition 2D visuals that is mixed together 16-bit Super Nintendo character sprites and textures with polygonal environments and high-definition effects. The game puts players in the role of 1 of 8 adventurers, each with their own unique journey.
Each adventurer has their own unique ability that can be used when interacting with NPCs that give players a unique experience with each playthrough. For example, Olberic can challenge characters to battle against him, while Primrose can allure characters to follow her, allowing her to summon them during battles. The game features a classic turn-based combat system, in which the player can attack using different kinds of weapons or elemental attacks, as well as use abilities and items.

Fun fact, Octopath Traveler is one of the few games in today’s age that has no downloadable content planned. The producer of the game, Masashi Takahashi, went on record to mention that “the product version is the finished product” and that gamers can enjoy the full experience without paying extra.
Octopath Traveler will be coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch on 13th January 2018.
Mega Man X Collection 1 and 2

Another nostalgia trip by Capcom, the Mega Man X Collection 1 and 2 are comprised of every single game ever released in the Mega Man X series, from X1 all the way to X8. This will let players relive their memories of playing as the legendary Blue Bomber as well as let new fans learn what all the hype was about in the past.
The compilation is split between 2 discs, each disc being sold as if it’s a standalone game. As a bonus, the collection will feature additional goodies such as merchandise, illustration, as well as The Day of Σ animation which details the events that led to antagonist Sigma rebelling against humanity.

Fun fact, while many consider the Mega Man X Collection 1 and 2 as a simple remastered compilation, it does introduce some new content. The first is the X Challenge Mode, which will have its own story and showcase the boss enemies from several different eras of the series. The most interesting part is that this mode will introduce a brand new armour type has not appeared in the series thus far.
 The Banner Saga 3

The final dramatic chapter in the series, The Banner Saga 3 is a Viking-themed role-playing game where the story will be shaped heavily depending on the choices you have in the series thus far. In this game, the Darkness has come close enough to breath down your neck and it will gradually take hold of anything everything you’ve come to know.
Unlike in previous entries however, it is finally time for you to come face the mysterious Darkness once and for all. In order to do that, you will be fighting on two fronts, one to hold off Darkness’s advance while also buying time for the other caravan and the other caravan en route to the heart of Darkness.

Fun fact, The Banner Saga 3 will have multiple endings based on your achievements in the game. Co-founder of the game’s development studio, Arnie Jorgensen, mentioned that aside from absolute victory, it is possible to progress with only one of the two caravans succeeding, thus leading players to a different ending.
The Banner Saga 3 will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 24th July 2018.
 Sonic Mania Plus

A tribute to Sega’s golden age of gaming, Sonic Mania Plus is a platformer game and an expanded version of the original Sonic Mania game. After saving Angel Island, Sonic and Tails discovered a sudden dimensional breach with readings as powerful as the Chaos Emeralds. At the same time, antagonist Dr. Eggman theorized that the breach may be a source of unspeakable power and sends his minions to retrieve it.
It is now up to Sonic and Tails to not only figure out what is behind this breach, but to also thwart Dr. Eggman’s plans for world domination once again. Sonic Mania Plus introduces 2 new playable characters, Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Also added in this iteration are Angel Island as a brand new Zone and Encore Mode, which revolves around remixed Zones with changes in aesthetics and gimmicks.

Fun fact, Sonic Mania Plus was meant to be a digital-only game but due to high demand, the developers released physical copies of the game as well. To compensate for the higher price of physical copies, added new content to the game in the form of the 2 new characters and Encore Mode.
Sonic Mania Plus will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 17th July 2018.
And that is all for our picks of top upcoming games to look out for in July 2018. There may not be much blockbuster releases for this month but these are some solid entries nonetheless. There will be a number of major releases in the coming months but for now, you will have to sink your teeth into these games if you’re looking for something new to play. One thing’s for sure unless you’re into the genre of the game, you will not regret playing any of these games.
Pokdepinion: What do you think of the list? These are just some of the games I’m either eyeing or already playing right now. It might not seem much but believe me when I say, we’re gonna have a lot of interesting games come September 2018 ;)
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Cooler Master Announces the MasterKeys Pro L & Pro M — with intelligent white LEDs, Priced at RM 449 & RM 409

Cooler Master today announced the immediate availability of both the MasterKeys Pro L and Pro M with Intelligent White LEDs here in Malaysia. The MasterKeys Pro White LEDs series provides a crisp, clearer white that an RGB keyboard cannot deliver. The keyboard also comes with multiple LED lighting modes, on-the-fly macros, profile support, and CHERRY MX switches – the epitome of simplistic design.
Cooler Master Peripherals Product Manager, Kevin Yang, said:

“The MasterKeys Pro White LEDs series offers two sizes of keyboards with brilliant crisp white illumination. Presets include Light Wave, Breathing, and unique responsive effects. The keyboard comes in a full keyboard or 90% design layout and both include CHERRY MX switches to match tactile preference. Plug and play, software-less design eliminates the hassle of installing software and all settings are adjustable via the On-the-fly System in a simple and user friendly manner.”.

The Brightest of Brights

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The MasterKeys Pro White LEDs series offers the brightest LEDs and the best tactile feeling suitable for all users. Cooler Master effectively designed a keyboard with the brightest white LED backlighting while still using 100% authentic CHERRY MX switches. The Intelligent White LEDs provides a clearer, crisper white compared to RGB keyboards. On-board memory ensures all responsive lighting effects and macros are executed instantly thanks to the seamless On-the-fly System and profile support.
On-the-fly System to Adjust Lighting Modes

The intuitively placed function keys layer allows you to manually adjust the lighting speed and mode to match your personal taste. To alter the lighting mode, press FN + left or right arrow keys with the anti-clock wise icons. You can also modify the light speed by pressing FN + the top and down arrow keys with the speed icon. Whatever your style or preference, it can be altered at the tip of your fingers, without the need to install or use software.
Suitable for Work and Play

The keyboard comes with a default and gaming profile modes. While working or doing homework you can disable gaming macros and lighting modes by pressing FN + ESC to enter default mode and prevent the use of any macro’s. When you’re ready to get back into the game, use the four dedicated profiles for all your lighting and macros for a quick and easy switch to boost your performance. The Status Indicator System, by holding down the FN key, makes it easy to navigate the On-the-fly System and easily change settings and profiles by just glancing at the keyboard.
Exclusive Anti-Ghosting Technology

Two advanced technologies rolled into one making the keyboard’s functions and macros compatible even on Mac OSX systems. Cooler Master has combined N-key and 6-key rollover together, ensuring each key press is correctly detected regardless of how many keys are pressed. Rest assured, regardless of how fast and furious it gets, or on whatever OS you choose to game, the MasterKeys Pro series can handle it.
Pricing & Availability
The MasterKeys Pro L & Pro M White LEDs are available for purchase locally at a suggested retail price of RM 449 and RM 409 respectively.

Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Cyberpunk 2077 Has Now Been Removed From The PS Store

While it’s quite normal for new games to be filled with bugs upon launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has been on another level, specifically for last-gen consoles. It appears that Sony PlayStation has taken the decision to take the game down from their PlayStation Store “until further notice”.
Cyberpunk 2077 taken down from PS Store
Sony Interactive Entertainment has also offered full refunds for the game to those who purchase the title from their PlayStation Store it seems, at least over in the US.

SIE strives to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, and we will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who have purchased Cyberpunk 2077 via PlayStation Store and want a refund. Please visit the following link to initiate the refund: https://t.co/DEZlC0LmUG.
— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 18, 2020

The statement was revealed on their official Twitter account where it says “SIE strives to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, and we will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who have purchase Cyberpunk 2077 via PlayStation Store and want a refund. SIE will also be removing Cyberpunk 2077 from PlayStation Store until further notice”.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

At the time of writing, Cyberpunk 2077 is nowhere to be seen in the PlayStation Store (Asian region).
If you’ve purchased the game on PS4 and it was all buggy for you, this may be great news to you. However, if you’re fine with the game, you don’t need to take any action and continue to play the game.
CD Projekt Red, the team behind Cyberpunk 2077 is currently working on several “large patches” for the game, where they aim to release it in January 2021 and another one the following month. With the updates, they will fix most issues in the game, according to them.
Source
Pokdepinion: Well I can’t say that I was shocked that the game had bugs, seeing how big of a project it is and how it’s an open world game. Hopefully PlayStation Asia can provide full refunds as well for those who ask for it.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


AM4 Bristol Ridge APU delidded images appear — TIM looks good

Delidding is performed by enthusiasts aiming to squeeze every last drop of performance out of their CPUs by removing the integrated heatspreader (IHS), or that metal cover that shields the actual die. While previously resulted in marginal if any improvements, Intel’s recent CPUs features less than optimal thermal interface material between the IHS and the die, that can easily be bested by high performance third party TIMs. But it still voids warranties, which is the main reason why only the bravest of overclockers do it. With that said, an AMD AM4 Bristol Ridge APU has just been delidded by a Korean overclocker Nam Dae Won and things are looking pretty good, actually.

For one, AMD seems to be applying traditional solder or liquid metal between the IHS and die for optimal heat transfer, which is good to see. You definitely want good thermal transfer between the IHS and die, as your cooler can only wick heat away from the IHS’ surface. The APU also has a pretty large die.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

What we are looking forward to is how much delidding changes the thermals of the AM4 Bristol Ridge APU, which we will not know unless the brave Korean overclocker decides to furnish us with the temperatures of the APU under load before and after the delidding process.
SOURCE: eTeknix

Pokdepinion: We are glad AMD is still sticking to tried-and-true TIMs between the IHS and die. We would not want the upcoming AMD Zen to have its overclocking potential limited by poor heat transfer from the die to the IHS, do we?
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


[CES 2022] ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is the world’s first 17.3″ foldable OLED laptop

For most users, 17″ laptops are probably too big to practically bring around. But if you can fold the display in half, then you will be looking at a much more portable machine. And that’s exactly what ASUS has achieved with the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, a laptop that folds down the middle, not only to make for a smaller footprint, but also to open up to all-new computing experiences. Isn’t that incredible?
ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED — bring a larger screen with you!

Designed in close collaboration with Intel and BOE, the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a groundbreaking foldable laptop. The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED’s 17.3″ 2.5K OLED display touts a rather unique aspect ratio of 4:3, which allows you to use it as a 17.3″ display, or fold it to form two seamless 12.5″ 3:2 displays.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

With the included ASUS ErgoSense Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, you can use the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED as a regular PC, laptop or tablet. Alternatively, fold it in half to use the on-screen keyboard, use it like a book and also extend mode. The OLED display delivers the full 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and it is Pantone Validated as well for precise color accuracy. To enhance your movie-watching experience, the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is equipped with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.

ASUS also squeezed in an HD IR camera that works with Windows Hello and the new Intel Visual Sensing Controller chip that enables AI-powered features like user presence detection. Along with that, you also get an integrated color sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness and color temperature, as well as a 5MP webcam with ASUS 3D Noise Reduction for clear video calls.
To ensure that it is capable of delivering the experience you would expect out of a cutting edge machine like this, the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is equipped with the 12th Gen Intel Core i7 U-series processors, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, fast charging and a large 75WHr battery. The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED will be Intel Evo certified, and will be available by mid-2022.
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition — bring an extra screen with you!

The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is a special edition laptop designed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ASUS P6300 laptop’s 600-day space mission, and it also represents the ASUS “In Search of Incredible” brand spirit. The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is finished in a special Zero-G Titanium color and a special space-themed design details. But wait, there’s more.

Embedded in the lid of the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is the ASUS ZenVision, a 3.5″ OLED companion display that is customizable to display messages or animations. Think ROG Vision on the ROG Phone 5 Pro Ultimate, but larger. Along with the space-inspired design, ASUS actually went all the way and built the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition to meet the US Space Systems Command Standard SMC-S-016A testing protocols, which involves withstanding extreme temperatures and vibrations while operational.
You won’t be disappointed by what’s under the hood either, with the latest 12th Gen Intel Core H-series processors, up to 32GB RAM, PCIe 4.0 storage and Intel WiFi 6E connectivity. The display panel is carried over from the current-gen ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, a 16:10 2.8K 90Hz OLED display, offering DisplayHDR True Black 500-certified, 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut and PANTONE Validated visuals. The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is a feast for your eyes, regardless if you are looking at the screen, or the lid behind it.
ASUS ProArt Display PA169CDV — literally, an extra screen!

The ASUS ProArt Display PA169CDV is a creator-oriented portable monitor. Instead of last year’s ProArt PA148CTV which had a relatively 14″ FHD panel, the ProArt PA169CDV is a 15.6″ 4K IPS display. The ASUS Dial makes a return, enabling creators a more intuitive way of interacting with compatible Adobe software, and ASUS also added the new ProArt Pen, which harnesses Wacom EMR technology.
Wacom’s electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology uses a magnetic field to detect the stylus while also providing power to it when it is in use, eliminating the need for batteries and the circuitry to charge it. The result is a lighter stylus that’s more comfortable to use for longer periods. ASUS also baked in a little leather loop at the top of the ProArt Display PA169CDV as stowage for the ProArt Pen when not in use.

To facilitate a comfortable drawing experience, there are two kickstands on the ProArt Display PA169CDV’s back. The upper one offers a milder tilt, while the lower one raises the display to accommodate its function as a secondary display. Speaking of which, the panel here is DisplayHDR 400 certified, with support for 10-bit color, and offers support for 100% sRGB and 100% Rec.709 color gamuts. The ProArt Display PA169CDV is PANTONE Validated and Calman Verified, making it the first portable monitor that’s dual certified, with factory calibration to deliver Delta E < 2.
Pokdepinion: I am looking forward to putting the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED through its paces!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Get Individual Cherry MX Switches Officially on Shopee and Lazada

For those of you who are into custom mechanical keyboards, you can now get official Cherry MX switches individually on Shopee and Lazada.
You Can Now Get Individual Cherry MX Switches in Malaysia

CHERRY Malaysia will be offering individual Cherry MX switches on their official Shopee and Lazada stores with help from their official Malaysian distributor, Fusion Tech Supply. The idea here is to help reduce our carbon footprint by encouraging repairs and extending product life instead of buying a new keyboard every time something breaks.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

As for the exact switches that you can purchase, you can get the standard and RGB versions of the following switches with prices ranging from RM2.50 to RM3 per switch:

Black
Silent Black
Blue
Brown
Red
Silent Red
Speed Silver

Cherry MX switches are some of the most popular and widely used mechanical switches on keyboards these days as it’s also used by an assortment of brands. On top of that, they’ve also launched their own keyboard offerings recently as we’ve reviewed the CHERRY MX BOARD 1.0 TKL.
Of course, this provides valuable support for keyboard modders as well as it’s easier to get your hands on these switches safely for building your own keyboard or changing a few keys on your existing one for a very specific feel. In case you’re wondering, these Cherry MX switches can last up to 100 Million keystrokes.
Source
Pokdepinion: The temptation to change everything to Speed Silvers have increased immensely. Perhaps that will be my next time pastime project.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Exynos 9810 packs 3rd generation custom cores; 2x faster single-core performance!

Is performance on par with Apple’s SoCs finally a reality for Android smartphones?
Custom M3 cores for immense performance!
As we get closer to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung has announced their latest Exynos SoC, the Exynos 9810. The new chipset will deliver up to 2x faster single core performance and 40% faster multi-core processing, with the GPU gaining a modest 20% improvement over its predecessor.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Samsung has posted some big claims with the Exynos 9810. Their 3rd generation M3 custom cores are clocked at an insanely high 2.9 GHz. And we thought the 2.8 GHz on the Snapdragon 845 was high. Samsung claims these new cores will provide up to a whopping 2x faster single core performance, which if true, will be in spitting range of the A11 Bionic. Meanwhile the multi-core performance scores an equally impressive 40% improvement. The efficiency cores in the Exynos 9810 are the Cortex A55 cores, clocked at 1.9 GHz.
The GPU in the Exynos 9810 will be a 18-core Mali-G72MP18. Samsung claims a decent 20% performance gain here, which should mean it will fall behind the Adreno 630 in the Snapdragon 845. Samsung did claim that the Exynos 9810 supports deep learning, but since there is no mention of a dedicated NPU like in the Kirin 970, we assume it is up to the GPU to handle AI tasks.

Cat.18 LTE is the latest standard for all flagships, and the Exynos 9810 is not missing out. It supports 6x CA for 1.2 Gbps download and 200 Mbps upload speeds. The dual-ISP here is built with one focusing on performance while the other on efficiency. This allows for a wide range of image processing algorithms to be performed without taking a toll on the battery.
The Exynos 9810 is built on their 2nd generation 10nm FinFET process which promises up to 10% better efficiency. Samsung stated that the Exynos 9810 is already in mass production, so expect to see it in the Galaxy S9 duo.
Pokdepinion: The Exynos 9810 seems set to beat the Qualcomm 845 in terms of CPU performance while slacking a bit in the GPU department. Meanwhile, the Kirin 970 is trounced in every way, with it being barely on par with the current generation of flagship SoCs.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Your next iPhone may charge over USB-C and you have the EU to thank for that

The European Parliament has voted regarding the resolution to get smartphone makers to use a standard charging cable, and the answer is pretty clear. The EU wants all mobile device makers to use a standard charger to cut down on electronic waste as over 50 million metric tons are reportedly generated globally per year.
The EU voted an overwhelming 582-40 in favor of a resolution to draft a law to set a standard for mobile device chargers. Taking a closer look at the resolution, the European Parliament seems to want to enforce a law to get all mobile phones to share a common charging standard. Will this also mean that the power adapters themselves will have to be of the same standard as well? So no more USB-A chargers? This should be good news for everyone.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Anyways, Apple users should probably be pretty happy to hear the news. As of now, Apple has a pretty weird conundrum whereby their iPad Pros and MacBooks charge over USB-C but their iPhones are still stuck on Lightning. If that’s not weird enough, the iPhone 11 Pros already come with a USB-C power adapter that connects to the phones via Lightning. Once the next iPhone starts using USB-C, Apple fanbois aficionados will be able to bring just one USB-C charger when they travel. One thing’s for sure though: Apple won’t take this lying down.

Even Android users may benefit from this as there are still way too many mid-range devices using microUSB. Hopefully 2020 is the year we see microUSB die out.
The law to force all manufacturers to use USB-C isn’t going to be enforced so soon though. The European Commission will now have to draft a law and vote on it in July. With such a strong showing from the European Parliament though, we can only expect a pretty swift victory in favor of a single charging standard for all our smartphones.
Pokdepinion: It does get pretty annoying right now, especially when I need to use a powerbank when reviewing smartphones with microUSB cables as I have mostly migrated to USB-C now…
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


AMD 4700S Desktop Kit is now official — AMD quietly announced a salvaged Xbox Series APU for PC market

Remember the AMD 4700S that was available as a complete pre-built from China we reportedly about some time back? Well, AMD has quietly announced the AMD 4700S 8-Core Processor Desktop Kit, which appears to be set for the retail market. It involves a soldered CPU sold on a miniITX motherboard, making it quite a nice kit for budding PC builders, or those who just want a no-frills SFF PC.
AMD 4700S: For no-frills Zen 2-based SFF PC?
As previously reported, the AMD 4700S processor is an 8-core Zen 2 chip, but AMD somehow forgot to mention the clock speeds. Previously, the pre-built featuring the AMD 4700S boosted up to 4.0GHz, so I do believe we can assume that’s the case here. AMD will also be bundling a cooler with the kit, so you won’t have to worry about that. The processor does have its GPU functionality disabled, so you aren’t getting the sweet RDNA 2 integrated graphics here like the new Xbox or PlayStation 5, but you can use your own GPU.
And that’s where it gets somewhat tricky. While AMD does offer a standard PCIe x16 slot, it only runs up to PCIe 2.0 x4, which is abysmally slow by today’s standards. As such, AMD actually listed several GPUs that will be compatible with the the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit. Nothing too fancy is possible here, as the highest end GPUs are the Radeon RX 590 and GeForce GTX 1060.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Memory is soldered onto the board, as the AMD 4700S works with GDDR6 instead of regular DDR4. You can get it with either 8GB or 16GB GDRR6. Storage expansion is possible, with support for two SATA 6Gbps ports, but there doesn’t seem to be support for M.2 SSDs. Not too surprising since there doesn’t seem to be enough PCIe lanes off the AMD 4700S chip to even fully support a PCIe x16 slot, and the fact that you don’t have integrated graphics means you can’t repurpose the 4 lanes intended for the GPU anyway.

AMD was actually quite generous with the I/O on the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit though, as you actually have three USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) ports, one USB 3.0 port and four USB 2.0 ports. Gigabit LAN is also a part of the rear I/O. Meanwhile there’s a USB 3.0 header for your front panel connectors. Pretty nice.
Overall it does seem like the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit is a pretty interesting way to repurpose the AMD APUs that didn’t meet the cut for the latest consoles. I do wish that there was an RDNA 2 iGPU though, as it would have been quite nice to finally see that after years of Vega-based integrated graphics in the APUs.
Pokdepinion: Without an iGPU I don’t see why I would pick this over a standard mATX board and slap on a Zen 2 or Zen 3 chip though. It might cost more, but at least I have a lot more flexibility.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 OC Edition 8GB GDDR6 Review — premium extras slapped on a mid-range GPU?

Introduction

The ASUS ROG Strix series of graphics cards are always priced in the upper echelons, which makes it all the more interesting to check out the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 OC Edition. It’s a mid-range card through and through, but comes with the premium features the ROG Strix cards are known for. Is it able to justify its hefty price tag? Let’s find out!
Unboxing

The ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 comes in a box very similar to the green camp’s offerings in the ROG Strix series. Except that there’s more red here, instead of green, obviously. As you might expect, ASUS also boasted of the Radeon RX 5700’s features aside from their own additions to the card.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

On the back we see more of ASUS’ features as well as some specifications. Pretty much in-line with the rest of the ASUS ROG Strix cards we have seen.

In the box lies the card, a user guide and two velcro cable ties. For some reason, the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 wasn’t bundled with a driver CD. Not like we ever use them, but just a curious omission after seeing them come with all the cards we have tested from ASUS.
Appearance

If you have seen any card from ASUS’ ROG Strix lineup from 2 years back, you would find the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 looking pretty familiar. That’s because nothing has changed. The fans are new though. You get three of those new Axial-tech fans that will make the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2070/2060 SUPER users drool, and some edgy cutouts beside the fans to allow for the RGB effects to shine through.

Over on the back, once again we are feted to a familiar sight. However since there are no NVLink fingers to speak of, we see the BIOS and LED switches placed where you would usually find it on the higher-end NVIDIA cards. We also see that there are two sets of screw holes around the GPU, which is quite peculiar.

Meanwhile over on the side we see a brace to reinforce the card, preventing the hefty card from bending under its own weight. Given that this is one long card, insufficient rigidity is just a recipe for a saggy card. If you have owned a You can also spot the substantial fin stack which is used to cool the GPU and VRM system.

On the back we find a total of three DisplayPort 1.4 outputs and a single HDMI 2.0 output. Perfect for driving multiple monitors with high refresh rates.

So there are three parts of the card that will light up, the front fascia, the side and also the back. You can’t control them separately, which is somewhat of a bummer. Also, the long strip running along the cooler shroud isn’t ARGB, instead relying on light tubes to spread the light over the large area, so it will only glow in one color at a time. You do get to pick from 16.7 million colors though, so you got that going for you.
Specifications
ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 OC Edition 8GB GDDR6

GPU
Navi 10

Clocks
Boost – 1750 MHz; Game Clock: 1725 MHz; Base – 1610 MHz

Cores
2304 SP (32 CU)

Memory
8GB GDDR6

Memory Clocks
14 000 MHz

Memory Interface
256-bit

Display outputs
3 x DisplayPort 1.4
1 x HDMI 2.0b

Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin + 1 x 6-pin

Recommended PSU
600W

Multi-GPU support
Yes (DirectX 12/Vulkan mGPU)

Dimensions
30.5 x 13.0 x 5.4 cm

ASUS’ touch on the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 allowed it to offer much higher base clocks and game clocks, to the tune of 145 MHz, although boost frequencies are bumped up a lot more conservatively. Given how AMD’s Boost Clocks are what you will achieve “opportunistically”, you should focus more on the base clocks and game clocks when picking out your Navi card.
Test Machine

CPU
Intel Core i7-5820K @ 4.125 GHz

Motherboard
ROG Rampage V Extreme

Memory
4 x 4GB Kingston HyperX Predator 3000 MHz CL15

Storage
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5″ SATA SSD
Plextor M9PeY 512GB PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe SSD
Toshiba 256GB PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe SSD

Power Supply
Cooler Master V850

Monitor
BenQ EL2870U

GPU Driver
Adrenalin 19.9.2

Testing Methodology
We will be running in-game benchmarks where available, at the specified resolution(s) and at the maximum graphics preset, unless otherwise specified. Average framerates during gameplay will be recorded with Fraps, in the event of a benchmarked game not having an in-game benchmarking tool. Temperatures will be recorded with HWiNFO, and the maximum temperature in a 45-minute long Superposition stress test run will be reported. Fan speeds will be according to the default fan curve as defined by the manufacturer. The latest drivers available will be used, unless otherwise specified. Default clocks will be used, unless otherwise specified.
Performance
Synthetic Performance

In Superposition, the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 performs on par with the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2060, which it is supposed to go head to head with.
Gaming Performance
Since this is a mid-range GPU, we decided to run the benchmarked games at 1440p as well as 4K. But first, we will be comparing against other cards at 4K.

We see the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 offer much better performance than the GeForce RTX 2060, which is expected. The GeForce RTX 2060’s 6GB VRAM was probably the limiting factor, which allowed AMD’s offering to shine even more.

Once again, not a surprising result. 12.5% better performance is nothing to scoff at, but we are still far below the 60 fps mark at 4K in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Funnily enough the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 actually ties the ROG Strix GeForce GTX 2080 in this benchmark. It clearly obliterates the GeForce RTX 2060, despite this being a NVIDIA title. I had to double check the graphics settings, but yes, this are the results.

In Far Cry 5, it trades blows with the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and just blew past the GeForce RTX 2070. Quite a good showing, and it is just shy of the all-important 60 fps mark for smooth gameplay.

Here we see it come behind the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti and ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060 by one frame each. This is currently the most intensive title we test, and I am still impressed by the results here.

Meanwhile over in Division it slots in right where it is supposed to: below the GeForce RTX 2070 and above the GeForce RTX 2060.

At 1440p, very playable frame rates were delivered in all the games tested. The only games that didn’t give us average frame rates above 60 fps were Borderlands 3 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, but then again, both games are known to be more intensive than usual. For e-sports titles like Rainbow 6 Siege, the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 will more than satisfy you, even if you have a 165 Hz monitor.
Do note that AMD cards from the Polaris and Navi families tout Radeon Image Sharpening (RIS), which allows you to enjoy great image quality and better performance by upscaling lower resolutions. So while the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 may not be exactly a great card to run games at 4K, you can make use of RIS to gain even higher frame rates.
Thermals and Boost

With triple Axial-tech fans and the beefy cooler borrowed directly from the higher end ROG Strix cards, the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 runs very quietly. Temperatures are well controlled at 68°C, but for those who want to take the temps down a tad might want to turn the fans up a bit. You will more probably than not find them absolutely silent as I can barely hear them at full tilt, even on an open test bench. Meanwhile boost hovers around ~1680 MHz. It does spike to ~1700 MHz on occasion, but doesn’t really maintain those clocks.
User Experience
For any builder experienced with ASUS’ ROG Strix cards in the past few years would probably be pretty familiar with ASUS’ FanConnect technology.
Yep, those cables snaking out from the PCB into the shroud are quite an eyesore.
You get two 4-pin fan headers at the tail end of the card, along with a RGB connector. The latter is a boon for people running motherboards without support for RGB, but then again those are few and far between nowadays.

For those who decide that they want to do away with RGB entirely, can easily switch off the RGB via the physical switch here on the back. There’s also a switch for changing between the Performance and Quiet BIOSes, although running it in Performance mode would definitely give you more joy with barely any audible fan noise.

GPU Tweak II is what ASUS uses to control the card. You can overclock, adjust the fan curve as you like it. The former might seem less useful as even slight adjustments yielded an unstable card for me. It might have been just the sample I received, or just GPU Tweak II being inept at overclocking AMD cards.

Depending on whether you run an AURA Sync-capable motherboard or not, you will be using different applications to control your card. If you use a non-AURA capable board, this would be what you will be using to control your card’s lighting. Meanwhile if you have a more recent board, the AURA Sync control will be where you will synchronize the lighting on your board.
Conclusion
Is the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 worth your moolah? For RM2200, you could actually get some of the cheaper Radeon RX 5700 XT cards out there. ASUS really did their best and slapped all their most premium components to give the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 an added edge, taking it to the limits to just obliterate the GeForce RTX 2060, but at its core (pun intended) it’s still just a Radeon RX 5700.

You do get the advantage brought about by ASUS’ excellent cooling, beefy VRM design and Auto-Extreme Technology which come together for a card which promises better reliability and potentially, better longevity. In the end, it really depends on whether do you value those features which ASUS is charging a premium for. If you do, then the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 is for you. If not, there are some Radeon RX 5700 XT out there at this price.

Our thanks to ASUS Malaysia for providing the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 for our review purposes.

Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


At TGS 2020, there was a livestream focusing on Final Fantasy XIV YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse, featuring Yoko Taro, Yosuke Saito, Toshio Muro, and Naoki Yoshida. Yoko Taro joked about how the former two joined in the fun and it automatically became a Final Fantasy XVI livestream instead. Interestingly enough, some details on the next gen Final Fantasy game did come to light.
Final Fantasy XVI Might Not Take Too Long to Launch

From the livestream, it was revealed that there will be a Final Fantasy XVI teaser site launch sometime in late October 2020. However, since Square Enix mentioned of further details on the game coming in 2021, the teaser site isn’t expected to have much details in it.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Then, Game Producer Naoki Yoshida talked about how they wanted to avoid as much as possible for the game’s reveal trailer, only showing pre-rendered cutscenes and logo. He mentioned that he saw multiple English comments joking about how Final Fantasy XVI will be launch really late, which is why they tried to include as much in-game content as possible in the trailer instead.
This was proved to be difficult as the game is far from optimized, which may explain why the gameplay footage was recording on PC rather than the PS5. The trailer was there to make the look as appealing as possible and showing what the game looks like for now. Needless to say, there will be notable changes and improvements as the game continues to be developed. For now, the game is said to have been in development for 4 years.
For now, Final Fantasy XVI doesn’t have a release date or window, but it will be a timed-exclusive for the PlayStation 5. It will eventually be released on other platforms like PC, but that will come at a much later date.
Source
Pokdepinion: So maybe another 5 years? I mean, they can target an early release but I wouldn’t be surprised to see delays like in their previous games.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


HUAWEI Celebrates International Women’s Day With Special Deals And Privileges

Today marks the start of HUAWEI’s International Women’s Day celebration, where they’ve prepared several deals when you purchase selected devices from their smartphone lineup. The promo will last until the 11th of March 2019.
Listed smartphones that’s included in the promo is the HUAWEI Y9, HUAWEI Y Max, HUAWEI Mate 20 series (Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 X), the nova 4, and also the nova 3i. The free gifts range from AM116 Earphones for the Y-series to Tripods for the Mate series and Car Charger AP31 for purchases of the nova series.
Additionally, they’ve also prepared Lucky Draw – Drop High Heels Rain game for all online customers. You can simply login to your HUAWEI account and tap on a falling high heel to win a maximum of three coupons per day. Share the game on your social media pages to win one additional chance per day to increase your chance of winning. Online customers will also be rewarded with voucher giveaways that’s worth RM308 with each purchase at the HUAWEI Online Store during this period.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

You can checkout the link here to find out more on HUAWEI’s International Women’s Day.
Pokdepinion: Be sure to login everyday to the HUAWEI Online Store for a better chance in winning big!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


EVGA launched the EVGA SuperNOVA G3 PSU series – Up to 10-year warranty

EVGA just launched the new power supply series the EVGA SuperNOVA G3. The new power supply will be in smaller size, improved performance and new Hydraulic Dynamic Bearing fan for ultra-quiet performance with an increased lifespan.

Small Size, Big Performance

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

A reduced size does not mean reduced performance with the EVGA SuperNOVA G3 power supplies. At only 150mm long, this makes these some of the smallest power supplies on the market today, while offering improved performance and features.
Whisper Silent Hydraulic Dynamic Bearing Fan

Better performance, quieter operation and a longer lifespan. EVGA ECO mode gives you gives you silent operation at low to medium loads.
Next Gen Performance

Next-generation systems deserve next-generation performance. The EVGA SuperNOVA G3 takes the already efficient G2 series and makes it even better with improved efficiency and lower ripple. These power supplies are over 91% efficient!
Fully Modular Design

Use only the cables you need, reducing cable clutter and improving case airflow.
Five model available

The SuperNOVA G3 available in five different capacity, every PSU’s comes with 80+ Gold certificated and up to 10-year warranty for higher end model.

EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G3
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G3
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G3
EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3
EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3

AC Input
100 – 240 VAC, 10A, 50 – 60 Hz

+3.3V
24 A
22 A

+5V
24 A
22 A

+12V
83.3A
70.8A
62.4A
54.1A
45.8A

+5Vsb
3A

-12V
0.5A

Output Power
1000W @ +50C
850W @ +50C
750W @ +50C
650W @ +50C
550W @ +50C

Pokdepinion: Nowadays most modern PC has low power consumption and choosing power supply becoming easier. Even the supernova G3 550W power supply is good adequate for a gaming PC with dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


[E3 2019] Ubisoft to Launch Uplay+ Premium Game Subscription Service

It looks like Ubisoft is also going the premium game subscription service route after all. At the Ubisoft E3 2019 press conference, it was announced that they will soon be launching Uplay+.
Uplay+ is set to arrive sometime this September 2019 exclusively for PC gamers. Subscribing will allow you to play over 100 different games all from Ubisoft. It will cost you USD $14.99 per month to subscribe to the platform, which by comparison to other subscription services, seems a bit high.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

While Uplay+ will only be landing on PC this year, Ubisoft does have plans to bring it elsewhere. As part of its partnership with Google, Ubisoft also announced today that it will be bringing Uplay+ to Google Stadia at some point in 2020. Further information on a specific window in the year in which it’ll be arriving wasn’t announced.
Keep an eye out in the future as Ubisoft will likely unveil the full list of games that will be available for play via Uplay+ soon to entice more people into subscribing.
Pokdepinion: Oh boy, yet another premium game subscription service. It’s not inherently a bad thing but if you gotta offer something real good if you want this to work.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


PC Gears As Low As RM18 At The PC Image Warehouse Sale Carnival Experience

Looking for a bunch of PC components and peripherals but don’t wanna spend much? Check out the PC Image Warehouse Sale Carnival Experience.
PC Image Warehouse Sale Carnival Experience

On 10th and 11th December 2022, there will be the PC Image Warehouse Sale Carnival Experience taking place at ROM 8 Metal Bees Production House from 11AM to 9PM each day. Here, you can get a good variety of PC components and peripherals at a discounted price, from as low as RM18.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Hosted by renowned retailer PC Image, it’s said to not just be your typical warehouse sale as it’s a “carnival full of exciting experiences.” We’re likely going to be seeing a number of gaming booths alongside a number of fun activities at the event.

For those looking to shop, there is the Santa Xmas Lucky Sales where you can get a variety of keyboards, mouse, earbuds. and even monitors for as low as RM18. If you want to go even lower, there will be some flash sales as well where you can buy things for just RM1.
If you’re still looking for a Christmas present for your loved ones, it might be worth checking out to see what you might be able to get your hands on. After all, December is the holiday season and it’s a season of giving.
For those of you who are interested and would like to see the events page, click right here.
Source
Pokdepinion: Guess I know where I’m going next weekend. If any of you are going, I’ll see y’all there!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Malaysia’s Most Wanted Console During MCO

With the whole situation with Covid-19 going around, it’s not surprising to see that most people are at home playing video games. Taking into consideration of all the gamers out there, have you ever questioned on what’s the most wanted console out there ever since the movement restriction? Thanks to the folks at iPrice, the answer might surprise you.
Asia’s most wanted console
iPrice has released their research into what gaming console is currently the top choice for Asia, based on the analysis of 1.5 million of searches made on online shopping platforms spanning across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Hong Kong,
So according to the research, it appears that interest for the Nintendo Switch rose up by 245% during the Covid-19 restriction all across Asia. For the PS4 however, interest grew to 135%. Overall speaking, searches for Nintendo Switch is now 1.5 times higher than those for PS4.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Asia’s most wanted console
It appears that Nintendo Switch ranks first in Malaysia as well as most of the countries listed in the study. The PS4 follows behind at 2nd place and PS3 at third for the country. It’s not surprising to see that none of the Xbox lineup on that list (for Malaysia) seeing how the lack of support they have here.
Another factor that drove Nintendo Switch to the top is the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which they claim Switch sales in March 2020 more than doubled their numbers from the same time last year.
What do you think of the study? Do you agree with it? Let us know in the comments below.
Pokdepinion: To be honest, I’m not surprised to see the outcome. It does reflect to what I see here in Malaysia.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Intel Pentium Kaby Lake confirmed with Hyper-threading enabled

Intel’s latest Kaby Lake processors have been rolling out recently in the market with their Core i series processors. Now, the entry level of Intel Pentium based on Kaby Lake is confirmed and what makes it interesting is that it comes with Intel Hyper-threading technology.
All 5 Intel Pentium Kaby Lake now features two-core and four-thread with neither Turbo Boost nor unlocked chip. The Pentium part range from the Pentium G4560 clocked at 3.50 GHz, Pentium G4600 clocked at 3.60 GHz and all the way up to the Pentium G4620 clocked at 3.70 GHz. With the new Intel Pentium specifications, the only different with the Intel Core i3 series is the clock speed which Intel Core i3 7100 clocked at 3.90 GHz.
Specification comparison chart, for details click here
In-term of integrated graphics (iGPU) the Pentium’s packed with Intel HD Graphics 630, similar what’s found in the Intel Core i3 processors. The chip support [email protected] at 4096×2304 resolution with DisplayPort connector. It has total of 3MB cache and support DDR3L and DDR4 memory modules up to 2400Mhz in frequencies.Pricing for the new Intel Pentium will start from USD 64 (approximately RM300) for the Intel Pentium G4560 and up to USD 93 (approximately RM 427) for the fastest clock Intel Pentium G4620 processor.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Pokdepinion: With the hyper-threading enabled on the latest Intel Pentium processors, this would be the perfect choice for a budget PC build. If you favor for highest clock, the Intel Core i3 is your option with clock speed start at 3.90 GHz.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


LG slated to quit smartphone business altogether with no buyers

The writings were on the wall for LG’s ailing smartphone business, and it seems like the curtains will finally close on the lesser Korean smartphone maker. After a unsuccessful bid to sell it off, LG is reportedly going to just stop making smartphones.
This news comes after LG was allegedly looking to offload their loss-making smartphones manufacturing business to Vingroup, and was reportedly even in talks with Volkswagen, although the negotiations didn’t bear fruit.
LG has previously denied that they are planning to stop making phones, going as far as to dismiss rumors that their rollable phone project was paused. Their last big release was the LG Wing, which came with an innovative rotating display. They were also supposed to continue with the LG Rainbow concept, which was meant to succeed the LG Velvet.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

While LG’s devices were definitely really interesting — they did after all start the ultra-wide camera trend in the smartphone market today — their sales do not reflect it. LG’s current global market share is reportedly at around 1%, while racking up a 5 trillion KRW deficit over 23 consecutive quarters of loss.

Part of the reason why LG’s smartphones weren’t nearly as popular as the competition was probably due to a very lackadaisical approach to marketing. Despite LG Electronics having a presence here in Malaysia, their smartphones were never offered here.
LG is expected to announce their decision regarding their smartphone arm as early as April. They are expected to reassign employees into the other businesses LG is involved in, including LG Energy Solutions which is growing rapidly thanks to rising demand for electric vehicles.
Source
Pokdepinion: It is sad to see LG smartphones go, but I guess the money bled into the smartphone arm can be better used in other divisions at LG.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Lenovo Adds Legion Y7000 SE And IdeaPad L340 To Their Gaming Lineup

Lenovo has introduced their new Legion Y7000 SE and IdeaPad L340 Gaming to their gaming laptop offerings, which comes with the latest RTX 20-series or GTX 16-series graphics cards.
Lenovo Legion Y7000 SE
Starting off with the Lenovo Legion Y7000 SE, it comes with the crimson red “Y” lighting and full-sized red-backlit keyboard. It offers up to 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, or even choose between a GTX 1660 Ti or 1650 graphics.
The laptop offers a near-edgeless 15-inch Full HD display which comes with up to 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits of brightness and an IPS anti-glare screen.  You can even push the screen 180-degrees to the back, if that intrigues you.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Unfortunately the Lenovo Legion Y7000 SE doesn’t have an official pricing just yet as well as the release date for Malaysia.
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming laptop
We then have the Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming, which comes blue-backlit keyboard. Aimed for the modern multi-tasker/undercover gamer, you can game in Quick mode or work in Quiet mode. There’s two display variants, 15-inch and 17-inch, where it offers up to the latest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 that’s paired with a GTX 1650 graphics card.
For your media enjoyment, the IdeaPad L340 comes with Dolby Audio hardwired inside for you to enjoy your audio. Additionally, you can choose to add Intel Optane memory, which can provide better performance.
Coming soon in June 2019 to Malaysia, the Lenovo IdeaPad L340’s price starts from $869 (~RM3,593).
Pokdepinion: Hmm, the IdeaPad L340 seems affordable.. but I would wait and test it out first then make my judgement. Hopefully it wont disappoint.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Redmi 9T launches on 8th January in Malaysia, at the same time as Redmi Note 9T global launch!

We might be in for slightly confusing times once again with the Redmi 9T and Redmi Note 9T. After the Redmi Note 9S/Redmi Note 9 Pro situation, there’s a possibility that we will be seeing different names depending on your region for the same device. Or maybe, two different devices being launched by Xiaomi globally and in Malaysia, on the very same day, at the very same time.

At the time of writing, Xiaomi Malaysia has already sent out invites to the launch of the Redmi 9T that’s happening at 8pm on 8th January, while Xiaomi Global has just announced the Redmi Note 9T launch on their social media channels, set for the same time and same date.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Redmi has traditionally kept the Redmi series more affordable with entry level specifications, while the Redmi Note series targeted the mid-range, so we shouldn’t be seeing the same device with different names here. Rumors have pointed towards the Redmi 9T being a slightly souped up POCO M3, which means a Snapdragon 662 under the hood.
Meanwhile, the Redmi Note 9T clearly sports 5G from the launch teaser. Leaks point towards the Redmi Note 9T packing a Dimensity 800U chipset. The rear camera layout is reminiscent of the POCO F2 Pro, albeit with the flash integrated into the triple-camera camera hump instead of having a quad-camera setup.

Xiaomi Malaysia and Xiaomi Global will seemingly be unveiling two entirely different devices at the same time. Does it also mean that the Redmi 9T won’t be made available globally, and that we won’t see the Redmi Note 9T here in Malaysia? Well, I guess we will have to wait for 8th January 2021 to find out.
If you are interested to catch the launch of the Redmi 9T, the stream will be hosted on Xiaomi Malaysia’s Facebook page. Meanwhile the Redmi Note 9T launch will be streamed live on Xiaomi Global’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels.
Pokdepinion: Two phones in a day!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


PS Plus Asia October 2020 FREE Games Lineup

I know many of you are excited for the next generation of gaming with the PS5. Before we reach there however, we still have the PS Plus Asia October 2020 free games lineup to enjoy. If you have an active PS Plus subscription, these free games are coming your way.
PS Plus Asia October 2020 Free Games Lineup
Need for Speed: Payback

Set in the corrupt gambler’s paradise of Fortune Valley, Need for Speed: Payback will let you select from 3 different characters, each with their own set of skills. Players will have go through heist missions, car battles, perform setpieces, and a bunch more challenges in the open world. Customize your ride, take it out for a spin, and get revenge on the ones who stabbed you in the back.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Need for Speed: Payback will be available as part of the PS Plus Asia October 2020 free games lineup starting 6th October 2020 until 2nd November 2020.
Vampyr

From the developer of Life is Strange, Dontnod Entertainment, Vampyr is a 3rd-person action RPG set in 1918. Play a doctor turned vampire ghosting through a London gripped by violence and fear. Use your supernatural abilities, as well as man-made tools and weapons to fight or flee the forces of evil and vampire hunters. You have the choice of either saving the masses or feeding on them to become stronger. However, choosing the latter will have dire consequences.
Vampyr will be available as part of the PS Plus Asia October 2020 free games lineup starting 6th October 2020 until 2nd November 2020.
If you still haven’t claimed last month’s lineup of free games, it’s Street Fighter V and PUBG. You have until 5th October 2020 to claim those games so best to hurry before it’s too late.
Source
Pokdepinion: It’s a couple of pretty solid games. I personally got no complaints here, and I doubt you would too unless you already own either of these games.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Mi A2 set to be priced below RM1200 in Malaysia? Lazada leaks strike again!

Someone should definitely patch the leak in Lazada’s pipeline. Not that we are complaining though. Yet another upcoming device has had its pricing leaked out on Lazada. The Xiaomi Mi A2 which is coming to Malaysia end of this month has its priced leaked out on Lazada.

The new Android One device is apparently going to be priced at RM1199. For its price, the Mi A2 offers rather beefy specifications. A Snapdragon 660 chipset, 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage, and an impressive 12MP + 20MP rear camera setup will be in the variant that is hitting Malaysia.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

For a pure Android experience, you can’t go wrong with Android One devices. Worth noting is that the Xiaomi Mi A2 is priced at just RM100 more than the Mi A1 at launch, but offers a whole lot more. Guess Xiaomi Malaysia is really upping their game this time around.
Will you be getting the Mi A2 if the pricing is confirmed? Let us know!
Source: The Adventures of Vesper
Pokdepinion: Seems like a good mid-range option at its price!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Production Is Back To Normal Again

Because there is too much stock of GA102, Nvidia has resumed the supply of 3080 12G.
The 3080 12G just stopped production for less than two months, and recently resumed production quickly.
— MEGAsizeGPU (@Zed__Wang) August 14, 2022

As many of you may know by now, NVIDIA is currently facing an issue of stock overload which could potentially lead to a delay of the next RTX series of graphics cards. Previously, the GA102 GPUs were saved for the RTX 3090, which resulted in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 production being affected but now, it has resumed back to normal.
According to @Zed_Wang on Twitter, due to the sheer amount of stock for GA102 GPUs, the production of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has gone back to normal again. Granted the company could always make them regardless if they have enough chip or not, but it was suggested that they purposely kept it for their higher end models.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

With the situation now, the company could have lesser profits but it would be at least help them out with the issue of the GA102 GPU overstock, especially with a new launch just on the horizon.
Source
Pokdepinion: I smell a price decrease coming, specifically for the RTX 3080. Might be a good time to consider getting if you were aiming a lower end card.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


New Render Showcase Xiaomi Mi 9 — Powered By Snapdragon 855 With Triple Rear Cameras

Apparently, the Product Director for Xiaomi, Wang Teng, has posted a picture of a smartphone that is said to be the company’s upcoming flagship Mi 9. Of course, the picture was later taken down.

Another image was then later uploaded which looks similar to the one that Teng uploaded. As you can see, the Mi 9 will feature a triple rear camera, with the main lens said to be a Sony 48MP sensor. The LED flash sits just underneath the three lens.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

It could come with a metal and glass design, which could mean the Mi 9 will offer Qi wireless charging. There’s also the indication that the phone will come in with an in-display fingerprint sensor.
The phone should be powered by a Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 855 and packs up to 8GB of RAM. Other than that, it comes with a 6.2-inch Full HD OLED display that comes with a smaller notch compared to the previous Mi 8.
Xiaomi Mi 8 was launched back in of May 2018, we could possibly see Mi 9 make its way to the market in mid-2019.
Pokdepinion: I’m starting to love the Mi 9 already (although it is still renders and not official…yet). Having used the Mi 8 before, I’m glad to see that they’ve improved on the notch and made it smaller. I’m not too sure of the in-display fingerprint sensor though. I never had a good experience with them before. Let’s just hope that it is all good.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


New HUAWEI MatePad 11 Coming To Malaysia This 27 July

HUAWEI has just announced that their upcoming HUAWEI MatePad 11 is dropping in Malaysia this 27 July. The MatePad 11 is the first tablet to offer a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by HarmonyOS 2. It offers users a superior working and study experience when combined with the 2nd generation HUAWEI M-Pencil stylus and a variety of note-taking apps.
HUAWEI MatePad 11

The HUAWEI MatePad 11 is the company’s first tablet with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The new HUAWEI MatePad 11 has a greater refresh rate than many other tablets on the market, resulting in exceptionally smooth images when displaying a wide range of materials. Consumers can appreciate more details and immerse themselves in fluid images with high frame rate videos and games.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Multi-screen collaboration allows you to work on two projects at the same time and quickly drag and drop files between displays. Alternatively, you may mirror your Huawei MateBook screen to the HUAWEI MatePad 11 and control your design projects with the HUAWEI M-Pencil.
The unique Collaborate Mode allows users to move content such as text, images, and documents between linked devices with a simple drag and drop, allowing genuine cross-platform interactions between HarmonyOS 2 and Windows. Moreover, the HUAWEI MatePad 11 also features keyboard and mouse support.

The improved HUAWEI M-Pencil (2nd Generation) is compatible with the new HUAWEI MatePad 11. The M-Pencil boasts a nearly unnoticeable lag of 0.2 milliseconds, as well as 4,096 pressure and tilt sensitivity. Double Tap to Switch tools are also supported by the pencil. You may just double tap to go to the eraser mode to make any modifications, whether you’re drawing or processing papers.
HUAWEI MateBook D 15

That’s not all, HUAWEI will also unveil new MateBook Series models, including the HUAWEI MateBook D 15 10th and 11th generation Intel Core i5 with 8GB, HUAWEI MateBook 14 with AMD Ryzen 4000 H series processor, and HUAWEI D 14 10th generation Intel Core i3.
To enable next-generation productivity, the new HUAWEI MateBooks combine the HUAWEI FullView display, high performance, extreme portability, superb build quality, and a fashionable style. The notebooks now have an enhanced Tablet-PC Collaboration capability for a better multi-tasking experience, in addition to the sleek and practically bezel-less design for an immersive display.
For additional information, visit the HUAWEI Facebook page and the HUAWEI official website.
Pokdepinion: Looking forward to seeing how the new MatePad 11 will bring to the table. I wonder if we’ll get one ourselves for review?
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


WhatsApp Testing Message Editing Feature on Android and iOS Beta

WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Meta, has commenced testing the highly anticipated message editing feature on its beta versions for Android and iOS. This feature, which was initially introduced on the Web interface, is now being extended to mobile apps. Let’s delve into the details of this exciting update.
Enabling Message Editing on WhatsApp Beta

According to WABetaInfo, a renowned feature tracker, WhatsApp has activated the message editing functionality on WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.23.10.13 and WhatsApp Beta for iOS version 23.10.0.70.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Users who have installed or updated to these beta versions through Google Play and Apple’s TestFlight can access the Edit message option via the three-dot menu (Android) or the long-press menu (iOS). This functionality aligns with the recent WhatsApp Web beta update that introduced message modification capabilities.
WhatsApp has set a time limit of 15 minutes for editing messages across all platforms, including iOS, Android, and Web. Apple also imposes a similar time limit on text editing within the Messages app. However, while iMessage restricts editing to five times, it appears to have no specific limit on the number of times a message can be modified within the designated time frame.

Although message editing is currently available for beta testing on Android, iOS, and Web versions, WhatsApp has not provided an exact timeline for its release on the stable channel. Users can expect the feature to roll out in the coming weeks, along with other beta-tested features. One such feature is the ability to silence unknown callers, aimed at combatting the increasing prevalence of spam and scam calls on the messaging platform.
WhatsApp is making strides in enhancing user experience by introducing the message editing feature for beta users on its Android and iOS platforms. With the ability to edit text messages within a specified time frame, they aim to provide greater flexibility and convenience to its users. Keep an eye out for the official release of this feature, along with other exciting updates, in the coming weeks.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’m about pretty sure this will save a lot of unnecessary stress, especially for introverts, when they accidentally typo’d something and deleting stuff seems a bit overkill.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 will be up to 41% faster than the GeForce GTX 1050

A leak revealing MSI’s upcoming MSI GL63 has revealed the latest hardware from both Intel and NVIDIA. Intel will be introducing their 9th Gen Intel Core processors for laptops very soon, while NVIDIA has their GeForce GTX 1650 to unleash upon the world. The MSI GL63 will apparently pack both.
The leaked flyers courtesy of @momomo_us reveals the improvements that we are set to gain from the GeForce GTX 1650. Interestingly, it offers up to 41% performance improvement from the GeForce GTX 1050, with the lead shrinking to a still respectable 24% when compared against the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.
The GeForce GTX 1650 appears to have pretty respectable horsepower under its hood!
A more realistic test would definitely be games. The GeForce GTX 1650 is promised to deliver around 120 fps in League of Legends and 60 fps in Assassin’s Creed. It’s quite clear that the GeForce GTX 1650 is probably going to be marketed as an “esports” graphics card designed for less graphics-intensive titles.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

From the other pages, we also know that the GeForce GTX 1650 in the MSI GL63 will be clocked at up to 1395 MHz and come with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM. The type of VRAM used in the GeForce GTX 1650 isn’t explicitly revealed, but considering the GeForce GTX 1660 features 8 Gbps GDDR5 memory, we would expect something similar for the GeForce GTX 1650 as well.
We have already seen two laptop manufacturers leak out their GeForce GTX 1650 laptops, but we have yet to see a AIB partner reveal their GeForce GTX 1650. Might NVIDIA actually release a laptop-only Turing GPU this time around?
Pokdepinion: If it is priced around what GeForce GTX 1050 laptops have been going for, the GeForce GTX 1650 might be a pretty impressive upgrade.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


MSI June Promotion with Up to RM2,400 Off

This June, shoppers can save up to RM 2,400 with the MSI Mid-Year Sales. The sale will also feature the Raider GE66, GF63 Thin, Bravo 15, and other gaming laptops.
Furthermore, to celebrate the mid-year, the company is providing the GF63 Thin 10SC-638MY for RM 2,949, which is RM 500 less than the original price which was RM 3,449.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

In addition, this mid-year sale will include additional laptop series, such as the business productivity series for business elites, professionals, and students. Consumers can now optimise their job productivity with MSI business and productivity laptops, allowing them to spend more leisure time with their family or on their hobbies, especially since it is the middle of the year.
The company gives the best performance technology for gamers seeking the most immersive experience, but the company also provides the best efficiency for content creation jobs.
The promotional period starts from 26 May to 26 June 2022, so be sure not to miss it!
For more information about MSI’s Mid-Year Sales, feel free to visit their official website.
Pokdepinion: To MSI havers and wanters you would not want to miss out on this promotional period!
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related


Resident Evil Village Release Date Confirmed – A Lot Sooner Than Expected

With the Resident Evil Village demo out, many people grew excited about the game. If you’re wondering when the game will be launched, we have the official release date right here.
Resident Evil Village Release Date Confirmed

Capcom recently released a brand new trailer for Resident Evil 8, otherwise known as Resident Evil Village, on the official Resident Evil YouTube channel. The trailer itself gives another look at its characters and settings, with the release date being shown at the end.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

If you watched through the whole trailer, then you will known that Resident Evil Village will be launching on 7th May 2021. This comes off as a surprise for many gamers as it’s happening rather fast. I believe this is in part Capcom taking advantage of the situation as we just started out on a brand new generation for console gaming with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Previously, we only knew that the game was coming sometime in 2021, but no exact release date was mentioned. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, many were expecting it to be delayed, which would be an understandable course of action. We do hope it won’t end up being a rushed mess like Cyberpunk 2077, especially since there is chance they sped up the process as story spoilers have already started to surface online.
Once again, Resident Evil Village will be coming to the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on 7th May 2021.
Source
Pokdepinion: I’m kinda on the fence with the storyline, especially since it involves vampires and werewolves. However, I’ll still keep an open mind and experience it for myself.
Spread the PokdeLoveClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related