ASUS PRIME B450M-K Review – Hidden gem for entry level or best hidden away?

AMD Ryzen 3000 series has been launched since 2019 and still continues to flourish in the market. With the recent introduction of the Athlon 3000GE, it spurred us to look into more entry-level motherboard as it is a better pairing for APU like this. Hence we picked the ASUS PRIME B450M-K, easily among the most affordable B450 motherboard out there. We got ours at the price of just RM259 when is on promotion!
Buying entry range hardware is sometimes a gamble, due to the fact that manufacturers often have to strip things down to the essentials to keep the price down. For another brand that’s not to be named, even support for XMP profiles was cut to keep the price down.
Fear not, ASUS PRIME B450M-K still supports its XMP profiles, but what corner did they cut? Find out in the review if too much corner were cut, or is this the most affordable B450 motherboard you should try?

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Appearance

The ASUS PRIME B450M-K has all the stuff you need to get up and running. Being a mATX board, what is offered is still considered pretty complete. With a 4+2 phase VRM configuration, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports behind, a M.2 slot that supports both SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 interfaces, and a USB 3.0 front header, you are pretty much set. You only get two DIMM slots, but that’s fine as you still get to take advantage of dual-channel memory configurations. But in order to keep the price as affordable as it is, you do not get a heatsink over the VRMs. It’s an important yet not as crucial as other parts were absent from the board.
The rest of the layout is once again pretty basic, and can be considered naked as you get bare components on PCB throughout the board with the exception of the PCH heatsink.

We have a PCI Express 3.0 slot running at full speed (x16) for your GPU needs. The slot itself comes with ASUS SafeSlot Core support technology, which means the slot comes with improving retention force and better shearing resistance. Which means you don’t need to worry while trying to remove the GPU. Yes it is a real concern, which happened to an unfortunate user who tore out the whole slot when removing a GPU. ASUS also included a LED light that breathes at the slot lock.
Below the 16x slow are two PCIe x1 slots. Due to the first slot most probably blocked by the GPU, users are left with only one expansion slot. Next to the PCIe x1 slot is the M.2 slot, bear in mind that this will only support SATA mode if you’re using an Athlon. We were stuck here and took a while to figure that out.

We have 2 slots for RAM here and you can run dual-channel configurations to maximize your Ryzen’s potential here. Depending on the processor, the max support speed varies but ASUS claims a maximum of DDR4-4400 with this board. As we are using an Athlon 3000G for review here, we ran our RAM at 2666 MHz, even though the RAM is rated for 3200 MHz.

Nothing much to see at the back of the motherboard as it is clean with no components other than the standard AMD backplate.
Rear IO

For rear IO, we have quite a good spread here, with enough USB slots to handle normal usage, and it even comes with two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports for that sweet 10 Gbps transfer rate. Unsurprisingly the HDMI port is missing, probably due to manufacturers needing to pay a royalty fee for each HDMI port they use, hence it is left out to maximize cost-saving. You do get a DVI-D output in case you have a more recent monitor that doesn’t accept VGA.
The light blue USB port is USB 3.1 Gen 2 with speed up to 10 Gbps.
VRM

Yes, knowing that this is an entry-level board, we shouldn’t be too picky about the VRM, we do like to point out that the VRM incorporated here by ASUS is of acceptable quality. The VRM is an ASUS DIGI+ ASP1106GGQW, with a 4+2 phase layout, with one ON Semiconductors 4C10B high-side MOSFET and two 4C06B low-side MOSFET. Power is supplied via an 8-pin power connector. The same layout is also found on pricier boards from ASUS like the ASUS ROG Strix B450F or the ASUS X470 TUF Plus.

Audio
On the audio side of the business, the ASUS PRIME B450M-K is powered by a Realtek® ALC887 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC. It sits on a dedicated audio PCB layer, separating it from the main PCB hence the electronic interference too. ASUS also used premium Japanese audio capacitors, which ASUS claims will “provide warm, natural and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity”.

One thing to point out is that while the Realtek ALC887 support 8-Channel audio, this requires a total of 4 audio jack. Since there’s only 3 audio jack at the back, to achieve true 8-channel audio you would actually require to make use of the the front audio jacks too. While that sounds rather troublesome, I personally guarantee you this is nothing something will ever trouble you for a few reasons:

For speaker system, it is very unlikely to set up a surround sound system with this system. Most PC multimedia systems are commonly 2.1 system or for surround sound system the furthest you would go is a 5.1 system.
For headphones, is very unlikely that you will be using the analog jacks since most headphones that support surround sound resort to USB instead.

Storage

On the storage end, ASUS PRIME B450M-K offers sufficient ports for normal usage. For hard drives and 2.5” SSDs, there are 4 x SATA 6Gb ports, with support for RAID 0, 1, 10. For M.2, there’s a single slot right under the main PCIe x16 slot, with support for both SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 speeds, depending on the processor used. For any Ryzen processors, it can support both PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe and SATA SSDs. As for Athlon processors, the M.2 slot only supports SATA drives. Keep in mind this is not due to the motherboard but the limitation of the processor.

Accessories

As it is an entry-level product, the accessories are kept at a minimum. One thing out of the ordinary is the M.2 anchor, which is a bracket used to secure the m.2 drive in place, replacing the usual screw solution. This is something new for me, as it generally works but I have mixed feelings about, more on this later.

MATX board
User’s manual
I/O Shield
2 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x M.2 Anchor
1 x support DVD

Being a time traveler from 1986, it baffles me why there are still printed user manuals and DVD drivers still present nowadays. A normal user would immediately download the latest drivers online, and while the user manual comes in handy, a PDF guide online would have sufficed. I would much rather exchange the user manual and DVD for any form of VRM cooling.

User Experience
Installation
Being a MATX board, the ASUS PRIME B450M-K enjoys wide support in most casings except ITX casing. It is very easy to install the board into our Cooler Master NR400.

We did run into some problems when installing the CPU cooler. AM4 coolers are widely available with compatibility with coolers from two generations back. You would expect something with such a long history to have most of its issues ironed out, yet while trying to mount a Cooler Master T200 onto the board, we were having to force the cooler into place, and later unscrewing the top bracket to loosen the cooler so we can dismount it.

As we had mentioned earlier that the speed of the M.2 is limited by either using Athlon or Ryzen. Remember that Athlon only supports M.2 SATA, while Ryzen supports up to M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4.

This is something new to us, a M.2 anchor, which is used instead of the M.2 screw sets. The first time installing this is something rather terrifying because the anchor requires quite a large amount of force to push in, so much so that it the board slightly bends when I was pushing it into the motherboard. After installing it, it secures M.2 drives easily by locking the back pin into place.
After installation I come to the realization that this is a great solution for a few reasons:

Less screwing around. Coming from a person who once scratched an M.2 PCB and ended up permanently damaging the traces and essentially destroying it. Hence the less I need to use something sharp around a M.2 drive the better.
Easy installation. Having only need to push and pull a pin to secure an M.2 is a blessing especially for a reviewer like us.

At the edge of the PICe slot and the sound chip are some glowing orange LEDs. It doesn’t serve any purpose other then for aesthetic reasons. Having this LED light does give the board something interesting to look at, and the LED continues to glow even when the power is switched off.

As nice as it is, I would appreciate it more if the LEDs served an actual function, due to the fact that there are no debugging LEDs or any BIOS speakers with the motherboard. It would be quite nice if the LEDs can serve as a debugging signal too.
BIOS

The Bios here is ASUS’ standard UEFI BIOS. Even though is used for entry board like this, it does still come with some features for overclocking. It supports XMP profiles up until 4200 MHz.

For those that want to have a quick and easy OC, this bios include EZ System Tuning, which loads pre-configured OC profiles assigned to the CPU model installed allowing the user quick OC without having to manually test the parameters.

Also available to users is Q Fan Control, which allows users to manually control CPU or PWM fans with different speed profile.
Overclocking
With a stock AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, from a base clock of 3.6 GHz, we use the EZ System Tuning profile to easily reach 3.8 GHz. With the same method we able to effortlessly net a 200 MHz gain with an AMD Athlon 3000G, going up from the base clock of 3.5 GHz to 3.7 GHz. Due to this being an entry-level motherboard, we didn’t push the motherboard any further.

Since there’s no heatsink on the VRM, it also means a clear view when mounting the motherboard into the case, an advantage for installation but VRM cooling is a concern. Then again, this is a low-end board hence unlikely to be pair with high-end CPU. If you are using anything more than a 3rd Gen Ryzen 5 3600, do avoid overclocking as it would strain the VRM.
Conclusion
Serving the basic market, the ASUS PRIME B450M-K has everything to serve as a competent platform. We believe this board is more suitable for beginners, basic home PCs or office PCs.

Priced around RM259, the ASUS PRIME B450M-K ranks among the most affordable B450 board accessible to everyone. While it does not have bells and whistles, it does provide based on what is needed. Judging it by what it is, I personally have seen far worse boards than this around this price range, hence I believe it is fair to recommend this for anyone that seeks for a decent enough entry-level motherboard.

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


Kingston NV2 Unveiled As Next-Gen Mainstream SSD Offering

Kingston today revealed the successor to its value-focused NV1 SSD, appropriately named NV2 – running on the PCIe 4.0 x4 protocol, this drive offers improved performance overs its predecessor.

The NV2 maintains compatibility across older PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 systems alike; the single-sided M.2 2280 form factor should avoid any clearance issues especially on ultrathin laptops. The NV2 range offers four capacities: starting from 250GB, with bigger ones including 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. Kingston also offers their SSD Manager application to allow users monitor the drive’s health and usage, as well as updating firmware or erasing the data securely.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The specs for each capacities are as follows:

Capacity
250GB
500GB
1TB
2TB

Form Factor & Protocol
M.2 2280, PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe

Sequential Read
3,000MB/s
3,500MB/s

Sequential Write
1,300MB/s
2,100MB/s
2,800MB/s

TBW
80TB
160TB
320TB
640TB

MTBF
1,500,000 hours

Warranty
Limited 3-year

Visit kingston.com for more information.
Pokdepinion: The 2TB model in particular should be pretty good performance-wise, if you do need SSDs with that kind of capacity.
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 ZenFone Selfie and ZenFone 2 Laser are now available at ASUS Store Online

Have you read our review of the ASUS Zenfone Selfie? What do you think about the device? For me it’s a great smartphone if you’re a selfie maniac. But personally, I will go for the ASUS Zenfone 2 instead of the ASUS Zenfone Selfie because it fits my requirements as a performance freak better.

Just recently ASUS Malaysia announced the availability of their latest products in their ASUS online store, the ASUS Zenfone Selfie and ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser. Yes, the ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser, I apologize for my slowpoke-ness but honestly I didn’t even know the existence of this phone. Let’s take a look at the ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser’s specifications.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

It’s comes with a Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2Ghz, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also supports microSD cards up to 128GB. Based on these specifications, we can expect that this phone is not going to beat or even match the ASUS Zenfone 2 in terms of pure processing power. The display used is a 5.5 inch IPS panel with a resolution of 720 x 1280. For me the resolution is okay but what is the main reason the get the ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser? The camera, of course. It comes with a 13MP camera with dual LED and laser autofocus.

The ASUS Zenfone Selfie is available for RM1049 and the ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser for RM799, before you splash your money on either of these phones, think about your needs and choose which is suitable for you. If you realize neither of these suits you, you may also get the older ASUS Zenfone 2 or the even older but still ass-kicking ASUS Padfone S.

Pokdepinion : If you ask me what is my ideal phone, I will answer “The most affordable but feature packed without sacrificing the raw performance.” Some people might only need a decent camera, some prefer raw performance and some might desire a longer lasting battery life.

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


The Surface Laptop Go is coming this 24th November — pre-order it to get RM461 worth of freebies!

The Microsoft Surface lineup is defined by their sleek hardware design and a refined user experience. They are also generally quite pricey, as they are premium tablets and laptops. The Surface Go series was a breath of fresh air, making the Surface experience more accessible to more people. The Surface Laptop Go follows in its footsteps, with a more familiar clamshell form factor and great bang for your buck, especially if you pre-order it from GLOO. But more on that later.

One of the main highlights of the Surface Laptop Go is its 12.4″ PixelSense touchscreen display. While 12.4″ might sound very cramped, the 3:2 aspect ratio gives you significantly more viewing area than your usual 16:9 displays, while still promising excellent portability. Speaking of which, the laptop weighs only 1.1kg, making it the lightest Surface laptop ever.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Speaking of being lightweight, the Surface Laptop Go does pack quite a bit of performance with an Intel Core i5-1035G1 under the hood. Based on the latest Ice Lake architecture, it also boasts of excellent efficiency, allowing the Surface laptop Go to deliver up to 13 hours of battery life. There’s also fast charging to get the battery back up to 80% in just an hour so you are always ready to go.

Thanks to its portability and performance, you will understandably bring it everywhere. Microsoft has baked in Windows Hello with a fingerprint reader so your sensitive data and files are for your eyes (or finger) only.
Pre-order the Surface Laptop Go with GLOO for RM461 of freebies
For Malaysians, the Surface Laptop Go will be officially available starting 24th November 2020. But as mentioned earlier, you can pre-order it. The Surface Laptop Go will be available in Malaysia in only one color, Platinum, but there will be three different variants to choose from:

4GB RAM + 64GB storage
8GB RAM + 128GB storage
8GB RAM + 256GB storage

Prices start from just RM2758, and GLOO is giving out RM461 worth of freebies for early pre-orders. The pre-order is available from now until 23rd November, so don’t miss out on it. You will be getting the following with your Surface Laptop Go pre-order:

Mobile Mouse Bluetooth
Shield Care Extended Warranty (1 year)
Abodos TW-13 TWS Earphone

You will also be getting a Purchase with Purchase (PWP) offer to get a Microsoft 365 Personal license for just RM99, saving you an extra RM60 off the usual price of the license. To enjoy all these pre-order benefits and freebies, just head on over to register your interest at the following link:
Register your Interest
Alternatively, you can also head on over to the following links to purchase your Surface Laptop Go online, or offline too at their list of GLOO physical outlets:
GLOO Online
GLOO @ Lazada
GLOO @ Shopee
GLOO Physical Stores
For more info, head on over to GLOO’s official Facebook for more information.
Pokdepinion: The 4GB RAM variant might be a bit limiting… You should probably splurge a bit more for the 8GB version if you are getting one.
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


Diablo IV Set To Become The Second Game To Support Microsoft DirectStorage API

The technology has gotten off to a pretty slow start so far.

Dataminers (via Reddit) has found that inside Diablo IV’s game files (which is currently on Open Beta) contains “dstorage.dll” and “dstoragecore.dll” – both files responsible for Microsoft’s DirectStorage API which aims to significantly cut down game loading times on PCs with the use of SSDs.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Should this feature made it into the final release in June this year, this will make Diablo IV the second game to support this feature. The first goes to Forspoken – but the implementation of such technology in that game has proven inconclusive in terms of the performance improvement. Both games uses the version 1.0 of the API (Diablo IV uses 1.0.2 as of this Beta), but the GPU decompression feature, seen on consoles, are not included for this version – which version 1.1 does.
DirectStorage was published as a dev preview back in July 2021, and version 1.0 was available in exactly 12 months ago. The feature is intended to mimic blazing-fast loading times seen in Sony’s PS5 and Microsoft’s own Xbox Series consoles, however due to the huge spectrum of PC hardware, such technology has taken a while for the developers to sort out and the adoption has been quite slow so far.
Source: Wccftech
Pokdepinion: It’s probably gonna take a good year at least before DirectStorage properly takes off.
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 April 2018 FREE GAMES Lineup – Changes Are Happening

We have the official free games lineup for PS Plus Asia April 2018 right here. It would seem that there has been a big change in the lineup, and this might be the norm moving forward.
PS Plus Asia April 2018 FREE GAMES Lineup

Greetings, PlayStation Nation. I’m sure many of you have been waiting anxiously to see what free games await you this April 2018. Whether it’s good or disappointing will solely depend on your taste. Without further ado, let’s get into the list now, shall we? Keep in mind this is for PS Plus members in the Asia region only.
First up, we have Mad Max for the PlayStation 4. Developed by Avalanche Studios, you star as the iconic lone warrior surviving a hostile Wasteland. Max Rockatansky’s dangerous journey begins after a gang steals his legendary Interceptor. Combining open-world vehicle combat with bone-crunching battles, Mad Max will keep you fully immersed as you fight to get your Interceptor back and make it to the Plains of Silence.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Next up, we have Heavy Rain. Experience a gripping psychological thriller filled with innumerable twists and turns. Spanning four days of mystery and suspense, the hunt is on for a murderer known only as the Origami Killer – named after his macabre calling card of leaving behind folded paper shapes at crime scenes.
Four characters, each following their own leads and with their own motives, must take part in a desperate attempt to prevent the killer from claiming a new victim. How the game ends is entirely up to you.
Lastly, we have BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION. Combining 2D fighting game and visual novel, the series has been supported by many fighting game fans. This particular iteration, BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION, serves as the ending to the Azure Saga and reveals the truth that has ever been in mystery.
For the full lineup of games coming to PS Plus Asia April 2018, refer to it right below here:
PS Plus Asia April 2018 Full Lineup

Mad Max (PS4)
Heavy Rain (PS4)
BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION (PS4)
Toy Home (PS3)
Sky Force Anniversary (PS4)

Hope you enjoy the PS Plus Asia April 2018 free games lineup. Can you tell what’s different for this one compared to previous lineups?
Pokdepinion: I was expecting a change like this to happen next year onwards but I suppose if they wanted to start it early, can’t do much 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


Monster Hunter Mobile is Being Worked on By Pokemon Unite Devs

There is a Monster Hunter Mobile game being developed right now, and the team in charge of is the same one that developed Pokemon Unite.
Monster Hunter Mobile

There is a new Monster Hunter mobile game being developed in a collaborative effort between Capcom and TiMi Studio. In case the latter isn’t a name you’re familiar with, they are the same studio behind games like Pokemon Unite and Call of Duty Mobile.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

As for what this Monster Hunter mobile game will be like, it’s hard to tell for sure. It could easily be turned into another MOBA game given the studio’s experience in creating a game of that genre. If they were to follow the franchise closely, then it will likely follow a modern JRPG format, perhaps with some microtransactions here and there.
One thing’s for sure is that the original report on the game made a note that it will bring a “unique mobile experience catering to new and returning players”. Of course, it doesn’t really mean much since we know nothing but it certainly sounds like an ambitious project. We will report more when information becomes available so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: Hopefully it’s not just a simple cash grab based on an existing, popular IP. Otherwise, that’s just gonna kill the franchise in the eyes of gamers.
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


If you’re planning to get an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics card to further strengthen your gaming PC, it’s going to be tough. It looks like supply issues for the new series of graphics cards may last for months.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000-Series Supply Issues May Last for Months

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

During a recent earnings call with investors, NVIDIA Chief Financial Officer, Colette Kress, mentioned that it could take a number of months in order for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics cards to catch up with the demand from the masses. This would indicate that it would at least be tough to get one by end of this year.
Given industry-wide capacity constraints and long cycle times, it may take a few more months for product availability to catch up with demand.
Colette Kress
It was said that the blame isn’t on NVIDIA’s side as it’s mainly due to constraints within the whole industry. Speeding up the manufacturing process simply isn’t possible at this point in time, and they are trying to make the best out of the whole situation. It is said that the issue with the supply chain is expect to last throughout Q4 fiscal year, which ends in late January 2021.
Previously, NVIDIA head Jensen Huang said that the demand for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics cards will far outweigh the supply they have throughout the year. This would indeed be worse with the holiday season creeping up. It was said that the demand was much higher than they anticipated.
It’s worth noting that there is one more issue that could cause an issue with supply past January 2021. The price of Bitcoin has increased to about USD $18,000 / RM74,000 which also caused other cryptocurrencies to increasing in value as well. This could potentially lead to an influx of demand for the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics cards purely for mining, especially given its popularity with Ethereum miners.
For now, it appears that interested buyers will simply have to wait for more stock. If there is any additional news on the matter, regardless of whether it’s good or bad, we will be reporting it right here so stay tuned.
Source
Pokdepinion: Given the price and the performance you’re getting from them, I’m not surprised that whatever stock is available sold out pretty quickly. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for a new batch.
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


Ubisoft Admits Cheating Is Becoming A Serious Issue In Rainbow Six Siege

Ubisoft, the developer behind Rainbow Six Siege has updated their latest list of issues and concerns surrounding the game and it includes cheaters.
Cheaters in Rainbow Six Siege
They’ve revealed the issue on their blog post, where they’ve noticed the rise on player reports on cheating. They’ve said in the post that they zero tolerance for people that cheats and that they are working on several ways to combat the issue in the game.
One of the famous issue (in cheating) is the “lobby freezing”, where players intentionally freeze the game in the lobby, making players to leave.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

It appears that an update will be coming soon that allows Ubisoft to track the ones involved in the act.
Here’s what they had to say about it:
The updates will allow us to gather necessary data points that we will use to accurately track and identify lobby-freezing. In future updates we will use this data to automatically detect and kick lobby-freezers.Ubisoft
If you didn’t know, Rainbow Six Siege utilizes BattleEye, an anti-cheat software. The company has said they are working to “strengthen our collaboration” with BattleEye developers to catch the cheaters faster.
Source
Pokdepinion: No one likes a cheater, regardless of what game you’re in.
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


Xiaomi shows off under-display camera technology — the holy grail of bezel-less smartphones?

Xiaomi’s quest for bezel-less displays has begun since the very first Mi MIX, where they managed to eliminate bezels on all sides except one. Then came notches and punch holes, the latter which Xiaomi has yet to implement in any of their smartphones in the market. Xiaomi might totally skip it though, as they seem to have the answer to a truly bezel-less display: an under-display camera.

Do you want a sneak peek at the future? Here you go…introducing you to Under-Display Camera technology!#Xiaomi #InnovationForEveryone pic.twitter.com/d2HL6FHkh1
— Xiaomi #5GIsHere (@Xiaomi) June 3, 2019

While Xiaomi didn’t go too much into the details of their technology of their display, it seems like Xiaomi will use a small transparent OLED panel on top of the hidden selfie camera. This small section will have transparent cathode and anode arrays, allowing higher light transmittance and lower reflectivity to allow the selfie camera to work. And while the design is very challenging, Xiaomi managed to incorporate a 20MP selfie camera to satisfy any selfie fanatics out there.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

From the looks of it, you might be able to get a glimpse of the selfie camera under the display if you view it under bright light, but in normal usage conditions, it will be invisible. Something like the Samsung Galaxy S10’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, I guess. In any case, it would solve the conundrum of how much display area to cutout for a usable notch. If this display tech matures even further, we may even see devices with 3D IR facial recognition technology drop the notch.

Xiaomi has yet to announce a launch date for their new technology, so stay tuned. We expect Xiaomi to announce this technology with the Mi MIX 4, finally achieving the goal that they set out to achieve with the Mi MIX family.
Pokdepinion: I wonder if they can put this to the corner of the display like the punch hole designs… That would make it even less intrusive, right?
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


Two New Razer BlackWidow V3 Keyboards Revealed with Prices Starting from RM490

Looking to get yourself a new keyboard? Now you have two new options to consider as it the Razer BlackWidow V3 and V3 TKL (tenkeyless) have been officially unveiled, coming with a host of new features and upgrades.
Two New Razer BlackWidow V3 Keyboards Revealed

Starting off with the Razer BlackWidow V3, it has an improved aluminum body with built-in cable routing and comes with Doubleshot ABS keycaps which has the lettering molded into the structure of the keycap, meaning it will never wear off. You also have the choice of the clicky Razer Green switches and the silent Razer Yellow switches.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Apart from that, it comes with the company’s signature Razer Chroma RGB lighting, a new multi-function digital roller with media-key set for easier media controls, and an ergonomic wrist rest for that added bit of comfort. It’s also worth noting that the multi-function digital roller can be customized via the Razer Synapse software.

As for the TKL version, it will come with everything the standard edition has minus the number pad, multi-function digital roller, and wrist rest. After all, it wouldn’t be a TKL keyboard if it had the number pad included, but it’s a shame that an appropriately-sized wrist rest isn’t included in this one.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 will be retailing for RM699 whereas the TKL version will be slightly more affordable at RM490. There is also a Pro version, which is the wireless entry in this series of keyboards which you can also consider. Both keyboards can be purchased on the Razer Store, which you can head directly to by clicking right here.
Pokdepinion: With the standard version getting a wrist rest, it would have been nice if the company included it as well for the TKL version. Then again, if you want something more compact, this might not be a dealbreaker for you.
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


Blizzard Talks About Upcoming Hearthstone Update – New Cards and Changes in The Arena

Blizzard has shared a bit of what to expect in an upcoming update for Hearthstone that is designed to change some things up in The Arena game mode. We also get a glimpse into some new cards.
Blizzard Talks About Upcoming Hearthstone Update

The Arena is an exciting game mode where players can build a 30-card deck from randomly offered cards and battle others for in-game rewards. It’s a mode that tests the skills of even the most passionate deck builders in the Hearthstone community. The Arena comes with its own unique strategies, exciting twists, and offers a fresh way to play Hearthstone with every game.
The developers at Blizzard are always working on ways to improve this mode, and so they have decided to share with us on some changes coming to the Arena soon. Lead Systems Designer Kris Zierhut discusses these changes in a video at the top of this post.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

For a breakdown of what was talked about in the video, feel free to refer below:
The Draft

Each Arena pick will feature 3 cards of relatively equal power level, but different rarities. This means that the cards offered should all be strong choices, and it’s the player’s opportunity to select the one that is best for the deck they want to build.
If the option to select a Legendary card comes up, they will still appear in their own picks separate from the other rarities. However, they will be 3 Legendaries of approximately equal power level.
Picks 1, 10, 20, and 30 while building out a deck will continue to have a guaranteed Rare quality card or better among the options to choose from.
The chance to see class cards, spells, and weapons as options will stay the same, but the chance to see cards of below average value will decrease.

New Cards

At BlizzCon last year, the Hearthstone team had attendees of a panel help determine 9 class cards that would be created just for the Arena. With 10.4, these cards will be added to the pool of cards that can come up as possible choices for building decks in this mode for a limited time.
Overall, the goal with these changes is to give players more interesting decisions to make when drafting an Arena deck. Whether the goal is to choose cards for a particular synergy, strategy, or playstyle, Blizzard believes that these changes will give players the ability to take ownership of their Arena decks.
When these changes go into effect, all cards that are currently not included in the Arena draft pool will still be excluded. In addition, other existing Arena rules that affect appearance rates will be unchanged. Lastly, the increased chance to see cards from the most recent expansion will be temporarily disabled.
Source: Official Blogpost

Pokdepinion: I am more excited about the new cards as it will make the game more interesting, at least for me. Good going, Blizzard.
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


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Gets Banned On Russian Playstation Store

It seems that the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare won’t be making it’s way to Russia, at least not digitally as PlayStation Russia is refusing to sell on their digital store.

В основе Modern Warfare – полностью вымышленная история, тщательно созданная, чтобы доставить удовольствие всем игрокам. SIE решили не продавать игру в российском PS Store. Мы с нетерпением ждем выхода игры в цифровом варианте для ПК и Xbox 25 октября.— Call of Duty Russia (@CallofDutyRU) October 22, 2019

The news was revealed at Call of Duty Russia’s Twitter account, where they’ve said that Sony Interactive Entertainment (Russia) has decided not to sell the game on the Russian PS Store.
At the current moment, it is still unknown on their decision to not sell the game on the store. This means that for gamers will need to play the game on Xbox One or PC should they want the game digitally.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

In the comments (of the Tweet), a lot of users are angry with the decision. Despite the news, the game will still be available on PS4, where physical copies are available from retailers.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is set to be released this 25th of October 2019 and will be playable on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Pokdepinion: Remember – no Russian…. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself 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


WWE 2K20 Roman Reigns 2K Towers Mode Challenge Unveiled

The folks over at 2K Games have unveiled some new content that gamers can enjoy in the upcoming WWE 2K20 game. This time, they are highlighting on the 2K Towers Mode for the Big Dog, Roman Reigns, aptly named Roman’s Reign.
For those of you who aren’t aware, the 2K Towers Mode will have gamers use either their own custom wrestler / MyPLAYER or WWE Superstar and compete in one of several towers. Each tower will have its own unique gauntlet of matches with their own set of challenges, stipulations and player modifications.
For the Roman Reigns 2K Tower Mode gauntlet, you will go through the Big Dog’s early days in WWE including his time as part of The Shield. You will relive past rivalries such as with John Cena, The Undertaker, AJ Styles, and many more. We’ve included the full list of matches in the 2K Towers Roman’s Reign right below here:

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins vs. Team Hell No
Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton
Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan
Roman Reigns vs. Big Show
Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt
Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus
Roman Reigns vs. Triple H
Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles
Roman Reigns vs. Rusev
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Roman Reigns vs. Undertaker
Roman Reigns vs. John Cena
Roman Reigns vs. The Miz
Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre

WWE 2K20 will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on 22nd October 2019.
Pokdepinion: Honestly, I’m just hoping the game works and feels better than their last installment. All of this content will just be something extra to enjoy.
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


OPPO Malaysia Rewards O-Fans And My OPPO App Users With First-Class Movie Premiere

The folks at OPPO Malaysia has recently invited O-Fans plus My OPPO App Users with their O-Time workshops, most recently to the movie premiere of The King’s Man.
OPPO Malaysia O-Time workshop
My OPPO App users were invited to join OPPO to experience true cinematic luxury at the Aurum Theatre’s Getha Lux Suite at The Gardens. They were also invited to dress up in their best suits to take home the “Best Dressed” prize.
As you might have known by now, O-Time is part of the brand’s commitment to express their gratitude to loyal consumers. The My OPPO App comes pre-loaded on all new OPPO smartphones where you can enjoy membership benefits as well as connect with other members of the community.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

For more details, you may head to the link right here. Stay tuned to Pokde.net for more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews.
Pokdepinion: While I won’t say that I am a movie-goer myself, the event that they hosted really was unique. So that was a nice thing. Be sure to check out the app if you are a user of one of their devices.
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


Garmin Introduces New Edge 130 Plus & Edge 1030 Plus GPS Cycling Computers

The folks at Garmin Malaysia has today introduced their latest GPS cycling computers in the form of the new Edge 130 Plus and Edge 1030 Plus.
Garmin Edge 130 Plus & Edge 1030 Plus
Garmin Edge 130 Plus
The Garmin Edge 130 Plus comes with a button design and a 1.8-inch display. You can use it to sync both indoor and outdoor workouts automatically from Garmin Connect or other training apps. With it, it provides data to provide dynamic performance insights, including VO2 max and heart rate. Its ClimbPro feature allows riders to see the remaining ascent and grade for each of their climb when following a route or course.
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
On the other hand is the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus which comes with GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellites plus a built-in altimeter to provide greater coverage and accurate ride data.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The Course Creator in Garmin Connect provides you the best routes that are aggregated from those most traveled by other cyclists.
Aside from providing VO2 max and heart rate insights, it also checks your heart rate zones as well as calories burned.
Text messages will appear on the screen so you can view them at a glance while riding. Other than that, it comes with a weather page, which you can probably guess what it does. Pair the Edge 1030 Plus with a compatible smartphone, it will then upload rides to the Garmin Connect online fitness community.
Not to forget, it features up to 12 hours of battery life while on GPS and up to 10 hours when you use two sensors with the device.
Available already, you can get the Garmin Edge 130 Plus at RM999 and the Edge 1030 Plus bundle at RM3,399.
Pokdepinion: If you’re an avid fan of outdoor cycling, you might want to check them out.
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 Ryzen 3000 processors leaked out by Singaporean retailer

Singaporean retailer Bizgram has just recently published a product catalog featuring the AMD Ryzen 3000 series of processors. These CPUs have yet to be announced, with an expected launch date of 7th July 2019. However lending credibility to this leak is the fact that Bizgram has reportedly leaked out the 9th Gen Intel Core processors’ pricing before they were introduced as well, with surprising accuracy.
If Bizgram’s pricing is to be believed, we will be seeing new Ryzen 3000 processors based on the Zen 2 architecture start from as low as SGD 151 (~RM454). The rumored 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 3850X was listed as well, for a surprisingly affordable SGD 760 (~RM2285).
Here are the prices for the Ryzen 3000 processors leaked by Bizgram:

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

AMD Ryzen 3 3300 – SGD 151 (~RM454)
AMD Ryzen 3 3300X – SGD 196 (~RM589)
AMD Ryzen 3 3300G – SGD 196 (~RM589)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 – SGD 271 (~RM815)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X – SGD 349 (~RM1049)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600G – SGD 303 (~RM911)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700 – SGD 455 (~RM1368)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X – SGD 501 (~RM1506)
AMD Ryzen 9 3800X – SGD 684 (~RM2056)
AMD Ryzen 9 3850X – SGD 760 (~RM2285)

If these prices are true, Intel will be looking at a serious problem as these new AMD CPUs are rumored to feature much higher clocks, and with the higher core counts, they will even annihilate most of Intel’s lower end HEDT processors. Their higher-end HEDT processors may have a better fighting chance, but once AMD introduces the Threadrippers based on the new 7nm Zen 2 architecture, all bets are off.

For those who aren’t into pure brute performance, the Ryzen 3300G and Ryzen 3600G may pose as pretty interesting propositions. Having an APU that’s capable of some casual gaming is a dream, and AMD looks set to realize it. It remains to be seen if the Ryzen 3000 APUs for desktop will come with 7nm Zen 2 CPU cores, or will follow in the footsteps of their mobile counterparts and feature 12nm Zen+ cores.
Until these processors are launched, take this rumor with a pinch of salt. The pricing does seem pretty legit though if we go by what we have seen from AMD.
Pokdepinion: I would break my piggy bank to get myself a Ryzen 9 3800X!
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 Sponsorship of Warriors Gaming (WG.Unity), Malaysia’s Professional DotA 2 Team

Cooler Master, the market’s leader in design and manufacturing of computer components and peripherals, announced today that they will be sponsoring Warriors Gaming (WG.Unity), a professional eSports DotA 2 team based in Malaysia. First discovered and currently owned by DF Realty Sdn Bhd, the team members were handpicked based of their proven achievements in local DotA 2 competitions. In a short span of time, WG.Unity has enjoyed a rapid success in South East Asia competitions, most notably by winning the recently concluded World Cyber Arena APAC Qualifier and went on to become the first ProDotA Cup SEA Series champion as well as JoinDOTA League ASIA Season 10.
Left to Right: Tue “ahfu” Soon Chuan, Lai “Ah Jit” Jay Son, Kam ‘NaNa’ Boon Seng, Raphael ‘KaNG’ Chua, Neng “Wenn.” Ee Wooi
WG.Unity’s rise to fame in the DotA 2 eSports worldwide scene first caught the attention of Cooler Master Malaysia, who incidentally been on the lookout for suitable timing and opportunity to lead a hand into the development of the local eSports scene.
Top Left to Right: Bonnie Ng (Manager), Tue “ahfu” Soon Chuan (Captain), Eng Kiat (Cooler Master Malaysia), Wayne Kok (Coach), Lai “Ah Jit” Jay Son Bottom Left to Right: Raphael ‘KaNG’ Chua, Neng “Wenn.” Ee Wooi, Kam ‘NaNa’ Boon Seng
As the official sponsor of WG.Unity, Cooler Master Malaysia will support to the team by supplying to them its Cooler Master Eco-system which consists of the Case, Power, Thermal Solutions and Peripherals. Together with MSI Gaming mainboards and graphics cards, the team’s boot camp rig will be further customized by Mod’n’Go Design, a renowned PC Modding & Building house based in Kelantan.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Commenting on the confirmation of Cooler Master sponsorship, WG.Unity’s team coach Mr. Wayne Kok took the opportunity to express, on behalf of the team, their gratitude and commitment towards Cooler Master Malaysia.
Team Warriors Gaming.Unity (WG.Unity)

Calvin Liew (Team Owner, Founder of DF Realty Sdn Bhd)
Wayne Kok (Coach)
Bonnie Ng (Manager)
Tue “ahfu” Soon Chuan (Captain)
Neng “Wenn.” Ee Wooi
Lai “Ah Jit” Jay Son
Kam ‘NaNa’ Boon Seng
Raphael ‘KaNG’ Chua

Achievements
Champion

ProDotA Cup SEA Series
World Cyber Arena APAC Qualifier 2016
Pesta Selangor 2016
AGON Challenge 2016
Nanyang Championship Season 2 SEA Qualifier 2016
AOC Masters Championship Season 3
JoinDOTA League ASIA Season 10
MSI Battle of Pride 2016

1st Runner-ups

ESL One Manila Qualifier 2016

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


Final Fantasy XV System Requirements for PC; It’s Not Too Bad

Well, it looks like the Final Fantasy XV system requirements have been revealed. We actually anticipated it to be much higher, but this is good.
Final Fantasy XV PC System Requirements

The system requirements for the upcoming Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition have been revealed via the Microsoft store. Surprisingly, the minimum requirements are not too hefty so even some more dated rigs should be able to handle the epic fantasy JRPG.
For the minimum requirements, you’ll need a GTX 760 graphics card, either an Intel Core i5 2400 or AMD FX 6100 processor, and at least 8 GBs of RAM. As for the recommended specs you’ll have to have a GTX 1060, an Intel Core i7 3770 or an AMD FX 8350, and last but not least 16 GBs of RAM. Considering the GTX760 released a few years ago, most players who own gaming computers should be able to at least run Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition on lower settings.
Minimum Requirements

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 (3.1 GHz) or AMD FX 6100 (3.3 GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or equivalent
RAM: 8 GBs
OS: Windows 10
DirectX 11

Recommended

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 (3.4 GHz) or AMD FX 8350 (4 GHz)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or equivalent
RAM: 16 GBs
OS: Windows 10
DirectX 11

A PC port of Final Fantasy XV was announced back in August over the summer at Gamescom. It’ll reportedly support 8K resolution and HDR10 whereas the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X versions use checkerboard resolution to achieve 4K on both consoles. The director behind XV, Hajime Tabata, said that his team was also looking into the possibility of adding a level editor to the game.
Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition will be available sometime in early 2018. The game is also available right now for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Source: Microsoft

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Pokdepinion: Well #PCMasterRace, the Final Fantasy XV system requirements should definitely nothing to worry about. For the casual PC gamers, it’s honestly not too bad unless your PC is really outdated. Your time to experience Noctis’s adventure is almost here.
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 nova 8 Launches In Malaysia At RM1,899

The folks at HUAWEI Malaysia has today announced the launch of the new HUAWEI nova 8 which they claim is a high performing vlogging smartphone.
HUAWEI nova 8 now in Malaysia

Coming with a 6.57-inch OLED curved display with 90Hz refresh rate, the phone comes with a 64MP Quad Camera setup at the back. As for selfies, it sports a 32MP at the front.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

It is powered by a Kirin 820E chipset and 3800mAh battery, which you can charge with its 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge charger. They’ve said that it can be charged up to 60% in just 15 minutes.
They’ve revealed that the camera is built to come together with an AI feature and adopts a 4-in-1 light fusion technology for excellent vlogging.
Each purchase of the phone comes with freebies including an Entertainment Gift Box, HUAWEI Exclusive Voucher, 1 week of JOOX VIP Access, and 1 month of 200GB HUAWEI Cloud Storage.
Available in Blush Gold color, you can get it for the price of RM1,899 at HUAWEI Experience Store, HUAWEI Store Online or any participating HUAWEI Partner Stores.
We’ve previously reviewed its sibling, the HUAWEI nova 8i. Check that out by heading to the link right here. For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: We are in the midst of reviewing the HUAWEI nova 8, so do stay tuned for that to find out our full thoughts on the device!
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 ZenPad 8.0 (Z380KL) Review

Our Asus ZenPad journey continues. This time, we have a device that is one inch larger than it’s previous siblings and on this one, we are going to break free from the Intel CPU line-up. And that is probably the reason why the ZenPad 8.0 was not announced together with the ZenPad 7.0 series. But let’s see if one inch can leave an impact in our lives.
Unboxing
ARVE Error: need id and provider
Appearance
You could probably not tell any difference between the Asus ZenPad 8.0 and the Asus ZenPad 7.0 in terms of looks. Obviously, the size is the first thing you will notice among others. The layer finishing uses the same NCVM (Non Conductive Vapor Metallization) materials that give it the metal finishing but without actually using metal.
The back case is replaceable just like that of the Asus ZenPad 7.0. That means, the Asus ZenPad 8.0 also fully complies to Asus’ Luxury On Your Terms tagline in which you will be able to customize it to your preferred look. It has the same clutch look and feel but the case is slightly bigger and wouldn’t be interchangeable with the Asus ZenPad 7.0 cases. Which got me into thinking why. Asus could have made the back case that compliments some design features as well as fitting on all devices in the series. Now if we have the full line-up of accessories for the Asus ZenPad 7.0 and suddenly decided to upgrade to Asus ZenPad 8.0, it’s a whole new story altogether. Maybe Asus could look into this in the future given that they are the experts when it comes to innovation.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Looks similar? Spot the biggest difference.
Now let’s remove the cover and unleash what is under the hood. A tad like it’s little sibling, we spot a microSD slot and a single SIM slot but this time they are located nearer to the rear camera. It also has the same 10-pin connector like the one in the Asus ZenPad 7.0 which means there will be additional functional accessories for this device too. Who knows we might be lucky to get a 7.1 instead of the 5.1 this time? wink
Looks familiar? Similar but not the same!
Externally, we have the buttons on the right side for power and volume. The USB and the 3.5mm jack is located at the top of the device. In the front facade, the speaker and the front facing camera gracefully dons the glossy panel. I have to give the merits here, Asus keep things simple and elegant which makes it easy to fall in love with their products. One more thing you would have noticed here, which is the missing Intel logo at the back of the device. Let’s move on to the specifications to find the obvious answers.
Specifications

CPU:
Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8929 Octa-Core, 64bit @ 1.21GHz

Display:
8″ LED Backlight WXGA (1280×800) IPS

RAM:
2GB

Storage:
16GB Internal Storage + microSD slot

Camera:
Front: 2MPx
Rear: 8MPx with PixelMaster

SIM:
single-SIM (micro)

OS:
Android 5.0.2 Lollipop

Battery:
15.2Wh Li-Po

So this time around we have a match between Intel’s Atom X3 versus the Qualcomm Snapdragon. Both are rendering 1280 x 800 with the assistance of 2GB of DDR3 RAMs on the same OS. So how does the Qualcomm fare against it’s rival?
Oh,and btw, it does have LTE too in case you’re wondering!
Performance

But of course I had my bets on the Qualcomm Snapdragon. We clocked a whopping 2.3K extra compared to the Asus ZenPad 7.0. The 2GB RAM did it’s job fairly with the CPU. One thing to note is that the Asus ZenPad 8.0 comes with a Adreno 405 GPU which was not really doing it’s job that well. I’m not entirely sure if it was because of the lack of OS optimization or if I had a “lemon” GPU. On the project Anarchy rendering in Antutu, I was barely exceeding 5fps on the earlier frames where the number of polygons are the highest. After a while, it stabilizes and I managed to reach up to 15fps tops. If I could identify what was the cause or perhaps test a few more units, I guess this score can be pushed even higher.
The battery on the Asus ZenPad 8.0 is really forgiving. I left the device unused in standby mode without power saving for 7 days and I still had 50% in it! I thought it would have dried out completely by then but it did not. Now I regret not enabling the power saver mode, for which perhaps the figures would have been even awesomer! On wake up after 7 days, there were about 30 apps that needed update, an OTA to be applied and a multi-farious-fund of notification awaiting actions. And that is the little drop that you are seeing just below! Amazing!
Look at that standby time!
The multi-tasking on the Asus ZenPad 8.0 also seems a lot smoother than the Asus ZenPad 7.0. But that’s no surprise because Qualcomm has been in the Android line for far too long compared to Intel and I do expect this kind of optimization. Basically, this device rocks it’s socks! Also, unlike the little brother, the Asus ZenPad 8.0 has a better screen rotation redraw which was a problem I stated in the past review.
User Experience
The extra one inch adds up about 78g to the device weighing in a total of 350g compared to 272g on the Asus ZenPad 7.0. The interchangeable covers will give the device a profile of it’s own but since I don’t have the accessories at my disposal right now, I can’t really comment on that. Although Malaysian sets do come with ONE free additional case just like the Asus ZenPad 7.0 did just so you don’t miss out in the feature that it readily offers already.
One thing that is definite is that the Asus ZenPad 8.0 feels less comfortable to hold compared to the Asus ZenPad 7.0. I have huge palms and I like to hold the device from the back spanning my palm across the sides. While my palm can span the 8 inches but after holding it for sometime, it gets really tiring and you have to switch it to book-hold position. The Asus ZenPad 7.0 on the other hand feels much comfortable for longer hours. But maybe if the Asus ZenPad 8.0 starts rolling in with accessories just like its little sibling, things will be different but for now, holding the Asus ZenPad 7.0 feels much better.
Black glossy display. It has an IPS underneath it. Adore it!
The IPS is beautiful. It also has the same Visual Master package that includes Tru2Life which is a blessing Asus has added to their ZenPad series. Prolonged hours of reading and watching videos is not a problem at all. Top it off with the TruVivivd and Bluelight Filter, the device’s technology itself is worth the money spent on this device! Asus excels in this part of their devices really.
Now the speaker, just like the Asus ZenPad 7.0 uses the same front speaker for both the main output and earpiece. It’s loud enough for you to use but again, I’d prefer these two speakers to be separate. So one request to Asus would be to have the Audio Cover for this gadget as well, then I’ll be a happy camper. Then again, Asus has also incorporated the DTS-HD into the audio counterpart of this device so all is not that bad. For now, I’ll be using earphones with the tablet to get the best out of it.
The camera has Asus’ signature PixelMaster technology that you would find in most Asus products. The camera did perform slightly better than the Asus ZenPad 7.0’s camera although I was told it shares the same chip (to be confirmed). I find the images with the Asus ZenPad 8.0 less grainy and posterized. Note that I don’t take extensive photo samples but rather automatic setup so you can tell how the sensor itself is optimized for automated images. Photography is a huge subject and the purpose of my reviews are just to show you what you will be getting out of the box.
A close up shot on automatic setting. Not bad eh?
Outdoor shot of our hazy country.
The Asus ZenPad 8.0 is also shipped with Android Lollipop 5.0.2 bundled with Asus’ signature ZenUI to add that additional punch to the UI. All apps from the ZenUI are loaded as well. This just completes the device.
The Asus ZenPad 8.0 comes in 16GB internal storage with SD card support up to 64GB for your data storage pleasures. There is also the same 5GB Asus WebStorage and 100GB storage from Google, so this is just a steal! Grab it the moment you see it in the market – which is going to be happening beginning next week (28/09/2015) onwards.

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 Tiger Lake-H and Alder Lake to offer more cores on 10nm

Intel appears to have made significant headway with the recent 10nm SuperFin process, allowing them to deliver much higher clocks with the Intel Tiger Lake processors. Those were still capped at four cores, so yields were still a question. Well, the latest rumors point towards Tiger Lake-H, Alder Lake-P and Alder Lake-S offering up to sixteen cores on 10nm.
Tiger Lake-H
Tiger Lake-H is probably going to come in at a 45W TDP, similar to most high-performance mobile processors. It promises up to 8C/16T configurations, which should offer a substantial performance increase over current-gen parts with its new Willow Cove core architecture.
Throw in Intel Xe graphics and it should be quite an interesting mobile processor, although one might argue that the iGPU’s horsepower will end up mostly unused due to the fact that the H-series processors are often paired with a dedicated GPU. Or maybe this will motivate OEMs towards making an 11th Gen Intel Core-based laptop like the HONOR MagicBook Pro: a 45W TDP processor in a laptop without a dGPU.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Just a 45W AMD Ryzen 5 4600H, without a dGPU.
For the OEMs who want to throw in a dedicated GPU into the system, the Tiger Lake-H platform might be perfect with the processors expected to support PCIe 4.0. Just in time for a GeForce RTX 30-series laptop?
Alder Lake-P and Alder Lake-S
This should probably be the 12th Gen Intel Core procesosrs, and there are a few rather interesting things happening here. As previously leaked, Alder Lake will feature a mix of high performance Willow Cove and high efficiency Gracemont cores. An interesting change here is that while usually processor families with the S-suffix are socketed designs, this time around it is reportedly going to be a BGA option.

Will Intel explore the NUC Element platform further with the Alder Lake-S generation? It is expected to come in configurations ranging up to 16 cores (8 Willow Cove + 8 Gracemont) with a TDP of up to 125W, so Intel definitely has their work cut out for them in the cooling department.
Meanwhile the Alder Lake-P appears to be a premium laptop option, with up to 14 core configurations (6 Willow Cove + 8 Gracemont) and a beefy 96 EU Intel Xe GPU. Both Alder Lake-P and Alder Lake-S series will offer support for DDR5-4400 memory. PCIe bandwidth will also see a bump with 20 PCIe 5.0 lanes on Alder Lake-S and 16 with Alder Lake-P. Intel will also be adding security mitigations across the Alder Lake series via Multi-Key Total Memory Encryption.
Do take all the specifications mentioned with a pinch of salt though as Intel still has quite some time to work in changes before the Alder Lake series hits the deck.
Source
Pokdepinion: Seems like Intel is ready to make a pretty strong comeback in the coming years!
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


Samsung shifts focus to 6nm manufacturing technology; less interest in 7nm after Qualcomm jumps to TSMC for Snapdragon 845

Samsung is reportedly focusing on the 6nm manufacturing process, moving the highlight away 7nm as Qualcomm decides to employ TSMC’s 7nm process to produce their upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoCs. Samsung plans to mass produce 6nm chips by 2019.
The key to these advancements are ASML’s next generation lithography machines, which are currently in short supply. The Korean tech giant plans to install two units of these machines in their fabs, with another seven units planned for next year. Samsung aims to beat TSMC by using these machines for 6nm production, with TSMC expected to use these machines for 7nm manufacturing from 2019.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Samsung is expected to produce 8nm chips next year, an upgrade over this year’s 10nm technology which was used to manufacture Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 and their own in-house Exynos 8895. Samsung will also not be skipping the 7nm process entirely, but they will be produced in limited capacity, probably just enough for their Exynos SoCs.
Pokdepinion: The fabrication industry has always tried to skip ahead of the competition, with each jump giving the company an advantage with customers flocking to the newer process. Let’s see if Samsung will score Qualcomm’s paycheck again in 2019 with their 6nm process.
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


How to Get the Among Us Skin on Fall Guys and Play As the Impostor?

As many of you may know by the latest season trailer for Fall Guys, they have a collaboration going on with Among Us. If you want to know how to get the skin and also play as the Impostor, we know exactly how to do that.
How to Get the Among Us Skin on Fall Guys?

Very pleased to confirm that this eggy friend will be available as part of Season 4’s fame path!@AmongUsGame
⚡ Butt – Level 21
⚡ Eggy Head – Level 26 pic.twitter.com/zRrJr9atWz
— Fall Guys 4041 🤖 Season 4 🤖 (@FallGuysGame) March 16, 2021

Typically, the rarer skins would require you to purchase using in-game coins or crowns (no actual money necessary). In the case of the Among Us skin in Fall Guys however, you can easily unlock them by playing through the game and leveling up your Fame Path.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

To level up your Fame Path, all you have to earn Fame Points by playing the game. The higher you place in game, the more Fame Points you earn. The lower half of the skin will be available as a Level 21 reward whereas the top will be available as a Level 26 reward alongside a fried egg.
How to Play as the Impostor?

HOW DID THE IMPOSTOR GET IN THE GAME??? https://t.co/QIcHmX0X0Y
— Fall Guys 4041 🤖 Season 4 🤖 (@FallGuysGame) March 22, 2021

There has been some confusion on the Impostor skin as many gamers thought it would be a separate skin altogether. As it turns out, that’s not actually the case at all and you don’t have to do anything extra to unlock it.
Whenever you use the Among Us skin, there is a random chance you might get the Impostor skin instead. The idea here is to make it similar to the actual game instead, where every player has a chance to play as the Impostor in the game. The visor is clearly cracked and it rocks a pair of monstrous teeth. It’s purely visual and there’s no added function, in case you were wondering.
Source
Pokdepinion: I honestly thought it was the Impostor skin is separate. This is quite a smart implementation on Mediatonic’s end, and it shows that they’re willing to go above and beyond when it comes to collaborations.
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


Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada Leading Bandai Namco’s eSports Strategy Team

To everyone in the “DRAGON BALL FighterZ”, “TEKKEN”, and “SoulCalibur” community.
Please read & refer to the following link. Thanks!!!https://t.co/wE62pUOYPa
ドラゴンボールファイターズ、鉄拳、ソウルキャリバーコミュニティのみなさんへ、上記リンクを読んで頂ければ幸いです。
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) December 27, 2018

Recently, we heard of Dragon Ball FighterZ being pulled out from various fighting games / eSports tournaments. While there’s no clue as to why this is happening exactly just yet, we do know of Bandai Namco’s plans for 2019 in eSports.
Katsuhiro Harada, prominently known for Tekken, made a statement directed to the fighting game eSports community that Bandai Namco is “committed to expand” the tournament and community scenes for Dragon Ball FighterZ, as well as other fighting games like Tekken 7 and Soul Calibur VI.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

According to his TwitLonger message, Harada-san has “become the leader and supervisor” of the studios’ eSports Strategy team as of today. This will not impact his role as producers of these titles. In doing so, the team already has plans in the works which includes a strong roster of official and community tournaments for the coming years.
We are already planning to have as many official tournaments as possible for next year—while continue supporting tournaments held by the community. Furthermore, we are dedicated to figure out ways where we can assist tournaments and community activities in the future.
While this doesn’t address the situation with Dragon Ball FighterZ, it certainly is a positive move for the game, as well as Tekken 7 and Soul Calibur VI. This move was received very positively by most gamers, especially given his track record as a director and producer.
Pokdepinion: I am personally excited to see Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ taken to the next level in eSports in 2019.
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


GrabPay Introduces New Security Enhancements Including 2FA

GrabPay, Grab’s in-app wallet, recently enhanced its safety and security capabilities to safeguard its customers from fraud and security hazards. The improvements are part of Grab’s ongoing efforts and investments to provide users with a safe and secure payment environment.
Grab improves security for GrabPay

GrabPay’s multi-layer security measures will allow Grab users to securely conduct real-time digital transactions on the platform. Two-factor authentication (2FA) using Grab PIN and biometrics is one of the increased safety methods that is advised for all GrabPay users. With the significant movement in consumer preferences toward digital payments in Malaysia – 62% of consumers preferred using e-wallets and 52% preferred real-time payments – these security enhancements will provide consumers with further comfort that GrabPay is a safer method to pay.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

GrabPay already has a two-factor authentication function that protects consumers if their phone is stolen. If they haven’t done so already, all GrabPay users must create a six-digit Grab PIN. Users will also have the option to enable additional biometric authentication security measures such as fingerprint or Face ID based on their mobile device settings to further protect their information.

GrabPay has developed and continuously improved many safety and security measures to protect its users from all online and offline transactions since its launch. GrabPay’s numerous layers of protection include:

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): All GrabPay users are required to set up two-factor authentication with a six-digit Grab PIN. Users may also enable biometrics authentication via fingerprint or Face ID for added security to protect their GrabPay wallet and information.
Data Fraud Protection: GrabPay is integrated with a 24/7 fraud detection engine and strong in-house fraud and security team with robust processes and customised algorithms to prevent and detect fraud so as to prevent unauthorised transactions. GrabPay has also partnered with globally recognised security systems with credible fraud detection to ensure only genuine GrabPay transactions go through.
Privacy and Security: All personal information, payments, and credit card information of GrabPay users are protected and will not be shared or used externally. GrabPay’s data security is also compliant according to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) which is the most stringent certification available within the payments industry.
Strong Customer Support: Grab’s Help Center is designed to educate users about GrabPay and help find solutions to any concerns. Consumers can also reach out to Grab’s customer support through the Grab app for immediate assistance.
Regulated by the government: GrabPay is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and users’ wallet balances are stored and protected with Grab’s global banking partners.

For further information on GrabPay’s new enhanced security measures, head over to the official website right here.
Pokdepinion: This is good. I use GrabPay quite regularly so this is great news to me and undoubtedly a whole of other GrabPay users.
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 Maximus VIII Impact pictured — Gorgeous design

ASUS ROG fans who prefer compact yet powerful rigs will surely be excited as the ASUS Maximus VIII Impact mini-ITX motherboard has made an appearance on the interwebs and it looks stunning. The ASUS Maximus VIII Impact is built for the latest Intel 6th Generation Skylake processor that’s using Intel’s 14nm manufacturing process and supports DDR4 RAM modules.

For the SFF builders out there, I bet that ASUS Maximus VIII Impact is a perfect solution for a high-end SFF gaming PC. The ASUS Maximus VIII Impact is based on Intel’s Z170 chipset which supports the latest Intel 6th Generation Skylake processors and will features two DDR4 DIMM slots. As it is a mini-ITX board it only comes with one PCI-e 3.0 x16 slot.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

Moving on to the ROG-specific features on the ASUS Maximus VIII Impact, we see from the picture the ASUS Maximus VIII Impact will adopt the daughter power delivery board like its predecessor. It comes with four SATA 6Gbps port, enhanced audio with integrated SupremeFX Impact III and dual-antenna WiFi GO! which I suppose is a wireless AC module.

For input and output the ASUS Maximus VIII Impact actually provides a pretty decent number of five USB 3.0 port. We also found three fan header on the board, as well as a debug LED, on-board power, reset and clear CMOS buttons located on the rear on the motherboard for easy access.
We are not sure when this motherboard will be available here but our source suggests that it will launch sometime in September/October so hopefully we will see an official announcement soon.

SOURCE : Hardwareinfo
Pokdepinion : Mini-ITX builds are PC systems with a small footprint. With the ASUS Maximus VIII Impact, you can still build a great gaming rig even in the small form factor, although you won’t be able to use multiple GPUs with it. But as we know even with a single graphics card, most games should run very well even up to 4K resolution.
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 TUF Gaming A15 Review – Built as Solid as Its Value-for-Money Proposition

Unboxing the ASUS TUF Gaming A15
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Box

With every purchase of the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop, you’re expected to find the following items inside the box:
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Box content

230W power brickPower cableTUF Gaming backpackUser guide and warrantyThe ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop itself
Appearance
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Lid
As you might be able to tell at first glance, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop has had quite the design change over its predecessors. It follows a more subtle design concept with a clean look. For our unit, it is in Fortress Gray and it has a sandblasted metal lid with the TUF Gaming logo taking centre stage. There also appears to be four screws in each corner, and you can see LED indicators as well as the TUF Gaming text on the bottom area of the lid.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review
Open it up and you’ll be greeted by a 15.6-inch 144Hz Full HD IPS-level display, a webcam on the top bezel, ASUS logo on the bottom bezel, a single-zone RGB chiclet keyboard complete with numpad, air vents right above it, a trackpad below the keyboard, and some product stickers. The keyboard design is strikingly similar to the one seen on the STRIX SCAR II. It’s also worth noting the brushed metal finish here, giving it a sleek look.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Ports
On the left side, you have a proprietary charging port, RJ45 LAN port, HDMI port, two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and the 3.5mm combo audio jack. You can also see a little bit of the speaker hole here. On the right side, you have another speaker hole, a USB-A port, and an air vent. There are no ports on the rear, only two air vents.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Bottom
Moving to the bottom of the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop, you can see five tough rubberized grips on four corners and one in the center, honeycomb-designed air vents, and 11 exposed screws. It is said to be easy to upgrade by opening it up with a standard screwdriver. It will expose two M.2 SSD slots, an HDD slot, and two RAM slots. There’s also a special pop-open screw which will raise one corner of the bottom panel for easier separation.
Overall, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop has a more clean, sleek look this time around. It’s a solidly-built machine with military-grade toughness, passing the MIL-STD-810H tests for drops, shake, heat, cold, and humidity. It doesn’t need to have that over-the-top gamer aesthetic to let people know its strength, it can simply show it.
Specifications
CPUAMD Ryzen 7 4800H @ 2.3 GHz (up to 4.2 GHz Boost), 8C/16T, 7nm FinFET, 45W TDPRAM16GB (2 x 8GB) 3200 MHz DDR4GPUAMD Radeon GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6Storage1TB Intel 660p PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSDSoftwareMicrosoft Windows 10 HomeArmoury CrateGameVisualDTS:X UltraRealtek Audio ConsoleNVIDIA GeForce ExperienceConnectivityWirelessRealtek 8822CE (Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac 2×2)Bluetooth 5.0Wired1 x RJ45 LAN2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C1 x USB 2.0 Type-A1 x Proprietary charging portDisplay15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 144 Hz, LED-backlit Anti-glare IPS-level display with 45% NTSC1 x HDMI 2.0bAudio2 x speakers1 x 3.5mm combo audio jackPower230W power adapter48 WHr 3-cell Li-polymer batteryDimensions359.8 x 256 x 24.7 mmWeight2.3 kg
Performance

Our unit of the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop uses a 1TB Intel 660p SSD as its only storage device. On CrystalDiskMark, it got pretty good scores so you can expect fast loading speeds, boot-up times, and transfer speeds. If 1TB isn’t enough, you can add another M.2 SSD or even an HDD inside.

On Cinebench R20, it had the highest single core score in our list of benchmarked devices thus far. It also managed to gain the second highest score for multi core, which is still very close to the top contender. Simply put, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop has a beastly CPU powering it.

On Unigine SuperPosition, it managed an admirable score. The laptops that managed to beat the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop managed to do so most likely because of the stronger GPU.

As for 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, it also performed admirably. I found it odd that it managed to beat the 8th Gen Intel Core i7 with the same GPU but lost to one that’s running on the 9th Gen variant. I believe this is most likely due to RAM configuration. Either way, it’s still a solid performer.

On 3DMark’s Port Royal benchmark for ray-tracing on the other hand, it had decent performance. Given how intense ray-tracing can be, it’s no surprise to see this result as it only uses a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. Would not recommend playing games with ray-tracing on with this GPU for a more consistent gaming experience.

As for actual gaming, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 had pretty good performance. All games were ran in its highest settings at Full HD resolution. In this scenario, CS:GO is probably the only game that can fully take advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate. With that being said however, you can crank up the frames by lowering your settings so no worries there.
While the CPU temperature did pass 90°C, there was no thermal throttling, which is great. GPU thermal performance is good as it stuck around the 70°C mark. It’s also worth noting that the fan did get a bit noisy with all games but nothing overbearing.

Lastly, we have PCMark’s Modern Office endurance test which tests for battery life for productivity-based tasks. It has a a pretty good battery life for a gaming laptop, which makes me wonder how good would it be with the 90Whr battery. On personal use, I find myself being able to use it for about 3 hours before needing to recharge, which is average for a gaming laptop.
It’s worth noting that with a 90Whr battery capacity, you will be sacrificing the HDD bay.
User Experience
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Powered by AMD Ryzen
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop is quite an interesting machine. For starters, it’s powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. It’s worth noting that it tends to run quietly, except when gaming as the fans will start to spin rather quickly. Given the familiarity with Intel-based laptops for consumers today, this is a big change from the norm and makes people wonder how good it can perform.
On the memory side, it has a 1TB Intel 660p NVMe SSD and 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM (8GB x 2). If that isn’t enough, you can easily upgrade it yourself via the bottom panel. There are two RAM slots, two M.2 slots, and one 2.5″ HDD bay. While the 90Whr option isn’t officially available in Malaysia, if you ever have the choice to go for it, just keep in mind that it will come at the cost of the HDD bay.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review
As for the display, the 15.6-inch display is good for gaming, especially with the 144Hz refresh rate, but decent for everything else. The viewing angle is good and the colour reproduction is just okay. Furthermore, I find that the brightness is a little dimmer than what I would have liked, even on max. The bezels aren’t particularly thick, and I would prefer it this way instead of an oddly-placed webcam. It wouldn’t make sense to put in such an expensive display on this type of laptop so it’s perfectly fine to me.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Left side
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop has a good array of ports. You have 3 USB-A ports, a USB-C port, an HDMI port, a LAN port, a combo audio jack, and the proprietary charging port. What I find a bit odd is that one of the USB-A ports is USB 2.0. Given how far technology has advanced, I would expect at least USB 3.0 for all ports. I also would’ve liked if they included an SD card reader here but neither of these are dealbreakers.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – RGB lighting
As for the keyboard, we have a single-zone RGB chiclet keyboard complete with a numpad. It’s comfortable to use with short travel distance, making it suitable for work and play. Having a numpad in this laptop size is a blessing for me. I personally don’t mind the single-zone lighting, as I’m just glad it at least has lighting. The trackpad works fine, but nothing much to say about it. You’re better off using your own mouse.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – Armoury Crate
For that added bit of customization, you can make use of the ASUS Armoury Crate software. You can adjust the lighting, do some light overclocking, setup your own personal game profiles, and more. It works just like the ROG Armoury Crate, but the TUF Gaming theme slapped on it. It’s easy to use and I doubt anyone would have trouble with it.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – TUF GameVisual
If you want to optimize your viewing experience, you can use the TUF GameVisual software. You adjust colour temperature and set it to specific viewing modes. I personally stick to default because I’m perfectly fine with it, but there’s nothing wrong with adjusting it to your liking.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review – DTS:X Ultra
In the sound department, you have the DTS:X Ultra software where you can optimize your listening experience on speakers and with your headset. It doesn’t improve the audio experience by a huge margin, but you can tailor your experience to your liking, which is great. There’s also the Realtek Audio software but your options are limited.
As for the speakers themselves, I was actually blown away by it. Never have I heard so much depth from built-in speakers before. There’s noticeably more bass, it’s crystal clear, and audio for music, movies, and games are generally more wholesome. I would be perfectly fine using this without a headset or external speakers.
If you’re looking for something more premium, check out our review of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus by clicking right here.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Verdict
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Review
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop has a very solid value-for-money proposition. The build quality is solid, the performance is good, it’s easy to upgrade memory, 144Hz refresh rate, it has a good array of ports, and the built-in speakers are superb.
On the downside, the display is a little dim, it’s only a single-zone RGB keyboard, the fan can get a bit loud, it’s lacking an SD card reader, and it’s an IPS-level display. Realistically, most people would be uncertain to buy this just because of the Ryzen CPU but if you’re willing to take that leap, it will not disappoint you. It’s not perfect, but it’s still pretty damn good.
With that, I award the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop with our Silver Pokdeward.

Big thanks to ASUS Malaysia for letting us use this laptop for the purpose of this 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


[TGS 2017] Hokuto Ga Gotoku & Yakuza Kiwami 2; SEGA Has Quite The Showing As Well

SEGA celebrates Tokyo Game Show 2017 by releasing 2 new trailers of their upcoming games by the Yakuza team, Hokuto Ga Gotoku and Yakuza Kiwami 2.

Hokuto Ga Gotoku & Yakuza Kiwami 2

SEGA has released 2 new trailers for their upcoming games today that are currently in development by the Yakuza team, Hokuto Ga Gotoku and Yakuza Kiwami 2.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The Hokuto Ga Gotoku trailer gives us the first look at cutscenes with dialogue, showcasing many of the characters that have been revealed so far. Interesting, there is also one who hadn’t been priorly showcased. That’s Jagi, the fourth brother of Hokuto.
Of course, his presence makes perfect sense, since Kenshiro, Raoh and Toki are all in the game, and even more so because Rei and Airi are included as well.

The second trailer, related to Yakuza Kiwami 2, gives another look at the full remake of the second chapter of the series, which sees Kazuma Kiryu travel to Osaka to confront the local clans and his ultimate rival, Ryuji Goda.
You can check both trailers out at the top of this post, and you can also see some fresh gameplay of Hokuto Ga Gotoku from earlier today, courtesy of the folks over at DualShockers.
Kenshiro’s new adventure will launch in Japan on February 22nd 2018. Yakuza Kiwami 2 will be coming earlier on December 7th (which happens to be my birthday, just a random #FunFact). Both games are PlayStation 4 exclusive titles so don’t expect them to appear on other platforms…at least not in the near future.

Pokdepinion: Are you a fan of Fist of the North Star? Well, if you are, you’re going to have something to look forward to for the PlayStation 4. If you haven’t watched Fist of the North Star before, do it now and you will definitely be excited for Hokuto Ga Gotoku. Yakuza Kiwami 2 should easily pique the interest of the masses.
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


Level51 Malaysia Reveals Terra 15 Gaming Notebook

 The folks at Level51 Malaysia has announced the new Terra 15 Gaming Notebook, where it is their first ultra-portable notebook, offering up to RTX 2070 (Max-Q).

Coming with an aluminum chassis panels and orange accents, you can get the Terra 15 starting from RM4,655, where it comes with GTX 1660Ti, RTX 2060, and RTX 2070 options.
As for the processor, it uses an Intel i7-9750H under the hood. The display measures at 15.6″ and it offers 144Hz FHD resolution.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

There’s 8GB DDR4 RAM ready but they are currently offering 16GB instead as a promo free upgrade at the moment.
Other than that, there’s 512GB of M.2 NVMe SSD. Should you opt for the RTX 2060 or RTX 2070 variant, they are also putting in a free 1TB SSD upgrade.
Do note that the the GTX 1660 Ti version is named Level51 Terra 15 Lite, which you can find here.
If you wish to check out their higher end offerings, you can visit their website right here.
Previously we’ve reviewed their Forge 15 Pro, do check the review here.
Pokdepinion: Let’s hope they’ve improved on the issues that was present previously..
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


AVF Gaming Freak GK2 Reviewed

The AVF Gaming Freak GK2 is the latest membrane-based gaming keyboard from AVF. It looks damn cool, but is it as good as it looks? Let’s find out in our review.
Packaging
People always say don’t judge a book by its cover, but I think the cover is a very good indicator of what you are getting. So in our case,  let’s start with the packaging the keyboard comes in. And pardon me for judging it by the box, it looks like a pretty impressive keyboard.

The front has a nice illustration of the keyboard within, and some of the main features of this keyboard.

 Join Pokde Telegram Channel

The rear has more details about the features and a small specification list. From the spec list we find out that this keyboard has anti-ghosting support for up to 19 keys. That’s more keys pressed than all my fingers are capable of so we will just take their word for it. But there is a condition for the 19-keys anti-ghosting, which we will go into further detail later. The keyboard is held within the box by two foam supports on each side, and wrapped in a soft foam wrap. The keyboard should be well protected enough to go through the duress of shipping and some more undamaged.
The Keyboard

The texture of the keyboard shell is really unique with it’s creased or cracked appearance. Will definitely draw a few extra glances at any LAN party you attend. The finishing does show if you have oily hands. The overall shape of the keyboard doesn’t appeal to me as I prefer minimalism, but it will have its fans. There is a palm rest but I just can’t rest my palms on it simply because it is too short for me. The weight might be a problem (1100g) if you intend to take it to LAN parties frequently or simply travel a lot, but it does lend an air of toughness to the keyboard. The keys are all usual sized and do not cause any trouble for me migrating over from a CM Storm Quickfire TK. The surface of the keys are also have a nice feel to them, although I would prefer a clearer print of the keys. If you notice, some keys have the letter encased in a square. Those are the keys that make up the 19 anti-ghosting keys. We think the anti-ghosting keys include most of the keys used during gaming and one will not be left wanting for more anti-ghosting key when even some mechanical keyboards are limited to only 6KRO.
Along the bottom you can see several holes which serve to drain the keyboard in case you spill your drink on it. There is a hexagonal pattern which reminds me of Crysis. The feet are a bit short considering the thickness of this keyboard, and they only raise the top edge keyboard about 1cm higher.
The USB connector is gold-plated.

The cables are sleeved in red and black. The tight weave of the sleeve imparts a feel of quality and looks like it will withstand a lot of abuse before breaking. Too bad it isn’t detachable though. On the bright side, the strain relief on the keyboard end seems pretty sturdy.
Lighting
The lighting on the AVF Gaming Freak GK2 is so amazing I have to dedicate a whole section of the review just for it. So we have three colors, blue, red, and purple. All three colours won’t be glaringly bright and distract you from the screen, but in case it does, there are 3 levels of brightness to choose from. I think red is the dimmest among the three colors. It’s barely visible in a bright room. Too bad that’s my favourite backlight colour :(

All three colours. Which is your pick? Too bad there isn’t a pink backlight for the girl gamers among us. Or the more girly among the guys. *cough cough*
 These are how the palm rest lights up. The rest of the keyboard also has lighting like this but it’s most obvious at the palm rest area. It just ramps up the aesthetics of this keyboard to another level. Especially with the red colour backlighting, it looks just like the surface has cracked and red-hot magma is flowing between the cracks.
Along the sides of this keyboard are light bars which look awesome in the dark. But it’s a pity that it is not visible from the front. So people near you will be the ones enjoying this feature.
At the top of the keyboard there is a small panel that lights up with the Gaming Freak logo. Pretty.
Besides the usual constant backlight, the keyboard can also pulse through it’s 3 colours. Here’s a gif of it going through the colours. A tiny niggle with the backlight is that it doesn’t remember the colour or mode you put it in before turning off your PC or unplugging it. It will default back to the brightest level of blue each time you turn on your PC. Not a big problem though considering that it’s really easy to change the colour, mode or preferred brightness.
Testing
Of course the best test for a gaming keyboard is gaming. Key response is spot on and never felt like it was unable to keep up with me. Anti-ghosting works as advertised. No misfires due to wrong or accidental keypresses. It suffices to say that it works very well for gaming. However after some time I noticed the rather stiff space bar. It’s quite a lot stiffer than the other keys. The rest of the keys are softer but there won’t be any accidental key presses with this keyboard. The tactile feedback is also excellent. The noise of hitting the keys is not intrusive and serves as an audible feedback for you to know you pressed a key. The small angle of tilt is also rather uncomfortable to me over extended periods of usage, mainly due to the wrist rests being unable to support my wrists and I have to rest my wrists on the edge of the table. Added on with the thickness of this keyboard, it is quite uncomfortable to use. 5mm of key travel is just about nice and won’t be too short like laptop keyboards. The keyboard stands its ground and doesn’t budge an inch against furious key presses during the most heated gaming sessions thanks to generous rubber grips on the bottom of the keyboard. The row of multimedia keys accessible with the Fn key is convenient for consuming media on your PC. There is even a shortcut for the calculator (Fn + F12).
Conclusion
This keyboard really looks good, and is a very good gaming keyboard aside from some minor issues with the ergonomics of the wrist rest and tilt. You should try it for yourself at the store as everyone has different sized hands before splashing money on it. Speaking of money, it won’t make a huge hole in your pocket with a very reasonable RRP of RM89. Currently it doesn’t seem to be on sale at any online retailer yet. For more detailed specifications of the GK2 feel free to visit http://www.avf.com.my/avf.php?c=65&p=1990.

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