MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and PL360 Flux now available in Malaysia

Cooler Master has just announced the availability of the MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and PL360 Flux in Malaysia. These fancy new CPU AIO liquid coolers are designed not only to keep your CPU cool, but also to enhance your system aesthetics with a tasteful touch of RGB in the mix.
MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and PL360 Flux combines performance with aesthetics

The MasterLiquid PL-Flux series features a new compact high-speed dual chamber pump, which features separate chambers for cool liquid from the radiator and the heated liquid that has passed the coldplate. This design allows for more efficient exchange of heat, while also improving the flow rate of the liquid through the system. The microchannels have also been optimized to deliver 20% larger surface area for more effective heat transfer from the copper coldplate into the liquid, thus resulting in cooler temperatures for your CPU.

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Along with the new pump, the MasterLiquid PL240 and PL360 Flux will feature the new air balance fans designed specifically for the Flux series. Versus Cooler Master’s current SickleFlow lineup, the new PL-Flux fans deliver not only higher static pressure, but also increased airflow. Part of this can be attributed to the interconnected blades that allow for better stability at higher RPMs, which helps with lowering the noise level versus a design that lacks linked fan blades.

And as mentioned earlier, the MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and PL360 Flux are designed to also make your PC look great with RGB. While the new pump block is more compact, Cooler Master managed to cram in dual-loop ARGB lighting on it. You also get either two or three PL-Flux fans featuring ARGB lighting with the MasterLiquid PL240 Flux and PL360 Flux, respectively, giving you plenty of customizability when it comes to lighting.

Speaking of which, the MasterLiquid PL-Flux series all come with an ARGB Gen 2 controller that lets you customize each device connected to it individually, down to every single LED, to really let you make the MasterLiquid PL-Flux cooler uniquely yours. Along with the fancy lighting controller, you also get all the mounting brackets for almost every relevant socket today, ranging from the ancient LGA115X sockets to the fancy new LGA1700 ones, AMD’s AM2 to AM4, as well as support for just about every HEDT platform including the latest LGA2066 from Intel and AMD’s sTRX4 sockets.
Both the Cooler Master PL240 Flux and PL360 Flux are covered by 5-year warranties, and are priced at RM699 and RM849, respectively.
Pokdepinion: I wonder if these will do a better job at cooling my Ryzen 7 5800X than my MasterLiquid ML240RS…
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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Threadripper 2920X now available — new Dynamic Local Mode also launched for the ThreadRipper 2990WX and 2970WX

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Threadripper 2920X slots in below the previously launched Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and Threadripper 2950X, but still feature a whopping number of cores. The Threadripper 2970WX checks in with 24 cores and 48 processing threads, while the Threadripper 2920X packs 12 cores and 24 processing threads.

The enthusiasts who are interested in the boost clock speeds for single core applications are also in for a treat, as the Threadripper 2970WX goes up to 4.2 GHz, while the Threadripper 2920X does an even better 4.3 GHz. TDP is on the high side, with the former rated at 250W and the latter clocking in at 180W. Pricing wise, the Threadripper 2970WX is priced at $1299 (~RM5398), while the Threadripper 2920X is priced at $649 (~RM2697).

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Here’s the information packed into a table for your easy viewing.

Cores/Threads
Boost/Base clocks (GHz)
Cache
TDP
Price

Threadripper 2990WX
32C/64T
4.2/3.0
64MB
250W
$1799 / RM7999

Threadripper 2970WX
24C/48T
4.2/3.0
64MB
250W
$1299 / RM5499

Threadripper 2950X
16C/32T
4.4/3.5
32MB
180W
$899  / RM3899

Threadripper 2920X
12C/24T
4.3/3.5
32MB
180W
$649 / RM2749

Dynamic Local Mode
Dynamic Local Mode is a pretty nifty ability to take advantage of the cores that have direct memory access for lower memory latency, and thus higher performance. Previously, switching between Local Mode, where the OS is “hinted” as to which cores have direct access to DRAM, and Distributed Mode, where the OS does not distinguish between the cores, requires a restart. Now with Dynamic Local Mode, it works on-the-fly.

This allows for some nice performance gains in gaming benchmarks, which is an area which is sorely lacking for AMD. Of course, no one in their right mind would buy a Threadripper 2990WX or Threadripper 2970WX solely for gaming, but all work and no play does make Jack a dull boy, right? So it’s nice to see AMD help Jack enjoy better gaming performance.
Dynamic Local Mode is only available for the Threadripper 2990WX and Threadripper 2970WX, because only these two processors have CPU dies without direct access to memory. For more information about Dynamic Local Mode, do check out this detailed blog post by AMD’s Robert Hallock.
[UPDATE 1]: Local pricing for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX and Ryzen Threadripper 2920X updated in table.
Pokdepinion: Well, it seems that AMD is really amping up on their performance. Nice to see that they are addressing their weakness in gaming performance, even in a workstation-oriented CPU that will most probably see very little gaming.
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Fortnite Reaches 40 Million Player Milestone; Major Update Coming Very Soon

Epic Games’ popular Battle Royale game Fortnite has reached yet another milestone. This time, it has surpassed the 40 million player mark, which is an amazing feat.
Fortnite Reaches 40 Million Player Milestone

After the game’s Battle Royale mode was called out by the developers of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Fortnite has continued to grow at a very fast rate, with the aforementioned Battle Royale mode even overshadowing the base co-op survival mode for many. Today, Epic Games gave us another glimpse at just how many people are playing Fortnite across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and teased a major map update for Fortnite: Battle Royale.
Since the game launched back in July of 2017, the game’s base mode and Battle Royale combined have seen over 40 million players. In addition, the game has also peaked at 2 million concurrent players, a great feat for any multiplayer game. This is no surprise given the massive popularity spike in Battle Royale games that came from H1Z1 King of the Kill and of course, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, but Fortnite contributed its fair share in the genre craze.

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The developers also gave more details on a major map update coming to Fortnite: Battle Royale sometime today, January 18th 2018. The update adds two new large points of interest to the game: Titled Towers a new city area, and Shifty Shafts, an underground mine. Epic Games has also updated already existing areas to make them more distinct, adding new loot and choke points to many of the map’s locations.
You can check out a brand new trailer showcasing what’s new in this update at the top of this post. Fortnite is currently available for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with its Battle Royale mode being free.

Pokdepinion: Well, they definitely weren’t kidding about the game growing at a very rapid pace. At this point, we’re gonna see something huge by the time we reach mid-2018.
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South Park’s The Fractured But Whole; Game Gets Harder If Your Character Is Black

Disclaimer; we don’t support any kind or forms of racism. Ehem, well now that’s out of the way. South Park, a series that has never shied away from creating and causing controversy. Their new video game South Park: The Fractured But Whole is set to stir some questions among the public. It seems that the upcoming game will be in a harder game difficulty if you created a character who is black. Controversial enough?
The game is one of the highly anticipated games of the year following the success of the previous Stick Of Truth achievements (which was a surprise to everyone on how good it was). Hence, the hype has been building around The Fractured But Whole.
It was reported recently that the developers were expressing concerns on the game, saying that it was not ‘offensive’ enough. That in itself is hard to believe, with ALL the content the series has made down the years. Well if this rumour is true, they wouldn’t have to worry much now would they?

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Getting back to the topic, to the shock of everyone, the game developers have decided to base the game’s difficulty based on the colour of skin you choose for your character. Yup, that means by picking a character that’s white, the game will be set on easy difficulty and vice versa if it’s black.
It certainly is a ‘unique’ way on the difficulty scale settings (which i neither agree or disagree, I’m just telling news as it is). Let’s see what respond the game will get when it comes out.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole will come out on the 17th of October.
Pokdepinion: I myself have played the previous Stick of Truth game, and it was better than expected. Can’t wait for the new one to come out. Some people will feel offended by it, I’m sure but the game itself has made fun of everything and i repeat EVERYTHING. Yet, South Park is still going strong though.

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New 12th Gen Intel-powered Predator Triton 500 SE, Helios 300 And Acer Nitro 5 Launched

Acer has just announced that their Predator Triton 500 SE, Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptops will be getting brand new refreshes this year. The gaming laptops will now feature the new 12th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, while the Acer Nitro 5 also includes AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processor options. That’s not all as Acer will be bundling a one month’s subscription to Xbox Game Pass with the new laptops.
Predator Triton 500 SE

The Predator Triton 500 SE is equipped with up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU, 32GB of 5200 MHz LPDDR5 memory, and up to 2TB of high-speed PCIe Gen4 storage. All of this is housed in a spartan-styled all-metal body that measures only 19.9 mm (0.75 inches) at its thinnest point.

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The Predator Triton 500 SE is equipped with a triple-fan system, which includes two 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans with 89 metal blades each. Acer’s Vortex Flow technology channels the airflow generated by those fans to vital components, while strategically placed thermal foam, liquid-metal thermal lubricant on the CPU, and four heat pipes optimise cooling even further. The Predator Triton 500 SE also includes a huge 99.98Wh battery for extended use.

The Predator Triton 500 SE gaming laptop also has a WQXGA (2560×1600) display with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 3ms reaction time, as well as NVIDIA G-SYNC functionality. The Predator Triton 500 SE also has 500 nits of brightness, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, and a 16:10 aspect ratio.
The Predator Triton 500 SE comes pre-installed with Windows 11 and includes an array of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports with DisplayPort and power delivery capabilities, as well as an HDMI 2.1 port. The Predator Triton 500 SE also includes an Intel Killer E3100G 2.5G Ethernet Controller, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E 1675, and Control Center 2.0.
The Predator Triton 500 SE will be available from March onwards in the US and retails for USD2,299.99, while in Europe and China the Predator Triton SE will be available from February and will retail for EUR3,499 and RMB24,999 respectively. We will update more when we have information on Malaysian pricing.
Predator Helios 300

The updated Predator Helios 300 features an Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU, 32 GB of DDR5-4800 MHz memory, and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD RAID 0 storage. The Predator Helios 300 also has a 15.6-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display with a refresh rate of 165Hz.
The new Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop has a revised, cleaner chassis, with a tiny light bar below the palm rest (configurable via PredatorSense) that allows the device to retain its gamer appeal in a slightly more subtle manner.

A dual-fan arrangement with one 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan aids in cooling the system, which is further aided by liquid metal thermal grease and Acer’s CoolBoost technology. Users can also manage the fan speed of the laptop using the built-in PredatorSense button, which provides access to four pre-set operating modes, while a single push of the built-in Turbo key immediately maxes out these settings for greater gaming performance.
In addition, the Predator Helios 300 has a Thunderbolt Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen2 connections, and an HDMI 2.1 port. The laptop also includes a Killer DoubleShot Pro (E2600+1675i) and WiFi 6E connectivity, as well as Windows 11.

The Predator Helios 300 also has a 17.3-inch version with an IPS panel that either comes with QHD resolution with 165Hz refresh rate or FHD resolution with 165Hz or 144Hz refresh rates.
The 15.6-inch version of the Predator Helios 300 will retail for USD1649.99 in the US when it releases this May, EUR2,999 and RMB11,999 in Europe and China when it releases in February. The 17.3-inch model is due to release this March in the US, retailing at USD1,749.99 and will see a February release for both Europe and China, retailing at EUR2,399 and RMB11,999 respectively. We will update more when we have information on Malaysian pricing.
Acer Nitro 5

The new Acer Nitro 5 touts up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, a pair of M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD slots and up to 32GB of DDR4 3200 RAM. The laptop also comes with a QHD resolution display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time as well as Killer Ethernet E2600 and Intel KillerTM Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i.
The Acer Nitro 5 also has an AMD configuration with up to an AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processor. The AMD version of the Acer Nitro 5 comes with two options, a 144Hz panel with FHD resolution or a 165Hz panel with QHD resolution, both features AMD’s FreeSync support.

The Acer Nitro 5 laptop also comes equipped with dual-fan cooling, an intake on both the chassis’ top and bottom and four exhaust ports. The laptop also features the NitroSense utility app, a built-in software solution that users can use to control its fan speed as well as overclock the laptop’s CPU/GPU and customise the 4-zone RGB keyboard’s lighting.
The Acer Nitro 5 also touts DTS:X Ultra audio with 3D spatial soundscape. Users who like to play with headphones and other peripherals will appreciate the Acer Nitro 5’s comprehensive variety of connections, which includes HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 support. The Intel-powered variant additionally has a Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port, whilst the AMD-powered model has a USB 4 port.

Last but not least, the Acer Nitro 5 also comes with two additional models, both featuring a 17.3-inch IPS display with either a 165Hz refresh rate and QHD or FHD resolution or 144Hz refresh rate with FHD resolution.
The prices and release dates for the Acer Nitro 5 are as below:

Acer Nitro 5 (Intel version)
– 15.6-inch model due out in the US this March for USD1,049.99 and in February for Europe and China, retailing at EUR1,549 and RMB9,499.
– 17.3-inch model due out in the US and Europe this March for USD1,049.99 and EUR1,649 respectively and in February for China, retailing at RMB9,499.
Acer Nitro 5 (AMD version)
– 15.6-inch model due out in the US and Europe this April for USD1,099.99 and EUR1,599 respectively and in March for China, retailing at RMB8,999.
– 17.3-inch model due out in the US and Europe this May for USD1,149.99 and EUR1,699 respectively and in March for China, retailing at RMB8,999.

We will update more when we have information on Malaysian pricing.
Pokdepinion: I hope that when the Malaysian pricing comes that it won’t be too bad especially for the Acer Nitro 5. That thing looks really good IMHO.
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[WWDC 2023] Apple Unveils the Future of Augmented Reality with Vision Pro

In a groundbreaking announcement, Apple has officially introduced the highly-anticipated Apple Vision Pro, its first-ever “spatial computer” that combines augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. Boasting a plethora of innovative features and cutting-edge hardware, the Vision Pro aims to revolutionize the way we interact with digital content. Let’s delve into the exciting details of Apple’s groundbreaking venture into the realm of spatial computing.
Apple Vision Pro @ WWDC 2023

At the heart of the Vision Pro lies a remarkable “display system” that incorporates two micro OLED screens, each the size of a postage stamp, offering a total of 23 million pixels. With a brightness of 500 nits and support for wide color and high dynamic range, the Vision Pro promises jaw-dropping visual experiences. The inclusion of custom catadioptric lenses ensures exceptional sharpness and clarity, elevating the immersive nature of AR and VR content. Additionally, Apple provides Zeiss Optical Inserts for users who require vision correction, guaranteeing optimal visual fidelity and precise eye tracking accuracy.

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Powering the Vision Pro is Apple’s custom dual-core M2 chipset, complemented by the new R1 chip. This formidable combination processes data from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones, delivering seamless and accurate content rendering. The R1 chip enables real-time streaming of images to the displays, achieving an impressive response time of just 12 milliseconds. With an external high-performance battery pack, the Vision Pro provides two hours of untethered usage or can be used continuously when plugged in.
Apple’s visionOS operating system facilitates effortless navigation through the Vision Pro’s intuitive user interface. Gone are the physical controllers, as users can interact with the device using their eyes, hands, and voice. Browsing through apps, selecting options, and scrolling can be accomplished with simple gestures. The eye-tracking technology, known as EyeSight, offers a unique feature that makes the device appear transparent when interacting with others, providing visual cues to indicate the user’s availability.

The Vision Pro features a dedicated App Store within the visionOS ecosystem, granting access to a vast array of iPhone and iPad apps that are seamlessly compatible with the spatial computing capabilities of the headset. The device allows for immersive FaceTime calls with life-sized tiles displaying all participants. The inclusion of Spatial Audio enhances the communication experience, making it feel as if participants are speaking from their actual positions.
Equipped with Apple’s first-ever 3D camera, the Vision Pro empowers users to capture, relive, and immerse themselves in their favorite memories. By accessing the iCloud photo library, users can view photos and videos at a life-size scale, creating an unparalleled sense of presence. Panoramic shots taken on iPhones can be experienced in a wraparound manner, transporting users to the very location where the image was captured.

Apple prioritizes comfort and personalization with the Vision Pro’s design. The device seamlessly integrates glass into a custom aluminum alloy frame, curving around the user’s face. A modular system allows for a tailored fit, with a soft textile Light Seal and flexible straps ensuring a precise and comfortable user experience. The interchangeable Head Band offers easy customization, providing cushioning, breathability, and stretch.
The Apple Vision Pro will initially launch exclusively in the United States early next year, with availability expanding to other countries in 2024. Priced at $3,499 (RM16,016), this pioneering spatial computer represents a significant step forward in the realm of AR and VR technology.
Source
Pokdepinion: Apple’s unveiling of the Vision Pro marks a groundbreaking achievement in spatial computing. By combining AR and VR capabilities with cutting-edge hardware and an intuitive user interface, Apple is set to redefine the way we interact with digital content. With its immersive display, advanced optics, seamless integration, and unparalleled comfort, the Vision Pro heralds a new era of augmented reality experiences.
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HTC Desire 10 Pro available on 26th December — priced at RM 1699

HTC announced the arrival of the latest HTC Desire 10 pro in Malaysia this holiday season. The Desire 10 pro delivers high-resolution cameras on both front and back, including a brand-new Selfie Panorama mode that captures wide-angle pictures, and top-of-the-line features such as fingerprint sensor.
Chialin Chang, president, Smartphone and Connected Devices Business, HTC, said:

“Inspired by many of the same innovations that have made the flagship HTC 10 so popular, we’re bringing these innovations to the Desire 10, making it the most brilliant Desire ever. With a brand new, modern luxurious design inspired by the HTC 10 and pro-like cameras, and including features that outshine even some of the top flagship phones in the industry, the HTC Desire 10 will have you rethinking what to expect from an HTC Desire.”

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The HTC Desire 10 pro features 5.5” Full HD IPS display, and contrasting with the eye-catching body in one of four distinct color themes: Stone Black, Polar White, Royal Blue and Valentine Lux. Similar as the HTC One A9s, the Desire 10 is powered by the same MediaTek Helio P10 SoC. It uses 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2TB via microSD card. in term of battery, the Desire 10 Pro uses 3000mAh battery for the whole day usage.

The HTC Desire 10 pro boast a 20MP main camera to provides extraordinary detail in every shot. Pro-like features are included, with DSLR-like control over your photos and handy preset options such as sport mode.

The Desire 10 Pro’s 13MP selfie camera also capable to capture more scenery and more friends and family in single big, beautiful, printable photo. A built-in screen flash is also available, automatically help you take brighter selfies in challenging light. Advanced functions such as intelligent Electronic Image Stabilization provide smooth videos recording, and Auto HDR on both the front and rear.

The HTC Desire 10 Pro will be available starting from 26 December 2016 in Malaysia, priced at RM 1,699.00.
Pokdepinion: Personally, I thought the Desire 10 Pro is quite expensive for a device that’s using a MediaTek chip. But if the build quality and user experience can justify the price, for me it’s fair enough.
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HUAWEI nova 4 launched with Kirin 970 — pricing starts from less than RM2000

HUAWEI’s hole-in-screen smartphone has just been launched in China, after more than their fair share of teasers. The HUAWEI nova 4 incidentally shares the same 48MP rear camera as the upcoming HONOR View20, as well as an in-screen camera.
The HUAWEI nova 4 comes with a Kirin 970 chipset mated to 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The chipset is somewhat disappointing considering it was underwhelming even in 2018, and it will look worse going into 2019. Luckily the HONOR View20 will not share the same chipset.

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The HUAWEI nova 4 comes in two variants, one with a rear-facing 48MP f/1.8 Sony IMX 586 camera which is mated with a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The other comes with a lower end 20MP f/1.8. The selfie camera on both variants is a 25MP f/2.0 one.

The display is a 6.4″ FHD+ LCD display, powered by a 3750 mAh battery complete with fast charging. Pricing starts from 3099 yuan (~RM1877) for the variant with the 20MP camera, and ranges up to 3399 yuan (~RM2058) for the higher end 48MP camera.
Local availability is still unknown, but with the HONOR View20 coming, do you think HUAWEI Malaysia will bring the HUAWEI nova 4 to Malaysia?
Pokdepinion: Perhaps using a Kirin 710 would have made the device more affordable, which will make it a much more interesting product?
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“BenQ ZOWIE is dedicated to eSports”

BenQ has announced ZOWIE to be its new brand for eSports. ZOWIE will not represent all its future releases in the gaming line. Hence, all future BenQ gaming-related hardware will be introduced under the ZOWIE brand name.

A little backstory about ZOWIE, the ZOWIE brand was dedicated to developing competitive gaming products right from its inception in 2008. It has developed a variety of peripherals to suit every gamers needs and preferences. In 2015, it was acquired by BenQ to spearhead the company’s eSports product line.

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Simeon Sia, Marketing Manager of BenQ Malaysia has this to say about BenQ’s deep understanding of eSports:
“BenQ ZOWIE is dedicated to eSports. We believe that gaming is in the experience
and we go the extra mile to enhance that experience for the gaming enthusiast. Our
understanding of what hard-core gamers want from their gear is based on usage scenarios and
our close association with players themselves. We are confident that our gaming line-up will
more than meet the expectations of professional players.”
ZOWIE will now offer the XL and RL series monitors, SR and TF-X series mousepads, as well as their very own highly acclaimed EC and ZA series of gaming mice. ZOWIE mice are ready for every gaming style, with options for right and left handed players.

The eXTREMESLAND ZOWIE Asia CS:GO 2016 will feature ZOWIE as the title sponsor and official monitor provider for the tournaments in over 20 countries across Asia Pacific. The Grand Final will be in China in September, with contenders vying for the prize pool of $100 000. The eXTREMESLAND ZOWIE Asia CS:GO 2016 Malaysia Championship will be held at the Orange eSport Stadium on the 31st of July. ZOWIE product experience will be available throughout the local qualifier event.
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Intel latest NUC Baby Canyon based on new Kaby Lake and Apollo Lake processors

Intel announced its new NUC family, known as Baby Canyon and Arches Canyon. The latest NUCs from Intel will feature 14-nm processors, codenamed Kaby Lake and Apollo Lake. Expected to be released to the market before the end of this year, Baby Canyon will feature the latest Intel Core i series processors.

The highest end part will sport Intel Core i7 7xxxU, followed by Core i5 7xxxU and Core i3 7xxxU. This indicates that the Baby Canyon will utilizes Intel’s latest seventh generation SoC. In addition, all these SoCs will have low TDPs ranging from 15W to 28W, according to sources.

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The lower end part, or known as Arches Canyon will based on Apollo Lake as the most affordable NUC option. Fitting a 10W quad-core Apollo Lake Celeron, it will definitely be faster than its predecessors with 6W Braswell chips. Unlike Baby Canyon, Arches Canyon will also be using DDR3L memory instead of DDR4 chips.

The latest Intel NUC will be available as a barebones PC or comes with preinstalled Windows 10, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage.
Source: FanlessTech

Pokdepinion: Intel development of the NUC is quite respectable. They have come a long way since the first generation of Intel NUC. The latest NUC feature the latest technologies and connectivity options that would make them perfect for office or home usage.
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Could iOS 17 Bring Sideloading to Apple Devices?

Apple may soon enable sideloading on its devices with the upcoming iOS 17, according to rumors. This article explores the potential implications of this change and the reasoning behind Apple’s opposition to sideloading.
iOS 17 to Enable Sideloading on Apple Devices?

Apple may be reversing its longstanding opposition to sideloading apps on its devices. According to Mark Gurman, a renowned Apple analyst, the next iOS 17 will enable sideloading. However, this is not confirmed yet and iOS 17 may just lay the groundwork for future sideloading. The new EU Digital Market Act is coming into effect in 2024 and requires companies to allow users to install apps from alternative sources, which means that there’s a good chance that the change is coming with iOS 17.

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If Apple wants to comply with the EU’s new rules, it would have to allow its users to install apps from app stores different from its own official App Store. This would be a significant change in Apple’s business model, which has always focused on maintaining strict control over its devices and the apps that run on them.

Apple’s refusal to enable sideloading stems from privacy and security concerns. Apple has always argued that its strict control over app distribution ensures that users are protected from malicious apps and that their privacy is safeguarded. However, some critics have argued that Apple’s strict control over the App Store is anti-competitive and limits innovation in the app market.
It remains to be seen how Apple will handle sideloading if it becomes a reality. We may learn more about this at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where the company is expected to unveil significant changes to watchOS. For now, users will have to wait and see if iOS 17 will enable sideloading, or if Apple’s opposition to it will remain unchanged.
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Pokdepinion: I always thought that this is a more unlikely possibility than Apple going USB-C. To potentially see both happening in the same year just blows my mind as it’s definitely not something they would typically do.
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Looking for the best air coolers for your Xeon workstation? Check out Noctua’s line up here

The latest Intel LGA3647 socket supports Xeon Scalable and Xeon-Phi CPUs feature a much larger footprint than even the monstrous AMD TR4 socket for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper CPUs. Noctua has designed their latest DX-3647 coolers in the 140mm, 120mm and 92mm form factors with a larger 70x56mm contact surface for the LGA3657 processors. With Noctua’s renowned performance with low noise, these fans are designed to cool the powerful workstations powered by the latest LGA3647 CPUs without a sweat.

The NH-U14S DX-3647 and NH-U12S DX-3647 can fit in tower-style cases for silent cooling performance in high performance workstations, while the smaller NH-D9 DX3647 4U can even fit in compact 4U cases. With the large heat exchange area of these Noctua coolers, it allows for optimal performance even under heavy load.

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The heatsinks feature the renowned SecuFirm2 mounting system with two sets of brackets to support the square and narrow-type LGA3647 for a hassle-free installation process. It even comes with pre-applied NT-H1 thermal compound to make installation even easier while also taking the guesswork out of applying the correct amount of thermal paste.

Priced at $89.90 for the NH-U14S DX-3647, $99.90 for the NH-U12S DX-3647 and $89.90 for the NH-D9 DX-3657, these coolers aren’t cheap, but are probably the highest performing third-party coolers for your LGA3647 processors out there.
Pokdepinion: Hmm, I wonder if Noctua will actually design third-party GPU coolers at this point.
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The prettiest projector you have ever seen is here — get the iF Award-winning ViewSonic M1 projector for just RM1299!

Projectors are often times the hot, huge blocks of plastic in the middle of the meeting room, or suspended from the ceiling, out of sight and out of mind. Well with this projector, you will want to see it, as it is an iF Product Design Award-winning projector. The ViewSonic M1 is probably the prettiest projector you have ever seen. And it’s portable too!

Weighing less than a kilogram, this sexy portable LED projector even comes with two harman/kardon speakers and a battery delivering up to 6 hours of battery life. A wide array of input options are offered by the ViewSonic M1, with HDMI, USB 2.0, USB Type-C inputs and a microSD card reader. It’s like an all-in-one package for presentations or just media consumption on a bigger display.

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The nifty Smart Stand is patent-pending, enabling the projector to beam sharp WVGA visuals at any angle, while also doubling as a lens cover. Speaking of visuals, the ViewSonic M1 features up to 250 lumens of brightness and a 120 000:1 contrast ratio, as well as a short-throw lens for huge displays in small spaces.
The ViewSonic M1 is now available in Malaysia at an estimated MSRP of RM1299.
Pokdepinion: Who knew projectors can look so damn good?
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HONOR MagicBook 14 With Ryzen 5000 Is Coming Soon To Malaysia

The folks at HONOR Malaysia has recently announced that the latest HONOR MagicBook 14 will reach our shores here in Malaysia on the 1st of October 2021.
HONOR MagicBook 14 coming soon

The laptop is packed with an AMD Ryzen 5000 processor that’s mated with AMD Radeon Graphics. Coming with an aluminum body, it weighs just 1.38kg and is 15.9mm thick, allowing for portability wherever you go.

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It’s available in Mystic Silver and Space Grey colour variants, where it comes with a blue lining design and a 180-degree hinge opening.
There’s TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light and TUV Rheinland Flicker-free screen for your eye protection. For the battery, it offers a 56WH battery, which you can charge with its USB-C 65W fast charger.
The price? Well you can get the 8GB+256GB version at RM2,699 which comes along with an HONOR Backpack gift. As for the higher 8GB+512GB variant, it is priced at RM2,999 and you’ll get both an HONOR Backpack as well as a wireless mouse.
You’ll find the laptop online on HONOR Store, Lazada, Shopee, and Senheng Online Store. Should you want to purchase it physically, you may do so at HONOR Authorized Stores nationwide.
For more on the latest tech and gaming news plus reviews, stay tuned to Pokde.net.
Pokdepinion: Can’t say for sure on whether it’s good or not since I’ve never touched it yet but we did reviewed the older model. You can check it out by heading to the link right here.
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TM CEO Says They Are Ready for 5G Rollout in Malaysia
Datuk Noor Kamarul Anuar Nuruddin, CEO and Managing Director of Telekom Malaysia (TM).

2020 is shaping up to be an interesting year in Malaysia for technological advancements, especially 5G. Telekom Malaysia (TM), who is now taking part in the 5G Demonstration Project (5GDP) spearheaded by MCMC, says that they are ready for the 5G initiative for Malaysia.
According to TM CEO Datuk Noor Kamarul Anuar Nuruddin, they are still bidding for the license and are ready to start working on it as soon as it is obtained. It’s also said that it’s up to MCMC to appoint the consortium for the 5G initiative.
We are still bidding for the frequency; we are still at that stage. If the MCMC gives us [the license] today, we can start working on it today. We are ready. We are preparing a lot of things [for the rollout] and once we get it (the licence), we can get it done.We are ready to really take the position, it’s just that I think the challenge that the government is facing right now is the question of who will lead the 5G initiative. Once we get that settled, we can go fast. I think especially for us, for TM, we have a good reason to go 5G. Datuk Noor Kamarul Anuar Nuruddin, TM CEO
Last week, MCMC announced that 5G spectrum bands will start to roll out by Q3 2020. The allocation of 5G spectrums will be done via open tender, which is set to be called by Q2 2020. However, the details and criteria will be revealed at a later time. This open tender will be how the aforementioned consortium will be formed.

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Noor Kamarul mentioned that they believe in the technology, and that they know that can use it to help the country, improve the level of security, and the lives of citizens with 5G. He claimed that TM has the highest number of 5G use cases among the telcos in the 5GDP project. They’ve used the project to test new 5G features, explore the technology, and assessed the best way to deploy 5G infrastructure across the country.
Source: TheEdgeMarkets
Pokdepinion: Being ready for 5G implementation is one thing, but being able to implement it well is another. We’ll have to wait and see how this will turn out.
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MSI debuts world’s first VR backpack, the VR One, at TGS 2016

MSI has built strong relationships with the HTC Vive team for quite some time already. With a strong understanding in VR technology, MSI has taken a step forward by introducing the MSI VR One, the world’s first VR backpack at Tokyo Game Show 2016.

The MSI VR One is the world’s lightest and thinnest backpack PC system. It aims to overcome to current limitation of having to stay close to the PC when playing VR games, which impacts immersiveness. The MSI VR One comes with 2 battery packs, which are capable of delivering up to 1.5 hours of VR gaming. Processing power comes in the form of an overclocked CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-series graphics card. All that is crammed into a 3.6kg package.

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The MSI VR One is designed as a futuristic armor pack. With the batteries removed, the MSI VR ones weighs a mere 2.2kg, much lighter than most gaming notebooks. For VR developers, the portability of the MSI VR One offers limitless possibilities for demonstrations of their product. The MSI VR One is kept cool and quiet for long VR gaming sessions thanks to dual 9cm ultra blade fans and 9 heat pipes. All you will hear is the sound coming from your VR headsets, for total immersion in your VR environment.

The batteries are actually hot swappable for continuous non-stop VR gaming. LED battery indicators notify you when you will need a new battery. Plugging the power adapter to the MSI VR One, you can remove both batteries and use it as an ultra slim PC.

As part of MSI’s gaming line-up, it is also equipped with the latest MSI Dragon Center suite. This sweet piece of software allows users to monitor the hardware status in detail from their smart device and also manage the multitude of MSI gaming features available.

Pokdepinion: The MSI VR One seems like an interesting piece of hardware. But as VR gaming has yet to fully take off, it may be a little ahead of its time. The price of the HTC Vive HMD is also quite discouraging for enthusiasts who want to get their feet wet in VR gaming.
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Legion of Champions Tournament Is Back And Bigger Than Ever

It seems that Lenovo has opened the online qualifying round of their Legion of Champions Series (LoC IV). The tournament, in partnership with Intel, will see gamers from 12 markets in the region battling it out to reach the international Grand Finals showdown at Pantip Mall in Bangkok from 12-14th December 2019.
The competition will see the introduction of two new fan-favorite games: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) as well as Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). In addition to that, this year’s tournament will also call upon the best female gamers in the region to compette in the Legion of Valkries (LoV), LoC’s first-ever all-female tournament where they will compete in CS:GO.
Local champions and grand finalist will be competing for a total combined prize pool of USD$89,100, which is needless to say, a whole lot of money. At the end of the tournament, the winning team for PUBG will walk away with USD$4,000 and USD$10,000 worth of Legion devices. Meanwhile for the winners for CS:GO, they will walk away with USD$5,000 and USD$12,500 worth of Legion products.

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If you are interested in joining the competition, you can follow the steps below:

Visit the link here
Make sure you have selected “Malaysia” as your Market in the top right corner
Join the battle for “LOC IV: PUBG MALAYSIA QUALIFIER” or “LOV: CS:GO MALAYSIA QUALIFIER”

Pokdepinion: Well what are you waiting for guys? Show off your skills and who knows, you might win the cold hard cash for yourselves!
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Kingston Technology Returns to COMPUTEX 2023 with Exciting Showroom and Starship Experience

Kingston Technology is making a highly anticipated return to the COMPUTEX Taipei event after a three-year hiatus. Under the philosophy of “Kingston Is With You,” they are inviting attendees to step into the future with the world’s first “Future Hub” showroom and the immersive “Starship No.35” experience.
Kingston at COMPUTEX 2023

At COMPUTEX 2023, Kingston is showcasing its latest lineup of cutting-edge products, including the groundbreaking non-binary DDR5 memory, the XS1000 External SSD, Industrial SD cards, and Data Center solutions. Recognized as a leading storage brand and a trusted partner in the industry, their DataTraveler microDuo 3C (DTDUO3CG3) USB has been selected as the official media gift for COMPUTEX 2023 by TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council).

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Kevin Wu, Vice President of Sales/Marketing and Business Development for the APAC region, expressed his excitement about the return, stating:
For over 35 years, Kingston has achieved numerous milestones, such as maintaining its position as the No.1 supplier of third-party DRAM modules for 19 consecutive years and leading the channel SSD market share since 2019. This demonstrates their commitment to enabling our customers to achieve more. We are thrilled to be back at COMPUTEX to present comprehensive solutions that will help users succeed in different fields of their lives, as ‘Kingston Is With You’.
Experience the Kingston Future Hub Showroom: A Glimpse into the Future

The “Kingston Future Hub” showroom offers a captivating exhibition that demonstrates how they enrich users’ lives with its innovative memory and storage solutions. The showroom features five distinct zones:

Creator Gadgets: With the ever-increasing demands for data storage and computer performance, Kingston presents a personal studio equipped with their FURY memory, SSDs, and workstation gadgets. The highlight is the debut of their non-binary DDR5 memory, which offers flexible capacity options and ideal memory-to-core ratios without compromising bandwidth.
Enterprise Suite: Step into a walk-in data center that showcases their enterprise-level SSD and Server Premier DDR5 memory, trusted by leading server manufacturers and the world’s largest data centers. They introduced the DC600M Enterprise SSD, optimized for mixed-use workloads with exceptional Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure latency and IOPS consistency. Additionally, they presented the Industrial SD Card, ideal for write-intensive recording in harsh working environments.
Gamer Ecstasy: Immerse yourself in customized PC builds created by top PC modders from around the world. Explore the latest Kingston FURY non-binary DDR5 memory product lines and the FURY Renegade SSD. Witness the display of FURY DDR4 memory with new heat spreader designs, along with DDR5 RGB options featuring 18 RGB FURY CTRL lighting effects, empowering gamers with cutting-edge performance and a bold style.
Vlogger Essentials: Discover Kingston’s top-tier storage solutions tailored for the generation always on-the-move. They have partnered with EVA Air, a Star Alliance member with an extensive global route system, to elevate the smart-travel experience. Whether it’s for work, play, or passion projects, both companies provide trusted products and services. Get an exclusive first look at the XS1000 External SSD, an extremely compact device that offers ultimate portability for saving, sharing, and transferring important files and memories on-the-go.
Smart Living: Delve into Kingston’s embedded solutions for leading global brands such as Acer, ASUS, BBK Electronics, OPPO, and more. Their embedded memory products are found in smart home devices, drones, eBooks, and educational tools, reinforcing the “Kingston Is With You” credo. They are everywhere, even in unexpected places.

Experience the Kingston Starship No.35 at COMPUTEX 2023

In March, they launched the “Kingston Starship No.35” experiential truck, providing an immersive space exploration that showcases the extreme performance of their products. The Starship, which has already captivated over 50,000 people, will make its way to the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Hall during COMPUTEX 2023. Attendees will have the chance to win cash prizes, Kingston swag, or round-trip EVA Air Premium Economy tickets between Taipei and an Asian destination of their choice.
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Pokdepinion: Kingston’s return to COMPUTEX 2023 promises an exciting array of innovative products and experiences. Be sure to visit their booth at COMPUTEX Taipei from May 30th to June 2nd and witness the latest advancements from a brand that has been consistently pushing boundaries for over 35 years.
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Fitbit Releases New Fitbit Ace 3 Special Edition: Minions Fitness Tracker For Kids

Fitbit has just announced the Fitbit Ace 3 Special Edition: Minions, a new variant of their previously released Fitbit Ace 3 fitness tracker for kids. Alongside some of the most popular and recognisable characters of all time: Illumination’s Minions, the company intends to make it enjoyable and easy for kids aged 6 and over to get active and create healthy habits with the whole family.
Introducing the new Fitbit Ace 3 Special Edition: Minions

The new Fitbit Ace 3 Special Edition: Minions features an exclusive, engraved accessory band in Minions Yellow with an embossed Minions design that is built to withstand tumbles and spills with a comfortable and secure silicone band and bumper. Moreover, kids with any Ace 3 device can also customise their tracker with additional Minions-themed bands in Despicable Blue and Mischief Black.

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On-device, a new animated clock face, exclusive to Ace 3 devices, allows kids to become the Minions’ newest “boss,” as the expressive character runs, dances, skateboards, and swims, encouraging kids to get moving and illustrating their progress toward daily customisable goals for active minutes or steps. Not only that, but all Fitbit users will soon be able to enjoy new Minions-themed activity badges in the Fitbit app for various step milestones starring Stuart, Kevin, and Bob, three of the most adored Minions.
In terms of specs and features, the Fitbit Ace 3 Special Edition: Minions is the same as the original Fitbit Ace 3. It comes with eight days of battery life, parent privacy control through Parent View and Kid View that shows activity and sleep stats, as well as parent-approved friends, clock faces, avatars and badges.
The Fitbit Ace 3 Special Edition: Minions retails for RM328 and is available through their website, the official Fitbit Store on Lazada and Shopee, and Harvey Norman from 7 June.
Pokdepinion: This looks like a fun fitness band for kids to wear. I applaud Fitbit for coming out with something like this.
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Digi Prepaid NEXT20 Launched with Other Juara Internet Familiku Promotions

Digi Prepaid NEXT20

The folks over at Digi launched a new Juara Internet Familiku, which also includes the new Digi Prepaid NEXT20 plan, where you can enjoy a holistic prepaid plan at an affordable price of just RM20. It comes with 15GB of mobile data, unlimited access to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and more.
Apart from that, for those of you who subscribe to the Digi Postpaid Family Unlimited plan at RM200 per month, you can get a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite for free. Moreover, new and existing customers can get either a Samsung Galaxy A13 or Galaxy A03 for free when subscribing to the Digi Postpaid 60 or 90 plans.

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For the full list of things you can enjoy as part of the Juara Internet Familiku promotion, we’ve listed them right below here:

New / existing Digi Postpaid 120 / 150 customers will enjoy 50% extra data for 12 months whereas Digi Postpaid 40 / 60 / 90 will enjoy 10GB extra data
New / existing Digi Postpaid 90 and higher customers will get to enjoy a rebate of RM15 per month for 12 months
New / existing Digi users will enjoy additional Freedom Add-On options for Digi Postpaid 40 (free unlimited social) / 60 (free unlimited streaming)
New Digi Fibre 190 customers will get RM240 rebate.
Eligible Digi Fibre plan customers will enjoy up to RM60 per month in savings when paired with selected Digi Postpaid plans
New customers who switch to Digi Prepaid NEXT35 / NEXT45 with auto-renew enabled will enjoy an extra 5GB internet data for 12 months, unlimited social, and extra hotspot data quota
Digi Prepaid and Postpaid customers get to enjoy unlimited Netflix, Astro, YouTube, Astro GO, Viu, Dailymotion and Unifi PlayTV for 3 days with Unlimited Video Pass for just RM5. There will also up to 50% cashback with every purchase of the pass

If you’re interested to subscribe to the new Digi Prepaid NEXT20 plan or make use of any of the promotions, you can head over to the Digi Store Online or walk to the nearest Digi Store, Digi Store Express or any Digi authorized dealer nationwide.
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Pokdepinion: It’s a pretty good deal, but ultimately, it’s beneficial if you stay or frequent areas where Digi is at its strongest. If your area works well with the telco, then you shouldn’t miss out on this.
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ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero Review — premium hardware at a premium price

The recent Intel Z590 motherboards are really quite pricey, and are charting new grounds for their respective series. For perspective, the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero is now offered at RM2659, which is actually pricier than the ROG Maximus XII Formula that was introduced last year. Does it actually have what it takes to justify the rather significant price increase? Well, that’s what we aim to find out today!
Unboxing

ASUS updated the packaging, and it looks absolutely fantastic. The front of the box has been revised to better reflect ASUS’ new design direction, which involves a lot of diagonal lines, as evident in their recent laptops and even the ROG Phone 5. ASUS still made sure to keep the front clean with minimal text aside from a large ROG logo and the Maximus XIII Hero label.

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Flipping it around we see more details about the motherboard. There’s a clear image of the motherboard and its included WiFi antenna, as well as some highlighted features. But we don’t have time to read them now, let’s just flip it back over again and open it to check out the motherboard.
You can see that the ROG Maximus XIII Hero still comes with a driver CD, despite some manufacturers already going with USB drives even with their lower end boards. There’s an assortment of documentation, and also some stickers to customize your build. ASUS included a redesigned WiFi antenna. It finally has a magnetic base, so kudos to ASUS for listening to their fans. Then there’s the RGB extension cable, four SATA cables, the Q-connector to help you plug in your fiddly front panel headers, ARGB adapter and also a few M.2 screws.

The ROG Maximus XIII Hero also comes with the new ROG Graphics Card Holder to avoid GPU sag. I personally think that this should have come with their ROG GPUs instead of their motherboard, but hey I don’t say no to free goodies. Last but not least, a nice little keychain for you to show off that you own a ROG motherboard.
Appearance

Finally, it’s time to take a look at the motherboard itself. As a whole, you can see that ASUS has significantly redesigned the ROG Maximus XIII Hero. While previously only the ROG Maximus Formula or CODE motherboards can enjoy this level of coverage with their heatsinks and plastic covers, the ROG Maximus XIII Hero is quite well covered with metal heatsinks and plastic bits. Most of it is functional too, with the heatsinks having deep grooves in them to increase their surface area.

The glossy bits that were easily scratched on the ROG Maximus XII Hero have also been replaced by a less fragile-looking material that now has a very nice 3D sheen to it when you shine light on it from different angles. Interestingly enough, this cover over the audio circuitry that I am holding here is also made of metal. All the matte and glossy bits will definitely look great in a well set up RGB build.

While the top layer is just as glossy, the underlying metallic finish should help hide a bit of the scratches. The metal bits, which comprises of the VRM and M.2 heatsinks as well as the I/O shroud all feature the same matte black finish. Overall, it is one great looking motherboard that I do believe will complement any build you have in mind.

The rear I/O hosts a nice assortment of ports, and what I liked the most was the six USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The dual Thunderbolt 4 ports are also a huge upgrade over last-gen’s single USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C port. The dual LAN ports are now both 2.5Gbps, instead of the 1Gbps + 5Gbps LAN ports that the ROG Maximus XII Hero sported. I am not sure how many people actually use 5Gbps LAN at home though. WiFi sees an upgrade to the newer Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX210, which offers WiFi 6E connectivity.

There isn’t much to see here on the back of the board, which is what you would expect anyway, since you won’t be seeing this side of the board much in the first place. I do wish there was a backplate, although I am not sure if it will have much use anyway. A heatspreader behind the VRM array might be nice to dissipate the heat from the VRMs more effectively, but it is most probably unnecessary as you will see in a bit.

The RGB on this board is very tastefully done. Slivers of light peek out of the slits on the I/O shroud, while the main ROG logo on the PCH cover gleams from under your GPU. While some might consider there to be too little RGB on this board, I do believe that this is just the right amount, and I do appreciate that ASUS has continued to come up with new ways to add RGB without it being as in-your-face as previous generations.
Specifications
ROG Maximus XIII Hero

CPU support
LGA1200
10th Gen Intel Core Processors
11th Gen Intel Core Processors
Pentium Gold G6, Celeron G5 Processors

Power
1 x 24-pin ATX
2 x 8-pin EATX 12V, ProCool II
ISL69269 PWM controller (12-phase)
14 x TI 95410RRB (90A) powerstage for VCore
2 x TI 59880RWJ (70A) powerstage for SoC

Chipset
Intel Z590

Memory
ASUS OptiMem III
4 x DDR4 DIMM, max. 128GB un-buffered memory
Up to 5333MHz (OC)

Multi-GPU Support
2-way NVIDIA SLI
3-way AMD CrossFireX

Expansion slots
PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 electrically – from CPU)
PCIe 3.0 x1 – from chipset
PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8 electrically – from CPU)
PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 electrically – from chipset)

Storage
6 x SATA 6 Gb/s, supports RAID 0,1,10
2 x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 – from 11th Gen CPU
1 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 – from chipset
1 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA – from chipset

Network
Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210
2 x Intel I225V 2.5GbE LAN

USB
Rear I/O:
2 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C
6 x USB 3.1 (10Gbps)
2 x USB 2.0
On-board headers:
1 x USB 3.2 2×2 Type-C (20Gbps)
2 x USB 3.0 (5Gbps) (2 ports each)
2 x USB 2.0 (2 ports each)

Audio
ROG SupremeFX
Realtek ALC4082 CODEC
ESS SABRE9018Q2C DAC amp
5 x audio jacks (rear)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x front panel audio connector

Display output
1 x HDMI 2.0b
2 x Thunderbolt 4

Other onboard connectors
1 x CPU fan header
1 x CPU_OPT fan header
1 x AIO Pump fan header
3 x Chassis fan headers
1 x H_AMP (3A) fan header
1 x Water Pump (3A) fan header
1 x Waterflow sensor
1 x RGB headers
3 x ARGB headers
1 x TPM module connector
1 x Temperature sensor header

Overclocking features
Q-LED debug LEDs
Q-CODE POST code LED readout
BIOS Flashback button
On-board power button
FlexKey button
ReTry button
Clear CMOS button

Included accessories
User’s manual
Support DVD
1 x ARGB extension cable
1 x RGB extension cable
4 x SATA 6Gbps cables
M.2 screws
Q-connector
ROG Graphics card holder
ROG stickers
ROG thank you card
ROG key chain
ROG logo plate sticker

Form factor
ATX (12″ x 9.6″)

Test System

CPU
Intel Core i9-11900K

Cooler
Cooler Master ML240R

Motherboard
ROG Maximus XIII Hero (BIOS ver. 0610)

GPU
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 OC Edition

Memory
2 x 8GB T-FORCE XTREEM ARGB DDR4-3600 CL14

Storage
Kingston UV400 120GB
Kingston UV500 1TB
Seagate FireCuda SSHD 1TB
Kingston KC2500 1TB

Power Supply
Cooler Master V1200 Platinum

A Closer Look

With most of the board hidden away under the nice beefy metal heatsinks, we definitely have to take a screwdriver to the ROG Maximus XIII Hero to look at what ASUS has packed onto the ROG Maximus XIII Hero.
VRMs

Unlike the ROG Maximus XII Hero, the VRM heatsink no longer extends into the “Northbridge” area, and instead ASUS takes a page out of the competition’s design by using the I/O shroud area to add mass to the already beefy heatsink. As a result the ROG Maximus XIII Hero’s VRM heatsink definitely has plenty of mass to soak up the heat from the VRM and dissipate it.

Under the heatsink you get a total of 14 TI 95410RRB power stages that are rated for 90A each for the Vcore rail, while there are another 2 59880RWJ power stages rated for 70A for the VSoC rail. This is a pretty massive upgrade over the last-gen ROG Maximus XII boards, where even the ROG Maximus XII Formula only came with 70A power stages.

They have also switched out the ASUS ASP1405i PWM controller for a ISL69269, which can handle more phases, although the ROG Maximus XIII Hero’s layout only sees the controller handle 7+1 phases, as ASUS is using the Teamed Power Architecture which combines two power stages per phase in parallel for better transient response than possible if doublers were involved.
Audio

Under the fancy metal cover over the audio circuitry lies yet another metal cover, under which you will find the Realtek ALC4082 codec. This is pretty similar to the ALC4080 codecs that you will find on other motherboards, although it is slightly customized to ASUS’ specifications. It is also paired up with an ESS SABRE9018Q2C DAC amp to improve the sound output. Then there’s the Nichicon caps which are highly regarded in audio circles. All of it is isolated from the rest of motherboard to avoid interference from the rest of the circuits on the ROG Maximus XIII Hero.
Storage

The ROG Maximus XIII Hero touts a total of four M.2 slots, two of which support up to PCIe 4.0 speeds and are controlled by the CPU, while the lower two are handled by the Intel Z590 chipset, and can only go up to PCIe 3.0. As you can see, the first one is covered by a rather large heatsink close to three times the height of your average M.2 heatspreader.

The second M.2 heatspreader is also quite big, although it is large on a horizontal plane to allow it to fit under your graphics cards. The plastic bit at the end covers the PCH heatsink, which is actually really tiny. But more on that later.
As previously mentioned, the first two M.2 slots are connected to the CPU, and since there are only a total of 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes coming off the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, using two M.2 SSDs here will cut down the lanes available to your first GPU to just eight.
It most probably won’t affect performance, but if you are worried about that, you can always just use the two lower slots which also sport the same heatspreader to wick heat away from both the top and bottom of the M.2 drives.

Or if you plan on using older storage media, there’s always six SATA ports here for you. Interestingly, the ROG Maximus XIII Hero also touts two nice 90° USB 3.0 headers, which allow for a total of four USB 3.0 ports on your front panel. Previously only the ROG Maximus XII Formula had this many headers, so it’s nice to see it here. There’s also a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header, which allows for whopping 20Gbps speeds from your front panel.
Connectivity

Flanking the larger Intel JHL8540 Thunderbolt 4 controller are the two Intel I225-V 2.5GbE LAN NICs. Further to the lower side of the image you see the three USB 3.2 Gen2 redrivers, which handle the six USB 3.2 Gen2 ports that now grace the rear I/O of the ROG Maximus XIII Hero. Overall, the ROG Maximus XIII Hero serves up a strong offering when it comes to its connectivity, despite the apparent downgrade due to the loss of the 5GbE LAN that was featured on its predecessor.
Performance

The massively overkill VRM power stages and chunky heatsinks kept the temperature of the VRMs at below 63°C, even when the CPU was pulling on average 235W from the socket. That’s pretty good, considering that VRMs are usually rated to be able to withstand up to 105°C. Of course we never want to see that.

Now let’s talk about the cooling capabilities of the PCH. This tiny little chunk of aluminium definitely doesn’t do a good job at all, with temperature going all the way up to 80°C, even though I wasn’t even doing any intensive with the storage. So yeah, I do believe ASUS could have done better, perhaps by making the PCH shroud out of metal to act as a better heatsink, or maybe just don’t cover the actual heatsink with a plastic cover that blocks all airflow to it.
User Experience
BIOS

The BIOS of the ROG Maximus XIII Hero remains pretty much unchanged in terms of layout, and is pretty easy to navigate once you have experienced it once. There are plenty of features including the AI overclocking which they are heavily promoting, although I don’t think anyone who buys the ROG Maximus XIII Hero will resort to this sort of automatic overclocking, even though it is quite cool with the ability to gauge your cooling performance and ASIC quality to work out an optimal overclock.
Overclocking

As a member of the true ROG series, it is well-prepared for overclocking with on-board power button and also the FlexKey that can be configured to bring you directly to the BIOS. It’s a pretty nifty feature and it is great if you are planning to use the ROG Maximus XIII Hero on a test bench. There’s also the Q-CODE POST code readout and the Q-LED debug LEDs directly under them for an easier time deciphering what went wrong with your overclock settings.

The ReTry button on the lower edge of the board is also very convenient to try to get it to reboot and retry your settings before going to Clear your CMOS. I wish there was a dedicated Safe Boot key, but you can reassign the FlexKey to do it. For worse lockups, there’s there’s a reset CMOS button on the rear I/O, along with the BIOS Flashback button to reinstall/update your BIOS without entering the BIOS itself.
In terms of what we managed to hit, I was successful at pushing the Intel Core i9-11900K to a good 5.1GHz quite effortlessly, and this is the board that Intel sent along with their sample of the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, which definitely hints at its prowess when it comes to pushing the Rocket Lake processors to their limits.
Software

Armoury Crate is a pretty familiar app with a simple to use interface, allowing you to tweak the RGB settings as well as the AI Noise Cancellation feature here. Everything is pretty modular aside from the AURA SYNC utility. If you want more control over your system from Windows, you will have to install AI Suite 3. ASUS also bundled AIDA64 Extreme with the ROG Maximus XIII Hero, saving you a good $40.

Conclusion

ASUS offers quite significant improvements with the ROG Maximus XIII Hero to justify the significant price increase over its predecessor. The beefier VRMs, increased number of high speed ports and Thunderbolt 4 are definitely worth the extra cost if you can utilize them. However it does definitely jack up the entry point into the Republic of Gamers, which was already quite high previously.

There are also a few questionable decisions, like the toasty Intel Z590 chipset and also the fact that the second M.2 slot shares its bandwidth with the GPU. It is the former that I am most concern about though, as it gets to those temperatures even without any intense workload taxing the chipset. I can’t imagine if the ROG Maximus XIII Hero is used for some heavy read/write operations with two M.2 PCIe SSDs connected. For RM2659, the ROG Maximus XIII Hero is a solid option for serious enthusiasts, but I am not sure how many people can actually justify the price increase even with all the new features.
But then again, the ASUS Republic of Gamers is all about unapologetically high-end offerings that won’t make much sense to the average person anyway. I guess you can say that ASUS succeeded, if you think of it from this perspective?
Our thanks to ASUS Malaysia and Intel for sending us the ROG Maximus XIII Hero for review.
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ASUS Takes On Cable Management With DIY-APE Revolution Project

For as long as custom PCs existed, cable management is pretty much the most tedious part of PC building; it also creates a bunch of cables routing around and across the case creating undesirable visuals. GIGABYTE first tested the waters with the Project Stealth PC – a set of custom-built motherboard, components and case that aims to hide all cables wherever possible. Now, ASUS is ready to take on this challenge, with the DIY-APE Revolution project.

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Bilibili channel “Ancient Era Installer” has shown two such designs, with all cable-based connectors all placed behind the motherboard, including USB headers, fan/pump headers, ATX 24-pin, EPS (CPU) 8-pin, SATA and even front-panel headers. The video claims that various Intel and AMD chipsets will be featured, including Intel B660, B760, H610 as well as AMD B650. ASUS intends to create a ecosystem for this type of motherboards – and various companies such as SAMA, Lian Li, Cooler Master, Cougar, Phanteks and Jonsbo are expected to join this effort.
This remains an experimental endeavor for ASUS – hence these motherboards will have very limited availability for the time being.
Source | Original video
Pokdepinion: PC builds is about to get a lot more tidier with this concept – however I wonder if GPU vendors are taking notes?
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Telltale Games Give Statement on The Walking Dead – There May Still Be Hope

Telltale Games Give Statement on The Walking Dead

pic.twitter.com/Mw97tRsGGY
— Telltale Games (@telltalegames) September 24, 2018

Last week’s layoffs and inevitable closure of Telltale Games was heartbreaking for a variety of different reasons, one of which being that the studio likely wouldn’t be able to finish the currently ongoing series The Walking Dead: The Final Season according to multiple reports including that of Melissa Hutchison, Clementine’s own voice actress.
Now, we have an official statement by Telltale Games which states that The Walking Dead: The Final Season may end up reaching its conclusion after all. It was mentioned that in light of the studio’s imminent closure, multiple partners have now approached the company about trying to help them reach the finish line with The Walking Dead. While there is nothing further to announce right now, they said they hope to release episodes three and four “in some form.”

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By no means should you get your hopes up just yet that The Walking Dead’s final two episodes will end up releasing, but it’s the first piece of positive news that there has been in this saga over the past few days. Telltale Games ended the statement by saying that they’ll have more answers soon. All we can do now is continue hoping for the best.
The second episode of Telltale’s The Walking Dead Final Season will be available later today for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Pokdepinion: Oh my god, I was already prepared to give it up but now, there’s hope again. I really hope it goes well so we can finish up the story at least.
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PlayStation Days of Play 2022 Sale Now Live in Malaysia

PlayStation Days of Play 2022 Sale

The PlayStation Days of Play 2022 sale is now up and running in Malaysia until 8th June 2022. In this promotional period, you can get discounts on a good variety of games and hardware.
As for what items exactly are available with a discount, we’ve listed them right here:

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Hardware

PS VR with PlayStation camera = RM959
DualSense Wireless controller (Original White, Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Starlight Blue, Nova Pink, Galactic Purple) = RM309

Games

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition (PS4) = RM89
The Last of Us Part II (PS4) = RM89
God of War (PS4) = RM39
Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition (PS4) = RM39
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS4 / PS5) = RM129
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5) = RM169
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (PS5) = RM129
The Nioh Collection (PS5) = RM169

There will also be a number of games available with a discounted price of up to 80% on the PlayStation Store. Some of the games that were mentioned are Ghostwire: Tokyo, It Takes Two, and Cyberpunk 2077. If any of these piques your interest, make sure to get them before 8th June 2022 as that will be the last day of the PlayStation Days of Play 2022 sale.
Source
Pokdepinion: Good thing I haven’t bought an extra controller yet. Now I’m stuck thinking which colour I should get, and white is definitely not an option since I already have one. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
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Design A Mask And Win Up To RM59,000 With Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition

Kingston announced their partnership with CSD, a leading brand of face masks, to organise a special initiative, Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition, centered around the theme of ‘There’s Strength in Memory.’ The winners of the competition stand a chance to win exciting prizes worth up to USD14,400 (RM58,867.20). The prizes include cash prizes, Kingston products, self-designed face masks, trophies and certificates.

Kingston has long partnered with CSD in creating quality products that are a part of everyone’s daily life. The partnership comes out of a shared vision as both companies believe that during this unfortunate, unprecedented time, our memories have the power to hold us together and give us immense strength like nothing else.

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Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition: What you need to do.
In order to enter the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition, all you have to do is follow these steps.

Download the design templates from the competition’s official website.
Submit your entry here before December 24 (12PM GMT+8).
Once qualified entries are approved, an email notification will be sent to you within 3 working days.
After approval, you are to comment under the top pinned post on Kingston’s Facebook and Twitter pages before December 27 and upload an image of your design, share your entry number & design concept, and tag 3 friends for the chance to win a memory card!

Designs submitted to the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition will be judged based on two categories. The categories include:

3 Colors Creativity – Emphasises creative interpretation of the theme and quality of artistic composition allowing up to three colours.
Unlimited Color – Underscores the use of colours and overall impression of the art as well as allows colour gradients.

Artwork or designs must be submitted from November 24 to December 24. Jury members will announce the finalists on January 27, 2021, followed by online voting from January 27 to February 7. Winners will be announced on February 9, 2021.
There will be two major awards given for the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition which include:

Fan Favourite Award – Top five winners per category will receive a product package from Kingston & CSD which costs around USD300 (RM1,226.40). Winners will be ranked based on the number of likes on the designs. Online voting starts on November 24 and ends on December 27, 2020. The results will be announced on January 6, 2021.
Best Design Award (which are broken down to three awards)
– Grand Prize: The winner of each contest will receive a USD5,000 (RM20,440) cash prizes, a custom-made face mask of 50 pieces and a trophy.
– Consolation prize: 2nd – 5th of each contest category will receive a USD300 (RM1,226.40) cash prize, a custom-made face mask of 50 pieces and a trophy.
– Special Awards: The finalists for brand selection will receive a USD1,000 (RM4,088) cash prize and a custom-made mask of 20 pieces.

The competition is open to residents in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region such as Taiwan, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
For more information, do head over to the Kingston x CSD APAC Mask Design Competition website here.
Pokdepinion: Potential to get RM20K by just designing your own face mask? Colour me interested!
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The Fastest Web Browser on Mac Got Even Faster, Guess Which?

Google Chrome Got Even Faster on Mac

Speed has shaped our work since #Chrome’s launch in 2008. Three months ago, we recorded the highest score on Apple’s Speedometer — and now, Chrome is 20% faster on Mac, scoring over 360. pic.twitter.com/FO3t06c9p3
— Chrome (@googlechrome) June 5, 2022

It was about 3 months ago when Google Chrome took the crown as the fastest web browser on Apple M1-powered Macs. Now, Google claims that they have gotten even faster, a 20% increase, based on a Speedometer 2.0 benchmark result.
When they first took the crown, a 10-core M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro with 64GB RAM was used, and they managed to get a score of 300. Unfortunately, we do not know if they used the same machine to achieve the higher result.

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For comparison, my Alienware m15 R3 (Intel Core i7-10750H with RTX 2070 SUPER and 32GB DDR4 RAM) on Opera GX in Windows 10 got a score of 128, which is essentially a third of what Google achieved. Running Google Chrome on the same machine yielded a score of 154.
While it’s a far cry from what Google achieved here, it does show that Google Chrome is typically faster regardless of what you use it on, even when compared to other Chromium-based browsers like Opera GX.
Source
Pokdepinion: For as long as this continues to be trend, I expect them to continue holding the crown as the most popular web browser for a long time.
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Facecoin? FBcoin? Facebook is working on its own cryptocurrency

Facebook has recently created their blockchain team, and are apparently looking to start off their very own cryptocurrency. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, has suggested that they are open to integrating blockchain technology previously, so this isn’t a surprise. Facebook is also known to not shy away from the cutting edge, dabbling in AI, virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Apparently the cryptocurrency will be used to pay for its various services. Facebook has had a go at creating their own virtual currency — anyone remember Facebook Credits? While it never really took off, it was used to pay for in-game items on the biggest social network. Facebook’s ad revenue runs into the billions, so they will take their time to establish a cryptocurrency, if they really are going to do it.
Facebook is definitely looking into blockchain technology seriously, and creating a new cryptocurrency might just be one of the many ways to implement the new technology. Considering how blockchain technology is probably our best shot at privacy and security on the internet now, we can see why Facebook is interested.

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Source: Cheddar
Pokdepinion: Would we be able to mine the Facebook cryptocurrency by spending time online? Since Facebook already takes up a huge chunk of my online time, wouldn’t mind earning a bit out of it.
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ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) Review — extreme overclocking at a premium price

Introduction

The latest AMD X570 platform brought about a slew of really premium motherboards, and today we will be looking at one of them. The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) here is ASUS’ second highest end motherboard, with a slew of features oriented to give everyone from gamers to overclocking enthusiasts everything you could ask for. But with such a large bevy of top-of-the-line boards in the market, does ASUS’ board stand out?
Unboxing

We did a more in-depth unboxing of the motherboard in a separate unboxing article. Basically, the box is freaking beautiful like any of the other boxes that contain products from the Republic of Gamers. The front is mostly just graphics and emblems, while ASUS tries their very best to cram every feature available on this board on the back of the box.

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As typical of recent ROG products, the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) comes with a note thanking you for getting a product from the Republic of Gamers, a whole set of stickers and even a coaster. You also get a CableMod voucher, which will help you get your dream cables for 20% less. Pretty cool.
Appearance

ASUS definitely upgraded the aesthetics of the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) over the Crosshair VII Hero. Most of the PCB is hidden away under “armor”, making the board look sleeker than if it was naked.

ASUS has always made awesome looking VRM heatsinks, and the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) sports a fancy design as well. However instead of being entirely ornamental, these heatsinks feature some semblance of fins, and there’s even a heatpipe to share the heatload between the hunks of aluminium.

The lower half of the board is dominated by the ornamental block of aluminium extending between the two PCIe x16 slots. This is also where we see the main design flaw of the board, but more on that later. The slots are reinforced to prevent damage from the humongous cards we have nowadays.

ASUS created history by integrating the I/O shield onto the motherboard for the first time with the ROG Rampage V Edition 10, and they have been doing it on their flagship ROG boards ever since. The ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) benefits from that, and enthusiasts will no longer have to worry about forgetting to install the I/O shield. As long as they remember to install their motherboard.

The backside of the board is a bit naked, but you can revel in the beauty of the soldering work before you install the board into a case. There are some UV spot to improve the looks of the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi), but ASUS clearly held back here. The ROG Crosshair VIII Formula comes with a pretty backplate which looks even more awesome.

ASUS has invested quite heavily into ASUS AURA Sync, and it would definitely be a sin to not feature it on the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi). The lighting on the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) is limited to some branding on the I/O shroud and the ROG emblem on the PCH heatsink. The I/O shroud sports addressable LEDs, so that’s a pretty cool upgrade over regular RGB lights.
Specifications
ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi)

CPU support
AMD AM4
2nd, 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen processors (AMD Ryzen 2000 and Ryzen 3000 series)
1st, 2nd Generation AMD Ryzen Processors with Radeon Vega Graphics (AMD Ryzen 2000G and Ryzen 3000G series)

Power
1 x 24-pin ATX
1 x 8-pin EATX 12V, ProCool II
1 x 4-pin EATX 12V
ASUS ASP1405i PWM controller (7 + 1 phase config)
14 x IR3555 60A power stage for VCore
2 x IR3555 60A power stage for VSoC

Chipset
AMD X570

Memory
4 x DDR4 DIMM, max. 128GB un-buffered memory

Multi-GPU Support
2-way NVIDIA SLI
3-way AMD CrossFireX

Expansion slots
PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 electrically)
PCIe 4.0 x16 (x8 electrically)
PCIe 4.0 x1
PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 electrically)

Storage
8 x SATA 6 Gb/s, supports RAID 0,1,10
2 x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA

Network
Intel WiFi 6 AX200 (2×2 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0)
Realtek RTL8125-CG 2.5G LAN
Intel I211-AT Gigabit LAN

USB
Rear I/O:
7 x USB 3.1 (10 Gbps)
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C (10 Gbps)
4 x USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)
On-board headers:
1 x USB 3.1 (10 Gbps)
1 x USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) (2 ports each)
2 x USB 2.0 (2 ports each)

Audio
ROG SupremeFX S1220 CODEC
ESS ES9023P DAC
5 x gold-plated audio jacks (rear)
1 x front panel audio connector

Other onboard connectors
1 x CPU fan header
1 x CPU OPT fan header
1 x AIO_PUMP header
1 x H_AMP fan header
1 x W_PUMP+ header
3 x Chassis fan headers
1 x Temperature sensor connector
1 x W_IN header
1 x W_OUT header
1 x W_FLOW header
2 x AURA RGB headers
2 x ARGB Gen 2 headers
1 x ASUS Node header
1 x TPM header

Overclocking features
Onboard power and reset buttons
Slow mode switch
LN2 mode jumper
Safe boot button
ReTry button

Included accessories
User’s manual
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable
1 x M.2 Screw Package
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x ROG big sticker
1 x Q-Connector
1 x Wi-Fi Antenna
1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
1 x Extension cable for Addressable LED
1 x ROG coaster
1 x ROG Thank you card

Form factor
ATX (12″ x 9.6″)

System

CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, 8C/16T @ up to 4.4 GHz, 7nm FinFET

RAM
2 x 8GB T-FORCE VULCAN TUF Gaming Alliance DDR4 3600 CL19

Motherboard
ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi)

GPU
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 OC Edition 8GB GDDR6

Storage
1 x 120GB Phidisk WrathKeeper SATA SSD
1 x 512GB Plextor M9PeY PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD
1 x 256GB Toshiba M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD

CPU Cooling
Cooler Master ML240R

Case
Vector Benchcase

PSU
Cooler Master V850 Gold

Monitor
BenQ EL2870U

User Experience
Installation
The ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) here fits into regular ATX cases, but then again I am not building in a case. The integrated I/O shield would be a blessing for those who are though, as it eliminates the mistake that avid PC builders are all too familiar with.
Why does that metal sheet extend just that tiny bit??
Now as I have mentioned, the only design flaw with the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) is around the PCH heatsink. For some peculiar reason, ASUS thought it would be nice to add a fan shroud which extends over the first M.2 slot’s heatspreader. It’s just a thin aluminium sheet, so I don’t expect it to be of any value when it comes down to cooling.

But to install the M.2 into the M.2_1 slot, you would have to remove the fan shroud, which is held down by 2 screws, no less, and unscrew two more screws to lift off the M.2 heatspreader, and then you can mount your SSD. If you have a GPU, you are out of luck as you would have to remove your GPU first before starting. ASUS pre-applied thermal pads under the heatspreaders to improve the cooling of your SSDs.

However it is worth noting that most PCIe 4.0 SSDs in the market, and those run really hot, come with pre-installed heatspreaders anyway. And those look way more substantial than those on the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi), so you will most probably have to do away with them anyway. The second M.2 slot is also covered by a heatspreader that is also held down by two screws, but luckily that isn’t impeded by any fan shrouds in the way. ASUS could have easily designed a M.2 heatspreader which would only involve one screw, but I guess ASUS decided that two is better than one.
You can attach the fiddly system status connectors before plugging it all at once to the board. Nifty!
Other than that, there really isn’t much to complain. ASUS even provides a Q-connector to make installing fiddly front panel headers a breeze on the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi).
BIOS
          EZ Mode is really convenient to check out key settings                 Plenty of overclocking options in one place            Tweak the VRM configs for your CPU and RAM          Customize your fan profile from the BIOS            Complete monitoring from the BIOS
ASUS’ BIOS are renowned as one of the best. The ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi)’s BIOS offers a bazillion of options, enabling experienced overclockers to push their 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen processors to the limit, while not alienating newbies. Most of the important settings will have some tips along the bottom of the screen, improving the user experience for newbies who don’t know what do the settings do.
I do have a small complaint about the BIOS though. Previous ROG boards I have played with will usually change the color of the font to indicate that you are playing with riskier voltages. Usually there’s yellow, pink and red, with the latter indicating that you would most probably need extreme cooling to handle. This time around, only the VSoC had such distinct levels.
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The DRAM and VCore voltages only changed to red at the maximum level, which is 2.12V and 1.7V, respectively. A less experienced overclocker might assume that 1.5V or even 1.6V is safe for a Ryzen processor, which really isn’t the case.
I am pretty well-accustomed to the ASUS ROG BIOS layout, after using a Maximus VII Ranger as my personal system and also playing with the ROG Rampage V Extreme quite often, so you can call me somewhat biased to the layout. But like I noted, ASUS still has some work to do on the BIOS.
If you are worried about BIOS updates, ASUS has equipped the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) with a USB BIOS Flashback feature, so you can even update the BIOS on the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) even without a support CPU. It might just come in handy given that the AM4 platform is expected to be used well into 2020. Maybe a 4th Gen AMD Ryzen processor?
Overclocking
Out of the box, enabling Precision Boost Overdrive and Core Performance Boost will take the CPU up to 4.3 GHz on single core workloads and 4.167 GHz once all cores are loaded. The voltages applied are somewhat worrying though, with up to 1.45V observed.
Stuck during POST? Read the code to identify the problem.
Getting my hands dirty, I managed to push our Ryzen 7 3700X to 4.3 GHz at 1.38V, with it failing to boot at any higher clocks, even when stupidly high voltages like 1.45V was thrown at the processor. So 4.3 GHz it is, and with LLC Level 3 applied, the voltage was pretty stable even when put under load.

One thing I noted when overclocking the CPU was that even though FCLK is supposed to be directly synchronized 1:1 with the RAM as long as you are running below DDR4 3733 MHz, it seems like setting the FCLK manually does yield some gains in Cinebench R20. Not sure if this is due to the BIOS or a common issue with AMD boards.

If you are trying to overclock, even before you need to touch the LN2 jumper or Slow Mode toggle, you might find the Safe Boot and ReTry buttons handy. The former lets you POST in default settings but it still retains your BIOS configuration, so in the event of a failed overclock, you can still re-enter the BIOS to fine tune your settings further. Meanwhile, the ReTry button triggers a hard reset when the standard on-board reset button doesn’t work. Once again, you would have to be pushing the limits before you would have to use these features.
Those features would probably come in handy if you are experimenting with RAM overclocking. I, for one, didn’t really have the time nor the patience for that. So slapping in the T-FORCE VULCAN TUF Gaming Alliance DDR4 3600 CL19 and it ran at those settings once I applied the D.O.C.P. profile. Tightening the timings down to CL16 was also supported but I didn’t go much further than that.
Software
ASUS offers their high-end motherboards with so much software that it would make a pre-One UI Samsung smartphone blush. But of course, unlike Samsung, they aren’t preloaded. There’s the Armoury Crate, ROG GameFirst V, RAMCACHE III, RAMDisk, Sonic Studio III, Sonic Radar III Overwolf and also ASUS’ AI Suite 3, Ai charger and your regular Aura, if you decide that Armoury Crate just isn’t your thing.
          Armoury Crate            AI Suite 3            AURA              ROG CPU-Z          RAMCache III          RAMDisk            Sonic Radar III              Sonic Studio III
But, if Armoury Crate is right up your alley, you can just download Armoury Crate and just decide what you want from there. You can even download a ROG-themed version of CPU-Z. No need to go to the support page for the motherboard after you got Armoury Crate. And yes, you can set Armoury Crate to auto-download upon first boot up from the BIOS, so you don’t even have to go to the support page if you are really lazy.
Performance
Like most AMD X570 motherboards, the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) comes with a fan over the PCH to cool the AMD X570 chipset. It is inaudible from normal distances, and I am using a bench rig so if you slap it into a case, you would probably not hear it at all. It will easily be drowned out by the noise of your GPU or CPU coolers.
Temperatures are relatively toasty at around 60°C, but even when concurrently copying and writing data between two PCIe 3.0 x4 drives, with a GeForce RTX 2080 loaded with ROG Realbench blasting hot air down at it, the highest temperature observed was just 65°C. That’s pretty far from the 95°C limit.

VRM temps are excellent, since the VRM is definitely over-engineered for a 65W TDP processor. In our sneak peek at the VRM we have already noted that it would be able to handle an irresponsible amount of power. Based on our observations, temperatures don’t even break 35°C when the 4.3 GHz Ryzen 7 3700X was put under load in the Realbench stress test for an hour. Ambient temps are at 25°C for all our temperature readings.
Conclusion
The ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) is one expensive board, there’s no avoiding that. You do get all the bells-and-whistles the Republic of Gamers is known for though. Beautiful RGB lighting, top-notch power delivery and extreme overclocking features that will serve you well even when you throw your Ryzen processor under LN2. If you need those features, RM2039 is quite a reasonable price tag. For gamers who just want a good board to build their gaming system on, the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) is really quite overkill.

There’s no reason to dislike the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) at all, aside maybe from the expensive price tag, which is why I award it our Gold PokdeWard. It’s one solid board, and one which should probably be able to support anything the AMD AM4 platform will support, and then overclock the heck out of it.

Our thanks to ASUS Malaysia for providing us with the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) used in this review.
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