If you’re a serious PC gamer you’ve no doubt heard of the Predator that’s ready to do battle, just as you are.

Acer’s gaming laptop Predator series is one in the top echelons of pro gamer gear.

So when a non Predator gaming laptop is released by Acer, you can bet it’s got what it takes to be a worthy weapon on the gaming device market.

Introducing the new Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, built for serious game time without the hefty price tag.

When you first get the box, it understates just what is inside.

Sure accessories are minimal, there’s the laptop, charger and a keyboard cover, but one look over the Acer Nitro 5 you’ll see from its markings you have something that means business.

Under the hood you’ve got a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 dedicated graphics card, 16GB DDR4 RAM with 12th Gen i7 Intel processors crunching data @ 2.7 GHz or turbo mode  @ 4.5 GHz.

The 512GB SSD was a little disappointing. Given that Windows 11 chomps some of that up and there’s a recovery partition already set, you’ll need to invest in an external drive if your PC games library has more than a couple of Triple AAA titles.

The chiclet keyboard has your playing keys already accented and the red backlighting is a nice touch.

Audio wise the Acer Nitro 5 actually sounds real good via the laptop speakers. Better than most gaming laptops I’ve tried, but using compatible headphones will give you 7.1 surround.

Acer haven’t skimped on ports either. You’ve got a 3.5 mm headphone / mic port, a generous array of three USB-A ports on the sides, LAN socket, USB-C and HDMI at the back with a proprietary mains plug. No Display Adaptor port though.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card never skipped a beat through my run through of some heavy weight games.

And if you’re a content creator, the Acer Nitro 5 is multipurpose for you.  Being able to render out 4K video and high resolution graphics in no time.

Most PC gamers that I know who have a gaming laptop use it like a desktop with the added benefit of being able to fold it and take it to a mates house every now and then.

On a desk you’ll be fine, if you prefer to actually place the laptop on your lap be prepared for some heat.

A couple of games got the Acer Nitro 5 a bit warm, God of War, Ratchet and Clank to name a couple.

While the Acer Nitro 5 does have some very impressive vents at the back there was still enough warmth on a few games for me to think I should probably use this on a desk.

The 15.6 inch Screen has larger than expected bezels top, bottom and sides.

However the quality of the visuals is high and you’ll get a refresh rate of 144 Hz with up to 1920 x 1080 resolution and 16:9 ratio.

Battery life was pleasing. Even on the larger games the Acer Nitro 5 was able to keep up the pace for around 5 hours.

If you use this laptop for other life stuff as well as gaming, you’ll be sweet for hours on a full charge.

In all the Acer Nitro 5 gives you boom for your dollars without you needing to spend an other worldly sum to keep up with the other serious PC gamers and esports contenders out there.

With a super sleek look on the outside and grunt on the inside, the Acer Nitro 5 has got what it takes for you to be gaming like a pro this holiday season and beyond.

The post Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Intel’s NUC is a small and compact powerhouse designed for PC gamers to get a near Rig performance with a minimal desktop footprint.

They are small but super mighty.

Now Intel have unleashed the Beast.

Larger than the traditional NUC this RGB LED emblazoned in an extended black and stealthy looking casing packed with superior gaming grunt that would make even the biggest Rig cower in fear.

The Intel Beast Canyon NUC has more ports at its back than you’ll ever likely need.

A generous six USB 3.0 ports (also two at the front), two USB-C, two HDMI, a single ethernet port and three display ports.

Powering the Beast on for the first time when I received it was an eye candy treat. The NUC Skull logo centred with underside LED lighting – all customizable of course.

The goodness inside also didn’t disappoint.

32GBs of DDR4 RAM coupled with an array of Intel’s i7 11th gen processors crunching the data at 3.20GHz (not overclocked).

A Samsung 1TB SSD is your singular storage. Given that it is solely designed for gaming I actually expected to see at least an other additional SSD in there to really max your games storage.

Still the SSD that came preinstalled was top class.

Built by Playtech who also added included an NVIDIA GeForce 3070Ti dual port graphics card that has GDDR6X memory.

The NUC’s are a kitset PC, pretty much like any PC. Having one of these does not limit you to what is installed hardware wise. You can add and swap out bits, but just be mindful of any warranties if you’re going to do it yourself.

Needless to say the Intel Beast Canyon NUC was able to play anything. Call of Duty Vanguard, Forza Horizon 5, VR streaming and a current fav of mine Tiny Tina’s Wonderland were flawless.

Nothing needed to be dulled down playing at full 60fps – even Sony’s port to PC of God of War ran super smooth (this is usually a resource gobbler).

If you’re also in to content creation, on the more professional and heavier side the Beast is going to render your 4-8K videos and 3D models in no time.

Small and mighty the Intel Beast Canyon NUC is its namesake – a Beast.

A powerful gaming PC that’s not going to dominate your desk while you dominate the battlefield.

The post Intel Beast Canyon NUC Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Having already reviewed Intel’s splendid 12th generation Alder Lake premium Core i9-12900K and the equally impressive budget Core i5-12600K, both in their unlocked “K” variant, it’s time to check out the middle of road Intel Core i7-12700.

With Intel’s Alder Lake it’s just another generation of CPUs for those just buying a new PC, but it’s a fresh start for most upgraders. First, you’ll need a new motherboard, with a 6XX-series chipset, the flagship being the Z690 with all the bells and whistles. To get the most out of the CPU, Intel recommends new (and very expensive) DDR5 memory, although many motherboard vendors still manufacture DDR4 versions compatible with the Alder Lake CPUs.

The CPUs themselves are slightly longer with a new LGA 1700 socket, so you will also need to ensure that your existing cooling solution is compatible if you are upgrading your rig.

Unlike its previously tested stablemates, the Core i7-12700 set for review lacked the “K” suffix meaning that the i7 Alder Lake CPU’s frequencies were locked. This meant no overclocking, even with my Asus TUF motherboard’s easy one-touch AI overclocking.

In keeping with the other 12th generation CPUs that I’ve tested, I used a selection of benchmarks representing office applications, photo and video editing, gaming, and 3D rendering to gauge performance. These included premium professional testing tools such as UL Procyon and Crossmark as well as the more consumer-orientated PC Mark, 3D Mark, Performance Mark, and Cinebench.

I used the same machine as well, an ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi D4 motherboard with CPU cooling via a Corsair H150i Elite LCD all-in-one cooler, 16GB of Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4-4600 RAM, and Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti GPU, all housed in a Corsair 7000D Airflow tower case.

You’ll note that I’m still running DDR4 memory, and this is by design, as the previous CPU tests were made before DDR5 modules were available. Sticking with the same setup affords a better comparison with this component and its siblings. Using DDR5 memory may improve performance over DDR4 but how much, and if it’s worth the investment right now, will be something that I will be looking into in an upcoming article.

As with previous Core i7s, the Core i7-12700 is a performance component aimed at power users, creatives, and serious gamers. The locked Core i7-12700 affords a small $20-odd cost-saving for people that are not into overclocking their PCs .

The i5 is more for everyday gaming, although it runs very cool and is easy to overclock. The i9, on the other hand, is as expensive as it is powerful, an overkill for most applications that don’t need to make use of multiple threads.

My i5 vs i9 review was easy: i9 for the well-heel performance lunatics and the i5 for sensible folk that want a fast CPU (that can be easily made to go a bit faster) at a nice price. Adding the i7 into the mix muddies the water, somewhat.

The Intel i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads compared to the i9-12900K’s 16 cores and 24 threads and the i5-12600K’s 10 cores and 16 threads. The specification of the three CPUs staggers in a sensible manner.

For the 12th generation, CPUs Intel has split the cores into two types: “efficient core” for the general housekeeping tasks and “performance cores” for the heavy lifting. The i7 comes with eight performance cores and four efficient cores. The performance cores have a base frequency of 3.60 GHz and a Max boost of 5.0 GHz.

In pretty much all of the benchmarks the i7 results, rather predictably, sat between the results for the i5 and the i9 alder Lake CPUs. There were a few anomalies, most notably Crossmark tests, the UL Procyon video editing test, and the generic results from Procyon’s stablemate, PC Mark. The PC Mark application test and extended test results were, however, exactly as I’d expect.

Running a stress test using the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, with all cores at 100%, garnered an average temperature of about 60 degrees maxing out at 71 degrees. This was with the Corsair H150i still running quietly as you would in an office environment.

The benchmark tests highlighted the major advantage that the i7 has over the i5 and why it may not be for everyone. When you look at the 3D Mark CPU profile results, the i7 is clearly superior to the i5 with all the cores firing, as the threads diminish, so does the performance gap, with one and four threads showing less performance than the i5.

There could be a number of factors in this, but if you look at the single-core performance of the Cinebench R.23 test, the results for the i5 and i7 are (rather coincidentally) the same.

I’m comparing the unlocked versions of the 12th-gen i9 and i5 with the locked i7. In an Asus motherboard, like the TUF Gaming Z690, the Taiwanese manufacturer offers users a painless basic AI overclock that I took advantage of with the other unlocked CPUs. So, whilst the i9 and i5 results are slightly higher due to this, the same is not afforded to the locked i7. It’s likely the small edge that the mild i5 overclock has that is responsible for the anomalous Crossmark and Procyon video editing results. With the Asus AI overclock I got the i5 running pretty much on par with the stock frequencies of the locked i7, giving the more expensive CPU an advantage only in the number of cores on board.

Whilst the i9 has the solid grunt to out-perform the i5 across the board, you can see the diminishing return as fewer cores are engaged. And this is the thing will all microprocessors be them GPUs or CPUs. If you are not going to take full advantage of them, you are wasting your money.

Applications that employ all of the i7s cores are going to perform better and are potentially worth the investment over the i5. This includes some modern games, but many will still only utilise a few of the i7s capabilities. Of course, if you are doing the odd 3D render, a bit of Photoshop, or video editing, the extra cores will be of benefit.

It really goes without saying that you are going to get excellent gaming performance out of the 12th generation Intel Core i7. The CPU is also going to be more than happy rendering video and editing photos. I’d say 90% of PC users will be more than satisfied with the i7’s performance. Some of those, however, would also likely be just as happy with the very versatile i5.

Personally, as a PC gamer that likes to dabble in photo and video editing, as well as the odd bit of 3D rendering, the Intel Core i7-12700 ticks all the boxes for performance and price even if it does lack overclocking capabilities, but I’d still pay the extra for the K version.

In a more corporate environment whereby stability is key and overclocking presents an unnecessary risk, the Core i7-12700 makes sense. This is especially so if you are buying multiple machines with the same equipment spec.

The locked Intel i7-12700 is a one-size-fits-all CPU suitable for both everyday office tasks as well as more demanding applications such as video editors, and higher-end creative uses such as 3D modelling and even a light bit of 3D rendering.

It stacks up well against the more expensive i9 and outperforms the i5 in most processor-intensive applications. I’d still be inclined to go for the unlocked i7, but whilst previously I’d have recommended the 12th generation i5 over an i9 for most users, I’d now say that, in any variant, the i7 offers the best bang for your buck as an all-rounder.

The post Intel 12th Generation Core i7-12700 CPU Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Small, slim and mighty.

Dell’s recently released XPS 13 9300 laptop powered by Intel’s latest 10th gen processor was sent over to STG for us to give it a run through.

The model we received is the Frost White and from the box the thin yet precision built casing is something to behold.

Super light weight the XPS 13 9300 is a stunner on looks and feel with the smooth chiclet keys.

The keyboard and palm rests are stain resistant and have a coating applied to them to prevent the colouring fading or in this laptop’s case, the white going a horrible yellow.

The touchscreen display comes in at FHD (1920 x 1080) and almost bezel-less. Dell have incorporated a minuscule IR sensor camera at the hard top of the screen – but you can hardly notice it unless you look for it.

But being sexy isn’t all that – it’s what inside that counts – and the XPS 13 9300 has the goods.

As mentioned above this model is powered by an 8 core 10th gen i7 1065G7 crunching the data @ 1.30GHz per core.

Intel’s latest generation of processors are built for A.I. (artificial intelligence) smarts while optimizing battery life without impeding performance.

A generous 16GB RAM is on board and a 460GB SSD for your digital storage.

for the most part these notebooks will come with Windows 10 Home x64, as this review model did.

For usual daily use, the Dell XPS 13 9300 is a wonder. It doesn’t break a sweat when multitasking with varying Apps and for the content creators out there, this model can handle more than you’d expect.

Heavy Photoshop files were no problem. Using Adobe Premier was seamless, although if you’re outputting a FHD or 4K video expect some rendering time.

Gaming? Well, theoretically the XPS 13 9300 should be able.

It’s got the processing power for most mid to high-mid PC games, but the GC (graphics card) will be the let down.

The Dell XPS 13 9300 uses an onboard Intel Iris.

While the Iris can be surprising in what it can handle – if you are looking at playing something like Forza 7 or Gears of War 5 you can forget it.

Gears of War 4 and Borderlands 2 ran well though, Borderlands 3 not so much.

But I don’t believe that Dell ever produced the XPS 13 9300 with gamers in mind. It is not a gaming laptop.

Ports, or lack of are likely to be a downer for for most. This model of XPS 13 9300 has only three, one of which is the USB-C charger port. The other two, 3.5mm headphone or mic socket and a single USB-C to plug in an external drive.

Using the USB-C port to plug an additional monitor did not work.

If you’re looking at getting yourself one of these you’re likely going to need a USB hub – especially if you plan on having it as part of a home work desk or similar.

If you use the Dell XPS 13 9300 on the go and make use of cloud storage then you’ll be sweet.

Apple removed all of their ports from their laptops years ago – but unlike Apple, Dell gives you a generous internal storage.

Battery life was pleasing but charging time wasn’t.

From dead flat to full took around 2 and a half hours without the laptop being used.

However once fully charged you can expect 4 to 5 hours, at a push 6 for light use, internet browsing as an example.

If you’re going to be streaming media (Twitch, YouTube) you’ll get a good 4 hours out of it, on the flip side of that content creators you can expect around 2 to 3 hours constant use on battery, a bit less if you’re rendering out video.

The XPS 9300 is expensive. You’ll be looking at just under $3K (NZD). While there is a lot of goodness going on with this model, I’m not entirely convinced that the price tag is justified.

The Dell XPS 13 9300 is a workhorse in a midget sized frame. A perfect presentation device, for work and for home. It’s pricing tier places it among the elite and most expensive of the small and slim-lined laptop range.

The post Dell XPS 13 9300 Laptop Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Hot on the heels of the release of the latest range of processors, Coffee Lake, Intel has partnered with MSY at the Pax Aus convention.

In conversation with STG at Pax Aus, Intel has revealed the latest range of Optane Storage, the 900P, now with ultra-low latency, and far greater speeds than even the fastest m.2 solid state drive, while using the same amount of PCIe lanes as a standard m.2 drive. Aimed at professional content creators or those who want only the very best for their system, the new storage options are made for the most discerning gamers.

STG also discussed Intel’s latest series of chips, the Coffee Lake.

As single-core IPC (instructions per clock) has only increased marginally each chip generation, chip makers have had to think of new ways of providing extra power to eager content creators and gamers. In response, with Intel’s 8th generation the company has moved the budget core i3 to the core and thread count previously populated by the i5, and the i5 to six-core core and thread count.

The chips have performed exceptionally in review benchmarks, but there has been some questions about Intel’s commitment to the value end of the spectrum. Coffee Lake was announced without confirmation about their Pentium range, whose G4560 processor is a fan favourite with budget PC builders.

Intel was able to confirm that it knows how popular that processor is, but that it is only just able to get the G4560 in stock in Australia and New Zealand due to excessive interest from bitcoin miners. It also was able to confirm it was not exiting the value market, and to look forward to announcements in the future. While not confirmation that a successor to the G4560 will be announced (perhaps moving to the same four-core, four-thread count of the Coffee Lake i3 series), it should give hope to those disappointed by Intel’s announcements so far on the Pentium range.

Intel Optane SSD 900P Series AIC

With six core chips now becoming mainstream thanks to AMD’s Ryzen and the new Coffee Lake Core i5 and Core i7 chips, game developers and game engine software engineers have a challenge to move from single-threaded or low-thread count engines to ones that can take advantage of the extra power available in modern systems.

Intel spoke about the “surprisingly large” team of software engineers working with developers and game engine makers (such as for Unreal or Unity) to help transition the industry to the new multi-core world. With Intel’s market share, Intel is confident it can help move the industry forward.  

After a series of updates to CPUs, that while industry-leading, have not been revolutionary, this is perhaps now the time to look at how the extra cores and overclocking potential could help your build. Intel is certainly trying its hardest to make the case, but it faces the fiercest conversation it has in years. This can only be good for gamers, with more choice spurring the industry forward.

The post Intel @ PAX AUS appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

As announced on the 24th of September 2017, Intel’s 8th Gen Intel Core desktop processors are available to consumers from now.

Offering a range of performance options for consumers, including unlocked “K” processors at each Intel Core brand, the 8th Gen Intel Core desktop processors are built for those who require premium performance: gamers, content creators and overclockers.

The new desktop processor family includes the new 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, which is the best desktop gaming processor ever from Intel, along with the first ever 6 core Intel Core i5 desktop processor and 4 core Intel Core i3 desktop processor. These processors deliver frame rate improvements of up to 25 percent compared with 7th Gen Intel Core processors, enabling smooth gaming experiences. Content creators can expect 65 percent faster editing compared with a 3-year-old machine.

Anand Srivatsa, general manager of the Desktop Platform Group at Intel Corporation, displays an 8th Gen Intel Core desktop processor. The new Intel processor family for desktop use is available Oct. 5, 2017. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

HWBOT, the authority on regulating international overclocking competitions and rankings, was fast at work to document overclocking records with two total world records and nine global first-places for the 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700K processor.

The 8th Gen Intel Core desktop processors are available through multiple retailers, along with new Intel Z370 chipset-based motherboards from all major motherboard manufacturers.

The post Intel’s New Gen is Now appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The pace of innovation in the tech industry never ceases to amaze me. If you go back even five years, a “thin” laptop was still more than 20 mm, 4K content was only starting to take off and Oculus was kicking off its Kickstarter campaign. Compare that with today: Laptops are less than 11 mm, 4K content is pervasive and, with the advent of Windows Mixed Reality, VR is being baked right into the operating system people use every day.

This is particularly relevant as we get ready for today’s solar eclipse. The last time we experienced an eclipse like this was almost 100 years ago. If you weren’t directly in its path, you would miss it entirely – assuming you even knew it was happening in the first place. Now, people from all over the world can be part of the moment, and a huge number of them will be using their computer. But for those 450 million people using a machine that is more than five years old, the experience will be vastly different. Vastly compromised. Because they won’t be able to see the eclipse in the breathtaking level of detail that is possible, from the initial livestream to the vivid imagery people will create and share in the days to come.

This is what inspired us to push the limits with our 8th Gen Intel Core processors. We wanted to deliver the platform-wide improvements that embrace and enhance all of the incredible innovation around us – from 4K to VR and beyond – and make them more accessible to everyone. With that in mind, I’m excited to share the first details on how we are bringing this to life with our new 8th Gen Intel Core processors. We will start rolling out our 8th Gen family today, beginning with a range of mobile processors designed specifically for sleek thin and light notebooks and 2 in 1s.

This new mobile family sets the bar for outstanding performance, including a boost of up to 40 percent gen over gen, and that jumps to 2x if you compare it with a 5-year-old machine. This is all thanks to the new quad-core configuration, power-efficient microarchitecture, advanced process technology and a huge range of silicon optimisations. These improvements also open the door to richer, more immersive entertainment, and an experience that is optimised for simplicity. The best part? We’ve been able to do all of this without compromising battery life. In fact, you will be able to get up to 10 hours of 4K UHD local video playback on a single charge.

A few other examples of the profound impact this performance leap will have:

• Editing photos or creating a slideshow? That’s up to 48 percent faster on 8th Gen vs. devices powered by the processor we released last year. Now imagine that compared to a 5-year-old device.
• Editing video footage is now up to 14.7x faster, so rendering what used to take 45 minutes on a 5-year-old PC, now takes three minutes.
• It’s easier than ever to enjoy your favorite shows in 4K UHD, including new content coming soon from Amazon Prime Video and Vudu, as well as everything already available from Netflix, Sony Pictures ULTRA and iQiyi.
• You can try out new advancements like Windows Mixed Reality or go even more immersive with Thunderbolt™ 3 external graphics (up to 4K) for enhanced gaming and VR.

The first wave of 8th Gen Intel Core processor-powered devices featuring i5/i7 processors will come to market beginning in September, and we expect more than 145 designs to choose from. But that’s just the beginning. 8th Gen Intel Core processors will continue to roll out through the coming months, with the first desktop processors coming in the fall, followed by processors for enterprise customers and a broad range of other options purpose-built for different segments. The 8th Gen family will even include some of our first 10 nm products.

Indeed, beyond the amazing technology advancements, one of the great things about the 8th Gen Intel Core processor lineup is the scalability. The wide range of options opens the door for endless opportunities for our partners and the entire ecosystem. That means customers will be able to choose from hundreds of designs, including all shapes and sizes. The common denominator across them all? Outstanding performance. Performance that helps people simplify everything they are doing today, while opening the door to the experiences of tomorrow.

*Special Report supplied from Intel Global

The post Simplifying Today – Opening the Door for What’s Next appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Imagine having the power to PC game on the highest settings, render graphics and video in real time and super quick, whilst retaining both deskspace and floor space.

Imagine no longer as the rise of Intel’s NUC’s march in to the high end computing market.

Intel previously provided us here at STG with one of their mid range small form factor PC’s (read the REVIEW HERE), which was slanted more for the moderate user and TV connectability.

Having received another device, the NUC 6i7KYK1 (aka Skull Canyon) recently for a short time, we placed this high end model through its paces for gaming, personal computing and commercial use.

Firstly, this NUC has the sixth Gen Iris i7 Quads to process through whatever you throw at it at 2.6 to 3.5 GHz Turbo’d and comes with 16GB RAM. The RAM can be upgraded to a max of 32GB.

This alone was impressive enough given the size of these PCs.

Graphics being FHD via the HDMI port, are 4K capable and is processed by the on board Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 chip. This said – this model allows you to connect any high performance external Graphics Card to boost up that rendering. Sadly, we had to return the unit before the external Graphics Card that we ordered in from NVIDIA (GeForce GTX 1080) arrived, so cannot say for sure how this performs with the addition in this review.

Nonetheless, it does have the provision to add, either via the NUC’s onboard Thunderbolt port or USB 3.0 (if you have a GPU Dock).

For available ports, and this is where the design comes in to play too, both sides of the device have been utilised to spread out and maximise the available external connectivity options.

One side features the USB 3.0 sockets (this is the front of the device) and the rear comprises of Thunderbolt 3 (giving data transfer at up to 40 Gbps) or USB 3.1 (data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps) via USB Type C connector. The mentioned HDMI aswell as Mini Display port, ethernet and two more USB 3.0… well actually one of them is a USB 3.1. There is even an SD slot.

The audio jack is 3.5mm but will at best produce high fidelity 7.1 where it can.

Internal storage is minimal though at 300GB for the device that we reviewed – but plug in an external SSD or of course external USB HDD and you’re set. Infact you are likely to need an external as high end PC games can be up to 80GBs.

The Skull Canyon (NUC 6i7KYK1) is also a quiet beast. Whether rendering out video with Adobe Premier or gaming with Black Ops III without toning down the in-game settings, it appeared to remain cool and calm. We infact hardly ever heard the internal fans.

Intel’s series of NUCs are sold as kits and what this means is that they are yours to upgrade, replace parts (where you can), install differing OS’ (all NUCs are also optimized for Linux), so very much like the traditional Desktop PC or Gaming RIG.

We couldn’t fault the performance of the 6i7KYK1 in anyway, it purred along extremely well. Being that it has such a small footprint, measuring just 211 mm x 116 mm x 28 mm you’ll forget it’s even there. Totally plug and play, take the NUC with you to a mates place for some LAN time or to eSports events.

An excellent replacement for that behemoth RIG that towers on top of your desk or removes footspace under it, the NUC 6i7KYK1 / Skull Canyon is a tiny beast or epic computing performance.

The post Intel NUC 6i7KYK1 Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Today Intel demonstrated a lineup of new games and technology, and revealed several new initiatives, including partnerships with ESL, Oculus and Ready At Dawn Studios that will take PC gaming to the next level. With more than 1.3 billion PC gamers worldwide, the PC platform continues to be the top choice for the best gaming experiences.

The company also announced timing for the new Intel Core X-series processor family. The 4- to 10-core processors will be available for pre-order beginning on June 19 and will start shipping to consumers the following week. Availability for the rest of the family will soon follow, with the 12-core Intel Core i9-7920X X-series processor expected to start shipping in August, and the Intel Core i9-7940X X-series processor, Intel Core i9-7960X X-series processor and 18-core Intel Core i9-7980X Extreme Edition processor, expected to start shipping in October.

“Intel’s heritage in gaming has been built around technical innovation that brings to life amazing experiences – and it’s also an area where we want to keeping pushing the limits of what’s possible with our technology,” said Gregory Bryant, senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel Corporation. “From giving the world its first look at our upcoming Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor to accelerating esports and the future of VR esports, we’re excited to be part of one of the strongest PC gaming showcases at E3 in recent years.”

The Intel Core X-series line up is Intel’s most powerful, scalable and accessible high-end desktop processor family ever. With a wide range of options and price points to match, the X-series opens the door for a whole new level of experiences and capability for gamers and content creators of all levels and interests. At the top of the stack is the new Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor, the first consumer desktop CPU with 18 cores and 36 threads of power to handle all the megatasking demands of gaming, VR, content creation and more.

ESL, the world’s largest esports company, and Intel announced today that they are expanding their 15-year partnership to further advance the worldwide growth and development of esports. As ESL’s official technology partner, Intel will help grow all of ESL’s esports events around the globe and deliver a world-class experience for competitors and viewers. Intel’s technology will make up the backbone of ESL’s esports events, studios and broadcasting operations, with all amateur and pro tournament PCs running the latest Intel Core i7 processors and all of ESL’s production hardware running on a combination of Intel Core and Intel Xeon processors.

The two companies also revealed the Intel Grand Slam for “Counter Strike: Global Offensive” (“CS:GO”) that will offer a $1 million prize, awarded to the first team that wins four “CS:GO” competitions by ESL and DreamHack in a 12-month period. Qualifying events include the Intel Extreme Masters, ESL One, ESL Pro League and DreamHack Masters series.

In addition, Intel announced several partnerships and investments to accelerate pro-competitive VR gaming (VR esports) and to help accelerate the global growth of esports, including premier events like the Intel Extreme Masters. This includes a partnership with Ready At Dawn Studios to release “Echo Arena” as a free download for all Oculus Rift owners for three months starting on July 20th, 2017. In “Echo Arena” – the fast-paced competitive multiplayer mode for “Lone Echo” – teams of up to five players face off against the competition in a zero gravity clash of robotic glory as competitors glide, boost and punch their way to scoring goals in a breathtaking virtual arena.

A collaboration with ESL and Oculus to launch the VR Challenger League. The competitive VR gaming series begins in July and features both “The Unspoken” from Insomniac Games and “Echo Arena” from Ready At Dawn Studios. The VR esports competition will take place online and at key events with players from around the world, with the finals taking place at the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship in Katowice, Poland, in 2018.

Demonstrating other innovations in VR, Linkin Park joined Intel to announce a brand new addition to their ongoing partnership. Linkin Park Destination powered by Spatialand and Intel will help the band extend its social media engagement with fans via a curated experience in VR – from the studio to on tour to anywhere in between. Available in July, fans can enter into the VR destination via the Spatialand app to access Linkin Park’s music, interact with the band, sign up for contests, buy merchandise, and even unlock secret fan experiences and events created by the band.

The post Intel Showcases Extraordinary PC Gaming and VR Experiences at E3! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.