Players expect higher performing hardware to get the most out of their systems whether they’re competitive eSports players, PC gaming enthusiasts, or those interested in massive multiplayer experiences or looking to play their favorite single-player titles at the highest settings.

Based on feedback from the gaming community, performance is the number one thing they value most. To fulfill gamers’ needs, Lenovo is turning user feedback into product ideas. And to ensure our products continue to meet and exceed users’ evolving needs, we continually fine tune and improve our innovations. As a result, the latest Lenovo Legion gaming line-up is more powerful than ever — with a new range of high-performance PCs and an entire family of re-designed gaming accessories and monitors.

Today at CES, Lenovo released details on their latest gaming additions to the Lenovo Legion line-up with savage new Lenovo Legion Y740 and Y540 Laptops, Lenovo Legion K500 RGB Mechanical Keyboard and M500 RGB Gaming Mouse, ergonomic Lenovo Legion H500 Pro 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset and H300 Stereo Gaming Headset, the stylish Lenovo Legion Y27gq Monitor and Y44w Monitor for ultra-fast, smooth and immersive gaming, upgraded Lenovo Legion T730 and T530 towers and C730 and C530 cubes to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPUs

Each of these products are designed to deliver the speed and performance gamers need to succeed at the highest level, whether at home or on the go.

Lenovo know that gamers come from diverse backgrounds. They can be students or working professionals, which is why we designed the new Lenovo Legion portfolio to look just as great in a living room as it would in a conference room. This gaming line-up is engineered to handle the toughest technical challenges while retaining a clean aesthetic that won’t feel out of place in any environment.

Built to accommodate the on-the-go gamer, Lenovo Legion laptops have only gotten better over time. This year, these sleek, modern laptops have been upgraded so that they are in step with the higher performance that players demand in 2019. Available with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, Intel Core processors and Windows 10 Home, these laptops offer blazing-fast gaming speeds to play the latest releases, photo and video editing, binge-watching shows, or multitasking simultaneously at once. On top of this, there are no flashy lights or garish colors to distract, thanks to their discreet design.

The top-of-the-line Lenovo Legion Y740 has what the most serious core gamer needs. The cutting-edge GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU is available on the 15-inch model, giving it more than enough power to run the latest action-filled titles. Its bigger 17-inch sibling supplies even more power with up to the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU, upgraded from the last generation’s GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs.

Both sizes come with up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, optional 32GB DDR4 2666Mhz memory, and 100 percent anti-ghosting CORSAIR iCue RGB backlit keyboard and system lighting with over 16 million color customisation options. The Lenovo Legion Y740 also features Dolby Atmos Speaker System with Dolby Sound Radar for rich moving audio that places you inside the action from speakers custom designed by Dolby.

If you’re sonmeone who can’t stand screen-tearing and stutters then the Lenovo Legion Y740’s optional 144Hz Full HD (1920 x 1080) display has optional NVIDIA G-SYNC designed to eliminate that. With support for Dolby Vision and a brighter screen at up to 500 nits, the Lenovo Legion Y740 will bring entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality.

With up to a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU and Intel Core processors, the 15-inch Lenovo Legion Y540 also packs a hefty amount of power at a more accessible price point. Competing on the go with your multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) team? The Lenovo Legion Y540 weighs only 2.3kg (5.1 lbs) for portability and gives you a white backlit keyboard offering under 1ms input response time for the win. It also comes with Harman Kardon speakers and supports Dolby Atmos, which pulls you into the game with powerful, moving audio that sweeps all around you, designed to offer a competitive edge and more intense experience.

Both new laptops are outfitted with an upgraded battery over their predecessors, lasting up to six hours² to give you plenty of time to find that save spot while on the go. Don’t worry about overheating during the most intense gaming sessions either. They feature the innovative Lenovo Legion Coldfront dual fan thermal layout that keeps things nice and cool, regardless if you’re playing low-needs titles or graphical powerhouses.

Core gamers know the most important part of their peripheral arsenal is an accurate and responsive mouse. With ergonomic textured grips, you won’t lose track of where you are or cramp up in the heat of an intense player vs player game.

And with a Pixart PMW 3389 sensor, featuring 16,000 dpi, 50g 400 IPS tracking precision and OMRON micro switches, those headshots and powerful abilities will land where you want them to. It’s also totally customisable, with additional side buttons for any abilities you need to hit on a whim.

Of course mechanical keyboards are integral to an avid gamer’s toolkit. That’s why we’re introducing the Lenovo Legion K500 RGB Mechanical Keyboard. Bringing a modern, minimalist design, this keyboard delivers the ultra-fast response time that can only be found in red switches and anti-ghosting with 104-key rollover for more precise combinations and moves in even the most intense situations.

Need to make sure that combo is going to land? The more accurate Lenovo Legion K500 RGB Mechanical Keyboard will help you pull it off.

Combine the keyboard and mouse with some serious audio. Knowing your surroundings is the key to success in any gaming situation, whether you’re trying to hear the footsteps of an enemy in a first-person shooter or keeping up to date with build orders in a real-time strategy game (RTS), the new Lenovo Legion gaming headsets present the right tools.

The Lenovo Legion H300 Stereo Gaming Headset is made for the gamer who wants to play all day or all night while staying comfortable. With its sturdy all-metal design and dynamic 50mm drivers, it provides amazing sound while still staying lightweight enough to wear for hours at a time.

Meanwhile, the Lenovo Legion H500 Pro 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset offers driverless 7.1 surround sound right out of the box, designed to give the more serious core gamer the advantage they need to bring down their opponents. Both headsets’ retractable boom mics provide clearer communication and portability, engineered for you to hear callouts you need from your teammate.

Your games will sound good with the new Lenovo Legion gaming headsets, but you’ll also want great visuals to match like the new Lenovo Legion Y27gq and Y44w Monitors.

An ultra-wide 43.4-inch curved display with 3840 x 1200 resolution and a peak display brightness of 450 nits, the Lenovo Legion Y44w Monitor is made for any gamer that wants a panoramic field of view. Whether it’s for racing titles or fight sims, this monitor’s designed for you to catch every frame of the action with its lightning-fast 144Hz refresh rate. Also equipped with VESA Certified DisplayHDR 400 coupled with AMD Radeon FreeSync 2 technology, players get a silky smooth experience without screen tearing.

For the gamer who wants the latest technology, we’ve built a 27-inch Lenovo Legion Y27gq Monitor with 2560 x 1440 resolution and superfast 240Hz refresh rate. This monitor is designed to give players the opportunity to take advantage of every possible frame, whether you’re canceling normals into supers in your favorite fighting game or nailing that perfect play in your preferred MOBA. And with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology built in, it’s designed so that flickering or screen tearing don’t take away from the gaming experience.

Gamers need to be ready to play in any scenario – on their couch, at their desk, or in a hotel room far away from home. And Lenovo Legion is committed to bringing high-performance tools the gaming community who needs to play how they want, wherever they want for a fun and immersive experience.

The post Lenovo Legion Gets More Savage appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Toshiba welcomes in the mighty MG08 Series, the industry’s largest capacity 16TB Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR) HDD.

With 33% more capacity than today’s widely adopted 12TB drives, and 14% more capacity than prior 14TB models, MG08 16TB drives are compatible with the widest range of applications and operating systems, and adapted to mixed random and sequential read and write workloads in both cloud and traditional datacenter environments.

The MG08 Series is Toshiba’s second-generation helium-sealed HDD family, and eighth-generation Enterprise Capacity HDD family. Toshiba has delivered its industry-leading 16TB capacity and improved power efficiency by utilizing the 9-disk helium design, introduced last year in 14TB models, and its own advanced precision laser welding process to ensure the helium remains sealed inside the drive case. The MG08 features 7,200rpm performance, a 550TB per year workload rating, a 2.5 million-hour MTTF, a 512Mib cache buffer, and a choice of SATA and SAS interfaces, all in an industry-standard, 3.5-inch form factor.

The MG08 Series further illustrates Toshiba’s commitment to advancing HDD design to meet the evolving needs for storage devices suited for use in cloud-scale servers and storage infrastructure. As data growth continues at an explosive pace, the industry-leading 16TB CMR capacity will help cloud-scale service providers and storage solutions designers to achieve higher storage densities for cloud, hybrid-cloud and on-premises rack-scale storage. With its improved power efficiency and 16TB capacity, the MG08 Series will help lower the TCO of storage infrastructure designed for applications such as data-protection, big data aggregation, content serving and digital archiving.

“Toshiba’s new 16TB MG08 Series delivers new levels of storage capacity and density while delivering improved power efficiency for our cloud-scale and storage solutions customers. Only high-density HDD technology can achieve our customers’ critical TCO objectives at a cost of pennies per GB,” says Shuji Takaoka, General Manager of Storage Products Sales & Marketing Division at Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation.

Shipments of the 16TB MG08 Series drives to customers will begin sequentially at the end of this month (January 2019).

The post Toshiba Announce 16TB HDD @ CES 2019 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Embrace Alien tech to enhance your gameplay.

Dell’s Alienware AW958 Gaming Mouse not only looks the part with its triangular blue lighting the peripheral will see wield interstellar desktop weaponry with its three on the fly DPI settings boasting 100-12000 DPI resolution  and a 250 IPS speed.

Couple that with a hell impressive 50G acceleration, 13 programmable (via the Alienware Command Center software) buttons and two interchangeable wings. One set of these wings has an additional four programmable buttons. The AW958 also houses a 512KB on-board memory.

The left and right wings connect to the AW958 via a strong magnet, one set being ergonomic finger rests and the second having additional quick click buttons enabling you to make split second actions on the battlefields.

The aforementioned RGB lighting can be customized to your liking via the downloadable Alienware Command Centre software. It’s also here that you will set up and fine tune your quick key settings.

The AW958 is a smooth no nonsense mouse that easily glides across almost any surface. Every Omron based click is subtle yet satisfying and the 1000 Hz (1ms) polling rate equips you with the necessary speed.

Weighted the AW958 comes in at 197 grams. It’s the perfect weight to not place too much stress on your wrist but also not too light where accidental bumps or too faster actions can see you on the losing side of your game. This weight can be adjusted via four additional 5 gram weights.

One thing that I found with the AW958’s interchangeable wings is you are most definitely going to want to change them. Frequently.

Finding that while having the quick click toggles at my finger tips on the side of the mouse worked well when customised for reloading in Rainbow Six, they were a hindrance when not gaming.

For the everyday use, I’d accidentally click the side buttons on the mouse with every use – which would cause all manner of troubles, especially with text.

The AW958 is a sturdy well built beast. While I wouldn’t recommend smashing it about your desk, it is built for some serious situational gaming moments. The wired cord is braided to protect any cable strain and the ergonomics of its design are paramount with a tri-position palm rest.

A gaming mouse that does it all. The AW958 is a peripheral that can moonlight as a multifunctional desktop mouse, but then with a quick wing change turns into a super weapon.

It is totally the ‘danger mouse’ to wield against your online opponents.

The post Alienware AW958 Gaming Mouse Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

PC Gaming, you need the correct arsenal to be at your best.

And for those that are hardcore, they know that even though their finely honed skills and superhero like reflexes with their keyboard and mouse are only as good as their hardware.

From the components in their RIG or gaming laptop, through to the responsiveness and reliability of their peripherals. And to really get in to the zone, you also need lighting. vivid and deep RGB lighting.

E-Blue, a PC peripheral manufacturer with both PC Gaming and esports products hail from Asia but have made their mark throughout the U.S. and Canada and now, they are set to dominate downunder.

E-Blue and their New Zealand partner Play Distribution provided STG with some of their latest gaming gear, one of those being an RGB illuminated hard mousepad – with a difference.

The EMP013 pleasingly hugs the desk surface with it’s rubber base, effortlessly allows the mouse to glide on its traction rich surface and has a few illuminated RGB presets. There is no additional software required for the EMP013. This does mean that you cannot customize it to your liking and you are stuck with the 9 presets. But this is not a bad thing at all.

It’s wide footprint wont do too well on a smaller desk, admittedly, but bigger is always better. And we have all been there, playing a fierce bout on a MMORPG or FPS and your mouse runs out of mousepad as you slide it about.

Doned with mech like graphics (and weird phrases), the EMP013 is also a wireless smartdevice charger.

Yup. If your smartphone or tablet supports wireless charging, this mousepad will trickle charge it back to life.

Remember esports is not just PC. With many free-to-play Apps on both Apple store and Google Play that are MMO’s or online RPGS and more esports has a foothold for mobile devices. E-Blue know this, and have catered to both the PC and Mobile streamers and online gamers, ensuring that your smartdevice never runs out of juice.

In my test of it, it was only able to wirelessly charge a Samsung Galaxy S9, Note8 and iPhone X / 8 aswell as iPad Mini 4.

So, if you own a wireless charge capable – you are in for the win with the multifunctional EMP013 mousepad.

Even more amazingly is that the mousepad connects via USB 2.0, is low voltage yet manages to lightup like it’s more expensive competitors and charge select smartdevices all through a singular micro USB connector that plugs in to the top of the pad. There’s is also a spare USB 2.0 port to plug in a keyboard or mouse.

Also near the top you will find the power button – handy if this pad is plugged into a gaming laptop (saves your laptop battery) and the aforementioned RGB illumination preset soft button. Powering the EMP013 off allows you to still wirelessly charge.

Unlike it’s current market rivals the E-Blue EMP013 is not going to break the bank priced at around $40 – $70 depending on your country / region.

If you are that hardcore PC gamer or Mobile esports champ the E-Blue EMP013 is a must have weapon of choice.

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The post e-Blue EMP013 Mousepad Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

In what feels like a lifetime ago I remember building my first ‘Gaming RIG’. Looking back on it, it was simplistic compared to what’s available now. Still I remember a debate with a friend that myself adding 8GB RAM in to it was an ‘overkill’.

Nonetheless it was my baby, but when finished, it needed one more important component. Quality audio.

The first optimal sounding gaming speakers that I owned were Edifier, Edifier M1386 2.1 to be exact. The three speaker unit came with a wired remote in what was a killer kit for its mid 2000’s retail release.

To this day, one of the best PC audio speakers that I had encountered, until now. Recently Edifier supplied StG a R2000DB speaker set for review.

The Edifier R2000DB is a two speaker set, designed as a ‘Bookshelf’unit which has the capabilities of being a one stop midi-system.

Simplistic to set up, the R2000DB has the usual connections, RCA In (two lines) and Optical. Utilising the 3.5mm socket on your PC or audio device or the RCA to RCA option will have you blasting the neighbours in no time.

The uniquely designed ‘Eagle Eye’ 25mm dome tweeters are responsible for adding the clear crispness to the high tones and background accompaniments.

Beautifully finished, the R2000DB is not only a super powerful unit with 2 x 24 watt plus 2 x 34 watt per channel with it’s top tweeter to tub-thumping main speaker set behind soft mesh speaker covers, it is also wrapped up in a high gloss piano finish with a vinyl top surface covering.

Totally designed to be a part of your in-home decor or strikingly dark to blend in to your gaming dungeon.

Edifier have also added Bluetooth connectivity to their R2000DB. Via either wireless audio connectivity from your PC or Laptop (if equipped) the unit will instantly connect to any smart device without any fuss whatsoever.

The remote that comes with the R2000DB is a tad smaller than a credit card, so in a home, or especially any games room that I know of and have seen, there is the potential for it to be misplaced.

Functionality of the remote is basic, such as volume, Line inputs, Bluetooth, and two Sound settings; Dynamic or Classic (although testing these two, I didn’t really notice much of a difference).

Similarly most functionality can be set via the rear of the base speaker, which also connects the unit to the AC Power. However being at the rear of the base speaker means that you will need to be able to access the rear of the unit in the event the Remote cannot be used. For some this may be a hindrance.

Proving that Edifier are a serious player and as equally serious about their audio they have added a zero tolerance to distortion. By way of DSP filtering the audio source, the R2000DB unit is equipped with tech that will fine tune your sounds on the fly, and without the need of external software.

It just works.

Being the two individual ‘Bookshelf’ speakers, there is no sub, and trust me there’s no need for one. The volume, clarity and deep bass is more than enough to fill an entire house with your playlist, if not more.

And for gaming, you’ll feel the deep rumbling as your gaming exploits and achievements blast out in perfect clarity.

A game changer for solid audio with minimal footprint and for the output volume and force the R2000DB is a totally affordable option to replace any multi-speaker clutter set up.

Simple yet superb.

The post Edifier R2000DB Speakers Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Alienware and Dell head into this year’s E3 with a triad of new PC gaming systems and components – high-end Alienware gaming desktops with new multi-core processor options, a full range of performance gaming monitors and peripherals with Alienware’s signature design and a new Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop bringing VR to all. Alienware and Dell continue to demonstrate why, together, they have become a leading PC gaming brand worldwide with gaming solutions for players of all levels and budgets.

Driven by a fierce commitment to deliver what PC gamers want in gaming products and community, Alienware and Dell continues to make solid investments in PC gaming, virtual reality and esports through ever-expanding offerings and partnership innovation. This has stoked an incredible 17 consecutive quarters of PC growth*, continuously innovating with PC performance and designs, both in the realm of gaming, VR and beyond.

“I love arriving at E3 every year to watch fans get blown away by our latest PC gaming innovations and this year is no exception,” said Frank Azor, vice president and general manager of Alienware, Dell Gaming and XPS. “Our fans’ passion for Alienware and our gaming PCs is our lifeblood, and it’s only through our equal passion and commitment in delivering bleeding-edge innovation, design and performance, that we continue to exceed expectations and deliver on their requests.”

Alienware Area-51

Intel and AMD are stepping up their game with multi-core processors available in two new versions of the Alienware Area-51. The new top-of-the-line processors are for diehard performance enthusiasts demanding the absolute best gaming experience, and for gamers who create, using resource intensive applications. Geared to be the best engines for 4K, 8K or VR applications, E3 visitors will be the first to experience the new rigs powered by Intel Core X-Series or AMD Ryzen Threadripper – marking Alienware’s first 16-core/32-thread Area-51. Dell will be the exclusive OEM launch partner to deliver AMD Ryzen Threadripper pre-built systems to market and the high-end 16-core processor will be factory-overclocked across all cores.

Intel Core i9 processors are for gamers running applications that prioritize clock speeds that run at boost speeds up to 4.5GHz. These chips are ideal for customers who explore the world of mega-tasking, doing many system demanding tasks at the same time, and are looking for a complete, reliable solution from a trusted brand. The Area 51 Threadripper Edition will be available to order on July 27 2017 and the Area 51 featuring Intel Core X-Series will arrive on August 22nd, 2017, with pricing to be announced soon.

Alienware AlienFX Lighting

Delivering on fans’ requests, Alienware is debuting a full range of performance oriented gaming monitors and peripherals with its signature premium design and the specs and customization that gamers demand including Alienware’s AlienFX lighting, which works with more than 150 titles, including Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, Shadow Warrior 2 and Agents of Mayhem (available August 15th, 2017), for in-game lighting effects.

The Alienware 25″ gaming monitor, with either NVIDIA G-SYNC (AW2518H) or AMD FreeSync, (AW2518HF), offers fast, responsive gameplay with virtually no input lag, at an extremely rapid 1 ms panel response time, and a native 240Hz refresh rate. With three preset display modes, full adjustability, single-diecast stand legs, and a seamless panoramic multi-monitor view with ultra-thin bezel in 1920 x 1080 resolution, the Alienware 25″ gaming monitor is perfect for any gamer. Available in the U.S. from June 13th, 2017.

Blending gamer-friendly design features and intuitive software, the Alienware Advanced Gaming Keyboard with optional palm rest delivers a premium gaming experience at an affordable value. Featuring mechanical keys with brown switches, with more precise, responsive and consistent key strokes with five keys dedicated for macro commands that give gamers a competitive edge. Personalizing the gaming experience, Alienware’s sophisticated software, Alienware Control Center, allows gamers the ability to configure all keys to desired commands. Available in the U.S. June 13th, 2017.

Amplifying the gaming experience, the Alienware Pro Gaming Keyboard with optional palm rest exemplifies all the essential design components of the Advanced Gaming Keyboard, and elevates the engineering innovation with dedicated volume roller and 13 zone-based RGB AlienFX backlit lighting options. A key stroke can mean the difference between winning and losing, and onboard memory adds a new level of intelligent options for assigning key stroke combinations ultimately increasing efficiency to command and conquer opponents. Available in the U.S. June 13th, 2017.

Alienware Advanced Gaming Mouse fuses ergonomic design for increased comfort and intelligent software with gaming-grade performance, the Alienware Advanced Gaming Mouse offers multiple configurations with on-the-fly DPI to switch between precision and speed style gameplay.  Outfitted with nine unique buttons for in-game customization. Available in the U.S June 13th, 2017.

Further enhancing the premium gaming experience, Alienware Elite Gaming Mouse incorporates all the game-ready innovation of its capable sibling, and leverages advanced custom ability innovation with swappable grips, up to 13 programmable buttons, perfect for MMOs like World of Warcraft and four variable levels of weight adjustment providing ultimate control over cursor precision and movement speed to dominate opponents. Available in the U.S. June 13th, 2017.

Alienware 15 will offer the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q technology operating at the GPUs highest performance configuration of 110 watts starting June 27th, 2017. Alienware’s adoption of Max-Q technology provides the highest performance in a 15.6″ laptop for PC gaming, VR and other applications that continues Alienware’s tradition of designing innovative systems with the latest technology. Balancing superior gaming performance with portability, the Alienware 15 features a full complement of input/output connections for popular gaming peripherals and VR headsets. Game longer with a 99Whr battery, while fully immersed in AlienFX lighting with a keyboard optimized for competitive gamers. Available in the U.S. June 27th, 2017.

Following the successful launch of the Inspiron Gaming Laptop, Dell introduced the first gaming desktop in its growing Inspiron Gaming line at Computex and will begin offering it in the US tomorrow. The new Inspiron Gaming Desktop with Windows 10 is built for gamers seeking a competitive advantage at an affordable price and incorporates the latest AMD multicore Ryzen processors featuring SenseMI, thermally-optimized airflow routing, Polar Blue LED Illumination, easy component access and power supply options up to 850 watts for supporting dual discrete VR-ready graphics from AMD and NVIDIA. Available in the U.S. starting June 13th, 2017.

The post Alienware & Dell Double Down On High Performance PC Gaming & VR appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

From the Thrustmaster Weapons Control System from 1991 Thrustmaster have been the kings of solid quality and built gaming peripherals for consoles and PC.

Almost all gamers I know have at least one piece of Thrustmaster equipment in their gameplaying arsenal. And every year their gear just keeps getting bigger, better and badder.

Thrustmaster have supplied StG with a review unit for the recently released TS-PC Racer Wheel kits, and the unit is both behemoth and mighty.

From the box there’s a bit of a set up as the removable wheel and weighted power supply base need to be attached.

But once placed together and powered on it’s plug and play with any Windows PC and most racer games will automatically pick up the TS-PC as being connected.

We tried out the TS-PC with Project Cars – it was flawless and heightened the racing experience and simulation ten fold.

The suede leather covered wheel is both comfortable and responsive and hearkens to the realism of a real world supercar steering wheel. The TS-PC is most definitely a desk mounter, given it’s size and weight, so bear in mind that you will need to have ample desk space.

The TS-PC is servo based and does alot more than just steer your vehicle around tracks in gameplay.

The TS-PC is designed to assist with long stall curves (STALL mode) through to super-responsive zigzags in Dynamic mode.

As we burnt rubber around the recently added Ruapuna Circuit (New Zealand) and almost lost it on bends the TS-PC’s dynamic abilities saved us from total carnage and to regain control.

There is even engine based intuitiveness with the Motor Cooling Embedded system. This maintains the fluid dynamics with the motor, by ensuring that there is no overheating and all the while remains super silent.

Optimised with Field Oriented Control via Thrustmasters H.E.A.R.T (Hall Effect AccuRate technology) which provides a 16-bit resolution, while the newly added F.O.C. algorithm will dynamically optimise the response when in need of intense torque demands.

When on the track and in first place there’s no other disheartening moment when your peripherals lose power or begin to lag. The TS-PC has a external Turbo power supply which delivers constant and massive peak power to instantly respond to ultra-fast requests from the game as it renders in real time. The units peak power resides at a whopping 400 Watts.

If you’re a PC Racer who prefers manual drives, gear changes are a cinch via on-wheel unit controls, however if you are a really serious about your racing simulation the add-on THBA Shifter would be a requirement.

We tried both auto and manual gear in-game and had no issues with the response times and ease of transmission changes in manual mode.

The TS-PC is designed to be hot swappable with other Thrustmaster wheels and racing accessories.

Priced at $999.00 NZD the TS-PC is an investment, but a worthy investment given the technology builtin.

A superb piece of gaming gear and totally solid – and with Project Cars 2 recently announced, you’re not racing unless you’re immersed in to the simulation of a TS-PC.

The post Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer Kit Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

At CES 2017, Samsung Electronics unveiled its new CH711 Quantum Dot curved monitor, demonstrating its continued leadership of the entertainment visual display market..

“Today’s multimedia consumers, quite rightly, have high expectations and demand a truly cutting edge, totally immersive experience that realizes the full potential of whatever they are playing or watching,” said Seoggi Kim, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business. “This year’s line-up of curved Quantum Dot monitors offers brilliant design, richer color and deeper contrast than ever before. We can’t wait to share them with the world at CES 2017 in Las Vegas.”

Samsung’s new CH711 Quantum Dot curved monitor is designed with gamers in mind. Available in 27- and 31.5-inch variations, and scheduled for an early 2017 commercial release, the CH711 delivers vivid, visually stunning picture quality, regardless of the content being enjoyed.

Featuring 1,800R curvature and an ultrawide 178-degree viewing angle, the CH711 makes content clearly visible wherever you may be in a room. Its ergonomic design also enables viewers to adjust the monitor’s horizontal and vertical positioning for optimal comfort. When combined with nearly 125 percent sRGB color coverage and 2,560 x 1,440 WQHD resolution, the CH711 sets a new standard for detailed color appearance at any distance.

The CH711’s sleek, sophisticated 360-degree design complements any desktop or décor. Its clean, white chassis features a gorgeous three-sided Boundless design, and neatly hides its power and HDMI cables out of sight inside the stand’s neck. 

Released commercially in the U.S. in December 2016, Samsung’s pioneering CFG70 and CF791 Quantum Dot curved monitors will also make their debut at CES this week.

Designed specifically for professional and hardcore gamers, the 24- and 27-inch CFG70 curved monitors combine the visual refinement of Samsung’s Quantum Dot picture technology with the comfortable, ultrawide view of its curved monitors to create the ultimate gaming experience. The CFG70 offers a host of gamer-friendly features, such as the ‘Gaming UX’ user interface, as well as advanced calibration options to optimize picture presentation for any of the FPS, RTS, RPG and AOS game genres.

Featuring 1,500R curvature and an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, the CF791 Quantum Dot curved monitor performs just as well when using for work, delivering unparalleled clarity and fine detail. Using Picture-by-Picture (PBP) technology, customers can load content from any connected HDMI or DP input source and position it anywhere on the screen. A complementary Picture-in-Picture (PIP) function also allows consumers to shrink and place content anywhere on the screen without losing resolution or visual quality. An integrated height-adjustable stand also delivers ergonomic comfort and makes the CF791 ideal for any workstation or office environment. 

To celebrate the launch of its newest monitors, Samsung will offer CES 2017 attendees a first-hand opportunity to enjoy some friendly competition at the company’s interactive gaming zone. Samsung’s booth also included interactive stations where visitors were able to play several of today’s top video game titles on its CFG70 Quantum Dot curved gaming monitors. There was also supporting large-format SMART LED signage to livestream the competition – and demonstrate the monitors’ excellent visual presentation to the wider CES audience.

The 28-inch UH750 monitor combines Samsung’s gamer-friendly features with an ultrafast 1 m/s response time, Quantum Dot picture display and high-quality UHD resolution, all housed within a slim, narrow-bezel design.

 And the 23.8 and 27-inch SH850 models deliver WQHD resolution and DP daisy chain connectivity through a flat, three-sided, bezel-less design with a square base and stylish exterior to suit any home or office. The SH850 monitors also feature a height-adjustable stand and pivot, with tilt and swivel capabilities for optimal viewing comfort.  

All of Samsung’s next wave of high-resolution monitors are scheduled for release in early 2017.

The post Meet the New Samsung Quantum Dot Curved Monitor! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Logitech are on fire right now with their PC Gaming peripheral G Series.

Recently we reviewed the Orion Spectrum G910 Mechanical Keyboard so what better accompaniment to have than a more than capable mouse.

The G402, designed for First Person Gameplay, is a stress resistant, light yet slightly end weighted device to give you the maximum upper hand.

It has multiple sensors, not just the usual Optical, that measures your hand movement and gauges reactions quicker than you can blink. Eight Programmable keys are also present – these can be mapped to whichever in-game function (or PC / Windows function or App) you require via the downloadable Logitech G software from the Official Website. Aswell as this Logitech have also added on-the-fly selectable DPI rates from 240 to 4000, plus a fifth user-defined DPI setting. Each button switch takes only milliseconds to register.

To say that the reaction and gameplay action timing with the G402 is super fast is an understatement.

Being that the Hyperion Fury G402 is ultimately designed for FPS, we tried it out on the well over played Borderlands 2 (a family favourite at StG) to see whether we could notice any differences from our trusty and always used Mad Catz RAT 8 .

Then it was on to Dishonored 2 and COD Infinite Warfare. Again expert response times. No complaints.

Infact the response times were more than instant, load outs for our weapons, items, equipment when mapped to keys was instantaneous. We began to think that the mouse was almost reading our minds. It blew away the RAT 8 in Macro Key response, and with it’s directional responses.

So what makes the Hyperion Fury the speed master of mouses? It’s the Logitech “Fusion Engine.” Basically the mouse is powered by a 32-bit ARM processor (video above). But Logitech did not stop there either…

A builtin gyroscope and accelerometer. Combine that with the multitude of sensors always at the ready and more Programmable Keys than most gamer’s need (okay – we always need more…) this is THE mouse to have.

For those that prefer to customize their weights, the Hyperion Fury G402 will be lacking in that department.

Weighing in at 108 grams it’s hefty enough without being a stress point on your wrist. Logitech have decided to do away with the interchangeable weight cartridges and what you get with the Hyperion Fury, is exactly that.

The G402 also appears to lack the usual light show that comes with high end gaming mice. Sleek and super comfy to use with it’s grip-able rubber coating it’s gaming prowess is not a neon showcase, as we have seen with other gaming mice, but more of a subtle ‘G’ Logo Glow.

This to me screams out the hidden power within.

I would have to say that the best part of the G402 is the pricing.

We have come across gaming mice that have less tech inside them, and even less features that cost alot more. The Hyperion Fury G402 will set you back at $69.99 (NZD) and is up there in terms of styling and performance with the more expensive models.

Whether PC Gaming / FPS Beginner or Pro the Hyperion Fury is a necessary peripheral for any discerning PC Gamer.

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The post Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury Gaming Mouse Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Logitech recently announced the Prodigy series, a family of gaming gear that was designed to enhance the way you play. The new series, which includes two mice, a keyboard and a headset, all share the same attributes of high-performance technology, exceptional comfort, and a sleek and modern design.

“We love building products for hardcore gamers, and we’ll never give that up,” said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech G. “With the explosion of play across all ages and skill sets we knew we needed something more. Our new Logitech G Prodigy series gives all gamers access to our best technology. It’s gaming gear made exclusively for everyone.”

The Logitech G Prodigy series includes the Logitech G403 Prodigy Gaming Mouse, Logitech G403 Prodigy Wireless Gaming Mouse, Logitech G213 Prodigy RGB Gaming Keyboard, and the Logitech G231 Prodigy Headset.

Logitech G403 Prodigy Gaming Mice

The G403 Prodigy Gaming Mouse and Logitech G403 Prodigy Wireless Gaming Mouse deliver long-lasting comfort, thanks to their lightweight, ergonomic design. Rubber grips on the left and right sides give you added control, and the included 10g removable weight allows you to increase the weight if you prefer a heavier mouse.

Both mice are up to eight times faster than standard mice, which means when they are moved or clicked, the on-screen response is near-instantaneous. Each mouse has advanced button tensioning that helps keep the left and right mouse buttons primed to click, reducing the force required to click, delivering exceptional responsiveness. These mice feature the PMW3366, the world’s most advanced gaming mouse sensor, preferred by eSports pros worldwide. Exceptionally precise and consistent, the PMW3366 gives you the confidence of quicker responses and more accurate targeting. The mice can be used directly out-of-the-box, or with LGS you can fully configure the mouse to customize your lighting, buttons and DPI settings. Specifically, the G403 Prodigy Wireless Gaming Mouse is equipped with the same energy efficient, high performance wireless technology as the award-winning Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum. The highly optimized 2.4GHz wireless connection has 1ms report rate for incredible lag-free responsiveness that outperforms competitive solutions, including wired ones. The G403 will retail for $99.90 NZD (Wireless) / $149.90 NZD (Wired).

Logitech G213 Prodigy RGB Gaming Keyboard

Designed for gamers of all levels, the G213 Prodigy keyboard features a sleek, spill-resistant design that is comfortable and durable. An integrated palm rest and adjustable feet let you set your keyboard to the ideal position, so it feels perfect during extended gaming sessions. The G213 Prodigy keyboard brings together the best in tactile feel and performance with keys built specifically for gamers. Each key on the G213 Prodigy is tuned to deliver ultra-quick, responsive feedback that’s up to four times faster than standard keyboards. Plus, its anti-ghosting gaming matrix is tuned for optimal gaming performance, keeping you in control when you press multiple gaming keys simultaneously.

The G213 Prodigy keyboard features five RGB illumination zones that can be personalized from a spectrum of up to 16.8 million colors. Change colors to match your setup, specific games, or showcase your favorite colors, and synchronize lighting effects with other Logitech G devices using Logitech Gaming Software (LGS). Low light leakage around each keycap means more light comes through the lettering and less spills out around the keycaps, making it easier to find your keys in the dark.

Additionally, the dedicated media controls allow you to play, pause, skip and adjust the volume of your music with a touch of a button, without having to switch out of the game. Retailing at $119.90 NZD.

Logitech G231 Prodigy Gaming Headset

Using 40 mm neodymium drivers, the G231 Prodigy Gaming Headset delivers high-quality stereo sound that keeps you immersed in your PC or console game from start to finish. The earcups are covered with carefully selected sports performance cloth for a comfortable, soft touch even after hours of use. And they slip off easily for washing to keep the headset in top shape. The earcups are also designed to be slim and light, without skimping on audio quality.

A crystal-clear unidirectional boom mic can be positioned to pick up your voice alone, ensuring that you will be heard loudly and clearly. And when not in use, the mic can be folded back into the headphones. In-line audio controls for volume and microphone mute are within easy reach on the connection cable. The G231 Prodigy Gaming Headset will set you back at $119.90 NZD.

Founded in 1981, Logitech designs products that have an everyday place in people’s lives, connecting them to the digital experiences they care about. Over 30 years ago Logitech started connecting people through computers, and now it’s designing products that bring people together through music, gaming, video and computing.

The post Logitech G Introduces New Prodigy Series for Gamers appeared first on Shane the Gamer.