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LAMZU Maya X Review

LAMZU Maya X Review | TechPowerUp

LAMZU Maya X Review 1

Packaging, Weight, Cable & Feet »

Introduction

LAMZU Logo

LAMZU is a peripherals company based in China. With the ambidextrous Maya X, LAMZU goes beyond merely providing a larger Maya. For the sensor, PixArt’s latest PAW3950 capable of 30,000 CPI is now used, and the main buttons have been outfitted with optical switches from Omron (D2FP-FN2) rated for 70 million clicks. The scroll wheel encoder has a LAMZU branding, but actually comes from F-Switch. At 47 g, the Maya X also manages to weigh the same as the Maya, all while being significantly larger and maintaining the same holeless, open-bottom design. On the Maya X, the 8K wireless dongle is included by default, allowing for true 8000 Hz polling in wireless operation. At 1000 Hz, LAMZU cites a battery life of up to 80 hours, and up to 20 hours at 8000 Hz. The feet are made of pure PTFE, and configuration is possible through a web driver. The Maya X is available in black, white, gray, or purple.

Specifications

LAMZU Maya X
Size:124 mm x 64 mm x 40 mm
Size (inches):4.88″ x 2.52″ x 1.57″
Ambidextrous:Partially (side buttons on left side only)
Weight:48 g
Number of Buttons:5+1 (including wheel click)
Main Switches:Omron D2FP-FN2 (China)
Wheel Encoder:LAMZU (F-Switch, white/green core), 11 mm
Sensor:PixArt PAW3950
Resolution:50–30,000 CPI
Microcontroller Unit:Nordic nRF52840
Polling Rate:125/250/500/1000 Hz (wired)
1000/2000/4000/8000 Hz (wireless)
Cable:1.75 m, braided
Software:Yes
Price:$119.99
Warranty:One year

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Royal Kludge S85 TKL Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review

Introduction

Royal Kludge Logo

RK Royal Kludge, or simply Royal Kludge as usually referred to, was founded in 2015 by gamers who wanted to design mechanical keyboards to fit their needs. This venture started with a 60% keyboard, the RK61, which helped establish the Royal Kludge brand almost immediately, before developing into a large product line that covers a variety of keyboard form factors and features alike. We took at look at the Royal Kludge RK84 a few years ago, a highly compact 75% keyboard that offered as many as 84 keys in a neatly packed layout. Little did I know how popular the 75% form factor was going to get in the subsequent years! Still, there remain many who dislike non-standard key sizing with the smaller size keyboards, and TKL and full-size keyboards continue to reign when you look at the keyboard market as a whole. This is especially true with keyboards that aim to offer more value for money, which is what Royal Kludge as a brand is also known for.

Today we take a closer look at the Royal Kludge S85, which you will also see referred to as Royal Kludge RK S85 TKL in some places. This is a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard thus, albeit one that has still taken some liberties in key arrangement. For one, there are fewer than the 87 keys expected in the US ANSI layout here, with Royal Kludge opting to use a large multi-function wheel as well as an LCD screen in the top right corner. We still get 85 keys though, and I do like how the keyboard looks too. Royal Kludge is using what it calls the “Cloud Switches” here, which are pre-lubed linear switches that aim to satisfy gamers. The keyboard supports hybrid wireless connectivity too, with a large battery and extensive dampening inside in addition to a gasket mount too. The S85 TKL is shaping up to be a well-rounded keyboard thus, so let’s thank Royal Kludge for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp and begin the review with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Royal Kludge S85 TKL Mechanical Keyboard
Layout:85-key, TKL form factor in a modified US ANSI layout
Material:ABS plastic case, PBT plastic keycaps, foam sheets, silicone gaskets and sheet
Macro Support:Yes
Dimensions:370 (L) x 142 (W) x 44.5 (H) mm
Weight:950 g / 2.1 lbs
Wrist Rest:No
Anti-ghosting:Full N-Key rollover USB and 2.4 GHz, 6KRO with Bluetooth
Media Keys:Dedicated volume control
Cable Length:5.5 ft / 1.68 m
Software:Yes
Switch Type:Cloud mechanical switches
Lighting:RGB per-key and underbody lighting
Interface:USB, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
Warranty:One year
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Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 Review

Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 Review | TechPowerUp

Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 Review 0

Packaging & Contents »

Introduction

Gamdias Logo

A big thank you to Gamdias for supplying the review sample.

Gamdias is no newcomer to the DIY PC market, they now have a full decade of experience designing peripherals, coolers, fans, power supplies, cases, and more. With such a solid lineup, they have continued to grow from their humble beginnings, now having a physical presence in numerous markets and countries. From here the company is primed to not only grow further but is also well positioned and more than capable of responding to industry trends while also pushing new and innovative products.

Today’s review focuses on the Gamdias AURA GL360 V2 all-in-one liquid CPU cooler. This 360 mm offering features ARGB fans and an ARGB illuminated pump top which works with motherboard vendor software. It also offers a suite of 30 built-in lighting effects via a push button switch that can be connected to existing LED buttons for additional options. It also allows for easy switching between the two options by holding the button for three seconds, giving you greater flexibility in regard to lighting effects. Should performance live up to expectations the AURA GL360 V2 could be quite the value option for those wanting an ARGB equipped 360 mm AIO, especially considering its affordable price of $69.99 making it an attractive budget friendly option.

Specifications
Manufacturer:Gamdias
Model:AURA GL360 V2
Socket Support:Intel: LGA 1700, LGA1200, LGA115X, LGA2066, LGA2011+(v3)
AMD: AM5, AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2. AM2+, FM2, FM1
CPU Block:Base Material: Copper
Pump:RPM: 2600
Radiator:Dimensions: 396 x 120 x 27 mm
Material: Aluminium
Fans:Model: AURA GL V2
Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
Fan Speed: 800–1800 RPM
Fan Airflow: 73.6 CFM
Fan Noise: 33.8 dBA
Features:Copper water block
Daisy-chained fans
Rotatable pump cap
ARGB LED lighting
12-slot 10-pole pump motor
Warranty:Two years
MSRP:$89.99 currently $69.99 revised

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ASUS ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi Review

Introduction

ASUS Logo

If recent sales figures are anything to go by, quite a few of you out there have shiny new Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s, and perhaps you’re currently looking for an equally shiny new home for them. If that’s you, then today is a good day because AMD and its motherboard partners are announcing their new Socket AM5 motherboards using cheaper B850 and B840 chipsets. In short, if you want cutting edge features and a board to see you through to the end of Socket AM5, but don’t want to take out a bank loan for an X870 model, then the B-series chipset boards should save you some cash and first out the door is the ASUS ROG Strix B850-F Gaming Wi-Fi.

B850 is where M.2 PCIe Gen 5 and USB4 become optional, there are fewer PCIe lanes and with B840 it loses some of those features entirely. However, B850 has one big advantage over its embattled adversary in that Intel’s B-series chipsets do not support overclocking. B850 does so in addition to the usual PBO/Curve Optimizer/Shaper tweaks you can even dial things up a notch with a manual overclock.

For this reason, VRMs and cooling are still pretty important and these areas are where B-series boards have become bestsellers or fallen into review oblivion in the past. We’re not given anything an easy pass here, though, as we’re still pitching the ASUS ROG Strix B850-F Gaming Wi-Fi and any other B-series board for that matter, against our Ryzen 9 9950X to make sure it can cope with practically anything.

Specifications

Specifications
CPU Support:AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen 7000, 9000
Power Design:CPU Power: 16-phase
SOC Power: 2-phase
MISC Power: 2-phase
Chipset:AMD X870E
Integrated Graphics:Supported
1x HDMI
1x DisplayPort
Memory:4x DIMM, Support up to 256 GB
2x Single Rank DDR5-8000 (OC)
BIOS:256 Mbit AMI UEFI
Expansion Slots:1x PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot (x16/x0) or (x8/x4)
1x PCIe Gen 4 x16 slot (x8/x4)
Storage:2x SATA 6 Gb/s
2x M.2 (PCIe Gen 5 x4)
2x M.2 (PCIe Gen 4 x4)
Networking:1x Intel 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
1x Wi-Fi 7
Rear Ports:BIOS Flashback button
Clear CMOS button
1x 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
1x HDMI port
1x DisplayPort
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20 Gbps (Type-C)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps (Type-C)
2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps (Type-A)
4x USB 3.0 (Type-A)
4x USB 2.0 (Type-A)
2x Wi-Fi antenna connectors
2x Audio jacks
1x Optical S/PDIF Out port
Audio:1x Realtek ALC4080 Codec
Fan / Thermistor headers:7x 4-pin / 1x 2-pin
Form Factor:ATX Form Factor
12.0 x 9.6 in. / 30.5 x 24.3 cm
Exclusive Features:
  • Dual CPU Power Connectors
  • M.2 Q-Latch
  • M.2 Q-Release
  • M.2 Q-Slide
  • PCIe Slot Q-Release Slim
  • Q-Antenna
  • Q-Dashboard
  • Q-DIMM
  • Q-LED
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SCYROX V8 Review

SCYROX V8 Review | TechPowerUp

SCYROX V8 Review 7

Packaging, Weight, Cable & Feet »

Introduction

SCYROX Logo

SCYROX is a peripherals company based in China. A new name in the industry, SCYROX aims to provide high-quality peripherals at affordable prices. The V8, which is their first release, certainly fits that criteria: PixArt’s latest PAW3950 sensor capable of 30,000 CPI sees use, along with Omron D2FP-FN2 optical switches for the main buttons. At 40 g, the V8 is also exceptionally light, even though the shell is completely solid. The V8 already comes with a USB high-speed wireless dongle by default, allowing polling rates of up to 8000 Hz in wireless operation. The feet are made of pure PTFE, and one can choose between installing a set of smaller or larger feet, both of which are included with the mouse. Configuration is done conveniently through a web driver. The SCYROX V8 is available in yellow, black, or white.

Specifications

SCYROX V8
Size:118 mm x 63 mm x 38 mm
Size (inches):4.65″ x 2.48″ x 1.50″
Ambidextrous:Partially (side buttons on left side only)
Weight:40 g
Number of Buttons:5+1 (including wheel click)
Main Switches:Omron D2FP-FN2 (China)
Wheel Encoder:SCYROX (F-Switch, yellow/pink core, 9 mm)
Sensor:PixArt PAW3950
Resolution:50–30,000 CPI
Microcontroller Unit:Nordic nRF52840
Polling Rate:125/250/500/1000 Hz (wired)
125/250/500/1000/2000/4000/8000 Hz (wireless)
Cable:1.80 m, braided
Software:Yes
Price:$69.99
Warranty:One year

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DDR5 Thermal Testing & Analysis

DDR5 Thermal Testing & Analysis | TechPowerUp

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INTUAURA Lakeview In-Ear Monitors Review – The Power of DSP!

Introduction

INTUAURA Logo

I feel fairly confident in saying most people reading this review probably have no idea who or what INTUAURA is, and I was in this same position a few months ago. INTUAURA is a new Chinese IEM brand that is barely three years old, although its founder has been in this industry for longer and has such a great reputation that his brand is already an OEM for others, including some that you may well have heard of. INTUAURA is his way of showcasing what can be done with pure analog tuning of a single dynamic driver, and then getting that extra bit on top with digital signal processing (DSP). I had heard of INTUAURA thanks to Linsoul suddenly stocking a new brand, and all of them seemed intriguing. There were no review samples available, and of course I had no direct contact with the brand either. Skip forward to late September at the Shenzhen International Audio Show, and INTUAURA’s founder approaches me directly and invites me to come try out his IEMs. He was clearly confident of his offerings, and I went through four of them before giving my feedback, in addition to saying which one was my favorite. He offered a review sample on the spot, and only when I got back to the hotel did I realize this happened to also be the most expensive one in his current product lineup. Of course I felt bad, but he insisted I take it and do a review to help spread word on his brand. So here we are as promised to him, and thanks again to INTUAURA for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp!

We’ve seen DSP IEMs before, with the likes of the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK arguably being the most popular recent entry. INTUAURA, thanks to its own design and manufacturing factory cities, aims to bring DSP to the masses, but also uses it at the flagship levels—because why not take advantage of something at your disposal? DSP makes all the more sense with single-driver IEMs, especially those using dynamic drivers, given it’s not easy to balance out tuning for the entire 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range while also maintaining a good sense of technical/subjective aspects such as bass impact and dynamism, soundstage and imaging, and detail retrieval. Today we put INTUAURA’s current flagship, the Lakeview, to the test. It uses a custom dynamic driver made specifically for the set by a high-end driver supplier that has worked with the likes of Sennheiser and Bang & Olufsen, paired with two individual Type-C to 4.4 mm DAC/amp dongles that have EQ profiles built into them. This makes for the easiest implementation of DSP from a consumer point of view—no need to worry about buggy apps, far easier than setting up your own custom EQ profiles, and always available to you thanks to being stored on the dongles. They also double up to act as sources, allowing you to use the Lakeview with digital audio outputs from a phone or laptop on the go, while also providing the analog tuning from the IEM cable. There’s a total of three available tonalities here to go through thus, so let’s get this review started with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

INTUAURA Lakeview In-Ear Monitors
Shell:Resin shells with hand-drawn decorative faceplates
Cable:16-strand analog cable + two 4-strand DSP cables, all with high purity copper conductor
Driver Unit:Single 10 mm dynamic driver
Frequency Response:5 Hz–50 kHz
Sensitivity:126 dB/Vrms @1 kHz (+/-3 dB)
Impedance:15 Ω (+/-5%)
Cable Connectors:4.4 mm TRRRS (Type-C w/dongle adapter) to source + two 0.78 mm 2-pin plugs to IEMs
Cable Length:4 ft/1.2 m
Warranty:One year, including accidental damage
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HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Headphones Review – The Next Best?

Introduction

HiFiMAN Logo

HIFIMAN has been busy lately, real busy even. Earlier this year we saw the release of the new planar magnetic flagship Susvara Unveiled, which brought with it a new driver concept involving the removal of the outside grilles. This effectively exposed the drivers, making for a fully open-back set which should not have any sound wave reflections off the grille that can otherwise detract from your listening experience. Of course that also meant the Susvara Unveiled required more care and attention in use, and came with magnetic veil covers to help protect the drivers when the headphones were not in use. I thought the Susvara Unveiled were absolutely fantastic and more of a specialist set than the original Susvara, meeting my music library and preferences with ease even if the $8000 was a lot to cough up. Then late September came and HIFIMAN brought out the HE1000 Unveiled for nearly a third the cost of the Susvara Unveiled. This was the unveiled take on the HIFIMAN HE1000se, and we were beginning to see a welcome trend in terms of more filled-out mids that lended favorably to vocals, as well as a generally tamer and smoother treble. The HE1000 Unveiled is also far less concerning in use thanks to the drivers being less exposed, yet I was left asking myself—will this unveiled driver technology trickle down further?

It did not take much longer for HIFIMAN to do it, and just a few weeks ago we saw the launch of the brand-new Arya Unveiled. This helps explain why the likes of the Arya Organic and HE1000 Stealth have been heavily discounted lately, not to mention the Arya Stealth from a few years ago that is a great buy at its current price—no doubt going to be discontinued soon. The Arya Unveiled looks quite similar to the HE1000 Unveiled, both with the teardrop-shaped ear cups that we’ve seen in multiple HIFIMAN headphones before, and having unveiled drivers on the outside in a manner that I do feel more comfortable using compared to the Susvara Unveiled. That said, the black chassis, headband, suspension band, and ear pads combined with the silver drivers on the outside do make me think this is the best looking HIFIMAN headphones ever made—a subjective take, but one that I am sure others agree with. This also suggests that perhaps the Arya Unveiled is using the Arya Stealth as the base platform as opposed to the Arya Organic that has a bass shelf which alone generated many fans of the product. Let’s see if the drivers being unveiled result in a similar effect here too, which may well make this the best HIFIMAN release of the year given it’s also the most affordable of the unveiled trio. Thanks to HIFIMAN for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp, as we begin this review with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Headphones
Materials:Aluminium frame, plastic ear cups, hybrid ear pads, protein leather and steel headband
Transducer Principle:Open-back, over-ear, planar magnetic
Frequency Response:8 Hz–65 kHz
Sensitivity:94 dB/mW
Impedance:27 Ω
Cables:Dual 3.5 mm TRS from headphones to 6.35 mm (1/4″) connector to source
Weight (without cable and veils):413 g
Warranty:One year (+ six months for social media follow)
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Maono PD400X Review – Versatile, Capable, Affordable

Introduction

Maono Logo

Maono’s product page for the PD400X microphone contains some bold claims, like the one that 45% of SoundCloud and 40% of YouTube content creators pick it for their podcasting and live streaming endeavors. While I find that very hard to believe, I do have to admit that the company’s name occasionally comes up on the r/audioengineering subreddit, so I approached this review with an open mind. Maono provided me with the sample of the microphone, which I thank them for, and kindly ask them to forgive me that the review took so long to put to proverbial paper. The company also sent me their BA92 microphone arm, a natural pairing for the PD400X, so we’ll take a look at it as well.

The Maono PD400X is a dual input dynamic microphone, equipped with a USB-C input for simple plug & play connectivity, and a XLR input, aimed toward users who own a separate audio interface and are looking for more versatility (and potentially better audio quality). The “duality” of the PD400X is its defining feature, also expressed through its mounting options. You can utilize the aluminium mount, affixed to the body of the microphone, to attach it to any microphone arm with a standard 3/8″ or 5/8″ thread, or you can simply slap the supplied table stand on it, and put the microphone in front of your keyboard. It appears Maono is aiming to provide a microphone that “grows” with its owner – you can start by putting it on the table and connecting it to a free USB port of your computer or smartphone, and eventually level up to a microphone boom arm and a dedicated audio interface.

Specifications

  • Capsule: Dynamic
  • Polar Patterns: Cardioid
  • Frequency response: Not specified
  • Sensitivity: -51 dBV (XLR) / -8.5 dBFS/Pa (USB)
  • Sample Rate/Resolution: 24-bit/48 kHz
  • SPL: > 130 dB
  • Ports: USB-C, XLR, 3.5-mm headphone out (direct monitoring)
  • Cables: 1.5 m USB-C to USB Type-A, 1.6 m XLR
  • Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Android
  • Dimensions: 85 x 220 mm
  • Weight: 734 g (microphone only) / 1.04 kg (mic with stand)
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Arbiter Studio AKITSU Review

Introduction

Arbiter Studio Logo

Arbiter Studio is a peripherals company based in the US, whereas Vancer is a peripherals company based in China. For their first mouse release, Arbiter Studio has joined forces with Vancer. The result of this collaboration is the ambidextrous AKITSU, which manages to weigh no more than 39 g. Similarly to the Finalmouse UltralightX, this weight is achieved by utilizing a carbon fiber composite for the shell, along with hexagonal holes across most of the top, sides, and bottom of the mouse. For the sensor, PixArt’s PAW3395 capable of 26,000 CPI sees use, coupled with custom Huano switches for the main buttons. In wireless operation, polling rates of up to 8000 Hz are supported, at which setting up to 12 hours of battery life are cited, and up to 60 hours at 1000 Hz. The feet are made of pure PTFE, and a replacement set along with a set of grip tape are included with the mouse. Configuration is done either conveniently through a web driver or through buttons on the mouse, and the dongle has an LCD showing the current CPI step, polling rate, and MotionSync setting, along with battery charge level.

Many thanks go to FineMax, who kindly provided the review sample.

Specifications

Arbiter Studio AKITSU
Size:118 mm x 59.7 mm x 36.5 mm
Size (inches):4.65″ x 2.35″ x 1.44″
Ambidextrous:Partially (side buttons on left side only)
Weight:39 g
Number of Buttons:5+2 (including wheel click)
Main Switches:Huano (pink transparent shell, white plunger)
Wheel Encoder:TTC (blue, yellow core), 11 mm
Sensor:PixArt PAW3395
Resolution:50–26,000 CPI
Microcontroller Unit:Nordic nRF52840
Polling Rate:500/1000 Hz (wired)
500/1000/2000/4000/8000 Hz (wireless)
Cable:1.80 m, braided
Software:Yes
Price:$140.00
Warranty:One year