Tag Archives: Skylake

The Intel Core Processor Number Guide – What They Mean!

The Intel Core processor number system changes with every generation, including the new 10th Gen Ice Lake and 10th Gen Comet Lake processors!

In this guide, we will share with you exactly what those letters and numbers mean!

10 Generations, 10 Number Systems!

Every Intel Core processor generation varies in how they are numbered. We will go through each generation from the latest 10th Gen Core all the way to the first-generation Core processors.

 

10th Gen Intel Core Processor Number Systems

Even though they are both part of the same 10th Gen Intel Core processor family, the Ice Lake and Comet Lake processors have different processor number systems.

10th Gen Intel Ice Lake Processors

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with many processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

This is now a 2-digit number 10 for the 10th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

Instead of three digits, it now uses just two digits, but the concept is the same – the higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general.

For example, the Core i7-1068 is faster than Core i7-1065.

Level of Graphics

Replacing the Product Line Suffix, this gives us a rough indication of the processor graphics’ performance level.

  • G7 : Intel Iris Plus Graphics with 64 Execution Units
  • G4 : Intel Iris Plus Graphics with 48 Execution Units
  • G1 : Intel UHD Graphics with 32 Execution Units

Intel started using this graphics indicator in the 10th Gen Intel Core processor number system, because this will be a major model differentiator.

For example, they announced three Intel Core i5-1035 models, differentiated only by their processor graphics :

  • Intel Core i5-1035G7 : Intel Iris Pro Graphics (64 EUs)
  • Intel Core i5-1035G4 : Intel Iris Pro Graphics (48 EUs)
  • Intel Core i5-1035G1 : Intel UHD Graphics (32 EUs)

Recommended : 10th Gen Intel Ice Lake Mobile CPU Features + Specifications!

10th Gen Intel Comet Lake Processors

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • Core i7 : enthusiast class
  • Core i5 : mainstream processors
  • Core i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

This is now a 2-digit number 10 for the 10th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

Instead of two digits that Ice Lake uses, Comet Lake uses three digits, but the concept is the same – the higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general.

For example, the Core i7-10710 is faster than Core i7-10510.

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
  • Y : Extremely-low power (mobile only)

Recommended : 10th Gen Intel Comet Lake : 1 Step Forward, 1 Step Back!

 

9th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i9 : prosumer class, with the most processing cores
  • i7 : enthusiast class, with many processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 9 – quickly tells us that this is a 9th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i9-9900 is faster than Core i9-9880
  • Core i7-9850 is faster than Core i7-9750

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • K : Unlocked processor multiplier
  • F : Does not come with processor graphics, requires discrete graphics
  • T : Power-optimised
  • S : Special Edition
  • H : High performance graphics (mobile only)

Recommended : Intel Core i9-9900K Preview – World’s Best Gaming CPU?

 

8th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i9 : prosumer class, with the most processing cores
  • i7 : enthusiast class, with many processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 8 – quickly tells us that this is an 8th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-8750 is faster than Core i7-8700
  • Core i5-8500 is faster than Core i5-8400

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
  • G : Includes discrete graphics on package (mobile only)
  • U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)

Next Page > 5th to 7th Gen Intel Core Processors

 

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7th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 7 – quickly tells us that this is a 7th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-7700 is faster than Core i7-7600
  • Core i5-7Y57 is faster than Core i5-7Y54

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • K : Unlocked processor multiplier
  • H : High performance graphics
  • Q : Quad-core processor
  • U : Ultra-low power
  • Y : Extremely low power

 

6th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 6 – quickly tells us that this is a 6th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-6700 is faster than Core i7-6600
  • Core i5-6600 is faster than Core i5-6500

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
  • T : Power-optimised (desktop only)
  • H : High performance graphics (mobile only)
  • HK : High performance graphics, unlocked multiplier (mobile only)
  • HQ : High performance graphics, quad-core processor (mobile only)
  • U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)

 

5th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors
  • M : ultra-low power mobile processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 5 – quickly tells us that this is a 5th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-5700 is faster than Core i7-5600
  • Core i5-5300 is faster than Core i5-5200

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • C : Unlocked LGA1150 processor with high-performance graphics (desktop only)
  • R : BGA1364 processor with high-performance graphics (desktop only)
  • H : High performance graphics (mobile only)
  • HQ : High performance graphics, quad-core processor (mobile only)
  • U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
  • Y : Extremely low power (mobile only)

Next Page > 1st to 4th Gen Intel Core Processors

 

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4th Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors
  • M : ultra-low power mobile processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 4 – quickly tells us that this is a 4th Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-4900 is faster than Core i7-4800
  • Core i5-4400 is faster than Core i5-4300

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
  • R : BGA1364 processor with high-performance graphics (desktop only)
  • S : Performance-optimised model (desktop only)
  • T : Power-optimised (desktop only)
  • M : Mobile processor
  • MQ : Quad-core mobile processor
  • MX : Extreme Edition mobile processor
  • U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
  • Y : Extremely low power (mobile only)

 

3rd Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors
  • M : ultra-low power mobile processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 3 – quickly tells us that this is a 3rd Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-3770 is faster than Core i7-3720
  • Core i5-3470 is faster than Core i5-3450

Letter Suffix

This primarily tells us whether it is an Extreme Edition processor or not :

  • X : Extreme Edition processor

Product Line Suffix

This tells us more about the processor features, for a particular model :

  • K : Unlocked processor multiplier (desktop only)
  • S : Performance-optimised model (desktop only)
  • T : Power-optimised (desktop only)
  • M : Mobile processor
  • QM : Quad-core mobile processor
  • U : Ultra-low power (mobile only)
  • Y : Extremely low power (mobile only)

 

2nd Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

The first number – 2 – quickly tells us that this is a 2nd Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-2860 is faster than Core i7-2820
  • Core i5-2700 is faster than Core i5-2600

 

1st Gen Intel Core Processor Number System

Brand Modifier

This is what most people think of as the performance category.

  • i7 : enthusiast class, with the most processing cores
  • i5 : mainstream processors
  • i3 : entry-level processors

Gen Indicator

The lack of a Gen Indicator of 1 tells us that this is a 1st Generation Intel Core processor.

SKU Numeric Digits

This is what we consumers use as a rough indicator of the processor’s overall performance.

The higher the number, the better the processor’s performance in general. For example :

  • Core i7-990 is faster than Core i7-980
  • Core i5-660 is faster than Core i5-650

 

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The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 Laptop Review

The Dell Inspiron family of laptops are designed for the home or home office. As such, they offer a variety of designs in three different series – the Inspiron 7000 Series, the Inspiron 5000 Series and the Inspiron 3000 Series. Today, we are going to take a look at one of their latest 2-in-1 laptops from the Dell Inspiron 5000 Series – the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368), which recently received a minor refresh (5378).

Updated @ 2017-07-12 : Updated the article with fresh links and minor changes and corrections.

Originally posted @ 2016-11-21

 

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) Specifications

The older Inspiron 13 5368 and the newer Inspiron 13 5378 have the same build and design. They only differ in the processor and storage options. We compare their specifications for your convenience.

SpecificationsDell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368) LaptopDell Inspiron 13 5000 (5378) Laptop
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 Home Single Language (64-bit)Microsoft Windows 10 Home Single Language (64-bit)
Pre-Installed SoftwareMicrosoft Office 2016 Trial
McAfee Security Center (15 month subscription)
Microsoft Office 2016 Trial
McAfee Security Center (15 month subscription)
Processor6th Generation Intel Core i7-6500U dual-core processor
- 2.5 GHz base frequency. 3.1 GHz boost frequency
- 4 MB L2 cache
6th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U dual-core processor
- 2.7 GHz base frequency. 3.5 GHz boost frequency
- 4 MB L2 cache
Memory8 GB Single Channel DDR3L-1600 memory8 GB Single Channel DDR4-2133 memory
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 520Intel HD Graphics 620
Display13.3" Backlit LED touch display
- TrueLife Technology
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution
13.3" Backlit LED touch display
- TrueLife Technology
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution
Storage256 GB SanDisk Z400s solid state drive1 TB Toshiba MQ02ABF100 hard disk drive
Optical DriveNoneNone
Wireless ConnectivityIntel 3165AC module
- 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
- Dual band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)
Intel 3165AC module
- 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
- Dual band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)
CameraIntegrated widescreen 720p webcam with dual digital microphone arrayIntegrated widescreen 720p webcam with dual digital microphone array
Audio2 tuned speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
1 combo headphone / microphone jack
2 tuned speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
1 combo headphone / microphone jack
BatteryIntegrated 3-cell lithium-ion battery
- 42 WHr / 2750 mAh @ 15.2 V
Integrated 3-cell lithium-ion battery
- 42 WHr / 2750 mAh @ 15.2 V
A/C Adapter45 watt AC adapter45 watt AC adapter
PortsHDMI 1.4a x 1
USB 3.0 with PowerShare x 1, USB 3.0 x 1
USB 2.0 x 1
Noble lock slot
SD card reader
HDMI 1.4a x 1
USB 3.0 with PowerShare x 1, USB 3.0 x 1
USB 2.0 x 1
Noble lock slot
SD card reader
KeyboardFull-sized, backlit keyboardFull-sized, backlit keyboard
TouchpadMulti-touch gesture-enabled touchpad with integrated scrollingMulti-touch gesture-enabled touchpad with integrated scrolling
Maximum DimensionsHeight : 20.4 mm (0.80")
Width : 324.8 mm (12.76")
Depth : 224.4 mm (8.85")
Height : 20.4 mm (0.80")
Width : 324.8 mm (12.76")
Depth : 224.4 mm (8.85")
Weight1.62 kg (3.56 lbs)1.62 kg (3.56 lbs)
Warranty (Default)2 Years Premium Support (Next Business Day Onsite Service)2 Years Premium Support (Next Business Day Onsite Service)
Regulatory ComplianceE-Star 6.1, EPEAT SilverE-Star 6.1, EPEAT Silver
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Unboxing The Dell Inspiron 13 5000

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) came in a white nondescript cardboard box. When we opened it up, we found the power brick and cable in a top tray. The laptop itself is cradled between two cardboard spacers below it.

A small leaflet on the laptop’s safety and regulatory compliance, as well as a Quick Start Guide, can be found inside. This is a review sample, but we are pretty sure this is what you can expect to find in the box of the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price).

Next Page > The Dell Inspiron 13 5000, Connectivity Options, Keyboard & Touch Pad

 

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The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 Laptop

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) is a premium convertible laptop that is designed to switch effortlessly between the standard laptop mode, and a tablet mode. It can also be used in the tent mode, and the stand mode.

It only ships in a dark grey colour, and unlike some other Dell Inspiron models, you cannot swap the display cover. The grey colour may be staid but offers great contrast for the matter black keys, which are backlit for visibility in the dark.

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) is classified as convertible type, like the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop we reviewed earlier. You switch to the tablet mode by flipping the keyboard section all the way over. This makes for a thicker and heavier tablet, but it also allows the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 to used in different modes – laptop modestand modetent modetablet mode.

In our experience, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) works best in the laptop, stand and tent modes. Although it works well in the tablet mode, it feels rather chunky and heavy. After all, it is more than twice as heavy as the 12.9″ iPad Pro, and thrice as thick.

 

Connectivity Options

On the left side of the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price), you will find the power port, a HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports and a headphone port. The USB 3.0 port next to the HDMI port supports PowerShare, which allows you to recharge your mobile devices even when the Inspiron 13 5000 is powered down.

Just under the display lid in the front is a small LED light that serves as a Power and battery status light. You can also use the Fn+H key to switch it to a SSD activity light.

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Solid white — Power adapter is connected and the battery has more than 5% charge.

Amber — Computer is running on battery and the battery has less than 5% charge.

Off — Computer is in sleep state, hibernation or turned off / Computer is running and the battery has more than 5% charge

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 does not have an optical drive (who still uses one these days?), so you will only find a USB 2.0 port and a SD card reader, a Power button and a volume control toggle on the right side.

 

The Keyboard & Touch Pad

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) has a full-sized keyboard with backlit keys. It is not spill-resistant though, so be careful with that coffee!

It also comes with a large, multi-touch touchpad that supports gestures and scrolling. Those who come from a Mac background will love it.

Next Page > The Hinge, Speakers & Vents, Power & Battery Life, Usability

 

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The Hinge, Speakers and Vents

Like all convertible laptops, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (Lowest Price) uses a special hinge. It is not just the ability to completely fold the keyboard section behind the display. The hinge also has a constant friction that allows it to be easily used to convert the Inspiron 13 5000 into four different modes.

Flipping the Inspiron 13 5000 over, you will find two small speaker ports on each side. Each speaker has a 2.5 W peak power output. Near the back is a small black label with the Service Tag and Express Service Code.

There are two rows of cooling vents at the back. This is where the warm exhaust from the CPU cooler are vented out. Both the 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6500U (Inspiron 13 5368) or the 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U (Inspiron 13 5378) processors use and dissipate relatively little heat – just 15 W.

 

Power & Battery Life

Powered by the low-power 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6500U (Inspiron 13 5368) or the 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U (Inspiron 13 5378) processor, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) sips power. Hence, it comes with a small and light 45 W power adaptor, which is always a good thing when you travel.

That said, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 comes with a small 3-cell lithium-ion battery. As efficient as the Intel Core i7 processor may be, there is only so much battery life you can squeeze from such a small 42 Whr (2,750 mAh @ 15.2 V) battery.

In our real world tests, we could use it for 6 hours before we had to recharge it. This is decent, but a little disappointing in an age when laptops and tablets can last 8-12 hours. Dell would do well to pack in a little more battery life into the next version, especially when this battery is only rated for 300 cycles. This would mean that its battery life will fall quite rapidly after a year or so of use.

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Usability

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) is really just a smaller version of the Inspiron 15 7000 we reviewed earlier. It uses the same 2-in-1 design with the same hinges. It just comes with a plastic build, a smaller 13.3″ form factor and is consequently 25% lighter.

Even so, it is a handful to use in the tablet mode. It may be much lighter than the Inspiron 15 7000, but it still weighs 1.62 kg. You will end up using it in the regular laptop mode, or in either the tent or stand mode, where you don’t actually have to carry it.

In the non-tablet modes, it is great. Its TrueLife display with a full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) delivers bright, crisp images with a wide 160° viewing angle. Perfect for presentations or movies.

We have to wonder though about the USB 2.0 port on the right side. There is really no reason why there should still be a USB 2.0 port in any laptop sold today. In fact, Dell should have included at least one Type C USB 3.1 port.

Next Page > Performance & Storage, Our Verdict

 

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Performance & Storage

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) is powered by either the Intel Core i7-6500U (Inspiron 13 5368) or the Intel Core i7-7500U (Inspiron 13 5378) processor.

Windows will show that there are four cores, but they are both dual-core processors that supports HyperThreading – hence, the four logical cores. Backed by 4 MB of L2 cache, both are fast dual-core processor. Impressive when you consider the fact that they only use 15 W of power.

The newer Intel Core i7-7500U is slightly faster and more power-efficient than the Intel Core i7-6500U, but without benchmarking them, you won’t be able to tell the difference. The Inspiron 13 5000 won’t have any problem handling office applications. You can even edit photos on its full HD display without breaking a sweat.

The Intel processor is a little hobbled by the Inspiron 13 5000’s default single-channel design. There are two SODIMM slots, but only one is populated so the processor is running with half of its peak memory bandwidth. This can be remedied by simply adding another memory module. This would also give you more memory to use.

The good news is the older Inspiron 13 5368 model comes with a 256 GB SanDisk Z400s solid state drive. The newer Inspiron 13 5378, on the other hand, comes with a 1 TB hard disk drive. The solid state drive really makes a big difference – it boots up very quickly, and does not feel sluggish like the Inspiron 15 7000 we reviewed earlier.

Unless storage space is critical to you, we still think an SSD would have been a better choice due to the way these 2-in-1 laptops are used. SSDs are virtually impervious to shock and vibration, while hard disk drives are not.

 

Our Verdict

Unlike the Inspiron 15 7000, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) can actually be used as a large tablet. You will end up laying it on your lap or a tabletop most of the time though. It is best used in the laptop mode, the tent mode and the stand mode.

Our Inspiron 13 5368 review model came with a great 256 GB SanDisk Z400S (Lowest Price) solid state drive. However, Dell currently offers a smaller 128 GB SSD option, or a 1 TB hard disk drive option, in the Inspiron 13 5378 refresh model. Always opt for the SSD option. It makes a HUGE difference in the laptop’s performance.

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You will love the performance of the Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price). The dual-core Intel Core i7 processor is fast enough to handle any work application you throw at it. The HD Graphics processor graphics is also good enough to handle full HD video playback and light gaming.

The TrueLife display is a real pleasure to use. Once you try it, you will never want to go back to the cheap TN panels that are used in many low-cost laptops. The battery life of the Inspiron 13 5000 though is pretty limited at about 6 hours. We sure wished Dell gave it a bigger battery. The small 3-cell battery will give you “range anxiety” on a long trip.

The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 (5368 / 5378) 2-in-1 laptop (Lowest Price) is a great option for anyone who wants a relatively light and powerful 13.3″ laptop. Why settle for a cheap laptop with a TN panel, when you can get a convertible laptop with a high-resolution touch screen display?

 

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2016 ThinkPad P40 Yoga & ThinkStation P410 Launched

8 November 2016Lenovo today introduced two new devices, the ThinkPad P40 Yoga Mobile Workstation and ThinkStation P410 Workstation. Powered by Intel, these high-performing devices brings the best performance to run powerful applications with the stability and speed that customers need. Whatever your professional needs may be, Lenovo creates the tools that are relied upon by industry leaders – be it architects, product designers, UX/ UI designers, or engineers.

The ThinkStation P410 Workstation is also certified to run Autodesk’s 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and entertainment industries at the highest levels of reliability and stability.

 

ThinkPad P40 Yoga Mobile Workstation

The ThinkPad P40 Yoga is a high-performing mobile workstation that helps unleash the full power of professional creativity, delivering first-class digital sketching experience with the ultimate in mobile workstation performance and reliability.

From digital artists storyboarding the next award winning short film to engineers designing the next technological marvel, creative professionals need to deliver the sensitivity and accuracy of a premium sketching experience and a robust workstation to render designs in powerful applications, all the while catering to their busy mobile lifestyle.

As the first-ever multimode mobile workstation, the ThinkPad P40 Yoga offers the versatility to work across four modes—laptop, stand, tent and tablet—giving professionals the flexibility to do more no matter the requirement. The system provides the utmost in sketching precision through a highly responsive pen and touchscreen powered by the Wacom Active ES technology, offering a full, 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity on a high-res (2560 x 1440) IPS display.

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Along with its premium sketching capabilities, ThinkPad P40 Yoga offers mobile workstation performance without compromise. Powered by an Intel 6th Generation Core i7 CPU and up to 16GB of RAM, the ThinkPad P40 Yoga is certified to run a full range of professional applications such as Autodesk CAD and CAE software, including Autodesk Fusion 360 and Autodesk Inventor without compromise.

And for the first time in a mobile workstation, the ThinkPad P40 Yoga features Lenovo’s innovative Lift ‘n Lock keyboard with a frame that automatically rises around the keys when the Yoga device switches into tablet mode, giving users the ability to work in a more comfortable and efficient manner. The machine features tried-and-true ThinkPad reliability for maximum uptime in or out of the office, with long battery life, Mil-SPEC tested construction to ensure uptime under the toughest conditions, and a lightweight design using advanced materials.

 

ThinkStation P410 Workstation

The latest update to our workstation line is part of Lenovo’s commitment to constantly listen to Lenovo’s customers and evolve our products based on their needs. The ThinkStation P410 offers a higher core count and memory capacity than any entry-level workstation in the market, closing the gap in price and performance between entry-level and mainstream workstations.

Featuring the latest high-performance Intel Xeon E5-1600 v4 processors with Intel Turbo Max 3.0 Technology, the ThinkStation P410 is unlike any system available, delivering mainstream workstation performance with entry-level affordability.

The ThinkStation P410 is also enhanced with cutting-edge storage technologies, including M.2, and innovative Flex module support for easy customization.

 

Pricing & Availability

The ThinkPad P40 Yoga Mobile Workstation and ThinkStation P410 Workstation are now available and will be priced from RM5,999 / ~US$1,499 and from RM4,999 / ~US$1,249 respectively, inclusive of GST.

 

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The Intel Kaby Lake Processor Tech Briefing

On August 25, we received an exclusive tech briefing on the new 7th Generation Intel Core processor, formerly known as Kaby Lake. Kaby Lake is not a new microarchitecture, but a refresh of the Intel Skylake microarchitecture. Even then, it boasts the following improvements :

  • improved 14 nm process technology, yielding 12% higher clock speeds
  • 10-bit HEVC and 8-bit VP9 hardware encoding and decoding
  • Native HDCP 2.2 support
  • Four additional PCI Express 3.0 lanes from the PCH
  • Support for Intel Optane (3D XPoint) technology

For an in-depth understanding of the new 7th Generation Intel Core processors, check out this video we prepared from the Intel Kaby Lake tech briefing.

 

How Much Faster Are The Intel Kaby Lake CPUs?

Ultimately, the 7th Generation Intel Core processors will deliver 12-19% better performance over the 6th Generation Intel Core processors (formerly known as Intel Skylake), mainly due to higher clock speeds.

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That is probably not particularly exciting news for users of Intel Skylake or Broadwell (5th Generation Intel Core) processors. However, Intel is hoping that it will be enough to encourage users of old PCs (which they define as 5 years or older) to upgrade to the faster and more efficient Kaby Lake processors.

According to Intel, the 7th Generation Intel Core processors are 1.7X faster in work applications, 8.6X faster in working with 4K videos, and 3X faster in 3D games, compared to the 2nd Generation Intel Core processors launched 5 years ago.

The new video encoder in the 7th Generation Intel Core processors also allows them to be 15X faster at creating video highlights, and 6.8X faster at transcoding a 4K video to 1080p, than comparable 2nd Generation Intel Core processors.

 

Intel Kaby Lake Tech Briefing Slides

If you prefer to check out the slides in detail, here they are for your perusal :

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Lenovo YOGA 900s First Look

The Lenovo YOGA 900s is the world’s thinnest convertible laptop at 12.8 mm thin. Thanks to its carbon fiber chassis, it is also very light at just under 1 kg / 2.2 lbs. Yet it sports a large 12.5″ display, and a full-sized keyboard with a large trackpad. Its display  uses a brilliant IPS panel with a resolution of up to 2560 x 1440.

The YOGA 900s is powered by the latest 6th Generation Intel Core M processor with 50% greater battery density and 30% better cooling than before. It also retains the trademark watchband hinge, which allows for smoother rotation between its four operating modes – laptop, stand, tent and tablet.

For connectivity, it comes with two USB 3.0 ports – one Type C and one Type A, as well as a USB 2.0 port that doubles as a Power Input port.

 

Lenovo YOGA 900s First Look

After its official launch, we had some hands-on time with the Lenovo YOGA 900s. Here is our first look video of the Lenovo YOGA 900s. We hope you like it!

 

Price & Availability

The Lenovo YOGA 900s is available right now with the recommended retail price starting at RM 5,999 / ~US$ 1,579.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon First Look

At just 1.17 kg, the new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the world’s lightest 14″ business-class Ultrabook. It is amongst the thinnest Ultrabooks in the market with a thickness of just 16.5 mm. All this is thanks to its satellite-grade carbon fiber chassis.

Its carbon fiber construction also makes it tougher – the ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been qualified using nearly a dozen military-grade specification tests. So it will withstand the harshest conditions you can put it through.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is powered by the latest 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6600U processor running on Microsoft Windows 10 Professional, and comes with up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory and up to 1 TB of SSD storage. Yet you never have to worry about battery life, because its 52 WHr battery allows you to work and play for up to 11 hours.

Lenovo offers two display options – a standard full HD IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, and a higher-end 2K IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. Both displays have a maximum brightness of 300 nits. To ensure the security of the data, it even comes with a fingerprint touch sensor and the Intel TPM (Trusted Platform Module).

 

ThinkPad X1 Carbon First Look

After its official launch, we had some hands-on time with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Here is our first look video of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. We hope you like it!

 

Price & Availability

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is available right now with the recommended retail price starting at RM 7,000 / ~US$ 1499.00.

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ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 Motherboard Review

ASRock is a relatively new motherboard manufacturer, and it shows in their designs. They are more willing to come up with edgier designs, with a particular emphasis on marketing-friendly features. Today, we are going to take a look at one of their Fatal1ty-branded motherboards based on the Intel Z170 chipset – the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4.

 

ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 Specifications

SpecificationsASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4
ChipsetIntel Z170
CPU Support6th Generation Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron processors (Socket 1151)
- Supports Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology
- Supports Intel K-Series unlocked CPUs
- Supports ASRock BCLK & Hyper BCLK Engine Full-range Overclocking
CPU Power10-phase digital power design
Memory SupportUp to 64 GB of non-ECC, unbuffered DDR4 memory
- Four DDR4 DIMM slots with 15 μ gold-plated contacts (dual-channel)
- Supports up to DDR4-3866+ (OC) with a single memory module
- Supports DDR4-3600 (OC) / DDR4-3200 (OC) / DDR4-2933 (OC) / DDR4-2800 (OC) / DDR4-2400 (OC) / DDR4-2133
- Supports ECC UDIMM memory modules (operating in non-ECC mode)
- Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 2.0
BIOSTwo 128 Mbits AMI UEFI BIOS with multilingual GUI support
- Supports Secure Backup UEFI Technology
- ACPI 5.0 & SMBIOS 2.7 Compliant
- Supports CPU, DRAM, PCH 1.0V, VCCIO, VCCSA voltage adjustments
Processor Graphics Support- Supports Intel HD Graphics with up to 1792 MB shared memory
- Built-in DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort 1.2 output supports triple monitors
- Maximum DVI-D resolution : 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Maximum HDMI resolution : 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz
- Maximum DisplayPort resolution : 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz
Audio SupportASRock Purity Sound 3
- Realtek ALC1150 7.1-channel HD audio codec
- Nichicon Fine Gold series capacitors, 115 dB SND DAC with two Ti NE5532 amplifiers
LAN SupportKiller E2400 Gigabit LAN
- Supports Energy-Efficient Ethernet 802.3az
- Supports Lightning & ESD Protection
Expansion Slots2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots
- x16 (PCIE2) and x4 (PCIE4)
- Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX and CrossFireX

3 x PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots (Flexible PCIe design)
Storage Ports2 x SATA Express (10 Gb/s) ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 support
- each can be converted into two SATA 3 (6.0 Gb/s) ports

2 x SATA 3 (6 Gb/s) ports

1 x Ultra M.2 socket
- Supports Type 2230 / 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 M.2 modules
- Supports M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen 3 x4
Connectors- 1 x COM Port Header
- 1 x TPM Header
- 1 x Power LED and Speaker Header
- 2 x CPU Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)
- 4 x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)
- 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector
- 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector)
- 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector
- 1 x Thunderbolt™ AIC Connector
- 2 x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports) (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 1 x USB 3.0 Header (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
Rear Panel I/O- 1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
- 1 x DVI-D Port
- 1 x HDMI Port
- 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
- 1 x USB 2.0 Port (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 1 x USB 2.0 Fatal1ty Mouse Port (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 5 x USB 3.0 Ports (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 1 x USB 3.0 Type C Port (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED LED)
- HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone
Hardware Sensors- CPU & chassis temperature sensors and fan tachometers
- Voltage monitoring for +12V, +5V, +3.3V, CPU Vcore, DRAM, VPPM, PCH 1.0V, VCCIO, VCCSA
Form FactorFull ATX : 30.5 cm x 21.8 cm / 12.0" x 8.6"
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 / 8 / 8.1 / 7
Certifications- FCC, CE, WHQL
- ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required)
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Unboxing The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 comes in a typical motherboard box – a large cardboard box with its key features printed on the underside. Let us show you what’s inside the box in this unboxing video…

Inside, the box is divided into two layers by a simple cardboard insert. Under it is the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard in an anti-static bag with a pink polyethylene anti-static sheet wrapped around it.

When you remove everything, you will find the following items :

Next Page > The Motherboard, CPU Power & Performance, PCI Express

 

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The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 Motherboard

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 is a full ATX-sized motherboard that boasts the following key features :

  1. [adrotate banner=”4″]ASRock Super Alloy
  2. Gaming Armor – Memory / VGA Card / Cooling / Internet / Audio
  3. Supports 6th Generation Intel Core Processors (Socket 1151)
  4. Digi Power, 10 Power Phase design
  5. Supports DDR4 3866+(OC) memory modules
  6. 2 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1
  7. AMD Quad CrossFireX and CrossFireX
  8. Graphics Output Options: DVI-D, HDMI
  9. 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1150 Audio Codec), Supports Purity Sound 3 & DTS Connect
  10. 2 SATA Express, 6 SATA3, 1 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA3)
  11. 8 USB 3.0 (5 Type-A & 1 Type-C) – 2 Front, 6 Rear)
  12. Supports Full Spike Protection, ASRock Live Update & APP Shop, F-Stream, Key Master, XSplit

We also prepared a special video to show you the key design features of the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard. Enjoy!

 

CPU Power & Performance

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard features a 10-phase power design. This is most likely an 8+2 design, with 8 phases dedicated to the CPU. That ensures a cooler and more efficient power conversion compared to voltage regulator modules (VRM) with fewer phases. Its MOSFETs and inductors are kept cool by large aluminium alloy heatsinks, which helps ensure reliability and longevity of the VRM.

The Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 uses digital pulse-width modulation (PWM) to control its VRM. The PWM is critical in ensuring a stable power supply. Although high quality (and expensive) analog PWM exists, digital PWM allows for more accurate control of the power frequency and modulation.

ASRock also equipped the Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 with Nichicon 12K Platinum capacitors, which not only boasts faster response times and lower voltage noise but also a much longer lifespan (12,000 hours @ 105 °C). In general – this motherboard is designed to last.

To support CPU coolers with two fans, or a DIMM cooler, The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 has two CPU fan headers – one on each end of the four DIMM slots.

 

PCI Express Slots

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard has 5 PCI Express slots – 2 full-sized PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, and 3 much smaller PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. The upper PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot (PCIE2) operates at full x16 speed while the lower PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot (PCIE4) only operates at x4 speed.

The three PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots are of the flexible design. That basically means an open-ended slot. This allows you to use any PCI Express card in those x1 slots, even x16 cards. The only downside is that they will only run at x1 speed.

Next Page > DDR4 Memory, Ultra M.2, SATA Ports, Purity Sound 3, Dual BIOS

 

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DDR4 Memory Slots

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots, their contacts gold-plated to protect them against oxidation and corrosion. Even though the Intel Z170 chipset only supports non-ECC memory, these DIMM slots can accept ECC memory modules – with their ECC capability disabled.

The Intel Z170 chipset only supports DDR4 memory up to 2133 MHz in frequency, but the Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 allows for overclocked memory clock speeds of up to 3600 MHz with selected modules. It even supports 3866 MHz, but only if a single memory module is installed.

 

Ultra M.2 Socket

The Ultra M.2 socket is a unique ASRock feature. The M.2 socket is usually connected to the Z170 chipset using two PCI Express lanes. ASRock has instead connected the M.2 socket directly to the Intel Core processor using four PCI Express lanes. This not only doubles the maximum bandwidth to 32 Gbits/s (4 GB/s), it also reduces the M.2 socket’s latency.

Of course, you will need an M.2 SSD that supports PCIe x4. Even so, PCIe x2 SSDs may benefit slightly from the lower latencies associated with the Ultra M.2 socket being directly connected to the CPU, bypassing the Z170 chipset.

 

SATA Ports

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 specifications officially quotes 2 SATA Express ports as well as 6 standard SATA 3 ports. However, this is not really the case – it only comes with 2 SATA Express ports and 2 SATA 3 ports.

Of course, each SATA Express port can be “converted” into 2 standard SATA 3 ports. After all, the SATA Express port is really just two SATA 3 ports with a smaller PCI Express port that delivers two PCIe lanes. In other words, it supports up to 2 SATA Express drives and 2 SATA drives, or up to 6 SATA drives.

Depending on how many drives you intend to use in your system, this may or may not be sufficient. But the good news is that they did stack the connectors, like they did in the ASRock Z170 Extreme4. This makes the Z170 Gaming K4’s connectors must easier to access.

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ASRock Purity Sound 3

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard comes with the ASRock Purity Sound 3 audio solution. This is a combination of the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec with a 115 dB SNR DAC, two Ti NE5532 amplifiers as well as EMI and PCB shielding.

One of the Ti NE5532 amplifiers is used as a differential amplifier, which avoids the distortion caused by audio capacitors. The other Ti NE5532 amplifier is dedicated to driving the headphone port, allowing you to use high-impedance headphones without a separate amplifier or sound card.

 

Dual BIOS

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 was designed with techies in mind. It sports two 128 Mbit BIOS chips, with a physical switch. This allows you to quickly switch to the backup BIOS if you make an unrecoverable mistake in the BIOS setting, or the BIOS is corrupted after a flash failure.

Next Page > Fatal1ty Mouse Port, I/O Ports & Armor, Other Accessories, Our Verdict

 

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Fatal1ty Mouse Port

This is the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4‘s “killer feature” – the Fatal1ty mouse port. This red-coloured mouse port is supposed to impart Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel‘s skills to the user when a mouse is plugged in. How is that supposed to happen?

With the ASRock F-Stream software installed, the Fatal1ty mouse port is set to use Fatal1ty’s personal preferred mouse polling rate of 500 Hz. The ASRock F-Stream software also allows you to change the mouse polling rate from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz. Of course, the higher polling rates may not be supported by some mice.

Frankly speaking, this is really just marketing fluff. Any gamer who takes gaming even half-seriously would be using a half-decent gaming mouse. And most (if not all) half-decent gaming mice allow you to change the mouse polling rates, amongst other things. There is no need to even use a special mouse port to achieve this.

If you have a good gaming mouse, it will even allow you to change the polling rate or sensor resolution on-the-fly… and yes, it would work with any USB port. So why bother with the Fatal1ty mouse port?

 

I/O Ports & Armor

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 has a ton of I/O ports at the rear, including a legacy PS/2 port, two USB 2.0 ports (the top port being the Fatal1ty mouse port), a Type C USB 3.0 port (note that this is not the faster USB 3.1 port) as well as 5 standard USB 3.0 ports. In addition to the 5 audio and line-in port, it also sports a single Gigabit LAN port. For display purposes, it offers a DVI-D port and a HDMI port.

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 also features what ASRock calls their I/O Armor. It is ostensibly a protective cover that protects the rear I/O ports from static damage. Frankly speaking, this is only useful if you are using the motherboard outside of a chassis. When installed in a chassis, that job is fulfilled by the I/O shield (also included) that is installed into the chassis.

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Other Accessories

Here is a closer look at the other accessories included in the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 package – the manual and driver CD. A case sticker can be found inside the driver CD sleeve.

It also comes with four SATA 3 cables and a small plastic bag with a single small screw – this is used to lock the Ultra M.2 SSD in place.

 

Our Verdict

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard has all of the hallmarks of a decent gaming motherboard. It boasts a 10-phase power design with a digital PWM and Nichicon 12K Platinum capacitors. The entire power supply is further cooled by large aluminium-alloy heatsinks. A lot of effort has gone into ensuring an efficient power conversion, stable power supply and longer lifespan.

There are decent expansion options with 2 full-sized PCI Express x16 slots and 3 small PCIe x1 slots. The PCIe x1 slots are even the “flexible” type that will accept any PCI Express card. Audiophiles will appreciate the better audio quality courtesy of its Purity Sound 3 module. Their Ultra M.2 socket is also a nice touch although it has minimal effect on your M.2 SSD’s performance unless it supports PCIe x4.

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 comes with plenty of USB ports and headers, and even a Type C port. However, we should point out that it does not support the latest USB 3.1 standard. Even the Type C port is a USB 3.0 port. It allows you to attach USB 3.1 devices but it will only transfer data at USB 3.0 speeds, which is roughly half that of USB 3.1. If you must have USB 3.1 support, you need to consider the higher-end ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard.

But the greatest disappointment is the Fatal1ty Mouse Port feature. It is really nothing more than marketing fluff, since it is just a USB 2.0 port. Its ability to adjust the mouse polling rate is through the bundled F-Stream software. This is a standard feature in all gaming mouse software that does not require any special USB port.

If you are looking for a decent gaming motherboard based on the Intel Z170 chipset, the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 is worthy of consideration. It has plenty of genuine hardware features that will ensure long lifespan and high reliability. Just don’t expect the Fatal1ty brand or the Fatal1ty Mouse Port to impart any gaming benefit. That’s pure marketing. Focus on the real features and you won’t be disappointed.

Go Back To > First Page | Reviews | Home

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The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 Motherboard Review Rev. 2.0

ASRock is a relatively new motherboard manufacturer, and it shows in their designs. They are more willing to come up with edgier designs, with a particular emphasis on marketing-friendly features. Today, we are going to take a look at one of their Intel Z170-based motherboards – the ASRock Z170 Extreme4.

Updated @ 2016-05-03 : Updated the review with additional information, particularly with regards to its PCI Express and SATA Express ports.

 

ASRock Z170 Extreme4 Specifications

SpecificationsASRock Z170 Extreme4
ChipsetIntel Z170
CPU Support6th Generation Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron processors (Socket 1151)
- Supports Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology
- Supports Intel K-Series unlocked CPUs
- Supports ASRock BCLK & Hyper BCLK Engine Full-range Overclocking
CPU Power10-phase digital power design
Memory SupportUp to 64 GB of non-ECC, unbuffered DDR4 memory
- Four DDR4 DIMM slots with 15 μ gold-plated contacts (dual-channel)
- Supports up to DDR4-3866+ (OC) with a single memory module
- Supports DDR4-3600 (OC) / DDR4-3200 (OC) / DDR4-2933 (OC) / DDR4-2800 (OC) / DDR4-2400 (OC) / DDR4-2133
- Supports ECC UDIMM memory modules (operating in non-ECC mode)
- Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 2.0
BIOSTwo 128 Mbits AMI UEFI BIOS with multilingual GUI support
- Supports Secure Backup UEFI Technology
- ACPI 5.0 & SMBIOS 2.7 Compliant
- Supports CPU, DRAM, PCH 1.0V, VCCIO, VCCSA voltage adjustments
Processor Graphics Support- Supports Intel HD Graphics with up to 1792 MB shared memory
- Built-in DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort 1.2 output supports triple monitors
- Maximum DVI-D resolution : 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Maximum HDMI resolution : 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz
- Maximum DisplayPort resolution : 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz
Audio SupportASRock Purity Sound 3
- Realtek ALC1150 7.1-channel HD audio codec
- Nichicon Fine Gold series capacitors, 115 dB SND DAC with two Ti NE5532 amplifiers
LAN SupportIntel I219V Gigabit LAN
- Supports Energy-Efficient Ethernet 802.3az
- Supports Lightning & ESD Protection
Expansion Slots3 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots
- x16 with single card / x8-x8 with two cards / x8-x8-x4 with three cards
- Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX, 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossFireX
- Supports NVIDIA Quad SLI and SLI

3 x PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots (Flexible PCIe design)
Storage Ports3 x SATA Express (10 Gb/s) ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 support
- each can be converted into two SATA 3 (6.0 Gb/s) ports

1 x Ultra M.2 socket
- Supports Type 2230 / 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 M.2 modules
- Supports M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen 3 x4
Connectors- 1 x COM Port Header
- 1 x TPM Header
- 1 x Power LED and Speaker Header
- 2 x CPU Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)
- 3 x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)
- 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector
- 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector)
- 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector
- 1 x Thunderbolt™ AIC Connector
- 2 x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports) (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 1 x USB 3.0 Header (ASRock Full Spike Protection)
- 1 x Dr. Debug with LED
- 1 x Power Switch with LED
- 1 x Reset Switch with LED
Rear Panel I/O- 1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
- 1 x DVI-D Port
- 1 x HDMI Port
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
- 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
- 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A Port (10 Gb/s) (ASMedia ASM1142) (Supports ESD Protection)
- 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (ASMedia ASM1142) (Supports ESD Protection)
- 6 x USB 3.0 Ports (Intel Z170) (Supports ESD Protection)
- 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED LED)
- 1 x Clear CMOS Switch
- HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone
Hardware Sensors- CPU & chassis temperature sensors and fan tachometers
- Case Open detection
- Voltage monitoring for +12V, +5V, +3.3V, CPU Vcore, DRAM, VPPM, PCH 1.0V, VCCIO, VCCSA
Form FactorFull ATX
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 / 8 / 8.1 / 7
Certifications- FCC, CE, WHQL
- ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required)

 

Unboxing The ASRock Z170 Extreme4

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 comes in a typical motherboard box – a large cardboard box with its key features printed on the underside. Let us show you what’s inside the box in this unboxing video…

Inside, the box is divided into two layers by a simple cardboard insert. Under it is the ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard in an anti-static bag with a pink polyethylene anti-static sheet wrapped around it.

When you remove everything, you will find the following items :

Page 2 > The Motherboard, CPU Power & Performance, DDR4 Memory

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The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 Motherboard

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 is a full ATX-sized motherboard that boasts the following key features :

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  1. ASRock Super Alloy
  2. Supports 6th Generation Intel Core Processors (Socket 1151)
  3. Digi Power, 10 Power Phase design
  4. Supports DDR4 3866+(OC) memory modules
  5. 3 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1
  6. NVIDIA Quad SLI, AMD 3-Way CrossFireX
  7. Graphics Output Options: DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2
  8. Supports Triple Monitor
  9. 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1150 Audio Codec), Supports Purity Sound 3 & DTS Connect
  10. 3 SATA Express, 6 SATA3, 1 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA3)
  11. 2 USB 3.1 (1 Type-C & 1 Type-A), 8 USB 3.0 (2 Front, 6 Rear)
  12. Supports Full Spike Protection, ASRock Live Update & APP Shop

We also prepared a special video to show you the key design features of the ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard. Enjoy!

 

CPU Power & Performance

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard features a 10-phase power design. This is most likely an 8+2 design, with 8 phases dedicated to the CPU. That ensures a cooler and more efficient power conversion compared to voltage regulator modules (VRM) with fewer phases. Its MOSFETs and inductors are kept cool by large aluminium alloy heatsinks, which helps ensure reliability and longevity of the VRM.

The Z170 Extreme4 uses digital pulse-width modulation (PWM) to control its VRM. The PWM is critical in ensuring a stable power supply. Although high quality (and expensive) analog PWM exists, digital PWM allows for more accurate control of the power frequency and modulation.

ASRock also equipped the Z170 Extreme4 with Nichicon 12K Platinum capacitors, which not only boasts faster response times and lower voltage noise but also a much longer lifespan (12,000 hours @ 105 °C). In general – this motherboard is designed to last.

To support CPU coolers with two fans, or a DIMM cooler, the ASRock Z170 Extreme4 has two CPU fan headers placed at the top of the board, right next to the four DIMM slots. Finally, the Z170 Extreme4 features an external base clock generator, which gives you finer control of the BLCK frequency- in 0.0625 MHz steps. Of course, the utility of such fine control of the BCLK clock is questionable…

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DDR4 Memory Slots

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots, their contacts gold-plated to protect them against oxidation and corrosion. Even though the Intel Z170 chipset only supports non-ECC memory, these DIMM slots can accept ECC memory modules – with their ECC capability disabled.

The Intel Z170 chipset only supports DDR4 memory up to 2133 MHz in frequency, but the Z170 Extreme4 allows for overclocked memory clock speeds of up to 3600 MHz with selected modules. It even supports 3866 MHz, but only if a single memory module is installed.

Page 3 > PCI Express, Ultra M.2, SATA Ports

 

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PCI Express Slots

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard has 6 PCI Express slots – 3 full-sized PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, and 3 much smaller PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. The top-most PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot (PCIE2) operates at full x16 speed with a single card.

If you have two graphics cards, you will need to install them in PCIE2 and PCIE4 and they will both run at x8 speed. If you install a third graphics cards in the PCIE6 slot, it will only run at x4 speed.

The three PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots are of the flexible design. That basically means an open-ended slot. This allows you to use any PCI Express card in those x1 slots, even x16 cards. The only downside is that they will only run at x1 speed.

 

Ultra M.2 Socket

The Ultra M.2 socket is a unique ASRock feature. The M.2 socket is usually connected to the Z170 chipset using two PCI Express lanes. ASRock has instead connected the M.2 socket directly to the Intel Core processor using four PCI Express lanes. This not only doubles the maximum bandwidth to 32 Gbits/s (4 GB/s), it also reduces the M.2 socket’s latency.

Of course, you will need an M.2 SSD that supports PCIe x4. Even so, PCIe x2 SSDs may benefit slightly from the lower latencies associated with the Ultra M.2 socket being directly connected to the CPU, bypassing the Z170 chipset.

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SATA Ports

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 specifications officially quotes 3 SATA Express ports as well as 6 standard SATA 3 ports. However, that is not really the case – it only comes with 3 SATA Express ports.

Of course, each SATA Express port can be “converted” into 2 standard SATA 3 ports. After all, the SATA Express port is really just two SATA 3 ports with a smaller PCI Express port that delivers two PCIe lanes. So you can attach up to 3 SATA Express devices, or 6 SATA devices, or any combinations in between.

Depending on how many drives you intend to use in your system, this may or may not be sufficient. The stacked side-facing SATA ports also may prove to be troublesome. In tight cases, you may not be able to access the lower SATA Express port, depriving you of the opportunity to attach a SATA Express device, or two SATA devices.

Page 4 > Purity Sound 3, Goodies For Techies, I/O Ports & Armor, Other Accessories

 

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ASRock Purity Sound 3

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard comes with their Purity Sound 3 audio solution. It is a combination of the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec with a 115 dB SNR DAC, two Ti NE5532 amplifiers as well as EMI and PCB shielding.

One of the Ti NE5532 amplifiers is used as a differential amplifier, which avoids the distortion caused by audio capacitors. The other Ti NE5532 amplifier is dedicated to driving the headphone port, allowing you to use high-impedance headphones without a separate amplifier or sound card.

 

Goodies For Techies

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 was designed with techies in mind. It sports two 128 Mbit BIOS chips, with a physical switch. This allows you to quickly switch to the backup BIOS if you make an unrecoverable mistake in the BIOS setting, or the BIOS is corrupted after a flash failure.

They also include physical Power and Reset buttons on the motherboard, for enthusiasts who prefer to use the Z170 Extreme4 outside of a chassis. There is also a 2-digit Dr. Debug LED display that displays an error code during any failure. Very useful indeed.

 

I/O Ports & Armor

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 has a ton of I/O ports at the rear, including a legacy PS/2 port, a physical Reset button, two USB 3.1 ports (one Type A, one Type C) as well as 6 standard USB 3.0 ports. In addition to the 5 audio and line-in port, it also sports a single Gigabit LAN port. For display purposes, it boasts a DVI-D port, a HDMI port and a DisplayPort.

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 also features what ASRock calls their I/O Armor. It is ostensibly a protective cover that protects the rear I/O ports from static damage. Frankly speaking, this is only useful if you are using the motherboard outside of a chassis. When installed in a chassis, that job is fulfilled by the I/O shield (also included) that is installed into the chassis.

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Other Accessories

Here is a closer look at the other accessories included in the ASRock Z170 Extreme4 package – the manual and driver CD. A case sticker can be found inside the driver CD sleeve.

It also comes with four SATA 3 cables and an SLI bridge card. There is a small plastic bag with a single small screw – this is used to lock the Ultra M.2 SSD in place.

Page 5 > Our Verdict & Award

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Our Verdict

ASRock has been accused of focusing a bit too much on marketing, at the expense of quality. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case with the ASRock Z170 Extreme4 motherboard.

The ASRock Z170 Extreme4 boasts a 10-phase power design with a digital PWM and Nichicon 12K Platinum capacitors. The entire power supply is further cooled by large aluminium-alloy heatsinks. A lot of effort has gone into ensuring an efficient power conversion, stable power supply and longer lifespan.

We also like the fact that they added support for USB 3.1. Not just the more common Type C, they also added the larger Type A port. Their Ultra M.2 socket is also a nice touch although it has minimal effect on your M.2 SSD’s performance unless it supports PCIe x4.

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Audiophiles will appreciate the better audio quality courtesy of its Purity Sound 3 module. Enthusiasts who prefer using the motherboard “in the nude” will love their addition of physical Power and Reset buttons as well as a Dr. Debug LED.

There is plenty of expansion options with 3 full-sized PCI Express x16 slots and 3 small PCIe x1 slots. The PCIe x1 slots are even the “flexible” type that will accept any PCI Express card.

The only downside is the limited number of SATA ports. This will be a problem in tight cases because 4 of them are stacked and bent perpendicularly. Only two of the SATA ports are conveniently located at the lower right corner of the motherboard.

Overall, this is one sweet Intel Z170 motherboard, especially for a hardware enthusiast who prefers not to use a chassis. We think it deserves at least our Reviewers’ Choice Award. Congratulations, ASRock!

Go Back To > First Page | Reviews | Home

 

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Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 Laptop Review Rev. 2.0

The Dell Inspiron family of laptops are designed for the home or home office. As such, they offer a variety of designs in three different series – the Inspiron 7000 Series, the Inspiron 5000 Series and the Inspiron 3000 Series. Today, we are going to take a look at one of their latest 2-in-1 laptops from the Dell Inspiron 7000 Series – the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568).

Do note that Dell offers two Dell Inspiron 15 7000 models. The standard (non-convertible) version has a specific model number of 7559, while the 2-in-1 convertible version has a specific model number of 7568.

Updated @ 2016-04-07 : Updated many aspects of the review. Clarified the official name as the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 Laptop.

 

Unboxing The Dell Inspiron 15 7568 2-in-1 Laptop

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) comes in a brown, nondescript Dell laptop box. Inside, the laptop itself is cradled between two cardboard spacers. A small compartment on the side contained the power brick and cable, while a small leaflet on the laptop’s safety and regulatory compliance can be found inside as well.

The Inspiron 15 7568 did not come with any manual or CD. Since this is a review unit, we are not sure if this is the standard kit. After all, it didn’t even ship with the correct power plug.

 

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 Laptop

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) is a premium convertible laptop that is designed to switch effortlessly between the standard laptop mode, and a tablet mode. Although 2-in-1 convertible laptops are not new, this model is unique in that it has a large 15.6″ display, making it one of the very few 15.6″ convertible laptops in the market.

It ships with a matte black display cover and base. Unlike some other Dell Inspiron models, you cannot swap them for different coloured covers. The palm rest area has a brushed aluminium finish, which feels cool to touch and makes it easier visually to pick out the individual keys of the black keyboard.

There are two types of 2-in-1 laptops. The detachable type allows you to pull off the screen section to use as a tablet. It allows the tablet to be thinner and lighter.

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) is classified as convertible type – you switch to the tablet mode by flipping the keyboard section all the way over. This makes for a thicker and heavier tablet, but it also allows the Dell Inspiron 15 7568 to used in different modes – laptop mode, stand mode, tent mode, tablet mode.

Although the 15.6″ capacitive touch screen offers a lot of display real estate, we immediately found that it was unwieldy to use in its tablet mode. The Dell Inspiron 15 7568 weighs 2.17 kg, and that is compounded by the large display. You will not be cradling it very long with one arm. It is really best used in one of the other three modes.

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Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) Specifications

SpecificationsDell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) Laptop
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10 Home Single Language (64-bit)
Pre-Installed SoftwareMicrosoft Office 2016 Trial
McAfee Security Center (15 month subscription)
Processor6th Generation Intel Core i7-6500U dual-core processor
- 2.5 GHz base frequency. 3.1 GHz boost frequency
- 4 MB L2 cache
Memory8 GB Single Channel DDR3L-1600 memory
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 520
Display15.6" Backlit LED touch display
- TrueLife Technology
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution
Storage1 TB Toshiba MQ02ABF100 hard disk drive
- 5400 RPM, 16 MB cache, SATA3
Optical DriveNone
Wireless ConnectivityIntel 3165AC module
- 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
- Dual band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)
CameraIntegrated widescreen 720p webcam with dual digital microphone array
Audio2 tuned speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
1 combo headphone / microphone jack
BatteryIntegrated 3-cell lithium-ion battery
- 43 WHr / 3700 mAh @ 11.4 V
A/C Adapter45 watt AC adapter
PortsHDMI 1.4a x 1
USB 3.0 with PowerShare x 1, USB 3.0 x 2
Noble lock slot
SD / MMC card slot
KeyboardFull-sized, backlit, spill-resistant keyboard
TouchpadMulti-touch gesture-enabled touchpad with integrated scrolling
DimensionsHeight : 19.9 mm (0.78")
Width : 381.9 mm (15.04")
Depth : 252.5 mm (9.94")
Weight2.17 kg (4.8 lbs)
Warranty (Default)2 Year ProSupport (Next Business Day Onsite Service)
Regulatory ComplianceE-Star 6, EPEAT Silver

Next Page > Closer Look At The Inspiron 15 7568

 

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Closer Look At The Inspiron 15 7000 (7568)

On the left side of the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon), you will find a Noble lock slot, the power port, a HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports and a headphone port. The USB 3.0 port next to the HDMI port supports PowerShare, which allows you to recharge your mobile devices even when the Inspiron 15 is powered down.

The Dell Inspiron 15 7568 does not have an optical drive (who still uses one these days?), so you will only find a USB 3.0 port and a SD / MMC card reader on the far end, and a Power button and a volume control toggle near the front end.

Just around the corner is a small LED light that serves as a Power and battery status light :

Solid white – Power adapter is connected, and the battery has more than 5% charge.

Solid yellow – Computer is running on battery, and the battery has less than 5% charge.

Off – Computer is in sleep state, hibernation or turned off / Computer is running and the battery has more than 5% charge

Note the rubber strip near the LED light. There’s another one on the other side of the keyboard. They protect the brushed aluminium surface of the palm rest and the glass surface of the display from each other.

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) has a full-sized, spill-resistant keyboard with backlit keys. It also comes with a large, multi-touch touchpad that supports gestures and scrolling. Those who come from a Mac background will love it.

Like all convertible laptops, the Dell Inspiron 15 7568 uses a special hinge. It is not just the ability to completely fold the keyboard section behind the display. The hinge also has a constant friction that allows it to be easily used to convert the Inspiron 15 7568 into four different modes.

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Although the Inspiron 15 7568 has a nice and large capacitive touch screen display, Dell appeared to have skipped the oleophobic coating, or didn’t use a particularly good one. It was quite susceptible to fingerprint stains.

Flipping the Inspiron 15 7568 over, you will find two small speaker slots on each side, just under the palm rest. Each speaker has a 2.5 W peak power output. Near the back is a small black label with the Service Tag and Express Service Code.

Right next to it is a series of vents for the CPU cooler. There is another set of vents hidden under it. They both allow the heat from the Intel Core i7-6500U processor inside to be exhausted out the back of the laptop. This is the latest 6th Generation Intel Core i7 processor (codenamed Skylake), so it is not just very powerful, it also uses and dissipates relatively little heat – just 15 W.

Next Page > Power & Battery Life, Performance & Storage, Usability, Our Verdict

 

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Power & Battery Life

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) may look like a typical 15.6″ laptop but it is a power-sipper. That’s why Dell pairs it with a small 45 W power brick. This is an advantage because it means a lighter bag when you travel.

That said, the Inspiron 15 7568 is literally crippled by its small 3-cell lithium-ion battery. The Intel Core i7-6500U may sip power but there’s only so much battery life you can squeeze from such a small 43 Whr (3,700 mAh @ 11.4 V) battery.

In our real world tests, we could use it for 4-6 hours before we had to recharge it. That’s pretty good for a 15.6″ notebook on such a small battery, but in this day and age of laptops and tablets lasting 8-12 hours, it’s honestly a little disappointing.

Dell would do well to pack on a little more juice into the next version. Especially when this battery is only rated for 300 cycles. This would mean that its battery life will fall quite rapidly after a year or two of use.

 

Performance & Storage

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) is powered by the Intel Core i7-6500U processor. Windows will show that there are four cores, but this is a dual-core processor that supports HyperThreading – hence, the four logical cores. Backed by 4 MB of L2 cache, this is a fast processor. More so when you consider the fact that it only sips 15 W of power.

The Inspiron 15 7568 won’t have any problem handling office applications. You can even edit photos on its large full HD display without breaking a sweat. However, the Intel processor is a little hobbled by the Inspiron 15 7568’s single-channel design. Yes, there is only a single SODIMM slot, so the Core i7-6500U is running with half of its peak memory bandwidth.

The Inspiron 15 7568 will feel sluggish at times, but this is not due to its single-channel memory design. The sluggishness is most apparent when you boot it up, and when you load large applications. This is due to the fact that Dell chose to equip this 2-in-1 laptop with a 5400 RPM hard disk drive – the Toshiba MQ02ABF100.

Most 2-in-1 laptop designs use solid state drives (SSDs) because they are not only much faster, they are smaller, lighter and use less power. Dell’s choice to use a hard disk drive instead is the reason for its thicker form factor, heftier weight, occasionally sluggish performance, and arguably lower battery life. On the bright side, you get a lot more storage – 1 TB.

Unless storage space is critical to you, we still think an SSD would have been a better choice due to the way these 2-in-1 laptops are used. SSDs are virtually impervious to shock and vibration, while hard disk drives are not.

 

Usability

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) is BIG. It has a 15.6″ display after all. It is 382 mm (15″) wide, and 253 mm (10″) deep, with a thickness of 20.3 mm (0.8″). For comparison, we placed the ASUS ZenPad 7.0 over it. As you can see, you can actually place four ZenPad 7.0 tablets over the Inspiron 15 7568 laptop. That’s how big it is.

Although it is designed to be used as a tablet, it is frankly much too large and heavy to carry comfortably with one arm. It weighs 2.17 kg (4.8 lbs) after all. You will end up using it in the regular laptop mode, or in either the tent or stand mode, where you don’t actually have to carry it.

In the non-tablet modes, it is great. Its large TrueLife display delivers bright, crisp images with a wide 160° viewing angle. Perfect for presentations or movies.

 

Our Verdict

If you are planning to use the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) as a tablet, you can stop right there. It is too heavy and unwieldy to hold with one arm for long. It won’t be long before you forgo the tablet mode completely.

We also think that Dell made a mistake in using a hard disk drive, instead of a solid state drive. That contributed to its weight, thickness and power consumption, while being a drag on its performance. If Dell offers an SSD storage option, we would highly recommend you opt for it.

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We also wished Dell added a bigger battery. Of course, this would make the Inspiron 15 7568 too heavy to carry like a tablet. Then again, was it ever ergonomic to carry such a large tablet? As it stands, the Inspiron 15 7568 is limited by its relatively short battery life.

That is a shame since the Inspiron 15 7568 packs quite a powerful processor with enough memory to handle even the most strenuous work. Its large, bright and vivid display was also a real pleasure to use. Once you try it, you will never want to go back to the cheap TN panels that is used in many low-cost laptops.

We would recommend the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7568) 2-in-1 laptop (Amazon) to anyone who wants a powerful laptop with lots of storage space AND the ability to use it in stand or tent modes. Otherwise, you might as well get the “regular” Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series laptop instead.

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Giada Super-Compact i80 NUC Launched

March 29th, 2016, Shenzhen, China – Giada Technology today officially announced the release of the i80 high-performance super-compact PC. The Giada Super-Compact i80 embodies the core principles of Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computing) concept, offering great power, connectivity and adaptability, but with a tiny footprint.

Giada Super-Compact i80

Skylake CPU Technology
Powered by a 6th generation Intel Core CPU and the Skylake-U platform, the i80 provides a balanced system that’s powerful and versatile when you need it to be, but also very compact and energy efficient.

Dual Monitor Support and Outstanding Graphics
Despite its diminutive size, the i80 features dual independent monitor support, at up to 4K (4096 x 2304) resolution, via the HDMI and Mini-DP sockets. There’s efficient integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 built-in to drive video and graphics.

Dual Channel Memory Support
Memory is expandable up to 16GB via two SO-DIMM sockets for DDR3L-1600 MHz memory modules, providing great support for today’s applications and far into the future. The dual channel capability significantly improves system and video performance. This core hardware offers great office and media benchmark performance.

Rich Connectivity and Expandability
Internal expansion options are wide and varied, thanks to the full-length Mini PCIe socket with mSATA II support, and an additional half-length Mini PCIe socket with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module support. There’s an internal 2.5-inch SATA drive bay, as well as an external mSATA III connector.

The four high speed USB 3.0 connectors mean you won’t need to add to office clutter with a USB hub, and you’re still very unlikely to run out of ports for office peripheral devices. Onboard Intel Gigabit Ethernet provides ultra-fast, stable networking, but with very low CPU utilization.

Stylish Design
With its attractive glossy piano varnish top cover, and blue and black color themes, this stylish unit is the perfect complement to the modern office environment, enhancing customer and staff satisfaction. But the i80 won’t attract attention unless you want it to, because this unit is super-compact, measuring only 116.6 x 111 x 47.5 mm, and has a VESA mounting option. Internally, the metal reinforced frame, V0 rated fireproof plastic and fan-cooled hardware make this a safe and durable choice for long-term use.

Target Applications
The i80 system is ideal for general office, thin client and desktop virtualization applications.

As an example, the internal sound and 2-in-1 microphone and headset connector give the Giada i80 great support for communications and call center applications. Meanwhile, the external power supply further reduces clutter, and helps prevent heat buildup, enhancing stability and durability for 24/7 operation. All common operating systems, Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and Linux are supported.

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Another useful feature is the JAHC power automation management function, including infrared remote control power on/off, auto start up when power is connected, time-scheduled power on/off, and auto system restart after crash. The i80 also supports Wake On LAN. All these features make the i80 an ideal partner for unattended operation in office and industrial scenarios.

Giada offers a choice of two versatile CPU configurations for the i80. The i80-B5000 version of the product features the powerful Intel Core i5-6200U processor at 2.5 GHz (up to 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 enabled), while the i80-B3000 uses the lower-power 2.3 GHz Intel Core i3-6300U processor.

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BIOSTAR H110MD PRO Motherboard Launched

February 3rd, 2016 Taipei, Taiwan – Expanding its new PRO series line of motherboards, BIOSTAR is proud to announce the availability of its latest addition to the PRO family of motherboards with the announcement of the BIOSTAR H110MD PRO. As part of the PRO series motherboard range, the BIOSTAR H110MD PRO boasts improved stability and durability for improved reliability.

The BIOSTAR H110MD PRO supports the latest 6-generation Intel Core processors and uses the H110 chip and accepts up to DDR3L 1600 memory of up to 16GB capacity. The board integrates the core features of the BIOSTAR PRO series featuring Tough Power Enhanced power design for improved stability and AudioArt capacitors guaranteeing a whole different listening experience versus similar motherboards.

The BIOSTAR H110MD PRO guarantees a perfect balance of price and features with improved reliability making sure system builders who want an affordable but dependable system are getting the best-in-class product which delivers on their needs plus more.

The BIOSTAR H110MD Pro motherboard has an MSRP of US$54.99.

 

BIOSTAR PRO Series Features

[adrotate banner=”4″]Audio Art Capacitors – high-end Japanese Nichicon audio capacitors bring audio to life to offer a whole new artistic dimension and clarity to your listening experience.

Tough Power Enhanced – high-endurance power design allows the BIOSTAR PRO series motherboards to endure high-current with consistent full energy output without additional energy loss.

Iron Heart Protect – a reinforced CPU backplate protects PRO series motherboards from bending and stress caused by heavy CPU coolers. This protects the motherboard from potential circuit damage and serves to conduct some heat away from the CPU and VRM area as well.

 

BIOSTAR 6+ Experience

The new BIOSTAR PRO Series will carry on the exclusive BIOSTAR 6+ Experience feature set which delivers the best BIOSTAR has to offer: Speed+, Audio+, Video+, Durable+, Protection+ and DIY+.

 

BIOSTAR H110MD PRO Specifications

CPU LGA 1151 Processor
Power 5 phase
Chipset Intel H110
Capacitors 100% Solid Capacitors
Memory DDR3L-1600/1333
Expansion Slot 1 x PCI-E3.0 x 16
2 x PCI-E2.0 x 1
LAN GbE (RTL8111H)
Storage 4SATA3
Video VGA, DVI-D
USB 3.0 / 2.0 4 x USB3.0 (2+2)
6 x USB 2.0 (4+2)
Feature Watch Dog, BIO-Relife, BIO-Flasher, BIOSTAR Flash, E-HotLine,
Temperature Monitor, BIOS Screen, Smart Speed LAN

 

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BIOSTAR RACING H170GT3 Launched

January 28th, 2016, Taipei, Taiwan – BIOSTAR proudly introduces the latest addition to its new flagship gaming series with the BIOSTAR RACING H170GT3. Meeting the needs of gamers’ by providing features perfect for an all-around gaming system. Like all BIOSTAR RACING series motherboards, the H170GT3 features improved features dedicated for gaming and entertainment with the RACING H170GT3 focusing on a balance of features and accessibility for light-purpose machines to heavyweight muscle rigs.

 

Balanced and Tuned 

The BIOSTAR RACING H170GT3 simplifies decision-making for gamers by providing a platform which can scale with the gamer. Supporting the latest 6th-generation Intel Core processors, the RACING H170GT3 enables gamers to have the latest technology powering their systems for the best experience when they play.

Support for high-speed storage via M.2 and SATA Express enables high-speed access to data so games load faster so you can get to the action quicker. Gamers will also be able to show-off their personal style via VIVID LED DJ and 5050 LED FUN features allowing customizable lighting for gamers who want a color-themed rig.

The BIOSTAR RACING H170GT3 supports dual-GPU configuration via AMD Crossfire for upgraders looking to get more FPS in their systems with another AMD Radeon GPU which supports AMD Crossfire technology. The motherboard has optimal spacing in-between the PCI-e X16 slots for maximum airflow so both cards operate at optimal conditions.

With upgraders in mind, BIOSTAR has placed legacy PS/2 ports in the RACING H170GT3 to allow players who prefer legacy peripherals to still use their devices on this motherboard. Support for dual HDMI output and DVI are also available on this motherboard together with plenty of USB3 ports for your high-speed devices.

 

Super 5 Design

[adrotate banner=”4″]Biostar has built the RACING series motherboard from the ground up, taking into consideration the ever-changing needs of gamers and enthusiasts. The new BIOSTAR RACING Series is proud to introduce the Super 5 Design Concept:
  • Super Face – all new RACING design theme for visual appeal
  • Super Power – powerful hardware design
  • Super Sound – signature BIOSTAR HI-FI audio experience
  • Super Easy – User- friendly design and accessible touch control
  • Super Fun – unique DIY concept for enthusiasts and modders

 

BIOSTAR RACING H170GT3 Specifications

CPU LGA 1151 Processor
Power 7 phase
Chipset Intel H170
Capacitors 100% Solid Capacitors
Memory 4 x DIMM, support DDR4-2133
Expansion Slot 2 x PCI-E x16 3.0
2 x PCI-E x1 3.0
1 x M.2 32 Gb/s (42/60/80 mm)
Audio 7.1 channel Bluwith BIOSTAR HiFi
LAN Intel i219V
Storage 2 x SATA 6 Gb/s
1 x SATA
Express 16Gb/s
Video DVI-D, 2 x HDMI
USB 3.0 / 2.0 8 x USB3.0 (4+4)
4 x USB 2.0 (2+2)
Feature Vivid LED DJ / Smart Ear/ BIO-Remote2 / BIOS Online Update

 

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HP ENVY 15t (15t-ae100) Laptop Review

The HP ENVY 15t comes in 3 different processor and graphic card configurations :

  • Intel i7-6700HQ quad-core processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics, or
  • Intel i7-6500U dual-core processor with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 4GB GPU, or
  • Intel i7-6500U dual-core processor with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 940M 2 GB GPU.

This review will cover the top HP ENVY 15t configuration with the quad-core Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor with Intel HD Graphics. Let’s take a look!

 

HP ENVY 15t Specifications

Processor 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ Quad Core Processor
Graphics Processor Intel HD Graphics 530
Display 15.6″ Full HD WLED-backlit IPS Display (1920×1080)
Memory 8 GB DDR3L – 1 DIMM
Storage 1 TB 5400 RPM Hard Disk Drive
Primary Battery 3-cell 55.5 WHr Lithium-ion Battery
Optical drive SuperMulti DVD burner
Keyboard Backlit Keyboard
Personalization HP TrueVision HD Webcam with Dual Digital Microphone
Fingerprint Reader
Networking Intel 802.11ac WLAN and Bluetooth(R) [1×1]
Audio Bang & Olufsen with 4 speakers and 1 subwoofer

 

HP ENVY 15t Design & Build

The top cover and rear display cover of the HP ENVY 15t laptop is made of aluminium. The display bezel and bottom cover, on the other hand, is made of plastic. The display bezel has some play when I press it on the top left corner. The display doesn’t sit flush against the main chassis either. I’m not sure if this is part of the design, but the gap in the middle actually helps me lift up the display.

To keep the quad-core Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor cool, the HP ENVY 15t laptop has large cooling vents at the bottom, as well as out the back. There are perforations on the underside on both sides near the front – they are the vents for two of the four Bang & Olufsen speakers.

The designers of the HP ENVY 15t designed the display so that it actually elevates the rear end of the laptop away from the table surface. This improves ventilation under the laptop, which is usually a dead space.

On the left side, you will find the power connector, an AC/battery light, the RJ-45 network lights and jack, a HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.0 charging port, a headphone/microphone port, and an SD Card reader.

On the right side of the HP ENVY 15t, you will find the Power and hard disk drive activity lights, a security cable slot, the optical drive and a USB 3.0 port.

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HP ENVY 15t Display

HP offers two WLED-backlit display options with the HP ENVY 15t laptop – a standard display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 display, or an IPS display with a higher resolution of 1920 x 1080. I would recommend the 1920 x 1080 IPS display. This particular laptop used an IPS display made by LG.

 

Touchpad & Keyboard

The HP ENVY 15t‘s touchpad is fairly big which is nice, but it requires too much force to click. I end up using one or two finger taps instead of the hidden TouchPad button. The back-lit keyboard came standard. No real complaints about the keyboard’s performance. The keyboard’s a little chatty, but at least it doesn’t flex.

That can’t be said for their attention to detail. The keys were not centered properly – there is a noticeably larger gap on the left side of the keys. The silver-on-silver colour scheme actually accentuated the misalignment of the keys.

Page 2 > Features, SSD Upgrade & Our Verdict!

 

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WLAN & Bluetooth

The HP ENVY 15t comes with three WLAN options –  a 802.11b/g/n module, or an Intel Dual-Band Wireless-AC with either 1×1 or 2×2 stream capability. This particular laptop was equipped with a Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 module with 1×1 stream.

 

Battery & Power Supply

The HP ENVY 15t comes with a built-in 3-cell lithium-ion battery with a battery capacity of 55.5 WHr. HP rates the ENVY 15t laptop as capable of running for up to 9.5 hours on this small battery. This is probably based on the dual-core configuration. I managed to squeeze out 4.5 hours of battery life playing YouTube videos.

The HP website states that the ENVY 15t configurations with integrated graphics comes with a 45 W power brick. However, it is only true for the dual-core configurations, which are not currently being offered. The sole configuration with integrated graphics was the Intel quad-core configuration – it comes with a larger 90 W power brick.

 

Storage

All HP ENVY 15t configurations allow you to opt for a 5400 RPM hard disk drive with a storage capacity of either 1 TB or 2 TB. If you opt for the 4 GB discrete GPU configuration, you can opt for a dual-storage combination of a 256 GB solid state drive, with a secondary 1 TB 5400 RPM hard disk drive.

M.2 solder points without a socket on the i7-6700HQ quad-core configuration

In case you are wondering, the 256 GB SSD is an M.2 module. However, the lack of an M.2 socket on the motherboard of this quad-core configuration prevents you from adding your own M.2 SSD upgrade.

 

Solid State Drive (SSD) Upgrade

Since HP did not offer the SSD option for their Intel Core i7-6700HQ configuration, I decided to swap in one of my 2.5″ SSDs.

Accessing the internal of the HP ENVY 15t requires the removal of the optical drive (1 screw), and the base enclosure (14 screws). The base enclosure is made of plastic, and is fragile near the optical drive section.

The battery cable has to be removed before you can service any components.

To remove the hard drive drive from its bracket, the battery must first be disconnected and removed (5 screws). A sloppy LED board ribbon cable can be seen after the removal of the hard drive. I had to correct that…

After swapping the SSD into the bracket, I encountered a problem – the speaker cable was caught under the SSD. Attempts to reroute it around the SSD caused it to be too snug. In the end, I had to loosen the cable to reroute it. During reassembly, I manage to bend one of the battery connector pins. That shows how fragile these components can be, so be careful!

 

My Verdict

The HP ENVY 15t laptop laptop offers one of the cheapest quad-core Intel processor configurations in the market, if you do not need discrete graphics.

However, its internal design leaves much to be desired. Upgrading its RAM or swapping its HDD for an SSD will not be an easy task for mainstream users due to the many crucial steps they will need to take.  They also have to be very careful about what they are doing.

Aside from its interior sloppiness, the laptop feels solid.

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What I liked

  • 1920 x 1080 IPS display
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • Large touchpad

What I disliked

  • M.2 socket only available with the 4 GB discrete graphic card configuration (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M)
  • Non-easily accessible panel
  • Touchpad requires too much force to click (ended up using tap function, instead of click)
  • Lack of SSD option (not a big deal since it’s cheaper to buy one on your own to replace the HDD)
  • Some sloppiness in assembly

 

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The 6th Gen Intel Core vPro Processors Revealed!

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 19, 2016 – Intel Corporation today announced the availability of its 6th Generation Intel Core vPro processor family for the modern workforce. The latest iteration of Intel Core vPro processors addresses the security and productivity demands of large businesses with new innovations in authentication security, enhanced performance and collaboration for 2 in 1s, Ultrabooks, All-in-Ones and the latest desktops.

“With incredible, new, eye-catching designs, added performance, and longer battery life, the 6th Gen Intel Core and Intel Core vPro processors are setting a new standard for business computing,” said Tom Garrison, vice president and general manager for the Intel Business Client division. “By also adding enhanced security capabilities in the hardware, Intel has helped to make these newest PCs an integral part of a business’s overall security solution, making users more secure and productive than ever before.

 

The 6th Generation Intel Core vPro Processors Revealed!

Locking the PC’s Virtual Front Door with More than Password Protection

Hackers are finding new ways to break into old PCs through the virtual front door by stealing user credentials to gain privileges inside organizations. Today, more than half of data breaches start with misused or stolen user credentials. Older PCs that use eight-character passwords that change every 90 days worked well a decade ago, but increasingly sophisticated attack methods require a deeper level of security.

To address this, Intel is previewing a new security innovation called Intel Authenticate for businesses to begin internally testing and qualifying. Intel Authenticate is a hardware-enhanced, multifactor authentication solution that strengthens identity protection on the PC, making it less vulnerable to identity and security credential attacks.

Intel Authenticate verifies identities by using a combination of up to three hardened factors at the same time: “something you know,” such as a personal identification number; “something you have,” including a mobile phone; and “something you are,” like a fingerprint. IT can choose from multiple hardened factors of authentication that are based on company policies, and no longer has to rely solely on employees remembering complicated passwords2. Intel Authenticate is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, 8 and 10, and is available for customers to preview.

Upgrading Business PCs Adds Productivity, Reduces Overall Cost

Older laptops can cost businesses $4,203 per year, for every three PCs, in maintenance and lost productivity. New business PCs can help address this by delivering up to 2.5 times the performance and a 30-times increase in graphics performance over a 5-year-old device, providing users with much more productive and powerful business tools.

Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic and Toshiba are all releasing enterprise-ready devices featuring the new Intel processors. Enterprise buyers can choose from a variety of designs including 2 in 1s, Ultrabooks, ultrathin clamshells, mini PCs and All-in-One desktops tailored to any work environment to meet the needs of businesses of any size.

A New and Better Way to Meet

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The way businesses collaborate across the globe is changing, however the meeting room tools that enable effective meetings have not kept pace with a more dispersed workforce. Intel is introducing updates to Intel Unite for a smarter and more connected way to meet in the workplace. It includes extended display capabilities so meeting participants no longer need to search for the right adapter or dongle.

Both onsite and remote attendees can more easily and securely view and interact with content in real time. Employees can instantly start meetings using new or existing displays or projectors. Auto-disconnect and integration of Skype for Business offer customers a seamless meeting experience.

Helping Small and Medium Businesses Grow

For small businesses, Intel is offering Intel Small Business Advantage (Intel SBA), an easy-to-use solution to help small business owners protect and grow their company. It provides small business owners with an easy and centralized way to connect and share information coupled with automatic security and maintenance updates.

Intel SBA includes collaboration features, such as chat and file share, coupled with security capabilities, like the USB blocker, to help keep small business owners in control of their data.

Go Back To > Enterprise | Home

 

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BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7 Motherboard Launched

January 12th, 2016, Taipei, Taiwan – BIOSTAR is proud to introduce the flagship of the new RACING series, the BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7 motherboard.

Flaunting the new Super 5 Design Concept, the BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7 flaunts the best of the BIOSTAR RACING series together with its latest motherboard design features including the all new RACING IO armor, carbon-fiber design treatment on the heatsink, checkered flag PCB print on a matte black surface treatment and Titanium-color RACING audio shielding.

 

BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7

The BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7 features support the latest Intel 6th-generation Core processors featuring the Intel Z170 chipset. The board supports up to four DDR4 memory modules of speeds up to DDR4-3200(OC) with capacities of up to 64GB. Signature BIOSTAR Hi-Fi audio solution for a better listening experience than standard built-in audio.

Other features include support for USB3.1 Type-C reversible connector for existing and future devices supporting the interface and also SATA Express and PCI-e M.2. Featuring more bandwidth than USB3.0, USB3.1 along with the new reversible Type-C connector allows greater bandwidth and more flexibility to use devices with your motherboard.

Dual-BIOS protection allows greater security against BIOS corruption and damage from faulty BIOS update procedure. A manual switch allows toggling between BIOS chips for full control of which BIOS you want to use.

 

Super 5 Design

Biostar has built the RACING series motherboard from the ground up, taking into consideration the ever-changing needs of gamers and enthusiasts. The new BIOSTAR RACING Series is proud to introduce the Super 5 Design Concept:

  • Super Face – all new racing design theme for visual appeal
  • Super Power – powerful hardware design
  • Super Sound – signature BIOSTAR HI-FI audio experience
  • Super Easy – User-friendly design and accessible touch control
  • Super Fun – unique DIY concept for enthusiasts and modders

 

BIOSTAR RACING Z170GT7 Specifications

CPU LGA 1151 Processor
Power 9 phase
Chipset Intel Z170
Capacitors 100% Solid Capacitors
Memory 4 x DIMM, support DDR4-3200
Expansion Slot 4 x PCI-E x16 3.0
3 x PCI-E x1 3.0
1 x M.2 32Gb/s(42/60/80mm)
Audio 7.1 channel Blu-ray Audio w/ Double Hi-Fi
LAN Intel i219V
Storage 3 x SATA Express 16Gb/s
Video DVI-D, 2 x HDMI, VGA
USB 3.1 / 3.0 / 2.0 1 x USB 3.1 (TYPE C)
7 x USB3.0 (2+5)
4 x USB 2.0 (4+0)
Feature Vivid LED DJ/ Smart Ear/ BIO-Remote2/ BIOS Online Update

 

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Award-Winning AORUS Skylake Gaming Platform Complete

AORUS continues its tradition of innovation with the announcement of the CES 2016 award-winning X5 v5 and X7 DT, as well as the completion of the AORUS Skylake platform. Increasing the total lineup, AORUS presents the 13.9” X3 Plus v5, 15.6” X5 v5, X5S v5, and 17.3” X7 Pro v5.

Enjoy pro-gaming performance on the AORUS lineup in its latest platform: DDR4 memory, M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 SSD, HDMI 2.0, and USB 3.1 Type-C, as well as the introduction to groundbreaking exclusive features such as the AORUS Fusion Keyboard, AORUS Audio, and Hardware Live Stream Engine.

 

Exclusive Features In The AORUS Skylake Series

AORUS Fusion Keyboard: World’s 1st Laptop with Per-Key Backlighting

The world’s 1st per-key backlit laptop keyboard, being fully customizable with animated illumination effects, along with the ability to be programmed to light up only the required keys depending on scenario.

In addition, it integrates the ability to program each individual key with macros or shortcuts, making it the most advanced keyboard on any laptop. Such eye-catching design previously only available for desktop peripherals is now for the 1st time per-key backlighting is seen on a laptop.

AORUS Audio: Superior Sound for Enhanced Immersion in All Scenarios

The AORUS Skylake lineup provides the complete audio solution – AORUS Audio. The rich sound profiles are tailored to focus on different types of games and music, giving you louder gunshots in FPS and even shocking engine roars in racing games.

 

AORUS X5 – Top Performance’s New Paradigm

The X5 series are known as the world’s most powerful 15” gaming laptops, and the new 2016 CES award-winning X5 v5 stays true to its name. The all-new X5S v5 now provides the option for a high performance single GPU to contrast the representative SLI design in the X5 v5.

Carefully designed and constructed, the two X5 (X5 v5, X5S v5) models focus on customer preference and individuality with the 2016 limited edition design. The AORUS X5 v5 includes the latest top-tier gaming features like AORUS Audio and the Hardware Live Stream Engine to provide a superior gaming experience.

X5 v5 – Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M in SLI & G-SYNC: Ultimate Performance and Visuals 

Within the slim 22.9mm chassis of the X5 v5, weighing only 2.5kg, it houses the latest 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GPU in SLI. With such performance powering NVIDIA G-SYNC display technology, the X5 v5 provides superior performance and a tear-free flawless gaming experience, while maintaining it’s highly portable design.

The X5 v5 does not simply focus solely on specification, it puts an emphasis on user experience with the AORUS Exclusive Fusion Keyboard, the world’s 1st per-key backlit keyboard.

X5S v5 – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M & 4K UHD Display: Raw Power – Extreme Slimness 

X5S v5 is the fresh face to the AORUS line up and the counterpart X5 v5. While maintaining the X5’s signature slimness and light weight, X5S v5 now offers the option for a single GPU with the world’s most powerful mobile GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M.Such options is beneficial to the battery life, giving the new X5S v5 a great balance of high performance and mobility.

AORUS Official 2016 Limited Edition Camouflage X5 Design: A Response to Customer Feedback 

Inspired by fan’s creativity, AORUS unveils its new 2016 Limited Edition X5. The AORUS trademark style is one of simplicity: having a sleek yet subtle look, while retaining a sense of sophistication. By combining this understated style and the classic world-famous Multicam® camouflage, AORUS has created a totally new, and unique style for AORUS gaming laptops.

 

AORUS X7 Pro v5 – Desktop-grade Power, Mobile

Focused on raw performance, X7 Pro v5 covers all bases with its 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M in SLI with G-SYNC for superior performance, and tear-free stunning visuals on it’s beautiful 17.3” Full HD IPS display. Adding to such performance and display, the all-new exclusive AORUS Audio provides precise sound transmission for an immersive experience.

To better support mobile gaming and streaming, the X7 Pro v5 now supports the AORUS Hardware Live Stream Engine (optional). The X7 Pro v5 has taken steps to truly be a desktop replacement with a super thin and light (23.9 mm/3kg) mobile form factor.

 

AORUS X3 Plus v5 – Ultimate Performance, Ultimate Mobility

Being the first of the AORUS Skylake platform, launched in December of 2015, the AORUS X3 Plus v5 puts an emphasis on mobility, but does not stray away from performance, continuing its reign as the most powerful and light (22.9mm/1.8kg) 13-inch gaming laptop in the world. Its 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M, along with its QHD+ display, enable it to provide gorgeous visuals. The adapter has received a refined design with even more portable profile.

The exclusive AORUS Audio would also be released through up-coming software updates, greatly improving the sound quality. It’s the perfect solution for any digital entertainment or multimedia situation.

 

Powering Next-Gen Gaming – Virtual Reality Mobile Platform

VR is the next step in the evolution of gaming. The entire AORUS Skylake lineup puts a strong emphasis on performance to ready itself for the VR hardware and software releases of 2016. The AORUS X7 DT being selected for the CES award for “Gaming and Virtual Reality” is only but an example of the commitment AORUS has taken to work on VR solutions.

Team Group Dark Pro DDR4 Overclocking RAM Launched

Team Group Inc., the world’s leading memory brand, today announced the launch of the all new generation of overclocking memory for gaming – Dark Pro Series. Since every motherboard manufacturer is focusing on competing in Skylake platform, besides model for the mainstream Z170 motherboard, we also provide other advanced models for overclocking enthusiasts and gamers to test their passion.

Team Group is pushing the overclocking limit of our all new Dark Pro series for targeted overclocking enthusiasts & gamers. Combining extreme performance and stability that hardcore gaming required, we will provide gamers the finest gaming experience with our solid technology strength.

Dark Pro’s all new cooling design combines the low key style of the Dark series and the multi colors design of the Vulcan series. The reinforced aluminum heat spreader with a punched dots design concept is used to express the hidden strength within. It also matches with the word of Dark Pro printed on the black Tungsten steel heat spreader. No matter it’s for assembling or upgrading, gamers will be satisfied with the excellent performance and the overall visual design.

Dark Pro series have a total of three frequencies: DDR4 3,000/3,200/3,333. In addition to the standard 4GBx2 dual channel version, we also provide 8GBx2 Kits gaming package for advanced gamers. Besides the Dark Pro and the previous released Xtreem for Skylake, all series of Team Group’s DDR4 memory has all been on sale. If you are a gamer who want to experience an all new generation of Skylake’s extreme performance, then you must not miss the overclocking series of Team Xtreem / Dark Pro / Dark / Vulcan / Zeus.

This is a reminder that platform changing comes with risk. You might come across compatibility issues when investing on overclocking accessories. Please choose the easy overclocking, most stable and highly compatible Team Group Dark Pro series, for it will give you the best performance and smoothest gaming experience you ever have.

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