[blank]'s Universe

CORSAIR Launches New HARPOON RGB Gaming Mouse and K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 10:00:00 -0500

CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast memory, PC components and high-performance gaming hardware today announced the new CORSAIR HARPOON RGB gaming mouse and CORSAIR K55 RGB gaming keyboard, bringing a wealth of high-end features within the reach of every gamer. Equipped with a 6,000dpi optical sensor, the HARPOON RGB combines a contoured design that fits naturally in the hand with deadly precision, while the K55 RGB combines quiet, responsive keys, six programmable macro keys and dedicated volume and media controls. Both HARPOON RGB and K55 RGB also feature signature customizable CORSAIR RGB lighting, allowing for a wealth of color and customization.

Combined, HARPOON RGB and K55 RGB allow gamers to get the most out of their mouse, their keyboard and their games.

Players can immerse themselves in the game with the HARPOON RGB and K55 RGB's vibrant LED lighting. HARPOON RGB boasts fully programmable lighting for its single RGB lighting zone, configurable in CORSAIR Utility Engine (CUE) software for stunning visual effects. The K55 RGB has a three-zone RGB backlight, adjustable through more than ten preconfigured lighting profiles and colors and controlled using commands right from the keyboard with no software required.

Both the HARPOON RGB and K55 RGB allow gamers to take control with programmable macro keys and customizable controls. The HARPOON RGB's six buttons are fully remappable to any key or command, or programmable with a wide range of easy-to-use macros using CUE software. From adjusting dpi levels on-the-fly to switching load-outs in game, HARPOON RGB makes it easy. K55 RGB is also well equipped to handle custom commands and controls with six dedicated hardware programmable macro keys. The HARPOON RGB stores all your custom dpi settings in on-board memory while the K55 RGB can similarly store programmable custom macros, so it's easy to take your game with you wherever the battlefield might be.

Anything can happen during an intense gaming session and you need the right equipment that can handle any situation. The HARPOON RGB's 6000dpi optical gaming sensor and high-speed USB interface guarantees precision accuracy in critical situations, while the K55 RGB's multi-key anti-ghosting ensures the most accurate simultaneous key presses every time.

With precise control, easy customization and vivid RGB lighting the HARPOON RGB and K55 RGB deliver a best-in-class gaming experience and give players the confidence to perform when it counts.

HARPOON RGB Gaming Mouse Specifications

High-accuracy 6000dpi optical gaming sensor with advanced tracking.
Contoured design provides a natural fit to support your playstyle.
Textured rubber side grips deliver a confident hold.
Six fully-programmable buttons enable completely custom configurations.
Onboard memory stores your custom dpi settings on the mouse.
On-the-fly dpi switching.
High-performance Omron switches rated for 20 million clicks.
Dynamic multicolor backlighting with virtually infinite customization.
High-speed USB interface ensures lag-free play.

K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard Specifications

Three-zone dynamic RGB backlighting with 10+ preconfigured vivid RGB lighting modes allow you to choose immersive lighting effects.
6 programmable macro keys enable powerful actions, key remaps and combos.
Dedicated volume and multimedia controls for direct audio control without interrupting your game.
Quiet and responsive keys give a satisfying feel.
Multi-key anti-ghosting ensures the most accurate simultaneous key presses.
Detachable wrist rest with soft rubber texture provides comfortable positioning for your wrists.
Windows Key Lock mode ensures interruption-free game.
Keyboard tilt adjustment for comfortable long play sessions.

Availability, Warranty and Pricing

Both products are backed by a two-year warranty and the CORSAIR worldwide customer support network, with the HARPOON RGB being available immediately from the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors, as well as direct from the CORSAIR webstore, for the sum of $29.99. The K55 RGB Keyboard, on the other hand, will be available from November 22nd, at an expected $69 price point.

Noctua introduces ‘chromax’ accessories

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 2 Dec 2015 17:56:00 -0500

Noctua today officially introduced its chromax line of anti-vibration parts that give users the option of colour-customising their fans to match individual build colour schemes. Available in red, blue, green, yellow, black and white, the chromax versions of NA-SAV2 anti-vibration mounts and NA-SAVP1 anti-vibration pads are ideal for colour-coordinating Noctua’s black industrialPPC fans with other components and popular build themes such as all black, black & white, black & red or black & blue.

“The introduction of our redux and industrialPPC product lines marked a first step towards offering fans that fit in well with the typical colour schemes favoured by today’s overclockers and enthusiasts”, says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “With the new chromax line, we’re taking another step by allowing users to colour-customise their fans with red, blue, green, yellow, black or white anti-vibration parts.”

Whereas the new chromax edition NA-AV2 anti-vibration mounts fit all types of Noctua fans, including redux models, the NA-AVP1 anti-vibration pads fit all NF-F12, NF-S12A and NF-A14 models and are ideal for customising fans of the black industrialPPC line.

“When we introduced our industrialPPC series, we mainly had industrial clients in mind, but the fans have become surprisingly popular among overclockers and enthusiasts,” explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “The new NA-SAVP1 kits now give them the option of matching their iPPC fans to various build themes by simply changing the supplied anti-vibration pads for chromax ones.”

Both the NA-SAV2 and NA-SAVP1 parts are made of premium-grade silicone that is extra soft and highly tearproof at the same time, thus combining efficient decoupling with excellent longevity and ease of use. While the NA-SAV2 kits include 20 anti-vibration mounts for 5 fans, the NA-SAVP1 kits include 16 anti-vibration pads for 2 fans.

Prices and availability

The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for both the NA-SAV2 and the NA-SAVP1 are EUR 6.90 / USD 6.90. The following variants are currently shipping and will be available shortly:

NA-SAV2 chromax.blue
NA-SAV2 chromax.red
NA-SAV2 chromax.yellow
NA-SAV2 chromax.green
NA-SAV2 chromax.white
NA-SAV2 chromax.black

NA-SAVP1 chromax.blue
NA-SAVP1 chromax.red
NA-SAVP1 chromax.yellow
NA-SAVP1 chromax.green
NA-SAVP1 chromax.white
NA-SAVP1 chromax.black

Totem Acoustic launches the ARC digital amplifier Kickstarter campaign

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:54:00 -0500

Totem Acoustic from Montreal, Canada, just launched its first Kickstarter campaign to fund production of the first series of its new ARC amplifier. Since Totem is known primarily in the HiFi technology scene for its quality high-end speakers, the ARC represents a new adventure into the realm of amplifiers. The ARC is not just another HiFi amplifier, but possibly the first in line of a new generation of digital amplifiers. Totem likes to call it “The next generation of digital amps.” This amplifier allows all digital music to be played on a HiFi system with the sound quality of any large sound system. Totem is betting many music enthusiasts have been waiting for this advance for quite some time.

The ARC is a unique and amazingly simple receiver and amplifier that provides high-resolution USB audio streaming capabilities and high quality aptX Bluetooth audio, all in a single compact unit.

The ARC is revolutionary in that it allows Bluetooth audio wireless streaming from any digital device directly to almost any 8-ohm speaker system. Small and easy to use, all that is needed is a pair of speakers and the ARC. With the integrated Bluetooth audio wireless connection, the ARC works autonomously with a set of speakers and a smart phone. It can also be hooked up to a computer via USB. The ARC will thus act as a USB audio device, but will switch automatically to Bluetooth Audio if it is connected to a smart phone.

“Today most of the music we listen to is digital; it's on our phones, our laptops or streamed from the web. But there is gap, a missing link, when it comes to listening to our online music library or internet streaming music on a good HiFi system. As music passionate, we know that high-end quality is absolutely irreplaceable when it comes to a great listening experience and immersive sound. That’s why we created the ARC,” explains Gabriel Bull, Director of Technology at Totem Acoustic.

“All you need is a set of nice speakers and the ARC. Done. Now go ahead and play your music collection from your computer, smart phone, or any internet radio streaming on your existing HiFi setup or run out and get yourself some nice sounding speakers,” says Robert Valtierra, Research and Development Engineer in the field of Electronics and Embedded Systems and inventor of the ARC.

The Arc delivers great sound and musicality that can satisfy any audiophile.

The ARC is a game-changer in the well established HiFi world, altering every perspective by supplanting the need for equipment typically used today. Adjusting to the modern taste prevalent in the compact and digital world, the ARC delivers high performance for a moderate price. As a state-of-the-art Class D amplifier, the ARC operates silently without the need of a noisy cooling fan. All you hear is music.

The ARC is ultra-compact and space-friendly. Being the size of a book, it can be placed anywhere. Just connect it to your speakers and forget about it. The ARC has no buttons or knobs; it turns on automatically when you connect to it. With a total power of 120W, it runs at high efficiency thereby providing large amounts of audio output power while requiring very little space and without need for heat sinking.

The ARC is a fully-integrated amplifier system. Amplification is provided by the latest in Class-D amplifier technology. It is designed using digital inputs: USB Audio 2.0 and Bluetooth aptX Audio. The USB audio connection delivers professional audio quality sound, with 24-bit resolution and sampling rates up to 192 kHz. The Bluetooth connection can provide a "CD-quality" connection via aptX.

“This digital amp is capable of driving nearly all types of speakers while producing amazing sound, superb balance, great tone and detailed imaging. Just connect the Arc to your speakers. You need nothing more than your music. It’s that easy,” affirms Vince Bruzzese, Founder and President of Totem Acoustic.

Although the ARC performs very well on its own initiative, it is possible to customize sound with the free and optional ARC App. The ARC App allows for optimal sound control and is available for download on the iTunes App Store or Google Play™.

FEATURES AND SPECS

Built-in, powerful digital Class-D amplifier

Class-D. Maximal rated output 120W (2 x 60W into 8-ohms, THD+N<0.05% @ 1kHz) with both channels driven, 20 Hz-20 kHZ-AES17 measurement bandwidth.

Silent operation

As the amplifier does not produce any heat, there is no need for a noisy fan — all you hear is the music.

Full range output

The Arc allows for 2.1 installation to achieve more bass power. The optional and free Arc App allows for more subtle adjustment of frequencies.

Speaker connections

Push Gold plated posts

Auxiliary output

RCA type line-level output

Audio formats supported

All audio formats supported.

Internet radio supported

All streaming radios supported

Suggested retail price: $350 US

Kickstarter

Kinmini.com

Review: Clear-Coat Fusion Screen Protector

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:03:00 -0500

Glass screen protectors appears to be all the rage these days. There are so many on the market that it may be hard to choose one for your well valued phone. However, one of the more unique screen protectors is the Clear-Coat Fusion, which may be an odd decision since it is not glass unlike most of the other $30+ screen protectors.

The Fusion has some features that makes it stand out from the crowd: it is reusable and self healing, just to name a few.

Packaging and Presentation

Clear-Coat's packaging is pretty basic compared to other glass screen protector packaging. Inside it comes with all the necessities to put the screen protector on. You will find the usual microfiber cleaning cloth, alcohol wipes, the screen protector itself, and dust removal stickers.

Installation

Installing the Fusion was simple and straight forward. The included cleaning supplies did a great job at prepping my screen for the installation. After that, it's a simple peal-align-place-peal process. If there was an misalignment during installation, the removal stickers easily got it off the phone.

Protection and Durability

Although the Fusion does not have true edge to edge coverage, it does a great job covering up as much space as possible without touching the curve in the glass of the iPhone 6. Cut outs for Touch ID, front camera and front speaker assures normal functionality. The ambient light sensor also seems to be functioning normally.

The Fusion has a special self-healing layer on top of the bottom layer of material. This makes most scratches only temporary and they disappear in minutes, although deeper scratches are still permanent. This is one of the feature that makes this screen protector stand out from the competition. It also does a great job at shock absorbing since is is not glass and has more elasticity, so you’re less likely to shatter your screen upon impact. The flexible screen protector is great for removing and applying as it won’t shatter, unlike many other glass screen protectors that easily shatter upon removal.

Clear-Coat’s Fusion is also washable and reusable! You can simply wash the underside of the screen protector, shake to dry, and apply it if you ever need to reapply it. This is a really unique feature that really differentiate it from the competition, and very handy too. Gone are the days are dreading over a piece of dust getting under the glass during installation. However, I did find that trying to dry the screen protector after washing it did attract dust particles. Eventually, after three washes, I did manage to get the Fusion back on my phone, dust free.

Everyday Use

First off, the clarity on this screen protector is… amazing! If I didn’t see the outline of the screen protector on my iPhone, I couldn’t have guessed if there was one on it. The only downside to my daily experience with the Fusion is how it feels. Since it has a self-healing coating on top, it isn’t as smooth to the touch as glass screen protectors without the coating. I guess this is the tradeoff for the self-healing feature. It isn’t a huge problem, but it does make inputs feel a bit… sticky. For those with the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, it does make 3D touch harder to activate just by a little bit from my experience with it.

Overall, Clear-Coat’s Fusion screen protector is one of the best out there, in my opinion. The amazing clarity, self-healing, and reusable aspects of it makes it a very appealing one. In the sea of screen protectors, this one sure does stand out. The $34.99 USD(iPhone 6/6S) / $39.99USD(iPhone 6 Plus/6S Plus) does make this a rather pricey option, but I believe that the pros makes it worthy of your money. You can purchase Clear-Coat’s Fusion screen protector from their website http://www.clear-coat.com. For more information on how the screen protector is made, visit their blog here

Pioneer DJ Releases the HDJ-700 Headphones with Optimized Sound Reproduction

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Tue, 8 Sep 2015 16:49:00 -0400

Pioneer DJ is proud to introduce a new pair of stylish headphones that look great and sound superb - the HDJ-700. The robust, fully enclosed HDJ-700 is fine-tuned to reproduce rich, clear mid-to-low frequencies for monitoring dance music, and has a simple, sleek design with color options to suit every style.

This latest addition takes inspiration from Pioneer DJ's top-flight headphones - the rotating ear cup with rubber grips enables easy one-ear monitoring, while the replaceable cable prolongs the life of the headphones. With soft, snug-fitting ear pads, and a sturdy, lightweight headband, DJs receive a comfortable fit as well as peace of mind that their headphones will stay in place.

Available in four designs - matte black, matte black with a gold or red stripe, and cool white - the HDJ-700 has a distinctive style of its own. The HDJ-700 will be available in late September 2015, with a retail price of $129.00.

KEY FEATURES OF THE HDJ-700 SERIES

Fine-tuned for clear mid-to-low frequencies and accurate monitoring: The HDJ-700's audio circuitry is optimized for monitoring dance music. Narrow ear pads and 40 mm driver units with rare earth magnets ensure a powerful bass sound, while a thicker than usual (19 micrometer) diaphragm and a copper-clad aluminium wire (CCAW) voice coil accurately reproduce kicks and snares.
Tough, durable build and replaceable cables: The HDJ-700 inherits a rugged, stainless steel headband from the HDJ-1500 to ensure a long life of service. The headphones come with two interchangeable side-mount cords: a 1.2m coiled cord - which extends to around 3m - and a 1m straight cord.
Soft ear cups for a snug, comfortable fit: Soft, textured polyurethane ear cups fit the ear snugly and ensure the DJ's comfort over long periods of use.
Design and rotatable ear cups inspired by the top-flight HDJ-2000MK2: Spin-finished aluminium hinges, a lightweight build and the sleek, stylish design are all inspired by Pioneer DJ's ever-popular flagship headphones. Plus, the HDJ-700's right earpiece can be rotated forwards or backwards by up to 60 degrees to enable one-ear monitoring, while the handy rubber grip makes it quick and easy to put the cup back in position.

For more information, visit the product page.

Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire XTi Available Worldwide

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Tue, 8 Sep 2015 16:47:00 -0400

Cooler Master, a leading manufacturer of desktop components and peripherals, today announced the availability of Quick Fire XTi, a minimalistic mechanical gaming keyboard with multi-color backlighting for gamers built with 100% authentic Cherry MX switches.

A performance keyboard designed for gamers with a refined sense of style and sophistication. The XTi comes without any distracting logos and frivolous "button clutter" freeing up precious space on the keyboard. The Quick Fire XTi is a performance keyboard: A plug and play design makes sure that profiles, macros, and color backlighting modes, are all quickly and easily customizable without the need for complex software.

Gamers who enjoy minimalism will appreciate the sleek lines, refined symmetry and solid built quality of the Quick Fire XTi. Soft to the touch and long lasting, Quick Fire XTi has UV coated keys which delivers a luxurious experience while protecting the keys for durable, long-lasting game play. Now you can say goodbye to missing letters and unsightly, discolored keys. Choose between 100% authentic red, brown, or blue Cherry MX switches to match your tactile preference.

The Quick Fire XTi features dual color backlighting (red and blue) that can be mixed to give you up to 35 colors per key. Multiple lighting modes are included like wave, breathing, and unique responsive effects. Four profile keys allow you to record and switch between lighting modes instantly. Program multiple keystrokes to a single key or change per-key backlighting with intuitive keyboard commands. And you can do all this without the need for additional complex software.

Also, the Quick Fire XTi has 100% anti-ghosting with 104-key rollover over USB. This ensures that each key press is correctly detected regardless of how many other keys are being actuated. Never miss a beat and stay accurate even when your game gets fast and furious. Furthermore, Cooler Master will continue to provide updates like new LED lighting modes and keyboard functions on the Quick Fire XTi product page.

Quick Fire XTi comes with a detachable, braided, cloth cable that won't strain or fray. Underneath the Quick Fire XTi is a micro USB plug and a choice of 3 cable tracks (center, left, right) that secure the cable in place. Choose the track that suits you, so the cable won't ever get in your way or clutter up your desktop.

Pricing & Availability:
The Quick Fire XTi is expected to be available at local retailers in Europe from September 8th, 2015 for a suggested retail price of € 149,99.

Razer Announces the Orochi 2016 Wireless Gaming Mouse

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Fri, 4 Sep 2015 17:38:00 -0400

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the complete re-design of the popular Razer Orochi notebook gaming mouse. The Razer Orochi features the world's most precise mouse sensor for on-the-go gaming.

Retaining the name of its predecessor, the new Razer Orochi features the latest in sensor and battery technology to give gamers pinpoint accuracy and more than double the playing time in wireless mode. Complementing this overhaul, Razer has also added Chroma lighting, dual mode connectivity and a completely re-engineered shell.
At the heart of the new Razer Orochi is a 4G, 8200 DPI laser sensor -- the highest DPI sensor ever fit into a mobile gaming mouse. The result is pinpoint tracking for incredible accuracy and movement speeds of up to 210 inches per second with 50 G acceleration, making the Razer Orochi ideal for every game and play style, from fast reaction FPS gameplay to high-accuracy MOBAs.

By utilizing the latest in Bluetooth Low Energy technology, the new Razer Orochi has more than double the battery life with over 60 hours of continuous gaming use -- or 7 months of normal use -- from a single charge. It is ideal for wireless notebook use with a polling rate of 125 Hz, which increases to 1000 Hz when used in wired mode.
"With the recent advances in sensor and Bluetooth technology, it was time for us to bring the Orochi up to date, which involved a complete redesign of the entire mouse," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "We've retained the portable form factor and added rubberized side grips, but on the inside is where the big changes have happened. This is a whole new feature-packed mobile gaming mouse."

The new Razer Orochi also features Razer's industry leading Chroma lighting, giving users the choice of 16.8 million color options with which to customize their mouse. As with previous Chroma products, customizing the Razer Orochi is achieved within seconds through Razer Synapse, Razer's cloud-based hardware configurator. The new Razer Orochi's Chroma lighting effects are able to sync across other Razer Chroma peripherals, which include keyboards, a headset and a mouse mat.
By connecting the Razer Orochi with Razer Synapse, users are able to customize their lighting settings, calibrate their Razer Orochi to the surface they are using, assign macros and functions to the seven mouse buttons, and save all their settings to the cloud for use no matter where they are.

TECH SPECS

Dual wired/wireless Bluetooth 4.0 technology
1,000 Hz Ultrapolling (Wired) / 125 Hz Ultrapolling (Wireless)
1 ms response time (Wired) / 8 ms response time (Wireless)
On-The-Fly Sensitivity adjustment
8200 DPI 4G laser sensor
210 inches per second / 50 G acceleration
Battery life: Approximately 60 hrs. (continuous gaming) or 7 months (normal usage)
Ambidextrous form factor with textured rubber side grips
Chroma lighting with true 16.8 million customizable color options
Inter-device color synchronization
Seven independently programmable buttons
Razer Synapse enabled
1 m / 3.28 ft. braided fiber USB charging cable
Approximate size: 99 mm / 3.90 in. (Length) x 67 mm / 2.64 in. (Width) x 35 mm / 1.38 in. (Height)
Approximate weight: 110 g / 0.24 lbs.
2 x AA batteries

Price: US: $69.99 / EUR: EUR €84.99
Availability:
RazerStore: Pre-order
Worldwide: October 2015

For more information, visit the product page.

REVIEW: Noctua NH-C14S

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 18:06:00 -0400

Not all cases are large enough to fit a NH-D15 cooler, this is where Noctua's NH-C14 cooler comes in. The fin stack is rotated 90 degrees to reduce it's height without affecting performance too much compared to other single stack tower design coolers. The extra "s" at the end of the NH-C14S indicates that this model has an asymmetrical design to improve compatibility due to the fin stacks blocking the top most expansion slot on some motherboards. The fin are shifted slightly more to one side to allow clearance for the expansion slot.

Noctua has made many exceptional coolers and this is no exception. Thanks to it's fans and fin stack facing downwards, the cooler also provides cooling to the VRM components around the cpu.

Packaging

The cooler comes in the same typical Noctua packing with key features and specifications listed on the box. On the side you find a 2D model of the cooler as well as the scope of delivery. The heatsink is well packaged and will withstand any complications it may face during shipping, such as the deliveryman throwing it over your fence.

Inside is the accessory box which includes everything you need to get started as well as the cooler itself, protected in it's eco friendly packaging. The accessory box includes Noctua's SecuriFirm2 mounting system for both Intel 115x/2011x and AMD systems, a low noise adapter, a metal Noctua badge, a tube of Noctua's NT-H1 thermal interface material, a screw driver, and illustrated instruction manuals.

The Cooler

Looking at the cooler from the front you can see the asymmetrical design which allows more space for the top most expansion slot on certain motherboards. The included 140mm fan can be mounted on both the top or the bottom, with the option of adding an additional fan with the included extra fan mounting clips. The cooler measures 115x140x163mm with the fan installed on the bottom.

The fin stacks have two holes to assist in mounting the heatsink by allowing a screwdriver (which is included with the heatsink) to pass through to allow easy access to the two pre-sprung mounting screws. The heatsink provides a lot of clearance for ram with super tall heat spreaders, and even more with the fan mounted on top of the fin stack.

The nickel plated copper base has 7 heatpipes the come out of it from only one side. The base is extremely flat which helps with heat dissipation.

Installation

The SecuFirm2 system makes installation very simple. For Intel systems, simply align the extremely thick backplate with the three holes on the back of the socket and it should smoothly slide into the motherboard. for Socket LGA 2011, simple screw in the included risers into the built in backplate on the motherboard. Once the backplate is installed, flip the motherboard over and place the black risers onto the screws jutting out and screw in the top brackets with the curves facing away from the centre. All that's left is to screw it all down with the four thumb screws and you're left with an extremely secure platform to mount the heatsink onto. With the SecuFirm2's extremely thick backplate, there will be little-to-no flex on the motherboard when the cooler is installed.

You will need to remove the fans to install the heat sink onto the brackets, but Noctua makes that easy with their tool less clips. Use the included screwdriver, or your own, to screw the two screws on the cooler to the brackets. The included screwdriver clears the top of the heat sink nicely and gives you a nifty tool to throw into your tool bag if you ever need it. The black springs ensure that the correct pressure is placed onto the CPU, so just simply keep screwing it in until it stops.

Performance

Test Configuration:

Motherboard : MSI Z77A-UD65

CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K (OC @ 4.6GHz)

Memory: Intel Extreme Masters 2x4GB 1866MHz

GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD 6950 2GB

PSU: Corsair CX600

Software: Intel Burn Test v2.53, CPU-Z Version 1.60, RealTemp 3.60

*Temperatures were measured using RealTemp with an ambient room temperature of 27 degrees Celcius and the system was left to idle or run on full load for 10 min before temperatures were taken.

** Noctua's ND-H1 thermal paste was used for all testing

Even with one less fin stack, the NH-C14S is quite comparable with the much larger NH-D15

Conclusion

Despite it's size, the NH-C14S performs as well as it's bigger brothers. There are fewer compatibility issues with both ram and motherboard expansion slots on motherboards. Even with the fan on the lowest position, I had difficulties finding ram that wouldn't fit, and that includes DDR2 from when everyone wanted the biggest heat spreader.

The cooler comes in at a reasonable $74.90USD which is a bargain for the performance it provides as well as how easy it is to set up thanks to both it's design and included accessories. Noctua is the only company I know of that includes a screwdriver to help you set up your cpu cooler. With that price, you are also backed by Noctua's eight year warranty and mounting hardware for future sockets as they are released. It's hard to find something bad to say about Noctua coolers so if you are in the market for a small form factor, high performance cooler with a price that wont break the bank, look no further than the Noctua NH-C14S.

Rating 10/10

Logitech G Introduces New Gaming Headphones

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 15:30:00 -0400

Logitech, a leading innovator of gaming products, today introduced two new gaming headphones, the Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum Wireless Gaming Headset and the Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum Gaming Headset. Featuring patent pending Pro-G audio drivers, the new headphones were designed by Logitech's sound engineering team, with more than 25 years in audio development. The result is gaming headphones that deliver a superior all-around audio experience.

"We saw that no one was really building a pair of high quality headphones for gamers," said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of the Logitech gaming business. "So we challenged our audio team to see if they could do it. I'm a gamer and a musician, so I was really excited when the team came back with a design that delivered." The headphones are fully customizable, feature RGB lighting, swappable backlit speaker plates and programmable G-keys. When paired with Logitech Gaming Software you can customize audio settings, create personal sound profiles, and easily save your favorite EQ (for the G933 Artemis Spectrum only).

Superior All-Around Audio

The patent pending advanced Pro-G audio drivers are made with hybrid mesh materials that provide the audiophile-like performance gaming fans demand. From your favorite music to expansive game soundtracks, the Pro-G drivers deliver both clean and accurate highs as well as a deep rich bass that you would expect from premium headphones.

The Logitech G633 and G933 are the first headphones to offer both Dolby and DTS Headphone:X surround options to gamers. The Pro-G drivers and surround sound technologies create lifelike in-game spatial awareness, allowing you to clearly hear enemies sneaking around, or special ability cues. DTS Headphone:X technology utilizes calibration and processing that brings gamers and audio fans closer to the studio experience than ever before, supporting up to 7.1 channels of audio and multiple options for personalization. The combination of DTS Headphone:X and Dolby's long history in cinematic audio gives gamers a truly unrivaled audio experience. DTS Headphone:X support will be available through a Logitech Gaming Software update in early October.

Multi-Platform Support and Sound Mixing

The Logitech G633 and G933 both work with PCs, mobile devices and consoles - including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Logitech G633 features one USB connection and one analog input that connects and mixes sound from up to two devices, while the Logitech G933 features one USB mix adapter and two analog inputs that connect and mixes sound from up to three devices.

As you are fending off your gaming enemies from your PC, you can simultaneously order a pizza via your cell phone without missing a moment of action. Additionally, the Logitech G933 works with your home theater (via a USB port and RCA audio out) to provide the perfect wireless home theater experience, so you can listen in your living room to all media connected to your home receiver or TV.

Personalized Programmability and RGB Lighting

From lighting to G-keys to custom tags to customizable sound, make your headset a reflection of you. Use Logitech Gaming Software to program lighting, audio and buttons. Adjust RGB lighting from up to 16.8 million colors and assign custom game macros on three programmable G-keys for a seamless gaming experience. A software equalizer lets you customize audio settings and create personal sound profiles.

Game Wirelessly or Wired

The Logitech G633 is a wired gaming headphone, while the Logitech G933 offers the option to play wired or wirelessly, with ultra-low latency on 2.4GHz wireless. Alternatively, use the included analog cable and 3.5mm analog input on the headset to play without using battery power. The wireless USB mix adapter allows you to use your analog audio or mobile devices wirelessly.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum Gaming Headset is expected to be available at global retailers beginning in September 2015 for a suggested retail price of $149.99 and the Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum Wireless Gaming Headset is expected to be available at global retailers beginning in October 2015 for a suggested retail price of $199.99.

For more information, visit this page.

LG Develops Full-Size Keyboard For Pockets

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 18:27:00 -0400

To help capture a larger share of the fast-growing mobile accessories market, LG Electronics (LG) will introduce a new solid rollable, wireless and portable keyboard in the United States in September. To be unveiled next week at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany, LG's Rolly Keyboard (model KBB-700) features a four-stage fold up along the rows to create an easy-to-carry "stick" that fits easily in a purse, briefcase or backpack.

Featuring high-contrast keys and a built-in fold-out mobile device stand, typing on Rolly Keyboard is comfortable because its 17mm key pitch is comparable to the 18mm key pitch found on most desktop keyboards. Made of impact-resistant and durable polycarbonate and black ABS plastic, Rolly Keyboard offers satisfying tactile feedback often not found on flexible silicone keyboards. Two sturdy arms fold out to support smartphones as well as tablets in an upright position. Simply unfolding the Rolly Keyboard enables the auto pairing function to connect easily to two different devices at the same time via Bluetooth 3.0 - with the ability to toggle between the two with a simple key press, all powered by just a single AAA battery.

"LG Rolly Keyboard is just one of the many premium input devices we'll be unveiling in the coming months as we expand our accessories offerings," said Seo Young-jae, vice president in charge of Innovative Personal Devices at LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "The goal was to create a product that could add more value to LG smartphones and tablets at the same time offering a unique design proposition that hadn't been explored before."

The Rolly Keyboard will make its debut in September in the United States. Pricing and details of availability will be announced at the time of launch. Visitors to IFA 2015 can see LG Rolly Keyboard up close in Hall 18 of Messe Berlin from Sept. 4-9.

Review: Noctua NH-D15S

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 17:35:00 -0400

One of the flaws from the extremely large and powerful cooler is that it's size would block the first expansion slot on certain motherboards. On some, it was a 1x pci-e slot which was not in use, for others it was a 16x pci-e which blocked off a slot for a graphics card. For micro-itx boards, it blocked off the only expansion slot. With Noctua's revision of the very popular and iconic NH-D15, the NH-D15S, it addresses some of those issues.

Packaging

The Cooler

From afar the two coolers might look the same, but the main difference with the NH-D15S is it's asymmetrical design. This design moves the cooler more to one side allowing more clearance on the bottom, freeing up the expansion slot that was previously blocked by the older NH-D15.

The cooler has two fin stacks and a Noctua NF-A15 sandwiched in between. Even though there were cut outs on the side of the fin stacks to allow for RAM with taller heat spreaders to be installed, the two fans on the NH-D15 limited some RAM compatibility with the heatsink so with the new NH-D15S, it was designed to be used with a single fan without impacting performance significantly. The cooler still includes extra fan clips if you still decide to go with two fans. It is possible to install three fans if you have extra mounting hardware but that increases the footprint of the cooler significantly while not dramatically increasing performance. The fan clips which hold the fan in place is easy to remove and will have to be removed to install the cooler.

The baseplate is nickel plated and has the six heatpipes attached to it. The base is extremely flat which will the help with heat dissipation and improving contact with the CPU.

With one fan, the cooler measures in at 165x150x135mm which is not small at all. With the slight changes Noctua has made, it shares many similarities with the NH-D15 so we expected it to perform the same.

Installation

Performance

The NH-D15S is only a revision of the NH-D15 so it only makes sense that it shares similar performance.

Conclusion

Nocuta is known to have some of the best air coolers on the market. The NH-D15 has been out of reach to many enthusiasts due to it's enormous size and price tag. While Noctua has partially resolved one of those issues, the NH-D15S should allow more people to consider it due to it no longer blocking one of the expansion slots.

Performance wise it performs on par with the Corsair H80 watercooler which is amazing for an air cooler. On lower performance CPUs, I was also able to get away with using it as a passive heatsink, although the cpu wasn't at a very happy temperature. I only happened to learn that after I questioned why the test bench was so quiet and realized I forgot to plug in the fan.

Those who love the beige/brown colour of the heatsink will like that Noctua has stuck with their traditional colour scheme. Those who dont like the colour can swap out the fans for Noctua's Industrial PPC or Redux line of fans. The NH-D15S looks the same as the old NH-D15 and similar to the NH-D14 so it remains looking great.

While Noctua fixed the compatibility issue, the cooler still comes in at $79.90 USD. For the price you get a massive high performance cooler that is backed by Noctua's six-year warranty as well as new mounting brackets as new cpus are released. Although it has a high price tag, it is a great value for what you get, very few coolers give you this level of performance and who else includes a screw driver for installing a heatsink. Like with all Noctua coolers, we highly recommend you check it out if you have been looking for a new heatsink.

Rating 10/10

Razer Relases Deathstalker Chroma

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 5 Aug 2015 18:09:00 -0400

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer DeathStalker Chroma, a high-performance gaming keyboard featuring fully programmable slim chiclet keycaps and three customizable backlighting zones.

Known for its sleek design that requires a travel distance of only 2mm to actuate, the Razer DeathStalker Chroma provides superior performance when compared to traditional rubber dome membrane switches that require the entire travel distance just to register a keystroke. The ergonomic wrist rest has been designed with the sole purpose of comfortable typing on this low profile keyboard, ensuring countless hours of gameplay without any fatigue. Additionally, the keyboard is now equipped with the award winning Razer Chroma lighting. With three distinct lighting zones and various lighting effects ranging from spectrum cycling, static, breathing to even the iconic wave, the Razer DeathStalker Chroma can be easily personalized to suit any style.

"The Razer DeathStalker Chroma is a chiclet style gaming keyboard unlike any other and a truly great addition to the Chroma range," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer CEO and Co-Founder. "The ultra-sleek form factor lets your fingers fly between each key, while the Chroma features allow you to express yourself with your hardware. Combined with the programmable features provided through Razer Synapse, gamers will receive what they've been waiting for."

The Razer DeathStalker Chroma joins other Chroma enabled Razer devices, including the award-winning Razer DeathAdder Chroma and Razer Naga Epic Chroma gaming mice, the Razer BlackWidow Chroma gaming keyboard and the Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma headset, as well as the Razer Firefly gaming-grade mouse mat. All Chroma products feature 16.8 million customizable colors and a range of effects enabled through Razer's Synapse software. Synapse allows synchronizing lighting colors and patterns between Chroma devices with the click of a button.

Product Features:
Fully programmable slim chiclet keycaps
Chroma lighting with 16.8 million customizable color options
Razer Synapse enabled
1000Hz Ultrapolling
Fully programmable keys with on the fly macro recording
Dedicated Gaming Mode
Anti-ghosting capability for up to 10 simultaneous key presses
Fixed wrist rest
Approximate size: 460 mm / 18.1 in. (Length) x 214 mm / 8.4 in. (Width) x 21.4 mm / 0.84 in. (Height)
Approximate weight: 1086 g / 0.84 lbs

Price: US $99.99, EUR 119.99 (incl taxes), available worldwide immediately.

The Razer Orbweaver Goes Chroma

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 5 Aug 2015 18:05:00 -0400

Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer Orbweaver Chroma, a customizable, mechanical, ergonomic gaming keypad that is specifically designed for tournament-grade controls and color synchronization with other Chroma-enabled devices.

Building on the success of the original Razer Orbweaver, the all-new Razer Orbweaver Chroma provides gamers with 20 fully programmable Razer Mechanical Switches; an eight-way directional thumb-pad; adjustable hand, thumb and palm modules; and now, with all of the beloved lighting features first seen on the Razer BlackWidow Chroma keyboard.

The built-in green Razer Mechanical Switches come with a required actuation force of 50 grams, ensuring that commands are executed as fast as users’ fingers can trigger them. The thumb-pad can be used for movement or even as a modifier to enable nearly endless spell combinations, which can be set through Razer’s cloud-based driver software Razer Synapse. With the Razer Orbweaver, gamers will be able to unleash a rain of spells, macros and abilities upon their opponents, all with incredible speed and efficiency.

“The Razer Orbweaver Chroma is the ultimate instrument of game control and style,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “It’s a powerful feeling to have all essential gaming keys at your fingertips, without any distractions, on a device that offers absolute comfort.”

The Razer Orbweaver joins other Chroma-enabled Razer devices, including the award-winning Razer DeathAdder Chroma and Razer Naga Epic Chroma gaming mice; the Razer BlackWidow Chroma gaming keyboard; the Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma headset; and the Razer Firefly gaming mouse mat. All Chroma-enabled products feature 16.8 million customizable color options and a range of effects enabled through Razer’s Synapse driver software. Razer Synapse also allows for inter-device color synchronizing with just the click of a button.

Product Features:

Razer™ Mechanical Switches with 50 g actuation force
30 fully programmable keys including and 8-way thumb-pad
Chroma backlighting with 16.8 million customizable color options
Adjustable hand , thumb, and palm-rests modules for maximum comfort
Instantaneous switching between eight key maps
Unlimited macro lengths
Razer Synapse enabled
Braided fiber cable
Unlimited customizable profiles via Razer Synapse
Approximate size: 55 mm / 2.17 in. (Length) x 154 mm / 6.06 in. (Width) x 202 mm / 7.95 in. (Height)
Approximate weight: 395 g / 0.87 lbs.

System Requirements:

PC or Mac with a free USB port
Windows® 10 / Windows® 8 / Windows® 7 / Windows Vista® / Windows® XP (32-bit) / Mac OS X (v10.8-10.10)
Internet connection
100 MB of hard disk space
Razer Synapse registration (requiring a valid e-mail), software download, license acceptance, and internet connection needed to activate full features of product and for software updates. After activation, full features are available in optional offline mode.

Price: $US129.99 / €129.99

Availability: Razer Store – August 2015

Worldwide – August 2015

TTCconnect E-Tickting

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Thu, 9 Jul 2015 14:19:00 -0400

The ticketing system for the TTC (Toronto Transit Committee) still relies on paper tickets, tokens, paper day passes, or plastic metropasses. Presto still hasn't been fully rolled out yet, only being available in select subway stations. They have just released a new form of e-ticketing through their TTCconnect app, available for both Android and iOS. Through this app you are able to purchase a Single Day Pass or a Group Pass on your phone. You can pre-purchase passes, and must activate the pass before use. Once activated, Single Day Passes and Group Passes are valid from the date activated until 5:30 a.m. the next day. Pass restrictions are the same as the paper Single Day / Group Passes.

The TTC has released a video demonstrating how to use the new e-ticketing option. You can watch it here.

How to buy an E-Ticket

If you don’t already have an account, you must create one prior to purchasing your E-Ticket. You can do so in one of the following ways:

iOS or Android TTCconnect App

-Download the TTCconnect app for iOS or Android.
-Click on “Buy Tickets,” then add your purchase.
-You will be prompted to confirm your selection to continue, then select “Purchase Tickets.”
-You’ll be asked to sign in with Facebook, Google or email to create an account.
-You’ll be prompted to confirm your purchase and then asked to add your credit card information.
-For increased security you can set a PIN, or you can continue to complete the purchase without.
-Your purchased tickets will appear in “Use Tickets” and can be selected for activation.

Online

-Visit the vendor website. and click the icon at the top right to sign in.
-You will be prompted to login using Facebook, Google or email to create a profile.
-Once you’ve created a profile, you can purchase Group and/or Single Day Passes by clicking on either option, entering your desired quantity and adding the selection to the cart.
-Once you’ve added your selection(s) to the cart, you must check out.
-After reviewing the items in your cart, you’ll be asked to enter your credit card information.
-Once you enter your card information and click save, then click "Buy Now". Your card will be saved for future transactions, and your purchase is now complete.

How to use an E-Ticket

*Note: You must have an iOS or Android device to use an E-Ticket with the TTC.

After purchasing your E-Ticket, you must activate it before use.
-On the “Use Tickets” screen, choose the tickets you wish to use and select “Activate Tickets.”
-You’ll be notified when the ticket will expire before selecting “Yes” to continue. Once you select -“Yes,” your ticket is ready for use.

-This is your ticket. You will need to show this screen to a TTC operator in order to use it. It is also your Proof-Of-Payment on your journey.
-You may be asked to validate your purchase by tapping the screen and the background colour of the pass(es) will change.

For more information visit: https://www.ttc.ca/Fares_and_passes/Fare_information/TTC_connect/index.jsp

Announcing the Cherry MX Board 6.0

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:13:00 -0400

CHERRY, specialist in computer input devices, is presenting the MX Board 6.0, the world's most responsive performance keyboard for enthusiasts. The keyboard combines the latest RealKey-technology for analog signal processing with the proven and precise MX-switches for uncompromised performance. With this flagship model, CHERRY aims for an absolute puristic design of the highest quality.

With its RealKey-technology, the MX Board 6.0 achieves unmatched performance. Thanks to an analogue signal path, all buttons are connected directly to the controller, so there is no need for digital scanning of the switching points. The MX Board 6.0 can rapidly transmit signals to the PC in less than a millisecond and is ideally suited for situations where response time is crucial. In contrast, conventional mechanical keyboards works much slower and need around 20 milliseconds because of their signal conversion. More so, RK-technology allows for a full N-key rollover and 100 percent reliable anti-ghosting. CHERRY ensures that all keys can be read simultaneously, actively preventing any erroneous interpretation of the signal inputs.

Proven MX technology

The MX Board 6.0 has been fully equipped with its own, German engineered, high-quality gold-crosspoint switches, which have a lifespan of more than 50 million operations, allowing CHERRY to guarantee the highest precision when triggered. The new performance keyboard utilizes red switches, which operate without tactile feedback and minimal resistance. The linear actuation force is 45 centinewton. Each switch is also equipped with a red LED. This gives the MX Board 6.0 an even backlight with brightness control. The matching laser-engraved keycaps are optimized to achieve perfect illumination. CHERRY has accomplished this by using higher key caps, like with the G80-3000. With this change, unwanted illumination of the key gaps are eliminated.

Feature set for enthusiasts

In order to make long-term use more comfortable, users can attach an included rubberized palm rest. Its easy handling is guaranteed thanks to a sophisticated mounting magnet system, allowing the palm rest to quickly be removed for cleaning or stowing. CHERRY is catering to enthusiasts with the configurable Windows key, bi-color status keys and twelve function keys that can be assigned with two different functions.

Purist design and excellent craftmanship

Despite its eye-catching backlight, the MX Board 6.0 features a basic and puristic design. CHERRY has chosen for a high-quality 454 x 147 x 24,8 mm housing. The upper side is made of aluminum with a sanded finish; a grease-repellent coating ensures high resistance against everyday influences. The high quality of the keyboard is complemented by its textile braided, two-meter long USB-cable.

Price and availability

CHERRY offers this new responsive, high-end keyboard for the performance segment at a suggested retail price of €189. The MX Board 6.0 is commercially available as of now.

GUNNAR Unleashes a New Collection of Gaming Eyewear Designed by Razer

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:10:00 -0400

GUNNAR, the world’s leading creator and manufacturer of computer and gaming eyewear, today released its latest line of cooperative styles in partnership with Razer™, a pioneer in connected devices and software for gamers. The GUNNAR Designed by Razer collection unites GUNNAR’s patented i-AMP® lens technology, precision-engineered to reduce eye strain and improve the sharpness of high-resolution displays, with sleek signature black-and-green frames inspired by Razer’s iconic credo: “For Gamers. By Gamers.”

“Razer has always stood for cutting-edge design with brilliant products that give gamers every advantage over the competition,” said Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan. “GUNNAR shares our passion for product innovation and design elegance, and we’re delighted to collaborate with them to push the limits of performance and style even further.”

GUNNAR Designed by Razer includes two new gaming eyewear styles: RPG Designed by Razer and Cerberus Designed by Razer. Each model is forged with high-strength - lightweight frame materials to provide long-lasting durability and optical stability. Soft, thermoplastic, rubber-tipped temples grip lightly to prevent slippage, with hidden spring hinges that flex to rest comfortably on a wide variety of head and face shapes. GUNNAR Designed by Razer products also feature wide-format lenses to create a panoramic viewing field that immerses gamers in the action.

Standing out uniquely with its dual-rail temple construction, the RPG Designed by Razer is built with feather-light armoring to deliver uncompromising eye protection while gaming. Its ultra-detailed quad-core hinge design and adjustable silicone nose pads ensure a flexible fit with unwavering durability.

Cerberus Designed by Razer combines traditional style with modern sensibility and construction, featuring adjustable silicone nose pads that articulate in three dimensions to fit comfortably and securely in the long term. Its ultra-light frame and thermoplastic, rubber-tipped temples offer a confident, performance-enhancing balance of ergonomics and endurance.

The RPG Designed by Razer and Cerberus Designed by Razer styles of GUNNAR gaming eyewear are now available for $99.99 each directly through www.gunnars.com/razer.

RAZER UNVEILS NEW KRAKEN PRO HEADSET

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:07:00 -0400

Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the improved Razer Kraken Pro gaming headset.

The Razer Kraken Pro now comes with inline controls for volume and mic mute in addition to its fully retractable microphone.

“The Razer Kraken Pro encompasses everything serious gamers need in a headset,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “By adding inline controls, the most popular headset among eSports athletes is now more functional than ever.”

Available in green, black and white, the Razer Kraken Pro is designed for ultimate comfort, delivering an unmatched balance of weight, functionality and performance. A closed ear cup with plush circumaural padding creates superior sound isolation, ensuring an immersive gaming experience over long periods of time, perfect for practice and tournaments.

The Razer Kraken Pro headlines the Kraken family of audio devices, which also includes a USB-powered Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma with 16.8 million customizable color options, and an audio solution for the Xbox One.

Price:
U.S. $79.99 / EU €99.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com – June 2015
Worldwide – June 2015

Product features:

Optimized weight for extended wear
Fully retractable microphone
In-line volume wheel and microphone mute controls
Powerful drivers for highest-quality gaming audio
Closed ear cup design for maximum comfort
Compatible with iPhone, Android and mobile devices
Foldable ear cups for maximum portability
Splitter adapter/extension cable for PC connection

For more information about the Razer Kraken Pro, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-kraken-pro.

Razer Unveils the World's Most Advanced Gaming Mouse

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:05:00 -0400

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the world's most advanced gaming mouse, the new Razer Mamba. The successor to one of the leading wired/wireless gaming mouse, the new Razer Mamba is powered by the world's most precise gaming mouse sensor, the revolutionary Adjustable Click Force Technology, and industry leading gaming grade wired/wireless technology.

The new 5G laser sensor is capable of tracking up to 16,000 DPI which is optimized for multi-display set-ups with ultra-high display resolutions. The 5G laser sensor is also the world's most precise -- with its ability to track up to 1 DPI increments (as opposed to the current industry standard of 50 DPI increments). The next generation gaming mouse sensor is also able to track lift-off cut-off distance as precise as 0.1 mm, reducing on-screen jitter so your aim stays on target even as you move. The 5G laser sensor in the new Razer Mamba was designed to be an extension of your natural hand movement.

Razer's latest gaming mouse also features the patent pending, revolutionary Adjustable Click Force Technology. One of the most important facets of a gaming mouse is the click force -- and in the past, gamers have had to adapt to a mouse's click force or be compelled to search through a multitude of mice and switches to find the perfect mouse button click force.

With the new Adjustable Click Force Technology, instead of having to adapt to a mouse's set click force, this revolutionary feature allows gamers to freely adjust the level of click force needed to activate the left and right mouse buttons, from distinct clicks for high accuracy actions such as sniping in FPS games to lighter presses for rapid fire action needed for MOBA games. The Razer Mamba's Adjustable Click Force Technology is capable of up to 504° turn, providing users with a total of 14 distinct choices to set their signature click feel for a more personalized gameplay.

"The original Razer Mamba was launched six years ago and, even today, is the gold standard for a wireless gaming grade mouse," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "Our enhancements to the Razer Mamba with the most precise laser sensor and the revolutionary Adjustable Click Force Technology, together with the industry leading gaming grade wired/wireless technology, leave us ahead of the curve when it comes to gaming mice."

Also launching today is the Razer Mamba Tournament Edition wired gaming mouse, specifically designed for eSports athletes. Featuring the same precise gaming mouse sensor, ergonomic form factor, and advanced Chroma customizable lighting as the wireless Razer Mamba, the Razer Mamba Tournament Edition embodies the absolute best elements an eSports athlete needs to dominate in any tournament.

Both new mice join the Razer Chroma line of devices, which includes an array of mice, keyboards and a headset. Each Chroma enabled product comes with the option of 16.8 million customizable colors and a range of effects through Razer's cloud-based hardware configurator, Razer Synapse. Razer Synapse also allows the Razer Mamba and Razer Mamba TE to sync lighting colors and effects with other Chroma enabled devices.

Additionally, the publicly available Razer Chroma SDK allows game developers worldwide to directly interact with Chroma enabled devices, displaying lighting effects directly on the peripherals for a more immersive experience to gameplay.

Razer Mamba:

16,000 DPI laser sensor
210 inches per second / 50 G acceleration
Adjustable Click Force Technology mouse buttons
9 programmable buttons including the tilt-click scroll wheel
Wired and wireless connection mode with 1 ms response time
Magnetic charging dock
Battery life: Approximately 20 hrs (continuous gaming)
Chroma lighting with 16.8 million customizable color options
Razer Synapse enabled
2.13 m / 7 ft. lightweight, braided fiber USB charging cable
Approximate size: 128 mm / 5 in. (Length) x 70 mm / 2.76 in. (Width) x 42.5 mm / 1.67 in. (Height)
Approximate weight: 125 g / 0.27 lbs.

Razer Mamba Tournament Edition:

16,000 DPI laser sensor
210 inches per second / 50 G acceleration
9 programmable buttons including the tilt-click scroll wheel
Chroma lighting with 16.8 million customizable color options
Razer Synapse enabled
2.13 m / 7 ft. lightweight, braided fiber cable
Approximate size: 128 mm / 5 in. (Length) x 70 mm / 2.76 in. (Width) x 42.5 mm / 1.67 in. (Height)
Approximate weight: 133 g / 0.29 lbs. (with cable)

PRICE:

Razer Mamba: US: $149.99/EUR: 179.99EUR
Razer Mamba Tournament Edition: US: $89.99/EUR: 99.99EUR
Availability: Q3 2015

Review: GeChic OnLap 1303H Portable Monitor

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 18:21:00 -0400

The GeChic OnLap 1303H is a usb powered monitor designed to be portable. Unlike many other usb monitors, the OnLap uses usb for power and not data transfer unlike versions released by AOC and Asus. It provides mobility without having to sacrifice quality or performance.

Packaging

The monitor comes well packaged with premium packaging materials. The monitor comes wrapped in a nice cloth bag which can be reused to provide extra protection while transporting the monitor. Included with the monitor are two hook and loop straps for cable management, a micro usb cable for power, a HDMI to GeChic's proprietary connector cable, a protective cover which also acts as a stand, and a usb wall adapter.

Monitor

The front of the monitor is very simple with only a white bezel surrounding its 13" IPS 1920x1080 display. On the left is where the inputs are located. There are two female micro usb connections for power. Incase your power source is unable to provide the two amps the monitor needs, two separate cables can be used to draw power from two separate usb power sources, or the provided usb cable can be used which has two male usb connectors. Unlike it's competitors, the monitor uses HDMI, Display port, or VGA for video inputs instead of using usb to transfer video data. Unfortunately, it uses proprietary connectors for the monitor so replacement cables will be expensive and hard to find. There is also a 3.5mm head phone jack for an audio pass through. It also supports MHL so you can hook up an android device or iPhone if you buy the proper cables and the device supports it.

On the right is where the power button and menu buttons are. I found these buttons to be either too stiff or easy to press. It would take excessive pressure to press the up button but it would be very easy to accidentally press the down button. For a monitor at this price I would expect better buttons or at least constantly bad buttons.

The top and bottom of the monitor have very small screw threads. There are corresponding holes on the protective cover/stand so they may be used to keep the cover attached but no screws were included and they are too thin to support the weight of the monitor.

On the back are two speaker grills for the built in speakers. The speakers are terrible even for built in speakers. It's best to avoid using them. The monitor sizes in at 345x226x10.5mm which makes it around the width of a 15" Macbook pro but slightly shorter and thinner.

The monitor has a plastic construction but parts fit together well with no gaps and it feels rigid with very little flex. Even with it's plastic construction it still feels solid and not like it will break easily unlike the AOC portable USB monitor which fell apart after we finished reviewing it.

The included cover is also made of plastic but has a metal piece going down the center which gives the magnets used for the stand something to attach to. There are cut out for the terrible speakers in the cover so sound is not blocked by it. The stand has three angles of adjustment and does an alright job at holding up the monitor. It is still flimsy and the monitor moves around while you're placing it down. To mount the monitor on a tripod, monitor stand, or use it in portrait mode, a optional VESA mount will have to be purchased.

Performance

What the monitor lacks in looks it makes up in performance. The 1920x1080 IPS panel provides great colour reproduction and viewing angles. The panel is slightly reflective but is not as bad as the screen on Macbooks. I wish they had chose to use a matte display but the monitor is still fine to use outdoors or in bright light. It also offers colour adjustments which was something that lacked from other portable monitors.

The monitor is great of extra screen real estate on the go without the extra weigh of a normal monitor. It's great for hackathons or as a field monitor for a camera when shooting. Powering it is not an issue when you can just duct tape a usb power bank on the back. It is also great for photo or video editing thanks to its colour accuracy.

Conclusion

Overall the GeChic OnLap 1303H is a great portable monitor which sets itself apart from it's competitors. It is easy to carry around and is great to use. Unlike other monitors it has a great IPS panel which provides great colours unlike the very purple screen of the AOC usb monitor. For it's price, it would have been nice to see more premium materials and a more stunning design. You can pick one up for yourself on Amazon here http://amzn.to/1PFJR9U.

Rating: 8/10

EVGA Announces the GeForce GTX TITAN-X Hybrid

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Fri, 29 May 2015 15:14:00 -0400

Introducing the EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN X HYBRID, an "all in one" water cooling solution that significantly lowers the GPU operating temperature. Best of all? The water cooler is completely self-contained, with an included 120mm radiator and fan. No filling, no custom tubing, no maintenance. Just plug in and play! The EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN X HYBRID is available as a complete unit, or upgrade kit.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X GPU combines the technologies and performance of the new NVIDIA Maxwell architecture in the fastest and most advanced graphics card on the planet. This incredible GPU delivers unrivaled graphics, acoustic, thermal and power-efficient performance. The most demanding enthusiast can now experience extreme resolutions up to 4K-and beyond.

Features:
Built on Maxwell - The EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN X HYBRID features the most advanced GPU architecture ever made, designed to be the engine of next-generation gaming.
Hydro Performance without the Hassle - All in one cooling solution that is completely self-contained. No filling, no custom tubing, no maintenance. Just plug and play.
Sleek Looks - Intelligent wiring system and sleeved tubing make this one sleek cooler without the messy wires.
Copper Base - Provide maximum heat transfer.
Virtually Silent Operation - Variable controlled fans allow dynamic fan speed based on GPU temperature, and water cooling efficiency means very low noise fans.
Built in Radiator and Fan - Built in 120mm radiator and fan helps dissipate the heat, keeping the GPU as cool as possible. Fan can also be swapped or customized.
Cooling for VRM and Memory - VRM and Memory cooling solution separated from GPU, allowing for lowest GPU temperatures, and efficient VRM and Memory cooling.

Learn more about the EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN X HYBRID here.

Razer Introduces The Firefly Hard Gaming Mouse Mat with Customizable Lighting Effects

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:38:00 -0400

Razer™, a leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the release of the Razer Firefly, the first hard gaming mouse mat with Razer’s Chroma lighting feature. The Chroma feature adds 16.8 million color options and numerous customizable lighting effects to the mouse mat, including reactive, wave and spectrum cycling.

Razer Firefly has lighting along its left, right and bottom borders and can sync up with other Chroma enabled Razer devices for virtually limitless color combinations.

Engineered with all the trusted Razer gaming-grade performance features, the Razer Firefly has a micro-textured finish for the balance between control and speed. The optimized reflective surface ensures mouse movements translate to precise cursor movements and rapid in-game responsiveness.

“The Razer Firefly opens up a new category for the Chroma family,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “We’ve designed the Razer Firefly with the best components for a gaming mouse mat, along with the new, fully-customizable Chroma lighting. No one said you can’t win with style.”

The Razer Firefly joins other Chroma-enabled Razer devices, including the award-winning Razer DeathAdder Chroma and Razer Naga Epic Chroma gaming mice, the Razer BlackWidow Chroma gaming keyboard and Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma headset. All Chroma products feature the option of 16.8 million customizable colors and a range of effects enabled through Razer’s Synapse software. Synapse allows the devices to sync lighting colors and patterns between Chroma devices with the click of a button.

Razer Firefly will also be included in the Chroma SDK, with which game developers can integrate advanced lighting effects into their games for a more immersive experience.

Product Features:
Micro-textured finish for balanced gameplay
Optimized surface coating for highly responsive tracking
Chroma customizable lighting
Non-slip rubber base
Razer Synapse enabled (for Chroma customizable lighting)
Gold-plated, USB connector (to power the Chroma customizable lighting)
Seven-foot, lightweight, braided fiber cable
Approximate size: 355 mm / 13.98-in. (Length) x 255 mm / 10.04-in. (Width) x 4 mm / 0.16-in. (Height)
Approximate weight: 380 g / 0.84 lbs

System Requirements:
PC or Mac with a free USB port
Windows® 8 / Windows® 7 / Windows Vista® / Windows® XP (32-bit) / Mac OS X (v10.8-10.10)
Internet connection
100MB of hard disk space
Razer Synapse registration (requiring a valid e-mail), software download, license acceptance, and internet connection needed to activate full features of product and for software updates. After activation, full features are available in optional offline mode.

Price: US: $59.99/EUR: 74.99€

Availability:
Razer Store – Pre-Order
Worldwide – June 2015

For more information visit http://www.razerzone.com/chroma

Tstand – The Ergonomic Tablet Stand is Now Live on Kickstarter

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:31:00 -0400

Surface ID, a Montreal-based product design startup, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Tstand, an ergonomic tablet holder that will change the way tablets are used. Tstand provides a sleek, one-size-fits-all solution to the ergonomic impacts associated with tablet computing. The goal is to raise $70,000 by June 19 in order to help fund the production tooling and material
costs.

As a tablet user with a passion for innovation and industrial design, Sean Kieley, Tstand’s founder, designed the Tstand with one thing in mind: to maketablets safer and more enjoyable to use. While tablets are useful for completing quick tasks, they are not ergonomically ideal for prolonged use. Research has shown that they are are harmful to the spine, neck, and back due to the posture adopted while using them. Tstand solves this problem by elevating one’s tablet to a relaxed, ergonomic position.

Given that millions of tablets are used on a daily basis for a variety of professional and leisurely purposes, creating a universal device that could accommodate these needs was critical to Tstand’s designers. That was the idea behind Tstand’s patented reversible base that allows it to be used in bed, on the couch, as desktop monitor, and even as a wearable device. Tstand’s adjustable neck lets its user choose their optimal viewing angle. It easily expands to fit all tablets from 7 to 13 inches in size.

“We think Kickstarter is a great way to get feedback from potential users and to help spread awareness of the Tstand and the wealth of ergonomic benefits it provides tablet users,” says Kieley. “Most importantly, Kickstarter will help us move our innovation past the development stage and into the hands of consumers.”

Backers can choose from several rewards, including a Tstand for the super early bird price of $45. The deadline for pledges is June 19, 2015, so interested supporters are encouraged to make their pledges today. Shipment of the first production run is expected by August 2015. To learn more about Tstand, visit www.tstand.com.

REVIEW: Razer Nabu X

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:38:00 -0400

The name Razer is normally associated with gaming peripherals, but they jumped aboard the wearable wagon with their introduction of the Nabu Smartband. The Nabu X is Razer's entry level fitness tracker wearable which has odd tie-ins with gaming. It's priced cheaply at only $50 which compared to the other trackers on the market, costs nothing. Is the Nabu X well worth the $50 or does it just do a good enough job?

Packaging

The Nabu X comes in a small clear plastic box with specs listed on the back. Inside you find the Nabu X itself, an extremely short charging cable, instructions, and a Razer sticker.

Design

Razer likes to take risks which result in great looking products and packaging, the Nabu X is nothing like that and looks like your typical fitness tracker band. Discreetness is not a bad thing for a fitness tracker though. The Nabu X has a flexible silicon hypoallergenic band which is comfortable on the wrist but attracts dust and lint like there is no tomorrow. On one end of the band is a solid metal clasp which is easy to use and snaps into place with little effort. People with smaller wrists will have extra lengths of band which will occasionally get caught on your shirt or pants while walking. The center of the band houses the little plastic sensor module which can be removed and placed in different colour bands.

Gone is the OLED display and instead are three LEDs which light up to let you know what type of notification you have. Red for alarms, blue for calls, and green for everything else.

Charging is done through a proprietary port on the bottom of the band. While I hate proprietary connectors, the one with the Nabu X feels secure and is easy to plug in. Unfortunately charging has to be done though the pathetic 30 cm cable which means the Nabu X dangles off the wall or sits on the floor while charging. Luckily the Nabu X lasts a week between charges so it's not something you have to charge every night.

Comfort

The Nabu X is one of the more comfortable fitness trackers I have worn. It is soft and light so it isn't irritating and it barely noticeable on your wrist. Aside from the bit of band that sticks out occasionally, it wont get caught while trying to put on a jacket. The one size strap fit well on my wrist without ever being too lose or too tight. The silicon band grips my wrist well and doesn't slide around.

Usability

The Nabu X is compatible with the iPhone 5 or newer and any Android device running Android 4.3 or newer. You will need two apps to actually start using the Nabu X. First is the Nabu X utility which lets you connect to your Nabu X and gives you battery level information. The second is the Nabu Fitness app which deals with all the fitness tracking. The utility app allows you to customize the LEDs and notifications that the Nabu X will alert you about, turn on social settings, and enable sleep mode.

The Nabu Fitness app tracks your steps, distance walked or ran, calories burnt, and time slept. The metrics can be separated into different time intervals from year, month, three months, week or a specific day.

Daily goals can be set through the app and you can double tap on the band to check you progress in 33% intervals through the three LEDs. The tracking abilities are fairly accurate as they matched up well with my Moto 360. Unlike certain fitness trackers, it didn't track my cereal eating as going for a run.

Sleep tracking is done though an automatic mode which starts tracking you between the set time frame or a manual mode which requires you to start and stop it when you sleep and wake up. I dont really find a use for sleep trackers but it's there for people who do. It works as expected and doesn't have anything that makes it special from all the others.

For some reason Razer decided to implement a social feature which Razer calls "Pulse" that allows users who wear the Nabu X to exchange information through handshakes. You enter relevant social information that you want to be shared into the Nabu X utility app and enable the feature to use it. I have yet to find someone else who has the tracker so I couldn't test out the feature.

Conclusion

There are a fair share of terrible fitness trackers as well as good ones, the Nabu X sits somewhere int he middle. Nothing makes the Nabu X stand out and make me want to buy it, aside from the low price point. The Nabu X has a clean design which isn't flashy or scream "HEY LOOK AT ME". The week long battery life is also great and doesn't run out of juice half way through sleep tracking.

The downsides of the Nabu X are that the LEDs make it really hard to distinguish if you're getting a text or if a game is bugging you to play it because you haven't been on for 15 minutes. The social features of the Nabu X seem more like a gimmick and nothing you would actually use in real life. I also wish that they would have one app that does the job of both apps that are currently required to used the Nabu X.

It offers a few more features than other similarly priced trackers and is fairly comfortable. It cost less than the Fitbit Zip which does less than the Nabu X. While it doesn't stand out, it is a great tracker for someone who's been wanting one but doesn't want to spend $150.

Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New $1,999 iMac

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Tue, 19 May 2015 14:32:00 -0400

Apple today updated the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display with the new Force Touch trackpad, faster flash storage, longer battery life and faster discrete graphics, delivering even more performance and capabilities to the MacBook Pro line. Apple also today introduced a new $1,999 configuration of the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display featuring a breathtaking 14.7 million pixel display, quad-core processors and AMD graphics, and lowered the price of the top-end iMac with Retina 5K display to $2,299.

"The response to the new MacBook and updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has been amazing, and today we are thrilled to bring the new Force Touch trackpad, faster flash storage and longer battery life to the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Customers love the groundbreaking iMac with Retina 5K display, and now with a new lower starting price, even more people can experience the best desktop we've ever made."

The updated 15-inch MacBook Pro features the amazing Force Touch trackpad that brings a new dimension of interactivity to the Mac. With built-in force sensors and a Taptic Engine that delivers haptic feedback, the Force Touch trackpad allows you to click anywhere with a uniform feel and customize the amount of pressure needed to register each click. The new trackpad supports a range of new gestures, including the new Force click, and APIs are available for third-party developers to incorporate Force Touch capabilities into their apps. The updated 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display also features up to 2.5 times faster flash storage than the previous generation, with throughput up to 2GBps, and offers an additional hour of battery life, with up to 9 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 9 hours of iTunes movie playback. In addition, MacBook Pro with Retina display discrete graphics deliver up to 80 percent faster performance using new AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics for editing video in Final Cut Pro X, rendering 3D images in pro graphics apps or playing high-resolution games.

With a resolution of 5120 x 2880, the new $1,999 iMac with Retina 5K display has 67 percent more pixels than a 4K display, and features a 3.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 3.7 GHz and AMD Radeon R9 M290 graphics. The new iMac also includes 8GB of memory and 1TB of storage, as well as four USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt 2 ports that deliver up to 20Gbps each, twice the bandwidth of the previous generation. The top-end iMac with Retina 5K display now starts at $2,299 and features a 3.50 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.90 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics and a 1TB Fusion Drive.

Every new Mac comes with OS X Yosemite, the world's most advanced desktop operating system, redesigned and refined with a fresh, modern look, powerful new apps, and Continuity features that make working across your Mac and iOS devices more fluid than ever.

Photos, iMovie and GarageBand, and iWork come free with every new Mac. Photos for OS X keeps your growing photo and video collection automatically organized, easy to navigate and accessible across all of your compatible Apple devices using iCloud Photo Library. iMovie lets you easily create beautiful movies, and you can use GarageBand to make new music or learn to play piano or guitar. The iWork suite of Pages, Numbers and Keynote makes it easy to create, edit and share stunning documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iCloud let you create a document on iPhone or iPad, edit it on your Mac and collaborate with friends, even if they are on a PC.

Pricing & Availability
The updated 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers with a 2.2 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.4 GHz, 16GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel Iris Pro graphics starting at $1,999 (US); and with a 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.7 GHz, 16GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage and AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics starting at $2,499 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.0 GHz and flash storage up to 1TB. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbook-pro.

The new 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display is available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers with a 3.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 3.7 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290 graphics and 1TB of storage starting at $1,999 (US). The top-end iMac now starts at $2,299 (US) and features a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics and a 1TB Fusion Drive. Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 4.0 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.4 GHz and flash storage up to 1TB.

Noctua presents two asymmetrical 140mm CPU coolers

news@blanksuniverse.ca (Martin Tam) — Mon, 18 May 2015 14:27:00 -0400

Noctua today announced two new additions to its portfolio of premium-quality, quiet CPU coolers with 140mm fans. Whereas the NH-D15S is a high-compatibility single fan version of the elite-class dual tower model NH-D15, the NH-C14S replaces the proven top-flow cooler NH-C14. Both the NH-D15S and NH-C14S feature an asymmetrical layout in order to avoid blocking the top PCIe slot.

"140mm coolers have become the default choice for enthusiasts who seek superior cooling performance for overclocking or near-silent operation, but these tend to block the top PCIe slot on many current motherboards" says Mag. Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO)."With the NH-D15S and NH-C14S, we've updated our successful 140mm dual tower and top-flow coolers with asymmetrical layouts that ensure the best PCIe compatibility."

Tailored to provide superior RAM and PCIe compatibility, the NH-D15S is an asymmetrical single fan version of Noctua’s award-winning flagship model, the NH-D15. Thanks to its asymmetrical design, the NH-D15S clears the top PCIe slot on most µATX and ATX motherboards. At the same time, the single NF-A15 PWM fan setup and recessed lower fins guarantee 100% RAM compatibility with memory modules of up to 65mm height. Users who have sufficient room can also upgrade the cooler with either a 120mm or round 140mm fan on the front fin stack for further improved performance in dual fan mode.

Successor to the award-winning NH-C14, the NH-C14S is an elite-class top-flow CPU cooler that is extremely efficient, highly compatible and remarkably adjustable. Thanks to its deeper fin stack and the renowned NF-A14 PWM fan, the single fan NH-C14S provides similar quiet cooling performance to its dual fan predecessor while being even more versatile: With the fan installed on top of the fins, the cooler is compatible with RAM modules of up to 70mm height. With the fan installed underneath the fins, the total height of the cooler is only 115mm, making it suitable for use in many HTPC cases. At the same time, the new offset layout allows it to clear the top PCIe slot on most µATX and ATX motherboards.

Both the NH-D15S and the NH-C14S come with Noctua’s trusted, pro-grade SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system, the company’s proven NT-H1 thermal compound, Low-Noise Adaptors and full 6 years’ manufacturer’s warranty.

Prices and availability
The NH-C14S is currently shipping and will be available shortly. The NH-D15S will ship in June. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices are as follows:
NH-C14S: EUR 74.90 / USD 74.90
NH-D15S: EUR 79.90 / USD 79.90