PC Hardware Reviews & Testing - Tech4Gamers http://tech4gamers.com/category/reviews/ All About Technology And Gaming News Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:59:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://tech4gamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cropped-tech4gamers-logo-32x32.png PC Hardware Reviews & Testing - Tech4Gamers http://tech4gamers.com/category/reviews/ 32 32 Corsair K70 Pro TKL Review: The Veteran Matures https://tech4gamers.com/corsair-k70-pro-tkl-review/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:25:19 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=289836 The Corsair K70 Pro TKL is a great gaming keyboard that excels where it matters for pros. The hall-effect switches provide bleeding-edge performance backed up by robust build quality. While the sound and feel are nothing extraordinary, Corsair’s extensive support somewhat makes up for being priced higher than the competition while lacking wireless support.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL Review: The Veteran Matures is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]>
Sajjad Hussain

As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.

See full bio

Corsair has been the poster boy for gaming keyboards for quite a while now. More so than Razer and Logitech, you see their boards pop up on store shelves and even the aftermarket, especially in third-world regions of the world. So, what happens when the veteran finally decides to innovate?

The K70 Pro TKL is the company’s latest flagship keyboard boasting custom hall-effect switches. It succeeds the K70 Pro Max from last year with better features and a more widespread release. So, let’s take a look at it and see how it stacks up in the current hotly contended gaming keyboard landscape.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Huzaifa Haroon is our keyboard expert with years of experience in building and testing custom keyboards.
  • 130+ peripherals tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 500+ hours spent testing different graphics cards for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Key Takeaways

  • The Corsair K70 Pro TKL is a fast hall-effect keyboard with industry-leading latency and is backed by the company’s excellent warranty and support system.
  • Buy the K70 Pro TKL if you’re looking for a gaming keyboard with all the bells and whistles to give you a competitive edge.
  • Avoid the K70 Pro TKL if you’re looking for a modding-friendly keyboard that sounds as good as it performs.
[toc]

What Makes The Corsair K70 Pro TKL Different?

The Corsair K70 Pro TKL stands out as the best hall-effect keyboard on the market when it comes to latency. Realistically, these numbers are at a level where literally 99% of us won’t even be able to tell, but it’s still crucial if you’re looking for every bit of an upper hand.

It’s also Corsair’s proper foray into the new era of gaming keyboards that don’t suck. It has meaningful features and performance gains for the gamers while maintaining excellent build quality, a decent sound and a semblance of customization. All that is packaged behind an extensive support system present in most parts of the world.

Unboxing Experience

The Corsair K70 Pro TKL comes sealed in a pretty unassuming box with black and yellow accenting all over, showing the board up front. There are tabs on either side to get in, and once inside, the first thing you see is the keyboard wrapped in paper with a Corsair sticker sealing the package.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL box
Corsair K70 Pro TKL box (Image by T4G)

On the right, you’ll find the USB cable, and below the keyboard is an included wrist rest, also wrapped in paper. It’s magnetic and has a soft, plush feeling, but I personally typed better without it. Keyboards with taller front heights will likely benefit from this more, though it’s still a nice value-add.

Here’s everything you get in the box:

  • 1x Corsair K70 Pro TKL
  • 2x Manuals
  • 1x USB-C Cable
  • 1x Wrist Rest
Everything that comes with the Corsair K70 Pro TKL
Everything that comes with the Corsair K70 Pro TKL (Image by T4G)

Design & Build

The K70 Pro sports a simple aesthetic focused to appeal to gamers. It has a floating switch design which means the switches sit on top of the surface, which in this case is a black top piece (or plate) made out of metal. This is paired with a plastic bottom. The whole assembly feels rigid and premium. There is zero creaking or flex.

The metal plate also has a brushed aluminum finish, while the plastic body is smooth with just a little bit of texture, similar to the Epomaker Shadow keyboards but grittier than the Aula prebuilts. You’ll see a Corsair logo on the right, under the nav cluster where the indicator LEDs usually are; they’ve been moved next to the Escape key on this board.

The corners of the board are rounded with a chamfered perimeter all around. You can clearly see where the top metal plate and the bottom case meet, but it feels intentional and doesn’t look cheap. The top left corner houses the USB port, and there are no other buttons on the outer body.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL side profile
Corsair K70 Pro TKL side profile (Image by T4G)

At the back, you see a very angular design with recessed channels running across, contributing to an aggressive aesthetic.  There are two flip-out feet located at the top; they feel very firm. The large Corsair logo in the middle is made out of metal and sits elevated from the rest of the body.

The board weighs about a kilogram and has a front height of 18mm with a very flat typing angle of only 2 degrees. The flip out feet take this up to 7-degrees and are better if you want to use the included wrist rest, otherwise I found the board to be quite comfortable as is.

Layout & Features

The K70 Pro TKL is a hall-effect keyboard with a tenkeyless layout, mostly. The function row, navigation keys and the arrow cluster use standard mechanical switches soldered onto the PCB. The rest of the keys are hall-effect and hot-swap. This puts it in line more with SteelSeries keyboards than Wooting, which uses all Hall effect keys.

The switch layout in the Corsair K70 Pro TKL
The switch layout in the Corsair K70 Pro TKL

Toward the top-right corner, you’ll see a knob with two RGB-ified buttons next to it. These buttons have soft clicks that I wish were more tactile. The knob is non-removable and doesn’t seem to be metal, but it’s still well-built and has a very satisfying click and rotation. By default, it controls volume, but you can customize it to do a lot of things.

Next to this, there’s a custom media button with the iCUE logo that does play/pause, but again, you can change this function to anything else. And finally, the Game Mode button is the most interesting,g and it does a lot more than you might think. Think of it as a glorified profile switcher.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL buttons
Corsair K70 Pro TKL buttons (Image by T4G)

Corsair says it’s for “competition-optimized settings” needed in high stakes gameplay. Upon pressing it, it instantly switches to 8K Hz polling rate, turns on Win lock, turns on Rapid Trigger, and turns the RGB to a static color you pick (red by default). Once again, you can further tweak what this exactly does in the software.

The K70 also has an interesting internal structure. First, it uses a tray-mount, which feels outdated for 2024 when everyone else has moved onto gaskets. There is some consolation as Corsair has added 2 sound-dampening layers inside.

All the layers that make up the K70 Pro TKL
All the layers that make up the K70 Pro TKL | Corsair

One is simply a thick piece of silicone acting as bottom case foam. The other layer is the plate foam, also made from silicone, but it has little foam pads sticking out the corners of each switch cutout for the stabs to dampen their impact. However, this is not a modding-friendly board so don’t try to open it up and experiment with different configs.

The
The “plate foam” inside the K70 Pro TKL | BadSeed Tech

Gaming Performance

Being a hall-effect keyboard, Corsair has packed the K70 Pro TKL with all the features. It has customizable actuation points for all the hall-effect keys, so you can set the distance from 0.1mm to 4mm. It also has Rapid Trigger, clearing and multi-press — multiple functions with a single keypress depending on how much you press it.

The Rapid Trigger function works flawlessly but their SOCD clearing feature, called FlashTap, is also only limited to the “A” and “D” for now and is not customizable. You enable it by pressing Fn+Right Shift, and it lights up the A and D keys, but that’s it. The implementation is simple here: prioritize your latest input over your previous one.

FlashTap
FlashTap (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Corsair has also packed in an 8000hz polling rate, which is enabled automatically in Game Mode. In our testing, Corsair’s claim of having the best latency remained true. It has the most consistent and accurate actuation distances across all settings compared to Wooting and SteelSeries and is even better than Corsair’s previous K70 MAX keyboard.

Connectivity

The K70 Pro TKL is a wired-only board, so there’s no battery inside. This is one area where I wished Corsair hadn’t tried to be more like Wooting but rather the competition. No wireless support is disappointing at this price point.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL USB port
Corsair K70 Pro TKL USB port (Image by T4G)

Regardless, the wired performance here is fantastic. Corsair claims industry-leading latency with their hall-effect switches and it feels that way. In gaming, all the keystrokes felt quick and precise with no random issues. However, I will advise using the cable Corsair supplies in the box as my custom coiled cable did disconnect a few times.

The Fundamentals

Corsair has done a lot to set the K70 Pro TKL apart since Corsair is part of the trifecta (with Razer and Logitech) that perfected the archetype of the gaming keyboard.

Keycaps

Corsair uses high-quality doubleshot keycaps made from either ABS or PBT material, and there are different typefaces used across both. The PBT keycaps have more of a generic gaming font, whereas the ABS keycaps have slimmer, more subdued legends. Both are shinethrough and have similar thickness, which is to say—better than most.

The RGB shining through the Corsair K70 Pro TKL keycaps
The RGB shining through the Corsair K70 Pro TKL keycaps (Image by T4G)

We have ABS keycaps on our unit as I gravitate toward a clackier sound signature which ABS excels in, and I love the grittier texture compared to PBT as well. The only downside (depending on who you are) is that they develop a shine over time that sort of sands out their roughness, and they feel soft on your fingers.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL keycaps vs GMK keycaps
Corsair K70 Pro TKL keycaps vs GMK keycaps (Image by T4G)

The keycaps have clean molds with tight stems. The legends look nice and sharp, especially with the RGB, but some of them are ever so slightly off-center if you really look for it. This is pretty common for backlit keycaps, so not a big deal. The spacebar also has two pieces of foam glued on the insides to reduce hollowness.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL spacebar
Corsair K70 Pro TKL spacebar (Image by T4G)

Switches

The K70 Pro TKL uses two different switches for the “primary” keys and everything else. All the alphas and the mods, along with the number row, have Corsair’s custom MGX HyperDrive magnetic switches. This part of the board is also a hot-swap, so other hall-effect switches are compatible.

Taking a closer look at them, it’s pretty obvious that these are just Gateron Magnetic Jade recolors. They have a 30-55g actuation force depending on whatever actuation point you set in the software. Speaking of which, you have the full 0.1mm to 4mm range of control for your actuation.

Corsair's MGX HyperDrive magnetic switch in the K70 Pro TKL
Corsair’s MGX HyperDrive magnetic switch in the K70 Pro TKL (Image by T4G)

These are factory-lubed linears on par with Wooting’s Lekker V2 switches. They feel smooth and sound about as good as hall-effect switches can. They lack a proper bottom out because of the exposed magnet design for the stem, but they still feel a little less dampened than the Wooting 80HE. 

Corsair's MGX switch compared to others
Corsair’s MGX switch compared to others (Image by T4G)

We see Corsair’s MLX Plasma linear switches in the function row, nav cluster and arrow keys. These are 45g pre-lubed linears with a little too much stem wobble, and they’re soldered to the board. Nothing noteworthy here except the freakishly good job Corsair has done making them sound identical to the hall-effect MGX switches.

The MLX Plasma switches inside the Corsair K70 Pro TKL
The MLX Plasma switches inside the Corsair K70 Pro TKL (Image by T4G)

Stabilizers

Corsair has equipped the K70 Pro with standard plate-mount stabs that come pre-lubed out of the box. Surprisingly, they’re not bad at all, but they are still far from perfect. There’s a bit of ticking in all of the keys, with the worst offender being the spacebar, which was quite rattly.

With a little injection of lube, they sound a lot better, but they’re not on the level of Wooting or Keychron.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL stabilizers
Corsair K70 Pro TKL stabilizers (Image by T4G)

Typing Experience

The K70 Pro TKL has that classic hall-effect keyboard sound without the horribly noticeable thinness of the early models. It sounds almost exactly like the new Wooting 80HE but falls behind the more refined acoustics of something like the Keychron K2 HE.

There is no thock or depth present here, it sounds clacky, if anything, but it’s not properly loud either, like a custom keyboard. Still, it’s a huge improvement over what Corsair had been doing for years and a step in the right direction. The company just needs to lock in on a certain sound and hone in on that.

They feel very smooth to type on with a satisfying impact on the bottom out, even if there literally is no plastic at the end of the switch stem hitting the bottom. The wobble is noticeable but not jarring and there is even a slight hint of softness if you try to press really hard on the keys.

Software

Corsair has stuck with their infamous iCUE software to power the K70 Pro TKL, and it’s… alright. The UI looks clean and well-designed, but it’s nowhere near as accessible as Wootility. Every single advanced feature is hidden behind a bunch of steps that you will never figure out without looking at the manual.

Editor`s Note
Image

I couldn’t get iCUE to open up short of right-clicking on it every time and selecting to run as administrator. Even then, it would open in the tray, and I’d have to manually click on it for the window to finally appear.

– Huzaifa Haroon

All the settings are laid out in tabs on the right. You can either save whatever you configure within the keyboard’s onboard memory or let it remain within the software, but that means iCUE would need to be running in the background for everything to work as customized. Pretty much every feature is available across both modes.

The iCUE homepage for the Corsair K70 Pro TKL
The iCUE homepage for the Corsair K70 Pro TKL

You get your standard affair of lighting controls and full key remapping, but iCUE does have some cool RGB effects it calls “Murals”. These are basically really complicated animated effects that can be synced with other Corsair products in your setup like the case fans in your PC. You can also set macros and customize what the control dial does.

Of course, all the hall-effect stuff like changing the actuation point, activating Rapid Trigger and setting up multi-press actuations are all here, but it’s not exactly laid out intuitively. Lastly, there is no option for customizing their SOCD feature FlashTap in any way because of Corsair’s barebones implementation, which enables or disables it by pressing Fn+Right Shift.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅ You want a good hall-effect keyboard that has the best latency possible to give you every bit of that competitive advantage when and where it matters.

✅ You prefer the stealthy aesthetic of a classic gaming keyboard mixed with the extravagance of the vibrant RGB.

✅ You’re in a region with shoddy warranty systems. Corsair’s support is going to help you even out of local warranty.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You’re looking for a wireless hall-effect keyboard. Despite boasting excellent performance, the K70 Pro TKL is wired only.

❌ You prefer a creamy sound often found in modern budget prebuilts. The K70 Pro TKL has a decent sound, but it’s far from satisfying.

❌ You’re after the best value as there are other hall-effect keyboards on the market that offer similar performance for less and even wireless functionality.

The K70 Pro TKL in all its glory
The K70 Pro TKL in all its glory

My Thoughts

Corsair’s latest keyboard is a solid addition to their lineup, modernizing the poster boy of the gaming keyboard. Unfortunately, the market is quite crowded these days, and you can either be Wooting and sell like hotcakes or be a budget option that offers crazy-good value. However, Corsair has an ace up its sleeve: history. 

Because they’re so omnipresent in every store across every country, you are promised to get decent warranty support in even third-world countries where the newer, smaller brands simply cannot reach. So, within that context, if you’re looking for a high-end Hall Effect keyboard and won’t mind paying a bit more, Corsair’s K70 Pro TKL is a top contender.

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Corsair K70 Pro TKL Review: The Veteran Matures is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Best PSU For Gaming In 2024: Hands-On Tested With Benchmarks https://tech4gamers.com/best-psu-for-gaming/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 09:30:05 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=289985 Depending on your use case scenario and future upgradability path, the best power supply for gaming can range from 850W up to 1600W. And we have rounded up the best 6 options in this guide.

Best PSU For Gaming In 2024: Hands-On Tested With Benchmarks is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]>
Sajjad Hussain

As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.

See full bio

As 2024 comes to an end, it’s been quite a year for power supplies. We’ve seen a bunch of new ATX 3.0 and ATX 3.1 models hit the market, and we’ve tested and reviewed more than two dozen of them this year. Now that things have settled down, I thought it’d be a good time to share my top 6 picks for gaming that really stand out.

With that in mind, I narrowed down my recommendations based on four key aspects: max ripple, voltage regulation, efficiency, and value. The first three are purely for performance and stability, while the value factor is based on how much the PSU costs and how many additional features it brings to the table, like fan noise, warranty, cable type, software, build quality, protection, and more.

If you are interested in any of our recommended power supplies, I highly suggest that you also give a quick read to its individual review, as you will find more information there, including a teardown of the PSU, an in-depth analysis of its internal components, and thermal test results.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Arsalan Shakil is our power supplies expert who loves to put the latest PSUs through their paces and even take them apart.
  • 20+ PSUs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 180+ hours spent testing different power supplies for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Here are all of my selections compiled and summarized in a table:

Power Supply
Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum
Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold
XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium
Corsair HX1000i Platinum
Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum
Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold
Looks
ENERMAX PlatiGemini 1200W, ATX 3.1 & ATX12VO Standard, PCIe 5 600W 12V-2x6 Connector, 80+ Platinum Full-Modular Power Supply, Compact 150mm ATX PSU, 10 Year Warranty; EGN1200P
Seasonic VERTEX GX-1200 - 1200W - 80+ Gold - ATX 3.0 & PCIe 5.0 Ready - Full-Modular - ATX Form Factor - Low Noise - 12 Year Warranty - Nvidia RTX 30/40 Super & AMD GPU Compatible
XPG Fusion 1600W PCIE 5 & ATX 3.0 Power Supply - Full Digital - Full Modular - 80 Plus and Cybenetics Titanium Certified - Partnered with Delta Electronics(FUSION1600T-BKCUS)
Corsair HX1000i Fully Modular Ultra-Low Noise ATX Power Supply - ATX 3.0 & PCIe 5.0 Compliant - Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan - CORSAIR iCUE Software Compatible - 80 Plus Platinum Efficiency - Black
SilverStone Technology HELA 850R Platinum 80 Plus Platinum 850W ATX 3.1 Power Supply, SST-HA850R-PMA
Corsair 1000W Fully Modular SFX Power Supply - ATX 3.0, PCIe 5.0, Quiet 120mm Fan, 80 Plus Gold, Zero RPM Mode, 105°C Capacitors - Black
Award
Best Overall PSU For Gaming
Best 1200W PSU For Gaming
Best High-End PSU For Gaming
Best 1000W PSU For Gaming
Best 850W PSU For Gaming
Best SFX PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
High power density, silent fan, efficient, suitable for overclocking, ATX12VO standard
Soft sleeved cables, quiet, tight load regulation, 12-year warranty, plenty SATA connectors
Supports multi-GPU, performance, ripple suppression, warranty, software controlled, quiet
Voltage ripple performance, iCUE software control, hybird fan mode, build quality, lots of connectors
Efficient, silent, voltage ripple performance, build quality, flat cables, low temperatures
Exceeds 80+ Gold efficiency, performance, pricing, SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket, voltage ripple performance
What We Disliked
Expensive
High OCP on minor rails, Smaller distance between 4-pin MOLEX connectors, high vampire power at 230V
Transient response should be better, expensive, high vampire power at 230V
No 12VHPWR native connector, efficiency could be better
Expensive
Noisy after 50% load, High OCP triggering point on minor rails
Wattage
1200W
1200W
1600W
1000W
850W
1000W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Platinum
80+ Gold
80+ Titanium
80+ Platinum
80+ Platinum
80+ Gold
Size
150 x 150 x 86mm
160 x 150 x 86mm
210 x 150 x 86mm
180 x 150 x 85mm
150 x 150 x 86mm
130 x 125 x 63.5mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Yes (Fully)
Yes (Fully)
Yes (Fully)
Yes (Fully)
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP, NLO, SIP
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP, NLO, SIP
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Power Supply
Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum
Looks
ENERMAX PlatiGemini 1200W, ATX 3.1 & ATX12VO Standard, PCIe 5 600W 12V-2x6 Connector, 80+ Platinum Full-Modular Power Supply, Compact 150mm ATX PSU, 10 Year Warranty; EGN1200P
Award
Best Overall PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
High power density, silent fan, efficient, suitable for overclocking, ATX12VO standard
What We Disliked
Expensive
Wattage
1200W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Platinum
Size
150 x 150 x 86mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Power Supply
Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold
Looks
Seasonic VERTEX GX-1200 - 1200W - 80+ Gold - ATX 3.0 & PCIe 5.0 Ready - Full-Modular - ATX Form Factor - Low Noise - 12 Year Warranty - Nvidia RTX 30/40 Super & AMD GPU Compatible
Award
Best 1200W PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
Soft sleeved cables, quiet, tight load regulation, 12-year warranty, plenty SATA connectors
What We Disliked
High OCP on minor rails, Smaller distance between 4-pin MOLEX connectors, high vampire power at 230V
Wattage
1200W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Gold
Size
160 x 150 x 86mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Power Supply
XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium
Looks
XPG Fusion 1600W PCIE 5 & ATX 3.0 Power Supply - Full Digital - Full Modular - 80 Plus and Cybenetics Titanium Certified - Partnered with Delta Electronics(FUSION1600T-BKCUS)
Award
Best High-End PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
Supports multi-GPU, performance, ripple suppression, warranty, software controlled, quiet
What We Disliked
Transient response should be better, expensive, high vampire power at 230V
Wattage
1600W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Titanium
Size
210 x 150 x 86mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP, NLO, SIP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Power Supply
Corsair HX1000i Platinum
Looks
Corsair HX1000i Fully Modular Ultra-Low Noise ATX Power Supply - ATX 3.0 & PCIe 5.0 Compliant - Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan - CORSAIR iCUE Software Compatible - 80 Plus Platinum Efficiency - Black
Award
Best 1000W PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
Voltage ripple performance, iCUE software control, hybird fan mode, build quality, lots of connectors
What We Disliked
No 12VHPWR native connector, efficiency could be better
Wattage
1000W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Platinum
Size
180 x 150 x 85mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP, NLO, SIP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Power Supply
Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum
Looks
SilverStone Technology HELA 850R Platinum 80 Plus Platinum 850W ATX 3.1 Power Supply, SST-HA850R-PMA
Award
Best 850W PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
Efficient, silent, voltage ripple performance, build quality, flat cables, low temperatures
What We Disliked
Expensive
Wattage
850W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Platinum
Size
150 x 150 x 86mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Power Supply
Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold
Looks
Corsair 1000W Fully Modular SFX Power Supply - ATX 3.0, PCIe 5.0, Quiet 120mm Fan, 80 Plus Gold, Zero RPM Mode, 105°C Capacitors - Black
Award
Best SFX PSU For Gaming
What We Liked
Exceeds 80+ Gold efficiency, performance, pricing, SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket, voltage ripple performance
What We Disliked
Noisy after 50% load, High OCP triggering point on minor rails
Wattage
1000W
Efficiency Rating
80+ Gold
Size
130 x 125 x 63.5mm
Modular
Yes (Fully)
Protection
OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Hands-On Review

If you’re looking for more options, you can check our PSU wattage calculator to get a list of power supplies based on your PC’s requirements.

Best PSU For Gaming In 2024

Here is a list of the best PSUs for gaming that I’ll be recommending today:

  1. Best Overall: Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum
  2. Best 1200W: Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold
  3. Best High-End: XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium
  4. Best 1000W: Corsair HX1000i Platinum
  5. Best 850W: Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum
  6. Best SFX: Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold

Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum

Best Overall PSU For Gaming

Specifications: Size: 150 x 150 x 86mm | Efficiency Rating: 80+ Platinum | Modular: Yes (Fully) | Wattage: 1,200W | Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP | ATX 24-Pin: 1 | EPS 4+4-Pin: 2 | 12V-2×6 12+4 Pin: 1 | PCI-E 6+2-Pin: 3 | SATA: 8 | MOLEX 4-Pin: 4

Pros

  • High power density in a compact design
  • Semi-silent fan
  • Extremely efficient
  • Suited for extreme overclocking
  • Dust Free rotation feature
  • Features ATX12VO standards

Cons

  • Slightly expensive
Check Price

Read Our Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum Power Supply Review

One of the first power supplies on the planet to feature ATX12VO, the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum, has brought out an innovation that Intel has been trying to achieve for some time. With a higher efficiency in a smaller package, I can only ask for a little else. Whether you’re trying to build a mid-range 1440p gaming PC or a high-end productivity rig with the RTX 4090, this power supply can handle all of it and more.

During our testing, the voltage regulation was extremely tight even at 1200W, where the voltage only dropped by 6mV from 12.15V at 20% to 12.09V at 100% load. Similarly, it is one of the most efficient power supplies at its wattage, showing up to 93.92% efficiency, ensuring greater overclocking potential. You’re getting all the bells and whistles with this ATX3.1 standard power supply, albeit a slightly higher price tag, that I cannot condone because of its amazing features.

Here’s my summary of the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum taken from the review:

The Enermax PlatiGemin 1200W Platinum takes the crown with its robust build, top-tier efficiency, and exceptional performance. It has a fully modular design, premium mesh-sleeved cables, superior voltage regulation, and excellent thermal management. The unique Dust Free rotation feature ensures long-term maintenance. Despite its high cost, it’s perfect for high-end gaming rigs and overclocking enthusiasts seeking a reliable, silent power source.

✅Buy It If
You plan on overclocking your PC: The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W has an impressive 235% power excursion, making it perfect for extreme overclocking. If you plan on doing that with your new gaming PC, this PSU will support you with stable wattage.

You’re excited about ATX12VO: Although it isn’t perfect and nowhere near mainstream, if you’re an adventurous person who wants to try out the latest and greatest in computer tech, this power supply will satiate your hunger. It will easily provide everything you’ll need for the next 10 years.

❌Don't Buy It If
You want affordability: While the power supply has amazing features and performance, it also has a hefty price tag. If you’re on a tighter budget, I recommend looking at another 1200W PSU or budgeting down to a 1000W or even an 850W component.

What Makes It The Best Overall PSU For Gaming?

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum power supply is a breath of innovation, featuring the latest ATX12VO standard with ATX3.1. Perfectly suitable for extreme overclocking thanks to an impressive 235% power excursion, 93.92% efficiency, and extremely tight voltage regulation, it’s truly best overall power supply for gaming, regardless of whatever components you’re building with.

Performance: 10/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 10/10 Efficiency: 10/10

Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold

Best 1200W PSU For Gaming

Specifications: Size: 160 x 150 x 86mm | Efficiency Rating: 80+ Gold | Modular: Yes (Fully) | Wattage: 1200W | Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP | ATX 24-Pin: 1 | EPS 4+4-Pin: 2 | 12VHPWR Cable: 1 | PCI-E 6+2-Pin: 3 | SATA: 16 | MOLEX 4-Pin: 3

Pros

  • Soft sleeved cables
  • Quiet operation
  • Tight load regulation
  • 12-year warranty period
  • Plenty SATA connectors
  • High build quality

Cons

  • High OCP on minor rails
  • Smaller distance between 4-pin MOLEX connectors
  • More expensive than competition
Check Price

Read Our Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold Power Supply Review

Perfect for power-hungry components, the Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold power supply features enough wattage and power efficiency to keep all your high-end components at bay, even when overclocked. You won’t find a lack of cables, either, with 16 SATA and 3 MOLEX 4-pin connectors. However, I would have liked to see a 150mm distance between the MOLEX connectors.

Regarding performance, the voltage regulation is amazing, as tested in our review. The Vertex GX-1200W only loses to the PlatiGemini by a little, with a regulation difference of 0.74%. It’s not the most efficient, but according to our tests, it went slightly above the 80+ Gold rating and was 92.43% efficient. The temperatures were also fine, making it an outstanding power supply overall. You won’t face any issues regardless of whether you’re running a mid-range or high-end PC.

I was very impressed by the Vertex GX-1200W’s performance, this is what I said:

The Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 is a high-quality, reliable PSU that handles demanding systems with ease. It’s fully modular, efficient, and operates quietly with a hybrid fan mode, making it a great choice for anyone looking to power a modern setup. The PSU is well-built with top-tier Japanese components, and the 10-year warranty adds peace of mind. It’s a solid performer, though its price might be a bit steep compared to some newer options on the market.

✅Buy It If
You don’t want transient spikes to hinder your gaming sessions: High-end graphics cards like the RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX are prone to greater transient spikes, especially when overclocked. If you’re worried the spikes will cause sudden shutdowns and restarts, purchase this power supply for its tight load regulation and easy handling of transient spikes.

You’re new to PC building: Cable management can be difficult for new PC builders. However, the Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold power supply helps ease it by featuring soft-sleeved cables, allowing PC builders to route them as they wish. So, if you’re new to PC building, I suggest you lean towards this power supply to save some time.

❌Don't Buy It If
The 125mm long MOLEX connectors hinder you: It’s not a big issue, but if the 125mm MOLEX connectors aren’t long enough for your PC case, then you might want to either buy custom cables or look for another power supply.

What Makes It The Best 1200W PSU For Gaming ?

What makes the Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold PSU the best 1200W PSU for gaming isn’t just its high-end performance. Rather, user-friendly features like soft-sleeved cables, a longer 12-year warranty, quiet operation, and tight load regulations played a crucial part in the PSU’s selection. I also love the plenty of SATA connectors the power supply offers, ensuring you don’t run out anytime soon.

Performance: 10/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10 Efficiency: 9/10

XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium

Best High-End Power Supply For Gaming PC

Specifications: Size: 210 x 150 x 86mm | Efficiency Rating: 80+ Titanium | Modular: Yes (Fully) | Wattage: 1600W | Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP, NLO, SIP | ATX 24-Pin: 1 | EPS 4+4-Pin: 2 | 12VHPWR Cable: 2 | PCI-E 6+2-Pin: 10 | SATA: 12 | MOLEX 4-Pin: 4

Pros

  • Supports multi-GPU with dual 12VHPWR connectors
  • Outstanding performance
  • Decent ripple suppression
  • 12-year warranty period
  • Fully software controlled
  • Quiet operation
  • Tight load regulation at 12V and 5V

Cons

  • Expensive
Check Price

Read Our XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium Power Supply Review

Are you looking to go over and above the top with your new gaming PC? If so, you’ll need a lot of juice to power it, and that’s where the XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium power supply comes into play. With an 80+ Titanium and a Titanium Cybenetics rating, you get a super-efficient PSU that supports multi-GPU with its dual 12VHPWR connectors. You won’t need this power supply for most use cases, but it’s perfect for future-proofing your new gaming PC.

After installing it on our test build, the power supply gave some intriguing values. For example, the load regulation is extremely tight at 12V and 5V, making it perfect for extreme overclocking. Similarly, it is very impressive to see a 16mV ripple suppression on such a high-wattage PSU. To add on, the GaN MODFETs utilized in the power supply change the dynamic of PSU designs, making the XPG Fusion quieter, more efficient, and less prone to being bottlenecked, unlike high-wattage PSUs that are still using bridge rectifiers and MOSFETs.

PRO TIP: Using cable combs can help with cable management and improve the overall airflow within your chassis.

This is what I had to say after thoroughly testing and reviewing the XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium:

The XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium PSU, designed with Delta Electronics, offers top performance and innovation. Featuring GaN MODFETs, it supports multi-GPU setups with dual 12VHPWR connectors and full software control. It provides excellent voltage regulation and efficiency. Priced at $700, it’s perfect for enthusiasts seeking high-end technology and a 12-year warranty, but it may be too costly for average PC builders.

✅Buy It If
You want to future-proof your next PC build: If you’re shopping for a new gaming PC and want to future-proof it for the next couple of upgrades, I reckon the XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium power supply is the perfect fit. With a 1600W 80+ Titanium-rated power supply, you can easily run even the RTX 5090 without problems.

You want to run a multi-GPU setup: If you’re going to run a multi-GPU setup to play games and use the same PC for productivity tasks, then this PSU will prove useful. With its dual 12VHPWR connectors, you won’t have to worry about anything when it comes to running dual graphics cards.

❌Don't Buy It If
The $700 price tag is wasted on your use case scenario: I don’t recommend buying this power supply if your PC doesn’t cost at least thrice its price.

What Makes It The Best High-End PSU For Gaming?

The XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium power supply features high 1600W power, efficiently transferring throughout the PC. With tight 12V and 5V load regulations, you don’t have to worry about hiccups during overclocking. The power supply supports multi-GPU with its dual 12VHPWR connectors, is fully software-controlled, and has a decent 12-year warranty, making it the best high-end PSU for gaming.

Performance: 10/10 Value: 7/10
Features: 9/10 Efficiency: 9/10

Corsair HX1000i Platinum

Best 1000W PSU For Gaming

Specifications: Size: 180 x 150 x 85mm | Efficiency Rating: 80+ Platinum | Modular: Yes (Fully) | Wattage: 1000W | Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP, NLO, SIP | ATX 24-Pin: 1 | EPS 4+4-Pin: 2 | 12V-2×6 (12+4)-Pin: 1 | PCI-E 6+2-Pin: 4 | SATA: 8 | MOLEX 4-Pin: 8

Pros

  • Exceptional voltage ripple performance
  • iCUE software control feature
  • Hybrid fan mode
  • Top build quality
  • Lots of connectors provided

Cons

  • No 12VHPWR native connector
  • Efficiency could be better
Check Price

Read Our Corsair HX1000i Platinum Power Supply Review

Perfect for most PC builds, if you don’t want a lot of extra wattage on your power supply, the Corsair HX1000i Platinum will fit most of your needs. In our test results, the efficiency was measured at 92.79%, which is great but could be slightly higher to match its competition. Additionally, I love the top build quality of the PSU, ensuring you won’t be looking for something new for a long time.

Besides its efficiency and wattage, the HX1000i Platinum has much to offer with its exceptional voltage ripple performance. During our testing, the PSU’s ripple was 12mV at 100% load, second only to the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W. Similarly, the temperatures were exceptionally low, with the junction temperature at 45.2°C. In conclusion, it’s a perfect PSU for most PC users. However, I would have loved a 12VHPWR native connector. You have a 12V-2×6 (12+4)-pin cable, so you must use an adapter for high-end NVIDIA GPUs.

This is how I described the PSU in my review:

The Corsair HX1000i PSU, part of the top-tier HXi series, offers a robust 1000W output and complies with ATX 3.0/3.1 specs. Its design features high-quality Japanese components and a quiet fluid dynamic bearing fan. The semi-digital platform allows performance monitoring via Corsair’s iCUE software. While it excels in voltage ripple control and comes with a solid warranty, it lacks a native 12VHPWR connector and has slightly lower efficiency compared to other Platinum-rated PSUs.

✅Buy It If
You want exceptional overclocking opportunities: If you’re buying any graphics card except the RTX 4090 and want to achieve decent overclocks, the Corsair HX1000i Platinum is the perfect choice because of its amazing ripple performance, which allows greater overclocks.

You have lots of storage drives: If you have many storage drives, the Corsair HX1000i Platinum can easily help house them with its 8x SATA and 8x MOLEX connectors. You can’t possibly need more connectors than that for gaming purposes.

❌Don't Buy It If
You prefer better efficiency from an 80+ Platinum PSU: Although the Corsair HX1000i Platinum has impressive efficiency, at 92.79%, some of its competition is even more efficient at the same price point. So, I don’t recommend buying this power supply if you prefer better efficiency.

What Makes It The Best 1000W PSU For Gaming?

The Corsair HX1000i Platinum offers impressive ripple performance, high-end build quality, decent fan control, and lots of connectors on top of its amazing performance, making it perfect for almost any PC build. Moreover, its decent price tag turns it into an even better deal, thus making it the best 1000W PSU for gaming.

Editor`s Note
Image

Out of all the power supplies, I loved the Corsair HX1000i Platinum the most because it’s not only the sweet spot for most PC components but also provides impeccable performance and tight load regulations. The power supply is perfect if you have lots of storage drives, too. I also love the future-proofing aspect of this PSU and its decent pricing, which makes it even more attractive. If you don’t mind the slightly lower efficiency, you won’t regret purchasing this bad boy.

– Arsalan Shakil

Performance: 9/10 Value: 9/10
Features: 9/10 Efficiency: 9/10

Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum

Best 850W PSU For Gaming

Specifications: Size: 150 x 150 x 86mm | Efficiency Rating: 80+ Platinum | Modular: Yes (Fully) | Wattage: 850W | Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP | ATX 24-Pin: 1 | EPS 4+4-Pin: 2 | 12VHPWR Cable: 1 | PCI-E 6+2-Pin: 2 | SATA: 8 | MOLEX 4-Pin: 6

Pros

  • Extremely efficient
  • Silent operation
  • Impressive voltage ripple performance
  • Sturdy build quality
  • High-quality flat cables
  • Low temperatures

Cons

  • Expensive
Check Price

Read Our Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum Power Supply Review

Okay, I get it — you don’t want to buy a high-end, all-frills gaming PC. What power supply best fits a mid-range PC, anyway? If upgrading to a 1440p gaming PC, the Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum is your best shot. It holds enough future-proofing capabilities to last you another upgrade and provides impeccable performance with its high-end capacitors.

For example, I loved the power supply’s efficiency the most because it was 93.38% efficient during our performance testing, almost topping our charts. On that same note, the PSU has an incredible voltage ripple performance at 14.4mV at 100% load. So, go all-out if you’re considering overclocking your mid-range PC components. Lastly, the low 40.8°C junction temperatures surprised me again. When it comes to efficiency, nothing is beating this power supply.

Here’s a summary of the power supply’s performance, efficiency, and pricing from its review:

The Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum is a high-performance, efficient power supply unit that stands out with its adherence to the latest ATX 3.1 specifications. It features the new 12V-2×6 GPU connector, improving safety and reliability. In our tests, the PSU delivered impressive results, showcasing excellent voltage regulation, high efficiency (up to 94.23%), and exceptional voltage ripple performance. The PSU’s robust build includes top-quality Japanese capacitors and efficient cooling, meaning quiet operation even under load.

✅Buy It If
You want to extract every performance from your PC: The Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum power supply is perfect for overclocking. Its incredible voltage regulation and ripple performance allow stable power even with high-end PC components.

You want quiet fans and the lowest temperatures: I loved this PSU’s extremely quiet fan, running at around 33dB(A) with max temperatures of 40.8°C. If you prioritize temperatures and noise levels, this PSU will provide both without compromising performance.

❌Don't Buy It If
You are concerned about future-proofing: Unfortunately, 850W is no longer the sweet spot for future-proofing. While you can easily run anything up to an RTX 4080 Super, running the latest RTX 5000 series and RX 9000 series GPUs will be difficult. So, I don’t recommend purchasing this PSU if you’re concerned about future-proofing.

What Makes It The Best 850W PSU For Gaming?

The Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum power supply is extremely efficient with an 80+ Platinum rating. Thanks to its voltage ripple and regulation performance, it provides incredible performance, topping almost all of our charts against its competition. Additionally, its quiet 135mm fan runs at 33dB(A), and the temperatures don’t exceed 40.8°C, ultimately making it the best 850W PSU for gaming.

Performance: 9/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10 Efficiency: 10/10

Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold

Best SFX PSU For Gaming

Specifications: Size: 130 x 125 x 63.5mm | Efficiency Rating: 80+ Gold | Modular: Yes (Fully) | Wattage: 1000W | Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP | ATX 24-Pin: 1 | EPS 4+4-Pin: 2 | 12VHPWR Cable: 1 | PCI-E 6+2-Pin: 2 | SATA: 12 | MOLEX 4-Pin: 3

Pros

  • Exceeds 80+ Gold efficiency
  • Superior performance to many full-ATX PSUs
  • Decent pricing
  • SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket provided
  • Impressive voltage ripple performance

Cons

  • Noisy after 50% load
  • High OCP triggering point on minor rails
Check Price

Read Our Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold Power Supply Review

Perhaps you don’t have enough desk space to build a normal-sized PC and are now opting for an ITX build. If so, the above power supplies may not be as helpful. That’s where the Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold comes into play. Featuring a smaller build, the PSU has decent 1000W power and exceeds its rated 80+ Gold efficiency. To boot, you also get an SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket, which ensures better future-proofing for upgrading to an ATX PC.

I wasn’t expecting the performance to be on par with its competitors, but boy was I wrong. During our testing, the PSU easily reached Platinum efficiency at 92.33%, crossing its 80+ Gold rating. Moreover, the voltage regulation on all rails was also very tight, ensuring stable power flow. The voltage ripple performance also blew our minds at 12mV at 100% load. The only thing that disappointed us was the higher noise above 45dB(A) at a 730W power output.

Here’s what I commented about the PSU in my in-depth review:

The Corsair SF1000L PSU is an SFL power supply that exceeds expectations with its performance and efficiency. Slightly larger than SFX PSUs, it offers better results under max load due to improved heat dissipation. It is designed for high-end, power-hungry builds, with impressive cable management and high quality internals. Despite its compact size, the SF1000L performs on par with or better than many full ATX PSUs, making it a top choice for small form factor cases.

✅Buy It If
You want optimal performance at a lower price: The Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold power supply offers top performance at a decent price point, making it attractive for all PC builders. It offers high performance in all areas and is compatible with ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0.

You plan on upgrading to an ATX PC later on: If an SFX PC isn’t on your list in the long term, this power supply will suffice because of its SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket, which allows PC builders to use it in ATX PC cases. This is a nice feature that many of its competitors are sleeping on, making this power supply even more attractive.

❌Don't Buy It If
You want lower noise levels: While the Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold power supply offers outstanding performance and features, its louder noise levels can be troublesome and annoying for gamers who prefer a quiet environment. The fan’s noise level exceeded 45dB(A) during our testing at a 730W power output. Some of its SFX competitors are dead silent, making this power supply a no-go if you wish not to hear any fan noises.

What Makes It The Best SFX PSU For Gaming?

The Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold power supply has extremely tight voltage regulation, and its ripple performance exceeds many ATX PSUs. Moreover, while it is 80+ Gold rated, its efficiency exceeded 80+ Platinum in our testing. Additionally, including an SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket improves the SF1000L’s value, making it the best SFX PSU for gaming.

WARNING: The power supply can get noisy after 50% load, which can get annoying in quiet environments. It can be avoided by lowering the fan curve, but it will cause temperatures to rise.
Performance: 9/10 Value: 9/10
Features: 9/10 Efficiency: 10/10

Included Cables Comparison

I have attached a table comparing the wattage and included cables of all the power supplies discussed in this article. You’ll be able to browse through the specifications based on your needs and requirements to make things easier for you.

Power SupplyWattage (W)ATX 24-PinEPS 4+4-Pin12V-2×6 12+4 PinPCI-E 6+2-PinSATAMOLEX 4-Pin
Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum1200121384
Seasonic Vertex GX-1200W Gold12001213163
XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium160012210124
Corsair HX1000i Platinum1000121488
Silverstone Hela 850R Platinum850121286
Corsair SF1000L SFX Gold10001212123

Our Test Results For The Best PSUs For Gaming

To back our recommendations, we have attached the test results of all our tested PSUs along with their competition for you to glance at. What better way is there to understand which power supply is perfect for you than by looking at practical numbers?

Power Supply Key Terms

Power supplies can have a lot of jargon surrounding them. To help you with your choices, I have mentioned a few key terms you’ll find when on the lookout for a decent unit:

  • Wattage: A power supply’s wattage represents its maximum power output capacity, which is measured in Watts (W). The dedicated wattage of a PSU determines its power delivery to components. Hence, it is crucial to match the PSU’s wattage with your PC’s to avoid any instability issues.
  • Efficiency: A power supply’s efficiency rating measures how effectively it converts AC power to DC power. Generally, these are the 80+ ratings in order: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. We recommend looking for 80+ Gold and above-rated power supplies to ensure proper power draw.
  • 12VHPWR Cable: Abbreviated as 12-Volt High Power Cable, this is a cable in ATX 3.0 power supplies that helps supply power to high-end NVIDIA GPUs like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090. Before purchasing, you need to ensure your power supply supports your GPU’s power requirements and connectors.
  • ATX 3.0: One of the latest power supply standards (now the ATX 3.1), it handles the high power requirements of modern computers. This is especially true for top-tier graphics cards that require the 12VHPWR cables.
  • Voltage Ripple: It refers to the minute fluctuations or variations in the output voltage of a PSU. Voltage ripple is usually caused by AC-to-DC conversion. When on the lookout for a new power supply, ensure your unit’s voltage ripple at 100% load isn’t too high; otherwise, you may face instability issues.
  • Voltage Regulation: A power supply’s voltage regulation states how well it can maintain a constant output voltage even when its load changes. For example, the load can change when you plug in more devices or when there is a difference in the input voltage. Tighter voltage regulation equates to a more stable power draw, meaning better overclocking opportunities with the said PSU.

How We Picked The Best Power Supply For Gaming

We tested several power supplies to bring together the best power supply for gaming in 2024. Obviously, many factors need to be considered, and I have described a few to help you make your purchase decisions as well.

  • Performance: The first thing you need to be wary of when searching for a power supply is its performance. By performance, I mean its voltage ripple, load regulation, efficiency, transient response, and more. A good power supply will be more stable. Hence, we only chose units with the highest performance because what’s the use of buying a high-end PC if you’re going to use a washed-up power supply?
  • Modularity: Although it’s not that important, a fully modular power supply helps tremendously with cable management because all of its cables can be detached. This way, you only need to plug in the cables you require and stash the others whenever necessary. The good thing is most decent power supplies these days are fully modular, so you won’t have to worry about much.
  • ATX 3.0/3.1 Compatibility: Most new graphics cards require ATX 3.0 compatibility. Even if AMD GPUs don’t have this requirement, it’s better to future-proof your system by purchasing a new power supply with the latest frills. Therefore, we only selected PSUs that match this compatibility requirement.
  • Build Quality: A good power supply will have a sturdy and decent build quality that matches its warranty period. Hence, in all of our power supply reviews, we do a teardown analysis to look at the internal components. A power supply is only as good as its capacitors and internals. Hence, we only chose the ones with the highest build quality.

FAQs

What is the wattage sweet spot for a modern PC build?

If you’re worrying about future-proofing, a 1000W power supply is currently the sweet spot. Otherwise, you can also run most hardware with an 850W PSU without facing any instability issues.

Can a gaming PC last 10 years?

Depending on how well you maintain it and your personal use case, a gaming PC can technically last 10 years. We recommend upgrading it once every three to four years. Still, you shouldn’t face any problems as long as you properly maintain it and re-apply thermal paste wherever possible.

Is it OK to buy a cheap power supply?

No. We never recommend cheaping out on a power supply. If you’re out of budget, then cheap out on another component, but don’t purchase a bad power supply. This is the backbone of your computer; all of the electricity passes through this component. If there are any issues, you can fry every component on your PC.

 

Best PSU For Gaming In 2024: Hands-On Tested With Benchmarks is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD Review: Great Speeds, Small Trade-Offs https://tech4gamers.com/orico-o7000-2tb-nvme-ssd-review/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:53:05 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=289149 The Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD delivers impressive speed, making it a good choice for gaming, general use, and even PS5 compatibility. It uses a DRAM-less design with Host Memory Buffer (HMB) and SLC caching to maintain solid performance, but it’s not as fast as DRAM-enabled drives for small, random tasks. At $129.99, it’s a great deal, especially with extras like a heatsink and thermal pads included.

Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD Review: Great Speeds, Small Trade-Offs is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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See full bio

I have tested Orico’s high end NVMe SSD named O7000 2TB. This is a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD rated for up to 7000MB/s sequential read and 6500 MB/s sequential write speeds. These SSDs are available in 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities.

These SSDs are driven by the MaxioTech MAP1602A Falcon Lite controller, which is an efficient controller suitable for DRAM-Less storage drives. This SSD has YMTC 236-layer 3D NAND. This SSD is sent with QLC or TLC randomly, and the customer has no say in it.

The 2TB variant is listed at USD 129.99, and it comes with a five-year warranty.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Nauman Siddique is the most senior hardware tester at Tech4Gamers. He brings an ocean of knowledge to the table, including unmatched expertise in SSDs and HDDs.
  • 20+ SSDs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 80+ hours spent testing different SSDs for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Key Takeaways

  • The Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD is a high-speed PCIe Gen4 drive with read and write speeds of up to 7000MB/s and 6500MB/s.
  • You should buy the Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD if you want an all-rounder that delivers solid performance, compatibility with PS5, and offers good value at an affordable price.
  • You should skip the Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD if you want your drive to have onboard DRAM or if you’re after high 4K random speeds. 

The salient specifications include:

Capacity 2TB
Form Factor M.2 2280
Interface NVMe 1.4 PCIe Gen 4×4
Controller MaxioTech MAP1602A
NAND 3D TLC/QLC NAND
DRAM Cache Size N/A. HMB
NAND Cache Size Dynamic SLC
TBW 2400
MTBF N/A
Sequential Read Up to 7000MB/s
Sequential Write Up to 6500MB/s
4K Random Read Up to 1000K
4K Random Write Up to 800K
[toc]

How Is The Netac NV7000 2TB Different?

The Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD utilizes the highly efficient MPA1602A controller from MaxioTech. Since this is a DRAM-less design, the controller makes the best use of it and provides good real-world performance while remaining energy efficient. This makes this SSD a good candidate for your PS5 console.

Packaging And Unboxing

Packaging
Packaging (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The drive is shipped inside a paperboard packing box that has a black and gold color theme. There is a transparent container inside that holds the drive. The following are provided:

  • 1x SSD
  • 1x Installation Manual
  • 1x Screw
  • 1x Screwdriver
  • 2x Thermal Pads
  • 1x SSD Aluminum Cooler

Design

Orico O7000 NVMe SSD 2TB - Top View Orico O7000 NVMe SSD 2TB - Bottom View

There is a black and gold color sticker on the top of the SSD. O7000 is printed along with the Orico brand name. This SSD has a dimension of 22x80x2mm without the provided heatsink.

This SSD is compatible with Sony Play Station 5 as its height is less than 11.25mm height supported by the console. This is a PCIe Gen 4×4 drive. The drive has an M.2 2280 form factor using M Key Type.

The backside of the package has a sticker that shows the part number and serial number of the drive along with its capacity which is 2TB (2000GB). The drive is made in China. The drive conforms to the NVMe 1.4 protocol.

The drive supports S.M.A.R.T, TRIM, and NCQ features. It seems like this drive does not provide an AES encryption feature. No other data is available on the manufacturer’s website. This SSD has components on one side; hence, it is a single-sided storage solution.

What About The Internals?

MaxioTech MAP1602A is the main driving force of this SSD. This controller is based on ARM 32-bit Cortex R5 chip and it has 4 channels. This drive has a 2x die package from YMTC in the form of 232-layer 3D NAND flash chips. These packages operate at 2400MT/s.

Internal Components
Internal Components (Image By Tech4Gamers)

There is no DRAM chip on this SSD, hence this controller. This is a DRAM-Less design and it uses HMB and SLC caching to make up for no dedicated DRAM chip. HMB simply means that this SSD will use your PC’s main memory and SLC means it will dedicate some free space on the SSD for caching.

Testing

The below-mentioned test build is used:

We have used the following software:

  • AS SSD
  • ATTO Disk Benchmark
  • CrystalDiskMark
  • Anvil Pro Storage Utilities 1.1.0
  • DiskBench
  • Blackmagic Disk Benchmark
  • 3DMARK Storage Benchmark
  • PCMARK10 Storage Benchmark

Microsoft Windows 11 23H2 is used for the testing.

CrystalDiskInfo
CrystalDiskInfo (Image By Tech4Gamers)

I ran CrystalDiskInfo after installing the disk. The firmware version is SN13683. The interface is listed as NVM Express using 1.4 as standard. It also confirmed that the drive is operating at PCIe 4.0 at an x4 speed link. The supported features are S.M.A.R.T, TRIM, and VolatileWriteCache.

Test Results

CrystalDiskMark

Let’s start with three different runs of CrystalDiskMark. This is a good performance from the Orico SSD. The sequential read speed was 7109MB/s, and it was 6490MB/s sequential write. The 4K Random performance in the Q1T1 quadrant is fine as well. The overall performance in CrystalDiskMark is satisfactory.

CrystalDiskMark Sequential
CrystalDiskMark Sequential (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Orico O7000 is sitting comfortably towards the top tier of the graph (MB/s, higher speeds are desirable).

ATTO Disk Benchmark

ATTO Disk Benchmark
ATTO Disk Benchmark (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The maximum read speed on the Orico O700 2TB NVMe SSD was 6.61GB/s with a write speed of 5.92GB/s. This is a good performance from this budget SSD.

Anvil’s Storage Benchmark

Anvil's Storage Benchmark
Anvil’s Storage Benchmark (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Next, I ran the Anvil Storage Utilities benchmark to test the performance of the drive. This is the software in which the SSD has actually struggled but still managed to beat the Netac NVMe SSD. Probably, the DRAM-less design is showing its case.

I also ran Threaded Writes in queue depth of 32 and 64. The SSD falls short of the rated 800k IOPS in the writing department, though the margin is narrow.

Next, I ran the Threaded Reads in queue depths of 32, 64, and 128 threads. The drive again fell short of the rated 1000K IOPS by the manufacturer. This time, the margin is high.

3DMark Storage Test

3DMark Storage test is a relatively new test bench measuring the gaming-only performance of the given drive using three games. It measures the load time of the games, recording the gameplay, saving the game, and moving the game. The overall score is given in the bandwidth and access time.

3DMARK Storage Benchmark
3DMARK Storage Benchmark (Image By Tech4Gamers)

This is yet another benchmark where this SSD has an average performance.

PCMARK10

We ran two tests from Storage benchmarks in this suite. These are Data Drive Benchmark and Quick System Drive Benchmark.

PCMARK10 - Data Drive Benchmarks (Image By Tech4Gamers)
PCMARK10 – Data Drive Benchmarks (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The Orico O7000 2TB has almost a similar performance as from Teampgroup MP44 NVMe SSD in Data Drive Benchmark.

PCMARK10 - Quick System Drive Benchmarks (Image By Tech4Gamers)
PCMARK10 – Quick System Drive Benchmarks (Image By Tech4Gamers)

However, the drive is behind the other two DRAM-less NVMe SSDs in the graph of the Quick System Drive benchmark.

Blackmagic Disk Benchmark

Blackmagic Disk Benchmark
Blackmagic Disk Benchmark (Image By Tech4Gamers)

We have used the Blackmagic disk benchmark as well. This is a critical benchmark from the point of view that it monitors the three video compression coders against multiple formats and checks if the drive in hand supports that format, and if it does, then at what speed.

Real World Testing

Now, it is time for a real-world use. For that, we have used DiskBench in multiple scenarios to check the real-world data transfer rates. We prepared a data set of mixed files and folders, including compressed files.

Disk Bench - Read File
Disk Bench – Read File (Image By Tech4Gamers)

A 97GB-sized compressed file was copied to the Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD. The file was then read from the DiskBench. Orico SSD has performed quite well, with 3117.897MB/s taking 30.624 seconds.

Disk Bench - Read File (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Disk Bench – Copy File (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Next, I copied the same compressed file from one folder to another on the same drive. The transfer rate was 2902.379MB/s, and it took 32.898 seconds to complete this operation. The performance is still good on this SSD.

Disk Bench - Copy Dir (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Disk Bench – Copy Dir (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Next, we copied a folder of 220GB size containing multiple compressed files, sub-folders, and mixed files. The main folder was copied from the same drive to a destination drive on the same drive. The transfer rate was 2594.276 MB/s, and it took 1.435 minutes to complete this operation. This is still a good performance from this drive.

Ultimate Performance Tests

Next, I prepared heavy data of 530GB and repeated the copy operation. This is my torture test, and my evaluation is based on this real-world test. I also used HWInfo64 to record the drive’s sensor to see how it performed over time.

Disk Bench - Copy Dir (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Disk Bench – Copy Dir (Image By Tech4Gamers)

This operation was completed in 7.525 minutes at a rate of 1201.482 MB/s. The lowest this drive had in the write department was 630.142MB/s. The lowest in the read department was 507.812 MB/s. The data copy rate varied consistently throughout the operation.

DiskBench (Image By Tech4Gamers)
DiskBench (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Next, I wanted to see the impact on the data copy speeds, particularly the write speeds, with the drive filling up to full capacity. For that, I prepared 944GB of heavy data and repeated the copy operation.

It took 12.187 minutes to complete this operation at an average speed of 1187.511MB/s. The lowest in the read department was 76.95MB/s, and it was 657.558MB/s. The overall data copy speeds were again consistent. This is too good a performance level for this drive to have.

Gaming Load Time

This is the time when gamers are using NVMe SSDs for their games for faster loading. This is why we also test the game load times. This is done using the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Benchmark using High settings.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Benchmark
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Benchmark (Image By Tech4Gamers)

It took 5.475 seconds in total to load the game, making this SSD a top performer in our graph.

Thermals

Thermal Performance
Thermal Performance (Image By Tech4Gamers)

69ᵒC was the maximum temperature recorded when the simultaneous read and write operation of 944GB data was done on this drive. The ambient was 23ᵒC.

Should You Buy It

Buy It If

✅You are looking for a high-speed drive: The Orico O7000 2TB NVMe drive is rated for 7000MB/s and 6500MB/s sequential read and write, respectively.

✅You want a complete package: The Netac NV7000 2TB NVMe SSD comes with thermal pads and an aluminum cooler along with a screwdriver.

✅You have a PS5: The Orico O7000 2TB SSD has a height of 2mm, which makes it compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5.

✅You are after a budget SSD: The Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD costs USD 129.99, which makes it a pocket-friendly offer from the manufacturer.

Don’t Buy It If

❌You are looking for a DRAM-enabled SSD: This SSD does not have an onboard DRAM chip. Instead it relies on HMB and SLC caching for this purpose.

❌You need an SSD with better 4K Random Operations: This SSD has relatively slow random 4K reads and writes.

Final Words

O7000 is a high-performance NVMe SSD from Orico. These are available in 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. These SSDs come with aluminum cooler and thermal pads, making these a comprehensive package, though today’s motherboards have pretty much eliminated this requirement.

The main driving force behind these drives is the MaxioTech MPA1602A controller. This is a highly efficient controller that is suitable for the DRAM-less SSDs. It has 4 channels and is based on ARM 32-bit Cortex R5 chip. There is no on-board DRAM chip, hence the low price tag.

Oricoc has employed 232-layered 3D NAND flash from YTMC. Surprisingly, Orico is shipping these SSDs in TLC and QLC configurations randomly. Users have no say so on what package they will get, and this needs to be sorted by the manufacturer. The 2TB variant has 2 NAND flash packages, each of 1TB operating at 2400 MT/s.

The drive has a dimension of 22x80x2mm. This is exclusive to the heatsink. This SSD is compatible with Sony Play Station 5. This drive features TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, and Garbage Collection. This drive is using NVMe 1.4 standard over the PCIe 4 x4 link speed.

This drive is rated for 7000MB/s sequential read and 6500MB/s sequential write. It is rated for 800K IOPS in 4K Random Read and 1000K in 4K Random Write. It has 2400 TBW. This SSD passed the sequential read and write speeds in our test but failed the rated random 4k reads and writes.

When it comes to the performance, I have observed the consistent performance throughout the testing. This SSD is quite good in real-world operations, and this is what matters in the end. Though it may have slow 4K reads and writes, it delivers a strong performance in this category, and a 5-year warranty is peace of mind, though I have no experience with their customer support.

 

Orico O7000 2TB NVMe SSD Review: Great Speeds, Small Trade-Offs is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Tecware Phantom+ Elite Review: Underwhelming https://tech4gamers.com/tecware-phantom-plus-elite-review/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 06:40:08 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=290095 While the RGB lighting and customizable top cover offer some appeal, the Phantom+ Elite is ultimately hampered by its subpar typing feel and outdated features, with the stock stabilizers being the biggest let-down. Competitors in the same price range provide significantly better sound, feel and even design.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite Review: Underwhelming is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]>
See full bio

In today’s sea of budget prebuilts teetering on the custom territory with features like hot-swap PCBs and a great typing experience out of the box, can a back-to-basics approach work again? That’s what appears to be the pitch for Tecware’s new Phantom+ keyboards.

Available in TKL and full-size layouts, the Elite variant stands out with its enhanced build quality and attention to detail. In this review, we’ll dive into the Phantom+ Elite to see if it delivers enough to justify its position in this competitive landscape.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Huzaifa Haroon is our keyboard expert with years of experience in building and testing custom keyboards.
  • 130+ peripherals tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 500+ hours spent testing different graphics cards for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

I have also tested the Tecware Phantom+, check out its review if you wanna learn more about it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Tecware Phantom+ Elite is a gaming keyboard with decent build quality, performance, and RGB, but the overall package of sound, feel and features is lackluster.
  • Buy the Phantom+ Elite if you want a keyboard focused on RGB. It even comes with a premium coiled cable in the box and a removable top cover.
  • Avoid the Phantom+ Elite if you’re looking for a solid keyboard that offers a nice balance of price and performance with modern sensibilities.
Feature Details
Layout 87-key Tenkeyless (TKL)
Switch Options Pre-installed Tecware Wraith switches (Orange, Brown, Pink, Red)
Keycaps Double-shot, double-walled PBT keycaps in OEM profile
Build Quality Carbon steel plate with ABS case; sound-dampening foam and fillers
RGB Lighting 16.8 million colors per-key RGB illumination with 18 pre-set lighting modes
Connectivity Wired (USB-C) and wireless (Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4GHz)
Battery 2500mAh, up to 250 hours of continuous wireless usage without RGB
Hot-Swappable Sockets Universal 5-pin switch sockets compatible with most MX-style switches
Stabilizers V3 stabilizers, factory-lubed and plate mounted
Dimensions TKL: L361 x W132 x H42mm (H51mm w/ feet) | Full-Size: L443 x W132 x H42mm
Weight 0.93kg (TKL) or 1.1kg (Full Size)
Additional Features Multi-layered foam padding, silicone spacebar filler, dual-layer fiberglass PCB
[toc]

Unboxing Experience

The Phantom+ Elite comes in a standard albeit well-made cardboard box with the keyboard’s picture and names upfront. There are tabs on either side to get inside and it’s one of the few boards that actually has a seal as well. In the corner, you’ll see a sticker indicating what switch is in the unit.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite box (Image by T4G)

Once you’re in, you’ll be treated to the keyboard wrapped in some foam but no dust cover. Toward the top are the included accessories including a fancy coiled cable, the nicest one I’ve seen included in a package. There’s no manual but the back of the box has a QR code you can scan to access it, right below a table of all the switch options and their specs.

Here’s everything you get in the box:

  • 1x Phantom+ Elite 
  • 1x Coiled USB-C Cable
  • 1x Wireless Receiver
  • 1x Keycap/Switch Puller
  • 4x Extra Switches
Everything that comes with the Tecware Phantom+ Elite (Image by T4G)

Design & Build 

The Tecware Phantom lineup of keyboards has a gamer-ish design that looks somewhat outdated at this point, as most other budget boards have moved on to subtler aesthetics. It opts for a “case-less” build where the plate sits at the surface of the keyboard, but at the same time, it comes with a magnetic top cover that acts like a top case.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite from the front (Image by T4G)

With the cover, you get rounded-off corners and a pretty distraction-free look, but with it off, the keyboard becomes much less mature. Each corner is now angled, and you can feel uncomfortable if your palm rests on it. There’s also a visible crease running around the perimeter that highlights the separation between the plate and the bottom case.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite without the top cover (Image by T4G)

Toward the back, there are two flip-out feet for height adjustment and a Tecware sticker in the center with some info. The side profile is also inoffensive, but I prefer the top cover off since you get to see the aggressive angles, which make it more unique. With the top cover it becomes a simple (albeit clean) wedge.

The entire body of the Phantom+ Elite is made out of plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap and has some heft to it. It’s heavier than other prebuilts like Aula F87 Pro and Epomaker Shadow-X. The texture of both the top and bottom is gritty but if you take the cover off, the sides and plate is smooth, the latter being because of its metal make.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite from the back (Image by T4G)

The top of the board houses the connection switch next to the USB-C port, located toward the left side. Here I noticed that the top cover has actually quite sharp edges as it sort of cuts off around to expose this area for easier access.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite USB port (Image by T4G)

Layout & Features

The Phantom+ Elite is a TKL keyboard with wireless functionality over both 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth connections. This is a tray-mount keyboard with no gaskets. There are two LEDs right below the nav cluster for power and Caps Lock, but there is no place to store the wireless dongle anywhere on the case. 

Tecware Phantom+ Elite LED indicators (Image by T4G)

The board features a fully hotswap PCB with 5-pin sockets and north-facing RGB. The plate is made out of steel which is something I haven’t seen in a while in the modern prebuilt scene. It reminds me of my first-ever custom keyboard: TM680. Both the PCB and plate have no flex cuts.

There is plenty of foam included inside like the plate foam, IXPE sheet, PCB foam and some silicone at the bottom acting as case foam. The plate also has some foam inserts glued onto it in the spacebar area to reduce hollowness.

The insides of the Phantom+ Elite | Tecware

The Fundamentals

The Phantom+ Elite has left an underwhelming first impression so far, but can the insides make up for it? Spoiler alert: they can’t.

Switches

Tecware supplies its own custom switches for the Phantom lineup, and I’ve got the Reds in my unit. These are a 45g factory-lubed linear with 3.8mm of total travel. They have minimal stem wobble and are stuck on the PCB-plate assembly like a tank. Unfortunately, they’re otherwise not great and fall far behind any modern linear I’ve seen in a prebuilt. 

Tecware’s Red linear switches in the Phantom+ Elite (Image by T4G)

It’s not very smooth for being pre-lubed and I can hear the slightest bit of spring crunch. Upon opening up the switch, I found that there was barely any lube on the stem. The bottom out is not satisfying, just like the sound. It lacks the oomph to be either a deep and thocky switch or a loud and clacky one.

Keycaps

The keycaps here are shinethrough but still doubleshot and made out of PBT. They’re OEM profiles. They look nice at first glance, but I quickly noticed that the Caps Lock and Tab keys, along with most of the nav keys, have molding supports on the top, which blocks a bit of light when it shines through them. Otherwise, they’re pretty solid.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite keycaps (Image by T4G)

The legends are nice and sharp; they let the RGB pop in dim environments, and the texture is pleasant. They’re soft to the touch. I did notice that the stems weren’t as tight as some other budget keycaps; putting the Enter key on my Lucky65 V2 created a wobbly mess. But otherwise, the alphas sounded great. It’s just that the paired switches let these down.

Stabilizers

Phantom+ Elite uses factory-lubed “V3” plate-mounted stabs, and simply put, they’re horrible. Out of the box, every single stabilizer key has a lot of rattling and ticking. The medicore switches and the loose keycap stem mix to only accentuate this disaster. The worst offender is the spacebar, but at least it’s more consistent left to right than the others.

Tecware Phantom+ Elite stabilizers (Image by T4G)

I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but in this day and age, where you can find cheap prebuilt in the same price bracket with perfect stock stabilizers, this is unacceptable. Upon close inspection, I also saw that they’re using a thicker lube than usual, and there’s a lot of it. So much so that the keycaps have a little excess stuck on the stems.

Connectivity & Performance

Tecware has equipped the Phantom+ Elite with a 2500mAh battery for wireless usage, and they claim it can last up to 250 hours without RGB. There is literally no way to check how much battery you have left in the software or on the board itself using Fn key shortcuts, so you’re just playing a guessing game.

In my testing, with RGB on, it was able to last just about a day, and without RGB, it’s still going after a couple of days. Wireless performance was also fine over both Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz connections but I won’t recommend it for competitive gaming. Moreover, the fact that I had flip the connection switch to wired mode every time I plugged the board in instead of it automatically switching like every other board ever was also annoying.

Typing Experience

The typing experience is underwhelming to say the least. I can tolerate those dry switches and the (sorta) loose keycaps but those stabilizers are terrible. Every time I hit the spacebar, I’m reminded of how bad the stabs are, and they ruin the otherwise already subpar experience for me to the point where I simply cannot recommend this board.

The Software

Tecware supplies its own proprietary software for the Phantom+ Elite that you can easily download from their site. Once installed, you’re greeted by a rather small window, but looking past that, the software is decent. You get your standard affair of RGB controls, custom keymapping, macros and even a unique music effects mode.

You can choose from 10 different music effects that react to whatever audio is playing on your computer, and they all work very well. The RGB is smooth and responds well to the beat or rhythm. Unlike the Aula F65, which had a similar feature, Tecware has done a much better job here, and, hey, credit where credit is due, it looks pretty sick.

I will say that the UI is questionable, it once again seems to look a bit too gamer-focused with the text and other elements honestly being quite small. Funnily enough, the non-Elite version of this board gets a different, much nicer app that we take a look at in our other review.

What Makes It Different

There is nothing that sets the Tecware Phantom+ Elite apart from its competitors unless you consider being worse a unique trait. In all honesty, the magnetic, removable top cover is the only thing that makes this board a bit different from everything else on the market, but the cons simply outweigh any pros you can dig up for the Phantom+ Elite.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅ You like RGB. The shine-through keycaps, along with the smooth RGB effects, make it stand out on any desk.

✅ You want two looks in one. The magnetic top cover of the Phantom+ Elite can be taken off to reveal an aggressive and gamery “case-less” design.

✅ You’re fond of coiled cables, as the one Tecware includes in the box is quite nice and premium.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You’re looking for a good keyboard as the Tecware Phantom+ Elite has underwhelming sound, feel looks and features.

❌ You want smooth stabs because the stock stabilizers in the Elite+ are quite frankly terrible ,with lots of rattle and inconsistencies.

❌ You want the best value as there are several other keyboards on the market offering much better packages for the same price.

The Tecware Phantom+ Elite in all its glory (Image by T4G)

My Thoughts

The Tecware Phantom+ Elite would’ve been a decent keyboard had it come out before the Aulas and the Epomakers of today. The RGB sure looks nice, and it’s not a poorly built board, but it’s simply too outdated for what it costs and cannot realistically stand toe-to-toe with even a board off AliExpress. 

In the States, you can find the Chilkey ND75 for $89, which is an aluminium keyboard with ball-catch assembly, magnetic connectors and a screen. Not to mention actually good keycaps, switches and stabs that contribute to a solid sound. Why am I mentioning all this? Well, the MSRP of the Phantom+ Elite is only $9 less than that. I rest my case.

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Tecware Phantom+ Elite Review: Underwhelming is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Tecware Phantom+ Review: Style Over Substance? https://tech4gamers.com/tecware-phantom-plus-review/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:46:36 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=290092 Unlike its more expensive older sibling, the Phantom+ fares even worse across all our tests. It has an okay-ish typing experience for a modern prebuilt and skips on features, like wireless support, that would have been great to have, especially considering the price. The design is only for those who prefer the aggressive gamer aesthetic, as the build quality around it is not the best either.

Tecware Phantom+ Review: Style Over Substance? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]>
See full bio

Budget mechanical keyboards with the traditional “gaming” aesthetic have become a rare breed these days. The overnight revolution of the semi-custom prebuilts led by Akko, Epomaker and Aula have terraformed the market into appreciating more sober designs. Tecware seems to oppose that.

The Phantom+ and Phantom+ Elite are the company’s latest entries in the market, and they come in two sizes: an 87-key TKL version and a full-size 104-key version. The former is the cheaper wired model and that’s the one we’ll be taking a look at in this review.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Huzaifa Haroon is our keyboard expert with years of experience in building and testing custom keyboards.
  • 130+ peripherals tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 500+ hours spent testing different graphics cards for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

I will be referring to the Elite variant in this review, so make sure to read my Tecware Phantom+ Elite review as well. 

Key Takeaways
  • The Tecware Phantom+ is a subpar keyboard that lacks depth in any department other than RGB and its gamer’d-out look.
  • Buy the Phantom+ if you’re looking for something that will get the job done while looking inoffensive and well-built.
  • Avoid the Phantom+ if your goal is to buy a well-rounded keyboard that has a solid sound, feel, design, and features like wireless support.
Feature Details
Layout 87-key Tenkeyless (TKL) or 104-key (Full Size)
Switch Options Pre-installed Tecware Wraith switches (Orange, Brown, Pink, Red)
Keycaps Double-shot ABS keycaps in OEM profile
Build Quality Carbon steel plate with ABS case; sound-dampening foam and fillers
RGB Lighting 16.8 million colors per-key RGB illumination with 18 pre-set lighting modes
Connectivity Wired only (USB-C) 
Hot-Swappable Sockets 3-pin switch sockets, limited compatibility
Stabilizers Tecware-branded prelubed V3 stabilizers, plate mount
Dimensions TKL: L361 x W132 x H42mm (H51mm w/ feet) | Full-Size: L443 x W132 x H42mm
Weight 0.93kg (TKL) or 1.1kg (Full Size)
Additional Features Multi-layered foam padding, silicone spacebar filler, dual-layer fiberglass PCB
[toc]

What Makes It Different?

The Tecware Phantom+ is not different from what’s already on the market in any way. In fact, everything about it feels outdated like all the competitors have already moved on from this level of performance. So, in that weird sort of ironic way, it’s different because it’s trying to sell an older formula that doesn’t work anymore.

Unboxing Experience

The Phantom+ comes in a sturdy, well-designed cardboard box with the keyboard’s picture and name on the front indicating whether you have the TKL or full-size variant. There are tabs on the sides to open it up, and it’s one of the few keyboards that actually comes with a seal. You’ll also find a sticker in the corner showing which switch is inside.

Tecware Phantom+ box (Image by T4G)

Inside the box, you’ll find the keyboard wrapped in foam, along with a dust cover which is surprising considering the more premium Elite version doesn’t include one. Unlike the Elite, however, this version skips the fancy coiled cable. Similarly, there’s no manual inside but the bottom of the box has a nice graphic showing an exploded view of the board’s internals.

Here’s everything you get in the box:

  • 1x Phantom+ 
  • 1x USB-C Cable
  • 1x Keycap/Switch Puller
  • 4x Extra Switches
Everything the Tecware Phantom+ comes with (Image by T4G)

Design & Build 

The Tecware Phantom lineup sticks to its gamer-centric design, which feels a little outdated now, especially as many budget keyboards have transitioned to cleaner, more modern aesthetics. This model carries over the “case-less” design seen in the Elite version, where the plate sits exposed at the surface.

However, unlike the Elite, it doesn’t come with a magnetic top cover included, though the one from the Elite is fully compatible. On paper, this should mean identical build quality, but the experience tells a different story. I noticed random streaks and molding marks across the plastic body that were not present in the more premium model.

Poor molding in the Tecware Phantom+ (Image by T4G)

Without the top cover, the keyboard’s sharp, angled corners are fully exposed, and they can feel uncomfortable if your palm brushes against them. Interestingly, the seam running across the edges of the board where the plate and bottom case join is not as egregious here and, to be honest matches the aesthetic quite well.

At the back, you’ll find two flip-out feet for height adjustments, along with a Tecware sticker in the center providing some info. The side profile is very basic, but I actually prefer the raw, angular look without the cover—it gives the keyboard more character. This also leads to a very short front height of only 10mm.

The Phantom is sporting a plastic construction, but it has a surprising weight to it; there’s only about a 200g reduction due to the lack of batteries in this model. Like its older brother, this board has a rough texture on the back but smooth sides with a glossy trim angling inward toward the bottom. The metal plate is also smooth but looks gritty.

Up top, the USB-C port sits on the left side, but unlike the Elite, there’s no connection mode switch here since this version doesn’t support wireless. Strangely, the carvings of the cutout for the switch are still there, which further confirms both models share the same body mold. 

Tecware Phantom+ USB Port (Image by T4G)

Layout & Features

The Phantom+ is a wired keyboard with a TKL or tenkeyless layout which means it lacks a numpad. It uses a tray mount which is not uncommon for gamery-looking budget boards of this caliber. There are two indicator LEDs right below the nav cluster for Caps Lock and Win key lock, the latter of which is different from the power LED on the Elite mode.

Tecware Phantom+ indicator LEDs (Image by T4G)

The board features a hotswap PCB with 3-pin sockets and north-facing RGB. However, these are the mill-max looking cheapo sockets that only play nice with Outemu switches. I tried a KTT Rose and a Gateron Pro Yellow, the only two 3-pin switches I had, and the KTT fit without a problem, but the Gateron just wouldn’t go in.

Tecware Phantom+ hotswap sockets (Image by T4G)

Today, every single new switch that comes out is 5-pin, which means you’ll have to individually chop off the plastic legs of each switch before you can put them in here. Mix that with the shoddy support of whether the switch will actually fit or not, and this is just an unacceptable experience in 2024.

Anyhow, the PCB has a standard 1.6mm thickness and both the plate and PCB have no flex cuts. There are also no extra layout options. Tecware has put ample foam inside to help dampen the sound. You have your standard affair of plate foam, IXPE sheet, PCB foam and bottom case foam. 

All the layers that make up the Phantom+ | Tecware

The Fundamentals

The Phantom+ has looked anything but impressive up till this point, and unfortunately, its internals only continue the same theme. 

Switches

The Phantom keyboards come with Tecware’s own Wraith switches, and I’ve got the Browns in my config. These are a 50g factory-lubed tactile with a 63g bottom out. There is no pre-travel, as the tactile bump is right at the start of the actuation. 

Unlike their linears, there is no spring crunch here and even less stem wobble. They sound decent but tactiles are mainly about the feel. There is a nice, rounded-off tactility here which felt pretty light. Upon opening up the switch I saw that the stem had the slightest bit of lube on it, including the legs. The spring was also glistening. 

Tecware’s Brown tactile switch in the Phantom+ (Image by T4G)

The tactile bump helps mask the minor rattle produced by the somewhat loose keycap stems. The sound is otherwise not very creamy or loud. These are certainly a downgrade from something like the MMD Princess, but at least I found the sound to be very consistent across all the keys.                                                                

Keycaps

The key caps on the Phantom+ are doubleshot PBT with shine through legends and come in the standard OEM profile. Compared to the Elite version, these keycaps feature a different font, with centered legends that work better for RGB lighting. Since the LED sits right behind the translucent element, the RGB is more vibrant and consistent.

Tecware Phantom+ keycaps (Image by T4G)

The legends are crisp but thinner than usual; the Elite model benefits from thicker characters that accentuate the RGB (especially in animated effects). The texture looks gritty but is smooth and catches a lot of finger oils. Once again, this is better hidden in the white version that we had with the Elite model.

The keycaps, compared to other budget PBT offerings, are not as thick, and you can see molding marks on the edges. There is also a decent bit of wobble as the stems are not tight enough. Putting the stabilizer keycaps on a better board like the Lucky65 instantly gives this away to the point where you can just lift it up without applying much pressure.

Stabilizers

Like the more premium Phantom+ Elite, the standard Phantom+ has Tecware’s “V3” plate-mounted stabs that come pre-lubed from the factory. These are really bad and cannot be used stock, which is a shame considering how other prebuilts are packing perfect stabilizers in the same budget.

Tecware Phantom+ stabilizers (Image by T4G)

All the stabilized keys rattle, and there is significant ticking. You can take off the keycaps to visibly see the lube they put on the stabs but it’s not doing much. This is only made worse by the loose keycap sitting and the muted sound of the switches. In normal typing, the sound of the spacebar will take you out every single time.

Connectivity & Performance

The Phantom+ is not wireless, so there’s no battery inside. You can only connect it through the USB-C port. While plugged in, I didn’t notice any lag or weird issues in both gaming and typing. The latency is average, so it is not recommended for competitive gaming, but it should be fine otherwise.

Typing Experience

The typing experience is disappointing with poor stabilizers and mediocre keycaps combining to make sure you hear every bit of rattle. The tactile switches feel nice but don’t help add any positive to the sound because they simply don’t have enough character to stand out. There is the slightest hint—nay, idea—of thock but nothing solid.

The board also feels very stiff to type on due to its tray-mount structure. 

The Software

You can easily download the Phantom+ software from Tecware’s site, and if you haven’t guessed so far, this board is not VIA or QMK compatible. Anyway, the software is actually not bad at all and looks quite a bit better than the one supplied with the Elite model. The UI is still gamer-ish, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a huge improvement.

You have options for the RGB controls, which include 18 built-in effects, but for some reason, the speed is slower than on the Elite model, even if I max it out. One big advantage of this software is a real-time overlay which displays whatever RGB settings you’ve got going on as you configure it. However, there are no reactive music modes like on the Elite.

There are sections for custom keymapping and macros too. The interesting bit is in the “Others” tab where you can customize the polling rate<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>, choosing between 125, 250, 500 and 1000hz (default). There are also toggles for Win key lock, N-key rollover and swapping WASD for the arrow keys. Clicking the keyboard button in the middle opens the Windows Keyboard Properties panel if you want to configure that for some reason.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅ You’re a fan of RGB. The gamery look mixed with the shinethrough keycaps provide a nice disco show that’s pretty to look at.

✅ You’re not picky about how a board sounds or feels and just want a decent overall experience without thinking about it.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You’re after the best value. At its price point, competing keyboards offer far superior build quality, features, and overall performance.

❌ You value sound and feel as the Tecware Phantom+ struggles in both areas, with underwhelming acoustics, inconsistent typing feel, and an uninspired design.

❌ You need good stabilizers. The pre-lubed stabilizers are poorly implemented, with excessive rattle and ticking that detracts heavily from the typing experience.

The Tecware Phantom+ in all its glory (Image by T4G)

My Thoughts

For its $58 MSRP, the Tecware Phantom+ faces tough competition from companies like Aula, Epomaker, and even Royal Kludge, all of which are offering stronger options in the same price range. Sure, it’s got the design and the looks, but the remaining features are far from impressive.

For instance, if you care about the stabilizers, keycaps, switches, and even build quality, there are more choices to consider. I like the RGB, but you can get that on any modern keyboard and often with much better software. For casual users, the Phantom+ might get the job done, but in a crowded market, it struggles to truly stand out.

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Tecware Phantom+ Review: Style Over Substance? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Expert Picks: BEST AM5 Motherboards In 2024 https://tech4gamers.com/best-am5-motherboards/ Sat, 16 Nov 2024 09:44:18 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=145864 In this guide, I will walk you through the best AM5 motherboards based on power delivery, features, build quality, and value.

Expert Picks: BEST AM5 Motherboards In 2024 is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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Nauman Siddique

At Tech4Gamers, I take on the role of Hardware Reviewer with pride. My responsibilities involve a thorough examination of essential hardware components like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, and CPU coolers, among others, focusing on their complexities and functionalities.

 

 

 

See full bio

With the launch of the brand-new AM5 platform, AMD has taken a monumental leap in desktop processor technology. The new AMD AM5 platform also signals the release of the AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors, built on the new Zen 4 architecture. The AM5 motherboards bring support for innovative new technologies like DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, along with a host of new chipsets at various price points. We bring you the finest selection of AM5 motherboards based on our expert analysis and thorough hands-on testing.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
  • 40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Here’s a quick look at our selected AM5 motherboards and a brief comparison of their specs:

Motherboard
ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi
ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi
ASRock X670E Taichi
Looks
ASRock AMD X870E Taichi Lite Ryzen Socket AM5 DDR5 DIMMs 8200 256 GB X870 EATX Motherboard 5G LAN M.2 USB4 WiFi7
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Gaming Motherboard (AMD Ryzen 9000/8000/7000 Series Processors, AM5, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, M.2 Gen5, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 40Gbps, HDMI/DP, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 5Gbps LAN, ATX)
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 AMD Ryzen Socket AM5 ATX Motherboard DDR5 DIMMs 8000 MHz 256 GB SATA3 6.0 Gb/s USB4 M.2
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPU Compatible (Soket AM5) B650 Mini-ITX Motherboard
ASUS TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI AMD B650 AM5 Ryzen™ Desktop 9000 8000 and 7000 ATX motherboard, 14 power stages, PCIe® 5.0 M.2 , DDR5 memory, WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb Ethernet, USB4® support Aura Sync
ASRock X670E Taichi Support AMD AM5 RYZEN 7000 Series Processors Motherboard
Award
Best High-End AM5 Motherboard
Best Overall AM5 Motherboard
Best White AM5 Motherboard
Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard
Best Value AM5 Motherboard
Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
VRMs, design, price, build quality, performance, overclocking potential
Connectivity, performance, cold VRMs, design, EZ DIY features, MSI AI LAN manager
Capable VRMs, white aesthetics, RAM capacity, RGB lighting, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism
Active M.2 cooling, USB ports, Networking options
Affordable, Connectivity options, Build quality
Extraordinary VRM, Build quality, Storage options, 2x USB-4 Type-C ports
What We Disliked
Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot, no RGB lighting
No RGB, less SATA connectors
No debug LED, mid-range ALC4082 audio codec
Plain looks, Loud M.2 cooling fan
Plain looks, Fewer PCIe lanes than X670
Very expensive, No 10 Gigabit networking
Form Factor
E-ATX
ATX
ATX
Mini-ITX
ATX
E-ATX
Power Delivery
24+2+1
14+2+1
14+2+1
10+2+1 Phase VRM
12+2 Phase VRM
24+2+1 Phase VRM
Memory
DDR5 8,200+ (OC)
DDR5 8,400+ (OC)
DDR5 8,000+ (OC)
2x DIMM, 96GB, DDR5-6400+
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400+
4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6600+
USB Ports
12x Rear, 9x Front
11x Rear, 9x Front
11x Rear, 9x Front
8x rear, 5x internal
8x rear, 7x internal
10x rear, 9x internal
Storage
4x M.2, 6x SATA III
4x M.2, 4x SATA III
3x M.2, 4x SATA III
2x M.2, 2x SATA
3x M.2, 4x SATA
4x M.2, 8x SATA
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy On Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
-
-
Motherboard
ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
Looks
ASRock AMD X870E Taichi Lite Ryzen Socket AM5 DDR5 DIMMs 8200 256 GB X870 EATX Motherboard 5G LAN M.2 USB4 WiFi7
Award
Best High-End AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
VRMs, design, price, build quality, performance, overclocking potential
What We Disliked
Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot, no RGB lighting
Form Factor
E-ATX
Power Delivery
24+2+1
Memory
DDR5 8,200+ (OC)
USB Ports
12x Rear, 9x Front
Storage
4x M.2, 6x SATA III
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Motherboard
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Looks
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Gaming Motherboard (AMD Ryzen 9000/8000/7000 Series Processors, AM5, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, M.2 Gen5, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 40Gbps, HDMI/DP, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 5Gbps LAN, ATX)
Award
Best Overall AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
Connectivity, performance, cold VRMs, design, EZ DIY features, MSI AI LAN manager
What We Disliked
No RGB, less SATA connectors
Form Factor
ATX
Power Delivery
14+2+1
Memory
DDR5 8,400+ (OC)
USB Ports
11x Rear, 9x Front
Storage
4x M.2, 4x SATA III
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Motherboard
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi
Looks
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 AMD Ryzen Socket AM5 ATX Motherboard DDR5 DIMMs 8000 MHz 256 GB SATA3 6.0 Gb/s USB4 M.2
Award
Best White AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
Capable VRMs, white aesthetics, RAM capacity, RGB lighting, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism
What We Disliked
No debug LED, mid-range ALC4082 audio codec
Form Factor
ATX
Power Delivery
14+2+1
Memory
DDR5 8,000+ (OC)
USB Ports
11x Rear, 9x Front
Storage
3x M.2, 4x SATA III
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy On Newegg
Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Motherboard
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi
Looks
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPU Compatible (Soket AM5) B650 Mini-ITX Motherboard
Award
Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
Active M.2 cooling, USB ports, Networking options
What We Disliked
Plain looks, Loud M.2 cooling fan
Form Factor
Mini-ITX
Power Delivery
10+2+1 Phase VRM
Memory
2x DIMM, 96GB, DDR5-6400+
USB Ports
8x rear, 5x internal
Storage
2x M.2, 2x SATA
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Review
Read Our Hands-On Review
Motherboard
ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi
Looks
ASUS TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI AMD B650 AM5 Ryzen™ Desktop 9000 8000 and 7000 ATX motherboard, 14 power stages, PCIe® 5.0 M.2 , DDR5 memory, WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb Ethernet, USB4® support Aura Sync
Award
Best Value AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
Affordable, Connectivity options, Build quality
What We Disliked
Plain looks, Fewer PCIe lanes than X670
Form Factor
ATX
Power Delivery
12+2 Phase VRM
Memory
4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400+
USB Ports
8x rear, 7x internal
Storage
3x M.2, 4x SATA
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Review
-
Motherboard
ASRock X670E Taichi
Looks
ASRock X670E Taichi Support AMD AM5 RYZEN 7000 Series Processors Motherboard
Award
Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard
What We Liked
Extraordinary VRM, Build quality, Storage options, 2x USB-4 Type-C ports
What We Disliked
Very expensive, No 10 Gigabit networking
Form Factor
E-ATX
Power Delivery
24+2+1 Phase VRM
Memory
4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6600+
USB Ports
10x rear, 9x internal
Storage
4x M.2, 8x SATA
RGB
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Review
-

Last Updated:

  • November 16, 2024: Replaced the X670E Aorus Master with the X870E Taichi Lite. Similarly, we removed the X670E Tomahawk WiFi Gaming and added the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi. Lastly, for the best white motherboard, we replaced the ASUS Prime X670-P WiFi with the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi.
  • May 5, 2024: We have changed the formatting to improve readability.
  • November 20, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.
[toc]

We have tested more motherboards for Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series CPUs:

Best AM5 Motherboards

Here is a selection of the best AM5 motherboards based on my hands-on testing and expert analysis:

  1. Best High-End: ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
  2. Best Overall: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
  3. Best White: ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi
  4. Best Value: ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi
  5. Best Overclocking: ASRock X670E Taichi
  6. Best Mini-ITX: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Best High-End AM5 Motherboard

Chipset: AMD X870E | Form Factor: E-ATX | Power Delivery: 24+2+1 | Memory Support: DDR5 8,200+ (OC) | Display Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 Ports | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 9x Front | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA III | Networking: WiFi 7, Realtek 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4

Pros

  • Premium-class 24+2+1 VRM setup
  • Unique design
  • Great price for a high-end motherboard
  • Sturdy build quality
  • Impeccable performance
  • Decent overclocking potential

Cons

  • Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot
  • No RGB lighting
Check Price

Read Our ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Motherboard Review

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is my favorite motherboard and go-to for any high-end AM5 CPU. Whether buying the latest Ryzen 7 9800X3D or a simple Ryzen 9 7950X, the motherboard will provide sufficient and stable power to run all your tasks smoothly. The secret of the motherboard lies within its 24+2+1 VRM phase. During my dedicated testing, the motherboard won against all of its competition, even though only by a small margin in all tests.

Besides its performance, I also love this motherboard’s aesthetics. It features a unique design choice on the heatsink but lacks RGB lighting. It also has good connectivity, decent storage options, and a fantastic price for its features. However, only having one PCIe 5.0 slot is sad for an E-ATX motherboard, right? There’s not much I dislike about the motherboard; you’re getting good USB support (12x rear, 9x front), including 2x USB4.0 ports, so you shouldn’t miss out on much.

Here’s how I summarized the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite in my in-depth review of the motherboard while it was on my test bench:

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is a $399 powerhouse with a VRM setup (24+2+1, 110A SPS for VCore and SoC) that can compete with enthusiast-class boards. That’s not its only attraction; the board has a fascinating design, multiple handy features, and excellent connectivity options, with USB4 and WiFi 7 being the icing on the cake. Circling back to the price, this is a great option among X870E boards.

✅Buy It If
You want a motherboard with a large power phase: If you need a motherboard with a larger power phase to support your work requirements, the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite should be your go-to choice because of its sturdy 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS. The motherboard can easily handle all workloads without any fluctuations or issues.

You need more USB ports: The motherboard supports 21 USB ports (12x rear and 9x front), giving you enough support for all your peripherals and USB devices. You won’t run out of USB ports if you want more external drives, sound cards, or anything else.

❌Don't Buy It If
You have an incompatible chassis: I don’t recommend purchasing this motherboard if you have an incompatible chassis. Because the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is an E-ATX motherboard, it may not fit in all PC cases, so do your research beforehand to avoid compatibility issues.

What Makes It The Best High-End AM5 Motherboard?

What makes the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite motherboard exceptional is its performance, build quality, and stable power delivery thanks to its 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS, USB connectivity, and storage options. Moreover, it has decent overclocking potential for high-end CPUs, including the latest Ryzen 7 9800X3D powerhouse. Coupled with all that is its impressive pricing, which makes it the best high-end AM5 motherboard.

Editor`s Note
Image

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is my favorite motherboard on this list because of its affordable price tag, exceptional performance, impeccable overclocking potential, and sturdy VRMs. It has no USB connectivity or storage option issues for most use cases. If you’re using a high-end Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series CPU, I highly recommend you pair it with this motherboard.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 10/10 Value: 9/10
Features: 9/10 Design: 8/10

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

Best Overall AM5 Motherboard

Chipset: AMD X870 | Form Factor: ATX | Power Delivery: 14+2+1 | Memory Support: DDR5 8,400+ (OC) | Display Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x Type-C DisplayPort, USB4 Port, DisplayPort 1.4 | USB Ports: 11x Rear, 9x Front | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA III | Networking: WiFi 7, Realtek 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4

Pros

  • Decent connectivity options
  • Solid performance
  • Cool running VRMs
  • Beautiful design
  • A wealth of EZ DIY features
  • MSI AI LAN manager
  • Remarkable overclocking opportunities

Cons

  • No RGB
  • I would have preferred more SATA connectors
Check Price

Read Our MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard Review

The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a high-end motherboard with sturdy build quality, impressive connectivity options, and a beautiful design, albeit with a lack of RGB lighting, making its inclusion on the list self-explanatory. Regarding its performance, its 14+2+1 VRMs perform decently well in gaming and productivity tasks, and they also allow good overclocking opportunities for high-end AM5 socket CPUs. During my testing, the VRMs never exceeded 54°C, making it one of the coldest motherboards on my list.

I also love the user-friendly design of the motherboard. For example, you get many EZ DIY features and mechanisms, making PC building more effortless than ever before. The MSI AI LAN manager tool is a godsend for gamers who are always looking for the lowest ping during competitive gameplay. Regarding the motherboard’s connectivity, you’re getting 11x rear and 9x front USB connectors, so you won’t have to worry about that. However, I would have preferred more than four SATA III connectors from a slightly expensive motherboard.

Being pleased with the motherboard, I didn’t have much to criticize against it in my review. Here’s what I commented about its performance and value:

The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a motherboard costing $299, making it one of the pricier boards so far. For that, it offers reasonably capable VRMs, a minimalist black theme without RGB, a ton of EZ-DIY features to make life easier, and good overall performance. The EZ-DIY features are the highlight for us, but we feel the price tag is still a bit too high, especially given the board’s shared connectivity complications.

✅Buy It If
You play competitively: I recommend the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard for everyone who plays competitively. You are looking for top-of-the-line internet, and with this motherboard’s AI LAN manager tool, you’ll always get the lowest ping without having to do anything manually. The tool ensures you get a buttery smooth gameplay experience at all times.

You’re looking for convenience during PC building: If you’re new to PC building and don’t want to mess up, this motherboard’s EZ DIY features and mechanisms will make your life much easier during the entire process. With features such as EZ PCIe release, EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II, EZ M.2 Clip (II), EZ Conn-Design, and more, you’ll be done building your PC in a jiffy!

❌Don't Buy It If
You don’t require the latest I/O: I don’t recommend buying this motherboard if you don’t require the latest features like WiFi 7 and USB4.0 because of the motherboard’s price. Buying a B650 or B670 for a more affordable price will allow you to spend the extra cash on another component.

What Makes It The Best Overall AM5 Motherboard?

With its superb performance, excellent overclocking potential, and versatile feature set, including many EZ DIY features, mechanisms, and more, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is the best overall AM5 motherboard you can buy. The 14+2+1 VRM phase doesn’t go above 54°C, and with the MSI AI LAN manager tool, you won’t have to worry about your internet connection either.

Performance: 9/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 10/10 Design: 9/10

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

Best White AM5 Motherboard

Chipset: AMD X870 | Form Factor: ATX | Power Delivery: 14+2+1 | Memory Support: DDR5 8,000+ (OC) | Display Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 Ports, 1x DisplayPort 1.4 | USB Ports: 11x Rear, 9x Front | Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA III | Networking: WiFi 7, Realtek 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4

Pros

  • Capable 14+2+1 VRM phase
  • Beautiful white aesthetics
  • Incredible RAM capacity
  • Distinctive design featuring modest RGB lighting
  • M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

Cons

  • No debug LED
  • Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec
Check Price

Read Our ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi Motherboard Review

Need a high-end white motherboard for your new AM5 socket CPU? Whether using a midrange Ryzen 7 7700X or the flagship Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi provides stable power delivery thanks to its 14+2+1 VRM phases. During my testing with the Ryzen 9 9900X, the motherboard’s power consumption was the lowest at 362W under max load. On the other hand, the temperatures could be lower at 64°C in Cinebench 2024, but there’s nothing to be concerned about.

Along with its superior performance, the motherboard also sports a beautiful white design with modest RGB lighting over the heatsinks, making it a perfect fit if you’re building a white PC. On the other hand, unlike other X870 motherboards, the Steel Legend WiFi doesn’t have that many EZ DIY features, making it less accessible for new PC builders. Moreover, I wasn’t pleased with the mid-range ALC4082 audio codec, although it won’t matter unless you’re an audiophile.

I fell in love with the motherboard’s aesthetics, value, and performance when I saw it installed on my test rig. Here’s what I commented about it in my review:

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend looks great, is priced fairly, and has enough connectivity for most users. It features a 14+2+1 VRM setup (80A SPS for VCore + SOC), which means you can comfortably run even the most demanding Ryzen CPUs on it. It also provides some convenient features like the toolless M.2 heatsink removal and anti-drop screws. Most of all, though, it’s a great board for getting onto the latest platform without breaking the bank.

✅Buy It If
You want the latest features on a lower budget: If you don’t have a high budget but want all the latest gizmos on your motherboard, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi will help you get WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB4.0 while keeping your wallet hot. On top of that, you’ll get a few DIY EZ features to simplify building your PC.

You need a well-rounded white motherboard: Are you building a new PC on the AM5 chipset with a white theme in mind? If so, this motherboard is the best white offering for the chipset in terms of pricing, performance, and features. You won’t regret making this purchase for your white PC.

❌Don't Buy It If
You need more convenience: Unfortunately, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard lacks some of the convenient design features that its competitors usually offer, such as an EZ debug LED and EZ PCIe release to troubleshoot the PC and install components quickly.

You’re an audiophile who wants high-quality audio features: If you’re a professional audio editor or audiophile who can easily feel the difference between audio qualities, I don’t recommend this motherboard because it only features a mid-range ALC4082 audio codec.

What Makes It The Best White AM5 Motherboard?

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard provides impeccable performance, decent overclocking support for Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, and beautiful white aesthetics with slight RGB lighting, which makes it the best white AM5 motherboard. Coupled with that, I love its lower price, making it more accessible for budget gamers.

Performance: 9/10 Value: 9/10
Features: 7/10 Design: 10/10

ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi

Best Value AM5 Motherboard

Chipset: B650 | Form Factor: ATX | Power Delivery: 12+2 Phase VRM | Memory Support: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400+ | Display Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear, 7x internal | Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA | Networking: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6

Pros

  • Quite affordable
  • Robust power delivery
  • Versatile connectivity options
  • Superb build quality

Cons

  • Plain looks
  • Fewer PCIe lanes than X670
Check Price

The TUF Gaming lineup of products from ASUS has its own distinct design language, and the B650-PLUS is an extension of that simplistic trend. The overall aesthetic of the board is quite understated and stealthy, while the overbuilt heatsinks betray a sense of ruggedness that is synonymous with the TUF brand. The TUF Gaming B650-PLUS is offered with a 12+2 phase VRM design with 60A power stages, which is a very respectable configuration for AM5 CPUs. My testing validates that this configuration can handle overclocking on the majority of Ryzen 7000 series CPUs without any issue, while the cooling system is top-notch as well.

The board retains its PCIe 5.0 connectivity in one of the three M.2 slots, while you also get 4 SATA ports for your classic drives. Networking is pretty standard, with a 2.5 GbE LAN port along with WiFi 6 for wireless connectivity. On the rear I/O, the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps port stands out immediately.

PRO TIP: Use the ASUS AURA Sync utility to configure the RGB lighting of this motherboard.
✅Buy It If

You want the best value for money: The TUF Gaming B650-PLUS maximizes the price-to-performance factor and checks a lot of boxes at an affordable price.

You want a reliable motherboard: With unique TUF components and additional durability features, the B650-PLUS is one of the most durable AM5 motherboards.

❌Don't Buy It If

You want RGB lighting: Although it looks quite nice already, a touch of RGB lighting could have improved the aesthetics of the TUF B650-PLUS.

What Makes It The Best Value AM5 Motherboard?

The affordable price point, solid build quality, versatile features, and superb value for money make the ASUS TUF B650-PLUS the best value AM5 motherboard.

Related: Best B650 Motherboards

Performance: 8/10 Value: 10/10
Features: 8/10 Design: 7/10

ASRock X670E Taichi

Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard

Chipset: X670 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Power Delivery: 24+2+1 Phase VRM | Memory Support: 4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6600+ | Display Outputs: HDMI, 2x USB-C | USB Ports: 10x rear, 9x internal | Storage: 4x M.2, 8x SATA | Networking: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E

Pros

  • Extraordinary 24-phase VRM
  • Superb build quality
  • Loads of storage options
  • Two USB-4 Type-C ports

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • No 10 Gigabit networking
Check Price

ASRock’s Taichi motherboards have a very distinct and daring design language that is also present in the X670E iteration. The PCB is almost entirely covered by huge black heat spreaders with some unique design elements on them. The 8-layer, server-grade ultra-low loss PCB ensures exceptional signal reliability. ASRock has equipped this board with a 24+2+1 phase VRM design with 105A power stages for the VCORE and 105A power stages for the SOC. This is an extremely impressive configuration that, according to my testing, can handle competitive overclocking on even the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X with ease.

On the rear I/O, the two USB 4 Type-C ports immediately stand out, as do the two USB 3.2 “Lightning Gaming” ports. The Taichi offers 4 M.2 slots and 8 SATA 6 Gbps ports for your storage needs, and networking is handled by a 2.5 GbE LAN port as well as WiFi 6E.

WARNING: If you’re planning on overclocking your CPU, make sure your CPU cooler is up to the task as well.
✅Buy It If

You want to overclock your Ryzen CPU: The superb 24+2+1 phase VRM design of the X670E Taichi makes it the ideal choice for overclocking according to my test results, especially if you have a premium Ryzen 7000 series CPU.

❌Don't Buy It If

You have a limited budget: The ASRock X670E Taichi will definitely make a noticeable impact on your savings.

What Makes It The Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard?

The ASRock X670E Taichi is the best overclocking AM5 motherboard thanks to its extraordinary 24+2+1 phase VRM design with 105A power stages, coupled with a fantastic active cooling solution and robust 8-layer PCB.

Performance: 10/10 Value: 7/10
Features: 10/10 Design: 8/10

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard

Chipset: B650 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Power Delivery: 10+2+1 Phase VRM | Memory Support: 2x DIMM, 96GB, DDR5-6400+ | Display Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear, 5x internal | Storage: 2x M.2, 2x SATA | Networking: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E

Pros

  • Ideal for compact PCs
  • Active M.2 cooling
  • Loads of USB ports
  • Decent networking options

Cons

  • Plain looks
  • Loud M.2 cooling fan
Check Price

Read Our ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi Review

The B650E PG-ITX is quite simplistic in its design approach, and that is a perfectly fine choice. The PCB is black with massive heatsinks in the same color, while the I/O cover has a dash of red and silver on the side. The board has a 10-layer server-grade low-loss PCB that ensures maximum signal integrity. With its 10+2+1 phase design with 105A power stages, the B650E PG-ITX is a great choice for overclocking mid-range AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. In my testing, the MOSFETs were operating at around 60C after a one-hour all-core stress test with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, showcasing the impressive cooling solution of the board.

Despite being a compact board, the ASRock B650E PG-ITX delivers two M.2 slots and two SATA ports for your storage needs. Networking is pretty standard, with a 2.5 GbE LAN port and WiFi 6E capability. The rear I/O is rather well-equipped for a mini-ITX motherboard, especially with the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port.

We asked our trusted motherboard expert, Nauman Siddique, for his perspective on the ASRock B650E PG-ITX.

“It is a tiny beast featuring an AM5 platform with a plethora of features and efficient cooling for key components”.

✅Buy It If

You want a compact motherboard: The ASRock B650E PG-ITX is the motherboard to pick if you’re building a small form factor (SFF) gaming PC.

❌Don't Buy It If

You want RGB lighting: Although a nice-looking motherboard, the B650E PG-ITX lacks a splash of RGB lighting.

What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard?

Since it offers superb features, robust power delivery, and active M.2 cooling in a compact size, the ASRock B650E PG-ITX is the best mini-ITX AM5 motherboard out there.

PRO TIP: Buying a mini-ITX motherboard? Be sure to cross-check the compatibility of your PC case with your motherboard.
Performance: 8/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 8/10 Design: 7/10

How We Tested & Picked The Best AM5 Motherboards

Here are some key factors that you should consider when shopping for an AM5 motherboard.

  • VRM and Overclocking: A robust VRM design with adequate power phases ensures stable and efficient power delivery to your components, especially the CPU. Consider the number of power phases, their configuration, the quality of underlying components, and the capacity of the power stages.
  • Chipset choice: In the process of buying a new AM5 motherboard, the choice between X670 vs. B650 is crucial as it determines the features and capabilities of the motherboard. Different chipsets offer varying levels of connectivity options, such as PCIe lanes, SATA ports, and M.2 slots, allowing you to connect various devices and expand your system.
  • Features: When you’re in the market for a new motherboard, it is crucial to consider its feature set, including networking, storage capabilities, and USB connectivity. Networking features determine your system’s connectivity options, while the storage options affect your ability to configure high-speed storage solutions.
  • Aesthetics: In addition to the technical specifications, the design and aesthetics of a motherboard should also be considered. The motherboard serves as the centerpiece of your PC build, and its visual appeal can enhance the overall aesthetics of your system. Factors to consider include the color scheme, lighting options, and overall design elements.
  • Value For Money: When choosing a motherboard, it’s important to consider the value for money it offers rather than solely focusing on the price tag. It’s essential to strike a balance between the price and the features, performance, and durability you require for your specific needs.

FAQs

Can you run DDR4 on AM5?

You cannot run DDR4 memory on AM5 motherboards. The new AM5 platform only supports DDR5 memory on all its chipsets.

Is Ryzen 5000 compatible with AM5?

AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPUs are not compatible with AM5 motherboards. They are compatible with the AM4 socket, while the AM5 motherboards use the new AM5 socket. Moreover, the CPUs have pins on them that are not physically compatible with the socket.

What chipset is AM5?

The AM5 motherboards come with 2 different chipsets, X670 and B650. Both these chipsets have 2 variants (X670E and X670, B650E and B650) which offer different connectivity and expansion features.

What socket does AM5 use?

The AM5 motherboards use the brand-new AMD AM5 socket. It is a Land Grid Array (LGA) socket with 1718 pins instead of the old Pin Grid Array (PGA) socket that was present on AM4 motherboards.

Is X670E better than X670?

X670E is better than X670 since it offers more connectivity options and better overclocking support. There are 24 PCIe 5.0 lanes in X670E versus only 8 PCIe 5.0 lanes in X670. Moreover, X670E motherboards have better power delivery capabilities for overclocking.

We have tested even more AM5 motherboards:

 

Expert Picks: BEST AM5 Motherboards In 2024 is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Aula F65 Review: How Dare You Stand Where He Stood? https://tech4gamers.com/aula-f65-review/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:22:56 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=287856 Aula F65 is a good budget keyboard but not quite the homerun we’ve come to expect from Aula. While the fundamentals are all there, the clunky software and unimpressive wireless performance let it down. Regardless, it sounds great with the same excellent stock stabs and premium keycaps. If all you want is a solid keyboard that types well and you’re set on the 65% form factor, the F65 is still a reliable choice.

Aula F65 Review: How Dare You Stand Where He Stood? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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See full bio

Aula has produced some of the most well-reviewed budget keyboards of the past year. The F75 has become downright legendary in its status, joining the likes of the TM680 and GMK67 as the most prolific options in this class, boards that dictated or changed the status quo for everything else around them.

Now, Aula is back with their latest entry in the F-series with the Aula F65. A new keyboard that looks to build upon the gargantuan success of its older brothers — the Aula F75 and the Aula F87 Pro. So, is this a faltering attempt by Aula to grasp a previously unexplored niche, or does it have enough to stand among the greats? 

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Huzaifa Haroon is our keyboard expert with years of experience in building and testing custom keyboards.
  • 130+ peripherals tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 500+ hours spent testing different graphics cards for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Key Takeaways

  • The Aula F65 is a competent budget keyboard from a recognizable brand that brings forward a lot of the same great features found in its contemporaries.
  • Buy the Aula F65 if you’re looking for a well-built 65% keyboard that’s affordable without compromising on the basics like sound and feel.
  • Avoid the Aula F65 if wireless performance is imperative to your playstyle and you can’t adjust to unrefined software.
[toc]

What Makes The Aula F65 Stand Out?

The Aula F65 is a bog-standard mechanical keyboard with no features that make it unique except for the Aula brand name. That brings a lot of goodwill and thankfully the F65 doesn’t dishonor that legacy. You’re getting high-quality switches, keycaps, and stabilizers here, paired with a well-built case that feels better than it costs.

Unboxing Experience

The Aula F65 comes in a straightforward no-frills box with plenty of branding all over. This is another one of the Epomaker branded Aula keyboards, so it’s called Epomaker x Aula F65 but make no mistake, Aula is the one who made this while Epomaker is just a distributor. Anyhow, there are tabs on either side of the box to get in.

The box has Epomaker x Aula branding with a cartoon character up front (Image by T4G)

Once inside, you’ll be greeted to the manual and instructions card with the board sitting underneath, wrapped in plastic. No dust over provided. The accessories lie isolated at the top in their own section aptly labeled “Additional Accessories” but with a rather nice-looking font and some arrows, strange detail I know but I liked it.

Here’s everything you get in the box:

  • 1x Aula F75
  • 1x Keycap/Switch Puller
  • 1x USB-C Cable 
  • 2x Extra Switches 
  • 1x Instructions Card
  • 1x Manual
You don’t get a lot with the Aula F65 (Image by T4G)

Build & Design

The Aula F65 looks eerily similar to all the other Aula F-series boards, as it should. We have the classic white and blue colorway, which is identical to the same colorway on the Aula F75 and F87 Pro. The board is made out of plastic but doesn’t feel cheap at all and there’s no case flex or creaking either. It’s not as heavy, though, at only around 800 grams.

The front is clean and simple with no distractions (Image by T4G)

The entire front of the board has a lip going around the perimeter, once again akin to the F75, and it adds a bit of flair to the board. The bezels are even, which I appreciate, and there are no indicator LEDs or printed symbols anywhere. The typing angle here is 6.5 degrees, with a front height of about 20mm. Toward the top, there’s even a dedicated magnetic slot for the USB receiver right next to the USB port and the connection switch.

The USB receiver sits nicely in its magnetic holder (Image by T4G)

The side profile is somewhat fancy with RGB strips running down on both sides and they’re diffused very well. There’s a subtle downthrow from these lights onto your desk which is only visible in dark conditions, but it still looks nice. The plastic has a layered look such that it appears to peel back to reveal the RGB before curving downwards into the back of the case.

The side profile is a bit more unique than usual, with some RGB flair (Image by T4G)

Speaking of which the back is very simple with no flip-out feet and an Aula logo sticker in the middle. The case is constructed curve outwards into the side profile which then joins the top so, in a way, it gives the board a floating look from the front. Overall, a sleek aesthetic that’d work in both casual home environments and professional office ones.

The badge honestly looks nicer than I initially thought (Image by T4G)

Layout & Features

Aula F65 is a wireless keyboard—through both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth—sporting a 65% layout. It’s fully hot-swap with south-facing sockets that support per-key RGB. There is no knob, screen, or any other gimmick, which is a nice change of pace, but it does mean less surface-level value compared to Aula F75 or something like the Epomaker Shadow-X.

The board is gasket mounted using little silicone beans that sit on the edges of the plate. They’re not soft so the typing experience isn’t exactly bouncy. More on this later. The plate is made out of polycarbonate and has a lot of flex cuts, just like the PCB which is only 1.2mm thick and has no extra layout options like ISO support or stepped caps.

The insides of the Aula F65 | Epomaker

There’s plenty of foam inside to dampen everything. You get your standard affair of plate foam, the IXPE sheet and some bottom PCB foam (like a pseudo tape mod). There is also a PET sheet included which boosts the high-end frequencies. Lastly, there’s some foam underneath the PCB along with a silicone pad in the very bottom of the case.

The Fundamentals

Now let’s talk about the parts that make up the sum of the Aula F65 and judge whether it’s worth it or not.

Switches

The Aula F65 comes in three different switches: Leobog Reaper, Leobog Graywood V3 and Epomaker Flamingo; all linears but we have the Flamingos in our unit. These are 47g switches with a bottom out of 60g, so they feel light and snappy. The dual-stage spring ensures the stem shoots back up quickly after the key is pressed.

These switches are factory-lubed with good consistency, and I don’t hear any spring ping, but there is a subtle hint of crunch, especially if you hit it hard. They also have noticeable stem wobble that is likely exacerbated due to the box-style stem with walls. This is not a big deal by any means and is unbothersome in regular typing.

Epomaker Flamingos are decent stock linears (Image by T4G)

Overall, these are solid linears with a creamy sound signature that leans towards that “thock” many beginners want. But it’s not quite as deep or low-pitched, which I actually appreciate. I tried them in a foamless Lucky65 build with GMK keycaps, and they sounded quiet with an increased spring crunch. Aula did a good job pairing them with a foamed-up board.

Keycaps

The F65 comes with the same great doubleshot PBT keycaps found in other Aula boards. They’re thick, made out of PBT, have clear and sharp legends with no imperfections. It’s a standard Cherry profile so quite comfortable but keep in mind there are no extras in the box. 

The keycaps are certainly a highlight of the F65 (Image by T4G)

Compared to GMK keycaps, they have a much smoother texture with a less gritty appearance. Sound-wise they fit the deep, low-pitched crowd pretty well, but they’re not too far gone like MOA or MT3 and certainly not as clacky as ABS. Just some high-quality keycaps that you won’t need to switch out anytime soon.

Stabilizers

Just like we see on other Aula boards, the F65 has plate-mounted stabs that come pre-lubed from the factory and they’re virtually perfect. There is no rattle or ticking and they have a nice, consistent bottom out. The Enter key is significantly thockier than all the other stabs. There is also no support for PCB-mounted stabs, not that you’ll ever need them.

The stock stabilizers are practically perfect from the factory (Image by T4G)

Performance & Connectivity

You can use the Aula F65 wired through USB-C or wirelessly through Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz radio. For competitive gaming, I’d suggest plugging in as the wireless latency is quite high and I did feel just a slight bit of lag. There were no disconnection issues. The wired latency is much better and feels perfect for both typing and playing.

Aula has put a 4000mAh battery inside the F65 and it lasts all day with the RGB on. Without the RGB, you can expect about a week of usage before it dies. The battery life is on par with other budget boards in this segment and tends to trail on the higher side actually. Charging the board from 0-100 takes about 7 hours.

Typing Experience

The board has a creamy sound signature but it’s not dead, like I can still hear the switches, and that extra bit of added liveliness is what makes like Aula’s boards the most in this category. They don’t go for a completely muted sound but rather a rounded-off sound that’s more mature.

Epomaker also sent us two extra switches along with the F65: Epomaker Wisteria and Leobog Reaper. Both of them come packaged in a jar, but the Wisterias have their own box on top. They share mostly the same specs, too, both 47g factory-lubed linears with a standard spring that allows for 3.6mm of total travel.

I was significantly impressed with the Wisteria switches and their smoothness. They felt like a louder MMD Princess linear and certainly an upgrade over the Flamingos. All that spring crunch was gone, reduced stem wobble, and an uber-satisfying creamy sound. These feel a bit lighter due to the less initial force required to actuate them.

The Leobog Reapers, on the other hand, are more similar to the Flamingos. Still, their use of a standard spring and tighter housing allows them to sound better. They feel a bit lighter as well due to the 55g bottom out force instead of the 60g on the Flamingos. Overall, it’s another great option that you can also buy separately for pretty cheap.

The Software

The software experience of the Aula F65 is interesting to say the least. You can easily get it from Epomaker’s site and one thing I immediately liked was that it works in the wireless mode as well; you don’t need to be plugged in like most other budget boards.

The UI is clunky, not very polished but not terrible either. You do get all the features you need though, like key mapping, macros, plenty of RGB effects and even finer adjustments like debounce delay, which is great. The RGB isn’t controllable per-key and every change needs to be saved (which takes 3 seconds) before you can see it on the keyboard.

There is an additional tab for audio effects where the board will pick up system audio and have the RGB react to it. There’s a bunch of different effects to choose from, all of them are distinct on paper but on the board itself the transitions between each LED are somewhat abrupt even after maxing out the smoothness slider.

Another issue I noticed that you have to be very specific with these audio effects. If you have one running, you must turn it off first before switching to another or else the software will crash. Changing between them also takes a bit longer than I’d like and you cannot control the brightness here like with standard RGB effects, but you can pick the colors.

Overall, this is far from the maturity you’d see in something like Wootility or the deep integration in Synapse, but it’s better than nothing. I’ll put this on par with the software Weikav bundles with the Lucky65 V1. The great thing is you won’t need to use it much as all the RGB is configurable through Fn key shortcuts, like on every other board ever, and the Epomaker co-branding at least helps produce nicer manuals to help with that.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅You want a well-rounded 65% keyboard on the budget that sounds and feels good without cutting any corners in build.

✅You prefer minimalistic designs that stick to the classic formulas instead of muddying up the aesthetic.

✅You’re a beginner looking to enter the keyboard hobby. The Aula F65 is a great start that can open up more opportunities thanks to its hot-swap PCB and standard layout.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌You’re a competitive gamer looking for a wireless keyboard that doesn’t break the bank, as the latency is on the higher side.

❌You want something extra like a screen or a knob to spice up the simple layout and get more value out of your purchase.

❌You appreciate good software as the experience here is underwhelming.

The RGB looks pretty slick with the white case and keycaps (Image by T4G)

My Thoughts

The Aula F65 is another solid entry into Aula’s lineup of F-series keyboards, and it stands tall amongst the myriads of budget keyboards out there. But with faltering wireless performance, no extras like a volume knob to make it stand out, and unintuitive software, this is certainly not the best budget 65% keyboard you can get.

I would highly suggest saving up just a bit more and opting for a fully custom Lucky65 build or a prebuilt Womier SK65 or even a Yunzi AL-series keyboard if you’re after this form factor. Otherwise, stick with the Aula F75 or F87 Pro if you want a more reliable experience. If you crave a bit of novelty, the Epomaker Shadow-X is another great option.

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Aula F65 Review: How Dare You Stand Where He Stood? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review: New Architecture, Familiar Flaws https://tech4gamers.com/intel-core-ultra-5-245k-review/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 19:34:47 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=286495 The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K offers decent performance at a considerable price range. It is equipped with the latest architecture and has great power efficiency. Moreover, it delivers satisfactory performance in multi-core tasks and handles everyday applications smoothly. However, its gaming performance, while adequate, doesn’t quite match up to competitors in the same price range. Therefore, users seeking balanced productivity can consider this an option. However, gamers should look elsewhere for better performance in highly demanding games.

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review: New Architecture, Familiar Flaws is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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Sajjad Hussain

As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.

See full bio

The Core Ultra 5 245K, Intel’s latest release and the follow-up to the outstanding Core i5-14600K, is up for review today. It follows in the footsteps of many popular Intel CPU variants. This desktop processor from Arrow Lake sits between the enthusiast Core Ultra 9 285K and Core Ultra 7 265K while eventually aiming to replace the 14th Gen Core i5 series.

Historically, AMD hasn’t dominated with Ryzen processors from the same class. Therefore, in this review, it will be exciting to see how comparative processors from both companies would fare with each other. The Core Ultra 5 245K is currently priced at $310, and if you’re not concerned with integrated graphics, you can save an additional $15 and get Intel’s Core Ultra 5 245KF instead of the 245K.

This processor will compete head-on with AMD’s Ryzen 5 9600X and maybe even Ryzen 7 9700X. With an 8-core/16-thread AMD CPU and a 14-core/14-thread Intel one, with 8 of those cores being E-cores, you have an intriguing decision to make between these options. I can’t wait to compare the two and other CPUs in this category for productivity and gaming. Let’s dive in. 

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
  • 50+ CPUs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 800+ hours spent testing different processors for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test processors).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Key Takeaways

  • The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is a decent processor, performing well in rendering and multi-core workloads while offering outstanding power efficiency. With its advanced architecture and high core count, it performs exceptionally well in demanding software applications.
  • You can consider buying the Core Ultra 5 245K if you need excellent multi-core performance for tasks like rendering or if you are the one that works a lot with software since you will benefit from its high core and thread counts without worrying about power consumption.
  • You should not buy the Core Ultra 5 245K if you are looking for a value-oriented option in this price segment since it delivers subpar results compared to its competitors in gaming benchmarks with similar or lower prices.

Let’s compare the specifications of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K to those of other CPUs that cost about the same.

Product Core Ultra 5 245K                Core i5-14600K Ryzen 5 9600X  Ryzen 7 9700X
Manufacturer Intel Intel AMD AMD
Price $310     $260     $250     $330    
No of Cores 6+8 6+8 6 8
No of Threads 14 20 12 16
Base Frequency 4.2 / 3.6 GHz    3.5 / 2.6 GHz    3.9 GHz               3.8 GHz              
Max Frequency 5.2 / 4.6 GHz    5.3 / 4.0 GHz    5.4 GHz               5.5 GHz              
Processing Node 3 nm 10 nm   4 nm     4 nm    
L3 Cache 24 MB   24 MB   32 MB   32 MB  
TDP 159 W   125 W   65 W     65 W    
Architecture Arrow Lake        Raptor Lake      Zen 5     Zen 5    
Socket LGA 1851 LGA 1700 AM5 AM5
[toc]

Arrow Lake Architecture and Design

Arrow Lake Architecture and Design
Arrow Lake Architecture and Design

Before getting directly into the benchmark results, let’s first have a look at some of the Core Ultra 5 245K’s main specifications. With Intel’s shift to state-of-the-art TSMC 3 nm manufacturing, the Arrow Lake microarchitecture aims to improve all essential processor IP blocks, including the GPU, CPU cores, and the platform I/O interfaces.

Now that Intel’s mobile platform Meteor Lake and server platform Sapphire Rapids have accomplished this transition, it’s making its way to desktop processors. An attempt is made to provide thermals and energy efficiency that surpass Raptor Lake’s 10 nm design. The core configuration of the Core Ultra 5 245K is 6P+8E; six performance cores are from Lion Cove, and eight efficiency cores are from Skymont.

Intel-Core-Ultra-5-245K-Processor
Core Ultra 5 245K

They share a 24 MB L3 cache, and both types of cores reside in the same CPU core complex. Skymont has been the talk of the town since its Lunar Lake debut for providing an IPC improvement of 50% over Crestmont, putting its performance in the category of P-cores. In addition, Intel asserts that the Lion Cove P-core offers a generational IPC improvement above Raptor Cove. This can really make the Core Ultra 5 245K an excellent choice.

Intel’s Foveros Tile-based Chip Technology

Intel's Foveros Tile-based Chip Technology
Intel’s Foveros Tile-based Chip Technology

It is Intel’s first desktop CPU to use its IDM 2.0 product development approach, which involves using industry-leading foundry nodes and developing IP blocks on the most cost-effective node Intel can find for an agreed-upon performance and price objective. Built on independent foundry nodes, Intel’s Foveros tile-based chip technology combines the iGPU, CPU complex, and the processor’s remaining parts, including the I/O components.

Henceforth, Intel achieved its first technological advantage over AMD in five years thanks to the Compute tile containing the CPU complex. The tile is manufactured on a TSMC 3 nm EUV node. The most surprising addition to this processor is the inclusion of an NPU. Even though it falls short of Microsoft Copilot+ requirements, it still offers a number of useful capabilities since it is Intel’s first desktop processor generation that includes a 13 TOPS NPU.

Performance and Efficiency Core Frequencies

Performance and Efficiency Core Frequencies
Performance and Efficiency Core Frequencies

Core Ultra 5 245K’s six Lion Cove P-cores have a 2% frequency drop from the 14600K, with base frequencies of 4.20 GHz and maximum boost frequencies of 5.20 GHz. Since Hyper-Threading is not an option, they use a single thread. Moreover, there are a total of 8 E-cores, and each one has 8 threads due to the lack of SMT functionality. Compared to the 14600K’s E-Core frequency, they clock at 3.60 GHz at base and 4.60 GHz at maximum boost, an increase of 15%.

Now that Intel has raised the clock rates of their E-cores, IPC is much more important than before. The cache memory includes 24 MB of L3 and 26 MB of L2. There is 3 MB of L2 cache for each P-core and 4 MB for each cluster of four E-cores. The TDP ranges from 125W at the base to 159W at the maximum turbo.

Latest Memory Standards

Latest Memory Standards
Latest Memory Standards

With the release of Arrow Lake, Intel introduced their second-generation DDR5 memory controller architecture, discontinuing support for DDR4 memory. It’s important to note that all K-SKU variants, which are the only ones for now, are compatible with dual-channel DDR5-6400 CUDIMM or DDR5-5600 UDIMM memory. CUDIMM memory modules include a tiny clock driver circuit in the module to achieve the exact timings required for faster memory speeds.

Each memory controller now addresses a subchannel of a separate channel, a change brought about by Intel’s decision to discontinue support for DDR4. Since there are two channels, each with its own subchannel, controller 1 would deal with channel 1 and controller 2 with channel 2.

By using this method, Intel will likely make greater use of DDR5’s subchannel parallelism. With Direct Media Interface 4.0 and eight lanes connected to the chipset, each model offers twenty PCIe 5.0 lanes and four PCIe 4.0 lanes. Like other K-suffix CPUs, this variant comes with an unlocked multiplier that you can use to boost the clock speed.

Test Bench

Intel-Core-Ultra-5-245K-Processor-Installed
Intel Core Ultra 5 45K Processor Installed (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Here’s what my test bench for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K looks like:

Testing Methodology

  • Used default Auto and Stock settings for all tests.
  • Disabled any default performance boost options in the BIOS.
  • Loaded EXPO and manually adjusted DRAM timings and voltage for each test.
  • Left all other voltages on Auto.
  • Ran the cooling system’s pump and fans at full speed (100%) during testing.
  • Kept the graphics card in its stock settings.
  • Updated the motherboard’s BIOS to the latest version.
  • Used Nvidia driver 517.48.
  • Monitored all sensors with HWinfo64

General Benchmarks

I started by running the processor through a number of general performance tests to see how it scored on multiple tasks. Although it comes in behind the 14700K 24-thread in nearly all benchmarks due to its smaller number of threads, the budget Arrow chip outperforms most processors in our general benchmarks. This can be seen in 7-Zip decompression, where it falls short.

It outperforms Zen 5 but lags behind Raptor Lake. Arrow Lake’s much slower ring bus compared to its predecessor is likely to blame for this, as is the need to move the data to a different tile before sending it to DRAM, which slows down the data transmission among the L3 cache and memory controllers.

7-ZIP MIPS Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
7-ZIP MIPS Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K achieved a compression score of 135986 MIPS and a decompression score of 128756 among all tested processors. 

AIDA64 Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
AIDA64 Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K showed great results with an impressive AES encryption speed of 485,768 MB/s, followed by AMD Ryzen 9 9900X at 518,996 MB/s. 

Super Pi 32MTest (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Super Pi 32MTest (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K achieved a calculation time of 278 seconds in the Super Pi 32M test, making it the second-fastest processor tested in this benchmark.

wPrime 1024M Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
wPrime 1024M Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

In the wPrime 1024M test, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K completed the calculations in 52.635 seconds, faster than most but behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, 9900X, and Core Ultra 9 285K.

Rendering Benchmarks

Now, let’s put it through intense rendering tasks to see how well it handles demanding workloads, as seen in the rendering performance benchmarks below. Arrow Lake seems like a fantastic option on paper. When trying to figure out a processor’s true performance, we always look into the benchmarks for clarification, but in this case, the results are contradictory. Even though its rendering performance is quite satisfactory, it was not as expected that the Ultra 5 245K would be outperformed by its predecessor in most of our rendering benchmarks.

Cinebench R23 Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Cinebench R23 Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scored 2084 in single-core and 33,842 in multi-core tests in Cinebench R23, coming in at number 4th behind the Core i7-14700KF. 

Corona Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Corona Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scored 11,186,296 in the Corona test, outperforming all other processors except AMD’s Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X, Core i7-14700KF, and Ultra Core 9 285K. 

FryRender Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
FryRender Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K completed the FryRender test in 57 seconds, which was quite disappointing as it was even slower than the 13th-generation Core i7-13700K. 

Geekbench 5 Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Geekbench 5 Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scored 2247 in single-core and 23,187 in multi-core tests, securing fourth place overall, behind the i7-14700KF again. 

V-Ray Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)
V-Ray Test (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K completed the V-RAY test in 30 seconds, which was again disappointing as it was even slower than the Intel Core i7-13700K. 

Gaming Performance (1080p)

Now, we’ll have a look at how well it performs in 1080p gaming using the Ultra setting or something similar. Here is the average of tested games. 

  • Alan Wake 2
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Elden Ring
  • F1 2024
  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Spider-Man Remastered
  • Starfield
  • The Last Of Us
Gaming Tests (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Gaming Tests (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Intel’s Core i5 was considered a top-notch midrange gaming processor for a long time. There was high expectation that the Ultra 5 245K, the long-awaited successor to those renowned models, would be the obvious choice for gamers. But our gaming benchmarks tell a different story. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K performed satisfactorily in most games during our testing. Thus, it would be unfair to call it an unacceptable processor for gaming.

You wouldn’t notice much difference between the Ultra 5 245K and its competitors because of the relatively low frame rate drops, which didn’t make games unplayable. However, this won’t remove the fact that most AMD and Intel processors mentioned here provide a better price-to-performance gaming ratio, particularly if you already use a compatible board. It is worth considering that this is the latest platform that will require an expensive Z890 motherboard.

Thermals and Power

Finally, a look at thermal performance and power consumption

Thermals and Power Cinebench R23 (Image By
Thermals and Power Cinebench R23 (Image By

During a 30-minute Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K consumed an average of 123 watts. It is among the least power-hungry CPUs that Intel has released recently. The thermal efficiency is commendable compared to the previous generation, peaking at 76°C while handling this power draw.

Should You Buy it?

Still in confusion? Let me break it down for you. 

Buy it if

✅ You prioritize power efficiency: The Core Ultra 5 245K offers competitive power efficiency, even managing to rival AMD’s latest offerings, and it handles thermals well under heavy loads.

✅ Productivity tasks are your main focus: With solid productivity performance and respectable multi-core scores, this processor can easily handle demanding tasks like video rendering, 3D modeling, and multitasking.

✅ You want the latest Intel architecture and features: The Arrow Lake architecture brings new design elements, a tile-based setup, and upgraded DDR5 memory support, ideal for future-proofing a build with modern technology.

Don’t Buy it if 

❌ Gaming is your top priority: The Core Ultra 5 245K may fall short if you’re building primarily for gaming. Its gaming benchmarks are noticeably lower than those of competitors like the Ryzen 7 7700X and even Intel’s previous Core i5-14600K, especially in AAA titles.

❌ You’re seeking the best price-to-performance ratio: Priced at $310, the Core Ultra 5 245K doesn’t justify its cost for gamers or those on a budget. Alternatives like the Ryzen 5 9600X or the Core i5-14600K deliver similar or better performance at a more reasonable price.

My Thoughts

Ultimately, and especially for PC gamers, Intel’s newest processor has been a letdown. There are some pros and cons, but overall, it’s a mixed bag, similar to the remaining members of this generation. Productivity results were better than performance benchmarks in gaming, but they weren’t as outstanding as expected from the latest generation. With the exception of a handful of rendering benchmarks, hardly much is noteworthy. As I mentioned above, when it came to gaming, the 245K was noticeably lacking.

The 245K was far more inconsistent than Arrow Lake’s typical underperformance. There were a number of games where it was significantly behind, including Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Hogwarts Legacy, frequently landing near the bottom of our tests. However, as for power efficiency, the 245K is competitive and almost matches AMD’s, so now they’re almost on par.

If you’re looking to purchase a new processor, a Core i5-14600K or, even better, a Ryzen 7 7700X or 9700X would be much better than the Core Ultra 5 245K in terms of gaming. Currently, the 245K isn’t a good choice for gamers until there’s a huge price drop and it performs consistently better. The 245K provides respectable productivity performance for $310, but there are better options. Until we see changes, it’s hard to suggest these CPUs, but I hope Intel can fix Arrow Lake soon since there’s an unfulfilled opportunity here.

 

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Review: New Architecture, Familiar Flaws is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 Review: A Great All Rounder https://tech4gamers.com/xpg-lancer-rog-ddr5-6600-cl32-review/ Sun, 10 Nov 2024 16:27:47 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=283862 The XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 is the new hero in the Lancer lineup, tuned for ASUS ROG Z890 boards, but also standing up to the task of others. This is an ECC memory kit that performs up to the mark for the speed on offer and looks excellent with its polished black design and RGB. With its towering performance comes a towering design (43mm), too, which renders it incompatible with certain air coolers.

XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 Review: A Great All Rounder is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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Dr. Usman Saleem

At Tech4Gamers, I’m the PC Hardware Specialist, primarily contributing to the “Best-Ofs” section. I provide thoughtful buying advice based on thorough testing and personal expertise. I also review hardware products and games to keep things fresh.

See full bio

After testing G. Skill’s Trident Z5 Neo RGB kit a few weeks ago, we’re expanding our DDR5 review arsenal with the XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 kit. This is an XMP kit designed in collaboration with ASUS ROG to enable improved performance in ROG Intel Z890 motherboards. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Mussab Ali is our PC expert who has a decade-long experience in building, testing, and troubleshooting PCs.
  • 70+ RAM tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 200+ hours spent testing different RAM kits for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test RAM).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Key Takeaways

  • The XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 is an impressively fast DDR5 kit with a real-world latency of 9.69ns. It features a shiny black heatsink and a flamboyant RGB diffuser, providing plenty of illumination.
  • Get this kit if you need a high-performance DDR5 kit, like RGB in your memory, and/or run an ASUS ROG Z890 board (XPG promises speeds of up to 7400 MT/s on these boards). 
  • Don’t buy this memory if you’re running an AMD build (as you’ll face higher latencies due to the memory controller’s limitations for speeds DDR5-6600 or faster). 

Have a look at the kit specifications: 

Serial No. AX5U6600C3216G-DCLARROG
Tested Speed 6600 MT/s
Tested Latency CL32
RGB Yes
Color Black Mirror
Memory Voltage 1.40V
Rated Speed (JEDEC) –
XMP Yes
EXPO Yes
ECC Yes
Warranty Limited Lifetime
MSRP $159
[toc]

The memory has an XMP speed of 6600 MT/s at a tested CAS latency of 32 nanoseconds. Its true latency is 9.69ns. This is an ECC (error-correcting code) memory, meaning it can correct bad data (if present) in real-time while reading back from stored data. 

This kit is also offered in 7200 MT/s CL34 configuration in 2x24GB size.

Packaging

The kit is packed inside a red cardboard box, essentially the same packaging XPG has been using for all its Lancer DDR5 RGB kits. 

On the front, we have the RAM pictured in the centre. The memory capacity and speed, XMP 3.0, and ASUS Aura Sync support are highlighted. On the back, we have a cutout showing the two modules and a sticker with the RAM product code and bar codes. We also have a QR code for product details and various compliance symbols. 

Design

XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 front and back

The kit has a similar layout to the regular XPG Lancer DDR5 but with a beautiful, crystal-clear mirrored finish. In comparison, the regular Lancer features a plain finish with a brushed aluminium texture on the rightmost section. The front has “ROG Certified” printed in the striped section, while the back has the XPG logo on the bottom right. On both sides, “DDR5” is printed on the striped section

The sticker on the back has the key specifications, a bar code, and certification marks. Removing this sticker voids the limited lifetime warranty offered with the kit. 

XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 top RGB
Top of the module (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Looking at the top, we get a triangular cutout for the RGB diffuser. The top has the XPG logo, this time accompanied by the “ROG Certified” logo. You can control this RGB through AURA Sync or your motherboard manufacturer’s dedicated software. We’ll look at the RGB in a bit.

The module’s dimensions and weight are the same as those of other Lancer kits (133.35 x 43.56 x 8mm, 72.4g), with a height of 43.56mm. 

WARNING: If you have an air cooler, ensure compatibility with the RAM, as this module’s height can cause compatibility issues with some coolers.

RGB

Here’s the RGB overview of the kit. It is very nicely and evenly diffused. ASUS’ Aura Sync allows you to use 8x different lighting modes. We used MSI’s Mystic Light sync software on our system, and things went smoothly. 

Test Build

Here’s our test system for the kit: 

XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 BIOS
BIOS (Image by Tech4Gamers)

We have chosen the EXPO profile for the kit so that it operates at advertised speeds. We left all other settings on default. 

XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 ZenTimings
ZenTimings (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Ryzen 7000 memory controller runs at a 1:2 ratio with the memory at 6600 MT/s, as the Zen Timings menu shows. This will induce higher latency than normal—let’s get to that in our benchmarks.

Test Results

Let’s get into the results. We have compared this memory kit to the following others:

 

Our build with this kit showed chart-topping performance among the other DDR5 kits in AIDA64 read, write, and copy tests. Of course, the other kits are slightly slower DDR5-6000 (and DDR5-6400) kits, but this shows us that the kit is performing as it should.

However, the latency performance was relatively sub-optimal, at 74.4 ns. This is because the memory controller, which transfers data between the RAM and CPU cores, runs half as fast as the RAM. Thus, the RAM sends data faster to the controller than it can transfer to the cores, introducing a bottleneck. 

It’s better to run the kit at DDR5-6400 or 6000 MT/s so no extra latency is introduced. You will probably achieve the best performance at these speeds. 

Cinebench R23 XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32
Cinebench R23.200 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the CPU scored 18489 points paired with the XPG Lancer ROG-certified kit. However, all the kits are within a very close margin of each other. 

Overall, the kit’s performance is excellent. It could do even better if latency wasn’t an issue. Of course, this won’t be a problem if the kit is run at 6000 (or possibly 6400 MT/s). 

Should You Buy It? 

Well… should you?

Buy It If:

✅You prefer sleek designs and good-looking RGB: The kit has a beautiful black mirror finish and a well-lit RGB bar up top, which makes for a pleasing design.

✅You’re running an ASUS ROG motherboard: The kit promises memory speeds of up to 7400 MT/s through a dedicated “ROG Certified” memory profile for users with ASUS ROG motherboards. 

✅You want an ECC kit: This kit comes with built-in Error Code Correction. 

Don’t Buy It If:

❌(For AMD users) You want the lowest latency: If you want the lowest latency, you’ll be better off with a DDR5-6000 (or DDR5-6400 if you’re lucky), which can run at 1:1 with the memory controller on Ryzen 7000/9000 CPUs. This can also save you $50 or more!

My Thoughts

The XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 is a fantastic kit for those looking for fast memory that overclocks well, especially on ASUS ROG motherboards. XPG promises speeds of up to 7400 MT/s on ROG Z890 motherboards. It is particularly suitable for Intel builds over AMD ones, as even the latest AMD CPUs won’t be able to utilise this speed to the best potential. With a real-world latency of 9.69ns, its performance in our tests was satisfactory, toppling over DDR5-6000 and DDR5-6400 kits. 

The kit has a unique “Black Mirror” theme, where the heatsinks feature a reflective black coating. It doesn’t differ much from the regular XPG Lancer DDR5 designs that we’ve seen, but this shiny new look does enough to add a touch of class. Its RGB diffuser offers very brightly lit LEDs that diffuse evenly across, making for a nice look. The RGB can be controlled through all the different motherboard manufacturer software. 

In terms of height, the kit stands at 43.56mm–which makes it fairly tall and renders it incompatible with some dual-tower air coolers (ensure compatibility before purchase). XPG offers two variants of this kit: a 32 GB (2×16) DDR5-6600 CL32 model (reviewed today) and a 48 GB (2×24) DDR5-7200 CL34 offering. The 32 GB offering is priced at $159, which is not the friendliest tag, but it is alright considering its polished design. XPG offers a limited lifetime warranty for the kit.

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XPG Lancer ROG DDR5-6600 CL32 Review: A Great All Rounder is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

]]> Keychron K2 HE Review: A Worthy Competitor to Wooting? https://tech4gamers.com/keychron-k2-he-review/ Sun, 10 Nov 2024 14:35:50 +0000 https://tech4gamers.com/?p=287257 Keychron’s latest venture into the gaming market delivers a great keyboard that prioritizes a satisfying typing experience without cutting corners, while being at the forefront of hall-effect performance. The K2 HE strikes a balance between enthusiast-grade features and a mainstream-friendly approach, all at a reasonable price. Its striking design complements a robust build, creating a versatile keyboard that caters equally to gamers and professionals.

Keychron K2 HE Review: A Worthy Competitor to Wooting? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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See full bio

Keychron has been a household name in the keyboard world since the launch of the original K1 in 2017, which ushered in a new era of high-quality third-party peripherals that didn’t break the bank. Over the years, they’ve carved a nice little pie for themselves in the mainstream market, offering a wide range of options for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

So, gaming audiences may already be familiar with Keychron’s offerings, but the brand is now stepping into truly new territory: hall-effect. Once a niche technology, hall-effect keyboards have skyrocketed in popularity with boards like the Wooting 60HE. Now, with the release of the 80HE and a surge of budget-friendly analog options, does the Keychron K2 HE have what it takes to stand out?

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Huzaifa Haroon is our keyboard expert with years of experience in building and testing custom keyboards.
  • 130+ peripherals tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 500+ hours spent testing different graphics cards for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Key Takeaways

  • The Keychron K2 HE is a great alternative to the Wooting 80HE if you’re after a more premium typing experience that’s well-balanced.
  • Buy the Keychron K2 HE if you want a great keyboard first and a solid gaming tool second.
  • Avoid the Keychron K2 HE if you’re an enthusiast looking for a more specific sound or additives like a knob or a screen.
Specification Standard Version Special Edition
Length 316.4 mm 320.5 mm
Width 126.7 mm 126.7 mm
Front Height 30.2 mm (incl. keycap) 30.1 mm (incl. keycap)
Back Height 40.7 mm (incl. keycap) 40.7 mm (incl. keycap)
Weight Approx. 980 g Approx. 965 g
Keycaps Cherry Profile Double-shot keycaps, shine-through OSA Double-shot keycaps, not shine-through
Frame Material Aluminum Aluminum + wood
Stabilizer Screw-in PCB stabilizer
Switch Gateron double-rail magnetic switch
MCU ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32F402RC (256KB Flash)
Angle 5° / 9.34° / 12.43°
Backlight North-facing RGB LED
Plate Material Aluminum
Sensitivity 0.1 mm
Rapid Trigger Yes
Adjustable Actuation Points 0.2 – 3.8 mm
Dynamic Keystrokes 4-in-1 action keys
Cable Type-A to Type-C cable
Connectivity 2.4 GHz / Bluetooth / Type-C wired
Bluetooth Version 5.2
Bluetooth Device Name Keychron K2 HE
Battery 4000 mAh Rechargeable li-polymer battery
Wireless Working Time (Backlit off) Up to 110 hours (Lab test results may vary based on actual use)
N-Key Rollover (NKRO) Yes for both wireless and wired modes
Hot-swappable Support Yes, compatible with Gateron double-rail magnetic switch only
Polling Rate 1000 Hz (Wired and 2.4 GHz) / 90Hz (Bluetooth)
Operating Environment -10 to 50℃
[toc]

What Makes the Keychron K2 HE Different

Unlike many other hall-effect boards, including the most spec’d out one that we recently reviewed: the Wooting 80HE, Keychron K2 HE is actually wireless. It does everything that the Wooting can, except for maybe the 8000Hz polling rate but who can notice that anyway? What you certainly can and will notice is the convenience of no wires.

I’ll be honest if there wasn’t wireless functionality in this board and Keychron still chose to put the USB port on the side, I’d be genuinely frustrated but till then I’m more than satisfied with the competitive performance of this keyboard at its price point. It’s cheaper than the Wooting yet better built, better looking and once again, actually wireless.

Unboxing Experience

The Keychron K2 HE comes in a sleek black box with the keyboard pictured up front. There’s text all around to let you know what you’re buying but it doesn’t look tacky–it has a glossy rainbow shine effect. At the back you see a bunch of specs for the board with the same keyboard graphic. The Keychron logo is also present on either side of the box.

The box is sleek and straightforward (Image by T4G)

Once you slide out the paper sleeve with all this info, you’re greeted to the actual box containing everything underneath with the Keychron logo. This time you lift up the top in a rather Apple manner to reveal the contents inside. 

Everything is laid out nicely inside (Image by T4G)

First you get a piece of foam, there’s actually a lot of foam all around to protect the keyboard from shipping damage which is nice. Then there’s quick start guide, under which our K2 HE lies wrapped in plastic. No dust cover included. On the top there’s a small box with all the accessories inside. A manual is also present at the very bottom.

Here’s everything you’ll get:

  • 1x Keychron K2 HE
  • 1x Quick Start Guide
  • 1x Manual
  • 1x Angled USB-C Cable
  • 1x Keycap/Switch Puller
  • 1x 2.4GHz USB Receiver
  • 1x Extension for the USB Receiver
  • 1x Screwdriver
  • 1x Allen Key
  • 7x Extra Keycaps
You get a lot of extras with the Keychron K2 HE (Image by T4G)

Build & Design

Right off the bat, I like how this thing looks. It has a very subdued, sort of professional design with wooden accents on the side. Now keep in mind that we have the “special edition” on our hands today which is $10 more expensive, the regular model comes with different keycaps and no accents (though you can buy those separately as well).

It’s a beautiful-looking board up front (Image by T4G)

The keyboard is largely plastic, but the frame is made out of aluminum. It feels heavy and cold to the touch. The anodization job is similar to what you’d find on Keychron Q-series boards, which is to say very clean with a slightly gritty texture. It’s better than the Lucky65 (V2) and Record Alice but not as good as QK or Cycle boards.

The aluminum frame sits on top of the plastic inner body (Image by T4G)

Moreover, the wooden accent pieces on either side are screwed on using two hex screws and they have a nice, smooth texture. They don’t illicit a scent which is a missed opportunity, but they add a gorgeous contrast to the board that looks even better if you get the white colorway.

The wooden accent comes off easily, but I there’s no reason to take it off (Image by T4G)

The USB port is for some reason located on the left side of the keyboard, and I don’t mean the left corner, literally on the side next to the connection mode and platform buttons. This means that you’re realistically locked out of using any existing cable on your desk (especially it’s one of those coiled aviator ones) and I find that a strange choice.

The buttons on the side make sense but not the USB port (Image by T4G)

On the back there are a couple of rubber feet and two flip-out feet with two stages of elevation. By default, the typing angle is 4-degrees, but it can be increased to 8 and 12-degrees, respectively. There are no exposed screws on this board which means it’s not meant to be opened up. The front height is 20mm, which is quite comfortable.

A simple back with the Keychron logo and info in the middle (Image by T4G)

Layout & Features

The Keychron H2 HE, as the name suggests, is a hall-effect keyboard, meaning it uses magnetic switches instead of traditional mechanical ones. These are beneficial for gaming and can give you edge if you’re underperforming because of your current hardware. They feature dynamic actuation points which opens up a myriad of new possibilities.

The layout here is 75% with a compact nav cluster and arrow keys. Everything is very close together and looks somewhat squished but in daily usage that’s not a problem. The inclusion of both Mac and Windows functions on the keycaps is a great add-on, with extras in the box should you need them.

All the editions available for the Keychron K2 HE | Keychron

Keychron has also made the K2 HE wireless with support for both 2.4GHz radio and Bluetooth connections, with the former being at 1000Hz. This makes it one of the very few wireless hall-effect keyboards in the market but even then, you can only use its software when plugged in. I do appreciate the inclusion of an extension for the USB dongle, though.

On the inside, the board is using a top mount with a standard 1.6mm thick non-flex cut PCB and a non-flex cut aluminum plate. There’s also 4 layers of foam including the plate foam, an EPDM sheet, PET sheet, and some silicone at the bottom but no PE foam. Neither the PCB nor the plate has any other layout options, but you can still buy an ISO variant.

The layers that make up the Keychron K2 HE | Keychron

The board is fully hotswap thanks to its 5-pin sockets with per-key RGB but for some reason it only supports the switches it comes in the box with. Keychron outlines this on their product page that other switches like the ever-popular Gateron Jades are not compatible with this keyboard which really makes me scratch my head.

Editor`s Note
Image

We reached out to Keychron regarding this conundrum, and they confirmed that while other magnetic switches aren’t compatible as of now, they are actively working on adding support so look out for a future update.

– Huzaifa Haroon

Regardless, the main attraction here is all the amazing gaming features which we’ll go over in the next section. Mainstays like rapid trigger, SOCD clearing and advanced macros are all here with a software that’s rather mature. Even the RGB on this board is a touch above the rest with very clean transitions between the effect speeds and brightness levels.

The Fundamentals

Let’s take a look at how the core components of the Keychron K2 HE perform in the real world, compared to other traditional mechanical keyboards.

Switches

Keychron K2 HE comes with Gateron Nebula linear switches. They obviously have a dynamic actuation point that allows them to be actuated anywhere between 0.1mm and 4.0mm with a force of 40g. They’re factory lubed and come with a LED diffuser inserted in the top. That, mixed with the frosted top housing, makes this a very RGB-friendly switch.

The Gateron Nebula switch doesn’t have a traditional closed-off bottom similar to Wooting’s Lekker switches (Image by T4G)

I found the Nebulas to be thocky and mostly silent. The weight wasn’t light but not too heavy either. Due to their lack of a traditional bottom out they feel “dampened” just like the Lekker V2 switches in the Wooting 80HE. The typing feel is not my favorite but it’s inoffensive and somewhat alleviated with the stiff plate and PCB.

Keycaps 

Keychron is using their proprietary OSA profile doubleshot PBT keycaps here. While they look most like XDA, this profile is actually sculpted and has a subtle curve throughout the rows, like Cherry or MT3. They’re a nice mix between the two in terms of height but they’re not as thick as either.

Keychron OSA keycaps up close and compared to GMK (Image by T4G)

The legends are thin but sharp and the colorway is a standard White-on-Black (WOB) so they stand out boldly. The Escape and Enter keycaps are accented in brown which looks rather nice and matches the wooden accents on the side. Texture-wise these look almost as gritty and GMK keycaps but they feel a lot smoother to the touch.

By default, the K2 HE comes equipped with the Mac keycaps but there are extras in the box for a Windows layout. There are Mac functions printed on the function row and connection mode icons on the start of the number row which might make the board look a little cluttered for some, but I think they’re done tastefully.

Lastly, there’s a dedicated RGB key on the top corner with a custom lightbulb keycap. Next to that there’s a dedicated screenshot button as well which is very convenient. Overall, these are high quality keycaps that don’t need to be changed.

Stabilizers

The K2 HE comes with screw-in stabilizers that are factory lubed and there’s no support for plate-mount stabs. Keychron describes these as their upgraded in-house stabilizers with reinforced sidewalls around the stem. According to them this ensures a tighter fit between the stabilizer and keycap which is just marketing nonsense.

The stock screw-in stabilizers are great (Image by T4G)

But credit where credit is due the stabilizers themselves are great, especially for a “gaming keyboard”. They have no pinging but there’s a very tiny rattle on the left side of the spacebar if I hit in a certain way. The rest of the stabs are rock solid. 

Gaming Performance

Keychron has baked in a lot of gaming features and while I’m not the most affluent gamer myself, I can still see the care and effort put into these. First of all, the dynamic actuation point of the Nebula switches can be adjusted from 0.1mm to 4.0mm in the software on any key. This gives you the quickest response times in games where it matters.

The adjustable actuation point ensures you have the best response time | Keychron

Keychron goes a step above Wooting and gives you an “advanced” option for Rapid Trigger where the actuation and release are separated from each other, and you can customize each individually. So, for instance, if you want the key to register instantly but de-register a bit later you can set the actuation points to 0.1mm and 0.4mm, respectively.

Rapid Trigger allows for seamless counter-strafing in games like Valorant | Keychron

We also see SOCD clearing in the form of Last Key Prioritization (LKP) and Snap Click, which are identical to Razer and Wooting’s implementation. When enabled, if you press two keys to counter-strafe, LKP ensures the key you press last is the one that’s registering while canceling out the other. In Snap Click, thanks to the dynamic actuation point of these switches, the key pressed more is the one registered. 

Snap Click makes sure the key pressed more is the only registering | Keychron

Lastly, there are some other features like an Analog Mode which mimics controller input to give you a dynamic control scheme for games like Forza where how much you accelerate (or brake) is crucial. There’s also Dynamic Keystrokes where one key can be bound to multiple actions depending on how much it’s pressed, creating a pseudo macro key.

Analog mode emulates a controller’s triggers | Keychron

↪ Wireless Performance & Battery

The Keychron K2 HE does all that and be good at it while being a solid keyboard too. Not to mention it has profiles you can quickly switch back and forth between if you want to work and play simultaneously. It cannot be emphasized enough that despite being cheaper and better built than the poster boy hall-effect keyboards, the Keychron does all this wirelessly.

The wireless latency came out to an average of 5.6ms in the 2.4GHz wireless mode which is incredible, and 5.9ms in the wired mode (within margin of error). Keychron has kitted the board with a 4000mAh battery that they don’t claim any numbers on. In my testing, it lasted about 2 days with the RGB on and without RGB it’s been almost a week since my last charge, but the board is still going.

Typing Experience

The Keychron K2 HE is top mounted so there’s no flex or bounce as even the plate is made out of aluminum which is stiff. This results in a very firm-feeling board with a thocky sound signature. The Gateron Nebula switches are low-pitched, deep and somewhat muted. On top of that, OSA profile keycaps help accentuate the low-end frequencies even more.

The stabilizers are very good, they’re not perfect but I’d say they’re on the level of the Wooting 80HE while falling just a tad bit behind the likes of Lucky65. Still, it’s not something you’d need to open up and tinker with. Overall, the board has a comfortable and pleasant typing experience suited for both gaming and productivity tasks.

The Software

Like Wooting, Keychron has a web-based software for its K2 HE and it’s quite similar. It’s certainly not as polished or intuitive as Wootility but it’s not far off. The design, in particular, is what feels the closest but navigating around the software is not as fluid or responsive. Buttons and toggles take a moment to register/show up on screen and I even got a confirmation box in Chinese at one point that I assume wasn’t translated to English in time.

Features-wise the software is jam packed with everything you need. I’ve already mention the adjustable actuation distance, Rapid Trigger and SOCD clearing features which are all present here on the homepage called “HE Mode.” There’s a live illustration of the keyboard up top showing all the applied settings to each switch clearly.

On the next tab we have the key mapping, powered by QMK, that works in 4 layers. The first two layers (0 and 1) are set for Mac and the next two (2 and 3) are set for Windows. So, if you want to customize anything in these layers, make sure to be mindful of this configuration and not think that you have all four layers to play with on one platform.

There’s also a solid macro section and a firmware update section — my unit actually needed an update to get the SOCD features. The RGB implementation is quite weak, however, as you can’t even control it per-key and there’s certainly no fancy layer animations like Wooting. Still, fundamentally it looks good and there’s 23 modes to play around with.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅ You want one of the best gaming keyboards that doesn’t compromise on what makes a keyboard great foundationally.

✅ You care about design and build quality as the K2 HE is a sleek-looking gaming keyboard that’s built like a tank.

✅ You want all the advantage you can get with features like advanced Rapid Trigger and SOCD clearing.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You have a custom coiled cable on your desk as the side-mounted USB port will be inconvenient for the cable to reach without awkward bends or stretches.

❌ You want per-key RGB that is controllable in the software. The K2 HE only allows you to switch between 23 modes that are already baked in.

❌ You’re an enthusiast looking for a hall-effect keyboard that can be customized as the K2 HE doesn’t support any other magnetic switch as of now.

The Keychron K2 HE in all its glory (Image by T4G)

My Thoughts

If you’re looking for an upgrade to your gaming arsenal, the Keychron K2 HE is a solid contender. It has all the right building blocks of a great keyboard adorned with a hall-effect cherry on top that makes it perfect for competitive gaming. Even if you’re a casual gamer but a productivity beast this board has you covered on all fronts. 

With smooth switches, high quality keycaps, robust build quality and a minimal design, the K2 HE will look good on any desk. I don’t think it has software as good as Wooting and it’s certainly not a board for us snobby enthusiasts. But it has so many other things going for it, mainly the supreme build that makes the 80HE downright cheap in comparison, that I can’t sign off without anything but a recommendation.

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Keychron K2 HE Review: A Worthy Competitor to Wooting? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

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