Items tagged with Gaming PC
Update: 11/9/19 - You could WIN a machine just like this, only with a killer Outer Worlds paint job, in our 20th Anniversary Giveaway! Falcon Northwest has been in the boutique PC building game since 1992, but the company's Talon desktop PC didn't hit the market until 1999. Ironically, that's about the time HotHardware.com came into being on the interwebs, but we digress. The first Talon came loaded with a AMD Athlon 500MHz processor, a 13.5GB hard drive, 64MB SDRAM, and the Pièce de résistance: a 3dfx Voodoo3 graphics card. Yeah baby, good times. These specs are laughable by today's standards, but at the time the Talon was a solid performer at a sensible price and it featured a smaller chassis...
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Fractal Design released it highly acclaimed Define S2 case a little over seven months ago and they are already back with a new iteration, the Fractal Design Define S2 Vision RGB. That's a mouthful, but even if the name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, this DIY PC chassis is easy on the eyes. The Fractal Vision S2 RGB takes everything that made the Define S2, and the Fractal R6 before it, great but it but now it brings RGB lighting and tempered glass panels into the mix. We aren't talking just a single tempered glass panel here, however. Fractal has literally surrounded the case with tempered glass. The front and side panels are all tempered glass, as is a portion of the top panel....
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One of the advantages to owning a custom PC from a boutique builder is the meticulous attention to detail. Tight cable management is not just a perk, it is an expectation when paying a premium for a boutique shop to assemble your rig with off-the-shelf components, and having to wait a bit longer compared to buying from a bulk OEM is an inherent trade off. Or is it? Maingear, a stalwart in the boutique space, would argue otherwise. Maingear Vybe At PAX East 2019 - AMD Ryzen Edition Earlier this month at PAX East, Maingear announced what it is calling the Vybe Enthusiast Platform. You might already be familiar with the Vybe name -- it is the least expensive line of desktop PCs in Maingear's stable,...
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Purchasing a powerful, good-looking gaming PC used to require a visit to a boutique PC maker or a custom-built system from a local computer shop. There was a time when you couldn’t simply walk into a Future Shop or CompUSA and pick up something roughly equivalent to a DIY gaming system. Nowadays though, PC gaming has gone mainstream, and all of the OEM major players offer ready-built systems that cater to those that may not have the desire to build their own. What if you don’t have the time or skills to build your own system, but want reputable, name-brand components and a PC that could easily be upgraded or modified down the road? That's where desktops like the HP OMEN Obelisk can...
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Smach Z announced that its upcoming handheld gaming machine will enter production in early 2019. This device merges the gap between a traditional handheld gaming device and a notebook PC, featuring aspects of both types of devices. In appearance, the Smach Z looks something like a cross between Nintendo's Switch and Valve's Steam controller. A six-inch 1080p display covers the majority of the system's front, with buttons, a joystick and two haptic touch pads. There are also four trigger buttons that sit at the top of the system. The Smach Z has a rather unique and customizable control design. Using what the company calls Z-Pads, you can cover the haptic touch pads and turn them into something...
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Boutique, custom-built Gaming PCs from some of the more prominent brands are almost always a cut above mainstream pre-built computers from larger OEMs. However, even among premium boutique brands, build quality, design aesthetics and cost can vary greatly. Maingear has delivered its share of ultra-high end killer gaming rigs to us for evaluation over the years, but perhaps nothing so custom and so premium in design as the machine we're about to dig deep on today. We got a look at Maingear's highly custom F131 back at CES 2018 in Las Vegas, and though we came away impressed at the time, it was really only a quick chance to kick the tires. Now that we have it in house for a full review? Well,...
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Boutique gaming, performance enthusiast and workstation custom PC builders are a burgeoning breed in the computing market and there are some impressive custom builds out there that we've seen recently. It goes without saying that many of these custom, liquid-cooled marvels of technology go above and beyond what the average DIY enthusiast PC homebrew builder might be able to achieve on their own with off-the-shelf components. The likes of Origin, Digital Storm, Falcon Northwest and newcomers like Xidax, have all graced our pages here at one time or another, but never have we seen the kind of custom cooling design innovation, precision, super-premium build quality, materials and workmanship that...
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The Alienware brand is as venerable a name as any in the gaming space. As Alienware celebrates over twenty years in business, its computers have become instantly recognizable thanks to distinctive, out-of-this-world styling, and science-fiction references. Dell purchased Alienware in 2006 to complement its own competing line of XPS-branded gaming machines. However, Dell has kept a largely hands-off approach, allowing Alienware to grow its own business and continue meeting consumer's expectations. So far, it has served both brands well. Alienware currently maintains three desktop families from the small-form factor Alpha to the monstrous Area-51. The subject of today's alien autopsy: the new Aurora...
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Windows 10 is finally here. The new OS has been spit-shined and primed for an official release. As advertised, Windows 8/8.1 users can upgrade to the new operating system, provided that current Win8 installs have been properly activated. Make sure you check our comprehensive Migration Guide for details on upgrades and clean installs. MSFT's new operating system ushers in a host of new features and functions for media lovers and productivity. Part of the kit and caboodle is a brand new browser, embedded Microsoft Office, Cortana search assistant inclusion and most importantly for us gamers--the introduction of the anxiously-awaited DirectX 12. Not many (like almost none) of today’s applications...
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Not everyone can afford a Lamborghini of a PC gaming machine, and with that in mind, Lenovo has crafted a solution that offers a considerable amount of value and performance. Meet the Lenovo Erazer x510, a mainstream gaming rig with a slick black case and convenient OneKey overclocking, among a handful of other handy features. Priced at $1,349 (as configured), the Lenovo Erazer x510 isn't a budget build, but it's doesn't break the bank either... Lenovo Erazer x510 Gaming PC Review...
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We have seen a rapid influx of entry-level to enthusiast-class gaming systems and hardware over the last few months. The Maingear Rush we recently evaluated targets the most demanding PC users with its twin AMD Radeon R9 295X2 (8GB DDR5) video cards, killer Intel i7-4960X processor and fast storage. Weighing in at a hefty $8,393 as configured though, the Maingear Rush might offer a ton of performance, but you've got to pay to play. Not everyone can afford a Lamborghini of a PC gaming system, and with that in mind, Lenovo has crafted a solution that offers a considerable amount of value and performance. Meet the Lenovo Erazer x510, a mainstream gaming rig with a slick...
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Lenovo has some good news for gamers today. The PC maker is adding new gaming systems to its desktop and laptop lines and has a sleek new 8-inch tablet. Some gamers will undoubtedly scoff at the idea of a mainstream PC maker like Lenovo building gaming rigs, but we’ve seen big names (including Lenovo) put together competent gaming PCs before. And, Lenovo certainly knows the mobile device arena these days. The ERAZER X315 is a gaming PC that’s meant to strike a performance/price balance. Info on specs is light at the moment, which isn’t too surprising, considering that the system won’t be out until November, but AMD Radeon R9 graphics 12GB of memory, and up to 2TB of storage...
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Building a small form factor gaming PC is a tricky business. For one thing, there simply isn’t enough room to fit as many components as you would put in a mid- or full-size gaming PC. Multiple graphics cards aren’t likely, and oversized power supplies (not to mention CPU heatsinks) usually present major challenges. The other issue is the heat: with space at a premium, good airflow becomes even more important, but all the harder to preserve. And don’t expect your customers to give you leeway on performance, looks, or (and this might be the toughest target of all) noise. But it’s not a lost cause, especially with the Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan delivering so much power (and...
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Building a small form factor gaming PC is a tricky business. For one thing, there simply isn’t enough room to fit as many components as you would put in a mid- or full-size gaming PC. Multiple graphics cards aren’t likely, and oversized power supplies (not to mention CPU heatsinks) usually present major challenges. The other issue is the heat: with space at a premium, good airflow becomes even more important, but all the harder to preserve. And don’t expect your customers to give you leeway on performance, looks, or (and this might be the toughest target of all) noise. But it’s not a lost cause, especially with the Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan delivering so much power (and...
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On the test track, Alienware notebooks have racked up some of the best performance numbers we've seen and the company's desktops rank right up there as well. One shape the Aliens have never assumed previously, however, is the small form-factor desktop. And let's be honest, systems in this weight class generally aren't known for their gaming prowess but usually serve as home theater or mainstream PCs. The folks at Alienware have a different sort of vision for their next alien life form and if you weren't paying attention, you'd almost mistake it for a game console rather than a PC. But you're here at HH, so you're obviously paying attention. And so are we. You could say the Alienware...
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Dell's enthusiast gaming PC division has built a legacy on designing over-the-top desktops and notebooks, that push the boundaries of performance and style with an unmistakable design flair. We've been pretty impressed with the Alienware systems we've looked at thus far, and though they tend to run a premium in terms of price, performance and design quality generally scale along with that higher price tag. On the test track, Alienware notebooks have racked up some of the best performance numbers we've seen and the company's desktops rank right up there as well. One shape the Aliens have never assumed previously, however, is the small form-factor desktop. And let's be honest,...
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This weekend the weather has been acting up here in the Northeast. We've had some torrential rains causing localized flooding and the wind has been fierce, giving us the feeling that Mother Earth has decided to kick up her wrath a bit, forcing us all to seek shelter indoors. Or, perhaps, the change in atmosphere has nothing to do with dear ol' Mother Earth and more to do with what landed on the HotHardware.com loading dock last week. Perhaps the atmospheric disturbance we're dealing with is a result something extra-terrestrial that has invaded the test area now at HH. See, this little company by the name of Intel, they have a new chip. It has six processor cores in it...
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CyberPower isn't resting on its laurels here at the beginning of the new year, as it has taken the opportunity to upgrade a rig that it originally announced back in June of '09. The Black Mamba gaming PC was already a force to be reckoned with, and now it has been completely redesigned as to give the Fang Series a new look. The chassis is new, a custom water-cooling option has been added and DirectX 11-capable hardware has been added. Corsair's Obsidian 800D chassis is now encasing the innards, while the Xtreme Hydro custom cooling kit keeps things cool when the gaming heats up. You'll also find Intel's new Core i7 Extreme CPU running them, while a special BIOS enables improved overclocking....
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You're stuffed full of turkey, you somehow managed to erect a Christmas tree, and you're still recovering from Black Friday. Without a doubt, you've had one whirlwind of a holiday. But before you get too comfortable in that chair of yours, we should probably remind you that the gift giving day you've all been waiting for is only a few weeks away. If you've been thinking of replacing that aging gaming rig of yours with something a bit more powerful as a gift to yourself (so to speak), we've rounded up a few solid options in varying price ranges that just might fit the bill. Oh, and you don't even have to get off of that sofa you're planted on to assemble these!Bang For Your Buck: Low-End, Mid-Range...
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You're stuffed full of turkey, you somehow managed to erect a Christmas tree (or not), and you're still recovering from Black Friday. Without a doubt, you've had one whirlwind of a holiday. But before you get too comfortable in that chair of yours, we should probably remind you that the gift giving day(s) you've all been waiting for is only a few weeks away. If you've been thinking of replacing that aging gaming rig of yours with something a bit more powerful as a gift to yourself (so to speak), we've rounded up a few solid options in varying price ranges that just might fit the bill. Oh, and you don't even have to get off of that sofa you're planted on to assemble these! The Lower-End:Let's...
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Hardcore PC enthusiasts may argue that "building your own" gaming rig is the only real way to go, but for those without enough spare time/know how or the patience to deal with their own troubles in the future, there's Maingear. A lesser-known PC maker compared to the likes of HP/Dell, this outfit is notorious for keeping up with technological changes in CPUs and GPUs and always providing the latest and greatest for those with the cash. The company's latest lineup is the 'Power of 3,' which is comprised of the X-Cube, Prelude 2, and F131 systems. All of 'em can be equipped with NVIDIA GeForce graphics, an Intel Core i7 CPU and the P55 chipset, which means the whole lot is more than ready to do...
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iBuyPower is a company generally associated with custom gaming PCs and notebooks. If you need a high-octane machine to handle the latest games, they're the company to turn to. What they aren't known for, however, are things such as this. Of course, you won't find us griping about a company spreading its wings and trying new things, particularly when it delivers something as unique and useful as the Internal USB Expansion System. The all new IES Controller system is a proprietary development designed to add all sorts of functionality to SFF boxes and machines that were left for dead (or the thrift store). Not only does this device enable front-panel USB ports to power devices such as iPods and...
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