Hardware Breakdown Presents: Apple's New Mac Mini 2018

November has come upon us which means its time for another written episode of Hardware Breakdown. This month we take a  close look at Apple's miniature desktop, the Mac Mini. Here's a bit of factual information for you, it's been four years since the computer has had hardware an upgrade, 2014 to be exact.

With that said, as always with Hardware Breakdown; let's use the imagination a bit, get out tools and take the lid off of the Mac Mini and examine its core hardware. Now for this post, we will use the higher price top end model as a point of reference. Let's get started.

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The Processor

Image Source: Apple

The processor is by far the most potent piece of hardware within the Mac Mini, which of course is the case with any computer. But this particular system houses an Intel Core i7  3.2GHz processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz, with six working cores, 12MB shared L3 cache. Enough power to handle any resource-intensive tasks that includes, video and photo editing.

The RAM

The Mac Mini features a pretty fast 2666MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM memory. With ease, according to Apple it should render massive files or run multiple virtual machines. Users have the option to go with 8GB up to an astounding 64GB of RAM.

The Storage

Like with most current Apple computers, the Mac Mini uses an all-flash PCIe-based storage, which supposed to be four times the speed of previous flash options capable of reaching  3.4G/bs sequential read. Like the RAM, the drive can also handle large files at a fast rate. Potential users can choose up to 2TB of SSD storage which will of course drive up the price.

Graphics

Interestingly enough, the  Mac Mini doesn't have a discrete graphics chip; instead it uses an Intel UHD Graphics 630 which is embedded within processor. An controversial move by Apple considering some of their desktop edition computers, in particularly the current iMac’s include a Radeon Pro 55 discrete graphics chip.

Security

The Mac Mini features a security co-processor better known as the T2 Security Chip, the same chip you'll find in the current generation Mac Book Pros. The Apple design silicone includes an Enclave co-processor that provides a full storage encryption.

Cooling

Image Source: iFixit

For me the ***star feature in the Mac Mini is its redesigned thermal setup. With heavy-duty hardware crammed into a small square like shell, one would expect the device to overheat, but theory it shouldn’t be the case. The fan is much bigger  with expanded vents, increasing airflow. According to Apple, even under a heavy workload, the Mac Mni will run very quiet.

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Five Essential Features You Should Look For When Buying a TV In 2018

What is the sort after tech gadget for Christmas? The usual suspects are computers (preferably laptops), smartphones, and other formidable devices such as drones and smart home speakers. You can certainly guarantee you'll find a bevy of consumers add a TV to their shopping list. The 4K HD smart TV's are getting bigger, thinner, boasting sharper brighter images. More importantly, prices are coming down every year. It's not surprising to find a 4K smart TV go for just $400.

There are plenty of TV's on the market to choose from, but no matter the price point or if the TV has crispy sharp images, I'm sure the average consumer don't know what key features they should look for, I got you readers covered. Here are five essential features you should look for when shopping for a TV.

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1: Size May Matter

Size matters, well, that depends, they're several factors you must consider. You must determine the space you have allocated. Get out your tape measure and measure the height, width of the area you plan on placing your TV. Head over to nearest electronics chain and match the actual measurements with the TV you plan on purchasing. Also, if you have more than one people residing in your residence, then pick the largest screen that will fit comfortably into your space and budget. Price considering and performance, most consumers will typically place the TV in the living room and is between 55 and 65 inches.

2: The Resolution, 4K or HD

For those who don't understand what display resolution is, it describes the number of pixels that make up the picture in horizontal and vertical columns. More pixels means a lovely sharp, crispy detail image. No matter how much cash you plan on dropping, definitely go with the TV that has a higher resolution.

For many years, 1980 x 1080 resolution, better known as full HD has always been the main staple and still is today. But TV makers such as Samsung, Sony, LG ( countless others) have now moved over to Ultra-HD, or 4K. This TV’s have an higher number of pixels, measuring 2,160 horizontal lines, or 3840 x 2160. There are of course several benefits to having a 4K TV, one of them being small objects on a display are hugely detailed, you'll also see much sharper text. Depending on your settings, colors are more vibrant with deep rich blacks.

3: Stress The Importance of High Refresh Rate

A standard spec overlooked on TV's is refresh rate, high refresh means you’re getting a high quality television. See, what it refers to is the number of times per second a frame of a video is flashed on your display and is measured in hertz (Hz). More pictures per second means you'll have a more fluid realistic motion in the video.

4:The More HDMI Connections, The Better

In 2018, the market is flooded with devices that require HDMI connection, from gaming consoles, Amazon Firestick to sound bar and Google Chromecast. These devices can quickly fill all these ports if you posses several of these devices. Try purchasing a TV that has at least four HDMI ports. Countless users such as myself are viewing a majority of my content via gaming console and Fire Stick, both require a HDMI port.

5:WiFi Connected Smart TV’s

Almost all smart TV's today have built-in WiFi which in my opinion is the most underrated feature. Many of these Wifi capable smart TV's have Internet-based streaming services such as Amazon video, Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. These services come in the form of apps that’s preinstalled in the TV. There was a time when smart TV interfaces that supported these apps were slow and clunky. But TV's such as Vizio, and LG and Samsung have improved their interfaces, with handy bar-style setup placing icons on the bottom of the screen. With all that said, if you want to enjoy all the video streaming services without relying on a console or a set-top device, make sure your smart TV is WiFi ready and have these preinstalled streaming services.

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Deepcool Unveils and Launches The Matrexx 55 RGB Tempered Glass PC Case

Deepcool is the biggest providers of thermal products for PC’s and also manufacture PC cases. The Chinese based manufacturer has just recently unveiled and launched two impressive PC cases; the Matrexx 55 AADD-RGB and Matrexx 55 ADD-RGB 3F, both cases are considered to be the updated Matrexx 55PC variant cases that has a reasonably low price point.

These particular cases feature RGB lighting that’s placed to the very front of the PC case. It consists of five programmable lighting effects that include dynamic color, static, breathing, comet, and fashion collision. Users have the option to add extra RGB lighting, Deepcool also includes two RGB connectors, one for Deepcool/Gamestorm and the other for universal 5V 3-pin headers.

Like most modern PC cases you have on the market Deepcool includes a PSU shroud in both the ADD-RGB and ADD RGB 3F models enabling users to hide cables while keeping the PC well organized and clean, making cable management more simplistic.  I also want to add there are three pre-installed 120mm RGB cooling fans located in the front of the case. Both cases *star* feature is the 4mm thick Tempered glass placed on both the front and side panel.

So what about pricing and availability? The Matrexx 55 is now ready for consumer purchase, and the ADD-RGB will retail for just $50 US while the ADD-RGB 4F will go for $75.

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Here’s What You Need To Know About Apple's New iPad Pro and MacBook Air 2018

I'd be wrong if I said the changes to the newly unveiled iPad Pro is incremental, it's not. The design and hardware, though not wholly overhauled is different from last years iteration. For one, gone is the home button following the footsteps of their iPhone X mates. No home button means Face ID will authenticate the device.

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The iPad Pro measurements are still the same from the previous gen model, coming in at 11-inch and 12.9-inch. The signature thick bezels on the Pro is no longer as it is much thinner ( more on the bezel later).

Let's take it back to Face ID, with the iPhone X you can only unlock the device while in a vertical position. With new iPad Pro, users have the option to open the device both vertically and horizontally, using Face ID or course.

When it comes to hardware, the Pro offered storage options start at 64GB capping out at 1TB, along with the usual varied price options from Apple. But it's all about that chip, the A12 Bionic engine (the CPU) backed by a 7-core GPU, potentiality making it one of the fastest high-performing mobile devices around. The famed retina display will have 2048 x 1536-pixel resolution at 264 ppi, layered with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.

Interestingly enough, Apple decided to ditch the Lightning port which has for a long time served a valued purpose. Its replacement will be USB-C, opening up opportunities for third-party accessories for the iPad Pro. Hopefully ending need to use of the Apple-provided flimsy cable and the infamous brick adapter. What I considered to be a bonus is the USB-C port which now can act as a charger and charge an iPhone.

Then there's the standout feature, the Apple Pencil, its standout because the design of the device is significantly improved, gone, is the awkward charging method where users had to remove the cap and then plug it into Lightning port. Instead, attach the Apple pencil magnetically to the iPad, which can charge via wireless Bluetooth.

Pricing goes as follows; the 11-inch variant will start at $799 and 12-inch $999, Apple is now accepting preorders, The iPad Pro is scheduled to ship on November 7th.

Then we have the new MacBook Air.

Along with the iPad Pro Apple also unveiled the new MacBook Air and, it looks precisely like the MacBook Air from previous generations, the same one I have sitting on my desk that I purchased in 2014. But it does not means it's not without any changes, the laptop subtracts the old USB ports and DisplayPort connectors; instead, it will have two Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The 13-inch retina display bezel is 50 percent smaller with the glass extending from edge to edge. The weight of MacBook Air has also decreased from 2.96 pounds to 2.75 pounds.

The new MacBook Air keyboard will now have a butterfly key mechanism which has a somewhat polarizing reputation among Apple die-hards. But console will be a third-generation design improving key travel and silicone gasket which should guard against accumulated dust and crumbs.

Now for the hardware, The MacBook Air will be powered with the 8th generation Intel Core i5 processors, and users will have the option to configure the laptop with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The base model will come with a 1.GHz Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128 SSD retailing for $1,199.

I want to add its good to see Apple revive what I considered to be a forgotten product in the MacBook Air, which in opinion pioneered the whole Ultra-book industry.

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The Performance Benchmark On The Intel Core i9-9980XE Leaked On The Web

Leaked benchmark numbers on Intel's flagship Core-X series processor, in particular, the Core i9-9980XE have been seen on the Internet. The actual performance benchmarks display is what seems to be a slight gain over the current gen Intel Core-X. The higher increases can be attributed to much higher clock speeds and improved thermal design thus leading to a more stable operation even under intense workloads.

If you are trying to keep abreast to what's going on in hardware news as of late, then you should know that Intel recently made several announcements for their desktop processor lineup. What they revealed to the masses, the hardware pundits was the 9th Generation Core-S and Core-X CPU's. The Intel Core-S series chips are now readily available for consumer purchase, but the Core-X processor has yet to be launched.

Via Tum APISAK, the leaked benchmark shows the Intel Core i9-9980XE processor scores 10,728 points in the CPU test on 3DMark Timespy. The actual clock speed mentioned in the benchmark are 3.0GHz for the base clock and 4.517GHz for the boost clock. The real stock boost clock measures at 4.5GHz, which technically should run slightly ahead of the Core i9-798XE.

What this leak tells me is that processor even while overclocked at 4.5GHz have a much improved thermal design over its predecessor and much higher clock speed.

The Intel Core i9-9980XE processor will feature a total of 18 cores and 36-threads, similar to the Core i9-7980, but a much higher clock speed and power tuning. The Core i9-9980XE will also feature a base clock of 3.0GHz, a boost clock of 4.5GHz and 165W TDP; it will retail for $1979 in the US.

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Lets Talk About The Huawei Mate Pro Camera or Shall I Say Cameras

Topic: Digital Science

Every smartphone on the market has a specific standout feature. The latest iteration iPhones have the A12 processor, the Note 9's Bluetooth capable S-Pen, then there's the new market arriving Pixel 3 which has the camera capable of capturing some of the best images ever taken on a mobile device. All of the mentioned smartphones in their own right are the best when it comes to digital photography. Then we have the Huawei newest flagship creation, the Mate 20 Pro. It to have an impressive camera, or should I say cameras.

Let's take a quick in-depth examination of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro camera specs. On paper, this could potentially be a front-runner for being the best smartphone camera on the market.

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About The Cameras

In total there are four Leica cameras on the Mate 20 Pro, one front-facing and three on the rear. Its the rear cameras that has me stoked with interest. We're talking three different focal lengths; you have your wide angle lens, standard within the smartphone industry, an astounding 40-megapixels with a f/1.8 aperture lens. There's the 20-megapixel camera that has a f/2.2 aperture ultra-wide lens that's 0.6 x greater than the wide angle lens than most smartphones granting users an excellent real-world view.

Then we have what now is seemingly is standard with most high-end smartphones and that's a is the additional telephoto lens ( 8-megapixels, f/2.4 aperture) whose primary function is to zoom in on subjects without image distortion. The single 24-megapixel front-facing camera has integrated sensors for 3D Face Unlock.

The central feature with the Mate 20 Pro camera is AI. Dubbed the "Thinking Lens, " this controls every aspect of the camera, offering a simplified way to capture great images. The A.I will also automatically swap directly to ultra wide-angle lens when A.I is needed, it will even intelligently recognize any primary objects within a camera, keeping it in full focus, and will be able to apply cinematic effects with A.I, shifting surroundings to black and white while the subject is in color.

Image Credit: Technobugg.com

Aside from the impeccable hardware, the digital technology on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is quite impressive. The fact the manufacturer was able to incorporate four cameras onto makes it even more interesting, each camera having a specific function. How the smartphone camera performs in real-world usage remains to be seen.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Spec Sheet

Dispaly: AMOLED

Resolution: 1440 x 3120

Chipset: HiSilicon Kirin 980

CPU: Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex A76 and 2X1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 and 4X1.8 GHz Cortex

Storage: 128GB Max Card Slot 256GB

Memory: 6GB RAM

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Hardware Breakdown Presents: AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200 Workstation Graphics Card

What you have with the AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200 workstation graphics is a very affordable piece of visual hardware that retails for just $325.25 which you can at this moment purchase on Amazon. Sporting its signature YInMn color scheme the Radeon Pro WX 8200 main intent is to attract builders who plan on using their rigs for creative content such as video and image editing. Now, this particular iteration regarding specs is slightly a step down from the current flagship variant which is the Radeon Pro WX 9100. But I'm not trying to sell you a graphics card, I more interested in the internal components.

As usual with Hardware Breakdown, let's use our imagination and get out the virtual tools and crack up the Radeon Pro WX 8200 and examine its core components, what makes this particular graphics card so uniquely attractive to hardware pundits such as myself.

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Internal Breakdown

In lifting casing off this graphics card you'll find its constructed entirely on Vega GPU architecture, its lithography or the processing die is 14nm FinFET,  the card is capable of producing 3584 stream processing, 56 compute units that push up to 10.8 teraflops on a single precision performance, and 21.5 TFLOPs of half-precision (FP16) performance.

On the memory front, the Pro WX 8200 holds 8GB of HBM2 memory that's linked directly to the GPU over a 2,048-bit interface, and there's also ECC support ensuring accuracy during full operations. The graphics cards memory bandwidth comes in at a hefty 512GB/s, a level up over the higher priced variant; the WX 9100's have a 484GB/s memory bandwidth. Radeon Pro WX's higher price is attributed to it having 16GB HBM2 memory. With memory being lower in comparison, this explains the dip in price point.

Cooling and Power

Like all the Radeon Pro WX line, the 10.5-inch long WX 8200 come outfitted with a single blower cooler shrouded with an attractive blue color scheme with just the model number present on the card. The graphics card will consume two-slots and will require PCI Express power feeds which is 6-pin and 8-pin connector. The card max TDP is 230W, this means you'll need an adequate power supply at minimum 650 watts.

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Impressive graphics card to say the least, will the features and specs l I provided in this post entice you to purchase this piece of hardware for your next PC build? The reasonable price point will certainly attract potential buyers. Tell me what you think. Drop a comment in the box.

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 What is ECC?

ECC is acronym for error correcting memory which is primarily stored data that can detect and correct common kinds of data corruption. 

Here's What You Need To Know About The Google Pixel 3 XL

Google makes an entry into the Fall smartphone reveal by launching the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL right after Apple's pair of flagship devices the XS, and recently LG just revealed the V40 ThiQ. From my vantage point the Pixel 3 looks like a pretty decent smartphone, then again I'm still impressed with the Pixel 2. But let us turn our attention to this year's top-end variant, the Pixel 3XL. A much larger display infused with pretty exciting and controversial features.

From all the information I’ve gathered, here's what you need to know about Google's newly released Pixel 3 XL.

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Lets Break Down The Design

The Google Pixel 3XL has retained its minimalist design with a few incremental changes. One of those changes being the notch, the famed display notch which has become the staple feature seen on several flagship devices, more on the notch later. But let us focus on display, the Pixel 3XL has a 6.3-inch 29060 x 1440px AMOLED with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Now about that notch, many who had the honor of holding the Pixel 3 have made mentioned that by far it has the deepest notch ever witnessed on a smartphone, and I'm inclined to agree, judging from all the images I've viewed.

Within the notch, aside from the camera, you'll find brand new set of stereo speakers over the top the old two speakers, potentially it should output better sound. The very edge of the Pixel 3 XL ( and Pixel 3) you'll find an aluminum frame that sits directly between the front and back of Gorilla Glass 5 plates.

Switching over to the back of the device, it's entirely different from previous iterations where you had the two-tone color scheme encased entirely with metal; there's a frosted glass inlay that's infused into the glossy glass panel retaining its signature two-tone design. Google likes to call the frosted glass "soft touch" giving the appeared illusion that back is still made out of metal, enabling wireless charging.

Hardware Internals

The internal hardware within Google Pixel 3XL is very much similar to what you have with most flagship Android devices on the market, circa 2018. It's rocking a 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, an Octa-core CPU, Adreno GPU for the visual graphics. What's surprising the Pixel 3XL has only 4GB of RAM, all things considering most of your top end smartphones today are now topping out at 6GB or more. I'm curious to see how this smartphone will perform during the long haul. On the battery front, the Pixel 3 XL a 3,430mAh battery.

Then There’s the Camera

The Pixel 2 can probably make a case for having the best smartphone camera on the market, the standout feature on the device. How will the Pixel 3 XL top last years iteration? Well, according to the camera specs, it should. The 3 and 3 XL retains its 12MP camera but completely adding a whole new front-facing setup.

The camera specs goes as follow, the 12MP camera has a f/1.8 lens, large 1.4um pixels, dual pixel phase detection autofocus, and both optical and electronic stabilization. The front-facing camera is a significant upgrade from last years iteration, its dual 8MP setup. One camera has a f/2.2 fixed focus snapper with a 97-degree field of view and other having a f/1.8 shooter with a regular 75-degree FoV and autofocus. Google makes all the components and HDR+ technology.

Android Stock Software

Right out of the box the Pixel 3 XL and Pixel 3 will come stock with Android 9.0 Pie, Googles newest and latest release. It will come fully equipped with Google Assistant that can be summoned by either voice or squeezing the Active Edge feature.

Google introduces a new feature called Call Screen; this will allow Google Assistant to screen users calls and let anyone know who's calling ( US feature only). Google Assistant can wake you up featuring Sunrise Alarm displaying a warm sunrise colors right before the activation of the alarm.

Then we have Google Lens; it receives an update allowing it to display suggestions, read QR codes, copy numbers and addresses directly from the camera, in real time.

The final standout feature in Android Pie is Adaptive battery and Digital Wellbeing, operating by limiting resources to apps and services you may not be using while giving you a rundown on your actual usage of the phone with options to set timers for apps you might think is being overused.

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How To Buy and Properly Install RAM

Probably the easiest hardware installs are inserting memory, or better known as RAM. Easy because it's a two-step process, you open the panel to your computer and locate the memory module which I like to call the RAM slot, and insert memory into these slots. Easy task, but if not done correctly it's quite possible to hinder system performance.

First, let's get into why is RAM is the most critical piece of hardware aside from other essential components such as the processor, hard drive, oh, and let's not forget the graphics card. RAM is a volatile memory that temporarily stores data. Once the computer is powered down, that same data gets erased. RAM is used by the central processing unit (CPU) when the computer is storing information that is needed right away. Your computer as you know it will not boot if RAM is absent. A vital component to say the least.

As years past, software such as the operating system, video editing software (Photoshop) and even the Google Chrome web browser has become known memory hogs. Try using just 4GB of RAM today in a computer system, and you'll notice a difference in performance, as in slow to a crawl. Today all computers at the minimum must have at least 8GB of RAM. If you want your machine to run at peak performance, 16GB is sufficient. Even your top end smartphone now have at least 6GB of RAM; currently, the Note 9 has an astounding 8GB of RAM. I wouldn't consider it to be overkill you max your system with 32GB.

If your current PC feels crappy and you plan on adding more RAM or you're in the process of building your very first computer, here are some essential tips you should follow when installing or upgrading RAM

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What You Should Know Before You Buy RAM

It's important to know that there are different types of RAM. Most if not all PC's today use DDR4 memory modules, older systems, say ten or more years older that's still in existence today use DDR3. But as of now, motherboards and laptops only support DDR4 memory.

If you plan on upgrading RAM to your system or building an entirely new computer, you should consider speed and of course memory kit capacity. Now tests have shown on memory bandwidth that purchasing super fast RAM have minimal impact on overall system performance. But quicker RAM frequencies does decrease wait time response from the processor. In my years of experience in constructing computer systems, when using fast RAM, I have not noticed any performance gains.

Either way, its very important to always know your system compatibility, refer to your manuals. Most motherboards will accept frequencies ranging from 2600MHZ to as high as 4600MHz, the highest being the most expensive option. Here's a bit of warning, never mix-match RAM speeds, doing so will enable your computer to chose the DIMM ( dual in-line memory module) with the slowest frequency, thus impeding overall performance.

  Trust The Installation Process

 Assuming you've done the diligent research, ordered and purchased your RAM from your respective vendors, you may begin installing your memory into the slots.

Wait, before you proceed to the first step, I must remind you when dealing with builds and upgrades, make sure your PC is powered down, detach the cable from the power supply and discharge static electricity from your body by simply touching the metal portion of the PC case. Now you may begin removing the side panel so you can access the motherboard. You should see four slots that is adjacent to the processor, what you're seeing is the actual DIMM slots. It's where you insert your RAM.

Remove the old kit before you install new memory if by chance you’re upgrading your system. Start by toggling the plastic retention clips at either end of the memory slots, this makes it easy for you to pull out old RAM and insert the new.

If you find there's dust of any foreign debris in or around the slots, remove it either by spraying it with compressed air or use a shop vacuum. In the image below I’m using the DataVac duster which you can purchase from Amazon.

The time has arrived to insert the new memory kit. Rule of thumb, always make sure you correctly situate your RAM module: The notch on the edge of the RAM must match up with the rise in the memory slot. That is if you're aren't  filling in all the RAM channels that are available, always refer to your motherboard's manual to see which specific slots you should fill in first. Placing the RAM in the wrong slot can cause system instability.

That notch you see at the bottom of the RAM, as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, make sure it matches with the rises in the memory channel that's on your motherboard, you can't miss it.

Once you seated the RAM into the slot, carefully toggle the plastic retention levers so that you can lock the memory modules in place. You should hear a click, that means the toggle has secured your RAM.

Epilogue

Now you're all done, place the side panel back on and power up your system. Once you have booted up your computer, go into your computers BIOS and see if the system recognizes your new RAM. Or, to simplify things a bit, within  Windows OS go into Control Panel then click on  System, you should see RAM capacity which means the computer has accepted your new memory.

A forgotten mentioned tip: To access the computers BIOS prior to system boot, press the F2 key or the DEL key.

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The Update: YouTube For iOS Will Offer HDR Playback Support For iPhone XS and XS Max

Consumers with newly purchased iPhone XS and XS Max need to swipe ans make yourself over to the app store and update your YouTube app, there you'll find the app will now support both these devices. Surprisingly, HDR support was only limited to iPhones 8, 8-Plus and iPhone X. Consumers can take full advantage of high dynamic range content.

The option to switch to HDR is there for late gen iPhones users only to be limited to viewing content in 1080p resolution. Android users such as myself have always granted the ability to see content up to 1440p with no issue. Even with Safari, the default web browser in MacOS has yet adapted to Google's VP9 codec which is customized for video resolution higher than 1080p, all while using less bandwidth.

How soon Apple will adapt to VP9, that remains to be seen. But for now, you're officially ready to view HDR content on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max if you right now update the YouTube application.

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Phanteks Unveils The Glacier G2080Ti and G2080 That Illuminates

It’s not out the realm of possibility for third-party GPU cooling manufacturers to unveil a slew of products right after a flagship launch of any graphics cards, which is what NVIDIA had done a few weeks back when they raised the curtains and revealed their RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti. Phanteks a company that's heavily involved in computer hardware and other accessories has just launched their brand new Glacier G2080Ti and G2080 water-blocks.

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In looking at this cooling apparatus, its designed for the enthusiast system builder, and gamers looking to push their new NVIDIA RTX graphic cards passed its performance boundaries. The G2080Ti is a full cover water-block who's optimized central channel structure, fully complete with a 6mm thick nickel-plated copper base explicitly made for efficient heat exchange. The entire block is tightly-sealed with VITON O-RINGS, which are the leaders in the industry.

Let's examine the DuPont Viton rubber washer; it seals the entire Glacier G2080 water-block, the military grade hardware is capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. The Viton rubber washer seal is also rugged enough to resist any forms of damage during installation as well as retain form after being compressed for an extended period.

The actual Phanteks Glacier Valve fittings can easily maintain an entire water-cooling setup with fitting rings. The new glacier valve fittings allow any system builders to close off water-loop and perform any needed maintenance without having to drain the whole system.

As I mentioned in the title of this post, these water-blocks illuminates, that's because Glacier offers digital addressable RGB lighting, which is also compatible with ASUS Aura SYNC and Phanteks Digital RGB controller, sold separately. 

Your water-block color scheme choices are Satin Black and Mirror Chrome with D-RGB lighting. Preorders are now being accepted only at the UK Overclockers for £139.99. No word on when it will hit the US market.

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Let Us Examine Apples A12 Bionic Processor Up Close

Topic: mobile processors

Last week right on schedule Apple made their Fall reveal of their new iPhone lineup, which include the iPhone XR, XS and their and their top tier option the iPhone XS Max ( $1099 start price,ouch). Nothing more but incremental changes to design and hardware which was expected, but under the hood of these devices, the hardware, one in particular, the A12 Bionic processor is what made headlines at the Apple event. The processor should be familiar to iPhone X users. Apple introduced A11 Bionic chip right alongside Facial ID last year. The A11 chip critical feature is the performance controller which is capable of running six cores simultaneously under heavy workloads.

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Fast forward to 2018; Apple upgrades their new iPhone line with an A12 Bionic processor. Apple states it is first in the industry to use a 7nm processor. They also claimed in quote: " its the smartest, most powerful chip ever in a smartphone." In observing the latest benchmark numbers, there may be some validity to their claim as the processor has six-cores ( two performance cores and four efficiency cores, a four-core GPU, making it 50 percent faster than the A11 chip, there's also an updated Neural Engine. They also mentioned that a small portion of the processor is designed to handle AI tasks.

The A12 Bionic chip is basically beefed-up variant in comparison to the A11 processor; its Neural Engine had two cores, compared to the new processors Neural Engine which have up to eight cores. The old Neural Engine can handle up to 600 billion operations per second, while the new version is capable of handling 5 trillion operations per second.

In looking at the GPU up close, Apple didn't provide much information on the actual architecture, except what I do know is the hardware is also customized by the company.

Finally, we have the precision 16 bit makes incorporated into the A12 chip.  Apple started implementing the 16-bit value after the A8 chip and its also integrated into the A12's Neural Engine. It allows operations to performed rapidly and at the same time save power. But this all in theory, how it holds up in real time usage remains to be seen.

Question, how long before we'll see similar type processors such as the A12 Bionic make its way to Apple's line of Macs? Plans are in the works to incorporate ARM-64 processing into their ultrabook line of laptops Bucking the trend that emphasis should be on performance and power consumption, less on speed and power.

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Explanation Needed: How Does a Mirrorless Camera Work? How Is Different From a DSLR Camera?

As the new month has come upon us, its time for a newly written episode of "Explanation Needed." Let us venture into the world of digital photography and focus our attention on the Mirrorless camera. What exactly is the mirrorless camera?  How does it differentiate itself from the DSLR camera? But first, lets grasp and understand the whole concept of  the mirrorless camera and get a good understanding on how it operates.

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Shiny light enters the lens without relecting onto a mirror, straight to the sensor

The one defining feature with mirrorless cameras is it doesn't require any reflex mirror, which is a critical component of any DSLR camera. The mirror in a DSLR reflects the light onto the sensor with the image displayed on the optical viewfinder, with a mirrorless camera, the image sensor is exposed to direct light. The digital preview of the captured image is on the rear LCD screen or electronic viewfinder ( EVF).  Always keep in mind, the sensor in a mirrorless camera receives direct light without it being reflected from a mirror.

Observe the mirror box inside the DSLR camera, look real closely.

The term "mirrorless" really didn't get used until the mirrorless digital cameras came with interchangeable lenses, much like what you have with DSLR.  The point and shoot camera we all purchased during the early days of digital photography also minuses a reflex mirror inside, which technically constitutes as being a mirrorless camera. 

Regarding the actual physical design, the difference is size, the DSLR camera uses a bulky mirror box, while the mirrorless option doesn't, thus being much thinner. 

Like the DSLR, the mirrorless camera can be fitted with a myriad of lens thanks in part to a bayonet-style mount that allows anyone to attach different types of lens. Each camera manufacturer has its version mount, disallowing anyone from using it on any mirrorless camera. However, several third party manufacturers will produce lenses for those mounts. The key features in all mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras are flange-back distance; this is space between the actual lens mount and sensor, which is much smaller on a DSLR. Making it possible to attach a wide variety of lenses.

 The differences between mirrorless and DSLR, the ability to auto focus is far more significant with a mirrorless camera, but that all depends on the actual manufacturer and which lenses is used with the camera. Battery power is where the mirrorless camera will fall short, mainly because constant usage of live view or EVF, causing the battery too drain much faster than DSLR. However, video caption on mirrorless cameras is impeccable. With DSLR's video mode must be set to live view, thus using the rear LCD screen rather than the optical viewfinder, this, of course, will impact the battery power, rendering viewfinder useless. The viewfinder with a mirrorless camera can still be in full use while in video mode.

There is no clear advantage in using a Mirroless cameras or DSLR, sure, you have much clearer video with the latter, but shorter battery life, it all comes down personal preference. Mirrorless camera, particularly the compact models are the obvious choice for photo hobbyist, but the trade off is you get minimal battery power.

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Huawei Reveals AI Cube Alexa Speaker Combine With a 4G Router

Today, Huawei just unveiled their new AI Cube smart Speaker which has a built-in 4G modem and Wi-Fi router. Let's get this out of the way right now, as you can see in the image above, the AI Cube is not a cube but a cylindrical elongated shaped smart speaker that resembles Google Home, only thing is top is much flatter. 

One would call this an ultra combo device as it has a 360-degree wireless speaker that's combined with Huawei-Amazon that promises Alexa integration and other unmentioned AI capabilities. 

The Huawei AI Cube joins an already competitive smart speaker market that includes Apple's HomePod, the Google Home devices and, Samsung's Bixby speaker. Huawei seemingly edges out the competition as the speaker options consumers with more networking capabilities by including an actual slot for an LTE SIM card, turning the device into a 4G hotspot, there's also an Ethernet port, giving users the ability to morph the speakers into a Wi-Fi router.

As far as the AI Cube specs go, it measures roughly 8.6-inches in height and 4.57-inches across at the base and top, the weight of the speakers are 2-pounds. The AI Cube supports LTE Cat-6 for cellular speeds in upwards to about 300Mbps and has 802.11ac with dual-band Wi-Fi. It features 4 microphones,  a 15-watt Mono Speaker, and Far Field Voice Recognition.

 Interestingly enough, judging from the images and video captions I've viewed, the AI cube 360-degree speakers seems like it should output pretty decent sound, though it has yet to be tested in a live demonstration. The selling point from Huawei is produce the perfect multi-faceted device that according to the company, should be groundbreaking with a potent sound system.

Now here's the deal, AI Cube will come only to the European market right in time for the Christmas shopping season, no word on whether or not it will come to the US.

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According To Bloomberg Apple Will Unveil Three New iPhones

As the Summer winds down we're are heading into the brisk days of Fall, depending on where you reside. Anyway, its this time of year you almost expect something new coming down the pipe from Apple which usually winds up being their next generation handheld device, the iPhone. Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is set to launch three new devices. If Apple sticks to the usual script, we could see them be unveiled sometime in mid-September.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu seemingly have close ties to those inside Apple as they're reporting the company will brand their devices as being the S-models. More than likely you'll have incremental upgrades to the hardware, no drastic changes to the overall design. Sadly as reported, you will still have a $1,000 iPhone.

Without dragging this written post into baseless chatter, here are specific things expected to come from Apple in coming weeks, according to Bloomberg rumors.

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The iPhone will come in threes

The iPhone X will be an upgraded 5.8-inch OLED screen; the top tier iPhone will have a massive 6.5-inch OLED display, which could be their biggest smartphone to date. Apple will also introduce a new but cheaper variant which will resemble the current gen iPhone X, the screen itself will measure in at 6.1-inch, it won't be OLED; instead, it will be LCD. The two larger variants will have dual-SIM card slots position in the same location.

The name game

Names of Apple's three newest handheld devices is expected to be the "iPhone Xs,  and for the larger screen devices "the iPhone Xs Plus." These names, of course, are subject to change once Apple gives their keynote address.

Color schemes

According to rumors, the 6.1-inch iPhone will come in various color schemes, such as gray, white, blue, red, and even orange. Along the edges its expected to be aligned with UN-colored aluminum instead of the colored-matching stainless steel casing as seen on the current iPhone X.

The friendly gestures

New gesture controls will apply to all three devices, Apple's face-unlocking feature on the iPhone X will have expected changes. The much larger 6.5-inch display will give users access to massive screen real-estate, giving you the ability "view content side-by-side" imagine how apps such as Calendar will look on the upcoming iPhone.

Device updates in the Apple ecosystem

The iPhone is not the only thing that will get an update. Bloomberg also reported there will be an update to the AirPods, the Apple Watch will get a much bigger display along with a new wireless charger. The iPad Pros will get a significant upgrade to the design that will include a much slimmer bezel, and it could finally have Face ID which replaces the fingerprint-sensing home button. 

Remember, these are all just speculative rumors reported by a valuable news source. Whether or not Apple stays on Que with their schedule iPhone announcement remains to be seen. Stay tuned.

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NVIDIA's New GeForce RTX Series (RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080): Here's What You Need To Know

I had a few days to digest all the information I've gathered on NVIDIAs newest flagship video caption cards, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080, or the RTX 20 series. The features and specs pose no surprises to many like myself as rumors have circulated the Internet months before launch. In gathering up Intel on NVIDIAs newest generation graphics card, I have come away very impressed. Here's what you need to know from my perspective. 

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NVIDIA introduces a whole new Turing powered architecture, infused with a ray tracing, potentially game-changing technology that will allow PC users to experience more realistic scenes in games, bringing fourth programmable lighting and shadowing effects for more accurate character and objects.

Let's put aside NVIDIA's newest features on their graphics cards and focus our attention on the specs. Staring with the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti the top founders' edition, you have an astounding 4,352 CUDA cores, 1350 MHz base clock, 1635 MHz boost clock, 11 GB GDDR6 memory, a 14 Gbps memory speed, 352-bit memory interface, 616 GB/s memory bandwidth.  The RTX 2080 variant, spec numbers are a tad below the 2080 Ti, still a potent graphics card. The CUDA count is at 2944, base clock measuring 1515 MHz, boost clock at 1710 MHz, 8GB GDDR6 memory, 14 Gbps memory speed, 256-bit memory Interface, 448 GB/s memory bandwidth.

In looking at the Turing  architecture in detail, is quite capable of delivering high-performance that's 6X greater than Pascal ( which was introduced two years ago), but this is all based on a claim from NVIDIA. With existing games on the market, you probably won't see a big difference in performance over Pascal, at least not yet.  With Ray-tracing, it's made possible by a Turing based GPUs that have an mass number of transistors, 18.9 billion to be exact and three individual processing engines.

Though GeForce RTX will support SLI, the connector itself will replace with NVLink providing a faster link between cards in multi-GPU configuration at 100GB/sec. Another added new features in this SLI config is VirtualLink, this is an all-new USB-C base one standard that will connect next-generation virtual reality headsets using just one cable for power output and data.

When it comes to cooling, NVIDIA has deleted their blower-style setup and gone back to a dual-fan configuration. Leaked images on the Internet shows a customized GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti having as many as three fans. 

In regards to pricing and availability, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti will go for $999, while the RTX 2080   will have a  $699 price point. Pre-orders are readily available and will start shipping on September 20th. The GeForce RTX 2070 which I didn't mention in this post will launch a much later date; the price will start at $499. The NVIDIA Founders Editions graphics cards will be priced at $1,199, $799, and $599.
 

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The Logitech K780 Multi-Device Connecting Keyboard For The Computer,Smartphone and Tablet: The Review

The Intro

The elusive search for a quality wireless keyboard may have ended with the Logitech K780. Unlike most wireless keyboards I've purchased in the past, the K780 is not only compatible with Windows and Mac computers, but it has a unique feature that enables users to switch between devices using the same keyboard by merely engaging in the Easy-Switch button, more on that feature later in this post.

I've spent a better part of a week using the Logitech K780 wireless keyboard and I have some strong opinions, scroll down for the written review. 

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About the Design

Total awe of this design

Regarding design, the Logitech's K780 does meet my standard. Its nicely compact and comfortably flat, measuring just  0.3-inch in the front, 0.9-inch in the back. Unlike most traditional keyboards which have the squared off corners, the Logitech K780 edges are rounded, adding sleekness to the keyboard aesthetics. The well crafted round concave keys almost mimics the old school typewriter, only these keys are a bit bigger. What stands out the most is the rubberized tray that runs right along the length of the keyboard, its primary purpose is to hold mobile devices at a very comfortable viewing angle.  

Connecting Devices

There are exactly three Easy Switch keys located on the very top row on the left hand side, its situated between the escape (ESC) and F4 key. The buttons or keys are color-coded in white standing out from the rest. These three corresponding buttons allow users to switch between paired devices; button one connects you to your PC, button two to your smartphone and I'm assuming the third button enables users to connect to the tablet. Since this is a wireless keyboard, you, of course, need to Bluetooth receiver dongle which comes with the keyboard cleverly stored in the battery compartment. Just plug the receiver to  your computers USB 3.0 port (Plug-n-Play). 

That right there is the USB receiver, without you have no coinnection, DUH?

 I  ran into some problems when tried to sync my PC and other devices to this keyboard. I had to power down all my devices so that I can establish a Bluetooth connection. Once I was able to pair my K780 keyboard to my devices,  thus far I haven't had any problematic issues. I'm able maintain signal strength as far as 15 feet, without losing any connection.
 

Functional Performance

My fingers gliding across the keys

The primary function of the K780 wireless keyboard is to free yourself from your mobile device's touchscreen, which it does very well. With my smartphone or tablet being seated in the rubberized cradle, my fingers seamlessly glide across the keys while responding to a barrage of text messages or typing out documents, a very comfortable experience indeed, almost like I'm using a laptop. 

Not So Portable Keyboard

Seriously, would you fit this keyboard into a backpack?

If there's one minor gripe with the Logitech K780 I would say though, it's primary purpose is to free yourself from touch typing on a mobile device, this keyboard is not the most portable device around. It Weighs 1.9 pounds, measuring 15-inches in length, it would be somewhat challenging to shove this keyboard into a backpack. Still, it is well constructed enough to handle the riggers of long-distance traveling.

Don't mind the books in the background, its just photo props

Epilogue:  The Final Thought.....

From a consumer perspective, I'd say the Logitech K780 is probably one the best keyboards I've purchased to date. It most certainly checks the boxes regarding design and functionality. I'm so enamored with this keyboard, I've decided to make it my daily.  

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Samsung is Set To Mass Produce 4TB QLC SSD's

Topic: Storage Tech

Samsung, you know the company that manufacturers all things technology have just announced that they're in the process of mass producing 4-bit QLC (quad level cell) 4TB SSDs. This move  from Korean tech INC could entice PC enthusiasts to start purchasing Multi TB hard drives. Further into 2018 Samsung is also expected to release the 2.5-inch  SATA 3 QLC SSD's  that will come in 1TB and 2TB.

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The 2.5-inch SATA 3 drive uses Samsung's new 64 layer 1TB 4-bit V-NAND chips. The upcoming 4TB storage drive, featuring their highly acclamied  32 V-NAND chip technology. Regarding performance, the drive according to Samsung is as good as the Samsung 3-bit SSD, thanks in part to the 3-bit SSD controller and TurboWrite technology, boosting read/write speeds, the numbers goes as follow; sequential read will be 540MB/s,  a 520MB/s sequential write speed.

Probably the most significant announcement made by Samsung that has me stoked is their microSD cards will also be implemented with the new 1TB 4-bit V-NAND chips. The new chip makes it easier to efficiently produce 128GB memory cards for smartphones, which according to Samsung, have much higher capacities for high-performing memory storage.

The expected timetable for when Samsung will introduce their flagship 4TGB QLC SSD to market, as well as the 1TB and 2TB models in the 2.5-inch SATA 3 form factor is late 2018. Potential consumers will be offered a 3-year warranty. Samsung have yet to any prices.

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AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 32 Core Flagship X399 CPU,Lets Talk About It

Strange as it seems like you'll always find manufacturers start releasing flagship hardware and device around August, gearing up for school and holiday shopping season. The latest such company is AMD, unveiling to market their newest flagship processor, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX. Let's talk about AMD's powerful piece of hardware that will undoubtedly change the scape of desktop workstations. 

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The new Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX  processor is for the ultra-premium desktop systems; it comes with 32-cores and 64-threads eclipsing Intel's halo product which has 28 cores and 56 threads. The processor is expected to feature a base clock frequency of 3.0 GHz (3.4GHz precision boost frequency) and the maximum boost clock frequency that allows the processor to reach 4.0 GHz while the precision boost overdrive frequency is rated at +200 MHz raising the total to 4.20 GHz in a single core optimized workloads.

Other noted features include 16MB of L2 and 64MB of L3 cache giving a grand total of 80MB of available cache on a single processor. The processors TDP is kept at 250W, with a TR4 socketed board that is fully compatible with 2ND generation Ryzen Threadripper processors.

When it comes to what you get for the money, compared to the $2,000 Core i9-7980X processor, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990X is priced at just $1799, offering better architecture based on a 12nm process, 14 more cores, 28 more threads and at $200 less. In comparison to the late gen Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, you get 16 more cores, 32 more threads, much faster clocks at $800 more.

Of course, to have a processor of this magnitude release to market, you should expect a slew of refreshed X399 motherboards that are constructed entirely for the 2nd generation HEDT processors. You already have in existence the MSI MEG X399 Creation and AORUS X399 Extreme, so you should look forward to more products from other manufacturers come down the pipeline. 

 What we have with Threadripper 2990WX is a powerful piece of hardware that will prove beneficial to those looking to build a high-end system capable of handling graphically intense gaming and heavy workloads that includes video editing. The processor is expected to hit the market on August 13th.

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What to Look For While Shopping For a Hard Drive

Even for the casual computer user shopping for a hard drive is not such a difficult task. Often there seems to be a greater emphasis put on storage capacity, less emphasis on performance and features. The overall mindset is if a hard drive has enough space to accommodate all of my applications and family photos, no worries needed. Plop down the cash, purchase made. 

Easy right? But before you go on purchase a new drive, there are some things you should consider, such as warranty, speed capability, and much more. Like any piece of hardware, if you're shopping for a new drive it I recommend that you carefully do your research before you make that eventual purchase. Whether you're considering buying an SSD or the traditional 3.5-inch drive, there are limitless brands to choose from, Seagate, Western Digital, Samsung,  to name a few. 

As best I can I drew up a precise guideline you should follow if you plan on buying a new drive, read on. 

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Begin the process of choosing a hard drive

So many hard drives to choose from

As I stated in a couple a paragraphs above, there are several brands to choose from, for the SSD (solid state drive) my choice has always been SanDisk SSD-Plus, for the 3.5-drive my top pick is the Seagate Barracuda. Both these drives are reliable, perform well and thus far either have not failed me during operation. But those are my choices, the market is heavily saturated; there is a bevy of drives to choose from, pick the brand you think best fit your system. 

So many SSD's to choose from

Whether or not you judge branded hard drives based entirely on speed, performance, and storage capacity,  the difference between each brand is very slim. Often manufacturers may offer one or two features that may affect the price point. 

Make the correct Interface choice

Observe the back of this hard drive, this is an actual SATA interface                           

Hard drives are available in two types of storage interfaces, PATA (parallel AT- attachment) and SATA ( Serial Advanced Technology Attachment),  with the latter having a much faster data transfer and reduced size cables. PATA is a much older storage interface, there's a good chance that you won't find such technology exist in even a ten-year-old computer, so my suggestion is to go with the SATA interface because its the only choice you should make. But for the interested curious minds, PATA interfaced hard drives are a bit different in appearance, the actual data and power connectors are much longer. On the other hand, SATA power and data connectors are much smaller. Regarding performance, SATA interfaces have a faster seek time, a larger buffer, and support a SATA-only feature known as NCQ, which is an acronym for Native Command Queuing. This SATA protocol allows hard drives to optimize the order in which read and write commands can be executed. 

The unimportance of storage capacity

Lots of Gigs of space means  endless amount of porn stored? Really?

When it comes to storage capacities, it makes sense to advise readers to buy hard drives according to need, how much storage space you think you might use, but that would be bad advice on my part, as you can never have enough storage space. Especially when you have operating systems, video and audio files, various applications, photos, and even useless junk files consume a great deal of hard drive space. Ultimately, you have to decide the amount of storage needed and what you are willing to pay. The best advice I can give is to choose a model based on cost per gigabyte; this will determine the best return on your investment.

Purchase a drive with plenty of cache

Cache is primarily embedded memory within your hard drive; it acts as a buffer between the rest of your computer and physical storage drive. Most modern hard drives, the 3.5 desktop variant on average will come with 64MB cache, while solid-state drives have 4GB memory cache. Hard drives that have storage capacities exceeding well past 1TB  will usually have a large memory cache, this, of course, will affect price point. Memory cache along with storage capacity is one of the main features listed on your hard drives spec sheet. With that said,  drives with a larger cache does enhance system performance and speed.

Pay close attention to power consumption

Take a wild guess, which one consumes more power?

The 3.5-inch desktop hard drives that's on the market vary when it comes to power consumption and noise level due to internal integral moving parts inside that consist of the actuator stepper motor, the central spindle, the spinning disk, all give off some form of heat signature. SSD's, on the other hand, have no moving parts at all, thus producing low levels of heat and power consumption. It's probably the reason why solid state drives have primarily replaced the 3.5-inch hard drive as the primary boot drive. Aside from being much faster, they also run quietly

It won't hurt to check the shock rating

Not sure this is what happens when you drop a hard drive but I needed to use a scary example, so here you go

 The hard drive shock rating more than likely won't impact your decision making, but it's certainly good to know what you're getting in value. In case you're curious, hard drives are measured accordingly to gravity (G), this is the level of shock drives can withstand while in operation and non-operation. Rarely do desktop computers go through a series of sudden shocks or drops, that is, of course, you continually move it from one location to the next.  The preferred location is the desktop or the floor. Now if you're holding a hard drive in your hands, you stand the chance of accidentally dropping it if you're not careful. With that said, most drives today are structurally sound and incredibly resistant to any damages or drops.

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