Thread: Anandtech News

Today, Corsair has announced the latest addition to the Crystal Series in the 280x RGB. Corsair describes the Micro-ATX chassis as having massive cooling in a small case. The 280X RGB has room for up to five 120mm fans with radiator space in the top (240/280mm) or up to 240mm radiators in the front and bottom with a dual-chamber internal layout. Three sides of the black chassis are made from tempered glass giving the chassis a premium appearance. The case includes two Corsair LL120 RGB fans with 32 individually customizable LEDs controlled by Corsair iCue software for its illumination.
The 280X RGB is able to house up to two 3.5-inch drives and three 2.5” drives for ample mount points for storage. The chassis has filters in the front, roof, floor, as well as the PSU area use dust filters to help keep the internals cleaner from dust longer. Additionally, Corsair implements what they call a Direct Airflow Path Cooling where cool air is directed at the hottest components without drive cages getting in the way in an effort to keep the parts which need it, cooler.
Pricing nor availability was mentioned by Corsair however it was spotted online in pre-sale form for a bit over $200. The chassis will also come in white.
Buy Corsair Carbide Air 740 on Amazon.com
See more coverage of Computex 2018 below.

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

More...

ZOTAC announced plans to upgrade its flagship ZBOX MAGNUS SFF gaming systems/barebones with Rivet Networks’ Killer network controllers. The first systems to get the new chips will be demonstrated at Computex next week.
ZOTAC intends to equip its upcoming ZBOX MAGNUS gaming systems with the flagship Killer Wireless AC 1550 2×2 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 controller (which is based on an Intel IP) that supports up to 1.73 Gbps throughput over 160 MHz channels as well as the Killer Ethernet E2500 GbE controller that supports a number of special features to reduce latency and prioritize gaming traffic over everything else. Meanwhile, a key advantage of using the two controllers from Rivet is the company’s Killer DoubleShot Pro technology that fuses usage of two controllers to provide an aggregate bandwidth of 1.83 Gbps or higher when an 802.11ac Wave 2 network is used.

The first ZBOX MAGNUS system to get the Killer network controllers will be the latest machines powered by Intel’s six-core Core i7-8700 (Coffee Lake) processors. In addition to the Killer ICs and the Coffee Lake CPU, another highlight of the aforementioned ZBOX MAGNUS is ZOTAC’s off-the-shelf GeForce GTX Mini graphics card.
The new ZBOX MAGNUS will not be the only systems to be equipped with the Killer controllers as the manufacturer plans to use the aforementioned Killer controllers for its upcoming MEK Mini PCs. It is likely that over time ZOTAC will expand usage of Killer ICs to other products (e.g., AMD Ryzen-based systems), but the company yet has to make appropriate announcements.

ZOTAC will demonstrate its systems featuring Rivet’s Killet network controllers at Computex next week, so stay tuned with us for more details about the new PCs.

ZOTAC's ZBOX MAGNUS with Coffee Lake
		ZBOX MAGNUS with 8th Generation Core i7 CPU
CPU		Intel Core i7-8700 6C/12T 3.2 - 4.6 GHz 12 MB 65 W (flagship model, other may use a different CPU)
GPU		NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 2560 CUDA Cores 8 GB GDDR5X (flagship model, other may use a different card)
Memory		2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB of memory
Storage	M.2	M.2 2280 slot for PCIe/SATA SSD
DFF	1 × 2.5" SSD/HDD
Card Reader	SD/microSD
Wireless		Killer Wireless AC 1550 2×2 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 controller
Ethernet		2 × Gigabit Ethernet Killer Ethernet E2500 controller
Display Outputs		3 × DisplayPort 1.2 1 × HDMI 1 × DVI-D (depends on graphics card)
Audio		3.5 mm audio-in 3.5 mm audio-out
USB		4 x USB 3.0 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C
PSU		External
OS		Microsoft Windows 10 or none

Buy ZOTAC ZBOX MAGNUS ZBOX-EN1080K & HTC Vive Bundle on Amazon.com

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

Related Reading:

• Zotac at CES 2018: ZBOX MAGNUS Upgraded with Coffee
• Zotac ZBOX MAGNUS EK71080 Compact Gaming PC Review
• Zotac ZBOX MAGNUS EN1080K Compact Gaming PC Review
• Rivet Networks Launches the Killer E2500 Network Controller: Website Detection, New UI
• It’s Actually an Intel Chip: Rivet Networks Launches the Killer Wireless-AC 1550

More...

Kicking off at 10am PT (1pm ET) is Apple's annual World Wide Developers Conference keynote speach. We're live from always sunny San Jose, California, to see what Apple has in store this year from their marquee keynote event. Software? Hardware? Hopefully we'll see a bit of both.

More...

Apexgaming, known for manufacturing gaming cases, power supplies, and other computer peripherals, recently announced two reddot design award winners in the X-Mars full-tower E-ATX gaming chassis and the mid-tower Hermes case. The Hermes cases are slated to provide gamers with flexibility in assembling the case to their preference with the two front panels able to be separated for a unique look for each user along with panels made from various materials and colors available for building. The X-Mars full-tower E-ATX chassis has a really unique exterior design and made from steel, brushed aluminum, and tempered glass. The Hermes E-ATX mid-tower chassis will be available by the end of June with an MSRP of 59.90 to$69.90 while the X-Mars E-ATX full-tower chassis availability will be announced while the MSRP is a wallet-crushing $999.
X-Mars

The X-Mars chassis is a standout case with its unique appearance. The X-shaped brushed aluminum pieces across the front provide an aggressive look head-on, while the full-window 4mm tempered glass design allows users to display and show off their system build. The case has fourteen RGB lights to illuminate the chassis. Controlling the RGB LEDs is an 8 port built in RGB controller that is able to connect with RGB capable motherboard to synchronize the light/color modes with the strips in the front panel.
Front panel connectivity consists of a USB 3.1 Type-C and Type-A ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port for VR gaming, as well as power/reset buttons, two 3.5mm audio jacks, and a button for RGB LED control.

Inside, the X-Mars supports a vertical graphics card mount with a maximum length of the video card u to 432mm and support for E-ATX motherboards up to 12” x 13”. The chassis has space for up to 14 120mm fans. With this the X-Mars is able to accommodate a single 480mm radiator up front, up to a 360mm radiator on top and 120mm on the rear. Drive mount points include capacity for up to 11 3.5-inch drives or 14 2.5-inch drives. Users are able to adjust the capacity arrangement according to needs.

The Apexgaming X-Mars E-ATX full-tower chassis availability will be announced with pricing suggested at $999 which is quite high for a chassis that isn’t fully customizable. A similar, smaller case, the X-Mars Junior, will be available by the end of June and retails for a much more palatable $189.90.

Apexgaming X-Mars
Model	X-Mars
Case Type	Full-Tower
Dimensions (WxHxD)	8.26" x 18.77" x 18.70"
Color	Black
Material	Steel / Aluminum / Tempered Glass
Net Weight	N/A
External Drive Bays	None
HDD/SSD Bays	14 (11 x 3.5" + 3 x 2.5")
Expansion Slots	7
Motherboard Type	Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX, E-ATX
System Fan	Front: 3x 120 or 2x 140mm Top: 3x 120mm or 2x 140mm Rear: 1x 120mm Bottom: 3x 120mm
I/O Ports	1x USB 3.1 Type-C 1x USB 3.1 Type-A 2x USB3.0 2x 3.5mm jacks Power and Reset buttons RGB Lighting button
VGA Card Support	(L)432mm
CPU Cooling Support	(H)200mm
PSU Support	ATX PSU
Radiator Support	Top: 1x 240/280/360mm Front: 1x 240/280/360/480mm Left: 1 x 240/280/360mm Rear: 1x 120mm

Hermes

The Hermes cases are designed to be versatile both inside and out giving users front panel options to customize the appearance. Users are able to select different top and bottom front panels in order to create a unique style of gaming case. The case comes with a full-window tempered glass design for gamers/builders to display and show of their system inside. Front panel connectivity on the top of the cases consists of two USB 3.0 ports, power and reset buttons, two 3.5mm jacks for audio, as well as HDD activity and power on LEDs – No USB 3.1 support is found here, but isn’t really expected at its lower price point either.

Inside the Hermes cases are able to support video cards up to 432mm in length, and CPU coolers up to 172mm so fitment of large graphics cards and CPU heatsinks will have ample room (always look and measure!). The chassis can support motherboards from Mini-ITX up to E-ATX and like the X-Mars has a fair amount of room behind the motherboard tray for cable routing.

As far as cooling, the Apex supports up to seven 120mm fan mounts while radiator support in the front and top are up to 360mm and 120mm space on the rear. Storage capacity is up to five 2.5-inch SSD tool-free drives as well as two 3.5-inch locations for HDD.

The Hermes E-ATX mid-tower chassis will be available by the end of June with an MSRP of $59.90 to $69.90.
Buy Apexgmaing Case A1 on Amazon.com

Apexgaming Hermes
Model	Hermes (C1, C2, S1)
Case Type	Mid-Tower
Dimensions (WxHxD)	10.35" x 25.03" x 24.4"
Color	Black
Material	Steel / Aluminum / Tempered Glass
Net Weight	N/A
External Drive Bays	None
HDD/SSD Bays	7 (2 x 3.5" + 5 x 2.5")
Expansion Slots	7
Motherboard Type	Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX, E-ATX
System Fan	Front: 3x 120 or 2x 140mm Top: 3x 120mm or 2x 140mm Rear: 1x 120mm
I/O Ports	2x USB 3.0 2x 3.5mm jacks Power and Reset Buttons
VGA Card Support	(L)432mm
CPU Cooling Support	(H)172mm
PSU Support	ATX PSU
Radiator Support	Top: 1x 240/280/360mm Front: 1x 240/280/360mm Rear: 1x 120mm

Related Reading:

• Corsair Announces Crystal 280X RGB Case: Micro-ATX
• When Size matters: Corsair Launches Obsidian 1000D Super-Tower Case
• Corsair Releases Value-Priced Carbide SPEC-05 Mid-Tower Case
• Glorious Glass: Lian-Li Alpha Series Cases Now Available
• More Glass: New FSP CMT330 and CMT520 Gaming PC Cases
• Coolermaster Announces Availability of New HP500 Mesh White Mid-Tower Case
• iBuyPower at CES: Project Case Builder, for Better case Customization
• DeepCool Releases Quad Stellar Four-lobed Chassis: 'Smart' Case, Unique Shape

More...

GIGABYTE is entering the desktop memory market with a new kit of AORUS-branded RGB LED RAM. The AORUS RGB LED memory is a dual-channel 16GB (2 x 8GB) kit of DDR4-3200 with a CAS latency of 16-18-18-38 running at 1.35V. Memory compatibility is listed as cross-platform with Intel X299, Z200/Z300 as well as AMD X399 and all AM4.
GIGABYTE said it plans to ship the kit with two “dummy” sticks that don’t contain any memory chips, which are meant to fill your unoccupied DIMM slots for a uniformed RGB LED look without having to purchase a 4-DIMM kit. GIGABYTE also said the dummy modules are compatible with its RGB Fusion software (the same as the real memory modules), but it didn’t state whether or not the dummies will work with other motherboard RGB software. Additionally, the Fusion software features five new lighting modes that can be applied to compatible products, including the new RAM.

Buy Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Gaming WiFi on Amazon.com
GIGABYTE’s entry into the memory marketplace is a bold move for the company at a time when supply chains seem to be waning. DRAM shortages have been affecting pricing for memory and graphics cards for months, and it’s surprising (if not somewhat suspicious) that GIGABYTE was able to tap a manufacturer for Samsung b-die ICs.
The new Aorus RGB LED DDR4-3200 memory kit is set to arrive at the end of June with an MSRP of $229.

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

Derek Forrest Contributed to this Report.

More...

ASUS has announced a family of new routers designed to satisfy the ever-increasing bandwidth demands of the modern household. ASUS unveiled the ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 (ASUS says is the world’s first tri-band 802.11ax router), the RT-AX88U (more conventional dual-channel design), and the AX6100 WiFi System purpose-built for creating your own mesh network supporting AiMesh.
ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Buy ASUS RT-AC87R Wireless-AC2400 Dual Band Gigabit Router on Amazon.com
The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is the flagship Router and built for demanding networks. The ROG Rapture has a peak aggregate throughput of nearly 11000 Mbps: up to 1148 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 4804 Mbps each of its dual 5 GHz bands (for a total of three bands). The additional 5 GHz band can be reserved for gaming devices to prevent other wireless activity from affecting the primary machines.
The Rapture has multiple Gigabit Ethernet for wired connectivity and has an additional 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port for those who are lucky enough to break that 1 Gbps barrier ISP. The extra bandwidth will allow for a single system to communicate with multiple gigabit-type devices at peak speeds or utilize NAS devices able to team ports for higher throughput. The router also uses Game Boost adaptive QoS to analyze network traffic and prioritize gaming traffic ahead of other items. WiFi traffic is passed through eight antennas on top making the router look more like a futuristic trap of some sort.
AX6100 WiFi System

ASUS says all routers will support AiMesh (ASUS technology for mixing multiple routers to create a mesh network) but the new AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System is purpose-built for the task. The AX6100 comes in a two-pack designed to extend WiFi coverage. Additional nodes using other AiMesh-compatible routers are possible to add even if they are based on 802.11ac.
The AX6100, like the ROG Rapture, is a tri-band design. Its total aggregate throughput is up to 6100 Mbps with 4804 Mbps on the first 5 GHz band, the other offering 866 Mbps for 802.11ac devices, while the 2.4 GHz band able to reach 400 Mbps of 802.11n connectivity.
RT-AX88U

The RT-AX88U is said to use much of the same internals as the Rapture but used in a more conventional (read: less expensive) dual-channel design. The two bands support 802.11ax devices with 1148 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and up to 4804 Mbps on 5 GHz band for peak total bandwidth of about 6000 Mbps.
Wireless signals pass through four antennae with the wired connections managed by a Gigabit WAN for the ISP, and eight Gigabit LAN ports for local devices. Many routers only have four which makes this device good for multiple wired users in close proximity, or pre-wired homes with multiple desktop/media devices. Both the RT-AX88U and the ROG Rapture are powered by a quad-core processor (not named). It has dual USB 3.0 ports for shared peripherals as well.
The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000, AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System, and RT-AX88U will be available in Q3 2018. Pricing information was not listed.
More Computex news is found below.

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

More...

Riotoro announced a large capacity high-efficiency PSU at Computex named the Builder Edition 1200W. Riotoro pegs the power supply as being ideal for cryptocurrency mining, data servers, or extreme gaming PCs. The PSU is fully modular uses a long-life 135mm dual ball bearing fan and 100% Japanese capacitors. Just as all Riotoro PSU have, the Builder Edition 1200W features full voltage, current, power, and short-circuit protection with the device backed by a 5-year warranty.

Other features include a single 12V rail to power connected devices. The power supply comes with eight GPU PCIe power connectors and twelve SATA power connections assuring the device has plenty of power leads for power-hungry systems. The fully-modular device uses flat cables said to reduce clutter, easier to install and provide improved airflow.

Specifications for the Riotoro Builder Edition 1200W power supply is listed below.

Power Specifications of the Riotoro Builder Edition 1200W (Rated @ Unknown °C)
AC INPUT	100 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz
RAIL	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	+5Vsb	-12V
MAX OUTPUT	25A	25A	100A	3A	0.3A
130W		1200W	15W	3.6W
TOTAL	1200W

The Riotoro Builder Edition 1200W is available now with an MSRP of $219.99 which is comparable to many 1200W Gold units on the market. We are not sure if the Builder's Edition will see additional lower power units in the future. See more coverage of Computex 2018 below.

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

Related Reading:

• ASUS ROG Goes For Power Supplies: ROG THor 1200W Platinum
• FSP Demonstrates Hydro PTM+ 1200 W: a Liquid-Cooled PSU with RGB LEDs
• CES 2016: Deepcool’s Gamer Storm brand Exhibits Water Cooling for a Power Supply
• FSP Dagger 500W and 600W SFX PSUs Come To Market: From $99 with 80Plus Gold
• FSP Announces Twins: 500W and 700W ATX PSU with Redundancy Capability
• The FSP Hydro G 750W Power Supply Review
• Thermaltake Adds RGB Lighting to Toughpower Grand Gold PSUs

More...

Case and accessory maker Riotoro has been churning out impressive, often budget-friendly products for years. But here at Computex 2018, the company seems to raise its profile with a new Project Morpheus PC, while hoping it finds favor among builders and gamers who often change up their PC hardware.

In a nutshell, this attractive chassis can be configured for either compact micro-ATX builds, or as a standard full-ATX mid-tower to make space for multiple graphics cards and/or other components. Cooling shouldn’t be an issue in either configuration, as much of the case is built of perforated metal mesh, and a removable front mount that makes way for as many as seven fans or two 240mm radiators. And you can leave your toolkit in the drawer when building, as the company says that Project Morpheus is a tool-free chassis, with ample consideration taken for cable routing. Connectivity comes in the form of both USB 3.0 and a USB-C port.

Buy Riotoro CR1080 on Amazon.com
Here’s a quick look at some of the key specs and features of Project Morpheus. We’ll update this story when we hear more about pricing and availability. But this is a concept case, so don’t expect it to hit store shelves in the near future.
Features:

• ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX motherboard support
• All sides built with high-density perforated mesh
• Dual-chamber design for better CPU and GPU cooling
• Two 3.5” and two 2.5” SSD/HDD bays/mounts

Cooling:

• Front: 2x 120mm fans or 240mm radiator
• Top: 2x 120mm fans or 240mm radiator
• Rear: 120mm fan

Dimensions:

• 440x276x465mm (17.3x10.8x18.3”)

More Computex 2018 coverage is found below.

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

Matthew Safford Contributed to this Report.



More...

There has been several times in this life as a technology journalist when expanding my wireless network would have helped what I do. However, as is usually the case, my single wireless connection in my device is the one picking up the other Wi-Fi available, and cannot be used as an access point itself. Similarly, in a home, using a device to temporarily extend a wireless network for a better connection has obvious uses. Rivet Networks, the company behind the Killer networking controllers, now has the hardware and software in place for its Killer AC 1550 module to both connect to an access point and become an access point without an additional radio.

Extending a network without laying cable is typically done through Wi-Fi repeaters, extenders, or powerline adaptors with additional wireless radios. In order to get additional coverage, more radios are needed. Rivet Networks believes that the wireless modules within a PC can help bridge the gap, by making them act as access points to the network without the need for additional hardware.
What Killer xTend on the AC 1550 does is, either by connecting with wires or wirelessly, will extend the network by creating an additional mesh point with the same SSID and password. With the Wi-Fi in and Wi-Fi out mode, the radio performs its duty in a time slicing multiplexer/de-multiplexer mode, giving both the incoming and outgoing signal 50% of the time but maintaining both. On top of this, Killer can implement its prioritization protocols to enable sustainable gaming performance on the Killer machine when others are streaming or downloading.

The Killer optimization tool, to recap, splits traffic into one of six priority levels. Based on a constantly updated whitelist, and a bandwidth learning tool that can detect if a user is in a game or video or download just by looking at the traffic, the Killer hardware will adjust the queue of traffic for higher priority items. By default, the system uses the following six priorities:

1. Game Traffic
2. VoIP (TeamSpeak, Discord)
3. Video on Host Machine
4. Web Traffic, Unknown Traffic / Traffic from Guest Machines
5. Update services, HTTP Downloads
6. Other Downloads, Torrents

With all the devices connected through the Killer PC, their traffic will default to a priority four, while the Killer PC will keep its priority levels for its traffic (which can be adjusted).
Up to this point, Killer xTend has been enabled on motherboards with multiple wired network ports, allowing users to connect nearby consoles and Ethernet storage to the same network through a single machine, but now the xTend philosophy can be invoked through wireless connections. It should be noted that a Killer wired connection is required if the input from the main DHCP router is through a physical connection.

The interface is designed to be simple, with users available to extend the network (in Wi-Fi mode), or create a wireless hotspot (in wired and wireless mode). Users can adjust between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz modes, as well as define an SSID and password in the wireless hotspot mode, however other standard networking features are on the to do list. Connected devices can be seen, with a maximum of eight supported. Currently the interface shows the total traffic of the connected devices (not the host system), and there are plans in the works to improve the configurability of this.
As with the previous announcements like this, the main drawback is the loss of the connection when the host machine is in a sleep mode or turned off. The response to this from Rivet Networks is that this feature is not designed to be as a replacement for a proper home mesh – the point is that nearby devices can connect to the laptop or PC in a room and all piggy back off of a single signal to the wireless router rather than relying on their own connection as it adjusts when they move about with their own smartphones and such. The way Rivet is promoting this technology is to turn around and say that the AC 1550 works as normal, but this is an extra feature that can be used if needed at no additional BOM cost.
From our perspective, such a device allows a single editor at a show to give a hotspot to everyone, if they are the ones that have paid for the hotel Wi-Fi (because in the US, it usually isn’t free for some reason). Or if one of our editors does not have a local SIM card, it solves that issue. This is more of a by-product of the feature, but a positive that I can use either way.
Partners on board with the Killer Wireless xTend feature include Dell, MSI, Acer, Clevo, and Zotac, who is a new customer with Rivet and we might see some new mini-PCs with Killer networking at Computex this week.
The Killer xTend Wi-Fi tool will first be available for users with the latest AC 1550 module, manufactured by Intel. If you didn’t catch the story that Intel is now making the Killer modules, check out our coverage here. The software will also be available for AC 1535 users, such as Dell XPS users, at a later date.
Buy Linksys AC3200 Killer on Amazon.com
Related Reading

• It’s Actually an Intel Chip: Rivet Networks Launches the Killer Wireless-AC 1550
• Rivet Networks Announces Killer xTend
• Rivet Networks Announces Killer Support for 10 Gbps Network Controllers
• MSI at CES 2018: Updated GT75VR Gaming Laptop Killer Upgrade

Gallery: Killer xTend Goes Prime Time: Expanding the Wireless Network

Want to keep up to date with all of our Computex 2018 Coverage?
	Laptops		Hardware		Chips
Follow AnandTech's breaking news here!

More...

Anton and I are at ASUS' consumer press event, more often called the 'Zen' press event. We expect a quick flurry of launches from Jonney Shih, so stay tuned for our coverage. The event is set to start at 11:30am Taiwan time (11:30pm ET).

More...