Linksys Aware — the company’s subscription service that uses its mesh Wi-Fi systems to detect motion in your house — is getting even smarter with a new update that will let the routers utilize the internet to connect to other stationary smart home products to track motion in your house more accurately.
The original Aware motion-sensing system detects how Wi-Fi signals bounce around your house between routers in a mesh system. Movement naturally interferes with those signals, allowing the routers to act as a motion-sensing setup without the need for any additional hardware.
Now, Linksys is adding support to leverage other internet-connected smart home products — like speakers, smart switches, and thermostats — to serve as additional points of communication, allowing the motion-sensing system to work in a larger area and eventually pinpoint more specific locations for where motion is being detected. With the new update, users will be able to see when motion has been detected near a specific device (like the Apple TV in your living room or the smart plug in your hallway).
The new device-based tracking for Linksys Aware.
And since the setup just relies on existing internet connections, it should work with most third-party devices without requiring any software updates (the Linksys app will let you know which devices are compatible).
The Linksys Aware update will be rolling out in the US in March / April, with additional releases coming to the rest of the world in the months following. Pricing will still be set at $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year, with the option of a free 90-day trial.
Alongside the updated features for Linksys Aware, the company also announced its new AXE8400 mesh router system, its first to support Wi-Fi 6E. The AXE8400 is meant for customers with heavy Wi-Fi usage, not entry-level customers, and it’s priced to match: a single router costs $449.99, a two-pack $849.99, and a three-pack $1,199.99.
Those prices get you a whole lot of router, though. Each AXE8400 unit is a tri-band router that supports 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz networks and can cover up to 3,000 square feet. There’s a 5Gbps WAN port — largely for future-proofing at this point — along with an additional four 1Gbps LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port. Linksys says that the AXE8400 should be able to comfortably handle over 65 devices all sharing the same bandwidth at the same time. The AXE8400 is also compatible with other Linksys Intelligent Mesh routers, so you’ll be able to slot them into your existing mesh setup if you’re already a Linksys customer.
The Linksys AXE8400 will be available in spring / summer 2021.
During the ongoing CES, TP-Link presented a number of new technological solutions thanks to which the networks of home and business users are to become even faster and safer. The manufacturer focuses on the development of WiFi 6E, WiFi mesh, 5G and 10 G. In order to help users to learn about the new products and learn more about them, TP-Link has created a virtual exhibition to which we link below. This year’s portfolio of TP-Link has been enriched, among others with a new model of the award-winning Deco WiFi Mesh system. Honored with the CES Award 2021 Innovation Awards Deco Voice X 20 provides speeds of up to 1800 Mbps in two bands. Each unit has been equipped with two gigabit WAN / LAN ports. The built-in Alexa smart speaker allows you to use and control your entire home Wi-Fi network using voice commands. It also allows for intelligent home management, music streaming, and Alexa messaging and calling.
During the ongoing CES, TP-Link presented a number of new technological solutions thanks to which home user networks , as well as business, are to become even faster and safer.
TP-Link virtual exhibition of new products to CES 2021
To TP- product family The link was also joined by devices in the WiFi 6E standard: Mesh systems Deco X 96, Deco X 76 Plus with hub function for smart devices, routers Archer AX 96 and Archer AX 206 with ports 10 G. All the devices mentioned above support the 6 GHz band reserved for the WiFi 6E standard. The first device – home mesh system Deco X 96 offers speed up to 7800 Mb / s in three bands. Each Deco X unit 96 has two WAN pores / LAN – gigabit and 2.5G. The performance of the network is supervised by a number of supporting technologies, including MU-MIMO 4×4, OFDMA and Beamforming. The TP-Link HomeShield system is responsible for network security, which includes Avira antivirus, QoS, advanced parental control options and real-time IoT device protection.
Archer AX 96
Archer AX 206
QNAP TS- 253 D – Test NAS with 2.5GBase-T network support
In turn, reaching speeds up to 5400 Mb / s in three bands Deco X 76 Plus can also function as a smart hub, thus becoming the center of the smart home and allowing you to control all devices on the network through an easy-to-use application. Particular attention in this year’s TP-Link offer is the tri-band WiFi 6E router Archer AX 96 , providing total bandwidth up to 7800 Mb / s and Archer AX 206 reaching cumulative speed up to 11000 Mb / s. Equipped with ports 10 G Archer AX 206 has been enriched with advanced Multi-Gig, OFDMA and MU technologies -MIMO, which eliminate delays and also facilitate data transfer to and from multiple devices simultaneously.
Deco Voice X 20 and Deco X 76 Plus
Tenda AC Test 23 – Advantageously priced router 802. 11 ac AC 2100
TP-Link also presented the first mesh system in its offer, which works in the 5G broadband internet technology. Deco X 80 – 5G gives you wireless speeds up to 6000 Mb / s in two bands. The device is equipped with two WAN / LAN ports – gigabit and 2.5G. In addition, Deco X 80 – 5G supports VoLTE technologies / VoIP. In 2021 TP-Link will also introduce new WiFi 6 access points for sale. business customers cooperate with the Omada SDN system. They make network configuration and management even easier and more efficient.
Deco X 80 – 5G and Deco X 96
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX 11000 – the first router with WiFi 6E support
To the Omada SDN family WiFi 6 for Business includes access points. The first is the WiFi 6 tri-band access point EAP 680 HD is designed for ceiling mounting and provides users with high wireless speed going up to 6000 Mb / s. The device has a port 10 G and supports PoE ++ power supply, thanks to which finding the right location for the AP will not be a problem. Second access point (for wall mounting) EAP 615 – Wall offers speeds up to 1800 Mb / s in two bands. It is equipped with four gigabit Ethernet ports (1 uplink port + 3 downlink ports), including one downlink port with PoE pass-through support for powering wired devices. In turn, it is intended for installation outdoors and is resistant to weather conditions EAP 610 – Outdoor provides speeds up to 1800 Mb / s in two bands.
EAP 610 – Outdoor, EAP 615 – Wall and EAP 680 – HD x2.
Huawei WiFi AX3 – small home router with WiFi 6 Plus support
Among the presented novelties there is also a 5-port switch 10 G TL-SX 105 desktop type. The device has an auto-negotiation feature to ensure optimal performance. The switch components are covered with a high-quality metal casing, ensuring product durability. The compact dimensions of the device facilitate its installation. TP-Link has not forgotten about the offer addressed to Internet service providers. During this year’s CES, TP-Link also presented a solution dedicated to operators – Deco ISP Cloud , a special cloud-based software for remote , central monitoring and management of Deco devices in customers’ homes.
Compact PCs are becoming more and more popular every year. Such structures not only take up much less space, but are also more mobile. For enthusiasts of this type of solutions, something new has just appeared on the horizon. ZOTAC Magnus One from the E series, a mini PC offering high performance in a housing with a capacity of 8.3 liters. The design debuted at this year’s CES 2021, proposing a new solution, i.e. vertical mounting of ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX graphics cards 30 Series. The computers will also run on Intel Core i7 processors 10. generation with expandable RAM and data memory. Details below.
ZOTAC Magnus One from the E series is a mini PC offering high performance in a housing with a capacity of 8.3 liters. Inside we will find, among others Vertically Mounted GeForce RTX Graphics 30 Series.
ZOTAC RTX 3070 Twin Edge OC White Edition – small, white Ampere
ZOTAC Magnus One is powered by an internal power supply 500 with certificate 80 + Platinum. The whole is characterized by the simplicity of possible tool-free extension. All you need to do is unscrew the two rear screws and remove the top one and then the side panels one by one. We get quick access to elements such as RAM memory, M.2 SSD disk and a 2.5-inch hard drive. However, the manufacturer boasts of using the latest graphics cards, which makes the newest Magnus One series the most efficient gaming mini-desktops.
In terms of connectors, the mini PC offers one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4a connectors (supports up to four displays). It also has four USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, four USB 3.0 ports (one type C), as well as the latest Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with the Killer AX chipset 1650 and support for two LANs, including one Gigabit LAN and one 2.5 Gb / s Port Killer E 3000 for bandwidth-demanding tasks. The computer is currently available with 16 GB of DDR $ memory, M.2 SSD 512 GB and an additional 2.5 inch SSD with a capacity of 1 TB. The price has not yet been announced, but the desktop has already appeared in the first stores in the form of a preorder, where together with the Intel i7 unit – 10700 it was priced at 1899 dollars. Details on the official product page – CLICK.
The Corona crisis has resulted in people talking on the phone significantly longer than before. In the past year, a cellular connection took an average of three minutes and 20 seconds and thus 35 seconds longer than 2019, as Vodafone announced on request. In the previous years, however, the duration of the average mobile phone calls had remained more or less constant.
There was a similar development at the competitor Telefónica (O2), the average mobile phone call in the first Corona year lasted three minutes and thus half a minute longer than 2019. During the Corona lockdowns in spring and December, Telefónica even reported a call time of four minutes. The third mobile network operator, Deutsche Telekom, did not provide any information.
Higher landline and internet use The pandemic also had an impact on landline use, calls via these connections lasted four and a half minutes with Vodafone in the year 2020 and thus 30 seconds longer than before. Vodafone technical director Gerhard Mack says with a look at the figures: “People 2020 have been on the phone more often and, above all, for longer to keep in touch with friends and around themselves to exchange ideas with work colleagues in this way. ” The number of mobile phone calls at Vodafone rose by almost a billion to 28 billion, the number of landline calls remained roughly the same at a good three billion.
In addition, there are calls via “VoIP” services (Voice over IP) such as Skype or WhatsApp. There are no figures for such conversations. It is clear, however, that the increase in the mass of Internet data is partly due to these services, audio and video calls via these Internet services are popular.
Data growth – “Film evenings and video chat ” Vodafone also put information on Internet use in Germany on the table. In the fixed network, the Düsseldorf company came to eleven exabytes of data (eleven billion gigabytes) last year. This corresponds to a plus of good 30 percent. In previous years, the increase in data was only around 20 percent – the Corona restrictions including closed cinemas and pubs led to the People were more at home and more online. “Most of the data rushed through the network in the evening because the good old movie night with the family was back in fashion and because we met our friends more often in video chat instead of in the pub or at home,” says Vodafone manager Mack.
The pandemic also had an impact on the mobile network: Here the data volume used at Vodafone increased by 40 percent, but in previous years it was 50 percent. The weaker value is due to the fact that people were less on the move during pandemic times and therefore used the W-LAN at home more often instead of the mobile data on their cell phones. The amount of internet data has been increasing for years as a result of advancing digitization – the more heavily used applications are becoming more data-intensive, for example because films are now more frequently streamed in high-resolution versions.
Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 5000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand’s ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs. While Intel prepares its next move, Z490 and the 10th generation are here to hold the line.
While the 10th Gen Intel Core processors will not support PCIe 4.0 connectivity due to signal integrity issues, many of the Z490 motherboards are designed to support the PCIe 4.0 specification. This is accomplished by adding clock generators to help clean up the signal. Generally speaking, when it comes to long-term platform support, AMD has been the trendsetter. Has AMD’s long support of the AM4 socket on its newer generation processors inspired Intel to take similar steps?
So what is Z490 offering right now? For starters, there has been a large focus on VRM and VRM cooling design. With the top-level Intel Core i9-10900K featuring 10 cores along with HyperThreading, the ability to deliver clean, continuous power is going to be one of the primary factors that separates a good Z490 board from the competition. With the introduction of HyperThreading on Intel’s mid-range line-up, power delivery is going to be vital in all segments.
The AORUS line from Gigabyte spans a broad range of products—laptops, peripherals, and core components. Across the enthusiast spectrum, the AORUS name denotes Gigabyte’s gaming-focused products. The AORUS motherboard range features a consistent naming scheme that includes the Pro, Elite, Ultra, Master, and Extreme motherboards. Within this line up, the Master serves as the high-end mainstream option offering prime features at a high, but attainable price point.
The Gigabyte Z490I AORUS Ultra features a robust VRM utilizing 90 A power stages, along with Q-Flash for a redundant safety net for ambitious overclocking. The Gigabyte Z490I AORUS Ultra also offers a full-coverage aluminium backplate for added rigidity and additional VRM cooling. This little board should pack a punch, so let’s see how the Gigabyte Z490I AORUS Ultra stacks up against the competition.
2x Antenna ports 1x Q-Flash Plus button 1x DisplayPort 1x HDMI port 1x LAN (RJ45) port 1x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C port 4x USB 3.2 (Gen1) ports 1x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-A ports 2x USB 2.0 ports 3x 3.5 mm audio jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC1220 Codec
Fan Headers:
4x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 6.7 in x 6.7 in, 17.0 cm x 17.0 cm
The MSI Godlike performs above average in our testing and easily handled overclocking the Ryzen 9 5950X. With five M.2 sockets, two premium audio codecs, a watercooling ecosystem and an extreme overclocking capable power delivery, there is no doubt the features (and $699 price) are flagship class.
For
19-Phase 70A Power Delivery
Killer Network-based Wi-Fi and 2.5 GbE
10 GbE AIC included
Premium audio w/6.3mm jack
Five M.2 slots
Against
No video outputs
Only six rear USB ports
Expensive
Features and Specifications
The MSI X570 Godlike motherboard isn’t new — in fact, we’ve used it as our test platform in some AMD CPU reviews. But we’ve never had the chance to review it, and given that the Ryzen 9 5950X is our new test CPU, we’ve decided to put this flagship board through its paces with AMD’s latest flagship silicon.
The bold Godlike name infers this is one of the best out there, and to be frank it isn’t very far off, if price isn’t much of an issue. The $699.99 Godlike includes robust power delivery, a premium audio solution, five M.2 sockets and a cool-looking monochrome OLED screen, all of which are fitting for a flagship-class part.
At the time of publishing, MSI’s X570 lineup consists of nine boards, starting with the X570-A Pro ($159.99) and including multiple parts from the MAG line (Tomahawk WiFi), the MPG line (Gaming Plus, Gaming Edge WiFi, and Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi), and the premium MEG lineup (Unify, Ace, and Godlike). From E-ATX flagships like the Godlike to entry-level boards, there is something for everyone in MSI’s X570 range.
Focusing on performance, the Godlike did well in our benchmarking suite, running most tests on the faster side of average. Even in the PCMark 10 MS Office/Application testing, where we often see anomalies, we saw consistent results across the full gamut of testing. The board allowed the 5950X to reach its full 5 GHz boost, so we’re getting all we paid for at default settings. As expected, overclocking on this motherboard went without a hiccup, easily handling our 16-core/32-thread CPU. VRM temperatures at load were some of the lowest we’ve seen as well.
Performance isn’t everything, however. The features list is long and the Godlike includes a 10 GbE add-in-card (AIC) in addition to the existing 1 and 2.5 GbE ports, dual Realtek ALC1220 codecs and two additional PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 sockets via add-in-card. Features and specifications aren’t everything either, though. The appearance of the X570 Godlike is also solid. The Infinity RGB display around the VRMs, coupled with the customizable OLED screen and the overall clean look set this board apart from other less expensive models. Read on for additional details about the X570 Godlike, because there’s a lot here to cover.
Specifications – MSI X570 Godlike
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X570
Form Factor
E-ATX
Voltage Regulator
19 Phase (14+4+1, 70A MOSFETs)
Video Ports
✗
USB Ports
(2) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A and Type-C (10 Gbps)
(2) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A (10 Gbps)
(2) USB 3.2 Gen 1, Type-A (5 Gbps)
Network Jacks
(1) 2.5 GbE
(1) 1 GbE
(1) 10 GbE (via Add-in-card)
Audio Jacks
(5) Analog + SPDIF + 6.3mm outputs
Legacy Ports/Jacks
✗
Other Ports/Jack
✗
PCIe x16
(3) v4.0 (x16), (x16/x0/x0 or x8/x0/x8, or x8/x4/x4)
(1) v4.0 (x4)
PCIe x8
✗
PCIe x4
✗
PCIe x1
✗
CrossFire/SLI
AMD Quad CrossfireX and CrossFireX (2/3-Way), 2-Way Nvidia SLI
DIMM slots
(4) DDR4 5000+(OC), 128GB Capacity
M.2 slots
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 110mm)
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 80mm)
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe only (up to 110mm)
(2) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe only (up to 110mm, via Add-in-card)
U.2 Ports
✗
SATA Ports
(6) SATA3 6 Gbps (RAID 0, 1 and 10)
USB Headers
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C)
(2) USB v3.2 Gen 1
(2) USB v2.0
Fan/Pump Headers
(9) 4-Pin
RGB Headers
(2) aRGB (3-pin)
(1) RGB (4-pin)
(1) Corsair LED (3-pin)
Legacy Interfaces
✗
Other Interfaces
FP-Audio, TPM
Diagnostics Panel
Yes (2 character LED), Dynamic Dashboard
Internal Button/Switch
Power and Reset, OC Knob, BCLK+/-
SATA Controllers
ASMedia ASM1061
Ethernet Controller(s)
(1) Killer E3000 (2.5 GbE)
(1) Killer E2600 (GbE)
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Killer AX1650x (802.11ax, 2×2, MU-MIMO, BT 5.1)
USB Controllers
ASMedia ASM1042
HD Audio Codec
(2) Realtek ALC1220
DDL/DTS Connect
✗ / ✗
Warranty
3 Years
Inside the box along with the motherboard is a whole lot of accessories. Outside of the usual selection of SATA cables, driver disks, and guides, the Godlike includes multiple add-in-cards (10 GbE, M.2 Expander), thermistors, and more. This accessory stack is the biggest we’ve seen in a while. Below is a complete list of the included extras.
(6) SATA cables
1 to 2 RGB LED extension Y cable (80cm)
Corsair RGB LED extension cable (50cm)
Rainbow RGB LED extension cable (10cm)
(2) Thermistor cables
Wi-Fi Antenna
M.2 Expander-Z Gen4 AIC
10G Super LAN AIC
6.3mm audio adapter
Case badge
SATA Cable labels
Driver DVD
Manual, Quick Guide, Quick Installation Guide
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(Image credit: MSI)
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(Image credit: MSI)
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(Image credit: MSI)
When you first take the Godlike out of the box, you’re greeted by an attractive board that will fit in with most build themes. The PCB is matte-black, as are all heatsinks and shrouds. The large brushed-aluminum finish VRM heatsinks connect via heatpipe to each other and the chipset heatsink, sharing the thermal load between them. The DRAM and PCIe slots are all reinforced using MSI’s PCIe Steel Armor, protecting against bending/shearing and EMI.
On the RGB front, the Mystic Light Infinity II feature above the VRM area steals the show. Through the magic of light and mirrors, the RGB lighting looks like it goes down to infinity, offering a truly unique look. The chipset heatsink also sports RGB lighting, with the familiar MSI Dragon illuminated just above the chipset fan. Additionally, the customizable OLED panel located to the DRAM slots’ right brings another unique aesthetic to a motherboard. MSI’s Mystic Light software controls all of the LEDs and the OLED screen. In short, the X570 Godlike looks the part of a high-end motherboard and includes some cool features to set it apart from other high-end alternatives.
(Image credit: MSI)
Starting with the board’s top half, we get a closer look at the Infinity RGB display above the heatsink on the left-hand side. The mirror reflection system does a great job of showing off the RGBs differently from most motherboards. Above this and the large VRM heatsink are two 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) that send power to the CPU. The socket area is clear of most hazards and begs to have a pot on top for some sub-ambient fun.
To the right of the socket are four reinforced DRAM slots. Capacity is listed up to 128GB, while the supported speeds are close to the fastest we’ve seen listed, at DDR4 5000+(OC). As always, your mileage may vary on reaching sky-high speeds such as that. AMD’s sweet spot, even with the 5000 series processors, still sits at DDR4 3600/3733 with the Infinity Fabric tied to it (1:1). Reserved for benchmarking, these speeds benefit those shooting for world records more than it does for real-world performance gains.
Above the DRAM slots are the first three (of nine) 4-pin fan headers. Each fan header supports both PWM and DC controlled devices. The board will automatically detect what is connected and adjust the mode accordingly. MSI doesn’t list how much power these will output in the manual, but we reached out to the company and have answers. All 4-pin headers are 1A/12W, except for the pump header at 3A/36W. If only by the sheer count of fan headers, there should be plenty of power available to connect your pump and fans to the motherboard. Each header even has a LED next to it that tells you what mode the board is using. You’ll see red for PWM fans and white in DC mode. I don’t recall seeing this before, but this nifty little add-on can be helpful for troubleshooting and gives users information on how the fans connect at a glance, without going into the BIOS.
To the right of the socket is MSI’s OLED-based Dynamic Dashboard. Used for a slew of things, the Dynamic Dashboard displays CPU temperature/speed, BIOS flash status and error messages. The monochrome dashboard is customizable, even allowing you to upload a .GIF animation file to display. If there is an error during POST, the dashboard displays the part causing the issue listing the location and error on the screen. Couple that with the two-character debug LED and the four ‘dummy’ LEDs onboard and you should know what’s going on with this motherboard at all times. While it’s arguably overkill for the average user, for those benchmarking and pushing overclocking limits, this can be very helpful to troubleshoot issues efficiently.
In between these headers on the top of the board is the first (of four + Corsair RGB) RGB headers. In this case, it’s a 4-pin RGB. You’ll find the other three headers on the bottom edge of the board. The Mystic Light RGB application controls the RGB lighting. We’ve had no issues with this software providing proper control in our testing.
To the right of the DRAM slots and Dynamic Dashboard are a few more headers and connectors. From the top-down is the first of two temperature sensors, SYS_FAN2 header, the Corsair header, 24-pin ATX power connector, SYS_FAN3 header and a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C front panel connector.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The MSI X570 Godlike runs a total of 14 phases for Vcore and a 4-phase configuration on the SoC. Managing power is a premium International Rectifier IR35201 (x+y=8) buck controller that sends power to seven IR3599 doublers, then on to 14 70A Infineon TDA21472 MOSFETs. The 980A available for the CPU/Vcore only is one of the highest we’ve come across so far. We had no issues whatsoever overclocking our flagship Ryzen 9 5950X CPU. The VRMs remained cool throughout all of our testing. If sub-ambient cooling and benchmarking are your thing, the VRMs will serve you well. Of course, ambient overclocking won’t be an issue either.
(Image credit: MSI)
Moving to the bottom half of the board, we’ll start on the left side with the audio section. Hidden underneath the shroud are two (yes, two) Realtek ALC1220 codecs. The first is for the rear panel audio connectors, with the second dedicated for front-panel audio. An ESS E9018 Sabre DAC drives the 6.3mm stereo headphone output on the back panel. If you don’t have a 6.3mm headset, a 3.5mm-to-6.3 adapter is included if you’d like to use this port. Rounding out the audio section are 12 yellow Nippon audio caps and four WIMA audio caps (red). Overall, the audio solution is well above average, using premium codecs and a quality integrated DAC. The 6.3mm jack on the back is truly something unique on a motherboard.
In the middle of the board are four reinforced PCIe slots. Intended for GPUs, the top three slots support PCIe 4.0 x16 and break down to x16/x0/x0 or x8/x0/x8, or x8/x4/x4 when all three slots are populated. The fourth/bottom slot is sourced from the chipset and provides PCIe 4.0 x4 lanes. If you plan on using the M.2 Xpander and 10 GbE AICs, that leaves you with two full-size PCIe slots for video cards.
Between the PCIe slots are three M.2 sockets, each with their own heatsinks. The top two (M2_1 and M2_2) support both PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA-based modules. M2_1 supports up to 110mm modules while M2_2 supports up to 80mm devices. The bottom slot, M2_3, supports PCIe only and drives up to 110mm long. If these three aren’t enough, the M.2 expander card adds two more M.2 sockets. To get the full bandwidth from the AIC, install it in a slot that offers PCIe 4.0 x8 bandwidth (third slot down with nothing installed in the second slot). If you need a whole lot of wicked fast NVMe based storage, this motherboard supports it!
To the right of the M.2 and PCIe area are the chipset heatsink and fan. The large fan was inaudible during our testing, though we weren’t using any chipset-connected PCIe 4.0 devices so the stress level is lower. On the right edge are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 front-panel ports along with six SATA ports. SATA ports 1-4 are fed from the chipset, while ports 5/6 source their lanes from the ASMedia ASM1061 chip. The AMD chipset connected ports support RAID0, 1 and 10 modes, which is typical.
Across the bottom are several buttons and headers ranging from front panel audio to power and reset buttons. A lot is going on down there, especially for hardcore overclockers, where you’ll find BCLK buttons and other extreme overclocking functions. Also worth noting in this section are the temperature sensors and water flow headers. With these on board, you’re able to monitor and then control attached devices through the MSI software and the BIOS. Here’s the full list, from left to right:
Front panel audio
TPM header
3-pin RGB header
LN2 mode header
Fan header
Temperature sensor header
Fan header
BIOS switch
Fan header
BCLK “-” button
USB 2.0 header
BCLK “+” button
Reset and Power buttons
OC knob
USB 2.0 header
Front panel header
Water flow header
Clear CMOS header
Slow mode jumper
(Image credit: MSI)
MSI’s rear IO includes an integrated plate with a black and red theme. On the left are two buttons, one that clears the CMOS and the other used for the board’s BIOS flashback capabilities. Moving right, we spy the two WiFi antenna mounts, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports and above that, a legacy PS/2 mouse/keyboard port. Next are the two Killer-based Ethernet ports that reside above the four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one Type-C). To the right of that is one of the most unique features on this motherboard, a 6.3mm audio jack that uses the integrated DAC. Finally, the rest of the audio stack consists of a 5-plug analog and SPDIF stack.
Xiaomi recently made its first Wi-Fi 6E router official. The Mi Router AX6000 is priced at CNY 599 (about $91) and is currently available for reservation in China and will be going on its first sale on January 8. It is chuck-full of next-get Wi-Fi features, which we will mention shortly. However, it’s difficult to properly get a sense of the new technology, without a practical illustration. In a short clip, Xiaomi did just that, placing the Mi Router AX6000 in the center of a huge stadium and then testing the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and the recently-launched Xiaomi Mi 11 for Wi-Fi speed at different angles and distances. The goal was to see how much of the 800 Mbps broadband bandwidth going into the router would ultimately end-up transmitted to each phone.
Before you set the comment section ablaze, we realize this is neither a proper scientific or very practical test to run. It is squarely meant to showcase the theoretical benefits of running a cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E router, with a compatible client device, like the Mi 11. Apple’s perceived “loss” here simply stems from the fact that it uses a slightly-older Qualcomm X55 modem, equipped with the company’s FastConnect 6800 subsystem for Wi-Fi, whereas the Mi 11 get to enjoy the latest and greatest Qulcomm X60 modem, with its FastConnect 6900. Without going into too much technical detail, the latter gets access to the new 6GHz band, which is one of the major things the “E” in Wi-Fi 6E denotes over the “basic” Wi-Fi 6. It then runs advanced 4-stream (2×2 + 2×2) Dual Band Simultaneous (DBS) operation, allowing it to combine a 2×2 6 GHz connection with a 2×2 5 GHz connection on top of that, for a theoretical maximum peak speed of 3.6 Gbps.
Of course, you need a compatible and capable router to even get close to such speeds, which is where the Mi Router AX6000 comes in. It has a theoretical maximum aggregated wireless output of 6000 megabytes/s and is also equipped with a 2.5Gbps LAN port. The latter complies with the IEEE 802.3bz standard and can work with existing Cat 5e ethernet cables, making it a great upgrade path, as home internet connections start exceeding the 1Gbps mark in certain places.
Compared to “vanilla” Wi-Fi 6, which, by the way, is also a major and long-overdue upgrade over Wi-Fi ac (Wi-Fi 5), which you can read more about here, Wi-Fi 6E and the Mi Router AX6000 in particular offer 4×4 160MHz bandwidth, double the 4×4 80MHz bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6. Then there is 4K QAM modulation high-speed transmission technology, which claims to compress data transmission and achieve 20% greater density and hence 20% more data transfer at the same time compared to the previous generation 1024 QAM. Leveraging that and 512MB of on-board RAM, the Mi Router AX6000 promises blazing single-device speeds, as well as support for up to 248 simultaneous clients. A feature that will become more and more important with the proliferation of IoT tech.
Xiaomi Mi Router AX6000
With six independent signal amplifiers, the Mi Router AX6000 also promises great coverage and not just at a large open stadium. A single router should be able to effectively cover a large three-bedroom apartment. And if you need anything beyond that, the AX6000 offers support for Xiaomi Mesh. There are also other smart software features included, like automatic Wi-Fi password randomization and synchronization with Xiaomi smart devices that support Xiaomi ChangKai Connect. Also, the AX6000 can intelligently identify some Xiaomi/Redmi phones and automatically toggle gaming-specific network optimization for their Wi-Fi traffic, as needed.
There is still no word on international availability for the Mi Router AX6000. But judging by the speed at which some of the company’s other recent routers, like the AX3600 or the AX5 have been managing international ROMs and market releases, we might have to wait a bit for the Mi Router AX6000.
Source 1 (in Chinese) | Source 2 (in Chinese) | Via 1 | Via 2
Page 1: MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI in the test – carbon look incl.USB 3.2 Gen2x2
MSI’s GAMING- (PRO) -CARBON mainboards from the MPG product range (MSI Performance Gaming) are of great interest to many people who want to upgrade, because in most cases these models strike the balance between good equipment and an acceptable price. So we didn’t let it be missed and the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI through our LGA 1200 – Mainboard test course sent.
Last summer we introduced the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING EDGE WIFI ( Hardwareluxx test), which was able to convince in the important areas. The MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI also comes from the MSI performance series, but can – and this much is revealed in advance – stand out in a few points.
The basis between the two models is quite similar. In addition to the CPU socket, four DDR4 memory banks and six SATA 6GBit / s ports, two M.2 interfaces and various USB connections are usually used. In order to do justice to the model name, the corresponding optics are of course only used in the CARBON variant.
MSI has not only applied the carbon look to the large chipset cooler, but also to the I / O panel cover. The MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI was designed in the classic ATX format, whereby the PCB itself is black and has been given some bright accents. Except for the two M.2 and the VRM cooler, the circuit board is generally kept dark.
The technical properties
These are the technical data of the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI:
The data of the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI in the overview
Mainboard format
ATX
Manufacturer and Designation
MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI
CPU socket
LGA 1200 (for Comet Lake-S )
Power connections
1x 24 – ATX pin 1x 8-pin EPS 12 V 1x 4-pin + 12 V
Phases / coils
15 (14 x CPU (12 + 1 + 1 ), 1x RAM)
Price
from 244 Euro
Website
MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI
Southbridge / CPU features
Chipset
Intel Z 490 Express chipset
Memory banks and type
4x DDR4 (dual-channel), max. 5. 000 MHz
Memory expansion
Max. 128 GB RAM UDIMM Non-ECC
SLI / CrossFire
SLI (2-Way), CrossFireX (3-Way)
Onboard features
PCI-Express
2x PCIe 4.0 x 16 (electrical with x 16 / x8) via CPU (PCIe 4.0 only with Rocket Lake-S!) 1x PCIe 3.0 x 16 (electrical with x4) via Intel Z 490 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 via Intel Z 490
PCI
–
Storage
6x SATA 6 GBit / s via Intel Z 320 2x M.2 with PCIe 3.0 x4 via Intel Z 490 (M-Key, 32 Gbit / s)
USB
1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbit / s, 1x external) via ASMedia ASM 3241 5x USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 GBit / s, 4x external, 1x internal) via Intel Z 490 2x US B 3.2 Gen1 (5 Gbit / s, 2x internal) via Intel Z 320 6x USB 2.0 (2x external, 4x internal) via Intel Z 490
graphic interfaces
1x HDMI 1.4b 1x DisplayPort 1.2
WLAN / Bluetooth
WiFi 802. 11 a / b / g / n / ac / ax over Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 CNVio, dual band, Max. 2.4 GBit / s, Bluetooth 5.1
1x 4-pin CPU FAN header 1x 4-pin water pump header 6x 4-pin system FAN header
LED lighting
Chipset cooler, I / O panel cover 1x 4-pin RGB header 2x 3-pin ARGB header 1x 3-pin CORSAIR header
Onboard comfort
Status LEDs, LED switch
The supplied accessories
Mainboard manual
Driver and software DVD
Quick Installation Guide
two SATA cables
2T2R-WLAN-Atenne
3 -Pin ARGB extension cable
Corsair RGB LED extension cable
RGB-LED-Y-ext connection cable
MSI case sticker
Information card for product registration
MSI product booklet
Housing screw instructions
SATA cable sticker
Be MSI is generous in terms of accessories and puts a little more in the box. The manual, the support data carrier, the 2T2R WiFi antenna and of course the M.2 screws are among the mandatory items. But we were also able to find a quick start guide, short instructions for screwing the case, the MSI gaming case sticker, and numerous SATA identification stickers. Also on board are numerous cables, such as two SATA cables, a 3-pin ARGB extension cable, a CORSAIR RGB LED extension cable and a 4-pin RGB Y adapter cable.
Finally, with the small product booklet, MSI gives an outlook on many other MSI products and with the info card MSI encourages product registration, which of course also gives the buyer some advantages.
<> MSI MPG Z 320 GAMING CARBON WIFI in the test – carbon look including USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Features and layout (1)
Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 3000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand’s ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs. Now, Intel is finally firing back with the launch of the 10th Gen Intel Core processors, along with a new motherboard standard to drive them.
As should be no surprise, the focus will remain on the new motherboards. While the 10th Gen Intel Core processors will not support PCIe 4.0 connectivity due to signal integrity issues, many of the Z490 motherboards are designed to support the PCIe 4.0 specification. This is accomplished by adding clock generators to help clean up the signal. Generally speaking, when it comes to long-term platform support, AMD has been the trendsetter. Has AMD’s long support of the AM4 socket on its newer-generation processors inspired Intel to take similar steps?
So what is Z490 offering right now? For starters, there has been a large focus on VRM and VRM cooling design. With the top-level Intel Core i9-10900K featuring 10 cores along with HyperThreading, the ability to deliver clean, continuous power is going to be one of the primary factors that separates a good Z490 board from the competition. With the introduction of HyperThreading on Intel’s mid-range line up, power delivery is going to be vital in all segments.
The Maximus family serves as ASUS’s flagship line for Intel motherboards, with premium looks, premium features, blazing performance, and broad overclocking support. The Maximus lineup typically comprises four models: the Hero, Apex, Formula, and Extreme. Intel’s Z490 chipset is no exception. The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme serves as the capstone entry for the Maximus family, providing every bell and whistle available.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme features a robust VRM cooling solution complete with an optional active cooling fan, all paired with no less than sixteen 90 A power stages from Infineon. Dual BIOS with BIOS flashback has also been included, as well as ASUS’s excellent BIOS designed to provide an optimal, stress-free overclocking experience. The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme also offers great connectivity with not only WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb/s LAN, but also 10 Gb/s Ethernet using an Aquantia controller. All of this performance is bundled into a sleek, modern package with excellent RGB options and a host of accessories.
Let’s take a closer look at what the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme has to offer.
2x Antenna ports 1x Bios Flashback button 1x Clear CMOS button 1x Optical SPDIF out port 2x LAN (RJ45) port 1x USB 3.2 (Gen2x2) Type-C port 1x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C port 6x USB 3.2 (Gen1) ports 2x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-A ports 2x USB 2.0 ports 5x 3.5 mm audio jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC1220 Codec
Fan Headers:
14x 4-pin
Form Factor:
Extended ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 10.9 in. / 30.5 x 27.7 cm
The last time we built the RGBaby, a neat, tidy, and small RGB system that was easy to carry around, we used a Jonsbo A4 case. Now, Jonsbo has built another small chassis, this time the BO 100, as spotted by Hermitage Akihabara.
This case takes a different approach, instead placing a 4mm thick tempered glass window at the front with a nice aluminum enclosure around the system. It also has a leather carrying strap, making it look a bit like a high-tech handbag.
It’s only suited for use with Mini-ITX boards and dual-slot graphics cards. Due to the limited GPU length of 207mm, 140mm wide, and 48mm thick, you won’t get the biggest GPUs into here, and certainly not an RTX 3090 — you’ll need a short-format card for this case, but that’s a sacrifice you’re willing to make for an SFF system, right?
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Jonsplus)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Jonsplus)
However, despite being placed close to the side, the GPU should get decent cooling due to the perforation in the side panel that supplies it with fresh air. The CPU can be well-off, too, with space for CPU coolers up to 158mm tall, or you can opt to install a 120mm AIO.
The entire internal chassis is made from steel and slides right out the back of the case. This should make assembly quite easy with open access from all sides.
Only SFX and SFX-L power supplies are supported, and the front I/O consists of USB Type-C, two USB 3.0 ports, and one audio/mic combo jack.
Jonsbo hasn’t announced pricing or availability yet.
Simon Crisp 4 days ago Featured Tech News, Featured Tech Reviews, NAS, Network, Reviews
Synology’s DiskStation DS1520+ is a 5-bay NAS designed for small offices and IT enthusiasts featuring a pair of M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching and four Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz (burst up to 2.7GHz) the DiskStation DS1520+ comes with 8GB of DDR4-2666MHz memory which is the most the motherboard supports. It also supports an AES-NI hardware encryption engine.
Synology quote Sequential throughput performance for the D1520+ as up to 451.28MB/s for reads and 451.18MB/s for writes although those figures are from the NAS being tested with all four LAN ports being used in Link Aggregation mode. As well as the four network ports the DS1520+ sports a pair of NVMe supporting M.2 slots for cache duties.
The Asus RT-AX82U is a powerful mid-range gaming router, offering a myriad of features at a reasonable $229 price. It also proved stable throughout testing and offers the latest in Wi-Fi 6 technology.
For
Supports Wi-Fi 6
Programmable LED RGB lighting
Excellent range and throughput
Integrated security
Ease of setup
Granular control of QoS modes
Against
Only four Ethernet ports
Single USB port
No integrated WTFast
Dual-band only
Minimal effect with gaming port
Asus is well established in many aspects of the PC/gaming market, selling a wide range of motherboards, monitors, notebooks, network hardware and more. Today, we turn our attention to the company’s recent mid-range gaming router, the RT-AX82U. It brings Wi-Fi 6, easy setup and solid performance to the table, along with a typical stealthy exterior, complimented by some flashy RGB that both looks good, and is easy enough to turn off.
Design
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
At times, it can be hard to define precisely what a gaming router is, as opposed to the more mainstream siblings. The Asus RT-AX82U causes no such confusion, however, and ticks off all of the right design boxes. This starts with the four vertical antennas, and then moves on to the matte-black finish, with an angular body that strikes a successful balance between artful and aggressive. The dimensions are 10.8 x 7.3 x 6.5 inches (275.5 x 184.4 x 165 mm) with antenna, and it weighs in at 1.6 pounds (740 grams).
There are four status LEDs that provide connectivity information at a glance. These designate power, a WAN connection, and each of the two Wi-Fi frequencies.
Perhaps the signature feature for a gaming router has become the LED lighting. For those that seek out this feature, and want every accessory to have RGB lighting, the RT-AX82U delivers the goods with a choice of “Lighting vibe.” This includes several multi-color modes that have different lighting effects, which can be matched to different moods or applications.
The flip side of this is that not everyone wants such a colorful router, preferring their networking hardware to be more… unobtrusive. For those in the stealth router camp (for example for a bedroom deployment), one of the modes totally disables the light show.
Specifications
Processor
1.5 GHz tri-core processor
Memory
256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM
Ports
RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for LAN x 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 x 1
Encryption
WPA3-Personal, WPA2-Personal, WPA-Personal, WPA-Enterprise , WPA2-Enterprise , WPS support
Wi-Fi Technology
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)
Beamforming: standard-based and universal
1024-QAM high data rate, 20/40/80/160 MHz bandwidth
Dimensions
275.5 x 184.4 x 165 mm (WxDxH) with antenna
275.5 x 184.4 x 65 mm (WxDxH) without antenna
Weight
740 g
Price
$229.00
The Asus RT-AX82U sticks to its mid-range aspirations in the specs department. From the hardware perspective, it’s based on a 1.5 GHz tri-core processor, with 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash storage. It runs Asus’ proprietary OS.
As usual, the rear of the router houses the connection ports. This includes a single WAN port and four LAN ports, one of which is designated as a dedicated Gaming Port. Each Ethernet port supports 10/100/1000 transfer rates, though hopefully no one is still using anything less than a gigabit device. The USB port is 3.2 Gen 1×1 (effectively rebranded 3.0), and there is also a power switch that’s useful for router reboots. Happily, we did not have any issues requiring a manual reboot during testing.
Wirelessly, the big news is that this router supports the latest generation of wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, previously designated as 802.11ax, and has 160 Mbps channels. This translates into speeds up to 5400 Mbps, if you combine both the 2.4 GHz frequency that has a max speed of 574 Mbps, and the 5 GHz frequency that tops out at 4804 Mbps (dual-band). Modern wireless standards are supported, including OFDA, MU-MIMO, beamforming, and the latest security standard of WPA3-personal. The router is also fully backward compatible to 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) devices.
Setup and Features
(Image credit: Asus)
Going from out of box to up and running (or more specifically, up and routing) took just a few minutes. As seen above, once plugged in, the router automatically goes into a setup process that prompts the user to go through the steps for a basic setup. This includes setting passwords for each of the Wi-Fi networks.
(Image credit: Asus)
As older firmwares often have security holes, we appreciate that Asus included a step in the setup process to upgrade the firmware to the latest version. This ensures that all the latest security updates are applied, along with bug fixes. For our testing, the RT-AX82U was running firmware version 3.0.0.4.384.9948.
(Image credit: Asus)
Once the initial setup is complete, we can get into optimizing the router for gaming. The router’s features are easily navigated via the left-hand panel. Under the setting “Adaptive QoS” we have a choice to enable QoS, which stands for Quality of Service. We went with the “Adaptive QoS,” which then allows us to choose a mode.
This allows the router to then analyze traffic as it passes through it, and categorize it. For example, if Games is selected, the router will then give gaming traffic priority, sending it ahead of other types of traffic. This traffic shaping allows users to make the most of their bandwidth, facilitating a good gaming experience while also simultaneously streaming video or audio content.
(Image credit: Asus)
There’s also a games section of the setup. This includes a Gear Accelerator that can prioritize gaming devices “For the best gaming experience.” A “Mobile Game Mode” is also available, but this requires downloading the Asus Router App to the mobile device. Finally, port forwarding is supported.
One minor downside is the lack of WTFast (a gaming private network service) integration, which some higher-end Asus routers have featured.
Security
The Asus RT-AX82U includes a number of security features. Network Protection with Trend Micro can provide antivirus on a network level, for no additional charge. Also, malicious sites are blocked at the router to keep the entire network secure.
Performance
When it comes to bandwidth, the Asus RT-AX82U performed quite well. We test routers both in a “near” location, at 8 feet away, and also at a “far” location, 36 feet away, on a higher floor, with ductwork in the way. The bandwidth test uses NetPerf software, with a Wi-Fi 6 client. For the latter, we have a laptop with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 160MHz wireless adapter, set to use the widest 160 MHz channel width on the 5 GHz frequency. (Note that Gamefirst VI software was disabled throughout testing, which can provide further client-side traffic shaping.)
2.4 GHz near
2.4 GHz far
5 GHz near
5 GHz far
Bandwidth (Mbps)
227.99
122.03
884.13
745.69
The Asus RT-AX82U delivers very solid speeds, particularly on the 5 GHz frequencies. Also impressive was the minimal dropoff in speeds on the far 5 GHz test. If you have devices that aren’t in close proximity to the router, like a TV or console, this looks like a good option.
Next, we looked at gaming performance. For this, we used an Asus ROG G512 Strix i7 RTX 2070 16GB/512GB gaming laptop. For internal control, we ran the same tests on both wired and wireless connections.
For the wired tests, the laptop was connected to the router via a CAT 5e cable. We ran tests both with the connection to an Ethernet port on the router and then also while connected to the dedicated Gaming Port.
(Image credit: Asus)
Wireless tests were done on the 5 GHz frequency (with a single 2.4 GHz test just out of curiosity to confirm our suspicions). We played the game Overwatch and measured the frames per second (fps) with the software FRAPS. While normally fps in a multiplayer game like Overwatch can vary quite a bit depending on where you are in a level and what’s happening with other players. To minimize this variance, we ran our tests in the training level, where we’re technically connected to the servers but there aren’t a bunch of other players running around, shooting at us.
What’s interesting about Overwatch and some other multiplayer games is that, contrary to what you might expect, frame rates actually are impacted by network latency and throughput. Basically, if your connection isn’t consistent, your system has to do additional work to interpolate position and resend packets. This shows up both as spikes in ping time as well as reduced fps, particularly minimum fps.
In order to simulate gaming on a congested network, such as your roommates watching Netflix while you try to game, we stream ten 8K videos simultaneously from YouTube. (In case you are wondering, an 8k video needs about 50 Mbps of bandwidth, and we have a 300 Mbps cable connection, so it effectively saturates the connection, and then some). We measure the congestion using PingPlotter and count the spikes, which indicate when the network is over-congested. Finally, the Stats for Nerds tool in YouTube gives us an indicator of the dropped frames — which translates to stuttering and hanging video streams.
QoS
Avg. FPS
Min. FPS
Avg. Latency
8K Dropped Frames
Pingplotter Spikes
Notes
Ethernet
No
109.3
97
64
n/a
0
Ethernet + 10 8k videos
No
112.2
85
262
16.80%
3
videos barely played
Ethernet + 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
120.0
400
252
34.00%
6
Ethernet, gaming port
No
111.6
96
63
n/a
0
Ethernet, gaming port, 10 8k videos
No
109.9
94
255
32.40%
3
Ethernet, gaming port, 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
115.0
98
250
5.00%
2
5 GHz
No
116.3
97
234
n/a
0
5 GHz + 10 8k videos
No
93.8
76
261
13.30%
3
5 GHz + 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
111.0
95
255
32.20%
3
2.4 GHz + 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
110.7
99
259
48.60%
7
For our baseline, with QoS disabled and no videos streaming, the fps in Overwatch is 109 on Ethernet, and 111 on the Gaming Port — a minimal difference between the two that translated through on the rest of the tests. Somewhat surprising is that fps improves slighting when we’re connected wirelessly on 5 GHz, checking in at 116 fps.
When we ramp up the network congestion and stream videos, the fps remains pretty consistent on Ethernet. It does take a modest hit to performance when connected via 5 GHz, dropping down to a still very playable 93.75 fps. Obviously, the game of choice and your specific hardware will impact performance as well.
With the addition of the QoS, set to gaming priority, in each case the fps increased compared to our baseline results. On the gaming port, we measured a 4.7% increase, while the regular Ethernet port showed a 9.7% improvement. Compared to the congested testing, the 5 GHz Wi-Fi also showed an 18.7% increase in fps, though performance was 4.6% slower than the uncongested network performance. Regardless, the results demonstrate the value of the QoS feature.
While gaming can be done on the 2.4 GHz frequency, take note that with this older technology, the 48.6% dropped frames result was the highest of any of the tests. In addition, we had the highest number of Pingplotter spikes on this frequency. Friends don’t let friends game on 2.4 GHz.
What’s interesting is that, even though ping latency is much higher, that doesn’t really correspond to the in-game latency. (Tracking actual game network latency is far more complex than what we’re doing with PingPlotter.) You can see that with QoS enabled, the average ping times drop slightly in the overloaded configuration. More importantly, actual gaming network traffic gets prioritized above the video streams, which means latency and performance are mostly back to where we started.
Pricing and Bottom Line
The Asus RT-AX82U sells for $229. This puts it solidly into the upper mid-range segment of gaming-focused routers, and it offers considerable value at this price point. We were impressed by the high fps scores, the option for gaming centric QoS settings, and the integrated security. Areas for improvement include the single USB port, the limited Ethernet ports, the minimal effect of the Gaming port, and the lack of WTFast on a gaming router.
Overall the Asus RT-AX82U offers a good combination of throughput and gaming performance, all in an attractive, reasonably compact package. We have several other gaming routers (and even non-gaming routers) that we’ll be testing, but we started with Asus as its routers have a good reputation. This is currently the one to beat, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the other routers stack up.
WiFi 6 has already been extended to the vast majority of devices that carry hitting the market in recent months and it is becoming easier to get compatible routers with more affordable prices. The ASUS RT-AX 68 U seeks to position itself within that sector by offering the latest in WiFi connectivity 6 (640. 11 ax) with bandwidths reaching 2.7 Gbps.
Up to 2, 7 Gbps via WiFi 6 on this ASUS RT-AX 68 U
For this it uses the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and an improved coverage in a 80% compared to previous wireless standards. Naturally, and by definition of WiFi 6, it has support for mesh networks like the ones we have already tested, through ASUS AI MESH systems. It comes with support for OFDMA, Beamforming to boost the signal, 1024 – QAM and support for the bands of 20, 40, 80 and 160 MHz.
It offers 3 antennas placed in a vertical router format, unlike other routers of the company with horizontal orientation. In terms of physical connectivity, it has four Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN and a WAN port, in addition to two USB-A type 3.0 and 2.0.
Inside it has a processor of 1.8 GHz dual-core accompanied by 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of Flash ROM storage for the operating system.
Its price has not been revealed, but it is expected to place below the 100 euros.
End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!
Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, editor and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
Andrew Munro 5 hours ago Featured Tech Reviews, PC, Reviews
We love reviewing the biggest, most powerful systems here on KitGuru but not everyone needs a huge PC glowing like a disco. For casual users and businesses there are some far more practical options available. The ASUS PN50 Mini PC is a tiny system but don’t let that fool you. Featuring a Ryzen 7 4700U, integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 graphics, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, 8K and 4x 4K monitor support as well as upgradable memory and storage, this little machine punches above its weight class.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Specifications:
Review model: ASUS PN50 Barebones system (No OS, SSD or RAM included)
Barebones configuration price: £369.99
AMD Ryzen R7-4700U (8-core, 15W TDP)
Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 Graphics
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (Gig+)
Bluetooth 5
Monitor support: 8K support, 4 x 4K support
IR Sensors for use with remote control
Dual-array microphones
3 in 1 card reader
Front I/O: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Support Display Port 1.4, Battery Charging 1.2) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 1 x Audio Jack (Line in/ Mic in/ Headphone out) 2 x Microphone Array 1 x IR receiver 1 x 3 in 1 Card reader
Side I/O: 1x Kensington Lock
Rear I/O: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Support Display Port 1.4) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 1 x HDMI 2.0 Port 1 x Display Port 1.4 1 x RJ45 LAN 1 x DC-in
90W Power Adapter
Storage supported: 1 x SATA 6Gb/s for 2.5″ 500G/1TB HDD 1 x M.2 2280 for SATA & PCIe 128G/256G/512G/1TB SSD (Supports NVMe)
RAM supported: 2 x SO-DIMM, DDR4-3200MHz memory (4GB to 64GB)
Dimensions: 115 x 115 x 49 mm
Weight: Under 0.7Kg
The PN50 is aimed at businesses, both office and retail, those that just want a compact system and even home-theatre setups. Since it’s so small it can easily be tucked out of sight where other systems would struggle to fit, and can even be attached to the back of a monitor via the included VESA mount. Weighing less than 1kg, dimensions of 115 x 115 x 49 mm and a sleek black, brushed, aesthetic the PN50 will suit any home or office setup.
As this is a barebones system it does not come supplied with any storage drives, RAM or even operating system. Of course, depending on your use for the system will depend on what you choose to install but for our test purposes we chose 16GB of G-Skill Ripjaws SO-DIMM DDR4 3200MHz RAM and 1TB WD Blue SN550 NVMe SSD.
Installation is easy, even if you’re not a confident PC builder the instructions are clear. I don’t think you should be put off and I’d give it a good 8/10 for how easy it is to install or even upgrade.
If you take a look at the specifications above, connectivity wise, it really does have a lot going for it, more so than a lot of full-sized systems. This is excellent for business users as well as home use too. On the front we also have one combination audio jack for line in, mic in and headphone out, dual-array microphones for use with Windows Cortana and an IR receiver for use with a remote control, which is another great feature that will appeal to businesses and a 3 in 1 micro-SD card reader.
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I would like to thank Corsair for supplying the review sample.
The Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt dock in many ways reminds us of the Elgato Thunderbolt 3 docks, but offers a different set of I/O. Corsair acquired Elgato a while back, so the TBT100 is a result of having that knowledge and expertise in-house now as well. The Corsair TBT100 is a bit more compact than the Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro dock and comes in at a much lower price point to boot.
Packaging, Contents and A Closer Look
A yellow box will certainly draw your attention on a retailer’s shelf, with an image of the device on front and two further shots of it on the rear for you to clearly see which connectivity the unit provides. There is another, inner package you have to pull out, inside of which the device and all its accessories are stored neatly.
Corsair ships the unit with a passive Thunderbolt 3 cable alongside the power cable. As the TBT100 also offers power delivery via Thunderbolt, you will find an external 100 W unit to provide it. That means you no longer have to use your laptop’s power adapter—it will all be done through a single cable.
A warranty guide and basic manual round out the extras within the package.
As previously mentioned, the Corsair TBT100 feels a bit more compact than the Elgato units and comes with an edgier design as well. The housing is made out of metal and sports a similar “gunmetal gray” color tone as those found on Apple notebooks, so the unit should match nicely on your desktop in such a scenario. On the scale, we can see that the TBT100 is rather hefty, weighing 430 grams.
Looking at the front, you will find a power switch alongside a USB-C 10 Gbps connector, SD card reader, and 3.5 mm audio-combo port. In the rear, where the bulk of I/O is located, are two USB 3.0 Type A, a Gigabit Ethernet, another USB-C 10 Gbps, two 4K@60Hz capable HDMI ports, and the Thunderbolt 3 port to interface with the host system. To the very right is the power port and a hole to secure the TBT100 with a Kensington lock.
Inner Workings
There is no need for you to take apart the device as it is essentially plug and play, but for the sake of this article, we have disassembled it to show you the insides. The metal casing holds both the PCB and a metal heatspreader, which comes with a few thermal pads to keep things cool enough even when utilizing all the ports. The PCB is clearly Corsair branded and extremely clean, with most of the ICs on the top of the multi-layered PCB.
At the core of the device is the Intel JHL 7440 Thunderbolt IC, which offers a dual-port configuration with a TDP of 2.4 W and DisplayPort 1.4 support even though the TBT100 does not offer such an interface. Right next to it is the Texas Instruments TPS65983BA power delivery IC, so you may charge your notebook by passing electricity from the external PSU through the TBT100 and its Thunderbolt 3 interface.
In the center of the PCB is the VLI VL822-Q8 USB 3.1 controller which also supports vendor specific charging via USB profiles, like those from Apple and Samsung.
The VLI VL817 Q7 USB 3.1 Gen1 hub controller ensures the TBT100 has all those aforementioned Type-A ports with modern interface speeds. Next to that is the Realtek ALC4050, which is a USB-C to audio jack interface DAC, so you can plug your classic headphones straight into the TBT100.
The Realtek RTL8153B—you may have guessed it—offers the 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet interface by translating it to USB on the internal side. In essence, it is the sort of IC you would find in a modern USB-C to Ethernet dongle as well. Close to the physical port itself, Corsair employs a GST5009M LF discrete LAN magnetics IC, which allows for long-haul connectivity and offers quite a few additional features, like POE. It is great to see, and I welcome this amount of over-kill.
Remember that the Intel Thunderbolt IC can handle DisplayPort? Because the TBT100 utilizes HDMI, there are two ITE IT6563FN DP receiver to HDMI transmitter ICs, one for each port, at the back of the device.
The GL3232S is a USB 3.1 Gen1 memory card controller with UHS-I interface support, so you can throw pretty much any modern SD card at it without issue.
Lastly, there is another smaller IC on the other end of the PCB, which I was unable to identify fully, but it could have something to do with the power button and its LED.
Software
While the Corsair TBT100 works right out of the box without any software applications, you may also download an app to make ejecting/disconnecting devices easier. It shows up as a little Corsair logo in the status bar on Mac OS and literally only offers the option “Unplug Thunderbolt Dock.” This way, you won’t have to worry about having to disconnect every attached device within your operating system, but can do so in a controlled and automated fashion, in one fell swoop before pulling the cable out of your notebook, for example. Within the simple application, you may set it to start automatically as well.
Up and Running
Using the Corsair TBT100 is incredibly easy, which is the essential point really. The single Thunderbolt 3 cable connects to the notebook and immediately starts charging it as needed as well. The power button lights up with a tiny white LED as soon as turned on and operational, so you will always know about the state of the unit by looking at it. The SD card reader holds the card securely, and since it is soldered to the top of the PCB, you don’t need to flip the card over to slide it in. Any of the rear ports instantly work as soon as you plug anything in, be it an HDMI monitor, Ethernet cable, or a USB storage device.
Once in place, the Corsair TBT100 will quickly become an essential part of your desktop environment, especially if you are using a notebook as the brains of your setup. In my scenario, I am utilized the unit for this review with an HDMI-based 27″ 1440P monitor, one USB-C based NVMe drive, one USB-A-based Time Capsule 2.5″ spinning storage unit, and the USB 3.0 hub of the monitor via the second USB-A connector, as well as the SD-Card reader to pull pictures onto the notebook. Lastly, the audio port turned out to be extremely useful, allowing me to keep a headset attached at all times for my “work from home” setup for quick and functional Microsoft Teams chats, or even audio when watching Netflix or playing games in Bootcamp using my Razer eGPU.
With all that and proper charging of the 13″ Macbook Pro, all I had to worry about was a single Thunderbolt cable so that my actual charging adapter stays inside my notebook bag when I am on the go. So while the $230 (MSRP $259) for the Corsair TBT100 is quite the investment, it is absolutely worth it for elaborate setups like this.
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