Zotac GeForce RTX 3070 Ti AMP Holo is the company’s premium custom-design offering based on NVIDIA’s latest addition to its RTX 30-series “Ampere” product family. The GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, along with last week’s RTX 3080 Ti, are additions to the higher-end of NVIDIA’s product stack, in response to competition from AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 series “Big Navi” graphics cards. The RTX 3070 Ti, in particular, is being launched to close a price-performance gap between the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080, as the RTX 3070 is embattled on two fronts, from the RX 6700 XT, and the RX 6800.
NVIDIA could have been lazy and simply cut down its latest GA102 silicon, but was prudent. Rather, the company decided to not only max out the GA104 silicon, unlocking all its 6,144 CUDA cores; but also give the chip 35% faster 19 Gbps GDDR6X memory, as opposed to 14 Gbps GDDR6 on the original RTX 3070. These, combined with slightly higher clock speeds and power limits, could be NVIDIA’s answer to competitors from AMD.
The GeForce “Ampere” architecture represents the 2nd generation of NVIDIA’s RTX real-time raytracing technology, and introduces 2nd generation RT cores that double ray intersection performance and feature fixed-function hardware for even more raytraced effects; 3rd generation Tensor cores that leverage the sparsity phenomenon in AI deep-learning neural nets to increase inference performance by an order of magnitude; and the Ampere CUDA core itself, which significantly increases performance by leveraging concurrent INT32 and FP32 math operations.
The Zotac RTX 3070 Ti AMP Holo features the company’s highest state of tune for this GPU. The chip runs at a boost frequency of 1830 MHz boost, compared to 1770 MHz reference. The HoloBlack cooling solution combines the cooling prowess of a large triple-fan aluminium fin-stack heatsink; with the aesthetics of a large ARGB LED diffuser the company calls the Spectra lighting system. In this review, we show you if it’s worth forking out a little extra for this card over the Founders Edition.
Twitter user HXL has discovered the first photograph of Intel’s upcoming NUC 11 Extreme (codename Beast Canyon) system. More interestingly, although the pictures don’t show the processor, the leaker claims that the NUC features one of the chipmaker’s latest Tiger Lake B-series processors. Take this claim with a pinch of salt as it is unconfirmed, but it would make sense given Intel’s shifting target audience.
Intel briefly teased Beast Canyon at its Computex 2021 keynote. Beast Canyon is the successor to the chipmaker’s Ghost Canyon NUC. However, Beast Canyon marks a fundamental turn for NUCs as it’ll be the first device to offer support for a full-length discrete graphics card, making it more akin to a small form factor (SFF) system than a traditional NUC.
The Beast Canyon NUC will even come equipped with its own power supply, but Intel didn’t mention the capacity. Unless it’s a really generous capacity, it’ll probably limit the type of graphics card you can install in the chassis.
Like its predecessor, Beast Canyon will also leverage Intel’s “The Element” compute module. Everything from the processor and memory to display outputs will reside on the module itself, which then slots into a PCIe slot.
It’s reasonable to assume that Intel will offer Beast Canyon with different processor options. The one from the photograph is reportedly based on the Core i9-11900KB, which is the flagship chip from the Tiger Lake B-series lineup.
The Core i9-11900KB is a 10nm desktop chip that features BGA packaging. The Tiger Lake processor delivers eight cores, 16 threads and 24MB of L3 cache. The Willow Cove cores run with a 3.3 GHz base clock and flaunt a 5.3 GHz TVB (Thermal Velocity Boost) clock. Intel rates the Core i9-11900KB as a 65W part but allows OEMs to drop the TDP all the way down to 55W.
At Computex 2021, Intel confirmed that Beast Canyon would launch later this year. From the rumors that we’ve heard, we could be looking at a potential fourth-quarter release.
AMD has officially launched its latest round of professional graphics cards, the Radeon Pro W6800, Radeon Pro W6600, and for laptop users, the Radeon Pro W6600M. Like many of the best graphics cards, these new GPUs leverage AMD’s latest RDNA2 architecture, aka Big Navi, which means they bring ray tracing hardware to the lineup, along with the large Infinity Cache. The W6800 also packs 32GB of high-speed GDDR6 memory, which can greatly benefit certain professional workloads.
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Starting with the top model, the Radeon Pro W6800 has specs that are very similar to the Radeon RX 6800, just with double the VRAM and with a different card design and drivers. It uses the Navi 21 GPU, but with 60 Compute Units and 3840 GPU cores enabled. It delivers up to 17.83 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 35.66 TFLOPS of FP16 performance, equating to a boost clock of around 2320 MHz. Like the RX 6800, it also had a 250W TDP, 16Gbps GDDR6 memory and it supports PCIe Gen4.
On the other hand, the actual card design is completely different from the consumer RX 6000-series parts. Like most previous Radeon Pro designs, the Radeon Pro W6800 features a blower cooler, which tends to be preferable to open-air coolers for workstation use as it better supports the use of multiple cards. AMD also equips the W6800 with six mini-DisplayPort outputs, all supporting DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC. Six of the ports can handle up to 5120×2880 resolutions, and two of the ports can do up to 7680×4320 (presumably that’s with DSC, Display Stream Compression).
AMD provided testimonials and some benchmarks showing how the Radeon Pro W6800 compares to other professional cards. The biggest point in AMD’s favor will likely be the price, with the W6800 officially selling for $2,250. AMD compares it with the Nvidia RTX A6000, which costs over twice as much ($4,649), except AMD’s benchmarks then go back to the RTX 5000, a previous generation and obviously slower competitor — #GrainsOfSalt. Depending on the various benchmarks, AMD also shows significant gains over its previous generation Radeon Pro WX 9100 and W5700.
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The Radeon Pro W6600 takes a big step down in performance, and arguably the most interesting aspect is that it uses AMD’s Navi 23 GPU. Also, it has a suggested price of $649. We still haven’t seen Navi 23 in any desktop GPUs, though it’s expected to eventually show up in the RX 6600 XT and RX 6600. This is the first time we’ve seen official specs for anything using Navi 23 with 11.06 billion transistors. Also, as previously rumored, Navi 23 comes with 32MB of Infinity Cache. That’s a big step down from Navi 22’s 96MB and Navi 21’s 128MB, but of course, it was necessary to hit the desired chip size and cost parameters.
AMD doesn’t give the size or maximum core counts, but the W6600 does include 28 CUs and 1792 GPU cores. It has peak performance of 10.4 TFLOPS FP32 and 20.8 TFLOPS FP16, which works out to a boost clock of around 2900 MHz. It looks like Navi 23 will clock even higher than Navi 22, if that’s correct. Perhaps even more impressive is that the W6600 only has a 100W TDP. Other specs include 8GB of GDDR6 memory, clocked at 14Gbps. It’s a single-slot blower design, with four full-size DisplayPort outputs — again, all 1.4 with DSC, though only one can handle 8K resolutions with the other three maxing out at 5K.
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The Radeon Pro W6600M has nearly identical specs to the W6600, with the only difference being the TDP ranges from 65–95W. All the other features are the same, and actual boost clocks and display connections will be up to the laptop manufacturers. AMD didn’t provide any specific benchmarks of the W6600M, likely because actual laptops using the GPU aren’t yet available for testing.
Overall, AMD claims performance is “up to 79 percent faster” than its previous generation hardware. It can be even more than that in some cases (e.g., anything that uses the ray tracing hardware), but 79% will serve as a reasonable estimate. AMD also shared some performance data with and without the Infinity Cache enabled on the W6800, showing gains of up to 10%, though again, that will vary greatly across workloads.
These Radeon Pro W6800 is available now, with the W6600 slated for availability in Q3 2021. The W6600M should show up first in the HP ZBook G8 mobile workstation in July. Like other professional cards, they come with drivers that include a variety of ISV optimizations.
G.Skill is adding two new ultra-fast memory configurations to its current lineup of Royal Elite DDR4 memory kits. According to TechPowerUp, the new Royal Elite kits will come configured at 3600MHz or 4000Mhz at an ultra-low latency of CL14, thanks to high-quality Samsung B-Die ICs.
G.Skill’s current lineup of Trident Z Royal Elite memory already consists of very fast memory, including 4266MHz, 4800MHz, and even 5333MHz kits. But what makes these new lower frequency kits so special is their super tight timings at CL14, which has proved to be the most optimal latency for superior gaming performance, as well as the best configuration for day-to-day tasks where latency is more important than memory bandwidth.
As the name implies, these Trident Z Royal Elite kits are decked out with super-aggressive styling: angled edges everywhere and a diamond-like finish for the RGB lighting at the top. The Royal Elite kits come in silver or gold colors, naturally.
These kits will come within two configurations for memory frequency, 4000mhz and 3600mhz. The tightest timings will come with the 3600MHz kit at 14-14-14-34, and the 4000MHz at 14-15-15-35. However, in order to hit these crazy fast latencies, the memory kits will run at very high voltages, of 1.45v for the 3600Mhz kits and 1.55v for the 4000MHz kits.
While we don’t know prices yet, with these timings you can expect to pay top dollar, as should be obvious from the name alone. These memory kits will be available for purchase sometime in June of 2021.
An overclocked named Yosarianilives has published a cool 5.6GHz overclock result for the all-new Ryzen 3 5300G, AMD’s first quad-core Zen 3 chip to date. Paired with the 5300G were an Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming motherboard and 16GB of DDR4 RAM running at 4600MHz, with very low timings of 16-16-16-38.
The Ryzen 3 5300G is part of AMD’s first rollout of Zen 3 based APUs, which are already trickling into pre-built desktops and all-in-ones. The higher-end models are expected to hit retail in early August. Similar to the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X, the 5300G is a quad-core part with SMT (8 threads) and the addition of Vega integrated graphics.
Thanks to the lower core count, the 5300G also has the highest base clock of any Ryzen CPU in existence right now, at a flat 4.0GHz, but is countered by a somewhat lackluster boost clock of 4.2GHz.
We don’t know what type of cooling the overclocker used to push his 5300G to 5.6GHz. But it is definitely in the realm of exotic cooling, as hitting those higher frequencies is impossible with ambient cooling. We’d guess the overclocker was using liquid nitrogen.
The overclocker didn’t post any gaming or synthetic benchmarks, but we’d imagine the 5300G with a 5.6GHz and an ultra-high memory frequency of 4600MHz really shines in single-threaded workloads. That said, assuming you’d need extreme cooling to hit frequencies close to this, it’s not like you’re going to be gaming or other real-world workloads with clocks this far above stock.
MSI, more usually known for its gaming laptops and RGB-tastic motherboards, has released details of a new line of Nvidia Studio verified mobile workstations for creative professionals with demanding creative workflows.
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The beefy laptops come in a variety of models (WS76, WS66, WE76, WF76 and WF66) and and sport 11th-gen Intel Core processors (i9s, mainly) and Nvidia RTX A-series GPUs featuring either 6 or 16GB of memory. The A-series are Ampere cards that have been built for designers, engineers, and artists rather than gamers. There are two models available here, the A3000 based on the GA104 GPU seen in the RTX 3070 but with 256 more cores, and the A5000 which is rather similar to an RTX 3080 laptop GPU.
Elsewhere, there’s a maximum of 64GB DDR4-3200 RAM, two NVME slots (one Gen 4, the other Gen 3), Thunderbolt 4, and a scattering of USB and video ports. Ethernet goes up to 2.5GbE, and there’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 on board.
Interestingly, you also get a choice of screen sizes, with the WS76 offering 17.3in 4K MiniLED HDR1000-certified display, the WS66 sporting a 15.6in 4K or a useful 1080p touchscreen, and the WE76 tempting with a decadent 17.3in 120Hz IPS panel. You also get a very decent battery, at 99.9Whr, but how long it will last driving that CPU/GPU combo at full tilt will have to wait until we get our hands on one for benchmarking.
At the time of writing, the new laptops were not yet available for sale from MSI’s website.
AMD’s liquid-cooled Radeon RX 6900 XT appears to be making its way to the retail market. VideoCardz has spotted a Sapphire listing over at a Kabum, a Brazilian retailer.
Speculation around the graphics card world is that the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC could very well be the incarnation of the rumored Radeon RX 6900 XTX. The latter was expected utilize the Navi 21 XTXH silicon, which allegedly brings the highest clock rates out of AMD’s RDNA 2 army. Although we’ve already see the graphics card in the wild, AMD hasn’t formally confirmed the existence of the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC.
The Sapphire Radeon RX 6900 XT LC, which should employ the Navi 21 XTXH die, comes with 80 Compute Units (CUs) for a total of 5,120 Stream Processors (SPs). Along with those 5,120 SPs, you’ll also find 80 ray accelerators for ray tracing workloads. The Radeon RX 6900 XT LC arrives with a 2,250 MHz game clock and a boost clock up to 2,435 MHz. The vanilla Radeon RX 6900 XT has a 2,015 MHz game clock and 2,250 MHz boost clock. Therefore, Sapphire’s rendition is offering up to 11.7% and 8.2% higher game and boost clocks, respectively.
Besides the uplift in clock speeds, Kabum’s specification table also shows an increase in memory speed for the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC. Apparently, the liquid-cooled version sports 18 Gbps GDDR6 memory chips as opposed to the 16 Gbps ones on the Radeon RX 6900 XT. It may be a human error, but it’s certainly feasible, considering that Samsung produces 18 Gbps GDDR6 memory chips. If accurate, the extra frequency on the memory chips bumps the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC’s maximum theoretical memory bandwidth up to 576 GBps, a 12.5% improvement over the regular version.
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT LC Specifications
Radeon RX 6900 XT LC*
Radeon RX 6900 XT
Architecture (GPU)
RDNA 2 (Navi 21)
RDNA 2 (Navi 21)
CUDA Cores / SP
5,120
5,120
RT Cores
80
80
Ray Accelerators
80
80
Texture Units
320
320
Base Clock Rate
?
1,825 MHz
Game Clock Rates
2,250 MHz
2,015 MHz
Boost Clock Rate
2,435 MHz
2,250 MHz
Memory Capacity
16GB GDDR6
16GB GDDR6
Memory Speed
18 Gbps
16 Gbps
Memory Bus
256-bit
256-bit
Memory Bandwidth
576 Gbps
512 GBps
ROPs
128
128
L2 Cache
4MB
4MB
L3 Cache
128MB
128MB
TDP
?
300W
Transistor Count
26.8 billion
26.8 billion
Die Size
536 mm²
536 mm²
MSRP
?
$999
*Specifications are unconfirmed.
The Sapphire-branded Radeon RX 6900 XT LC (21308-02-10G) shares the same design as the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC that recently popped up inside a gaming PC over in China. Although listed as a Sapphire SKU, there are no signs of the Sapphire logo or any type of third-party marketing on the graphics card itself.
It stands to reason that the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC likely conforms to an AMD reference design where the chipmaker’s partners are free to slap their name beside the Big Navi graphics card. It flaunts a dual-slot design with aluminium plates on both sides of the graphics card. For comparison, the Radeon RX 6900 XT reference edition conforms to a 2.5-slot design. Evidently, there are no cooling fans so the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC’s only method of staying cool is the included 120mm AIO liquid cooler.
Despite coming with a significant factory overclock, the Sapphire Radeon RX 6900 XT LC still uses a pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors. It’s uncertain if the liquid-cooled variant still abides by the 300W TDP (thermal design power) limit as the normal Radeon RX 6900 XT, though. One would expect a more generous TDP, given the higher clock speeds on the Radeon RX 6900 XT LC.
The display outputs on the Sapphire Radeon RX 6900 XT LC, on the other hand, remains unchanged. Like AMD’s reference design, the liquid-cooled variant retains support for four monitors. It offers the standard HDMI 2.1 port, two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs and one USB Type-C port.
Kabum has the Sapphire Radeon RX 6900 XT LC up for preorder at $4,662.40 or $3,368.41 in a single cash payment. Don’t pay attention to the pricing since it probably includes VAT (value-added tax) and a huge retailer markup. Kabum claims that it’ll start shipping Sapphire Radeon RX 6900 XT LC orders on June 30 so we could see an proper announcement from AMD very soon.
FanlessTech has spotted Noctua’s highly anticipated NH-P1 passive heatsink at Newegg for $100. Noctua hasn’t revealed the highly-anticipated heatsink to the public yet, but Newegg’s listing suggests that an official announcement shouldn’t be far behind.
The NH-P1 features a fanless design with six heatpipes that transfer heat from the processor towards the massive radiator with widely spaced fins. Noctua claims 100% compatibility with memory slots and the first PCIe expansion slot for most ATX and microATX motherboards. For added cooling or consumers that want to leverage a semi-passive configuration, Noctua recommends pairing the passive CPU cooler with the brand’s own NF-A12x25 LS-PWM 120mm cooling fan that’s barely audible.
Noctua advises consumers not to use the CPU cooler for overclocking or with processors that are space heaters. Being a passive cooler, the NH-P1’s performance depends on various factors, including ambient temperature and the other hardware inside your system. Therefore, Noctua doesn’t commit to a TDP (thermal design power) rating, instead suggesting that consumers consult the NH-P1’s processor compatibility list.
In fact, the NH-P1 will only thrive in cases with good natural convection or open-air bench tables. Noctua will release a list of recommended cases for the NH-P1 once it officially launches the CPU cooler.
Although Noctua didn’t slap a TDP label on the NH-P1, the cooling specialist mentioned processors, such as the Core i9-9900K and Ryzen 9 3950X. For perspective, the Core i9-9900K has a 95W PL1 rating and 210W PL2 rating.
Like countless other Noctua CPU coolers, the NH-P1 employs the company’s proprietary SecuFirm2+ mounting system, which provides an easy and quick setup. The cooler is compatible with Intel’s LGA115x, LGA1200 and LGA1200xx sockets and AMD’s AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+) and FM1 sockets.
Noctua also includes a tube of its award-winning NT-H2 thermal compound with the NH-P1. Noctua’s NH-P1 is already available for purchase on Newegg for $100. The manufacturer backs the cooler with a limited six-year warranty.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed hits the sweet spot between functionality and size, clearing up desk space while offering a premium design and functionality. But it’s pricey compared to some fantastic 65% keyboards, and its keycaps can get uncomfortable during heated gaming.
For
+ Efficient form factor
+ Dongle, Bluetooth or cable connection
+ Highly customizable
Against
– ABS keycaps can feel clammy
– Larger keys are a little loud
– Expensive
For some, a clear space makes for a clear mind. And if you’re gaming, more space also means extra room for your mouse and focusing solely on the inputs needed to level up. The best wireless keyboards already decrease clutter by cutting the cord, but a wireless gaming keyboard in a smaller form factor can be a true game-changer for players seeking an efficient, yet productive, form factor.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed fits the bill well. It’s Razer’s first 65% keyboard, which is a good sweet spot for those who want a small keyboard but can’t let go of navigation keys. With arrow keys, the BlackWidow V3 Mini is a more likely mate for both productivity and work than 60% keyboards. a more likely match for those who want a keyboard for both gaming and work. And Razer makes connectivity, even across several PCs, simple by offering the option to use a dongle, Bluetooth with up to 3 devices or a USB-C to USB-A cable. A $180 MSRP means you’re paying a Razer tax though, and the keyboard, especially its keycaps, aren’t perfect compared to the best gaming keyboards it’s up against.
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Specs
Switches
Razer Yellow (tested) or Razer Green
Lighting
Per-key RGB and logo
Onboard Storage
4 profiles
Media Keys
With Fn
Connectivity
USb Type-A dongle, Bluetooth or USB Type-A cable
Cables
USB-C to USB-A
Additional Ports
None
Keycaps
Doubleshot ABS plastic
Software
Razer Synapse
Dimensions (LxWxH)
12.6 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches
Weight
1.8 pounds
Design of the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
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If you haven’t tried a 65% layout before, it’s worth a shot because you may just find your sweet spot. 65% keyboards chop off a lot of keys but keep the precious arrow keys and even some that typically live above them. Razer told me it wants the BlackWidow V3 Mini to be a “more inclusive option” than the 60% Razer Huntsman Mini, one that saves space but still is efficient in applications like Excel and PowerPoint. No more keyboard switching is the idea, but if you do heavy number input into Excel, you’ll probably still miss the numpad.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini has Delete, Page Up, Page Down and Insert keys, which all also double as macro keys when you’re holding Fn. That’s a little more than some other 65% keyboards, such as the wired Ducky Mecha SF Radiant, which leaves out Insert in favor of a Ducky logo and doesn’t double up those keys as macros. Already we see the more gaming-friendly side of Razer’s 65% option.
However, I rarely use those four keys and would personally prefer a Print Screen option if anything. Of course, I could reprogram this via software and even switch out a keycap if I was that serious. But since I don’t care for that quartet of additional buttons over a 60% keyboard, something like the Cooler Master SK622, which doesn’t have dedicated keys for any of those functions except for Delete, would be even more efficient for me. That keyboard also saves a little bit of space, measuring 11.5 x 4.1 x 1.6 inches, while weighing only 1 pound. The Razer (12.6 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches, 1.8 pounds) is still on par with Ducky’s Mecha SF Radiant (12.8 x 4.1 x 1.6 inches, 1.9 pounds) though.
The V3 Mini doesn’t have a function row but gets a lot done with its Fn key. Just as with the Huntsman Mini, out of the box pressing Fn will disable any lighting you have on and provide white lighting to the keys with a secondary function. In addition to the number row handling F1-F12, there are also side-printed functions for macro recording, adjusting RGB brightness, media controls and the missing navigation keys.
Still, some tasks were more tedious on the 65% board. For example, to take a screenshot of a specific window, instead of pressing Windows + Alt + Print Screen, I had to hit Windows + Alt + Fn + Print Screen, while locating the key that has Print Screen as a secondary function. The side-printing is easy to read from typical seated positions. But unlike the main legends on the keys, these aren’t doubleshot, so could fade with time.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini has flip-out feet for 6 or 9-degree elevation, but I preferred keeping it flat, as my wrists already sloped down, due to the lack of included palm rest. If I were to use this as my forever keyboard, I’d need to find some sort of compact wrist rest, which is a mild annoyance, considering the keyboard’s price.
Besides that, the BlackWidow V3 Mini takes many characteristics from the BlackWidow line, which includes the full-sized BlackWidow V3, wireless BlackWidow V3 Pro and BlackWidow V3 Tenkeyless.That includes a plastic base that’s shiny around the lip, allowing the snake trio that is the Razer logo to peek through with customizable RGB.
The plastic base is subtly textured and surprisingly durable in that it doesn’t seem like it’ll scratch or nick easily. “For Gamers by Gamers” written in a designer bag like pattern on the underside makes you feel special. An aluminum top plate sits atop that for more heft and more fingerprints. But because there’s such little wasted space on the BlackWidow V3 Mini, that issue is mostly limited to the keyboard’s bottom slope.
Razer went with doubleshot ABS plastic keycaps that are a good and cheaper substitute for doubleshot PBT. The ABS plastic here is still visibly textured, especially in bright lighting, is good at fighting smudges and allows RGB to shine through perfectly. Although they’re still slippier than doubleshot PBT, it could fool the less-aware gamer.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini uses the same font as other BlackWidow keyboards with a lower-case font that can feel slightly kiddish, especially if you opt for rainbow RGB, and in the truncated right Shift key. Speaking of, the right Shift’s size will be a problem for some, but I’m a righty and touch typist who never uses the right shift key, so besides it looking a little funky, I’m okay with the sacrifice.
Typing Experience on Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Razer offers the BlackWidow V3 Mini with either clicky Razer Green switches, (which we tested in our BlackWidow V3 Pro review), or linear Razer Yellow switches with added sound dampeners, which we’re testing here. Razer specs its Yellow switches with 3.5mm total travel, actuating at 1.2mm with 45g of force versus Cherry MX Red’s 4mm/2mm/45g.
I don’t have another keyboard with Razer Yellows on hand to directly compare the dampeners’ effectiveness, but compared to the sound displayed in our Razer Yellow hands-on a few years ago, my test keyboard sounded quieter and less high-pitched and annoying. For the most part, I enjoyed the soft clacking of the BlackWidow V3 Mini during testing. Most of the keys’ noises are an inoffensive volume, and even if your mic picks it up, your teammates won’t be nearly as distracted then if you were using a clicky mechanical switch.
But while the spacebar still manages to sound soft despite an extra plastic-y note, the Backspace, Enter and right Shift, which also show some wobble, make too much of a plastic racket that stands out compared to the other keys. I also noticed a small amount of unwanted pinging, but this was only occasional.
I don’t typically like using linear switches for typing, but getting work done on the BlackWidow V3 Mini was easier than expected. I still missed my tactile bumps and clicks, but the keyboard’s layout is logical and the keys properly spaced, so there were no other distractions. The keycaps are also more comfortable than many other ABS ones, and the keys never felt mushy.
On the 10FastFingers.com typing test, I averaged 122.7 words per minute (wpm) and 95.2% accuracy. That’s faster than my typical 118 average, but my accuracy dropped 2.8 percentage points. The speed may be due to the faster travel and lack of a tactile bump to get through, but I believe that bump would’ve helped my accuracy.
Wireless Experience on Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Razer recommends using the BlackWidow V3 Mini’s 2.4 GHz USB-A dongle for gaming and even remembered to provide a spot for dongle storage on the keyboard’s underside; (although, the plastic covering could be more durable). Even better, I never lost my connection during testing, even when gaming with my best wireless mouse and a pair of Bluetooth headphones. The only time I noticed obvious lag was when the battery was under 2%. At this point, RGB started changing effects unprovoked and the keyboard would occasionally repeat inputs for some reason, so I wouldn’t use it much at that battery level anyway.
If you prefer to save a USB port, you can connect via Bluetooth by sliding the toggle on the front edge over to the “BT” side. The keyboard can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth and toggle through them by hitting Fn + 1-3.
Gaming Experience on Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
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Many prefer the smooth travel of linear switches like Razer Yellows. Packed inside of the BlackWidow V3 Mini, these switches felt fast and responsive, not only keeping up with my inputs but feeling potentially faster than gaming with heavier switches like Razer Greens (4mm total travel, 1.9mm actuation, 50g of force).
Movements felt easy. With just a light touch I could walk my character long distances without growing weary or feeling like the key was too unstable if I didn’t bottom out. I often find keyboards with Cherry MX Reds exhausting in that regard because I can feel like I’m floating when depressing halfway for an extended period. That wasn’t the case with this keyboard, making my adjustment to linear switches over my preferred tactile and clicky switches easier than expected. Well-spaced keys also made strategic inputs easy, so I didn’t end up murked because I was hitting the wrong button.
But after even just 15 minutes of gaming, the keyboard would get noticeably clammy. Now, this was before things even got heated on the battlefield. When I grazed my finger down the W key, for example, while exploring my virtual world, I’d encounter an unpleasant feeling. You may mistake the BlackWidow V3 Mini’s doubleshot ABS keycaps as PBT at quick examination, but once you get gaming, the truth will be apparent. After serious gaming for an hour, the clacker got seriously clammy and, dare I say, sticky-like.
But there are some gaming advantages here. The obvious one is the keyboard’s small form factor, which afforded me more space to not only move my mouse but to get comfortable by positioning my keyboard in different angles.
If you’re concerned about sound, Razer used sound dampeners with this keyboard to make its linear switches even quieter. I don’t have other Razer Yellows on hand, but I do enjoy the sound.
Battery Life of Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
When I used Razer’s keyboard with its dongle connection and rainbow Wave RGB effect at max brightness for about 26 hours and 17 minutes, and Synapse’s battery meter read 3%. This was with the keyboard set to dim lighting after 1 minute of activity and to turn off after 15 minutes of activity (the shortest amount of times available). Once the battery level dropped to about under 2%, the lighting would automatically turn off unless I was actively typing, and would change effects without me asking. There was also input delay and repeated inputs, key bindings stopped working and Synapse wouldn’t recognize the keyboard, so I wouldn’t want to use the keyboard at under 3% battery.
Razer claims the BlackWidow V3 Mini can last for up to 200 hours without any RGB whether using the dongle or Bluetooth connection. With the keyboard’s Spectrum Cycling RGB effect at max brightness, Razer’s battery life estimate drops to 17 hours. If you keep brightness at 30% max, the expectation is 48 hours.
Razer told me the keyboard can charge to 100% after 4 hours and 50% after 30 minutes. However, your experience may vary, as I let my test unit’s battery run out, charged it for 30 minutes with the included cable and a 5V/2A power brick and only had 11% battery after. After 4 hours of charging though, the battery meter on the mouse’s software read 100%.
Features and Software of Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
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Synapse continues to be the tool of choice for Razer’s RGB and feature-clad lineup, offering control over everything from per-key and logo RGB to almost every key’s function. My favorite part, however, is the battery life reading, stated in a clear, specific percentage.
The Customize section lets you set almost every key’s (not Windows or Fn) function, including different keyboard and mouse actions, RGB control and the ability to switch another Razer product’s profile. With Razer’s HyperShift feature, Fn doesn’t only activate certain key’s side-printed secondary functions, it can also activate secondary functions, assigned via Synapse, among most other keys. Indeed, one of Razer’s advantages is the volume of customization options — so long as you don’t mind running Synapse in the background.
If you do, the BlackWidow V3 Mini makes a decent effort of offering some features app-free. For one, you can toggle through some RGB presets by pressing Fn + Ctrl + 1-7. And in addition to being able to store an infinite number of profiles in the software, (thanks to the cloud), there are 4 onboard memory profiles. But how to toggle through those profiles isn’t obvious. In my few weeks with the keyboard, I couldn’t figure it out on my own. I had to ask Razer, which taught me to fold Fn + C. And, indeed, when you hold down Fn, the C key lights up to let you know it has a secondary function. But there’s no side-printing on the C key to remind you that it can perform profile toggling. Additionally, RGB settings don’t carry over. And some advanced functions, like inter-device control and launching apps or websites, still require Synapse to be open.
You can also do macro recording on the fly, but it requires Synapse to be running in the background. But remember, four keys are ready to serve as macro keys alongside Fn, so it’s worth considering. If you plan on using dedicated macros often though, a full-size keyboard may be a better fit, especially something with macro keys like the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT.
Synapse’s Lighting section offers access to RGB controls, like brightness from 0-100% and the ability to toggle 11 preset effects, including your typical rainbow wave and Fire, which plays around with the red and orange color scheme flickering across keys. For customized effects, you’ll need the Chroma plug-in, which offers expansive layers of customization options, including over the snake logo.
Power is a simple, but important, menu. There’s a battery meter here, plus the option to make RGB dim automatically or have the keyboard turn off after a certain amount of inactivity (to conserve battery).
Bottom Line
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is Razer’s first 65% keyboard, but adopts the brand’s tradition of high-priced, high-functionality peripherals gamers would be proud to carry. This keyboard is an exciting addition, particularly because of its efficient layout. If you don’t need a numpad, this is about as good as it gets without making basic navigation burdensome.
You can go slightly trimmer, though. The Cooler Master SK622 offers an interesting counter offer in what is essentially a 60% keyboard with arrows. Wireless connectivity is Bluetooth only though, and many will prefer the reliability of the BlackWidow V3 Mini’s dongle and the option to toggle through up to 3 more PC connections via Bluetooth.
We rank the 75% Keychron K2 as the best wireless keyboard for productivity, and the 65% version, the Keychron K6, is much cheaper than the BlackWidow V3 Mini at under $105 with RGB or without.
And if you can stomach a cable, the Ducky Mecha SF Radiant offers a striking design, a broad range of Cherry switches and doubleshot PBT keycaps, an upgrade over what the BlackWidow V3 Mini offers, for $159.
But with this level of customization, from key bindings to RGB to multi-PC connectivity, there’s very few if any in the 65% category that can compete with the BlackWidow V3 Mini’s gaming-ready featureset.
The researcher who brought to attention an abnormal SSD wearout indicator on Apple M1-based Macs earlier this year believes that the company has resolved the issue with the release of its macOS 11.4 operating system. Apple has never acknowledged the problem, so the company hasn’t provided any official information on the matter. Meanwhile, those who worry about their drives (which can only be replaced by swapping out the whole motherboard) can now update to the new operating system for some additional peace of mind.
In February, some owners of the latest Apple M1-powered Macs discovered that SSDs in their systems observed a higher-than-expected wearout rate, at least based on the SMART data that tracks SSD endurance. Some users reported 1% of wear after a few months of use, while others reported 3% after two months in use. In both cases, that means that abnormal levels of wear could potentially shorten a drive’s lifespan to a few years.
Hector Martin, a technology researcher and a developer who ports Linux to Apple Silicon computers, attracted attention to the issue and did some additional investigation which demonstrated that endurance ratings were proportionate to drive size, but that was still bad news for Apple M1 owners.
Apple has neither confirmed there was a problem nor denied the issue. Furthermore, a source at Apple unofficially told AppleInsider that there were no problems with the SSD itself or its firmware (which in the case of Apple’s latest PCs is a combination of a controller inside the M1, a couple of 3D NAND memory stacks, and custom firmware), but there was ‘a data reporting error’ within the SMART Monitoring Tools program used to discover SSD wear. In fact, not all M1 Mac users could replicate the issue.
This week Hector Martin said that the ‘endurance issue’ has been fixed in macOS 11.4, which is now available for download.
“Update on the macOS SSD thrashing issue: It seems the issue is fixed in 11.4,” Martin wrote in a Twitter post back in May. “It is going to be interesting diffing the XNU kernel source once it drops and seeing what the bug was.”
Whether or not the initial reports about the issue were overblown anyway (as many users could not replicate it), updating the operating system is typically a normal part of using your system, so any ‘fix’ will work its way out into the ecosystem in due course.
The Anda Seat T-Pro 2 is a high-quality alternative to more expensive chairs for big and tall gamers. Shorter players aren’t a good fit, but this fabric-clad chair stays clean while feeling offering durable support.
For
+ Built like a tank
+ Fabric covering doesn’t get as sweaty as faux leather alternatives
+ Excellent, supportive recline
+ Rugged casters
Against
– Assembly is a two-person job
– Hard armrests
– Not good for shorter gamers
Designed to compete with the best gaming chairs, the Anda Seat T-Pro 2 Series marries a more understated, professional-friendly look with rock solid build quality and a sturdiness rated to withstand gamers weighing up to 441 pounds and 6′ 10.7″.
The T-Pro 2’s many adjustment options are easy to explore using conveniently located controls, and its cushioning strikes the right balance between firm and enveloping — if you’re the right size. Smaller gamers may feel like they’re swimming in the T-Pro 2, but larger gamers will feel right at home with this $500 (on sale for $430 as of writing) chair.
The Anda Seat T-Pro 2 is a sizable hulk of a gaming chair, standing at over 56 inches tall and measuring just under 2.5 feet wide from armrest to armrest. The T-Pro 2 is available in black, blue with black accents or gray with black accents, like our review unit. Either way, you get black lumbar and neck cushions.
The overall looming obelisk shape of the T-Pro 2 is somewhat similar to the Razer Iskur, but Anda Seat’s offering distinguishes itself by playing down its gamer pedigree. Apart from the prominent placement of the Anda Seat logo in the middle and top of the backrest, you’ll find little evidence of ‘gamer’ callouts in the design. This is a gaming chair that could easily look at home in a more conservative office setting, especially if you decide to go with the black color option, which makes the branding even less conspicuous.
Anda Seat has delivered a more mature take on gaming chair design with the T-Pro 2 that should compliment a wide variety of setups and keep your office mates from immediately realizing that you’ve spent more time playing DOOM than you have matching cover sheets to TPS reports.
The T-Pro 2 further differentiates itself by opting for fabric covering – a significant departure from the faux leather typically found in chairs aimed at gamers. Apart from aesthetics, this choice of linen has its pros and cons. The fabric covering breathes a lot better than faux leather, so it didn’t get as sweaty after long sessions. However, the fabric upholstery does require more maintenance. Fabric, unlike faux leather, can stain easily, so you’ll want to be a little less reckless with your refreshments and be prepared to do some scrubbing to keep the T-Pro 2 looking its best.
Comfort and Adjustments of Anda Seat T-Pro 2
The T-Pro 2 has a very firm feel to its backrest. There is minimal give to it, and this rigidity is reinforced by its steel frame. In contrast, the seat base cushion itself has a soft, enveloping feel that really lets you sink in. The end result is a fully supported back with the chair helping with proper posture while providing ample comfort.
As mentioned, the T-Pro 2 differs from many gaming chairs on the market by opting for a fabric cover rather than some type of fake leather. When gaming for hours, this selection helped prevent excessive sweating. The fabric itself has a slightly rough feel, similar to what is commonly found in office chairs. It’s textured but a far cry from woolen abrasiveness.
Also included with the T-Pro 2 are two memory foam cushions covered in soft fabric. There’s one for the neck that can be affixed to the top end of the backrest with a strap and one for lumbar support that slides neatly into position where the backrest and seat base meet. These cushions provide an extra level of comfort to an already snug chair, but the neck pillow is best left unused if you happen to be on the lower end of the T-Pro 2’s recommended height. I stand at 6’4”, well under the maximum recommended height of 6’10.7″, and found that the neck cushion snaps into position just right for me. Those under 6 feet may find that the neck cushion pushes the head forward instead of cradling the neck, like it should.
Gamers can expect several options when it comes to adjusting the T-Pro 2 to their liking. The height of the seat is adjustable by 2.7 inches, and the backrest can be locked in its upright position at 90 degrees or any reclining angle up to 160 degrees. The adjustment levers are conveniently located on the left and right sides of the seat base, requiring little effort to reach. According to Anda Seat, the T-Pro 2 can support up to 440 pounds, so rest assured you can recline safely and have your weight fully supported. But if you want to use the chair’s rocking feature, note hat the max recommended weight drops to 330.7 pounds.
The T-Pro 2’s armrests are also fully adjustable. You can move them up and down, forward and backward, left and right and angled straight or 45 degrees to the left or right by depressing the buttons on the armrests and using a little bit of force. The armrests are as easy to adjust as the rest of the chair, but material used for them doesn’t quite live up to the other components in the build from a comfort perspective. Compared to the comfy fabric covered foam of the rest of the chair, the armrests offer a slightly rubberized, hard plastic that is uncomfortable to rest your elbows on for any sizable amount of time. I would have greatly preferred a spongier feel that offered some cushion for my elbows and forearms.
The T-Pro 2 is designed for taller gamers with wider frames and, while there’s certainly not anything present that is going to stop a smaller user from getting comfortable, it will definitely feel less like home if you’re less than 6-feet-tall. There is additional width between the armrests that will certainly take some time to get used to for those with smaller frames, and the height of the backrest (34.3 inches) makes the neck pillow simply unusable for anyone who doesn’t have the height of an NBA player.
Assembling the Anda Seat T-Pro 2
The Anda Seat T-Pro Series 2 was a challenge to assemble, due to its large footprint and considerable weight (74.5 pounds).
While I was able to put together the chair myself in a little under 2 hours, I certainly wouldn’t recommend doing so without assistance. It’s possible to build the Anda Seat T-Pro by yourself but not without a considerable amount of sweating and cursing. Save yourself the aggravation and have someone help you. If you try to build the chair alone, it can be difficult to line up the screw holes to attach the backrest to the base. In my experience, the weight of the backrest frequently caused it to tip over, forcing realignment.
The included assembly instructions could also use some improvement . There are quite a few typos, and some of the photographs could do a better job showing the correct orientation of the pieces. That being said, these are far from the worst assembly instructions I’ve seen, (and I’ve built my fair share of gaming chairs) and they certainly won’t prevent anyone from being able to put the T-Pro 2 together.
Bottom Line
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Anda Seat T-Pro 2 Series is an above-average chair for gamers of above average-size. It is remarkably sturdy, can bear impressive weight and is very comfortable, even when reclining at extreme angles. The fabric covering requires more care than the industry standard faux leather but benefits gamers by being more breathable. The linen upholstery also lends the T-Pro 2 a more serious appearance that makes it look at home whether it’s in a gaming setup or a professional setting. The overall build quality is top notch, with a steel reinforced frame and heavy duty casters that ensure easy movement.
There are a few caveats, however. Assembly can be a bit of a trial to complete alone, due to the relative difficulty of lining up the bolt holes to connect the seat base to the backrest. This is exacerbated by the overall heft of the pieces. Additionally, the included cushions are best left unused if you fall short of Anda Seat’s minimum recommended height –– this is, after all, a chair designed for larger folks.
I also wish that Anda Seat had gone with a different material for the T-Pro 2’s armrests . They have an unpleasantly hard, plastic feel that is out of step with the premium feel of the rest of the unit.
What Anda Seat has given us in the T-Pro 2 is a chair that competes directly with the Secretlab Titan XL, which targets gamers weighing 220-390 pounds and 5’11”-6’10”. The two are rivals in form, build quality and price point, but the T-Pro 2 has a greater supported weight range (if you don’t use the rocking feature) and lacks the adjustable Lumbar support system, offering a soft removable cushion instead. The T-Pro 2 can also frequently be found for $50 under the Titan XL’s asking price – and while that is still not cheap, the T-Pro 2 is absolutely worth the splurge for its intended user base.
If you’re of average size, there are plenty of gaming chairs out there that would probably suit you better than the T-Pro 2 for a significantly lower price (see our Best Gaming Chairs page for more recommendations). But if you’re 6-feet-tall or more, you now have another high quality option to consider.
Intel’s Optane SSD P5800X introduction late last year included four models with different capacities. So far, the company has brought the 400GB, 800GB, and 1.6TB SKUs to market, but the flagship 3.2TB model still isn’t available and Intel recently removed the product listing from its website. That is a bit surprising because Intel recently reaffirmed its commitment to the data center lineup after it killed off its entire line of Optane drives for desktop PCs.
There appears to be some confusion among Intel’s own ranks, too, as a report has surfaced that cites the company saying it is unsure if the 3.2TB model will see the light of day. However, after our own inquiries, the company tells us the drive is still on track for release this year.
Intel’s Optane SSD P5800X drives use second-gen 3D XPoint and Intel’s new proprietary SSD controller with a PCIe interface. The drives are aimed at data centers and deliver market-leading performance of up to 7.2 GB/s of sequential throughput, up to 1.5 million 4K random IOPS, and up to 1.8 million IOPS in mixed workloads. That performance comes paired with unbeatable endurance of 100 drive writes per day.
At present, only three of four Optane SSD P5800X models are available for purchase (for $1,224 ~ $3,823). Considering that the supply of second-gen 3D XPoint is uncertain (Micron listed the only fab that produces this kind of memory for sale recently), the fate of the highest-capacity P5800X model was unclear, especially after Intel removed all mentions of the 3.2TB SKU from its website. Furthermore, the company did not provide concrete answers to ComputerBase.de when asked about the 3.2TB Optane SSD P5800X.
(Image credit: Intel)
The good news is that Intel has not abandoned the 3.2 TB version of the Optane SSD P5800X, and it is on track to be available later this year. The price of the drive is unknown, though, but it will certainly not be cheap.
“The Intel Optane SSD DC P5800X series is currently available in 400GB, 800GB, and 1.6TB capacities, and we expect the 3.2TB drive to be available later this year,” said Kristie Mann, Senior Director, Optane DC Persistent Memory Products, Intel.
Since the Optane SSD DC P5800X drives are designed for data centers, they aren’t very interesting to the vast majority of enthusiasts (especially at a price that starts at $1,224). Intel recently canceled its entire lineup of Optane drives for the desktop PC, so we won’t see any future generations of its Optane SSDs in enthusiast rigs.
Addlink is a fairly young Taiwanese hardware manufacturer founded in 2014. They specialize in all products related to flash storage, like USB sticks, SD memory cards, and SSDs.
Today, we are taking a look at the Addlink S95, which is the company’s new high-performance PCIe Gen 4 TLC-based SSD. The S95 is based on a combination of a Phison E18 controller paired with TLC flash from Micron. Two Hynix DRAM chips provide 2 GB of storage for the mapping tables of the SSD. This is basically the same design as the Corsair MP600 Pro, which we reviewed in February.
The Addlink S95 comes in capacities of 1 TB ($260) and 2 TB ($470). Endurance for these models is set to 700 TBW and 1400 TBW respectively. Addlink includes a five-year warranty with the S95.
AMD this week issued a teaser post in Twitter that pre-announces formal launch of the company’s Radeon Pro graphics card based on the RDNA2 architecture on June 8. While the company did not officially disclose specifications of the Radeon Pro W6800, an unknown leaker disclosed a Geekbench 5 entry early on Friday June 4. As this is a leak the information should be taken with a grain of salt.
AMD’s upcoming workstation-grade Radeon Pro W6800 reportedly carries AMD’s Navi 21 graphics processor in its full configuration with 5120 stream processors as well as 32GB of GDDR6 memory connected to the GPU using a 256-bit bus, according to previous leaks and a Geekbench 5 database entry. So far, AMD has not offered an RDNA2-powered graphics card with 32GB of memory onboard, so this workstation-grade product will be the first one in the family to feature 32GB of GDDR6 SDRAM.
The maximum GPU frequency was reportedly set to 2,554 MHz, though whether this was final or not is unknown. AMD’s Radeon RX 6900 XT graphics board has an official Game Clock frequency of 2,250 MHz, but its actual maximum clockspeed is much higher. Typically ProViz cards are clocked lower than their gaming counterparts, but RDNA2 cards have proven very capable of high clocks.
(Image credit: Geekbench)
AMD itself confirmed that the Radeon Pro W6800 graphics card supports up to six 4Kp60 monitors (or three 5Kp60 or one 8Kp60 monitors) using six mini-DisplayPort 1.4 connectors as well as AMD’s Eyefinity technology, which will be another unique feature of the product.
The board uses a blower-type cooler, which is common for workstation and datacenter cards as it ensures longevity. Speaking of datacenters, it should be noted that AMD’s Big Navi GPU supports GPU virtualization (including SR-IOV), so the upcoming board could be used in datacenters to power multiple remote workstations.
As far as OpenCL performance of the Radeon Pro W6800 is concerned, the card scores 137,230 points in Geekbench 5, which is in line with that of the Radeon RX 6800. Geekbench 5 isn’t a very good benchmark since its results vary greatly, because the tests are too short for a GPU to set itself to a stable frequency.
AMD will officially unveil its Radeon Pro W6800 32GB GDDR6 graphics card on June 8, so before that date any information about the product should be taken with a grain of salt.
Gus may have antlers like a deer, but he’s a puppy dog at heart. The main character of Netflix’s new series Sweet Tooth, based on the comic by Jeff Lemire, is a young boy struggling to survive in a world ravaged by a pandemic. But while the world around him descends into chaos, Gus, played by Christian Convery, never loses his sense of wide-eyed optimism. His ears perk up — literally — if he hears about chocolate or candy apples, and he has an almost naive belief in people who shouldn’t always be trusted. At a time when we’re inundated with grim post-apocalyptic stories about how dark humanity can get, Sweet Tooth and its adorable lead offer something very welcome: hope.
Most of the set-up is familiar territory. A pandemic has killed off much of the human race, and those left behind are attempting to rebuild something resembling a society, some via force, others through community. What makes Sweet Tooth different are creatures called hybrids: human-animal mixtures that first appeared (birthed from human parents) at the same time the “sick,” as it’s called, began killing people. They’re absolutely adorable little things that would make Anne Geddes proud. But most people can’t seem to look past the apparent connection between hybrids and the pandemic — and this doesn’t bode well for the hybrids.
Photo by Kirsty Griffin / Netflix
Gus doesn’t know much about any of this. At the outset of the show, the deer-child lives in an isolated cabin with his father, who teaches him what he’ll need to know to survive. Gus is forced to learn a series of rules — mostly, they involve running away from danger and staying quiet — while his dad teaches him how to farm, fix things, and even read via handmade versions of classic books he rewrites from memory. Gus believes that the world outside of their charmed plot of land is consumed by fire. Because of this, he’s never supposed to go beyond the fence that surrounds them. But, for reasons that I won’t spoil (but which you can probably guess), Gus ends up leaving the property and traveling with a big man known primarily as Big Man (Nonso Anozie) in search of the mother he’s never actually met.
Sweet Tooth starts slow, and it’s better off for it. Early on, the show doesn’t seem too concerned with the larger mysteries of the sickness, the hybrids, or how the two connect. There’s a side story involving a troubled doctor that becomes more important later on, but for the first few episodes the show is almost entirely about Gus. First, his almost idyllic life at home, as he celebrates birthdays with new books and handmade stuffed animals. The vibe is warm and comforting, with lots of cozy sweaters, wood cabins, and roaring fireplaces — and just a hint of danger lurking in the background. (Executive producer Amanda Burrell previously described the show’s aesthetic as “storybook dystopia.”) Even after he ventures out into the big, scary outside world, things aren’t particularly dark; this isn’t the kind of post-apocalyptic world littered with discarded bodies and horrible monsters. It’s our world, just a bit quieter and greener. And with a few roving gangs.
It’s not just the aesthetic that makes the show inviting, though. It’s Gus himself. He’s such a sweet and trusting kid that you can’t help but root for him. Even when things get dark — and they will — he maintains a sense of optimism that’s rare for this kind of story. I especially love that you can see his mood; Gus is mostly human, but, as mentioned before, he has the antlers and ears of a deer. So when he’s feeling sad or excited, his ears will perk up or lay flat depending on his emotional state. It’s adorable.
Photo: Netflix
Gus being this warm, comforting emotional core is important, because Sweet Tooth does eventually reveal its darker side. After a few episodes, the layers start to peel back, revealing things like militarized forces hoarding supplies, the systematic hunting and exploitation of hybrid children, and well-meaning doctors who will do anything, no matter how grisly, to find a cure for the virus. These are balanced out by other factions, like a zoo that’s been transformed into a hybrid sanctuary, and a rowdy army of kids living free of adult supervision.
The problem is that most of this is crammed into the second half of the eight-episode season, throwing off the pacing. Sweet Tooth steadily goes from a slow burn that lingers on characters and moments, to a race to explain the many mysteries of the disease, hybrids, and Gus’s origin. The season also ends on a massive cliffhanger, making it feel a bit like a prologue, rather than a standalone story.
At its most confident, Sweet Tooth is remarkable. Post-apocalyptic settings are so commonplace that they’re almost generic at this point; grim, gray worlds punctuated by blood and gore (and the occasional zombie). Sweet Tooth manages to carve out its own space, one that’s incredibly inviting. I just wish it kept up that feeling through the later half of the season. When the show devolves into mystery and action, it loses much of what makes it unique — but at least Gus is still there to help you make it through.
Sweet Tooth debuts on Netflix on June 4th.
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