Tech Power Up

Zaopin Z2 Review

Introduction Zaopin is a peripherals company based in China. Following the Z1, the Z2 is the first right-handed ergonomic design from Zaopin. Equipped with PixArt’s PAW3395 sensor capable of 26,000 CPI, the Z2 comes with both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. By default, the main buttons of the Z2 are outfitted with TTC Gold… Read more

Antec C8 Review

Introduction I would like to thank Antec for supplying the review sample. The Constellation series from Antec represents their modern dual-chamber case line-up. With a full lineup from the smallest C3, to the mid-tower C5 and the tallest C8, this family of enclosures provides options for every use case. We are reviewing the C8 in… Read more

AMD Ryzen 5 8500G Review – Zen 4 + Zen 4c Tested

Introduction AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the most affordable Socket AM5 processor that’s available in the retail channel, making it the baseline for this platform, and the Zen 4 microarchitecture that it’s based on. A 6-core processor with integrated graphics, the 8500G is intended to cover the widest demographic in the desktop PC market that… Read more

INNOCN 32M2V Review – Aggresive Pricing, Excellent HDR

Introduction The INNOCN 32M2V is the larger of the two popular Mini-LED 4K gaming monitors in INNOCN’s recent lineup; the other being the 27-inch 27M2V. As its name suggests, the 32M2V is equipped with a 32-inch IPS panel that has a 4K native resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate (down from 160 Hz offered by the… Read more

NZXT Lift 2 Symm Review

Introduction Founded in 2004, NZXT is a PC hardware manufacturer based in the US. The Lift 2 Symm is the direct successor of the original Lift. Utilizing an open-bottom design without any visible holes, the Lift 2 Symm weighs 55 g. PixArt’s PAW3395 sensor capable of 26,000 CPI sees use, and polling rates of up… Read more

GamaKay TK75HE Hall Effect Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review

0 Packaging & Accessories » Introduction GamaKay is an Asian keyboard brand that’s been getting attention from mechanical keyboard enthusiasts recently for its solid offerings at different price points. I didn’t know a lot about it until a representative reached out last year, and I am quite happy to have said yes to a review sample… Read more

Audeze MM-500 Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones Review

0 Packaging & Accessories » Introduction US-based Audeze has been covered multiple times on TPU already, be it for its in-ear monitors or electrostatic headphones. Audeze is more synonymous with its planar magnetic over-ear headphones though, with the current flagship LCD-5 heralding in a new design language focusing on weight and bulk reduction to help address… Read more

Noctua NH-D15 G2 Review – Big Performance, Bigger Price

1 Packaging & Contents » Introduction A big thank you to Noctua for supplying the review sample. With a reputation built on outstanding performance, exceptional quality, and ultra-low noise levels, Noctua remains a premier manufacturer of air-cooling products. Much like the towering Mount Everest, they continue to serve as the benchmark to which all others are… Read more

Alphacool Core 1 LT CPU Water Block Review

Introduction So here I was having just finished reviewing five CPU blocks—a round of three from Corsair, Bykski, and Granzon followed by two more higher-end integrated display versions from Corsair and Bykski. My grand plan was to finish this roundup with a second entry from Granzon, also with an integrated display, to wrap up the… Read more

MCHOSE AX5 Pro Max Review

1 Packaging, Weight, & Feet » Introduction Founded in 2018, MCHOSE is a gaming peripherals company based in China. With the AX5 Pro Max, MCHOSE joins the ranks of Finalmouse (Starlight), Razer (Viper Mini SE), or Pwnage (StormBreaker), in releasing a mouse whose top shell is made of magnesium alloy. The main benefit of a magnesium… Read more

AMD Zen 5 Technical Deep Dive

Introduction We were invited by AMD to Los Angeles last week, to be part of several technical presentations by the company’s engineering leads to understand its new Zen 5 CPU microarchitecture better. AMD Zen 5 marks the fifth generation of AMD’s winning Zen series CPU microarchitectures that have turned a once written-off company in the… Read more

Quick Look: Jelly Key Dragons of Eden Ethereal Runes Artisan Keycaps

Introduction If you are new to the world of artisan keycaps, I recommend reading my first article on them, which also goes over the what and why of these very custom and niche products. We’ve since covered a lot of different artisan keycaps, predominantly from Jelly Key, in various themes that showcase what the Vietnam-based… Read more

ID-Cooling FROZN A620 PRO SE Review – Better Value Than Thermalright

5 Packaging & Contents » Introduction A big thank you to ID-Cooling for supplying the review sample. ID-Cooling has significantly evolved since being established in 2013. Over the years, it has rapidly increased its market presence and continuously improved with each product release. An ability to adapt quickly to industry trends and advancements, while systematically enhancing… Read more

HighPoint Rocket 1608A 8-Slot M.2 Gen 5 Review – 56 GB/s Transfer Rates

Introduction HighPoint Technologies is a vendor of storage solutions that has been in the market for almost 30 years. Their core products are a wide range of storage controller add-in cards that provide options to expand capacity, performance, or both. Their portfolio has products with NVMe, SAS, SATA, USB, and Thunderbolt, targeted at servers, high-end… Read more

Corsair RS120 MAX 120 mm Fan Review

Introduction Corsair is trying hard to take over my entire review calendar for this year with so many products being launched in the first half of 2024 and more undoubtedly coming up. A lot of these are tied to Corsair’s iCUE Link ecosystem, although we still get standalone products in various categories. One such example… Read more