explore42's stats
- Review count178
- Helpfulness votes611
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewSeptember 13, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count24
- Helpfulness votes239
- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers8
The ASUS V500 Desktop delivers powerful, reliable, and expandable performance in a compact design. Ideal for professionals and home users, it ensures seamless multitasking, productivity, and entertainment. AI-powered two-way noise cancellation enhances virtual meetings with crystal-clear audio. Advanced cooling keeps operation quiet and efficient, while versatile connectivity allows easy integration with peripherals. Built-in security features and upgradeability make it a future-proof solution for those seeking performance, convenience, and reliability. Whether for work or entertainment, the V500 offers a space-saving design with the power to handle diverse computing needs.
Customer Rating
5
Practical for Home or Office
on May 27, 2025
Posted by: explore42
Bottom Line: This is a low-to-mid-tier desktop that is great for typical office or home use. Its small form factor, quiet operation and good venting make it a “set and forget” kind of computer. No glaring RGB lighting or deafening fans, just a simple straight forward computer that can pretty much handle whatever you throw at it. I included a photo of this desktop next to my Asus Rog Gaming desktop so you can see how much smaller it is. Overall I’ve been very happy with the design and its performance.
Components and Upgradeability:
Asus uses the Intel i5 13420H which is listed as a laptop processor however many manufacturers are now using this processor in mini towers. In this mini tower it runs cool and uses less power without sacrificing much in performance so I think it’s a good choice. There is 16 gb of DDR5 memory that is rated for 5600mhz however the processor limits the memory speed to 5200 mhz which is still fast. The NVMe drive is a 1tb gen 4 which is a ton of storage for most users. If that isn’t enough there is a second NVMe M2 slot available for someone who wants to add a second NVMe M2 drive. There are four USB-A type 2 ports and one USB-C port for connecting external peripherals. It has both a HDMI port and a Display port along with audio jacks. It supports Wifi 6 and Bluetooth so it has good wireless connectivity. The only downside is that this build does not have a dedicated video card and due to the chassis size and 180 watt power supply the available upgrade options are limited. I would not recommend installing a video card, instead if you need better graphics order the Asus model with the video card already installed. Keep in mind that the integrated Intel graphics capabilities that are included do a good job. I was able to watch 4k videos and perform typical office functions without any display or graphics issues. For the typical user this pc has everything you need, the lack of a dedicated video card would only affect someone who is into high end gaming or graphics work.
After setting up the system and upgrading all the software I ran it through some benchmarks below. Just as importantly I did several long file transfers while doing some browsing and typical office stuff. At no point in this process did the processor show any heat issues nor did the fans get loud enough to distract me.
Asus uses the Intel i5 13420H which is listed as a laptop processor however many manufacturers are now using this processor in mini towers. In this mini tower it runs cool and uses less power without sacrificing much in performance so I think it’s a good choice. There is 16 gb of DDR5 memory that is rated for 5600mhz however the processor limits the memory speed to 5200 mhz which is still fast. The NVMe drive is a 1tb gen 4 which is a ton of storage for most users. If that isn’t enough there is a second NVMe M2 slot available for someone who wants to add a second NVMe M2 drive. There are four USB-A type 2 ports and one USB-C port for connecting external peripherals. It has both a HDMI port and a Display port along with audio jacks. It supports Wifi 6 and Bluetooth so it has good wireless connectivity. The only downside is that this build does not have a dedicated video card and due to the chassis size and 180 watt power supply the available upgrade options are limited. I would not recommend installing a video card, instead if you need better graphics order the Asus model with the video card already installed. Keep in mind that the integrated Intel graphics capabilities that are included do a good job. I was able to watch 4k videos and perform typical office functions without any display or graphics issues. For the typical user this pc has everything you need, the lack of a dedicated video card would only affect someone who is into high end gaming or graphics work.
After setting up the system and upgrading all the software I ran it through some benchmarks below. Just as importantly I did several long file transfers while doing some browsing and typical office stuff. At no point in this process did the processor show any heat issues nor did the fans get loud enough to distract me.
Geekbench 6
Single Core Score = 2306
Multi Core Score = 9222
Open CL Score = 9853
Single Core Score = 2306
Multi Core Score = 9222
Open CL Score = 9853
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
The brand that created the original esports surface is revolutionizing the category again with the QcK Performance series featuring a surface for every play style. A micro-textured surface gives QcK Control users pinpoint mouse accuracy with exceptional stopping power. QcK Performance comes in Speed, Balance, and Control variants. Precision made personal.
Customer Rating
4
Nice Surface for your Gaming Mouse
on May 6, 2025
Posted by: explore42
The Steelseries QCK speed mouse pad surface is smooth with little resistance so your mouse moves fast especially if you have a weighted gaming mouse. I was using a hard surface mouse pad and this QCK is nearly as fast. On a plus side for what I lose in speed I gain in control. The difference is the neoprene pad does give ever so slightly when pressed and I believe this gives me the feeling of being in better control than the hard surface pad. It’s not overly thick and it is quite dense which makes it durable however if you have your monitor stand or use a heavy keyboard they will leave indents on the mouse pad. The back of the mouse pad is grippy so the mouse pad won’t move when gaming. Overall this is much nicer than the generic neoprene mouse pads out there and it definitely is a step up when it comes to quality construction. Like most neoprene surfaces, it picks up dust and after a week end of gaming it is showing some lighter areas where the fore arms rested on the surface. If you are into RGB there are no options with this style mouse pad. Before picking this up make sure you have the space for it because its XL as in nearly 3 ft long and 16 in deep.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Max captures everything around you in a stunning 5.6K spherical video while completely erasing your extension pole from the shot. Just point Max anywhere and pick the best angles later. You~ll be able to create immersive point-of-view footage, selfie shots, follow-cam footage and more from the same video. The GoPro Quik app makes it easy to reframe and automatically track objects while powerful editing tools help you create videos that you can share right from your phone. Intuitive camera controls let you tap and swipe to take ultra steady 360-time warp shots and 360 photos or standard video in single lens mode with unbreakable max hyper smooth video stabilization and horizon lock. Rugged, durable, waterproof and mountable, Max is ready to capture your adventures from every angle and perspective.
Customer Rating
4
Spotlight what’s important in your video
on April 29, 2025
Posted by: explore42
Bottom line: The GoPro Max isn’t the most advanced 360 camera but for the money it is a solid performer that will allow you to experience all the bizarre and interesting things you can do with 360 video and GoPro Quik. I don’t think this will ever replace my GoPro Hero Black as my primary action camera but it offers a whole new perspective on capturing video activities.
This GoPro Max is a refresh of the original model. There are some incremental updates and feature enhancements that make this camera more appealing but it’s basically the same 360 Max hardware at a much better price. While the camera is a solid performer and GoPro’s Quik software app maximizes its capabilities it lacks some of the high end specs and features that you would expect from a GoPro top end camera.
Pros:
- 360 video is very impressive especially when used with a long selfie stick
- Supports standard tripod mounts and GoPro mounts
- Editing and manipulating the 360 video is easy in the GoPro Quik app
- Built in Stabilization and Horizon lock
- Can be used in 360 mode or Hero single lens mode
- Ai object tracking to keep subject in view while editing in Quik
- 360 audio via 6 microphones to capture sound
- GoPro ecosystem is hard to beat
This GoPro Max is a refresh of the original model. There are some incremental updates and feature enhancements that make this camera more appealing but it’s basically the same 360 Max hardware at a much better price. While the camera is a solid performer and GoPro’s Quik software app maximizes its capabilities it lacks some of the high end specs and features that you would expect from a GoPro top end camera.
Pros:
- 360 video is very impressive especially when used with a long selfie stick
- Supports standard tripod mounts and GoPro mounts
- Editing and manipulating the 360 video is easy in the GoPro Quik app
- Built in Stabilization and Horizon lock
- Can be used in 360 mode or Hero single lens mode
- Ai object tracking to keep subject in view while editing in Quik
- 360 audio via 6 microphones to capture sound
- GoPro ecosystem is hard to beat
Cons:
- lacks 8k video resolution
- 1920 x 1440 p resolution for Hero mode is lacking
- Only waterproof to 16 ft. vs the Hero’s 33 ft.
- Not the best in low light conditions
- lacks 8k video resolution
- 1920 x 1440 p resolution for Hero mode is lacking
- Only waterproof to 16 ft. vs the Hero’s 33 ft.
- Not the best in low light conditions
Uses: This camera and software allow you to capture things that a regular camera would miss. There are tons of vidoes out there showing how they can be used as action cams but I think the real reason to get this camera is your ability to capture everything. Then using Quik you can pick what is spotlighted in the video whether it’s in front, back or along side of you and convert that into a standard video for sharing. Also the ability to cut out the selfie stick creates video that looks like a drone is closely hovering around you and this to adds to the overall appeal of the camera. I opted for the GoPro Premium subscription which offers auto upload to their cloud storage and that allows me to edit my videos on my phone or my ipad later, something I recommend checking out if you get this camera. The included battery last around an hour depending on how you manage the camera so I would recommend ordering a second one to make sure you don’t miss anything.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Experience unparalleled gaming freedom with the Turtle Beach Kone II Air wireless ergonomic gaming mouse. Its exceptional battery life lets you play for weeks uninterrupted, lasting up to 350 hours via low-latency Bluetooth or up to 130 hours using high-performance 2.4GHz wireless. Designed with ergonomic precision, it fits comfortably in medium to larger hands, accommodating various grip styles such as claw, palm, or fingertip plus additional grip tape is included for enhanced control. Take command of your gameplay with Easy-Shift [+] duplicator technology, expanding its 7 buttons and 4D scroll wheel into 21 customizable functions. Glide seamlessly through content with the multi-function 4D scroll wheel, offering both free-spinning and tactile scrolling options, along with fully customizable tilt controls. Engineered for speed and durability, its TITAN Optical Switches ensure precise and reliable clicks over a 100 million click life cycle. Equipped with the advanced Owl-Eye 26K optical sensor, enjoy superb tracking performance from 50 DPI up to 26K DPI with 650 IPS (16.5m/s), complemented by pure, heat-treated PTFE glides for smooth mouse movements. Customize your gaming experience with dual-zone RGB illumination and charge effortlessly with the ultra-flexible PhantomFlex charging cable and USB-C-to-A adapter. NVIDIA Reflex compatibility further enhances your gaming prowess, delivering sub-25ms response times for lightning-fast reactions and enhanced aim precision.
Customer Rating
5
Customizable and Comfortable
on April 15, 2025
Posted by: explore42
This mouse is built for medium to large right handed gamers but is just as usable for office apps as it is for games. Its specs are top notch, the Swarm 2 app gives you total control and RGB lighting adds to its appeal. I own the Kone XP mouse and this version for the most part is an improvement over it. The mouse feels more solid and Turtle Beach has removed some of the buttons which I feel makes this mouse more usable without losing the core functions. On the downside the RGB isn’t as interesting as the Kone XP’s and they no longer include a charging stand.
Pros:
- Comfortable Fit and Feel with a light weight feel especially for its size
- Optical switches and completely customizable functions
- Bluetooth, wireless and wired functions
- Includes usb adaptor, wireless dongle, usb cable and side grips
Pros:
- Comfortable Fit and Feel with a light weight feel especially for its size
- Optical switches and completely customizable functions
- Bluetooth, wireless and wired functions
- Includes usb adaptor, wireless dongle, usb cable and side grips
Cons:
- The switches make louder than normal clicks
- The RGB lighting is a downgrade from the original Kone XP
- No charging station
- The switches make louder than normal clicks
- The RGB lighting is a downgrade from the original Kone XP
- No charging station
Fit and Feel: For me this is just as important as the tech specs and this mouse fits my medium hand quite comfortably. It lacks a large center hump that other gaming mice have so it feels wider but it also allows your hand to be in a more level position. Normally I will alternate between palm and claw grips for various games but with this mouse due to its form I find myself mainly using a palm grip. All the buttons and scroll wheel are easy to reach and the thumb rest with the Easy Shift button creates a nice resting spot for your thumb. The surface is smooth but they include two side pads to add a rubbery surface to the sides to improve your grip.
Performance: While you can configure the mouse locally I highly recommend using Turtle Beach’s Swarm 2 app instead. In the app you can select from a list of preconfigured Macros for some of the most popular games, you can set up to 5 DPI presets, set the polling rate, configure the button functionality and select the RBG lighting colors and patterns. Lastly you can store up to 5 profiles in the mouse for fast and easy reconfigurations. Bottom line is using Swarm 2 you can configure this mouse to meet every imaginable need to be a great gaming mouse or an every day office mouse.
Performance: While you can configure the mouse locally I highly recommend using Turtle Beach’s Swarm 2 app instead. In the app you can select from a list of preconfigured Macros for some of the most popular games, you can set up to 5 DPI presets, set the polling rate, configure the button functionality and select the RBG lighting colors and patterns. Lastly you can store up to 5 profiles in the mouse for fast and easy reconfigurations. Bottom line is using Swarm 2 you can configure this mouse to meet every imaginable need to be a great gaming mouse or an every day office mouse.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Turn everyday tasks into something special with Vivobook 14, your essential tool for getting things done easier, anywhere. It~s completely user-friendly too, with its 180~ lay-flat hinge and physical webcam shield. Make all your days more enjoyable with Vivobook 14!
Customer Rating
4
Good Value but limited memory and storage
on April 5, 2025
Posted by: explore42
This laptop is a reasonable solution for someone looking for an entry level laptop that is capable of doing the everyday tasks like email, web browsing and most office apps. The limited memory and storage space are the only negative that I have found. While it is possible to upgrade both I would not recommend it, instead buy a more powerful Asus laptop. If you have specific apps or games that you plan on using I recommend you check the required specifications to be sure the laptop can support them.
Pros:
- Light and compact design including the power supply
- FHD display resolution at 1920 x 1080
- Powerful enough for most day-to-day task
- NumKeypad included on touch pad
- Light and compact design including the power supply
- FHD display resolution at 1920 x 1080
- Powerful enough for most day-to-day task
- NumKeypad included on touch pad
Cons:
- 128 GB SSD storage and 8 GB of Ram with no secondary storage capacity
- Location of the power button
- Case really shows fingerprints
- 128 GB SSD storage and 8 GB of Ram with no secondary storage capacity
- Location of the power button
- Case really shows fingerprints
Upgradeability: There is an open ram module slot so you can add additional memory. There isn’t any secondary storage capacity so you would have to replace the original SSD drive with a larger one to increase storage. I would recommend purchasing a more powerful laptop than planning on upgrading this one.
Display: The display uses Intel’s internal graphics for a 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution which is great for watching movies or doing typical office apps. Using an external monitor you can get higher resolutions so the FHD limitation is only with the laptop display. The laptop has good brightness, contrast and color saturation at the normal viewing angles for a laptop.
Storage and Processor: The laptop has a 128 GB NVMe solid state drive which is large enough to support Windows, a couple of apps and some personal files. If you plan on downloading movies or storing lots of media files or photos you are going to need either cloud or external usb storage.
Storage and Processor: The laptop has a 128 GB NVMe solid state drive which is large enough to support Windows, a couple of apps and some personal files. If you plan on downloading movies or storing lots of media files or photos you are going to need either cloud or external usb storage.
Performance: The laptop has an i3 processor which isn’t going to set any speed records but its good enough to run most apps without issue. I am able to use word and excel and watch videos from youtube without any problems. Although it will play some games I would not recommend playing anything that is resource demanding due to the limited resources available. The odd thing about this laptop is that the power key is located to the left of the delete key in the top row. If you aren’t careful you can easily hit the power button when attempting to delete something. Also the keyboard lacks lighting which makes the key alignment more troubling in low light. The laptop has a 720p camera built in and the speakers are typical of laptops this size. There are three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a headphones jack and a HDMI port for an external monitor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Experience AeroClip Open-Ear Clip-On Earbuds with Adaptive Comfort.
Customer Rating
3
Not for Loud Environments
on March 20, 2025
Posted by: explore42
I use earbuds fairly often and I have quite a collection of them but these are my first open ear earbuds and they are definitely different. I found them as comfortable as most ear buds that cover your entire ear opening but they have a slightly different feel when seated. And because they are fully open they do allow in more noise so I found myself having to crank up the volume vs the levels that I would normally listen at. I found the touch sensors took some time to get used to because they are located on the support arm of the earbuds.
Pros:
- Lightweight and secure when properly fitted with the right sized ear grip
- The audio quality is good for such a small earbud
- IPX4 rating for working out and handling sweat
- Can connect to two devices via Bluetooth
- Lightweight and secure when properly fitted with the right sized ear grip
- The audio quality is good for such a small earbud
- IPX4 rating for working out and handling sweat
- Can connect to two devices via Bluetooth
Cons:
- You need higher volume levels than normal especially if it’s a noisy environment. When increasing the volume you lessen the ability to be “aware” of your surroundings.
- No auto pause when one earbud is removed
- The touch controls on the earbud aren’t the most responsive
- Tone only indicators for connecting, control input etc – no voice notifications
- No Mute functionality when on a phone call
- You need higher volume levels than normal especially if it’s a noisy environment. When increasing the volume you lessen the ability to be “aware” of your surroundings.
- No auto pause when one earbud is removed
- The touch controls on the earbud aren’t the most responsive
- Tone only indicators for connecting, control input etc – no voice notifications
- No Mute functionality when on a phone call
Performance: The ear buds provide good sound quality and the Soundcore app allows you to select presets or you can customize your own equalizer settings. The touch controls on the earbuds can be somewhat problematic until you get used to them. The entire outer ring is touch sensitive so if you happen to start adjusting them while they are playing the probability of you double or triple tapping the surface is fairly good and that causes issues. Secondly because you are tapping the surface of the ring that supports where the earbud sits it can cause the earbud to shift its location on your ear. I found that it took some time to get used to the controls because the mounting and touch surface are so different from my other earbuds. Lastly because the ear buds do not block out any environmental noises I found that I had to raise the volume of the earbuds which I wasn’t fond of doing. In the gym they play music in overhead speakers and I realized anytime I was near one I had to increase the volume. I would think this would also be the case for anyone who uses these in any crowded or noisy environment. I understand that these are meant to allow you to be “aware” of your surroundings but what happens is you need to increase the volume to overcome the outside noises which then defeats the ability to be aware. The Soundcore app allows you to pick the functionality of the touch controls on the left and right earbud.
Fit and Feel: Since these earbuds don’t fill the ear opening they seem to be less noticeable to me when I wear them even when exercising. The earbuds clasp to the ear and they come with extra ear grips to help them fit tightly. I ended up trying all three sizes and ended up with the medium size which supplied enough stability without any discomfort.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Rising from the successful Project Esther, feel the future of gaming immersion with Razer Freyja ~ the world~s first HD haptic gaming cushion. Powered by Razer Sensa HD Haptics, experience a full range of dynamic tactile sensations that fully syncs with your game, from forceful explosions to the subtle pulse of a heartbeat.
Customer Rating
5
Feeling the Game vs Playing it
on January 25, 2025
Posted by: explore42
This Sensa HD pad/cushion has added a whole new facet to my gaming. Even though it does not fully interact with most of my games (see details below), it still adds a sense of realism that no haptic controller or headphone can match. While it is not perfect it is such a large step forward into immersive gaming that I have to give it five stars. Even in its current development I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be “in” the game vs just playing it on the screen. The quality of the fabric and build/stitch quality are top notch and comfortable even for long sessions of gaming. Everyone in my house from the young ones to the adults love gaming with this pad.
The Limitations: The first things I noticed is that the pad adds some additional height to the seat which for most people would not be an issue but if you have a racing sim like I do that additional height may force you to adjust the seat and wheel height. I already had my Razer ENKI Pro chair at the lowest setting so I had to raise my wheel. Secondly there are a very limited number of games that are fully software integrated which Razer calls Sensa Game Integration. But even without full integration the pad does provide immersive feedback based upon the game’s audio. Lastly the controls built into the chair pad and the cable management aren’t the best but that definitely isn’t a show stopper.
Gaming Impressions: Unless you are playing one of the fully Sensa integrated games the haptic responses are based upon the audio in the game much like haptic headphones do. The difference is that Razer’s software distributes the haptic response across multiple zones in the pad which gives you a more immersive experience. This means for example that the base pad may be vibrating at a different intensity than the pad against your shoulders. Using Razer’s Synapse software or the controller on the chair pad you can manipulate the intensity of the haptic response. Razer also provides recommended audio haptic intensity settings for some of the more popular games on their website. Note that it’s not one setting works for all because I found that I had to lower the response for F1 2023 and increase the response for BeamNG. Bottom line is that when I start my tank in War Thunder or head onto the track in Assetto Corsa I can feel the engine. I now feel the rumbling sensation in my hands from the wheel and my body from the pad when I drift onto the rumble strips in a curve – this truly enhances the racing experience for me. In the war type games the explosions, firing a weapon and getting hit now provide direct vibrating feedback which makes the game so much more realistic. Even Minecraft provides enough haptic responses through the pad to make the game more entertaining.
Setup: I have a Razer ENKI Pro chair so installation was a breeze but this pad is designed to fit most if not all chairs. It uses straps with plastic clips that wrap around the back and bottom of the chair. From the left side of the pad there is a power dongle cord that uses a quick release style plug to connect to the included ac power supply. You can connect to your pc via Bluetooth or via a USB-A dongle. I chose to use the dongle and it worked without issue. Built into the left side of the pad is a small control panel which needs some improvement. The control panel has a black rubberish cover plate so it’s difficult to see the buttons and their function indicators.
Setup: I have a Razer ENKI Pro chair so installation was a breeze but this pad is designed to fit most if not all chairs. It uses straps with plastic clips that wrap around the back and bottom of the chair. From the left side of the pad there is a power dongle cord that uses a quick release style plug to connect to the included ac power supply. You can connect to your pc via Bluetooth or via a USB-A dongle. I chose to use the dongle and it worked without issue. Built into the left side of the pad is a small control panel which needs some improvement. The control panel has a black rubberish cover plate so it’s difficult to see the buttons and their function indicators.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
27" Dual-Resolution IPS gaming monitor with dynamic switching between 4K at 180Hz and FHD at 360Hz. Featuring NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and DCI-P3 95% color coverage.
Customer Rating
5
Great for Gamers and Work at Home Users
on December 31, 2024
Posted by: explore42
Overall this monitor is the perfect answer for anyone looking for a gaming monitor that can also be used for work and playing media. I have three Dell 4k ultra sharp monitors that I use daily for work, they are great for doing office related apps but they are too slow to use as a gaming monitor. This Alienware 4k monitor is nearly as sharp as my Ultra Sharp displays but it has refresh rates that make this also a great gaming monitor.
Pros:
- The IPS display is bright with deep color saturation
- Consistent white screen for office applications like Word
- It’s got a wide viewing angle
- Variable refresh rates for 4k @180hz and HD @ 360hz
- OSD button is easy to access and use
- Total control of display and gaming options via OSD
- Lots of ports HDMI, Display Port and USBs, supports eARC HDMI
- Versatile stand and VESA compatible for mounting
- The IPS display is bright with deep color saturation
- Consistent white screen for office applications like Word
- It’s got a wide viewing angle
- Variable refresh rates for 4k @180hz and HD @ 360hz
- OSD button is easy to access and use
- Total control of display and gaming options via OSD
- Lots of ports HDMI, Display Port and USBs, supports eARC HDMI
- Versatile stand and VESA compatible for mounting
Cons:
- Doesn’t deliver the darks that an OLED monitor would
- If you buy one you will want two or three more
- Doesn’t deliver the darks that an OLED monitor would
- If you buy one you will want two or three more
After cabling up the monitor I verified its quality by running the EIZO and UFO display test. No dead pixels and the color ranges were bright and consistent. The white was bright without any off shading which really is nice when using office apps. I familiarized myself with the OSD menus and set the monitor up for gaming, touched up the brightness a tad and then started playing my games. I like racing games so having the ability to run HD at the higher refresh rate really seemed to make the images more stable. The colors really stood out in F1 2023 and the detail was sharp when playing Dirt Rally. To really check out the 4k capabilities I played several 4k videos and the images were very smooth without stuttering or pixelizating. Bottom line is this is great monitor no matter what you are wanting to do.
This monitor has great specs with a 4k resolution of 3840 x 2160 @ 180 hz as well as being able to support HD 1920 x 1080 with a super fast refresh rate of 360 hz. It is an IPS display panel with a reasonably quick 0.5ms response time. The bezel is narrow but slightly thicker on the bottom than my Dell monitors as seen in the photo. It has two HDMI ports with one supporting eARC to pass through audio. It supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for people like me that use a soundbar for gaming. It also has a DisplayPort, one USB-B upstream port, three USB-A downstream ports and one USB-C downstream port. The stand is very flexible and allows you to move the monitor in all directions to offset any alignment issues. The monitor has a headphones clip built in on the left hand side which is good as long as this is your leftmost monitor.
This monitor has great specs with a 4k resolution of 3840 x 2160 @ 180 hz as well as being able to support HD 1920 x 1080 with a super fast refresh rate of 360 hz. It is an IPS display panel with a reasonably quick 0.5ms response time. The bezel is narrow but slightly thicker on the bottom than my Dell monitors as seen in the photo. It has two HDMI ports with one supporting eARC to pass through audio. It supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for people like me that use a soundbar for gaming. It also has a DisplayPort, one USB-B upstream port, three USB-A downstream ports and one USB-C downstream port. The stand is very flexible and allows you to move the monitor in all directions to offset any alignment issues. The monitor has a headphones clip built in on the left hand side which is good as long as this is your leftmost monitor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Push performance to the next level with the blazing speed and massive bandwidth of Crucial DDR5 Pro OC Gaming Memory. With support for next-gen multi-core CPUs and the ~sweet spot~ speed of 6,400MT/s, our gaming memory harnesses the power of low latency so you can beat the clock and focus on outplaying your opponent instead of worrying about performance bottlenecks. This powerful, flexible memory supports next-gen multi-core CPUs and stable overclocking with Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO. Available in black or white in a 16GB density with a unique, origami-inspired aluminum heat spreader for a winning aesthetic. Unlock a new world of gaming performance with Crucial DDR5 Pro Gaming Memory.
Customer Rating
5
Great Overclocking if your BIOS supports it
on December 29, 2024
Posted by: explore42
Overall: I was able to overclock this memory in my Asus gaming system using the Ai Tweaker in bios without issue. My stock ram was running at 5600 mhz which is the standard max for the Intel i7 14700 processor. Using the Ai Tweaker I was able to set the DRAM speed to 6400 mhz and then I ran several cpu test as well as some stress test. All the test passed and the computer worked great. In my testing I saw a latency of 11.9 ns having 38-40-40-84 timings. This is about a 3 ns improvement over the stock ram that came with my system. How much of that translates to real life increases is yet to be determined. To say I noticed an enormous increase in frames per second or increase in processing speed would be a stretch but what I can say is that this memory seems to be very stable at 6400 mhz and the heat sink/spreader is certainly an improvement over my stock ram. Note that this ram does run at 1.35 v which is higher than my stock ram that ran at 1.1 volts.
A word of caution to those who aren’t familiar with their computer’s bios capabilities. Some Pre-built computer manufacturers while supporting XMP 3.0 still will not allow you to set the actual DRAM speed or they limit the maximum speed. They do this to keep you from creating an unstable system. Although these memory sticks will work without XMP 3.0 turned on you will not be able to get the higher speeds or optimized performance without it. I experienced this when I installed this ram into an Acer gaming computer. The memory worked but the bios would not allow me to set the ram speed even though XMP was enabled so speed was limited to 5600 mhz. I highly recommend you check your system’s bios capabilities to verify that it will support and let you configure DDR5 6400mhz ram otherwise you may end up frustrated and returning the memory.
As soon as I opened these memory sticks I was impressed by the size and quality of the heat sinks/spreaders. The sinks are designed to give good heat transfer without interfering with the adjacent memory slots or being too tall which could interfere with some cpu coolers. Because you can overclock this ram and that they run at a higher voltage at 1.35v the beefer heat sink/spreader is a welcome addition. The other plus side of these heat sinks is that they give you plenty of areas to grip the sticks when installing them without putting your fingers on the actual chips. Some may find the lack of RGB lighting is a downside but I already have RGB lighting strips inside the case and in the fans so it was not important to me. For someone who does not have the ability to increase their DRAM clock speed I also tried these sticks in another pc and they down sped to 5600 mhz and ran just fine. You still get the benefit of the solid heat sinks and the benefits of stable memory even at that lower speed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Rank up to Revolutionary Control. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot wireless smart controller is designed for revolutionary gameplay on Windows PCs. Stealth Pivot features rotating button modules to quickly switch between core button layouts designed for FPS, action & racing titles, or revolved layouts for fighter & retro games. Play wirelessly on PC with the 2.4 GHz wireless transmitter, or via Bluetooth on Android devices & Smart TVs, and even play on Xbox consoles using the wired connection. A 20-hour battery life keeps you locked in without disruptions, plus the wired cable supports play-and-charge capability. The Connected Command Display screen offers extensive customization, and hall-effect thumbsticks, adjustable triggers and mappable buttons provide smooth, long-lasting, and adjustable control for multi-genre dominance.
Customer Rating
3
Flexible but Frustrating
on December 12, 2024
Posted by: explore42
Frustration: I had high hopes with this controller and after three days of frustration I have lowered my expectations. After charging the controller I downloaded the latest Control Center 2 software and while the software looks impressive it sure isn’t intuitive and it lacks instructional/directional information. Using the Control Center software I verified the controller and the dongle had the latest firmware installed. When I started using the controller I noticed that the left thumbstick did not work at all and my right thumbstick only caused left directional movement no matter where I pushed the thumbstick. I tried to use the Control Center software to diagnose and resolve the issue but in the end It took several factory default resets and power downs to get the controller thumbsticks to work properly. Bottom line is that the software for this controller does not feel fully developed or refined and because of that I am reluctant to recommend this controller.
Overall Thoughts: I found that the thumbsticks once working were extremely “light” because they are hall effect switches and don’t have any mechanical contact. At first I was overshooting and oversteering everything but as I became more accustomed to them I became more accurate. I can’t say that I was better because of them but maybe in time I might improve. The button and trigger feel and activation was consistent and felt good in my hands. The ability to PIVOT between thumbsticks to all switches has some appeal in some games but I’ve been using a standard X-Box type controller for so long I am not sure that’s a major advantage for me. The extra two switches on the back side of the controller were disappointing, they are great switches and easy to access however you can only configure them to mimic a controller key function. I was hoping to be able to reassign a keyboard stroke or a macro like I can to the spare buttons on my Roccat Kone gaming mouse but that isn’t the case. The controller has a mostly smooth plastic case without any rubberized grips but even with the lively vibration feedback I never felt like I was losing my grip. The switch placement is typical and overall its an easy controller to handle. There are adjustable trigger locks that limit the distance to engage the lower triggers and they work nicely but the lock/release switch is not something you can manage while in game. The display panel provides basic information such as battery charge and connectivity as well as providing some additional configuration of controller’s switches and the ability to change profiles. The controller can store up to four profiles but be warned that to configure those profiles and get them loaded into the controller can be frustrating due to the Control Center 2 software. The only RGB lighting on the controller are two LEDs mounted dead center and provide very little value. On a better note the controller works well with my Stealth headset. There is a slider switch on the controller that allows you to control the audio.
Overall Thoughts: I found that the thumbsticks once working were extremely “light” because they are hall effect switches and don’t have any mechanical contact. At first I was overshooting and oversteering everything but as I became more accustomed to them I became more accurate. I can’t say that I was better because of them but maybe in time I might improve. The button and trigger feel and activation was consistent and felt good in my hands. The ability to PIVOT between thumbsticks to all switches has some appeal in some games but I’ve been using a standard X-Box type controller for so long I am not sure that’s a major advantage for me. The extra two switches on the back side of the controller were disappointing, they are great switches and easy to access however you can only configure them to mimic a controller key function. I was hoping to be able to reassign a keyboard stroke or a macro like I can to the spare buttons on my Roccat Kone gaming mouse but that isn’t the case. The controller has a mostly smooth plastic case without any rubberized grips but even with the lively vibration feedback I never felt like I was losing my grip. The switch placement is typical and overall its an easy controller to handle. There are adjustable trigger locks that limit the distance to engage the lower triggers and they work nicely but the lock/release switch is not something you can manage while in game. The display panel provides basic information such as battery charge and connectivity as well as providing some additional configuration of controller’s switches and the ability to change profiles. The controller can store up to four profiles but be warned that to configure those profiles and get them loaded into the controller can be frustrating due to the Control Center 2 software. The only RGB lighting on the controller are two LEDs mounted dead center and provide very little value. On a better note the controller works well with my Stealth headset. There is a slider switch on the controller that allows you to control the audio.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
explore42's Review Comments
explore42 has not submitted comments on any reviews.
explore42's Questions
explore42 has not submitted any questions.
Designed to make printing easier for the whole family, the HP ENVY 6055 all-in-one printer lets everyone print, scan, and copy everyday documents, schoolwork, borderless photos and more. This wireless picture printer can order ink for you and deliver it to your door with up to 50% savings on ink using the HP Instant Ink delivery service, so you can print high-quality documents and photos when you need them (subscription required). Set up, and connect the all-in-one printer to your family's mobile devices in a few easy steps for remote scanning and sharing using the HP Smart app. And keep connected, and reduce interruptions with self-healing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 technology. Prints up to 10 ISO ppm* in black and up to 7 ppm* in color.
is this self healing?
I assume you are asking about wireless self healing. According to the specs it is self healing. I have this on my 2.4 wireless network and so far its been rock solid.
5 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
Designed to make printing easier for the whole family, the HP ENVY 6055 all-in-one printer lets everyone print, scan, and copy everyday documents, schoolwork, borderless photos and more. This wireless picture printer can order ink for you and deliver it to your door with up to 50% savings on ink using the HP Instant Ink delivery service, so you can print high-quality documents and photos when you need them (subscription required). Set up, and connect the all-in-one printer to your family's mobile devices in a few easy steps for remote scanning and sharing using the HP Smart app. And keep connected, and reduce interruptions with self-healing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 technology. Prints up to 10 ISO ppm* in black and up to 7 ppm* in color.
Is this printer good for home use from a computer and my iPhone?
As long as you are printing about 100 to 200 pages per month this printer should work for you. The HP Smart software works on my Ipad so it should work on your iphone. Download the app from the Apple store and check it out. I have the software on my ipad and my windows laptop and can print without any issues. There are also buttons on the printer if you would prefer to use them vs the software app. This printer can scan, print and copy but it cannot receive faxes. You can send a fax using HP's cloud services but it cannot receive a fax. Also if you do a lot of color printing realize that the colors are in a single cartridge with this printer so if one color is used up you have to replace the entire color cartridge.
5 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
Enhance your mobile play experience with these Emerge gaming triggers. They can be added to smartphones to provide more satisfying left and right buttons, and the tactile switches are great for use with first-person shooters. These Emerge gaming triggers have suction cups to hold them securely in place during use.
Will they work on an iPad mini???
As long as you can download the HP Sprocket software from the Apple store and you can turn on the Bluetooth connectivity on your IPAD the printer should work fine.
5 years, 7 months ago
by
explore42
Turn moments from your phone into effortless photo creations. Designed to use with Bluetooth and the HP Sprocket app, plus the included power bank, you can easily transform photos from your camera roll or social media into sharable memories.Creates a 4" x 6" photo-quality print in as little as 61 seconds*
Does this version print 2x3 sticky back photos too, or just the 4x6 size?
Experience hands-free phone usage with this LG TONE Flex wireless stereo headset. The integrated Meridian Technology, 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC and multilayer metal construction deliver fine-detailed audio with high resolution, while retractable earbuds and a flexible neckband offer comfort. This LG TONE Flex wireless stereo headset is Bluetooth enabled for effortless syncing with your smartphone.
Are these sweat resistant?
They are not water or sweat proof. I would not recommend using them in any type of workout activity.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
explore42
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
Can I add Ram to it?
It comes with 8gb in two slots. According to Dell's specs you can upgrade to 32gb.
5 years, 9 months ago
by
explore42
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
How much ram is there?
It comes with 8gb in two slots. These can be upgraded up to 32gb per Dell's specs.
5 years, 9 months ago
by
explore42
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
Is this a 144hz screen?
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
There is another slot for solid or hard drive?
Say goodbye to cords and cables with these Skullcandy Sesh true wireless headphones. Bluetooth technology seamlessly connects to your smartphone, tablet or PC, letting you stream music or take phone calls with the built-in microphone. These water-resistant Skullcandy Sesh true wireless headphones come with a charging case, providing up to an extra 7 hours of listening time.
What is the maximum distance that the blue tooth works before it disconnects from your phone??
The documentation for the Skullcandy Sesh says 30 feet but that varies with the device you are connected to and the environment you are in. I found that I could easily go to over 30 ft when connected to my IPAD but my at that same distance I would get drop outs when connected to my Samsung phone. The things to consider are the environment - thickness of walls and floors as well as other electronics that may be supplying interference.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
explore42