Month: August 2014

By: Hilbert Hagedoorn @ GURU3D

In this review we will benchmark and test HIS Radeon R9-290X Hybrid ICEQ edition. The card uses liquid cooling for the GPU that runs towards a 120mm radiator. On the card itself there still is a small fan that blows air over the VRM area and other components. As a result this card will remain under 80 Degrees C at full load, and does so whilst being factory clocked to a nice 1100 MHz. Under SKU code H290XQH4GD the product will be released with 4 GB of graphics memory.

Read The Review Here

By Stuart Davidson @ Hardware Heaven

There are few, if any, names in PC peripherals bigger than Logitech. Over the years pretty much everyone who has used a PC will have used one of their devices, whether it is as an enthusiast who goes out and buys one or as an office worker whose work PC uses a rebranded Logitech keyboard or mouse as part of their system. Nowadays as well as the more generic parts Logitech also have a heavy focus on gaming through their G series. Today we have one of the latest G series mice from Logitech attached to our system for review. Read on to find out how the Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury does.

Read The Review Here

By Ian Cutress @ AnandTech

Next in our recent run of lower cost motherboards is the MSI Z97 Guard-Pro, a motherboard that MSI billed to me as one suited for the overclockable Pentium G3258 on a budget. At $110, we see if it differs much from the more expensive options on the market.

Read The Review Here

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• All-New Counter Logic Gaming Razer BlackWidow Keyboard Released
• X2 Introduces the Mirage Gaming Keyboard
• ID-Cooling Announces T60-SFX Mini Gaming Case
• SilentiumPC Readies the Brutus S20 PC Chassis
• Velocity Micro Announces the Availability of the MX3 mATX Chassis
• Tesoro Releases Excalibur LED Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
• BitFenix Releases New Prodigy M Colors
• Sharkoon CA-I and CA-M Start Shipping
• Intel Core i7-5820K Features Fewer PCI-Express Lanes After All
• Spire Introduces the PowerCube 501 and 502 PC Cases
• Raidmax Releases the Seiran II Midi-Tower PC Case
• Gaming DDR4 from G.Skill, Ripjaws 4, Pictured and Priced
• Acer XB270HAbprz 27-inch G-Sync Monitor Detailed
• I-O Data Outs HDJA-UTW External HDD with WD Red Drives
• Corsair Releases Link Commander Mini
• SanDisk Releases Ultra II SSD: Bringing More TLC NAND to the Market
• WD My Passport Line Turns 10 Years Old – 10th Anniversary Edition Drive Unveiled
• AMD Teams With Toshiba’s OCZ for Radeon R7 SSD Line
• ECS Unveils the Z97-PK Motherboard
• Spire Introduces the DustGuard Series Dust Filters
• ASUS Announces RT-AC87U AC2400 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router
• LG to Unveil World’s First 21:9 Curved IPS Monitor at IFA 2014

The Japanese Battleship Fleet in WWII

By John Dudek @ The Wargamer

At the start of Japan’s Pacific War against the Anglo-American Allies, their Imperial Fleet’s ten, later twelve, battleships were placed in multiple divisions of capital ships. Battleship Division 1 (BatDiv 1) initially consisted of the sister ships Nagato and Mutsu. This was later greatly augmented with the addition of the super battleships Yamato and Musashi after they joined the fleet in early 1942. Bat Div 2 were the battleships Ise, Hyuga, Fuso and Yamashiro. BatDiv 3 consisted of the fast battleships (upgraded former battle cruisers) Kongo, Kirishima, Haruna and Hiei. All of Japan’s battleships were comparable to their British and American counterparts in terms of armament, although in some cases many were greatly superior in speed, with four of these being the much faster aforementioned former battle cruisers, Kongo, Kirishima, Haruna and Hiei. Their top speed of 30 knots meant they could easily operate in a support role along with Japan’s aircraft carriers. American and British WWI era battleships of the day had a maximum speed in the low 20 knot range. It would take the arrival of the modern generation of new and much faster Allied battleships before their aircraft carriers could enjoy that same degree of protection and support from big gun warships the Japanese possessed. In terms of main gun armament too, the Japanese battleships were very much comparable to their Allied counterparts with most carrying 14″ guns. Two of their battleships (Nagato and Mutsu) carried 16″ guns and when the super battleships Yamato and Musashi joined the fleet in 1942, the twin sisters mounted 18″ guns, the largest and most destructive main gun armament ever placed aboard a battleship.

Read on…

Rome 2 players will find their game updated via Steam today with a new, free content pack. The August Warriors Update adds unique units such as the Hex-Bearers, Amazonian Riders and Scythian Noblewomen to several playable factions, and includes a significant upgrade to the Suebi roster.

Also available for purchase today, the Daughters of Mars Unit Pack brings fearsome new warriors to Rome 2. Whether in defence of their homelands or called upon to fulfil their part in glorious conquest, female combatants featured throughout the ancient world. Adding a swift and deadly mix of fighting styles and abilities to the fray, generals will wisely place value on those who aspire to be the avatars of the war gods themselves!

Daughters of Mars expands the faction rosters of Rome, the Lusitani, the Suebi and Sparta. These new units can also be hired as mercenaries from specific provinces, whichever faction you play as.

Find out more at the official Total War: Rome 2 website.

Hunker down in Sniper Elite 3’s free Plantation multiplayer map

Independent developer Rebellion today released two pieces of new DLC for Sniper Elite 3 on Steam for PC, with the same content due to come to Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 in the near future.

FREE Plantation Multiplayer Map

The third of four FREE multiplayer maps for Sniper Elite 3 players on all platforms, Plantation sees Rebellion’s Runcorn studio play with the typical conventions of the series’ multiplayer design.

Once again highlighting the lush variety offered by the game’s North African setting, Plantation is flanked by a traversable swamp while a water wheel irrigates the surrounding areas via a network of shallow trenches, offering opportunities for stealthy movement and quick escapes.

Eschewing the traditional battles for a handful of commanding views, Plantation offers an open and rewardingly complex environment encouraging snipers to think creatively about their location and movement.

Eastern Front Weapons Pack

Imported from the bitter climes of Eastern Europe, some of World War Two’s most iconic weapons are now available to play in Sniper Elite 3 via the Eastern Front weapons pack. Available for use across all game modes the pack includes the Blyskawica submachine gun, the Tokarev TT-33 pistol and the Mosin-Nagant rifle.

1C Game Studios is excited to announce that IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad early access program has launched on Steam today.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad is available in two editions, Standard and Premium, for the price of $54.99 and $94.99 correspondingly.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad is a combat flight simulation dedicated to the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the most decisive and fierce battles on the Eastern Front in WWII. This new project from 1С Game Studios represents the next generation of combat flight simulations with the latest development technologies – from a new higher level of physics modeling, damage modeling and aerodynamics to modern modes of gameplay with detailed, immersive environments.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad is scheduled to be released in September 2014.

Get more game information from the official IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad website.

Learn the Art of War with the Father of Europe in “Art of War” and “Charlemagne” Content

Paradox Interactive today revealed two new game expansions for their award-winning grand strategy titles Europa Universalis IV and Crusader Kings II. The expansions, entitled “Art of War” and “Charlemagne,” coming respectively to Europa Universalis IV and Crusader Kings II, will add new events, new mechanics, new in-game abilities, and plenty of new ways to change the course of history for strategy fans everywhere. Both expansions will be available for their respective games on Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs in the near future.

Charlemagne will introduce Crusader Kings II players to the man who became the “Father of Europe,” uniting much of the continent for the first time since the since the fall of Rome and founding the Holy Roman Empire. Now starting in 769 AD – another century to play! – the expansion will include a series of story events that follows his rise to power, and will come with new game options to allow players to chart their own places in history – such as a new in-game “Chronicle” that highlights a dynasty’s conquests, marriages, and labors for the faith. Kingdoms are also more customizable in Charlemagne with the option to create your own with custom names and banners.

Join the revolution and watch the trailer for Crusader Kings II: Charlemagne HERE.

In Art of War, players of Europa Universalis IV will add new possibilities to explore what Clausewitz called the “continuation of politics by other means.” Changes to battle mechanics will allow wily warlords to launch sorties from sieges, sell obsolete ships and transfer occupied lands to allies. A revamped Reformation system will let you relive the Thirty Years’ War in a series of unique in-game events to see how they fare in Europe’s greatest conflict prior to the 20th century. Once the fighting has settled down, rulers will be able to try a new set of diplomatic options inspired by the Napoleonic Era, including the creation of client states to support – or resist – revolutions. And this is just the beginning.

View the trailer for Europa Universalis IV: Art of War HERE.

To learn more about Europa Universalis IV, visit www.europauniversalis4.com.

To learn more about Crusader Kings II, visit www.crusaderkings.com.

By Hiwa Pouri @ ocaholic 

With the Maelstrom 120 Deepcool has an all-in-one watercooler in its portfolio, that comes with the a rather slim radiator and apparently a 120 millimeter fan. At a first look the design is looking good while you get a black radiator and a fan with red fan blades. Overall we’re curious to see whether this cooler is able to cause some damage or not.

Read The Review Here