Author: Mark DiMattei

If you are a newcomer to the PC market or feel a little unsure about monitors, I can understand; Ultrawides can be a bit daunting. The resolutions vary, the aspect ratios can be different, and since you measure a monitor by the diagonal, that’s another layer of insight you have to have to make the right purchase. The Omen 34C is a brand new Ultrawide gaming monitor by HP that could be right for a certain type of buyer, and at a price of $479.99, it does make you question if it is too good to be true. Let’s discuss…

New audio gear releases and refreshes the market every year, providing small changes from the previous generations. It is helpful to keep up with the times, but how different can these new headsets really be from the prior set? It’s all about the big things when it comes to buying power in the headset market, such as battery, comfort, sound, and style. A headset doesn’t need to look cool if it sounds better than all its counterparts, and this is an important thought when introducing HyperX’s new Cloud 3 wireless headset to the market. For $169.99, we have even more…

If you are looking for a headset this holiday season, and are interested in light, durable hardware, look no further because the brand new RIG 600 Pro Series hits the market today, August 18, 2023. RIG staples its name in the audio industry with feather-light, extremely flexible headbands that really do stand the test of time. The RIG 600 Pro HS cost $99.99 and is fully wireless via a 2.4ghz connection along with Dual-mode Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Other specs include 40mm drivers, a boom mic that folds into the headset discretely for a clean look, the ability to connect to…

In a world of repeatedly debated arguments over PC parts, you may find yourself taking a side on whether a liquid cooler or a fan installed on your CPU is the way to go. I have been a fan person for most of my life because I just prefer the simplicity, and for the most part, I know they will fit. Now to flip that switch, the Cooler Master Masterliquid 360L Core ARGB, and from this point, we will refer to this as the Masterliquid 360L because, DANG, that’s a long name, has changed my mind on CPU coolers, their…

The last two years of PC gaming have left quite a few shake-ups in its wake by way of a slew of terrible ports, higher VRAM requirements, and sharply rising prices in the GPU market. Recommended specs are not quite what they used to be, and with shiny new Unreal Engine 5 titles on the horizon, it’s clear that gaming laptops have some catching up to do to keep up with performance demands already straining the desktop arena. https://youtu.be/HjDBsF1P1s8 Thankfully, the 2023 HP Omen 16 provides a marked improvement over its predecessor – owing most of its significant performance uplift…

As Diablo IV is around the bend with a release scheduled for June 6th, one can expect an arsenal of marketing materials on the way. Oh? Would you look at that, one of our favorite technology and hardware brands, Razer, has a variety of releases to spice up your gaming experience as you dive deep into the dungeons of Diablo. We all love to see new games released that we grew up with, but what would PC gaming be without a variety of cool new hardware to spice up your experience? Games like Diablo tend to be very demanding regarding…

Yes, another keyboard in the house. Everyone wants your money in the keyboard realm, and I would say the hardware ecosystem is the most significant contributor to buying influence today, at least when it comes to gaming. Linking together your hardware and money well spent is a big selling point because everyone wants their setup to be cooler than the next. The HyperX Alloy origins does just that by spicing up the desk, but don’t get overly excited about using the hardware—time to read this review. Style / Feel / Build / Hardware Unboxing the keyboard is underwhelming, as you…

HyperX and HX3d strike again by launching a new limited edition keycap, Mike the Shiba. Mika the Shiba can be associated and found alongside Valkyrae, making for a cute rendition of the popular pup in this fun-sized keycap design.  If you are unfamiliar, Mike the Shiba is a cute, white-furred Shiba Inu owned by the internet gaming and social figure, Valkyrae. HyperX is devoted to expanding a product line into gamer appreciation, culture, and fandom, as this item directly relates to web culture. Valkyrae herself had a significant part in the final design, adding her own inspiration and what…

Sometimes, I feel as though we get too stuck in our ways. We use the same gear and brands, and it’s comfortable that way. Still, change can be good. I fear change too, and one of my biggest “scares” is when someone tries to tell me to use a new computer mouse! In particular, the new one I am referring to is the Cooler Master MM712. As I said, I’m always skeptical of new gear, but the peer pressure proved this piece of hardware worthwhile. https://youtu.be/3KGOfSIqEFw Style / Feel / Build / Hardware The MM712 is simple yet stylish, made…

Who shot the sheriff? No one, because he is in town bringing us the newest limited edition HX3D keycap by Hyperx featuring Maplestory’s mushroom.  If you weren’t familiar already, the HX3D keycaps are fun ways to spice up your desk, especially if you are a streamer or if you are just looking to brag to your friends about how cute your keyboard looks. In addition, HyperX offers customer appreciation events through their self-titled “Loot Drop” event; in this case, we are on Loot Drop 3. These events host sales and limited edition items to maintain some interest in the HyperX…

You feel the same way I do, don’t you? The fact that HyperX came out of nowhere. They went from 0-100% in popularity, and I guess it comes down to it being acquired by HP. Nevertheless, HyperX is a true contender in the peripheral gaming space, offering both budget-friendly and high-end consumer products. In this case, we are on the budget-friendly side, featuring one of their newest additions to their headset collection, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 Core. This headset is priced at $39.99, a mid to low range price, so I expect a “not amazing” performance, but maybe, just…

SPEC AND PRODUCT LIST BELOW WRITTEN CES is here in full force. Whilst there will be many brands showcasing a variety of fun new products, today, we focus on one brand specifically, and that is HP, along with its counterparts. You might be reading this after the event, but this event for HP, HyperX Omen, and Poly provided a wealth of insight into each brand’s new line of products. This event was packed from cute mic holders to new hardware on all spectrums. Starting with HP, the star of the show if you are mature enough to give them credit…

It’s almost impossible to pick a headset for your new gaming setup. There are just so many options, brands, colors, and of course, pricing. If you recently blew all of your money on a GPU and don’t have $200 for a headset, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 at $99.99 could potentially be on your radar. I would proceed with caution regarding some talking points, but there are always trade-offs for the better. Let’s talk about it. Style / Feel / Build / Hardware From the start of the unboxing, you can feel the budget experience, hosting no fun things to…

Yes, we all love to customize our everyday surroundings, and what better way to spice up that world than with the new Pro BFG Controller? Made by Victrix by PDP, the featured PS5 controller also works with PC and PS4. It comes as a slight shock as there aren’t many pro controllers for the PS5 on the market. Marked at $179.99, which is about average for these types of devices, the controller offers a host of features, gimmicks, and alternate pieces to satisfy customers.  Style / Feel / Build / Hardware Upon opening the box, you will face the awe…

There is always a burst of joy when picking up nostalgic gaming hardware. Most of us grew up playing with arcade machines, slapping our hands down on colorful tabletop buttons to input commands. Once you get the hang of it, the Victrix Pro Arcade Fight Stick is a modern, high-quality take on what we grew up using, whether eating pac-dots or sending “Hadoukens.” I’m more of a Tekken guy, but that’s beside the point. Instead, let’s dive into why you may want to consider picking up the Victrix Pro FS, assuming you have $399 to spend.  https://youtu.be/KIV-WbiTqOA Style / Feel…

PDP and Victrix have newly released various stellar-looking products before this year’s holiday season. So what better way to kick off the shopping spree than with a new line of colorful controllers for both Xbox and Nintendo Switch? These collections will also feature headsets that aesthetically match the design of the controllers, adding to the fun and letting your personality shine bright. Also, we see one of the first licensed PS5 pro controllers made by Victrix on the market. What makes PDP great is its ability to distribute decent quality products to the average gamer whilst keeping the budget low.…

Nowadays, you would be hard-pressed to see more wired headphones on the shelf than wireless. Everyone wants hassle-free, wireless everything, and to an extent, I get it. However, I don’t have much experience with true wireless earbuds, so the EPOS GTW 270 True Wireless Hybrid Buds are my first real experience owning such a product. On that note, I am left unsure if these are worth it, but for some consumers, they might be. Let’s go deeper.  Style / Feel / Build / Hardware The EPOS GTW 270 buds case steals the show immediately with a metallic weight and finish.…

Most gaming PC talk is consumed by desktops, powerful GPUs, and sizeable RGB cases, but nowadays, gamers want more and more out of their games, where they play, how they play, and more.  Also, as technology improves, we can consider playing bigger games on the go, and yes, this leads me to laptops. I wouldn’t say I am a laptop junkie and fall into the “DIY builder” category. Still, Victus 15 shows hope in gaming laptops for the meager price of $799 USD.  Style / Feel / Build / Hardware Let’s start with the specs. The Victus 15 hosts an…

I tasked myself and my buddies, against their will, to build a dope PC focused on RGB lighting, given the case we were provided. We had to make the best of what we had, and I would say the Cooler Master-focused desktop was the coolest build I have ever made. Its ecosystem kept a smile on my face throughout the experience. Personally, I’m more of a CPU fan guy, but if you want style over simplicity, you can’t go wrong with a PL240 Flux. It’s just more to deal with on installation, especially without a full-size case. This leads me…

In the day and age of 4k televisions, we haven’t really seen a full transition to 4k monitors as a standard. That can be for a number of reasons, including cost, need, performance, etc. I, myself, was a 4k hater on the PC monitor side until the Omen 27U showed up. Overall, 4k seems scary, due to increased load on your GPU when gaming, or even the decreased icon size of the UI. Also, it’s even hard to find 4k with high enough refresh rates to satisfy nitpicky gamers. Now, we see change amongst gaming monitors, and the Omen 27U…