Blue, a 20-year leading innovator in audio technology and design, today announced the new Yeti X USB microphone for gaming, streaming and podcasting. Yeti X features new Blue VO!CE technology, which enables content creators to dial up professional vocal effects and custom presets at the push of a button. A four capsule condenser microphone array delivers exceptional focus and clarity, high-res LED metering provides visual, real-time feedback for vocal levels, and a multi-function smart knob provides instant control over essential mic functions. Combining legendary Blue audio quality with innovative new features, Yeti X is the ultimate tool for creators who want to deliver professional content and build their audience.

USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, today announced the publication of the USB4 specification, a major update to deliver the next-generation USB architecture that complements and builds upon the existing USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 architectures. The USB4 architecture is based on the Thunderbolt protocol specification recently contributed by Intel Corporation to the USB Promoter Group. It doubles the maximum aggregate bandwidth of USB and enables multiple simultaneous data and display protocols.

The development of the USB4 specification was first announced in March 2019 by the USB Promoter Group. It is now officially published by USB-IF and available for download here.

Thermaltake Gaming, a market leader in eSports gaming peripherals, proudly presents the Level 20 GT RGB Gaming Keyboard, available now for purchase. The Level 20 GT RGB Gaming Keyboard takes performance gaming to new heights with premium aluminium top plate construction; it delivers 16.8 million true RGB color with a massive 13 front-side illumination for a truly personalized RGB experience. It is compatible with all Thermaltake TT RGB PLUS power supplies, liquid cooling, case fans and LED strip product lines, enabling enthusiasts to sync all RGB colors seamlessly. With the powerful iTAKE Gaming Engine, users can control all dynamic lighting effects effortlessly, complex macro settings, and TT SYNC across all compatible TT RGB PLUS products.

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today launched the new CORSAIR K57 RGB Wireless Gaming Keyboard. The first gaming keyboard from CORSAIR to include the breakthrough technologies CAPELLIX RGB LEDs and SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS, the K57 RGB Wireless boasts both incredibly bright, stunning per-key RGB LED lighting and the convenience of a hyper-fast, ultra-stable wireless connection.

The K57 RGB Wireless is lit up by vivid per-key dynamic RGB backlighting, without sacrificing performance thanks to its CAPELLIX RGB LEDs. First debuted in CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR4 Memory, CAPELLIX LEDs shine up to 60% brighter and are up to 60% more efficient than conventional LEDs, giving the K57 RGB Wireless a long-lasting battery life of up to 35 hours on a single charge even with RGB lighting enabled, so you can spend more time enjoying the light show and less time charging.

Sharkoon Technologies is an international supplier of PC components and peripherals, offering performance at a reasonable price. Sharkoon now presents its new monitor stands, which are available in two versions: the PURE and the POWER. At first glance, both versions appear the same. A closer look, however, reveals their differences in features: The PURE version creates extra storage space available under the monitor, while, in addition to this, the POWER version also offers a USB hub and a wireless charging station.

Sharkoon Technologies is an international supplier of PC components and peripherals, offering performance at a reasonable price. Sharkoon now presents the Gaming DAC Pro S. This is a digital-to-analog converter which transforms a normal headset into a high-performance sound system. To do this, the Gaming DAC Pro S is equipped with a sampling frequency which is certified for high-resolution and a signal-to-noise ratio of 100 decibels.

Captivating Sound with High-Resolution Audio
With the Gaming DAC Pro S, acoustic details can be experienced at their fullest. This is made possible thanks to the high-resolution sampling frequency of 96 kHz at 24 bits and a high output of 2 volts. In addition, the audio converter produces a listening experience for audiophiles through precisely directed ambient sounds. Thus, in gaming, an accurate determination of direction and distance is possible as well as a continually clear voice transmission.

Leopold is a boutique keyboard manufacturer based out of Korea, and one we have not yet had the pleasure of covering in detail on TechPowerUp. That is about to change, however, as we were invited to meet representatives of the company and go through their products at their Computex booth. I have been familiar with their existing lineup to an extent, noting that they use both Cherry MX and Topre switches in their keyboards designed for the high end market. The FC660 especially is quite popular among keyboard enthusiasts wanting a small form factor keyboard for ergonomics, and Leopold showed off their new version of an electrostatic capacitive switch based on the Topre switch.

The new switch finds its way in the equally new FC660PT keyboard, with the primary design change being the location of the spring relative to the switch housing and rubber dome that gave Topre switches the unique tactile feedback which people either loved or did not. The new design attempts to appease users who long since have wanted compatibility with Cherrry MX stem keycaps, which account for the vast majority of aftermarket keycap sets. The spring is thus right on top, and makes for an interesting two-step feedback mechanism seen in the force-travel diagram below, which may well be just as divisive as the Topre switch itself. Noting that the springs may work loose and possibly be lost, Leopold tells us they plan to also include an extra set of springs with the keyboard as well. The rest of the keyboard is unchanged, and that by itself is a good thing in my books given it is hard to improve on the build quality provided by the thick metal case paired with the 1.5 mm thick PBT keycaps with dye-sub legends. Read past the break for more Leopold offerings at the show floor!

ASRock will be showing the world's first Thin Mini-ITX form factor - RX570TM-ITX/TBT graphics card, which adapts with AMD Radeon RX570 graphics card and supports Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology. The RX570TM-ITX/TBT graphics card is not only the first graphics card with a Thunderbolt 3 Type-C interface which supports 40Gb/s transfer rate and power delivery, but it also features 4 USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and SATA 6Gb/s interface.
The RX570TM-ITX/TBT graphics card is based on the Thin Mini-ITX concept. With this graphics card, All-in-One PC manufacturers can develop their own Thunderbolt monitors with 3D performance and power charging with less effort. Moreover, it would be able to fit in a mini ITX chassis. By connecting a notebook through Thunderbolt 3 Type-C interface, it helps to increase the notebook's 3D computing power and charge the notebook at the same time.

With an increasing number of "gamers on the go" today, we are getting more gaming products tailored specifically to them. Laptops, portable keyboards, and even portable monitors. Often those monitors aren't very good. They either lack quality or are too small to do anything serious with them. However, ASUS wanted to change that with their launch of a new ROG portable monitor.

At Computex, ASUS has announced a new addition to its portable monitor family, this time under their famous ROG branding. The new ROG Strix XG17, as it is called, appears to be a dream come true for every gamer on the go. It features a 1080p 240 Hz display packed in a 17-inch body made to fit in any bag that is able to carry a 17-inch laptop. It incorporates adaptive sync technology so you will not have to worry about torn frames. The response time is pretty low as well at only 3 ms. You can drive it from any micro HDMI or USB-C DisplayPort cable. It can be powered from the same USB-C DisplayPort cable you use for video, or from the internal battery which is able to handle up to three hours of usage on its own. No information yet on retain availability or pricing, but we look forward to checking it out more sooner than later.

ASUS unveiled the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Strix Carry compact wireless mouse, with "gaming" conspicuously missing from its main branding. Its specs sheet, however, suggests it can game. The mouse requires two AA batteries, adding around 50 g to the mouse's 72 g dry-weight. Measuring 101 mm x 62 mm x 36 mm (LxWxH), the ROG Strix Carry features an almost ambidextrous design although is designed for the right hand, with two right-side programmable buttons. The two main buttons have socketed switches, letting users replace switches on their own. The included switches are made by Omron.

Under the hood, the ROG Strix Carry packs a 7,200-dpi optical sensor with an on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. It supports two wireless modes, 2.4 GHz RF (needs the included USB dongle) and Bluetooth (dongle not needed, your notebook/PC needs to have a Bluetooth interface). The RF mode offers more responsiveness (for gaming), while Bluetooth mode offers more battery-life. The mouse offers up to 300 hours of gaming in RF mode, or up to 465 hours of standard usage in Bluetooth mode. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative gaming peripherals and computer components, today launched its first Bluetooth wireless mechanical keyboard, the SK621. "We created the SK621 with design and functionality in mind. Especially for those who are on the go, workers by day and gamers at night." says Bryant Nguyen, Peripheral General Manager.

The SK621 is a 65-key compact design Bluetooth wireless mechanical keyboard with all the essentials. It uses Cherry MX's new low profile switches providing a reduced travel distance and actuation point with the same signature durability and precision as a standard red switch. The wireless hybrid design allows users to choose between a corded or cordless set up based on preference. The keyboard grants approximately 14 hours of usage while backlit or up to four months without lighting. The board is equipped with Type-C USB for convenience, per-key backlighting, surrounding light bars, and macros can be fully customized through Cooler Masters easy to use Portal Software Application. On-the-fly-controls allow real-time adjustments to lighting and macros without the need of software, including Windows Lock On/Off to prevent accidental actuation during game play. Its chiclet keycaps are slim and slightly contoured to provide a comfortable feel. The SK621 will be available on Amazon starting May 7, 2019, respectively, for $119.99. For more information, please visit the product page.

CORSAIR , a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the addition of two new high-performance mice to its rapidly expanding gaming peripheral lineup. IRONCLAW RGB WIRELESS, a wireless version of the acclaimed IRONCLAW RGB launched in early 2019, uses hyper-fast SLIPSTREAM CORSAIR WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY alongside an 18,000 DPI optical sensor to provide gamers with cutting-edge wireless performance and superb accuracy and tracking. GLAIVE RGB PRO sees the popular GLAIVE RGB, featuring three interchangeable side grips, updated with a new 18,000 DPI sensor and additional RGB lighting. Whether gamers choose the wireless freedom and palm grip-friendly shape of IRONCLAW RGB WIRELESS or the customizable grip of GLAIVE RGB PRO, they'll find a CORSAIR mouse that elevates their gameplay and in-game performance.

IRONCLAW RGB WIRELESS retains the palm grip-optimized shape and rubberized side of the wired version, while adding CORSAIR's industry-leading 2.4GHz SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS. With unbelievably fast sub-1ms wireless latency, a wireless range of up to 33ft, and Intelligent Frequency Shift (IFS) ensuring a stable signal even in heavy wireless traffic, SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS offers a wired mouse gaming experience, without the wire.

While we just recently covered the USB 3.2 specification. The USB Promoter Group has today announced the pending release of the USB4 specification, a major update to deliver the next generation USB architecture that compliments and builds on the existing USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 architectures. The USB4 architecture is based on the Thunderbolt protocol specification recently contributed by Intel Corporation. It doubles the bandwidth of USB and enables multiple simultaneous data and display protocols.

The new USB4 architecture defines a method to share a single high-speed link with multiple end device types dynamically that best serves the transfer of data by type and application. As the USB Type-C connector has evolved into the role as the external display port of many host products, the USB4 specification provides the host the ability to optimally scale allocations for display data flow. Even as the USB4 specification introduces a new underlying protocol, compatibility with existing USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3 hosts and devices is supported; the resulting connection scales to the best mutual capability of the devices being connected. "The primary goal of USB is to deliver the best user experience combining data, display and power delivery over a user-friendly and robust cable and connector solution," said Brad Saunders, USB Promoter Group Chairman. "The USB4 solution specifically tailors bus operation to further enhance this experience by optimizing the blend of data and display over a single connection and enabling the further doubling of performance."

You would have thought that the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) would have learned their lesson the first time around with the rebranding of USB standards; however, that doesn't seem to be the case. At MWC 2019, they announced that the USB 3.2 standard would include the previous USB 3.0 and 3.1 specifications, but with a twist. USB 3.0, which has a data rate of 5Gbps, had already been rebranded as USB 3.1 Gen 1, will now once again be rebranded as USB 3.2 Gen 1. Meanwhile, USB 3.1 Gen 2 with a data rate of 10Gbps will be renamed USB 3.2 Gen 2. Finally, the new kid on the block which has a data rate of 20Gbps will be officially named USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.

While there is a reason for these names, the fact remains that it doesn't do consumers any favors. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 gets its name from the two high-speed 10Gbps channels it uses to achieve the new data rate. Keep in mind that previous USB standards only allowed for one channel, and only USB Type-C connectors allow for dual channels. This, as you may have guessed by now, means USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is only usable via USB Type-C connectors. To try and reduce confusion, USB-IF has suggested that vendors use marketing terms on top of the current naming scheme to help consumers understand what is what in the world of USB. <s>USB 3.0</s> <s>USB 3.1 Gen 1</s> USB 3.2 Gen 1 will be marketed as SuperSpeed USB, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 will be marketed as SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps as per our sources. Finally, the newest standard will use SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps as its marketing term, not that it will do much if implementation of the new standard will take as long as it took for USB 3.2 Gen 2 and the Type-C connector.

SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals, today announced its newest full-size, multi-platform controller, the Stratus Duo. Gamers can swap between the low latency 2.4GHz wireless connection for gaming on Windows, and Bluetooth for mobile gaming on Android, Oculus Go and Samsung VR. Gamers can utilize the Stratus Duo in multiple ways using the 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired connections. With its Bluetooth connection, the Stratus Duo supports Android, Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Go. Gamers no longer need to struggle with awkward touchscreen controls while playing mobile games on their Android devices.

The Stratus Duo allows gamers to enjoy playing on their Android device via Bluetooth or on their PC via the 2.4GHz wireless connection with no additional software needed for setup. "The gaming ecosystem is continuing to evolve and grow beyond PC and consoles to include mobile devices and VR systems," said Tino Solberg, SteelSeries CTO. "The Stratus Duo allows gamers to easily navigate across several platforms through wireless and Bluetooth technology to create a truly seamless experience."

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announced today the Managed model of IronKey D300 Serialized (D300SM) encrypted USB Flash drive is now available. A fully-encrypted managed USB drive is an essential component in following industry standards and the strong data encryption of the D300 series is what makes this drive compliant for data storage under GDPR and the NY financial regulations.

IronKey D300SM requires IronKey EMS or SafeConsole by DataLocker allowing central management of drive access and usage across thousands of drives. Either cloud-based or on-premises, it enforces drive-specific policies, such as password strength and retry limits, lets administrators remotely disable lost or stolen drives, reset passwords when forgotten and more. This is the first IronKey drive that is supported on SafeConsole, allowing it to be used by customers who already have SafeConsole installed.

At CES 2019 Audio-Technica is exhibiting an unprecedented number of new products. The wide variety of products on exhibit include the company's standard-setting ATH-M50xBT wireless studio monitor headphones, an all-new turntable lineup, the new top-of-the-line QuietPoint ATH-ANC900BT wireless noise-cancelling headphones and much more. The recently introduced ATH-M50xBT wireless over-ear headphones (SRP: US$199, available now) bring Bluetooth wireless technology to one of the world's most acclaimed pro audio and consumer headphones, the ATH-M50x. The ATH-M50xBT offers the same sonic signature that has made the ATH-M50x an audio industry standard, along with the convenience of on-the-go wireless operation.

The closed-back ATH-M50xBT's 45 mm large-aperture driver, rare-earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) voice coils deliver studio-quality sonic accuracy and musical enjoyment. The ATH-M50xBT utilizes Bluetooth 5.0 and is compatible with aptX and AAC codecs for the best-possible wireless audio reproduction. Controls mounted on the left earcup provide easy handling of phone calls and music listening. An internal battery provides up to 40 hours on a full charge, and the headphones can also be used in wired mode. Like all of Audio-Technica's new wireless headphones, the ATH-M50xBT is compatible with Audio-Technica's new Connect smartphone app, which provides an array of convenient tools and features.

Corsair at its CES 2019 presser detailed key in-house, under-the-hood innovations that will be part of its gaming peripherals for years to come. The first of these is called Slipstream, and is developed to improve latencies (in turn responsiveness) of wireless gaming peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and even headsets. It combines existing physical-layer technologies such as 2.4 GHz radio, with a proprietary protocol-layer by Corsair that delivers twice the packets per millisecond, thereby reducing latency. This protocol-layer is different from Bluetooth, although all Slipstream devices will maintain compatibility with Bluetooth.

At the heart of what Corsair is trying to do, is a technique called IFS (intelligent frequency switching), a process that continuously scans the spectrum for radio channels that are most optimal (have least interference and best strength), and switches to that frequency/channel. This switching happens at a sub-millisecond rate, and the effective response-times claimed by Corsair are impressive - 0.5 ms to move a packet of data from the peripheral to the receiver (or vice versa). Corsair is also working on improving wireless signal strength of all devices that implement Slipstream, so your peripherals can work flawlessly up to 20 meters (65 ft) away from your PC (bodes well for living room gamers).

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, has added new features to its recent Cyber Defense 2018 Global Awards winning IronKey D300 encrypted USB Flash drive to improve device management and security. IronKey D300 is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified and uses 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption in XTS mode. Shipping next week, a new Serialized version (D300S) with two new features will further enhance the drive's already advanced level of security to safeguard sensitive data.

IronKey D300S will have a unique serial number and bar code on the drive itself, allowing network administrators to simply read or scan the code instead of plugging in the drive. When a drive is deployed, returned or during any physical auditing or asset management of hardware, this feature will make the process more efficient and streamlined. The second feature, a virtual keyboard, enables users to enter a password with clicks of the mouse instead of using a physical keyboard, thereby providing a greater level of protection against any possible keylogging when using D300S on other computers.

During testing for our Intel Core i9-9900K review we found out that new ASUS Z390 motherboards automatically install software and drivers to your Windows 10 System, without the need for network access, and without any user knowledge or confirmation. This process happens in complete network-isolation (i.e. the machine has no Internet or LAN access). Our Windows 10 image is based on Windows 10 April 2018 Update and lacks in-built drivers for the integrated network controllers.

Upon first boot, with the machine having no LAN or Internet connectivity, we were greeted by an ASUS-specific window in the bottom right corner of our screen, asking whether we'd like to install the network drivers and download "Armoury Crate". This got us curious and we scanned the system for any files that aren't part of the standard MS Windows installation. We discovered three ASUS-signed files in our Windows 10 System32 folder, which, so it seems, magically appeared on our harddrive out of thin air. Upon further investigation we also found a new, already running, system service called "AsusUpdateCheck."

Shuttle Inc., the global leader in small form factor computer technology, today announced the upgrade of its XPC cube series, the SH310R4. The SH310R4 is an entry-level mini PC with Intel 8th Gen processors. It sustained a small-form-factor of the previous-gen cube systems, but provides a significant boost in performance.

The new SH310R4 aims at a customer base of individuals and businesses whose need increased computing capability. Built upon Intel H310 chipset and support for 8th Gen Intel processors with up to six cores, the SH310R4 provides multicore and multithreaded performance for unprecedented power and responsiveness. It supports up to 32GB DDR4 memory, M.2 storage and Intel UHD graphics which give users true visual perfection in high-definition.

SilverStone today rolled out the Raven-Z RVZ03-ARGB small-form-factor gaming case. With a volume of just 14 liters, and measuring 382 mm x 105 mm x 350 mm (WxHxD), the case serves up enough room for dual-slot graphics cards that are up to 33 cm in length, and oriented sideways via an included PCIe riser cable. The case holds mini-ITX motherboards, with room for CPU coolers as tall as 83 mm. A standard ATX power supply up to 15 cm in length is supported, though a 3-pin AC receptacle and riser.

Storage options of the RVZ03-ARGB include three internal 2.5-inch mounts. Cooling includes three 120 mm vents, from which two are populated by 1,500 RPM, 18 dBA fans. Front panel connectivity includes USB 3.1 type-A ports, and HDA audio jacks. The star-attraction here of course is the addressable-RGB LED diffuser that dominates a somewhat X-shaped embellishment along the front panel. The light strip is either controlled by a small PCB cycling between presets, or can plug into your motherboard via a standard ARGB header, for software control. The case comes in two color options, matte black and white.

In addition to the Savage EXO, Kingston also announced the HyperX Fury RGB series internal SSDs. These drives are characterized by RGB LED diffusers lining the top panels of the drives. Besides SATA 6 Gbps and SATA Power, each drive features a micro USB port that lets you not only use it as a portable drive, but also lets you plug the drive either into a standardized ARGB header of your lighting controller, or a USB header on your motherboard, for software control. The drive is sold in two packages - the base package includes only the drive and a license to Acronis True Image. The Bundle package, on the other hand, also includes a 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch spacer, a portable SSD enclosure, USB cables, and a multi-function screwdriver.

Moving on to the drive itself, the HyperX Fury RGB combines a Marvell 88SS1074 controller with 3D TLC NAND flash memory. The drive comes in capacities of 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB. Sequential transfer rates for all models is rated at up to 550 MB/s reads, with up to 480 MB/s writes, although you could expect reduced performance in the USB-powered external drive mode. Endurance numbers (total bytes written) are 120 TB, 240 TB, and 480 TB, for the 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB variants, respectively. The company didn't reveal pricing.

TechPowerUp today released the latest version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z, the popular graphics subsystem information and diagnostics utility. Version 2.11.0 introduces support for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series "Turing" graphics cards, including the RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 2080, and RTX 2070. Support is also added for a few exotic OEM variants we discovered over the months, including GTX 750 Ti (GM107-A), GTX 1050 Ti Mobile 4 GB, Quadro P1000, Tesla P100 DGXS, GeForce 9200. From the AMD stable, we add support for "Vega 20," "Fenghuang" semi-custom SoC for Zhongshan Subor, Ryzen 5 Pro 2500U, 5 Pro 2400G, 3 Pro 2200G, 3 Pro 2300U, 3 2200GE, Athlon 200GE, and Embedded V1807B. Intel UHD 610, UHD P630 (Xeon), Coffee Lake GT3e (i5-8259U), are now supported.

Among the new features are system RAM usage sensors, temperature monitoring offsets for AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series processors, and the ability to identify USB-C display output, GDDR6 memory standard, and 16 Gbit density memory chips. Several under-the-hood improvements were made, including WDDM-based memory monitoring for AMD GPUs, replacing ADL sensors that tend to be buggy. GPU-Z also cleans up QueryExternal files from your Temp folder. Grab GPU-Z from the link below.DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.11.0

The change-log follows.

Wireless gaming mice are back in vogue as manufacturers are powering them with lightweight lithium-ion rechargeable batteries or induction current; and as gamers are beginning to care less about the added input-lag of wireless peripherals. To compete with the likes of the Logitech G Pro, which launched to generally positive reviews, ASUS launched a wireless variant of its Republic of Gamers (ROG) Gladius II. The new ROG Gladius II Wireless retains the shape, button-layout, and grip of the original Gladius II, but is wireless, lacks the bottom RGB LED diffuser, and weighs 130 g, just 20 g more than its wired sibling. It also packs a more powerful sensor.

The ROG Gladius II Wireless uses a combination of 2.40 GHz RF and low-latency Bluetooth BLE to achieve input latencies as low as 1 ms. The mouse packs a 16,000 dpi optical sensor (compared to the wired original's 12,000 dpi). At any point, if you're not sure about playing wireless, you can switch to the wired mode on the fly, by simply plugging in the included USB cable to its micro USB connector located up front. The mouse is remapped as a new device by Windows, and USB is used for both input and recharging the battery. We expect the ROG Gladius II Wireless to be competitively priced to the Logitech G Pro Wireless (around $140).