Custom PC - April 2017

APRIL 2017/5.
99
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3
Welcome
ome to Is
Issue
sue 16
163
3
86 Build a Kaby Lake

gaming PC COVERSTORYY
P86
FOR 697 INC VAT!
Intels latest Kaby Lake gear has turned
out to be less wallet-friendly than most
of us expected, so this month we
challenged ourselves to build a Kaby
Lake gaming rig for under 700. It
couldnt just use any old gear, of course.
It needed to be overclockable, capable
of playing games at 1080p and it also
needed solid state storage. After
some intense investigation, including
reviewing Intels new multiplier-
unlocked Core i3-7350K (see p20) and
conducting a budget Z270 motherboard
Labs (see p40), weve managed it,
complete with an Nvidia Pascal GPU.
On p86, youll find a full guide to the
components we used, as well as a
step-by-step build guide and
overclocking instructions.
Highlights
10 Display heaven
Richard Swinburne gets excited by
the new monitor tech on show at CES
this year.
20 Unlocked Core i3
Intel has just released its first ever
multiplier-unlocked Core i3 chip,
and weve overclocked it all the way
to 5GHz. 48 Surround gaming headsets gaming, while undercutting the
Want full surround sound in games, monstrously expensive Titan X.
26 Ditch the range extender but dont have room for speakers?
Fed up with flaky Wi-Fi signal and We check out five surround headsets 96 Hobby tech
faffing around with range extenders? to find the best ones. Gareth Halfacree tries out the
Netgears Orbi might be the answer Ligemdio LED tester, the Dark Control
to your woes. 82 Is VR here to stay? Raspberry Pi robotics board and the
In this new regular virtual reality Debian+Pixel operating system.
40 Budget Z270 motherboards column, Joe Martin asks if the latest
Intels Kaby Lake gear is pricier than VR is a flash in the pan or here to stay. 104 Make your own reservoir
we expected, but you can still put Ready-made reservoirs often block
together a quality budget system. 93 4K SLI challenge fans and need drive bays to be
Here, we look at five Z270 boards We pair up two GTX 1070 cards in SLI removed. Why not make one from
that wont cost you an arm and a leg. to see if they can cope with 4K scratch that suits your needs exactly?
4
34
PRODUCTS
102 104 Reviewed REVIEWED
this month
Reviews
GPU COOLER
19 Alphacool Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro
PROCESSOR
20 Intel Core i3-7350K
MOTHERBOARDS
22 Asus ROG Strix Z270G Gaming
24 MSI X99A Tomahawk
96 110 WIRELESS ROUTER
26 Netgear Orbi Whole
Home Wi-Fi System
CASE
30 Cooler Master MasterBox 5t
GAMING MOUSE
32 Cougar Revenger
Custom kit
34 SteelSeries Qck+ Limited
34 Prynt Case for Apple
iPhone 6 or 6S
93 76 34 INIBUD 120mm Fan Mesh
Dust Covers
35 Ecomoist Natural Screen Cleaner
35 Booq Shock Pro
35 Libratone Zipp Wireless Speaker
Sub-140 Z270
motherboard Labs
41 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI
42 ASRock Z270 Pro4
43 Asus Prime Z270-P
44 Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3
46 MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic
Regulars Cover guide
Surround gaming
8 From the editor 86 93 headset Labs
10 Richard Swinburne 49 Asus ROG Centurion
50 Corsair Void USB 7.1
12 Tracy King 51 Razer ManOWar
52 Roccat Kave 5.1 Digital
14 Incoming 54 SteelSeries Arctis 5
16 Letters
PC system reviews
34 Custom kit 56 Overclockers UK Titan Gladius
36 How we test 58 Chillblast Fusion Corona
60 PC Specialist Prism
62 Elite products
Games
73 Inverse look
74 Space Hulk: Deathwing
96 Hobby tech 76 Killing Floor 2
76 The Walking Dead: A New
101 RealBench leaderboard Frontier (Episodes 1 & 2)
78 Glittermitten Grove
102 Customised PC 80 Resident Evil 7
104 How to guides
Hobby tech
109 Your folding milestones 96 Boldport Club Ligemdio
110 Readers drives 98 Dark Control
100 Debian+Pixel
114 James Gorbold 40 48
5
OPINION
B E N H A R DW I D G E / FROM THE EDITOR
WHERES THE
MEDIA BOX?
Ben Hardwidge is tired of faffing around with multiple music and video
standards, and asks why no one has built an all-compatible media box
A
fterupgradingtoalovelynew4KTVinlastyearsBlack into it), and it would need a quick, friendly menu system. That
Friday sales, Im currently contemplating upgrading would be the main issue even the iPhone has a pretty clunky
mymediaPC,andresentingitatthesametime.Iteither navigation system for its Music app the tiny letters on the
needs a new graphics card to output to HDMI 2, which means right that are almost impossible to precisely navigate with big
adding more fans (its an APU machine with no discrete GPU), sausage fingers.
orIneedtoupgradeittoKabyLaketorun4KNetflix.Imusually A smartphone or tablet interface would do it though you
happy to upgrade my PC gear, but in this case, Im starting to need to be able to easily select your music and video quickly,
resent the fact that I need to use a PC at all for such a simple job. without faffing around with a keyboard and mouse, or
The problem is standards,or rather a lack of standards.I have navigating hundreds of lines of menus with a remote control.
a NAS box with a single-core CPU that isnt Once thats sorted, you need to solve the
powerfulenoughtorunPlex,soIuseSynologys main problem, which is standards
DS Video software. It works well enough most It would need to support compatibility.I want the box to automatically
ofthetime,buttheSynologyDSapponmynew importallthemusicfrommyNASbox,orahard
TV skews all my video with the wrong aspect
every format, whether drive, whichever format it uses, and organise
ratio, and theres seemingly no way to fix it its MP3, Ogg, AC3, FLAC, it properly with cover art.
because it greys out all the aspect ratio options
in the TV menu.
WAV or Apple Lossless Itwouldneedtosupporteverymusicformat,
whether its MP3, Ogg or AC3, or FLAC, WAV or
IcoulduseaChromecast,butthenIwouldnt Apple Lossless. It would need to do the same
be able to run Amazon Video. I could use an Amazon Fire stick, with video whatever codec, resolution or sound format you
but then I wouldnt have the Synology DS Video app. In fact, use, and whichever file format you use, the box would need to
there seems to be an endless list of incompatibilities with all importit,organiseitandtreatitthesame.Finally,itwouldneed
thevariousoptionsfordisplayingorlisteningtomedia,andthe to support all the streaming services Netflix, Amazon Video,
only one that does everything I want properly is my PC. Why Spotify everything.
has no one built an all-compatible media box that does it all? That might sound like hard work, but theres a clear gap in
It wouldnt need particularly beefy specifications my TV the market for a little media box that does it all why has no
can play 4K video on its own, and my phone can play lossless onedoneit?Isitbecausenoonetalkstoeachother,ortoomany
audiothebigtrickwouldbesupportingallthestandards.What people are trying to protect their IP and standards? Its 2017
we need is a little box that outputs to HDMI 2,has the option to I shouldnt still be using a PC to play music and watch video.
digitally output music to a DAC, or output analogue audio via Please could somebody just build this fantasy box and take
phono sockets (or, even better, have a high-quality DAC built my money?
Ben Hardwidge is the editor of Custom PC. He likes PCs, heavy metal, real ale and Warhammer 40,000. editor@custompcmag.org.uk @custompcmag
8
INFIN8 EMPRESS
Intel Core i7-7700K Processor
overclocked to at least 5.0GHz
Asus Z270 Hero Gaming Motherboard
Up to 32GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM
2x GTX 1080 in SLI
Full Custom Watercooling
TITAN BAYONET TITAN OSPREY TITAN GLADIUS

Intel Core i5-7600K Processor Intel Core i5-7600K Processor Intel Core i5-7600K Processor
8GB DDR4 Memory 16GB DDR4 Memory 16GB DDR4 Memory
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Mini GPU AMD Radeon RX 470 Nitro+ GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Turbo GPU
Prices correct at time of print but may change without prior notice. All items subject to availability. Specication may vary. Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. *Credit provided subject to age and status. Credit provided by Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance ("v12"). Registered in England 541132
OPINION
R I C H A R D SW I N B U R N E / VIEW FROM TAIWAN
DISPLAY HEAVEN
Forget the new CPUs and motherboards its the latest displays
at CES that are getting Richard Swinburne excited
C
ES has flooded us neck deep in announcements, panels that include Quantum Dot (QDEF) tech. Of course,
including Intels Kaby Lake kit and AMDs Socket displaying 4K content at 144Hz with 10-bit (HDR) colour
AM4motherboards,butitwasTVsandmonitorsthat requires massive bandwidth, so DisplayPort 1.4 with
stole the show. TV display tech shares common ground with DisplayStream Compression (DSC) is required. At this time,
PC monitors, so we often see the same advancements in our neither Nvidia nor AMD have affirmed any graphics products
monitors soon enough, and vice versa. to deliver this performance though.
ThenewLGandSony77in4KOLEDTVs(bothwithLGpanels) Dell,meanwhile,decided4Kwassolastyearandshowedoff
looked sublime and innovative. Just eight years ago, Sonys its 8K 32in desk-filling monitor, the UP3218K. Its aluminium
cutting-edge organic light emitting diode (OLED) display only constructionmatchesitspremium/creatortargetmarket,and
hadan11inviewablediagonalandapuny960x540resolution, it can produce 1.07 billion colours, at 100 per cent AdobeRGB
but now Sony is producing massive 4K OLED displays that and sRGB colour gamuts.Thismonstermonitor has an equally
measure only 2.57mm thick. It can only be a gargantuan price of $4,999 (US) and again
matter of time before this technology breaks youll need DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2b to
into the PC realm. OLED requires little effectively output to it.
OLED is superior to traditional LCD tech, as Meanwhile, the most outlandish product
it requires little power, enables you to build
power, enables you to concept came from Razer with its Project
super-thindisplaysandrequiresnobacklight, build super-thin displays Valeriea17.3in4Klaptop,whichhastwoextra
soitactsliketheoldplasmascreens,delivering
immense contrast ratios with true blacks and
and requires no backlight 4K displays that automatically slide out from
behind the main one and snap into a gently
no illumination. This technology is perfectly curved, surround display setup. Despite
timed to take advantage of this years high dynamic range Razers strong gaming roots, I think Valerie also represents a
(HDR) revolution. nod to the mobile business and workstation market. Theres
The industry took its first steps into HDR last year, but 2017 just no way the internal GTX 1080 GPU can deliver surround
will see a much bigger push.Yes,weve theoretically hadHDR 4K gaming performance, and Razers minimalist design and
in games since DirectX 9c (and Far Cry 1.3), but LCD displays wide feature sets could well start to appeal to creative
could only simulate it within their limited contrast and 8-bit businesses,especially when the latest Mac Pro laptops appear
colourcapacity.Now,11yearslater,wefinallyhavedisplaysthat to be leaving this market behind.
can show 10-bit HDR contrast and colour depth properly. That said, I think the concept of this laptop for gaming is
Meanwhile,PC gamers are now getting Nvidia G-Sync HDR great!Itsbizarreandniche,yes,butitsgreatforbothworkand
and AMD FreeSync 2. Asus and Acer announced the G-Sync playbecauseitgivesyouarealdesktop-likescreenspace,rather
HDR-equippedROGPG27UQandPredatorXB272-HDRmonitors than making you stare into a tiny screen. Make it three 1080p
respectively at CES. Both have 27in diagonals, 144Hz refresh 120Hz monitors and the GPU will cope with such a surround
rates,4KresolutionsandHDRcapabilitiesfromSamsungMVA setup, and youll still get plenty of pixels.
Richard has worked in tech for over a decade, as a UK journalist, on Asus ROG team and now as an industry analyst based in Taiwan @Bindibadgi
10
OPINION
T R ACY K I N G / SCEPTICAL ANALYSIS
SHARED EARLY ACCESS

EarlyNinja reckons it can help to get early access games
delivered as promised, but Tracy King is sceptical
E
arly access can be frustrating, with only 25 per cent exclusivity,whichitseemstothinkmeansanyoneelseoffering
of games reaching final release (EEDAR, 2014). early access isnt a competitor, because devs can put their
However, EarlyNinja is a new, as yet unlaunched, games on both EarlyNinja and Steam,and thats the definition
earlyaccessplatformthatclaimstooffersupportfordevelopers of, well, a competitor. Unless any given customer is going to
to ensure their games are delivered as promised. It has a pay for early access on both platforms, then EarlyNinja is
website, https://earlyninja.com, a Kickstarter campaign and competing with Steam for that customers money.
a staff photo of suspiciously good-looking hipsters. The only way EarlyNinjas model would make sense is if it
EarlyNinjas business model is to take 15 per cent of game did demand exclusivity. As its 15 per cent cut is in return for
revenueinreturnforassistancefromaSensei,whichinmartial project management to reach milestones, its effectively
arts-speak means teacher but at EarlyNinja seems to mean subsidising Steam while competing for the same customer.
some sort of project manager, producer and So whats really going on? Cash. EarlyNinja
comms person who helps you to reach game is proposing to take all the upfront revenue for
development milestones. a game and act as a financial gatekeeper,
In January this year, EarlyNinja accused EarlyNinja put images releasing the next chunk of cash only when the
Thomas Was Alone developer Mike Bithell ofa
of games on its site developer reaches the next milestone. The
witch huntbecause Bithell wrote a blog post of benefit to EarlyNinja is clear. It gets large sums
advice for EarlyNinja, which resulted in a bit without permission in the bank, gathering interest and making the
ofaTwitterpile-on.WhenevertheTweetchforks company valuable, and it charges the owners
come out, particularly against a business with of that cash a slice of game revenue.
only a few hundred followers, Im inclined to be sympathetic The benefit to customers is (according to EarlyNinja) a better
to the business. However, in this case EarlyNinja took images refund system, and decreased chances of the game not being
of games, and even quotes from popular LetsPlay videos, and completed, which is great in theory. Whats the benefit to
put them on its site without permission. developers though? Many games fail before completion,
Doing so, of course, gives the impression that those games, sometimes because the developers have no producer or project
developers and YouTubers are affiliated with or endorse management skills.
EarlyNinja, which is rocky legal ground. EarlyNinjas defence I can see a case for outsourcing that work, and EarlyNinja is
is that the images were merely used to gather data from users right that some early access systems can be unfair to gamers
about which games they like,and the YouTuber quotesserved and lack transparency.Id even agree that EarlyNinja could fix
as inspiration for our model. it,if there was proof that its team has experience in delivering
EarlyNinja also uses theinspirationexcuse for its claim that video games. Sadly, according to its own blog, EarlyNinjas
its not a Steam competitor, claiming that Valves early access teamdoesnothavespecificbackgroundingamedevelopment.
platform is instead a driving force to strive for better. Thats right, the people who want to charge for helping to
EarlyNinjas blog post points out that it doesnt demand deliver video games have never actually delivered one.
Gamer and science enthusiast Tracy King dissects the evidence and statistics behind popular media stories surrounding tech and gaming @tkingdoll
12
CO M I N G S O O N / NEWS
Incoming
We take a look at the latest newly announced products
Razer promises total immersion gaming

While most people imagine VR headsets and old episodes of Red Dwarf when you mention
total immersion gaming, Razer is taking a new approach with its Project Ariana. Springing
from Razers Chroma lighting system, Ariana aims to light up your surroundings in sync
with your game, using a projector fitted with ultra-wide fish eye and what Razer calls
advanced processing capabilities to project your first-person gaming view around you,
filling the room.
Calibration is performed with Razers custom software and two 3D cameras, so the
system can detect your monitor, the shape of your room and any furnishings, as well as
Pass the puck your rooms lighting, and adjust itself accordingly. Theres no word on final product
availability or pricing yet, but you can visit www.razerzone.com/project-ariana to find
After including a puck with some of its S340 more information.
cases last year, providing an easy place to
hang your headset or tidy cables, NZXT has
now decided to make the idea available to
everyone. The little box attaches to any case
(or indeed any object) made from magnet-
friendly metal and comes in black, white,
red, blue and purple. It will also split into two
parts to enable you to tidy complicated cable
sets. The NZXT Puck is scheduled to be
available in the UK in March this year, with a
recommended retail price of 20 inc VAT.
Also, well done us for not making any rude
puns based on the word puck.
OCUK launches 24K PC Intel X299 chipset rumours

Weve seen plenty of expensive PCs in our dream PC Labs tests, but even Unconfirmed
the most lavish ones at least come in at under ten grand. However, OCUK reports have started
reckons its built a PC thats worth a whole 23,999 (and 99p, in case you to appear about a
were wondering). The 8Pack OrionX has what OCUK claims is an new enthusiast
irresponsible level of power the system contains two motherboards, chipset from Intel
splitting into one X99 system and one Z270 rig. called X299,
Overclocked by Ian 8Pack Parry, youll also get which will
golden sample chips, with a guaranteed reportedly support
5.1GHzCore i7-7700K and 4.4GHz Core forthcoming
i7-6950X. Whats more, the system contains Skylake-X and Kaby
four Titan X cards, three of which are slotted Lake-X CPUs with
into the X99 systems Asus Rampage V Edition a new LGA2066
10 motherboard. socket, and is likely
The main draw, though, is the neat but to be officially announced in August this year. The rumours
extraordinarily complex custom water-cooling appeared on https://benchlife.info in January, with a leaked
system, containing three separate loops. All the chipset diagram (pictured), suggesting that the new chipset will
water-cooling gear is passed in and out of support PCI-E 3 comparatively, the X99 chipset only supports
several custom pass-through loops in the PCI-E 2, with the PCI-E 3 lanes only coming from the CPU. The
Phanteks Enthoo Elite case. If youre lucky diagram also shows official support for quad-channel
enough to have the cash for the OrionX, or if you 2666MHz DDR4 memory, while X99 only officially supports
just want to perv at the photos, you can find more 2133MHz RAM. As with all rumours, though, take it with a pinch
information at www.overclockers.co.uk/orionx of salt until we have all the facts.
14
F E E D B AC K
Letters
Please send us your feedback and correspondence to
letters@custompcmag.org.uk
Games should have

kids modes
Ive been thinking for a while that
developers of games arent making
the most of the games they make,
nor are they serving us as best they
might. I think they could put so
much more into their games for
not much more effort and,
importantly,open up their games
to a far wider audience!
Lets take a typical first-person Minecraft has
game series,such as Far Cry its a Peaceful
mode why not
fairly open-plan,its beautifully
other games?
landscaped and it follows a storyline.
Typically these games are rated 16+, side of games are password to readjust the month on the
so it certainly excludes my nine- protected,so that children dont magazine cover so its closer to the
year-old daughter from playing inadvertently or intentionally play month in which its written and
them. The usual scenario is that, the game in theadultmode. read. Why not just refer to the next
while grabbing a quick half-hour Id additionally love to read a issues as 163 and 164,dropping any
session,my daughter walks in mid- fuller article on the topic of peaceful mention of the month? This way,
battle,and I have to quickly hit the games with game developers Issue 165 could be labelled with the
Esc key,blocking the content. This is being interviewed. month in which it will be published,
usually followed by her asking me to DAVID BLAKE April 2017. Keep up the great articles
show her what Im doing and asking about affordable hardware! Id love
if she can have a go. Ben: Ive often thought along similar data on what people actually spend
How hard could it be to add a lines, David. We have these massive on PCs,as a 3,000 PC is so far
peaceful mode that would allow her open worlds with stunning graphics, and outside my budget that your
to explore the in-game virtual world, a lot of the time all that effort feels precious words are wasted on
without some monster or wasted just being used in shooter reviewing it for me.
mercenary army group popping up, games. Youre absolutely right about the CRAIG MORRIS
swearing at her,and trying to blow popularity of Minecrafts peaceful mode
her characters brains out? too I know several parents whose kids Ben: Hopefully, this issue will be more
When I played Unreal,I loved the love it wouldnt it be great if kids could up your street, Craig. We know that not
adventure side of it;I loved the explore a game world such as The everyone has several grand to spend on
problem/puzzle solving,such as Witcher 3 or Fallout 4? a PC, which is why weve dedicated a
finding the right button to open good chunk of this issue to building a PC
the secret door. Why couldnt an on a tight budget, using Intels new
adventure mode be added to Dating advice multiplier-unlocked Core i3-7350K.
modern games,much like an Im writing to you in January,as the However, Im sad to say that I dont think
orientating course with puzzles to letters page in the March issue Ive the dating solution you suggest is going
be solved? just read raises the question of how to work for us. We need a date of some
Look at Minecraft,that has a description on the magazine to show
peaceful mode and how popular is potential buyers that its not old stock
that? I think you get the picture. an issue number is meaningless to
WHENSTHENEXTMAG
So,my suggestion is that game someone who doesnt regularly buy the
developers are petitioned to add in
COMINGOUT? magazine, and were always trying to
Issue 164ofCustom PC will be onsale
both a peaceful mode and an attract new readers on the newsstand. I
onThursday,9March,withsubscribers
adventure option.My daughter,Lara, dont think theres an easy way around
receivingit a fewdays beforehand.
also suggests that the less peaceful this problem, sadly.
16
SHOW US YOUR RIG!
Some of the PC photos you sent us this month. Send pictures of your own
PC build to us at letters@custompcmag.org.uk
First water-cooled build Snow-White
I hope you dont mind an old (56 years) This is my third custom PC. As the
Yanks setup. Im an avid reader and previous ones had blue-black and red-
learner,and this was my first go at a black colour schemes,I decided to build
water-cooled build. I decided to go all in something clean and white this time,
with a custom loop, which I call Snow-White. Ive had a lot of
PETG tubing,dual inspiration from your mag,and Im glad
pumps and the like. to share my work. Its a work in progress,
Its probably as I keep looking for things to improve,as
underpowered with well as ways to change the looks.
the Skylake CPU It has a Core i7-5820K,16GB of Corsair
(although its the 12th spec,but the aim of the project was to make 3000MHz RAM,an Asus X99 A-II
Skylake system on my own case to accept the water-cooling motherboard,a 500GB Samsung 850
your RealBench system I wanted,and achieve a stable Evo SSD,a 4TB Toshiba hard drive,an
Leaderboard, 4.6GHz CPU clock. The case is completely Asus Nvidia GTX 1080,an Aerocool
username wac1960). homemade,and built from the ground up Touch fan controller and an NZXT
I went with Skylake (apart from the MB mounting plate),using Switch 810 case. The cooling system
because I was nervous about drowning an aluminium box section from B&Q,with comprises an Alphacool full 420mm
an expensive CPU. All is well though. push-in plastic fittings for the corners and radiator,Watercool Heatkiller CPU and
The system has an Asus Maximus VII painted with Halfords Satin Black spray GPU waterblocks,Mayhem white
Formula motherboard,64GB of G.Skill paint. I used a 4.5in grinder,a hacksaw and coolant,an Alphacool PWM water pump
Trident Z memory,a GeForce GTX 980 Ti a battery drill to make it. The side panel is and rigid tubing.
graphics card,a 512GB Samsung SSD 950 just clear acrylic. Here are the specs: TARMO KAPPA
Pro,EKWB waterblocks and a Lian Li
PC-08 case. Thanks for the great read. Asus Maximus V Gene Ben: Wow! Thats a seriously nice system,
BILL CIRIGNANI Intel Core i5-3570 overclocked and Tarmo. I love the colour coordination and
stable at 4.6GHz tidiness of the build youve clearly planned
Ben: Of course we dont mind were MSI Radeon R7970 with pre-fitted where everything is going to go great work.
delighted we have readers all over the world, waterblock
and a variety of ages too! That looks like a 4 x 4GB Crucial Ballistix tracer 2166MHz
cracking system, Bill, and youre very brave OCZ 850 ZX-series PSU
going with rigid tubing for your first water- Cooling:XSPC D5 Photon 270 reservoir/
cooled build. pump combo,XSPC Raystorm CPU
waterblock,2 x XSPC EX360 Crossflow
Custom Ivy Bridge case Triple Fan Radiator,6 x Corsair Air Series
Heres my dining room project its very AF120 fans with Phanteks controller,
low-tech affair with a RealBench score of Monsoon acrylic tubing with hardline
just 112,000. Its not a particularly high chaingun fittings
KEITH MILBURN
Ben: Specs and benchmarks arent everything,

Keith, and Intels sparse changes to its
mainstream CPU architecture over the years
mean thats still a potent system (also, 112,000
is a really good score for an Ivy Bridge rig). More
importantly, though, youve built a custom case
from scratch to serve your needs exactly, and
that kind of activity is exactly what our hobby is
all about. Thats a great-looking system, and I
applaud your craftsmanship.
Send your feedback and correspondence to letters@custompcmag.org.uk
17
Reviews
Our in-depth analysis of the latest PC hardware
Contents
Alphacool Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro p19 /Intel Core i3-7350K p20 / Asus ROG Strix Z270G Gaming p22 /
MSI X99A Tomahawk p24 / Netgear Orbi Whole Home Wi-Fi System p26 /
Cooler Master MasterBox 5t p30 / Cougar Revenger p32 / Custom kit p34
18
HOWWETEST
PAGE36
G P U L I Q U I D CO O L E R
Alphacool Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro/128 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.aquatuning.co.uk
hile Corsair and

W NZXTs all-in-one
(AIO) liquid cooler
GPU adaptors work quite well,
they arent particularly easy to
install, theyre not as good at
cooling as a proper waterblock
and they aren't particularly
attractive either. However,
Alphacools Eiswolf GPX-Pro
aims to combine the best of
both worlds. Whats more, it
can even water-cool just
your graphics card out of
the box, without needing to
be attached to an existing
cooling setup.
It uses a standard 120mm-fan
radiator, with two 120mm 1,700rpm Conclusion
PWM fans included. This radiator is attached to a full-cover The Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro is quiet and no more complicated
GPU waterblock, which has an integrated pump. The to fit than a normal waterblock. It also matches custom loop
radiator acts as a reservoir, so theres no need for a separate performance and doesnt need a separate reservoir or
one, or indeed a separate pump. Whats pump. For under 130, you can have a fully water-cooled
more, the pump is extremely quiet only graphics card, pump, radiator and fans, for the same price as
The extra cooling the likes of NZXTs new Kraken series just an EKWB GPU block, backplate and fittings. Custom
AIO liquid coolers compete in terms of loops can be quieter and better-looking, but the Eiswolf 120
also enabled the noise on their lowest pump speed GPX-Pro isnt unattractive, plus you get other benefits too.
GPU frequency to setting. The fans can be tuned down

to inaudible levels using your
ANTONY LEATHER
boost further motherboard too.

Meanwhile, the tubing sports two
quick-release fittings, so its easy to U N IGIN E V A L L EY
Using Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
connect a CPU waterblock or additional radiator later. The
Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro 3,955
waterblock itself comes in a few flavours to cater for
EKWB custom loop 3,955
various PCB designs of GeForce GTX 1080 and 1070 cards,
Stock cooler 3,882
although theyre not all supported. We used a Founders
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
Edition GTX 1070 card, which requires the M01 Eiswolf. Youll Higher is better
need to remove your cards cooler, and installation is a tad GP U T EM P ER A T U R E
fiddly due to all the thermal pads you need to apply, plus a Using Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
backplate is included too. The pump is powered by a 3-pin Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro 40C
fan header, and theres a 4-pin splitter cable for the two EKWB custom loop 38C
fans, plus case mounting screws. Stock cooler 81C
We pitched the Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro against our cards 0 25 50 75 100

Lower is better
stock cooler, as well as a custom loop with a Laing DDC
pump and EKWB GTX 1070 waterblock, but COOLING DESIGN VALUE FITTING
/SPECIFICATIONS
using the same radiator. With the stock cooler,
the peak delta T was 60C (equating to 81C in
39/40 26/30 26/30 MEDIUM
Compatibility Compatible GPU-Z), but the Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro cut that OVERALL SCORE
91%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or temperature to just 40C, while the EKWB unit VERDICT
1080 card
cut it further to 38C. The extra cooling also A great way to water-cool your
Radiator size with fans (mm)
132 x 95 x 160 (W x D x H)
enabled the GPU frequency to boost further, graphics card without the hassle
Fans 2 x 120mm with the Unigine Valley score rising from a of a custom loop.
Stated noise Not Stated stock-cooled 3,882 to a water-cooled score of
3,955 for both waterblocks.
19
R E V I E WS / NEW KIT
LG A 1 1 5 1 P R O C E S S O R
Intel Core i3-7350K/180

180 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk
umours of a multiplier-unlocked Core i3 processor

R generated a lot of excitement with enthusiasts at
the end of 2016, and it turns out that the Core
i3-7350K was indeed a part of Intels 14nm Kaby Lake plans,
but is it all we anticipated? Sadly, the current exchange rate
and rising costs have blighted Intels new launch and not
just the processors, but the motherboards too. However,
even when you account for this situation, we wouldnt
have guessed that the Core i3-7350K would hit the
shelves at 180 inc VAT.
Thankfully, theres one consolation, even if it
probably wont be ideal for anyone with an ultra-
low budget. Because all of
Intels new CPUs are affected by the
We overclocked same problems, the next step up in
terms of unlocked CPUs the Core
the Core i3 all the i5-7600K retails for 240 inc VAT.
way to 5GHz with Turn the clock back just over two
years and you could have picked
a 1.41V vcore up the equivalent CPU, under the
Devils Canyon moniker and called
the Core i5-4690K, for 70 less at
just 170 inc VAT. Basically, while the Core i3-7350K is
pricier than we expected, its still substantially cheaper
than its big siblings.
As well as potential cost-saving, the other important smoother 4K playback and encoding, as well as
factor here is that, unlike the multiplier-unlocked Pentium the ability to play Netflix in 4K on your PC. With a TDP of just
G3258, the Core i3-7350K does offer Hyper-Threading, so 60W compared to 91W for the two pricier CPUs, though, the
instead of being stuck in the dual-core doldrums, you at Core i3 should also have diminutive cooling requirements,
least get the ability to simultaneously execute four threads. even when its overclocked.
The Core i-7350K wont keep up with a true
quad-core CPU at the same clock speed in Performance
/SPECIFICATIONS multi-threaded tests Hyper-Threading offers a As expected, in tests that only tax two or fewer cores, the
Frequency 4.2GHz clever way to split a cores resources, but its still Core i3-7350K keeps up with the Core i5-7600K fairly well.
Core Kaby Lake a dual-core CPU. However, it will certainly be In our mainly single-threaded GIMP image editing test, the
Manufacturing process better than the Pentium in heavily multithreaded Core i3s stock score of 57,455 was only just behind the
14nm software, plus its overclockable too. At stock Core i5s score of 58,931. However, performance falls away
Number of cores 2 x speed, theres no Turbo boost, but the base clock sharply in more heavily multi-threaded tests, even when
physical (4 threads) is a healthy 4.2GHz. the Core i3 is overclocked. For example, in our Handbrake
Hyper-threading Yes You also get less Level 3 cache than the Core H.264 video encoding test, the Core i3s overclocked score
Cache 4MB L3 cache, i5-7600K, with a 4MB allocation of 176,999 is behind the Core i5s score of
256KB L2 cache
compared to the Core i5s 6MB, 236,193 at stock speed, and way behind its
Memory controller Dual-
channel DDR4, up to
although again, this is still overclocked score of 282,303. Despite
2400MHz 1MB or 33 more than the the two processors being evenly
Packaging LGA1151 Pentium. It also has the matched in the image editing test,
Thermal Design Power same Intel HD 630 the system score of 94,036
(TDP) 60W integrated graphics compared to 135,178 for the Core i5
Features Hyper- Threading, processor (IGP) as the is rather telling.
Virtualization (VT-x), pricier Kaby Lake CPUs, We managed to overclock the
Virtualization for Directed
I/O (VT-d), VT-x with and its clocked at the Core i3 chip all the way to 5GHz with
Extended Page Tables same frequency of a 1.41V vcore, though, which is a great
(EPT), Intel 64, Idle States, 1,150MHz too. Plus you result. At this speed, it toppled the
Enhanced SpeedStep,
Smart Response, Intel AES get the 4K HEVC 10-bit stock-speed Core i5 in the image editing
video encoding engine for test, but it was much slower everywhere
20
else. The power consumption and operating temperatures Hyper-Threading
are great though. Even when running at 5GHz, the Core enables the Core i3
to simultaneously
i3-7350K was easily tamed by our single fan all-in-one execute four
liquid cooler, with our system drawing just 125W in Prime95. threads, but its still
a dual-core CPU
Conclusion
If your total system budget is less than 600, then the Core
i3-7350K sadly isnt for you its simply too expensive and
will mean skimping on more important areas of the system.
Also, if you can stretch your budget to accommodate the
Core i5-7600K, its a far better choice across the board.
Theres a small niche for the unlocked Core i3, though,
which will allow 1080p gamers to build a cut-price machine
with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU; even now, most
games dont hugely benefit from a quad-core CPU, and
when its overclocked, it will outperform a multiplier-locked
multiplier Core i5s in many tests too.
The Core i3-7350Ks surprisingly high launch price
limits its appeal, but theres still a place for it on a budget-
conscious enthusiasts shopping list, and if the price comes
down, it will offer a much better deal.
ANTONY LEATHER
C US T OM PC R EA L B E N C H 2 0 15
GI MP I MAGE EDI T I N G A S H ES O F T H E S IN GU L A R IT Y
DX12 CPU test
Intel Core i3-7350K 57,455 68,466
21 fps 24 fps
Intel Core i7-7700K 63,758 73,147 Intel Core i3-7350K
24 fps 27 fps
Intel Core i7-7600K 58,931 73,012
39 fps 43 fps
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 Intel Core i7-7700K
41 fps 45 fps
HANDBR AKE H. 2 6 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G
28 fps 32 fps
Intel Core i3-7350K 152,334 176,999 Intel Core i7-7600K
31 fps 35 fps
Intel Core i7-7700K 319,637 352,391
0 12 24 36 48
Intel Core i7-7600K 236,193 282,303
Stock speed idle Stock speed load Overclocked idle Overclocked load
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000
HEAVY MULT I - TA S KI N G T O T A L S YS T EM P O W ER CO N S U M P T IO N
Idle
Intel Core i3-7350K 94,036 10,7081
Intel Core i3-7350K 47W 65W
Intel Core i7-7700K 183,658 196,630
Intel Core i7-7600K 135,178 159,358
0 60,000 120,000 180,000 240,000
0 20 40 60 80
S YS T EM S C ORE Load
Intel Core i3-7350K 78,497 90,841 Intel Core i3-7350K 89W 125W
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 0 50 100 150 200
C I NEB ENC H R 15 Stock speed Overclocked
Intel Core i3-7350K 446 527
Intel Core i7-7700K 991 1,082
Intel Core i5-7600K 666 814
0 300 600 900 1,200

Stock speed Overclocked
SPEED FEATURES VERDICT /TEST KIT

OVERALL SCORE
82%
38/50 13/15 Not as cheap as wed hoped,
but its still potentially faster
MSI Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon motherboard, 16GB
Corsair 3200MHz Vengeance LED DDR4 RAM,
VALUE than a similarly priced
256GB Samsung 850 Pro SSD, Corsair RM850i
31/35 multiplier-locked Core i5.

PSU, Windows 10 Home 64-bit
21
Z 2 7 0 M I C R O -AT X M OT H E R B OA R D
Asus ROG Strix Z270G Gaming/162 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk
hile were still hopeful that Asus hasnt killed off

W the mini-ITX Impact from its ROG range, it
does look like one of our old favourites, the
micro-ATX Gene, has left the pure ROG fold and now
exists as the ROG Strix Z270G Gaming. The Gene has
always offered better value for money than some of its
ROG counterparts, though, and in some instances, it was by
far the cheapest ROG board too.
So what has the ROG Strix Z270G Gaming lost, if anything,
and what has it gained? Well, the fact that the last Gene
board, the Maximus VIII Gene, currently retails for 30 more
than the Strix Z270G indicates that you wont be getting
quite as many features. It isnt an
unattractive board by any means, but
Audio is better too, it doesnt have the same flare as the make for some difficult cable tidying. In addition, you also get
Gene. There are no overclocking five 4-pin fan headers, with two for the CPU and one thats
thanks to a beefed- testing tools, such as power and reset dedicated for AIO cooler pumps.
up version of the buttons or a clear-CMOS switch, the

VRM heatsinks dont sport a heatpipe
There are also two 16x PCI-E slots, but their spacing
means that, unless you water-cool your cards, the top cards
ALC1220 codec and you also lack USB BIOS Flashback.
However, youd expect some losses
cooler will be hampered by the lower card. You get a pair of
1x PCI-E ports too, which might be useful for sound cards or
given the lower price tag and they video capture devices.
come in exactly the expected places. That said, the ROG As usual, Asus software and EFI are excellent. Youre able
Strix Z270G Gaming includes a variety of features the old to control your fans based on temperature inputs from four
Gene lacked. It has integrated 2x2 dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi different sources, with different sources for different fans.
with an included magnetic antenna, for example a feature For example, you could set your case fans to speed up
that isnt even included on the Asus ROG Strix Z270F (see according to the motherboard temperature, while setting
Issue 162, p47). You also get a USB 3.1 front panel connector radiator fans to speed up according to coolant temperature
and there are two M.2 ports as well one on the front side of via the thermal probe header. Asus Fan Xpert 4 software
the PCB and another on the rear. The Gene also allows you to control the speed of both 3-pin and 4-pin fans
lacked Asus SafeSlot reinforced PCI-E slots, too. The EFI is slick, responsive and easily navigable using a
/SPECIFICATIONS which can prevent shearing. mouse, although Asus AI Suite makes it just as easy to
Chipset Intel Z270
The audio is better too, thanks to a beefed-up overclock from the comfort of the Windows desktop too.
version of the ALC1220 codec in a SupremeFX
CPU socket Intel LGA1151
guise, along with Texas Instruments RC4580 Performance
Memory support 4 slots:
and OPA1688 op-amps. There was no RGB The Z270Gs stock-speed system score result of 143,915 is
max 64GB DDR3 (up to
4000MHz) lighting on the Gene either, but the ROG Strix reasonable. It would have come last in our Z270 Labs test
Expansion slots Two 16x
Z270G gives you two 4-pin RGB LED headers, last month, and is more akin to a mid-table result in our
PCI-E 3, two 1x PCI-E 2 plus an RGB-illuminated PCG heatsink, with a budget Z270 Labs test this month (see p40), although the
Sound SupremeFX S1220A feature called Aura Sync able to display lighting margins are slim either way. There isnt much difference
in tune with other Asus Aura devices. Most of between the Z270G and its counterparts in Ashes of the
Networking Intel Gigabit
LAN, 802.11ac Wi-Fi Asus new Z270 motherboards offer Singularity, though, with similar frame rates across the
Overclocking Base clock
3D-printing mounting points as well, and there board. The ROG Strix Z270G Gaming had no problem
40-650MHz, CPU multiplier are downloadable objects for the Gene too. pushing our Samsung 960 Evo M.2 SSD to its limits either,
8-83x; max voltages, CPU Aside from these additions, you also get the with a read speed of 3,386MB/sec and write speed of
2.1V, RAM 2V full complement of six SATA 6Gbps ports, with 1,793MB/sec, with no issues to report from the SATA 6Gbps
Ports 6x SATA 6Gbps (Z270), both U.2 and SATA Express being sensibly ports either.
2 x M.2, 4 x USB 3, 1 x USB 3.1 ditched in favour of M.2. As well as the USB 3.1
Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C header, there are also ASMedia-powered USB
(additional ports via header),
3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports on the I/O
2 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 6 x
surround audio out, line in, panel, along with four USB 3 and two USB 2
mic, DisplayPort, HDMI ports, which should be plenty. One oddity,
Dimensions (mm) 244 x 244 though, is the location of the USB 3 header
its placed halfway across the PCB, which will
22
1 2 3
Theres one M.2 There are two 16x Unlike the Z270F, 3
socket on the front PCI-E slots, but the Z270G features
side of the PCB, and their spacing limits integrated 802.11ac
another on the rear your choice of cards Wi-Fi
The audio performance definitely showed a slight lead

over boards from other manufacturers too, backing up Asus
claims about its boosts to audio quality, with a dynamic 2
range level of 113dBA and noise level of -108.9dBA. These
results compare well against the competition, being
noticeably better than those from Gigabytes ALC1220-
equipped Z270-Gaming K3 (see p44), and offering a
vast improvement over the older on-board audio codecs
weve tested.
Overclocking was fairly easy too, with 1.34V needed to 1
reach our Core i7-7700Ks maximum 5GHz frequency.
This tweak saw the system score rise over 10,000 points
to 154,076 and we saw the usual gains in Ashes of the
Singularity too.
Power consumption was low, with our test system
drawing just 43W from the mains at stock speed and
a maximum of 165W under load when overclocked.
Conclusion months Labs test, but the ROG Strix Z270G offers solid
With the larger ROG Strix Z270F costing 10 more than the performance, and a surprisingly rich feature set for the
Z270G, but lacking Wi-Fi, the ROG Strix Z270G is a bit of a money. It might not have the Genes on-board overclocking
bargain. Unless you need two large, air-cooled graphics tools, but the lower price, extra features, plus Asus great EFI
cards, theres little reason to opt for its big sibling and theres and software, make it a great micro-ATX motherboard for a
a lot to be said for micro-ATX as a space-saving form factor good price.
too. There are cheaper Z270 options, as you can see in this ANTONY LEATHER
C US T OM PC R EA L B E N C H 2 0 1 5
GI MP I MAGE EDI T I N G A S H ES O F T H E S IN GU L A R IT Y
DX12 CPU benchmark, 1,920 x 1,080, High Settings
Asus ROG Strix Z270G
Gaming 66,408 72,640
Asus ROG Strix Z270G 40 fps 43 fps
Gigabyte Z270- 66,049 73,049
Gaming K3 Gaming
41 fps 45 fps
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000
Gigabyte Z270- 40 fps 42 fps
HANDBR AKE H. 2 6 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G Gaming K3
41 fps 45 fps
Gaming 319,390 345,405
0 13 26 39 52
Gigabyte Z270-
Gaming K3 322,301 347,045 Stock speed idle Stock speed load Overclocked idle Overclocked load
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000
HEAVY MULT I - TA S K I N G T O T A L S YS T EM P O W ER CO N S U M P T IO N
Idle
Gaming 173,137 181,534 Asus ROG Strix Z270G
Gaming 43W 50W
Gigabyte Z270-
Gaming K3 184,194 195,885 Gigabyte Z270- 46W 50W
Gaming K3
0 60,000 120,000 180,000 240,000 0 15 30 45 60
S YS T EM S C ORE Load
Asus ROG Strix Z270G Asus ROG Strix Z270G
Gaming 143,915 154,076 Gaming 128W 160W
Gigabyte Z270- 147,317 158,176 Gigabyte Z270- 145W 165W
Gaming K3 Gaming K3
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 0 45 90 135 180
Stock speed Overclocked Stock speed Overclocked
SPEED FEATURES
OVERALL SCORE VERDICT
89%
32/35 30/35 Makes up for the lack of a few
overclocking features with some great
VALUE new features. The Z270G is a cracking
27/30 micro-ATX board for a good price.
23
X 9 9 AT X M OT H E R B OA R D
MSI X99A Tomahawk/235 incVAT
he X99A Tomahawk is part of a new range of

T Arsenal boards from MSI, which also
includes Z270 models, but in this case
is kitted out with Intels top-end X99 chipset.
There isnt much to mention in terms of unique
aesthetics its not as luscious as MSIs Titanium
branded boards, but its still attractive and rather
mean-looking, plus you get steel-plated reinforced 16x
PCI-E slots and DIMM slots. Theres also a 4-pin RGB LED
header on the PCB for adding illumination.
However, the biggest selling point
of the X99A Tomahawk is its price.
The rear panel Despite the hike in hardware costs
across the board since the summer,
offers Type-A and with other boards such as the X99A Overall, the layout is excellent, apart from the tightly
Type -C USB 3.1 Gaming Pro Carbon soaring to nearly

300, this new board costs just 235
packed 1x PCI-E slots and front panel connectors, with
the latter sitting beneath the PCH heatsink. All the rest of the
Gen 2 ports inc VAT. For an X99 board, thats very
cheap indeed.
important connectors are located on the edge of the PCB,
and theres plenty of room around the CPU socket.
Thankfully, there havent been too Meanwhile, the EFI is identical to that of most MSI
many cutbacks. You get an LED POST code display, power premium motherboards. It isnt quite as feature-packed as
and reset buttons, a clear-CMOS button plus a dual BIOS an Asus ROG or Deluxe board, but it has an excellent layout,
switch, so most overclocking and testing bases are covered. with the overclocking section especially sporting practically
There are also two 1x PCI-E slots between the two primary all the tools you need on one page. For simple setups,
16x PCI-E slots, so theres plenty of space for the top card to theres a large XMP button on the front page handy if you
breathe if youre going to use a two-way graphics card just want to set the XMP profile for the correct memory
setup, although accessing the 1x PCI-E slots will be tricky, speed and timings without delving deeper. The fan control
even if youre only using dual-slot graphics suite is also second only to Asus system; the latter enables
cards. Thankfully, you can usually get away with you to switch off system fans at certain temperatures, and
/SPECIFICATIONS putting a 1x card in a 16x slot, of which theres a while you cant do that on the MSI, you can control all five
Chipset Intel X99 third on this board. fan headers, including one dedicated for all-in-one liquid
CPU socket Intel LGA2011-v3 The Tomahawk caters for loads of storage cooler pumps.
Memory support 8 slots:
types too. Theres a single U.2 port, along with
max 128GB DDR3 (up to support for the rather redundant SATA Express Performance
3333MHz) interface, plus 10 SATA 6Gbps ports and a single The X99A Tomahawk was slightly quicker overall than the
Expansion slots Three 16x M.2 port. Whats more, you can use both the M.2 MSI X99A Gaming Pro Carbon in our RealBench test suite,
PCI-E 3, two 1x PCI-E 2 port and U.2 port at the same time, while other with a score of 149,889 compared to 145,737. Both the MSI
Audio 8-channel Realtek boards often only allow one or the other, XPower Gaming Titanium and Asus X99 Gaming Strix were
ALC1150
although admittedly the M.2 wont run at full faster still, although only by a few per cent.
Networking Intel I218LM and speed if you do so. Meanwhile, the rear panel With all cores under heavy load in Cinebench R15, the
Intel I210AT Gigabit Ethernet
adds USB 3.1 Gen 2 to the equation, with both X99A Tomahawk fared a little better, dishing out slightly
Overclocking Base clock
91300MHz, CPU multiplier
Type-A and Type-C ports courtesy of an faster scores than both other MSI boards, but again the
12-80x; max voltages, CPU ASMedia controller. In addition, you get four differences were slim.
2.1V, RAM 2V USB 3 ports and four USB 2 ports, which should Overclocking our Core i7-6850K was simple, partly due
Ports 1 x M.2 PCI-E x4/SATA be ample even if you have several USB devices. to MSIs excellent EFI, but the companys Windows-based
6Gbps (up to 110mm), 1 x U.2 MSI has focused on RGB lighting with some overclocking software is also rather good. We managed to
32Gbps, 1 x SATA Express
of its latest efforts, but the Tomahawk just get all our CPU cores stably to 4.4GHz under load at 1.36V.
10Gbps, 10 x SATA 6Gbps, 1 x
USB 3.1 (Gen2) Type-A, 1 x offers a single 4-pin RGB header and no When overclocked, the MSI was again marginally behind in
USB 3.1 (Gen2) Type-C, 8 x significant on-board lighting its a
USB 3 (4 via header), 8 x USB no-nonsense affair, but you can at least liven it
2 (4 via header), 2 x LAN,
up a little with an LED strip and MSIs software.
audio out, line in, mic, optical
S/PDIF out Sadly, the board also lacks MSIs M.2 Shield
Dimensions (mm) 305 x 272 heatsink, which is only present on its Z270
boards for now.
24
HOWWETEST
PAGE36
1 2 3
Layout is generally Theres plenty of You get an LED
excellent, with lots space for the top POST code display,
of room around the card to breathe in a plus power and
CPU socket dual-GPU setup reset buttons
the system score result, but offered reasonable results in

both Cinebench R15 and Total War: Warhammer.
The MSI had no problem maxing out our Samsung 950
Pro SSD either, with read and write speeds of 2,300MB/sec
and 959MB/sec respectively, and it drew nearly 30W less 3
under load than the Asus X99 Gaming Strix. The on-board 2
audio proved to be on a par with the best X99 boards weve
seen too, with a dynamic range of 104dBA and a noise level 1
of just -104dBA.
Conclusion
The X99A Tomahawk doesnt offer much visual pizzazz
or lighting, but at 235 inc VAT, it offers excellent value. Its
a good overclocker, has most of the features youll need
and can save you 50 compared with many X99 boards,
allowing you to spend more money on other components.
ANTONY LEATHER
C US T OM PC R EA L B E N C H 2 0 1 5
GI MP I MAGE EDI T I N G T O T A L W A R : W A R H A M M ER
1,920 x 1,080, medium settings
MSI X99A Tomahawk 55,049 66,612
90 fps 115 fps
Asus X99 Gaming Strix 51,219 66,857 MSI X99A Tomahawk
MSI XPower 93 fps 122 fps
Gaming Titanium 49,923 67,312
90 fps 116 fps
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 Asus X99 Gaming Strix
94 fps 122 fps
HANDBR AKE H. 2 6 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G
MSI XPower 87 fps 114 fps
MSI X99A Tomahawk 341,246 384,934 Gaming Titanium 93 fps 118 fps
Asus X99 Gaming Strix 370,194 400,601
MSI XPower 0 35 70 105 140
361,160 405,328
Gaming Titanium Stock speed idle Stock speed load Overclocked idle Overclocked load
0 115,000 230,000 345,000 460,000
HEAVY MULT I - T A S KI N G T O T A L S YS T EM P O W ER CO N S U M P T IO N
Idle
MSI X99A Tomahawk 174,727 197,372
MSI X99A Tomahawk 119W 122W
Asus X99 Gaming Strix 118W 152W
MSI XPower 184,535 203,992
Gaming Titanium MSI XPower 92W 114W
Gaming Titanium
0 60,000 120,000 180,000 240,000
0 40 80 120 160
S YS T EM S C OR E Load
MSI X99A Tomahawk 149,889 169,363 MSI X99A Tomahawk 218W 298W
Asus X99 Gaming Strix 157,677 172,081 Asus X99 Gaming Strix 230W 327W
MSI XPower 155,874 176,128 MSI XPower
Gaming Titanium 204W 291W
Gaming Titanium
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 0 85 170 255 340
C I NEBENC H R 15 Stock speed Overclocked
MSI X99A Tomahawk 1,233 1,343

MSI XPower 1,172 1,335
Gaming Titanium
0 350 700 1,050 1,400
SPEED FEATURES
OVERALL SCORE VERDICT /TEST KIT
88%
37/40 24/30 MSI has stripped aesthetic frills for
a fully featured, high-end board with
3.6GHz Intel Core i7-6850K, 32GB Corsair
3200MHz DDR4, 256GB OCZ Arc 100 SSD,
VALUE great overclocking performance for
Samsung 950 Pro M.2 SSD, Corsair HX860i PSU, 2 x
27/30 a very generous price.

XFX Radeon R9 390X, Windows 10 Home 64-bit
25
ELITE
NEWENTRY
R E V I E WS / NEW KIT P62
WIRELESS ROUTER
NetgearOrbiWholeHomeWi-FiSystem/370 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.maplin.co.uk
ost high-end routers take a brute-

M force approach to improving Wi-Fi
speed and range, adding more
antennae, more frequency bands and the latest
Wi-Fi standards. That approach works up to a point, but
eventually even powerful routers run out or range. Of
course, you can buy Wi-Fi extenders, extra Ethernet
cable and access points, or use powerline networking,
but Netgear has taken a novel approach with the Orbi
that pretty much solves the problem.
Instead of one powerful router, the Netgear Orbi
system has one router and one hub, which work
together to stretch your Wi-Fi signal. The hub acts as
a glorified Wi-Fi extender, but rather than offering a
measly single-band, single-antennae unit, its a fully
fledged quad-stream, tri-band (1 x 2.4GHz, 2 x 5GHz)
monster that dedicates one of its 5GHz bands to
communicating with the main router. sharing, with one USB port on each unit,
This setup gets around one key problem with most Wi-Fi and a total of seven Ethernet ports.
extenders, which is that they tend to use one band for both
communication between the extender Conclusion
and router (the backhaul), and between The Orbi offers an easy way to ensure better Wi-Fi coverage
Orbi distinguishes the extender and client devices, which across your home. Its expensive, at nearly double the price
reduces overall throughput and increases of a typical high-end router, but its price-competitive with
itself by using two latency. The other benefit of the Orbi is other mesh router systems and outclasses them for
powerful routers that it takes care of the band to which

your device connects. Rather than having
features and performance across multiple floors.
EDWARD CHESTER
for its hubs network names (SSIDs) for each band,

and further ones for each extended band,
the Orbi presents you with only one. Just
connect to it and the system will automatically hook you up L A N S P EED T ES T
2m range
via the fastest route.
Netgear Orbi 247Mb/sec 483Mb/sec
This idea of a distributed, or mesh, Wi-Fi system isnt Netgear Nighthawk
R7800 390Mb/sec 548Mb/sec
new. There are rival systems from Ubiquiti, Google and
0 150 300 450 600
even BT. However, Orbi distinguishes itself by using
Middle oor
essentially two big powerful routers for its hubs.
In contrast, most other systems tend to use smaller, Netgear Nighthawk
141Mb/sec 226Mb/sec
weaker hubs with fewer features, and dont use a dedicated R7800
0 110 220 330 440
band for wireless backhaul.
Top oor
We installed the Orbi router on the ground floor of a
three-storey, brick-built home, placed the hub on the Netgear Nighthawk
44Mb/sec 105Mb/sec
second floor and then took measurements from all three R7800
0 75 150 225 300
floors. In this scenario, the Orbi managed to hit an average
Write speed Read speed
read/write speed of 214Mb/sec in the furthest test.
Meanwhile a normal router, the Netgear Nighthawk R7800, PERFORMANCE FEATURES VALUE
could manage only an average read/write speed of 75Mb/
sec, and made it far more difficult to maintain a stable signal.
48/50 23/25 19/25
The Nighthawk is quicker at close range, but the Orbi is OVERALL SCORE
90%
significantly faster and more reliable across multiple floors. VERDICT
Whats more, the Orbi router and hub are neat-looking, It isnt cheap, but the Orbi offers a
well-built units that will fit seamlessly with most decor. Fans really easy way to ensure Wi-Fi
of tinkering will find the basic menu options limiting, but you coverage across your home.
get more here than most other mesh router systems and
setup is effortless. Plus, you still get printer and storage
26
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AT X C A S E
Cooler Master MasterBox 5t/85 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.novatech.co.uk
ooler Master is currently revamping its

C MasterBox and MasterCase products, and it
got off to a great start with its spectacular
MasterCase Maker 5t that we reviewed last month (see
Issue 162, p32). The MasterBox 5t is a very different beast,
though, retailing for 150 less money and sitting in the
highly competitive 50-100 price bracket.
Its look may be a little polarising, with a glossy black panel
that reminds us a little of a Star Wars Sandcrawler, albeit a
clean, rust-free one, with a front that leans forwards from
the top. Its sandwiched between two red mesh sections
and, as you might suspect, it does indeed attract fingerprints
and dust, but that front helps to break up the angular front
section with a unique look. The red
detailing continues to a magnetic dust
The glossy black filter that caters for the top fan mount,
as well as the large motherboard tray,
panel reminds us making for a red and black colour
a little of a Star scheme that really stands out.

Our review sample, which retails for motherboard tray, at the front of it or behind it too. The hard
Wars Sandcrawler 85 inc VAT, also included a side window
and, thanks to a half-length PSU cover
disk cage itself can also be adjusted backwards to make
way for a radiator. Sadly, Cooler Masters 2.5in SSD mount
and a lack of 5.25in bays, you get a clean isnt tool-free, as youd expect from a Corsair case, but at
view of the interior too. Cooler Master has also sensibly kept least the hard disk mounts dont require tools.
the case feet short to limit the height, which is increased by Two fans are included as standard one 120mm model in
the towering, leaning front section. It still stands at a little the front, with another in the rear of the case. However, the
over 51cm, though, which is taller than the likes of Phanteks roof can also offer a home to either a 120mm or 140mm fan,
Enthoo Pro M Glass and NZXTs S340. Thanks to a depth of and the front section can house a total of three 120mm fans
54cm, it can also cater for E-ATX motherboards. or a pair of 140mm fans, with corresponding radiator
The front I/O panel sits on top of the case, which is just support too. Youll be limited to 45mm-thick models in this
as well, since locating it on the glossy front would result in a location by moving back the hard disk cage, as the fans are
fingerprint fest. It includes a pair of USB 3 ports, power and located in the front panel. This panel is also removable,
reset buttons, audio mini-jacks and a two-speed fan along with its dust filters.
controller switch. The fan controller can power up to three Meanwhile, the motherboard tray also has plenty of holes
fans, although you can use some cheap splitter cables to that might be useful for reservoir mounting. Cable tidying is
power more of them if needs be its a a little haphazard, though, and there arent any rubber
useful feature either way. grommets to hide the cables either your wires end up just
/SPECIFICATIONS The front panel also forms a part of a poking through the large holes in the motherboard tray.
Dimensions (mm) 235 x 500 x 480 carry-grip section, which makes lifting and Thankfully, you can also tuck many of the cables under the
(W x D x H) moving the case very easy. Flip it over, and PSU cover. Graphics cards with of a width of up to 410mm
Material Steel, plastic the underside sports the aforementioned are supported, and CPU coolers up to 167mm in height can
Available colours Red and black some small case feet, along with a squeeze into the case too, which is shorter than some large
Weight 7.4kg removable dust filter for the PSU and a coolers, so check your measurements first.
Front panel Power, reset, 2 x USB 3,
stereo, mic, fan control
wide LED strip hidden inside a rotating
Drive bays 1 x 2.5in, 2 x 2.5/3.5in block at the front, which should work
Form factor(s) E-ATX, ATX, micro- whether the case is sitting on a carpet or
ATX, mini-ITX a wooden desk.
Cooling 3 x 120mm/2 x 140mm Meanwhile, the interior sports the
front fan mounts (1 x 120mm fan
included), 1 x 120/140mm roof fan attractive red motherboard tray, which
mount, 1 x 120mm rear fan mount forms part of a modular system that
(fan included) allows you to move around certain
CPU cooler clearance 167mm
components. A dedicated 2.5in tray sits on
Maximum graphics card length
410mm top of the hard disk cage by default, but
can be relocated to three spots on the
30
HOWWETEST
PAGE36
1
A switch for the
included fan
controller sits on
the front I/O panel
2
There are plenty
of holes for routing
cables, but no
rubber grommets to
properly hide them
2 3
3
The attractive red
motherboard tray
is part of a modular
system that allows
you to move around
certain components
Performance
Fan noise was particularly quiet with the MasterBox 5t, even
at full speed, which explains why the temperatures when
dealing with our test gear werent amazing. A CPU delta T
of 57 C with the fans at full speed is far from poor, but its still 1
5 C warmer than the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Glass and a
tad warmer than the In Win 303 too.
The MasterBox5ts GPU delta T of 54 C was reasonable,
though, and not quite as far from the best results weve
seen, but the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Glass was still
noticeably cooler.
a decent case if you prefer its styling we love the red
Conclusion detailing, especially on the inside, and the fan controller is
Despite its average cooling results, the Cooler Master a great inclusion too.
MasterBox 5t is a good effort at a sub-100 case. Its a little The MasterBox 5t also offers a good amount of water-
tinny in places, but few cases in this price range have really cooling support, and would make a great base for building
solid build quality. Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Glass is the a quiet PC too.
superior case in this league, but the MasterBox 5t is still ANTONY LEATHER
CPU LOAD DELTA T GPU LOAD DELTA T

Cooler Master Cooler Master
MasterBox 5t (max speed) 57C MasterBox 5t (max speed) 54C
Cooler Master 60C Cooler Master 55C
MasterBox 5t (min speed) MasterBox 5t (min speed)
Phanteks Enthoo 52C Phanteks Enthoo 50C
Pro M Glass Pro M Glass
SilverStone Primera PM01 50C SilverStone Primera PM01 50C
In Win 303 54C In Win 303 52C
Fractal Design Dene S 52C NZXT H440 2015 Edition 51C
NZXT H440 2015 Edition 53C Fractal Design Dene S 52C
0 15 30 45 60 0 15 30 45 60
Lower is better Lower is better
COOLING FEATURES VERDICT

OVERALL SCORE
82%
23/30 17/20 The MasterBox 5ts cooling ability could be better, but its
also very quiet, and offers snazzy details and fan control.
DESIGN VALUE There are better-performing cases in this price league, but
25/30 17/20 they dont have this cases unique looks.
31
GAMING MOUSE
Cougar Revenger/45 incVAT
f you like large, weighty responsive mice, and want

I all the latest hardware you can expect from a
rodent, then youll want to continue reading about
the Revenger, which is Cougars flagship optical mouse. Its
a relatively new brand on the scene, but its currently
occupying nearly every segment of PC hardware, from
PSUs to cases and peripherals such as the Immersa 300H
headset we reviewed last month (see Issue 162, p36).
At 45 inc VAT, the Revenger is reasonably priced for
its specification. You get a 12,000dpi PMW 3360 optical
sensor, which dealt supremely well with every surface we
tried. Meanwhile, both the primary buttons sit on Omron
switches, so they feel fantastically light and responsive.
You get a three-level adjustable DPI setting, plus a fully
featured software suite that allows you tweak the X and Y
axis of each DPI setting independently,
going in 100dpi from 100-12,000dpi. It
also sports a sniper mode, which again
is fully configurable on both axes, and
can be assigned to any of the six
programmable buttons.
You can control the two lighting zones
too, setting each to a breathing effect, a
solid colour from the full RGB colour hinder it in rapid fire fights. Similarly, it was sensitive and
The front DPI level spectrum or just switching them off. accurate enough to deal with small, sharp movements
However, the front DPI level lights are when sniping, although its primary buttons are a little loud
lights usefully particularly useful, as they show the and heavy.
show the current current sensitivity setting. You can also

tweak the USB polling rate from 125- Conclusion
sensitivity setting 1000Hz, and enable or disable angle
snapping and acceleration. Theres even
The Revenger is a very solid effort with all the latest features
and a full-on software package its a good deal for 45 inc
a macro recording function, and all these VAT. However, we advise erring on the side of caution if you
settings are housed in 512KB of on-board memory. need to change DPI settings quickly, as the odd-feeling
The mouse itself is fairly large, measuring at 135mm button will likely get on your nerves. If you dont change the
long and 45mm high, while weighing 110g. Oddly, thats the DPI on the fly regularly then the Revenger costs less money
same weight as Logitechs G402, but the G402s shape than other illuminated, configurable mice such as Corsairs
means it feels lighter in your hand, especially on fabric M65 Pro RGB. If the Revengers sensitivity isnt important to
mouse mats. The Revenger is definitely a mouse for large- you, though, our recommended mouse in this price league
handed gamers too, but it suits all three grip types. It feels remains Logitechs G402, which also has side-mounted
particularly comfortable in a palm grip thanks to its arcing DPI buttons that are easier to use.
back. The thumb buttons are well placed as well, if a little ANTONY LEATHER
heavy-feeling, but the scroll wheel feels fantastic, with
smooth, light detents that are silent in action.
The one oddity is the DPI adjustor. It feels more like its
meant to shoot metal balls around a pinball machine, and DESIGN FEATURES VALUE
works in the same way stiffly drawing
backwards before releasing. It will certainly
31/40 31/35 21/25
/SPECIFICATIONS prevent accidental knocks, but its not ideal for OVERALL SCORE VERDICT
83%
Sensor 12,000dpi optical quick sensitivity changes. The cable isnt braided For 45, the Revenger is a very
Connection Wired, USB either, which is a shame, although its fairly thin solid effort from Cougar, although
Cable 2m, non-braided and light, so it doesnt drag too much. the slightly odd DPI button needs
Materials Plastic The mouse otherwise feels wonderful to use, a rethink.
Extras RGB lighting,
software with a weighty feel and excellent accuracy. It
feels weightier than the G402, but that doesnt
32
A million computers
are waiting to be built.
There may be countless ways to build a PC. But theres one series of PC cases that
makes them all possible: Dark Base 900. It offers maximum flexibility to suit your
individual space requirements. And of course, its one of the quietest cases in the
world, featuring:
Repositionable motherboard tray and HDD tray with the option of inverse layout
Three virtually inaudible be quiet! SilentWings 3 PWM fans
Full-circuit airflow system with noise-dampened vents
Four areas for water cooling radiators up to 420mm
Dark Base Pro 900 with LED illumination, window with tempered glass and wireless
Qi charger
For more information visit bequiet.com *GfK data 2016
Available at: scan.co.uk overclockers.co.uk ebuyer.com novatech.co.uk

aria.co.uk amazon.co.uk
CustomKit
Phil Hartup checks out the latest gadgets, gizmos and geek toys
M O U S E PA D
SteelSeriesQck+Limited/21.99 incVAT
The SteelSeries Qck+ Limited exists in a unique Zen state

where you can completely forget its there, yet at the
same time, it makes the experience of gaming with a
mouse feel much smoother and more comfortable than
a lesser pad or desk surface. Measuring 450 x 400mm, it
provides a wide enough area to ensure you dont stray over
the edges, unless you fall out of your chair, and at only 3mm
thick, it doesnt feel like its in the way either.
The top surface is made from very smooth fabric, which is
ideal for precise or sweeping movements, and the underside has
enough grip to ensure this big pad stays in place, but you can also
move it easily enough if necessary. The demands of a mouse pad
arent complicated compared with most elements of a gaming setup,
but its still good to see a company absolutely nail it.
SUPPLIER www.steelseries.com
PHONE CASE
PryntCaseforApple D U ST F I LT E R S
iPhone6or6S/129.99 INIBUD120mmFanMesh
In the cold light of day, it seems likely that the Prynt Case isnt the
product of witchcraft after all, although it remains a very strange piece
DustCovers/5.50
of kit. It enabled you to print pictures from an iPhone (checking if your The INIBUD fan dust covers are notable for two appealing features.
model is compatible) onto small stickers. Whats more, the pictures Firstly, they work. Secondly, theyre cheap. Each one is a very thin
you take can be snippets of videos, and when you look at the printed mesh that can be installed easily in front of an air intake fan in order to
picture with the app, you see the video. Its extremely cool the first prevent dust from getting into a system. Because the filter itself is so
few times you see it and show it off to people. However, the device thin, its also very easy to clean. The trade-off is that the very tight
feels too ungainly to be conveniently portable, and its rather mesh used will reduce airflow into the case, but there are enough
impractical for proper photo printing use due to the small size of vents to ensure that plenty of air can get through youll just need to
the pictures it produces. monitor your temperatures and find an appropriate fan speed.
SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk
34
SCREEN CLEANER
EcomoistNaturalScreenCleaner/16.97
The idea of a screen cleaner with a lack of harsh toxic chemicals seems a little wrongheaded at
first. After all, if you sneeze on my monitor, youd generally want to obliterate all traces of it as
ruthlessly as possible. However, this level of chemical warfare isnt necessary, as the Ecomoist WIRELESS SPEAKER
spray does a good job without needing to be particularly toxic or unpleasant (although you still
wouldnt want to get it in your eyes or mix drinks with it). The bottle is supplied with a small but
LibratoneZipp
thick absorbent cloth, which works very well for dust or spots, and refills are available if you
want to go the extra planet-saving mile.
Wireless
Speaker/219 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk
The Libratone Zipp is a compact but
reasonably powerful speaker that can be
L A P TO P B AG connected to a wireless network. It can also
BooqShockPro/165 incVAT
use Bluetooth, which is fine if you only have
one of them. However, networking multiple
The Booq Shock Pros most striking feature is its internal speakers allows you to pump your music,
sleeve, which is designed to stash a laptop computer, and Internet radio and so on, through up to six of
its easily the comfiest and fuzziest computer storage the speakers simultaneously anywhere in
system weve seen. Theres a certain amount of range of your wireless network. The
rigidity and padding to provide protection, but speakers on their own make enough noise
the inside is velvety and snug. It can to fill a room, and you can easily fill a house
accommodate up to 16.4in PCs or 15in Macs with several of them you dont even need
with a level of comfort and protection one in each room to do so.
usually reserved for crown jewels. This is The Zipp speakers are controlled
a bag that treats your computer right. largely by apps on external devices such as
The rest of the internal compartments PCs, tablets or smartphones, although
are neat and sleek, and there are pockets there are controls on the speakers
and pouches inside to keep any bits from themselves, so you dont have to scurry off
moving around and getting damaged. to your computer in a different room to
The exterior is also made from water- mute a speaker, for example. Theyre not
resistant nylon, so you dont have to panic cheap, but networking several of them
at the first drop of rain. As a bonus, the together makes for a much better setup
Shock Pro doesnt look ostentatious, or than a single pair of speakers cranked up to
even like a laptop bag. 11 so you can hear them around the house.
SUPPLIER www.booq.co.uk SUPPLIER www.libratone.com
Seen something worthy of appearing in Custom Kit? Send your suggestions to editor@custompcmag.org.uk
35
Howwetest
Thorough testing and research is the key to evaluating whether a product
is worth buying, and deciding whether or not theres a better alternative
PROCESSORS
We judge CPUs on whether they offer sufficient speed for the price. Part of a CPUs speed score comes from how
overclockable it is. Every type of CPU is tested in the same PC, so all results are directly comparable.
INTEL LGA1151
+ + + + +
Intel MSI Z270 Gaming Pro 16GB Corsair 500GB AMD Radeon R9 Windows 10
LGA1151 Carbon Vengeance LED Samsung SSD 390X 64-bit
CPU 3200MHz DDR4 960 Evo
INTEL LGA2011-V3
+ + + + +
Intel Asus Rampage V 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX Samsung SSD AMD Radeon R9 Windows 10
LGA2011 -v3 CPU Extreme 10 Edition 2666MHz DDR4 850 Pro 390X 64-bit
TESTS: We use Custom PC RealBench 2015, Cinebench R11.5 and a variety of games. We also test the power draw of the test PC with the
CPU installed. These tests reveal a broad range of performance characteristics, from image editing to gaming and video encoding to 3D
rendering. We run all tests at stock speed and again when overclocked to its highest frequency.
GRAPHICS CARDS
Graphics cards are mainly evaluated on how fast they are for their price. However, we also consider the efficacy and
quietness of the cooler. Every graphics card is tested in the same PC, so all results are directly comparable.
+ + + + = SCORES
4.4GHz Intel 16GB Corsair Vengeance Asus Maximus VIII Windows 10 The graphics card
Core i5-6600K LED 3000MHz DDR4 Hero 64-bit were reviewing
36
Our benchmark suite,
CUSTOM PC REALBENCH 2015 co-developed with
INTEL REFERENCE AMD REFERENCE Asus, simulates how
people really use PCs
a higher score is
+ + + + =100% + + + =100% better. You can
download them from
Intel Core 16GB of Corsair 240GB Asus Nvidia AMD 8GB of Corsair 256GB Asus
i7-4790K 2400MHz OCZ Maximus GeForce GTX A10-7850K 2133MHz Plextor A88X-Pro www.asus.com/
DDR3 150 Gene VII 780 3GB DDR3 M5 Pro campaign/Realbench
MOTHERBOARDS The
Motherboards are evaluated on everything from layout and features to overclockability
and value for money. Every motherboard is tested with the same components, so all Awards
results are directly comparable.
EXTREME
INTEL LGA1151 ULTRA
Some products are
+ + + + + gloriously over the

top. These items of
excellent overkill
Intel Motherboard 16GB Corsair Vengeance 500GB Samsung AMD Radeon R9 Windows 10 earn our Extreme
Core i7-7700K on test LED 3200MHz DDR4 SSD 960 Evo 390X 64-bit
Ultra award.
INTEL LGA2011-V3 PREMIUM

GRADE
Premium Grade
+ + + + + + products are
utterly desirable
wed eat nothing
Intel Core Motherboard Samsung Samsung 32GB Corsair 2 x AMD Radeon Windows 10 but beans until we
i7-6850K on test SSD 850 Pro SSD 950 Pro Vengeance LPX R9 390X 64-bit
3200MHz DDR4 could afford them.
TESTS: We use Custom PC RealBench 2015 andTotal War: Warhammer, and also test the speeds of PROFESSIONAL
the boards SATA and M.2 ports. We try to overclock every motherboard we review by testing for a Products worthy of
maximum base clock as well as overclocking the CPU to its maximum air-cooled level. We run our the Professional
tests at stock speed and with the CPU overclocked. award make you
and your business
appear even more
awesome.
APPROVED
Approved products
are those that do a
great job for the
money; theyre the
canny purchase for
a great PC.
CUSTOM KIT
For those gadgets
TESTS: By using the fast PC detailed on the left, we can be sure that any limitations are due to the and gizmos that
graphics card on test, rather than being CPU limited. We test Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Doom, Crysis 3, really impress us,
Fallout 4 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at their maximum detail settings, in their highest DirectX mode, at or that we cant
several resolutions. High-end cards should be able to sustain playable frame rates at 2,560 x 1,440, live without,
while 1,920 x 1,080 is more important for mid-range cards; we also test at 3,840 x 2,160 for 4K theres the Custom
monitors, and try to overclock every graphics card we test to assess the performance impact. Kit award.
37
L A B S T E ST
Boardmeeting
Looking to build a decent Kaby Lake rig on a tight budget? Antony Leather rounds
up five sub-150 motherboards to find the best PCBs for the job
Contents
ASRock Z270 Killer SLI /p41 Asus Prime Z270-P /p43 MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic /p46
ASRock Z270 Pro4 /p42 Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3 /p44 Results graphs /p47
Howwetest
e test each motherboard with a overclocking, we find the maximum stable We also run Ashes of the Singularitys
W Core i7-7700K CPU, 16GB of
Corsair Vengeance LED 3200MHz
CPU frequency across all CPU cores and
identify the lowest stable voltage to reach it.
built-in DX12 CPU benchmark at 1,920 x
1,080, using High settings to limit any GPU
DDR4 RAM and an XFX Radeon R9 390X Our CPU usually maxes out at 5GHz using a bottlenecking, and running Fraps for 30
graphics card. We use a 512GB 960 Evo M.2 vcore of around 1.38V. Above these settings, seconds to record the minimum and
SSD and a Samsung 850 Pro SSD, along temperatures usually reach unsafe limits, maximum frame rate.
with CrystalDiskMarks 32-queue-depth but we always try for higher frequencies Finally, we take both idle and load power
storage test to record sequential speeds. To and lower voltages. consumption readings from the wall for the
measure on-board audio performance, we We use the latest version of CPC system as a whole using a power meter. The
run RightMarks Audio Analyzer software RealBench 2015 (see p101), which includes idle reading is taken at the desktop with no
using 24-bit/192KHz settings, with the line- the Gimp image editing suite, multi- programs open, while the load result is
out connected to the line in-jack to obtain threaded performance using the Handbrake taken using Prime95s smallfft test.
noise and dynamic range levels. open source video transcoder and heavy We use a weighted calculation to work
We load optimised default settings and multi-tasking performance playing back out the performance score using the results
set the XMP profile in the EFI for stock- full-screen HD video at the same time as from the benchmarks, and mark the
speed tests, but touch no other settings, conducting a video transcode. Each test features and prices in the same spreadsheet
which sets the correct memory speed and produces an individual point score based to work out the features and value scores.
timings, and ensures the board is set up for on completion time and also outputs a All the scores are added together to provide
the best stock-speed performance. When weighted system score. a final score.
40
ASRock Z270 Killer SLI/135 incVAT
eve seen some fantastic budget

W boards from ASRock over the years,
and the company sent us two sub-
140 motherboards to do battle this month.
The more expensive of the two boards is the
Z270 Killer SLI; as its name suggests, it
supports Nvidia SLI as well as the usual AMD
CrossFire a feature thats quite rare at this
price. However, it has cut a few corners to
get there, and theyre corners that many
enthusiasts would be unhappy to cut.
For starters, despite costing a little more
money than the Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3
(see p44), you only get ALC892 audio as
opposed to the superior ALC1220 audio
codec on the Gigabyte board. Also, part of
what made ASRocks Z170 Extreme4 such
a great board, sitting on our Elite List for a
good chunk of time, was its full complement
of overclocking and testing tools and
buttons, which sadly arent found on the
Z270 Killer SLI. The board only has four fan
headers too, and for some reason, the pump
header sits at the bottom of the PCB, as on
Its the only board on a sub-140 board, but at this price, wed
rather see decent audio and a wider set of
the Gigabyte board.
Thankfully, you get a fair few features in
test to offer RGB features than dual-GPU support and RGB
lighting. The Asus Prime Z270-P is cheaper
addition to comprehensive multi-GPU lighting in the form of and a better overclocker, while the MSI Z270
support. For example, its the only board on Tomahawk Arctic and Gigabyte Z270-
test to offer RGB lighting in the form of a a backlit PCH heatsink Gaming K3 offer better value for money.
backlit PCH heatsink, plus theres a 4-pin RGB
header on the PCB. While theres no clear- tuning is excellent it doesnt quite offer the
SPEED FEATURES OVERALL SCORE
83%
CMOS button, the clear-CMOS jumper is well detail of some of the other software suites
placed at the base of the PCB, unlike many of on test, but its clear and easy to use, plus 31/35 27/35
the other boards on test. You also get youre able to switch off fans below certain VALUE
heatsinks in both CPU power circuitry zones,
an Intel-controlled LAN port plus the two 16x
temperatures a task that isnt possible on
MSIs board.
25/30
PCI-E slots are reinforced with steel. In Sadly, however, both the ASRock boards on VERDICT
addition, ASRock has included a large white tested needed hefty vcores to get our Core A good-looking board, but at this price, wed
shroud covering the I/O ports and audio i7-7700K to 5GHz, with the Z270 Killer SLI rather ditch SLI support in favour of a wider
circuitry, which makes it look a little more requiring 1.4V, which is a fair bit more than the feature set.
grown-up than its cheaper sibling (see p42). cheaper Asus Prime Z270-Ps 1.32V. It was
You still get two M.2 ports and the full also slower at both stock speed and /SPECIFICATIONS
complement of six SATA 6Gbps ports as overclocked frequencies, with system scores ChipsetIntelZ270
well, along with a generous count of four of 145,548 and 157,085 respectively CPUsocketIntelLGA1151
1x PCI-E slots, so theres plenty of scope compared to 145,964 and 158,994 for the Memorysupport4slots:max64GBDDR3(upto
for expansion. Asus board, although these differences are 3773MHz)
Meanwhile, the I/O panel offers both USB obviously small. The power consumption was ExpansionslotsTwo16xPCI-E3,four1xPCI-E2
3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports, but there a little high too, and it couldnt match the SoundRealtekALC892
are only five USB ports on the back in total, Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3s audio NetworkingIntelGigabitLAN
which will be problematic if you have much in performance either. OverclockingBaseclock100-538MHz,CPU
multiplier8-20x;maxvoltages,CPU1.52V,RAM
the way of printers, external storage or 1.55V
monitors to hook up, along with peripherals. Conclusion Ports6xSATA6Gbps(Z270),2xM.2,1xUSB3.1
ASRocks EFI is a little dated compared with Sadly, while its a solid effort, the ASRock Gen2Type-A,1xUSB3.1Gen2Type-C,6xUSB
3,5xUSB2,1xLAN,3xsurroundaudioout,linein,
MSI and Asus efforts, but its easy to find your Z270 Killer SLI falls short in a number of mic,DVI-D,HDMI
way around the settings. However, ASRocks areas. It has a generally decent design and Dimensions(mm)305x221
Windows software for overclocking and fan software, and its good to see RGB lighting on
41
L A B S T E ST / Z270 MOTHERBOARDS
ASRock Z270 Pro4/115 incVAT
he ASRock Z270 Pro4 goes head to

T head with the Asus Prime Z270-P
(see opposite), and the stakes
seem fairly evenly matched, as does the price
tag. That said, the ASRock board does sport a
snazzy logo on the PCB and has more CPU
power phases than the Asus, in addition to
two additional SATA 6Gbps ports and an
extra fan header.
It also has a third M.2 port, which is
specifically intended for Wi-Fi modules, along
with the necessary mounting point for the
antennae. Whats more, the Z270 Pro4 has
both USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C ports, which
are both absent on the Asus board, and it
features Intel Gigabit Ethernet rather than the
Asus Realtek LAN port. Theres a nod to
legacy hardware too, with the inclusion of an
old-school PCI slot, so you can transplant your
old sound card or TV capture card to a new
Kaby Lake machine.
The Asus board hits back by sporting more
USB ports overall, along with an extra 1x PCI-E
slot and a better layout with well-placed fan
headers. The biggest differences, though, are
Theres a nod to legacy However, if youre pairing the board with a
K-series Intel CPU, then the Asus board is
found in the overclocking feature, software
and the EFI, where the Asus board has a clear
hardware too, with the a much better bet, at least with the current
EFI versions.
lead. ASRock has lagged behind Asus in the inclusion of an old-
EFI stakes since EFI took over from the older
BIOS interface. MSI and Asus continue to lead school PCI slot SPEED FEATURES OVERALL SCORE
82%
the pack here, although that isnt to say the 30/35 25/35
ASRock EFI is terrible it just feels dated and stably achieve this frequency, which was the VALUE
not as responsive.
The software is a slightly different story.
highest result on test.
In terms of performance, the Z270 Pro4s
27/30
ASRocks overclocking and fan tuning system score of 140,822 at stock speed with VERDICT
software is excellent, although fairly simplistic, the XMP profile enabled was quite low the Impressive features for such a low price,
but its very clearly laid out and easy to use. Asus board managed 145,964, but the but the competition is much better at
Asus Windows software, on the other hand, differences evened out once wed applied the overclocking and surpasses this board in
is extremely detailed, but can feel a little overclock, with fewer than 1,000 points other areas too.
complicated and overbearing at times. separating the boards.
That said, its a simple task to get used to It was the same in the other tests, with both /SPECIFICATIONS
it. Elsewhere, the boards specifications are boards managing at least a 3,300MB/sec ChipsetIntelZ270
quite similar. The audio is from a similar read speed using a Samsung 960 Evo M.2 CPUsocketIntelLGA1151
class of audio codec in the form of Realteks SSD, and the audio performance was very Memorysupport4slots:max64GBDDR3(upto
ALC892 again, it isnt as good as the similar too, with dynamic range levels 3773MHz)
ALC1220 codec on the Gigabyte Z270- reported around 92dB(A). The Z270 Pro4 had ExpansionslotsTwo16xPCI-E3,three1xPCI-E2,
onePCI
Gaming K3, but then neither is the ALC887 the highest load overclocked power draw on
SoundRealtekALC892
codec on the Asus board. test, though, at 188W, thanks to the high
NetworkingIntelGigabitLAN
When it came to actually overclocking these voltage needed.
OverclockingBaseclock100-538MHz,CPU
boards, though, the Asus Prime Z270-P had a Multiplier8-120x;maxvoltages,CPU1.52V,RAM
clear lead. Both ASRock boards suffered from Conclusion 1.55V
vdroop, where the voltage droops. This issue Overclocking aside, the ASRock Z270 Pro4 Ports6xSATA6Gbps(Z270),2xM.2,1xUSB3.1
was alleviated by using loadline calibration, offers good value for money and has a few Gen2Type-A,1xUSB3.1Gen2Type-C,6xUSB3,
5xUSB2,1xLAN,3xsurroundaudioout,linein,
but both the ASRock boards still required hefty extra features compared with the Asus Prime mic,DVI-D,HDMI
voltages to get our Core i7-7700K overclocked Z270-P, such as Intel-powered LAN, more Dimensions(mm)305x221
to 5GHz. The Z270 Pro4 needed 1.41V to fan headers and USB 3.1 Gen 2 support.
42
Asus Prime Z270-P/114 incVAT
ith a seemingly bargain price of

W just 114, the Asus Prime Z270-P
is the cheapest motherboard on
test, costing considerably less money than
most of the Z270 motherboards weve
seen so far. However, the low price tag does
mean numerous features have been cut from
the specifications.
There are only three fan headers, for
example, although theyre at least well
positioned for powering a rear case fan, CPU
cooler fan and either a pump or front/roof
fan. Theres also only one power circuitry
heatsink, just four SATA 6Gbps ports (you
usually get six) and there are no USB 3.1 Gen 2
ports either.
Like most of the other boards on test this
month, Asus has also opted for the older
Realtek ALC887 audio codec, which isnt as
good as the newer ALC1220 used in more
expensive Z270 motherboards, including
Gigabytes Z270-Gaming K3 (see p44). The
LAN port is also connected to a Realtek
controller rather than an Intel one and the PCB You get a superb EFI, difference in audio quality either. Weve still
yet to see any desirable USB 2.1 Gen 2
also looks remarkably basic compared with
the likes of MSIs Z270 Tomahawk Arctic,
which makes devices, plus four SATA ports are more than
enough for most people and youll need to
although the latter costs 35 more.
The Asus PCB has some white detailing,
overclocking and spend a lot more money to get better audio
too. If you can live with the basic aesthetics,
but its otherwise a dark shade of brown and tuning your system the Prime Z270-P is the best budget Z270
theres very little in terms of lighting, with no motherboard weve seen, and its an ideal
fancy RGB LED effects on show. However, if very easy partner for Intels Core i3-7350K.
youre keen to keep costs to a minimum, but
not let up on core performance, the Prime a fantastic result for anyone looking for a
87%
Z270-P covers your bases very well. cheap, overclockable motherboard. It was
You get a pair of M.2 sockets, which support fairly potent in benchmarks too, posting some 34/35 24/35
Intels forthcoming Optane technology, of the higher RealBench scores and claiming VALUE
theres a reasonable count of six USB ports on
the back, with four being of the USB 3 flavour,
the top system score 158,994 once it was
overclocked. Thanks to the low vcore, it also
29/30
plus two on-board USB 3 headers and two had the most power-frugal result under load, VERDICT
USB 2 headers. with the whole system drawing just 160W An overclocking bargain thats ideal for
Perhaps even more importantly, Asus still from the mains when overclocked. building a cheap overclocked system.
bundles the excellent software and EFI The performance differences are generally
systems from its expensive boards with its small, of course, although Gigabytes use of /SPECIFICATIONS
cheaper motherboards. While the Asus the ALC1220 audio codec saw it perform ChipsetIntelZ270
Prime Z270-P lacks many of the software much better than the Prime Z270-P in terms CPUsocketIntelLGA1151
and EFI features found on its Republic of of audio quality. Memorysupport4slots:max64GBDDR3(upto
Gamers boards, youre still able to tap into its 3600MHz)
AI Suite for Windows-based overclocking and Conclusion ExpansionslotsTwo16xPCI-E3,four1xPCI-E2
fan control. You also get a superb EFI that Theres a lot missing from the Prime Z270-P, SoundRealtekALC887
makes overclocking and tuning your system such as USB 3.1 Gen 2 support if you need NetworkingRealtekGigabitLAN
very easy. that then look at Asus Prime Z270-K, which OverclockingBaseclock40-600MHz,CPU
Thats good, because the Prime Z270-P is costs 10 more. Multiplier8-83x;maxvoltages,CPU2V,RAM2V
an exceptional overclocker, which surprised us However, while support for USB 3.1 ticks a Ports4xSATA6Gbps(Z270),2xM.2,8xUSB3,6x
USB2,1xLAN,3xsurroundaudioout,linein,mic,
when you consider its price, but it required the feature box, its fair to say that most PC users DVI-D,HDMI
lowest vcore on test, stably overclocking our wont miss most of this boards omissions Dimensions(mm)305x221
Core i7-7700K to 5GHz with just 1.32V. Thats and probably wont be able to tell the
43
Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3/132 incVAT
igabyte does have some cheaper

G Z270 offerings than the Z270-
Gaming K3, but this is the board it
chose to compete in our budget Kaby Lake
motherboard Labs this month. At 132, its a
little cheaper than the MSI Z270 Tomahawk
Arctic and ASRock Z270 Killer SLI and is
definitely not as good-looking as the former.
It lacks the I/O panel shroud that jazzes up
both the other boards, although it sports
extensive red lighting, so it claws back some
pizzazz points when its powered on.
The Z270-Gaming K3 is more about
features and performance than looks though.
Its the only board on test to use the new
Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, which
provides noticeably better results in
RightMarks Audio Analyzer software than
older Z170 motherboards, so if audio quality
is important, its worth paying the extra 15
or so for the Gigabyte compared with the
cheaper boards on test.
Wed also feel comfortable applying a
heavy 24/7 overclock to a quad-core CPU
with this motherboard, thanks to dual
heatsinks for the CPU power circuitry, and it
Audio performance while also being a little cheaper. The MSI
just wins out as the most desirable
has the joint highest number of on-board fan
power headers too. You also get the full
was excellent, with a motherboard for most enthusiasts needs,
but the Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3 still
complement of six SATA 6Gbps ports, some clear lead over all the comes highly recommended if audio
of which make up a pair of SATA Express performance is a priority.
connectors. Interestingly, Gigabyte has opted other boards on test
for a single M.2 port thats compatible with up
34/35 29/35
90%
to 110mm SSDs. Using two or more is Overclocking was also one of the Z270-
probably very unlikely if youre spending Gaming K3s fortes, as it needed just 1.33V to
under 150 on a motherboard, of course, get to 5GHz with our Core i7-7700K, which is VALUE
although weve yet to see just what Intels
Optane technology is going to offer.
second only to the Asus Prime Z270-P. This
overclock saw its system score rise from
27/30
Meanwhile, the layout is excellent, except 147,317 to 158,176 too. VERDICT
perhaps for the fan header that moonlights as Gigabyte has some excellent Windows- A fantastic motherboard for overclocking
a pump power header, which is located at the based overclocking and tuning software as and audio performance, although its EFI and
bottom of the PCB for some reason. However, well, although overall, its EFI system wasnt aesthetics could be better.
its absolutely fine to use another header to as responsive and user-friendly as the ones
power your all-in-one liquid cooler. Despite weve seen from Asus and MSI. /SPECIFICATIONS
the price, there are no on-board overclocking ChipsetIntelZ270
or testing tools either, although theres a dual Conclusion CPUsocketIntelLGA1151
BIOS feature. You also get a steel-reinforced Its a very close-run competition between the Memorysupport4slots:max64GBDDR3(upto
16x PCI-E slot, plus both Type-A and Type-C MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic and Gigabyte 3,866MHz)
USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. Z270-Gaming K3, and the choice really ExpansionslotsThree16xPCI-E3,three1xPCI-E2
SoundRealtekALC1120
Not surprisingly, audio performance was comes down to your priorities, as theyre
NetworkingRealtekKillerGigabitLAN
excellent, with a clear lead over all the other both fine boards.
OverclockingBaseclock80-500MHz,CPU
boards on test. For example, the dynamic The former is undeniably beautiful, has a multiplier8-120x;maxvoltages,CPU1.8V,RAM2V
range was measured at 106.9dB(A) better EFI, costs just 8 more and performs Ports6xSATA6Gbps(Z270),1xM.2,1xUSB3.1
compared to around 92dB(A) for the other similarly except for audio performance. Gen2Type-A,1xUSB3.1Gen2Type-C,8xUSB3,
boards on test. The Gigabyte was fairly quick The Z270-Gaming K3, on the other hand, mic,DVI-D,HDMI
in our performance benchmarks too, at both offers top-notch audio, is slightly better at Dimensions(mm)305x244
stock and overclocked frequencies. overclocking and offers competitive software
44
MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic/140 incVAT
hile Asus undeniably has some

W swanky looking motherboards in its
current line-up, MSI has come out
with unique and great-looking examples as
well. The Z270 Tomahawk Arctic is one of
them, and its amazing that MSI has managed
to get such a striking-looking board onto the
retail shelves for under 150 inc VAT. Theres
a black version too, if white isnt to your tastes,
but the icy design of the Arctic model looks
fantastic to our eyes.
The PCB is coated in white and grey, and
there are large heatsinks on the CPU power
circuitry and chipset, with the latter being
illuminated with clean, white LEDs. You also
get a silver I/O panel shroud to hide those
ugly ports, and the isolated audio circuitry is
illuminated too. Even the DIMM slots are
coloured white instead of black, and theyre
fully enclosed in a chrome surround, while the
white primary 16x PCI-E sports a steel-
reinforced plate.
The Z270 Tomahawk Arctic sits in the
middle of the road when it comes to cost-
saving. You get the full complement of six
SATA 6Gbps ports, two M.2 ports, and both
Even the DIMM slots needed to reach our maximum overclock, its a
brilliant choice, especially if youll be spending
Type-A and Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports as
well. Theres a generous helping of fan
are coloured, and time in the EFI. The MSI Z270 Tomahawk
Arctic mixes decent overclocking with great
headers as well more than any other board theyre fully enclosed in looks and a solid feature set for a fair price.
on test, in fact. However, the LAN port is
controlled by a cheaper Realtek controller, a chrome surround
rather than an Intel one, while the on-board SPEED FEATURES OVERALL SCORE
32/35 33/35
92%
audio comes from an ALC892 codec, as Overclocking was fairly fruitful too, with just
opposed to the ALC1220 used on the similarly a 1.35V vcore needed to get our CPU to 5GHz
priced Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3. the third lowest voltage on test and much VALUE
Theres a similar 10-phase power design to less than either of the ASRock boards. The 27/30
the Gigabyte, though, and unlike the Z270- MSIs system scores were a little low at both
Gaming K3, the Z270 Tomahawk Arctic has its stock speed and when overclocked, though, VERDICT
dedicated pump power header in the right with the Asus Prime-P netting 158,994 at A great balance of features and aesthetics,
place next to the CPU socket. You also get a 5GHz with our Core i7-7700K, compared to plus some great software and a slick EFI.
pair of USB 3 headers, with ample ports on the 155,081 for the MSI board. The rest of the
rear I/O panel too, and if the aforementioned results are very similar, except the audio /SPECIFICATIONS
on-board lighting isnt enough for you, then performance where the Gigabyte Z270- ChipsetIntelZ270
theres a 4-pin RGB LED header as well. Gaming K3 was much better. Sadly, in this CPUsocketIntelLGA1151
MSIs EFIs are consistently excellent, price bracket, the Z270 Tomahawk Arctic also Memorysupport4slots:max64GBDDR3(upto
although Gigabyte is catching up in terms of lacks MSIs M.2 Shield heatsink, but it still 3800MHz)
fan control and Windows software. MSIs managed some respectable numbers with ExpansionslotsThree16xPCI-E3,three1xPCI-E2
boards still dont enable you to manually turn a Samsung 960 Evo SSD. SoundRealtekALC892
off fans below certain temperatures in the fan NetworkingRealtekKillerGigabitLAN
speed profile in the EFI or software a feature Conclusion OverclockingBaseclock98-538MHz,CPU
multiplier8-81x;maxvoltages,CPU1.52V,RAM
thats available in ASRock, Gigabyte and Asus If you can stretch your motherboard budget to 2.2V
software now. However, this MSI board is 140, you have two choices the MSI Z270 Ports6xSATA6Gbps(Z270),2xM.2,1xUSB3.1
impressively easy to overclock in either the EFI Tomahawk Arctic or the Gigabyte Z270- Gen2Type-A,1xUSB3.1Gen2Type-C,8xUSB3,
or the Windows software, and the former is Gaming K3. The former looks spectacular for mic,DVI-D,HDMI
supremely clean and responsive compared a 140 board, and apart from average audio Dimensions(mm)305x244
with Gigabyte and ASRocks. performance and a slightly higher vcore
46
C UST OM PC RE A LB E N C H 2 0 1 5
GIM P IM AG E E D ITI N G MULTI -TA S KI N G
Asus Prime Z270-P 65,917 73,436 Asus Prime Z270-P 184,083 198,216
Gigabyte Z270-
Gaming K3 66,049 73,049 ASRock Z270 Pro4 177,928 197,125
MSI Z270 Tomahawk Gigabyte Z270-
Arctic 61,918 72,330 Gaming K3 184,194 195,885
ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 63,029 69,887 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 179,508 193,701
ASRock Z270 Pro4 MSI Z270 Tomahawk
60,652 69,763 Arctic 175,577 190,109
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 0 60,000 120,000 180,000 240,000
H AND BRAKE H . 2 6 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G S YS TE M S COR E

ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 324,245 349,341 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 145,548 157,085
Asus Prime Z270-P 317,134 347,599 ASRock Z270 Pro4 140,822 158,194
Gigabyte Z270- 322,301 347,045 Asus Prime Z270-P 145,964 158,994
Gaming K3
319,424 342,475 Gaming K3 147,317 158,176
Arctic
ASRock Z270 Pro4 309,295 340,475 MSI Z270 Tomahawk 142,918 155,081
Arctic
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 0 45,000 90,000 135,000 180,000
ST OC K SPE E D AS H E S O F T H E S I N G U LA R I T Y (F P S ) OV ER CLOCKED A S H ES OF TH E S I N GULA R I TY (FPS)

DX12 CPU Benchmark,1,920 x 1,080, High settings DX12 CPU benchmark, 1,920 x 1,080, High settings
ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 41 43 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 42 46

Asus Prime Z270-P 41 43 ASRock Z270 Pro4 42 46
Gigabyte Z270-
Gaming K3 40 42 Asus Prime Z270-P 42 46
MSI Z270 Tomahawk MSI Z270 Tomahawk
39 43 Arctic 42 46
Arctic
ASRock Z270 Pro4 39 42 Gigabyte Z270- 41 45
Gaming K3
0 12 24 36 48 0 12 24 36 48
Minimum Average
M. 2 SPE E D ( M B/S E C ) S A TA 6GB PS S PEE D ( MB / S E C)

CrysalDiskmark 32-queue depth CrysalDiskmark 32-queue depth

Arctic 1,754 3,346 Gaming K3 534 563
Asus Prime Z270-P 1,785 3,345 MSI Z270 Tomahawk 531 563
Arctic
ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 1,787 3,327 ASRock Z270 Pro4 531 563
Gigabyte Z270-
Gaming K3 1,778 3,307 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 530 563
ASRock Z270 Pro4 1,749 3,326 Asus Prime Z270-P 531 561
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 0 160 320 480 640
Read Write
NOISE L E VE L ( D B A ) DYN A MI C R A N GE ( DB A )
RightMark Audio Analyzer 24-bit, 192KHz RightMark Audio Analyzer 24-bit, 192KHz
Gigabyte Z270- Gigabyte Z270-
Gaming K3 -106.1 Gaming K3 106.9
ASRock Z270 Killer SLI -91.6 MSI Z270 Tomahawk 92.2
Arctic
MSI Z270 Tomahawk -991.52 Asus Prime Z270-P 92.1
Arctic
Asus Prime Z270-P -91.4 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 91.9
ASRock Z270 Pro4 -90.7 ASRock Z270 Pro4 91.3
0 30 60 90 120 0 30 60 90 120
Lower is better Higher is better
ST OC K SPE E D PO WE R C O N S U M P T I O N (W A T T S ) OV E R CLOCKED POW ER CON S UMPTI ON ( W A TTS)

Windows Desktop / Prime95 smallt Windows Desktop / Prime95 smallt
Asus Prime Z270-P 42 119 Asus Prime Z270-P 49 160

ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 45 123 Gigabyte Z270- 54 165
Gaming K3
MSI Z270 Tomahawk 45 124 MSI Z270 Tomahawk 58 170
Arctic Arctic
ASRock Z270 Pro4 46 124 ASRock Z270 Killer SLI 53 179
Gigabyte Z270- 46 145 ASRock Z270 Pro4 50 188
Gaming K3
0 40 80 120 160 0 50 100 150 200
Lower is better Idle Load Lower is better
47
L A B S T E ST
Youre
surrounded!
Put your face in the place with Edward Chesters roundup of
the latest surround-sound gaming headsets
Contents
AsusROGCenturion/p49 RazerManOWar/p51 SteelSeriesArctis5/p54
CorsairVoidUSB7.1/p50 RoccatKave5.1Digital/p52
Howwetest
peak to anyone who has never tried gaming with a models. All of them use a USB connection that takes care of sound
S surround headset and theyll probably be sceptical. After
all, most of us cut our gaming teeth using plain old stereo
card duties as well as powering the headset.
We first assess design and build quality, looking for high-quality
speakers or headphones and have coped fine. The reality, though, joints between the earcups and headband, as well as the overall fit
is that surround sound whether from a headset or speakers and finish. Several of the models on test also use a USB connection
significantly increases your awareness of the virtual world around to provide lighting. Next we look at features. Some headsets
you. What in stereo sounds vaguely like a footstep somewhere in include a USB sound hub with extra connections for speakers,
the 180 degrees of space to your left or right can be pinpointed to while others include multiple inputs on the headset itself, clever
an astonishingly accurate degree in surround. software features and even Bluetooth connections for taking calls.
Of course, back in the day, surround headsets meant expensive Finally, we assess sound quality. First, the headset is set to a
multi-driver models that sounded good but werent particularly stereo mode, if possible, and we listen to music, watch videos and
versatile. Now, however, you can get surprisingly effective virtual so on. We then switch to surround sound and see how well the
surround headsets that can convert back to conventional stereo at positional audio works in games. Virtual surround tends to sound
the flick of a switch, providing the best of both worlds. a little more natural in terms of the spread of sound, while true
To assess the current surround headset market, we grabbed surround sets can sometimes sound a bit more disjointed but make
three virtual surround models, as well as two true multi-driver the direction of sound much more obvious.
48
ELITE
NEWENTRY
P62
Asus ROG Centurion/170 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.ebuyer.com
he ROG Centurion is Asus flagship long sessions than

T gaming headset, and by far the
most feature-packed model on test.
some headsets.
To counter the
It uses true 7.1 surround sound and includes a lack of ear-hugging
high-quality USB sound card hub, which also padding, the tough
has an output for surround-sound speakers. headband clamps tightly
You even get an attractive headphone stand on your head so it stays
and spare earcup pads are included in the box reasonably secure.
too. A direct update of the award-winning Meanwhile, the
Asus ROG Strix 7.1, the Centurion has been tensioned cushioning
tweaked and restyled, but its largely the same headband evenly
kit underneath. As such, the overall shape and distributes the weight
feature set is the same, although the stand is a of the headset.
completely new addition. The Centurion also
Its a good job Asus has rethought the features a convenient
styling too. The Strix old model had glowing fold-down, bendable
owl eyes on the earcups, which looked microphone that provides
decidedly odd. You still get lights on the very good noise-cancelled
Centurion, but in the form of glowing red audio, all thanks to a second
Republic of Gamers logos, with a couple of microphone in the hub that picks
thin metal plates etched in a vague up ambient sound. However, it isnt
circuitboard pattern in front of them. Its still removable, so it wont be easy to
classic gamer-aesthetic fare, but it doesnt replace if it gets broken.
have the bizarre styling of the ROG Strix 7.1. Likewise, the main connection
The Centurion is also very large, which is from the headset to the hub
hardly a surprise given that five drivers have to is tethered and terminates
be crammed into each earcup to provide that in an HDMI-like connection,
true surround sound. Nonetheless, the end meaning it will be
result is a very spacious fit that will easily impossible to replace if it
accommodate even the largest ears, unless gets broken. The cable is also surprisingly
they stick out much. While the earcups are short at 1.5m. Its long enough to use when slightly better than the Roccat headset,
wide, the padding isnt all that thick, so your youre sitting down, but you wont be able to creating a more evenly distributed sound.
ears end up resting against the cloth covering roam around your room very much. Just be sure to turn off all the silly EQ
the drivers, making them less comfortable for Back to the hub, and youll find a volume settings (Bass Boost, Reverb, Compressor)
knob on the top that mutes the headset when in the software to get the best results from
its pressed. It also doubles as the control for this headset.
other settings such as bass and surround
sound levels. Conclusion
There are also buttons for turning the The Asus ROG Centurion is mightily
surround sound, microphone and speakers expensive, but its also jam-packed with
on or off, while a further dial controls features and backs offers supreme quality
which setting the volume knob will adjust throughout. Some other headsets are more
main volume, rear/sub/side/centre/ comfortable to wear, but the Asus produces
front volume, lighting level, microphone fantastic audio, and the hub is useful and
and audio profiles. convenient too.
The sound quality is where this
headset really shines though. It emits
SOUND DESIGN OVERALL SCORE
84%
a deep enveloping bass, which is
joined by smooth mid and top range, 37/40 20/30
with the best clarity and detail levels of VALUE
all the headsets on test. It still falls short
of the best stereo headsets, such as the
27/30
Sennheiser G4ME ONE, but weve not heard VERDICT
better sound from a surround model. The Asus ROG Centurions versatility and
The surround works superbly too. The sound quality makes it the ultimate wired
multiple drivers seem to meld together surround gaming headset.
49
L A B S T E ST / GAMING HEADSETS
Corsair Void USB 7.1/70 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.currys.co.uk
y far the cheapest headset on test,

B the Corsair Void USB 7.1 is devoid of
many extras but absolutely nails all
the basics, making it a great option for the
price. First and foremost, its a stereo headset
with virtual surround, so there are immediate
cost savings from only needing two drivers.
You also miss out on the modular cabling of
the SteelSeries and Razer headsets, as well
as an external sound card or volume control.
Instead, you get a fixed 1.8m USB cable,
a fold-down, flexible (not bendable)
microphone, a microphone mute button and
a volume knob, the latter three of which are
all housed on the left earcup.
Lighting is also included,
with each earcup sporting
an RGB illuminated Corsair
logo, and the tip of the
microphone glows red too.
Its a modest selection of features but
they work well together. The microphone
swings down and ratchets into a secure
position easily, while the mic-mute and
The padding varies in surround direction, as you get with the Razer
ManOWar (see p51).
volume controls are conveniently located.
Its a shame the cable is fixed, though, as it
thickness to follow the As for sound quality, the 50mm drivers
provide a great overall sound. The bass
means it cant be replaced, and you cant use contours of your head, sounds a touch forced, but not overly so,
this headset with a conventional analogue and you otherwise you get a deep, rich,
audio source. As a pure PC gaming headset, for a secure feel reasonably detailed sound that works well for
however, it gets the basics right. most listening requirements. The surround
As well as the essential features, Corsair enough gripping force on the side of your sound works well too. There isnt much to
has also nailed the Void USB 7.1s build quality head for a secure fit. Plus, the whole headset choose between the Corsair and the
and comfort. The headband is made from looks pretty good, even if it could do without SteelSeries Arctis 5 (see p54) in terms of
sturdy plastic, while the earcups are the little grey highlights on the microphone surround-sound quality, but both headsets
suspended on thick metal pieces that look like and cable reinforcement. provide a distinct improvement over stereo
they would survive just about any fall. They As for comfort, the earcups not only have sound in games.
also pivot in a way that makes the headset thick padding that holds the driver covering
easy to put on and take off, while remaining away from your ear, but the Void USB 7.1 is Conclusion
comfortable to wear and still providing also the only headset on test where the If youre looking for a low-cost surround-
padding varies in thickness to follow the sound headset then the Corsair Void USB 7.1 is
contours of your head. an ideal choice. It offers great design and build
This variation means the padding pressure quality, just the right selection of features and
is more evenly distributed around the ear, good surround gaming performance, all for a
making for a more secure feel while great price. If Corsair added a normal 3.5mm
maintaining a fairly light grip. Its still not quite jack input for normal stereo audio, it would be
as comfortable to wear as the Roccat Kave 5.1 even better.
Digital (see p52), but its the second best
headset on test in terms of comfort.
83%
Like all the other headsets on test, youll
need to install some software to get the most 30/40 25/30
from the Void, which in this case is Corsairs VALUE
Utility Engine. This software provides a
means of adjusting the lighting, EQ effects
28/30
and the microphone light settings. You can VERDICT
also switch between stereo and surround, but A well thought out, practical and low-cost
there are no settings for tweaking the virtual surround headset.
50
Razer ManOWar /120 incVAT
lessedly devoid of stinging bendable microphone on the

B tentacles, or studded leather and
loincloths for that matter, Razers
left earcup, but thats it in terms
of on-headset gear. Instead,
ManOWar is a relatively simple stereo volume control is handled by an
headset with support for virtual 7.1 surround. line control that also includes
However, through a combination of style and a mic-mute button and
great surround performance, it makes a hangs around 30cm
bigger impression than its modest feature down from the headset. Its
set would suggest. a little small and fiddly to
It all starts with Razers typical eye for use, and its also too easy
design. Matching the aesthetics of most of its to hit accidentally.
recent products, the whole headset is clad in More impressive is the
black, with a combination of glossy and matt braided cable itself, which is
finishes used throughout. The main Razer soft, pliable and free of kinks.
logo along the top of the headband is fairly The cable is also split into two
prominent, but otherwise, the simple round sections, with the first being
earcups are only adorned with subtle, black- 130cm long and a second extension
on-black triple-headed snake logos. being 160cm long. The cables plug into the
Build quality is less impressive though. second feature that we
The whole shell is made from plastic, and really like about
although its all finished to a high standard this headset,
there are no particularly premium touches which is its really It works superbly, and as a result, the
such as metal reinforcements, and theres no small and simple USB audio adaptor. The ManOWar was clearly the best virtual
lighting on display either. headset itself is just a normal stereo headset surround headset on test. True surround can
When it comes to comfort, the ManOWar that you could plug into any sound card, or still have the edge slightly, especially for
is light, but the cushioning on the headband even your phone. However, combining it with sounds directly in front of and behind you, but
and earcups isnt all that deep, making for a a USB adaptor makes it far more versatile. the ManOWar comes impressively close. The
slightly loose fit that leaves more pressure on ManOWar also held up reasonably well when
the top of your head. listening to music and watching movies. The
The sense that the ManOWar isnt an The software has a bass sounds a bit forced, but overall, you still
entirely premium product persists when it get a satisfying and enjoyable sound. It cant
comes to features though. You get a pull-out, game-changing trick match the Asus ROG Centurions detail, but its
up its sleeve a sound reproduction is on a par with the other

top headsets on test this month.
calibration tool Conclusion
Having the ability to fine-tune the virtual
Razers universal Synapse driver app is surround sound on this headset makes it an
used to manage the headset, and it largely excellent performer. It also looks and sounds
works very well. It can synchronise all your great. However, it needs to do more to justify
settings between computers, making it easy its price of 120 inc VAT, and the clunky inline
to keep your settings no matter which system volume control and plastic construction dont
youre using for gaming. However, it can be a do it in any favours here. With a price drop,
tad annoying that you have to log in to your however, the ManOWar would be a
Razer account every time you want to formidable headset.
adjust some settings. The software
does have one game-changing
78%
trick up its sleeve, though, which is
a calibration tool. This tool plays a 32/40 25/30
sound while showing the position VALUE
from which the software thinks
you should be hearing the noise
21/30
on the screen. If the positioning VERDICT
doesnt sound quite right, you can Great sound and software, but a couple
move the sound around slightly until it of small slips and a high price dent the
feels right. ManOWars value.
51
Roccat Kave 5.1 Digital/150 incVAT
long with the Asus ROG Centurion

A (see p49), the Roccat Kave 5.1 is one
of the few true surround headsets
currently on the market. Its available in either
an analogue version that requires you to
already have a surround-sound card, or in the
digital version were looking reviewing here,
which comes with its own USB adaptor.
The adaptor is similar in many ways to that
of the Asus, including a volume knob that also
doubles as a volume control for each set of
drivers, and it has outputs for analogue
surround speakers.
Incidentally, you could also just plug stereo
speakers into the front speaker output if you
dont have surround speakers.
It also includes Bluetooth support, which
enables you to use your headset to make
calls, although you cant listen to music from
your phone with it. Plus there are buttons for
the mute function, and for switching between
movie and game modes, although the latter
isnt massively useful. What would be useful
is a way to switch between stereo and
surround modes, but this function is only
being handled by the driver, which is a shame.
The unit itself is mostly easy to set up, but it
isnt perfect. The cables are tethered, so you
cant replace them, and the volume control
simply doesnt go low enough either. While its microphone. It uses a standard phono adjusted, but Asus ROG Centurion offers a
you can adjust the volume in Windows, even socket to attach the mic, and then simply superior out-of-the-box experience.
with the Windows level at 50 per cent, the relies on the fact that the connectors shape is
lowest setting on the external control was a round to allow the microphone to be rotated Conclusion
long way from being whisper-quiet. On the in and out of talking position. This setup does The Roccat Kave 5.1 Digital gets a lot right, and
plus side, those tethered cables are long, with work, but it could be prone to wearing out. its great that the company is still committed
each stretch from the computer to the Finally, we come to sound quality, which is to making true surround headsets. The Kave
adaptor and from the adapter to the headset where the Kave 5.1 Digital is a tale of two 5.1 is comfortable to wear, has a good range
being 1.8m long. halves. In stereo, the modest bass presence of features and its gaming surround sound
Meanwhile, the headset itself is mostly and middling detail levels make music sound works well, even if you have to tweak it a little.
finished in fetching matt black it looks good, a little lifeless. However, the lacklustre stereo audio
although it doesnt have quite the flare of the In contrast, though, the surround gaming performance, a few design niggles and a high
SteelSeries or the muted appeal of the Razer. performance is very good, at least in terms of price means its not a convincing all-out
Its well made, though, and very comfortable raw positioning. It isnt the most balanced and winner. If youre looking for a true surround
to wear. In fact, its the most comfortable integrated sound, with each driver sounding headset, its worth paying the extra 20 to
headset on test, mainly due to the excellent distinctly separate. This balance can be buy the Asus ROG Centurion instead.
padding and its leather covering. Like the
Corsair, the padding is properly contoured
78%
to provide a snug grip around
the whole of your ear, 30/40 23/30
making for a secure but VALUE
not tight grip.
Roccat also
25/30
has an VERDICT
interesting Extremely comfortable and offers good
rotation surround sound in games, but the Asus ROG
system for Centurion is a superior headset in this league.
52
SteelSeries Arctis 5/110

110 incVAT
teelSeries Arctis range embodies and theres only around an inch of

S what many people now require
from a gaming headset. Its stylish
vertical travel for the elasticated band,
so this Arctis 5 may not fit well if you
and portable, it can work with any normal have a particularly large head. The
audio source as well as your PC and it has a earcups also have fairly shallow
good, easy-to-use selection of features. Its padding, so your ears touch the
available in three options, which are purely driver cover, and the bottom seal
defined by features rather than quality. The between the padding and your
Arctis 3 is just an analogue headset that relies head is quite loose. The earcups
on software-based virtual surround sound are reasonably comfortably, but
from the SteelSeries driver; the Arctis 5 adds they arent outstanding.
USB support, lighting and an audio mix dial, In terms of features, the
while the Arctis 7 adds wireless support. left earcup incorporates
Whichever model you choose, you get the a pull-out, flexible,
same styling and build quality, as well as the noise-cancelling
same microphone and 50mm headphone microphone with
drivers. Its good, then, that the Arctis is a great an illuminated tip.
looking headset. Its all clad in matt black, with Theres also a
a simple earcup shape, and a compact volume wheel
headband and arm mechanism it could and mic-mute
easily pass for a conventional set of button, plus
headphones, until you turn on the lights. two features
The Arctis 5 and 7 both include an that none of the
illuminated SteelSeries logo, as well as other headsets on
illuminated strips that run around the edge of test features: a
each earcup. If youre a fan of the current removable cable and a
lighting trend, the Arctis 5 is attractive and well 3.5mm jack input. This setup
illuminated, but you can also turn it off if you means you can easily replace broken cables,
prefer, or alternatively set it to one of the and also use the headset with a normal sound, but not as detailed as the Asus. Switch
millions of colours it offers. analogue audio source. to surround sound and it also performs very
Meanwhile, the headset itself uses an You also have a choice of plugging the well. It cant compete with the Razers
elasticated, cushioned headband, which is headset directly into your PC or using the adjustable positioning, nor the sheer
slung between two metal clips a setup that USB mix dial. The headset shows as two directionality of the true surround options,
does a good job of taking the weight off your audio devices on your PC, so you can assign but its a good step up from stereo headsets.
head and ears without causing any sore spots. different apps to each device. The dial then
Plus, if it wears out, its easy to replace, and lets you mix between the two, which is ideal Conclusion
spares can be bought direct from SteelSeries for game audio and chat audio. The SteelSeries Arctis 5 is a great all-rounder.
for under 20. Likewise, the earcup pads can Fire up some music and the Arctis 5 It has a stylish design, good build quality, a
be removed and replaced, with new sets provides a decent experience. It has a good useful feature set and solid audio
costing under 15. bass kick without sounding forced, plus a performance, plus its usable with
This elasticated headband system means warm mid-range and detailed high end. Its conventional 3.5mm audio sources. The
the main headband isnt adjustable, though, more balanced than the Razer in terms of only problem is the price, which is a bit steep
compared with the likes of Corsairs Void USB
7.1 the Arctis 5 is a better headset, of course,
but not 40 better.
81%
34/40 27/30
VALUE
20/30
VERDICT
A touch expensive for a virtual surround
headset, but the Arctis 5 offers great audio,
decent build quality and useful features.
54
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PC system reviews
GAMING PC
Overclockers UK Titan Gladius/2,425 incVAT
here are PC cases and there are PC cases the

T Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX Glass is the latter. Its
dark grey-blue aluminium looks both menacing
and beautiful, and the addition of tempered glass side
panels with this model is the icing on the cake. We could
stare at the case all day, but thankfully, theres a lot to ogle
inside Overclockers UKs Titan Gladius too. Its big on
lighting, sports the latest hardware as youd hope from
the 2,400 price tag and its clearly eyeing up 4K gaming.
As youd expect now, the system sports a Z270
motherboard and a Kaby Lake CPU, in the form of an Asus
ROG Strix Z270F and a Hyper-Threaded Intel Core i7-7700K,
which has been overclocked to 4.8GHz. The former sports a
fantastic-looking multi-RGB-LED strip above the I/O panel
where the individual LEDs can be controlled. By default, the
lights scroll across the panel creating a rainbow effect, but
you can control them in the motherboards EFI or Asus
Windows-based software. The interior is also immaculately Thats a shame, given the low noise from the CPU and GPU
built, with careful cable routing and colour matching. coolers. Our first tweak would be to lose the fan hub and
Overclockers has also added a BitFenix Alchemy RGB LED hook up the fans to the motherboard, even if it meant buying
strip down one edge, which looks great through the side some splitter cables.
panel. Theres a pair of Asus GeForce GTX Storage is great, though, with a 512GB Samsung SM961
Strix Gaming 1070 8GB graphics cards in SLI M.2 SSD acting as the system drive, plus a 2TB WD hard disk.
/SPECIFICATIONS too, which again feature some fantastic The Samsung SSD performs closely to the 960 Pro in terms
CPU 4.2GHz Intel Core lighting and illuminated ROG logos. of speeds, thanks to it using the same Polaris controller.
i7-7700K overclocked to SLI is a logical choice; a single GTX 1080 can However, as the SM961 is an OEM drive, you wont be able to
4.8GHz
struggle in some games at maximum settings use Samsungs Magician software, and the warranty is two
Motherboard Asus ROG Strix
Z270F Gaming at 4K, and while a Titan X will manage it, the years shorter than that of the 960 Pro as well.
Memory 16GB Corsair cost is huge. Comparatively, a pair of GTX 1070 Meanwhile, the PSU in our sample is a Super Flower
Vengeance LPX 3000MHz
DDR4 cards can often beat a Titan X in terms of Leadex Gold 850W, although Overclockers sometimes
Graphics 2 x Asus GeForce GTX performance (see p93), while costing much ships retail systems with an XFX XTR 750W Gold unit. Either
Strix 1070 8GB Gaming less money. The Strix GTX 1070 8GB Gaming unit offers ample capacity, though, seeing as our system
Storage 512GB Samsung is good for keeping down noise too the fans never drew more than 500W from the mains, even with the
SM961 M.2 SSD; 2TB Western
Digital Blue hard disk switch off under low loads and only spin up in graphics cards and CPU under full load. Finally, the memory
Case Phanteks Enthoo Evolv games, where they still remain very quiet. is a basic 16GB kit of 3000MHz Corsair Vengeance LPX
ATX Glass
To cool the heavily overclocked CPU, theres DDR4 RAM it would be even better to see Corsairs newer
Cooling CPU: OCUK Techlabs
240mm AIO Liquid Cooler with an OCUK Techlabs 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler, Vengeance LED memory, given the PCs lighting elsewhere,
Noiseblocker fans; front: 2 x which looks a lot like the previous generation but the capacity and speed are spot on.
140mm fans; rear: 1 x 140mm
PSU Super Flower Leadex Gold of NZXT Kraken coolers. As with the GPU
850W coolers, this unit proved to be very quiet even Performance
Ports Front: 2 x USB 3, 2 x under load. In fact, most of the PCs noise The Titan Gladius RealBench system score of 155,436 is a
audio; rear: 4 x USB 3, 1 x USB
3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 (which is a quiet but noticeable thrum) comes little behind that of the Scan 3XS Z270 Vengeance SLI (see
Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x PS/2, 1 x from the three Phanteks 140mm case fans, Issue 162, p66), which scored 161,301 thanks to overclocking
Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x optical
S/PDIF, 5 x audio which are hooked up to a Phanteks fan hub on the same CPU to 5GHz. However, the benefit of a slightly
Operating system Microsoft the rear of the motherboard tray. less monstrous overclock is that the load CPU delta T never
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
This setup reduces cable clutter, but rose above 55C, which is 10C cooler than the Scan system.
Warranty Three years parts
and labour, collect and return unfortunately, the fans constantly run at full The GPUs, meanwhile, sat at a delta T of 52C under full load,
speed, when most of the time theres no need. where the system drew a maximum 476W from the wall.
56
1 2 3
The pair of Asus The OEM Samsung The OCUK Techlabs
GeForce GTX SSD uses the same 240mm AIO Liquid
1070cards handle Polaris controller as Cooler is very quiet,
4K gaming fine Samsungs 960 Pro even under load
Games were no problem for the Titan Gladius, with it 3

hitting cracking minimums of 94fps and 45fps at 2,560 x
1,440 and 3,840 x 2,160 respectively in Fallout 4 roughly
10 per cent slower than the Scan 3XS Z270 Vengeance SLIs
two GTX 1080 cards. In The Witcher 3:Wild Hunt at 4K, the 2
minimum frame rate was a healthy 64fps, rising to 111fps at
2,560 x 1,440.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided saw similar differences to 1
the GTX 1080-based system, with a 4K minimum of
31fps compared to the Scans 37fps. Meanwhile, the
SSD managed a massive 3,485MB/sec read speed
and 1,662MB/sec write speed. From our review of the
same motherboard last month, we also know the audio
performance is much improved compared with your
average Z170 motherboard too.
Conclusion
Totalling up the cost of the individual components, we arrive motherboard rather than the fan hub, which would make
at a figure just a few notes away from the asking price of the the PC whisper-quiet instead of moderately quiet.
Overclockers UK Titan Gladius. Thats impressive given the However, the Gladius is still an excellent ultra-high-
excellent cable routing on show, custom lighting, big CPU resolution gaming machine, offering great looks and fast
overclock and the comprehensive three year collect and performance, while saving you a substantial sum of money
return warranty, which covers both parts and labour. The over a Titan X or dual GTX 1080 system.
only part we would do differently is wiring up the fans to the ANTONY LEATHER
C PC R EALB ENC H 2 0 15
GI MP I MAGE EDI T I N G FALLOUT 4
Overclockers UK 2,560 x 1,440, Ultra Detail, TAA
68,562
Titan Gladius
Overclockers UK 94fps 111fps
0 18,000 36,000 54,000 72,000 Titan Gladius
0 35 70 105 140
HANDBR AKE H. 26 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G 3,840 x 2,160, Ultra Detail, TAA
Overclockers UK Overclockers UK
334,561 45fps 57fps
Titan Gladius Titan Gladius
0 90,000 180,000 270,000 360,000 0 35 70 105 140
T H E W IT CH ER 3 : W IL D H U N T
LUXMARK OPENCL 2,560 x 1,440, High Detail, Nvidia HairWorks disabled
Overclockers UK
90000 168,933 Overclockers UK 111fps 122fps
Titan Gladius
Titan Gladius
0 43,000 86,000 129,000 172,000 0 35 70 105 140
3,840 x 2,160, High Detail, Nvidia HairWorks disabled
HEAVY MULT I T A S KI N G Overclockers UK
Overclockers UK
64fps 88fps
184,835 Titan Gladius
Titan Gladius 0 35 70 105 140
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 D EU S EX : M A N K IN D D IV ID ED
2,560 x 1,440, Very High Detail
S YS T EM S C ORE Overclockers UK
Overclockers UK 44fps 54fps
155,436 Titan Gladius
Titan Gladius
0 35 70 105 140
0 40,000 80,000 120,000 160,000
INT EL REFERENCE : 1 35 . 8 1 % Overclockers UK
31fps 44fps
Titan Gladius
0 35 70 105 140
Minimum Average
SPEED DESIGN
OVERALL SCORE
89%
23/25 21/25 VERDICT
A great-looking, cool PC that handles 4K
HARDWARE VALUE gaming well and sports blistering storage
23/25 22/25 speeds and funky lighting.
57
GAMING PC
Chillblast Fusion Corona/2,800 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.chillblast.com
he Chillblast Fusion on-board buttons and Killer

T Corona might sound like
a lager brand, but this
Ethernet. Its ready for U.2 SSDs and
Intel Optane memory, and it also
machines name actually refers to offers a spare M.2 connector. The
the RGB lighting thats used liberally high-quality motherboard is
throughout its eye-catching interior. dominated by a Gigabyte GeForce
Theres a wide strip of lighting at the GTX 1080 card, which boosts the
bottom of the chassis, angular GPUs stock frequency from
patterns on the motherboard and 1607MHz to 1860MHz.
more LEDs on the memory. Chillblast Meanwhile, the 256GB OEM
has also kitted out this water-cooled Samsung SM961 SSD is a familiar
machine with crimson coolant, and and fast drive, and its paired with a
even installed red LEDs in the XSPC large 3TB hard disk.
RayStorm CPU waterblock. Then theres the EVGA PSU, which
Its a smart, coherent design that has an 80 Plus Gold rating and is
looks good and its matched by the almost entirely modular, with only
rest of the build. The Cooler Master the main 24-pin power cable
MasterCase Maker 5t (see Issue 162, permanently connected. The EVGA
p32) has red feet and a red ring box delivers 850W of power, which
around its ports and power button, and is a bit much for this rig, but it does
theres plenty of matt metal and mesh open up scope for a dual-GPU setup
throughout. The good looks are matched with further down the line.
solid build quality, and its easy to get inside the case; the The warranty is generous too. Chillblast offers a five year
two tempered glass side panels are released with single, deal, with two years of collect and return parts coverage. Its
small keys, and the top and front panels are attached a stellar specification, build and warranty, but the Chillblasts
magnetically and can be quickly whipped off. The front panel price of 2,800 inc VAT looks steep. Its a well-built rig with
also has sound-absorbing foam, and the roof has a handle. custom water-cooling, but its significantly undercut by other
Those panels are all easily removed, and the interior is PCs with similar core specs.
spacious and sensible. There are free
hard disk bays beneath the PSU shroud Performance
/SPECIFICATIONS and two SSD slots above it, while the The overclocked GTX 1080 delivered solid performance in
CPU 4.2GHz Intel Core i7-7700K hefty GPU is held up by a bracket. The game benchmarks. It blitzed every game at 2,560 x 1,440,
overclocked to 4.7GHz machine is also neat, with carefully tied and it never dropped below 42fps in The Witcher 3 at 4K. In
Motherboard Gigabyte Aorus Z270X- cables and several wires hidden away Fallout 4 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, it also hit 4K
Gaming 7
the only slight issue is a busy mid-board minimums of 28fps and 27fps respectively, which is
Memory 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX
3000MHz DDR4 area, but thats barely noticeable behind borderline playable tweak the settings a bit, and these
Graphics Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 the coolant tubes. games will be smoothly playable. However, if you really want
8GB We have no complaints about the 4K gaming performance, youll be better off with a GTX 1070
Storage 256GB Samsung SM961 M.2
SSD; 3TB Seagate Barracuda hard disk
cooling either. Chillblast has deployed SLI setup (see p93). For example, Overclockers Titan
Case Cooler Master MasterCase an XSPC EX280 radiator and two fans Gladius (see p56) uses two GTX 1070 cards to deliver a 4K
Maker 5T at the front, with an XSPC D5 pump and minimum of 64fps in The Witcher 3 and 31fps in Deus Ex.
Cooling CPU: XSPC EX280 radiator Perspex waterblocks on top of the CPU Meanwhile, the overclocked Kaby Lake processor
with 2 x 140mm fans; XSPC D5
reservoir/pump combo, XSPC and GPU. Meanwhile, the blood-red provides good performance and a modest bump over
RayStorm waterblock; GPU: coolant comes from Mayhems. It cools Skylake silicon. Chillblasts system returned an overall score
EK-FC1080 GTX G1 waterblock; rear: some decent hardware too. The new of 150,286, which is enough to handle any application task
1 x 140mm fan
PSU EVGA 850GQ 850W Core i7-7700K is the star of Intels Kaby and faster than the pace weve recorded from overclocked
Ports Front: 4 x USB 3, 2 x audio; rear: Lake range, and Chillblast has boosted Skylake machines. Its barely behind the Overclockers UK
5 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB its 4.2GHz stock speed to 4.7GHz. desktop too, which scored 155,436, although the
3.1 Type-C, 1 x PS/2, 1 x optical S/PDIF,
1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 5 x audio The processor is paired with 16GB of significantly cheaper PC Specialist Prism (see p60) is
Operating system Microsoft Windows 3000MHz memory and a Gigabyte slightly quicker with its extra 100MHz of CPU clock speed.
10 Home 64-bit Aorus Z270X-Gaming 7 motherboard The SSD also provided good read and write speeds of
Warranty Two years parts and labour (see Issue 62, p49). Its a new slab thats 2,429MB/sec and 1,793MB/sec respectively, which is far
collect and return, followed by three
years return to base labour only covered with LEDs and numerous good better than SATA SSDs, and also well in front of Intels M.2
features, including PCI-E slot shielding, 600p drives.
58
1 2 3
Theres crimson The water-cooled The interior is very
coolant, and even GPUs 31C delta T neat, with carefully
red LEDs in the is one of the best tied cables and
CPU waterblock results weve seen wires hidden away
Thanks to the custom water-cooling loop, the Chillblast

didnt give us any thermal headaches either. The CPU delta T
of 62C is good, and the GPUs delta T of 31C is one of the
best weve seen. The noise levels are good too its near- 1
silent during low-intensity tasks, and only a little louder
during games. The fan noise ramped up a little when tougher
tasks were loaded, but the noise quickly dropped.
Conclusion 2
Chillblasts machine has fantastic cooling, design and 3
performance, with no real faults and plenty to enjoy. The
bespoke water-cooling system is good-looking, consistently
quiet and effective, and the red theme ties into the rest of the
build. Its smart and sturdy, theres room to work inside the
system, and it has a powerful PSU and generous warranty.
The overclocked Kaby Lake processor and GTX 1080 GPU
ensure this machine can handle work tasks and gaming, and
the motherboard and SSD are good too. The only problem is
the price 2,800 inc VAT is a hefty sum for a quad-core
machine with a single GTX 1080. It might have great custom
water cooling, but a well-built, faster SLI machine can be
bought for less money, and you can save yourself over a well-built single-GPU machine and have the budget then
grand by buying a PC with a similar core spec such as the the Chillblast Fusion Corona is about as good as it gets, but
PC Specialist Prism. Custom water cooling adds a premium, its also very expensive for the specification on offer.
of course, but not that much. If youre after a high-quality, MIKE JENNINGS
C PC R EALB ENC H 2 0 15
GI MP I MAGE EDI T I N G FALLOUT 4
Chillblast Fusion 2,560 x 1,440, Ultra Detail, TAA
66,741
Corona
Chillblast Fusion 59fps 74fps
0 18,000 36,000 54,000 72,000 Corona
0 25 50 75 100
HANDBR AKE H. 26 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G 3,840 x 2,160, Ultra Detail, TAA
Chillblast Fusion Chillblast Fusion
331,105 28fps 36fps
Corona Corona
0 90,000 180,000 270,000 360,000 0 25 50 75 100
T H E W IT CH ER 3 : W IL D H U N T
LUXMARK OPENCL 2,560 x 1,440, High Detail, Nvidia HairWorks o
Chillblast Fusion
90,189
90000 Chillblast Fusion 86fps 99fps
Corona
Corona
0 25,000 50,000 75,000 100,000 0 25 50 75 100
3,840 x 2,160, High Detail, Nvidia HairWorks o
HEAVY MULT I T ASK I N G
Chillblast Fusion 185,532 Corona
Corona 0 25 50 75 100
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 D EU S EX : M A N K IN D D IV ID ED
2,560 x 1,440, Very High detail
S YS T EM S C ORE Chillblast Fusion
150,286 Corona
Corona 0 25 50 75 100
0 38,000 76,000 114,000 152,000
3,840 x 2,560, Very High detail
INT EL REFERENCE : 1 31 . 31 % Chillblast Fusion 27fps 34fps
Corona
0 25 50 75 100
Minimum Average
SPEED DESIGN
OVERALL SCORE
86%
22/25 24/25 VERDICT
A fantastic build with decent performance,
HARDWARE VALUE but this high-end PC is also very
23/25 17/25 expensive for the specification on offer.
59
GAMING PC
PC Specialist Prism/1,700 incVAT
SUPPLIER www.pcspecialist.co.uk
C Specialists Prism crams high-end

P hardware into a new case thats eye-
catching and narrow. The Corsair Spec-
Alpha measures a slim 220mm across, which makes
it stand out amid a market full of chunkier, wider ATX
towers. Thats great if you need to fit a PC into a
smaller space, or just dont want a chassis full of
wasted space.
Its a good-looking case, with angled red lines
separating larger spaces of black mesh, and a
colourful slash across the front panel dividing mesh
from solid plastic. The Spec-Alpha stands on four
prominent feet, and build quality is reasonable the
plastic and metal is solid, and theres only occasional
weakness on some of the meshed areas on the roof
and front panel.
The narrow chassis has its advantages, but it
means the interior is a little cramped. The top half is
dominated by the Corsair Hydro H80i and its two
120mm fans, and the huge Palit graphics card hangs
across the middle of the structure its so huge, in fact, that
the card and its cables impede on the two free SSD bays on
top of the hard disk cage. That hard disk cage isnt too easy
to access either, as one of the bays is used to store spare sockets. It even has a U.2 port, as well as support for Intels
cables from the PSU, which isnt surprising considering the forthcoming Octane memory.
lack of space for cable storage behind the In terms of core components, theres little to separate the
motherboard. PC Specialist from this months Chillblast rig, despite the
/SPECIFICATIONS Its generally a tidy and well-built PC, and latter machine costing 2,800. The Fusion Corona has the
CPU 4.2GHz Intel Core most of its upgrade paths are easily accessible. same motherboard, GPU and memory speed, but it adds a
i7-7700K overclocked to In truth, many people wont be bothered about gorgeous custom water-cooling loop to the mix.
4.8GHz
the drive bay obstruction either, but its worth PC Specialists machine also has a modular 650W Corsair
Motherboard Gigabyte Aorus
Z270X-Gaming 7 bearing in mind. Despite the cases small power supply with an 80 Plus Gold rating, which is a great
Memory 16GB Kingston confines, PC Specialist has also crammed an inclusion. You also get a three year warranty, with a year of
HyperX Savage 3000MHz admirable amount of hardware inside this parts coverage and one month of collect and return service,
DDR4
machine when you consider its 1,700 price. plus two years of labour cover. It isnt a bad deal, but other
Graphics Palit GeForce GTX
1080 8GB For starters, theres a GeForce GTX 1080 a companies such as Scan regularly supply three years of
Storage 256GB Intel 600p GPU were used to seeing in machines that cost parts coverage with their review machines.
M.2 SSD; 2TB Toshiba nearer to 2,000. The card used here is a Palit
DT01ACA200 hard disk
JetStream model, which has two 100mm fans. Performance
Case Corsair Spec-Alpha
However, theres no sign of overclocking, with Despite its lack of an overclock, the Prisms GTX 1080
Cooling CPU: Corsair Hydro
H80i with 2 x 120mm fans; this models GPU running at its stock speed remains a fantastic gaming card. It zipped through The
GPU: 2 x 100mm fans; front: of 1607MHz. PC Specialist has been more Witcher 3s 4K test with a 38fps minimum and that pattern
2 x 120mm fans
ambitious with the Prisms processor though. was repeated in other game tests. The Prism managed a
PSU Corsair CS650M 650W
The 4.2GHz Core i7-7700K has been minimum of 26fps in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Fallout
Ports Front: 2 x USB 3, 2 x
audio; rear: 5 x USB 3.1, 1 x overclocked to 4.8GHz, and its complemented 4, which are borderline playable and will be smoother with
USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 by 16GB of 3000MHz DDR4 memory. a slight drop in settings. If youre looking to play at 2,560 x
Type-C, 1 x PS/2, 1 x optical
S/PDIF, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, The high-end parts all attach to Gigabytes 1,440, though, the Prism will do you proud, never dropping
5 x audio award-winning Aorus Z270X-Gaming 7 below 50fps in any of our game tests.
Operating system Microsoft motherboard (see Issue 62, p49). Its the same Whats more, with its 4.8GHz CPU, the Prism was even a
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
board used by Chillblast in this its Fusion Corona little quicker than the pricier Chillblast Fusion Corona in most
Warranty One year parts and
labour return to base, with (see p58), and its easy to see why this Kaby of our RealBench 2015 tests. Its overall system score of
first month collect and Lake PCB is popular it has on-board buttons, 152,916 is a solid result, showing that the Prism has enough
return, followed by two
years labour only Killer Ethernet, a spare M.2 connector, great power to tackle most peoples computing needs with ease.
audio reproduction, and plenty of free slots and The Prisms Intel 600p SSD is a mid-range drive that delivers
60
ELITE
NEWENTRY
P62
1 2 3
The top half is The massive Palit The modular
dominated by the GTX 1080 card Corsair 650W
Corsair H80i and its offers great gaming PSU has an 80
two 120mm fans performance Plus Gold rating
speed in between the best M.2 drives and more conventional

1
SATA hardware. Its read pace of 1,412MB/sec was followed
by a write speed of 580MB/sec theyre fine results, but far
behind the best NVMe products. This drive isnt slow, but
Samsungs latest drives have the edge over it.
The Prism is also a mixed bag in thermal tests, thanks to
the CPU coolers small radiator and the cases narrow 2
design. The processors delta T of 70C at load is
comparatively high, with the core temperature sitting only
a few degrees below the chips thermal limit. It all works
fine without throttling, but it sails close to the edge. The
GPU delta T of 44C is cool, though, and the Prism was
consistently quieter than most gaming systems, even
during intense benchmarking. 3
Conclusion
The PC Specialist Prism is a well-built, solid system that
offers impressive performance for a surprisingly low price.
The stock-speed GTX 1080 cant compete with overclocked
versions of the card, but it still helps this PC to deliver occasional lack of finesse displayed in the Prism, but it still
cracking frame rates. The processor is also fast, the SSD is delivers a huge amount of power for a relatively low price. If
fine and the motherboard is well equipped. youre looking for a fast gaming rig for well under the 2,000
The case is a little cramped, and the processor gets hot, mark then the Prism delivers the goods.
but those issues wont impede most users. Theres an MIKE JENNINGS
CP C R E A L B E N CH 2 0 15
GIMP IMAGE EDITING FALLOUT 4
2,560 x 1,440, Ultra Detail, TAA
PC Specialist Prism 68,124
0 PC Specialist Prism 56fps 71fps
18,000 36,000 54,000 72,000
0 30 60 90 120
H AN D B R A K E H . 26 4 V I DE O E N C ODIN G 3,840 x 2,160, Ultra Detail, TAA
PC Specialist Prism 339,295 PC Specialist Prism 26fps 34fps

0 90,000 180,000 270,000 360,000 0 30 60 90 120
THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT
L UX M AR K O P E N C L 2,560 x 1,440, High Detail, Nvidia HairWorks o
PC Specialist Prism 80,346 PC Specialist Prism 80fps 104fps

0 22,000 44,000 66,000 88,000 0 30 60 90 120
3,840 x 2,160, High Detail, Nvidia HairWorks o
H E A VY M UL TI TAS KI N G
PC Specialist Prism 38fps 49fps
0 30 60 90 120
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED
S Y STE M SCO R E
PC Specialist Prism 50fps 60fps
0 30 60 90 120
0 40,000 80,000 120,000 160,000
I N T E L R E F E R E N C E : 13 3 . 6 1% PC Specialist Prism 26fps 32fps
0 30 60 90 120
Minimum Average
SPEED DESIGN VERDICT

OVERALL SCORE
86%
22/25 21/25 Great performance, solid build quality
and quiet operation for a good price
HARDWARE VALUE only the lack of finesse in a couple of
20/25 23/25 areas gives away this PCs lower cost.
61
E L I T E / THE BEST KIT
Elite
Our choice of the best hardware available
Build a quiet performance PC

The parts youll need to build a very quiet PC that doesnt compromise on performance. Not only does this PC feature an Intel
Kaby Lake CPU and an Nvidia Pascal GPU, but it also uses a massive CPU heatsink and a fanless PSU to eliminate fan noise,
while the graphics card fans only spin up under heavy loads. You can see our full guide to building this PC in Issue 160, p84.
NAME SUPPLIER FEATURED PRICE

(inc VAT)
Jonsbo UMX4 www.quietpc.co.uk Issue 160, p84 129
Intel Core i7-7700K www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 162, p19 335
MSI Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon www.scan.co.uk Issue 162, p52 168
16GB Corsair Vengeance LED 3000MHz DDR4

www.scan.co.uk Issue 158, p56 125
(CMU16GX4M2C3000C15)
Palit GeForce GTX 1060 Dual 6GB www.ebuyer.com Issue 160, p84 240
Nofan CR-95C IcePipe www.quietpc.co.uk Issue 160, p84 100
500GB Samsung 850 Evo www.currys.co.uk Issue 158, p44 150
Super Flower Golden Silent 500W www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 160, p84 130
Microsoft Windows 10 Home

Retail USB drive
TOTAL 1,465
62
BuildabudgetgamingPC
The parts youll need to build a budget machine capable of playing the latest games at decent settings on a 1080p monitor.
The machine has a discrete graphics card, a Kaby Lake dual-core CPU and DDR4 memory. The Core i3-7350K also has an
unlocked multiplier, so it can be overclocked to 4.8GHz and beyond. See p86 for a full guide on how to build this PC.

(inc VAT)
D
Intel Core i3-7350K U PDATE www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 163, p20 180
Asus Prime Z270-P U PDATE D www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 163, p43 114
8GB Corsair Vengeance D

LPX 2666MHz DDR4 U PDATE www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 163, p86 65
Zotac GeForce D
GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Mini U PDATE www.laptopsdirect.co.uk Issue 163, p86 138
D
Aerocool Aero 500 U PDATE www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 163, p86 35
D
Raijintek Rhea U PDATE www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 163, p86 16
XFX XT Series 400W 80 D

Plus Bronze U PDATE www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 163, p86 35
D
SanDisk SSD Plus U PDATE www.novatech.co.uk Issue 163, p86 69
Seagate Barracuda 1TB U PDATE D www.box.co.uk Issue 163, p86 45

Retail USB drive
TOTAL 785
63
Buildamid-rangePC
Work PC
The parts youll need to build a solid quad-core PC with plenty of upgrade potential. This kit list gives you a Swiftech
all-in-one liquid cooler and a K-series Core i5 Kaby Lake CPU, meaning you can overclock it and get some serious
processing power. Weve managed to get the Core i5-7600K Kaby Lake CPU up to 5.1GHz, so it has some great performance
potential. Also included is a solid EVGA PSU, a fast M.2 SSD and 16GB of high-speed DDR4 memory. The core work
configuration assumes you wont be doing any serious gaming, however, and it relies on Intels integrated graphics.

(inc VAT)
Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Glass www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 161, p24 90
Asus Strix Z270F Gaming www.scan.co.uk Issue 162, p47 172
16GB Corsair Vengeance LED 3200MHz

www.ebuyer.com Issue 162, p32 128
DDR4 (CMU16GX4M2C3200C16)
Swiftech H140-X www.scan.co.uk Issue 161, p46 90
EVGA SuperNova GS 550W www.cclonline.com Issue 146, p50 82
Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 www.scan.co.uk Issue 104, p75 67
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB www.novatech.co.uk Issue 161, p19 230

Retail USB drive
TOTAL 1,184
Gaming PC
The graphics card youll need to play current games at their maximum settings at 1080p and 2,560 x 1,440.

(inc VAT)
1,920 x 1,080 and some 2,560 x 1,440

NvidiaGeForceGTX10606GB
2,560 x 1,440 and some 4K

Asus Strix GeForce GTX 1070 OC
64
BuildaperformancePC
Work PC
The parts youll need to build a high-quality, fast PC thats ideal for multi-threaded workloads. This kit list features a high-
quality, well-built case, a feature-rich motherboard and an Intel Kaby Lake Core i7-7700K CPU. This processors support
for Hyper-Threading splits the resources of the CPUs four physical cores into a further four virtual cores, meaning it can
effectively handle eight threads at once. Theres also a solid Corsair 750W PSU, giving you plenty of headroom for
overclocking and adding another GPU, 16GB of DDR4 memory, a high-speed M.2 SSD and a liquid-cooling system.

(inc VAT)
Cooler Master Cosmos SE www.scan.co.uk Issue 144, p41 108
Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming 7 www.scan.co.uk Issue 162, p49 230
16GB Corsair Vengeance LED 3200MHz

DDR4 (CMU16GX4M2C3200C16)
Alphacool Eisbaer 240 www.aquatuning.co.uk Issue 157, p28 99
Corsair RM750i www.aria.co.uk Issue 146, p55 118

Retail USB drive
TOTAL 1,403
Gaming PC
The graphics card youll need to play current games at their maximum settings at 2,560 x 1,440 and beyond.

(inc VAT)
1,920 x 1,080 and some 2,560 x 1,440

NvidiaGeForceGTX10606GB
2,560 x 1,440 and some 4K

Smooth 4K D
2xNvidiaGeForceGTX1070SLI U PDATE www.scan.co.uk Issue 162, p93 780
65
Buildahigh-end6-corePC
Multi-threaded PC
The parts youll need to build a PC with serious power in multi-threaded software, such as 3D rendering apps, video
editing programs and optimised distributed computing software. The kit list features a 6-core LGA2011-v3 CPU, which is
overclockable using the motherboard and top-end cooler listed. Also supplied is 16GB of RAM, a super-fast M.2 SSD, 1TB of
extra solid state storage and Asus superb X99 Deluxe II motherboard.

(inc VAT)
Phanteks Enthoo Luxe www.eclipsecomputers.com Issue 144, p53 138
Asus X99 Deluxe II www.eclipsecomputers.com Issue 156, p43 372
Intel Core i7-6850K www.aria.co.uk Issue 156, p26 605
16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 2666MHz DDR4

(CMK16GX4M4A2666C16)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB www.laptopsdirect.co.uk Issue 161, p20 138
Corsair RM750i www.aria.co.uk Issue 146, p55 118
Samsung 850 Evo 1TB www.scan.co.uk Issue 141, p51 299
Lite-On IHAS324 www.shop.bt.com Issue 99, p108 14

Retail USB drive
TOTAL 2,135
Gaming PC
Replace the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card with another graphics card to enable 4K gaming on this system, or take
advantage of the Core i7-6850Ks 40 PCI-E 3 lanes and add two GPUs for smoother frame rates.

(inc VAT)
2,560 x 1,440 and some 4K

Smooth 4K gaming D
2xNvidiaGeForceGTX1070SLI U PDATE www.scan.co.uk Issue 163, p93 780
66
BuildaminiPC
Core components
This kit list gives you a solid PSU, 16GB of RAM, a liquid cooler and Windows 10 Home 64-bit. Also included is a graphics card
that can play current games at their maximum settings at 2,560 x 1,440, and a high-speed M.2 SSD. The mini-ITX PC is
based on Intels Skyake architecture, while the micro-ATX system is based on Intels latest Kaby Lake architecture.

(inc VAT)
16GB Corsair Vengeance LED 3000MHz www.scan.co.uk Issue 158, p56 125
Swiftech H140-X www.scan.co.uk Issue 161, p46 90
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB www.scan.co.uk Issue 159, p51 230
EVGA SuperNova GS 550W www.cclonline.com Issue 146, p50 82
Microsoft Windows 10 Home Retail USB drive www.scan.co.uk Issue 146, p17 88
Mini-ITX PC
The parts youll need to build a pint-sized powerhouse.

(inc VAT)
Intel Core i7-6700K www.scan.co.uk Issue 147, p84 340
Fractal Design Define Nano S www.scan.co.uk Issue 153, p22 50
Asus Z170i Pro Gaming www.scan.co.uk Issue 147, p26 155
TOTAL 1,457
Micro-ATX PC
The parts youll need to build a mini PC that doesnt take up as much room as a full-sized desktop.

(inc VAT)
Intel Core i7-7700K U PDATE D www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 162, p19 335
Fractal Design Define Mini C www.scan.co.uk Issue 161, p26 80
Asus ROG Strix Z270G Gaming U PDATE D www.scan.co.uk Issue 163, p22 162
TOTAL 1,489
67
Cases
TYPE NAME SUPPLIER FEATURED PRICE
(inc VAT)
Budget ATX NZXT S340 www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 137, p54 67
Sub-100 ATX Phanteks Enthoo

www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 161, p24 90
performance Pro M Glass
Sub-100
Fractal Design Define R5 www.scan.co.uk Issue 137, p20 99
ATX quiet
Sub-150 full-
Nanoxia Deep Silence 5 www.quietpc.co.uk Issue 144, p50 139
sized ATX quiet
Sub-150 full-
Phanteks Enthoo Luxe www.eclipsecomputers.com Issue 144, p53 138
sized ATX
Sub-150 mid-
Cooler Master Cosmos SE www.scan.co.uk Issue 144, p41 108
sized ATX
Cooler Master MasterCase

Premium ATX case www.box.co.uk Issue 162, p32 230
Maker 5t
Fractal Design
Mini-ITX tower www.scan.co.uk Issue 153, p22 50
Define Nano S
Fractal Design
Mini-ITX cube www.scan.co.uk Issue 150, p20 50
Core 500
Fractal Design
Micro-ATX www.scan.co.uk Issue 161, p26 80
Define Mini C
Graphicscards
(inc VAT)
1,920 x 1,080 Nvidia GeForce

www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 159, p43 185
gaming GTX 1060 3GB
2,560 x 1,440 Nvidia GeForce

gaming GTX 1060 6GB
2,560 x 1,440 and Asus Strix GeForce

some 4K gaming GTX 1070 OC
2xNvidiaGeForce D
Smooth 4K gaming
GTX1070SLI U PDATE www.scan.co.uk Issue 163, p92 780
68
Powersupplies
(inc VAT)
EVGA SuperNova
Mid-range 550W www.cclonline.com Issue 146, p50 82
GS 550W
Super Flower Leadex

High-end 550W www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 146, p52 103
Platinum 550W
Mid-range 750W Corsair RM750i www.aria.co.uk Issue 146, p55 118
Corsair Professional Series

High-end 1.2kW www.box.co.uk Issue 111, p40 308
AX1200i
Networking
(inc VAT)
Netgear Nighthawk
Router www.ebuyercom Issue 160, p44 172
X4S R7800
Multi-storey Netgear Orbi Whole Home

www.maplin.co.uk Issue 163, p26 370
home router Wi-Fi System D
U PDATE
Wi-Fi adaptor Asus PCE-AC68 www.cclonline.com Issue 128, p88 67
Storage
(inc VAT)
Seagate Barracuda 2TB

Hard disk www.scan.co.uk Issue 104, p75 67
ST2000DM001
Samsung 850
500GB SATA SSD www.currys.co.uk Issue 158, p44 150
Evo 500GB
Samsung 850
1TB SATA SSD www.scan.co.uk Issue 141, p51 299
Evo 1TB
High-performance Samsung SSD

www.novatech.co.uk Issue 161, p19 230
M.2 SSD 960 Evo 500GB
Synology
NAS box www.ebuyer.com Issue 154, p28 155
DS216j
69
Monitors
(inc VAT)
Dell UltraSharp
24in monitor www.ebuyer.com Issue 162, p58 216
U2417H
27in 2,560 x 1,440 Acer Predator

FreeSync monitor XF270HU
27in 2,560 x 1,440 Asus ROG

G-Sync monitor Swift PG279Q
ViewSonic
27in 4K FreeSync www.amazon.co.uk Issue 157, p26 510
XG2700-4K
27in 4K G-Sync Asus ROG Swift

www.lambda-tek.com Issue 151 , p42 711
monitor PG27AQ
34in ultra-wide
Asus ROG Swift
curved G-Sync www.ebuyer.com Issue 157 , p42 999
PG348Q
monitor
Peripherals
(inc VAT)
Cooler Master
Mechanical gaming MasterKeys Pro S www.box.co.uk Issue 152, p44 100
keyboard (Pro L version recommended if
you need a numeric keypad)
Premiummechanical Corsair Gaming K70 RGB

gaming keyboard Rapidfire
Budget gaming Cooler Master Issue 149,

www.box.co.uk 15
mouse Xornet II p28
Logitech G403
Gaming mouse www.amazon.co.uk Issue 161, p53 57
Prodigy
Ambidextrous Issue 150,

Roccat Kova www.box.co.uk 45
gaming mouse p28
Corsair Scimitar
MMO gaming mouse www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 150, p17 75
RGB
Wireless gaming SteelSeries

www.box.co.uk Issue 139, p61 115
mouse Sensei Wireless
Steering wheel and Logitech G920

www.currys.co.uk Issue 159, p55 200
pedals Driving Force
70
Audio
(inc VAT)
Asus Strix
PCI-E sound card www.scan.co.uk Issue 148, p28 173
Raid DLX
Acoustic Energy
2.1 speakers www.amazon.co.uk Issue 142, p52 129
Aego M
Razer
Soundbar www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 142, p57 200
Leviathan
HyperX
Headset www.box.co.uk Issue 142, p46 71
Cloud II
Surround-sound Asus ROG D

headset Centurion U PDATE www.ebuyer.com Issue 163, p49 170
Systems
(inc VAT)
Scan 3XS Z270

Kaby Lake PC www.scan.co.uk Issue 162, p66 c.3,000
Vengeance SLI
Scan 3XS
Dream PC www.scan.co.uk Issue 145, p58 c.9,499
Barracuda
Sub-2,000 PC Specialist D
gaming PC Prism U PDATE www.pcspecialist.co.uk Issue 163, p60 1,700
Mini-ITX CyberPower Hyper www.cyberpower

Issue 158, p60 c.1,999
gaming PC Liquid 100 system.co.uk
Premium mini-ITX Overclockers

www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 154, p56 c.3,990
PC 8Pack Asteroid
Scan 3XS X99

Premium PC www.scan.co.uk Issue 156, p64 c.4,100
Carbon Fluid GL SLI
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Water-cooled PC www.overclockers.co.uk Issue 150, p58 c.3,414
Infin8 Toxicity
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4K gaming PC www.scan.co.uk Issue 158, p64 c.4,500
Carbon X SLI
High-performance Scan 3XS LG17

www.scan.co.uk Issue 159, p30 c.2,550
gaming laptop Carbon Extreme
Thin and light Scan 3XS LG15

www.scan.co.uk Issue 153, p51 c.1,480
gaming laptop Vengeance G-Sync
71
Games
Contents
Inverse look p73 / Space Hulk: Deathwing p74/ Killing Floor 2 p76/
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (Episodes 1 & 2) p76/ Glittermitten Grove p78/
Resident Evil 7 p80/ Virtual world p82/ Custom PC makes a video game p84
72
OPINION
Howwetest
ll our graphics tests are performed
A on a high-end Ivy Bridge system,
which feaics cards in SLI or
CrossFire configurations configurations
Weve tested each card in four separate
games. Our Battlefield 4 test uses a
60-second sequence from the start of the B E N H A R DW I D G E / FROM THE EDITOR
sin R I C K L A N E / INVERSE LOOK
HEADING HERE
CULTURE SHOCKS
PLEASE
Rick Lane explores the benefits and problems that result
from cultural
Standfirst here please differences
Standfirst in the
here please game industry
Standfirst here please Standfirst
here please Standfirst here please
I
ts tempting to think of gaming as a homogenised stage to watch Russian music acts perform and professional
culture,thattheInternetanddigitaldistributionhave World of Tanks e-Sports players duke it out live.
W
transcended
ow,Id better make
regional
sureboundaries.
I have an Nvidia
On Steam
card in
you
2014,
canI At a previous Wargaming event,World of Warshipsresident
purchasegamesmadeinhundredsofdifferentcountries.Enter
thought, as I watched the Witcher 3 PhysX demo last psychologist (yes, that is a thing) informed me that Eastern
anyonlineshooterandyoullplayagainstpeoplefromAmerica,
proprietary GPU feature would actually persuade me Europeangamersaregenerallymorecompetitiveandconcerned
France,Finland,SaudiArabiaandKorea,whileWorldofWarcraft
togowithonecompanysGPUoveranotherssincethe3dfxdays. withtheminutiaofthegame,comparedwithWesternEuropean
is played
Graphics
by card
individuals
companies
located
have
frombeen
Cornwall
comingtoupChile.
with these players who value the overall experience more.
unique
However,whilesomeaspectsofgamingareclosetouniversal,
selour own judgment call, according to your priorities. In Moscow, it was evident that Wargaming had adjusted its
What
othersare
areyour
not.priorities
Even if you
when.
Ra nosse pre
consider gaming culture as broadly
asWestern(USA,UKandEurope)andEastern(Japan,Koreaand
approach to communicating the game accordingly. In
announcements and press conferences, there was a more
China), there are clear distinctions in the
popularity and types of various games played, as
electoribus apideli pragmatic attitude toward the nitty-gritty. Talks
were dominated by numbers and statistics tiny
well as the attitudes expressed within them. The tiandam quatur,
The Western RPG tweaksandchangesthatwouldbeunfathomable
Western RPG and the Japanese RPG, for example, to anyone but ardent fans.
are entirely different genres, defined by specific
and Japanese
occum estotatur?RPG Gamers also need to be aware of these
themes and individual systems. Ci debis vel
are iliquam sam
entirely differences, because not all distinct attitudes
Andthatsmerelyinthebroadeststrokes;there samQuidebitis
serovides
different
sidoloris
genres betweenculturesarebenign.InRussia,gamingis
are complex differences at a smaller scale. still clearly considered a male hobby, and the
Germany has far stricter censorship laws for utaque volectas casual sexism on display at Wargamings event
violence in video games compared with the UK, for example. was quite shocking. Throughout the convention centre, there
German gamers also have a greater affinity with realistic were booth babes dressed in revealing sailors uniforms purely
simulators such as Farming Simulator, and economics-driven for the purpose of being ogled.Whats more,opposite the main
strategy games such as The Settlers. gamingarea,abeautysalonhadbeensetup,sowomenattending
Developersneedtobeawareofthesedifferences,asitcanhelp theeventcouldgettheirhairandnailsdonewhilethemenwent
to sell games. Just before Christmas last year, I travelled to off to play games.
Moscow to attend the first Wargaming Fest, a convention held Foroursociety,suchtreatmentofwomenissurprising,butin
by Wargaming.net to celebrate its online shooters World of Russia, its still the norm. While many cultural differences are
Tanks,World of Warplanes and World of Warships. good for the industry, driving much of the creativity expressed
Wargamings games do well enough in the USA and Western in games, discrimination isnt one of them. Sometimes being
Europe,butinEasternEuropeandparticularlyRussiatheyre able to see a problem requires an external set of eyes, and the
exceedingly popular. Over 20,000 visitors attended the day more people who are aware of such issues outside of Russia, as
event, queuing in labyrinthine lines, and crowding around a wellasinsideit,themorelikelyitistochangeforthebetter.
Ben Hardwidge is the editor of Custom PC. He likesRick

PCs,Lane
heavy metal, real
is Custom PCsale and Warhammer
games editor. 40,000. editor@custompcmag.org.uk
@Rick_Lane @custompcmag
73
G A M E S / REVIEW
Space Hulk: Deathwing/30 incVAT
DEVELOPER Streum On Studio / PUBLISHER Focus Home Interactive / WEBSITE http://spacehulk-deathwing.com
pace Hulk: Deathwing takes the classic clumped together over millennia to form a huge ball of
S Warhammer 40,000-based board game of
tactical crowd control and melds it with the
metal and rock. Each mission focuses on a single ship amid
this bamboozling maze of gunmetal corridors and lofty
cooperative shooting of Turtle Rocks thrilling zombie gothic architecture, wreathed in levels of gloom that would
masterpiece Left 4 Dead. Up to four players don the power make Edgar Allen Poe wonder if he should lighten up a bit.
armour of Space Marine Terminators, and must blast and If it werent for the Warhammer 40,000 badge, one
cleave their way through a relentless onslaught of Tyranid might consider the morbidity of the aesthetic overwrought.
Genestealers while navigating the mass of decrepit The games colour palette is mainly grey, brown and black,
spaceships that form the Space Hulk itself. and theres little to distinguish one derelict area from the
The idea of mashing Space Hulk and Left 4 Dead next, but it captures the essence of Space Hulk superbly.
together is so perfect that it shouldnt have taken this long As you walk through ancient hangars filled with decaying
to happen. However, wed happily have waited longer for an Starfighters furred with rust, you gain a powerful sense of
improved end product. Deathwing is by no means terrible, the Hulks age, but the overriding feeling is one of dread.
but it fails to get the best out of both sides of its personality. Each corridor feels claustrophobic and each open area
The ten-mission campaign can be played either solo exposed. Despite your devastating weaponry and fist-thick
or cooperatively. In single-player mode, Deathwing armour, you feel tremendously vulnerable.
casts you as a Librarian of the Space Marines Dark The developers commitment to the essence of Space
OVERALL SCORE
60%
Angels company, a powerful and ultra-devout Hulk and Warhammer 40,000 also makes Deathwing a
Terminator warrior empowered with psychic abilities.
Flanked by two brothers, youre tasked with penetrating
the Space Hulk and locating a missing company of
marines. During your mission, you
/ VERDICT discover an ancient Space Marine
Nails the craft, and are charged with
atmosphere of investigating its fate. All the
deep-space gothic while, youre constantly
horror, but a lack of
harassed by the Genestealer
tactical nuance and
a few other issues menace, which seem to
mean Deathwing emerge from the walls like the
isnt quite the video universes worst case of rising damp.
gameinterpretation The atmosphere of the Space Hulk itself is spot on.
that Space Hulk
The Hulk is a gigantic tangle of wrecked spacecraft,
deserves.
shattered asteroids and other interstellar debris,
74
sufficiently distinct experience from Left 4 Dead. Not only is
Deathwings gothic space-horror a far cry from the pulpy
stylings and black humour of Turtle Rocks game, its also
much slower and more pointed. The Terminators move
with both the speed and inevitability of an ice floe, and for
long periods of time, the only noises are the sound of your
own footsteps and the screech of the metal mass
surrounding you.
When the Genestealers appear, Deathwing explodes into
action, with meaty, fierce combat. The Terminators Storm
Bolter guns are hugely satisfying to wield, carving great
chunks out of the insectoid Genestealers as they scramble to remove all story and contextualising elements present
over one another to attack you. The Terminators arsenal is in the single-player game, which is a shame, as theres an
impressively diverse, ranging from Thunder Hammers to enticing mystery beneath all the devout burbling of the
Plasma Cannons. Sadly, some weapons are better than Terminators. Another significant issue with playing
others. The Assault Cannon is simply too inaccurate to use Deathwing cooperatively is that there isnt a huge number
effectively at any distance other than close range, and most of people playing online unless you have a bunch of
melee weapons lack impact. The Genestealers could also friends willing to don their power armour, youll likely end
be more terrifying; they spawn from obvious places and are up stuck with the single-player game.
afflicted by slightly clumsy animation. Thats unfortunate, because all the pieces exist to make
A bigger problem is Deathwings lack of tactical nuance. Deathwing an excellent shooter. The developer nails the
Most problems can be solved by standing still and firing look and feel of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and the
your weapon into a corridor until the whole area ahead of way it harks back to games such as Doom for level design
you is leaking from multiple new orifices. Its possible to inspiration is especially pleasing. However, it lacks sufficient
block doorways, hack into gun turrets, and order your AI tactical depth to appeal as a true Space Hulk game, and as a
to defend certain positions, but theres rarely a need. multiplayer first-person shooter, its inferior to Left 4 Dead
In fact, the only tactical decision you regularly need to in almost every aspect. If it had more to offer in just one of
make is when to heal yourself and your opponents. Even these two DNA strands, it would be a great game, but it
when Deathwing introduces several tougher types of currently finds itself wedged rather awkwardly in the
Genestealer midway through the game, in single-player middle, failing to shine either as a Space Hulk game or a
mode theyre easily dispatched on any difficulty other first-person shooter.
than Hard. That said, in those scattered moments when youre
Playing cooperatively improves this side of the game knee-deep in Genestealers as they assault you from three
considerably. The Genestealer hordes are larger and more directions, Deathwing is pretty darned entertaining. It might
ferocious, so the tactical options become more important, not live up to its potential, but there are definitely worse
but Deathwing is still fairly thin on this front. Theres no ways to spend a few evenings if you have a few friends who
option to lay traps or set up a more organised defence. In are up for some Genestealer slaughter.
addition, the multiplayer game makes the bizarre decision RICK LANE
75
G A M E S / REVIEWS
Killing Floor 2 /20 incVAT
DEVELOPER Tripwire Interactive/ PUBLISHER Tripwire Interactive/ WEBSITE www.killingfloor2.com
f Killing Floor 2 was a food, it would be pizza. Its Each kill earns you money, and once the killing floor is clear,
I the food you eat when you dont know what else
you want. Its a stand-in dish reliable, satisfying
you race to a nearby trading pod to purchase new weapons
and equipment. Your options range from 19th century colt
and unspectacular. The original Killing Floor was a revolvers to head-popping microwave cannons. As the
cooperative shooter in which you teamed up with three power of your arsenal increases, more dangerous Zeds
other players to fend off wave after wave of increasingly appear, culminating in a boss battle once you defeat the
dangerous undead enemies. Killing Floor 2 is exactly the final wave.
same, but more so more players, more Zeds, more guns, Thats basically it, and Killing Floor does a solid job of
more perks and more gore. executing its concept. Nearly all the weapons are satisfying
You and up to five other players are dropped into one of to wield. The aforementioned dual revolvers are a
around a dozen varied maps, and must immediately battle particular highlight, as are the incendiary trench gun and
a wave of shambling zombies using just a pistol and a knife. the Eviscerator, which fires circular saw blades that bounce
OVERALL SCORE
65%
/ VERDICT
An adequate
sequel to an
adequate game.
No more, no less.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

(Episodes 1 & 2) /19 incVAT
DEVELOPER Telltale Games/ PUBLISHER Telltale Games/ WEBSITE www.thewalkingdead.com
fter the brilliant first season of The Walking Dead, little dialogue, and without relying on gut-twisting shocks
A Telltale struggled to continue the momentum in
Season 2. The story, which initially focused on the
to keep the player involved.
However, Javier is soon separated from his family after
relationship between 11-year-old survivor Clementine and encountering a faction called the New Frontier, and he
her adoptive father Lee, relied less on character building and joins up with an older, more capable Clementine to rescue
more on shock value for its second season, and seemed to his family.
wander from one location to the next without knowing It isnt long before bullets are flying and people are dying.
OVERALL SCORE its destination. The third seasons subtitle, A New Unfortunately, by this point, The Walking Deads ghost train
50%
Frontier, infers a change in direction. It introduces a of tragedy is predictable, and Telltale doesnt do enough
new main character, a more clearly defined enemy groundwork to make this dramatic approach effective.
distinct from the shambling hordes, and an older, more The game also contrives to disregarded your decisions. A
capable Clementine. confrontation with a dodgy arms dealer gives you the choice
It starts promisingly. New protagonist Javier is kind- to shoot or spare him, but if you spare him, the gun goes off
/ VERDICT hearted but unreliable, and hes forced to come of age by accident anyway, despite the reason for the dispute
Good new by the unfolding apocalypse, taking his nephew, niece being that his bullets dont work. This happens to the point
characters and
dialogue, but A
and sister-in-law under his wing after the (presumed) where youre not wondering how the game will adapt to
New Frontier death of his brother. Now constantly on the road in a your choices, but how it will twist to circumvent them.
soon becomes small van, they live a cramped but surprisingly happy There are other problems too. The engine has been
predictable and is life. The early game focuses mainly on survival and the improved, but areas are still cramped, the controls are
seriously lacking relationship between these characters, demonstrating terrible and theres only a token interactivity, with very basic
in interactivity.
Telltales skill at drawing personalities with relatively puzzles and action sequences.
76
around the map, and the weapon also doubles as a
horizontal chainsaw. However, each player has a limited
carrying capacity, so you have to choose your weapons
carefully, or be overwhelmed by the Zed hordes.
Speaking of which, the standard shamblers quickly
give way to scuttling monstrosities, sneaky invisible
zombies, obese waddling corpses that spew acid at you,
and hulking meat walls that attack you with cleavers and
chainsaws. The number and type of enemies you face in
each wave are spawned according to the design of the
unseen AI, and theyre precisely tuned to keep you on
your toes no matter what equipment you own.
As an additional violent topping, Killing Floor 2
introduces the M.E.A.T system. This system introduces
realistic dismemberment and, if you have Nvidia Flex
enabled, advanced liquid simulation, resulting in more
realistic blood and guts than you ever knew you needed.
It certainly adds to Killing Floors shooting satisfaction,
provided you have the stomach for it.
Theres nothing massively wrong with Killing Floor 2,
but it also doesnt really move the series forwards. The
new perks system where you can customise your
characters abilities is largely unnecessary, and the new
mode that lets players take control of the zombies is
barely touched by the player population. Killing Floor 2 is
good for lunch breaks, but youre unlikely to remember it
in ten years.
RICK LANE
The biggest problem, however, is that Clementines Despite its title, a New Frontier struggles to break fresh
character has now been reduced from a cheery little girl to ground, and its over-reliant on the ideas and mechanics of
a stoic and morbidly depressed young woman who only the previous games. The series might redeem itself in later
seems to exist in anticipation of the next horrible event to chapters, but its got off to a weak start.
happen to her. RICK LANE
77
G A M E S / REVIEW
GlittermittenGrove/15 incVAT
DEVELOPER Mostly Tigerproof / PUBLISHER Adult Swim Games /

WEBSITE www.adultswim.com
littermitten Grove is a sickeningly cute

G management game that harbours a deep,
dark secret. Youre charged with building a
village for a bunch of faeries in a sun-dappled wood.
You must construct houses and storehouses on the
branches of trees, while chopping down larger trees for
their wood, and to let in sunlight so your trees can grow.
Sunlight is also used to produce sparkles, which can be
used to cast spells to grow your trees, or create
fireworks that can be used to dig underground.
Its harmless, if simplistic, but Glittermitten Grove
isnt really Glittermitten Grove. If you dig deep enough,
grow high enough, or simply type butts during the
game, the fairytale faade peels away like a snakeskin,
and Glittermitten Grove reveals itself as Frog Fractions
2. The original Frog Fractions was a short web game
based around the premise of a frog on a lily pad eating
bugs, which suddenly transformed into almost every
other kind of game you can imagine.
It was a preposterous, genre-
Type butts during hopping nonsense game, a kind of
amphibious Alice in Wonderland,
the game, and the with fractions.
fairytale faade Frog Fractions 2 has nothing to do

with either frogs or fractions, but
peels away sports the same wry sense of
humour and leaps around gaming
genres like a fro erm kangaroo.
Its also much larger than the original game, framed
around a sizeable 8-bit RPG called TXT World. Here you
must navigate a land of blocky forests and dungeons
populated by angry ASCII characters, locating keys and
weapons while attempting to parse bamboozling logic.
Stepping through a door in TXT World may simply
lead to more TXT World. Alternatively, it may trigger one
of Frog Fractions bizarre minigames, one of which is a
clone of the mobile sensation Flappy Bird, only you play
as a flying toaster, and must fail the game in the right
way to progress. Another one is a detective-themed
text adventure set in Dantes Inferno. Theres also a
chess game where you and the AI take your turns at the
same time. Completing these minigames helps you to
delve deeper into TXT World, although usually with
a strange side effect, such as turning the RPG into
OVERALL SCORE
4/7
a giant game of Snake.
Just as it skips from genre to genre, Frog
Fractions 2 flits between being an amusing
curiosity, a laugh-out-loud comedy and a
frustrating mess. TXT World is initially a fun
/ VERDICT
distraction, but navigating it with 35-year-old
Is Glittermitten controls becomes frustrating after a few hours.
Grove worth a few Rating this game with a number would be like
hours of your time? putting a coat on an octopus, so weve judged it in
The answer, clearly, the only way possible.
is 17.
RICK LANE
78
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G A M E S / REVIEW
Resident Evil 7/40 incVAT
DEVELOPER Capcom / PUBLISHER Capcom / WEBSITE www.residentevil7.com
esident Evil has struggled with its identity for a best aspects of the first game for a modern audience.
R few years. After the magnificent, genre-defining
Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5 was basically the
However, its also a little overcautious, and falls some way
behind the recent spate of games that have explored first-
same game with better graphics and a cooperative mode. person horror.
Resident Evil 6 was more ambitious, attempting to be four You assume the role of Ethan Winters, an American
different games at once, but it was unfortunately about as everyman who is searching for his wife Mia after receiving a
successful in this goal as a man trying to juggle four message from her three years after her disappearance. His
different types of big cat. Resident Evil 7 represents yet search brings him to a ramshackle plantation mansion in the
another new direction, only this time Capcom has realised swampy heartland of Louisiana, where he becomes the
that new doesnt necessarily mean adding more stuff until dishonoured guest of the Baker family, a bunch of psychotic
the seams burst. hillbillies ripped straight from American slasher fiction.
In fact, Resident Evil 7 does the opposite, paring down the Alone and hunted, Ethan must escape the squalid labyrinth
exuberant action of recent sequels, and focusing again on of the mansion, and discover the fate of his wife and the
slow, creeping horror, set in a location that deliberately reason behind the Bakers psychosis.
recalls the 1996 original. At the same time, the game As with the first game, the star of the show is neither
nudges cautiously toward innovation, adopting a first- Ethan nor the Bakers, but the sprawling, dilapidated house
person viewpoint and toying with a few interesting ideas in in which they reside. The Baker residence is a tribute to
that perspective. Resident Evil successfully revitalises the the Spencer mansion from the first Resident Evil, with a
similarly convoluted layout to which you gradually unlock
access by completing puzzles, finding keys and defeating
monsters. In its own way, the mansion is a gigantic puzzle
itself, a bloodstained Rubiks cube that you must solve.
And, just like the original game, turning the mansion
cubes colours to match the appropriate sides is the most
satisfying aspect of the game. However, the Baker mansion
is a sensibly modernised version of that original concept,
streamlining the players route through the game, and
reducing the obscurity of the puzzles while ensuring theyre
still enjoyable to solve. It also adds a couple of fun new
ideas, such as silhouette-based conundrums, where
turning a statuette to form a symbol on the wall will open
secret doors, and playable video tapes provide windows
into the mansions past, while also acting as test-runs for
80
some of the more dangerous enigmas that lie ahead.
Perhaps the most significant change made by Resident
Evil 7, though, is to finally do away with the series famously
terrible writing and storytelling. With the aid of writer
Richard Pearsey, whose other credits include Spec Ops: The
Line, Resident Evil 7 has the best script and most coherent
plot of the entire series. Admittedly, it borrows heavily from
other horror fiction. The Bakers are pure clich, and the
story unashamedly combines elements of Saw and The
Ring, but these inspirations are neatly sewn together, while
the Bakers are at least a convincing clich thanks to their
sharp, natural dialogue. heartbeat, forcing you to backpedal and even sprint away
Initially, the Bakers seem like promising adversaries too. from the horrors that lurch after you. More than once, we
An early sequence sees you trying to escape the west wing were reduced to hand-to-hand combat with the Molded,
of the mansion while Immortal Jack Baker hunts you down. and even turned to flight a couple of times, rushing out of
He chases you through corridors and bursts through the an area and slamming the door behind us.
decaying plasterboard walls. Its an impressive display of The Molded certainly make better opponents than the
dynamic horror, and culminates in a thrilling, brutal battle in traditional zombies, but they lack the personality and malice
the mansions garage. Afterwards, however, the Bakers of the Bakers, and thats Resident Evil 7s biggest problem. It
appearances are almost entirely should be the central cast who chase
limited to clunky boss fights, which is you through the shadowy basement
a tragic waste of such memorable The mansion is and decrepit outbuildings of the
opponents. The only family member mansion, rather than being limited to
who really gets to shine is Lucas, and a bloodstained appearances in cut-scenes and boss
thats solely because his character
naturally fits the mould of distant Rubiks cube that battles. Recent titles such as Outlast
and Alien Isolation demonstrated
puppet master.
you must solve the power of such dynamic horror,
OVERALL SCORE
70%
Instead, your main opponents and such an approach would be
throughout the game are known as extremely powerful if blended
the Molded oozing humanoid creatures who have been with Resident Evil 7s devious puzzle box.
almost completely consumed by a parasitic fungus. Theyre As it stands, Resident Evil 7 feels just a little behind
as deadly as theyre repulsive, staggering drunkenly away the curve, being too focused on reliving old memories
from your crosshairs before lashing out with sword-like to break any meaningful new ground. Nevertheless,
/ VERDICT
claws. Whats more, Ethan is no expert in combat, moving its a big improvement on the last couple of entries in A clever reworking
slowly and only able to fire a round or two before the the series, and generally justifies most of its creative of the series oldest
kickback offsets his aim. choices. It may not be the most adventurous horror ideas, Resident Evil
Add a strict inventory management system, and a game ever, but its a sufficiently gruesome 7 is a couple of new
ideas short of being
general scarcity of ammunition, and you have a combat homecoming for the granddaddy of virtual terror.
a bona fide classic.
system where every missed bullet triggers a spike in your RICK LANE
81
G A M E S / ANALYSIS
JOE MARTINS
Virtual world
In this new regular VR column, Joe Martin asks if
virtual reality is really here to stay this time
I
f were being honest, SteamVR provides
virtual reality isnt as new a familiar platform
while also enabling
as headset manufacturers game developers
want us to think. The concept is as to benefit from
old as Platos cave and the hardware Steams large
user base
has been around for years too. I
remember visiting the Eureka!
childrens science museum as a kid
and paying 5 to experience ten
minutes in VR via the Forte VFX1,for
example. Recently,I heard former
Looking Glass Studios developers
talk about experimenting with VR Here to stay such as Croteams recent VR remake
while making Thief:The Dark One factor thats definitely helped VR of Serious Sam:The First Encounter
Project. This stuff has been around this time around is the support its and Ubisoft Montreals Eagle Flight.
for ages. had from the rest of the market. With each month that passes we can
So,while manufacturers such as Ageia may have scored a couple of see more developers learning how
HTC may blow their marketing big PhysX exclusives,but Google, VR games should work and testing
budgets trying to convince us VR is a HTC,Samsung and Sony can the limits of whats possible,
new,exciting trend,what I want to naturally create a much bigger portable,playable and pleasant.
know is whether or not the hardware impact. Regardless of how successful Support for the hardware shows
will remain relevant once those this saturation tactic has been in no signs of slowing either. Oculus
budgets run out. VR has come and terms of hitting sales targets (Ill get was admittedly slow off the mark
gone before I want to be convinced to that),VR feels firmly established this year and took six months to
that its here to stay this time. Now, as a part of the landscape now, release the Touch controllers,but we
with the first birthday of both the thanks to the number of games and now have two VR platforms that are
HTC Vive and Oculus Rift Will the Oculus Rift media coverage. capable of room-scale immersion.
approaching,its a good time to and HTC Vive go HTC has particularly done a lot for Meanwhile,the HTC Vive has a
reflect. Will the VR headsets of today the way of the VRs burgeoning legacy by working wireless attachment on the way
Novint Falcon when
join the PhysX cards and Novint the marketing closely with Valve. SteamVR not only thats already impressed early
Falcons of yesterday? budgets run out? provides a familiar platform,but it testers. VR isnt stagnating;its
also enables developers to benefit continuing to evolve.
from Steams existing user base and That evolution promises great
events such as winter sales. Less than potential for developers and gamers.
12 months since launch,there are The news that Unity will soon
already more than 550 games release a final version of EditorVR
available on SteamVR,with an open source VR engine that lets
additional exclusives on the Vive and developers build VR games within VR
Rifts proprietary platforms. Even if is especially exciting. When big
VR disappeared tomorrow,wed still budget games are increasingly
have plenty to play and the library templated and averse to risk taking,
continues to grow every day. VRs secret weapon could be making
Even better,SteamVRs library of development more democratic,
games isnt just a collection of crappy opening the doors for artists,
wave shooters using sample assets animators,designers and developers
(Ill get to that) or non-interactive to collaborate in real time,virtually.
experienceseither. There are big After all,the indie explosion of a
releases from large developers too, few years ago showed us what
82
There are big VR releases from large developers, such as Serious Sam: The First Encounter and Eagle Flight
happens when development is games on SteamVR I mentioned?

made more accessible and small Sure,theres a growing number of
developers are empowered by digital worthwhile titles,but theres also a
platforms. Who says VR couldnt fair amount of chaff mixed in with
offer similar benefits? the wheat. Even setting aside the
dodgiest releases,which hope to
Gone tomorrow charm you out of a few quid with
Now for the flip side. The Vive and empty promises about Early Access,
Rift could still end up on the rubbish the majority of SteamVR games are
heap if the VR revolution doesnt still boring wave shooters.
pan out. Weve already seen some Its uncertain how long the bigger
obvious shortcomings of the original developers will remain committed DayZ creator Dean
hardware. MSIs Backpack PC,which to VR too. DayZ creator Dean Hall Hall revealed on
Reddit recently
aims to do away with cables by revealed on Reddit recently that his that his popular
mounting an entire battery-powered popular VR launch title Out of Ammo VR launch title,
PC on your back,is a stark will certainly never be profitable. Out of Ammo,
counterpoint to HTCs wireless Theres flatly no money for will certainly never
be profitable
upgrade and Oculusnew sensors developers in VR,he said,which
a reminder that hardware isnt means hell direct his studio figures. I can only conclude that
valuable just because its new. elsewhere in the future. VRs future is financially uncertain,
The same holds true for the It begs the question:if a popular despite all the progress made.
software too. All those hundreds of developer such as Dean Hall cant I find that uncertainty rather sad.
recoup costs with an excellent and Im a big believer in VR as a catalyst
widely publicised launch title such for change in the game industry,
as Out of Ammo,where does that both at the level of enabling
leave other developers? One developers to make new experiences
possibility Hall mentioned was and enabling players to explore
that HTC and Oculus would experiences in more meaningful
finance developers themselves. ways. Id hate to see the raw potential
HTC has already announced it of VR thwarted because of a lack of
will run its own studio, unit sales especially if those sales
apparently ready to wait are stopped by simple concerns such
until the user base is big as space,cables and cost. That would
enough to make games be an incredibly sad situation for the
independently profitable. game industry,and depressingly
The exact size of the user familiar territory too.
base,or how big it needs to Sure,VR may still have a lot to
grow,is still unclear,of course. prove,but if it can break the cycle
HTC has responded to negative MSIs Backpack of templated sequels and deliver
speculation by saying that its PC does away with even a chance of some more new
cables by mounting
soldmuch morethan 140,000 experiences then Im ready to give
an entire battery-
units,but otherwise both Oculus powered PC on it the benefit of the doubt for
and HTC have yet to release any sales your back another year.
Follow Joe on Twitter at @JoeThreepwood for real-time updates of objects he knocks over while exploring virtual worlds.
83
CustomPC
G A M E S / ANALYSIS
MAKES A VIDEO GAME

PART SIX
Rick Lane gets random in the latest instalment of our game-making series
I
ts been some time since
we last delved into the
colourful code of
GameMaker,in our attempt to
make a game with no prior coding
knowledge. Weve so far learned that
its possible,provided you have the
right toolkit and tutorials available,
and youre willing to acknowledge
that your first attempt probably
wont be very good.
Now its time to bring this series
full circle. Weve covered many
aspects of game making,including
basic controls,implementing
weapons,designing enemies and
creating levels. In the process,weve
discovered that game development
requires both a fertile imagination Thats a pretty a boss character as a final challenge function,both the game and the
and an eye for precision. Even with a spectacular bug to the level. However,bosses are player need to understand it,which
basic understanding of coding,you difficult to design,even with lots of is achieved in two different ways. To
can be surprisingly inventive. experience,and doing so would enact the objective in-game,we
However,we still dont have a require treading a lot of ground introduce a hidden scoring system
game to show for it;Spider is really weve already covered. So instead,we using the handy global variable
a single level that just keeps going opted to add a simple scoring and score,which lets you add and
until you die. So for this part,we objective system. subtract points from an overall score
Looking back, we
wanted to tie off the other end of The objective we added is simple through every instance and object in
would have fewer,
Spider and close the loop so that it but larger, obstacles kill five wasps to progress to the next your game.
feels like a game with a proper,if generated level,but to make this objective In theCreateevent for the Game
simple,structure. Its not an ending object,we dictate thatscore = 0.
to the series,but any future Then,in the Step event for the Wasp
instalments will focus more directly object (Step events are checked by
on specific aspects of game design, the game in every frame thats
such as AI,animation and so on, played,),we write that each time a
rather than just covering the basics. wasp instance is killed,it adds +10 to
To close the loop properly,we need the score. Finally,in the Menu object,
to introduce a victory condition and we state that when the score reaches
create more levels to play. For the 50,the menu switched from the
former,there are a couple of Gamemode to a new mode we call
potential approaches. One is to add Victory,which declares the message
84
Our objective text is set to Squares are handy for
a timer, so it disappears randomly generating
after a couple of seconds because of their uniformity
Weapon drops are also Our Next Hive button actually

randomly generated, and returns you to the same level,
take priority over obstacles but the layout is regenerated
WASPS DESTROYED,and lets the room,so in effect,youre playing the reached the number within the
player press a button to move to the same level over and over again,but random_range the algorithm had
next level,orHive. the layout is different every time. chosen,or reached the limiter on the
Communicating the objective to Creating a basic randomly number of allowed spawn attempts.
the player is simply a case of having generated level is actually incredibly This component,as Francis explains,
the messageKill five waspspop up easy. All thats required is a single, is very important for procedural
at the start of each level. However, collision-enabled object such as a generation otherwise the game
even implementing this system is square,and a few lines of code that might simply keep on trying to
more complex than you might think, dictate how many of these blocks spawn blocks forever,causing the
as we must attach a timer that should spawn (achieved using the game to hang.
dictates how long the text should random_rangecommand). Then we Creating even a very simple
appear,otherwise it stays in the command the game to spawn those procedural generation algorithm
centre of the screen forever.A blocks anywhere within the room is almost the inverse to how
program will only perform a (achieved with therandom(room- development has worked up to
particular job if you tell it explicitly. height)andrandom(room_width) this point.
With the basic level structure commands. The result may not be Rather than starting with nothing
firmly bookended,the last task was attractive. In fact,it looks like and adding bits,you begin with
straightforward make more levels. Minecraft with measles,but whats everything and then have to chip
However,weve already covered how important is that we get an entirely away at it,like a sculptor working
to build basic levels and mazes by different level each time,which with a giant block of numbers.
hand in a previous article,so we affects how the game plays out. With the algorithm in place,
wanted to try procedurally The tricky part of procedural all thats left is to connect our
generating our levels instead. Not generation isnt getting it to work, procedurally generated level to
only would this method provide us but reining it in so that it works in the theVictorymenu screen;amusingly,
with a new developing skill,but it way you want. If you instruct the this is achieved by instructing the
would also mean we could algorithm to spawn blocks wherever next level button togotothe same
effectively create an infinite it likes,it will literally do so,placing room in which its already located,
number of levels. them on top of weapons,enemies, thus triggering the level to
Luckily,Tom FrancisYouTube the player and even other blocks,so regenerate. And thats it!
tutorials include an introduction you must specify where the The loop is complete. While not
to procedural generation in algorithm cant spawn blocks. necessarily finished,Spider is at
GameMaker. The generation seed For this reason,we told our game least now a game with a perceptible
is coded into theCreationtab of to delete any blocks that spawn on end,which provides the player with
GameMakers rooms (the softwares top of another object,and then to feedback for their achievement and
equivalent of levels). We only use one keep spawning blocks until it a sense of progression.
85
F E AT U R E / CUSTOMISATION
ANTONYLEATHER
BUILDSAKABYLAKE-
POWERED1080P
GAMINGMACHINE,
COMPLETEWITHSSD,
FORUNDER700
BUILD A
KABYLAKE
GAMINGPC
FOR 697 INC VAT!
T
he latest Kaby Lake CPUs and Z270 motherboards might However, we did some investigating and, along with this months
offer new features and great overclocking, but they budget Z270 motherboard Labs test (see p40), we found bargains
have one glaring issue: theyre expensive. The Core thatwillenableyoubuildapowerful1080pgamingPCforunder700.
i5-7600K will set you back around 230 inc VAT, while Wedidntskimponthehardware;thePCincludesa240GBSSD,a1TB
many of the premium motherboards we usually recommend cost hard disk, an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti graphics card and a case with a built-
upwards of 170. in fan controller. To keep the price as low as possible, we used Asus
This means that our usual core components for a budget gaming bargain-tasticPrimeZ270-Pmotherboard(seep43)andIntelsCore
rig could hit your wallet for an extra 60 compared with a year ago, i3-7350K (see p20), which we overclocked, plus all the information
which is especially hard-hitting if youre on a tight budget. you need on how to build and overclock the system yourself.
86
ELITE
NEWENTRY
P62
BUDGETOPTIONS
A
s always, there are loads of overclocked, stepping up to a Core audio, albeit for an extra 35. If you wont be
options when it comes to i5-7600K sees a solid performance boost, using a K-series CPU and overclocking it,
choosing the individual as the latter can be overclocked too. It also then you can alternatively opt for a
components of a PC thats a big part of has more L3 cache than the Core i3 and its motherboard with an H270 chipset and
what makes building them so much fun. Its four physical cores mean will give it the potentially save an extra 20.
all about getting a balance of bang per buck, edge in any computing task that benefits
while sticking to the restraints of your from simultaneously executing more than MEMORY
budget, so although weve selected the
components based on their value or award-
two threads. The Core i5-7600K will cost
an additional 60 or so, but if you cant quite
8GB Corsair
winning attributes to keep the price tag stretch even to the Core i3-7350K, you can Vengeance
under 700, weve also discussed a few
alternative options that cost a little more
also consider the Core i3-7100. It isnt
unlocked so you cant overclock it, but it
LPX 2666MHz
money, but will yield benefits if your wallet costs just 120 inc VAT and still has enough DDR4/ 65 incVAT
can stretch a little further. grunt for a budget 1080p gaming system. SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk
CPU MOTHERBOARD We usually recommend installing 16GB in a

Intel Core i3-7350K / Asus Prime new system, but 8GB of RAM is still ample
for most tasks and shaves around 50 off
180 incVAT Z270-P/ 114 incVAT the price tag too. The price of memory has
SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk increased in recent months, but 65 inc VAT
will net you an 8GB 2666MHz set of
The Core i3-7350K was both a revelation While the price of Corsairs Vengeance DDR4 RAM,
and a disappointment when Intel announced motherboards is comprising two 4GB sticks. Frequency
it last month. On one hand, you have a generally does matter, although not significantly, and
multiplier-unlocked CPU that costs 50-60 increasing, its youll see diminishing returns once you go
less than the Core i5-7600K, so it offers a still possible to above 2666MHz.
sizeable cost saving, especially as you wont pick up a bargain
need as big a cooler to overclock it. On the and, as this months ALTERNATIVEMEMORY
other hand, it costs much more than we Labs test shows, you dont If you have a little more cash to spend, go for
initially expected. For a dual-core have a rein in the overclocking either. Asus a 3200MHz kit, which will add a little more
CPU, even one with Hyper- Prime Z270-P proved itself to be a great performance in some tasks, and will only
Threading, thats a high asking budget overclocking board. It reached the add an extra 5-10 to the cost. Stepping up
price. However, there are still 5GHz limit of our Core i7-7700K without to a 16GB kit will add around another 55.
good reasons to choose this chip trouble, and used less voltage than some
over a locked Core i5. It has a much more expensive boards too, leading to a GRAPHICS CARD
higher base frequency even more cooler-running overclocked CPU. Zotac GeForce
so once overclocked, which means that in It does lack some of the latest features,
any tasks that dont make use of a Core i5s such as USB 3.1 Gen 2 support, so there are GTX 1050Ti 4GB
additional physical cores, the Core i3-7350K good reasons to spend a little more money, Mini/ 138 incVAT
will comfortably be the faster chip. but if youre just after a cheap motherboard SUPPLIER www.laptopsdirect.co.uk
In addition, even in some multi-threaded that overclocks well, it fits the bill perfectly. It
tests, weve seen it match the performance also sports Asus excellent EFI and software, The graphics card situation
of stock speed quad-core CPUs. The and is more than capable of using a faster below 140 is fairly
addition of Hyper-Threading and larger L3 M.2 SSD or graphics card than weve chosen simple, with the best
cache also mean its a much more potent too. Best of all, it costs just 114 inc VAT, so its value coming from
CPU than the Pentium G3258 Intels last ideal for building a no-nonsense gaming PC Nvidias GTX 1050 Ti.
budget unlocked CPU, so its less likely to on a budget. It offers plenty of
suffer from slow frame times, which were headroom in most games at
reported in a small number of titles running ALTERNATIVEMOTHERBOARDS 1080p and can handle many of them at
on the Pentium chip. As a result, while the There are a number of alternatives if youll maximum settings too. Its also super-
Core i5-7600K is a superior CPU, if you can be using a multiplier-unlocked CPU and power-efficient, so we dont need a monster
take advantage of the Core i3-7350Ks require a Z270 chipset. Asus own Prime PSU to run it. Weve opted for Zotacs dinky
potentially higher clock speed, it can be a Z270-K is very similar to the Z270-P, except GTX 1050 Ti Mini, which doesnt even require
better option than a locked Core i5 CPU. it adds USB 3.1 Gen 2 support for an extra a PCI-E power cable, and costs 138 inc VAT.
10-15. Meanwhile, MSIs Z270 Tomahawk
ALTERNATIVECPUs Arctic (see p46) looks fantastic and offers ALTERNATIVEGRAPHICSCARDS
While the Core i3-7350K can do battle with some extra features, while Gigabytes Below the GTX 1050 Ti are the GTX 1050
stock-speed quad-core CPUs once Z270-Gaming K3 (see p44) adds better and AMDs Radeon RX 460, but both GPUs
87
are considerably slower and will require you even basic heatpipe-equipped air coolers SOLID STATE DRIVE
to significantly dial down your graphics
settings to achieve playable frame rates.
can cope with the heat from an overclocked
dual-core chip. Raijinteks Rhea costs just
SanDisk SSD
Above the GTX 1050 Ti is Nvidias 3GB GTX 16 inc VAT, but sports six heatpipes, a Plus/ 69 incVAT
1060, and also AMDs Radeon RX 470 4GB, PWM-controlled 92mm fan and offers SUPPLIER www.novatech.co.uk
both of which offer a significant step up enough cooling to tame an overclocked Core
from the GTX 1050 Ti, enabling some i3-7350K. It also measures just 118mm tall, We dont recommend opting for a 128GB
games to be played at 2,560 x 1,440 and so theres plenty of headroom in our cases SSD any more, as youll be constantly
providing smoother frame rates at 1080p. slightly restricted 155mm CPU cooler juggling storage space once youve installed
Cards based on both GPUs retail for around clearance. It uses push-pins, rather than a Windows 10 and your games and programs.
180 inc VAT, with the former having the custom thumbscrew mount, but that means For the best balance on a budget, we
edge in most of our test games. its easier to install. recommend opting for a 240GB SSD and a
decent-sized hard disk. SanDisks SSDs
CASE ALTERNATIVECPUCOOLERS offer great value for money, and while they
AerocoolAero There isnt a cheaper CPU cooler that could
comfortably cope with the demands of our
arent quite as fast as the likes of Samsungs
850 Evo, theyre much cheaper and still
500/ 35 incVAT overclocking shenanigans, but stepping up significantly quicker than a hard drive, and
SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk to 30 inc VAT would net you a SilverStone 240GB gives you enough space to install a
Argon AR01 air cooler, which can be cooler few games and programs on your system
We scoured the online virtual shelves for a and quieter than the Rhea, although youll drive. However, Western Digital now owns
cheap but decent case that wasnt going to also need a larger case as its too large to fit SanDisk, and SSDs with the latter brand are
cook our hardware and eventually settled on inside for the Aerocool Aero 500. gradually disappearing from shop shelves.
Aerocools Aero 500. Its not a massive case, Alternatively, all-in-one liquid coolers such Alternatively, Western Digitals new WD
and theres no aluminium or as Corsairs H75 and Swiftechs H140-X Green SSD offers similar performance at the
tempered glass in sight offer much better cooling and can be tuned same price.
either, but it offers fantastic to very quiet noise levels, although theyre
value for just 35 inc VAT. You overkill for the Core i3-7350K. ALTERNATIVESSDs
get several 2.5in, 3.5in and We opted for the cheapest SSD that offers
5.25in bays, the option of a POWER SUPPLY more than 200GB of storage space, but if
side window and a snazzy XFXXTSeries you can stretch to 90, Samsungs 850 Evo
white paint job. It even has offers much faster speeds, as well as
space for a double 120mm-fan 400W80 Plus compatibility with its excellent Magician
radiator in the roof too. Theres a Bronze/ 35 incVAT software. Alternatively, you could also opt
magnetic dust filter for the roof and PSU too, SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk for more solid state storage space
and you get a two-channel fan controller as SanDisks Z410 costs just 114 inc VAT for
well. Its a solid case thats ideal for a budget With such miniscule power a 480GB drive.
gaming system. requirements,
theres little point HARD DISK
ALTERNATIVECASES
We certainly wouldnt drop below 35 inc
opting for a PSU
rated above 400W
Seagate Barracuda
VAT, but spending a little more cash is well for our system. 1TB/ 45 incVAT
worth it. NZXTs S340 looks fantastic and However, we SUPPLIER www.box.co.uk
has plenty of premium features for an extra recommend netting a PSU from a known
35 or so. Meanwhile, Phanteks Enthoo brand that meets the 80 Plus Bronze Even a 240GB SSD will fill
Pro M Glass is an awesome case for the standard, as it will be more stable and more up quickly, so we
money, but it will set you back an extra 60. efficient than a generic model. Weve opted recommend having a hard
for an XFX XT Series 400W 80 Plus Bronze, drive for storing data and
CPU COOLER which doesnt have modular cables, but it media files, such as music
RaijintekRhea/ will deliver the goods for a surprisingly low
price of just 35 inc VAT.
and video. Oddly, 500GB hard
disks are now quite rare and cost
16 incVAT a similar price to 1TB models, so it makes
SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk ALTERNATIVEPSUs sense to go for the latter. A Seagate
There still isnt much point in opting for a Barracuda 1TB will cost under 50, but it will
Intel doesnt supply stock higher rating than 500W these days, even if give you a huge amount of space to store
coolers with most of its youll be dealing with a more powerful CPU any rarely used programs and data.
CPUs these days, so youll and graphics card. However, modular cables
usually need to buy a third- make it easier to build cleaner-looking
party CPU cooler, even for
low-heat systems such as
system. If you can afford to run to 80 inc
VAT, the EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W offers
TOTALPRICE:
this budget build. Theres no need to
spend more than 20 inc VAT, though, as
an 80 Plus Gold rating and a fully modular
cable set.
697 incVAT
88
BUILDING THEPC
Install CPU Most motherboards require them to be more here using too much paste is more
The trickiest step in the whole process is inserted into the second and fourth slots as likely to hinder cooling than improve it.
probably installing the CPU. You need to be you move away from the CPU socket, but
extremely careful not to drop the CPU into check your motherboard manual to be sure. Lock push pins
the socket pins, as theyre incredibly fragile Theres a notch in each slot so you can only Each of the coolers push pins need to be
if they get bent, your motherboard will be insert them one way around 04 . pulled all the way out and rotated fully
ready for the scrap heap. Thankfully, there clockwise so that they click into place when
are a few retailers such as www.scan.co.uk Prepare CPU cooler pushed firmly 07 .
that offer PC home build insurance, but the The CPU cooler has a protective film on the You can then mount the cooler on the
easiest way to avoid catastrophe is simply to base to prevent scratches, which needs to be motherboard, with the fan facing the right
avoid dropping the CPU in the first place. removed before you install it 05 . Youll also edge of the motherboard, pushing the pins
Start by lifting the CPU socket latch and make work easier for yourself if you remove into the holes and then rotating them to lock
removing the protective cover 01 . Now the fan and clips before installing the cooler them in place 08.
move the CPU over the socket no higher than you can then reconnect them afterwards.
an inch above it, rather than bringing it down Connect CPU cooler fan cable
from a height, then install it in the socket (it Apply thermal paste Dont attach the CPU cooler fan to the fan
will only fit one way round) 02 , push down All CPU coolers either come with thermal controller. Instead, connect it to the CPU fan
the CPU cover and lock the latch in place 03 . paste or have it pre-applied. If you need to header on your motherboard 09. This
apply it yourself, make a thin cross shape on connection enables the motherboard to
Install memory the CPUs metal heatspreader 06. This control the fan speed based on CPU
Your memory will come as a set of two sticks method has been shown to allow the best temperature, so it will be quieter when idle,
so they can operate in dual-channel mode. spread of heat under the heatsink. Less is and only ramp up airflow when its needed.
01 02 03
04 05 06
07 08 09
89
10 11 12
13 14 15
16 17 18
Test hardware the cables through the lower motherboard Aerocool Aero 500 case, we recommend
To avoid frustration, test your hardware trays cable-routing holes, passing the routing the 8-pin power cable from the PSU
before installing it in your case. Its rare for 24-pin ATX power connector back through under the motherboard before installing it in
components to be dead on arrival, but it does the hole on the right of the motherboard. If the connector at the top, as the Aerocool
happen and it will be easier to identify any youre using the Aerocool Aero 500 case, as case has no cable-routing hole for it in the
problematic components when the we did, then youll also need to route the right place for it.
hardware is out of the case. Insert the 8-pin CPU power connector around the back
graphics card into the top large 16x PCI-E of the motherboard tray, then back into the Connect cables
slot, hook up your PSUs 8-pin CPU and top of the CPU area cut-out, so it can hook The motherboard has headers for the
24-pin power connectors to the over the motherboard when its installed, power and reset buttons, as well as the USB
motherboard 10 , then either connect the and plug straight into its socket. 3 and USB 2 ports and audio jacks. These
case power button connector to the connectors are located on the bottom edge
motherboard to turn it on, or press a small Install motherboard of the PCB 15 the pins are labelled, but
screwdriver momentarily against the same Make sure there are motherboard standoffs check your case and motherboard manuals
pins to switch on the power supply 11 . installed in the motherboard tray 13 , and if youre in any doubt. Youll also need to plug
Connect a monitor to the graphics card, plug that they match the holes on your in your PSUs motherboard connectors the
in a keyboard and mouse, and youll be able motherboard check your cases 24-pin one on the side 16 and the 8-pin one
to check that all your components are instructions if you arent sure, as sometimes at the top.
working as expected. they need to be installed manually. In our
case, the standoffs were preinstalled in the Install graphics card
Install PSU right places, so there was no need to make Start by removing the required expansion
The power supply goes into the case face any adjustments. You then need to install slot blanking plates at the rear of the case
down 12 , so its fan can draw air from the the rear I/O shield into the slot at the back of the one that lines up with the motherboards
bottom of the case, and its secured to the the case 14 , then go ahead and secure the primary PCI-E slot and the one below it 17 .
case at the rear. Once its installed, thread all motherboard in the case. If youre using the Now insert the graphics card into the top
90
19 20 21
22 23 24
PCI-E slot and secure it in the slot using the Be sure to connect the controllers Molex Install solid state drive
screws included with your case 18 . The GTX cable to a Molex power cable from your Theres a dedicated SSD mount behind the
1050 Ti doesnt require a separate power power supply too. motherboard tray, so use that to mount the
cable, so thats all you need to do here. SSD 22 . Connect both the SSD and hard disk
Install hard disk to the motherboard and power supply using
Connect case fan The Aero 500 uses tool-free drive trays, so the PSU and included SATA cables 23 .
Theres just one case fan in our system, and you just need to clip your hard disk into a tray
its located at the rear. You can either connect 20 then slide the tray into its slot. Be sure to Tidy cables
it to the motherboard or to the included fan install the hard disk with its ports facing the Tidy the cables to make your system look
controller. Weve done the latter, by routing rear of the mount 21 , so that the front of the neat and improve airflow 24 . Use the
the cable behind the motherboard and drive is visible next to the motherboard this included cable ties to group the cables
connecting it to one of the fan cables 19 . position aids cable routing and looks tidy. together and secure them to anchor points.
OVERCLOCKING
T
o get the most out of this PC, youll Select XMP to set your
need to overclock both the CPU and memory frequency and
timings to the correct speed
GPU, which is perfectly safe, as well
only be using settings that are well within
the limits weve found. Even so, its best to Power on your PC, then
stability-test the system and check your tap the Del key until you
cooling is working. enter the EFI. Now head
Youll need a few pieces of software first, to the Advanced / AI
including a version of Windows we Tweaker section and
recommend Windows 10 Home 64-bit. Start select XMP Under the AI
by heading to www.mersenneforum.org to Overclock Tuner option.
download version 26.6 of Prime95. Dont This tweak will set your
use a more recent version, as it will load your RAM frequency and
CPU to unrealistic levels. Also, grab timings correctly. Now
CoreTemp from www.alcpu.com, which graphics card, and GPU-Z from www. head down to the CPU core ratio and select
shows your PCU cores temperatures, and techpowerup.com/gpuz to monitor your Sync All Cores, then set 48 as the multiplier.
CPU-Z from www.cpuid.com, which shows GPUs settings. To stress-test your graphics Further down, set the CPU voltage to manual
the overclocked CPU frequency. Also, grab card, we recommend using Unigine Valley mode and then set 1.28V as the CPU voltage.
MSI Afterburner from www.guru3d.com, (https://unigine.com/products/valley) Now boot up Windows, and use MSI
which enables you to overclock your followed by some lengthy gaming sessions. Afterburner to increase the temp limit to
91
For stress testing, use Prime95s smallfft test to load the CPU, CPU-Z to check
Set the CPU voltage to manual mode and then set the CPU voltage to 1.28V the CPU clock and CoreTemp to check the temperature
97C, then increase the GPU core clock by You can then use Prime95s
130MHz and the memory clock by 150MHz. smallfft test to load the CPU,
In GPU-Z, you should see the GPU clock rise check the overclock has been
from 1304MHz to 1434MHz and the memory applied in CPU-Z and open
frequency from 1752MHz to 1827MHz. Run CoreTemp to check the CPU
Unigine Valley on a continuous loop for 30 temperature. Our CPU hit 73C
minutes and check the temperature in after 30 minutes, which is well
GPU-Z or MSI Afterburner. within thermal limits. You can
Our temperature hit 51C, which is try for 4.9-5GHz with higher
Use MSI Afterburner to overclock your graphics card and GPU-Z to
absolutely fine. These overclocks are monitor your GPUs settings voltages, but dont use more
conservative, so you can try pushing your than 1.35V for an everyday
card a little further, checking for stability found your fastest stable settings, tick the overclock, and make sure the temperature
issues after every 10MHz step. Once youve box to apply your overclock at start-up. doesnt go above 85C in Prime95.
PERFORMANCE
A s you can see from the graphs, C P C R EA LB ENC H 2015
GI MP I MA GE ED I TING FAL L OUT 4
our 697 gaming machine is CPC Budget 1,920 x 1,080, Ultra detail, TAA
58,725 66,230
surprisingly powerful for the price. Kaby Lake PC
34 fps 41 fps
0 18,000 36,000 54,000 72,000 CPC Budget
We initially opted for the Very High Kaby Lake PC
37 fps 44 fps
detail setting in Deus Ex: Mankind HA ND B R A K E H .2 64 VIDEO ENCODING
CPC Budget 0 15 30 45 60
Divided, where it managed a Kaby Lake PC
151,881 170,742
borderline playable minimum 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 THE W ITCHER 3: W IL D HUNT
1,920 x 1,080, Ultra detail, HairWorks o
frame rate of 27fps at stock speed. HEA V Y MU LTI TA SKING
CPC Budget CPC Budget 41 fps 47 fps
However, this result rose to a Kaby Lake PC
95,971 105,965
Kaby Lake PC
44 fps 50 fps
healthier 30fps at High detail, 0 30,000 60,000 90,000 120,000
0 15 30 45 60
and 33fps once overclocked. S YS TEM S C O R E
CPC Budget
Overclocking also resulted in the Kaby Lake PC
77,380 88,275
DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED
minimum frame rate rising by roughly 0 25,000 50,000 75,000 100,000 1,920 x 1,080, High detail
10 per cent in The Witcher 3: Wild C I NEB ENC H R 15 CPC Budget 30 fps 39 fps
CPC Budget Kaby Lake PC
Hunt and Fallout 4, with both games Kaby Lake PC
456 514 33 fps 41 fps
set to Ultra detail. At these settings, 0 135 270 405 540 0 15 30 45 60

Stock speed min Stock speed avg
our system never dropped below Stock speed Overclocked
Overclocked min Overclocked avg
30fps and even set a minimum of
44fps in The Witcher 3. Handbrake test, but it clearly has all the POW ER CONSUMPTION
Meanwhile, the CPC RealBench power it needs for gaming and photo editing. Idle
CPC Budget 27W 34W
2015 system score rose from 77,380 Whats more, the efficiency of Intels Kaby Kaby Lake PC
0 10 20 30 40
to 88,275 after overclocking, with Lake architecture, as well as Nvidias Pascal
Load
sizable gains in the main tests. Its still architecture, meant that overclocking both CPC Budget 125W 143W
Kaby Lake PC
slower than a true quad-core CPU in the GPU and GPU only added 20W to the 0 40 80 120 160
our heavily multi-threaded power consumption at load. Stock speed Overclocked
92
4K MULTI-GPU
CHALLENGE Ben Hardwidge pairs up two Zotac GTX 1070 cards to see
if they can properly handle 4K gaming
N
vidia might have some games too.Nvidias GeForce GTX 1070 heatpipes with loads of aluminium fins,
inadvertently revealed its and 1080 cards are pretty powerful on their plus three 90mm fans.
plans for a GeForce GTX 1080 own anyway they can even manage As an added bonus,the cards can switch
Ti on LinkedIn before playable frame rates at 4K in some games in off their fans when the GPU is idle,meaning
Christmas,but theres still no sign of it in single-GPU configurations but if you want they only make any noise when youre
the official world,which means anyone smooth frame rates at 4K in all games,we playing games.There are also RGB LEDs
who wants to run 4K games on a single GPU reckon youll need two of them. sitting under the cardsclear plastic
really needs a Titan X.Which would be all To help us find out how well a pair of GTX sections,which are customisable in Zotacs
fine and dandy,of course,if a Titan X didnt 1070 cards can cope with 4K gaming,Zotac software.The only downer to these cards is
cost 1,099 inc VAT,which I think we can all sent us two of its AMP! Extreme Edition that the three-slot size means they sit very
agree is a silly price for a graphics card. cards.These cards cost 424 inc VAT each close together in an average SLI rig,with
Theres potentially another route to 4K from www.scan.co.uk,making for a total just a sliver of space between them for
gaming,though,using a pair of GTX 1070 price of 251 inc VAT for an SLI setup.These airflow youll also need a motherboard
cards in SLI configuration. monstrous three-slot cards feature that has its primary and secondary PCI-E 3
GeForce GTX 1070 cards currently start 1632MHz core clocks (compared to the slots spaced far enough apart our Asus
at 396 inc VAT for a mini Zotac card from 1506MHz stock frequency),and boost to Maximus VIII Hero motherboard could run
www.scan.co.uk,meaning you can 1835MHz.They even have overclocked both of them together in SLI,but it was a
potentially get proper 4K gaming memory,running at 8208MHz (effective), tight squeeze.
performance for under 800,saving you adding 200MHz (effective) to the stock Youll also need a PSU with four 8-pin
over 300 from the cost of a Titan X and frequency.Each card has a backplate,and PCI-E connectors,and these massive cards
potentially giving you a faster setup in the massive cooling block features six block access to a fair few connectors too,
93
including the SATA ports

on our board,and we had
to unplug our USB 3 front
panel cable to get the
second card in place.Zotac
also supplied its latest
three-slot SLI bridge for
testing,which glows with
a classy white LED ring Like many graphics
between the cards. card makers, Zotac
Setup was remarkably offers its own SLI bridge,
which has a glowing
simple too.We simply white LED behind the O
installed both cards with
the SLI bridge in our
motherboards top two PCI-E slots,booted this game with an SLI rig despite what
the machine,installed the latest Nvidia look like smooth frame rate figures,the
driver and that was it.Nvidia deserves some game stuttered in DX11 on our SLI system.
praise here;its driver detected the two cards This game is still very demanding either
automatically and set them up for SLI with way you can play it at 4K on a GTX 1070 SLI
its default rendering method,without any rig with Very High settings,but it isnt as
faffing around in the driver required. smooth as the other games we tested.
Whats clear,though,is that while the
Performance benefits of SLI vary between games,an SLI
Before we discuss the results,note that the GTX 1070 card is a 4K gaming monster.Our
Titan X was tested on our previous graphics SLI test rig never dropped below 30fps in
test rig.The performance difference is likely any of our 4K test games,and in most of
to only be a couple of frames per second at them,it managed minimums of at least
most,but theyre provided as a reference 50-60fps.You can even comfortably play
ballpark rather than a direct comparison. Fallout 4 at 4K on Ultra settings,or enable
As expected,SLI works brilliantly in some Ultra detail and Nvidia HairWorks in The
games,and not so brilliantly in others. Witcher 3. The AMP! Extreme cards are kitted with enormous
coolers, so they take up three slots
Crysis 3 and Fallout 4 are the SLI stars, The GTX 1070 results are competitive
scaling between 75 and 94 cent. with those of the Titan X too.The latter is a 1070 SLI rig on a motherboard such as the
We also found that SLI generally scales little quicker in Doom,but the GTX 1070 SLI Maximus VIII Hero,we recommend opting
much better at 4K than at 2,560 x 1,440.In setup beats it at 4K in nearly every other for a pair of dual-slot cards instead.
particular,Doom and Deus Ex:Mankind one of our test games,and by a substantial The other issue is power consumption.
Divided barely scaled at all at 2,560 x 1,440 margin in the games that scale really well. The second card added 178W to our systems
but got at least a 30 per cent boost in both The results may have come from different power draw during games,which isnt
games at 4K. test rigs,but that wont account for the massive compared with some previous
The latter game also scales better in massive 24fps performance difference dual-GPU setups,and it will be lower with
DirectX 12 mode,which we recommend for in Crysis 3. stock cards too.However,youll ideally want
a 750W PSU for such a system.
Issues
On the surface,it looks like a Conclusion
clear-cut win for GTX 1070 SLI If you want smooth 4K gaming
over the Titan X its cheaper, performance,but dont want to spend over
and often faster.However, a grand on a graphics card,then a dual-card
there are some issues to take GeForce GTX 1070 SLI setup does the trick,
into account.For starters, often outperforming the Titan X.The
theres noise.One of these benefits of SLI below 4K are
Zotac AMP! Extreme cards on underwhelming,but once you hit 3,840 x
its own makes barely any 2,160 you generally reap some good awards.
noise at all,even in games,but Even a game such as Doom,which doesnt
with another mammoth card scale brilliantly,still never drops below
directly in front of it,and the 60fps at 4K.In terms of bang per buck,its
resulting lack of airflow,the the obvious route to 4K gaming at the
fan noise is clearly audible. moment even the setup process is easy.
Thankfully,the noise isnt However,before getting out your credit
whiny and annoying,but its card,we recommend a bit of planning
You can run two Zotac AMP! Extreme GTX 1070 cards on an Asus definitely present.If youre before jumping headfirst into SLI.Measure
Maximus VIII Hero, but its a tight squeeze, especially if you dont have planning on building a GTX your cases graphics card clearance,look for
a massive case
94
RESULTS
DOOM F AL L OU T 4
2,560 x 1,440, Ultra settings 2,560 x 1,440 , Ultra detail, TAA
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 102 fps 128 fps 2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 96 fps 114 fps
1 x Zotac GTX 1070 93 fps 111 fps 1 x Zotac GTX 1070 52 fps 65 fps
Nvidia Titan X* 104 fps 137 fps Nvidia Titan X* 71 fps 89 fps
0 35 70 105 140 0 35 70 105 140

AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 1 5 % AVE R AGE S L I S C AL I N G: 75 %
3,840 x 2,160, Ultra settings 3,840 x 2,160, High detail, TAA
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 60 fps 73 fps 2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 65 fps 78 fps
1 x Zotac GTX 1070 48 fps 56 fps 1 x Zotac GTX 1070 35 fps 43 fps
Nvidia Titan X* 65 fps 76 fps Nvidia Titan X* 49 fps 60 fps
0 35 70 105 140 0 35 70 105 140

AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 3 0 % AVE R AGE S L I S C AL I N G: 81 %
3,840 x 2,160, Ultra detail, TAA
DEUS EX: MANKIN D DIV IDE D 46 fps 58 fps
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI
2,560 x 1,440, Very High settings, DX11
1 x Zotac GTX 1070 24 fps 31 fps
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 46 fps 54 fps
Nvidia Titan X* 33 fps 44 fps
0 35 70 105 140
0 35 70 105 140
AVE R AGE S L I S C AL I N G: 87%
AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 6 %
TH E W I TC H E R 3 : W I L D H U N T
3,840 x 2,160, Very High settings, DX11
2,560 x 1,440 , High detail, Nvidia HairWorks o
0 35 70 105 140 Nvidia Titan X* 95 fps 113 fps
AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 3 7 %
0 35 70 105 140
3,840 x 2,160, Very High settings, DX12 AVE R AGE S L I S C AL I N G: 5 7%
3,840 x 2,160, High detail, Nvidia HairWorks o
1 x Zotac GTX 1070 22 fps 27 fps 61 fps
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 74 fps
0 35 70 105 140 1 x Zotac GTX 1070 37 fps 43 fps
AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 5 6 % 55 fps 64 fps
Nvidia Titan X*
0 35 70 105 140
CRYSI S 3
2,560 x 1,440 , Very High detail, 0x AA AVE R AGE S L I S C AL I N G: 72 %
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 111 fps 136 fps 3,840 x 2,160, Ultra detail, Nvidia HairWorks on
1 x Zotac GTX 1070 61 fps 74 fps 2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 42 fps 51 fps
Nvidia Titan X* 87 fps 104 fps 1 x Zotac GTX 1070 28 fps 32 fps
0 35 70 105 140 Nvidia Titan X* 39 fps 45 fps

AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 8 4% 0 35 70 105 140
3,840 x 2,160, Very High detail, 0x AA
AVE R AGE S L I S C AL I N G: 5 9 % Minimum Average
2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 55 fps 70 fps TOTAL S YS TE M P OW E R D R AW

1 x Zotac GTX 1070 29 fps 36 fps 2 x Zotac GTX 1070 SLI 77W 486W
Nvidia Titan X* 44 fps 52 fps 1 x Zotac GTX 1070 69W 308W
0 35 70 105 140 0 125 250 375 500
AVERAGE SLI SC A LIN G : 9 4% Minimum Average Idle Load Lower is better
*TITAN X RESULTS: The results for the Nvidia Titan X came from our previous graphics test rig, and are only intended to provide a ballpark reference
rather than a direct comparison.
ports or cables that might clash when two SATA ports would mean removing a headroom already,and youll end up with
large cards are installed,consider which graphics card first.Ideally,we recommend a quieter,more accessible system.
slots may be blocked and count the PCI-E leaving a slot between each card for airflow, Plan ahead,though,and youll end up
power cables on your PSU which means having room for a three-slot with decent 4K gaming performance for a
Our test system worked fine with the two card between your motherboards primary much more reasonable price than a Titan X,
Zotac AMP! Extreme cards installed,but it and secondary PCI-E slots,but using two- making GeForce GTX 1070 SLI our current
wasnt ideal in some ways it became noisy slot cards.Youll sacrifice clock speed in the recommended 4K gaming graphics setup
in demanding games,and accessing the process,but theres plenty of performance in terms of bang per buck.
95
C U STO M I SAT I O N / HOBBY TECH
G A R E T H H A L FAC R E E S
Hobbytech
The latest tips, tricks and news in the world of computer hobbyism,
from Raspberry Pi, Arduino and Android to retro computing
REVIEW
Boldport Club
oldering kits have long provided a For this review, Drimer sent across two
S fantastic introduction to the world
of electronics. From the pages of
more kits from the clubs collection: the
Ligemdio and the Touchy, both of which
Popular Electronics and Elector to bundles to my considerable relief include full and
purchased from Maplin and the like, most detailed instructions on the Boldport website.
soldering kits have one facet in common: The Ligemdio is one of Drimers most
From the packaging to
theyre designed to be accessible to the impressive designs yet. Evoking a semi-Art
the kits inside, you get
beginner and act as a training ground for special projects from Deco vibe, the single-board kit is designed
soldering skills. the Boldport Club to be both attractive and useful: once
The Boldport Club, though, offers a assembled, the Ligemdio named after
different spin on the introductory project kit. the light emitting
Positioned as the equivalent of a wine-of- diode (LED) can be
the-month club for electronics enthusiasts, used to test almost any
subscribers to the Boldport Club get a new kit through-hole or surface-
or other project through their letterbox on a mount LED from a USB
regular basis. The only theme linking them power source.
is beauty. Each of the circuitboards in the kits As far as Boldport
is made by Boldports Saar Drimer, an expert designs go, the Ligemdio
at functional yet aesthetically pleasing is one of the closest youll
designs, using the PCBmodE software he find to a beginners kit. All
wrote specifically for the purpose. Youll never the components use
see a right angle in any of Saars designs; through-hole technology,
instead, it all flows fluidly. meaning theyre easy to
One of the first kits to wing its way to assembled entirely to the person wielding solder just bend the legs, pop them through
subscribers to the club was the Cordwood the soldering iron. A variant of the Cordwood, the clearly marked holes and apply your iron
Puzzle, a board designed by Drimer to offer a dubbed the Widdop and designed for the and solder. The USB connector at one end,
challenge: the bag of parts, jokingly labelled Wuthering Bytes 2015 event, was reviewed in which provides the power, is the only
as a reject, comes with no instructions and Issue 148, and offers a fantastic introduction component likely to cause any real difficulty
leaves the way in which should all be into the way Drimers mind works. for an absolute beginner, owing to its fine-
96
The rear of the Ligemdio
even includes the full circuit
schematic, for anyone curious
about how it works
The Ligemdio is beginner-

friendly, featuring through-
hole components with
reasonable pin spacing
Thats just one of the teeny-tiny components youll

need to solder to build the Touchy
series of header pins for integration into your

own projects.
The assembly process stands in stark
contrast to the Ligemdio the Touchy is
entirely based around surface-mount
The challenge when components, with even the 2.54mm header
soldering SMT ICs is in not pins being soldered flat onto pads at the end
bridging the pins, which are
around 0.5mm apart of the board. Its heart is the Silicon Labs
EFM8SB1 Sleepy Bee, a low-power 8-bit
microcontroller that comes in a teeny-tiny
pitched pins; thankfully, the quality of the available from the instructions on the package with 0.625mm pitch pin spacing,
PCBs solder resist layer means you shouldnt Boldport website. meaning theres just over half a millimetre
have too much difficulty even with a cheaper, Meanwhile, the Touchy was designed in between the centre of one pin and the centre
larger-tipped iron. memory of maker Oliver Coles, who died in of its nearest neighbour.
The educational value of the Ligemdio June 2016. Its more of a toy: a button-cell If youre used to through-hole soldering,
doesnt end when youve soldered the battery sits at one end while a series of assembling the Touchy is daunting even the
handful of simple through-hole components capacitive touch points six buttons and one resistors and capacitors are small enough
though; on the rear of the board youll find a scroll wheel provide interactivity, lighting up that you can balance them all on the tip of one
silk-screen layer featuring a full schematic of on-board LEDs while data is spewed out via a finger. Using solder paste applied to the pads
the circuit, giving you an insight into how it and a reasonably small tip on my iron, though,
works to provide a safe supply that wont pop I was able to do a passable job of assembling
LEDs as you test them. More detail is also the kit without the need to break out a reflow
oven or a hot-air resoldering station.
For absolute beginners, the Touchy would
be a disastrous introduction to the hobby. For
the semi-experienced upwards, though, the
Touchy and other Boldport kits are special
project kits. Originally set up on a monthly
schedule, the Boldport Club is currently
experimenting with a two-month release
schedule to allow for more complex designs.
The Touchy is a challenging project, even if you have Subscriptions cost 49 inc VAT per three kits
previous soldering experience from www.boldport.club
97
REVIEW
Dark Control
he Raspberry Pi Zero has proven
T a hit with folks looking for a high-
performance general-purpose
brain for robotics projects, thanks to its
triple-threat status. Its small and light, its
If youre looking to build a
low-power yet powerful and its cheap. The
Pi into a robotics project,
latter benefit falls down a little when you the Dark Control boards
realise that its impossible to connect a are just what you need
motor directly to a Raspberry Pi without
something going pop though. Since the
Zeros launch, a number of add-on boards
have been launched to address this issue,
but the most impressive comes courtesy of
the Dark Water Foundations Barry Getty.
Detailed in an interview back in Issue
158 and now officially launched via a
successful crowdfunding campaign, the
Dark Control boards are available in two
flavours: the 640 and the Escape. The
former board offers connections for
standard DC-controlled electric motors,
while the latter looks to electronic speed
control (ESC) motors and pulse width
modulation (PWM) servos. for an impressive total of 12 simultaneous unpopulated set of solder pads on both
In both cases, there are plenty of control outputs. boards allows for a 9DoF expansion board to
similarities. The boards are designed to For the radio control enthusiast, theres be fitted, using an MPU9250 chip to provide
match the footprint of the Raspberry Pi Zero another shared feature that helps the Dark a three-axis accelerometer, magnetometer
perfectly, although theyre also compatible Control boards to stand out from the crowd: and gyroscope. With a single board, then, its
with full-sized Pi boards, as well as any third- combined pulse position modulation (CPPM, possible to build a robot with nine degrees of
party single-board computers (SBCs) that or PPM-SUM) support. Any CPPM- freedom sensing capabilities, six motors, and
follow the same 40-pin GPIO layout. Both compatible receiver with up to eight channels an additional six servos on the Escape and
Dark Control boards are powered by a can be wired directly into the board and the CPPM remote control. If that isnt enough,
16-channel NXP PCA9685PW PWM control input read on the Pi, providing an easy way to presumably because youre building a kill-
chip. Both also include support for six motors, add long-range control to your project. droid for the inevitable robot apocalypse,
or three stepper motors on the 640, with the Impressively, this isnt even the last of the each model can be daisy-chained with up to
Escape also supporting six servos, making shared features between the boards. An five boards for a total of 192 motors and 192
servos, even mixing and matching 640s and
More commonly used to drive Escapes depending on your needs.
LEDs, the NXP PCA9685PW Assembly of the boards is straightforward:
sits at the heart of both Dark all the major components are already
Control boards
soldered in place, while the motor and
GPIO connectors are left free, so you can
choose from a variety of connection types,
including soldering the wiring directly to the
boards. Only the 9DoF add-on requires a
slightly steady hand, thanks to its surface-
mount nature, but with widely spaced pads,
even beginners shouldnt find its attachment
too difficult.
Documentation is provided electronically
on the https://docs.darkwater.io, and its
pleasingly detailed. As well as starter guides
that walk you through installing the board and
writing your first program on the Pi, a trio of
tutorials offer step-by-step builds for more
98
The Dark Control documentation is of excellent
quality and will get you up and running quickly
While designed for the Pi Zero, the Dark Control boards are compatible with any Pi model
cost of a Dark Control board; a simple
H-bridge motor controller can be found for
under a fiver.
With their impressive list of features and
open-source design, however, the Dark
Control boards are easy to recommend. The
Dark Control 640 costs 24, the Escape costs
14, the 9DoF expansion costs 14 and the
SOAR board costs 4 (all prices include VAT),
from https://darkwater.io/shop
https://darkwater.io/shop. Each board
comes with a choice of vertical, right-angle,
or screw-terminal connectors.
Buyers can choose screw

terminal, right-angled, or straight
pin headers when buying a board
complex projects. At the time of writing, only 640 or Escape board handy if youre on a
the first of these tutorials a quadcopter, tight budget and want to ensure you can use
based on the DJI 450 Flamewheel ARF kit a single 9DoF, regardless of which type of
was ready; instructions on building a simple motor youre using on any given project.
buggy and the more complex four-motor Its entirely possible to get started in The Dark Control family is even compatible with
GrassShark used by the team as a test-bed Raspberry Pi Robotics for less than the Pi-alikes, such as this Lemaker Guitar
platform are promised to follow shortly.
The documentation covers programming
for both the 640 and Escape in Python, the
language chosen as a focus by the Raspberry NEWS IN BRIEF
Pi Foundation, but also in C++ for more
advanced users. Both boards include guides ArduinolaunchesMKRZeroboard
on reading CPPM RC inputs, expansion, and Arduino has released a new MKR board to follow on from
reading the sensor data from the 9DoF add- the MKR1000 (see Issue 155, p100). The MKRZero is
on. Regardless of your experience level in functionally equivalent to the Arduino Zero (see Issue
electronics or programming, youll find it 158, p100) in an MKR1000-style, breadboard-
difficult to get stuck when working with the compatible footprint. As a result, youll find a SAMD21 Cortex-M0+ 32-bit ARM
Dark Control boards. microcontroller running at 3.3V, 22 digital IO pins, 12 of which support PWM control,
The Soar board is the final string to the Dark seven 12-bit analogue input pins, one 10-bit analogue output pin and a micro-SD slot for
Control bow. A simple break-out PCB, its data storage. The Arduino MKRZero is available now, for 25.08 (around 21.36 inc VAT)
designed to connect the 9DoF add-on to any from https://store.arduino.cc
Raspberry Pi without the need to include a
99
REVIEW
Debian+Pixel
aspbian has long been the gold
R
Its now possible to boot Raspbian on your
standard of Raspberry Pi operating x86 desktop or laptop or, at least, an OS
thats very close to Raspbian
systems. Built on Debian after
Canonical stopped supporting the original Pis
ARMv6 processor, the community-driven
Raspbian project has grown from humble
beginnings to include a wealth of pre-
installed software - and now, for the first time,
its available for x86 devices. Well, sort of.
Announced at the end of 2016 by the
Raspberry Pi Foundation, Debian+Pixel
builds on the Pixel release of Raspbian. Like
Raspbian, Debian+Pixel is not surprisingly, even lighter, with Debian+Pixel
given its name built on Debian Linux, and requiring a minimum of 512GB of RAM.
includes the custom-built Pixel user interface. Another is that schools already working
Essentially, then, Debian+Pixel is Raspbian in with the Raspberry Pi can boot into the
all but name. same environment on existing While some tools are missing compared with Raspbian, most
Where Raspbian is built exclusively for computers, reducing the number of of them are included, such as this handy Sense HAT simulator
Raspberry Pi computers and compatibles, devices they need to buy and maintain.
though, Debian+Pixel has more expansive While its true that Debian+Pixel looks just Claws mail client and a selection of
support. The operating system and all its like Raspbian, though, its nowhere near programming environments including IDLE
software is compiled for the i386 architecture identical under the hood. Naturally, when (Python) and Scratch. Theres even the Sonic
- 32-bit x86, in other words. The result is that, booted on an x86 laptop or desktop, theres Pi synthesiser program, and a handy-dandy
unlike Raspbian, you can burn Debian+Pixel no support for the general-purpose input- tool to emulate the Foundations Sense HAT
to a DVD or flash drive and immediately boot output (GPIO) capabilities that are central add-on board.
almost any computer from the last decade to the Pi platform. However, you can take What you wont find, though, is Minecraft
or so into an environment that echoes the any other Pi model and chain it to the Pi Edition or Wolfram Alpha. The formers
Raspberry Pi, without the need to own one. Debian+Pixel device, using the remote omission isnt surprising, given the softwares
The reasons for doing so, the Foundation GPIO capabilities to simulate a local bare-metal interactions with the Pis
claimed in its launch announcement, are connection to your hardware. graphics processor, as well as Mojangs
various. Chief among them is that There are also applications missing from abandoning of the project after just one
Debian+Pixel is lightweight, running quickly the loadout of Debian+Pixel. Youll find all the alpha-status release, before being acquired
on older hardware although there are rival standards present and correct: theres the by Microsoft. The latter omission is more of
Linux distributions, such as Puppy, which are LibreOffice suite, Chromium web browser, a disappointment, though, stemming from a
licensing agreement that permits the free
mathematical toolkit to be shipped only for
use with Raspberry Pi hardware.
NEWS IN BRIEF Debian+Pixel is currently only available as
a Live Disc environment, booting directly
Pycom launches five- from the DVD or flash drive and running
network IoT board entirely in memory. If booted from a writeable
Pycom has completed a crowdfunding campaign drive, it supports persistence storing new
for the first maker-centric Internet of Things (IoT) applications and files in a partition it
development board to support five network automatically creates for use between
standards simultaneously: the FiPy. Based on the sessions but otherwise cant be easily
companys earlier WiPy and LoPy designs, the installed; a situation the Foundation has
FiPys radios can connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Sigfox and indicated it may change in future releases.
LoRa. Each network can be used independently, or the device can switch between them Debian+Pixel can be downloaded for free
depending on whats available. The first boards are expected to ship in April 2017, with from www.raspberrypi.org, and used on any
pre-orders available at 58.80 (around 50 inc VAT) from www.pycom.io i386 or better x86 device with 512MB or more
RAM. No hard drive is required.
Gareth Halfacree is the news reporter at www.bit-tech.net, and a keen computer hobbyist who likes to tinker with technology. @ghalfacree
100
DOWNLOAD FROM
WWW.ASUS.COM/
CO M M U N I T Y / TESTING CAMPAIGN/
REALBENCH
CustomPC BENCHMARK YOUR PC

Download the benchmarks from
www.asus.com/campaign/Realbench
and, before you run them, disable any
power-saving technologies in your
BIOS that change your CPU clock
speed, or the leaderboard wont reco
rd
your overclock frequency properly. To
in association with post a score on the leaderboard, go to
Save Upload File in the RealBench 2015
apps Results menu, and save your
Give your PC a workout with our new benchmark suite, and results in an RBR file. You need to sele
ct
see how your rig compares to other readers machines Offline Uploads on the leaderboard
site, sign up for an Asus account and
upload your file.
Gimp LuxMark OpenCL
We use Gimp to open and edit large images. This GPU compute test is the only synthetic
Unlike our previous Gimp test, this one part of our suite, although the renderer is 2400MHz DDR3 memory, a 240GB OCZ
uses more than one CPU core, although its based on the real LuxRender physically 150 SSD, an Asus Maximus Gene VII
still more sensitive to clock speed increases based rendering software. As 3D rendering motherboard and an Nvidia GeForce GTX
than more CPU cores. is a specific workload that not everyone 780 3GB graphics card.
will use, and because OpenCL support isnt On an AMD system, the 100 per cent
Handbrake H.264 video encoding standard in most software, this section is reference score comes from a stock-
Our heavily multi-threaded Handbrake given just a quarter of the weighting of the speed A10-7850K APU, with 8GB of
H.264 video encoding test takes full other tests in the final score. Corsair 2,133MHz DDR3 memory, a
advantage of many CPU cores, pushing 256GB Plextor M5 Pro SSD and an Asus
them to 100 per cent load. Heavy multi-tasking A88X-Pro motherboard, using the APUs
Our new multi-tasking test plays a full- integrated graphics.
screen 1080p video, while running a
SHOUT OUTS!
Handbrake H.264 video encode.
Theresbeennochangein the top20 KABY LAKE ISSUES
thismonth,withpunchtechs 4.44GHz Weve had various reports that while
Scores
10-core rigstillholdingonto the RealBench 2015 breaks down the scores for the RealBench tests run fine on Kaby
numbertwospot,while 8packs each test, then gives you a total system Lake systems, some people are unable
super-clocked5.5GHz Core i7-5960X score and a percentage reference score. to save their results and upload them to
system is stillthe undisputedking of On an Intel system, the 100 per cent the leaderboard. Were currently
the leaderboard reference score comes from a stock-speed working on resolving this issue.
Core i7-4790K, with 16GB of Corsair
CUSTOM PC REALBENCH 2015 LEADERBOARD

RANK SYSTEM SCORE REFERENCE USERNAME MOTHERBOARD CPU CPU CLOCK MEMORY PRIMARY GPU
1 275,683 240.9% 8pack Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 5.5GHz 16GB Kingston 3000MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X
2 252,838 220.9% punchtech Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion-CF Intel Core i7-6950X 4.44GHz 16GB Kingston 3030MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080
3 237,708 207.7% smudgesmif EVGA X99 Micro 2 Intel Core i7-6950X Not reported 16GB Corsair 3200MHz Nvidia Titan X (Pascal)
4 233,375 203.9% ian.parry3 Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.6GHz 32GB G.Skill 3200MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X
5 231,781 202.5% CustomPC Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X Not reported 32GB Kingston 2666MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X
6 229,929 200.9% mikey Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.44GHz 16GB Corsair 2709MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980
7 221,477 193.5% Chris_Waddle Asus X99-Deluxe Intel Core i7-5960X 4.62GHz 16GB Corsair 3000MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X
8 220,917 193% dax Asus Rampage V Edition 10 Intel Core i7-6950X 3.9GHz 64GB Corsair 2666MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980
9 219,938 192.2% roosauce Asus Sabertooth X99 Intel Core i7-5960X 4.69GHz 64GB Corsair 2446GHz Nvidia Titan X (Pascal)
10 219,415 191.7% Luke@DinoPC Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.6GHz 16GB Corsair 3276MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X
11 216,006 188.7% terrystone1 Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.61GHz 16GB Corsair 2992MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
12 215,694 188.5% dubai1 Asus X99-Pro/USB 3.1 Intel Core i7-5960X 4.7GHz 32GB Corsair 2800MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
13 212,062 185.3% TEL Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.62GHz 16GB Corsair 2750MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
14 211,331 184.6% Menthol Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X Not reported 32GB G.Skill 3200MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
15 210,940 184.3% david.quick GigabyteX99-SOCChampion-CF Intel Core i7-6900K 4.4GHz 16GB Kingston 3000MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080
16 208,975 182.6% Angel Asus X99 Deluxe Intel Core i7-5960X Not reported 128GB G.Skill 2448MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980
17 206,723 180.6% stuart Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.41GHz 16GB Corsair 3000MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti
18 203,784 178.1% simonedwards2003 Asus X99 Deluxe II Intel Core i7-6950X Not reported 64GB Corsair 2666MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
19 199,488 174.3% Carbonleg Asus X99-E WS Intel Core i7-5960X 4.3GHz 32GB Corsair 2400MHz AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
20 198,971 173.9% Asus Rampage V Extreme Intel Core i7-5960X 4.4GHz 64GB Corsair 2400MHz Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti
101
MODDING
A N TO N Y L E AT H E R S
Customised PC
Case mods, tools, techniques, water-cooling gear
and everything to do with PC modding
Wheres all the RGB RAM? I spoke to GeIL recently the maker
As you probably noticed in our recent of the Evo X kit, and apparently, once
Z270 motherboard Labs test (see your memory goes much above
Issue162, p46), RGB lighting, and even 3000MHz, there isnt enough
RGBW lighting (where LED strips sport power to reliably run all the
a set of dedicated white LEDs to create paraphernalia for RGB LED-
superior white lighting), is a big trend equipped DDR4 memory.
with the latest motherboards. To some If a memory maker
extent, I agree that customers should wants to offer the high
have the option of lighting on their speeds your average
motherboards, or at the very least, the enthusiast demands the
offer of an LED header and not lighting Kaby Lake testing I did last
to rival a Christmas tree on the board month suggests youd want at
itself. However, some of the subtler least 3000MHz then youll need
and colour-accurate examples Ive GeILs Evo X is additional power. This means that my
seen look really good. the only RGB hope of one day using some RGB LED-
DDR4 memory
We have RGB memory, now, along in existence at
equipped Corsair Vengeance LED
with RGB illumination on cases, fans, the moment GeILs Evo X, which we reviewed a few memory, the colour of which I can
graphics cards, CPU coolers, months ago (see Issue 160, p26), and change at whim or to match a new
keyboards and mice. All of which while the modules themselves look paint scheme or case colour, appears
prompts me to ask one question great, the cables trailing off them to be dashed.
wheres all the illuminated memory? almost outweigh the joy of seeing Its a pain, as memory has been one
Theres only one RGB kit in existence them in your system. of the focal points for lighting for longer
The mess is an eyesore, and Id than most other components,
honestly prefer to use a fixed colour kit including the motherboard. Its
such as a Corsair Vengeance LED set, awesome seeing illuminated memory
although that would mean another sticks looking active and, in the case of
expensive upgrade if I ever wanted to some modules, even lighting up
change my systems internal colour according to their current access levels.
scheme. GeIL also has a monopoly on But, try as I might, I really couldnt be
the market at the moment, making this doing with the GeIL Evo X kit long-term
kit your only option. in an otherwise neat system. It will be
Theres a reason why we havent interesting to see if memory
seen more RGB LED memory kits, manufacturers find a way around this
G.Skill has recently released images of its forthcoming Trident Z though, and its also the reason why issue. I just wonder if theres a way to
RGB memory modules the Evo X kit includes all the cables. require the owner to bump up the DDR
102
voltage a little to cater for the extra of the L3p desk. This time, hes turned
gear on board its very easy to adjust his attention to a Steiger Dynamics
this setting in the EFI and, seeing as ERA home theatre PC (pictured below),
memory heatsinks are these days which hes stripped down and water-
mostly included to prevent RMAs due cooled. Its not just any water-cooling
to accidental damage, theres plenty system though despite this super-
of headroom for additional heat too. slim HTPC chassis barely having
Amazingly, though, while I was enough room for water cooling, Brands
writing this column, there were two big has managed to squeeze two radiators
announcements on this exact topic. inside it, along with a DDC pump bay
Firstly, G.Skill released images of its reservoir and chrome-plated metal
Trident Z RGB series. tubing. Hes even managed to water-
The modules look very similar to cool the motherboard, memory and
the companys existing Trident Z graphics card an amazing feat given
modules, with the RGB versions the height of the chassis.
sporting large, illuminated mid- Corsair and G.Skill have found an A teaser tweet Its a stunning PC, with a Core
sections, which G.Skill claims are efficient way to shed the cables that from Corsair i5-4690K, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD
in December
powered exclusively by the DIMM slot. blighted GeILs Evo X memory kit Id hinted at some
and an Asus Maximus VII Impact
On closer inspection, some of its happily pump more voltage through new Vengeance motherboard at its heart, along with a
faster kits appear to require at least my memory to gain some snazzy RGB memory DirectCU Mini GTX 970 4GB, so its a
1.4V DDR voltage, which explains the lighting effects and not have to deal half-decent gaming PC as well as a
extra power, and there doesnt appear with extra cables. gorgeous-looking HTPC. You can see
to be any cabling either, although G. more of Peter Brands project at
Skill states that you can control the Steigerwood by Peter Brands http://tinyurl.com/peterbrands,
lighting using software, with the One custom build has already caught and read more about the case and
default colour scheme being a rainbow my eye in 2017, and it was made by very premium home theatre PCs at
effect. I managed to get one reply from none other than Peter Brands, owner www.steigerdynamics.com
G.Skill about this topic before we went
to press, but it reckons the kits will be
available by the beginning of February,
so there should be more information
available soon. The new modules look
fantastic and Ill hopefully be taking a
look at them in the near future.
The second announcement was a
little cryptic, and I only found it by way
of a Google search while researching
this column. In a post on Corsairs
Twitter account at the end of
December, the company included a
photo of what we could only conclude
was its Vengeance LED memory in a
variety of colours. However, it was the
#RGBFamily hashtag that piqued my
interest. Since then, the Vengeance
RGB memory has been given a page
on Corsairs website (www.corsair.
com/en-gb/vengeancergb), with the
promise of more details to come.
Basically, theres some RGB LED
memory modules on the way from
Corsair, which is fantastic news given
that the companys Vengeance LED kit
currently resides on our Elite List.
Im now eagerly awaiting all the
details about this new line-up of
memory, and Im hoping that both
Antony Leather is Custom PCs modding editor @antonyleather
103
M O D D I N G / HOW TO GUIDES
How to
Makeawater-
coolingreservoir
Ready-made reservoirs often block
fans and require drive bay removal.
1 / CHECK SPACE
Antony Leather shows you how to Work out just how much space is available for your reservoir, and the
make a reservoir that suits your needs size needed to avoid and case paraphernalia. Measure the dimensions
of the area where you want to install it and check for nearby objects
that might clash with it.
TOTA L P R OJ E C T T I M E / 1 . 5 DAYS
here are dozens of different water-cooling reservoirs

T available off the shelf these days, from bay reservoirs to
tubes and pump tops that can help to save space. However,
most of them are fairly large and need a lot of space, while often
obstructing fan mounts and requiring the removal of drive bays.
Its easy to create your own reservoir, though, and there are now
online services that will supply pre-cut parts so you can order to
measure down to the millimetre. You can create a reservoir using
practically any size of tubing or get the right size of flat acrylic cut to
size to create a small cube reservoir.
Basically, you can create a reservoir thats just the right size for you.
This month, well create a dinky tube reservoir thats half the thickness
of any models we could find on sale, and will slip into the tightest 2 / USE RIGHT MATERIAL
corner of a case. Make sure you use clear acrylic or Perspex for all parts of the reservoir,
as this material will work with the acrylic cement. You can opt for
TO O L S YO U L L N E E D coloured clear acrylic too.
800, 1,500, 2,000 and Tapping tool and 1/4in BSP

3,000-grit sandpaper / x19 TPI second cut tap /
www.amazon.co.uk www.ebay.co.uk
Holesaw or Dremel / Hacksaw /

Most hardware stores Most hardware stores
Plastic cement / Masking tape /

www.amazon.co.uk Most hardware stores
3 / ORDER TO SIZE
There are plenty of companies that can cut your acrylic to size, saving
Acrylic tube and sheet / you a huge amount of fuss and mess at home. For our guide, we used
www.simplyplastics.com www.simplyplastics.com, which can create acrylic discs, tubes or
sheets in practically any size and thickness.
104
4 / ORDER RIGHT DIMENSIONS 5 / CHOOSE COLOURS
We ordered a 20cm long tube with a 45cm width and 3mm wall There are many tube colours from which to choose, and you may find
thickness. The sheet for the end caps is 6mm thick, so they can cater others at alternative websites. However, its best to use uncoloured,
for water-cooling fitting threads, and their width will match the tube clear acrylic if you want to show off your coolant colour.
width to create a flush, water-tight fit thats easy to cement.
6 / MEASURE END CAPS 7 / MASK AND CUT TUBE

You can, of course, cut the acrylic yourself and trim a tube to size. Apply masking tape to the tube section to prevent scratches, then cut
Doing so will require some acrylic sheet an A4 or A5-sized sheet the tube slowly with a hacksaw, ideally with it held in a vice, letting the
should be plenty, even if you need to have a couple of goes at it. saws weight do the work. You can alternatively use a scrollsaw or
jigsaw with a fine blade.
8 / SAND EDGES 9 / MASK UP ACRYLIC

Sand the edges to ensure theyre as flat and smooth as possible, To cut the acrylic end caps manually, youll need acrylic sheet with
making a flat surface to which the cement can adhere. Use circular a thickness of at least 5-8mm. Apply masking tape to the sheet to
sanding motions with 800-grit then 1,500-grit sandpaper until the prevent slips with the drill marking the surface.
edges feel polished.
105
10 / DRAW END CAPS 11 / CUT END CAPS

On the masked sheet you created earlier, draw around the tube onto The easiest way to get a rounded edge in thick acrylic is to use a
the masking tape, enabling you to create two end caps that are the holesaw. Theyre available in a variety of different sizes and work
same width as the tube. with standard electric drills, using a pilot drill bit to hold the holesaw
in place.
12 / MARK UP HOLES 13 / TEST-DRILL ACRYLIC

Decide where you want the thread holes to be positioned on the Its important to make a mock-up thread with a drill and tapping
reservoir. We opted for a fill port at the top connected to the outside of tool, rather than starting with your final end caps. For this reason, we
the case, with an inlet and outlet at the other end of the reservoir. ordered three end caps, so we could use one for practising. Drill a
12mm hole slowly into the end cap.
14 / INSERT TAP INTO TOOL 15 / TRY TAP TOOL

Youll need a 1/4in BSP x19 TPI second cut tap to create the popular Insert the tap into the hole you just drilled, and tighten it until theres
G1/4in thread for water-cooling fittings, along with a tapping tool. significant resistance, making sure to keep it dead straight. Clamp the
Insert the tool so that it sits firmly in the tapping tool. end cap in a vice, as youll need to apply lots of pressure.
106
16 / CLEAN TAP 17 / USE LUBRICANT
Every time you meet resistance, wind in the tap using plenty of force, The resistance can be quite formidable once the tap is a fair way into
then wind it all the way out. Youll likely need to clean it to remove the the end cap, so use lubricant in the tap to ease its travel and prevent
material youve just cut in the thread. annoying squeaking. WD40 is ideal, but household polish works
well too.
18 / TEST-FIT THREAD 19 / SAND END CAPS

Thankfully, its easy to test your work just using a normal water- If you created your own end caps, youll now need to sand the edges.
cooling fitting. It should fit snugly into the thread and screw all the way A holesaw will achieve a fairly rounded cut, but the caps need to sit
in, so the O-ring presses against the acrylic. flush with the tube. Use 800-grit sandpaper to smooth the edges,
rotating the cap as you sand it.
20 / TEST-FIT END CAPS 21 / POLISH END CAPS

Regularly offer up the end caps to the tube while youre sanding, There are two ways to get a polished, shiny edge flame polishing
so you dont take too much off the edge, and continually rotate it to or sanding. We recommend the latter, using 2,000 then 3,000-grit
maintain a rounded edge. Eventually they should fit seamlessly onto sandpaper, followed by a plastic polish, which will give you a polished
the tube. edge without risk of damage.
107
22 / APPLY CEMENT TO TUBE 23 / FIX END CAPS

With your components ready, apply some plastic cement to the outer Now place the plastic end cap on top. You may then want to place
edge of the tube. You only need a thin layer applying too much will the tube on top of the cap, allowing the weight to hold the two
see the cement drip out of the sides. parts together.
24 / APPLY CEMENT TO EDGES 25 / ALLOW TO DRY

The cement may not find its way around the entire edge of the join, so Allow the cement to set for 24 hours before you use the reservoir,
apply cement to the outer edges to fill any gaps. Capillary action will keeping it in a warm, dry place. However, youll also need
draw in the cement to fill any gaps between the cap and tube inside. adequate ventilation, as the cement can emit a small amount of
Cement the second end cup with the same method. fumes as it dries.
26 / LEAK-TEST RESERVOIR 27 / APPLY NEOPRENE 28 / ATTACH MOUNTS

Connect the reservoir to a closed loop, You can buy traditional reservoir mounts Remove the adhesive side of the neoprene
fill the loop, then power on the pump by from www.aquatuning.co.uk for 6 inc VAT. and apply it to the appropriate areas on
attaching an ATX jumper to your PSU. Add If, like we did, youve used a thin tube, youll the reservoir. Dont place the neoprene on
dye to the coolant and wrap white tissue need some 5mm neoprene to sit between the end caps, as the clamp could end up
around the joins. Any leaks will stain the the mount and the tube, as the clamp breaking off the caps if too much pressure
tissue after the loop has run for a while. doesnt quite grip far enough to hold it. is applied.
108
CO M M U N I T Y / FOLDING
Folding@Home
Join our folding team and help medical research
MILESTONES THIS MONTH

USERNAME POINTS USERNAME POINTS USERNAME POINTS USERNAME POINTS
MILESTONE MILESTONE MILESTONE MILESTONE
WanderingScientist 30000 RadeonRaider 800000 awstcomputers 7000000 dazlanc_101 40000000
Redlight9 40000 ttexk 800000 FurstyFerret 7000000 MattEngr 40000000
stuslayer 50000 YCDCN22 800000 meandmymouth 7000000 Brentwood- 50000000

Computers.com
jeztorquay 60000 Mr_Blue_Jam 900000 MikePreston 9000000 SP1 50000000
Tattysnux 60000 Anselm 1000000 smiler 9000000 elspuddy 70000000
Magnus_Baxter 70000 Kentara 1000000 Team_Thurlow 9000000 Little_Willie 80000000
~Jinx~ 100000 Capt-Camm-Nett 2000000 EgAp10 10000000 Angy 100000000
GraemeMcMillan 100000 Pickles96 2000000 Ganey 10000000 clanseven 100000000
kerbdog 100000 ggyenyen 3000000 LEACHIE007 10000000 slowpurple 100000000
BairdyUK 300000 skippyadam 3000000 chubarker 20000000 Dickie 300000000
Rateye 300000 TheFolder27 3000000 Jobjohn 20000000 daxchaos 400000000
crisderaud 400000 AKPC 4000000 Aardwork 30000000 Unicorn 400000000
Arcem 500000 dumbdodo 4000000 Allan_Smith 30000000 Slavcho 700000000
der85 500000 Nex79 4000000 Anonymous 30000000
pig_farmer_uk 600000 Rojo1604 4000000 Ken_Swain 30000000
teens:)unite 600000 StuManchu 6000000 wew 30000000
TOP 20 OVERALL TOP 20 PRODUCERS

WHAT IS RANK USERNAME POINTS WORK RANK USERNAME DAILY POINTS OVERALL
FOLDING? UNITS AVERAGE SCORE
1 DocJonz 3,615,412,345 220,121 1 HHComputers 5,413,134 3,224,043,633
Folding@home uses the
2 HHComputers 3,224,043,633 78,410 2 DocJonz 5,151,125 3,615,412,345
spare processing cycles
3 Nelio 2,930,035,957 330,359 3 Unicorn 2,984,651 455,665,079
from your PCs CPU and
graphics cards for medical 4 piers_newbold 1,418,915,397 76,128 4 PC_Rich 2,850,254 1,313,378,185
research. You can 5 PC_Rich 1,313,378,185 98,590 5 daxchaos 1,865,040 459,586,756
download the client from 6 Scorpuk 1,192,772,858 39,476 6 Lordsoth 1,787,598 1,126,743,428
http://folding.stanford. 7 Lordsoth 1,126,743,428 117,091 7 Scorpuk 1,612,373 1,192,772,858
edu and our teams ID is 8 coolamasta 983,886,663 189,490 8 piers_newbold 1,605,742 1,418,915,397
35947. Once you pass a
9 Slavcho 715,118,767 42,256 9 Slavcho 1,492,810 715,118,767
significant milestone,
10 Laguna2012 692,095,664 33,498 10 Roveel 1,198,271 454,019,877
youll get your name in the
11 StreetSam 571,113,589 90,251 11 Nelio 1,181,295 2,930,035,957
mag. You can also discuss
folding with us and other 12 apeman556 570,178,843 36,130 12 clanseven 980,765 112,492,570
readers online at the 13 Desertbaker 550,860,142 29,927 13 KevinWright 829,731 480,824,405
www.bit-tech.net forums. 14 johnim 534,006,305 83,261 14 Desertbaker 662,328 550,860,142
15 The_M2B 497,341,833 70,594 15 Laguna2012 600,281 692,095,664
16 Dave_Goodchild 486,631,680 125,837 16 Tattysnuc 566,749 172,673,183
17 KevinWright 480,824,405 38,058 17 apeman556 541,863 570,178,843
18 daxchaos 459,586,756 15,242 18 madmatt1980 499,156 344,174,018
19 Unicorn 455,665,079 32,223 19 BeezaBob 445,490 287,396,066
20 Roveel 454,019,877 9,013 20 PcShedTV 426,714 190,110,163
109
M O D D I N G / READERS DRIVES
Readers Drives
DefineNanoSHotRodEdition
Inspired by Ford Model A hotrods, name to suit the build.The name of
a modding project should always be
Jojo Haraldsson gave his Fractal similar to the theme,or share its
context,so people know what the
Define Nano S some American mod is about just by reading the
name.Having such a name is
muscle car treatment, giving it a especially helpful when youre
making project logs on the almighty
custom paint job and cooling it interweb,where things tend to get
lost if they arent categorised
with metal tubing correctly. Thats why I chose to go
with Define Nano S Hot Rod
Edition for this mod.Its not my
best name for a case mod,but I think
What originally inspired you it covers everything that needs to
to build this project,and why did be mentioned.
you use the Fractal Design Define
Nano S case? What specs did
Jojo:The Ford Model you choose and why?
A was my biggest Jojo:The main purpose of this build
inspiration when I was to satisfy my passion for
started work on this modding,but I also really wanted to
system in my update my living room PC,and this
opinion,it has a lot of case was a perfect choice for my
potential for creating needs.I only needed to use the PC for
the baddest muscle playing movies on Kodi and minor
hotrod car. I chose the gaming,so I didnt want to spend
Fractal Design Define much money on the internal
Nano S for this project components,such as the then told people about the
because I wanted to motherboard and CPU. I went with a hardware in it and how it performs.
complement its mini-ITX ASRock motherboard that However,sometimes I just want to
/MEET THY MAKER simple Swedish can hold two DDR 3 RAM modules satisfy my cravings for modding,
Name Jojo Haraldsson design with some and has Wi-Fi compatibility,and I since I really love to build stuff and
Age 32 simple American- decided to opt for an AMD platform learn about new hardware.
Location Reykjavik, Iceland style modding. to keep down the costs.I used an I also like to build computers for
Occupation Computer The Define Nano S is AMD A10-7700K processor my 11-year-old daughter,who is
technician extremely roomy but overclocked to 4.6GHz,along with really getting into PC gaming and
Main uses for PC still very compact its 16GB of G.Skill Sniper DDR 3 RAM modifying PCs.
Modifying, video editing one of my favourites running at 2400MHz.For the GPU,I
and gaming when it comes to mini- chose an MSI GTX 970 card,which What difficulties
Likes Almost all the Eddie ITX cases. has a small overclock.It all makes for did you come across?
Murphy movies, The Fast
a solid gaming PC that can also play Jojo:The build itself went
and the Furious, Hackers,
Transformers and The Where did the back movies at 4K. exceptionally well.It was easy to
Expendables name come from? disassemble the case for painting,
Dislikes I dont like to waste Jojo:Naming a case What other mods and I didnt damage any parts in the
my life watching silly mod is always a bit have you built? process Ive ended up damaging
movies such as Dumb and tricky for me.At that Jojo: Overall,Ive modified around parts in this process on previous
Dumber Ive never seen
point,Id decided on 20 cases/builds,both for myself and mods and having them repaired. I
it, and I never will. I know
youre shocked now! the theme for the mod, for others to enjoy. Sometimes Ive created a custom paint booth for
so I just had to find a used them for my main rig,and Ive this project,which went fine,and
110
SEETHEFULL
PROJECTLOG:
http://tinyurl.com/
DefineHotRod
111
M O D D I N G / READERS DRIVES
the painting work went very well. What media interest has What did you learn from the
However,I cut my finger while Define Nano S Hot Rod Edition build process?
cutting the nickel-plated tubing. attracted? Jojo:This project really taught me
Also,when I put the water-cooling Jojo:The project has received a lot of that building a custom paint booth
loop together,I tested it for leaks attention on social media channels with PVC piping is totally worth the
and found a major leak from my such as Facebook,Twitter and time.I also learned that I needed a
reservoir. I had to disassemble the Instagram.The build is also featured Moto-Saw,which Ive now acquired.
whole project to sort it out,but I on the Fractal Design website under
managed to get it tightened up Modding HQ,and its featured in Are you happy with the end
nicely in the end. over ten build logs that have been result,and is there anything you
posted on various PC enthusiast would do differently if you built
Why did you use rigid tubing? websites,such as bit-tech. it again?
Jojo: Simple I think the use of rigid Jojo: Im very happy with the end
tubing makes a build look so much How long did the build result the paint job turned out
better than soft tubing. process take? better than expected,the loop
Jojo:The build took roughly two turned out great,despite this being
months,although that time my first attempt at using copper
doesnt include the planning tubing.The cable management
BE A WINNER and organisation time required turned out great as well.Its a
To enter your machine for possible inclusion in to get hold of parts,sponsors successful build that Im proud to
Readers Drives, your mod needs to be fully working and materials. show off.
and, ideally, finished based in the UK. Simply log on to
www.bit-tech.net and head over to the forums. Once
youre there, post a write-up of your mod, along with SYSTEM SPECS
some pics, in the Project Logs forum. Make sure you
CPU AMD A10-7700K PSU Fractal Design Edison M
read the relevant rules and advice sticky threads before
you post. The best entrant each month will be featured Graphics card MSI GeForce GTX 970 Cooling Aquacomputer Aquastream
Memory 16GB G.Skill Sniper Ultimate pump, 2 x 240mm Alphacool
here, where well print your photos of your project and
radiators, XSPC ION reservoir, EK
also interview you about the build process. Fame isnt Motherboard ASRock FM2A88X-ITX Supremacy CPU waterblock, EK GTX
the only prize; youll also get your hands on a fabulous Storage 120GB Samsung Evo 850 970 waterblock and backplate,
selection of prizes see the opposite page for details. SSD, 4TB WD Red hard drive Alphacool rigid fittings
112
Win all these prizes!
Weve teamed up with some of the worlds leading PC manufacturers and retailers to offer
this great range of prizes to each lucky Readers Drives winner. If your creation is featured in the
magazine then youll walk away with all of the prizes listed on this page, so get in your entries!
Mayhemscoolant
anddyes
VALUE 50 incVAT/
MANUFACTURER www.mayhems.co.uk
Cooling performance is only one part of the

CorsairK70LUXRGBkeyboard equation when it comes to kitting out your
rig with custom water-cooling gear. The
withyourchoiceofswitches other major bonus is that all those tubes and
TOTAL VALUE 160inc VAT / MANUFACTURER www.corsair.com
gleaming fittings just make your PC look
damn sexy, and they look even better when
The K70 LUX RGB is a part of Corsairs LUX flagship line of gaming keyboards, featuring Cherry they're pumped full of fancy coloured
MX key switches backed by a lightweight, durable aluminium frame and dynamic, multi-colour coolant. As such, we're particularly pleased
lighting. The USB pass-through port is positioned for uninterrupted gameplay and ready for to have the folks at Mayhems now on board
your mouse or wireless headset adaptor. You can also harness the power of CUE for with Readers' Drives they're currently
sophisticated macro programming and dramatic lighting effects and animations. offering two 1-litre bottles of Mayhems'
Meanwhile, 100 per cent anti-ghosting with full key rollover on USB Pastel Ice White coolant, along with a
helps to ensure accuracy, so every keystroke translates selection of five dyes, so you can choose
directly into accurate gameplay. The contoured, textured the colour that best complements your PC.
FPS and MOBA keycap sets keep you in control, while the Check out the blue coolant in our own mini
Cherry MX key switches give you a linear response and fast PC mod on the cover of Issue 109 for an
actuation. Corsair will provide a keyboard with your own choice of example of what's possible with some
Cherry MX switches both Brown and Red RGB models are available. Mayhems coloured coolant.
Phobya Modding Kit

VALUE 50inc VAT MANUFACTURER www.phobya.com,www.aqua-tuning.co.uk
The Phobya modding kit is designed with the modder in mind, offering braided extension cable gives you extra routing options in your case,
great value for money and quality products. The kit includes Nano-G 12 and it also enables you to run up to four fans from one compatible
Silent Waterproof 1,500rpm multi-option fans, motherboard header. Meanwhile, the Phobya SATA 3
which use an innovative fan-blade design. cables included in the kit offer the same
As standard, the fans include braided black great quality braiding as the rest of the
cables to keep your case looking as neat as Phobya range, while also securing your
possible. The fans are also supplied with a connection with latched connectors.
special cable that lets you run the fan at 5V As well as this, the kit includes the
rather than 12V, reducing the noise Phobya SlimGuide Controller, which
emitted in order to help you to build gives you the option to vary
a silent system. the speed of other fans in
The kit also includes the your case, while the Phobya
60cm Phobya 3-pin Molex to TwinLEDs let you shine a
4x 3-pin Molex Y-cable. This pre- light on your mods.
113
OPINION
JA M E S G O R B O L D / HARDWARE ACCELERATED
STRANGE
LED FELLOWS
The RGB illuminated PC is well and truly here, but James Gorbold
wants some standardisation nailed down
L
astyearsawsometrulyunexpectedpoliticalupheavals broughtoutwholerangesofRGBproducts,suchasmotherboards,
across the globe,which are only just beginning to take graphics cards and SLI bridges.
effect.However,thisis CustomPC,notanewspaper,so RGB lighting can be found practically everywhere now, from
Im going to avoid expressing my opinions on these serious and the obvious places such as lighting strips and case fans, to the
far-reaching issues. Instead, Im going to talk about the other more questionable places such as headsets,where you cant see
unexpected event of 2016 the return of the illuminated PC. the lights yourself, and mouse mats. I find the latter intensely
PCs have, of course, always had status LEDs and so on, but its distracting if the lighting is set to any option other than a single
only in the past 15 years,when theenthusiast PCfirst emerged, constant colour. Case manufacturers have cottoned on to the
that heavily illuminated PCs made their appearance. The peak trend too, producing cases with ever larger windows, or whole
wasaroundtenyearsago,whenitwasalmostimpossibletofind panels made from tempered glass, so you can see everything
a PC without cold cathode tubes and LED fans. going on inside.
Also, every light manufacturer used a subtly However, theres a big problem with RGB
different shade,so even if all the light sources in It results in a horrible lighting systems a lack of standardisation
your PC were ostensibly the same colour, theyd between manufacturers. For instance, while
still end up clashing with one another if they
mishmash of out-of- Asus Aura products work with one another,
werent all made by the same company. As the sync patterns and theresnowaytosynchronisemultiplevendors
marketmatured,thetrendforheavilyilluminated systems together, resulting in a horrible
PCsdiedoff,leavingoneimportantlegacybehind
clashing colours mishmash of different Windows applications,
the side window, but now its back again with out-of-sync patterns and clashing colours.
a vengeance in its RGB LED form. Its a serious issue, as one of the great strengths, and indeed
For the first time,rather than your PCs lighting system being cornerstones, of the PC is the ability for customers to pick and
limitedtojustonecolour,anRGBLEDsystemcandisplaymillions mix components from different manufacturers, trusting that
ofdifferentcolours,soyoucantrulypersonaliseyourPC,notjust theyll work with one another.
at the point of purchase but at any time. Most RGB systems are While I can appreciate individual manufacturers desire to
alsoprogrammable,includingallsortsofeye-poppingpatterns, protect their IP, as a PC enthusiast and representative of one of
such as breathing,strobing and colour cycling. theUKs largest PC builders,Id muchratherbeableto freely pick
Whats interesting this year is that RGB lighting systems are and mix components from different sources. Its incredibly
no longer purely in the realm of high-end products that cost important, as in 2017, many manufacturers are using RGB
hundreds of pounds even many mid-range products now lighting to differentiate their products, making the process of
include RGB functions. Manufacturers such as Asus have even speccing up a new system all the more complicated.
James Gorbold has been building, tweaking and overclocking PCs ever since the 1980s. He now helps Scan Computers to develop new systems.
114
Scan platinum partners
The Ultimate Corsair Crystal series 570X RGB Intel Core i7 7700K
NVIDIA Titan X ATX mid-tower case 7th Generation Processor
The NVIDIA TITAN X is the ultimate graphics card. Clearly superior. With immaculate tempered glass More power, more battery-life, and more high-quality
Whatever youre doing, this groundbreaking GPU enclosing the entire chassis, every component of your entertainment with the Intel Core i7 processor, you
gives you the power to accomplish things you never build is on display for all to see, including three vivid get more of what makes a computer great.
thought possible. Powered by the groundbreaking SP120 RGB LED fans and a built-in LED controller.
NVIDIA Pascal architecture, TITAN X is a powerful 7th Gen Intel Core processor-based desktop PCs are
combination of brilliant efciency, stunning design, packed with new and enhanced features to deliver
and industry leading performance. amazing experiences that a 5-year old PC cant handle.

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86 Build a Kaby Lake

B E N H A R DW I D G E / FROM THE EDITOR

TITAN BAYONET TITAN OSPREY TITAN GLADIUS

R I C H A R D SW I N B U R N E / VIEW FROM TAIWAN

T R ACY K I N G / SCEPTICAL ANALYSIS

SHARED EARLY ACCESS

Razer promises total immersion gaming

OCUK launches 24K PC Intel X299 chipset rumours

Games should have

Ben: Specs and benchmarks arent everything,

Send your feedback and correspondence to letters@custompcmag.org.uk

Alphacool Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro/128 incVAT

hile Corsair and

GPU frequency to setting. The fans can be tuned down

boost further motherboard too.

fans, plus case mounting screws. Stock cooler 81C

We pitched the Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro against our cards 0 25 50 75 100

Intel Core i3-7350K/180

umours of a multiplier-unlocked Core i3 processor

0 300 600 900 1,200

SPEED FEATURES VERDICT /TEST KIT

31/35 multiplier-locked Core i5.

Asus ROG Strix Z270G Gaming/162 incVAT

hile were still hopeful that Asus hasnt killed off

up version of the buttons or a clear-CMOS switch, the

The audio performance definitely showed a slight lead

MSI X99A Tomahawk/235 incVAT

he X99A Tomahawk is part of a new range of

Type -C USB 3.1 Gaming Pro Carbon soaring to nearly

the system score result, but offered reasonable results in

MSI X99A Tomahawk 1,233 1,343

27/30 a very generous price.

ost high-end routers take a brute-

powerful routers that it takes care of the band to which

for its hubs network names (SSIDs) for each band,

extreme99 gaming overclocker heaven essentialvr

2199 1299 699

Cooler Master MasterBox 5t/85 incVAT

ooler Master is currently revamping its

a little of a Star scheme that really stands out.

CPU LOAD DELTA T GPU LOAD DELTA T

COOLING FEATURES VERDICT

Cougar Revenger/45 incVAT

f you like large, weighty responsive mice, and want

show the current current sensitivity setting. You can also

For more information visit bequiet.com *GfK data 2016

Available at: scan.co.uk overclockers.co.uk ebuyer.com novatech.co.uk

The SteelSeries Qck+ Limited exists in a unique Zen state

SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk SUPPLIER www.amazon.co.uk

SUPPLIER www.booq.co.uk SUPPLIER www.libratone.com

+ + + + + gloriously over the

INTEL LGA2011-V3 PREMIUM

eve seen some fantastic budget

ASRock Z270 Pro4/115 incVAT

he ASRock Z270 Pro4 goes head to

ith a seemingly bargain price of

Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3/132 incVAT

igabyte does have some cheaper

MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic/140 incVAT

hile Asus undeniably has some

H AND BRAKE H . 2 6 4 V I D E O E N C O D I N G S YS TE M S COR E

ST OC K SPE E D AS H E S O F T H E S I N G U LA R I T Y (F P S ) OV ER CLOCKED A S H ES OF TH E S I N GULA R I TY (FPS)