Asus Debuts Z170 Motherboards

A few weeks ago, ASUS Philippines flew us to Bangkok, Thailand to witness the regional launch of the new wave of Z170 motherboards that will support the new Intel Skylake processors.

The boards that were featured during the launching event are as tricked out as it can get, sporting the company’s trademark technologies along with new features to truly maximize the potential of the new Intel chips.

Asus-Z170-Motherboards-2

Under the Republic of Gamers (ROG) lineup, the company launched a total of four new Maximus VII motherboards comprising of Maximus VIII Ranger, Gene, Hero and Extreme, as well as two Z170 Pro Gaming series boards (Z170 Pro Gaming & Z170I Pro Gaming).

These boards sport a slew of features which include a built-in U.2 connector for NVMe SSDs (Maximus VIII Extreme), M.2 Socket with support for 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices on PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s modes (Maximus VIII Hero, Ranger and Gene), USB 3.1 with both Type-A and the new Type-C connectors with up to 36W power delivery, Thunderbolt Gen 3, and SupremeFX 2015.

Asus Maximus VIII Motherboards

On the software side, these boards are equipped with Sonic Studio II, KeyBot II, Lighting Control, RoG Overwolf, LAN Guard with GameFirst technology, and ROF RAMCache. In addition, the usual set of software under AI Suite is also present on these boards like USB 3.1 Boost, EZ Flash 3, EZ XMP, and Ai Charger +.

The Taiwanese firm also launched a lone Z170 board under the premium TUF (The Ultimate Force) series, the Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1.

asus-sabertooth

Most of the aforementioned features on the ROG mobos are also present on this board like support for NVMe SSDs and up to 22110 M.2 card, USB 3.1 with Type-A and Type-C ports. However, it lacked some key features like SupremeFX 2015 and GameFirst that are present on its ROG Z170 cousins.

In exchange, though, users get a TUF Detective 2 feature which allows them to diagnose system issues using a smartphone (complete with a dedicated USB port), a dedicated chip called TUF ICe which monitors the system temperature and automatically adjusts the fans independently to maximize heat dissipation and/or lessen noise, and Thermal Radar 2.

Of course, the Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1’s main feature is its military-grade armor that’s designed to withstand a fair amount of beating and maximize air flow to key components on the motherboard.

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Also present during the launch were the Asus Z170 Signature series boards which consists of Z170-Deluxe, and the Z170-A. Like the more premium cards above, these boards also support M.2 and U.2 storage devices, USB 3.1 with the new Type-C interface, and Lighting Control (on Z170-Deluxe) which can be used to set the color of the light on the board based on its current temperature.

Instead of SupremeFX 2015, these boards are equipped with Realtek ALC892 with Crystal Sound 3 audio technology that goes hand-in-hand with its shielded Japan-made audio caps. Furthermore, the Z170-Deluxe features a 3×3 802.11ac Wi-Fi module for improved wireless connectivity.

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ASUS ROG Rampage V Extreme officially lands

In addition to the X99-Deluxe, ASUS Philippines also launched its gamer-centric counterpart, the Republic of Gamers Rampage V Extreme X99 Motherboard.

Rampage V Extreme Philippines

As you would expect from an RoG board, the Rampage V Extreme is peppered with all the niceties that gives the user a competitive edge in gaming. This includes ASUS’ proprietary tweaks such as the SupremeFX 2014, KeyBot, built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac with 3T3R, as well as Intel Gigabit with GameFirst II and LANGuard.

This ATX board also inherits most of the features found on its predecessors that made it a popular choice for overclocking enthusiasts (dedicated OC Zone, ASUS OC Panel, and high-grade materials used on chokes and caps), not to mention some new additions like the OC Socket (also present in the X99-Deluxe) and the Digi+ IV VRM which is complemented by DirectCU cooling technology.

ASUS RoG Rampage V Extreme specs:
Form Factor: ATX (30.5 x 24.4cm)
Socket: Intel Socket 2011-v3 Core i7 Processors
Chipset: Intel X99a
ASUS OC Socket
ASUS DIGI+ IV VRM with DirectCU cooling technology
10K Black Metallic Capacitors
MicroFine Alloy Chokes
Memory: 8x DIMM, up to 64GB DDR4 3200MHz (OC)
GPU: supports up to 3-way and Quad-GPU CrossfireX Technology
Support for 3-way and Quad-GPU SLI Technology
Storage: 8x SATA 6Gbps, 1x SATA Express, and 1x M.2 Socket 3
RAID 0/1/5/10 support
Audio: SupremeFX Formula 2014 (RealTek ALC1150)
Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16, 1x PCIe 2.0 x16
I/O ports: 14x USB 3.0 (4 on mid-board & 10 at the back)
6x USB 2.0 (2 on the back & 4 mid-board), 1x PS/2 port
ASUS OC Panel
1x Intel® Gigabit Ethernet with GameFirst III and ASUS LANGuard
1x ASUS Wi-Fi GO! Module, 3T3R Dual Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.0
5x Audio Jacks + 1x S/PDIF and 1x TOSLink

The new ASUS RoG Rampage V Extreme will be available in the country starting this month and can be had for Php26,100.

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ASUS Brings X99-Deluxe Motherboard to PH

ASUS has just unveiled a drool-worthy ATX motherboard dubbed as the X99-Deluxe which is both an eye-candy with white-on-black paintjob and a true work horse that will allow you to push your components to its limits.

asusx99

ASUS X99-Deluxe Motherboard specs:
Form Factor: ATX (30.5 x 24.4cm)
Socket: Intel Socket 2011-v3 Core i7 Processors
Chipset: Intel X99
ASUS DIGI+ VRM
5K-Hour High-Quality Solid Capacitors
Memory: 8x DIMM, up to 64GB DDR4 3200MHz (OC)
GPU: supports up to 3-way and Quad-GPU CrossfireX Technology
Support for 3-way and Quad-GPU SLI Technology
Storage: 8x SATA 6Gbps, 1x SATA Express, and 1x M.2 Socket 3
RAID 0/1/5/10 support
Audio: RealTek ALC1150
Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16, 1x PCIe 2.0 x16
I/O ports: 14x USB 3.0 (4 on mid-board & 10 at the back)
8x USB 2.0 (2 on the back & 6 mid-board)
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers with Turbo LAN utility
1x ASUS Wi-Fi GO! Module, 3T3R Dual Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
5x Audio Jacks + 1x S/PDIF and 1x TOSLink

The new ASUS X99-Deluxe will be available in the country starting mid-November and will be priced at Php23,000.

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ASUS Launches Gamer Series Motherboards in PH

ASUS Philippines, in partnership with Cherry Credits, has recently held a launching event wherein the local arm of the Taiwanese tech firm formally launched three new motherboards under the Gamer series lineup. This include the A88X-Gamer, B85-Pro Gamer and the H97-Pro Gamer.

These newly launched Gamer motherboards are geared for gamers on a budget who are looking for a feature-packed board without breaking the bank.

All of these ATX-sized mobos are equipped with some of the nifty technologies found on higher-tiered boards from ASUS’ stable. This includes the SupremeFX audio, GameFirst II, AI Suite III and GPU Boost.

The ASUS A88X-Gamer, B85-Pro Gamer and the H97-Pro Gamer now available in the country and can be had for Php4,950, Php5,490 and Php6,890 respectively.

In addition to the Gamer Series motherboards, ASUS Philippines also launched three graphics cards under the STRIX lineup, namely the GTX 750 Ti (which we’ve reviewed just recently), GTX 970 OC and GTX 980 OC.

The availability date and SRP of the GTX 970 and GTX 980 were not announced during the launch event. The STRIX GTX 750 Ti, on the other hand, can be had for Php8,720 and is now available on ASUS’ partner distributors and retails store in the country.

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September Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014

September is one of the most exciting months when it comes to consumer tech. We had the IFA in Berlin followed by Apple’s announcement of the new iPhones. The past month has also brought us a lot of interesting gadgets to review. This includes the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Huawei Ascend P7, Xiaomi Redmi 1S, and a number of Cherry Mobile devices. Take a look at our Gadget Reviews Round up for September 2014.

Full Reviews

Huawei Ascend P7

ascend_p7_front

With an SRP of Php20,990, the Huawei Ascend P7 is in for some competition. The above 20k price tag can be a tough sell because of the occasional lag during our usage. But if you are in for good design, LTE, and a good selfie camera, the P7 can be a good companion.

Xiaomi Redmi 1S

redmi 1s_4

The Xiaomi Redmi 1S definitely sets a new benchmark for smartphones in this price range. It has the looks, quality, performance, and features that normally you will find in higher-priced smartphones. It’s not perfect and obviously has its limitations, but at Php5,599, it’s still absolutely a steal.

Cherry Mobile Magnum S

Cherry Mobile Magnum S(web)

We think that your ten grand will be money well-spent on the CM Magnum S. From both the design and performance standpoints, this handset is easily one of the best locally-branded smartphones in the sub-Php10k segment. Nuff said.

Cherry Mobile Pulse

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The Cherry Mobile Pulse is the company’s most affordable offering at Php6,499. Normally we’d see a smartphone with mediocre configuration for that kind of price, but not with the Pulse. For under Php7k, you can now get a dual-SIM smartphone with a good build, a crisp and tough display, and kind of performance that is both good for work and play.

Cherry Mobile Ultra On The Go

Cherry Mobile Ultra On The Go

During our time with the Cherry Mobile Ultra On The Go, we’re happy to say that it performed as expected. It picked up 4G/LTE signal when it’s available and it has enough juice to last you a fair amount of time. Lastly, it’s one thousand pesos cheaper than the LTE Pocket Wi-Fis that Globe and Smart is currently offering, and it’s open-line too so can use LTE-provisioned SIM cards from either of the two telcos mentioned above.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos One

cosmos-one

Cherry Mobile’s success in the local scene is primarily based on the fact that their devices have decent specs and are competitively priced. Both statements hold true for the Cosmos One which pretty much have the same configuration and price as the CM Pulse but with a slightly bigger screen.

Kata M2

kata m2_6

The Kata M2 is a very capable phablet with an affordable price. However, if you’re into graphic-intensive mobile gaming and demand really snappy performance, the M2 isn’t exactly the ideal Android device for that.

Apple iPhone 6

philippines-iphone6

Aside from the increased display size, we did not see anything else significant when upgrading from the iPhone 5S to the iPhone 6. The iPhone 5S is as smooth, flawless and beautiful as the iPhone 6. Actually we wished Apple could have just retained the design and thickness of the iPhone 5S and increased the size so there’s more room for a Lithium-polymer battery for better battery life.

ASUS ROG Crossblade Ranger

ASUS Crossblade Ranger(web)

It took ASUS quite some time to release an ROG motherboard for the FM2+ socket, but when they did, they made sure that they got all the bases covered and that all the waiting will not be laid to waste. That is exactly what the company did with the ROG Crossblade Ranger which, in our opinion, is currently the best FM2+ motherboard that money can buy.

Veho Muvi K2

Veho-Muvi-K2-5

At Php13,995, we still consider this a bit pricey compared to the Php5K Playground Cam100. Video quality for both isn’t that far off, and you get more accessories for the Cam100. The advantage with the K2, though, is that it has Wi-Fi and a housing that can go more than three times as deep as the GoPro’s. As those are its strengths, it also has some shortcomings in terms of its mounting system and auto white balance. Plus, with GoPro set to announce a cheaper HERO along the HERO4, the Muvi K2 will surely have a new competition in the mid-range category for its Php14K price tag.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

iphone6plusph

Either you will like the iPhone 6 Plus because of its size and performance or you will avoid it because it’s a bit bulky and unwieldy to use and perhaps just settle for the iPhone 6.

Quick Reviews

Garmin VIRB Elite

Garmin_VIRB_Elite_1

We have a love-hate relationship with the VIRB Elite – we didn’t like how it somehow looks like a vitamin bottle, but it’s for this same reason that operating the camera is a very refreshing experience. And while its screen is useless in the dark it saves up precious battery life for more recording time. Lastly, it offers new functionalities on top of being just an action camera.

RedFox CnL M1X speakers

Redfox-CnL-4

The Redfox CnL is a handy piece of speaker that easily tags along with you. When it comes to the sound quality we had little complains, but other things like build quality left us wanting more.

RedFox WizPad 5

redfox wizpad 5_1

The Wizpad 5 is a very capable Windows 8.1 tablet downplayed by the generic build and flimsy keyboard. Redfox also also failed to include its own charger in the package which adds to the cons. With that in mind, the Wizpad 5 is definitely going to be a tough sell considering that its competitors have better offerings within the same price range.

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