Hardware Reviews

The introductory part of an extensive series of keyboard reviews named "The Keyboard". Inside you will learn that keyboards aren't the most useless piece of computer gear, but in fact the most important PC input device.

SteelSeries is a company that first started in Copenhagen several years ago and since has branched out into becoming a well-renown international company with headquarters in Europe, North America and Asia.
For years SteelSeries has aimed (and delivered) at bringing competitive gamers the best and most useful equipment to give them a competitive edge. Previously, SteelSeries only catered for PC gamers. However, they've now branched out into the console industry by creating two headsets specifically designed for the Xbox 360. These headsets include the Spectrum 4XB and the Spectrum 5XB. The 5XB is what I'll be reviewing here today.

SteelSeries' Spectrum 5XB is a stereo headset designed for use with the Xbox 360, though also has complete PC compatibility too. It is the big-brother of the 4XB and has three distinct differences we'll get onto down the track. It's best I let you guys in on a little more information regarding the 5XB before I start critiquing the headset itself.
Features2x 40mm DriversWiredUSB PoweredRetractable, flexible microphoneAudioMixer featuring LiveMixIndependent volume controls: Voice & Game SoundDouble Braided nylon cordBreaks down into three pieces for travel purposes

SpecificationsHeadphones Freq. response: 16 – 28.000 HzImpedance: 40 Ohm SPL@1kHz, 1Vrms: 110 dBCable: 1m/3.28ft.Jack: 3.5mmAudioMixer cable: 3.7m/12ft.Microphone Freq. response: 75-16.000 HzPick up pattern: Uni-directionalSensitivity: -38 dBMic. Impedance: 2K Ohm
5XB DescriptionThe SteelSeries 5XB is a stereo headset with two 40mm drivers. The headphones are designed to fit around the outside of your ears (Circumaural). They are also semi-open headphones. You'll notice above on the right ear-cup that there are 3 slits/openings on the outside of the headphone. In my opinion, open headphones produce a better sound than closed headphones. These slits allow some of the sound to escape so it isn't reverberated within the ear-cup which can cause a muddy, less-detailed kind of sound. They aren't entirely open obviously, so there is still some reverberation but it's a nice little addition nonetheless, to have some of it open. However I don't think it was the main reasoning of providing the openings. The main idea behind having the ear-cups semi-open is for LAN events. Having these three openings (six all up) allows you to hear outside noise a little bit. Not so much that it is interfering, but just enough in case you may miss out on hearing something important. Whether it's your mother yelling that dinner is ready, or your team mate sitting next to you at a LAN or eve...

Sydney, Australia: December 06 2010 - Western Digital®, the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its new WD Livewire™ Powerline AV Network Kit, a HomePlug® AV compatible solution that enables consumers to use their existing electrical outlets to extend secure and reliable high-speed Internet connections throughout the home. Complementing the WD TV® line of media players, the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit enables consumers to easily and affordably deliver HD video streams to the home theater, transfer large files or play multi-player online games, all without running network cables around the home. With four ports on each of two adapters included in the kit, the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit offers users the ability to connect their router and up to seven additional devices to their high-speed network.According to research from Parks Associates, an increasing number of consumers own connected devices such as HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc™ players, game consoles and digital media players such as the WD TV Live Plus HD media player (Home Networks for Consumer Electronics 2009). By the end of 2010, Parks Associates forecasts consumers will own 111 million of these devices, with 37 million Internet-capable devices in the U.S. alone, but "connecting" them can be challenging and costly. In a recent Parks Associates survey, 42 percent of respondents unwilling to connect their TVs to the Internet indicated that either their router was too far from the device or it would be too complicated to set up or both (Digital Media Evolution II 2010). Featuring HomePlug AV technology, the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit provides users with data transfer speeds up to 200 megabits per second (Mbps), enabling glitch-free playback of Full-HD 1080p video streams on up to seven connected devices. Setup is as easy as plugging in a lamp. Consumers do not need to undertake home improvement projects to route new wiring between rooms. They simply plug one of the two adapters in the kit into their router and an electrical outlet then plug the other adapter into another outlet where they need access to wired network connections. Users can stream video to four connected devices in the home theater and also gain an additional three network ports by their router. For an integrated entertainment solution, users can store digital media on WD's My Book® World Edition™ home network drive and stream photos, music and HD video via the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit to one of the WD TV line of media players or other DLNA®-compliant devi...

Sharkoon is a company based in Germany and Taiwan who manufactures PC parts and components, as well as PC and Xbox 360 gaming peripherals. Sharkoon is only some-what recently taking on the console peripheral market where they face some significant competitiors.
The relative thread regarding this article can be found here: Sharkoon Xtatic SX Headset: Review & Competition!
Sharkoon's Xtatic SX is a stereo headset designed for the Xbox 360 but is also able to be used on the PC. The SX is comparable to what a large majority of gamers use; the X11 headset. The SX boasts some great features as we've come to find in Xbox 360 headsets these days and this review will cover all the important aspects of the Xtatic SX headset.

FeaturesSimple connection via analogue interface (RCA)Powered by USBFlexible, detachable microphoneMicrophone connected to the Xbox 360 controller (2.5mm plug)In-line amplifier for powerful games sound outputMaster volume control and microphone muteSeparate volume control for voice communication over Xbox LiveSuitable for PC also

Specifications (headphones)
Driver Diameter: 40mmImpedance: 40 ohmSensitivity: 118 dB /- 3 dB bei 1 KHzFrequency Response: 20 Hz, 20 kHzPower Output: 40 mWCable Length: 370cm /- 10cmConnectors: 3x3.5mm connectors, 1x USB (Power)
Specifications (microphone)Diameter: 6x5mm (LxB)Directivity: Omni-directionalSensitivity: -58 dB /- 3 dBImpedance: 2.2 kFrequency Response: 100 Hz, 2 kHzPackage ContentsStereo Headset: Sharkoon Xtatic SXDetachable Microphone!Adaptor Cable (3.5mm stereo plug>2x Cinch)Chat Cable (1x3.5mm stereo jack>1x2.5mm stereo jack)Manual & Instructions Booklet
DescriptionSharkoon's Xtatic SX is a stereo headset with two 40mm drivers. The speakers are easily visible in the imagery below. The headrail of the headset is of a soft leather or polyester design with plenty of cushioning. The adjustable sides tailor to fit any size or shape head. The earcups are designed to fully enclose your ears (Circumaural) adding to the comfort aspect of the headset. Furthermore, the earcups are padded with soft cotton with a polyester trim.
The earcups boast snazzy looking branding on each side, clearly marking the headset as made by Sharkoon and that it is the SX model. These earcups are adjustable in that they can tilt inwards or outwards which is very useful in accommodating people with different jaw lines. The microphone is detachable however when put in, it clips into place so it cannot easily be removed. The microphone is flexible in order for you to move the microphone to get the best quality of your...

Just had this one come through via email, some pretty sweet new ram modules for you iX generation overclocking buffs :)Sydney, Australia: August 11, 2010 – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of HyperX 'H2O' water-cooled DDR3 dual- and triple-channel memory kits. With frequencies up to 2133 MHz and capacities up to 6GB, H2O is the newest addition to the HyperX product family and supports the needs of enthusiasts building with water-cooled systems."Water cooling is desirable for its quiet operation and long-term reliability. We are bringing HyperX H2O to market as a solution for PC enthusiasts who want to build water-cooled systems using high quality Kingston products," said Ann Bai, DRAM Memory Sales Director, APAC Region, Kingston. "HyperX H2O is a natural extension of Kingston's offerings for performance users. Our goal is for users of all levels and interests to have a Kingston product that meets their needs."Kingston is debuting three HyperX DDR3 products in the new H2O line: two 4GB dual-channel kits (2000MHz, 2133MHz) and a 6GB triple-channel kit running at 2000MHz. H20 is available through Kingston's channel of authorized distributors, resellers, e-tailers and retailers.Kingston is also proud to announce that the original HyperX module is now called Genesis. The core of the HyperX family is the blu, Genesis and T1 series as they offer solutions in a range of densities and frequencies for enthusiasts of all levels. For system builders with specific requirements, H2O adds high performance in a water-cooling environment while LoVo is the perfect choice for an energy-efficient build.Kingston HyperX memory is backed by a lifetime warranty and free technical support. For detailed information please visit the Kingston Web site at discuss this product on Kingston Blog, please go to To try the game "Challenge Your Memory", please go towww.kingston-blog.com/challenge_your_memory/en/. To get the freshest information on Kingston, please go to To know more about Kingston inside stories, please go to find out if your Kingston product is genuine, Kingston also provides an online verification site: To try the game "Search for Genuine Kingston", please go to and Pricing SummaryManufacturer: KingstonProduct Name: Kingston HyperX DDR3 H20RRP: KHX2000C9AD3W1K2/4GX AUD$295 KHX2133C9AD3W1K2...

Western Digital WD6000HLHX Velociraptor 600GB Review.At a first glance on unboxing this beast the first thing I noticed was the size, it comes with a huge heat sink which with high performance drives is a good move as they do get rather hot and isn't an unwelcomed feature as they get cooling included instead of free floating 2.5" drives on brackets that often need air cooling if they are stacked on top of each other in your case. Here are the tech specs of the drive:Model: WD6000HLHX VelociraptorCache: 32mbRPM: 10,000Size: 600GB – Win7 formatted – 558Average Latency: 3.00 msRead seek average: 3.6msWrite seek average: 4.2msNoise during seek: 37dBA avgNow I use an OCZ Vertex SSD so I was a little distraught and forgoing my existing drive but surely enough I ghosted across booted up and noted no discernable difference in my PC boot time. I used the Velociraptor for a number of different games including CounterStrike Source, CounterStrike 1.6, Battlefield Bad Company 2, Alien Swarm, and AION with the most notable part being that even though I had forgone my beloved if not small SSD my game load times were the same if not marginally better on some games. One thing I did note was the drive was loud, when a small drive with 600gb of space is spinning to 10,000rpm its something I did expect but I had to turn off my case fans to hear it so for medium-high end gaming systems it's a non issue.This surprised me for the larger part as I was of the belief that the SSD reigned supreme but it has left me pondering the possibility that for 600gb of usable space compared to 64gb when it came down to bang for buck the Velociraptor may just have been a better choice. Now the next component was some disk read tests, I ran a diskmark read test at both 50mb file sizes and 1000mb file sizes and the results are below:

50MB File Size1000mb file sizeNot a bad result at all, in fact a remarkably good result where this little baby showed it was more than capable of hanging with the big boys if not directly challenging them. Noted that even though I did the same with my SSD I wouldn't compare the two as they aren't directly related technologies it was impressive enough to me to note that in some tests most notably write tests the Velociraptor annihilated my SSD. If I were a moviemaker I now know what choice I would make but also as a gamer I think this drive is perfect for someone who wants power and storage without getting a SSD OS drive and something like a 2tb WD drive for storage. The limitation I have is constantly uninstalling and moving apps to my storage drive due to lac...

SteelSeries Introduces New Audio Product Line At E3: SteelSeries Spectrum for Xbox 360 Gamers- Three New Products Will Expand the Xbox 360® Line - SteelSeries Spectrum 4xb, SteelSeries Spectrum 5xb and the SteelSeries Spectrum AudioMixerLOS ANGELES - E3 - JUNE 15, 2010 - Kicking off the Entertainment Electronics Expo (E3), SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals and accessories introduced a new audio line specifically created for Xbox 360® gamers. Since 2001, the gaming peripherals from SteelSeries have been used by competitive gamers to win world championship tournaments and millions in prize money, all thanks to the extensive testing and product development exclusively done with the best gamers on the planet.It's with this knowledge and expertise that SteelSeries introduces the first three products of the SteelSeries Spectrum line. The SteelSeries Spectrum 5xb, a premium headset with refined gaming audio designed for both comfort and convenience; the SteelSeries Spectrum 4xb, an entry-level priced headset packed with outstanding sound quality and functionality; and the SteelSeries Spectrum AudioMixer, an accessory that extends Xbox 360 gameplay and communication to any headset with 3.5mm jacks."For more than a decade, SteelSeries has created peripherals to meet the needs of the most discerning PC gamers and provide a competitive advantage based on comfort, technology, and design," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. "With the new Spectrum line, we're leveraging what our award-winning PC headsets are known for, which are superior levels of comfort and sound quality. We've added unique features, specific to Xbox 360 gaming, in order to meet the demand for premium console headsets."SteelSeries Spectrum 5xb and 4xb headsets present players with an advanced soundscape, providing the ability to pinpoint the directional sounds of footsteps and grenade drops without them being drowned out by deep bass sounds from explosions or in-game chat. Comprised of new features intended to enhance a gamer's audio experience, the headsets include: - Easy access to independent audio and voice controls provides players with complete and intuitive control of volume levels for in-game audio and Xbox LIVE® communication. - SteelSeries LiveMix offers players the quick-button option to improve the balance and mixing of Xbox LIVE chat and in-game audio, so that voice communication is mixed perfectly with or over the sounds of gunfire and explosions, without having to increase the volume of the headset and risk hearing damage. SteelSeries Spectrum 5xbDesigne...

The Xai is SteelSeries' latest flagship in mice, built from the ground up with input from professional players. SteelSeries have focused on meeting the two main needs of these professional players - which are precision, and comfort. SteelSeries have also mentioned that unlike some other mice on the market, the Xai features no gimmicky lights or functions which may distract during gaming. The SteelSeries Xai is a tool – not a gadget.

In Depth LookStarting at the top, we can see the Xai is ambidextrous( This means both right and left handed people can use the Xai) and shaped a lot like the MS 1.1 mouse and is divided into two parts, those being top shell which includes the mouse 1 and 2 buttons, and the palm rest which has the SteelSeries logo. Unlike It's sister the 'Ikari', the Xai's back is a lotmore elevated making it easier to palm and not so fingertip grip. The top and side areas of the Xai have a matte finish on them giving it a dry feeling helping those who get sweaty hands during gaming to grip the mouse with a lot more ease.Bare in mind if you have been using a mouse which accommodates a specific hand, using a ambidextrous mouse such as the Xai may fatigue you at first.

Moving around to the front, we can see the mouse 1 and 2 buttons with the scroll wheel in between, and you'll also notice SteelSeries have included a DPI switch under the scroll wheel for when you want to change your DPI setting on-the-fly.

On the left side of the mouse, SteelSeries have provided two side buttons which are nicely positioned so they are not accidentally pressed by your thumb.

Turning over the Ikari to reveal the bottom, you'll find SteelSeries' Gaming Grade Engine in the middle and 4 Ultra Teflon feet situated at the 3 corners of the mouse for optimum glide. SteelSeries have also went to the trouble of providing a LED screen at the bottom for checking and setting CPI. SteelSeries have also gone to the lengths of providing us with 6ft long braided cable, topped off with a gold plated USB connector, which ensures maximum connectivity and longevity. DriversFirst tab lets you configure the button assignments of each key on the mouse. Also has the option to let you switch to right or left handed mode.

Second tab enables you to configure the on the fly DPI, prediction and Acceleration. SteelSeries have also included the feature to alter the Brightness and Contrast of the LCD screen located at the bottom of the mouse.

Third tab gives you the option to change the Scroll wheel, Pointer and double click speed.
Last tab shows you the current Firmware and Software ver...

Turtle Beach's EarForce X1 headset is extremely popular among Xbox gamers. While it may only be a stereo headset, you will often hear many users argue that they're indeed on par with any number of surround sound headsets that attract a $200-350 price tag. The headset provides users with high quality sound, a tremendous thumping bass and the voice of their team mates and combatants to boot! Not to mention the ability to be able to communicate to said team mates and combatants through the flexible mic.In this article I'm going to cover the features, functions and capabilities of the Turtle Beach Ear Force X1 headset. Enjoy the read!
Features- In-Line Stereo Amplifier- Bass Boost- Voice Chat mixed with Stereo Game Sound- Works with PC or the Xbox 360- USB powered- 2x 40mm drivers
DescriptionFrom this angle we can see the flexible attached microphone, the large and comfortable ear cups and headrail, the adjustable slides to suit every head size and the lengthy 16 foot cabling required to link the headset to your Xbox whilst giving you ample mobility with its extended length. The headphones have two 40mm drivers putting out some rather beastly-good sound.This is the In-Line Voice Control where you can adjust the volume of your in-game sound as well as mute your own microphone. Such features are highly sought after, especially when a team mate is either way too noisy or simply just speaks way too softly! This control is situated at a comfortable length along the 16 foot cabling, allowing you to simply place it in your lap or clip it to your shirt for ease of access. Featured above we can see where the Turtle Beach X1 headset gets it's Xbox Live Voice Chat capability. Simply plug the Turtle Beach XBL adaptor into the controller where one would normally plug their official Microsoft Microphone into. Once done, you have the ability to alter the sound level of other players voices coming through your headset. Have no fear! The loudest voice volume level is overly sufficient in being audible over loud gameplay.When using the X1 with your XBOX 360, this RCA splitter cable lets you keep your existing speakers (or TV) plugged in, so you can easily switch between speakers and headphones. Simply plug the red and white audio cables from your Xbox into the female ports of the corresponding colours on the RCA splitter cable. Plug the male red and white of the RCA splitter cable into your TV. This then enables TV sound. You can then plug the X1 headset into the green port of the RCA splitter cable enabling stereo sound to come through the X1 headset.Simply put, this cable e...