The reason for which I’m saying that gaming can be a very demanding physical activity is that professional gamers often spend 10-12 hours a day (sometimes even more than that) training to get that championship title. This can have a very bad effect both on your health as well as your state of mind and your general game play.

A good seat can help you out in that regard, keeping you comfortable for hours on end, so let’s take a brief look at what the V Rocker gaming chair can offer not only for the hardcore gamer but for the casual console player as well.

Overview

The V Rocker gaming chair is attracting attention by its very clever design from the first sight. The instant the V Rocker gaming chair comes into the frame, there are very few things to give away the gaming oriented nature of this comfortable piece of furniture.

The V Rocker Gaming Chair can be closed up to make carrying it easier

The shape and the overall look of the V Rocker gaming chair don’t scream gaming, but once you start taking a look at some of the features you quickly realize that you might’ve been wrong, very wrong.

The V Rocker comes covered with an easy-to-clean heavy-duty vinyl, to keep those though stains out. The chair itself is filled with a fire-retardant foam in order to increase the safety of the overall setup. Unlike the Renegade Gaming Chair, the V Rocker has the speakers hidden into the shoulder of the chair, so you won’t even know they are there until they bang in your ears.

In order to keep your room from becoming too crowded the V Rocker can also be easily folded in two and this should also simplify transportation. Once you open it up again, there are Velcro straps to secure it in position and although this might sound a little bit dodgy, the system does its job very well as the Velcro straps are there only for stability and don’t actually have to support weight.

In terms of connectivity the V Rocker gaming chair offers plenty of connectivity as you can hook up an Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 1, 2 or 3, a Gameboy a Nintendo Wii and the list keeps going on and on. All these elements are nicely detailed in the manual of the chair which also uses simple schematics to help you setup the chair irrespective of your gaming system.

You can also hook up any MP3 player, CD player, DVD player or even a home theater system for your auditory enjoyment. The package comes with plenty of cables to make anyone happy or confused, so let’s go over the contents of the package.

The V Rocker gaming chair comes with 1 RCA Male to 3.5 mm stereo plug cable, a main power adapter, 2 RCA Female-to-Female adapters, 1 RC Stereo to mini plug adapter the warranty card as well as the instruction manual. Obviously enough, the chair is part of the package as well .

The V Rocker Gaming Chair has a very nice and stylish look to it!

The chair isn’t as huge as the Renegade Gaming Chair, as it measures in at 26 x 19 x 18 inches (LxWxH) and can support up to 300 lbs. The chair itself is weighing in at 27 lbs, making it pretty easy to carry around.

Pricing and availability

There were a number of sources from which you can pick up the V Rocker gaming chair, most notably being Walmart. They are selling the V Rocker SE Wireless Black Game Chair for $79 with free shipping to store. The chair is the updated version of the V Rocker which is at the moment out of stock, yet you can try and check out VideoGameChairs.com who were offering the V Rocker Video Game Chair a while ago. Also, you might be able to find this on sale during the winter sales season, and you should check out this website if you want to buy it online.

Amazon is also offering up the V Rocker for $89 so if you act quickly you could get one like that, otherwise checking out local furniture retailers might also score you a hit.

Final thoughts

The V Rocker gaming chair is a very cool and stylish looking gaming oriented chair. There’s plenty of connectivity to make the chair a worthwhile investment even if you are not that heavily into games. The chair itself seems like pretty good value for money, being priced in general around the $80 mark so there’s little to no competition in my eyes and the price/product ratio is pretty good. Considering the pricing, connectivity as well as comfort levels, I do recommend the V Rocker gaming chair! Stay tuned!

Related posts:

1. X-Rocker Gaming Chairs – Game in comfort!
2. Renegade Gaming Chair – get comfortable and game away!
3. Bean Bag Gaming Chair – game or chill? Both!

Origin is one of those companies which make me feel a little bit of fear each time I see one of their new products. That’s because I can almost image that in a different universe their CEOs would be a group of evil geniuses which make huge destruction rays and machines which go “PEWPEWWW”. But then again, that might be just because of the finger pain.

The Origin EON17-S however, seems like it was ripped out of the bag of an evil mastermind getting ready to blow up some imaginary city! There’s plenty of power underneath that shiny exterior so let’s take a brief look at the company’s EON17-S custom built laptop!

Overview

The first thing which comes to the center of your attention is the 17.3 inch display. The LED display on this machine of doom can go up to 1080p and with a small added extra, can work as your very own 3D setup. Not convinced entirely yet? Well, keep on reading because it does get better!

The Origin EON17-S comes with a huge full sized keyboard and plenty of power to move the MOON!

When setting up a gaming notebook, there are some elements which must take priority over others. As such, the Origin EON17-S comes with a pretty high number of video card options. If you are running on a budget you can choose the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M with 1.5GB of GDDR5 RAM or you can go up for a GeForce GTX 580M, maybe a solution from AMD in the form of the RADEON HD6990M.

If you are working to set up the Origin EON17-S as a workstation, you will want to go for the really high end gear here and opt for an NVIDIA Quadro 5010M with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory. This beast here is directly designed for 17.3 inch mobile workstations, so if you’re an engineer, a designer or occupy any position which requires raw power like this, Origin has got you covered.

Processor wise the Origin EON17-S can bring you an Intel Core i5-2520 with a frequency of 2.5GHz per core or go up all the way to the Intel Extreme Edition Core i7-2920XM clocked at 3.6GHz per core which can reach up to 4.8GHz per core with Turbo Boost thrown into the mix. Processing has just gotten a whole lot easier with any of the above choices!

As a true custom built laptop meant to replace any form of hardware in your house (it won’t do the dishes folks!) the Origin EON17-S comes with a plethora of ports. You’ll find 2x USB 2.0 ports, 2x USB 3.0 ports, 1x eSATA/USB2.0 port, 1x mini IEEE 1394a port, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DVI-I out, 1x LAN/Ethernet (RJ45), 1x CATV input jack (optional), 1x DC-IN jack, 1x Kensington Lock and a headphone jack, a microphone jack along with a line-in jack and one S/PDIF digital out optical audio.

When it comes to multimedia, the Origin EON17-S comes with a built in microphone, 5 internal speakers as well as 1 internal subwoofer and THX TruStudio Pro support. There’s also support for high-definition 7.1 digital surround sound via the S/PDIF digital out port (with the use of external speakers).

When talking memory, the Origin EON17-S comes with 4GB dual-channel DDR3 at 1333MHz/1600MHz as standard and can go up to 32GB of dual-channel DDR3 at 1333MHz. Storage is taken care of with up to 512GB of storage on SSDs or up to 500GB Hybrid. There’s also the standard option for up to 750GB on a good old fashioned 7,200RPM HDD.

The amount of customization available for the Origin EON17-S is mind boggling

The complete package measures 1.65/1.79 inches in height, 16.22 inches in width, 10.87 inches in depth and weighs in at a pretty hefty 8.6 pounds with the battery. That’s pretty “slim” considering the power the Origin EON17-S can pack into itself.

Pricing

This is where the things become a little bit more complex since the folks making the mighty Origin EON17-S give you literally dozens over dozens of options for customizing your device. Still, in an effort to try and give you the best overall idea, you can buy an Origin EON17-S for as low as $1,600 but the price can cross the $10,000 mark for the highest configuration model. In this regard I do recommend checking out the Origin EON17-S build page and build your own configuration.

Final thoughts

Although some might argue that the pricing for the Origin EON17-S is a little bit over the top, even the base model comes in with some really awesome options for the gamer within. There’s plenty to fiddle around with and even a higher specked model won’t force you to mortgage your house, however you must keep in mind that we are talking about a custom gaming laptop here, so things can get pricey at times, yet the final product is well worth the financial investment. Stay tuned for more!

Related posts:

1. Origin PC gaming rigs – Customize your heart out
2. Origin EON 15-S – dominate your opponents on the move!
3. Asus G73SW Gaming Laptop Review – performance and good looks in one package!

Asus also went for a different design on this one and while the previous generation was covered in aluminum, this one is made from plastic. Based on early opinions posted online when Asus first showcased the N55 at Computex, many resented the change, and there’s a reason for it.

Still, you will find below that the N55SF is an overall solid multimedia notebook, with gaming abilities. The unit we got to test is a sample (99% identical to the end version, based on what our friends at Asus say), as the final product is not yet available in stores, but should be quite soon and with competitive prices.

Carry on with the rest of the post, a review of the N55SF multimedia laptop, for all the details on this machine.

Asus N55SF - a multimedia laptop with excellent speakers and enough power even for games

Specifications

Let’s start with the specs sheet first though, so we’ll know what we have in front of us:

• 15.6 inch display, 1600 x 900 px resolution, non-glare finish
• Intel 2nd gen Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor clocked at 2.0 GHz, with TurboBoost (up to 2.9 GHz) and HyperThreading
• Nvidia GeForce GT 555M graphics chip, with 2GB dedicated video DDR5 memory
• 4 GB of DDR3 RAM
• 2.5″ 640 GB HDD, 5400 rpm
• Blu-ray combo optical unit
• 2xUSB 2.0 and 2xUSB 3.0 slots, HDMI, VGA, card reader, HD Webcam
• Bang & Olufsen ICEPower speakers with external subwoofer
• Wireless N, Bluetooth 3.0, Gigabit LAN
• 6 Cell 56Wh 5200 mAh battery
• measures 379 x 261 x 35 ~37 mm (14.9 x 10.3 x 1.4~1.5 inch)
• weighs 2.7 kg (5.95 lbs) – with battery included

Asus plans to offer this one in a bunch of different configurations, and you’ll be able to choose between different types of screens (from 1366 x 768 px to Full HD resolution, glossy or matte), processors (Core i3, i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge CPUs), storage options (5400 rpm, 7200 rpm HDDs and hybrids) and optical units (DVD writer, Bluray combo or writer).

However, I find the configuration listed here the most balanced, although I would have enjoyed to have 8 GB of memory inside and a better storage drive.

And a professional picture

Design and exterior

For many, this might be the N55SF’s biggest drawback. I too have to admit that I considered it quite ugly when I first saw it, and that’s because of the glossy plastic hood that will scratch and get covered in smudges just seconds after you’ll get your laptop out of the box.

But if you can cope with this and plan to mainly use this baby on your desk, those shouldn’t be that much of a problem.

Sober and classy looks

As for the shape and design, there’s not much setting this one apart from the crowd. The N55 ain’t bigger or thicker than most other 15.6 inchers and its marginally more compact than the N53SN.

The case is a bit dull-looking though, despite having that chromed stripe around the screen for some extra style. Still, after using it for these last days, I got to appreciate its rather sober and classic design. Not enough to make me a fan, but enough to not consider it ugly anymore.

The lid cover is glossy

Opening the lid, you get a proper sized palm rest made from matte plastic (which feels quite nice), but being black it’s not a stranger to smudges either.

The palm rest and keyboard surface are completely flat and this, combined with the fact that the laptop is 1.4 inch tall on its front part and the edges are rather sharp, makes typing a bit uncomfortable for your wrists.

Not bad once you open the lid

Above the keyboard there’s a metal punctured area that covers the speakers and the screen is surrounded by a narrow glossy plastic bezel, with an aluminum band below.

The clip down under will tell you more about the exterior and the looks.

All in all, if it wasn’t for that glossy lid cover and the rectangular body with sharp edges, I’d have nothing bad to say about the casing of the N55SF or its overall build quality.

The pictures below will tell you more about the ports as well.

Front: cooling vent, status LEDs and card-reader

Left: Kensington Lock, Big cooling vent, VGA, LAN, HDMI , 2 x USB 3.0 slots

Right: Headphone, mic, 2 x USB 2.0 slots, optical unit, subwoofer 2.5 mm jack

Battery and screen's hinges on the back

Bottom: battery and bays for accessing GPU, memory and HDD

I like that they put the headphone jack on the front, but USBs are rather cramped on both sides. Still, they needed the space for the optical unit, the cooling vent and there was no way to have those on the back, as they went for a screen that can lean back a lot.

Also, I like the two USB 3.0 slots, a must for any laptop these days and the fact that they come with this thing called Charger+ , that allows you to fast charge USB connected devices even when the notebook is turned OFF.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard on the new N55 is pretty standard for a device in this class. Not really a big fan of the fact that it includes a NumPad, but seems like all 15 inchers offer one these days.

As you can see from the pictures, we don’t have a chiclet keyboard here, but rather a more classic one with flat keys. They are proper sized and there is enough space between them for comfortable typing. In fact, the keyboard is pretty much identical to the one we found on the N53SN, but the keys are now covered in a silver coating, which only looks like aluminum.

Overall there’s not much flex on these keys and travel is just perfect, but they feel a bit wobbly on my test unit. Still, while I wasn’t fond of the keyboard at start, I got used to it quite fast and had no problem actually putting together this review using it.

Not a bad keyboard, once you get used to it

Plus, Asus added an extra column of multimedia keys on the left side. They are stiffer than the rest of the keys so you won’t be able to press them by mistake, but they kind of make the whole thing a bit cramped. I for one would have loved if they would have kept those keys separated on top of the actual keyboard. Also, the power button is part of the keyboard as well and placed in the top-right corner.

And then there’s the layout. Once again I got to test the European version of this laptop, which comes with a bigger Enter and a smaller left Shift, and that’s a bit frustrating. The US version however will come with a proper sized Left Shift, so better get yourself that version and the headaches. Plus, I find the arrow keys too narrow for comfortable everyday use, which is a problem if you plan to use the laptop for gaming.

Extra multimedia keys, left Shift key, big Enter and Power button on the right-top corner

As for the trackpad, it’s made from the same soft plastic as the palm-rest and feels comfortable. It’s also proper sized, as you can see in the picture, supports multitouch-gestures and comes with a big and easy to press click button (still, a solution with independent click buttons would have been better, like on the Asus G74SX).

On the other hand, the trackpad is responsive, but can be a bit imprecise sometimes (mainly when trying to perform gestures), thus I do advice to get a proper mouse next to this laptop.

Proper sized trackpad with single click button

Overall, we can say that both the keyboard and the trackpad are quite OK, despite both having their own deficits.

Display

The N55SF comes with a 15.6 inch display. The one we got to test offers 1600 x 900 px resolution and a non-glare finish. It’s not a 3D screen like we saw on some of the Asus Gaming laptops, but it comes with great contrast, brightness and viewing angles. And colors are not shabby either.

Nice viewing angles

Of course, you will be able to choose between different types of screens on the final version of the N55, but I feel like this one is the best pick, as my eyes don’t really deal well with Full HD resolutions on a 15 inch display.

Oh, and even though the viewing angles are quite good on this laptop, the screen can also be leaned back almost horizontally, which will allow you to adjust display’s inclination in whatever conditions you might be. That’s more important to have on portable notebooks; we don’t mind having it here of course, but this is a device you’ll keep on your desk 99% of your time, so I doubt it will come in handy that often.

The screen leans back a lot

Hardware and performances

There will be many different versions for the N55SF when it will finally hit the stores. The one we got to test offers almost the top configuration, with a Core i7-2630QM processor and Nvidia GT 555M graphics card with 2 GB of dedicated memory, plus 4 GB of RAM and 640 GB HDD.

Of course, you can add more memory (up to 16 GB) and a better storage drive, as this one was a cheap 5400 rpm HDD. And I advice you to do so, performances should definitely improve with a hybrid HDD or 8 GB of RAM. You can easily upgrade those, there’s a bay on the back that allows you easy access to them and we’ll tell you more about this in a later chapter of the review.

So, the N55 packs one of the most powerful processors available for laptops right now and a capable graphic chip as well. Of course, the GT 555M can’t go neck in neck with cards from the GTX mobile line, but still allows you to run all sorts of multimedia content, process video and even run most games (more about these below).

Powerful graphic chip and Optimusd

The great part is that you get Nvidia’s Optimus technology on this configuration and the laptop will only use the powerful graphic chip when it has too, otherwise it will take advantage of the integrated graphics on the Core i7 processor, saving a lot of battery life as a result.

You can find below some benchmark results.

Of course, the laptop runs Windows 7. Our version came with Home Premium 64 bit and Asus also bundles this thing called Instant-On that should resume the laptop from hibernation in only a matter of seconds, which is a nice feature, but I for one didn’t use it that much. Plus, I consider it more useful on mobile devices than on such rigs you’ll hardly carry around anyway.

They say the laptop will resume in just 2 seconds, but it took like 15 on our test unit, so maybe with an SSD on board… Yes, it’s faster than on the average notebook, but I still call for marketing gimmick here over a detail you never missed before (or at least I haven’t).

Running games

Paired with a Full HD display, the GT 555M would have probably been brought to its knees by some of the modern games available out there.

The Asus N55SF can also handle the latest games

With the screen it gets though, it manages to play at standard resolution (1600 x 900 px) pretty much all the titles we tested, with some exceptions and as long as you’re willing to trim down details a bit in some cases. See the results we got below.

For a laptop not meant primarily for gaming, I feel like the Asus N55SF did handle well this task, don’t you think?

Upgrading hardware

The clip below shows you how to upgrade memory and the storage drive on the Asus N55SF. You only have to remove that back panel hold in place by a couple of screws and you get access to the two memory modules and the one HDD drive (too bad there’s only one though).

— clip will be added soon —

Also, there’s another bay there on the back that allows access to your graphic card, however I don’t really know why, as you only get to see the cooler on the memory chips. There’s a “do not open” sign on this bay, so it’s probably made for service use only? But why would they add a dedicated bay for that? Initially I thought it’s meant to allow graphics chip upgrade, which looks like it’s not soldered to the motherboard…

Anyway, I’ll check with the guys at Asus for more details on this one.

Speakers

If you’d ask me what’s the one thing that sets the N55 apart from all the other laptops in its class, I would definitely mention its audio system. Asus laptops usually come with above average speakers, but the ones on the N55SF are borrowed from its exclusive kin, the NX90, and made together with the guys at Bang & Olufsen.

Thus, behind that silver grill on top of the keyboard hide two 32mm speakers, something you won’t find on any 15 inch laptop, or on many 17 inchers for the matter. However, there’s one more thing: the N55 also comes with an external subwoofer you’ll have to connect to the laptop if you want to benefit from its full audio possibilities.

The best audio system you can get on a laptop these days

Yes, having an external subwoofer might not be the most comfortable option, but there’s a reason why Asus had to go for this approach; because they couldn’t place those big speakers inside the laptop and isolate them from the rest of the components, especially the electronic parts on the motherboard, Asus had to cut most of the low-frequency sounds that can be outputted on those internal speakers. Otherwise, the amount of vibrations caused by the bass inside the chassis would have affected the system’s overall reliability in time.

Thus, even though the speakers are identical to the ones on the NX90, they’ve been snipped. That’s why when using only the speakers alone, the sound quality is good, but rather dull and stuffy. However, when connecting the external subwoofer (via that 2.5 mm jack), audio quality jumps to another level, as the speakers are only used to output medium and high frequency sound, while the woofer takes care of the low-frequency signal.

In the video below i’ve tried to show you the differences between using the laptop with and without the subwoofer connected, but since I don’t have the best mic on my camera, you won’t actually feel that much of a change. So I advice you to go ahead and check this out in person is showrooms if you’re interested.

Still, there’s one thing to add: even though the audio solution on the N55SF is excellent for a laptop, you will still get better sound with a dedicated speakers set or a high-quality pair of headphones. So don’t expect miracles here, there’s still so much you can get from two 32 mm speakers and a rather tiny woofer.

Noise and heat

Once again we get to this part of our video review where I’ll have to ask you to take my word on the matter, as I do not own the required equipment for accurately testing heat or sound levels. Hopefully, somewhere in the near future…

Temperatures during daily use

Still, I’ve added a temperatures diagram got after using the N55SF for a couple of hours, while performing various operations, including playing games and running benchmarks. You can see that internal temperatures get to almost 90 degrees Celsius (when running 3DMark 11 Extreme test) and they lower to around 45-50 degrees on average when idle.

The exterior doesn’t get too hot though, except for the left bottom side where the heating exhaust vent is placed. Also, the top area gets quite worm when playing games as well, around the X-C keys. Besides these though, the N55SF rests pretty cool, even when stressed.

As for the noise, I can’t say that this one is the quietest laptop I’ve tested, as the fans are active even when in idle mode, but the good part is that it doesn’t get too noisy under load. In fact, I’d say there’s not much of a noise difference between idle and heavy load on this one and you’ll only be bothered by this aspect when using it in a quiet room, without the speakers or any headphones.

Battery life

There’s a 6 Cell 56Wh 5200 mAh battery on this laptop, but there’s also some powerful hardware inside. Luckily, we also have Optimus to save the day and that’s why we managed to get an average or around 3 – 3.5 hours of battery life on our N55SF test unit, with the given configuration, during everyday use with Wireless ON, Power4Gear Balanced profile and screen dimmed at 50%.

You’ll get better for units with a less power hungry processors or an SSD. And of course, the autonomy can range from between a little over an hour, when playing games, to above 4 hours if you’ll use it for light activities, with Wireless OFF and Power Saver mode activated.

Prices and availability

For the time being, the Asus N55SF ain’t yet available on the market, but should hit the stores by early or mid September.

We don’t have any exact details on prices, but expect them to start from around 700-800 bucks for the lower versions and get to $1000-$1200 or above for the top configurations like this one. I’m sure though you’ll find the prices quite good when compared to the main competitors, as Asus laptops tend to get excellent price/features ratios lately.

In the last years, Asus also improved their Client Service and Warranty services, and that’s also one of the reasons for their growing popularity on established markets like the US and Europe.

We will update this section once we know more, so stay tuned.

Wrap-up

Overall, this ain’t a bad laptop, not at all. In fact, if looking for a powerful and multi-valent 15.6 inch notebook these days, you’ll hardly find many better (if any?), especially for a similar price. Of course, it has its flaws, like the glossy and dull-looking exterior (still, that’s only based on my taste), or the rather odd designed keyboard and multimedia buttons, but all these are actually not that bad and there are also tons of strong points to compensate them.

After using the N55SF in the last days as my main computer, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t mind having it on my desk for good.

And while I’m not necessarily impressed by its strongest point, the speakers that outmatch all the competitors, I do appreciate its build quality, the screen and the configuration.

One of the best multimedia laptops on the market, that's the Asus N55SF

Pros:

• solid built and overall not that bad looking (not a fan of its look either though)
• powerful configuration
• excellent screen, matte and with just the perfect resolution for its size (15.6 inch – 1600 x 900 px)
• overall comfortable keyboard and trackpad, although not flawless
• excellent audio system for a laptop
• solid everyday performance and can even handle well games
• proper price

Cons:

• the glossy lid cover is a fingerprint magnet and that black matte plastic on the interior is no stranger to smudges either
• keys are a bit wobbly
• not a fan of the multimedia buttons integrated within the keyboard on its left side
• the sharp edges and tall front side makes typing a bit uncomfortable for your wrists

Asus also offers the smaller N45 and the bigger N75SF relatives of this series, but I feel like this one hit the right spot for potential powerful laptop buyers right now. That’s why I’m sure we’ll hear from the N55 a lot in these next months, as it has the potential to become a bestseller.

Related posts:

1. Toshiba Qosmio X775 review – gaming or multimedia; you decide!
2. Asus G73SW Gaming Laptop Review – performance and good looks in one package!
3. Asus K53SV review – multimedia and office performance in one

Logitech has been known far and wide as THE peripheral manufacturer, the company claiming that everyone at some point or another interacted with one of their products. Now we are going to “interact” with their latest addition to the gaming headphone market, the Logitech G930.

Logitech’s G930 comes as the successor to the highly appreciated G35 gaming headset, featuring a wide array of features and the spec list is as long as my arm so I think I have my work cut out.

Overview

The Logitech G930 wireless gaming headphone comes with Dolby 7.1 surround sound offering a software achieved 7.1 channel effect. This has been done by a number of manufacturers and if anyone can pull it off effectively then it’s Logitech alright.

The Logitech G930 7.1 surround sound gaming headset - a must buy!

Feature wise, the Logitech G930 comes with 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, programmable G-keys (like the ones found on most Logitech gaming oriented products – Logitech G19, Logitech G15 and the list goes on), memory foam lined headband and ear cups, noise-cancelling microphone, 10 hour rechargeable batteries and on ear audio controls.

You would think that with so many features, the Logitech G930 would weigh in at 20 pounds, however, I felt that the headphones are lighter than the previous G35 model, which does mean a lot when you plan on owning up opponents for hours upon end.

Although you get 10 hours of battery life you might want to play beyond that point. This is where the micro-USB cable really shines, as you can plug the headphones in and keep playing while these are charging. This should keep you within the game and not taking a break to recharge these babies.

The controls are nicely placed on the headset and you can quickly learn where each button is placed, meaning you have less work in trying to find the buttons which interest you. The 3 different profiles which can be saved are very useful seeing as you can adjust volume individually for each channel, as the Logitech G930 does come with 7.1 support.

In terms of microphone quality, the Logitech G930 doesn’t disappoint either, with the microphone having an activity LED on it as well. This lights up red when the microphone is not being used, however, because of its placement you won’t exactly see it – really Logi? The one thing which does work in its favor is the fact that once the microphone is set vertically you will know that it’s off.

Sound quality on the Logitech G930 is really up there, although I wouldn’t pin it against an Audio Technica or a Grados, the laser etched 40mm drivers deliver excellent sound in both games as well as multimedia. If you want to listen to music or watch a movie, the 3 different profiles can go a long way in streamlining the process of changing your settings on the fly and get the most out of the headphones.

Also thanks to the large size of the ear cups and to the memory foam used in those as well as the headband, you won’t even notice the Logitech G930 quietly (not really) sitting on your head. The low weight is another good element for which the G930 is a pleasure to use even for extended periods.

The Logitech G930 Wireless Gaming Headset is probably one of the best in the market!

There are plenty of adjustments you can do both in terms of sound quality as well as software tweaking, but physically as well, since you can adjust the G930 wireless gaming headset to fit anyone’s head. I know I can say that since my behemoth sized head doesn’t appreciate small headsets.

Pricing

Pricing is what might sting some of you, as the Logitech G930 7.1 wireless gaming headset isn’t exactly on the cheap side. You can purchase the Logitech G930 wireless gaming headset from the Logitech page and pricing here will depend on your region. If Europe is your residence, then the price tag is at 179 Euros, if you aren’t living on mainland Europe, but if the UK is your home then pricing is at 149GBP while those in the US will have to come up with $159.99.

Amazon is another spot where you could pick up the Logitech G930 and pricing is at $105, making it one hell of a deal seeing as pricing in other regions is pretty steep.

Final thoughts

Although not “real” 7.1 sound is achieved with the Logitech G930 wireless gaming headset, the device is showing off the skill Logitech reached in the past few years. The build quality and sound quality of the headset are both exceptional and the huge number of features should keep everyone happy and listening to music, watching movies and of course winning in games.

With pricing being so low (depending on retailer) the Logitech G930 is one of the best, if not even the best 7.1 gaming headset out on the market and if you have doubts regarding that check out our little series looking at some of the best 7.1 gaming headsets out today! It certainly has my vote!

Related posts:

1. Razer Chimaera 5.1 wireless gaming headset – the ghost shark of sound is here!
2. Logitech G700 wireless gaming mouse – Cables? Who needs cables?
3. Best 7.1 Gaming Headsets -top picks on 7.1 gaming headphones

The Microsoft Habu laser gaming mouse was made by the two companies in order to really breach into the gaming peripherals sector. Despite the name, the Habu seems like it’s a DeathAdder with a Microsoft logo on it and if you start looking at it from an angle or two and just cover the Microsoft logo, you might get what I’m talking about.

However, we know by now that both companies are pretty good at what they do and when it comes to gaming peripherals, the Razer/ Microsoft duo should be able to offer us something worth writing about right?

Overview

The Microsoft Habu laser gaming mouse comes in with a very simple and clean design. Nothing resembling the SideWinder series really, something which makes be believe that Razer had a touch more to do with this than Microsoft. Microsoft’s Habu has clean and smooth lines and is just a pleasure to look at, the device itself saying “What, you’re here to game not to stare!”.

The Microsoft Habu looks a lot like a Razer mouse!

By the way, I trademarked that line, so keep on reading! The Microsoft Habu is powered by a 2000dpi laser sensor made by the folks at Razer and we know that they are usually pretty knowledgeable about their sensors. The Habu is no exception as the device will deliver blazing fast performance irrespective of game or settings.

The response time on this baby is again Razer territory and you really start wondering what Microsoft actually did in regards to it. The Microsoft (Razer) Habu manages to give you a blazing fast response time of 1ms (that’s 1000 Hz Ultrapolling).

When it comes to speed and motions the Microsoft Habu manages to go up to 45 inches per second and reach 20g of acceleration. Unlike the SideWinder X5 or the SideWinder X8 the buttons can again be independently programmable thanks to the Razer software. That way you can record whatever you wish on the 7 buttons the device comes with and again I’m asking myself – what did Microsoft do here?

If we stick around to look at the design of the device, the Microsoft Habu comes with GlowPipe non-slip side rails, something we’ve seen in other Razer mice over the years as well. These allow for seamless control over the mouse while at the same time keep the grip levels on par with any game. It doesn’t matter if you’ll be lifting the mouse frequently since accidental button presses are easily avoidable.

The side buttons can also be configured. Microsoft is supplying two interchangeable side panels so that you can adjust the distance to the buttons to fit your hand. The mouse feet send us back in time again, as the Microsoft Habu comes with huge ultra-slick mouse feet, something which reminded me of the good old Razer Diamondback.

When it comes to measurements the Microsoft Habu is well sized, yet again, the size reminds me of the DeathAdder. As such, the Habu reaches 129 x 68 x 43.5 mm (LxWxH) to the 128 x 70 x 42.5 mm (LxWxH) of the DeathAdder. If the previously mentioned mouse fits nicely in your hand, you won’t find any issues adjusting to the Microsoft Habu.

Just like most gaming mice out on the market, the device also comes with on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment, the two buttons being placed right below the scroll wheel, something which might seem unusual at times, but you’ll quickly find that this setup is rather nicely done by the folks at Razer (or Microsoft).

The Microsoft Habu resembles most Razer mice and that's not bad at all!

One thing which again showed that Razer is pretty good at doing gaming mice is the customizability of the lights. These can be set to glow only around the scroll wheel, around the non-slip grip or turned off completely. This is something which Microsoft failed to include in their SideWinder lineup, something which would’ve made me a whole lot happier.

Pricing

Pricing wise the Microsoft Habu will set you back around $39 from Amazon and there are still some retailers who have the Microsoft Habu on stock with pricing being in the area of $45. That’s not a lot for a gaming mouse which is basically made by Razer and my only regret is that Microsoft didn’t take a clue or two and bring it to their SideWinder lineup.

Final thoughts

Although not as fit and hip as his younger offspring, the Microsoft Habu still manages to impress users. Thanks to the 2000dpi laser sensor, the smooth and clean design lines as well as the huge amount of customizability offered up by the software of the device, the Habu is still hanging in there. Stay tuned for more!

Related posts:

1. Razer Imperator ergonomic laser gaming mouse – the gaming Emperor is here!
2. Microsoft SideWinder X5 Gaming Mouse – Beware small hands!
3. Razer Naga Laser Gaming Mouse Review – MMOs Here I come!

The following 5.1 gaming headsets will be fighting for the chance of calmly resting on your head and offer you excellent sound not only in games but in anything else which involves sound – music, multimedia content and the list can go on. Sound quality, build quality and features are the real determining factor here.

Some of the best 5.1 gaming headsets out on the market aren’t using fancy 3D audio tricks via software tweaking but actually pack into their small bodies those 5.1 sound systems. We are also trying to find some of the best alternatives in this field as we don’t want you to end up paying our your nose to be able to afford one of these babies, so let’s get started shall we.

Sharkoon X-Tatic SR – less cables more sound!

The Sharkoon X-Tatic SR sure looks like it means business!

When looking for 5.1 gaming headphones for gamers you will stumble across the fine folks at Sharkoon who are offering one of the best gaming headphones out on the market the Sharkoon X-Tatic SR.

The Sharkoon X-Tatic SR comes with a huge variety of features which make it one of the most equipped gaming headset out on the market. The specifications are pretty solid, with the driver diameter being 40 mm with NdFeB magnet, a 32O impedance, sound pressure being at 120dB, frequency response being at 20Hz and power output at 30 mW.

The connector is a 6-pin analog plug which goes nicely into the Sound Control Unit which supports a wide variety of functions and features. Thanks to the SCU you can connect the Sharkoon X-Tatic SR to any console, PC, laptop or tablets or smartphones.

If you are interested in the Sharkoon X-Tatic SR the price tag is roughly around the $130 mark.

Razer Chimaera 5.1 – the ultimate surround sound is here!

The Razer Chimaera 5.1 is the most expensive of the bunch

Razer is one of those companies which has slowly but surely sneaked into all the aspects of gaming. That’s the situation for the audio market where the Razer Chimaera 5.1 gaming headset is trying to name for itself.

Specifications wise this 5.1 gaming headset comes with 50mm drivers, a frequency response between 20 – 20,000 Hz, impedance is 32O and sensitivity is at 105 dB. The headset is wireless, so power is provided via 2 AAA batteries which can go up to 8 hours of battery life and the charging time is 3 hours. The microphone is also excellently build and is a very nice addition for your gaming sessions.

In order to connect the Razer Chimaera 5.1 gaming headset you’ll just need an optical port on your Xbox 360 or an RCA to 3.5 mm cable for your PC. Pricing for the Razer Chimaera 5.1 varies depending on the source you are buying from varying from $170-$200.

eDimensional AudioFX Pro 5+1 – get your game on in style!

The eDimensiona AudioFX Pro 5.1 looks great and sounds better!

Out next contestant in this lineup of top headphones for gamers is the eDimensional AudioFX Pro 5+1 gaming headset. Although not as known as Razer, Logitech or Zalman in this aspect, eDimensional is really throwing in their best competitor in this small round-up.

The eDimensional AudioFX Pro 5+1 gaming headset is bringing sound to your ears with the help of 50mm drivers, the impedance is at 32O and the sensitivity is 110 dB with frequency going at 20Hz – 20,000Hz. The mic has a sensitivity of 58 dB and a frequency of 20Hz – 16,000Hz.

eDimensional’s AudioFX Pro 5+1 gaming headset is achieving 5.1 with the help of an integrated 5.1 surround sound decoder which connects to your PC USB. In case you are interested in the eDimensional Audio FX Pro 5+1, the price tag is roughly between the $50 and $70 mark, making them one of the cheapest, yet best 5.1 gaming headsets out there.

Tritton AX Pro headset – true 5.1 in your ears!

The Tritton AX Pro is here to satisfy those purists!

Tritton’s AX Pro headset is one of those few models out there which really offer excellent 5.1 because they actually have a 5.1 driver setup residing inside them. Not only that, the Tritton AX Pro looks excellently and will feel at home in a gaming environment as well as in a multimedia oriented area!

The Tritton AX Pro comes with 2x 23mm drivers for the center speaker, with a sound pressure of 120 dB and a frequency set at the 130-2.5KHz interval. The 2x front speaker drivers measure 30mm with a frequency of 20-20KHz and a sound pressure of 120 dB, 2x rear speakers with 30mm drivers and 2x 40mm subwoofer drivers.

Tritton’s AX Pro achieves connectivity via an analog 5.1 front, rear and sub output. The audio controller supports a wide variety of features, so make sure to check the full spec list before purchasing. The Tritton AX Pro is one of the more expensive headsets in our little lineup, with pricing sitting around the $170 point, however, for that you do get true 5.1 and plenty functionality added.

Cooler Master Storm Sirius – true 5.1 gaming headsets!

The Cooler Master Storm Sirius is serious! No, they really are!

After the Tritton AX Pro 5.1 gaming headsets we are facing the Cooler Master Storm Sirius which is another pair of 5.1 gaming headsets which come with true 5.1 surround sound.

As such, the Cooler Master Storm Sirius has 30mm drivers for the front, rear and center speakers and a 40mm driver for the subwoofer. The impedance for front, rear and center is at 32O while the impedance for the subwoofer is at 16O. When taking a look at sensitivity we are crossing the 105 dB boundary and the frequency response sits calmly between 10Hz – 20,000Hz.

Unlike most of the devices in this small gathering of the best 5.1 gaming headphones right now, the Cooler Master Storm Sirius just barely hit the market and the pricing for this is at the $130 from a number of online retailers.

Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 gaming headset – be very very quiet, I’m huntin’ !

Don't go underwater with the Cyber Snipa Sonar headset!

Another company which made quite a name for itself in the world of gaming peripherals is Cyber Snipa. The company is throwing the Sonar 5.1 gaming headset into their lineup of gaming peripherals, so let’s take a look at what this baby can do!

The Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 headset comes with true 5.1 support. The Front and rear drivers have a diameter of 30mm while the center speaker comes with a 40mm diameter. The subwoofer driver sits at 27mm. Impedance is at 32O for the front, center and rear drivers while the subwoofer is at 8O. The sensitivity of the speakers is at 108 dB.

Cyber Snipa’s Sonar 5.1 headset is probably the cheapest 5.1 gaming headset in this list, as you can get your hands on one of these gaming headsets for as low as $50, making them pack quite the punch for that small price point.

Zalman ZM-RS6F – the granddad of 5.1 gaming!

Although older, the Zalam ZM RS6F still delivers!

Well I wouldn’t actually go as far as saying that the Zalman ZM-RS6F is their granddad but saying that this almost 8 year old 5.1 headset isn’t close enough to that would be silly. So let’s get this started shall we!

The Zalman ZM-RS6F is coming with a frequency response situated between 50Hz – 20,000Hz with a sound pressure level at 89 dB. The impedance is at 16O at 1KHz. Unlike most other competitors out there, the ZM-RS6F is a pretty bulky headset weighing in at 11.24 ounces (that’s almost 317 grams) so despite the padding you will feel the pressure of this sitting on your head.

Note that there are two versions of the Zalman ZM-RS6F one of them coming with USB connectivity, which would make it a better choice for those of you who will be using this with a laptop and a standard version which comes with the 3 headphone jacks (3.5mm jacks). Finding this model is somewhat difficult, but when you do stumble upon it you can get it for roughly $50, which might seem a little bit much for a headset of this age, but you have to keep in mind that you can get better information on it.

Plantronics GameCom 777 – soundcard thrown into the mix!

The Plantronics GameCom 777 comes with great quality and a misleading name!

One of the well-known brands when it comes to audio hardware as well as gaming in general is represented in this corner by the folks at Plantronics. Their Plantronics GameCom 777 5.1 gaming headset is one of the best out there, but let’s take a brief look at some of them specs!

The Plantronics GameCom 777 comes with a bag of pretty nifty features. The frequency response is situated between 20Hz – 20,000Hz, the drivers measure in at 40mm and the technology hiding behind all this is really mind blowing. You get a Dolby USB sound card to get the 5-channel audio experience which you want, while the open-ear design allows you to stay in touch with your surroundings. The noise-cancelling mic keeps your voice crisp and clean and the overall design and build quality are top of the line.

The folks at Plantronics have a wicked sense of humor, so the Plantronics GameCom 777 comes in two varieties, a version with 5.1 Dolby Surround adapter or another one with 7.1 Dolby Surround adapter. Make sure you check that before going in for a purchase. If you plan on buying the 5.1 version of this gaming headset, you won’t have to reach that deeply into your pockets as the price tag is floating at around $60.

Conclusion

The best 5.1 gaming headset cannot be determined simply by saying that the true 5.1 gaming headsets are better than the ones which achieve this effect via software, because that usually comes at a price. A good example is the very pricy Razer Chimaera, yet this small round-up showed anyone that you can get a pair of 5.1 gaming headphones for roughly $40 and those should do their job adequately.

Of course there are better and more expensive alternatives, yet if you are not “THAT” hardcore about your sound, then you can go for one of these software manipulated versions which will still deliver excellent performance in both games and media content.

Although some models might be a little bit old or use different connectivity, thanks to the wide array of choices available in the 5.1 gaming headset market, you can find anything really to fit your needs. The best of these? Read through the specs and make a decision for yourself, since all of them deliver excellent bang for your buck. Stay tuned!

Related posts:

1. Best 7.1 Gaming Headsets -top picks on 7.1 gaming headphones
2. New Creative headsets for PC and Console gamers alike!
3. Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 wireless gaming headphones – prepare your ears!

Razer’s Orochi bluetooth gaming mouse is here to give unprecedented performance and style, while at the same time offer the excellent performance we are used to from Razer. We all know the general approach to notebook oriented mice, but what happens if one of those tiny devices doesn’t cut it, yet you don’t exactly plan on lumbering around with a G9x, a DeathAdder or a R.A.T. 9 – enter the Orochi!

Overview

The Razer Orochi comes in, just like all the Razer products, with a pretty scary name. Orochi is translated into English as the Eight-Forked Serpent, a mythological Japanese dragon with 8 heads and 8 tails, slain by Susanoo, the Shinto storm-god. But enough with the mythology lesson, is the Razer Orochi bluetooth gaming mouse, up to its legendary name?

First of all, the Razer Orochi comes in with a Razer Precision 3G laser sensor. This is something you don’t exactly see on a mouse which can fit in even the smallest of hands. The tracking speed of the laser sensor is reaching the incredibly high mark of 100 inches per second. That should cover even some of the most hardcore gamers out there.

The Razer Orochi combines style and performance in a very small package!

Unlike the DeathAdder, the G500and the list could go on, the Razer Orochi comes in with an ambidextrous design, allowing to both left-handed gamers and right-handed ones to enjoy the product from the get go. Despite that, the stylish lines and curves will ensure that the mouse will fit excellently in anyone’s hand.

Razer’s Orochi also comes in with the Razer Synapse On-board memory, which should keep your profiles stored away nice and clean, without the hassle of carrying around any format of data storage just to keep your settings safe. The gaming mouse also features on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment, making for one hell of a quick sensitivity swap at the touch of a button.

The mouse feet on the Razer Orochi are the standard skates used by Razer mice – zero acoustic Ultraslick mouse feet. The USB connector is also gold-plated and the device is powered by 2 AA batteries. The real deal breaker for the Razer Orochi comes in with the two modes the gaming mouse can function in.

As such, you can use the Razer Orochi in wireless mode, situation in which the Razer Orochi is connecting to your setup with Bluetooth 2.0. This will downgrade the mouse performance a little, as the DPI will drop to 2000, you’ll get 125Hz polling (that’s an 8ms response time) and you will be drawing power from 2 AA batteries.

However, if performance is your main concern with the Razer Orochi, then fret not as the 3 foot, detachable, braided micro-USB cord, will give you that edge in games. The DPI is upped  to the 4000 mark, making it one hell of an accurate device along with the response time dropping to 1 ms (that’s 1000Hz Ultrapolling).

Thanks to the two functioning methods of the Razer Orochi, you can own up your opponents on the move!

All these features make the Razer Orochi one of the best portable mice out there, which can offer excellent performance to fit the needs of even the most avid of gamers. You have portability, performance as well as style in one small, easy to carry package and if that isn’t enough just think of it like this – it’s a Razer gaming mouse!

Pricing

If you are looking to get your hands on one of these high performance, ultra portable gaming mice, you can do so via a number of sources. The Razer Orochi is available via the Razer Store and will set you back $79.99 if you are ordering it from the North American store, while if you are a resident of the European continent, you can order it for 69.99 Euros. This makes this small Bluetooth gaming mouse a nudge expensive, yet with the performance it can reach, I say it’s well worth the investment.

You can also pick up the Razer Orochi via Amazon for as low as $58.99, which is in my opinion a more competitive price, considering that Logitech has been really strong in this sector especially.

Final thoughts

Although not as quick around the bends as its larger counterparts, the Razer Orochi delivers incredible performance for this sector. The gaming mouse is swift on its toes and can offer a plethora of features to even the most demanding gamer out there. The high price tag might turn some people off, yet the fact remains  that the device is one hell of a gaming mouse and can deliver top notch performance in a tiny package. Stay tuned for more!

Related posts:

1. Razer Tron gaming mouse previewed- Ready, set, go!
2. Razer Imperator ergonomic laser gaming mouse – the gaming Emperor is here!
3. Razer Deathadder 3500 infrared gaming mouse – deadly as the snake!

This post is a review of the Asus G74SX 3D model (the 3D appendix means it has a 3D screen of course). At the time we’re writing this post (June 15th 2011), this model is not yet available on the market so we are testing an early review unit, a sample if you like to call it this way. It is however an exact replica of what you’ll see in shops in a month or so, but performances on the final product should be a little better, as we’re still having some drivers issues right now on this test model. We’ll get into details further down.

Let’s proceed with the review in the article below, where we’ll take you through most of the important aspects of this laptop.

Asus G74SX - the new 17.3 inch ROG gaming notebook

Specification sheet

First though, let’s have a quick look at the specs, so we’ll now what to expect here:

• 17.3 inch display, Full HD 1920 x 1080 px resolution, 3D ready (120Hz refresh rate)
• Intel 2nd generation Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor clocked at 2.0 GHz, with TurboBoost (up to 2.9 GHz) and HyperThreading
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphic chip, with 3GB dedicated video DDR5 memory
• 16 GB of DDR3 RAM (4 x 4 GB module in quad-channel)
• 2x HDDs on this version, 500 and 750 GB, 2.5 inch drives at 7200 rpm
• Blu-ray combo optical unit
• 3xUSB 2.0 and 1xUSB 3.0 slots, HDMI, VGA, card reader, Webcam
• Wireless N, Bluetooth, Gigabit LAN
• 8 Cell 74Wh battery
• measures 420mm x 325mm x 20.9~62.0mm (16.5 x 12.8 x 0.8~2.4 inch)
• weighs 4.28 kg (9.42 lbs) – with battery included

So pretty much all the things you would need on a powerful notebook these days. However, there’s more about a laptop than specs…

Design and exterior

Designed inspired by stealth aicrafts

I’ve yet to meet someone who did not appreciate the extravagant design of an Asus ROG laptop, inspired by the American F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter (or at least that’s how it seems).

The body of the G74SX is massive, but looks and feels great. Entire case in covered in some black smooth plastic finish that should be quite reliable and deal OK with fingerprints, smudges or dust. Same finish is used inside as well, for palm-rest and the bezel around the screen, while the area around the keyboard is made from some dark-purple colored aluminum.

Entire body is massive and breathes quality, even the screen’s redesigned and now massive hinge feels built to last and for a good reason: it has to bear the weight of a 17.3 inch display.

You will notice that the G74 suffered a slight redesign over the G73 series, with most changes concentrated towards the back, where the cooling vents are now bigger and should be more efficient (you’ll see if it is so below).

Redesigned cooling vents on the back

Notice that on the bottom you get a square battery on its top-right side and a big panel for easy accessing memory and hard-drive, but not cooling vents at all like you had on the G73 series.

Bottom panel

You can have a look at the sides ion the pictures below.

Left side: Kensington lock, 2xUSb 2.0 slots, Blu-ray unit, headphone and microphone

Right side: card-reader, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 slot, VGA, HDMI, LAN, PSU

Also, the G74 seems sleeker than it was before, but that’s not really the case, the body is pretty much similar to the one on the G73, with some minor design changes; we’re still talking about a huge 9 pounds laptop that should never be lifted off your desk unless you plan to hurt your back. Yes, Asus offers a special carrying bag for it in the pack, but I’d only use it if I really really had to.

You’ll notice that the bezel around the screen is quite thick and there seems to be enough space in there for a bigger 18.4 inch display. Still, Asus kept the older 17.3 inch format and that’s not really a problem, as this screen is absolutely phenomenal. More details about it in the dedicated chapter below.

More details about the exterior of this laptop are available in the clip below:

Keyboard and trackpad

The trackpad is slightly different from what we had before, as it is wider and taller and is not deepened into the palm rest like it was on the G73. You also get two separated click buttons which are actually very comfortable to use, being easy to press and noise-free.

Overall, trackpad feels responsive and accurate, and while we first had some problems with multi-gestures, we got them sorted with some new drivers from Asus’s website. The only problem I had with it is actually the lack of some palm-rejection abilities and this can be frustrating when using it for typing, but I’m pretty sure this small issue can be solved in the future with an appropriate TrackPad software.

Redesigned keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard was completely redesigned. First, you’ll notice that keys are now divided into two different sections, with the NumPad area being separated from the rest by a larger space and the arrow keys being better emphasized and spaced from the other keys around them. Keys also seem more square than before and overall the keyboard is very comfortable, with just enough flex and run, plus almost no noise. And of course the entire keyboard is illuminated; you can adjust the illumination level with FN+F3/F4 keys.

Display

When I first turned ON the Asus G74 I was staggered by the colors and the blacks of its display. It was even better than my Dell desktop display with an IPS panel. I haven’t tested the G73s before, but based on some opinions of my colleagues who did, the screen on this one seems slightly better.

Of course, the display on our test unit is the top-model you can get on a G74, with Full HD 1920 x 1080 px resolution, non-glare finish and 120 Hz refresh rate (3D ready). When the G74 will hit the stores, you will be able to choose between a couple of different display types, but no matter how much this option will cost, I strongly advice towards picking it.

Viewing angles

Like I said, Brightness and Contrast levels on this one are top notch, as well as color reproduction, so I’m guessing we have a superior TN panel with some extended Color gamut. I really wish I’d had the technology to measure the output of this screen but unfortunately I do not, so you’ll just have to take my word on this and also see the clips here on this review for more details about it.

Massive display with a redesigned hinge

Viewing angles are also very good and the display does not lean too much on the back, but since this one is meant for desk-usage, that’s not a negative aspect, like it is with portable laptops you use in bed or on the sofa and where a screen able to tilt all the way to the back would be required.

The laptop also comes with a pair of Nvidia 3D Vision glasses so you can enjoy 3D content on it, whether movies or games. You can easily turn 3D OFF permanently or in games if you want from the Nvidia Control Center.

There's a 3D ready 120Hz screen on this one, a a pair of 3D Vision glasses included

Hardware and performances

We’re going to take a quick look right now at the hardware specs and the performances of this device. The clip below should tell you more about the screen, hardware and specs:

IMPORTANT: I once again must tell you that we’re testing an early release model and dedicated drivers are still in their early days or completely missing. Also, the device was running on an older BIOS version not completely optimized for this hardware. Thus, I’m pretty sure performances will get better on the final release, especially after a couple of months from launch, when drivers will get just enough time to reach maturity. With these in mind, please read the following lines.

Like I said, you get a Core i7-2630QM processor on this one 16 GB of memory in quad-channel and two HDD storage units. Both are standard 7200 rpm drives and they are not connected in RAID 0, so adding an SSD for the OS can greatly improve ratings on this one.

In terms of graphics, you get an Nvidia GTX 560M graphic chip inside, with 3G of dedicated DDR5 video memory. This is the fastest mobile chip from the new Nvidia 5xx line yet to become available, but it is still slower than the older Nvidia GTX 480M and 485M, the new ADM 69xx series and of course, the SLI/Crosffire solutions. Still, it is a fast graphic chip that can provide solid performances, superior to the GTX 460M we had previously on the Asus G73 laptops.

All the tests were run with a moded .INF versions of Nvidia’s Forceware 275.33 drivers, as Asus has yet to release any dedicated video drivers for this notebook (their latest release is Forceware 268.37).

Below you can see some of the results we got on this machine:

• Windows 7 rating: 5.9 , but with an SSD drive you can easily boost that to 7.2, as the lowest mark is given for the standard hard-drives
• Encoding a 14Mbps 812 MB .MTS video file to 1080P Youtube file in PowerDirector 9 took 21 minutes 34 seconds

Windows 7 rating is dragged down by the HDDs inside

Synthetic tests

We also ran a bunch of different synthetic tests and you can see the results in the gallery below.

There’s little difference in terms of hardware between the Asus G74SX and the Asus G73SW, as the first comes with the better graphic chip (GTX 560M versus GTX 460M). So, we should see slight 7-10% better scores in graphic intensive tests for the new model, but like I said, results on this one are surely affected by the lack of mature drivers right now. Comparing what we got here to the scores got on the Asus G73SW in this test from Annadtech, we see mixed results, with a slight advantage for the G74 in graphic tests and a slight advantage for the G73SW in CPU intensive tests, probably because of the immature BIOS available on the G74.

I also ran a mini-stress test so I could see if the same problem encountered on the G73SW was present here. Running prime95 and Furmark simultaneously made the CPU throttle on that G73. Same thing happens on the G74 almost instantly, thus this hardware problem was not solved on the new line. Print screen below proves it.

Stress test makes the CPU throttle

I doubt this will have a huge impact on your everyday experience with the G74, but it might when running intense CPU applications.

Running games

Of course, what’s more important for a laptop as this one than its performances in games? That’s why we ran a couple of different games on this one and you can find our results below. Notice that I’ve used FRAPS to record FPS in all these games and it is known that FRAPS usually dwindles performances, so without it we would have probably got 1-3 extra FPS over the posted results.

Call oF Duty: Black Ops

NFS: Shift Unleashed 2

And here are the actual results (all games running at native 1920 x 1080 px resolution):

Annon 1404

COD: Black Ops

Crysis 2

Dirt 3

Fifa 11

NFS: Shift Unleashed 2

Bottom part, you can run well all the games we tested here on highest details in native Full HD resolution, but activating 3D mode will force you to cut off some of the details to keep the games playable. The clip below also shows you some of the games I’ve tried and how well they ran.

Upgrading hardware

You will notice in one of my clips below that upgrading memory and storage drives on the G74SX is fairly easy. You have a big panel on the back of the device and you can access there the two hard-drives and the 4 memory slots. I do recommend of course getting an SSD for the operating system, like I said, you’ll really feel the difference.

Easy access to the two hard-drives and 4 memory slots on the back

Also, you’ll notice that you get easy access to all the 4 memory slots, which did not happen before on the G73 lines.

Noise and heat

One of the biggest problems for the Asus G73SW was the fact that it overheated when pushing the graphic chip to its limits, like playing modern titles on Full details for a bunch of hours.

The new cooling system really works

The redesigned interior and back chassis of the G74 was meant to solve these problems and allow better air flow, thus a cooler overall platform. And we can say that they managed to do that, despite fitting a faster, thus potentially hotter, graphic chip inside. Below you have some HWMonitor temperature scores from the G74, one in idle mode after lightly using it for a couple of hours and the other after some heavy gaming.

Idle temperatures

When playing games like COD: Black Ops for a longer period of time, you’ll notice that the back part of the computer gets warm and there’s a lot of hot hair coming through those vents, but that’s what should actually happen. On the front face, the area just above arrow keys, next to the Enter and Backspace keys, will get quite hot, but nothing actually bothering. Once again, I wish I had a method of recording exact temperatures on this laptop but unfortunately I lack the required tools, so once again you’ll just have to take my word on it and read the results from HWMonitor.

Temperatures after playing BlackOps for a couple of hours

As for noise, it is not a problem at all. Sure, the fans inside get active when running games or other intense applications, but they are not loud and will not bother you at all.

Speakers

You get stereo EAX Enhanced stereo 2.1 speakers on this Asus. So a mini sub-woofer is included as well and everything is placed above the keyboard. They are loud and sound quality is definitely very good, as the G74 incorporates different technologies designed to enhance audio quality, like THX TruStudio which allows the user to set-up different audio profiles for different types of applications.

Of course, you can only get that much from a laptop sound system, thus for the ultimate audio quality, you can always connect your home system to the laptop, as it is capable to offer 5.1 audio signal via the headset jack.

Battery life

There’s an 8 Cell 74 Wh battery inside the Asus G74SX 3D. However, considering the hardware inside and the big display, you will get around 2 hours of life during daily use with screen dimmed towards 50%, with up to 3 hours in light Office and browsing mode. Of course, when dealing with games, battery life will drop to around 75-80 minutes of life, based on what you’re running.

8Cell 74Wh battery would offer around 2 hours of life during everyday use

Definitely this is not a portable laptop, it should stay on your desk connected to its huge power brick. This review unit came with a 155Wh charging brick and I believe the same one would be found on the final release. But having the ability to run your basic tasks plug0free for a couple of hours is definitely a nice addition to the package.

Other aspects

There are a bunch of other aspects we should mention about this laptop. First, it comes with top notch connectivity, including Wireless N, Bluetooth, Gigabit LAN and USB 3.0 slot.

Also, you get an optical Blu-ray combo unit that might come in handy for installing games or running some Blu-ray content in 3D.

You also get a 8-in-1 card reader and a webcam on top of the screen.

Should also notice that above the keyboard you only get two buttons right now, one for powering the laptop and one for launching Quick Express. All the multimedia buttons found on the top-right side of the keyboard on the G73 line are now gone.

Prices and availability

As we said above, Asus plans to have the G74SX in stores worldwide during mid July, so in about a month’s time.

In the meantime, some shops already have this for preorder and they claim they’ll ship units by late June – early July, so pretty soon. We also have details on prices for the US market. You get basically the following configurations:

• Asus G74SX-XA1 – for $1499 you get 12 GB of memory, non-3D Full HD display, 750 GB single HDD, DVD-RW unit
• Asus G74SX-A1 – for $1749 you get 12 GB of memory, non-3D Full HD Display with a glossy finish, Blu-ray combo unit
• Asus G74SX-3DE – for $1979 you get 12 GB of memory, 3D 120 Hz Full HD display with a matte finish, Blu-ray burner unit and on pair of 3D Vision glasses

All the other specs are pretty much similar, including the Core i7-2630QM processor, Nividia GTX 560M graphics, 2 x 750 GB 7200 rpm hard-drives (for the last two options), illuminated keyboard, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit OS and two year warranty. Plus a backpack and a special mouse.

However, BestBuy also offers an Asus G74SX versions of only $1199. However, that one comes with only 8 GB of memory, same standard HD display, 2 x 500 GB HDDs and a poorer Nvidia GTX 560M graphic chip. While the one on the more expensive versions is a 192 bit chip, this one is only an 128 bit one, thus performances will be lower. Still, the price is significantly lower as well.

Personally I would go for the more expensive version for that magnificent non-glare display, even though I would have loved to have a non-glare non-3d option as well that could have helped saving some money. Still, prices are quite good and that turns the balance even more towards the G74SX line right now, when compared to the G73SW (which was in fact similarly prices and has now been discontinued anyway).

Wrap-up

Asus ROG laptops have been well received during the last years, mainly because they offered solid performances and a sturdy reliable body for an affordable price tag. Affordable for a gaming laptop of course, when compared to other devices from Alienware, Clevo or Sager. Yes, the Asus notebooks are for sure not the fastest, but for the average gaming enthusiast looking to dump their desktop units for a portable computer, they are just the thing to get.

Teh G74SX is a nice addition to the ROG line, fixing many of the faults of the previous generation

The G74SX 3D continues this story. With it, Asus kept the good parts, improved some of the faulty ones (like the overheating problems, bad screen hinges and cramped keyboard) and upgraded the hardware inside to improve performances. Once again they did not put the most powerful hardware available at the moment in their G74, but I feel like they did enough: this laptop allows you to run smoothly every modern game, even in 3D mode. Yes, in some cases you might have to get details from Very High to only High, but I for one can live with that and rather buy this sub $2000 laptop than pay 50-100% extra for the top notch mobile configurations that can offer improved performances I won’t even need most of the time.

The clip below also contain some of my final conclusions on the review unit:

Pros

• aggressive design
• solid build quality
• redesigned keyboard, trackpad and screen hinge
• redesigned air vents on the back meant to improve air-flow
• powerful hardware and solid performances
• can decently run every modern game on native resolution and with detail towards max
• amazing Full HD 3D display
• doesn’t get too hot or too loud
• Blu-ray combo unit included
• good speakers
• decent battery life for such a monster
• good price for its features

Cons

• heavy and bulky
• our early test unit lacked proper drivers, but that should be solved by the time the device hits the stores
• we encountered some throttling problems when stressing the CPU (inherited from the G73SW)

This is why the Asus G74SX is a laptop we would definitely recommend these days if on the market for a solid gaming laptop.

Of course, there’s one more question: would it be a smart choice to replace your older G73 laptop with this new one? If money are not a concern, than definitely yes. Otherwise, this really isn’t significantly faster than any of the G73s available below, especially if you compare it to the G73SW that is pretty much similar in terms of specs, but has a slightly slower graphic chip. So I’m not saying the G74 is not worth the upgrade, it definitely is a solid machine, just ask yourself if you really need the slightly better performances and if you really want to pay the upgrade fee for them (which can be quite expensive, considering you would have to sell your old unit and then buy a new G74 that will cost hundreds of dollars on top of what you’ll get on your G73).

Related posts:

1. Asus G73SW Gaming Laptop Review – performance and good looks in one package!
2. Asus G53SW – your everyday gaming laptop
3. Asus G74SX vs Asus G73SW/JW/JH – is the new generation a worthy upgrade?

Razer’s Chimaera 5.1 is the successor to the highly appreciated Razer Chimaera gaming headset which came out a while ago. They’ve ditched the “plebian” stereo to get some proper 5.1 surround sound going up with the 5.1 version of the headset.

The manufacturer has been known to provide hardcore gaming solutions for hardcore gamers and the Razer Chimaera 5.1 is here to keep up that tradition. Not only that, but it also comes with plenty of features to keep anyone out there pleased and gaming throughout the night. So let’s take a look at what the latest installment of the Razer Chimaera, the 5.1 version, is bringing to the gaming ring!

Overview

If you thought that the Razer Chimaera 5.1 would work only on the XBOX 360, then you have another thing going, as the 5.1 gaming headset is also working on a PC, but you’ll have to get an RCA to 3.5mm cable, which you’ll be buying separately. If that’s taken care of you can enjoy this gaming headset in said situation as well.

The Razer Chimaera 5.1 not only looks good but it feels solid as well

The first thing to pop in your eyes about the Razer Chimaera 5.1 is the design of the headset. It looks clean, stylish and the glossy plastic used on the wireless unit really looks great. Sure it’s a fingerprint magnet, but this is nothing a little bit of cleaning cannot take care of. The entire setup looks great to kick it off.

Razer’s Chimaera 5.1 also has excellent design in terms of ergonomics. As such, the headband is nice and padded offering excellent support and the charging dock is placed into a small crevasse on top of the headband. The padding is thick enough so that your head won’t be reaching the dock itself.

The headphones themselves are padded as well, however, there is no option of choosing leather for the padding. Don’t think for a second though that the Razer Chimaera 5.1 would be made out of cheap materials, as the sensation of quality is omnipresent. As the cable was dropped here, the volume controls are situated on the two ear pieces.

The left cup comes with the mute button for the microphone (which is muted if it’s sitting in its vertical position) as well as a standby button. The rear part of the left ear piece comes with the volume controls for said microphone. The right cup comes with a button to switch between XBOX LIVE and local team communication and a mute button (if you hold it for a few seconds it pairs it up with the base station).

Pretty straightforward, but that’s what you’d expect from Razer if you knew any of their products. Sound quality is excellent and thanks to the 5.8GHz frequency the wireless works on, you won’t be getting any interference. By setting up local team communication with more Razer Chimaera 5.1 headsets, you get 0 chat lag and the sound quality is also boosted significantly.

Power is provided by 2 AAA rechargeable batteries which are good for roughly 12 hours of gaming after a 3 hour charge. The stand itself has a number of controls, this is where you’ll find the Digital Audio in and out connectors, 3.5mm stereo in and out, RCA right and left connectors.

The buttons on the Razer Chimaera 5.1 stand give you information on the fly. As such there is a logo to show the battery status (red for charging and green for charged), an equalizer to switch between normal, bass and treble modes (green, red and orange to highlight the switch), a logo to show off the if the Razer Chimaera 5.1 is in Dolby Headphone mode and one more to show if the headset is in XBOX LIVE or local team communication mode.

Last but not least, we have a power light to show if the stand is active of not.

If sound quality is a concern the Razer Chimaera 5.1 won't dissapoint

As previously said, the Razer Chimaera 5.1 offers excellent sound quality for both gaming as well as media. Movies or music sound excellently on this headset and you can really feel the punch of the 50mm drivers which deliver excellent sound quality irrespective of the task you throw at it.

Pricing

We’ve seen that the Razer Chimaera 5.1 comes with a ton of nifty features and excellent performance in terms of both gaming and multimedia but the question remains – how much will this set me back? Well, if you buy the Razer Chimaera 5.1 from the US Razer Shop you’ll be paying $199.99, the German, British or French Razer Store will ask for 199.99 Euros for it.

Alternatively you can buy the Razer Chimaera 5.1 from Amazon where you can get it for as low as $165, which is a decent 30+ dollar save on the initial price tag.

Final thoughts

Although pretty expensive considering that you’ll be buying additional cables to hook it up to your PC as well, the Razer Chimaera 5.1 gaming headset delivers excellent performance for a more than reasonable price tag. The high quality materials along with the great sound quality really justify the price tag and the build quality of this thing will keep it working for years.

A good purchase? Definitely! But don’t take my word for it, but rather see what the competition can offer you in terms of 5.1 gaming headsets as you browse through our top picks! Make sure to stay tuned!

Related posts:

1. Razer Megalodon 7.1 gaming headset – hearing is believing!
2. Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 wireless gaming headphones – prepare your ears!
3. Sharkoon XTATIC SR – cross platform epic sound!

The market of gaming peripherals has plenty of options to give you access to some of the coolest features. This time we’ll be focusing on some of the best backlit gaming keyboards, so we’ll look at color options, features and of course gaming performance.

If you’re wondering what illuminated gaming keyboard to go for, we’ll have contestants from a number of manufacturers in order to give you the best overview of what the market can offer you, while at the same time leave some money for maybe a gaming mouse there as well.

Logitech G510 gaming keyboard – it still has it!

The Logitech G510 Gaming Keyboard is quite something!

One of our older contestants in the backlit gaming keyboard sector is the Logitech G510 gaming keyboard. We all came to love Logitech products for their high build quality as well as their features, so let’s run quickly over those.

The Logitech G510 is a gaming keyboard with backlight so it fits just nicely into our small roundup. The G510 is pretty big and bulky, but that’s because of the added functionality. You get 18 macro buttons on the left side. These can be ordered into 3 different profiles, giving you access to a total of 54 additional actions.

There’s also a record macro function and multimedia controls and the Logitech G510 doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance either, with the keys having excellent tactile feedback and a good solid feel to them. Pricing for the Logitech G510 is $79.99 on Amazon while the Logitech Store asks for 119 Euros for it or $119.99 depending on the region you live in.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate – backlit gaming keyboard with a click!

The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate looks great at night

Razer’s lineup of gaming peripherals has always been excellent and this is the same situation with the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate backlit gaming keyboard. The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate has been a favorite of mine for a while so let’s get a quick look at it.

The BlackWidow comes with the Cherry MX Blue mechanical key switches which offer both tactile and auditory feedback, so they are great even for typing. The backlight illumination is handled via individual LEDs built into every single key switch, making the lightning of the keyboard top of the notch. You also get 5 macro buttons on the left hand side as well as 1000Hz polling and anti-ghosting.

Razer’s BlackWidow Ultimate backlit gaming keyboard will fetch a pretty hefty price as you can buy the gaming keyboard for $120 on Amazon with the keyboard being currently unavailable on the Razer Store, but pricing for it there was around the $129 mark for the North American store or 129 Euros for those in Europe.

Cyborg V.5 Gaming Keyboard – cyborgs game as well!

Simple yet efficient - the Cyborg V5 Gaming Keyboard

Our next illuminated gaming keyboard comes in the shape of the Cyborg V.5 gaming keyboard. Cyborg’s products always distinguished themselves with some pretty edgy design and the V.5 seems rather calm in that regard, yet don’t take this backlit gaming keyboard lightly!

The Cyborg V.5 gaming keyboard comes with backlight illumination through the laser etched keys. Unlike some of the other gaming keyboards in our small line-up, the V.5 doesn’t have multiple color schemes as it prefers red. This is because the color red itself will not affect your eyes in the dark (you might’ve seen special forces use red flashlights for the same reason).

The build quality is top of the line and the keyboard itself manages to really shine (as expected from a backlit gaming keyboard ). Pricing wise, the Cyborg V.5 gaming keyboard can be purchased from Amazon for $38 or the manufacturer’s webpage for $59.99 or 44.99 GBP for those in the UK.

Razer Lycosa backlit gaming keyboard – you’re not afraid of spiders are you?

The Razer Lycosa is sure a sight to behold!

You have to give it to Razer as they’ve managed to sneak in another gaming keyboard in this small list. But just like other manufacturers which manage to sneak more products in the list (yes Asus I’m looking at you!), Razer provides excellent quality and performance. I’m proud to introduce the Razer Lycosa!

Razer’s Lycosa comes with some pretty nifty features. As such you get backlight illumination on the keyboard, with the media controls being arranged in the top right side of the keyboard. This is a touch sensitive area, so that works nicely with the rest of the keyboard. Razer also blessed the Lycosa with 1000Hz ultrapolling along with anti-ghosting capabilities.

You’ll also find a non-slip rubber finish to the keys themselves and the Razer Lycosa can store up to 10 different software profiles! Pricing for the Razer Lycosa is around the $70 mark on Amazon and if you head over to the Razer Store you’ll be paying $79.99 for it in the US shop. That’s pretty good value for money when thinking of all the features.

Logitech G110 gaming keyboard – I’d like some lights with my gaming please

Logitech's G110 Gaming Keyboard stays nicely in line with the rest of the G-Series

After seeing another Logitech in our list (they just keep popping up!) the Logitech G110 decided that it would be time to join in on the party. This illuminated gaming keyboard comes with a long tradition behind it, the G-Series from Logitech delivering some great products over the years.

Logitech’s G110 gaming keyboard comes with a few solid features which both gamers and day-to-day users will appreciated. As such, the Logitech G110 is backlit, with the user having the ability to change between different color schemes. Just like most G-Series keyboards, the G110 comes with 12 programmable macro buttons, 3 different profiles and multimedia controls.

The overall feel the Logitech G110 gives is that of quality and that shows in every little aspect of this backlit gaming keyboard. Pricing for it is at $55 on Amazon and if you head over to the US Logitech Store you could pick it up for $79.99, the UK variant of the store asks for 69.99GBP and the rest of Europe will have to come up with 79.99 Euros.

Logitech G19 gaming keyboard – Logitech assault!

The backlit and LCD powered Logitech G19 looks great

After having just sneaked in another backlit gaming keyboard, Logitech is doing some “harassment” again with the Logitech G19 gaming keyboard. Unlike the rest of the lineup, the G19 comes with so many features that I am finding it hard to narrow things down a bit.

The first thing which pops out about the Logitech G19 is the LCD display panel with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, which really grabs anyone’s attention. There are also 12 macro buttons, 3 different profiles, backlight illumination and a plethora of multimedia and display controls on the keyboard. Overall, pretty much anything you could think of was fitted into the keyboard.

However, the Logitech G19 gaming keyboard is priced at $199.99 on the manufacturer’s website while Amazon pricing for the G19 is at $135. Not exactly cheap in any of the two variants, yet there’s plenty of “extra” jammed into it to justify the price tag.

Microsoft SideWinder X6 keyboard – which side do you prefer?

Microsoft's Sidewinder X6 has a lot of tricks up its sleeve

The Dark Side (he replied in a deep voice)! The Microsoft SideWinder X6 gaming keyboard is the first backlit gaming keyboard from the company in this list, so it must’ve done something right to get up here and noticed right?

The first thing which pops about the Microsoft SideWinder X6 is the switchable key pad which can be connected either to the right side of the keyboard or the left side of it. There’s a two-color adjustable backlighting dial, macro keys, a quick mode switching  and in-game macro record button. Whatever you need, the Microsoft SideWinder X6 has it packed into itself.

The SideWinder X6 goes for $79.95 on the company’s webstore, while Amazon is offering up the Microsoft SideWinder X6 for $42, making it pretty good value for money.

Thermaltake Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER PRO – could I have a vent on my keyboard please?

Thermaltake's Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER PRO has something most keyboards don't!

It pretty sure that it happened to you as well and more than once. You’re minding your own gaming and your hands are sweating like there’s no tomorrow. Thermaltake took care of that annoyance with the Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER PRO gaming keyboard.

The Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER PRO comes with “Dragon-Red” key backlighting offering 6 multimedia keys, 10 macro keys which can easily be customized and a lifespan of 10 million keystrokes. There’s also a 6000 RPM Tt Breeze Hand Cooling fan with a life expectancy of 50000 hours. If you want a backlit keyboard and a fan the Tt eSPORT CHALLENGER PRO is the only one offering up both!

Thermaltake’s Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER PRO can be purchased from Amazon and it will set you back a mere $56.99 which is good value for money if we are to consider what competitors are throwing in this market.

SteelSeries Merc Stealth gaming keyboard – are you hidden yet?

The looks of the Steelseries Merc Stealth really draw attention

SteelSeries always manages to impress me with all their products as they are obviously aimed at the hardcore and professional gaming scene. Their SteelSeries Merc Stealth backlit gaming keyboard is another prime example of the company’s focus on hardcore gamers.

The SteelSeries Merc comes with a specially design gaming area on the left side of the keyboard which should massively increase your gaming performance in FPS as well as RTS titles. With a nice arrangement, which does take a little while to get used to, the SteelSeries Merc can generate some excellent results. The backlight illumination should keep you from stumbling across the keyboard looking for that essential reload button while the rubber coating will keep your fingers ON the keyboard.

If pricing is an issue for you, then I’m sure that you will be glad to hear that the SteeSeries Merc Stealth is going for $89.99 on the SteelSeries US Store while the International Store is offering it up for 63.99 Euros. You can buy the SteelSeries Merc from Amazon for $79, so no big save there.

Razer Anansi – the people want backlit keys and macros!

The Razer Anansi is the perfect choice for any MMO player

The people have spoken and that shows with the Razer Anansi backlit gaming keyboard. Just like the manufacturer’s Razer Naga gaming mouse, the Anansi is focusing more on the MMO player, but there are plenty of functions to make the keyboard draw any crow in.

First of all the Razer Anansi comes with a few modifier keys arranged at the bottom of the keyboard which allow you to have access to 7 times more commands or abilities over the stock 12 ability keys found in MMOs. The Razer Anansi also comes with beautiful backlighting offering great visibility in the worst of conditions. Not only that, but you can also store up to 20 different profiles and the opportunity to remap over 100 keys thanks to the on-the-fly macro recording.

The Razer Anansi price tag is at $99 from the US Razer Store and 99 Euros for the European Razer Store. Alternatively you can pick up the Razer Anansi illuminated gaming keyboard from Amazon for $83, so the choice is yours.

Conclusion

If you like to game late into the night, like any gamer with some self-respect, then a backlit gaming keyboard is indeed an investment which you should consider. Irrespective of the title which you spend more time in, the market has something for everyone out there.

There are variants focused on your everyday hardcore FPS player, to the other side of the spectrum with some excellent solutions aimed at MMO players as well. No matter what backlit gaming keyboard you might choose for yourself, I can only hope that this article helped you a little bit in finding the one made for you!

Related posts:

1. Logitech Modern Warfare 3 gaming mouse and keyboard are out!
2. Logitech G110 gaming keyboard review – no display, all keyboard!
3. Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard – things got more compact!