![NewsLinks - Powered by NZCity](/news/nimages/tit-newslinks.gif)
Search results for 'Technology' - Page: 3
| PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)While computer monitors seem to be more or less the same once you get past the size and the ports, that’s not really true. Even the most common type, the humble LCD, has a lot of sub-types. And while the differences between them are subtle, they can vary greatly in how they perform and how you use them.
The simple idea of a monitor hasn’t changed a lot since we all moved from cathode ray tubes (CRT) — the big, old-fashioned gray boxes that some of you are too young to remember seeing in real life — to relatively tiny liquid crystal displays (LCD). LCDs have been around for decades, first being paired with simple computer displays way back in the 1970s.
The physics of how they work are fascinating, complex, and frankly too much to cover in an article you probably Googled just to figure out something on a spec sheet. I’m going do my best to bottom-line the most common variants, and why you should know and care about them. I’ll be linking to the relevant Wikipedia articles if you want to do some deep dives on the actual physics behind these displays.
There are three major types of LCD panels used in computer monitors, including the screens built into laptops. These are twisted nematic field effect (TN), in-plane switching (IPS), and vertical alignment (VA).
Further reading: The best monitors
TN monitors
Twisted nematic LCDs are the oldest type of LCD still in use, with technology iterated since the original digital watch designs decades ago. The name comes from the fact that the molecules of liquid crystal that become electrified are literally twisted by 90 degrees between two glass plates.
Light shines through the liquid crystals and polarization filters, activating the pixel on the screen. Red, blue, and green pixels are combined in a sub-pixel array, and combined at variable brightness to create the desired pixel color.
In a TN panel, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees in their off state (left) between substrates.
In a TN panel, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees in their off state (left) between substrates.
Wikimedia Commons
In a TN panel, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted by 90 degrees in their off state (left) between substrates.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
As an older and simpler technology, TN panels are generally reserved for budget monitors these days. TN panels are some of the cheapest on the market (if you can even find them), with poorer color accuracy, lower brightness, and slower refresh rates than the alternatives. Most dramatically, TN panels have notably poor viewing angles — move to either side of a TN screen, and the color will begin to distort.
This budget Dell monitor uses a TN panel, but it’s smaller, slower, and darker than most alternatives.
This budget Dell monitor uses a TN panel, but it’s smaller, slower, and darker than most alternatives.
Dell
This budget Dell monitor uses a TN panel, but it’s smaller, slower, and darker than most alternatives.
Dell
Dell
TN panels aren’t bad, per se, and they’re definite improvements on using a CRT. They also have surprisingly fast response times (the time between when the electrical signals for the image are sent to the monitor and when the image is displayed). But unless you’re deliberately looking for a bargain with an older monitor, you really shouldn’t be considering it for a new purchase.
IPS monitors
IPS stands for in-plane switching, referring to the fact that the molecules of liquid crystal are aligned parallel to the glass on either side, even when powered on. Once again, the reasons for this (and why it’s better than the crystal being twisted) are extremely complex.
But the benefit for consumers is that IPS monitors have fantastic color reproduction, allowing at least some of them to be incredibly accurate to true-life color. Some high-quality IPS monitors can cover 100 percent of the Digital Camera Initiative color space (DCI-P3).
Dell’s Ultrasharp line usually uses IPS panels for high color accuracy.
Dell’s Ultrasharp line usually uses IPS panels for high color accuracy. Dell
Dell’s Ultrasharp line usually uses IPS panels for high color accuracy. Dell
Dell
That means that if you’re working with graphics that will appear on anything professional, including a website, photograph, television broadcast, or signage, you want an IPS-LCD monitor instead of any of the alternatives. Since I do a lot of work in Photoshop for this job, I use IPS-LCD monitors at my desk. With IPS and VA monitors side by side, I can spot the latter’s lack of white balance even at a glance.
Further reading: The best gaming monitors
Here’s a photo of a close-up color grid taken by a Reddit user showing the color and brightness of IPS versus VA and TN in a relative visualization. Colors are brighter and more consistent on IPS with better viewing angles, which should be clear no matter what screen you’re actually looking at right now.
Reddit user /u/RampageIV
Reddit user /u/RampageIV
Reddit user /u/RampageIV
The downsides to IPS screens are that they’re the most expensive LCDs to make, pricier than both TN and VA, and they’re not as fast as VA in terms of refresh rates (expressed in hertz, starting at 60hz). So IPS isn’t great for gaming or anything dealing with high-speed animations, at least most of the time. It also has relatively slow response times, meaning a relatively slow rate between clicking your mouse and seeing the result on the screen.
This response time is still extremely fast in relative human terms — 5 to 10 milliseconds for typical panels — but it’s far slower than other LCD panel types, which can make a big difference for gamers. There are exceptions to this — see below.
VA monitors
If you find a monitor for less than a couple of hundred dollars, odds are excellent that you’re looking at a VA screen. These vertical alignment panels (with liquid crystals perpendicularly aligned to the substrate) are inexpensive and bright, so they’re great for most basic uses.
VA panels are often used in budget and mid-range monitors.
VA panels are often used in budget and mid-range monitors.
Matt Smith/Foundry
VA panels are often used in budget and mid-range monitors.
Matt Smith/Foundry
Matt Smith/Foundry
In addition to being bright, they’re also fast, which makes them ideal for gamers who want high refresh rates (expressed in hertz, the number of times the screen redraws its image per second). 120Hz or 144Hz is far more common with a VA monitor, with up to 175Hz being fairly easy to find even at lower prices. This makes them especially good for gaming.
High-refresh VA panels are also popular for gaming monitors and laptops.
High-refresh VA panels are also popular for gaming monitors and laptops.MSI
High-refresh VA panels are also popular for gaming monitors and laptops.MSI
MSI
While better than TN panels in terms of both brightness and viewing angle, and far faster than IPS panels, VA panels still aren’t as good as IPS for color accuracy or consistency. That’s a relative degree, of course — for most applications the colors are fine, especially if you like high saturation. But VA panels generally aren’t good enough for professional photo editing or video production.
The best of both worlds — fast IPS
What if you need the color accuracy of an IPS monitor, but you still want to do some gaming with higher refresh rates? Well you can — if you’re willing to spend a little more. Over the last few years monitor manufacturers have improved the refresh rates of IPS monitors, making them on par with budget and mid-range VA monitors.
These “fast IPS” screens offer much higher refresh rates than standard IPS, and some are among the fastest on the market. They’re also available in large sizes popular with gamers. But you will be paying a premium for a high-quality, high-speed panel, and that speed probably won’t be as fast as a VA design in the same price range. Anyone who needs “esports”-caliber speed probably won’t be satisfied.
This Alienware monitor has an IPS panel with a 500Hz refresh rate…but it’s also $650 for a 25-inch display.
This Alienware monitor has an IPS panel with a 500Hz refresh rate…but it’s also $650 for a 25-inch display. Matt Smith
This Alienware monitor has an IPS panel with a 500Hz refresh rate…but it’s also $650 for a 25-inch display. Matt Smith
Matt Smith
For my uses — a desktop setup that needs constant photo work in the day and the occasional high-speed game at night — a fast IPS screen is ideal.
Other types of monitor panels
There are many variations of the tech above that get into finer technical degrees, but there are a few others you might want to know about too.
OLED
“Organic Light-Emitting Diode” panels are considered some of the best on the market at the moment — possibly the best for some applications. OLED screens are already widespread on phones and wearables, and they’re gaining traction in high-end TVs and tablets, too.
OLED panels are extremely vibrant and have great contrast, but come at a high price.
OLED panels are extremely vibrant and have great contrast, but come at a high price. Matthew Smith / Foundry
OLED panels are extremely vibrant and have great contrast, but come at a high price. Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
OLEDs use a simpler structure than conventional LCDs, with a diode that emits light directly (instead of being backlit with a separate component) and doesn’t need a liquid crystal layer. The biggest advantage there is that when an OLED pixel is off, it’s completely off, with no backlight illuminating it even partially.
This gives OLED panels incredible contrast with “perfect” black levels, in addition to vibrant and accurate colors. They can also be made very speedy, with 240Hz being common.
So why not go with OLED all the way? Because despite being mechanically simple, large OLED displays are still very expensive, being produced in small numbers at monitor sizes. Prices are dropping, but at the time of writing an OLED monitor will still be double or triple the price of a similarly equipped LCD panel of any kind. Because of the sub-pixel layout on OLEDs, they’re also not great for reading text for extended periods of time.
Quantum Dot LEDs
This tech is sometimes shortened to QLED (not to be confused with OLED, though some companies might like you to!). Quantum dot screens are fundamentally similar to standard LCD panels, but they use incredibly tiny light-emitting particles as a backlight instead of the old cathode tubes or an array of LEDs.
This allows for much smaller lighting zones for an LCD panel, resulting in better contrast and brightness. The contrast of a high-quality quantum dot LED screen can get close to that of a “perfect” contrast OLED panel, but with more brightness and (sometimes) far lower cost.
MiniLED and MicroLED
Both of these technologies are essentially the same, with smaller and smaller light-emitting diodes replacing older and clunkier backlighting methods. Again, the advantage is that with a larger array of smaller LEDs being used to light up the picture, the brightness and contrast can be more finely and accurately controlled.
MiniLED and microLED panels use smaller, more closely-spaced backlights to create more precise zones of brightness and contrast.
MiniLED and microLED panels use smaller, more closely-spaced backlights to create more precise zones of brightness and contrast.
TCL
MiniLED and microLED panels use smaller, more closely-spaced backlights to create more precise zones of brightness and contrast.
TCL
TCL
MiniLED and MicroLED monitors are both variations of conventional LCD technology, offering a better picture while still not being quite as eye-popping as OLED. Again, you’ll generally find them at much lower prices.
eInk and ePaper
These monitors are extremely rare, expensive, and often only available in black and white. They’re also small compared to LCDs, and slow, with refresh rates at a fraction of even the slowest conventional screens.
So why would anyone want one? Because they’re easy on the eyes. And that’s not a euphemism, it’s literally true. With no backlight, and high contrast on a paper-like background, eInk and ePaper displays can let you read small text for hours in comfort. This is what makes eReaders like the Kindle so popular.
eInk and ePaper monitors are wonderful for reading, but not much else, and they’re extremely expensive.
eInk and ePaper monitors are wonderful for reading, but not much else, and they’re extremely expensive.
Boox
eInk and ePaper monitors are wonderful for reading, but not much else, and they’re extremely expensive.
Boox
Boox
Even the ones with an integrated light are front-lit (like really old phones or the original Game Boy), so the light is bouncing off the surface of the screen and isn’t shining directly into your eyes.
But at a price even higher than OLEDs, and with super-slow speeds that can make even browsing the web a bit of a chore, eInk displays are only useful if you’re reading text for hours at a time. They simply aren’t practical for a primary monitor in an all-around capacity.
Which monitor should you buy?
If all that stuff is making your head spin, or you don’t want to read any more spec sheets, you should check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best computer monitors. It’s constantly updated with the best and latest picks for gaming monitors, work monitors, monitors on a budget, ultrawide and large-format monitors, and more.
Monitors Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | ITBrief - 19 Jun (ITBrief)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) The surface mount technology market is set to soar, driven by advances in electronics, healthcare, telecom, and automotive sectors. Read...Newslink ©2024 to ITBrief | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)Charging your phone shouldn’t be so complicated—and it doesn’t have to be if you just get the Anker 511 Nano 3 GaN charger. Now that it’s $13 at Amazon, down from its original price of $23, there’s never been a better time to snag one of these.
We’ve done a deep-dive analysis of the secret to buying the best iPhone 15 USB-C charger, and our own Gordon Ung concluded: “Just buy this Anker 511 GaN charger that’s tiny and can charge your phone at its maximum rate. I’m a big fan of [it] … and have personally purchased at least four of them for personal use and ‘loans’ to family members.”
Gordon further explains that the Anker 511 Nano 3 is the size of Apple’s original 5-watt USB-A charger but can supply up to 30 watts over USB-C. Plus, it has those folding prongs that make it easy to pack away and prevent it from accidentally breaking.
The Anker 511 Nano 3 harnesses the power of GaN technology, which means it can deliver high-speed charging in an ultra-compact form.
And while this is our absolute favorite charger for iPhones, it’s also really good for other devices, including laptops, Android phones, tablets, and almost anything else you’d need to charge.
It’s a clear winner, no contest. And given that the Anker 511 Nano 3 GaN charger is only $13 right now, you owe it to yourself to grab one of these while it’s still available at its best price.
The Anker 511 Nano 3 GaN charger is 43% offGet it on Amazon now
Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phone Chargers Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsWell designed, compactUnique screen-lock button and iconsKeeps itself coolAttractive priceCan power three displaysConsSubpar performanceThree 4K displays only work at 30HzDoesn’t pass much power to a laptopOur VerdictThe Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station includes some quirks you might just love, but its subpar performance hurts its chances.
Best Prices Today: Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station
Retailer
Price
$199.99
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station (BS-OH137) doesn’t seem like the best idea: a generic USB-C docking station capable of three 4K displays isn’t really feasible on paper. In the real world it’s a more practical solution than you might think, but I still wouldn’t advise pushing this dock to its limits.
Put simply, the Basus Spacemate offers the possibility of connecting three 4K displays at 4K resolution, but only at 30Hz apiece. That’s not especially comfortable to work with for long periods, so it’s probably better to think of this dock as a more conventional USB-C dock capable of connecting to just two 4K displays, provided that you have the right hardware. A few interesting gimmicks — a lock-screen button, light-up port icons, and a sticky-pad stand — add some wrinkles.
This is another dock that use Display Stream Compression (DSC), a technology found in HDMI 2.1-capable devices like laptops with Nvidia GeForce 3000-series discrete GPUs but also modern hardware like Intel 13th-gen Core chips and above. It’s visually lossless, which means that you won’t notice the compression algorithms taking effect. If your laptop is DSC-enabled, you’ll be able to connect three 4K displays at 30Hz, or two at 60Hz; if you don’t have DSC, you’ll be able to connect two 4K displays at 30Hz or one at 60Hz.
This review informs our list of the best USB-C hubs and dongles.
Display issues aside, this docking station has some quirks.
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station, from the front. The sticker decal (on in this photo) indicates the indicator lights. A USB-C and USB-A port offer connectivity.
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station, from the front. The sticker decal (on in this photo) indicates the indicator lights. A USB-C and USB-A port offer connectivity.Mark Hachman / IDG
The Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station, from the front. The sticker decal (on in this photo) indicates the indicator lights. A USB-C and USB-A port offer connectivity.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Physically, this is a rather nice little dock; it stands 4.5 inches high, sitting square with about 2.5 inches on a side. It has a braided USB-C cord built in, which measures about 2.5 feet along. I think it’s a little too big to tuck into your backpack, but you might feel differently. This dock does not include a power brick, so your laptop’s charger can be plugged into an input port, accepting up to 100W.
Some docks come with a stand; the Baseus dock comes with a sticky bottom that’s exposed by peeling back a layer. But I don’t even think that it’s necessary, as the dock remains stable without it. Overall, this dock feels well made, and I never noticed any problems with the aluminum chassis warming under load.
Ports include a 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C port on the front of the dock; neither supports charging. On the rear, you have the choice of using either HDMI or DisplayPort 1.4 for your first connection, then HDMI and DisplayPort, for your second and third display connections. On the rear you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, Gigabit Ethernet, and a pair of USB-A ports, very faintly labeled to identify one port at 480Mbps for a legacy mouse, and the other at 10Gbps.
When on, the top indicator light signals power and also locks your PC’s screen when tapped. The other icons signal which devices are connected.
When on, the top indicator light signals power and also locks your PC’s screen when tapped. The other icons signal which devices are connected.Mark Hachman / IDG
When on, the top indicator light signals power and also locks your PC’s screen when tapped. The other icons signal which devices are connected.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
For some reason, Baseus thought that the dock needed a button to lock your screen. A bright icon on the top of the dock shows that the dock is plugged in. When tapped, it performs the same function as the Win+L shortcut does.
The dock also includes several LEDs on the front of the dock to indicate that you’ve plugged devices into various ports, such as a cable that’s connected to the dock’s HDMI and DisplayPort ports. Again, this seems like over-engineering, though Baseus says that the LEDs will indicate if a device is inserted incorrectly.
Amazon’s web page listing shows a small number of reviews, many dissatisfied with the product’s stability. On the first laptop I tried, I could only get the second display to connect at 1440p, rather than 4K60. But that wasn’t the case on the small cadre of other testing laptops I plugged in, though I had to set the displays to the proper resolutions. That’s expected, however. I didn’t see any dramatic graphics glitches or instability. I did see a bit of jerkiness while playing a 2D game, however.
The rear of the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station offers a headphone jack, 1Gbps Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C power input plug, and then the mix of DisplayPort and HDMI video connections.
The rear of the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station offers a headphone jack, 1Gbps Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C power input plug, and then the mix of DisplayPort and HDMI video connections.Mark Hachman / IDG
The rear of the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 docking station offers a headphone jack, 1Gbps Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C power input plug, and then the mix of DisplayPort and HDMI video connections.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 Docking Station performance
I tend to evaluate stability over the course of about two days, using the dock for everyday office work, after-hours play, as well as the more formalized performance testing. I’ll sometimes use the dock even longer than that, just to cement my impressions. Again, I didn’t see any of the stability issues some consumers complained about. While this dock will drive three displays, however, I typically used it in a two-display configuration for comfort’s sake.
Because this dock isn’t powered (and the ports aren’t designed for charging) I didn’t bother testing that aspect of the dock’s performance. The dock transferred only 72W of power maximum to my laptop, however, which is less than what I would expect. I’m not sure the dock’s indicator lights are sucking up that much power, but that would be the likely culprit. Your laptop may complain that it’s not receiving enough power.
The dock’s performance was much slower than expected, streaming excepted; there, the Baseus dock dropped just 3 out of just over 10,000 test frames. That’s excellent. But the dock’s storage performance was just 113.2MB/s, with a score of 737; a rival USB-C hub from Dockcase transferred data at 138.9MB/s, producing a score of 903. Transferring data via copying files was also about 20MB/s slower than some of its rivals.
Baseus definitely put some thought into the design of its compact little docking station, and I appreciate that. However, the added features do unfortunately feel superfluous, and the performance is subpar. I think there are better alternatives in our list of the best USB-C hubs and dongles.
Computer Accessories, Docks and Hubs Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)Cloud storage is cool and all, but what are you going to do when your internet is down? Or your account gets hacked? Or your cloud service shuts down and leaves you high and dry?
Relying on cloud storage is risky, which is why you should also have a physical drive—ideally one that’s portable, with tons of space, that you can take with you on the go as needed.
Well, one of our favorite options just fell to its best price ever: the 4TB version of Samsung’s T7 portable SSD is on sale for $300, a significant drop from its usual $480 (38% off).
The Samsung T7 is designed for creators, photographers, and anyone who has lots of media. With PCIe NVMe technology, this SSD has lightning-fast read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s. It’s fast enough to record 4K 60fps videos directly to the drive.
With a massive 4TB capacity, the Samsung T7 can store everything from “fat” work files to 4K videos to game data for massive AAA games. The T7 allows you to organize all your important files on one compact device that fits easily in your pocket or bag.
And yes, it’s seriously compact. At just 3.3 inches long by 2.2 inches wide and 0.3 inches thick, with a feather weight of 2.5 ounces, this thing is almost invisible and you’ll forget you even have it on you.
Samsung’s T7 SSD is built out of solid aluminum, providing shock resistance and fall protection up to six feet. Whether you accidentally drop it or it gets tossed around inside a bag, you can trust the T7 to withstand those bumps along the way.
Portable SSDs with 4TB capacity don’t come cheap, but the Samsung T7 is one of the best and it’s absolutely worth it for $300. If you want to save some cash, the other capacity options are also on sale:
Samsung T7 (4TB) — $300 (was $480, 38% off)
Samsung T7 (2TB) — $170 (was $270, 37% off)
Samsung T7 (1TB) — $117 (was $160, 27% off)
This is a limited-time deal and it’s going to go fast, so don’t miss this chance to grab this top-tier portable SSD.
Save $180 on the 4TB Samsung T7 nowBuy it on Amazon
Computer Storage Devices Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 19 Jun (PC World)If your existing printer suddenly gives up the ghost and can no longer be repaired, a replacement is usually needed quickly. After all, many people can’t manage without an output device — not in the family and certainly not in the home office or small office. It’s not a good idea to jump straight to the next best printer offer, no matter how attractive the price of the device may seem.
It is much better to ask yourself a few questions about your future printer model before making a purchase. The more precise your answers are, the better the output device will ultimately suit your application scenario.
It’s worth the effort when you consider that a well-chosen printer will usually serve you for several years without complaint.
The focus here is not so much on output quality. After all, there is no such thing as a really bad printer these days. The printing units in all printer classes are too sophisticated for that. Bad purchases are more likely to be caused by the wrong choice of printing technology, a lack of features or excessive follow-up costs.
What do you need: Printer or multifunctional device?
The first decision before buying a printer is simple:
Do you only want to print or should the new purchase also be able to make copies and scans?
In the first case, a pure printer (single function) will suffice. In the second case, you should focus on a multifunction device. Then ask yourself whether you need a fax or not. This allows you to quickly rule out certain device series.
Very inexpensive combination models usually only have a rudimentary control panel with small displays — as here on the HP Deskjet 2820e. They often prove to be impractical, as you have to perform most actions using buttons without labelling.
Very inexpensive combination models usually only have a rudimentary control panel with small displays — as here on the HP Deskjet 2820e. They often prove to be impractical, as you have to perform most actions using buttons without labelling. HP
Very inexpensive combination models usually only have a rudimentary control panel with small displays — as here on the HP Deskjet 2820e. They often prove to be impractical, as you have to perform most actions using buttons without labelling. HP
HP
You need to be aware of this: A multifunction device gains in size the more functions are integrated. Almost all models with a fax function also have a built-in automatic document feeder (ADF), which increases the height of the device. If there is enough space at the planned installation site, you can of course also consider a model with an ADF but without a fax.
If you decide in favor of a multifunctional device, the control panel is an important point. Its importance is often underestimated. Wrongly so, as it makes numerous tasks besides copying — such as connecting to the WLAN or searching for problems — much easier.
On the other hand, a device with a very small display or pure button operation often turns out to be cumbersome and time-consuming to use. Over time, you will usually prefer to carry out certain monitoring and control activities via an app on the mobile device or using a driver or help tool on the PC.
On the other hand, large touch displays are reflected in a higher purchase price. That’s why entry-level multifunction devices only have text displays, from which you often can’t read much more than the number of copies.
Which is better: Inkjet or laser printing technology?
Whether a printer with inkjet or laser technology is best for you depends on the main purpose of use.
A printer for your workplace, which is essentially intended to print invoices on company paper or typesets, does not need to be able to display bright colors, but must be able to print texts very clearly and legibly. In this case, a black and white laser printer is the right choice. Small single-function devices are available from as little as $100 — such as the Pantum Laser Printer.
A monochrome printer is out of the question for a family printer. Color printing is a must here, as the tasks are too varied. After all, the device should be able to fulfil the printing needs of all users. Both a color laser model and an inkjet device can do this. As the document authenticity of a color laser printer is probably not important in the family, an inkjet printer is the best solution.
Pure black and white printers, such as the Brother HL-L2400DWE shown here, are ideal if color is not important but texts need to be crystal clear on paper. As compact workplace devices, they start at a good $100.
Pure black and white printers, such as the Brother HL-L2400DWE shown here, are ideal if color is not important but texts need to be crystal clear on paper. As compact workplace devices, they start at a good $100. Brother
Pure black and white printers, such as the Brother HL-L2400DWE shown here, are ideal if color is not important but texts need to be crystal clear on paper. As compact workplace devices, they start at a good $100. Brother
Brother
Once you have come this far in your decision-making process, you should also consider how high your throughput will be. This is not an easy question to answer — especially if your focus is on private printing.
If you expect or know that the printer will be in use several times a week and will have to produce multiple copies, this already speaks in favor of higher usage.
And the more potential users there are, the higher the expected number of printed pages. This increases the utilization of the device. Small entry-level printers are quickly overwhelmed here. It is best to choose a mid-range inkjet model.
For multifunction devices, the price gives a rough indication: An all-round cartridge model should cost over $100. If you’re looking for a multifunction printer with a tank system, you can expect to pay around double that amount.
While laser printers are the best at printing text, inkjet devices are unbeatably flexible when it comes to handling different print materials. In addition, only inkjet printers can print photos without borders.
While laser printers are the best at printing text, inkjet devices are unbeatably flexible when it comes to handling different print materials. In addition, only inkjet printers can print photos without borders.
IDG
While laser printers are the best at printing text, inkjet devices are unbeatably flexible when it comes to handling different print materials. In addition, only inkjet printers can print photos without borders.
IDG
IDG
In some respects, inkjet technology clearly beats laser printing: Only an inkjet device can print with more than the four standard print colors blue, red, yellow and black. With all-round devices, you will therefore often find the black cartridge in two versions — one as text black and one as photo black. The former increases the quality of text printing, while the latter benefits image printing.
In addition, only an inkjet printer can print a photo without borders. A laser printer always leaves a white border.
The inkjet printer is also ahead when it comes to the use of materials. For example, it can handle photo papers that imitate the classic photo print thanks to their multiple coating. When printed, these papers not only look like photos, but also feel like them.
How can follow-up costs be calculated in advance?
When it comes to price, buying the device is not enough, as every printout costs money. It is therefore useful to know the follow-up costs for ink or toner before you buy.
With a little research, you can at least roughly estimate the cost per page. This is because the manufacturers must specify a mileage in A4 pages for the ink cartridges and toner cartridges. In both cases, the range values are subject to ISO standards.
If you have now set your sights on a particular printer model, take the time to find the right replacement cartridges or toner cartridges. The text page is quickly calculated as you only need to divide the price (in cents) for the black color by the number of pages. Inexpensive devices should cost between 1 and 3 cents for a black and white page.
To estimate the color page price, calculate the sum of the cartridge prices of all available colors. In addition to blue, red, and yellow, this also includes any additional colors for inkjet printers. Divide these in turn by the page yields. However, the mileage can also differ depending on the color. You then need to calculate the values for each color individually and add the results together at the end to get an estimate of the color page price.
If the calculated result is less than 10 cents, the color page costs are low. Anything above this limit tends to be expensive.
Further reading: 6 printer tricks that solve problems and save energy
Notes: If you want to calculate the color page in a more practical way, add up the results of the black and white and color pages. Even with the color page, which is used for ISO ink measurement, there is a text component for which most printers use black ink.
We must also contradict the widespread opinion that the page prices of laser devices are always cheaper than those of inkjet printers. In addition to the toner cartridges, other consumable components can be added depending on the model — such as developer units or transfer ribbons. These are considerably more expensive than possible wearing parts on inkjet printers, such as the ink waste container. Not to mention the electricity costs, which are much higher for laser devices than for inkjet models.
Is an ink subscription worth it?
If you print and copy regularly but don’t want to deal with ink ranges and cartridge replacement, you can opt for an ink subscription model. This form of replenishment is particularly recommended if you want a low-cost printer and only have a low printing requirement.
With this combination, you can cleverly compensate for the disadvantage of small cartridges with little content and the resulting high follow-up costs.
HP is a pioneer in ink subscriptions with Instant Ink. Several printer manufacturers now offer a comparable service. Brother calls it Refresh, Canon Pixma Print Plan and Epson ReadyPrint .
What they have in common: They offer a subscription based on a certain number of printed pages. Unused pages can be carried over to the following month and additional printed pages cost extra.
Some of the offers differ in terms of quotas and tariffs. They also usually only apply to certain printer series. You should therefore check whether your desired device is included before making a purchase.
Which equipment is worthwhile in the long term?
Laser printers in particular — such as the HP Laserjet M234xx series — are available in different configurations. They are labelled with letters in the product name. If you need a WLAN connection, look out for a small “w”.
Laser printers in particular — such as the HP Laserjet M234xx series — are available in different configurations. They are labelled with letters in the product name. If you need a WLAN connection, look out for a small “w”. HP
Laser printers in particular — such as the HP Laserjet M234xx series — are available in different configurations. They are labelled with letters in the product name. If you need a WLAN connection, look out for a small “w”. HP
HP
Some features only become particularly worthwhile over time. These include the automatic duplex printing unit. It allows you to save paper with every multi-page document. This is good for your wallet and also for the environment. With a multifunction device, make sure that the automatic duplex function can also be used for copying.
If you often handle several print formats or paper types, then a second paper feed is an investment that you will really appreciate after a while. Even frequent printers can increase the total supply with an additional tray and save frequent paper reloading.
Printers are not always in the ideal place. For this reason alone, a Wi-Fi connection is worthwhile. It is also automatically included with most inkjet models for the home or home office.
The situation is still different with laser printers. As these are often intended for office environments, the models are available in different versions. The Wi-Fi connection is usually labelled with a “w” in the product name, as is the case with the HP Laserjet M234dwe.
What should I know about print speed?
Even with ink tank printers, not every model is fast at processing print jobs, although the high ink supply might suggest this. Especially with compact entry-level devices for home use, such as the Epson Ecotank ET-2821, the speed in color is only half that of black and white printing.
Even with ink tank printers, not every model is fast at processing print jobs, although the high ink supply might suggest this. Especially with compact entry-level devices for home use, such as the Epson Ecotank ET-2821, the speed in color is only half that of black and white printing. Epson
Even with ink tank printers, not every model is fast at processing print jobs, although the high ink supply might suggest this. Especially with compact entry-level devices for home use, such as the Epson Ecotank ET-2821, the speed in color is only half that of black and white printing. Epson
Epson
For each printer model, you will find the speed specifications in A4 pages per minute in the technical data.
It is important to take a close look here: To compare the speed values of different devices, focus on the time measurements based on the ISO/IEC24734 standard. It specifies a fixed document set and standard resolution for the speed runs. On the other hand, you should be wary of specifications with the addition “up to.” As a rule, these are performance specifications for the lowest resolution level (design mode).
If you need a high throughput, a laser printer is often the right choice. Even inexpensive models can print up to 18 black and white ISO pages per minute. If the figure for color printing is just as high, the color laser printer has a built-in single-pass printing unit.
With inkjet printers, the throughput of black and white and color pages differs in the vast majority of cases due to the technology used. The following applies here: If the print speed in color drops by half compared to black and white performance or if it is significantly less than 10 pages per minute in black and white printing, you must expect that all color prints will become a real waiting game.
Printers Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 18 Jun (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsAttractive design with compact standEasy-to-navigate menus with remote controlExcellent video connectivityGood all-around SDR and HDR image qualityConsExpensive for a 1440p, 240Hz OLED monitorUSB-C power supports limited Power DeliveryQD-OLED peers beat it in SDRHDR image quality has some rough edgesOur VerdictThe ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED benefits from practical design and tons of ports, but it can’t beat less expensive OLED monitors on image quality.
2024 is clearly the year of gorgeous OLED gaming monitors, but this sudden explosion in options leaves gamers facing many choices with nearly identical specifications. ViewSonic’s XG272-2K-OLED stands apart from the alternatives with a semi-gloss LG WOLED panel and gobs of connectivity, though these features unfortunately bump up the price.
Further reading: Best gaming monitors 2024: Level up your display
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: Specs & features
The ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED is yet another 27-inch OLED monitor with 2560×1440 resolution. This is essentially the industry standard among 27-inch OLED monitors (for now, at least). However, the XG272-2K-OLED is part of a new wave of monitors with an LG WOLED panel instead of Samsung’s QD-OLED.
Display size: 27-inch widescreen
Native resolution: 2560×1440
Panel type: Glossy WOLED
Refresh rate: Up to 240Hz
Adaptive Sync: Adaptive Sync 240, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync
HDR: Yes, HDR10
Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C (upstream), 1x USB-B (upstream), 3x USB-A (downstream), 1x 3.5mm audio-out
VESA mount: 100mm x 100mm
Speakers: Yes, 2x 3-watt stereo speakers
Price: $899.99 MSRP
It also differs from competitors on connectivity. Most monitors in this category have three or four video inputs and skip USB-C, but the ViewSonic includes two HDMI 2.1, two DisplayPort, and USB-C, plus three USB-A downstream ports. That’s far better than average, though it’s reflected in the monitor’s $899.99 MSRP.
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: Design
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED is available only in an attractive sheer white colorway that seems to split the difference between gaming and professional monitor design. It pairs a customizable RGB light and swooping vents with a conventional panel shape and small, unobtrusive stand. The result isn’t as cohesive as design leaders like the Alienware AW2725DF or Samsung’s new Odyssey OLED G8, but it’s eye-catching.
As mentioned, the XG272 is graced with a compact stand that minimizes the monitor’s footprint on your desk. It’s flat, too, so the desk space it occupies remains usable. The stand has a small cut-out for the monitor’s remote control (more on that in a bit) and provides significant ergonomic adjustment including height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. The monitor also has a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount for attaching a third-party monitor stand or arm.
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: Connectivity and menus
ViewSonic doesn’t skimp on the XG272-2K-OLED’s connectivity. On the contrary, it might be the best reason to buy the monitor.
It has two HDMI 2.1 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and one USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 15 watts of Power Delivery. That’s a total of five video inputs, all of which support the monitor’s maximum resolution and refresh rate.
The monitor also has three downstream USB-A ports, which is excellent. Most competitors have two USB-A ports or, in some cases, none at all. The USB-A ports can be accessed over the USB-C port, which makes the XG272 a useful USB hub for a laptop, or over a USB-B connection, which is useful for connecting a desktop PC. The USB-C ports limited Power Delivery is a downside, though, as it’s not enough to reliably charge even the most miserly laptops.
ViewSonic’s on-screen menu system is logically arranged and well-labeled, though the font is a bit small. It can be accessed with a joystick centered on the lower bezel or the bundled remote control. The remote is an excellent feature for people who plan to change settings quickly, and the stand even includes a nook for the remote. However, the remote felt cheap and didn’t respond quickly to input. The remotes paired with some BenQ Mobiuz and Samsung M8 monitors are more responsive.
The on-screen menu offers significant image quality customization, but I wasn’t happy with some of ViewSonic’s decisions. Color temperature customization is included, but the color temperature settings have vague labels instead of numerical values (the manual clarifies this, but the overall range of preset color temperature adjustment is less than ideal). Gamma adjustment wasn’t available, and the monitor also lacks DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB presets. Six-axis color saturation adjustment is available, however.
Gamers will find a lot to dig into. The monitor has a black stabilizer feature (which increases the brightness of dark areas of the display to make foes easier to see). It also has a crosshair and several custom aspect ratio modes including a 24-inch 16:9 mode and 19-inch 4:3 mode. There’s also several VRR and BFI settings, which I’ll discuss in the motion clarity section of this review.
A pair of three-watt speakers are included, but they’re not great. The speakers are better understood as a back-up for situations where other speakers are unavailable than a sound system you’d want to use day-to-day.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: SDR image quality
The ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED has an LG WOLED panel similar to the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG though, unlike the Asus, ViewSonic opts for an anti-glare finish. The XG272’s overall performance is similar to the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG and tends to slightly lag QD-OLED monitors in SDR content, though the difference is often so slim that most gamers wouldn’t notice it.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
First up is brightness, and here the ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED reached a disappointing peak brightness of 180 nits in SDR. That’s low even among OLED monitors, which tend towards a much lower peak brightness in SDR than most monitors.
ViewSonic advertises up to 250 nits, and I was able to get close to that figure in some of the monitor’s image quality presets, such as the Vibrant mode. However, the presets that offer a higher level of brightness aren’t very attractive, and I wasn’t able to reach over 200 nits in the standard image mode even with the monitor’s energy saving features turned off.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Contrast is a traditional strength of OLED, as the technology can achieve a “perfect” black level of zero nits. Put differently, an OLED panel can reduce the brightness of each individual pixel to zero, and do so independently of any adjacent pixel. The result is a realistic, immersive look that’s well-suited to games, movies, photographs, and content creation.
But this perk is shared by all modern OLED monitors. I haven’t tested all the OLED monitors available right now, but I’ve tried quite a few, and all monitor’s I’ve tried with panels from the most recent generations of Samsung QD-OLED and LG WOLED technology have excellent contrast.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The XG272’s color gamut spanned 100 percent of sRGB, 95 percent of the DCI-P3 and 91 percent of AdobeRGB. These are excellent results and on par with the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, but behind QD-OLED monitors like the Alienware AW2725DF.
In practice, I don’t think the XG272’s color gamut will be an obstacle for gamers, but content creators should keep it in mind. The XG272’s gamut is good, but QD-OLED monitors with better performance are available at the same price.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Color accuracy is another sore spot, as the XG272 comes in behind QD-OLED monitors. Its performance is more similar to the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, which also has a WOLED panel.
As with color gamut, the XG272’s color accuracy is still sufficient to provide an attractive, alluring image. I doubt most people, myself included, would ever notice an issue without close study of test images and calibration results. Still, the XG272 is not the best option if out-of-box color accuracy is important to you.
The XG272’s color issues are reinforced by its color temperature and gamma results. The monitor’s default color temperature came in at 6900K, which is cooler than the preferred target of 6500K. I also measured a gamma curve of 2.1, below the target of 2.2, which means content will look slightly brighter and more luminous than it should (though the difference is too small to notice in many situations). ViewSonic provides options to calibrate color temperature and gamma but, as mentioned earlier, the specifics of the monitor’s controls make it a bit difficult to tune these aspects of image quality. Calibration software may be required to dial in the image.
Sharpness is an issue. Pixelation and color fringing was noticeable when reading small fonts and along some high-contrast borders in productivity software (it’s especially noticeable in Microsoft Excel). All current 27-inch 1440p OLED monitors share this problem, which is caused by the unusual subpixel layout used by Samsung QD-OLED and LG WOLED panels. Monitors with a higher resolution, like the 32-inch 4K Alienware AW3225QF, tend to side-step this problem, but it remains an issue at 1440p. With that said, I felt the XG272 was ever-so-slightly better than the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG.
On balance, the ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED’s SDR image quality is excellent but behind the best QD-OLED monitors, such as the Alienware AW2725DF. The reality is that any of the OLED monitors listed in the graphs above will deliver a jaw-dropping improvement if you’re upgrading from an older IPS-LCD or VA-LCD panel. Still, the benchmarks matter, and the XG272 suffers several minor defeats when compared to its peers.
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: HDR image quality
The ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED delivered remarkable brightness in HDR tests. It achieved a maximum brightness of 1064 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning 10 percent of the display was lit (the rest displayed a uniform black image at zero nits). It also hit 541 nits in a 50 percent window and sustained 249 nits when the entire display was lit.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
These are excellent results. The XG272’s peak brightness in a 10 percent window beats the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, which hit 724 nits, and obliterates the Alienware AW2725DF. In fact, the XG272 sets a new record for OLED monitor brightness in a 10 percent window. However, the Asus monitor was brighter when 50 percent of 100 percent of the display was lit.
While these figures are excellent, I was less impressed by the XG272’s real-world performance. The test clips I use for evaluating this, which includes the “Gargantua” scene from Interstellar and the “Into the Storm” scene from Mad Max: Fury Road, showed less detail in bright areas of the scene than with the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG.
I also noticed the XG272 struggled with SDR apps when HDR was turned on. The image was desaturated and gamma scaling was all over the map, which caused SDR apps to appear too dark. The XG272 didn’t detect when I flipped HDR on or off in the Windows 11 settings, either, so I had to select the monitor’s HDR mode.
The XG272’s HDR performance is a bit of a mix as a result. Though it can reach an excellent level of HDR brightness, the monitor’s HDR implementation is rough around the edges, and the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG remains a better choice for HDR content.
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: Motion performance
Gamers will enjoy the ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED’s maximum refresh rate of 240Hz and lightning-quick gray-to-gray pixel response times of just 0.02 milliseconds. These traits provide an exceptionally clear, crisp image. Small, fast objects are easy to track. Scrolling test images from DOTA 2 and League of Legends showed that fine elements, like character names and hit point bars, are legible while scrolling across the map, though clarity still has room for improvement.
The monitor has a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that can flicker the display at high frequencies to reduce perceived motion clarity. Unfortunately, it only operates up to a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, which makes the features less useful. I didn’t notice much difference in clarity between 120Hz with BFI on and 240Hz with BFI off, which was also true of the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. However, this feature might still be useful if you’re playing a demanding game that can achieve a frame rate above 120 frames per second.
Adaptive Sync is supported, as well, and the XG272 has official support for Nvidia G-Sync Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Competing monitors also tend to work with both, but some manufacturers don’t bother with certification. Official support for both standards provides some peace of mind for gamers.
ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED: Conclusion
The ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED is a strong WOLED monitor with several features that could make it alluring to specific gamers. It has lots of connectivity, including a USB-C port and several USB-A ports. ViewSonic also provides a compact ergonomic stand and a remote control. These features inflate the price, however, and the XG272’s overall image quality isn’t better than less expensive competitors like the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. That narrows the ViewSonic’s appeal. But if you need a lot of connectivity, or you spot the monitor on sale for a price closer to its competition, the XG272 is a solid choice.
Monitors Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | Stuff.co.nz - 18 Jun (Stuff.co.nz)![NZ Located](/pimages/nzsmall.gif) A new centenarian shares her thoughts on her 100 years, naming technology the biggest change, and life more fast-paced than when she was younger. Read...Newslink ©2024 to Stuff.co.nz | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 18 Jun (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsSmooth and precise movementButtons galoreA solid and supportive bodyWeighty but in a good wayConsIt collects fingerprints, which downgrades its look at timesIt’s expensiveThe maximum polling rate is just 1,000HzOur VerdictThe Razer Basilisk Ultimate dishes out luxury at every turn. Its solid and comfortable feel, precise movement, generous button configuration, and gorgeous RGB lighting all make it an excellent option for MMO gamers.
Best Prices Today: Razer Basilisk Ultimate
Retailer
Price
$179
View Deal
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
The $179 Razer Basilisk Ultimate isn’t the cheapest wireless gaming mouse you can find, but there’s definitely something to be said for enjoying the kind of decadent luxury it provides. A generous 11 button configuration offers plenty of commands for gamers. It also sports a smooth glide, solid feel and precise sensor. That’s gold for anyone wanting optimal performance and genuine comfort for hours on end.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming mice to learn about competing products.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate design and build
But there’s more to the Razer Basilisk Ultimate than just a solid feel and smooth glide. That sense of luxury you get from this mouse is heighted by its 3.73-ounce (106-gram) weight, which bestows a real presence in your grip. Yes, it’s weighty, but it doesn’t feel at all sluggish, I’m happy to report.
The Basilisk Ultimate gives you very precise control of movement. You can shift direction on a whim. It’s nice and grippy thanks to bumpy areas on both its thumb rest and right-hand side. What’s more, there’s virtually no friction thanks to well-placed PTFE feet.
That sense of luxury you get from this mouse is heighted by its weight, which bestows a real presence in your grip.
Being a Basilisk mouse, the Ultimate’s shape resembles the Razer Basilisk V3, which currently has the distinction of sporting the “best mouse wheel” in our PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming mice. Some gamers may find the Ultimate’s design a bit angular. But I really liked the elevation my index finger had on the left main button — it always felt poised and ready to fire
At first the Ultimate’s scroll wheel felt a little too precise for me. It grinded when I turned it, registering each millimeter. But that was before I discovered a dial on the underside that allowed me to adjust how easily it turned. In the end I found a friction setting that worked nicely for changing weapons and scrolling through my game menus that wasn’t so tight.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has a convenient charging dock.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has a convenient charging dock.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has a convenient charging dock.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The larger dimensions appeal to me a little more than the V3’s smaller size. The mouse measures 5.11 x 2.75 x 1.65 inches. If the V3 is like a Cadillac, then the Basilisk Ultimate is like a spacious Chevy pickup truck that you can stretch out on and adopt a more relaxed grip.
Among the 11 programmable buttons, four are contained in the mouse’s Tilt wheel. Then there’s three buttons on the left and handy DPI up/down switcher buttons behind the mouse wheel. The rest of the buttons can be found on the mouse’s underside.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate connectivity and battery life
The Basilisk Ultimate uses Razer’s Hyperspeed wireless technology for its Wi-Fi connectivity. To that end you get a very small wireless dongle in the box. There’s no Bluetooth connectivity, which is unusual for a mouse of this weight.
There’s not one, but two ways you can store the mouse’s dongle — either in the discreet storage compartment on the underside, or in a slot at the top of the mouse’s charging dock. That dock is a nice and compact size, being only as big as my thumb. It easily fit in a tight gap on my desk.
Charging the mouse was as simple as resting it on top of its dock. Doing so renders it spaceship-like in appearance, which most gamers are going to get a kick out of.
The mouse’s battery life is very good. You can expect it to last approximately 100 hours if you switch off the RGB lighting — otherwise it’ll run 30 to 40 hours with the lighting switched on.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate gaming performance
What kind of gaming does the Razer Basilisk Ultimate excel at? I’d have to say MMO and MOBA games, where I really appreciated its full-handed feeling and thorough selection of commands.
The mouse’s 20,000 DPI Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor is very quick off the mark. It supports a polling rate of 1,000Hz, which isn’t the fastest Razer has to offer, but for MMOs it was more than sufficient in my playtesting for tracking foes and launching spells.
I’ve always found heavier mice ideal for wielding swords and axes in MMOs. Wafery FPS mice just don’t cut it for me, feeling less tangible than heavier mice for that kind of play. But the Ultimate’s weightiness excelled at delivering a feeling of realism to my play.
You can set the resistance in the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s scroll wheel via a dial on its underside.
You can set the resistance in the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s scroll wheel via a dial on its underside.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
You can set the resistance in the Razer Basilisk Ultimate’s scroll wheel via a dial on its underside.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
That was especially the case in Gloria Victis, which not only has plenty of attacks, but also lots of parrying; with the Ultimate in hand, the clink of metal against metal felt palpable, as if I was actually holding them in my palm.
The Ultimate’s main buttons are very soft and quick. Their centers are concave, so they held my trigger fingers better than most mice I know. A slight gradient gave me leverage to pull off some very speedy clicks. However, that speed did occasionally mean I miss-clicked at times — something to watch out for in this mouse.
One really novel feature is the sensitivity clutch near the mouse’s left thumb. It let me switch DPI levels that were stages apart and then return to my DPI starting point without having to cycle back through each DPI setting.
There was very little I didn’t like about this mouse, but one small peeve was that the chassis got a little foggy with fingerprints from time to time. So, you’ll want to keep a cloth handy to keep it smudge free.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate software
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate has five onboard memory profiles, which you can map out in the Razer Synapse app. As well as a top layer of commands, you can program an extra layer to your buttons using Razer’s Hypershift functionality, so you have options galore.
The Basilisk Ultimate can be as flashy as you want it to be thanks to its 14 zones of RGB lighting. These can be tweaked in Razer Synapse, but for a deeper level of personalization, Razer’s Chroma Studio is where to go. Here you can personalize your choice of colors and add cool effects that really liven up your desk.
Razer Chroma Studio allows you to personalize the Basilisk Ultimate’s many RGB lighting zones.
Razer Chroma Studio allows you to personalize the Basilisk Ultimate’s many RGB lighting zones. Dominic Bayley / IDG
Razer Chroma Studio allows you to personalize the Basilisk Ultimate’s many RGB lighting zones. Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Should you buy the Razer Basilisk Ultimate?
We all deserve a taste of extravagance from time to time and the Ultimate dishes that out in spades, albeit for a premium price. Its advanced glide, precise movement, and comfortable thumb rest add up to provide a feeling of superior control.
Throw in a precise sensor and functionality that’s supported by an excellent software app, and this mouse is really a no-brainer for gamers that like the finer things money can buy. That’s especially true for gamers that need a mouse with lots of commands.
Mice Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 16 Jun (PC World)We’ve tested a lot of internal SSDs over the last decade or so, and the improvement to the technology has been astounding. The ongoing advancements in SSDs keep us on our toes and our testing methodology has evolved accordingly. Here’s how it stands at the moment.
What hardware does PCWorld use for testing internal storage?
Our current test platform features all of the latest transport technologies: USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps), Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 5.0. There is no discrete USB 4 port, so we test that using the Thunderbolt 4 ports, which do support that protocol.
The operating system is Windows 11 (22H2) 64-bit (updates are disabled) running on an X790 (PCIe 5.0) motherboard/Core i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 modules (64GB of memory total). Intel integrated graphics are used rather than a discrete GPU card.
The PCWorld storage test bed. The riser card is a PCIe 5.0 M.2 add-on.
The PCWorld storage test bed. The riser card is a PCIe 5.0 M.2 add-on.
The PCWorld storage test bed. The riser card is a PCIe 5.0 M.2 add-on.
An ImDisk RAM disk using 58GB of the 64GB total system memory is used for the 48GB transfer tests and is allotted 58GB of the 64GB total system memory. The operating system runs off of a Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, which is also the source for larger test files.
While we rarely cover internal hard drives these days, when we do, the same basic test methodology is employed.
What tests does PCWorld run on internal SSDs?
The synthetic benchmarks we consistently employ are CrystalDiskMark 8 (64GB data set) and AS SSD 2 (10GB data set). These have delivered the most consistent results over the years, plus we have a huge library of results that can be directly compared. However, we will also run ATTO and/or IOmeter to check vendor claims of optimization for certain workloads.
The fastest PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs can perform like this on benchmarks, but real-world performance under Window is about a third of this.
The fastest PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs can perform like this on benchmarks, but real-world performance under Window is about a third of this.
The fastest PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs can perform like this on benchmarks, but real-world performance under Window is about a third of this.
The issue with synthetic benchmarks is that, as of late, the numbers they spit out far outstrip anything you’ll see in the real world. That’s not to throw shade on these worthy tools; it’s simply that they do their own I/O. In real life you’re stuck with what Windows provides — which is comparatively primitive in not taking advantage of NVMe’s advanced features such as multiple queues.
So, to mirror what users will see in the progress bars while copying data, we transfer a 48GB set of files and folders as well as a single 48GB file to and from the drive we’re testing. The aforementioned RAM disk is employed as the source for writes and the destination for reads to minimize lag impact on the results.
Alas, NVMe SSDs are approaching the point where they’re almost as fast as main memory, so how much longer a RAM disk will be useful is a concern.
We also write a much larger 450GB file; that’s to see how the SSD behaves when it runs out of cache. That my friends, requires a bit of explaining.
How does SSD technology affect PCWorld’s testing?
To comprehend why testing SSDs isn’t as straightforward as kicking the tires of traditional HDDs, tape, optical, etc., you need to understand a bit about the medium.
All SSDs use NAND non-volatile memory to store data. This started as simple on/off SLC (Single-Level Cell) NAND with only one voltage level per cell (charged, not charged). However, to increase storage density, NAND evolved to MLC (Multi-Level Cell/2-bit) with four possible voltage levels, then TLC (Triple-Level Cell/3-bit) with eight possible voltage levels, and now sometimes QLC (Quad-Level Cell/4-bit) with 16 possible voltage levels.
The issue with multiple voltage levels is that it takes far longer to make sure the correct voltage was indeed written. This error checking makes denser NAND slow if you write at its native bit depth.
To circumvent this performance road block, SSD controllers will instead allot (fixed or on the fly) a certain portion of NAND to be written as on/off SLC. The SLC blocks are later rewritten natively to other NAND as MLC/TLC/QLC when the drive has time.
A Phison designed NVMe SSD with both DRAM for caching and NAND.
A Phison designed NVMe SSD with both DRAM for caching and NAND.
A Phison designed NVMe SSD with both DRAM for caching and NAND.
How this secondary caching (many drives use DRAM, and more recently system memory, as primary caching) is handled determines how well an SSD will perform under a heavy load.
As mentioned, this is the reason we write a 450GB file to the SSD — to run it out of secondary cache, or see how well it allots more on the fly. If the write rate never drops during the 450GB write, we’ll write another 900GB file immediately after to get to the actual native write rate.
This is somewhat of a tempest in a teapot for the average user who will rarely write enough data to experience the slowdowns we’re talking about. But it is a key differentiator for users who bang hard on their SSDs all day long, such as videographers and the like.
Comparisons and ratings
Generally, our charts will feature the drive being reviewed, and a few carefully chosen competitors with similar components. However, we do maintain a master spreadsheet with the results of every drive we’ve tested on the current test bed. Our overall rating is derived from a combination of a drive’s placement in the benchmark (CrystalDiskMark and AS SSD) and real-world transfer results, weighted slightly towards the latter.
CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential transfer chart showing competing products.
CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential transfer chart showing competing products.
CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential transfer chart showing competing products.
We only publish AS SSD results if there’s an aberration with CrystalDiskMark 8. This is for brevity and consistency so readers can compare results across reviews more quickly and easily.
As we rate on only a 10-point system (half stars up to 5), it’s not always possible to differentiate between a great product and an almost-great product using that alone. Therefore, you should take a look at the actual results charts, and read the review in its entirety before making a buying decision.
Or, you can just look for the Editors’ choice label, which indicates what we’d buy — all things being equal. Often price will be your deciding factor among the SSDs that receive a 4.5 or higher rating.
Computer Storage Devices, Storage Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | ![](/n.gif) |
|
![](/n.gif) |
![](/pimages/bldn.gif) | Top Stories |
![](/n.gif)
RUGBY
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson's focus is on the here and now rather than a long-term plan towards 2027 for the time being More...
|
![](/n.gif)
BUSINESS
Increased freighting costs may see consumers paying higher prices at the checkout More...
|
![](/n.gif)
|
![](/n.gif)
![](/pimages/bldn.gif) | Today's News |
![](/n.gif)
![](/pimages/bldn.gif) | News Search |
|
![](/n.gif) |