Computers

Why Intel’s 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors matter

Published

August 31, 2016

Marvin Velasco

Every year around September, Intel releases a new set of processors that are significantly improved over the previous generation. This year’s Kaby Lake marks the seventh generation since Intel began the Core series of CPUs, and it’s going to make your next computer a lot faster.

Without even having to explain anything, the one absolute about the newer generation is the noticeable performance improvement in both real-world usage and benchmarks. You can also expect lighter power drain, which has been the case since mobile devices began becoming the center of internet consumption. As for Kaby Lake, it’s considered an overhauled successor to 2015’s Skylake. This year’s product carries over the same 14nm microarchitecture of Skylake, meaning the physical design remains the same, but the feature set is a step above.

What Intel strongly emphasized in their announcement is how Kaby Lake processors are specifically geared towards 4K Ultra HD and 360-degree videos, as well as Virtual Reality to an extent. This is the first time Intel processors are natively able to support 4K content, so you’re not obliged to purchase a dedicated video card for Ultra HD videos anymore. On top of that, the company claims much improved battery life over older units, but that’s something we hear every year, and we’ll find out for sure once we have actual retail units in our hands.

The gaming side of things has been given a boost, too. While it may not sound impressive, Kaby Lake is capable of outputting games such as Overwatch at 30 frames per second on Medium settings with a 1080p resolution. This can be done on a thin notebook without any discrete graphics card, so casual gamers will have access to a larger database of recent games.

An interesting thing to note is the absence of the Core m7 and m5 series, which were introduced just last year as top-end CPUs for laptops and tablets. Intel decided to release only revamps of the Core i7, i5, i3, and m3 models this year, while Core m7 and m5 will now be part of the Core i7 and i5 families, respectively. This is simply in line with Intel’s yearly restructuring of lineups, so there’s no need to worry about a lack of choices.

So, let’s set aside the features to ask the most important question: How exactly are consumers affected by this release? In order to be properly future-proofed, it’s advisable to always choose Kaby Lake when shopping for a new laptop or building a desktop PC. The benefits over older processors won’t be clear at first, since previous generations are actually still good enough by today’s standards, but as new types of content are produced, it’s best to own the latest technology.

To ensure you’re buying the right one, watch out for the number seven after the hyphen in the number sequence of the model name. For example, the Intel Core i7-7500U, Core i5-7200U, and Core m3-7Y30, are all 7th-generation variants. It goes without saying that the Core i7-6500U was released last year.

Intel claims that computers sporting Kaby Lake will begin shipping in early September, with a lot more arriving by the time the holiday season trickles in.

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Source: Intel

Computers

Cooler Master is selling a PC shaped like a sneaker

Packing heavy specs too

Published

October 3, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Are you a sneakerhead and a gamer? If you’re both of these things, we have the perfect PC setup for you. Cooler Master has released a new prebuilt PC designed after a sneaker.

If you take a peek at the PC building market these days, you’ll notice how it’s now possible to create PCs out of a variety of form factors. Now, a shoe certainly pushes the envelope of what a PC should look like, but Cooler Master made it work.

Initially showcased during the Case Mod World Series 2020 (at which the design won an award for best art direction), the Sneaker X packs all the fixings of a PC in the form of a shoe. And it’s not just a looker.

Inside, the PC offers four different options for its processor: Intel i7-13700K, i9-13900K, AMD Ryzen 7800X3D, and Ryzen 7950X3D. Additionally, it offers a selection of GPUs consisting of the RTX 4070, RTX 4070 Ti, and RTX 4080.

Besides these two, the CPU will also have up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB of PCIe 4.0 Gen4 NVMe storage. Though the sneaker looks packed, it will have the Master Liquid PL360 Flux Sneaker Edition cooling to keep temperatures at a reasonable level.

In the United States, the Sneaker X is already available in Enthusiast (with an RTX 4070) and in Professional (with an RTX 4070 Ti) models. The Enthusiast retails for US$ 3,499. The Professional sells for US$ 3,799.

The higher trims, armed with AMD processors and the RTX 4080, are exclusive to Europe for now. Prices for these trims can go up to US$ 4,964.

Accessories

TP-Link launches next-gen Archer AX12 router

Your next-generation router

Published

September 27, 2023

GadgetMatch

TP-Link has made the Archer AX12 router in the Philippines. Marketed as a next-generation router, the new product is engineered to cater to the connectivity needs of today’s households and businesses.

The Archer AX12 utilizes Wi-Fi 6 technology, enabling everyone to stream up to 4K videos or play their favorite games lag-free.

The router achieves up to 1.5 Gbps of speed with ease. It also uses Wi-Fi 6’s OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies for simultaneous communication of up to 128 devices without lag for better internet connection and faster download speeds.

Moreover, the router is quick and easy to set up through the TP-Link tether app. The product likewise supports EasyMesh and OneMesh for customers to be able to integrate their existing networks.

The Archer AX12 is now available at TP-Link’s flagship store at the 3rd level of SM North EDSA Annex, its authorized resellers, and Lazada and Shopee.

Accessories

Epson reveals 8 new business projectors for Singapore

For meetings and education

Published

September 14, 2023

GadgetMatch

Epson has announced eight new additions to its business projector series lineup in Singapore.

These latest products are designed to meet needs in both the business and education settings, providing companies and schools with higher quality video conferencing devices or tools for learning.

The EB-L260F, EB-770Fi, and EB-770F, for instance, display in both 16:6 and 21:9 aspect ratios to complement the content that needs to be displayed.

Meanwhile, the EB-L260F and EB-L210W can cover up to 300 inches in some distances.

The projectors also have a brightness display range of 4,000 to 4,600 lumens, so meetings or lessons can be easily projected across common backdrops or blank surfaces under different lighting environments, without the need to prepare a display area for projector use.

All products use Epson’s laser light technology, for up to 20,000 hours of maintenance-free use so companies can utilize the projectors’ life for a long time.

Interactive, hassle-free

Furthermore, Epson’s iProjection app allows users to project up to four devices within the same network. The app can also quickly change the source devices through a remote control function.

The 16:6 projectors have interactive functions as well that support Epson’s Graphical User Interface (GUI). This allows seamless collaboration between people through the display of toolbars on both sides of the screen.

If users want to refer to an existing document while it is projected on screen, the document camera can shift the position of the document on display easily.

Lastly, the projectors can accommodate a smart stick with AC power so organizers do not have to connect long cables for power sources anymore.