How do you help your gaming monitor stand out when it’s neither one of the largest nor a huge bargain? Cater to console gamers, apparently. HP has revealed the Omen 27u, a 27-inch monitor with full support for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The 4K screen, HDMI 2.1 input, DisplayHDR 400 support and built-in speakers aren’t novelties in themselves, but should be appreciated if you want to play some console games at 120Hz without buying a separate TV.
The Omen 27u should be a solid monitor even if you don’t care for console games. The IPS panel and 144Hz support will be helpful for color accuracy (95 percent of the DCI-P3 space) and action-heavy PC games, but you might also appreciate the RGB lighting and slicker profile. This is HP’s first Omen monitor with thin bezels on all sides — it might be a good fit for a multi-display setup.
You’ll have to be patient when the Omen 27u is only due to ship sometime this spring. At $700, though, it will cost significantly less than last year’s Acer’s HDMI 2.1-equipped Nitro monitor and competes well with other well-equipped 4K rivals. It’s certainly easier to rationalize than a full-fledged gaming TV if desk space is at a premium.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
If you use a wireless headset for gaming, there’s a good chance you’ve had its battery die on you at the worst possible time. While its latest peripheral won’t stop that from happening altogether, HyperX does hope it will make it a much less frequent occurrence. At CES 2022, the company, which was recently acquired by HP, announced the Cloud Alpha Wireless.
It’s a headset that features up to 300 hours of battery life on a single charge. That means you can get almost a full two weeks of continuous use before they need recharging. The headset also comes with new 50mm drivers that are slimmer and lighter than the ones you’ll find on the Cloud Alpha’s wired predecessor but deliver the same audio performance. Other features include a detachable noise-canceling mic, support for DTS’s Headphone: X technology and onboard controls you’ll find on the earcup.
HyperX
HyperX announced a handful of other peripherals. Some of the highlights include the Clutch wireless controller and Plusefire Haste wireless mouse. The former is an Xbox-style Android and PC gamepad that connects to your device over a Bluetooth 4.2, 2.4Ghz or wired connection. Battery life comes in at 19 hours on a single charge and the controller ships with an adjustable clip that can expand from 41 millimeters to 86 millimeters, so it should be able to hold most phones without issue.
The Pulsefire Haste, meanwhile, has a lot in common with the Aerox 3 mice from SteelSeries. It’s a wireless mouse with a perforated honeycomb design that’s protected against spills by an IP55 rating. HyperX says you can get 100 hours on a single charge from the device and the switches are rated for up to 80 million clicks. A nice touch here is that it will come with an extra set of skates for when the original ones wear out.
HyperX
Provided the pandemic doesn’t delay shipments, the Cloud Alpha Wireless will go on sale in February for $200. As for the Clutch controller and Pulse Haste mouse, they’re due in March and February for $50 and $80, respectively.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
HP has unveiled its latest Envy desktop PC. Instead of an all-in-one like many of the company’s past Envy-branded workstations, it adopts a traditional form factor. The design and brushed aluminum exterior make the case reminiscent of boutique ITX enclosures like the Dan C4. On the top, you’ll find three USB-A ports, a USB-C connection, an SD card slot and a headphone jack. The Envy Desktop PC features a one-touch tool-less design HP says makes it easy to upgrade the internal components.
You can configure it with the latest 12th-generation processors from Intel, including the 125-watt Core i9-12900K. HP will offer both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, with the RTX 3080 Ti and RX 6700 XT as the top-end options from each company. As for RAM and storage, the choices you have there are to add up to 128GB of DDR4 memory and a combination of NVMe SSDs and mechanical drives.
HP
HP announced two ultrawide monitors alongside its new PC. The first of those is the 40-inch Z40c G3. It features a factory-calibrated ISP panel with a 5,120 x 2,160 resolution, 98 percent DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage and a 1000:1 static contrast ratio. In what’s been a trend at CES 2022, the Z40c G3 features a built-in 4K web camera that supports Windows Hello authentication. On the back of the monitor, you’ll find two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can provide up to 100W of power delivery to your devices. It also comes with four USB-A ports, an ethernet jack and HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 connections.
For those looking for a slightly smaller ultrawide monitor, HP will also offer the Z34c G3. It’s a 34-inch display with a 3,440 x 1,440 IPS panel that features 85 percent DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a peak brightness of 350 nits. It too comes with a built-in web camera. In this case, it’s a 5-megapixel one, though it still supports Windows Hello. As for ports, the Z34c G3 comes with a similar selection of connections as its more expensive stablemate, the only difference being that it features a single Thunderbolt 3 port.
HP
The Z40c G3 and Z34c G3 will cost $1,500 and $949 respectively when they become available sometime later this month. HP will release the Envy Desktop sometime in the spring, at which point it will be sold through the company’s website, as well as Amazon and Costco.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Intel hasn’t forgotten about Evo, its premium branding for PCs that meet its array of performance benchmarks. Now in its third iteration (remember it was originally called Project Athena), the company says it’s also adding a foldable specification for Evo PCs this year, along with new requirements around “intelligent collaboration” and support for faster H-series 12th-gen chips. So, in addition to guaranteeing long battery life and instant wake, new Evo PCs will also need to include WiFi 6E support, tap into the company’s AI noise cancellation capabilities as well as Intel’s Connectivity Performance Suite. The goal, as always, is to make sure consumers get the best experience possible when they’re buying an “Intel Evo” branded PC.
Intel
Intel also offered more details around its plans for Screenovate, a recent acquisition that gained notoriety for integrating iPhones and Android devices with Windows PCs. (It also powers Dell’s Mobile Connect tool, which allows you to send files to your phone and control its screen remotely.) According to Josh Newman, Intel’s VP of Mobile Innovation, the company plans to bring Screenovate’s technology to Evo PCs in the 2022 holiday season. The goal, naturally, is to offer it to more PCs eventually, but Newman says Intel wants to ensure that it’s a high quality experience before that. The company plans to work with partners, including Apple, to make that happen.
While Intel’s specialized Project Athena/Evo PC branding seemed more like a marketing stunt at first, it’s actually pushing PC makers to build better hardware. Newman says that partners are building off of Intel’s foldable PC design, while also adding their own twists. The specification also gives Intel a bit more leverage: for example, it’s requiring partners to design keyboard accessories for their foldables. While Intel can’t force them to include keyboards in the box, company representatives tells us they’re being “encouraged” to do so.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
At CES, HP unveiled its latest lineup of gaming systems, including a tower with a new kind of cooling system. The Omen 45L Desktop (which leaked a couple of months ago) has a Cryo Chamber that’s positioned above the main case.
The unit contains up to a 360mm AiO liquid cooler and it can pull in colder ambient air from outside the system to cool the radiator instead of using air from the main interior (which is heated up by the processor, graphics card and other components). HP says this can reduce CPU temperatures by a further six degrees Celsius compared with identical models that don’t have the Cryo Chamber.
HP
The 45L is a souped-up version of the 40L desktop, which has one fewer 120mm fan and doesn’t have the Cryo Chamber, though it’s not quite as tall. The newer model is 21.85 inches (55.5 centimeters) high and HP notes that the Cryo Chamber can be used as a Gamecube-style handle.
HP made upgrading components a cinch, as the 45L has front and side panels that can be removed without tools. There are locks to keep the panels in place. The 45L Desktop will be available through HP’s website on January 5th (and later at Best Buy). It starts at $1,900. Those who prefer to build their own rigs will be able to buy an Omen 45L ATX case, which includes the Cryo Chamber, in the coming weeks.
Also on the Omen front, HP has refreshed the 25L Desktop with an additional 120mm front fan, as well as an optional glass side panel. There’s now a ceramic white color option, which is a first for Omen desktops. The revamped 25L should be available this spring. Pricing will be revealed later.
HP
Meanwhile, HP has revealed the first desktop for its mid-tier Victus brand. The 15L has a compact design and it’s available in two colors: mica silver and ceramic white. The case (which has post-consumer recycled plastic in the bezel and water-based paint) features a customizable RGB “infinity mirror” logo.
The 15L can house up to a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT GPU. It’s compatible with 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processors and AMD Ryzen7 5000 Series CPUs, and you can pack in up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. The Victus 15L Desktop PC should be available by February, with pricing to be revealed in the coming weeks.
HP
In addition, HP announced the first Omen gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 support. As well as PC gaming, the Omen 27u 4K Gaming Monitor is designed with the latest consoles in mind. The 120 Hz display has a 1ms refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR 400 450 nits of brightness and true 8-bit color.
HP notes it’s the first Omen monitor with a four-sided micro-bezel design, which should place more emphasis on the screen. The monitor will start at $700 and it should be available in the spring.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
For the longest time, console gamers were second-class citizens when it came to gaming accessories. Keyboards and mice are, of course, mainly PC gaming peripherals, and the vast majority of customization software is made for desktop machines. Even most headsets were built with PC gaming in mind, though that’s changed in recent years. But for most folks a gamepad is the iconic console gaming accessory, and the options outside of first-party controllers have been lacking until recently. Now gamers have their option of high-end accessories from companies like Scuf, Razer and today, HyperX.
HyperX
This week HyperX introduces its first gamepad, the Clutch Wireless Gaming Controller. It’s an Xbox-style peripheral, with two thumbsticks, a D-pad on the left, dual shoulder buttons and triggers, and the standard four lettered buttons on the right. The name “clutch” comes from the included clip, which makes it possible to mount an Android phone to the controller, or prop up a phone on a surface for tabletop play.
HyperX
The $50 Clutch is mainly intended for use with Android devices, and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.2 or a USB-C wireless receiver. (A USB-C to USB-A cord is included for wired gameplay with the PC or console of your choice.) However, those wireless options should also make it compatible with the Nintendo Switch. Given that your gamepad selection for the Switch is mostly limited to the official Pro Controller and the various offerings from 8BitDo and PowerA, this is a welcome addition to the market, one which we’ll have to test once it ships in March.
HyperX
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
At CES, HP unveiled its latest lineup of gaming systems, including a tower with a new kind of cooling system. The Omen 45L Desktop (which leaked a couple of months ago) has a Cryo Chamber that’s positioned above the main case.
The unit contains up to a 360mm AiO liquid cooler and it can pull in colder ambient air from outside the system to cool the radiator instead of using air from the main interior (which is heated up by the processor, graphics card and other components). HP says this can reduce CPU temperatures by a further six degrees Celsius compared with identical models that don’t have the Cryo Chamber.
HP
The 45L is a souped-up version of the 40L desktop, which has one fewer 120mm fan and doesn’t have the Cryo Chamber, though it’s not quite as tall. The newer model is 21.85 inches (55.5 centimeters) high and HP notes that the Cryo Chamber can be used as a Gamecube-style handle.
HP made upgrading components a cinch, as the 45L has front and side panels that can be removed without tools. There are locks to keep the panels in place. The 45L Desktop will be available through HP’s website on January 5th (and later at Best Buy). It starts at $1,900. Those who prefer to build their own rigs will be able to buy an Omen 45L ATX case, which includes the Cryo Chamber, in the coming weeks.
Also on the Omen front, HP has refreshed the 25L Desktop with an additional 120mm front fan, as well as an optional glass side panel. There’s now a ceramic white color option, which is a first for Omen desktops. The revamped 25L should be available this spring. Pricing will be revealed later.
HP
Meanwhile, HP has revealed the first desktop for its mid-tier Victus brand. The 15L has a compact design and it’s available in two colors: mica silver and ceramic white. The case (which has post-consumer recycled plastic in the bezel and water-based paint) features a customizable RGB “infinity mirror” logo.
The 15L can house up to a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT GPU. It’s compatible with 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processors and AMD Ryzen7 5000 Series CPUs, and you can pack in up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. The Victus 15L Desktop PC should be available by February, with pricing to be revealed in the coming weeks.
HP
In addition, HP announced the first Omen gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 support. As well as PC gaming, the Omen 27u 4K Gaming Monitor is designed with the latest consoles in mind. The 120 Hz display has a 1ms refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR 400 450 nits of brightness and true 8-bit color.
HP notes it’s the first Omen monitor with a four-sided micro-bezel design, which should place more emphasis on the screen. The monitor will start at $700 and it should be available in the spring.
It’s important to keep your hands at peak performance for gaming sessions, otherwise, you might misclick and kill a teammate instead of an enemy. Trust me – it happens, and I’ve been kicked out my fair share of guilds and clans to prove it. So to help alleviate muscle strain and fatigue, Japanese gaming furniture manufacturer Bauhutte has released the cleverly named Hand Massager, a desktop hand massager to keep your hands at optimal gaming readiness.
Available from Amazon Japan, the Hand Massager features fifteen individual air cushions “to remove fatigue and weariness from the palm and each finger one by one.” It has the option to massage your entire hand or just the fingers and has three different massage settings of increasing pressure. It also has a hand-warming option (I assume operated by the crispy bacon button) to help keep your muscles loose and your trigger finger nimble. Am I going to blame it for not doing a good enough job every time I lose a game? Otherwise, what’s the point of buying one?
So, will the Hand Massager actually give you a competitive gaming edge? That’s debatable. I mean it’s not going to make up for lack of skill, that’s for sure, which is a shame because that’s definitely what I’m lacking. I’ve never even finished in the top 90 of a 100 person battle royale before. The kids in those chatrooms – they say horrible things to me.
Nvidia just raised the performance ceiling for both its desktop and laptop graphics cards, announcing at CES 2022 an RTX 3090 Ti desktop GPU and RTX 3080 Ti and 3070 Ti mobile chips. On the other end, the company announced a new $249 RTX 3050 desktop card.
December 2021 can now add another dubious superlative to the weather record books. Preliminary data indicates it was the hottest December ever for the Lower 48.
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