Vik

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA: Kaby Lake, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, TB3, 14" FHD, 2.4 lbs
  • Comments are Closed

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA: Kaby Lake, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, TB3, 14″ FHD, 2.4 lbs

ASUS has now launched the latest addition to its ZenBook family of ultra-thin laptops with 14” displays. The new ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA boasts with Intel’s latest Kaby Lake-U microprocessors, up to 16 GB of memory, up to 1 TB SSD along with an advanced audio sub-system, an updated keyboard and a fingerprint reader in a 12.9 mm-thick design that weighs around 1.1 kilograms (2.4 lbs).

ASUS’ ZenBook is among the most popular families of ultra-thin laptops on the market today that competes against the likes of Apple’s MacBook, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 as well as the HP Spectre. The PCs come with fully-fledged Intel Core processors along with a choice of high-capacity SSDs as well as a rather decent spec list in general. As it appears, ASUS decided to improve ZenBook’s design further by adding a larger 14” display, a high-capacity 46 Wh battery, an advanced audio sub-system co-designed with Harman Kardon, a trusted platform module as well as two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a USB 3.1 Type-C port. The Deluxe version of the ZenBook 3 laptop weds business features with multimedia capabilities, style and expandability options: a rather rare combination.

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490A at Glance
  UX390UA-XH74-BL UX390UA-DH51-GR
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Panel 14″ IPS
178° viewing angles
100% sRGB
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
SoC Intel Core i7-7500U
2C/4T,
2.7-3.5 GHz,
15W,
Intel HD 620		 Intel Core i5-7200U
2C/4T,
2.5-3.1 GHz,
15W,
Intel HD 620
RAM 16 GB LPDDR3-2133 8 GB LPDDR3-2133
Storage 256 GB SATA SSD
512 GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD
1 TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD
Camera VGA webcam
Wireless 2×2 802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.1
I/O ports 2 × Thunderbolt 3/USB 3.1 Type-C
Audio 4 × Speakers (co-designed with Harman Kardon)
1 × TRRS 3.5-mm jack for headset
Dimensions 329 × 216 × 12.9 mm
Weight 1100 grams
Battery 46 Wh
OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
Finish Royal Blue
Silver Gray
Availability Available at ASUS Store and retailers
ETA date unknown

The ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA is based on the Intel Core i5/i7 processor with integrated HD Graphics 620 and Microsoft’s Windows 10 Pro operating system. Different versions of the ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA will be equipped with 8 or 16 GB of LPDDR3-2133 DRAM as well as up to 1 TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD. For connectivity, the laptop uses an 802.11ac Wi-Fi + BT 4.1 wireless module, has one USB 3.1 Type-C header (which is also used for charging) and is equipped with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can work in DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 modes. The laptop can be connected to 4K displays, an external GPU and an external storage system, greatly expanding its capabilities. To ensure that the PC does not overheat or throttle, ASUS uses a new 3-mm thick cooling solution that it expects to be efficient enough for the CPU and the SSD.

Like other high-end ZenBook laptops, the UX490UA comes in unibody enclosure made of an aluminum alloy that is said to be stronger compared to a standard aluminum alloy. To protect the display, the ZenBook 3 Deluxe uses Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning. Meanwhile, depending on configuration, the new ZenBook will come in a blue or a gray finish. It is worth noting that unlike some other Zenbook high-end models (such as the Zenbook Infinity), as far as we can tell, this device will not be touch screen enabled.

ASUS did not announce pricing of its ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA machines, but given that the PC will exist in multiple configurations, it will vary quite significantly. For example, ASUS’ ZenBook 3 non-Deluxe laptops are available for $1099 and $1599, depending on specs. Keep in mind that the Deluxe versions of ASUS products are naturally positioned above the rest, so expect the ZenBook 3 Deluxe to come at a premium.

Related Reading:

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA: Kaby Lake, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, TB3, 14" FHD, 2.4 lbs
  • Comments are Closed

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA: Kaby Lake, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, TB3, 14″ FHD, 2.4 lbs

ASUS has now launched the latest addition to its ZenBook family of ultra-thin laptops with 14” displays. The new ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA boasts with Intel’s latest Kaby Lake-U microprocessors, up to 16 GB of memory, up to 1 TB SSD along with an advanced audio sub-system, an updated keyboard and a fingerprint reader in a 12.9 mm-thick design that weighs around 1.1 kilograms (2.4 lbs).

ASUS’ ZenBook is among the most popular families of ultra-thin laptops on the market today that competes against the likes of Apple’s MacBook, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 as well as the HP Spectre. The PCs come with fully-fledged Intel Core processors along with a choice of high-capacity SSDs as well as a rather decent spec list in general. As it appears, ASUS decided to improve ZenBook’s design further by adding a larger 14” display, a high-capacity 46 Wh battery, an advanced audio sub-system co-designed with Harman Kardon, a trusted platform module as well as two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a USB 3.1 Type-C port. The Deluxe version of the ZenBook 3 laptop weds business features with multimedia capabilities, style and expandability options: a rather rare combination.

ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490A at Glance
  UX390UA-XH74-BL UX390UA-DH51-GR
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Panel 14″ IPS
178° viewing angles
100% sRGB
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
SoC Intel Core i7-7500U
2C/4T,
2.7-3.5 GHz,
15W,
Intel HD 620		 Intel Core i5-7200U
2C/4T,
2.5-3.1 GHz,
15W,
Intel HD 620
RAM 16 GB LPDDR3-2133 8 GB LPDDR3-2133
Storage 256 GB SATA SSD
512 GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD
1 TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD
Camera VGA webcam
Wireless 2×2 802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.1
I/O ports 2 × Thunderbolt 3/USB 3.1 Type-C
Audio 4 × Speakers (co-designed with Harman Kardon)
1 × TRRS 3.5-mm jack for headset
Dimensions 329 × 216 × 12.9 mm
Weight 1100 grams
Battery 46 Wh
OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
Finish Royal Blue
Silver Gray
Availability Available at ASUS Store and retailers
ETA date unknown

The ASUS ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA is based on the Intel Core i5/i7 processor with integrated HD Graphics 620 and Microsoft’s Windows 10 Pro operating system. Different versions of the ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA will be equipped with 8 or 16 GB of LPDDR3-2133 DRAM as well as up to 1 TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD. For connectivity, the laptop uses an 802.11ac Wi-Fi + BT 4.1 wireless module, has one USB 3.1 Type-C header (which is also used for charging) and is equipped with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can work in DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 modes. The laptop can be connected to 4K displays, an external GPU and an external storage system, greatly expanding its capabilities. To ensure that the PC does not overheat or throttle, ASUS uses a new 3-mm thick cooling solution that it expects to be efficient enough for the CPU and the SSD.

Like other high-end ZenBook laptops, the UX490UA comes in unibody enclosure made of an aluminum alloy that is said to be stronger compared to a standard aluminum alloy. To protect the display, the ZenBook 3 Deluxe uses Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning. Meanwhile, depending on configuration, the new ZenBook will come in a blue or a gray finish. It is worth noting that unlike some other Zenbook high-end models (such as the Zenbook Infinity), as far as we can tell, this device will not be touch screen enabled.

ASUS did not announce pricing of its ZenBook 3 Deluxe UX490UA machines, but given that the PC will exist in multiple configurations, it will vary quite significantly. For example, ASUS’ ZenBook 3 non-Deluxe laptops are available for $1099 and $1599, depending on specs. Keep in mind that the Deluxe versions of ASUS products are naturally positioned above the rest, so expect the ZenBook 3 Deluxe to come at a premium.

Related Reading:

Philips BDM4037UW Goes on Sale: 40 Inch 4K Curved Display for $800
  • Comments are Closed

Philips BDM4037UW Goes on Sale: 40 Inch 4K Curved Display for $800

TPV Technology, the company that produces monitors under the Philips brand, this week began to sell one of the world’s first curved displays with a 4K resolution that was formally introduced at IFA last September. The BDM4037UW monitor was designed primarily for consumers seeking for UHD experience on the PC, which is why the screen is not too expensive when its dimensions, curvature and resolution are considered. Nonetheless, PBP and PiP capabilities of the display make it useful for various control room applications as well.

Curved and UHD monitors are gaining traction these days because prices of models featuring good panels with decent brightness, contrast ratio and viewing angles have become more palatable in the recent quarters. However, the popularization of curved and UHD displays have been two isolated trends so far. The majority of curved monitors are ultra-wide and feature approximately 21:9 (2.33:1) aspect ratio because manufacturers want users to have a more immersive experience. By contrast, flat 4K UHD displays feature an aspect ratio of 16:9. So far, no company has introduced a curved 4K computer monitor because its curvature would hardly bring a lot of advantages for 27” – 32” panels (typical for computer screens). Meanwhile, Philips decided to offer a curved UHD display that is large enough for curvature to make sense.

The Philips BDM4037UW display is based on a 40” VA panel with a 3840×2160 resolution, 300 nits brightness, 3000R curvature, a 4000:1 contrast ratio, a 60 Hz refresh rate and a 4 ms response time. The manufacturer claims that the monitor can reproduce 1.07 billion colors (listed online as ‘dithered 10-bit’, but doesn’t clarify native support) and is rated to support 85% of the NTSC color gamut. Technically speaking, 85% of the NTSC color space is wider than 100% of the sRGB color space, but what we do not know is whether the latter is officially rated out-of-the-box (and it seems odd not to confirm sRGB coverage). 

Philips Brilliance 4K Ultra HD LCD
  BDM4037UW
Panel 40″ VA
Native Resolution 3840 × 2160
Maximum Refresh Rate 60 Hz
Response Time 4 ms GTG
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Contrast 4000:1
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 3000R
Color Gamut NTSC 85%
Pixel Pitch 0.230 mm × 0.230 mm
Pixel Density 110 PPI
Inputs 2 × DP 1.2
1 × HDMI 1.4
1 × HDMI 2.0
1 × D-Sub
Audio 3.5 mm input/output
2 × 5 W
USB Hub 4 × USB 3.0 Type-A connectors
1 × USB 3.0 Type-B input
Power Consumption Idle: 0.5 W
Eco: 32.6 W
Active: 43.7 W
Link BDM4037UW

While the BDM4037UW is primarily aimed at consumers, one of its key selling points (apart from dimensions, resolution, and curvature) is support for Philips’ MultiView PBP (picture-by-picture) technology for up to four devices as well as PiP (picture-in-picture) for up to two devices that will be useful in various control or trade rooms where one of such displays can replace four monitors with a lower resolution. To enable PBP and PiP features, the BDM4037UW is equipped with two DisplayPort 1.2, one HDMI 1.4, one HDMI 2.0 and one D-Sub input. In addition, the monitor has a quad-port USB 3.0 hub with one header supporting fast charging. As for audio, the display is equipped with two 5 W stereo speakers.

At present, the Philips BDM4037UW monitor is available in Europe. The display costs £589 in the U.K. and €749 in Eurozone. Meanwhile, it is unknown when TPV plans to start selling the BDM7037UW monitor in the U.S. as well as its pricing.

Related Reading:

Sources: Hexus, XGN

  • Comments are Closed

3-Way Low Profile CPU Cooling Shoot-Out: Reeven, Phanteks, & Noctua

Today we’re taking a look at horizontal CPU coolers from Reeven, Phanteks, and Noctua. Although horizontal CPU coolers are likely to always remain a niche market relative to their tower-style brethren, the continued growth in and shift to smaller form factor PCs has given them a higher profile among system builders as of late. Sometimes you cannot just buy the best cooler for the job for the simple reason that it will not fit into the system. This is particularly true for compact and/or narrow cases, especially those meant for ITX systems and horizontal placement. With the majority of typical CPU coolers being tower-type constructs, it is difficult to find one that fits inside compact case designs.

To that end we’ve grabbed a few horizontal coolers to take a look at this segment: the Reeven Steropes RC-1206b, the Phanteks PH-TC12LS and the Noctua NH-C14S. These three vertical coolers are all meant for desktop/HTPC designs but they also are significantly different in terms of size, giving users a range of options in trading off size with cooling capacity. The smallest of these coolers, the Steropes, starts us off at 60 mm tall, moving up to 74 mm with the PH-TC12LS, and jumping up to 115/142 mm with the NH-C14S. 

  • Comments are Closed

3-Way Low Profile CPU Cooling Shoot-Out: Reeven, Phanteks, & Noctua

Today we’re taking a look at horizontal CPU coolers from Reeven, Phanteks, and Noctua. Although horizontal CPU coolers are likely to always remain a niche market relative to their tower-style brethren, the continued growth in and shift to smaller form factor PCs has given them a higher profile among system builders as of late. Sometimes you cannot just buy the best cooler for the job for the simple reason that it will not fit into the system. This is particularly true for compact and/or narrow cases, especially those meant for ITX systems and horizontal placement. With the majority of typical CPU coolers being tower-type constructs, it is difficult to find one that fits inside compact case designs.

To that end we’ve grabbed a few horizontal coolers to take a look at this segment: the Reeven Steropes RC-1206b, the Phanteks PH-TC12LS and the Noctua NH-C14S. These three vertical coolers are all meant for desktop/HTPC designs but they also are significantly different in terms of size, giving users a range of options in trading off size with cooling capacity. The smallest of these coolers, the Steropes, starts us off at 60 mm tall, moving up to 74 mm with the PH-TC12LS, and jumping up to 115/142 mm with the NH-C14S.