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Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router Announced with Killer Prioritization Engine from Rivet Networks
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Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router Announced with Killer Prioritization Engine from Rivet Networks

Rivet Networks, the company behind the Killer brand, has been on a roll lately with the launch of a new Ethernet controller (E2500) back in September 2016. Killer’s selling proposition is the fine-grained QoS settings that are automatically applied to certain types of traffic, resulting in better user experience for Internet usage scenarios like online gaming and video conferencing. Till now, their IP has been restricted to client devices with their NICs installed. However, that restricted the effectiveness of their prioritization algorithms to traffic originating from that machine only. In order to be effective in the multi-device usage scenarios of the modern home, the algorithms effectively need to be resident in the router.

This CES, they have partnered with Linksys for the launch of the first router with the ‘Killer Prioritization Engine’. The Linksys WRT gaming edition router – the WRT32X – works closely with router clients that are Killer endpoints (various notebooks with Killer Wi-Fi and/or desktops with Killer wired NICs). Within the consumer’s residence, there is an end-to-end optimization of certain types of traffic for latency minimization. This ensures lesser lag and smoother streaming / video conferencing. Other types of traffic such as bulk downloads are given a lower priority.

The hardware itself is a Tri-Band AC3200 (N600 + AC2600) solution using 3×3 radios (one 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz). Note that the 3×3 5 GHz band is marketed with the ‘Tri-Stream 160’ tag – implying the use of a 160 MHz-wide channel that allows up to 867 Mbps per stream (and, a total of 2.6 Gbps for a 3×3 configuration). The radio belong to the Marvell Avastar 88W8964 family. Other platform details include:

  • 1.8 GHz Dual-Core ARM CPU [ Marvell ARMADA 38x, with a dual-core Cortex A9 host processor ]
  • MU-MIMO Technology for airtime efficiency
  • QoS engine powered by Killer Networking
  • Exclusive optimization for Killer Networking gaming clients in MSI, Alienware, Razer etc.
  • DFS certified for operation in the clear DFS channel airspace
  • 256MB Flash and 512MB of DDR3 Memory
  • 4 high-performance Antennas and high-powered PAs for better range
  • 5-port SOHO-grade Gigabit Ethernet switch with TCAM (1x WAN, 4x LAN)
  • eSATA, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0 Ports for NAS-like network storage
  • Custom-built firmware specially tuned for online gaming traffic

The router is expected to become available in Spring 2017 for $300. We have long been wary of the effectiveness of the Killer solutions in a household with multiple clients simultaneously accessing the Internet. The move towards integrating the algorithms in the router addresses most of our concerns. It ensures that the consumer is able to fully realize the benefits of the Killer solution in their gaming notebooks and PCs.

Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router Announced with Killer Prioritization Engine from Rivet Networks
  • Comments are Closed

Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router Announced with Killer Prioritization Engine from Rivet Networks

Rivet Networks, the company behind the Killer brand, has been on a roll lately with the launch of a new Ethernet controller (E2500) back in September 2016. Killer’s selling proposition is the fine-grained QoS settings that are automatically applied to certain types of traffic, resulting in better user experience for Internet usage scenarios like online gaming and video conferencing. Till now, their IP has been restricted to client devices with their NICs installed. However, that restricted the effectiveness of their prioritization algorithms to traffic originating from that machine only. In order to be effective in the multi-device usage scenarios of the modern home, the algorithms effectively need to be resident in the router.

This CES, they have partnered with Linksys for the launch of the first router with the ‘Killer Prioritization Engine’. The Linksys WRT gaming edition router – the WRT32X – works closely with router clients that are Killer endpoints (various notebooks with Killer Wi-Fi and/or desktops with Killer wired NICs). Within the consumer’s residence, there is an end-to-end optimization of certain types of traffic for latency minimization. This ensures lesser lag and smoother streaming / video conferencing. Other types of traffic such as bulk downloads are given a lower priority.

The hardware itself is a Tri-Band AC3200 (N600 + AC2600) solution using 3×3 radios (one 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz). Note that the 3×3 5 GHz band is marketed with the ‘Tri-Stream 160’ tag – implying the use of a 160 MHz-wide channel that allows up to 867 Mbps per stream (and, a total of 2.6 Gbps for a 3×3 configuration). The radio belong to the Marvell Avastar 88W8964 family. Other platform details include:

  • 1.8 GHz Dual-Core ARM CPU [ Marvell ARMADA 38x, with a dual-core Cortex A9 host processor ]
  • MU-MIMO Technology for airtime efficiency
  • QoS engine powered by Killer Networking
  • Exclusive optimization for Killer Networking gaming clients in MSI, Alienware, Razer etc.
  • DFS certified for operation in the clear DFS channel airspace
  • 256MB Flash and 512MB of DDR3 Memory
  • 4 high-performance Antennas and high-powered PAs for better range
  • 5-port SOHO-grade Gigabit Ethernet switch with TCAM (1x WAN, 4x LAN)
  • eSATA, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0 Ports for NAS-like network storage
  • Custom-built firmware specially tuned for online gaming traffic

The router is expected to become available in Spring 2017 for $300. We have long been wary of the effectiveness of the Killer solutions in a household with multiple clients simultaneously accessing the Internet. The move towards integrating the algorithms in the router addresses most of our concerns. It ensures that the consumer is able to fully realize the benefits of the Killer solution in their gaming notebooks and PCs.

HP Announces Omen X 35-Inch Curved Display for Gamers
  • Comments are Closed

HP Announces Omen X 35-Inch Curved Display for Gamers

HP at CES introduced its first ultra-wide curved display for gamers that belongs to the company’s Omen X lineup. The unit will be among the largest monitors from HP and also the company’s first one to support NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology. The release of the Omen X 35” screen emphasizes growing importance of gaming hardware for HP.

The HP Omen X 35” display is based on an AMVA+ panel with 3440×1440 resolution, 300 nits brightness, 1800R curvature, a 2500:1 contrast ratio, a 100 Hz refresh rate and a 4 ms response time, which makes for an interesting combination of characteristics. To smooth the gaming process, the monitor supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology, but the maker does not disclose supported working range of the tech. HP says that the monitor can reproduce 16.77 million colors and supports 100% of sRGB color gamut, which is something logical to expect from a gaming display that will run primarily Microsoft Windows.

HP Omen X 35″ Specifications
  X3W57AA#ABA
Panel 35″ AMVA+
Native Resolution 3440 × 1440
Maximum Refresh Rate 100 Hz
Response Time 4 ms GTG
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Contrast 2500:1
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 1800R
Color Gamut 100% sRGB
Dynamic Refresh Rate Tech NVIDIA G-Sync
Pixel Pitch 0.2382 mm × 0.242 mm
Pixel Density 106 PPI
Inputs 1 × DP 1.2
1 × HDMI 1.4
Audio 3.5 mm input/output
USB Hub 3 × USB 3.0 Type-A connectors
1 × USB 3.0 Type-B input
Power Consumption Idle: 0.5 W
Active: 120 W
Link X3W57AA#ABA

For connectivity, the Omen X 35” can use either a DisplayPort 1.2 or an HDMI 1.4 input. In addition, the monitor has a three-port USB 3.0 Type-A hub, an audio input and a headphone jack. Since the HP Omen X 35” is a premium monitor for gamers, it does not have integrated speakers because the majority of gamers use standalone audio systems or headphones.

HP will position its Ultra WQHD Omen X 35” as its top-of-the-range monitor for gamers and will price it accordingly, at $1300 when it becomes available in March. Curvature, 21:9 aspect ratio, thin bezel and NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology will be the main selling points of the monitor. At present, there is only one competing display with 3440×1440 resolution and similar features (the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG348Q), so, HP’s offering will be comparable with its direct rival and ahead of other suppliers. Meanwhile, the display will be covered by HP’s one-year limited warranty, which is considerably shorter than other suppliers of monitors provide.

HP Announces Omen X 35-Inch Curved Display for Gamers
  • Comments are Closed

HP Announces Omen X 35-Inch Curved Display for Gamers

HP at CES introduced its first ultra-wide curved display for gamers that belongs to the company’s Omen X lineup. The unit will be among the largest monitors from HP and also the company’s first one to support NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology. The release of the Omen X 35” screen emphasizes growing importance of gaming hardware for HP.

The HP Omen X 35” display is based on an AMVA+ panel with 3440×1440 resolution, 300 nits brightness, 1800R curvature, a 2500:1 contrast ratio, a 100 Hz refresh rate and a 4 ms response time, which makes for an interesting combination of characteristics. To smooth the gaming process, the monitor supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology, but the maker does not disclose supported working range of the tech. HP says that the monitor can reproduce 16.77 million colors and supports 100% of sRGB color gamut, which is something logical to expect from a gaming display that will run primarily Microsoft Windows.

HP Omen X 35″ Specifications
  X3W57AA#ABA
Panel 35″ AMVA+
Native Resolution 3440 × 1440
Maximum Refresh Rate 100 Hz
Response Time 4 ms GTG
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Contrast 2500:1
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 1800R
Color Gamut 100% sRGB
Dynamic Refresh Rate Tech NVIDIA G-Sync
Pixel Pitch 0.2382 mm × 0.242 mm
Pixel Density 106 PPI
Inputs 1 × DP 1.2
1 × HDMI 1.4
Audio 3.5 mm input/output
USB Hub 3 × USB 3.0 Type-A connectors
1 × USB 3.0 Type-B input
Power Consumption Idle: 0.5 W
Active: 120 W
Link X3W57AA#ABA

For connectivity, the Omen X 35” can use either a DisplayPort 1.2 or an HDMI 1.4 input. In addition, the monitor has a three-port USB 3.0 Type-A hub, an audio input and a headphone jack. Since the HP Omen X 35” is a premium monitor for gamers, it does not have integrated speakers because the majority of gamers use standalone audio systems or headphones.

HP will position its Ultra WQHD Omen X 35” as its top-of-the-range monitor for gamers and will price it accordingly, at $1300 when it becomes available in March. Curvature, 21:9 aspect ratio, thin bezel and NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology will be the main selling points of the monitor. At present, there is only one competing display with 3440×1440 resolution and similar features (the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG348Q), so, HP’s offering will be comparable with its direct rival and ahead of other suppliers. Meanwhile, the display will be covered by HP’s one-year limited warranty, which is considerably shorter than other suppliers of monitors provide.

HP Announces Omen X 35-Inch Curved Display for Gamers
  • Comments are Closed

HP Announces Omen X 35-Inch Curved Display for Gamers

HP at CES introduced its first ultra-wide curved display for gamers that belongs to the company’s Omen X lineup. The unit will be among the largest monitors from HP and also the company’s first one to support NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology. The release of the Omen X 35” screen emphasizes growing importance of gaming hardware for HP.

The HP Omen X 35” display is based on an AMVA+ panel with 3440×1440 resolution, 300 nits brightness, 1800R curvature, a 2500:1 contrast ratio, a 100 Hz refresh rate and a 4 ms response time, which makes for an interesting combination of characteristics. To smooth the gaming process, the monitor supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology, but the maker does not disclose supported working range of the tech. HP says that the monitor can reproduce 16.77 million colors and supports 100% of sRGB color gamut, which is something logical to expect from a gaming display that will run primarily Microsoft Windows.

HP Omen X 35″ Specifications
  X3W57AA#ABA
Panel 35″ AMVA+
Native Resolution 3440 × 1440
Maximum Refresh Rate 100 Hz
Response Time 4 ms GTG
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Contrast 2500:1
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 1800R
Color Gamut 100% sRGB
Dynamic Refresh Rate Tech NVIDIA G-Sync
Pixel Pitch 0.2382 mm × 0.242 mm
Pixel Density 106 PPI
Inputs 1 × DP 1.2
1 × HDMI 1.4
Audio 3.5 mm input/output
USB Hub 3 × USB 3.0 Type-A connectors
1 × USB 3.0 Type-B input
Power Consumption Idle: 0.5 W
Active: 120 W
Link X3W57AA#ABA

For connectivity, the Omen X 35” can use either a DisplayPort 1.2 or an HDMI 1.4 input. In addition, the monitor has a three-port USB 3.0 Type-A hub, an audio input and a headphone jack. Since the HP Omen X 35” is a premium monitor for gamers, it does not have integrated speakers because the majority of gamers use standalone audio systems or headphones.

HP will position its Ultra WQHD Omen X 35” as its top-of-the-range monitor for gamers and will price it accordingly, at $1300 when it becomes available in March. Curvature, 21:9 aspect ratio, thin bezel and NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology will be the main selling points of the monitor. At present, there is only one competing display with 3440×1440 resolution and similar features (the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG348Q), so, HP’s offering will be comparable with its direct rival and ahead of other suppliers. Meanwhile, the display will be covered by HP’s one-year limited warranty, which is considerably shorter than other suppliers of monitors provide.