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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="https://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"> <channel> <atom:link href="https://www.tomshardware.com/feeds.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <title><![CDATA[ Tomshardware RSS Feed ]]></title> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com</link> <description><![CDATA[ ]]></description> <lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 May 2024 06:55:48 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Two Raspberry Pi Picos power this sleek dual clock with an LED matrix ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/topics/raspberry-pi"><u>Raspberry Pi</u></a> community has become well known over the years for developing some of the most useful projects from scratch with fit and finish that rivals many professional equivalents. Today, we've got a wonderful example of such a creation put together by maker and developer Ajith Kumar B. He created a sleek <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.hackster.io/ajithbahul/multi-functional-clock-system-with-two-pico-2040-based-units-c150cb"><u>dual clock</u></a> bundled with some fun bonus features by using two of our favorite microcontrollers, the Raspberry Pi Pico.</p><p>Each Pico is connected using an I2C connection and has a dedicated RTC module. This enables each board to monitor time independently of one another while outputting the same results in tandem between the two displays. One Pico outputs time to a seven-segment display, while the other outputs a variety of information using a MAX7219 LED matrix panel.</p><p>Even though the Picos have a separate RTC module, they need to sync to stay in lockstep. This occurs immediately when the clock is first powered on. Once it's booted, the seven-segment display serves as the primary clock while the second rotates through various functions, like displaying custom messages or reading track titles for MP3 files.</p><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:689px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.02%;"><img id="PEUkXffj7Rpd7MjppAmxUA" name="1715964034.jpg" alt="Raspberry Pi" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PEUkXffj7Rpd7MjppAmxUA.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="689" height="510" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Ajith Kumar B)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:909px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:70.74%;"><img id="ukiWgrZGS2XnQpHNgJthrB" name="1715964047.jpg" alt="Raspberry Pi" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ukiWgrZGS2XnQpHNgJthrB.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="909" height="643" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Ajith Kumar B)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:874px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:70.71%;"><img id="8BAmb6aTd8wgGhwsR58iyA" name="1715964039.jpg" alt="Raspberry Pi" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8BAmb6aTd8wgGhwsR58iyA.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="874" height="618" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Ajith Kumar B)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The Raspberry Pi Picos are housed inside a custom case. The seven-segment display and matrix panel are centered in the middle, while an ultrasonic sensor is positioned on top. This sensor triggers audio files to play when people walk by. The different features can be controlled wirelessly using an IR remote programmed to interface with the clock.</p><p>The clock operates using a custom script by Ajith Kumar B. It handles the basic functions, like processing the clock output for the two separate displays and supporting MP3 so custom audio files can be played. The interface is explained in greater detail on the official project page via Hackster.</p><p>If you want to get a closer look at this <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-raspberry-pi-projects"><u>Raspberry Pi project</u></a> and maybe even recreate it at home, head over to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.hackster.io/ajithbahul/multi-functional-clock-system-with-two-pico-2040-based-units-c150cb"><u>Hackster</u></a> for a full breakdown of how it was developed. Be sure to follow Ajith Kumar B for more cool projects and any future updates to this one.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/raspberry-pi/two-raspberry-pi-picos-power-this-sleek-dual-clock-with-an-led-matrix</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Ajith Kumar B is using two Raspberry Pi Picos to power his dual clock project that has two separate displays. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">AitR4pskbqAzYnQf3eZtPE</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dkXto6iGJfMXvGvpcTbWK9.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 17:11:22 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Raspberry Pi]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dkXto6iGJfMXvGvpcTbWK9.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Ajith Kumar B]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Raspberry Pi]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Raspberry Pi]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Asus vows to improve clarity surrounding warranty claims and astronomical hardware repair costs ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Several customers have complained about unreasonable payments that Asus required to cover "customer damage" on items sent back for warranty work. The rising complaints have prompted many publications and tech channels to investigate the issue. Because of this, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.asus.com/ca-en/news/y2vzd3jkg5fir3qw/?awc=31828_1715941340_cd4e25e4e3952141f81039a80ad14650">Asus released a statement</a> saying it is enhancing its RMA communication processes in the US and Canada.</p><p>According to the company, it will revise its repair pricing structure for out-of-warranty items, analyze returned devices and give the customer a clear list of all free and paid repairs, avoid cosmetic repairs unless they affect functionality or are specifically asked by the customer, and update its automatic emailing system for clarity.</p><p>These were some of the issues that have recently come to light. For instance, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/asus-quotes-ridiculous-dollar2750-fee-to-replace-chipped-gpu-power-connector-canadian-customer-shares-docs-to-back-up-claims-of-egregious-rtx-4090-16-pin-repair-pricing#:~:text=A%20Canadian%20ASUS%20customer%20has,16%2Dpin%20power%20connector%20replaced.">Asus quoted a $2,750 fee to replace a chipped GPU power connector</a> on an RTX 4090 that the user bought for $2,050 (CAD 2,799). The chipped power connector did not affect the GPU's operation, and the customer only brought it in for warranty repair following Asus's advice.</p><p>Gamers Nexus reported that one user sent in a Zephyrus G15 gaming laptop for display issues, only for the Asus repair center to reply that it received the computer with a cracked chassis — damage that wasn't there when the user sent it out. There were also other horror RMA stories where several users sent an RTX 4090 back for warranty repair, only to receive a replacement unit with significant damage.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pMrssIrKcY">Gamers Nexus did an in-depth investigation</a>, sending in a one-year-old ROG Ally Z1 Extreme with a defective SD card reader, a drifting left joystick, and poor battery health. According to the channel, Asus did not recognize the issues they raised — instead, it focused on minor cosmetic damage and quoted $200 for repairs.</p><p>It was only after several back-and-forth emails that Asus addressed the real issues. However, the channel's concern was, 'Would other less assertive users fight for their rights? Or will they pony up the unnecessary $200 the company demanded just to get over with the repair?'</p><p>This wasn't the first time Asus landed in hot water for hardware issues. Almost exactly one year ago, Asus released a BIOS update that tackled a major bug that caused <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-ryzen-7000-burning-out-root-cause-identified-expo-and-soc-voltages-to-blame">some Ryzen 7000 processors to fizzle and burn</a>. However, it initially said that this BIOS update is in beta and will void your warranty if you install it. So, you either risk burning your AMD AM5 processor or losing your money if your processor or motherboard dies on you later through no fault of your own.</p><p>Asus eventually backtracked on this policy and released a statement confirming that it will <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-responds-to-negative-press-around-am5-issues">honor the warranty of motherboards</a> with the latest BIOS fix, as well as AMD EXPO, Intel XMP, and Asus DOCP memory presets. While Asus seems to have resolved the AMD BIOS debacle, there seem to be other problems within the company.</p><p>We would like to believe that Asus will fix the warranty issues its customers face with their Asus products. However, it seems that the company needs to look deeper, not just at its communication strategy but at its warranty and RMA policies. It will take time for any company, especially one as large as Asus, to implement changes. But in the meantime, you should keep your fingers crossed and pray that your Asus device won't run into problems that require an RMA.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/asus-vows-to-improve-clarity-surrounding-warranty-claims-and-astronomical-hardware-repair-costs</link> <description> <![CDATA[ The company is taking steps to make its warranty communication clearer for customers. But will that be enough to give Asus clients the service they deserve? ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">xTpYL9jeGRBsLtxErmnPMH</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WyahSsd2JkiAsQHthtfc4m.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 16:53:56 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Tech Industry]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WyahSsd2JkiAsQHthtfc4m.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Shutterstock]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Asus store]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Asus store]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Three-year-old CPU beats Intel's fastest current chip in RAM benchmark — 7 GHz Core i9-11900K tops 8.3 GHz Core i9-14900KS in PYPrime 32B ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i9-11900k-and-i5-11600k-review">Core i9-11900K</a> may not be one of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-cpus,3986.html">best CPUs</a> anymore, but that doesn't mean the flagship Rocket Lake chip has lost its mojo. Our resident extreme overclocking guru, Allen 'Splave' Golibersuch, has set a new world record with the Core i9-11900K in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://hwbot.org/benchmark/pyprime_-_32b_with_benchmate/halloffame" target="_blank">PyPrime 32B</a>, outperforming the previous record holder, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-core-i9-14900ks-cpu-review">Core i9-14900KS</a>.</p><p>Setting world records isn't just about having the fastest hardware at hand. It helps when chipmakers like AMD or Intel send you trays and trays of processors to find the best sample. However, a lot of preparation work goes into an extreme overclocking endeavor, and finding the best platform for the job is one of them. Despite Intel and most of the hardware world having moved on from <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-rocket-lake-release-date-specifications-performance-all-we-know">Rocket Lake</a>, Splave has discovered that the Intel 500-series platform is probably one of the last low-latency platforms of its kind.</p><p>For those who haven't heard of PYPrime, it's an open-source <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/ram-benchmark-hierarchy">RAM benchmark</a> based on Python that scales with processor and memory overclocking. However, the latter is more important, so Splave beat the previous record set by Korean overclocker safedisk despite the former having an older chip and running at a lower clock speed. Splave's Core i9-11900K was operating at 6,957.82 MHz compared to safedisk's Core i9-14900KS, which was overclocked to 8,374.91 MHz.</p><p>With Rocket Lake, Intel introduced gear ratios, a similar approach AMD had taken with its Ryzen processors. As a quick recap, in Gear 1, the processor's memory controller and the memory speed are in sync. Meanwhile, Gear 2 forces the processor's memory controller to run at half the memory speed, so there's a performance hit. Rocket Lake runs DDR4 in Gear 1 and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/ddr5-vs-ddr4-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-ram">DDR5</a> in Gear 2 by default. Officially, Rocket Lake can support up to DDR4-3200 in Gear 1, so Splave's Core i9-11900K is a remarkable sample since it can do DDR4-3913.</p><p>Unlike other memory benchmarks that favor bandwidth, PYPrime just loves latency. Splave was running DDR4-3913 dual-rank, double-sided memory for interleaving gains. Splave tuned the timings to 12-11-11-18 1T, which are very tight thanks to the Samsung B-die ICs inside the G.Skill Trident Z DDR4-3466 C16 memory kit. For comparison, safedisk was using DDR5-9305 with timings configured to 32-47-42-34 2T. If we do the math, Splave's memory latency is 6.133 ns, up to 11% lower than safedisk's 6.878 ns.</p><p>For extra performance gains, Splave set the affinity to the core closest to the processor's integrated memory controller (IMC) and chose Windows 7, which is lightweight and not hindered by mitigations and security patches that newer operating systems and processors require to be safe. The result is Splave dethroning safedisk in PyPrime 32B by 285 ms. It may not seem like a considerable margin, but every last millisecond counts in competitive overclocking.</p><p>It's always thrilling to see old hardware beating the latest and greatest. Splave's PyPrime 32B world record pays homage to Rocket Lake and, more importantly, ASRock's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/Z590-overclocking-roundup">Z590 OC Formula</a>, the brand's last unrestrained overclocking motherboard. And while ASRock has tested the waters with the Aqua OC, it's not the same. Fear not overclocking enthusiasts; a little bird has whispered to us that the Formula is returning for Z890 and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intels-next-gen-desktop-cpus-have-leaked-arrow-lake-core-ultra-200-series-share-similar-core-counts-with-raptor-lake-refresh">Core Ultra 200</a> (Arrow Lake) series that will hit the retail market before the end of the year.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/three-year-old-cpu-beats-intels-fastest-current-chip-in-ram-benchmark-7-ghz-core-i9-11900k-tops-83-ghz-core-i9-14900ks-in-pyprime-32b</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Allen 'Splave' Golibersuch sets a new PyPrime 32B world record with a Core i9-11900K overclocked to 7 GHz and DDR4-3914 memory. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">F9hwWEWnJFgtHxH8XjD977</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qEzm4vm3eoAkD9dMpEWBGo.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 16:50:09 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[CPUs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[PC Components]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qEzm4vm3eoAkD9dMpEWBGo.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Allen 'Splave' Golibersuch]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Core i9-11900K overclocked to 6.95 MHz]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Core i9-11900K overclocked to 6.95 MHz]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Handheld gaming PC makers look to Intel Lunar Lake CPUs as an alternative to dominant Ryzen Z1 ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>AMD's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-rog-ally-specs-amd-ryzen-z1-extreme">Ryzen Z1</a> series processors have dominated the handheld gaming PC landscape, with MSI being the only manufacturer that utilizes Intel CPUs in its <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/handheld-gaming/msi-claw-a1m-price-specs-release-date">handheld PC</a>. However, it appears this is changing, and more handled makers are looking into Intel CPUs — particularly future Intel chips. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2334860/weibu-signals-lunar-lake-handhelds-are-on-the-way.html">PC World reports</a> that OEM service provider Weibo is looking to use Intel Lunar Lake CPUs in its first-ever handheld gaming PC. The new machine is known as the GP10 and features an 11-inch display.</p><p>The GP10 will reportedly pack high-end internals, equivalent to today's flagship handled gaming PCs like the Asus <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-rog-ally-ryzen-z1-extreme">ROG Ally</a>. Specs include a 10.95-inch 1920 x 1200 multi-touch display (206 PPI) with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Lunar Lake CPU, LPDDR5 memory with a maximum capacity of 64GB, one M.2 2280 NVMe slot supporting up to 2TB, and WiFi 6. Port selection comprises one USB <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/usb-31-usb-type-c-refresher,29933.html">Type-C</a>, TF, and a 3.5mm audio jack.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-lunar-lake-mx-to-use-tsmc-n3b">Lunar Lake</a> is Intel's next-generation mobile CPU architecture, which is set to arrive later this year. The new architecture is reported to consume 40% less power than Meteor Lake. Originally, Lunar Lake was destined to use <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-process-packaging-roadmap-2025">Intel's 18A (1.8nm-class)</a> process node, but <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/manufacturing/intel-18a-based-cpus-will-ramp-to-high-volume-in-2026">delays</a> have forced Intel to switch to TSMC's 3nm-class N3B process technology as a substitute. (Yes, Intel is taking advantage of its competitor's technology to build its new chips.)</p><p>Lunar Lake will utilize a combination of Lion Cove and Skymont performance and power-efficient CPU cores, combined with an eight Xe2 core iGPU, 12MB of cache, and up to a six-tile NPU 4.0 AI accelerator rated for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-says-lunar-lake-will-have-100-tops-of-ai-performance-45-tops-from-the-npu-alone-meeting-requirement-for-next-gen-ai-pcs">45 TOPS all by itself</a>. One of the most significant changes in Lunar Lake's design compared to Meteor Lake is the adoption of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/manufacturing/intels-lunar-lake-mx-mobile-processor-pictured-with-lpddr5x-memory-on-board">LPDDR5X embedded right on the CPU itself</a>. This will significantly improve Lunar Lake's memory performance, power efficiency, and size since laptop manufacturers won't need bulky <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr4-sodimm-notebook-memory-roundup-review,5454.htmlhttps://www.tomshardware.com/news/48gb-sodimm-actualy-exists-where-to-buy">SODIMM</a> slots.</p><p>These attributes make Lunar Lake a compelling alternative to AMD's Ryzen Z1 processors for building a new handheld gaming PC. Even if Lunar Lake doesn't have amazing CPU performance improvements over Meteor Lake, the power efficiency gains alone will make Lunar Lake a significantly more capable SoC for handhelds. The extra bandwidth afforded by the LPDDR5/LPDDR5X modules will also provide the integrated GPU with much more memory bandwidth compared to mainstream DDR5 memory, boosting graphics performance.</p><p>The good news is that we won't have to wait long to see more details about this new Lunar Lake-handled gaming PC. Weibu will be showing off its new GP10 device at Computex next month.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/handheld-gaming/handheld-gaming-pc-makers-look-to-intel-lunar-lake-cpus-as-an-alternative-to-dominant-ryzen-z1</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Weibo is looking to build its first handheld gaming PC with Intel's next-generation Lunar Lake CPUs, making the OEM service provider the first company seriously looking at Lunar Lake in the handled PC market. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">nav967ZJJ83xSDACoYUxQQ</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AnNKHAKRoWqzHPqdR56bXn.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 16:40:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Handheld Gaming]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Console Gaming]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AnNKHAKRoWqzHPqdR56bXn.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Tom's Hardware]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Intel Lunar Lake]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Intel Lunar Lake]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Gigabyte's ultrawide 49-inch Aorus OLED gaming monitor drops to its lowest-ever price of $969 ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>A lot of gaming setups commonly include a dual or even triple monitor formation with a primary monitor for your game and support monitors for chat applications or maybe a YouTube guide video. The benefit of an ultrawide gaming monitor is that it's like having dual monitors seamlessly squished together for a panoramic viewing experience, but with fewer cables and less clutter (monitor arms and stands) on your desk. </p><p>Gigabyte's impressive Aorus CO49DQ ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor is reduced at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gigabyte-co49dq-49-oled-dqhd-freesync-premium-pro-curved-gaming-monitor-with-hdr-hdmi-displayport-type-c-black/6575377.p" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Best Buy down to $969</a> — its lowest price. This means you are currently saving $130 off of this monitor if you take advantage of this deal. This is a premium monitor with a DQHD resolution and gorgeous OLED screen for a vibrant display while gaming away on your favorite title. </p><p>This large monitor features an ultrawide DQHD (5120 x 1440) resolution with a 32:9 aspect ratio and 1800R curve that's wide enough to wrap around your vision. Being an OLED panel the Aorus CO49DQ has a superfast GTG (Gray to Gray) response time of 0.03ms, and supports a 144Hz refresh rate. Color accuracy is 99% of DCI-P3 with 10-bit HDR for more color vibrancy in supported games and media. FreeSync Premium Pro is also included with this monitor.</p><hr><div class="product"><a data-dimension112="59bcd101-5f89-4a78-afee-5db7ec24a590" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: now $969 at Best Buy" data-dimension48="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: now $969 at Best Buy" href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gigabyte-co49dq-49-oled-dqhd-freesync-premium-pro-curved-gaming-monitor-with-hdr-hdmi-displayport-type-c-black/6575377.p" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><figure class="van-image-figure " ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1239px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:49.31%;"><img id="fzhktNoFeH7L6imVcMRW2H" name="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ 49-inch QD-OLED DQHD 5120 x 1440 32-9 ratio 1800R 144Hz 0.03ms KVM .png" caption="" alt="" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fzhktNoFeH7L6imVcMRW2H.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1239" height="611" attribution="" endorsement="" credit="" class=""></p></div></div></figure></a><p><strong>Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: </strong><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gigabyte-co49dq-49-oled-dqhd-freesync-premium-pro-curved-gaming-monitor-with-hdr-hdmi-displayport-type-c-black/6575377.p" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-dimension112="59bcd101-5f89-4a78-afee-5db7ec24a590" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: now $969 at Best Buy" data-dimension48="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: now $969 at Best Buy"><strong>now $969 at Best Buy</strong></a> (was $1,099)<br><br>The Aorus CO49DQ from Gigabyte is a monster of a monitor with a massive ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED panel and immersive 1800R curve. The specs of this premium screen are equally impressive with a GTG response time of 0.03ms, a fast 144Hz refresh rate, and even an included KVM switch.<a class="view-deal button" href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gigabyte-co49dq-49-oled-dqhd-freesync-premium-pro-curved-gaming-monitor-with-hdr-hdmi-displayport-type-c-black/6575377.p" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-dimension112="59bcd101-5f89-4a78-afee-5db7ec24a590" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: now $969 at Best Buy" data-dimension48="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: now $969 at Best Buy">View Deal</a></p></div><hr><p>The Aorus CO49DQ has plenty of connection inputs with two HDMI 2.1 ports with CEC support, a DisplayPort 1.4 port, 1 x USB Type-C, and 2 x Type-A USB 3.2 pass-through ports. A headphone jack and two 5W speakers are also built into the chassis. The stand has swivel and tilt adjustment, but no height adjustment, but with 100 x 100 VESA mounting there's always the option to get a third-party arm or desk mount to provide additional adjustment options.</p><p>See our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/gigabyte-aorus-co49dq-49-inch-oled-gaming-monitor-review">review of the Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ</a> for more details. This monitor impressed us with its stunning image quality, contrast, and amazing build quality. Our only wish was that it would support higher than 144Hz refresh rates.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/gigabytes-ultrawide-49-inch-aorus-oled-gaming-monitor-drops-to-its-lowest-ever-price-of-dollar969</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Gigabyte's ultrawide QD-OLED panel gaming monitor is reduced in price to $969, saving $130 whilst it's on sale. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">MyzMdTQ5PeR5waBRYTFud3</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AiVfh5bz42eF2xXZPo54Lo.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 16:34:56 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gaming Monitors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monitors]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AiVfh5bz42eF2xXZPo54Lo.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Future]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Real Deals]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Real Deals]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Researcher develops AI-infused active noise-cancellation headphones — Tech can isolate user-specified environmental sounds in real-time ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>AI expert Shyam Gollakota from the University of Washington, together with his team of researchers, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2430508-ai-noise-cancelling-headphones-let-you-focus-on-just-one-voice/">found a way to use artificial intelligence</a> in real-time active noise cancellation, which can remove specific sounds without altering the headphone's audio. He presented this idea on May 16 at a conference held by <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://awc.caa-aca.ca/index.php/AWC/AWC2024">the Acoustical Society of America and the Canadian Acoustical Association</a>, where he showed a working prototype. </p><p>Gollakota and his team used a smartphone-based neural network to identify, train, and filter 20 different environmental sound categories, such as sirens and alarm clocks, that one would typically hear daily. This requires the user to select a certain category on the smartphone, which then begins the process of filtering out the environmental sound. This would make headphones incredibly useful in many scenarios where avoiding environmental sound is not possible. </p><p>"Imagine you are in a park, admiring the sounds of chirping birds, but then you have the loud chatter of a nearby group of people who just can't stop talking," said Gollakota. "Now imagine if your headphones could grant you the ability to focus on the sounds of the birds while the rest of the noise just goes away. That is exactly what we set out to achieve with our system."</p><p>The prototype shows microphones attached on both sides of the headphone earcups that are connected via USB to an OrangePi board that also provides audio to the headphones via the audio jack. Based on the board's layout, it is likely to be the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/orange-pi-5-plus-rk3588">OrangePi 5B</a>, which uses the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/firefly-release-modular-rockchip-rk3588-mini-pc">Rockchip RK3588S SoC</a> (an eight-core 64-bit processor with a built-in neural processor with 6Tops computing power, which performs real-time filtering). The phone is likely connected wirelessly to the Pi board, where the user can make specific environmental choices. OrangePi has been actively producing boards with an integrated neural chip and recently worked with Huawei to create a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/raspberry-pi/orangepi-and-huawei-collaborate-on-new-dev-board-with-mystery-cpu-and-ai-processor-huawei-again-hides-chip-specs-from-prying-eyes">development board</a>. </p><h2 id="ai-used-effectively-to-enhance-user-experience-2">AI used effectively to enhance user experience</h2><p>The words 'Artificial Intelligence' are becoming more associated with audio gear, but enabling it for noise cancellation will appeal to many users. This would require a neural network trained to target external sounds and to ensure it does not dampen the actual sound played through the headphones hence having the ability to learn and improve in time.</p><p>Since this is performed in real-time in under a hundredth of a second, the processing needed to be done on a connected device rather than by a cloud server, making such Pi boards perfect for such processing. All it needs is to somehow make a PCB with an NPU that can be integrated into the headphones. It also shows this processing can be done by any computing device with an AI accelerator, possibly using existing headphones on a capable system, provided there's a microphone to pick up background sound.</p><p>The team believes this technology can be implemented on audio devices and is ready for commercialization. If a new generation of audio headgear recognizes and can integrate this, it could enhance the audio experience, bringing an innovation in noise cancellation. As predicted and published in an <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://community.ibm.com/community/user/businessanalytics/blogs/silver-hawak1/2021/08/09/is-artificial-intelligence-the-future-of-headphone">IBM blog post</a>, AI will likely play an important role apart from active noise cancellation and equalization. Hence, it is only a matter of time before we hear many such innovations in the audio space.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/headphones-headsets/researcher-develops-ai-infused-active-noise-cancellation-headphones-tech-can-isolate-user-specified-environmental-sounds-in-real-time</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Shyam Gollakota and his team of researchers at the University of Washington were able to use AI for noise cancellation by using neural chip-empowered boards to filter out background noise in real-time, effectively enhancing user experience ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">pbx7zejWFzECYDxeRdeCPj</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oqakn9Q4ngKDhLsyXcANAY.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 15:21:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Headphones and Headsets]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Peripherals]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oqakn9Q4ngKDhLsyXcANAY.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Shutterstock]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[AI used for active noise cancellation in real time]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[AI used for active noise cancellation in real time]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ OLED gaming monitor review: Tremendous color and contrast ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>It is hard to talk about the latest OLED gaming monitors without invoking absolutes like infinite contrast or perfect motion resolution at speeds above 200 Hz. So, where can they go from there? With unmeasurable black levels, there is no more dynamic range available. When you run one at 200fps or faster, there’s very little input lag and no visible motion blur. What else is there?</p><p>Well, there are at least two things to address: peak brightness and color gamut volume. OLEDs have less light output than similarly priced Mini LED screens. That means while HDR is a stunning affair, you’ll see at most 1,000 nits (more typically 400 to 700). However, OLEDs do have a color volume advantage. With few exceptions, OLEDs, especially those with Quantum Dot layers, are more colorful than their LCD competition.</p><p>Now that OLEDs come in all the same sizes and shapes as LCDs, deciding which one to buy is a bit harder. The latest trend of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-ultrawide-gaming-monitors">best ultrawide gaming monitors</a> featuring 32:9 aspect ratio 45- and 49-inch displays, of which several have come my way. A recent offering is from Gigabyte’s premium Aorus line, the CO49DQ. It has all the attributes of a premium display and rises above the pack with the largest color gamut I’ve ever measured in an OLED. Let’s take a look.</p><h2 id="gigabyte-aorus-co49dq-specs-2">Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Specs</h2> <p>The CO49DQ is a Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) with greater color volume than traditional OLEDs. That means around 15% more saturation, mainly in the red and green primaries. I measured 114.66% coverage of DCI-P3 which is just a hair more than Asus’ version, the PG49WCD, which measured 114.16%. Yes, that’s infinitesimal, but the numbers don’t lie. Most OLEDs I’ve reviewed without a QD layer hit around 98%. The CO49DQ is also very accurate, with a factory calibration verified by my tests. It does not need adjustment and is ready to go right out of the box.</p><p>Contrast is unmeasurable thanks to the black levels of pixels that shut off completely. Brightness is competitive with other OLEDs at around 250 nits for SDR and around 463 nits in HDR mode. The CO49DQ is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified. Thanks to that huge color gamut, the HDR image is stunning. Resolution is DQHD (Double QHD), 5120x1440 pixels, making density an ideal 109ppi, the same as a 27-inch 16:9 QHD screen. So, you have the equivalent of two side-by-side with no dividing line.</p><p>The CO49DQ maximizes this with a gentle 1800R curvature and extensive PIP/PBP options for viewing two sources simultaneously, which is ideal for multitasking. You also get a KVM switch with USB 3.0 supported by upstream and downstream ports, a USB-C input with video capability, and 18 watts for charging.</p><p>Gaming is addressed with a 144 Hz refresh rate, FreeSync and G-Sync support, play enhancements, a Gigabyte Control Center app for the Windows desktop, internal speakers and rugged build quality. The CO49DQ has not been certified by Nvidia, but I confirmed G-Sync operation in my tests. The 144 Hz refresh rate is the only weakness here. It’s not quite fast enough to eliminate all traces of motion blur. Though artifacts are slight, you will find better motion resolution from a 200 Hz or faster screen.</p><p>PPrice-wise, it’s a bit less than the competition and sells for $1,000 at this writing. That’s lower than the cost of two 27-inch QHD OLEDs and lower than similar offerings from Samsung and Asus. It’s also lower than a few 34-inch 21:9 monitors like Asus’ PG34WCDM.</p><h2 id="assembly-and-accessories-2">Assembly and Accessories</h2><p>The CO49DQ comes in a coffin-like container with its parts packed in crumbly foam. The base and upright connect with a single captive bolt, and the panel snaps in place. The cable bundle includes three IEC power cords for different countries. You also get USB-A/B, HDMI and DisplayPort. There is no USB-C cable included.</p><h2 id="product-360-2">Product 360</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:46.90%;"><img id="wXzHy8Ef5csysRTsjqMHRB" name="a-front.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wXzHy8Ef5csysRTsjqMHRB.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="469" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gigabyte)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:21.10%;"><img id="UQWPSpb75zG37zuvLLJLiB" name="a-top.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UQWPSpb75zG37zuvLLJLiB.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="211" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gigabyte)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:100.00%;"><img id="jcCGtXRhHNrAWgCqvPxCXB" name="a-side.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jcCGtXRhHNrAWgCqvPxCXB.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="1000" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gigabyte)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 4 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:54.70%;"><img id="zoUhVYspVBnDKAEE2zFq2B" name="a-back.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zoUhVYspVBnDKAEE2zFq2B.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="547" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gigabyte)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 5 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:33.30%;"><img id="LGfyDupWSKMCEDRPMJSxcB" name="a-inputs.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LGfyDupWSKMCEDRPMJSxcB.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="333" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gigabyte)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>Like all 49-inch monitors, you’ll need four feet of desktop width to accommodate the screen. It isn’t any taller than a traditional monitor. The stand has full ergonomics, with five inches of height, 5/20 degrees tilt, and 30 degrees swivel. Movements are of high quality, and the package is very sturdy and well-built. If you’d rather use a monitor arm, there’s a 100mm VESA mount in the back.</p><p>Like most OLEDs, the screen is glossy, so some placement care is required to avoid reflections. The screen’s large size adds to the challenge, but it’s no more difficult to set up than a television. That glossy coating means optical purity, which the CO49DQ clearly has. The picture is razor-sharp and bright. Even though it only hits 267 nits in SDR mode, that’s offset by the large screen area. In practice, it looks very bright.</p><p>Gigabyte doesn’t include any LED lighting, which helps keep the price a bit lower, but you get five-watt internal speakers that provide decent sound in the midrange frequencies. They play loud without distortion. You can also plug headphones into the 3.5mm jack underneath. Further connections include two HDMI 2.1, a DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C with all DisplayPort functions. KVM is supported by one upstream and two downstream ports, version 3.0, which are managed in the OSD. You can also access settings through Gigabyte Control Center, a free download for the Windows desktop. I noticed that the HDMI and DisplayPort jacks were secured by extra bolts. That means there are no worries about breaking a solder connection where the input is attached to the internal circuit board.</p><h2 id="osd-features-2">OSD Features</h2><p>The CO49DQ’s OSD is accessed by a single joystick control that manages everything. You can also use the Gigabyte Control Center app.</p><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:44.80%;"><img id="p7pXaFDkZXs8oafcHxVPkY" name="osd1.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p7pXaFDkZXs8oafcHxVPkY.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="448" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:45.50%;"><img id="p7dQ47VfRqGU6AMe8X8jsY" name="osd2.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p7dQ47VfRqGU6AMe8X8jsY.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="455" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:44.80%;"><img id="hSJrALh93nRFKMoHJbFTzY" name="osd3.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hSJrALh93nRFKMoHJbFTzY.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="448" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 4 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:44.30%;"><img id="8JyWz9BGaarJSrzrt8dS8Z" name="osd4.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8JyWz9BGaarJSrzrt8dS8Z.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="443" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 5 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:44.60%;"><img id="Wf9MjwgV9UfDuDk8fQm5GZ" name="osd6.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wf9MjwgV9UfDuDk8fQm5GZ.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="446" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 6 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:45.00%;"><img id="KLfAqiGPXwjwV5FXifJHPZ" name="osd5.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KLfAqiGPXwjwV5FXifJHPZ.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="450" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 7 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:62.30%;"><img id="3Lm5A2nVDB96XaLmqq3TWZ" name="osd9.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3Lm5A2nVDB96XaLmqq3TWZ.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="623" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 8 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:62.60%;"><img id="SRc8DcTnejgv2p7SjfyPdZ" name="osd10.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRc8DcTnejgv2p7SjfyPdZ.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="626" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 9 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:44.60%;"><img id="j5CAdw52PPKZai8neyMLmZ" name="osd8.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j5CAdw52PPKZai8neyMLmZ.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="446" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 10 of 10</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:44.60%;"><img id="dnEm7U9HZ4LBG42yHvZMtZ" name="osd7.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dnEm7U9HZ4LBG42yHvZMtZ.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1000" height="446" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>Gaming is up first, and at first glance, it doesn’t look like the CO49DQ has much in the way of extras. The OSD menu has a black equalizer to enhance shadow detail, super resolution, which adds edge enhancement, aspect ratio control, and a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/gsync-vs-freesync-nvidia-amd-monitor">FreeSync</a> toggle. The good stuff is in the Game Assist menu, which you access by pressing once and then clicking right. There, you’ll find timers, refresh rate indicator, aiming points, and a dashboard that can show temps and fan info for other Gigabyte components.</p><p>In the Picture menu are 10 image modes aimed at different game types. The default is Eco, and it is spot-on accurate out of the box. Don’t let the Eco term mislead you; it is not brightness-limited. I could calibrate it and use it for all tests and gaming. If you want sRGB, that mode is included as well.</p><p>Within each mode are the picture controls. You get gamma presets and color temps with a user mode included. It is very precise if you want to tweak it. I was able to achieve pro-level results in the DCI-P3 gamut. sRGB was less accurate and did not allow for calibration. You can also choose the Adobe RGB gamut if you like.</p><p>The KVM switch has a full set of options to bind a single keyboard and mouse to multiple systems. Apply Picture Mode lets you copy settings to the other video inputs, which is very handy. There is a full set of PIP and PBP options to view two sources at once. This is super handy for multitasking and an excellent use of this mega-wide screen.</p><p>Though the internal speakers won’t blow you away with their dynamic sound, the CO49DQ includes four audio modes that subtly alter the soundstage. I could hear the difference between them. Standard worked best in my office, but you may prefer one of the other options. Quick Switch refers to the joystick’s four directions, which can be programmed to perform various monitor functions.</p><p>The CO49DQ includes pixel shift, pixel clean (refresh), logo mitigation, and APL Stabilize to fight burn-in. This is a subtle version of the variable brightness feature I’ve seen in other OLEDs like Asus’ ROG models. It defaults to Low, which means there is very little shift in brightness. Higher settings push highlight areas more. There is no appreciable difference in picture quality, so I left it on Low for less energy consumption.</p><h2 id="gigabyte-aorus-co49dq-calibration-settings-2">Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ Calibration Settings</h2><p>The CO49DQ comes set to its Eco mode which is very color accurate in the DCI-P3 realm and does not limit brightness as its name would suggest. I calibrated this mode for a small gain in accuracy that was more measured than observed. Only gamma showed any error. I’ll talk about that on page four. If you want the sRGB gamut, there is a picture mode so named. However, it is off the mark in its blue primary, making it questionable for use in a color-critical application. I’ll talk about that on page four as well. Below are my recommended settings for SDR content.</p><p>HDR signals reveal four additional picture modes. The default and best one is called simply “HDR.” It has the most accurate color and luminance tracking. The CO49DQ increases its variable brightness function to hit around 463 nits in HDR mode, giving the image plenty of punch. It is possible to adjust brightness, but I recommend leaving HDR settings at their defaults.</p> <h2 id="gaming-and-hands-on-2">Gaming and Hands-on</h2><p>Gaming on a 49-inch 32:9 monitor is a unique experience. While the next closest thing is a 34-inch 21:9 screen, the 49er is much wider. The CO49DQ’s resolution is fine enough that you can sit close, almost within the edges of the screen. Its curve isn’t extreme, but it is enough to recreate the feel of VR goggles.</p><p>Being spoiled by 240 Hz OLEDs of late, I was prepared to dislike the CO49DQ, but it managed to impress me with super low input lag. I could see a bit of motion blur, but I was so drawn in by its quickness that I soon forgot about it. Slower sequences are smooth as glass with perfect motion resolution.</p><p>HDR content presents a stunning picture. There are four modes, and HDR is the default and most accurate. But if you want extra brightness, HDR Game works well without distorting color or gamma visibly. HDR Cinema is good for video content. And make no mistake, the CO49DQ is a great screen for watching movies if you like an intimate cinematic experience. The internal speakers are better than most, with clear loud sound and even a bit of bass.</p><p>If you’re one to track performance while playing, GameAssist is more full-featured than other monitors with its array of aiming points and other status indicators. You can have up to three information fields displayed at once. And since so much real estate is available, the window doesn’t get in the way. The PBP function is also much more useful here since the CO49DQ is the equivalent of two 27-inch 16:9 QHD monitors.</p><p>Turning to productivity, it is indeed a multi-tasking powerhouse. I could have many windows open on the screen with no overlap. I had a Word document in the center with graphics viewers and Photoshop all running at the sides. I had to take care not to let things get too cluttered. The CO49DQ is the perfect monitor for those who believe a messy desk is a sign of a creative mind.</p><p>In all instances, SDR and HDR, the image was superb. It was more than sharp enough for any task or game; it was bright, and it was supremely colorful. Though the wide gamut isn’t strictly accurate for SDR, I have become accustomed to it. And I don’t expect anyone toto complain about too much color. The CO49DQ’s high color saturation is a true asset.</p><p><strong>Takeaway: </strong>The CO49DQ is a superb gaming monitor despite only having a 144 Hz refresh rate. The 49-inch 32:9 format is ideal for those who would run multiple screens and it really enhances gameplay with the ability to create a virtual environment. It has better audio than most and low input lag makes it very responsive to control inputs. During my review time, it did everything well.</p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-monitors,4533.html"><strong>Best Gaming Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>How We Test PC Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html"><strong>How to Buy a PC Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-hdr-monitor-how-to-choose"><strong>How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor</strong></a></p><p>To compare the CO49DQ’s performance, I rounded up three other wide OLEDs, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/asus-rog-swift-pg49wcd-49-inch-gaming-monitor-review/2">Asus’ PG49WCD</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-launches-34-inch-240hz-oled-wqhd-gaming-monitor">PG34WCDM</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/samsung-odyssey-oled-g9/6">Samsung’s OLED G9</a>. Yes, the PG34WCDM is a 34-inch 21:9, but it is close in price. I added two VA screens to fill out the group: <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/lenovo-legion-r45w-30-45-inch-mega-wide-gaming-monitor-review">Lenovo’s R45w-30</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lg-ultragear-45gr75dc-45-inch-mega-wide-200-hz-gaming-monitor">LG’s 45GR75DC</a>.</p><h2 id="pixel-response-and-input-lag-2">Pixel Response and Input Lag</h2><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/4"><strong>Click here</strong></a><strong> to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.</strong></p><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.52%;"><img id="y4L8Bcdz8rzJdZmvaoWy2o" name="17 response.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y4L8Bcdz8rzJdZmvaoWy2o.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="737" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.42%;"><img id="yQTsRh2LEUvugXhyaGZGpn" name="18 abslag.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yQTsRh2LEUvugXhyaGZGpn.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="736" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>If you’ve read my recent OLED reviews, you know I’m hot on the 240 Hz segment and the above charts show why. With 4ms draw times, the faster screens have no motion blur at frame rates above 200fps. The CO49DQ at 144 Hz has a bit of blur. It isn’t much, but it is there. The only 240 Hz 32:9 monitor available currently is the G9, but it will set you back $200 more than the Aorus. The two VA panels are in the mix with decent scores, but they need their overdrive to come close to the OLED’s motion quality and smoothness.</p><p>Input lag scores go hand in hand with refresh rates, with the happy exception being the CO49DQ, which is extremely responsive. This helps mitigate some of that blur and makes it a quick monitor.</p><p><strong>Test Takeaway: </strong>Though the CO49DQ shows some motion blur at its 144fps maximum, it has impressively low input lag, making it an excellent gaming monitor. I would still gravitate to a 240 Hz screen, but if you don’t have a super-fast/expensive video card, 144 Hz is enough for a solid experience.</p><h2 id="viewing-angles-2">Viewing Angles</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:43.40%;"><img id="iFpFSwgeFHe8Zkk7vxigvn" name="CO49DQ viewing.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iFpFSwgeFHe8Zkk7vxigvn.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1000" height="434" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure><p>It’s hard to find fault with OLED viewing angles, so I must get picky. The CO49DQ has an extremely subtle red shift at 45 degrees to the sides. This is a trait found in all QD-OLEDs but it’s such a minor issue that it is barely worth mentioning. You can see a 10% reduction in light output too. From every angle, gamma remains consistent which keeps detail clearly rendered. The CO49DQ is perfectly shareable by two users.</p><h2 id="screen-uniformity-2">Screen Uniformity</h2><p><strong>To learn how we measure screen uniformity,</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/4"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/4"><strong>click here.</strong></a></p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.62%;"><img id="X9jU6xbQenGZhvYPuNhJVn" name="16 bfu.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X9jU6xbQenGZhvYPuNhJVn.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="989" height="738" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure><p>With the room completely dark, I could see a slight bit of extra light down the center of my CO49DQ sample when viewing a 10% gray pattern. Black fields are completely free of visible or measurable light. The issue is not visible in content and not worthy of concern.</p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-monitors,4533.html"><strong>Best Gaming Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>How We Test PC Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html"><strong>How to Buy a PC Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-hdr-monitor-how-to-choose"><strong>How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors.</strong></a> <strong>We cover brightness and contrast testing on</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/2"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/2"><strong>page two.</strong></a></p><h2 id="uncalibrated-x2013-maximum-backlight-level-2">Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:76.54%;"><img id="MxxEk9TRftYTEHSt8PDWBm" name="01 maxwhite.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MxxEk9TRftYTEHSt8PDWBm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="757" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:78.67%;"><img id="gBHNmqWeR5mXC9ZEuv93Hm" name="02 maxblack.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gBHNmqWeR5mXC9ZEuv93Hm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="778" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:76.24%;"><img id="fqndmFM9j2LjajFVHhLBUm" name="03 maxcontrast.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqndmFM9j2LjajFVHhLBUm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="754" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>OLED’s peak SDR brightness is usually determined by how much it varies with changes in content. Asus is the most aggressive, so it measures higher. But the CO49DQ is no slouch. 267 nits is more than bright enough for indoor use. I turned my sample down around 15%, and it was still plenty bright. You don’t need high levels for a stunning picture. The two VA panels are typical of their segment at 429 and 415 nits peak. OLED black levels remain unmeasurable, so contrast is also undetermined, i.e., infinite.</p><h2 id="after-calibration-to-200-nits-2">After Calibration to 200 nits</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.52%;"><img id="srr43QXmrkSjq8bpc8fpNm" name="04 cblack.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/srr43QXmrkSjq8bpc8fpNm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="737" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.52%;"><img id="7vW85koJQTJUHGupoeUZZm" name="05 ccontrast.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7vW85koJQTJUHGupoeUZZm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="737" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:73.41%;"><img id="RtcZN37HQJJ2jrSrK936fm" name="06 ansi.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RtcZN37HQJJ2jrSrK936fm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="726" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The two VA monitors score well for their class at around 3,000:1 contrast after calibration. The OLEDs are on another level. Once brightness is equalized between the OLED monitors, they are indistinguishable in terms of contrast and black levels. The only difference in picture quality comes with color gamut volume and accuracy, which I’ll discuss on the next page.</p><p>The ANSI contrast of OLED also can’t be measured, but the VA screens do reasonably well for their category.</p><p><strong>Test Takeaway: </strong>I included the VA monitors here to bring the count to six. In the contrast contest, OLED versus LCD isn’t a fair fight. The good part is that the CO49DQ and all its competition deliver the same contrast performance. Differences in peak brightness are largely irrelevant once the screens are set to the same output level.</p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-monitors,4533.html"><strong>Best Gaming Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>How We Test PC Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html"><strong>How to Buy a PC Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-hdr-monitor-how-to-choose"><strong>How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor</strong></a></p><p>OLED as a category is proving to be very color-accurate, with most examples not requiring calibration. The CO49DQ is no different. It’s spot-on in its Eco picture mode.</p><h2 id="grayscale-and-gamma-tracking-2">Grayscale and Gamma Tracking</h2><p><strong>Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.portrait.com/"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.portrait.com/"><strong>Portrait Displays</strong></a><strong>. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/3"><strong> here.</strong></a></p><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:605px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:107.77%;"><img id="5uzJpm5wupy8NwG4vvxT9T" name="CO49DQ gray default.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5uzJpm5wupy8NwG4vvxT9T.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="605" height="652" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:605px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:107.77%;"><img id="eNpc6H8dhRFu9dxFeDTPGT" name="CO49DQ gray post.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eNpc6H8dhRFu9dxFeDTPGT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="605" height="652" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:605px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:107.77%;"><img id="6owePkmM453spZmsR5T2PT" name="CO49DQ gray sRGB.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6owePkmM453spZmsR5T2PT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="605" height="652" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The CO49DQ’s first chart shows visually perfect grayscale tracking with no errors above 3dE. However, gamma is off the mark with too-light values at 80 and 90%. This doesn’t have a huge impact on picture quality, but I found some highlights looked slightly washed out in some content. It’s not a significant issue but could be fixed with a firmware update. Calibration lowers the grayscale error but does not change gamma tracking.</p><p>sRGB also has visually perfect grayscale with gamma that’s closer to the mark. Based on this test, it’s completely usable but as you’ll see below, there is a gamut accuracy issue in the blue primary.</p><h2 id="comparisons-3">Comparisons</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:76.04%;"><img id="z8mD2BcRgbQBfN8oF6Zqkm" name="07 grayo.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z8mD2BcRgbQBfN8oF6Zqkm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="752" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.52%;"><img id="qd4w6us2JLqSBbXCgAFDrm" name="08 grayc.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qd4w6us2JLqSBbXCgAFDrm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="737" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.42%;"><img id="Mtu26N9yCTxr8FdmGo3Lwm" name="09 rgamma.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mtu26N9yCTxr8FdmGo3Lwm.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="736" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 4 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.52%;"><img id="xdwjUedpSDr7bHujQwgX4n" name="10 agamma.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xdwjUedpSDr7bHujQwgX4n.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="737" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>You can see the excellent out-of-box results posted by the four OLEDs here. The CO49DQ sits third but since the error is invisible, there is no difference between the screens. None of them need calibration. A few tweaks lower the number so that all monitors are visually perfect.</p><p>The gamma issue I noted lowers the CO49DQ's ranking. Most of the trace is on the reference line, but the 80% and 90% steps spoil the result. Visually, you’ll see some highlights that are a tad washed out. It’s not quite a deal breaker, but since OLED monitors are so close in performance, it’s worth fixing with a firmware update. The 3.64% deviation equates to an actual value of 2.12.</p><h2 id="color-gamut-accuracy-2">Color Gamut Accuracy</h2><p><strong>Our color gamut and volume testing use</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.portrait.com/"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.portrait.com/"><strong>Portrait Displays’</strong></a><strong> Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations,</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/3"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/3"><strong>click here.</strong></a></p><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:490px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:104.08%;"><img id="H4iwi9CdE9Dz6RLo6AgtnS" name="CO49DQ color default.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H4iwi9CdE9Dz6RLo6AgtnS.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="490" height="510" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:490px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:104.08%;"><img id="2GHdZBLvjmWCsVzWkRTotS" name="CO49DQ color post.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2GHdZBLvjmWCsVzWkRTotS.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="490" height="510" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:490px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:104.08%;"><img id="noGvCs7Y2JM5G7zG8QEn2T" name="CO49DQ color sRGB.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/noGvCs7Y2JM5G7zG8QEn2T.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="490" height="510" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The CO49DQ is fairly close to perfect out of the box in the gamut accuracy test. Red and green are a bit over-saturated, which no one will complain about. Magenta is a little off-hue, which is also a minor issue. The gamut is so large that this is expected behavior. Saturation points are linear, which means every shade is over-saturated by the same amount, and balance is maintained. Calibration brings the secondary colors in line for a slight improvement in the error value.</p><p>The sRGB mode has a couple of issues. First, the blue primary is under-saturated, especially above 50%. At 100% stimulus, it only hits 90% saturation. Red is around 10% over-saturated as well. Hue targets are fine, so the overall image is good but not great. The sRGB mode is OK for gaming but too far off spec for critical applications. The CO49DQ should be considered a DCI-P3-only monitor.</p><h2 id="comparisons-4">Comparisons</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.52%;"><img id="MqG2M7kvBahGqdDKosMq9n" name="11 colorde.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MqG2M7kvBahGqdDKosMq9n.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="737" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:88.57%;"><img id="dGoCL3UguhzJNd2sVP4VHn" name="12 gamutvol.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dGoCL3UguhzJNd2sVP4VHn.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="876" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The CO49DQ’s 2.07dE gamut score is referenced to the DCI-P3 spec. sRGB color is at 2.13dE, which sounds fine on the surface, but the under-saturated blue primary is a problem for color-critical work. For gamers, though, there is more than enough accurate color to satisfy.</p><p>The CO49DQ is officially the most colorful OLED I’ve reviewed, with 114.66% coverage of DCI-P3. The only way to see more color is with a couple of Mini LED screens I’ve measured with Acer’s Predator X32 at the tip-top with 119.7%. At this level, you’re looking at a tremendously colorful monitor. The CO49DQ is accurate enough for grading work in the DCI-P3 realm. Though sRGB color seems ideal at 102.45%, its under-saturated blue primary is a problem if accuracy is a priority.</p><p><strong>Test Takeaway: </strong>The CO49DQ is the most colorful OLED of any size or shape I’ve tested. But its sRGB errors mean it is strictly a DCI-P3 monitor. In that realm, it is very accurate and does not require calibration. For gaming, it presents a stunning image, and you won’t need to do anything besides unpack it and set brightness to taste.</p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-monitors,4533.html"><strong>Best Gaming Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>How We Test PC Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html"><strong>How to Buy a PC Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-hdr-monitor-how-to-choose"><strong>How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>Our HDR benchmarking uses</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.portrait.com/"><strong> </strong></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.portrait.com/"><strong>Portrait Displays’</strong></a><strong> Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of</strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking/5"><strong> how we test PC monitors.</strong></a></p><p>The CO49DQ supports HDR10 content with four additional picture modes. There is enough brightness variation in play to increase peak output to around double that of SDR mode.</p><h2 id="hdr-brightness-and-contrast-2">HDR Brightness and Contrast</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:76.34%;"><img id="MjknzjYT2L2CgfmvYyTfPn" name="13 hdrwhite.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MjknzjYT2L2CgfmvYyTfPn.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="755" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:76.34%;"><img id="HcyRxFnWyctnbEbrHn4mhn" name="14 hdrblack.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HcyRxFnWyctnbEbrHn4mhn.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="755" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:989px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:76.44%;"><img id="YqEgbabTMj6eGgzCw2xkan" name="15 hdrcontrast.png" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YqEgbabTMj6eGgzCw2xkan.png" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="989" height="756" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The CO49DQ’s default HDR mode is called appropriately “HDR”, and it is the best and most accurate choice. It dials up the peak brightness to over 463 nits. I measured a 25% window to achieve this, meaning variable brightness is in play. Of course, black levels and contrast can’t be measured. The Asus PG34WCDM and LG 45GR75DC have higher peak levels if that is important to you. For ultimate picture quality, this won’t make a difference. The LG has an aggressive dynamic feature for HDR content, which takes its ratio to nearly 20,000:1. The Lenovo also enhances contrast in HDR mode with a respectable 8,011.9:1 score.</p><h2 id="grayscale-eotf-and-color-2">Grayscale, EOTF and Color</h2><div class="inlinegallery inline-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:750px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:63.47%;"><img id="wPBL6cCbCuDsmQDP7aXykT" name="CO49DQ HDR Gray EOTF.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wPBL6cCbCuDsmQDP7aXykT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="750" height="476" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:500px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:86.00%;"><img id="8mUiLm5BWP5LEWEgr9dxrT" name="CO49DQ HDR P3.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8mUiLm5BWP5LEWEgr9dxrT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="500" height="430" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:500px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:86.00%;"><img id="8qSYeJUs3vXC7E4xb9QydT" name="CO49DQ HDR 2020.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8qSYeJUs3vXC7E4xb9QydT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="500" height="430" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The CO49DQ HDR picture mode hits all the marks for grayscale and EOTF tracking. There are no visible errors and the EOTF stays close to the reference. Its tone-map transition is a bit soft, but this does not negatively impact the image. It is stunning in every respect. Color gamut tracking is superb for both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 content where every point is on or close to target. In the Rec.2020 chart, it stays on point until running out of color at around 85%, which is excellent performance.</p><p><strong>Test Takeaway: </strong>The CO49DQ is one of the most color-accurate HDR monitors I’ve tested. It hits all the marks without need for adjustment and delivers a stunning image. While not as bright as a Mini LED screen, its deep blacks and tremendous contrast more than make up for a lack of peak output. HDR doesn’t get better than this.</p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-monitors,4533.html"><strong>Best Gaming Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>How We Test PC Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html"><strong>How to Buy a PC Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-hdr-monitor-how-to-choose"><strong>How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor</strong></a></p><p>I’ve been reviewing a lot of OLED monitors lately and I confess that I’m struggling to find much difference between them. They all have amazing contrast, accurate and saturated color, and superlative gaming performance. Truly, the only question is, what size works best? The answer depends, of course, on your environment and intended use. If you are one to run two or three screens, a 49-inch 32:9 monitor makes perfect sense. With DQHD 5120x1440 resolution, you get the same pixel density as a 27-inch 16:9 QHD monitor. That is still the sweet spot for performance, where you can get high frame rates without an expensive video card. The total pixel count is lower than Ultra HD. And if you have the room for a four-foot-wide monitor, why not make it an OLED?</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:63.40%;"><img id="HXX9JTpaELZe9FTrT2RvAB" name="a-angle.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HXX9JTpaELZe9FTrT2RvAB.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1000" height="634" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gigabyte)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The CO49DQ competes well with others in its size and resolution class. All the 49ers I’ve reviewed are close in brightness, color accuracy, color saturation and gaming feel. The only thing I would change is the 144 Hz refresh rate. Though it has very low input lag, there is a bit of motion blur. But buying a 240 Hz 49-inch monitor like the Samsung OLED G9 will cost you an extra $200 over the Aorus’ price of $1,000. Having played games on both monitors, I found the difference in feel to be minute. The CO49DQ has almost 20% more color volume, which is something you can plainly see. It’s the most colorful OLED I’ve reviewed to date.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:54.77%;"><img id="deCJRQuPPZrTabzYzASmyM" name="a-main.jpg" alt="Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/deCJRQuPPZrTabzYzASmyM.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1280" height="701" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)</span></figcaption></figure><p>If you have the space and the budget, a 49-inch 32:9 OLED is compelling. It replaces two 27-inch 16:9 QHD screens and eliminates the dividing line. It’s curved enough for immersive play but not enough to distort things like spreadsheets or text documents. And it’s great for watching movies with decent built-in audio. The Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ is a great addition to the category and definitely worth checking out.</p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-monitors,4533.html"><strong>Best Gaming Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reference/how-we-test-pc-monitors-benchmarking"><strong>How We Test PC Monitors</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/monitor-buying-guide,5699.html"><strong>How to Buy a PC Monitor</strong></a></p><p><strong>MORE: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/best-hdr-monitor-how-to-choose"><strong>How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor</strong></a></p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/gigabyte-aorus-co49dq-49-inch-oled-gaming-monitor-review</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Gigabyte’s Aorus CO49DQ is a 49-inch 32:9 OLED panel with 5120x1440 DQHD resolution, 144 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR400 and one of the largest color gamuts available in a consumer display. It’s a pretty good gaming monitor too. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">RD2PQrD7BAptCoxDJcMKFX</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9yoVKVBvZuijyw7AAKqJRc.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 15:12:36 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gaming Monitors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monitors]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9yoVKVBvZuijyw7AAKqJRc.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Tom's Hardware]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Aorus CO49DQ]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Aorus CO49DQ]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ DisplayPort 2.1 has a serious issue with UHBR-certified cables — it could explain Nvidia sticking with DP 1.4 on RTX 40-series ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>One hallmark of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/vesa-displayport-21-usbc">DisplayPort 2.1</a> is its maximum 80Gbps <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amds-rdna-3-will-support-displayport-20-and-uhbr20">UHBR20</a> specification, making it the only consumer-friendly display connection standard in the world that supports 4K 240Hz monitors <em>without</em> Display Stream Compression (DSC). But several notable issues with the UHBR 80Gbps standard significantly hinder its adoption among both consumers and manufacturers alike.<br><br>The biggest problem is cable length. The maximum cable length for a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.displayport.org/product-category/cables-adaptors/" target="_blank">DP80-certified cable</a> is currently only 1.2 meters (3.9 feet), according to the VESA database, with many of the cables only reaching 1m or 0.8m. (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://youtu.be/WS5CAb6s5j8?si=Pz9P0-L-WzuMGqCi">Monitors Unboxed</a> was one of the first to show the implications of this problem, revealing how problematic 1/1.2 meter cables are for most PC setups.)<br><br>Most desktop PC users have likely become familiar with cables that are around 2m in length. That's plenty long to reach a PC sitting on the floor while the monitor is on the desk. 1m cables are a different story, and they're among the shortest video cables you can purchase, including <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/displayport-vs-hdmi-better-for-gaming">DisplayPort and HDMI</a>. Generally, this length can work for laptops and mobile devices, but it's impractical on desktops unless the PC sits on top of the desk. (Yeah, we get it: Desktop has become a bit of a misnomer in the modern PC world.) For typical desktops, a 2m or longer cable connects the monitor (or monitors) to the PC.<br><br>This is a serious problem for users who want to take advantage of the UHBR20 spec. Currently, only an extremely limited number of people even have access to graphics cards and monitors that support UHBR20 — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-radeon-pro-7000-gets-rdna3-48gb-12k">AMD's W7900 Pro</a> cards have a single DP80 port (i.e. DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20), while the others are DP54 (DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR13.5) — and even fewer are likely to have a DP80 capable display. Those who have the hardware side covered will inevitably be using a high-end PC, which means said PC could be sitting on the floor.<br><br>Technically, it's not VESA certification limiting DP80 cables to 1.2m and shorter lengths. Rather, the cable manufacturers need to be able to make such cables. If you have a monitor, graphics card, and cable that are all DisplayPort 2.1 rated, your system will likely try to run at the maximum DP80 bandwidth ... but it may not work on longer cables, leading to artifacting or signal loss. We've seen this with long cables even on DP1.4a, and higher speed signaling will experience greater signal degradation.<br><br>There's also the problem of branding. DisplayPort 2.1 is divided into several different specifications that are not all equal. DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 mode is the only spec that allows for the standard's maximum 80Gbps bandwidth capacity, which has now been labeled DP80. UHBR 13.5 (DP54) and UHBR10 (DP40) support require substantially less bandwidth at 54Gbps and 40Gbps, respectively. But all three standards are still lumped together under the "DisplayPort 2.1" umbrella, and many cables exist that claim DisplayPort 2.1 compatibility without actually being certified for DP40 or DP80 — and no DP54 certified cables exist at present.<br><br>This results in DisplayPort 2.1 having widely varying capabilities, depending on which specification is used. In a real-world context, this could mean that some future DisplayPort 2.1 capable 4K 240Hz OLED monitors might only be capable of delivering their maximum resolution and refresh rate with DSC enabled (which can cut bandwidth requirements and thus speed by up to a third), even though they might have the DisplayPort 2.1 standard equipped.</p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WS5CAb6s5j8" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>Display Stream Compression (DSC) isn't necessarily a bad solution. There are already DisplayPort 1.4 monitors that support 4K 240Hz via DSC, and many newer high-resolution, high refresh rate monitors support DSC to achieve their maximum resolution and refresh rate. But what if you don't want to use DSC? (Currently, using DSC on Nvidia GPUs disables DSR support.) Answer: Too bad.<br><br>Reaching the highest signaling speeds of DisplayPort 2.1 has proven to be very challenging, and is undoubtedly why adoption has been exceptionally slow. DP40 and DP54 modes effectively offered a way for the standard to be released without having to hit higher speeds, but this split in features and specs muddied the waters.<br><br>So far, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/amd-radeon-rx-7000-rdna-3-price-performance-benchmarks-release-date">AMD RDNA 3 RX 7000-series GPUs</a> only support DP54, with the professional W7900 cards adding a single DP80 port. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-arc-alchemist-release-date-specs-pricing-all-we-know">Intel Arc Alchemist GPUs</a> also have DisplayPort 2.1 support, but they're limited to DP40 — which means HDMI 2.1 offers higher bandwidth and resolution support (at up to 48 Gbps). The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/features/nvidia-ada-lovelace-and-geforce-rtx-40-series-everything-we-know">Nvidia Ada Lovelace RTX 40-series GPUs</a> opted to forego DP2.1 entirely, even on the professional cards, instead sticking with the older DP1.4a spec.<br><br>And the display market adoption has been, if anything, worse than the GPU support. The only monitor that currently supports the full DisplayPort 2.1 DP80 spec is the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/gaming-monitors/gigabytes-new-trio-of-aorus-qd-oled-gaming-monitors-ship-in-april-1440p-or-4k-at-up-to-360-hz">Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P</a>, a brand-new 4K 240Hz <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/oled-definition,5752.html">OLED</a> monitor that was only just released. All other concurrent 4K 240Hz and higher resolution displays depend on either HDMI 2.1 (which maxes out at 48Gbps) or less potent DisplayPort variants combined with DSC.<br><br>The DisplayPort 2.1 issues will continue to be problematic as adoption goes mainstream. Resolutions and especially refresh rates continue to increase, thanks to continuing advancements in OLED technology. Sooner than later, outgoing standards such as DisplayPort 1.4a won't have enough bandwidth to drive the latest flagship monitor tech even with DSC.<br><br>This already happened with Samsung's latest Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K 240Hz ultrawide, where DisplayPort 1.4a can't run <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/geforce-rtx-4090-cannot-handle-samsungs-odyssey-neo-g9-240hz-monitor-limited-to-120-hz">the monitor at its max resolution even on an RTX 4090</a>. (HDMI 2.1 with DSC can get there, however, as 7680x2160 240Hz 'only' requires around 42.5 Gbps of bandwidth with DSC enabled, so the 40-series GPUs should be able to run this monitor over HDMI.)<br><br>The good news is that VESA and cable manufacturers are working to increase cable length for DP80 beyond the current 0.8–1.2 meters — just like they did recently with UHBR 13.5 cables through the new <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/cables-connectors/vesa-introduces-displayport-21a-standard-providing-higher-resolution-and-refresh-rate-combos-and-doubling-cable-length-limit">DisplayPort 2.1a</a> standard. One approach is to use active cables rather than passive copper cables. That of course would increase the price of the cables, so that a 2m cable might end up costing closer to $50 than the $10 you'd pay for a passive cable. But DP40 already has certified 3m cables, and DP54 should allow 2m cables, providing for something of a middle ground.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/displayport-21-has-a-serious-issue-with-uhbr-certified-cables-perhaps-thats-why-nvidia-opted-to-stick-with-dp14-on-the-rtx-40-series</link> <description> <![CDATA[ DisplayPort 2.1 is the most powerful video connection standard on the planet, but it has several issues that are seriously affecting its adoption. Specifically, maximum cable length for DP80 certified cables is incredibly short right now. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">viDcm74YeqJZ4ri8XxCCfc</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hcmYr6szRrzVN262uGF4fZ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 14:48:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Monitors]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hcmYr6szRrzVN262uGF4fZ.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Gigabyte]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Aorus]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Aorus]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Brothers charged with stealing $25 million in Ethereum in 12 seconds — Cryptocurrency heist exploited transaction validation process ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>In what U.S. prosecutors are calling the first case of its kind, a pair of brothers have been charged with stealing $25 million worth of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cryptocurrency/despite-ban-china-based-cryptocurrency-investors-made-dollar1b-in-gains-during-2023">cryptocurrency</a> in just 12 seconds. They're now charged with wire fraud and money laundering for the April 2023 heist.</p><p>Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, and James Peraire-Bueno, 28, were reportedly educated at the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/mit-protonic-resistors-analog">Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)</a> in mathematics and computer science. Using the skills they learned at MIT, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-brothers-arrested-attacking-ethereum-blockchain-and-stealing-25m-cryptocurrency">prosecutors say the duo</a> found a way to exploit the Ethereum transaction validation process.</p><p>The brothers allegedly used that exploit to gain fraudulent access to pending transactions on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/crypto-mining-gpu-pricing-plummets-as-demand-cools">the Ethereum blockchain</a>, a public ledger that records and validates cryptocurrency payments. </p><p>The pair was arrested on May 14 on the indictment handed down from the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York. The indictment against the brothers was unsealed (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/US-v-Bueno-Sealed-Indictment-5-15-2024.pdf">PDF</a>) on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.</p><p>Investigators say the brothers altered enough transactions in 12 seconds to redirect $25 million in cryptocurrency to themselves instead of the intended recipients.</p><p>In <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-brothers-arrested-attacking-ethereum-blockchain-and-stealing-25m-cryptocurrency">a press release</a>, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that the brothers used "a technologically sophisticated, cutting-edge scheme they plotted for months and executed in seconds." She also explained that agents from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) played a crucial role in solving the riddle of where the cryptocurrency went.</p><p>A representative for Ethereum confronted the Peraire-Bueno brothers, but they refused to return the funds. Instead, they worked to launder and hide their ill-gotten gains, prosecutors allege.</p><p>U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated the exploit "calls the very integrity of the blockchain into question." Even though this theft was the first of its kind, prosecutors are prepared to uncover any other new forms of cybercrime. "As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the Department will continue to root out fraud, support victims, and restore confidence to these markets," Monaco pledged.</p><p>The Peraire-Bueno brothers face one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, they each face more than 20 years in prison.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cryptocurrency/brothers-charged-with-stealing-dollar25-million-in-ethereum-in-12-seconds-cryptocurrency-heist-exploited-transaction-validation-process</link> <description> <![CDATA[ The pair allegedly used their education in mathematics and computer science to exploit a weakness in the Ethereum blockchain. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">9gxVchxBLFNwZmhWWydopn</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NAgg53aeZHqU6ZWzwQWYLQ.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 14:37:47 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cryptocurrency]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tech Industry]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NAgg53aeZHqU6ZWzwQWYLQ.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Shutterstock]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Ethereum Stock Image]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Ethereum Stock Image]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Western Digital rolls out new 2.5-inch HDDs for the first time in seven years: is 6TB the swan song for 2.5-inch hard drives? ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Western Digital this week <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.westerndigital.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/2024/2024-05-16-western-digital-unveils-worlds-highest-capacity-portable-hdds">introduced</a> a series of 6TB external hard drives based on 2.5-inch HDDs, which highlights the first new capacity point for this hard disk drive form factor in about seven years. There is a catch, though: the HDD is slow and will unlikely fit into any mobile PCs, so it looks like it will exclusively serve portable and specialized storage products.</p><p>Western Digital's 6TB 2.5-inch HDD is currently used for the latest versions of the company's My Passport, Black P10, and G-Drive ArmorATD external storage devices and is not available separately. All of these drives (excluding the already very thick G-Drive ArmorATD) are thicker than their 5 TB predecessors, which may suggest that in a bid to increase the HDD's capacity, the manufacturer simply installed another platter and made the whole drive thicker instead of developing new platters with a higher areal density.</p><p>While this is a legitimate way to expand the capacity of a hard drive, it is necessary to note that 5TB 2.5-inch HDDs already feature a 15-mm z-height, which is the highest standard z-height for 2.5-inch form-factor storage devices. As a result, these 6TB 2.5-inch drives will unlikely fit into any desktop PC.</p><p>When it comes to specifications of the latest My Passport, Black P10, and G-Drive ArmorATD external HDDs, Western Digital only discloses that they offer up to 130 MB/s read speed (just like their predecessors), feature a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 GT/s) interface using either a modern USB Type-C or Micro USB Type-B connector and do not require an external power adapter.</p><p>Western Digital does not disclose whether its 6TB My Passport, Black P10, and G-Drive ArmorATD external HDDs rely on shingled magnetic recording (SMR), like predecessors, or conventional magnetic recording (CMR), but we suppose that we are dealing with SMR drives. Their read performance and increased thickness suggest that the manufacturer added another platter with a similar areal density as that on lower-capacity HDDs, which may be more evidence that we are dealing with SMR. That said, expect particularly low performance when re-writing the data on such drives.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="ARTudgJ8PDRRiy6kX8cSBd" name="wd-P10_BlackonBlack-hero.jpg" alt="Western Digital" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ARTudgJ8PDRRiy6kX8cSBd.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Western Digital)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Western Digital said that the new drives are now available for retail purchase. The WD My Passport Ultra and WD My Passport Ultra for Mac with USB-C are priced at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900246-15168098?sid=tomshardware-us-5707132132899328204&url=https://www.westerndigital.com/products/portable-drives/wd-my-passport-ultra-usb-c-hdd?sku=WDBEJA0060BBL-WESN">$199.99</a> each, and the WD My Passport and WD My Passport for Mac are available for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900246-15168098?sid=tomshardware-us-1146725821437679819&url=https://www.westerndigital.com/products/portable-drives/wd-my-passport-usb-3-0-hdd?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&sku=WDBR9S0060BBK-WESN">$179.99</a>. </p><p>The WD My Passport Works With USB-C is $184.99, while the gaming-oriented WD_Black P10 Game Drive is also <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900246-15168098?sid=tomshardware-us-6198694294294559165&url=https://www.westerndigital.com/products/portable-drives/wd-black-p10-game-drive-usb-3-2-hdd?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&sku=WDBZ7D0060BBK-WESN">$184.99</a>. The SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD retails for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900246-15168098?sid=tomshardware-us-5873097824102176786&url=https://www.westerndigital.com/products/portable-drives/sandisk-professional-g-drive-armoratd-usb-3-1-hdd?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&sku=SDPHE1G-006T-GBAND">$229.99</a>. All of Western Digital's external storage drives come with a three-year limited warranty.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/external-hdds/western-digital-rolls-out-new-25-inch-hdds-for-the-first-time-in-seven-years-is-6tb-the-swan-song-for-25-inch-hard-drives</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Western Digital introduces a new capacity point for 2.5-inch HDDs for the first time in seven years. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">u4fCy3knKH7F3XTLVozxWg</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fb2Haefpj3PccafKXC428e.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 14:04:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[External HDDs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[PC Components]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Storage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[HDDs]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fb2Haefpj3PccafKXC428e.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Western Digital]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Western Digital]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Western Digital]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> </channel></rss>If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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