Category: PC components

Gaming monitors are a crucial part of any gaming setup, and selecting the right one can significantly enhance your gaming experience. We recently got our hands on the ZOWIE XL2546X 27-inch gaming monitor, a device that stands out with its TN panel, 240Hz refresh rate, and an S-Switch. These unique features are what piqued my interest as a gaming enthusiast, and I was eager to put this monitor to the test.

This top-of-the-line gaming display boasts a native 240Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth gaming and every action on the screen is fluid and seamless, making it the perfect choice for fast-paced shooters or competitive esports titles. There is a Black eQualizer feature, so dark scenes were enhanced to improve visibility, allowing you to easily spot enemies lurking in the shadows. The Colour Vibrance feature on this monitor allows for customized colour preferences and 20 levels of Color Vibrance settings, allowing us to fine-tune the display to specific gaming requirements. The monitor also comes with an S-Switch, which allowed me to effortlessly access monitor settings and saved modes and quickly change between connected devices, making it convenient with just a click. It even has an adjustable stand that is highly versatile. The stand can be adjusted to the exact height you need while gaming. Its flexibility also enables easy adjustments to the viewing angle, providing the best possible display experience. Finally, a shielding hood is included, which helps reduce glare and distractions, allowing you to focus entirely on your game and giving you a competitive edge over your opponents.

Now, let’s talk about the pros and cons of the ZOWIE XL2546X monitor. The high refresh rate is undoubtedly one of its biggest advantages, ensuring ultra-smooth gameplay and minimizing motion blur. The Black eQualizer feature is also a huge plus, making spotting enemies in dark areas easier. The Color Vibrance feature is excellent for adjusting colour tones and making colour grading more defined. Finally, the S-Switch provides convenience for quick changes between profiles and settings.

However, the ZOWIE XL2546X has a few downsides. While offering fast response times, the TN panel typically has narrower viewing angles and less accurate colours than IPS panels. Additionally, the 1080p resolution may not be suitable for all users, especially those who require higher resolutions for productivity tasks.

VERDICT

The ZOWIE XL2546X is an excellent choice for competitive gamers who prioritize responsiveness and fluid motion. Its native 240Hz refresh rate, Black eQualizer, and Color Vibrance features enhance the gaming experience. However, if you’re looking for higher resolution or wider viewing angles, consider other options.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste is a mouse that will put most gamers in the same doubt, is lighter indeed better? Well, the answers might differ; but everybody who has experienced the mouse will agree on one thing: lighter is faster!

First impressions:

The mouse fits in the hand like it has been customised for the player. With a black matte colour on a hexagonal comb shell, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste is a sleek and minimalistic mouse. The cover exposes the internals too, which is an interesting touch. However, that’s not the only purpose it serves. The shell primarily helps to shed off a considerable amount of weight while retaining its strength and durability. 

The box it comes with also has extra rubber grips for the buttons and the sides. It also has an extra set of PTFE skates that can keep the mouse running smoothly for longer. Since the honeycomb shell design extends to the mouse buttons, the rubber grips provide much-needed functionality.

Usage:

Being customisable up to 16000 dpi, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste is lightning fast. It also has six programmable buttons, including the left and right clickers, to increase the accessibility on-screen. However, since the mouse has a compact design, the buttons can feel too clumped-up and a little cumbersome to use. 

The mouse also features RGB colours only under its scroll wheel, which makes it look slightly underwhelming. Nevertheless, it is a nifty indicator of the mouse’s position if you are playing in darkness and lift your hand off the mouse. The HyperFlex cable also ensures zero entanglements no matter how you jerk or pull the mouse. Being lightweight and petite, it does not tire the hand, and I could use it effortlessly for hours on end. The open design also massively supports airflow and ventilation, preventing the mouse from overheating at any point.

Verdict:

The mouse will ensure long hours of use without exhaustion and add slight flair to your setup. However, its compactness proves to be a hurdle for people with rigid palms or oversized hands. Not that it is a drawback, but that is where its bigger competitors will hold ground better. With a price tag of Rs 3,890, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste might not be the cheapest option on the market, but it is indeed the sleekest. It will be available on Amazon from March 22nd.

HyperX recently sent us its premium live streaming microphone, the QuadCast. While it was an eyecatcher and served its purpose flawlessly, it was also rather bulky and complicated to use. Luckily, HyperX soon followed up with its more compact and user-friendly version, the SoloCast. While the SoloCast might seem minuscule compared to the bigger QuadCast, it packs a powerful punch nevertheless. Here is how my experience with SoloCast was:

First Impressions:

Right off the bat, the Cast, as I like to call it, makes its presence and its intention of being a streaming microphone quite clear. With a plain black body with the HyperX insignia embossed and a simple LED indicator at the front, the SoloCast is a pleasant and simple piece of equipment to look at. Nothing too fancy, nothing too gaudy. But that is where HyperX scores over the rest. Despite having minimalistic aesthetics, SoloCast is powerful and competent hardware and a considerable option for streamers looking to set up their streaming equipment on a tight budget.

Usage:

Since capturing voice and audio as clearly as possible is the goal, HyperX has kept that in focus. Akin to other HyperX aural devices such as headphones, the SoloCast takes the “sound over everything else” approach.” It utilises a single cardioid polar pattern as its name suggests (QuadCast uses four!). It also skips out on some fun parameters in the QuadCast, such as a headphone jack, gain control, shock mount, internal pop filter and complete RGB lighting inside. While the SoloCast does its job perfectly, the lack of these manual controls means you will have to fine-tune its settings using software like OBS or XSplit. If not, a simple plug-n-play also works perfectly well.

Standing almost half as tall as the QuadCast, the SoloCast has a rather compact and easy-going design. Apart from the stand it comes with, it also features a slot for a boom arm, should you wish to mount it so. For other connections, a USB Type-C connection does the job seamlessly. It also has a tap-to-mute sensor on top, allowing the user to quickly mute the microphone if the need arises. The aforementioned LED indicator also displays the status of the mic, so that it isn’t accidentally muted.

Verdict:

HyperX says that it has been certified by TeamSpeak and Discord and there is no doubt about it. The SoloCast is not only versatile, but it is also quite flexible and can be adjusted to fill any spot the user wishes. With a price tag of Rs 5,790, it might seem pricey but it is a pretty value for money deal. Well, that is if you are looking for simplicity and ease of use. It will go on sale on Amazon from January 28th.