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Moiz Banoori

At Tech4Gamers, he is recognized for his insightful features and opinion pieces, where he blends his passion for gaming with a keen understanding of technological trends. His work, marked by depth and accessibility, makes him a respected voice in the tech and gaming community.

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Customizing the tech stuff you own is fun and a way to make them look distinguishable. I do it whenever I change my gaming laptop or mobile phone, as it’s easy to do so on them. Until now, we could only customize laptops using stickers or custom skins, whereas phones also offer a case option besides the custom skin. 

Sure, the stickers and skins are a great way to add some character to your laptop, but they’re not as reliable. They get worn out over time, and dealing with the leftover adhesive is a hassle. This is where a new idea for customization is needed, and Asus has introduced a concept called Project Dali at Computex 2024 for what could be the next step in laptop customization.

Asus’s Project Dali

From what we have seen so far at Computex 2024, Asus seems to be taking laptop customization to the next level. Asus told us that their Project Dali concept is going to allow users to customize their laptops with just a few clicks on their trackpads and be done with it in a few seconds. 

Your laptop’s lid will be the one to display the change, as there’s an e-ink display installed, and it is responsible for showing off whatever artwork you decide to place there.

The Whole Process

The Project Dali concept is currently being tested on the Asus Zephyrus G14 laptops, which have a 12″ e-ink display on their back instead of a flat and boring lid. This 12″ display features a six-color combination and Spectra 6 display technology to process and showcase the custom designs and pictures to the user. It takes about 20 seconds for the image of your choice to be completed, and the resulting image is vibrant and of high quality.

You can control and set the images through Asus’s proprietary application made for this. Which has several stock images stored; however, you can even use AI-generated images or ones from your gallery too. Not only this, as per Asus, the e-ink display doesn’t draw a considerable amount of power, and even if the laptop’s battery dies, the image would still be visible.

The Repercussions

Since the laptop is going to have an e-ink display on its lid, it does raise concerns about the fragility of the overall laptop. We can’t say for sure right now as it’s still in the concept phase, but if it’s going to be a real thing, Asus has to come up with a protective layer for the display. So, it doesn’t break or lose pixels so often. Because, at the end of the day, it’s still a display slapped to the laptop’s back.

The Concept Is Impressive

Even with all the repercussions in mind, the idea is still very cool and shouldn’t be limited to just gaming laptops. It would be more interesting to see this concept on creator laptops like Asus’ ProArt series, so the creators can take advantage of the additional display on their laptops. Unfortunately, we do not have a release window yet for this concept to become a reality.

And we can only hope that it doesn’t get scrapped and forgotten forever, as it could prove to be a useful feature. Moreover, laptops with multiple displays already exist, so I don’t see any excuse why this one can’t make it into the real world.

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Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives on a variety of PCMR hardware ranging from the Best Motherboards and CPUs to the Best GPUs, RAM, and PSUs.

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A USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard refers to a set of specifications created to establish consistent communication protocols and physical connectors for peripheral devices and computers. Over the years, USB standards have evolved, improving speed, efficiency, and functionality.

It’s worth mentioning that these standards are defined by the USB Implementers Forum (USBIF), an organization that oversees the development and promotion of USB technology. I will take you through all the different USB standards and their meanings.

Connector Types

USB-A

From my observations, USB-A is the most used USB connector type. It’s that rectangular connector we see at the end of almost every USB cable these days. It fits in one way and is mainly found in host devices like televisions, laptops, computers, and media players.

USB-B

USB-B is an older type of USB connector with a square shape. You don’t see them much anymore, but it’s usually connected to printers or similar devices.

Mini-USB

As the name suggests, Mini-USB is a smaller port type that is suitable for mobile devices like cameras and MP3 players. However, it’s rarely used these days and has been replaced by micro-USBs.

Micro-USB

Micro-USBs are popular nowadays and mostly found in Android phones, Bluetooth headsets, smartwatches, and similar devices. They’ve largely replaced mini-USBs and come in micro-USB A and B types.

USB-C

USB-C, or USB Type-C, is my favorite because it aligns well with modern USB standards. It has a reversible design, which eliminates the frustration of incorrectly plugging in the connector. USB-C supports various USB standards, from USB 2.0 to USB4, and facilitates other technologies like Thunderbolt 3 and 4, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery (PD).

In addition to the types of USB connectors I talked about, each USB cable and port has a speed standard, which I will explain in detail below.

USB 1.0 and 1.1: The Beginnings

The USB standard was introduced in 1996 with USB 1.0. Its goal was to simplify connections between computers and peripheral devices by replacing many connectors with a single interface. USB 1.0 supported data transfer rates of 1.5 Mbps (Low Speed) and 12 Mbps (Full Speed), which were adequate for keyboards, mice, and printers at the time.

 In 1998, USB 1.1 was released to address bugs and improve compatibility, but it maintained the same speed ratings. It could only use USB A and B-type connectors similar to USB 1.0.

USB 2.0: A Leap Forward

When USB 2.0 came out in 2000, it felt like a huge leap forward. This version could transfer data at 480 Mbps, making it fast enough for external hard drives and flash drives. Its backward compatibility with older USB ports made the transition easy and encouraged widespread adoption.

USB 3.0 and 3.1: SuperSpeed and Beyond

Introduced in 2008, USB 3.0 had data transfer speeds of 5 Gbps, which was perfect for handling HD video, large backups, and quick data access. Plus, it made charging devices faster and more efficient.

Then in 2013, USB 3.1 came along and doubled the speed to 10 Gbps. The fact that it was still backward compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0 versions made upgrading hardware a seamless experience. It could support all types of USB connectors, which was a great convenience.

USB 3.2: Consolidation and Speed

In 2017, when USB 3.2 was introduced, I was grateful for the attempt to streamline the USB 3. x environment. USB 3.2 consolidated previous versions (USB 3.0 and 3.1) under the new branding and introduced clear naming conventions: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps).

The standout feature for me was the 2×2 configuration, which used two lanes of 10 Gbps each to achieve a total of 20 Gbps. This standard, primarily used in USB-C connectors, allowed for simultaneous charging, data transfer, and video streaming, something I found incredibly useful.

The Next Generation

Based on the Thunderbolt 3 specification, USB4 supports data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps, enabling ultra-fast data transfers, high-resolution displays, and more robust power delivery.

Designed to be highly versatile, the standard supports multiple data and display protocols simultaneously. Additionally, it retains backward compatibility with USB 3.x and USB 2.0, ensuring broad device compatibility. It also enables content to be displayed at 8K 60 fps resolution and even at 16K 60 fps.

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Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives on a variety of PCMR hardware ranging from the Best Motherboards and CPUs to the Best GPUs, RAM, and PSUs.

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While it may still feel like AMD just released the Ryzen 7000 Series Processors based on the brand new AM5 CPU Socket and the Zen 4 platform, the truth is, it’s been more than nine months.

What does that mean for you and me? Well, if you weren’t content with the performance of the Ryzen 7000 ‘Raphael’ CPUs, you’re in luck.

AMD has finally taken off the covers with regards to its Ryzen 9000 Series Processors based on the redesigned Zen 5 microarchitecture, but of course, the same AM5 socket thanks to AMD’s commitment to upholding their sockets’ longevity. 

We’re looking at noticeable improvements with regard to real-world performance and lowered power consumption/higher efficiency alongside a pair of new chipsets to begin with.

AMD Ryzen 9000 Series: Zen 5

Let’s discuss Zen 5.

For starters, AMD is touting an apparent increase of 16% when it comes to IPCs (Instructions Per Clock) for the Ryzen 9000 ‘Granite Ridge’ processors, which aligns with the rumours we’d talked about.

As far as other relevant architectural changes are concerned, Zen 5 claims to introduce an improved branch predictor, which should improve the accuracy and efficiency of the instruction cycles while reducing collective latency, theoretically speaking. Zen 5 is also said to offer higher throughput and a deeper window across its design for enhanced parallelism.

Moving on, AMD has doubled the L2 to L1 memory bandwidth and expanded their SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) to a full 512-bit wide (from the preceding 256-bit SIMD) one for AVX-512 workloads.

Also, Zen 5 is being fabricated on a 4nm node from TSMC, a modest shrink from the 5nm TSMC nodes used for Zen 4, which should help achieve the acclaimed power efficiency figures.

Long story short, the introduction of Zen 5 should translate to noticeably improved performance for productivity workflows, especially those that utilize the AVX-512 instruction set.

Initial SKUs

Following their historical tradition, AMD has chosen to release four CPUs from the Ryzen 9000 Series for now, all of which are the ‘X’ SKUs, meaning that these four processors will come with unlocked multipliers for overclocking.

First off, the Ryzen 5 9600X starts as the cheapest Zen 5 option, followed by the Ryzen 7 9700X as the mid-tier CPU, and championed by the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9950X as the flagship processors.

Moreover, we’re seeing reduced Base Frequencies for all four SKUs by a difference of about 200 MHz to 800 MHz, whereas Turbo Frequencies remain unchanged or slightly increased by 100 MHz at most.

However, the headlining feature for Zen 5 and Ryzen 9000 CPUs isn’t the clock speeds; it’s the power consumption figures.

TDPs for the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X are down to just 65W from 105W, while the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9950X see a reduction of 50W, i.e., a TDP of 120W, down from the 170W figure seen in their Zen 4/Ryzen 7000 counterparts.

New Chipsets

Needless to say, the Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs will be backwards compatible with AMD’s 600-Series Motherboards, but nevertheless, AMD has come up with two brand new 800-Series Chipsets, i.e., the X870 & X870E.

Firstly, a few of the hallmark features include USB 4.0 as standard on both motherboards along with PCIe 5.0 as well. 

Secondly, the X870E motherboard will also have WiFi 7 integrated into the chipset instead of WiFi 6E with the 600-Series chipsets.

Also, users can expect to see higher AMD EXPO/Overclocking Support on these two chipsets, i.e., base speeds for DDR5 RAM should see a slight boost to 5600 MHz, up from 5200 MHz with Zen 4/Ryzen 7000 Series. It should be noted that AMD will not be releasing the 800-series motherboards alongside the new CPUs; the boards will launch a month later.

What About Gaming?

AMD itself confirmed that as far as gaming performance is concerned, the initial ‘X’ SKUs of the Ryzen 9000 Series will be unable to outperform the ‘X3D’ SKUs from the Ryzen 7000 lineup that are based on AMD’s revolutionary 3D V-Cache architecture.

Gaming enthusiasts will have to wait until the last quarter of the year, at the very least, for the Zen 5 ‘X3D’ Processors that will most probably cement the newest Ryzen CPUs as the Best Gaming Processors.

Until then, if you’re more of a productive user, the Ryzen 9000 Series, complete with its Zen 5 microarchitecture and revamped 800-Series chipsets, seems to pose a compelling bargain, especially for people who are looking to upgrade from their older Ryzen 3000 ‘Matisse’ or Ryzen 5000 ‘Vermeer’ systems.

So When Are We Getting It? And How Much?

Prospective buyers can expect to see the embargo lifted on the 31st of July, so the Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs should start flooding the market within the first two weeks of August 2024.

As far as MSRPs are concerned, if we look at AMD’s historical pricing conventions, the Ryzen 5 9600X will be available for somewhere around $280-320, ranging up to $580-620 for the best-in-class Ryzen 9 9950X.

Nonetheless, there’s only a month and then some to go until the actual release of the Ryzen 9000 Series. Till then, we suggest you get ready to make a dent in your wallet.

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Awais Khan

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly hold the role of a Hardware Reviewer. Here, I leverage my expertise to provide readers with in-depth insights into PC hardware, ensuring they have the information needed to make informed decisions.

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Over time, I have noticed a shift in the PC building community towards mid-tower PC cases. As someone who has used full-tower and mid-tower cases in many builds, I understand the pros and cons of both options. However, the trend is changing, and my latest build surprised me when I gravitated entirely to a mid-tower chassis. So, here’s why full-tower cases aren’t as popular as mid-tower cases.

Size And Space Considerations

When thinking about full-tower (E-ATX) cases, the first thing that comes to mind is their size. These cases are undeniably larger than the ordinary chassis; unlike in the past, we don’t need 18 hard drive bays. Sure, on the one hand, the extra space is great for high-end gaming rigs and custom water loops. However, for most of us, the additional size is impractical.

To explain, people like myself don’t have the leisure of a spacious gaming room or a big desk where we can comfortably fit an E-ATX chassis. This is where mid-tower cases come in handy. Mid-tower PC cases provide a perfect balance of enough space within the chassis while being more compact and manageable.

JayzTwoCents explains which case size is perfect for different use cases, showcasing the potential of mid-tower cases.

Bigger Cases Are More Expensive

Another major reason full-tower cases aren’t as popular as mid-tower cases is the cost implications of the former. The higher cost is usually relative to the materials and features E-ATX cases offer. However, average users don’t always require features such as additional connectivity or hot-swappable drive bays.

Take the Corsair 1000D Obisidian, for example. It towers at a luxurious ~$525 while offering a titanium body, built-in smart lighting, and a triple chamber design.

On the other hand, mid-tower cases are relatively affordable. They provide all the essential features to build a powerful gaming rig without the extra eye candy that triples the price. The Cooler Master MasterCase H500 A-RGB, costing around ~$139, provides everything a gamer like myself could ask for. So, for many, especially those on a budget, a mid-tower case is the perfect option to house their components without going out of budget.

E-ATX Cases Are Easier To Assemble In

When building and maintaining a PC, I always consider the chassis’ ease of assembly. Because full-tower cases are spacious, they are much easier to build in rather than mid-tower cases. The greater space is the main reason why I have preferred E-ATX cases for a long time.

Full-tower cases are prone to look empty if you’re not planning a custom water loop. That’s why a mid-tower chassis is perfect for most gaming rigs. You might have trouble with the cable management and be required to stuff in the components, but there won’t be any issues with airflow or PC temperatures.

Aesthetics And Trends

Although not the most important factor when choosing a PC case, I consider the aesthetics the chassis provides. I don’t only look at the PC’s appearance in the chassis but also whether the chassis complements the room’s overall aesthetic. Due to their larger size, full-tower PC cases tend to dominate the desk space.

On the other hand, mid-tower cases offer more subtle and versatile aesthetics that blend within most desk designs. Whether you’re looking for a minimalistic design or want to build an exotic PC, an ATX case can provide the aesthetics you want.

The Perfect Fit For Most Users

In conclusion, finding the perfect PC case for your use case scenario can be tricky. However, you should keep in mind that full-tower cases aren’t as popular as mid-tower cases, and if possible, you should stick with the latter to save costs and space.

Whether upgrading or building your first PC, a mid-tower case can likely meet all your needs and requirements without a full-tower chassis. Even so, with the advancement of hardware, I can’t wait to see how more compact PCs can become without compromising airflow and temperatures.

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Ali

I intitally started by writing CPU comparisons and since then have written articles of all kinds, from Wikis and How-Tos to dedicated CPU reviews. Currently, I test and review CPUs, motherboards, and sometimes, RAM.

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I have found myself in situations where a single monitor doesn’t feel like enough, and I could really use an extra one. And I’m pretty sure most of you have experienced the same situation as well and have done something about it too. Either by getting an ultra-wide monitor or an extra-standard monitor. Needless to say, just getting an additional monitor isn’t enough; you have to completely optimize it. 

Adjusting The Display Settings 

One of the most basic and important settings one should adjust for all the monitors attached is the display settings, which set the resolution, orientation, and refresh rate. Your monitors might not have the same native resolution, refresh rate, or the way you have hooked them together. So, you have to adjust everything individually to benefit from the multi-monitor setup at its optimum level.

To adjust all of these on your Windows 10-based PC, open “Display settings” by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting the aforementioned setting option. 

Orientation

Firstly, we need to ensure that our monitors are connected perfectly and aren’t mismatched in their placement. For instance, if you move the cursor to the left to make it show on the screen of that monitor on the right, there’s an issue that needs to be fixed immediately. Inside the “Display settings,” you can see two rectangles marked 1 and 2. You can select either of them and move around to adjust their placement according to the monitors. Once done, hit the apply button, and the changes will be applied instantly. 

Furthermore, do not forget to adjust the brightness of both monitors and match their brightness level either from the display settings or through the monitor’s settings, which are accessible via the monitor’s physical buttons. 

Resolution, Scale, and Refresh Rate

On the same page, select each monitor and scroll down a little to see the resolution and scaling options. Adjust the resolution of each monitor to whatever number it supports. If the monitor’s native resolution is 1440p, select 1440p from the settings.

Now, the scaling option is quite subjective and depends on the user as to how big or small he wants icons and other content to look on screen; usually, 100–125% scaling is set by default for most monitors. 

Last but not least, if you’re rocking a high refresh rate multi-monitor setup, then it is possible that they are stuck on 60 Hz. So, head over to “Advanced display” settings from the same page and select each monitor from the drop-down menu up top. After doing so, change the refresh rate of each monitor to its maximum supported one.

Custom Wallpapers 

Custom wallpapers add character and visual appeal to your setup, which otherwise isn’t there, and the desktop looks boring. Moving straight to the point, setting up different wallpapers for each monitor is quite effortless and takes a minute or two at most. 

To start the process, right-click on the Windows 10 desktop and hit the “Personalization” option. Now, you can see different images under the “Choose your picture” tag. Right-click on any of the images you like, and you’ll see options to either set the image for monitor 1 or 2. Set them according to your preference, and if you want to set an image of your own, click on the “browse” option to do so.

In case you want to spread out the same wallpaper across both screens, click on “Choose a fit” and select “Span.”

Handy Shortcuts

Shortcuts come in handy to do stuff instantly, especially when you have a setup with multiple monitors. One of the most useful shorts on Windows that I use are these:

1. Press Shift + Windows + Right/Left to move the window in use to the left or right of the second monitor. 
2. Press Windows + Right/Left to move the currently active window to the left or right of the same monitor.
3. Press Windows + Down/Up to maximize or minimize the active window.
4. Press Windows + Home if you wish to minimize inactive windows across all monitors.

Third-Party Applications

Windows, by default, does not provide a lot of freedom for customizing and optimizing your multi-monitor setup. So using third-party applications in such circumstances makes a lot of sense. You can use DisplayFusion to optimize your multi-monitor setup, as it features many customizing options. It lets you fiddle with settings related to the taskbar, lock screen, Windows snapping, numerous shortcuts, monitor fading, and much more. 

These Settings Are Basic Yet Effective 

Most of the settings you need to optimize your multi-monitor setup and benefit from it to the fullest are already on Windows. Besides that, they impact the user experience considerably and do not require plenty of time to set up, which is why I always optimize my multi-monitor setup before starting anything.