Best of Computex 2023: The most intriguing and innovative PC hardware

Computex is probably the most very important PC present of the 12 months, yearly. Just take a look at the identify! Taiwan’s commerce present is the place laptop distributors massive and small unveil their newest, best gear forward of the essential again to high school and vacation procuring seasons. If CES is the place the trade showcases its imaginative and prescient for the long run, Computex keeps it real.

Product cycles for the world’s greatest chip distributors made this Computex really feel considerably muted. Intel and AMD skipped keynotes all collectively, whereas Nvidia spent two hours speaking about AI reasonably than video games. With no new CPUs or GPUs on faucet, the same old barrage of recent PCs packing new tech slowed to a trickle this 12 months, as the subsequent era already arrived earlier this 12 months.

But that hole additionally supplied recent alternatives. With laptops and chips taking a backseat, progressive peripherals flourished at Computex 2023, bolstered by thrilling new software program that guarantees to allow you to do much more with {hardware}.

Which reveals received us deeply, personally excited? This is the perfect {hardware} and software program of Computex 2023. Giddy up.

Corsair iCue Link

There’s a particular development in PC constructing this 12 months, one thing we’re calling the War on Cables. And whereas we’re nonetheless months away (at the least) from new motherboards, circumstances, and even graphics cards designed to get cables tucked away out of your central tower construct, Corsair’s cooling answer must be out this summer season. The iCue Link system permits you to daisy chain a number of followers, AIO coolers, and even coolant reservoirs alongside a single cable line.

The system can handle disparate cooling and lighting duties from its central hub, all accessible in Windows by way of the iCue software program. I really like the way in which that a number of adjoining followers don’t even want cables, they only snap along with electrical contacts like LEGO blocks. The solely draw back is that it’s a proprietary system, so that you’ll have to go all-in on Corsair-branded {hardware} to see the profit. —Michael Crider

Fractal Design Terra case

Hot off the heels of profitable The Full Nerd award for Best Case of 2022, Fractal Design follows up the favored North with Terra.

Terra is the corporate’s latest small type issue case, coming in at 10.4 liters and sporting the identical Scandinavian design options and wooden grain accent that made the North so drool inducing. This sandwich-style case options anodized aluminum, gall wing doorways, and configuration choices that permits for distinctive mixes of {hardware} configurations. It’s an ideal combine of fashion and performance and is well the subsequent SFF case I’m going to construct in. —Adam Patrick Murray

Acer Swift Edge 16

Acer

Acer’s Swift Edge 16 refresh was one of the vital attention-grabbing laptop computer bulletins at a Computex that was…gentle on laptop computer bulletins. No matter: The newest Swift Edge 16 squeezes a 120Hz 3200×2000 OLED show right into a chassis that’s by some means even lighter than final 12 months’s mannequin, and with a AI-enhanced AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, as well.

Yes, it’s only a tad thicker relying on the way you take a look at it. But which means a deeper keyboard (growing from 1.0 to 1.3mm of key journey) and higher cooling, too. It all implies a extra snug, extra highly effective laptop computer — and did we point out that at $1,299, it’s cheaper, too? —Mark Hachman

Frore’s solid-state AirJet cooling will get actual

I’m deeply intrigued by the War on Cables that Mike talked about above, however for me, the one most fun a part of Computex 2023 is Frore Systems’ radical “solid-state” AirJet cooling expertise lastly getting actual. (That’s what occurs at Computex, keep in mind!)

We’ve been following AirJet from the soar, covering the initial reveal, digging deeper at CES 2023, and even going on a Frore Systems lab tour. The magic of AirJet is a mixture of unique supplies, geometry, and physics: The 2.8mm chip has cavities within the prime stuffed with vibrating membranes, which blast cool air throughout the warmth spreader beneath, cooling down a CPU or different part. Despite the miniscule dimensions, it may ship particular person air particles whooshing over the warmth spreader at as much as 200 kilometers per hour, letting PC distributors cool compact parts way more successfully than ever earlier than.

And boy does it. AirJet began exhibiting up in precise merchandise at Computex 2023. First, Zotac’s previously passively cooled PI430AJ Pico mini-PC embraced AirJet to improve from a two-core Atom processor to an Intel Core i3 with eight effectivity cores. That’s a monumental leap in efficiency. Gordon additionally received an opportunity to see a Sabrent Rocket SSD working in a Thunderbolt enclosure to see the distinction AirJet’s lively cooling can present versus conventional passive designs.

Watch it in motion within the movies above, however spoiler alert: AirJet is a number of the most fun PC expertise I’ve seen in years. —Brad Chacos

Nvidia ACE for Games

Nvidia’s Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) for Games gives us what seems like one way forward for PC gaming—and it’s an odd one that will not come to go. That’s not as a result of it’s not doable: ACE envisions a future the place NPCs are literally AIs, with pure language interactions powered by the cloud and/or your GPU. Imagine stepping into a chronic debate with a generic RPG service provider in regards to the deserves of lagers versus stouts, and also you get the thought.

That means, conceptually, that that service provider would possibly know all the pieces there’s to know in regards to the world, together with the sport’s main twists and turns. Or not. Or possibly only a piece of gossip that can advance the story. Narratively, AI characters could bathroom down the principle story or utterly undermine it, that means that recreation designers could merely refuse to make use of ACE. But if AIs enter society, they’ll ultimately make their means into gaming. ACE may very well be the way in which. —Mark Hachman

Mobile Pixels Geminos

Mobile Pixels

I wasn’t ready to re-imagine the tried-and-true, side-by-side dual-monitor setup, however the Mobile Pixels Geminos has me doing simply that. And this stacked pair of 24-inch 1080p shows makes a powerful case for itself.

There’s the ergonomic benefit of getting each screens lifeless middle in your discipline of view. (Both top and angle of the screens are adjustable by way of the stand’s hinged and sliding mechanism.) There’s the space-saving facet, for crowded desks. And there’s the excessive versatility enabled by all of the extras: a built-in webcam and mic, a 10-in-1 dock, each USB-C and HDMI inputs, and compatibility with Windows, macOS, and recreation consoles, so you’ll be able to even have every display related to a separate machine.

It’s a considerate design that takes into consideration many frequent use circumstances. All issues thought of, it’s not that costly both. Mobile Pixels has the Geminos listed on its website for $629.99. —Katherine Stevenson

Azza Sanctum 810 case

AZZA

I’m tremendous pumped about Azza’s funky new PC cases, particularly the Sanctum 810. It sort of seems to be like a futuristic terrarium at first look resulting from its glass panels. The sq. construct and angled prime piece set it aside from extra traditional-looking circumstances as properly.

The unorthodox design is intentional, because it’s meant to carry bigger parts and water-cooling programs. There’s even fairly a little bit of area for cable administration. The entrance followers are additionally positioned in a means that permits airflow via a mesh cowl, which helps preserve all the pieces good and funky. If you’re critical about exhibiting off your PC and have the area for it, the Sanctum 810 seems to be mighty nice. —Ashley Biancuzzo

Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 keyboard

Asus

By the time you end saying “Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 keyboard” you could properly have the ability to purchase one. Despite the lengthy identify, Asus’s first 96 p.c ROG wi-fi gaming keyboard packs in some very spiffy options.

The keyboard’s ROG PBT doubleshot keycaps and delicate comfortable wrist relaxation sound very interesting, however the principle jam for many avid gamers would be the hot-swappable, mechanical ROG NX Snow Switches. ROG’s newest mechanical switches use new composite supplies on the highest and backside change housings to dampen sound. But in addition they have factory-applied lubrication for clean linear keystrokes and “thocky” acoustics.

But the actual draw for me is the keyboard’s Tri-Mode connectivity with ROG Omni Receiver. I’m hoping the latter will imply I can neglect worrying about USB passthrough. While the Tri-Mode connectivity offers you three connection sorts—2.4GHz RF wi-fi, Bluetooth (as much as three units concurrently) and a USB connection—the ROG Omni Receiver means that you can join three units wirelessly utilizing a single USB dongle and “without compromising performance.”

The keyboard format seems to be promising too, providing all of the performance of a full-sized keyboard, however with bonuses like rad hotkeys preprogrammed for Xbox Game Bar and recording. —Dominic Bayley

MSI MAG A850GL energy provide (and its yellow 12VHPWR cables)

It’s the easy issues in life that all the time amaze you. MSI’s reply to what’s extensively believed to be the foundation of melting GPU cables last year was a bit colour. With the corporate’s new 850-watt MAG A850GL energy provide, the corporate has changed the 12VHPWR connection tips to a bright yellow.

That little splash of colour works as a visible indicator to let PC avid gamers know if the cable has labored unfastened or probably was not absolutely inserted. While some individuals nonetheless resist the 12VHPWR cable, the ship as sailed, and the MSI MAG A850GL’s easy yellow cables might go a great distance towards serving to individuals keep away from issues.

Cooler Master Motion 1 haptic gaming chair

Say whats up to a brand new frontier for immersive gaming. Motion 1, a “haptic engine gaming chair” collaboration between Cooler Master and D-Box, goals to get your complete physique within the recreation.

It makes use of greater than 65,000 haptic results resembling actions, waves, vibrations, and textures. All of those supposedly mix to simulate the leisure you’re experiencing on display. And simply in case you’re involved about ergonomics, the Motion 1 consists of magnetic lumbar assist and a headrest as properly. So at the least it can save you your precise physique even when your in-game physique will get pulverized within the digital world.

The chair is already up for pre-order on Cooler Master’s CMODX web site retailing for $2,229.00. That’s greater than the Herman Miller Aeron ergonomic wonder-chair so that you’ll want to actually be invested within the haptic expertise to justify the expense. But on the finish of the day gaming is about having enjoyable, and a chair that makes the expertise extra immersive seems to be like a hell of a variety of enjoyable. —Sam Singleton

PC parts in precise colours!

Thermaltake

For the longest time, PC parts have been restricted in colour. You’ll see plenty of black, and typically (however not all the time) some white and silver as properly. Computer circumstances get extra selection, with occasional choices in wild shades like blue or crimson. (Ahem.) Inside the case? It may be work to seek out sufficient worthy parts to do an all-white construct, a lot much less one with enjoyable colour accents.

But at Computex 2023, distributors are branching out, and it’s great. We noticed a number of circumstances sporting mid-century fashionable hues, with Thermaltake even offering matching AIO coolers. Think pale turquoise, matcha inexperienced, forest inexperienced, and pastel pink—shades that may actually pop in opposition to a white construct, or add a delicate taste to a black one. (A darkish forest inexperienced AIO in an in any other case all-black PC? Yes, please.) Fingers crossed that this turns into a long-lasting development—and one which brings much more colours into play. —Alaina Yee

Cooler Master Qube 500 Flatpack

Cooler Master

Adult Lego is fashionable, and for good purpose—assembling a equipment right into a full merchandise may be enjoyable. Cooler Master is capturing that very same vibe with its Qube 500 Flatpack case, which comes deconstructed. You put it collectively your self.

The novelty of the design is compelling, particularly since this absolutely modular case is straightforward but versatile in each configuration and aesthetics. This 33L mini-tower can match loads of {hardware} inside—an E-ATX motherboard, a CPU cooler as much as 172mm in top, a GPU so long as 365mm, a 280mm radiator, and as much as three 3.5-inch drives. Not all the pieces will match on the similar time, in fact, however rather a lot will.

You can even swap the included panels for different colours, and the choices embody a number of enjoyable shades. There’s a brilliant yellow (aka “Bumblebee”), after which three dessert-colored pastel hues (mint, pink, and cream). With this combine of excellent seems to be and good design, the Qube 500 might go a great distance in recognition, particularly with the corporate’s encouragement of 3D-printed equipment. If it kicks off a brand new development when it launches on September 15, I received’t be shocked. —Alaina Yee

Cooler Master Sneaker X