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Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Benchmarking Results: Here’s What You Need to Know

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Last week, Review Central was at Qualcomm’s San Diego campus, putting the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip to test. The Snapdragon 835 already powers the new Sony Xperia XZ Premium, which we saw at Mobile World Congress 2017. The 835 chip is also expected to power a long list of upcoming smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S8, HTC 11, Microsoft Surface Phone, Xiaomi Mi 6, Nokia 8, OnePlus 4/5, LG V30, and Pixel 2, among others.

So What Does Snapdragon 835 Bring Along?
The Snapdragon 835 is made using the 10nm process and hence it is even smaller than its predecessor, the 14nm Snapdragon 821. This is really a huge achievement, especially since Samsung is the first manufacturer building the 10nm chips, even sooner than Intel and TMSC.

Most flagship smartphones in 2017 are expected to be powered by the new SoC. The smaller chip will spare room for other features, house a bigger battery, or just to make devices smaller and slimmer. Compared to the Snapdragon 821, the 835 has achieved 30 percent increase in area efficiency, 27 percent higher performance, and 40 percent less consumption of battery.

The more advanced design will give us a significant battery life improvement. The Snapdragon 835 also features Quick Charge 4 which could give our smartphones extra 5 hours of usage with just 5 minutes of charging, or reach 50 percent in 15 minutes. And the good news is that Quickcharge 4.0 is compatible with Google’s specs for USB Type-C charging.

The CPU is the Octacore Kryo 280, which includes four cores with 2.45GHz threshold and four with a 1.9GHz threshold. It also supports one 32-megapixel camera or 16-megapixel dual camera, Bluetooth 5, 4K Ultra HD premium video, and better VR experience with the Adreno 540 GPU.

All in all, with the new Snapdragon 835, you can expect to get better battery life, Quick Charge 4, better graphics performance, and faster wireless capabilities. The new chip also supposedly offers better camera capabilities with Qualcomm’s very own EIS (electronic image stablisation) 3.0 tech built-in. The new chip also offers better audio since it now supports 32-bit, 384KHz audio DACs.

The Snapdragon 835 also have dual camera capability built-in. The chip also comes with a bunch of security features called Qualcomm Haven – this capability allows you to bolster security in various ways. This includes keeping track of suspicious app behaviour and locking them down before they do any harm.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Reference Device
Qualcomm handed us a reference device (prototype) running the new Snapdragon 835 chip. The reference device did not include any active cooling components. In addition, the device was also very thick – so all that may have helped the chip run better and get better cooling.

Do remember to take these benchmark results with a grain of salt. A reference device is not a retail product. Hence, it doesn’t have to worry about things such as  proper cooling or decent battery life. We will revisit the benchmarks once vendors start flooding the markets with finished smartphones running the Snapdragon 835 chip.

AnTuTu Benchmark v6.2.7
We ran the AnTuTu benchmark on the reference device running Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and we came away surprised. The benchmark gave the performance crown to the 835 chip, as you can see below:

AnTutu 1

It’s even faster than the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. However the launch of the iPhone 8 is expected to be pretty soon – so this might all change. For now, according to the AnTuTu benchmarks, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 is the king.

Geekbench v4.0
We also looked at Geekbench 4. This test covers single-core performance, which lets you know how fast a phone will feel in everyday tasks. We also ran the multi-core performance test, which checks out video and photo editing.

Geekbench 1

In terms of single-core performance, the Snapdragon 835 did an amazing job. The 835 also did well in the multi-core tests.

3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark is a very popular graphics benchmark utility on desktops. However, recently, the mobile version has picked up steam. Here too, the Snapdragon 835 did a brilliant job of passing the tests with flying colours.

3DMark Slingshot 3.1

The Benchmarking Result Analysis
Overall, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is an excellent performer.  Qualcomm deserves a pat in the back for opting to go with the 10nm process for manufacturing the chip. This will make the chip more efficient while doing the same work when compared to a Snapdragon 821.

In addition, the Adreno 540 is also considerably faster than the GPU in the 820-series Snapdragons. However, there are plenty of unknowns right now. The lower power consumption figures and faster charging are as-yet untested by us, and beyond raw performance, will be key when it comes to making a buying decision.

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NVIDIA Announces Blackwell GeForce RTX 50 Series

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NVIDIA today unveiled the most advanced consumer GPUs for gamers, creators and developers — the GeForce RTX 50 Series Desktop and Laptop GPUs. Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, fifth-generation Tensor Cores and fourth-generation RT Cores, the GeForce RTX 50 Series delivers breakthroughs in AI-driven rendering, including neural shaders, digital human technologies, geometry and lighting.

“Blackwell, the engine of AI, has arrived for PC gamers, developers and creatives,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Fusing AI-driven neural rendering and ray tracing, Blackwell is the most significant computer graphics innovation since we introduced programmable shading 25 years ago.”

The GeForce RTX 5090 GPU — the fastest GeForce RTX GPU to date — features 92 billion transistors, providing over 3,352 trillion AI operations per second (TOPS) of computing power. The Blackwell architecture’s innovations and DLSS 4 mean the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU outperforms the GeForce RTX 4090 GPU up to 2x.

GeForce Blackwell comes to laptops with all the features of desktop models, bringing a considerable upgrade to portable computing, including extraordinary graphics capabilities and remarkable efficiency. The Blackwell generation of NVIDIA Max-Q technology extends battery life by up to 40% and allows for thin and light laptops that maintain their sleek design without sacrificing power or performance.

DLSS 4 debuts Multi Frame Generation to boost frame rates by using AI to generate up to three frames per rendered frame. It works in unison with the suite of DLSS technologies to increase performance by up to 8x over traditional rendering, while maintaining responsiveness with NVIDIA Reflex technology.

DLSS 4 also introduces the graphics industry’s first real-time application of the transformer model architecture. Transformer-based DLSS Ray Reconstruction and Super Resolution models use 2x more parameters and 4x more compute to provide greater stability, reduced ghosting, higher details and enhanced anti-aliasing in-game scenes. DLSS 4 will be supported on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs in over 75 games and applications on the day of launch.

NVIDIA Reflex 2 introduces Frame Warp, an innovative technique to reduce latency in games by updating a rendered frame based on the latest mouse input just before it is sent to the display. Reflex 2 can reduce latency by up to 75%. This gives gamers a competitive edge in multiplayer games and makes single-player titles more responsive.

Twenty-five years ago, NVIDIA introduced GeForce 3 and programmable shaders, which set the stage for two decades of graphics innovation, from pixel shading to compute shading to real-time ray tracing. Alongside GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, NVIDIA is introducing RTX Neural Shaders, which bring small AI networks into programmable shaders, unlocking film-quality materials, lighting and more in real-time games.

Rendering game characters is one of the most challenging tasks in real-time graphics, as people are prone to notice the smallest errors or artefacts in digital humans. RTX Neural Faces takes a simple rasterized face and 3D pose data as input and uses generative AI to render a temporally stable, high-quality digital face in real-time.

RTX Neural Faces is complemented by new RTX technologies for ray-traced hair and skin. Along with the new RTX Mega Geometry, which enables up to 100x more ray-traced triangles in a scene, these advancements are poised to deliver a massive leap in realism for game characters and environments. The power of neural rendering, DLSS 4 and the new DLSS transformer model is showcased on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs with Zorah, a groundbreaking new technology demo from NVIDIA.

GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring industry-leading AI TOPS to power autonomous game characters in parallel with game rendering. NVIDIA is introducing a suite of new NVIDIA ACE technologies that enable game characters to perceive, plan and act like human players. ACE-powered autonomous characters are being integrated into KRAFTON’s PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and InZOI, the publisher’s upcoming life simulation game, as well as Wemade Next’s MIR5.

In PUBG, companions powered by NVIDIA ACE plan and execute strategic actions, dynamically working with human players to ensure survival. InZOI features Smart Zoi characters that autonomously adjust behaviours based on life goals and in-game events. In MIR5, large language model (LLM)-driven raid bosses adapt tactics based on player behaviour, creating more dynamic, challenging encounters.

Use cases span LLMs, vision language models, image generation, speech, embedding models for retrieval-augmented generation, PDF extraction and computer vision. NIM microservices include all the necessary components for running AI on PCs and are optimized for deployment across all NVIDIA GPUs.

Showcasing how RTX enthusiasts and developers can use NIM microservices to build AI agents and assistants, NVIDIA will release a pipeline of NVIDIA NIM microservices and AI Blueprints for RTX AI PCs from top model developers such as Black Forest Labs, Meta, Mistral and Stability.AI. To demonstrate how enthusiasts and developers can use NIM to build AI agents and assistants, NVIDIA today previewed Project R2X, a vision-enabled PC avatar that can put information at a user’s fingertips, assist with desktop apps and video conference calls, read and summarize documents, and more.

The GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs supercharge creative workflows. RTX 50 Series GPUs are the first consumer GPUs to support FP4 precision, boosting AI image generation performance for models such as FLUX by 2x and enabling generative AI models to run locally in a smaller memory footprint, compared with previous-generation hardware.

The NVIDIA Broadcast app gains two AI-powered beta features for live streamers: Studio Voice, which upgrades microphone audio, and Virtual Key light, which relights faces for polished streams. Streamlabs is introducing the Intelligent Streaming Assistant, powered by NVIDIA ACE and Inworld AI, which acts as a cohost, producer and technical assistant to enhance live streams.

For desktop users, the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU with 3,352 AI TOPS and the GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 1,801 AI TOPS will be available on Jan. 30 at $1,999 and $999, respectively. The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU with 1,406 AI TOPS and GeForce RTX 5070 GPU with 988 AI TOPS will be available starting in February at $749 and $549, respectively. The NVIDIA Founders Editions of the GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 GPUs will be available directly from nvidia.com and select retailers worldwide.

Stock-clocked and factory-overclocked models will be available from top add-in card providers such as ASUS, Colorful, Gainward, GALAX, GIGABYTE, INNO3D, KFA2, MSI, Palit, PNY and ZOTAC, and in desktops from system builders including Falcon Northwest, Infiniarc, MAINGEAR, Mifcom, ORIGIN PC, PC Specialist and Scan Computers.

Laptops with GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPUs will be available starting in March, and RTX 5070 Laptop GPUs will be available starting in April from the world’s top manufacturers, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo, MECHREVO, MSI and Razer.

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Accessories

CORSAIR Unveils Cutting-Edge Hardware at CES 2025: New Cases, PSUs, RAM, and More

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CORSAIR has announced a wide range of new hardware for PC builders and content creators at CES 2025, including power supplies, cases, storage solutions, and memory. Notable new products include the XENEON EDGE 14.5″ Touchscreen, EX400U USB4 External SSD, DOMINATOR TITANIUM Wave Accessory Kit, and CORSAIR Custom Lab memory. Additionally, there are updates to the RMe and HXi power supplies, featuring enhanced capabilities for next-gen GPUs. The revamped 5000T Series of mid-tower cases also introduces support for reverse-connector motherboards.

XENEON EDGE 14.5″ LCD Touchscreen

The XENEON EDGE 14.5″ LCD Touchscreen offers a versatile display with a native resolution of 2560×720. It can be connected via USB Type-C DP-Alt Mode or HDMI and features five-point multi-touch capabilities. The compact and flexible display can be mounted internally or externally, offering a sleek and interactive experience for various uses.

RMe Series (2025) Power Supplies

The updated RMe Series power supplies come in 650W, 750W, 850W, and 1000W capacities, offering Cybenetics Gold-certified efficiency. These fully modular PSUs support NVIDIA RTX 40 and future RTX 50 Series GPUs, with ATX 3.1 compliance and PCIe 5.1 compatibility. The RMe Series ensures stable power delivery and quiet operation with premium capacitors and Zero RPM Fan Mode.

5000T Series Mid-Tower Cases

The updated 5000T Series cases support reverse-connector motherboards and are available in two versions: the iCUE LINK 5000T LX RGB and the standard 5000T. Both versions offer excellent cooling potential and builder-friendly features, including the CORSAIR RapidRoute cable management system and vertical GPU mounting support.

HXi Series (2025) Power Supplies

The legendary HXi power supplies now feature dual 600W-capable 12V-2×6 GPU power connectors, supporting dual-GPU setups and next-gen GPUs. The 1200W HX1200i and 1500W HX1500i models will be updated in Q2 2025. These quiet and efficient power supplies come with a 10-year warranty and modular cables for easy management.

EX400U USB4 External SSD

The EX400U USB4 External SSD delivers high-speed data transfer rates of up to 4,000MB/s sequential reads and 3,600MB/s sequential writes. It supports USB Type-C and is compatible with Thunderbolt 4, making it ideal for on-the-go professionals and mobile content creators. The EX400U will be available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities starting January 23.

CORSAIR Custom Lab DRAM

CORSAIR’s Custom Lab now offers personalized DRAM, allowing users to choose from eight design options for Black, White, or Gray VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 modules. Speeds of 6,000MT/s or 6,400MT/s with CAS latencies ranging from 30 to 36 are available. This new customization option enhances the aesthetic appeal of memory modules.

DOMINATOR TITANIUM Wave Accessory Kit

CORSAIR has announced the DOMINATOR TITANIUM Wave Accessory Kit, an elegant upgrade for their renowned DOMINATOR TITANIUM DDR5 memory. This kit features two robust metal top bars, each adorned with a unique wavy RGB LED lightbar, adding a refined visual touch to any setup. Installation is quick and hassle-free, allowing users to achieve a striking new look within minutes. The lightbars are also easy to disassemble, offering DIY enthusiasts the opportunity for personalized customization. With its premium build quality and distinctive design, the Wave Accessory Kit enhances the aesthetics of DOMINATOR TITANIUM memory seamlessly.

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Components

Preview: DarkFlash DY470 PC Case

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The world of PC building is one where aesthetics meet functionality, and the DarkFlash DY470 ATX PC case stands out as a shining example of this balance. Offering a combination of sleek design, spacious interiors, and efficient cooling capabilities, the DarkFlash DY470 is a compelling choice for both novice builders and seasoned enthusiasts.

Design
DarkFlash has established itself as a reliable brand in the PC hardware market, known for its innovative designs and quality products. The DY470 model is a testament to their commitment to providing top-tier PC cases that cater to the needs of modern builders. This case is designed to offer a panoramic view of your components while ensuring excellent airflow and cooling efficiency.

Upon unboxing the DarkFlash DY470, one is immediately struck by its modern and stylish design. The case is packaged securely, with high-density foam protecting its delicate tempered glass panels. The package includes all necessary screws and stand-offs, a microfiber cloth for cleaning the glass, and zip ties for cable management.

While the package itself did not include a manual, a quick scan of the QR code on the tempered glass downloads a digital manual. The case’s design is dominated by its panoramic tempered glass panels on three sides, providing an unobstructed view of the interior. This design not only enhances the visual appeal but also allows builders to showcase their components and RGB lighting setups.

Technical Specifications
The DarkFlash DY470 PC case supports ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards, and is designed as a panoramic tower made of steel (0.7 mm SPCC) and tempered glass. It provides ample clearance for components, with space for a 175 mm CPU cooler, a 410 mm horizontal GPU (or 390 mm vertical), and a 200 mm PSU.

The case includes 2x 2.5 in PCIe expansion drive bays and supports dual 360 mm radiators or up to ten 120 mm fans for efficient cooling. Its I/O ports feature 2x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, and separate headphone and microphone jacks. The case’s dimensions are 497 mm in length, 298 mm in width, 473 mm in height, and it weighs 9.97 kg.

Build Quality
The DY470 features a minimalist yet striking external design. The tempered glass panels are complemented by a sturdy steel frame, ensuring durability and stability. The front panel is sleek, with a subtle DarkFlash logo at the bottom. The bottom area houses the I/O ports, including a Type-C port for fast data transfer, audio jacks, dual USB Type-A ports, and power/reset buttons.

The rear panel is functional, with perforations for side-mounted fans, PSU, and hard drive bays. The overall build quality is impressive, with no flex or weak points in the frame, giving it a robust feel.

Internal Design and Layout
The internal layout of the DY470 is designed for optimal airflow and ease of installation. The back-connect motherboard layout ensures that cables are neatly managed, with plenty of room for routing and hiding them. The case supports flexible GPU mounting with both horizontal and vertical PCIe slots, allowing builders to choose their preferred GPU orientation.

The spacious interior can accommodate high-end components, including large GPUs and tall CPU coolers. The case also offers multiple mounting options for radiators and fans, supporting dual 360 mm radiators or up to ten 120 mm fans, making it ideal for custom water cooling setups.

Cooling and Airflow
One of the standout features of the DarkFlash DY470 is its cooling capability. As mentioned earlier, the case supports extensive fan and radiator configurations, ensuring that your components remain cool even under heavy loads. The perforated rear panel and the top and bottom vents provide ample airflow, while the detachable dust cover beneath the motherboard tray helps keep the interior clean.

The case’s design ensures that there are no airflow obstructions, with strategically placed vents and fan mounts. This thoughtful design will translate to excellent thermal performance, keeping temperatures low and ensuring system stability.

Installation Process
Building a PC in the DarkFlash DY470 is a straightforward and enjoyable process. The spacious interior and well-placed cable management features make installation a breeze. The case includes several features to assist with the build process, such as removable drive trays, tool-less drive installation, and ample cable routing holes.

The case also comes with stand-off thumb screws and an internal speaker, adding convenience during the build. Whether you are a first-time builder or a seasoned pro, the DY470 offers a user-friendly experience that simplifies the assembly process.

Verdict
The DarkFlash DY470 ATX PC case is a remarkable blend of aesthetics, functionality, and performance. Its panoramic design, combined with excellent cooling capabilities and ease of installation, makes it a top choice for PC builders of all levels. Whether you’re looking to create a high-performance gaming rig or a visually stunning showpiece, the DY470 will deliver on all fronts.

Price: AED 699

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