Asus Maximus VIII Formula

We have high expectations for Asus’ Maximus VIII Formula, given its predecessors’ prowess, and it looks like we won’t be disappointed. The Maximus VIII Hero was one of the first motherboards to introduce customisable lighting, with Gigabyte playing with the idea too. However, the Formula takes lighting to a whole new level. Asus has removed all other colours from the PCB, making it look quite un-ROG-like, with just a few hints of colour around the heatsinks, plus a red LED POST code display. However, this setup enables the comprehensive RGB lighting system to make a big impact, and it’s configurable in a desktop program.

Intel Core i3-6100

Apart from the odd surprise such as the Haswell-based, multiplier-unlocked Pentium G3258, Intel’s CPU offerings have been consistent in terms of overclocking abilities for a number of years. We usually get two K-series models per quad-core generation that are multiplier-unlocked – a Core i5 and Core i7, with a raft of non-K-series CPUs ranging from Core i7s all the way down to Pentiums. The Core i3-6100, then, appears to be a fairly run-of-the-mill offering for a £100 Intel CPU, except it now has one advantage that Intel is desperately trying to keep quiet – base clock overclocking.

Asus ROG GX700

Asus’ new gaming laptop has a water-cooling module and a desktop-class GTX 980

The Asus GX700 is, technically, a new Republic of Gamers laptop. It’s also absolutely bananas. It’s the first laptop we’ve seen to come with its own water-cooling module, the Hydro Overclocking System, which is a mighty lump of mesh and metal that connects to the laptop with a row of self-sealing valves and a heavy, reassuring lever.

SteelSeries Rival 100

SteelSeries extends its mouse range with an affordable version of the Rival

When SteelSeries first introduced the Rival, I praised it as "an excellent product that exhibits the sort of polish that SteelSeries is so good at delivering".

But that was over two years ago, so how has it developed its very popular gaming mouse now? In subtle ways that you probably weren’t expecting.

Unboxing this mouse for the first time, I was struck by how little the overall shape had changed, because it’s mostly surface detail that is different.

LastPass 4

Roland Waddilove takes a new look at this updated password manager, which now addresses what happens after you die

Passwords have been in the news recently, and the most popular ones have been published on the web. It takes seconds to find them using Google or Bing. How many of yours are on the list? If you use a password manager like LastPass, then there's no excuse for insecure passwords that are easily guessed by hackers or Googlers, and they can be as complex as you like. LastPass remembers them all for you and the password manager has been upgraded to version 4.

Edifier Studio M1360 2.1 Speakers

A new set of low priced powered speakers from Edifier

Edifier produces quite a wide range of speakers. From simple (and inexpensive) USBpowered units, designed specifically for those on the move to top-of-the-range surround sound systems that rival anything in the market. Yet in my experience they all have one thing in common: a realistic price for a stylish quality product.

AVM FRITZ!WLAN Stick AC 860

Andrew Unsworth connects elderly laptops to 802.11ac networks with AVM’s latest USB wi-fi adaptor

Although 802.11ac wi-fi routers have been around for some time, not all devices ship with 802.11ac adaptors. This is a shame, because 802.11ac connections provide higher data transfer speeds at greater distances than older wi-fi standards. This is good news for anyone who frequently streams movies and music from a NAS device, or those lucky enough to have high-speed fibre-optic broadband.

HP ProLiant Gen8 G1610T MicroServer

Mark likes what HP has done with its MicroServer line

Back in 2012, I covered the HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer. It cost less than £200 for the most basic model.

The HP ProLiant Gen8 G1610T is a modern equivalent and can be had for an astoundingly low £124.99 after cashback from HP.

I still use the N40L, and unpacking the G1610T revealed lots of similarities, but there are also significant enhancements that HP has made over the past three years.

YoYoTech Warbird RS12 Gaming Desktop

A £1,500 high-performance PC, with a little extra added

Built into a monolith black tower, YoYoTech's Warbird RS12 begs you to take a closer look. And as you peer through the windowed side panel of the NZXT H440 case, you'll find plenty to like.

Forming the basis of this system is an MSI Z170A-G43 PLUS motherboard. Sitting in the CPU socket is an Intel i7-6700K Skylake processor running at 4.4GHz, and it's cooled by an NZXT Kraken X31 liquid cooler.