Throughout 2021, PC Invasion’s hardware team has been able to review some of the latest components, peripherals, and more. Some have been pretty great products, while others could’ve used more time in the shop. From keyboards and cases to CPUs and GPUs, here’s the hardware PC Invasion has reviewed throughout 2021 that you may want to check out for yourself.
Just for note, the reviews are listed from earliest to newest. We’ll also update the list as we post more reviews through the end of the year, so bookmark this page to stay up to date.
Corsair iCue 5000x case
Review date: January 15, 2021
Score: 9/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
Corsair uses angles to channel the air around the glass front panel and to the fans, with the same design providing heat removal via the roof vent. Usually, intakes are far too restricted to provide the necessary volumes of air needed to cool components properly. I thought that would be the case for the front and top panels, but I actually didn’t see any temperature differences when testing my system under full load with the panels off. Corsair clearly spent a lot of time testing the spacing here to get almost identical results to the Airflow D version of this case.
…There are a lot of great computer cases out there, but Corsair clearly strikes a nice balance between style, quality, build features, and cooling potential with the iCue 5000x.
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AGON AG493UCX 49″ Super Ultrawide monitor
Credit: AOC.
Review date: February 1, 2021
Score: 6.5/10
Reviewer: Kurt Perry
Link to review
From Our Review:
The AGON AG493UCX itself is a well-made, fascinating piece of technology that offers many of the core features gamers will be interested in. Unlike many of its direct competitors, its high refresh rate and low response time make playing competitive games viable. However, the few benefits of having a 32:9 monitor are generally outweighed by the irritations it can cause on a daily basis. Until game developers are willing to integrate better support for the 32:9 aspect ratio, it will never be the optimal way to play most games.
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Atlantic Viper 3000 Gaming Desk
(credit: Atlantic)
Review date: February 11, 2021
Score: 7.5/10
Reviewer: Mike Straw
Link to review
From Our Review:
It’s fairly basic from a features standpoint, but does everything advertised well. The quality USB hub will be the most endearing feature for many, and it’s a comfortable sit at no matter your height or the height of your chair.
If you need storage or shelving, however, this isn’t going to be one you should gravitate towards. But, if you’re just looking for a desk that looks good (and if you really like blue), is reliable, and can comfortably support you and all you need on it, the Viper 3000 is definitely worth the look.
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Corsair Katar Pro XT ultra-light gaming mouse
Credit: Corsair
Review date: February 25, 2021
Score: 8/10
Reviewer: Otto Kratky
Link to review
From Our Review:
The Corsair Katar Pro XT is just a fine mouse. It’s not great, it doesn’t exceed expectations, but it doesn’t exactly fall too far below them either. The truth is that I would pick this mouse up in a heartbeat if I really needed one, and that’s mostly because of its price. The Katar Pro XT will retail for just $29.99 USD when it releases, an extremely low cost for a gaming mouse, especially one from a premium brand like Corsair.
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Loupedeck Live
Review date: March 3, 2021
Score: 8/10
Reviewer: Mike Straw
Link to review
From Our Review:
The Loupedeck Live is a great option for anyone needing more than the basic macros on their keyboard. Whether you are editing videos and need a scrubbing dial or even just want something for quicker shortcuts to open software and folders, there’s really nothing the Loupedeck Live can’t make easier.
Assuming you want to use it for only streaming, you’d be better off elsewhere for now. There’s just a bit too much missing for it to surpass the Stream Deck in that regard.
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Corsair K65 RGB Mini
Review date: March 16, 2021
Score: 9/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
This is a great, portable solution that should appeal to esports FPS players and those with limited desk space, though it won’t work for everyone. However, Corsair made an excellent product for its respective class. The company also seems to be taking feedback seriously, as this product’s upgrade to USB 3.0 addressed one of our few gripes in the K100 review. The Corsair K65 RGB Mini raises the bar for 60% mechanical keyboards.
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Corsair MP600 Core
The attached aluminum heatspreader keeps the SSD cool under heavy loads.
Review date: March 31, 2021
Score: 7/10
Reviewer: Mike Straw
Link to review
From Our Review:
The results, though lower than you’d expect, shouldn’t be viewed as too surprising. QLC-based SSDs, which the MP600 Core is, tend to slow down under heavy transfers. The 200GB folder took about 35 minutes in total to complete. As one of the only QLC PCIe 4.0 drives on the market, it’s still a solid performer. And it’s going to be quite a bit cheaper than the TLC options out there.
Overall, it’s hard not to like what Corsair has done with the MP600 Core. Though the file transfer speed may cause pause, being able to take programs that have long load times and speed them up by over 70% should interest anyone.
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Intel Core i7-11700K gaming performance
Review date: April 8, 2021
Score: 7.5/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
All in all, you’ll pay a premium not only to get the 11700K, but to use it to its full potential. Sure, it’s a CPU that is more than capable of churning out hundreds of frames at 1080p and offers arguably decent features for future proofing, but it doesn’t stand out as the definitive choice for value-oriented buyers. To make the most of this CPU, you’ll also need to get a new motherboard as well as an adequate cooling solution. Tack on a new GPU that supports Resizable BAR and a PCIe 4.0 SSD and you’re looking at a big investment. There are simply more cost-effective options right now that offer similar performance. For these reasons we can’t recommend the 11700K over other options unless you have a very specific use case for it like gaming and livestreaming at the highest quality.
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Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Champion Series mouse
Review date: April 9, 2021
Score: 9/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
A lot of companies love to make flashy marketing claims, but they don’t always translate into actual substance. In this case though, our takeaway impressions are that the Sabre is entirely worth it, even if the full 8,000Hz hyper-polling isn’t in use. The CPU scene is about to get a lot more competitive in the coming years though, so you can almost think of the monstrous polling capability as a bit of a built-in future proofing measure by Corsair.
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Anda Seat T-Pro 2 gaming chair
Review date: April 29, 2021
Score: 8/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
The Anda Seat T-Pro 2 is a great option for taller (and somewhat bigger) people that love the style of gaming chairs yet don’t want to compromise on comfort or quality. As for the product itself, we can definitely recommend it. Anda Seat shows that its gaming chairs rank up there with the best in the business. The frame is solid, the cushioning and upholstery is comfortable and of a high quality, and the lumbar support pillow is useful. The fabric should also hold up better than PVC leather, and if yours suffers from any defects, there’s an extended warranty plan for you to use. Judging by the build quality though, this chair should stand the test of time.
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Astro A20 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset
The Astro A20 can be easily switched between PC and console platforms.
Review date: April 30, 2021
Score: 7.5/10
Reviewer: Steven Wong
Link to review
From Our Review:
There’s no denying that the Astro A20 Gen 2 provides superb sound for games, music, and movies. Once you have all the settings locked in, you can sit back and go on an all-day gaming marathon. With its strong signal and range, I didn’t even have to take it off when grabbing my food delivery from my doorstep.
The exceptional wireless audio performance trumps just about all the usability issues. I wouldn’t call the A20 one of my favorite headsets from Astro, but it certainly does an excellent job of immersing you in games. Ultimately, that’s all that matters.
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Corsair K55 RGB Pro XT gaming keyboard
Review date: May 5, 2021
Score: 9/10
Reviewer: Otto Kratky
Link to review
From Our Review:
The Corsair K55 RGB Pro XT is a standout keyboard with very few flaws. It offers a premium typing experience all while being a solid keyboard for gaming. While it’s too large for the average user, anyone with the desk space and reasons to use its macro keys should consider the K55 RGB Pro XT as their daily driver.
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Secretlab Omega review
(credit: Secretlab)
Review date: May 7, 2021
Score: 9.5/10
Reviewer: Mike Straw
Link to review
From Our Review:
Like with any other piece of furniture, the old adage of “you get what you pay for” is often true. With the Secretlab Omega Stealth, that remains the case. Whether you want it for the work day at home or long gaming sessions, this chair provides a level of comfort you’d expect from something that might cost double.
If you are on the border of the size restrictions and don’t like a snug fit, you may want to consider jumping up to the Titan model.
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Anda Seat Masks 1200 gaming desk
Review date: May 13, 2021
Score: 4.5/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
The Masks desk simply feels out of date for its price point. 15 years ago, it might have been hailed as an impressive gaming desk. But there are simply way more impressive and higher quality features that can be had in desks these days. Often times for much less money. I found plenty of suspiciously similar desks at various online merchants under other brand names for a fraction of the price. I suspect Anda Seat customized the Masks gaming desk for its brand, but the parts come from the same manufacturer that the other brands use.
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MOJO Pro Performance Silent Gaming Mouse
Review date: May 14, 2021
Score: 8.5/10
Reviewer: Andrew Farrell
Link to review
From Our Review:
The “silent” part of the name is somewhat misleading, but this has quickly become my go-to gaming mouse, and I don’t see myself switching it for anything else, period. It’s a well-made, responsive mouse that does most of what you’d expect better than other quiet mice. It’s an easy recommendation for someone who has a hearing sensitivity, doesn’t wish to wake their partner at night, or simply likes a quieter mouse.
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Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset
(credit: Corsair)
Review date: May 20, 2021
Score: 9.5/10
Reviewer: Mike Straw
Link to review
From Our Review:
Whether it’s quality or price, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset is anything but cheap. The headset feels sturdy, it withstands the grip (or lack thereof) of a three-year-old, and has sound quality that matches that of premium audio-only headsets.
Being able to connect to two devices at once while also having separate volume controls for each is a major selling point, and the included Dolby Atmos license is a nice incentive.
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Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series mechanical keyboard
Review date: June 21, 2021
Score: 9.5/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
Faults are few and far between with the K70 TKL Champion Series. With competitive pricing, functional controls, solid build quality, attention to detail, and the best response times on the market, this is one of the best overall keyboards on the market for FPS and MOBA genres at the moment. iCUE also offers plenty of RGB and custom macro options, while the board itself has storable profiles and extra competitive features like profile lock. This model has the potential to improve in a few small ways, but it’s sure to please most in its current iteration.
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EPOS H3 gaming headset
Review date: June 30, 2021
Score: 8.5/10
Reviewer: Kevin Foley
Link to review
From Our Review:
The H3 provides killer sound for all forms of entertainment no matter how you power it. The build quality, design, and comfort are all there as well. If you don’t mind paying a little extra compared to other products, you’ll be pleased what it has to offer. With that said, the costs start to add up if you choose to invest in a basic amp and buy the longer cable separately.
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Hardware guides March – December are on the next page.
Published: Nov 25, 2021 09:00 am