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performance

New Steam Performance Overlay
Product Reviews

How to use Steam’s in-game performance monitor to display real FPS with DLSS or FSR frame generation active

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Steam’s new in-game overlay performance monitor is in a public beta, allowing users to see the real FPS, including with DLSS and FSR frame generation, and today I’ll show you how to install and configure it.

On my Steam Deck and recent Linux gaming PC experiment, I use MangoHud to display live performance stats while I play; in fact, a version of it comes ready to go on Steam Deck. But there is a new means to monitor your performance, and it comes directly from Valve.

First, what fresh features does this new monitor bring to the table? As you would expect, it reports the same as every other performance monitor:

  • FPS
  • CPU and GPU performance (including graph)
  • System and GPU RAM usages
  • System temperatures

But with Steam’s new in-game performance monitor, we can also see when DLSS / FSR frame generation has been enabled. Yes, the new Steam performance monitor can detect frame generation technologies and provide us with both the DLSS/FSR framegen-enhanced FPS and the baseline FPS in one-second intervals. With this, we can see, at a glance, the FPS boost provided by frame generation. If we are not using any form for frame generation, then we only see one set of FPS values. If frame generation is in use, we get both sets of FPS counters.

Does the new performance monitor work in Linux? Yes, it does! I just tested it with my Bazzite setup, currently in the lounge, ready for a quick gaming session. So, how can you get this working with your setup? I’ve detailed all the steps that you will need to do to get this working on your Windows and Linux gaming PC.


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How to install the new Steam in-game performance monitor

1. Click on Steam and Settings.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

2. Click on Interface and under Client Beta Participation select “Steam Beta Update”.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

3. Restart Steam for the change to take effect.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

4. Click on Steam and Settings.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

5. Scroll down to “In Game” and the right side of the window will update.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

6. Scroll down the In Game section to Overlay Performance Monitor and select Show performance monitor. Change the drop down value to your requirement. I chose the top left of the screen.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

7. Under Performance detail level, select your required level of detail. I chose to show everything!

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

8. Unless you are blessed with excellent eyesight. Change the text scaling level and the background opacity. The further up the scale, the larger the text, the darker the background.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

9. Close the window and start your chosen game. The new performance overlay will appear.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Why did I mention changing the text scaling level? Because on my first go, the text was incredibly hard to read!

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The big Leslie Benzies interview: MindsEye, Everywhere, and the double-edged sword of GTA
Esports

MindsEye developer confirms layoffs as it “focuses on updates and performance optimization for MindsEye”

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MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy has confirmed it has “had to make the painful decision” to lay off staff.

The studio’s inaugural title was met unfavorably by both critics and players alike, with the team saying on Discord that it was “heartbroken” about the ongoing optimization and performance issues.

According to IGN sources and our understanding of the UK’s redundancy legislation, over 100 developers could be at risk of redundancy, although the studio itself has not confirmed how many jobs are now at risk.

“We can confirm that we have had to make the painful decision to notify our hardworking team of some internal changes at Build A Rocket Boy,” the studio said in a statement to GamesIndustry.biz.

“While we are working to reassign roles for as many of those impacted by these changes as possible, sadly we are initiating a formal consultation process that may result in redundancies. This decision has not been made lightly, and we are committed to handling this process with transparency, fairness, and respect for all employees. We will provide further details to the team over the coming weeks.

“The launch of MindsEye has been a significant milestone for Build A Rocket Boy, but we know that we still have a lot more to do to grow our community in the coming years,” the statement added. “The challenges we’ve faced have only strengthened our resolve and, while we are deeply saddened by today’s decision and thankful to our incredible team, this shift allows us to focus on delivering ongoing updates and performance optimization for MindsEye, while also ensuring the long-term success of Build A Rocket Boy’s future ambitions.”

Build a Rocket Boy’s chief legal officer and chief financial officer left the company a week before the game’s June 10 release.

Over 2300 developers have lost their jobs in 2025 so far, with cuts and closures at Freejam, Splash Damage, Piranha Games, Jar of Sparks, Ubisoft, ProbablyMonsters, Iron Galaxy, Sumo Group, Liquid Sword, NetEase Games, Toast Interactive, Night School Studio, Striking Distance, Until Dawn remake developers, Ballistic Moon, Eidos Montréal, PlaySide, AppLovin, Nerial, Reality Labs, and, most recently, there have been multiple cuts at EA, including Respawn, People Can Fly, and Jagex.



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MindsEye has abject technical performance - even after its latest patch
Game Updates

MindsEye has abject technical performance – even after its latest patch

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The poor technical state of MindsEye – the debut game from developer Build a Rocket Boy – is well established by this point. The bottom line is that as a £55 or $60 purchase, there is only morbid curiosity in checking it out at present with glaring bugs, low frame-rates and crashes blighting the experience on console. In fact, having tested all PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series machines on its latest update 1.07 (or 1.04.4 on Xbox) – as released on June 18th – it appears little has improved post-launch. For all its potential as a futuristic, open world action-shooter, there’s no question that MindsEye remains in an undercooked state. An apology has already been issued by the developer, while the problems run deep enough in its launch week that Sony is allowing refunds via the PlayStation Store – a rare manoeuvre for Sony that calls to mind Cyberpunk’s troubled launch back in 2020.


Still, as an Unreal Engine 5 title, the game’s focus on Lumen and Nanite – plus vehicle simulation and physics – has echoes of the Matrix Awakens demo released back in 2021. MindsEye’s feature-set is uncannily similar: Nanite, Lumen, open world – and sadly this also extends to the state of its performance on consoles. All machines appear heavily CPU bound in a similar manner with traffic build-ups and destruction causing sizeable sub-30fps drops. Even in the best case, all consoles – including PS5 Pro – also run with an unevenly frame-paced 30fps cap meaning judder is a problem. Meanwhile, there’s visible screen tearing at the top of the display, which is exacerbated by drops into the 20-30fps range.


The basics first: there are no graphics modes to consider in MindsEye and every console runs with a 30fps target. In terms of native resolution, there is dynamic scaling in play, with PS5 and Series X typically running between 972p and 1008p. In terms of the PS5 Pro enhancements meanwhile, Pro boosts its resolution to a higher 1296p average value in most areas. This jump in image clarity is really the full extent of the PS5 Pro upgrades though, as most other settings – shadows, textures and world draw – appear similar to base PS5. Sony’s PSSR upscaler is not in sight either, with PS5 Pro using the same upscaling solution as other consoles. Finally, we have Series S, which typically runs at 720p, with spikes to 756p.

Despite its first patch, MindsEye continues to exhibit poor performance on consoles – seemingly down to an over-taxed CPU.Watch on YouTube


Xbox Series S is an outlier given its 4TF power profile, and it resorts to the greatest setting cutbacks as a result. It’s the one most deserving of a comparison and next to Series X, texture quality is dropped and shadows default to a lower preset with obvious dithering on edges. Transparency effects also run at a much lower setting with visible pixellation on fire effects while reflections take a hit in coverage across the metal sheen of interior walls. In matching cutscenes between Series S and X, there’s a higher frequency of pop-in for texture assets and shadows maps too. Finally, image quality is also remarkably blurry on all consoles – even on PS5 Pro – but Series S takes it to a further extreme owing to its native 720p count. The upscale often struggles to resolve the game’s distant detail, with chase missions set to long highways, or drone missions across the sky suffering the most for it.


Speaking of performance, there’s no escaping the fact that this is a 30fps-only experience, with higher frame-rates reserved for PC only. A large chunk of the game including combat missions and interior areas technically run at the 30fps line, but the overwhelming problem is that frame pacing is much too inconsistent all round. Taking PS5 Pro for example, the frame-time graph trills between 16, 33 and 50ms constantly in the big city, meaning it rarely feels smooth in practice. Driving at any pace through congested streets feels choppy, while hitches above that (spiking to 80ms and beyond) only add to the choppy, erratic sensation. It genuinely makes it tough to thread the needle between two packed lanes of traffic or to line up a head shot during combat. Towering above these issues is the potential to go under 30fps. This is re-tested on the latest patch 1.07, where an on-rails shoot-out through the city still has PS5 Pro dropping into the 20s. We’re pushing close to that 20fps line at points and the fact is that PS5 Pro’s GPU boost over base PS5 doesn’t alleviate the issue, suggesting a CPU bottleneck.


The situation on base PS5 is remarkably similar, with a choppy 30fps line due to uneven frame-pacing, plus screen tearing. Again this is technically a 30fps experience in the main, but the uneven cadence (plus hitches) truly affects the flow of any action. MindsEye also hits lower lows in frame-rate on base PS5: again the on-rails shootout mission puts PS5 at the lower end of the 20-30fps range, even finding itself at numbers like 18fps. In other words, there’s a small Pro advantage in this stress point but it doesn’t count for much when playability is this dire. If there is a plus side here, it’s that MindsEye’s vehicle physics, car handling and suspension, are at least somewhat satisfying, marred by sometimes brutally low frame-rate.

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Both Xbox Series X and S versions suffer from all the very same problems: the uneven frame-pacing, hitching, tearing, and the sub-30fps drops are all present. Xbox Series X perhaps holds up better overall during the on-rails shoot-out with drops to the mid-20s rarely descending much further down the graph. It’s hard to recommend Series X on those grounds alone, but the outlook so far is that it’s potentially better than base PS5. On the other hand, Series S gives us the most damning result of the four machines with the same on-rails sequence taking us to an 18fps low, and then crashing. The software simply froze up on my first play-through of this mission, forcing me to close the game manually and restart the app all over again. Others have reported crashes in a similar vein, and it’s the most crucial issue that needs to be addressed.


Mindseye is a release that looks and plays like it’s months away from being ready for release. It’s not a complete write-off: the framework of an entertaining enough game lurks beneath its myriad issues, but it clearly needs more time. The few positives to mention include aspects of its car physics, the suspension model, which offer a satisfying enough sense of weight as you drift around a bend. Also, there’s undeniably some superb character rendering put in close-up shots for its many (often quite lengthy) cut-scenes. Character models are crisply detailed with every blink and smile brought to life by accurate motion capture performances. Credit where it’s due, the direction of these scenes is a highlight.


Overshadowing all of that is the frame-rate and the game’s bugs. Based on my time with it so far, a bulk of the bugs relate to enemy logic. Some enemies simply do not move, others have buggy collision detection, making them impossible to shoot, or awkward cover animations. In other instances, they disappear on the spot after dying. Likewise, despite its upsides, the car physics produce laughably wild outcomes at times, where even a small piece of debris might send you spinning to the sky. The traffic in the city is also often bull-headed and mindless, barrelling straight at you in a way that defies any real-world common sense. In one instance a target enemy car got stuck in a parking lot, essentially making the mission impoossible to complete. This is all scratching the surface – especially with so much of the story left to see – but it does point to the range of gameplay issues that need fixing.


All that’s left to be said is that I hope it is eventually fixed, because MindsEye has a faint hint of potential beneath its issues. Let’s be clear, this is never destined for Cyberpunk or GTA levels of greatness, but as a simpler action game using an open world format to stitch together its missions, it might have some merit. Sadly, Build a Rocket Boy is in a position of needing to make up ground on quality control – and quickly too – now that it’s actually being sold to paying customers. Whether that can be done in reasonable time, or if a recall, and later re-release is a better route, remains to be seen. Either way it’s difficult to recommend MindsEye in its current state on any console, which is a shame.



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Doom: The Dark Ages' path tracing upgrade tested - maximum fidelity, reasonable performance
Game Reviews

Doom: The Dark Ages’ path tracing upgrade tested – maximum fidelity, reasonable performance

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Doom: The Dark Ages has finally received its promised path tracing upgrade on PC, adding a further dimension of visual fidelity to an already impressive game. To see how the new graphics mode compares to the standard RT available at launch, some testing was in order.

I ran the game on a high-end desktop PC with an RTX 5090 graphics in the new path tracing mode, while my colleague John tested the game on a laptop RTX 5090 with standard RT graphics. It made for a fascinating comparison, with some areas exhibiting just how good the standard RT graphics already were, while other scenes showed off the kind of uniquely realistic visuals that only path tracing can provide.

We opted for the second mission in the game, Hebeth, as it includes plenty of Doombase-style shiny surfaces and therefore ought to be a good showcase for the new graphics techniques in play.

Here’s the full video comparison of the new path tracing graphics in Doom: The Dark Ages versus the standard RT available previously. Watch on YouTube

One of the first thing we noticed is that the cutscenes show relatively few changes in side-by-side comparisons. That’s because the cutscenes are authored with plenty of extra light sources placed just where they’re needed to light subjects with the cinematography in mind, in comparison to gameplay which needs to look correct no matter what the player is doing. Given that the game already featured ray-traced global illumination (RTGI), that means these controlled scenes tend to look fairly similar between a PC running with standard RT and path tracing.

Once in gameplay, the stone floors near the start of the level provide our first out-and-out difference versus the standard RT presentation. With path tracing enabled, these rougher surfaces provide reflections, with bright nearby objects clearly visible, even when off-screen. By contrast, the standard RT look has a more conservative roughness cut-off, with only shiny surfaces sporting reflections. This even extends to your weapons, with the shotgun and other armaments reflecting bright light sources in the path tracing mode.

Interestingly, these reflections are often more mirror-like and coherent in the standard RT mode to save performance, whereas the path tracing has a duller but more realistic (and expensive) look.

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The path tracing BVH also includes elements that are dropped in the standard RT mode when they don’t appear on-screen, most notably force-fields and holograms, but there’s plenty of other particles, leaves and transparencies too. Objects in the reflection also sport more complex materials, which is quite evident in the glossier environments found in the interiors of this level.

Of course, the path tracing mode isn’t just about reflections – it also uses a higher number of bounces for its global illumination. This can make some scenes noticeably lighter, eg allowing light to bounce multiple times to reach an interior space from the sun and sky outside.

You can see more objects in the reflection with path tracing engaged – such as the pickups here – as well as seeing reflections on rougher, less glossy surfaces. | Image credit: Digital Foundry

The path tracing mode also suffers from fewer incidents of light leaking through solid walls to illuminate areas it shouldn’t, thanks to its more fine-grained per-pixel light calculations. Having the better denoiser of ray reconstruction enabled in the path tracing mode also gets rid of the stippled look of volumetric lighting in the standard RT mode.

Emissives are another area where the path tracing mode looks significantly more realistic. Light sources in your environment, such as fires, gun tracers and even LED light strips, actually produce light that shines on its surroundings with path tracing enabled, something that’s disabled in the standard RT mode.

The difference in lighting can be significant, with the larger number of light bounces allowing more accurate lighting of darkened spaces. | Image credit: Digital Foundry

Emissive lighting is another feature enabled in the path tracing mode, allowing for a greater number of light sources – which can combine beautifully with the improved RTGI and reflections. | Image credit: Digital Foundry

There are relatively few differences in terms of shadows, with most scenes taking place indoors and already featuring quite sharp shadows. Instead, you’ll see more noticable changes outdoors, where long distance shadows are sometimes presented more clearly in the path tracing mode that are incredibly soft and diffuse in the standard RT mode, due to how coarse the calculations are to save performance. There’s less shadow break-up in outdoor scenes too.

Speaking of performance, the full path tracing mode is light – at least in relative terms. We saw around a 39 percent drop in frame-rate with path tracing engaged versus standard RT in our test scene, using a high-end PC with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card and AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D using 4K DLSS Performance and ultra nightmare settings.

The path tracing mode of Doom: The Dark Ages is expensive, as you’d expect, but it works out as being an average 39 percent drop in performance versus the standard RT – one of the lighter performance penalties we’ve seen from a path tracing mode. | Image credit: Digital Foundry

That’s a significant drop, but still a smaller margin than we’ve seen in other games, like Cyberpunk 2077. It speaks to both how much RT is provided in the base game – and how well architected id’s latest release is, as we’ve come to expect from the studio.

Going through this footage, one thing that struck me is just how scalable Doom: The Dark Ages is. The game still looks pretty reasonable even on “low” settings or on more limited consoles like the Xbox Series S, but there’s a huge assortment of visual niceties that you can add on if you have the performance to spare.

This new path tracing mode is the logical conclusion, bringing unparalled realism to the game’s fantastical environments for those on higher-end PCs – and earning major plaudits for id’s top-tier developers.



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Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)
Product Reviews

Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) Review: Sky-high performance with a price tag to match

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Earlier this year, the Lenovo Legion Go S, as a cost-optimized follow-up to the original Legion Go, launched. While the console had a more ergonomic design, I wasn’t impressed with the system’s gaming performance or its high price tag ($729 as configured).

At the time, I suggested anyone eyeing the Legion Go S hardware should hold off for the cheaper SteamOS version instead. Well, we now have a SteamOS version of the device for review, but our configuration is even more expensive than the Windows version. But as you’ll see in the benchmarks section, it’s a powerhouse among the current crop of the best PC gaming handhelds.

Design of the Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)

From the outside, the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S shares an identical design with the Windows 11 version. The only difference is that our previous Windows version was finished in white, while our new SteamOS review unit features a deep purplish color, which Lenovo calls Nebula.


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Although it’s a personal preference, I was more drawn to Nebula. There’s also the side benefit that the darker color does a better job of masking dirt and grime than white.

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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Legion Go S’s chassis is an all-plastic affair, unlike the original aluminum-clad Legion Go. I expect the chassis to withstand abuse and even a few light drops without issue, but I wasn’t brave enough to test my hypothesis with a loaned review unit.

The Legion Go S features two thumbsticks, a D-pad, and four game buttons (X, A, B, Y) on its front face and four system buttons (including a dedicated Steam button). The thumbsticks are offset, similar to what you’d find on an Xbox controller. The top of the handheld is home to two shoulder buttons and two triggers. That is also where you’ll find the power button, volume up/down buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and two USB-C ports. A microSD port resides on the bottom panel. Finally, the back panel is home to two sliders to adjust the travel distance of each trigger and two additional buttons (Y2 and Y1).

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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The Legion Go S measures 11.77 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches and weighs 1.61 pounds. For comparison, the original Legion Go with detachable controllers is 11.76 x 5.16 x 1.60 and weighs 1.88 pounds. The original Steam Deck is 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches and 1.47 pounds, while the Steam Deck OLED is 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.97 inches and 1.41 pounds.

Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) Specifications

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CPU

AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 3, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz)

Graphics

AMD Radeon 780M graphics (integrated), RDNA 3, 12 compute units

Memory

32GB LPDDR5X-6400MHz

Storage

1TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen 4 SSD

Display

8-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS, touchscreen, 120 Hz

Networking

Mediatek MT7922 Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Ports

2x USB Type-C 4.0, micro SD card slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack

Battery

55.5 WHr

Power Adapter

65W

Operating System

SteamOS

Dimensions (WxDxH)

11.7 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches (299 x 127.55 x 22.6 mm)

Weight

1.61 pounds (730 grams)

Price (as configured)

$829.99

Today’s best Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS deals

Gaming Performance on the Legion Go S (SteamOS)

Our Legion Go S (SteamOS) review unit is the flagship model, meaning that it is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, the same chip used in the original Legion Go gaming handheld. I also have the standard, Windows-based Legion Go S on hand, equipped with the less powerful Ryzen Z2 Go. Although the processors differ, all other hardware is identical, including the 32GB LPDDR5X-6400MHz memory and the 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Both systems also have an 8-inch IPS display with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 and a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

SteamOS systems used the Performance power profile at all times, while the Legion Go S running Windows 11 used the Performance power profile on battery and the Custom (40-watt) profile when connected to AC power.

To make things interesting, I installed a fresh copy of SteamOS on the Legion Go S (Ryzen Z2 Go) to measure the performance differential between Windows 11 and SteamOS. It should come as a shock to no one that the Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS) ran the table in the gaming benchmarks, and it wasn’t even close.

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On the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark (Medium settings), the Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS) opened a significant lead of 8 frames per second (fps) at 800p over the less powerful Legion Go S (Ryzen Z2 Go, SteamOS). At 1200p, the lead shrank to 4 fps.

The thorough thrashing continued with Cyberpunk 2077 (Steam Deck Preset); the Z1 Extreme held an 11-fps advantage at 800p and a 5-fps advantage at 1200p. It was a similar story with Far Cry 6 (Medium settings) and Red Dead Redemption 2 (Lowest settings) – the Z1 Extreme held a 14-fps advantage in both games at 800p.

The most significant performance delta, however, was in Borderlands 3 (Medium settings). The Legion Go S with Z1 Extreme maintained an 18-fps advantage over the second-place competitor at 800p.

While the Legion Go S (Z1 Extreme, SteamOS) was the obvious star of the benchmark extravaganza, the co-star was no doubt the battle brewing between the Legion Go S with the Z2 Go running on Windows 11 versus SteamOS. There’s no question that SteamOS is a more lightweight operating system with fewer unnecessary processes running in the background to rob CPU cycles and RAM.

The SteamOS version of the system consistently outperformed its Windows 11 counterpart, and most of the time, the difference was substantial. The margin of victory was anywhere from 4 to 15 fps, depending on resolution. What makes the performance advantage even more notable is that the Legion Go S, running SteamOS, achieved equal performance on battery and AC power, and still dominated the Windows 11 version, which was running a maxed-out power profile (40 watts on AC power).

SteamOS on the Legion Go S (SteamOS)


We’ve already discussed the obvious performance advantages of running SteamOS versus Windows 11, but there’s also another benefit: the user interface. There’s no getting around the fact that Windows 11 was designed first and foremost as a desktop operating system. While you can run Windows 11 on a portable device with an 8-inch screen, various UI touchpoints can be hard to navigate with your finger.

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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

SteamOS, on the other hand, is easily navigated using your fingers. Buttons, menus, and UI elements are perfectly sized to respond appropriately to touch. From switching Steam profiles to changing Wi-Fi networks to configuring various system settings, it’s painless. Of course, you can also just navigate using the physical controls and buttons if you prefer. Either way, the UI experience is light years ahead of Windows 11, and makes sense for an operating system that was designed first and foremost for gaming.

Games load faster, the UI is faster, and you still have access to the underlying Linux operating system. By pressing and holding the power button, you can bring up a menu that allows you to switch to Desktop mode. In this instance, you have access to the KDE Plasma desktop.

Display on the Legion Go S ( SteamOS)


The Legion Go S features an 8-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS display with a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz. Not surprisingly, our instrumented tests showed that our SteamOS-powered review unit didn’t stray too far from the results we obtained with our earlier Windows 11 sample.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

All numbers were within a few percentage points of each other, except for brightness. We measured 82.4 percent coverage of DCI-P3 and 116.3 percent of sRGB. The most significant discrepancy was with maximum brightness, which measured 441 nits compared to 455.4 nits in our earlier review unit.

Even at 50 percent brightness (my preferred setting for personal gaming sessions), the IPS display was sufficiently bright and colorful. For example, the sunlight reflecting off muddy water on horse trails in Red Dead Redemption 2 stood out, as did the neon glow and smoke-filled environments of Cyberpunk 2077.

Audio on the Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS)

I played a variety of games on the Legion Go S, including Red Dead Redemption 2, BeamNG, and older classics like Half-Life 2. The quality of the speakers didn’t bowl me over, but they worked well enough for gunfire and voices in Cyberpunk 2077, while engine sounds and gnarly crashes seemed realistic enough in BeamNG.

My biggest issue with the speakers is that the system fans often interfere with sound output. So, for the bulk of my gaming sessions, I used a pair of Bluetooth headphones. However, for the ultimate audio experience, I recommend opting for some of the best gaming headsets.

Upgradeability of the Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS)

Just like the Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S, the SteamOS variant also features limited upgradeability. Accessing the inside requires removing three screws on the bottom edge of the device. You’ll then need to remove the plastic panel that surrounds the power and volume buttons. From there, one more screw must be removed, and then there’s the tricky process of taking off the triggers (which are held by two tiny screws). If you’ve managed to make it through this process without breaking any retaining clips, consider yourself lucky. But if you’ve made it this far, you can then remove the back panel, revealing the inside of the chassis.

The only hardware that’s upgradeable is the internal storage. Although our review unit came with a 1TB SSD already installed, you can upgrade to a larger 2242 or 2280 SSD.

Heat on the Lenovo Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS)

While the fans on the Legion Go S were always audible when playing games (particularly in Performance mode), they were definitely doing their job. The console never felt hot to the touch and remained comfortable through all of my gaming sessions. All of the hot air was forcefully ejected through the exhaust vents at the top of the console.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

The hottest part of the console was at the back, just right of center. Here, I measured 91 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it’s important to note that because of the way the hand grips are designed on the Legion Go S, you don’t actually touch this hot spot.

Battery Life on the Lenovo Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS)

The Legion Go S features a 55.5 WHr battery, so I wasn’t expecting any miracles regarding endurance. However, I routinely achieved over 2 hours of battery life while running games with 50 percent brightness and maximum details at 800p resolution in Performance mode. For example, I played Red Dead Redemption 2 story mode for 2 hours and 5 minutes before the console conked out, while BeamNG gave up after 2 hours and 30 minutes.

If I’m being honest, two hours is about my limit for gaming sessions anyway. Between the rigors of work and dad-life, it’s hard to steal time away for some leisurely playtime. However, if you want to extend your play sessions, just plug in the included 65-watt power adapter. Still, you want a battery that will last a flight or a train ride.

For comparison, the last Legion Go S that I tested with the slower Ryzen Z2 Go processor and Windows 11 wouldn’t last longer than about an hour and 45 minutes in Performance mode. Only when dialing back to the Power Saving profile could I muster just over two hours of runtime.

Legion Go S (Ryzen Z1 Extreme, SteamOS) Configurations

The Steam-powered Legion Go S with the Ryzen Z2 Go processor starts at $599. At that price, you get 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 512GB SSD. However, our review unit came with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB SSD, and it carries an eye-watering price tag of $829.

The Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S, featuring a Ryzen Z2 Go processor, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB SSD, is priced at $729.99.

Bottom Line

The last Legion Go S that I tested featured a Ryzen Z2 Go chip and ran Windows 11. While I praised its bright display and more ergonomic design over the original Legion Go, I lamented the pokey performance and poor value.

Our latest Legion Go S review unit, featuring the Ryzen Z1 Extreme and running SteamOS, most definitely addresses one of those concerns. Without a doubt, this machine ripped through our gaming benchmark suite and left all the other competitors in the dust. Not only does the Z1 Extreme offer higher performance levels (twice the number of CPU cores, a higher CPU boost clock, and a more stout GPU), but SteamOS also offers tangible performance benefits over Windows 11.

However, those performance benefits come with an even higher price tag. While the last Legion Go S (Windows 11) that we tested costs $729.99, our review unit stickers for $829.99. That’s a considerable sum of money for a gaming handheld. However, if there’s any consolation, the base SteamOS-powered Legion Go S with the Ryzen Z2 Go costs just $599. While you only get 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, gaming performance should be similar or better than the more expensive Windows 11 version of the handheld.

There’s no doubt that with its hardware performance, the Legion Go S running SteamOS and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme is among the best PC gaming handhelds. However, if it were money, I’d opt for the $599 Legion Go S with SteamOS, and add my own 2TB SSD to boost internal storage for games.



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The Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad at a 3/4s angle with RGB lighting in front of a pink background.
Product Reviews

Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad review: freezing cold performance squeezed by its even more powerful and much cheaper rivals

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad: review

The Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad is a relatively high-end option for keeping your gaming or productivity laptop cool. At $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140), it certainly costs a pretty penny; but in return you get a cooling pad with a giant 4.72-inch turbo fan capable of spinning at up to a ludicrous 3,500rpm.

Unlike more shy and retiring options, the Llano V10 isn’t scared to announce its presence – in fact, it’s a little bit of a loudmouth. To benchmark this laptop cooling pad, I ran a 3DMark stress test on our Acer Predator Helios 300 testing laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU testing laptop, while running the Llano V10 at max power for 15 minutes. Using a sound level meter, I measured the noise it was kicking out 10 minutes into the test; it registered 69dB from a few inches away, and 57.5dB at my head height. This makes the Llano the second-noisiest cooling pad I’ve tested, right after the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad, which clocked 79dB and 64dB respectively.

But the one thing you can count on from this little blowhard is that it blows – hard. I measured our gaming laptop’s peak temperature before benchmarking, and again at the conclusion of the 15-minute stress test. With the Llano running at max, its temperature rose from 81.5ºF (27.5ºC) to 103ºF (39.5ºC), a rise of just 21.5ºF (12ºC). This performance is right up there with the best cooling pads, with the only one I’ve tested that could beat it being the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad. So, you’re getting pretty icy cooling here.


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(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to design, the Llano V10 looks decent enough, treading just on the right side of cyberpunk styling without looking too conspicuously edgy or brutalist. The polygonal RGB lighting bars along the sides and back are tastefully done, allowing you to choose between a range of shifting hues. Unlike some laptop cooling pads, it isn’t available in an array of colors; but the black offered looks just fine to my eyes.

  • Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad (Black) at Amazon for $89.99

The Llano also feels pretty ergonomic in use. It offers only a single height setting, which may not suit everyone, but I did find the 10-degree angle at which it held my laptop pretty comfortable for long-term use. However, its build does feel a little more insubstantial than products such as the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad – the V10’s materials and buttons feel a little more plasticky and clicky than I’d like.

Probably the biggest question when it comes to the $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140) Llano V10 is down to value. On the one hand, you’re absolutely getting the cooling you’re paying for – the fact that it prevented our laptop from warming more than 21.5ºF (12ºC) is the second-best result from any laptop cooler I’ve tested.

The only issue is the best result: the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad trimmed that warming back to 8ºC and yet costs only $119.99 / £129.99 (around AU$188.33), which isn’t much more. Plus, it’s often available for even less – for example, costing $95.99 at the time of writing in the US. That slightly weakens the Llano V10’s value in comparison.

(Image credit: Future)

Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability

  • Launched on May 17, 2024
  • List price of $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140)

Having launched on May 17, 2024, the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad is available now. It can be purchased from Amazon at a list price of $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140). While that’s at the higher end of the market, it’s still its lowest ever price in the UK, and only a few dollars off the $87.99 it briefly dropped down to in May 2025. As such, it represents a decent deal.

Unfortunately, though, the fact that this is a premium product means it has quite a few rivals nipping at its heels. From one end of the market, the budget-priced $19.99 / £20.99 / AU$66.91 Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad offered disproportionately frosty cooling for its mild price, seeing our test laptop rise by 27.5ºF (15.3ºC). Conversely, if you catch it on sale then you can pick up the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad from as little as $95.99 / £129.99 – it stopped our testing rig from warming any more than 14.5ºF (8ºC), which is a substantial performance boost for comparatively little extra spend.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

(Image credit: Future)

Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad

  • Tested over the course of multiple days
  • Measured its cooling while running a stress test on our testing laptop
  • Recorded the combined volume of the cooling pad and laptop’s fans

I tested the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad over the course of several days, using the standard TechRadar testing process I designed. First, I recorded the baseline temperature of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop using a thermal camera. Then I ran a 3DMark stress test on the laptop for 15 minutes while setting the cooling pad to its highest setting, recording the laptop’s temperature again at the end of the test to measure the impact the cooling pad had on the laptop’s warming.

In addition, I measured the peak volume of the laptop and cooling pad to assess how much noise they kicked out. When the stress test had been in progress for 10 minutes, I checked the volume of the combined fan noise using a sound level meter, both from a few inches away and at my head height (21 inches from the surface of the laptop).

I also tested how the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad felt in use, while working and playing games, to assess its overall build quality and ergonomics. In terms of additional experience, I’ve been using a gaming laptop and using creative workflows for decades, meaning I’m very familiar with the struggle of keeping a laptop cool.

Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad: Price Comparison



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Saylor's Strategy Stock Crushes Bitcoin and Big Tech in Yearly Performance
Crypto Trends

Saylor’s Strategy Stock Crushes Bitcoin and Big Tech in Yearly Performance

by admin


The stock of Michael Saylor’s Strategy, has posted the biggest gain over a year when compared to Bitcoin (BTC), gold, and the leading tech corporations such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet.

A look at the chart posted by the firm’s X account showed that at some stages, Strategy surged ahead by 700%, remaining at the top during the whole 12 months. Even when its price went through ups and downs, MSTR has always been the top player.

While several investors spread their investments and use gold as a hedge, Saylor made all his plans revolve around Bitcoin. Thanks to its large stash of BTCs, the company turned into a stock market proxy for people who wanted to buy Bitcoin.

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Interestingly, BTC couldn’t keep up with the results shown by Strategy. Nvidia also saw unprecedented growth because of increased interest in AI, but didn’t match Strategy’s performance. The chart showed that gold didn’t make as many gains as the other assets.

While many investors often focus on trying to catch perfect entry points or time the next breakout, the corporate BTC holder’s long-term approach proved that sticking to a well-aligned plan can yield better results.

Bitcoin bet that becomes a blueprint

It also illustrates how certain stocks can serve as amplified proxies for underlying assets. Traders who missed Bitcoin’s rally might have still gained exposure through Saylor’s Strategy stock, with even greater upside.

For new investors, the lesson isn’t necessarily to go all-in on a single asset like Strategy did, but to understand how narrative alignment and bold strategy can outperform even the biggest names in tech.

Strategy’s returns won’t stay this elevated forever, and the volatility is real. But for the past year, it has offered a masterclass in conviction, execution, and how the reward of an investment greatly outweighs the risk. Investors paying attention aren’t just watching the chart, they’re rethinking how returns are built.

This update follows Saylor’s earlier tweet highlighting how the company’s BTC strategy has generated a BTC gain valued at $8.4 billion since the start of the year.



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Razer Basilisk Mobile on plinth with pink background
Product Reviews

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: a small gaming mouse with a premium feel and performance

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Razer Basilisk Mobile: Two-minute review

The Basilisk Mobile is a wireless gaming mouse in Razer’s line of ergonomically focused peripherals, but with a smaller form factor than usual. Its looks stay true to the brand’s current design language, with minimal gamer stylings, appearing more understated than its past peripherals. There’s a small and subtle logo at the back that allows the RGB lighting to shine through, which is quite inconspicuous compared to other examples.

It has a sleek form that is aided by the matte finish of its soft-touch material, which also makes it pleasant to hold, thanks to the slightly grainy texture it provides. There’s a more prominent texture on the sides, although this doesn’t provide as much traction as some of the best gaming mouse grips.

Although it’s quite short, the Basilisk Mobile is still reasonably wide and tall, especially at the rear, which makes it more of a satisfying handful than I was expecting. This somewhat calls into question its portability credentials, as in reality I didn’t find it any easier to transport than your typical gaming mouse. Still, its smaller profile may well be a boon for those with smaller hands.


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It also features a fairly sharp hump at the rear end, which forces a V-shaped grip from your hand, as the mouse buttons rake downwards at a steep angle as well. This may or may not be to your liking; personally, I found it comfortable for my play style.

The Basilisk Mobile can be customized using Razer’s Synapse 4 software. Here you’ll find plenty of tweaks and options to play around with, from RGB settings to button remapping, the latter of which contains an inordinate selection of shortcut functions and features. Unfortunately, there’s little in the way of performance-related settings, which will disappoint those after elite-level tinkering.

(Image credit: Future)

  • Razer Basilisk Mobile (Black) at Amazon for $89.99

In action, though, the Basilisk Mobile performs with aplomb. It glides effortlessly and smoothly, while clicks are snappy and precise, offering plenty of speed and feedback. They’re also slightly more damped than your typical gaming mouse, resulting in a more satisfying thud when you hammer down on them.

The Basilisk Mobile also has three side buttons, all of which have a surprising amount of dampening and travel to them, which makes them more tactile and therefore better to use than those adorning other gaming mice.

The scroll wheel is similarly proficient. The notching is smooth, which makes it easy to use, although it might be a little too loose for those after more controlled flicks. It also features a button to release the notching altogether and allow for unimpeded spinning, useful when navigating large menus and the like. There’s also a scroll tilt function, but this is a little awkward to use given the minimal protrusion of the wheel itself between the two mouse buttons.

(Image credit: Future)

However, it has an excellent middle click, offering plenty of depth and dampening, while at the same time being quick and effortless to actuate. It’s also stable enough to prevent misscrolling.

Connecting via both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz proved easy, and hot-switching between them is quick thanks to the underside selector. I had no issues in terms of responsiveness or lag in either mode.

The battery dropped to 70% after two days of varied use between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, which isn’t a particularly impressive figure, and seems to undermine Razer’s claimed figure of 105 hours. Still, it’s enough to make wireless play practical.

With a sub-$100 price tag, the Basilisk Mobile is well-priced when stacked up next to its rivals, many of which exceed this threshold. It’s about the same as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which arguably has better gaming performance, but lacks features and Bluetooth capability.

Considering its button selection, build quality, customization options, performance and wireless connectivity modes, the Basilisk Mobile makes a compelling argument for your next pointer. Just ignore the portability aspect and it makes more sense.

(Image credit: Future)

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Price & availability

  • $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95
  • Available now in black only
  • Cheaper than rivals

The Basilisk Mobile costs $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95 and is available now in black only. It comes with a 2.4GHz USB dongle and a USB cable, but no spare skates.

This is cheaper than many other gaming mice with multiple wireless options. It’s close to the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which is a full-size mouse that’s more basic and focused on gaming performance rather than features, but in the former department, it excels.

If you’re looking for a considerably more budget offering, though, the Cooler Master MM311 is just about the best wireless gaming mouse in this category. It doesn’t have a rechargeable battery or Bluetooth, but in all other regards it’s an incredible pointer for the money.

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Interface

Wired (USB-C-to-A), wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth)

Ergonomics

Right-handed asymmetrical

Buttons

10

DPI

Up to 18,000

Switches

Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3

Weight

2.68 oz (76g)

Should I buy the Razer Basilisk Mobile?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Basilisk Mobile is cheaper than quite a few rivals with similar specs, making it good value in comparison.

4 / 5

Design

The Basilisk Mobile is built to Razer’s typically high standards, and the soft-touch finish is great in the hand – but I’m not sure it’s any more portable than a standard gaming mouse.

4 / 5

Performance

The Basilisk Mobile glides as smooth as silk, and all the buttons are responsive and very satisfying. Some performance-enhancing features are missing, though.

4 / 5

Overall

The Basilisk Mobile is a good value gaming mouse compared to its rivals, and its terrific build quality and enjoyable performance make it a great choice for any gamer, whether you’re on the go or not.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Razer Basilisk Mobile review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Razer Basilisk Mobile

Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed

Cooler Master MM311

Price

$89.99 / £89.99 / AU$169.95

$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95

$39 (about £31 / AU$59)

Interface

Wired (USB-C-to-A), wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth)

Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Ergonomics

Right-handed asymmetrical

Right-handed asymmetrical

Right-handed symmetrical

Buttons

10

6

6

DPI

18,000

26,000

10,000

Switches

Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3

Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3

Mechanical switches

Weight

2.68 oz (76g)

1.9oz (55g)

2.7oz (77g)

How I tested the Razer Basilisk Mobile

  • Tested for several days
  • Used for gaming and working
  • Extensive gaming mouse experience

I tested the Basilisk Mobile for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which provides the ideal environment for putting peripherals through their paces, as it reveals just how fast and accurate they truly are in battle.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I’ve gained experience of using a great number of mice. I’ve also reviewed many across a broad spectrum of brands, form factors, features, and price points.

Razer Basilisk Mobile: Price Comparison



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Alienware AW2725Q
Gaming Gear

Alienware AW2725Q 4K 240 Hz OLED gaming monitor review: Serious value and high performance

by admin



Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware


Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

There is little doubt that OLED is the hot gaming monitor category right now. Despite their higher cost, I cannot deny that most of the reviews I’ve written in the past six months have been for OLEDs. Obviously, people are buying them and are hungry for the incredible gaming performance and stunning image they offer. Even the best LCD panels with full array local dimming backlights and Mini LED can’t touch the smooth motion processing and infinite contrast of the best OLED gaming monitors. They also look good; I have yet to encounter a bad one.

Alienware is no stranger to this market and was one of the first companies to send an OLED for review, the AW5520QF, which retailed for $4,000 in 2019. Now we have desktop OLEDs aplenty and have evolved to screens like today’s review subject, the AW2725Q. It’s a 27-inch Quantum Dot panel with 4K resolution, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, wide gamut color, HDR10 and something rarely seen, Dolby Vision. Let’s take a look.

Alienware AW2725Q Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Panel Type / Backlight

Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED)

Screen Size / Aspect Ratio

27 inches / 16:9

Max Resolution and Refresh Rate

3840×2160 @ 240 Hz

Row 3 – Cell 0

FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible

Native Color Depth and Gamut

10-bit / DCI-P3+

Row 5 – Cell 0

HDR10, HDR400, Dolby Vision

Response Time (GTG)

0.03ms

Brightness (mfr)

250 nits SDR

Row 8 – Cell 0

1,000 nits HDR (3% window)

Contrast

Unmeasurable

Speakers

None

Video Inputs

1x DisplayPort 1.4 w/DSC

Row 12 – Cell 0

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 w/eARC)

USB 3.2

1x up, 3x down, 1x USB-C

Power Consumption

44.8w, brightness @ 200 nits

Panel Dimensions

WxHxD w/base

24 x 16-20.3 x 8.3 inches

(610 x 406-516 x 211mm)

Panel Thickness

2.9 inches (74mm)

Bezel Width

Top: 0.3 inch (8mm)

Row 18 – Cell 0

Sides: 0.4 inch (11mm)

Row 19 – Cell 0

Bottom: 0.6 inch (14mm)

Weight

15 pounds (6.8kg)

Warranty

3 years

Today’s best Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725Q) deals

  • Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725Q) (Black) at Amazon for $808.74

The AW2725Q retails, at this writing, for $830. While this is no small sum, the value quotient here is good. The 27-inch panel boasts the latest OLED tech with 4K resolution for 166 ppi pixel density, the highest generally available in a desktop display. A Quantum Dot layer extends the color gamut past DCI-P3 with just over 103% measured in my tests. There are a few QD-OLEDs that go higher, but they are more colorful than monitors without QD technology.


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The AW2725Q’s HDR support goes beyond the usual HDR10 seen in most monitors with the inclusion of Dolby Vision. This is a significant upgrade because of its dynamic tone mapping. This content utilizes flexible metadata, which means tone mapping is tailored to the display’s capabilities. HDR10 uses fixed luminance values and that means unless the display is capable of 1,000 nits, the level most content is mastered to, it will likely clip some highlight elements.

To extend panel life and guard against burn-in, a graphene heat sink layer is positioned behind the OLED emitters, and an automated panel refresh routine monitors usage time and brightness, running regularly to distribute wear evenly. Alienware is confident enough to offer a three-year warranty that includes burn-in protection.

Gaming is the AW2725Q’s primary focus, and to that end, there is a 240 Hz refresh rate available over DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1. Adaptive-Sync is also included with certification from both AMD and Nvidia. In addition to the usual reticles, frame counter, and timers, there is a slick aiming point editor that is one of the most powerful of its kind that I’ve seen.

USB ports are also in plentiful supply, with one upstream and four downstream ports, one of which is a Type-C port with 15 watts of power. An OSD joystick makes changes easy, and a fully ergonomic stand shows off Alienware’s new styling aesthetic.

Assembly and Accessories

The AW2725Q is packaged without crumbly foam, opting instead to stay secure in molded pulp forms that are fully recyclable. The stand and base mate with a captive bolt, and the panel snaps on. A 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included accommodates aftermarket arms. The cable bundle includes an IEC connector for the internal power supply, HDMI, DisplayPort, and a USB-A to USB-B connector. You also get a cleaning cloth for the screen.

Product 360

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)

The AW2725Q features Alienware’s new styling with soft curves and simple shapes. The only straight lines here are around the screen and its super-narrow bezel. Rather than feature the OLED panel’s thin profile, the back of the screen tapers softly to a central bulge. This is surrounded by a moat-like vent that helps the graphene layer transfer heat actively. There is an internal fan that runs at two speeds. The slower one is inaudible, and the higher can just be heard if there is no other ambient sound in the room.

The stand is cleverly designed to hide its attachment points by making it look like the upright is floating on the base. It’s quite solid in feel and operation, with full ergonomics. You get a 4.3-inch height adjustment along with 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel, and a 90-degree portrait mode. The base is small but heavy enough to keep the AW2725Q stable.

The screen is coated to prevent glare, but it remains slightly reflective. The image is very sharp and clear with no visible artifacts from the front layer. From the side, the profile is average in thickness, and until you turn it on, it might be mistaken for an LCD. In the back is a single Alienware head logo that lights up in any color you desire. You can also dial in breathing and flashing effects. The power LED at the right bottom corner is also backlit and controllable from the OSD.

Below is a complete set of ports that include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and USB ports both upstream and downstream, along with one Type-C port that supports 15 watts of power. One of the HDMI standards includes Audio Return Channel (ARC), which allows you to connect outboard audio devices, such as soundbars or an AV receiver or processor. Another plus is that it supports Dolby Atmos, an object-oriented surround sound format. Add that to the Dolby Vision support, and the AW2725Q turns into a premium personal television.

OSD Features

Under the center of the AW2725Q’s bezel is a tiny joystick that controls all monitor functions except power, which is toggled by the backlit button on the right.

Image 1 of 10

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Pressing the joystick opens a small icon menu with a signal status bar at the top of the screen. A panel health indicator shows green, yellow, or red, so you know when a refresh cycle is imminent. There are five quick access functions that you can scroll through, and these are user-programmable. An upclick opens the full OSD.

There are 12 picture modes in total, with Standard being the default. If you want options, Creator offers selectable color gamuts and gamma presets. Its DCI-P3 setting references the cinema spec with a green color temp and 2.6 gamma. sRGB is highly accurate and well-suited for critical work. For white balance adjustments and color management, Custom Color is the one to choose. The three game modes offer two-point white balance and Dark Stabilizer, which enhances shadow detail.

The game enhancers are appropriately grouped in the Game Enhance menu where you’ll find timers, an fps counter, and display alignment marks. The coolest feature is in AlienVision where you can create three different aiming points with many options for color, shape, opacity, position and size. This is the most powerful reticle editor I’ve seen to date.

The LED lighting covers the logo in the back and the power button. They can breathe through a range of hues specified by the user, or be turned off if they distract.

There are six HDR-specific modes with contrast and color options available under Custom Color HDR. The most accurate choice here is DisplayHDR True Black, which has the correct luminance and gamut tracking for HDR10 content. You can also toggle Dolby Vision on and off when playing that material.

The AW2725Q has full PIP and PBP capabilities, which let you view two sources at once. The PBP has five options for screen split and the PIP window can appear in any corner.

The shortcuts are a convenient way to access up to nine different monitor functions without opening the full OSD. The joystick’s four directions are programmable, as are the five icons that appear in the quick menu. This is a great way to toggle lighting, change sources, turn on AlienVision or change brightness and picture modes.

The panel care options are simple, as there is only one, pixel refresh. It runs automatically when the AW2725Q’s internal sensors deem it necessary based on hours and time spent at high brightness. You can always see the health status in the bar across the top. When it turns red, the refresh routine will run as soon as you stop using the monitor. This menu also lets you reset everything to factory defaults.

Alienware AW2725Q Calibration Settings

The AW2725Q offers multiple ways to calibrate depending on picture mode. In Standard, the default, color and grayscale are on spec, but gamma runs a bit light. You can use the monitor this way, but it won’t be showing its absolute best image. If you want sRGB, that option is available in Creator mode where you’ll also find gamma presets but no color temp options. Custom Color offers better gamma and two-point white balance plus color management. That’s where I did my tests. The only thing missing there is gamma control but luckily, it rides the 2.2 reference pretty closely. Below are my recommended settings.

In HDR mode, True Black is the best choice for its accurate luminance, grayscale and color tracking. If you want control over contrast and color, Custom Color HDR is the way to go.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Picture Mode

Custom Color

Brightness 200 nits

81

Brightness 120 nits

45

Brightness 100 nits

34

Brightness 80 nits

25

Brightness 50 nits

10 (min. 31 nits)

Contrast

81

Color Temp

Gain – Red 97, Green 98, Blue 100

Row 8 – Cell 0

Bias – Red 50, Green 50, Blue 50

Gaming and Hands-on

For gaming, my comments on the AW2725Q’s performance are no different than what I’ve said about any premium OLED. Smooth motion resolution and low input lag deliver a superb experience with precise movement and aiming, as well as instant response to control inputs. A monitor like this lets you hone battle maneuvers to a fine discipline with consistency and repeatability. If you want the best possible tool for the job, an OLED like the AW2725Q is superior to any LCD screen.

The picture quality in both SDR and HDR modes is stunning, but that too is no different than other OLEDs; except HDR is a little better than most. I noticed extra pop and depth, which was explained when I ran the test suite. You can see what I’m talking about on page five. The AW2725Q is very accurate and well-engineered, and it shows in all content. I was pleased with the default Standard picture mode and even more impressed when I calibrated Custom Color with its two-point RGB sliders. HDR is best enjoyed in True Black mode where grayscale, luminance tracking and color are at reference level.

I’m usually one to opt for 32-inch monitors for personal use, but the pixel density of a 27-inch 4K screen like the AW2725Q is impossible to overlook. The picture is both sharp and clear, yet smooth and natural. There is no visible pixel structure, even when I put my nose right up to the screen. It’s a harbinger of things to come when 8K becomes the norm. The clean detail on display here makes you forget about screen size.

Audio is not something I often comment on, but the AW2725Q presents something of a conundrum there. On one hand, it stands out with HDMI Audio Return Channel (eARC) and Dolby Atmos support, something you almost never see included in a computer monitor. However, it lacks a headphone jack and internal speakers. So, if you want quick and convenient sound, it isn’t here. To hear the games I was playing, I wound up connecting my Sennheisers via USB to the PC; although less convenient, it got the job done.

Productivity is a natural fit for the AW2725Q with its traditional flat 16:9 format. Photo work might benefit from a larger screen, but again, there’s that pixel density. Photorealism is on another level, even from 4K at 32 inches. And color accuracy is more than good enough for grading work. I also appreciated the easy switch to sRGB when necessary.

Takeaway: The AW2725Q is a terrific all-around display for gaming, entertainment and work. Its image is gorgeous with vivid, natural color and the excellent contrast OLED is famous for. Gaming is precise and fast and all play, whether fast or slow, is addictive. This is a “you won’t regret buying the best” kind of purchase.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725Q): Price Comparison



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Shell DCL Fluid S3
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Shell introduces DLC Fluid S3 as data centers turn to liquid cooling for efficiency and thermal performance gains

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  • Shell launches new cooling fluid to meet AI data center demands
  • DLC Fluid S3 cools high-performance components like CPUs and GPUs
  • The propylene glycol blend is formulated for safety and cooling effectiveness

Direct liquid cooling is gaining traction in data centers as traditional air-based systems struggle to manage the demands of modern computing.

Shell, one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, has launched a new direct liquid cooling fluid aimed at meeting the thermal demands of AI and high-performance computing.

Shell DLC Fluid S3 is a propylene glycol-based solution designed to cool high-density server hardware by directly targeting heat-generating components such as CPUs and GPUs. It meets the latest Open Compute Project PG25 standards, making it compatible with a broad range of server architectures.


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Powering the future of digital infrastructure

Data centers currently account for an estimated 2–3% of global power consumption, but Shell claims its new fluid can improve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by up to 27% compared to air cooling, potentially reducing the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.

The company also highlights the fluid’s extended service life, corrosion protection across a variety of metals, and fluorescent dye for easier leak detection.

“With Shell DLC Fluid S3, Shell now offers both direct-to-chip and full immersion cooling solutions, and we’re not just keeping data centers cool in the age of AI – we’re powering the future of digital infrastructure,” said Aysun Akik, VP New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants.

“Our growing range of advanced liquid cooling solutions is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern data centers both today, and tomorrow – and are backed by the strength of Shell’s global footprint, supply chain and five technology development hubs around the globe.”

We previously covered how Castrol, a major name in motor lubricants, has also entered this space and is developing dielectric fluids for immersion cooling systems.

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