Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the establishment of zVentures, a dedicated arm of Razer Inc. that will identify and exploit investment and funding opportunities with innovative new businesses and emerging technologies. The premise behind Razer's new initiative is rooted in its belief that financial returns should be balanced against the objectives of innovation and strategic progress. To that end, zVentures will specifically focus on start-ups and emerging companies that will have a role to play in the expansion of Razer's product platform.

Additionally, other business units and functions within the wider Razer ecosystem will look to zVentures as an embedded partner for business development, as a source of inspiration for new product advents, and as a prism through which to attract new talent into developing areas of business. "Razer has a long history of supporting partners, third-party product and business development," says Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. "The cumulative benefit of those initiatives over the past decade has been very positive and significant. zVentures promises to take the sensibilities of our ventures work forward with far greater reach and impact."

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer ManO'War 7.1. This analog-digital gaming headset is an encore to the recent debut of the wireless Razer ManO'War, an editor's choice among the ranks of TechRadar, Tom's Guide, VentureBeat and more. Powerful 50 mm drivers deliver virtual 7.1 surround sound to the listener. The Razer Synapse configuration software allows gamers to customize the sound. The Razer ManO'War 7.1 is equipped with sound isolation technology, while in-line volume controls and a retractable MEMS boom mic offer a streamlined gaming audio experience.

An included USB digital-to-analog convertor (DAC) allows the Razer ManO'War 7.1 to deliver crisp, outstanding audio on PC and Mac platforms. The pure analog connection (3.5mm audio jack) offers universal compatibility for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and other platforms. "The Razer ManO'War 7.1 is a fantastic addition for any gamer, especially those that play on both PC and console," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "There may not be a more versatile high-performance headset available today."

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the Razer Ornata, a line of gaming keyboards featuring revolutionary Razer Mecha-Membrane technology. Designed to combine the most desirable traits of membrane rubber dome design with the merits of mechanical keyboard technology, the Razer Mecha-Membrane delivers both a soft, cushioned touch and a crisp, tactile click with each keystroke.

Traditionally, users choose membrane rubber dome keyboards for comfort, while mechanical switches are favored for fast actuations and distinct tactile feedback. The Razer Mecha-Membrane is a unique mid-height keycap hybrid that provides a comfortable and efficient typing experience unlike any key type on the market.

In the year of their 30th anniversary, Antec Inc., a leading provider of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself market, has announced the release of a co-branded Razer Edition of Antec's Cube, a mini-ITX gaming case. The Antec Cube-Designed by Razer combines the e-sports design elements of Razer, with the reliability and build quality of Antec, into a small form factor case for gamers.

Debuting at PAX West 2016, the Antec Cube-Designed by Razer is the product of extensive collaboration between Antec and Razer. The efficient interior layout features one 3.5" HDD drive bay, up to four 2.5" SDD bays, three expansion slots, and accommodates graphics cards of up to 350 mm in length. To allow for a seamless building experience, the Antec Cube-Designed by Razer features a basement compartment that separates the PSU and allows for easy cable management. The side and top panels are fitted with darkened acrylic windows and an innovative, click system which enables users to open and close the case in a quick and easy way. This thought-out case could serve as a conventional PC, gaming rig, or home theatre device and media center, but is also well-suited for professional users.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the new Razer Blade 14-inch gaming laptop. Striking a perfect balance of power and mobility, the new Blade is designed to be the most portable PC that can play games at maximum settings. Earning a multitude of editors' choice awards from LinusTechTips, PC Magazine, Laptop Mag and more for its performance and portability, the new Razer Blade is now more powerful than ever by way of a next-generation NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics processor.

Designed with the new NVIDIA Pascal architecture, the GPU is three times faster than its predecessor, with a performance increase of more than 40 percent. The result of this enhancement is incredible graphics power that allows users to game at max settings effortlessly while enjoying realistic cinematic experiences with technologies like NVIDIA GameWorks.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the much-anticipated release of the Razer Turret, a mouse and integrated keyboard and mouse surface that together deliver the power of desktop-grade gaming peripherals into the laps of gamers. The combo was originally unveiled as a prototype in early 2015.

Designed with a focus on enabling a PC gaming experience from the couch, the Razer Turret consists of a gaming grade chiclet keyboard with full anti-ghosting and a highly precise gaming mouse with a 3500 DPI sensor. The integrated magnetic mouse mat ensures the mouse will not slip even during intense gaming sessions.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the release of its new wireless gaming headset for PC, the Razer ManO'War. This latest addition to Razer's audio line offers high-fidelity, gaming-grade audio engineered with multiple wireless antennas, frequency channel scanning for locating the clearest channel and an advanced coding algorithm to ensure a high-performance, lag-free, 2.4 GHz wireless experience.

An ultra-compact wireless USB adapter provides plug-and-play connectivity from up to 12 meters / 39 feet. Alternately, users may opt to use the Razer ManO'War's optional extension dock for an even greater 14-meter / 46-foot range.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the release of the new Razer Hammerhead Pro V2 headset and Razer Hammerhead V2 in-ear headphones. The new Razer Hammerhead Pro V2 and Razer Hammerhead V2 both have an enhanced chassis that is CNC milled out of aircraft-grade aluminum, and flat-style cables that are ideal for mobile gaming and music use. Engineered for improved acoustic clarity and more powerful bass for which the Razer Hammerhead series is known, the in-ear headset and headphone are equipped with extra-large 10 mm dynamic drivers -- a 20 percent increase from their forerunners.

The Razer Hammerhead Pro V2 comes with three quick-action control buttons on the in-line microphone, which is fully-compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Three ear tip sizes and an optional bi-flange attachment provide superior sound isolation, as well as customizable comfort for increased versatility. An included splitter cable allows it to be connected to devices with dedicated audio and microphone jacks.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced a new line of mechanical keyboards for gamers, the Razer BlackWidow X series.
The new line of keyboards is a pared down minimalist version of the original Razer BlackWidow by removing the protective top cover and exposing the military-grade metal top plate construction that is found inside all current Razer BlackWidow keyboards. The original Razer BlackWidow with the inner metal chassis and additional protective top cover will continue to be sold as a premium model to the Razer BlackWidow X.

The stripped-down, minimalistic design of the Razer BlackWidow X line allows Razer to establish a new, lower price point for premium mechanical keyboards without compromising any of the core features for which the Razer BlackWidow is renowned. The Razer BlackWidow X series includes models Powered by Razer Chroma technology, which unlocks customizable lighting on each key, with 16.8 million colors and a variety of lighting effects. Customized profiles can be created on the Razer Synapse software and shared with millions of other users via the Razer Chroma Workshop. In-game Chroma lighting effects are also integrated into popular game titles, including "Call of Duty: Black Ops III", "Overwatch", "Blade and Soul" and more.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced pricing, availability and compatibility of its 2016 "Best of CES" award-winning Razer Core. The device is the world's first plug-and-play Thunderbolt 3 external graphics enclosure that debuted earlier this year in tandem with the Razer Blade Stealth Ultrabook, itself an official "Best PC" and "People's Choice" CES winner.

"Razer continues to innovate in the laptops category where big systems brands either cannot or will not," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "This time, in collaboration with industry leaders, we've created the world's first external graphics card solution of its kind, bringing the GPU power of a desktop PC to the latest Razer laptops, such as the Razer Blade Stealth Ultrabook, through a single Thunderbolt 3 connection with plug-and-play convenience."

Intel announced its first "gaming grade" NUC. As if the very concept of NUC wasn't disruptive to the small form-factor desktop segment enough, the company is upping the ante with one that's prepped for gaming. Codenamed NUC6i7KYK, the new Skull Canyon NUC is about double the size of the average NUC. It has sufficient muscle for sub-1080p gaming, but is also prepped for external graphics solutions, such as the Razer Core.

To begin with, the Skull Canyon is driven by a Core i7-6770HQ processor based on the "Skylake" architecture. This quad-core chip features HyperThreading, which enables 8 logical CPUs, 6 MB of L3 cache, 128 MB L4 cache, and Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580. The CPU cores run at speeds between 2.60 GHz and 3.50 GHz, while the iGPU ticks at 950 MHz. With 576 execution units, 72 TMUs, and 9 ROPs, the integrated graphics core is good enough for gaming at sub-1080p resolutions such as 720p and 900p.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced its new Razer Blade gaming laptop. The Blade's specs have been improved across the board from its predecessor, and it is now more affordable than ever before. The new Razer Blade houses the latest 6th generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M GPU with 6 GB of VRAM. PCIe SSD technology offers up to three times faster speeds than traditional solid-state drives. Killer Wireless-AC is included. All models will feature 16 GB of DDR4 dual-channel RAM.

All Razer Blade models also come with a stunning 3200x1800 QHD+ display. The laptop remains 0.70 inches thin, but now weighs only 4.25 pounds, making it even more portable than previous generations. The screen and internals are housed in a CNC-milled aircraft grade aluminum chassis. The Razer Blade - following Razer's Blade Stealth Ultrabook - will be the second laptop in the world equipped with individually backlit RGB keys. Millions of color options for the anti-ghosted keyboard are available thanks to Razer's Chroma technology.

AMD today announced AMD XConnect technology, making it easier than ever to pair a powerful external Radeon graphics card with a compatible notebook or 2-in-1 using Thunderbolt 3. AMD XConnect technology is a groundbreaking new feature of Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3. Traditionally, PC gamers have been faced with the problem of choosing between gaming notebooks, sacrificing portability for gaming performance, or ultrathin notebooks, sacrificing gaming performance for portability.

A lightweight notebook or 2-in-1 with Thunderbolt 3 that is compatible with AMD XConnect technology brings the best of both worlds to life -- conveniently lightweight on its own, but as needed, can easily tap into serious framerates and image quality of a gaming notebook with a powerful external GPU. The connection between the external GPU enclosure configured with Radeon R9 300 Series graphics is made possible over Intel's Thunderbolt 3, and can be connected or disconnected at any time, a first for external GPUs.

AMD is working on a standardized external graphics solution for notebooks. This solution will allow people with ultra-thin notebooks to enjoy the mobility served up by frugal, mainstream hardware; as well as high-end gaming, with the graphics card plugged in at home. It also probably gives AMD greater control over design and cooling solutions. Unlike a mobile GPU that sits inside your notebook, and makes it bulky due to additional cooling and power requirements, an external graphics card sits on your desk, sipping on wall socket power.

AMD's external graphics solution isn't necessarily an AMD-branded piece of hardware, but rather an open specification for notebook vendors to follow. AMD will merely provide the GPUs and software ecosystem that makes the solution truly universal and plug-n-play, with "standardized connectors, cables, drivers, and OS support." Such a graphics card will interface with just any notebook with a high-speed interface (eg: Thunderbolt). Its drivers will make it crunch your games, while sending back output to your notebook's display, over the same connection. This gives you the mobility of an ultra-thin notebook. You should also be able to plug this into your work's boring Dell desktop, or any SFF ITX box. Pictured below is a Razer Core graphics solution embedding a Radeon R9 Nano. Other examples include MSI Gaming Dock and Alienware Graphics Amplifier.Sources: Robert Hallock on Facebook, Forbes

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the ultimate Ultrabook, the Razer Blade Stealth. Featuring an incredibly sleek form factor, the latest Intel Core i7 processor and a stunning 4K display, the ultra-thin notebook also gives gamers the option of unprecedented desktop-level gaming performance with the help of the Razer Core via Thunderbolt 3.

Razer is also planning on disrupting the entire PC industry with an innovative new direct-to-consumer model that allows the new Razer Blade Stealth to be sold with premium configurations, but at a lower price point relative to the competition. The Razer Blade Stealth measures 0.52 inches thin and weighs just 2.75 pounds. Razer's latest chassis is CNC-milled out of aircraft grade aluminum, providing a sleek yet solid design. Its 12.5-in. touch display comes in two resolutions: an Ultra HD variant with an eye-dazzling 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and 100 percent coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, and a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) resolution version. Both displays are touch-enabled and feature wide viewing angles and high-color saturation to display content with striking clarity and accuracy.

Today at CES, we introduced our portfolio of next gen devices: eight new laptops, desktops and monitors across our YOGA, ideapad and ideacentre brands that upgrade nearly every PC experience from work, gaming to entertaining. Leading with the YOGA 900S ultraportable convertible laptop, the new collection offers people distinct choice in performance, aesthetic and mobility.

We engineered the YOGA 900S to be beautifully slim and noticeably lighter than previous models at 12.8 mm and 999 g with a new carbon fiber construction. The Windows 10 laptop features up to 10.5 hours of video playback so travelers can slip it into their carry-on luggage and fly from Las Vegas to London on a single charge. The convertible laptop's 360-degree watchband hinge with four modes makes it easy to work through a long-haul flight in laptop mode with up to Intel Core m7 processor, or to scan social media feeds in tablet mode. It delivers an immersive entertainment experience, thanks to Dolby Audio Premium for crisp sound and optional QHD screen (2560x1440) for crystal clear resolution. New to the YOGA family, it now supports an optional active pen so artists and note-takers alike can unleash their doodles and to-do lists, or annotate webpages on the Microsoft Edge browser using the touch screen.

At DreamHack Winter 2015 today, Lenovo (HKSE:992) (ADR: LNVGY) and Razer revealed their first-ever gaming desktop prototype that will officially launch at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2016. The two companies announced that together they will co-brand and co-market special Razer Edition models of Lenovo's Y series gaming devices - marrying the manufacturing, supply chain and channel relationships of Lenovo, the world's number one PC maker, with the immersive technology and deep expertise of Razer, a leading company in connected gaming devices and software for gamers.

PC gaming today offers a rich and immersive experience - thanks in part to cutting-edge graphics performance, superior processing power, and peripherals designed specifically for gaming. Lenovo will employ its system design and engineering expertise, while Razer will enhance the immersive experience for gamers. All forthcoming Lenovo Razer Edition products will be co-branded and reflect the edgy Lenovo Y series look and feel with iconic Razer elements like customizable Chroma lighting effects.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the Razer Naga Chroma. The latest in the Razer line of mice brings the world's most advanced mouse sensor to the world of MMO gaming. The Razer 5G laser sensor is capable of tracking up to true 16,000 DPI in down to 1 DPI increments. This is significant improvement over a current industry standard of 50 DPI increment tracking. The device boasts effectively no interpolation, which is optimized for multi-display setups with ultra-high display resolutions, ideal for immersive MMO gameplay.

At the heart of the Razer Naga Chroma is its iconic 12 concave mechanical thumb grid buttons with tactile, audible feedback, optimized specifically for MMO gaming. Each button on the thumb grid ergonomically stands out to allow for blind-finding, letting gamers more easily execute commands. "People thought we were crazy when we invented the MMO gaming mouse -- and the Razer Naga went on to surpass even our own expectations -- but now, many of our competitors are trying to recreate the design of this game-changing device," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "We're confident that the sensor technology we are utilizing will keep Razer Naga users a step ahead of their competition."

BlizzCon 2015 - Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, and Blizzard Entertainment, developer and publisher of some of the industry's most epic games, today announced a full suite of Chroma-enabled PC gaming peripherals based on Blizzard's upcoming team-based shooter, Overwatch.

Set in an all-new Blizzard game universe, Overwatch is a 6v6 first-person shooter featuring a vibrant cast of heroes, each with his or her own unique arsenal of weapons and abilities. As part of its official Overwatch gaming peripheral collection, Razer is enhancing the award-winning DeathAdder Chroma gaming mouse, BlackWidow Chroma keyboard and Goliathus Extended mouse mat with Overwatch game elements on the hardware.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the complete re-design of the popular Razer Orochi notebook gaming mouse. The Razer Orochi features the world's most precise mouse sensor for on-the-go gaming.

Retaining the name of its predecessor, the new Razer Orochi features the latest in sensor and battery technology to give gamers pinpoint accuracy and more than double the playing time in wireless mode. Complementing this overhaul, Razer has also added Chroma lighting, dual mode connectivity and a completely re-engineered shell.
At the heart of the new Razer Orochi is a 4G, 8200 DPI laser sensor -- the highest DPI sensor ever fit into a mobile gaming mouse. The result is pinpoint tracking for incredible accuracy and movement speeds of up to 210 inches per second with 50 G acceleration, making the Razer Orochi ideal for every game and play style, from fast reaction FPS gameplay to high-accuracy MOBAs.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer Wildcat for Xbox One, a pro-gamer-validated, tournament-grade, console controller with four multi-function buttons added to the conventional array, which allows gamers to re-bind any button on the controller for easy access. Twenty-five percent lighter than other tournament grade controllers, the Razer Wildcat for Xbox One features an ergonomic shape to increase actuation speed and a quick control panel that allows users to create dedicated button layout profiles for different games on the fly.

"The Razer Wildcat for Xbox One is the third generation Razer Xbox controller and the result of years working with eSports athletes on many prototypes," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "The lightest tournament-grade controller in its class with additional remappable buttons gives gamers an incredible edge." Designed with the feedback of eSports athletes, the Razer Wildcat for Xbox One offers unrivalled durability with reinforced high carbon steel analog stick necks, removable aircraft-grade aluminum triggers, and optional palm grips and analog stick grip caps.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the NZXT S340 - Designed by Razer PC case. The chassis is the latest product to launch from the "Designed by Razer" licensing program, an initiative that provides for third-party production and sale of Razer-designed and -branded PC cases. Razer opened the door to collaborations with case manufacturers last year. "Designed by Razer" candidates are subject to vetting by the award-winning Razer design and engineering team prior to approval. Once greenlit, the joint enterprise mobilizes Razer's design expertise and product engineering sensibilities.

The NZXT S340 - Designed by Razer PC case features an all-steel chassis with Razer signature green triple-headed snake logo on the front panel and the cable management bar. The compact form of the case sits two inches below competing towers with a Razer green power LED and underglow. This latest in the line of cobranded cases offers Razer fans another premium NZXT case with distinct Razer design sensibilities to build into a beast and connect to an arsenal of Razer peripherals that will intimidate any opponent in-game or in real life.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, is working with Intel to deliver a consumer-ready desktop and VR-enabled camera based on Intel RealSense technology for a wide range of experiential applications.

With Intel RealSense technology incorporated into a new Razer product design, users can expect to enjoy significantly enhanced game broadcasting and VR gaming capabilities. Among the novel features of this technology is automatic background removal, which allows game streamers and video conferencing users to remove or replace backgrounds for a more entertaining and immersive experience.

Intel RealSense Cameras are also capable of 3D scanning, motion and gesture recognition, allowing product designers to bring real-world objects and bodies into virtual spaces easily. Many more features and related applications are anticipated for the Intel RealSense technology-enabled Razer device.

We are bang in the middle of an inflection point where the latest generation of CPUs, GPUs, motherboards, memory, displays, and software (Windows 10) just launched. To help our readers wanting to save big on their first gaming PC builds [and because the news is slow these days], TechPowerUp brings to you its Builder's Digest series of guides, on which components we would choose, to build a gaming or media PC from the ground up, at a given price-point.

In this episode, we're trying to build the best gaming PC possible, under $1,700. Our definition of "best" includes not just performance, but also energy-efficiency and noise. $1,700 is a great budget to get building your first serious gaming PC from scratch. Your only semblance of a PC right now is probably a notebook you take to school, and so you need to buy everything that makes up a desktop. Here's how TechPowerUp will spend that money.

Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer Orbweaver Chroma, a customizable, mechanical, ergonomic gaming keypad that is specifically designed for tournament-grade controls and color synchronization with other Chroma-enabled devices.

Building on the success of the original Razer Orbweaver, the all-new Razer Orbweaver Chroma provides gamers with 20 fully programmable Razer Mechanical Switches; an eight-way directional thumb-pad; adjustable hand, thumb and palm modules; and now, with all of the beloved lighting features first seen on the Razer BlackWidow Chroma keyboard.