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show and the reason the Valve Index earns our Editors’ Valve Index VR Kit
Choice award for tethered VR headsets. (Though if you
already have a Vive headset with base stations, you can PROS
add the controllers for $279 and save a ton of money.) Immersive finger-
tracking controllers.
The standalone Oculus Quest 2, another Editors’ Choice High 120Hz refresh
SLFN LV D PXFK PRUH D̆RUGDEOH KHDGVHW WKDW¶V VLPSOHU rate delivers smooth
to use, lacks cables, and doesn’t require a PC or console motion. Lots of VR
to work. But the Index lets you enjoy smoother action, software available on
much more advanced graphics, and controllers that are PC via SteamVR.
a huge leap ahead of what Oculus uses. The Quest is a
good entry-level, all-around VR headset; the Valve CONS
Index is for VR enthusiasts and dedicated PC gamers. Expensive.
Occasionally
SOLID, STANDARD HEADSET frustrating tethered
The Index is a fairly cookie-cutter PC-tethered virtual- design.
reality headset, with a large face-mounted display
connected to a sturdy adjustable head harness. The BOTTOM LINE
entire assembly is black and looks like a larger and The Valve Index is the
more elaborate version of the Oculus Rift S. The front most impressive
section is mostly matte-black plastic with a glossy-black consumer VR headset
IURQW SDQHO WKDW FRPHV R̆ WR UHYHDO D UHFHVV ZLWK D 86% we’ve seen yet,
port Valve calls the “frunk.” The frunk currently doesn’t entirely because of its
KDYH DQ\ ṘFLDO XVH QRU GRHV 9DOYH KDYH DQ\ SXEOLF revolutionary finger-
plans for the compartment. In theory, it could tracking controllers.
eventually hold additional sensor modules, but right
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What isn’t useless are the two cameras located below
the front plate that provide a unique room view while
you’re using SteamVR. The cameras highlight nearby
objects with 2D or 3D outlines, letting you know when
you’re near anything that can trip you, even when
you’re in the SteamVR Chaperone boundaries. The view
also shows your hands, so you can accurately reach out
for physical objects while wearing the headset. It’s a
much more useful feature than the camera passthrough

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3D tracking rather than the very awkward, limited view you get with a direct
camera feed.
The headset’s harness consists of two large, curved plastic bands for the back of
the head. They’re padded with soft memory foam covered in anti-microbial
fabric (the same materials as the facemask part of the display) and a fabric strap
that goes over the top of the head. The harness’s sides connect to the headset
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don the headset. The plastic arcs on the back of the harness have a ratcheting
dial for tightening the headset securely, and Velcro fasteners let you adjust the
WRS IDEULF VWUDS¶V OHQJWK IRU D EHWWHU ¿W

If the Index feels loose on your head after making all the possible adjustments,
you can use the included foam insert to add an additional layer of thick padding
IRU D PRUH VHFXUH ¿W $IWHU , PDGH VRPH PLQRU DGMXVWPHQWV WKH KHDGVHW ¿W
securely and comfortably on my large head, aided largely by the soft fabric and
memory foam against my face and the back of my head.
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out the back to connect to a three-foot breakaway cable. The second cable
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port connects to the included power adapter. Yes, the headset requires its own
separate power, and its adapter is a wall brick, so make sure you have an
open outlet.

Speaking of plugging things into the wall, the two base stations require their
own outlets and are necessary to track the headset’s position in a room. Each
base station is a 3-by-2.5-by-2.5-inch black box with a curved front for holding
all its sensors. Each one has a dedicated wall adapter with an approximately
10-foot cable that ends in an awkward brick. The base stations’ screw mounts
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or mounted on a wall (mounting hardware is included).
If you buy the headset without the base stations, you can use the slightly larger
HTC Vive and Vive Cosmos Elite base stations instead.
THE MAIN EVENT: THE CONTROLLERS
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glance, they look similar to Oculus Touch and HTC Vive controllers. Each has a
large, grippable handle; a front trigger; a circular control surface on the top with
two face buttons; a system button; an analog stick; a touch-sensitive strip; and a
large, plastic arc mounted on the outside for tracking the controller’s
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the handle and the plastic arc that curves over your The controllers’
knuckles to keep the controller comfortably in hand truly unique
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also built-in, of course). aspect is built
into the
The controllers’ truly unique aspect is built into the handles.
KDQGOHV 6HQVRUV LQGLYLGXDOO\ WUDFN HDFK ¿QJHU VR \RX Sensors
can use your hands to their fullest in VR. This is a big
leap compared with the Oculus Touch and other individually
FRQWUROOHUV WKDW IROORZ LQGH[ ¿QJHU DQG WKXPE track each
movements but don’t provide total control over each finger.
¿QJHU

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controller’s top in order to be properly sensed, not

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below the trigger is easily large enough to hold all four

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that, the tracking was mostly accurate, and I could

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or unnatural, but it made the experience fall slightly
short of total and precise motor control in VR.

GETTING READY FOR VR
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each eye. The LCDs have a 120Hz refresh rate, and they’re backward-
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For comparison, the Oculus Quest 2 displays 1,920 by 1,832 pixels, and the Vive
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at 90Hz).

The Valve Index’s hardware requirements are relatively light for a tethered VR
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aren’t insurmountable gaming-PC specs, though you’ll enjoy better performance
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Setting up the Index has multiple steps, but they’re all pretty direct, especially
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unless you want to use the constricted stationary mode). You plug in the base

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adapter. Open Steam, and you’ll be prompted to install SteamVR, if it’s not
already on your system.
Once SteamVR is up and running, it should detect the headset, base stations,
and controllers, after you turn them on by holding the system buttons for a
moment. SteamVR then prompts you to set up your play space. First, you set
your initial position by standing in the middle of your play area, pointing a
FRQWUROOHU DW \RXU PRQLWRU DQG SXOOLQJ WKH WULJJHU 7KHQ \RX VHW WKH ÀRRU KHLJKW
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determine the edge of your play area by holding the trigger down and drawing
the tip of the controller along where you want the boundaries to be set. It’s an
easy process, though physically moving the controller around the edges of your
SOD\ DUHD LV VOLJKWO\ OHVV FRQYHQLHQW WKDQ MXVW SRLQWLQJ D 95 ODVHU DW WKH ÀRRU DQG
drawing those boundaries, as you can with the Oculus Quest 2.

PLAYING WITH VALVE
, SOD\HG $SHUWXUH +DQG /DEV IUHH DQG +DOI /LIH $O\[ LQFOXGHG ZLWK WKH
Index) on the Valve Index. To start, both VR games look excellent on the
headset. While it has a slightly lower resolution than the Oculus Quest 2 and
Vive Cosmos, the Index still produces a picture that’s bright, colorful, and
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I could easily see details both virtually close and far away.

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ORRNLQJ DURXQG DQG PRYLQJ VPRRWK DQG ÀXLG , straps
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$O\[ ZKLFK UHSODFHV WKH GHIDXOW VQDSSLQJ EHWZHHQ keep the
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turning with the right analog stick on the controller. connected to
Thanks to the clean movement, I didn’t experience any your hands
motion sickness or disorientation. Though, to be fair, I even when
prefer this movement scheme to the snap-around you let go of
default in most VR games. the handles.

The Index controllers are technically impressive and
easily the most advanced we’ve seen in a consumer
headset (enterprise-level and development hardware
have access to much more precise and expensive
motion tracking, but they’re out of reach for most users,
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SURPLVHG WKH\ GHWHFW HDFK LQGLYLGXDO ¿QJHU JULS ZKLFK
translates into nearly fully functional VR hands. The
inner straps keep the controllers connected to your
hands even when you let go of the handles, which
means you can comfortably move your open hands in
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course, you should still use the wrist straps, because the
hand straps aren’t tight enough to keep the controllers
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gentle vibrations to indicate when I touched a robotic
hand or other object. Vibration adds to the immersive,
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directly interacting with something in-game. It can’t
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good start.

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,QGH[ FRQWUROOHUV R̆HULQJ WKH VDPH LQGLYLGXDO ¿QJHU FRQWUROV DQG IRUFH
feedback. This translates into precise controls for manipulating objects,
shooting guns, and solving puzzles with the multitool. Handling the pistol and
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UHORDGLQJ WKHP E\ XVLQJ P\ R̆ KDQG WR WDNH DPPXQLWLRQ RXW RI P\ EDFNSDFN
sliding in a magazine or some shells, and pulling the slide to chamber them. The
controllers have excellent position tracking, so these two-handed interactions
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VDPH ¿QH SRVLWLRQ DQG RULHQWDWLRQ WUDFNLQJ WKDW OHW PH SUHFLVHO\ DUUDQJH
holographic power lines.

NOT A PERFECT PACKAGE
While revolutionary, the Index controllers still have a few minor frustrations to
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thumb. You probably couldn’t type quickly on a VR keyboard using these
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precisely isn’t necessary in most games, and gestures (full-hand grips, and
pistol grips with the ability to pull triggers) are handled perfectly. Of course, this

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useful for immersion when looking at your hands and large enough to
doesn’t serve much of a function when you’re playing
in virtual reality. accommodate
even my big
The controllers’ natural-feeling grip still takes a bit to
get used to, because of the more conventional physical hands, but you
controls. While the handles are large enough to need to rest
accommodate even my big hands, you need to rest your your index
LQGH[ ¿QJHUV RYHU WKH WULJJHUV KLJKHU XS RQ WKH fingers over
controllers. I found myself repeatedly gripping the the triggers.
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and it took some time to get acclimated to returning
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controllers’ face buttons are also slightly awkward; I
could naturally rest my thumbs on the analog sticks or
touchpads, but the two physical buttons always felt a
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Despite these quibbles, the Index controllers are the
most natural-feeling VR controllers I’ve tested. They
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more precise and intuitive, even if they aren’t quite the
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that reaches past the grip trigger of the Oculus Touch
controllers for a new level of immersion.

Two other Valve Index aspects lead to more frustrations to consider, one of
which is fundamental to all tethered VR headsets. The cable that runs from the

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cable that runs from the headset to your PC, though, and that means you need
to mind where it is as you play, especially in games where you turn around a lot.
Every tethered VR headset has this problem, because the wired connection lets
it run VR software with much more advanced graphics than a standalone VR
headset can with its mobile processor. It’s a necessary evil for this type of VR
system, but you need to keep it in mind while playing.

The other problem is the headset’s use of base stations to track position and
movement. With the base stations properly placed, your head movements will
be consistently and smoothly reproduced in VR. The base stations track
controller position, too, and depending on their location, they can temporarily
lose tracking when you turn around and your body blocks the line of sight
between the controllers and the base stations. The layout of my test space
required me to place the base stations at wide angles in front of me, to the left
and right. This resulted in the controllers freezing for a few moments when I
was turned away from the base stations. Ideally, you can put the base stations at
opposite corners of a room, in which case you should be fully covered. This isn’t
possible for every room, though.

REVOLUTIONARY VR CONTROL Despite a
Despite a handful of frustrations, the Valve Index is the handful of
most impressive VR system we’ve seen to date, thanks frustrations,
WR LWV UHYROXWLRQDU\ FRQWUROOHUV 7KHLU LQGLYLGXDO ¿QJHU
WUDFNLQJ WHFK²DQG WKH DELOLW\ WR XVH WKHP ZLWK \RXU the Valve
KDQGV RSHQ DV ZHOO DV JULSSLQJ WKH KDQGOHV²SURGXFHV Index is
a much more immersive VR experience than we’ve seen
and felt with other controllers. They simply feel the most
amazing to use, even if there’s little point in extending impressive
only your pinky in most VR games. VR system
we’ve seen
Whether this experience is worth $1,000 depends on
your budget, your commitment to VR, and if you have a to date.
PC capable of running it. The full package is expensive
for a VR headset, even a tethered one (the Vive Cosmos
is only $700). The headset-and-controllers bundle is
more reasonably priced at $750, but the system
requires the base stations to function. If you already
own an HTC Vive, Vive Pro 2, or Vive Cosmos Elite,
though, you can put their base stations to work and
simply add the controllers for $280. They work
separately with the HTC headsets and base stations, so
you don’t need to buy the full kit for the full experience
(though the standard Vive has a resolution of only 1,200
by 1,080 per eye at 90Hz, so you might want to get an
Index headset, too).

If you want to simply dabble in VR and don’t want to
invest that much money into it, the Oculus Quest 2
remains our favorite headset for its accessibility and
ease of use. It’s a standalone headset without any cables
WR WULS RYHU DQG R̆HUV D FRPSUHKHQVLYH 95 H[SHULHQFH
with a strong ecosystem for just $300. The Valve Index
is our new favorite tethered VR system, though, and the
choice to go with if money (and cables) are no issue, for
the best possible control and graphics. The Valve Index
is our Editors’ Choice pick for PC-tethered VR headsets.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2021

REVIEWS

HARDWARE

Durabook S14I: Tough
Semi-Rugged Laptop

BY ERIC GREVSTAD

B X\HUV RI UXJJHG ODSWRSV VWXUG\ V\VWHPV GHVLJQHG WR EH EROWHG WR ¿UVW
responders’ dashboards or dropped onto rocky ground, make a
distinction between “semi-rugged” and “fully rugged” notebooks—
machines rated to survive a fall of three feet versus six feet, say, or pouring rain
versus a high-pressure hose. Its maker calls the Durabook S14I ($3,004 as
tested) “one step above semi-rugged,” meaning it’s not the most bulletproof

laptop you can buy, but it’s still formidably tough, Durabook S14I
versatile, and well-equipped. The S14I hits a sweet spot
for users whose work takes them (and their gear) into PROS
harm’s way. The only thing keeping it from an Editors’ Shrugs off abuse that
Choice award is its mediocre battery life. You’ll would smash most
GH¿QLWHO\ ZDQW WR ¿OO LWV PRGXODU ED\ ZLWK WKH DYDLODEOH laptops. Brilliant
second battery pack instead of the DVD drive found in 1080p touch screen.
our test unit. Highly configurable.
Peppy 11th Gen Core i7
MAY EXPERIENCE SOME TURBULENCE CPU.
The Durabook S14I (technically S14I-G2, to
GL̆HUHQWLDWH LW IURP D SUHGHFHVVRU ZLWK WK *HQHUDWLRQ CONS
instead of 11th Generation Intel processors) is built to Pricey. Slightly
withstand a drop of four feet, one foot more than two awkward keyboard,
ULYDO LQFK ODSWRSV IRU ¿HOG ZRUNHUV WKH 'HOO /DWLWXGH and balky touchpad.
5424 Rugged and the Panasonic Toughbook 55. Its IP53 Weak audio.
ingress protection rating means it’s secure against dust Disappointing battery
and sprays of water but not against pressurized jets or life.
immersion.
BOTTOM LINE
As you’d expect, it’s no ultraportable—its aluminum- Technically a semi-
magnesium alloy chassis weighs 5.07 pounds, a bit rugged laptop, the
more than the 4.6-pound Panasonic but noticeably less Durabook S14I survives
WKDQ WKH SRXQG 'HOO DQG IDU OHVV WKDQ WKH almost as much
pounds of the latter’s six-foot-droppable sibling, the torture as fully rugged
units. Field workers
and first responders
should be well
satisfied, as long as
they invest in its
optional second
battery.

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WKH OHVV ZHOO DUPRUHG DQG PXFK OHVV FRVWO\ $FHU (QGXUR 1 E\ E\
inches), closer to the Toughbook 55 (1.3 by 13.6 by 10.7 inches).

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FRQ¿JXUHG DW 'HOO¶V VLWH ZDV DERXW PRUH ,W FRPELQHV D &RUH L *
CPU, 16GB of memory, a 512GB NVMe solid-state drive, a touch screen with full
+' E\ SL[HO UHVROXWLRQ :L )L DQG :LQGRZV 3UR 2SWLRQV
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Don’t expect the thin bezels or near-borderless display of today’s sleek
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see the screen set in a sizable armored plate. A sliding shutter covers the
webcam centered at top. There’s a carrying handle on the front edge and
¿QJHUQDLO EUHDNLQJ FRYHUV RU GRRUV RYHU DOO WKH SRUWV H[FHSW RGGO\ WKH $&
adapter connector).

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reader, a hole for the supplied stylus, and the modular bay holding our unit’s
optical drive.

Around back are HDMI and VGA video outputs, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, and
serial and Ethernet ports. Sliding latches on the bottom let you remove the
storage caddy (which can hold two M.2 solid-state drives) and the contents of
the modular bay (either the DVD drive, a second battery, or a third SSD).

CAN YOU BEAT THIS LAPTOP?
As usual with borrowed review units, I didn’t abuse the S14I to the absolute
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of about two feet) while in use and dropped it from three to four feet, both open
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but nothing untoward happened. I also gave it a soaking under the kitchen
faucet, which didn’t faze it.

At the top of the keyboard, along with the power button, are two customizable
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/('V DQG VSHDNHUV DQG F\FOH WKURXJK WRXFK VFUHHQ PRGHV GHSHQGLQJ RQ
ZKHWKHU \RX¶UH XVLQJ WKH VW\OXV JORYHV RU \RXU ¿QJHU RU DUH GHDOLQJ ZLWK D
wet display.

7KH VWL̆ NH\ERDUG R̆HUV GHGLFDWHG +RPH (QG 3DJH Colors are fair
Up, and Page Down keys, though the Delete key is on if not really
the bottom row instead of in the top-right corner where
it belongs and the cursor arrow keys are in an odd T vivid, viewing
instead of the usual inverted T formation. (The down, angles are
not up, arrow is the one set apart from the other three.)
The two-button touchpad is too small, and like some broad, and fine
others on rugged laptops that are engineered to be details are

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ignored the touch of a bare hand. have used a bit
more contrast.

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screen is readable in outdoor sunlight and actually too
bright or washed out if turned all the way up
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perfectly usable. Colors are fair if not really vivid,
YLHZLQJ DQJOHV DUH EURDG DQG ¿QH GHWDLOV DUH VKDUS ,
could have used a bit more contrast.

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marginal 720p resolution; it captures relatively well-lit
and colorful images with a bit of noise or static. The
S14I’s audio is about the weakest I’ve heard, though,
IURP D ODSWRS ÀDW WLQQ\ DQG DZIXOO\ TXLHW HYHQ DW PD[
volume. There’s no hint of bass, and you can’t hear
overlapping tracks. Durabook keeps its systems free of
bloatware and backs them with a three-year warranty.

ON THE TEST BENCH (INDOORS FOR A CHANGE)
)RU RXU EHQFKPDUN FKDUWV , FRPSDUHG WKH 'XUDERRN 6 , WR WKUHH RWKHU VHPL
rugged 14-inch laptops: the Panasonic Toughbook 55, Acer Enduro N3, and Dell
/DWLWXGH 5XJJHG 7KDW OHIW RQH VSRW ZKLFK , ¿OOHG ZLWK D LQFK
Durabook stablemate, the Durabook S15AB. You can see these survivalists’
basic specs in the table below.

Productivity and media tests: PCMark 10 is a holistic performance suite
GHYHORSHG E\ WKH EHQFKPDUN VSHFLDOLVWV DW 8/ IRUPHUO\ )XWXUHPDUN ,WV
SULPDU\ WHVW VLPXODWHV GL̆HUHQW UHDO ZRUOG SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG FRQWHQW FUHDWLRQ
ZRUNÀRZV :H XVH LW WR DVVHVV RYHUDOO V\VWHP SHUIRUPDQFH IRU ṘFH FHQWULF
tasks such as word processing, spreadsheeting, web browsing, and
YLGHRFRQIHUHQFLQJ :H DOVR XVH D VWRUDJH VXEWHVW IURP 3&0DUN WR DVVHVV WKH
speed of a system’s boot drive.
The S14I led the way, the only laptop here to clear the 4,000-point hurdle that
we consider means excellent productivity in PCMark 10. (Not that rugged
ODSWRSV OLNH WKHVH VSHQG D ORW RI WLPH SUHSDULQJ ṘFH SUHVHQWDWLRQV LQ ([FHO DQG
3RZHU3RLQW EXW VWLOO 3&0DUN ¶V VWRUDJH PHDVXUHPHQW LV HDV\ IRU WRGD\¶V
speedy SSDs.
Next is Maxon’s CPU-crunching Cinebench R15 test, which is fully threaded to
make use of all available processor cores and threads. Cinebench stresses the

CPU rather than the GPU to render a complex image. The result is a proprietary
score indicating a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive workloads.

Cinebench is often a good predictor of our Handbrake video editing benchmark,
in which we put a stopwatch on systems as they transcode a brief movie from
. UHVROXWLRQ GRZQ WR S ,W WRR LV D WRXJK WHVW IRU PXOWL FRUH PXOWL
threaded CPUs; lower times are better.

The only Core i7 and only 11th Generation Intel processor here, the S14I’s quad-
core Core i7-1165G7 easily outran its competitors. It doesn’t claim to be a CAD
or 3D rendering workstation, but the machine’s more than powerful enough for
everyday applications.

:H DOVR UXQ D FXVWRP $GREH 3KRWRVKRS LPDJH HGLWLQJ EHQFKPDUN 8VLQJ DQ
HDUO\ UHOHDVH RI WKH &UHDWLYH &ORXG YHUVLRQ RI 3KRWRVKRS ZH DSSO\ D VHULHV
RI FRPSOH[ ¿OWHUV DQG H̆HFWV WR D VWDQGDUG -3(* WHVW LPDJH :H WLPH HDFK
operation and add up the total (lower times are better). The Photoshop test
stresses the CPU, storage subsystem, and RAM, but it can also take advantage
RI PRVW *38V WR VSHHG XS WKH SURFHVV RI DSSO\LQJ ¿OWHUV

This test was another easy win for the 14-inch Durabook, though Photoshop is
hardly a high priority for rugged laptops, and its screen falls short of
professional imaging quality.

Graphics tests: :H WHVW :LQGRZV V\VWHPV¶ UHODWLYH JUDSKLFV PXVFOH ZLWK WZR
JDPLQJ VLPXODWLRQV '0DUN DQG 6XSHUSRVLWLRQ 7KH ¿UVW KDV WZR 'LUHFW;
VXEWHVWV 6N\ 'LYHU DQG )LUH 6WULNH VXLWDEOH IRU PDLQVWUHDP 3&V ZLWK LQWHJUDWHG
graphics and higher-end gaming rigs respectively. The second uses the Unigine
engine to render and pan through a detailed 3D scene at two resolution and
image quality settings with results measured in frames per second (fps); 30fps
is usually considered a fair target for smooth animation while avid gamers
prefer 60fps or higher.

7KH &RUH L * ¶V ,ULV ;H LQWHJUDWHG JUDSKLFV DUH PRUH FDSDEOH WKDQ ,QWHO¶V
older UHD Graphics, but still miles behind even a modest dedicated GPU.
'XUDERRN VD\V WKH 6 , FDQ EH RUGHUHG ZLWK DQ 1YLGLD *H)RUFH *7;
dedicated chip, for users who may need a modicum of local GPU acceleration
for specialized tasks, but it’ll never be mistaken for a gaming laptop.

Battery rundown test: After fully recharging the laptop, we set up the
machine in power-save mode (as opposed to balanced or high-performance
mode) where available and make a few other battery-conserving tweaks in
SUHSDUDWLRQ IRU RXU XQSOXJJHG YLGHR UXQGRZQ WHVW :H DOVR WXUQ :L )L R̆
putting the laptop into airplane mode.) In this test, we loop a video—a locally
VWRUHG S ¿OH RI WKH %OHQGHU )RXQGDWLRQ VKRUW ¿OP Tears of Steel—with
screen brightness set at 50% and volume at 100% until the system quits.

The only positive here is that 50% brightness on the S14I is much sunnier than
on most other notebooks; I tried this test twice, but the Durabook showed less
VWDPLQD WKDQ D V\VWHP EXLOW IRU ¿HOG ZRUN VKRXOG %X\HUV VKRXOG
unquestionably opt for the second battery pack rather than the DVD drive.

THE STRONG, ALMOST SILENT TYPE
7KRXJK H[SHQVLYH WKH 'XUDERRN 6 , FRVWV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ OHVV WKDQ IXOO\ UXJJHG
laptops while being almost as resistant to drops, weather, and damage. Again,
with better battery life (and maybe better sound) it would have earned Editors’
&KRLFH KRQRUV (YHQ DV LV LW GHVHUYHV D SODFH RQ RXWGRRU DQG IDFWRU\ ÀRRU
workers’ short lists.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2021

REVIEWS

HARDWARE

Mushkin Gamma:
High-Performance SSD

BY TONY HOFFMAN

I n recent years, computer memory producer Mushkin has made a name for
itself in the market for low-priced internal SSDs, but with its Gamma
GULYH WKH FRPSDQ\ KDV WULHG D FKDQJH LQ WDFN²DQG ODUJHO\ SXOOV LW R̆ 7KH
*DPPD LV D PLG SULFHG 0 3&, ([SUHVV 66' ,W FRVWV FRQVLGHUDEO\ PRUH
SHU JLJDE\WH WKDQ WKH DOVR WHVWHG 0XVKNLQ 'HOWD RU WKH $'$7$ ;3* *DPPL[
6 /LWH²RXU EXGJHW 3&, ([SUHVV 66' GDUOLQJ RI WKH PRPHQW²DQG LV
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GULYH LW SURYHV LWV PHWWOH DV D VSHHG\ FDSDEOH HQWU\ QRQHWKHOHVV

LIFE IN THE PCI EXPRESS 4.0 FAST LANE Mushkin Gamma

$ IRXU ODQH 3&, ([SUHVV 3&,H GULYH WKH 0XVKNLQ PROS
*DPPD FRPHV LQ WKH 0 7\SH ³JXPVWLFN´ IRUP Fast sequential read/
IDFWRU FRPPRQ DPRQJ WRGD\¶V LQWHUQDO 66'V ,W write speeds. High
HPSOR\V WKH 190H SURWRFRO RYHU WKH 3&,H EXV PCMark 10 Overall
DQG IHDWXUHV D 3KLVRQ ( FRQWUROOHU 7KH RQ PRGXOH Score and copy-test
PHPRU\ LV EDVHG RQ 0LFURQ¶V OD\HU ' WULSOH OHYHO performance. AES
FHOO 7/& 1$1' ÀDVK hardware-based
encryption.
Although the Gamma is backward-compatible with
PRWKHUERDUGV WKDW VXSSRUW 3&, ([SUHVV WR JHW CONS
anything like the peak read/write speeds discussed Lacks SSD
below, you need a system with a motherboard whose management
FKLSVHW VXSSRUWV 3&, ([SUHVV 7KLV LQFOXGHV D VHOHFW software.
group of late-model AMD desktop motherboards for
5\]HQ FKLSV DV ZHOO DV ,QWHO = EDVHG ERDUGV BOTTOM LINE
GHVLJQHG IRU WK *HQHUDWLRQ DQG WK *HQHUDWLRQ With the Gamma,
³5RFNHW /DNH´ &38V /DSWRSV ZLWK XSJUDGDEOH DQG Mushkin steps away
UHDFKDEOH 0 VORWV VXSSRUWLQJ 3&,H DUH SUHWW\ WKLQ from its budget-drive
RQ WKH JURXQG 2Q WKH GHVNWRS VLGH \RX¶OO SUREDEO\ roots to deliver a
KDYH WR XSJUDGH \RXU PRWKHUERDUG LI LW¶V D SUHEXLOW highly capable, high-
system more than a year or two old, as few apart from performance PCI
WKH YHU\ QHZHVW FXUUHQWO\ VXSSRUW 3&,H RQ WKHLU 0 Express 4.0 M.2 SSD—
VORWV XQOHVV WKH\ DUH WRS VKHOI DQG $0' EDVHG albeit without frills in
the blister pack.

7KH *DPPD ODFNV D KHDW VSUHDGHU EXW LWV ¿UPZDUH²WKH 0XVKNLQ (QKDQFHG
'DWD SURWHFWLRQ 6XLWH 0('6 ²LQFOXGHV WKHUPDO PRQLWRULQJ DQG SRZHU
PDQDJHPHQW D KRVW RI GDWD SURWHFWLRQ IHDWXUHV DQG $(6 ELW DQG ELW
KDUGZDUH HQFU\SWLRQ <RX GRQ¶W JHW DQ\ VRIWZDUH ZLWK WKH GULYH WKRXJK 7KH
*DPPD ODFNV DQ 66' PDQDJHPHQW VRIWZDUH VXLWH DQG WRROV OLNH 6DPVXQJ¶V
0DJLFLDQ DQG 'DWD 0LJUDWLRQ DSS <RX¶OO KDYH WR VXSSO\ \RXU RZQ XWLOLWLHV IRU
WDVNV VXFK DV FRS\LQJ GULYHV

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GXUDEOH LQ NHHSLQJ ZLWK LWV 7/& 1$1' PRGXOHV ZLWK D WHUDE\WHV ZULWWHQ
7%: UDWLQJ RI 7%: IRU WKH 7% PRGHO DQG 7%: IRU WKH 7% YHUVLRQ
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DQG 7%: IRU WKH 7% PRGHO
$W WKH RWKHU H[WUHPH WKH 0XVKNLQ 'HOWD²ZKLFK XVHV OHVV ZULWH GXUDEOH 4/&
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according to the manufacturer, of how much data can be written to the drive
EHIRUH VRPH FHOOV EHJLQ WR IDLO DQG JHW WDNHQ RXW RI VHUYLFH

0XVKNLQ EDFNV WKH *DPPD ZLWK D ¿YH \HDU ZDUUDQW\ The Gamma
$V LV W\SLFDO RI LQWHUQDO 66'V WKH FRYHUDJH H[SLUHV lacks an SSD-
LI WKH GULYH H[FHHGV LWV 7%: UDWLQJ²HYHQ LI LW¶V ZLWKLQ management
the warranty period—though that is very unlikely to software suite
KDSSHQ ZLWK WKLV GULYH 7KH ¿UPZDUH WUDFNV WRWDO and tools like
OLIHWLPH ZULWHV
Samsung’s
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7% *DPPD VHOOV IRU FHQWV SHU JLJDE\WH DQG WKH 7% and Data
YHUVLRQ IRU FHQWV SHU JLJ 7KLV SULFLQJ LV YHU\ FORVH WR
WKDW RI WKH 6DPVXQJ 66' 3UR ZKLFK FXUUHQWO\ UXQV Migration app.
FHQWV SHU JLJDE\WH IRU LWV 7% YHUVLRQ DQG FHQWV
SHU JLJ IRU WKH 7% PRGHO DQG LV QHDUO\ WKH VDPH DV
DQRWKHU (GLWRUV¶ &KRLFH DZDUG UHFLSLHQW WKH $'$7$
;3* *DPPL[ 6 ZKLFK UXQV FHQWV SHU JLJ DW 7%
RU 7% VL]HV

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EHWZHHQ DQG FHQWV SHU JLJDE\WH IRU ERWK WKHLU
7% DQG 7% PRGHOV ZKLOH RXU PRVW UHFHQW EXGJHW
PLQGHG (GLWRUV¶ &KRLFH SLFN WKH $'$7$ ;3*
*DPPL[ 6 /LWH UXQV RQO\ FHQWV SHU JLJ DW HLWKHU RI
WKRVH FDSDFLWLHV

TESTING THE MUSHKIN GAMMA: WICKED- The Gamma
FAST SEQUENTIAL READ/WRITE SPEEDS posted a high
:H WHVW 3&,H VROLG VWDWH GULYHV RQ D GHVNWRS V\VWHP
ZLWK DQ 06, *RGOLNH ; PRWKHUERDUG DQG DQ $0' PCMark 10
5\]HQ &38 LQVWDOOHG 7KH WHVWEHG KDV *% RI ''5 Overall Score
&RUVDLU 'RPLQDWRU 5$0 FORFNHG WR 0+] DQG D of 2,370, with
*H)RUFH 57; JUDSKLFV FDUG UXQQLQJ GLVSOD\ GXWLHV only four of our
21 comparison
PCMark 10 overall storage test 3&0DUN ¶V drives scoring
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leading independent benchmark developer—runs a full higher.
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WDJJHG DV WKH 2YHUDOO 6FRUH DUH WKH VRIWZDUH¶V
sanctioned results, representing how well a drive
GRHV WKURXJKRXW WKH HQWLUH 3&0DUN UXQ

After that are some more granular measures derived
IURP 3&0DUN ¶V EDFNJURXQG ³WUDFHV ´ 7KHVH
represent a simulation of how quickly a drive is
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WUDFH :LQGRZV FRPSOHWLQJ WKH RSHUDWLQJ V\VWHP
VWDUWXS SURFHGXUH

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how quickly a drive can read shallow-depth small
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¿OH EORFN VL]HV IRU JDPH LQVWDOODWLRQV 7KH GULYHV DUH
DOVR SXW WKURXJK D ODXQFK WHVW IRU $GREH FUHDWLYH DSSV
As anyone who works with video or images in Adobe
3UHPLHUH 3UR RU 3KRWRVKRS FDQ WHOO \RX WKHVH SRZHUIXO
SURJUDPV FDQ OHDYH \RX ZDLWLQJ ZKLOH WKH\ ODXQFK

)LQDOO\ WKHUH DUH WKH 3&0DUN FRS\ WHVWV DOVR GHULYHG
IURP 3&0DUN WUDFHV 7KHVH QXPEHUV PLJKW ORRN ORZ
compared with the straight sequential-throughput
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'LVN0DUN DQG $6 66' EXW WKDW¶V GXH WR WKH ZD\ In Crystal
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GL̆HUHQFHV EHWZHHQ WKH VRXUFH GDWD VHWV read and write

7KH *DPPD SRVWHG D KLJK 3&0DUN 2YHUDOO 6FRUH RI testing, the
ZLWK RQO\ IRXU RI RXU FRPSDULVRQ GULYHV Gamma turned
VFRULQJ KLJKHU ,WV JDPH ODXQFKLQJ VFRUHV IRU
%DWWOH¿HOG 2YHUZDWFK DQG &DOO RI 'XW\ %ODFN 2SV in one of the
ZHUH DYHUDJH ZLWK 2YHUZDWFK WKH EHVW RI WKH WKUHH E\ D better results
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VFRUHV ZHUH DYHUDJH DPRQJ WKH 3&, ([SUHVV GULYHV in the read
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$'$7$ 6 RQ )LOH &RS\

Sequential speed and copy tests: 7KH &U\VWDO
'LVN0DUN VHTXHQWLDO WHVWV SURYLGH D PRUH
traditional measure of drive throughput, simulating
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LV D VHULHV RI ¿OH DQG IROGHU WUDQVIHUV GRQH LQ WKH 66'
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WHVW GULYH WR DQRWKHU

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7% $'$7$ ;3* *DPPL[ 6 0%SV DQG 7%
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the highest sequential write speed among our
FRPSDULVRQ GULYHV DW 0%SV WKH 66' 3UR ZDV
the only other SSD with a write speed above
0%SV

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VSHHG ZHUH DOO SUHWW\ PXFK LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH SDFN

ONE LICKETY-SPLIT SSD
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EDVHPHQW GZHOOHU ,W¶V PLG SULFHG UHODWLYH WR RWKHU 3&, ([SUHVV GULYHV
rather than value-oriented, and geared for high performance, as evidenced by
LWV DELOLW\ WR FRPH FORVH WR LWV EOLVWHULQJ VHTXHQWLDO UHDG ZULWH VSHHG UDWLQJV

*HQHUDOO\ LWV EHQFKPDUN VFRUHV UDQJHG IURP DYHUDJH IRU LWV FODVV ZKLFK LV E\
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66' 3UR /LNH WKH 66' 3UR WKH *DPPD LQFOXGHV ELW KDUGZDUH
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SHUIRUPDQFH 66'V

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2021

REVIEWS

SOFTWARE & APPS

Chegg: Unique Online
Learning BYJILL DUFFY

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PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2021

FEATURES Cover illustration: Bob Al-Greene

WILL THE BATTLE FOR CPU
SUPREMACY PUSH THE
RIVALS TOGETHER?

BY TOM BRANT

For years, neither company has been able to
claim absolute victory. But as Amazon,
Apple, Google, and other tech giants design
and manufacture their own processors, will
AMD and Intel circle their wagons?

Email can be a killer: Just ask New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who
discovered some scandalous messages during a multinational investigation of
Intel, the American semiconductor giant.

The Intel emails, made public by Cuomo in 2009 when he was New York’s state
attorney general, appeared to show that the company was taking a carrot-and-
stick approach to ensuring that its customers used Intel processors for all, or
nearly all, of the PCs that they sold. This might not rank as one of history’s most
revelatory email brouhahas, but it was a vital factor in a billion-dollar
settlement that would drastically change the semiconductor industry—and the
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boardrooms worldwide and is, without a doubt, in the back of the minds of
salespeople the world over. And it’s still a driving factor behind one of today’s
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legal battles and quest for technical superiority of the two tech behemoths have
taken on new relevance today, when PCs are enjoying a resurgence of interest
from home-bound consumers, and Apple, Qualcomm, and other new entrants
to the semiconductor industry are poised to shake up the dynamic. The rivalry
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are roiling large swathes of the global economy. Neither company is likely to
claim absolute victory, but the battles won and lost along the way tell us a lot
about the future of silicon.

MULTITHREADING THE NEEDLE
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place, the spring of 2001 is a great place to start. That April, Intel’s engineers
were immersed in one of the company’s most ambitious silicon-development
projects and were likely facing intense deadline pressure—in a little more than a
year’s time, Intel planned to bring multithreading to its consumer processors, a
move that would help transform the capabilities of PCs and the software that
runs on them.

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silicon engineering concepts in that it’s relatively simple for laypeople to
understand. At its most basic level, a computer transfers demands from a piece
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The concept of multithreading has been around, theoretically, since the 1950s.
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mouse button, the software sent an instruction to the processor, and the
processor sent back a calculation. It was a straightforward—if limited—

Intel’s Hyper-
Threading: The
CPU exposes two
execution contexts
for each physical core:
One physical core
now works like two
“logical cores” that
can handle different
software threads.

Photo credit: Intel