For Day 1 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with AOC to give one lucky reader a brand new Agon Pro gaming monitor! 

Our prize today is the AOC AGON PRO AG456UCZD, this is a 45-inch ultrawide OLED gaming monitor, boasting WQHD resolution and a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for both immersive single-player games and competitive multiplayer. Typically, this monitor goes for around £800, but we'll be giving one to a lucky reader for free.

HOW TO ENTER:

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us – what resolution do you currently game at?

This competition is open in the UK and EU.

The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 2nd, and a new competition will also be announced for Day 2. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK and EU, starting at 11AM GMT on December 1st and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 2nd. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all entering – we'll be back tomorrow to announce the winner and reveal the next giveaway. 

The KitGuru Advent Calendar is returning for 2024. We have an entire month of daily giveaways lined up for our readers. This year for prizes, we have graphics cards, gaming chairs, hardware bundles and more!

The KitGuru Advent Calendar is a simple concept. Over the last couple of months, we've been in touch with companies and partners across the industry to organise daily giveaways for the month of December. Each day, we will announce a prize (or multiple prizes in some cases), and ask a simple question related to the giveaway on our Facebook page. To enter, all you need to do is comment your answer on that Facebook post. A winner will then be picked randomly and contacted by the KitGuru Facebook page to organise shipping.

Don’t worry about missing out, each competition will be announced here on the main website, as well as on our other social channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even our YouTube Community page.

As each prize will be shipped directly by the company involved, shipping restrictions will vary each day and are out of our control. Each competition will clearly state which regions are eligible for entry, so be sure to read each competition's terms of entry.

We’ll be back tomorrow at 11AM with the first competition!

KitGuru Says: The 2024 KitGuru Advent Calendar is about to begin! Tune back in tomorrow for the first competition of the month! 

8BitDo, a brand well-known for retro-themed gaming peripherals, is tapping into nostalgia once again with a new collection inspired by the iconic translucent green of the original Xbox. With the refreshed Retro 87 mechanical keyboard and the brand-new Retro R8 mouse sporting the classic Xbox aesthetic, 8BitDo has created a set of peripherals that any diehard Xbox fan would love to get.

These latest additions to the 8BitDo family feature translucent green enclosures with red, yellow, blue, and green buttons/keys, capturing the essence of the original Xbox controller's ABXY buttons. While the Retro 87 keyboard retains the most functionalities of the original Retro keyboard, it also features Kailh Jellyfish X switches for a more pronounced translucent look, updated keycaps, and a matching green casing.

8BitDo has even added modern flair to the Retro 87 keyboard with per-key RGB lighting and eight customisable lighting modes. The keyboard retains its convenient mode selection and volume knobs, and you can further personalise its settings using the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 on Windows.

The Retro R8 mouse marks 8BitDo's first foray into the gaming mouse market. This ambidextrous mouse features a classic design with eight customisable buttons, a comfortable shape, and a mere 77g. Connectivity options are plentiful, with support for USB-C wired mode, 2.4G wireless, and Bluetooth LE. The Retro R8 also includes a matching charging station that doubles as a signal extender.

Under the hood, the Retro R8 packs impressive specs, including Kailh Sword GM X switches rated for 100 million clicks, a PAW 3395 optical sensor with up to 26,000 DPI resolution, and an 8K polling rate in wired mode. Like many modern gaming mice, it also offers adjustable DPI settings and a USB-A receiver that can be stored within the mouse.

The Xbox Edition of the Retro 87 keyboard and the Retro R8 mouse are now available for $119.99 and $59.99, respectively.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of the Xbox brand? Would you like to get any of these peripherals?

MSI's next-gen gaming handhelds, the Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+, will be released in December with a starting price of $799. That's according to the recently spotted online listings, which have revealed the full specifications of the upcoming handhelds and confirmed many of the rumours we've heard in recent months.

According to VideoCardz, the Claw 8 AI+ will be available in two configurations powered by Intel's Lunar Lake platform. The top-tier model boasts a Core Ultra 7 258V processor with 8 CPU cores (4P+4E), Arc 140V graphics with 8 Xe2-Cores, 1 TB storage, and 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. A more affordable option with a Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and 16 GB of RAM will also be available. The Claw 8 AI+ also boasts an 8-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of peak brightness. Moreover, MSI has packed a beefy 80Wh battery into the device. While the Claw 8 AI+ retains a similar design to its predecessor, it's slightly larger and heavier, weighing 794g. Connectivity has also been improved with the addition of two Thunderbolt 4 ports located on the bottom of the device.

MSI is also releasing a refreshed version of the Claw 7, aptly named the Claw 7 AI+ (via VideoCardz). This 7-inch handheld looks more like the original Claw 7 but features the same Lunar Lake platform as its larger sibling, with the top-tier model sporting the Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, Arc 140V graphics, 512 GB of storage, and 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. The Claw 7 AI+ also benefits from dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and a similar design language to the Claw 8 AI+. A Core Ultra 7 256V/16 GB version of the Claw 7 AI+ hasn't been spotted, but considering the Claw 8 AI+ has a variant with that SoC, there's a good chance MSI will eventually release one for the smaller handheld.

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ are expected to be released next month. The Claw 7 AI+ looks to be the first of the two, with a release on December 1st for $799. The Claw 8 AI+ should come a bit later, on December 25th, priced at $899.

KitGuru says: Do you believe the new MSI Claw handhelds will get a better reception than the original Claw 7?

InWin, renowned for its innovative and unique-looking PC cases, has just unveiled its latest creation: the Infinite. This limited edition chassis from InWin's Signature Series redefines what's possible with PC case design, featuring a 180-degree curved glass panel and a host of premium features.

First teased at Computex earlier this year, the Infinite is a testament to InWin's philosophy. In this case, the first thing that stands out is the curved glass panel, which wraps around the chassis in an arc. The glass itself is 6mm thick and chemically strengthened for enhanced durability. It's then coated with a protective layer to resist scratches and damage. The aluminium frame that houses the PC components is equally impressive, featuring a counter-fold that aligns with the curved glass.

The Infinite is packed with features that enhance both functionality and aesthetics. A motorised hinge connects the chassis to a hand-forged aluminium base, allowing the entire structure to rotate from vertical to horizontal with the push of a button. This mechanism provides easy access to the interior and allows the system to be showcased from different angles. Integrated edge lighting enhances its visuals through a glow on the curved glass.

Cooling is also a priority, supporting up to three 120mm intake fans on the front, a 120mm fan on the rear, and a semi-open frame design. CPU tower coolers can be up to 180mm tall. Alternatively, there's space for a 360mm radiator (up to 65mm thick). Moreover, you can mount GPUs up to 370mm in length, Mini-ITX to E-ATX motherboards (305x330mm), a 250mm long PSU, and two 2.5-inch drives. Lastly, the front I/O includes a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 2x USB-A 3.2, and a HD-Audio port.

As a limited-edition chassis from InWin's Signature Series, each sample is individually numbered, emphasising its exclusivity and collectable status. This case is now available for a whopping €6,776.

KitGuru says: It's clear this isn't a PC case for everyone, especially looking at its pricing. However, those looking to spend that much money on a case can rest assured that you'll have an extremely rare product.

When Riot launched Valorant, it also launched a deeply rooted anti-cheat system, Vanguard. This anti-cheat system requires kernel-level access, so maintaining its security is of the utmost importance. To support that, Riot is putting up some big money for its new Vanguard bug bounty program. 

The bug bounty program asks white hat hackers to root out exploits in Vanguard for both Valorant and League of Legends. The program is being handled by HackerOne, the most well-known bug bounty site. Payments for reported exploits can reach as high as $100,000.

Riot is offering up to $35,000 for exploits that enable privilege escalation, or up to $75,000 for exploits that attack the network while relying on user interaction to enable the attack. Up to $100,000 will be paid for exploits that can attack the network with zero user interaction.

Programs like this should help Riot keep Vanguard's kernel-level driver secure, which is necessary given how dangerous a kernel-level backdoor can be.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see if any truly serious bugs are discovered through this program, requiring the maximum payout. 

DeepCool has just unveiled its new LQ series of all-in-one liquid coolers. These coolers combine high-performance cooling with eye-catching aesthetics, thanks to integrated segment LCD screens and vibrant ARGB lighting on the fans and the pump/block.

The DeepCool LQ series takes cooling customisation to a new level with a unique segmented LCD built into the pump head. This display provides real-time monitoring of CPU metrics such as temperature and load using clear icons and colour-coded indicators. Using DeepCool's DeepCreative software, you can customise the display and synchronise lighting effects with system performance.

The LQ series has various performance-enhancing features, including DeepCool's 5th-generation pump. The pump packs a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor that can reach speeds of 3400 RPM while maintaining a whisper-quiet 21 dBA noise level. Further enhancing cooling performance is a redesigned cold plate with 0.1mm high-density flow channels placed above CPU hotspots.

The LQ AIO coolers are equipped with DeepCool's FD12 ARGB PWM fans that can spin between 600 and 2400 RPM, offering a wide range of control for optimal cooling and noise levels. Each fan boasts six Gen 2 ARGB LEDs, allowing for customisable lighting effects. To complete this, the ARGB halo on the pump head synchronises with the fans and can be integrated with compatible motherboards and controllers for system-wide lighting effects.

The DeepCool LQ series is available in 240mm and 360mm radiator sizes. The LQ240 and LQ360 will be available on January 19th, 2025, with MSRPs of €129.99 and €149.99, respectively.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of LCDs on the pump/block? What do you think of DeepCool's segmented LCDs of the LQ AIO series?

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Sony is about to give its PlayStation Portal remote player a sleek new look. According to a reliable leaker, a black variant of the device is on its way, offering a new alternative to the current white model.

Billbil-kun, known for many accurate leaks on Dealabs, claims that a black PlayStation Portal will be available in limited quantities soon. This new model will be priced the same as the existing white version, meaning it will come out at £199.99/$199.99/€219.99. This is great news for gamers who prefer a more understated aesthetic or want a device that better matches their other gaming gear.

In addition to the black Portal handheld, billbil-kun (via Dealabs) also reports that Sony is releasing a range of PlayStation 5 peripherals in black, including a DualSense Edge controller, the Pulse Elite wireless headphones, and the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. And for fans of cooperative alien-blasting action, Sony is also reportedly releasing a Helldivers 2-themed DualSense controller, according to the same leaker.

The black versions of these peripherals will, like the black Portal, reportedly be priced the same as their white counterparts. This means you can grab the DualSense Edge controller in black for £209.99/$199.99/€239.99, the Pulse Elite Wireless Headphones for £129.99/$149.99/€149.99, and the Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds for £199.99/$199.99/€219.99. The Helldivers 2-themed controller will be available for £74.99/$84.99/€84.99.

KitGuru says: With a new black PlayStation Portal and a range of stylish black peripherals on the horizon, Sony is giving gamers even more options to personalise their gaming experience.