|
|
News Search Results for: PHP Desktop PC Platform - Saved By Overclocking @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-31-10] (0 Comments) The desktop hardware industry was made popular by knowledgeable members of the community willing to share their overclocking experience Enermax MODU87+ 900W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Aug-28-10] (0 Comments) The Enermax MODU87+ 900W power supply delivered excellentefficiency with good voltage regulation and clean outputs. Inaddition, the PSU is very quiet during normal operation at low to midpower levels. Throw in support for high-end graphic adapters, modularcables, excellent build quality and attractive styling and Enermax hasanother winner on their hands. Palit GeForce GTX 460 1GB Sonic Platinum - Rivaling the GTX 470 @ pcper.com [Aug-27-10] (0 Comments) Palit has done a great job combining the popular and flexibleGeForce GTX 460 GPU with a custom design and highly overclockedsettings to create a mid-range graphics cards that offers next-levelperformance for a price that is much more manageable for the everydaygamer. If you have been looking for an upgrade path in the $250 pricerange then the Palit GTX 460 1GB Sonic Platinum card is a fantasticoption! Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 CPU Cooler Heatsink @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-26-10] (0 Comments) Not everyone wants to spend a small fortune buying the fastest processor sold, simply for the promise of factory-made speed. Overclockers Arctic Cooling Arctic Sound S111 @ aselabs.com [Aug-25-10] (0 Comments) It sure would be nice to not listening to music with headphones in a hotel room or through the tinny laptop speakers. Arctic Cooling has a solution to the tinny sound present in many thin portable speakers. The Arctic Sound S111 may not win any awards for the size, but the sound quality is certainly superior. Sentey Arvina GS-6400R Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-25-10] (0 Comments) A well designed case can be the difference between an easy, well-organized build or a nightmare build that haunts you everytime time you Patriot Gauntlet PCGT25S Drive Enclosure @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-23-10] (0 Comments) USB 3.0, aka Seasonic X Series 400W Fanless Power Supply @ pcper.com [Aug-20-10] (0 Comments) The MSRP for the Seasonic X Series 400W Fanless power supplyis $139.99 USD and the unit is scheduled to become available in August2010. If you want a true fanless power supply then the X-400 is theanswer. Keep in mind that for an additional $30 you can buy aSeasonic X Series 650W PSU, which is also capable of running in silentmode (fan turned off) at the lower power levels but will supply anextra 250W of fan-cooled power if you need it. Antec Dark Fleet DF-85 Enthusiast Gaming Case @ hardwarelogic.com [Aug-19-10] (0 Comments) The ominous and looming Dark Fleet of cases from Antec have arrived. This new line brings a much different look from previous high-end designs like the Hundred series. The DF-85 is a full size ATX case with plenty of room for cable management and includes some special features. It also has a red and black design which is always a plus. [RESEND] Antec Dark Fleet DF-85 Enthusiast Gaming Case @ hardwarelogic.com [Aug-19-10] (0 Comments) The ominous and looming Dark Fleet of cases from Antec have arrived. This new line brings a much different look from previous high-end designs like the Hundred series. The DF-85 is a full size ATX case with plenty of room for cable management and includes some special features. It also has a red and black design which is always a plus. NZXT Phantom Full-Tower Case PHAN-001BK @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-13-10] (0 Comments) NZXT took the wraps off its newest Crafted Series case last month and, when it becomes available this September, the NZXT Phantom Desktop PC Platform:Killed By Overclocking @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-12-10] (0 Comments) Enthusiasts have lost sight of the original purpose behind overclocking, which was made popular because it could make something slow MSI N460GTX Cyclone 1GD5/OC Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-11-10] (0 Comments) There is no doubt that the NVIDIA GTX 460 has created quite a splash since its introduction. The reconfigured Fermi architecture of the Antec Notebook Cooler Basic @ aselabs.com [Aug-10-10] (0 Comments) In the past, notebook coolers have featured a few fans wrapped together in a block of plastic. While relatively effective on paper, not all designs were functional or ideal for all laptops. Today, Antec provides a solution that is aesthetic in appearance, yet simple and functional in design with the passively cooled Notebook Cooler Basic. Verbatim Titan XS 320GB Portable Hard Drive @ aselabs.com [Aug-09-10] (0 Comments) Portable hard drives have come a long way in the last few years. Increases in efficiency and design advancements have allowed them to be viable alternatives to USB flash drives. Verbatim has several portable hard drives on the market. Today, ASE Labs has the Verbatim Titan XS 320GB up for review. MSI N480GTX M2D15 GeForce GTX 480 @ pcper.com [Aug-05-10] (0 Comments) I believe Fermi can be a very successful architecture. Theonly problem is that it did not line up with the 28 nm process thatwill be introduced next year. In many ways the GTX 480 is more inline with the Radeon HD 2800XT than the aforementioned GeForce FX 5800in terms of designing a part a little too aggressive considering theprocess technology at hand. But the significant difference betweenthe GTX 480 and those products is that it actually performs where itshould, and is a class leader in terms of features and functionality. SilverStone Fortress FT02 Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-05-10] (0 Comments) Some years ago, Intel tried to move beyond the ATX ASUS GeForce GTX 460 SLI Performance @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-03-10] (0 Comments) When Benchmark Reviews first tested the video card, we knew that NVIDIA had a winner on their hands. For the mid-range price of $200, Verbatim Nano Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse @ aselabs.com [Aug-02-10] (0 Comments) While Verbatim may not be a brand you think of when discussing mice, they are rapidly making new product lines and inching closer to the market heavyweights like Logitech. Healthy competition is good and we have the newest notebook mouse for review; the Nano Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse. Video Perspective:NZXT Sentry LXE External Touchscreen Fan @ pcper.com [Aug-02-10] (0 Comments) The NZXT Sentry LXE is a niche device to say the least - notmany people are going to want, let along need, an external fancontroller. The interface was nice and installation was easy butafter having been used to capacitive screens for so long on phones,going back to resistive required some forcing. The LXE is far fromthe most expensive unit available coming in at $59.99 MSRP so if youfind the novelty of the external unit appealing, this NZXT model isworth your attention. Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 GC 1GB - Can SLI 460s beat the GTX 480? @ pcper.com [Jul-31-10] (0 Comments) Here is what we found really interesting today though:thepair of Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 GC 1GB cards in SLI was a significantlybetter gaming configuration than a single GeForce GTX 480 card in allof our testing except Metro 2033. That was the only game where thesingle card was able to overshadow its pair of little brothers;everywhere else we found the GTX 460s to not only provide betterperformance but in some cases by a significant amount. Intel Core i5-655K Processor BX80616I5655K @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-29-10] (0 Comments) Many years ago, overclocking was not limited by Intel/AMD like nowadays. As it is usual, when they see they can make extra money from the ASUS N61Jv Optimus Core i3 16-in Notebook @ pcper.com [Jul-27-10] (0 Comments) My overall experience with the ASUS N61Jv was extremely positivethanks to the performance the Core i3 processor and NVIDIA GT325M GPU offer,the large screen and keyboard/touch pad combination. For a 16-in notebookcoming in over 6 lbs, which definitely puts it closer to the desktopreplacement category than the thin and light, getting 2 hours and 23 minutesin our very strenuous battery testing was actually pretty solid makingleaving without your power cord at least an option. The added goodies likeUSB 3.0 support definitely add the value of a notebook that sells for $899which should make it a great option for a summer or fall college-boundconsumer or anyone else on the lookout for this combination. Antec DF-30 Dark Fleet Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-27-10] (0 Comments) Antec has been around for a long time. Chances are, if you enjoy building your own computers or even tinkering with them, you have heard Motorola Droid X on Verizon Wireless - 4.3-in of Power @ pcper.com [Jul-22-10] (0 Comments) I personally prefer thetouch sensitive buttons on phones such as the EVO and Incredible, but thephysical buttons on the Droid X work perfectly. In order to keep the phoneas thin as possible, Motorola has developed a design in which there is araised potion of the phone which houses the camera. While this method allowsthe Droid X to sit on a flat surface, unlike the Incredible, it is still notvery aesthetically pleasing and makes the phone look like it has a giantchin. Logitech G110 Gaming Keyboard @ aselabs.com [Jul-21-10] (0 Comments) Logitech tries to refresh its product lines every once in awhile. This serves a few purposes. For Logitech, this means a steady stream of revenue. For the consumers, it usually means a better product than before. The G110 is just such a product. It takes over for the G11 that was released about three years ago and bests it in every way. Kingwin Lazer Gold Series 1,000W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jul-18-10] (0 Comments) The Kingwin Lazer Gold Series LZG-1000 PSU with Crystal Cube modularcable management delivered good voltage regulation (especially on theimportant +12V rails) with relatively clean outputs and very goodefficiency. The LZG-1000 PSU is quiet at low to mid power levels, includesa good assortment of both fixed and modular cables/connectors, and featuresa blue LED fan for added visual impact. Overall the LZG-1000 performed verywell. Gigabyte H55N-USB3 HTPC Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-15-10] (0 Comments) GIGABYTE has grown a lot in the market lately. They mainly produce top-notch quality motherboards and GPUs, and they have even entered Enthusiast Graphics Card Comparison - NVIDIA and AMD head-to-head @ pcper.com [Jul-14-10] (0 Comments) While the GeForce GTX 460 showed power consumption close to that ofthe Radeon HD 5830 while offering better performance, the GeForce GTX 470and 480 use a dramatic amount of additional power to get the performanceresults we showed you above. While the HD 5850 is slower in our testingthan the GTX 470, it does use 33% less power than the NVIDIA option and theHD 5870 uses 44% less power than the GTX 480. These are not small gaps byany stretch and the fact that the HD 5870 uses 25% less power than the GTX470 mainstream option indicates that point further. Zalman ZM-NC2500 PLUS Notebook Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-13-10] (0 Comments) Zalman is a name synonomous with cooling in the PC industry and they have enjoyed great success in the CPU and GPU cooling market. Seasonic SS-300TFX Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jul-11-10] (0 Comments) The Seasonic SS-300TFX is an excellent TFX format power supply. ThePSU delivered very good voltage regulation with good efficiency andmaintained clean outputs across a wide range of loads. If you are in themarket for a solid 300W PSU for a Micro ATX Media Center or Home Theater PC,the Seasonic SS-300TFX deserves a very close look! Antec DF-35 Dark Fleet Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-09-10] (0 Comments) Antec is one of the premier computer accessory manufacturers, and their cases have garnered a well-earned reputation for quality and Cooler Master V6GT CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-08-10] (0 Comments) The progress made in the design and implementation of CPU coolers over the last few years has been little short of amazing. While both G.Skill Phoenix Pro SandForce SSD Test @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-07-10] (0 Comments) Solid State Drive storage devices have become the hot ticket for high-performance computer enthusiasts. Impartial towards either PC, Thermaltake BlacX Duet @ aselabs.com [Jul-06-10] (0 Comments) A few years ago, Thermaltake released the BlacX. It was one of the first (if not the first) hard drive docking stations for sale. Thermaltake was the company to really push the product to market. Now, Thermaltake is upping the ante by supporting two drives at once. AMD Athlon-II X4-640 Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-06-10] (0 Comments) In September 2009, AMD unleashed a torrent of personal computing potential by introducing the market to the first sub-$100 quad-core MSI H55M-ED55 LGA 1156 Micro ATX Motherboard @ pcper.com [Jul-06-10] (0 Comments) The H55M-ED55 is a great example of their commitment to qualityboards that are geared toward overclockers and gamers. We saw goodperformance results in both of these categories during testing and wereimpressed with how flexibilty and feature rich the BIOS was. The onlycomplaints we could make about it would be the lack of USB 3.0/SATA3.0support, but most boards at this price point and class do not have thesefeatures standard. The OC Genie button was a great addition and should beused frequently by novice PC builders looking to squeeze a few moremegahertz from their Intel processors. Pricing Drop Incoming! @ pcper.com [Jul-01-10] (0 Comments) Last week I noticed something quite nice. Hopping onto Newegg andchecking prices, I saw that most of the GTX 470 and GTX 480 parts were beingoffered below MSRP with instant rebates, and furthermore most of them had aMIR for another $20 to $30 attached to them. This made some of the GTX 480sas low as $449, while the GTX 470s are now sitting between $294 and $299 forquite a few SKUs. Xigmatek Utgard Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-30-10] (0 Comments) Xigmatek have a few cases in their collection now, the latest is the Xigmatek Utgard CPC-T90DB-U01 which is the focus of this review. The ASUS P7P55D-E Pro Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-25-10] (0 Comments) The Intel P55 platform has been with us for a good while now, and it is a real sleeper, having the memory controller integrated with the EVGA UV Plus+ UV-19 USB Display Hub @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-23-10] (0 Comments) Computer desktop real estate is something that you can never have too much of. Adding multiple monitors to your system is one of the Lexar JumpDrive FireFly @ aselabs.com [Jun-17-10] (0 Comments) Flash drives are fairly common in today. Lexar has been in the flash field for years. Today, we have the small and sleek Lexar FireFly on the bench at ASE Labs. While Lexar has geared this product towards the youth, anyone will enjoy it just the same. Installed Memory vs RAM Usable by Windows @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-15-10] (0 Comments) Most PC users are familiar with the 4GB system memory limitation of 32-bit Windows Operating Systems, which is why 64-bit computing has ASUS Radeon EAH5870 V2 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-14-10] (0 Comments) The market for Radeon HD 5870 video cards has matured since the launch of this top-tier GPU in September of 2009. Development has Mionix Naos 5000 USB Gaming Laser Mouse @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-11-10] (0 Comments) Gamers want the best system they can get their hands on. This means a blazing fast CPU, dual video cards, and good ram. However, all this Thermaltake Frio Universal Heatsink @ pcper.com [Jun-08-10] (0 Comments) There were a lot of good qualities about the Frio that I think willappeal to basic users and overclockers alike. The easy of installation andsupport for multiple CPU platforms is a huge plus in a day and age whereconsumers switch between different platforms frequently. The dual-fan designdefinitely helped the Frio score very well in our performance tests, but wewould have liked quieter fans that pushed more air instead of creating morenoise at higher speeds. AMD Athlon-II X2-260 Regor Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-07-10] (0 Comments) In early May 2010, AMD released a new series of processors that fills in some of the gaps in their Athlon-II and Phenom-II Dual, Triple, Synology DS1010+ NAS Network Storage @ hardwarelook.com [Jun-01-10] (0 Comments) Entered at the Small and Medium Business platform, the SynologyDS1010+ presents a huge storage potential with five drive bay slots eachcapable of handling up to a 2TB 3.5 OCZ shows low cost PCIe SSD and new HSDL storage connection @ pcper.com [Jun-01-10] (0 Comments) OCZ is rating the Revo drive at 540 MB/s read and 530 MB/s writewith a 75k IOPS rating on 4k random writes. It will be available incapacities ranging from 120GB to 480GB and while target pricing is not setyet, the goal is to see it Corsair ps Graphite 600T case, @ pcper.com [Jun-01-10] (0 Comments) This includes the new Graphite Series 600T mid-tower case thatwill be available for around $149 starting in late summer. After theacclamation of both the Obsidian Series 800D and 700D, Corsair has moved onto create an enthusiast-friendly lower priced option. Biostar TA890GXB-HD mATX AMD Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-01-10] (0 Comments) With the release of the new 6-core Thuban processors, AMD unveiled their latest chipset to go with it; the 890FX/GX. Very similar to the Intel Core i7-875K and Core i5-655K Unlocked Processor @ pcper.com [May-28-10] (0 Comments) Intel is coming out swinging again at what some considered AMD=E2=80=99slast standing enthusiast market base with the release of low-costcompletely unlocked Core i5/i7 processors. They are obviously aimed at the=E2=80=9CBlack Edition AMD Fusion APUs to be built @ pcper.com [May-27-10] (0 Comments) What might be most interesting is not WHAT it is, but WHERE it ismade. We have learned that the Ontario Fusion solution will be built on a40nm process and thus we can conclude this AMD-designed part will not bebuilt by GlobalFoundries, the previously-AMD-owned foundry company, butrather by TSMC on the 40nm G technology. ASUS Crosshair IV Formula Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-27-10] (0 Comments) In April of 2010, AMD introduced the final parts of their Lian-Li Armorsuit PC-P50R Dragon Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-26-10] (0 Comments) The Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P50R is a mid-size tower with a sleek black exterior, and some serious red highlights. Taking advantage of the Thermaltake Toughpower XT Series 775W Power Supply @ pcper.com [May-20-10] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake Toughpower XT Series 775W PSU delivered very goodvoltage regulation with excellent efficiency. The XT 775W is relativelyquiet, runs cool during normal operation, and includes a good compliment ofmodular cables/connectors. And Thermaltake (CWT) finally has the AC rippleunder control. Overall, the Toughpower XT 775W is an excellent PSU and thebest unit Thermaltake has brought to market - well done. Antec ISK 310-150 Mini-ITX Desktop Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-17-10] (0 Comments) If you´re looking for a Mini-ITX computer case for your new AMD, Laptops Galore, and the Phenom II X4 960T (RIP) @ pcper.com [May-13-10] (0 Comments) Single, dual, triple, and quad core processors combined with a Zotac GeForce GTX-480 Fermi Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-12-10] (0 Comments) The Zotac GeForce GTX-480 is based on the same reference design that debuted on 26 March 2010, but this retail kit (ZT-40101-10P) differs G.Skill ECO 4GB DDR3-1333 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-10-10] (0 Comments) In the industry of technology, brands offering similar products without innovating will not be easily adopted by the enthusiast market. SteelSeries NP+ Rough Gaming Surface Mouse Pad @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-07-10] (0 Comments) Most people buying mousepads expect it to be small and light, so when the SteelSeries NP+ came rolled up in a bundle at half a meter StarTech USB 2.0 DisplayPort KVM Switch @ hardwarelook.com [May-06-10] (0 Comments) The introduction of newer video digital interface standards, such asDisplayPort, offer better image quality, resolutions and refresh rates overexisting technologies such as DVI and VGA. The DisplayPort connection is nowbeing implemented into the KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) Switch:a simplehardware device allowing a user to control multiple computers via a singleset of peripheral devices. QNAP TS-259 Pro Turbo NAS Server @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-05-10] (0 Comments) Network storage is a concept that many people use without a second thought in corporate environments, but what about at home? Count the BitFenix Interview with Coco Lee @ hardwarelook.com [May-04-10] (0 Comments) The launch of BitFenix over the past few weeks has certainly caughtthe eye with a promise to manufacture truly innovative products and to breakthe mould. Synology DS410j NAS Network Storage Server @ hardwarelook.com [May-04-10] (0 Comments) NAS or Network Attached Storage solutions are becoming a much morewidely used device for businesses as well as inside the home. Within thecorporate environment, the slot for a centralised data source has beenfilled in many instances by NAS storage allowing users to remotely accessfiles and data. Verbatim InSight 320GB Portable Hard Drive @ aselabs.com [May-03-10] (0 Comments) Compact but big on storage capacity, the InSight drive is available in a sleek piano-black finish with capacities of 320GB and 500GB and carries a 5-year limited warranty. With an Always On display, the Verbatim InSight hard drive is a plug-and-play external drive that keeps you in the know - even when it’s disconnected. ASUS RT-N16 Wireless-N Gigabit Router @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-03-10] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews brings to you today, the ASUS RT-N16 Multi-funtional Wireless-N Router, which boasts up to 700% faster wireless Super Talent SuperCrypt USB 3.0 32GB Thumb Drive @ pcper.com [Apr-30-10] (0 Comments) If you have USB 3.0 in your system already, or were thinking aboutthe ASUS U3S6 or ECS add-in cards, then you need a device like this totruly see its potential. You can use it for speedy backups or moving largeamounts of data between USB 3.0-ready systems or just sit there and readand write to it to see how fast it can go. I would like to see priceslowered on them as they are quite high but for getting speed and encryptionfeatures working right off the bat, Super Talent deserves some credit. SandForce Roundup! Corsair Force F100 vs. OCZ Vertex 2 vs. OCZ @ pcper.com [Apr-29-10] (0 Comments) These three new SandForce-1200 based models performed very well inour testing, competing with Intel in IOPS and completely dominating in writeperformance. The only thing really holding these drives back from totalmarket domination is the price. That awesome write performance comes at thecost of heavy over-provisioning, which leads to less flash available for theuser and therefore a higher cost/GB. AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 6-core Thuban Processor @ pcper.com [Apr-27-10] (0 Comments) The 1090T does not come anywhere close to the mighty i7-980X inoverall performance, but it also does not come anywhere close in price.$285 is far more palatable than the $999 MSRP that Intel suggests. It doesallow AMD to be more competitive against the quad core i7 and i5 partsthough. The i7-930 is $295 and the i7-950 and i7-870 are over $550. Whencomparing price/performance, the 1090T is very competitive with the 930, andseriously wipes the floor with the 950 and 870 parts. AMD FirePro V5800 and V3800 - Evergreen completes the sweep @ pcper.com [Apr-26-10] (0 Comments) None of the specifications or performance results from the remainingnew Evergreen-based FirePro cards are going to set records but AMD is doingto this market what they did to NVIDIA on the desktop market - setsuper-aggressive price/performance targets that NVIDIA will have troubleeven coming close in matching. The new FirePro V5800 is a bargain at under$470 and the V3800 could set the professional world on fire selling for justabout $100. Building a Home Theater Part 2:AV Receivers and Source Components @ pcper.com [Apr-21-10] (0 Comments) The AVR is the central hub of most home theater systems. The moreadvanced AVRs contain multiple decoders and Digital Signal Processors (DSP)that process both the audio and video streams coming in from varioussources. Add in user controls, a small LCD display, remote controlcapability, updatable firmware and Ethernet connectivity and you have a verysophisticated piece of equipment. And of course with all these featurescome complexity and the challenge to make the system usable for the averageenthusiast. PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-20-10] (0 Comments) The PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 1GBD5-PPDHG2 graphics card is one of several new HD 5800-series video cards released by ATI AIB partners in ASUS Designo Series MS238H 23-in LCD Monitor @ pcper.com [Apr-19-10] (0 Comments) On more of a technical aspect, the visual fidelity of this displayis quite nice. The MS238H uses a lower-quality Twisted-Nematic (TN) LCDpanel, the main drawback of which is limited viewing angles. However, withthe design of the stand on the MS238H, and the limited angles that it canbe set at, it becomes a non issue. The LED backlighting also helps toproduce a more vibrant image. AMD Reports a Record Q1 Revenues and Courts New Potential Customers @ pcper.com [Apr-17-10] (0 Comments) AMD followed in Intel’s footsteps by having a stronger than usualQ1. They also have a solid product mix of desktop, notebook, and serverchips. The release of the 6 core Istanbul processors last year hascontinued to improve AMD’s bottom line, and the recent release of theMagny-Cours 8 and 12 core products has further cemented them in the valueserver market. Add in AMD’s near dominance of the DirectX 11 market, andwe can see that AMD is in good shape to continue to compete throughout thisyear. Benchmark Performance SSD Testing:AHCI vs IDE (or perhaps not) @ pcper.com [Apr-15-10] (0 Comments) The overclocking crowd goes nuts to squeeze every possible bit ofperformance out of their hardware. Those reading the Benchmark Reviewsarticle are likely to waste countless hours going for those few percentagepoints in single-threaded benchmarks, only to find their *real*(multi-threaded) performance has suffered significantly. I urge thosesystem tweakers out there to do some additional research before droppingyour personal systems back down to IDE mode. 12GB Corsair Dominator 1600MHz DDR3 RAM @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-15-10] (0 Comments) 64-Bit Operating Systems allow PCs to utilize more than 4GB of system memory, which is great news for multimedia professionals who need Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 Deluxe :The Penultimate HTPC @ pcper.com [Apr-14-10] (0 Comments) Asus has produced a very good card that should give those willingto shell out the money nearly every feature they could ask for. From myunderstanding, Asus is working on some more advanced driver level featureswhich should add some more value to the entire Xonar line. This certainlyis not a card for everyone, especially considering the overall impact onthe user experience when compared to a DX11 video card costing near thesame level as this sound card. NZXT Hades Computer Case HADE-001BK @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-13-10] (0 Comments) NZXT has been making quality computer cases since 2004. They have become a popular brand among computer enthusiests, and for good reason. Corsair Obsidian 700D Chassis Video @ pcper.com [Apr-09-10] (0 Comments) Corsair heard some of these complaints and decided to release thenew 700D case with the sole purpose to lower the cost. How did they do it?If you are familiar with the 800D already, then imagine that exact designwithout the four hot-swap hard drive bays on the front and without thewindow on the side panel. That adds up to about a $50 price differenceputting the 700D at about $229 or so when it goes on sale later in April. Corsair Nova V128 Solid State Drive Test @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-08-10] (0 Comments) Overclockers around the world use Corsair memory kits for their high-speed performance. Similarly, Corsair SSD storage products have AMD FirePro V8800 - Evergreen and Cypress Go Pro @ pcper.com [Apr-07-10] (0 Comments) I conclude this review being very impressed with the new FireProV8800 card from AMD especially when it is pitted against the identicallypriced yet slower NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 card. The inclusion of featureslike support for OpenGL 4.0 and DX11, not to mention support for up to fourdisplays in an Eyefinity configuration, really do make the V8800 stand outfrom the crowd of professional GPUs. I am sure we will be hearing more fromboth AMD and NVIDIA in the coming months when it comes to developer-basedgraphics solutions and software partnerships but for now, AMD has the strongadvantage. 6GB Corsair Dominator-GT 2000MHz DDR3 Memory @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-07-10] (0 Comments) Overclockers and PC hardware enthusiasts understand that system memory performs best with low latency and fast speeds, but both seldom ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO mATX AM3 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-06-10] (0 Comments) Last year ASUS introduced the 785G chipset, one of their latest chipset with integrated graphics. This comes on the back of other Building a Home Theater - Part 1:Room and Component Placement @ pcper.com [Mar-25-10] (0 Comments) The room should provide a comfortable environment but should also beable to control sound and light. Both direct and ambient light must becontrolled for optimum picture quality and the way sound reflects around theroom will greatly affect sound quality. The room dimensions willsignificantly impact bass sounds and various room treatments may be neededto help control sound reflections (rugs, acoustic ceiling tiles, book cases,sound absorber panels, bass traps, etc). The shape and size of the room,color of the walls, ceiling and floor, furniture, carpet, wall treatments,and lighting all become very important ingredients in a well-designed hometheater. Plextor PX-128M1S Solid State Drive @ pcper.com [Mar-25-10] (0 Comments) These new drives from Plextor offer decent performance at a goodprice. While we would have liked to see the top-tier optical media companycome out swinging with a newer generation controller, not everyone has suchresources at their disposal. The Micron C200 controller, while dated, doesits job well and maintained rock solid read speeds regardless of workload.The older technology, while considerably cheaper, is easily bested by thecompetition. Video Perspective:ECS U3N2 and S6M2 USB 3.0 and SATA 6G Expansion @ pcper.com [Mar-24-10] (0 Comments) The ECS U3N2 and S6M2 add USB 3.0 and SATA 6G respectively, but notboth. They use a single PCIe x1 slot for up to 500 MB/s of bandwidth andutilize the same controllers we have previously seen, used and tested onmotherboards over the last several months. Check out our Video Perspectivebelow and note that this is our first attempt at 1080p video so take a lookat it in full screen and let us know what you think!! Imation Pro WX 1.5TB Wireless USB @ aselabs.com [Mar-23-10] (0 Comments) Remember when Bluetooth came out? No one bothered to care for a long time until an explosion happened a few years ago. We believe that Wireless USB is in the same boat. The technology solves a problem that people need; the ability to connect peripherals to their computer without a wire. It is just that we are suffering on the implementation and faced without market saturation, the Wireless USB field seems to be stagnating. There are glimmers of hope and Imation brings the first Wireless USB enclosure to the table. QNAP TS-459 Pro NAS Server @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-23-10] (0 Comments) Network storage has become the convenient answer to centralized data for corporate enterprise environments. The QNAP TS-459 Pro NAS Patriot Gamer-Series DDR3-1600 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-18-10] (0 Comments) Overclocking is getting easier than ever, and more and more users are finding that they want to try their hand at what used to be an art JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-17-10] (0 Comments) Western Digital depends on the JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive controller inside their WD SiliconEdge-Blue SSD to produce 250Mbps reads ProlimaTech Armageddon CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-16-10] (0 Comments) The aftermarket heatsink industry is very competitive, and manufacturers often release several product designs before finally scoring a ASUS P6T7 and P7P55 WS Workstation Motherboards @ pcper.com [Mar-09-10] (0 Comments) Both the ASUS P6T7 and P7P55 WS motherboards offer a slightlydifferent set of features and specifications than the traditionalmotherboard in the gaming market. The P6T7 definitely is impressive forhigh-end users that are going to want to take advantage of multiplegraphics card or other PCI Express-based accessories as it includes a totalof 7 PCIe x16 slots along with the X58 chipset and support for the latestLGA1366 processors, including the upcoming Gulftown 6-core CPU. Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB Boot Drive @ hardwarelogic.com [Mar-08-10] (0 Comments) Why would Kingston be coming out with a 30GB SSD boot drive ifthey already have a 40GB for sale? Without providing TRIM or garbagecollection, Kingston scrapped the product and wanted to producesomething the community was asking for. The 30GB boot drive was bornwith a new controller and slightly better specs. Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB Boot Drive @ hardwarelogic.com [Mar-08-10] (0 Comments) Why would Kingston be coming out with a 30GB SSD boot drive if they already have a 40GB for sale? Without providing TRIM or garbage collection, Kingston scrapped the product and wanted to produce something the community was asking for. The 30GB boot drive was born with a new controller and slightly better specs. MSI R5770 HAWK Radeon HD 5770 Video Card @ pcper.com [Mar-06-10] (0 Comments) It is a neat card, it is an excellent price, and it pushes thelimits of design for the highly competitive market that it resides in.While other manufacturers are introducing overclocked cards, many of theseare using the reference design and cooling systems. MSI has taken a bigstep above nearly everyone else and produced a unique and outstandingoffering for the $150 to $199 price range. Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale Processor - Low Price Performance @ pcper.com [Mar-05-10] (0 Comments) I would even take this a step further and tell our readers that ifyou are looking for a budget gaming system the Core i3-530 would make adecent choice and should at least be considered for the job. I showed youon our gaming performance page that the difference between even the Corei7-975 and the Core i3-530 are minimal when we are comparing real-worldresolutions and image quality settings. Marvell 88SS9174-BJP2 SSD Controller @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-04-10] (0 Comments) Just over two years ago there were only five companies involved in Solid State Drive technology, and as of January 2010 there are nearly Kingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB SSD @ hardwarelogic.com [Mar-02-10] (0 Comments) It is always interesting when a new controller steps into the market for SSDs and today we are looking at the Kingston SSDNow V+ Series with the new Toshiba T6UG1XBG drive controller. Will this new controller be a step up or another JMicron disaster? Read on to find out. AMD 890GX Chipset - SATA 6G goes native @ pcper.com [Mar-02-10] (0 Comments) The addition of native SATA 6G support should have been a giantaddition to the chipset. Unfortunately, my testing has shown initial issueswith this implementation. AMD has been kicked around for a long time fortheir southbridge I/O performance in USB and SATA, and the SB850 continuesthat not-so-proud tradition. I do not know if this is simply a BIOS issue,or new drivers need to be sent along, but when even SATA 1 and 2 performanceare down in the dumps compared to the previous generation, a lot ofquestions should be asked of AMD. Logitech MX-620 Cordless Laser Mouse @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-02-10] (0 Comments) Since 1981, Logitech has been making a name for themselves in the computer hardware scene. When you think of computer peripherals, you Roku XR @ aselabs.com [Mar-01-10] (0 Comments) Most people should have heard about the ease of use that the Netflix streaming service provides. One of the major components of this ease of use would be the set top boxes that provide the service on TVs. Roku was the original and is still the best way to get streaming Netflix to your TV, right now. Windows PC-Fax Directly from Adobe Acrobat PDF @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-01-10] (0 Comments) We here at Benchmark Reviews are probably just like you, when we hear Zalman CNPS10X Flex Heatsink @ pcper.com [Feb-27-10] (0 Comments) The actual performance numbers we saw from the CNPS10X Flex wereabsolutely outstanding and we recommend adding the second 120mm fan for adecent decrease in CPU temps under idle and load conditions. If you can livewithout using your first DIMM slot, we recommend using the dual-fanconfiguration for added performance -- especially for overclockers andhardcore enthusiasts. AMD Radeon HD 5830 Graphics Card - 5870 Eyefinity Edition too! @ pcper.com [Feb-25-10] (0 Comments) The Radeon HD 5830 fills the gap between the HD 5770 and the HD5850 pretty well though not without some lingering performance questionsand debate surrounding it. For AMD it means another notch in their DX11belt while we continue to wait for NVIDIA to do ... well anything at thispoint regarding next-generation technology. For users looking for asub-$250 graphics card option going into spring the HD 5830 makes a greatchoice but as is usually the case, make sure you completely understand whatoptions are out there before hitting that buy now button. ASUS EAH5750 Formula Radeon HD 5750 Video Card @ pcper.com [Feb-25-10] (0 Comments) I think I have actually found the perfect use for this card, atleast for myself. This is now in the Home Theater PC. With the fast VectorAdaptive De-Interlacing, bitstreaming audio, and overall quiet operation, itis one of the better HTPC cards around. Throw in solid gaming performanceat 1920 x 1080 resolutions, and it is a shoe-in for any serious HTPC withlots of video playback use and a smattering of hard core gaming. Roku XR @ aselabs.com [Feb-24-10] (0 Comments) Most people should have heard about the ease of use that the Netflix streaming service provides. One of the major components of this ease of use would be the set top boxes that provide the service on TVs. Roku was the original and is still the best way to get streaming Netflix to your TV, right now. ASUS P7H55D-M EVO Clarksdale Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-24-10] (0 Comments) Intel-land is becoming a very confusing place of late. An Intel Core i7 processor might be Socket 1366, or it might be Socket 1156. A ASUS MY-CINEMA PHC3-150 HDTV-Tuner Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-23-10] (0 Comments) The recent switch from analog to digital television was mainly driven by the benefits of digital technology over its analog predecessor. Razer Orochi Mobile Gaming Mouse @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-22-10] (0 Comments) High quality gaming peripheral equipment is a speciality of Razer. In this article Razer brings us a new product, a first for its kind, Apple MacBook Pros likely to implement NVIDIA Optimus technology @ pcper.com [Feb-20-10] (0 Comments) If Apple wanted to integrate the new Intel Core i5/Arrandalemobility CPUs in MacBook Pros they would have to revert back to Intelintegrated graphics and a non-OpenCL compatible solution. NVIDIA Optimuswas very obviously built to address this exact issue and it seems plausiblethat Apple has been waiting for it before introducing new Intel CPUtechnology in the MacBook Pro lineup. Kingston MobileLite G2 @ aselabs.com [Feb-18-10] (0 Comments) Most consumer electronic products that use flash memory have moved to SD/SDHC media and with the convergences comes products that can be smaller and portable. Kingston produced an update to the original MobileLite brand of portable card reader known as the MobileLite G2 and this is the focus of the review. Intel Core i5-661 Clarksdale Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-17-10] (0 Comments) Intel continues filling out its processor lineup with the introduction of the 2010 Intel Core Processor Family, comprising new versions OCZ Fatal1ty DDR3-1600 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-16-10] (0 Comments) OCZ introduced their latest Fatal1ty Edition Memory kit in early 2010. The difference between this DDR3 system memory kit and the Western Digital SATA 6Gb/sec 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) @ pcper.com [Feb-15-10] (0 Comments) The WD1002FAEX joins a long line of excellent drives from WesternDigital, and seems to be as good a time as any for bumping up the interfacethroughput. Hopefully the push to SATA 6Gb/sec will help drive adoption ofthis new standard across the rest of the industry. That said, it didlittle to boost performance of this new drive. We may see betterimprovements down the road, but we are currently stuck with third partycontrollers for this speed grade. LG 47LH30 47" 1080p Widescreen TV @ pcper.com [Feb-12-10] (0 Comments) What I was worried about when getting this TV were other potentialissues. Things like input lag, sound sync issues, pixel blur, connectivity,dead pixels, stuck pixels, and a myriad of other playback features were whatkept me up at night after spending my own $679. After using and abusingthis panel for the past week I am quite happy to say that none of thosefears have proven to be true. AMD Radeon HD 5570 and 5450 - DX11 HTPC GoodnessAMD Radeon HD 5570 @ pcper.com [Feb-11-10] (0 Comments) Either way, if you are in the market for a low-end graphics cardfor an upgrade over an integrated graphics solution or for a new HTPC thenthe Radeon HD 5450 and HD 5570 will likely fit the bill pretty nicely. Myfavorite is probably the HD 5450 with its completely silent passive coolingsolution and low power consumption along with the loss-less audio supportand DisplayPort connectivity. This card will very likely find its way intoa new HTPC for the house this winter. Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ 16GB USB Flash @ aselabs.com [Feb-10-10] (0 Comments) Tax documents, company memos and even personal files are just some of the things that you might not want others to be able to see. With those security needs in mind, Kingston has created the DataTraveler Locker+, and ASE Labs has the 16GB model up for review. LiteOn Strong-Page MLC SSD LA-32M1S @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-09-10] (0 Comments) Hopefully one day soon Solid State Drives will be standard equipment for new computer systems, but first SSDs must become available as an AZZA Solano 1000R Full-Tower Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-05-10] (0 Comments) AZZA have taken a few steps away from what is considered conventional with the Solano 1000R (model:CSAZ-1000R) and gave it an extreme Sapphire Radeon HD 5450 LP P/ @ hardwarelogic.com [Feb-04-10] (0 Comments) Low profile cards are not the most easy thing to come by especially in the video card area. Sapphire has just released the Radeon HD 5450 and it comes with low profile brackets. This is the card to use in a HTPC once the drivers for GPGPU get settled. Read our preview to get our thoughts. Nexus RX-5300 530W Modular Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jan-30-10] (0 Comments) Its main feature however is how quiet it is - virtually silent. Notonly does it start out quiet it stays that way throughout the power curve.At full output the fan just becomes audible. Throw in modular cables,support for high-end graphic adapters, and a good assortment of peripheralcables and you have an nice PSU for a HTPC or other quiet computingapplication. Zalman MS1000-HS2 Mid-Tower ATX Case @ pcper.com [Jan-28-10] (0 Comments) The case itself is beautifully designed and goes away from manymodern PC case designs that include tons of windows, LED fans, LED lights,and other flashy features. I actually prefer a case like the MS1000-HS2 thatputs performance and functionality over flashy and cheap design elements.The included sound dampening material was definitely a bonus, but it wouldhave been better to have all the interior walls covered in this material tomake the case more silent. CES 2010 Wrap Up @ aselabs.com [Jan-25-10] (0 Comments) The year is 2010 and CES is now over. The exhibitor count was even less than last year, even though attendance was a bit higher. There were some interesting bits, but most of the fancy 3D TVs are just so-so technology. We take out some of the very interesting things seen on the show floor. SandForce SF1500 Enterprise SSD Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-20-10] (0 Comments) The SandForce SF1500 SSD processor is an Enterprise-class Solid State Drive technology that powers products such as the OCZ Vertex-2 Pro. NVIDIA GF100 Architecture P - Fermi brings DX11 to the desktop @ pcper.com [Jan-19-10] (0 Comments) This is definitely not a “Bridge Too Far” scenario for NVIDIA, andafter taking my deep dive into the architecture I truly feel that they haveimplemented DirectX 11, compute, and tessellation the right way. Now thebig question will be if they can produce adequate numbers of their initialGF100 product, and if they can include enough performance in the mainstreamand budget categories to take marketshare and mindshare away from AMD. Being this far behind the curve in shipping DX11 products, especially inlight of how popular Windows 7 is becoming, will be another hurdle forNVIDIA. Intel i7 Extreme 920XM with NVIDIA GTX 280M Performance - Breaking @ pcper.com [Jan-17-10] (0 Comments) The i7-920XM CPU is very impressive with results similar to ani5-750 desktop processor, but in some cases faster than the i5-750 thanksto the Hyper-Threading support. The recently announced Intel i5-660 isprobably a closer match in performance (oranges to apples price comparisonof $200 to $700 for the CPU). Sapphire HD 5670 1GB GDDR5 Graphics Card @ modders-inc.com [Jan-14-10] (0 Comments) New to the Sapphire line ofgraphic cards is the HD5670. This card is just below the 5700 series cards butit performs to near the same level. With DirectX 11 capabilities and otherfeatures found on higher end cards this one you will want to try out. MSI Wind-Top AE2220-25SUS PC @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-04-10] (0 Comments) MSI has taken their portable Wind-series netbook computer system and combined it with the functionality of a full-featured desktop Kingwin Lazer Series 1,000W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Dec-31-09] (0 Comments) The Kingwin Lazer Series LZ-1000 PSU with Crystal Cube modularcable management delivered good voltage regulation (especially on theimportant +12V rails) with relatively clean outputs and good efficiency.The LZ-1000 PSU is very quiet at low to mid power levels, includes a goodassortment of both fixed and modular cables/connectors, and features whiteand blue LED lighting for added visual impact. Overall the LZ-1000 id agood job and is available at an affordable price. LanCool PC-K56W Mid-Tower Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-31-09] (0 Comments) Computer cases with enough features and cooling to please any gamer are rapidly dropping in price. Manufacturers are noticing the demand Wacom Intuos4 and Bamboo Tablets @ pcper.com [Dec-30-09] (0 Comments) Both of these products definitely had their pros and cons, but Ithink in the right hands both of them would work beautifully in anyprofessional or consumer-level graphics environment. Overall, theperformance king was definitely the Intuos4, but I have to give an honorablemention to the Bamboo because it definitely had many of the basic features Ithink consumers will be comfortable with. Razer Imperator Laser Gaming Mouse @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-29-09] (0 Comments) The company name Razer is practically synonymous with PC-gaming peripherals. Their wide selection of gaming keyboards, mice, and other NVIDIA 3D-Vision:Blu-Ray, Cameras, Projectors @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-22-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews tested the NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision Gaming Kit when it originally launched back in January, 2009. Comprising a set of Antec CP-1000 Power Supply - The CPX Form Factor @ pcper.com [Dec-20-09] (0 Comments) The Antec CP series power supplies occupy a nitch market because oftheir larger form factor and as a result they can only currently be used inonly three Antec cases. Overall the CP-1000 proved to be a good PSU and itsmain strengths are virtual silence at mid to lower power levels at anaffordable price. Samsung SyncMaster P2350 LCD Monitor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-17-09] (0 Comments) Desktop PCs have come to a point where your digital experience will be limited to the capability of your monitor. With high end Core 2 Thermaltake Level 10 Chassis - Can BMW change PC @ pcper.com [Dec-16-09] (0 Comments) Something that might not be obvious from the pictures:the Level 10is LARGE. It is 12.6 inches wide, 24.5 inches deep, 26.3 inches high, andweighs nearly 50 pounds empty! The handles on the top and the basedefinitely come in handy. While I had no trouble transporting the case fromthe office into my photo studio by myself (the case is well balanced,) theadditional handle in the base was nice to have. If two people are used tocarry the case, this extra handle makes it a breeze. Logitech diNovo Edge Mac Edition @ aselabs.com [Dec-15-09] (0 Comments) Media center setups are now a part of many homes, and with thatcomes the need to have good input devices to handle the functionalityof the setup. Logitech steps forward with the diNovo Edge and reallybrings home what it means to be a major player in the input devicemarket. This product does pretty much everything right. Win Colin McRae Dirt-2 from Benchmark s @ forum.benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-13-09] (0 Comments) Win Colin McRae Dirt-2 from Benchmark Reviews. Benchmark Reviews is giving away a free copy of Colin McRae Dirt-2 (Steam/PC) to one lucky First SATA 6G SSD Arrives:Marvell controller prototype tested! @ pcper.com [Dec-12-09] (0 Comments) The burst read rate on the Marvell prototype drive is able toperform at a significantly higher level pulling 90 MB/s MORE data than theIntel drive. That is a 33% increase in performance over one of the fastestSSDs on the market today. The difference is even more dramatic when lookingat the performance of the Marvell drive compared to the standardspindle-based hard drives. Seagate FreeAgent Go ST910004FAA2E1-RK @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-10-09] (0 Comments) Mobile storage of music, videos, pictures, files, and pretty much anything else you can think of is rapidly becoming more and more MSI Big Bang Trinergy P55 3-Way SLI Motherboard @ pcper.com [Dec-09-09] (0 Comments) Of course one of the biggest features of the Trinergy is in itsnamesake:triple SLI support. By integrating the NVIDIA nForce 200 chipwith the PCI Express channels coming from the Lynnfield processor MSI bringsus the first motherboard to truly and correctly support 3-Way SLI and 3-WayCrossFireX multi-GPU solutions on the P55 platform. NZXT Panzerbox Aluminum Mid-Tower ATX Case @ pcper.com [Dec-08-09] (0 Comments) The Panzerbox also has room for custom watercooling solutions withdual radiators as well as enough real estate for a couple 10.5 Cooler Master NotePal X2 Laptop Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-08-09] (0 Comments) Learning from the past has allowed Cooler Master to improve upon an already successful design. The NotePal X2 is a next generation cooler Seagate Barracuda XT SATA-6G Hard Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-04-09] (0 Comments) Somewhere between the speed of Solid State Drive technology and the reliability of value-priced Hard Disk storage is the Seagate Xigmatek Bifrost VD1065 Video Card Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-03-09] (0 Comments) Too much attention is paid to the CPU when we discuss aftermarket coolers, maybe because removing the VGA cooler can void the warranty on Intel Shows 48-core x86 Processor as Single-chip Cloud Computer @ pcper.com [Dec-03-09] (0 Comments) First, the Galaxy and Palit GeForce GT 240 - More 40nm from NVIDIA @ pcper.com [Nov-30-09] (0 Comments) The difference between the two GT 240 cards is significant though -both in terms of performance, power and price. The Galaxy card was by farthe most efficient and will come in a good $30 less expensive than thePalit card. The Palit card though is far and away the better performer -the difference built on the use of GDDR5 memory (rather than GDDR3) andhigher core and shader clock speeds. AVIVO PureVideo HD DXVA GPU Acceleration Guide @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-30-09] (0 Comments) HTPCs and HD content are growing more and more around the GPU industry. ATI and NVIDIA have been working on technologies to playback and Podcast With NVIDIA ION Case Mod Contest Winner @ modders-inc.com [Nov-25-09] (0 Comments) Modders-Inc sits down and has a talk with Bill Owens of MNPCTech about his Ultra X4 750W PSU Giveaway @ forum.rbmailing.com [Nov-25-09] (0 Comments) We are giving away a Ultra X4 750W PSU. So what do you have to do? Radeon HD 5770 CrossFireX Performance Scaling @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-25-09] (0 Comments) This article is all about answering one question:how well does the Radeon HD 5770 scale in CrossFireX performance tests. Benchmark NZXT Gamma Gaming Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-23-09] (0 Comments) Whether you just need a computer for surfing the web or if you are on a quest to construct the ultimate gaming machine, it all begins NZXT M59 Mid-Tower Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-21-09] (0 Comments) I am a case snob. The cases I like are brushed aluminum, have removable motherboard trays, neatly rolled edges, finished interiors, cable OCZ Colossus 3.5-in Solid State Drive @ pcper.com [Nov-21-09] (0 Comments) OCZ has brought a worthy contender with their first 3.5 QNAP TS-419P NAS 4-Bay Network Storage @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-20-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has monitored the network storage industry for several years now, and the same three features have always held the Antec Notebook Cooler 200 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-19-09] (0 Comments) Convection is when moving air transfers heat to or from a surface. This is the method used by most laptop coolers to keep your CPU, GPU AMD Radeon HD 5970 2GB - AMDomination @ pcper.com [Nov-18-09] (0 Comments) The new AMD Radeon HD 5970 graphics card takes PC gaming performanceto a completely new level by combining a pair of Evergreen-based GPUs on asingle PCB, 2GB of GDDR5 memory and plenty of headroom for overclocking.For a single card system, the performance that the HD 5970 provides issimply unmatched but that does not mean the card is without its slightmisgivings. Logitech ClearChat PC Wireless Headset @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-16-09] (0 Comments) Stereo headsets are becoming an essential part of any modern PC and, like keyboard and mice before them, they are finally going wireless. De-Branded HP Sempron LE-1250 PC @ monster-hardware.com [Nov-14-09] (0 Comments) Moving inside the case we find some interesting features. Only one of the side panels is removable (the other is riveted in place), while the CPU socket is located at the bottom of the motherboard. There is no front case fan; case cooling is handled by a single rear bottom case fan in conjunction with a side panel having an ~120mm area above the CPU that is punched full of holes so that it resembles the old wire mesh fan grill covers. Although this is a somewhat unusual arrangement its lack of extra case fans means it is quiet enough to be used as a HTPC IMO and works plenty well enough to cool the 45W Sempron CPU that resides on the ASUS board. The power supply leads on what I believe to be a 250W unit (HP Customer Card model number spec sheet) could be a little longer as things are a little snug but manageable. There are also a few other misc air intake holes spread around seemingly randomly on the De-Branded HP Sempron case. StarTech Dual-SATA HDD Docking Station @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-13-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has put a plethora of storage enclosures and systems through their paces and all of the predecessors fell neatly into Xigmatek Midgard-W Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-13-09] (0 Comments) Xigmatek - A name that needs no introduction, But the first things that come to mind are CPU coolers, Right? A relatively young company, Thermaltake Element G Case @ modders-inc.com [Nov-11-09] (0 Comments) The people over at Thermaltake have unleashed the Element G on themasses. Does the gigantic gaming, glittering, gradational glaciated goodness Lucid HYDRA 200 Multi-GPU Technology Performance P @ pcper.com [Nov-11-09] (0 Comments) Lucid pointed out some newer games that did not yet have any SLI orCrossFire scaling with the latest WHQL drivers from NVIDIA and ATI – wehave seen this over the years where it takes time for the GPU vendors torelease updated drivers and profiles to get GPU scaling working. In thosecases, because Lucid’s software doesn’t require profiles in that sense, theHYDRA solution provided scaling when native options could not. If Lucid’ssoftware team lives up to its claims it could mean day-of-release scalingfor any PC title on HYDRA-enabled systems. Galaxy GeForce GTX 260+ Razor Edition - Single slot performance @ pcper.com [Nov-11-09] (0 Comments) The Galaxy GeForce GTX 260+ Razor offers a unique spin the nowclassic graphics card from NVIDIA. Being able to fit the power of the GTX260+ GPU into a single slot air cooler design is definitely an engineeringfeat that should appeal to quite a few gamers out there and maybe even aselect few HTPC builders. Performance for the price was also impressive asit left the Radeon HD 5770 well behind in all of our testing. Kingston SSDNow V 40GB Boot Drive SSD @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-11-09] (0 Comments) For years, Kingston has sold system memory upgrade kits to help boost personal computer performance. Installing RAM is a simple process, Thermaltake Toughpower XT 850W - A Second Look @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-09-09] (0 Comments) Not too long ago, I took my very first look at the ThermaltakeToughpower XT 850W unit and found it wanting. Thermaltake was anxious toimprove on things, and so they did; as I found in my last review when I sawwhat the new and improved 750W Toughpower XT could do. AMD Phenom II X4 965 Rev. C3:Taking Power Down a Notch @ pcper.com [Nov-05-09] (0 Comments) Taking the X4 965 down to 125 watts TDP is also a big win for AMD. A lot of major OEMs look down on CPUs that are above 125 watts for manydesktop setups. Having to add a lot of cooling to a design to handlehigher TDPs is a simple fact of life, but most manufacturers do not want tospend the time and money doing just that. AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE 125W CPU Test @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-04-09] (0 Comments) In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the newly re-vamped AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE desktop processor. For all intent and purpose, the Thermaltake XT PSU Giveaway! @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-02-09] (0 Comments) JonnyGURU.com and Thermaltake have teamed up to giveaway 5Thermaltake Toughpower XT Cable Management 750W (W0229RU) power supplies.These units are currently going for roughly $109.98 @ mWave which means weare giving out over $500 worth of Thermaltake goodness. To show that weappreciate all of our readers, we are opening up the contest globally soeveryone has a chance to Win. Cooler Master Sentinel Advance Gaming Mouse @ modders-inc.com [Nov-02-09] (0 Comments) This technological marvel utilizes the latest innovations incutting-edge technology:5600 DPI twin laser, rapid fire mode, internalSentinel-XT memory and our patented security, Storm GuardT. The SentinelAdvance is designed for one purpose and one purpose only - to search anddestroy. Overpower your enemies with speed and precision beyond theirimagination. Conquest is at your fingertips - Sentinel Advance. Left 4 Dead 2 Demo AMD and NVIDIA Graphics Performance @ pcper.com [Oct-30-09] (0 Comments) If you are like most people and have a monitor that runs at1920x1200 or 1920x1080 then obviously you are going to be able to play L4D2without any issue using the lowest end cards tested here that will start atabout $130. If you are one of the lucky few that owns a 30 USB 3.0 and SATA 6G Performance P - ASUS brings the goods @ pcper.com [Oct-30-09] (0 Comments) To be sure, 150 MB/s is a HUGE gain over current USB 2.0 speeds of35 MB/s or so and anyone that is dependent on external storage or anystreaming data over USB connections is going to love the bandwidth increasewe are seeing today. Keep in mind that the USB 2.0 controller on the P55chipset has had more than 9 years to evolve to where it is at today whilethis is the first publicly available implementation of USB 3.0. We willsurely see more speed as the months and years progress, but for now I haveto say that I am ready for USB 3.0 accessories to hit the shelves. NZXT M59 Classic Series Mid Tower Gaming Chassis @ modders-inc.com [Oct-27-09] (0 Comments) Marketed as a gaming mid-tower case the M59 offers up featureslike clearance for 10.5 inch graphics cards, support for water cooling, anda well ventilated design. We will see how well the case handles a budgetsystem. XFX Radeon HD5750 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-21-09] (0 Comments) The launch of Radeon HD57xx Juniper-GPU series cards is going very smoothly. ATI learned some hard lessons when they launched the HD4850 Dell Studio One Touchscreen Windows 7 PC @ pcper.com [Oct-20-09] (0 Comments) Overall I have to admit that the idea of getting a touchscreen PCfor the kitchen area is pretty appealing now after having used the DellStudio One for a few days. I would definitely recommend something with morepower than the traditional BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Handsfree Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-19-09] (0 Comments) Cell phone laws are rapidly becoming more and more restrictive. At the time of this writing, 36 states have some sort of cell phone Refurbished EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB @ monster-hardware.com [Oct-17-09] (0 Comments) Normally I devote a full paragraph to AMD Radeon HD 5870 Triple CrossFireX Performance Testing @ pcper.com [Oct-17-09] (0 Comments) Getting past the pure joy of seeing these games run this fast, weneed to decide how valuable all of this scaling is to gamers in terms ofcost, etc. In all of my testing (with one exception) the benefits ofmoving from single Radeon HD 5870 to a pair of cards in CrossFireoutweighed the move from two cards to three in terms of price/performanceresults. In other words, the value of the second card was higher than thethird in terms of increasing the performance of the gaming system as awhole. Take HAWX as an example:at 2560x1600 the 1->2 card scaling wasover 70% while the 2->3 card scaling was about 53%. While that is still anice bump in performance (in many cases seeing 50% scaling on any multi-GPUconfiguration would be good news) obviously the third card follows the lawsof diminishing returns. Cooler Master NotePal X2 Notebook Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Oct-17-09] (0 Comments) I have always been a little skeptical about notebook coolers. WhenCooler Master asked if we had anyone that wanted to take a look at a newnotebook cooler they have, the Cooler Master NotePal X2. Having recentlypurchased my first laptop (nothing special) I figured why not. Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=294 Win a free NZXT Gaming Case from Benchmark s @ forum.benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-16-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews will randomly draw one winner for his/her pick of either a NZXT M59, NZXT Beta Evo, or NZXT Lexa S gaming case. Members Sapphire Radeon HD 5750 1GB Graphics Card @ modders-inc.com [Oct-13-09] (0 Comments) The Sapphire Radeon 5750 did perform much better than I hadexpected it to. When comparing it against the 4000 series cards we could seethat it was a very nice jump in performance, while others stayed very closeto the new mid-range low end card. Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=303 Enermax ECO 80+ 620W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Oct-13-09] (0 Comments) The ECO 80+ 620W power supply delivered very good voltage regulationwith clean outputs and good efficiency. Along with that, the ECO 620W isquiet during normal operation. Throw in support for high-end graphicadapters, a compact chassis that will fit in most any ATX style case, and agood assortment of peripheral connectors and you have an attractive PSU. Kingwin HTC XT-1264 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Oct-10-09] (0 Comments) Today we are going to take a look at a budget minded cooler fromthem, the Kingwin XT-1264 HTC. The XT-1264 HTC falls in the 120mm class ofheatpipe coolers. Will the XT-1264 HTC be able to keep up with the likes ofthe Titan Fenrir or Cooler Master Hyper N620? Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=295 AMD Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity Performance Testing @ pcper.com [Oct-10-09] (0 Comments) This tells us that scaling on Eyefinity is really going to be on acase-by-case basis and that simply assuming a 3x performance drop is bothwrong and foolish. As we said, even with just a single Radeon HD 5870,Batman and HAWX were completely playable at 7680x1600 with 4xAA enabled! That is an impressive feat even though we are talking about frame rates inthe 30s rather than the 60s that I know a lot of our readers will want. Tothat point, AMD is still committed to bringing CrossFire to Eyefinity inthe future, just not soon enough for me. Message-ID:MIME-Version:Content-Type:X-Mailer:thread-index:Content-Language; @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Oct-09-09] (0 Comments) Today I will be reviewing the In Win Maelstrom, a full towerchassis. In Win is not the most well known brand, at least amongst UKenthusiasts, however with the ambitions and working ethic that In Win haveset out, I am looking forward to reviewing their latest PC Case. Best CPU Cooler Performance LGA1366 Q3-2009 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-09-09] (0 Comments) Overclockers and performance enthusiasts both share the same desire to cool their processor with the best possible hardware solution, but Gigabyte GA-EX58-Extreme LGA 1366 i7 Motherboard @ pcper.com [Oct-07-09] (0 Comments) This high-end motherboard is intricately designed for extremeoverclockers as its name states, but I think other intermediate PCenthusiasts can also take advantage of a lot of its overclocking and powerfeatures. It might have a harder time competing with the newer LGA 1156platform because of its price point, but the LGA 1366 still has a lot oflife left in it for graphic design professionals, video production studioworkstations, and other users who depend on their CPU to run multi-threadedapplications and programs at the most optimum performance it can. Buffalo WZR2-G300N Nfiniti Wireless-N Router @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-07-09] (0 Comments) A Wireless router offers flexibility in that you can share your high speed broadband with a mixture of wired and wireless connectivity or Bloggers must disclose payments for s @ modders-inc.com [Oct-06-09] (0 Comments) The Federal Trade Commission will try to regulate blogging for thefirst time, requiring writers on the Web to clearly disclose any freebies orpayments they get from companies for reviewing their products. Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDArticles&op=Story&ndar_id=937 Enhancing The Windows Media Center Experience @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-05-09] (0 Comments) The proliferation of multimedia audio and video formats, including Blu-Ray, and an increasing array of TV and web based services have Cooler Master SNA95 Power Supply @ modders-inc.com [Oct-03-09] (0 Comments) Cooler Master recently released their SNA (Slim Notebook Adapter)95. The SNA 95 is a universal notebook adapter that comes with a total ofnine different connectors that gives you the flexibility to charge a widerange of different devices. Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=283 NVIDIA Fermi Next Generation GPU Architecture Overview @ pcper.com [Oct-01-09] (0 Comments) From a gaming angle, which is obviously one of our primary targetsat PC Perspective, we don’t yet know how the Fermi architecture will apply.While I am doubtful that NVIDIA will be sharing any information about newproducts, frequencies, etc during the GPU Tech Conference today, if we findanything out we will be sure to share it. But even if clock rates remainthe same as we currently have on the GT200 the architecture should performdamn well – after all we moved from 240 SPs to 512 SPs and have a new GDDR5memory bus that is 384-bits wide. OCZ Agility-EX SLC SSD OCZSSD2-1AGTEX60G @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) OCZ has earned the pole position in the race for Solid State Drive consumer supremacy. Most of the OCZ SSD product line is sold at retail AMD Radeon HD 5850 1GB - Cyprus gets a bit cheaper @ pcper.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) For a $259 graphics card, the Radeon HD 5850 is a hell of aperformer. In our series of gaming tests the Evergreen GPUs are proving tobe highly competitive and the HD 5850 is no exception. With its pricingschedule it rests between the GTX 275 and the GTX 285 from NVIDIA and itactually fell into that price segment pretty well in terms of overallperformance. In Batman, for example, the GTX 275 was actually slightlyfaster than the Radeon HD 5850 though in Far Cry 2 the HD 5850 was able tobeat even the GTX 285. Xigmatek HDT-S1284 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) Are you looking to extend the life of your older 775 socket CPU?Perhaps you want to take advantage of the deals out right now? Whether youare waiting for the new Processors to come out or building a budget systemyou want a cooler that will give you the best performance at the lowest costpossible. Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=300 Professional Mechanical Keyboard Comparison @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) There are a lot of keyboards out there. Some keyboards are wireless; others offer lighting effects, programmable displays, and drivers OCZ Z Series 850W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) Since 80 Plus began their certification program to help usconsumers find the most efficient power supplies out there, power supplieshave sought to make the most of the program by making their units more andmore efficient. Before too long, 80 Plus added new classification ratings totheir program (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) to help distinguish between highefficiency units. Intel Westmere Architecture and Clarkdale Processor P @ pcper.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) Both Clarkdale and Arrandale (the mobile variant) will have supportfor Turbo Mode for the CPU cores but the Arrandale offering will alsoinclude an interesting twist on the technology, integrating the GPU in themix. With a fixed TDP, the processor will either accelerate the GPU or CPUcores depending on the work load - while gaming the GPU will able to Corsair P64 SSD RAID Set P64-RAID-PK1 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-25-09] (0 Comments) Enthusiasts are no stranger to RAID arrays. While server administrators depend on the redundancy of RAID-1 and other safe multi-drive Zalman CNPS10X Extreme CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) Zalman has a great history of dependable after market cooling forboth the CPU and the GPU. The CNPS10X Extreme is designed like the moreconventional upright heatpipe coolers that are dominant right now. Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=290 ATI Radeon HD 5870 1GB Graphics Card and AMD Eyefinity @ pcper.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) The new AMD Radeon HD 5870 is the fastest single-GPU graphics cardyou can purchase today and will likely remain that way through at least theend of the year. The new Evergreen core, with its 1600 shader processorsand improved texturing power, is able to best the GT200 core that wasdominating the HD 4800-series cards in every aspect except efficiency. Addto that mix support for DirectX 11 gaming and compute applications with newfeatures like Eyefinity and you have all the makings of a fantastic productlaunch that will dominate the GPU market for months. The one caveat isthat AMD has left the GTX 285 still as a relevant graphics card option... Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 Motherboard:P55 vs X58 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) For computer enthusiasts, the last Intel milestone was the Core i7 processor launch that paralleled the X58-Express motherboard chipset Intel shows Larrabee demo for the first time @ pcper.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) This ray tracing demo has been seen many times before, from DanielPohl, but not until now have we seen it running on Larrabee. In fact, thisdemo was running fairly smooth (I am guessing a framerate in the 20s) andat a higher resolution (based on the monitor displayed I am guessing1600x1200) that other demonstrations rendering solely on the CPU. AMD Eyefinity Demonstrations on Batman, Left 4 Dead, Far Cry 2 and more! @ pcper.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) This technology shift allowed AMD to create a new class of GPU thatwill support at three displays per graphics card and will eventually add a6-display option to its ranks. Not only does this add to the already welldocumented benefits of multiple displays from a productivity perspective,but AMD has added in something unique for the gamers out there:super-highresolution multi-monitor gaming. Imagine the option of being able tocombine 6 30 Lucid HYDRA Multi-GPU Technology Launches - End of SLI and @ pcper.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) Lucid and MSI are teaming to announce the Antec Two Hundred Mid-Tower Computer Case @ bencmarkreviews.com [Sep-22-09] (0 Comments) PC gaming has never been an inexpensive proposition. The cost of processing power, for both CPU and GPU, may have gone down in cost per Seagate Barracuda XT 6Gbps SATA-III HDD P @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-21-09] (0 Comments) On 21 September 2009 Seagate Technology will be the first and only manufacturer to offer a SATA-III 6Gbps hard drive product with Intel DP55KG P55 LGA1156 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-17-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews had the opportunity to review and launch two new Lynnfield processors from Intel:the Core i5-750 and the Core i7-870. MSI N285GTX Superpipe OC GeForce GTX 285 @ pcper.com [Sep-17-09] (0 Comments) What we can walk away with at the end of the review is that MSI hasproduced a pretty tremendous card. The build quality is excellent, thecooler design works just as it is supposed to, and the NVIDIA GTX 285 is avery good chip that provides a very good gaming and entertainmentexperience. The slight overclock did not affect stability, and the tad ofextra performance was appreciated. Though we have become spoiled by highend cards in the $199 to $249 range, there still exist products above thatwhich can actually deliver more performance. AMD Athlon II X4 620 and X4 630 Quad-core Processors @ pcper.com [Sep-16-09] (0 Comments) AMD has not reinvented the wheel with the Athlon II X4 series ofchips. They are not disruptive products from a performance standpoint, andthey bring nothing particularly new to the marketplace. Except price ofcourse. When we consider that, then the Athlon II X4s are disruptive. Afast, quad core at $122 will turn a few heads. We can also expect toeventually see more power efficient versions of these chips potentially makeit into the laptop market (as the dual core Athlon II X2s have donerecently). CM Storm Sentinel Advance Laser Gaming Mouse @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-16-09] (0 Comments) If you have ever looked into buying a powerful gaming or performance computer case, you have heard of Cooler Master. They are a nMediaPC HTPC 8000 Wood ATX Case @ pcper.com [Sep-15-09] (0 Comments) The HTPC 8000 is a very elegant media center case that should appealto more mature, family-oriented consumers looking for a case that will matchtheir home decor and not look like a typical PC. It still has many of thesame functions a basic computer has, but nMediaPC went a bit further andincluded room for an optical LCD module, the ability to use different typesof flash cards to view movie files, pictures, and other documents. They alsogave the entire case an old-fashioned theme that has a nostalgic feel toit. MSI Wind Top AE2010 Desktop @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-15-09] (0 Comments) Desktop computers are making a resurgence, and have exploited the compact nature of newer technology to provide the best of both worlds. Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield Processor - Best value in processosrs? @ pcper.com [Sep-15-09] (0 Comments) While the above table does a very good job of making our argumentsfor us, that the Core i5-750 is the best deal for a Lynnfield processor,there are still some cases where the performance provided by HyperThreadingand the slight boost in clock speed might make the jump to the Core i7-860 aworthwhile decision. Without a doubt moderate-to-heavy transcodingapplications SHOULD be using as much processing power as you can throw atthem, and Handbrake is by far the most popular for that. NORCO RPC-4020 4U Rackmount Server Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-11-09] (0 Comments) In this article, Benchmark Reviews will examine the Norco RPC-4020 4U rack mount server case. This case supports twenty data drives, plus Gelid Silent Spirit CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Sep-10-09] (0 Comments) The Gelid Silent Spirit is slightly larger than a stock OEM coolerplus it utilizes four heat pipes. Does the Gelid Silent Spirit have what ittakes to compete with the OEM cooler variants? Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=293 Corsair X256 CMFSSD-256D1 MLC SSD @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-10-09] (0 Comments) The competition among Solid State Drive manufacturers is reminiscent of the video card wars between AMD and NVIDIA a few years ago. The Cooler Master NotePal A1 @ modders-inc.com [Sep-01-09] (0 Comments) The NotePal A1 is a notebook cooler from the world leading experton cooling stuff... Cooler Master! A dual fan setup that is designed toefficiently and quietly assist in cooling the notebook. How effective is asecondary cooling device for a notebook? Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=291 Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter SWP100 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-31-09] (0 Comments) If you have ever tried to share vacation pictures or videos with friends and family then you know the 4 square inch screen on your ECS A785GM-M 785G AM3 Micro ATX Motherboard @ pcper.com [Aug-31-09] (0 Comments) The main features that will really draw consumer attention to theA785GM-M is the integration of ATI's HD 4200 graphics on the motherboard.While we weren't able to play some of the top FPS games on the market atdecent resolutions, we were able to play games like Quake Live and F.E.A.R.at relatively high resolutions. The addition of HDMI and high-quality audiooptions makes this board ideal for those upgrading their HTPCs to handlehigh-definition content. Kingston SSDNow V+ SSD @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-28-09] (0 Comments) Early on in their debut, Solid State Drives were planned as included equipment on new computers coming from tier one manufacturers such Enermax Galaxy EVO 1,250W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Aug-27-09] (0 Comments) The Enermax Galaxy EVO 1,250W PSU delivered good voltage regulation(especially on the important +12V rails) with relatively clean outputs andgood efficiency. The EVO 1,250W PSU is quiet, runs cool during normaloperation, and includes an excellent compliment of both fixed and modularcables/connectors. At 1,250W DC output, this is one of the largest PSUsmost NA users will be able to operate from a standard 120 VAC, 15Aresidential circuit. The Enermax Galaxy EVO 1,250W PSU is currentlyavailable and typically sells for around $300 USD. Wacom Bamboo Fun Digital Pen Tablet @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-27-09] (0 Comments) The mouse has become the standard method of navigating graphical user interfaces, but it leaves something to be desired when you want Panasonic UJ-875A Slim Optical Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-26-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews recently reviewed the SilverStone SUGO SST-SG06B Case, and supplied with that product was the SST-SOD01 kit. As was Thor's Hammer HDT-S126384 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) Thor's Hammer is signalizing the strength and efficiency of ourcooler for your overheating Core i7 CPU's. With its 4 8mm Heat-pipes on theH.D.T. Base and the 3 6mm Heat-pipes on the 2nd layer, it is launched as a Antec Earthwatts 750W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) Antec comes to us today with the most powerful model in theEarthwatts series, the EA750. Many of my readers have been asking me toreview this unit, and the day has finally arrived. Will this one be a hit ora miss from Antec? Let's find out. ASUS P7P55D Premium P55 P - SATA 6G returns @ pcper.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) So, while ASUS has essentially doubled the speed available to theMarvell 9123 chip, they have done so at the cost of additional logic andtraces on the board and without actually meeting the 600 MB/s theoreticalspeed maximum. Still, 500 MB/s is still much better than 250 MB/s and Ithink that users will be able to see a noticeable difference - once weactually get SATA 6G devices out and available. Cooler Master SNA 95 Universal Power Adapter @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) The purpose is simple:offer a universal notebook adapter with widespread compatability with nearly all notebook computers in use today. ASUS Triton 81 Universal Heatsink @ pcper.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) There are lots of pros and cons to purchasing the Triton 81, butoverall it definitely handled our Intel Q8400 quad-core processor with easeand grace. Even during load testing, it kept the CPU well below thethreshold of its thermal limits. Unfortunately, there were a few key issuesthat needs to be addressed in future revisions of this heatsink. Razer Arctosa USB Gaming Keyboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-24-09] (0 Comments) The Arctosa Gaming Keyboard is one of Razer's entry-level enthusiast peripherals to help gamers get into the world of high-end keyboards. NZXT Sentry 2 LCD Touchscreen Fan Controller @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-21-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has the pleasure of testing NZXT's newest fan control:the Sentry 2 Touchscreen Fan Controller. A step up from the Indilinx vs. Samsung vs. Intel (or why size matters) @ pcper.com [Aug-21-09] (0 Comments) It's great to see added competition in the SSD field. These newunits from PhotoFast, OCZ, Corsair, and Crucial will only help increase SSDadoption by the masses. While the Samsung and Indilinx controllers did notperform as well when equipped with smaller capacities of flash, they stilldid well overall, and will do fine when mated with lower power mobileplatforms such as laptops and netbooks. Mid-range GPU comparison:Gigabyte GTS 250 1GB and 9600GT 512MB Graphics Cards @ pcper.com [Aug-20-09] (0 Comments) After spending more than two weeks with both of these video cards, Ireally can't do much but smile at how much performance is available on themarket at this price point. The 9600GT is an excellent solution for userslooking to build portable, silent gaming rigs and this card evenaccommodates multimedia users looking to for their next HTPC graphicsupgrade. The Gigabyte GTS 250 was also no underdog in our performancetesting. It beat the HD 4770 in several of our gaming benchmarks and alsorecorded most of the highest scores in our GPGPU testing. This card alsohandled gaming at 1920x1200 with some of the most GPU-intensive gamescurrently available. Cooler Master Sileo 500 RC-500-KKR3-GP @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-19-09] (0 Comments) Boasting sound-dampening foam, anti-vibration HDD mounts, and two silent-running 800RPM 120mm fans, the Sileo 500 is an interesting break BFG LS1200 1250W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Aug-18-09] (0 Comments) Last week, I took a look at one of BFG's latest and greatest,designed exclusively for the Phobos gaming computers. This week, I'mcontinuing my look at the power supplies intended for those rigs by lookingat the LS1200, a 1250W monster of a unit that does everything the LS1000does and then some. Day 2 and 3 coverage @ pcper.com [Aug-18-09] (0 Comments) Overclocker Sami Makinen Macci tweaks a few settings in the BIOSwhile K|ngp|in prepares to add more LN2 to their overclocking rig. Thecurrent world record for AMD's Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition CPU is 7.002GHz. They were easily able to hit 6 GHz early on in the day, but theycontinued to work throughout the evening to break the record. NVIDIA ION Mod Contest @ modders-inc.com [Aug-18-09] (0 Comments) It was hard to pick the top 30 entries out of the 435 we recievedand I must say that thet all were great. With hard work and a few days to gothrough them we came up with the top 30. Check who made the list. Crucial M225 Solid State Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-17-09] (0 Comments) Until 2009, Solid State Drive (SSD) popularity was only growing in the elite enthusiast circles. Then along comes the Indilinx Barefoot Day 1 coverage @ pcper.com [Aug-15-09] (0 Comments) id Software CEO Todd Hollenstead started off Quakecon 2009 bythanking the volunteers, attendees, and sponsors of the event. Hollensteadbriefly discussed Activision's new Wolfenstein game that's due to arrive instores on Aug. 18. Another key issue he talked about was ZeniMax MediaInc., the parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, whorecently acquired id Software. He discussed how this partnership was goingto work as well as some of the benefits of being under the ZeniMax Mediaumbrella. AMD demos DX11 hardware @ pcper.com [Aug-15-09] (0 Comments) Inside this system is the Evergreen GPU reference card - though weweren't allowed to open up the case to actually SEE the card. I did take apeek at the back though and it was a dual-slot cooled card with a pair ofDisplayPort outputs and a single DVI output. The rest of the system wasbasic AMD-system components on Windows 7 OS. Coolermaster CM 690 Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Aug-14-09] (0 Comments) Onlytwo days left for the XSR Coolermaster competition folks, so make sureto get your entries in pronto. We've got a great CM 690 case up forgrabs, and some assorted coolers that are well worth a look in.All you have to do is sign up to the forums and post a couple of times;couldn't be easier. QNAP TS-239 Pro Turbo NAS @ pcreview.co.uk [Aug-14-09] (0 Comments) The QNAP TS-239 Pro is a next generation model based on the Intel Atom platform which includes even more features suited to an office environment (such as iSCSI). This NAS includes two drive bays (providing up to 4TB storage) and the unit size has been reduced substantially to a mere 214x175x115mm.This little NAS includes a 1.6Ghz atom CPU, 1GB DDRII memory and two gigabit LAN ports – which is much more powerful than many competing devices. Not only does this improve the performance of some elements (such as the PHP/MySQL server), but it ensures that a larger number of clients can use the NAS without performance degradation. Similar to other QNAP variants there are 12 primary functions which the NAS unit can perform. In Win X-Fighter Mid Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Aug-14-09] (0 Comments) Trying to narrow down the right selection will take some research.The main characteristics I look for in a chassis are the overall size andits airflow design. Will the X-Fighter have what it takes to impress me? Wewill have to see. nMediaPC HTPC 8000 Wood MCE Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-14-09] (0 Comments) Home Theater Personal Computers, or HTPCs as enthusiasts abbreviate them, may soon once again be all the craze. Very recently the AMD Phenom II X4 965 :Watt's the Problem Here? @ pcper.com [Aug-13-09] (0 Comments) Still, we must hand it to the folks in Austin and Dresden, theycontinue to compete and they continue to offer faster products atcompetitive prices. This in turn lowers the prices on slower parts, and theconsumer gets a whole lot more performance for their buck. Add into thisthe improved motherboard support and the price of DDR-3 (though spikingrecently) getting closer to DDR-2 levels, and users get another good optionfor their hard earned dollars (or whatever currency fits their needs). AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition AM3 CPU @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-13-09] (0 Comments) Back in April, Benchmark Reviews covered the release of AMD's flagship quad-core processor, the Phenom II X4 955 BE. Nearly four months Cooler Master Hyper N620 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Aug-12-09] (0 Comments) The N620's main difference is the use of two 120mm fans instead ofthe dual 92mm fans. It's slightly larger than the little brother, andutilizes one more heatpipe. Coolermaster CM 690 Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Aug-12-09] (0 Comments) Onlyfive days left for the XSR Coolermaster competition folks, so make sureto get your entries in pronto. We've got a great CM 690 case up forgrabs, and some assorted coolers that are well worth a look in.All you have to do is sign up to the forums and post a couple of times;couldn't be easier. BFG LS1000 1000W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Aug-11-09] (0 Comments) Not long ago, BFG announced a series of ultimate gaming systemsunder the moniker Modders-Inc Podcast #10 I Like Apples @ modders-inc.com [Aug-10-09] (0 Comments) The Modders-Inc crew talks about the NVIDIA ION mod contest,Sheldog23 mods from the past, Social Media and case modding, the moddingcraze overseas, and software. Patriot Corza NAS PCZ35SNAS2 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-10-09] (0 Comments) Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems have found their way into homes just as they did with the office space years ago. Prices for NAS OCZ Vertex beta firmware with background 'Garbage Collection' @ pcper.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) Perhaps the biggest take-home on all of this is the fact thatsequential performance was restored to like-new conditions, on its own, andcompletely independent of any partition being present on the drive. Othercontrollers, like those from Samsung, have resorted to a so called'auto-TRIM' feature, which is only compatible with NTFS partitions atpresent, and cannot work properly when those units are behind a RAID. ATI Stream vs. NVIDIA CUDA - GPGPU computing battle royale @ pcper.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) While Stream's transcoding times were slightly better than CUDA inmost of our performance tests, CUDA seemed to produce a higher quality imagethat evened things out a bit. Stream also seemed to be more efficient inusing less of the CPU's resources for transcoding while also producing fasttranscoding times. However, these transcoding times might be lower becauseit is outputting lower-quality video files as our subjective image qualitytests suggest. In Win Na Hard Drive Enclosure @ modders-inc.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) Once in a while you may come across an item that makes you take asecond look, not because of what it looks like but more of what it doesn'tlook like. The In Win NA Hard Drive enclosure happens to be one of thoseitems. ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Seashell Netbook Video @ pcper.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) For the price, the ASUS 1005HA offers a lot of very unique andinteresting features that you won't find on other netbooks including supportfor 802.11n networking and Bluetooth 2.1 + AD2P support for wireless audiostreaming. Not only that, but it has a sexy seashell design (hence the nameof course) and great battery life (though not up to the 10 hours quoted byASUS exactly) for a price under $400. There were a couple of drawbacks,notably the trackpad and overall system performance, but in terms of best inclass netbook devices, this is one of the top. Best CPU Cooler Performance LGA1366 Q2-2009 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) Overclockers and performance enthusiasts share the same desire to cool their processor with the best possible hardware solution. CoolIt Domino ALC CPU Cooler @ jonnyguru.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) When it comes to water cooling a PC, there is still a number ofusers out there that cringe at the thought of having water in their chassis.Although they are focusing on the negative side of the combination, the useof water cooling in a PC has come a long way over the last few years. Withthe increase in popularity of water cooling, manufactures are creating moreuser friendly water cooling options for those that don't want to dive inhead first. The CoolIT Domino Advanced Liquid Cooling (ALC) system is justone of the examples available to the public wanting to get their feet wetwith water cooling. The Domino ALC allows a user to cool his/her CPU withwater while taking a lot of the hassles that come with water cooling out ofthe picture. Is the Domino ALC what you're looking for? Read on to find out. OCZ Vertex Turbo MLC SATA SSD @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) With generation 3 guidelines for the 6.0 GBps SATA interface already being used in prototype motherboards for show at the not-so-distant GMC Noblesse K-2 Ebony Case @ pcper.com [Jul-31-09] (0 Comments) For what initially looked to be something of a disappointment, theK-2 has turned out to be a very robust and interesting product. I cannotstress that the design is not for everyone, and it certainly would prove tobe a sore thumb if placed in a stereo rack with other standard lookingcomponents. But when put by itself, it certainly has turned into a veryuseful product, and an eye-catching one at that. For those that do not needto have a generic looking HTPC case that will fit effortlessly into saidstack, then this is a very viable alternative. Using Dual-Monitors to Optimize Productivity @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-31-09] (0 Comments) Historically most people couldn't justify the expense of a dual-monitor setup in spite of the productivity gains multiple screens afford. MSI AMD 785GM-E65 Motherboard P @ pcper.com [Jul-31-09] (0 Comments) Perhaps the most interesting little feature about this board is theinclusion of a dipswitch which controls FSB overclocking. There are foursettings which can take the FSB from stock speed, up through 10%, 15%, and20% overclock. While the FSB can be controlled in the BIOS as well, it isinteresting to see a motherboard manufacturer go back to dipswitchoverclocking. I thought we got over that after the K6 and Athlon days?Still, an interesting little wrinkle that could appeal to a certain group ofpeople. WD VelociRaptor 300GB SATA HDD WD3000HLFS @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-28-09] (0 Comments) Considering the state of the global economy, along with local recession and unemployment, performance computer builders have had to make ASUS P7P55D Deluxe P55 Lynnfield Motherboard P @ pcper.com [Jul-28-09] (0 Comments) Though we did not have a motherboard here to do extensive hands-ontesting, I did find some interesting overclocking information about theLynnfield CPU and the ASUS motherboards that I thought I would share.First up is in regards to memory speeds:apparently Lynnfield CPUs that runat 2.8 GHz and 2.93 GHz will be able to run memory at 1600 MHz at stocksettings while the 2.66 GHz parts will only be able to push 1333 MHz. Usingthe custom built ASUS DRAM Overclocking Profiles though all the Lynnfieldprocessors will be able to run the DDR3 memory at speeds up to 2133 MHz! CoolIT Domino ALC Water Cooling @ pcper.com [Jul-28-09] (0 Comments) Put simply, we'd pay twice the price for a liquid cooling systemthis handy, simple to install, and effective. The Domino A. L. C. is one ofCoolIT Systems' best efforts. Compared to a stock fan, it does wonders forallowing serious overclocking of a Core i7 920. It's nearly silent,super-efficient, and priced right. Silverstone OP1000-P 1000W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-27-09] (0 Comments) Last year, Silverstone sent me their updated Impervio basedreplacement to the original Olympia 1kW unit, called the OP1000-E. This unitdid pretty well at the time, but carried with it some issues that I feltdetracted from the unit's prospects in the market. Thermaltake Toughpower XT Series 850W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jul-25-09] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake Toughpower XT Series 850W PSU delivered excellentvoltage regulation with very good efficiency. The XT 850W is relativelyquiet, runs cool during normal operation, and includes a good compliment ofmodular cables/connectors. The main weakness we found was a relatively highlevel of AC ripple on the +12V DC output when the PSU was subjected to heavyloads. Win a FREE OCZ Agility SSD from Benchmark s @ forum.benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-24-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews is giving away a brand-new OCZ Agility Solid State Drive to one lucky visitor! All that you have to do is visit our OCZ Agility MLC SSD OCZSSD2-1AGT120G @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-23-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has seen Solid State Drive products from every angle, and while SSDs have overtaken hard drive products in terms of Intel X25-M 'G2' 34nm 160GB SSD @ pcper.com [Jul-23-09] (0 Comments) While the real-world improvements appear only marginal over itspredecessor they *are* improvements. When combined with the drasticreductions in cost, Intel will be giving the competition a real run fortheir money. If the distributors can keep their margins on the slim side,more and more SSD buying decisions will be leaning towards the X25-M G2.Let's hope Intel can keep supply high enough to make sure the prices startlow and stay low. Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Jul-22-09] (0 Comments) Continuing the line of HAF (High Air Flow) cases Cooler Masterintroduces the HAF 922. The HAF 922 is a mid-size case with features anddesign very similar to it's bigger brother the 932 ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3 Slim Sound Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-22-09] (0 Comments) You don't have to be an audiophile to appreciate the enhanced surround sound effects from Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio found on Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-21-09] (0 Comments) Last month, we took a look at AMD's new mainstream processor:the Athlon II 250. We were impressed with both performance and cost. Today, Sunbeam SATA-IDE-USB Adapter @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-20-09] (0 Comments) If you have a lot of spare hard drives laying around that you want to see if they work and what they contain, but dont want to take the Using TRIM features on SSDs before or without Windows 7 @ pcper.com [Jul-17-09] (0 Comments) All of that said, although the Indilinx units appear to require moremaintenance to keep their performance up, and even though their TRIM toolhas some growing pains even at present, my current recommendation for userstorn between Indilinx and Samsung is to go Indilinx. You will get a drivethat performs at least decently for the time being, and there is the addedpeace of mind of a known-good firmware upgrade process. NZXT Sentry LX SEN-001LX Digital Fan Controller @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-17-09] (0 Comments) With multiple core CPUs, multi-GPU video graphics sub-systems and hotter than hot mainboard north and southbridge chipsets it becomes Coolermaster CM 690 Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jul-16-09] (0 Comments) Straightoff the back of TakTak and friends winning some fine Noctua prizes,we're back with our next competition, this one with the kind folks overat Coolermaster supplying the prizes.Also, if you all behave yourselves and this goes well, they will beproviding us with prizes for you guys, every single month, for the restof the year. So be good, and get entered. Intel BOXD945GCLF2D Atom 330 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-16-09] (0 Comments) For years, the focus on computers has been on faster, better performing systems. Recently, however, with rising energy costs and more SATA 6G launch delayed to do tech issues on nearly all P55 boards @ pcper.com [Jul-16-09] (0 Comments) What this essentially says is that the problem on the 88SE9123 chipdidn't lie with the SATA 6G implementation but rather with the legacy PATAsupport they built into the chip. Going back and looking at the spy shotswe have for most of the P55 motherboards we have seen, they ALL do in facthave an IDE channel on them - and since the P55 chipset doesn't offersupport for it, we can assume that all of these motherboard vendors wereusing the Marvell chipset in that fashion. That would explain why all ofthe boards would need to be changed drastically at the last minute. SATA 6G launch delayed to do tech issues on nearly all P55 boards @ pcper.com [Jul-15-09] (0 Comments) What's more, ASUS is saying that the chip is being pulled off nearlyALL of their P55 motherboard lineup and only the super-high-end motherboard,the P55 Premium. Why? The only information we have gotten from anyonerevolves around some hardware AND software issues that are preventing theSATA 6G speeds from actually reaching 6.0 Gb/s. Obviously that's animportant part of what customers will want on their boards when the hardwareis finally ready. This is a significant issue if a company like ASUS iswilling to complete redo its motherboard lineup at the last minute before amajor product launch. Xigmatek NRP-PC502 500W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-15-09] (0 Comments) Not too long ago, I looked at a low powered Xigmatek unit thatdid a pretty good job of being a budget power supply and yet still beingdecent quality, the No Rules Power PC501. Folks, it seems that Xigmatekwasn't entirely happy with the 501, for today I have in my hands the 502. Itpromises to be a more efficient, environmentally friendly version of theolder 501. NZXT Zero 2 Full Tower Case @ pcper.com [Jul-14-09] (0 Comments) What really should make this case sell well is the amount of spacefor multiple hard drives and optical drives, the steel chassis, and extracooling options. The current price also doesn't hurt its selling chanceseither, but that price is without shipping which might make it less of abargain if shipping is expensive because the case weighs over 22 lbs.Overall, the exterior design is top notch and the extra space and coolingoptions are very appealing. ASUS P7P55D EVO P55 Motherboard Video and Photo P @ pcper.com [Jul-14-09] (0 Comments) Over the weekend I received our first P55-based motherboard for theupcoming Intel Lynnfield processors, the ASUS P7P55D EVO. A mid-rangeenthusiast motherboard, the EVO model probably won't be the mostfeature-laden motherboard that comes out with the P55 launch in latesummer/early fall, but it also won't be the most expensive. And for a lotof PC builders, I think this type of motherboard will be where the sweetspot falls for price, performance and features. Raidmax Monster Mid-Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Jul-13-09] (0 Comments) Can the Raidmax Monster with it's aggressive design and all blackaluminum chassis live up to such a moniker as MONSTER? I'm not sure, but whydon't we take a look at what Raidmax has to offer us in this new case. ASUS My Cinema EHD3-100 HDTV/FM Tuner @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-13-09] (0 Comments) Those who want to watch over the air TV at all must either purchase a TV with an ATSC tuner installed or purchase one of the conversion Zalman CNPS10X Extreme Universal Heatsink @ pcper.com [Jul-10-09] (0 Comments) This heatsink exceeded our expectations and its universalcompatibility will make it even more appealing to high-end users and otherPC enthusiasts looking for a strong air cooled heatsink solution. Thelayered fin array and black-pearl nickel plated coated definitely added toits asthetics and overall craftsmanship. The unique fan controller isdefinitely a staple for Zalman and one I'm sure they will continue toproduce in future heatsink products. ASRock NetTop ION 330 AMCP7A-ION HTPC @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-08-09] (0 Comments) NVIDIA Recently unveiled their ION platform, which combines a GeForce 9400m GPU to the Intel Atom mobile processor. The synergistic Caustic Graphics and the CausticGL Ray Tracing API @ pcper.com [Jul-08-09] (0 Comments) The benefits of getting a standard would be astronomical to the enduser and developer - just as with DirectX and OpenGL, processing companieslike NVIDIA, AMD and Intel would then have a very specific instruction setto implement on their hardware allowing them to focus on performance andimplementation. Developers would also be more likely to start implementingthe ray tracing API on a larger scale once the majority of PC hardware (orat least in gamers PCs) properly accelerates the API. QNAP TS-809 Pro 8-Bay SATA NAS @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-06-09] (0 Comments) Not every enterprise needs a file server to fit their needs; sometimes storage is the primary concern. Network Attached Storage (NAS) PC Power & Cooling Silencer 910W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-05-09] (0 Comments) For many years, PC Power & Cooling was perhaps the top name amongconsumers who wanted a power supply that was better than the run of the millunits available from most other companies. Offering industrial grade unitsto the consumer market, PC P&C quickly became known for uncompromisingquality and performance. Relatively recently, the competition has gotten alot tougher for PC P&C. No longer the only option when it comes to servergrade units, they're facing pretty stiff opposition these days in the likesof Corsair, Silverstone, and Antec to name a few. Modders-Inc Podcast @ modders-inc.com [Jul-03-09] (0 Comments) During this one we talk about the Corsair TEC Memory Cooler, rantson how nothing seems to change about PC's, Left 4 Dead 2, World of Warcraftis a drug, how to come up with ideas on creating your case mod, the thermalpaste review over at Benchmark Reviews, and the Nipple Case. Antec ISK300-65 Mini-ITX HTPC Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-01-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews recently called on the Antec ISK300-65 Mini-ITX HTPC computer case to complete our NVIDIA ION Home Theater PC project. Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Jun-30-09] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Hyper N520 is a compact dual 92mm fan CPU coolerthat utilizes five heatpipes to dissipate the heat through the cooling fins.Will it impress or will it leave us wanting more? SilverStone ST70EF 700W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jun-30-09] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Element ST70EF 700W PSU delivered excellent voltageregulation with very good efficiency. The ST70EF is quiet, runs cool duringnormal operation, and includes a good compliment of fixed cables/connectors.The only weakness we found was relatively high levels of AC ripple on the DCoutputs when the PSU was subjected to extreme loads. Kingwin Mach 1 1000W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-30-09] (0 Comments) These days, for a power supply company to be competitive, there'sgotta be a 1kW or up model in there somewhere. Kingwin recently joined theparty by bringing in their Mach 1 series of units, which tops out with a1.2kW monster. Today I'm having a look at the second most powerful in theline, the 1000W model. This is the only 80 Plus Bronze certified unit in therange, and it features such cool things as modular cables with illuminatedrings around them when you plug one in. ZOTAC IONITX-A-U Atom N330 WiFi N Motherboard Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-29-09] (0 Comments) We all want more for less. That's why enthusiasts overclock, and that's why we build HTPCs. The PlayStation 3 game console has sold Some Initial Thoughts on Propus, AMD's Quad-core Athlon @ pcper.com [Jun-27-09] (0 Comments) The last thing that needs covered here is the potential TDP of theseproducts. Since the Propus core is around 60% of the size of the Phenom II,we can expect the lower 2.4 GHz versions to be around 65 watts TDP, andpotentially as low as 45 watts TDP. The higher 3 GHz version would probablyhit around 89 watts in the worst case scenario. Something else to consideris that with the continual advances on GF's 45 nm process, and the lack oflarge caches on the chip, we may even see TDPs dip into the 75 watt area fora 3 GHz part. Noctua Cooling Competition, Two Days Left @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-24-09] (0 Comments) Timeto start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this oneis with some nice Noctua cooling products. We've got 3 prizes to giveaway, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLXcooling fans.What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5times anywhere you like. That's it. to:content-type; @ dragonsteelmods.com [Jun-23-09] (0 Comments) Kingston recently introduced the HyperX Fan to compliment their HyperX lineof ram, but it can be purchased separately for use with any ram, and theywere kind enough to send one over for review. Normally this kind of thing isnot very useful really, in my experience with ram coolers they tend not towork very well, but the HyperX Fan is truly an exception. The HyperX Fanworks, and works very well, it's easy to install and the bright blue LEDswill add a bit of color to your case. So read on to check it out and learnjust how well it performs... OCZ Fatal1ty Champion Series 700W PSU @ pcper.com [Jun-22-09] (0 Comments) The OCZ Fatal1ty Champion Series 700W PSU delivered excellentvoltage regulation with clean DC outputs and good efficiency. The Fatal1ty700W PSU is quiet during normal operation and includes a good compliment offixed cables/connectors. And let's not forget OCZ backs the Fatal1ty 700WPSU with their 5-year PowerSwap warranty. It was co-developed by a gamerfor gamers and it delivers the goods! Overall, the Fatal1ty 700W is anexcellent PSU that will make most any gamer proud. Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-22-09] (0 Comments) Along with AMD's launch of the Phenom II and Athlon II processor families this year, we've also witnessed a steady shift in focus from Noctua Cooling Competition, One week to Go @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-20-09] (0 Comments) Timeto start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this oneis with some nice Noctua cooling products. We've got 3 prizes to giveaway, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLXcooling fans.What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5times anywhere you like. That's it. SLI on Life Support on the AMD Platform:Oh SNAP! @ pcper.com [Jun-19-09] (0 Comments) Unfortunately for NVIDIA, this decision may in fact hasten them outof the chipset market altogether. While the Intel side has untappedpotential due to its dominance in the marketplace, the upcomingobsolescence of the front side bus based platform that Intel has used fordecades will eventually cut NVIDIA out of the market altogether. Unless ofcourse NVIDIA can acquire the necessary licenses to offer QPI and DMI basedchipsets. We can certainly ask VIA how well that process went for them. Indilinx based OCZ Vertex and Super Talent UltraDrive ME SSDs ed @ pcper.com [Jun-18-09] (0 Comments) I've always seen the Indilinx drives as having great potential, andthat continues to be the case. That said, I continue to get the feelingthat they have not yet reached their full potential. If you are willing tojump through all of the necessary hoops to make the TRIM tool work, and runit regularly, you will see some great write performance. If you don't,expect your write performance to drop considerably as you use it. QNAP TS-119 Gigabit NAS Server @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-18-09] (0 Comments) If you've ever visited Benchmark Reviews in the past, you've probably noticed that we've tested a large collection of NAS products. At Lilliput EB701Y 7-Inch Touchscreen LCD Monitor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-17-09] (0 Comments) When putting together a mobile PC, the monitor is a big consideration. For use in the car, a touchscreen monitor is especially MSI Eclipse Plus X58 LGA 1366 Motherboard @ pcper.com [Jun-17-09] (0 Comments) A couple features that really stood out with the MSI Eclipse Pluswas its ability to support quad CrossfireX and SLI video card configurationsand having all three PCI-E slots capable of x16 speeds. This is fairlysignificant because most boards have that third PCI-E slot set at x8 or x4speeds. The onboard OC dial and other buttons were a great addition,especially for those of us who swap out our hardware often. the OC dialseemed to work as advertised, but we did have a problem with stability whenwe tried to push it too far. Corsair HX850 850W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-14-09] (0 Comments) It seems an eternity since the last time Corsair released amodular power supply in their high performance HX line of units, and therehas been a good deal of speculation around the net on when Corsair was goingto finally release something in the 750W-850W range to better compete withthe likes of the Seasonic M12D and Antec Signature units at that level. Cooler Master V10 Hybrid T.E.C. Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Jun-13-09] (0 Comments) Today we are going to look at the Cooler Master Hybrid TEC coolerwhich combines two types of cooling, the standard air cooling andthermalelectic cooling. Will this combination prove to be a worthy optionfor users? Read on to find out. NVIDIA CUDA-enabled Applications Roundup @ pcper.com [Jun-13-09] (0 Comments) Each application used CUDA in various ways, but all of them tookadvantage of the GPU acceleration properties that CUDA has to offer. We alsoliked how some of the apps we reviewed used CUDA for rendering videoeffects, which also helps reduce transcoding times. All in all, each ofthese applications has something for every type of consumer and the price ispretty close to what buyers are looking for in simple video editing andtranscoding software. ASUS EN9400GT GeForce 9400GT HDMI Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-12-09] (0 Comments) Home Theater Personal Computers have been on the rise in recent years but most HTPC cases have a major flaw that makes them inherently Noctua Cooling Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-11-09] (0 Comments) Timeto start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this oneis with some nice Noctua cooling products. We've got 3 prizes to giveaway, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLXcooling fans.What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5times anywhere you like. That's it. Galaxy GeForce GTX 275 OC 896MB @ pcper.com [Jun-10-09] (0 Comments) The Galaxy GTX 275 OC takes the very popular GPU offering and tweaksit slightly with overclocked core, shader and memory speeds and includes ahigher performing custom cooler design that will allow you to push the GPUeven higher if you want to. In fact, if you are paying the premium pricefor this model, I would actually SUGGEST you take advantage of the newcooler to get some additional performance out of the card. Silverstone LC10B-E HTPC Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-10-09] (0 Comments) Home Theater PCs continue to gain popularity, particularly as more television networks are pushing their content over the web. They're Enermax Eco80+ 620W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-09-09] (0 Comments) In the Eco 80+ 620W, Enermax has basically taken the outstandingplatform I first saw in the Liberty Eco 620W, removed the modular cablingoption as well as a connector or two, and added a gimmicky Sapphire HD4890 Toxic Vapor-X 11150-01-40R @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-09-09] (0 Comments) Sapphire has four ranges for most top-end products they offer:standard, Vapor-X, Toxic, and Atomic. While each is different in its own ASUS Eee, motherboards, graphics cards and more! @ pcper.com [Jun-09-09] (0 Comments) As is usually the case with ASUS at Computex, they had a LOT ondisplay. Simply put, ASUS has gone from a motherboard-centric company toone of the world's premiere consumer electronics companies thanks in largepart to their ability to ride the wave of the Eee PC well into 2009. Whilemost of the vendors we visited at Computex this year only had enough NEWstuff to warrant a news post or two, ASUS gets a four page article. Really,there is that much stuff. Have a look. Mid-range matchup:ASUS GTS 250 Dark Knight and Sapphire HD 4850 Vapor @ pcper.com [Jun-08-09] (0 Comments) The market for sub-$150 graphics cards is still just as crowded andconfusing as it was before this article, but if you are considering a GPUin the price range then we do have some final recommendations for you. Easily the best performing card in our testing today was the ASUS GeForceGTS 250 Dark Knight 512MB card though in a couple cases the 1GB model stoodout above it. Old Computers with a New Purpose @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-08-09] (0 Comments) Frequently, we find that new technological breakthroughs make old hardware that was just fine seem quaint. Be it a race toward higher HornetTek Travel Lite External Enclosure @ modders-inc.com [Jun-04-09] (0 Comments) At times I'm looking for space to transfer files from one computer AMD Athlon II X2 250 AM3 Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-04-09] (0 Comments) Yesterday at Computex, AMD took the wraps off of two highly anticipated processors:the Athlon II X2 250 and the Phenom II X2 550 Black OCZ Summit MLC SSD OCZSSD2-1SUM120G @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-03-09] (0 Comments) Samsung makes the DRAM modules found in nearly all popular SSD products today, with Elpida and Qimonda also adding their name to cache Redeeming AMD's Dual Core Market @ pcper.com [Jun-02-09] (0 Comments) The introduction of these two parts, and their significantlylowered TDP, shows that AMD is still actively addressing the verysignificant dual core market. While the Phenom II X2 is the undeniablepowerhouse in this release, the Athlon II X2 is a significant entry forAMD. At 65 watts it competes well against the Core 2 Duo E5x00, E6x00, andE7x00 series of parts from Intel, and its performance is right in line withthe competition. At $87 it is also quite a bit cheaper than itsperformance counterparts from Intel. AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE AM3 Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-02-09] (0 Comments) Today at Computex, AMD took the wraps off of two highly anticipated processors:the Athlon II X2 250 and the Phenom II X2 550 Black BFG EX1000 1000W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-02-09] (0 Comments) I've looked at several BFG units in recent months, but none havepiqued my curiosity as much as this week's review subject. The EX1000belongs to a brand new line of units from BFG, bringing the More on JMicron's new SSD controller @ pcper.com [Jun-01-09] (0 Comments) JMicron will likely release a lower end JMF611 controller in tandemwith the 612, which will share all of the above features but will belimited to 4 flash channels (and therefore half the throughput). JMicron'sroadmap also includes SATA 3.0 and USB 3.0 support in products to bereleased in the first half of 2010. Given that Indilinx can nearlysaturate SATA 2.0 with only 4 channels on their ARM controller, the JMF612should be a vast improvement over the previous generation 601 and 602 /602b controllers. Thermaltake Speedo Advance Package Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-01-09] (0 Comments) Think excitement - Think Spedo! At least that's Thermaltakes' spin on it. But what's in a name anyway? Well, a lot less than what's GlobalFoundries shows 45nm Istanbul, 32nm SOI, 28nm bulk @ pcper.com [Jun-01-09] (0 Comments) After the introduction of the 32nm technology, GlobalFoundries willrelease a 28nm technology tested and ready to go for taking orders in early2010 with full-scale production later in the year. Compared to the 32nmprocess, GF expects to see some significant power and size reductions on28nm that could potentially really spotlight that particular process as thetarget for GPU architectures going forward. 28nm technology will also bethe 3rd generation of immersion lithography and 2nd generation High-K metalgate design. SilverStone Sugo SST-SG05B Mini ITX Case @ pcper.com [May-31-09] (0 Comments) All in all, the SG05 was a joy to use and work with. Creative endusers will love all the possibilities this case brings to the table. Basicusers will be able to install a simple mini-ITX system in less than an hourtoo. Gamers will also be able to customize this case and bring it to theirnext LAN party instead of lugging around that full tower they are used tobringing. This case seems to hit several key target audiences and should bea favorite of the modding community too. We would like to congratulateSilverStone on making a logical, compact, and sleek case that the masseswill appreciate and love. We award it PC Perspective's Gold Award. Hardware Leaderboard @ pcper.com [May-30-09] (0 Comments) Our Mid-Range Leaderboard still the Intel Core i7-920 processor, itis a hard value to beat! The slowest part on this system, GeForce 9800 GTX+has been dumped, we have replaced it with an overclocked BFG GTX 260 whichonly brings the system price up by $26. With that extra graphics power, andthe temptation of SLI, it seems best to bump the PSU up a bit and theAnitec TruePower 750W certainly fits that role perfectly. Computer Power User Magazine Subscription Giveaway @ modders-inc.com [May-30-09] (0 Comments) Free is good...no wait free is AWESOME and a huge thank you goesout to the fine people over at Computer Power User Magazine! CPU Magazine,the best darn magazine about computers, hardware, and case modding. ComputerPower User has made available to Modders-Inc to give away four (4) 1 yearsubscriptions. Patriot Torqx MLC SSD PFZ128GS25SSDR @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-29-09] (0 Comments) Indilinx has been tapped to add their 'Barefoot' controller into the design, and a new generation of Solid State Drives has delivered Olevia 227-S11 27-Inch LCD HDTV @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-28-09] (0 Comments) HDTVs are rapidly becoming the norm rather than the exception. With such new-found popularity, there are more TVs than ever to choose CompuLab fit-PC2 P - Nettop PC with Intel Menlow @ pcper.com [May-27-09] (0 Comments) Because this system uses the Menlow-based Atom Z-series processorand 'Poulsbo' chipset, rather than the N-series CPU, it has support for HDvideo decode acceleration and CompuLab, the manufacturer, claims it can playback 1080p video with just 20% CPU utilization. Enermax Liberty ECO 500W Power Supply @ pcper.com [May-27-09] (0 Comments) The new Liberty ECO 500W power supply from Enermax delivered verygood voltage regulation with clean outputs and excellent efficiency. On topof that, the Liberty ECO 500W proved to be one of the quietest PC powersupplies we have tested to date in this power range. Throw in support forhigh-end graphic adapters, a compact chassis that will fit in most any ATXstyle case, and plenty of peripheral connectors and you have a veryattractive PSU package! These new power supplies from Enermax should be ofparticular interest to anyone building a HTPC or silent PC. Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [May-25-09] (0 Comments) I've looked at the flagship line of Enermax power supplies twicenow in the Revolution 85+ 1050W unit and the Galaxy Evo 1250W unit. Today,I'm looking at the baby of the series in a unit that promises all theexcellence of its bigger siblings in a package intended for those who don'tneed quite so much power. Lenovo IdeaPad S12 first to implement ION on mobile platform @ pcper.com [May-25-09] (0 Comments) That definitely puts the S12 in a great spot in terms of price andperformance but I am bit worried about the length of time between thisproduct announcement and actual product availability. We have already seenthe netbook market beginning to compress slightly, and even though this unitwouldn't fit our technical definition of a netbook, its close enough thatNVIDIA and Lenovo should be wary of missing the wave completely. Message-ID:MIME-Version:Content-Type:X-Mailer:Thread-Index:Content-Language:X-Source:X-Source-Args:X-Source-Dir; @ X-Source-Args:X-Source-Dir; [May-23-09] (0 Comments) If you'd have asked me what OCZ made, up until a couple of years agoI would have said memory, but they seem to make all sorts of interestingthings and fortunately I've been made aware of this (and even have theprivilege of testing some of their stuff!). Today We are looking at theirBehemoth dual laser gaming mouse ECS A790GXM-AD3 790GX AM3 Motherboard @ pcper.com [May-23-09] (0 Comments) The ECS A790GXM-AD3 is a great entry-level, budget-minded AM3motherboard that gives end users more than enough features to quench theirthirst for higher performance, easy of use, and stability. The BIOS wasabsolutely fantastic in terms of usability and also had plenty of advancedfeatures for overclocking. Overall, I didn't see too many flaws with thisboard. It was rock solid during our benchmarks and was a decentoverclocker. Sapphire HD 4770 512MB Video Card @ modders-inc.com [May-23-09] (0 Comments) Everyone wants to know how far their money can go these days andthat you want to make sure that you get the most that you can for it.Sapphire and ATI knows this and they have come up with their own XFX to enter power supply market with bright green 850w model @ pcper.com [May-23-09] (0 Comments) The upcoming XFX 850 Black Edition power supply will apparentlyinclude 105C Japanese capacitors, solid polymer capacitors, a 135mm ballbearing fan that should be relatively quiet and will support both SLI andCrossFire as you would expect from a company known for GPUs. The single 12Vrail will supply all the power to the unit and it will use a DC-to-DCregulator for 3.3V and 5V connections. Thecus N5200B Network Attached Storage (NAS) @ pcper.com [May-22-09] (0 Comments) The Thecus N5200B network attached storage device definitely has alot of features that are appealing to both casual users and enterprisecustomers. Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, an integrated printer server, eSATAand USB support and the ability to run RAID 5 and 6 really give the N5200 anedge over most other options on the market. And not many NAS devices offerthe ability to use 5 hard drives; another plus for storage hungry users. Intel Pine Trail (Next-Gen Atom Platform) & Moblin Updates @ pcper.com [May-21-09] (0 Comments) The base microarchitecture of the Pine Trail processor remainsunchanged from the current Atom CPU though (HyperThreading remains as well)today we might see frequency increases when this product is launched.Interestingly, unlike the forth coming 32nm Westmere product, the Pine TrailAtom processor will in fact integrate the CPU cores, memory controller andintegrated graphics on a single 45nm die, not just a single substrate. Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [May-21-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake has been making CPU coolers for years and they knowwhat it takes to produce a high quality cooler that is capable of coolingtoday's CPU. The SpinQ is somewhat different in design than most othercoolers on the market today. Galaxy GeForce 9600 GT LP - Low Power, Low Profile @ pcper.com [May-19-09] (0 Comments) The Galaxy 9600 GT LP is not the fastest or the cheapest 9600 GToffering available but its ability to upgrade existing PCs with high-classgaming performance will certainly make it a popular choice. By shrinkingthe PCB down and removing the requirement for a PCI Express power connectionGalaxy has created a card that will work in nearly every big-box PC on themarket, even the smallest ones. If you or someone you know is in need of agaming upgrade and has these restrictions, one of these Galaxy cards willdefinitely do the trick! Tagan PipeRock II 680W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [May-19-09] (0 Comments) Last week, I took on a name in power supplies I had neverreviewed before. This week, it's more of the same as I take on yet anothernewcomer to my lab:Tagan. They sent me one of their new PipeRock II unitsat 680W, and are anxious to see how I made out with it. This is an Imperviobuilt unit that looks very promising. The Dawn of Global Foundries @ pcper.com [May-19-09] (0 Comments) The advanced technology partnerships that Global Foundries currentlyenjoys allows their chip partners to introduce faster and more efficientparts into the marketplace with potentially improved yields over what we seecurrently for advanced designs. One of the great questions that everyonehas been asking is if NVIDIA would trust Global Foundries with their chipmaking, even though they are a subsidiary of AMD. I believe the answer tothat is that if Global Foundries delivers on its promises of what their 32nm process (and later 28 nm) can do, then customers will flock to GlobalFoundries. Seasonic SS-400H1U & SS-460H2U Power Supply @ pcper.com [May-16-09] (0 Comments) The Seasonic SS-400H1U and SS-460H2U power supplies proved to beoutstanding performers. Both PSUs delivered excellent voltage regulationwith very good efficiency and relatively clean outputs. And they come with agood compliment of modular cables/connectors. If you are in the market fora rack mount, server style power supply with an output capacity in the 400Wto 460W range, these two units will be hard to beat. ASUS ENGTX260 Matrix GeForce GTX 260 @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-15-09] (0 Comments) The breakneck pace of product development for graphics cards doesn't always generate bigger, faster, more powerful chips and cards. Super Talent UltraDrive ME 120GB MLC SSD FTM28GX25H @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-14-09] (0 Comments) Performance enthusiasts have been keeping notes on SSD technology for a while now, and until recently the price and performance of Solid Intel Fined $1.45 Billion by EU for Antitrust Violations @ pcper.com [May-14-09] (0 Comments) The second violation, one that was likely more difficult to prove,was that Intel made direct payments to computer manufacturers to delay thelaunch of new systems/products containing new AMD x86 processors. When AMDhad a new highly competitive CPU to offer, Intel would basically pay off thesystem vendors to not build new systems using them at launch, if at all. NZXT Zero 2 Case at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [May-12-09] (0 Comments) The Zero 2 is the descendant of the award winning Zero caseengineered by those fanatical enthusiasts over at NZXT. It is an enthusiastcase designed with *lots* of airflow and ease of maintenance. ASUS M3A78-T 790GX AM2+ Motherboard @ pcper.com [May-12-09] (0 Comments) Using this board with the 790GX chipset was an absolute pleasure andAMD has truly made some giant strides in the integrated graphics arena.There are many reasons and uses for onboard graphics as a primary videosolution, and with the integration of HDMI and HD 1080p support, I can seemany HTPC users foaming at the mouth to upgrade their current home theatersetups with this technology. Zotac IONITX-A-U NVIDIA ION Motherboard @ pcper.com [May-12-09] (0 Comments) The Zotac IONITX-A-U motherboard, with the Atom 330 processor andNVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics core is an impressive motherboard for itssize, for its power consumption and for the features it includes. Theproblem with the ION platform is that it can't compete in raw CPU-basedtasks with the likes of the AMD Athlon X2 7750, or even the Intel Celeronprocessor for that matter, simply because the Intel Atom core is so limitedin its computational power. If you were to just look at it from a pricingpoint of view, the AMD system is a much better performer for the money thanZotac's ION platform is. Hipro HP-D5501EU 550W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [May-11-09] (0 Comments) I come to you today bearing a unit from a name I haven't testedbefore and not many of you may be familiar with:Hipro. Some of you may bethinking, HornetTek Travel Plus 2.5in External Enclosure @ modders-inc.com [May-09-09] (0 Comments) I need more space! Well, why not a small 2.5 MSI Eclipse SLI X58 LGA 1366 Motherboard @ pcper.com [May-08-09] (0 Comments) Overall, this motherboard was exactly what I expected from ahigh-end LGA1366 motherboard. It had a plethora of USB ports, SATA ports,multi-GPU support, and DDR3 triple-channel support. After getting areplacement motherboard, we can safely say this board is definitely a greatoverclocker too. The price point might be a bit high for some to pay, butfor everything that's bundled, it's a decent deal for those who can affordit. Sapphire Radeon HD 4770 CrossFireX Performance @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-08-09] (0 Comments) The Sapphire Radeon HD 4770 introduces the 40nm RV740 GPU paired to 512MB of DDR5 video frame buffer memory, and a double-height cooler Western Digital RE4-GP 2TB :Big Green Gets Meaner! @ pcper.com [May-07-09] (0 Comments) I went into this review knowing the RE4 would outperform the CaviarGreen. What I was not expecting was a drive threatening to dethrone theVelociRaptor. This really is a serious piece of storage gear. After seeingthe quality and performance of the RE4 series first hand, I plan to shift mydata onto a set of these just as soon as I can get my hands on them. Jetway NF94-270-LF Motherboard @ modders-inc.com [May-06-09] (0 Comments) Modders-Inc is taking a look at another fine motherboard fromJetway. Currently they are offering some of the best all-in-one mini ITXmotherboards. Jetway is packing all sorts of goodies into a very small formfactor that is highly suitable for a Home Theater PC or for a space savingdesktop. Thermaltake Spedo Advance Package Case @ pcper.com [May-05-09] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake Spedo Advance Package full-tower enclosure is wellmade, comes with numerous high-end features, and offers a lot of storagespace and room to work inside the case. The styling is big and bold withoutbeing too gaudy. Six internal and seven external drive bays provide manystorage device and hardware mounting options. While far from silent, theSpedo delivers very good airflow for excellent case cooling. Thecus N7700 SATA 7-Disk RAID NAS @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-05-09] (0 Comments) How much data storage is enough to satisfy your enterprise needs? Thecus would like to assure you their N7700 SATA-drive NAS server has Thermaltake Toughpower XT 850W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [May-05-09] (0 Comments) It's been some time now since Thermaltake released the Toughpowerseries of units, and since then things have changed in the market. Thecompetition is getting tougher, the power supplies are getting moreefficient, and it's just getting harder for one company's CWT based unit tocompete in a market flooded with similar built units. DDRdrive hits the ground running - PCI-E RAM-based SSD @ pcper.com [May-04-09] (0 Comments) The DDRdrive was purpose built for pure unadulterated random IO, andfrom what I have seen, it absolutely delivers. The only thing holding itback from decimating the competition is the single channel PCI-E bandwidth.Enterprise environments requiring hugely random yet persistent storage (i.e.database transaction logs), may benefit from the X1, provided the storagespace is sufficient and their IOPS requirements fall within the X1'srespective sweet spots. XtremeComputing have Posted three new s @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [May-02-09] (0 Comments) More blue from the front also, all matching as the power and driveLED's are blue also. The whole thing is pretty quiet little more than a lowhum coming from it and looking rather splendid with the blue lights andblack with a splash of silver detailing on it. XtremeComputing have Posted three new s @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [May-01-09] (0 Comments) More blue from the front also, all matching as the power and driveLED's are blue also. The whole thing is pretty quiet little more than a lowhum coming from it and looking rather splendid with the blue lights andblack with a splash of silver detailing on it. Eteknix Competition Faking Update @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-29-09] (0 Comments) Therehas been some recent controversy when it came to light that thereview website Eteknix could be faking their current competition forsome AMD hardware. It was denied by the owner, and the issue was leftas probably a hoax. However, after the finishing of the competition,two winners were picked and I was emailed a database screenshot thatshowed that the winners were infact, the owner in disguise. Thermaltake Element S Case @ modders-inc.com [Apr-29-09] (0 Comments) With the smooth corners, a matte black finish and subtle rededging around the door, it seems that Thermaltake has gone with a moresubdued, stealth-like if you will, appearance package to the first releasein this series. AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition AM2 Kuma Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-28-09] (0 Comments) Last week's launch of the Phenom II X4 955 was a big win with the enthusiast crowd. This week, however, it looks like AMD has shifted AMD Radeon HD 4770 512MB - World's First 40nm GPU @ pcper.com [Apr-28-09] (0 Comments) The beauty of the Radeon HD 4770 512MB graphics card is that itbrings another low price, high performance part to the market that will alsopotentially make AMD more money as the ramp up to 40nm technology at TSMCincreases. If prices stay stable (the $99 HD 4850 withstanding) then the HD4770 is the best card you will find under $100. Antec Nine Hundred Two Gaming Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-27-09] (0 Comments) The Ultimate Gaming Case, Evolved. That's the theme Antec is using to sell it's new and improved version of the Nine Hundred, now simply Vigor Gaming Monsoon III LT CPU Cooling System @ pcper.com [Apr-24-09] (0 Comments) Vigor's Monsoon III LT definitely delivered during testing and Ithink it could have even handled a mild overclock on our Intel i7-920 CPU. Iwas also a bit surprised at how well it kept up with our Zalman CNPS9900 LEDheatsink. The dual 120mm fans and dual fin arrays seemed to be a winningcombination that should give other third-party heatsinks on the market a runfor their money. Enermax Galaxy Evo 1250W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Apr-24-09] (0 Comments) Shortly after I completed my review of the Enermax Revolution85+, the folks at Enermax asked me a simple question:would I like to have alook at a 1250W unit from a new line intended to make up for the absence ofa Revolution 85+ 1250W model in the North American market? AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE AM3 Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-23-09] (0 Comments) Following their success in the Athlon 64 era, many were surprised to the see AMD struggle with the Phenom family of processors. With the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Processor - AM3 gets serious @ pcper.com [Apr-23-09] (0 Comments) While the Phenom II processors are not entirely competitive withthe i7 cores, AMD has certainly been executing at a very high level as oflate. Considering that the Phenom II is actually a larger chip in terms ofdie size and transistor count than the i7, we catch a glimpse of how reallyimpressive the i7 is. AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE AM3 Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-23-09] (0 Comments) Following their success in the Athlon 64 era, many were surprised to the see AMD struggle with the Phenom family of processors. With the Patriot Extreme Performance Viper DDR3 6GB Kit @ modders-inc.com [Apr-22-09] (0 Comments) Patriot sent us over a sample of their Extreme Performance ViperSeries DDR3 PC3-12800 modules. These modules are designed to operate at1600MHz with 8-8-8-24 timings. They are available in either 3GB or 6GB kitsand utilize Patriot's ACC (Aluminum Copper Composite) heatsinks. Eteknix Could be Faking Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-22-09] (0 Comments) Oneof our eagle eyed users emailed me an MSN transcript between theowner of the Eteknix site, and a 3rd party, discussing the faking oftheir currently running competition. This was apparently posted on theEteknix forums before being pulled by an admin. AMD Earnings and Istanbul News @ pcper.com [Apr-22-09] (0 Comments) The biggest news is that AMD is pulling in their Istanbul launch,which is a native hex-core processor. Products will be shipping toconsumers in June, and AMD will be recording revenue from shipments tomanufacturers as early as next month. Early previews of Istanbul have beenvery positive, and the 45 nm process that AMD is using is surprisinglymature. Initial parts look to be released in power ranges that are verysimilar to current Shanghai processors, and will be very close in overallclock speed. Caustic Graphics Ray Tracing Acceleration Technology @ pcper.com [Apr-21-09] (0 Comments) These new algorithms attempt to find order in what we all see as therandomness of ray tracing and they attempt to drastically increase thememory locality for efficiency reasons and the founders decided thatrequired a custom co-processor. But they seem to have played the gameintelligently by continuing to utilize hardware where it is most efficient:the Caustic card will handle only the operations that modern components areinefficient at yet they still leverage the power of the GPU for pure shadinghorsepower. The Likely Delay of Intel's Core i5 Processor and Derivatives @ pcper.com [Apr-17-09] (0 Comments) While the chipset theory is a good one, I do believe that in the endIntel sees that when compared to Penryn, the Nehalem parts will not benearly as successful as a midrange part from an economic standpoint. It isbetter to keep Penryn chugging along, and at the end of 2009 introduce thefirst series of i5 parts at 45 nm, and quickly migrate to their 32 nmprocess to make the i5 much more successful and economically attractive.The final portion to consider is that AMD is really only now competitivewith their Shanghai core (which is also around 264 mm square) and it isprimarily aimed at the Core 2 Quad products rather than the i7. Corsair TX850 850W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Apr-16-09] (0 Comments) Overall, most higher-capacity Channel Well Technology built powersupplies have proven to be excellent but they have a weakness, which ishigher levels of AC ripple on the DC outputs. While still well within spec,the TX850W continues to exhibit relatively high levels of AC ripple,especially at max load. In reality however, the TX850 should perform verywell in real-world operation. I typically wouldn't push an 850W PSU beyondabout 600W (which is approximately 70% of the max rated capacity) and atthat level the TX850 performs very well. Intel Responds to Fragmentation with New X25-M Firmware @ pcper.com [Apr-14-09] (0 Comments) The 8820 firmware has completely renewed my faith in the X25-M. The weak link has been eradicated, and I’m thoroughly impressed with therenewed performance it will bring to all M series drive users. I am alsothoroughly pleased with Intel for being so open to feedback from thereviewers. Hiper M300 300W Media Center PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Apr-13-09] (0 Comments) I'm looking at the strange and unusual once more today in theHiper M300, a tiny little 300 watt power supply intended to be used inHiper's Media Center cases. This unit promises plentiful power at betterthan 80% efficiency, all while being crammed into a box barely larger than acouple of stacked 3.5 Thrustmaster Run-N-Drive PC/PS3 Wireless Gamepad @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-13-09] (0 Comments) Since testing computer hardware products is a PC-centric task, I've never wandered very far from what I know. But after writing my The Sorry State of Dell's Tech Support @ pcper.com [Apr-11-09] (0 Comments) Oddly enough, I did buy this LCD for a reason. There are some newproducts coming out shortly, and I wanted to get some high resolutiontesting done on them. This weekend was to be chock full of testing, but nowI will have to cut some of my results down and make due with the monitors Icurrently have available to me. Yes, yes, cry me a river. But during tougheconomic times, I decided to make a large purchase from Dell. Cooler Master CM Storm Sniper case @ modders-inc.com [Apr-10-09] (0 Comments) Cooler Master launched a new division geared toward the gamer.That division is CM Storm , the new sub gamingbrand from Cooler Master. Today we will look at the first release from theCooler Master CM Storm line, the CM Storm Sniper, dubbed the World's 1stTrue Gaming Chassis ... Let's take a look. CM Storm Scout Gaming Case SGC-2000-KKN1-GP @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-09-09] (0 Comments) What differentiates a serious Gaming PC from all the rest of the PCs in the world? To me, it's all about graphics performance, but I know Antec P183 Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-08-09] (0 Comments) Launched in 2005, the original Antec P180 case was immediately welcomed into the industry as one of the best cases of the year. A few Novatech Zu PC @ driverheaven.net [Apr-08-09] (0 Comments) LCD display.Read the review here: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=749-- Allan =93Zardon=94 CampbellDriverheaven/GamingHeaven Editor In ChiefBA/BSc (Honours) Digital Art and TechnologyBA (Honours), Graphic and Media Design (Typo/Graphic Design)www.driverheaven.net | www.gamingheaven.net |This message is intended only for the use of the person(s) (=93The intended recipients)=94 to whom it is addressed). It may contain information which is privileged and confidential within the meaning of applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender as soon as possible. The views or offers expressed in this communication may not necessarily be those held by the company and must be clarified if in doubt.Company Registration Number:4019815VAT Number:GB879288744--Apple-Mail-76-972505695Content-Type:text/html; charset=WINDOWS-1252Content-Transfer-Encoding:quoted-printableNovatech are a well known and reputable supplier of computer hardware and accessories in the UK and they sell a range of gadgets and electronics. They have a large offering of prebuilt desktop and laptop machines in their online store and today we're going to look at the Novatech Zu, a desktop computer containing ATI's fastest single GPU available on the market today accompanied with a Hyundai W240D 24 Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 @ pcreview.co.uk [Apr-07-09] (0 Comments) The most important component of KIS 2009 is undoubtedly the anti-virus scanner, which is the backbone of protection for any computer. Some of the most comprehensive AV testing is done by a company called AV-Comparatives, which test a variety of scanners against a huge database of viral infections. This is one of the most effective ways of measuring the performance of AV scanners, and provides a much more representative result than personal testing. In the latest test of on-demand AV scanners (Feb 09), Kaspersky is tested alongside 16 other products in their default modes. A 97.1 overall detection rate was achieved, which is roughly a mid-table result – however the number of false positives was significantly lower than many other scanners. NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse @ modders-inc.com [Apr-07-09] (0 Comments) NZXT's Avatar gaming mouse is designed to provide gamers with theultimate crafted gaming armor to emerge victorious in the gaming arena ofchoice. Featuring a ambidextrous and smaller form, the Avatar mouse isversatile and ideal for gamers. Antec Twelve Hundred Gaming Case @ jonnyguru.com [Apr-06-09] (0 Comments) Last week, we saw Antec attempting to reinvent the wheel byintroducing a new power supply form factor called CPX. This week, we'llcontinue our look at this new form factor by examining in detail one of thefew cases on the market to support it, the Twelve Hundred. Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU Heatsink @ pcper.com [Apr-04-09] (0 Comments) The standard Zalman heatsinks are held to might be a bit unfair,but their history certainly makes them a target for any vendor who wants toknock them off the top spot in the air-cooled heatsink industry. While thedual-heatsink design is sound on paper, I don’t think it worked when itwas executed. I might be making something out of nothing because theresults were very close to the Monsoon III LT, but it just seems that theirheatsinks should stand out from the pack and not just stay even with them. AMD Radeon HD 4890 RV790 and GeForce GTX 275 @ pcper.com [Apr-02-09] (0 Comments) The HD 4890 1GB card is not much more than a highly overclockedRV770 design, but that is more than enough to see noticeable performancegains across the board. In fact, we saw nearly uniform 10-15% performancejumps at ALL resolutions from 1600x1200 to 2560x1600 which indicates to methat AMD has really found the bottleneck of its architecture in this RV790product. Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 RV790 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-02-09] (0 Comments) The Radeon HD 4800-series has been a real success for AMD, and combined with Phenom II Processors they create a synergistic effect called Synology DS209+ NAS Diskstation @ modders-inc.com [Mar-31-09] (0 Comments) Being able to host your own website, FTP, Multimedia Server orother web based products meant that you had to rent a dedicated server. Wellthose days may be in the past as you can now buy your very own NAS server todo all this work for you and it is actually simpler than you think. OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler (OCZTGLADM) @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-31-09] (0 Comments) Gone are the dimples that were pressed into the fins in theprevious Vendetta coolers, this time the fins are plain and smooth. Ratherstrangely the aluminium base around the heatpipes has 6 columns that extendup and have three fins attached to them. I can only assume this is to givemore supporting structure to the cooler as I doubt it would make muchdifference in temperatures Antec CP-850 850W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-31-09] (0 Comments) The PS/2 form factor has been with us for a long, long time now.And for the most part, our power supplies have conformed to this twenty plusyear old form factor, even as they grew more and more powerful. This has ledto kilowatt power supplies in long, heavy cases that were hard to cool andcramped for their powerful innards. NZXT ZERO 2 Crafted Series Full Tower Case @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-28-09] (0 Comments) On occasion, we here at JonnyGURU.com take a step out of ournormal routine of talking about power supplies, and dive into somethingdifferent. Well today is one of those endeavors. We are going to take a lookat a chassis from NZXT, the Zero 2. The overall look of the Zero 2 chassis,closely reassembles the older sibling, the Zero. So let's dig in and see howthe Zero 2 holds up to todays standards. OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler (OCZTGLADM) @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-27-09] (0 Comments) Gone are the dimples that were pressed into the fins in theprevious Vendetta coolers, this time the fins are plain and smooth. Ratherstrangely the aluminium base around the heatpipes has 6 columns that extendup and have three fins attached to them. I can only assume this is to givemore supporting structure to the cooler as I doubt it would make muchdifference in temperatures AMD and Havok demo OpenCL accelerated physics @ pcper.com [Mar-27-09] (0 Comments) The power behind this announcement is easy to see - now that Havokcan run its APIs easily on either a CPU or GPU, the ability to acceleratephysics in a way we had hoped would come about with technology like AGEIAPhysX is much more attractive. While currently today PhysX only runs onNVIDIA GPUs, OpenCL products will run on AMD and NVIDIA GPUs as well asIntel and AMD processors enabling heterogeneous computing algorithms acrossboth product lines. Cooler Master Cosmos-S @ modders-inc.com [Mar-24-09] (0 Comments) Today we are going to take a look at the Cosmos-S which is anupdated version of the Cosmos 1000. Cooler Master has made several changesfor the new version while still retaining the awesome design of the originalCosmos. Windows 7 series:NVIDIA and AMD Graphics and Gaming Performance @ pcper.com [Mar-24-09] (0 Comments) As I mentioned on the one of the first pages of this article (thatwas a LOONG time ago...) the only fair comparison for looking at pure Vistaversus Windows 7 gaming results is with AMD's graphics cards and theirunified Catalyst 9.3 driver that supports both operating systems. To thatend, the AMD situation showed us that users will likely see very modestperformance gains moving over from a Windows Vista gaming system to aWindows 7-based PC. Considering how early we are into the life of Windows 7(it is still in beta after all), this is a very welcome shift from howthings worked before Windows Vista's release. Cooler Master UCP 700W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-23-09] (0 Comments) Our last look at Coolermaster's offerings was just over a monthago, when I tested the Silent Pro M600. Today, Coolermaster's back in thespotlight with the Ultimate Circuit Protection series, or UCP for short. Antec TruePower New Series 750W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Mar-23-09] (0 Comments) Antec has combined quality features from their high-end SignatureSeries with the affordable pricing of the TruePower line with theintroduction of the TruePower New series. The TruePower New 750W PSUdelivered excellent efficiency with good voltage regulation and cleanoutputs. The TP-750 is quiet during normal operation and includes a goodcompliment of both fixed and modular cables/connectors. And let's notforget Antec backs the TruePower New series with their 5-year warranty. Ultra vs. Modular Unit Retailers @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-20-09] (0 Comments) Well, friends, it looks like Ultra's at it again; according tosome information that just fell into my inbox. No longer content to just suemanufacturers of modular PSU's, they're going after retailers now. Filed inNew Jersey, the lawsuit names Best Buy, CDW, Fry's, Micro Electronics/MicroCenter, and Staples. Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider v1.3 @ ngohq.com [Mar-20-09] (0 Comments) It seems that Microsoft has forgotten end users when itintroduced a very restricted module of driver signature enforcement inWindows Vista and Windows 7. All drivers and system files must bedigitally verified or they cannot run when using both 32-bit and 64-bitversions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. In the past, it was possibleto turn that feature off in Vista, but due to new kernel securityupdates, it is impossible to turn it off without degrading security andstability of your operating system or putting your master boot recordsin risk by using other software alternatives.So what is the problem with digital certificates? Well, the problem is…developers have to pay Microsoft to receive verified certificates, andthat makes many applications inaccessible under Windows Vista andWindows 7. However, it is still possible to turn it off by pressing theF8 function key during system boot up, but pressing F8 every time onboot up can be a serious pain in the butt. Others have foundworkarounds, but most of them are too risky and may trash your masterboot records, at least until now thanks to our latest tool. Best CPU Cooler Performance LGA1366 - Q1 2009 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-18-09] (0 Comments) Throughout all of 2008, I made it my mission to test every high-performance CPU cooler that Benchmark Reviews received. The Core 2 Duo NZXT Whisper Classic Series Full-Tower Enclosure @ pcper.com [Mar-17-09] (0 Comments) The NZXT Whisper full-tower enclosure is a solid case that providesa lot of storage space and accommodates both E-ATX motherboards and largerexpansion cards. Nine internal drive bay locations permit a lot offlexibility with room for up to nine HDDs with active air cooling. Whilenot silent, the included noise dampening features do result in a case thatis whisper quiet. akasa Elite (ak-cr02-bk) Card and sim reader @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-16-09] (0 Comments) For this review I will be looking at a new product from possiblyone of the best-known names in the computer hardware business, akasa. Theproduct I will be looking at is the akasa elite, a card reader with adifference as it can also read sim cards and smart cards. Antec Truepower New 750W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-16-09] (0 Comments) In the many forums I frequent, I sometimes see people wishingthey could afford one of Antec's high end Signature units and yet not quitewilling to go for one of the Truepower Trio models. Well, Antec's decided tofreshen up the Truepower line once more, and they've just released the brandnew Truepower New series. These are 80 Plus certified units that promise tobring the Truepower name closer in quality to the Signatures while stillkeeping the price affordable. ASUS VW266H 25.5-in Monitor - Going large on a budget @ pcper.com [Mar-13-09] (0 Comments) The ASUS VW266H and VK266H offer an outstanding combination offeatures, screen size and price to really put a stamp on the LCD monitormarket. If you are a gamer on a budget or just a PC user looking for adisplay that can also be used for your console gaming or DVR set top box,then definitely give this ASUS monitor a shot! Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green :Bigger and Quieter! @ pcper.com [Mar-11-09] (0 Comments) So long as you can get accustomed to having your large, stagnantdata a seperate 'mass storage' drive, the slower access times and rotationalspeeds will have little effect on your daily use. The Caviar Green seriesstarts to make sense when you realize your bulk data does not necessarilyneed to be spinning at 10,000 RPM, and the lower heat output will likelyresult in greater longevity of your storage medium. This is especially trueif you don't have the greatest ventilation in your particular application(i.e. DVR's). ASRock AOD790GX/128M AM2+ Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-11-09] (0 Comments) Everybody knows that if you're number 2, you try harder, What if you're number 3 or 4, what do you do then? You look for Golden ASRock AOD790GX/128M AM2+ Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-11-09] (0 Comments) Everybody knows that if you're number 2, you try harder, What if you're number 3 or 4, what do you do then? You look for Golden G.Skill Triple-Channel 1600MHz DDR3 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-09-09] (0 Comments) With 64-bit Operating Systems nearing popularity as Windows 7 approaches, the 4GB system memory barrier is going to be a relic of the Will the AMD RV790 Architecture be Something Different? @ pcper.com [Mar-09-09] (0 Comments) I do not think we will see a massive increase in stream units as wesaw going from the RV670 to the RV770. I think we will see an increase to960 stream units (divided into 12 SIMDs), but the amount of RBEs will likelybe unchanged (though AMD would include another texture unit per SIMD, addinganother RBE would sort of upset the orthoganality of the setup).Considering the current texturing and AA performance of the HD 4870, thosechanges are likely not needed in the new chip. Performance increases inpure pixel fillrate and texturing will be improved from the clockspeedincreases as well as further internal optimizations into these units. Enermax Revolution 85+ 1050W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-09-09] (0 Comments) A couple weeks ago, I took a look at a new line from Enermax, theLiberty Eco series. Today, I've set my sights on something much bigger andbadder, the Revolution 85+ 1050W. This is a unit promising top notchperformance at 80 Plus Silver levels of efficiency. You're going to not wantto miss this one. to:content-type; @ dragonsteelmods.com [Mar-06-09] (0 Comments) Today I've got the JerkStopper Cable Retention Device for review, it's avery simple and useful product that will protect the AC Adapter on yourlaptop from possible damage when accidentally pulling or tugging on it. TheJerkStopper works by utilizing a free USB, RJ11 or RJ45 port, it's twopieces that clip together to lock your AC adapter cable in place, so if youdo accidentally move your laptop while it's still plugged in the force ofthe action is taken by the JerkStopper instead of your adapter's plug.What's nice it that you can use it for other cables as well like phone, USBor ethernet Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler @ pcper.com [Mar-06-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake's new SpinQ CPU cooler delivers good cooling performancewith minimal noise and it looks great. The fit-n-finish is good and theperformance to noise ratio is above average. The cooler is easy to installand features mounts for both Intel and AMD platforms. However overclockersand users interested in maximum performance will likely want to lookelsewhere. GigaTribe Private Peer-2-Peer Software @ techdomain.com.au [Mar-05-09] (0 Comments) The GigaTribe software is an interesting concept. At first glance it seems to be a mix of P2P software, together with a hint of IM, and a tiny dash of Facebook or any other social networking site thrown in on the side. Find out how GigaTribe Private Peer-2-Peer can work for you! Thermaltake V14Pro (CL-P0472 ) CPU Cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-05-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake have taken the design of the V1 and tweaked and enlarged it into a monster that is the V14Pro. The added bulk is not in vain though and it works well and temperatures are improved because of it. The fan on full speed is loud, and I wouldn’t want to run it like that all the time, but the manual fan speed controller allows you to dial in your own compromise between noise and performance. Thermaltake V14Pro (CL-P0472 ) CPU Cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-05-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake have taken the design of the V1 and tweaked and enlarged it into a monster that is the V14Pro. The added bulk is not in vain though and it works well and temperatures are improved because of it. The fan on full speed is loud, and I wouldn’t want to run it like that all the time, but the manual fan speed controller allows you to dial in your own compromise between noise and performance. Sandberg 2.5 Fingerprint HDD enclosure @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-03-09] (0 Comments) For this review I will be looking at a laptop hard drive caddy. However this is a caddy that comes with a bit of extra security in the form of a fingerprint scanner. The caddy in question is from Sandberg, who I must confess I have heard very little about before this review, and the caddy is from their AluGear range. Sandberg 2.5 Fingerprint HDD enclosure @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-03-09] (0 Comments) For this review I will be looking at a laptop hard drive caddy. However this is a caddy that comes with a bit of extra security in the form of a fingerprint scanner. The caddy in question is from Sandberg, who I must confess I have heard very little about before this review, and the caddy is from their AluGear range. Palit GeForce GTS 250 1GB Graphics Card - More G92b @ pcper.com [Mar-03-09] (0 Comments) Regardless of the politics involved, the GeForce GTS 250 1GB carddoes do one thing:decrease the price of great gaming GPU solutions fromboth NVIDIA and AMD for the consumer. Fan boys on either side will surelycomplain about how the other group is doing it, but it's a win for all ofus. You can now essentially buy a graphics card that will play most oftoday's recent PC titles at resolutions of 1600x1200 and above with top IQsettings for under $150, regardless of which GPU vendor you choose. How'sthat for a way to help get out of the funk of winter? Hiper S625 625W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Mar-03-09] (0 Comments) We continue our look at Hiper's brand new energy efficientofferings here today with the 80 Plus Bronze certified S625. You'll recallthat the M1000 came up somewhat short when it came to impressing me, so itwill be interesting to see where the S625 stands when it comes to providinga quality lower powered unit for folks on a budget. Enermax Revolution85+ 1,050W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Mar-02-09] (0 Comments) Enermax continues to raise the bar with the introduction of theirnew Revolution85+ power supply units. The Revolution85+ 1,050W exhibitedexcellent efficiency, very good voltage regulation, with relatively clean DCoutputs and quiet operation. And Enermax includes an excellent complimentof both fixed and modular cables/connectors to distribute over 1,000W ofpower. If you are looking for a top quality PSU in the 1,000+W range, thisone will be hard to beat. ASUS BC-06B1ST Blu-Ray Disc Optical Combo Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-02-09] (0 Comments) It wasn't more than a few months ago that Benchmark Reviews tested the ASUS BC-1205PT Blu-ray Drive, which was proven to be a Professional Graphics Roundup:NVIDIA Quadro and AMD FirePro @ pcper.com [Feb-28-09] (0 Comments) Professional 3D developers are finally getting their hands on thelatest GPU technology from NVIDIA and AMD in the form of updated Quadro andFirePro designs. The price gap between the Quadro FX 4800 and the FireProv8700 might be a little hard to justify for some professionals that don'tspend a lot of time using 3d studio max (where the Quadro really seems toshine) since in some other cases the v8700 will outperform the FX 4800. MNPCTECH Spring Loaded Case Handles @ modders-inc.com [Feb-27-09] (0 Comments) So, you've just finished modding a kick butt gaming rig, adding akiller paint job that causes neck snapping double-takes, to take to LANparties? But, it is a pain to carry around, it's heavy for one thing andhaving to clean finger prints etc off the paint is a drag. If only it hadhandles eh? Hawking HomeRemote Starter Kit @ rbmods.com [Feb-24-09] (0 Comments) Home control and remote monitoring is a field that has yet to reallycatch on as a mainstream industry, perhaps because setting up the devicesand linking them over a network is complicated and not readily available.Hawking, makers of a wide range of networking products, might have solvedthat problem with their line of home automation products. Today we'll lookat the Hawking HomeRemote Pro Starter Kit, which promises out-of-the-boxhome automation. Will this product prove to make home control andmonitoring easy? Read on to find out. OCZ 6GB 1600MHz CL7 DDR3 OCZ3P1600LV6GK @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-24-09] (0 Comments) In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the performance of an top-speed triple-channel product for the Intel Core i7 platform. The OCZ Enermax Liberty Eco 620W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Feb-23-09] (0 Comments) The last time we looked at an Enermax unit here at jonnyGURU.comwas way back in mid 2007 when the founder of the site looked at the GalaxyDXX 850W unit. Well, the dry spell is over, for today I'm looking at myfirst Enermax unit, the brand new Liberty Eco series 620W. Let's see ifit'll live up to my high expectations. Cooler Master UCP 900W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Feb-23-09] (0 Comments) The UCP 900W power supply is another good addition to Cooler Mater'sfull line up of PC switching mode PSUs. The UCP 900W power supply's voltageregulation, line regulation and cross-loading regulation are all good. Theoverall efficiency is excellent and AC ripple noise suppression is good,especially on the +12V outputs. Under normal operating conditions (below600W load) the UCP 900W is very quiet. The PSU comes fitted with a largeassortment of hard-wired cables and connectors that can support multiple,high-end video cards. And let's not forget that industrial look finish,active PFC, and a 5-year warranty. eDimensional Voice Buddy Software for Gaming @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Feb-23-09] (0 Comments) Strangely, a few days later when I came back to get some screenshots of Voice Buddy, the problem seemed to have magically resolved! Voice Buddy understood every command I threw at it. I think that this could be down to a temporary system fault (or background noise, as it was much quieter in my house on the last time I tried), so I don’t think it should be blamed on Voice Buddy. eDimensional Voice Buddy Software for Gaming @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Feb-23-09] (0 Comments) Strangely, a few days later when I came back to get some screenshots of Voice Buddy, the problem seemed to have magically resolved! Voice Buddy understood every command I threw at it. I think that this could be down to a temporary system fault (or background noise, as it was much quieter in my house on the last time I tried), so I don’t think it should be blamed on Voice Buddy. Evercool Hermes Notebook Cooler @ rbmods.com [Feb-22-09] (0 Comments) Like most desktop PCs, a typical notebook/laptop nowadays is usingmore power and thus is creating more heat. In response to the heat, manycompanies are starting to offer notebook PC coolers designed to provideadditional cooling capability. Today we'll be looking at the EvercoolHermes Notebook cooler, which has a small footprint and a unique shape.Read on to find out if this cooler brings cool temperatures to yournotebook. Hiyatek HY-HB-8700 USB-hub @ rbmods.com [Feb-20-09] (0 Comments) Hiyatek is one of the many manufacturers of USB-peripherals. Theirproducts range includes USB-hubs, USB-mobile racks, notebook coolers,thermal panels and other USB-related products. This time we got anopportunity to have a look at their 7-port USB hub. Xigmatek Thor's Hammer S126384 CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-19-09] (0 Comments) Overclockers are always looking for the best CPU cooler made, and Benchmark Reviews has taken a new approach to determining this for them OCZ Vertex Series 120GB SSD Performance P - Indilinx makes an intro @ pcper.com [Feb-18-09] (0 Comments) The Indilinx Barefoot controller, based on a custom logic ARMprocessor, is doing nothing dramatically different than JMicron or Samsungor even Intel controllers; but it has proved itself to be a strongcompetitor for a first offering. In my initial preview testing the OCZVertex drive offers read speeds just slightly below that of the Intel X25-M80GB SSD but in most cases has a much faster write speed than the Inteldrive thanks in large part to the addition of 64MB of on-drive cache. NZXT Sentry LX at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [Feb-17-09] (0 Comments) Fan controllers are fairly simplistic by their nature, and as suchcan come off as FSC Amilo Sa3650 laptop with Graphics Booster @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Feb-17-09] (0 Comments) As you will know; the primary purpose of laptops are for them to be carried around and used out and about, so they have to be small/light enough to be comfortably carried for long periods of time, and so consequently use a relatively low amount of power to have any chance at a decent runtime on battery. Because of this, they must make sacrifices and compromises when it comes to what calibre of hardware they can use. So for most laptops, gaming at decent resolutions/quality settings is out of the question as they have to use a basic integrated graphics card. Promolocker Promotional Product @ rbmods.com [Feb-17-09] (0 Comments) Since I'm running a website I am always looking for good ways tomarket it. Online you can find funky kinds of stuff that you can get yourlogo on. Promolocker is one of these companies that offers various promotionproducts with your print on them. They have some products I have not seenbefore and they seem to also be able to create decent looking logos. Letshave a closer look at a USB flash drive and a wireless presenter from themand see how good they really are. BFG LS Series Revisited @ jonnyguru.com [Feb-17-09] (0 Comments) A little while ago, the Wolfster (that's me) took a look at somebrand new offerings from BFG, the LS series power supplies. Well, times havechanged and these units have changed too. A 450W model has been added, whilethe 550W model gets a new OEM in Enhance. Join me and we'll see if thechange was for the better. OCZ Summit Series 250GB SSD P - New Samsung MLC @ pcper.com [Feb-16-09] (0 Comments) The cache on the OCZ Summit drive is really what will help it standout from previous solid state offerings. While having cache on board withstandard hard drives has been the norm for many years, it was long thoughtthat the speed of flash memory negated the need to have dedicate memory ondrives for performance reasons. After all of our experience with JMicroncontroller and the very slow writes they were famous for, we have learnedthat cache is still a technology SSDs can take advantage of. OCZ 6GB Triple-Channel 1333 MHz DDR3 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-16-09] (0 Comments) System memory is one of the most over-looked hardware components in computer systems, and with applications demanding greater memory PCPer Hardware Leaderboard @ pcper.com [Feb-14-09] (0 Comments) Here is our biggest change this month:the Mid-Range Leaderboard nowsports a shiny new Intel Core i7-920 processor! Along with that come someother changes like the inclusions of the MSI X58 Platinum motherboard and3GB of OCZ DDR3-1333 memory for an unbelievably low price after mail-inrebate. The slowest part on this system might be the GeForce 9800 GTX+graphics card so if you have some extra cash during your build that would becomponent I would look to replace. SAPPHIRE HD 4670 GDDR4 @ modders-inc.com [Feb-13-09] (0 Comments) Sapphire has a track recorded of taking the reference designs fromAMD/ATI and pushing them up a notch or two. The SAPPHIRE HD 4670 512MB GDDR4is another fine example of their hard work. Long-term performance analysis of Intel Mainstream SSDs @ pcper.com [Feb-13-09] (0 Comments) Dozens of different scenarios were played out on our drives. XP /Vista installs, repeated application / game installs, batch copying offiles, and custom IOMeter access patterns were all liberally applied to theX25-M. Various combinations of the above all seemed to point to one commondenominator - all three of our SSDs suffered a drop in performanceregardless of the type of workload applied to them. The next sections willexplore the issues at hand while simultaneously addressing any steps thatcan be done to counter the effects at play. AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition CPU HDZ940XCGIBOX @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-11-09] (0 Comments) Nearly every enthusiast who has overclocked a computer system has wished that processors weren't restricting them from the hobby they Intel Atom 330 Dual-core Processor @ pcper.com [Feb-11-09] (0 Comments) The performance results for the Atom 330 processor are actually veryimpressive - in a lot of our tests the scaling percentages from a singlecore to the dual-core CPU are approaching or over 100%! Of course, it helpswith the applications we are benchmarking with are basically starved forprocessing power with any of derivative of the Atom or Nano processor sothat every additional floating point operation available is quickly gobbledup. Intel 32nm Westmere CPU and Roadmap Updates @ pcper.com [Feb-11-09] (0 Comments) This slide shows the design of the first 32nm Westmere product thatuses two physical chips on a single substrate - the processor cores arebuilt on the 32nm process technology while the graphics and memorycontroller are built on the current 45nm technology. While it might seemodd to see a mix of both 32nm and 45nm products on the same chip, we shouldnote that the graphics chip is actually seeing a drop from 65nm to 45nmprocess. AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE Black Edition CPU @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-10-09] (0 Comments) Three is a number not normally associated with processors, although it's actually gaining momentum thanks to Intel's triple-channel Coolermaster Silent Pro M600 Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Feb-10-09] (0 Comments) It's been a little while since we last looked at a Coolermasterunit here at the site, but at long last I'm looking at one today:the SilentPro M600. This is a modular 600W unit that promises 600 watts of good cleanpower while not making a lot of noise in the process. Let's see if it candeliver. Cooler Master HAF 932 (RC-932) Full Tower @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Feb-09-09] (0 Comments) “There is no doubt the Cooler Master HAF932 is a very good case, it is huge, which makes building in it nice and easy and I believe it would take a substantial water cooling set up internally. It’s built like a tank, it has fairly striking looks without going too far and it has a lot of nice features, like the hole for the fill port and the front mount E-sata connector and of course that cooling which is very quiet but incredibly effective. Sunbeamtech Mini-ITX Acrylic Case @ rbmods.com [Feb-09-09] (0 Comments) Small computers is the word in today's world. Asus EEE series andMSI:s Wind PC are very common in thin-client business. However it's possibleto build your own mini sized computer. Keyparts are mini-itx motherboard andmini-itx case. Today we will take a look at Sunbeamtech's Mini-ITX Acryliccase which is designed for HTPC:s. Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 @ pcper.com [Feb-09-09] (0 Comments) The X4 810 is a nice part which will make quite a few folks happy.It does not run really hot, it does not pull all that much power, and itcertainly performs well considering the price it is at. In most tests, incomparing to previous results from the Phenom 9950, it was about 5% fasteroverall than its predecessor at that same speed. It does hold 2x the L3cache as the 9950, and the extra internal tweaks are likely to help as well.Currently it is one of only a few chips that will fit in AM3 motherboards,so if a user who is adamant about buying an AM3 platform they have no otherchoice if they want a quad core. AMD Phenom II X4 810 AM3/AM2+ Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-09-09] (0 Comments) The Dragon platform is AMDs last hope for success in a time when financial ruin is destroying every business on the planet. Perhaps the * XSs Anniversary Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Feb-05-09] (0 Comments) HappyBirthday XSReviews! To celebrate our 3rd anniversary in thereview game, we've got a shed load of prizes to give away to our forummembers. The rules are simple, just signupfor an account if you haven't done so already, and post 5 timesanywhere on the forums. That's it. We got gaming mice, mats, PSU,router and plenty of other bits. You don't want to miss this one. NZXT Zero 2 Case @ rbmods.com [Feb-05-09] (0 Comments) When I choose a computer case, I typically am drawn towards a coupleof things:good looks and cool features that will make building and usingthe computer enjoyable. NZXT, makers of a wide variety of computerproducts, sent us a sample of one of their new cases, the NZXT Zero 2mid-tower computer case, which claims to combine stylish looks with extremecooling capabilities Can their case live up to these lofty claims? Let'sfind out in this case review. SilverStone Fortress FT01 Case @ modders-inc.com [Feb-03-09] (0 Comments) SilverStone is becoming one of the best know manufactures for topof the line cases with their ever so creative and innovative ideas. Thistime SilverStone has come up with a positive air flow case know as theFortress FT01. Designed with the positive air pressure concept, it enablesbetter cooling performance than traditional chassis but also helps toprevent dust from penetrating into the chassis. Corsair Dominator 6GB DD3 Memory Kit TR3X6G1600C8D @ benchmarkreviews.com [Feb-03-09] (0 Comments) Today, we at Benchmark Reviews will be presenting our findings for the Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory kit which is a 6144 MB kit of 1600 Noctua NH-C12P CPU cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Feb-02-09] (0 Comments) Once it was fitted it was practically silent in operation without either the Low Noise Adapter or the Ultra Low Noise Adapter, with those fitted I couldn’t hear the fan on the NH-C12P at all above the other fans in my set up which isn’t at all noisy. Hiper Type M 1000W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Feb-02-09] (0 Comments) I've looked at several Hiper power supplies in my time here atjonnyGURU.com, and some have been better than others. Today, I'm looking atthe brand new Type M 1000W unit; Hiper's first foray into the kilowattjungle. Let's now find out if this one is a hit or a miss. Spire SP331CB USB CombiPod Card Reader @ rbmods.com [Feb-02-09] (0 Comments) Nowadays you can find memorycards almost everywhere. Digital cameras,mp3 players, PDA:s , mobile phones and even some laptops use them as theirstorage device. Having a card reader in your computer can boost datatransferring from the memory card significantly. Spire has provided us theirnewest USB2 card reader which we will have a look. SilverStone Fortress FT01 Mid-Tower Case @ pcper.com [Jan-31-09] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Fortress FT01 is a beautiful mid-tower enclosure.The all aluminum build quality is excellent resulting in a light weight, yetsturdy case. The FT01 comes with three high quality case fans that producepositive air pressure and deliver excellent cooling with very little noisewhile helping to keep dust out. For a mid-tower case the FT01 offers a lotof storage space but working inside the enclosure and routing cables canbecome quickly cramped if your build includes multiple graphic adapters andmore than three HDDs. And yes, the Fortress FT01 is relatively expensivebut you get what you pay for. XSs Competition - 1 week left @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jan-30-09] (0 Comments) HappyBirthday XSReviews! To celebrate our 3rd anniversary in thereview game, we've got a shed load of prizes to give away to our forummembers. The rules are simple, just sign up for an account if youhaven't done so already, and post 5 times anywhere on the forums.That's it. We got gaming mice, mats, PSU, router and plenty of otherbits. You don't want to miss this one. OCZ Apex 120GB SSD OCZSSD2-1APX120G @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-29-09] (0 Comments) OCZ may not have created the Solid State Drive, but they've done more to bring SSD technology mainstream than any other company in the Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 750W Power Supply @ modders-inc.com [Jan-28-09] (0 Comments) Today we look at Thermaltakes Toughpower Cable Management 750WPSU. The Toughpower 750w is a modular power supply with simple clean look.It is SLI ready with a large 14cm fan keeping it cool and rated for 80% plusefficiency. Read on as we take this power supply and find out if it has whatit takes to power your system. OCZ Apex Series 250GB Solid State Drive @ pcper.com [Jan-28-09] (0 Comments) Probably the most interesting part of the OCZ Apex drive is the factthat it uses not one, but rather a pair, of the JMicron JMF602 controllers.Yes, these controllers are somewhat notorious for performance issuesincluding stuttering and pausing but they are cheap and allow OCZ to offerdrives with larger capacity than what MLC Samsung-based drives andIntel-based drives offer. In order to attempt to address these performancecomplaints the Apex series uses a PAIR of the controllers with an internalRAID-0 configuration. CoolIT Domino ALC CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jan-27-09] (0 Comments) While air cooling solutions continue to progress, liquid coolingstill offers better cooling performance. But most users shy away fromliquid cooling as being too Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P X58 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-27-09] (0 Comments) The GA-EX58-UD4P is the latest high performance X58-Express Series motherboard from GIGABYTE, designed to unleash the awesome power of Seagate ST3750330AS 750GB HD @ monster-hardware.com [Jan-26-09] (0 Comments) While making a few preliminary testing observations I noticed that the Seagate ST3750330AS burst rate seemed to be abnormally low. At first I couldn't discern why this was but after a little more poking around I discovered the drive was operating in SATA I mode. To switch it to SATA II mode meant removing the world's smallest jumper that was so tiny and pushed to the back of the block I had completely missed it in my earlier visual drive inspection, but taking the jumper off solved the low burst rate situation. Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P DDR2 P45 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-26-09] (0 Comments) There are certain products in every category that somehow manage to attain legendary, if not mythical stature. In the Intel socket based to:content-type; @ dragonsteelmods.com [Jan-25-09] (0 Comments) Today for review I'm taking a look at a new mousepad from XTracPads calledthe Hybrid. What makes this pad special is the fact that it appears to be acloth mousepad, but yet has the slickness and qualities of a plastic surfacethrough a process of blending plastic to the cloth on a molecular level tocreate a very good mousing surface. The Hybrid has the qualities of a clothpad in that it can be rolled and taken with you, and, and mentioned, thequalities of a plastic pad as well, truly a hybrid pad that gives the userthe best of both worlds. Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Jan-22-09] (0 Comments) With a market composed of a large variety of CPU coolers,manufactures have to get it right the first time around. If the cooler posesto many issues, or simply fails to meet today's standards, it will likelyfind its lifespan to be short. Today we are going to be taking a look at acooler from a company that knows all about cooling, Cooler Master. Is CoolerMaster really the master when it comes to cooling? Well, we are about tofind out how well the Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler can compare to a few othertop performers on the market. Cooler Master Sniper CM Storm Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-22-09] (0 Comments) With the start of the new year, comes a new line of gaming cases from one of the most recognized case manufacturers in the industry: * XSs Competition - 2 Weeks Left @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jan-21-09] (0 Comments) HappyBirthday XSReviews! To celebrate our 3rd anniversary in thereview game, we've got a shed load of prizes to give away to our forummembers. The rules are simple, just signupfor an account if you haven't done so already, and post 5 timesanywhere on the forums. That's it. We got gaming mice, mats, PSU,router and plenty of other bits. You don't want to miss this one. AXP 2.5/3.5 SATA HDD to eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo Dock Station @ rbmods.com [Jan-21-09] (0 Comments) With todays need of more drive space and easy access to USB ports andmemory readers forces us to have alot of extra devices on the table. AXP hasfound a solution to this by combining 2,5/3,5, USB and a card reader intothe same device. This devices can easily take care of all your media with aquick plugin function and E-SATA interface. Lets have a closer look to seehow this device will perform and how it actually looks like. ASUS My Cinema-U3100Mini HDTV Tuner @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-21-09] (0 Comments) Come February 17, 2009, most major broadcast stations in the US will make the final switch from analog to digital broadcasts and this has Intel X25-M SATA 80GB MLC SSD @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-20-09] (0 Comments) In early September, 2008 Intel released their mainstream series of solid state drives. In its initial offfering Intel brought two drives Cooler Master HAF 932 Full Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Jan-19-09] (0 Comments) Cooler master brings you the HAF 932. A larger full size towercase featuring a unique design set and a High Air Flow structure. This casefeatures a wide range of premium features including tool less components,enhanced motherboard tray for cable routing, rear access to the mother boardfor easy CPU cooler installs and ready made mounts for water cooling just toname a few. If that sounds like a lot of features for one case your right.Is the HAF 932 worthy to be the next home for your hardware? Inwin Commander 1200W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jan-19-09] (0 Comments) Two years ago, in late 2006, a weird electronics tech was draftedby jonnyGURU.com to torture innocent power supplies for crimes they did notcommit. This electronics tech promptly began to take his job too seriously,and was then thrown into an imaginary maximum security mental institution.He promptly escaped from this institution into the Saskatchewan wilderness.Today, still hunted by men in white coats, he's up against an InwinCommander 1200W power supply which he plans to try and let the magic smokeout of. ASUS ENGTX285 TOP GeForce GTX 285 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-19-09] (0 Comments) NVIDIA Continues to refine the GT200 GPU, and the latest 55nm version offers better efficiency and higher performance. In this article, Modders-Inc at CES 2009 @ modders-inc.com [Jan-18-09] (0 Comments) Each year the town that never sleeps and where the lights never gooff is the host for CES (Consumer Electronics Apple iPod Touch @ rbmods.com [Jan-18-09] (0 Comments) When you think about digital music players, one name comes to mindimmediately:iPod. Apple has regained its popularity thanks to their lineof iPod mp3 players, including the Nano, iPhone, Shuffle, etc. But arethey worth all the hype? Geeks.com, popular online retailer, sent us thefirst generation, 8GB version of the Apple iPod Touch. Read on to find outour take on the latest incarnation of the popular media player. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1GB @ pcper.com [Jan-15-09] (0 Comments) Our short time with the GTX 285 has left me pretty impressed - eventhough the GTX 280 was the top performing single GPU graphics card on themarket, the GTX 285 easily outpaced it by about 10-15% in my tests. Even atreal-world resolutions like 1600x1200 and 2048x1536 the GTX 285 was able torun noticeably faster than the GTX 280 OC. Antec Signature Series 850W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jan-15-09] (0 Comments) The Signature 850 has excellent voltage regulation, exceptionallyclean DC outputs, and operates very efficiently. Antec includes a goodcompliment of both fixed and modular cables/connectors and backs theSignature 850 with a 5-year warranty. If you are looking for a top qualityPSU in the 850W range, this one will be hard to beat. NZXT Whisper Silent System PC Case @ rbmods.com [Jan-15-09] (0 Comments) In the quest for silencing a computer system, we often focus on noisesources such as CPU coolers and case fans. But what if the case itself canaid in reducing noise? NZXT, makers of a wide range of computer products,has developed a new case, the NZXT Whisper Series Case, which has addedfeatures to reduce computer noise. Will this case live up to its name and beas quiet as a whisper? Let's find out in this review. GeForce 185.20, ambient occlusion tested @ tcmagazine.com [Jan-14-09] (0 Comments) Everywhere you turn these days you see people saying that 2009 will be tough, with economic recession, more trouble in the Middle East and the filming of BloodRayne 3. Despite the grim outlook, this year has started on a high note for Nvidia graphics card owners as a new GeForce driver bearing a new feature and the potential of improved performance got trapped in the spider-less world wide web. Also coming with a rather high number jump - from 180.70/87/88 to 185.20, the driver features support for every GeForce desktop card from the 6 series up and adds a new tab in the Nvidia Control Panel that enables Ambient Occlusion, a lighting model that's supposed to bring more realism to 3D games. Jays C-jays Headphone @ rbmods.com [Jan-13-09] (0 Comments) We have previously reviewed a few pairs of earphones from Jays buttoday we are going to actually take a look at a real pair of headphones.This is a pair of really light weight headphones and they almost give aflimsy feeling when playing around with them but what will we think in theend? Palit GeForce 9800 GTX+ Video Card NE/98TX+XT352 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-13-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has had the wonderful opportunity to review and critique some of the best and most powerful video cards currently NVIDIA Ion Platform Design and Benchmarks @ pcper.com [Jan-13-09] (0 Comments) You can see the company has lofty goals for this product and it islikely a big part of NVIDIA strategy going forward in order to sustaingrowth in a world where super-high-powered GPUs are becoming less relevant.While the netbooks argument is pretty basic, the notebook section above ismore interesting. Essentially, NVIDIA is saying that companies that chooseto use the Intel Atom processor in conjunction with the NVIDIA Ion platformcan save as much as 80% on the CPU cost rather than going with an Intel CoreCPU and still get high quality graphics and computing performance. GELID Wing9-Wing12 UV Blue Case Fans @ modders-inc.com [Jan-12-09] (0 Comments) Today we are going to be taking a look at a set of case fans froma relatively new company called GELID Solutions. With the endless number offans on the market, you can just about get anything you want, if you lookhard enough. We are going to be looking at the GELID Wing9 and Wing12 UVBlue case fans. GELID has done what a few other manufactures have done;offer us something different than the normal case fan. Silverstone Fanless ST45NF 450W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jan-12-09] (0 Comments) We've looked at lots of interesting power supplies here at thesite, some big, some small. But today's unit will be a first for the site,when I take a look at our first totally fanless unit in the SilverstoneNightjar ST45NF. Evercool Serpent Northbridge Chip Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jan-10-09] (0 Comments) One of the main problems with various motherboard's northbridgecooler is the small heatsink with little fan at 5000rpm. Fan at such speedmakes high noise making use of computer very uncomfortable, not to mentionthe situation where the fan stops at all making the northbridge to overheatand possibly break due to it. Evercool was kind enough to provide us theirnewest northbridge cooler called Serpent. AMD Phenom II X4 940 - Not the Second Coming @ pcper.com [Jan-09-09] (0 Comments) AMD showed up to the party, but they brought light beer instead ofchampagne. That's not entirely bad though, as some people prefer light beer(though I still question why). That AMD is able to at least poke their headinto the party is probably the most important part of this entire exercise.The Phenom II is a big upgrade from the previous Phenom parts, in terms ofboth IPC and the ability to clock to higher speeds. NVIDIA BFG GeForce GTX 295 @ pcper.com [Jan-08-09] (0 Comments) The single card performance (though dual GPU of course) of the BFGGeForce GTX 295 1796MB solution was impressive and the new card easily takesthe top spot as the best performing single slot graphics card available.The Radeon HD 4870 X2 has FINALLY been unseated after a full five and halfmonths as the king of the hill. NVIDIA would have liked to haveaccomplished this feat earlier than this but I imagine they were forced towait for their 55nm process move (from the 65nm that the GeForce GTX 280 andoriginal 260 use) to fit inside the power envelope. NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision Technology @ pcper.com [Jan-08-09] (0 Comments) The NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision technology comes at a time when the PCgaming world needs a lift the most and I think any enthusiast (even thosethat are fans of AMD) can appreciate the chance to show off to theirconsole-loving friends a feature that can't be matched by one. The PCgaming world has been floundering around a bit since the days of Doom 3'srelease and we have slowly seen the exclusive titles on the PC migrate to a NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision Gaming Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-08-09] (0 Comments) It was exactly one year ago that I shared my first experiences with stereoscopic gaming in the 2008 CES Technology Highlights article. Asus VK246H LCD Monitor @ rbmods.com [Jan-07-09] (0 Comments) Our flat screens keep growing in size all the time and today a 22inch monitor is almost standard for the normal user while the hardcoregamers are even higher up at 24 inch. Todays review will be on a 24 inchmonitor from Asus. This new VK246H seems to be a good monitor on the paperwith HDMI and 2 ms response time. It also has a built in webcam on the topand to finish the package it has a nice glossy black color. The question isthough, how will it perform and will it have any back bleed? XSs 3rd Year Anniversary @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jan-06-09] (0 Comments) HappyBirthday XSReviews! To celebrate our 3rd anniversary in thereview game, we've got a shed load of prizes to give away to our forummembers. The rules are simple, just sign up for an account if youhaven't done so already, and post 5 times anywhere on the forums.That's it. We got gaming mice, mats, PSU, router and plenty of otherbits. You don't want to miss this one. Thermaltake MaxOrb EX CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Jan-06-09] (0 Comments) Today we are going to take a look at their latest version, theMaxOrb EX CPU Cooler. The MaxOrb EX utilizes six copper heat pipes that passthrough six different sets of cooling fins. Will the MaxOrb EX have what ittakes to cool your processor? Xigmatek NRP-PC501 500W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jan-05-09] (0 Comments) Xigmatek is an unfamiliar name for power supplies in these parts.However, the company does have some degree of presence out there in theworld of CPU cooling; and we've gotten more than a few requests to see howgood their watt boxes are. Today I'm finally taking a look at one of them inthe NRP-PC501. This is a 500W value oriented unit boasting a good sized140mm fan and 80 Plus certification. Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q4 2008 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-05-09] (0 Comments) From my experience, 2008 has been a very good year for CPU coolers. We've tested the OCZ Vendetta 2 to perform as well or better than SilverStone Raven (RVM01B) Mouse @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jan-05-09] (0 Comments) For this review I will be looking at a new product from one of my favourite computer hardware manufacturers, the highly respected SilverStone. The actual product I am looking at is a little bit unusual for SilverStone as the product I will be looking at is a gaming mouse, the Raven RVM01B. Apple has plans for iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro in 2009 @ pcper.com [Jan-05-09] (0 Comments) The Tylersburg chipset is essentially that used by the X58motherboards we have reviewed here at PC Perspective and is the ONLY chipsetcurrently for the Core i7 line of CPUs. This new hardware shift would givethe 28 Hawking HWRN1A Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Router @ rbmods.com [Jan-04-09] (0 Comments) Still using one of those older 802.11G or even 802.11b routers? Asdemand for networking bandwidth increases, 802.11N is becoming more popular.Today we'll be looking at one such upgrade option offered by well-knownnetworking provider, Hawking Technology:the Hawking HWRN1A Hi-GainWireless-300N Router. Have they finally made wireless routers plug-in-play,or will you need to mess around a bunch of connection settings? We're hereto answer that question in this review. 2008 Computer Hardware Industry Failure @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jan-01-09] (0 Comments) Every technology starts with a motivation, and throughout the past year Benchmark Reviews has watched the computer hardware industry PCPer Hardware Leaderboard @ pcper.com [Jan-01-09] (0 Comments) There weren't really many changes in the leaderboards - something Iexpected after the big change of adding in Intel's Core i7 processors lastmonth. I did upgrade the motherboard on the Dream Leaderboard to the ASUSRampage II Extreme as it is far and away the most impressively feature richmotherboard I have ever laid my hands on. I was almost looking to shift theGPU on the system from the AMD Radeon HD 4870 X2 to the GeForce GTX 295 (apart we have already previewed) but its availability timeline pushed intoJanuary and thus we'll have to wait a bit longer for it to be added into themix here. NZXT College Football Bowl Game Challenge @ bigbruin.com [Dec-31-08] (0 Comments) NZXT is teaming up with Bigbruin.com to sponsor a College Football Bowl Game Challenge! Up for grabs are four great items from the NZXT line up, and in order to enter you just need to make your picks for seven of this season's top college football bowl games! The first of the bowl games involved is to be played on January 1st, so there is still time to enter. Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 XSA-00001 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-30-08] (0 Comments) The Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 is the jack of all trades. It contains enough programmable keys to keep the most fervent multi-tasker Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Dec-30-08] (0 Comments) We've seen a lot of intricate cooling solutions, from largeair-cooled units to liquid coolers to peltiers. Yet despite all thedifferent companies that create these products, one name often comes tomind:Thermaltake. Thermaltake sent us a sample of one of their newest CPUcoolers, the Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler, that has a unique design Willthis translate into better performance? That is the question we're going toanswer in this review. After the Holidays Giveaway @ modders-inc.com [Dec-29-08] (0 Comments) You know sometimes the holidays are just not all that they aretalked up to be. Sure sweet ol' Grandmas heart was in the right place whenshe knitted you that sweater, but what is with the third arm? So a few goodfriends of ours have decided to help you get the good stuff you so welldeserve. World Exclusive! Qpad QH 1339 Headset @ rbmods.com [Dec-27-08] (0 Comments) This is the first time the world sees these headphones from Qpad! Themousepad maker has now gotten themselves into the headphone/headsetbusiness. With a pricetag of 400$ USD this might not suit just anyone, willit be worth it and can it really perform well enough to be worth 400$ bothheadset and heatphone wise. Solid State Drive (SSD) Benchmark Performance Testing @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-26-08] (0 Comments) In this article, Benchmark Reviews sets out to detail the performance differences between SSD products attached to the JMicron JMB322 Intel P45 Motherboard Roundup:MSI, ASUS and Gigabyte @ pcper.com [Dec-25-08] (0 Comments) That doesn't mean the MSI and Gigabyte boards are devoid of techiegoodness though - each offers a solid collection of storage and expansionfeatures. eSATA, Firewire and at least six USB 2.0 ports are standard onboth motherboards so your connectivity options are already well laid out.Both the MSI and Gigabyte P45 motherboards support at least six SATAchannels courtesy of Intel's ICH10R south bridge and support RAID 0, 1, 10and even RAID 5. The MSI Platinum motherboard does offer a coupleadditional SATA ports though giving it a slight leg up in terms of storagesupport. NZXT Whisper Full-Tower Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-24-08] (0 Comments) Finally, a chassis that is designed for the enthusiast that combines noise dampening features with expandability and storage. Introducing Logisys Two-Color Illuminated Keyboard @ rbmods.com [Dec-24-08] (0 Comments) Still hunting and pecking when it comes to typing and having troubleseeing at night? Well, today we might have the answer as we take a look atthe Logisys Two-Color Illuminated keyboard offered by Xoxide.com, popularretailer of a variety of computer parts. Will this new keyboard bringstellar performance to both gaming and everyday applications? That is whatwe're here to find out. Intel DX58SO Smackover X58 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-23-08] (0 Comments) The i7 series of processors accompanied by an enthusiast grade motherboard utilizing the X58 chipset were one of the most highly CoolIT Systems Domino Liquid CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Dec-22-08] (0 Comments) You want to get away from air cooling and those oversized heatpipesetups are adding a lot of unwanted stress on the motherboard, but you don'twant to endure the cost and hassle of converting your system to a watercooled unit. CoolIT Systems Inc may just have what you are looking for withtheir newest liquid cooling setup that goes by the name of Domino A.L.C.(Advanced Liquid Cooling). ASUS EAH4870 DK TOP 512MB Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-22-08] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews is no stranger to the Radeon HD 4870 and today we add one more to the ranks:the ASUS EAH4870 Dark Knight Top. This 'DK G.SKILL FM-25S2S-64GB SSD Drive @ rbmods.com [Dec-21-08] (0 Comments) SSD drives are slowly making it on to the market but the prices stillscare alot of people of. The SSD drive does not have any movable parts whichmakes it completely silent and also more well performing than our currentharddrives. Price and small drives are still the main issue but I have seenover 200GB drives hitting the market already although today we are taking alook at a 64GB SATA 2 drive from Gskill. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 P - Performance King Returns @ pcper.com [Dec-18-08] (0 Comments) The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 has definitely taken back the topperformance spot from AMD and the HD 4870 X2 card - a new king has beencrowned. We still have some questions to answer before giving ourunequivocal thumbs up on it including noise and power consumption, but atfirst glance both of those look like they are in check and within reasonablelimits. By combining two 55nm GT200 GPUs into a single graphics card designNVIDIA was able to reassert leadership in the market - a move the companywas in desperate need of. Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 Atomic ST-6026 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-18-08] (0 Comments) Featuring a closed-loop liquid cooled system, the Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 Atomic ST-6026 brings workstation class cooling to the PC, AMD Phenom X4 9850BE @ rbmods.com [Dec-18-08] (0 Comments) It was awhile ago we tested a processor so today it's time again. AMD sent us their second fastest processor that ison the market right now, X4 9860BE. We are going to put this vs our IntelQX6700 that is a bit outdated compared to the faster i7 processors but youwill also see some results on how the i7 perform so lets get this show onthe road. Jetway NC92 Series Mini-ITX Motherboard @ modders-inc.com [Dec-18-08] (0 Comments) Downsizing PC's are the way of the future and you can start onyour trek today with the Jetway NC92-230-LF ITX Motherboard. ThisMotherboard is an all in one setup with CPU, graphics and other featuresalready on the board making it easy for you to be on your way. Can thisall-in-one do what you want it to do? Let us find out... Elemental Technologies Badaboom Media Converter v1.1 Update @ pcper.com [Dec-17-08] (0 Comments) The release of Badaboom v1.1 is not going to dramatically change thevery early face of the consumer-level - it is a solid upgrade to anapplication that is only a few months old. The new features in thisrevision, including expanding input file support, multi-GPU support, 1080poutput, H.264 Main profile support and some new pre-built output profilesmake the program much more useable and functional for real-world use butthere is still some room for improvement. Corsair TX850 Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Dec-17-08] (0 Comments) Once upon a time, a small company known for memory decided tofollow in the footsteps of another company known for memory and startproducing power supplies. In the months and years since then, Corsair hasgone on to be one of the most highly regarded companies out there when itcomes to releasing good quality units at a good price. G.Skill FM-25S2S-64GB SATA-II MLC SSD @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-16-08] (0 Comments) Back in November 2007, after experiencing the SuperComputing Conference SC07, finding Solid State Drives on sale anywhere was a real Sigma WindStorm Mid Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Dec-15-08] (0 Comments) Sigma is working hard to develop new innovative designs built withhigh quality standards. They have just released a new case for computerenthusiasts with airflow in mind. Today we will take a look at the SigmaWindStorm and see if it is indeed a WindStorm or just a mild breeze! In-Win Commander 850W PSU @ rbmods.com [Dec-15-08] (0 Comments) Today we get a chance to check out a new power supply manufacturer,In-Win, which is a company that makes a wide range of PC products. They sentus a sample of their latest power supply offering, the In-Win Commander 850WPSU, which boost a military paint scheme. Will this power supply be ready tobattle some of the more established brands? Let's find out in this review. Gigabyte GA-EX58-EXTREME Core i7 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-15-08] (0 Comments) The GA-EX58-EXTREME is the latest high performance X58-Express Series motherboard from GIGABYTE, designed from the ground up to unleash Ikonik Vulcan 1200W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Dec-14-08] (0 Comments) Ikonik is a brand new name in these parts, bringing a neverbefore seen Channel Well based design to my eager hands in the Vulcan 1200W.We've looked at Channel Well's high powered offerings before in units likethe Corsair HX1000 and Thermaltake Toughpower 1000W and 1200W models. Howwill the new DSR platform compare to those older PUC based units? NVIDIA Quadro CX and Adobe CS4 GPU Acceleration @ pcper.com [Dec-12-08] (0 Comments) While for Photoshop CS4 we showed off 'pretty' videos to demonstratethe changes and enhancements the GPU has made to the work flow, withPremiere CS4 the results are much easier to share and discuss as they aredirectly related to video encoding performance. In my testing with thecurrent revision of the Elemental RapiHD encoder, users will seeapproximately a 2x speed up across their H.264 encoding results versus ahigh-performance quad-core QX9650 processor. Vizo Armada II RAM Cooler @ rbmods.com [Dec-12-08] (0 Comments) As computer performance increases, the need to cool the internal components of the computer becomes greater. While we focus a lot of attention on the CPU, video card, and case fan cooling solutions, another cooling product that is starting to become more prominent are RAM/memory coolers. Vizo, makers of a wide range of computer components, as released a new product, the Armada II RAM cooler, which offers a cooling solution for RAM sticks. Read on to find out if it makes a noticeable difference in performance. Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Dec-11-08] (0 Comments) Today we are going to be taking a look at the NH-C12P. The NH-C12Putilizes Noctua's newest fan design, the NF-P12. This time around Noctua hasdecided to use a horizontal design rather than the vertical design like theNH-U12F and NH-U12P. Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler @ pcper.com [Dec-09-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master CPU cooler did a very good job of keeping thefully loaded CPU cool, especially when you take into consideration how quietthe cooler is. Because of the limited space in the middle of the cooler(designed for a 25mm thick fan), we couldn't test the V8 with some of thelarger, high-speed air turbines we used on some other coolers. Special Edition Video Game @ rbmods.com [Dec-09-08] (0 Comments) Tired of singing in the shower and want to show your true rock startalent? Games such as Guitar Hero allow you to become a musician, but noneof them provide the full rock star experience as the video game Rockband.Geeks, popular online retailer, sent us the Wii version of Rockband:SpecialEdition to check out. Will this game rock out? That is what we're going toanswer in this review. NorthQ Giant Reactor 1000W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Dec-08-08] (0 Comments) We've looked at lots of NorthQ units here at jonnyGURU.com, somebig and some small. Today though I'm taking a look at the Big Daddy of theirlineup, the 1000W Giant Reactor. Come on in and see how it does. =?windows-1252?Q?Folding_at_Home_Contest_-_Win_One_of_Two_2GB_Kingston_Memory_Kits_ @ bigbruin.com [Dec-08-08] (0 Comments) In order to promote the Bigbruin.com Folding at Home (F@H) team, we're giving away a set of Kingston HyperX system memory. The winner will have their choice of either a 2GB 1150MHz DDR2 dual channel kit or a 2GB 1600MHz DDR3 dual channel kit. The contest is simple... In order to win you must first be a registered member of the Bigbruin.com forum. Entrants must then contribute at least 5000 points to the Bigbruin.com F@H team (#13848) between December 07, 2008 and December 30, 2008. Palit Revolution 700 Radeon HD 4870 X2 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-08-08] (0 Comments) Palit is not known for launching cutting-edge products ahead of the competition, as they can be described as the tortoise in a race Battle of GPU Transcoders:ATI Avivo Converter and NVIDIA Badaboom @ pcper.com [Dec-06-08] (0 Comments) This first test takes a 1080p Blu-ray HD trailer, already in H.264format, and converts it to the 480x320 resolution of the iPod touch at 780kbps. The CPU-based Xilisoft Converter took 72 seconds to complete theoperation while the GPU-based applications pulled in MUCH better times:23seconds for NVIDIA's Badaboom and 12 seconds for ATI's Avivo Converter.While both GPUs performed well, the ATI application is nearly twice as fastas NVIDIA's program and is 6x faster than the CPU-based encoding process.NVIDIA's Badaboom is 3.1x faster than the CPU encode - still veryimpressive. FSP Power Mod 700W Power Supply @ rbmods.com [Dec-06-08] (0 Comments) Choosing a power supply can be a tough choice, with a wide range ofsuppliers and features for each unit. While power output is important, thereare other factors such as efficiency, noise, and even looks that are equallyas important. Today we'll be looking at a 700W power supply from FSP, theFSP Power Mod 700W PSU, which has been designed with performance in mind.Will this power supply prove to be a good balance of all the factors thatmake a good power supply? Let's find out. OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Dec-05-08] (0 Comments) The OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W tested out to be a good power supply.It produced good voltage regulation and delivers excellent efficiency. Inaddition, the ModXStream does its job very quietly, is 80Plus and NVIDIA SLIcertified, and comes backed with OCZ's PowerSwap warranty. On the downside, the DC outputs were not as clean (AC ripple) as we have come to expectfrom OCZ and PC Power & Cooling. And the 3-Year warranty goes along withthe lower price point. GeForce 180 driver trio tested @ tcmagazine.com [Dec-04-08] (0 Comments) Going head-to-head today are drivers from both before and the actual Big Bang II era - the GeForce 178.24, which is the last WHQL release of the 178 series, the GeForce 180.43 official beta, the WHQL-certified GeForce 180.48 and the latest leaked driver available, the GeForce 180.70 beta. Belkin F1DD104L SOHO KVM Switch with Audio and DL DVI @ pcper.com [Dec-04-08] (0 Comments) The USB emulation also works perfectly - we have not had any issueswith the keyboard or mouse in normal use or while benchmarking - no more USBattach/detach sounds to be heard here. Because emulation begins as soon asthe system is turned on, you don't even have to Ace KUC500 Slick Touch Keyboard @ rbmods.com [Dec-04-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at another Ace product, this time we got akeyboard on the test bench. Will this work well together with the Ace mousewe reviewed a few days ago? How will this keyboard work vs Logitech andMicrosoft keyboards that have been dominating the market for a longerperiod? Let's have a closer look to see what we can come up with. Silent Computer Article @ rbmods.com [Dec-03-08] (0 Comments) These days everyone wants a quiet computer, it doesnt matter if its astationary, laptop or HTPC they are all supposed to perform at all timeswith the smallest amount cooling possible. NZXT Whisper Case at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [Dec-02-08] (0 Comments) NZXT, a company known for it's unique lineup of gaming hardware,accessories and cases, has added a new case to it's Classic Series. This newcase is the NZXT Whisper, a Silent Steel Full Tower. According to some, itis the big brother or a step from the NZXT Hush Mid Tower case. Patriot Warp v2 SATA SSD PE128GS25SSDR @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-02-08] (0 Comments) Solid State Drives are rapidly changing the computing landscape, and many enthusiasts are using SSD technology in their primary systems Holiday Gaming Performance Guide - How to waste your time @ pcper.com [Dec-02-08] (0 Comments) For our initial performance testing, to judge which of these fivegames meet all the criteria for our benchmarking suite, I threw a pair ofgraphics cards at the games. From NVIDIA we went the new 216 shader GeForceGTX 260 896MB graphics card since it is the most price-conscious high-endGPU and because the previous 192 SP version of the card is EOL. For AMD,the Radeon HD 4870 1GB card was picked as it is the top single-GPU card onthe market from the company and matches up reasonably well with the GTX 260in terms of pricing. Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider 1.1 @ ngohq.com [Dec-02-08] (0 Comments) Microsoftdid well releasing Service Pack 1, but somehow they forgot end userswhen they introduced a very restricted module of driver signatureenforcement. In laymen’s terms, all drivers and system files must bedigitally verified or they cannot run when using both 32-bit and 64-bitversions of Vista. In the past, it was possible to turn that featureoff; but due to new kernel security updates, it is impossible to turnit off without degrading security and stability of your operatingsystem or putting your master boot records in risk by using othersoftware alternatives.Pressing F8 every time on boot up can be a serious pain in the ass andfrustrating to those that miss the time window available to press F8during start up. Others have found workarounds, but most of them aretoo risky and may trash your master boot records and some others weretoo complicated for the average end user to perform, at least until now- thanks to our latest tool. Death of a Gutless Wonder @ jonnyguru.com [Dec-01-08] (0 Comments) Quite some time ago, I took a look at several cheap-o units aspart of my Bargain Basement roundup in an effort to determine whether or notthese generic units that come free with computer cases are worth trusting.Since then, I've had people hounding me to blow up some more of these units. Dreamhack Winter 2008 Coverage @ rbmods.com [Dec-01-08] (0 Comments) Our toughts of Dreamhack, the worlds biggest LAN party with almost10,000 computers connected to each other. See pictures all the way from oddcomputers to new hardware on the market. We have the whole LAN party in ourpicture article. ASUS P6T Deluxe OC Palm Edition X58 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Dec-01-08] (0 Comments) After a very extensive testing phase, Benchmark Reviews will present its findings with regard to the ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 motherboard. Win one of 3 Sennhieser PC350 Gaming Headsets @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Dec-01-08] (0 Comments) It is competition time here at Xtreme again (about time too) and we have teamed up with Sennheiser to offer you a chance to win one of 3 Sennhieser PC 350 Gaming headsets that were awarded our platinum award due to their outstanding performance and comfort. This is a Global Competition so entries are welcome from all countries. NZXT Rogue Small Form Factor Computer Case @ rbmods.com [Nov-30-08] (0 Comments) Most computer cases nowadays are suffering from a size problem; theyseem to be getting bigger and bigger as people find more stuff to put insidethem. But what if you're looking for a case that is easily portable andtakes up less space under your desk? NZXT, makers of a wide range ofcomputer products, offers such a case, the NZXT Rogue Small Form FactorComputer Case. Will this case steal the show? Read on to find out. Firehawk WebSuite 1.0 @ ngohq.com [Nov-29-08] (0 Comments) TheFirehawk WebSuite is an optimized stack of Apache, MySQL and PHP. Ourgoal is to provide a high performance, easy-to-deploy and stable webserver environment under the Microsoft Windows operation systems. Whilethe original developers are officially supporting Windows, webmastersand web developers have to deal with many problems such as installationissues, poor performance, compatibility and poor stability. FirehawkWebSuite is the solution! Webmasters and web developers can now runheavily loaded websites on Microsoft Windows-based servers.Installing Apache, MySQL and PHP on Windows can be a serious pain inthe ass. You have to edit many configuration files and find workaroundsto the known compatibility issues just to get it to work without ahitch or undocumented errors. With Firehawk WebSuite, you can get itall running in only a few seconds without the need of editingconfiguration files or looking for workarounds. In addition, TheFirehawk WebSuite includes Alternative PHP Cache and tweakedconfiguration files for maximum performance and stability. Sapphire HD 4830 Graphics Card @ modders-inc.com [Nov-28-08] (0 Comments) I have to say that the card performed above my expectations. Iplayed Call of Duty 4 for roughly 3 hours straight and the card maintained agood frame rate throughout each map. I estimate my frames to average outbetween the mid 90s to the mid 130s, sometimes hitting a lot higherdepending on the location in the map of course. ASUS Radeon HD 4830 Video Card EAH4830 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-28-08] (0 Comments) After a rather disappointing HD 3000 series, ATI took the world by surprise with the HD 4000 generation of graphics cards. Since the Lian Li Maxima Force 750w PSU @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Nov-27-08] (0 Comments) Lian Li’s Maxima Force 750W PSU is a very capable powersupply, it was hardly phased by all the load our test rig could generate and kept its voltage output strong and steady. The matt black industrial look is a great finish and didn’t have any imperfections that I could see. Lian Li have thrown on some embossed aluminium badges that compliment this look and I think it works well. Ace Mouse MLUC100 Laser 1600D @ rbmods.com [Nov-27-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at the Ace MLUC100 mouse from Ace. Thisseems to be a fairly new company on the market but they seem to aim theirmarket on the gamers with high quality products. Lets see what type of mousethey have released for gamers and also check out how it performs. Silverstone Fortress FT01 Mid-Tower Chassis @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-26-08] (0 Comments) A couple of years ago Silverstone created a uni-body PC chassis,the Temjin TJ07. The TJ07 case is still one of the best looking cases fromSilverstone to date. In an attempt to expand on that design Silverstone hasdecided to create a new line of chassis, the Fortress series. TheSilverstone Fortress FT01 is the first chassis in that product line, whichutilizes the same uni-body design as the TJ07. It also brings several greatfeatures to the table, so come on in and see what we have to say about it. OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR10664GK DDR2 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-26-08] (0 Comments) With DDR3 getting all the attention lately it's easy to overlook DDR2 performance memory. There are many very good reasons to consider Linksys PLK300 Powerline Networking Kit - End of Ethernet? @ pcper.com [Nov-25-08] (0 Comments) Installation of the Linksys powerline networking kits could not beany easier - there are no drivers and no software requirements at all. Forprobably 99% of users you will need to simply plug in one device to a poweroutlet near your router and then connect its Ethernet port to your routerand then plug in the second node elsewhere in the house and then plug itsEthernet cable into the PC or switch. Viola, instant network. Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB - GTX 280 killer @ pcper.com [Nov-25-08] (0 Comments) Why would just one board partner be willing to offer such acompelling part? There several factors that likely include the economicslump, the slight drop in prices on the HD 4870 X2 cards and inventoryavailability. Even taking that into consideration I find it very confusingthat AMD seems content to have this graphics card be such a low volumeproduct. With its great price (currently competing with NVIDIA's GTX 280cards) and performance advantages (that you will see in our benchmarks) Ireally think the Radeon HD 4850 X2 could catch on in the enthusiastsegment. 2008 Supplementary PSU Roundup - Part 2 @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) In part one of this roundup, I looked at two lower powered modelsfrom Ultra and FSP designed to supplement one's main PSU in providing powerfor the newer and more watt hungry video cards. In part two, both of thoseunits are in for some Sennheiser PC350 Gaming headphones @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) With the Gaming industry getting bigger and bigger every year most gamers out there want to get the very best out of equipment to even have the slightest advantage over there enemy and that is where Sennheiser's new headset makes its appearance. The PC 350 brings a new dimension to the gaming headset technology, a claim of never before experience of sound and quality, so let’s see what the global leader in electro-acoustics experts have put together in this headset. MSI Radeon HD R4670 512MB @ viperlair.com [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) It's performance is astonishing when you consider the $80 price tag, $65 after rebate . I wish I had an 8800GT to hand, because I wouldn't be surprised to see the MSI R4670 match or beat it right across the board, and consider that the 8800GT's are still twice the price or more, and it's a no brainer. Pretty much everyone is feeling the pinch and counting the pennies, so it's nice to know that if you do have to compromise and get a low priced card for your gaming, your not going to be missing out on much this time around. If you're the casual gamer and used to buying budget priced cards, then the MSI R4670 might just give you an inkling on what you are missing out on with higher end cards. Lian Li PC-9 Computer Case @ rbmods.com [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) We've had the opportunity to review a lot of cases here onrbmods.com, but one manufacturer seems to stand out amongst the crowd interms of quality and reputation:Lian Li. But as the competition getstougher, everyone needs to elevate their new products to new levels. Today,we get a chance to look at one of the newest products from Lian Li, the PC-9computer case. Will this case continue the Lian Li's tradition ofexcellence? Read on to find out in this review. SilverStone Fortress FT01 Case SST-FT01B-W @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) SilverStone has a long history of designing and building fantastic looking products, and the Fortress Series is no exception, especially Thermaltake V9 Case @ rbmods.com [Nov-21-08] (0 Comments) Cases and more cases, if you look at the market you will find variouscases from small to big towers and even HTPC cases, but the queston is howare you supposed to know which is right for you. Thermaltake is a big casemanufacturers and have supplied the market with reliable and high qualitycases for a longer period now, we are going to take a look at their V9 casetoday that seems to be a normal sized miditower case but with the extratwist to it. AMD shows Phenom II running over 6.0 GHz! @ pcper.com [Nov-21-08] (0 Comments) The first leaks were that the Phenom II could hit 4 GHz on aircooling alone, though we obviously wonder how extreme that air cooling is.Well today AMD had some actual demonstrations at their gathering, and thePhenom II was able to hit 5 GHz at 1.6v by using dry ice cooling. Dry iceis CO2, and it goes directly from solid to gas (sublimation) at atemperature of -109.3 F (-78.5C for the rest of the world) at 1 atmosphere.So with some pretty extreme cooling (non-LN) the Phenom II does show that ithas some legs in the clock speed department. Lian Li Maxima Force 750 Watt Power Supply @ modders-inc.com [Nov-20-08] (0 Comments) The growing demand of PC users for high-end products andoutstanding performance has initiated Lian Li to declare a new series ofPower Supply Units (PSU) entitled Intel Core i7-920 Processor BX80601920 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-20-08] (0 Comments) Today we are releasing the third review in our Core i7 series which focuses on the features and performance of the Intel Core i7-920. The ASUS EN9800GT Matrix 512MB @ pcper.com [Nov-19-08] (0 Comments) The 9800 GT does not OFFICIALLY support 3-Way SLI even though thecard sports the necessary SLI connection for it. The answer from ASUS isthat because the 9800 GT Matrix shares some manufacturing options with othercards, the connectors were left on for easy transition. If someone were soinclined, they could likely modify the firmware in such a way to activatethat second SLI connector and perhaps get a set of 9800 GTs workingtogether. NorthQ Siberian Tiger II Water Cooler @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-18-08] (0 Comments) Back at the end of April, I took a look at the NorthQ SiberianTiger water cooling kit. Today we are taking a look at the Siberian Tiger II watercooling kit, which is the bigger brother due to its use of a 240mm radiatorcompared to the little brothers 120mm radiator. Will the extra liquidcapacity, increased radiator size, and dual 120mm fans give it the edgeyou're looking for? Well let's jump in and find out. NZXT Sentry LX Fan Controller @ pcper.com [Nov-18-08] (0 Comments) The NZXT Sentry LX is a great looking fan controller that allowssetting and monitoring the speed of multiple fans and monitoring up to fivechannels of temperature along with displaying the time and date. The unitis easy to install and setup and the accuracy of the displayed fan speedsand temperatures are good for all channels. One potential watch-out is the4W per channel power limitation. Evercool Booster Cool Wrist Pad @ rbmods.com [Nov-18-08] (0 Comments) Every now and then various manufacturers publish strange products.Sometimes those products come with great success. Generally those productsare fun for a week or two, and then they lie around your cabinet after thepurchase. This time we have an opportunity to review Evercool's Boosterwrist cooler. Sapphire Radeon HD4650 OC Edition 512mb GDDR3 @ modders-inc.com [Nov-18-08] (0 Comments) Are you looking for a budget graphic card for your HTPC withenough kick to really game with? A graphic card that is energy efficient butalso has enough power to play the latest and greatest games. If that's notenough for you how about you throw in 320 stream processing units, up to 1GBof memory and support for Microsoft DirectXR10.1 games, the ability to watchBlu-Ray movies and play HD content. Well Sapphire Tech has done just thatwith the HD 4650 OC edition graphics card. Not possible you say? Hardware Leaderboard Update @ pcper.com [Nov-16-08] (0 Comments) The Dream Leaderboard gets the Core i7-965 Extreme Edition processorselling for just over $1000 as it comes with fully unlocked overclockingsupport and the top speed of 3.2 GHz stock. I chose the Gigabyte EX58-UD5motherboard for this system mostly due to the fact that it was the ONLYboard showing up when I made this update, though it is still a featurepacked and competent solution. The only other change here was to the memorysystem that gets a bump up from 4GB to 6GB thanks to the triple-channelmemory controller integrated on the CPU. Sapphire Radeon HD 4550 @ modders-inc.com [Nov-15-08] (0 Comments) Anybody who knows graphics cards, knows Sapphire. They have been amain player in the ATI graphics card market for what seems like an eternity.Is the HD4550 the benefactor of its higher performing siblings, or is it oneof those GlacialTech GP-AL 650A Powersupply @ rbmods.com [Nov-14-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at a powersupply from Glacialtech. Theyhave released a new interesting PSU that has a thermal controller which evenstops the fan if possible to reduce noise. It comes at a nice 650W which isquite optimal today and it also seems to have most of the features that isneeded for our current and coming hardware. Lets get this review going andcompare it vs some other well performing PSU=B4s on the market. ATI Stream Computing:From the desktop to the datacenter @ pcper.com [Nov-14-08] (0 Comments) AMD claims to have 2 million HD 4000 series GPUs in the marketcreating a pretty large user base for ATI stream compatible applications.As of today, stream applications are NOT enabled with publicly availabledrivers but that will be addressed in the next revision of Catalyst comingin December. Once that update is ready, all 2 million of the Radeon HD4000-series cards should be stream compute ready and will be able todownload the new Avivo Transcoder for free as well. Antec NeoPower Blue 650W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-14-08] (0 Comments) I've looked at several Antec power supplies lately, and this timeI'm looking at a new take on a Seasonic based platform introduced with theTruepower Trio line. Only this time, there are blue LEDs and it's modular. Corsair Flash Voyager - Part 1 (8GB) @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-13-08] (0 Comments) Today's review is actually the first part of a two part review.Recently, Corsair released their Voyager 64GB flash drive. 64GB? Good lord!That's 30 times larger than the hard drive I had 10 years ago! It's probablystill larger than the hard drives of some of our readers. Unless you have abig MP3 or porn collection, 64GB is pretty hard to fill up. Sapphire HD4850 512MB Video Card @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Nov-12-08] (0 Comments) ATI have done very well with the 4850 and Sapphire has done just as well with the implementation of the card and bundle. Sapphire’s 4850 can be found for around Ł110 online which while not the cheapest 4850 is one of the lower priced 4850’s out there. When combined with the decent bundle of parts and software it makes this good value for money in terms of the 4850’s out there. Coolmax CUG-950B 950W Power Supply @ rbmods.com [Nov-11-08] (0 Comments) A few weeks ago, we took a look at Coolmax's 950W PSU and wereimpressed by the quality and stable voltages. Coolmax also offers a 750WPSU, the Coolmax RM-750B 750W PSU, which they claim has a high level ofperformance with a lower price point. Will the reduced power prove to be toomuch of a sacrifice? Let's find out as we take a closer look at this powersupply. QNAP TS-209 Pro II NAS @ modders-inc.com [Nov-10-08] (0 Comments) QNAP TS-209 Pro II Turbo NAS is an all-in-one, high performanceNAS server designed for storage-hungry modern business and SOHO users tosave, back up, manage, and share data. It also satisfies the needs of modernbusiness for centralized data management and brings more value-addedfeatures plus the hardcore home network users. CrazyPC Red EL Neon Wire Kit @ modders-inc.com [Nov-08-08] (0 Comments) Did you know that lighting is one of the most effective ways andprobably the most commonly used ways to draw attention, highlight oraccentuate just about anything imaginable? Yep, even custom street rods andyou guessed it, custom computers .Well, CrazyPC has just what you need to help you accomplish a wide array ofvery easy lighting effects Icy Box IB-250 2,5" External HDD Enclosure @ rbmods.com [Nov-08-08] (0 Comments) Today one of the main things people are looking for is size andperformance/size and when it comes to harddrives the flash drives are slowlycoming onto the market but there are competitors like a 2.5 Zalman GS1000 Professional Full-Tower Enclosure @ pcper.com [Nov-08-08] (0 Comments) Overall I like this case. The fit and finish is excellent and theblend of high-gloss (black or Titanium) and brushed aluminum finishes looksgreat. There is plenty of room inside to work along with good cablemanagement. There are also plenty of drive bays along with three hot-swapbays for internal HDDs. The GS1000 has the potential for very good casecooling but you will most likely have to add more fans to take fulladvantage. Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 Dual-GPU Graphics @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-08-08] (0 Comments) Sapphire is best know for taking an ATI product, and making better. It's rare that an AMD partner takes engineering into their own QNAP TS-509 Pro Gigabit 5-Bay SATA NAS Server @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-07-08] (0 Comments) When corporate funds are tight, companies find new ways to reduce operating costs wherever they can. As a network administrator for Cooler Master CM 690 NVIDIA Edition Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-06-08] (0 Comments) Cooler master is well known for a wide variety of PC accessories. The line-up consists of heatsinks, power supplies, fans, external ASUS Eee PC 1000H 160GB Netbook @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-05-08] (0 Comments) Just over a year ago, Asus launched its Eee PC series of notebooks, prompting quick competition and innovation throughout the market. Asus 901 Eee PC @ rbmods.com [Nov-04-08] (0 Comments) Today=B4s hottest thing is the new ultra portable EEE laptops fromAsus. Alot of companies have started to manufacture similar products butAsus is still leading in the market. What can we expect from this smalllittle 2008 Supplementary PSU Roundup - Part 1 @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-04-08] (0 Comments) Today we're looking at two units in one review. Back when thereally power hungry video cards first started appearing, somebody somewhererealized that these cards were surpassing the ability of the averagecomputer power supply to power. Especially at risk were the NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Nov-04-08] (0 Comments) NZXT, a company more known for it's gaming cases and products, hasentered the notebook cooler arena in a Large way, introducing to thenotebook cooler market, the Cryo LX, which boldly boasts in large letteringon the front of the retail box, ... World's largest full aluminum notebookcooler. Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-04-08] (0 Comments) ATI has learned that being the king of graphics means you must raise the bar for performance with each product release. The Radeon HD Nehalem on OCAU @ overclockers.com.au [Nov-03-08] (0 Comments) ---The changes we get with Nehalem are similarly radical and as far reaching as the change from Pentium 4 to the “Core” microarchitecture in June 2006. Intel has not only redesigned the microarchitecture but also the system architecture - most importantly the way the processor cores are communicating with each other, the memory subsystem, and peripherals.--- Nehalem Revolution:Intel's Core i7 Processor Complete @ the fact [Nov-03-08] (0 Comments) Intel's new Core i7 series of processors is a modern marvel oftechnology that brings previously inaccessible performance to the consumer.In areas where multi-threaded applications are dominant, heavy multi-taskingis the norm or multimedia encoding is the primary function, the move to aHyperThreaded Core i7 part is a no brainer. But Intel's biggest problemmight not have anything to do with AMD or another outside source:the factis that the Core 2 Quad processors are still fantastic performers, widelyavailable and pretty damn cheap. Anyone that has a quad-core system willlikely not find a compelling performance benefit to upgrade from it to aCore i7 unless they subscribe to one of the usage models mentioned above.Intel has definitely attempted to curb this dilemma with the introduction ofthe $284 Core i7-920 and I think that this CPU will find its way into manyof our reader's machines. Intel Core i7 CPU & DX58SO X58 Platform @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-03-08] (0 Comments) We at Benchmark Reviews consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been chosen by Intel as one of those review sites to showcase the NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler @ rbmods.com [Nov-01-08] (0 Comments) Recently, we've had a chance to review a few different products fromNZXT, a manufacturer of a variety of computer and gaming accessories, andmostly have been impressed with their quality and attention to detail. Todaywe'll look at another one of their offerings, the NZXT Cryo LX NotebookCooler. Will this cooler prove to blow away the competition? Let's find outin this review. A.C.Ryan Udock USB & eSATA docking station @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Nov-01-08] (0 Comments) For this review I will be taking a look at a product from a company that whilst not totally unknown unless you are into modifying your pc’s you may not have heard of as a lot, but not all, of their products are used for modifying pc’s. The item I am reviewing is a hard drive docking station the Udock from AC Ryan, yes that’s correct a docking station NOT a caddy, all will be revealed. Patriot Extreme Performance Viper Series PC2-8500 4GB Memory @ modders-inc.com [Oct-31-08] (0 Comments) The Extreme Performance Enhanced Latency modules are designed tooperate at 1066MHZ with 5-5-5-15 timings. They utilize Patriots Viper HeatShields with integrated ACC (Aluminum Copper Composite) technology. They aredesigned for maximum performance and stability under extreme overclockingconditions. So let's dig in and find out. Galaxy GeForce GTX 260+ 896MB Graphics Card @ pcper.com [Oct-30-08] (0 Comments) The new KFA2 Galaxy GTX 260+ is showing itself to be formidablecontender in the mainstream performance graphics market. By using the new,upgraded GTX 260+ (aka GTX 270, etc) GPU the KFA2 brand is able to take thata bit further by pushing up the clock rates of the core, shaders and memoryby about 13% producing a much faster than stock graphics card. In mytesting the Galaxy card was able to beat out the highly overclocked EVGAGeForce GTX 260 FTW card and was ALMOST on par with the BFG GTX 280 1GB cardin many cases. SilverStone Raven Mouse @ modders-inc.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) The look, balanced feel and cutting edge ideas shows me thatSilverStone is truly serious about the mouse market. If they take some ofthe feed back that has been put out on the web about the Raven, which hasbeen favorable, and tweak it I think that they will have one heck of mouseand most definitely be a serious contender in this market. A job well doneby SilverStone and thank you for pushing the limits on a mouse. Microsoft Sidewinder X6 Gaming Keyboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) Over the past few years, gaming on the PC has transformed from a niche hobby to a market in and of itself. More and more gaming-grade Big Bang II debut GeForce driver comparison @ tcmagazine.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) After a couple of quickies everyone would agree that we're finally ready for some harder lovin' and with Nvidia pitching in that's about to happen today. Here to help pleasure our dirty minds and dusty graphics cards are two GeForce drivers - Nvidia's last official 178 release, the GeForce 178.24 and the second official Big Bang II package coming straight from Santa Clara, the GeForce 180.43 beta. Dynamic Forum Signatures @ iceteks.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) This is a revised version of a past iceteks article on making a dynamic signature. This allows you to make your signature image have dynamic content built in. Asus 9800GT Matrix Videocard @ rbmods.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) Another day another review and today we got Asus latest 9800GT Matrixcard on the bench with DirectX 10 support and 512 mb DDR3 video memory sothis should be a interesting review as we are going to compare it vs someother high performing cards on the market right now. AVADirect Custom Overclocked Gaming System @ pcper.com [Oct-27-08] (0 Comments) On the other hand, none of the above mentioned system builderswill let you select components with such detail as AVADirect does on theirwebsite. There are MANY different cases that you can choose from, allkinds of memory vendor brands as well as very specific CPU coolers. Ifyou are an experienced enthusiast that is familiar with brands like CoolerMaster, Thermaltake and others, then you have an advantage in being ableto select from these groups for AVADirect to build your computer from. NZXT Avatar Mouse Giveaway @ modders-inc.com [Oct-26-08] (0 Comments) NZXT and Modders-Inc has teamed up to giveaway one of their greatnew PC mouse, the Avatar. Winning it is easy so just check out the contestpage for the details. Alienware Area-51 QX9770 CrossFireX System @ pcper.com [Oct-25-08] (0 Comments) The Alienware Area-51 system is a pleasure to use, is incrediblyfast and offers consumers that want a high performance gaming PC, but don'thave the desire to build it themselves, the ability to get the best hardwareavailable. Our test system included a top-of-the-line processor,motherboard, graphics cards, sound card, storage devices and more - many ofthese same components can be found in our ECS P43T-A2 Motherboard @ modders-inc.com [Oct-24-08] (0 Comments) Not everyone can afford to spend lots of money on a motherboard orneed all the extra fancy stuff you can get. This is where companies likeElitegroup (ECS) come into play with their budget minded boards. Today weare going to be taking a look at one of those products, the ECS P43T-A2V1.0. NVIDIA Release 180 Drivers:Big Bang II, Far Cry 2, Multi-monitor @ pcper.com [Oct-23-08] (0 Comments) Overall, I am impressed with the new features that NVIDIA has addedbut still find myself wanting in regards to multi-monitor support. As aperson who is permanently attached to having more than one display, the needfor more robust and friendly options is must. For me, as a user of threemonitors, I still don't find SLI to be a viable option as it requires athird graphics card outside the SLI window and is really a pain. If twomonitors is your bag, you will likely find the 'Big Bang II' release to bethe answer to your multiple monitor woes. AMD Radeon HD 4830 512MB - Do we need another sub-$150 GPU? @ pcper.com [Oct-23-08] (0 Comments) The HD 4830 512MB is obviously a strong contender in this area andputs the GeForce 9800 GT on notice becoming the best card you can get forless than $130. In our gaming tests I saw the HD 4830 clearly outpace theGeForce 9800 GT in both Call of Duty 4 and Crysis, two games that areusually quite favorable to NVIDIA's GPUs and drivers. Bioshock alsoperformed well on the HD 4830 but the tests at 2048x1536 indicate to me thatthe cards are about equal in this title. Thermaltake Ram Orb Memory cooler (+ Gskill DDR3 1800) @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Oct-22-08] (0 Comments) Thermaltake have sent us some of their aftermarket RamOrb RAM coolers, but the package that we were sent for this review was rather unusual, in being that Thermaltake have partnered with GSkill and the RamOrbs came installed complete with 2GB DDR3 at 1800Mhz of GSkill memory (which was a very nice realisation when it was discovered). Raidmax Aura Case at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [Oct-22-08] (0 Comments) Raidmax has introduced a new member to its Performance SeriesGaming Cases, the Raidmax AURA. A mid-tower computer case. Asus U6V Laptop @ rbmods.com [Oct-22-08] (0 Comments) Asus are well known for their high quality products which range allthe way from coolers to laptops. This is the first time we are going to testa laptop from Asus and we got their last super portable U6V model which hasa smaller screen to make it more portable but it still seems to have fastparts inside. At a price around 1500$ this thing better perform well so letstake a closer look. Antec Signature 650W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Oct-20-08] (0 Comments) You may recall that the SG-850 received the first 10 out of 10rating I've ever given out for performance, and I have a confession to make:after that product's very impressive showing, I installed it into my maincomputer where it is now running as I type this, displacing a veryimpressive in its own right 1200W unit. Not just any unit can make thatclaim, and you better believe that I want to see how the 650W versionperforms just as much as you all do. Let's get things rolling with a few boxshots. NZXT Avatar Mouse Giveaway @ modders-inc.com [Oct-20-08] (0 Comments) NZXT and Modders-Inc has temed up to giveaway one of their greatnew PC mouse, the Avatar. Winning it is is easy so just check out thecontest page for the details. NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse @ rbmods.com [Oct-19-08] (0 Comments) When you are in the middle of an intense battle in your favorite FPSgame, do you ever wish you could change the sensitivity of the mouse aseasily as changing weapons? The NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse allows you to dojust that with the press of a button and also has a series of lights toindicate what speed has been selected. How does it stand up in both gamingand non-gaming situations? Read on to find out. HD 4550, HD 4350, Galaxy 9500 GT, S3 Chrome 440 GTX @ pcper.com [Oct-18-08] (0 Comments) The AMD Radeon HD 4350 was also a strong competitor and with itslower price tag might find its way into your heart if you are looking formultimedia performance more than gaming performance. S3's Chrome 440 GTXwas a disappointment in terms of gaming - there is really no other way tosay it. And at $60 on the S3graphics.com site store, it's actuallycompeting with the HD 4550 and 9500 GT - a battle it can't hope to win. Honeywell Airlite 900 Bluetooth Speakerphone @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-17-08] (0 Comments) These days it seems that cellular telephones are as commonplace as Starbucks, and motorists are communicating while behind the wheel. It OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2 PC2-8500 4GB @ modders-inc.com [Oct-17-08] (0 Comments) We will be doing our testing on Vista 64 and also seeing how wellit works with our E8400 test rig. We know that OCZ has shown to offer someoutstanding memory in the past and hope to see the 4GB kit hold up. NZXT Guardian 921 Case @ rbmods.com [Oct-16-08] (0 Comments) With the large number of case manufacturers on the market, we here atRbmods.com don't get a chance to review every case on the market. But it'sstill exciting when we get to evaluate a new company's case, especially whenthey offer features that stand out amongst the crowd. Today we get to lookat a case from NZXT, a provider of a wide range of computer and gamingaccessories, called the NZXT Guardian 921 Case. Will this case turn a buildinto a computer rig everyone will want? We will find out in this review. NVIDIA's GeForce 9400/9300 Chipset :IGP for Intel @ pcper.com [Oct-16-08] (0 Comments) The introduction of the most recent NVIDIA chipset with integratedgraphics for the Intel platform has been expected for quite some time. Codenamed the MCP7A, news of the chipset goes back to the middle of 2007 when weactually thought we would see it before the end of that year. Obviouslysome delays happened, either on the technical or legal side of things, andthe product was delayed long enough for us to be writing about it officiallyfor the first time in October of 2008. In fact, it is that delay thatactually gave AMD's 780G chipset the IGP edge; but that isn't exactlyrelevant while we are talking about Intel-based platforms today. MSI Radeon HD 4850 Video Card R4850-512M @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-16-08] (0 Comments) MSI takes what ATI started, and clean up a few rough edges. There's no doubting the performance potential of any Radeon HD 4850, but R&B and TomTom presents a TomTom GO 930 Giveaway @ forum.rbmods.com [Oct-14-08] (0 Comments) Today we are starting our next contest together with TomTom. We aregiving away their latest GPS so check in on the forum and follow the simplerules for a chance to win a nice TomTom Go 930. Palit GeForce 9800 GT Super+ 1GB Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-14-08] (0 Comments) It's a great time for those in the market for a new video card, in just a few short months we've seen the debuts of over half a dozen Silverstone OP1000-E 1kW PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) Back in January of aught seven, the founder of this very sitepitted two of the biggest and baddest against each other to see which ofthem rose to the top. Those two power supplies were the newly releasedSilverstone OP1000 and the PC Power and Cooling Turbocool 1kW. Sapphire HD 4870 TOXIC Edition @ modders-inc.com [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) What we have come to expect from Sapphire is that when a top tiergraphics card has been released a newer and more powerful one will be on theway and branded with the Toxic name. They have done it again with thepowerful HD 4870 by cranking up the numbers and by adding a heat pipecooling system. Thermaltake Blacx Docking Station N0028USU @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) Every once in awhile a product comes along that makes you wonder why someone hadn't thought of it earlier. A product that makes so much Pioneer Blu Ray / DVDRW (BDC-202BK) @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) Today I am going to be looking at another product from a company that doesn’t immediately spring to mind when talking about the computer hardware industry. The company in question is Pioneer and the product is one of their new Blu Ray / DVDRW combi drive the BDC-202BK. Coming from a household name like Pioneer I expect nothing less than the best, even though Pioneer isn’t generally known for computer hardware. Reduce Your PC Running Costs @ reviewspring.com [Oct-10-08] (0 Comments) As world energy costs are on the rise, one really easy way to save some money around the home is to reduce your PC running costs. It is quite common for some people to leave their computer running 24/7, along with the connecting peripherals. If for example you have a high end PC and LCD monitor, you could be using up to 350W under heavy load and 200W when idle. If you have a CRT monitor these figures could be even higher. Assuming that the average load is 275W and you leave your PC on 24/7, the cost per year would be ÂŁ241 (at ÂŁ0.10/kWH). This figure doesn’t even include optional extras that may be left on permanently, such as routers. Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q3 2008 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-10-08] (0 Comments) When it comes down to it, consumers that shop for aftermarket cooling products only want one thing:the very best their money can buy. Evercool Transformer 6 CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Oct-10-08] (0 Comments) Companies that make CPU coolers try all different tactics todistinguish their products in the marketplace. One of those tactics is togive a product an interesting name. Evercool, makers of a wide range ofcooling solutions for PCs, has a new product, the Evercool Transformer 6 CPUcooler, which promises to show you extreme performance. Will this coolerprove to be more than meets the eye? Let's find out. GeForce 177 vs 178 quickie @ tcmagazine.com [Oct-09-08] (0 Comments) Just like an old married couple, after a rather long (four weeks) dry run we're ready for a new quickie to rekindle the love for new graphics drivers. This time, the combatants are Nvidia's last official 177 release, the GeForce 177.92 beta and the first two 178 drives made available - the official and WHQL-certified GeForce 178.13 and the dev-friendly GeForce 178.15. SilverStone OP1000-E 1,000W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Oct-09-08] (0 Comments) The OP1000-E PSU incorporates a single, powerful +12V output thatcan deliver up to 80A (960W) of combined load. Using a single +12V rail isa trend we are seeing in many newer power supplies. Traditionally,manufacturers have created multiple +12V outputs by implementing currentlimiting circuits into their design to conform to the old 240 VA maximumguidelines - no single output should exceed 240 VA (12V x 20A = 240 VA).Having multiple current limited +12V outputs can lead to power distributionproblems, particularly with some power-hungry video cards. Delivering asingle, powerful +12V output is a better approach IMHO. Olevia/Syntax 242T FHD 42-Inch LCD 1080p HDTV @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-09-08] (0 Comments) With analog broadcasts terminating in February, you can bet HDTVs will be a hot item this holiday season. What was once considered a Synology DS408 4-Drive SATA RAID Gigabit NAS @ benchmarkreviews.com [Oct-08-08] (0 Comments) As a network administrator for several small and medium businesses, I am used to seeing pedestal servers with expensive Windows Server Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 LP @ aselabs.com [Oct-07-08] (0 Comments) When readers come to ASE Labs and see a graphics card review, they expect to find a high speed entry with a bunch of bells and whistles. There is another section of the market that ASE Labs reaches and that is the mainstream builders and entertainment PC builders. These types of buyers have very different requirements than the so-called enthusiast. Speed and performance take a back seat to form factor, noise, and features. Most small cases only support low profile cards and the Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 steps in to provide the video on your entertainment system. Hiper Osiris Mid-Tower Enclosure @ pcper.com [Oct-06-08] (0 Comments) The power supply is designed to mount in the bottom of the chassis,which helps keep the case's center of gravity low for better stability.Note the bottom intake air opening directly under the PSU location. Thisallows a power supply with a bottom intake fan to pull cool outside room airdirectly into the PSU and then exhaust it out the back of the case. Keelog USB Keylogger @ rbmods.com [Oct-06-08] (0 Comments) Every now and then, the idea of knowing what your friend might typeon his computerpops in mind. Keelog has provided us their newest product Keelogger FlashUSB keylogger, which saves everything you type on your computer to tiny USBflash memory and allows you to read it whenever you want. The currentproduct line includes PS/2 and USB keyloggers with 2MB, 512MB or 2GB ofmemory. AMD Radeon HD 4670 512MB - Good gets cheaper @ pcper.com [Oct-04-08] (0 Comments) The Radeon HD 4670 looks even better when we take that long-debatedquestion of multi-GPU tactics into account. We saw scaling that reachedinto the 80% and above range with our pair of HD 4670s - something that ispossible only because the GPU is most definitely the bottleneck in ourgaming tests. The upgrade potential 3-6 months down the road for a userbuying one of these GPUs today is compelling - $90 (and probably lower thanthat in the future) is a much easier cost to swallow for a sweet increase ingaming performance. Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB Retail and RAID Testing @ pcper.com [Sep-22-08] (0 Comments) After having played with the final, retail versions of theVelociRaptor hard drive, I have no less excitement about the drives than Idid before. While the raw performance of the hard drives might have beenmuted slightly with the release of the Intel X25-M solid state drive, thereare many issues that keep that from getting the typical enthusiast usersattention including capacity and cost. Western Digital's 300GB VelociRaptorremains the best storage solution for users looking for top performance andreasonable capacity. Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Keyboard and Mouse Combo @ rbmods.com [Sep-21-08] (0 Comments) If you have ever bought a Logitech product you know that they makelarge variety of diverse products for your computer. I have for a long timebeen impressed with their keyboards and mice and today we got a combo kit toreview from Logitech. We got their latest Cordless Desktop Wave Keyboard andMouse combo that really seems to have all the necessary features to make ityour number one choice. Lets have a closer look a the features this kit has. GMC K2 Ebony Multi Media tower @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-20-08] (0 Comments) Having previously reviewed the K1 case from GMC I was excited to get hold of their next model; the K2. In my opinion they have made the case even more attractive and the buttons on the front of the case easier to use. On the K1 I didn’t like how the bottom USB (etc) cover wasn’t spring loaded to lock shut, but on the K2 GMC have sorted that out with a much better cover system. PCPer Hardware Leaderboard @ pcper.com [Sep-18-08] (0 Comments) The Dream System sees a pretty big shift this month going from anNVIDIA-based GPU system (as it has been for quite some time) to the AMDRadeon HD 4870 X2 2GB card. This of course forced our hand into removingthe EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLI motherboard from the list so that we could infact enabled CrossFireX support up to 4 GPUs on two of the 4870 X2 cards:welcome the ASUS Rampage Extreme X48 motherboard! Logitech V550 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks @ rbmods.com [Sep-18-08] (0 Comments) Todays review will actually be about a notebook mouse. When it comesto notebooks people tend to want a normal mouse to work with but it might behard to carry around a bulky big mouse with a wire or big signal receiver.Logitech have solved both of these problems by releasing the V550 NanoCordless mouse. There is no cord nor is there a big bulky receiver, how havethey done it then? Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 500W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Sep-17-08] (0 Comments) Not too long ago, I took a look at a new line of Toughpower unitsfrom Thermaltake that boasted a fancy schmancy frameless fan that promisedfantastic performance with not a lot of noise to go with it. Today, I'mlooking at the 500W little brother of that unit, the Toughpower QFan 500W. Tagan Icy Box IB-3218 Enclosure @ ngohq.com [Sep-16-08] (0 Comments) Today we have the chance to look at the Icy Box IB-3218 external enclosure. What makes this enclosure different from so many others? Well his enclosure supports two SATA hard drives across a single USB 2.0 cable unlike many that only have room for one. Our thanks go out to Tagan for providing us with this review sample; they also make some interesting cases and power supplies. The contents consist of the Icy Box enclosure, backup software, driver CD, a USB cable, a small external power supply and a rather limited manual. The CD offers a USB driver for those users still stuck in Windows 98 world along with FNet PCClone EX Lite backup software.Installation was very straight forward we just had to remove two screws from the bottom of the unit so that the internals could slide out and house our SATA hard drive. The unit will support two drives but for our testing we only had one drive available to us. The drive just slides into place and connects to the provided ports for power and data transfer. The image that follows shows a drive in the tray, and where to secure the drive by using two screws on each side of the drive. Cooler Master UCP 1100W PSU @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-16-08] (0 Comments) The wattage rating label for the PSU, as you can see on the specifications page, up to 1000W of the 1100W that this PSU can supply can be drawn from the 12v rails. That is a seriously beefy amount of 12v power. The UL number indicates that this PSU has been made by Cooler Master, which means it hasn’t been outsourced to another company and just had Cooler Master stickers thrown on it. Raidmax IceCube SFF Micro ATX Case @ modders-inc.com [Sep-15-08] (0 Comments) The Raidmax IceCube is considered to be the mini version of theRaidmax IceBerg. The Raidmax IceCube is a SFF (Small Form Factor) casebasically designed to be a LAN party case. Dell XPS M1730 Notebook - Intel Core 2 Duo X9000 Powered @ pcper.com [Sep-14-08] (0 Comments) Armed with the fastest mobile hardware money can buy; it is nosurprise to find that the Dell XPS M1730 offers blistering performance innearly any game or application. Here, the combination of Intel’s latestPenryn processor, NVIDIA SLI graphics, RAID-0 drive configuration, andother flagship components have provided us with the highest mobile scoreswe have ever seen in our benchmarks. Simply put, the Dell XPS M1730 is thefastest notebook we have ever had in our labs. NVISION 08 Video @ modders-inc.com [Sep-12-08] (0 Comments) With NVISION 08 just a few weeks ago Modders-Inc brings you avideo review of the event. Modders-Inc site member Stealth was able tocreate an awesome video that highlights the NVISION event. Four differentvideo sizes are available to view. Pioneer DVR-116DBK DVD Burner @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-10-08] (0 Comments) Today I am going to be looking at a product from a company that isn’t usually associated with the computer hardware industry. The company is Pioneer and the product is one of their new DVD rewriter’s the DVR-116DBK. Coming from a big household name like Pioneer I expect it to be cutting edge, even though Pioneer isn’t generally known for computer hardware. SilverStone Nightjar ST45NF 450W Fan-less PSU @ pcper.com [Sep-09-08] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Nightjar ST45NF fan-less power supply is a uniqueproduct designed for a niche market. Under the right conditions it candeliver up to 450W of clean, well-regulated DC power with support for ahigh end video card. However, for this unit to operate successfully(especially at higher loads) you must pay close attention to the type ofcase you use, the amount of case airflow, and meeting the 25°C ambient airrequirements. Overclocking the NVIDIA GeForce Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-09-08] (0 Comments) Overclocking can take on many forms, and experiments can range from minor product improvements to a total re-engineering project that Intel X25-M 80GB Solid State Hard Drive @ pcper.com [Sep-08-08] (0 Comments) Intel boasted quite a bit about the performance of its entry intothe solid state drive market and as it turns out all the hype wasjustified - the Intel X25-M 80GB SSD is screaming fast and blows away allof previous best storage options! The benefits of solid state drives,including incredibly low random access times and consistent random andsequential read speeds, are all apparent with Intel's drives but in manyareas the performance of the X25-M was well above even our previouslytested SSDs. Anything that involved reads from the drive, such as burstrates and sustained read tests, saw a big performance advantage forIntel. Super Talent PICO - C Gold 8 gig - Limited edition @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-08-08] (0 Comments) Super Talent have created a new line of tiny Flash Drives that not only offer you the best in style but also performance as well. Today we are taking a look at Super Talents new Gold PICO USB Drive. Available from 1GB, right through to an amazing 8GB, in such a tiny space which is really setting a high standard in the small USB market. Super Talent sent me the largest size available in there range of 8GB and I can’t wait to get started on this review so let’s get started shall we. Enermax Aurora and Caesar Scissor-switch Keyboards @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-08-08] (0 Comments) Keyboards are a very personal piece of pheriferal hardware, and the one-size-fits-all approach rarely satisifies everyone involved. As a WolfKing Timber Wolf Gaming Keyboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-05-08] (0 Comments) Today's PC gaming enthusiast is always on the lookout for the edge that will put him or her above other players. A performance gaming Skullcandy ComTi Multimedia Headphones @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-03-08] (0 Comments) SkullCandy have in my opinion have a great headset here, not only does it sound good, it comes with the best warranty in the market, come on do you think any of the other brands would replace the unit at 50% of the cost if you jump up like a lunatic to celebrate and snap the cable? I think not, and you just would be silly to ignore that kind of warranty! NZXT Tempest Crafted Series Mid-Tower Case @ pcper.com [Sep-03-08] (0 Comments) The NZXT Tempest mid-tower enclosure is a good looking case thatdelivers excellent airflow with minimal noise. The steel chassis issturdy and provides solid value. Nine interchangeable drive bay locationspermit a lot of flexibility and there is room inside for up to eight HDDswith active air cooling. Overall I like this case a lot and highlyrecommend it to anyone looking for a good balance between excellentfeatures and great value. CyberSnipa Sonar 5.1 Headset @ rbmods.com [Sep-02-08] (0 Comments) Using a headset is becoming more of an everyday occurrence, with theincreased popularity of MMOs and VOIP. Why not upgrade the experience with ahigh quality headset? Today we'll be looking at the latest headset fromCyberSnipa, the CyberSnipa Sonar 5.1 Headset. We have reviewed products fromthem in the past and have been impressed by their attention to detail andhigh quality product. Read on to find out if this headset continues thattradition. Lian Li PC7B Plus II Mid-Tower Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-01-08] (0 Comments) The name Lian Li is synonymous with quality computer cases and computer accessories. They've been in the business for over 20 years and ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 Premium @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-01-08] (0 Comments) I currently have a Zaward Gyre CPU cooler fitted so I will be comparing the Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 Premium against that. Once I have run the tests on the Zaward Gyre, which is a VERY capable cooler so the Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 Premium has some real stiff competition, I will then rerun the tests with the Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 Premium cooler fitted. I will also take readings from the PWMIC to see how well the coolers cool the chipset too as the case IS a multimedia case and as such has limited system cooling to keep noise to a minimum. nMedia HTPCKB Media Center Wireless Keyboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-29-08] (0 Comments) Setting up an HTPC is the easy part. Making it easy to use on your TV is slightly more difficult. Controlling your HTPC is the hard part. Asus Maximus II Formula Motherboard @ rbmods.com [Aug-29-08] (0 Comments) Today we look at another DDR2 solution from Asus, they still keeppushing out motherboards for the DDR2 market since DDR3 still might have notgot the recognintion it should. This new Maximus 2 board is filled withvarious new features that might come in handy when overclocking, playing,and even just surfing the net. No more crap talk lets get this review on theroad. Belkin N1 Vision Wireless N Router F5D8232-4 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-28-08] (0 Comments) If you're in the market for a new router, you will find you have a lot of choices to pick from. There are literally dozens of Bombshell of NVISION08:SLI goes native on Intel X58 @ pcper.com [Aug-28-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA is going to allow the Intel X58 chipset to natively supportSLI graphics configurations.Let me let that sink in. No need for an nForce 200, no need for any special logic of any kind, noneed for an NVIDIA product but the graphics cards themselves. Obviouslythis is GREAT news for the gamer - now we can finally get high qualitymotherboards that are reasonably priced and will run both NVIDIA SLI and AMDCrossFire GPU configurations. We are very excited about the idea ofunifying our platform selections for the hardware leaderboard, for using asingle motherboard for all our graphics card testing and just excited aboutwhat it means for high-end PC gaming in the big picture. NVISION08 Summary - Keynote, TWiT UGM, 3D Gaming and GPU Ray Tracing @ pcper.com [Aug-28-08] (0 Comments) The note of hardware managed threading and pipeline is counter towhat Intel will be doing with the Larrabee in the near future. Intel'supcoming GPU is completely software managed and the pipeline is nearly 100%programmable with the exception of the texture units. Obviously NVIDIA'sgoal in 2013 will be the same as it is for 2008 - completely merge theability for the GPU to do typical graphics work and general purposecomputational work. Modders-Inc at NVISION08 @ modders-inc.com [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) NVISION08 is underway and Modders-Inc is there. Come take a lookwith us as to what is happening at NVISION08 Inside the Nehalem:Intel's New Core i7 Microarchitecture @ pcper.com [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) I mentioned before that Intel is using Nehalem to mark the return ofHyperThreading to its bag of weapons in the CPU battle; the process isnearly identical to that of the older NetBurst processors and allows twothreads to run on a single CPU core. But SMT (simultaneous multi-threading)or HyperThreading is also a key to keeping the 4-wide execution engine fedwith work and tasks to complete. With the larger caches and much highermemory bandwidth that the chip provides this is a very important addition. TomTom GO 930 @ rbmods.com [Aug-25-08] (0 Comments) If we look back in time just a few years ago we see that the GPS wasstill quite basic with simple instructions and graphics on how to drive.These days the GPS holds high end graphics, FM transmitters, music players,Bluetooth and video playing functions just to mention a few so we can reallysee that they have gone forward. Today we are going to look at the TomTom GO930 which is one of the latest badboys from TomTom. With a pricetag of 500$this unit better perform extremely well so lets take a look. Supreme Commander Xbox 360 Competition - XSs @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Aug-22-08] (0 Comments) Dearreaders, today marks the launch of our newest competition. To markthe release of Supreme Commander for the Xbox 360, we've beengiven 2 copies of the game to give away. To win all you need to do isbecome a member, and make a few forum posts. What could be simpler? Thermaltake Power Express 650W VGA PSU @ rbmods.com [Aug-22-08] (0 Comments) As video card power demand grows, so do power supply outputs;nowadays it's not uncommon to see a 1000W+ power supply being offered. Butwhat if you already have a decent power supply but just want to add a bitmore power for the video cards? Thermaltake, well-known makers of a widerange of computer products, might have the solution in the Thermaltake PowerExpress 650W VGA Power Supply. This dedicated power supply brings seriousamounts of power to your video cards, but is it worth the effort? Read on tofind out more. IDF Live! Live Blogging from Intel Developer Forum Keynotes and Sessions @ pcper.com [Aug-19-08] (0 Comments) For the first time at PC Perspective we are going to try a new wayof covering tech events - live. Though I feel somewhat dirty using thetrendy, Web 2.0 term, the best way to describe what we are doing as Asus EAH 4850 TOP Videocard @ rbmods.com [Aug-19-08] (0 Comments) The 4850 videocards seem to be the best bang for the buck cards onthe market right now. Asus has released a TOP version which is a factoryoverclocked card and it also has a big Glacier cooler on it to keep thenoise down. We are going to compare it vs some other high performing cardstoday and see if this TOP card really adds some top performance to it. HYDRA Engine by Lucid - Multi-GPU Technology with No Strings Attached @ pcper.com [Aug-19-08] (0 Comments) The distribution engine as it is called is responsible for readingthe information passed from the game or application to DirectX before itgets to the NVIDIA or AMD drivers. There the engine breaks up the variousblocks of information into Silverstone Zeus ZM1200M 1200W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Aug-18-08] (0 Comments) Last month, I took a look at one of the most powerful unitsSilverstone has to offer, the ZU1200M .Today, I'm checking out the modular version of this unit and am anxious tosee whether or not it performs as good as, better, or worse than its nonmodular brother. I'm sure you're all anxious to find that out as well, solet's delay no more. Vantec NexStar USB/eSATA Hard Drive Dock @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-16-08] (0 Comments) The Vantec product we had the opportunity to look at today is notyour typical external hard drive device. It is the Vantec NexStar Hard DriveDock which supports both 2.5 Gigabyte EP45-DS3L S-Series Intel P45 Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) Today, I will be looking at the EP45-DS3L, Gigabyte's economy-pricedP45 motherboard. This is probably the least expensive newly releasedmotherboard I have seen coming from either of the top two motherboardmanufacturers in a very long time, and obviously marketed towards thosebuyers looking at buying boards from ECS, ASRock, or one of the othermanufacturers that build budget motherboards. Will the EP45-DS3L meet thehigh standards that we have come to expect from a Gigabyte motherboard, withfeatures found on its bigger brothers? Read on to see! Vantec NexStar MX NST-400MX-SR @ modders-inc.com [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) This External enclosure supports JBOD, Individual, Raid 0, andRaid 1 modes for effective storage management .It also has the Ability to accept two drives with a total capacity of 2TB. Cooler Master Passive Hyper Z600 CPU Cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) Today we are looking at their mammoth Hyper Z600, a Passive capable CPU cooler that weighs over a kilogram(!) and towers over 6” high. While my motherboard sweats nervously in a corner, at the thought of supporting this giant cooler, let’s take a look at the product packaging. OCZ Rally2 Turbo 4GB Flash Drive @ tcmagazine.com [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) Looking at the drive tested today it’s quite impressive realizing how much one word - Turbo - can make a difference. While it kept the basic design of the Rally2 intact, OCZ has went all-out with the skin/metal casing deep enhancements and made the Turbo drive a lot more attractive by giving it a substantial boost in transfer speed. ECS P45T-A Intel P45 Chipset Motherboard @ pcper.com [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) The stock performance of the board was right were it should be. Eventhough it utilized memory bandwidth that was about 33MHz slower (DDR2-800vs. DDR2-1066), it was not enough to cause more than slight variances inbenchmark numbers. I would have liked to see ECS include support for thefaster FSB and Memory speeds, as the chipset clearly seems to support it onalmost all the other P45 based products. Why ECS choose not to follow suiteremains a mystery to me. Crucial Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 @ rbmods.com [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at another DDR3 kit on the market, thistime it comes from Crucial. We got their PC3-10600 kit for review which isthe first DDR3 kit that we look at from Crucial. Mtron Pro 7500 32GB SATA-II SSD MSP-SATA7525 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-14-08] (0 Comments) Solid State Drives have become a subject of keen familiarity for Benchmark Reviews over the past year. After testing more than a dozen Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB - AMD's Triumph @ pcper.com [Aug-13-08] (0 Comments) There is little room to debate that the new AMD Radeon HD 4870 X22GB is the best performing graphics card on the market. By combining thepower of a pair of RV770 GPUs along with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, the R700design is able to run away from NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 280 1GB card handily.Our various game tests proved this - Crysis, Call of Duty 4 and GRID showedbig gains for AMD's new card at resolutions 2048x1536 and 2560x1600 thoughthey were minimal at 1600x1200. 6 Way Digital Photo Frame Round up @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-12-08] (0 Comments) Today we have got something special for all you readers out there interested in getting a Photo Frame, we have got Six Digital Photo Frames to get your paws into in a round up. Which one will prove itself the best out of the Six in image quality and usability? You’ll have to read on to find out. The Six Photo Frames we have here range from a portable 1.5 inch right the way through to an 8 inch digital display that prints. Thermaltake Toughpower 1,500W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Aug-12-08] (0 Comments) Why anyone would actually want (let alone need) a 1,500W power supp ly is a very good question, but if you are in the market for a very high ou tput PSU, the Toughpower 1,500W deserves consideration. The Toughpower 1,5 00W PSU exhibited very good voltage regulation along with good efficiency. Active PFC, modular sleeved cables, and a 5-year warranty are all nice-to- have features. On the down side the unit gets quite warm, the fan noise is loud and the AC ripple approaches maximum allowable values at high loads. QNAP TS-409U Rackmount NAS @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-11-08] (0 Comments) QNAP wowed ThinkComputers a while back with its TS-109 Pro NAS, asmall, aluminum-cased, single-drive unit. QNAP has grown quite a bit sincethen, and recently released a larger unit for its small business andcorporate users, the TS-409U. The TS-409U is a quadruple bay rackmount NASwith support for up to 4 TB of space in a variety of storage configurations,including RAID5 and RAID6. Its variety of server software, including a fullLAMP stack and printer server, can provide usefulness and utility to usersat all levels of technical know-how and work goals. NZXT Sentry LX High Performance Fan Controller @ rbmods.com [Aug-11-08] (0 Comments) We've seen a lot of fan controller designs here on rbmods.com,everything from simple knobs to more elaborate controllers. Today we get achance to look at a new fan controller from NZXT, the NZXT Sentry LX HighPerformance Fan Controller. Will this product live up to its Corsair Dominator XMS3 DDR3-1600C9 Memory @ pcper.com [Aug-09-08] (0 Comments) Most readers would consider memory modules to be moving the way of acommodity item for a gaming or enthusiast PC - we aren't quite there yet butare getting closer. That is why products like the Corsair XMS DDR3-1600C9kits are going to become more and more popular - these are memoryconfigurations that are both fast and easy to install. There islittle-to-no legwork necessary by the end user to reach these speeds andthat is what MOST users want. Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1250W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-09-08] (0 Comments) As enthusiasts build high-end computers which require more and morepower for the multiple processors, multiple graphics cards, and multiplehard drives in these rigs, power supply manufacturers, such as CoolerMaster, churn out power supplies with increasingly higher wattage to handlethese power-thirsty devices. Cooler Master sent ThinkComputers the nextgeneration of its Real Power Pro series, the six-12V-railed 1250W monsterwith enough connectors and juice to power just about anything one couldthrow at it. The Silent Release of the 740G @ pcper.com [Aug-09-08] (0 Comments) The greatest strength of this platform is likely the powerconsumption. At idle, with 2GB of memory, a 500 GB HD, a BD drive, and a X24050e, the system was pulling a very meager 55 watts from the wall. At fullload it was pulling 91 watts. If we consider that the Atom and Nanoplatforms that Ryan tested last week were around the same idle power, it isimpressive to think that a comparatively fast dual core processor with afairly robust integrated graphics portion is sitting in the same area atidle, and at full bore it is about 20 watts higher than the Nano with itsVIA/S3 Chrome based chipset. Sapphire HD4870 512MB @ modders-inc.com [Aug-08-08] (0 Comments) The use of the GDDR5 memory, increased bandwidth, DirectX 10.1 anda 55nm GPU it sounds like it should place this card in the higher end of the ASUS MK241 24-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-08-08] (0 Comments) The last LCD monitor we took a look at from ASUS was the 22-inchPG221. It was one of the most amazing LCD's that I have seen and if you area gamer you would definitely love it. One thing that it did lack was a HDMIport. This time around ASUS has sent us their 24-inch MK241 LCD thatfeatures full 1080p HD playback via an HDMI port. Not only that it features3000:1 contrast ration, integrated webcam, and ASUS's Splendid videotechnology. Let's see how the MK241 measures up. Corsair Flash Voyager Mini @ rbmods.com [Aug-07-08] (0 Comments) Wehave in the past reviewed various kinds of Corsairs Voyager series, today wehave their newest creation which is a bit smaller than the older Voyagers.Today we will look into the Voyager Mini that has some of the same features asits older brothers. The Mini is quite a bit smaller which will aim for adifferent market. This is still dent and drop resistant and should survivequite a bit of beating. Vantec NexStar 3i External Hard Drive Enclosure @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-07-08] (0 Comments) The Vantec NexStar 3i External Hard Drive Enclosure incorporatespower saving modes to help save power and prolong the life of hard drives.It operates in three power saving modes:idle, stand by, and power down; allof which are automatic. The USB connectivity provides high data transferrates on hard drives with up to 1TB of data. The small design of the NexStar3i takes up very little desk space and even keeps cool with an aluminumcase. Read on further to see how it performs. abit IP35P - Intel® P35/ICH9 Chipset on a Budget? @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-07-08] (0 Comments) Today we have the IP35P motherboard from abit, this board is one of the lower entries in the abit’s P35 chipset range but still has enough features to make a solid machine from it. In my experience though budget boards tend to fall at the wayside, let us hope the IP35P will change that. Gigabyte GA-EP45T-EXTREME P45 Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-06-08] (0 Comments) There are two kinds of computer enthusiasts in this world:those with a personal connection to the system motherboard, and those who Supermicro X7DWA-N Motherboard @ pcreview.co.uk [Aug-06-08] (0 Comments) I had the opportunity to spend some time testing and evaluating this motherboard with two sets of CPUs and two types of memory. First using two X5482 Harpertowns (3200/12mb/1600) and 4x2 gig of Transcend DDR2-800 FB-Dimms, and later on using two E5450 Harpertowns(3000/12mb/1333).This EATX board is built using the newest 5400 Seaburg chipset with 1600FSB support built in. The layout is a typical EATX 12x13” design and like previous versions uses 24, 8 and 4 pin connections to the motherboard. With this new series, a 4 pin Molex connector is added to the board for users with higher power needs. There are 8 Dimm slots for quad channel memory support (up to and including DDR2-800 FB-Dimms) for a maximum of 64 gigs. The board comes boxed with 6 SATA cables, I/O shield, IDE cable, and an excellent manual and Cd with all needed software and drivers. MIME encoded twice @ rbmods.com [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) Geeks provided us with todays review product, we are going to take alook at a Blu-Ray player that also is a dvd burner. If you don't knowwhat Blu-ray is I recommend you Google for it as it is the new format thatwill replace DVD in the near future. Blu-ray players are dropping in priceas the become more mainstream, we are going to compare picture quality todayand also see how loud and how well this product works. Tagan BZ Series 900W Modular Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) I have reviewed Tagan's 2 previous power supplies the GuardianX1000W and the ITZ Series 1300W. Both power supplies performed well, butthere was one problem they were not modular. No one wants a ton of wireslaying around in their case. Tagan has a new series of power supplies, theBZ series which not only are modular, but are very attractive as well. Taganwas nice enough to send us the 900W version of the BZ series, let's check itout! OCZ ReaperX HPC 4GB PC2-6400 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) Big as a whale and about to set sail, Benchmark Reviews brings you a review of OCZ's overclocker grade, heatpipe-equipped ReaperX HPC 4GB SilverStone SST-TS01B RFID External Drive Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) External HDD Enclosures are plentiful and cheap these days. It's tough for a manufacturer to differentiate its products in the Intel's Larrabee Architecture Overview @ pcper.com [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) =93=A0=A0=A0 Several years back Intel let loose that it was developing a new andunique graphics architecture that is aimed at both the enthusiast 3D market,as well as stream computing.=A0 This announcement brought forth an abundanceof opinions which covered the emotional spectrum from great excitement togreat dread.=A0 The excitement was that a proven and innovative processinggiant was entering the graphics arena, and potentially bringing in acompetitive and potentially high performance part which will providecompetition for both AMD (ATI) and NVIDIA.=A0 The great dread was that aproven and innovative processing giant was entering the graphics arena, andpotentially bringing in a competitive and potentially high performance partwhich will provide competition for both AMD (ATI) and NVIDIA.=A0 All jokingaside, other fears are primarily based around Intel's previous graphicsofferings, namely their poorly supported and poorly performing integratedparts.=94 ASRock P45R2000-WiFi P45 DDR2/DDR3 Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) Our good friends at ASRock feel your pain. Building practicalsolutions for tough problems into motherboards is what they are best knownfor, and they have just released what may be the answer to your problems, anIntel P45 board capable of running both DDR2 and DDR3 memory. This isn't anew idea, a few companies did the same thing with the P35 last year. Mostattempts were less than awesome, but ASRock's board was clearly the bestattempt. With this experience under their belts, ASRock has released theP45R2000-Wifi. Will it be the solution for those wanting a gradual crossoverfrom DDR2 to DDR3? Keep reading to see! Noctua NF-P12+NF-B9 Quiet Fans @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) A lot of the time I use my computer in the late evenings when the ambient noise is very quiet in my house, so trying to keep PC noise to a minimum is important so as not to annoy me/disturb others. With testing the Noctua NF-P12+NF-B9 fans today I have been treated to a taste of really quiet computing. NVIDIA Exiting Chipset Business? We take another look... @ pcper.com [Aug-02-08] (0 Comments) I think the majority of these concerns about NVIDIA's chipset busin ess started with the confirmation that NVIDIA was either not granted a CSI license by Intel (also known as Quick Path Interconnect, the bus for upcomi ng Nehalem/Bloomfield processors) or decided they weren't going to try to a cquire one to make chipsets for the first round of Nehalem processors. Ins tead, NVIDIA has offered up the nForce 200 bridge chip to potential X58 chi pset motherboard vendors to enable and allow SLI technology on Intel's upco ming platform shift. Many in our space saw this is a white flag from NVIDI A, that they weren't able to cut into Intel's chipset business as they'd ho ped. Asus EAH 4870 TOP Videocard @ rbmods.com [Aug-02-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at one of the top of the line cards atthis time. The card costs a bit more than the others on the market so themain question is does the card really perform so well that it's worthputting the money into it. We are going to compare it vs a few other Asuscards that have proven to perform quite well and we will also see if we cantweak a bit more out of the card even though it's factory tweaked already. Rosewill Xtreme 630W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Aug-01-08] (0 Comments) Rosewill recently introduced the extreme 630W version of its Xtremeseries of extreme power supply units. The Xtreme 630W version retains thequadruple 12V rails and extreme SLI readiness of its more powerful Xtremesiblings, while adequately powering most mid- to upper-mid-end rigs.ThinkComputers goes man and machine, power extreme, in this review of theRosewill Xtreme 630W. Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-31-08] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler provides more than just CPUcooling. The dual fan design cools the entirety of the upper portion of themotherboard in addition to the CPU. The DuOrb includes double-sided radiantheatpipes disperse the heat through the extensive number of fins surroundeach fan. The mirror coated copper base provides even better heatdissipation between the contact surface and the CPU over other CPU coolers.Read on further for the full review. Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB DDR2 Memory Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-31-08] (0 Comments) For the power hungry overclocker and the bling-happy enthusiast, Benchmark Reviews brings you a review of Crucial Technology's 4GB How NVIDIA will Invade and Change the Apple MacBook Line this Year @ pcper.com [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) To me, there is no doubt that come fall you will find updatedMacBooks and MacBook Pros with NVIDIA chipsets and GPUs inside. An updated13 Cooler Master CSX Broodling Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) We first got a glimpse at the Cooler Master CSX cases at CES. Theyboasted amazing and very unique paint jobs. CSX stands for MIME encoded twice @ rbmods.com [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) Spire is one of the manufacturers everyone knows. Spires productsrange includes everything from computer cases to computer coolers and fromcard readers to USB hard disk enclosures. This time we will have a look ontheir new SATA to USB enclosure. Robert 'Razerguy' Krakoff Interview @ hardwarebase.net [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) We had a chance to ask Robert Krakoff, also known as Razerguy, a fewquestions regarding Razer's new products, development of budget gaming mouseSalmosa, new Mako audio system, e-sport in general and their vision of PCgaming's future. Raidmax Iceberg Case @ modders-inc.com [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) The Raidmax Iceberg case is a mid range enthusiast case. Itfeatures 3 -120mm blue LED fans and 1 - 120mm black rear exhaust fan. Thecase sports two unique one click easy access side panels and is setup withpre-drilled holes for water cooling. This case has a lot of great featuresgoing for it along with plenty of room for your hardware. Acer AL2002W 20-Inch WS LCD Monitor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) High resolution LCD monitors are everywhere in today's market. Seems that every PC manufacturer these days includes one with their NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT - Budget Gaming Redux @ pcper.com [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) That being said, the new GeForce 9500 GT did perform very well whencompared to AMD's current budget level competition, the Radeon HD 3650. TheGeForce 9500 GT was able to play through some of the latest titles at decentimage quality settings very well. A line up like Call of Duty 4, UnrealTournament 3 and Crysis is nothing to sneeze at - especially when you takeinto account the price point that you'll find this card selling for. VIA Nano and Intel Atom - Battle of the Tiny CPUs @ pcper.com [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) For an incredibly inexpensive and low power part, the VIA Nano L2100CPU was very impressive from a performance perspective. Using just 20 wattsor so of power at load the Isaiah architecture running at 1.8 GHz couldhandle our media encoding, our PCMark05 general purpose tests and even alittle gaming. The numbers aren't going to impress you enough to make thisyour next gaming system of choice but for budget notebooks and PCs I caneasily see VIA's part providing enough power. QNAP TS-209 Pro II @ pcreview.co.uk [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) Many small businesses and advanced home users will use some form of external storage device to backup data or store common files across a network. One of the most convenient methods of doing this is to use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, which allows you to access network shares from all other PCs connected to the same network. The QNAP TS-209 Pro II provides space for two SATA hard drives, providing ample storage capacity (for example, 2 x 1TB drives). However this NAS unit isn’t quite as simple as just providing access to storage space, it can do a whole lot more. Thermalright True Black 120 CPU Cooler @ pcper.com [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) The True Black 120 CPU cooler features a solid copper base, sixU-shaped heat pipes and a large aluminum fin array. Although there arephysically just six heat pipes, the U-shape configuration results in sixevaporator sections (where the heat pipes contact the base and absorb heatfrom the CPU) and twelve condenser sections (where heat is dissipated intothe aluminum fins). As we will see later, this results in a very efficientheat transfer arrangement! ASUS P5Q-E Intel P45 Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Today I am looking at the Asus P5Q-E, one of Asus' threebudget-minded P45 motherboards, this one supporting CrossfireX, with two x 8slots, and one x 4 slot (the primary PCI-E slot is x 16 when a single videocard is used). It also sports heatpipe chipset cooling, and other featureswe'd expect only on Asus boards costing much more, all with an energy-savingtheme. How will this board stand up to the requirements of enthusiasts? Readon to see. Zaward Gyre (ZJ010) CPU heatpipe cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Today I am going to be looking at a product from a company that, until fairly recently, I knew very little about. That company is Zaward and they are best know for their cooling products so it may come of no surprise that the product in question is the Zaward Gyre ZCJ010 cpu cooler. A “gyre” is a vortex so I am hoping for some decent results. Thermaltake M9D Computer Case @ rbmods.com [Jul-27-08] (0 Comments) When I choose a computer case, I am often drawn towards a couple ofthings:good looks and cool features that will make building and using thecomputer enjoyable. Thermaltake, makers of a wide variety of computerproducts, sent us a sample of one of their new cases, the Thermaltake M9Dmid-tower computer case, which from the package seems to combine stylishlooks with a sophisticated design. Can their case live up to these loftygoals? Let's find out in this case review. Auzentech, Asus, and C-Media:As the CMI-8788 Turns @ pcper.com [Jul-26-08] (0 Comments) The truth finally came out in June of this year, but very few peopleseemed to notice it. Stephane Bae, President of Auzentech, wrote a littleopen letter concerning this situation, a full year after Auzentech stoppedproducing the X-Meridian. The long and short of it is that Asus hadnegotiated with C-Media for exclusive rights to the CMI-8788 chip after acertain date. This meant that Auzentech would have to purchase asignificant number of chips within a week of the original introduction ofthe X-Meridian to keep that part running for the next few years of itspotential lifespan. CineRaid Quad-bay SATA/SAS RAID Device @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-25-08] (0 Comments) Every now and then, ThinkComputers gets the opportunity to review apiece of hardware which we'd consider dream hardware. Sometimes it'sattainable, but it's excess to most of us. The CineRaid Quad-bay SAS RAIDdevice is one of these. It's an external RAID device:it connects via aPCI-Express Serial Attached Storage card and adds extremely fast andfailure-tolerant storage to a system. It's meant primarily for professionalgraphic artists, but we gamers can drool and perhaps even purchase one ofour own if we have a burning need for speed. ThinkComputers reviews it. Qpad Giveaway @ forum.rbmods.com [Jul-25-08] (0 Comments) This time we are going to give away 3 mousepads from Qpad with someminor accessories. These are 30$ mousepads which are extremely high quality;I know this because I've personally have used mine for 4 years now and thepad is still going strong. Hardware Leaderboard Update @ pcper.com [Jul-24-08] (0 Comments) What changes did we implement this time around? First, we bumpedthe Q9300 processor up to a Q9550 and changed from a 780i SLI motherboard toan ASUS Rampage Formula motherboard based on the Intel X48 chipset. Why didwe move away from the NVIDIA chipset? The answer is in our GPU - we wentwith the Radeon HD 4870 512MB cards (a pair in CrossFire to be exact)bringing AMD back into the High End System Leaderboard for the first time inquite some time. We also updated to the VelociRaptor hard drive and XonarD2X PCIe sound card. BFG LS550 550W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-23-08] (0 Comments) Not long ago, I looked into a new line of units from BFG Tech,the LS series. Today, I'll have a look at the 550W model and see how itperforms compared to the 680W. Efficiency is given as greater than 80%typical, and though they don't mention it, this model is 80 Plus certified.You will recall that big brother didn't quite manage to pull that off, andI'll be interested to see what happens on the load tester with this unit.Come in and join me, won't you? Razer Mako 2.1 THX Certified Multimedia System @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-23-08] (0 Comments) Razer and THX have teamed up together to design the Razer Mako 2.1THX Certified Multimedia System. This sound system offers OmniDirectionalspeakers which fill the entire room with surround sound. The Mako comesequipped with an all-in-one touch sensitive control pod which allows youhave the controls right at your fingertips. The control pod also provides3.5mm headphone jack for quiet listening and a 3.5mm auxiliary input jackfor those looking to hookup their iPod or MP3 player. This system certainlybeats others out there in sound quality, even those Bose MP3 player systemsyou might have. Vizo Milano MIP-100 HDD Enclosure & Multimedia Player @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jul-23-08] (0 Comments) The picture quality too is as good as, if not better than, the video recorded from my media pc, though I think it maybe not quite as good as DVD quality but it WAS a rip from a DVD so it would have been compressed and therefore cannot be as good. I played it on all outputs, composite, svideo and component and they all worked fine with component giving the best results, as you would expect. OCZ Core Series SATA-II SSD OCZSSD2-1C64G @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) The OCZ Core Series delivers the performance and reliability of the latest SSDs at a price per gigabyte other high speed offerings can't Griffin Wave iPhone Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) It has been a while since the original iPhone was released and stillthere are products coming out for it. As far as cases go I've seen quite afew. It seemed that they were either really bulky, but provided goodprotection or very stylish and provided little protection. Well the Wavecase from Griffin seems to provide good protection, while still lookinggood. Let's take a look... Zalman ZM750-HP 750W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) Zalman has successfully added another high-quality power supply totheir line up. The ZM750-HP power supply's voltage regulation, lineregulation and cross-loading regulation are all very good. The overallefficiency is excellent and AC ripple noise suppression is very good. Undernormal operating conditions (below 500W load) the ZM750-HP is virtuallysilent. The PSU comes fitted with a good assortment of hard-wired andmodular cables that can support dual core CPUs and multiple video cards. Speedlink VOIP Mouse @ rbmods.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) Todays product must be one of the oddest things we have reviewedever- and I've seen alot! We are going to take a look at Speedlinks VOIPmouse, this little mouse is the size of a laptop mouse and it opens up to bea corded Skype Phone. You can either receive calls or just make a callyourself. The small display shows you who is online and it allows you tocall straight from the phone, to me those features don't sound to bad buthow well does it actually works is the question I ask myself. Seventeam Thundering 1000W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) I continue my journey through the offerings of SeventeamElectronics once more this week with my look at one of the first 1000W unitson the market, the ST-1000E-AD. Silverstone fans will recognize this unitbetter as the basis of the original OP1000. Let's see how kind Father Timehas been to this platform. Modders-Inc podcast interview with mnpctech.com @ modders-inc.com [Jul-21-08] (0 Comments) This is our final installment of our interview with Bill Owenowner of mnpctech.com. We talk about modding as a business and his newestproject. Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-21-08] (0 Comments) Digital video and digital photography have become inextricably entangled in the lives of people in the 21st century. Cameras are being Samsung YP-P2 MP3 Player @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-18-08] (0 Comments) Keeping up with our recent fascination with touchscreen devices, theSamsung YP-P2 gets rid of most of its physical controls in favor of a userinterface that relies almost exclusively on its large touchscreen display.While it may not necessarily be able to compete against the iPod touch, theSamsung P2 multimedia player still comes with a very healthy smattering offeatures. Flip Video Ultra Digital Camcorder @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-17-08] (0 Comments) Digital video has become extremely popular with websites likeYouTube. With YouTube anyone can upload a video and make it viewable to theworld in minutes. YouTube makes it easy for you, but most digital cameras donot. For one some digital cameras only let you take 30-second clips and theusually they are in some weird format that only your camera software canread. So you have to have some knowledge and software to convert the video.Pure Digital, makers of the Flip Video decided to make things easier for youwith a standalone digital camcorder that is extremely easy to use. Read onas we check out the Flip Video Ultra! OCZ EliteXStream 1000W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jul-16-08] (0 Comments) The OCZ EliteXStream 1000W proved to be an excellent power supplyand certainly warrants serious consideration if you are in the market for ahigh-quality, high-capacity PSU. It produced excellent voltage regulationand delivers very clean outputs with good efficiency. As if that weren'tenough, the EliteXStream does its job quietly, is 80Plus and NVIDIA SLIcertified, and comes backed with OCZ's premium PowerSwap 5-Year warranty.All that in a relatively compact chassis that only measures 160mm deep. Novint Falcon @ rbmods.com [Jul-16-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at a cool gaming device from Novint, namedFalcon. This new device will be gamebreaking if the features and hype aboutit are correct. It is a Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q2 2008 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-16-08] (0 Comments) After publishing the first quarterly comparison article of the series, our methodology was adjusted to include test results with both A-DATA Gaming Series DDR2-800 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-16-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at a DDR2 4GB kit marketed towards gamers,the A-DATA Gaming Series DDR2-800 5-5-5-12. A-DATA probably isn't your firstchoice for high-performance memory, but in a mere 7 years, they have becomethe second largest vendor of memory modules in the world. Will the GamingSeries memory impress? Read on to see. ThermalTake Armor+ MX Case @ modders-inc.com [Jul-15-08] (0 Comments) The case is virtually a tool free design, in fact with theexception of the screws I used for the PSU installation. Managing the cablesand wiring was a snap and Thermaltake even provided the cable managementsupplies and need space in the chassis. Installation in the ThermaltakeArmor+ MX was simply the easiest I have done in a while. Intel Centrino 2 Platform Launches - New CPUs and Hybrid Graphics @ pcper.com [Jul-15-08] (0 Comments) We mentioned switchable graphics above as a new power savingstechnology from Intel, but what exactly is it? Think of it as NVIDIA'sHybrid SLI technology for a notebook rather than a desktop; a notebook thathas both discrete and integrated graphics (as all Centrino 2 systems willhave) can either automatically or manually be switched from operating oneither GPU solution. This way you can see the benefits of an IGP solutionfor battery life concerns when necessary or utilize the performance of adiscrete GPU solution for gaming sessions when battery life isn't an issue. mStation Orb 2.1 Stereo Speaker System for iPod @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-15-08] (0 Comments) Without a doubt the iPod is the most popular MP3 player out there.If someone you know has an MP3 player most likely it is an iPod. With thepopularity of the iPod there are a plethora of accessories made specificallyfor the iPod. None is more popular than iPod speaker systems. Today we willbe taking a look at the Orb 2.1 Stereo Speaker System from mStation. Read onto see why it is called the Orb and if it the perfect iPod speaker systemfor you. BFG LS680 680W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-14-08] (0 Comments) Things in the power supply department over at BFG have beenlooking up in recent months, thanks in no small part to some new staff hiredon over there, and one of the results is a unit I'm looking at today, the LSseries 680W model. Sourced from an OEM I don't know all that much about,Fore Point, the LS680 promises good performance with a good amount of powerat a good price. Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 Intel P45 Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-14-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at Gigabyte's latest mainstream LGA775motherboard, the EP45-DQ6. Based on the P45 chipset, and utilizing DDR2memory, this board boasts advanced energy-saving features, something we allhave to think about nowadays. Will this motherboard really save energy? Willit have the overclocking features and capabilities that we enthusiastsrequire? Read on to see... Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Video Card 100243L @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-14-08] (0 Comments) When it comes to ATI products Sapphire has always offered the most influential graphics cards available, and the new Radeon HD 4870 is no AMD Radeon HD 4870 X2 1GB P - R700 a bit early @ pcper.com [Jul-14-08] (0 Comments) While it is hard to get a complete outlook of AMD's new Radeon HD4870 X2 1GB card with three games and some 3DMark Vantage numbers, ourinitial outlook for it is very, very good. If those idle power numbers canbe improved upon with the updated PowerPlay BIOS as AMD claims, it will bevery difficult to find weaknesses in AMD's new flagship product. The onlyexception might be the scalability concerns we mentioned above - that's upto AMD's software team to keep up with the PC titles as they arrive. Cooler Master CSX Custom Painted Chassis - Limited Edition Red Dragon @ pcper.com [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) One of the key selling points for these CSX products is the highquality paint and finish that Cooler Master and Smooth Creations are using.In fact, you will actually get a certificate of authenticity with your nameon it verifying that your case has been Visiontek Radeon HD 4850 Videocard @ rbmods.com [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at a ATI HD 4850 videocard from Visiontek.This card is a middle class card but I have seen stats that show this cardshould perform as well as many other high end cards on the market. We aregoing to put it against the Asus 9800GX2 Top and the Asus 3870 X2 videocardto see what type of performance we can expect from this 4850 from Visiontek. Modders-Inc Interview with mnpctech.com @ modders-inc.com [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) We continue our podcast with Bill Owen of mnpctech.com and creator of some of the best modsout there. If you want the inside scoop on modding you really need tocontinue with this series. Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red DDR2-800 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) Yes, DDR2 is still a viable platform, and still suits well over halfof the enthusiast community just fine. But to put it bluntly, in the past,the PC industry has had no problem creating a new technology, and making theold obsolete, regardless of how we, the enthusiasts, feel about it. Yet herewe are, over a year into DDR3, and we steadily are seeing new DDR2 memoryand motherboards. Today I will be looking at Crucial's latest DDR2 modules,the Ballistix Tracer DDR2-800 4 gig kit. Besides a capability of 4-4-4-12timings, in a market that has seen DDR2 4GB kits for quite some time, whatcan Crucial do to make a PC2-6400 memory kit interesting enough for us totake notice? Read on to see! First Glimpse of AMD's 45nm Phenom @ pcper.com [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) Performance seems improved from the current Phenom, and the additionof the extra L3 cache is likely a good thing. We know that AMD's 45 nmdesign works, which is something we were not necessarily quite sure about upuntil this point. We also know that there is some more headroom in terms ofclockspeed, with the sample hitting 2.8 GHz at 1.224 volts and 3.4 GHz at1.588 volts. The information on the lid of the CPUs indicate that they werefabbed in the 16th and 21st weeks of this year. Thermaltake SwordM Water Cooling System - Part 2 @ pcper.com [Jul-10-08] (0 Comments) The SwordM integrated water cooling system proved easy to setup(most of the components come pre-installed) and will deliver acceptableresults for cooling most modern CPUs. However, there are other watercooling systems available (including DIY) that will deliver higherperformance. And if you are not ready for water cooling, the standardSwordM chassis offers excellent airflow for aggressive air cooling. BFG GeForce 8800 GT and 9600 GT OCX ThermoIntelligence @ pcper.com [Jul-09-08] (0 Comments) Though they might seem outdated we have to say that both the BFGGeForce 8800 GT and 9600 GT OCX ThermoIntelligence graphics cards have somelife left them, just as we proved in our recent 9600 GT roundup article. Itis true that there are a BUNCH of graphics options huddled around the$150-$250 price mark now and that could make your decision a bit moreclouded than we'd like but it really comes down to your exact budget andperformance desires. BFG has put both the 8800 GT and 9600 GT OCX TI cardsin a very good position with pricing but I would definitely lean towards the8800 GT OCX model as being the best value in our comparison; that's a lot ofextra performance for just $10. Silicon Power 64GB SATA Solid State Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-08-08] (0 Comments) Silicon Power has big dreams, but this a cruel world we live in and being the new name in competitive North American computer industry Silverstone Zeus ZU1200M 1200W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-08-08] (0 Comments) The Zeus line is the very pinnacle of the power supply offeringsfrom SilverStone, and at long last the platform has made it to the 1200Wlevel. Was it worth the wait? Well... uh... sort of. Come inside and I'llspill the beans. Dell Axim X51v @ monster-hardware.com [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) As mentioned earlier the Dell Axim X51v is refurbished. That means that inside the standard OEM white stickered cardboard box you will find a stylus pen, battery cover, USB Sync cable, power adapter, and new battery, but you will not find an owner's manual or the Dell companion CD. These are not insurmountable obstacles, since the manual is available from Dell in .PDF format. You do, however, miss out on the Dell companion CD, which as far as I know is not available for download from Dell and contains some extra bonus Pocket PC software. Thermaltake Armor+ MX PC Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) Today we got a chance to look at the Thermaltake Armor+ MX VH8000BWSMid Tower Case. The VH8000 series cases, eight total, come in both silverand black and some also include power supplies and pre-installed watercooling systems. Some handy features of this case include a compact designwith an optimal cooling system for both liquid and air systems. The included23cm fan keeps parts cool while being extremely quiet, despite its hugesize. Read on further to learn more about this case. Qpad CT Mousepad @ rbmods.com [Jul-06-08] (0 Comments) A few years ago we looked at a few Qpad mousepads and since thenthese pads have been used by us. I have not been able to find another padthat works as well as these and and because of this we are going to look atthe new CT pad which is available in various sizes and colors. This new CTpad lets you choose between a soft or hard top depending on the thicknessyou choose. Modders-Inc Podcast with mnpctech.com @ modders-inc.com [Jul-04-08] (0 Comments) This podcast is with owner Bill Owen of mnpctech.com and creator of some of the best modsout there. His recent mod is the AMD Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-04-08] (0 Comments) Sapphire has always offered the most influential ATI graphics products available, and the new Radeon HD 4850 is no different. Although Sigma SP-700 700W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-03-08] (0 Comments) ThinkComputers liked Sigma's Shark 635W when we reviewed in inFebruary. It was a decent, affordable unit with a unique exterior design.The quad 12V-railed, 700 watt SP-700 is Sigma's newest model, and it ditchesmost of the qualities which made the Shark so unique. Despite its exterior,the functionality of the unit is still pretty decent. Read on, through, andsee where Sigma could improve the SP-700. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 280 AMP! Edition Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-03-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA has recently launched the GeForce GTX 280 and GTX 260 video cards. Both the GTX 280 and GTX 260 products position themselves at Headphones @ modders-inc.com [Jul-02-08] (0 Comments) The Razer Piranha is engineered from the ground up to blendperformance, long hours of comfort and functionality, to deliver realisticin-game audio that will satisfy the needs of the most demanding gamer - You. Thermaltake XaserVI Mx Case @ rbmods.com [Jul-02-08] (0 Comments) Today its time for another case review, Thermaltake was kind enoughto send us a sample of their XaserVI Mx case for review. This seems to be anice looking medium tower case if we take a quick overview of it but thequestion is how good is the quality, and what kind of new features does ithave that should give it the edge over its competitors? The main featureseems to be that the case is designed for both air and watercooling so letssee if there is enough space to squeeze in a watercooling setup. Corsair HX1000W Modular Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jul-01-08] (0 Comments) Corsair took their time and did it right. The new HX1000W modularpower supply is one of the best 1,000W PC power supplies we have tested todate. The HX1000W PSU provides excellent voltage regulation and deliversclean outputs with very good efficiency. As if that weren't enough, theHX1000W does it's job quietly, is 80Plus and NVIDIA Triple SLI certified,and comes backed with a 5-year warranty and 24/7 support. Highlyrecommended! Coolmax CUQ-1350B 1350W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-01-08] (0 Comments) Once upon a time, a company by the name of Coolmax sought toimpress me with two of their Green Power branded power supplies, and failed.Now, they've sent their biggest and baddest at me, the Green Power 1350W,looking to rectify the situation. QNAP TS-209 Pro Gigabit SATA NAS @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-01-08] (0 Comments) Shoppers today are faced with many options when choosing where to store their valuable data:from traditional optical media and hard SilenX iXtrema IXC-12HA2 CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-01-08] (0 Comments) The SilenX brand is most commonly known for their cool and quietcase fans. SilenX, however, does manufacture heatsinks, power supplies, andother goodies. Today SilenX gave us the opportunity to review the SilenXiXtrema IXC-120HA2 Pro Series Heatsink. This vertical fin stack designoffers plenty one of SilenX's very own case fans, we actually got two totest out. The features include a fan speed controller, exposed copperheatpipes on the base, and an entirely screw-less design making for an easyand tool-less installation. SOYO 26-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor DYLM26E6 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-30-08] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has tested several different monitors over the past year, and even though they all offer nearly the same features there abit AX78 AM2+ 770 chipset Mobo @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jun-30-08] (0 Comments) For this review I will be taking a look at one of the new motherboards Abit are offering, the AX78 Phenom compatible motherboard, which I think is fair to say is aimed more towards the budget end of the market.. Lenovo IdeaPad U110 11.1-inch Laptop @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-30-08] (0 Comments) We mainly know Lenovo for their line of ThinkPad notebooks, butconsumers really do not like those laptops because of their plain styling.Luckily for consumers Lenovo has released a new line of notebooks calledtheir IdeaPad series. We first got a look at Lenovo's Ideapad series at CESearlier this year. Out of the 3 new notebooks we were most interested in thevery tiny U110. This small laptop has a lot of very innovative features likea LED backlit screen and facial recognition. At only 2.92lbs it is a perfectnotebook for traveling and mobile users. Will all these features make theU110 worth its price tag? Read on to find out. Cyber Snipa Competition:Only 3 days left - XSs @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) Wellguys, I know it's been over 6 months since our last competitionand lots has happened since then, but it's time to get comps goingagain. XSR has several in the works, so be prepared for lots offrivolity and merriment at the chance to win free stuff.This month we've teamed up with the lovely folks at Cyber Snipa whohave been kind enough to offer not one, but two prize sets for us. GlacialTech Igloo 5710 CPU Coolers @ modders-inc.com [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) The 5710 Series cooler is the largest cooler that Glacialtechcurrently offers and the only difference in the two samples we have todayare the fans. One utilizes a silent fan rated at 1600 RPM while the otherutilizes a PWM fan rated at 800 - 2600 RPM. NVIDIA Forceware 175.16 vs 175.19 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) Most people would think that when NVIDIA, who is the world-class leader in graphics technology, releases a new driver to the public that Fingerprint protected Personal Data Manager @ rbmods.com [Jun-26-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at a USB memory stick from N-trance. Theyhave sent is their latest fingerprint protected USB memory stick which alsohas software that allows you to backup the information you have on thedrive. You can also run Skype and Miranda straight from the drive whichgives it alot of functions in just one single drive. NVIDIA, PhysX, and the "C" Word @ pcper.com [Jun-26-08] (0 Comments) I explained the situation as best I could without trying to throw inany questions that could have lead Mark one direction or the other. Once Ifinished explaining best I could, Mark essentially replied, Crucial Ballistix DDR3-2000 2GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-26-08] (0 Comments) Yes, you read the title correctly, DDR3-2000. Isn't that incredible,that memory operating speed has climbed that high in such a short time?Think about it, one year ago, we were beginning to see the first DDR2-1066modules being released. Today, all memory manufacturers offer a DDR3-1600module, many offer a DDR3-1800, and over the past month the more prominentof them have released a DDR3-2000 module. Considering PC3 system memory hasonly been out for about a year, I don't think that we've come close toseeing the limits of DDR3. In Win PowerMan Commander 1200W Modular Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-26-08] (0 Comments) In Win, purveyor of many fine cases which ThinkComputers reviewedthroughout the years, recently burst into the power supply market with itsPowerMan line of high-wattage units. Decorated like military hardware andsupplying 1200 or 1500 watts of sweet, sweet electricity, the PowerManseries is ready to ensure your weapon of newb destruction is solidly juiced.ThinkComputers locks and loads the PowerMan 1200W in this review. Benchmark s 200K Contest @ forum.benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-25-08] (0 Comments) It wasn't all that long ago that Benchmark Reviews was throwing a contest for when we reached 100,000 unique visitors, but since the AMD Radeon HD 4870 and HD 4850 - Mid-range GPU mix up @ pcper.com [Jun-25-08] (0 Comments) The darling of all of this might be the $199 HD 4850 card - eventhough it is using GDDR3 memory it has a very strong showing in our testsand is itself able to compete with the HD 3870 X2 card. If it weren't forNVIDIA's recent price drop on the 9800 GTX and 9800 GTX+ cards to $199-229the HD 4850 would have been the run-away victor; NVIDIA obviously caughtwind of the performance of RV770 and made adjustments in pricing to makethemselves competitive again though. In truth the performance of bothoptions is pretty much neck and neck - with a slight edge going to AMD's newRV770-based HD 4850 card. Razer Destructor Proffessional Gaming Mat @ modders-inc.com [Jun-24-08] (0 Comments) Razer has a nice line up of great gaming gear designedspecifically to enhance the gaming experience of hardcore gamers out there.The Razer Destructor mouse pad is no different. Ray Tracing in Games:A Story from The Other Side @ pcper.com [Jun-24-08] (0 Comments) In contrast to the designers, for the programmers using a ray tracerseemed to make life easier. The most striking difference between a raytracer and a rasterizer is that there are so few special cases. The sameengine renders a 1M scene, including exteriors, for Outbound, and low-polyindoor scenery for Let there be Light. There is no code to limit visibility.All supported features work together effortlessly. And, programmers foundthemselves using rays for everything:testing particle and flare visibility,collision detection, object picking, and so on. Kira CS 630W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-24-08] (0 Comments) X-Spice is a newcomer to the shores of North America, and theyhave shared their Kira series 630 watt power supply with me to see how itdoes. CradlePoint MBR1000 Mobile Broadband Router @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-23-08] (0 Comments) EVDO is basically wireless internet access that can be accessed overa cellular network. Almost every cell phone provider offers EVDO service.What's great about it is that anywhere you get a cell signal you getinternet access. No depending on a hotel's internet or a hotspot at a coffeeshop for internet access anymore. I currently use an Express card fromSprint that allows me to connect to the service, but what if I'm on a tripwith friends? Why should they have to pay $9.99 per day or more for internetwhen I already have access? That is where the CradlePoint MBR1000 comes in. Hiper Osiris HTC-1K514-A1 Mid-Tower Computer Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-23-08] (0 Comments) High Performance Group (Hiper) is best known for their self-designed power supply units, yet they have recently begun to compete in the OCZ Vendetta 2 Heatpipe Touch CPU cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jun-23-08] (0 Comments) OCZ have been known for high performance memory for quite some time. Somewhat recently they have expanded into other areas of computer hardware, such as power supplies and cooling.2 Today we will be taking a look at OCZ’s new CPU cooler, the OCZ Vendetta 2. Silenx Ixtrema ICX-HA2 CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jun-22-08] (0 Comments) We've seen a number of fan manufacturers branch out into the CPUcooler business, with mixed success. CPU coolers are a lot different thanfans, but if a company pays attention to quality, they typically do well.Acousticpc.com, well-known retailers of silent performance computercomponents, sent us a new cooler from Silenx, the Silenx Ixtrema ICX-HA2 CPUCooler. We've had a chance to review Silenx fans in the past and weregenerally impressed by their silent operations and good airflow. Will thisCPU cooler leave the same impression? That is what we're here to find out. NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB P - G92b @ pcper.com [Jun-21-08] (0 Comments) My guess is that the marketing team at Big Green didn't want toone-up the recently released GT200 parts - some people might assume thatsinge it was built on the 65nm process while the new 9800 GTX+ is on the55nm, that the GT200 would be inferior in some way. As we saw in ourperformance review of the GeForce GTX 280/260 cards, that's obviously notthe case but I can see how some readers might make that conclusion. BlacX and BlacX-SE HDD Docking Stations @ modders-inc.com [Jun-21-08] (0 Comments) Hot swapping hard drives through an external dock, Is thatpossible? Yes it is. Check out our review on the Thermaltake BlacX DockingStations. Dreamhack Summer 2008 Article @ rbmods.com [Jun-20-08] (0 Comments) Dreamhack is the biggest LAN Party in the world with up to 10000computers. The summer version that we are going to talk about today is notas big as the winter one. There was plenty to look at though as we went downthere the first day of the LAN alot of people were still arriving to theevent which was nice to see. They also have some companies showing theirlatest gear and this time we saw Asus, Mushkin, Steelseries just to mentiona few. ASRock K10N750SLI-WiFi nForce 750a Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) ASRock is well known for their inexpensive motherboards that oftenhave innovative solutions for expensive problems, or they have big-boychipsets sometimes unavailable in economy boards, and they add onboard WiFito all of their motherboards. Will the K10N750SLI-WiFi, the firstmotherboard on the market sporting nVidia's #2 AMD chipset, make my firstPhenom experience a pleasurable one? Stay tuned to find out! Zalman VF900-Cu Ultra Quiet Heatpipe VGA Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) The competition between ATI and NVIDIA is fierce; it's definitely a buyers market in video cards these days. New chips are coming out AMD Radeon HD 4850 512MB P - RV770 Discovered @ pcper.com [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) The AMD Radeon HD 4850 512MB card is a good performing card that isable to match both the GeForce 8800 GT and the 9800 GTX card in our initialpreview of just a couple of major gaming titles. NVIDIA has some moretricks up their sleeve though with a little part called the GeForce 9800GTX+ meant solely to rain on AMD's launch day parade. Whether or not thatwill pan out has yet to be seen. Antec P182SE Special Edition Mid-Tower Case @ pcper.com [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) The Antec P182SE Special Edition advanced super mid-tower case willcertainly appeal to a niche audience. If you like the clean lines andunique look that the mirror finished stainless steel front and side panelshave to offer then Antec's P182SE Special Edition may be the one of a kindcase for you! The P182SE is a relatively compact mid-tower chassis and yetstill provides 11 storage bays and is a big improvement over the originalP180. The three bundled 120mm Tri-Cool fans can be adjusted to deliver theright balance of airflow to noise thanks to the integrated speed controls. Successfully Hacking your iPhone or iTouch @ iceteks.com [Jun-18-08] (0 Comments) Following these steps will allow you to completely secure and completely unlock the iphone device from Apple. Cyber Snipa Competition - XSs @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-18-08] (0 Comments) Wellguys, I know it's been over 6 months since our last competitionand lots has happened since then, but it's time to get comps goingagain. XSR has several in the works, so be prepared for lots offrivolity and merriment at the chance to win free stuff.This month we've teamed up with the lovely folks at Cyber Snipa whohave been kind enough to offer not one, but two prize sets for us. Sigma Unicorn Mid-Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) Overall the Sigma Unicorn Mid Tower ATX case is a decent case forthe budget minded builder who wants a few extras already added, like 2 x120mm fans (1 LED), 2 x 80mm Fans (1 LED), a side panel window and easyopening side panels. The case is well built and has a nice futuristic /brutish look to it. Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) Today's review is brought to you by the letters W, T, Q, and thenumber 3. W is for Wolf, that's me; T is for Thermaltake, who sent me thereview sample for today; and Q is for QFan, a specially designed fan thatThermaltake believes will decrease fan noise in your standard power supplywhile maintaining efficient cooling. While the Q in QFan could stand formany things, like Quality or Quigley:Down Under, the Q actually stands forQuiet. We'll have to see if this fabled QFan of yore can be heard over theyowling, screaming exhaust fan in the old load tester, won't we? Asus GTX260 and GTX280 Videocard P @ rbmods.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) Today the the new videocards from Nvidia went public and we had asneak peak at them earlier last week. This is just a preview to show you thelooks and hopefully we can arrange a review within a few weeks for you.Quote from Nvidia, NVIDIA GPU Computing & CUDA FAQ @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) You are going to see an increased interest in GPU computing very soon. Terms such as Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Gaming Headset @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) Cyber Snipa is emerging on the gaming grade market with qualityproducts for a reasonable price. Today I got to a chance to take a look atthe Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. The quality is muchhigher than I could have ever expected for the cost. Connecting through USBand having an in-line audio control the sound quality of the eight totalspeakers which includes a decided sub speaker in each ear. These stylishheadphones provide premium comfort and cooling with soft foam covered withvelour and mesh fabric. NVIDIA GT200 tackles gaming, Folding, Transcoding @ pcper.com [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA’s GT200 is a big, powerful processor that is capable ofhanding out the best gaming performances we have seen, ever. The GeForceGTX 280 1GB card is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to pushing thetop gaming titles to super HD resolutions like 2560x1600 and is able tobest both NVIDIA’s and AMD’s previous flagship dual-GPU cards. Just beprepared to pay top dollar for those bragging rights and performancegains. The GeForce GTX 260 896MB is a much more price conscious card thatis still a fantastic performer when compared to its direct competition inthe market. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 Compute Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) Hot on the heels of a rapid-succession GeForce 9800 GX2 and GeForce 9800 GTX launch only two short months ago, NVIDIA now officially Coolermaster Silent Pro M500, M600 and M700 Power supply @ rbmods.com [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) Today the NDA lift for these three different PSU types. The M seriesPSU have the following main features, one 12V rail, flat modular cables andsilence ofcourse. Acer AL2016WB Widescreen 20-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at the Acer AL2016WB 20 Our 5 Favorite iPhone Apps @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-15-08] (0 Comments) The iPhone has been out for a while and Apple has just announced thenew iPhone 2.0. Many people are excited about the 2.0 firmware for bothversions of the iPhone because they will be able to download applicationsfor their iPhone for mobile use. Well I'm sure you have heard about peoplejailbreaking their iPhone's. That is the first thing that I did when I gotmy iPhone! Jailbreaking opens up the iPhone so you can put third partyapplications on it. There are a ton of applications out there, but we have alist of 5, which are our favorites. CradlePoint CTR500 3G Cellular Travel Router @ pcper.com [Jun-14-08] (0 Comments) The CradlePoint CTR500 is really an interesting all-in-one productthat can act as a normal broadband router, accepting a WAN connection fromcable or DSL internet lines and then creating a wireless network for yourhome or office. What really makes the CTR500 unique is its ability to use aUSB or Express Card based 3G wireless modem as the WAN connection, givingmobile users and teams the ability to maintain productivity and freedom frombe tethered to cables and switches. Power Supplies, Cooling and Cases @ pcper.com [Jun-14-08] (0 Comments) This is really an enthusiast chassis that is completely open,allowing for easy component replacement and adjustment. With slide outdrawers on rails that allow you to move the motherboard section and powersupply section out from under the ENORMOUS LED-lit fan, it is afrequent-component-changers dream case. Raidsonic IB-390StUSD-B HDD Docking Station @ rbmods.com [Jun-13-08] (0 Comments) With the need of more harddrive space we need more space to storethem. The latest HDD docking station makes it easy for you to swap drivesand take them with you wherever you might need them. It also looks good andis made out of a high quality casing... the question is; how well does itperform with a USB interface? Powerdrive Computers Discount - XSs @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) Powerdrive Computers and XSReviews haveworked together for some timenow, and to help continue this great relationship, the guysover there have been kind enough to offer all forum members a 10%discount. Thermaltake @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) Although we were unable to make it out to Taipei for Computex thisyear our friends at Thermaltake were nice enough to give us all theinformation on their new cases, power supplies, and coolers. Although theydid not announce as many products as they did during CES they still had somereally cool new products. Let's take a look and see what Thermaltake has instore for us! OCZ Rally2 Turbo Flash Drive @ modders-inc.com [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) One of OCZs offerings, the OCZ Rally2 Turbo USB 2.0 Flash Driveallows you to transfer large music, picture, videos, and data files to yourlaptop or desktop in record times. AMD Continues Support and Development with Havok Physics @ pcper.com [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) It's this next line that really puzzles me: Silverstone Kublai KL03B-W Mid-Tower Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) Silverstone's third Kublai mid tower chassis is made for aficionados and serious computer enthusiasts that require a high level component ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf 7-inch Laptop @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-11-08] (0 Comments) When the Eee PC was announced many people were excited for it,myself included. The thought of a small 7-inch laptop for under $400 wouldexcite anyone! Now this is a budget notebook so you're not going to beplaying games on it, but for most people they do 2 things on their computer,surf the web and word processing. Having a small notebook that can easily becarried and used for those functions for that price tag is pretty amazing.Now the notebook comes with Linux pre-installed, that might be a barrier forsome people, but we will have to see how we like it. Read on to check outthe ASUS Eee PC! NorthQ Black Magic Flex 850W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-10-08] (0 Comments) Greetings once more, my good readers. We're continuing our magictheme here at jonnyGURU.com by taking a look at the NorthQ Black Magic 850Wunit. This is my second encounter with NorthQ after reviewing the GiantConnector 850W notlong ago, which you may recall that I gave high marks to. Will the BlackMagic be able to ensorcel me into giving it as good of a score? We shallsee. Meantime, let's all look at the box. Samsung SC-MX10 Digital Camcorder @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-10-08] (0 Comments) Digital cameras revolutionized the consumer photography scene and itseems that we are currently undergoing a similar revolution in the arena ofdigital videos. Up until now, most digital camcorders have been tooexpensive for the average consumer. With products like the Samsung SC-MX10Flash Memory Camcorder, it just got a heck of a lot easier for Joe Public totransform into the next Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese. Oh, I guess youshould have some movie-making talent before you can make that leap. Vendetta 2 vs TRUE vs HDT-S1283:Best of the Best CPU Coolers @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-10-08] (0 Comments) This article serves only one purpose:test three of the industry's most coveted coolers. Not very long ago Benchmark Reviews published Thermaltake Max 4 HDD Enclosure @ rbmods.com [Jun-09-08] (0 Comments) We need more and more harddrive space these days and our cases mightnot be able to handle all the drives so therefore there are external HDDenclosures on the market. Thermaltake is one of the companies that havereleased several different enclosures on the market and today we are goingto look at their Max 4 HDD enclosure with a blue led fan mounted on theside. How well does it perform, and will the drive stay stable even aftergaming? Zalman Reserator XT External Water Cooling System @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-09-08] (0 Comments) The Zalman Reserator XT offers more than your typical external watercooling system. It includes detailed gauges and sensors for the avid watercooler wanting to know what's going on. It also allows, with ease, thesupport for additional water blocks. Don't worry about remembering to refillthis system because it will tell you when it's thirsty. Read on further tosee what other features the Reserator XT has to offer. Akasa AK965BL socket 775 @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jun-09-08] (0 Comments) If you have been reading XtremeComputing for a while, you will know that we have already reviewed an AK965 cooler from Akasa, and found it to be very good performance for the money. So what is different about this AK965? Well the last version of the cooler was intended for the OEM/system builder market, and because of demand for the AK965 Akasa has released a slightly updated version (blue leds and fan) straight to retail. This should mean that it will be available to buy in even more places. Water Cooled Sapphire Radeon HD3870X2 Atomic @ modders-inc.com [Jun-07-08] (0 Comments) Leave it to Sapphire to drop the hammer and show us something newwith the Sapphire HD3870 X2 Atomic Water Cooled edition. Samsung 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor 2220WM-HAS @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-06-08] (0 Comments) High-resolution wide screen monitors are very hot right now. As with most computer trends, one will see a new technology start off VIA and NVIDIA Begin Beautiful Friendship @ pcper.com [Jun-06-08] (0 Comments) Believe it or not, this simple PCIe slot is that poster child of avast area of contention between VIA's and Intel's take on the mini-ITXdesigns. Intel is trying desperately to control how their Atom-basedplatforms are produced, what features they have and what price they sellfor in an attempt to control their overall product line and keep Atom fromcannibalizing the Celeron parts. That means no PCIe slots, limited DIMMsupport and almost no retail availability for Intel's Atom.VIA is obviously taking the other approach, opening up their mini-ITX 2.0solutions to any and all takers as they simply wanted to see their CPU andplatforms adopted by as many users and customers as possible. Corsair XMS3 DHX DDR3-1600 EPP 2.0 Certified 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-06-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at one of Corsair's latest system memoryproducts, the TW3X4G1600C9DHXNV, a PC3-12800 4 gig kit verified at DDR3-16009-9-9-24 @ 1.8v, and sports nVidia's EPP 2.0 nForce certification, alongwith Corsair's DHX patented heat spreaders. Will the XMS3 prove to be thestrong, stable, trustworthy product that we have come to expect from memorybearing the Corsair sails? Read on to see! TN GAMES FPS Vest - adding realism to games @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jun-06-08] (0 Comments) For this review I’ll be looking at something a little different from a, I assume, relative newcomer to the gaming accessory scene as before receiving the item for review I had never heard of them. The item under review today is the FPS Gaming Vest from TN Games. It’s a rather interesting item that should make compatible FPS games even more realistic by enabling users to “feel” the game. G.SKILL F3-12800CL7D DDR3 Memory @ rbmods.com [Jun-06-08] (0 Comments) Today we look at the new DDR3 kit from Gskill. The F3-12800CL7D seemsto be a middle class memory kit from Gskill that is supposed to perform verywell, it is also equipped with a new heatsink that is also supposed tooutperform the old design Gskill uses. Check out the rest of the review tosee what speeds we can boost this ram kit to. Thermaltake Bigwater 760i Liquid Cooling System @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-05-08] (0 Comments) Thermaltake has made water cooling easy with the Bigwater 760i 2UDrive Bay Liquid Cooling System. This system is internal and fits nicelyinto two empty drive bays in your case. This system has everything that youneed to get started, even coolant and tubing. This is the first watercooling system that I have ever built and found it quite easy and fun toinstall. This system provides many nice features even the water cooling guruwould find attractive. Read on further to find out what they are. QNAP NVR-1012 Wireless Network Surveillance Kit @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-05-08] (0 Comments) The age old saying of Foxconn GeForce 9800 GTX OC 512MB Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-04-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA usually pleases the enthusiast community with their product launches, and no launch has been more memorable lately than the GFXChilla by Coolink @ modders-inc.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) The GFXChilla is a new cooling solution for your graphics cardthat uses two fans and a series of heat pipes. It easily dropped thetemperatures of the video card and installing the card is a simple process. ASUS Eee PC Updates - 901 and 1000 Series @ pcper.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) The 1000 is still a bit of mystery when it comes to specifications,but we DO know that it will at least offer some WiMAX connectivity and 3Gcellular network connections. As the model number suggests, the Eee PC 1000has a 10 NVIDIA Tegra 650 Mobile Processor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA has done very well for itself over the past decade. While most of the world can recognize the chip-maker for its popular GeForce Apevia Warlock Power 900W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) Apevia comes to us today with a checkered history among those whoknow about power supplies. Today, I am looking at the Warlock Power 900Wunit, which promises to change people's minds about Apevia; offering plentyof power for today's high end systems. Will it prevail in its quest toimprove Apevia's image? You be the judge. Zalman Trimon ZM-M220W Monitor @ rbmods.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) Zalman is mostly known from their high quality cooling solutions, but during the last months Zalman has expanded their product range to cover also other interesting products. New products are FG1000, their new mice, and couple of innovative monitors. It is true, that display markets are full of products, which differ only a little from each other. Zalmans monitors have some attributes which other manufacturers do not. Zalman provided us ZM-M220W 3d-monitor for test and now we will have a look at it. Honeywell Arius 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor @ thinkcomputers.org [Jun-02-08] (0 Comments) Honeywell is not a name you think of when you think of LCD Monitors,actually they are very new into the market. Recently they partnered withSoyo to produce LCD monitors and televisions. We got a chance to take a lookat one of their latest LCD's the very affordable Topaz S 24-inch LCDmonitor. Now Honeywell has a new LCD that is a more advanced and premiumversion of the Topaz S. Let's take a look at the Arius 22-inch WidescreenLCD Monitor! Palit GeForce 9600 GT 1GB Sonic @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jun-02-08] (0 Comments) The Palit GeForce 9600 GT Sonic provides users with the best image quality and most flexible visual experience regardless of the output The Mobile Charge @ pcper.com [Jun-02-08] (0 Comments) In our line of thinking we often consider the CPU the core of theplatform, but that is beginning to change. In the Tegra line the CPU actsas the conductor of the platform, but most of the performance features thatNVIDIA is pushing are actually accelerated by the graphics portion of theplatform. Consider how video decode and encode has gone from the CPU to theGPU in the past several years. This is merely an extension of that overalltrend, but trimmed down to the very basics. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jun-01-08] (0 Comments) A while back, we had a chance to check out the latest CPU cooler fromNoctua, a well-known maker of high quality cooling products. Noctua didn'tstop with just one CPU cooler; rather, they made a slightly larger versionthat accommodates 120mm fans. Will the Noctua NH-U12P CPU cooler prove thatbigger is better? Let's find out. AMD Phenom versus Athlon X2:Something Old, Something New... @ pcper.com [May-31-08] (0 Comments) We can safely assume that on AMD's current 65 nm process, we willnot see the Phenom go past 2.5 GHz. Going to 2.6 GHz and above would simplyresult in a product with an insanely high TDP and very stiff requirementsfor motherboard manufacturers to support in terms of power delivery. In thedesktop market, this is simply unacceptable. While AMD uses a system ofconstant improvement with their process technology, we are simply nearingthe end of what AMD can do with its 65 nm process. Apple iPod Touch 8GB and Giveaway! @ illuminandi.com [May-30-08] (0 Comments) Apple pulled all the stops for this device, and it shows. Presentation and looks are flawless, though the niche in the market for a device of this complexity and price is shrinking. ASUS EAH3850 X2 1GB Dual GPU Video Card @ thinkcomputers.org [May-30-08] (0 Comments) Recently, ASUS was among the first companies to put a pair of ATI HD3850s on a single graphics card, for a more affordable dual-GPU experience.I reviewed a Radeon HD 3850 (single GPU) earlier this year, and was veryimpressed with it.performance just shy of an 8800GT at $100 less. A pair onone card should be an awesome experience. Today I will be looking at theASUS EAH3850 X2 1GB, twin 3850s with 512MB each, one of the few on themarket. Will it meet my dual-3850 expectations? How will it compare to the9800GTX, nVidia's top of the line single-GPU card? Read on and see! NZXT Tempest Giveaway @ forum.benchmarkreviews.com [May-30-08] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews and NZXT have partnered to bring one very lucky winner a brand new NZXT TEMPEST enthusiast mid-tower computer case. Codename Isaiah @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-29-08] (0 Comments) On the 29th of May 2008 VIA announced the Nano CPU, a processor built from Isaiah architecture. Building on the market-leading energy ASUS Striker II NSE nForce 790i SLI Motherboard @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-29-08] (0 Comments) More than anything else, the new NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI chipset is designed for nextâ€generation processor technologies, and Cyber Snipa Stinger Laser Mouse @ thinkcomputers.org [May-29-08] (0 Comments) Most people probably haven't heard of the Cyber Snipa brand. Thiswas the first time that I've ever used or even heard of their products.Don't let this fool you. The Cyber Snipa Stinger is quite a powerful mouseand if you ask me, a better mouse than most other high end gaming mice. Itoffers everything you can think of in a gaming mouse:ergonomics,comfortable, weight system, mice feet, and horizontal scroll just to name afew. Read on further to see how good this mouse really is. VIA Nano Processor P - Isaiah Gets Official @ pcper.com [May-29-08] (0 Comments) If all goes as planned, the adoption rate for VIA's new processorshould be swift as the CPU is pin-to-pin compatible with any motherboardplatform built for the VIA C7 processor and uses the same bus technology andchipsets. This is something that Intel's Atom line of processors basedaround Silverthorne definitely cannot offer. Not only that but the VIA NanoProcessor and accompanying platform can support many features that Atomleaves behind like full speed PCI Express buses. Corsair Flash Voyager GT 16GB @ rbmods.com [May-28-08] (0 Comments) Flash memory has gotten bigger the past year and we have reviewedsizes up to 32 GB already. Today we are going to look at the Flash VoyagerGT with 16GB of memory and since it is the GT line it's supposed to be a bitfaster than the ordinary Voyager from Corsair. This line of flash memoryhave shown itself to be extremely durable and still has been able to performwell. We have tested the Voyager line before with boiling them, droppingfrom high hights, freezing, and even hitting them with a hammer and theyhave been able to withstand this treatment. Lets see what type ofperformance we can expect from this. ZEROtherm ZEN FZ 120 CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [May-28-08] (0 Comments) ZEROtherm has really made a name for themselves over the past year.The last 3 products we reviewed from them scored very high and all of themhave received awards. But there are still people who have not heard of them.Well ZEROtherm has announced a new cooler, the ZEN FZ 120, which they werekind enough to send us. Will it perform up to what we have grown to expectfrom ZEROtherm? Read on to find out... Vizo Propeller II @ modders-inc.com [May-28-08] (0 Comments) Computers of today are used in so many different ways thatgenerate tons of heat. So, for those of us who know more about computersthan just where the power button is, realize that we must do something toalleviate this problem if possible. One such way to do this is by utilizingsystem or case fans. VIA OpenBook Mini-Note Platform P @ pcper.com [May-27-08] (0 Comments) And that is exactly what VIA needs here:speed. The originalNanoBook was first, but only in being announced, and was beat to mainstreamaudiences by the ASUS Eee PC and we can all see how that turned out. VIAneeds to get partners on board with this SOON and get product in the channeljust as quickly. I wouldn't even be opposed to seeing some VIA brandedproduct hit the market if we could see some work done to setup a decentcustomer service outlet in the US. Current pricing estimates I am seeingput the OpenBook in the $400-600 price range depending on your options(HSDPA, etc). Hiper 880W Double Header Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [May-27-08] (0 Comments) Recently, I took a look at the Hiper Type M 580W ECS A780GM-A AMD 780G Motherboard @ pcper.com [May-27-08] (0 Comments) The general performance of the ECS A780GM-A was great. It performedon par in all tests with other boards of its class. It would make a greatworkstation or HTPC board. Serious gamers will probably look elsewhere, butthe integrated graphics would suit High Definition media well. The HybridCrossfire, while a great feature set, will only pair with lower end ATIgraphics cards, which defeats the purpose of paring cards for maximum gamingability. NZXT Tempest Case @ thinkcomputers.org [May-26-08] (0 Comments) NZXT has recently been coming out with some great mid tower cases.ThinkComputers got the chance to take a look at the new NZXT Tempest case.This case is probably different than most other cases you've seen because ithas a bottom, rather than top, mounted PSU. It also includes plenty offeatures for overclockers, water coolers, and storage fanatics, while stilldisplaying a sleek design. NZXT calls this the Razer Lycosa Keyboard @ rbmods.com [May-25-08] (0 Comments) You might have tried several keyboards but none really feels good. If that's the case then take a look attodays review; the Razer Lycosakeyboard. This is the latest gaming keyboard which has non slip rubberbuttons which probably will come in handy when gaming for hours. It alsohave backlight for the keys so you can see what keys you are using in thedark. Lets have a closer look at what we think about the keyboard. ASUS EN9800GTX Top 512MB Video Card @ thinkcomputers.org [May-23-08] (0 Comments) If you are like me, and have been happy with mid-range cards, spenda few hours at your favorite game played at the highest settings, using AA,and higher resolutions while using an upper end card, and you'll probablyrealize that you've been in denial for all of this time. Today I will belooking at the Asus EN9800GTX Top, a factory overclocked version of nVidia'slatest top-of-the-line single-GPU video card, with 512mb of DDR3 memory.Will this video card finally make me realize that rather than beingpractical when buying mid-range cards, I've just been cheap? Read on andsee! Synology Disk Station DS107+ @ modders-inc.com [May-23-08] (0 Comments) The DS107+ is a great solution for small businesses or home usersthat are looking for a reliable easy to use NAS setup. Plus being able torun a web server, FTP, Multimedia server and more makes this a must havesolution for your home network. Saitek Cyborg Laser Gaming Mouse @ thinkcomputers.org [May-23-08] (0 Comments) The Cyborg Laser Mouse is a part of many other gaming peripherals onthe Cyborg series put out by Saitek. This mouse offers a unique design withmany features. These include pre-installed Hyperglide mouse feet, 10programmable buttons, 3200DPI, and a motorized mouse extension. I've seenmice with adjustable weights and adjustable buttons before, but this is thefirst time that I have seen a mouse with an adjustable length. Read onfurther to see the mouse in action. Aeneon Xtune DDR3-1600 2GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ thinkcomputers.org [May-21-08] (0 Comments) A few months ago I reviewed the Aeneon Xtune DDR3-1333 2GB kit fromQimonda. It was an impressive pair of memory modules from a company we'dnever heard of. The kit was very flexible, gaining tighter timings at lowerclockrates, and overclocked reasonably well, all at the PC3 standard of1.5v. Today I will be looking at Aeneon's latest PC3 kit, their DDR3-16002GB kit. It is rated at DDR3-1600, CL9, once again at the standard 1.5v.Will this new kit impress us as well as the earlier kit did? Continuereading to see. ASUS BC-1205PT SATA Blu-ray Disc Optical Drive @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-21-08] (0 Comments) The HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc format war is finally over. Now that Toshiba and Mircosoft have both jumped ship on HD-DVD, for the first OCZ Technology 64GB SATA-II Solid State Disk - SSD Update! @ pcper.com [May-21-08] (0 Comments) The new OCZ 64GB SATA-II SSD drive improves on the previous OCZmodel's performance quite dramatically in burst speeds, average transferspeeds and especially write speeds that suffered horribly before. While theold drive really only was shining in the random performance tests the newrevision is competing or beating the WD VelociRaptor (the fastest standarddrive available for consumers) across the entire testing array. Even thoughthe burst speed of the OCZ 64GB SATA-II SSD is less than half that of the WDVelociRaptor it is able to average a transfer speed just 18% behind at 95.1MB/s sustained. Razer Piranha Headset @ rbmods.com [May-20-08] (0 Comments) There are a few things you can't be without when you are a gamer andthat is a good mouse and a good headset. Razer can provide you with both andfor tonights review they have provided me with the Piranha headset fromtheir latest headphone lineup. This Piranha headset seems exceptionallysmall and easy to use while it is supposed to have a very clear noisefiltering microphone. We are going to give this headset a go and have a few World of Warcraftplayers have their say when it comes to the microphone quality. Targus Fandango Tote Women's Laptop Bag @ thinkcomputers.org [May-20-08] (0 Comments) When it comes to laptop bags women do not have that much varietywhen it comes to laptop bags. Women usually carry more things than men so itwould be nice if there was a laptop bag that could accommodate them. WellTargus has the answer with the Fandango Tote, which is a laptop bag that notonly accommodates everything that a woman would carry, but looks good too.Let's take a look... Seventeam Hurricane 1200W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [May-20-08] (0 Comments) In December, we took a look at the flagship of the SeventeamElectronics fleet, the Thundering 1200W. Recently, the folks at Seventeamasked us to take a look at the modular version of this mammoth beast, theHurricane 1200W. Join me on a tour through our torture park as I find outjust what this massive unit is made of and if it performs any differentlyfrom its brother. Will the platform earn a recommendation this time around? The AMD GAME! Experience - AMD Wants to Standardize PC Gaming @ pcper.com [May-20-08] (0 Comments) One question that immediately came to mind while sitting andstarting at this information was:will it actually help? One of keyproblems with the PC gaming market (and that AMD agrees with) is that thevariances in hardware, drivers, vendors and software make compatibility anissue and lead gamers into negative experiences that sour the PC as a gamingplatform. AMD's goal was to try and prevent that issue by creating GAME!that would attempt to set certain standards for PC in order to guarantee aquality gaming experience. Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center @ thinkcomputers.org [May-19-08] (0 Comments) Home theater PC's have become very popular lately. It seems almosteveryone I know has been taking their old computers and turning them intomedia machines. Well what if you want the best media machine money can buy?The Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center could be just that. Alienwareis mainly known for making gaming machines, so it will be interesting to seehow they do on the Hangar18. The Hangar18 is an all-in-one media machinethat can play DVD's or Blu-ray media, watch live TV, watch internet TV,listen to music, and share it all wirelessly. Let's check it out! Asus EN9800GX2 TOP Videocard @ rbmods.com [May-18-08] (0 Comments) Todays review will be about the new 9800GX2 TOP videocard from Asus.This badboy seems to have pretty much everything when it comes to featuresand speed. You end up paying around 550$ USD for this card so the questionremains, is it really worth it or are there cheaper solutions on the marketthat can give similar performance? It's a Mod Thing @ modders-inc.com [May-17-08] (0 Comments) It's A Mod Thing!! You see, modders are that rare species that cantake any aspect, well of just about anything, and associate it with a mod oreven make a mod out of it, or build a mod into it. Modders-Inc Mod Your Mouse Contest @ modders-inc.com [May-17-08] (0 Comments) Grab that mouse and mod it like there is no tomorrow. Cut it, paintit, put a window in it, do whatever it takes to win theses great prizes fromXTracPads and Logitech. LaCie Mini Hub 500GB USB 2.0 FireWire External Hard Drive @ thinkcomputers.org [May-16-08] (0 Comments) Looking for a new external hard drive? Tired of reaching behind yourcomputer to access USB or FireWire ports? Well the mini Hub 500GB USB 2.0FireWire External Hard Drive is perfect for you. It offers the functionalityof an external hard drive while providing 4 USB and 2 FireWire hub ports.This drive is a very sturdy hard drive and provides a unique design whichmakes it stackable with Mac Mini's. Read on further to see what thisexternal hard drive is all about. Lian Li PC-A09B Classical Series Mid-Tower Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-16-08] (0 Comments) Lian Li is known for well made products when it comes to stylish computer cases and functional chassis. They have been on the market for ASUS Radeon HD 3850 X2 1GB - Mainstream Dual-GPU Option @ pcper.com [May-15-08] (0 Comments) The ASUS Radeon HD 3850 X2 1GB turned out to be a surprisinglycompetent graphics card that augments the gaping hole between the HD 3870 X2and the HD 3870 in the product stack. ASUS is the only card vendorcurrently selling this product design and its likely they will remain so asthe life span of the RV670 creeps along. But with the aggressive pricingASUS has put on the product (that hopefully becomes MORE aggressive) the9800 GTX from NVIDIA has a new, and very competent, competitor. If ASUS andAMD can get the word about this custom ASUS-built Radeon HD 3850 X2 it mightbreathe new life into AMD's GPUs this spring. Lian-Li PC V1010 Case @ thinkcomputers.org [May-15-08] (0 Comments) I liken Lian-Li to the Mercedes-Benz of the chassis design world.The Taiwan-based company designs its chassis with sleek, conservative styleand hand-builds cases out of lightweight, yet durable aluminum. The chassisare generally not flashy, but are very, very conducive for high-performancecooling while overclocking. Lian-Li recently renewed its V series line-upwith five new cases:PC-V2110, PC-V2010, PC-V1110, PC-V1000Z, and the focusof this review, the PC-V1010. ThinkComputers goes inside the Lian-LiPC-V1010 chassis in this review. Vizo Mini Ninja at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [May-15-08] (0 Comments) Overall, the Vizo Mini Ninja is a well made little notebookcooler. It is fairly compact, light weight, and sturdy. Being made of a nicegrade of aluminum, it is going to be structurally durable for an extendedtime. Lexar Gaming Edition 2GB SD Card and 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo @ rbmods.com [May-15-08] (0 Comments) With flash memory getting cheaper and capacity getting larger, itmakes more sense than ever to purchase a new card for your gaming system orfor any other device that takes it. What makes these cards special is thatthey feature free downloadable Xploder Lite software, meaning that theyessentially, and I quote, give OCZ SATA-II 32GB 2.5-Inch SSD OCZSSD2-1S32G @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-14-08] (0 Comments) Perhaps Benchmark Reviews like to ride the edge of technology just a little too close, since we've tested more DDR3 and SSD's than almost Hiper Osiris Mid Tower @ pro-clockers.com [May-14-08] (0 Comments) But as of late, Hiper's claim to fame is the Anubis. A 6063 T5 Alloycase that boasts plenty of features that make air ventilation and watercooling an ease to setup. This case saw itself on the front page of a lot ofwell known websites. The Anubis received all kinds of awards for it superbconstruction, its ease to assemble, its roominess and its stealth features.We, here at Pro-Clockers, were not lucky enough to review the Anubis but wewill make up for it today by reviewing the Osiris. Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 1TB External Hard Drive @ thinkcomputers.org [May-13-08] (0 Comments) Terabyte hard drives are becoming more popular with the need formore hard drive space. If you're looking to expand your hard drive capacityI think the Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 1TB External Hard Drive would be greatfor you. This drive includes USB and Dual FireWire interfaces with availablecapacities of 250GB, 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB. The drive is jam packed withplenty of software to suffice the most avid external storage fanatics, whilebeing easy to use for the everyday individual. Read on further to see whatall this OneTouch drive has to offer. Sapphire HD 3650 OC ATi Video Card @ pro-clockers.com [May-13-08] (0 Comments) Sapphire has been around long enough to know how to put out a greatvideo card. Just a few weeks ago we took a long look at the Toxic 3870 whichis an overclocked 3870 with a single slot cooling system. Yeah that was agood one. But now we are here to take a look at the budget HD3650 fromSapphire. But this budget card has an added punch to its core and memoryclocks as it is overclocked as well, just like the Toxic 3870. Enermax Modu82+ 625W Power Supply @ pcper.com [May-13-08] (0 Comments) The new Modu82+ and Pro82+ power supplies from Enermax were designedto deliver stable outputs with high efficiency and minimal noise. In factthe Modu82+ and Pro82+ power supplies are some of the first to be certifiedunder the new 80 Plus Bronze classification to be at least 82% efficient at20% and 100% of the rated output and at least 85% efficient at 50% of therated output power. And as you will see later on, the Modu82+ 625W unit wehave in for review proved to be the quietest power supply we have tested todate! Corsair HX1000 Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Corsair has been taunting and teasing us for months now with theprospect of their very first foray into the 1kW jungle. And now, our waitingis over. Join me as I pit the HX1000 in a battle to the death against my hotbox of doom and a SunMoon ATE. Sunbeamtech Quarterback Case @ modders-inc.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Sunbeamtechs budget case, the Quarterback, is a standard ATX casewith some rather interesting features. It has got a unique cooling optioncalled the Core Fan Design that helps keep temperatures down. The case isalso tool less and has plenty of room inside for today's larger video cards. System Memory Technology Explained @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) These are uncertain financial times we live in today, and the rise and fall of our economy has had direct affect on consumer spending. It Gigabyte X48 DQ6 Socket 775 Motherboard @ pro-clockers.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Gigabyte being a leader in motherboards is making it easy on us tohave the best when new chipsets are released. They have being right there,first to market, when Intel believed it was time for change. This used to bea position held by Asus. Gigabyte is the first to bring us the new X48chipset to our rigs. This honor belongs to the X48-DQ6 and X48T-DQ6, DDR2and DDR3 versions respectively. The DQ6 being the high end model forGigabyte, it has all the bells and whistles. From complex cooling systems tohigh-end capacitors you can't ask for more in a motherboard except forexcellent overclocking. Can the X48-DQ6 accomplish what we achieved withEX-38 just a few weeks ago? Cyber Snipa Warboard Gaming Keyboard @ pro-clockers.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) The Warboard looks to be the weapon you would like to take intobattle with. Equipped with more keys than shells in a M16. Aimed with moreprogrammable keys then most other keyboards on the market, the Warboard canbe customized to your every command. There are many keyboards that come withcustomizable keys; well, Cyber Snipa did one up and added anti-ghosting aswell as other features that you probably didn't know were possible in akeyboard. Anti-ghosting? You have to read thru the review to find out. SilverStone TS01B 2.5 sata Enclosure with RFID @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [May-12-08] (0 Comments) For this review I will be looking at a new product from the highly respected pc hardware manufacturer SilverStone. The product I will be looking at is a laptop hard drive enclosure, the SilverStone TS01B, but this is an enclosure with a difference it utilises RFID security. Noctua NH-U9B CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Noctua, makers of some of the best case fans on the market, hasbranched out into the CPU cooler market, which is a move that makes sensesince they already dominate the high-end fan market. They sent us one oftheir new CPU coolers, the Noctua NH-U9B, to test out. Will this be anatural expansion of their product line or will we find growing pains? Readon to find out. Palit GeForce 9600GT 1GB Sonic Video Card @ thinkcomputers.org [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at the Palit 9600GT 1GB Sonic. The 9600GT isnVidia's latest mid-range GeForce card, and rather than the reference 512gigs of DDR3 memory, Palit has opted to add a full gig of memory, along witha heatpipe cooler, to this card. How will it stand up against the lastgeneration of GeForce mid-range cards? Continue reading to see... NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [May-11-08] (0 Comments) Laptops are really becoming popular, especially when it comes todesktop replacements. Many laptops now are just as powerful as desktopcomputers if not more powerful. A lot of people now prefer laptops overdesktop because they can easily take the laptop with them and they take upless space on their desk. One thing about laptops is they easily overheat,especially gaming laptops. That is where notebook coolers come in. Today wewill be looking at the Cryo LX notebook cooler from NZXT, which looks like apretty extreme notebook cooler. Razer Destructor Professional Gaming Mat @ thinkcomputers.org [May-08-08] (0 Comments) The Razer Destructor Professional Gaming Mat is certainly somethinggamers should look into buying. Razer's test showed an increase in trackingof 37% with laser mice and 25% compared to other gaming-grade surfaces. Thissurface is of the highest quality. Razer claims it as the Razer Fractalsurface for high-precision gameplay. Something that you probably haven'tseen with any other gaming-grade mousepad is a protective carrying case,which comes included with the Destructor. Perfect for on-the-go gamers. Xigmatek Achilles S1284 HDT CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-07-08] (0 Comments) Xigmatek has really made a name for themselves over the past year thanks to the Heat-pipe Direct Touch technology that they have OCZ ReaperX HPC DDR3-1333 2GB Memory Kit @ thinkcomputers.org [May-07-08] (0 Comments) In a few short years, OCZ has really made its mark in the PCenthusiast world. They have branched out into power supplies, CPU coolers,thermal compound, peripherals, flash media, they even have a newphase-change cooler for those extreme overclockers that need sub-zero temps.But, OCZ's forte is still high-performance system memory. Today I will belooking at OCZ's latest offering in the ReaperX series, the ReaperX PC3-1066(DDR3-1333) 2 gig kit. Will the DDR3 ReaperX prove to be the awesomeoverclocker that its DDR2 little brother is? Read on and see... ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe - nForce 780a SLI for Phenom Arrives @ pcper.com [May-07-08] (0 Comments) The drawbacks to the Hybrid Power though outweigh the positives inthis current implementation. First, only the 9800 GTX and the 9800 GX2graphics cards are supported with the 780a SLI chipset - that leaves a wholehost of NVIDIA users with 9600 GTs, 8800 GTS and GT cards that probablythink they have the right to Hybrid Power technology since their cores arebased on the same that rests under the hoods of the 9800 GTX and GX2. Also,the REAL KILLER here is that NVIDIA is promoting the nForce 780a SLI chipsetas an enthusiast platform, and pushing Hybrid Power with these high endcards, yet the fact that the motherboard GPU can only output at 1920x1200resolutions is not-so-cleverly hidden. In Win B2 Stealth Bomber Case @ rbmods.com [May-07-08] (0 Comments) Today we take a look at the InWin stealh bomber case and as the namereveals is inspired from an airplane. Inwin has been in the case market fora long time and they have now started to focus on designed cases which youmight see if you take a quick look at their website. We are going to belooking through this case in tonights review and we will also show you themain feature this case has which is a motorized front door. Sapphire Hybrid CrossFire 780G Motherboard @ modders-inc.com [May-06-08] (0 Comments) Are you in the market for a small form factor m-ATX motherboardthat can give you blistering performance for your multimedia needs, plus theability to play the latest Direct X 10 games? And as a bonus you can installa second card to gain CrossFireX for your games. Then you have to check outthe Sapphire PURE Hybrid CrossFire 780G Innovation Motherboard. Zalman ZM850-HP 850W Modular Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [May-06-08] (0 Comments) A little while ago, ThinkComputers reviewed the Zalman ZM500-HP 500Wpower supply unit. This time around, Zalman, maker of fine cooling productsand power supplies, submitted for review a more powerful, but louder versionof its line of power supply units, the ZM850-HP 850W. This 80PLUS-certifiedunit has lots of connectivity with its modular design, and two heatpipes andan ultra-quiet fan keep the unit virtually silent. The review is here. Vantec NexStar 3i Power Management Enclosure @ pro-clockers.com [May-06-08] (0 Comments) Vantec has added another member to the NexStar 360 lineup. The 3iboasts some things that we have not seen from Vantec in their many ages inthe industry. In the past year or so we have seen motherboards featureenergy efficiency, now we have it in hard drive enclosures. The 3i has anintegrated controller that can regulate power to the drive resulting in lesspower consumption, less noise and longer drive life. Adding the real reasonwhy we buy hard drive enclosures, which is for data storage, the new Vantechousing may be worth taking a look at. NZXT Alpha Classical Series Mid-Tower Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [May-06-08] (0 Comments) Fortunately, since the PC Enclosure market is roughly organized into three segments; entry/OEM level, mid-range and GlacialPower GP-PS550BP Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [May-05-08] (0 Comments) We continue our exploration of some of the market's lesser knownpower supplies today with the GP-PS550BP from GlacialTech, a budget unitfeaturing semi-fanless operation, passive PFC, and a promise by the companyof being capable of full power to 45 degrees. EVGA UV Plus+ External USB VGA Adapter @ pcper.com [May-05-08] (0 Comments) I tested the UV Plus+ out for several hours on this configuration aswell as on another desktop system and did not run into any problems. Thesecondary display was always correctly recognized and easily configured.The speed of the display was JUST noticeably slower than the primary displayattached to the video card but even though I could notice it if I tried, itdid not affect my productivity at all. I ran Vista on both test systems,one 32-bit and one 64-bit, without seeing any problems with the Aerointerface that of course requires 3D acceleration. The GPU was more thancapable of handling the necessary processing for both displays. Corsair Voyager 32GB Flash Drive @ pro-clockers.com [May-05-08] (0 Comments) How would you like to have 32 gigs of storage in your front pocket?There was a time when just a one gig flash drive was the 'big drive'. Justenough storage room to transport a few pictures of the loved ones or enoughto hold a few songs to share with your best friend. Times have changed andneeds have increased. Now we have movies, programs and other large forms offiles that would shallow a one gig drive. That's when a drive like theVoyager comes into play. Besides an abundance of space, the Voyager is rigidand durable as well. ASRock Penryn 1600SLIX3-WiFi 680i Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [May-05-08] (0 Comments) ASRock came on board in 2002, not long after I started building myown rigs. In those six short years, they have come up with some remarkablyinnovative designs for economy motherboards. Today I will be looking at theASRock Penryn 1600SLIX3-WiFi motherboard. ASRock has taken the nVidia 680iSLI chipset, given it the capability of running the new Core 2 Extreme1600mHz FSB processors, added WiFi, and placed that in an economy-mindedboard. Geeks HP Jornada 728 @ rbmods.com [May-05-08] (0 Comments) Looking for something smaller than a laptop to fulfill your computingneeds? Many have turned to handheld PCs as a substitute, but some lack allthe features/applications needed. Geeks.com, popular online retailer ofcomputer hardware, offers one such device, the HP Jornada 728, which comesloaded with applications in a compact size. Will this device offer thesolution to your portable computing needs? Read on to find out. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [May-03-08] (0 Comments) The NH-U12P is the newer version of the NH-U12. It has the samebasic features as the NH-U12F, but is paired with the new Noctua NF-P12120mm fan. The Noctua NH-U12P has shown that it preforms better than itsolder brother, the Noctua NH-U12F. Aqua Computer Aquaduct 360 XT Water Cooling System @ pcper.com [May-02-08] (0 Comments) The Aqua Computer Aquaduct 360 XT is an excellent water coolingsolution capable of handling the latest CPUs and video cards. It deliversvery good cooling to multiple components. The Aquaduct 360 XT exhibitsexcellent build quality and highlights German engineering at its best. Itcomes with Aqua Computers advanced Aquaero controller and Aquasuitesoftware, which allows monitoring and controlling just about every variablein the water cooling system. This feature alone places the Aquaduct 360 XTin a class of its own. And while the cooling performance of the AquagraFX8800 GTX video card cooler was good, the performance of the new Cuplex XTDual Impact CPU waterblock was outstanding. Aeneon XTune DDR3-1333 @ pro-clockers.com [May-02-08] (0 Comments) If you are not familiar with Aeneon's DDR3 modules here is a quickrundown. Aeneon makes two different lines of DDR3, the first is their'value' line which has no heat spreaders and a better price point. But thesecond series is the one that many of us would choose as it is meant for theoverclocker and gamer that wants the most out of their rig. XTune is whatthis line is called and sports a very clean set of heat spreaders and prettygood timings. For those that are into numbers, how does 8-8-8-15 at just 1.5volts sound? Spire SP332CB 3.5" Internal Card Reader @ rbmods.com [May-02-08] (0 Comments) Since the early 90s you may have found a cooler made by Spire in yourcomputers. Spire is known of its cheap CPU coolers which are mainly used inlow-end and home user computers. On the other hand, Spire has been wellknown of its USB Hard disk enclosures. This time, we will have a look ofSpires new 3.5 Diamond Radeon HD 3870 1GB Graphics Card @ pcper.com [May-01-08] (0 Comments) In a couple of cases, mainly in Bioshock and World in Conflict, theextra frame buffer made a noticeable impact on our gaming experience andallowed us to play much more comfortably at the 1920x1200 settings than onany other single-GPU AMD graphics card. In the rest of the titles we playedthrough the 1GB card offered no benefits over the 512MB versions - and thiswas surprising in cases like Call of Juarez that are heavily dependent onmemory subsystem performance. NZXT Tempest Giveaway @ forum.benchmarkreviews.com [May-01-08] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews and NZXT have partnered to bring one very lucky winner a brand new NZXT TEMPEST enthusiast mid-tower computer case. All Targus Travel Power Outlets @ thinkcomputers.org [May-01-08] (0 Comments) When you are traveling you bring a ton of gadgets with you, I know Ido. I have my laptop, cell phone, MP3 player, and digital camera with me atthe very least. All of these gadgets need recharged, but it is sort of hardwith the 1-2 extra outlets that most hotel rooms have. Usually I have tobring a large surge protector, that is a pain since they are huge and takeup a lot of room in my carry-on. Targus has come up with the perfectsolution, the Travel Power Outlets. It is a portable power strip thatprovides 4 outlets in a very small package. Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-30-08] (0 Comments) The Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator headset is perfect for gamersof all types. This headset is geared towards gamers, but in my mind, isperfect for anyone looking for a quality headset with a quality microphone,especially those who use voice chat on the PC. Most of the headsets that Ihave had have been rather uncomfortable for extended periods of time, butthe Razer Piranha is different; it provides comfort for extended periods ofuse. If you're in the market for a new headset the Piranha is definitelysomething you should consider. Samsung SyncMaster 245BW Widescreen LCD Monitor @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-30-08] (0 Comments) We have spent a lot of time at Benchmark Reviews talking about video cards recently - and with good reason. The discrete graphics segment Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock @ modders-inc.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) Ever found yourself in the need to be able to take a huge amountof computer related files with you on the road or say just over to a friendshouse. Vantec just may have the answer you are looking for with their newNexStar Hard Drive Dock. Scythe Shuriken Low Low-Profile CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) If you fall into the category of the individual who does not need alot of cooling then Scythe's newest offering may be just what you need. TheShuriken is a whole lot of cooler in a small package. If you were lookingfor a 815 plus gram behemoth like Scythe's other newest coolers, the NinjaCopper and Zipang, don't look any further. Beyond this page is a lightweightof a cooler. At just over 355 grams, the Shuriken is geared at the Intel andAMD stockers. The Shuriken looks a whole lot like the Zipang, but does so ona smaller scale, so how is the cooling? Lets find out what she can do. PCPer Hardware Leaderboard @ pcper.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) The High End system also saw a price increase going from $1245 to$1399 - a modest increase I think considering the changes I implemented.First we moved to a new Yorkfield, 45nm Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processorbut kept the 780i SLI chipset motherboard. I also upgraded graphics card inthis system as well with the new 9800 GTX card - a great single-GPU boardthat offers 8800 Ultra-like performance at a lower price. Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) ThinkComputers looked at Cooler Master's Real Power Pro series lastyear when I reviewed the 650W version. Cooler Master submitted its bigbrother, the 1000W version, to us for review. This powerhouse (literally) isready to pump juice into a high-end gaming rig, possibly with multiple videocards or multiple processors. ThinkComputers has the review herein. Modders-Inc Mod Your Mouse Contest @ modders-inc.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) Grab that mouse and mod it like there is no tomorrow. Cut it, paintit, put a window in it, do whatever it takes to win theses great prizes fromXTracPads and Logitech. Futuremark 3DMark Vantage Benchmark P @ pcper.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) For those of you interested in the actual weighting of graphics andCPU tests as well as how the individual game tests and CPU tests all add up.One interesting note is that as we move up from Entry to Extreme the amountthat Futuremark has weighted the CPU score decreases. This is aninteresting side note in the current GPU/CPU debate as Futuremark seems tobe saying that in lower end systems the CPU is much more important than inthe extreme gaming PCs. Nzxt Tempest Case @ rbmods.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) The Swedish distributor for Nzxt send us their latests case namedTempest. Nzxt has earlier been well know for their superb designs on thecase but they have lacked a bit when it comes to functionality and quality.Will this case change this? We are going to see what type of features theyhave been able to manage in to this case that they call the Razer Destructor Mouse Pad @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-28-08] (0 Comments) Razer is one of the biggest players in keyboards and mice so theywere the first on my list of manufacturers to contact when I started lookingfor the ultimate mouse pad. After contacting Razer, the rep told me theDestructor was the one. Targeted toward everyday PC users to extreme gamersand everyone in-between the Destructor is aiming to fit the bill for anyonetired of the insensitivity of most mouse surfaces and looking for anadvantage at work or at play. Honeywell 22-Inch LCD Monitor MT-SY-HWLM2216 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-28-08] (0 Comments) Honeywell is brand new to the LCD monitor industry, which is why they called upon the expertise of SOYO. After making giant waves in the Cooler Master Giveaway @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-27-08] (0 Comments) ThinkComputers has teamed up with Cooler Master to give you anothercontest. They will be providing us with 3 great prizes to give away! We havea Stacker 830 full tower PC Case, Real Power Pro 1000W Power Supply, andSphere CPU Cooler. These are 3 great products and we are giving them awayfor free! Just like the previous contest we will be running this one on theforums. To qualify for any of the prizes you need 35 posts in our forums andNEED to reply to this post. That gives you 1 entry into the contest. We willbe doing Cooler Master trivia all throughout the contest. Check back to thisforum thread for trivia questions. Once they are posted you will have 24hours to answer them. To answer them you will need to send me a message onthe forums with the answer. Each correct answer you submit will give you anextra entry into the contest. MotorStorm for Playstation 3 @ rbmods.com [Apr-27-08] (0 Comments) As the best selling Playstation 3 game as of February 2008, there wasalways a lot of hype surrounding this game. A less-than-typical racer, thisgame prefers off-road, muddy fun over serious, tight cornering track-basedaction. But how will it fare, and is its reputation deserved? OCZ Technology 64GB SATA-I Solid State Disk @ pcper.com [Apr-26-08] (0 Comments) I knew coming into this review that the solid state drives weregoing to differ greatly from standard hard drives in terms of performancebut I didn't know exactly how much and in which ways. The very obviousstrong spot for the OCZ 64GB SSD is the pure speed it demonstrated in randomaccess times; with a time of 0.2 ms compared to the 6.9 ms of our fastestplatter-based hard drive the OCZ SSD is 345x faster in get that single bitof data. This can obviously incredible beneficial to applications thatutilize a HUGE amount of random reads as long as those reads are for verysmall bits of data. Larrabee team member speaks on rasterization @ pcper.com [Apr-25-08] (0 Comments) There's no doubt Larrabee is going to be the world's most awesomeraytracer. It's going to be the world's most awesome chip at a lot of heavycomputing tasks - that's the joy of total programmability combined withserious number-crunching power. But that is cool stuff for those that wantto play with wacky tech. We're not assuming everybody in the world will dothis, we're not forcing anyone to do so, and we certainly can't just do itbehind their backs and expect things to work - that would be absurd.Raytracing on Larrabee is a fascinating research project, it's an excitingnew way of thinking about rendering scenes, just like splatting or voxels orany number of neat ideas, but it is absolutely not the focus of Larrabee'sprimary rendering capabilities, and never has been - not even for a moment. Cyber Snipa Stringer Gaming Mouse @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-25-08] (0 Comments) The new Stinger from Cyber Snipa shares the weight system of theLogitech G5 and G9. This was enough to make me want to review it. This isnot the only similarities between the two but can Cyber take thesimilarities and take it a step further? Noctua NF-P12 Case Fan @ modders-inc.com [Apr-25-08] (0 Comments) Noctua has come up with another uniquely designed fan, the NF-P12.Although some might mistakenly think these are similar to their NF-S12 fansdue to the colors used. They are completely different in design. NorthQ Siberian Tiger Water Cooler @ jonnyguru.com [Apr-25-08] (0 Comments) The Siberian Tiger water cooling system is a sealed CPU watercooling system that takes a lot of the headaches out of water cooling. Youdon't have to worry about filling or draining the system every time you needto pull your rig down. Antec Mini P180 mATX Case @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Antec is never stopping with the introduction of new cases. If seemslike every 3 months or so there is a new case to drool over. That new casetoday is the tiny brother case of the P180 which is simply labeled the P180Mini. The Mini carries many of the features of the P180 but in a smallershell. The only thing that is lacking is the spacing of the P180. But thecompartments and cable management systems remain in place. But what the Minihas over the regular size P180 is lighter weight and somewhat portability.It is definitely one for the person that is lacking room to house a biggersize tower but is it one for the LAN goers? This is what we will find out. Buffalo TeraStation Pro II 1TB Rackmount NAS @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Some organizations-or people-need serious storage. Sometimes asimple server running Windows 2003 or Linux might not be sufficient, interms of storage space, redundancy, or cost for all of these. The BuffaloTeraStation Pro II series of network-attached storage devices aims to pleaseusers and administrators who need a large amount of redundant storage,automatic backups to other units, gigabit networking, and the ability toincrease the capacity. ThinkComputers takes a look at the one terabyterackmount version in this review. ASUS Radeon HD 3850 X2 1GB hits PCPer @ pcper.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) The estimated price on the ASUS EAH3850 X2 1GB card is $349 and itshould be available starting sometime next week. That price tag places thecard between the HD 3870 single-GPU cards (some of which have come out with1GB of memory as well) and the dual-GPU HD 3870 X2s. This is indeed an areathat AMD needs to address as they have no other GPU options for gamers inthe $250-$350 range. Hopefully we'll see the the HD 3850 X2 1GB models frommore vendors causing a price drop closer to $300. Asus 9600 GT TOP Videocard @ rbmods.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Today we take a look at a new videocard from Asus. It this in themiddle class segment on the market but the question is how it actuallyperforms. We are goint to compare it vs the 8800GT and Asus 3850 videocardsto see what type of performance we can expect. Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider @ ngohq.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Microsoft did well bringing the 64-bit architecture to Windows Vista but somehow they screwed up. Apparently they forgot who their target audience was when they introduced a very restricted module of driver signature enforcement. In laymen's terms, all drivers and system files must be digitally verified or they cannot run when using the 64-bit version of Vista. In the past it was possible to turn that feature off; but due to new kernel security updates it is impossible to turn it off without degrading security and stability of your operating system.In order to turn this off it involves uninstalling critical security updates that Microsoft has released to increase system security. Sadly, this feature makes Windows Vista 64-bit into a closed and locked down operation system.So what's the problem with digital certificates? Well, the problem is. developers have to pay Microsoft to receive verified certificates, and that makes many applications inaccessible under Windows Vista 64-bit. This driver signature enforcement can be a serious pain to end-users; however it is still possible to turn it off by disabling it up by pressing the F8 function key during system boot up.Pressing F8 every time on boot up can be a serious pain in the ass and frustrating to those that miss the time window available to press F8 during start up. Others have found workarounds, but most of them are too complicated for the average end user to perform, atleast until now. Noctua NH-U12P CPU cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Apr-23-08] (0 Comments) Noctua have a justified reputation of silent, yet powerful cooling. Partnering with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology(!) allows some serious science behind their products, and as seen in the performance of their NT-H1 thermal paste we reviewed recently it seems to work. So it is with piqued interest that I will be looking at their 120mm-fan based cooler; the NH-U12P. Xigmatek Red Scorpion S1283 HDT CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-23-08] (0 Comments) Inheriting a design from the HDT-S1283 it is derived from, Xigmatek's Red Scorpion S1283 offers some additional glamour to the already Tuniq Ensemble 1200W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-22-08] (0 Comments) Tuniq is a performance chassis and power supply purveyor subsidiaryof cooling, lighting, and chassis maker Sunbeamtech. Tuniq is in the NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2 @ modders-inc.com [Apr-22-08] (0 Comments) The GeForce 9800 GX2 combines the two GeForce 9800 GPUs in asingle graphics solution, which offers 256 processor cores and a framebuffer of 1 GB (512 MB per GPU). It also allows a user to take advantage ofthe second-generation Quad SLI technology. Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard @ rbmods.com [Apr-22-08] (0 Comments) If you got a HTPC setup at home you know that you need a smallkeyboard/mouse combo to match the rest of your home theather system.Logitech has lately relesed their Dinovo Mini keyboard/mouse combo that weare going to take a look at today. This small keyboard is filled withfeatures that might come in handy when using your HTPC. In Win B2 Stealth Bomber Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-21-08] (0 Comments) The B2 Stealth Bomber case is really what you might think it is, acase that looks like the B2 Aircraft. The B2 case, like the aircraft issurely an advanced case. This newly released case comes equipped with twoeSATA ports, auto-sensing mechanical front door, shock-free railing system,dual fan VGA turbo cooling system, water-cooling friendly, and with a designinspired by the B2, this case is surely not something your grandma willunderstand. Read on further and see a video of the mechanical front door inaction. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-21-08] (0 Comments) Noctua has gone and improved on an old favorite. The U12P offers someimprovements that were most needed over its predecessor, the NH-U12. Theseimprovements range from better performance to easier mounting. And if thatisn't enough how about a better fan included in the package. If you canrecall, the original cooler was a big hit with enthusiasts all over. Withthese tweaks who knows what the future has for those of us wanting it allfrom the newest CPU. Does the U12P have what it take to beat our reigningking, the Thermalright Ultra-120? Read on to find out. Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB WD3000GLFS - Evolution @ pcper.com [Apr-21-08] (0 Comments) What can you really say after seeing all of those benchmarks andtests? Without a doubt the new Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB drive isthe fastest hard drive we have ever tested. The upgrade of the Raptor lineto the SATA 3.0 GB/s specification was well overdue and you can clearly seethat at least part of the performance boost was due to that change. Withburst speeds of 247 MB/s and sustained transfers over 110 MB/s theVelociRaptor is the best enthusiast hard drive you'll find for anyapplication we can think of - games, boot times, video encoding, etc. Best Thermal Paste Application Methods @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-21-08] (0 Comments) Over the past several months, I have read an unreasonable number of discussion forum posts which offer inaccurate and often times Supertalent 8GB USB Pico Flash Drive @ rbmods.com [Apr-20-08] (0 Comments) Supertalent is well known for their high quality RAM-modules, andduring the last few years they have expanded production to USB-modules andMP3 players. Their newest invention is Solid State Disk -drives. WithUSB-modules Supertalent has not settled for just traditional USB-modules.They try always invent something new, since on fullbooked USB-flash modulemarkets traditional products will not be distinguished from the mass. Wehad an opportunity to review the worlds smallest USB Flash Drive,Supertalent Pico-A 8GB Flash Drive, which are both water resistant and shockproof. Supertalents USB-module selection includes also Pico-B and Pico-Cmodels, which differ mainly with size, though all being very small. Vantec Hard Drive Dock @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-18-08] (0 Comments) Vantec, a company known for different forms of external storage, isthe next in line to release a pod. The NexStar Hard Drive Dock is anincredible looking device that will take any 2.5 or 3.5 internal drive andmake it external. And all this is done without having to disassembleanything. All you have to do is drop the drive in the top of the dock, givethe drive a second to be recognized by Windows and you are ready to read andwrite all your data. But how is this unit different from the one wepreviously reviewed a few weeks ago? Well, read the next few pages and findout. War for Visual Computing:Why AMD Could Have the Best Chance @ pcper.com [Apr-17-08] (0 Comments) Of the three companies in this debate today, Intel, AMD and NVIDIA,only one is balanced in the vision that both NVIDIA and Intel supposedly seefor the industry. AMD has both a CPU and GPU that are competitive intoday's market; not leaders in any definitive way but right up there nonethe less. Thanks to the acquisition of ATI by AMD nearly two years ago thecombined organization seems poised to capitalize on the shifting dynamics inthe designs of both processing dynamics. And much of what Intel and NVIDIAare doing today is actually validating what AMD has done over the past 24months. Patriot Viper PC3-14400 DDR3 Memory @ rbmods.com [Apr-16-08] (0 Comments) Another DDR3 kit hits our test bench and this time it is a kit fromPatriot. We got their latest Viper kit that we will put vs some fastperformers from both Corsair and Supertalent. We are going to twist and turnthis ram kit to see how it performs in Superpi and Everest among other testprograms. We are also going to put this kit vs the otheres in a overclockingtest to really see how well it performs so stay tuned. Coolink SWiF 1202 Cooling Fan @ modders-inc.com [Apr-16-08] (0 Comments) With our comparison between the Coolink and Noctua fans, we can seethat the Coolink does have a slight lead in the cooling area, but comes atthe slightly louder noise level. Mod Your Mouse Contest @ modders-inc.com [Apr-15-08] (0 Comments) Grab that mouse and mod it like there is no tomorrow. Cut it, paintit, put a window in it, do whatever it takes to win theses great prizes fromXTracPads and Logitech. Samsung LN-T4081F LED Backlight LCD 40" HDTV @ bonafidereviews.com [Apr-15-08] (0 Comments) Today in the BFR labs we have a brand new display from Samsung's latest 81 series of LCD HDTV's. The specific model we have is the LN-T4081F, a 40 Kingwin RVT-12025 HDT CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-15-08] (0 Comments) There are times when Benchmark Reviews will test a product that seems very similar to another that we've already reviewed, with only Zalman CNPS9700 NT vs Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme @ bleedinedge.com [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) A quick poll of BleedinEdge.com members, on the subject of air coolers, DDR3 1800MHz Round Up @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) Today is the day where I try something a little different here in thePro-Clocker lab. I will take some of the fastest DDR3 modules on the marketand see how high I can get them to overclock. We are taking four sets of thehighest quality DDR3 that are advertised at least 1800MHz from theirrespective manufacturers. OCZ, Super Talent, Patriot and Kingston were allnice enough to test samples for this mini roundup. Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) ThinkComputers loves ThermalTake's lines of cooling supplies andcases. The company is known for its Thrustmaster RGT Force Feedback Pro Clutch Edition @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) If you are in the market for a new steering wheel for your PC racing games, odds are you will be looking to either Logitech or Terratec 2400 Dual TV tuner @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at a product from a manufacturer that I personally don’t know a great deal about, you however maybe more familiar with the name of TerraTec. The product I will be reviewing is a digital tv card the Cinergy 2400i DT. This is a dual digital tuner card, nothing special there you may think BUT this card uses a pci express x1 slot which is refreshing as, in my honest opinion, most manufacturers overlook this expansion slot. Asus Striker II Formula Motherboard @ rbmods.com [Apr-13-08] (0 Comments) DDR2 ram doesn't cost anything these days so if you are going for aupgrade maybe you should look at this Striker 2 formula that we are going toreview today and get a good setup of DDR2. Yes todays review will consistof a review on the Striker 2 board that has gotten quite good results inearlier tests. This board is aiming for the overclockers and most feturesrevolve around that theme today. We are going to compare it vs a couple ofwell performing DDR2 board though to see how it performs at stock. Of coursewe will finish this review with some overclocking results to actually see ifthis board lives up to its name. Phil Hester of AMD Resigns from CTO Position @ pcper.com [Apr-12-08] (0 Comments) AMD is truly at a historic lowpoint, and it seems that it is due toa bad combination of technology, competition, and perhaps some internalcomplacency. Phil was brought in as CTO at AMD's pinnacle, and he haspresided over that position from that point to the low valley we now see thecompany. Is he a fall guy? Was it his decisions that led them on the roadto here? Or were there thoughts of cutting salaries of these uppermanagement individuals, and he simply felt that it was not in his bestinterest to stay and take the cut? Hard to say. Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 GDDR3 512MB @ pcper.com [Apr-12-08] (0 Comments) When the Radeon HD 3650 card was first released we were a littleunderwhelmed by the specifications as it seemed that nothing had beenimproved upon when compared to the previous, RV600-based HD 2600-series ofcards. And in fact that is the case:performance remains mostly the samewhile power consumption has dropped and thus heat output too. That doesn'tmake the HD 3650 a home run though as NVIDIA's answers to the card continueto stack up and perform better - the 8600 GTS with half the frame buffer waseasily outpacing the Sapphire HD 3650 card with 512MB of GDDR3 memory evenwhen overclocked. Crytek's Cevat Yerli Speaks on Rasterization and Ray Tracing @ pcper.com [Apr-11-08] (0 Comments) And the fact remains that pretty much everyone we talk to outside ofIntel is confident that rasterization is going to have at least one morededicated generation in gaming. That means that if Intel intends to competein the graphics world in the next 2-3 years that it will have to take onNVIDIA and AMD/ATI on current-model GPU terms - rasterization, DirectX andOpenGL. Verbatim Desktop Mouse Roundup @ rbmods.com [Apr-10-08] (0 Comments) Verbatim is well known for their high quality CD and DVD media. Inthe last few years they have decided to expand their product line intovarious computer accessories. For example they have started selling externalHDD, memory cards, USB flash drives, and even mice. For today's test werecieved a couple of Verbatims latest's mice which we will take a closerlook at. Ultra Stackables @ modders-inc.com [Apr-09-08] (0 Comments) The Ultra Stackables are a new creation from Ultra offering theability to stack several external devices together with a single powersupply. OCZ Vendetta 2 HPT CPU Cooler OCZVEND2 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-09-08] (0 Comments) Computer hardware is an ever-evolving industry, and since Moores law only applies to an exponentially growing transistor count then there Thermaltake M9 Mid Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-09-08] (0 Comments) The M9 is a mid-size tower that is filled with cooling inspirations.There are four different versions of the M9 which means there may well beone to suit you. There are models with and without the side panel window.And if you are not looking to use some high powered power supply each of thefore mentioned models can be had with 400 watt power supplies. Thermaltakeis one company that is known to try and provide products that suit allindividuals no matter your budget, taste or needs. Cavalry 500GB External HD @ monster-hardware.com [Apr-08-08] (0 Comments) The drive seems to be a Western Digital AV GP hard drive, AV being Audio Visual, GP being Green Power. One spec conspicuously absent was drive rotational speed. Since Western Digital seems to have gone out of their way to omit this I would imagine that the drive is spinning at something less than 7200 RPM. Will this have a major impact on performance? The answer to that question is coming up soon in a later section. NesteQ ASM 620W PSU @ rbmods.com [Apr-08-08] (0 Comments) Power supplies can be the largest source of noise in a computerbuild, especially with today's supplies that distribute more power than everbefore, thus producing more heat. But is it possible to have a high outputPSU to have a silent mode? AcousticPC.com, well known retailers of quietperformance products, has searched the globe for such a supply and has foundone in the NesteQ ASM 620W PSU. Will this silent power supply deliver thegoods? Read on to find out. Rosewill RCX-Z775-EX Intel CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-08-08] (0 Comments) Rosewill is one of those companies that is often overlooked byenthusiasts. I have also been guilty of name-dropping, and thinking Rosewillas Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q1 2008 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-08-08] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews strives to offer the overclocker and hardware enthusiast community solid evidence reflecting the true performance of BFG GeForce 9800 GTX OCX - G92 @ pcper.com [Apr-08-08] (0 Comments) Looking past that, the fact is that you can now get the performanceof an 8800 GTX or Ultra card for $330 or so that is more power efficient toboot. BFG took this one step further with their new 9800 GTX OCX card thatoverclocks the core and shader clocks by about 12% to get nearly across theboard performance gains out of the G92. ASUS Eee 8G PC 8GB SSD Notebook @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-07-08] (0 Comments) ASUS has created a huge wave in the sub-notebook & portable Internet device markets with their Eee PC. Sub-notebooks are normally ASUS Eee PC 4G-X Windows XP - Eee PC for All @ pcper.com [Apr-07-08] (0 Comments) Our opinion on the ASUS Eee PC has actually gone UP with thisrelease - we are Windows junkies and as much as we are pushed or persuaded,moving to Linux, especially in the form that ASUS installed on the initialEee PC just isn't what I want. In fact, one even has to wonder if the Linuxversion of the Eee PC will continue with the new 9 Corsair TX750 750W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-07-08] (0 Comments) Corsair is best known for its memory products-DIMMs and flash-but ithas a solid line of power supply units, as well. The company sentThinkComputers its TX750, a 750W unit with a single 60A 12V rail-powerfulenough for a GeForce 8800 GTX. While non-modular, the cables are sleeved andhave quick-release connectors. We tested this device with a five-yearwarranty-results within. Gigabyte GA-EX38-DS4 Socket 775 Enthusiast Motherboard @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-07-08] (0 Comments) Gigabyte was nice enough to send us two motherboards, one based onthe P35 and the other the X38. We wanted to see how much better it really isover the P35 purely based on benchmarks and overclocking. Not to give thewhole review away in the introduction, but I was really surprised with theGA-EX38-DS4 as it took our E8400 to a whole new level. Xigmatek Red Scorpion, S1283 CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Apr-05-08] (0 Comments) Today we take a look at a cooler from the fairly new company namedXigmatek. This new cooler focuses on peformance and silence which actuallycan be quite hard to combine together so it is going to be very interestingto see what this S1283 cooler can do vs a well performing cooler fromCoolermaster. It seems to have the size and the quality but does it perform? A Pro Modder ... Really? @ modders-inc.com [Apr-04-08] (0 Comments) I have heard a lot talk about Pro Modders and in my honest opinionI think too much emphasis is put upon such a distinction. ASUS P5K Pro Intel P35 Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-04-08] (0 Comments) Today I will be looking at the Asus P5K Pro, a DDR2 P35 board.Though the X38 boards have been out a while, and the X48 boards are finallyhitting the market, the P35 chipset is still very popular, with its maturityand excellent performance. The P5K Pro is an economy-minded board, fillingin the fairly sizable gap between the P5K Deluxe and the stripped down P5KSE. How will the P5K Pro size up against its big brother? Read on to see... EagleTech I-Series JBOD Enclosure @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-04-08] (0 Comments) A new company to us here at Pro-Clockers is Eagle Tech. Browsingaround their site we see they are active in cooling, speakers, powersupplies and storage. Storage is why we are here today as Eagle Tech hassent us their ET-CSIU2J-BK JBOD External Storage Enclosure. This unitutilizes the JBOD standard and a very interesting front bezel. The enclosurehouses two SATA drives and plugs into the PC via the USB port. BFG Tech ES-800 Power Supply - Frequency Conversion @ pcper.com [Apr-03-08] (0 Comments) BFG Tech has invested a lot of time and effort into improving thequality of their PSU offering over the past year and for the most part theyhave succeeded. The new BFG ES-800 is a definite step up from their earlierpower supply models. The overall efficiency is excellent, voltageregulation is very good, and the +12V outputs are very clean. The ES-800packs 800W of DC power into a compact chassis that will fit inside most anyenclosure and it operates quietly under normal operating conditions. Noctua NF-B9 92mm Case Fan @ rbmods.com [Apr-03-08] (0 Comments) Case fans come in a wide variety of sizes, with the most popular onesbeing 80mm and 120mm. But a somewhat less common size is 92mm, which isin-between the two. Today we'll take a look at Noctua's latest fan offering,the Noctua NF-B9 92mm Case Fan. Will this middle child prove to offer thebest of both? Read on to find out. Mod a Mouse Contest @ modders-inc.com [Apr-03-08] (0 Comments) Grab that mouse and mod it like there is no tomorrow. Cut it, paintit, put a window in it, do what ever it takes to win theses great prizesfrom XTracPads and Logitech. PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W PSU @ tcmagazine.com [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) The Silencer 610 EPS12V comes from PC Power & Cooling’s high-performance portfolio and is, almost ironically, also one of the lowest-powered units to have been equipped with the company’s proprietary technologies and also feature SLI certification. Apevia Warlock 750 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) Apevia is back at it again, not with a case but with a power supply.And like the rash of power units we have seen over the last few months thisis not your typical 500 watt model. It is a 750 watt mammoth called theWarlock. Boasting a 135mm cooling fan that can change many colors this PSUcould be what many of you modders out there are looking for. What I like isthe Crossfire and SLI support with a boatload of power. But is it worthy ofbeing placed in your system? To find out you will have to keep reading. Yoggie Firestick Pico - Security via USB @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) The Firestick Pico™ is a portable USB mini-computer that replaces your software Firewall and protects your computer from malicious attacks before they can reach your PC. The Firestick Pico places a physical barrier between PCs and the Internet to ensure that threats never reach users’ computers. Unlike software firewalls, the Firestick Pico is based on a dedicated hardware platform. Intel Atom Processor Officially Announced - More from IDF @ pcper.com [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) We still have much to learn about Intel's new Atom processors butthe way I see it Intel is serious about this ultra mobility market for thefirst time and is no longer going to sit back and let VIA have their way.The Menlow platform looks to be a great stepping stone for bringingtraditional x86 power to the areas it has not been able to physicallysqueeze into like cell phones. I would also expect faster versions of thesevery inexpensive processors to find their way into all sorts of consumerelectronics devices to enable easy software development and quicker times tomarket. Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 OC Edition Video Card @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) Hong Kong-based Sapphire has been in the industry for a while,manufacturing primarily video cards and motherboard chipsets. It's thelargest supplier of ATI-based cards in the world, and was the first torelease a card with an HDMI connector. ThinkComputers got its hands onSapphire's Radeon HD 3650 OC Edition, a faster, more spacious version of themid-range card from the red team. We subject this card to a battery of teststo see how it measures up to one of the best the green team-nVidia-has tooffer. Sapphire HD 3870 TOXIC Edition @ modders-inc.com [Apr-01-08] (0 Comments) Sapphire is always trying to figure out how to out do itself withtheir graphic cards and this holds true with the HD3870. Once they take acard and kick it up a notch or two they brand it with the now familiar Toxiclabel. Does the Sapphire HD3870 Toxic Edition live up to it namesakes? Kingston DataTraveler 400 2GB Flash Drive @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-01-08] (0 Comments) The technology age is booming, more and more people are starting totravel and use multiple computers. There's got to be a time where you havethought to yourself ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Apr-01-08] (0 Comments) On April 1st, 2008 NVIDIA will officially launch the GeForce 9800 GTX. It's been over sixteen months since the GTX series was last Tuniq Sanctum HDD Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Mar-31-08] (0 Comments) Tuniq, a leader in CPU cooling has sent us over a HDD cooler thatwill do both of the above mentioned solutions. Tuniq is showing they aremore than CPU cooling. The Sanctum is a full enclosure cooler that intendsto cool down that ultra fast hard drive of yours. The cool thing about theSanctum is that it is a passive cooler so it won't add to the noise of thehard drive it is trying to cool. But is it enough to warrant paying $22 fromNewegg? Lets check it out. ASUS PG221 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-31-08] (0 Comments) We have taken a look at a lot of LCD monitors here atThinkComputers. While most of them are adequate for all scenarios, none ofthem have been dubbed as gaming monitors. Well the ASUS PG221 is dubbed as agaming monitor and we can see why just by looking at the specs, a 2000:1contrasts ratio, 2ms response time, and all the connections you want on aLCD. Not only does it have these features it also has a 15W bass speaker,built-in webcam, touch-sensitive controls, and a cool lighting effect. Itseems the PG221 has everything any gamer or consumer alike would want. Let'ssee if we can find anything wrong with it. Logitech MX5500 Revolution Cordless Desktop @ rbmods.com [Mar-31-08] (0 Comments) When it comes to computer upgrades, nothing provides a more visceralimpact than a new keyboard and mouse. These essential input devices havecome along way since the early days, yet still companies are findinginnovative features to add. Logitech, well-known makers of peripheraldevices, has developed a new keyboard/mouse combo, the Logitech MX550Revolution Cordless Desktop. Will this combo live up to its name as arevolutionary product? That is what we're here to find out in this review. Asus 3850 TOP Videocard @ rbmods.com [Mar-29-08] (0 Comments) We have earlier looked at the 8800GT, 8800GTX and even a 3870X2 card from Asusand today we have another card from them on the test bench. We are going tolook at the 3850 TOP which is a overclocked version of their 3850 card thatis a middle class card that should still be able to perform quite well. Ourtests are going to put it vs the 8800GT card so youget an idea of how it will perform. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750GB External Hard Drive @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-29-08] (0 Comments) The Seagate FreeAgent Pro is among many other current external harddrives. Its sleek design will help keep your desktop clutter free. Availablein 320GB, 500GB, 750GB, and 1000GB capacities and supporting USB, eSATA, anddual FireWire 400 there is quite a number of drives to choose from for yourliking. The touch sensitive power points and included AutoBackup softwarehelp the FreeAgent Pro stick out from the crowd of other devices. Let's takea further look at this external hard drive. Cooljag Mini LED Flash Fans @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-28-08] (0 Comments) Case lighting has definitely come a long way. In the early days, anyand all case lighting involved a drill, soldering iron, some knowledge ofelectronics, and an attempt to find something that would work in a case thatwas originally beige. Today, it is pretty hard to find something new andunique, nearly everything one could imagine has already been done, but theguys at CoolJagUSA have come up with a really cool item, programmable LEDmarquee fans. Program a message to be displayed on your case fan. Apevia X-Qboii Mid Tower Case @ pro-clockers.com [Mar-27-08] (0 Comments) Finding the right case to suit the desires of the lady of the housecan be a difficult process. Well, I know it is when it comes to mine. Whenit comes to looking for a case it is more like hunting for that perfectoutfit to wear to work. Apevia reckon they may just have that perfect outfitfor her next computer build. The X-Qboii is a short case in stature but islarge in style and looks. The great looks begin with a brushed aluminumcovering that is guaranteed to please almost everyone. Is the X-Qboiicapable of knocking us off our feet with other wonderful features? Read on. ASUS WL-520GU Wireless Router @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-27-08] (0 Comments) ASUS wowed ThinkComputers in January 2007 within its WL-500W, anpre-802.11n router with USB ports for mass storage devices or a printer.ASUS recently released a 125 Mbps 802.11g router with a USB port for aprinter, called the WL-520GU. This router is Vista-ready and features aneasily configurable Bandwidth-On-Demand feature for Quality of Serviceadjustments. ThinkComputers investigates... AMD Phenom X4 9850 Processor - Long Awaited B3 @ pcper.com [Mar-27-08] (0 Comments) The new AMD Phenom X4 9850 is a great processor for its segment eventhough it is still not able to dominate in any fashion over the Intelquad-core options. Just as with the initial 2.3 GHz Phenom B2 launch, AMDstill considers the Intel Core 2 Q6600 its primary competition, and Iconsider the Q9450 to be another potential threat as well. This new CPU isdefinitely getting AMD closer to its performance goals and any enthusiast orgamer looking for a ~$240 processor is going to have a fantastic experiencewith the 9850. The added performance and efficiency of the 2000 MHz memorycontroller and system bus add to the benefits of the 2.50 GHz clock rateproducing the best fastest stock speed AMD quad-core CPU to date. Ultra m998 Computer Case @ rbmods.com [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) Most ATX cases on the market nowadays come with a fairly standard setof equipment and have similar layouts. It's rare that you find a case thatoffers a variety of unique features. Ultra, makers of a wide range ofcomputer components, has developed a new case, the Ultra m998 Computer Case,which offers a number of unique features. Will the case prove to be awinner? Read on to find out. Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 4GB USB Drive @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) Earlier this year Kingston released the DataTraveler HyperX seriesUSB drives which are available in three different capacities:2GB, 4GB, and8GB. This is by far the fastest USB drive Kingston has produced withtransfer rates of 30mb/s read and 20mb/s write. It not only has fasttransfer rates, but fast access times as well. The HyperX is enhanced forWindows ReadyBoost and comes with a 5 year warranty. Read on further to seehow well this USB drive puts out. XtracPads Fat Mat @ modders-inc.com [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) X Trac Pads Fat Mat is a Cloth Nanofiber mouse pad that isrelatively large and has a soft 1/4 inch thick foam backing. The large slicksurface and extra thick soft material is invented to provide a morecomfortable and efficient mouse surface. Gigabyte GV-NX98X1GHI-B GeForce 9800 GX2 Video Card @ benchmarkreviews.com [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) It seems like it was just yesterday that I bought my first discrete graphics card to outfit an overclocked Cyrix M2-300 6x86MX-based Sapphire Toxic HD 3870 ATi Video Card @ pro-clockers.com [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) Yes you can go out and purchase one of the cards from any of theseveral manufacturers that endorse the ATI brand. The Toxic HD 3870 is anoverclocked version of the ATI 3870 chipset. The Toxic HD 3870 uses a singleslot cooler that would be a godsend for those that are tight on space orhave motherboards with the PCIe slots too close together. This non-referencecooler helps to cool a RV670 clocked to 825MHz from the default 775MHz. Timeto put the Toxic 3870 on the bench and see what performance numbers we canget. NVIDIA Quad SLI Take Two - 9800 GX2 up to bat @ pcper.com [Mar-25-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA has missed the mark with their launch of Quad SLI on the 9800GX2; an incredible single graphics card has been shoved into a technologythat we all wanted to see work but that just is not yet ready for aspotlight. With just a couple of exceptions, performance on the Quad SLIsystem was uninspiring and was frustrating more often than it was fun toplay on. There is potential though! NVIDIA needs to take a tip from AMDand not just address performance scaling across more titles but integrateusability features that will help users deal with multi-GPU issues likemonitor configurations. Modders-Inc Mod Your Mouse Contest @ modders-inc.com [Mar-25-08] (0 Comments) Grab that mouse and mod it like there is no tomorrow. Cut it, paintit, put a window in it, do what ever it takes to win theses great prizesfrom XTracPads and Logitech. Thermaltake SwordM Full-Tower Case - Part 1 @ pcper.com [Mar-25-08] (0 Comments) We've said from the start that the SwordM is a large, full towerenclosure so I do not consider that a weakness and yes it is expensive. Mymain concerns are with the basic features that seemed to have beenforgotten; like only three internal 3.5 What is Happening to Modding @ modders-inc.com [Mar-24-08] (0 Comments) Strangely enough it seems that lately there has been a decrease inthe Modding community. We see more of the same mods over and over and lessnew stuff. So, why is that? I have an opinion, yeah I know everyone usuallydoes and they usually stink! lol ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi-AP Motherboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-24-08] (0 Comments) ASUS is one of the most well-known motherboard manufacturers. Itsboards are known for consistent stability and awesome features, as well asexcellent design. ThinkComputers reviewed the M3A32-MVP Deluxe/Wifi, atop-shelf, Crossfire-capable motherboard using the AMD 790X chipset a |