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News Search Results for: mod 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. 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. [News] G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-4GPI-B DDR2 Memory @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-13-08] (0 Comments) Though G.Skill's kit managed to melt it's wax wings on the path togreatness, it still managed to impress a fair bit before it plummeted backto the earth. Though it managed only 1,000 MHz, this is still a 25%overclock, so to speak - something which is quite impressive on a kit thatruns for under $90. Even if you don't intend to overclock, these modulespack a fair punch with their low latencies, great build quality, and oddly,lower cost than the rest of the flock. Considering these few graces, as wellas the small tokens inside the package, I'd have to say that I recommendthis kit to anyone looking for a quick fix in terms of a memory upgrade -something that will simply drop in and work - now that's peace of mind. 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. Everything You Need to Know About Megapixels @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-13-08] (0 Comments) With the first digital cameras a model with a higher megapixel value was better than one with a lower value. This isn't necessary true today. Learn why. Technic3D/Super Talent Pico-Gold Series 8GB @ technic3d.com [Nov-12-08] (0 Comments) Super Talent's Pico series features mini on-chip technology fl ash drives. However the models differ from each other, be it by retrac table plugs or the lately launched 24K golden platted Pico-C. Technic3 D wanted to know if there's more than a benefit in style - results can be found in our review. Corsair HX1000W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-12-08] (0 Comments) Corsair HX1000W is a 1,000 W power supply with six 6/8-pin auxiliary cables for video cards, modular cabling system, solid aluminum capacitors, dual-transformer design and labeled at 50º C. Let’s see if this is a good power supply. Xigmatek Battle-Axe VGA Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Nov-11-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek Battle-Axe VGA Cooler takes the innovations from the company in the CPU cooler area and applies them to a GPU cooler. This means that you will get direct touch heatpipes and massive fans to cool that modern graphic card of yours. 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 Kingmax Long DIMM DDR3-1600 @ pro-clockers.com [Nov-05-08] (0 Comments) Our test bench will play host to the Kingmax FLGE85F-B8MF7 or betteryet their Long DIMM DDR3-1600. The Kingmax offering is capable of this whileoperating at 1.9 volts. And to protect the modules the kit wears a set ofblack aluminum heat spreaders that will remind you of the Corsair Dominatorsand the Patriot Viper. But we will see if the Kingmax set can set itselfapart when it comes down to performance and overclocking. iPod Nano Mono-Chromatic @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-05-08] (0 Comments) Apple has scratched last year’s design in favor of a comeback to the iPod Nano’s roots. Let’s see what we think about the new iPod nano model. [News] OCZ ModXStream-Pro 600w Power Supply @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-05-08] (0 Comments) It always makes me feel better knowing and being able to report thata PSU can live up to its recommendation. The OCZ 600 Watt ModXStream PowerSupply is a very, very worthy choice. The price seems to be on par with the600 Watt range, though just a bit on the top end at around $110. If anythingmakes it worth the buy, consider the efficiency and power produced. Sapphire HD 4850 X2 Video Card @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-05-08] (0 Comments) The new Radeon HD 4850 X2 that is being launched today is simply two Radeon HD 4850 video cards in a single board working in CrossFire mode and priced to compete with GeForce GTX 280. Which video card is the best? 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. 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. 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. Thermaltake Spedo Advance Package Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-01-08] (0 Comments) Spedo is the most recent full-tower case from Thermaltake, available in two versions. We reviewed the most expensive model, “Advance Package”, which seems to be one of the most complete steel cases in the market right now. Let’s see. 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. ATI All-In-Wonder HD Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Oct-31-08] (0 Comments) Overall I feel that the ATI All-In-Wonder HD is a great card for the casual gamer that is looking to upgrade their aging video card and would like to add HD content playback to their system. The bundled software is wonderful for anyone not planning to use Vista Media Center. There is little to dislike about the card, it is very quiet in operation and under the highest HD mode of operation the system uses less than 125W. Since so little power is used the video card stays nice and cool... 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. Mod of the Month - October 2008 @ bit-tech.net [Oct-31-08] (0 Comments) */One of my favourite things about watching you guys mod is the concept Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR3 1333MHz @ pro-clockers.com [Oct-29-08] (0 Comments) Just a few weeks ago Crucial released some new DDR3 modules under theTracer line. The modules came rated at a mere 1333MHz but at a industry low6-6-6-20 timings. One may look upon this as great when it comes to such lowtimings but not so great when it comes to the low speed rating. Well this isa kit from Crucial and you can beat it has plenty in the tank to give somevery respectable numbers in the overclocking department. Read along to seejust how high we got with this new kit. MSI N9800GT GeForce 9800 GT 512MB Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) In the time I’ve had to spend with this card, I haven’t really found much to dislike about it. The card has performed well in Folding@Home and in Call of Duty 4:Modern Warfare. Of course, I didn’t try to push the card to ridiculous resolutions, as gamers that own 24” or 30” monitors probably aren’t looking at sub-$120 video card to run them. Even with Crysis Warhead, where I thought the card could stumble and fall, as many higher priced cards did with the original Crysis, the 9800GT from MSI was able to play the game fairly smoothly at 1280x1024. Cyprio's Apple Core Duo mod @ bit-tech.net [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) */Modding an Apple G5 case had been a dream of mine for as long as I set NZXT Guardian 921 @ pureoverclock.com [Oct-28-08] (0 Comments) Today we're looking at NZXT's new mid-sized tower, the Guardian 921. NZXTis looking to take a winning formula in the original Guardian and improveupon it, promising gamers a case that offers solid design, construction, andfeatures for a very modest price. Targeted towards the budget conscious PCenthusiast with a futuristic and aggressive design aesthetic, we tackle theGuardian 921 and see if it indeed fits the bill. 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. 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. 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. Butterkneter's Far Cry 2-themed Playstation 3 mod @ bit-tech.net [Oct-24-08] (0 Comments) */A while back, I received an email from Ubisoft asking me for some concept art for a potential Far Cry 2 mod based on Sony's Playstation 3. Ubisoft had been pleased with my past work when I worked with it on a number of similar projects for Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six:Vegas 2, so with such a big game I needed to create something special. 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. 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. ASUS EN9800GTX+ 512MB Dark Knight @ techgage.com [Oct-21-08] (0 Comments) Need a new mid-range GPU for under $200? NVIDIA's 9800GTX+ is a good model to keep in mind, and ASUS' Dark Knight card inparticular proves to be one well-worth considering. The card offersgreat gaming performance for the cash, even handling certain games at2560x1600 with ease, has a sweet-looking cooler, and best of all, ispriced-right. Technic3D/Aerocool Modern-V @ technic3d.com [Oct-20-08] (0 Comments) The AeroCool Modern-V Color LCD Display for 2x 5 1/4 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. 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. Microsoft SideWinder X6 Gaming Keyboard @ tweaktown.com [Oct-17-08] (0 Comments) Rocking up with the previously reviewed SideWinder X5 mouse, I was lucky enough to receive an X6 keyboard to complete the desktop of evil. This keyboard boasts a full backlight and letter illumination with a built-in dial to adjust the intensity. The coupe de grace, however, comes with the hot swappable numeric keypad module that can be changed up, left or right depending on your preference, or if you want to add more macros to the left hand side. Microsoft SideWinder X6 Gaming Keyboard @ tweaktown.com [Oct-17-08] (0 Comments) Rocking up with the previously reviewed SideWinder X5 mouse, I was lucky enough to receive an X6 keyboard to complete the desktop of evil. This keyboard boasts a full backlight and letter illumination with a built-in dial to adjust the intensity. The coupe de grace, however, comes with the hot swappable numeric keypad module that can be changed up, left or right depending on your preference, or if you want to add more macros to the left hand side. 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. Tales from a Modder's Garage @ techgage.com [Oct-16-08] (0 Comments) Over the courseof the past few years, PC modding has exploded into ahobby enjoyed by many, and for good reason. I've been building mods fora while now, and if I can say one thing, it's that it can be one of themost rewarding hobbies you can have. Read on as I tell you why I enjoyit so much, and what it takes to become a modder yourself. Microsoft SideWinder X5 Gaming Mouse @ tweaktown.com [Oct-15-08] (0 Comments) Microsoft has sent me a whole box of goodies to review recently and in amongst the pile of goodness is something sinister looking; something very black and very evil...The SideWinder X5 Gaming Mouse. This is a modified version of the classic SideWinder gaming mouse that sported a lovely burgundy coloured detailing. However, they have done away with the colouring in favour of a look that reminds us of stealth bombers. Gone are the silver side buttons, replaced with some black ones to complete the look of pure malevolence. It's like Darth Vader in mouse form. 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. OCZ Reaper HPC PC3-10666 @ pureoverclock.com [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) Today we'll be looking at a pair of OCZ Reaper DDR3 modules, which arepriced very attractively and sport some very slick spreaders. Good looks,good price..but what about performance? In our world, performance shouldspeak for itself, so today we'll found out if these sticks will bringsshouts or silence. 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. Boddaker's Battlestar Galactica case mod @ bit-tech.net [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) */First order of business was to disassemble the case down to its bare 500 GB Hard Disk Drive Round-Up @ hardwaresecrets.com [Oct-11-08] (0 Comments) We compared the performance of ten different 500 GB SATA-300 hard disk drive models from Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital and Hitachi. Which is the fastest 500 GB in the market? Check it out! 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. Samsung S3 MP3 Player ed @ tweaktown.com [Oct-09-08] (0 Comments) Arriving on my doorstep recently was a sleek and sultry little number from the big S, their new S3 series MP3 player. The version sent to me by post as pictured is the “pretty in pink” model, because as a modern 20something guy, I’m secure in my manliness... The menu system of the player is fairly intuitive and you will rarely find yourself flummoxed or lost in menus, so it’s easy to switch into DSNe 2.0 environments while playing a track. There is a bunch of standard pre-sets offering you EQ boosts and then there are spacial simulators to give the effect of a concert hall or a stadium gig. Asus Eee PC S101 @ bit-tech.net [Oct-08-08] (0 Comments) */Opening the flap reveals the Eee PC S101's striking metallic burnt orange lid -- a massive change from the black and white casing used on the older Eee PCs. It's already clear that Asus has changed direction with the S101 and we think that it's for the better. However, we're sure that some won't like the burnt orange -- we've heard that Asus will be offering a number of lid options, including graphite and champagne, along with the metallic burnt orange on the model we looked at. 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. Sapphire Radeon HD 4550 Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Oct-06-08] (0 Comments) The low to mid-range market has been heating up over the past few months; NVIDIA released the 9500 GT which I personally felt was a massive disappointment due to the price to performance ratio when compared to the 9600 GSO. ATI / AMD hasn't been asleep, though. The HD 4670 came out and has really managed to impress. The HD 4650 is also supposed to be out, but for some reason it hasn’t really shown up on the market. Adding to the HD 4000 series, however, is a new low-end entry level model; the HD 4550. Mitsubishi LaserVue 65" HDTV World Premiere @ thetechlounge.com [Oct-06-08] (0 Comments) Yesterday afternoon, Kurtis and I got the chance to check out the World Premiere of Mitsubishi's new =93LaserVue=94 HDTV at San Antonio's high-end audio/video emporium, Bjorn's. The folks from Mitsubishi were kind enough to take the time to give us a grand tour and explain the details about what makes this new tech so special. I read up on the technology a few months back, but since I wasn't at CES 2008, I'd never seen the prototypes in action. Well, now I've done one better, since Mitsubishi brought their only two production models in existence to Bjorn's for this World Premiere event. And you're in luck, because I'm gonna tell you all about it. Sapphire Toxic HD 4870 @ pro-clockers.com [Sep-22-08] (0 Comments) We got our mitts on the latest card to the Toxic line, the 4870Toxic. And if you are one of those that have had a Toxic card before youhaven't seen anything yet. The last Toxic we had here was the 3870 modelthat had a single slot cooling system based around the Vapor-X coolingsystem. While Sapphire took this Toxic in a whole new direction. This timethe cooler coves the entirety of the card which is like the latest Nvidialineup. I can't give you all the details of the new card in the introductionof the reviews so you must read on to find out more about the Sapphire HD4870 Toxic. 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. Zalman ZM600-HP 600 W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-20-08] (0 Comments) ZM600-HP is a 600 W power supply from Zalman with a heat-pipe to cool down the secondary rectifiers and a modular cabling system. Internally identical to OCZ GameXstream 700 W, could this unit be a disguised 700 W unit? Check this out! Mushkin XP3-16000 Ascent 2GB DDR3 Memory Kit @ tweaktown.com [Sep-20-08] (0 Comments) Through the DDR and DDR2 days Mushkin kits came thick and fast with high speed, high capacity and low latency modules designed for both Intel and AMD platforms. Now we have the dawn on the DDR3 revolution coming and it won’t be long before we really start to see DDR3 hit its peak. The kit we were supplied with contained two pieces, 1GB in density. The modules are designed to run at PC3-16000 or 2000MHz using 9-9-9-24 timings at 1.9v. These are the specs for use on 790i SLI chipsets and not guaranteed to run on the Intel chipsets. However, we aren’t content to just follow the rules here. 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. Technic3D/Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W @ technic3d.com [Sep-19-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W PSU (RS-500-AMBA D3) arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PS U Review with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 135mm fan, 6xSerial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e (6+2)Pin this PSU better than other PSUs? 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. Modify the Name of Your Hard Drive WHS @ computingondemand.com [Sep-16-08] (0 Comments) People like to customize things. With that said, I ran across anindividual that had an issue with his WHS. He imaged his existing harddrive to a larger hard drive, but was left with the original disk name inthe Windows Home Server Console. This poses no problems, but is more of anannoyance than anything. If you want to change the name, you can. 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. [News] BFG LS-Series 680w Power Supply @ virtual-hideout.net [Sep-15-08] (0 Comments) Things continue to advance in the video card area and we find themrequiring less and less wattage realistically. So, smaller, more efficientwattage power supplies are all the rage and everyone wants more power fortheir money. One PSU that could very well be your next investment is the BFGLS-680 Power Supply. As the model number denotes, it offers at least a solid680 Watts with four 12V rails. Let's open this PSU and see what it can do. Gateway T-6836 14.1" Notebook @ techgage.com [Sep-15-08] (0 Comments) Notebooks aremore popular than ever, and the vast selection isincredible. There's a notebook for everyone, and in the case ofGateway's T-6836, if you are looking for something in between a netbookand a $1,000 model - you are covered. It carries certain downsides, butstill packs enough performance and features to make the $800 retailprice feel well-worth it. [Affiliates News] Gigabyte GeForce 9800GT 512MB Graphics Card @ aphnetworks.com [Sep-14-08] (0 Comments) What do you call a company that manufacturers the same carunder 50 different nameplates? Answer:General Motors. So, in that sense,what do you call a company that markets the same graphics card under twomodel numbers that indicate (supposed) separate generation of cards? Answer:NVIDIA. Jokes aside, no one can deny that there are truths to these claims --with the General Motors one having a bit of exaggeration, of course. Theever-so-popular NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT was ever so popular amongst enthusiastsand general consumers alike for its excellent performance; and even more soconsidering the retail prices. That was approximately one year ago. Now,tides have changed and ATI/AMD is returning to the game in the graphics frontwith the performance-to-price leaders such as the 4850 and 4870. How abouttaking the G92 based 8800GT and calling it a new product? Well, here we are,with a 8800GT called a 9800GT. As most would know how the NVIDIA 9-series arebasically are mostly derived off the 8-series and not a completely newgeneration (They are mostly G92's and G94's) -- the 9800GT made it into the9-series with a few minor updates. But trust us, it's practically the samething -- more info on the second page of this review. Therefore, in honor ofNVIDIA's excellent branding job, we based this review off the Gigabyte 8800GTTurboForce review with a few minor changes (We made it as similar aspossible, haha). Good thing Gigabyte made it a little more unique with acustom built unit and an aftermarket Zalman HS/F. Let's see how the 8800GT,er, 9800GT, performs. 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. Kingston HyperX XMP-1800 2GB DDR3 Memory Kit @ tweaktown.com [Sep-12-08] (0 Comments) Kingston is one of the big wigs when it comes to producing memory modules. Kingston HyperX memory modules have made some impressive strides; the DDR2 modules are amongst the highest quality out there. And with DDR3 showing clock frequencies up to the 2000MHz range now, Kingston is on the front line of clock power.Today Kingston enters the XMP market with the highest clocked XMP kit we have seen thus far, that being 1800MHz. Let’s see how it compares to our OCZ XMP 1600 modules. Fall Processor Pricing - Finding the Best Bang for the Buck @ techgage.com [Sep-05-08] (0 Comments) If pondering anupgrade, the time to purchase a new processor is now.Both AMD and Intel are offering a great collection of models that fitall budgets, and we take a look to find the best options available.Whether it's a Dual-Core or Quad-Core you're after, there's undoubtedlya model that fits nicely into your price range and won't let you down. Everything You Need to Know About the CPU C-States Power Saving Modes @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-05-08] (0 Comments) The CPU has several power saving modes called C-states. In this tutorial we will explain what these modes are, what they do and the modes supported by each processor. SumoSac Sultan Luxury 'Beanbag' Chair @ thetechlounge.com [Sep-04-08] (0 Comments) Endurance gamers will love the Sumo Sac Sultan. The huge pillow easily accommodates nearly any size human, and at least two average- sized ones. If you are looking for a man-chair to add to your furniture fold, consider the Sultan. Apartment residents wanting to save space and avoid shoving a couch up three flights of stairs may find a Sumo Sac a suitable alternative. The Sumo Sultan will suffice for basically any application you can think of for a huge bag of comfort... just don't operate heavy machinery after use. Coolmax HD250 Series 2.5 Enclosures @ pro-clockers.com [Sep-03-08] (0 Comments) One company that we have not reviewed an enclosure from is Coolmax.We all know that Coolmax has an eye for making pretty good power supplies.But there knowledge of enclosures is just as big. That knowledge spreadsover to their latest line of enclosures which is the 250 series. The seriesconsist of three different models:B and L which both have eSATA and USBports and there is a B model that just has a single USB port. We will beconcentrating on the eSATA models which are more future proof. 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. Mod of the Month - August 2008 @ bit-tech.net [Sep-01-08] (0 Comments) */One of the only things that is considered to be cooler than a model 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. Nikon Announces D90 Digital SLR - First Ever With Movie Mode @ thetechlounge.com [Aug-28-08] (0 Comments) Nikon today announced the D90 Digital SLR - successor to the D80. It's slated for availability some time (late?) September, at an ESP (estimated street price) of $999.95. At this point, I should mention that I'm a Canon user. I love my 5D and my treasure chest full of expensive L lenses. Point being, I'm so happy with Canon that it's rare for me to get excited about anything from the Nikon camp. In fact, this is the first time my eyes have wandered. [Forgive me, Canon, 'tis but a fling.] Oh, and we got some exclusive footage of the D90's movie mode in action, courtesy of professional photographer, Chase Jarvis. FiveWood by cc3d @ bit-tech.net [Aug-28-08] (0 Comments) *Today, we're going to let Chris Cook (aka cc3d) answer that question for you with a resounding 'Yes! Asus Eee PC 1000 @ bit-tech.net [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) *The Eee PC 1000 is a very interesting product, especially to someone like me who still uses the original Eee PC 701 regularly, but the issue with it is that Asus are obviously struggling on ways to upgrade the older models without losing the focus on web browsing and general office tasks. 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 Vantec Aeroflow FX 120 CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) Vantec's new coolers are named after their best selling cooler todate the Aeroflow 2. The new Aeroflow FX 92 and Aeroflow FX 120 are based onthe ever popular tower design which all the top coolers share. Even with thesimilarities of these coolers they also had their differences. Whether it issize, number of heat pipes, number of fins or the number of fans it supportsthey all have characteristics that make them stand out from one another. TheAeroflow models boast the vastly becoming popular Heat-pipe Direct TouchTechnology and a sweet white cooling fan. But is this enough for Vantec tobecome a real player in the air cooling market? We will put it up againstthe several other coolers to see where it ranks. 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. 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. Suitcase turned into PC @ tweaktown.com [Aug-21-08] (0 Comments) Up on the bench today we have a special DIY workshop tutorial in building your own LAN party case on a budget. We take an ordinary cheap flight case and mount a full PC inside so you can truck it to and from the party with ease.With the case closed up and ugly-lid hidden away, we see that this unit doesn’t look half bad from the outside! - With no more weight than the components inside, this unit is easy enough to carry around to and from LAN parties. And I’m about to do just that... Bloo Balls by Cheapskate @ bit-tech.net [Aug-21-08] (0 Comments) *I was driven into custom case building by cheaply made cases with sharp edges. I decided after getting cut up particularly well that I needed something that wouldn't kill me. I also wanted to see the flames when I burned up my hardware, so I started making plexiglas cases. Asus' Eee PC 1000 40G netbook @ techreport.com [Aug-20-08] (0 Comments) screen, a cramped keyboard comfortable only for munchkin fingers, limited storage capacity, an underclocked Celeron processor, and average battery life.My, how things have changed.Today's netbook market is littered with much more capable devices powered by Intel's slick new Atom processor. Screens have gotten bigger, too, bringing with them not only higher display resolutions, but enough space for larger keyboards that can easily accommodate adult hands and high-speed typing. Storage capacity has also risen to the occasion, and battery life and connectivity options have expanded. The netbook has quickly grown up before our eyes.I quite liked the first Eee PC, but despite its infectious novelty and honest-to-goodness utility, what is now known as the 700 series is hampered by too many limitations to be a viable notebook replacement for most folks. Asus' new Eee PC 1000 40G, however, is another beast entirely. Perhaps the most mature of this latest crop of netbooks, the 40G sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor, a 10 Intel Reveals More About Nehalem @ techgage.com [Aug-20-08] (0 Comments) Intelopened up about their Nehalem architecture at this summer's IDF,and while we are unable to talk about performance data, what we cantalk about is of great interest. Read on as we take a brief look atTurbo Mode, HyperThreading, CPU and Memory overclocking, thetriple-channel memory controller and much more. 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. TRENDnet 300Mbps Dual Band Wireless N Gigabit Router @ tweaktown.com [Aug-19-08] (0 Comments) How do you decide which router to buy in this day and age? Is there one product that has it all? You’ll be hard pressed to find a product with all the bells and whistles, but we may have one here today that comes close to the mark.Today we get up close and personal with TRENDnet’s very latest router, the 300Mbps Dual Band Wireless N Gigabit Router sporting model number TEW-672GR. Specifically, we are looking at version 1.0R, which is the shipping version you’ll find in the stores when buying. 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 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. ECS "Black Series" P45T-A @ techgage.com [Aug-15-08] (0 Comments) Need to build anew rig on the cheap? Need modest Crossfire support,and a decent feature-set? The ECS P45T-A might be worthy of yourconsideration, as it packs in a good amount of functionality, solidperformance, a cool color scheme and of course, a good price tag, ofaround $110. 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. Kingston HyperX 2GB PC3-14400 Memory Kit with Intel XMP @ legitreviews.com [Aug-14-08] (0 Comments) The Kingston HyperX KHX14400D3K2/2GX memory kit is a very nice kit of 1800MHz memory as you can see from the benchmarking results. The Micron ICs that are used on the module can easily reach 2GHz with CL8 timings and are also able to reach tight CL7 timings at 1800MHz with a slight voltage boost. Enthusiasts are looking for modules that allow them to adjust timings and overclock, which is exactly what these HyperX modules have been designed to do... 320 GB Hard Disk Drive Round-Up @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-14-08] (0 Comments) We compared the performance of nine 320 GB SATA-300 hard disk drive models from Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital and Hitachi. Which is the fastest 320 GB in the market? Check it out! 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. [News] Zalman ZM750-HP Power Supply @ virtual-hideout.net [Aug-11-08] (0 Comments) The Zalman ZM750-HP Power Supply passed testing and all my methodsto melt it down. It's rated to 750 Watts and doesn't come up short in anypower rail. If four 12v rails offering 20 amps each isn't enough, thenconsider Zalman's 850 or 1000 watt Heat Pipe models. Most users are going tofind this PSU far more capable for their SLI based systems and endless drivearrays. It's a silent, clear winner from a name trusted by enthusiasts theworld over. You can rest easy that the Zalman 750 Watt Heat Pipe PowerSupply can fulfill its purpose. 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. Palit GeForce 9800 GT 1 GB Video Card @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-09-08] (0 Comments) GeForce 9800 GT is simply a GeForce 8800 GT with a new sticker. How does this 1 GB model from Palit compare to the original 8800 GT and current high-end video cards? Check it out. [News] Norcotek RPC-450 Rackmount Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Aug-08-08] (0 Comments) These two things, though quite bad on their own, don't obscure thewall of pros that come hurling along with this chassis. Firstly, is thecomplete modularity, and secondly is the included hardware - being able tofit 11 hard drives which are cooled off the bat is incredible, especiallywhen they're actively cooled. Couple this with the fact that this is one ofso very few cases at this price point which are capable of holding anextended ATX system, and the fact that when the door works, the inboundairflow is filtered, the result becomes a very good deal, despite theflaws. Sunbeamtech Quarterback Mid Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-08-08] (0 Comments) I do a lot of case reviews as the junior reviewer at Pro-Clockers. Itdoesn't bother me, because I've got a case fetish of sorts. In its owntwisted way it works out fine for everyone involved. Over the years, I'veowned big cases, small cases, weird cases and modded cases. To be honest, Ichange cases more than some men change shirts. The last few years, I settledin with the Antec Sonata II. It's a great case and did what I needed it todo. However, I changed it for the Aerocool AE Plus last month. Always asucker for big fans, the Aerocool drew me in. After trying out theSunbeamtech Quarterback, I switched again. My main rig is now happily housedin the slightly odd, yet highly functional Quarterback. Read on to see why Ichanged cases. 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 HTC Touch Smartphone ed @ thetechlounge.com [Aug-08-08] (0 Comments) For me, Windows Mobile has always been primarily focused on data access, rather than data creation or modification. The Touch excels in this regard. It's not a multimedia powerhouse, but it will get an acceptable job done for most of your basic needs. If HTC added a hardware keyboard and a standard audio port, I think this would be a perfect Windows Mobile device. For now, if you are looking for a small, attractive smartphone and you can put up with a less-than-ideal input solution, the Touch may be a great option for you. Thecus N5200PRO NAS @ techpowerup.com [Aug-07-08] (0 Comments) Thecus' N5200 PRO NAS device holds up to five drives internally in any RAID configuration desired for maximum safety. With plenty of features and a modular design, when it comes to both hardware and software, it fits anyone's needs. As the N5200 PRO uses a fast 1.5 GHz CPU it has serious potential to stomp the competition. 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. All Athlon 64 Models @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-07-08] (0 Comments) A series of quick reference tables containing the main specs of all Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX and Athlon 64 X2 models released to date. Updated. 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! News@Technic3D/Cooler Master Silent ProM 600W @ technic3d.com [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Silent ProM 600W PSU (RS-600-AMBA-D3) arrive d Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next P SU Review with a very high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 135mm fan, 9xSerial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e (6+2)Pin this PSU better than other PSUs? 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. [Affiliates News] Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 650W (Report) @ aphnetworks.com [Aug-01-08] (0 Comments) Wow, time sure flies by. Precisely two months ago, I was stillsitting in a classroom, scribbling down notes and preparing for exams. Thenthere's the excitement of the stuff I have planned for the summer afterexams. And of course, I was often found at various car dealerships checkingout the latest releases (And of course test driving, which is just my excuseto redline cars) -- that aside, what I'm talking about is that I have thisThermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 650W modular power supply sittinghere at APH Networks for the last two months before I even started thisreport. Historically, I haven't been a big fan of Thermaltake power supplies.I owned quite a few of their cases, which were excellent. But the powersupplies, at least back in the days, were low in price but not really the'tier 1' performance that I'd come to expect. Generally speaking, this powersupply didn't capture much of my attention either due to my personalimpression. When I finally decided to open it and check what was inside overa month later, and did some research online, it seemed to me that theToughpower Cable Management 650W offered incredible performance across theboard. Was I surprised? Well, yes I was. Let's crack open this power supplyand take a look at the physical build of this Channel Well Technology builtunit in our report today.* Link:http://aphnetworks.com/reports/thermaltake_toughpower_cable_management_650w[1]* Image:http://aphnetworks.com/report/thermaltake_toughpower_cable_management_65...[2]Thanks for your support. Don't forget to send your site news tonews@aphnetworks.com [3] as well!Best Regards,JonathanAPH Networkshttp://aphnetworks.com [4]Add this newsletter issue to a newsletter by selecting a newsletter from theselect list.Send a newsletter or a test newsletter by selecting the appropriate radiobutton and submitting the node.Install Mime Mail module to send HTML emails. Mime Mail is also used to sendemails with attachments, both plain text and HTML emails. nVidia Chips Comparison Table @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-31-08] (0 Comments) A table comparing the basic technical specs from all nVidia graphics chips available on the market, from GeForce 4 MX 440 AGP 8x to GeForce GTX 280. Updated to include GeForce 9500 GT and 9800 GT models. How to Use the SPDIF Output from Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound Cards @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-31-08] (0 Comments) A list of all Sound Blaster X-Fi models released to date and how to add SPDIF connectors to them. Updated to include X-Fi Titanium sound cards. Mod of the Month - July 2008 @ bit-tech.net [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) *The month of July is coming to a close, and that means it's time again for us to bring you some of the world's best works in progress hand picked straight from our forums. That's right, it's time for Mod of the Month for July! 250 GB Hard Disk Drive Round-Up @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) We compared the performance of nine mainstream 250 GB SATA-300 hard disk drive models from Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital, Maxtor and Hitachi. Which is the fastest 250 GB in the market? Check it out! 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. 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. Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 650W @ bit-tech.net [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) *Overall it has to be said that Be Quiet! has made a fantastic product - it works, it has supreme efficiency, excellent quality outputs, lots of cable variation (which is perfect for a modular PSU) and is damn near silent to boot. We were really struggling to find things wrong with it because it's really not /that/ expensive when you look at the whole package, and the only thing that grates us is the RMA to Germany - other companies offer better after-sales support. GIGABYTE 9800 GT Zalman Edition @ tweaktown.com [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) It seems like NVIDIA graphics card releases run as clock work with the Catalyst drivers from AMD. With the GTX 280, GTX 260 and 9800 GTX+ released not all that long ago, it comes as no real surprise that NVIDIA has gotten up once again and released not only one new card today, but two.The first card is the 9800 GT which is what we have here with us now. The other is a 9500 GT which of course sits at the lower end of the scale when it comes to performance. Unlike some of the more recent releases, it seems that companies are already prepared to attack the 9800 GT with new cooling methods and overclocks. We see here that GIGABYTE has already strapped a Zalman cooler onto the newly released card and Palit are ready to go with an overclocked model carrying the Spire CoolFlow III - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Whenit comes time for an enthusiast to upgrade his or her processor,it's usually quite a momentous occasion. Lots of planning goes into theperfect choice of hardware, and it's not uncommon for a cooler upgradetoo; as faster usually means hotter. Therefore they usually go forsomething something much beefier than before – not one which lookssimilar to the stock Intel model. It’s odd saying that as today, we'vegot a Spire CoolFlow for review, which does, look remarkably similar tothe stock Intel heat-sink and fan. Let’s just hope it gives a boost inperformance. EVGA UV Plus+ UV16 USB 2.0 Video Adapter @ legitreviews.com [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Setting up the EVGA UV Plus+ UV16 could not be easier. First you’ll want to plug your monitor into the display adapter. As the manual states, drop in the driver CD, install the driver when prompted, reboot. Once Windows comes back up you’re ready to hook up the USB cable to your laptop/desktop. After an extremely brief “found hardware” your display may flash, and then will be visible on the newly attached monitor. On the two systems that I installed this on the monitor started in clone mode. A simple click on the system tray icon brings up options to change it to extended and even lets you choose which way you want to extended it... Corsair TX750W Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Corsair is one of those companies no matter what they venture into itwill be a success. Not only are they one of the most successful memorymanufacturers but last month we took a look at their Voyager 32GB flashdrive and it too was a big hit. Corsair has of lately broaden their range ofproducts to include power supplies. The HX received great awards from aroundthe web. based on the same tech that made the HX a hit the TX series is sureto be a benchmark in the world of power supplies. The unit that we will betaking a look at today is the 750 watt model. According to Corsair the TX isdesigned to give you maximum amount of power with the maximum of protectionbut at a minimum amount of money spent. 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. 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. XFX GeForce GTX 260 640M XXX Video Card @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-26-08] (0 Comments) GeForce GTX 260 640M XXX is a factory-overclocked model from XFX. How does it compare to the standard GTX 260 and to its main competitors? Check it out. Leadtek WinFast PX9600 GSO Extreme 384MB @ tweaktown.com [Jul-26-08] (0 Comments) We’re not quite sure what makes this 9600 GSO so Extreme, but we intend to find out today. Not unlike its 8800 GS twin brother, the 9600 GSO hasn’t really had much attention due to AMD offering two new cards, the 9600GT already being excellent value and of course NVIDIA offering two new high-end models as well.There are a lot of people on a tight budget though, and the 9600 GSO might come in at a price point that’s most attractive to them. We'll have a look at the Extreme version from Leadtek today and see if it’s worth buying or if should you save a few more dollars and just buy the better known 9600GT. NZXT Performance Power 800 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-25-08] (0 Comments) If you haven't guessed by now this unit is an 800 watt model. Thismuch power should be enough to power a decent multi-GPU rig. The PP800 hasthe greatest amount of power output in Performance Power as the other modelsare 500 and 600 watts. Like most power supplies today the PP800 boast four12 volt rails totaling up to 78 amps. A lot of power, a lot of ampere and anSLI certification is enough to warrant a good run on the old test bench. 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. 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? Vantec NexStar MX Raid Edition @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) Earlier in the year we got a chance to review the Vantec 400MX-S2that boasts dual hard drive support but no raid but had JBOD capabilities.This was a pretty cool enclosure, one that is still around today acting as abackup storage device for this site. You can never have enough backups. Buttoday we are going to review Vantec's newest MX enclosure entitled the400MX-SR. I bet you can guess what is different about this one compared tothe last model. Ok, give up? Raid! The new unit has Raid 1/0 as well asJBOD. 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. Coolmax CUQ 1350 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-21-08] (0 Comments) Coolmax was kind enough to send over one of their more powerful powersupplies. The CUQ1350 is the big dog from Coolmax and guaranteed to powerthe most extreme systems. The CUQ1350 is a small cry from the CUG950 wereviewed a few weeks ago. The CUQ series is not totally modular like the CUGbut still modular. And a stunning brushed aluminum enclosure encloses allthe power the unit has to offer. This is just some of what the new CUG1350has to offer. What else does the CUG has to offer? Lets read the reviewshall we. Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 Motherboard @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-18-08] (0 Comments) From the very beginning many of us could have figured the P45 chipsetwas going to be the chipset of chance as it is price considerably cheaperthan the older X38 and the X48. And from the early reviews the P45overclockers pretty well. We have seen able forum post and web reviews withfront side buses reaching the 600MHz range on Core2Duo processors. But forthe non-overclockers out there another advantage over the older P35 is thetwo 8x PCIe slots when attempting to using ATI video cards in Crossfiremode. Today, we will take the EP45-DQ6 through a ring of benchmarks and seewhat type of FSB numbers we can achieve. Corsair XMS3 DHX 1600MHz 4GB Memory Kit @ tweaktown.com [Jul-17-08] (0 Comments) Well before NVIDIA had any plans for DDR3, EPP or Extreme Performance Profile DDR2 memory was making its way into the mainstream. These modules were really designed to work with 680i chipsets, since any AMD solutions have the memory controller moved to the CPU, this eliminated any offerings NVIDIA can give.EPP has made its way into DDR3 with EPP 2.0; this being the DDR3 variation. Today we have Corsair’s monster 4GB DDR3 kit (2x2GB) supporting EPP 2.0. Let’s see how it copes. 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 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. Team Fortress 2 Sentry Mod @ bit-tech.net [Jul-16-08] (0 Comments) Last time we looked at one of TiTON’s mods was with the Team Fortress 2 Dispenser Mod, 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. A-DATA Vitesta DDR3-1600X 2GB Memory Kit @ tweaktown.com [Jul-15-08] (0 Comments) Intel added what it termed XMP or Extreme Memory Profiling to its X38 and X48 chipsets; this in terms of technology is the same as NVIDIA’s EPP which adds extra instructions into the memory SPD, allowing the memory to tell the system how fast it can run, what extra voltages it needs and what timings can be used for certain extreme profiles.Today we have A-DATA’s Vitesta Extreme Edition DDR3 modules designed for XMP with a rating of 1600MHz; the fastest that Intel currently supports on its X series chipsets. Let’s see how well it performs. 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. quoted-printable encoded unnecessarily @ bigbruin.com [Jul-14-08] (0 Comments) Most headsets can handle phone calls just fine, but they fail to address the stereo audio playback features found on many modern phones. Lubix offers an innovative line of Bluetooth headsets capable of handling your communication needs, while also letting you enjoy the multimedia capabilities of your phone. PowerColor HD 4850 512MB Video Card ed @ thetechlounge.com [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) Interestingly, there seem to be few, if any drastic, architecture changes for HD 4000. It's all scale down, add more. PowerColor, a long-time board partner, shows just how well this strategy pays out for the HD 4850.Even side-by-side, this card looks just like a 3850. That's really superb, because not only was its predecessor small, clean, and fast, it was also quiet. The sticker's adornment is a busty, armored model in Viking chic. But it's a stock card, with the same design that you'd get with any 4850 currently available. 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! Samsung SyncMaster 245T @ bit-tech.net [Jul-12-08] (0 Comments) *There's a lot to like about the 245T including its static image quality, viewing angles and contrast performance. But at this price point, something close to perfection is to be excepted. At £600+ any major flaws are simply unacceptable and the fact that the 245T actually has two -- moderate input lag and occasionally serious inverse ghosting -- might seem pretty shocking. A-DATA SDHC Class 6 Eee PC Edition 8GB @ aphnetworks.com [Jul-11-08] (0 Comments) So here's the deal, guys:You bought an Asus Eee PC, and you got all the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from your non-geek friends who've never seen such a thing you ever wanted. What now? One of the biggest 'problems' faced by majority of Eee PC users with regards to current generation Asus Eee PCs comes down to storage capacity limitations of the subnotebook's flash SSD -- with configurations starting at 2GB and the higher end (Read:More expensive) models consisting of a 4GB Silicon Motion solid state disk, it's not hard to imagine that you're running low on disk space even after an nLited installation of Windows XP, plus a few programs to boot. I have an Asus Eee PC 4G; and with a somewhat slimmed down version of Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Office 2000 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with minimal features, Foxit Reader, Firefox, Windows Live Messenger, Wavelab Lite -- just to name a few off my head -- already used up 2.5GB. How about some multimedia files such as music, videos, and pictures? Good luck with that. Well, thankfully, Asus had considered that already with the Eee PC and incorporated a SD/SDHC card slot that's can accommodate a card fully engaged into the unit with no edges left sticking out. It's very convenient, and solves the storage problem fairly well. But what card are you going to use? A-DATA presents to you their solution. The A-DATA SDHC Class 6 Eee PC edition cards are designed for this very purpose. My Eee PC is white in color, and these white colored cards will fit the scheme just perfectly -- along with a performance of excellent read and write performance, how will it step up to its task? Let's jump right into our A-DATA SDHC Class 6 Eee PC Edition 8GB flash memory card review. 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. Metal Gear Solid 4:Guns of The Patriots ed @ thetechlounge.com [Jul-08-08] (0 Comments) Before MGS4 hit the shelves, a flurry of gameplay videos hit the web, and I couldn't help but watch a couple of them. These videos left me deeply worried about the game. Reservedly excited, you might say. The thing that really had me worried was that it seemed the formula might have been modified a bit too much - elements I had loved so much in the previous titles didn't seem to be there anymore. In a way, it just looked a bit like Call of Duty meets Splinter Cell, with some Metal Gear Solid rainbow sprinkles on top. So, after playing the game all the way through (and then some), were my reservations justified? 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. Aeneon XTune DDR2-1142 2GB Memory Kit @ tweaktown.com [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) XTune is Aeneon's brand of enthusiast level memory modules. While our first encounter with the XTune was less than fantastic, we don’t reject companies from coming back with new products to try out. Today we have the newest addition, being a DDR2 package. That’s right; DDR2 still lives and it’s definitely not going anywhere soon.The kit sent to us is the DDR2-1142MHz overclocked pack with 2x1GB modules for a total of 2GB in Dual Channel; ideal for both Intel and AMD. These modules aren’t rated for Phenom’s 1066MHz memory controller, but that shouldn’t stop it from working with a bit of a boost in memory voltage. The Team Fortress 2 Dispenser Mod @ bit-tech.net [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) *And now, after looking over Ton Khodee's, aka TiTON's , latest case mod, I just can't even begin to conceive the amount of effort and passion that must have gone into building a mod like this - the Team Fortress 2 Sentry and Dispenser Case Mod. Words can't even describe how awesome it is. 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. 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. [News] LapLogic AeroGel Extreme Lapdesks @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-06-08] (0 Comments) Today I'll be looking at a new introduction to the lapdesk marketfrom LapLogic.com. Actually two new models with one being regular sized andone being the super-sized model. They're called the new AeroGel Extreme andAeroGel Extreme - Wide laptop desks. With so much competition out there,let's see what sets these new units apart from the pack. bit-tech :MSI Wind U100 @ bit-tech.net [Jul-05-08] (0 Comments) *The MSI Wind is a good sub-notebook– nay, a /great/ > subnotebook. The build quality is solid and convincing, the design is > basic but all you need and the choice of hardware is perfectly > balanced with the exception of the HDD – which still does give you a > few advantages in terms of cost, capacity and modability.>> The Wind looks nice, feels nice and performs well even with the > slightly bulkier XP option. It’s got all the connectivity you’ll > really need, though the wireless card only supports slower > connections, and it’s easy to use. To the point, nice and simple – it > lives up to its name and /flows/.> /> / *>> *Cheers guys!>> Tim Smalley> www.bit-tech.net Diamond HD 4870 512MB ed @ thetechlounge.com [Jul-05-08] (0 Comments) The 4870 is an excellent card, but for now, all the models are functionally identical, and there are yet to be factory-overclocked cards, let alone custom-cooled models. Variation ranges from changing the sticker to adding spiffy adapters. If you buy Diamond, you're not buying a different card, you're buying better service, only they're not charging extra. 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 HD3870 Ultimate Video Card @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-04-08] (0 Comments) Based off of the RV670 chipset is the Sapphire Ultimate 3870 videocard. This card many not be overclocked like the Toxic we reviewed a fewweeks back. This means it won't perform at the same level of the Toxic did,but the major thing the Ultimate has over the Toxic is silence. Combinedwith 512MB of GDDR4 and Shader 4.1, silence isn't the only feature the cardhas that it can boast about. Just how well does it match up against theToxic mode? Read on to find out. PowerColor AMD TV Wonder 600 PCIe x1 @ techpowerup.com [Jul-03-08] (0 Comments) The new TV Wonder 600 PCIe TV tuner card is the PCI-Express x1 entry level model of the new series. This is also the first time that the TV Wonder series is available in Europe with the PAL standard. It can be used for analog or DVB-T signals and manages MPEG encoding by software. The card is built on a fancy purple PCB, comes with an extremely stylish IR receiver along with a remote and PowerCinema 5. 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. 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. How To Replace Memory Heat Spreaders @ tweaktown.com [Jul-02-08] (0 Comments) Welcome to another session of void-your-warranty, as today we will look at upgrading the stock heat spreaders on a pair of Kingston DDR2 memory modules.What we will do here is run through a step-by-step of removing the plain flat aluminum spreaders that come with most RAM modules and upgrading them with some Nexus HXR-550B Heat-Pipe memory coolers. 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. Technic3D/Tagan PipeRock TG1100-BZ 1100W @ technic3d.com [Jul-02-08] (0 Comments) The Tagan PipeRock TG1100-BZ 1100W arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with modular cable management with colorful housing to avoid wrong connection, 135mm LED Fan, Six 12V rails, 12 Serial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin and 4x PCI-e 6-Pin. All Phenom Models @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-02-08] (0 Comments) A quick reference table showing the main specs of all Phenom models released to date. 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! Top Spin 3 @ bit-tech.net [Jul-01-08] (0 Comments) It's important to realise that Top Spin 3 is more of a tennissimulator than a tennis game. There are no tennis-themed minigames inthe career mode and no unlockable naked tennis modes either. TopSpin 3 is all about the game, pure and simple.With that in mind, it's also important to realise that it isn't reallypossible to just pick up the game and start playing. It does take timeand perseverance before you'll be winning games consistently. If you'rewilling to put in the time and effort, and play through hours oftournaments, you'll be rewarded with a very in-depth and involving game.Online play is the icing on the cake and its polish and relativelyglitch-free operation could show some other developers how it's doneproperly. The inclusion of seasons in the online leaderboards meansthat there'll still be an incentive to play online tournaments, even inmonths to come.For me, I'm glad to say that my badminton wrists were up to the job,and I have just one final thing to add:move over Federer, there's anew boy on the tennis court. 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. Civilization Revolution @ bit-tech.net [Jun-30-08] (0 Comments) Still, despite all these minor flaws and control issues,Civilization Revolutionis still pretty good and Firaxis has done well to carry over the sameaddictiveness and educating mechanics as the previous games.There are issues, but there’s also a lot to like in CivilizationRevolutionand even though a lot of the depth has been trimmed out, there’s stilla lot left in in terms of negotiations and deciding what to build next.There’s also a lot to like in terms of the different scenarios andmodes – though there’s only support for up to four players, which islimiting. The game is boiled down, streamlined and basic – but that isn’t all badand one could easily level accusations of needless depth and bloatinessat the original games. To have a lighter option is no bad thing and thedevelopers have done well to adapt the game to a console audience,though there are some obvious failings and concessions that have beenmade.The game could have been made better in some fairly fundamental ways -we'd have loved to see some of the more varied campaign scenarios andthe like from Beyond The Sword, the add-on for the last proper Civilizationgame. Some expanded multiplayer support and better controls would godown a treat as well. Still, Civilizationis a strong brand and an awesome series of games, so these failuresdon't really have that big an effect on the overall outcome. As good asthe PC forefathers? Definitely not, but still better than the nearestcompetitor on a console. Mod of the Month - June 2008 @ bit-tech.net [Jun-30-08] (0 Comments) Well, here we are at the end of June! We're half-way throughthe year,in the start of a gorgeous summer (or maybe winter for those of yousouth of the equator), and we're celebrating the first birthday of ourMod of the Month competition!One year ago, we rolled out the first of our monthly awards, won bynone other than a fishtank with a computer.Since that point in time, we've seen all manner of beasts and builds,from top-spec watercooled SLI rigs to slim and trim HTPCs. Scratch casebuilds, full-on mods and everything in between have graced these pagesas 55 of the best from our forums vied for prizes and recognition. This month, we're celebrating the anniversary by going back to the oldschool - June's Mod of the Month contains absolutely no scratch builds.Don't worry, all you talented creators - we'll go back to pick up acouple of you for July. But this one is all about the art of theold-fashioned mod. Lamptron Case Lighting Products @ aphnetworks.com [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) When it comes to customization of personal computers, no one can disregard the popularity of the application of lighting effects -- it seems that adding lights are the basics of case modding. The funny thing is that the use of case lights in the general custom built personal computer market are decreasing in popularity in the computer scene as far as I can see -- I haven't used any lights since my pair of cold cathodes went on fire in 2005 (Hey, I'm not kidding. It smelled really bad). I'm not the only one though, many enthusiasts with nice cases and large side windows either didn't install any lights at all, or simply did it in a half-hearted fashion. That did not turn me away from case lighting though; the reason why I did not have any case lights for the past few years is that I was simply too lazy to find some. Not to mention that while there's an abundance of such products in the market, but none of them really appealed to my tastes because they are all so... generic, or simply just trying way too hard to be unique that ironically inhibited its very purpose. Of course, that's not until Lamptron contacted us with their huge array of unique case lighting products that's actually practical in my opinion. Today, we'll take a look at five out of the many products from Lamptron, and see how they fit in with my Silverstone KL-02 which incorporates a huge window on the side. If you've been following my computer photo posts for a while, you may have seen them already, if you haven't, they look absolutely beautiful. I won't waste anymore of your time, let's jump to the details. ASUS EN9600GT TOP Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) The Asus 9600 GT TOP edition is obviously not the fastest card in NVIDIA’s line up but that is not the goal here. As of this writing, the Asus 9600 GT is selling for $129 after a $20 Mail-in-rebate, which is an astounding value! You get a card with a great cooling, low-noise heat sink, and an overclocked card for the same price as a reference model. Though the performance differences weren’t that large compared to the reference card the heat sink easily makes this card the, forgive the pun, TOPS in its class... 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. Zalman LQ1000 Z-Machine Hybrid Liquid - XSs World Exclusive! @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-26-08] (0 Comments) WaterCooling has always been a quite complex part of the computer industryand in the past, only extreme hardware enthusiasts have undertaken it.It’s a long process of buying water-cooling parts singly and themmodifying your case to fit the parts; this can prove daunting for most.Fortunately though, Zalman have come up with a case designedspecifically for water cooling which also includes a basic WC setup. Sowithout further a do, I introduce to you the Zalman Z-Machine LQ1000. 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. ASUS EAH4850 512MB @ techgage.com [Jun-26-08] (0 Comments) Proper competition from AMD in the mid-range scheme ofthings might have taken a while to happen, but it does happen with theHD 4000 series. We are taking a look at the smaller of the two newmodels, which offers exceptional performance for the price of $200. 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. CPU Cooler Roundup - 22 Models Tackle Our QX6850 @ techgage.com [Jun-25-08] (0 Comments) What better way is there to find out which CPU coolersexcel than to throw them at our ultra-hot Intel QX6850? We took 22different models and did just that. Some surprised us, some didn't.What we were left with were five different models that deserved ourEditor's Choice award. Technic3D/Enermax Modu82+ 525W @ technic3d.com [Jun-25-08] (0 Comments) The Enermax MODU82+ 525W arrived Technic3D. See you in the fol lowing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with a high efficiency, 12c m Fan, Three 12V rails, Modular Design, 6 Serial ATA connectors and 2x PCI-e 6-(+2)Pin. 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. 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. Roogoo (PC) @ bit-tech.net [Jun-23-08] (0 Comments) Just because the game is tough though, isn’t to say that RooGooisn’t fun. It is fun to play, kind of. Fun in the same kind of way as Peggleor Drug Warsor any other casual game. You don’t actually massively enjoy playingthe game, you just crave the sense of accomplishment and completion andyou get sucked into this trap early on thanks to the pick-up-and-playdesign. There are only two real things that prevent RooGoo frombeing a good game and neither of these are really going to be a hugeproblem to any initiated puzzle fans. The first is that there reallyisn’t much to be had beyond the single game mode and once you’ve playedone level you’ve played them all. The other problem is the way the game presents itself. We’ve jokedabout the bright colours, MeeMoos, King Goos, and Roos of RooGoo, but the reality is that they really are a problem. RooGoois too fast and frantic to be a kids game, so we have to judge it asmore than that and while the game would still have problems if it waspresented as a less immature puzzler, it would be a bit better off. 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. 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. Coolermaster Real Power PSUs - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-20-08] (0 Comments) Coolermasterhave, at times, been considered the kings of top of theline case manufacturing; thanks in part, to their popular Stacker rangeof chassis. In recent years though, Coolermaster have branched out intoother areas, and attempted to apply their industry defining style andpanache to other product types. Today I'll be testing 3 of CM's top ofthe line Real Power modular PSUs; lets see if they can live up theCoolermaster name. OCZ EliteXStream 800W Power Supply report @ aphnetworks.com [Jun-20-08] (0 Comments) Well guys, here we go again -- another close-look-at-power-supply-hardware report. Last week, we took apart the Seasonic M12II 500W power supply. As usual, because we don't have the necessary professional equipment to do the simulated load testing, measuring the quality of power delivery (Voltage, ripple, etc) in accordance to load, and that we don't want to use some fake hardware test reports, we are up for another power supply hardware examination report. This time, we are going to crack open the relatively recently released OCZ EliteXStream 800W power supply (A 1000W model is also available for those who really need it). This power supply has gained excellent reputation in regards to performance and efficiency from other excellent online publications that tested it with professional load testing equipment. When OCZ asked me a couple months back to see if I wanted to take a look at the EliteXStream, I was nothing but excited to see what OCZ has in store lately. The OCZ EliteXStream series power supplies combine a 120mm fan with an open rear exhaust design like the Seasonic M12II for a somewhat good reputation of 'quietness' in this regard, and high power output ratings. So today, let's see how extremely elite is the OCZ 1337-Extreme 800W -- I mean, OCZ EliteXStream 800W. 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. X-Spice Kira 630 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-20-08] (0 Comments) But today we are here to discuss X-Spice's new model lineup entitledthe Kira. The Kira is aimed at the gamer and small enclosure user at thesame time. How it is able to do this you may ask. Well, you will have toread more of the article ahead. But, we can already tell you that the unitis cooled by an industry standard 120 cm cooling fan and has fourindependent 12 volt rails. And if that is not enough, how about anadvertised 83 % efficiency rating? Yeah, we figured that would draw yourattention. Zalman ZM1000-HP 1000 Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) Another one of those quality products is the subject of our nextreview. The ZM1000-HP is one powerful power supply and it is also goodlooking. This six 12-volt rail 1000 watt behemoth is a sterling dark grayglossy finish that is pretty attractive without being flashy. And while Iam on the exterior features of the ZM1000-HP is mostly modular for unlimitedcable management possibilities. This power supply has all that one wouldneed in a unit to power the best of gaming rigs. Motorola Bluetooth Headset H680 @ bluetomorrow.com [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) The Motorola Bluetooth Headset H680 combines contemporary style and modern technology to provide users with attractive communication device that performs as good as it looks. The H680 features a sleek, elegant design, premium finish and easy to use functionality. Straight out of the box, this unit looks great and offers a lightweight design that is comfortable to wear, even after extended use. Splitting the Atom:Inside the Asus Eee PC 901 @ bit-tech.net [Jun-18-08] (0 Comments) Getting in isrelatively easy, providing you know where to look. You'llfirst need to remove the battery and take out all the screws on theunderside (there should be 13 in total), including the one for the flapthat hides the non-warranty voidable removable parts.Once that's out, take out the 16GB SSD and the single DDR2 memorymodule - note if you want to upgrade you'll have to replace this DIMMwith a bigger one since there's only one socket available in the 901.We're still keen to try this 16GB SSD in another notebook and we'd loveto know how much of the 901's BOM (bill of materials) is taken up bythe SSD. To the left of the SSD slot and above the DIMM socket, there is theWireless 802.11n module. Both antennas are connected to it - they runup and around the 8.9 All Core 2 Models @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-18-08] (0 Comments) A series of quick reference tables containing all Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme CPUs released to date. Updated to include 45 nm models. nVidia Chips Comparison Table @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-18-08] (0 Comments) A table comparing the basic technical specs from all nVidia graphics chips available on the market, from GeForce 4 MX 440 AGP 8x to GeForce GTX 280. Updated to include GeForce GTX 260 and GTX 280 models. NVIDIA GeForce 280 GTX in Tri SLI Tested @ tweaktown.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) It was always going to happen; the testing of two and three GTX 280 cards. We had hoped to have had it ready by launch date, and we’ve fortunately done it with an absolutely massive weekend that has involved over 250 benchmark runs across four different motherboards. Before we get into it though, we have to laugh at our power supply situation. When we started testing our Tri SLI setup with a 1000 Watt Zalman PSU, we ran into some problems. During the Canyon test on 3DMark06, the system would just shut down! - Since this would seem to resemble a power problem, it was time to pull out a HX 620 Watt and do a bit of ghetto modding to get the two power supplies working together. What we ended up doing is running one GTX 280 off the Corsair HX 620 PSU while the 1000 Watt took care of the other two cards and the rest of the system. 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. Scythe Ninja Copper heatsink @ bit-tech.net [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) The key problem for the Ninja Copper lies in the fact thatwe’vealready tested ultra low noise coolers like the Noctua NH U12P andThermalRight Ultra 120 eXtreme, and not only were they very quiet, butboth performed brilliantly thermally. When you consider that the NinjaCopper is priced in the same region as these top performers, it becomesimpossible to recommend as even a silent cooling solution.The enormously frustrating mounting process for S775 and thefingerprint magnet copper surface are the final shuriken to the heartof the Ninja Copper. Scythe has left the Ninja’s design fundamentallyunchanged for over three years now, while its competitors have beenreleasing more and more advanced coolers, packing in more cooling finsand more efficient heat pipes - this is starting to show now.While it might be silent, we simply cannot excuse the poor thermalperformance and S775 mounting problems of the Ninja Copper, and at over£40, it represents very poor value for money compared to moderncompetition. Silent? Yes. Deadly? Definitely not. 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 GeForce 280 GTX in Tri SLI Tested @ tweaktown.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) It was always going to happen; the testing of two and three GTX 280 cards. We had hoped to have had it ready by launch date, and we’ve fortunately done it with an absolutely massive weekend that has involved over 250 benchmark runs across four different motherboards. Before we get into it though, we have to laugh at our power supply situation. When we started testing our Tri SLI setup with a 1000 Watt Zalman PSU, we ran into some problems. During the Canyon test on 3DMark06, the system would just shut down! - Since this would seem to resemble a power problem, it was time to pull out a HX 620 Watt and do a bit of ghetto modding to get the two power supplies working together. What we ended up doing is running one GTX 280 off the Corsair HX 620 PSU while the 1000 Watt took care of the other two cards and the rest of the system. GeForce GTX 280 with QX9650 @ tweaktown.com [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) Feeling a little underwhelmed with the initial GTX 280 results, I took the time to make my way over to the IBuyPower Australia bunker to let the card have a bit more breathing room. While our 3GHz test bed is quite modest and a good indication of performance for the everyman or woman, there is of course people |