Saturday, April 19 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:56 AM (EDT) |
There are a few shell and desktop enhancements for Windows Vista. These third-party shells run in place of Explorer, which sometimes require registry edits or other tweaks to get working. Did you know what you can kill Explorer and test a new shell without rebooting Vista? |
AeroCool HorsePower 1020 watt Power Supply Review @ Hi-Techreviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:56 AM (EDT) |
AeroCool may not be the first name you think of when you are talking about power supplies but, AeroCool would like to change that and if this power supply is any reflection on their new line-up a large number of people will be talking about it. |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:55 AM (EDT) |
NVIDIA's Geforce 9600 GT is quite an exceptional midrange card that offers excellent overclocking potential. Since the cards run at a relatively low voltage there is some extra overclocking waiting to be unleashed by raising the card's voltages. The GPU voltage mod we present in this article uses a new method which will not be affected by the card's overvoltage protection. Also we describe an easy to do modification to increase the memory voltage. |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:55 AM (EDT) |
"Intel has a winner on their hands with the Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor. At $285.99 shipped to your door it is priced higher than any AMD Phenom quad-core processor, but rightly so as our benchmarking showed it out performing Phenom in every benchmark except memory bandwidth. Not too shabby for the entry level 45nm quad-core processor! Our top overclock was over 1GHz higher than the stock frequency and that pushed the final clock frequency to 3.5GHz!" |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:54 AM (EDT) |
While many people might not have heard of HuntKey before, they are currently the largest Chinese switching PSU manufacturer. They design and produce almost every kind of switching power supply currently available, including PC power supplies. Although they are not well known in the US and EU markets yet, their units have slowly been finding their way to store shelves. Today we will take a look at the HK650, a unit HuntKey designed for enthusiasts who want a powerful, yet inexpensive PSU. We will soon see if it’s worthy of your time and, most importantly, money. |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:54 AM (EDT) |
It has been quite some time since I have taken an entry level gaming card for a spin and PowerColor's AX3650 512MD2 has really surprised me. While you can't expect outrageous performance from a $70 card, you get pretty good gaming performance and a load of features to go with it. Overall great value. |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:53 AM (EDT) |
Today we at Bjorn3D plan to help you procrastinators out there by providing some useful facts that will help with your decision making dilemma. We will be reviewing the ASUS's top of the line X48 based P5E3 Premium WIFI-AP @n motherboard. We plan to take this review to a new limit by testing the board with both the Intel® Q6600, 65nm processor and the Intel's new X3350 Xeon 45nm Quad core processor which is said to mimic the long awaited, forthcoming 9450 processor in all respects. We will also test the board using the 64 bit version of Vista using both 2GB of high-speed DDR3 as well as 4GB of lower latency DDR3. While this presentation is first and foremost a motherboard review we hope to assist as well in providing data to help you purchase the right accessories to make it shine. |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:53 AM (EDT) |
Vantec, a company known for different forms of external storage, is the next in line to release a pod. The NexStar Hard Drive Dock is an incredible looking device that will take any 2.5 or 3.5 internal drive and make it external. And all this is done without having to disassemble anything. All you have to do is drop the drive in the top of the dock, give the drive a second to be recognized by Windows and you are ready to read and write all your data. But how is this unit different from the one we previously reviewed a few weeks ago? |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:53 AM (EDT) |
"Ever since Intel released their Core 2 Duo line of computer chips, they've been winning the war for processor supremacy. And not only at the high end of the spectrum, their more affordable dual and quad core chips have shown better performance than their AMD competition at similar price points which leaves consumers hard pressed to take the AMD route. With their foot planted firmly on the neck of the competition, the boys in blue are unleashing a killer combo of budget quad cores that make AMD's new Phenom already look dated." |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:52 AM (EDT) |
"You did your research and you’ve discovered that the 8800GT continues to be one of the best value for money cards when it comes to good mid-range performance. The thing is, you wouldn’t mind kicking it up a notch in the memory department if you had the choice. |
Posted by Nathan @ 1:52 AM (EDT) |
"The Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W power supply is a great looking piece of hardware that your computer setup will love, as long as you do not mind the extra wires piled up in your case. The Real Power Pro did exactly what it was supposed to do - deliver power to my computer and keeping all of the rails very stable and close to their stated ratings. There was little fluctuation in the voltages between the idle and load testing. Watching the voltages while running through 3Dmark06, it seemed to handle the load, to no load and back to load changes with little change in the voltages measured. The only complaint that I have, is the way that Cooler Master designed this power supply - they should have made it with a modular design, to keep the amount of wires hanging around the inside of the computer to a minimum." |
Friday, April 18 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:20 PM (EDT) |
As the site is expanding, the time comes when new writing talent is needed to compliment our excellent writing staff. We now have 2-3 positions available for writing product reviews and editorials here on Tweaknews. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:08 PM (EDT) |
..." People from Canyon Company have a sense for increasing demands for brand configurations and result is Canyon CNR-PC1. Configuration varies regard to region, so you can take a look what model is available for your region. First thing you'll spot, will be for sure very attractive design. We are talking about presence of white and orange color combination on every component"... |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:08 PM (EDT) |
"Don't panic even if the topic triggers a strong déjà vu feeling in you, because indeed we have already reviewed one Super Talent Pico A USB flash drive. The difference this time around is that now Super Talent has come up with a new model in the same product family and now the Pico series ranges from 1 GB up to 8 GB in capacity." |
Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Ultraportable Notebook @ HotHardware.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:07 PM (EDT) |
According to Lenovo, the ThinkPad X300 was designed to be the most efficient notebook the company has ever offered, with claims of a 25% reduction in power consumption in comparison to previous X-Series models. To achieve this, Lenovo attempted a balancing act of sorts, equipping the X300 with a low power Core 2 Duo CPU, a Solid-State Drive and an LED backlit monitor. The question is, has the focus on low power consumption come at too big a price, both in terms of dollars and overall performance? |
Thermaltake Xaser VI VG4000BWS Super Tower Chassis Review @ Bigbruin.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:07 PM (EDT) |
In October 2007 Thermaltake announced that they were working on the sixth edition of the Xaser series. The latest release builds on the success of past models, and includes items such as a removable motherboard tray, 10 expansion slots, a tool-free design, Aluminum construction, e-SATA connectors, and many other features. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:06 PM (EDT) |
Almost anyone can purchase and use a wireless gateway or router in their home or office. The setup of these devices often come with a wizard to step you through and get the device working. The problem is that most of these wizards disregard common security holes and leave you open to hackers and even your neighbors accessing your data. How do you plug these holes and how does wireless work? We answer these questions in our simple guide to wireless security. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:06 PM (EDT) |
"I would not suggest this board to the usual DIY enthusiast. Who I would suggest it to would be system builders looking to cut down on inventory. Being able to build DDR2 and DDR3 boxes on the same platform could make configuring things simpler. This is not a bad motherboard; it is just not a great enthusiast motherboard for those wanting to build their own box." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:06 PM (EDT) |
"At such a good price, I can only say that the Inno3D Geforce 9800GTX Overclock is a card that's in my mind, no doubt ... an excellent buy. The performance is astounding, producing excellent scores in all our benchmarks. Don't be discouraged by the fact that Inno3D is not a brand name on every gamer's lips ... in fact it's quite the opposite. Let the benchmark results do all the talking." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:05 PM (EDT) |
In a world where case modding is becoming increasingly more popular, Lamptron focuses on giving modders and enthusiasts alike what they are asking for in accessories. The Aluminum Case Handles that we are taking a look at today have style with their custom CNC milled design and smooth elegant finish. The aluminum construction is solid yet very light weight and will certainly please anyone who wants to add portability to their case as well as looks provided that you are willing to spend a little extra money for the quality. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:05 PM (EDT) |
It was many months ago that ThermalTake released their first PSUs, these were good enough for them to start gaining a strong reputation in this highly competitive market. Today we will take a look at their affordable, mid-range PSU, the ToughPower 500W. The ToughPower 500W is a modular and silent PSU, but is it good enough to compete in the wide spanning but budget minded mid-range market? |
Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red DDR2-800 4GB Kit BL2KIT25664AR804 Memory Review @ OCInside |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:05 PM (EDT) |
Sure, for most of us DDR2-800 RAM is nothing special anymore, but the new Crucial Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red PC2-6400 memory modules are worth a second look. The current DDR2 4GB kit consists of 2x 2GB PC2-6400 CL4 memory modules and they are a visual treat. This Ballistix Tracer Red edition offers not just more memory for the PC, but thanks to several integrated SMD light emitting diodes it lights up the PC in a bright red. Let us test the result of this new 4GB CL4 kit from Crucial compared to previous tested DDR2 modules. And let us see, if there is anything special with Windows XP or Windows Vista and 4 GB PC memory. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:04 PM (EDT) |
"I went into this review with a mindset that this board is geared to being used in a workstation or Home Theater PC and at that, it does very well. In the science benchmarks, the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-SH2 pulls off some impressive numbers compared to competing boards using the same chipset. The Gigabyte board has an array of features and capabilities that would make any system like this drool for more. I liked how Gigabyte included all three video ports for this board because if you are like me and lose adapters easily, you will not be left out from using them down the road. Another feature of note i absolutely loved is the number of USB headers available. For a media PC or workstation, that is a great move." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:04 PM (EDT) |
"The existence of the 3D concept has been around since people could express themselves artistically; for example, through painting or sculptures. When the first such expression began, I certainly could not tell you. However, I can tell you that 3D has evolved to the point where it is now commercially available for the average user for under $1000 USD. Admittedly that’s a lot more than most would want to pay for it, but it is a positive step in the right direction. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:03 PM (EDT) |
"If you are a gamer on a budget, then the Maingear Dash is the perfect PC for you. It's small quiet and affordable." |
Thursday, April 17 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:55 PM (EDT) |
"This dichotomy results in a power supply that while excellent seems a bit short of being the absolute best it could be especially given its somewhat steep pricing of $149 after MIR. However, when this unit is good it is so good it we would be remiss if we did not recommend the MODU82+ 625w to users looking for a good performing, quiet, modular power supply in this output range." |
EK Supreme and Koolance CPU-340 Compared to The Competition @ Madshrimps |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:54 PM (EDT) |
"Today we add two new blocks to our previous roundup, newcomer EK Supreme out of Slovenia and Koolance replacement to their CPU-330 the CPU-340." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:54 PM (EDT) |
"While most of the gaming peripheral world is dominated by the big names like Razer and Logitech, there is a growing number of smaller companies that are bringing their own range of gaming products to the table. Cyber Snipa is one such name, and today I'll be testing their Stinger mouse. With adjustable DPI and weights, how will it fair against it's competitors? Let's see." |
ATI FireGL V8600 1GB Workstation Graphics Card @ HotHardware.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:53 PM (EDT) |
As many of you know, ATI has been particularly aggressive with their FireGL workstation graphics card lineup over the past six months. While their flagship R600-architecture was the basis for the solid (but ultimately underwhelming) Radeon HD2900XT for the gaming market, our tests have shown that this particular GPU architecture is much more competitive in the workstation market. While the R600 may not be the best choice for a high-end gaming rig, it is indeed a powerful chip for high-end OpenGL work, and as such, has led to a revival of sorts for ATI’s FireGL lineup. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:53 PM (EDT) |
AMD's release of the Phenom 9850 means an end to the TLB errata problem it also ushers in a new level of affordable quad core computing and gaming. Ruffy tests out the Phenom 9850 and manges to get it running at 3.1Ghz on air! We show you the performance of this affordable computing beast and give you our analysis on this new CPU. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:52 PM (EDT) |
While not a name often heard in the enthusiast market, In-Win has been in business for 22 years, focusing primarily on PC enclosures. In-Win mainly caters torward OEMs, but does have experience in the retail market. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:32 PM (EDT) |
" This time we have tested a really special sound system or it is better to say loudspeaker. This particular Altec Lansing model includes three flat NXT speakers, which are pretty much rare on the market. If you want to understand how special they are, you must forget everything you know about regular speakers. They are different in many ways: different looks, size, manufacturing, sound reproduce ." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:32 PM (EDT) |
Increased cooling capabilities, quieter operation, and style are just a few of the advances - and with these often come increased size and weight. Recognizing that many PC enthusiasts actually like to be able to move their systems, Antec has come up with a smaller, more portable case with this in mind. Enter the Mini P180 Advanced Super Mini Tower - the newest member of the Antec Performance One series of cases. |
XFX GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB and Quad SLI Review @ Elite Bastards |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:31 PM (EDT) |
"Each of these G92 cores has its full complement of 128 Stream Processors available to it, giving the GeForce 9800 GX2 as a whole a total of 256 Stream Processors. These shader units are clocked at 1.5GHz in their own clock domain, while the core clock itself (affecting dispatch and texturing units together with the ROPs on-board) is set to 600MHz. Each core also has a full complement of ROPs, meaning sixteen on each core (giving thirty-two in total) and sixty-four each of texture filtering and addressing units (for 128 of each in total on the board). This choice of specification means that although each core on the GeForce 9800 GX2 matches those on a GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB in terms of shader, texturing and ROPs units, it finds itself with lower clock speeds than the 650MHz and 1.625GHz core and shader clocks on the latter." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:31 PM (EDT) |
“The bottom line here is that the ASUS EN9800GTX is a much cooler graphics card that's capable of replacing the 8800 GTX in ASUS' line up. Should you run out and replace that 8800 GTX you already have? Not really. Performance between these two GTXs is a pretty even battle with the newer 9800 winning out a little. Those looking for the newest performance card that offers the best bang for buck are going to find the ASUS EN9800GTX to be a good option. The only thing that would make it an even better choice would be a lower price tag and a decently bundled video game. It's ASUS, so anything is possible.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:30 PM (EDT) |
"While the 9800 GTX might not be the revolutionary jump that we had hoped for, it’s still a very good card for someone looking at buying a new graphics card with this kind of budget. The first retail 9800 GTX we’re going to look at comes from ASUS and doesn’t carry with it any extra acronyms such as TOP. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:30 PM (EDT) |
"The size of the CG6 is perfect. It is small enough to fit into a purse or pocket, yet large enough that you don't feel like you are going to break or drop it during use. The camera uses a pistol-grip style which works perfectly for both left and right-handed users. The fact that the camera is so small also means it is extremely lightweight." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:29 PM (EDT) |
"I have to be honest, I went into this review with high hopes but very concerned whether or not the lower memory clockspeed was going to affect performance, and the fact that the firmware needed to be flashed in order to reach 512MB. I was wondering where the other 256MB would come from; was it on the card or used as shared memory from the system? All sorts of things were going through my mind, but no matter what, as a reviewer you have to maintain the objectivity with any product you go into testing. So I started on it looking back and forth between the ECS 8800 GT and other 8800 GTs. I started to notice little things during the review, like the memory on the ECS board was the same brand as the ones on the ASUS card and that there were the same number of chips. So I started to think if it is so alike physically, then it should perform close to the same. Boy was I surprised! At 256MB, the card was behind, but that was expected for half of the memory buffer as the 512MB cards, but man, after that update the decrease in the memory clock did not seem to be that big of a deal." |
Wednesday, April 16 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:04 AM (EDT) |
Mitron's HDD Selector is a very clever device which allows the user to switch hard drives when necessary. The unit was very easy to install, and works flawlessly. The only drawback of this design is the limited control of two hard drives. |
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3850 512MB Overclocked Ruby Edition @ HotHardware.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:03 AM (EDT) |
As its name suggests, the Viper Radeon HD 3850 512MB Overclocked Ruby Edition's frame buffer has been doubled from the reference card's 256MB to 512MB. Additionally, Diamond has gone an extra step and raised GPU and memory speeds from the default 670MHz / 830MHz of the original reference design to 725Mhz / 900MHz. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:03 AM (EDT) |
We test the Thermalright Ultima 90 heatsink and show you why this is one of the best performing coolers we hav seen yet. We set the Ultima 90 against an OEM cooler and show you installation and even fanless cooling on this little monster. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:02 AM (EDT) |
"The QNAP TS-409 Turbo NAS great little unit that offers excellent features which can be easily and quickly configured via an easy to use web-based GUI. It's ideal for any SOHO or Home user." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:02 AM (EDT) |
"Scythe have produced some insane coolers in the past, most notably perhaps, the Scythe Andy. Oddly named, but whopping in size and surface area. Now though, they've come out with something bigger, badder and hopefully better; the Sycthe Zipang, its monstrous. With 12 copper heatpipes, and what is in essence, two heatsinks, I'm hoping for some awesome temperatures from this one." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:02 AM (EDT) |
Flash-based USB devices can benefit greatly from this tweak, as many of these drives peak at a 6 or 7-megabyte per second write speed. The storage capacities of today's flash drives are measured by the gigabyte, so filling up an 8GB or 16GB drive can be a long process. This tweak won't magically make the silicon in the drive work faster, so copying 8GB of MP3s will take just as long from start to finish with or without this tweak. Relative drive performance improves by making the device available sooner for other processes, like when you're using portable applications on the device or transferring small batches of files. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:01 AM (EDT) |
"If you've got the cash to spare, spring for the 8800 GT, otherwise if $150 is your budget, you are not likely t find a better video card value." |
NVIDIA 3-Way SLI With GeForce 9800 GTX Graphics Cards @ Legit Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:01 AM (EDT) |
"Today is April 15th, 2008 and that means that it is the day taxes are due in the United States. While this is a time of stress for many Americans it shouldn't be as you might be one of the many that is expecting a substantial income tax refund this year. It turns out that over 70 percent of Americans get money back at the end of the tax year, with the average refund being close to $2,000! Rather than having those precious dollars being absorbed into your normal spending routine or being used wisely to pay off bills you could do something crazy with your refund, get three GeForce 9800 GTX graphics cards for triple SLI! Actually, with a street price of $289 plus shipping buying the graphics cards will only set you back $867. This sounds like a large amount, but keep in mind a single GeForce 8800 Ultra cost $829 when it launched back in early 2007..." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:01 AM (EDT) |
The OVC TC20 earphones are aimed at the more budget conscious in-ear audience. Priced at only $39 they are many times cheaper than most big brand earphones. The only question is how does their sound performance stack up against the more expensive in-ears. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:00 AM (EDT) |
"ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe/Mempipe will be one of the first motherboards to be launched on the market based on the forthcoming nForce 780a chipset - which, by the way, is delaying a lot to be released. But don't think that nForce 780a is simple the AMD version of the nForce 780i - it isn't. One of the main differences between the two is the support for HybridSLI, which features HybridPower, a feature that disables the video cards installed in the system when you are not playing games and generates 2D images - i.e. when you are using Windows, a word processor or a spreadsheet - thru the chipset to save a lot of power, and GeForce Boost, which uses the on-board video to increase 3D performance. The problem is that both features require compatible video cards and so far only two video cards support each feature. Other features from this motherboard include three PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots supporting 3-way SLI and Quad SLI, a passive cooling solution for the memories, an eSATA port, coaxial and optical SPDIF outputs and more." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:00 AM (EDT) |
"Gigabyte is a solid company. They're at the top of my list, it would seem, so picking a current-generation entry-level motherboard without integrated graphics narrows things down to about half a dozen options, with the GA-P31-DS3L at the front. But is that really enough to base a decision on? Well, if you're reading this, then Jesus, of course not. Here's what to expect: OK performance, dull layout, and Ultra Durability! After a trip to the bench, this board indeed gets a nod for being better than the other P31 motherboards. Here's what that means." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:59 AM (EDT) |
"Cyber Acoustics are based out of Asia and claim to have had involvement in the PC audio industry for many years, since the 80`s in fact. Now, that should be plenty of time to get the recipe right, so to speak. The company offers many products from headsets and iPod solutions to full on surround sound systems like the one I`m looking at today. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:59 AM (EDT) |
The DGL-4500 - A new wireless broadband router from D-Link which continues on from their original gigabit gaming router, the DGL-4100 released in 2005, now with added Xtreme-N 300Mb/s wireless capability. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:59 AM (EDT) |
D-Link's DGL-4500 wireless router brings a lot to the table, including dual-band operation, 802.11n support, a killer built-in OLED screen, on top of features perfectly suited for online gamers. Of course, such a feature-packed router doesn't come cheap, so is it worth your hard-earned $180? |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:58 AM (EDT) |
"Apple's Time Capsule combines a gigantic 1TB hard drive with a speedy wireless router that dishes out legacy B and G Wi-Fi along with the new N standard. It's an overall solid package that delivers on its promise of easy-to-use centralized storage for a home network, and its wireless performance is very good as well. The only drawbacks are that the much-touted Time Machine feature only works with OS X Leopard, setup isn't as easy as we anticipated from an Apple product, and naturally it's a bit expensive.." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:58 AM (EDT) |
"You may be wondering, what happened to the layout? The motherboard has been flipped upside down to the opposite side of the case. Many pre-built manufacturers use this type of layout, and I like it. It allows for the CPU to be rotated to the bottom of the case where the cold air sinks, thus allowing for better cooling. And in this windowed case, the PCI and PCI-E cards also get rotated, so the exciting top part of the card is shown off, instead of the boring bottom." |
Hitachi Deskstar 500GB SATA/300 7200RPM 16MB HDD @ Viper Lair |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:57 AM (EDT) |
"The Hitachi came about the DeskStar lineup with their and IBM's merger, with the history behind the DeskStar (I know, I had to bring up the old stuff) I am sure IBM was not to sad to let Hitachi run with it. Obviously those issues are long gone as Hitachi has gained a stellar reputation with their iteration of the DeskStar." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:57 AM (EDT) |
There are times when Benchmark Reviews will test a product that seems very similar to another that we've already reviewed, with only subtle differences separating them. A much less common occurrence is when we see the exact same product, only wearing a different name. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:56 AM (EDT) |
" It has been a long time since I last reviewed a Logitech product. CES has come and gone and with the show brought some interesting items. One such item that Logitech was showing was the diNovo Mini which is targeted to media center PCs like those provided by MythTV. The diNovo Mini was released a few weeks ago and it is the spotlight in this review. " |
Tuesday, April 15 2008 |
Samsung LN-T4081F LED Backlight LCD 40" HDTV @ BonafideReviews.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:18 AM (EDT) |
Today in the BFR labs we have a brand new display from Samsung's latest 81 series of LCD HDTV's. The specific model we have is the LN-T4081F, a 40" 1080p LCD display. The 81 series displays are unique because they feature Samsung's LED SmartLighting technology. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:17 AM (EDT) |
From time to time, we'll notice our system getting hot. This is usually due to the processor overheating, but sometimes the RAM comes into play. Today, Justin examines hot RAM can overheat, and how Vizo's Sleet Ram Coolers can help to drop those temperatures. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:16 AM (EDT) |
"Thermaltake has now carried that same patented design over into the processor realm with its DuOrb CPU Cooler. Utilizing twin 80mm fans just as the VGA Cooler did, this time surrounded by six copper heatpipes rather than two and both an inner aluminum fin and outer copper fin configuration, the DuOrb CPU Cooler takes advantage of the wide wingspan of the DuOrb design to cool not only the processor but also the memory and surrounding socket area." |
Zalman CNPS9700 NT vs Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme @ BleedinEdge.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:16 AM (EDT) |
A quick poll of BleedinEdge.com members, on the subject of air coolers, showed two favorites. The Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme and the Zalman CNPS9700. Although a bit of a Zalman fanboy, I find more and more of my air coolers are from Thermalright. I had both coolers and so was prompted to put the two coolers head to head. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:16 AM (EDT) |
Today I have the chance to review one of Sapphire’s newest video cards on the market, the HD3870 X2. You should have already heard about this card by now, and in case you haven’t, you need to get out from under that rock. The 3870 X2 uses the R680 core based on 55nm technology. If you thought the 2900XT was a large card, this one puts it to shame. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:15 AM (EDT) |
It was only a few months ago Nvidia released the 780i SLI chipset and today, we'll be taking a look at the MSI P7N Diamond motherboard. It utilises Nvidia's 780i SLI chipset designed for Intel processors, and offers support for 1333FSB, DDR2 ram and 3-Way SLI configuration for Geforce based cards. What's more, it also include Creative's X-Fi HD audio sound card. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:15 AM (EDT) |
In Win has been developing some pretty interesting cases lately and the B2 Stealth Bomber is the latest ATX tower from the Xtreme Series. With an auto-sensing front door and a touch sensitive mechanism to activate the front cover this case is far from what one would expect in a case. |
Sapphire Radeon HD3870 X2 1GB Graphics Card Review @ Bigbruin.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:14 AM (EDT) |
The 1GB Sapphire Radeon HD3870 X2 graphics card couples the power of two HD3870 GPUs on one card to provide the muscle necessary to smoothly drive today's games with ease. And if you are a player that insists on the absolute cutting edge and top notch performance at any cost you can take advantage of CrossFireX and use two of these cards in tandem. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:14 AM (EDT) |
Since AMD bought ATI they have struggled to compete with NVIDIA for the performance crown. Instead they have chosen a different strategy by releasing GPU's that while still fast mainly compete by offering an excellent performance and features for a low price. The HD3870 GPU is no exception and today we are testing HIS interesting HIS HD 3870 IceQ 3 Turbo. |
Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:13 AM (EDT) |
“ThinkComputers loves ThermalTake's lines of cooling supplies and cases. The company is known for its "think of everything" packaging and subtle stylishness of its products. ThermalTake provided ThinkComputers with a 650W version of its new ToughPower QFan line of power supply units. We expected this power supply to sputter when connected to our enthusiast-level gaming rig-the results of our testing are in the review.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:13 AM (EDT) |
The Rosewill RX82-U is a USB enclosure for SATA hard disk drives featuring two easy-to-swap trays. Running in JBOD mode, each drive gets seen as its own self, so the user will see two drives if two drives are installed. More trays can be purchased and drives can be hot-swapped as needed. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:13 AM (EDT) |
"Inspired by race cars (per Coolermaster’s press release) this newest incarnation of the Cosmos is designated by it's S moniker, or Sport edition. Perhaps they mean sport racing with Ferrari's and Lamborghini's, as the sleek and defined look of the Cosmos S sure enough wouldn't mix well with the drunken crowds and painted up racing billboads of Nascar. Regardless, the polished and aggressive new face is exciting in itself, and we out to see how this new thoroughbred competes with it's more modest and silent sibling, the Cosmos 1000 which we reviewed back in December." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:13 AM (EDT) |
Today is the day where I try something a little different here in the Pro-Clocker lab. I will take some of the fastest DDR3 modules on the market and see how high I can get them to overclock. We are taking four sets of the highest quality DDR3 that are advertised at least 1800MHz from their respective manufacturers. OCZ, Super Talent, Patriot and Kingston were all nice enough to test samples for this mini roundup. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:12 AM (EDT) |
"Today I will be looking at a product from a manufacturer that I personally don't know a great deal about, you however maybe more familiar with the name of TerraTec. The product I will be reviewing is a digital tv card the Cinergy 2400i DT. This is a dual digital tuner card, nothing special there you may think BUT this card uses a pci express x1 slot which is refreshing as, in my honest opinion, most manufacturers overlook this expansion slot." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:12 AM (EDT) |
“As far as DVD optical drives go, the Asus DRW-2014L1T is right on par with a lot of the other drives in its class. The LightScribe is a bonus for those who like to label their discs. Most drive noise is created when the optical disc starts to wobble and vibrate. This vibration is transferred to the drive motor and tray, thus making the noise. The QuieTrack feature and Auto Vibration Reducing System seem to work really well, as the noise level from a spun up disc was low. FlextraLink™ prevents buffer under run problems caused by an empty data buffer, thereby eliminating the creation of CD-coasters. This technology is similar to, and seems to work as well as, other companies' buffer under run technologies.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:11 AM (EDT) |
"When Coolink first notified me about the ChipChilla, the first thing I thought of was the reference NVIDIA 680i motherboard and how loud the stock chipset cooler is. Coolink advertises the ChipChilla as a solution for overheating Northbridge chipsets, and while it is true that a few of the current chipsets get very hot, they rarely overheat to the point of failure. It is not a coincidence that the chipsets that run hot are also the ones with very loud fans, opening the door for an aftermarket solution. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:11 AM (EDT) |
"Am I disappointed in the overclocking headroom available from this processor. Not in the least! With the insane speeds being offered up by the dual core variants, I was still searching for a bit more than the 3.7GHz I was able to pull from this quad core processor. But even though I was expecting more, a greater than 1 GHz overclock is nothing to laugh at. The clockspeed increase was also done with a relatively low 1.36 volts to the processor. Much less than I have needed with both my Q6600 and QX9770s to gain the maximum core speed. Temperatures were, for the most part, kept in check throughout the testing. 64 degrees Celsius under load was the highest temperature I saw on air cooling during my stability testing with Prime 95. With better cooling, could the max overclock be increased? Probably, but the vast majority of users will be on air, so that's where I spent my time testing." |
Monday, April 14 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:18 PM (EDT) |
If you are in the market for a new steering wheel for your PC racing games, odds are you will be looking to either Logitech or Thrustmaster. Five years ago you would have had quite a few choices to pick from, now you are limited to a handful of models from one of two companies. Today Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at one of those options, the Thrustmaster RGT Force Feedback Pro Clutch Edition. On paper, this new wheel sounds great, but can it deliver when your trying to hold that perfect line through the corners. Let's take a closer look and find out. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:18 PM (EDT) |
"The new DSLR-A350 has a 14.2-megapixel imager, built-in sensor shift stabilization and loads of other goodies." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:17 PM (EDT) |
Happen to have a few 2.5" or 3.5" SATA hard drives lying about that you've been avoiding because you don't feel like installing them in your rig? Want a quick and easy way to hot-swap between multiple drives for a very reasonable price and have a unit that actually looks cool? The BlacX is for you. |
Enermax Liberty DXX 500W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:17 PM (EDT) |
"Liberty DXX 500 W, a.k.a. ELT500AWT, is one of the most popular power supplies from Enermax, featuring active PFC, high efficiency, modular cabling system, 120-mm fan and two video card auxiliary power cables for you feed your SLI or CrossFire system. We completely disassembled this unit and also tested to see if it can really deliver its labeled 500 W. Check it out." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:16 PM (EDT) |
Jason Knappenberger our resident networking and enterprise hardware guru recently took a look at the 4IPNET MSG100 gateway which packs a huge list of features into a $500 device. Does it all work properly and can Jason recommend this hardware? Read our review to find out. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:16 PM (EDT) |
With the 2.1 Stereo Orb, mStation delivers on their goal. The Orb is a stylish and great sounding speaker system that doesn't have a large footprint. With a variety of colors and multiple docking inserts, you can match your iPod. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:16 PM (EDT) |
Today I have some Tuniq TX-2 Thermal Grease from our friends over at Tuniq for testing. In todays Over Clocking world of Mega Hot CPUs running at the edge of the thermal envelope no matter what cooling solution you use your Thermal Grease is the conduit between your cooling solution and your Expensive CPU. |
Sunday, April 13 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:29 PM (EDT) |
Aerocool creates some unique products for your PC. We recently tested the GateWatch 2, a fan controller that combines several other functions in an eye catching way. Read our review to see why we had some issues with this product and our suggestions for those inetersted in a similar product. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:29 PM (EDT) |
"This small device from Mitron allows you to switch between two different hard drives. Can be useful in some situations where you don't want one OS to see the other system. Also for family PC with one disk for the business and one for pleasure with no risk of virus infection from one to another. Lets take a closer look at this nifty product which fits in 3.5inch bay." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:28 PM (EDT) |
It was some time coming, but the long standing Nintendo racing institution has finally made it to the Wii. With several less than inspiring versions throughout the years, it will be reassuring for Mario Kart fans to hear that the latest incarnation has recaptured the magic that made this one of the most successful franchises ever made. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:28 PM (EDT) |
The new Lian-Li Armorsuit PC-P60 is a very elaborate case, which is quite different from the understatement shape of their usual enclosures. Three LED fans are built into the very detailed front door and a top airduct guides air out of the case toward the back. Even though the case retails at $269 it offers a lot of premium features justifying the cost. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:27 PM (EDT) |
"Today we have been sent Seagate’s new notebook drive, the Momentus 5400.4. This is the fourth generation of Momentus drives; the last one we managed to have a look at out-pioneered the use of Perpendicular recording methods when it first arrived, proving it could easily handle extra data as well as increase speeds. |
ASUS Striker II NSE 790i SLI Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:27 PM (EDT) |
“A couple of months ago, I read a post in a forum that stated: "with an Intel processor you should use an Intel chipset", and have seen something similar nearly every day since, including today. I guess that I agreed with it, subconsciously if nothing else. Such was the distance that I had strayed from my roots in such a short time. Which is why when I was informed that I would be reviewing an LGA775 board with an nVidia chipset, I was a little apprehensive, and still am. Today I will be looking at the brand new Asus Striker II NSE motherboard. It is a full-featured DDR3 board for LGA775, utilizing the nVidia nForce 790i SLI chipset, belonging to Asus' ROG (Republic of Gamers) motherboard line. Will the Striker II NSE interrupt my current love affair with Intel chipsets? Read on to see...” |
