Saturday, July 19 2008 |
SilverStone TS01 2.5" SATA RFID External Hard Drive Enclosure Review @ OCIA.net |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:38 PM (EDT) |
"I don't know about you, but I have quite a bit of data that I wouldn't want others to have direct access to. Items such as e-mail archives and financial records could potentially be disastrous in the hands of someone with malicious intent. Those who carry around vital data in external enclosures are even more at risk, as this data is "out and about" quite often and subject to loss or theft. If you fit into either of these categories, SilverStone recently released an external 2.5" hard drive enclosure that uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to encrypt the contents of the drive inside, rendering it useless without the RFID sensor key to unlock it." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:37 PM (EDT) |
For the budget-minded consumer, the ECS GF8200A is a pretty good deal. For $70 USD, the board has the features to build a good gaming PC or a HTPC with the integrated graphics with the caveat that there is no digital audio output and DVI port. The benefit of having DirectX 10 integrated graphics include: PureVideo HD playback of Blu-Ray discs and the ability to use the Aero UI in Windows Vista. GeForce Boost is an interesting concept but with it working only on the 8400/8500 cards is limited in usefulness to most people as they might be better served buying a 9600GT and using the integrated graphics in an emergency. Hybrid SLI shows performance increases in most of the tests but in others it shows the same performance as the 8500GT by itself. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:37 PM (EDT) |
As the world changes so do the demands of consumers -- this is particularly true with technology. One of the most pressing issues today is that of digital television. But to most this subject is shrouded in mystery. Why are we being forced to convert to digital signals? What does going digital even mean? Most importantly, how will the shift to digital television affect me? These are all excellent questions, ones I hope to address sufficiently, and thereby purging the digital switch from its aforementioned shroud of mystery. |
Passive HDD Coolers Compared from Scythe and Titan @ Madshrimps |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:36 PM (EDT) |
In this article we take a closer look at three solutions from Titan and Scythe which aim to cool your HDD without fans; two of these products, Titan TTC-HD90 and Scythe Himuro also help reduce noise. We combine them with a 10.000rpm Raptor to see if they can handle the heat and noise. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:35 PM (EDT) |
Although many companies have started to focus their research and development on DDR3 modules many months ago, some have released high performance DDR2 in the past few weeks. One of the most impressive sets are the new Pi series from G.Skill which can operate at 1100MHz at only 1.9Vdimm. By the end of the review will we know if they are worth the money. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:34 PM (EDT) |
Dan adds even more bling to his POLICE rig with the addition of the Gigabyte ODIN GT 800w Power Supply. This 80 plus PSU comes with an optional speed, temperature, and wattage guage that looks like it would be right at home in the dashboard of a Ferrari or Mustang. See how far we were able to bury the needle on the ODIN GT in our review. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:34 PM (EDT) |
" As readers of ASE Labs, you know that I have always said that it is very important to have proper backups and have redundant storage. While we have seen the MS2UTN+ from Sans Digital, this new model contains a LCD screen to easily setup and manage the unit. It is really amazing what a two line LCD can give you in terms of piece of mind. " |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:33 PM (EDT) |
Enter the Corsair TX Series 750W Power Supply. Like that very forgettable guy from that very forgettable show said way to often: More Power! This baby offers all the power you could need and then some, with enough connectors, including four for video cards, to make you think this thing is the offspring of some unknown species of squid. But enough euphemisms, let's get down to the nitty gritty... |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:33 PM (EDT) |
A few months ago, NVIDIA announced that any future chipset from the company would come with an integrated graphic chip built-in. This may come as a surprise to many enthusiasts, as many of us will never purchase a motherboard with integrated graphics since we are always going to need something stronger. However, in this increasingly environmentally-conscious world, going green is the talk of the town, and NVIDIA has taken this on by incorporating mGPU to their chipset. Confused? |
Friday, July 18 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:42 PM (EDT) |
"For the Visiontek HD 4870 I was only able to get a limited overclock on the GPU of 30MHz before it became unstable. This seems to be a pattern with the HD 4870 cards as I achieved the same GPU overclock on the PowerColor HD 4870 I reviewed earlier. On the memory I was able to push out 180MHz for a total speed of 1080MHz, or 4320MHz effective (1080MHz x 4). While this is not a high overclock, this was near the limit of what the Overdrive will allow the GPU to max out at. So the final overclock speeds which the benchmarks will be run at are 780MHz on the GPU and 1080MHz on the memory." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:41 PM (EDT) |
OCZ's EliteXStream 800W is an all-around solid unit. The unit handled our tests without a sweat and held stable even in the harshest environment. As we have seen today, its performance is on par with much more expensive units. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:41 PM (EDT) |
“Radeon HD4800 series of graphics cards is real refreshment in these days. Every new generation of GPU brought a big shift in performances and ATi this time showed us that top model graphics chip (RV770) doesn’t have to be expensive. Based on experience from previous HD3850 and HD3870 models, we expected that new model HD4870 will dominate in middle-high class, with lower price and higher performances than other competitors. But, we were wrong… Tests showed something quite unexpected. Still, before benchmark results let’s see what new GPU offers…” |
Mushkin Ascent 2x2GB PC3-12800 DDR3 Kit Review @ Hardware Canucks |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:40 PM (EDT) |
Summer is in full swing here in North America and the temperature outside isn't the only thing starting to really heat up. The battle for DDR3 market share is also becoming a more hotly debated contest with every passing day. The most sought after memory kits out there appear to be 2x2GB PC3-12800 DDR3 modules for their performance and "reasonable" price. So here at Hardware Canucks, we figured, why not fan those flames and bring in another hot ticket item from one of the favorites in the industry and a first timer here; Mushkin Inc.. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:40 PM (EDT) |
From the very beginning many of us could have figured the P45 chipset was going to be the chipset of chance as it is price considerably cheaper than the older X38 and the X48. And from the early reviews the P45 overclockers pretty well. We have seen able forum post and web reviews with front side buses reaching the 600MHz range on Core2Duo processors. But for the non-overclockers out there another advantage over the older P35 is the two 8x PCIe slots when attempting to using ATI video cards in Crossfire mode. Today, we will take the EP45-DQ6 through a ring of benchmarks and see what type of FSB numbers we can achieve. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:40 PM (EDT) |
Wiring up an additional monitor via a USB 2.0 port is certainly an attractive and intriguing option and the LG L206WU does just enough to suggest that DisplayLink could well be the interface of choice for PC monitors in the future. |
BlueAnt Wireless Z9i Bluetooth Headset Review @ Legit Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:39 PM (EDT) |
"Overall, the BlueAnt Z9i is a very good headset. We found the noise cancellation to just slightly better than its older sibling the Z9. In a crowded and noisy room, the Z9i will definitely perform better than that of a normal everyday headset. The dual microphones that BlueAnt equipped it with will isolate your voice and suppress background noise. The Jawbone and Plantronics headsets will perform this function much better, but with a much higher list price. When it comes to noise cancellation we have found that you certainly get what you pay for..." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:39 PM (EDT) |
"Today, we have two of their newest CPU coolers in the labs—the DuOrb and MaxOrb. You may be familiar with the very popular Thermaltake DuOrb VGA cooler that they also produce. The DuOrb CPU cooler employs the same basic shape and cooling principals, but has been reworked for CPU use. We'll also be taking a look at the new MaxOrb—a single 120mm model." |
Sans Digital MobileSTOR RAID Enclosure (MS2UTN+) @ TechwareLabs |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:39 PM (EDT) |
Once again TWL embarks upon our quest for storage and speed only to come across the MobileSTOR RAID enclosure which promises both. The MobileSTOR RAID is the cheapest raid capable enclosure on the market with a slick design and good features. But all that glitters is not necessarily gold as Justin discovers in his tests. Read about what Justin liked and about the hidden dark side. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:38 PM (EDT) |
Manufacturers are working hard to make these new PC cases look like traditional Home Theater equipment. The cases are built with anodized aluminum, come with authentic HT feet, and are adorned with volume knobs, media controls, stealthed DVD bays, and display readouts. One of the latest (and coolest) display readouts is a large LCD touchscreen that allows the user to operate the PC completely without a remote control. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:38 PM (EDT) |
As we all know Graphics are an integral part of a gaming system, and to get the ultimate gaming experience you must own a GPU to match the recent influx of graphic demanding games. Today PC Freaks & Geeks are going to be taking a look at a Graphics card from a company called Palit. Established since 1998, Palit have made their mark as one of the top PC component manufacturers. The product we are going to be getting up close and personal is from their 9600 range of cards, introducing the Palit 9600GSO Sonic 768mb. Will it be a winner and worth the small price outlay? Or should you save up your hard earned dough and wait for something better? As ever our review should provide a useful guide to making this decision..... |
ECS GF8200A Black Series GeForce 8200 Motherboard Review @ Bigbruin.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:37 PM (EDT) |
The BIOS might not offer the most exhaustive set of tweaking options, but you do get more than you might expect. Couple the overclocking potential with onboard reset and power buttons, as well as other desirable features for desktop and HTPC usage, and the GF8200A definitely has an appeal that can cover a wide array of users. |
Thursday, July 17 2008 |
The case is virtually a tool free design, in fact with the exception of the screws I used for the PSU installation. Managing the cables and wiring was a snap and Thermaltake even provided the cable management supplies and need space in the chassis. Installation in the Thermaltake Armor+ MX was simply the easiest I have done in a while. |
Early last year, Antec launched their gaming line of cases with the Antec Nine Hundred - instantly garnering praise throughout the PC enthusiast crowd. Its main claim to fame was the complete openess of the front bezel, using perforated bays and 120mm fans to keep airflow rushing inside. Also notable was the expansive interior, bottom-mounted power-supply unit, and oversized "Big Boy" 200mm fan placed at the top that allowed some massive cooling over the CPU socket area. We were able to take a look at the Nine Hundred ourselves and were pretty impressed overall, although we noted there were a few things that could have used some improving. |
Besides functioning as an FM transmitter, the Monster iCarPlay Wireless 250 also works as a USB charger. The USB cord detaches from the Cigarette Lighter Adapter and can be used as a transmitter around any FM radio/device. Plus the USB cable can be used as a charger via any USB 2.0 enabled port or with a Monster iSlimCharger or iCharger Travel USB wall charger. |
P45 head-to-head: MSI P45 Platinum and Asus Maximus II Formula@ Madshrimps |
In this article we'll focus on what the MSI P45 Platinum and Asus Maximus II Formula can bring us in terms of performance, overclocking and the performance gained from overclocking. We'll be giving you basic pointers for obtaining better results and will spend a little time on the energy-saving technology used on these boards. |
Age of Conan undoubtedly has stunning graphics. The trade off is that unlike others in its genre, playing on a toaster is not possible. Funcom has pegged the bare minimum requirements with hardware that just a few years ago would have been considered high end and even the recommended requirements rival that of touted system killer, Crysis. We will be looking at different requirements of the game along with what types of hardware upgrades should be taken into consideration in order to get the most out of the Age of Conan adventure. |
Today we bring a comparison between three mainstream 160 hard disk drives: Maxtor STM2160215AS, Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160 GB and Samsung HD161HJ. Which one is the fastest 160 GB hard disk drive? Read on! |
The Ruins Unrated Blu-Ray & DVD Review & Podcast @ Ascully.com |
This isn't an innovative movie and it's not clever or even that memorable, but if you do what I did and just decide to go along for the ride it is kind of fun. I can't deny, I like the level of gore, not too much, not too little and NEVER hidden...very cool. |
DDR3 is finally coming to a price where many mainstream system builders will be willing to pay. Manufacturers must provide mainstream DDR3 solutions to fill in the gap between the high end (and inexpensive) DDR2 and the very expensive, high speed DDR3 modules. While the HyperX line from Kingston may not be the mainstream product, the KHX12800D3K2/2G kit is described as the mainstream overclocking kit. It is far cheaper than speedier kits but lacks the tight timings as well. This could be the kit that kicks off DDR3. |
Ferrari Challenge puts you in control of some of the worlds sexiest Italian cars. Historians amongst you may remember SEGAs F355 Challenge from 1999 ... can System 3 capture the excitement and adrenaline rush of Yu Suzukis original classic? |
Try as I might, I could not push the Diablo modules any further than the 2000MHz they are rated for. They ran the same 2000MHz whether the timings were tightened up or loosened up even further than the 9-9-9-28 stock latencies. Increasing the voltage was not the solution this time it seems. 2.2 volts did not bring any gains to the maximum clock speed or to the timings. At the 1333MHz mark the modules easily ran 6-5-5-15 all day long with 1.75 volts to the modules. Since I could not break through the 2000MHz mark, I started tightening up the sub-timings and was able to drop them to 8-7-6-20 at the same 2.04 volts that the modules ran the looser timings. Without a processor to push a higher FSB speed on this platform, I had to settle for the reduction in memory sub timings. This tightening of the timings offers up an increase in performance that you can't pass up. |
In short, this inexpensive motherboard is fast, stable, and features a ton of opportunities for expansion. While the lack of firewire is indeed a disappointment, I believe that this can be taken as a non-issue for gamers. Considering the features present, the speeds attained, and the stability of the system overall during the testing procedures, I feel that this motherboard is a good buy if a user is looking to assemble a low cost, reliable gaming machine. It’s just a shame that this product doesn’t have what it takes to break free of just what it was meant to do, but given the fact that it costs just shy of $110 – or rather, is shockingly cheap, I would say this is a good candidate for the great value award! |
Patriot PVS22G9200ELK 2GB DDR2 PC2-9200 memory kit @ Elite Bastards |
While most standard DDR2 memory modules are rated at standard modern FSB speeds such at 800MHz, up to 1066MHz, Patriot's offering here is a cut above this, rated at speeds of up to 1150MHz (aka PC-9200) coupled with some pretty tight timings of 5-5-5-12. NVIDIA's EPP (Extended Performance Profile) functionality to easily utilise the best possible settings for your memory on supported motherboards is also available here, with an EPP profile offering a 571MHz (1142MHz effective) clock speed. |
There's always a balance between protection and style when it comes to your electronic peripherals. There are numerous cases on the market now to shield just about anything. From iPods to your camera, there's something for everyone. The only downside to it is that it's bulky and down right ugly sometimes. To combat this, there are now rubber or hard cases you can buy, but they still create unnecessary bulk when we're all trying to emphasize portability. |
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. |
Wednesday, July 16 2008 |
After publishing the first quarterly comparison article of the series, our methodology was adjusted to include test results with both reference and performance cooling fans. A follow-up article comparing the Vendetta 2 vs TRUE vs HDT-S1283 was later published using the new methods, and the results more accurately illustrated the performance an overclocking enthusiast might receive compared to someone who buys the product and uses it in the stock form. |
A few short weeks ago NVIDIA released to the masses a GPU that redfined high-end gaming. The GTX 260 and GTX 280 has taken gamers to new levels of performance that were out of reach only eight short months ago. Of course, this level of performance doesn't come cheap and many people have a hard time swallowing the cost of these cards that ranged anywhere from $400 USD all the way up to $650 USD. Thankfully in the past few days we have seen substantial price reductions bringing the GTX 280 within the reach of many more gamers. With 240 unified stream processors and a 512-bit wide memory bus there is a lot to like about this card. When a company like Leadtek jumps in and starts offering this card then that becomes the icing on the cake. With lots of accessories and a free game, Leadtek is positioning themselves to offer a top notch product with all the extras we've come to expect from the high end. |
Western Digital is well known to system builders and end users for providing excellent storage solutions matched with a good warranty and support. I only recommend two hard drive manufactures to people, Western Digital is one of them (the other being Seagate). The latest and greatest things in terms of technology have moved out of the computer case and into portable storage. The My Passport Studio comes in at 250GB and this one is preformatted for Mac. Don't let that scare you, though. |
With the need for a steady and stable supply of power to fuel the most power hungry of PCs nowadays, we are starting to see an increasing number of power supplies with high wattages that claim stability and silence as well. One such product is the Tuniq Miniplant, which boasts an impressive 950W of power and was for a time the highest wattage PSU in the 80+ category of standard PS2 sized units. Today I will be taking this one for a spin to see just how efficient and quiet it really is. |
Just recently OCZ released a new and improved version of their award winning Vendetta CPU cooling solution aptly named the Vendetta 2. While this name is not what you would call imaginative, we certainly understand why they would want to keep such a distinguished brand name alive. Unlike the original model which also had an exposed heatpipe base but was only sized for a 92mm fan, the Vendetta 2 is a full size 120mm design but it has kept the unique double V look and feel of the original. |
Almost five years ago, Intel promoted its first uniform solution attended for notebooks, under the brand – Centrino. This brand was launched with intention to consolidate a position of Intel on notebook’s market as number one. Many people are making a mistake if they think that Centrino is some Intel processor attended for notebooks and is based on “rocket science” technology. Centrino consolidates processor, chipset, integrated GPU (graphic processor), network subsystem that supports 100Mbit/1Gbit LAN connection and also an optional WiFi adapter… |
Patriot Xporter XT 4 GB Ruggedized Flash Drive @ TechwareLabs |
Looking for a USB flash drive that won't fall apart the first time you drop it? Ian checks out the Xporter XT from Patriot Memory and runs the drive through a series of tests to bring you an in depth analysis of this drives performance and features. At a very low price find out if this drive is worth your money. |
Contact coolers, where the heatpipes are in direct contact with the processor’s heat spreader are becoming more and more popular, and today’s heatsink review is a prime example of this new approach to heatsink design. |
TekNmotion Pulsar SX is the name of a brand new headset aimed at gamers. The Pulsar SX features a USB sound card, vibration feature, and blue lights. This headset has a lot of unique features and costs a mere $59.99 which is cheap considering the integrated USB sound card. |
Patriot Viper 4GB PC3-12800 (1600MHz) Memory @ Virtual-Hideout |
If you're spending your hard earned cash on the new DDR3 standard, then you expect nothing short of stable, dependable performance whether you're using a 32-bit or 64-bit system. The memory must be reliable if you just play games or if your system is a serious number crunching SETI beast. The Patriot Viper 4GB PC3-12800 Dual Channel Memory Kit thoroughly tested here offered nothing short of those expectations. The memory is fully backward compatible with your 1066 MHz and 1333 MHz Core 2 series Intel processors. The extra performance gained from the memory's timings at lower 6-6-6-18 setting should be a pleasant bonus which also equates to plenty of bandwidth. |
Tuesday, July 15 2008 |
Over the past few reviews here at ModSynergy, there has been an influx of high quality products being shared to our readers. We’ve seen how a great display can make DVD experiences awe inspiring (with the Samsung 2232GW) and we’ve seen when complimented with a great audio system (in the M-Audio AV40) that is transparent and has amazing imaging can bring that experience to an almost bliss state. Now you’re probably thinking of how expensive some of these audio systems are and that is mostly true. But is there an audio system out there can that keep up with the more expensive units while keeping the cost to a minimum? |
For many geeks acrylic cases are a dream coming true. Sunbeamtech currently manufactures five models and even though theoretically acrylic is a material more expensive than steel, Sunbeamtech is able to market their acrylic products between USD 50 to USD 85, which is a real bargain. Today we are going to take an in-depth look on their most expensive model, AC-9B-HUVB, a mid-tower case featuring nine 5 ¼" bays, a hard disk drive cage for up to four drives and space for installing up to six fans (the case comes with three 120-mm fans that glow blue when they are turned on). Check it out. |
Hard drives are constantly getting larger and cheaper as the technology improves, but their speed increases only marginally each year because they are limited by their inherent mechanical nature. No matter how efficient an algorithm or the overall design might be, the rotational speed of the platters is not going to increase much further... |
It has finally arrived. A little belated but the third release of Mozilla's much-acclaimed Firefox 3 has finally been released. Those who fell in love with how fast a browser could be were deeply disappointed when Firefox 2, with its memory hogging bare bones interface, became available to the world. It seemed a step backward for the innovator of today's web browser. Those who switched to another browser still longed for the multitude of extensions and add-ons that were available to Firefox users. |
Last time we tested RADEON HD 4850 in games. Now we got hold of the higher-end HD 4870 with GDDR5 memory. Even though it has the same architecture and the same number of processing units, we decided to compare it to GeForce GTX 260, its competitor in terms of price. |
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. |
What if you could build a sub-$500 HTPC that was slim, fast, and capable, without the headache of picking bargain-barrel parts to accomplish your design goals? What if it had HDMI and 7.1 audio? With the help of their Pundit series, ASUS hopes to make barebones relevant again. Have they done it? |
And as a high-end case, it easily accomplished its mission. It has good air flow and allows the hardware to stay cooler than when installed in a standard case. Since it is roomy for a mid tower, you can install large processor heatsinks without any difficulties. It is deep and there is room left between the power supply and the motherboard so that fit is not an issue. The robust metal frame and panels would definitely protect the components installed inside. However, at 18.4 pounds empty, it may prove a bit tpo stout as a LAN party box. Good looks, water cooling capable, tool less design and good airflow make the Xaser VI one to consider when shopping for a new chassis. |
This baby comes stacked with 2-way SLI, native 1333 FSB support, PCIe 2.0, LEDs, and onboard reset / power switches. It is geared towards the consumer who wants maximum performance without the bells and whistles that tends to drive up costs. If you drool over high end hardware but scoff at high end prices, this might be the motherboard you've been looking for. The best way to find out is to let HardwareLogic do the dirty work for you as we run the 750i SLI FTW through our benchmark suite to find out if this really is the one you can count on for the win. |
These types of enclosures are nothing new to many of us so why should you decide on this unit? Well one reason would be due to the software that is bundled with the unit. The N-Series come with a trial version of Disk Doctors Data Recovery software and Avast AntiVirus software. Both of these applications would be useful to any of us. And Eagle Tech gladly provides it with this unit. Granted the N-Series has more to offer and we will see just what that is so read alone. |
Monday, July 14 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:40 AM (EDT) |
I always thought that the little security system signs that people place in their landscaping and on their windows at home looked a bit goofy. I mean, yes, it may deter some of the more novice thieves, but like they say, 'locks only keep the honest people out'. It also seemed like putting up the signs was almost an advertisement that shouted 'Hey! Look at me, I have goodies inside!' These thoughts all came to me before I actually owned my own house, but now that I am in my second house, I see the appeal of a security system. One thing that most security systems do not come with however, is any sort of camera or video recording features, and if they do, they are outrageously expensive. This is where the NVR-1012 Network Surveillance System from QNAP comes into play. The NVR-1012 pairs the NVR-101 Network Video Recorder with two ICS-1013 IP cameras for dual-zone monitoring, with the ability to expand the system if needed. Follow along to see just how the QNAP NVR-1012 can help you get started with monitoring your home or office. |
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Video Card 100243L @ Benchmark Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:40 AM (EDT) |
When it comes to ATI products Sapphire has always offered the most influential graphics cards available, and the new Radeon HD 4870 is no different. For the first time in this industry, we have a fully-functional product equipped with 900 MHz GDDR5 video frame buffer. The Sapphire 100243L model offers 24x custom filter anti-aliasing (CFAA) on its 750 MHz 800-core RV770 GPU. Benchmark Reviews tests the Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 graphics card against the closest competition, and even compare CrossFireX performance in this performance review. |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:39 AM (EDT) |
"After several attempts to get equal amounts of paste on the CPU, it was clear that two of the white pastes, Thermalright (Type 2) and Arctic Silver Ceramique, sank lower to the surface due to a lower viscosity, almost approaching a liquid state. Arctic Silver 5 and Noctua NT-H1 were both notably thicker, but the Arctic Silver 5 appeared wetter than the Noctua NT-H1. With Noctua's offering being the most viscous paste in this group, I wondered if it would be difficult to spread thinly on the bare dies of chipsets and unlidded CPUs." |
Ineo NA307 & NA302Ue Hard Drive Enclosures Review @ Hardware Canucks |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:39 AM (EDT) |
In this review we will be looking at the Ineo I-NA307 internal 5.25 bay hard drive enclosure which allows for fast and easy, yet secure, storage of a single SATA drive. On the other hand, we will also be looking at the Ineo I-NA302Ue which is a passively cooled external eSATA + USB enclosure. Both of these devices are available in limited quantities from a few online e-tailers and they go for about $22 US and $25 respectively. |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:38 AM (EDT) |
"From a size point, the drives are 59mm x 18mm x 9.2mm, so not much bigger than an AAA battery and lot smaller than an external 2.5" drive; and in the case of the 16GB, it almost matches the 2.5"'s 18GB for capacity. Provision for attaching a keyring or carrying strap is made on the one end, but no keyring or strap is provided with the drive. Also, the end cap is designed to pull off and be slipped onto the other end, the end you would attach a keyring or strap." |
ATEN CS1782: 2-Port USB 2.0 DVI KVMP Switch @ Overclockers Online |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:38 AM (EDT) |
KVMs don't usually get all the glamorous attention. However, the CS1782 deserves some of its own. With support for all of the latest technologies from dual-link DVI, 7.1 surround sound and USB 2.0, the CS1782 has you covered. Port switching is quick and easy with no lag and clean signals. |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:38 AM (EDT) |
To function properly, a fiber optic cable link must be "continuous", meaning no breakage, either within the fiber cable or in the fiber connectors, should exist. The simplest and least expensive way to check is to inject some visual light into one fiber end and check the light coming out from the other end. |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:37 AM (EDT) |
"This time MSI made an extra effort to provide fully equipped motherboard for AMD platform that will match performances and OC potential side-by-side with competitive Asus, Gigabyte, Biostar etc. Cooling solution responsible for CPU power supply unit cooling is special Circu-Pipe cooler similar to those that came with ASUS M3N HT-mempipe and Crosshair 2 motherboards. Alongside this MB, MSI delivers K9A2 V2 Platinum, distinguished with absence of back panel eSATA and two SATA ports..." |
Posted by Nathan @ 9:37 AM (EDT) |
“Well enter the aftermarket laptop desk market. It's huge and growing with seemingly new designs coming into the market all the time. Well today I have a new laptop desk, rather tray...err rather a multi-use and multi-functional tray for your viewing pleasure. It's called the LapDawg X4 multi-functional tray. The contacted me for a review and I'm guessing it's because one of the many uses LapDawg claims it's X4 can handle is lapdesk duty. So, let's take a closer look at what this X4 has to offer for its $130.00 USD Price.” |
Sunday, July 13 2008 |
Intel Core 2 Extreme Mobile X9000 on the Dell M1730 @ Legit Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:48 PM (EDT) |
"The Dell XPS M1730 was easy to overclock and it was able to run the Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 all the way up to 3.4GHz with full stability. With the system overclocked we were able to break 10,000 3DMarks in 3DMark 2006 and run faster than many of the desktops on the market today. Intel has done a great job with the Core 2 Extreme X9000 as they were able to deliver a fast part that has room for overclocking and efficient enough to drop power consumption levels..." |
Xigmatek Porter N881 Chipset Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:48 PM (EDT) |
"Today for review I've got the Porter N881 Chipset cooler from Xigmatek and from my testing it is an excellent choice to cool todays hot chipsets. Not only does the Porter perform well passively cooling the chip, but you can add an additional fan to further improve cooling and help your overclock. " |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:47 PM (EDT) |
What does TechwareLabs think about the release of the iPhone 3G? Dan Shannon shares his opinions about what went right, and what went wrong. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:47 PM (EDT) |
Many PC enthusiasts play video games and do regular computing on the same machine, and we all know that the more software you add, the more cluttered and unstable your computer becomes. Imagine batching up a bunch of videos for compression, and then getting online for some fragging without any slowdown or distractions. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:46 PM (EDT) |
"Scanners as home devices are somehow disregarded. Home users that have needs for scanning are rare, so it's no wonder why those peripherals are not too much interesting for reviewing. On the other hand, scanner usage for business purpose is actually quite necessary, but classic scanners lost even that battle because of multifunctional devices. However, there is one scanner category that can find target user group, which cannot be "covered" with multifunctional devices. We are talking about scanners with bigger scan surfaces - A3 scanners..." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:43 PM (EDT) |
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. |