Friday, May 1 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:25 AM (EDT) |
NAS, or Network Attached Storage, is an easy way to move your data files outside your PC so they can be shared with others, and available even if your PC is turned off. Let's see if the Intel SS4200-E NAS device can live up to the reputation of its OEM. |
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2 GHz Socket AM3 Review @ PCSTATS.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:25 AM (EDT) |
"The 3.2GHz AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition is the companies' latest quad-core processor, and it's being released in tandem with a new memory tuning tool called 'Black Edition Memory Profiles', or B.E.M.P. for short. The Phenom II's 128-bit wide memory controller still operates at 2GHz, although it has had an important fix: DDR3 memory modules can now run at 1333MHz speeds in dual-channel mode. The Phenom II 940 could only manage 1333MHz speed in single-channel mode, as soon as both memory channels were filled the memory controller would drop down to DDR3-1066MHz memory speeds." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EDT) |
PowerColor is one of the first board partners to release an overclocked, custom designed HD 4890. Instead of the AMD reference cooler a solution from Zerotherm is used. The clock speeds have also been bumped to 950 MHz core and 1100 MHz memory. Due to their improved PCB, PowerColor has managed to position their HD 4890 PCS at the price that normal reference cards go for: $249. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EDT) |
"Let's take a look on G31MV-K, a low cost motherboard from Foxconn targeted to Intel socket 775 processors and based on Intel G31 chipset. Let's see this motherboard features." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EDT) |
Other features include the support for DX10.1, 3-Way SLI and 3 types of output, which includes HDMI, DVI and D-Sub. So what can expect from its performance? Well, we've already seen overclocked versions from Twintech and Gigabyte ... can the Palit Geforce GTS 250 do any better? |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EDT) |
“Today we will review one of their higher end products, the M12D 750W PSU. The M12D 750W boasts some very impressive specifications, but at the same time its retail price requires it to compete against the best products of its class. We will soon find out if it can take on some of the finest PSUs released in the retail market to this date.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:23 AM (EDT) |
"Older plasma displays are notorious energy hogs compared to LCD panels. Walk by one that's been on for a few hours and it almost feels like a Vermont wood stove in January. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but owners know they do convert quite a bit of precious electricity directly to heat. Enter the new generation of Panasonic plasma HDTVs, carrying Neo PDP technology that supposedly uses 33 percent less power to achieve the same brightness as the old 2007 models. Readers of Digital Trends know we have prefered plasma to LCD due to the rich, deep colors and super-fast response, which is just right for sports. Now let's see if a more earth-friendly design makes us even bigger fans, or if a comparable LCD is the value buy." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:23 AM (EDT) |
Flash drives are and have been a very important piece of pocket size technology for quite a while now. And flash drives are used on a daily basis by all kinds of people around the world. Some people use them for storing music or pictures, and sometimes movies, but at the same time, others use flash drives to take their computer based data with them on the go. Either way, people need a reliable device that can handle a light, or in some cases, heavy beating. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:23 AM (EDT) |
"Looking at the Fenrir from the front reveals some bent fins and the simple base with four large heatpipes running through, and grooves for the mounting bracket. The clearance from the lowest fin to the top of the base looks to be high enough to clear any motherboard heatsink or capacitor, while being short enough to fit into many computer cases. The side view shows the bent fins more, which are slid into place, where some companies solder theirs to the heatpipes. The pipes are angled away from each other as they rise from the base, spreading them out better into the fins for better dissipation." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:22 AM (EDT) |
Style or functionality, sometimes when choosing an external 3.5 HDD it can come down to these options. While some like me that only have 1 TB drives for backing up our data the need to rely on an enclosure that will function when they need it is important. Others like to have an unassuming enclosures that blend in and run all the time from their desks.Why not chose both? With the extremely unique design of the In-Win ‘NA not only can it be used as an effective HDD enclosure but it could also be used as a central conversation piece in the right situation. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:22 AM (EDT) |
ASUS has it tough. No question about it, everyone loves to hate the front runner. It's hard to remember when they weren't one of the top dogs, and in this business, it's as hard to stay on top as it is to get there. For the last several years, like everyone else, they've been paying the bills by selling Intel-based systems. They kept faith with the AMD crowd however, and have consistently offered a full range of products to support the underdog in the CPU race. All that is paying off, now that the new Phenom II AM3 chips have hit the street, and enthusiasts are once again buying AMD CPUs in earnest. |
Thursday, April 30 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:57 AM (EDT) |
With the M4A79T Deluxe ASUS presents an ASUS AM3 motherboard which is based on AMDs 790FX chipset including the SB750 southbridge. Compared to the M4A78T-E (AMD 790GX chipset) this model has no onboard graphics. |
Seagate Momentus 5400.6 500GB SATA Hard Drive Review @ Bigbruin.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:57 AM (EDT) |
The Seagate Momentus 5400.6 500GB hard drive appears to be a good, solid performer. It runs cool, is quiet, and quite fast considering its slower spindle speed and meager cache size... With all things considered, the Seagate Momentus 5400.6 500GB SATA hard drive is a great buy and a great alternative for laptop and MicroPC storage. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:56 AM (EDT) |
With the smooth corners, a matte black finish and subtle red edging around the door, it seems that Thermaltake has gone with a more subdued, stealth-like if you will, appearance package to the first release in this series. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:56 AM (EDT) |
"The thermal paste market is very vast with many different companies having their own brand or brands; plural. Despite not making as much temperature difference as upgrading a cooler, thermal grease is an integral part of any computer system in supporting the main cooling for your CPU and GPU. A good paste will not only give great temperature readings but will also be easy to spread and clean off as well as being cost effective. The latest contender to enter the fray is the Tuniq TX-3 which follows on from their similarly named TX-2; let’s see what is can do." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:56 AM (EDT) |
"Though color inkjets, multifunction printers, high-res photo printers and other sexy devices have largely won over the battle for consumer living rooms, monochrome laser printers like HP's P2035n continue to serve as the backbone of most home office and small business operations. Speed and text quality remain the laser printer's biggest selling points, and the P2035n excels at both, but cost of operating isn't quite as low as some of its competitors." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:55 AM (EDT) |
If you're sitting on a monster CPU you know the importance of keeping it nice and cool. Most overclockers and high end users know about aftermarket CPU coolers. Unfortunately, a large percentage of end users never give it a second thought. We've seen systems come directly from major websites with the wrong CPU cooler, too small a CPU cooler and pieces of plastic stuck between the CPU and the Cooler. CPU cooling bares a little thought and scrutiny. If you're still sitting a stock CPU cooler on your CPU, perhaps you should look up the term pre-planned obsolesce. That would be planning a part or component in such a way as to cause it to fail prematurely in order to get the end user to buy a new one. Well, stock CPU coolers aren't quite that bad, but they're close. In a lot of years we've never really seen a stock CPU cooler that cools the CPU properly and none have ever provided and measure of overclocking headroom. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:55 AM (EDT) |
Sometimes it’s more important to choose a high-quality product that suits your needs rather than choosing the largest, more expensive one. Today, we will be testing that theory when we examine a monitor that Geeks.com sent us: the Soyo 24” Pearl LCD monitor. While other computer monitors out there are larger and offer better specifications, does this monitor provide a decent picture at a reasonable price? Read on to find out. |
Wednesday, April 29 2009 |
ASUS EAH4770 HTDI/512MD5/A Radeon HD 4770 Videocard Review @ PCSTATS.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:29 PM (EDT) |
"AMD is making a new addition to its midrange graphics card lineup today with the introduction of the Radeon HD 4770 videocard, based on the companies first 40nm GPU, the RV740. The Radeon HD 4770 strikes a balance between performance and price, coming just under the lucrative $100 mark and slotting in nicely in terms of performance between existing Radeon 4670 and 4850 videocards. PCSTATS will break down all the numbers in a moment, but first let's introduce the videocard sitting on the PCSTATS' test bench today, the ASUS EAH4770 HTDI/512MD5/A." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:28 PM (EDT) |
Around the time when Ion was first announced, there was some scuttlebutt that Intel "disapproved" of the platform and that the company wouldn't sell OEMs Atom processors separately, without pairing them to an accompanying Intel chipset. Those rumors were soon squashed, however, because Intel does in fact sell Atom processors independent of a chipset. Although, we think it's still pretty safe to say Intel isn't exactly thrilled with Ion's existence. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:28 PM (EDT) |
"The ATI Radeon HD 4770 graphics card might cost just $109, but the card doesn't look and perform like what many would expect out of a card in that price range. The Radeon HD 4770 was able to keep up with the Radeon HD 4850 and GeForce 9800 GTX+ in numerous benchmarks as a testament to that. For those that game in the 1280x1024 to 1680x1050 resolution range the Radeon HD 4770 should be fine for most games with average settings as our testing had the image quality cranked all the way up in almost every test and the card did fine..." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:28 PM (EDT) |
Cases are a largely underrated component when it comes to building a case; after all they’re only a box to fit everything inside right? Definitely not, in fact PC enclosures have a huge role to play in not only keeping the internal components safe and well-protected but also in cooling and aesthetics. Especially with a world where everything has to look perfect; today we have a case with a unique design and style based on a stealth bomber. Introducing InWin’s B2 Stealth Bomber… |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:27 PM (EDT) |
" Today we will be looking at IN WIN’s new mid-tower gaming chassis which could possibly take flight any second. With the Star Wars films in mind, IN WIN took the inspiration to create a case that would make Vader proud." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:27 PM (EDT) |
“Only few months after presentation of Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition and Dragon platform, AMD made its next move: transition to a new memory standard – DDR3. New standard, as it is in most cases, demands new socket. In this case pin configuration isn’t too much different from the one present on AM2+ socket, but there are differences because of which it is not possible to insert old AM2 CPU into new AM3 motherboard. As you probably know, AM3 CPUs, among which is new X4 955, are AM2/AM2+ compatible so you can use them on alder motherboards that are compatible with older DDR2 memory standard. AMD this time made a smoother transition to new memory standard without danger of losing market share…” |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:27 PM (EDT) |
"After running the original Gateway P-7801u FX Edition through its paces back in November and finding it to be a desktop replacement as practical as it was powerful, we were eager to step up the next-generation P-7808u. Though it looks identical on the outside, Gateway has dropped a hot new Intel Core 2 Quad Q900 processor inside and beefed up other specs as well, making this machine an all-around improvement - or so it would seem at first glance. The screen has actually stepped down in resolution, and the price has grown to a spendy $1,800 thanks to the studly new processor. Do an extra two cores justify these trade-offs? We fired up a few games to find out." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:26 PM (EDT) |
"While the AMD Athlon X2 7850 might not be as fast as the triple and quad core processors in raw power, it does hold its own - beating out the Athlon X2 7750 in the majority of the tests, as well as the Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 in some as well. Overall, I was impressed with the increased performance of the X2 7850 in the dual core sector. With all of the top end processors released lately, the mid-range has been forgotten, and it is nice to see a refresh available for those who need a budget conscious processor. If you are in the market for a dual core processor, or looking for a great priced processor for that family computer, then the AMD Athlon X2 7850 will fit that bill nicely." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:26 PM (EDT) |
Most American computer enthusiasts are familiar with Rosewill who are a sister company to one of the largest online retailers, Newegg. Rosewill's primary goal is to offer (through Newegg) a very wide variety of products, ranging from card readers to computer cases, all at very competitive prices. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:26 PM (EDT) |
Today we have the AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE, the big brother to the X2 7750. With an unlocked multiplier, and 64nm technology AMD plans on going head to head with the older Core 2 dual cores, as well as replaceing the older high end X2's. This new CPU also features L3 cache, which should improve scores in all kinds of tests, along with gameing. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:25 PM (EDT) |
Last week's launch of the Phenom II X4 955 was a big win with the enthusiast crowd. This week, however, it looks like AMD has shifted focused to the mainstream market. Not only is the highly anticipated Radeon HD 4770 launching today, but also a new dual core Black Edition processor: the Athlon X2 7850 AD785ZWCGHBOX. Based on the updated K10 Kuma architecture, the 2.8GHz X2 7850 is poised to take over as AMD's flagship dual core processor. At only $69 USD, it's also shaping up to be quite a bargain. Benchmark Reviews has thoroughly tested this new processor, and today we bring you our results. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:25 PM (EDT) |
"We can only note that this motherboard is just as attractive to users as the previous model from ASUS with this chipset. Perhaps it's a bit more interesting owing to its better integrated audio. In other respects, it has both pros and cons, too insignificant to affect your choice." |
Tuesday, April 28 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:40 AM (EDT) |
ATI has released another Radeon to update its mainstream videocard lineup. Is it worth the upgrade? |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:37 AM (EDT) |
Today, we will be taking a look at the Arctosa keyboard. The Arctosa is the lower model of the three keyboards that Razer make. Cosmetically it resembles the Lycosa which is Razer middle model keyboard. The Arctosa is a slick black keyboard that is screaming to place on the desktop of every gamer. Programmable macros, media keyboards and customizable profiles are all possible with the Arctosa makes it easier for the gamer in you to adjust the keyboard just the way they want to have the edge in their next death match. |
Samsung SC-HMX20C High Definition Camcorder Review @ CCEReviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:36 AM (EDT) |
Overall, the SC-HMX20C is a great, small high definition camera to carry around if you're on the go and looking to capture videos of life. The software is incredibly easy to use and detailed in its abilities. With 8GB of built in flash memory, you don't necessarily need a flash card before your battery dies out. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:35 AM (EDT) |
Make no mistake, the V10 is a monster! It's BIG, it looks beefy and features Hybrid TEC technology ... but will it do the job? Can it cool any better than a standard air-cooler, or is it all just a load of gimmicky nonsense and marketing ploy? We will see. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:35 AM (EDT) |
"The ASRock X58 SuperComputer was a fantastic performer, had great overclocking potential, and had a decent bundle. ASRock produced a board that rivals most of the other leading manufacturers out there. The only hold up for the board may be the price once you compare it to some of the other offerings out there..." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:35 AM (EDT) |
" It’s been a while since I looked at any USB Flash Drives, so I figured it was about time. This isn’t just any flash drive either, it’s one of only a few 64gb drives on the market today. The OCZ Rally2 64gb flash drive is obviously large capacity, but it’s got a metal housing as well that makes it tough and durable. I’ve got two other 64gb drives on hand for comparison, so continue on for the comparison and review of the Rally2 64gb flash drive." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:34 AM (EDT) |
"A year ago when we reviewed the 1 GB iPod shuffle, we noted that it was the cheapest, lightest and smallest MP3 player from Apple. This year's shuffle (a.k.a. third generation) is still the cheapest, lightest, and smallest. In fact, the device itself is about half the size of last year's model. It is not just small. It is amazingly small. And new features have made it do more than just shuffle music. It actually talks to you. So we set out to find out just how this new shuffle works and how it has improved." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:34 AM (EDT) |
"When most people think of Lenovo, monitors are far from the first devices that come to mind. In fact, even Lenovo doesn't seem to promote the fact that it manufactures them - if you browse monitors on the company's site, you'll find as many Samsung and ViewSonic models as Lenovo's own. But the company added a new low-key competitor to the heap recently with the L215P, a widescreen LCD monitor that combines a 21.5-inch 1080p screen with a built-in webcam, speakers, USB hub, and a swiveling stand for $299. That's quite a bit more than barebones competitors offers, but the price reflects it, too. Do all the bells and whistles produce a screen worth shelling out extra for? We planted one on our desk to find out." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:34 AM (EDT) |
"When you look at the scaling in performance you get from going to a quad GPU setup, it is not going to be anywhere near 100% in most cases. There were a few instances where the scaling on the HD 4850x2 and HD 4870x2 scaled closed to 100% - which was a real surprise. This was the exception, and not the rule. In turn, there were games where there was no scaling whatsoever with cards in CrossFireX, while the SLI combo scaled well. That's something that could be a driver fix, to enable better CrossFire support in games. To use all this video horsepower, you will need a monitor that runs no less than a 1920x1200 resolution, as anything else means you are just throwing money away. The ideal solution is to go with that 30+ inch monitor you have been lusting over to take advantage of the firepower. Currently, Nvidia and its SLI technology is the performance winner here, on this system, with the drivers and video cards tested. The numbers are the numbers, and this is what they show. ATI has great price points, but they just can't deliver overpowering performance for that price. On the other hand, Nvidia delivers the performance but at a steeper price. The old adage "you have to pay to play" comes to mind here." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:33 AM (EDT) |
“High end graphics cards such as Nvidia’s GTX295 and ATI’s 4870x2 are the stuff of dreams for most of us. With the current economic climate and tightening budgets it is important we focus on some of the more affordable solutions and today we are doing just that by looking at two cards available from the current Nvidia lineup, Gigabyte’s 1GB 9600 GT and a 9400 GT from PNY.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:33 AM (EDT) |
When gamers and overclockers like myself start adding more and more video cards, hard drives, fans, and pumps and when we push these components even harder to the point of breaking by overclocking them, the need of a high out put, highly efficient power supply becomes necessary. |
Monday, April 27 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:37 AM (EDT) |
The X-Fighter takes its inspiration from the Star Wars universe. In Win has gone to great length and created their own design around that aspect. The result is a very interesting chassis with a lot of unique features and one of a kind, animated LEDs, which are certain to draw a lot attention at the next LAN Party. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:37 AM (EDT) |
In need of a new monitor? Then take a closer look at this monitor with its 26 inches and full HD resolution! At first glance it seems to be a pretty nice monitor and knowing Asus their prices are not very high either which is always a plus. A HDMI output with 2 MS and alot more features really seems to make this a good monitor but does it live up to its name or does it have back bleed issues like previous Asus monitors? |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:37 AM (EDT) |
"Power supplies in the 750W market segment are generally strong enough to power some very beefy systems, yet not terribly expensive and probitive to buy. Consumers want quality and performance at a price that won't break the bank. Today we're looking at the Thermaltake ToughpowerXT 750W power supply, a unit that comes loaded with features. But how well does it perform? Let's take a look." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:36 AM (EDT) |
“During our visit to this year’s CeBIT among other interesting products that we saw at ASUS’ booth we noticed a section that was intended for „music fans“. Star of that segment was ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card and specification was promising unprecedented signal-to-noise ratio. We encountered grandiose announcements before, when it comes to sound cards, so we reached for headphones with significant dose of doubts. Although conditions at exhibition hall weren’t perfect and far from ideal, when it comes to music listening, reproduction quality was incredible and breathtaking so we eagerly waited for this sound card to arrive in our test lab…” |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:36 AM (EDT) |
"I would hope that you would agree with me that it is important to have a dependable power supply, especially one that can give you enough power to let you perform your needs and wants on your computer. I know people out there that don’t even play any games, that would just use the computer for e-mails, financing, and occasional surfing on the internet. If this classifies you as that type of person, it is still good to have a power supply that is capable of keeping your computer running under loads of stress from data. If you don’t have sufficient power for these needs, it could lead to computer malfunctions, such as being unresponsive, and no one would enjoy that." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:35 AM (EDT) |
"The Coolermaster Hyper N520 heatsink is geared for lower-noise cooling requirements. The cooler stands 142mmmm tall, is 118mm wide and accommodates two 92mm fans that spin at 1800RPM each. The heatsink weighs 688grams and is compatible with Intel Socket 775, 771, 1366 (Socket T/J/B respectively) and the entire family of AMD Socket 939/AM2+ processors." |
Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220vi Noise Isolating Earphones Review @ ModSynergy.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:35 AM (EDT) |
Earphones come in several varieties, are easy to make and inexpensive to produce. They are convenient compared to full-size headphones that you don’t want to bring along with you and both exhibit different characteristics. Typical earphones are ones that you stuck on the out outside of your ear canal. They are still present in today’s market but that is quickly changing. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:34 AM (EDT) |
““Server” and “Desktop” are words that are used all the time, a lot of times I think that not everyone really understands what they really mean. In fact there is no standard that makes every server different from every desktop. There is nothing stopping the average user from using Supermicro’s SuperServer 5035L-IB as an everyday “Desktop” computer. It can do all the web surfing, email, word documents and spread sheets you could throw at it. When looking at the 5035 as a server, at least for a small/home business system, it makes even more sense. Dual networking makes using it as a router/firewall a breeze. Also having a web server connected to a database with no other online access is a very common security “Best practice”. Most small businesses and home offices will also not have a dedicated sever room, so noise levels end up being a much bigger deal, in this aspect it really excels.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:34 AM (EDT) |
The Ultimate Gaming Case, Evolved. That's the theme Antec is using to sell it's new and improved version of the Nine Hundred, now simply called Nine Hundred Two. The best-selling Antec Nine Hundred offers gamers an unbeatable enclosure, one that delivers a combination of cooling, performance and convenience that stands head and shoulders above the competition. Now, the Nine Hundred Two builds on this design with improved airflow and dominating style. Benchmarkreviews is now going to put this statement to the test and see just how much the Antec Nine Hundred Two has Evolved. Considering the original Nine Hundred was released in January 2006, you could say that it's design was due for a little re-freshening, although a lot of people might disagree with that. |
