Friday, May 2 2008 |
ECS A780GM-A Black Series Motherboard Review @ Motherboards.org |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:31 PM (EDT) |
The 780G chipset is the most powerful integrated graphics chipset on the market today. ATI is soon to release the 790G chipset which will bring even more performance to the integrated graphics chipset market. Integrated graphics are great for the person wanting to build a inexpensive system as you only need the memory, hdds, case drives and you have a cool system that plays every game out there, with lowered resolution or setting but it still can play those games with the full visual fidelity that playing the games with a high-end card would do. The ECS board is a little slower than the Gigabyte board that has the same chipset and components. I would attribute this to the differences between two motherboards using the same chipset and not worthy of mention except that it is across the board. ECS’s board is on the web for around $80, making it a good board to purchase for those wanting an inexpensive yet functional computer system. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:31 PM (EDT) |
"The Bgears b-Envi MicroATX was extremely fun to test because it kept surprising me with it's features. First of all, how cool is it to have LED touch buttons for your front panel? They are responsive buttons that beep when you touch them so that you know that the touch was registered. Also, the buttons are lockable so that you don't accidentally hit one of the buttons and turn off your computer by mistake. The case only weighs eight pounds before you put the components inside of it, and even after the components are installed, this case is still rather light. I will definitely be bringing this case to LAN parties." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:30 PM (EDT) |
..." Asus made an effort and delivered very good and useful manual with EEE PC. In manual you can find detail description of how to install XP and how to customize it for best performance. By customizing we mean how to turn off all those unnecessary, by our opinion, Windows services which take up 4 GB on SSD (for example "System Restore" service). Average installation of WinXP Pro SP2 should occupy around 1.5 GB, exact same amount like our installed OS takes. To be honest, this could be reduced if you use nLite program."... |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:29 PM (EDT) |
Welcome back to Liberty City. Its different than we remember; the graphics are better, we have a new character, and the city is massive. Yet it is not so different; keep your head low or receive a knuckle sandwich, stay away from the cops, and relax with a hooker on your lap. Ah yes, Liberty City is just as dark and dirty as any other GTA environment, but still has so much more to offer. |
Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:29 PM (EDT) |
"The Sunbeamtech Company is best known for its 'flashy' cases and PC accessories, but under the brand Tuniq it has released CPU thermal solutions like the popular Tower 120. Today Frostytech is testing out one of the new breed of direct heatpipe contact coolers that are sweeping the industry; the Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer heatsink. Sunbeamtech's heatsink stands 143mm tall, is 125mm across and accommodates one "silent" 120mm Magnetic Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan that spins at 1,000~2,000 RPM." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:29 PM (EDT) |
" ...When it comes to lowering CPU core temperatures, a good quality thermal paste does and will ... make all the difference." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:28 PM (EDT) |
Ruffy takes a look at the In Win B2 Stealth Bomber case which has a few cool hidden surprises under the hood. A quick look at the B2 and you get the feeling that it would be right at home on the tarmac. It has a military feel to it that comes complete with a motorized front panel and interesting interior ducting. |
Thermolab Micro Silencer CPU Cooler LGA775 @ DragonSteelMods |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:27 PM (EDT) |
"Today I'm taking a look at the Thermolab Micro Silencer CPU cooler, it's a small cooler that incorporates fins and heatpipes to help cool your CPU. It's actually smaller then the Intel Stock CPU Cooler, making it attractive for people that are space limited in their cases. Despite its size though, it performs very well, even when compared to tower style coolers that are twice, or even three times its size. " |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:27 PM (EDT) |
"SATA cables aren’t the most interesting of products in the computer sector and most motherboard manufacturers bundle them as freebies. However, some SATA cables are said to increase airflow, provide better cable management and offer better transfer speeds, but is any of this true? Well today I have a UV blue Akasa Serial ATA cable for review, so let’s find out." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:26 PM (EDT) |
"Interestingly, unlike the NF-S12, the NF-P12 has been designed more specifically with CPU coolers and water cooling radiators in mind than general chassis cooling, although cases with tight fan grills are also mentioned as an ideal application for this particular fan. "Why?" I hear you ask - Quite simply, because this particular part and its nine blade design has been produced with increased air flow and pressure in mind. Overall, it finds itself with many of the same benefits as Noctua's previous fans, with a motor that should reduce torque variations to keep the fan running smoothly (dubbed the Smooth Commutation Drive by Noctua) and a self-stabilising oil pressure bearing to keep the fan both quiet and with the ability to run stably for a very long period of time without failure." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:25 PM (EDT) |
“When you are traveling you bring a ton of gadgets with you, I know I do. I have my laptop, cell phone, MP3 player, and digital camera with me at the very least. All of these gadgets need recharged, but it is sort of hard with the 1-2 extra outlets that most hotel rooms have. Usually I have to bring a large surge protector, that is a pain since they are huge and take up a lot of room in my carry-on. Targus has come up with the perfect solution, the Travel Power Outlets. It is a portable power strip that provides 4 outlets in a very small package.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:25 PM (EDT) |
"Those of you who passed on the previous generation of Intel SLI boards will be pleased that many of the issues from before seem to be gone now. While not the fastest board, the MSI P7N SLI Platinum performed well and overclocked well with some elbow grease. Stability was great." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 PM (EDT) |
"The latest 9800 GX2 incarnation to make its way into the labs comes from GIGABYTE and carries with it all the standard goodies that we expect out of the 9800 GX2. The latest 9 series of NVIDIA cards have impressed us, but like we’ve said all along they haven’t offered the revolutionary jump that we thought the 9 series would offer. |
OCZ Rally2 Turbo 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Review @ Virtual-Hideout |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 PM (EDT) |
“The Rally2 Turbo lived up to the caliber of performance we've come to expect from OCZ. This isn't just a sleek-looking drive; it's a sleek-looking drive with the transfer rates to match. With fast read and write transfer rates and a minimalist look/design, the Rally2 Turbo stands out among a crowd of "flashy" drives that don't deliver on performance. The small size and aluminum case make it a valuable device for any professional.” |
Thursday, May 1 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:33 PM (EDT) |
The TweakGuides Tweaking Companion for Windows XP has undergone a major revision, bringing it up to Version 4.0. The guide has not only been updated for all the changes resulting from XP SP3, it has also had a significant number of additions and improvements to ensure that along with the Vista version, it remains the most comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date system and OS optimization guide available. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:33 PM (EDT) |
"Armor+ ESA (internally called VH6001BWS by Thermaltake) is a big super tower case, being one of the few cases around featuring 10 slots for expansion cards (most cases have only seven), allowing the installation of four video cards and extended ATX motherboards. It also has seven 5 ¼" bays (although only six can be actually used), a big 190-mm side fan, sliding motherboard tray, ESA technology for monitoring and controlling the fans and the temperature inside the case and several other features that make this case really unique. Let's take an in-depth trip inside this case." |
Cooler Master Z600 and Sphere CPU Coolers Review @ Bigbruin.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:33 PM (EDT) |
Everything is big with the Z600.... The height, width, weight, heatpipes, and even the thickness of the fins. It is capable of providing incredible cooling results when used with either one or two low speed 120mm fans. Adding higher speed fans might create some extra noise to live with, but I can imagine that the temperatures could be ridiculously low. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:32 PM (EDT) |
"PC owners, rejoice: Gateway has unveiled its latest 24" widescreen LCD monitor, and it's a doozy. This glossy-coated behemoth delivers impressive image quality; more ports and connectors than you can shake a stick at; and a fast response time that will please gamers and movie-watchers alike. It's even relatively affordable at $500 - or at least is compared to other 24" LCDs. While the optional speaker bar integrates easily onto the display's chassis, you'll probably want to save your money for a set of regular speakers if you're a gamer. Still, it's a hardly a show-stopping drawback for what's otherwise a highly-recommended unit." |
Samsung 2232GW 22-inch Widescreen LCD Review @ ModSynergy.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:32 PM (EDT) |
LCD’s dominate the market, there’s really no denying that fact. There are LCD’s displaying images everywhere you go from the school, the post office, the stadium, literally everywhere. This technology has been around for a long time and yet continues to advance year after year. Samsung, a leader in LCD technology has been a manufacture that most consumers know they can trust when faced with purchasing decision. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:32 PM (EDT) |
Earlier this year we stumbled upon a widely circulated You Tube video (at least in tech circles), in which a man is seen ruthlessly abusing a poor LCD monitor. The protagonist starts by letting a child draw on the screen with a black permanent marker. Taking matters into his own hands, the man then proceeds to take a pen-knife to the surface of the screen, followed by multiple strikes with a hammer. The abuse of a perfectly good LCD monitor isn't what struck us about this particular video, however. The unique element that caught our eye and set it apart from similar videos is that the LCD monitor survived the episode completely unscathed. The monitor was ASUS' LS201. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:31 PM (EDT) |
"The GlacialTech Igloo 5750 is a different design from the typical heat-pipe coolers on the market today for a number of reasons. Most obvious is that it is not a tower cooler. One of its other features worth mentioning is that it is quiet for an active cooler; at 15 dBA you would have a hard time hearing this fan inside any case. If you are looking for silence from your PC this should be on your list of CPU coolers to purchase..." |
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 & QuickCam Pro for Notebooks @ HardwareLogic |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:31 PM (EDT) |
"Webcams are continually evolving. Those of you that claim to be 'old-school' remember well the blurry and pixelated pictures that used to stream from one webcam to another. My how times have changed. With ISPs stepping up to the plate with increased bandwidth, both upload and download, users need not make so many concessions with video quality (we're talking to you, YouTube!). Computer enthusiasts are calling out for clear and crisp video recordings for their newly built rigs, and companies like Logitech are trying to answer that call." |
OCZ Quad 2Gb Memory Kit Review - 8Gb of Platinum Goodness @ Madshrimps |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:30 PM (EDT) |
With the introduction of Vista, 2 GB of memory suddenly seems insufficient. Many people have made the jump to 4 GB lately, but on a 32Bit operating system, more is definitely overkill. Today we happen to have a 64 bit operating system installed on our test system, so there's no stopping us from fully loading our P35 motherboard with... 8 GB of memory. And we even managed to overclock it! |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:30 PM (EDT) |
VIA Linux Portal to offer drivers, technical documentation and source code for popular Linux distributions such as Ubuntu |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:30 PM (EDT) |
Skoda has run a pretty funny ad-campaign here in Sweden. The ad-movie starts with a voice telling us about Skoda's high-tech factory. You get to see the robots that build the cars and how thorough everyone is checking everything is alright. Then at the end of the ad you just briefly see the guy who prices the cars; a clown, and the ad ends with "Skoda - built by professionals, priced by clowns". It's a pretty funny and clever ad-campaign. So what does that have to do with video cards? Well, I am pretty sure NVIDIA could have chosen to run a similar campaign saying "NVIDIA cards - built by professionals, named by clowns". |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:29 PM (EDT) |
Finding a quality mid-tower for under $100 doesn't happen to often, but NZXT looks to hit the mark with their Tempest. It offers plenty of space (and even support for eATX), four large pre-mounted fans, an intuitive internal design and sharp looks, making it a wise choice for any new build. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:29 PM (EDT) |
"The founding fathers of Nexus had a dream, a dream that one-day end users could use powerful computers without the need for earplugs. While it may seem as a play on words and a couple of phrases from famous speeches, the statement holds true, Nexus is all about quiet computing. |
Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator Review @ ThinkComputers.org |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:28 PM (EDT) |
“The Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator headset is perfect for gamers of all types. This headset is geared towards gamers, but in my mind, is perfect for anyone looking for a quality headset with a quality microphone, especially those who use voice chat on the PC. Most of the headsets that I have had have been rather uncomfortable for extended periods of time, but the Razer Piranha is different; it provides comfort for extended periods of use. If you're in the market for a new headset the Piranha is definitely something you should consider.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:28 PM (EDT) |
We have spent a lot of time at Benchmark Reviews talking about video cards recently - and with good reason. The discrete graphics segment of the market is currently afire with many outstanding price-to-performance options. When we looked at the offerings from the two biggest players, the NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX and ATI/AMD HD 3870, we saw that game performance even when scaled to high resolution was simply outstanding. This begs the question; why with such low-cost entrance into owning cards capable of "high-rez"gaming, most users are still running a display of 19" or less?Monitors are arguably the most important component for users, getting more usage than any other component of a PC. The only reasonable answer would have to be cost, as until recently displays above the 19" mark have been prohibitively expensive. That's where the SAMSUNG SyncMaster 245BW enters the scene as very attractively priced 24" widescreen LCD monitor. |
Wednesday, April 30 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:04 PM (EDT) |
"The Pulsar was louder, but it did have the advantage of being powered via USB. When it comes to quality of sound, the Pulsar headphones were lacking compared to the competitors. I tested the Pulsar's mobile ability and I must say I wasn’t very impressed; the inline controller and the battery pack were always in the way while listening to my MP3 player. I don’t foresee anyone using the battery pack in the future. While it was a good idea in theory, TekNmotion either needs to remove the battery pack or make it more compact in its next attempt." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:04 PM (EDT) |
"Back in January at the 2008 CES, Logitech introduced five new products which would be released in the coming months. Among those products was the diNovo Mini Palm-sized Keyboard, which was an Honoree in the Best of Innovations at the show. The diNovo Mini looked extremely promising at the show, with its TouchPad and full QWERTY keyboard, and we have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to review it for you all." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:03 PM (EDT) |
Computer enthusiasts want their computer gear to look tough. Tough enough to go into your man-cave. Your case should steal the milk money from wimpy cases, and date their moms. Your case should look like it was made from the parts of lesser cases to form one uber-case. Your case should be a badass. |
Xigmatek HDT-SD964 Exposed Heatpipe Base Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:03 PM (EDT) |
"The Xigmatek HDT-SD964 is a potent CPU cooler because it puts four copper heatpipes in direct contact with the processor. The technique is called 'Heatpipe Direct Touch,' and for today's class of heatspreader capped processors it's one of the best means of keeping the CPU running cool." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:03 PM (EDT) |
..." DualGPU systems are very trendy in recent time and whole story begun with ATi "Gemini" project. Idea was born long time ago, when two graphics processors were integrated into one graphics card, but that idea didn't get much popularity until now. On the other hand, ATi Radeon HD 3870X2 turned out as accessible to most users and at the same time very powerful solution. So all doubts in making investment in such card can be shattered in pieces."... |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:02 PM (EDT) |
Ultra have some high end power supplies available on the market, such as their mind boggling 1.6kW unit, however for the majority of enthusiasts this is overkill. Today we will take a look at the more modest X-Pro 600W, a unit Ultra have designed for budget-conscious enthusiasts. According to Ultra, the X-Pro 600W offers high performance within its output range and they back it up with a lifetime warranty. The retail price of the unit is very reasonable ($130) and today we will ascertain if the performance is as good as the price. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:02 PM (EDT) |
If you fall into the category of the individual who does not need a lot of cooling then Scythe’s newest offering may be just what you need. The Shuriken is a whole lot of cooler in a small package. If you were looking for a 815 plus gram behemoth like Scythe’s other newest coolers, the Ninja Copper and Zipang, don’t look any further. Beyond this page is a lightweight of a cooler. At just over 355 grams, the Shuriken is geared at the Intel and AMD stockers. The Shuriken looks a whole lot like the Zipang, but does so on a smaller scale, so how is the cooling? Lets find out what she can do. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:01 PM (EDT) |
Ever found yourself in the need to be able to take a huge amount of computer related files with you on the road or say just over to a friends house. Vantec just may have the answer you are looking for with their new NexStar Hard Drive Dock. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:01 PM (EDT) |
Gaming is where this headset shined. While the Piranha is not a surround sound headset, it did exhibit a great stereo environment. Using Call of Duty 4 as my latest game of choice, I put the Piranha through a long gaming session... I immediately noticed that there were a few details in my game I had been missing. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:00 PM (EDT) |
"In our introduction, we mentioned that the factory overclocks seen with this board have been cut compared to those previously used on the Radeon HD 3870 Atomic - Thus, while that board featured an 825MHz core clock, this board utilises an 800MHz core clock (still 25MHz higher than a reference board), with memory set to 1152MHz against 1200MHz on the Atomic and 1125MHz for a reference board. |
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:00 PM (EDT) |
“ThinkComputers looked at Cooler Master's Real Power Pro series last year when I reviewed the 650W version. Cooler Master submitted its big brother, the 1000W version, to us for review. This powerhouse (literally) is ready to pump juice into a high-end gaming rig, possibly with multiple video cards or multiple processors. ThinkComputers has the review herein.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:00 PM (EDT) |
"Anyone who has tinkered with computers for any amount of time will immediately know the name Ultra. With a number of products that cover case fans and lights, designer cases, DVD products, hard drive coolers, media drives, complete memory solutions, memory coolers and power supplies, these folks can provide you with a large selection of upgrade items. |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:59 PM (EDT) |
The wait for an affordable 45nm Quad-Core is now over, and the Q9450 promises to become the ultimate choice of the new offerings. It's not much slower than the QX9650, offers 12MB of cache and as expected, has some fantastic overclocking ability. How does 3.44GHz stable sound? |
Tuesday, April 29 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:25 PM (EDT) |
Zalman is also launching a forum for our user base to have chance to talk to us directly and have a chance to get support on our product. For next 3 weeks, we will be picking random people for various prizes (will be picking once a week) |
Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GT Turbo Force Edition Video Card @ Viper Lair |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:09 PM (EDT) |
"Gigabyte customized their Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GT Turbo Force Edition by increasing the clock speeds of key areas on the card, but they did not stop there. Ultra Durable2 is a fab process they use to increase the durability and longevity of their products. Ultra Durable2 is featured on both their graphics hardware as well as their motherboards. Lower RDS (on) MOSFET Design, Ferrite core chokes, and Lower ESR Solid Capacitors are the three main components of their design. These components will create less wasted energy, lower power consumption and last longer." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:08 PM (EDT) |
With cooling performance nearly matching a full tower, the M9 VI1000BWS certainly fulfills Thermaltake's slogan: 'COOL all YOUR LIFE'. The 2 included 120mm LED fans certainly do their job well and with space for up to two more fans on the windows, anyone's cooling needs are surely within reach. With a stylish mesh grill up front and blue LED fans; it is certain to please many with its looks. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:07 PM (EDT) |
"Dramatically-dropping cost is perhaps the biggest driver of GPS popularity since you can now buy one for $149 US, although low-end models are hard to recommend. In GPS Land, three companies dominate sales-and no, Sony, Samsung and Panasonic are not among them. Garmin, TomTom and Magellan own 80 percent of the market while others like Navigon are trying to claw their way into the top ranks. That said, we recently were sent the Navigon 2100 Max off to our testing labs to determine if it deserves to be considered a top-tier unit. Now let's take a drive." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:07 PM (EDT) |
"The Noctua NH-U9B is a refined take on the previously successful NH-U9 heatsink. This time around, Noctua nickel plate all copper surfaces and bundle in the super quiet NF-B9 fan - and it's not your average vaneaxial fan either. The NF-B9 is a flesh-toned fan with three key innovations; SSO bearings, vortex-control notches, and textured leading impeller surfaces." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:07 PM (EDT) |
The enclosure market is a one tough cookie. From what Tempest offers, NZXT is certainly bringing an advanced feature set to the entry-level crowd or people seeking simple design. If you're on a tight budget, want to save up some money for better performing hardware and don't care about premium features like a removable motherboard tray you should check out this case. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:06 PM (EDT) |
If you ever wanted to play around with a Mac OS but wanted to do it on your own hardware then this guide is for you. Dan takes you through the basic steps needed to create a "Hackintosh" in a simple to understand process. Grab that extra hardware off your shelf and put together your Mac today. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:06 PM (EDT) |
“The Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock lived up to its promise. It provides a convenient method of connecting any SATA drive to your system so that you can easily access the data on it. Performance was up to par, but the real benefit is from the design. During disaster recovery, you need something that's straightforward and easy to use and won't add more trouble to your life. The NexStar Hard Drive Dock succeeds in this aspect.” |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:06 PM (EDT) |
"After taking a quick look at the Abit AX78, I thought that it was a good all-rounder. For an AMD 770 based motherboard, it performs just below the AMD 790FX, and produced results as expected from a mainstream chipset." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:05 PM (EDT) |
Intel’s Core 2 Quad Q9300 has some rather large shoes to fill. This newly shipping, relatively low-cost quad-core processor from Intel is a replacement for their long-standing price to performance champ, the Core 2 Quad Q6600. The Q6600 was the first quad-core in Intel’s arsenal which was actually affordable, and even today, it remains one of the best values on the market. Not only is the Core 2 Quad Q6600 inexpensive for a quad-core CPU, but it is extremely overclockable and provides a significant amount of computing power for the dollar. Core 2 Quad Q6600’s are still in high-demand – a trend which is likely to continue until they are no longer available. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:05 PM (EDT) |
"Hitting the enthusiast scene decked out from head-to-toe, this motherboard brings next-gen right to your doorstep with the new 790i nForce chipset, 1600MHz front side bus support, Tri SLI compatibility, PCIe 2.0, DDR3-2000 support and an integrated water cooling system. Holy cow! Hold on to your seat as HardwareLogic puts this monster on our test bench and unleashes the full assault of our benchmarking suite." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:04 PM (EDT) |
..."Users familiar with AMD Black Edition brand already know what kind of CPU we got in our test lab and for those unfamiliar with BE AMD CPUs we are going to explain it. Back in the past AMD had prestigious FX series of CPUs which were very expensive but those were made from best parts of wafer and had unlocked multiplier. Now AMD has CPU series called "Black Edition" and it has very similar characteristics to FX series, but with changed price politics."... |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:04 PM (EDT) |
Have a $1,000 budget for a new notebook? Look no further than the ASUS M51S. Touted as a multi-media notebook, it offers a 15.4" screen, 250GB HD and 3GB of RAM. Included also are 4 USB ports, DVI and VGA outputs, full numpad, fingerprint reader, a face-detection logon system and more. |
Monday, April 28 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:58 AM (EDT) |
The Akasa Gemini Ergonomic notebook cooler is an all plastic unit with two 70 mm fans. Two USB ports can be found on the rear of the device, one of which is used to power the fans. Akasa has designed the notebook cooler, so that it adds ergonomic benefit to your working environment in form of a palm rest. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:58 AM (EDT) |
I went with a mounting that had the intake fan on the rack blowing directly at the rear exhaust fan. Not that the case needed any ventilation help with four fan mounting points that took everything up to and including a 140mm fan. Ventilation is something certainly not wanting here. Every side of this case, all six, had a vent area. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:57 AM (EDT) |
"What’s different about the Diamond HD 3650 from Diamond is that it carries with it a massive 1GB of memory. We’re not really big on huge amounts of memory added to a mid-range card, but we’ll have to see if Diamond is able to do anything with the HD 3650 here today that impresses us. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:57 AM (EDT) |
As more and more people are configuring their systems to operate in either nVidia’s SLI or AMD’s Crossfire configuration the demand for a power supply that can not only provide enough power for both video cards, but for all of the accessories that go it. As an example the cooling system we are using is comprised of a six TEC (thermoelectric coolers) which are notorious for drawing a great deal of current. The Real Power Pro 1000 handles everyone of the stresstest programs we tosses at it and all the while the voltage stayed within +-5%. |
miniSync - Car Charger Bundle for ATT Tilt/ HTC Tytn II Reviewed @ DragonSteelMods |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:56 AM (EDT) |
"In my ongoing set of reviews of accessories for the Tilt, the next up would be the miniSync - Car Charger Bundle from Boxwave for ATT Tilt/ HTC Tytn II and it's more than just a car charger it's also a syncing cable as well to sync your phone to your PC. This bundle is inexpensive, coming it at under thirty dollars, it includes two retractable cables, one specifically for syncing/charging to/from your PC and one just for charging your phone while you're in your car with the included high power car adapter. All three parts are very well made so they seem as they will last for quite a while, in my time with them I've found them to be very useful and very handy. " |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:56 AM (EDT) |
"When I first picked up the WARRIOR XXTREME gamepad, I was surprised at how solid and heavy it felt, despite its slim profile. I simply don't often find that kind of construction in any keyboard, even high end ones. This gamepad does not flex or warp - perfect for all those rough gamers. The outside of the keyboard is covered in rubber, while the surface sports a high-gloss paint job. The keys are matte, and are a cross between laptop and full-size desktop keys - a good cross between portability and usability. The upper buttons offer volume control, a Windows button, and a backlight switch that glistens like shiny chrome. Also in this key group is a K-Lock, which is designed to lock the "push to talk" key in games, and allows for continuous communication while gaming - very cool." |
Honeywell 22-Inch LCD Monitor MT-SY-HWLM2216 @ Benchmark Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:56 AM (EDT) |
Honeywell is brand new to the LCD monitor industry, which is why they called upon the expertise of SOYO. After making giant waves in the market with their 24-Inch DYLM24D6 ultra-affordable widescreen LCD, SOYO was put to work building an up-scale version with premium features. The end result of their work became the Honeywell Arius product line, which features an integrated webcam, microphone, speakers, and USB ports. The Honeywell Arius MT-SY-HWLM2216 22-Inch WSXGA+ widescreen LCD monitor boasts a quick 2ms response time. Benchmark Reviews has be fortunate enough to test this monitor in our labs, and we find out just how well it performs for hardcore gamers and casual PC users alike. |
Sunday, April 27 2008 |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:45 PM (EDT) |
"Tuniq, a subsidiary of Sunbeamtech, really made their name known with their Tuniq Tower CPU air cooler. The Tuniq Tower was recognized as one of the best air coolers on the market for longer than a year. Since then, they have become increasingly popular for their cases, thermal accessories, and most recently, power supplies. One power supply that has been getting a lot of attention lately is the Tuniq Miniplant 950W which we have for review today." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:44 PM (EDT) |
811MHz on the core was an absolutely stellar gain. Even the naked memory gave us an extra 102MHz. Remember the reference specs for the 9600 GT are 650MHz on the core and 900MHz on the memory. Inno3D has laid in a factory overclock (while still offering a full three year warranty) to take their card to 720MHz on the core and 970MHz on the memory. Our results show a 29% gain over reference speed and an 11% gain over Inno3D's factory overclocked core. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:44 PM (EDT) |
The EVGA 8800GT 1GB AKIMBO is an interesting card in many respects. The performance is not up to the 9800GTX but it is close being that the two cards share the same video chip just with 16 SPs disabled. The main selling point of this card is the AKIMBO cooling solution as it kept the card noticeably cooler during operation, about 15-20C cooler according to NVIDIA’s temperature monitoring software. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:43 PM (EDT) |
"While increasing the cooling capacity of your computer is a very important thing to do, the Vizo Propeller is not a one size fits all solution. The expansion slot type of cooling fan has been around for quite a while. Is the Vizo Propeller an improvement over the many that have come before it? Well it does the same thing but it blows out instead of bringing in cool air to cool a component. The Propeller does provide a small benefit by increasing air flow through a part of the case that rarely is ventilated properly. At stock loads there is no benefit to the Propeller. Measured with the IR thermometer the outside of the card was slightly warmer with the Propeller than without it." |
CoolJag Falcon 92 Cu HeatPipe Heatsink Review @ ModSynergy.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:43 PM (EDT) |
When I sit back and reflect on processor technology, it’s amazing how far it has advanced over the years, and it seems like it’s done so with a quantum leap; single core processors, dual core and now quad core CPU’s. It’s just really amazing how fast and how soon all these advancements have come. Microprocessor makers have tried to alleviate the problem associated with making faster processors (that is heat) with shrinking the die of the cores and for the most part it has worked to keep maximum thermal temperatures at a workable level, although having a quad core will push any heatsink to its limits, especially once overclocked. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:42 PM (EDT) |
Crucial has updated their successful Tracer line-up with the Ballistix Tracer 4 GB Dual Channel kit. Despite stock ratings at 800 MHz with CL4 timings at 2.2V this kit is capable of reaching 1120 MHz stable at CL5 and 2.2V. In addition, the Ballistix Tracer Reds were completely stable at stock speed and timings with only 1.8V, making this a great kit for those with limited voltage options. That said, the entirely red LED accented theme and great performance from these high density 2GB modules is sure to please. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:42 PM (EDT) |
Thanks to its integrated graphics processor, the MG-630I-7159 sports VGA, DVI, and HDMI outputs, and it's got some other handy on-board features as well, like an LED POST code error reporter and micro power and reset switches. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:41 PM (EDT) |
Throughout the tests, the HIS Radeon HD 3650 performed well. It is not a top-of-the-line card but its performance should be satisfactory for all but the most extreme of gamers. If you don't care for too much eye candy or extremely high resolutions, this mid-range card should fit the bill in terms of value. For its price, it is a great buy. Also, it supports CrossFireX so you can upgrade later if desired. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:41 PM (EDT) |
"The OCZ Vendetta 2 is a good CPU cooler that's ultra quiet and does an adequate job of cooling your processor. In a nutshell, the Vendetta 2 is a larger but quieter version of the original Vendetta CPU cooler. " |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:37 PM (EDT) |
Today Michael checks out the new EZ-DUB drive by Lite-On and we show you why this drive may well be the last drive you buy before migrating to Blu-Ray. We show you the testing, features, and performance of this mighty external DVD-RW that won't leave you burning drink coasters. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:37 PM (EDT) |
"The GIGABYTE G-Power 2 Pro was first presented to me with a flash presentation detailing the functions and basically letting me know that it was not a mediocre product. From the start I was interested, and now that I am finished with my testing I can make you interested too. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:37 PM (EDT) |
"Today we look at their GA-EP35-DS3P motherboard which takes a new road towards energy efficient motherboards. Even with all the extra options available, at its very core it is still a strong P35 based board. With a standard LGA775 socket, compatible processors range from the earlier Pentium4s and Celerons using the 90nm process to the latest 45nm quad core Extreme Edition processors. This board can handle pretty much any LGA775 based processor Intel has or has had on the market in the past few years. Whether you're looking for a strong board with plenty of options or saving a few dollars on your electric bill, this board appears to fit into both columns." |
