Saturday, January 10 2009 |
1500F degree Fire/Flood Proof External Hard Drive Enclosure @ PCSTATS.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:24 PM (EST) |
"What happens to hard drive wrapped in something called the IoSafe after it is plunged in the pool, and bathed for 30 minutes in a 1550° F degree fire bath? You have to see this one! In all seriousness, it's about time a company introduced a product like this for the average consumer. As all information moves into the digital domain, mitigating loss during a home flood or fire is something a bare hard drive just really cannot do. Data recovery can help in some cases, but PCSTATS has gone down that route and the cost is typically $800-1300 per drive. The IOSafe Solo runs a very affordable $149 for the 500GB model, $199 for 1TB." |
GMC K2 Noblesse Ebony R2 Toast and R3 Corona Review @ Motherboards.org |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:24 PM (EST) |
The GMC Noblesse K-2 Ebony fits the bill as a multimedia PC case. The designers spent a lot of time and thought on making a workable HTPC case on a mid Tower. The inclusion of a VFD display, fan controllers, a remote control and the iMedian software makes this case a great choice for those wanting a Home Theater PC that can hold more devices than the standard Small Form Factor can. The R2 "Toast" is a very interesting choice as well. The case is extremely light, and the patented Vertical CD Drive is unique in the industry. Despite the size and weight of the case you can fit a full sized ATX motherboard inside it without issue. |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:23 PM (EST) |
"Akasa's Nero AK-967 heatsink is based on the popular "heatpipe direct touch" technique, and like so many CPU coolers, for today's class of heatspreader capped processors it's the only way to go! The Akasa Nero AK-967 heatsink FrostyTech is reviewing today is equipped with vibration absorbing rubber fan posts that support a 120mm PWM fan which scales from 500-1500RPM. The roughly 600 gram Nero heatsink is compatible with socket 775 and socket 1366 Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad/Core I7 processors." |
Tritton AX51 True 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review @ Modders-Inc.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:23 PM (EST) |
Back in Sept of 07 I had a chance to look at Tritton's USB AXPC headset. Today we are going to be taking a look at the AX51's which are a true 5.1 surround sound headset. The AXPC's performed really well for my liking, and have been in use since back in Sept. They actually took the place of my Sennheiser HD280 Pro's on the main rig, up until the day I decided to go Vista. We will be seeing how the AX51's work out this time. Will they offer the same sound quality that I had seen in the AXPC's? |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:22 PM (EST) |
"In our previous instalment of our Budget Gaming article, we focused on low budget games, and ways you can get your gaming fix for a few pennies here and there. We've also discussed free gaming, and everyone should be aware of "The Basics" by now, so it's time we covered the final couple of bases where gaming can be done without smashing open your piggy bank. Today we're focusing on 2nd hand shops, and retro gaming." |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:22 PM (EST) |
Tecon Model 55 is an integrated SET amplifier, SET standing for Single Ended Triode. The euphoric sound produced by SET (vacuum tube) amps is often compared to that of OTL amps. Sans the transformer, Ouput TransformerLess amplifiers are highly regarded as a purest since little stands between the vacuum tube and Listener. The Model 55 is a rare find for at least one reason, its $398 price tag. |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:22 PM (EST) |
While some would say "why bother overclocking something so fast?" - We reply with "why not?!" - The particular card of choice is the Gainward card we’ve already looked at. The overclocking software of choice? – Well, we thought we would try out the Expertool software that Gainward offered on their utility CD that came with the card. |
Smooth Creations Lanshark PYRO System Reviewed @ TestFreaks.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:21 PM (EST) |
"Today we're taking a look at the Smooth Creations Lanshark Pyro system, obviously it's part of the Lan themed series so it's rather small and portable, the Pyro in the title refers to the paint job, it's painted with flames all over the case, and even some of the inside components are painted to match the theme as well. The case is actually a clear acrylic case so it's basically see through, besides the flames, but it's painted in a way that you can see everything inside to show it off at your next lan event. The actual system is based from a DFI Lanparty P45 motherboard with an Intel QX9650 Processor, Sapphire Radeon 4870 video card and four gigs of GSkill ram to round things out. " |
Friday, January 9 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:50 PM (EST) |
Here are some latest releases on AMD's newest processor line. Will it be enbough to topple the Intel i7 king of the hill? Well, these reviews should answer that question. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:43 PM (EST) |
“Well then, when it comes down to it, this TRUE is a bit of a paradox. It's a very heavy beast that performs to... some degree of fantastic, though to be honest, it really could be better. There are absolutely no qualms with aesthetics, design, or installation. Even the packaging is up to the par set. But honestly? What it comes down to are the materials themselves. Back when, the utilization of copper was in place due to the inability of the heatsinks to dissipate the heat, due to a low amount of surface area. The other issue in the pipe, though, is the fact that this heatpipe uses the same six heatpipes as every other TRUE; which means that unless it can dissipate heat any faster, the additional heat capacity won't do much all of good. It's all a shame, but I do rather love this sink." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:43 PM (EST) |
"You've purchased a beautiful big-screen HDTV, and now you want a tuneful home theater audio system to go with it. Shopping for a surround-sound system, however, can be mind-boggling. Not only is the difference in quality across the spectrum of available speakers vast, there are several different types of systems that you can purchase - from floor-standing models, to bookshelf speakers, to all-in-one designs. Adding to shopper confusion, speakers are notoriously hard to buy because their sound depends, in large part, on the nature of your room. Finally, there are really inexpensive choices that sound terrible, but there are also some bargain systems from respected manufacturers that sound incredible (the same is true for more expensive models). Here, we'll focus on budget solutions that offer a high-quality audio experience for a relatively low price. For home theater, you really need surround sound, so for our purposes we have limited our audio selection to systems providing true or virtual surround sound." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:43 PM (EST) |
"During CES 2009 ASUS presented a prototype for their Eee Keyboard, a complete computer - including a 5" touch-screen display - housed inside a keyboard running Windows XP. So don't be fooled by its name: Eee Keyboard is a complete functional computer that you can use to write texts, surf the web, check e-mails, use Skype, etc. The idea is to connect it to a video monitor or HDTV wirelessly. We took a look on this innovative product." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:42 PM (EST) |
"Sony's Bravia KDL-52XBR6 is one of their best performing TV's right now and it is definitely packed with a very large feature set and lots of functionality. The prices of LCD TV's has been falling dramatically and this model from Sony is no exception. The HDTV 52-inch KDL-52XBR6 is a great LCD TV for the money and has many advantages over other similar TV's, including stellar performance due to its high 120Hz refresh rate and powerful video processing abilities." |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:41 PM (EST) |
NZXT Releases another in their line of budget Gaming "crafted series" Chassis. The Guardian 921 is a follow up to the original Guardian and is "Designed with futuristic and sleek curves" but does it follow up with the same flaws the original Guardian had? Or has NZXT advanced and refined their product? We have seen several good gaming cases built of this popular chassis, will the Guardian be one of them? Read on and see what we think. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:41 PM (EST) |
Apple users are the most hardened group of gamers on the planet. There are so many games available for the Mac platform that you just can't count them all. They have such hits as World of Warcraft, Warcraft 3, Black and White 2... um.... well, they have a bunch of solitaire and board games, that's for sure. |
Posted by Nathan @ 5:40 PM (EST) |
The chassis is construsted using high quality steel and ABS plastic ... so it's a little heavier than most Aluminum cases, weighing in at 10.6Kg. But having said that, it is solidly built and comes excellent connectivity. These include 4x USB, 1x Firewire, 1x eSATA, Mic-In and Speaker-Out. For installation of optical and hard drives ... the SNIPER comes 5x5.25" bays and 5x3.5" internal bays, all featuring Coolermaster's screwless design for easy installation. |
Thursday, January 8 2009 |
Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player Review @ Digital Trends |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:17 PM (EST) |
"With so much digital media available at our fingertips, the computer has become a trusty companion when it comes to content management. It may be busting at the seams, but it's a nice alternative for those that don't have thousands of dollars to plunk down on a dedicated media server. Now the only problem is how to enjoy that entertainment. You could curl up on the couch or office chair and experience everything right on your desktop. However, unless you're the type to hook a 60-inch screen up to your PC, stuff can often get a bit lost in the translation. For those times when the small screen just doesn't deliver the goods, the WD TV HD Media Player wants to make the transition from small to big screen pretty seamless." |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:16 PM (EST) |
If you game at ultra-high resolutions and want to know where the best bang for the buck can be found in graphics cards, look no further than Sapphire's dual-GPU HD 4850 X2. At $300, it's priced-right and offers incredible performance regardless of whether you prefer high anti-aliasing settings or resolutions. |
Sapphire HD4870 TOXIC 1GB Graphics Card Review @ DriverHeaven |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:16 PM (EST) |
Today were looking at a new offering from Sapphire based on the original 4870 Toxic. This edition now brings 1GB of memory to the table to combine with the pre-overclocked frequencies. |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:15 PM (EST) |
Today we're looking at a set of Crucial 6GB DDR3-1333 tri-channel modules for some Core i7 goodness, and though they are very conservatively timed at CL9, we'll soon see that these sticks are capable of far better, both in timings and speed, and can overclock like a champ. |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:15 PM (EST) |
If you've ever used a notebook on your lap while sitting on the couch or in bed, you probably know this can be a rather unpleasant experience because notebooks generate quite a lot of heat. I frequently work on my laptop while sitting on the couch and if I don't use a surface under my notebook my legs become uncomfortably hot after about 30-45 minutes. Besides excessive heat, many laptop users also experience other problems such as neck pain. This is were a product like the Comfort Lapdesk from Logitech comes in handy. |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:14 PM (EST) |
I love storage. It doesn't matter what kind. I have stock in those plastic dresser-style drawers, and I keep 'em chock full of crap I'll never use or at the most very rarely. Any time I look at a car I check out the trunk first, and try to estimate how many bodies would fit in there. If I'm unsure, I'll ask the salesman. And yes, I have done it before. Ah, the joys and freedoms of being a sociopath. But my favorite type of storage is always those heavy bricks we call Hard Drives. I have them in all capacities, and when I want to access one, I simply take apart my external storage unit, or power down my computer and take the side off, install the HD, and then put it all back together. It's a pain in the ass at best. |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:13 PM (EST) |
"Almost regardless of all the "Basics" info we imparted in part one of this article, the first step of any budget gaming experience is to investigate the free gaming market. It has expanded greatly over recent years with the inclusion of in-game advertising, as well as advances in browser gaming with again, advertising money fuelling developers to push the boundaries of what browser based games can do." |
Posted by Nathan @ 6:13 PM (EST) |
Being a big brute isn't necessarily a bad thing these days when it comes to finding a housing for a gaming rig. There can be strength in both sheer size and in sheer numbers. The Antec Twelve Hundred full tower case is an example of the two. This chassis is brutishly large and includes six fans with blue LEDs, one of which, a top mounted 200mm fan, blows directly on the CPU and RAM. The other five fans are 120mm, three for air intake, and two for air exhaust. Two more optional 120mm fans can be mounted, for a grand total of eight fans. |
Wednesday, January 7 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:32 AM (EST) |
But CoolIT has been in the market of taking the above options simplifying them and making it easier to get to the next level without much modding, tweaking or research. price on the most part have been decent to high on a lot of their products. But their newest cooler is priced at the level of higher end coolers but promises to be much better when it comes to performance. The Domino A.L.C. is an all-in-one water-cooling setup that contains a rad, fan, tubing and CPU block. For about $70 you get all this and Coolit's word of a superior cooler. We took the time to connect the cooler to our new i7 bench for a test spin. Is this cooler all that CoolIt says it is? |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:31 AM (EST) |
Even with Intel's new processors hitting shelves, the Core 2 lineup is far from dead. The best all round chipset for the Core 2 is the Intel P45 and today we have the latest P45 based offering from ECS in our hands. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:31 AM (EST) |
Sapphire continues to be innovative and brings new cards to the open market for consumers to pick. Expanding the Toxic family is the 4870 1GB DDR5 card, utilizing 3 heatpipes as part of the advanced Vapor-X cooler. The card from factory overclocked to 780/1000, 30 Mhz faster for the core and 100 Mhz faster on the memory. With recent price drop announcement on the 4870 family by ATi, this card becomes very attractive. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:30 AM (EST) |
Our flat screens keep growing in size all the time and today a 22 inch monitor is almost standard for the normal user while the hardcore gamers are even higher up at 24 inch. Todays review will be on a 24 inch monitor from Asus. This new VK246H seems to be a good monitor on the paper with HDMI and 2 ms response time. It also has a built in webcam on the top and to finish the package it has a nice glossy black color. The question is though, how will it perform and will it have any back bleed? |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:30 AM (EST) |
PC Gaming is a serious business. Maybe it's because PC gamers are constantly upgrading their hardware and are usually on the cutting edge (if not bleeding edge) of the latest PC technology. PC gamers not only require their hardware to be fast, but look cool at the same time. There is a degree of one-upmanship amongst PC gamers, and the green-eyed monster usually sparks an interest at LAN parties. I know when I go to a LAN party I find lots of new hardware I just have to have in order to feel like the technology guru I know I am. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:29 AM (EST) |
Intel not only knows how to push its own technologies, but also how to push the market forward; this with the exception of the RDRAM debacle, but let’s not dwell on that now. For the last five years Intel has not only managed to get its feet back on the ground with the Core micro architecture, but they’ve also managed to steer the course of memory technology as they’d originally hoped. |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:29 AM (EST) |
“Lot of water has passed under the bridge since Cooler Master introduced first Aquagate water cooling solution. Interesting fact about this system is that it was one of the first retail water cooling systems that could be implemented in almost any chassis without massive modifications of the chassis itself. Main problem with Aquagate system was its low performance levels compared to other “custom” models. New Cooler Master Aquagate Max has much interesting concept than its predecessor and, we hope much better performance levels…” |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:28 AM (EST) |
Hot off the heels of their recently successful nForce 790i SLI FTW Digital, the announcement that EVGA - an industry leader in customer service - would be jumping the NVIDIA ship and offering an Intel X58 motherboard; sent the enthusiast forums into a frenzy. It makes perfect sense since NVIDIA has licensed SLI for use on the Intel X58 chipset, but we were still all so thrilled to hear the good news as nothing was certain on the EVGA motherboard future up to that point. |
Cooler Master Hyper Z600 Black Label Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:28 AM (EST) |
"As far as tower heatsinks go, the 1161 gram Cooler Master Hyper Z600 Black Label heatsink is a heavy beast, but it's also one of the few CPU coolers that can be used passively on certain processors. The cross shape and widely spaced aluminum fins, prodigious number copper heatpipes and 160mm height give it the technical features necessary for effective convective cooling, albeit within specific thermal limits. " |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:28 AM (EST) |
"Winter is a wonderful time of the year-especially for those who want to sled downhill. If you can't find hills or snow nearby, just look at a diagram showing prices of LCD HDTVs-it's a sweet downward angle that'll make any prospective buyer a happy camper. Sony's new 52-inch XBR6 model is a great example. It launched last fall at $3,499, dropped quickly to $2,999 and, as we speak, sells on Amazon for less than $2,400. That's 1,000 clams in anyone's language. And since it's part of Sony's higher-end XBR series, it's loaded with many performance boosters including a 120Hz refresh rate and advanced video processing; 1080p quality is given. Now is this tier-one LCD HDTV a winner? In a few clicks of the supplied remote, we'll find out." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:27 AM (EST) |
"The IN WIN Commander 1200W performed very well during testing and I have no problems to report. The DC rail voltages all held up very well even under full load and the AC ripple/noise levels were acceptable but did however get quite close to the ATX12V V2.2 limits. The requirements for 80 Plus certification were met with a maximum efficiency of 86% and although not quite meeting the 88% claimed it is still to be commended." |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:27 AM (EST) |
Cooler Master has been known for filling the market with top notch enclosures, power supplies and general PC accessories. There isn't really a trend when it comes down to desktop department. However, it's safe to say geeks favor a clean type design with a lot of functionality rather than flashy and scary looking "things" up on their desks. If you are into Japanese cars, it's called JDM style (Japanese Domestic Market). Although used in conjunction with automotive industry, this term describes functionality and unique style (the two have to go together). The original Stacker case became a widely popular full tower chassis amongst PC enthusiasts and custom system builders. The last couple of years brought quite a few changes to the external and internal design as well as overall functionality. |
Mtron MOBI 3500 SLC SSD MSD-SATA3535-064 @ Benchmark Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 3:26 AM (EST) |
Solid State Drives are rapidly changing the computing landscape, and many enthusiasts are using SSD technology in their primary systems to help boost performance. Benchmark Reviews has tested nearly all of the products available to the retail market in this sector, and several do well while others fall flat. It used to be that performance was the largest hurdle for mass storage NAND Solid State Drives, followed by stability, and later price. In this article, we benchmark test the linear bandwidth performance of the Mtron MOBI 3500 3.5-Inch SSD MSD-SATA3535-064 and compares it against the top competition. |
Tuesday, January 6 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:26 AM (EST) |
"The CPU temperatures are both disappointing; with idle being five degrees away from the second highest results. GPU temperatures redeem this case, idle falling into the mean, and load pulling ahead to first place. Hard drive and chipset temperatures both pull farther ahead than the competition. Perhaps the fan placement didn't favor the low profile Intel heat sink. The Wind Storm faired pretty well to the competition." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:25 AM (EST) |
Today we are going to take a look at their latest version, the MaxOrb EX CPU Cooler. The MaxOrb EX utilizes six copper heat pipes that pass through six different sets of cooling fins. Will the MaxOrb EX have what it takes to cool your processor? |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:25 AM (EST) |
The CNPS9900 LED CPU cooler features the familiar look of a Zalman product, with a variety of innovations and refinements that make it stand out over models from previous generations in the CNPS (Computer Noise Prevention System) product line. A 120mm fan is located in between two rings of thin copper fins that dissipate the processor's heat thanks to three heatpipe loops. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EST) |
The NZXT Whisper aims to give you the basis for silent computing with sound dampening all around the interior of the chassis. A large compartment design with the possibility of an eATX motherboard and a heavy duty front door, make for an interesting case. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EST) |
"Like the Blackberry Storm, the Samsung Omnia is part of the first wave of post-iPhone smartphones aimed directly for the Apple market. From its lack of a keyboard to its multimedia capabilities, Samsung is going for convenience, portability and multi-functionality. It is a valiant attempt, but lots of unusual design choices make the Omnia more awkward than progressive.." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:24 AM (EST) |
Don't get us wrong. We're not saying that MSI has been standing still this whole time. On the contrary, the folks at MSI have been cooking up a number of new netbook products, as we'll certainly see at CES this week. MSI has also released a cheaper 8.9" version of the Wind, the U90, which is currently available in parts of Europe, Australia and Canada. However, at least for the time being, the original MSI Wind, now dubbed the Wind U100, is still the only MSI netbook officially sold in the US. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:23 AM (EST) |
Western Digital makes some excellent products and relatively recently, it pushed very hard into the external storage market. When I asked about if they are worried about the impending SSD emerging market, there was really no big worry, yet. Even so, hard drives are their bread and butter and solutions exists for nearly every segment of the market. I always say how important it is to have a backup solution and the My Book Studio Edition II aims to fit that bill with ease. |
Corsair Dominator 1600MHz 6GB Triple-Channel Memory Kit @ Legit Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:23 AM (EST) |
The Corsair Dominator 6GB PC3-12800 DDR3 triple channel memory kit was a fun memory kit to review as it features a revised heat spreader and some Samsung ICs that were friendly to overclocking. The memory performance seen on Intel Core i7 platforms never gets old and is just as impressive today as it was when I saw it for the very first time. It was only a matter of time before Intel moved beyond dual channel technology and it seems that the time was right other than the fact that the country is in a recession... |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:23 AM (EST) |
Xigmatek is an unfamiliar name for power supplies in these parts. However, the company does have some degree of presence out there in the world of CPU cooling; and we've gotten more than a few requests to see how good their watt boxes are. Today I'm finally taking a look at one of them in the NRP-PC501. This is a 500W value oriented unit boasting a good sized 140mm fan and 80 Plus certification. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:22 AM (EST) |
Today we have the opportunity to review another product from NorthQ, a Danish company who have been aggressively expanding the last several months. Not long ago we had a look at the Siberian Tiger, a compact water cooling solution designed to narrow the chasm between air coolers and more complex DIY water cooling solutions. It was a pre-assembled, easy to install and maintenance free water cooling product. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:22 AM (EST) |
In truth, it's the sort of visual faux pas you usually have to try very hard to spot, but just occasionally it can throw up distracting artefacts along the edges of moving objects, particularly in games. Still the good news with the VX2260WM is that you have the option of turning Ultra Fast mode off if it is giving you gyp. The Advanced mode is still extremely rapid and suffers from no visual artefacts. |
MSI Radeon HD 4830 512MB OC Edition Graphics Card @ Tweaktown |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:22 AM (EST) |
I have to admit that until the HD 4830 arrived on my door step I really hadn’t heard of it; a bit like what happened to NVIDIA a while back when everyone was more interested in seeing what ATI was doing with the new HD 4800 series. Now the tables have turned and everyone is paying more attention to the new NVIDIA cards due out rather than what ATI is doing at the moment. |
Monday, January 5 2009 |
WinFast PX9800 GTX+ Leadtek Limited Video Card Review @ OCIA.net |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:56 PM (EST) |
"While the GTX 260/280 cards have taken over nVidia's top slots for video card gaming hardware, their 9 series continues to flush out the bulk of their product lineup, and the 9800 GTX+ reigns as top dog among the 9 series family. The WinFast PX9800 GTX+ Leadtek Limited appears to have identical specs to their standard PX9800 GTX+ with the only difference being that of a slightly different cooler face and bundled game selection. Otherwise both match the nVidia reference specification in clock speeds and chip design." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:56 PM (EST) |
DFI has taken the latest AMD 790GX chipset and loaded it on a flashy motherboard fitted with custom cooling and fully fleshed out BIOS which allows you to tweak almost every aspect of the AM2+ platform. Let us find out if the engineers at DFI were able to extract more performance from the 790GX chipset compared to the competition. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:55 PM (EST) |
Alright, so I'm a little behind on the times. Netbooks have been around for a while, but it wasn't until recently that I've been able to spend a little more than a few minutes with one. With CES right around the corner, I decided to finally get one in and spend a week using it exclusively at the event. Read on for my initial thoughts. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:55 PM (EST) |
We started this review comparing the N5200 Pro with the N4100 Pro, and appropriately, that is how we will end things off. The N4100 Pro sits nicely in the middle of Thecus' network attached storage options. It is vast improvement upon the original N4100 with updated features along with performance, and a step down from the N5200 Pro. In all ways that we can see, the N4100 Pro is simply scaled down, in size and performance. Even though the N4100 Pro accommodates one less hard drive, equipped with less memory and a less powerful processor, it packs the same great features, and the biggest difference, price. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:54 PM (EST) |
Today we're looking at a new drive enclosure from Thermaltake that features both USB and e-SATA interfaces, looks great, and is reasonably priced: the Thermaltake Vi-On. Weird name, but who cares if it does the trick well, right? |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:54 PM (EST) |
"Eee PC from ASUS is a series of small laptops (called "netbooks" by the manufacturer) coming with an unbeatable price tag, being perfect for users that want an inexpensive, small and light laptop for carrying around and don't mind having a smaller 10" screen. Today we are going to take an in-depth look on the latest model from this series, called 1002HA, which is based on Intel Atom N270 CPU (1.6 GHz) paired with Intel 945GSE chipset, with 1 GB DDR2 memory, 160 GB SATA HDD, 1.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11b/g/n wireless networking, bluetooth and several other features, coming with Windows XP SP3 pre-installed." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:54 PM (EST) |
Still using one of those older 802.11G or even 802.11b routers? As demand for networking bandwidth increases, 802.11N is becoming more popular. Today we’ll be looking at one such upgrade option offered by well-known networking provider, Hawking Technology: the Hawking HWRN1A Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Router. Have they finally made wireless routers plug-in-play, or will you need to mess around a bunch of connection settings? We’re here to answer that question in this review. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:53 PM (EST) |
"The Maestro 4350 from Magellan with OneTouch has one of the best looking touch screens on any GPS unit out there. It is also feature-packed and delivers excellent navigational directions and routes and put it either on par or above other competitor GPS units out there today. Lane assist and realistic 3D views of your route allow for pin-point accuracy and ease when navigating along your intended route." |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:53 PM (EST) |
“One of the most important items in cooling solution of basic components in any configuration is, in most cases undeservedly underestimated, the chassis. From simple “boxes” that hold all components together chassis have evolved into products that get a lot of attention. Cooler Master’s model ATCS 840 that we are going to present you is anything but simple, ordinary chassis. ATCS (Active Thermal Convention System) series of cases is not new in Cooler Master’s product portfolio. In 1999, Cooler Master was one of the first manufacturers that launched chassis made completely of aluminum…” |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:53 PM (EST) |
The Guardian 921 is an interesting looking chassis, featuring a "shield" as a door and a "head" raised above the rest of the case with a temperature LCD screen. Included with the case are three temperature sensors that can be placed at important locations that need to be monitored. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:52 PM (EST) |
Granted, there are better cooling methods such as phase change. The problems with these other methods is the sheer upkeep. If you want to run sub-zero temperatures with a phase change system, you will have to insulate your motherboard from the liquid that condenses. Though water needs a little upkeep to keep it in good condition, it is not nearly as time consuming as phase changing. On top of that, there is the price difference. |
Posted by Nathan @ 2:52 PM (EST) |
The chip in your PSP was designed to run faster than it does out of the box. By default, the CPU runs at 222Mhz, but the MIPS R4000 processor was designed to run at 333Mhz with a 166Mhz bus. I don't need to spell out for you what it means that the most powerful handheld gaming device is factory underclocked. |
Sunday, January 4 2009 |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:09 AM (EST) |
NZXT calls their Tempest case the Airflow King and I would agree with that. With two front 120mm fans, a 120mm fan on the rear, a 120mm fan on the side panel and two top 140mm fans, this case has more cooling fans and airflow than any other Med-Tower case I've ever seen. In terms of aesthetics, the geometric shapes of the case gives it a slightly modern look that many can appreciate if you want something different than the traditional rectangular box without totally modding the case. Some would question the availability of only three 5.25 drive bays by default. I would say that most people don't use more than two DVD or Blu Ray drives in their case and the ability to use 8 HDDs as an option, makes this tradeoff worthwhile. |
CoolIT Systems Domino A.L.C. Water Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:08 AM (EST) |
"The performance of the Domino A.L.C. simply blew me away like no other cooler has in years. When the performance numbers showed that the Domino A.L.C. was outperforming the Thermaltake BigWater 760is I was floored to say the least. The price tag on the Thermaltake BigWater 760is is $149, which is more than double that of the Domino A.L.C. and it performed worse. This just goes to show that a water cooling kit needs to be a well rounded and polished to get the best performance. CoolIT Systems seems to have the Domino A.L.C. setup with the optimal hardware and water flow to have a winner on their hands..." |
Western Digital Scorpio Black, the none-SSD Laptop HDD Upgrade @ Madshrimps |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:08 AM (EST) |
We take a closer look at a speedy laptop 2.5inch hard drive from Western Digital. Spinning at 7200rpm and with 16mb cache onboard it promises to be quite speedy. While not very cheap it does beat new SSD devices by a large margin, 320Gb of fast compact storage for your laptop? |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:07 AM (EST) |
"FT01 is a high-quality all-aluminum mid-tower case from SilverStone, targeted to the very exigent user. Its superior quality is achieved by using a "unibody" chassis, i.e. the top, front and bottom panels of the case are made by a single aluminum sheet (very thick, by the way) that was bent using automotive-level press machines, a concept that was introduced by the Tejmin TJ07 case from the same manufacturer. Let's explore all the features from this case." |
Posted by Nathan @ 4:07 AM (EST) |
With high definition digital entertainment gaining popularity, having an HTPC setup is almost becoming a standard nowadays. It is easy to purchase a pre-built system for recording and playback HD contents. TiVo and Apple TV are a couple of example. Users can even add a TV tuner card to an existing system to convert it to an HTPC setup. For many computer enthusiasts, building their own system tailored to their needs is half the fun. Choosing the right case, one which offers ample expansion slots and good cooling, is essential for any HTPC. Of course, if the system can run at near silence, that would be a great plus when you immerse yourself in that digital enjoyment. |