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:: PC Perspective . News Archive
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.:News Archive ( 2/2009 )
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Editorial
If you aren't tuning into TWiT Live on Thursdays at 6pm ET to watch me and Leo Laporte talk about PC hardware, you are missing out. I have uploaded our latest episode to my Viddler account for easy viewing here on the site.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective Forums | Subject: General Tech
You might be surprise just how much information piles up on your PC over time, from your browsing history and passwords straight through to credit card information for you online shoppers. One of our members is constructing a series of articles to increase your knowledge of networking, and to help you protect your vital information. Give the article a read and let Slayerhawk know what you think. A different member is working on completely modding a NZXT Chaos case, inside and out. Any fans of H.R. Geiger's work have to drop by and see the worklog; it could also work as a Chaos themed case.
Allyn's article on the performance degradation of Intel's X25-M is continuing to draw a lot of attention, not only on Ryan and Leo's TWiT show, but also in the forums. If you have one of these drives you need to keep up with the work that is being done, if you haven't bought one then you should still pay attention because the days of platter based storage are numbered. You can learn more about that particular problem as well as a lot of other details about SSDs in our newest Podcast, as well as talk about the new CPUs. Finally, our fine Folding folks have caught up to the BOINCers (who are always distributed ahead of the curve) and are giving away FREE stuff to PC Perspective members. In order to qualify, you must pledge your PC's soul to Folding@Home for all time, swearing an oath to take the Folding Frogs team to the top of the list. It's fun, it's free and it is for a great cause. (it's also totally free!)
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Email | Subject: General Tech
It looks like Computer Shopper Magazine will soon only be available online, according to our sources.
"Computer Shopper has a 30-year history as the most comprehensive guide to today's technology. Over the years, we have evolved into a respected, world-class destination for trusted buying advice and reviews. Our readers have come to expect from us expert, labs-based reviews of the latest technology products, delivered in timely fashion and free of bias. This remains our editorial mission, and with our pure-digital focus, we'll be able to deliver on it better than ever." It is not necessarily going to be detrimental to those who have relied on Computer Shopper in the past. It will not only mean an end to towering stacks of old magazines, their scheduling can also change. "We have also implemented a new content management system that allows us to minimize the time between initial receipt of your products and the posting of our reviews. This has enabled us to be the first to the Net with many new product reviews." There has never been a charge associated with the use of their website, and our sources make no mention that they plan to begin charging, so do not harbour any fears that they will be following Newsday's business model.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Overclockers Club | Subject: Case and Cooling
Apogee is not a name that one would associate with RAM, unless said RAM was attached to a video or sound card. That has not stopped them from producing a new line of DDR3, of which the Walton Chaintech Apogee GT 3x2GB DDR3 1866 kit has been tested at Overclockers Club. The 8-8-8-24 timings are fairly tight for DDR3 at 1866MHz and can reach 1980MHz with too much fiddling, though the voltage does have to be raised fairly high. Overclockers Club liked this new offering from Apogee, maybe we will see more from them in the future.
"The Apogee GT 3x2GB DDR3 1866MHz kit is awesome. Its stock settings are 1866MHz at 8-8 -8-24 timings. These are tight timings for such a speed. The design of the sticks is awesome. The fins at the top of each stick as well as the flashy pink stripes create a nice look. Furthermore, these fins definitely help keep the modules cool. During testing, even at overclocked frequencies and at 1.80V, the kit's temperatures were well below the safe limit. Speaking of overclocking, I achieved 1980MHz on the memory, at main timings of 9-8-8-24. I was hoping for the 2000MHz step. I came so close!" Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AnandTech | Subject: Motherboard
EVGA's Classified X58 motherboard is still being kept in a secure location, which AnandTech managed to get admitted to. When it is eventually released it will be EVGAs hard core gamer motherboard, with four x16 PCI Express slots as well as a single x1 slot. Some of the features will be 10-phase Volterra CPU power, 3-phase memory power, and 3-phase VTT all of which will help those trying to hit huge overclocks with sub zero cooling. AnandTech crossed the 5GHz mark while testing, as well as proving that the NF200 doesn't limit this baords potential in their preveiw.
"EVGA's Classified X58 motherboard has been a centerpiece of X58 discussions in various forums since the start of 2009. We managed to get an engineering sample board a few weeks ago and have some initial overclocking tests to show today. Let's take a quick look at the current layout and features before we have a look at a few early benchmark runs." Here are some more Motherboard articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: General Tech
How can charging money for free content not be the most brilliant idea since the BLINK tag? Cablevision Systems Corp has recently bought Newsday and has announced it will begin to charge for access to the online version of the newspaper. They seem to have some bizarre idea that
by changing the site into a "a locally focused cable service" people will be falling over themselves to get a hold of content that is most likely free on any other newspaper's online site. Let's all watch how well that works out for them.
You can get a link to the original article via [H]ard|OCP. "Finally! A website where you can pay for content that everyone else is getting for free! A warning to all you freebie news sites out there, your days are numbered. Soon, you too will have to start charging money for service that is free everywhere else so you can remain "competitive" too!" Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: VIA Technologies | Subject: Mobile
Taipei, Taiwan, 27 February 2009 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced that Samsung has adopted the VIA Nano processor in the new Samsung NC20 mini-notebook. Combining the power efficient 1.3+GHz VIA Nano processor with the highly-integrated VIA VX800 system media processor, the Samsung NC20 also features a stunning 1280x800 12.1" display, ensuring an outstanding video experience and enabling a full-size 12" notebook keyboard with optimized 18.5mm key spacing and larger touchpad in a highly portable device that weighs just 1.52kg. Mobility is enhanced by 802.11b/g and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and a six-cell battery that provides up to 6.5 hours of use independent of any power supply, while storage options include either a solid state disk or a SATA hard disk drive. Other features include an integrated 1.3 mega pixel digital motion camera, 3-in-1 memory card reader and three built-in USB ports. "We are delighted that Samsung has adopted the VIA Nano processor for the Samsung NC20," said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "This is a truly ground-breaking product that sets the new industry standard for consumer mini-notes and clearly demonstrates the advanced performance of our VIA Nano processor platform."
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Bens Custom Cases | Subject: Case and Cooling
Thinking big for your next install? Maybe a dozen mixed drives or so, an enormous heatsink and a couple of pairs of graphics cards? The NZXT Zero 2 has the space for all of that and the 10 fans that can be installed should keep the temperatures reasonable. Perhaps one of the nicest features on the case are the holes drilled through the casing that are perfectly aligned with the screw holes for expansion cards, which makes attaching them almost as easy as in a screwless case. BCC Hardware is ready to take you on a tour of the case as soon as you drop by.
"Sequels seem to be the trend in today's movies and games, so not to stray away from regularity today we are going to look at yet another sequel case from NZXT, the Zero 2. This case claims to give an advantage to cooling enthusiasts. More specifications below and then we will get down to business." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Extremetech | Subject: Storage
Not everyone uses a single OS, some collect them like trading cards and switch between them constantly. Usually this entails a certain install order and the use of something like LILO or a changed config file. ExtremeTech has an interesting and simply little project that will allow you to use a physical switch to choose the SATA HDD you boot off of. It is not an on the fly solution, the PC does need to be turned off to switch between the drives, but it can certainly simplify the boot process. It does require a bit of soldering, so make sure you are comfortable with all of the steps before you start.
"If you have a motherboard with at least two SATA hard drive connectors and have at least two SATA drives, you can build a low-cost physical switch to select multiple operating systems. Once you build and install the switch, all you have to do is select a switch position before starting your PC and your computer will automatically boot to the selected drive. It works by switching only the power between the drives. In order for this to work, you need to enable booting to your SATA drives in the BIOS (CMOS Setup)." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: Mobile
The laptop has become a prominent feature of many people's lives, and being more than a few feet from it can cause some to feel lost or uncomfortable. The netbook has yet to catch on to the same degree, a lot of users are not yet willing to sacrifice the performance of their laptop for a device that is about the same size and weight as a hardcover book. At The Tech Report, one of the reviewers is undergoing that transformation thanks to the Eee PC 1000H. Inside lies an Atom N280 1.66GHz
and 1GB DDR2-667, giving just enough power for the uses a netbook usually undergoes. It may not be the most impressive netbook on the market; it simply has everything you would need from a small mobile PC and it has been developed well enough to have a chance of luring some users from their laptops.
"Asus' popular Eee PC 1000 series has a new entry, sporting a faster CPU, a bigger battery, and a redesigned keyboard. Can the Eee PC 1000HE live up to its legacy, and how much of an improvement is it over past models?" Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: ASUS | Subject: Motherboard
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA (Feb 25th, 2009)- ASUS, the world's leading motherboard manufacturer today released the X58-based ROG (Republic of Gamers) Rampage II GENE in response to increased demand for a micro ATX gaming and enthusiast motherboard. Hailing from ASUS' world record-breaking Rampage II lineage, the Rampage II GENE boasts premium features such as MemOK! for worry-free memory upgrades, CPU Level Up for easy system performance boosts, and onboard SupremeFX X-Fi for true-to-life surround sound. Miniature Size, Maximum Power
MemOK! Any Memory is A-Okay!
Supreme In-game Audio with SupremeFX X-Fi
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Guru of 3D | Subject: Graphics Card
The Guru of 3D has posted a preview of a card they are calling an HD4750, but is really a 40nm process RV740 card. It seems to be targeted to wipe out the lower priced competition, it will likely sell for around the $100 mark and thanks to the inclusion of GDDR5, the performance will rival the HD4850. The smaller process should trim a bit off of the power requirements and possibly the heat, two key features for anything you wish to overclock. Guru did use beta drivers and an early engineering sample board in this preview, but you should get a good idea what to expect from AMD's low end GPU in the near future.
"Guru3D.com today has a special and exclusive preview read for you guys. It's the worlds first article on a 40nm based graphics card, it embeds the RV740 ASIC and is due to be released in April. For the sake of it we'll name this product the Radeon HD 4750, it comes with a 40nm core, 640 shader processors and pack GDDR5 memory. So here's the deal, performance wise the product is awfully close to the Radeon HD 4850, yet the trick is .. it'll be so much cheaper. Have a look at this article, you'll find only one review on this globe." Here are some more Graphics Card articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Inquirer | Subject: General Tech
Paul Otellini took the stage at a recent conference to discuss how he sees the world and the electronics industry. Perhaps one of the most interesting comments pertained to the Atom processor; saying "You'll be underwhelmed" with the performance of netbooks using Windows 7. He is not implying that the Atom is going to become useless; he is simply confident that while the netbook is useful in many circumstances, it will never replace desktops or full laptops. Drop by The Inquirer for other interesting phrases, including his comparison of GPU powered PCs and eating yogurt with chopsticks.
"INTEL CHIEF Paul Otellini offered his two cents on the credit crunch, Atom, flash memory and the recent, ongoing fracas between Chipzilla and Nvidia, during a speech at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco. Otellini explained that the grey clouds of economic doom had severely impacted chip inventories, noting it would be "hard to imagine that there's a significant drop below this" and emphasising just how important it was for Intel to move to 32nm process technology." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Elite Bastards | Subject: General Tech
Elite Bastards is still a little traumatized from the poor performance that the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude showed during their review back in 2007, but they overcame their anguish to review the Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1 PCI Express card. Auzentech has followed the lead of ASUS and C-Media as well as other sound card manufacturers, switching to high quality components along with the X-Fi APU and not simply trusting the quality of the X-Fi will make up for other poor components. Drop by for a look at a reasonably price, high quality sound card.
"At first glance, the X-Fi Forte only has three outputs. On the far left we have a
digital out, which will accept both full and mini TOSlink cables (the latter via a
provided adapter). In the middle we have the card's dedicated headphone output, provided
via a normal 3.5mm jack. On the right however, we find a proprietary 15-pin connector
(not a VGA connector despite its looks), which is where the "magic" starts...
Provided with the X-Fi Forte is a breakout cable which attaches to this 15-pin connector, giving you the usual wealth of analogue inputs and outputs, complete with support for up to 7.1 audio as well as microphone and line-in inputs, all via 3.5mm jacks." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: X-Bit Labs | Subject: Memory
Low latency, low voltage DDR3 is what Core i7 owners are looking for, and Kingston has delivered with their HyperX DDR3-1866 3GB kit. At 1866MHz and 9-9-9-27, and keeping in the safe 1.65V, the kit's specs match most gamers desires and with heatspreaders standing twice the height of a DIMM heat shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, once X-bit Labs tried to push the memory's frequency it turns out that those extra tall heatspreaders only cause difficulty for large CPU heatsink users and really don't seem to help the DIMMs noticeably.
"Gilded contacts, gigantic heat-spreaders and high frequencies at only 1.65V voltage! How big of a performance boost we get from using high-frequency memory with a CPU at nominal speeds and during overclocking? Read our review to find out!" Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:
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Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: General Tech
[H]ard|OCP has tested the new F.E.A.R. 2 release on a number of video cards ranging from an HD4850 to a GTX285 to an HD4870 X2. Even with the slowest HD4850, they could turn all effects to maximum at 2560x1600 with AA and AF and still average about 40fps. Users with faster cards can turn the antialaising up as high as it can possibly go and still stay above 60fps.
"F.E.A.R. 2 is here for all of you to get your Alma fix. But is Alma Wade the only terrifying part of the game, or will the performance make you want to crawl out of your skin too? We'll find out with seven of today's most popular video cards." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Slashdot | Subject: General Tech
If you get an email with an attachments that claims to be the world's funniest spreadsheet, give yourself a shake and reconsider just how funny an Excel file could possibly be. Even if it looks legitimate, if you receive an Excel attachment from a stranger you should probably not open it. According to this story on Slashdot there is an exploit out there that will affect any Excel from 2000 up to 2007 SP1. Microsoft's next scheduled patch is due to come out March 9th, hopefully there will be a solution by then at the latest.
"Microsoft Excel has a zero-day vulnerability that attackers are exploiting on the Internet, according to security vendor Symantec. The problem affects Excel 2007 both without and with Service Pack 1, according to an advisory on SecurityFocus, and other versions going back to Excel 2000. The program's vulnerability can be exploited if a user opens a maliciously crafted Excel file, allowing a hacker to leave a Trojan horse on the infected system." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AMD | Subject: Processor
Sunnyvale, Calif. - Feb. 25, 2009 - Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) today announced it recently completed live public demonstrations of its upcoming six-core 45nm AMD Opteron processor, codenamed "Istanbul." Scheduled to launch in the second half of this year, "Istanbul" is expected to be the only x86 six-core processor available for two- and four-socket systems and higher. The demonstration featured a live, seamless upgrade of a system based on 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors to "Istanbul" processors. "Istanbul" is socket- and thermal-compatible with currently shipping AMD Opteron processor-based systems. The AMD consistent platform approach helps reduce qualification times for OEMs and solution providers, while giving end-users the opportunity to upgrade their existing systems. "Thus far we see impressive performance and performance-per-watt results in our initial 'Istanbul' testing. We expect global OEMs and solution providers to begin shipping systems based on 'Istanbul' in the second half of this year," said John Fruehe, director of business development, Server Workstation, AMD.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: VIA Technologies | Subject: General Tech
Taipei, Taiwan, 25 February 2009 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the launch of VIA's first embedded box computer; the VIA AMOS-3000. Ideal for a variety of embedded applications, the VIA AMOS-3000 is a robust, custom-designed system based on the ultra compact and versatile VIA EPIA-P700 Pico-ITX board. Inspired by classical Chinese architecture, the VIA AMOS-3000 chassis combines heavy-duty steel, aluminum and copper in a unique heat fin design that offers superb heat dissipation. Using a total of only five mechanical pieces - top cover, bottom plate, front and rear I/O access plates and DOM module – and measuring only 13.5cm(w) x 4.5cm(h) x 13.1cm(d), the VIA AMOS-3000 is strong, durable and heat efficient, yet tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The VIA AMOS-3000 can be installed easily using simple table, wall and VESA mounting options. The VIA AMOS-3000 is a complete system that uses no moving parts, making it an excellent choice for mission-critical applications in harsh industrial environments, while the full featured VIA EPIA Pico-ITX board is ideal for a range of x86 applications including gaming, digital signage, industrial automation and in-car entertainment. "We have drawn on the strength of our engineering expertise in developing our boards and form factors and taken the step of developing our own custom-designed systems. This has allowed us to produce some truly compelling embedded system designs," said Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The VIA AMOS-3000 represents the first of many diverse embedded system products based around our own exclusive range of EPIA boards." 
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Guru of 3D | Subject: General Tech
If you were to ask Paccus Interfaces what is missing in the world of PC gaming, they would tell you it is proper force feedback from joysticks. To that end they have started development of a new joystick whose force feedback comes from hydraulics. This new way of approaching haptics
will allow joysticks to have sensitivity matching gaming mice, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2000DPI. X-bit Labs has an interview as well as pictures of the prototype that may some day replace your mouse in future fragging sessions.
"A Dutch based company called Paccus Interfaces is designing a new joystick which they think will be the icing on top of the cake when it comes to joysticks. Current Force Feedback joysticks are very imprecise according to Joseph Melskens from Paccus. Paccus developed a totally new kind of joystick. One which is real 3D, is as precise and fast as a game mouse, it will have extra programmable keys, but most important has a unique (patented) fluid head based force feedback, that can pull you out of your seat! This is not a toy, it is made from metal. This new joystick will embed new hydraulic technology, ensuring extreme precision and a very precise and new gaming experience. According to Paccus It took them four years with funding from the European Union and help of the Technical University's of Delft and Eindhoven. Guru3D had an interview with Joseph Melskens from Paccus, we also have some examples of the prototype. And prototype, really mean PROTOTYPE as in not even close to a final design. The final product will be called Hawk and will be demonstrated at the Gamescom in Köln Germany, Augustus 2009." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: TECHGAGE | Subject: Display
ASUS may have been focusing on small things recently with the continuing development of the Eee lineup, but that doesn't preclude them from thinking big as well. The new ASUS VW266H is a 25.5" TN LCD with a 1920x1200 resolution and a 2ms grey to grey response time. Techgage couldn't resist trying it out and loved it while gaming as the high resolution and quick response are made for gaming. When it came to video playback and options you might expect on a 26" monitor, they did feel other monitors might offer a better experience.
"It's been quite a while since we have last taken a look at an ASUS monitor, much less one that we've been ultimately impressed by, so when we received their latest model, the VW266H, we couldn't wait to tear it out of the box to see if things have improved with their line-up. Read on as we find out whether this TN-based monitor is a winner." Here are some more Display articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: TweakTown | Subject: Motherboard
You can currently pick up ASRock's new X58 based SuperComputer motherboard on NewEgg for $294.99, making it the cheapest way to build a Core i7 system using the X58 chipset*. On paper, the motherboard looks like any other X58 board, it can handle four PCIe cards in CrossfireX or HybridSLI, it has 7.1 audio outputs, handles DDR3 up to 2000 MHz, dual LAN ports with teaming and it can even support ECC RAM in conjunction with a Xeon processor. TweakTown's testing shows this board can also keep up with the big names in X58 boards, even surpassing them in some cases. One possible reason for that may be evidenced in the power usage and heat generated, which you will find near the end of the review.
*Eagle eyed readers have checked a bit more thoroughly than I; the ASUS P6T, the Gigabyte EX58-UD3R and the MSI X58 Pro are all cheaper alternatives, the latter two being under $200. That Core i7 system may be easier to get than you thought!
"ASRock has been known to us here at TweakTown as producing a more rounded board aimed at
the mainstream and value end of the spectrum. Never would we consider putting this
motherboard maker into the hardcore and overclocking segments that ASUS, MSI and GIGABYTE
has managed to push into, yet ASRock for all their trying are aiming for the top. And why
not!
Today’s motherboard market is cut throat. To survive you need to either have a unique product or to produce a mainstream product at the cheapest price. ASRock hasn’t produced anything unique, but they are able to keep prices down. The ASRock X58 SuperComputer aimed towards the mainstream and extreme users comes to us at a price of $294.99 USD from Newegg and at this price it’s one of the cheapest X58 boards out there. But how does it perform compared to the likes of ASUS and MSI? – Let’s find out." Here are some more Motherboard articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Bjorn3D | Subject: Case and Cooling
Unless you are from across the pond, this will probably be the first time you have heard of the company called XSPC. They have made a solid name for themselves in Europe and are now selling products, like the Delta V3 CPU waterblock, in North America. Bjorn3D tried this newcomer against Swiftech's longstanding champion, the Apogee GTZ. It would seem that XSPC deserves recognition from enthusiasts, though the company might want to consider adding some of the extras that it's competition provides here.
"What we are going to be looking at today is the new Delta V3 CPU water block from a fairly new company to the USA enthusiast community, XSPC. These guys have been around for several years over in Europe and have been doing fairly well and have been improving their products every year. I’m really excited to give their new block a try and see just how well it stands up to the performance of my current favourite water block from Swiftech." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Fudzilla | Subject: General Tech
Owners of a Phenom 2 X3 processor with a motherboards that supports Advanced Clock configuration might want to check this little tip at Fudzilla. It has been confirmed by motherboard manufacturers according to VR-Zone; by using ACC to trick the processor, you can indeed 'unlock' that fourth core and turn your X3 into an X4, if it came from the 0904 batch. There is a risk in doing so, in many cases these chips were binned as X3 processors and not X4 because one of the four cores proved unstable in AMDs testing. While some chips will be stable at speed, others may not work at full speed or could simply cause serious instability. There is also no solid testing done to prove that enabling that fourth core will give you any real advantage.
"Guys tried this with Biostar's TA790GX motherboard, but according to the post, the same thing can be done with any other 790GX + SB700 motherboard. According to the screenshots, all you have to do is to modify "Advanced Clock Calibration" to Auto and your tri-core should become a quad-core. Guys at Playwares.com tried it with AMD's Phenom II X3 710 processors, that has for some weird reason became the AMD Phenom II X4 10 processor, at least according to BIOS post screen." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: DV Hardware | Subject: Storage
If you are a digital packrat with several gigabytes worth of data that you absolutely have to drag around with you and currently use more than one flash drive to do it, or even worse, carry around a full size HDD, then check out the Patriot Xporter Magnum. At 64Gb you will probably only need one to hold your dearest data; if you need more than that you may want to consider slimming down a bit. With an average read speed of 33MB/s
you shouldn't be stuck waiting for your data to transfer either. You can see more in DV Hardware's review.
"In this review I'm taking a closer look at the Patriot Xporter Magnum which offer a
massive storage capacity of 64GB. You can fit about three Magnums in the palm of your
hand - each of them offers more storage capacity than 90 of those old CD-Rs.
The Patriot Extreme Performance Xporter Magnum 64GB (PEF64GMNUSB) ships in a plastic clamshell package. This USB stick is part of Patriot's Extreme Performance lineup, it supports Windows Vista's ReadyBoost and has a performance rating of 210x. " Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Case and Cooling
If you are looking for a high powered and high quality PSU; consider the Cooler Master UCP 900W, which Lee just finished reviewing. While the lack of modular cabling may detract from the overall rating of the UCP 900W, it comes very close to deserving the ULTIMATE logo that it bears on it's side. The high quality capacitors should last quite a while and provide good noise supression at the same time, if not, the 5 year warrany should save you from any grief. Read his full review to see just how well Cooler Master's PSU performed.
"The UCP 900W power supply is another good addition to Cooler Mater's full line up of PC switching mode PSUs. The UCP 900W power supply's voltage regulation, line regulation and cross-loading regulation are all good. The overall efficiency is excellent and AC ripple noise suppression is good, especially on the +12V outputs. Under normal operating conditions (below 600W load) the UCP 900W is very quiet. The PSU comes fitted with a large assortment of hard-wired cables and connectors that can support multiple, high-end video cards. And let's not forget that industrial look finish, active PFC, and a 5-year warranty." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: InsideHW | Subject: Mobile
HP has two notebook lines currently, both b & s, and InsideHW feels there is a world of difference between the two lines. The 1630b is the model they reviewed, and the one that they prefer between the two models. This particular Compaq sports 15.4 inch diagonal and 1280x800 with Intel's X4500HD powering the display. Inside is a C2D P8400 @ 2.26 GHz and 2GB of DDR2. It certainly isn't the lightest notebook around, but that also means it doesn't carry a huge price tag for what you get.
"It seems that difference between “B” and “S” series of HP notebooks was never more distinctive then in recent period at least when it comes to quilt quality. HP Compaq 6735s didn’t impress us but HP 6730b is worthy to represent its famous manufacturer. Big difference between those two series can be noticed after first contact. Chassis of HP Compaq 6730b is very stiff and whole notebook looks like robust and reliable piece of hardware thanks to roll-cage that is reinforced by magnesium alloy. This notebook is slightly squarishly shaped compared to “S” model but it suites it nice. Touchpad is shifted slightly to the left. Its precision is extraordinary and thanks to its slightly larger dimensions, vertical scroll area doesn’t diminish its usability. Touchpad buttons have “piano key” mechanism and because of that upper edge cannot be used. At first this was strange feeling but after few hours you will get used to that because buttons are precise and quiet. Between touchpad buttons is placed thumbnail reader as part of security accessory." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AnandTech | Subject: Graphics Card
Having plenty of time and multiple graphics cards on hand, AnandTech has assembled a long series of tests comparing systems with multiple GPUs. This article deals with pairing, there will be others dealing with triple and quad setups for those looking for even more power. The key to using multiple graphics cards is how much better the performance gets when the second card is added. Buying a full price second card that nets you an increase of 15% might get you bragging rights on the 3DMark website, but as an investment it really isn't that sound. Check out how these paired cards compare to each other in terms of pure performance as well as price to performance.
"MultiGPU solutions have been around for a few years now, and while we frequently include single card multiGPU solutions in our reviews, we only occasionally take an in depth look at multiGPU technology. Some time has passed since the last time we studied the issue, and now that we've fully broken in our Core i7 system, 64-bit Vista, and recent graphics drivers, it's time to get to it. Over the past few weeks we've been benchmarking and analyzing lots of numbers. We've looked at single, two, three and four GPU systems across multiple games and resolutions. The configurations we chose to look at are current generation high-ish end hardware capable of operation in 3-way and 4-way configurations. Because of the sheer volume of data we collected, we've decided to break up our analysis into multiple articles. " Here are some more Graphics Card articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Inquirer | Subject: General Tech
It is not too often that a release catches review sites by surprise, in the nature of good publicity
resellers and manufacturers try to give the reviewers enough time to thoroughly test the new hardware so that the review is ready to go when the NDA expires. The reviewers get to see the new kit early, but the trade is that they have to get all their testing done in a limited amount of time. Sometimes, kit arrives late, Murphy shows up, an NDA gets moved (or any of a number of other reasons) and the reviews come out scattered over a few days as opposed to all appearing within hours of each other. It is very uncommon for review sites to hear about a product at the same time it goes to sale, with no promotional kit or engineering samples set from the manufacturer. The Inquirer speculates on why nVIDIA did exactly that with the GTS250.
"IT IS ALWAYS funny when an unethical company turns on its own supporters as Nvidia did with the latest 'all new' GT250 cards. This time however, their PR stunts cross the line from unethical to purposely false, and hilarity ensues. What are we talking about? The rebranding of the venerable G92, aka the 8800GT, 9800GT, 9800GTX, 9800GTX+, and several other variants as the GTS250. The NDA goes up on the third of March, and we have complete scores already, but there is no difference between these cards and the older G92 cards. We will save you from having to pour over spreadsheets scratching your head wondering how it is different... it isn't at all." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Thermaltake | Subject: Case and Cooling
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