February 2007

“To date I have reviewed just about every Sapphire ATI card that has been released in the last year, from the low end up to the high end cards. Today we are going to look at the new entry level ATI card from Sapphire named X1050. This entry level budget card still uses some of the latest technology, like hardware acceleration of MS Vista 3D environment. ATI Catalyst Control Center and Hydravision on the software end, and DX9.0c and OpenGL on the card offer a lot of control and adjustments of the card's features, like the support for dual monitors. So let's see how well this entry level card can perform.”

"The Lian Li PC-C30 is a down to earth enclosure, without too many bells and whistles to get you all confused. The all aluminum construction of the enclosure is pieced together well, and the center brace really adds to the rigidity of the entire enclosure."

The following changes were made:

Graphics Cards:

- added NVIDIA 8800 GTS

CPUs:

- added AMD Socket S1

- added Intel Core 2 Duo E4300
- added AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2000 MHz AM2 Brisbane
- added AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2200 MHz AM2 Brisbane
- added AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2400 MHz AM2 Brisbane
- added AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2000 MHz AM2 Brisbane
- added AMD Turion 64 MK-36 2000 MHz Richmond
- added AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 1600 MHz Taylor
- added AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52 1600 MHz Trinidad
- added AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56 1800 MHz Trinidad
- added AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 2000 MHz Trinidad
- added AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 2200 MHz Trinidad

Stay tuned: New version of the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator with amperes is in a final stage of testing!

“The Logisys PC Extension Station does what the name says. It is actually a very useful desktop tool that lives up to its current specifications and features. The modification possibilities will be a good extra bonus for the avid PC users. As for the professional users, you can expect it to help make those long hours spent reading your monitor less physically taxing while adding an organized feel to your work space. The construction is more than enough to hold up your common PC monitors found at home or the office. The acrylic and surface areas are very well cut and polished making it a very clean addition to your desk top.”

Richie Rich Proudly Presents the long anticipated Mountain Mods Bob Slay Special Edition Mirrored Case! Studded with 2 Carat Diamonds and laced with 24k Gold, just kidding!.. but we had ya there for a minute didn't we? ;o) This case is truly the epitome of bling bling and any Richie Rich out there would be proud to own one of these shiny beauties. The Bob Slay is sleek, measuring 14.59 x 11.11 x 12.21 inches (L x W x H) while still allowing the consumer to use a full ATX PSU, 2x 5.25" devices, up to 3 hard drives and a full ATX form factor Motherboard. The Bob Slay is loaded with unique features. The case is separated into two compartments. The bottom portion holds the drives and PSU while the Motherboard sits alone on the top giving an unobstructed view of all its' goodness. Other features that elevate the Bob Slay include Nickel Plated antivandal power/reset switches, blue LED's with chrome bezels, and a stainless steel handle for portability. Get on the fast track today with the Bob Slay Special Edition and let us say, BLING! BLING! KA CHING!

After years of delays and billions in development and marketing efforts, it would seem that Microsoft Corp. would want anyone who possibly can to buy its new Windows Vista operating system. Yet Microsoft is making it hard for Mac owners and other potentially influential customers to adopt the software.

Microsoft says the blockade is necessary for security reasons. But that is disputed. The circumstances might simply reflect a business decision Microsoft doesn't want to explain.

"A great amount of consideration was placed in to the look of the Zalman HD160XT Home Theater PC Enclosure. There are so many things that make this the perfect Home Theater Chassis. From the 7" LCD screen, to the buttons and classy finish, Zalman has considered every possible detail."

"The VX Revolution was a superb laptop mouse, and actually, would work well as a desktop mouse. The combination of a large set of features, such as the thumb buttons, zoom slider and MicroGear precision scroll wheel, make this one of the most advanced mice out there, and definite item on the wish list of any power user."

“Overclocking and efficient cooling do not have to be noisy. The Reaper HPC series integrates silent heat pipe technology into a premium memory product line to assure perfect thermal management of the latest generation of OCZ high-speed DDR2 modules,” commented Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology. ”Any noise-conscious end user relying on silent passive cooling while demanding the highest performance will embrace the quality balance of features and innovative design found in the new Reaper HPC series.”

The first modules to be incorporated with the new Reaper heatsink are rated at 1066MHz and run at CL 5-5-5. Featuring an EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles) programmed SPD, PC2-8500 Reaper HPC modules will immediately boot at the rated specs on the latest generation of NVIDIA® SLI™ chipsets.

The new 800MHz DDR2 low-latency HyperX memory is now available in 4GB capacity kits and 2GB modules.
The ability to reach higher speeds while using less power makes the memory a perfect choice for overclockers and PC enthusiasts.

"Kingston low-latency HyperX memory kits are ideal for gamers or enthusiasts wanting a high speed, low-latency memory solution,” said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. "Another benefit of going with low- latency 4GB kits is an overall lower system power requirement compared to high frequency overclocking,”
continued Tekunoff.

Available in 1-, 2- and 4GB memory kits as well as modules ranging from 512MB to 2GB capacities, the Kingston HyperX DDR2 800MHz low-latency memory supports the latest in high-performance computing.

Each module completes 24 hours of burn-in reliability testing, extensive dynamic testing as well as visual inspection. HyperX DDR2 memory comes with a lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support.

HyperX 800MHz Low-Latency DIMM Features:
• DDR2-800 CL4-4-4-12 @ 2.0V
• CAS Latency: 4
• Dual channel memory kits up to 4GB

Kingston 800MHz DDR2 Low-Latency
HyperX DIMMs Pricing:

4GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC Low-Latency
HyperX DIMM Kit
KHX6400D2LLK2/4G
$ 500.00

"For those who have a file server or second machine that isn’t used as often, the Aten 1762 would work great. When used with the simpler setups, the KVM makes life a lot easier and your desk a lot less cluttered. For my uses, it still works, but has enough issues that it keeps reminding me of its flaws whenever I use it."

"I will be installing the Ultra-X heatsink in my Intel test system. You can see just how large the Ultra-X is compared to the stock Intel cooling solution. The hardware needed for this install includes the backplate, four spring-loaded thumb-screws and four clear washers. Be extra careful when handling these washers, since they are very difficult to see. I lost one during installation and it took me half an hour to find it. Colored washers would have worked much better."

The "biggest" feature you will notice on the top of the Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case is the dominating 200mm TriCool exhaust fan. Another special feature worth mentioning is the accessory holder, which Antec markets as a good place to store CDs, cell phones, or digital cameras. It is also a convenient place to hookup your digital camera through the two top-mounted USB connections.

OCZ has a solid performer here. Plenty of solid, stable power will satisfy even the most hardware-laden system, while the quad SLI connectors are a welcome addition for a top-level rig. Add in sleeved cables, a casing no bigger than a lower wattage PSU, and a good price point for the power, and you've got a definite winner in the PSU battles.

"When it comes to high performance memory, Kingston has a name to keep up in the business. We already took some of the memory kits from Corsair, Team Group and OCZ for a spin, but Kingston was noticeably absent. About time we set this right, and we do this today by looking at two of their products: the PC6400CL4 and PC8500CL5, both 2Gb memory kits. Let's see how they stack up against some fierce competition."

The Gigabyte G-Power Lite is yet another solid product from a solid company. It brings to the table an easy installation, cooling power on par with other air-cooling solutions in class, and a quiet operation. All of this is made even sweeter by the low price. Though it lacks an adjustable fan speed, this is the Lite version of the G-Power Family.

In a world of gratuitously flashy enthusiast PC cases, Antec sets itself apart by focusing on elegant design and a superb user experience. Their new SOLO case embodies these two ideals, offering a blend of style and substance as well as some thoughtful features aimed at convenience and low noise. Is this perfection in a computer case?

While we all have been waiting to check out Razer's sound card, they released the Barracuda HP-1 headphones first so we have had a few months to play with them first. This surround sound headset was an appreciable accomplishment for the company, but I felt like it could not really be completely judged until used with the Razer sound card. After all, while they do not have to be used together, they are a matched pair. So my hope is that by using them together we will be able to get the most out of each. It could just be a clever marketing scheme combined with a strange connector though, so we'll see.

"It has been only days since we reviewed the v1.0 of the Wiinja - Modchip that allows one to play Nintendo Wii and GameCube backups on Nintendo Wii game console. This time we will focus on the v1.1 and its new features and fixes."

Sunnyvale, CA—February 20, 2007—OCZ Technology Group, Inc. a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the OCZ Vindicator CPU cooler, an enthusiast-grade thermal solution for the latest high performance processors. The Vindicator can be used as a passive or active cooler depending on the needs of the enthusiast.

The OCZ Vindicator can effectively cool some CPUs passively thanks to a pure copper base plate and six copper heat pipe design that rapidly transfers heat away from the processor up to the dense, high-stacked fin array where the thermal load is quickly dissipated. In fanless mode, the Vindicator efficiently, yet silently offloads heat. For extreme overclocking, enthusiasts can simply attach the included 120mm fan on any of the four sides of the Vindicator to aggressively cool the CPU.

“We are excited to expand our thermal solutions with the introduction of a CPU cooler designed specifically for hardcore gamers and enthusiasts,” said Jacky Huang, VP of Product Management, OCZ Technology. “The Vindicator’s six copper heatpipes and high-stacked fin array push the envelope when it comes to superior cooling while overclocking, and give enthusiasts increased flexibility with the passive or active fan configuration.”

Light-weight and quiet, the OCZ Vindicator manages to provide superior and reliable cooling thanks to a unique and state-of-the-art design for enthusiasts looking to upgrade their generic or inadequate coolers.

“I just built a brand new HTPC last week. I am using the SilverStone LC14MC HTPC case. The case came with a wireless remote, but I still need to have a keyboard and mouse connected when I want to transfer files via USB, or just sit in my bed and surf the web. Now I really don't want to shell out a lot of money for both a wireless keyboard and mouse especially since I'm not going to be using it either that much. When you go down to you local computer store the only wireless keyboards and mice are the high-end expensive one. Well nMedia has a great solution that solves the keyboard and mouse problem, their wireless RF keyboard with trackball!”

"The Zephyr line is HEC's high end series of power supply. It has achieved both ATi CrossFire and nVIDIA SLI certification. That itself should tell you that HEC power supplies are pretty good. The Zephyr 650 model is HEC's flagship power supply, and it comes in a cool dark chrome finish,. The HEC Zephyr 650 pumps out a maximum of 650W of power, and that is sufficient for most enthusiast-level PCs. "

"Thermalfly have come out with a couple really nice Intel thermal solutions of recent, and the Thermalfly I75DUB heatsink is the latest in its series. The I75DUB is based loosely on the Intel reference design, and features ultra thin bifurcated fins, a large and powerful fan and inset aluminum base."

"The 2GB Corsair DOMINATOR Twin2X2048-8888C4DF kit is the companies current flagship DDR-2 memory part.... and boy is it fast! The enthusiast game of overclocking computer hardware has become a very mainstream affair. Manufacturers use high end computer hardware to impress us, to dazzle us with fast numbers, jaw dropping features, and luxury options that grab everyone's attention. It takes a special kind of computer enthusiast to recognize that one must look past the flash, the verb-ladden names, and stare right into the heart of high speed low latency memory. The latter is quite important, and quite difficult to achieve."

This power supply isn't meant for everybody, it is aimed at those who truly demand performance at any cost after all, those are the ones who run enough fans that their computer system needs to be chained down. Those who are willing to sacrifice anything and everything to squeeze out every drop of performance – meet your future power supply.

AMD has officially pulled the wraps off its DTX specification (PDF). The company announced the specification was under development at the Consumer Electronics Show last month. Final mechanical specifications of the DTX form factor are available on AMD’s DTXPC website.

Base DTX motherboard specifications are as follows:

* Overall size
o DTX – 9.60 in x 8.00 in (243.84 mm x 203.20 mm)
o Mini-DTX – 6.70 in x 8.00 in (170.18 mm x 203.20 mm)
* Mounting hole locations
* Rear I/O dimensions and locations
* PCI and/or PCI Express connector locations

New 4GB SD High Capacity (SDHC) cards support larger capacities for high performance digital cameras, digital camcorders and other handheld devices used to record high definition digital content.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -- Alcoholics have one, and so do drug abusers. Now people addicted to e-mail also have a 12-step program designed to tackle their obsession.

An executive coach in Pennsylvania has devised a plan to teach people how to manage the electronic tool, which some users say can be as much an intrusive waste of time as it is fast-paced and efficient.

Developed for cases such as a golfer who checked his BlackBerry after every shot, and lost a potential client who wanted nothing to do with his obsession, Marsha Egan's plan taps into deepening concern that e-mail misuse can cost businesses millions of dollars in lost productivity.

"There is a crisis in corporate America, but a lot of CEOs don't know it," Egan said. "They haven't figured out how expensive it is."

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- In what sounds like a science fair project on steroids, engineers at Stanford University plan to have an unmanned robot car ready to navigate urban traffic in less than a year.

The car, a 2006 Volkswagen Passat wagon dubbed Junior, is Stanford's newest competitor in a high-stakes road race sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense's research and development arm.

The Stanford car will compete in the agency's third and most challenging derby -- the DARPA Urban Challenge, in which robotic cars will drive in a mock city environment. Cars must merge, navigate traffic, traverse busy intersections, avoid obstacles and master the most delicate of skills -- determining who has the right of way.

"These cars are driven by artificial intelligence," said Sebastian Thrun, a computer science and electrical engineering professor at Stanford, who unveiled his plans for Junior this week at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.

Playing video games appears to help surgeons with skills that truly count: how well they operate using a precise technique, a study said on Monday.

There was a strong correlation between video game skills and a surgeon’s capabilities performing laparoscopic surgery in the study published in the February issue of Archives of Surgery.

Laparoscopy and related surgeries involve manipulating instruments through a small incision or body opening where the surgeon’s movements are guided by watching a television screen.

"The Kingwin JET external enclosure is part of the next generation of portable hard drive enclosures; with IDE going by the wayside, it's now all about SATA drives. Kingwin stepped up and produced a very nice, clean looking enclosure that is sure to get looks of envy from those who spot it."

“When I hear F430 I instantly think of one of my favorite exotic cars, the Ferrari F430. So when In Win named a case the F430 you would assume it would take on some of the characteristics of the real F430 and it does. The In Win F430 has an amazing car-like paint job, Ferrari-like stylish features, and even something that makes you feel like you are inside of a real F430!”

"Thermaltake has a real gem in the Lanbox chassis. The design and styling elements join to produce a small, portable case that not only performs very well, but also is relatively easy to work in, given the space limitations. And, it looks as good as it performs. Its sleek, classy look garnered a lot of attention around here, and it's easy to see why. The all aluminum construction keeps the Lanbox light while the modular design keeps it strong....."

So you're dying to own a Ferrari F430 but that $168,000 price tag is putting just a bit of a hitch in your plans. Well In Win has the answer and it will only set you back about $95 (US). OK, this may be a huge and outrageous stretch, but the styling cues, Ferrari red paint job, and even the name of the new In Win F430 Xtreme Series ATX Gaming Case leave little doubt where the inspiration for this case came from.

"We're now in the era that high end computers are being dominated by Intel's Core 2 Technology, what has AM2 has to offer? This highly overclock-friendly motherboard from DFI might stand a chance, let's find out."

When I choose a computer case, I typically am drawn towards a couple of things: good looks and cool features that will make building and using the computer enjoyable. Spire, makers of a wide variety of computer products, sent us a sample of one of their new cases, the Spire BlackFin mid-tower computer case, which claims to combine stylish looks with a sophisticated design. Can their case live up to these lofty claims? Let’s find out in this case review.

“The music industry wasn’t real happy when Steve hammered out his deal with the music industry but they went along figuring it would be a good test and they had control. The rest of the computer industry figured this was another one of his dumb ideas that would fall on its ***. It wasn’t revolutionary... just elegant. And it was obviously wildly successful. So what the hell? The rest of the industry obviously wanted their piece of the action. Or as Walter Huston (Howard) said... ‘Ah, as long as there’s no find, the noble brotherhood will last but when the piles of gold begin to grow... that’s when the trouble starts.’”

OCZ's XTC Memory Cooler is a plug-on cooling module for your motherboard's memory modules. With people pumping more and more voltage through their memory, temperature becomes a concern and often limits the maximum overclock. In our testing we saw about 20°C decrease in memory temperature and increased overclocking capability.

"Never again will I suffer with a smudged or dusty LCD screen. This kit was both professionally packaged, easy to use and priced affordably. For a retail price of just $19.95 for the deluxe kit, there is absolutely no reason that everyone reading this review on an LCD, or owns a laptop shouldn't own this product."

“When you are building a home theatre PC there are many things to consider when choosing a case. You want it to look appealing, it needs to have easy to access USB ports for easy file transfers, you want some type of LCD/VFD display, and maybe some controls on the font. Well the SilverStone LC14MCE has all of those features, plus an included IR receiver and officially licensed Windows Media Center remote. There really is not much more you could ask for. So let's take a look...”

What separates the Mozart from other HTPC cases is its ability to handle full size ATX motherboards and power supplies, while still being able to fit nicely on an audio/video rack. The Mozart measures 170 x 430 x 452 mm, with a two tone aluminum front panel that looks more like audio/video equipment than computer case. This AV feel is enhanced by the use of stylist gold-plated foot stands and view window for the optional Media Lab VFD display.

"In this review PCSTATS will be testing Corsair's latest 240 pin DDR2-800 memory, the 2GB Twin2X2048-6400C3 kit. Like the Twin2X2048-6400C4 that we had the opportunity to test previously, this set of memory is compatible with Enhanced Performance Profiles. What sets the 6400C3 kit apart from the rest are its timings... and they are some of the lowest anywhere."

The Pertelian X2040 is a multi purpose display, which can display IM messages, media information, stock and Ebay items among other things. Its software is based on an ever growing number of plugins, allowing the user to add further functionality to this LCD. The device is very well constructed and the display is quite bright. We give the display a try and set up a few plugins, to evaluate how useful such a secondary display can be.

“The unit is amazingly small for a 1000W power supply; as similar units form other companies typically require extended depth designs, which can require larger cases in order to be mounted properly. The OCZ unit, on the other hand, has the depth of a standard ATX power supply, meaning it can be mounted in nearly every standard ATX chassis on the market today.”

"Have you ever felt like your PC doubles as a workout machine? Have you dreaded lugging the beast of a PC to and from your car? Ever wish there were an easier way? The Thermaltake genie has heard your plea and conjured up the Lanbox, a case designed to give you muscles a break so you can focus more on having fun rather than recovering from hauling that thing around. In addition, the Lanbox is advertised as a modular case, to allow for quick and easy swapping of hardware."

“CPU coolers come and CPU coolers go, but only a select few really leave an impression on us. The GIGABYTE 3D Rocket II is one of those big impression makers. The Dual Rocket Airflow Design Fan Duct provides better performance and a silent environment. The 3D Rocket II may not be the first to use 2 fans on a CPU cooling device, but it's the first one that I know of that uses one of its fans to blow air down over the CPU and surrounding components. The cooler itself consists of 4 heatpipes, a copper base, and large aluminum fins, along with a Linear fan speed control that can mount in a free PCI bracket or upfront in a 3.5" bay.”

With the new Core2Duo processors you might want to get some decent cooling with it. The stock coolers tend to be to loud and still lack in performance and thats why this new cpu cooler from Coolermaster might be a good choice for you. The HyperTX seems to be silent and well performing, therefore we decided to run it vs a Zalman CNPS9700 to see how big the difference actually is, or if there is any?

MSI's new P6N SLI Platinum is a mid-range performance gaming motherboard based on the NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI chipset. With SLI support, enhanced 1333MHz FSB, all solid capacitor design, we were quite impressed with what the board had to offer. Check out our review here.

"It's that time of the year again. Your single or even dual core CPU is starting to feel the strain of multi-tasking, and you just need more power. That’s right, it's time for that dreaded "U" word. Upgrade. For the average user, an upgrade comes every couple of years. But for those of us who are always straining to keep up with the bleeding edge of technology, those upgrades can usually be measured in weeks. If you are looking for a new processor, the decision ultimately comes down to either Intel or AMD. While the two companies have always been trading the performance crown back and forth, currently Intel has a very firm grasp of it. With the release of its Q6600 processor a couple weeks ago at CES 2007, Intel has tightened that grasp even further."

The diNovo Edge is actually the third keyboard in the diNovo line. After the first one got so much attention Logitech decided to make some tweaks to it and address a few of the problems, like the poorly chosen mouse, and released a follow-up product. The diNovo Media Desktop Laser changed the color and bumped up the price by $50, but also upgraded to a MX Laser mouse and Bluetooth connectivity. The Edge is the first diNovo keyboard to be part of Logitech's Advanced Peripherals line. These are high-end components whose goal is to match style with serious performance. This by itself does not tell us much about the keyboard, but we know that is has been promoted to the same category of items as Logitech's acclaimed Z-10 speakers and MX Revolution mouse.

“CoolerMaster manufactures many different products to help in the task of keeping things cool: CPU coolers, VGA coolers, and well-vented PC cases are just a few of them. Today, we want to take a look at one of the most recently developed cases: The CoolerMaster Mystique 632.”

"In this review PCSTATS is testing out an Intel motherboard based on an nVidia chipset slightly older than the nForce 680i, but it's still wickedly fast. The Asus P5N32-SLI Premium is an nVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition motherboard. The nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition chipset supports all Socket 775 processors from the lowly Celeron D to the Pentium 4/D/XE and of course Intel's flagship Core 2 Duo/Quad/Extreme Edition CPU (FSB 533/800/1066MHz)."

"The MSI Computer NX8800GTX-T2D768E-HD is the companies' flagship nVIDIA-GPU based PCI Express x16 videocard. This massive slab of chips and thermal solution is built around an equally large nVidia 'G80' GeForce 8800GTX core. The videocard has a 768MB frame buffer, and supports both DirectX 10, OpenGL 2.0, and 128-bit HDR standards. The Geforce 8880GTX GPU operates at 575MHz, and the 768MB of memory runs at 1800MHz. As you might expect, the NX8800GTX-T2D768E-HD is High Definition compatible in every way that counts. The NX8800GTX-T2D768E-HD is fully HDCP compliant too."

The Zephyr line is HEC's high end series of power supply. It has achieved both ATi CrossFire and nVIDIA SLI certification. That itself should tell you that HEC power supplies are pretty good. The Zephyr 650 model is HEC's flagship power supply, and it comes in a cool dark chrome finish,. The HEC Zephyr 650 pumps out a maximum of 650W of power, and that is sufficient for most enthusiast-level PCs.

I don't think I have to introduce Thermaltake do I? They've been in this business since their beginning. Their product line is huge and everyone will find something they like. Because I've mentioned coolers above you probably figured I would be doing HSF review for you. On the bench today I have Thermaltake TMG A1 HSF weighing ~0.5 kg, roughly 1.10 pounds.

"XFX is breathing new life into their 7600 series of Video cards. XFX and Fatal1ty have teamed up and added some new features and it is called the XFX 7600GT Fatal1ty Professional Series. Unlike the past XFX 7600 GT video cards, this one has passive cooling via a large heat sink and its core clock speed has been raised to 650 MHz. Will this resurrection prove itself as a mid-range contender or are the new changes just a big hype?"

Spire is a well-known name in cooling products, but the 14-year-old, USA-based, hardware company also produces a line of stylish, functional, and downright slick cases. Because the company's specialty is cooling, it designs its cases with airflow in mind. This case, the Spire Swordfin, is a perfect example of Spire's mix of style and substance.”

"When it comes to performing well in today’s current games the XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB XXX edition graphics card is no slouch. In some cases, it was very near the class leading 8800 GTX, which speaks volumes about the kind of gaming experience you can expect. I was more than a little skeptical when I first heard that NVIDIA planned to bring a card to market with half the memory size of the standard GTS but I have been thoroughly impressed with the performance of the XXX 320MB card. It delivers exactly where it counts, at resolutions the largest percentage of the market actually games..."

"News just hit our bench about upcoming information regarding nVidia’s upcoming G80 based graphics cards. We want to first clearly state that we’re not sure if the information is accurate and at best it would just be estimated prices.

Our friends over at OCW seem to be talking to the right people here in Taiwan and have a bunch of information regarding the most expensive GeForce 8950GX2 that will be sold for $599 USD. It is rumored to be a dual GPU solution much like the 7950GX2 and will come with a total of 512MB GDDR-4 memory per GPU."

"The combination of these three products really helps eliminate the hassle of creating a small form factor system. The system I created could easily be used as a HTPC or PVR in my entertainment system, and would hardly be noticed as the footprint is really small. Since the entire setup is so light, the other option...."

Sunnyvale, CA—February 14, 2007—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra high performance and high reliability memory and components, today unveiled their plans to introduce gaming peripherals, and offer the best gaming mouse on the market. The new OCZ Equalizer Laser Mouse is sure to excite today’s demanding gamers with its unique features, high performance engine, and competitive edge. Designed to give gamers an extra edge, the Equalizer features quality ergonomics and advanced features so gamers can excel in even the most demanding games.

“OCZ’s goal is to constantly develop new cutting edge solutions that make use of the latest technology to offer a superior user experience whether it is editing CAD files or playing the latest games,” said Alex Mei, VP of Marketing, OCZ Technology.

Implementing the OCZ Equalizer’s deadly 2500 DPI optimizes the fluidity of gameplay on high resolution LCDs. Hardcore gamers that play the latest First Person Shooter titles will benefit from the lightening fast speed that 2500 DPI provides.

The Equalizer features the innovative OCZ “Triple Threat” button. Gamers can fire three times with just one click making it easier than ever to hit the target and gain a competitive advantage. At the same time, the ingenious Triple Threat button is a useful tool in everyday computing by turning double-click operations, such as opening files and applications, into just one-touch commands.

Thanks to a dual laser engine and extremely responsive sensor array, the OCZ Equalizer promotes pinpoint accuracy and precision and enhanced tracking on a wider range of surfaces, including glass tabletops. For Gamers on-the-go this is an important feature.

"Ione launches a budget friendly 2.4ghz long range wireless desktop mouse, the Lynx-R7 implements power saving features to make the most of the two 2xAA batteries. We test it out."

"I was amazed with the distance I was able to cover without dropping any signal strength. 150 feet - full signal. 200 feet - full signal. 250 feet - a momentary dip, then back to full signal. 300 feet (I could barely see the AirPort Extreme by this point) - full signal. Another 20 feet and the signal dropped to almost nothing. I looked up from my laptop and discovered that several people had crossed into my path, directly between the base station and my laptop. I shooed them out of the way and the signal went back up to full strength. I kept walking and found that my signal finally dropped to half strength by the time I had passed 350 feet. "

"This week I get a chance to check out one of NZXT's latest offerings in the "Classic" series, the Duet. Aptly named for its ability to function in either a mid-tower or desktop orientation, the Duet looks to give users the benefit of a small footprint case without having to sacrifice on hardware due to component size constraints.."

The Sharkoon Rush Laser mouse brings high DPI laser technology down to an affordable price range. For a mere 20 Euros you get up to 2000 DPI with variable on-the-fly switching, solid feel and build quality as well as a little pouch to get your weapon of choice to and back from a LAN party safely. We take the mouse for a spin and let you know if we feel the rush.

"Cooler Master has made it easy for consumers with laptops to keep their machines cool. Today we take a look at the Cooler Master NotePal S aimed at consumers with a need to keep things cool without powering the laptop cooler. The NotePal-S notebook cooler is CoolerMaster's smaller brother aimed for 12" to 16" notebooks as compared to their bigger NotePal notebook cooler which is made for the larger 17" wide notebooks."

CrazyPC USA Flag Case Mod - The Stars and Stripes never looked better than on our new Lian-Li PC-60 Plus case mod. This incredible looking mod was created using a new process called CompuCoat™ in which high quality images are permanently fused with metal surfaces. The results are better than air brushing or vinyl wraps, but offering greater flexibility and value.

ATI is preparing for the release of its high-end graphic chip, the R600, with the chip expected to hit the market between the end of March and beginning of April, according to Taiwan-based graphic card makers.

The R600, which will compete head to head against Nvidia's G80, is manufactured on 80nm node, supports DirectX10 and features DDR4, the Taiwan makers added.

The R600 will come in four models targeting different market segments. The high-end part will have power consumption of 270 Watts and target OEM partners, such as Dell, sources said. Earlier reports listed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) as the foundry partner.

The other models (including XTX, XT, XL) will target channel markets and will have a power consumption lower than 240 Watts, added the sources.

Nvidia, on the other hand, may launch its G84 and G86 at the upcoming CeBIT show, with the parts targeting the mid-range and entry-level markets, respectively, the motherboard makers said.

Gainward's card is fast. It can keep up with 640MB bigger and more expensive brother clocked at same clocks.It beats the reference card at €50 extra cost. The 320MB card becomes breathless above 1600x1200 and 4X FSAA and 16X Aniso on but only in some high demanding games such as FEAR or Oblivion. You can assume that this might happen in future games.

"The latest feature Asus has begun integrating into its motherboards is wireless networking - WiFi. With 802.11b/g support onboard already, setting up a wireless network at home or in the office for notebooks, printers, or other devices is pretty convenient. An 802.11g WLAN system supports data transfer speeds up to 54Mbps, which is more than enough for web surfing, streaming video or audio over the internet, and even LAN gaming. Cross one more thing off the to-get checklist for your new computer.... There is a good level of device integration built into the Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP already, so the two PCI Express x16 slots (one operates at PCI Express x16, one at PCI Express x4) for dual videocards, one PCI Express x1 and three 32-bit PCI slots. "

“EA was nice enough to send us over 10 screenshots for their upcoming expansion to Battlefield 2142 entitled Northern Strike. The screens showcase some of the vehicles and units in the game.”

Since consumers have long been in the dark about power supply units, it seems common that manufacturers market their product and push features that may not actually make a difference in performance. For example, it could be seen early last year that multi-rail technology was viewed as a positive innovation. Yet later down the road we learn that a single-rail power supply unit not only offers more stable and efficient power if designed and built correctly; it would also cost less.

With systems power consumption becoming more demanding than ever you need a power supply that will deliver the power your system needs. SLI setups, multiple hard drives, and more USB devices require a lot of power to keep them running. Ultra comes to the rescue with it's X-FinityT 800 Watt PSU w/ Active PFC. With Quad Rail, FlexForce Cables, & PFC (power factor correction) the X-Finity is one fine power supply.

"The Rocketeer VI had plenty of power to give to the Dual Core 680i test system. There was even extra voltage for the 12 volt rails as the system was completely pounded under load and overclocked situations. The Rocketeer VI handled a full on 658 watt load test which leaves great confidence...."

Lets be honest with ourselves for a moment. In the long run, most of us don't think about the environment outside of what directly affects us... hot days, smog, litter in front of our house - that sort thing. At the end of the day, the economic burden we face on a business or personal scale is the price tag that weighs heaviest, and this is a key facet of sustainability. If we take a moment to rethink the economics of something as trivial as tossing out an old junked computer, the idea of "garbage" can be viewed in a whole new light. Consider the amount of time, money and energy spent in acquiring and transporting the materials, not to mention actually making the thing in question.

“XFX's GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB XXX Edition sports higher GPU and memory frequencies, which will give it a marked advantage over "stock" models. In addition, we're also going to be showcasing XFX's flagship GeForce 8 series card here today, the GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition. Like the 320MB model, the GTX XXX is clocked much higher than stock. In fact, the XFX GeForce 8800 GTX XXX Edition is the highest clocked air-cooled GTX currently on the market.”

Where would computers be without coolers? Nowhere... High-end systems put out heat just like an engine, and they need to be cooled just like an engine. Water cooling is becoming a more popular format to keep these systems in line, but what if you don't want or can't afford a water system? High-end air coolers are the only next option. XIGMATEK is now starting to fulfill this need with coolers like the 055 which we'll look at today.

One of the most critical components which require cooling in a gamers’ PC is the VGA card(s). While most stock cooling solutions are quite efficient for the card itself, they tend to overlook things like efficiency and noise. Most of them will simply release the heat of the card inside the PC case, which can be a problem if even one, let alone two powerful VGA cards are installed. Couple this with two whirring fans and you can understand why there are many aftermarket VGA coolers available. Today we will take a look at an offering from Vantec, the Iceberq 6.”

"With time we have seen computers go from a single GPU and processor to dual and quad core CPUs with a number of different options for multi-GPU systems. As we have shoved more and more into our systems, the power supplies have gone from a single +12V rail to multiple +12V rails. Dual +12V rails has been very common in recent years, while recently at Phoronix we had looked at a few quad +12V rail power supplies such as the SilverStone Zeus 750W and the OCZ GameXStream 700W. However, the more +12V rails does not necessarily make a better power supply. What we are looking at today is one of SilverStone's newest power supplies, which was recently on display at the Consumer Electronics Show. The SilverStone Olympia OP650 is a 650W power supply that supports both the current 6-pin PCI Express power connector as well as the new 8-pin version, and supports 54 Amps on its single +12V rail."

Six months ago ArcticMOD.com was proud to join forces with Danger Den in an exclusive partnership to create UV Reactive versions of all their acrylic topped liquid cooling blocks. We love UV Reactivity here at ArcticMOD, so we took this idea to the extreme by adding UV color to Danger Den's blocks for the first time in Modding history. Coined as the "Danger Den UV Reactive Collection", we have enjoyed creating UV versions of all the top Danger Den blocks ranging from CPU blocks, to Chipset and Video blocks. If there is an acrylic top on it, you can bet that we will be making it in UV. Now for the first time ArcticMOD is releasing a limited number of "SLI-Candy" Video Liquid Cooling Blocks for Danger Den's Koosah and Tyee. SLI-Candy is a L.E. of the UV Reactive Collection where we will be experimenting with different color combinations within a single SLI setup! We are happy to make any color combination upon request and this is just the beginning of this idea. SLI Liquid Cooling just got a little sweeter! ;o)

San Jose, California – February 12, 2007 -- Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of DRAM memory modules and flash products, today launched a 1GigaByte 800MHz ECC Registered DDR2 server module.

Super Talent’s new T800RB1G was designed for ultimate reliability in high-end servers. This JEDEC standard 240-pin dual rank DDR2 RDIMM module is organized as 128Mbit x 72. The module is built with eighteen pieces of 64Megabit x8 DRAM chips in BGA packages. The T800RB1G module has already been qualified by Tyan Computer Corporation on the Tyan Thunder n3600R (S2912)

According to George Koivun, VP of Business Development at Tyan, “It’s exciting to see partners like Super Talent introducing fast new DDR2 server modules. This 800MHz memory elevates the performance of the memory subsystems in our server platforms to new levels.”

Super Talent Technology Marketing Director, Mr. Joe James, said, “Our first 800MHz Server product underscores Super Talent’s leadership in server memory. Our server product solutions are on the leading edge of new developments in speed, density, and emerging form factors for the industry’s most advanced servers.”

T800RB1G is manufactured and tested in Super Talent’s state-of-the-art Silicon Valley factory. Every Super Talent server module built is hand tested in a server motherboard under load to ensure the highest level of reliability. This RoHS compliant product is available now to resellers directly from Super Talent at approximate reseller pricing of $139.

Lakewood, CA – Monday February 12th, 2007 7:02 PM Pacific Standard Time - Rouchon Industries, Inc. dba Swiftech™ today announced the release of the new MCW6500-T thermoelectric CPU water-block. The device uses a 226 Watts Peltier module to refrigerate microprocessors down to freezing temperatures. “The increasing popularity of high-end liquid cooling kits such as our H20 Apex Ultra and of capable Power Supplies such as the Enermax Galaxy 1KW makes thermoelectric refrigeration solutions both affordable and relatively easy to integrate by the enthusiast end users” said Gabriel Rouchon Swiftech's Chairman & CTA, also adding “The high temperatures seen in dual and quad-core processors makes a lot of people nervous, which has created a renewed demand among enthusiast users for Thermoelectric cooling solutions. We are committed to continue bringing the best Swiftech has to offer to these customers”. The MCW6500-T is scheduled to start shipping to retailers March 1st, 2007.MSRP: $159.95

Today we'll take a look at Gigabyte's GA-965P-DQ6 v2.0. Although the first revision of this board was extremely popular and performed very well, Gigabyte wasn't satisfied and made some small modifications, then they went and did it yet again releasing the Gigabyte 965P-DQ6 V3.3 (no, seriously!!!). The new V3.3 in fact is identical to the V2 we'll be covering today with one exception; native support for the 1333FSB.
Marketed around "Quad", as in Quad Core, Quad Cool, Quad BIOS, Quad e-SATA2, Quad Triple Phase, and Quad DDR2 Slots (no, really), the Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6 seems to have all the bases covered.

"Nothing too special here. The card is fairly small and almost hits the end of the PCI-E slot. There is only a small heat sink on the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit, similar to a CPU) with a 40mm fan, as it doesn't need much cooling. There is no need for an external power connector, as it is a low wattage card, so all it's power is supplied by the PCI-E slot. In the front, we have the video outputs and dual DVI connections. This is a definite 'plus' as you can use a dual monitor setup using the DVI interfaces! You won't have to worry about having one monitor using analog and one using the digital connector. I'm surprised by this, as you normally don't see this feature on lower-end cards like this one, but if you have a VGA monitor, you can still use the VGA to DVI connector. Lastly, there is a S-Video output in the center of both DVI connectors allowing you to use your TV as a monitor."

"In this review we examine the performance of the GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB against the 512MB GeForce 7900 GTX in order to determine the areas where less video memory has an impact on performance. Armed with the freeware utility program VidMemWatcher, we were able to determine the memory requirements in the games we tested. After the results were tallied we found that under certain conditions, the e-GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB Superclocked graphics card could be a diamond in the rough."

"With the introduction of the Geforce 8800 GTS NVIDIA made available an affordable high end DX10 video card, now they've slashed its memory in half, reduced the price, to make it even better deal. Can the new GTS keep up with its memory-loaded brother? We find out."

"When it comes to performing well in today’s current games the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB XXX edition graphics card is no slouch. In some cases, it was very near the class leading 8800 GTX, which speaks volumes about the kind of gaming experience you can expect. I was more than a little skeptical when I first heard that NVIDIA planned to bring a card to market with half the memory size of the standard GTS but I have been thoroughly impressed with the performance of the XXX 320MB card. It delivers exactly where it counts, at resolutions the largest percentage of the market actually games..."

"Removing the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB XXX from the package nothing gives it away at first glance as a toned down version of the full strength 8800 GTX. You have to pry the stock heat sink and fan off the card to see that NVIDIA simply left half the memory chips off to get the price down to where the consumers shopping for a mid range graphics card are buying."

The new OCZ ProXStream 1000W PSU utilizes a powerful, server-class core and merges it with an unparalleled compact form factor to accommodate virtually all computer cases, a requisite for today's enthusiasts and system-builders.

"The new Zero case from NZXT has a lot to recommend it. It's a cooling monster without the growls and roars you'd expect from eight case fans. It has a sleek, classic look that doesn't appear to have been inspired by an Anime episode. The Zero will hold plenty of drives and the tool-free features are well designed and executed. The aluminum and plastic construction keep the weight down without sacrificing sturdiness."

"Logitech holds the crown for the best mice and keyboards available for Windows today. The endless array of choices, from the corded to cordless and gamer to casual user, has made us ask, “What else is left?” How can something as simple as a mouse undergo so many revisions and still offer something fresh? Enter the Revolution MX and VX laser mice. Differences between the MX and VX versions are discussed at the end of the review, as we had both on hand to tinker with. "

The Asus M2-CROSSHAIR motherboard is a computer enthusiast's dream motherboard. Not only does it have quick access buttons for clearing the CMOS or just powering up, it has 16 bright blue LEDs spaced throughout the PCB to highlight SATA and USB ports, an integrated LCD status display panel on the rear I/O called the 'LCD Poster', and an electroluminescent I/O shield so the port names all glow light blue. All these features are extremely useful when there is little light to see what you're doing at the back of the computer, or inside.

A version of that Zalman aluminum case has finally become available to consumers. I have no idea why it took almost a year for the product to go from its CES version (which seemed to be ready for market) to being released, but the Zalman Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 Chassis is finally here. The case has been getting as much attention for its unique design as it has for its jaw-dropping price tag, but I have been waiting almost a year to tinker with one, so let's get started.

Upgrading from a stock CPU cooler is one of the easiest and best mod to your computer that you can make, and choosing the right one can make a big difference. We’ve reviewed a couple of Rosewill coolers in the past and have been impressed with their easy installation and quality. Today we’ll take a look at the Rosewill RCX-Z775-SL cooler, which is their cooler product specifically for Intel Pentium and Core 2 Dual processors. We’re here to find out if their string of solid performance continues with this cooler.

"These smaller, multipurpose keyboards work great for HTPC setups, and look far better than a full size media center keyboard. With a maximum thickness of around 1.2", this keyboard will not be in the way of anything. This is a full featured keyboard with big keyboard options found in a small footprint."

“Antec has built their reputation and great following by making conservative cases with outstanding build quality and a mind for acoustics. Even their portable, LAN-centric designs are utile and relatively subtle. The gamer case market is flooded with lesser names and less expensive, if garish, enclosures. What Antec doesn't do often, is change. When some people say timeless, others say dated. Their innovations rarely permeate through to the outsides of their cases, and it’s safe to say they’re not likely to fix what ain’t broke. The Nine Hundred is a gamer’s case; it’s a surprise to see them drive with the body kit, phat pipe and ground lights guys. Will it deliver on the good construction by which Antec has made their name? Is it at all possible for it to manage the kind of silence that they’re renowned for?”

EPoX Company used to be very popular for the overclocking friendly products. Unfortunately, the EPoX mainboard on Intel P965 chipset cannot prove that great reputation. Read our uncovering review for details!

"Before we move to the heart of the diNovo Edge, I wanted to show you just how slim this keyboard really is. The Edge measures just over 1/2" thick; 13mm to be exact. Extending the feet help raise the keyboard up a bit more, should you feel more comfortable with this typing angle. Logitech keeps with this slim design on the face of the keyboard as well. The majority of "accessory" buttons are flush with the plexi surface of the Edge. This only helps to add to the overall sleek appearance of the unit."

"With the TJ09 Silverstone is focusing on airflow to dissipate the heat of Dual/Quad core processors and especially high end VGA cards. Their design is classic elegant with functional and clean looks. This is a high end product made for high end systems, can it keep a Core 2 / Geforce 8800 GTX cool enough? We find out..."

The new Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 motherboard will hit retail shelves soon and we've managed to snag one for some first hand experience. Based on the nForce 680i SLI chipset, this monster comes with the kitchen sink bolted on. You may not need such a board ever, but it sure gives you some boasting rights.

"The Razer DeathAdder is an exceptionally well-designed mouse with an 1800DPI 3G infrared sensor, five buttons, 16-bit data channel, and a variety of other features. In this review, we have our thoughts on this new Razer mouse after having experimented with it for several weeks."

The Gigabyte 3D Rocket II Cooler offers a range of performance based on the user's needs, be that silent operation or raw performance. The included rheostats allow easy and quick adjustment to any point in between. It's nice to see that Gigabyte is sensitive to some people liking rheostats to be hidden behind a case while others like a more practical up front positioning. The two included brackets allow a choice that isn't often seen.