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 VH'S NEWS ARCHIVE
 

July 2008


VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 31, 2008 @ 4:51

Quakecon 2008: Day 0 @ Virtual-Hideout


“It’s a full on production, dealing with this many people, but this is the 13th time for Quakecon, hopefully it’s their lucky number. Even with the regular staff, there is no way they could run the show without the public who volunteer for everything from security to “Crimp Nation”. Think of the thousands of network cables they are already slaving away building.”



Calling All Gamers, OCZ Announces the “Win with the nia” Contest
Sunnyvale, Calif.—August, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, components, and systems, today announced its latest contest, “Win with the nia,” where competing gamers can use the revolutionary Neural Impulse Actuator to compete at national and regional levels for prize money and OCZ computer products. Gamers from all over the world will have the chance to put their nias to the test at LAN parties and e-sport competitions around the world, showing the gaming world just how incredible this new input device is at increasing immersion and lessening reaction times in the top PC titles.



Quick Bytes:

Eagle Consus Review @ OCC
Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card Reviewed @ TheTechLounge
Silverstone CMD01 Commander ESA Edition @ techPowerUp
Razer Piranha Gaming Headset Review @ Hardware Secrets
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB DDR2 Memory Kit @ Benchmark Reviews

VH News: Wednesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 @ 3:00

SunbeamTech Core Contact Freezer CPU Cooler Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“After tabulating the results, CPU temps are kept well within very reasonable levels across the entire spectrum of testing. While standard system use is really good, at a full 1GHz overclock, we start to see the limitations of copper and heat pipes as is the case with most every air cooler. Above these frequencies, most every cooler starts to suffer simply due to physics. If you're cranking out the insane frequencies beyond this, you'll naturally want to consider water cooling. The speed and ease of the installation coupled with the performance have me considering recommending the SunbeamTech Core Contact Freezer as the ideal cooler for those who build gaming or performance systems.”



Quick Bytes:

Tuniq Ensemble 1200W Power Supply Review @ Bigbruin.com
Intel2Extreme QX9650 processor @ Hardwareoverclock Austria
VIA Nano L2100 vs. Intel Atom 230: Head to Head @ HotHardware.com
Sans Digital MS1U Media Saver Review @ ASE Labs
NorthQ Black Magic Flex 650W PSU Review @ DriverHeaven
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT AMP! Edition Graphic Card Review on Technic3D
ASUS Lion Square Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com
Spire SP175SU-SL-EU 2.5" SATA to USB Hard disk enclosure Review @ Rbmods
Samsung SyncMaster 2053BW @ InsideHW
CSI's Eric Szmanada Enters the Startup World with eRockster.com @ Digital Trends
Raidmax Iceberg Case at Modders-Inc
Acer AL2002W 20-Inch WS LCD Monitor @ Benchmark Reviews
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=804
HighPoint Technologies RocketRAID 3120@ BIOSLEVEL.com
OCZ Technology EliteXStream 800W Power Supply Review @ Bigbruin.com
HIS HD4870 512 MB @ Bjorn3D
Gigabyte X48-DS5 Motherboard Review @ Legit Reviews
NZXT Tempest Crafted Series Mid-Tower PC Case Review @ DragonSteelMods

VH News: Tuesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 @ 4:46

Kingston 4GB PC2-6400 HyperX Memory Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“When it comes to our computers, we'd love to always have the biggest and the best. However, reality indicates that isn't always possible. But that also doesn't mean we have to "settle" when it comes to memory options. For the PC enthusiasts who are looking for quality and value, Kingston offers the KHX6400D2LLK2/4G Memory Kit, a product in their HyperX DDR2 line. The HyperX DDR2 offers faster speeds, lower latencies, higher data bandwidths and lower power consumption than DDR.”



Quick Bytes:

ASUS M3N78 Pro Review @ OCC
ASUS P5Q-E Motherboard Review @ HardwareLogic
Lian Li V1010 Case Review @ Ninjalane
Spire CoolFlow III Review @ XSReviews
Super Talent Pico-C 8gb 24K Gold USB Drive Review @ DragonSteelMods
EVGA UV Plus+ UV16 USB 2.0 Video Adapter @ Legit Reviews
Thecus N5200B Pro Network Attached Storage at Overclockers Online
Maxtor BlackArmor 160GB Review @ Digital Trends
QNAP TS-209 Pro II @ PC Review
ASUS Triton 79 Amazing Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com
Gecube Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 256bit PCIe @ Hardware-Mods.com
ASUS P5Q Pro P45 Motherboard Review @ Hardware Canucks
Thermaltake VH6000BWS Armor+ Case Review @ HardwareLogic
Palit GTX 280 Review @ OCC
QNAP TS-409 PRO Four Bay NAS Network Attached Storage System Review @ Tweaknews.net

VH News: Monday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Monday, July 28, 2008 @ 4:04

Raidmax Iceberg Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“The Raidmax Iceberg impressed us with its sturdy and quality construction. We were definitely not expecting an aluminum case to be so strong, but the thick aluminum of the Iceberg makes it one of the strongest cases we've seen. The design of the case also makes it one of the easiest to disassemble, from the nice side panels to the easy-to-remove front panel. Cooling options provided were also very decent, with four fans out of the case.”



Quick Bytes:

ASUS P5Q-E Intel P45 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Toshiba Satellite A300D-125 @ InsideHW
Palit GeForce GTX 280 Review @ MB
Thermaltake M9D Computer Case Review @ Rbmods
CompuStocx 60GB SATA-II SLC 2.5" Solid State Disk @ Hardware-Mods.com
Sapphire HD4870 @ t-break
EVGA nVidia GeForce GTX 260 Review @ OCIA.net
Nexus HOC-9000 Heatpipe On CPU Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Graphic Card Review on Technic3D
Zerotherm FZ120 CPU Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods

VH News: Friday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Friday, July 25, 2008 @ 12:49

VH Attends PDXLAN 12 in Portland @ Virtual-Hideout


“There are LANs. And, then there are LANs! This weekend, I had a really good time attending PDXLAN in Portland, Oregon. This is one of the larger LAN parties that sold out on 500 seats. As a matter of fact, they tend to sell out every LAN event due to the really cool swag and prize raffles. PDXLAN happens about every six months. If you think that's too close together, you're mistaken. The LAN even sells out every time and there's always a packed hotel because of it. You get complimentary pizza and Bawls energy drinks Saturday night, but can order pizza and pastas from the same pizza parlor pretty much anytime for delivery. How's that for service?”



Quick Bytes:

Sapphire HD 4870 Review @ OCC
OCZ Reaper HPC PC3 12800 @ Pro-Clockers
Tagan Icy Box IB-285StU-B USB 2 1/2 @ Bjorn3D
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 TOXIC 512MB video card review @ Elite Bastards
be quiet! Dark Power Pro 850W PSU Review on Technic3D
XFX GeForce GTX260 XXX Edition Video Card Review @ mb
Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler @ Mikhailtech
ASUS M70Sa 17" Multimedia Notebook @ Techgage
ASUS P5QL-E Review @ OCC
NZXT Performance Power 800 Watt Power Supply @ Pro-Clockers
Thermaltake Toughpower 1200 Watt Power Supply Review @ Tweaknews.net
CineRaid Quad-bay SATA/SAS RAID Device Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Kingston DataTraveler BlackBox 2GB at Overclockers Online
ASUS EN9800GTX TOP Graphics Card @ HotHardware.com
Part 2: Which motherboard company is more efficient, ASUS or Gigabyte? @ Legit Reviews

VH News: Wednesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 @ 3:22

Thermalright TRUE Black 120 CPU Cooler Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“So, do you NEED this heatsink? Should you rush out, and snap up the first one available? As much as I'm thinking Thermalright would love us to say yes to that, the answer is really no. For standard cooling needs, a regular old Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme will do the job just fine, and if you throw in, what, a $3 set of fan clips, an $8 tube of thermal grease, and a $12 fan, you're still running a surplus. Is that the point? Hardly. What this product is, is one of the best looking heatsinks that you can get a hold of, not to mention one of the best performing. When people see it through your case's window, not only will it say "I chose Thermalright", but it will also say "I spent a little extra, to get the best". It's a little something like I imagine the Voodoo 5 6000 was back in its time. You spend a little more, you get a little more, but hey, you'll enjoy it a lot more.”



NZXT Unveils Guardian 921 Gaming Chassis
El Monte, CA – July 23rd, 2008 – NZXT, a company built on realizing the dreams of gamers worldwide, is proud to announce the Guardian 921, a gaming chassis in the NZXT Crafted Series. Building off of the original Guardian’s success, the Guardian 921 features a robust set of features for the budget conscious PC Gamer.
• NZXT Crafted Series Design – NZXT’s latest addition to the Crafted Series takes cues from gaming culture with elegant curves and a newly designed clear side panel
• Spacious Interior and Solid Construction – Built from solid .88mm and 1.00mm steel, the Guardian 921 gives the user ample space for large, high-end video cards and space for up to four internal hard drives
• Constant Temperature Monitoring – Three temperature probe monitoring system allows the user to constantly gauge thermals within the system at all times to prevent overheating
• Multimedia and peripheral inputs – E-SATA, Intel HD audio, mic, and two USB inputs are standards with the guardian 921 allowing for maximum peripheral input
• Silent Cooling – Comes standard with 3 120mm fans installed to maximize cooling performance with minimal noise

“With the Guardian 921, we’ve reached an optimal balance of pricing and performance” said Johnny Hou, Chief Designer at NZXT. “This chassis is perfect for the PC Gamer/enthusiast who’s looking for a phenomenal building block for their new rig without breaking the bank.”

Retailing for $89.99, the Guardian 921 will be available in July.



Quick Bytes:

Aeneon 2x2GB XTune DDR3-1600 (AXH860UD20-16H) at Overclockers Online
Thermaltake Armor MX Mid-Tower Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews.net
OCZ Core Series SATA-II SSD OCZSSD2-1C64G @ Benchmark Reviews
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Review @ OCC
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512MB review @ Elite Bastards
NZXT Performance Power Series PP800 800 Watt Power Supply Review @ DragonSteelMods
Thermaltake Armor+ VH6000BWS Full Tower Chassis Review @ Bigbruin.com
Tagan Icy Box IB-3218 USB JBOD External @ Bjorn3D
Xigmatek NRP-MC751 750W PSU Review on Technic3D
OCZ Vendetta 2 CPU Cooler Review @ Madshrimps
MSI P45 Platinum Motherboard Review @ mb
iStar T5F-SS SATA Hard Drive Rack Review @ OCIA.net
Cooler Master Hyper Z600 @ InsideHW
Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks
Razer Mako 2.1 THX Certified Multimedia System Review @ ThinkComputers.org
NZXT Tempest Mid Tower @ Pro-Clockers

VH News: Monday Late-Night Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 12:01

EagleTech N-Series Pro External HDD Enclosure Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Though setup was definitely not as painless as the last product, the performance, compatibility, and acceptable thermal performance of this unit makes it a winner in my book. While it’s not something I would claim essential – an item which could make your computing experience infinitely better, I am saying that this unit is a good one to keep in mind. Especially, if it’s on sale, and let’s face it – the inclusion of Avast! Anti-Virus Home edition is a nice touch, and should you ever drop this drive while it’s containing mission critical data, the coupon for $200 off recovery from Disk Doctors will more than make up for the cost of the unit. In short, this product easily wins EagleTech another Approved award.”



OCZ Technology Unveils First Fatal1ty Brand Memory


Sunnyvale, Calif. - July 18, 2008 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and PC components, today announced the first memory modules available in their Fatal1ty Series after the partnership was announced last month. These high-performance memory kits were co-developed with the expertise of Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, 12-time World champion, to meet the specific needs of fellow gamers. OCZ Fatal1ty Professional Series kits are the official memory modules of Championship Gaming Series (CGS), and feature incredible performance to power through the latest PC titles and contribute to the success of professionals and everyday gamers.

“OCZ worked closely with Fatal1ty and his team to design new memory kits that pair perfectly with the top selling motherboards for a superior gaming experience,” commented Alex Mei, Chief Marketing Officer of the OCZ Technology Group. “Fatal1ty knows what it takes to win at the highest level of eSports, and these new kits deliver superior stability and performance to gamers whether you are a professional player on the Championship Gaming Series, or a weekend warrior looking to dominate when playing the latest titles.”



Quick Bytes:

Corsair 4GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Memory Kit Review @ Legit Reviews
Kingwin 1000w Mach1 PSU Review @ OC Cafe
Glacialpower GP-AL 650A Power Supply @ Mikhailtech
Moneual Lab MonCaso 972 HTPC Case @ OCC
Toshiba Satellite M300 Review @ Digital Trends
ASUS P5E64 WS Professional X38 Workstation Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam @ Benchmark Reviews
HIS HD 3650 512MB IceQ Turbo Videocard Review @ HardwareLogic
Noctua NH-U12P Cooler Review on Technic3D
Leadtek Winfast GTX-260 @ Bjorn3D
Vigor iSurf II Hard Drive Cooler @ Legit Reviews
Speedlink VOIP Mouse Review @ Rbmods
VisionTek HD 4870 512MB Video Card @ TheTechLounge

VH News: Weekend Edition
Posted by Diceman on Sunday, July 20, 2008 @ 4:03

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Gigabyte has truly stepped up to become a serious contender for the top manufacturer of quality motherboards. Gigabyte has aggressively pursued ways to produce the best choice in quality and enthusiast motherboards. They've brought us features like Dynamic Energy Saver, complete solid state computing, and some of the most consistent extreme overclocking to date. These kinds of features have culminated in to two recent Best Choice Awards at Computex 2008 for the GA-EP45-DQ6 and GA-EP45-DS5 Motherboards. All of that and more have been combined once again to bring us the Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard. There's plenty of features and bonuses to be had.”



Patriot Memory Releases DDR3 Notebook Memory for Intel's® Next Generation Mobile Platform
Fremont, California, USA, July 17, 2008 - Patriot Memory, a global provider of premium quality memory module and flash memory solutions, today announced the release of their Signature Line DDR3 PC3-8500 1066MHz SODIMM designed for Intel's® forthcoming Centrino® 2 mobile platform. Available in both 1GB and 2GB single modules and 4GB kits, these new DDR3 SODIMMs offer faster speeds while consuming less power versus DDR2 equivalent modules.

"DDR3's introduction to the mobile market is another step into transitioning the market to DDR3 technology," says Les Henry, Technical Director for Patriot Memory. "Requiring 20% less power and increasing memory bandwidth by 65% over DDR2 technology, these new SODIMM modules deliver some serious improvements all the while supporting Intel's® next generation mobile platform, Centrino® 2.”



Quick Bytes:

Visiontek HD 4870 Review @ OCC
OCZ EliteXStream 800W PSU at Overclockers Online
Force3D ATi HD4870 @ InsideHW
3DConnexion SpaceExplorer 3D Controller review @ Metku.net
Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers
2.5 inch SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock @ DragonSteelMods
Thermaltake Max and DuOrb review at Icrontic.com
Ixtrema Pro Heatsink by Silenx Review @ FusionMods.Net
ThermalTake DH102 Home Theater PC Case @ OCModShop
ECS GF8200A Black Series GeForce 8200 Motherboard Review @ Bigbruin.com
Patriot PVS22G9200ELK 2GB DDR2 PC2-9200 memory kit review @ Elite Bastards
Samsung YP-P2 MP3 Player Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Asus M3N78 PRO @ Bjorn3D
Corsair TX750W Power Supply Review @ OCModShop
Gigabyte - ODIN GT 800W Power Supply @ TechwareLabs
PowerColor Radeon HD4850 Graphic Card Review on Technic3D
ECS GF8200A Black Motherboard Review @ MB
SilverStone TS01 2.5" SATA RFID External Hard Drive Enclosure Review @ OCIA.net
Aquacomputer AquagraFX GTX200 vga water cooler @ Hardwareoverclock
Kingston DataTraveler HyperX @ InsideHW
OCZ Vendetta 2 CPU Cooler @ Mikhailtech

VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 17, 2008 @ 5:28

ECS P45T-A Black Motherboard Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“In short, this inexpensive motherboard is fast, stable, and features a ton of opportunities for expansion. While the lack of firewire is indeed a disappointment, I believe that this can be taken as a non-issue for gamers. Considering the features present, the speeds attained, and the stability of the system overall during the testing procedures, I feel that this motherboard is a good buy if a user is looking to assemble a low cost, reliable gaming machine. It’s just a shame that this product doesn’t have what it takes to break free of just what it was meant to do, but given the fact that it costs just shy of $110 – or rather, is shockingly cheap, I would say this is a good candidate for the great value award!”



Super Talent Ships Tiny Gold 8GB Storage Device
San Jose, California – July 15, 2008 -- Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced the PICO-C Gold, a 24-carat gold plated, water resistant USB drive that weighs less than a nickel (~4.7 grams), is smaller than an SD card, and can store over 2,000 MP3 songs.
Super Talent uses chip-on-board (COB) technology to squeeze 8GB of Flash into an impressively small 31.3mm x 12.4mm x 3.4mm gold plated steel case. The Pico-C Gold is shock resistant, water resistant, and has up to 200X (30MB/sec) transfer speeds. The Pico-C Gold includes a sturdy gold chain, and looks more like a fashion accessory than a high performance Flash drive.



Patriot Memory Releases "Warp" Solid State Drives (SSD) up to 64GB
Fremont, California, USA, July 15, 2008 - Patriot Memory, a global provider of premium quality memory module and flash memory solutions, today released their "Warp" Solid State Drives (SSD). Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, Patriot's Warp SSD's offer many benefits that are superior to traditional hard disk drives.

Built with NAND flash rather than traditional magnetic platters as the storage medium, Patriot's Warp SSD's offer faster read/write speeds, uses less power and are more rugged and reliable versus traditional HDD drives. In addition Warp's SSD offers Error Checking and Correction (ECC) as well as proprietary wear-leveling algorithms which ensure both data integrity and prolonged life of the SSD's.



Quick Bytes:

Flip Video Ultra Digital Camcorder Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Moneual Labs MonCaso 972 HTPC Chassis Review @ OCIA.net
Zotac GTX 280 1GB AMP! Edition Video Card @ TheTechLounge
P45 head-to-head: MSI P45 Platinum and Asus Maximus II Formula@ Madshrimps
Hiper Osiris Aluminum ATX Case @ techPowerUp
Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DS5 Motherboard Review @ sharky
Antec Three Hundred Gaming Chassis @ HotHardware.com
Kingston HyperX 2GB PC3-12800 Review @ ASE Labs
BenQ G2400W Review @ OCC
A-DATA Gaming Series DDR2-800 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review @ ThinkComputers.org
OCZ Vendetta 2 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks
Novint Falcon Review @ Rbmods
Thermaltake M9 Case Review @ Ninjalane
CSX Diablo PC3 16000 DDR3 2x1GB Review @ OCC
SilverStone Decathlon STT-DA700 700W PSU Review on Technic3D

VH News: Tuesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 @ 3:06

Patriot Viper 4GB PC3-12800 (1600MHz) Memory Kit Review @ VH


“If you're spending your hard earned cash on the new DDR3 standard, then you expect nothing short of stable, dependable performance whether you're using a 32-bit or 64-bit system. The memory must be reliable if you just play games or if your system is a serious number crunching SETI beast. The Patriot Viper 4GB PC3-12800 Dual Channel Memory Kit thoroughly tested here offered nothing short of those expectations. The memory is fully backward compatible with your 1066 MHz and 1333 MHz Core 2 series Intel processors. The extra performance gained from the memory's timings at lower 6-6-6-18 setting should be a pleasant bonus which also equates to plenty of bandwidth.”



OCZ Technology Group Unveils Intel® Centrino® 2 whitebook
Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 14, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, components, and systems, today introduced a new whitebook solution powered by the long awaited Intel® Centrino® 2 (“Montevina”) platform. This state-of-the-art platform technology provides a breakthrough in mobile computing for higher performance, advanced connectivity, and longer battery life. In addition, the new OCZ whitebooks are built for superior on-the-go gaming by harnessing the world’s highest-performing mobile processor, the Intel Core™2 Extreme X9100.



Quick Bytes:

Thermaltake Xaser VI Mx VH9000BWS Review @ OCC
mStation Orb 2.1 Stereo Speaker System for iPod Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Asus Maximus II Formula Intel P45 Motherboard @ HotHardware.com
Tuniq Miniplant 950w Review @ XSReviews
XFX nForce® 750a SLI (MD-A72P-7509) @ Bjorn3D
Patriot Xporter XT 4 GB Ruggedized Flash Drive @ TechwareLabs
ThermalTake Armor+ MX Case at Modders-Inc
EagleTech N Series Enclosure @ Pro-Clockers
PowerColor Radeon HD 4850 512MB and CrossFire performance review @ Elite Bastards
QNAP TS-409U Turbo NAS @ BIOSLEVEL.com
ASUS P-Series AMD 690G Barebone PC @ Techgage
A-DATA Vitesta DDR3-1600X 2GB Memory Kit @ tweaktown
Cyber Snipa Stinger Game Mouse Review @ ModReactor
Edifier R1200T Multimedia Speaker System Review @ ModSynergy.com
Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3 1600 EPP2.0 Memory Review on Technic3D
Asrock Penryn1600SLIX3-WiFi S775 Motherboard Review @ Madshrimps
BFG LS680 680W Power Supply Review @ JonnyGURU.com
Coolink Chipchilla Chipset Cooler @ techPowerUp
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Video Card 100243L @ Benchmark Reviews
Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 Intel P45 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
ATEN CS1782: 2-Port USB 2.0 DVI KVMP Switch at Overclockers Online

VH News: Weekend Edition
Posted by Diceman on Sunday, July 13, 2008 @ 8:46

LapDawg X4 Multi-Desk Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Well enter the aftermarket laptop desk market. It's huge and growing with seemingly new designs coming into the market all the time. Well today I have a new laptop desk, rather tray...err rather a multi-use and multi-functional tray for your viewing pleasure. It's called the LapDawg X4 multi-functional tray. The contacted me for a review and I'm guessing it's because one of the many uses LapDawg claims it's X4 can handle is lapdesk duty. So, let's take a closer look at what this X4 has to offer for its $130.00 USD Price.”



Quick Bytes:

NZXT Rogue Case Review @ HardwareLogic
Visiontek Radeon HD 4850 Videocard Review @ Rbmods
Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red DDR2-800 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review @ ThinkComputers.org
ATEN CS1782 Dual-DVI USB KVMP Switch @ OCModShop
Asus ENGTX260 videocard @ Hardwareoverclock Austria
Razer DiamondbackT 3G Gaming Mouse @ Hardware-Mods.com
Xigmatek Porter N881 Chipset Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods

VH News: Friday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Friday, July 11, 2008 @ 6:21

ATEN CS1782 Dual DVI KVM(P) Switch Review @ Virtual-Hideout


Most KVM’s are still the older PS/2 and VGA style, a year ago there were less than a handful of DVI/USB KVM switches. Now most companies offer at least one, and some are adding more features. It has been a while since I last reviewed a KVM switch from Aten. At the time I reviewed the CS1762, I said it was a good KVM, but it was missing some features I required. I figured it would be the next generation that did what I needed.

Well that generation has come, it has taken a little more time than I thought, but on first blush, the CS1782 has everything I want in a KVM.



OCZ Technology Introduces Elixir Keyboards under the new Alchemy line of Gaming Products


Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 10, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and components, today announced the expansion of its gaming peripherals under a new “Alchemy” line, with the introduction of the Elixir keyboard series for highly advanced functionality in game-play. Featuring a wealth of user-friendly features combined with an ergonomic and sturdy design, the Elixir keyboard will deliver a unique combination of performance and vale to gamers as they blaze through the latest PC titles.

“The new Alchemy line from OCZ is designed to offer gamers quality gaming solutions that deliver both exceptional performance and value,” said Eugene Chang, Product Manager of the OCZ Technology Group. “Just because gamers have a budget doesn't mean they shouldn't enjoy premium gaming features, and our first Alchemy solution the Elixir gaming keyboard is designed with quality ergonomics and offers efficient game-play with programmable macro keys.”
The Elixir is a high-quality keyboard featuring the necessary features such as 10 tri-mode programmable macro keys, mode selection, a pop-up menu shortcut, and Windows® Media Players optical controller. The sleek design of the Alchemy Elixir Series will maintain your comfort throughout long gaming sessions with its membrane tactical keys made from 100% rubber-coating for no-slip comfort and ergonomic design. The Elixir also features a USB port for added convenience, along with an extremely reliable lifestyle of 5 million cycles. The Elixir series is compatible with Windows® XP (SP2 or later) and Windows® Vista™. Elixir keyboards feature a MSRP of $29.99 and are the ultimate accessory for a budget gaming system.



CrazyPC offers in-house EL Neon Wire Kits - Electroluminescent Wire, Neon Wire, EL Wire, Glow Wire for Computers


Our EL Neon Wire Kits are perfect for modding your computer. Each kit includes round flexible electroluminescent wire and power inverter. EL Wire is used to create lighting mods. Wire can be bent and shaped to create your own PC Mods. Use it as a trim lighting or create your own design.



Sans Digital Announces Compact 2-Bay NAS Enclosure Loaded with Features – AccuNAS AN2L
City of Industry, CA – July 11, 2008 – Sans Digital, a leading provider of high performance storage subsystems, today introduced AccuNAS AN2L, a 2-bay compact multifunctional network attached storage unit.

The Sans Digital AccuNAS AN2L is a high performance network attached storage with unlimited possibilities. It not only supports digital file sharing over the network in Windows, Linux and Mac environment, it also allows playback of digital multimedia directly via PS3/PSP, XBOX and other digital media player using UPnP and DLNA. Images and photographs could be easily shared via the web using the Photo Station feature, with automatically creates thumbnails and web pages for these files. The AN2L supports iTunes Server by allowing automatic MP3 detection and display in PC or MAC’s iTunes software. Its Web Hard Drive feature allows off site file access, where data could be retrieved from various locations. Its Network Recycle Bin prevents accidental file deletion by saving deleted file in a temporary location.



Quick Bytes:

Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Review @ OCC
Palit GeForce GTX 280 1GB @ Techgage
Super Talent MasterDrive MX 60 GB SATA-II SSD @ Benchmark Reviews
Corsair Dominator CM3X1024-1800C7DIN DDR3 @ t-break
Coolink Chillaramic Review @ PCMHZ
Samsung 2263UW LCD Monitor at Overclockers Online
Antec Twelve Hundred ATX Gaming Case Review @ futurelooks
Top Deck Tech Station (Large) @ Bjorn3D
ASUS P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP @n @ Phoronix
SilverStone Decathlon 700W PSU Review @ DriverHeaven
ZEROtherm Zen ZF120 Cooler @ Pro-Clockers

VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 10, 2008 @ 5:18

Kingston 2GB DDR3-1600 HyperX DDR3 Memory Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Surprisingly, Kingston was a little conservative on the specs. The memory can operate freely at 8-8-8-24 timings as well as stock. This was achieved without any extra memory voltage. It's a nice extra bonus not in the specifications. Overclocking is somewhat limited which isn't surprising. The ICs are pretty much already well tuned and operating at what Kingston feels is optimal. Again, the memory in all its 1600 MHz splendor is going to be enough for power users. Also, if your current motherboard isn't quite up to the 1600 MHz FSB, you can still enjoy great performance at lower frequencies and timings.”



Kingston Technology Releases HyperX High-Performance DDR2 SO-DIMMs in 3GB Kits
Fountain Valley, CA – July 9, 2008 – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is shipping HyperX® 667MHz and 800MHz low-latency DDR2 SO-DIMM notebook memory in 3GB kits. The 3GB SO-DIMM kits are an excellent way to take advantage of the Microsoft Windows Vista® 32-bit operating system and for notebook users running mid- to high-performance applications. Kingston's 3GB kits boost system performance and assure users that their notebooks are equal in memory capacity to most of the desktop systems sold on the market today.

The release of the 3GB SO-DIMM kits continues a series of new performance notebook memory offerings from Kingston®. Kingston HyperX memory is now available in 2GB, 3GB and 4GB kits.

Kingston 3GB Kit HyperX 667MHz & 800MHz Low Latency DDR2 SO-DIMM Specifications:

Part Number
KHX5300S2LLK2/3G
3GB 667MHz Low Latency DDR2 (CL4-4-4-12 @ 1.8v) SO-DIMMs, kit of 2 $ 102.50 (MSRP U.S. only)

KHX6400S2LLK2/3G
3GB 800MHz Low Latency DDR2 (CL5-5-5-18 @ 1.8v) SO-DIMMs, kit of 2
$ 106.25 (MSRP U.S. only)

Kingston HyperX memory is backed by a lifetime warranty and free, 24/7 technical support. For more detailed information, please visit the Kingston Web site at www.kingston.com//hyperx.



D-LINK NOW SHIPPING FIRST DivX CONNECTED HIGH-DEFINITION MEDIA PLAYER IN U.S.


FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 09, 2008 -- D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumer and business, and DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIVX), a digital media company, today announced the availability of the first DivX Connected™ media player in the U.S., with distribution in Canadian markets soon to follow.
The D-Link® MediaLounge® DSM-330 enables the seamless streaming of music, photos, Internet services and high definition video from PCs to the television.



Quick Bytes:

Tagan A+ CS-Monolize Review @ OCC
Sennheiser PC 350 Gaming Headset Review @ Digital Trends
OCZ Rally2 32Gb USB Stick Review @ Madshrimps
Aerocool Modern-V LCD Fan Controller and Temperature Monitor Review @ DragonSteelMods
Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com
Thermaltake Toughpower 1000 Watt Modular @ Bjorn3D
Alienware m15x 15.4-inch Gaming Laptop Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Sapphire PI-AM2RS780G Review @ OCC
ECS P43T Socket 775 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers
Raidmax Iceberg Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
Antec Three Hundred vs. Twelve Hundred Gaming Case review at Metku
Thermaltake Armor+ MX Midtower ATX Computer Case @ Legit Reviews
PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 860W @ Hardwareoverclock Austria
Hiyatek CF-6160-1 Laptop Cooling Pad Review @ Bigbruin.com

VH News: Tuesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 @ 6:24

Antec Three Hundred Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Sure you have to buy a power supply, and I know they want to pass that off as a “feature” (lol, marketing people are funny), but at $60, I sure couldn’t find a nicer case for that price. It’s well laid out, sturdy and light, with a lot of extras you wouldn’t expect to find, even in cases much more expensive. I love how clean the case is, it doesn't try and hit you over the head with blue LED's or flimsy plastic parts that are hot glued on.”



OCZ Introduces DDR3 Laptop Memory for High-End Mobile Systems
Sunnyvale, CA—July 7, 2007—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the all-new DDR3 SODIMM modules as its next generation notebook memory to support the impending Intel® Centrino® 2 mobile platform. These latest memory offerings for notebooks help reduce power consumption and increase speed and bandwidth, resulting in a higher performing laptop. As next-generation laptops are introduced in the upcoming weeks, OCZ is prepared to deliver high-performance DDR3 for these advanced gaming and professional systems.

The benefits of DDR3 memory now extends beyond desktop systems to laptops, offering increased frequencies at lower voltage requirements. OCZ’s PC3-8500 and PC3-10666 SODIMM kits support enthusiast-grade performance and bring speeds to notebook systems that were previously unimaginable. Early-adopting gamers and professionals will benefit from the more productive computing experience that the combination of the new Centrino 2 technology and OCZ DDR3 modules can provide.



Sans Digital, a leading provider of high performance storage subsystems, is expanding its TowerRAID product line.
City of Industry, CA – July 07, 2008 – Sans Digital, a leading provider of high performance storage subsystems, is expanding its TowerRAID product line. The new TowerRAID series ranges from two to eight bays, in either eSATA / USB or both interfaces. This storage series offers users a wide range of selections when it comes to choosing the perfect storage solution.

The TR4U(B) and TR8U(B) are 4-bay and 8-bay storage enclosures, featuring JBOD and spanning modes for individual hard drive access. Storage modes could be selected via an easy access dip switch located on the back panel. Both units are environmental friendly with Auto-Power option, where the unit powers on only when the connected computer is on. The TR4M(B), TR5M1, and TR8M(B) are 4-bay, 5-bay, and 8-bay storage enclosures utilizing the latest SATA II port multiplier technology, which allows the connection of multiple SATA drives. TR4M(B) and TR5M1 utilize only one cable to connect up to four and five hard drives respectively. TR8M(B) utilizes only two cables to connect up to eight hard drives. Using the bundled two ports eSATA PCIe adapter, the user could easily access up to eight hard drives via JBOD mode. This eSATA series also supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, 5+spare, spanning and JBOD using the latest Silicon Image SATARAID utility, providing cost-effective redundancy solutions. On the other hand, the TR2UT-B is a 2-bay RAID enclosure that supports USB 2.0 as well as eSATA connection. It features four different RAID modes (RAID 0, 1 Spanning and JBOD), and is the smallest unit of the series with the most abundant features.



Quick Bytes:

LapLogic G800 (W800) Aerogel Extreme LapDesk @ TechwareLabs
Antec Three Hundred @ Bjorn3D
Silicon Power 64GB SATA Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews
Review: Eagle Consus D-Series @ GideonTech.com
Asus M70S Laptop Review @ Digital Trends
Thecus N5200BR NAS Server @ HotHardware.com
Tuniq Miniplant 950W Power Supply Review @ HardwareLogic.com
X48 Roundup: ASUS, ECS & Intel @ Techgage
Silenx Ixtrema Review @ OCC
Thermaltake Armor+ MX PC Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Diablotek GeForce 8600GT 1GB Graphics Card Review @ OCIA.net
Samsung SC HMX10A Solid State High Definition Camcorder Review @ ModSynergy.com
Tagan Black Pearl Case Review @ mb
Fractal Design "FD Silent" Lüfter Serie @ Hardware-Mods.com
EVGA GTX 260 FTW Edition Review @ OCC

VH News: Weekend 2nd Edition
Posted by Diceman on Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 7:44

LapLogic AeroGel Extreme Lapdesks Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Today I'll be looking at a new introduction to the lapdesk market from LapLogic.com. Actually two new models with one being regular sized and one being the super-sized model. They're called the new AeroGel Extreme and AeroGel Extreme - Wide laptop desks. With so much competition out there, let's see what sets these new units apart from the pack.”



ZEROtherm Design Contest - Win the Creative Cooler Challenge and win up to 3000$ Cash Money
July 2008, Daejeon, Korea: In an effort to empower the budding creative minds within the enthusiast community, ZEROtherm is taking an unprecedented measure to help aide the development of THE next generation CPU and VGA coolers. Sponsoring the first ever “Creative Cooler Challenge”, ZEROtherm is determined to tap into the unharnessed dreams of the hardware tweaker and help those dreams become a reality.
ZEROtherm understands that hidden inside the mind of the enthusiast there lays the raw untapped desire to create the next monumental advancement in performance enhancing hardware. A need to push hardware beyond its limits resonates at the core of the hardcore! Amidst the countless mathematical equations processed while attempting to reverse engineer various software and hardware constraints in the pursuit of tweaking ones PC, there erupts a singular passion and solution to break the performance barrier… a thermal solution! The time has come to unleash the creativity within and take a shot at making your mark as a driving contributor to the overclocking community! For a chance to be the winner of the $3000 grand prize, a $1000 2nd place prize or one of three lucky 3rd place winners


VH News: Holiday Weekend Edition
Posted by Diceman on Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 4:19

NZXT Tempest Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Despite the wide variety of cases out there, from HTPC units to full towers, there's one quality that they should all possess in order to qualify as being worthwhile and that is having good airflow. It doesn't matter if a case looks like the next Mona Lisa if it doesn't keep your rig cool. With this in mind, NZXT has released the Tempest, a gaming-oriented case that claims to be the "Air Flow King". With six fans included stock, two of which are huge 140mm units the Tempest certainly looks the part. Can this mid-tower live up to the hype?”



Quick Bytes:

ECS Factory Tour @ OCC
In Win B2 Stealth Bomber Mid Tower ATX Case Review @ Bigbruin.com
Sapphire HD3870 Ultimate Video Card @ Pro-Clockers
Point of View GeForce GTX 260 Assassins Creed Edition @ techPowerUp
Crucial Ballistix 1GBx2 PC3-16000 at Overclockers Online
Visiontek ATI Radeon HD4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI Express Video Card Review @ mb
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews
XFX GeForce 8800 GS & 8800 GS XXX @ Bjorn3D
Super Talent Pico-C 8Gb Micro USB Stick Review @ Madshrimps
Zotac nForce 790i Supreme Mainboard Review on Technic3D
Diamond HD 4870 512MB Reviewed @ TheTechLounge
Asus EN9600GT Top/HTDI/512M Videocard Review @ PCSTATS.com
SilverStone Nightjar 450W Zero dBA Fanless Power Supply @ 3dgameman

VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 3, 2008 @ 5:38

Dynapower USA TP-LINK (TL-WR543G) 54Mbps and (TL-WR642G) 108Mbps Routers Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Dynapower USA sent over the TP-LINK 54M Wireless AP Client Router and the 108M Wireless Router. Each of the routers have XR, or Extended Range, technology which can increase the range 2 to 3 times the normal 802.11b range. They both are designed for Small Office/Home Office wireless networks, and integrate Firewall, NAT-router and Wireless AP. The 54M Router additionally sports a 4-port switch. Not only designed for the Small Office/Home application but for those of use on a small budget.”



OCZ Technology Introduces the Latest DDR3 Kits within the Intel Extreme Memory Series
Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 2, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the expansion of its Intel® Extreme Memory modules lineup, the latest memory solution that implements a high-performance specification optimized and predefined for the Intel X38 and X48 chipsets. The new modules are rated at DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 and feature the all-new Intel branded black XTC heatspreader. With a long history of providing the most innovative products to the enthusiast community, OCZ is excited to take advantage of Intel’s interest and development of overclocking platforms with these latest additions to the series.

Designed to significantly increase performance levels of the entire platform, these modules feature Intel Extreme Memory Profiles (XMP), a proprietary extension of SPD (Serial Presence Detect) settings that act as an integrated “plug and play” overclocking tool. The new Extreme Memory Profile options on the new OCZ DDR3 modules allow the end user to select extreme or ultimate performance through a framework of predefined and validated optimizations of individual settings without the hassle of manually adjusting each parameter, so the timings, voltage, and speed boot automatically for maximum performance.



Quick Bytes:

Sigma SP-700 700W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Aten CS1782 DVI KVMP Switch Review @ OCC
HIS HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 Video Card @ 3dgameman
XtremeMac Tango X2 @ Techgage
Kingwin Revolution RVT-12025D CPU Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods
G.Skill PI 2x2GB PC3-12800 DDR3 Kit Review @ Hardware Canucks
Asus Eee PC 901 Laptop Review @ Digital Trends
Sapphire 1024MB Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card Review @ Bigbruin.com
ECS P45T-A Black Edition @ t-break
Razer Piranha - Headphones at Modders-Inc
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 280 AMP! Edition Video Card @ BmR

VH News: Wednesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 @ 5:40

ThermalTake ProWater 850i Liquid Cooling System Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“For this review though, you the reader might want to keep the beverages away from the system, as I’ll be flooding the veins of my test rig soon enough. That’s right, today on the bench is Thermaltake’s ProWater 850i – an all-in-one starter watercooling kit with a decidedly set of pretty packaging. Will it perform to expectations, or simply end up as another one of those mistaken purchases? Roll on over to the next page to find out.”



OCZ Technology Announces Core Series SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drive


Sunnyvale, CA—July 1, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and computer components, today unveiled the OCZ Core Series SATA II 2.5” Solid State Drives (SSDs). OCZ has gained momentum in this pioneering technology, which uses NAND flash instead of rotating platters as the storage medium, and is a high-performance, highly reliable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional hard disc drives.
“SSDs offer higher performance, reliability, and energy efficiency than conventional HDDs but the cost variance has limited adoption of vastly superior SSD technology, until now,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. “It is our mission to deliver the highest performance products to consumers at reasonable prices, and with the release of the Core Series SSDs we have done exactly that.”

Core series SSD drives are available in capacities of 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB and deliver incredible 120-143MBs/ 80-93MBs read/write speeds and seek times of less than 0.35ms, making the Core series up to 10x as fast on a seek-time basis and up to 40% faster on a R/W basis that the best performing 2.5” HDDs on the market, all while consuming 50% less power. MSRPs at time of launch are USD $169, $259 and $479 for 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models respectively.



ZEROtherm Creative Cooler Challenge - 1st place $3000.- cash price + more
“In an effort to empower the budding creative minds within the enthusiast community, ZEROtherm is taking an unprecedented measure to help aide the development of THE next generation CPU and VGA coolers. Sponsoring the first ever “Creative Cooler Challenge”, ZEROtherm is determined to tap into the unharnessed dreams of the hardware tweaker and help those dreams become a reality.”


“The time has come to unleash the creativity within and take a shot at making your mark as a driving contributor to the overclocking community! For a chance to be the winner of the $3000 grand prize, a $1000 2nd place prize or one of three lucky 3rd place winner.”



Quick Bytes:

Apack ZEROTherm GX820 und Apack ZEROTherm HC92 CU 8800 @ Hardware-Mods.com
ASUS Maximus II Formula motherboard review @ Elite Bastards
SilenX IXTREMA Pro IXC-120HA2 @ Bjorn3D
Thermaltake Xaser VI VG4000SNA Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews.net
ASUS P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi-AP@n @ t-break
Gigabyte Overclocking Tournament Coverage @ HardwareLogic
Gigabyte International Overclocking Tournament Coverage @ OCC
ASRock K10N780SLIX3-WiFi nForce 780a SLI Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Thermaltake XaserVI Mx Case Review @ Rbmods
QNAP TS-209 Pro Gigabit SATA NAS @ Benchmark Reviews
Razer Lycosa reviewed at BurnOutPC.com
HDT Cooler Shootout at Icrontic.com


VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 31, 2008 @ 4:51

Quakecon 2008: Day 0 @ Virtual-Hideout


“It’s a full on production, dealing with this many people, but this is the 13th time for Quakecon, hopefully it’s their lucky number. Even with the regular staff, there is no way they could run the show without the public who volunteer for everything from security to “Crimp Nation”. Think of the thousands of network cables they are already slaving away building.”



Calling All Gamers, OCZ Announces the “Win with the nia” Contest
Sunnyvale, Calif.—August, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, components, and systems, today announced its latest contest, “Win with the nia,” where competing gamers can use the revolutionary Neural Impulse Actuator to compete at national and regional levels for prize money and OCZ computer products. Gamers from all over the world will have the chance to put their nias to the test at LAN parties and e-sport competitions around the world, showing the gaming world just how incredible this new input device is at increasing immersion and lessening reaction times in the top PC titles.



Quick Bytes:

Eagle Consus Review @ OCC
Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card Reviewed @ TheTechLounge
Silverstone CMD01 Commander ESA Edition @ techPowerUp
Razer Piranha Gaming Headset Review @ Hardware Secrets
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB DDR2 Memory Kit @ Benchmark Reviews

VH News: Wednesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 @ 3:00

SunbeamTech Core Contact Freezer CPU Cooler Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“After tabulating the results, CPU temps are kept well within very reasonable levels across the entire spectrum of testing. While standard system use is really good, at a full 1GHz overclock, we start to see the limitations of copper and heat pipes as is the case with most every air cooler. Above these frequencies, most every cooler starts to suffer simply due to physics. If you're cranking out the insane frequencies beyond this, you'll naturally want to consider water cooling. The speed and ease of the installation coupled with the performance have me considering recommending the SunbeamTech Core Contact Freezer as the ideal cooler for those who build gaming or performance systems.”



Quick Bytes:

Tuniq Ensemble 1200W Power Supply Review @ Bigbruin.com
Intel2Extreme QX9650 processor @ Hardwareoverclock Austria
VIA Nano L2100 vs. Intel Atom 230: Head to Head @ HotHardware.com
Sans Digital MS1U Media Saver Review @ ASE Labs
NorthQ Black Magic Flex 650W PSU Review @ DriverHeaven
Zotac GeForce 9800 GT AMP! Edition Graphic Card Review on Technic3D
ASUS Lion Square Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com
Spire SP175SU-SL-EU 2.5" SATA to USB Hard disk enclosure Review @ Rbmods
Samsung SyncMaster 2053BW @ InsideHW
CSI's Eric Szmanada Enters the Startup World with eRockster.com @ Digital Trends
Raidmax Iceberg Case at Modders-Inc
Acer AL2002W 20-Inch WS LCD Monitor @ Benchmark Reviews
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=804
HighPoint Technologies RocketRAID 3120@ BIOSLEVEL.com
OCZ Technology EliteXStream 800W Power Supply Review @ Bigbruin.com
HIS HD4870 512 MB @ Bjorn3D
Gigabyte X48-DS5 Motherboard Review @ Legit Reviews
NZXT Tempest Crafted Series Mid-Tower PC Case Review @ DragonSteelMods

VH News: Tuesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 @ 4:46

Kingston 4GB PC2-6400 HyperX Memory Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“When it comes to our computers, we'd love to always have the biggest and the best. However, reality indicates that isn't always possible. But that also doesn't mean we have to "settle" when it comes to memory options. For the PC enthusiasts who are looking for quality and value, Kingston offers the KHX6400D2LLK2/4G Memory Kit, a product in their HyperX DDR2 line. The HyperX DDR2 offers faster speeds, lower latencies, higher data bandwidths and lower power consumption than DDR.”



Quick Bytes:

ASUS M3N78 Pro Review @ OCC
ASUS P5Q-E Motherboard Review @ HardwareLogic
Lian Li V1010 Case Review @ Ninjalane
Spire CoolFlow III Review @ XSReviews
Super Talent Pico-C 8gb 24K Gold USB Drive Review @ DragonSteelMods
EVGA UV Plus+ UV16 USB 2.0 Video Adapter @ Legit Reviews
Thecus N5200B Pro Network Attached Storage at Overclockers Online
Maxtor BlackArmor 160GB Review @ Digital Trends
QNAP TS-209 Pro II @ PC Review
ASUS Triton 79 Amazing Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com
Gecube Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 256bit PCIe @ Hardware-Mods.com
ASUS P5Q Pro P45 Motherboard Review @ Hardware Canucks
Thermaltake VH6000BWS Armor+ Case Review @ HardwareLogic
Palit GTX 280 Review @ OCC
QNAP TS-409 PRO Four Bay NAS Network Attached Storage System Review @ Tweaknews.net

VH News: Monday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Monday, July 28, 2008 @ 4:04

Raidmax Iceberg Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“The Raidmax Iceberg impressed us with its sturdy and quality construction. We were definitely not expecting an aluminum case to be so strong, but the thick aluminum of the Iceberg makes it one of the strongest cases we've seen. The design of the case also makes it one of the easiest to disassemble, from the nice side panels to the easy-to-remove front panel. Cooling options provided were also very decent, with four fans out of the case.”



Quick Bytes:

ASUS P5Q-E Intel P45 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Toshiba Satellite A300D-125 @ InsideHW
Palit GeForce GTX 280 Review @ MB
Thermaltake M9D Computer Case Review @ Rbmods
CompuStocx 60GB SATA-II SLC 2.5" Solid State Disk @ Hardware-Mods.com
Sapphire HD4870 @ t-break
EVGA nVidia GeForce GTX 260 Review @ OCIA.net
Nexus HOC-9000 Heatpipe On CPU Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Graphic Card Review on Technic3D
Zerotherm FZ120 CPU Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods

VH News: Friday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Friday, July 25, 2008 @ 12:49

VH Attends PDXLAN 12 in Portland @ Virtual-Hideout


“There are LANs. And, then there are LANs! This weekend, I had a really good time attending PDXLAN in Portland, Oregon. This is one of the larger LAN parties that sold out on 500 seats. As a matter of fact, they tend to sell out every LAN event due to the really cool swag and prize raffles. PDXLAN happens about every six months. If you think that's too close together, you're mistaken. The LAN even sells out every time and there's always a packed hotel because of it. You get complimentary pizza and Bawls energy drinks Saturday night, but can order pizza and pastas from the same pizza parlor pretty much anytime for delivery. How's that for service?”



Quick Bytes:

Sapphire HD 4870 Review @ OCC
OCZ Reaper HPC PC3 12800 @ Pro-Clockers
Tagan Icy Box IB-285StU-B USB 2 1/2 @ Bjorn3D
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 TOXIC 512MB video card review @ Elite Bastards
be quiet! Dark Power Pro 850W PSU Review on Technic3D
XFX GeForce GTX260 XXX Edition Video Card Review @ mb
Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler @ Mikhailtech
ASUS M70Sa 17" Multimedia Notebook @ Techgage
ASUS P5QL-E Review @ OCC
NZXT Performance Power 800 Watt Power Supply @ Pro-Clockers
Thermaltake Toughpower 1200 Watt Power Supply Review @ Tweaknews.net
CineRaid Quad-bay SATA/SAS RAID Device Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Kingston DataTraveler BlackBox 2GB at Overclockers Online
ASUS EN9800GTX TOP Graphics Card @ HotHardware.com
Part 2: Which motherboard company is more efficient, ASUS or Gigabyte? @ Legit Reviews

VH News: Wednesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 @ 3:22

Thermalright TRUE Black 120 CPU Cooler Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“So, do you NEED this heatsink? Should you rush out, and snap up the first one available? As much as I'm thinking Thermalright would love us to say yes to that, the answer is really no. For standard cooling needs, a regular old Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme will do the job just fine, and if you throw in, what, a $3 set of fan clips, an $8 tube of thermal grease, and a $12 fan, you're still running a surplus. Is that the point? Hardly. What this product is, is one of the best looking heatsinks that you can get a hold of, not to mention one of the best performing. When people see it through your case's window, not only will it say "I chose Thermalright", but it will also say "I spent a little extra, to get the best". It's a little something like I imagine the Voodoo 5 6000 was back in its time. You spend a little more, you get a little more, but hey, you'll enjoy it a lot more.”



NZXT Unveils Guardian 921 Gaming Chassis
El Monte, CA – July 23rd, 2008 – NZXT, a company built on realizing the dreams of gamers worldwide, is proud to announce the Guardian 921, a gaming chassis in the NZXT Crafted Series. Building off of the original Guardian’s success, the Guardian 921 features a robust set of features for the budget conscious PC Gamer.
• NZXT Crafted Series Design – NZXT’s latest addition to the Crafted Series takes cues from gaming culture with elegant curves and a newly designed clear side panel
• Spacious Interior and Solid Construction – Built from solid .88mm and 1.00mm steel, the Guardian 921 gives the user ample space for large, high-end video cards and space for up to four internal hard drives
• Constant Temperature Monitoring – Three temperature probe monitoring system allows the user to constantly gauge thermals within the system at all times to prevent overheating
• Multimedia and peripheral inputs – E-SATA, Intel HD audio, mic, and two USB inputs are standards with the guardian 921 allowing for maximum peripheral input
• Silent Cooling – Comes standard with 3 120mm fans installed to maximize cooling performance with minimal noise

“With the Guardian 921, we’ve reached an optimal balance of pricing and performance” said Johnny Hou, Chief Designer at NZXT. “This chassis is perfect for the PC Gamer/enthusiast who’s looking for a phenomenal building block for their new rig without breaking the bank.”

Retailing for $89.99, the Guardian 921 will be available in July.



Quick Bytes:

Aeneon 2x2GB XTune DDR3-1600 (AXH860UD20-16H) at Overclockers Online
Thermaltake Armor MX Mid-Tower Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews.net
OCZ Core Series SATA-II SSD OCZSSD2-1C64G @ Benchmark Reviews
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Review @ OCC
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512MB review @ Elite Bastards
NZXT Performance Power Series PP800 800 Watt Power Supply Review @ DragonSteelMods
Thermaltake Armor+ VH6000BWS Full Tower Chassis Review @ Bigbruin.com
Tagan Icy Box IB-3218 USB JBOD External @ Bjorn3D
Xigmatek NRP-MC751 750W PSU Review on Technic3D
OCZ Vendetta 2 CPU Cooler Review @ Madshrimps
MSI P45 Platinum Motherboard Review @ mb
iStar T5F-SS SATA Hard Drive Rack Review @ OCIA.net
Cooler Master Hyper Z600 @ InsideHW
Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks
Razer Mako 2.1 THX Certified Multimedia System Review @ ThinkComputers.org
NZXT Tempest Mid Tower @ Pro-Clockers

VH News: Monday Late-Night Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 12:01

EagleTech N-Series Pro External HDD Enclosure Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Though setup was definitely not as painless as the last product, the performance, compatibility, and acceptable thermal performance of this unit makes it a winner in my book. While it’s not something I would claim essential – an item which could make your computing experience infinitely better, I am saying that this unit is a good one to keep in mind. Especially, if it’s on sale, and let’s face it – the inclusion of Avast! Anti-Virus Home edition is a nice touch, and should you ever drop this drive while it’s containing mission critical data, the coupon for $200 off recovery from Disk Doctors will more than make up for the cost of the unit. In short, this product easily wins EagleTech another Approved award.”



OCZ Technology Unveils First Fatal1ty Brand Memory


Sunnyvale, Calif. - July 18, 2008 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and PC components, today announced the first memory modules available in their Fatal1ty Series after the partnership was announced last month. These high-performance memory kits were co-developed with the expertise of Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, 12-time World champion, to meet the specific needs of fellow gamers. OCZ Fatal1ty Professional Series kits are the official memory modules of Championship Gaming Series (CGS), and feature incredible performance to power through the latest PC titles and contribute to the success of professionals and everyday gamers.

“OCZ worked closely with Fatal1ty and his team to design new memory kits that pair perfectly with the top selling motherboards for a superior gaming experience,” commented Alex Mei, Chief Marketing Officer of the OCZ Technology Group. “Fatal1ty knows what it takes to win at the highest level of eSports, and these new kits deliver superior stability and performance to gamers whether you are a professional player on the Championship Gaming Series, or a weekend warrior looking to dominate when playing the latest titles.”



Quick Bytes:

Corsair 4GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Memory Kit Review @ Legit Reviews
Kingwin 1000w Mach1 PSU Review @ OC Cafe
Glacialpower GP-AL 650A Power Supply @ Mikhailtech
Moneual Lab MonCaso 972 HTPC Case @ OCC
Toshiba Satellite M300 Review @ Digital Trends
ASUS P5E64 WS Professional X38 Workstation Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 WebCam @ Benchmark Reviews
HIS HD 3650 512MB IceQ Turbo Videocard Review @ HardwareLogic
Noctua NH-U12P Cooler Review on Technic3D
Leadtek Winfast GTX-260 @ Bjorn3D
Vigor iSurf II Hard Drive Cooler @ Legit Reviews
Speedlink VOIP Mouse Review @ Rbmods
VisionTek HD 4870 512MB Video Card @ TheTechLounge

VH News: Weekend Edition
Posted by Diceman on Sunday, July 20, 2008 @ 4:03

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Gigabyte has truly stepped up to become a serious contender for the top manufacturer of quality motherboards. Gigabyte has aggressively pursued ways to produce the best choice in quality and enthusiast motherboards. They've brought us features like Dynamic Energy Saver, complete solid state computing, and some of the most consistent extreme overclocking to date. These kinds of features have culminated in to two recent Best Choice Awards at Computex 2008 for the GA-EP45-DQ6 and GA-EP45-DS5 Motherboards. All of that and more have been combined once again to bring us the Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6 Motherboard. There's plenty of features and bonuses to be had.”



Patriot Memory Releases DDR3 Notebook Memory for Intel's® Next Generation Mobile Platform
Fremont, California, USA, July 17, 2008 - Patriot Memory, a global provider of premium quality memory module and flash memory solutions, today announced the release of their Signature Line DDR3 PC3-8500 1066MHz SODIMM designed for Intel's® forthcoming Centrino® 2 mobile platform. Available in both 1GB and 2GB single modules and 4GB kits, these new DDR3 SODIMMs offer faster speeds while consuming less power versus DDR2 equivalent modules.

"DDR3's introduction to the mobile market is another step into transitioning the market to DDR3 technology," says Les Henry, Technical Director for Patriot Memory. "Requiring 20% less power and increasing memory bandwidth by 65% over DDR2 technology, these new SODIMM modules deliver some serious improvements all the while supporting Intel's® next generation mobile platform, Centrino® 2.”



Quick Bytes:

Visiontek HD 4870 Review @ OCC
OCZ EliteXStream 800W PSU at Overclockers Online
Force3D ATi HD4870 @ InsideHW
3DConnexion SpaceExplorer 3D Controller review @ Metku.net
Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers
2.5 inch SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock @ DragonSteelMods
Thermaltake Max and DuOrb review at Icrontic.com
Ixtrema Pro Heatsink by Silenx Review @ FusionMods.Net
ThermalTake DH102 Home Theater PC Case @ OCModShop
ECS GF8200A Black Series GeForce 8200 Motherboard Review @ Bigbruin.com
Patriot PVS22G9200ELK 2GB DDR2 PC2-9200 memory kit review @ Elite Bastards
Samsung YP-P2 MP3 Player Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Asus M3N78 PRO @ Bjorn3D
Corsair TX750W Power Supply Review @ OCModShop
Gigabyte - ODIN GT 800W Power Supply @ TechwareLabs
PowerColor Radeon HD4850 Graphic Card Review on Technic3D
ECS GF8200A Black Motherboard Review @ MB
SilverStone TS01 2.5" SATA RFID External Hard Drive Enclosure Review @ OCIA.net
Aquacomputer AquagraFX GTX200 vga water cooler @ Hardwareoverclock
Kingston DataTraveler HyperX @ InsideHW
OCZ Vendetta 2 CPU Cooler @ Mikhailtech

VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 17, 2008 @ 5:28

ECS P45T-A Black Motherboard Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“In short, this inexpensive motherboard is fast, stable, and features a ton of opportunities for expansion. While the lack of firewire is indeed a disappointment, I believe that this can be taken as a non-issue for gamers. Considering the features present, the speeds attained, and the stability of the system overall during the testing procedures, I feel that this motherboard is a good buy if a user is looking to assemble a low cost, reliable gaming machine. It’s just a shame that this product doesn’t have what it takes to break free of just what it was meant to do, but given the fact that it costs just shy of $110 – or rather, is shockingly cheap, I would say this is a good candidate for the great value award!”



Super Talent Ships Tiny Gold 8GB Storage Device
San Jose, California – July 15, 2008 -- Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced the PICO-C Gold, a 24-carat gold plated, water resistant USB drive that weighs less than a nickel (~4.7 grams), is smaller than an SD card, and can store over 2,000 MP3 songs.
Super Talent uses chip-on-board (COB) technology to squeeze 8GB of Flash into an impressively small 31.3mm x 12.4mm x 3.4mm gold plated steel case. The Pico-C Gold is shock resistant, water resistant, and has up to 200X (30MB/sec) transfer speeds. The Pico-C Gold includes a sturdy gold chain, and looks more like a fashion accessory than a high performance Flash drive.



Patriot Memory Releases "Warp" Solid State Drives (SSD) up to 64GB
Fremont, California, USA, July 15, 2008 - Patriot Memory, a global provider of premium quality memory module and flash memory solutions, today released their "Warp" Solid State Drives (SSD). Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, Patriot's Warp SSD's offer many benefits that are superior to traditional hard disk drives.

Built with NAND flash rather than traditional magnetic platters as the storage medium, Patriot's Warp SSD's offer faster read/write speeds, uses less power and are more rugged and reliable versus traditional HDD drives. In addition Warp's SSD offers Error Checking and Correction (ECC) as well as proprietary wear-leveling algorithms which ensure both data integrity and prolonged life of the SSD's.



Quick Bytes:

Flip Video Ultra Digital Camcorder Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Moneual Labs MonCaso 972 HTPC Chassis Review @ OCIA.net
Zotac GTX 280 1GB AMP! Edition Video Card @ TheTechLounge
P45 head-to-head: MSI P45 Platinum and Asus Maximus II Formula@ Madshrimps
Hiper Osiris Aluminum ATX Case @ techPowerUp
Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DS5 Motherboard Review @ sharky
Antec Three Hundred Gaming Chassis @ HotHardware.com
Kingston HyperX 2GB PC3-12800 Review @ ASE Labs
BenQ G2400W Review @ OCC
A-DATA Gaming Series DDR2-800 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review @ ThinkComputers.org
OCZ Vendetta 2 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks
Novint Falcon Review @ Rbmods
Thermaltake M9 Case Review @ Ninjalane
CSX Diablo PC3 16000 DDR3 2x1GB Review @ OCC
SilverStone Decathlon STT-DA700 700W PSU Review on Technic3D

VH News: Tuesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 @ 3:06

Patriot Viper 4GB PC3-12800 (1600MHz) Memory Kit Review @ VH


“If you're spending your hard earned cash on the new DDR3 standard, then you expect nothing short of stable, dependable performance whether you're using a 32-bit or 64-bit system. The memory must be reliable if you just play games or if your system is a serious number crunching SETI beast. The Patriot Viper 4GB PC3-12800 Dual Channel Memory Kit thoroughly tested here offered nothing short of those expectations. The memory is fully backward compatible with your 1066 MHz and 1333 MHz Core 2 series Intel processors. The extra performance gained from the memory's timings at lower 6-6-6-18 setting should be a pleasant bonus which also equates to plenty of bandwidth.”



OCZ Technology Group Unveils Intel® Centrino® 2 whitebook
Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 14, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, components, and systems, today introduced a new whitebook solution powered by the long awaited Intel® Centrino® 2 (“Montevina”) platform. This state-of-the-art platform technology provides a breakthrough in mobile computing for higher performance, advanced connectivity, and longer battery life. In addition, the new OCZ whitebooks are built for superior on-the-go gaming by harnessing the world’s highest-performing mobile processor, the Intel Core™2 Extreme X9100.



Quick Bytes:

Thermaltake Xaser VI Mx VH9000BWS Review @ OCC
mStation Orb 2.1 Stereo Speaker System for iPod Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Asus Maximus II Formula Intel P45 Motherboard @ HotHardware.com
Tuniq Miniplant 950w Review @ XSReviews
XFX nForce® 750a SLI (MD-A72P-7509) @ Bjorn3D
Patriot Xporter XT 4 GB Ruggedized Flash Drive @ TechwareLabs
ThermalTake Armor+ MX Case at Modders-Inc
EagleTech N Series Enclosure @ Pro-Clockers
PowerColor Radeon HD 4850 512MB and CrossFire performance review @ Elite Bastards
QNAP TS-409U Turbo NAS @ BIOSLEVEL.com
ASUS P-Series AMD 690G Barebone PC @ Techgage
A-DATA Vitesta DDR3-1600X 2GB Memory Kit @ tweaktown
Cyber Snipa Stinger Game Mouse Review @ ModReactor
Edifier R1200T Multimedia Speaker System Review @ ModSynergy.com
Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3 1600 EPP2.0 Memory Review on Technic3D
Asrock Penryn1600SLIX3-WiFi S775 Motherboard Review @ Madshrimps
BFG LS680 680W Power Supply Review @ JonnyGURU.com
Coolink Chipchilla Chipset Cooler @ techPowerUp
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Video Card 100243L @ Benchmark Reviews
Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 Intel P45 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
ATEN CS1782: 2-Port USB 2.0 DVI KVMP Switch at Overclockers Online

VH News: Weekend Edition
Posted by Diceman on Sunday, July 13, 2008 @ 8:46

LapDawg X4 Multi-Desk Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Well enter the aftermarket laptop desk market. It's huge and growing with seemingly new designs coming into the market all the time. Well today I have a new laptop desk, rather tray...err rather a multi-use and multi-functional tray for your viewing pleasure. It's called the LapDawg X4 multi-functional tray. The contacted me for a review and I'm guessing it's because one of the many uses LapDawg claims it's X4 can handle is lapdesk duty. So, let's take a closer look at what this X4 has to offer for its $130.00 USD Price.”



Quick Bytes:

NZXT Rogue Case Review @ HardwareLogic
Visiontek Radeon HD 4850 Videocard Review @ Rbmods
Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red DDR2-800 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review @ ThinkComputers.org
ATEN CS1782 Dual-DVI USB KVMP Switch @ OCModShop
Asus ENGTX260 videocard @ Hardwareoverclock Austria
Razer DiamondbackT 3G Gaming Mouse @ Hardware-Mods.com
Xigmatek Porter N881 Chipset Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods

VH News: Friday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Friday, July 11, 2008 @ 6:21

ATEN CS1782 Dual DVI KVM(P) Switch Review @ Virtual-Hideout


Most KVM’s are still the older PS/2 and VGA style, a year ago there were less than a handful of DVI/USB KVM switches. Now most companies offer at least one, and some are adding more features. It has been a while since I last reviewed a KVM switch from Aten. At the time I reviewed the CS1762, I said it was a good KVM, but it was missing some features I required. I figured it would be the next generation that did what I needed.

Well that generation has come, it has taken a little more time than I thought, but on first blush, the CS1782 has everything I want in a KVM.



OCZ Technology Introduces Elixir Keyboards under the new Alchemy line of Gaming Products


Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 10, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and components, today announced the expansion of its gaming peripherals under a new “Alchemy” line, with the introduction of the Elixir keyboard series for highly advanced functionality in game-play. Featuring a wealth of user-friendly features combined with an ergonomic and sturdy design, the Elixir keyboard will deliver a unique combination of performance and vale to gamers as they blaze through the latest PC titles.

“The new Alchemy line from OCZ is designed to offer gamers quality gaming solutions that deliver both exceptional performance and value,” said Eugene Chang, Product Manager of the OCZ Technology Group. “Just because gamers have a budget doesn't mean they shouldn't enjoy premium gaming features, and our first Alchemy solution the Elixir gaming keyboard is designed with quality ergonomics and offers efficient game-play with programmable macro keys.”
The Elixir is a high-quality keyboard featuring the necessary features such as 10 tri-mode programmable macro keys, mode selection, a pop-up menu shortcut, and Windows® Media Players optical controller. The sleek design of the Alchemy Elixir Series will maintain your comfort throughout long gaming sessions with its membrane tactical keys made from 100% rubber-coating for no-slip comfort and ergonomic design. The Elixir also features a USB port for added convenience, along with an extremely reliable lifestyle of 5 million cycles. The Elixir series is compatible with Windows® XP (SP2 or later) and Windows® Vista™. Elixir keyboards feature a MSRP of $29.99 and are the ultimate accessory for a budget gaming system.



CrazyPC offers in-house EL Neon Wire Kits - Electroluminescent Wire, Neon Wire, EL Wire, Glow Wire for Computers


Our EL Neon Wire Kits are perfect for modding your computer. Each kit includes round flexible electroluminescent wire and power inverter. EL Wire is used to create lighting mods. Wire can be bent and shaped to create your own PC Mods. Use it as a trim lighting or create your own design.



Sans Digital Announces Compact 2-Bay NAS Enclosure Loaded with Features – AccuNAS AN2L
City of Industry, CA – July 11, 2008 – Sans Digital, a leading provider of high performance storage subsystems, today introduced AccuNAS AN2L, a 2-bay compact multifunctional network attached storage unit.

The Sans Digital AccuNAS AN2L is a high performance network attached storage with unlimited possibilities. It not only supports digital file sharing over the network in Windows, Linux and Mac environment, it also allows playback of digital multimedia directly via PS3/PSP, XBOX and other digital media player using UPnP and DLNA. Images and photographs could be easily shared via the web using the Photo Station feature, with automatically creates thumbnails and web pages for these files. The AN2L supports iTunes Server by allowing automatic MP3 detection and display in PC or MAC’s iTunes software. Its Web Hard Drive feature allows off site file access, where data could be retrieved from various locations. Its Network Recycle Bin prevents accidental file deletion by saving deleted file in a temporary location.



Quick Bytes:

Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Review @ OCC
Palit GeForce GTX 280 1GB @ Techgage
Super Talent MasterDrive MX 60 GB SATA-II SSD @ Benchmark Reviews
Corsair Dominator CM3X1024-1800C7DIN DDR3 @ t-break
Coolink Chillaramic Review @ PCMHZ
Samsung 2263UW LCD Monitor at Overclockers Online
Antec Twelve Hundred ATX Gaming Case Review @ futurelooks
Top Deck Tech Station (Large) @ Bjorn3D
ASUS P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP @n @ Phoronix
SilverStone Decathlon 700W PSU Review @ DriverHeaven
ZEROtherm Zen ZF120 Cooler @ Pro-Clockers

VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 10, 2008 @ 5:18

Kingston 2GB DDR3-1600 HyperX DDR3 Memory Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Surprisingly, Kingston was a little conservative on the specs. The memory can operate freely at 8-8-8-24 timings as well as stock. This was achieved without any extra memory voltage. It's a nice extra bonus not in the specifications. Overclocking is somewhat limited which isn't surprising. The ICs are pretty much already well tuned and operating at what Kingston feels is optimal. Again, the memory in all its 1600 MHz splendor is going to be enough for power users. Also, if your current motherboard isn't quite up to the 1600 MHz FSB, you can still enjoy great performance at lower frequencies and timings.”



Kingston Technology Releases HyperX High-Performance DDR2 SO-DIMMs in 3GB Kits
Fountain Valley, CA – July 9, 2008 – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is shipping HyperX® 667MHz and 800MHz low-latency DDR2 SO-DIMM notebook memory in 3GB kits. The 3GB SO-DIMM kits are an excellent way to take advantage of the Microsoft Windows Vista® 32-bit operating system and for notebook users running mid- to high-performance applications. Kingston's 3GB kits boost system performance and assure users that their notebooks are equal in memory capacity to most of the desktop systems sold on the market today.

The release of the 3GB SO-DIMM kits continues a series of new performance notebook memory offerings from Kingston®. Kingston HyperX memory is now available in 2GB, 3GB and 4GB kits.

Kingston 3GB Kit HyperX 667MHz & 800MHz Low Latency DDR2 SO-DIMM Specifications:

Part Number
KHX5300S2LLK2/3G
3GB 667MHz Low Latency DDR2 (CL4-4-4-12 @ 1.8v) SO-DIMMs, kit of 2 $ 102.50 (MSRP U.S. only)

KHX6400S2LLK2/3G
3GB 800MHz Low Latency DDR2 (CL5-5-5-18 @ 1.8v) SO-DIMMs, kit of 2
$ 106.25 (MSRP U.S. only)

Kingston HyperX memory is backed by a lifetime warranty and free, 24/7 technical support. For more detailed information, please visit the Kingston Web site at www.kingston.com//hyperx.



D-LINK NOW SHIPPING FIRST DivX CONNECTED HIGH-DEFINITION MEDIA PLAYER IN U.S.


FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 09, 2008 -- D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumer and business, and DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIVX), a digital media company, today announced the availability of the first DivX Connected™ media player in the U.S., with distribution in Canadian markets soon to follow.
The D-Link® MediaLounge® DSM-330 enables the seamless streaming of music, photos, Internet services and high definition video from PCs to the television.



Quick Bytes:

Tagan A+ CS-Monolize Review @ OCC
Sennheiser PC 350 Gaming Headset Review @ Digital Trends
OCZ Rally2 32Gb USB Stick Review @ Madshrimps
Aerocool Modern-V LCD Fan Controller and Temperature Monitor Review @ DragonSteelMods
Thermalright IFX-14 CPU and Back-side Heatpipe Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com
Thermaltake Toughpower 1000 Watt Modular @ Bjorn3D
Alienware m15x 15.4-inch Gaming Laptop Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Sapphire PI-AM2RS780G Review @ OCC
ECS P43T Socket 775 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers
Raidmax Iceberg Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
Antec Three Hundred vs. Twelve Hundred Gaming Case review at Metku
Thermaltake Armor+ MX Midtower ATX Computer Case @ Legit Reviews
PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 860W @ Hardwareoverclock Austria
Hiyatek CF-6160-1 Laptop Cooling Pad Review @ Bigbruin.com

VH News: Tuesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 @ 6:24

Antec Three Hundred Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Sure you have to buy a power supply, and I know they want to pass that off as a “feature” (lol, marketing people are funny), but at $60, I sure couldn’t find a nicer case for that price. It’s well laid out, sturdy and light, with a lot of extras you wouldn’t expect to find, even in cases much more expensive. I love how clean the case is, it doesn't try and hit you over the head with blue LED's or flimsy plastic parts that are hot glued on.”



OCZ Introduces DDR3 Laptop Memory for High-End Mobile Systems
Sunnyvale, CA—July 7, 2007—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the all-new DDR3 SODIMM modules as its next generation notebook memory to support the impending Intel® Centrino® 2 mobile platform. These latest memory offerings for notebooks help reduce power consumption and increase speed and bandwidth, resulting in a higher performing laptop. As next-generation laptops are introduced in the upcoming weeks, OCZ is prepared to deliver high-performance DDR3 for these advanced gaming and professional systems.

The benefits of DDR3 memory now extends beyond desktop systems to laptops, offering increased frequencies at lower voltage requirements. OCZ’s PC3-8500 and PC3-10666 SODIMM kits support enthusiast-grade performance and bring speeds to notebook systems that were previously unimaginable. Early-adopting gamers and professionals will benefit from the more productive computing experience that the combination of the new Centrino 2 technology and OCZ DDR3 modules can provide.



Sans Digital, a leading provider of high performance storage subsystems, is expanding its TowerRAID product line.
City of Industry, CA – July 07, 2008 – Sans Digital, a leading provider of high performance storage subsystems, is expanding its TowerRAID product line. The new TowerRAID series ranges from two to eight bays, in either eSATA / USB or both interfaces. This storage series offers users a wide range of selections when it comes to choosing the perfect storage solution.

The TR4U(B) and TR8U(B) are 4-bay and 8-bay storage enclosures, featuring JBOD and spanning modes for individual hard drive access. Storage modes could be selected via an easy access dip switch located on the back panel. Both units are environmental friendly with Auto-Power option, where the unit powers on only when the connected computer is on. The TR4M(B), TR5M1, and TR8M(B) are 4-bay, 5-bay, and 8-bay storage enclosures utilizing the latest SATA II port multiplier technology, which allows the connection of multiple SATA drives. TR4M(B) and TR5M1 utilize only one cable to connect up to four and five hard drives respectively. TR8M(B) utilizes only two cables to connect up to eight hard drives. Using the bundled two ports eSATA PCIe adapter, the user could easily access up to eight hard drives via JBOD mode. This eSATA series also supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, 5+spare, spanning and JBOD using the latest Silicon Image SATARAID utility, providing cost-effective redundancy solutions. On the other hand, the TR2UT-B is a 2-bay RAID enclosure that supports USB 2.0 as well as eSATA connection. It features four different RAID modes (RAID 0, 1 Spanning and JBOD), and is the smallest unit of the series with the most abundant features.



Quick Bytes:

LapLogic G800 (W800) Aerogel Extreme LapDesk @ TechwareLabs
Antec Three Hundred @ Bjorn3D
Silicon Power 64GB SATA Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews
Review: Eagle Consus D-Series @ GideonTech.com
Asus M70S Laptop Review @ Digital Trends
Thecus N5200BR NAS Server @ HotHardware.com
Tuniq Miniplant 950W Power Supply Review @ HardwareLogic.com
X48 Roundup: ASUS, ECS & Intel @ Techgage
Silenx Ixtrema Review @ OCC
Thermaltake Armor+ MX PC Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Diablotek GeForce 8600GT 1GB Graphics Card Review @ OCIA.net
Samsung SC HMX10A Solid State High Definition Camcorder Review @ ModSynergy.com
Tagan Black Pearl Case Review @ mb
Fractal Design "FD Silent" Lüfter Serie @ Hardware-Mods.com
EVGA GTX 260 FTW Edition Review @ OCC

VH News: Weekend 2nd Edition
Posted by Diceman on Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 7:44

LapLogic AeroGel Extreme Lapdesks Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Today I'll be looking at a new introduction to the lapdesk market from LapLogic.com. Actually two new models with one being regular sized and one being the super-sized model. They're called the new AeroGel Extreme and AeroGel Extreme - Wide laptop desks. With so much competition out there, let's see what sets these new units apart from the pack.”



ZEROtherm Design Contest - Win the Creative Cooler Challenge and win up to 3000$ Cash Money
July 2008, Daejeon, Korea: In an effort to empower the budding creative minds within the enthusiast community, ZEROtherm is taking an unprecedented measure to help aide the development of THE next generation CPU and VGA coolers. Sponsoring the first ever “Creative Cooler Challenge”, ZEROtherm is determined to tap into the unharnessed dreams of the hardware tweaker and help those dreams become a reality.
ZEROtherm understands that hidden inside the mind of the enthusiast there lays the raw untapped desire to create the next monumental advancement in performance enhancing hardware. A need to push hardware beyond its limits resonates at the core of the hardcore! Amidst the countless mathematical equations processed while attempting to reverse engineer various software and hardware constraints in the pursuit of tweaking ones PC, there erupts a singular passion and solution to break the performance barrier… a thermal solution! The time has come to unleash the creativity within and take a shot at making your mark as a driving contributor to the overclocking community! For a chance to be the winner of the $3000 grand prize, a $1000 2nd place prize or one of three lucky 3rd place winners


VH News: Holiday Weekend Edition
Posted by Diceman on Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 4:19

NZXT Tempest Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Despite the wide variety of cases out there, from HTPC units to full towers, there's one quality that they should all possess in order to qualify as being worthwhile and that is having good airflow. It doesn't matter if a case looks like the next Mona Lisa if it doesn't keep your rig cool. With this in mind, NZXT has released the Tempest, a gaming-oriented case that claims to be the "Air Flow King". With six fans included stock, two of which are huge 140mm units the Tempest certainly looks the part. Can this mid-tower live up to the hype?”



Quick Bytes:

ECS Factory Tour @ OCC
In Win B2 Stealth Bomber Mid Tower ATX Case Review @ Bigbruin.com
Sapphire HD3870 Ultimate Video Card @ Pro-Clockers
Point of View GeForce GTX 260 Assassins Creed Edition @ techPowerUp
Crucial Ballistix 1GBx2 PC3-16000 at Overclockers Online
Visiontek ATI Radeon HD4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI Express Video Card Review @ mb
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews
XFX GeForce 8800 GS & 8800 GS XXX @ Bjorn3D
Super Talent Pico-C 8Gb Micro USB Stick Review @ Madshrimps
Zotac nForce 790i Supreme Mainboard Review on Technic3D
Diamond HD 4870 512MB Reviewed @ TheTechLounge
Asus EN9600GT Top/HTDI/512M Videocard Review @ PCSTATS.com
SilverStone Nightjar 450W Zero dBA Fanless Power Supply @ 3dgameman

VH News: Thursday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Thursday, July 3, 2008 @ 5:38

Dynapower USA TP-LINK (TL-WR543G) 54Mbps and (TL-WR642G) 108Mbps Routers Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“Dynapower USA sent over the TP-LINK 54M Wireless AP Client Router and the 108M Wireless Router. Each of the routers have XR, or Extended Range, technology which can increase the range 2 to 3 times the normal 802.11b range. They both are designed for Small Office/Home Office wireless networks, and integrate Firewall, NAT-router and Wireless AP. The 54M Router additionally sports a 4-port switch. Not only designed for the Small Office/Home application but for those of use on a small budget.”



OCZ Technology Introduces the Latest DDR3 Kits within the Intel Extreme Memory Series
Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 2, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the expansion of its Intel® Extreme Memory modules lineup, the latest memory solution that implements a high-performance specification optimized and predefined for the Intel X38 and X48 chipsets. The new modules are rated at DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 and feature the all-new Intel branded black XTC heatspreader. With a long history of providing the most innovative products to the enthusiast community, OCZ is excited to take advantage of Intel’s interest and development of overclocking platforms with these latest additions to the series.

Designed to significantly increase performance levels of the entire platform, these modules feature Intel Extreme Memory Profiles (XMP), a proprietary extension of SPD (Serial Presence Detect) settings that act as an integrated “plug and play” overclocking tool. The new Extreme Memory Profile options on the new OCZ DDR3 modules allow the end user to select extreme or ultimate performance through a framework of predefined and validated optimizations of individual settings without the hassle of manually adjusting each parameter, so the timings, voltage, and speed boot automatically for maximum performance.



Quick Bytes:

Sigma SP-700 700W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Aten CS1782 DVI KVMP Switch Review @ OCC
HIS HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 Video Card @ 3dgameman
XtremeMac Tango X2 @ Techgage
Kingwin Revolution RVT-12025D CPU Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods
G.Skill PI 2x2GB PC3-12800 DDR3 Kit Review @ Hardware Canucks
Asus Eee PC 901 Laptop Review @ Digital Trends
Sapphire 1024MB Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card Review @ Bigbruin.com
ECS P45T-A Black Edition @ t-break
Razer Piranha - Headphones at Modders-Inc
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 280 AMP! Edition Video Card @ BmR

VH News: Wednesday Edition
Posted by Diceman on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 @ 5:40

ThermalTake ProWater 850i Liquid Cooling System Review @ Virtual-Hideout


“For this review though, you the reader might want to keep the beverages away from the system, as I’ll be flooding the veins of my test rig soon enough. That’s right, today on the bench is Thermaltake’s ProWater 850i – an all-in-one starter watercooling kit with a decidedly set of pretty packaging. Will it perform to expectations, or simply end up as another one of those mistaken purchases? Roll on over to the next page to find out.”



OCZ Technology Announces Core Series SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drive


Sunnyvale, CA—July 1, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and computer components, today unveiled the OCZ Core Series SATA II 2.5” Solid State Drives (SSDs). OCZ has gained momentum in this pioneering technology, which uses NAND flash instead of rotating platters as the storage medium, and is a high-performance, highly reliable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional hard disc drives.
“SSDs offer higher performance, reliability, and energy efficiency than conventional HDDs but the cost variance has limited adoption of vastly superior SSD technology, until now,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. “It is our mission to deliver the highest performance products to consumers at reasonable prices, and with the release of the Core Series SSDs we have done exactly that.”

Core series SSD drives are available in capacities of 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB and deliver incredible 120-143MBs/ 80-93MBs read/write speeds and seek times of less than 0.35ms, making the Core series up to 10x as fast on a seek-time basis and up to 40% faster on a R/W basis that the best performing 2.5” HDDs on the market, all while consuming 50% less power. MSRPs at time of launch are USD $169, $259 and $479 for 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models respectively.



ZEROtherm Creative Cooler Challenge - 1st place $3000.- cash price + more
“In an effort to empower the budding creative minds within the enthusiast community, ZEROtherm is taking an unprecedented measure to help aide the development of THE next generation CPU and VGA coolers. Sponsoring the first ever “Creative Cooler Challenge”, ZEROtherm is determined to tap into the unharnessed dreams of the hardware tweaker and help those dreams become a reality.”


“The time has come to unleash the creativity within and take a shot at making your mark as a driving contributor to the overclocking community! For a chance to be the winner of the $3000 grand prize, a $1000 2nd place prize or one of three lucky 3rd place winner.”



Quick Bytes:

Apack ZEROTherm GX820 und Apack ZEROTherm HC92 CU 8800 @ Hardware-Mods.com
ASUS Maximus II Formula motherboard review @ Elite Bastards
SilenX IXTREMA Pro IXC-120HA2 @ Bjorn3D
Thermaltake Xaser VI VG4000SNA Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews.net
ASUS P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi-AP@n @ t-break
Gigabyte Overclocking Tournament Coverage @ HardwareLogic
Gigabyte International Overclocking Tournament Coverage @ OCC
ASRock K10N780SLIX3-WiFi nForce 780a SLI Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Thermaltake XaserVI Mx Case Review @ Rbmods
QNAP TS-209 Pro Gigabit SATA NAS @ Benchmark Reviews
Razer Lycosa reviewed at BurnOutPC.com
HDT Cooler Shootout at Icrontic.com

 

 


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