Hardware News
QNAP TS-219P II Turbo NAS Review
October 31, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven have posted a review of the brand new QNAP TS-219P II Turbo network attached storage (NAS) device.
Here's what they had to say:
"While the software aspect of this product is superb, we were also impressed with the performance of the TS 219P II. 106 MB/s in our sequential read test is a very impressive result, especially when factoring in the very modest asking price of £286.58 inc vat. The 2GHZ Marvel KirkWood processor is extremely capable and QNAP include a generous 512MB of DDR3 memory, ensuring that the system is responsive at all times.
Build quality is excellent, and while many parts are not metal, this is to be expected within the sub £300 sector. The small 70mm fan may raise a few eyebrows, but in reality it is actually quiet and can be fine tuned via the user interface."
As usual, QNAP has created another excellent 2-bay NAS.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Lian Li Cowry PC-U6 Micro-ATX Case Reviews
October 31, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks and techPowerUp have reviewed the Lian Li Cowry PC-U6, a special edition micro-ATX case that features an aluminum seashell design.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Hardware Canucks:
"Computer cases usually fall into one of two categories: boring and bland or functional and good looking. Lian Lis new Cowry PC-U6 Special Edition doesnt fit into any of these preconceived molds but it does blaze a somewhat unique trail in a market niche that hasnt seen much innovation of late.
Designing mATX and micro ATX cases doesnt usually involve a large amount of finesse since they are usually meant to act as HTPC enclosures and blend into their surroundings. Lian Li on the other hand has taken a path less travelled by introducing a product that caters to HTPC users but stands out like a sore thumb. Some have called it a snail, others see it as an odd throwback to a cinnamon danish but can the Cowry surprise us all by justifying its staggering $300 asking price?"
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"Nowhere else will you find a chassis of this shape in combination with the quality Lian Li delivers. Once you know to appreciate that, you will have to ask yourself if the price tag is worth it, as you are definitely paying for that aspect of the chassis as well. In terms of functionality, the PC-U6 does not disappoint either, being able to swallow up to five hard drives and long graphics cards.
My biggest gripes with the chassis are twofold: Lian Li should have included a card reader in the chassis as there is simply no way to add one yourself due to the lack of an additional drive bay. The second is the fact that the PSU bay - at least in our sample - was so tight, that I had to beat the thing into the bay."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Enermax Platimax 600W Modular Power Supply Review
October 31, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets have reviewed the new, high-end Enermax Platimax 850W power supply, which is 80Plus Platinum certified.
Here's what they had to say:
"As expected, the Enermax Platimax 600 W proved to be a top-notch power supply, with outstanding efficiency between 88.4% and 92.2%, voltages closer to their nominal values most of the time, very low noise and ripple levels, and a terrific cable configuration for a 600 W unit.
The only real negative point of this power supply is its price, USD 180. We know that this is the manufacturer suggested retail price and online stores usually sell power supplies for less than the MSRP, but it will still cost more than twice the price of good 600 W units with the 80 Plus Bronze certification. Therefore, for the average user there are products with far better price/performance ratio out there. For the user who demands only the best in its class, however, the Platimax 600 W may be a nice fit."
This is another excellent power supply from Enermax, and it might even be better than the seemingly perfect Corsair AX650.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS & GIGABYTE Intel X79 LGA2011 Motherboard Previews
October 31, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews, ocaholic, and Techgage have posted some previews of upcoming Intel X79 'Sandy Bridge-E' LGA2011 motherboards from ASUS and GIGABYTE.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Legit Reviews: ASUS Intel X79 Motherboards - P9X79, TUF, WS and ROG Rampage IV Extreme:
"Intel will be releasing the Intel X79 Express chipset next month and that means we'll start to see X79 motherboards with the new LGA 2011 socket hitting the market. ASUS today announced the companies Intel X79 Express motherbaord lineup and sent over a number of pictures for us to post up for our readers. ASUS will be launching four series of Intel X79 motherboards.
ASUS claims their Intel X79 series of motherboards highlight best-in-class performance, stability, features and a user experience that is unmatched. This is something that we will certainly have to test and try out once Intel releases the processors for this platform. Let's take a look at the ASUS Intel X79 boards."
Click here to read the full review.
- ocaholic: Gigabyte X79-Line-Up - Layout and Design:
"With Gigabyte, the first heavy weight in the motherboard market shows it's entire line-up regarding their upcoming X79 motherboards. The GA-X79-UD3 will therefore be the entry level board. The GA-X79-UD5 aims at content creation and the GA-X79-UD7 targets overclockers and enthusiasts. And finally there will also be a board only for gamer: the G1.Assassin 2, which at a first glance seems not to make any compromise at all."
Click here to read the full review.
- Techgage: ASUS X79 Motherboard Preview:
"Bringing out the boards, the P9X79 family will fill the role of the mainstream motherboards and will include at least four separate models, one of which has been somehow condensed into the mATX form factor.
There will be the standard Deluxe, Pro, and vanilla offerings, but ASUS made it clear that even the vanilla model will retain all core functionality included in the P9X79 Deluxe. This includes the digital PWM circuitry and all eight memory slots. All P9X79 boards will include four fan headers in addition to the processor fan header, and all will allow customized control from within ASUS' extensive fan control suite."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Gaming Headset Review Roundup - Cooler Master, Corsair, SteelSeries & More
October 31, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, HardwareHeaven, and KitGuru have reviewed a few gaming headsets from Cooler Master, Corsair, SpeedLink, SteelSeries, and Thermaltake.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: SpeedLink Medusa NX 5.1 Headset Review:
"In terms of comfort we found the Medusa Headset really excels, compared to other full 5.1 headsets it is extremely light and so after a few minutes you do forget you are wearing a headset. The ear pads are just the right size that they support some of the weight without crushing your ear and still block some of the external noises.
The price of this headset makes this one of the best value headsets we have ever seen and tested here at eTeknix. For just £48.60 you can have the full surround sound experience which does have pinpoint precision and impressive sound quality as well as punchy bass and full control over each channel. A perfect peripheral for everyones computer demands, whether a serious gamer or just wanting to enjoy films without annoying the neighbours, and at this price, we really couldnt knock it."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven: Thermaltake eSPORTS Isurus In-Ear Gaming Headset Review:
"Looking at the overall build quality and design of the Isurus we have a product which feels robust and looks nice. Additionally we found the Isurus was a comfortable headset to wear, even though it has an in-ear design, as Tt eSports have provided different sizes of ear sleeves ensures that the Isurus will fit comfortably for most people.
Another good aspect of the Isurus headset is that it supports multi-format use so although it it can be used as a gaming headset we found it was also very good when used as a headset for our iPod shuffle. This was further cemented as the sound quality of the Isurus is very good, with plenty of detail in music and gaming with little background noise bleeding through."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 Headset Reviewþ:
"The Sirus 5.1 have been designed from the ground up with a complete focus on sound quality, and it shines through. Sadly, many gamers may find them heavy, uncomfortable and uncompromising in design. Being used to headphones 8 to 15 times more expensive than the Sirius means I have already had to adapt to weightier designs so they didnt prove a problem for me. Clan gamers who I got involved in this review admired the sound quality but said that they would find it hard to live with the weight and rigidity.
Rating these headphones is difficult, because on sound quality alone they score 9.5 out of 10. In other areas they may prove difficult for people to live with, so we need to score them a little lower. They are certainly a headset I would recommend you get a hands on with first, because at £114 inc vat they are not an impulse purchase."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: Corsair Vengeance 1500 Gaming Headset Review:
"Build quality is the main area in which the Vengeance 1500 excels. The combination of high quality plastic and brushed aluminum gives the headset a very sturdy construction, giving us full confidence that it will be able to withstand some long term abuse.
As hoped, the performance of the headset was very strong throughout all of our gaming, movie and music tests. Both Dolby Headphone and the 7.1 virtual surround sound technology give the gaming and movie experience an extra dimension and improve the overall audio quality. We are also able to optimise the sound balance of the headset for different types of playback, using the presets within the control panel."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: SteelSeries 5H V2 Medal of Honor Gaming Headset Review:
"We were impressed by the performance of the SteelSeries 5H V2 as it proved to be very capable in our gaming tests. We do feel that those who take their gaming seriously should consider the USB version which features 7.1 virtual surround sound. Those looking for a good all-round headset, not just one for gaming, should probably consider the SteelSeries Siberia V2 instead, though, as it better suited. It is also more comfortable to wear and is significantly more exciting to look at.
The SteelSeries 5H V2 has some other great features that are worth mentioning. Firstly, the build quality is top-notch and the headset can be twisted and bent without being damaged. Secondly, the headset splits up into three separate pieces, making it ideal for taking to LAN events like i43."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Akasa Venom Voodoo CPU Cooler Reviews
October 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Hardware Secrets, Real World Labs, and X-bit Labs have reviewed the new Akasa Venom Voodoo CPU cooler, which features six heatpipes and two 120 mm fans.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix:
"The Voodoo doesnt manage to keep pace with the mighty Cooler Master V6GT but its performance is very much on par with Xigmateks Aegir SD128264 and Cooler Masters Hyper 212 Plus which retail at around £35/$60 and £20/$25, respectively. Cooler Master have a price vs performance champion in the 212 Plus which even Akasas offerings cant match. Looking at the competitors results from a price vs performance point of view, the £40/$60 Akasa offering may not be considered a particularly appealing buy, but we do have to remember that a cooler which punches above its own weight as much as the Hyper 212 Plus does is very rarely seen. As we know though, performance isnt the be all and end all of any modern day computer component."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets:
"We really liked the Akasa Venom Voodoo. It has shown a very good cooling performance with low noise, easy installation, and a great look.
Well, its look is a matter of taste. We loved the big yellow blades of the fans, but be sure it will match the rest of your computer if you dont want to have a Christmas tree on your desk. Or, if you dont mind how your computer looks internally, just forget the color of the fans. They are powerful and quiet."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs:
"Akasa has made a good name in the market during all these years mainly thanks to their CPU Coolers which although not on par with the ones by other leading companies such as Thermalright did manage to combine good performance at affordable price tags and thats what most people are really after. The Venom Voodoo continues that trend but I really did expect something more especially since it only managed to surpass the regular Venom version but just 1.6 degrees Celsius. Of course a second fan and 6 smaller heatpipes instead of 4 larger ones are not enough to produce miracles but still the performance difference between both models is not what I was expecting (although its a lot better than nothing at all)."
Click here to read the full review.
- X-bit Labs:
"Thats what the rocknroll from Akasa is like. If you are looking for efficient cooling at a low level of noise, then you might want to consider other options, maybe even cheaper ones. As for Venom Voodoo, it will be great for those users who are into snakes, Voodoo cult, yellow color and similar things, and also those who are going to be among the first owners of the new LGA2011 system and are ready to invest $60 into a new cooler for it. And this is something Akasa Venom Voodoo is absolutely ready for."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Battlefield 3 CPU & GPU Performance Analysis
October 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D and TechSpot have benchmarked the highly-anticipated new Battlefield 3 first-person shooter PC game with a large array of CPUs and GPUs.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Guru3D:
"That means your starting point at this resolution, 1280x1024, is roughly a Radeon HD 6870. By all means changing image quality will help out with performance greatly, we'll show you some examples later on in this article. but being catered towards an enthusiast audience we focus on high-end image quality first.
In more civilized 1600x1200'ish monitor resolutions you'll notice that the numbers are already start crumbling down. By the way make sure you have a graphics card with 1024MB of graphics memory at the least for these settings and HQ textures. A GeForce GTX 560 Ti would be optimal for the money in this resolution on the ATI Radeon side, really with these quality settings 6970 is your best bet. It is the MSAA that is killing off the cards though, it eats away roughly half the perf."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechSpot:
"For example, in Deus Ex dual-cores were 43% slower than their quad-core counterparts. Battlefield 3 on the other hand delivered similar frame rates with a decent dual-core as it did with a quad.
Having that said, we prefer the peace of mind of the quad-core as the game will max out a Phenom II X2. According to our tests a Phenom II X4, FX-4000 series CPU and even the Athlon II X4 will provide very similar performance with the same level of CPU utilization.
On that same note, we were surprised by the average performance of the FX-4100 (for a quad-core) or the 8-threaded FX-8150, which appeared to be considerably less efficient than the Core i7-2600K. As we recently found out when testing AMDs new Bulldozer CPUs, the Core architecture of the Sandy Bridge processors remain faster and more efficient and this was again evident when testing with Battlefield 3."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
SilverStone Treasure TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Review
October 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews have reviewed the SilverStone TS07 USB 3.0 3.5" hard drive enclosure.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Silverstone have released some of the best chassis designs in recent years, so it was interesting for us to look at some of their latest USB 3.0 oriented peripherals.
The SST-TS07B is a finely crafted external exclosure which will look fantastic on a desk, or on top of a new system. The build quality and finish are first class and the tool-less design works a treat, allowing you to swap out 3.5 inch drives with ease. Performance is just as impressive, and we recorded similar speeds with our 2TB drive when it was hooked up via a SATA port, internally."
This seems like a solid USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure, but it doesn't differ much from most of the other models on the market right now.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake eSPORTS MEKA G-Unit Gaming Keyboard Review
October 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks have posted a review of the Thermaltake eSPORTS MEKA G-Unit gaming keyboard.
Let's see what they had to say:
"When I first saw the Tt eSPORTS Meka G-Unit gaming keyboard, the first thing I told myself was this: I got to get it. I mean, where else can you get a mechanical gaming keyboard with so many macro keys, dedicated multimedia controls, and such an awesomely funny name to boot? Really, there is none like Thermaltake's latest foray into the computer peripherals market. Cherry MX Black keyswitches. Included palm rest (Yes, many mechanical keyboards don't have it, for some reason). 64K memory to store your custom configuration profiles. USB hub and audio. Partially backlit keys. With all this combined into a solidly constructed keyboard that screams quality at every corner, there are just a few minor things I would like to see changed in future revisions."
This is solid keyboard, as are most of Thermaltake's numerous other eSports Meka series keyboards.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
1050W-1500W Power Supply Review Roundup - Antec, Cooler Master, Corsair & More
October 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, PC Perspective, PureOverclock, Real World Labs, techPowerUp, and ThinkComputers have reviewed a few 1050W to 1500W power supplies from Antec, Cooler Master, Corsair, and Thermaltake.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: Antec High Current Pro 1200W Modular Power Supply Review:
"In short, if you are a true hardware enthusiast or professional who wants to buy a PSU to last many, many years powering the very latest hardware then this is a solid option. An initial investment of £220 is nothing compared to what it will provide you with in the long term. The feature set is there, it is capable of powering duel-CPU boards, it is capable of powering the latest graphics cards in multi-GPU configuratons, and most importantly- it wont let you down. If you are serious about hardware, then you are going to need a serious PSU, and the Antec HCP-1200 would be my number one choice."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: Corsair Professional Series HX1050 Power Supply Unit Review:
"The only thing that lets this unit down is the marginal undervolting which is a non-issue but more of a surprise. That and, of course, the price. Weighing in at around £165 from Scan it is directly competing with Silverstones Strider 1000W PSU which beats it in terms of stats and costs the same as well as Silverstones Strider 1200W PSU which beats it in terms of power but not efficiency which costs only £1 more. Tough competition for Corsair- but the quality of the unit as well as Corsiars reputation for enthusiast-grade products should be enough to give the HX1050 the edge.
Overall, if you are looking for a powerful PSU to drive your high-end rig and watercooling loop without shelling out for Corsairs AX-series then the HX1050 is a really solid option providing you with fantastic quality, aesthetics and, most importantly, power!"
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective: Corsair HX1050 Professional Series Power Supply Review:
"The Corsair Professional Series HX1050 power supply delivers good efficiency with clean DC outputs and good voltage regulation. Under normal operating conditions the power supply is very quiet. The HX1050 comes with a good assortment of all-modular cables that can support the latest CPUs and multiple, high-end video cards along with active PFC, universal AC input and a 7-year warranty. Overall, the Corsair HX1050 is very good power supply in its price range. Of course if you want even better performance (80 Plus Gold efficiency, even cleaner DC outputs and tighter voltage regulation) Corsair's Professional Series Gold is available (AX650 thru AX1200) for few more dollars."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1050W Power Supply Unit Review:
"In terms of features, the Silent Pro Hybrid is innovative with its inclusion of a fan controller. More precisely, it's the ability of the unit to operate in a fanless mode with low loads and temperatures, that is truly unique. This certainly keeps noise levels to a minimum, as the fan is certainly audible when the loads ramp up anad the unit is pushed harder.
From a performance standpoint, the Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid has an 80+ Gold certification rating and performed extremely well in the voltage regulation tests, and the fan also helped keep the unit cool as the loads ramped up. However, the ripple results weren't particularly impressive, but they were withing spec, though not by much."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs: Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Power Supply Review:
"The Toughpower 1200W (TP-1200M) is a very good power supply in overall but certainly not the best one we have seen and far from it to be honest but the same applies with most things in life. However it does offer an 80Plus Silver certification (although not as good as Gold Or Platinum still it's very efficient), has plenty of power connectors, produced very good rail stability even at 98% of its total power, outputs a total of 1200W (1300 peak) and comes with a 5 year warranty. On top of that add the pretty good price tag and you can see why it walks with our Editors Real Deal Award."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: Thermaltake Toughpower 1500W Power Supply Review:
"To sum up, if you think that your power needs are huge and only a 1500W unit can cover them then you have only two choices, with one of them being TP-1500M. If you can afford its very high price and don't care about efficiency at low loads then you will be left satisfied since it can really handle 1500W of load so even four high-end VGAs along with other power hungry components won't pose a problem for it. If Thermaltake decides to lower its price close to $300, installs a grommet on the cable exit hole along with an On/Off switch then I could easily recommended TP-1500M to everyone that has crazy energy demands, since it's a real power house."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers: Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1050W Fully Modular Power Supply Review:
"The Cooler master Silent Pro Hybrid 1050W is surely an up to date power supply. With its recent release, its high MSRP of $249.99 may scare some buyers away. However, you have to take into account that this power supply is 80PLUS GOLD Certified, is fully modular, has an included fan controller and has a fanless mode. Since this power supply is new to the market its still hard to find it at retailers.
While I was impressed with that this PSU came equipped with a fan controller, I really cant say that I was overly impressed with its design. Its a functional controller, but its certainly not the best one that Ive seen. Think Computers would like to award the Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1050W Fully Modular Power Supply a 9 out of 10 score and our Editors Choice Award."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake Chaser MK-I Full Tower Case Review
October 27, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock have posted a review of the new Thermaltake Chaser MK-I full tower case.
Here's an excerpt:
"I would have to say Thermaltake has done very well with the Chasar MK-1. The build quality is good and the cooling options are extensive, while cable management is also very good. You may not get too excited over the 200mm color change fans, but they do move a great deal of air and are very quiet. And for some of us its nice to be able to light up our case to match our color theme. There's also the built-in fan speed control to suit your personal preferences.
The hot swap drive bay up front is a welcome addition, along with the USB 3.0, 2.5" SSD install, and the potential for 240mm radiator water cooling, and we're left with a case that offers a variety of options and setup flexibility. There's also just enough flash to show off any hardcore gear that might be installed."
This seems like a decent case, but it looks way too plasticky for $160. I would instead take a look at the Corsair Graphite 600T.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Intel Core i7-2700K LGA1155 Processor Reviews
October 27, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix and KitGuru have posted a review of the brand new Intel Core i7-2700K, which is a quad-core/eight-thread 'Sandy Bridge' LGA1155 processor which runs at 3.5Ghz but can Turbo Boost up to 3.9Ghz.
Here's what they had to say:
- eTeknix:
"Sure the 2700k is 100MHz faster, but in reality, any 2600k will get to the same speed without any tinkering to anything other than the multiplier. Thats the whole point of the unlocked k series chips at the end of the day, right? Though this is true, some believe that the 2700k will be a slightly improved line of processors as its newer and fresher off the production line, and this could hopefully reflect in the way that the processor overclocks. From what we saw by clocking the chip to 5.3GHz at 1.5 volts, its nothing to be laughed at and actually performs slightly better than the 2600k weve been using in terms of clock for clock speed."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"The Core i7 2700k has been released in a very low key manner. The plan was that Intel would release the new chip to redress the performance balance brought to market by AMDs FX 8150 Black Edition. As we all know by now, AMDs FX failed to excite the enthusiast audience and Intels i7 2600k held strong as the performance leader in the sub £300 market.
Intels i7 2700k has basically just replaced the 2600k as the new leader in this sector. As a talking point, it makes for a rather dull conversation. In reality however, the 2700k is a stunning processor and we found that it was easier to get stable at even higher clock speeds. We have several 2600k processors in our labs and they all hit 4.8ghz with modest air cooling. The 2700k sample we received was stable at 5ghz and more is surely available with quality watercooling."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
AMD FX-8150 Eight-Core AM3+ Processor Reviews
October 27, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
t-break and X-bit Labs have reviewed the new flagship AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer/Zambezi eight-core processor, which has a 3.6Ghz default clock speed, Turbo capabilities up to 4.2Ghz, 16MB of total cache, and native support for DDR3-1866.
Let's see what they had to say:
- t-break:
"If youre building a new system and just have to have a modern CPU, get the Intel Core i7-2600K. However, even then Ill say just wait for a few more months. The reason being that not only will the new Sandy Bridge socket LGA2011 processor will be launching soon, but two very exciting Bulldozer CPUs will be coming in Q1 2012. Specifically the FX-4170 which runs at 4.2GHz on stock, turbo up to 4.3GHz on two cores. And then theres the FX-8170 which runs at 3.9GHz on stock, turbo up to 4.5GHz on two cores.
Right now the FX-8150 does not provide the performance we were promised. Forget dethroning Intels flagship Extreme Series CPUs, the FX-8150 is barely able to catch up to the competitively priced i7-2600K, even with overclocking into consideration. So for the time being, just wait "
Click here to read the full review.
- X-bit Labs:
"However I would like to remind you that AMD is competing not only against itself, but also against Intel. Therefore, we have to draw this unwelcome conclusion that FX processors will only be a good choice for those desktop systems that will primarily be used for video processing and transcoding. In all other cases Bulldozer processors, unfortunately, cannot compete against Sandy Bridge. The same is true for power consumption as well as overclocking. I would also like to add that AMD FX processors quite expectedly turned out a poor choice for gamers, because contemporary 3D games barely use true multi-threaded algorithms. However, I am sure that dedicated AMD fans will be able to put up with that, since the fps rate in games is in most cases limited by the graphics card, rather than processor."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
The Effect of GPU Memory on Surround & Stereo 3D Performance
October 27, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have tested the effects of GPU memory sizes on NVIDIA Surround and Stereo 3D gaming performance.
Here's what they had to say:
"The performance of graphics cards be it in multi monitor, stereo 3D or single monitor setups- all comes down to a delicate balancing act. If the core cant process information fast enough, doubling a cards memory allotment wont improve performance. Meanwhile, if bandwidth isnt sufficient for the GPUs output, a faster graphics engine will have no effect. As we saw throughout this article, the effectiveness of additional memory all comes down to a combination of in game settings and the GPUs inherent ability to process rendering information.
The equation above leads us to a simple recommendation: the Zotac GTX 580 3GB is the way to go if youre building a rig that will be used for Surround, 3D Vision or a combination thereof. It isnt all that much more expensive than a reference version, comes with a lifetime warranty and can make a huge difference in the playability of certain games. EVGAs GTX 570 2.5GB on the other hand faces an uphill battle when it comes to justifying a 20% premium over a reference design but it still fared well, particularly during 3D Vision Surround testing."
If you're interested in NVIDIA's Surround and Stereo 3D technology, then this is an article that's definitely worth a look.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Intel Z68 LGA1155 Motherboard Review Roundup - ASRock, GIGABYTE, MSI & More
October 27, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, KitGuru, OCIA, PC Perspective, TechwareLabs, and X-bit Labs have reviewed several Intel Z68 LGA1155 motherboards from ASRock, Biostar, GIGABYTE, and MSI.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: Gigabyte G1.Sniper2 Z68 Motherboard Review:
"There are so many boards on the market, that claim to be aimed at the gaming market and they simply arent. They dont offer anything more to the gamer, so what separates them from the rest? The G1.Sniper 2 actually does offer you more in the way of the Creative X-Fi sound and the Bigfoot Killer NIC which all give a certain edge to the extreme gamer. It allows them to hear gunshots and footprints when an ordinary user wouldnt be able to. It also allows them to play a multiplayer game without the fear of lag or latency issues and these can all be seen as major advantages."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 Review:
"The Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 is another extremely impressive motherboard from ASrock and actually one of the finest Z68 products I have tested to date. ASrock have had to work hard to build up a solid reputation, being considered by many as a budget oriented manufacturer. This year they have put that preconception firmly behind them.
We think the ASrock bios configurations are some of the best on the market. They always offer a series of preset overclocked configurations for inexperienced users which are extremely easy to enable. Their motherboards detect the processor which is installed and then offer various settings to suit a wide audience. Overclocking the Core i7 2600k from 3.4ghz to 4.6ghz simply required a single bios change. A 1.2ghz rock solid overclock with minimal effort really deserves special mention."
Click here to read the full review.
- OCIA: Gigabyte Z68XP-UD5 Motherboard Review:
"The black PCB and matching expansion slots look really nice. I personally didn't have a problem with their older blue boards but I know some people weren't terribly fond of the color scheme. A black board will look at home in virtually any system so if aesthetics are important to you, Gigabyte has you covered.
Another interesting change is how Gigabyte handles their BIOS. The company is using a traditional Award BIOS where you would expect to find it instead of a UEFI BIOS that many other manufacturers are adopting. But Gigabyte has also implemented a full-feature Windows-based BIOS that is essentially a UEFI BIOS, just in Windows. This kind of caters to both arguments; standard BIOS and a colorful user interface. Note that you will need to download the Touch BIOS from Gigabyte to use it as it doesn't come pre-installed."
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective: MSI Z68A-GD80 G3 LGA 1155 ATX Motherboard Reviewþ:
"The Z68A-GD80 builds upon the successes MSI had with their previous P67 motherboards and went all out with their next-generation Click BIOS II. Creating software that seamlessly ties into the BIOS to make changes right from Windows will help users overclock their systems on the fly and make other basic changes. The incorporation of Intel's Z68 chipset really brings together the best features from the H67 and P67 chipsets and allows MSI to leverage all of those capabilities in this $220 motherboard. The addition of three PCI Express 3.0 slots really make this board future proof and a good solution for gamers with SLI or CrossfireX graphics configurations. Overall, the Z68A-GD80 earns PC Perspective's Gold Award."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechwareLabs: ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 Intel Motherboard Review:
"The ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 Intel Motherboard is an excellent example of a well engineered and feature packed hardware offering designed with the enthusiast in mind. With full support for PCIe 3.0, Intel Ivy Bridge, USB 3.0, and SATA 3.0 the Extreme7 Gen3 enables you to build a complete high-end system with the least chance for performance loss due to compatibility. With this proper performance platform ASRock has created, extending the features of this motherboard with peripherals such as SATA III Solid State Drives (SSDs) and the latest in ATI/NVidia graphics cards is fully operational at full speed. With the NVidia NF200 chip and PLX PEX8608 switch on-board full x16 speed is available in 2 card SLI/CrossFireX setups and x16, x8, x8 speeds are obtained in 3 card SLI/ CrossFireX setups. ASRock is enabling high performance hardware to function at top speeds without performance penalties."
Click here to read the full review.
- X-bit Labs: Biostar TZ68K+ Motherboard Review:
"So, our overall impression would have been quite good if it hadnt been for the mainboards back panel stripped of too many ports and connectors. While the chipset supports 14 USB 2.0 ports, the mainboard only uses eight and only two of them are on the back panel. Thats not enough for a modern product even though there are also two USB 3.0 ports there. Of course, you can buy a USB hub or a back-panel bracket with USB ports but it doesnt seem right to buy an inexpensive mainboard and then invest more money into making it functional. In this case its better to buy a more functional mainboard right away.
So, it looks like Biostar has gone too far in cutting the manufacturing cost of its TZ68K+, but its up to you to decide whether the mainboards functionality will be sufficient to satisfy your requirements."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Antec One Hundred Case Reviews
October 26, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru, Tech-Reviews, and ThinkComputers have reviewed the affordable new Antec One Hundred case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- KitGuru:
"Antec have certainly kept it basic with the One Hundred Gaming Case, but at the same time they have made this version quite special. Although it is not unique in its design with a window panel, we certainly think it could prove to be a popular addition within the gaming industry.
The Antec One Hundred Window Edition seems to pack a fair punch in terms of cooling performance, mainly due to the generous five fan positions, which are aided with slots for ventilation. The sound-level results, while not class leading are certainly impressive for a case that has a Perforated Front Bezel and even ventilation on the side.
The case raises no concerns in regards to build quality. The sides even slide on nicely and it feels very sturdy, although the front of the case is made out of a thin plastic which has a small amount of flex when pressure is applied."
Click here to read the full review.
- Tech-Reviews:
"All in all, the Antec One Hundred is a great little case for those that are on a budget and want to purchase from a company who are renowned for their high quality products.
With its simple yet sleek looking design, the Antec One Hundred will definitely look the part wherever its placed and thanks to its relatively small design, the Antec One Hundred will fit in even the most tightest of spaces.
Retailing at £40, you cant really go wrong. Combined with the fact that its a product of Antec, you know youll be receiving a very high quality product."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers:
"The Antec One Hundred isnt really a new case on the market, so I cant really say that it has features that wow me, however I am impressed by the unique method to install an SSD in this case. I am disappointed with some of the issues I had during installation, including the problems with the motherboard. I wasnt really impressed with the very basic interior to the case. Sure you have the cable management and large CPU cutout, but installing all of my drives with screws takes a step in the wrong direction."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NZXT Havik 140 CPU Cooler Reviews
October 26, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
BCCHardware and KitGuru have posted a review of the high-end NZXT Havik 140 CPU cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
- BCCHardware:
"At the end of the day it's pretty easy to like the NZXT HAVIK 140 CPU Cooler thanks to the performance it offers. While the HAVIK 140 didn't achieve our top score it still easily gained our "Editor's Choice - Silver" award thanks to its performance, build quality, and features it offers. If you're looking for a cooler that can perform while not making you go deaf with excessive noise you'll want to take a look at the NZXT HAVIK 140."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"NZXT have taken the bold step of entering into one of the most competitive enthusiast sectors processor cooling. The Havik 140 has to really deliver the goods however to be classed as a success.
Unlike many other companies NZXT havent started with a entry level product to test the water they have designed a cooler that could very well grab them a share of the high end market. This is a very bold and aggressive approach but NZXT have pulled it off.
The build quality of the HAVIK 140 is exceptional. The hardware package they use to secure the cooler is as good as any we have seen, and the dual 140mm fans are both quiet and effective."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
MSI Radeon HD 6870 Hawk Graphics Card Review
October 26, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Madshrimps have posted a review of the MSI R6870 HAWK Edition graphics card, which features the impressive Twin Frozr III cooler and a 30Mhz GPU overclock.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Better GPU good or not ? Performance wise comparing this card to the R5870 however makes my eye frown sometimes. Even with a completely new designed PCB and the new fan and heatsink, the Hawk isn't just another simple upgrade. The new Twin Frozr III design kept this card very well cooled. All credits go to the propeller blade fans and beefy heatpipes, which do an excellent job. MSI has got all type of cards covered with their Twin Frozr design, being it version II or III. This trademark warrants better cooling, yet keeping the noise at a very acceptable level.
For the fan speed adjustment : the standard mode is working really good out of the box. With the Afterburner Software you can fine tune the fans to a desired level by manaully adjusting fan speeds and creating profiles."
This Hawk Edition model is a top-notch product, and I would absolutely choose it over the HD 6870 VaporX.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS Crosshair V Formula AM3+ Motherboard Review
October 26, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews have posted a review of the enthusiast-oriented ASUS Crosshair V Formula, an AMD AM3+ motherboard that is based on the 'new' 990FX northbridge and SB950 southbridge.
Here's an excerpt:
"Although a retail price of $229 may be low compared to many Intel motherboards these days, this price tag does put the ASUS Crosshair V Formula at the top end of the price spectrum for AMD 990FX motherboards. In the first paragraph we were hoping that the old analogy you get what you pay for holds true. Ultimately I would say that in this case that it certainly did. The Crosshair V Formula met our expectations with ease. ASUS has just about always put out a product that is designed to last. Unfortunately, there is always the chance that something can go wrong. If that happens to be the case, ASUS backs the Crosshair V Formula with a three year warranty based off of the serial number."
This is arguably the best 990FX motherboard on the market right now, but it's also the most expensive at $230. Given the FX-8150's excellent overclocking capabilities it might be worth it for those who want to hit the highest possible clock speeds.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
620W-900W Power Supply Review Roundup - Enermax, NZXT, OCZ & More
October 26, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Funky Kit, Guru3D, Hardware Secrets, OCIA, and techPowerUp have reviewed a few 620W to 900W power supplies from Cougar, Enermax, High Power, In Win, JouJye, NZXT, and OCZ.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: Enermax NAXN 850W Power Supply Review:
"It is clear from the design, performance and price that this is an enthusiast unit encapsulated in a gamers package. Although the performance is excellent and surpasses many enthusiast units from other brands, Enermax has chosen to market it primarily to gamers, reserving their in-house units such as the Modu87+ for their enthusiast line. I like this move as it provides users with top quality performance from arguably the best PSU brand around for a more affordable price than their professional units. The NAXN proved itself highly capable in all aspects of testing- and most importantly ripple testing."
Click here to read the full review.
- Funky Kit: Cougar CMX 700w Power Supply Review:
"In short, this is a good PSU.
Being the only company involved in this PSU HEC had to step up and really get down to business, and they did a good job of it. It's not a perfect PSU, but nature likes perfection even less then it likes a vacuum, which makes building a perfect PSU rather difficult.
All in all I like the unit and would not hesitate to use it in my own computer."
Click here to read the full review.
- Funky Kit: JouJye 620w Linkable 80+ Bronze Power Supply Review:
"Like anything in this existence, this JouJye 620w PSU has it's ups and downs. Brilliant features, nice looks and good fan control are tempered by excessive component lead lengths and overenthusiastic 3.3v regulation, it's a mixed bag.
In general, I'm happy with this Joujye 620w linkable power supply.
I quite enjoy the looks of the unit, it's a nice flat black with black sleeving (really black, no wires show through) that adds a stealth look to things. Add to that a brilliantly green label and you have a PSU that fits right into the vast majority of build schemes."
Click here to read the full review.
- Guru3D: OCZ ZS Series 650W Power Supply Review:
"In the end backed by a three year warranty really it's hard to go wrong with this product. At 65 EUR / USD the 650W ZS offers decent bang for buck and it's simply a respectable power supply from OCZ. It is just that though, a run of the mill product. If you spot it slightly more expensive, then the competition will probably have a better offerings. But yeah, we can definitely recommended it at 65 USD/EUR as it seems to be a well balanced price for what you get."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets: High Power Direct12 BR 850W Power Supply Review :
"The High Power Direct12 BR 850 W power supply seems to be internally identical to the Enermax NAXN 82+ 850 W. It can really deliver its labeled wattage at high temperatures, and it presented efficiency between 82.2% and 86% during our tests and very low noise and ripple levels. One of the highlights of this product is the cable configuration, with eight video card power connectors, allowing you to hook up to four high-end video cards, and 12 SATA power connectors."
Click here to read the full review.
- OCIA: OCZ ZS Series 750W Power Supply Review:
"The 135mm cooling fan inside this power supply is very quiet. I was never able to hear it over the other system fans in my test system, a computer that's already really quiet.
During our limited testing, the power supply only fluctuated just a little bit under load on the 12v line - still well within spec.
My only real complaint with this power supply is the cable system. I wish OCZ had used thicker mesh to help cover the cables as you can see right through the installed mesh. Furthermore, the cables between the Molex and SATA connectors are totally bare."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: In Win Commander II 750W Power Supply Review:
"In conclusion, I think that the price/performance ratio of the IRP-COM750 II is quite good, to say the least and if In Win/Andyson works out the problems we spotted then it will be even more competitive in the sub $100 category. Currently its stronger competitor is Corsair TX-750M which offers better voltage regulation on the minor rails, almost the same (lousy) efficiency at <100W loads, identical warranty period but also registers a little higher ripple levels. Also we should not forget the cost factor where In Win Commander II 750W clearly wins the TX-750M since it costs about $20 less."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: In Win Glacier 900W Power Supply Review:
"Clearly the Glacier 900W is a big step forward for In Win in the high-end power supplies market and the seven years of warranty show that the company has great confidence in their product. Despite the weak 3.3V rail, which is of little importance in modern systems, the Glacier left me very satisfied with the tight voltage regulation it exhibited at +12V and 5V, the excellent ripple/noise suppression, its high efficiency even at loads below 100W where all large capacity units are usually crippled and finally the numerous cables/connectors it provides."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: NZXT HALE90 850W Power Supply Review:
"To sum up, NZXT HALE90 850W is, without any doubt, a solid performer and easily stands in the high end category. If it had fewer native cables and an MOV then things would be even better. Also a small price reduction would greatly boost its competitivity since its stronger opponent, the mighty Corsair AX850, costs only 5 bucks more and offers a fully modular design and seven years of warranty along with similar performance. Finally here we should note that the KINGWIN Lazer Gold Series LZG-850 is based on exactly the same platform with HALE90 850W but although it is 5 bucks cheaper at Newegg you get only three years warranty with it, while NZXT provides five. So the choice among the two is pretty obvious."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Fractal Design Define Mini Case Reviews
October 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Metku and techPowerUp have reviewed Fractal Design's Define Mini, a compact Micro-ATX case with an attractive and minimalistic design.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Metku:
"The Mini is a great addition to the product range of Fractal Design, they already had the hugely popular Define R3 and also the huge Define XL for people who need even more space, so it's only logical to address also the mATX-users out there. All the good features that earned the R2 and XL good scores in our reviews are still there in this smaller edition, it's very quiet, looks stylish, comes with affordable price tag and also keeps the components cool enough."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"The Fractal Design Define Mini deserves the same score as the Define R3. The case is a successful attempt at offering the exact same features of the bigger cases as a compact mATX variant. On top of that the Define Mini finally is the first of the entire Define series to ship with internal USB 3.0. Besides that, it is commendable that Fractal Design has managed to keep the fan layout the same, include the six hard drive bays and virtually transport each feature of the Define R3 or XL in the Define Mini. On top of that, as it should be with a smaller chassis, this case naturally costs less. Thus it is just as good as all the other Define cases out there and perfect for those who want a silent enclosure but with the compact dimensions of a micro-ATX system."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS Eee Pad Slider SL101 Tablet Review
October 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven have reviewed the brand new ASUS Eee Pad Slider SL101, which is a 10.1" Android Honeycomb 3.2 tablet that is powered by a dual-core Tegra 2 chip.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Speaking of that Sliding design it very clearly offers an alternative to pretty much every tablet out there, even the Transformer, and our experiences were on the whole very positive. ASUS have certainly decided that it will receive heavy use in its open position as aspects such as the back mounted power/HDMI show (these would be top mounted in tablet operation) and we found the keyboard easy to type on after an initial adjustment period.
Comparisons with the Transformer are of course inevitable and for the most part the Slider does well in this regard. We again get a quality screen and solid build and the internal specifications are essentially the same. Where the Slider does loose out is in battery life (assuming we have the Transformer dock) and overall styling where we prefer the textured back panel of the Transformer."
This is a very interesting product for those who want a tablet but aren't comfortable with doing a lot of typing on a touchscreen.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Intel Core i7-2700K LGA1155 Processor Review
October 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews have posted a review of the brand new Intel Core i7-2700K, which is a quad-core/eight-thread 'Sandy Bridge' LGA1155 processor which runs at 3.5Ghz but can Turbo Boost up to 3.9Ghz.
Here's what they had to say:
"At the end of the day we found the Intel Core i7-2700K Sandy Bridge CPU is nothing more than a multiplier bump. As you can see from the CPU-Z capture above, the Intel 2700K is a revision D2 processor, which is the same revision as the Intel 2600K. While Intel isn't making a big deal with the launch of this processor we found it interesting since that 100MHz clock frequency increase was enough for the Intel Core i7-2700K to beat or tie the AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer processor. When we first reviewed the AMD FX-8150 we found it able beat the Intel Core i7-2600K in benchmarks like HandBrake, Pov-Ray and Cyberlink MediaEspresso. The Intel Core i7-2700K was able to tie or beat the AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer processor in all of those benchmarks."
There's nothing to get excited about here, a 100MHz frequency bump and $15 price increase compared to the i7-2600K.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS G74SX 3D 17-inch Gaming Notebook Review
October 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven have posted a review of the new and high-end ASUS G74SX 3D gaming notebook, which features a 17.3-inch 1920x1080 120Hz 3D display, quad-core/eight-thread 2.0-2.9Ghz processor, 8GB of RAM, two 750GB 7200RPM HDDs, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M 3GB GPU.
Here's what they had to say:
"From the moment we unboxed the G74Sx it was clear that ASUS were aiming to outdo Alienware in the enthusiast laptop marketplace and we were off to a good start with solid feeling chassis, soft touch coating and some futuristic styling (though ASUS prefer Stealth Fighter comparisons). The brushed metal keyboard surround is an extra touch which impresses and the large screen hinge feels very much built to last.
For their components ASUS have things pretty much spot on. The screen is one of the best we have seen in some time and looks great in 2D and 3D. The backlit keyboard feels great to use with plenty of space around each key and the i7/GTX560M combination is well balanced, offering good gaming and productivity/media performance... including the ability to play Blu-Ray 3D."
At 9.4 pounds the G74SX is obviously not really that portable, but it is a phenomenal desktop replacement (DTR) gaming notebook.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
350W-550W Power Supply Review Roundup - Antec, Kingwin, OCZ & More
October 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks, Funky Kit, Hardware Secrets, Real World Labs, techPowerUp, and ThinkComputers have reviewed a several 350W to 550W power supplies from 3R System, Antec, HEC, Kingwin, LEPA, and OCZ.
Let's see what they had to say:
- APH Networks: OCZ ZS Series 550W Power Supply Review:
"On a scale from 0-10 where 0 is silent and 10 is loudest, I would say the OCZ ZS Series 550W would be about 2.5/10 under normal load conditions. However, when it reaches over 50-60% of its maximum load, the noise does increase, since the fan needs to speed up to meet the task of dissipating more heat -- as with all intelligent cooling systems. At the end of the day, the OCZ ZS Series 550W definitely will not be the loudest component in most systems, since with increased load, there is bound to be more heat in the chassis itself. In turn, other fans in the system will need to respond to the extra heat as well. The OCZ ZS series 550W is certainly one of the quieter power supplies I have tested."
Click here to read the full review.
- Funky Kit: HEC Cougar SX 550W Power Supply Reviewþ:
"In conclusion, I am quite impressed by this HEC Cougar SX 550w power supply, it did everything I asked without any sign of stress at all. The Color scheme, while lurid, looks quite nice, and I've always been fond of crackle black.
The lack of per-rail OCP is a bit of a downer and costs half a point, the overly enthusiastic 3.3v rail makes a dent as does the stripped screw, leaving us with a quite solid 9.25/10 score and a Recommended badge."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets: 3R System AK 500W Power Supply Review:
"The 3R System AK 500 is an honest entry-level power supply. If you are looking for an inexpensive 500 W unit and you can find this unit for sale in your country, it may be a good option, as long as the price is right (e.g., lower than 500 W 80 Plus Bronze units from OCZ). It provides very good efficiency for its class (between 79.7% and 84.9%), voltages closer to their nominal values than required most of the time, and ripple and noise levels within the proper range."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs: LEPA W500-SA 500W Power Supply Review:
" The LEPA W500-SA power supply unit may not offer anything extraordinary in terms of features but it does come with a basic 80Plus efficiency certification, ErP6 LOT 6 support, Active PFC and as you will also see later on a very tempting price tag. Of course all these, although important, matter not if an power supply unit is not doing well in terms of rail stability so lets move forward with the rest of the review and see what exactly the latest W500-SA by LEPA is made of."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: Antec Basiq VP350P 350W Power Supply Review:
"To sum up, I found the VP350P to be a good/solid performer. The tight voltage regulation it boasted on all rails was far better than what I expected from a PSU of this price and the fact that it worked flawlessly throughout all tests and still was fully operational after the review was finished, proves that it is highly reliable. According to my opinion its major disadvantage is the poor efficiency at loads near/lower than 20% of its max rated capacity. With its low max power output the VP350P is destined for smaller systems which often idle long time periods so Antec/Delta should pay more attention to efficiency at low loads."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: Antec Basiq VP550P 550W (230V) Power Supply Review:
"Antec managed to acomplish what they promised for this PSU: good and reliable performance without fancy visual features like top notch paint job, LED lighting etc. The VP550P, despite its low price, proved to be a solid performer with good voltage regulation on all rails, outstanding ripple/noise suppression and tolerant enough to high temperatures. Its major drawbacks are the low efficiency at very low loads, the lack of sleeving on almost all cables and finally, the most important of all, the noisy fan it is equipped with. I wonder why Antec chose to install such a noisy fan in this PSU, since many users may not mind the non-sleeved wires but definitely will be annoyed by the loud hum the fan produces at full speed."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers: Kingwin Stryker 500W Fanless Power Supply Review:
"Interestingly enough, I think Kingwin is doing some fun math here with its overclock version markings. Im wondering if the STR-500 is actually a 600W max unit, but its marketed as a 500W in order to meet the 80PLUS Platinum requirements and/or the fanless dissipation requirements. Ive not done the math, but perhaps its only 92% efficient at 40% when marketed as a 600W unit, thus not meeting the 80PLUS Platinum requirement. It could also overheat if it was kept at 100% load at 600W beyond a certain duration. This is merely speculation and has no bearing on my rating."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 240GB PCI-E SSD Review
October 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock have reviewed the brand new and über-high performance OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 240GB PCI-Express solid state drive, which features 1500MB/s read and 1250MB/s write speeds.
Here's what they had to say:
"The SandForce controller is behemoth, and with a RAID configuration, the results are nothing short of astounding.
Of course, blazing speed doesn't come cheap. Costing about $710 USD, the 240GB version of the Revo 3 X2 is almost stratospheric in price. However, four 60GB OCZ Vertex 3 drives would cost about $550 and offer the same capacity and potential speed, but really would need a RAID card to get the most out of that setup, so that would add to the overall cost. Of course, there is a price premium on the Revo 3 X2 for the convenience of having a single, thin drive card.
The only real downside here is lack of true TRIM support, but any SSD RAID setup will encounter the same problem so the Revo 3 X2 is no better or worse in that regard."
Although it comes with an eye-watering price tag, the OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 is an unbelievably impressive piece of technology.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7 AM3+ Motherboard Review
October 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock have posted a review of the GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7, an AMD AM3+ motherboard that is based on the 'new' 990FX northbridge and SB950 southbridge.
Here's what they had to say:
"Gigabyte has been known as a premier full line mothertboard company for a very long time. They have retooled the 990FXA-UD7 from its past generation in fine fashion. Older prehistoric features such as PATA have been eliminated and they updated this sleek motherboard with extensive features with a full line of 6G SATA and USB 3.0. The extensive array of internal and external ports will make any gamer drool and with plenty of PCIE slots to support four graphic cards in either Crossfire or SLI makes this board just mouth-watering. The 990FX chipset has not changed much from the 890FX but the re dressing of the motherboard from the pastel colours of yesteryear make this handsome monochromatic board sexy and would look great in any case or on any test bench."
Now that the Bulldozer FX series processors have been released, these 990FX motherboards finally have a reason for existing. While this UD7 is a terrific motherboard, it does have a $45 price premium over the the similar UD5 model, and the only differences that I can spot are the different colour scheme, the debug led, and a sixth PCI-E x16 slot.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
HIS Radeon HD 6970 IceQ Mix Graphics Card Review
October 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs have reviewed the brand new HIS Radeon HD 6970 IceQ Mix graphics card, which features a custom cooler and a Lucid HydraLogix 200 controller that allows for enhanced performance by pairing this model with a selection of different Radeon and GeForce cards.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Factory overclocking would also be a nice thing to see but there are plenty of software OC solutions out there which most people will find extremely easy to use. So what do we have after all the things we mentioned? We have very good performance levels, great temperatures, low noise levels and the Hydra chip which not perfect as an extra feature in time it could really come in handy to some people (that really depends on Lucid) so quite honestly since i really don't know what anyone could ask more from HIS i just can't deny awarding their Radeon HD 6970 IceQ MIX 2GB with our Editors Real Deal Award."
While this is a great overall card, but the addition of the Lucid controller is a waste since it just doesn't seem to work very well.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition Modular Case Review
October 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have reviewed the unique-looking Thermaltake Level 10 GT modular case, but in a new Snow Edition colour scheme.
Let's see what they had to say:
"We think that the Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition is worth every single bit of its £215/$270 price tag. It does have some minor flaws but it also offers a market leading appearance, excellent expansion options, the potential for brilliant cooling performance and almost flawless cable management. Thermaltake made a brave decision to change the originally black Level 10 GT to the marmite snow white, but the decision more than paid off."
I still find this case slightly unattractive when compared to the original Level 10, especially since it is quite plasticky for $270. Having said that, it is otherwise a terrific all-around case.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review
October 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Madshrimps have reviewed the high-end Razer BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical gaming keyboard, which features individually backlit keys, 1ms response time, on-the-fly macro, audio jacks and more.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Compared to the BlackWidow Ultimate, the Stealth Edition comes with a matte finish, which gives it a nice feel to the touch and does not collect as many fingerprints.
The Game Mode on this keyboard disables the Windows key, so its function won't be activated for ruining our game experience when gaming online, or inside an action-intensive game. Macros can be also recorded on the fly, by pressing the Fn+ Right Alt key.
The keyboard does also feature an anti-ghosting feature, which means that it can register up to 6 simultaneous key presses, allowing us to execute more than a single key command at a time."
This seems like a fantastic mechanical gaming keyboard, it's better than the Thermaltake eSPORTS Meka G1 in my opinion.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Scythe Mugen 3 CPU Cooler Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have posted a review of the brand new Scythe Mugen 3 CPU cooler, which is the successor to the mid-level Mugen 2.
Here's what they had to say:
"Scythe Mugen 3 turned out a good mainstream cooler that doesnt break any records. We didnt have the opportunity to compare it against the previous Mugen 2 model anymore, but we are practically certain that the new products didnt really outdo the predecessor and simply joined the ranks of efficient processor coolers. Although it has more heatpipes than Mugen 2, boasts enhanced M.A.P.S. technology, has special grooves for heatpipes in the base plate, it features a heatsink of very modest effective size and therefore cant shoot for the super-cooler title."
This is an okay product, but there are quite a few better models at equal or even lower prices.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Lancool PC-K9B Mid-Tower Case Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a video review of the Lancool PC-K9B mid-tower case .
Here's what they had to say:
"In order to appeal to a wide variety of consumers LanCool has introduced a large selection of cases which should appeal to most price points. The aforementioned DragonLord series remains their high end offering (even though its price doesn't go past the $175 mark) while the newly introduced First Knight series rounds out the mid range offerings. In this review we will be looking at the First Knight PC-K9 B which offers a surprising number of features and excellent cooling potential.
While the PC K9 cases aren't all that well known around these parts, they share much of their design influence with some contemporary Lian Li products. This similarity isn't just a coincidence either since LanCool is considered Lian Li's "budget friendly" brand and as a result, this new K9 starts at just $129. But there are some tradeoffs..."
Over the years, Lancool has been able to manufacture Lian Li's excellent designs at affordable prices by replacing the all-aluminium construction to a steel one. They are great looking cases for the money.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
OCZ ZT Series 750W Power Supply Reviews
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and techPowerUp have reviewed the brand new OCZ ZT Series 750W power supply, which features 80PLUS Bronze efficiency, five-year warranty, modular cables, and a low price tag.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"One of the concerns that will always be present when looking at a mainstream PSU is that a manufacturer has skimped on quality when compared to their higher end models. Especially so when the higher end units as impressively built as we saw with OCZ's ZX series earlier this year. Thankfully though the ZT is built well, sharing some similar external design aspects such as the solid chassis and even the cables are reminiscent of the higher spec unit.
Inside we find a well laid out design with minimal heatsinks and nice little touches such as tied up wiring, sleeved cables and components secured in place with adhesive where required. We also noted a decent quality of capacitor throughout, in fact using brands we prefer to the ZX model, and the often used CM6800TX controller is also present."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"To sum up, I think that the OCZ ZT 750W stands very well against the competition in its specific price category. Its main setback is the noisy fan at higher loads but the fully modular design is a significant usability advantage over its competitors and along with the good price/performance ratio it is a good deal for someone who wants a reliable, fully modular PSU with long warranty. So if you don't mind the increased fan noise, at least at higher loads and want the easiest possible cable management then ZT 750W is a fairly good choice which is definitely worth the money it costs."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have posted a review of the highly anticipated EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB graphics card, which has been custom designed to maximize its overclocking capabilities.
Here's what they had to say:
"EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified was designed by true computer enthusiasts and is targeted specifically for such enthusiasts, because it offers a lot of unique features: high-quality components with long service life, reinforced power circuitry, special connectors for measuring voltages, an EVBot connector, LED indicators, dual BIOS, etc. In other words, those who are the primary target group for this particular graphics card will choose it no matter what, even though this group may be not very numerous. These features are going to be appreciated by enthusiasts whereas most other users will be quite satisfied with simpler and cheaper graphics cards which are just as fast."
Although it is arriving to the party very late indeed, this is a very impressive graphics card for hardcore overclockers.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Antec Soundscience Rockus 3D 2.1 Speaker Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have posted reviews of the Antec Soundscience Rockus 3D, a stylish 2.1 speaker system.
Here's what they had to say:
"Antec Soundscience have certainly produced a very impressive product, that delivers brilliant sound quality with a very punchy and powerful bass. There are also lots of good features that have been incorporated into these speakers, but there are also a few basic tricks that they have missed. More worryingly the length of the speaker cables stop you from setting up the speakers in the perfect position, we simply dont expect this kind of mistake from a company like Antec.
We do really like what Antec have tried to create with this product, and considering its their first venture down this audio path we certainly have high hopes and expectations for future products. The speakers have been built with an air of quality that makes them look very professional and we expect these speakers to lost the test of time as so to speak."
This seems like a pretty good speaker system, but not for $250. Thankfully, with a tiny bit of digging I was able to find this product as a low as $150 and at that price it is a relative deal.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Dell Ultrasharp U2412M 24-inch LCD Monitor Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the new Dell UltraSharp U2412M, a 24-inch LCD monitor with an LED backlight, e-IPS panel, 1920x1200 resolution, and 8ms response time.
Here's an excerpt:
"Before buying the U2412M we recommend you be cognizant of its limitations but also keep in mind the phenomenal value its combination of size, 16:10 format, post calibration image quality and price bring to the table. Yes, sacrifices had to be made in order to slap a sub-$400 sticker price on this monitor. But in our books Dells has made worthwhile tradeoffs in order to bring a monitor to market that can run circles around many TN-based models without costing all that much more."
This is defintely one of the better 24-inch LCD monitors on the market right now, but as mentioned in the article, do make sure that you a buying the newest possible revision.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) LGA1155 Motherboard Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have reviewed the MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3), an Intel Z68-based LGA1155 motherboard that supports the next-generation PCI-Express 3.0 interface.
Let's see what they had to say:
"As far as the mainboards major advantage is concerned, the new PCI Express 3.0 standard support, at this point it is pretty ephemeral and intangible. A few months will pass until new processors and graphics cards come out that will be able to use the new standard. Then we will see which mainboard maker implemented the support of the new standard best of all. Although I am sure that by that time there will be newer and better mainboards already available, so it doesnt make sense to specifically look for MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) or a similar one for that particular reason. However, the opposite also makes sense: you shouldnt avoid mainboards with PCI Express 3.0 support. While now it is not really in the way, it may come in very handy in the nearest future."
This is one of the first motherboards to support PCI-E 3.0, so it you want guaranteed support with Intel's upcoming 'Ivy Bridge' 22nm LGA1155 processors, then you should defnitely give this motherboard a look.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Review
October 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews have reviewed the brand new OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD, which as you might have guessed combines a solid state drive and hard drive on one PCB.
Let's see what they had to say:
"So, does the RevoDrive Hybrid really provide that speedy SSD feel with gobs of storage for a reasonable cost? The answer is yes - for the most part. Bear in mind that the whole premise behind the drive is to cache the 'hot' (most frequently/last used) data onto the SSD to hasten the read/writes. This it does very effectively once the data is identified by the algorithm and cached. Overall, this worked very well and we saw considerable improvements in boot times and data access in our real world tests. These took more than one run to start having an impact and in the case of the boot times, it took several boots to get to the fastest times. Having 100 GB on the SSD portion of the drive is substantial so you can get your cache on with an incredible amount of data. For many users, this could essentially be their entire OS and applications so it should be near top speed most of the time."
This is a very interesting device for those who want both performance and capacity in a single storage device. It is pricey (~$500) but you couldn't expect a product like this one to be cheap.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NVIDIA GeForce LAN Day 1-2-3 Coverage
October 19, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted three days of coverage for the NVIDIA GeForce LAN event that was recently held on the U.S.S Hornet aircraft carrier.
Let's see what they had to say:
- NVIDIA GeForce LAN Day 1 Coverage:
"The venue for this years Geforce LAN is unique to say the least. It is being held aboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Hornet where the entire hangar deck has been converted into a shrine to PC gaming for the next few days. Remember, this is a 250 meter long vessel so there was still enough space for sponsor displays and a few advanced stereoscopic simulators. NVIDIA has even opened up some 400 Navy-issue bunks for gamers who need sleep and were told that over 100 people have spent the first night roughing it in true maritime fashion.
With 600 gamers in attendance and more sponsors than we could possibly hope to mention in a single article, the stage was set but NVIDIA had a few more surprises for the attendees. In order to coincide with the event, the next generation of 3D Vision was launched last night. Called 3D Vision 2, it brings a number of new technologies to the table and we had the chance to review it. NVIDIA also had DICE along with their eagerly anticipated Battlefield 3 on the scene and announced number of new multiplayer maps starting off with the Operation Firestorm location (you can see it at the end of the video we have in this article)."
Click here to read the full review.
- NVIDIA GeForce LAN Day 2 & 3 Coverage:
"Earlier in the year NVIDIA announced the latest edition of their GeForce LAN events and PC gamers eagerly grabbed tickets to what promised to be one of North Americas largest LAN parties. Once registration was complete, over 600 people had applied to be part of the 48 hour Bring Your Own Computer LAN and were told if more spots could have been opened, they would have likely sold out as well. NVIDIA calls this a celebration to PC gaming and from our perspective, they really are pulling out all the stops for this one.
While the first day of the GeForce LAN was focused on an opening keynote by DICEs Johan Andersson, NVIDIAs Drew Henry and Phil Eisler, day 2 and 3 were all about exhibitor presentations and the Battlefield 3 tournament."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Alienware M14x Gaming Notebook Review
October 19, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the brand new Alienware M14X, a 14-inch gaming notebook which feature Intel Sandy Bridge mobile processors and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M GPU.
Here's what they had to say:
"From an everyday usage perspective, the M14x is as mild mannered as they come. It features a stellar keyboard design, an excellent display, plenty of connectivity options and for a notebook that sports such high end specs, battery life is quite decent. Alienware has made design choices which are in tune with the mobile gaming markets expectations but the M14x also feels right at home performing more mundane tasks as well. Speaking of gaming, we should mention that the GT 555M gets a bit overwhelmed by the 1600 x 900 resolution but dialing back a few settings resulted in very reasonable framerates in every game we threw at it."
Personally, I find that 14-inches is the perfect size for a notebook since it is the ideal balance between usability and portability. The M14x looks terrific, like all of Alienware's previous gaming notebooks, and it should definitely be at the top of your list if you want to do some serious gaming on the road.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
SilverStone Treasure TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Review
October 19, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews have reviewed the SilverStone TS07 USB 3.0 3.5" hard drive enclosure.
Let's see what they had to say:
"It is important to note that the negatives and the positives listed here may not be the same as your own. For example, I am disheartened that the packaging advertises 5Gbit/s USB 3.0 but clearly, the device is limited to around 234MB/s based on the benchmarks. So, I am deducting some points for this. Some people may be content with those scores knowing that they are quite good for a USB 3.0 enclosure. My preference is to be more conservative in advertising, and care should be taken to make sure that the purchaser is getting the rated speed of the drive not the theoretical rating of the bus or interface. Each plus or minus listed should be measured by your own personal meter, and then you can decide if this case is worth your money."
This seems like a solid USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure, but it doesn't differ much from most of the other models on the market right now.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset Review
October 19, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Techgage have posted a review of the brand new Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 gaming headset.
Let's see what they had to say:
"From style to comfort to sound, Cooler Master has broken into the audio market in a big way. But, this also carries a big price tag. At $130, the Sirus is the most expensive headset I have tested so far, but when used for games the price premium becomes a moot point due to the performance. I'm sure that's what will win over the vast majority of potential buyers.
With just a bit of tweaking the Sirus could be an absolute stand out all across the board, but as it is, it certainly isn't anything to pass up if you see one on the store shelf."
This seems like a great product for those who want a purpose-built gaming headset.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Kingston Data Traveler Ultimate G2 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Review
October 19, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks have posted a review of the Kingston Data Traveler Ultimate G2 2 32GB USB 3.0 flash drive, which features up to to 100MB/sec read and 70MB/sec write speeds.
Let's see what they had to say:
"With the minimum price of admission of only $50 the 16GB version and $80 for the 32GB version at press time, if you are really looking to keep a lot of files on you all the time, and like the modern man who won't accept "slow" as part of your dictionary, the Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate G2 is definitely a good choice to include in your next budget. If you are looking at the 64GB version, however, then the Patriot Supersonic Magnum 64GB offers better performance for the same price at the time of review."
This is new Data Traveler Ultimate G2 provides a nice performance improvement over the original version, and it has become more and more affordable as well.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
XFX WarPad Mousepad Review
October 18, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
LanOC have posted a review of the huge XFX WarPad mousepad, which is a giant edgeless gaming surface that clamps to your desk.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The WarPAD wasnt without it's flaws. But considering this is XFXs first product in the mouse pad market I am very impressed. They managed to bring out a mouse pad that innovates in a market that rarely has new designs. I hope they continue on and implement a few changes in the WarPAD including a denser rubber and designs of various sizes. Maybe they can figure out a way to integrate a hard mouse pad! Either way I think this is a perfect choice for someone who is looking to avoid the discomfort of a sharp edge on your mouse pad or desk or if you struggle with your mouse pad moving around. The WarPAD from XFX is going to stay put and be one of the most comfortable gaming experiences you will ever have. Once you try it out I bet you wont go back."
This is a really interesting product, check it out!
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 Kit Reviews
October 18, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks, Legit Reviews, and PC Perspective have reviewed the brand new NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 kit, which introduces NVIDIA 3D LightBoost technology that is supposed to make 3D images much brighter and richer in colour.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Hardware Canucks:
"My short time with 3D Vision 2 has proved itself to be an interesting rollercoaster ride. It is great to see NVIDIA actively listening to their customer base and the improvements to the new glasses have really taken them to the next level. I just dont think Ill be making the switch away from my well-worn first generation pair until the aforementioned reflection issue has been resolved. But what allows this new generation of 3D Vision to really shine is the monitor technology. The ASUS VG278H is an spectacular example of a gaming monitor which has obviously been designed from the ground up to provide the absolute best stereoscopic 3D experience. Forwards compatibility with existing 3D Vision glasses is just icing on the cake."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews:
"At the end of the day the NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 has made good on most of its promises. Even though the monitor we received did have panel issues, the bundle is still an excellent value. Keep in mind the robust 3D ecosystem that was presented in the previous 3D Vision review and this new release makes an already very good experience even better. We will update this article once we get the new panel and make sure it performs okay."
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective:
"So do I think 3D Vision 2 is going to drastically change the landscape of 3D gaming for PCs? Not really, though I think new technology, new buzz about it online and at least slightly improved feature sets will move it along in the right direction. For it to become mainstream ALL displays are going to need to support 3D technology (much in the same way we are seeing that trend in consumer televisions) and we need to see a common support structure for both NVIDIA and AMD - no one wants to buy a display that only works with one graphics card vendor. But that is currently the environment we have to work in."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Lian Li PC-V600 Micro-ATX Case Reviews
October 18, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock and techPowerUp have reviewed the Lian Li PC-V600 case, which is basically a miniaturized Micro-ATX version of the V1020 series.
Let's see what they had to say:
- PureOverclock:
"While the V600F is petite in size, it's big in features and quality, offering an abundance of handy accoutrements such as fully tool-less design, washable filters, modular drive cage, hot swap drive bays, and excellent cooling, along with a solid all-aluminum build. It's not only a pleasure to look at, it's also convenient to build a system and use.
Of course, such premium styling and features don't come cheap. At a price of $220 for such a small tower, the Lian Li V600FR is very expensive. We can't say this is surprising though, as Lian Li cases aren't cheap in any sense; that's part of the entry price for owning an elite product."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"If you love the looks of this series and size or the red color options are your primary concerns then the PC-V600F is your case. If size is the only important factor, then go for the PC-A04 which does lack the hot-swap PCB and additional 2.5 inch bays, but offers the same general feature set at less than half the price. If you do not care for the compact dimensions, then the PC-V1020 simply offers more of the really important aspects and flexibility for the same money as the PC-V600F."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 CPU Cooler Review
October 18, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have posted a review of the high-end Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 CPU cooler, which features the company's new D.L.H.D.T. (Double Layer with Heat Pipe Direct Touch) base design.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Overall, we were content with the performance of the Aegir, but were by no means amazed by it. The installation was a breeze which this editor always loves to see. The UK price isnt horrific but isnt massively competitive either. Xigmateks Aegir SD128264 is definitely a CPU cooler worthy of short-listing when deciding upon your sub £35 purchase. The US price is far too high to make it competitive in a very fierce market and, unfortunately, does impact the overall award for Xigmateks Aegir SD128264 giving it our a silver award, by a very narrow margin."
When used in a two fan push-pull configuration, the Aegir is one of the best CPU coolers on the market right now. Clearly, D.L.H.D.T technology has a lot of potential, so hopefully Xigmatek develops a 140mm heatsink with it.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
October 18, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Rbmods have posted reviews of the Antec Kühler H2O 620 liquid cooling system.
Let's see what they had to say:
"This is an excellent cpu cooler that is easy to install. In the past watercooling has been something for the more advanced user but with these watercooling kits even beginners and normal users can take advantage of the features of watercooling. There is always a risk with watercooling since it can leak but this kit has proven to be very high quality. We have been throwing around with it and pulling and yanking the tubing without any issues so far.
Performance is excellent as we could see, even though I found the radiator fan to be a tad to loud for my ears. Something I noticed though is that this kit does not make the traditional bubbling sound like watercooling can do if you dont fill it up correctly. I heard some air in the system the first 2 minutes like expected but after that it has been silent."
The Kühler H2O performs identically to the highly rated Corsair Hydro H70, so clearly it's an excellent product.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Intel 320 Series 300GB Solid State Drive Review
October 18, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
techPowerUp have reviewed the brand new Intel 320 Series 300GB solid state drive, which features the 25nm NAND chips from Intel's joint venture with Micron.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Intel's 320 Series SSD is best compared to the last generation Sandforce SF-1200 drives. The drive offers slightly better performance at a similar price point, but this is not enough to compete with Sandforce's latest SF-2200 controller. One reason is the old Intel SSD controller, another is the lack of support for the new SATA 6 Gbps interface. Really the only product highlight is the generous five year warranty, which doesn't get your data back in case of a drive failure. Recently there have been lots of reports of Intel 320 SSDs suddenly reporting as 8 MB capacity with all data missing. Intel has adressed this with a recent firmware update, but it's hard to recover a product's reputation after such issues. Also some users report that the update is ineffective for them."
This new 320 Series 300GB solid state drive is very good, and the series as a whole may end up being the best 'mainstream' SSDs , but this drive is no competition for next-generation models like the OCZ Vertex 3.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Intel 710 Series 200GB Solid State Drive Review
October 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
The SSD Review have tested the brand new Intel 710 Series 200GB SATA 3Gb/s solid state drive, which features the new MLC-HET (High Endurance Technology) 25nm NAND flash memory and is targeted towards the enterprise market.
Here's what they had to say:
"In speaking to any number of IT System Managers over the last year or so, I learned that a three year life span for SSDs in newly migrated servers makes the transition financially viable. This is truly where the 710 is key with its HET-MLC NAND flash memory, spare area and ability to over provision yet another 20%. In comparing it to a typical SSD such as the Intel 320 (300GB), the 320 has an endurance lifespan of 30TB compared to that of the 710 which has 1.1PB or 1.5PB with 20% over provisioning utilized. At its premium of 20% over provisioning, the 710 lasts 51 times longer than the 320 (1.5PB=1536TB/30)."
This particular series was not really designed with performance in mind, though it is still very fastest, instead it is one of the most reliable and long-lasting SSDs on the market right now.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Samsung PM830 Series SATA 6Gb/s SSD Reviews
October 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ocaholic and TechSpot have reviewed the Samsung PM830 Series SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, in 256GB and 512GB capacities.
Here's what they had to say:
- ocaholic: Samsung PM830 Series 256GB SSD Reviews:
"Concerning sequential throughput rates, especially the read operations are at a competitive level. In this case the drive is able to reach 534 Megabyte per second. At this point the PM830 is able to keep up with todays fastest drives. On the other hand there is the sequential write performance. In our tests this drive reached almost 322 Megabyte per second which is quite a bit less than what the SandForce SF-2281 based competition offers.
Additionally we want to point out that Samsungs PM830 does not make use of compression algorithms. In other words this means that is doesn't matter if the PM830 writes or reads compressible or incompressible data. Actions are always performed at the same speed. Therefore even highly compressed data such as video files - which is incompressible for a SSD controller - will be written with 322 Megabyte per second or read with 534 Megabyte per second."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechSpot: Samsung PM830 Series 512GB SSD Reviews:
"Similar to when we reviewed Samsung's previous-gen SSD, the 830 Series 512GB had its fair share of ups and down, but luckily the ups far outweighed the downs. The NCQ performance has been improved, read performance was excellent, but we found writes to fall below average as the 830 Series was usually slower than the Crucial m4 and OCZ Vertex 3 competition.
The 830 Series SSD stood out in its sequential read/write performance which saw it match the best SandForce SF-2200 SSDs when measuring read performance, while it crushed the competition in the sequential write tests.
Real-world application testing was also a mixed bag. Windows boot times, multi-tasking tests, and gaming level load times all appeared average, but the Samsung 830 Series excelled when copying data not just to and from the drive but also across it."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Antec Kuhler H2O 920 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
October 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Rbmods have reviewed the new high-end Antec Kuhler H2O 920, which is a self-contained liquid CPU cooler.
Here's an excerpt:
"This 920 version really outperforms the competitors in this review without any problems, at low RPM the fans are close to silent. You can pick this product up for around 110$ from places like Newegg. Performance wise this product is excellent, and on top of it its also close to silent at lower fan speeds.
Overall a superb watercooling solution to keep your most recent cpus stable and cool, well recommended. Price could be about 10-20$ lower than it is to compete vs other contenders on the market."
This new Kühler H2O model is excellent, and it is clearly the best self-contained water cooling kit on the market.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Gaming Headset Review Roundup - ASUS, Plantronics, Thermaltake & More
October 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D, KitGuru, TechREACTION, Tech-Reviews, and TechwareLabs have reviewed several gaming headsets from Cyber Snipa, Razer, Roccat, Sharkoon, and Thermaltake.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Guru3D: ASUS Vulcan ANC Headset Reviewþ:
"My last point about the Vulcan ANC is the audio quality. This I save for last because it was the most pleasant surprise. The Vulcan gave my reference AKG K701's a run for their money. Using the same amp/DAC combo, the Vulcan were very, very close in sound to the K701, only just slightly darker, a little less detailed, but more bass. In some cases, movies and compressed audio, the Vulcan could actually be more revealing of artifacts than the K701 at the same volume.
The Vulcan have good, deep bass, neutral midrange, and a smooth treble. The AKG K701 are still my reference, but the Vulcan, I would not hesitate to recommend them."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: Plantronics GameCom 777 Gaming Headset Review:
"Overall we are impressed with the Plantronics GameCom 777 gaming headset. It has numerous positive aspects which includes an external sound card enabling Dolby Headphone and virtual 7.1 surround sound on the headset. Also, the inclusion of 3.5mm connectors means that it is compatible with most portable devices.
The build quality and finish are excellent, although we do feel that the visage of the headset is a little boring as its finished exclusively in matte black. Other headsets on the market like the SteelSeries Siberia V2 are much more exciting to look at and are likely to be favoured by gamers who are renowned for snazzy-looking peripherals."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechREACTION: Tt eSports Shock Spin Headset Review:
"All in all, the Tt eSports Shock Spin Gaming Headset is a decent unit which can be used for both gaming and casual multimedia listening. While serious audiophiles wouldnt give the Shock Spin a second look, mostly due to the fact the headset does not support 5.1 surround sound, they would more than likely would lean towards one of its bigger brothers, the Shock or Shock One. However, we feel little brother will satisfy the needs of entry level and intermediate fans of audio, especially given its friendlier price point."
Click here to read the full review.
- Tech-Reviews: Turtle Beach Ear Force X12 Gaming Headset Review:
"Overall this is a really nice headset and its priced at a very fair price, but the only downfall is the microphone and the sound settings are too sensitive. These headphones are perfect for a casual gamer looking to upgrade too a headset or even upgrade from their current headset; this also probaly one of the comfiest headsets I have ever wore. Very well built and perfect for the casual gamer."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechwareLabs: Tt eSports Shock Spin Gaming Headphones Review:
"As a whole, the Tt eSports Shock Spin delivers an above average listening experience at slightly higher than average price, yet still manages to provide amazing comfort for a modern gaming headset. The Spin has it where it counts: Great lightweight construction, comfortable design and an above average quality of sound.
Sadly, this comes at the cost of a lack of 5.1 support, as well as a slight muddling of sound quality in certain situations. Thankfully this hardly impacts my view of the headset, and I can strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a great gaming headset that can be used for hours on end."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
AMD A75 FM1 Motherboard Review Roundup - ASRock, ASUS, GIGABYTE & More
October 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Futurelooks, MissingRemote, PureOverclock, t-break, and TechSpot have reviewed a few AMD A75-based FM1 socket 'Llano APU' motherboards from ASRock, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and Zotac.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: ASUS F1A75-I Deluxe FM1 Motherboard Review:
"Another Asus board and another big smile on our faces. We say this because they seem to keep amazing us, by offering big features in a small form factor and the F1A75-I Deluxe is a perfect example of that. It packs a mighty big punch, yet leaves a very small footprint, and we mean; small. The F1A75-I Deluxe comes with everything you could think of when looking for a board, aimed at the HTPC market, especially when looking at the added bonus of WiFi and the stylish remote control that comes bundled."
Click here to read the full review.
- Futurelooks: GIGABYTE GA-A75M-UD2H Socket FM1 mATX Motherboard Review:
"The GIGABYTE A75M-UD2H was great to work with most of the time. Once you have your system set in the BIOS the way you want, it is easily one of the faster booting systems I have seen. POST, AHCI HDD detection, and S.M.A.R.T. are all much faster on this motherboard. This can be a double edge sword as responding to me pressing delete to enter the BIOS would occasionally be missed. Holding or rapidly pressing delete made no difference. But for most users considering this platform, set and forget will probably be the order of the day when it comes to settings in BIOS.
The MSRP of $109.99 US puts the A75M-UD2H right in the middle of FM1 socket boards. The feature that separates this board from the pack is the built-in dividers for the bus which made overclocking almost too easy. While we did not cover overclocking specifically in this review, we have covered it in our review of AMDs new APUs, the A8-3850 and A6-3650 for the A75 Platform. Itll take you through everything youll want to know about what makes this platform special and more."
Click here to read the full review.
- MissingRemote: AMD Llano A8-3800 CPU and GIGABYTE A75M-UD2H microATX Motherboard Review:
"Offering solid general performance alongside a full featured GPU, the AMD A8-3800 and GIGABYTE A75M-UD2H provide an extremely compelling solution for a dedicated HTPC system. The systems power use will limit adoption in smaller form factors, but this is a minor concern relative to the treatment of HDMI and luminance on the platform. Clearly these features are only critical factors within the HTPC niche, but when selecting the perfect system, they should receive higher priority especially given the obvious investment in the Radeon HD 6550Ds video performance demonstrated by its HQV-HD score and highly configurable VPP options."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: ASRock A75 Extreme 6 and A55 Pro 3 Motherboard Reviews:
"The ASRock A75 Extreme 6 and A55 Pro 3 both solidify ASRocks position in the market as a full line motherboard manufacturer. Some may not realize Llano is rapidly becoming a major player in the mainstream desktop arena and both motherboards offer nuances from the novice to the enthusiast at the best price/performance segment in the industry today. Those not looking to drop a boat load of cash in a high end gaming system do not need to look any further. The Llano platform gives multiple graphic options that the others cannot match."
Click here to read the full review.
- t-break: Zotac A75-ITX WiFi Motherboard Review:
"On an average, the Zotac A75-ITX is 4% slower than the Gigabyte A75M-UD2H, while also being 27% more expensive. That said, the Zotac board does have 6x USB 3.0 ports compared to two on the Gigabyte, not to mention dual-LAN. Is that worth an extra $30, though? Well, that depends on your HTPC case then. If you want a system with the smallest possible footprint, the Zotac A75-ITX, with all its bells & whistles is unbeatable, I just wish the price would be lower."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechSpot: AMD A75 3-way Motherboard Shootout:
"With that, we can conclude that you can't really go wrong with either board overall, but depending on your needs you should focus on Asrock's board if you demand certain features such as its superior PCIe configuration. Value-minded folks should consider Gigabyte's board for its higher build quality, better overclocking capabilities and slightly lower price. Ultimately, Asus offers the best overall solution, providing a feature-packed board with the best overall performance, solid overclocking and power consumption."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NZXT Sentry Mix Fan Controller Reviews
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
BCCHardware and Hardware Secrets have reviewed the affordable yet ultra-powerful NZXT Sentry Mix fan controller, which features 6 channels and supports 50W per channel.
Here's what they had to say:
- BCCHardware:
"In conclusion I would definitely recommend the Sentry Mix to any computer enthusiast that has an interest in controlling their fans. The design of the product is simple yet effective. Installation was very easy, and even someone with limited knowledge when it comes to installing hardware would have no trouble installing the Sentry Mix. This fan controller looks good, works well, and is an all around quality product. I was quite happy with the performance of the Sentry Mix and when you consider that you have micro-adjustments available with simple sliders, it gives you easy control of airflow and noise."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets:
"The NZXT Sentry Mix is simple and powerful. It does nothing more than manually control fans, but there are not many products in the market able to handle 50 W per channel.
If your fans are not so powerful, however, you can look for products with more features and a lower price."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Enermax Platimax 850W Power Supply Review
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
techPowerUp have reviewed the new, high-end Enermax Platimax 850W power supply, which is 80Plus Platinum certified.
Here's what they had to say:
"In the case of Platimax 850W, Enermax followed the most convenient solution in order to boost efficiency; they used a slightly modified version of the Modu 87+ platform. Tweaking an existing platform is sure an easy way to get Platinum efficiency at low manufacturing cost, but may result in suboptimal overall performance. In my testing at 20% load, efficiency is way below Platinum limits, at least at the high operating temperature of all my tests. Efficiency at higher loads is very high and certainly worthy of 80 PLUS Platinum, maybe Enermax can do some more tuning for lower loads. Also I would like to see tighter voltage regulation overall and a tad better ripple suppression on all rails."
This is another excellent power supply from Enermax, and it might even be better than the seemingly perfect Corsair AX850.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Corsair Hydro H100 Liquid CPU Cooler Reviews
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D, Hardware Canucks, HardwareHeaven, and Legit Reviews have posted a review of the new Corsair Hydro H100, which is a high-performance self-contained liquid CPU cooler with dual 120mm fans.
Here's an excerpt:
- Guru3D:
"The price is the real good thing here, the entire kit as tested today costs just 119 USD/ 90 EUR. In the enthusiast segment the cooling performance here might not be flabbergasting you, but please be realistic as enthusiast LCS products can easily cost you twice as much or even more.
So if you are on the lookout for an easy to install, good looking and really nice performing product but don't want to spend heaps of dough on it, then most definitely be consider the Corsair H100 LCS kit. Whether you are a bit of a noise freak like I am or are on the lookout for a little more, the kit seems to offer it all and thus comes very much recommended."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Canucks:
"We see the H100 as a bridge product between Corsairs lower end all in one water cooling units and custom designed loops and in this respect it succeeds very well. It is still less expensive and certainly less complicated than many other high performance cooling setups but $110 is a hefty investment. When you couple this with a limited cross section of affordable cases which support internal dual 120mm radiators and the less expensive H80s excellent results, things dont look all that great. But for those aware of the H100s limitations, there is currently no better option out there for closed loop high performance liquid cooling."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven:
"When we last took a look at a Corsair cooler, the H80, we were impressed by the build quality and design. In the case of the H100 we have a product which follows the "if its not broken, why fix it" school of thought as the majority of the components used and overall design are the same. Of course there is one important difference and that is the use of a new radiator, one which is completely different to those used on the H50, H60 and H80.
This time round we get a 2x120mm version and the benefits of this change are instantly noticeable when we look at the temperatures recorded for this review. In each test the H100 was able to outperform the H80 and Antec 920. Noise levels were also very good with the cooler staying at a decent level when left at auto. The upcoming control software will of course allow us much more flexibility to balance the performance to noise ratio which is a bonus."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews:
"Like the H80, the H100 has the new higher CFM fans. Now, at full speed the fans are loud with the pair set on high; with a quad setup of these fans on high you will want ear plugs. On medium speed the fans are tolerable. On low the fans are nice. At idle they are very quiet, and with the system loaded up the fans are noticeable, but very livable. With the overall performance of the Corsair H100 I don't see a need for it set on anything above medium, low will suit the majority of users' needs very well.
In all of the testing the H100 beat the H80 setting for setting by at least a degree. On low is where the H100 shines above the H80. On the low setting the H100 beat the H80 by at least 3 degrees at stock, and 5 degrees at 4.0GHz. When compared to the air coolers the Corsair H100, as you would hope, bests all the air coolers I have in the current charts."
Click here to read the full review.
Given its excellent performance, easy installation, worry-free operation, and decent price given its cooling power, the H100 might just be the best CPU cooler on the market right now.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Matrix Platinum Review
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have posted a review of the enthusiast-oriented ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Matrix Platinum graphics card, which features a huge triple-slot custom cooler and overclocked specifications.
Here's what they had to say:
"With overclocking, the first key ingredient is the cooler of which Asus plumped for the fantastic and world acclaimed DirectCU II and in the process of bolting it on, gave it some steroids so that it takes up a whopping three slots, but who are we to judge if it keeps temperatures down and from our thermal tests, you can see it did exactly that whilst also maintaing low acoustics. Its little things like this which add up to give you the most extreme cooling and with more users purchasing cards like this opposed to multiple, lesser cards, having a triple slot card shouldnt bother the majority of users. The joy of this card and the cooler thats been implemented is that it allows for the user to get the very best cooling with a low noise level if running at stock speeds but also gives a good scope for extra cooling performance if needed when overclocking."
This new Matrix Platinum model is definitely one of the best GeForce GTX 580's on the market, right along side the equally excellent MSI Lightning model.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Reviews
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D, HardwareHeaven, KitGuru, and The SSD Review have reviewed the brand new OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD, which as you might have guessed combines a solid state drive and hard drive on one PCB.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Guru3D:
"It's fantastic performance for the OS and the applications that you need to load up often (repetitive data). However for your random write performance things look somewhat more complicated, that is the price you pay for a cache solution. The overall experience however is incredibly snappy and fast, it is a storage unit that offers you a super fast overall OS experience with very swift and snappy loading applications, but sure with average to slow 1st time writes.
The OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid 1TB can be spotted for 450 EUR / 499 USD and is covered by a 3-year carry-in warranty. We can very much recommend it."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven:
"Speaking of maximising performance over time, that is one area where the results in this review and any Hybrid/Caching review should be used as a guideline only. Quite simply due to the nature of how caching works it is near impossible to get repeatable results and even when we do, they will not match the usage patterns of every end user. Each person using a Hybrid drive will benefit differently.
What we can say though is that there are some key areas where we see great benefits from the Hybrid. Windows boot times are significantly reduced within a few restarts, game loading (and application) showed similar benefits. We also noted increases in performance when copying batches of small files. Benchmark junkies also get their fix of speed with Atto and similar tests scoring the drive highly. Write speeds also often far exceed what is possible on Intel Smart Response Technology."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"While it cant keep up with the pure structure of the ultimate performance RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB, generally it outperforms most other solid state drives on the market. Throughput is class leading and it makes for an ideal boot drive, settling right at the top of our chart, behind the RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB.
OCZ rate the drive as having a maximum rating of up to 910 MB/s read and 800 MB/s write. We recorded read speeds close to 1GB/s via the ATTO Disk Benchmark, which really is impressive."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review:
"At the end of the day, the OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid 1TB PCIe SSD has answered the consumers call for SSD speed, HDD capacity and at a price that doesnt break the bank. Things that might be improved upon would naturally include creating a BIOS that would allow the swapping of hard drives on the card itself and maybe even a higher caliber hard drive. Truth be told, I did unsuccessfully attach a Crucial M4 just to see what might result as I couldnt help but think that it was a question worth exploring."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition Modular Case Review
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews have reviewed the unique-looking Thermaltake Level 10 GT modular case, but in a new Snow Edition colour scheme.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition goes for $290 on Newegg.com. That's not always an easy pill to swallow and it resides at the top end of computer cases in terms of price. It is less than half the price of its predecessor, however. And while it may reside at the top end of cases in cost, it also resides there in terms of functionality, construction, performance, and appearance. Because of everything the Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition has to offer computing enthusiast, the price tag, in my opinion, is well worth it. Honestly, if you want a case that will keep your system cool, keep your cables in line, and look cool doing it, you need the Level 10 GT Snow Edition. This is the best case I have seen to date and it is the one I will be using until I find a worthy opponent."
As I've said in the past, I find this case kind of ugly compared to the original Level 10, and it looks far too plasticky for $270. Having said that, it is otherwise a terrific all-around case.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Keyboard Review Roundup - Arctic Cooling, Enermax, Xebec & More
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru, LanOC, TechREACTION, and Viperlair have reviewed a few general purpose keyboards from Arctic Cooling, Enermax, Microsoft, and Xebec.
Let's see what they had to say:
- KitGuru: Xebec iTouchpad Diamond Series Wireless Keyboard Reviewþ:
"The Xebec iTouchPad Diamond Series Wireless Keyboard is a solid product which makes an ideal partner for a media system in the living room. It is light and compact enough to rest on a lap, offering the user control over the mouse and keyboard in one convenient package.
As a standalone purchase for a typist, we cant recommend it. The Soft Touch Membrane technology may have a lifespan of 5 million activations per key, but it feels distinctively spongy and would not be a first choice for serious tasks.
That said, as a media keyboard for light generalised duties it works perfectly fine and the signal strength is more than enough for even the largest of rooms. The signal was perfectly capable of reaching the PC receiver at the other end of a 15 foot room."
Click here to read the full review.
- LanOC: Microsoft Comfort Curve 3000 Keyboard Review:
"Microsoft has engineered the Comfort Curve 3000 to compete with the standard, flat keyboard, and in that aspect is passes with flying colors. They have also done very well keeping costs down to maintain a price point that appeals to the mainstream user. Though other 'Curve' options are available, many sport features that raise the price-point to well over the $50 mark. Though I was immediately turned off by the glossy finish, I will still be keeping the 3000 around and tossing out my old, flat standard boards. I'd like to see either a wrist rest or adjustable heights, but at $24.95 the Comfort Curve 3000 is still the ideal choice for users that are looking a comfortable, contouring board."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechREACTION: Enermax Aurora Lite Keyboard Review:
"As the Aurora is a higher-end slim keyboard design made for normal use and not geared toward gaming, we left that area alone for the most part. With the Aurora, you can hold down five keys at once, just in case you would like to game a little on it, so users have the ability to get most of their special key combinations with this keyboard. The high quality brushed aluminum helps make this keyboard very classy in appearance. The weight of the keyboard, due to the aluminum design, is noticeable, as some slim keyboards are extremely light and move all over the place. The Aurora Lite is not one of those keyboards, and holds its position very well while you type away on it."
Click here to read the full review.
- Viperlair: Arctic Cooling K481 Wireless Keyboard with Multi-Touch Pad Review:
"The Arctic Cooling Arctic Equipment K481 Wireless Keyboard with Multi-Touch Pad is overall a pretty neat little device. I like gadgets, but I detest useless gadgets, but the Arctic Cooling Arctic Equipment K481 Wireless Keyboard with Multi-Touch Pad is far from useless.
Everyday typing might take you a little time to get used to the size and layout of the keyboard, but should you be aiming to do day to day typing on the Arctic Cooling Arctic Equipment K481 Wireless Keyboard with Multi-Touch Pad, you won't find it a chore.
The multi-Touch pad on the right side of the keyboard works well, although I thought that the default sensitivity needed raising, as I prefer it if a cursor can make it from corner to corner of a 1080p screen, although that is of course a preferential setting."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Gaming Mouse Review Roundup - Cooler Master, Cyborg, Razer & More
October 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
LanOC, t-break, Techgage, TechREACTION, and Tech-Reviews have reviewed a few gaming mice from Cooler Master, Cyborg, Razer, and SteelSeries.
Here's what they had to say:
- LanOC: SteelSeries MMO Mouse Legendary Edition:
"So, a boss just dropped the Legendary MMO mouse from SteelSeries. The mouse is a comfortable fit, though the finish does have me a little concerned about extended play situations, or even for playing while doing everyday actions such as eating, or even scratching. Nevertheless, it isn't hard to get over when you consider eleven programmable buttons (including a customizable left- and right-click), software that integrates with your personal characters and is packed with in-game actions, and a design that's attractive enough to gain the same bragging rights the actual Thunderfury brings. Regardless of what class you may be, this is not an item to pass on."
Click here to read the full review.
- t-break: Razer Mamba 4G Gaming Mouse Review:
"That said, the Razer Mamba is a hard one to recommend. In 2010, just last year, it was the epitome of design and performance. But since then we have had the likes of Cyborg R.A.T 9 come along, and that has changed the game entirely. The R.A.T 9 offers dual battery solution, weight systems, adjustable palm and thumb rests, a Sniper-mode button, and a similar price tag. Does 4G makes a world of a difference? No, not quite. Its brilliant but not worth the extra features the R.A.T 9 provides. Razer got an opportunity to correct a few things here, but it seemed they were too hesitant to change absolutely anything. At its price point, I do not recommend the Mamba 4G over the Cyborb R.A.T 9. Over everything else? Oh hell, yes."
Click here to read the full review.
- Techgage: SteelSeries Sensei Pro-Grade Gaming Mouse Review:
"The Sensei offers a large number of features, many of which most gamers will never touch. I am not a pro by any means, but I did test the various functions and was impressed overall. FreeMove was one of the more interesting ones. It helps straighten your movement out when you're moving your mouse in a "straight" line in any direction. Even in simple desktop tests, the performance of this was almost scary good.
Of all the features the Sensei (and Xai) have, the LCD menu screen on the mouse bottom is the most interesting. I could never see me using this feature ever, but I've talked to gamers who do see a use, or have used it themselves. Like the aesthetics of the mouse itself, the included features will not be for everyone - but it's nice to have them nonetheless."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechREACTION: Cooler Master Storm Sentinel Z3RO-G Gaming Mouseþ:
"So is the CM Storm Sentinel Z3RO-G Gaming Mouse a peripheral youd want on your side taking out some loud mouth noobs in your favorite FPS, or defending your bases in a game like Starcraft? We say yes.
The mouse feels good while playing, the buttons are responsive, and the cord is a respectable length. The ability to change profiles on the fly as well as assign specific LED colors for each profile is a definite plus, as well as the expansive options to adjust your mouse settings. The only gripe we had was the software, due to the fact that every time you launch the software the mouse settings revert back to default is a bummer. Hopefully, CM Storm will fix this with a future software update. Other then that one minor caveat, we have no problems recommending the Z3RO-G for any PC gamer."
Click here to read the full review.
- Tech-Reviews: R.A.T 7 Gaming Mouse Albino Edition Review :
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
AMD FX-8150 "Bulldozer/Zambezi" Eight-Core CPU Launched!
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
AMD's much discussed and much anticipated Bulldozer processors have just launched. On the desktop these new parts are codenamed Zambezi, and the flagship part is the FX-8150. This is an eight-core processor with a 3.6Ghz default clock speed, Turbo capabilities up to 4.2Ghz, 16MB of total cache, and native support for DDR3-1866. Best of all, it features a low $245 price tag.
What the reviewers think about it? Well I'm not going to ruin the surprise, so here are bunch of articles for your reading pleasure:
- AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer Processor @ Benchmark Reviews.
- AMD FX (Bulldozer) Processors Explained @ eTeknix.
- AMD FX 8150 processor review @ Guru3D.
- AMD Bulldozer FX-8150 Processor Review @ Hardware Canucks.
- AMD FX-8150 Black Edition Processor Launch Review vs Intel Core i7-2600K @ HardwareHeaven.
- AMD FX 8150 Black Edition 8-Core Review (with Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7) @ KitGuru.
- AMD FX-8150 Processor Review - Bulldozer Arrives @ Legit Reviews.
- AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer CPU Review @ Madshrimps.
- AMD FX-8150 Processor Review - Can Bulldozer Unearth an AMD Victory? @ PC Perspective.
- AMD Bulldozer FX-8150 @ PureOverclock.
- AMD FX-8150, FX Series Reviewed - Bulldozer makes debut @ TechSpot.
- AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer 8 Core CPU Review @ TechwareLabsþ.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
SilverStone TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Reviews
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
MissingRemote and TechREACTION have reviewed the SilverStone TS07 USB 3.0 3.5" hard drive enclosure.
Let's see what they had to say:
- MissingRemote:
"It is hard to find fault with the SilverStone TS07. The enclosure performed well although not quite as well as eSATA, which is to be expected with any USB 3.0 comparison. Compared to many enclosures, the TS07 beats them with its quality design, aesthetics, mobility and user-friendly installation. Carrying a sub-$40 street price, the TS07 is competitively priced in the USB 3.0 enclosure market.
Were finally seeing USB 3.0 becoming more ubiquitous and it couldnt come too soon considering how badly overwhelmed USB 2.0 is with any modern storage drive. Even if you dont currently have a USB 3.0 port to take advantage of, you would be wise to consider a USB 3.0 enclosure such as the TS07 if you are in the market for one because your next PC will almost surely have USB 3.0 capability."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechREACTION:
"Overall, the Silverstone enclosure is a quality product. The mounting clips are durable and should handle multiple drive swaps over the enclosures lifetime. It dissipates heat fairly well and the USB 3.0 speed is a must-have for those with external storage needs. The DC adapter is necessary as mechanical drives run off a 12v line (not a 5v like 2.5 drives). The USB 3.0 cable is very short, and while this may be perfect for laptop users, PC users are apt to have some issues with cases that are tucked under desks and that do not have front panel USB 3.0 ports. In use, the drive was connected to back panel ports and the cable was long enough to place the drive on top of a case, or alongside it, but not placed somewhere like the desktop itself. You may find yourself in need of a longer USB 3.0 cable if this is your preferred arrangement."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB PCI-E SSD Review
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have reviewed the brand new and über-high performance OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB PCI-Express solid state drive, which features 1500MB/s read and 1250MB/s write speeds.
Here's what they had to say:
"One of the most important things to remember about the RevoDrive 3 X2 is that OCZ isnt targeting this at home users, enthusiasts or even well heeled gamers since it performance curve really doesnt cater to those usage patterns. The Workstation and power user markets are where it plays and in that respect, every one of its goals has been achieved. OCZ now offers nearly all the features professional consumers demand at a price point which is significantly less than the competition and that alone may allow them to shake things up in a market niche that has somewhat stagnated. For that, it wins our Dam Good Innovation Award.
While OCZs new RevoDrive 3 X2 series lives in a world that very few can afford to buy into, it gives a tantalizing view of what the future of SSD performance may look like."
Although it comes with an eye-watering price tag, the OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 is an unbelievably impressive piece of technology.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Enermax SpineRex Full Tower Case Reviews
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Real World Labs, and techPowerUp have reviewed the new Enermax SpineRex full tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix:
"We have mixed feelings about the Enermax SpineRex as it has both positive and negative aspects. We love the simple design and jazzy looking Apollish Vegas which are integrated into the front of the case. We also like the flexible drive bay configurations that are available, even if it is a little difficult to remove the hard drive caddies.
The provision for cable routing is pretty poor to be honest. Even though there are a series of holes cut into the motherboard for routing cables, there really isnt enough room for thick cables behind the tray. Other cases at this price point offer much better cable routing support like the Corsair Graphite 600T."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs:
"With the release of the SpineRex Full Tower Enermax has taken a step forward in becoming also known in their market for their PC Cases. Of course the SpineRex is not perfect (much like most products) and so although it has an very good overall build quality the front fascia could be slightly better while the lack of support for XL-Mainboards is something that i really hope Enermax improves with their next offering, besides as we show all of you thats not something hard. On the other hand however the design is great, there's room for even the longest mGPU graphics cards around and entire cooling system Enermax has placed in the SpineRex is simply excellent while the VEGAS LED fans leave it up to you to choose manually between red and blue color (or both)."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"What bothers me the most in this unit, is the fact that Enermax has simply taken that and slapped their own top and front onto it, instead of really trying to update the case and at least part of the tooling. While there are some cool aspects, all pertaining to the self-designed parts, like the front of the chassis, allowing for easy installation of external devices and the addition of the LED VEGAS fans, in the end, this may not be enough. If the case were to sell for 90-100 Euros, it would be a completely different story, but considering the price segment of around 120 Euro, there is extremely fierce competition there from so many other manufacturers, that it becomes impossible to give this case a recommendation."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Enermax ETS-T40-TA CPU Cooler Review
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs have posted a review of the new Enermax ETS-T40-TA CPU cooler, which features the proven H.D.T. (Heat Pipe Direct Touch) base design.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The ETS-T40-TA by Enermax currently retails at around USD49 inside the USA and 39Euros inside the EU, a price tag which is quite lower than what similar performance CPU Coolers cost. The only slight issue may be the availability of the product in some countries as we speak but there are always plenty of online stores from where you can purchase it from. Overall i was very pleased with the ETS-T40-TA and i really couldn't find anything wrong with it no matter how hard i tried, even the installation was quite easy compared to others. You really can't go wrong with the ETS-T40-TA CPU Cooler by Enermax and that's why it gets our Real Deal Editors Choice Award."
If you're looking for a quiet CPU Cooler that doesn't sacrifice on performance, this new new Enermax heatsink is definitely worth a look.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Fractal Design Define R3 Case Review
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks have posted a review of the new Fractal Design Define R3 mid-tower case, which is an update to the original R2.
Here's what they had to say:
"I have always insisted on having a windowed chassis in my main computer. No exceptions. But when the Fractal Design Define R3 arrived on my doorstep, the sheer brilliance of this case with so many outstanding features simply forced me to rethink my priorities. For one thing, I love its looks. It is clean, simple, and elegant. Its understated beauty is hard to come across nowadays. Secondly, it is silent. Silent without compromise. Even if you have the latest performance hardware under the hood, the Define R3 will have no trouble keeping up in the thermal management department. Thirdly, it is as close to maintenance-free as possible. There are dust filters at every intake, and vents are sealed off by default when not in use. That further keeps the noise in, and the dust out."
This is a very nice little case for the money! Definitely give Fractal Design's case lineup a look, you won't be disappointed.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NZXT Tempest 410 Elite Case Reviews
October 12, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PC Perspective and Techgage have reviewed the NZXT Tempest 410 Elite mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- PC Perspective:
"We've reviewed several NZXT cases in the past and the quality and construction of their products have continiously improved. The Tempest 410 Elite is a great example of NZXT's commitment to giving gamers and enthusiasts great features at a competitive price point. Keeping a case's price below $100 is a difficult task, but NZXT found innovative ways to incorporate cool features and design elements without adding manufacturing costs. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by the functionality of the Tempest 410 Elite as well as the honeycomb mesh design used throughout the case.
The NZXT Tempest 410 Elite has earned PC Perspective's Silver Award for creating a unique case with modern design features at a great price. Consumers looking for a quality budget PC case should give a Tempest 410 Elite a double take because its feature set and dual radiator support are tough to beat."
Click here to read the full review.
- Techgage:
"After our usual testing, I feel like we're left with a mixed bag, but I'll do my best to sum things up.
On the outside the case is all Tempest. The overall shape is carried over, which I really like and have been a fan of since I first laid my hands on the original. I really like the I/O area along the right side because it keeps the case very clean looking and moves cables out of the way of the optical drive, which is usually a problem for me.
The quick-release drive covers and fans are something that I'd like to see more companies adopt because, let's face it, having to remove the front panel to install or uninstall components gets very old, very quickly."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD5 AM3+ Motherboard Review
October 11, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TechREACTION have posted a review of the GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD5, an AMD AM3+ motherboard that is based on the 'new' 990FX northbridge and SB950 southbridge.
Here's what they had to say:
"Despite how much fun it was to run, and how great a board it is, the GA-990FXA-UD5 only earns the TechREACTION.net Silver Silicon award.
Neuromancer, are you crazy? Yes, yes I am. The only major detriment to this was the near $200 price tag. For an AMD board that is just excessive. For an OC driven board, also excessive. Gigabyte became an enthusiast known platform for their great performance and low prices, because they had no extra features on the board. Without knowing how much, UEFI, Bluetooth, Dual Ethernet and excellent software support add to the price, it seems illogical that it costs less than a solid all around design. Knock $30 off the price tag and it would be a solid Gold."
This seems like a great motherboard, but until AM3+ Bulldozer/Zambezi processors are released there is very little reason to buy a 990FX motherboard.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
SilverStone Temjin TJ08-E Micro-ATX Case Reviews
October 11, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and Metku have posted a review of the brand new SilverStone Temjin TJ08-E, a compact Micro-ATX case with a massive 180mm fan.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"Starting with the build quality of the SilverStone TJ08-E we have a chassis which impresses from the moment it is unboxed. The case feels solid and well built and the finish applied by SilverStone was flawless. A high quality fan is provided as standard and each of the case sections fit well together, even though there are several removable elements present. The pre-installed foam in the hard drive bays was a nice touch.
In terms of design the case continues to impress. We like the brushed finish on the front which looks great mixed with the mesh panel and the inclusion of an easily removable front filter and fan speed switch are ideal. Inside the case is designed to be very flexible, supporting large coolers, multiple motherboard types and extended length graphics cards. Having a separate compartment for the PSU is also a design decision we appreciated."
Click here to read the full review.
- Metku:
"Under the classy exterior of the TJ08-E turned out to be an overall good internal design. The main problems we had with the case were all related to the hardware limitations, and these can be avoided by choosing suitable hardware to go into the case. With the right components the installation is easy thanks to the removable motherboard tray and good cable management system, the case is sturdy enough and looks very nice. It also offers front panel USB3.0-connectivity and a fan controller. The only minus besides the hardware limitations is the fan controller, as its low-setting could make the fan turn even slower to reduce the noise. Then again, the fan uses a standard 3-pin connector, so it's easy enough to simply hook it to the motherboards' integrated fan controller."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 580 Super Overclock Review
October 11, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have posted a review of the high-end GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 580 Super Overclock graphics card, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.
Here's an excerpt:
"The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 580 SuperOverclock is not only the fastest single-GPU graphics card available today but also immaculate in terms of cooling efficiency. The latter factor is most important for premium-class cards with their high heat dissipation and power consumption. Its cooler proved to be quieter than the cooler of the fastest AMD-based solution weve tested so far. The Gigabyte product comes in a nice-looking box with sufficient accessories and a 3-year warranty, so the only downside we can see about it if we compare the Gigabyte 1.5 GB SuperOverclock and the Sapphire Radeon HD 6950(70) 2GB Toxic Edition is that the latter costs less."
This is indeed a very good card, but I don't see it as being any better than the MSI GeForce GTX 580 Lightning.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 2 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
October 11, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews have posted a review of the gaming-oriented GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 2 LGA1155 motherboard, which is based on the Intel Z68 chipset and which features an integrated Creative Soundblaster X-Fi digital audio processor (a real one!) and Bigfoot Killer E2100 network processing unit (NPU).
Let's see what they had to say:
"I am sure that Gigabyte considers the integrated Creative CA20K2 sound processor and Bigfoot Killer E2100 network controller to be the key features of their G1.Sniper 2 mainboard. It is true, only Gigabyte mainboards from the gaming K1-Killer series boast these features, so we wont deny their benefits. However, it is important to keep in mind a few other peculiarities of this product. It has very smart and thought-through design, supports all contemporary features and interfaces including USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps. Yes, IEEE1394 (FireWire) support is missing, but is it really necessary? You can use the graphics core integrated into the processor, utilize unique technologies of the Intel Z68 Express chipset such as LucidLogix Virtu and Intel Smart Response. The board overclocks processors well, memory a little worse, but I have to specifically stress its extremely handy automatic overclocking feature that allows to quickly and easily go back to the nominal system settings."
If you are planning on building the ultimate gaming system, this motherboard should definitely be at the top of your list...if you don't mind the 'loud' colour scheme.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS Maximus IV Extreme LGA1155 Motherboard Review
October 11, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have posted a review of the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme, an enthusiast-oriented Intel P67-based LGA1155 motherboard that is designed for overclocking.
Here's what they had to say:
"As we wrote in the Introduction, the Maximus IV Extreme has lots of features, technologies and innovations. Not all of them are invented by ASUS but we are really impressed to see them all packed into a single device and implemented perfectly. You can take the two BIOS chips as an example. Gigabyte mainboards have long had the dual BIOS feature but users didn't benefit much from it. On the contrary, a mainboard could occasionally decide that the main BIOS chip was damaged and rewrite it. The two BIOS chips work the same way on MSI mainboards. As opposed to them, the Maximus IV Extreme offers two full-featured independent BIOS chips, each with its own settings, even with different BIOS code versions. You can easily synchronize their data and switch between them using a button or a corresponding software option. So, we've finally got what we've missed in Gigabyte's Dual BIOS feature."
This is obviously a very good motherboard, but at this point in time you might as well consider the Z68-based ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Case Review
October 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Metku have posted a review of the affordable Corsair Carbide Series 400R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Carbide series is yet another product area for Corsair to conquer, the price of the 400R sits at the 100 dollar mark, and also in Finland you can get the case for roughly hundred euros. Looking at the specifications and feature Corsair hasn't really needed to cut out too many things that have made the Obsidian series so excellent. You still get largely tool-free installation, good cable management and good build quality. The case isn't quite as sturdy as the 800D and 650D we've reviewed earlier, but still sturdy enough not to feel flimsy or cheap."
This looks like another fantastic Corsair case, but this time at an affordable $100 price point.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
October 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have posted a review of the GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3, a budget-oriented Intel Z68-based LGA1155 motherboard.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Z68 is without a doubt the motherboard bargain of the year. For less than £85 inc vat it is an incredible deal and was rock solid throughout all our testing with an Intel Core i5 2500k @ 4.6ghz and even 4.8ghz.
While the board isnt populated with colourful, oversized heatsinks, stability is not a concern. We deliberately attempted to cause the board as many problems as possible by trying some crazy settings. It always recovered after a few failed reboots without any user intervention. It may sound like a small point, but many inexperienced users interested in a budget Z68 motherboard will find this reassuring."
This is a fantastic motherboard that is very affordable yet comes with all the features that you would expect on much higher priced models. As a bonus, this motherboard also features an onboard mSATA port so you can install one of the Intel's excellent 310 Series mSATA solid state drives.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
AMD Radeon HD 6770 Review Roundup - ASUS, HIS, PowerColor
October 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, ocaholic, Rbmods, and X-bit Labs have reviewed three Radeon HD 6770 graphics cards from ASUS, HIS, and PowerColor.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: PowerColor Radeon HD 6770 PCS+ Vortex II Graphics Card Review:
"The bottom line is that while this card is good, its not perfect. Its still very old technology when you compare it to the likes of some Nvidia cards on the market for around the same price based around the fresher, younger Fermi architecture. If AMD is your thing, then the card wont let you down and will be perfect for light to medium gaming but dont expect anything amazing when bumping up the resolution or quality settings, as the frame-rate will be hindered. It will also be useful in a HTPC scenario as it uses little power and remains inaudible throughout operation but we are left feeling a bit glum when you look at a Radeon 6850 only being slightly more expensive, but getting so much more GPU power for your money."
Click here to read the full review.
- ocaholic: ASUS EAH6770 DC SL/2DI/1GD5 Review :
"The ASUS EAH6770 is an interesting card especially for absolute silent systems. If you do not play games or if you do this on very rare occasions there should be no issues with the card overheating. During our tests only Furmark made the system freeze. Performing 3DMark 11 loops wasn't a problem for the card.
A closer look at this cards performance shows that the HD 6770 competes with NVIDIA GTX 550 TI. Playing recent titles at high resolutions and high detail levels wont make you happy. What's possible is a resolution of 1680 x 1050 and lower detail levels. In this case smooth gaming is possible."
Click here to read the full review.
- Rbmods: His IceQX Radeon 6770 Videocard:
"This card performs quite well for its price range, there are a few things though I found that are flawed with the card. The speeds could be a little bit better and the fan is way to loud even though its advertised as being low noise. Otherwise I really cant find anything wrong with it- it overclocks well, the card is stable, and for the price you end up paying you get good performance.
The plugins on the back cover your needs for quite some time with even a displayport in the back."
Click here to read the full review.
- X-bit Labs: PowerColor PCS+ HD6770 1GB GDDR5 Vortex II (DiRT 3 Edition) Review:
"The PowerColor PCS+ HD6770 1GB GDDR5 Vortex II (DiRT 3 Edition) is surely worth the money they ask for it. This card can serve you well for the next few years. Its downsides (128-bit memory bus and low tessellation performance) are inconspicuous even in latest games whereas its advantages are obvious: very attractive price, efficient cooling, a free game in the box, factory overclocking, etc.
AMD's approach to releasing new products may be criticized, but take a look at the test results first!"
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
240GB Solid State Drive Review Roundup - Corsair, Kingston, OCZ & More
October 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven, KitGuru, techPowerUp, TestFreaks, and The SSD Review have reviewed several 240GB solid state drives from Corsair, Future Storage, Kingston, MemoRight, and OCZ.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven: Corsair Force Series 3 240GB SSD Review:
"Value wise Corsair offer a 3-year warranty with their SSDs and bundle a 2.5 to 3.5 inch drive bay convertor. As before it would be nice to see them offer a tool which could assist with easy firmware updates and drive maintenance as Intel and OCZ do however that may still happen. What really appeals about this model however is the excellent performance that it offers for a price which is noticeably less than models such as Corsairs GT and OCZ's MaxIOPS editions... Corsair is clearly targeting consumers considering the Agility 3 with this model and offer a very desirable alternative."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: MemoRight FTM Plus 240GB SSD Review:
"MemoRight might not be a name immediately associated with Solid State Drives in the United Kingdom, but the FTM Plus is one of the finest and fastest SandForce 2281 powered 240GB drives we have tested.
The bundle includes a 3.5 inch adapter plate which will be useful for a system build, and the drive itself performs extremely well, right up at the top of the performance pile, only outperformed in several of the tests by the special MAX IOPS edition from OCZ."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD Review:
"OCZ's Vertex 3 240 GB flagship offers outstanding drive performance on the new SATA 6 Gbps interface. In terms of raw speed it is only beat by the more expensive Intel 510 Series SSD. OCZ's next smaller model the Agility 3 is about 8% behind in performance, but also clocks in at a much more competitive $400, resulting in a better price/performance ratio. If money is of secondary importance to you and you want a fast drive, then the OCZ Vertex 3 is a great choice. Crucial's M4 SSD has recently seen a firmware update which promises significant performance updates and could result in that drive becoming a direct competitor to the Vertex 3, too."
Click here to read the full review.
- TestFreaks: Kingston HyperX SSD 240GB Upgrade Bundle Kit Review:
"The Kingston HyperX SSD is an amazing way to turbo charge ones PC. Other than the price there is almost nothing else to critique with this product. The drives read and write speeds are phenomenal; although to take full advantage of them youll need a motherboard utilizing SATA (6 GB/s) connections. Currently only Sandy Bridge-based motherboards have this controller already on board. The only other way to take advantage of the HyperX SSDs speed is to acquire an add-on card.
So if you do not have access to this faster SATA port then you may need to look for a consumer grade SSD as you will not be able to take advantage of the HyperXs speed gains.
The 40% gain in life expectancy makes the drive an even better value with its 5000 erase cycles. Plus youll be getting Intel NAND which are tailor made for most motherboards as Intel is the most implemented SATA (6GB/s) interface."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review: Future Storage 240GB SSD Review:
"Although Future Storage is a well established company which has been in the business since 2002 and selling SSDs from its UK base since 2007, the SSDs available to North American consumer require no overseas travel as they are built and shipped within the USA, Texas in fact.
By utilizing SandForces highly acclaimed SF-2281 SATA 3 processor, Toshiba Toggle NAND, and throwing their support behind that with a 3 year USA based warranty, Future Storage may have just created a product that may be of interest to the North American consumer market. By opening up their new site for international sales, we know they will have success in those countries where SSDs are still held at a premium cost with limited availability."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Gaming Keyboard Review Roundup - Cooler Master, Roccat, SteelSeries & More
October 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven, Hardware Secrets, KitGuru, LanOC, PureOverclock, and TechREACTION have reviewed a few gaming keyboards from Cooler Master, Roccat, SteelSeries, and Thermaltake.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven: Thermaltake eSPORTS Meka G Unit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard :
"Moving to performance the Meka G Unit excels, it is a lovely board to type on and easy to adapt to. When gaming we had no issues with multiple key presses and our inputs were registered immediately. The control panel is also responsive and simple to use which is a bonus.
So that brings us to value where Tt eSports have placed the Meka G Unit at £99.99 which is comparable with the Razer Black Widow Ultimate. In terms of quality the two are similar but Tt has the edge thanks to the nice travel pouch and wrist rest."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets: Roccat Valo Gaming Keyboard Review:
"Although typing was bad, at least while playing, the keys responded very well in spite of our hitting some wrong keys due to the buttons being somewhat small. At some point, we launched a grenade when we tried to knife a virtual enemy. In terms of customization, the Valo is awesome. Its such a world of possibilities that the inclusion of color keys makes sense. However, we feel that the light blue hue is very similar to the darker one. Perhaps an option in orange or yellow would be more appropriate than two shades of blue. Another idea is to follow the example of other gaming-grade models and offer an extra WASD cluster since they are the keys that see more action during play."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: Roccat Isku Gaming Keyboard Review:
"Overall we have positive feelings about the Roccat Isku. Aside from the attractive design and good build quality, the Roccat Isku boasts an impressive feature set which includes backlit keys, a wide array of multimedia buttons and a generous selection of well placed macro keys. Roccat also include a comprehensive software suite with the keyboard that lets you configure various aspects of performance and function.
Our main gripe with the Isku is that it doesnt feature mechanical switches. Sure, it is one of the best membrane keyboards that weve tested but once youve used a mechanical keyboard for a while, membranes just dont cut it."
Click here to read the full review.
- LanOC: SteelSeries 6Gv2 Mechanical Keyboard Review:
"In the end it comes back down to preference once again. SteelSeries manufactured a durable high quality keyboard that will hold up to just about any abuse. They did include media keys for anyone who needs them but its clear that gaming is the 6Gs main focus. My only complaint was with the edge of the spacebar, I would like to see it be more comfortable considering how often it is used in most FPSs. That being said this is still a great keyboard that comes in at $50 less than the 7G, its older brother. For someone who is looking for a mechanical keyboard with a focus on gaming without all of the flashing lights of other gaming keyboards this is the way to go."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Mechanical Keyboard Review:
"Of course, this streamlined approach does help keep the costs down as a result. Coming wtih a price of $80 USD, the QuickFire is one of the most affordable mechanical keyboards on the market. The lack of a numpad may be frustrating, but if that doesn't bother you, then the combination of sleek aesthetics, compact form, and attractive price makes the Cooler Master QuickFire a great barebones mechanical gaming keyboard."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechREACTION: Steelseries Switch Gaming Keyboardþ Review:
"The Steelseries Shift almost gave us a headache (in a good way), simply because of the vast options and customizations available with it. The interchangeable keysets really put this board in a class of its own. Having the macros keep track of time delays between keystrokes is another great feature built into the software for the Shift. The software was very user friendly and easy to navigate. The ergonomic wrist pad and the three levels of height adjustment should make using it comfortable for hours.
The personalization is huge with the Shift, from the keysets to the ability for every key to be customizable, along with additional layers, Bar and Pad Lock, that give you even more customizing options. To place Shift over the top, there is the LED lighted Steelseries logo on the board itself which gives it that extra bit of uniqueness."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Cooler Master HAF 932 Case Review
October 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have posted a review of the Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced mid-tower case.
Here's what they had to say:
"Overall we are left with very positive impressions of the Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced. We love the styling of the case and are sure that it will appeal to a broad range of enthusiasts.
The huge red LED fans give the case a bit of extra wow factor when its turned on so its a great option for those who frequent LAN events.
The HAF 932 Advanced is also a great choice for those who want to build a high end water cooled system. There is masses of room inside to allow a user to install a thick 360mm radiator in the roof with a push-pull fan configuration.
All this internal space makes it very easy to build a system, especially considering the tool-less mechanism for securing expansion devices which works very well."
The HAF 932 is a terrific case and it is very highly regarded by its users. It should be noted that Cooler Master have also released the Sniper CM Storm, which might appeal to those who want HAF 932-like functionality but with a more conservative exterior design.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
45-Way Thermal Compound Roundup
October 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets have tested and compared forty-five thermal compounds from the likes of Antec, Arctic Silver, Biostar, Cooler Master, Coolink, Deepcool, Evercool, Gelid, Noctua, Prolimatech, Spire, Thermalright, Xigmatek, Zalman, and more.
Here's what they had to say:
"The big surprise of this month was the performance of the mayonnaise as a thermal compound. It worked superbly, showing better performance than some well-known high-performance thermal greases. Again, we cannot determine how long it should remain effective, but in the short term, mayonnaise was the best alternative thermal compound we have seen so far.
All the true thermal compounds we tested this time performed within the normal curve. We can highlight that the Akasa 455 had the same performance as the Akasa 450, and the Arctic Silver Céramique 2 performed worse than the Céramique older model."
If you're running low on thermal compound, then this is an article that you should check out before buying some more.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NZXT Sentry Mesh Fan Controller Review
October 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TechwareLabs have posted reviews of the new NZXT Sentry Mesh, a simple and affordable fan controller.
Here's what they had to say:
"In practice, the flaws I point out in the Sentry Mesh are either more in the vein of feature suggestions for next years model (SSD mounting brackets) or universal problems with PWM anything (audio noise induction). At a street price of $26, the latest Sentry is a remarkably good deal compared to $60+ touchscreen devices, and it gets the job done. Its also dirt simple to adjust, and while this will involve taking your hand off the keyboard or mouse, it doesnt necessarily require taking your eyes off the monitor, and if youre deft, you can max out all five sliders with one swipe and one hand. Around here, solid, inexpensive hardware is generally very well received, and this is no exception while it lacks bonus features found on a few other units, these are bonus features, and cant be expected in every device brought to market."
If you're in the market for a budget-friendly fan controller, this one is definitely worth considering if its design matches your case.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 FleX Edition Review
October 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have posted a review of the Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 FleX Edition graphics card, which features an enhanced Eyefinity port configuration.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Overall, the card is good and fills a gap that needed to be filled but will only be welcomed by a specialist market, but as a user of multiple screen configurations, I can only recommend a card like this with multiple screens to get the very best out of your gaming experience. Sadly a 6950 isnt the greatest card to run the type of resolution used on triple monitor set-ups and due to this, we believe a user of this card would find much better results from utilising the CrossFireX capabilities, though this all adds up in the shopping cart and for the money, their are other cards on the market that can do a similar job with better performance."
This is a great card for those who need a multi-monitor setup for productivity reasons, but also want to do some serious multi-monitor gaming. Unlike previous FleX Edition models, the HD 6950 actually has the grunt to make use of all those display outputs.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE Z68XP-UD5 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
October 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the GIGABYTE Z68XP-UD5, a high-end feature-rich Intel Z68-based LGA1155 motherboard.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Unfortunately, trying to justify the UD5s expense may be tough for many consumers. The $60 less expensive Z68XP-UD4 may not boast its siblings expanded PCI-E layout, four additional USB 3.0 ports and four extra CPU power phases but it does more SATA 6Gb/s ports and a much lower price tag. ASUS has also thrown a wrench into Gigabytes parade with their excellent P8Z68-V Pro which not only offers similar features but also includes a full user friendly UEFI BIOS; something that Gigabyte just cant seem to nail down.
Looking at everything we have gone over in this review, we highly recommend the UD5 regardless of Gigabyte fumbling the ball when Z68 was first introduced. While this may not be the best value around especially with the UD4 and ASUS P8Z68-V Pro hovering around the $200 mark it is currently one of the better Z68 motherboards available."
I have to agree with the reviewer, the UD5 carries too much of a price premium over GIGABYTE's other models, and none of them are quite as good as the ASUS P8Z68 series and their excellent UEFI bios.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
NZXT Avatar S Gaming Mouse Reviews
October 6, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks, PureOverclock, and ThinkComputers have reviewed the brand new NZXT Avatar S gaming mouse, which features a white design and 1600 DPI laser sensor.
Let's see what they had to say:
- APH Networksþ:
"With all its flaws and missing features seen on many other mice for a similar price, I simply would not consider this much of a gaming mice at all -- besides the looks. Priced at MSRP $39.99 at press time, it is not really expensive, but stuff not present like a hardware profile switcher and on the fly sensitivity adjustments aren't costly to implement -- so I would say there is absolutely no reason why they are missing in the first place. All in all, to be blunt, the NZXT Avatar S is a beautiful blonde with no brai... well, let's just say it is a just a beautiful blonde (And leave it at that)."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock:
"The Avatar S is NZXT's latest foray into the extremely competitve gaming mouse market, traditionally dominated by only a few companies. A tall order, to be sure for NZXT, but the Avatar S was a pleasant surprise for its price.
The Avatar S features a solid selection of buttons, a simple and straightforward setup, elegant and stylish aesthetics in a no-nonsense package, and all at a reasonable price of about $40 for the gaming market segment. Consumers, and gamers in particular, want a mouse not only to work well, but to work simply. And the Avatar S does just that, allowing just about anyone to slip it on for size and just move effortlessly from the get-go."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers:
"NZXT has come out with another gaming mouse and it does the job. If you are looking for a no-frills gaming-grade mouse that is just that a mouse then this is the perfect mouse for you. I found it to be a great mouse for shooters and simple games where I would not want to map any keys to mouse buttons. For gamers playing MMOs like World of Warcraft this might not be the mouse for you because of the lack of buttons and there are not that many customizable options."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Patriot Pyro 120GB Solid State Drive Review
October 6, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have reviewed the brand new high performance Patriot Pyro 120GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller and features very high 550MB/s read and 515MB/s write speeds.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The bottom line is that the Pyro is a great budget drive and will be the perfect upgrade to anyone wanting a quick boost in performance as it is still a SSD at the end of the day, and that has its merit in gold anyway, but by offering 500MB/s speeds when needed most, the Pyro really is a great drive and Patriot have done a good job in marketing it by being truthful, upfront and brutally honest. It really is a simple, no-frills SSD."
While this solid state drive is obviously very good, it is a little slower than other similarly-priced SandForce SF-2281-based SSDs like the Corsair Force 3 120GB and OCZ Vertex 3.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Enermax Platimax 1200W Power Supply Review
October 6, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the new, high-end Enermax Platimax 1200W power supply, which is 80Plus Platinum certified.
Here's what they had to say:
"Internally, it is just as impressive and again formed from the superlative MaxRevo structuring. Soldering and component selection is first class and Enermax use highest grade Rubycon, Matsushita and Nippon Chemi-con capacitors throughout.
Technically it is a solid design and features stable load regulation, great noise suppression and high levels of efficiency. Noise levels are low, and the quiet, yet capable fan ensures that internal cooling proficiency is without question. It also passed our cross loading stress tests with flying colours."
This is very clearly an excellent high wattage power supply, it might even be better than the seemingly perfect Corsair AX1200.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower Case Review
October 6, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews have posted a video review of the Corsair Carbide Series 400R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The construction of the case is top-notch. All the parts and panels fit perfectly, and all metal edges inside the case are rolled over. Having features like a front panel that snaps completely off without any trailing wires shows that someone at Corsair put a little thought into it. The only issue here was apparently a slightly-too-tall rubber power supply support, which caused a problem in fitting the power supply.
Functionality is this case's strong point. Eight card slots, fully tool-less interior, six drive caddies, excellent cable management, lots of fan mounts...really, you'd have to think pretty hard to justify spending more money than this on a case."
This looks like another fantastic Corsair case, but this time at an affordable $100 price point.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) LGA1155 Motherboard Review
October 6, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3), an Intel Z68-based LGA1155 motherboard that supports the next-generation PCI-Express 3.0 interface.
Let's see what they had to say:
"As we had hoped, the MSI Z68A-GD80-G3 is a solid, stable, well equipped board which offers one of the most intuitive bios configurations we have seen this year. We doubt many enthusiast users will want to use a touch screen to navigate the panels, but the option is there.
With so many Z68 boards currently on the market, the choices can be somewhat bewildering for a customer. The MSI board delivers a fully featured, well thought out layout, offering both USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps connectivity. The back panel is populated with a wide range of ports including HDMI, DVI, eSATA and multiple gigabit lan ports. The inclusion of an external reset CMOS button is an enthusiast favourite."
This is one of the first motherboards to support PCI-E 3.0, so it you want guaranteed support with Intel's upcoming 'Ivy Bridge' 22nm LGA1155 processors, then you should defnitely give this motherboard a look.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
SilverStone Grandia GD06 HTPC Case Review
October 5, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D have reviewed the SilverStone Grandia GD06 HTPC case, which is designed for Micro ATX (and smaller) motherboards.
Here's what they had to say:
"If you are in the market for a HTPC chassis and dig this design and style, well look no further. At 100 EUR the GD06 offers a whole lotta bang for buck. It is not the most easy chassis to work with though. Arguably we are all a little spoiled with tool free PC chassis these days. But using your hands and a screwdriver for a change, aaah it's even bloke like stuff, be a man... pick up that screw driver, come on you can do it :)
For sheer design, style features and price we can recommended the Silverstone GD06 very much, we had a very hard time to find any real flaws with it."
This seems like a pretty great case for those who want a desktop-style HTPC that has more expansion capabilities than the extremely compact cases that have recently become increasingly popular.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake Chaser MK-I Full Tower Case Review
October 5, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Techgage have posted a review of the brand new Thermaltake Chaser MK-I full tower case.
Here's an excerpt:
"This is the only problem that I have with the case considering that the HAF 932 Advanced is available for $10 less and provides better cooling out of the box. The 932 Advanced loses out with only 7 PCI slots compared to 8 found on the Chaser MK-1 and an extra optical drive bay in exchange for a hard drive bay.
Pricing aside, including a side panel 200mm fan doesn't seem like too much to ask given the price and would likely help it match the Level 10 GT in terms of cooling - which at the same time might be why it wasn't. A side panel fan will almost always be useful, whereas not including one in the open spot on the top is understandable since one fan in this location is typical and some may swap it out and install a radiator."
This seems like a decent case, but it looks way too plasticky for $160. I would instead take a look at the Corsair Graphite 600T.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 Vapor-X Edition Reviews
October 5, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock and TechwareLabs have posted a review of the Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 Vapor-X Edition graphics card, which features the impressive Vapor-X cooler and overclocked specifications.
Let's see what they had to say:
- PureOverclock:
"When looking at the Sapphire HD6850 Vapor-X alone, its a pretty impressive card for the market segment its aimed at. At a price point below $170 US it hits all the marks we have come to expect from the AMD franchise. However, as soon as we start to introduce cards from NVIDIA we see the playing field start to kilter in favor of the NVIDIA cards, in some areas because of the PhysX and CUDA support.
Either way you look at it the Sapphire Vapor-XHD6850 is a strong card for the price and with the added bonus of DiRT 3 being included in the package, this Sapphire card packs good gaming horsepower, and runs very cool and quiet as well."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechwareLabs:
"We have looked at this card from multiple angles and tested it with multiple tools. Weve looked at what parts Sapphire has put into this card and how theyve cooled it. What weve found is a great performing card with great cooling. Im confident this card can play any game on the market today while still keeping its cool and not becoming a space heater. However, I would like to see Sapphire include a better suited Display Port adapter for todays needs. At time of publication, the 6850 Vapor-X is $20 more than the stock 6850 from Sapphire making it a no-brainer upgrade. With this in mind Im awarding the Sapphire 6850 Vapor-X our Approved Hardware Award."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB Reviews
October 5, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews and Guru3D have posted a review of the highly anticipated EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB graphics card, which has been custom designed to maximize its overclocking capabilities.
Here's what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"The EVGA GTX 580 Classified is very well built with a great amount of thought put into every component used. Even during our stressful Furmark testing in which we drew record amounts of power we did not see any type of graphical glitches. Adding to this is the fact EVGA stands behind their product providing a lifetime warranty should something go wrong during a Classifieds lifetime.
The functionality of the cooler being used with the Classified is amazing providing a 12.4% boost in cooling performance while at the same time creating less noise than a stock GTX 580. Personally I also appreciate that the Classified vents its exhaust out the rear of a user's case rather than recirculating all of that heat inside of the case."
Click here to read the full review.
- Guru3D:
"The card won't be cheap, this 3GB model will set you back 600 USD and we expect roughly equal numbers in EUR. The reality is also that a reference GTX 580 is just under 450 USD, the 1.5GB version though. Whether or not the extra money is worth it to you, hey that's up -to you and nobody else. Also, if you can still find them, a dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 won't be that far off in price yet would blow this card away in performance.
Other then a few remarks let me emphasize strongly, it is a terrific looking and performing product and a great build all by itself. We do advise eVGA to get voltage tweaking going real fast though, as this is a little silly. Well worth the mention is of course something that other manufacturers do not offer, a Limited Lifetime warranty with registration within 30 days of purchase."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS Crosshair V Formula AM3+ Motherboard Review
October 5, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ocaholic have posted a review of the enthusiast-oriented ASUS Crosshair V Formula, an AMD AM3+ motherboard that is based on the 'new' 990FX northbridge and SB950 southbridge.
Here's an excerpt:
"ASUS Crosshair V Formula is overall a very interesting and at a first glance also a very good board. The ROG color scheme belongs to the nicest the industry offers and therefore there are not many other motherboards that play in this league. Furthermore the positioning of the different parts has been well done too. We also like that ASUS equipped this board with a SupremeFX Audio-Chip. In this case you get nice an clear sound from the back panel audio plugs."
This seems like a great motherboard, but until AM3+ Bulldozer/Zambezi processors are released there is very little reason to buy a 990FX motherboard unless you are desperate for SLI.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Direct CU II Review
October 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
OCIA have posted a review of the high-end ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Direct CU II graphics card, which features a custom cooler and and a slight overclock.
Let's see what they had to say:
"As of writing, the ASUS GTX 580 DirectCU II is priced at $499 on Newegg which puts it in line with many of the other 580 cards in stock. The variety is wide in terms of clock speeds and cooling systems among available cards and aside from the cooling system, the ASUS card doesn't particularly stand out from the crowd. There are other cards at the same price point with slightly higher factory overclocks, but it remains to be seen just how high they can go when really pushed. Also note that most of the other cards only occupy two expansion slots. The extra size of the cooler on the ASUS offering likely helps keep it cooler but at the cost of added thickness."
This is without a doubt the most impressive GeForce GTX 580 on the market, but I really wish it came with a higher default overclock.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
ASUS F1A75 Series FM1 Motherboard Reviews
October 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru, Legit Reviews, and PureOverclock have reviewed three different models of the ASUS F1A75 series motherboards, which are based on the AMD A75 chipset and support the FM1 'Llano' APU processors.
Let's see what they had to say:
- KitGuru: ASUS F1A75-I Deluxe Motherboard Review:
"The ASUS F1A75-I Deluxe Motherboard is another great design from ASUS and a fantastic first choice for a small media center system.
The bundle is impressive and includes everything for a system build, including cables, wireless antenna, wireless USB 2.0 receiver and a cool remote with dual function capabilities.
The UEFI bios is first class and allows for considerable overclocking capabilities in the right hands. We were able to push the board just past 3.5ghz with the A6-3650 although we could randomly lose USB connectivity from time to time. Keeping it at reference voltages at 3.25ghz proved the most stable and easily achievable by a wide audience with minimal effort on reference air cooling."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews: ASUS F1A75-V Pro Motherboard Review:
"Although the ASUS F1A75-V Pro is on the higher end of the price spectrum, it proved that it has what it takes to carry the ASUS name. Great performance, great overclocking capability, and great features make the ASUS F1A75-V Pro a board that should be on the top of any short list!"
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: ASUS F1A75-V Pro Motherboard Review:
"As weve come to expect from ASUS, the F1A75-V Pro lives up to the companys reputation of manufacturing not only a great looking motherboard but also a stellar performer. This prominently shows with both A75 motherboards we reviewed by ASUS as the recent F1A75- M Pro and the F1A75-V Pro are about equal in overclocking prowess. The performance was as good if not better than any A75 motherboard we have reviewed to date. The layout is not burdening as the Llano platform does not cram in multiple PCI-E slots. The visual design is not masculine nor feminine but the cute wave design heatsinks gives the F1A75-V Pro a much different look from what we are accustomed to from ASUS."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake Armor A30 Micro-ATX Case Reviews
October 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Bigbruin and eTeknix have posted a review of the Thermaltake Armor A30, a gaming-oriented micro-ATX case that supports full-size graphics cards.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Bigbruin:
"If you are looking for a small form factor case to take to LAN parties or just to save space, the Thermaltake Armor A30 is a great option. It has the features that are needed in an enthusiast level case, including a USB 3.0 port, SSD support, room for multiple hard drives, a removable motherboard tray, and even support for long video cards.
On the surface, all the features in the Armor A30 make for an impressive Micro-ATX case. Being a small case, an initial concern would be temperatures, however the large 230mm fan, dual 60mm exhaust fans and the 90mm intake fan provide plenty of cooling. While it registered a few degrees warmer than a mid-tower case that housed the same components during testing, the temperatures were still well within comfortable levels."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix:
"We are quite impressed by the Thermaltake Armor A30 case as it offers an impressive feature set for a small form factor case. It isnt that much more compact than a regular PC case, though, it is just a different shape that is much flatter.
Thermaltake have chosen to use a removable motherboard tray for the A30 which is a great decision in our opinion. This really simplifies installation of the system and allows us to build quite a lot of the system outside of the confines of the case where space is limited.
There are a number of other positive aspects of this case like the cooling which seems to be well equipped. There is also room for a full size ATX PSU and long graphics cards which means you can build a very powerful system in this case."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM CPU Cooler Review
October 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ThinkComputers have reviewed the Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM CPU cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM is a very large CPU cooler. Adding a second fan, while decreasing your temperatures, will make the cooler much larger and may even cause some clearance issues. Due to its large size, this cooler might not be right for everyone, especially those with a smaller case. Despite its large size, it does provide some decent cooling. While its not the best weve tested, its also not the worst. We got a really nice idle temperature of 29°C, which might be the seller for some, but the load temperatures just werent that impressive."
This is a surprisingly well-rounded cooler, not too big, not too loud, and fairly well priced. Check it out!
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Patriot Wildfire 120GB SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Reviews
October 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and techPowerUp have reviewed the brand new high performance Patriot Pyro 120GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller and features very high 555MB/s read and 520MB/s write speeds.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"Speaking of performance the Wildfire scored well in each of the tests today, competing well with the latest models from Intel and Samsung; in fact it often exceeded their performance. Especially on write operations. In addition to this we are happy to report that we experienced no stutters or stability issues which have been reported on other drives which use the same controller.
In terms of value the Wildfire is priced at a level which makes it competitive with brands such as OCZ and Corsair which is ideal. Patriot also includes similar bundled items which is an added bonus."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"Patriot's Wildfire 120 GB impressed me with its performance. At first I thought "just another Sandforce-based drive", but after seeing the results, where the drive often ends up being the fastest SSD in our test group, I'm starting to think Patriot has a winner on their hands. The Wildfire 120 GB easily defeats the other Sandforce drives and is very close to Intel's 510 Series flagship which is the fastest SSD available right now. Which drive is faster depends largely on the workload, with Intel's drive also having the advantage of being 250 GB vs. 120 GB on the Wildfire. Typically the same SSD using the same controller, chips, firmware etc. is faster the bigger its capacity is."
Click here to read the full review.
Frankly, this is one of - if not the - best 120GB solid state drives on the market, great job Patriot!
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Fractal Design Arc Midi Case Reviews
October 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven, techPowerUp, and ThinkComputers have reviewed the Fractal Design Arc Midi Case, a relatively compact yet spacious mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"The Arc Midi is a case which offers a little of something for everyone. From water-cooling for enthusiasts to 8 fans for those who need them. Even the use of extra-large components, 8 drives and some great build quality. The Arc Midi is our new favourite midrange case."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"With the Arc, Fractal Design has shown that they are capable of creating a fairly potent Mid Tower chassis. It comes with cool looks, nifty front and top use of mesh, three 140 mm fans and an internal USB 3.0 plug. On top of that, you still receive the signature fan controller, which has been improved for easier access. Also, in Fractal Design fashion, even though the Arc in this review is a mid-tower chassis, it can hold up to eight hard drives. All this is excellent, but Fractal Design has chosen to place the chassis in the very competitive 80-90 Euro price segment. This means that it is duking it out with the likes of Xigmatek Pantheon or CM 690 II."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers:
"If I wasnt replacing my case all the time (for all the reviews I do), this would definitely be a keeper case. It has a higher price tag, found at my favorite retailer for $99.99, but it is certainly worth the money, especially when you compare it to cases of similar price from major brands. If this is what Fractal Design has in store for us, then other companies should watch out. ThinkComputers would like to award the Fractal Design Arc Midi Tower Case a 10 out of 10 score and our Editors Choice Award."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU Cooler Review
October 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
DragonSteelMods have reviewed the high performance Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU cooler, which is a higher performance version of the original Frio.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Frio OCK CPU cooler is truly a great performing cooler; even with the fans on low it keeps your CPU nice and cool. If youre looking for good looks and good performance, look no further than the Frio OCK from Thermaltake.
The Frio OCK is loud on high yes, and from what I can see there really is no need to turn up the fans at all. You can get the same performance from the cooler even with the fans on low.
The Frio OCK is large yes, but its size it what makes it a great cooler. The size though could be a problem as you wont be able to use ram with large heat spreaders on it."
This is a pretty good CPU cooler, but its performance definitely comes at a price - high noise output. There are better overall options in the form of the Cooler Master V6 GT, Prolimatech Super Mega, and Zalman CNPS 11X Extreme. The huge Noctua NH-D14 is also a top-notch option if it will fit in your case.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Corsair Hydro H80 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
October 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the brand new Corsair Hydro H80, which is a high-performance self-contained liquid CPU cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
"In every way imaginable the Corsair H80 deserves its High Performance moniker. No matter what the heat load this sumo sized yet still only single bay form factor all in one water cooling solution simply performed flawlessly. But then again, we expected nothing less from Corsair since through their partnership with CoolIT; they seem to have the design of closed loop water coolers down to a precise science."
Given its excellent performance, easy installation, worry-free operation, and decent price, this is indeed a very attractive product for anyone looking to step away from bulky heatsinks.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
OCZ Z-Drive R4 1.6TB PCI-Express SSD Reviews
October 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PC Perspective and The SSD Review have reviewed the huge and immensely fast OCZ Z-Drive R4 1.6TB PCI-Express solid state drive.
Let's see what they had to say:
- PC Perspective:
"The OCZ Z-Drive R4 took the VCA 2.0 benefits from the RevoDrive 3 X2 and amplified them to a level I could have previously only imagined. The SuperScale processor not only takes full advantage of PCIe 2.0 x8, it nearly saturates it completely. When it comes to ganging multiple SATA 6Gb/sec SSD controllers together, this is hands down the best implementation out there. I see these showing up in the enterprise just as quickly as OCZ can make them.
OCZ is 2 for 2 on Editor's Choice Awards from me. Some may think it's more of the same, just faster, but doubling *everything* at the same time and actually gaining double performance is extremely difficult to pull off when this far into the bleeding edge. I applauded the RevoDrive 3 X2 for the outside-the-box thinking with VCA 2.0, and I applaud OCZ for showing the tech can truly scale with the Z-Drive R4."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review:
"The OCZ Z-Drive R4 PCI Express 2.0 SSD did much more than open our eyes though; it knocked us off of our feet. Its performance of 2.8GB/s is mesmerizing and the thought that we can double this performance with another chip, resulting in well over a million IOPS, is incredible. The Z-R4 is tuned for large queue depths and, as funny as it is, we had to rely once again on IOMeter as the newest and greatest in SSD Benchmark Software (Anvil Pro) can only test to a maximum QD of 64. The problem with this, of course, is that the Z-R4 lives and breathes QD128 which makes this one of the best enterprise storage devices available for its price point."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
GIGABYTE X58A-OC LGA1366 Motherboard Review
October 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ThinkComputers have posted a review of the innovative GIGABYTE X58A-OC, an Intel X58-based LGA1366 motherboard that has been especially designed for hardcore overclockers.
Here's an excerpt:
"Besides just the ways to overclock what components on this board make it a great overclocker? Well first off you have the OC-VRM design. This is the first X58 board that does not have a single solid capacitor. This board instead uses the low-profile POScap tantalum electrolytic capacitors. This not only are more durable, but their low profile design make insulating the motherboard during extreme overclocking situations very easy. Actually the entire board was designed with insulating in mind. This is the first board that I have seen to use SATA power connectors for more stable power when using 3-way and 4-way graphics solutions. Cooling on this board is some of the best we have seen. The large heatsinks will keep the board cool during your overclocking sessions."
This is a motherboard that was designed for those who take sub-zero overclocking very seriously, and it is hopefully the first of many.
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
Recent posts
- QNAP TS-219P II Turbo NAS Review
- Lian Li Cowry PC-U6 Micro-ATX Case Reviews
- Enermax Platimax 600W Modular Power Supply Review
- ASUS & GIGABYTE Intel X79 LGA2011 Motherboard Previews
- Gaming Headset Review Roundup - Cooler Master, Corsair, SteelSeries & More
- Akasa Venom Voodoo CPU Cooler Reviews
- Battlefield 3 CPU & GPU Performance Analysis
- SilverStone Treasure TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Review
- Thermaltake eSPORTS MEKA G-Unit Gaming Keyboard Review
- 1050W-1500W Power Supply Review Roundup - Antec, Cooler Master, Corsair & More
- Thermaltake Chaser MK-I Full Tower Case Review
- Intel Core i7-2700K LGA1155 Processor Reviews
- AMD FX-8150 Eight-Core AM3+ Processor Reviews
- The Effect of GPU Memory on Surround & Stereo 3D Performance
- Intel Z68 LGA1155 Motherboard Review Roundup - ASRock, GIGABYTE, MSI & More
- Antec One Hundred Case Reviews
- NZXT Havik 140 CPU Cooler Reviews
- MSI Radeon HD 6870 Hawk Graphics Card Review
- ASUS Crosshair V Formula AM3+ Motherboard Review
- 620W-900W Power Supply Review Roundup - Enermax, NZXT, OCZ & More
- Fractal Design Define Mini Case Reviews
- ASUS Eee Pad Slider SL101 Tablet Review
- Intel Core i7-2700K LGA1155 Processor Review
- ASUS G74SX 3D 17-inch Gaming Notebook Review
- 350W-550W Power Supply Review Roundup - Antec, Kingwin, OCZ & More
- OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 240GB PCI-E SSD Review
- GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7 AM3+ Motherboard Review
- HIS Radeon HD 6970 IceQ Mix Graphics Card Review
- Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition Modular Case Review
- Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review
- Scythe Mugen 3 CPU Cooler Review
- Lancool PC-K9B Mid-Tower Case Review
- OCZ ZT Series 750W Power Supply Reviews
- EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB Review
- Antec Soundscience Rockus 3D 2.1 Speaker Review
- Dell Ultrasharp U2412M 24-inch LCD Monitor Review
- MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) LGA1155 Motherboard Review
- OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Review
- NVIDIA GeForce LAN Day 1-2-3 Coverage
- Alienware M14x Gaming Notebook Review
- SilverStone Treasure TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Review
- Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset Review
- Kingston Data Traveler Ultimate G2 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Review
- XFX WarPad Mousepad Review
- NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 Kit Reviews
- Lian Li PC-V600 Micro-ATX Case Reviews
- Xigmatek Aegir SD128264 CPU Cooler Review
- Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
- Intel 320 Series 300GB Solid State Drive Review
- Intel 710 Series 200GB Solid State Drive Review
- Samsung PM830 Series SATA 6Gb/s SSD Reviews
- Antec Kuhler H2O 920 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
- Gaming Headset Review Roundup - ASUS, Plantronics, Thermaltake & More
- AMD A75 FM1 Motherboard Review Roundup - ASRock, ASUS, GIGABYTE & More
- NZXT Sentry Mix Fan Controller Reviews
- Enermax Platimax 850W Power Supply Review
- Corsair Hydro H100 Liquid CPU Cooler Reviews
- ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Matrix Platinum Review
- OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Reviews
- Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition Modular Case Review
- Keyboard Review Roundup - Arctic Cooling, Enermax, Xebec & More
- Gaming Mouse Review Roundup - Cooler Master, Cyborg, Razer & More
- AMD FX-8150 "Bulldozer/Zambezi" Eight-Core CPU Launched!
- SilverStone TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Reviews
- OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB PCI-E SSD Review
- Enermax SpineRex Full Tower Case Reviews
- Enermax ETS-T40-TA CPU Cooler Review
- Fractal Design Define R3 Case Review
- NZXT Tempest 410 Elite Case Reviews
- GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD5 AM3+ Motherboard Review
- SilverStone Temjin TJ08-E Micro-ATX Case Reviews
- GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 580 Super Overclock Review
- GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 2 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
- ASUS Maximus IV Extreme LGA1155 Motherboard Review
- Corsair Carbide Series 400R Case Review
- GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
- AMD Radeon HD 6770 Review Roundup - ASUS, HIS, PowerColor
- 240GB Solid State Drive Review Roundup - Corsair, Kingston, OCZ & More
- Gaming Keyboard Review Roundup - Cooler Master, Roccat, SteelSeries & More
- Cooler Master HAF 932 Case Review
- 45-Way Thermal Compound Roundup
- NZXT Sentry Mesh Fan Controller Review
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 FleX Edition Review
- GIGABYTE Z68XP-UD5 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
- NZXT Avatar S Gaming Mouse Reviews
- Patriot Pyro 120GB Solid State Drive Review
- Enermax Platimax 1200W Power Supply Review
- Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower Case Review
- MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) LGA1155 Motherboard Review
- SilverStone Grandia GD06 HTPC Case Review
- Thermaltake Chaser MK-I Full Tower Case Review
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 Vapor-X Edition Reviews
- EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB Reviews
- ASUS Crosshair V Formula AM3+ Motherboard Review
- ASUS GeForce GTX 580 Direct CU II Review
- ASUS F1A75 Series FM1 Motherboard Reviews
- Thermaltake Armor A30 Micro-ATX Case Reviews
- Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM CPU Cooler Review
- Patriot Wildfire 120GB SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Reviews
- Fractal Design Arc Midi Case Reviews
- Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU Cooler Review
- Corsair Hydro H80 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
- OCZ Z-Drive R4 1.6TB PCI-Express SSD Reviews
- GIGABYTE X58A-OC LGA1366 Motherboard Review
Choose year
2001
2002
- January (238)
- Februady (212)
- March (192)
- May (176)
- April (215)
- June (184)
- July (210)
- August (198)
- September (152)
- October (161)
- November (163)
- December (170)
2003
- January (136)
- Februady (148)
- March (204)
- May (196)
- April (178)
- June (162)
- July (156)
- August (136)
- September (126)
- October (133)
- November (123)
- December (105)
2004
- January (110)
- Februady (148)
- March (299)
- May (193)
- April (132)
- June (120)
- July (107)
- August (117)
- September (134)
- October (118)
- November (120)
- December (102)
2005
- January (108)
- Februady (106)
- March (118)
- May (118)
- April (108)
- June (119)
- July (111)
- August (114)
- September (113)
- October (117)
- November (118)
- December (97)
2006
- January (99)
- Februady (107)
- March (122)
- May (103)
- April (84)
- June (116)
- July (108)
- August (122)
- September (112)
- October (115)
- November (116)
- December (100)
2007
- January (112)
- Februady (202)
- March (164)
- May (141)
- April (148)
- June (153)
- July (124)
- August (146)
- September (120)
- October (145)
- November (126)
- December (79)
2008
- January (118)
- Februady (103)
- March (125)
- May (124)
- April (128)
- June (136)
- July (114)
- August (113)
- September (108)
- October (117)
- November (103)
- December (108)
2009
- January (105)
- Februady (90)
- March (107)
- May (101)
- April (92)
- June (100)
- July (105)
- August (116)
- September (105)
- October (90)
- November (106)
- December (102)
2010
- January (89)
- Februady (97)
- March (104)
- May (112)
- April (104)
- June (93)
- July (118)
- August (130)
- September (108)
- October (104)
- November (107)
- December (120)
2011
- January (107)
- Februady (102)
- March (121)
- May (103)
- April (103)
- June (113)
- July (100)
- August (108)
- September (124)
- October (104)
- November (111)
- December (96)
2012
- January (98)
- Februady (106)
- March (90)
- May (105)
- April (115)
- June (105)
- July (110)
- August (105)
- September (97)
- October (114)
- November (105)
- December (96)