Hardware News
PowerColor Devil 13 HD 6970 2GB Graphics Card Review
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the brand new PowerColor Devil 13 HD 6970 2GB graphics card, which features a significantly customized cooling system, high quality components, and overclocked specifications.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Powercolor Devil 13 is an impressive collectors edition, something you are aware of immediately by the design and effort that has gone into the box alone! Supplying the card with a turbo button is an interesting idea and it is much easier to work with than a fiddly, tiny, bios switch. We cant imagine anyone contemplating buying this card will want the reference speeds mind you, but the option is there. The overclocked settings are some of the highest on the market, which will appeal to the hardcore AMD audience.
The bundle really is exceptional, particularly the quality Wiha branded screwdriver set which may prove useful to many modders and people who build their own systems. Wiha are not a cheap, no name far east brand destined to fall apart in a couple of months, they make a quality product."
This is a very impressive Radeon HD 6970, arguably on par with the best from ASUS and MSI.
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 120GB SSD/1TB HDD Review
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ocaholic 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:
"The OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid leaves us with mixed feelings. To explain this we first take a closer look at the performance values. When performing sequential writes you can see that there is a very fast fast SSD. In this case it looks like only the SSD is being used which explains the very good performance. When it comes to sequential reads we first see the influence of the HDD which drags the results down. With the random writes we see that the smaller the block size the bigger the influence of the HDD is. The same phenomenom we see when testing random reads, except it's even more present. When running a 4K random read test the performance is comparable to a single 120 Gigabyte SandForce SF-2281 based drive, which meas that the hard drive compensates the performance of one SSD."
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.
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SteelSeries Sensei Pro Grade Laser Gaming Mouse Reviews
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews, Madshrimps, and t-break have posted a review of the enthusiast-oriented SteelSeries Sensei Pro Grade Laser gaming mouse.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"At $89.99, it is hard to call any peripheral a value, still for the price you get a mouse designed keep up with competition that is priced up to $40 more. For that price though, users will have a top of the line mouse with a processor more powerful than many of our reader's first computers, which can accurately track on a host of surfaces, and be customized for almost any situation.
The Sensei is close to perfect with only a few minor annoyances holding it back from a perfect score. Hopefully SteelSeries will make a version of the Sensei with a rubberized exterior, and a slightly more crafted design that will help it fit the hand even better. Even with these minor annoyances I am proud to present the SteelSeries Sensei Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer award for excellence."
Click here to read the full review.
- Madshrimps:
"When buying the SteelSeries Sensei you do not have to worry about product quality, its something that is valid for their other products too. The shape of the mouse is good for most people, by following the exact lines Xai had and the mouse clicks can be clearly heard compared to the previously reviewed models that were more silent; this should be no problem, especially at LAN parties or other competitions, because in those places it is expected to have a lot of background noise too.
The Sensei comes with the same Avago 9500 sensor as the Xai, but with the new model we can double the CPI thanks to the included powerful 32bit ARM Cortex M3 processor; this feature can bring the CPI up to 11.400, which should be sufficient for any hardcore gamer out there."
Click here to read the full review.
- t-break:
"The SteelSeries Sensei is, quite easily, one of the best gaming mice I have used. The customization options within the software allow for an incredible amount of flexibility, which, when used properly, can really help you excel in your game of choice. Its not just about precision with the Sensei; its about understanding your needs outside of pixel prefect rendition of hand movements, and translating that through ExactTech into an effective tool which gives you the edge in competitive gameplay."
Click here to read the full review.
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AMD FX-4100 "Bulldozer" Quad-Core AM3+ Processor Review
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews have reviewed the AMD FX-4100 "Bulldozer/Zambezi" quad-core processor, which has a 3.6Ghz default clock speed, Turbo capabilities up to 3.8Ghz, 12MB of total cache, native support for DDR3-1866, and a roughly $120 price tag.
Here's what they had to say:
"In stock form the AMD FX-4100 isn't that impressive in the benchmarks, but it does offer a value play to those that aren't afraid of overclocking. If you are on a strict budget you can get an FX-4100 for $110 shipped, an AMD socket AM3+ board for $60 shipped and 8GB of Corsair DDR3 1333MHz memory for $32 shipped after rebate. This means iyou can spend right around $200 and get a new motherboard, processor and memory kit. and that is great for those with 3+ year old systems that are in need of an update. We wouldn't waste your money on a faster 1866MHz memory kit with this CPU as we were hitting 10.4 GB/s with 1333MHz memory and 11.1 GB/s with 1866MHz on Sandra 2011 SP5 for memory bandwidth. The FX-4100 doesn't scale that well with memory speed."
This is an okay processor for those who are on a limited budget, but frankly I would not recommend it as an upgrade over a Phenom II X4.
Click here to read the full review.
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Intel X79 LGA2011 Motherboard Review Roundup - ASUS, ASRock, ECS
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Guru3D, LanOC, and ocaholic have reviewed a few Intel X79 LGA2011 motherboards from ASUS, ASRock, and ECS.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: ASRock X79 Extreme4 X79 Motherboard Review:
"Overall, we have to look at the merits of the board and that mainly comes down to the styling, value and performance and whilst the overclocking features can be improved, we were still able to get a stable overclock that cant be dismissed. If youre in the market at moving over to X79 and dont want to break the bank, whilst keeping the new technology and functionality, then you cant go wrong with the ASRock X79 Extreme4, it simply does what its meant to, and does a great job at it too."
Click here to read the full review.
- Guru3D: ASUS TUF Sabertooth X79 Motherboard Review:
"Aesthetics wise admittedly I have to state that I do not find the TUF Sabertooth X79 a fantastic looking motherboard, I also have to say that that is an incredible personal thing to say, as taste differs. The plastic hood on top of the rear IO looks and feels a little flimsy, then again the ceramic enhanced heatsink I do like very much. Again, taste differs though, and I'm sure that some of you are wiping some drool off your faces while just having read this article.
Where the Sabertooth will shine is pricing though, the TUF series never have been expensive. Then again, the X79 chipset itself already nears 80 EUR so they won't be cheap either. Realistically we expect to see this motherboard retail just above the 275 EUR marker."
Click here to read the full review.
- Guru3D: ECS X79R-AX Extreme Motherboard Review:
"If you are not a 100% pure-bred overclocker seeking out more in features, then the ECS X79R-AX is an absolutely fantastic motherboard. Really, the feature list is just stunning and keeps impressing me.
So, if features and performance on the LGA 2011 platform are what you are after, then definitely try to find this product in the shops. The MSRP is 295 USD meaning actual prices will be lower. In the EU that would boil down towards roughly 260 EUR. It hauls a lot of ass for the money, enthusiast overclocking aside that is."
Click here to read the full review.
- LanOC: ASUS P9X79 PRO Motherboard Review:
"Its the attention to detail to the overall package that makes Asus one of the top motherboard manufactures in the world and the P9X79 Pro is an excellent example of that. I really found it hard to find a fault with the board. I enjoyed it so much so that this past weekend I had it out showing it off while gaming at a local LAN. I was able to trust the board to perform, even though I tossed it all together at the last minute. My only complaint was the lack of Asuss X socket, a feature that is available on the Rampage 4 that allows you to use 1366 waterblocks and heatsinks."
Click here to read the full review.
- ocaholic: ASUS P9X79 Deluxe Motherboard Review:
"The ASUS P9X79 Deluxe leaves a very good and also a very adult impression for a product which arrived at the launch of a new chipset series. There is for example plenty of space around the CPU socket to install large coolers comfortably. Furthermore we liked that ASUS equipped this board with a total of three PCI-Express x16 3.0 slots. Considering this the P9X79 Deluxe will be a future proof choice and more than just ready for next-gen GPUs."
Click here to read the full review.
- ocaholic: ASUS Sabertooth X79 Motherboard Review:
"The Sabertooth X79 generally is an interesting board. In combination with a down-draft CPU cooler this motherboard will be cooled very efficiently. This will, as a consequence, extend the components lifespan. With the "Thermal Radar" the Sabertooth X79 offers good possibilities to control the temperatures and airflow in your case. Using the corresponding software one can control the fans connected to the board and therefore realize highly efficient cooling."
Click here to read the full review.
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700W-850W Power Supply Review Roundup - Corsair, Enermax, OCZ & More
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Hardware Secrets, Overclockers Online, Rbmods, and techPowerUp have reviewed a few 700W to 850W power supplies from Be Quiet!, Corsair, Enermax, LEPA, NZXT, OCZ, SilverStone, and Thermaltake.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: Corsair TX750M 750W Modular Power Supply Review:
"This unit has been designed to offer enthusiast-level performance, which it does with ease, while balancing things out by cutting down on features to keep the price at one comparable to mainstream units. For example, the TX750M only features 80+ Bronze certification and the modular design leaves a lot to be desired with almost everything hardwired in and only four modular sockets will most likely be redundant. However, if you are shopping for features, you should probably look elsewhere, but if it is actual performance you are looking for the TX750M destroys the competition with its excellent ripple suppression and voltage regulation."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets: Thermaltake TR2 700W Power Supply Review:
"We were very impressed by the new Thermaltake TR2 700 W, as in the past the TR2 series used to be a very entry-level power supply series, with low-efficiency units. The TR2 700 W proved to be a flawless unit, with high efficiency between 82.6% and 87.4%, voltages closer to their nominal values all the time (3% regulation), and very low noise and ripple levels.
The only negative aspect of the TR2 700 W is the relatively reduced number of SATA power connectors (seven), but since it is targeted to the mainstream market, this should not be a problem."
Click here to read the full review.
- Overclockers Online: SilverStone Strider Gold 750W Power Supply Review:
"The Strider Gold 750W does have a quite a bit of good points going for it and a few excellent ones, namely: efficiency and some pretty decent line regulation on the 12V rail (which reasonably, we care quite a bit more for than the 5V rail). The unit is also built extraordinarily well, inside and out. Still, while we can hardly discount the fact that the Strider Gold 750W is priced just a wee bit higher than it should, that decision is for the individual and despite priced a tad higher than other units, the Strider Gold is still a solid power supply."
Click here to read the full review.
- Rbmods: Enermax ENM750AWT 750W Power Supply Review:
"While not being able to provide as impressive figures as EMG700AWT in our tests, ENM750AWT proved to be worth every penny. It is about 70 cheaper than the higher efficiency model (EMG-series) and still provides us very similar performance in our tests. We saw very little to none fluctuation in our tests in any of the voltage lines. Admittedly our test setup did not stress the full capacity of the power supply, but it should represent the average home computer built nowdays. Noise levels were on par with EMG-series, meaning you can barely hear the power supply in everyday use. Most likely the sound level of your case fans, video card fans, and even hard disks will be higher than the one generated by ENM750AWT."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: Be Quiet! Pure Power CM L8 730W Power Supply Review:
"To sum up, I think that for EU standards, where almost all PC products are more expensive than in the US, the L8-730W has a decent price tag for what it offers. Also it's equipped with a special design fan, it's modular and has four PCIe connectors. If its voltage regulation was tighter, leading also to better results in Advanced Transient Response tests, the cables were longer and finally the model was 50°C rated then I would be very satisfied and probably give it a recommendation."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: LEPA G700-MA 700W Power Supply Review:
"Performance in the Advanced Transient Response Tests was horrible and the price of the unit does not help the price/performance rating at all. Currently, with $150 someone can buy a Gold efficiency PSU with even more capacity than the LEPA G700-MA so things are really difficult for today's test candidate. However, there is currently a mail-in-rebate runs on Newegg and drops the price to 100 bucks. At such a price I can easily highly recommend this unit to everyone that wants to power a system with up to two VGAs. The $100 price tag greatly boosts the price/performance ratio of the LEPA G700-MA rendering it a really good deal."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: NZXT HALE82-850-M 850W Power Supply Review:
"In general the HALE82 series looks to be very promising and the OEM NZXT trusted to build these units (Seasonic) definitely plays a key role in this. The HALE 850M although it is merely 80 PLUS Bronze certified, boasts high efficiency levels reaching an impressive 88% with typical load (with 230VAC). Also voltage regulation at +12V and 5V stayed within 3% range even though I stressed the unit real hard with high operating temperatures and ripple suppression was excellent at all cases. If 3.3V managed to register below or close to 3% voltage regulation then I couldn't ask for more (except for a lower price of course). Two more advantages of this unit are the flat modular cables it is equipped with and the five year warranty that NZXT provides."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: OCZ ZS Series 750W Power Supply Review:
"With the ZS series OCZ adresses the value oriented users that seek for a branded but affordable PSU to power their systems and don't care about characteristics like modular design, DC-DC converters, Gold efficiency etc. In order to keep down the price, some compromises had to be made so the platform does not use cutting edge technology, on the contrary it uses an older but proven design. Besides the average ripple suppression on the +12V rail and the small distance among the SATA and peripheral connectors the main problem of the ZS 750W is its price, which brings it to the $100 category where someone can find similar capacity units that utilize modern designs and so yield better performance."
Click here to read the full review.
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores Graphics Card Launched!
November 30, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
NVIDIA have just launched a new mainstream graphics card, the GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores. NVIDIA have replaced the GF114 die with the higher-end GF110 one that is the basis for the GTX 570 and GTX 580. Whereas the GTX 570 has 480 shader cores, this new GPU is limited to 448, but retains the same 320-bit GDDR5 memory interface.
So without further ado, here are the reviews:
- Benchmark Reviews: EVGA GeForce GTX560Ti FTW 448-Core.
- Guru3D: GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 core review.
- Guru3D: MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 core OC Power review.
- Hardware Canucks: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores Review.
- Hardware Canucks: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Roundup (EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI).
- Hardware Heaven: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores Launch Roundup with SLI.
- Legit Reviews: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 TI 448 Core Video Card Review.
- ocaholic: ASUS ENGTX 560 TI 448 DCII/2DIS/1280MD5.
- PC Perspective: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Core Limited Edition Graphics Card Review.
- techPowerUp: ASUS GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores Direct CU II 1280 MB.
- techPowerUp: MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores Twin Frozr III 1280 MB.
- techPowerUp: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores 1280 MB.
This seems like an awesome 'new' offering for the money, but we are getting impatient for the next generation 28nm parts.
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SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard Review
November 29, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Techgage have reviewed the SteelSeries Shift gaming keyboard, which is based on the original Ideazon ZBoard series.
Here's what they had to say:
"While the issues mentioned are annoying, they can be fixed - given enough time. The problem remains that nearly every peripheral has some kind of software issue. It is unfortunate that the Shift follows suit. It can not detract from the fact that the engine is extremely easy to use, which is quite refreshing, and does extended the functionality of the keyboard substantially. The keysets themselves are a bit of a gimmick, but are not outrageously expensive either. It is the software that makes the keysets useful.
The SteelSeries Shift is definitely a keyboard to take note of if you are heavily into customizing and macros. The keysets are a nice touch but are only part of what makes the keyboard great. If the software can be polished up, then we would have quite the piece of equipment. As it stands though, there are issues that still need addressing."
This seems like an excellent product for those hardcore gamers who have enjoyed the original ZBoard series.
Click here to read the full review.
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Xigmatek Elysium Super Tower Case Review
November 29, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks and Madshrimps have posted a review of the large Xigmatek Elysium Super Tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- APH Networks:
"With a MSRP of $219.99 USD during press time, the Elysium is not necessarily the cheapest of chassis. However, with the Elysium being such a large chassis that excels in excellent build quality, exclusive features and many one-of-a-kind designs, Xigmatek is in fact very generous with the set price."
Click here to read the full review.
- Madshrimps:
"To wrap it up : The Xigmatek Elysium big tower case is well designed. The provided cooling good is sufficient. If not even good enough by your personal desire of airflow, this case can be upgraded with more fans then you can ever wish for. The two removable Hard Drive bays can stack up to 8 Hard Drives. The top Hot Swappable docking station is a real plus for those that need to quickly shift data without opening the case or using aftermarket external HardDrive devices. The overal build quality is good, only the paint job on the sidepanels seems a bit fragile. All in all a very well executed big tower chassis that can be yours for around 150 euros. Maybe not the cheapest, but far from the most expensive. And you get a serious big tower case for that money !"
Click here to read the full review.
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EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3072MB Review
November 29, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews 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:
"Overall, though our overclocked EVGA GTX 580 Classified performed superbly it does have some flaws. Users should be aware of the heat and power requirements of this monster card so that their system is adequately prepared for the Classified. As long as these requirements are met, an overclocked EVGA GTX 580 Classified will provide the power needed to play the most strenuous of games for years to come. Even better should users opt to use extreme cooling along with an EVBot unit they should be prepared for a pleasant experience as the EVGA GTX 580 Classified has been clocked up 1600MHz on LN2."
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.
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ASUS Sabertooth P67 LGA1155 Motherboard Review
November 29, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
OCIA have reviewed the ASUS Sabertooth P67, an Intel P67-based mothoerboard that is part of the TUF - The Ultimate Force series, which emphasizes durability and stability and comes with an industry-leading 5-year warranty.
Here's what they had to say:
"After using the board for a few weeks I was just as happy in its performance as during the testing phase of this review. Coming in at just under $200, this board is a bit on the higher end of the P67 boards we have been looking at. However, it has an impressive feature set and some unique qualities, so I don't find the price point surprising. It is also important to remember that ASUS is offering a five year warranty, far longer than usual. Of course now that Z68 is available, I'm sure some will jump to that ship rather than stick with the older P67. But if you don't need Z68-specific features, there's really no need to pick up a board with the new chipset. With the features, performance, and testing, we are happy to award the ASUS Sabertooth P67 mainboard our Gold Seal of Approval."
This motherboard has extremely impressive monitoring capabilities and the 5 year warranty is obviously a positive as well.
Click here to read the full review.
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550W-650W Power Supply Review Roundup - Antec, Corsair, OCZ & More
November 29, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets, KitGuru, PureOverclock, techPowerUp, and ThinkComputers have reviewed a few 550W to 650W power supplies from Antec, Corsair, Diablotek, Enermax, and OCZ.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Hardware Secrets: Corsair TX550M Power Supply Review:
"We were very impressed by the Corsair TX550M power supply, which proved to be a flawless product, with high efficiency between 83.6% and 86.1% at high temperatures, voltages closer to their nominal values than required (3% regulation), and extremely low noise and ripple levels.
At USD 100, this unit is not the cheapest 550 W power supply around, but if you are the kind of user who prefers to pay a little bit more to have a better product, the Corsair TX550M is the right choice."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets: Enermax NAXN 82+ 550 W Power Supply Review:
"The new Enermax NAXN 82+ 550 W provides a terrific price/performance ratio for the user who is looking for an affordable power supply with good efficiency for a mainstream PC.
During our tests, efficiency was between 82.6% and 86.5%, which is perfect for the mainstream user."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: OCZ ZS Series 550W Power Supply Review:
"Technically, it is a basic, yet tried and trusted Sirfa implementation and is an improvement over OCZs older value designs. The new product features higher efficiency, a single rail output and Japanese capacitors. They are using a bigger fan this time around for stronger airflow, although it is still clearly audible when loaded above 400W.
Noise suppression, while not class leading, doesnt raise a red flag, although the 12V+ output did register 65 mV at full load, which is more than some other designs in the same price bracket in recent months. This is not a concern and well within the rated guidelines, but worth mentioning."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply Review:
"At a price of about $80, the High Power Gamer 620W is a very good deal, but you do get what you pay for; it is only 80PLUS Bronze certified, and has a non-modular design. Interestingly, the Seasonic S12II, which this unit is based upon, sells for $10 cheaper. Perhaps Antec is banking on their brand recognition to pull consumers toward a High Current Gamer purchase instead.
In any event, the Antec High Current Gamer 620W doesn't excel in any particular category but it gets the job done very nicely for a great price. If you're on a tight budget and don't want to sacrifice performance, then this unit will certainly do the trick."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: OCZ ZS Series 650W Power Supply Review:
"The conclusion of the ZS 650W is almost the same as the one for the ZS 750W. The ZS series targets the value oriented users so it doesn't utilize modern characteristics like DC-DC converters, modular design etc. On the other hand all the ZS units I reviewed/disassembled feature Japanese capacitors; high quality caps mean prolonged life and reliability.
The main problems of the ZS 650W are the short distance among the peripheral and SATA connectors and the high price which puts it in a very competitive category where you can find PSUs with better price/performance ratios."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers: Diablotek UL Series 575W Power Supply Review :
"The power supply isnt that efficient nor is it of high quality. If youre looking for a budget power supply that will get your semi-powerful gaming computer running, then this is your case. ThinkComputers would like to award the Diablotek UL Series 575W Power Supply a 7 out of 10 score."
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Hydro H100 Liquid CPU Cooler Review
November 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
MadShrimps have posted a review of the Corsair Hydro H100, which is a high-performance self-contained liquid CPU cooler with dual 120mm fans.
Here's an excerpt:
"It's not by much, but the Hydro 100 nibbled a few degrees of the performance of it's little brother the Hydro 80. In case you want the best closed loop cooling unit, there's no other alternative. Retailing at plus minus 100 euro, this is a big investment to cool down your precious processor. But you will be rewarded by top notch cooling, making even some high end air coolers blush. Take into consideration it's only 10 euros more then the H80, and you get either at least similar or better cooling performance. Major selling point : all this at a reduced noise level. Corsair backs it's Hydro 80/100 with a 5 year warranty, . Previous Hydro versions only carried a 3 year warranty. Last but not least all Hydro 60/80/100 boxed in 2011, have X79 socket 2011 stand-offs in the box !"
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.
Click here to read the full review.
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NZXT Tempest 410 Elite Mid-Tower Case Review
November 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the NZXT Tempest 410 Elite mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Tempest 410 Elite has full support for all USB standards, as well as AC97 and High Definition Audio right out of the box. There are also eight removable hard drive bays and three 5.25″ bays which will satisfy even the most demanding of enthusiast user. There is plenty of room for graphics cards, like the HD6950 we used today.
The NZXT Tempest 410 Elite delivers a solid, well rounded package at a competitive price. The Tempest 410 Elite is definitely a product worth buying, especially with a modest £69 price tag."
This seems like a pretty good case, but it does have to compete with similarly-priced models like the Corsair Carbide Series 400R and Fractal Design Define R3.
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Carbide Series 500R Mid-Tower Case Review
November 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Rbmods have posted a review of the brand new Corsair Carbide Series 500R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"This is a very nice case, with a pricetag of 140$ it might scare off some of the potential buyers. I would have liked to see a price closer to 100$ for this to be really able to compete with cheaper on the market, granted they dont have the same features but with the economy right now people go for cheaper cases. If youve got the cash and want a quality case in general this is the one!
Impressive cooling features, plenty of space, good cable managment and a nice clean look makes this case a winner in my eyes. We had no trouble installing our hardware into the case so thus far I have not been able to find any flaws. I even tried to listen for vibrations but the sides fit on perfect so with air cooling we had no vibration issues."
This new case slots in nicely between the 400R and 600T, and as we have come to expect from Corsair, it is a great case for the money.
Click here to read the full review.
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XFX Pro 1250W Black Edition Modular Power Supply Reviews
November 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and KitGuru have posted a review of the brand new, high-end XFX Pro 1250W Black Edition modular power supply.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"In terms of performance the 1250w Black Edition cannot be faulted. It offered high efficiency, good temperatures and exceptional electrical performance; especially on the ripple results which were class leading. The PSU also had no trouble delivering 1250w at all times during our testing and offered perfect stability. Noise levels were also great with the Hybrid fan working very well, in fact had we been XFX we wouldn't have bothered including the option switch... leaving Hybrid as the always enabled setting.
For value, no gold certified unit with 1000w+ rating is ever going to be cheap but given the quality and performance the XFX 1250w Black Edition Fully Modular is competitively priced. The 5-year warranty adds value as well as peace of mind."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"The appearance and quality of finish is certain to appeal to a wide audience, especially as the design is slightly more elaborate than many other products on the market. Thankfully, while a complex design, it isnt gaudy, ensuring it will blend with a variety of system builds.
Technically, the DC to DC Seasonic design is exemplary, combining very high levels of efficiency with rock solid voltage regulation. We cross loaded the power supply quickly with 96A on the +12V output and it held steady, only dipping a little to 11.91V. A lesser design would find this a real problem to handle and we have even experienced several failures with other units when pushing this hard."
Click here to read the full review.
This seems like a fantastic new enthusiast-oriented power supply, but perhaps even on par with the Corsair AX1200.
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Intel 'Sandy Bridge-E' Core i7-3960X LGA2011 Processor Review
November 28, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Techgage have reviewed the new flagship Intel 'Sandy Bridge-E' Core i7-3960X LGA2011 six-core/twelve-thread processor, which has a 3.3Ghz default clock, can Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz, has 15MB of L3 cache, a quad-channel DDR3-1600 memory interface, 40 PCI-E lanes, and support for PCI-Express 3.0.
Here's what they had to say:
"As was proven many times throughout this article, Intel has once again delivered the world's fastest desktop processor with its Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition. This of course comes as no surprise, as it's based on what we already knew to be the most efficient CPU architecture to date, but has added cores, a bigger cache and a quad-channel memory controller.
In all truly multi-threaded tests, the Core i7-3960X often blew the i7-2600K out of the water, and where architecture improvements played a role, the i7-990X simply seemed non-impressive in comparison."
As expected, the i7-3960X is now the fastest processor on the market, by quite a bit when it comes to multi-threading performance. However, at $990 it is priced well above what most people can afford. Thankfully, Intel is also offering the $555 i7-3630K, which fundamentally the same the 3960X, just clocked 100MHz lower and with a little less L3 cache. There is also the i7-3820, which is a quad-core/eight-thread part clocked at 3.6Ghz with Turbo capabilities up to 3.9Ghz. It will only be released sometime in Q1 2012 for an announced price, but it should be in the $300's.
Click here to read the full review.
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Antec Eleven Hundred Case Reviews
November 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews and Hardware Canucks have reviewed the brand new Antec Eleven Hundred super mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"This case was very difficult to rate. You may agree or disagree, and I'd love to hear your thoughts (kindly). I can't help but feel like Antec cut some corners to hit the price point. Any sane person who wants to run multiple GPUs in this case is going to pony up extra for adequate cooling, and it's hard to say exactly what will be required. For me it would be a minimum of two more decent 120 mm fans. I'm also miffed at their choice to short-change the fan controller. Not that I'd use it much since it's inconveniently located at the back, but just because it's not as good as they did in previous case models. To Antec: this could be a GREAT case. Add two decent fans, firm up the grommets by adding a hardening agent to the rubber, and fix the fan controller. If history tells us anything, we expect to see Eleven Hundred V2 with improvements."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Canucks:
"With past foibles behind them, Antec has begun looking back to their roots again by designing subtle and appealing chassis while incorporating new, forward looking features like integrated fan controllers and the possibility of extreme amounts of air cooling. One of the first examples of this re envisioned mantra is called the Eleven Hundred, a case which is deemed to be a "super mid tower" but is priced at just $130.
Basically, this is Antec's take on a product that bridges the gap between smaller mid tower enclosures like the Nine Hundred and the larger, more expensive full tower designs such as the Twelve Hundred. While it may be priced and sized like many ATX-supporting competitors, the Eleven hundred retains its bigger brother's ability to mount XL-ATX motherboards. There is also a generous array of front panel connectors and more fan mounts than most users will ever need but some sacrifices were made in order to ensure a sub-$150 price was attained."
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermaltake V9 BlacX Edition Case Review
November 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs have posted a review of the Thermaltake V9 BlacX Edition mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"With the V9 BlacX PC Case Thermaltake has introduced yet another great product in the midi tower segment of the market right after the excellent MK-1 we reviewed a few months back. Unlike the MK-1 however which is considered a step above the R&D team over at Thermaltake decided to focus more in a good balance between price and features than appearance and although quite good looking the really strong points of the V9 BlacX is the dual HDD docking station, the complete tool-less design (even for all the drives) and the USB 3.0 connectivity. The 4 perforated sections found on both side panels are also a nice addition which should help to further increase airflow inside the case but at the cost of extra dust which means more time spend cleaning the interior (doesn't really take that much time)."
The V9 BlacX Edition model is an impressive case when you consider the high quality HDD/SSD dock that comes with it.
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair TX750M 750W Modular Power Supply Reviews
November 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, HardwareHeaven, and KitGuru have posted a review of the new Corsair TX750M 750W modular power supply.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix:
"This unit has been designed to offer enthusiast-level performance, which it does with ease, while balancing things out by cutting down on features to keep the price at one comparable to mainstream units. For example, the TX750M only features 80+ Bronze certification and the modular design leaves a lot to be desired with almost everything hardwired in and only four modular sockets will most likely be redundant. However, if you are shopping for features, you should probably look elsewhere, but if it is actual performance you are looking for the TX750M destroys the competition with its excellent ripple suppression and voltage regulation."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven:
"On performance the 3.3, 5 and 12v readings were good for the price/wattage range and efficiency exceeded the Bronze specification as expected. Noise levels were also good and based on the temperatures recorded it is clear Corsair have favoured low RPM on the fan over low temperatures. The real stand out result was the ripple result though, that was exceptional for the class of PSU.
So that brings us to value where the gap between this and the standard TX750 V2 seems just about right. That said the TX750M would benefit by falling $10 in price to make it more attractive against the V2. With its 5-year warranty there is peace of mind that the unit is built to last."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"The new modular release will appeal to a wider audience, especially those with windowed panels, who want to build an attractive, cleanly routed system. That said, Corsair could have improved this aspect further by removing a few more of the hardwired (native) cables and making them modular.
Internally, the Channel Well Technology design is excellent with no noticeable or glaring issues. Load regulation is solid, and the noise suppression results are as good as we have seen from a power supply in this sector. The design handled our stressful cross loading tests with relative ease."
Click here to read the full review.
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HIS Radeon HD 6950 IceQ X PLUS Edition Graphics Card Review
November 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have posted a review of the HIS Radeon HD 6950 IceQ X PLUS Edition graphics card, which features an eye-catching cooler and overclocked specifications.
Here's what they had to say:
"The HIS Radeon HD 6950 IceQ stands out in a crowded marketplace for having one of the most gaudy in your face coolers we have ever seen. That said, we have reviewed several cards in the IceQ range before and have always been impressed with the overall cooling proficiency. The latest HD6950 doesnt disappoint thanks to HIS lifting the cooler from their HD6970 and porting it over to the lower specified model.
The appearance of the card certainly wont appeal to everyone, but I have grown to like it over the last year, as the cards have always left me with positive feelings. They might appear to have fallen hard from the ugly tree hitting every branch on the way down, but technically these are actually some of the best coolers currently available."
This is an impressive graphics card, but HIS offers at least one model that is clocked significantly higher (IceQ X Turbo X Turbo).
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Reviews
November 25, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs and The SSD Review have reviewed the brand new OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is a specialized product optimized for caching applications in conjunction with standard HDD.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Real World Labs:
"As we speak the 64GB version of the OCZ Synapse Cache SSD retails for around USD155 inside the USA and 130Euros inside the EU which is more or less the same price tag as most 64GB SSDs in the market currently. Still dont forget that with the Synapse SSD you can enhance the performance of your HDD regardless of size so in most cases the Synapse Cache SSD is a more convenient and useful upgrade than any single 64GB SSD. For innovation and excellent performance the OCZ Synapse Cache SSD walks away with our Editors Choice Award, dont tell us youre surprised."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review:
"As I compile this final report using the Synapse Cache system I created, I have to admit that I cannot tell the difference between this and the SSD I would typically have in place as my boot drive. In fact, I think this configuration actually boots faster. Our test results, as shown in both synthetic and PCMark Vantage testing, demonstrate that the Samsung M8 1TB 5400RPM hard drive is performing at and above the level of some of the best SSDs available.
There was one criteria that I valued so highly that I would have given the Synapse Cache a failing grade if it hadnt succeeded. This was the boot time from a cold boot after the system had been in an off state for over ten hours. I will even admit that I never had the confidence that it would boot quick enough for my liking. The initial boot time of the Synapse Cache of 13 seconds just blew me away; I never thought this possible."
Click here to read the full review.
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Razer Transformers 3 Vespula Mouse Pad Review
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
LanOC have posted a review of the Razer Transformers 3 Vespula mouse pad, which as the name suggests features a Transformers() theme.
Here's what they had to say:
"So at the end of the day where does that leave us? We have a hard mousepad with two sides giving you both speed and control. It may not be made of metal like the eXact mat that its clearly based on. But its still great to see the idea of the eXact mat live on in the Vespula. Even better for Transformers fans like me, they have the Transformer 3 edition with each side themed out in Autobot and Decepticon. My only complaint about the pad is the use of plastic and we wont know for a long time if that even makes any difference from the metal eXact mat. Both the original and Transformers editions sell for less than $35. At that price the Vespula isnt a bad price for a double sided pad and a wrist rest. Of course you are paying for the Razer name and the Transformers name, but that is expected."
This seems like a pretty good mouse pad...if you don't mind the gawdy design.
Click here to read the full review.
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GIGABYTE Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA1155 Motherboard Reviews
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
LanOC and PureOverclock have reviewed the mainstream, yet feature-full GIGABYTE Z68X-UD3H-B3 motherboard, which is based on the Intel Z68 chipset and supports the Intel Sandy Bridge LGA1155 processors.
Here's what they had to say:
- LanOC:
"While using the Z68X-UD3H-B3 I was impressed with the features included on what is essentially a budget motherboard. This is a perfect board for a shop to stock up on. It is capable of both being a good foundation of a gaming rig and being in a basic PC build for a family on a budget. Because of that this is perfect for someone who plans on upgrading later to a dedicated video card. But before then you can still expect great video performance and light gaming with the built in Intel onboard video. With Lucids VIRTU being included you can also save yourself a lot of money in unnecessary power usage when youre not using that dedicated video card. A PC with the Z68X-UD3H-B3 at the foundation is going to be hard to outdate with the included USB 3.0 ports and nearly every Video connection possible."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock:
"In terms of performance features, Gigabyte continues to offer great additions that bring convenience and power to users. The Ultra Durable 3 designation isn't just marketing hype; these boards are solidly built. The overclocking was very good and will harness the horsepower of a great CPU. On the implementation side of things, the introduction of the Touch BIOS interface is a boon to novice users to operate within the Windows environment, but we still wish a graphical UEFI BIOS interface was implemented at the core level; most other manufacturers have already adopted this. The only thing lacking we could not was any sort of auto overclocking feature that a few competitors have implemented."
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ Octane 512GB SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Reviews
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven, PC Perspective, and The SSD Review have reviewed the brand new OCZ Octane 512GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is the first model utilizing the new Indilinx Everest controller.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"In terms of performance the Octane offers results which are pretty much where we would expect for a drive which sits between OCZs two current Sandforce ranges. Octane doesn't always meet the performance of the Vertex 3 but is competitive in the high end market with drives such as Intel's 510 series and the recently released Samsung 830 series. Real world performance was where the Octane most impressed against the Vertex 3 however, essentially matching it on a wide range of file transfers and general use tasks.
For value as noted above the Octane range sits between Vertex 3 and Agility 3 in OCZ's product stack which feels about right. The lack of a drive conversion bracket is a little disappointing on the higher capacity model but the useful OCZ Toolbox and 3-year warranty do add value."
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective:
"The Indilinx Everest had a very good showing in OCZ's Octane SSD. Sequential read and write performance was right at the top of the charts, and the new unit turned in some of the lowest latency and highest IOPS figures we'd seen from a SATA SSD to date, sticking it to Intel and SandForce in nearly all areas. Combine that high performance with some very low cost/GB figures and choosing the Octane almost becomes a no-brainer.
Save a bit of mixed workload sluggishness and a few compatibility quirks, presumably correctable with firmware updates, this is an extremely fast drive. The idea behind the original Indilinx Barefoot controller was to deliver good performance at low cost. Back then it was easy, but despite the large increase in competition, they just might have pulled it off a second time."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review:
"Many are unaware but the Octane 3 has OCZs proprietary NDurance technology which significantly increases the lifespan of NAND flash memory. As well, their ability to push access times down to .06ms means faster start times as well as superior application and gaming . OCZ also claims sustained performance which means that, unlike most other drives, performance doesnt drop after the SSD has been filled for the first time.
From my own point of view, I like what they have done, first and foremost,with the Octanes ability to surpass most other drives when it comes to transferring incompressible data such as music, movies and photographs. This simply cannot be overlooked and the only SSD to surpass this that I can think of occurred in our recent review of the Corsair Performance Pro."
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper Full Tower Case Reviews
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, HardwareHeaven, KitGuru, and techPowerUp have reviewed the high-end new Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper full tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix:
"Even though I did point out a couple of niggles through the review, like most things these are a mere petty point. If I was to go out and buy one of these for myself, I would not mark the case down for those reasons and Im sure that given a little more time and careful planning, I could have worked my way around these. I asked right at the beginning if the Strom Trooper would be running at the front line or whether it would be left behind with everyone else, however it is very clear from its striking yet simple design, the huge amount of space for drive fitment, and included extras such as the X-Dock that the Trooper is way out ahead in the lead and the Cooler Master Storm series has firmly made its mark in the case department."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven:
"CM Storm haven't managed this by cutting corners though as we were more than happy to see that the case feels solid, the paintwork perfect and the overall construction completed to a high standard. The design also impresses as it allows for a huge amount of flexibility with large CPU coolers, graphics cards and motherboards all supported... and that's before we consider water-cooling, 13 SSDs (or 8 HD's ) and support for eight fans, four of them provided by CM Storm.
The features don't stop there though as we also get the great handle on top, external hot swap bay on the front, significant dust filters and a cable security bracket at the back.
In terms of performance the USB ports on the front allow us to use our latest USB 3.0 high speed devices, the airflow is significant (and can be changed on the fan controller) and noise levels low."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"In regards to dealing with high end components, this case has ample cooling proficiency, ensuring SLI and Crossfire systems would perform very well. With the vast space inside and the ability to cope with huge graphics cards the high end audience will warm to the Storm Trooper immediately. It can also house the largest motherboards on the market, as well as multiple radiators and a vast array of 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch drives.
Construction is first class and there are no sharp edges and unfinished or marred surfaces, it also feels strong enough to last a very long time and we have no concerns with any of the plastic surfaces being easily susceptible to damage. The inclusion of a carrying handle is inspired, however with the final weight after a system build it wont be the easiest chassis to carry around. I would love to see one of these chassis constructed from high quality aluminum."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"The CM Storm Trooper may well be such a chassis. It offers an incredible set of features, executed to near perfection. I tried finding things wrong with the chassis, but as you can see in the short list above, the positives far outweigh any of the small shortcomings. The CM Storm Trooper does not only look menacing in the best sense, but is surprisingly good to work with, spacious clean and even really comfortable to carry around. If you are a LAN party gamer, want to have something to go with the whole Counter-Strike image (especially with the new version coming soon), there is simply no way around the CM Strom Trooper - well done Cooler Master!"
Click here to read the full review.
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Samsung SyncMaster 27A850D 27-inch PLS Monitor Review
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the brand new Samsung SyncMaster 27A850D, a 27-inch LCD monitor that features Samsung's proprietary next-gen Plane to Line Switching (PLS) panel technology.
Let's see what they had to say:
"While the new Samsung S27A850D isnt perfect, it goes without saying that minor issues such as its USB 3.0 port location are far outweighed by the benefits it has to offer you. Excellent picture quality, forward looking power saving features which are based off of motion detection algorithms and all round excellent performance truly make it a jack of all trades, master of all. Is it enough to woo many consumers away from more classical IPS based choices? Wed certainly hope so."
If you're in the market for a new high-end monitor definitely give this model a look, it's the future today.
Click here to read the full review.
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AMD Radeon HD 6670 Review Roundup - GIGABYTE & Sapphire
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Futurelooks, HardwarHeaven, and PureOverclock have reviewed three mainstream Radeon HD 6670 graphics cards from GIGABYTE and Sapphire.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Futurelooks: GIGABYTE Radeon HD 6670 OC 1GB Graphics Card Review:
"Even though the GIGABYTE HD 6670 OC is very impressive doing what it was built to do, lets not kid ourselves here. When pushing for the best graphics in DX11 with advanced shadows and Tessellation, the GIGABYTE HD 6670 OC will not cut it. Even with CrossfireX, you are likely not to get a full DX11 title to play well. The money that would need to be spent on a good CPU cooler to overclock both the APU and the HD 6670 would be better spent on a higher end card. However, the GIGABYTE HD 6670 OC is the most powerful GPU that supports Dual Graphics for CrossfireX on the A75 platform and an APU."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwarHeaven: Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 Low Profile Graphics Card Review:
"As we noted earlier in the review Sapphire have identified a gap in the market and created the low profile 6670 with single slot cooler to target consumers with this requirement. For that reason the card scores well on the design front, it fits that requirement well. The build quality is also decent with a nice blue PCB and solid cooler that doesn't feel flimsy despite the low pricing of the card.
In terms of performance the card does very well for its price bracket. We saw a number of recent games play well at 1920x1080 with maximum detail and even in the ultra demanding Battlefield 3 medium detail was achievable. Of course the alternative would have been to keep the detail level at High/Ultra and drop the resolution ot 1280x720 which would be ideal on a HDTV."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 1GB Single Slot Graphics Card Review:
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"The Sapphire Radeon 6670 single slot card is certainly a budget product, geared to consumers who occasionally do some light gaming. It's not a graphics workhorse by any stretch. Further, it is designed to be frugal in terms of power consumption, not requiring any separate PCI-E connector, but rather instead drawing power directly through the motherboard itself. It is a low profile, low power card that is a good upgrade option for people with an older system that want to easily improve their graphics performance.
In terms of performance, gaming at 1280 resolution will produce good results in modern games. Moving up to 1680 is a stretch unless you're prepared to drop the image quality settings and live with lower framerates as well. Antialiasing is the enemy of this card, it's simply not designed to handle the rigor of real gaming. That said, you can get some respectable performance if you have a modest budget."
Click here to read the full review.
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Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 64GB USB Flash Drive Review
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the brand new Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 64GB, a high performance USB 3.0 flash drive with 225 MB/s read and 135 MB/s write speeds.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 64 GB has literally redefined the USB Flash drive sector, producing sequential performance results which would compete head to head against last generation performance based Solid State drives. This is no mean feat, especially when factoring in the diminutive dimensions and lauded platform limitations.
We reviewed the ADATA Nobility N005 Pro 64GB a few weeks ago and we judged that the read performance was truly exceptional. Incredibly, next to the Kingston HyperX 3.0 64GB the ADATA drive feels like a last generation product, not a newly released drive. Our test results confirm that the DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 unit is also very snappy when copying smaller data files, averaging around 170 MB/s during the read test."
This is quite literally an SSD in a USB flash drive form factor, very impressive performance!
Click here to read the full review.
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PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 600W Power Supply Reviews
November 24, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru and techPowerUp have reviewed the new PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 600W power supply, which features a single +12V rail, modular design, 80Plus Bronze efficiency, and 5 year warranty.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"The Silencer MK III 600W has achieved the high standards we would expect from a PC Power & Cooling product, which in itself is no mean feat. The bright white appearance might not appeal to everyone, but there is something to be said for standing out in such a crowded market.
The modular design will appeal to those who are in the market for a clean system build. The internal design is also exemplary with a high level of attention to detail and we always like to see 105c rated Chemi Con capacitors incorporated into a design."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"Overall the PC Power & Cooling MK3S600 performed well and managed to work flawlessly even at very high ambient temperatures registering at the same time good efficiency (for its 80 PLUS certification) and ultra low ripple on all rails. The semi-modular design, the flat modular cables and the five year warranty are the cherry on top.
However since nothing in this world is perfect the MK3S600 has some cons too. For starters we think that two PCIe connectors and some more peripheral connectors would greatly increase the unit's usability. Also the performance at CL tests is not among the best we have seen, thanks to the group regulation design used and the fan at high loads and temperatures makes its presence well felt."
Click here to read the full review.
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Antec P280 Case Reviews
November 22, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets, Legit Reviews, PC Perspective, and techPowerUp have reviewed the newest addition to the Performance One series, the P280 mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Hardware Secrets:
"One hundred and forty US dollars may sound expensive for a mid-tower case, but the Antec P280 is more than a simple mid-tower case. With nine expansion slots, it fits the needs of the high-end user who otherwise would have to buy a big and expensive full-tower case. For users looking for the features present on this product, the Antec P280 provides a terrific cost/benefit ratio."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews:
"The only issue I ran into running cables was with the front panel switch wires being a tad short to reach the motherboard connections. Mileage may vary depending on the placement of the connections on your motherboard.
Now if you are a gamer or just prefer the look of the gamer line over the performance series, the Eleven Hundred is coming. It will bring with it an updated design as well. So sit tight, gamers will get some love soon.
Antec says that the Performance One P280 will carry an MSRP of $139.95. This is not too out of line for the Performance One series cases. Price-wise the Antec P280 falls in-between the P193 and P183. So, if you are in the market for a classy looking case with the room inside for high-end parts, give the P280 a good look."
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective:
"Overall, I think the new Antec P280 is a great case for the price, coming in at $139 (and likely lower) at launch. The case offers what I would now call "staple" features like the grommeted cable routing openings around the motherboard and a large CPU cooler installation opening while keeping what made the Performance One series of cases great including sound dampening material on the front door and side panels and the classic swinging door. Extras like the dedicated 2.5-in drive bays, rubber feet for the standard 3.5-in HDDs, 9 expansion slots and the side access fan filter for the power supply really show that Antec is moving in the right direction again."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"Antec has shown once again with the P280 that it is still possible to engineer a unique chassis at an excellent price point without having to resort to generic tooling or crazy designs. The P280 looks simple, but offers an excellent and solid feature set. From the fans, which can be set to high or low speeds and are pre-wired within the chassis to the additional 2.5 inch bays, the chassis focuses on functionality. Antec also ensure that users can stuff the P280 full of hardware, be it hard drives or up to four big and long graphics cards, while easily keeping it tidy thanks to the the excellent cable management options and the big space behind the mainboard tray."
Click here to read the full review.
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The Overclocker Issue 17 Online
November 22, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
The seventeenth issue of The Overclocker, the first online overclocking magazine, has just been published and if you are interested in benchmarking and overclocking you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Click here to check out the The Overclocker website.
Click here for a direct link to Issue 17 of the e-magazine.
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Antec Solo II Mid-Tower Case Review
November 22, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ThinkComputers have reviewed the just released Antec Solo II mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Overall, Antec has done a great job at redesigning the Solo for the Solo II. It offers some of the same features that many loved in the original while making it more modern and useful for todays case standards. There is certainly a lot in the case that I like, such as the high quality material and construction of the case, the hard drive tray system, sleek and quiet design and the included rear 120mm fan with switch.
While I am impressed by this case, there are a few things Im not really excited about. This case can be found at my favorite online retailer for $129.99, which would lead me to believe everything is pretty great in this case, however this wasnt entirely the case. While I dont really enjoy the suspension mount system for the hard drives, it can be used for some. Its not something Id recommend using. The drive tray system does however fit up to todays standards."
While this does look like a good case, I just don't see any reason to recommend it over the $99 Corsair Carbide Series 400R.
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ ZT Series 650W Power Supply Reviews
November 22, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets, KitGuru, and OCIA have reviewed the brand new OCZ ZT Series 650W power supply, which features a fully modular design, 140MM fan, and 80Plus Bronze certification.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Hardware Secrets:
"The OCZ ZT Series 650 W proved to be a flawless power supply, with high efficiency between 82.1% and 86.8%, voltages closer to their nominal values all the time (3% regulation), very low noise and ripple levels, and a fully modular cabling system. All of that sells at a terrific price of USD 100, making this product a no-brainer if you are looking for the perfect power supply with a full modular cabling system. It costs only USD 10 more than the OCZ ZS Series 650 W, which has similar performance but no modular cabling system."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"Technically we have no concerns with this design, the unit delivers some exceptional efficiency results for an 80 Plus Bronze certified power supply and load regulation is impressive. It also dealt well with our cross loading tests, remaining stable under all conditions.
The ZT 650W passes our noise suppression tests with flying colours, achieving a maximum 35mV figure on the 12V+ output at full load, well within industry tolerance guidelines. The power supply managed to hold a 724W maximum load for a short time, before shutting down gracefully.
The 140mm Yate Loon fan is a good performer, although we feel that OCZ have opted for a slightly aggressive fan profile at the expense of a little noise. We wouldnt say it was emitting intrusive levels of noise, but for a media center environment there are quieter alternatives."
Click here to read the full review.
- OCIA:
"The 80 Plus Bronze certification is about average for this price point. You will lose a little efficiency that you'd find in Silver and Gold units but then again, the price here reflects that. If you plan to leave your system on 24/7, it might be worth looking into a Silver or Gold rated power supply to save a few bucks on energy use each year.
The Yate Loom 140mm load / temperature controlled fan didn't give us an ounce of trouble. It remained very quiet even during our full load test. I suspect it would only become audible under pretty warm ambient room temperatures - it was about 73F in the room when I tested this unit.
OCZ has paired this power supply with a full five year warranty, two more years than the one included with the ZS series. It's tough to complain about added peace of mind."
Click here to read the full review.
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Performance Analysis
November 22, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TechSpot have posted an article in which they benchmarked a huge array of CPUs and GPUs with the new The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim role-playing PC game.
Here's an excerpt:
"Those wanting to play at 1920x1200 or 1080p can still get away with the GTX 460, while AMD fans will want an HD 6850 or greater. For highly playable performance at 1920x1200 on max, the GTX 570/HD 6970 or better is required. To accompany those mild baseline requirements, Skyrim's frame rate can be drastically enhanced by overclocking your processor. The harder we pushed the Core i7-2600K, the more performance the GTX 580 delivered. Increasing the i7-2600k from 2GHz to 4GHz nearly doubled the frames from 44 to 81fps."
This is a phenomenal article on the performance characteristics of this game, and it's a must-read if you plan on playing it.
Click here to read the full review.
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ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional AM3 Motherboard Review
November 22, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock have posted a review of the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional, an enthusiast-oriented AMD 990FX-based AM3 motherboard.
Here's what they had to say:
"Costing about $189, we think this is an outstanding price for a flagship motherboard that can handle some serious overclocking. Other manufacturers flagship often cost significantly more at $250. Although we would have liked to have seen a bit more out of the board, the features, performance and price makes the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional a great buy at a fantastic price."
While this is a obviously a very good motherboard with top-notch specifications, it is priced relatively closely to the ASUS Crosshair V Formula, which is simply a more polished overall product for those who plan on doing heavy overclocking.
Click here to read the full review.
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NZXT Sentry Mix Fan Controller Review
November 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TechwareLabs 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:
"The extremely utilitarian nature of the Sentry Mix is a double-edged sword; what it does it does flawlessly, but it is missing features many have come to expect from a dedicated fan bus, including temperature monitoring and RPM reporting. If you have a lot of fans in your case (4+) and want a simple way to control them all, the Sentry Mix will give you a foolproof way to do so. If you want more advanced features like temperature-based automatic speed adjustment, or even RPM reporting, you will have to look elsewhere. Still, for $30+S&H (average price found online at time of publication) the Sentry Mix is a solid solution to a potentially frustrating problem."
Aside from the fact that it's very plain looking, this is a very good fan controller for the money.
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Carbide Series 500R Mid-Tower Case Review
November 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the brand new Corsair Carbide Series 500R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"In order to keep pace with changing market conditions, the last few case releases from Corsair have been targeted straight towards budget friendly price points and the newest Carbide 500R is no different. Even though it sports a price of under $150, this case boasts an impressive list of features and some great looking design touches.
Many will ask themselves why they should pay $40 more for a chassis that -upon first glance- looks like a carbon copy of the $99 400R. The answer to this is quite simple: cooling. The 500R takes an already great cooling design and expands upon it by adding a multi channel fan controller, a 200mm GPU cooling fan and removable hard drive cages. It is also available in a stunning white / black colour scheme that should be seen firsthand to be truly appreciated."
This new case slots in nicely between the 400R and 600T, and as we have come to expect from Corsair, it is a great case for the money.
Click here to read the full review.
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ASUS Rampage IV Extreme LGA2011 Motherboard Review
November 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the brand new high-end, enthusiast-oriented ASUS Rampage IV Extreme LGA2011 motherboard, which is based on the Intel X79 Express chipset, supports the new 'Sandy Bridge-E' LGA2011 processors, and is optimized for overclocking.
Here's what they had to say:
"Overall, we feel the ROG team has outdone themselves with the Rampage IV Extreme and it may possibly be the best board ASUS has released to date. Whether it be gamers that want the absolute best multi card 3D performance on the market, a mid-range user that wants a modest overclock but run a ton of memory, or the hard core bencher that eats and sleeps by the LN2 Dewar, this board will fit like a well worn glove. Here at Hardware Canucks we dont just give out awards to every product we review, we give them to those that earn them, which is why ASUS gets our DAM Good award and a DAM Innovative award for the Rampage IV Extreme."
It's pretty clear that this is the most impressive of the current crop of LGA2011 motherboards. It's definitely very expensive, but this is a high-end platform after all.
Click here to read the full review.
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PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 600W Power Supply Reviews
November 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and Hardware Secrets have reviewed the new PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 600W power supply, which features a single +12V rail, modular design, 80Plus Bronze efficiency, and 5 year warranty.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"Starting off with the build quality and design of the Silencer Mk3 we have a unit which delivers in all the important areas. For example we have a good selection of connectors, the hard wired cables focus on the essentials and the quality of paintwork is good. Inside the quality remains high with branded, high spec components such as the 105°C Japanese capacitors. We also liked the move to white paintwork, a nice change from the usual black and grey units which dominate the market.
In terms of performance this model in the Silencer Mk3 family does well. The 12, 3.3 and 5v lines remain within rated specifications and the unit has no trouble delivering 600w of power. Efficiency too is within the ratings outlined by the 80 Plus certification and ripple results on 3.3 and 5v were well within tolerance. The stand out performance aspect is noise level though with this PSU remaining very quiet at all times."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets:
"The new PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 600 W is a very good unit, with efficiency between 81.4% and 86.3%, voltages closer to their nominal values than necessary (three percent voltage regulation), and extremely low noise and ripple levels. The cable configuration is fair for a 600 W unit.
This unit is being sold for USD 90, but if you live in the United States, you can get a USD 20 mail-in rebate, making its final price USD 70, which is an outstanding price for this power supply. The problem is that most users forget to send in the documentation to get the rebate, plus the time it takes (sometimes months) to get the rebate card back."
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Reviews
November 21, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D and techPowerUp have reviewed the brand new OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is a specialized product optimized for caching applications in conjunction with standard HDD.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Guru3D:
"Let's place things in perspective, the Synapse in really simple wording is a very fast SATA3 SSD with a software caching layer. And quite honestly it works out really well. So for those of you that need that big 2TB root/boot drive yet want that default applications to speed up to SSD levels, well that's where this solution kicks in hard. As stated, the overall Windows experience beats the overall HDD feel with factor 100. So for 120EUR for the 64GB version, really you can't go wrong as it will speed up your PC application load times significantly."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
" In terms of raw performance we see about a x2.5 improvement in performance from the HDD+SSD combo, when compared to the HDD alone. The combo's performance is still a bit behind a "real" SSD setup, but if you consider that you could pair a 2 TB HDD with the 60 GB OCZ Synapse and end up with a huge fire-and-forget performance improvement for your big drive, the advantage is obvious. OCZ is asking $155 for the Synapse, which does not seem cheap when compared to a 120 GB SSD, which clocks in at about the same price. So if you can live with only 120 GB of fast storage, then a pure SSD solution is the way to go. The more space you need, the better the price/performance ratio of the HDD+SSD combo when compared to an SSD-only setup."
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Hydro H100 Liquid CPU Cooler Reviews
November 17, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets, KitGuru, and Rbmods 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:
- Hardware Secrets:
"The Corsair H100 was the best CPU cooler weve seen to date. With its 240 mm radiator, which is twice the size of the radiator seen in most sealed liquid cooling systems, it outperformed all the air coolers and liquid cooling solutions we tested so far.
However, it is not perfect. Its main drawback is that it will fit only mid-tower cases that support a 240 mm radiator on the top panel. However, the H100 may not fit full-tower cases, because the hoses are relatively short and the radiator must be near the CPU block. Another problem is that it is not quiet at all. Even in the silent mode, the fans were louder than they should be."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru:
"The Noctua NH D14 has been the highest performing mainstream enthusiast level cooler now for around a year. None of the liquid coolers or flagship heatsinks have managed to oust it from the top spot and we were beginning to wonder if it was possible. Until today.
The Corsair H100 is without question the highest performing all in one cooler on the market, outperforming the D14 by around a single degree under full, overclocked load. Obviously some test results might vary a little, but the only way to test these coolers is to crank then to the limit with the hottest running CPU on the market today Intels Core i7 990X."
Click here to read the full review.
- Rbmods:
"Since the results in the end are very similar between the Antec 920 and the Corsair H100 you will have to just make up your mind on which to choose. The Corsair has a fan speed controller that I like, this I missed on the Antec. The 920 performed a tad better at a both high and low Rpm on the fans, you can pick up the Antec kit for 94$ at Newegg while the newer Corsair setup costs 119$.
The Corsair kit also has a bigger radiator that in the end will keep the temperatures lower especially during the summer, it is also easier to hide in the top of your case."
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Carbide Series 500R Mid-Tower Case Reviews
November 17, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews and techPowerUp have posted a review of the brand new Corsair Carbide Series 500R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"Yes, the Carbide 500R performed exquisitely. With four stock fans it rivals the best in cooling performance. Under extended stress in a cramped environment it kept CPU and GPU temperatures stable in a safe zone below 80 °F using the lowest setting on the fan controller. It also builds quickly and effortlessly. If you had all your parts ready it could be built in under ten minutes, including pretty cable routing. This is probably true for almost any build since the 500R is ready to receive a variety of components. Solid Black or two-tone white and black provide two styling options for this chic case. The grills and paneling provide excellent accent to the otherwise very square case."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"Corsair has already managed to impress with the Carbide 400R chassis and the more potent 500R is no exception. It takes the already great 4-series Carbide chassis and improves on its cooling possibilities, adds a fan controller to adjust the rotation speed and give the user the possibility to remove the hard drive cages to make room for long graphic cards. Also with an updated edgier design, some may just go ahead and dish out the 40 US Dollar more for the Carbide 500R. The question thus is, if this rather large price premium is worth it, or if the sub 100 US Dollar 400R is the better choice. Well, if you are going for water cooling or need the additional space for long graphic cards instead of six hard drives, want the 200 mm side fan - then yes, the Carbide 500R is worth every penny more."
Click here to read the full review.
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ASUS Radeon HD 6770 DirectCU Silent Edition Review
November 17, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D have posted a review of the ASUS Radeon HD 6770 DirectCU Silent Edition graphics card, which features a large passive cooling system.
Here's what they had to say:
"ASUS did a nice job with the overall design and cooling solution, obviously we'd love to have seen a factory overclock to spice things up, but with passive cooling that's just a no-go really -- hence we didn't even try to overclock ourselves. The card just does not fall into that category.
Other than that we have very little to complain. If a 100~125 EUR is all you can spend on a decent entry-level graphics card, this might be your thing and as such we can still recommend it but the Juniper core is steadily getting too slow for the latest DX11 titles so you'll need to game at 1600x1200 and below. Other than that, we can recommended the card alright."
This seems like a pretty good graphics card for those who prize silence over performance.
Click here to read the full review.
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ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z LGA1155 Motherboard Review
November 17, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock have reviewed the new ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z, an Intel Z68-based LGA1155 motherboard that comes with all the usual Republic of Gamers (RoG) features, but in a compact Micro ATX form factor.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Of course, such a bounty of features, quality, and performance normally doesn't come cheap. ROG products cater to to the elite, so we typically see a very steep price tag. But in this instance, the Maximus IV Gene-Z costs about $170, which is an excellent deal for what you get. The micro-ATX form factor isn't a hindrance here as may assume; you get the full features that are better than most full ATX board on the market for a lower cost.
The reality is the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z is the best micro-ATX Z68 board out there, and it's arguably one of the very best micro boards on the market for any platform. It is that good. And considering the very reasonable price tag that comes with it, the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z is outstanding."
This is a sexy little motherboard, and I don't see any reason why you wouldn't pick it over full-sized Z68 models.
Click here to read the full review.
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1TB Hard Disk Drive Roundup - Seagate & Western Digital
November 17, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have tested and compared nine 1TB hard drives from Seagate and Western Digital.
Here's an excerpt:
"Wed recommend the Caviar Black WD1002FAEX as a very fast HDD. It is occasionally faster even than the RE4 WD1003FBYX but costs considerably less. It is clearly better than the older Caviar Black WD1001FALS in most of the tests, so we dont think the latter is worth buying.
Comparing the Caviar Blue WD10EALS and the Caviar Blue WD10EALX, wed prefer the newer HDD, too. The WD10EALX is as fast as the previous-generation model but features an excellent price/capacity ratio. It is a well-balanced product offering a rather high performance at a more or less affordable price. Take it if you just need a good HDD."
This is a great article if you're in the market for a new 1TB HDD...but you shouldn't be since hard drive prices are at an all-time high right now due to production disruptions caused by flooding in Thailand.
Click here to read the full review.
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QNAP TS-219P II Turbo NAS Review
November 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks 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:
"All in all, I was very impressed with the performance of the TS-219P II. QNAP continues to use their V3 firmware with an excellent web UI. The AJAX powered web configuration interface is not only clean and structured, but it is also very functional. Its clean and smooth design is visually very appealing and modern. Although packed with many features, organization was a key factor, and QNAP has definitely kept that in mind. If you want a full-featured NAS and want to jump aboard the QNAP ship today, the TS-219P II is your ticket to the beginning of awesomeness for about $300 at press time. Yes, it is not cheap, but remember -- it is not just the hardware that counts, it's also the software. And watch out -- once you get this, you might be tempted to upgrade to the TS-559 Pro II down the road..."
As usual, QNAP has created another excellent high performance 2-bay NAS with a feature-rich and user-friendly GUI.
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master Silencio 550 Case Review
November 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D have reviewed the brand new silence-oriented Cooler Master Silencio 550 mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Silencio is a nicely thought through chassis, it's nothing new in terms of new technologies though. That's said, it's by far sufficient enough for what it needs to accomplish. You can house a fairly high-end selection of PC components inside the chassis whilst keeping the noise levels down. Typically a chassis, a modern PC, shows 42 DBa in noise level, here we shave off another 3 DBa easily, and in the world of noise haters .. really that's a lot. So noise dampening wise it really does nice job, whilst offering decent enough airflow as well. Also important to keep in mind is that it is mid-size tower chassis that looks okay and offers plenty of space inside that chassis."
Although it has a few noteworthy issues, this is a great looking case and it will definitely appeal to those looking to build a very quiet PC.
Click here to read the full review.
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AMD 990FX AM3+ Motherboard Review Roundup
November 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven, Legit Reviews, PC Perspective, techPowerUp, and X-bit Labs reviewed a few brand new AMD 990FX AM3+ motherboards from ASUS, Biostar, ECS, and GIGABYTE.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven: ECS A990FXM-A Black Series Motherboard Review:
"In terms of performance the A990FXM-A competes well with other 990FX based boards and features such as support for 3-Way Crossfire, SATA3 and USB 3 ensure that we can get the most from our components. Something which is added to by the support of the latest AMD CPU's and DDR3 in excess of 2000MHz.
It was also nice to see ECS now implementing a GUI BIOS, another way they match competitors such as MSI and ASUS. Bluetooth support is a nice addition too.
At the time of writing we have no pricing for the board however based on recent and long term experience with ECS products we expect them to be highly competitive. Bundled Cyberlink software adds to the overall value of the package."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD7 Motherboard Review:
"The GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7 is one of the highest price AMD 990FX motherboards at Newegg.com. Coming with a street price of $209.99 with free shipping after a $20 rebate, it is one of the most expensive AMD 990FX motherboard there. The features that are packed into the GA-990FXA-UD7 do justify the higher price tag.
The performance of the GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7 was solid overall. The ASUS Crosshair V Formula that we used in our first motherboard article with the AMD FX-8150 'Bulldozer' did lead through most of the benchmarks. It's fair to say that it wasn't a blowout competition though. The GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7 was able to pull ahead of the Crosshair V Formula a time or two. Regardless of which board took the top spot, it's fair to say that the performance margins we saw today weren't really enough that you would see a difference in day to day usage."
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective: ASUS Crosshair V Motherboard Review :
"Finally we come to the big daddy of them all. The Crosshair V is without question the most impressive AM3+ board I have worked with to date. Installation was flawless, BIOS support was mature and quick, and the overwhelming amount of features integrated into this board is staggering. Not only are there a lot of features, but the design is so well thought out and implemented that there is no performance or stability degradation with all of the bells and whistles enabled and running. This is truly a fantastic board with about everything one could use (or imagine) actually being integrated on the motherboard."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: Biostar TA990FXE AM3+ Motherboard Review:
"For those wanting a modest overclock and the same PCIe support, the TA990FXE should not be overlooked, as the saving in the board price can be invested in additional cooling that makes the present issues seem inconsequential. It is a bit unfortunate that the full software package is not working, yet we have run into this same issue before with boards we received from Biostar prior to the retail launch, and having recently revisited a few of those products, we are 100% confident that while this is currently an issue, updated software will arrive shortly that makes it a trivial issue at most. We also did not notice any issues with memory compatibility in the initial BIOS, which is a fantastic thing, as this has been an issue that has plagued Biostar in the past, but as the TA990FXE proves, Biostar is making great strides in that department. Over the past year we've spent a significant amount of time with Biostar products, and for sure, the TA990FXE has won us over. Good job, Biostar!"
Click here to read the full review.
- X-bit Labs: Asus Sabertooth 990FX Mainboard Review:
"Asus Crosshair V Formula is priced at about $240, while Asus Sabertooth 990FX will cost significantly less around $190. However, the biggest advantage of the Asus Sabertooth 990FX is its five-year warranty. And dont be scared by the title of our todays review: five years with Bulldozer processor doesnt at all mean that you have to stay with their current not particularly successful Zambezi modification. Later on new Bulldozer models will come out, which will obviously be better than the current ones, but Asus Sabertooth 990FX mainboard will still be ready for them. Moreover, five years is just the warranty period, and in reality this board may last six years or even more. So, it is not quite correct to ask, which Asus mainboard is better. They are both good, each in its own way."
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset Review
November 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven have posted a review of the brand new Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 gaming headset.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Straight out of the box the Sirus headset feels like a quality product. It has a solid feel to it, a weight that indicates a well-built product. The tactical mixing console is nicely designed, and is very easy to use. The turn style design of the volume control is convenient as we can make adjustments without having to look away from the on screen action.
The quality of components used in the Sirus is also impressive. With gold plated connectors used throughout we had no issues with the performance of this headset. CM Storm have also provided direct connectors if we already have a quality sound card and didn't need to use the tactical mixing console. We also find a spare pair of ear cushions, which is something that some companies would not have included and would have charged for, which adds to the overall package."
This seems like a great product for those who want a purpose-built gaming headset.
Click here to read the full review.
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Kingston HyperX 240GB SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Review
November 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets have reviewed the brand new Kingston HyperX 240GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which features 555MB/s read speeds, 510MB/s write speeds, and up to 70,000 IOPS maximum 4k write performance.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Its not surprising that the Kingston HyperX and OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS performed similarly in our tests, as they both feature the same Sandforce SF-2281 controller and high quality synchronous memory. This deals much better with compressible data than asynchronous memory, which can be found in drives like the Corsair Force 3.
Despite being slightly behind the OCZ Vertex 3 in terms of performance, we think that the Kingston HyperX is the better buy, as it can be purchased for about USD 100 if you get the non-bundle version with the mail-in rebate. We highly doubt that there would be any noticeable real world performance difference between the two drives."
Kingston + SandForce SF-2281 SATA 6Gb/s controller + Intel 25nm NAND = Instant Win! This is a fantastic SSD, there's nothing else to say.
Click here to read the full review.
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Gigabyte GeForce GTX 570 Super Overclock Graphics Card Review
November 16, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the high-end GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 570 SuperClocked graphics card, which features a custom triple-fan cooler but overclocked specifications.
Here's an excerpt:
"These days $50 is a hefty premium to pay for an overclocked, custom cooled card but in many ways we feel this premium is somewhat justified for Gigabyte's card. Sure, the cut down GF110 core architecture means the Super Overclock fights an uphill battle against the GTX 580 in areas where rendering horsepower is at a premium but we have to remember: Gigabytes card goes for $370 while the least expensive GTX 580 will run $460 without mail in rebates. To us this card hits a sweet spot and with a bit of additional overclocking, can easily go head to head against NVIDIAs flagship in non-bandwidth limited situations. If you are looking for near silent computing, great performance and high efficiency without breaking the bank, look no further than the Super Overclock."
This is the fastest GeForce GTX 570 on the market right now, by a far, so if you have a need for speed but don't want to splurge for a fully-fledged GeForce GTX 580, this is the model for you.
Click here to read the full review.
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Roccat Kone[+] Gaming Mouse Review
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets have reviewed the highly customizable Roccat Kone[+] gaming mouse.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Kone[+] shines with the intelligent solution that is the EasyShift [+]. The body has an interesting shape that can be used by a left-handed person, but the user would lose the benefit of the EasyShift[+] technology since he/she wouldnt reach the button five on the left side. The inclusion of pre-recorded macros is a great idea for those who shudder when thinking about programming macros. The weight compartment cover needs to be redesigned."
If you're a fan of customizing every aspect of your mouse, then this might just be the product for you. At the very least, it's worth a close look.
Click here to read the full review.
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ROCCAT Isku Gaming Keyboard Reviews
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews and t-break have reviewed the Roccat Isku illuminated gaming keyboard.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"Functionality is very good with the Roccat ISKU, the media keys are a nice addition as well as the M-Keys and T-Keys. Being able to disable the windows keys are a blessing for an FPS gamer such as myself. The blue backlit keys are nice but if you are looking at the keyboard when you are gaming then you won't see the screen. The cable routing could not have been executed better, I really like having the option to go to the left or the right dependant on your setup. The EasyShift[+] keys really make this keyboard and the Roccat talk compatibility extends that capability more. I love the macro live recording feature and I don't even use macros, it's just so easy and super quick that even grandma could do it."
Click here to read the full review.
- t-break:
"We cannot crown the Roccat Isku as king of keyboards, but we still have to recognize it as one of the best keyboards we have used. While the customization might be over the top for regular users, hardened MMORPG and RTS players will find it to their liking. Unfortunately, the backlit keyboard was a bit of a letdown, but it is by no means a failure, and still serves its purpose, yet there is still plenty of room for improvement. None the less, the Isku is still a great product, and despite what flaws it may have, it continues Roccats track record of delivering quality gaming products, and it makes us even more eager to see the sort of innovations Roccat will provide in the future."
Click here to read the full review.
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Fractal Design Core 3000 Case Reviews
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, Hardware Secrets, and Missing Remote have reviewed the Fractal Design Core 3000 mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix:
"At £50/$75 we feel that the Core 3000 is overpriced by £5-10/$10-15. It is an elegantly designed case which offers excellent cooling capabilities and relevant expandability options, but its mediocre cable management and on times, cheap feel definitely act as a hindrance to the success of this mainstream contender. The Core 3000 is a worthy contender to the competitive mainstream greats such as the HAF 912 Plus, CM690 II Lite and Lian Li PC-K58 but it isnt always the better choice and on times has a difficult time keeping up the pace."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets:
"The Fractal Design Core 3000 provides a terrific cost/benefit ratio for users who are looking for a mid-tower case with nice features at an affordable price."
Click here to read the full review.
- Missing Remote:
"Overall we were very pleased with the Core 3000. At $74.99, it is very affordable, and the six drive bays and 7 expansion slots provide ample room for expansion in a mid size case. The interior of the chassis is spacious allowing for mostly efficient cable routing, your mileage may vary depending on particular motherboards. With its all black exterior and lack of front facing LED lights the Core 3000 would look great in or alongside any AV stack."
Click here to read the full review.
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Five-Way Intel Z68 Motherboard Roundup
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Futurelooks have tested and compared five Intel Z68-based LGA1155 motherboards from ASRock, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI.
Here's an excerpt:
"ASRock continues to improve quality and design. Performance was extremely comparable to the competition in our labs. In fact, the Extreme 4 is the only motherboard to give users the most unhindered connectivity simply from one additional PLX chip controller which makes sure the PCIE bus has room to stretch. Overclockers will be pleasantly surprised with their results. Some more polishing in the area of design, software, and BIOS would really solidify ASRocks position among the DIY users as well as system integrators and enthusiasts. Users dont like to see trial software and were hoping that ASRock discontinues putting it in the box or just offering the real deal. At $184.99 USD, the ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 offers all of the important features consumers want in a high performance, fully functional platform. For that reason, were giving it our Editors Choice award in this gruelling round up."
This is a great roundup with the very best Z68 motherboards on the market right now, check it out!
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master Storm Enforcer Case Review
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Metku have reviewed the brand new Cooler Master Storm Enforcer mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"All in all, Enforcer is a good case - there really are't any big problems in Enforcer. Its biggest problem is that Enforcer cannot raise upon other cases in any sector. Enforcer is a good basic case with good features but it vanishes in the mass.
In case you like the design of the Enforcer it's easy to recommend you to buy it. At the price of a bit under 100 euros it has relatively good quality-price ratio."
While this does seem like a pretty good case, I don't see anything that makes it any better than Cooler Master's own CM 690 II Advanced.
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Vengeance 1100 Gaming Headset Review
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the brand new Corsair Vengeance 1100 gaming headset.
Here's what they had to say:
"Corsair has struck a good balance between professional and gamer-enticing aesthetics with this headset. This, combined with the all-round good performance means that you can use it for work or play without issue. One small complaint we have is the lack of any dedicated software to tweak the sound balance and other audio options like the one that was present with the Vengeance 1500.
Despite being an excellent neckband-style headset, the Vengeance 1100 does possess some of the negative traits that plague headsets of this style. After a couple of hours use, the headset can become uncomfortable where the neckband sits on the top of your ears. This seems to be more of a problem if you wear glasses when using the headset, though, as they can conflict."
While this might seem like a good headset based on the review, a very large number of buyers are reporting that its extremely fragile so I would not recommend it.
Click here to read the full review.
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NZXT Tempest 410 Elite Mid-Tower Case Reviews
November 15, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TestFreaks and ThinkComputers have reviewed the NZXT Tempest 410 Elite mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- TestFreaks:
"The NZXT Tempest 410 is a case that Ive come to like for its looks especially, it is a nice looking case. The Tempest 410 has plenty of room inside for most any system and a large amount of hard drives. The case includes two 120mm fans with room for more of them or a radiator if youre into liquid cooling. This case is well made and sturdy, its made of steel but its still quite lightweight. The Tempest 410 does feature a little storage compartment on the top, to sure how useful it is though, but its a nice touch."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers:
"The NZXT Tempest 410 Elite certainly holds up to the Tempest name. It has all of the tool-free installations you can think of, a plentitude of airflow options and is just an overall good-looking case. The case runs for $89.99 at my favorite online retailer, with the standard Tempest 410 being just $10 cheaper. Personally, I think the extra $10 is worth the price if youre looking for more fans and a side panel window.
There are a lot of features in the Tempest 410 Elite that you wouldnt find in other cases with a similar price point. Theres really not a whole lot to say negative about this case, other than the placement of the hard drives, which are faced internally, rather than towards the side. However if you install your drives properly, assuming you dont fill up all 8 slots, you shouldnt have too much of a problem."
Click here to read the full review.
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Intel 'Sandy Bridge-E' Core i7-3960X CPU Launched!
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Intel have just launched the high-end Sandy Bridge-E LGA2011 desktop platform, which features three new processors and the X79 Express chipset. The flagship model for this new platform is the Core i7-3960X six-core/twelve-thread processor. It has a 3.3Ghz default clock, can Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz, has 15MB of L3 cache, a quad-channel DDR3-1600 memory interface, 40 PCI-E lanes, and support for PCI-Express 3.0.
So without further ado, here are a bunch of processor and motherboard reviews for this new platform:
- Anandtech: Intel Core i7 3960X (Sandy Bridge E) Review: Keeping the High End Alive.
- Anandtech: Sandy Bridge-E and X79 The ASUS P9X79 PRO Review.
- Benchmark Reviews: ASUS P9X79 Deluxe Motherboard Review.
- Benchmark Reviews: ASUS Sabertooth X79 TUF Motherboard Review.
- Benchmark Reviews: Intel Core i7-3690X Extreme Edition CPU Review.
- Benchmark Reviews: Intel DX79SI LGA2011 Desktop Motherboard Review.
- eTeknix: Asus Rampage IV Extreme X79 Motherboard Review.
- eTeknix: Asus Sabertooth X79 Motherboard Review.
- eTeknix: Intel Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition CPU Processor Review.
- Guru3D: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme Review.
- Guru3D: Core i7 3960X processor & MSI X79A-GD65 Review.
- hardCOREware: Intel Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition Review.
- Hardware Canucks: Intel Sandy Bridge-E i7-3960X CPU Review.
- HardwareHeaven: Intel Sandy Bridge Extreme and X79 Chipset Launch - Core i7-3960X Processor Review.
- Hardware Secrets: Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition CPU Review.
- HotHardware: Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition Sandy Bridge-E CPU.
- KitGuru: Intel i7 3960X EE / Asus P9X79 Deluxe / 32GB Corsair Vengeance (1600mhz) Review.
- KitGuru: Intel i7 3960X EE / Asus Rampage IV Extreme / Corsair GTX8 (2400mhz) / Quad GTX590 Review.
- KitGuru: Intel i7 3960X EE / Gigabyte GA X79 UD3 / 16GB GSkill Ripjaws Z (2133mhz) Review.
- LanOC: Intel i7-3960X and Intel DX79SI.
- Legit Reviews: ASUS P9X79 Pro Intel X79 Motherboard Review.
- Legit Reviews: Intel Core i7-3960X Sandy Bridge-E Processor Review.
- Madshrimps: Intel Sandy Bridge E 3690X CPU Review.
- ocaholic: Sandy Bridge E: Core i7 3930K and Core i7 3960X.
- PC Perspective: Intel Sandy Bridge-E Review - Core i7-3960X and X79 Chipset Tested.
- The Tech Report: Intel's Core i7-3960X Processor.
- The Tech Report: Sandy Bridge-E motherboards from Asus, Gigabyte, Intel, and MSI.
- TechSpot: Intel Sandy Bridge-E Debuts: Core i7-3960X Review.
- Tom's Hardware: Intel Core i7-3960X Review: Sandy Bridge-E And X79 Express.
- X-bit Labs: Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition and Core i7-3930K processors for LGA 2011 Platform.
As expected, the i7-3960X is now the fastest processor on the market, by quite a bit when it comes to multi-threading performance. However, at $990 it is priced well above what most people can afford. Thankfully, Intel is also offering the $555 i7-3630K, which fundamentally the same the 3960X, just clocked 100MHz lower and with a little less L3 cache. There is also the i7-3820, which is a quad-core/eight-thread part clocked at 3.6Ghz with Turbo capabilities up to 3.9Ghz. It will only be released sometime in Q1 2012 for an announced price, but it should be in the $300's.
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GIGABYTE Aivia M8600 Hybrid Gaming Mouse Review
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix have posted a review of the GIGABYTE Aivia M8600 hybrid gaming mouse, which features extra-long battery life, quick-swap battery, and multi-function charging/receiving dock.
Here's an excerpt:
"Now that Ive used the mouse for a while, I can certainly say that its made the same good impression upon me as the Aivia Keyboard did earlier in the year. Its solid and robust feel made it very comfortable to use and the number of features that is packed into it is outstanding.
This is reflected in its price of around £75, which isnt the cheapest on the market, but when you look at it, how many mice are there that pack this number of features and have the same feel of quality to them?
So if youre after a high performance mouse that gives you the edge and comfort during an intense gaming session, the Aivia M6800 is one to take a good look at."
If you're a hardcore gamer, this is definitely a mouse with a feature set that caters to your needs.
Click here to read the full review.
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Antec High Current Gamer 900W Power Supply Review
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PureOverclock have posted two of the very first reviews of the brand new Antec High Current Gamer 900W power supply.
Let's see what they had to say:
"From a functional standpoint, the Antec High Current Gamer is 80PLUS Bronze certified, which is to be considered near the lower range of power efficiency these days, as many other offerings do come in Silver and Gold certification. But the High Current Gamer did well in our testing, nothing spectacular though to distinguish itself in those respects. Voltage regulation and output quality were very good, and ripple results were encouraging as well. The cable lengths are long, which is good for those who have full tower cases and are very particular about their cable management. Noise levels were quiet across the board, even when the unit ramped up at higher loads."
This is a very good power supply, no doubt about it. I can't wait to see if Antec releases some higher wattage models.
Click here to read the full review.
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PowerColor Devil 13 HD 6970 2GB Graphics Card Reviews
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and techPowerUp have reviewed the brand new PowerColor Devil 13 HD 6970 2GB graphics card, which features a significantly customized cooling system, high quality components, and overclocked specifications.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"Underneath the heatsink the improved design continues with plenty of components which are designed to minimise temperatures and maximise stability and reliability. That's before we consider the external switch for BIOS selection.
In terms of performance the Devil 13 scores well. With the performance BIOS enabled we get framerates which compete with the similarly priced GTX 570 OC and the card remains near silent the majority of the time. Temperatures are also decent considering the extreme core and memory speed and the card remained stable throughout our testing.
For value, again the Devil 13 impresses. The thorough bundle and overall build quality mix with the standard AMD 6970 features to create a well-rounded product which is backed by a decent warranty."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp:
"PowerColor's HD 6970 Devil 13 impresses with very high clock speeds out of the box - when turbo mode is enabled via a little switch. When it is disabled, the card will run at AMD reference design clocks. PowerColor intended the normal mode to be a low noise, low power operating mode that is optimized for casual gamers that spend a lot of time in doing desktop work. However, due to the fan and blade design chosen, the card ends up being noisier than most other cards available today, when running in idle. It seems the fan motor is not really designed to run quiet, at low RPMs at all. On the other hand, temperatures of the card are quite low, which is certainly an effect of the increased fan speed."
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermaltake eSPORTS Shock Spin Gaming Headset Review
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
t-break have posted a review of the new Thermaltake eSPORTS Shock Spin gaming headset, which features a seperate microphone which you clip onto your shirt.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Thermaltake Shock Spin HD is a fine piece of hardware, just dont expect too much from the USB sound card. Its light and comfortable, plays music amazingly well, and can be a great companion in your movies and gaming escapades. Its just that it could have done things a bit better the separate mic unit is just baffling, for one.
Priced at $99, the Thermaltake Shock Spin HD is a good balance between budget and premium. Compared to other similar priced competitors, the Shock Spin HD stands ahead with its superior comfort and sound quality."
This is a pretty decent headset, but Thermaltake's own Shock One seems to be a better option for gaming purposes.
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Review
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks 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:
"While the RevoDrive Hybrid is not what we would call an elegant solution it does net levels of performance that puts to shame the likes of the Seagates hybrid XT drive and even Intels Smart Response Technology. By boldly thinking outside the box - and pairing a RAID 0 SSD array with a single hard drive OCZ has been able to create what is the most impressive hybrid device we have seen to date. Unlike most hybrid setups, the software of the RevoDrive Hybrid is able to intelligently direct read as well as write commands to the NAND ICs and the hard drive. The result is benchmark numbers that nearly equal a RevoDrive 3 120GB while allowing for eight times the storage capacity."
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.
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GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3 Fusion Mini-ITX Motherboard Review
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
LanOC have posted a review of the brand new GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3, a Mini-ITX motherboard that is based on the AMD Fusion "Brazos" platform, which features a Fusion APU that combines a CPU and GPU on the same chip.
Here's what they had to say:
"Dont let the test results fool you, even at 1/3 of the performance of its big brother the A8. The E350N-USB3 is still more than capable of playing HD content and thats what its truly made to do. The Mini ITX form factor, all in one design, and low power usage all mean the E350N-USB3 is the perfect board for someone who needs basic PC or an HTPC. In fact during our testing the E350N-USB3 spent most of its time doubling as an HTPC and file server."
This is a very good motherboard, but I wouldn't hesitate to spend a little extra on the ASUS E35M1-I Deluxe because of its awesome cooling system, onboard wireless adapter, and EFI bios.
Click here to read the full review.
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Zalman ZM-VE200 External HDD Enclosure + Virtual Drive Review
November 14, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs have the reviewed the Zalman ZM-VE200 external HDD enclosure with Virtual Drive functionality.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Overall the ZM-VE200 is a great device with many features, excellent build quality and good file transfer speeds. True USB 2.0 may not be fast but eSATA makes up for that so with most PC cases featuring front eSATA connections and with eSATA being used far more than USB 3.0 (for now) this should be more than enough for most people. The long VFW screen is also a very nice touch since you can actually see which ISO you are loading/accessing while the ISO feature on its own should come quite handy to people who need to carry many CDs around with them especially since you don't need to use extra software."
This seems like an interesting product for those who want to easily mount ISO images.
Click here to read the full review.
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NZXT Havik 140 CPU Cooler Review
November 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs have posted a review of the high-end NZXT Havik 140 CPU cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
"the HAVIK 140 CPU Cooler by NZXT is a very good offering (especially for USA residents) for people who are looking top performance at low noise levels. Certainly though the HAVIK 140 is a single heatsink solution and thus quite smaller than other units like the K2 or the NH-D14 still it's quite large and that means that you can't place it inside a very small PC Case so be sure to check its measurements prior to buying it. Overall the HAVIK 140 is an excellent CPU Cooler and because of that it walks away with our Editors Real Deal Choice Award."
This is a very good CPU cooler, but considering its $75 price tag and huge size, you might as well get the higher performing Noctua NH-D14.
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermaltake Level 10 GT Modular Case Review
November 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
techPowerUp have posted a review of the unique-looking Thermaltake Level 10 GT modular case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Thermaltake's redesign of the original Level 10 into the Level 10 GT brings all the features a PC enthusiast wants to a price point that simply works. The Level 10 GT is a great case that has done very well at it's price point. The Level 10 GT provides more features, worth-while details, and interaction than any other case at it's price. Hands down the Thermaltake Level 10 GT is the best case I've had the pleasure of reviewing, well played Thermaltake."
Aesthetically I have never been a fan of this case, it pales in comparison to the original Level 10, but it is otherwise a terrific all-around case.
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermaltake eSPORTS MEKA G-Unit Gaming Keyboard Review
November 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
t-break have posted a review of the Thermaltake eSPORTS MEKA G-Unit gaming keyboard.
Let's see what they had to say:
"At $130, the Thermaltake MEKA G-Unit is a fantastic buy for its price. It competes directly against Razer BlackWidow, and features almost everything the Razer does except full backlit keyboard. But MEKAs one-cable-to-rule-them all is a huge bonus, which not only reduces cable clutter, but frees up valuable USB and headphone jacks. Its solidly built, and besides some minor hiccups, is a champ of a performer."
This is solid keyboard, as are most of Thermaltake's numerous other eSports Meka series keyboards.
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermaltake BlacX Duet 5G USB 3.0 HDD Docking Station Review
November 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Real World Labs have reviewed the Thermaltake BlacX Duet 5G USB 3.0 HDD docking station.
Here's what they had to say:
"When we reviewed the Zalman ZM-MH200 U3 a few months ago it was obvious from its performance results that Zalman had made the fastest external HDD docking station to date which also came with support for RAID0/1. Today the BlacX Duet 5G by Thermaltake may not outperform the Zalman offering but it takes it head on and that's only a good thing for the end user. Of course it lacks the RAID0/1 modes but casual users and most users in general will probably never get to use them to begin with. Personally i can't say something bad about the BlacX Duet 5G since it does exactly what it promises, nothing more and nothing less. The silicon covers are also a nice touch by Thermaltake especially if you may use the same drives for long periods of time on the docking station."
This seems like a good USB 3.0 dock for those who need to access two hard drives at once, but there are other options like the Vantec NexStar SuperSpeed Dual Bay Hard Drive Dock.
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EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win 2GB Dual-GPU Graphics Card Review
November 10, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D have reviewed the brand new EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win 2GB Dual-GPU graphics card, which is an updated version of the GTX 460 2Win.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The reality for the GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win remains that its amongst the fastest graphics cards currently available. Your fillrate will drip of your screen with drooling framerates versus excellent output image quality. The choice in-between two GTX 560 Ti cards or one GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win will be a difficult one. We say, go with you gut feeling as either way you are fine. The GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win is all about innovation, it's a very wicked card that we can certainly recommend."
This niche product provides great high-end performance for the money, no doubt about it. However, what should really excite users is its multi-monitor and 3D gaming capabilities. Thanks to its twin GPUs, the 2Win can not only power triple monitor gaming setups, but it also supports NVIDIA 3D Surround. These are two features that otherwise require two single-GPU cards in an SLI configuration to function. Those who are more productivity minded will be glad to know that this card can actually power four displays, thanks to its the three DVI-I and single mini-HDMI outputs.
Click here to read the full review.
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XFX WarPad Mousepad Review
November 9, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TechwareLabs 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:
"As Ive mentioned in previous reviews, the job of any really good input peripheral or accessory is to disappear; that is, to work so seamlessly and naturally that you lose all conscious awareness of it as an intermediate between you and your game. For me, the WarPad does exactly that. It doesnt slide around, it doesnt pinch nerves in my wrists, and it provides just enough friction to bring my mouse to a stop when I let go. The large surface means I can drop my mouse to 100 CPI and swing it around in large arcs for seemingly impossible no-scope snipe shots on the run. All of this was possible with my QCK Heavy, which is a more conventional pad of similar thickness, but the clamp keeps the pad in place even during the most vigorous play."
This is a really interesting product, check it out!
Click here to read the full review.
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Antec Solo II Mid-Tower Case Review
November 9, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed the just released Antec Solo II mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The Antec SOLO II is an attractively designed case which will suit a wide audience of enthusiast user who hate glowing lights, pulsating logos and eye catching gimmicks. It is a very stylish, well crafted chassis design that has been built to last and will look great in a living room environment.
The shiny finish is very appealing but our main concern is that it attracts dirt and fingerprints extremely easily. It may look stunning when it has been polished, but within the space of a few hours it begins to look dusty. If you touch the case at all then the marks will remain very visible until cleaned carefully with a polishing cloth."
While this does look like a good case, I just don't see any reason to recommend it over the $99 Corsair Carbide Series 400R.
Click here to read the full review.
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ASUS Maximus IV Extreme LGA1155 Motherboard Review
November 9, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Bigbruin 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:
"If you're a hard core overclocker, the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme P67 ROG motherboard will provide you with all of the tools you could ever need to squeeze every last drop of performance out of your hardware. If you are merely an inquisitive enthusiast, it will give you the tools to take your components to the next level. If you are simply a beginner, the Maximus IV Extreme is simple enough to configure to give you the performance boost you crave with all of the tools you'll need as your overclocking skills mature.
Over the course of the review, the abundance of cool features and novel extras we encountered were definitely impressive. The strong showing continued as we toured the feature packed BIOS, the simple overclocking interface, and saw just how well it could perform during testing."
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.
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SilverStone Treasure TS07 USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Review
November 9, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews have reviewed the SilverStone TS07 USB 3.0 3.5" hard drive enclosure.
Let's see what they had to say:
"It's not hard to see why, either. Highlights include aluminum construction, an innovative tool-less tray system and support for SuperSpeed USB 3.0. The SST-TS07B has a lot going for it, and in an industry where knock-offs and look-alikes are prevalent, the SilverStone SST-TS07B sets itself apart from the pack as being a product that not only walks softly, but also carries a big stick. It's not often a new product hits .1000 out of the gate, and the SST-TS07B is that product.
I had but a few minor quibbles with the SST-TS07B. The difficulty in removing a hard drive from the tray can be problematic. While I definitely do not recommend slapping the tray upside down to coax the storage device out, you can try prying up the edges of the hard drive a little at a time. And while the SST-TS07B is touted as offering support for 2.5" devices like SSDs, you'll need a bracket from SilverStone, purchased separately, in order to make it work."
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.
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OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Review
November 9, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark 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:
"In summary, OCZ has truly revolutionized hybrid storage options for the consumer, and RevoDrive Hybrid dramatically outperforms competing hybrid HDD/SSD storage solutions. The Dataplex caching software works well once an initial ramp-up period has completed, and quickly learns to prioritize applications based on user needs. Most all data transfers up to about 90GB begin at SSD level speeds, but in the rare event you're moving something larger it will transfer at traditional hard drive speed. Overall I see the OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid as a success, and a hybrid storage product that is actually ready for prime 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.
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MSI GT780 Gaming Notebook Reviews
November 8, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Madshrimps and ocaholic have reviewed the high-end MSI GT780 gaming notebook, which features a 17.3-inch 1920x1080 120Hz 3D display, quad-core/eight-thread Intel Core i7-2630QM 2.0-2.9Ghz processor, 8GB of RAM, two 750GB 7200RPM HDDs, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M 1.5GB GPU.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Madshrimps:
"After several weeks with the GT780, I must say that I'm pretty impressed by the performance of this laptop. Okay it can't come close to the performance of a similar priced desktop. But it is easily portable. Weighing in at a respectable 3.9 Kg. Just put it in the cool rucksack and you won't even notice you got a serious gaming PC on your back. For the rucksack the colour design is pretty good. But it's a tight fit and the quality of the fabrics could be a bit better to avoid it from tearing up.
The Steelseries keyboard design is pretty good. Having withstand hours of online bashing. Absolutely no issue when requiring multiple inputs while facing my online enemies on the battlefield."
Click here to read the full review.
- ocaholic:
"With the GT 780, MSI has a very well built gaming notebook in its portfolio which is also able to convince from the performance perspective. For an attractive price you even get a SSD standard which gives this device a well deserved performance boost. Especially desktop taks will be accelerated but also games will load faster."
Click here to read the full review.
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Samsung PM830 256GB SATA 6Gb/s SSD Reviews
November 8, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and The SSD Review have reviewed the Samsung PM830 256GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive.
Here's what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"Performance wise things are looking good for Samsung for the most part. In synthetic tests they compare well with the fastest SATA 3 based models which are currently available, on writes the gap isn't huge. When it comes to real world performance though the Samsung 830 Series is often class leading, or at worst on par with the competition.
At £350 for the 256GB model with Norton and the desktop/laptop bundle Samsung have clearly priced the 830 Series to directly compete with Sandforce drives of similar capacity. Given the decent warranty, bundle and software it is hard to fault this price."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review:
"When examining performance, the Samsung PM830 is a solid entry into the SATA 3 arena and it easily prevailed over all other 2.5¡È SSDs we have tested to date in high sequential testing with incompressible data.
This may just make the PM830 a very attractive choice for those that work extensively in things such as video editing & film composition, music as well as photography.
And then there is Samsung¡¯s stellar reputation. Two companies will succeed in the SSD world on reputation alone and these are Samsung and Intel. Their reputation garnishes them a great enterprise sales base and, at least for Samsung, their entry into consumer sales is simply icing on the cake. After all, it wasn¡¯t so long ago that the SSD consumer was desperately trying to get their hands on the Samsung 470 Series SSD."
Click here to read the full review.
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ASUS PA238Q ProArt 23-inch IPS LCD Monitor Reviews
November 8, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru and t-break have posted a review of the ASUS PA238Q ProArt Series Professional monitor, which features an IPS panel, LED backlight, 1920x1200 resolution, and 6ms response time.
Here's an excerpt:
- KitGuru:
"Our hopes havent been shattered, because the PA238Q comes very close to matching the excellent colour gamut, overall black definition and white purity of the more expensive family member. Technically, this is easily one of the best panels we have tested under £300.
As a low cost option for a graphic/web designer, or for an enthusiast user who wants an upgrade to a higher quality panel then this should definitely be right at the top of a shortlist.
We wouldnt say it would be an ideal purchase for a hard core gamer, as the modest refresh of 6ms might cause minor issues for people with sensitive eyes. I cant say we experienced any problems, but we know a few clan gamers who complain when a refresh rate is slower than 2ms."
Click here to read the full review.
- t-break:
"The Asus PA238Q is an incredible, all-round package something I have not seen in a long time. It manages to do almost everything right, down to its ergonomics options, input ports, and to color reproduction and no. of options to tinker around with. Its slightly hefty on the wallet, so it is not for everyone, and maybe not for the average Joe. If you have uses for all of its nifty features, then the PA238Q is one of the best available."
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermaltake Dr. Power II Power Supply Tester Reviews
November 8, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks and Legit Reviews have the tested the interesting Thermaltake Dr. Power II universal ATX power supply tester.
Let's see what they had to say:
- APH Networks:
"Generally speaking, I am quite pleased with the Thermaltake Dr. Power II, as it takes no time to test power supplies. Wasting time is not my middle name, and the Dr. Power II is one of those tools that easily tests power supplies to help you make your decision quicker than ever, whether it be sticking the power supply back into your computer, or simply dumping it in the junk yard."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews:
"The Thermaltake Dr.Power II universal ATX power supply tester is an easy to use, quick device that does help diagnose PC problems. This product could be a major time saver for somebody who has to maintain a lot of PCs in an IT department or for somebody in a PC repair business. It comes with a 3 year warranty and is affordable at a price of only $39.99 shipped from Amazon. For us, it properly detected a troublesome PSU and passed a PSU that appears to be working correctly."
Click here to read the full review.
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800W-1200W Power Supply Review Roundup - Antec, NZXT, Seasonic & More
November 8, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
eTeknix, HardwareHeaven, techPowerUp, TechwareLabs, and VR-Zone have reviewed a few 800W to 1200W power supplies from Antec, Cougar, NZXT, Raidmax, Seasonic, and Thermaltake.
Let's see what they had to say:
- eTeknix: Cougar G800 GX-Series 800W Power Supply Review:
"As with most performance units, the only issue is the price. At around £140 it is priced dangerously close the similarly specced Corsair HCP-850 and about £10 more than similar quality PSUs that hold 80+ Gold certificates meaning that it will be a tough choice. My advice would be that if you are looking for a PSU for a windowed case, especially in a Raven 3 or with a gold-accented Gigabyte motherboard, this PSU is worth it for the aesthetics alone. If you want high performance and efficiency, then the Cougar GX800 is also a solid choice, but you may want to consider alternatives in a similar price range if aesthetics arent a real priority. All in all, Cougar has introduced me to a power supply that outperforms many of the most established brands out there which also looks beautiful- a killer combination!"
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven: Antec High Current Pro 850W Power Supply Review :
"For design there is never much to fault with 80 Plus Gold Certified units and that is the case with Antec's High Current Pro. We love the blue styling on the outside and the choice of hard wired cables is ideal. Our modular wiring with its colour coding keeps things simple and a selection of protection circuits inside give us peace of mind.
Looking next to performance we noted small but significant improvements over the High Current Gamer range which make this version a worthwhile choice for those with a higher budget. The efficiency and low ripple were particular highlights but noise levels and temperatures were also low."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: NZXT HALE82-850-M 850W Power Supply Review:
"Till now NZXT had only one PSU series, HALE90, which included only Gold efficiency PSUs. However since Gold efficiency leads to higher prices, NZXT decided to release a new line of PSUs with lower efficiency and more affordable prices, targeting a wider range of users. The name of the new series is HALE82 and all of its members are 80 PLUS Bronze certified and feature a semi modular cabling design."
Click here to read the full review.
- techPowerUp: Seasonic Platinum-1000 1000W Power Supply Review:
"To sum up, if you want the best 1000W unit money can buy today then SS-1000XP is the right choice and is already available in the stores. For those of you that don't need 1kW of power, the Platinum 860W will be available on December 15th with an MSRP of $220. Now that Seasonic has Platinum units I am eager to see an even stronger PSU from them, or at least a 1250W Gold unit."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechwareLabs: Raidmax RX-1200AE High Efficiency Bronze Power Supply Review:
"The Raidmax 1200AE is a very large power supply aimed at large SLI/Crossfire systems but also has the active protection to keep everything safe from 1200 watts. The Modular Design and Ultra-Quiet fan are also features of a great power supply. Easy cable routing means better airflow and better overall look to the inside of the case.
The addition of a very usable case is a nice afterthought but should not really be a primary factor in the selection of a power supply. The 80 Plus Bronze rating assures you some comfort in efficiency rating while the 1200W rating assures you that this PSU is up to the task of delivering enough power for almost anyones needs."
Click here to read the full review.
- VR-Zone: Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 1050W Power Supply Review:
"While the overall performance of the Toughpower Grand 1050W unit can be considered above average, it is by no means on par with the class of the power supply. On one hand we have exceptional electrical efficiency and good thermal performance, on the other hand we have mediocre acoustics performance and poor ripple suppression. All measurements were within the ATX design limits but the figures were disappointing when considering the class of the power supply. We certainly feel that Thermaltake needs to balance the performance of the Toughpower Grand series better before calling it their flagship series unit."
Click here to read the full review.
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Mechanical Keyboard Review Roundup - Das Keyboard, Thermaltake, Zowie & More
November 8, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews, Guru3D, HardwareLogic, LanOC, and PureOverclock have reviewed a few mechanical keyboards from Das Keyboard, Rosewill, Thermaltake, and Zowie.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews: Thermaltake MEKA G-Unit Gaming Keyboard Review:
"With an anticipated retail price of $129.99 the MEKA G-Unit will sit right at the top of the pack for price. It's performance probably merits the price, but other competitors offer nearly the same features and construction at a lower price point. For your money you won't get a fancy electronic readout, n-key rollover, or fifty LED modes. You will get a hardy, robust and versatile keyboard to improve your performance."
Click here to read the full review.
- Guru3D: Rosewill RK-9000 Mechanical Keyboard Reviewþ:
"Overall, the new RK-9000 is a knockout. Being that I have personal preference to type and game, I would choose a different model, the RK-9000 with MX Brown switches. This is where the real problem with mechanical keyboards comes in, once you try one, you will inevitably want to try them all."
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareLogic: Das Keyboard Professional Review:
"Metadot says its Das Keyboards are "designed to make a statement," and that they do. Whether you crave the challenge of typing on a blank keyboard or prefer having your keys labeled, both the Professional and Ultimate version will offer the same satisfying typing experience with tactile feedback that appeals both to our sense of touch and sound. Capped off with a glossy black finish, sturdy construction, and a USB hub and we have no problem declaring this as one of the best planks we've ever used.
Marring our enthusiasm is the high cost of entry. No matter how satisfying the typing experience, $129 is a lot to ask for a keyboard, particularly one that doesn't come with any media keys, macros, other gaming-centric frills. If you don't need those extras and can get past the price tag, this very well might be the last keyboard you ever own."
Click here to read the full review.
- LanOC: Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent Review:
"Das includes a two port USB hub that we take advantage of when plugging in our mouse and other USB devices up on the desk. My only complaint is the missing media keys. Our last Das keyboard had media keys and replaced the left windows button with a function key. As a gamer it was a major plus to not have to worry about the windows key being bumped when you go to crouch in game. All in all, I think Das Keyboards has done a good job quieting down their keyboard without taking away what made their keyboards so amazing. If its still not good enough for you, you will have to pick up a few pair of their earplugs."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: Zowie Celeritas Mechanical Keyboard Review:
"With a price tag around $100 USD, this is one of the more affordable mechanical gaming keyboards out there. It's a wise investment, as this is a great mechanical keyboard that's built to last, with fantastic response in a wonderfully simple and sleek package. Some may find the Cherry Brown switches too sensitive, but the upside is the Zowie Celeritas is a great product for both gamers and typists like that don't want useless frills, and simply want a hardcore mechanical keyboard. "
Click here to read the full review.
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Zalman CNPS7X LED CPU Cooler Reviews
November 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Rbmods and X-bit Labs have posted a review of the Zalman CNPS7X LED CPU cooler, which is a smaller version of the CNPS11X.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Rbmods:
"This is an excellent little cpu cooler, or way smaller than most Noctua products on the market at least. With the fan controller included (small resistor) you can run the fan at very low RPM and that way reduce noise greatly. Installation was a piece of cake, and our test results have shown what this cooler can do even under overclocked pressure.
Overall a very nice cpu cooler that you can pick up for less than 40$ on the market, this is really a steal if you are low on cash and need good cpu cooling."
Click here to read the full review.
- X-bit Labs:
"Zalman CNPS7X LED stands out due to its small size, unique looks and LED highlighting of the fan, universal design and very simple installation procedure, as well as very low noise at minimal and average fan speed. At the same time, the new Zalman cooler was moderately efficient for a cooler with a 40-dollar price tag. It looks like three heatpipes with 6 mm diameter (even though composite ones with improved efficiency) are not enough to ensure proper cooling of contemporary processors. Moreover, these heatpipes also form part of the base in Zalman CNPS7X LED, but there are very large gaps between them, which imposes additional limitations on their potential."
Click here to read the full review.
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Sunbeamtech Rheosmart 6 Fan Controller Review
November 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Secrets have posted a review of the Sunbeamtech Rheosmart 6 fan controller.
Here's what they had to say:
"The Sunbeamtech Rheosmart 6 is simple and smart. As you can choose if each fan will be controlled manually or automatically, it is an excellent way to control your fans."
This seems like a good simple fan controller, but I still think the Lamptron FC5 V2 is more impressive.
Click here to read the full review.
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Antec Soundscience Rockus 3D 2.1 Speaker Review
November 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Rbmods have posted reviews of the Antec Soundscience Rockus 3D, a stylish 2.1 speaker system.
Here's what they had to say:
"A good speaker kit with a decent price tag around 200$ that really works great in movies and games. It also works decent in music at normal mode, make sure the 3D function is not active while listening to music. There are a few issues with this speaker kit and one is that you can get the Logitech Z5500 for a similar price these days and it has the few flaws that we talked about earlier."
This seems like a pretty good speaker system, but not for $200. Thankfully, with a tiny bit of digging I was able to find this product for under $150 and at that price it is a better purchase.
Click here to read the full review.
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Three-Way ASUS Z68 LGA1155 Motherboard Roundup
November 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have tested and compared three Intel Z68 LGA1155 motherboards from ASUS, namely the P8Z68 Deluxe, P8Z68-V Pro and P8Z68-V.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Now that we've tested a number of different LGA1155 mainboards with different chipsets and from different brands, we are quite sure that the ASUS ones are among the best. They come in nice-looking boxes with good accessories, are very well made and have convenient component layouts. With their handy PCB design and user-friendly EFI BIOS, these mainboards support cutting-edge technologies and are overall up to today's requirements. Moreover, ASUS offers a very wide product variety allowing you to find the model for your specific requirements and needs. We wouldn't say that ASUS mainboards are superior to the competition in everything, but they are surely among the leaders when it comes to the winning combination of features, performance and other factors."
ASUS have made the best LGA1155 motherboards thus far, so it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up with LGA2011 motherboards.
Click here to read the full review.
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EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win 2GB Dual-GPU Graphics Card Reviews
November 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Hardware Canucks and PC Perspective have reviewed the brand new EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win 2GB Dual-GPU graphics card, which is an updated version of the GTX 460 2Win.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Hardware Canucks:
"While there were some minor stumbling blocks throughout testing which were largely a byproduct of the GTX 560 Tis memory bandwidth limitations, the 2Win performed flawlessly. However, the true value of EVGAs GTX 560 Ti 2Win will lie in the eyes of the beholder. For those who are strapped for space but cant justify (or find) an expensive, power hungry GTX 590, it provides an excellent gaming experience and bridges the gap between NVIDIAs flagship product and a GTX 580. Standing on the other side of that fence will be the people who just cant see a use for a dual GPU card when two individual GTX 560 Tis cost less. Nonetheless, we feel that EVGA has released an innovative product that will certainly find good traction among specific enthusiast circles."
Click here to read the full review.
- PC Perspective:
"Even better, EVGA didn't create a product that only a thousand people will get or that costs $1500; instead the $520 dual-GTX 560 Ti card actually appears to be reasonably priced and offers advantages over current competition solutions in the same price segments. It isn't all roses as any time you move from one GPU to a pair of them for your game rendering it introduces some additional potential headache, but for the most part I came away completely impressed with a card competing in performance with the GTX 590 at about $200 lower cost. See, it really is a win."
Click here to read the full review.
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Gaming Mouse Review Roundup - Logitech, Mad Catz, SteelSeries & More
November 7, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
BCCHardware, Benchmark Reviews, eTeknix, OCIA, PureOverclock, and Real World Labs have reviewed a few gaming mice from Logitech, Mad Catz, NZXT, SteelSeries, and Zowie.
Let's see what they had to say:
- BCCHardware: SteelSeries Sensei Pro Grade Laser Mouse Review:
"As we come to the end of the road (or the cord in this case), I think that SteelSeries made a mouse that is pretty slick and well built.
For some the Sensei could be pricey at $90, but for the serious gamer who wants custom features, custom settings and custom macros, it's not a bad price.
The software can be a bit confusing to figure out at first, but once you do, it makes it a great mouse to play against your fellow gamers with. I love the fact that you can create and assign macros which makes it easier to do some game winning moves when you put a combo of keyboard buttons into one click that will make your fellow gamers jealous."
Click here to read the full review.
- Benchmark Reviews: Roccat KONE[+] USB Gaming Mouse Revew:
"The Roccat KONE[+] performs very well in all tasks, the 6000dpi laser really takes it to another level in FPS games, it's also quite amusing to watch a noobie family member trying to use my PC at 6000dpi when they are used to the basic 800dpi of a normal mouse. The mouse wheel has a little bit of a bug when scrolling (noted in my final thoughts) but it really is only a minor niggle.
Appearance is normally a touchy subject but with the level of customization available with the KONE[+] (1,048,576 color combinations, 243 effect combinations) I'm sure there is a look that could suit you personally.
The construction of the KONE[+] is of exceptional quality. There is no doubt in my head that this mouse will last a long time and it can take a bit of a beating along the way and remain in good order. The materials used are of high quality which is expected in a gaming mouse of this level."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: Logitech Performance MX Mouse Review:
"At £64.74 its not the cheapest mouse on the market, but its also not a cheap product in general and that is reflected in the price. The material used, including the rubber thumb rest gives a great sense of comfort and build quality that weve come to expect from Logitech products and feature wise, it seems as though the Performance MX has everything you need, and nothing more, which is great if youre after a simple product that does exactly what its set out to do.
For anyone wanting a simple mouse that is light-weight, works on almost any surface and can be easily transported; then the Performance MX is definitely the one to buy."
Click here to read the full review.
- OCIA: NZXT Avatar S Gaming Mouse Review:
"If you've been comparing the original Avatar and new Avatar S features up to this point and consider it mostly a wash, I've saved the best bit for last. I found the Avatar S selling at several places online for around $30. That's half the original Avatar's $59.99 MSRP! At that price point you might expect some cheap no-name or off brand device with buggy drivers, but NZXT's software works great and the hardware seems built to last, as we can attest our original Avatar mouse is still performing fine even after three years of abuse."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: Zowie EC2 Gaming Mouse Review:
"For what you get, $50 is a bit on the expensive side considering the mediocre sensor, lack of customization software, and a poorly-placed DPI adjustment switch. We do think Zowie is on the right track, but the EC2 is lacking some features and capabilities that other competitors are offering at this price range. So we're hopeful Zowie continues to move forward, and we remain optimistic of what their future may bring in a new mouse down the line.
The G-TF mouse pad was wonderful for a control pad, and we came away suitably impressed by it. The EC2 isn't quite as successful, but If you're looking for a straightforward and no-frills mouse that is sleek and comfortable, then the EC2 may be worth considering."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs: Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T.7 Albino Gaming Mouse Review:
"True for most people the R.A.T.7 Albino Gaming Mouse may be overkill but it always comes down to what one needs wants and how much he (or she) is ready to spend. So if you need the best performance in games (mostly online ones where it really matters) or you just want something out of the ordinary for your desk then it's quite hard (yet certainly not impossible) to find a gaming mouse more suited for that than the Albino and that's why we are happy to award it with our Editors Real Choice Award just like its predecessor."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs: SteelSeries Sensei Pro Grade Laser Mouse Reviewþ:
"With a current price tag set at around USD90 inside the USA and at around 70Euros inside the EU the Sensei Pro Grade Laser Mouse by SteelSeries is not what one would call cheap but after taking into considering its target audience this was never intended in the first place. Of course if you are not even close to being a hardcore gamer there are many other solutions in the market for you (one is the XAI) that cost less and are almost as fast as the Sensei. True the Sensei is by far the most complete gaming mouse we've ever used but you'll have to pay the premium for all these extra features. So if you wish to have the best gaming mouse currently in the market or you just want to have something special on your desk (that silver coating really looks great) then look no further than the Sensei Pro Grade Laser Mouse.
Click here to read the full review.
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Lian Li PC-6B Mid-Tower Case Reviews
November 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
BCCHardware and eTeknix have posted a a review of the surprisingly affordable aluminium Lian Li PC-6B mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- BCCHardware:
"The Lian Li PC-6B can be found on several different websites for $95 to $105 in the US. It is at the high end of the price range for a mid-tower case, but I would definitely give it some consideration if you are in the market for a high quality mid-tower case. Overall, I found the Lian Li PC-6B to be a very nice case and have no complaints about it. I was thoroughly pleased with its engineering and construction."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix:
"At £90 from Scan, 94.90 from Caseking and around $100 in the US, the Lian Li PC-6B may be considered expensive given its offerings, but it can also be considered cheap for an aluminium Lian Li case, very cheap. We would not recommend the Lian Li PC-6B to people planning on building an enthusiast grade hot-box consisting of multiple components and a plethora of cables. We would however recommend the Lian Li PC-6B to anybody looking for an elegant case which oozes quality, features an understated look and successfully offers the vital aspects for an attractive and functionally sound ATX, m-ATX or m-ITX mid tower build."
Click here to read the full review.
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KFA2 GeForce GTX 580 Anarchy Edition SLI Review
November 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
KitGuru have reviewed two KFA2 GeForce GTX 580 Anarchy Edition graphics card in SLI configuration.
Here's what they had to say:
"The KFA2 GeForce GTX 580 Anarchy Edition is a fantastic performance oriented graphics card. We already know that the GTX 580 is one of the best video cards currently available, but the Arctic Cooling solution on the Anarchy Edition really helps it stand out in such a crowded sector.
On a performance level, two of these cards are capable of powering through any of the modern Direct X 11 engines, even at the highest settings. A single card is more than enough at 1080p or 1600p, although for some gamers, the desire to crank even higher resolutions and settings will always prove too tempting."
This graphic card is kind of ugly, but it does have a great cooler and impressive performance, especially when you combine two of them together for SLI.
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid-Tower Case Reviews
November 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
HardwareHeaven and ThinkComputers have posted a review of the Corsair Carbide Series 400R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- HardwareHeaven:
"Starting with the build quality and design of the 400R the case comes across as one which should really cost much, much more. The chassis is solid, the paintwork well applied and the components used all of a high quality. The case is also incredibly simple to work with thanks to a very spacious design. Plenty of room in the main chamber means we can fit in an ATX motherboard and extended length graphics card without any interference from the drive bays and even when we added the thick H70 radiator and two fans there were no problems."
Click here to read the full review.
- ThinkComputers:
"While the Corsair Carbide 400R is one of the cheapest cases put out by Corsair, its certainly a high quality one. Then again, I wouldnt really think of this case as a budget case, but rather an upgraded budget case, with a $99.99 price tag. There are a lot of features equipped into this case, which make for an ease of installation, nice looking case, and a plentitude of airflow.
Since this was my first Corsair case I reviewed I really didnt know what to expect. For a company whose focus has been primarily memory in the past, they have made a great shift to the world of cases. Im really impressed with this case and I really cant think of anything negative associated with it. ThinkComputers would like to award the Corsair Carbide 400R Mid Tower Case a 10 out of 10 score."
Click here to read the full review.
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Western Digital Scorpio Blue 1TB 2.5" Hard Drive Reviews
November 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews, Techgage, and TechwareLabs have posted reviews of the huge new Western Digital Scorpio Blue 1TB 2.5" 5200RPM hard drive.
Here's what they had to say:
- Legit Reviews:
"The WD Scorpio Blue 1TB (WD10JPVT) is ideal for those looking to get the most storage capacity possible from a notebook hard drive. This drive is no performance slouch though as it was capable of delivering file transfer rates as high as 119 MB/s in tests like ATTO Disk Benchmark. That is flying for a 5400 RPM drive and performance numbers that are far greater than what you could get from 5400RPM drives in past years. The WD Scorpio Blue 1TB drive would make for a good primary drive and a killer secondary drive if you are lucky enough to own a laptop that has space for two drives. This drive is also ideal for compact NAS servers that use 2.5-inch laptop drives as you could get a 1TB RAID1 array in 2-bay devices."
Click here to read the full review.
- Techgage:
"Compared to the Black, the 1TB Blue still falls a bit behind, but that's to be expected. While the 750GB Black has a lower areal density, its faster rotational speed makes up for it. Given this, isn't it fun to picture a 1TB Scorpio Black with 500GB per platter? It the scaling held true, we'd see VelociRaptor speeds in terms of throughput.
Price-wise, the 9.5mm Scorpio Blue 1TB carries a ~$20 premium over the 12.5mm variant, but this is a price I expect to go down rather fast. With this premium, the drive retails for about $130 USD. In comparison, a 750GB 9.5mm Scorpio Blue retails for $90, while the 500GB of the same form-factor is $60."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechwareLabs:
"The Western Digital Scorpio Blue has more than impressed us with its benchmark scores which rival other spindle drives of faster RPMs and larger in physical size. The quite operation had us guessing if the spindle was even spinning. The 2.5 form factor make the Scorpio Blue an ideal option for laptops on the market today and also with the storage of 1TB the SSD drives on the market today canft compete let alone the largest SSD has a price tag that is six to seven times the cost of one Scorpio Blue drive."
Click here to read the full review.
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3TB Hard Drive Review Roundup - Hitachi, Seagate, Western Digital
November 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews, eTeknix, Hardware Canucks, and Real World Labs have reviewed a few 3TB hard drives from Hitachi, Seagate, and Western Digital.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews: Seagate Barracuda 3TB Hard Drive ST3000DM001:
"Beginning with performance, the new Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3-platter hard drive has proven itself worthwhile. In all file transfer tests, three disc platters usually outperformed five. However, when it comes to operational I/O performance, the opposite was true and the older Seagate Barracuda XT outperformed by a small margin. Using PCMark Vantage as a real-world performance benchmark, the new Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 excelled at video editing with Windows Movie Maker and Windows Media Center. Overall, the new Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 proved itself to be a solid replacement for the older Seagate Barracuda XT ST33000651AS series."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: Western Digital Caviar Green 3TB Hard Drive Review :
"Throughout our testing of the Caviar Green 3TB, we couldnt hear anything abnormal and going back to using a mechanical drive wasnt noticeable over the rest of our system components such as fans and thats whats so great about this. We even have a feeling that it will make you feel better as you use it as youre doing yourself for the environment with a Caviar Green.
Overall, looking at the performance, you can see its pretty quick considering its sheer capacity and when comparing against other drives similar on the market, its right up there with them and provides a faster solution than some of the enclosed USB interfaced drives that can only handle a slow transfer rate."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Canucks: Seagate Barracuda 3TB Review; A 1TB / Platter Monster is Unleashed:
"Even though Seagate has hit nearly every high point with this drive, there is one area in which we found it lacking: warranty length. With Hitachi, Samsung and Western Digital all offering 3 year warranties on their 3TB products, the Barracudas 2 years of coverage feels slightly anemic by comparison.
While the real test for the Barracuda 3TB will come once its final retail price is unveiled, there is no denying that it is currently one of the best hard drives currently on the market. Seagate has effectively combined efficiency with high end performance without charging an arm and a leg. As such, the Barracuda becomes one of only a few products to win a trifecta of awards from us."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs: Hitachi UltraStar 7K3000 3TB SATA 3 HDD Review:
"As we speak the Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB SATA 3 HDD retails for around USD360 inside the USA and 280Euros inside the EU a price tag which is almost double of what the Deskstar 7K3000 costs right now and because of that i can't recommend the Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB to normal/casual users. On the other hand if you are an enthusiast or you have sensitive data which you can't actually afford to lose then both the enterprise grade components of the Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB which give the drive an MTBF of 2 million hours along with the extra performance are two things which can easily justify the extra cost. Needless to say the same applies to companies/enterprise users who are certain to put safety and performance above cost. For everything mentioned in this review it's quite natural for us to award the Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB with our Editors Real Deal Choice Award."
Click here to read the full review.
- Real World Labs: Seagate Barracuda XT 3TB SATA 3 HDD Review:
"Going back on todays review in some of the tests the Barracuda XT 3TB SATA 3 HDD proved to be more than just a match even for the Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB which is quite impressive for a non-enterprise-class drive and so if you don't care about having a drive with the highest possible MTBF (Meantime Between Failures) the Barracuda XT 3TB SATA 3 HDD is really a very tempting solution."
Click here to read the full review.
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AMD Radeon HD 6990M vs. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M Mobile GPU Review
November 4, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
PC Perspective have tested and compared the AMD Radeon HD 6990M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M, the two highest-end mobile GPUs on the market right now.
Here's what they had to say:
"When it really comes down to it, I feel that most gamers will pick the Radeon HD 6990M that comes with similar performance levels at a much lower price (at least on the M17x). For all we know, AMD might be losing money on this part and undermining the market as a whole but most consumers don't really care about that kind of stuff. To them it is about performance and about value. For those gamers that are NVIDIA fans or really do put a lot of weight on the idea of Optimus technology, day-of-release driver updates and the specific hardcore features mentioned above, the GTX 580M will provide the best overall experience, but just be prepared to pay for it."
If you're building or buying a very high-end gaming notebook, this article is definitely worth a read.
Click here to read the full review.
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Cubitek Tank XL-ATX Case Review
November 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
ThinkComputers have posted a review of the Cubitek XL-Tank mid-tower case, which supports the newer XL-ATX motherboard form factor.
Let's see what they had to say:
"When it comes to XL-ATX cases there are not that many to choose from. Probably less than 10 are currently available. So this means you are really limited when purchasing an XL-ATX motherboard and want a case that can house it. This is actually the first Cubitek case that Ive got my hand on and I am very impressed. It is not often you see an all aluminum design these days. Not only does the aluminum make the case lighter, but the brushed aluminum on the front bezel just looks awesome.
This case has cooling covered with four included fans. You have three 140mm fans and a huge 230mm intake fan. Did I mention the top two and the intake fan light up bright red? This really looks awesome, check out the photos below."
This seems like a pretty good product for those who want an all-aluminium mid-tower case that supports XL-ATX motherboard.
Click here to read the full review.
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Evercool Transformer 4 PLUS CPU Cooler Review
November 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Overclockers Online have reviewed the Evercool Transformer 4 PLUS CPU cooler, which features two 120mm fans.
Here's what they had to say:
"Being strikingly similar to the Transformer 4, albeit CPU socket compatibility, it is disappointingly accurate to say that Evercool has missed the mark of bringing something new and fresh to the table. This does not, however, mean that the Transformer 4 PLUS is not a recommended purchase; consider it a ¡°version 2.0¡È of the original. If noise is not an issue for you, and you are looking for a powerful cooler for your new Intel LGA1155 build, then the Transformer 4 PLUS might just be the unit for you."
While Evercool might not be a well-known brand, this is a very capable CPU cooler. Check it out.
Click here to read the full review.
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Thermalright HR-02 Passive CPU Heatsink Review
November 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have posted a review of the huge Thermalright HR-02, a passive CPU heatsink.
Here's what they had to say:
"In all other respects the new HR-02 is going to be the best choice for a CPU. It is remarkably efficient, boasts low level of noise, comes with a universal retention that is simple to install and secure, and on top of that it costs only $40! Moreover, Macho can cool moderately overclocked processors in fanless mode, which very few coolers are currently capable of, even among the super ones.
Summing everything up, we can conclude that Thermalright HR-02 Macho definitely deserves our Recommended Buy title. However, we liked it so much that we decided to upgrade its award to Editors Choice title for being the best air-cooler for central processors in its price range."
This is the best passive heatsink on the market, period. Having said that, it's huge size arguably prevents it from being used in most systems where you would want absolute silence, an HTPC for example.
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper Full Tower Case Reviews
November 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Futurelooks, Guru3D, Hardware Secrets, and PureOverclock have reviewed the Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper full tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Futurelooks:
"Cooling performance is right on par with previous generations in stock configuration and slightly better when switching drive cages and adding additional cooling. Theres plenty of potential for managing the hottest components on the planet. Being able to integrate your own flavor of water cooling is just a bonus especially for the hardcore enthusiasts. Given the CM Storm Troopers $189.99 US/CA price tag, enthusiasts should be scooping this case up for their current and future builds. Its definitely priced very competitively with the rest of the pack.
After seeing the features and design finally come together, I really do think Coolermaster has an award winning premium gaming computer case on their hands. Lets make that recommendation official by tying a solid Editors Choice award on it. The CM Storm Trooper has arrived and its the one to beat at just under $200."
Click here to read the full review.
- Guru3D:
"So let me conclude, Cooler Master has been able to out a long list of esteemed cases over the past few years from that legendary Cosmos (which will get an update soon as well) to the gamer oriented HAF and Storm series. Each and every time they hit the nail on its head as CM designs cases that appeal to gamers and enthusiasts, this audience. The CM Storm Trooper is an excellent combination of features, requirements, looks and offers decent value. We can wholeheartedly recommend it."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets:
"We usually dont like to recommend cases above USD 150 simply because we think this is the maximum price users must pay for a case with all the features possible. The CM Storm Trooper, however, has so many outstanding features that we think that it brings a good value for the enthusiast looking for a full-tower case to build the ultimate high-end gaming system. For the average user, however, there are more affordable options on the market."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock:
"Same goes for the extruded panels, the one behind the motherboard tray specifically it gives you so much room to work with when it comes to the cable management in this case. Filters galore is also a windfall here, as Cooler Master has really covered all the bases when it comes to quick and easy swapping in and out of gear with the Trooper. With the added bonus of being able to run two 240 rads internally this whole package really rounds itself out.
The Cooler Master Trooper is an excellent chassis that successfully checks all the boxes, with sleek aesthetics, extensive features, and attention to details that are generally only present in premium full tower cases. At this cases price point of $190, the Cooler Master Trooper is an outstanding deal and one of the better full towers youll find on the market."
Click here to read the full review.
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OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E 100GB SSD/1TB HDD Review
November 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
TechSpot 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:
"Considering the RevoDrive Hybrid's lackluster real world performance, you'd likely feel equal speeds with a 2TB 7200RPM HDD. In fact, you'd be better off with a flash drive like the Vertex 3 120GB for $210 and three Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 2TB 7200RPM 6Gb/s SATA hard drives for a storage capacity of 6TB. Regardless of your preference, at nearly $500, there are many solutions available that will offer superior performance and more storage than the RevoDrive Hybrid.
Performance and value aside, the biggest gripe I have with the RevoDrive Hybrid is the required Dataplex program. This software's pesky licensing issue is enough to keep me away from OCZ's hybrid storage solution. Having spent almost $500 on a 1TB storage device to be hit with the license error after a few Windows 7 updates or hardware upgrades is enough for me to avoid the RevoDrive Hybrid in favor of a pair of Vertex 3s and a mechanical secondary drive."
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.
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Cooler Master CM Storm Xornet Optical Gaming Mouse Reviews
November 3, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews, LanOC, and The SSD Review have reviewed the brand new Cooler Master CM Storm Xornet optical gaming mouse.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"Overall I really like the CM Storm Xornet gaming mouse. It's worth every bit of $30, and performs essential gaming functions flawlessly. If you're looking for a solid gaming mouse with long-lasting durability, Cooler Master's CM Storm Xornet has my recommendation. If you're looking for just a few more specialty features, expect to pay more than twice as much for the small difference in functionality."
Click here to read the full review.
- LanOC:
"The Xornet isn't going to meet most of the uber-gamers requirements. It doesn't have super high DPI, the buttons aren't programmable, and it doesn't have a weight system to fine-tune the balance of the mouse. However, that wasn't the objective here. What Cooler Master aimed to do is provide a gaming mouse that wasn't going to break the bank. And, with its $29.99 MSRP, I think they hit the bulls-eye. It's a comfortable mouse with enough of the basic gaming features like its 2000 DPI sensitivity and durable components. Even more impressive is that they managed to avoid using the Phillips Twin Eye sensor that we despise, because of that they didnt have any z-axis tracking issues. It deserves it's rating here, and will likely be on top of many lists of budget gaming mice during the holiday season."
Click here to read the full review.
- The SSD Review:
"Personally, it was a pleasure using the Xornet. I absolutely marvel at the design and how well it works. The buttons are the best I have ever used, and the tracking is amazing. There are a few quirks with it, but overall I cannot complain looking at the price, and the exceptional two-year warranty it carries. This is the best mouse I can find at this price range, and the performance and features you get from it put many other, more expensive mice, to shame."
Click here to read the full review.
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SilverStone Precision PS06 Case Review
November 2, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
techPowerUp have posted a review of the new SilverStone Precision PS06 mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Silverstone is well known for their line-up of cases for pretty much every budget. On top of that their very unique approaches like the Fortress series push the envelope on what is possible. In this regard the Precision PS06 is actually a very down to earth chassis. It costs less than that magical 100 USD mark, looks pretty darn cool and offers a few nice aspects. While I am glad the chassis has a lot of cool features, most of them come with some sort of achilles heel. The Air Penetrator is a great little touch - especially when running at low speed, it ends up being fairly loud on full throttle and also hardwired to the fan switch. The hot-swap bay with its very useful front location is fairly simple while still remaining functional and the internal USB 3.0 cable is great to see, but simply too short to hide properly."
Frankly, this is a fantastic case, and it is great competitor to the Corsair Carbide Series 400R.
Click here to read the full review.
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Patriot TorqX 2 128GB Solid State Drive Review
November 2, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Overclockers Online have posted a review of the budget-oriented Patriot TorqX 2 128GB SATA 2 solid state drive.
Here's what they had to say:
"SATA III drives have stolen all of the press and talk lately but with the Torqx 2, Patriot is showing they havent forgotten all of the SATA II users out there. Phison isnt a well known name but if the performance of the Torqx 2 is any indication their name could become more common. Reaching read speeds of 250MB/s and write speeds of 205MB/s the Torqx 2 has plenty of speed to give your system a significant boost.
While the Torqx 2 didnt quite reach the claimed speeds, it offers a significant boost in performance over mechanical hard drives. As prices continue to drop on solid state drives there are almost no excuses not to upgrade. The Patriot Torqx 2 offers a great value and I would be happy to recommend it anyone looking to boost their PCs performance."
This is an okay SSD, but for the same price you can have the much faster SATA 6Gb/s capable OCZ Vertex 3 120GB.
Click here to read the full review.
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MSI 990FXA-GD80 AM3+ Motherboard Reviews
November 2, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Benchmark Reviews and iXBT Labs have reviewed the high-end MSI 990FXA-GD80, an AMD AM3+ motherboard that is based on the 'new' 990FX northbridge and SB950 southbridge.
Here's what they had to say:
- Benchmark Reviews:
"As you'd expect of any modern Taiwanese motherboard, the construction quality is excellent. And remember that MSI isn't just throwing "Military Grade" around as a marketing term: the components it brags about actually meet mil-spec standards.
You give up a little hardware functionality as compared to some top-end 990FX motherboards, but the features the MSI doesn't have aren't features even most enthusiasts will miss, and there are enough extras, like a POST code display, power phase LEDs, and high-current USB ports, to keep most hackers happy. I think MSI should spend some more time on their BIOS and manuals, though, as both of these items impact the user experience with the motherboard.
Value-wise, this is a hard board to beat: AMD's top-end chipset, a smattering of enthusiast features, and great performance, all for well under a mere $174.99. Sounds like a deal to me!"
Click here to read the full review.
- iXBT Labs:
"For a top-end solution, MSI 990FXA-GD80 is very reasonable. Offering nice specifications and quality components (as well as a good package), it will interest those building powerful gaming rigs. And since there are a lot of counterparts in the market which make for strong competition, let's hope MSI will offer a more attractive price as well."
Click here to read the full review.
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Palit GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Light Turbo Graphics Card Reviews
November 2, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D and HardwareHeaven have reviewed the new Palit GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Light Turbo Limited Edition graphics card, which features a slight overclock over the reference specification, but more importantly an upgraded cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Guru3D:
"The product is recommend and is a fun card to not just play games with. Honestly, the new cooler looks cool but overall does not offer much more in terms of cooling performance or better noise levels over the reference design. Aesthetically is just looks great though and there's a lot to say for that as well. By the way, typically the Palit PCB color is red, as small of a remark it really is, can we just say the card looks much better with a black PCB?"
Click here to read the full review.
- HardwareHeaven:
"Rather than go with a basic reference design Palit have created a custom PCB, changed the outputs to suit more users and the cooler used looks great, especially so when the red LEDs fire up.
In terms of performance there is nothing to fault about the card. It exceeds the reference design GTX 560 Ti in every game and does so with very low noise levels. The card is near silent at all times. We were also pleased to see that we could play every one of the DX11 games we tested at 1920x1080 which should mean we are well equipped for the few remaining big releases of this year (such as Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare3). The Palit card will of course also support PhysX and tessellation in Batman for enhanced image quality over the console version."
Click here to read the full review.
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8GB DDR3 Memory Kit Review Roundup - Corsair, Crucial, G.Skill & More
November 2, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks, Benchmark Reviews, eTeknix, KitGuru, Legit Reviews, and TechREACTION have reviewed several 8GB DDR3 memory kits from the likes of Corsair, Crucial, GeIL, G.Skill, and VisionTek.
Let's see what they had to say:
- APH Networks: G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-1866 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"But what I really like about the G.SKILL Ripjaws-X PC3-14900 2x4GB RAM is the fact that it holds true to what it promises, and that is delivering everything it says on paper -- a speedy clock speed of 1866MHz, with moderately good 9-10-9-28 latencies -- at only 1.5V. While most of the competition requires 1.65V for similar specifications, G.SKILL does away with less power consumption, and that is a definite plus. Combined with the company's sharp, medium profile Ripjaws-X heatspreaders that can fit under a number of heatsinks, renowned quality, lifetime warranty, excellent availability online or offline, and a price that undercuts the competition, I think we have yet another winner in our hands. Sometimes, impressive facts can really make impressive products."
Click here to read the full review.
- Benchmark Reviews: VisionTek Ultimate Performance DDR3-1866 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"For their first outing into the memory market in many years VisionTeks Ultimate Performance 1866MHz kit is out for a strong start. If VisionTek where to give the next iteration of the Ultimate Performance some tighter timings and a shorter heatspreader then they could have a real winner on their hands. Even with these problems I have no problem recommending the VisionTek Ultimate Performance to any of our readers and therefore award it the Benchmark Reviews Recommended Product badge."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3-1600 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"The Corsair Vengeance however, gives the fantastic value and size of an 8GB kit, but is aimed at the mass market and it seems Corsair see the biggest picture and want to focus on all of the key platforms. With this memory being perfect for both AMD and Intel systems, it opens up a much bigger market for both the consumer and Corsair as a manufacturer without flooding the market with two sets of kits that are platform dependant.
At a stock speed of 1600MHz, its not the fastest kit around, but for an 8GB kit it is ample for the majority of users, and with compatibility being a key issue in this day and age, especially with AMD based systems, we found the Vengeance to be welcomed by both our AMD and Intel test systems with open arms and still had a bit of headroom to overclock to 1694MHz."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1866 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"With 2 colours to choose from, youre bound to find something to match the rest of your system and provide a good amount of performance at the same time, and being aimed at both AM3+ and Z68 platforms, it really will cater for you, whatever type of system you have, and whatever type of user you are.
The Corsair Vengeance range of memory provides users with compatability and functionality at a price that is affordable, and if you want something a bit extra, Corsair cater for that too with their fantastic overclocking ability that we saw today."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: GeIL Evo Corsa DDR3-2133 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"Another area that a memory kit can really stand out is how well it is priced and the typical price point for an 8GB set of DDR3 2133MHZ memory is around £90 upwards, and with this kit coming in priced at £73 at CCL Online its definitely a real bargain and with only a very select few retailers stocking the memory set, we feel that as this kit hits the market, more retailers may take it on to help push the price down further making this one of the most affordable yet high performing kits on the shelves."
Click here to read the full review.
- eTeknix: G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-1866 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"So it seems that G.Skill has done it again. The overall performance speaks for itself and when looking at the way the set overclocked and the performance afterwards, its clear that this is definitely a kit to buy. When overclocking, it seemed that this memory didnt want to stop and found us anxiously waiting to see where it would end up.
1978MHz seemed to be the golden number when using stock timings and voltages, and we find that overclocking in this way is the best way to gain extra performance. From increasing the voltage and loosening the timings, were sure that 2000MHz + is achievable but the majority of users are uncomfortable in increasing voltages."
Click here to read the full review.
- KitGuru: VisionTek Ultimate Performance DDR3-1600 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"We have reviewed many 8GB kits for the Sandybridge platform and have been pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Visiontek 8GB 1600mhz Kit. We were hoping this particular product would be stable at 1866mhz with tight timings, but overclocking it to 2133mhz without any increase in voltage is certainly a good first sign of a quality product range."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews: Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"The Vengeance kit certainly looks nice, especially when combined with one of Asus' appropriately colored motherboards. Additionally, the memory has some overclocking headroom. We feel overclocking enthusiasts who purchase an enthusiast-aimed memory kit for their rig would appreciate the ability to tweak the RAM up to the next 1866MHz divider or, at least, be able to squeeze the timings of this kit for additional performance. So, we were pleased to be able to either reduce the command rate to 1T at stock voltage or increase the memory speed to 1866MHz, albeit at significantly slower timings.
Corsair indicates they wouldn't be surprised if a Vengeance kit like this reached speeds as high as 2000MHz, depending on which chips they used in a particular lot. Our sample is able to reach 1866MHz at 10-10-9-24 2T timings at 1.65v. While these aren't the fastest speed in the world, every overclocker appreciates being able to extract better performance out of their hardware, so we were satisfied with these results."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews: Crucial Ballistix DDR3-2000 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"The Crucial BallistiX memory comes equipped with a customized heat spreader which will keep the modules cool and potentially lead to additional headroom for overclocking. Additionally, this RAM utilizes a unique temperature sensor which allows for real time monitoring of temperatures.
Whether these improvements and features are worth the price premium of approximately $50 that a buyer would pay compared to an 8GB kit of 1600MHz/Cas 9 memory is an individual determination. The kit comes with a lifetime warranty, backed by an American company, and sell for $119.99 direct from Crucial. For me, the BL2KIT51264FN2001 will definitely be going into my primary system."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechREACTION: G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-1866 8GB Memory Kit Review:
"All in all, the G. Skill RipJaws X 8GB DDR3 1866MHz kit, to us, is a damn good purchase. The sticks ran extremely well at their rated speed of 1866MHz with only 1.5v needed, and ran just as well overclocked at 2133MHz needing no boost in DRAM voltages. That alone in our eyes just screams winner, not to mention the fact that the kit ran at 2155Mhz during our tests.
The high CAS timings maybe a turn-off for some, but overall these sticks are simply great. It also doesnt hurt that they look pretty sharp as well. This kit has definitely lived up to the standards G. Skill has made common with their modules. We have no doubt that these sticks would be a welcome addition in almost any rig they are put in."
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master GeminII S524 CPU Cooler Review
November 1, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have reviewed the downdraft-style Cooler Master GeminII S524 CPU cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
"Unfortunately, we didnt see a miracle again. The cooling efficiency of top-coolers remains at the same level, i.e. significantly lower than the efficiency of the tower-models. In fact, of Cooler Master GeminII S524 and Deep Cool Fiend Shark didnt bring anything new to the table and just joined the army of processor coolers available in the market today. Both of them are universal, have very reliable retentions, are compatible with memory DIMMs featuring tall heat-spreaders, should provide efficient cooling to the components around the processor socket, and Fiend Shark also looks great on top of all of the above. To be fair I have to say that the latter is pretty expensive and is not justified by its efficiency. So, if your system case side panel doesnt have a large fan or at least a meshed window, then you should better consider tower-coolers."
This is a surprisingly good CPU cooler for the money, check it out!
Click here to read the full review.
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Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM CPU Cooler Review
November 1, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
X-bit Labs have reviewed the Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM CPU cooler.
Let's see what they had to say:
"The eighth Hyper cooler from Cooler Master turned out a very good and efficient product with all the advantages of a contemporary CPU cooler. It comes in a secure and informative packaging, is completely universal and is bundled with an additional retention kit for mounting a second fan. It is well built and looks attractive, is efficient and supports PWM rotation speed control, which makes its fan moderately noisy up to 1100 RPM. Moreover, Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM will ensure processor stability at very high frequencies and core voltage settings. And it could have really great future lying ahead, if it wasnt for Thermalright True Spirit. The comparatively low price of this solution makes users question how reasonable the choice of any other air-cooler priced at $40+ would be, and the 50-dollar Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM is definitely one of them, too."
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.
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Intel Core i5-2405S 65W LGA1155 Processor Review
November 1, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
APH Networks have posted a review of the Intel Core i5-2400S, a lower wattage 65W quad-core/quad-thread 'Sandy Bridge' LGA1155 processor which runs at 2.5Ghz but can Turbo Boost up to 3.3Ghz.
Here's what they had to say:
"Generally speaking, if screaming performance and super overclocking is your first priority, Intel already has CPUs like the Intel Core i5-2500K and Core i7-2600K for you. However, if screaming performance and super overclocking is not your first priority, this is where the Core i5-2405S comes in. Remember, sucking less juice means it also produces less heat, and that is very important. With Intel's HD Graphics 3000 on board, the Core i5-2405S is a perfect match for HTPCs and other configurations that cannot accommodate some kind of heroic cooling system and a dedicated graphics card. Additionally, if you are a business user building an office full of computers, then hey, the few watts here and there really adds up at the end of the month. With everything taken into context, is the Intel Core i5-2405S the jack of all trades? We didn't think so. But it sure is a master in more than one area."
The only difference between this chip and the Core i5-2400S is that this newer model features the higher-end Intel HD Graphics 3000 IGP.
Click here to read the full review.
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Corsair Carbide Series 500R Mid-Tower Case Reviews
November 1, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Guru3D, Hardware Secrets, and Legit Reviews have posted a review of the brand new Corsair Carbide Series 500R mid-tower case.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Guru3D:
"As always it's all about details with Corsair and that makes this a splendid chassis. You'll have plenty of airflow as the chassis has meshes everywhere. The added 200mm side panel fan and the fan controller are something we appreciate very much.
Whether or not you like or dislike the missing rounded corners, the Carbide 500R seems to be a very nicely build chassis. It's sturdy, has good looks and an extensive feature set. Airflow will not be an issue, and we love the integrated fan controller. So yeah, as such we can definitely recommend it if it fits your taste and budget."
Click here to read the full review.
- Hardware Secrets:
"The Corsair Carbide Series 500R is an upgraded version of the 400R. For between USD 30 and USD 40 more, you get a 200 mm side fan, a three-step fan speed controller, support for a 240 mm radiator, air filter on the top panel, hard drive bays in a two-cage configuration, and support for longer video cards if the hard drive cage is removed. In summary, a very good option if you want these extra features. Otherwise, the 400R remains as a terrific option on the USD 100-110 price range."
Click here to read the full review.
- Legit Reviews:
"We really liked working with the Corsair Carbide 500R as the design was very well thought out. The fit and finish were excellent with great paint work and the black and white theme is very attractive. Airflow is a non-issue in this case with more options than the majority of users would even consider or require. The cable routing was easy and the rubber grommets really add a polished look when you are done building in this case. The bonus integrated fan controller and LED on/off switch was a nice touch on the I/O panel but we really appreciated the inclusion of USB 3.0 ports on the front. Corsair was even thoughtful enough to include the conversion cable to USB 2.0 to extend the compatibility. Removable hard drive cages allow for super long video cards to make sure this case can last for several builds. Finally all the little sound dampening touches with rubber mounts a means this case will run quiet especially with the fans set to low."
Click here to read the full review.
This new case slots in nicely between the 400R and 600T, and as we have come to expect from Corsair, it is a great case for the money.
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AMD A75 FM1 Motherboard Review Roundup - ECS, GIGABYTE, Zotac & More
November 1, 2011 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan
Legit Reviews, Madshrimps, PureOverclock, and TechwareLabs have reviewed a few AMD A75-based FM1 socket 'Llano APU' motherboards from ECS, Foxconn, GIGABYTE, and Zotac.
Let's see what they had to say:
- Legit Reviews: GIGABYTE Super4 A75-UD4H Socket FM1 Motherboard Review:
"GIGABYTE has a solid stack of AMD A75 motherboards. If the A75-UD4H isn't the right choice for you, take a look at the other boards GIGABYTE has to offer and I'm sure you'll find one that suits your needs. Though with a ten dollar price difference between the two ATX motherboards the A75-UD4H would be my choice between them, Though everyone has different needs and budgets.
Ultimately, the GIGABYTE A75-UD4H is a solid motherboard at a great price. The fact that it is priced at only $114.99, makes this motherboard a great contender. The performance was on par with what we have seen on our previous AMD A75 motherboards. Another great feature of GIGABYTE motherboards is the warranty! All GIGABYTE motherboards (with the exception of Micro ITX which carries a 15 month warranty) are backed by a three year warranty."
Click here to read the full review.
- Madshrimps: Foxconn A75M FM1 Motherboard Review:
"The Lynx platform is also known for its Dual Graphics feature, where we can run the IGP in Crossfire with a dedicated VGA card (from the supported series). The older BIOSes for this board ending with version P03 supported this feature, but starting with P04 this was eliminated and now we can keep activated either the IGP or the dedicated VGA, but not at the same time. If we try to force the IGP to be kept active while a VGA card is installed (by using the manual settings inside the BIOS), we will be welcomed with a blank screen and an unbootable system.
The issues mentioned before can be, fortunately, fixed with some future BIOS revisions (at least Dual Graphics since it was activated before), but it would have been better to have all these fixed before the board was launched."
Click here to read the full review.
- PureOverclock: ECS A75F-A Black Deluxe Motherboard Review:
"Elite Group has brought a good product to the table with the A75F-A motherboard. The aesthetics are tasteful and conservative, not overdone with bold colours, and would look good in any case. Installation was a breeze and no problems were encountered that were unusual. ECS has finally migrated to the UEFI interface BIOS that have flashy colors on your screen and makes it generally easy for both the novice and the enthusiast. The only negative we saw in the BIOS were the voltage adjustments, as they showed the increases in +/- millivolts and did not show the final clock speed (as found in the EOC overclocking software). Not a deal breaker, but hopefully a BIOS update will address this issue."
Click here to read the full review.
- TechwareLabs: Zotac A75-ITX WiFi Motherboard Review:
"Overall, the Zotac A75-ITX WiFi was an excellent little motherboard. With its tiny form factor, built-in WiFi and bluetooth, and FM1 socket, it is obviously aiming square at the HTPC market and hitting its mark. But with its support of USB 3.0, SATA 6.0 Gb/s, and a discreet x16 graphics card, Zotac proves that features dont have to be sacrificed to reach its HTPC goal. At its retail price of about $150, it costs more than the competition, but for someone who is looking for the all-in-one package, it is hard to beat."
Click here to read the full review.
---
Please head over to our discussion board to talk about this news (registration not required).
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