Hardware News

Dell Latitude E6530 15.6-Inch Notebook Review

August 31, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hot Hardware have reviewed the new Dell Latitude E6530 notebook, which features a 15.6-inch 1600x900 display, dual-core/quad-thread 2.9-3.6Ghz processor, 16GB of RAM, 128GB SSD and integrated Intel HD 4000 GPU.

Here's what they had to say:

"Performance-wise, the Latitude E6530 excels in a world where business-grade laptops are typically relegated to be average at best. The new Latitude E Series could certainly be considered the new face of business laptops, where design matters, power is important and ruggedness is embraced. In everyday use, the experience is best-in-class for this type of machine. There's something to be said about marrying a Core i7 processor with 6GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and that "something" is wonderfully quick.

As one of the heftier 15.6" laptops on the market, the Latitude E6530 makes up for it by staying cool under pressure, keeping fan noise to an absolute minimum, throwing in a number pad, being extremely rigid and rugged, and offering both a DVD writer and a massive 9-cell slice battery that admittedly pokes out of the rear a bit. No question, many of these things you'd need to have a use for to appreciate."

While it may not be ultra thin or ultra light the E6530 is still pretty impressive. Though for the asking price the lack of a dedicated video card is disappointing.

Click here to read the full review.

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GIGABYTE Aivia Krypton Gaming Mouse Review

August 31, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Secrets have posted a review of the GIGABYTE Aivia Krypton gaming mouse, which features interchangeable feet, weight customization and a 8200DPI laser sensor.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Krypton is a very complete mouse. With nine configurable functions, seventy programmable macros, up to 8,200 dpi, an ambidextrous body and switchable under plates, the peripheral caters to the needs of different players. Even the body design is good for both claw-grippers and palm-grippers. It’s a rare product that shoots in every direction and hits the mark in all of them."

With its great features, great hardware and even decent price this is easily the best mouse Gigabyte has ever made. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Azza Genesis 9000 Reversible Full Tower Case Review

August 31, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the Azza Genesis 9000 Reversible full tower case, which can support up to XL-ATX motherboards and features a reversible motherboard tray.

Let's see what they had to say:

"It has also been a long time since I have seen a chassis that offers users the option to flip the motherboard tray so that the chassis can offer the motherboard in the upright position as well as the inverted layout. You can reverse the doors to move the window to the top and even the length of the wiring is taken into consideration.

If you like what you see, I say you should act fast. I don't know how long the Newegg sale and mail in rebate offer are going to last. If you can get in before the lock, you are getting an amazing deal for the Azza Genesis 9000. At $129.99 and an additional $9.99 to ship it, there is no reason a sane buyer shouldn't be looking at this chassis."

If you are looking for an ultra customizable case that wont break the bank, the Azza Genesis is arguably the one you want. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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PowerColor Devil 13 HD 7990 6GB Graphics Card Review

August 31, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Heaven have reviewed the ultra-high-end PowerColor Devil 13 HD 7990 featuring two AMD Radeon HD 7970 GPUs and a custom triple slot cooler design.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Moving to the build quality of the card we have a product which feels solid in the hand thanks to the nice chunky metal heatsink shroud, backplate and large PCB. The PCB features high quality components and the level of quality continues on to the heatsink which has large copper blocks and a good number of heatpipes to assist the three fans in cooling the GPUs.

The overall design, though large, is also good with some nice status LEDs on the back and a decent set of display outputs. The decision to put the BIOS switch on the backplate is also a good one although we suggest that most users will have the performance BIOS enabled at all times... really why wouldn't we?"

This is one amazing video card with some mightily impressive abilities. Though with such a large price tag it is obvious why it is a limited edition!

Click here to read the full review.

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ZOWIE EC2 eVo Optical Gaming Mouse Review

August 31, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

eTeknix have posted a review of the budget friendly ZOWIE EC2 eVo optical gaming mouse.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The EC2 may look almost identical to it’s predecessor, but the slight revamp under the hood has increased the already remarkable performance. Whilst ZOWIE could do a lot more with their mice, such as include more technology and features, they have stayed true to their philosophy, putting extreme performance above anything else. It’s nice to see a company taking a step back from all these gimmicks and fancy designs to focus on the core functions of what a professional gaming mouse should be about, and for this ZOWIE, we salute you.

As this product is available for a very respectful $49.99, it has certainly held it’s value despite the large influx of gaming mice into the market, yet you certainly get a very good mouse for not too much money, and while it might not have all the latest and newest gaming technology, it certainly won’t let you down in the heat of the moment."

This looks to be a very good optical mouse, though for slightly more you can get the SteelSereis Sensei [RAW].

Click here to read the full review.

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Cooler Master Storm Stryker Full Tower Case Review

August 30, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Benchmark Review have reviewed the Cooler Master Storm Stryker full tower case, which supports XL-ATX motherboards.

Let's see what they had to say:

"In my opinion, the CM Storm Stryker is a great looking case. Then again, I am particularly partial to white cases with black accents. I think the stark contrast between the white case and the black features really makes it stand out. I also think the CM Storm Stryker actually looks a lot more like a Storm Trooper than the CM Storm Trooper computer case. It definitely stands out.

The quality of construction on the CM Storm Stryker is excellent. Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from Cooler Master's enthusiast division. Everything fits into place just right. There are no issues with the side panels fitting. I particularly like the rubber grip on the handle.

The CM Storm Stryker excels in terms of functionality. This is important, as the main reason for buying a full tower case is for the functionality. The CM Storm Stryker sports a fan controller, USB 3.0 ports, and a handle on top."

This seems like a fine addition to Cooler Master's Storm line of cases. Though the Storm Stryker will face stiff competition from the similarly priced BitFenix Shinobi XL.

Click here to read the full review.

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ASRock X79 Extreme11 LGA2011 Motherobard Review

August 30, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Pure Overclock have reviewed the enthusiast grade ASRock Extreme11 motherboard, which is based on the Intel X79 Express chipset and is ASRock's flagship X79 motherboard,

Let's see what they had to say:

"ASRock really steps up to the plate with the ASRock X79 Extreme 11 as we saw today. For those seeking top gaming performance, using multiple graphics cards, or if you are looking to lock and load multiple drives in raid, ASRock has exactly what you’re looking for.

The X79 Extreme 11 has an attractive aesthetic package that is black on black with chrome tipped heat shields, and gold-tipped capacitors. It should easily blend with any build since black goes with just about anything. Aesthetics aside, features and performance are really what matters, and the X11 has serious prowess.

When choosing the right motherboard, some may go overboard, some may not. If your looking for an X79 motherboard that packs in as many features as possible, the ASRock X79 Extreme 11 is your choice."

This is by far the most impressive motherboard that ASRock have ever made, it truly cements them as a top-tier motherboard manufacturer. Though with such a high price tag few will ever own one.

Click here to read the full review.

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ASUS Zenbook UX31A Prime Ultrabook Review

August 30, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the lightweight ASUS Zenbook UX31A Prime ultrabook, which features a 13.3-inch 1200x1080 display, dual-core/four-thread 1.9-3.0Ghz processor, 4GB of RAM, 256GB SSD and Intel integrated HD 4000 GPU.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A is a great laptop in theory. It offers excellent day-to-day performance (gaming excluded), a wonderful display and respectable battery life. It fixes some problems that have continued to plague PC laptops, such as their inability to provide a display on par with the best tablets.

I’m not aware of a laptop on the market with a better display. The UX31 is also well rounded, providing excellent performance in all areas besides gaming, a good keyboard and a decent touchpad (there have been reports of touchpad problems, but that’s an issue I did not experience.)"

Though it may not be perfect, this still looks like a good ultrabook. One that is both powerful and portable.

Click here to read the full review.

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Archos 101 XS 10.1-Inch Tablet Review

August 30, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Heaven have reviewed the new Archos 101 XS, which features a 10.1" MVA screen with a 1280x800 resolution, a dual-core Texas Instruments OMPA 4470 SoC, 1GB RAM with 16GB on-board storage and uses the custom Android based OMAP 4 operating system.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Starting with the build quality and design of the tablet itself the Archos 101 XS is a nice looking device which is a little reminiscent of the HTC One X. The white body is enhanced by the silver trim and the tablet does stand out from most. It also has a solid feel to it, certainly sturdier than the Note 10.1 and the large metal plate on the back adds a good feel in the hand.

Archos also ensure that connectivity is decent with microUSB, microSD, mini-HDMI and 3.5mm audio all present.

Also on the positive side of things performance was very good on the 101 XS. We were able to play HD content and game in the latest titles without issue and with maximum settings in big games like Max Payne. The OS was smooth and responsive and battery life good, easily passing 9hours of normal use."

This seams like a very nice tablet. Though the older Android operating system and less than impressive battery life will limit its appeal.

Click here to read the full review.

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Pivos XIOS DS Media Play! Media Player Review

August 30, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the Pivos XIOS DS Media Play! Media Player, which uses an Android OS and can be controlled via your smart phone.

Let's see what they had to say:

"With all of the pre-installed applications and the vastness of the Android Marketplace, you can really do just about anything with the XIOS DS, even things like tracking ghosts in the house, gaming and media streaming, making the mere $114 asking price a drop in the entertainment budget. While this product doesn't exactly fit my needs, I can see where this could be a lot of fun for most everyone or even a test bed system to root and write apps for so that you aren't bricking expensive phones.

That being said, I can definitely see the need and potential market for a device like this. Essentially offering you everything a phone and tablet can do from the comfort of your couch, even there is a bit of Wii action mixed in with the $25 Sense remote."

This looks like a very nice media player meant for the more tech savvy consumer. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Vapor-X OC Boost State Graphics Card Review

August 29, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the all new Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Vapor-X OC Boost State video card, which features overclocked specification and the custom Vapor-X cooler.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Sapphire has done a wonderful job of making a great video card with what AMD has given them. AMD has also given them a pretty good base to work with and the more aggressive pricing structure is great. This whole "Boost" thing just seems like a bit of marketing talk and to be completely honest, that's putting it nicely. What AMD should've done is discontinued the HD 7950 and HD 7970 and replaced them with GHz Edition variants that come in at a slightly stronger price point than the original models. We're not stupid nor naive to the way business works, though, and we know that it's not an option as AMD partners and stores would of course still have surplus stock of what are still very current models."

With its excellent performance, robust cooling and reasonable asking price this is arguably one of the best HD 7950 Boost cards to be released to date. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Inno3d iChiLL Black Edition GTX 680 Graphics Card Review

August 29, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Think Computers have reviewed the high performance Inno3d iChiLL Black Edition GTX 680 graphics card, which features a custom hybrid cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Overclocking results were excellent, bringing an FPS boost in all of our tests and made spending those 5-10 minutes finding your cards sweet spot absolutely worth it. 11000 3DMarks for a single-GPU solution is absolutely astounding.

With regards to the cooler, it is fantastic. Aside from the fact that getting the card installed is slightly – and only slightly – more complex than cards equipped with traditional air coolers, the Accelero Hybrid attached to the card performed incredibly well and was virtually inaudible the whole time.

On the whole, the inno3d iChiLL Black Series GTX 680 is an excellent product. If the core voltage were unlocked and we could push the card harder still, you probably wouldn’t be reading this review because I’d be sitting jaw-on-the-floor in front of my monitor, astounded and unmoving, for all eternity.

Now if you’ll excuse me while I whip this out of the test rig and throw it into my own personal one."

Thanks to its hybrid cooler this is one really impressive GTX 680. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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OCZ Vertex 4 256GB Solid State Drive Review

August 29, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardcore Ware have just tested the mid-range Vertex 4 256GB SATA 6GB/s SSD, which is based on the Everest 2 controller and features 550MB/s read and 420MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The 5 year warranty is definitely something to consider – the truth is, since they have only recently become viable purchases, we haven’t seen how SSDs fare over the long-run at a large scale yet. We know that warranties are very important with PC hardware, especially storage and flash (which is why most memory manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty). So if you are exclusively looking at SSDs with 5 year warranties, your choices are few (the only other one here is the Intel 520 Series). And if you are wary of SandForce drives, your pickings are even slimmer.

Overall, the Vertex 4 doesn’t blow away the competition, but makes for a suitable replacement for the Vertex 3 for OCZ."

The Vertex 4 256GB is a good drive at a good price. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair Neutron and Neutron GTX SDD Review

August 29, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

The SSD Review have reviewed the recently released Corsair Neutron and Neutron GTX 240GB SATA 6GB/s solid state drives, which are both based on the new LAMD 'Amber' controller and feature ONFi 2 and Toggle Mode NAND respectively.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Consumer SSDs were first looked at as a singular entity. With the introduction of asynchronous NAND flash memory, a divide was created where synchronous or Toggle Mode memory was geared toward the enthusiast or ‘work specific’ tasks and asynchronous memory became the more value driven alternative. We have now pushed the bar once again by separating enthusiast level memory into upper and lower tiers, the lower being the more value driven alternative. The success we have seen with Toshiba Toggle Mode NAND flash memory is becoming very evident as manufacturers create a new level of SSDs geared around this memory.

At the end of the day, our recommendation is a given as both the Neutron and Neutron SSD are of the top performing on the market, definitely not over priced, have a five year warranty and both are available and Corsair even through in the desktop adapter without adding to the price."

It seams like these two new Corsair SSDs with their new controller may just give the competition a real run for their money. Though the GTX is the one to watch. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair Force GS 240GB Solid State Drive Review

August 29, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the new high performance Corsair Force GS 240GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller paired with Toggle Mode NAND and features 555MB/s read speeds, 525MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Honestly, if the GS 240GB came in with an additional 50% premium tacked onto its low cost, it would still have an impressive price to performance ratio. Its benchmarks scores were that good. The very fact it comes in with such a lost cost per GB– or similar to what some ONFI 2 equipped LSI SF2281 drives are commanding – relative to outstanding performance is just icing on the cake.

With performance, price and capacity firmly in its favor, the Force GS 240GB is currently one of the most appealing SSDs on the market. Unlike some vendors, Corsair has passed along their cost savings to the end user instead basing this drive's price upon its performance against the competition. "

This is an excellent high performance SSD. The new SanDisk Toggle Mode NAND really does make a noticeable impact on performance. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 15.6-Inch Notebook Review

August 28, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the brand new Lenovo Ideapad Z580 notebook, which features a 15.6-inch 1366x768 display, dual-core/quad-thread 2.5-3.1Ghz processor, 6GB of RAM, 750GB 75400rpm HDD and integrated Intel HD 4000 GPU.

Here's what they had to say:

"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Z580, as we received it, will set you back about $599. That’s a good price for a new laptop with a Core i5-3210M processor. I was not able to find a similar deal on competitor websites at the time of this writing. That can easily change, but at this time the Z580 seems a bargain.

This is a good laptop for anyone who just wants a general, all-purpose computer that can also called upon for serious productivity. Students who don’t care about gaming and self-employed folks on a budget will find this laptop ideal.

Build quality is just okay, the touchpad isn't great and the display is too glossy for the backlight. Some of the software is annoying and the keyboard would be even better without the numpad."

While it is less expensive than most ThinkPads, you do get what you pay for. Though it still is a decent choice for customers on a tight budget.

Click here to read the full review.

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PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 1200W Power Supply Review

August 28, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

HardwareHeaven have reviewed the enthusiast grade PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 1200W power supply, which features 80Plus Platinum efficiency and 7 year warranty.

Let's see what they had to say:

"It has to be said that PC Power and Cooling create a great first impression with this PSU. The packaging feels decent quality and the PSU is protected well inside by various materials. Once it is removed from the protection the PSU continues to impress with a good quality finish and solid feeling chassis. The white/black colour scheme really stands out and we love the modular connectors which are used here, really making for a unit which has visual appeal.

Inside the quality continues with well known branded parts and the unit is as well assembled as we have seen in recent times, even down to extra separators which most manufacturers would not feel the need to add. This high level of build quality is backed up by some impressive performance offering stable voltages, great efficiency and decent temperatures."

With its combination of excellent performance, relatively good price and excellent warranty this is arguably the best power supply PC&P have made since being purchased by OCZ.

Click here to read the full review.

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OCZ Agility 4 256GB Solid State Drive Review

August 28, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Pure Overclock have reviewed the budget-friendly OCZ Agility 4 256GB SATA 6GB/s SSD, which is based on the Everest 2 controller and features 420MB/s read and 410MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"When OCZ acquired Indilinx, there was some understandable skepticism, as the SandForce-based drives were starting to come into their own, easily surpassing the 1st-Gen Indilinx Barefoot drives. With the release of the original Everest controller, as we saw in the OCZ Octane, it was a step forward, but nothing terribly earth shattering. But it appears that was a stepping stone, with the new Everest 2 the result, looking to push things even further.

But what’s particularly impressive is the incompressible data results, especially at lower queue depths which are indicative of an OS drive. We tried several setups with ranging queue depths, and the simple fact is that the Agility 4 chewed through all of them without missing a beat. That’s something that SandForce can’t do, and it seems things have now come full circle with OCZ’s new “Indilinx Infused” Agility 4."

It is always good to see manufactures giving customers more options, though for slightly more money you can opt for the much faster, much better Vertex 4 256GB drive.

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 28, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Secrets have reviewed the high end Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH, which features Ultra Durable 5 technology, dual band WiFi and dual Thunderbolt ports.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH is targeted to the user who wants a motherboard with Thunderbolt ports and needs features not available on the Z77X-UP4 TH from the same manufacturer. The main differences that were added on the UP5 include the dual-band Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4.0 expansion card, a high-end audio codec, two FireWire ports, one additional SATA-600 port, the inclusion of one eSATA-600 port, two additional USB 3.0 ports, a POST diagnostics display, and voltage monitoring points. For the user who is building a system to work professionally with audio and video editing or the user who wants to have the motherboard with the highest number of features possible, we consider the Z77X-UP5 TH a far better option than the UP4, even though it costs more."

This is a feature packed motherboard at a fairly reasonable price. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Western Digital RED 2TB Hard Drive Review

August 28, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

TechWare Labs have posted a review of the new Western Digital RED 2TB hard drive, which is designed for RAID environments.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Western Digital has an interesting product here. It falls right in between their consumer line of drives and their enterprise line. This makes it perfect for small businesses that can’t afford a SAN, but can afford a NAS. The feature set rivals that of the RE enterprise drives, but with a thermal and power footprint similar to the Green Drives. At time of writing the 2TB Red Drive is selling for $130, which more expensive than the Green Drive, cheaper than the Black drives, and far cheaper than a RE drive. The performance of the drive is also exceptional. If your NAS doesn’t have teamed NICs, then it’s not fully utilizing these drives. I think that WD has a real hit on their hands here."

With their impressive blend of performance, price and warranty these new RED drives are an excellent option for raid arrays in general and NAS environments. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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SteelSeries Siberia v2 Gaming Headset Review

August 27, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have posted a review of the renowned SteelSeries Siberia v2 gaming headset.

Let's see what they had to say:

"SteelSeries are back with a bang offering another great headset in the shape of the Siberia V2. We thought the original was great in nearly every way and now the second coming has improved even further on those great strengths. The built-in sound card is also a nice touch and allows for the headset to be used in many different locations unlike other headsets that will only sound as good as the sound hardware installed on the system. Coupled with the flexibility of USB and the Siberia V2 is a potent offering in terms of a headset that can be used for all forms of multimedia.

Cosmetically the Siberia V2 comes in a couple of different guises. The set sent to us for testing came in white with a blue light effect that can be modulated and thankfully can be turned off."

This isn't a budget headset, but is definitely one of the very best. If you consider yourself to be a hardcore gamer, you might want to take a peak at this review if you're currently using a lousy $20 headphone & mic kit.

Click here to read the full review.

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Roccat Kone[+] Gaming Mouse Review

August 27, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Think Computers have reviewed the highly customizable Roccat Kone[+] gaming mouse.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Comfort with the Kone[+] goes beyond your hand. I don’t know how many times in the last few weeks I caught myself just staring at the LED lights on the top of the unit. It’s so bad that sometimes I even stop typing in the middle of a sentence. It makes me feel like I’m 8 years old and I’m finally not afraid of fireworks (SHUTUP, fireworks can be scary!). I’m finally enjoying them and entranced for the first time.

The Kone[+] reminds me why I only used palm style mice in the first place. My hand feels at home on the mouse. The thumb inlay is designed for my thumb.

I have no problem recommending this mouse to anyone and you can pick this beauty up at my favorite online retailer for $80."

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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Corsair Hydro H100 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

August 27, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

TechWare Labs have posted a review of the high performance Corsair Hydro H100, which is a high-performance self-contained liquid CPU cooler with dual 120mm fans.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Overall the H100 is a very nice cooler. It delivers some of the best performance available right now outside of a custom water cooling loop, and costs a whole lot less too. It is very quiet, the pump mounting was simple, and you have room to expand to a push/pull should you want even more cooling power.

Overall the H100 is a very nice cooler. It delivers some of the best performance available right now outside of a custom water cooling loop, and costs a whole lot less too. It is very quiet, the pump mounting was simple, and you have room to expand to a push/pull should you want even more cooling power.

The H100 does it’s job of cooling a CPU very, very well. You just sacrifice in a few other areas to achieve that."

With its excellent performance, easy installation, worry-free operation, and decent price given its cooling power, the H100 is one the best CPU coolers on the market right now.

Click here to read the full review.

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Samsung Galaxy Note Premium 10.1-Inch Tablet Review

August 27, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Heaven have reviewed the reasonably priced Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Premium, which features a 10.1" screen with 1280x800 resolution, a quad-core 1.4GHz Exynos 4412 chipset, Mali-400MP GPU, 2GB of RAM and uses the Android operating system.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Note 10.1 isn't all about productivity and work though, it is also a very good device for consuming media. As noted earlier the screen is good, even if not up to the resolution of a couple of competing devices, and the Note will happily play back HD content without issue. General navigation around the OS is fluid without any noticeable lag and throwing the latest games at this tablet causes no problems.

While there is little doubt that a Galaxy Note 10.1 Premium with higher resolution, metal back, and additional connectivity would be a more desirable product there is no question this is a great tablet as is. The core specifications are impressive, ensuring it performs well now and will do in the future and the stylus experience is exceptional. Overall the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a great alternative to the Transformer Pad series for those looking to maximise productivity."

While not perfect, this is an excellent 10 inch tablet and should give the Asus Transform Pad some real competition. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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SanDisk Extreme 240GB Solid State Drive Review

August 27, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have posted a review of the new high performance SanDisk Extreme 240GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller paired with new 24nm Toggle Mode NAND.

Let's see what they had to say:

"It's the new price vs. performance king." I feel that statement holds true today, five months after writing it for the first time. In the fast paced, leapfrog world of SSDs anything being constant for five months is rare. SanDisk's fab obviously helps in this area just like Crucial / Micron, who are winning the price game on the Marvell controller side.

Given the many strong points of the SanDisk Extreme SSD, it's tough to put your finger on one thing and say, "this is why it's really good." The performance is really good, but the price coupled with the performance means it is leading the consumer SSD class right now. There are several very good performance SSDs on the market and there are several low cost SSDs on the market, but none of them tie it all together like the SanDisk Extreme."

This is obviously an excellent SSD. The newer Toggle Mode NAND it uses really does make a difference.

Click here to read the full review.

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Seasonic X-Series 1250 Power Supply Review

August 24, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Kit Guru have reviewed the high performance Seasonic X-Series 1250 power supply, which has a fully modular design and 80Plus Gold certification.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Seasonic X-Series 1250W power supply really is a great design, our view on it hasn’t changed since we reviewed the XFX Pro 1250W Black Edition last November. The overall design is rock solid, well built and exhibits no discernible weaknesses.

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 95A on the +12V output and it held steady, only dipping a little to 11.93V. 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."

While it may not be Platinum certified, this is still an excellent power supply. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Palit GeForce GTX 660Ti Jetstream Graphics Card Review

August 24, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the new Palit GTX 660Ti Jetstream, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

Palit have done a good job here with the GEFORCE GTX 660 Ti by offering a nice out of the box overclock in both the core and memory department and this is going to help it outperform the reference clocked options. And of course today you can see that thanks to the quality of the cooler, the overclocking potential on the JetStream option is really strong helping boost performance very well.

For now, though, if you're looking at spending around that mid $300 area this is going to be a really nice option for you as Palit has put together a great version of the new GTX 660 Ti. I suppose we just continue to wait, though, and see what other partners bring to the table as this price bracket is no doubt one of the most important for NVIDIA and its partners as it's where the real quantity is sold."

With its excellent cooler and very reasonable price the Palit 660Ti Jetstream looks like an excellent option. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Acer B243PWL 24-inch LCD Monitor Review

August 24, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Canucks have posted a review of the new Acer B243PWL, a 24-inch LCD monitor with an LED backlight, TN panel, 1920x1080 resolution, and 5ms response time.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Acer has an enviable reputation among business so the B243PWL had some big shoes to fill and for the most part it lived up to expectations. This may not be the least expensive IPS-based monitor around but professionals now have a relatively affordable option which provides good color rendition and the vertical viewing space they need.

With this in mind the rich colors and simple OSD of the B243PWL makes a lot more sense. Not every employee needs a ton of advanced features or an ultra fast response times. Rather, they need a monitor which is easy to use and helps increase their productivity. Similarly, a response time of 14ms may be slow by modern standards, but with games removed from the equation it is more than adequate for power point presentations and simple multimedia tasks."

This seams like an OK monitor, but for about the same you can get a Dell Ultrasharp U2412M, which is just generally better in every way.

Click here to read the full review.

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Archos 101 XS 10.1-Inch Tablet Preview

August 24, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

AnadTech have previewed the soon to be released Archos 101 XS, which features a 10.1" MVA screen with a 1280x800 resolution, a dual-core Texas Instruments OMPA 4470 SoC, 1GB RAM with 16GB on-board storage and uses the custom Android based OMAP 4 operating system.

Let's see what they had to say:

"In a vacuum, the Archos 101 XS would be an easy recommendation over the last generation. Software support remains intact, and the loss of the HDD becomes less of an issue as more and more content is streamed, and the price of high capacity microSD cards continues to drop.

With performance that belies its last-gen SoC, the Archos 101 XS is a belting and attractive tablet. Easy to hold, slim, powerful and a perfect office or around the house companion. What it’s not is a road warrior. Battery life isn’t the whole competition, but its big enough that this contestant won’t win the all around. If you are a media junkie that wants a clean Android build and codec support to beat the band, and you’re not planning any long trips, the Archos 101 XS is a perfect fit. If longevity is a concern for you, then you’ll be better served looking elsewhere."

This seams like a very nice tablet. Though the older Android operating system and less than impressive battery life will limit its appeal.

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset Review

August 24, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Reaction have reviewed the Cooler Master Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset, which feature large 50mm drivers.

Let's see what they had to say:

"With all said and done, the Corsair Vengeance 2000 headset blew us away. The soft microfiber ear cups will allow you to game for hours and hours, even if you wear glasses. At an MSRP of $149.99 it comes in at one of the pricier gaming headsets out there. However, with the wireless integration and great surround sound technology this headset does set itself apart from most other gaming headsets. The software provided by Corsair is easy to find and easy to install and use. Everything about the Vengeance 2000 headset is first class, from the technology used down to the build quality."

If you are in the market for a new wireless gaming headset, this model is definitely worth a serious look.

Click here to read the full review.

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HIS Radeon HD 7970 IceQ X Turbo X2 Graphics Card Review

August 23, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Kit Guru have reviewed the high end HIS Radeon HD 7970 IceQ X Turbo X2, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"HIS have clearly been preparing the 7970 X Turbo 3GB Ice Q X2 for some time, however they were pipped to release by Sapphire with their HD7970 6GB Toxic Edition. In some ways Sapphire stole their thunder, however there is no doubt that the HIS 7970 X Turbo 3GB IceQ X2 is a fantastic high end graphics card.

The HIS 7970 X Turbo 3GB IceQ X2 is a great looking graphics card with no shortage of performance, an ideal solution for powering games across three screens at 5760×1080 or higher in Eyefinity.

While the card consumes a lot of power at the socket, the twin fan cooling solution doesn’t emit an excessive amount of noise, and temperatures are maintained below 70c when gaming."

While it not clear exactly how HIS goes about naming their cards, what is clear is this is an excellent Radeon HD 7970 video card. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Cooler Master HAF XM Mid-Tower Case Review

August 23, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the enthusiast grade Cooler Master HAF XM mid-tower gaming case.

Let's see what they had to say:

"If you are in the market for a new mid-tower enclosure for your next system build and excellent case cooling is a main point of interest, the Cooler Master HAF XM deserves a close look. The HAF XM provides very good case cooling with the three bundled fans and offers lots of options for additional air cooling or liquid cooling. The overall build quality is very good and the classic black look is always in style. "

This is an excellent mid-tower case. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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OCZ Agility 4 256GB Solid State Drive Review

August 23, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the budget-friendly OCZ Agility 4 256GB SATA 6GB/s SSD, which is based on the Everest 2 controller and features 420MB/s read and 410MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"I've seen images of a retail Agility 4 and images from another review sample. Both of those products shipped with Micron flash. The retail purchased drive is what we are more interested in. The drive was purchased at the Santa Clara Microcenter in California and was used in a review at RWLabs. Since it was plucked right out of a retail store we can't say that OCZ only released Agility 4 drives with Micron flash and OCZ branded flash is the only thing in the channel.

With that out of the way, we can say that the OCZ Agility 4 has a very low price point. OCZ did a really good job on the price. We've even heard from other manufacturers that OCZ is really disrupting their product releases and prices, shaving the margins to little slivers of profit. Other manufacturers are the only people who can complain about OCZ's pricing on the Agility 4."

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ASRock X79 Extreme11 LGA2011 Motherobard Review

August 23, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Secrets have reviewed the enthusiast grade ASRock Extreme11 motherboard, which is based on the Intel X79 Express chipset and is ASRock's flagship X79 motherboard,

Let's see what they had to say:

"If you want to build the most high-end gaming system in the world, the ASRock X79 Extreme11 is the motherboard you should buy. Thanks to the presence of two PLX PEX8747 switch chips, it allows the installation of four PCI Express 3.0 video cards truly working at x16 speed. On competing motherboards, at least one of the slots will work at x8 speed, if not less.

Another highlight of this motherboard is its storage configuration. Since the eight additional SAS/SATA-600 ports are controlled by the same chip, you can set up a massive RAID0 system with up to eight SSDs or hard drives. On competing products with chips that control only two ports, you can only have RAID systems with two SSDs or hard drives.

The voltage regulator is also high-end, with 22+2+2 phases and hi-c capacitors."

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AeroCool Touch 2000 LCD Fan Controller Review

August 23, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Look have posted a review of the AeroCool Touch 2000 fan controller offering a large LCD touchscreen interface.

Lets's see what they had to say:

"The Aerocool Touch-2000 is definitely one of the top leading fan controller and sensory monitoring products you can buy, and definitely one of the top monitoring models that Aerocool have made. The product is visually great and really accentuates your case at nighttime in the dark. Its super easy to use and one of the best features is it added e-SATA, 2 x USB 2.0 and inline and output ports, which really add a lot more for your money on the product, and makes it one of the most attractive fan controllers to consider purchasing.

One of my favourite things about the Touch-2000, is the design of the interface. The design is unlike Aerocool’s older over gimmicked fan controller models, it is visual simple but look brilliant with the right colours distributed in the right amounts across the device. You aren’t over powered by the design, you can instantly view and read what you were looking for."

This is a fan controller you will either love the looks of or hate. Either way it is worth a look. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14-Inch Notebook Review

August 22, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hot Hardware have reviewed the new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, which features a 14-inch 1600x900 display, dual-core/quad-thread 1.8-2.8Ghz processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD and integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics.

Here's what they had to say:

"We have to hand it to Lenovo for designing what is darn near close to the perfect Ultrabook, at least in terms of our personal wish list.

Finally, while some folks might take issue with Lenovo's choice of display on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, we feel its high 1600x900 native resolution, good contrast ratio and matte finish offer a pleasing window on the world of computing. Under heavy use, the display was almost as comfortable and easy on the eyes, as the X1 Carbon's keyboard areas is on your hands. You'll love the keyboard on this machine, trust us. Couple that backlit beauty with Lenovo's rigid, light-weight, sleek, and understated carbon fiber chassis and you get what amounts to Lenovo's classic ThinkPad heritage reincarnated in an Ultrabook experience, a place where form does not always follow function. With the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, style and substance aren't mutually exclusive but rather complementary."

This is one impressive ultrabook from a company known for creating iconic classics. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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PowerCooler Radeon HD 7950 Boost State Graphics Card Review

August 22, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Canucks have reviewed the all new PowerCooler Radeon HD 7950 3GB Boost State video card, which features the all new PowerTune Boost feature.

Let's see what they had to say:

"PowerColor’s HD 7950 Boost State is a great success on a number of fronts; it performs well at all resolutions, features a forward looking technology that’s bound to mature and most importantly, it should bring some attention back to AMD’s products amidst an ongoing litany of NVIDIA releases.

With the HD 7950 Boost, AMD accomplished what they initially set out to do: they took some attention off of the GTX 660 Ti’s launch with a great card that may cost a bit more, but has been able to carve out a niche for itself in the $349 market. The Boost State has what it takes to almost unseat a GTX 670, for $50 less. That’s certainly impressive but we recommend you look at upgraded cooling solutions if going the HD 7950 Boost route."

It looks like AMD's answer to the 660Ti is not without merit, but really needs a more robust cooling solution than PowerCooler has opted for. Though for consumers looking for a good mid-range card this is still a very good option. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Google Nexus 7 7-inch Tablet Review

August 22, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Heaven have reviewed the impressive Google Nexus 7 tablet, which features a 7-inch screen, quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC and Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' operating system.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Elsewhere the Nexus 7 is very impressive though. The great specifications which match most high end tablets allow it to run Android 4.1 with ease and playback of HD content as well as the latest Android games are no trouble for the device. We also found the battery life to be impressive, hitting 7+ hours on more demanding tasks such as playback of content and easily going past that for music playback and a bit of email/internet use.

The Nexus 7 also feels great in the hand, offering a nice light build with some decent grip from the soft touch back panel. This high quality feel is enhanced by the bright screen with good detail and viewing angles which of course is protected by Gorilla Glass."

The Nexus 7 is not only an impressive tablet, but with a price starting as low as $200 it is also an amazing value.

Click here to read the full review.

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Antec Eleven Hundred Case Review

August 22, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Kit Guru have reviewed the enthusiast grade Antec Eleven Hundred super mid-tower case.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Instantly promoted to flagship status in Antec‘s gaming series, the Eleven Hundred offers support for large components, has an abundance of cooling options and utilises effective cable management methods.

As the king of its gaming series, Antec built the Eleven Hundred with a gamer-oriented style. Occupying more than half of the left side panel, an acrylic window is perfect poised to flaunt a gaming system’s hardware.

Built to become the flagship of one of the most successful case series ever to exist, Antec has designed another good case in the Eleven Hundred. The new head of the gaming series has its fair share of shortfalls, but it also offers flexibility and attractiveness at a price point that enthusiast-level gamers demand."

Given how competitive the case market is now, this model may get lost in the crowd despite its attractive price.

Click here to read the full review.

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EVGA Z77 FTW LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 22, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Heaven have reviewed the enthusiast-oriented EVGA Z77 FTW, an Intel Z77-based LGA1155 motherboard that features an exceedingly long features list.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Looking at the board itself we find a product which continues to impress. It might not have as many power phases as some competitor models, or the dedicated audio components but it matches them in other ways, such as the use of solid capacitors, voltage read points and high quality controllers like those from Marvell. The Z77 FTW also has a decent layout, although we would like the USB 3 header over at the right of the board but this is a minor issue. We did like the use of PCIe connectors rather than Molex for additional power and the inclusion of 3 BIOS chips takes EVGA above and beyond the competition."

While this is a very good motherboard, it will face stiff competition from models like the ASUS Maximus V Extreme.

Click here to read the full review.

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Seagate GoFlex Satellite Wireless Storage Device Review

August 21, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Reaction have posted a review of the new Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage Device, which features both USB 3.0 and WiFi interface options.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Seagate Satellite wireless storage device was great to play with in our testing. It was easy to setup and easy to connect to all our devices. Streaming was fast to our devices and had very little load time once you selected your media to play or watch. The 500GB hard drive used in the Satellite is a nice size and handles what the Satellite is meant to do.

The Seagate Satellite is a great thing to have around the house to connect to easily and watch movies or listen to music. It is even greater to have on long road trips where you can get about 2 full movies out of it before it needs to be charged. This gives you plenty of versatility to help keep your kids under control while all in the car, even if you are not on a long road trip."

The Seagate GoFlex line has always been impressive pieces of technology and the GoFlex Mobile is no different. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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ASUS Maximus V GENE Z77 LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 21, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Pure Overclock have reviewed the small ASUS Maximus V GENE mATX motherboard.

Let's see what they had to say:

"In a very competitive motherboard market, ASUS continues to shine with a full Z77 lineup. From the P8 series through the Republic of Gamers Mavimus V series, the ASUS Gene fits any customer looking for a lower cost, but top tier performing motherboard with a Micro ATX form factor. Also, motherboards with features that are not needed are a waste of dollars in our opinion. For those looking to run only one or two graphics cards with the Z77 platform, and are looking for a lower cost solution, the ASUS Maximus V Gene is a great choice. In addition, this small Micro ATX motherboard is perfect for those looking to build a LAN Party rig or killer Home Theater Ivy Bridge system."

Although you don't actually need a Z77 motherboard to use an Ivy Bridge processor, P67 & Z68 boards work perfectly, this motherboard proves that big performance can come in a small package!

Click here to read the full review.

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Antec Kuhler H2O 920 Liquid CPU Cooler Review

August 21, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Kings have posted reviews of the high performance Antec Kühler H2O 920 liquid cooling system.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Kuhler H2O 920 is well-suited for thsoe who will utilize the thermal dissipation capacity of the AIO watercooling, i.e. overclocking/servers, or those who put high value on the cleanliness of the CPU socket, which keeps your motherboard free-and-clear of your RAM. The Kuhler H2O 920 is also a great fit for small form factor builds which use high performance processors but doesn't have the vertical clearance for a high performance cooler, such as the very popular BitFenix Prodigy.

In closing, the Kuhler 920 is a competitive AIO watercooling system in both price and performance, and has an overall great design. If you want to tap a fuller potential of the system while keeping your hearing intact, a pair of quiet fans will give you another boost to best some of the better air coolers we've tested."

The Kühler 920 H2O is an excellent option for consumers who want the performance water based designs can offere without the hassle of a full custom loop. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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ASUS GeForce GTX 660Ti DirectCU II TOP Graphics Card Review

August 21, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Kit Guru have reviewed the new Asus GTX 660Ti DirectCU II TOP, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The GTX660 Ti is an important card for Nvidia as it is set to fill the gaping performance hole between £250-£300. At £270 inc vat the Asus GTX660 Ti Direct CU II TOP has certainly impressed us.

We don’t have a reference Nvidia solution on hand to deliver direct comparisons, but the Asus GTX660 Ti Direct CU II TOP is certainly faster than the AMD HD7950 it is targeting. When we directly compare against the heavily overclocked Sapphire HD7950 Vapor X which we reviewed earlier today then it is a tight run battle. We would say it is a 50-50 split either way, depending on the game or benchmark being used.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this card to the Nvidia audience reading the review today. At £267.54 inc vat it is the fastest gaming card for the money."

This is video card at a great price and is easily worth the small price premium over reference designs.

Click here to read the full review.

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HIS Radeon HD 7870 IceQ X Turbo Graphics Card Review

August 21, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Look have reviewed the HIS Radeon HD 7870 IceQ X Turbo, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"It’s fair to say that the HIS HD 7870 IceQ Turbo 2GB has impressed us greatly. Of course there’s two key components of the review specifically that has really made this card stand out among the rest in the charts and more on the net. Which are the excellent cooling capabilities and the amazingly high overclock ability.

We saw the massive advantages of the external heatpipes with the newly designed fan at the back of the card. I provided and super effective job across stock and excellently on overclock, considering that we was able to push the overclock much higher that we normally could with other cards (respective to their percentage increase.) After seeing these results, it’s likely that every company will start adding this cooling design into their more expensive higher mid-range graphics cards."

This looks like a very good video card with loads of overclocking potential. Though for the money the new GeForce GTX 660Ti would be a better choice.

Click here to read the full review.

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Galaxy GeForce GTX 670 GX 4GB Graphics Card Review

August 20, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the new Galaxy GeForce GTX 670 GX 4GB, which features a custom cooler, overclocked specifications and a massive 4GB of ram.

Let's see what they had to say:

"If you are going to buy THREE of those Korean displays for Surround, then definitely so. Our results showed that the Galaxy GTX 670 GC 4GB was able to keep up with the GTX 680 in Surrounding testing thanks at least in part to the added memory.

Galaxy has really put together a great graphics card with a custom cooler with understated looks and touches like the blue illuminated GTX 600 logo and the "kepler" script on the bottom in addition to providing better cooling capability and low noise. The overclocked speeds and 4GB of GDDR5 memory running at 6.0 GHz give the Galaxy GTX 670 GC 4GB a lot of bragging rights for gamers while also offering performance advantages for ultra-high resolution gaming at a cost lower than the cheapest GTX 680s."

Galaxy really are on a roll lately with some mightily impressive video cards. Though not everyone will need a 4GB frame buffer or the increase in cost that goes along with it.

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 20, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Reaction have reviewed the mainstream Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H, which has many value added features such as 10 USB 3.0 ports, and supports 3-way GPU configurations

Let's see what they had to say:

"This board took everything we threw at it and never complained. We filled every port (save the 1394) used the included USB 3.0 breakout and stressed it with no problems. We overclocked it and streamed again while benchmarking; no issues. We ran one hour of AIDA stability test while overclocked and streaming.

So where does this board fit? Almost anywhere. Add an i7 and Zen linux and you can use it as a VM server, you can stream video or serve files 24/7 while working, gaming, encoding… without a huge impact on performance or you can walk away and leave it running and it will burn about as much energy as an incandescent light bulb."

This a good motherboard at a good price, but we would rather the UD4P TH as it has the newer Ultra Durable 5 technology and some other features missing from this board.

Click here to read the full review.

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Asus P8Z77-V Premium LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 20, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Anadtech have reviewed the high-end Asus P8Z77-V Premium LGA1155 motherboard, which is Asus' new flagship Z77 motherboard.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Having four high end AMD GPUs running in this board was great fun, until I put the fans on full. Using a single 2560x1440 monitor at the highest settings, we reached almost 230 FPS in Dirt3 in this setup.

For a motherboard that has all this extra functionality, ASUS have played the tweaking game to make this an ultra fast startup board in our testing. This is reflected in the BIOS, which is easy to use for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

The ASUS P8Z77-V Premium is an easy board to recommend if you are a multi PCIe device user, you have Thunderbolt devices, need dual Intel NICs as well as WiFi, and want to equip your system with SATA and USB 3.0 storage. The ASUS P8Z77-V Premium represents the all-in-one, top of the line solution."

Although expensive, this is one feature packed motherboard. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Force M9 ICE Wireless Mouse Review

August 20, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Gage have reviewed the budget friendly Gigabyte Force M9 ICE wireless laser mouse.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The sticky rubber grips on its flanks feel lovely and reduce the chance of losing one's grip on the mouse. Sans batteries, it is freakishly light; once you have the AA batteries installed, though, it feels satisfyingly meaty.

I also like its shape: Its sculpted side surfaces scream "gaming mouse" more than the typical, boring utilitarian mouse that looks more like a worn bar of soap. Most non-gaming mice that I've seen, even wireless models like the Force M9 ICE, are nondescript.

The Force M9 ICE is good in everyday use. From the most mundane tasks to the more involved (gaming, specifically), it works fine. The max DPI setting of 2000 is good enough, even for FPS games. Also, the ability to change DPI settings on-the-fly is a boon (though this is hardly unique for mice these days)."

This seams like a decent wireless mouse, but if you don't need its wireless abilities, there are clearly superior mice in its price range.

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair Neutron and Neutron GTX SDD Review

August 20, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the soon to be released Corsair Neutron and Neutron GTX 240GB SATA 6GB/s solid state drives, which are both based on the new LAMD 'Amber' controller and feature ONFi 2 and Toggle Mode NAND respectively.

Let's see what they had to say:

"In nearly all of our tests the base Neutron model is a SandForce competitor, but the Neutron GTX is what SandForce has nightmares about. Both Neutron drives are extremely fast, but with higher write performance at low queue depth sequential writes and higher queue depth random writes, the GTX is a superior product. I don't think many people outside of the prosumer market will notice a difference between these two drives so once again we really need to see the pricing information to determine a strategy.

So far the only company to publicly show off Amber is Corsair, something that has a bit of prestige with it. For years we've seen OCZ play the role of innovator with new product launches months before anyone else, but this time Corsair has their moment in the spotlight."

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MSI GeForce GTX 670 Power Edition Graphics Card Review

August 17, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the high performance MSI GTX 670 Power Edition, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"What is not to like with the GTX 670 Power Edition? A user will get an updated and upgraded cooling solution, an upgraded PCB with more power handling capabilities, a pretty aggressive overclock that looks to actually exceed official specifications, and a nice and quiet package that will fit in any enthusiast’s case. Add into that equation the fact that this Power Edition product ends up being around $5 more expensive than a reference card (after rebate), and we can see that we have a pretty convincing product.

MSI has produced a really good card at a very competitive price in the GTX 670 market. It has enough features to really pull it ahead of the crowd at those prices, and the performance it brings is really outstanding in a wide variety of applications (except when it falls down in DiRT Showdown)."

Thanks to its Twin Frozr IV cooler and excellent factory overclock, this is is easily one of the best GTX 670 graphics card on the market today.

Click here to read the full review.

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AeroCool Sixth Element Mid-Tower Case Review

August 17, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Look have reviewed the budget friendly AeroCool Sixth Element mid-tower gaming case.

Let's see what they had to say:

"I would have to say that the Aerocool Sixth Element is higher end budget case. The case costs just £67, which is not too bad of a deal considering you get very good modern cable management and excellent expenditure potential. The actually design of the case is appealing, but for me white is not my thing, but that will not affect the scoring here, as it comes in black. The only real issue with the Sixth sense is no dust covers and suffocated airflow, it’s not usual Aerocool make this error. For the price of £67 you are getting a good deal. In terms of our scoring, a high standard “good” will only ever get you a bronze award around here. which we only just see the Sixth Element achieving due to its price."

This seams like an OK case, but at this price there are simply too many excellent cases to settle for merely 'OK'.

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair HX850 Gold 850W Power Supply Review

August 17, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have posted a review of the enthusiast orientated Corsair HX850W GOLD 850 watt modular power supply which is certified for 80PLUS Gold efficiency.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Normally, when a manufacturer does a product refresh, it is for one of two reasons. Either they have found a way to manufacturer the unit at the same level of performance of substantially lower costs or they have brought improvements to the unit that makes it more competitive with the current market. The new HX850 from Corsair is most certainly in the latter category. The results above show that it performs very well all the way around. The bump from 80Plus Silver to Gold was very nice to see and the unit does a great job showing the increased efficiency.

We re-ran the tests on this unit and pulled out another power supply just to confirm that our scope was still working correctly as this level of DC output quality is just amazing.

Add in the top notch build quality of the unit and the fantastic seven year warranty and Corsair has an almost flawless unit with the HX850."

This is an excellent upgrade to the original HX850, but if you want the very best you should check out the Corsair AX850 as it is even more efficient.

Click here to read the full review.

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Intel Core i7-3820 'Sandy Bridge-E' LGA2011 Processor Review

August 17, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Techware Labs have reviewed the high-end Intel Core i7-3820 'Sandy Bridge-E' quad-core/eight-thread processor. It has a 3.6Ghz default clock, can Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz, has 10MB of L3 cache, a quad-channel DDR3-1600 memory interface, 40 PCI-E lanes, and support for PCI-Express 3.0.

Here's an excerpt:

"The attractive sub-$300 price tag of the i7-3820 helps fill the void between extreme speed and price of the i7-3960X and still relatively high-priced i7-3930K. The scarcity and inconsistent pricing of the i7-3930K along with the insanely priced i7-3960X sent many potential adopters into a hold pattern, awaiting a more budget friendly unit for the LGA2011 platform. This i7-3820 model fits the bill. With enough speed and spec enhancements to justify a platform upgrade, the i7-3820 opened up the new X79 and X77 chipset base motherboards as viable and budget friendly options. Continuing the motto of ”visibly smart performance”, the i7-3820 is an excellent addition to create a well-balanced lineup for the 2nd Gen Core family. The i5 is the balance of price, performance, and features while the i7 series is the pro choice for the high end enthusiast."

This is clearly a very good processor, a worthy successor to the wildly popular Core i7-920, but unless you really need its superior multi-GPU capabilities it might be hard to justify having to spend top dollar on an LGA2011 motherboard, quad-core memory kit, and compatible CPU cooler.

Click here to read the full review.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660Ti Launched!

August 17, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

NVIDIA's next-generation affordable GeForce GTX 660Ti 2GB graphics card has just launched. This video card features the same 'Kepler' GK104 as the GTX 670 with 1344 shaders, 112 texture units and a 915Mhz core clock; albeit with a reduction in ROP’s and memory bandwidth. Unlike the GTX 670 which has 32 ROPS and a 6008Mhz GDDR5 256-bit memory interface the 660Ti has 24 ROPs and a 6008Mhz GDDR5 192-bit memory interface. Price wise this new model comes in at a very reasonable $299 or about $50 less than what the typical GTX 670 2GB costs.

Let's see what they had to say:

Anadtech: The GeForce GTX 660 Ti Review, Feat. EVGA, Zotac, and Gigabyte
Benchmark Reviews: MSI GTX 660-Ti Power Edition Video Card.
eTeknix: Gigabyte GTX 660Ti Overclock 2GB Graphics Card Review.
Hardwarecanucks: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660Ti Review.
Hardware Heaven: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Overclocked Graphics Card Review.
Hardware Secrets: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti SuperClocked Video Card Review.
Hot Hardware: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Round-Up Review.
PC Perspective: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Kepler Graphics Card Review.
Pure Overclock: MSI GTX 660 Ti Power Editione.
Tbreak: Zotac and ASUS GeForce GTX 660Ti Reviewed
Tom's Hardware: GeForce GTX 660 Ti Review: Nvidia's Trickle-Down Keplernomics.
Tweak Town: MSI GEFORCE GTX 660 Ti 2GB Power Edition Video Card Overclocked.

Enjoy!

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ASUS Sabertooth Z77 LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 16, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the impressive ASUS Sabertooth Z77, LGA1155 motherboard, which emphasizes durability and stability and comes with an industry-leading 5-year warranty.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The SABERTOOTH Z77 brings back everything I missed about the X79 and 990FX based SABERTOOTH boards. The Thermal Armor is what makes the board from an aesthetic point of view and really the SABERTOOTH Z77 is a great looking board that really stands out.

Performance is also fantastic; you can see out of the box at times we see it was able to outperform other Z77 boards with the best gains being seen in PCMark 7 and MediaEspresso. As always we then look at the overclocking side of things and the 4.73GHz number is strong which helps push performance even further ahead.

ASUS does an awesome job of ticking all the right boxes with the SABERTOOTH Z77 which is something we've seen them do before with the SABERTOOTH series. Priced in that mid $200 bracket, we've got a board that looks and feels like it should cost more than it does."

Like all the other Sabertooth models, the Z77 iteration is extremely impressive and arguably one of the most robust consumer LGA1155 motherboards available today.

Click here to read the full review.

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Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler Review

August 16, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Kings have reviewed the Noctua NH-L12 CPU Cooler, which is a horizontal, four heatpipe CPU cooling solution for both Intel and AMD systems.

Let's see what they had to say:

"For an ultra-low profile cooler, the NH-L12 performs admirably. Noctua's fans continue to push air at an industry-leading level of acoustic performance, and their coolers hold their own as well. Although it won't push the performance of other high-performance tower coolers, the NH-L12 does quite well, capable of holding our i5-2500K to a respectable 60°C at full load and 3.8GHz, leaving headroom for 4GHz overclocks, pretty good for its stature.

However, if you're looking for a cooling solution at a scant 66mm clearance requirement, and would like some decent performance to come from it, the Noctua NH-L12 seems like a great choice."

It seems like it is a good CPU cooler for smaller systems, but may be too small for mainstream consumers.

Click here to read the full review.

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Aerocool Xpredator Evil Black Edition Full Tower Case Review

August 16, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

eTeknix have reviewed the Evil Black edition of the Aerocool Xpredator full tower case, which is part of AeroCool's Ultimate Gaming Series of cases.

Let's see what they had to say:

"So there we have it, the Xpredator Evil Black Edition Full-Tower gaming chassis from Aerocool, as you may already be able to tell, I really like this chassis and for more than one reason too. The installation process was a breeze, even given the fact that this is a full tower, it’s size never caused me any issues as all the components are really well assembled and robust and provide plenty of innovative and handy installation solutions for your components.

Fortunately for Aerocool, they live up to their name, with a pair of high quality and lets face it huge 230mm fans pre-installed in the front and top of the chassis providing some serious airflow to your components.

The style is a love or hate issue, I think it looks fantastic, but I can guess that the bright orange might be a bit “extreme” for some gamers."

Aside from the love it or hate it looks and over the top name, this appears to be a very decent case. Though with a price well north of $100 it will face stiff competition.

Click here to read the full review.

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Intel 330 series Solid State Drive reviews

August 16, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Anadtech have reviewed the brand new and budget orientated Intel 330 series SATA 3Gb/s solid state drives, which features the same SF2281 controller as the Intel 520 series.

Here's what they had to say:

"Of the available SandForce drives, I've felt most comfortable recommending Intel's own. The pass through Intel's validation labs provides that extra peace of mind that hopefully translates into a better overall experience. In the past Intel has been a reliable option in the market but not necessarily the most affordable. The 330 attempts to correct the latter. While other drives are cheaper, the 330 does give you a unique combination of an Intel validated drive at a competitive price point.

The performance delta between the 330 and the 520 is narrow enough that I don't see a reason to recommend the 520 unless you need a higher capacity drive. The loss of endurance is likely something no typical end user would ever notice. Perhaps the lower p/e cycle is enough to keep the 330 out of write heavy enterprise deployments, but otherwise it's a non-issue."

With a rock bottom price the Intel 330 series is very good value. Though the lowered warranty and reduced endurance NAND is obviously how Intel was able to cut costs.

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 Super OverClock WindForce 5X Video Card Review

August 16, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Toms Hardware have reviewed the ultra rare Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 Super OverClock WindForce 5x, which features 1080MHz base core clock and a custom triple slot cooler design.

Let's see what they had to say:

"This is more a demonstration of what Gigabyte might be able to achieve with its Windforce 5X cooler than a mass-market card. But we're at least happy to report that our initial fears of ghastly acoustics were unfounded, and that it's even possible to improve on the original sample by removing the memory's thermal pads, by re-applying thermal compound, and by setting up our own fan speed profile.

Most importantly (and more noteworthy than the benchmarks and comparisons to other cards), we see now that this type of cooling solution is a viable way to dissipate heat without recirculating warm air inside a chassis, as many aftermarket designs are guilty of doing. The only shame is that you're required to use a very particular type of chassis. Otherwise, this approach to cooling would, in fact, simply blow heat around inside."

Although it may not officially be branded a "GHz Edition" 7970, this triple slot behemoth is one impressive card! Though increased noise, increased power consumption and additional cost may turn some customers off.

Click here to read the full review.

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Thermaltake Dr Power II Power Supply Tester Review

August 15, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the budget friendly Thermaltake Dr Power II, which can easily test power supplies to check whether they are properly functioning.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Thermaltake's new Dr. Power II Universal ATX Power Supply Tester is a great little tool that is quick and easy to use to check if a PC power supply is operating normally and delivering all the voltages it is supposed to within spec. It also confirms that the PG (Power Good) signal timing is happening within the recommended guidelines.

In addition to the all-important power supply GOOD – NOT GOOD test, the Dr. Power II tester also lets you test all the various power supply output cables to confirm they are delivering the voltages they are supposed to and at the specified voltages. For most users and most situations the Dr. Power II PSU tester will prove to be a valuable tool."

While this is not a tool you will need all that often, it is the kind of tool that every enthusiast should own.

Click here to read the full review.

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Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 15, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Gage have reviewed the high-end Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe LGA1155 motherboard, which is jammed packed with additional features such as WiFi and BlueTooth support.

Let's see what they had to say:

"If a single motherboard could make me forget my need for six cores, it'd be the P8Z77-V DELUXE. I don't believe that a "perfect" motherboard exists, or ever will, but this one comes awful close. In other words, I don't remember when a board impressed me as much as this one did.

"The full package" would be an appropriate way to describe this board. It doesn't just offer the functionality we'd expect, but piles on things we didn't even realize we'd like, such as Fan Xpert 2.

If in the market for a "do-it-all" board, this one is a no-brainer as long as its $275 price-tag doesn't break the bank. It's the sort of board that makes me want to build a machine even when I don't need it, so it's safe to say we'll be keeping it near for regular internal testing."

Although moderately expensive, this is one feature packed motherboard. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Intel 910 800GB PCI-E SSD Review

August 15, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Anadtech have reviewed the brand new and über-high performance Intel 910 800GB PCI-Express solid state drive, which features 2000MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds.

Here's what they had to say:

"From a performance perspective, the Intel SSD 910 is an absolute beast. If you take into account encrypted or otherwise incompressible data performance, the 800GB 910 is easily the fastest SSD we've ever tested. The performance loss for the 400GB drive makes it a bit more normal, but it's still among the best. The only thing to be concerned about with the 910 is its poor low queue depth, small file write performance. If your workload is dominated by 2KB (or smaller) writes then the 910 isn't going to be a great performer and you'd be much better off with a standalone 2.5" drive. For all other workloads however, the 910 is great."

Although it comes with an eye-watering price tag, the Intel 910 is an unbelievably impressive piece of technology. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Plextor M5 Pro 256GB SATA 6Gb/s SSD Review

August 15, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the Plextor M5 Pro 256GB SSD, which is based on the new 3rd generation Marvell 88SS9287 controller and features 540MB/s read and 450MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Marvell 88SS9287 was going to be a winner in the enthusiast market. In our testing we can say that Plextor was able to push past those issues, but the new architecture has a few surprises ahead too. As I write this the M5 Pro has been in my possession for around 12 hours and I feel there are still secrets to unravel.

One area that we didn't touch on today is possibly one of the Plextor M5 Pro's greatest attributes. Plextor is touting the M5 Pro's very low power consumption, but at the time of this article, we simply were not ready to start publishing power data from our own test methodology. In the next 30 days we'll have a full report with the power draw from a high number of industry leading SSDs. With the M5 Pro's 19nm Toggle Flash, we feel this might be a real contender for the least power consuming crown."

With its excellent warranty, good performance and overall value the new Plextor M5 Pro is shaping up to be a real winner. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Razer Electra Headset Gaming Review

August 15, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

eTeknix have posted a review of the new Razer Electra stereo gaming headset, which features a removable cable and 40mm drivers.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The build quality is pretty much best in class too, all the materials feel of a high quality, there are no bad joins, seams, bits of glue, cheap stitching on show anywhere, I expect these headphone will take some pretty serious knocks before anything starts to go wrong with them.

Anyone who loves listening to music or gaming while on the go will love these headphones, but as much as they are for mobile devices they are just as good, if not better in my opinion for plugging into your sound system at home, kicking back and listening to your favorite album, with a sound quality that is not unlike that of headphones that cost more than twice the price."

This seems like an excellent headset for the money. Though the 'unique' styling may not be to everyone's liking.

Click here to read the full review.

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Samsung Series 5-550 12-Inch Chromebook Review

August 14, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PC Perspective have reviewed the sleek and stylish Samsung Series 5-550 Chromebook notebook, which features a 12.1-inch 1280x800 display, dual-core/two thread 1.3GHz Intel Celeron 867 processor, 4GB of RAM, 16GB SSD and integrated Intel HD 3000 GPU.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Having handled the new Series 5 for a couple weeks I can’t help but wonder why anyone would buy a netbook or budget ultraportable instead. The experience offered by this laptop is clearly superior in every way. The keyboard is excellent, the touchpad is wonderful, the display is reasonable, the battery is adequate and performance is great for the price. I feel that this new Chromebook is the netbook fully realized – a small, highly portable and inexpensive machine that offer a web experience better or equal to more expensive alternatives.

What’s important is how well the griddle cooks your bacon – and in this case, it serves up a crispy plate of goodness better than any other product on the market for the same price."

While it may not have the shear performance of an ultrabook, the Series 5 Chromebook does offer a good blend of style and performance at a great price. Though the Android based OS may leave some less than impressed.

Click here to read the full review.

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Sapphire PURE Platinum Z77K LG1155 Motherboard Review

August 14, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Pure Overclock have reviewed the budget friendly Sapphire PURE Platinum Z77K LGA1155 motherboard, which is designed for more budget conscience consumers.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Companies like Sapphire roll with the changes and the Sapphire Pure Platinum Z77/K is a great addition. Sapphire’s Pure Platinum branding stays the same and the aesthetics stay with Sapphire’s black and blue color scheme, which although is quite subjective, could do for a change. The overall look may not be cutting edge, but the motherboard is laid out well and the scheme will blend nicely with today’s hardware.

Sapphire went directly to the meat and potatoes with this offering, and at an excellent price point of $149. That is exactly where this board should be, which gives it a terrific bang for the buck. For those looking for the Z77 platform, the Sapphire Pure Platinum Z77/K should definitely be considered. All the extras that we see in higher priced products are not needed here, as this board overclocks and performs very admirably."

While Sapphire is better known for their graphic cards, this new motherboard may just help change that perception. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Matias Tactile Pro 3.0 Mechanical Keyboard Review

August 14, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have tested the new Matias Tactile Pro 3.0 keyboard, which features a top-notch mechanical key switch design.

Here's what they had to say:

"I am in love with the ease this keyboard offers you a huge selection of symbols for coding, writing, spread sheets - just about anything you can think that will take advantage of this will be easier and faster for you with the Tactile Pro 3.0. I am really at a loss of words to try to impress on you just how mice this mechanical keyboard really is.

Mac or PC, it doesn't matter, this keyboard is serious about typing - no gimmicks, no fancy LEDs, no programmable buttons on the side, unlike a mullet, this is pure business with very little party to it.

The serious typist in all of you knows I am right about this keyboard and if you are in the mechanical Keyboard market I strongly suggest you give Matias and the Tactile Pro 3.0 a really serious look."

If you have the money to spend on the great mechanical keyboard, this keyboard should definitely be in your consideration list.

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Z77X-UD4P TH LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 14, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Secrets have reviewed the mainstream Gigabyte Z77X-UD4P TH, which features Ultra Durable 5 technology and dual Thunderbolt ports.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Gigabyte Z77X-UP4 TH is targeted to the mainstream user who wants a motherboard with Thunderbolt ports. This motherboard also brings three PCI Express x16 3.0 slots, even though they don’t work at x16 speed when more than one video card is installed. However, this is expected on a mainstream product.

Another highlight of this motherboard includes the presence of an mSATA slot (even though it is SATA-300 and shared with one of the available SATA-300 ports); two BIOS chips; eight USB 3.0 ports; a PLX PEX8605 chip that allows performance to stay high when the Thunderbolt ports are used in conjunction with SATA-600 and USB 3.0 ports; an excellent voltage regulator circuit; and decent overclocking features, including the possibility of configuring the CPU base clock in 0.01 MHz increments."

This is a feature packed motherboard at an excellent price. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB Hard Drive Review

August 14, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Toms Hardware have reviewed the high performance Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB hard drive, which features a 10,000RPM rotational speed, large 64MB cache, read/write speeds of 200MB/s, 1.4 million hours MTBF, five year warranty, and $319 MSRP.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Almost exactly two years after Western Digital first introduced its 600 GB WD6000HLHX, the company's brand new VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ reaffirms its dominance as a purveyor of the fastest 3.5” desktop hard drives you can buy.

The disk wins or nearly wins most of the other comparisons, too. We want to call out its low power draw and its excellent performance per watt ranking, neither of which we were expecting from such a fast drive. Overall, the WD1000DHTZ is a well-balanced offering devoid of any drawbacks or weaknesses (aside from its price tag, which is three times higher than a 1 TB Seagate Barracuda).

If you need a high-capacity drive that offers significantly higher sequential throughput than competing desktop disks, but either don't need or can't justify the cost per gigabyte of an SSD, consider the WD1000DHTZ as an interesting compromise. Or, if you have more to spend, think about the relationship between an SSD and the VelociRaptor in the same machine."

Although pricey, this is clearly the fastest consumer hard drive on the market. It may not match the performance of most budget SSDs, but it does offer a very attractive mix of performance and storage space.

Click here to read the full review.

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Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch Notebook Review

August 13, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Spot have reviewed the new Apple MacBook Pro notebook, which features a 15-inch 2880 x 1800 'retina' display, quad-core/eight-thread 2.3-3.3Ghz processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD and a Nvidia GeForce GT 650M GPU with 1GB of RAM.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Retina system remained extremely quiet during our tests and only spun up to an audible level during heavy loads, courtesy of Intel’s Ivy Bridge CPU and the lack of a spinning hard drive and optical drive.

Apple has once again set a high bar in the notebook industry. Simply put, this system is in a class of its own with regards to system-wide performance and display technology. Sure, there are other systems that have more powerful graphics cards but for the average user, the increased screen resolution and lightning-fast flash storage are good tradeoffs.

Early Mac adopters will jump ship in no time and Windows machines will eventually catch up with high-res displays. The factor here is timing, and right now there are few machines that can play along the MacBook Pro with Retina Display."

While it certainly is not cheapest notebook available, the new MacBook Pro is arguably one of the best available. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Cooler Master Storm Stryker Full Tower Case Review

August 13, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Kings have reviewed the Cooler Master Storm Stryker full tower case, which supports XL-ATX motherboards.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Having been launched in late 2011, the CM Storm Trooper has plenty of productive years ahead of it. But the Stryker's premium gloss finished exterior and fans still do a great deal to revitalize the design. Before you start to think that this must be an expensive facelift, know that both the CM Storm Stryker and CM Storm Trooper are available for $159.99! Considering that the Trooper originally launched with an MSRP of $189.99 and still does not include a windowed side panel out of the box makes the Stryker incredible value for the money.

If you want a highly dependable chassis that can deal with the harshest of conditions, the CM Storm Trooper is the battle-hardened foot soldier that will get the job done. The CM Storm Stryker is that same soldier in his dress uniform - well-groomed and dignified, but still a warrior at heart. "

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Thermaltake eSPORTS Chao Dracco Signature Headphones Review

August 13, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

eTeknix have posted a review of the new Thermaltake eSPORTS Chao Dracco stereo headphones featuring large 50mm drivers.

Let's see what they had to say:

"It’s nice to see a gaming peripherals company take a step in a new direction and explore a new area of the market. We think Tt eSPORTS have made a valiant attempt with the Dracco series, as it is certainly something different from the usual designs you would expect from a gaming company. On top of the enlightened approach, they have managed to produce a fairly decent pair of headphones that would be ideal for audio enthusiasts or anyone looking to make a bold fashion statement. They come in a fairly exotic range of colours, with the premium touches for the signature editions, which creates an air of class and wealth. The additional accessories cover all bases no matter what you are using them for and the rotating earcups would make them ideal for an amateur DJ."

For the asking price this seems like an OK set of headphones. Though for slightly more you could get the Cooler Master Storm Sonuz headset which also feature 50mm drivers but also include a microphone.

Click here to read the full review.

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GX Gaming Maurus Professional Gaming Mouse Review

August 13, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

RB mods have reviewed the budget friendly Maurus Professional wired gaming mouse, which features a 5700DPI sensor and is designed with the FPS & RTS PC gaming enthusiast in mind.

Let's see what they had to say:

"On RTS, which is my preferred gaming style the Macro function really shined. Having a profile dedicated to Starcraft, and a different profile for Starcraft II (due to resolution differences) was incredibly handy. Being able to use different macros on both was even better. The combination of programming software, and having the macro loaded on the device worked without a hitch; and I could clearly execute faster during game play. This truly did improve my performance in multiple battles!
Conclusion:

This is a budget friendly first entrant into the gaming mouse arena. It’s comfortable, configurable, and accurate. These are the true criteria for success in the gaming peripherals category. In Windows, the device worked well in most every way. I wish the scroll wheel had a free spin mode, but that was about my only complaint."

This appears to be a very decent mouse for consumers on a tight budget. Though its small size will not appeal to consumers with larger hands.

Click here to read the full review.

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Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 OC Edition Graphics Card Review

August 13, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the mid-range Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 OC Edition graphics card, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Sapphire has used the OC tag on the HD 7850 and thrown in a nice bump in clock speeds which sees another 60MHz on the core and an extra 200MHz QDR on the 2GB of GDDR5 onboard memory. You can see that helps result in some nice performance with the 60 FPS number we aim for being with in only an FPS or two in a number of intensive games.

Alongside the normal "typical" performance numbers, we can see the cooler also does a fantastic job as the card sits nearly at the bottom of our graph when it comes to heat and noise levels sit in the middle of the pack.

The biggest stand outs would be the inclusion of the full length HDMI cable and the MiniDP to DP connector that we still see a lot of companies skip on, even on higher end models."

This looks like a very good and very reasonably priced HD 7850. If you are looking for a Radeon HD 7850 another good option is the MSI 7850 Power Edition.

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair Force GS 240GB Solid State Drive Review

August 11, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

The SSD Review have posted a review of the new high performance Corsair Force GS 240GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller paired with Toggle Mode NAND and features 555MB/s read speeds, 525MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"With respect to performance, there were a number of hallmarks achieved by the Force GS and it started right off with very strong ATTO results and was followed by the incredible 4k random write result of 109MB/s. From there, we received one of the best AS SSD Copy Bench results we have seen to date and things only got better with an incredible high Total Score result in Anvil Storage Utilities. In short, each and every benchmark confirmed what we saw right from the start.

In the end, we have performance, value, availability, a great capacity selection, decent 3 year warranty and the SSD does include a desktop bracket. The Corsair Force GS receives our Gold Seal and very strong recommendation for anyone looking to purchase an SSD."

This is obviously an excellent high performance SSD. Though for slightly more you can get a Intel 520 240GB SSD which will have equally good performance and a longer warranty.

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair AX1200i 1200W Power Supply Review

August 11, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hot Hardware have reviewed the brand new Corsair AX1200i, an enthusiast-oriented 1200W 80Plus Gold modular power supply.

Here's what they had to say:

"While we would love to see the features of the AX1200i trickle down to more affordable, lower-power models, at its current price, the AX1200i is still compelling in light of competing offerings. We dig the fully-modular cables on this unit, appreciate the low-noise fan, and think the features and capabilities afforded by the DSP and Corsair Link software set the AX1200i apart in the enthusiast PSU space.

Users in the market for a high-end power supply will be well served by the Corsair AX1200i. Even if you don’t plan to use the Corsair Link Dashboard software and tinker with the unit, the AX1200i is still a killer power supply. Factor in its high-output, stability, efficiency, quiet operation, and innovative features though, and you’ve got an enthusiast-class power supply that’s worthy of consideration for any high-end PC build."

This is arguably the best power supply on the market right now, so if you have $350 to spend on a PSU, this is the one you want to be looking at.

Click here to read the full review.

OCZ Agility 4 256GB Solid State Drive Review

August 11, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Kit Guru have reviewed the budget-friendly OCZ Agility 4 256GB SATA 6GB/s SSD, which is based on the Everest 2 controller and features 420MB/s read and 410MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"OCZ have the leading Solid State drive right now with their Vertex 4. There is no doubt that the LSi Sandforce 2281 controller has the edge in pure compressible throughput, however the Indilinx Everest 2 delivers excellent balanced results with both compressible and incompressible data streams.

There is no question that the Agility 4 isn’t as fast as the Vertex 4, but in the ‘real world’ we would be hard pressed to notice any difference. While our reviews primarily focus on pure technical data, in everyday situations there is often only 1 or 2 seconds difference between the Vertex 4 and Agility 4.

You can buy from ARIA for only £146.34 inc vat, which works out at around 57 pence per GB. This can surely be classed as one of the finest high capacity Solid State bargains of 2012."

It is always good to see manufactures giving customers more options, though for slightly more money you can opt for the much faster Vertex 4 256GB drive.

Click here to read the full review.

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Das Professional S Keyboard Review

August 11, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Pure Overclock have tested the Das Professional S keyboard, which features a top-notch mechanical key switch design.

Here's what they had to say:

"Having used many keyboards from the vast variety of membrane and mechanical keyboards in our day, we are fans of the simple and elegant design. Das really nailed that look here. This board is absolutely gorgeous in our opinion and the build quality is exceptional.

The Cherry MX Blue switches used in the Model S Professional should fit the bill for those of us who sit at our desks typing reports, or those who crave a little gaming but don’t want all the fancy bells and whistles.

The Model S Professional is also great because it comes with no software to install. This is a real plus for those who don’t like to mess with drivers and additional software to install on their computer. This board is completely plug and play, allowing users to have it up and running within minutes."

If you have the money to spend on the best possible input devices, this keyboard should definitely be in your consideration list.

Click here to read the full review.

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MSI GeForce GTX 680 Lightning Edition Graphics Card Review

August 11, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Canucks have reviewed the high performance MSI GTX 680 Lightning graphics card, which features a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"MSI’s GTX 680 Lightning is built for overclockers, this market’s elitists who demand top tier parts and won’t settle for anything less. In this respect, it succeeds spectacularly and we’d even go so far as to say that it is one of the best cards that money can buy right now.

From a features perspective, MSI hit all of the high notes with high quality design and attention to even the smallest details. Build quality is top notch, the dual BIOS offers a world of possibilities for serious overclockers, the new AfterBurner software is a joy to use and a 3 year warranty with Canada-based RMA services will be a boon for those of us north of the 49th parallel. In addition, the Twin Frozr IV heatsink played David to ASUS’ gigantic Goliath by beating its much larger triple slot competitor in thermal and acoustical testing."

Thanks to its Twin Frozr IV cooler and impressive factory overclock, this is is easily one of the best dual slot GTX 680 graphics card's on the market today. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Sharkoon DarkGlider Gaming Mouse Review

August 7, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Techware Labs have reviewed the budget friendly Sharkoon DarkGlider wired gaming mouse, which features a 6000DPI laser sensor.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The shape of the DarkGlider mouse is the first thing you notice about it, and it takes some getting used to. The area below the back and forward buttons on the side, where I expected to find a thumb-shaped depression, instead had a bulge that pushed my thumb out and forward a bit. Once I got used to that, though, I fell rather naturally into a claw grip, with thumb, ring and little fingers grasping the mouse on the sides, and index and middle fingers poised atop the main two buttons. If you like playing with medium-to-high sensitivity, i.e. 1200 DPI and above, this grip gives you some extra control.

The ceramic feet give this mouse an extremely smooth glide on just about any mouse pad, though it becomes especially slick with the DarkGlider pad we got along with the mouse."

This seems like an OK mouse, but for the money we would rather the SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] .

Click here to read the full review.

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XSPC Raystorm CPU Water Block Review

August 7, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

PureOverclock have reviewed the high performance XSPC Raystorm CPU water block, which is XSPC's new flagship water block.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Based on our previous review, we knew that the RayStorm was a top performing CPU water block. Our only real concern with the Acetal version was durability. XSPC has competently addressed that issue with the RayStorm Copper and in doing so has produced one very kick-ass CPU water block. Not only is the water block absolutely gorgeous in our opinion, the RayStorm Copper performed admirably, beating most other top blocks on the market, and taken number one spot in our book.

So, heres the bottom line in our opinion: if the words money is no object are in your vocabulary and if you dont mind oxidation from the copper, then the RayStorm Full-Copper is a must have CPU water block for your next build or upgrade project. It is really an exception piece of hardware."

Though a touch pricey, if you're in the market for a new water block this is an excellent place to start.

Click here to read the full review.

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Google Nexus 7 7-inch Tablet Review

August 7, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Break have reviewed the all new Google Nexus 7 tablet, which features a 7-inch screen, quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC and Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' operating system.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Coming to battery life, the Nexus 7 comes equipped with a 4325mAh battery that, according to Google, should give you eight hours of battery. In my non-scientific tests, I found the battery to last more than that and was easily getting over nine hours without any issues.

The Google Nexus 7 is currently selling for AED 1,200 for an 8GB unit which is a bit on the higher side considering that same unit sells for US$200 (AED 740.) At US$200, the Nexus 7 is a steal if you are ok with a small 7 sized tablet and is, without doubt, the best tablet to get. However,at AED 1,200, it is much closer to the iPad 2 which is currently selling for around AED 1,500 and with a larger screen and more tablet like interface, I think is a better buy."

The Nexus 7 is not only an impressive tablet, but with a price starting as low as $200 it is also an amazing value.

Click here to read the full review.

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EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Classified Graphics Card Review

August 7, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Guru3D have reviewed the high performance EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Classified graphics card, which features a custom PCB, custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The EVGA GeForce GTX 680 is a grand and luxurious product in the fierce graphics card arena. EVGA used the Kepler GK104 GPU and started redesigning the card from scratch. That results in a completely different PCB and cooling system. The end result speaks for itself, the performance is great and the factory overclock pushes the card into the extreme high end segment. Props for that.

When you start to overclock and tweak then you start to realize where the extra money went. It just is a smooth experience, you'll quickly find your cards maximum and based on the boost speed that will be in the 1200~1300 MHz range.

The end result is a card that performs well, there's not a game out there that it can't deal with.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Classified edition is exquisite really."

Though it is expensive, if you don't have room for a triple slot GTX 680 then this is arguably the card you want.

Click here to read the full review.

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MSI Z77A-GD55 LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 7, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Gage have reviewed the budget friendly MSI Z77A-GD55, which is MSI's more value orientated LGA1155 Z77 motherboard.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Judging by what we saw here with the Z77A-GD55, I'd say the company has changed how things are handled internally and as a result, has begun producing some seriously competitive offerings.

The Z77A-GD55 offers a great value for its price. It looks good (which holds limited importance of course), includes five fan headers placed at convenient locations, performs well, has a colorful, welcoming EFI (if not a bit clunky though) and for those who don't want to fuss with overclocking, it has a simple button that can be pushed to take care of it for you.

Given the issues I've had with MSI in the past, this GD55 board has been like a breath of fresh air. I punished it with all my might, and it stood up defiant, asking for more. If you're in the market for an affordable yet feature-rich Z77 board, add this to your list of considerations."

While it may not be as expensive as some of its siblings this feature rich motherboard looks like a good choice for consumers on a tight budget.

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H WiFi LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 6, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Look have reviewed the enthusiast grade Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H WiFi, which includes value added features like Bluetooth and WiFi abilities.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The Z77X-UD5H WiFi has a massive amount of features and loads in the included bundle, such as the WiFi and Bluetooth card, which is what puts up the price by about £30/$50. The normal version of this board, which doesnt include WiFi, costs £150, this is £20/$31 more than the Sniper M3. The WiFi card had a much higher and improved signal then my twin aerial WiFi Tenda card. Due to the board extra pricing on the WiFi version, this card must cost £30/$47.

The Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H comes with Gigabytes easy overclocking tool, and @BIOS software to upgrade your BIOS in seconds, this is something the Sniper M3 didnt have. They also both have Gigabytes 3D BIOS.

The board is layered in USB 3.0 ports, internal and external, and comes with every single port you will need in the near future."

For the amount of features this excellent motherboard has the price is actually pretty reasonable. Though if you don't need WiFi the basic UD5H model is even more reasonably priced.

Click here to read the full review.

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SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] Gaming Mouse Review

August 6, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have posted a review of the more budget friendly SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] Laser gaming mouse.

Let's see what they had to say:

"As with all of the SteelSeries mice I have had the pleasure of using, the Sensei [RAW] is just as agile and light as you would expect. I can't say much for the shiny version, but the grip and comfort of the rubber coating on this version made the mouse easy to lift and even with sweaty hands in this warmer weather, I wasn't sliding off the mouse or missing clicks in gaming situations. For someone with a medium sized hand, the Sensei [RAW] will be a comfortable fit. I even took a couple of days with this mouse in the left handed setup and the ambidextrous nature of the design feels exactly the same for both hands. The shape and contour along with the rubber coating really "just fits" without having to jockey your hand around for just the right comfort zone."

Though it may be lacking some of the features of the orginal Sensei this is an excellent mouse from a company known for their great gaming peripherals.

Click here to read the full review.

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Genius SW-G2.1 3000 GX 2.1 Speaker System Review

August 6, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Reaction have posted a review of Genius' GX Gaming Series SW-G2.1 3000 speaker system, which features two 15W satellites and a 40W subwoofer.

Here's what they had to say:

"Overall, the Genius SW-G2.1 3000 is a very good system. As we mentioned above, the mid and low ranges are distinct and crisp. The color scheme looks great with the gold and black mix on the speakers and control box. The speaker system was very easy to hook up as it took us longer to think about where to put everything than to actually connect it. The control box was a nice addition to the system and was easy to use to control the volume and the bass. Having the option to plug-in a headset on the front was another great idea from Genius, saving you the hassle of unplugging speaker wires and plugging in your headset direct to the sound card."

For the price, this seems like a pretty good 2.1 speaker system. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition TOXIC Graphics Card Review

August 6, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Heaven have reviewed the high performance Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition Toxic video card, which features a custom cooler, factory overclocked specifications and 6GB of memory.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Built on a custom PCB with high quality components such as the Black Diamond chokes Sapphire have delivered a product which looks and feels great. Little touches such as the metal backplate take the card above some competitors models and each key component is cooled regardless of its location on the board, even down to some discrete lighting.

This high level of design and build quality is backed up by some excellent performance from the significant Lethal Boost overclock combined with more memory than most people will ever need. Through both approaches that makes this the most futureproof 7970 we have seen to date but key to the results is that it is also the fastest single GPU product we have tested.

The Sapphire Toxic Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition is class leading, offering phenomenal gaming performance regardless of the settings and resolution."

With its excellent TOXIC cooler and twice the usual amount of memory, this is the HD 7970 GHz Edition card AMD fans have been waiting for. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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ARCTIC Accelero Hybrid AIO VGA Cooler Review

August 6, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have reviewed the Arctic Accelero Hybrid VGA Cooler, which combines water and air based cooling solutions to keep your hot running GPU cool.

Let's see what they had to say:

"To be on the bleeding edge of technology does tend to lead to higher demand on your wallet to allow for all the latest and greatest parts for your PC and this is no exception, but I will say that with a bit of tinkering, a really nice pair of 120mm fan and throwing silence out the door, there is a ton of potential in the Hybrid.

On the flip side, there is not the issue of tape letting loose and the heat sinks falling off. With the thermal adhesive, you are going to have to be gentle as not to remove the component being cooled if you do need to remove the cooler. Once that bit of the assembly was accomplished, the rest of the assembly went smooth without issues in clearance or anything that didn't fit quite right. The Accelero Hybrid is one solid bit of kit once you get it all together."

This is a very interesting and unqiue solution to the age old problem of effectively cooling both the GPU die and the rest of the cards components without resorting to specific model water blocks. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte GeForce GTX 680 Super Over Clock Graphics Card Review

August 3, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

eTeknix have reviewed the high performance Gigabyte GeForce GTX 680 SoC graphics card, which features a custom triple slot cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"As we mentioned right back in the introduction, this card has had a lot of hype going around and lets be honest, we can see why. With its radical heatsink re-design and colossal size, there is naturally a high expectation that the card has to live up to both on the front of putting any rumours to sleep about the inefficiency of the cooler and also the claim that it will be the most powerful single core [factory overclocked] card that we have ever seen. Without a doubt, we can say that the GTX 680 SOC has achieved its goals on both fronts.

Whether you should buy this or not is all down to the size of your wallet. If you want the best, then expect to pay the rest but we would certainly say that for now this is the best card that will be available on the market."

Much like the Gigabyte 7970 SoC, if you don't care about noise but want a 680 overflowing with performance potential, then this is arguably the GTX 680 you should be looking at.

Click here to read the full review.

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ASUS P9X79 PRO LGA2011 Motherboard Review

August 3, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Think Computers have reviewed the feature rich P9X79 PRO, which is ASUS' mid-range LGA2011 X79 motherboard.

Let's see what they had to say:

"I have reviewed many other boards and when I received the P9X79 Pro I once again realized why so many people choose ASUS over other motherboard manufacturers. The quality, addons, and useful software really make ASUS boards stand out.

Another thing that ASUS is great at is adding features to their motherboards that users will actually use. So right off the bat on this motherboard you have Bluetooth support. This means you can easily connect your Bluetooth devices and even your phone for fast file transfers. The BIOS flashback is another great feature. It allows you to put a flash drive loaded with your BIOS file in the BIOS Flashback USB port, press the BIOS flashback button and your BIOS will instantly be updated. One thing that is great about this is you only need your motherboard and power supply installed to update the BIOS. "

It seems like Asus really knocked it out of the park with the P9X79 Pro motherboard. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair Obsidian 550D Mid-Tower Case Video Review

August 3, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Canucks have posted a video review of the mid-range Corsair Obsidian 550D mid-tower case.

Let's see what they had to say:

"While it may be inexpensive and looks quite plain from the outside, the Obsidian 55D has been specifically designed with acoustics in mind but we happen to like its stealth-like qualities. This designs sleek lines and no nonsense industrial qualities will likely find its way into the hearts of gamers who are sick and tired of all the oddball designs on the market.

The front panel is made of machined aluminum that has been thoroughly lined in noise dampening foam and mounted on a reversible swing mount. Meanwhile, the main side panel has an opening that can be used one of two ways: it can be closed for silent operation or the meshed in area (with two 120mm / 140mm fan mounts) can be left open for additional ventilation. This allows end users to choose between silence and increased airflow."

While this is clearly another excellent Corsair case, those who have a little more money to spend should take a look at the higher-end Obsidian 650D.

Click here to read the full review.

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OCZ Vertex 4 128GB Solid State Drive Reivew

August 3, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Canucks have just tested the budget friendly Vertex 4 128GB SATA 6GB/s SSD, which is based on the Everest 2 controller and features 550MB/s read and 420MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"With the Vertex 4 128GB model, OCZ have succeeded in creating a downright affordable high performance drive that will help change public perception of SSDs from bleeding-edge novelty to valid (and desirable) mainstream option. As such, this drive is one Dam Good Value. The firmware may still be slightly rough around the edges and it may not be the fastest, cheapest, or largest drive on the market. However, the Vertex 4 it is fast enough, large enough, and inexpensive enough to make it one of the better options available today. If you are in the market for your first solid state drive and cant afford anything as extravagant as a 512GB model, then this drive deserves your careful consideration."

Thanks to some timely firmware updates, the Vertex 4 128GB is quickly becoming an excellent, high performance drive at a very budget friendly price, check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Corsair HX850 Gold 850W Power Supply Review

August 3, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Kit Guru have posted a review of the new Corsair HX850W GOLD 850 watt modular power supply which is certified for 80PLUS Gold efficiency.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The HX850 Professional Series Power Supply is unquestionably another strong offering from Corsair. The custom Channel Well Technology design has no noticeable weaknesses, combining a high level of efficiency with much desired, low noise levels. Aesthetically the design will fit into a wide range of systems, inoffensive, yet professionally finished with deep black paint able to resist a moderate level of abuse under normal circumstances. The paint didnt scratch when we pressed the tip of a screwdriver gently down the side panels for instance. The finish also doesnt attract fingerprints unnecessarily, which is always a bonus.

Technically, the unit is well balanced. It almost delivered 92% efficiency at 50 percent load which is an excellent result. The high efficiency has meant that Corsair have been able to reduce the clutter of heatsinks inside, improving the air flow across the components underneath the large fan."

This is an excellent upgrade to the original HX850, but if you want the very best you should check out the Corsair AX850 as it is even more efficient.

Click here to read the full review.

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Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX Case Review

August 2, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Secrets have posted a review of the Cooler Master Elite 120, an affordable mini-itx case.

Here's see what they had to say:

"We were extremely impressed with the Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced, as it is small, yet allows you to install a high-end video card up to 13.5 (343 mm) long and a big power supply up to 8.7 (220 mm) deep. This case also offers a very versatile configuration for storage devices. You can have a standard-sized optical drive and three 3.5 hard drives; or two 3.5 hard drives and two 2.5 or 1.8 devices; or one 3.5 hard drive and four 2.5 or 1.8 devices. And pricing couldnt be better: costing only USD 50, it is clearly a winner."

Much like most of the Elite series, the Elite 120 is a very good case for the money. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Cooler Master Storm Trigger Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

August 2, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Hardware Secrets have reviewed the Cooler Master Storm Trigger, which features Cherry MX mechanical switches.

Let's see what they had to say:

"The CM Trigger is a great mechanical keyboard for FPS players. It features full illumination, a precise response (as befitting a mechanical keyboard), and spare USB ports. The software is good for reprogramming regular keys, but the interface for macro recording is not that friendly. The product is beautiful and robust on the table."

This is a very decent gaming keyboard, though be aware that the type of Cherry switches used will vary depending on your geographic location.

Click here to read the full review.

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ADATA SP900 Premier Pro 128GB Solid State Drive review

August 2, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Reaction have just tested the high performance ADATA SP900 128GB SATA 6Gb/s solid state drive, which is based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller and features 555MB/s read and 510MB/s write speeds.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Performance of the ADATA SP900 Premiere Pro SSD was better than expected. The move to 0% over provisioning has not hurt the drive in terms of performance as much as expected although it does have an effect. How this will effect longevity remains to be seen, but the press release from LSI seems to state that NAND is STILL being used for over provisioning, it has just come in the form of the binary/decimal offset. Whatever the secret sauce users are now able to get an extra 7% of usable space on their SSDs when using a SandForce revision 5 drive.

Overall the SP900 gets a TechREACTION silver award for price availability, performance, features and data density.

Future firmware updates from SandForce and hopefully passed through ADATA are expected to resolve this issue."

Using a SandForce based SSD without any over-provisioning is indeed a novel approach. Though for a bit more you can have Intel 520 Series 120GB drive, which is slightly faster and has a longer warranty.

Click here to read the full review.

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EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Classified Graphics Card Review

August 2, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Anadtech have reviewed the high performance EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Classified graphics card, which features 4G of RAM, a custom cooler and overclocked specifications.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Treated like any other GTX 680, out of the box the GTX 680 is a very impressive card. EVGAs various touches such as 4GB of RAM, a larger cooler, a factory overclock, and of course additional VRM circuitry that leads to a higher stock power target, all serve to make the GTX 680 Classified a clearly better card than the reference GTX 680. Furthermore thanks in large part to EVGAs binning theres even more overclocking headroom to play with, leading us to reach a 1211MHz core clock without ever increasing its voltage. Its a very good if very expensive GTX 680.

At the same time gamers who are simply looking for an ultra-premium GTX 680 will find that the GTX 680 Classified fills that role well."

Though it is expensive, if you don't have room for a triple slot design GTX 680 then this is arguably the card you want.

Click here to read the full review.

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HP 2311 GT 23-inch 3D Monitor Review

August 2, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tomshardware have reviewed the budget friendly HP 2311 gt 23-inch monitor, which is a Passive 3D 1080p monitor.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Available for $250, the 2311 gt costs about $100 less than a similarly-sized 120 Hz display, which is fairly appropriate for an entry-level FPR-based 3D-capable monitor. It even offers a handful of strengths compared to shutter-based systems, such as much more affordable replacement glasses, significantly brighter output, and no 24 Hz frame rate cap in games over HDMI at 1920x1080. Its a good choice for folks who want to dabble in stereoscopic 3D without spending a lot of money. The brightness issue alone makes it a viable choice in environments awash with ambient light that can't be controlled. It also performs moderately on the Windows desktop."

While passive 3D monitors can not compete against second generation NVIDIA 3D monitors in most scenarios, the HP 2311 GT does look like an inexpensive way to get into 3D.

Click here to read the full review.

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OCZ Fatal1ty 1000W Power Supply Review

August 1, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Guru3D have reviewed the premium priced OCZ Fatal1ty 1000W power supply, which features a modular design, 80PLUS Gold efficiency and a 5 year warranty.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Honestly from an overall look kind of view I am a little impressed by the power supply as tested today. Both on the inside and outside the PSU simply is done right as the aesthetics simply are good. A grey/black PSU finish with a RED light coming from the PSU. Top notch we find the cable sleeving. All connectors have really nice sleeving in thin black, that is seriously going to look good inside any PC. The stickers on the sides could have been left out really.

Concluding then, honestly I'm impressed with the offering that OCZ has here. Product and feature wise from A to Z things are done right, the PSU next to that has cool looks, is modular and comes withy sleeved cables which if you where planning to do so, is going to save you heaps of time not doing it yourself. Aesthetics are subjective though."

While some 'Fatal1ty' branded devices fail to live up to their marketing hype, it appears this is not one of them. With its 5 year warranty, robust single rail design and good performance OCZ has done the name justice.

Click here to read the full review.

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Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 Super OverClock Video Card Review

August 1, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tech Spot have reviewed the high performance Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 Super OverClock, which features 1080MHz base core clock and a custom triple slot cooler design.

Let's see what they had to say:

"Gigabyte's Radeon HD 7970 SOC takes air-cooling to an obnoxious level and many enthusiasts will argue it's too large, too loud, too heavy, too expensive and simply too impractical. All of those points are valid, yet we don't mind. The way we see it, the HD 7970 SOC is meant to be all of the above. It's supposed to be the most extreme HD 7970 money can buy, and there's no denying it accomplished that feat.

Gigabyte expects the Radeon HD 7970 SOC to become available in early August and we believe it will retail for around $530. If this estimate is accurate, the 7970 SOC will be a bargain hunter's nightmare, costing 20% more than the standard Gigabyte 7970 OC. But for those who appreciate the excessive side of computing, the HD 7970 SOC certainly delivers."

Asus P8Z77-V Z77 LGA1155 Motherboard Review

August 1, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Benchmark Reviews have reviewed the budget friendly Asus P8Z77-V , which is ASUS' mid-range LGA1155 Z77 motherboard

Let's see what they had to say:

"In typical ASUS fashion, the board's construction quality is excellent. Granted, this is true of most mainstream motherboards these days, but I have seem a few that are obviously a step down. This isn't one of them.

Unsurprisingly, the raw performance of this board was identical to its more expensive cousin. Given the same chipset, CPU, memory, hard disk, and video card, this shouldn't be surprising.

As with other Z77 motherboards, there's really no compelling reason to upgrade if you're already using a Z68 rig. But if you're building a new system from scratch, and don't want to spend much more money for an X79 Express-based system, Z77 is definitely the way to go, and the ASUS P8Z77-V for $179.99 would make an excellent foundation for it."

While not as feature rich as the Deluxe or Premium versions, the P8Z77-V is a rock solid motherboard for consumers on a more limited budget. Check it out!

Click here to read the full review.

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Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl Mid-Tower Case Review

August 1, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

Tweak Town have posted a review of the new Black Pearl version of the Fractal Design Define R4 mid-tower case, which is an update to the R3.

Here's what they had to say:

"The Fractal Define R4; what's not to like, really. On the most basic level, the Define R4 is sleek, sexy and is an elegant looking addition to any environment, even in the living room, next to the TV. On top of that there is the fact that this chassis is based with the idea to virtually eliminate all noises associated with a chassis.

During build, reassembly and testing phase I got a real grasp for the solidity and forethought that went into redesigning the R3 to a much better offering with the Define R4. There was a structural stability in this chassis that I haven't seen in a while. Even with all of the hard drive bays out, the panels off and full of the weight of the components, this chassis doesn't flex at all and I tried to do exactly that, all to no avail. "

This is a very nice case for the money! Definitely give Fractal Design's case lineup a look, you won't be disappointed.

Click here to read the full review.

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Thermaltake Tt eSPORTS Theron Gaming Mouse Review

August 1, 2012 - Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

RBmods have reviewed the all new Thermaltake's eSports Theron gaming mouse, which features a 5600DPI sensor and 128Kb on-board memory.

Let's see what they had to say:

"If you dont like the LEDs on the mouse you can turn them off or change colors to suite you better.

Overall the mouse feels very comfortable and precise in its movements and it feels nice to play fast FPS games with it.

Putting those things aside and you have an awesome mouse, it performed good in our tests and it was precise and reacted quickly to our movements in games.

Overall a very nice mouse that most gamers would be more than happy with."

This seeks like an OK mouse with only basic software. If you crave even more features and better software the Cooler Master Storm Sentinel Advance II may just be what you are looking for.

Click here to read the full review.

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