August
25, 2004
Cooler Master Real Power 450W
Author: Hubert
Wong
"In
the end, it's all about reliable power, and the Real Power
450W delivers in this respect. The glowing LED PSU fan, and
shiny black exterior are the window dressing on what is one
of the best power supplies we've had a chance to test."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
SYSmark 2004 Patch-2 release
BAPCo® releases
SYSmark® 2004 Patch-2, extends functionality to SP2
SYSmark 2004 Patch-2 is now available for download from BAPCo.com.
SYSmark
2004 Patch-2 extends operating system support to Windows® XP
Service Pack
2.
Items addressed
by Patch-1 are included in Patch-2 for further ease of
use.
SYSmark 2004 Patch 2 can be downloaded from
www.bapco.com/support.html or
here @ gamepyre.com
Also
in the News
Cooler Master Dual Storm Fan
Author: John
Chen
"The
Dual Storm fan's purpose is much like the TMD fan, albeit with
different construction. Rather than using a single fan with
motors at the corners, the Dual Storm utilizes two fans that
spin in opposite directions to create extra air pressure and
focus airflow towards the center. With the added option of
a fan controller, the Dual Storm should definitely help keep
CPU temperatures down to a minimum."
Read
the full review
August
24, 2004
HIS Excalibur AIW 9600
Author: Björn
Endre
"A
couple of weeks ago I reviewed the HIS Excalibur AIW 9600XT
TURBO, a All In Wonder card based on the Radeon 9600XT with
both FM and TV and good performance. But what if you don't
need the speed and want an AIW-card that not only is cheaper
but also quieter and which would fit perfectly into a SFF system?
HIS has the answer for you with their HIS Excalibur AIW 9600,
the card I am reviewing today."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Thermaltake XTunner - IR Remote Fan Control Device
Author:
Ryan Kerschner
"Ahhhh.
The remote control. Found in the hand of many Americans every
evening and weekend after a hard work week. This device has
brought us comfort and efficiency since its inception, and
it doesn't show any signs of stopping anytime soon. The old
style televisions required you to actually get up and walk
to the television just to change the channel. How horrible."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Socket 939 K8T800 Pro: Abit AV8
Author: Chris
Tom
"Abit
is one of the handful of board makers to so far offer a Socket
939 motherboard based on the VIA K8T800 Pro chipset. The AV8
is a feature rich board aimed squarely at enthusiasts. Will
it stand up to previous Abit boards? We will find out, but
first here is a look at the specifications of the AV8."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Socket 754 Shootout - Moterboards for the Sempron
Author: Ed
Lau
"If
you are considering the awesome value of the 64 bit Sempron
processor, you are going to have a great time looking for boards.
You aren't confined at all to use the latest, rarest, most
expensive motherboards to use it. Instead, you are actually
bound to get a board that is more capable that the CPU itself,
due to limitations of the budget CPU!
Today we're looking at a trio of Socket 754 boards worthy of
your consideration for the Sempron. All are based on VIA's
K8T800 chipset, and all can be had for just around $100 or
less today. Find out who offers the best solution! Abit, Albatron,
or Asus!"
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
OCZ DDR Booster Diagnostic Device
Author: John
Chen
"We
recently reviewed the OCZ PC4000 Gold memory, which was undoubtedly
one of the best performing PC4000+ memory available. It overclocked
extremely well and provided excellent performance. However,
in order to reach the insane overclock, we had to up the juice
and give it a good 3v in order for it to start performing.
Most of the motherboards produced today only give enthusiasts
the option of VDIMM up to 2.8v-2.9v. Other than utilizing voltage
modifications, there is no way to increase voltage to memory.
OCZ strives to give overclockers a better chance at improving
overclocking results. They have made everyone's dream piece
of hardware--the DDR Booster."
Read
the full review
August
23, 2004
MSI PCX5750-TD128
Author: Hubert
Wong
"With
the ability to output to two monitors, as well as TVs via S-Video,
this wouldn't be a bad choice for media professionals who normally
rely on these features. Otherwise, those of you serious about
gaming, you're better off looking towards a VPU/GPU more suited
for the task of playing over 1024x768."
Read
the full review
August
22, 2004
Arctic Cooling ATI and NV Silencers
Author: Randy
Torio
"Arctic
Cooling is well known for their excellent and quiet cooling
gear. They have always built well performing heatsinks, fans,
and other cooling devices that offer excellent performance
for overclockers while creating minimal noise. It was the Arctic
Cooling VGA Silencer that made them popular among enthusiasts.
This cooler was arguably the best video card cooler in the
market and gave fierce competition to the likes of Thermaltake
and Zalman. This cooler was the perfect cooling solution, but
many wished that Arctic Cooling would somehow integrate copper
and cooling for the ram chips as well. Many also wished they
could have made Silencers that were available for ALL different
video cards. Well Arctic Cooling has answered all of your pleas
by doing just that and so much more."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
ASUS P5GD2
Author: Ben
Sun
"I'm
proud to give my personal recommendation of the ASUS P5GD2
Premium motherboard for those looking to upgrade to the new
Intel platform this is definitely one of my early favorites.
The packaging for this board alone makes it worth the premium
that the board goes for on Pricewatch or Newegg, which is currently
about $201.
The performance is right on par with the older and bigger brother
the P5AD2 and other motherboards in the 915/925 chipsets. If
you want the top of the line 915 or 925 motherboard today these
two are it. Doc already gave the P5AD2 an Editor's choice and
I'm giving it's slightly less expensive brother the same award."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Arctic Cooling
ATI and NV Silencers
Author: Randy
Torio
"Arctic
Cooling is well known for their excellent and quiet cooling
gear. They have always built well performing heatsinks, fans,
and other cooling devices that offer excellent performance
for overclockers while creating minimal noise. It was the Arctic
Cooling VGA Silencer that made them popular among enthusiasts.
This cooler was arguably the best video card cooler in the
market and gave fierce competition to the likes of Thermaltake
and Zalman. This cooler was the perfect cooling solution, but
many wished that Arctic Cooling would somehow integrate copper
and cooling for the ram chips as well. Many also wished they
could have made Silencers that were available for ALL different
video cards. Well Arctic Cooling has answered all of your pleas
by doing just that and so much more."
Read
the full review
August
21, 2004
Updating Your
Windows XP Install CD: A Slipstream & Bootable
CD Guide
Author: Jason
Rabel
"Originally
introduced with Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system,
the ability to integrate service packs and hotfixes into the
initial installation of the operating system became known as "slipstreaming".
By updating the install CD, it saves time later that the user
would have to spend manually downloading and installing updates
and drivers."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Bjorn3D August Prize BFG 6800 OC with Far Cry
Author: Chris
Tom
"There are still 11 days left if you feeling like being a posting
fanatic to try to win the BFG prize of the month. I just found
out it is going to be 6800 OC with Far Cry.
For rules
of the contest please read this page
Also
in the News
Plextor PX-712SA
SATA DVD±RW Writer
Author: Shane
Unrein
"As
serial ATA (SATA) hard drives grew in popularity over the past
year or so, many users who fancy SATA's small cable and simple
interface (no jumper) started wondering when SATA optical drives
would hit the market. It makes sense, right? You get so happy
that you can toss those large ribbon or round IDE cables in
place of your new SATA cable for that new SATA hard drive,
but then your joy is quickly diminished as you realize you
still have to live with your optical drive's big, fat cable."
Read
the full review
August
20, 2004
HIS Excalibur X800 Pro IceQ II
Author: Jeremiah
Bostwick
"This
card is fast, very fast. With only four high end cards to choose
from (X800 Pro, XT, 6800GT, Ultra) this card should be on your
very short list. With stock overclocking that for sure can't
be beat, this is surely a winner."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream Aluminum Case (VA3000BWA)
"The
Thermaltake Tsunami... what can I say? When I saw it on Thermaltake's
site, I instantly knew I wanted one. It's a very nicely designed
case and well thought out, with a totally different front that
makes it stand out from all other Thermaltake (Tt from here
on out) cases. I've been using probably one of the most popular
'clone designs' for the past year or more in the form of PCToys'
CaseMax 610 (also seen from Chieftec/Chenming/etc...the list
just goes on and on). The Tt Tsunami design is a nice departure
from this overly common design."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
InsaneTek Case Modding Contest
"This
month's InsaneTek contest giveaway will be based on the case
modding theme. For those who have or will do case mods, be
sure to join in on the fun. There are a total of 4 prizes and
each prize can go towards your next case modding project."
Get
the full details here
August
19, 2004
Thermaltake XTunner Remote Controlled Fan Controller
Author: Nathan
Glentworth
"I
have to admit to you, for ~US$20, you really can't go wrong
with the XTunner. Sure there are other options on the market
that have a boatload more feature and capabilities, but they
also have the much higher pricetag to deal with. The XTunner
allows the computer enthusiast to finally get control over
their computer's case fans and with the slight touch of a remote
control have them adjusted perfectly for their current work
environment and load."
Read
the full review
August
18, 2004
Cooler Master Cool Drive 6
Author: Hubert
Wong
"If
you need the cooling, the device does the job well, plus it
has the added benefit of controlling your fans, monitoring
temperatures as well as allowing you to keep an eye on your
hard drive storage space and speed."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Crucial Ballistix 1GB (2x512MB) PC4000 DDR Memory Kit
Author: Jason
Rabel
"Crucial
Technology has always been known for their quality memory,
great prices, and fast shipping. Recently Crucial has added
a new "high performance" memory product line, called
Ballistix. The Ballistix line of memory encompasses both DDR & DDR2
products, and emphasizes performance while still maintaining
Crucial's high standards of quality."
Read
the full review
August
17, 2004
Corsair Memory TwinX1024-3200XL Pro Series Give Away
Contest
"EXTREME
Overclocking has teamed up with Corsair Memory to give away
4 sets of TwinX1024-3200XL Pro Series RAM!
This contest is open to everyone world-wide, and all they have
to do is submit their email address!."
Get
the full details here
Also
in the News
Crucial Gizmo USB 2 Flash Drive
Author:
Scott Sherman
"Last
November, Crucial asked Bjorn3D if we wanted to look at their
new Gizmo 256 MB USB drive. In looking at it, we only found
two things that bothered us -- physical size of the drive and
the fact that it only supported USB 1.1. Today, I am looking
at the new USB drive, the Crucial Gizmo USB 2.0. Did Crucial
learn their lesson with the new drive?"
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Cooler Master Centurion 5
Author: poiuy223
"I
remember when the Centurion 1 first came out. I was a bit shocked
to see that Cooler Master deviated from the use of aluminum
with steel. I was skeptical about the looks and the quality.
Much to my surprise, I still own one. Although it needs some
help with cooling, it is still one of the best cases I've worked
with. Much has changed since the first Centurion. Cooler Master
has heard the demands from consumers and have created the new
Centurion 5."
Read
the full review
August
16, 2004
AOpen DRW8800 8X DVD Burner
Author: Brook
Moore
"AOpen
has delivered an adequate drive for those of us who require
+/- support, and at a very nice price point of $75 USD. Although
the drive is not as fast as the ASUS, it is a suitable drive
for those of us who don't burn DVDs 24x7 as the MIAA thinks
we all do."
Read
the full review
August
15, 2004
Chenbro RM215 Rackmount Case
Author: Chris
Tom
"Chenbro
is one of the top enclosure makers, and for years we have been
testing their cases. As the Opteron's popularity continues
to rise we decided it was time to test rackmounts that were
well suited for a dual config. Chenbro answered the call and
provided us with their RM215 2U rackmount. It can come in a
variety of configurations and ours came prepared for the dual
Opteron MSI server board with a SATA backplane. Here are the
features and specs of the RM215 per Chenbro."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
HIS Excalibur X800 Pro IceQ II VIVO LIMITED EDITION
Author: Björn
Endre
"A week
ago, I reviewed the HIS Excalibur X800 XT IceQ II VIVO LIMITED
EDITION from HIS. I found it to be an excellent card well worth
its price. But what if you don't have the money for an X800
XT card? HIS has the solution for that too with the HIS Excalibur
X800 Pro IceQ II VIVO LIMITED EDITION. The card is the same
as the X800 XT IceQ II VIVO LIMITED EDITION except for the
X800 Pro chip."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
August
13, 2004
SilverStone SST-30NF 300W Fanless Power Supply
Author: Carl
Nelson
"If
you are building a silent PC or a home theatre PC, you are
going to have to go all the way with silent components. This
includes the Power Supply.
Unfortunately, most silent power supplies are only silent when
they are within a certain temperature range. Once they are above
that range, they are anything but silent.
That's why many manufacturers are releasing fanless power supplies!
SilverStone is one of them, and their SST-30NF looks to be perfectly
designed for silent PC builders looking for the perfect combination
of power and silence."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
HIS Excalibur Radeon 9550 iFan VIVO Edition Videocard
Author: Nathan
Glentworth
"When
it comes to mainstream videocards, you buyer has to know that
a card cannot be deemed poor if it doesn't blow every game
and benchmark out of the water. What you have to consider is
the performance to value ratio. In the case of the Excalibur
Radeon 9550 reviewed today, you just cannot ask for more performance
and overclocking potential from a sub US$100 videocard. With
the soft-modded drivers and an overclocking utility, this card
really picks up the pace and was even seem to tackle and take
on the FX5600 Ultra in some benchmarks."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Enermax UC-9FATR2 (Multi-function 5.25in Bay Device)
Author: Chad
Unrein
"One
of Enermax's newest products is a multi-function bay device,
the UC-9FATR2, and, fortunately, Maxpoint decided to send one
to Bjorn3D for review. The UC-9FATR2 fits in a standard 5.25
inch bay and offers a wide variety of features. One feature
that you will not find on many, if any, other similar devices
is serial ATA connectors, and this unit has two."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
PimpRig Guide // KayinStorm's Etching Technique
Author: Edward "KayinStorm" Seales
"The
answer isn't a sandblaster or laser etcher, but a lot of patience,
and 3-D etching with a Dremel. The idea itself is daunting, and
will take a
LOT more time than normal how-to guides, but the effect is one-off
and
certainly well worth the effort, especially at LANs, where eeryone
is
admiring everyone else's rig."
Read
the full guide
Also
in the News
Crucial Ballistix Dream Machine
"You'd
better slide over your gaming rig to make some space. Better
yet, just throw that old thing out. Why? Because the staff in
the
Crucial Performance Lab are living every geek's dream of building
the ULTIMATE gaming rig. And here's where it gets good - you
can win
it by entering the Crucial(R) Dream Machine Sweepstakes at
www.crucial.com/gamer
."
Get
the full details here
Also
in the News
Shuttle AN51R Review posts on www.motherboards.org
Author: Doc
Overclock
"I
cannot say anything bad about the board it just seems to be
very much the same as too many others I have seen. I know Shuttle
will probably not like to hear this, but it is the truth nonetheless.
For many people this board will suit your needs in everyway
as most do not go over their hardware with a fine tooth comb
like my insane geek persona does and if you just want stability
and ease of use you will not be disappointed with the AN51R.
OEM's would be most pleased by this boards overall performance
and stability as well as the price that it can be obtained
when purchased in quantity buys. Well the AN51R is a solid
as they come as far as stability and performance are concerned
and no issues were found in those areas. My whole take on the
board is that as good and reliable as it is nothing really
stands out and grabs my attention as a really wow feature.
Don't get me wrong the on/off buttons on the board and the
reset button on the rear panel is cool, just not wow. That
does not mean the board is not a solid product, but it does
keep me from giving it an Editor's Choice Award."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Sapphire Radeon Toxic X800 Pro VIVO
Author: Shane
Unrein
"A
couple months ago, I reviewed the Sapphire Radeon X800 Pro
and was quite impressed by the performance it offered, especially
when compared to the former ATI flagship video card -- the
9800 XT. In this review, I take a look at another card from
Sapphire. It happens to be another X800 Pro, but this one is
much different from the previous card, which was simply a copy
of ATI's reference design with a different sticker on the cooler.
The card
on the review bench this time is the Sapphire Toxic X800 Pro
VIVO, and it is an entirely different kind of beast.
Under the hood, it's still a X800 Pro of course, but Sapphire
has tweaked more than just a couple things that will undoubtedly
make you raise an eye-brow or two. For those of you keeping track
at home, the Sapphire Ultimate series is out, and the Toxic series
is in."
Read
the full review
August
11, 2004
Zalman Reserator 1 Fanless Water Cooler
Author: Carl
Nelson
"Since
we first published our article on how to build a DEAD SILENT
PC almost two years ago, components have only gotten hotter
and hotter (especially on the Intel side). Those seeking silent
PC operation for their high end PC's are going to have to take
more drastic measures than ever before.
The Zalman
Reserator 1 fanless water cooler is one of those products that
you would have never imagined to exist until you
saw one in person. You're probably heard of it right now, so
check out our review of the newest version of the Reserator 1
to find out how it performs!"
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Enermax CS-656TA
Author: Brook
Moore
"If
you are in search of a case that is not plain vanilla and yet
not on the extreme side of design, then we may have found a
nice fit. That is, as long as you don't have to switch out
motherboards often. With efficient air flow and the ability
to control the noise level, this case can be that quiet, stout
corner piece in your office."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Ultra Products Dual Channel 1GB PC4000 Kit
Author: Brett "BigAkita" Rosene
"The
first thing I did was set it up for 400MHz at CAS2 to ensure
there
was no problem with that, there wasn't. I compared my Sandra
Memory test
results at 400MHz against a GB of PMI RAM at the same settings
and the
results were within 3 points, so I knew the speeds of the Ultra
RAM were
valid."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Albatron PX915G Pro
Author: Stephen
Cooper
"We
were able to hit 252MHz FSB with the PX915G Pro, but only when
we had the Northbridge set to +.3V. We already have discussed
the temperature at which the passively cooled heatsink runs,
but it’s even worse with +.3V. This might not seem like
much, but it’s a 20% increase in voltage over the standard
application. We took out our external temperature gauge and
found that near the core, the Northbridge heatsink was hitting
65C!"
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Steelpad S&S
Author: Rafal
Zak
"If
you are a gamer, you know that a good mouse pad is part of
successful fragging. Ever since the introduction of optical
mice, gamers around the world have been seeking depthless and
smooth surfaces -- not always necessary however. The mouse
pad sector has grown big -- plenty of competition, companies
coming up with new solutions and materials for their pads.
Expensive mouse pads aren't exactly a necessity for RPG enthusiasts.
Nonetheless, it's fun to glide your mouse on a comfortable
surface."
Read
the full review
August
09, 2004
AOpen COM5232 CDRW/DVD
Author: Hubert
Wong
"Although
Just Link wasn't present, the buffer under run protection worked
well. While burning files on to a CD at 52x, I defragged the
folder it was copying from, and ran a virus scan on that drive.
The burn times increased by about 30 seconds longer than when
the PC was left alone. The burn worked just fine, save for
the Teac drive being unable to read the disc."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Kingwin Arctic Liquid Cooler
Author: Ryan
Kerschner
"Newcomers
to the PC enthusiast community may be set back by all of the
talk of keeping your system properly cooled. There's the traditional
heatsink and fan combo, the watercooling, thermo-electric and
even peltier cooling. Kingwin has introduced a watercooling
kit into the market that is simple to set up and can help a
new or even seasoned enthusiast break into the watercooling
arena. The Arctic Liquid Cooler features an all-internal design,
multiple radiators and even a GPU waterblock. Read along as
I take a closer look at the Arctic Liquid Cooler."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Ultra X-Connect Modular 500W PSU
Author: Carl
Nelson
"Every
once in a while, a product is released that makes use of modifications
people have been doing on their own already. In most cases,
the end retail products are cleaner, look better, and are more
reliable. Oh yeah, and they still have a full warranty.
The latest mod-inspired PC product is the X-Connect Modular
Power Supply from Ultra Products. If you have been wondering
what to do with all those unsightly, long, messy cables on your
500W PSU, Ultra has the best solution; don't install them at
all! This is a product you have to see to truly appreciate..."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
CoolerMaster KHC-V81 Hyper 6 P4/A64 Heatpipe CPU Cooler
Author: Nathan
Glentworth
"Here
is where I conclude my love/hate relationship with the Coolermaster's
Hyper 6. There is very little middle ground with this cooler.
All the good and bad points are exceptional and should be definitely
considered if you are thinking about purchasing this heatsink.
I am going to lay everything out as honest as I can
."
Read
the full review
August
07, 2004
Raidmax RX-520XP Power Supply
Author: poiuy223
"As
everyone knows, the power supply in your system is the most
important piece of hardware. What we have from Raidmax today
is their high end power supply fit for overclockers and gamers.
Continue reading and you can judge for yourself whether this
Raidmax unit is a good choice for you."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Mitsubishi Diamond PRO 2070SB
Author: Scott
Sherman
"With
CRT's quickly being replaced by LCD's, gamers are having a
hard time finding a good quality CRT for their love of playing
games. Don't fear, today we are going to look at a big CRT,
the Mitsubishi Diamond PRO 2070SB."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Enermax UC-9FATR2 Deluxe Multifunction Panel
Author: Andrew
Benicasa
"Enermax
has been producing high-end computer products since 1990 and
was nice enough to send over their new Supreme Multi-function
Panel for PC or Mac for us to take a look at. The Supreme has
a lot of features included like USB 2.0, Firewire, memory card
reader, and fan controller, which is a lot for one panel. The
Supreme also has SATA ports on it, but the lack of external
SATA devices at this time deems it a null feature."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
Raidmax Scorpio 668 Aluminum ATX Tower Case
Author: Trevor
Flynn
"The
steady flow of case reviews continues today at hardCOREware.
Today we're reviewing the newest "Scorpio" case from
Raidmax: The 668.
The Scorpio 668 is a full aluminum, full tower, which comes
preinstalled with no less than six fans, and a 420W Raidmax PSU.
It has quite a few features worth talking about (some good, some
bad), so be sure to check out the review!"
Read
the full review
August
06, 2004
Ultra X-Connect 500W Fully Modular PSU
Author: Hubert
Wong
"If
you're looking to reduce cable clutter, a modular PSU is the
way to go. The Ultra X-Connect is a sight to behold, and from
the PSU to the cables themselves, everything screams quality.
It also helps that the PSU itself provides plenty of reliable
power as well."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
ASUS WL330 Wireless AP
Author: Aaron "Ludicrous" Vienot
"Broadband
Internet access is now quite common and wireless has become
popular in the form of the IEEE 802.11 standard. Wireless routers
are abundant at reasonable price points, yet a question lingers:
is an Ethernet cable still necessary for those on-the-go situations
when broadband is available, but wireless is not? According
to the good folks at Asus, the answer is “no,” and
they don’t expect you to lug around a plastic cigar box
with a wall brick power cord, either. Meet the WL-330, a versatile
access point only slightly larger than a cell phone."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
HEC Power OP 475
Author: Chris
Tom
"As
CPUs and video cards continue to grow in transistors and power
consumption having a reliable power supply becomes more and
more important. Cheap power supplies are one of the most common
problems with many computer problems particularly from the
DIY crowd. With out enough power when you slap a high end video
card and fast CPU along with a couple of hard drives you can
quickly eat up the watts.
Today we
will look at the new HEC Power OP 475. HEC has a wide range
of power supplies, and this is one of their higher wattage
supplies aimed at enthusiasts. Let's first take a look at the
specifications of the Power OP 475."
Read
the full review
August
04, 2004
GIGABYTE 6800 Ultra
Author: Benjamin
Sun
"I almost
gave this card an Editor's Choice award as just about everything
about it rocked. In my time with the card, it's proven to be
silky smooth in everything I've tried it on. The bundle just
adds to the value of the card. Thief: Deadly Shadows is a fun
thought-provoking game. Joint Operations is a great multiplayer
game that was what Battlefield Vietnam should have been in
my opinion.The only drawback was I could not find an available
card to purchase so availability was poor. Other than that
performance was top shelf all the way and if you want the best
this card is heading in the right direction."
Read
the full review
Also
in the News
ABIT AA8
Author: Niso
Levitas
"Nice
board, really stable. All necessary features were there. I
liked it without the Integrated Wireless AP and unnecessary
additional SATA or IDE Controllers. The sound setup with optical
in and out ports, all necessary USB, Firewire ports, Gigabit
LAN. It is a really good base for an enthusiast system. There
were some ergonomic issues though. For clean installation inside
the case and better airflow, ergonomics could be better. And
one more PCI Slot instead of a 3rd PCI Express slot would be
better. The amount and detail of the BIOS Settings were the
best I have seen to date. If you like to base a good system
and you don't need and you don't like unnecessary mumbo-jumbo,
it is a good choice. For overclocking I definitely recommend
it."
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Shuttle AN51R Mainboard
Author: Dean
Barker
"The
CMOS clear button on the rear I/O panel was a pleasant find
as were the on/off and reset buttons beside the panel connectors.
Its layout was exceptional. Connector and cable plugs are grouped
so as to avoid unnecessary clutter. This is especially demonstrated
by the 3-pin Molex connector fan header placements."
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HIS Excalibur X800 XT IceQ II VIVO LIMITED EDITION
Author: Björn
Endre
"I always
admire companies that try to do something special with their
products. HIS is one of those companies. With their IceQ line
of ATI cards, they have gained a very good reputation. Today,
I am looking at the king of their cards, the HIS Excalibur
X800 XT IceQ II VIVO LIMITED EDITION. Yes, a long and complicated
name, but somehow it does fit with this card since it is anything
but simple."
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Gigabyte GV-NX57128D PCI-E Videocard
Author: Colin
Sun
"The
Gigabyte GV-NX57128D video card is a PCI Express x16 solution
that is based on the GeForcePCX 5750 GPU. The blue-PCB card
is backed up by 128MB of TSOP-II 3.6ns Samsung DRAM, and it
supports S-Video out, DVI and analog connections. The card
doesn't require any extra power connectors incidently."
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Doom 3 Performance: Radeon 9800XT and Athlon 64
"We
have been testing out Doom 3 performance, and our first results
are with the Radeon 9800XT and an Athlon 64 3200+. We test
at several resolutions, and all of the quality settings.
Now high
quality does bring a drop in frame rates across the board.
Only the 640 resolution is able to stay above 60 frames per
second, and you see about a 7 frame per second drop in performance
across every resolution except 1280. 1280 drops 3 frames per
second to 29.1. This is the resolution I used during my single
player play, and for the most part things ran ok. If I became
serious I would likely drop back down to 1024X768."
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Lite-On LVW-5005 All-Write DVD Recorder
Author: Shane
Unrein
"DVD
recorders continue to gain popularity but not just for computers.
DVD recorders are becoming major components in consumers' home
theater setups. It's no surprise that many of the big names
in consumer electronics, like Panasonic, Pioneer and Toshiba,
have released DVD recorders, but some of you might be surprised
to see Lite-On enter this fray for your hard-earned cash. Lite-On
is a name most of you probably know from inexpensive yet good-performing
optical drives, such as CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives."
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Gigabyte GA-8ANXP-D (i925X)
Author: Stephen
Cooper
"Much
like what we are used to with Gigabyte, they’ve managed
to shove a huge amount of added features into the GA-8ANXP-D
and still supply a well managed layout. Gigabyte has consistently
provided their users with solid designs, despite the amount
of features that can be implemented into them, especially the
high-end products. The GA-8ANXP-D is no slouch when it comes
to cleanliness, but it does have one annoying problem."
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Gigabyte GA-8ANXP-D
(i925X)
Author: Stephen
Cooper
"Much
like what we are used to with Gigabyte, they’ve managed
to shove a huge amount of added features into the GA-8ANXP-D
and still supply a well managed layout. Gigabyte has consistently
provided their users with solid designs, despite the amount
of features that can be implemented into them, especially the
high-end products. The GA-8ANXP-D is no slouch when it comes
to cleanliness, but it does have one annoying problem."
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the full review
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