News From Our Affiliates

OCZ SOE Urban Elite Edition DDR3-1600 2GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review @ ThinkComputers.org

“It's been a couple of years since I reviewed my first kit of memory, a pair of green camouflage OCZ Special Ops Edition (SOE) DDR modules near the end of the DDR era. Here I am, around 20 memory reviews later, with my next pair of camo OCZ modules, their Special Ops Edition Urban Elite Edition DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) 8-8-8 2GB kit. As the original Spec Ops, the Urban Elite is basically marketed towards gamers for a simple choice in building their gaming rig, just choose the camouflage memory. Will the Urban Elite live up to the expectations we have for OCZ memory? We'll find out in the following pages.

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Foxconn GeForce 9500 GT G96 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews

Not everyone can afford the bleeding edge of graphics hardware, and not everyone needs it. NVIDIA has already made headlines with their high-end GeForce GTX 280 video card, which offers high performance at a premium price. Most enthusiasts have seen so much coverage for the high-level graphic products that it might feel like nothing exists for the lower consumer segment. Benchmark Reviews hasn't forgotten about the entry-level enthusiast, which is why we test the Foxconn GeForce 9500 GT 256MB PCI Express video card 9500GT-256FR3 against the bigger names in this review.

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OCZ Technology 4GB PC2-6400 Fatal1ty Edition Memory @ OCIA.net

"This month OCZ Technology celebrates their 8th anniversary manufacturing high performance memory products for the computer enthusiast market. They're also the latest manufacturer to jump on the Fatal1ty bandwagon, releasing both DDR2 and DDR3 modules under the world famous PC gamer's banner, in PC2-6400, 8500 and PC3-10666 speeds. OCZ sent us over a pair of their new Fatal1ty modules for review, the 2x2Gb PC2-6400 Dual Channel kit, and claim "these high-performance memory kits were co-developed with the expertise of the world’s 12-time champion to meet the needs of fellow gamers."

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Thecus N5200B PRO Five Bay NAS Network Attached Storage System Review @ Tweaknews.net

"Safe, accessible mega-storage is what Thecus delivers with the N5200PRO, and they deliver it in spades! It even looks good doing it. With support for up to five terabyte drives and multiple RAID setups, this little jewel has what it takes to satisfy most any home/small business user."

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Thermaltake Xaser VI MX Mid Case @ Pro-Clockers

Thermaltake may have the largest selection of cases available right now. They have been the type of company to not rest or settle with their current collection of cases in their catalog. This is great for the builder that wants to be able to select from a long list of cases without seeing a repeat of the same case. What I mean is some companies take one case and keep recycling the same design over and over. All this being external. Yes, Thermaltake will make one case and make it in a small and a larger size. Nothing wrong with that.

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GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 280 Graphics Card @ TweakTown

"The other day we looked at the GTX 260 from GIGABYTE. Today we’re going to be looking at the slightly more expensive GTX 280 version from them. Since launch, we haven’t really seen any companies do much with the GTX 280. While a few have come overclocked, we have found that they’ve all stuck to the reference cooling option. Today we’re going to be looking at the GTX 280 from GIGABYTE which follows the reference design down to a tee. The good news is that the price is also extremely competitive and for the most part the overclocks a lot of companies offer can be achieved by using a program like Rivatuner on your stock card."

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Spire Blue-Star 1000 (SP678S0) CPU Cooler Review @ Technic3D

"The Spire Blue-Star 1000 (SP678SO) CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The CPU Cooler with 90mm Fan, H.D.T. technology, 4x 8mm Copper heat pipes and easy installation. See you in the following Review the Blue-Star 1000 compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and more."

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Tuniq 3 Case @ BurnOutPC.com

"Sunbeamtech has left a clear presence in the hardware industry by developing a huge line of products and since a year or so they created a whole new premium series to offer cases and coolers. What we are looking at today is their Tuniq 3 casing which offers their patented 3D Core-Fan Bracket, tool free drive installation and two cold cathodes underneath the bottom to finish it off."

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Gigabyte EP45-DS3L & EP45T-DS3R @ Phoronix

"Intel's P45 Chipset was released this summer along with the P43, G43, and G45 Chipsets as the mainstream Eaglelake alternative to Intel's current flagship X48 Chipset. Though over the older X48 motherboards, the P45 has the advantages of using Intel's newer ICH10 / ICH10R Southbridge and support for up to 16GB of DDR2/DDR3 memory, which is double that of what's supported by the X48. Today we are looking at two Intel P45 motherboards compliments of Gigabyte with their EP45-DS3L and EP45T-DS3R. The EP45-DS3L and EP45T-DS3R are just two of Gigabyte's motherboards bearing the P45 Chipset but in total they have eight different motherboards using this version of the Eaglelake Chipset."

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Flip Video Mino Review @ ASE Labs

" Since ASE Labs is getting more and more into producing videos, it is time to start reviewing digital video cameras. The first such device is absolutely perfect for the Youtube crowd and has been making the rounds on the internet. The Flip Video Mino from Pure Digital promises web videos made with ease and they aren't kidding. "

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AMD ATI All In Wonder HD, A Legend Returns @ HotHardware

When ATI was acquired by AMD a few years ago, one product that seemed to fall off of the new corporate radar was ATI's All-In-Wonder line of Graphics/TV-Tuner hybrid cards. This was an area of the market where ATI had exclusivity, yet we haven't seen a new All-In-Wonder offering since May 2006. Rest assured however, ATI has not abandoned the All-In-Wonder, they've simply been working on the next iteration of the Graphic/TV-Tuner stalwart, with their latest offering coming in the form of the ATI All-In-Wonder HD.

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Aerocool Modern V Display @ TechwareLabs

Looking to add an attention grabber to the front of your case? Jack checks out the Aerocool Modern V which promises flash and functionality at the same time. Does it come through on each of these fronts? Read his evalutaion before purchasing.

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Thermal Paste Roundup August 2008 @ APH Networks

It has been over a year since we've reviewed thermal paste. With the previous presented to us being Arctic Cooling's excellent MX-2 thermal compound in July 2007 and reviewed August 2007 -- it was, no doubt, excellent thermal paste; and were able to achieve a score of 8.1/10 on our Number Ratings. Thermal paste may seem so insignificant -- it can be easily overlooked to an extent that many people simply buy what they've heard of the most, and not necessarily what is the best. Thermal paste may 'seem' to be all the same with each other; but each is actually quite unique with different companies making different formulas for synthetic compounds or metal compounds. But all serves the same purpose to allowing better transfer between the cooled device and the cooler; filling microscopic valleys in surfaces that has microscopic imperfections to maximize heat transfer efficiency at its source. Today, we will be looking into several different brands of claimed 'high performance' thermal paste and see which one performs the best. Our four-way competition today includes the 'classic' Arctic Silver 5, our previous winner Arctic Cooling MX-2, the price competitive Tuniq TX-2, and the NT-H1 paste from silent PC enthusiasts' favorite company Noctua.

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LukWerks WiLife Security System @ TechwareLabs

Interested in getting a fully featured security system but don't want to pay over $300 for it? If so, then WiLife's Digital Video Security System might be worth a look. One of the featured items at CES earlier this year, was the WiLife Security System. WiLife, a sub company of Logitech, now offers wireless security for your entire home. Featuring three different types of cameras each for different instances, these include your standard indoor camera, weather-proof outdoor camera, and even a spy camera found in an alarm clock. Now I'm sure most of you guys just got some wild ideas of what to do with that spy camera, I know I thought of a few. Read on to see how the WiLife truly performs.

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ASUS Republic Of Gamers Maximus Formula II Review @ motherboards.org

From a performance point of view, the ASUS Maximus II Formula is simply head and shoulders above the other P45 motherboards I've tested in the important categories of Sysmark (overall system score) and 3DMark (Graphics scores). From a Features point of view, the 8 SATA ports, CrossfireX compatibility and the ability to overclock the CPU to a higher clock speed automatically (CPU LevelUp) are features that a gamer will use. The inclusion of a full version of Kapersky Antivirus and 3DMark06 are added bonuses that make this motherboard worthy of a ROG sticker and my recommendation. P45 chipsets have hit the market in full force with ICH10R and a slew of improvements due to the smaller process scale of 65nm. As we move further into 2008 and into 2009 weâ€™ll see a whole new platform, but for the mainstream enthusiast gamer this board is as good as it gets.

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ATI RADEON HD 4870 X2 2x1024 MB @ Digit-Life

"First of all, it was planned to oppose GeForce GTX 280 with CrossFire configurations based on two separate HD 4850 or HD 4870 cards. Then the company presented a dual-GPU solution on a single PCB, the RADEON HD 4870 X2. We've already published its preview with several tests. Now it's time for a sterling article with theoretical data, synthetic tests, and an expanded set of games."

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Gigabyte M912 Possibly in the USA? and Other Details @ TechwareLabs

We have heard from an anonymous source that the M912 Gigabyte netbook will sport some features not to be found in any other netbooks at this time. We have also heard that it may indeed be coming to the USA though we do not have confirmation nor an available date as of yet. Stay tuned as we will bring you the update first when the information becomes available. For the full details of what the M912 will be packing when it hits the US check out our scoop.

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Asus EAH 4850 TOP Videocard Review @ Rbmods

The 4850 videocards seem to be the best bang for the buck cards on the market right now. Asus has released a TOP version which is a factory overclocked card and it also has a big Glacier cooler on it to keep the noise down. We are going to compare it vs some other high performing cards today and see if this TOP card really adds some top performance to it.

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NCAA Football 09 Review @ [OC]ModShop

With Fall on the horizon, it will soon be time for collegiates all over the nation to gear up for fierce gridiron combat. In NCAA Football 09 by EA Sports, fans can get into the action in style. Playing on my Playstation 3 with the Dual Shock 3 control, I was easily able to setup and start the game. I chose to play the all new mascot play to start which allowed me to play as Harry the Husky the beloved mascot of my alma matter The University of Washington.

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R700: ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 @ TrustedReviews

ATI's tactic of using multiple graphics chips on a single card to get the top performance may set our alarm bells ringing when it comes to compatibility issues. However, we experienced no problems and the price and performance of this card is undeniably great.

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99 Windows Vista Performance Tips and Tweaks @ PCSTATS.com

"Welcome to PCSTATS massive 99 Windows Vista performance tips and tweaks guide! This incredible collection of Tech Tips is all about making your computer perform to its full potential with Windows Vista. Knowing Microsoft, chances are good that there's a tip or two in this 31-page long Guide that will make a world of difference for your PC. Take control of Windows Vista with help from PCSTATS. We've got 99 ways to squeeze out better performance, enhance boot times, free up hard drive space and trim away Vista's fat."

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ATP EarthDrive @ OCC

"The ATP EarthDrive uses a manufacturing process called "System in Packaging" that, according to ATP Electronics' website, "encapsulates all exposed components and points of failure." This means that the drive should be very durable and waterproof. I'm sure you all want to know if this SIP process works, so I dunked the EarthDrive in water for about an hour. After I let the drive dry off (so I don't burn up my own USB ports), I plugged it into my laptop, and it came right up with no problems. Now, you no longer have to worry about ruining your flash drive if it goes through the washer - but you probably shouldn't put it through the wash, just to be on the safe side."

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ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB Video Card Review @ ThinkComputers.org

“Today I will be looking at ATI's most recent release, the Radeon HD 4870 X2. I can't quite imagine the performance capacity of a pair of HD 4850s, so I really have no idea what to expect from twin 4870s, complete with two full gigs of DDR5 memory. This will be my first ATI-branded Radeon card, which will make things even more interesting. Will the 4870 X2 offer the ultimate 3D graphics experience? Read on to see!"

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July Contest Winners Announced @ motherboards.org

Hello everyone, another month has passed and another giveaway has ended. The winners have been announced and to see if you are one of the lucky ones click on the link below. Special thanks to Palit for their kind donation of this months prize items, thanks Darren!!

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Kingston HyperX PC3-14400 2GB Memory Kit Review @ HardwareLogic

"Listen up folks, the DDR3 era is upon us. Both Intel and AMD have adopted the newer standard, and with Intel's Core i7 (the chip formerly known as Nehalem) peeking around the corner, there's just no looking back. Despite the temptation posed by dirt-cheap DDR2 modules, any build from the ground up should be focused on DDR3, save for those on an extremely tight budget. Newer processors are finally starting to benefit from the added benefit, and each new chipset release finds new ways of optimizing memory performance, making those DDR2 modules seem ancient by comparison."

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Super Talent PICO-C Gold 8GB USB Flash Drive Review @ Futurelooks

There are two things that immediately struck me about this particular USB flash drive from the folks at Super Talent. First, this thing is bloody tiny. It's not appropriate to call it a thumb drive at all because this USB drive is actually quite a bit smaller than the average adult thumb. It's more appropriate to call it a USB stick or something. Pinky perhaps? When the drive can be almost completely occluded by a quarter, you know that it's ridiculously small.

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TRENDnet 300Mbps Dual Band Wireless N Gigabit Router @ TweakTown

"How do you decide which router to buy in this day and age? Is there one product that has it all? You’ll be hard pressed to find a product with all the bells and whistles, but we may have one here today that comes close to the mark. Today we get up close and personal with TRENDnet’s very latest router, the 300Mbps Dual Band Wireless N Gigabit Router sporting model number TEW-672GR. Specifically, we are looking at version 1.0R, which is the shipping version you’ll find in the stores when buying."

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Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 Video Card 100251SR @ Benchmark Reviews

Technology doesn't play favorites, and when it reaches an apex there is an indifference towards who develops it. ATI has learned this lesson the hard way, having watched from the sidelines for so long that most have forgotten that AMD could be a leader in technology. The Radeon HD 4870 X2 is the latest evolution in graphics cards, and ATI has delivered something bigger than we've ever seen before. Benchmark Reviews is fortunate to test the Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 Dual-RV770 GPU video card 100251SR against a collection of todays hottest video cards available.

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Thermaltake DuOrb Heatpipe CPU Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com

Installing the Thermaltake DuOrb heatpipe CPU cooler on a motherboard with an open layout should be very simple thanks to the well thought out mounting hardware that will hold the cooler in place and will keep it from sliding around. As seen in the review, there could be issues installing the DuOrb on some motherboards.

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ECS P45T-A Intel P45 Express Motherboard Review @ PCSTATS.com

"Built with the Intel P45 Express and Intel ICH10R chipsets, the ECS P45T-A motherboard supports all Socket 775 Intel processors running with a Front Side Bus of 800/1066/1333 MHz. That includes the new generation of 45nm 'Yorkfield' and 'Wolfdale' Core 2 Duo processors. Gamers who plan on running a pair of CrossfireX enabled videocards in tandem (say, a pair of Radeon HD4850's for example), will find two PCI Express 2.0 compliant PCIe x16 slots at their disposal."

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Evercool Zodiac Aluminum Notebook Cooler @ [OC]ModShop

Do you own a laptop? Of course you do. Who doesn't? Here's another question for you, how many of you have scars or third-degree burns on your legs and crotches from your portable PC? Ever wish there was something out there that would let you get your work done without burning out your 3.5 floppy? Well, the geek fairy may have answered your prayers. Except for the 3.5 thing. Some issues you just have to deal with on your own. Evercool presents the Zodiac NP-301. This solid aluminum cooling pad for laptops can take the heat, and put it somewhere other than your pants. It features two extremely quiet fans that draw heat away from your PC and disperses it, keeping your laptop stable and cool. This saves your legs as well as your PC from an untimely death.

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ASUS HD 4870 X2 (EAH4870X2) 2GB PCI-E @ Overclock3D.Net

Today we take a look at AMD's latest and greatest GPU and place it head-to-head with an NVIDIA GTX280.

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ASUS Radeon HD 4870 TOP 512MB Graphics Card @ TweakTown

"What’s so great about the TOP line-up from ASUS is that they don’t get a card and just add an extra 10MHz to the core and 20MHz to the memory, the TOP line-up of cards are really well overclocked cards that stand out from the competition. That latest card to carry the TOP name comes from the AMD team; the HD 4870 has quickly become a hot product for so many people thanks to the aggressive performance and even more aggressive price tag. Today we’ll be checking out how the ASUS overclocked version goes against a stock clocked offering and see if it’s worth paying the premium that the TOP cards carry to get the larger out of the box clocks."

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Icy Dock 3.5 Inch Screwless External Enclosure Review @ ASE Labs

" It seemed like some time ago that external storage was the oddball for people. Times have certainly changed now that internal hard drives are so large that backing up to optical media is really an impossibility. More and more external drive enclosures are coming out to provide the need, but they aren't created equal. Icy Dock's 3.5" External Screwless Hard Drive Enclosure (MB664US-1S) aims to fit the external storage needs of everyone in a convenient to use package. I believe they have achieved that. "

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Sunbeamtech Core Contact Freezer @ techPowerUp

Sunbeam's Core Contact Freezer is a cost effective CPU cooler for AMD and Intel CPUs. Its eight heatpipes make direct contact with the processor for optimum cooling. Also included in the package is a fan controller which allows you to optimize the acoustics to your usage scenario.

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News From Our Affiliates

Thermaltake Armor+ ESA Full Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

“Our friends at Thermaltake thought this an excellent idea, and immediately jumped onboard to develop ESA-compatible cases, power supplies, and watercooling systems. I won't go any deeper into ESA at this time, as this case is merely the first installment in a series of ESA reviews, following the Armor+ ESA case will be an ESA-supporting Thermaltake BigWater watercooling system, next a Thermaltake ESA-compatible power supply, and finally a full-blown article on ESA itself. So in this review I will concentrate on the Armor+, and save the ESA-specifics for a later date. Will the case meet the standards t hat we have come to expect from Thermaltake? Read on to find out!”

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GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 260 Graphics Card @ TweakTown

"Like the GTX 280 which has dropped in price over the last few weeks, the GTX 260 has followed suit. Whether you’re a fan of ATI or not, the release of the HD 4800 series and their performance to price ratio has forced NVIDIA to cut margins on the new GTX line-up of cards and give us an extremely powerful card for what now resembles a fair price. To date we’ve only had a look at one GTX 260 which came with a massive out of the box overclock. What this means is it hasn’t really given us the ability to completely come to terms with what the GTX 260 offers in its cheapest form; the stock form."

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ASUS Republic of Gamers Convention: Part 2 @ Techgage

The ASUS RoG Con is done and over with, so we take a look back at what made the weekend so great. Depending on who you ask, the LAN was a great success, with nobody leaving without some sort of swag in their hand. But, there was so much more to it than just that. Will we see another? We sure hope so.

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ASUS P5E64 WS Pro X38 Motherboard @ Benchmark Reviews

As predicted for this year, the dizzying high prices of DDR3 have finally dropped to within reason- even edging into that of DDR2's price point. The reason for such drastic price drops is that chip makers like Micron, Samsung, Hynix, and Qimonda are currently in full swing mass production of DDR3 DRAM - increasing supply and beating demand. This excess in inventory of DDR3 means a steady supply affordable and readily available chips that have helped to spur such rapid market adoption, evident with over fifty different motherboards currently on the market that support this memory standard. Further DDR3 price drops are expected to continue into the fourth quarter and means many will be looking for quality motherboards suitable for high-speed DDR3. That being the case Benchmark Reviews thought it would be of interest to examine one of the more mature DDR3 based motherboard offerings on the market today; the ASUS P5E64 WS Professional Motherboard based on Intel's 3 series X38 Express Chipset with support for unheard of "Quad" graphics.

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional @ I4U

"Today we are looking at the latest version of Nuance's dictation software called Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10. If you are looking to get your work done faster with less typing, this application is worth a look. I admit I'm not totally ready to give up my keyboard, for some applications -- like the content management systems on our website -- voice commands don't work well. Another issue for some users will be the price -- the professional version I'm testing sells for over $800. However, the standard version sells for only $99 and offers much the same functionality."

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Gigabyte EP45-DS3P (P45) DDR2 Motherboard @ Overclock3D.Net

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The ASUS Treasure Hunt - Win a HD4850 "TOP" Edition GPU @ Overclock3D.Net

Join the ASUS Treasure Hunt and be in with a chance of winning a factory overclocked HD4850 "TOP" graphics card.

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ASUS Rampage Extreme Motherboard @ Overclock3D.Net

Will the X48 based Rampage Extreme be the daddy of all overclocking motherboards?

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ATI HD4870X2 Crysis AA vs DX9/DX10 Performance @ madshrimps.be

We did some data mining through the massive amount of test data that was put online yesterday; it seems the HD4870X2 works really wonderful with Crysis when AA is enabled, if you are running under Vista. The increased level of detail with 4xAA doesn't really reduce performance all that much. While the GTX 280 takes a serious performance hit. Secondly is the fact that the HD4870X2 holds up better going from Windows XP to Windows Vista, and runs the game faster than the GTX 280 when "Very High" detail is used. While under XP with "High" the both are basically tied.

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Maxtor BlackArmor 160GB Encrypted Portable Drive Review @ Bigbruin.com

The BlackArmor 160GB encrypted portable drive provides a unique twist on a rather common item. Portable hard drives are everywhere, and in general are easy ways for people to lose valuable personal or business data. Security is the key feature of this product, and if protecting your portable data is a high priority, Maxtor has made it just about fool proof.

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Final Finatasy IV Revisited @ [OC]ModShop

Since gamers missed out on the real FFII and III (due to attention being given to the Super Nintendo), Square renamed Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy II, and sent it to North America. FFIV remains as the second most remade game (behind FFI) and the first as far as most re-translations go. But enough about present day talk; lets get right to what it was like in 1991.

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Coming Soon: AMD R600 3D Documentation @ Phoronix

"For months we have been telling you that AMD has been preparing to release their R600 series documentation as well as opening up the source-code to two of their internal software projects used for testing new graphics processor designs prior to the availability of the actual hardware. Advanced Micro Devices has yet to release their 3D programming documentation covering the R600 series (or the brand-new RV770) nor the source-code to their two internal projects (TCore and KGrids), but following several postings in our forums over the past couple of weeks and many emails inquiring about the status, today we have a brief update to share."

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Infinxx AP23 Reviewed – Bluetooth for your iPhone/iPod @ DragonSteelMods

" This amazing device plugs into the iPhone/iPod dock connector and allows stereo playback over Bluetooth enabled stereo speakers or headphones. The AP23 does not require charging as it runs off the iPod/iPhones native power, although this may present a problem for the already sketchy battery life found on the iPhone 3G."

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Corsair XMS3 DHX 4GB DDR3-1600 kit @ TechwareLabs

We stick the Corsair XMS3 DHX kit into our test machine today and rev up the speed till the speedometer cracks. Does the Corsair kit survive our test track? If you are thinking of shifting your rig into high gear and need some memory thats right for the job then you need to read our review first.

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Asrock X38 TurboTwins-Wi-Fi Socket 775 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers

It has been a short while since we have had an Asrock motherboard on our test bench. Today, we are ending that dwelt with the X38TurboTwins-WiFi. We know that the X38 is almost a thing of the past but for some of us it is the best priced way to get 16x across two slots when wanting to run a Crossfire setup. So read along as we take the X38TurboTwin for a ride.

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NZXT Sentry LX Front Panel Display @ Pro-Clockers

When I received the invitation to review the Sentry LX I jumped at the chance. The latest rash of goodies being sent to us from NZXT has been awesome to write about. There was the Core Contact and the Tempest both near the top of their particular category. The Core Contact placed near the top in the air cooling temps. And the NZXT definitely looked up to the claims of being the King of Air Cooling. So why can't the Sentry LX be any different? Why can't it be one of the best looking LCD display panel out? Today, we will be taking a hard look at the unit and see where it stands.

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Metadot Das Keyboard Professional Review @ HardwareLogic

"The only company in the world to market a blank keyboard is back at it again, this time with a pair of planks that have been completely redesigned from the ground up. Can Metadot's Das Keyboard shock the world again?"

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Thermalright TRUE Black 120 heatsink @ Icrontic.com

"Thermalright has undoubtedly created a legendary heatsink with their Ultra Extreme. I am pleased to say that their new TRUE Black 120 is no exception and has thoroughly impressed me. Its performance was second to none on our toasty Q6600 test platform. Not only did it best all sixteen other heatsinks we have tested, it did so by a significant margin."

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MSI's N280GTX-T2D1GOC GeForce GTX 280 @ HotHardware.com

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 200 series of graphics cards have undergone a significant price reduction since they first debuted. At the time, NVIDIA flexed its GPU muscle with a high-end, single GPU graphics design that their primary competition (AMD) could only compete with by throwing two GPUs at the problem. As such, NVIDIA initially priced their flagship GeForce GTX 280 at a significant premium; $649 upon its introduction on launch day. Would you believe us, if we told you back then, that these cards would be selling for $200 dollars less in only about two months time? Journey on for our view of the GeForce GTX 280 redux and see how MSI's N280GTX-T2D1GOC shapes up in the current high-end 3D graphics landscape.

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Forceware 177.83 WHQL driver comparison @ Hardwareoverclock Austria

Hardwareoverclock Austria has posted a new article. Yesterday nvidia releases the new Forceware drivers 177.83 with PhisX. We tested the driver on our Geforce GTX260 system in a comparison to the last official and Beta drivers 177.41 WHQL and 177.79 Beta.

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Razer Destructor Mouse Pad Review @ Hardware Secrets

"People invest a lot of money on their gaming setup - fast Internet connection, quick response monitor, high fidelity headset, gaming grade keyboard and mouse - but often overlook a prosaic peripheral: the mouse pad. Sure, top of the line gaming mice will work even on top of your leg but their performance will lack without the proper surface. Razer, a company known for their gaming peripherals like the Piranha headset (that we already tested), released the Destructor, their new gaming grade mouse pad model. He was our trusty brother in arms on the digital battlefields for the last weeks. Let's proceed to our test."

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320 GB Hard Disk Drive Round-Up @ Hardware Secrets

"When buying a hard disk drive most users are only concerned with the drive's capacity. Should you also care about performance? We compared the performance of nine 320 GB SATA-300 hard disk drive models from Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital and Hitachi. Is there a big performance difference among them? Is it worthwhile to pay a little bit more and get a drive with a bigger buffer? If so, which is the fastest 320 GB in the market? Check it out!"

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Asus M3N78 Pro @ TrustedReviews

The Nvidia GeForce 8300 chipset does no more than a reasonable job of supporting AMD?s Phenom and taken in combination with the poor layout of the Asus M3N78 Pro we ended this review glum and unimpressed.

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Smart People DVD & Blu-Ray Disc Review & Podcast @ Ascully.com

"Quaid does an excellent job of being the pompous professor who is seething with some kind of bitterness and disdain for everyone around him. We have all met him in one way or another. Through the movie he holds that odd barely functional personality through mannerisms and the way he walks and talks and facial expressions. It was a pleasure to watch."

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Kingston HyperX 2GB DDR3-1600 RAM kit @ TechwareLabs

Kingston provided two of their HyperX DDR3 1600MHz ram for your enjoyment. Jason Dumbaugh happily popped them into our TechwareLabs test rig and too it for a ride. Find out if the HyperX is as fast as it looks or if we blew out in the curves. If you are looking for some new sticks rated for speed then our review is a must read.

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ECS GeForce 9800 GTX+ Hydra Video Card Review @ Hardware Secrets

"ECS is very popular on the low-end segment, so we were really surprised to see this company launching a good high-end solution. The Hydra kit contains two GeForce 9800 GTX+ running at their default clock configuration and one Thermaltake BigWater 760is water cooler. The video cards come with the cold plates already assembled, so the only work you will have to do is to connect the hoses coming from BigWater to the video cards and fill the water tank with the coolant liquid that comes with the kit. We took an in-depth look on Hydra, check it out."

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Single HD 4870 X2 vs Two HD 4870s on P45 @ TweakTown

"Just the other day, I was talking about how the HD 4870 X2 is a great card for P45 users. When I tested HD 4870 in CrossFire a few months back on both the P45 and X48, we noticed that the x8 / x8 configuration present on the P45 actually gave us a bit of a hit in performance. So, what we’re going to do today is chuck a pair of Sapphire HD 4870s into a P45 board and do a bunch of tests. We’re then going to pull those two cards out and stick in a single HD 4870 X2. We will run the same tests and proceed to compare. Since we’ve already looked at the cards themselves, we’re just going to get stuck straight into the benchmarking side of things. Let’s begin by taking a quick look at our testbed we’re using today, before getting stuck straight into the benchmarks."

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OCZ Alchemy Elixir Gaming Keyboard @ I4U

"One common truth for many gamers is that their budgets are tight. Gamers are always on the lookout for good, low cost gaming peripherals that actually work. Today we are looking at just such a device from OCZ called the Alchemy Elixir Gaming Keyboard. One thing I have found on every gaming keyboard that I have ever owned is that after using it 8 to 10 hours a day five days a week simply typing -- not even counting gaming -- the keys start to wear after a while. To remedy this OCZ actually includes extra key tops to replace the most commonly used keys -- including the WASD keys used for movement, the spacebar, the shift key, and the arrow keys. Extra keys are a feature I have yet to see much more expensive gaming keyboards on the market offer."

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ATP ToughDrive @ OCC

"This is a very standard USB drive, without many special features that would make me recommend it over any other drive to one of my friends. The one added feature that makes this drive appealing is that it is intended to take some abuse. The SIP (System in Packaging) design makes the ATP ToughDrive waterproof, shock proof, and dust proof; pretty hefty claims in this day and age, but the testing backed that up. The clip used to attach the ToughDrive to your belt loop, back pack, or key ring appears fairly stout, and should make this drive a little easier to keep around. I know that I have lost more than my fair share of drives due to poor clips or attachment methods."

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Mtron Pro 7500 32GB SATA-II SSD MSP-SATA7525 @ Benchmark Reviews

Solid State Drives have become a subject of keen familiarity for Benchmark Reviews over the past year. After testing more than a dozen SSDs, I have watched the industry opinion of these cutting-edge products sway from luxury item to performance hardware necessity. While it cannot be denied that SSDs are still a pricey gadget best suited for the affluent enthusiast, there have been so many new developments that now cost is sharply on the decline while performance is continually rising. With prices being much more affordable, and performance having surpassed the best HDD products long ago, it all boils down to a good price-to-performance ratio. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the premium MSP-SATA7525 SATA-II SSD from Mtron, a company that has become the grandfather of Solid State Drives. We dispel the myths associates with SSD products, and prove that Intel's ICH10 controller is still not ready for Solid State Drive performance.

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OCZ Alchemy Elixir Gaming Keyboard @ Techgage

OCZ prepares to take on the world of gaming keyboards with their new Alchemy Elixir, part of the company's Alchemy lineup of gaming peripherals. How does it stack up to the competition from established gaming peripheral companies like Razer, Logitech, and Creative?

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XIGMATEK HDT-SD964 CPU Cooler @ TweakTown

"With a trio of heatpipe direct touch CPU cooler reviews under our belts, I can definitively say that the tech is quickly catching on and spreading like wildfire. I am standing strong behind my statement from the last review of a H.D.T. cooler that I think this is the direction most CPU heatsinks will go in the future; much like the way nearly all CPU coolers use heatpipes nowadays. Today we are going to take a look at the HDT-SD964 from XIGMATEK. Unlike all of the Heatpipe Direct Touch (H.D.T.) coolers we have looked at thus far, this cooler does not use a 120mm fan. The HDT-SD964 uses a 92mm fan and is a little shorter than the others. This will allow the cooler to be placed in smaller enclosures like 4U server chassis’ and equal sized media center cases."

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Merconnet MP3 Player / FM Modulator Review @ Tweaknews.net

"Realistically, for US$30, could you really expect more from one single product. For a small tidy sum of money, you finally will be able to play your favorite tracks in your car instead of having to spend hundreds installing a new MP3 capable deck."

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Zerotherm Zen FZ120 CPU Cooler Review @ [OC]ModShop

ZEROtherm has introduced the Zen FZ120 to help me chill out. Okay, I'm lying. It was really created to make sure the inside of your PC case looks like something designed by NASA. Seriously, it looks like this thing is some kind of nuclear core for a space engine. It's nothing special to look at. Six heatpipes buried in a standard-looking radiator style heatsink with a copper base. What makes it so scary looking? Its monstrous size probably wouldn't fit in most mini ATX cases. Optimized for Core 2 Quad/Duo processors, it was made to take the heat. And kick its tookus.

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ECS GeForce 9600 GT Graphics Card @ TweakTown

"I’ve seen more 9600 GT cards than I would like to honestly admit. The bottom line is, though, that the card does offer some excellent value for money and if you don’t have the budget to buy new high-end cards like the HD 4870 or GTX 280 and GTX 260, the 9600 GT still remains a very good option. Today we’re going to take the time to check out the latest 9600 GT incarnation from ECS and see what it has to offer over the competition. In a time where bundles and overclocks separate brands, we see if the latest version from ECS can stand out."

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Xirex 4mm Thick Water Block Tested for Geforce 8800 GT @ Madshrimps

NVIDIA had quite a success with their 8800 video card series; especially their 8800 GT based on the G92 core made its way into many PC configurations. Sadly the single slot reference cooler was not very quiet under load and high temperatures prevent any overclocking fun. Xirex launched their Stealth Full Cover water block which aims to bring excellent performance even with low noise water cooling configurations, let's put it to the test!

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PQI Turbo 4GB DDR3-1600 kit - Immortality Edition @ TechwareLabs

Continuing our DDR3 performance testing week we install a 4GB kit of PQI DDR3 Immortality Edition into our test rig. Is the PQI kit truely immortal surviving our overclock and how well does it perform? Follow our DDR3 lineup week and be sure to check out our previous two reviews as well as our upcoming coverage all this week.

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