Reviews 51950 Published by

GeForce 7900 GS group test
bit-tech.net have a look at six different GeForce 7900 GS cards from BFG Tech, EVGA, Galaxy, Inno3D, Point Of View and XFX.

VGA's card represents the best purchase for a number of reasons - the fact that the card is future-proofed when it comes to next- generation content protection methods is a definite plus point and one that should be given some serious consideration. If you're even remotely considering using your PC to play next-generation HD content, you're going to need a system that is HDCP capable.
GeForce 7900 GS group test

ATI X1950 XTX Video Card Review
T-Break posted a review on the ATI X1950 XTX Video Card

The core on the X1950 XTX almost remains unchanged running at the same frequency as the x1900- 650MHz. ATI does say that the core is tweaked and thus the model number has changed from R580 to R580+ and from our talks with ATI, that + sign is basically an updated/tweaked memory controller that will also take over the x1900 series in the future.
ATI X1950 XTX Video Card Review



ECS KA3 MVP Extreme Motherboard Review
Bjorn3D takes a look at the ECS KA3 MVP Extreme Motherboard

The KA3MVP Extreme is a good example on how motherboard makers solve the lack of features in the ATI chipset. Both on the SATA-front and on the LAN-front ECS has added some third-party solutions. Even so the motherboard only got a single Gigabit controller, something that probably won't bother that many people. I did actually have some issues installing the drivers for the Agere controller though so for this article I choose to use the Realtek controller.
ECS KA3 MVP Extreme Motherboard Review

ASUS Crosshair "Republic of Gamers" Socket AM2 Motherboard Review
TweakTown takes a look at the ASUS Crosshair "Republic of Gamers" Socket AM2 Motherboard

ASUS today have provided us with a new motherboard designed to be the ultimate gamer’s motherboard for the AM2 platform; it is part of the new “Republic of Gamers” series from the Taiwan company. Designed with hardcore gamers and overclockers in mind, this board looks more like an amusement park than a board with tubes, pipes and lovely colours.
ASUS Crosshair "Republic of Gamers" Socket AM2 Motherboard Review

Can Blogs be Commercialized?
OCModShop posted a new article: Can Blogs be Commercialized?

The blogosphere is a relatively new phenomenon that has arrived on the scene and a growing number of people are advancing the idea that it is a great opportunity for companies to sell ideas, products and services cheaply. The problem is that people forget that the blog also allows people to "push back" in a very public manner. The blogosphere remains a community activity of personal and like-minded people communicating together. Other opportunities have emerged in the Web 2.0 world and perhaps...just perhaps a business blog may not be the best solution.
Can Blogs be Commercialized?

ATP MicroSD/Reader Combo Review
Hardware Secrets has posted a review on the ATP MicroSD/Reader Combo

ATP is a company specialized in flash memories, carrying a full line of flash memory cards. They have a very innovative manufacturing process that makes all their memory cards waterproof, shock proof, ESD proof and resistant to extreme temperatures. They also have a very innovative SD card set, called MicroSD/Reader Combo, which comes with one micro SD card and two adapters to transform this card into a mini SD or into a regular SD card – which is great, as your don’t need to worry about which SD format your device accepts –, plus a USB reader. Let’s take a look on this combo.
ATP MicroSD/Reader Combo Review

Thermalright HR-05-SLI Chipset Heatsink Review
PC Modding Malaysia put up a Thermalright HR-05-SLI Chipset Heatsink review

All in all, the HR-05-SLI heatsink is yet another impressive chipset cooler by Thermalright. It has two heatpipes, a large copper base and massive surface area designed for passive cooling. Although it was originally designed for passive cooling, you can always hook a 70mm or 80mm fan onto it and enjoy up even cooler chipset temperatures. While we were utterly impressed with the original HR-05, we were amazed with the newer HR-05-SLI. Thermalright had certainly put a lot of thought into designing the HR-05-SLI that if installs on multi GPU motherboards such as NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFire. If you have a DFI LAN Party nF4 motherboard, this is perhaps the best chipset cooler you can buy for your motherboard. On our first motherboard, it was 10=BAC cooler but our second motherboard recorded a whopping 28=BAC cooler with the Thermalright chipset heatsink. If you are looking for the best chipset heatsink for your multi GPU motherboard, then the Thermalright HR-05-SLI worth checking out. For around $26 / RM100, this chipset heatsink is not very expensive when compared to other chipset heatsink with heatpipes.
Thermalright HR-05-SLI Chipset Heatsink Review

Zalman VF700-Cu Review
Techware Labs has published a review of the Zalman VF700-Cu Video GPU Cooler

So you have you mean machine pumping out some serious performance, but the evil result is your system sounds like a small lear jet at a continous take-off throttle. Sure your system may be water cooled bringing your CPU and north bridge to a relative temp, but what about that VGA heatsink with its turbo fan running at full tilt? Well the techs at Zalman sent us one of their CF700-CU coolers for us to try. So, lets get to what we found out.
Zalman VF700-Cu Review

MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE Video Card Review
Viper Lair posted a review on the MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE Video Card

Enthusiasts are about excess and the MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE isn't designed for people who want to play on 17" LCD monitors. Simply put, if you have a large widescreen panel, this hardware has your name all over it. It provides performance close to two 7900 GT cards, and if you pair two 7950GX2 cards on one board, you'll have a PC that will be faster than any traditional SLI setup.
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE Video Card Review

Thermaltake Armor Jr. Mid Tower Case Review
XYZ Computing has posted a new article out on the Thermaltake Armor Jr. Mid Tower Case

The Armor Jr. is Thermaltake's attempt to make a case which is reasonable small but is still worthy of the Armor name. From the looks of it a number of changes were made but the cases are fundamentally similar. The smaller size of the Junior means that some of the cooler features on the Armor probably had to be dropped but we'll see just how good a job they did of translating the Armor into a smaller product.
Thermaltake Armor Jr. Mid Tower Case Review

Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Arm Review
The Tech Lounge posted a review on the Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Arm

Monitor arms allow us to further reduce the already small footprint of our LCD, or even completely obliterate it. They also allow us to position the monitor in a location to best suit our viewing, which is especially important for ergonomics. And for those situations where there may be more than one person using the same computer from different locations around the desk, monitor arms allow us to swivel the screen into position with much more freedom than even the best stock LCD stands. Unfortunately, one of the downsides of monitor arms is that they can be quite expensive. This is why today we are taking a look at the Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Arm: a monitor arm that allows for a wide range of movement and reach, while maintaining a relatively low price-point.
Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Arm Review

Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC2-6400 Review
Techgage posted a review of Crucials Ballistix PC2-6400 kit

With so much competition in the memory market nowadays, it's increasingly difficult to make the -best- choice when it comes to purchasing a new kit. The Crucial PC2-6400 use the infamous D9GMH chips, but requires a staggering 2.2V! Does its performance make up for it?
Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC2-6400 Review

OCZ SD Dual Memory Card Review
OCIA.net takes a look at the OCZ 2 GB Dual SD Card in their latest review

OCZ began to diversify their offerings in 2004 with the release of power supplies aimed specifically at gamers. Since that point, OCZ has continued to expand their horizons, now offering cooling solutions to go along with their already wide array of products. Today we will be taking a look at yet another one of their new innovative products in the 2 GB Secure Digital Dual Memory Card.
OCZ SD Dual Memory Card Review

Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC2-6400 Review
Techgage posted a review of Crucials Ballistix PC2-6400 kit

With so much competition in the memory market nowadays, it's increasingly difficult to make the -best- choice when it comes to purchasing a new kit. The Crucial PC2-6400 use the infamous D9GMH chips, but requires a staggering 2.2V! Does its performance make up for it?
Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC2-6400 Review

The Quiet PC Challenge - A Primer
Futurelooks has posted an article on Quiet PC's

Arthur C. Clarke's writing in the late 50's speculated that a computer with human like intelligence would have to be the size of the Empire State Building and require Niagra Falls for cooling. On most counts, this prediction was fabulously wrong, but it may just turn out that Authur was right about needing Niagra Falls for cooling.
The Quiet PC Challenge - A Primer

Abit IL-90MV Motherboard Review
Hardware Secrets posted a new article on the Abit IL-90MV Motherboard

Well, who thought Abit was dead is definitely wrong. After being bought by USI they are pushing hard on new products, including IL-90MV, a motherboard based on Intel 945GT chipset targeted to media center PCs, i.e. Viiv-compliant desktops. Abit chose socket 478 for this motherboard as mobile socket 478 CPUs like Core Duo and Core 2 Duo (for notebooks) consume less power thus produce less noise (as they run cooler they can use quieter coolers) than desktop CPUs, an important factor when you think of building a PC to stay on your living room. But this product highlight is its on-board HDMI output, being the first time we’ve seen such feature embedded on a motherboard. Let’s take a look on this new product.
Abit IL-90MV Motherboard Review

Titan NK34TZ Cooler Review
Driver Heaven posted a review on the Titan NK34TZ Cooler

Titan is one of the oldest companies specializing in computer cooling equipment. During the past few years, their production capacity and R&D capabilities have increased many times over, and this year they have released many new products, striking at many of the cooling market sectors. The product which we have here today is the NK34TZ, a heatpipe cooler aimed at those wanting good performance on a budget.
Titan NK34TZ Cooler Review

Vantec NexStar LX NAS Review
The Guru of 3D takes a look at the Vantec NexStar LX NAS

This product ladies and geeks is not for the low-level PC enthusiast. This product, as strange as it might sound, is a highly configurable dedicated computer that has everything removed except what's needed to get it attached to a 10/100 Ethernet LAN and talking to just about any network file system and protocol that is available. The product itself is in fact a really tiny dedicated computer that is running on an Operating System, so with that in mind the essence of this product is in fact a small server.
Vantec NexStar LX NAS Review

The Windows Vista RC1 Monster Review
Neosmart posted a review on Windows Vista RC1

Windows Vista RC1 (screenshots!) was released this week with great fanfare. Coming after the highly-successful pre-RC1 build 5536, it had quite a lot of high expectations, and it certainly exceeded quite a few of them. In a word, Windows Vista RC1 is too good to be true. If it wasn’t for the pre-RC1 build, we wouldn’t be able to believe it. The last non-RC1 branches build we receive, build 5472, was a mess. It lacked a sense of completion, it crashed, it was buggy, and it was huge. RC1 couldn’t be further from that harsh reality.
The Windows Vista RC1 Monster Review

Apple iTunes 7 Review
Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows published a review on Apple's iTunes 7

Say what you will about Apple Computer, but there is an undeniable sense of quality to the products they create, whether it's a sleek Macintosh computer, ultra-thin iPod portable media player, or elegant software like iMovie HD and Keynote. Apple's products are almost always Spartan in their simplicity, even to the point of alienating some people by leaving out functionality that would crowd and overpower similar PC-based solutions.

The company's latest software, iTunes 7, is no different. It is both professional looking and functional, beautiful and rewarding. It is, dare I say so, the best software-based media jukebox I've ever used. And if you're Microsoft, struggling to release Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11), iTunes 7 is a shot across the bow, a reminder that the hardware products and services that Apple wraps around iTunes are the best selling solutions in the market. Clearly, Apple intends to keep it that way.
Apple iTunes 7 Review

Samsung SC-DC164 DVD Camcorder Review
Tweaknews.net posted a review on the Samsung SC-DC164 DVD Camcorder

Now to cut through the crap and get down to the nitty-gritty, would I recommend this DVD camcorder to the everyday consumer? The answer is yes if you are not planning on recording in low light conditions or require decent battery life. Every other feature works flawlessly and as described and presented. It is easy to use and practically fool-proof if you spend a couple hours with a RW single layer disc and tinker around a bit.
Samsung SC-DC164 DVD Camcorder Review