CPU Round-up: $100 - $200 Intel and AMD Processors Tested
TechSpot posted a CPU roundup of $100 - $200 Intel and AMD processors

Building your own computer can be very time consuming and rewarding at the same time. While piecing the new hardware together is usually a relatively easy task, picking out the right components in the first place is what can make it more troublesome. The first component that must be decided upon before any build takes place is the processor, as this will dictate which motherboard can be used and often the memory type.

With so many choices at your disposal, we understand it's hard not to become overwhelmed. Therefore we have taken a dozen processors priced within the $100 - $200 price range and pitted them against each other, so you can draw clear conclusions on what will suit you the best. We have also added a segment that compares all 12 processors on a clock-for-clock basis. This comparison of architectures aims to remove the operating frequency impact on performance and allows us to show you exactly how these CPUs perform side-by-side.

Besides the processors themselves, we will be also taking under consideration the value and performance differences between the platforms used, so motherboards and chipsets will be factored into the whole equation. And now, let's meet the contenders both from the green and blue camps...

CPU Round-up: $100 - $200 Intel and AMD Processors Tested

QNAP NMP-1000 Network Media Player Review
Legit Reviews posted a review on the QNAP NMP-1000 Network Media Player

The QNAP NMP-1000 network multimedia player is a home networked appliance for playing the videos, photos, and music from either the internal SATA hard drive or other PCs or NAS devices on your home network. The player can be seamlessly integrated with your TV and stereo system for playing your digital collections in the living room or anywhere at home.

The QNAP NMP-1000 is actually one of the better media players we have tested here at Legit Reviews. Never before have we seen a player on the market that has as many features and functions that is packed in this QNAP media player. After using the unit for a few weeks, we can see why QNAP chose the name NMP – or “Network Multimedia Player”. If you only want a media player that can communicate with your home network, then you will probably gag at the price of the QNAP NMP-1000. At over $400, it is far and away the most costly player we have seen. The thing is, if you want a box that completely integrates into your home theater AND your home network with full-fledged network sharing capabilities, then there is no other player out there that is more functional than the NMP-1000...

QNAP NMP-1000 Network Media Player Review



ASUS GeForce GTX 470 Fermi Review
techPowerUp posted a review on the ASUS GeForce GTX 470 Fermi

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 470 was announced a few weeks back - now we got the first production sample of the card from ASUS. Compared to the GTX 480 we saw much more reasonable power consumption numbers as well as fan noise and heat.

ASUS GeForce GTX 470 Fermi Review

ViewSonic -Viewbook Pro Review
TechwareLabs has a review of the ViewSonic -Viewbook Pro

Looking for a laptop that is as light as a Netbook and the performance of mid-level laptop and has a 13 inch screen? TechwareLabs is reviewed the ViewSonic 13.3-inch ViewBook Pro and we are impressed. Read on to see what this thin and light weight wonder has to offer. The ViewBook Pro comes with some very unique features that will set it apart from the competitors. Let’s take a closer look at what the ViewBook™ Pro from ViewSonic has to offer.

ViewSonic -Viewbook Pro Review

AT&T Motorola Backflip Review
TestFreaks takes a look at the AT&T Motorola Backflip phone

Today for review I've got a phone from AT&T called the Motorola Backflip This is the first Android phone from AT&T, and honestly it's not the best example of Android out there. The Backflip is a clamshell or flip style phone, but it's unlike any other out there, it flips backwards. The front of the phone is the screen and the back is the keyboard, the battery cover is actually inside of the phone when it's closed. It's a very interesting design that I'm still not sure I like very much. I do appreciate having the full keyboard, but keyboard is the back of the phone, not sure how well it will last being in your pocket or bag etc. The Backflip features the MotoBlur interface, and it works but not great. The phone is sluggish and fairly slow overall, it's a bit underpowered to be honest, but call quality and battery life are very good. So read on to learn more about a rather unique Android phone

AT&T Motorola Backflip Review

PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 and 5850 PCS+ Review
HotHardware.com posted a review on the PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 and 5850 PCS+

Recently, the 'second wave' of Radeon HD 5800 series cards begun shipping. This second wave of product didn't strictly adhere to AMD's reference designs and featured factory overclocks, custom cooling, and even custom circuit boards. The first cards from the second wave of Radeon HD 5800 series cards to land in the HotHardware labs comes by way of PowerColor. The PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 and 5850 PCS+ cards look very similar to each other, but they're nothing like the original Radeon HD 5800s, save for their output configurations. These babies have custom coolers, are factory overclocked and sport redesigned PCBs. Take a look...

PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 and 5850 PCS+ Review

Silverstone SG03-F M-ATX Case Review
Dreamwarecomputers takes a look at the Silverstone SG03-F M-ATX Case

I'm starting to see a lot of off-the-shelf computer systems sharing one common trend; they're all getting smaller and smaller. The amount of power that can be packed into a small form factor system these days is quite astonishing. For that reason, a lot of home PC builders are also starting to build smaller and smaller. Why invest a lot in a full-ATX setup if the need isn't there to fill each and every slot anymore? This is where the Micro-ATX form factor comes into play.

Silverstone SG03-F M-ATX Case Review

Why 99% of Power Supply Reviews Are Wrong
Hardware Secrets posted an article why the vast majority of power supply reviews published on the web are wrong

With computers (and users) asking for better power supplies, nothing more natural than reviewing websites publishing power supply reviews. But contrary to other hardware parts like CPUs, motherboards and video cards, one must have deep electronics knowledge in order to test a power supply. Since most reviewers are simply users with a above-the-average knowledge in computers – but not in electronics – almost all PSU reviews posted on the web are completely wrong and they do more harm than good, as some websites recommend products that are really flawed. We updated this article where we explain in details why 99% of power supply reviews posted on the web are wrong and we hope that reviewers learn more about the subject by reading this article and also that users learn how to identify a bad review.

Why 99% of Power Supply Reviews Are Wrong

CPU Roundup April 2010
HardwareHeaven.com posted their April 2010 CPU Roundup for April 2010

AMD is well known for producing a range of good value for money processors which often excel in different areas such as thermal performance and low power draw. Today we are going to look at three of AMDs latest Athlon II CPUs: the X2 255, X3 440 and X4 635 as well as the Phenom II X2 555 CPU on an ECS A795GM-AD3 motherboard to find out what performance AMD offer in the sub $120/=C2=A399 market segment.

CPU Roundup April 2010

Dynatron Genius G950 Heatsink Review
FrostyTech posted a review on the Dynatron Genius G950 Heatsink

Dynatron's Genius G950 heatsink stands a modest 148mm tall and weighs 795 grams. The heatsink makes use of two independent array's of aluminum fins, positioned fore and aft of a single 120mm PWM inset fan. The fan spins by default at a speed of 1600RPM, but will run fairly effectively at 1000RPM as well. Four 6mm diameter heatpipes support the aluminum fins, which have received a simple dip along a center 64mm stretch to enhance airflow, according to the manufacturer.

Dynatron Genius G950 Heatsink Review

DFI MI P55-T36 Mini ITX Review
PureOverclock has published a review of the DFI MIP55-T236 Mini ITX motherboard.

The DFI MI P55-T35 is a mini ITX motherboard, a positively tiny product that looks to offer big performance. Overclocking ability and tweaking are hallmarks of DFI products, and this little board is no exception. Based on the P55 chipset, the feature list is robust, even if the formfactor may be deceiving. Let's take a closer look at the DFI MI P55-T36 and find out if good things do come in small packages.

DFI MI P55-T36 Mini ITX Review

PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 Video Card Review
Benchmark Reviews posted a review on the PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 Video Card

The PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 1GBD5-PPDHG2 graphics card is one of several new HD 5800-series video cards released by ATI AIB partners in the last couple months that follow a new design pattern. Advances in power-semiconductor packaging have allowed for a simpler VRM implementation that consumes much less real estate on the board. At the same time, the use of a down-flow HSF arrangement eliminates the dead spots found below and behind the blower wheel on the reference design. The combination makes for a smaller, more efficient, and more reliable card that's less costly to produce. I call that progress, but there are others who bemoan the process of removing cost from a design. I can understand the angst if functions and features are being removed, but finding a cheaper way to deliver the same performance is a good thing. Benchmark Reviews has tested some ATI Radeon HD 5870 video cards already, so the performance and features of the GPU are hardly news, but we thought it was time to sample one of the new 2nd generation cards and see how the design has matured. Please follow along as we give you a detailed look at one of the latest high-end Radeons from PowerColor.

PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 Video Card Review

Thermaltake Frio CPU Heatsink Review
APH Networks has published a new review on the Thermaltake Frio CPU Heatsink

I will be absolutely honest here. As a silent PC enthusiast, we don't normally take Thermaltake seriously all the time. While it is undeniable that Thermaltake is probably one of the largest players specializing in computer thermal management components and beyond, the focus of their products are typically more value oriented rather than focusing on ultimate silence or overclocking performance. In the past, we definitely liked the Thermaltake Aguila computer case, and power supplies such has the Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 650W also delivered superior performance at low audible noise levels. But let's not forget the Thermatale RX-K8 heatsink way back then, which, to be honest, isn't quite a brilliant product, haha. That said, the Thermaltake Silent 1156 one of our Technical Editors Anthony Kwan recently reviewed delivered generally good performance at a very affordable price tag. When Thermaltake asked if I wanted to take a look at their latest creation, the Thermaltake Frio cooler, it really got me interested. Featuring a total of five wide diameter 8 mm U-shaped heatpipes, swappable fans, and what appears to be a solid design, I won't even try to deny the fact that I am extremely excited to give it a shot and see how it performs in the real world. Is the Thermaltake Frio a high performance cooler that will appeal to overclockers and silent PC enthusiasts alike, or is it oversaturated 'just another heatsink' market? Does a cooler having a name that means 'cool' in Spanish translate accordingly to every other language? We have one tested here at APH Networks for you today!

Thermaltake Frio CPU Heatsink Review

Microcool Banchetto 101 Case Review
ThinkComputers.org posted Microcool Banchetto 101 Case Review

Being a reviewer of computer hardware I am constantly exchanging components in and out of my test systems. If you dont have a large open case this can really be stressful, as it is very annoying to have to pull everything out when installing a new motherboard or even a CPU cooler. Traditional cases work for most people, but for people who are constantly changing out parts and testing components a tradition cases usually does not cut it. Microcool, a company mainly known for cooling products has come out with the Banchetto 101 case. A case that has an all open design for easy access to all components and allows for rapid component removal / replacement and real-time monitoring. Lets take a look

Microcool Banchetto 101 Case Review

Cooler Master Vortex Plus Review
OCC has published a review on the Cooler Master Vortex Plus

If you are looking for the next best thing in the cooling world that will give you the lowest temperatures on your overclocked Core i7, the Vortex Plus is not the cooler for you. You will need something more robust to keep up with the thermal energy you need to dissipate. However if you are looking for a low profile heatsink that does the job much better than the stock cooling solution, the Vortex Plus will be right up your alley. When tested, the Vortex Plus delivered temperatures in the middle of the pack on the test Core i5 750 at 53=B0 C.

Cooler Master Vortex Plus Review

A Look Into Intel's Next Gen Enthusiast Platform: Sandy Bridge E & Waimea Bay
VR-Zone takes a look at Intel's Next Gen Enthusiast Platform : Sandy Bridge E & Waimea Bay

For months, we've heard of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture taking over the current generation Nehalem microarchitecture. But what do we have to replace the ageing X58 Express + i7-980X Tylersburg Highend Desktop platform? Head in and see all that you wanted to know about the next generation enthusiast platform from Intel.

A Look Into Intel's Next Gen Enthusiast Platform: Sandy Bridge E & Waimea Bay

Thermaltake V3 Black Review
techPowerUp posted a review on the Thermaltake V3 Black

The V3 Black is one of the most affordable cases from Thermaltake. It aims straight for the likes of Xigmatek Asgard, which sells for a similar price, trying to walk the thin line between usability and ultimate affordability. We take the V3 Black apart, to see if it manages to go the distance or falls short in the required categories.

Thermaltake V3 Black Review

Microcool Banchetto 101 Case Review
ThinkComputers.org posted a review on the Microcool Banchetto 101 Case

Being a reviewer of computer hardware I am constantly exchanging components in and out of my test systems. If you dont have a large open case this can really be stressful, as it is very annoying to have to pull everything out when installing a new motherboard or even a CPU cooler. Traditional cases work for most people, but for people who are constantly changing out parts and testing components a tradition cases usually does not cut it. Microcool, a company mainly known for cooling products has come out with the Banchetto 101 case. A case that has an all open design for easy access to all components and allows for rapid component removal / replacement and real-time monitoring. Lets take a look

Microcool Banchetto 101 Case Review

Cooler Master Vortex Plus CPU Cooler Review
TweakTown posted a review on the Cooler Master Vortex Plus CPU Cooler

Working with a concept designed many years ago, Cooler Master has decided to revamp another of their work horses like when they redid the CM 690 not to long ago. Cooler Master pulled the Vortex 752 from the shelf and thought of what they can do to make this cooler capable of handling the heat of today’s more demanding multi-cored processors. To the think tank they went and they have come back with the Vortex Plus.

At first glance they are very similar, although I will be sure to point out all of the changes. Let’s see what exactly it is that Cooler Master has brought this time and see for ourselves if this is in fact a capable cooler for the masses.

Cooler Master Vortex Plus CPU Cooler Review