Tech News December 2004

NewsDec 31, 2004June 29, 20140

Jetart JACSH1 VGA Cooler Review @ Techniz.co.uk
Techniz.co.uk :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“Jetart Technology has been established since 1989. In the early years, we started from ODM business for domestic and overseas customers. Our ODM business includes lines of computer peripherals, electronic parts and other relating products. Their main product including the AMD & Intel CPU Coolers, Chip Coolers, HDD Coolers, System Coolers, Case Fans, DC Fans, LED Fans, Heatsinks, Chip Cooling Kits, Notebook Cooler & Watercooling. Lately, they have just launching their new VGA cooler which is the JACSH1. This cooler is one for all nVIDIA & ATi VGA cards.”

Gigabyte 3D Rocket Cooler Pro Review @ Bjorn3D
Bjorn3D :: Friday, December 31, 2004
“When you hear the name Gigabyte, you most likely think of motherboards or video cards. Or, you could think of one of the company’s many other products, but CPU coolers might be one of the last things you think of, if you even think of it at all.

Gigabyte has been in the cooler business for only a short while, but it still has managed to make its impression felt with its unique and innovative solutions. The latest cooler from Gigabyte is of the ‘universal’ variety, which means it can be used on all of the modern Intel and AMD sockets: 478, 775, 754, 939, 940 and A. The choices for LGA775 cooling have finally started to grow, and it’s nice to see Gigabyte add to those choices with the 3D Rocket Cooler Pro (GH-PCU22-VG).”

FIC P4M-RS350 Motherboard Review @ ViperLair
ViperLair :: Friday, December 31, 2004
“The P4M-RS350 itself is a complete package that gives you the ability to upgrade the graphics when you have the money to do so. It carries competent performance and enough onboard solutions that voids the fact there is only 3 PCI slots available.”

DFI LANParty UT 915P-T12 LGA775 Motherboard Review @ SystemCooling
SystemCooling :: Friday, December 31, 2004
“Some people are laboring under the assumption that DFI is a relatively new company. In fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth. They’ve been around quietly doing their business in an unspectacular style for over 20 years now. The reason for this assumption is that they were almost exclusively an OEM supplier for a very long time, and their products were not the kind that inspired the interest of the enthusiast market. That all changed a year or two ago when DFI introduced their LANParty series of motherboards, boards that had unheard-of style, with their brightly colored UV reactive components, to go along with what proved to be excellent performance. The board we’re looking at today, the DFI LANParty UT 915P-T12, is one of the newest members of the LANParty stable, and we’ll find out if the board is a worthy successor to the LANParty name and reputation.”

Shuttle XPC SN96G5 Barebones nForce3 Ultra Socket 939 Review @ hardCOREware
hardCOREware :: Friday, December 31, 2004
“If you’re looking to build a Small Form Factor system based around a Socket 939 Athlon64 CPU, the brand you will likely look at first is Shuttle. This is because Shuttle not only started the whole ‘barebones SFF system’ craze, but stuck with it, and revised their platforms over the years.

Today we’re looking at the XPC SN96G5 from Shuttle. It uses their own proprietary format motherboard, based on the NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra chipset. It’s the 5th generation of this particular chassis, so form-factor wise, it’s about as good as it gets for now. However, there are some glaring issues with this system that kept us from going crazy over it – Read on to find out!”

Corepad Magna Review @ GruntvillE
GruntvillE :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“I have three optical mice that I’d tried with the Corepad Magna. Other than my new MX1000 Laser mouse (which now performed even better with the Magna and none of the jumping and skipping I’d noticed with other pads when picking up the mouse), I’d also tried out my Logitech Cordless Optical mouse, Microsoft Optical WheelMouse and Sky’s Logitech DiNovo Bluetooth MX900. All three mice showed a noticeable improvement in tracking, along with far less mouse “lag” time.”

How To Get The Most Out of Your Digital Camera @ The Tech Zone
The Tech Zone :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“Point and click. The new life of digital cameras gives us all the opportunity to capture images as we go. Whether you simply hit the shutter button to take pictures of your friends and family or if you want to have your camera with you at all times in order to capture the beauty of life wherever you find it, getting the most out of your digital camera can be easy.”

Raidmax Samurai 908 Gaming Case Review @ OCIA
OCIA :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“The case is tool-less. And, though there is no window in the case, Raidmax thoughtfully used black tool-less hardware instead of beige. The interior is sturdy steel, sprayed with a dull gray finish. All edges are rolled to keep you from cutting your fingers, even the back edge of the mobo tray.”

Leadtek WinFast A400 Ultra/GT TDH Review @ Hexus
Hexus :: Friday, December 31, 2004
“The most obvious selling point of these two WinFast A400 boards is the cooling solution. Not only does it look the part, but it’s quiet and extremely effective too. Both the GT and Ultra variants we’ve looked at have exhibited impressive overclocks, and the A400 GT is almost irresistible when you look at the potential headroom in both core and RAM clocks.”

Thermaltake Liquid Cooling System Components Review @ Techniz.co.uk
Techniz.co.uk :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“Thermaltake already has become the global leader in Thermal Industry. Initial focussed primarily on CPU Coolers, high performance heat sinks, DC fan, PC chassis and power supply. Today, we are reviewing water cooling accessories which is the Water Level Indicator and Flow Indicator. Both of them are made by the pure aluminum and high quality arcylic.”

MGE Extreme Gamer Quantum Case Review @ MODTHEBOX!
MODTHEBOX! :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“One of the more predominant features of the MGE Extreme Gamer Quantum Case can be found towards the bottom portion of the front bezel. The advanced LCD controller is a full color unit that is capable of controling up to 7 fans, time, date and multiple temperature display. A series of 7 buttons are used to navigate and set the required parameters within the LCD control center.”

SilenX Ixtrema 120mm Copper CPU Cooler @ PimpRig
PimpRig :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004

“Due to the similarities in size and shape with the Zalman, clearance most likely will be a problem. Once again my AGP slot was blocked and it was difficult to install RAM in one of the slots with the cooler installed. I was not able to find a compatibility chart on the SilenX web site but with the exception of socket A applications it should be the same as Zalman’s list.”

ASUS EXTREME AX800 XT PE/2DHTV @ HEXUS.net
Hexus :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
“It’s hard to recommend any graphics card that costs more than a reasonable PC. £430 is an awful lot of money to be spending on a present card when a refresh is just around the corner. In that case, as comprehensive as it is, ASUS’ AX800 XP PE/2DHTV package is simply too expensive to be considered by all but the very well-off enthusiast. Performance freaks should look towards SLI’ing a couple of 6800 GT cards, and for the rest, I’d recommend obtaining and overclocking the cheapest X800 XT you could lay your hands. The money you save will be better spent elsewhere.”

AMD Athlon XP Heatsink roundup: December 2004 @ Madshrimps
Madshrimps :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
“The Thermalright SI-97, Scythe Kamakiri and Spire VertiCool compared using a variety of fans and reference heatsinks. Does the new generation Athlon XP coolers deliver good value for money? Read on to find out”

OCLabs B3 PlexyBlock Review @ PCmoddingmy
PC Modding Malaysia :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004

“My first impression with this OCLabs B3 PlexyBlock is that it is very small when compared with other water cooling water blocks out in the market. This B3 PlexyBlock sized only at 50 x 50 x 25mm, without the barbs. It is is just slightly bigger than the AMD64 processor. The whole block looks like chrome while the lid was made of acrylic. This has got the be the shinniest looking water block in the streets! Besides the PlexyBlock, OCLabs also has Monoblock for their water block products, but the MonoBlock doesn’t come with the acrylic lid. You might want to get this kind of water block for your next modding project, wouldn’t you?”

Seagate 5GB USB 2.0 Pocket Hard Drive Review @ Everything USB
Everything USB :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
” The 5GB bus-powered USB hard drive, measuring just 2.7″ in diameter, fits easily in your pocket with the minimalist circular housing, while the 4-inch USB cable retracts snugly inside the case as to not get lost. It also comes loaded with software to easily create partitions and a boot disk.”

Lian-Li PC-V1000 Case @ Viper Lair
ViperLair :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
“Overall, many of the V1000’s issues are workable, and if the aesthetics are to your liking, you’ll probably be very happy with the case. Personally, we think Lian-Li needs to rework some of the design details and improve the cooling performance before we give this case a recommendation.”

OCZ ModStream 520W PSU @ Viper Lair
ViperLair :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
“While we wouldn’t call this our PSU of the year, the ModStream is definitely on our short list. It has the aesthetics and reliability that enthusiasts desire, and is backed by one of the best warranties in the business which demonstrates OCZ’s confidence in their products.”

Seasonic S12 – 430 Watt Power Supply Reviewed @ hi-techreviews.com
Hi-Techreviews :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
“It used to be we took our power supplies pretty much for granted that ugly box that had a mass of wires running out of it which we relegated to the top portion of our cases and pretty much forgot all about. Times have certainly changed with the current processors and video card demanding more and more current as we try to make do with old power supplies that were never intended to operate under the types of loads we are punishing them with today.

Today we are reviewing a power supply from Seasonic that can best be described as state of the art; it conforms to the current ATX12V 2.01 guidelines, with both ATX 2.0-24-pin power connector and the latest ATX12V 2.0 connectors for hooking up a pair of SATA drives. The Seasonic S12 – 430 watt power supply also operates at a extremely high efficiently of nearly 80%. All in all this is one power supply worth checking out. ”

Zalman CNPS7700-Cu 120mm CPU Cooler @ TheTechLounge
The Tech Lounge :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004

“Founded in 1999, Zalman is a relative newcomer to the computer industry. However, in the short time they have been around, they have built up quite a reputation. Zalman has a wide variety of low noise cooling products for virtually every component of your system. Their newest drool-worthy CPU cooler comes in the form of the Zalman CNPS7700-Cu flower heatsink. If you have been keeping track of Zalman’s product offerings, then this should look pretty familiar. The design is essentially the same as the CNPS7000-Cu, but on a larger scale. Sporting a 120mm fan and weighing in at no less than 918g, this beautiful chunk of copper is sure to have the ladies, or at least your processor, purring happily along.”

Corsair Flash Voyager 512MB USB Flash @ PCStats
PCStats :: Saturday, December 25, 2004
“In this review, PCStats is testing Corsair’s new rugged Flash Voyager 512MB USB 2.0 drive. With a retail price of $73 CDN ($59 US), the Flash Voyager is priced around the same as most other 512MB USB flash drives. It boasts read speeds of 19MB/s, and write transfer speeds of 13MB/s.”

VIA Epia MII @ Hexus
Hexus :: Saturday, December 25, 2004
“From our looks at VIA’s Mini-ITX systems previously, it stands out that the biggest leap in progress for the Epia range has been the increase in clock speeds over time – While the CLE266 north bridge has always handled DVD/MPEG-2 playback and handled it well, low clock speeds for the VIA C3 processor hampered DiVX and other MPEG-4 codec playback in the past. Now the MII sees an Epia system sat at the 1.2GHz mark, this performance issue has been eased considerably…”

Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu Cooler Review @ Neoseeker
Neoseeker :: Saturday, December 25, 2004
“We take a look at something that is quiet and big today at Neoseeker. No, we’re not giving Santa a physical – we’re taking a look at Zalman’s CNPS7700-AlCu CPU cooler. With the fan exceeding the dimensions of a CD, the Zalman is not likely something that will fit in a stocking yet due to its tapered design, it should fit in most motherboards despite its size.”

PCI-Express Roundup: Mainstream Video Card Mania! @ Madshrimps
Madshrimps :: Saturday, December 25, 2004
“PCI-Express if firmly upon us, Intel has seen to this and AMD will be joining the fray shortly. A few select individuals have been able to obtain high end samples of PCI-Express cards, however for most people these cards are simply priced out of their reach. This leaves the mainstream segment, and as this name suggests, the mainstream cards are targeted at the average consumer. So will “average” do for you? Let’s find out!”

Internet vs. Brick & Mortar Shopping @ Phoronix
Phoronix :: Saturday, December 25, 2004

“Over the last couple of years I have flip-flopped between online shopping and taking a trip to the mall for buying Christmas presents. Last year 90% of my shopping was done via the Internet but this year I moved back to the mall. During the year, I usually buy a lot online. Anything that requires power is pretty much purchased at an online store. Books, surprisingly enough are almost an even split because I do like to visit the bookstore as well as Amazon.”

3R Systems Poseidon WCL-03 120cu WaterCooling Kit @ SystemCooling
SystemCooling :: Saturday, December 25, 2004

“Ever since I got my first water cooling kit I have been hooked on it, air cooling is just no longer an option for me. Today I will be looking at a kit that will be familiar to those of you who have been browsing around this page for awhile. The Poseidon WCL-03 120Cu water cooling kit is much like the 3R Systems Poseidon Water Cooling system reviewed here a few months back, except for one very important feature, this cooler uses a 120mm fan to cool the radiator. This system comes completely assembled and filled with coolant, which should really make the installation a lot easier, but will ease of assembly and good performance go hand-in-hand? Let’s find out.”

Thermaltake Water Cooling Accessories Review @ OCCafe
Overclocker Café :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“The BigWater accessories live up to Thermaltake’s name in both form and function. The Refill Water Tank (reservoir) allows you to more easily bleed a system while giving you the ability to monitor water levels at a glance. The Flow Meter also adds ‘at a glance’ functionality to your system allowing you to ensure fluid is moving without staring in search of movement within your lines.”

Mushkin PC2-5300 vs. Corsair PC2-5400 review @ MetkuMods
MetkuMods :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“With the latest chipsets there have been many new terms and technologies introduced to the public. In system memory this meant the introduction of DDR2 memory modules. With lower voltage requirements, 4-bit prefetch and enchanced registers the DDR2 is a step forward in terms of technology.”

Ultra X-Connect 500W ATX Power Supply @ The Crucible
The Crucible :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“With a price of only $120 Canadian the X-Connect comes out shining, and not just because of it’s mirrored finish. With it’s good looks, stable voltages, quiet fans and modular design the X-Connect encompasses everything we could want in a quality power supply. ”

OCZ ModStream Power Supply Roundup @ CoolTechZone
CoolTechZone :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“There is a new trend that recently emerged in the world of power supplies, the wireless trend. Yes, the industry is moving towards reducing the unnecessary wires from the power supplies to better assist in system aesthetics and overall heat dissipation. Personally, this is one of the impressive, long awaited changes that have happened to power supplies in a long time. Agreeably, the power of the units increased and manufacturers paid close attention to noise, thermal and exterior aspects, but the annoying wires were left untouched. Thankfully, the power supply manufacturers have introduced something that will leave many users delighted. The modular design of the power supply allows you to disconnect/connect the leads according to system requirements. For example, if you only need four molex connectors, you can simply leave the additional connectors in its original packaging, in return, reducing the wire clutter inside the system.”

SilverStone TJ05 Case Review @ PCmoddingmy
PC Modding Malaysia :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“Overall, the TJ05 case is a great looking case with great performance. Being quite a big in size, it gave me a lot of room to work with along with the added weight. With the ability to support up to 5 case fans, the TJ05 provided exceptional ventilation but the bundled 120mm fans already did the job pretty well on its own. Unfortunately, LAN Party goers may have to leave this case behind due to its big size and heavy weight. Besides the SilverStone TJ05 can easily burn a hole in your pocket because it is more costly than other cases in the market. Considering the looks, performance and features of this case, I would say it’s worth the price you’re paying for it. The integrated Eudemon LCD fan controller and temperature display not only looks cool but it has great features too. Forget getting your tool box and get the TJ05 tool-less case instead!”

A.C.Ryan LAN.Ranger CAT6 Network Cable Review @ Mikhailtech
Mikhailtech :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004
“In a nutshell, the LAN.Ranger is a CAT6 cable with silver EMI shielding beneath a clear shell. The cable also happens to be UV-reactive. For those unaware of CAT6, as the name implies it’s the 6th generation of twisted pair Ethernet cables. CAT5 is still the predominant type and supports Fast Ethernet (100Mbps). Although it usually contains 4 pairs of twisted copper wire, only two are utilized. CAT5 enhanced (CAT5e) supports short range Gigabit Ethernet (1000Mbps) by using all 4 pairs of wires. CAT6 also supports Gigabit Ethernet like CAT5e, but it allows for communications at twice the speed.”

SunbeamTech Samurai Case @ InsaneTek
InsaneTek :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“Many might have heard of Sunbeam’s accessories for the computer but many do not know that they produce computer cases as well. They started in 2000 but have been quiet in the scene since. Sunbeam focuses on innovation in their products and brings a wide variety of mods for those craving a nicely designed case. Today, we’ll be looking at one of the few cases offered by Sunbeam, the Samurai. It might look nice to some, but looks can be very deceiving.”

Text vs. Voice
Phoronix :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“The invention of what is now called a smart phone marries the functionality of the “texting” of a two-way pager, all the features of a cell phone and the IM and email capabilities of a computer. I do not have one of these devices yet, and personally, I switch from voice to text all day. I like text better than voice, but it seems like more and more with technology advancing the way it does in our age, that it will not be a logic option to communicate via text. Voice will eventually become the only option, especially once it is married with video in a portable way. I am sure a high school kid has no concept of what turning a knob to change a channel is, think of the future when your grandkids will look at you funny and ask, what is a keyboard?”

Arctic Cooling NV Silencer 5 Video Card Cooler
SystemCooling :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“With today’s video cards, cooling has become as much of a concern as it is with CPU’s. A high-end GPU can approach the heat output of a pretty well-to-do CPU, and have operating temperatures much higher. Video card manufacturers, of course, put enough cooling onboard to keep things safe, but that’s about all, and what cooling prowess many stock coolers do possess comes at the expense of considerable noise. Arctic Cooling manufactures a line of GPU coolers designed to combat not only the heat issues, but noise issues as well, and we know from experiencing the original VGA Silencer that they have succeeded in the past on both counts. Today, we’re looking at one of their newest offerings, the NV Silencer 5, and we’ll find out if this new generation of Silencer is as good as the old one.”

Asetek Black Ice Micro II Radiator Review
Techniz.co.uk :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“At the rear side of the radiator does have the built-in mounting brackets for two 80mm fan. So, you can either install the two 80mm fan on the front side or rear side according to your needs. You can also install four fan where two of them is for air intake and the other two is for exhaust if the radiator is not install to the chassis.”

Tt Silent LGA775 Cooler Review
Overclocker Café :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“Cooling the Intel’s LGA775 CPU presents quite a challenge due to it’s high operating temperatures, and while the ideal solution would be to use water, not all of us are ready to make the jump, nor are there many, if any, water cooling kits available for this CPU. Thermaltake has jumped into the breech with a solid performer in the Silent 775. I can now place my stock Intel cooler back on the shelf.”

Micron Rev5B “C” Memory Module Review
Tech ARP :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

” Since the advent of the Winbond BH5 chips about two years ago, no other memory chip has as large a claim to fame as the BH5. Those chips could run at 250MHz (500MHz DDR) at the tightest timings possible – 2-2-2-5!

Nothing else could match its performance… until the new Micron Rev5B “C” modules appeared! Let’s take a look at these amazing modules and why you should grab one today! ”

Danger Den DDC-12V Water Pump Review
Madshrimps :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“If water cooling is in your blood, Danger Den needs no introduction. If you plan on making the transformation from air to water cooling, Danger Den is a company you may want to get to know better. Today were going to take a look at what may be the smallest 400l/h pump available, the Danger Den DDC-12V.”

VisionTek XTASY X800 XT
Bjorn3D :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“PCI-Express continues to gain ground over AGP and will even more so once new Athlon64 chipsets (like nForce4) hit the shelves, but PCI-Express is still only really appealing to people who are getting the latest motherboards. Otherwise, there is no compelling reason to switch from AGP to PCI-Express.”

StreetFire RBX1600
Designtechnica :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“The StreetFire RBX1600 home media device takes management of your music collection in a different direction. Instead of focusing on MP3s and video files, the developers at StreetFire Sound Labs have created a product which uses your PC, home network and a broadband connection to help manage your actual collection of CDs stored in up to four Sony MegaStorage CD changers.”

Ultra 500W Titanium ATX PSU
ViperLair :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“The Ultra 500W Titanium ATX Power Supply may not have a modular cabling system, or flashy fans or windows, or even sleeved cabling for the most part, but it does have an excellent titanium mirror finish and good performance. Voltages are pretty much spot on, its quiet and bottom line it does its job.”

Caffeine Compendium @ PimpRig
PimpRig :: Sunday, December 19, 2004
Got caffeine?? I know I’m close to worthless without the stuff. It looks like the guys at PimpRig are ready to get us charged up.

“You know it, you love it, and if you are anything like me, you live by it. Caffeine is one of a geek’s best friends and for good reason. I would venture to say that the majority of PC gamers out there have had their fair share of late night gaming sessions fueled by a number of Mountain Dews or, better yet, some Bawls. What some of you may not know is that there are a number of products on the market that packs caffeine into very easy to consume substances.”

Scythe Kamakiri and FCS-50 CPU Coolers @ Systemcooling
SystemCooling :: Sunday, December 19, 2004

“Scythe has a well-earned reputation for innovative and unique heatsink fan (HSF) designs. In this review we will take an in-depth look at their new Kamakiri cooler along with one of their popular, established products, the FCS-50 CPU cooler. Both the new Kamakiri and older FCS-50 CPU coolers incorporate heat pipe technology to quickly and efficiently transport waste processor heat away from the CPU. Each cooler comes with universal mounting hardware that allows attaching it to either Intel (socket 370/478) or AMD (socket 754/939/940) platforms. The Kamakiri also includes Intel (socket LGA775) support”

Antec TriCool @ Phoronix
Phoronix :: Sunday, December 19, 2004
The crew at Phoronix has whipped out another fan review and they are not just blowing hot air.

“With the overwhelming demand all of us place on our computers when we overclock them, it’s no wonder why we need to load our cases full of fans. In this review, we have to present the Antec TriCool LED fans, which not only will improve the airflow throughout your system, but also the overall looks of the machine”

Mikhailtech & A.C.Ryan December 2004 Giveaway @ Mikhailtech
Mikhailtech :: Sunday, December 19, 2004

“There are 2 weeks left in our A.C.Ryan sponsored December 2004 Holiday Giveaway. It’s a guessing game and prizes include a Ryanpower2 CableFREE power supply and a LAN.Ranger”

Vantec EZ SWAP 2 Removable Hard Disk Drive Rack @ Techniz
Techniz.co.uk :: Sunday, December 19, 2004

Hardware Roadmaps For 2005
PCStats :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“Wondering what’s in store from the computer industry in 2005? PCstats had a look at some roadmaps from around the web that detail everything from AMD’s move to 90nm SOI manufacturing process on its ‘San Diego’ core, to the dual core Athlon64 FX ‘Toledo’ processors due in late 2005. The Intel and AMD roadmaps also cover the slew of motherboard chipsets to be released in the coming months, along with information on new and upcoming Videocard GPU’s. Each roadmap we looked over covers the anticipated tech releases from now until fourth quarter of 2005… which of course are open to change at any moment…”

Single Drive and RAID 0 SATA NCQ Performance with Seagate’s Barracuda 7200.7
Bjorn3D :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“One important thing to note about NCQ technology is that it requires not only a drive that supports it but also host-side support, meaning the PC that the drive is connected to must have a controller capable of using NCQ. Today, only Intel’s 915 and 925 platforms have this feature, but AMD fans will have it when motherboards based on NVIDIA’s nForce4 hit the streets.”

Corsair Flash Voyager USB Flash Drive Review @ Overclocker Cafe
Overclocker Café :: Friday, December 17, 2004

“Now, I didn’t appreciate how fast this was until I benched the SanDisk Micro. The graph below speaks for itself. To be quite honest, I was at a complete loss to explain the incredible difference between the two units. But in the end, whether its quality control, an exceptional random sample versus a so-so one, superior technology or just plain luck, it boils down to the Corsair unit kicked the living crap out of the SanDisk.”

X-Ray Technology Mouse Pads @ OCIA.net
OCIA :: Friday, December 17, 2004

“Cracking the case (not literally) of the Thunder 8 reveals that it is packaged very well. These guys really take some pride in their product, which I like to see. I hadn’t looked very closely at the Thunder 8 pad online before receiving it, so I was pretty curious to see what the instruction manual was for.”

Logisys Janus Gaming Case & 500W All Acrylic PSU
SystemCooling :: Friday, December 17, 2004

snip: “With everything said and done, I think Logisys has a nice little case and power supply. There are a few things I’d like to see changed on both items though. First, the case, the rear 120mm exhaust fan grill needs to be changed, something like what the Logisys Dracula Mid-Tower Case would be great. I like the rest of the case just the way it is, nice simple interior that is easy to work with is a big plus in my book. As for the external design, personally, I like it, but everyone has their own likes and dislikes. You’ll have to decide that part for yourself.”

MSI SLI DBS @ Hexus
Hexus :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“Whilst the performance if an MSI SLI-DBS system may not quite parallel that of NVIDIA’s officially validated platform, the cost savings for running an MSI nForce4 Ultra based DBS SLI system will be significant when compared to an SLI rig based on an nForce4 SLI chipset, and we think that it’s likely to have a very high appeal and will help grow the NVIDIA SLI market.”

Jetart Xcool NP3000 Portable Notebook Cooler Review Posted!
Tech ARP :: Friday, December 17, 2004

Quote – ” Jetart Technology produces many interesting notebook coolers. Their portable cooler range are made up of the Xcool NP5000, NP4000 and NP3000. We have already reviewed the NP5000 and the NP4000. So, today, we will take an in-depth look at the Jetart Xcool NP3000 portable notebook cooler! ”

Digital Concepts CompactFlash Card Reader Review
Mikhailtech :: Friday, December 17, 2004

The reader itself is nothing special: a silver plastic case with a good grip and a label up front. It’s a single piece so if you have to get it open for some reason, you’ll have to pry it apart. There’s also a green power LED. The light doesn’t blink or change colors; it remains on as long as the reader has power, regardless of whether a card is inserted and/or is being read from/written to.

Sunbeamtech Samurai Case Review @ Madshrimps
Madshrimps :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“With a distinctive front bezel and side window, the Sunbeam Samurai Case attempts to grab prospective buyers with a penchant for standing out amongst the crowd. Does function follow form though in this pre-modded case? Step inside to find out.”

[Phoronix] Logisys Pitbull 500W
Phoronix :: Friday, December 17, 2004

Summary: “It has been quite a while since we have looked at any Logisys power supplies. However, we recently got our hands on their latest PSU offering – the 500W Pitbull. Fortunately, Logisys hasn’t lost its modding touch since last time we had examined any of their units.”

Sony VAIO VGN-A260 Laptop Review @ Designtechnica
Designtechnica :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“We have to give Sony credit for designing a system that not only features a 15.4-inch widescreen display with Xbrite technology, but does it all in a chassis that is slimmer than the competition. We are on the fence about whether they should have gone with a desktop processor instead of the Centrino chipset and Pentium M CPU though. The bottom line though is that the Sony VAIO VGN-A260 is a masterpiece that fuses cutting-edge technologies with a breathtaking design. Sony fans should be more than happy with their latest offering.”

SunBeamTech Crystal Quad LED Fan @ TechTastic.ca
TechTastic :: Friday, December 17, 2004

Quote: LED fans are a popular addition to computer cases lately, and every computer modding equipment manufacturer has their version of them. Today we take a look at SunBeamTech’s version of their LED fan called the Crystal Quad LED Fan.

1A-Cooling SET-5Z280V1 Water Cooling Kit Review @ Madshrimps
Madshrimps :: Friday, December 17, 2004
Quote:”Aah, I remember it well. It was a cloudy Belgian Sunday, with nothing more to do then watching the good ´old electric tube and smoking the pipe. Little did I know there we´re forces in play who wanted me to do some reviewing. Seems like the OC gods were restless, so the best thing to do was to sacrifice them a review. Since my editor dropped off the A1 water cooling kit the other day, I could really please the gods this time. Maybe they would use their divine powers to give me that Mustang I always ask for Christmas!”

Aerocool Cool-Panel reviewed @ hi-techreviews.com
Hi-Techreviews :: Friday, December 17, 2004
Quote: The list of computer accessories coming out of the design labs of labs of Aerocool show no signs of slowing down. Take for example their newest product, the Aerocool Cool-Panel, it would be very easy to say that this product is a 8 in 1 card reader, but it goes far beyond that. It actually becomes the centralized connection point for a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, a Firewire connector, two SATA connectors along with a nice size LED which displays two separated temperatures and two separate fan speeds.

Corsair TWINX-4300C3PRO Review at OcPrices
OcPrices :: Friday, December 17, 2004
Quote: “Low Latency DDR2 memory modules have been popping up recently, capable of 3-2-2-x timings, and utilizing the recent yields of the Micron DDR2 die. A while back, we had a look at the Wintec Industries’ modules, which were capable of DDR2-706 @ 3-2-2-8 timings (DDR2-720 @ 3-2-2-4 has been achieved since). How will these Corsair modules compare?”

Four Socket 939 Motherboards Shootout! @ Overclockers New Zealand
Overclockers New Zealand :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“After taking margin of error into consideration, all boards performed similarly at stock speed. However, things quickly changed when you take price, overclock potential and features into the picture. Out of those four socket939 boards, we find that MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum offers the best overclock potential (even with SATA hard drive), a wealth of features, and comes with an affordable price tag, which rightly gets our OCNZ Recommended Award.”

Ultra Products UV Wizard
Overclockers Online :: Friday, December 17, 2004

Quote: “The window of this case is UV Reactive, which will add an awesome touch to your rig if you have a UV light. Even without the UV Light the window looks great, with a bluish tint to match the paint. The dark blue metallic paint that wraps this case looks at home on any desktop!”

A4Tech NB-30 Wireless Battery Free Mouse Review @ ASE Labs
ASE Labs :: Friday, December 17, 2004

” A4Tech makes the first wireless mouse that happens to be battery free. It uses a special mousepad that transfers power by induction. Let’s see how this new type of mouse operates… ”

Christmas Competition @ Raptor-mods.co.uk
raptor-mods.co.uk :: Friday, December 17, 2004

” It’s Christmas so what better time for a giveaway with awesome prizes, they include a Matrix Orbital Display, 3x 600 Watt Ultra PSU’s and an Icemat Gaming surface See Forum for details ”

Gigabyte GV-NX66T128D GeForce 6600GT Videocard
PCStats :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“nVIDIA was the first to enter the ‘mainstream’ PCI Express video market with the GeForce 6600 class GPU. ATi followed suit a few days later with its Radeon X700. While the companies are different, the technology behind the competing VPUs is actually quite similar. Built on IBM’s 0.11 micron manufacturing process, the nVidia GeForce 6600 has eight pixel rendering pipelines and the ‘GT’ model has a core clock speed of 500 MHz. ATi uses TSMC’s 0.11 micron manufacturing process, and its graphics core has eight pixel rendering pipelines too. The higher-end Radeon X700 XT VPU is clocked slightly slower than nVidia’s solution, at 475 MHz. Over the next dozen pages, PCStats will try to answer that question as we test out a videocard made by Gigabyte called the GV-NX66T128D. This PCI Express x16 videocard is based on nVIDIA’s GeForce 6600GT GPU, and packs in a svelte 128MB of Samsung GDDR3 memory.”

Ultra Dual Channel PC4000 Premium @ ViperLair
ViperLair :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“Looks are of course secondary to performance but here the Ultra doesn’t fail you. The Ultra PC4000 is quite capable of delivering in the area’s it is needed, be it raw numbers or overclocking potential. Like most PC4000, to get the really high clocks from it, you will need to up the voltage to 2.9v but the ram hasn’t flinched running at this (default is 2.7v) voltage once in the week or so I’ve been using it.”

How Anti-Spyware Software Works @ The Tech Zone
The Tech Zone :: Friday, December 17, 2004
We all should know it to realize what exactly to expect from all these anti-spy products with cool names. Their creators and sellers promise you that these software products will “kill all spyware on your PC” (or something like that). First, is absolute protection possible? Second, what should we expect from a typical anti-spy program and what it is simply unable to do? To answer these questions, we should understand how it works.

HEXUS.net Review: Scan International’s 3XS Cobra SLI Systems
Hexus :: Friday, December 17, 2004
Snip: “We’ve seen impressive 3XS hardware from Scan in the past and their Cobra SLI systems don’t buck that trend. Incredibly well built, paint jobs to put others to shame and potentially umatched performance round off maybe the most impressive systems I’ve had the pleasure of working with to date. If you’re looking for high-end SLI right now, I can recommend you put an enquiry or two their way, for the configuration you’re looking for.”

Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR Review @ Ninjalane
Ninjalane :: Friday, December 17, 2004
Quote: The Soltek SL-915GPro-FGR is a rather unique motherboard, not only does it come with 4 DDR1 memory banks but includes a BIOS level automagic overclocking utility called SAT (Smart Acceleration Technology) that actually works.

SunBeamTech LED Case Handle @ TechTastic.ca
TechTastic :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“Today we take a look at a cool mod for your case that not only adds some lighting, but comes in handy when you’re bringing your computer to a LAN party. We are speaking of course about SunBeamTech’s LED Case Handles.”

Taking SLI and X850 XT PE to Bloodline @ HEXUS.net
Hexus :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
“I was there in a technical capacity, to both baby sit the systems we had on display, and to explain anything about them to the gamers present at the event if they had any questions about the technologies, the parts used or just how expensive the paint job was on the Xeon system.”

Ultra Products 600W Power Supply @ PimpRig Review
PimpRig :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“Pretty much all LED fans I have seen have had the LEDs placed within the outer frame of the fan. The LEDs in these fans are mounted via small posts extending from the center of the fan. The result is more light. Since none of the LED is blocked by the fan housing you get the FULL lighting from these fans.”

Sunbeam Lightbus @ OCIA.net
OCIA :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“In the world of reviewing, it is not often that I am really impressed by a product’s originality. Most modding accessories these days are just remakes or redesigns of an original idea that another company or individual created. That being said though, the LightBus, though an extension of a Rheobus, is still very innovative, especially given the large market of modding gear available today.”

Arctic Cooling Freezer 4 & Freezer 7 Review @ PCmoddingmy
PC Modding Malaysia :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“Overall, the Arctic Cooling Freezer 4 and Freezer 7 is a great CPU cooler. With these Freezers, you’ll get yourself a cool CPU, minus the noise. Installing and getting these Freezers running was quick, thanks to its user friendly design. Priced just at USD34 / RM130 each, these Freezers are definitely a steal. Although it might not freeze your CPU temperatures down sub-zero levels, it puts up a good fight among the best CPU coolers we had, and the Freezer even beat the Hyper 6. If you loved the Silencer and silence, then the Freezer might just be the right CPU cooler for you!”

Thermaltake Big Water 12cm Liquid Cooling System @ Techniz
Techniz.co.uk :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“Thermaltake already has become the global leader in Thermal Industry. Initial focussed primarily on CPU Coolers, high performance heat sinks, DC fan, PC chassis and power supply. Today, we are reviewing their latest liquid cooling product, which is known as the Bigwater. BigWater is consists of three core components including the 12 cm fan radiator and the copper water-block as well as the water pump.”

Akasa AK-183-L2B Amber Series Fan Review @ Mikhailtech
Mikhailtech :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“The model number on the motor sticker is AK-183-L2B, rated at 0.18A and 12V for a maximum power consumption of 2.16watts. Obviously, this is a low output fan and you should have no trouble connecting it directly to your motherboard header via the default 3-pin plug. The other ratings are: 1400 RPM, 18 dBA, and 44.8 CFM. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean the fan is completely silent. It’s certainly quiet, but still audible. Finally, it appears to be made by Y.S.Tech (as per label), which is a good sign since their fans are known for their performance and reliability.”

Cooler Master Hyper 48 @ InsaneTek
InsaneTek :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

“Our last look at Cooler Master’s enthusiast cooler left us a bit disappointed. The Ultra Vortex cooling design was similar to the design of the Zalman CNPS series, but was not nearly as easy to install. Yet the Ultra Vortex provided good performance, but not enough to justify the poor installation method. Thermalright’s introduction of the Light-N-Easy series of heatsinks only provided more competition. These factors wiped away all possible considerations for using the Ultra Vortex. Lucky for us, Cooler Master jumped on heatpipe technology once again and created the new Hyper 48. Unlike the Hyper6 that utilizes 6 heatpipes, the Hyper 48 uses 4 heatpipes to distribute heat across the copper fins. Hopefully, the Hyper 48 doesn’t come with installation problems too.”

Hitachi 60VX915 LCD Rear Projection HDTV
Designtechnica :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Going into this review, I had not been a fan of rear projection LCD. In fact, I think that for the most part it is inferior to other Micro-Display technologies. The examples from other manufacturers are dim at best with poor contrast and terrible brightness levels. So, to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Hitachi’s achievement is an understatement. Clearly, Hitachi knows how to exploit this technology to its utmost, and I applaud them for it. I am happy to report that the images displayed were among the best presently available from any HDTV manufacturer.”

Windows XP Performance Tweaking Guide
I Am Not a Geek :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“This guide has seen MANY revisions since it’s original posting more than 3 years ago. Even after all this time I continue to add to this guide and revise it as needed. Please read this title very carefully because this guide is ONLY intended for Performance related tweaks. There’s millions of other “tweaks” that other guides use but have nothing to do with performance. In this guide I’m ONLY including what actually has some kind of affect on performance. I am trying to keep this guide dedicated to tweaks that directly affect your performance.”

Neoseeker OCZ Modstream PSU Review
Neoseeker :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Due to the PowerWhisper design of the OCZ ModStream, there is only one 120 mm fan present in the power supply, and it is located on the under side of the unit as opposed to the rear. The entire rear of the power supply is one large, non-obtrusive grill, allowing for unobstructed air flow. The 120 mm fan acts as an intake fan, taking hot air out from the inside of the chassis and expelling it out the back. There are no other cooling vents present, with the exception of three small slits beside a voltage transformer.”

Thermaltake Polo 735 3-in-1 Heatsink Review
Mikhailtech :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“The second method to controlling the fan speed is using the provided thermal probe. One end plugs into a special connector on the fan; the other end should be in contact with any side of your processor core (or its underside). While this is certainly a worry-free option that increases the fan speed as the temperature rises, the correlation between these is preset. At 20C the fan speed will be at its minimum 2000 RPM; by 55C it’ll be running at the maximum 5500 RPM. Here’s the catch: at full speed the fan is loud. If your CPU normally gets to 55C, you’ll have to deal with the noise at high speed, as well as any throttling that happens as a result of constantly rising/falling temperatures.”

AC Ryan LAN Ranger
Phoronix :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Over the last couple of months, the number of LED cables we have seen has increased dramatically. AC Ryan has recently released the LAN Ranger that is a CAT6 cable complete with LED lighting at both ends, will this be a new fad for LAN parties, or will it serve no purpose and not be worth the extra money?”

XSPC R120-D Dual Fan Copper Radiator
ViperLair :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Being of a size to accommodate two 120mm fans speaks to the cooling performance on its own, but the design with its 2 rows of 12 tubes and plenty of fins between provides a lot of surface area for cooling. The design is very reminiscent of a car radiator and works well. The radiator assembly is covered in black epoxy giving you a colour that will pretty much go with anything.”

Acer TravelMate 8000 Review
Hardware-Pacers :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Have notebook computers approached desktop performance? In the last year notebook manufactures have been pushing out unit’s that are getting closer and closer to the speed of desktops, but does this limit the useability when you are using it as a notebook should be used, on a battery? The Acer TravelMate 8000 redefines notebook performance and packs in the new Intel® Pentium® M Processor 745 Donathan 1.8GHz processor which has 2MB L2 cache and a 400MHz FSB. ”

Mountain Mods Twice7 Aluminum Case Review
MODTHEBOX! :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“On the design front, all the elements that contributed to the success of the first and second generation U2-UFO Aluminum Cube Computer Case have been adapted into this LAN style enclosure. The Twice7 features a fantastic black power coat finish that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and is accented with subtle chrome highlights and three Lexan windows on the left, right and top of the case. The Twice7 is much smaller than its larger sibling measuring approximately 14″ (H) x 14″ (W) x 14″ (D) and weighting only 10.5 lbs.”

Crucial Ballistix Tracer Giveaway Contest
Tech ARP :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Don’t miss out on this contest, you can check out the review of this memory that we did here at OCmodshop.”

EPoX 915P Motherboard under the scope
TweakTown :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“For those who have had an interest in performance computing for several years, you’ll remember the name EPoX as being one of the several companies who really pushed overclocking in the beginning stages and worked hard on competing with the best in the motherboard business. Today we are taking a look at their 5EPA+ board which is based around Intel’s 915P chipset with DDR memory support. Does the overclocking trend still exist today or does EPoX have a little more work to do? Read on and find out as we take a closer look!”

Sunbeam Wherever PCI Rack
OCIA :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Looking at the thumbnail sized photos on the box, I tried to figure out some of the other configurations of the rack. Some of them appeared to have the rack “arms” mounted perpendicular to the rack. In this particular case, the “arms” were much too long to mount that way, even without a motherboard installed, so I assume that it is not one of the configurations. The only way I can see to mount anything in front of the PCI slots is to mount one “arm” parallel to the rack, and only have screws in one side of the drive, radiator, etc.”

1GB PQI Intelligent Stick USB 2.0 Flash Drive Review
The Tech Zone :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“The PQI Intelligent Stick or I-Stick is the smallest USB flash drive I have ever seen. Yes, that is a 25 cent coin next to the USB drive. The I-Stick was supplied to us by Upgrade Memory and measures just 1.22″ long by 0.7″ wide by 0.11″ thick and weighs only 3 grams. Got two pennies? Put them side-by-side and you’ll have the length of the I-Stick. How PQI managed to get 1GB of storage out of so little space is simply amazing.”

Hiper Type-R Series 480W Power Supply
Hexus :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Looking at the overall package available here, it’s hard to fault Hitech’s Type R offerings – A fantastic bundle coupled with a very nice looking and relatively lightweight power supply, all for a reasonable price. What is even nicer to see is the subtle yet understandable variety in the three packages we’ve seen here – For those who want a case full of LEDs, the red bundle offers both a red LED equipped PSU and fan.”

AMD Athlon 64 Socket 754 Motherboard Roundup
Madshrimps :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“While the s754 platform might seem to lose its appeal with cheap s939 based A64 processors around the corner, the s754 platform is still good for a budget friendly overclocking thrill with just a minor performance loss compared to the newer s939 platform. The recent release of the some excellent OC boards have spiced up the s754 world, making the choice between going for s754 board now or to waiting for a good s939 setup even harder.”

Thermaltake Shark Full Tower Aluminum Case Series
Techniz.co.uk :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Our review unit of the Thermaltake Shark case is a black color unit. The Shark case is a fully made of aluminum which is very light weight and it was a full tower case. And the aluminum use for this case was very strong and tough unlike those soft aluminum. The design of the Shark case was very stylish and it was an excellent system cooling case with the dual 120mm fan.”

Thermaltake Shark Case @ Bjorn3D
Bjorn3D :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Dun dun. Dun dun. Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun. Ahhhhhhhh!!! The whole Jaws phenomenon caused quite the stir back in the day, keeping many beaches empty for the summer. Thermaltake incorporates the whole shark theme into its new aluminum Shark case and causes quite a stir in the water. Stay there at the safety of your computer, as I get a closer look at the all new Thermaltake Shark.”

SUPER PimpRig Holiday GiveAway 2004! Over $4,500 worth of Prizes!
PimpRig :: Friday, December 10, 2004
This is a simple scavenger hunt giveaway. I provide links for you to find words that will stand out a bit and then form a sentence to email me for entry. You are then eligible for one of over 50 random prize drawings totalling over $4,500! Enter once and you are entered for the entire month! No registration required!

PDP Systems Patriot PC2-4200 DDR2 XBL Memory Review
PCStats :: Friday, December 10, 2004
“Called the Patriot DDR-2 eXtreme Bandwidth and Latency Kit, each of these 1GB PC2-4200 XBL sticks of memory have official timings of 3-2-2-4. When those timings are loosened up to 4-3-3-12, PDP Systems PC2-4200 XBL RAM is almost able to ‘fly’ at 700 MHz, or PC2-5600 speeds! If you’re wondering what “XBL” stands for it, it’s the acronym for “eXtreme Bandwidth and Latency,” and looking at the specs for these 1GB modules… it sure does look that way!”

Wireless Bluetooth Mouse Battle: Microsoft vs. Logitech
hardCOREware :: Friday, December 10, 2004
If you’re looking to add Bluetooth connectivity to your system, why not add a nice wireless mouse at the same time? Both of these products from Logitech and Microsoft do just that.

Today we’re going to find out which of these two mice is most suitable for different applications; desktop, mobile, and gaming.

Thermaltake XaserBag Review Posted!
Tech ARP :: Friday, December 10, 2004

“Have you ever gone to a LAN Party and had to carry your case with both your hands? And, because of that, you also had to make a second trip to get the rest of your stuff, like your keyboard and mouse? Making two trips is a waste of time! It’s better to spend time fragging someone’s butt!

So, what’s the answer to that problem? A LAN Bag! And today, we will be looking at Thermaltake’s award-winning Xaser Bag.”

HEXUS.net Review: Inno3D GeForce 6600 GT 128MB
Hexus :: Friday, December 10, 2004
“There’s decent pixel-pushing power that’s aided and abetted by 16GB/s memory bandwidth, albeit from a 128-bit memory bus. Sheer card grunt is augmented with a full set of DX9.0c/OpenGL 1.5 features, including Shader Model 3.0 and High Dynamic-Range (OpenEXR 64-bit) rendering, along with the possibility of adding another in SLI mode. Our benchmarks have shown it to be at least as fast as ATI’s X700 variants, and much, much faster in OpenGL titles such as DOOM 3.”

Ultra UV X-Connect Modular 550watt Power Supply Review @ GruntvillE.com
GruntvillE :: Friday, December 10, 2004

“Power supplies have been going through some much needed overhauls the past few years in order to keep pace with the PC mod market. Gone are the days when the only difference in choice between various manufacturers was the amount of outputted power and warranty. These days you have your choice of color illuminating fans, plexi based covers, housing material (steel, aluminum, etc), colored cable sleeving, and now even modular cabling. The best part is that all of this comes in a off-the-shelf package, no need to order a custom-made unit.”

SilverStone Temjin TJ04 Review @ Ninjalane
Ninjalane :: Friday, December 10, 2004
Feel free to sample a small quote from the article or use the one provided below. Quote: “The front panel is really the key design element on the SilverStone TJ04 and defines the entire case as a modern piece of computer hardware. The elegant lines and brushed finish are very clean and require no further modifications.”

Review: Sunbeam Samurai Mid-Tower Case @ GideonTech.com
GideonTech :: Friday, December 10, 2004
“Today we will be taking a look at the Samurai Mid-Tower case from Sunbeam Tech. Featuring a unique look and an assortment of features, the Samurai might be what you are looking for.”

Epox 8KDA3+ Motherboard Review PCmoddingmy
PC Modding Malaysia :: Friday, December 10, 2004

“The Epox 8KDA3+ really performed very well where we saw it winning the contestant in terms of CPU performance, memory bandwidth and a heading the gaming performance. Besides that, this board is very stable as I never encountered any stability problems throughout the review. This board also came with nice package bundle, 80port debug solution to debug problems quickly, Silicon Image chip for extra 4 SATA connector, PCI/AGP lock for overclocking, active cooling solution, optical SPDIF-out and the list goes on. Priced at USD143 / RM545, it is expensive but it worth’s every bucks considering the features and performance of the Epox 8KDA3+ board. Overall, I prefer the Epox 8KDA3+ over other AMD 64 Socket754 boards I’ve tested so far. The Epox 8KDA3+ is definitely a high-end board thus it deserves an Editor’s Choice!”

Sunbeamtech Transformer Full Tower Case Review @ Madshrimps
Madshrimps :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“From the dull look beige office type chassis; enthusiasts´ high-grade in both classic and not so tranditional look alumimum tower; Business Application Server with 5 or more hard drives capacity to the latest Gamer Chassis can be found in ordinary household, consumer computer cases have come a long way. Let´s take a look at the latest Gamer Chassis from Sunbeam”

MSI DR16-B Dual Layer DVD Writer Review @ Designtechnica
Designtechnica :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“The MSI DR16-B is a definite improvement in MSI’s DVD writer line and has a lot of promise, but the company still has a lot they need to work on. While the DR16-B proved to be fast at writing CD, DVD+R, and DVD+R DL media, it struggles when it comes to DVD-R media. We experienced random burn errors and slower-than-anticipated write times with DVD-R media.”

ASRock 775V88 VIA PT880 Motherboard Review @ PC Stats
PCStats :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“Built for Intel’s new Socket 775 Pentium 4 ‘Prescott’ processor (533/800MHz FSB), the ASRock 775V88 is a no frills motherboard and does not come with many features. With a retail price of just $76 CDN though, pretty much all can be forgiven. The only onboard components included are built-in 5.1 audio, two Serial ATA ports, and a VIA 10/100 Ethernet adaptor. Not a lot, but really quite perfect for building office PCs.”

Cooler Master Cavalier 3 Mid-Tower Case @ TheTechLounge
The Tech Lounge :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004

“Cooler Master’s cases have quite a reputation for being visually pleasing. Ever since their ATC line of cases, Cooler Master has been one of the better high-end case manufacturers. Even though the designers behind the ATC line split, founding Silverstone in 2003, Cooler Master continued to produce a wide range of cases with the same quality and appeal we have come to expect.

While Cooler Master is well known for their higher-end cases such as the Wave Master and Praetorian, they also have a few lower-end cases such as the Cavalier, Centurion and CM Stacker. Cooler Master’s aim seems to be providing the best possible aesthetics and functionality without jacking up the price. The higher-end cases are constructed out of aluminum and have features such as a removable motherboard tray while the lower-end cases are built out of steel and focus on more budget-friendly features.

Today I will be looking at the Cooler Master Cavalier 3 mid-tower case. Coming in at just under $100, the Cavalier features a steel chassis, aluminum front and many tool-less features to aid in the installation process. Because of Cooler Master’s history and the quality of their other cases, I already have fairly high expectations for the Cavalier 3. I will be paying close attention to the materials, construction, quality, usability and aesthetics of this case.”

Ultra 256MB 8-in-1 MP3 Player Review @ MODTHEBOX.COM
MODTHEBOX! :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004

“The main control area is located on the top of the unit and is comprised of three buttons. A central rotational wheel acts as the volume control and general selection function. A smaller play and pause button along with a power and stop button are located directly below and above respectively. The overall menu system is rather compact and will be tedious for those with large hands.”

Corsair Announces Entry Into Flash Media Market
Corsair :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Corsair Memory, Inc., a global leader in ultra-performance DDR memory modules for PC gamers and enthusiasts, today announced the company’s entry into the flash media market with new families of USB 2.0 flash drives and Secure Digital (SD) cards.

Corsair’s USB Flash Voyager products are high capacity thumb-sized portable storage devices that are ideal for transporting presentations, photos, MP3’s, and other files. These USB drives are as stylish as they are durable, featuring a unique retro looking rubber casing that is water resistant. Capable of blazing fast 19 Megabyte per second sustained read speeds, these devices are fully Hi-Speed USB 2.0 compliant, and are backward compatible to USB 1.1.

Further information on Corsair flash media products can be found at www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/flash_memory.htmlM

ASUS WL-330 Pocket Access Point Review @ PC Stats
PCStats :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“In this article, we’ll be looking at the ASUS WL-330 Pocket Access point. This nifty little gadget’s main purpose is as a massively portable 802.11b wireless access point; hook it into any wired Internet source and you have an instant hotspot. This diminutive device also doubles as a USB-powered 802.11b wireless adaptor. We haven’t looked at many of Asus’ network offerings recently, so we were interested to see how the Asus WL-330 Pocket 802.11b wireless access point would stack up to comparative Wi-Fi solutions. Not that there’s a lot of competition in the area of ultra-portable wireless access points, but we digress.”

Mainstream PCI Express Shootout – Radeon X700PRO vs. GeForce 6600GT
TweakTown :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“What will be going on your Christmas wish list to send to Santa Claus in the North Pole this year – ATI Radeon X700PRO or nVidia GeForce 6600GT? Today we are comparing both mainstream PCI Express graphics cards to work out which one should find its way into your stocking this year in our usual array of benchmarks. If you’re on the market for a new graphics cards and Santa can’t afford a high-end card, one of these cards is your next best bet!”

OCZ DDR Booster – Your aid for real RAM overclocking
TweakTown :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“You’ve just gone and bought a brand new CPU, motherboard and memory. Once you finish setting up your new system you are ready to begin overclocking the system only to find that your motherboard doesn’t have enough voltage to supply the memory. OCZ have come to the rescue with an intuitive device called DDR Booster which provides you with extra DIMM voltage up to 3.9 volts and a cleaner power supply to the memory. It’s your aid for real RAM overclocking!”

Ultra Portable HDD Enclosure 2.5″
ViperLair :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“The Ultra Hard Drive case was an interesting product. This product is aimed at the portable market. Including a Li-Ion battery allows you to expand the battery life on your notebook if you are on the go, and also allows more options in where you can hook the drive up. Looks wise the drive was pretty good. It has a nice outer shell, built from plastic with aluminum accents.”

Raidmax Cobra 822
Overclockers Online :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“It isn’t often that you see a case of this type turning up on our desks. Indeed, I have never personally owned one and could not see the lure to the bright lights, odd styled windows, and themed bezels. I’m talking about heavily pre-modded cases; Thermaltake, Raidmax, Cooler Master, Antec, and so many more all do it in some form. These are the cases that were built to grab attention.””

Hardware [M]adness in 2004: a Recap
Madshrimps :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“The year is ending in a few short days. In looking back a few months ago, we, the enthusiasts certainly could say “what a year!””

Vantec SATA EZ-Swap Review @ PCmoddingmy
PC Modding Malaysia :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“With the price of USD 46.99, it is a little expensive but the Vantec EZ-Swap is solid good device where it allows user to hot swap their hard disks. It also comes with a nice LCD screen display, temperature measurement and active cooling inside. For modders, this device should be your next target because it really looks cool with its blue LCD screen and blue LEDs. If you are looking for a good removable and swappable HDD rack, this Vantec SATA EZ-Swap should serve you well.”

Thermaltake Shark Case Review
CoolTechZone :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“Thermaltake’s latest addition to the Xaser line is the Shark full tower aluminum case. Weighing in at 14lbs (6.8 kg) the Shark is packed with features. It includes two 120mm fans spinning at a leisurely 1,400 RPM, producing 21dbA. Besides the fact that the exhaust fan includes a blue LED, they are identical. The front door features a blue LED as well, and provides a cover to hide un-matching 5.25″ drives. The door also features a lock because the external drives can be installed and removed from the front of the case. The side panel has a lock as well, and features a see through mesh that is coated with an EMI shield. In terms of expansion, the Shark supports five externally accessible 5.25″ drives, two externally accessible 3.5″ drives, five internal 3.5″ drives, and seven card slots in the back.”

DFI 875P-T Motherboard Review
Legit Reviews :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“A few motherboard makers have released boards that bridge this gap in the 865 chipset, these “budget boards” allow users to upgrade their CPU to the new LGA 775 while continuing to use their AGP and PCI based hardware, but none of these boards really stand out performance wise. With the release of the 875P-T, DFI became the first motherboard maker to mix the high performance 875 chipset with Intels newest processor line, the LGA 775. The DFI 875P-T allows users to realize the full potential of the LGA 775 processor while still using their current AGP video card and DDR 1 memory. This allows users to upgrade incrementally instead of replacing their whole system at once.”

Zalman CNPS-7700 Cu Heatsink & Fan
SystemCooling :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“The CNPS-7700 Cu is Zalman’s latest (and largest) addition to their line of radial coolers. This monster measures 5 3/8″/136mm in diameter, and stands 2 5/8″/67mm tall yet masses only 2.0lbs./0.91kg. The heat sink is composed of sixty-five copper alloy stampings that each measure 0.016″/0.40mm thick. Each copper stamping forms two fins that protrude from each side of the heat sink block in a radial pattern, for a total of 130 fins. This, as you might expect, provides a vast amount of surface area. Actually, the amount of surface area on this heat sink is borderline-ridiculous: 506.5 Square Inches/3268 Square centimeters! 3.5+ Square Feet! In layman’s terms, the CNPS-7700 Cu heat sink has just a little more surface area than if you laid two food trays commonly found in fast food restaurants everywhere, side by side.”

OCZ Announces ModStream Power Supply Family
OCZ Technology :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“Every ModStream power supply is equipped with OCZ EZMod technology. This advanced cable management system allows complete customization of your power system by utilizing only the UV cables you require, resulting in optimal airflow and elimination of cable mazes. All EZMod cables glow brightly when illuminated with UV lighting accessories to add a visually-pleasing effect to any system.”

Diagnose PC problems with Memtest86+
Short-Media :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“One of the recommended steps to diagnose a problem with a PC that is crashing or unstable is to test and diagnose memory because memory is one of the more likely hardware components that can fail. Faulty memory can cause many problems even if the PC continues to operate. ”

ASRock K8 Combo Z @ Phoronix
Phoronix :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“ASRock, the budget division of ASUS, has long been known for their inexpensive motherboards. Will the ASRock K8 Combo Z be an awakening to enthusiasts or will ASRock continue to belong on the budget motherboard shelf?”

Seagate 120GB SATA 7200.7 HDD Review
Mikhailtech :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“The early ATA Momentus series was almost unheard of and it wasn’t until the Barracuda arrived that Seagate got its slice of the pie. Of all the manufacturers, Seagate is yet to disappoint me. The updated Barracuda 7200.7 was the nail in the coffin. A combination of the best warranty in the industry (5 years replacement), the quietest widely available drives (note that Samsung’s SpinPoint series is a bit hard to come by), low access times, high performance, and an impressive track record all make for a near perfect drive. A while back we took a peak at Seagate’s 200GB USB drive combo and were very impressed with its quality. Today we have a newer model up for evaluation, the 120GB SATA Barracuda 7200.7. Keep in mind this isn’t the newest drive currently on the market; Seagate recently announced their 7200.8 series featuring native command queuing (NCQ) and lower 8ms access times. Supposedly this technology outperforms standard 10,000RPM SATA and PATA drives; even WD’s Raptor may get a run for its money.”

OCZ Gold PC3700 Rev3
InsaneTek :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“OCZ Gold PC3700 Rev3 that uses Hynix DT-D5 chips is indeed better than the previous OCZ Gold line of memory. How and why can I say such a thing when I didn’t even compare it to the previous? The goal of this review was to see whether the OCZ Gold PC3700 Rev3 is able to perform on the AMD Athlon64 platform. Sure enough, it did, performing very well. Based on this fact alone, the kit of memory is superior than its predecessors. The BT-D5 and CT-D5 (or D43s) were unable to run successfully and stably on A64 platforms, making the migrations from Intel to A64 rather difficult. The overclocking potential of the OCZ Gold PC3700 Rev3 (DT-D5) was rather impressive. It reached a high frequency while maintaining decent timings and a command rate of 1T. Although there might be better memory out there, the Gold PC3700 Rev3 does deserve a good recommendation for the ability to overclock high and perform well on an A64 system.”

Diagnose PC problems with Memtest86+
Short-Media :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“One of the recommended steps to diagnose a problem with a PC that is crashing or unstable is to test and diagnose memory because memory is one of the more likely hardware components that can fail. Faulty memory can cause many problems even if the PC continues to operate. ”

A4Tech’s Wireless Battery Free Mouse
TechTastic :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“Today we take a look at a new innovative new product from A4tech called NB-30 Wireless optical mouse. The cool thing about this mouse is it requires no batteries to operate! Thus allowing you to save on battery costs and avoiding contributing to battery pollution.”

The Dark Side of P2P File Sharing @ The Tech Zone
The Tech Zone :: Saturday, December 04, 2004
“Some P2P file sharing programs offer “pro” versions of their free software. But again, their basic service is free to the public. I want you to fully understand this, because paying a P2P scam site money can not only make your wallet a bit lighter, it can also make your computer vulnerable to dangerous spyware.”

mCubed T-Balancer @ Bjorn3D
Bjorn3D :: Saturday, December 04, 2004
“If there is one single thing that irritates me the most in a PC it is noise. True, after a while you get used to some of the noise but it is always there in the background giving you a headache and just annoying you.”

AC Ryan NutCase o’ Connectx Contest – Guess and Win! @ ACRyan
AC Ryan :: Saturday, December 04, 2004

“AC Ryan teams up with GruntvillE.com and Mikhailtech.com to give you the last contest of 2004! When you think of AC Ryan, you think of connectors…and lots of them. We took our AC Ryan AcrylicCasing and filled it to the top with our own connectors – and its your job to tell us how many we used! First place winners will receive our new and powerful AC Ryan Ryanpower2 Power Supply! Thats not all!! AC Ryan has a bonus prize!! Our new LAN.Ranger – the ultimate gaming cable, will be sent to the person who guesses (or counts ;)) the correct amount of types of connectors we used to fill this case. Do you have enough fingers or abacuses to count these? Or are you going to take a wild guess? Drop in the forums and win win win!”

How To Search Your PC With Google Desktop @ The Tech Zone
The Tech Zone :: Saturday, December 04, 2004

“The search function integrated to Microsoft Windows is not a big help either. It requires you to know, albeit vaguely, where the file could possibly be located. If your data storage is significant and you made a search on your whole hard disk, it might take ages to get search results and, then again, there is no guarantee that you will find the right file. Frustrating? Thanks to new Google Desktop Search this is about to change!”

Diamondback Precision Gaming Mouse reviewed @ hi-techreviews
Hi-Techreviews :: Saturday, December 04, 2004
“The gang over at Razer Inc., the same people that have brought us items like the Razer Viper – which at the time had the highest resolution of any mouse available on the market and the eXactMat – a two-sided, longer-lasting Anodized Aluminum mousing surface that when used with the Viper became a true deadly duo had one more surprise for us this last October. On October 7th at World Cyber Games (WCG) 2004 held in San Francisco, where their newest creation the Razer Diamondback was released and named “The Official Gaming Mouse of WCG”

The Razer Diamondback is the world’s first optical mouse with a precision of 1600 dots-per-inch (dpi), this is roughly 400 dpi more than the closet competitor. When combine with Razer’s highly tunable software you end up with a mouse that is ideal for gaming, photo manipulation, or just surfing the web.”

Yamada Beatbox MP3 Player @ PCreview
PCreview :: Saturday, December 04, 2004
“The Yamada Beatbox is not along the same lines as the iPod MP3 players (and clones), as the capacity is a much smaller 512 Megs – which can store around 8 hours of music. Firstly, this unit is about 60% the size of a standard iPod and 75% than the iPod mini. Secondly, this unit features an inverted LCD colour backlight which can display many different colours of text during playback.

Uniquely, the Beatbox has two speakers build into the unit. Although the speakers are only around 12mm in diameter, they are surprising quality. Of course, with such small speakers the bass and sound fidelity will clearly lack – but it is on a par with a small FM radio. Sound quality distorts a little at high volumes, but is optimal at around 2/3 max volume – ideal sound levels to listen to without headphones at a desk.”

Alpha PAL8150T @ InsaneTek
InsaneTek :: Saturday, December 04, 2004

“Most companies today have started using heatpipes to increase the heat dissipation, increasing cost. Alpha has stuck to the basics and this heatsink is no exception. The 8150T is designed to keep costs low while minimally sacrificing performance”

Notebook Purchase Fiasco @ Adrian’s Rojak Pot
Tech ARP :: Saturday, December 04, 2004

“Buying notebooks was supposed to be a pretty clear-cut affair. Determine what you need, eyeball the available notebooks and choose the best one that suits your needs. Simple, no?

Unfortunately, this was not to be as Ken and Adrian discovered. Check out Episode I : Aspiration For Better Service and find out what happened!”

Raidmax Cobra Gaming Case @ hi-techreviews.com
Hi-Techreviews :: Thursday, December 02, 2004

“Looking at the computer case that someone uses can tell you a great deal about the person that uses that computer if stop and think about it for while. As I have gotten older I have begun to shy away from cases that have lights in them or lots of bells and whistles, instead I have begun looking for cases that have clean looks, good ventilation and most of all ones that are priced reasonably.

No matter how hard I try to separate myself from the pre-modded cases I still find myself stealing little peeks of them at the local computer emporium, sort of like a dirty old man getting caught looking at a teenage girl. Oh how I want one but what would the wife and kids say, more than likely that Dad has flipped out the some comment about spending my childhood on small farm in Iowa where our toys were corn cobs and sticks.

As luck would have it when you run a review site there is one really nice thing that happens, you can play with the cases you’re to ashamed to buy. Now you can tell your wife and kids its work and there is absolutely nothing they can do about it. So that brings us to the case we are going to look at today the Raidmax Cobra Gaming Case, by my standards this is a case I could even live with. But the review is where the details come out so let’s get with it.”

512MB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO Review Rev. 2.0 @ Rojak Pot
Tech ARP :: Thursday, December 02, 2004

” In collaboration with SanDisk, Sony came up with the new Memory Stick PRO standard. Boasting much faster read and write speeds as well as much larger capacities, the Memory Stick PRO is what the original Memory Stick was meant to be; but could never be.

Today, we will take a close look at the 512MB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO. Although ostensibly similar to the Sony Memory Stick PRO, we found the SanDisk Memory Stick PRO to be far better than the Sony Memory Sticks. Find out why!”

Thermaltake 120mm Blue LED Smart Case Fan Review @ Tweaknews.net
Tweaknews :: Thursday, December 02, 2004

“I must say that I’m very impressed with the Thermaltake Smart Case fan. The packaging, product quality and accessories are all top-notch. I used nothing more than a screwdriver to take advantage of all options and never had to dip into my collection of spare parts to get it running or installed. While the highest fan speed produced a lot of noise, the Smart Fan was fairly quiet at low speeds while still moving a very respectable volume of air. 38CFM @ 17dBA on low is nothing to sneeze at.”

Leadtek WinFast A400 TDH (GeForce 6800) @ Bjorn3D
Bjorn3D :: Thursday, December 02, 2004
“Being the older brother in my family, I have always seemed to pick on my little brother, from as far back as I can remember. I had always thought that being the little brother probably sucked while growing up. But Leadtek has changed my mind about that. The Winfast A400 TDH, their name for the GeForce 6800, makes being the little brother not so bad after all. ”

Thermalright SI-97 Heatsink Review @ ap0calypse.com
ap0calypse :: Thursday, December 02, 2004
“What do you do when you make the best performing Socket A heatsink? Well, if you are most companies you would probably be satisfied…but not if you are Thermalright! Enter the SI-97. Thermalright takes a totally different approach to creating a high-performance heatsink and we are here to show you how well they did.”

Corsair TWIN2X1024-5400C4PRO DDR2 Memory Review @ Madshrimps
Madshrimps :: Thursday, December 02, 2004
“While there have been many reviews on DDR2, I fear early reviews for the new standard were unconsciously prejudicial. While PCIe/DDR2 technology continues to experience growing pains, Corsair has done an excellent job with what is arguably the fastest memory on the market.”

MSI DR16-B Dual Layer 16x DVD @ Viper Lair
ViperLair :: Thursday, December 02, 2004
“In terms of performance, the MSI DR16-B provides ample speed for a Dual Layer drive. Performance is on par with the HP unit and is quite a bit quicker in DVD-R burning. All the DR16-B burns worked flawlessly, and if you can find them, 16x DVD writes is as fast as it gets.”

Cardo Wireless Scala-500 Headset Review @ CoolTechZone
CoolTechZone :: Saturday, December 25, 2004

“The only aspect that is left to touchup on is the price. The Scala-500 is a flagship product from Cardo Systems and the manufacturer will surely make you realize that. This particular headset retails around $79.99, which makes it one of the most expensive in its category. Is the price justifiable? Most certainly! There are few products that truly deserve nothing but positive comments and recommendations regardless their price, and the Scala-500 happens to be one of those few. Clearly, the Scala-500 headset is not designed for everyone. It’s for those executives and users who must travel for one reason or another and need a comfortable headset with rechargeable capabilities.”

Samsung SCX 4100 Multifunction Printer @ GideonTech
GideonTech :: Saturday, December 25, 2004
“I’ve always been wary of multifunction printers as they provide a lot of options but none are all that great on it’s own. Whether it be scanning or printing an image, it used to be better to just buy separate devices and hooking them up. With SCX4100 from Samsung, things may just have changed.”

CaseBuy USB Vacuum @ HardwareHounds.com
HardwareHounds :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“Everybody likes to be surprised once in a while. So when something comes along that makes us take a second look, we just have to tell the world about it. A case in point is the subject of this review; the USB vacuum from CaseBuy Tech. This small handheld gadget proves that there are still companies out there who can produce something you didn’t even know you needed. Approximately 6 inches long, it comes with 2 interchangeable heads (or tool attachments), a small LED light built into the vacuum itself and 3 different settings.”

Saitek Gamers Keyboard review @ ModdersHQ
ModdersHQ.net :: Friday, December 17, 2004

“I’m going out on a limb and stating the following…Chances are if you show me a modder, there is a darn good chance this individual is also a gamer. From my experience with the rag-tag group of people I deal with, most were gamers before modders. With that being said, Saitek has developed a keyboard geared towards the gamer but should appeal to the modders as well”

Logitech QuickCam Orbit Webcam Review @ The Tech Zone
The Tech Zone :: Friday, December 17, 2004

“What makes the QuickCam Orbit unique is the motorized camera head combined with face tracking software which allows the camera lens to follow its subject – up and down, or left and right – as that person shifts in a chair or moves freely about the room. The webcam also features a 9-inch stand, so the camera can be at eye level, whether on a desk or resting on top of a monitor.”

D-LINK UNVEILS FIRST GIGABIT GAMING ROUTER
D-Link :: Thursday, December 09, 2004

OCmodshop will have this exiting new router from D-Link to review very soon, so check back here shortly for it.

D-Link, the global leader in consumer network connectivity, today announced the industry’s first Gaming Router. The new D-Link GamerLounge™ wireless router (DGL-4300) features D-Link GameFuel technologies, a new intelligent packet processing engine integrated directly on the router, giving online games precedence for bandwidth over all other Internet applications, email and FTP transfers. The D-Link GamerLounge wireless router is also the first router to brandish four 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet ports with up to 108Mbps 802.11g wireless connectivity for blazing fast LAN party and WLAN connections. Optimized for PC, Xbox™ and PlayStation®2 games, the D-Link GamerLounge wireless router provides gamers with increased control to maximize online performance for the ultimate “no lag” gaming experience.

The D-Link GamerLounge wireless router enables users to setup a high-performance gaming network that offers the fastest wired and wireless speeds available from a single broadband device. The game-centric user interface of the Gaming Router allows for the configuration of multiple ports or port ranges simply by selecting the game title from a menu. With an easy to use, Flash-based Web interface, the D-Link GamerLounge wireless router can be accessed quickly to change settings and adjust performance for individual applications.

Delivering sophisticated firewall protection, the D-Link GamerLounge wireless router is easily configured through the advanced features section of the product’s web-based interface. The router features a high performance CPU to support advanced management features such as MAC address authentication, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Content Filtering. The D-Link GamerLounge wireless router features robust security to protect the wireless network from intruders, supporting the latest wireless networking security standards, including WEP encryption and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) support for both 802.1x and WPA-PSK.

To support the new flagship product line, D-Link has launched the new GamerLounge Website. The site contains additional information about the D-Link GamerLounge wireless router as well as new posting on the latest D-Link sponsored gaming events, promotions and game application updates. The site can be experienced at http://games.dlink.com/

Logitech MX900 Bluetooth Mouse Review @ The Tech Zone
The Tech Zone :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004

“What the MX900 does bring to the table over the MX700 is it’ll transform your computer into a Bluetooth control center. Bluetooth is finally starting to have some useful applications and more and more products are starting to use them. Bluetooth is a personal wireless network which offers up to 10 meters of range for secure data transmission with other Bluetooth enable devices. A few years ago, Bluetooth devices were few and far between. Today, they’re everywhere – in your PDA, cell phone, printer, notebook, etc. In order for all these Bluetooth devices to talk to each other you need a Bluetooth hub or control center. This is where the MX900 comes in as its docking station not only recharges the MX900 batteries but doubles a Bluetooth hub as well.”

Waffer PC Aircon PAC 400
OCIA :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“With the Aircon installed in the bottom of the four 5.25″ bays in my case, there is only about 1/4″ of clearance from the bottom of the lower rom drive’s tray. My fan controller and floppy drive are pretty much blocked off.”

SteelPad S&S Mousepad Review @ Hard-h2o
Hard-h2o :: Saturday, December 04, 2004

“Steel S&S bring out its newest mousepad,Steelpad.”Titans” Clan states that the perfect mousepad has come.In this review we’ll analyse this mousepad aimed at users that do an intensive use of the PC.”

Samsung Yepp YP-780V 256Meg MP3 Player Review @ Tweaknews.net
Tweaknews :: Thursday, December 02, 2004

“Some or even most new MP3 players are entering the market with FM radio receiving and voice recording capability. If you are tired of the music you have on the MP3 player, you can switch to your local radio broadcast till you upload some new media or if you need to record a voice memo or even a small business conversation, won’t have to carry around a separate recorder.

The Samsung Yepp YP-780V MP3 player I will be reviewing today encompasses all of these features and compresses them into such a small size that you could easily fit two or even three of them into one hand.”

Steelpad QCK + MousePad @ TechTastic.ca
TechTastic :: Thursday, December 02, 2004

“Just when we thought we had seen the biggest mouse pad, Steelpad sent us their QCK + Mouse Pad. This giant mouse surface measures an incredible 17,7in x 15,7in!”

BFG 6600GT OC AGP Review @ Neosekker
Neoseeker :: Friday, December 31, 2004
“We were able to squeeze 588 Mhz out of the GPU and 1.17 Ghz out of the memory before it cried for mercy and the NVIDIA driver control panel shooed us off. The 6600GT OC remained stable through hours of 3DMark05 and displayed no visual anomalies or any other sort of stability in DOOM 3.”

ATI Radeon X800 Voltage Modding Guide Posted! @ rojakpot.com
Tech ARP :: Friday, December 31, 2004

“As you all know, it is possible to voltage mod your graphics card to improve the overclockability of its GPU and memory chips. However, unlike overclocking, voltage modding requires you to physically mod the card.

Today, we will cover the voltage modding techniques for the ATI Radeon X800 graphics cards. This covers both the X800 Pro as well as the X800 XT PE. Just remember to read through the guide and follow our steps carefully!”

HIS X700Pro PCI-E Graphics Card – X700XT Equaling Performance
TweakTown :: Wednesday, December 29, 2004
“Today we take a close look at the HIS X700Pro IceQ Turbo including the impressive overclocking ability close to that of the Radeon X700XT which uses the new PCI Express interface and compare it against the older ATI Radeon X600XT VPU and see what is different and how it affects gaming performance in popular games such as HL2, Doom 3 and Far Cry.”

ATI All in Wonder Radeon X600 Pro PCI Express 256Meg Videocard Review @ Tweaknews
Tweaknews :: Saturday, December 25, 2004

“The All in Wonder X600 pro in its’ stock form would be deemed a safe buy if you were interested in full course buffet of multimedia features with a small side order of gaming. Although the card will easily handle older games with relative ease and acceptable framerates, I would not purchase this card if you were interested in playing the best games…”

NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT PCI-E Review @ PCmoddingmy
PC Modding Malaysia :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004

“All in all, the Nvidia 6600GT is a great card with a reasonable price tag. We expect this card to be price around the RM800 mark and best of all, it supports SLI and comes with an onboard video processor. Moreover, the 6600GT is quite small compared to its predecessors and runs cooler too. Besting in each tests, the 6600GT should be mounted on your Intel LGA rig or even on your NF4 rig that supports PCI-E. Certainly the GeForce 6600GT is the best in its class! However, bear in mind that GeForce 6600GT is pretty hard to find in retail stores (at the time of this review) but we are hoping to see them in stores soon.”

Albatron Mars PX915P Pro review @ ocprices.com
OcPrices :: Wednesday, December 22, 2004
“Similar to when Intel went from Coppermine to Willamette, the change from Northwood to Prescott requires quite a few system changes, not just a new CPU and motherboard. For those looking to upgrade their Socket 478 (or earlier) systems to a new 775 system, a board like Albatron’s “Mars” PX915P Pro can make the change a bit less painful, as your standard DDR can come along for the ride. How does the board perform? Read on.”

XFX 6600GT 128Mb AGP 8x Video Card
AMD Review :: Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“I wanted to do something a little different this time. I had this 6600GT video card to review, but I knew there would be lots of sites out there with the same old hard facts and figures with benchmarks of games like UT2004 and Far Cry. I decided to go a different route. I wanted to bring to you a review of the card, including the specs and such, but also wanted to provide some useful information as far as how well it plays the most system demanding game to date, Half Life 2.”

ATI CATALYST 4.12 Performance @ Hexus
Hexus :: Sunday, December 19, 2004
“As far as CATALYST 4.12 goes, the big news here is probably for those of you still playing Half-Life 2 in some shape or form, as this driver has certainly rolled out another set of fine performance improvements. Generally speaking, this driver set seems to be a stable and fast one, with most applications finding some benefit performance-wise, however small. The really big leaps can be seen for anyone still running CATALYST 4.10 or driver sets previous to that, as basically every test in our suite showed some big gains moving between 4.10 and 4.12”

Mobile GPU Comparison Guide Rev. 3.0 @ Adrian’s Rojak Pot
Tech ARP :: Sunday, December 19, 2004

“These days, there are so many mobile GPU models that it has become quite impossible to keep up with the different configurations. Therefore, we decided to compile this guide to provide an easy reference for those who are interested in comparing the specifications of the various mobile GPUs in the market as well as those already obsolescent or obsolete.

Currently covering over 35 mobile GPUs, this comprehensive comparison will allow you to easily compare 14 different specifications for each and every GPU! We hope it will prove to be a useful reference. We will keep this guide updated regularly so do check back for the latest updates!”

HEXUS.net News: NVIDIA’s GeForce 6200 with TurboCache Preview
Hexus :: Friday, December 17, 2004
Snip: ” Cute little boards, interesting technology that might make it into high-end hardware in the future (what about a 256MB board that can texture into system memory when needed, saving you the massive cost of a jump to a 512MB variant?), along with all the attractions of a well engineered small PCB and passive cooling, mean they’re well worth considering if you’re looking for low-cost PCI Express thrills and spills.”

nVidia GeForce 6600GT goes AGP @ TweakTown
TweakTown :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“A little while ago nVidia launched their GeForce 6600GT graphics card using the PCI Express interface. The GPU received great reviews around the web for impressive performance for the price but lacked one major thing – AGP support for those who had not yet made the jump to the new platform. nVidia has now released the AGP version of their 6600GT graphics card and today we take a close look at the product and see how it differs from the PCI Express version.”

Preview: X850XT PE & Response from ATI @ Hexus
Hexus :: Friday, December 17, 2004
“It’s when you consider the performance on offer, clearly the most that any single card on the market can offer, that the niggles start to fade from view. You’re CPU limited a bunch of the time with the board which means you’re really going to want to pair it with something like FX-55, but if you can afford one, you can generally afford the other. It doesn’t get faster than X850 XT Platinum Edition, it’s as simple as that.

Overall, ATI raise the bar yet again. Performance is incredible, the cooler made nary a peep above its settled speed in my test system and I have a lot of lust for dual DVI right now.”

Roku SoundBridge M2000 Media Receiver Review @ Designtechnica
Designtechnica :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
“The Roku SoundBridge is the best looking networked media player we have seen to-date. It is incredibly easy to setup and is compatible with a large number of music services and server software. If Roku had added the ability to play shared drives or folders on your network, our score could have been higher. We find absolutely no reason for them to leave this feature out.

If you have an audio system that you want to show off, the Roku SoundBridge is the perfect way to do so. The M2000 and M1000 are nearly identical with exception to their sizes. So if you want to save $150 dollars or simply want a smaller unit, we would recommend that you go with the M1000. For us however, we can appreciate the larger display – it looks that good.”

ATI Catalyst 4.12 Performance Analysis @ TweakTown
TweakTown :: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
“Today we see the release of another ATI Catalyst driver suite (in fact the last release for 2004) and we will be seeing just how they compare against the previous 4.11 drivers. We will be comparing these drivers with our normal array of benchmarks except we have had a few new additions to our benchmark line including Half Life 2 and Doom 3. Is it time to change your Radeon drivers? Read on and find out!”

Samsung SyncMaster 193P 19 Inch LCD Monitor Review
Tweaknews :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“The SyncMaster 193P is not meant to compete with the lower end affordable options and is more targeted towards the end user that requires a large LCD monitor with designer aesthetics, a higher contrast ratio, flexible mounting and screen orientation and color reproduction sought after in the graphics and CAD industry. This is Samsung’s premier 19 inch model and they have done a great job at packing almost every feature needed by most consumers, yet still kept the slim and sleek visual appeal.”

AVerMedia AVerTV USB 2.0 Plus @ HEXUS.net
Hexus :: Monday, December 13, 2004

“Almost everything about the device is easy to use and set-up, which generally speaking makes it a joy to use. My biggest concern prior to testing the device was that such a small component would struggle to provide a good quality picture and sound, but it proved me wrong and then some. The only missing link in the package seems to be Teletext abilities – Although the player software and remote control both make mention of it, I could find no such functionality anywhere.”

ATI Radeon X850 XT Platinum Edition Review @ Beyond3D
Beyond3D :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“On the face of it, the X800 XT Platinum Edition seems like a bit of a tough sell – they’ve moved to double slot cooling, freezing out some small form factor users in the process, seemingly increase the retail price (although, perhaps this is just an acknowledgement that X800 XT Platinum Editions hardly hit that price when they could be found) and its one of the smallest performance increases from any refresh product released.”

ATI’s Radeon X850 XT PE Reviewed @ VR-Zone Hardware
VR-Zone :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“When you look at the R480 part we’ve tested today and compare it to NVIDIA’s current high end PCIe offerings, the winner is ATI on every front. With Catalyst A.I. enabled, the ATI Radeon X850 XT Platinum Edition is able to at least tie, but usually outperform the 6800GT in Doom 3 tests. In our other game tests, the results all swing in ATI’s favor, with the ATI Radeon X850 XT Platinum Edition fastest in every other test”

nVidia GeForce 6200 GPU – Surprising Budget Gaming @ Tweaktown
TweakTown :: Wednesday, December 08, 2004
“Today we are taking a look at the GeForce 6200 reference graphics card from nVidia which is designed to take on ATI’s Radeon X300 in the low-end PCI Express VGA marketplace. After taking a detailed look at the GPU and graphics card, we compare in our usual array of benchmarks against an older GeForce PCX5900 and Radeon X300. You might be surprised by the budget gaming performance like we were.”

Sapphire R9550 ATI R9550 128MB VGA Review
Overclockers New Zealand :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“The R9550 VPU should have a good potential for overclocking, as it’s based on the R9600 and is artificially clocked down to 250MHz. In theory, we should be able to clock it to the default R9600 speed without any problem. Sadly, all R9200/9550 VPU are locked since Catalyst 3.4. The only way of overclocking is to use a hacked driver or firmware.”

ATI Radeon X800 XT PCI-Express 256MB
The Tech Lounge :: Tuesday, December 07, 2004

“If you’re in the market for a high-end PCIE card, your options are ATI, or… ATI. Although NVIDIA has officially launched the 6800 series of PCIE cards, you would be extremely hard pressed to actually find one available for purchase. In fact, we did some looking around and were not able to find a single add-in-board partner that manufactures a 6800 PCIE card of any flavor. The only 6800 PCIE cards that anyone has been able to get a hold of have been NVIDIA reference boards, which as you may have guessed, are not available for purchase.”

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