Mushkin XP-800 AP 800W PSU
techPowerUp :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Mushkin’s new XP-800AP power supply offers enough power for even the most demanding rigs. The shiny black paint looks great and the connectors are numerous. One special feature is Rail Fusion which lets the user select if the whole PSU should run with one big rail or in Quad Rail mode.
Cable vs DSL
Techware Labs :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
The two most prevalent technologies used today to access the internet are Cable and DSL. making the decision between one or the other can be difficult. We explain the technologies behind each, how they work, and the pro’s and con’s of each.
Cooler Master Cosmos S Case Review
Hardware Secrets :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“Cosmos S (internally called RC-1100 by Cooler Master) is a big full-tower case featuring aluminum body, ten 5 ¼” bays, a big 200-mm side fan and several other features. Let’s take an in-depth on this new case from Cooler Master.”
Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider
NGOHQ :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“Microsoft did well bringing the 64-bit architecture to Windows Vista but somehow they screwed up. Apparently they forgot who their target audience was when they introduced a very restricted module of driver signature enforcement. In laymen’s terms, all drivers and system files must be digitally verified or they cannot run when using the 64-bit version of Vista. In the past it was possible to turn that feature off; but due to new kernel security updates it is impossible to turn it off without degrading security and stability of your operating system. In order to turn this off it involves uninstalling critical security updates that Microsoft has released to increase system security. Sadly, this feature makes Windows Vista 64-bit into a closed and locked down operation system. So what’s the problem with digital certificates? Well, the problem is… developers have to pay Microsoft to receive verified certificates, and that makes many applications inaccessible under Windows Vista 64-bit. This driver signature enforcement can be a serious pain to end-users; however it is still possible to turn it off by disabling it up by pressing the F8 function key during system boot up. Pressing F8 every time on boot up can be a serious pain in the ass and frustrating to those that miss the time window available to press F8 during start up. Others have found workarounds, but most of them are too complicated for the average end user to perform, atleast until now.”
NZXT Tempest PC Case Review
i4u :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“Today we are checking out a PC case from NZXT called the Tempest. The NZXT Tempest lacks some of the polish you get from much more expensive cases like you get from Cooler Master, but it offers lots for the $100 price.
All the fans in the case make it louder than some you will find, but there is no denying the amount of air flow to keep your components cool. The case is also attractive with a clear side window with a blue LED fan. The case retails for around $100 making it less than half the price of my Cosmos S. While the NZXT Tempest lacks the polish of the Cosmos S, it is a very good case.”
Intel QX9770 Quad Core Extreme 3.2Ghz Processor Review 
Tweaknews :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“The QX9770 being reviewed today is Intel’s latest Socket 775 Quad-Core which not only boasts the smaller 45nm manufacturing process as the QX9650, but it also ups the stock core speed by 200Mhz to 3.2Ghz, cranks up the FSB from 1333Mhz to a screaming 1600Mhz, and for good measure slaps on another 4MB of on die cache to keep all cores fed properly.”
Buffalo TeraStation Pro II 1TB Rackmount NAS Review
Think Computers :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“Some organizations-or people-need serious storage. Sometimes a simple server running Windows 2003 or Linux might not be sufficient, in terms of storage space, redundancy, or cost for all of these. The Buffalo TeraStation Pro II series of network-attached storage devices aims to please users and administrators who need a large amount of redundant storage, automatic backups to other units, gigabit networking, and the ability to increase the capacity. ThinkComputers takes a look at the one terabyte rackmount version in this review.”
Enhance Tech T4H CR External RAID Tower
Tweak Town :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“Getting your hands on this device should solve your problems when it comes to flexible mobile storage with fail-safe protection. This is Enhance Technology’s T4H CR. The unit comprises a very nicely built enclosure with handles for easy mobility, four HDD eSATA bays, a built-in LCD display for setup and configuration, and last but most certainly not least, a RAID controller with levels 0, 0+1 and 5. An independent PSU and rear mounted case fan is also resident.
Before we get into the benchmarking side of things, let’s perform a close physical inspection of the unit itself to get the full gist of what’s on offer.”
OCZ DDR3-12800 Platinum vs. Patriot DDR3-1500 Viper 
Bjorn 3d :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Recently we received two DDR3 kits, one from OCZ Technology and one from Patriot Memory. The kit from OCZ was their 4GB DDR3 12800 (DDR3 1600) Platinum Enhance Bandwidth product and Patriot sent us their 2GB Viper DDR3 15000 (DDR3 1866) kit. Both of these products were used in our recent review of the ASUS P5E3 Premium motherboard. We saw some rather interesting phenomena with both of these memory kits in that review so we have decided to review both of these kits comparatively in much more detail using the same test rig. Our goal is not only to give you a complete review of these two memory products, but to also answer the questions we alluded to in the beginning of this introduction.
Biostar TF8200 A2+ Review
Inside HW :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
” It’s very interesting whenever we test Biostar motherboards with integrated graphics, especially when they are based on new chipset. This time we have tested new Biostar model from “T-series” based on GeForce 8200 chipset. GeForce 8200 is single chip solution aimed for AM2 and AM2+ platforms and it integrates complete south bridge and graphics accelerator. This integrated GPU has full support for HD video resolutions up to 1080p and has interesting options for connecting more than one monitor. With this chipset you can create hybrid SLi which means that you can insert another graphics card in PEG slot and create SLi system with integrated graphics card.”…
OCZ Rally2 Turbo 4GB USB Flash Review
ASE Labs :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
” OCZ may be best known for their memory products such as low latency and high speed RAM, but they also provide other products with enhanced speed and performance. Their line of cooling products as well as flash memory provide excellent performance in today’s market. Today, ASE Labs has the OCZ Rally2 Turbo 4GB USB flash drive for review. Even flash can be dual channel. ”
Alienware High Definition Media Server Review
Legit Reviews :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“The Alienware High Definition Media Server is not the Cadillac of media servers – it’s more like a Maybach. If you have to ask how much, you probably can’t afford it, but once you drive one everything else is pretty much crap. In a world that is moving towards complete home integration, Alienware has drawn first blood and set a high standard for others to beat…”
Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme & IFX-14 Review
Driver Heaven :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thermalright is a company with a long history in the enthusiast PC market and they have created some of the best, hardcore CPU coolers over the last decade. Today we will have a look at two of their greatest CPU coolers, the Ultra-120 eXtreme and the IFX-14. The Ultra-120 eXtreme is an updated version of the extremely successful Ultra-120, while the IFX-14 has quickly became famous because of the monstrous size.
Is The Mac Overpriced?
PC Mech :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“The “Mac versus PC” debate will rage until the end of time, but one constant argument I hear about the Mac is that it is overpriced. In fact, an anonymous employee of Psystar (the makers of the so-called Mac clone) was quoted as saying that Apple marks up their hardware as much as 80%.”
The Computer Council – Clocked Gamer Quad
Overclock 3d :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
“Fitted with top quality components and overclocked to 3.3ghz, the Clocked Gamer Quad offers top performance at a reasonable price.”
AMD Phenom X3 released; reviewed
Beyond3d Processor News :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
AMD has finally released the Phenom X3 outside of the OEM market, with reviews already available at all major hardware websites, including The Tech Report. But is it good?
Apple acquires PA Semi; Press proves lack of understanding.
Beyond3d Processor News :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
It’s official: the iPhone’s future CPU will have a TDP of 25W! Or so mindlessly speculate Forbes and a variety of other websites following Apple’s stunning acquisition of P.A. Semi,…
Sansa C250 MP3 Player Review
Overclockers Club :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Gigabyte Radeon HD 2400 XT Review
Overclockers Club :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Is The Mac Overpriced?
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
The “Mac versus PC” debate will rage until the end of time, but one constant argument I hear about the Mac is that it is overpriced. In fact, an anonymous employee of Psystar (the makers of the so-called Mac clone) was quoted as saying that Apple marks up their hardware as much as 80%. Whether that […]
How To: Set Up an Email Subscription for your Blog with Feedburner
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Some of us net-junkies have really come to appreciate the concept of the RSS feed/reader, and what isn’t to like about it? It can keep us updated on just about everything we want, is generally super easy to use, and it can all be done for free. However, not everybody needs, or even wants, anything […]
VPN – The Fastest Way to Get Hacked!
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
As with all network devices, once you leave the safety of the local area network (LAN) and connect to the Wide Area Network (WAN) or World Wide Web (WWW) your protocol is subject to attack by the unscrupulous that inhabit the WWW.
PCMech Free Wallpaper #39: Toy Cars
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
This is an exclusive RSS-feed-only wallpaper download. Click the image below to view, right-click (or command-click on Mac) and set as your wallpaper. Note: A new PCMU course will be offered soon so you can learn how to take photos like this even with the most inexpensive digital camera! Standard Widescreen
Just Because Software Is Free Does Not Mean It Is…
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
… bad. … good. … safe to use. This tip is just a simple reminder that free software is not always best or worst choice when trying to figure out the best tool for the job. An import thing to remember is just because it is free, does not mean it is free of malware. Think about it for […]
ReactOS, the “other” Windows
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
I remember using ReactOS a really long time ago and essentially forgot about it. Dave discovered it recently, told me about it, and I said “Oh yeah! I remember that OS.. I guess it’s still alive and kickin’.” Yes it is, however to this day it’s still in alpha stages meaning you absolutely should not use […]
“Cheat Sheet” Proves Ubuntu Still Has a Long Way To Go
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
First of all I want to say it’s very cool of FOSSwire to have posted an Ubuntu “Cheat Sheet” listing in a very easy-to-read rundown of terminal commands. But in all seriousness, just looking at this sheet just gives you an itty-bitty glimpse into all the command line crap you have to learn with Ubuntu (and […]
Linux is 70% Corporate
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Would you believe me if I told you that 70% of Linux kernel development is performed by PAID employees in commercial enterprise? It’s true. If you’re a Linux user, does that make you mad? Does that make you hang your head in shame? It shouldn’t. Personally speaking I was really happy to discover this. It means that big-biz […]
PCMech Free Wallpaper #38: Pelican in Flight
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
This is an exclusive RSS-feed-only wallpaper download. Click the image below to view, right-click (or command-click on Mac) and set as your wallpaper. Note: A new PCMU course will be offered soon so you can learn how to take photos like this even with the most inexpensive digital camera! Standard Widescreen
Four Ways To Open Task Manager
PC Mechanic :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
As you probably know, Task Manager is what you use in Windows to view (and kill) currently active processes. There are several ways you can easily open Task Manager so I thought I would list four easy ones here: Ctrl + Alt + Del > Click Task Manager. This is the most commonly used method. Right click […]
Gear Up at Techgage Guild Wars Style
Techgage :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
NCsoft gave us a whack of stuff to give away to you, our loyal readers, and that’s what we are doing throughout the month. This week, we are offering up some rare Guild Wars swag, so fill out the form and enter!
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital-SLR Camera
Techgage :: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Targeting newer photographers, the Nikon D60 is priced right and includes a fantastic feature set. On top of the 10MP sensor, the D60 includes an automatic sensor cleaner, a vibration reduction kit lens, fast 3FPS performance, high ISO modes and a lot more.
Beginners Guides: Installing RAID on a Desktop PC
PC Stats :: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
“With the right number of identical hard drives, motherboards that support RAID can choose from RAID 0, RAID 1, and sometimes even RAID 0+1 for improved performance, data redundancy and backups. In this PCSTATS Beginners Guide, we will explore how the different implementations of RAID technology function, and how you can make your own RAID setup using a hardware RAID controller.”
Tagan Icy Box JBOD Hard Drive Enclosure Review
Hardware Canucks :: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
As with many companies which want to break into a market niche, Tagan has opted for distributing an otherwise unavailable product. Namely, the Icy Box line is made and distributed in Europe by RaidSonic who owns the IP and trademarks on the whole Icy Box line. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, RaidSonic does not have any presence in the North American market. This is where TAGAN comes into the picture. Today we will be looking at the black Icy Box IB-3220STU.
AMD Phenom X3 Triple Core CPU
Tweak Town :: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
“While the X4 is the more costly option (though in today’s world the cost of a $250 processor isn’t really that expensive), AMD is going to start shipping a cheaper option based on the same K10 architecture, and yes it keeps the Phenom branding, it’s a direct descendant of the X4, but with a few modifications.
On the chopping block today we have the new kid on the block designed to take over where the Athlon 64 X2’s price range is set. Help us welcome to the Phenom family the triple core X3. How well does it perform? Stick around while we find out!”
Buffalo MiniStation 320GB TurboUSB Portable Hard Drive Review
Futurelooks :: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
When it comes to portable hard drives, we don’t normally think of a large four legged animal that resembles a wooly ox to be one of the usual suspects. Questionable tech company naming aside, Buffalo has been around since 1975 and provides a wide range of wireless networking products. The Japanese based company also creates a range of storage, memory and multimedia devices. Buffalo sent along their MiniStation 320GB TurboUSB Portable Hard Drive, a portable hard drive that features a shock proof enclosure and a utility that boosts performance up to 64% over standard 4200 RPM drives. Let’s check it out!
Xigmatek Red Scorpion S1283 HDT CPU Cooler
Benchmark Reviews :: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Inheriting a design from the HDT-S1283 it is derived from, Xigmatek’s Red Scorpion S1283 offers some additional glamour to the already market-proven cooling solution. With Nickel-plated copper heat-pipe rods and a transparent orange fan with four white LED lights, the Red Scorpion not only performs well but also looks very attractive. Benchmark Reviews has long since been a believer of the excellent performance Heat-pipe Direct Touch coolers have offered, and since the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 has been a fan favorite for almost a year it will be interesting to see how the nickel plating will impact performance.
Coolermaster Centurion 590 review
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
We have had positive experiences with Cooler Master cases here at Driver Heaven, generally they are well made, easy to use and they also always have decent styling, even the cheaper models. Of course there have also been some spectacular cases such as the Cosmos and Cosmos S which are winners of Driver Heaven awards.
With plenty of good Cooler Master experiences behind us we were given the opportunity to review their latest budget case, the Centurion 590. We actually bought one of the original Centurions a few years back and it is a solid model which has proven to be hard wearing over years of heavy use.
