Zalman Reserator 2 Fanless Water Cooling Review
Techgage :: Sunday, February 18, 2007
Sporting a longer box design rather than the slender tower, the Reserator 2 provides far more surface area than its older brother. With Matt’s opinion of the first generation product in mind, we are now set to work with the second round of liquid cooling from Zalman. Can the new design improve on performance over the original product? Let’s take a closer look to find out.
Setting Up a Virtual PC
PC Mech :: Sunday, February 18, 2007
David takes a look at what a Virtual PC is, what you can use if for, and how to use it.
A.C.Ryan BlackMagic2 UV Paint Review
Xtreme Computing :: Friday, February 16, 2007
“When I first did this etching you really couldn’t make it out as it’s only on clear plastic and when AC.Ryan sent me the BlackMagic2 paint this was the very first place I wanted to put it.”
Noiseblocker Coolscraper v2.0 CPU Cooler Review
XS Reviews :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“Noiseblocker make a variety of products, though mainly focus on cooling and sound dampening. Today I will be testing the NB-Coolscraper 120 v2.0 which is designed to be an active cooling solution for your CPU, while combining Noiseblocker’s love of silence. Lets see if we have a cool & quiet CPU cooler on ours hands.”
How To Make P2P Programs to Work on Networks Using a Broadband Router
Hardware Secrets :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“If you built your own network using a broadband router, the router will automatically prevent any P2P file sharing program (eMule, Shareaza, etc) from working correctly on your network: it will either get a “low ID” or will be shown as “firewalled”. As a consequence you will get lower transfer rates and also won’t be able to initiate file downloading from users that are also “firewalled”. In this tutorial we will teach you how to configure your router to correctly allow P2P file sharing programs to work.”
Mandriva Linux 2007.1 Beta 1
Phoronix :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“Since the death of Mandrake we have only used Mandriva Linux once or twice a year, but with the first beta now out for 2007.1 we decided to give it another go. New in Mandriva Linux 2007.1 is GNOME 2.17, Firefox 2.0, and much more. There are some pretty nifty features found inside Mandriva Linux 2007.1 Beta 1, and it does look as if it will be a hopeful year for this distribution.”
OCZ Secure Digital Dual 1GB
techPowerUp :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
OCZ’s Dual 1GB SD-Card is a hybrid approach to giving you the optimum connectivity on an SD card. You can use the card either like any regular SD card or after removing a little cap like a USB stick. The card is rated at 80x speed which is about 12 MB/s. OCZ is selling the 1 GB version for about $40 which is a good price considered the added functionality of the product.
Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP P965 Express Motherboard Review
PC Stats :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“The latest feature Asus has begun integrating into its motherboards is wireless networking – WiFi. With 802.11b/g support onboard already, setting up a wireless network at home or in the office for notebooks, printers, or other devices is pretty convenient. An 802.11g WLAN system supports data transfer speeds up to 54Mbps, which is more than enough for web surfing, streaming video or audio over the internet, and even LAN gaming. Cross one more thing off the to-get checklist for your new computer…. There is a good level of device integration built into the Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP already, so the two PCI Express x16 slots (one operates at PCI Express x16, one at PCI Express x4) for dual videocards, one PCI Express x1 and three 32-bit PCI slots. “
Zalman Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 Champ1on Case
3dgameman :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“If you’re looking for a thick aluminum mid-tower ATX case, than the Zalman Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 Champ1on case might fit the bill. It is not for everyone though, since is has excess branding, cautionary warnings and instructions printed all over it. It comes with four external 5.25″ drive bays, one external 3.5″, and three internal 3.5″ drive bays. There are three fans; two 92mm fans at the front and one 120mm at the back. It also has a window and a hinged door on the left side. Unfortunately, all this comes at a very high price. Watch the video to find out more and check out the bloopers at the end.”
Coollaboratory Liquid MetalPad Thermal Interface Material
PC Apex :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“This is my second go-round with a Coollaboratory product. I first became aware of them back in September 2005 when a forum member saw an eBay sale for their Liquid Metal thermal interface material (TIM). They were a brand new company and were happy to provide a sample to me for testing and you can see that review here. It was quite innovative and performed well; but because I was sure the mixture contained gallium I couldn’t recommend it because of the potential damage to aluminum components. Besides the danger to aluminum, the only other negative point I had was that application of the Liquid Metal was messy and difficult. Well, the smart guys at Coollaboratory came up with a solution for the application problem, Liquid Metal Pads.”
To 64…or not to 64
Missing Remote :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
So in the end, it really comes down to faith. Do you have faith that the developers will increase their attention to 64-bit? Just ask yourself, why would they? If everyone else is perfectly fine with the performance of 32-bit Vista, which I’m sure dominates the number of x64 installs…and time & time again companies are ignoring 64-bit drivers/programs, with little or no uproar…why would they invest the time & money into developing for it?
Antec 500W EarthWatts EA500 Power Supply Unit
Bjorn 3d :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
Since consumers have long been in the dark about power supply units, it seems common that manufacturers market their product and push features that may not actually make a difference in performance. For example, it could be seen early last year that multi-rail technology was viewed as a positive innovation. Yet later down the road we learn that a single-rail power supply unit not only offers more stable and efficient power if designed and built correctly; it would also cost less.
Mushkin XP2-8500 DDR2 2GB Kit
Overclock 3d :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
Mushkin are well known for their high performance memory modules and today we look at the fastest DD2 kit they have on offer to the enthusiast.
Ultra X-FinityT 800 Watt PSU
Modders Inc. :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
With systems power consumption becoming more demanding than ever you need a power supply that will deliver the power your system needs. SLI setups, multiple hard drives, and more USB devices require a lot of power to keep them running. Ultra comes to the rescue with it’s X-FinityT 800 Watt PSU w/ Active PFC. With Quad Rail, FlexForce Cables, & PFC (power factor correction) the X-Finity is one fine power supply.
Abit IN9 32x Max Intel Socket 775 Motherboard
Overclock 3d :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
abit are most definitely back, especially after the triumphant return of the “Max” servies in the AW9D max. This time they have come out, guns blazing with an nForce 6 series offering high-end SLI enthusiast performance. We take a long look…
Thecus N5200 RouStor NAS Evaluation
techFEAR :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“With support for up to five 750GB SATA I/II drives, the Thecus N5200 RouStor is a feature-rich network attached storage device. techFEAR runs the N5200 through the paces and sees how it holds up.”
Networking Hardware Quiz – Part 2
Hardware Secrets :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“A new quiz on networking hardware has just been added to Hardware Secrets Test Your Skills section. Take this quiz and check whether your knowledge on networking hardware is good enough or if you should study more.”
ThermalTake Bach VX case review
DV Hardware :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
ThermalTake has a few new cases for computer enthusiasts, one of them is the Bach VX VF4000 series. In this review I’m taking a closer look at the VF4000BWS which features a large case window. For people who don’t need fancy stuff like this ThermalTake also has the Bach VX VF4000BNS which features a normal case panel with a 92mm fan hole. On ThermalTake’s website they describe this case as “The Charm of the Ordinary”, with a simple, low-profile and clean design that stands out from the crowd of countless complex designs.
Mushkin XP2-8500 DDR2 Memory
technic 3d :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“Mushkin offers a Memory PC 8500 DDR2 2 GB Dual Kit. Technic3D will see as good they are with 5-5-4-12 and Overclocking against other Memory Kits. You can see 1.180 MHz in the following Review.”
Cooler Master NotePal S Review 
TechWare Labs :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“Cooler Master has made it easy for consumers with laptops to keep their machines cool. Today we take a look at the Cooler Master NotePal S aimed at consumers with a need to keep things cool without powering the laptop cooler. The NotePal-S notebook cooler is CoolerMaster’s smaller brother aimed for 12″ to 16″ notebooks as compared to their bigger NotePal notebook cooler which is made for the larger 17″ wide notebooks.”
Silverstone SG01 Evolution,Element ST50EF-SC & NT-06 Cooler Review
Virtual Hideout :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“The combination of these three products really helps eliminate the hassle of creating a small form factor system. The system I created could easily be used as a HTPC or PVR in my entertainment system, and would hardly be noticed as the footprint is really small. Since the entire setup is so light, the other option….”
Guide: Improving Your Google Searches
BTX Form Factor :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
While Google is a great search engine, you’ve probably noticed that when you do a search, Google usually returns more results that you can comfortably chew. But how can you limit Google’s search results?
Spire SwordFin PC Case Review 
Think Computers :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
“Spire is a well-known name in cooling products, but the 14-year-old, USA-based, hardware company also produces a line of stylish, functional, and downright slick cases. Because the company’s specialty is cooling, it designs its cases with airflow in mind. This case, the Spire Swordfin, is a perfect example of Spire’s mix of style and substance.”
Coolermaster Mystique 632
Driver Heaven :: Thursday, February 15, 2007
Founded over a decade ago, CoolerMaster has one main mission: “… providing the industry’s best thermal solutions. Since its establishment a decade ago, the company has remained faithful to this mission, emerging as a world leader in products and services for companies dealing with devices where heat issues must be resolved.”
be quiet! Dark Power PRO 850W and Thermaltake Toughpower 850W
Bjorn 3d :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
In summer 2006 I’ve reviewed a high-end PSU from Thermaltake; nonmodular Toughpower 750W. Just about two months ago we’ve been given an opportunity to check out two power supplies from Listan; be quiet! Straight Power 450W and 600W. Today we make a comeback and bring you high-wattage juice makers from both Listan and Thermaltake. These two are definitely not your regular power supplies you’d use for your grandmothers’ computer. Although you can already buy 1.2kW (1200W) power supplies these 850W generators can take everything you throw at them — it just a matter how stable they are.
SilverStone Olympia OP650 650W
Phoronix :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
“With time we have seen computers go from a single GPU and processor to dual and quad core CPUs with a number of different options for multi-GPU systems. As we have shoved more and more into our systems, the power supplies have gone from a single +12V rail to multiple +12V rails. Dual +12V rails has been very common in recent years, while recently at Phoronix we had looked at a few quad +12V rail power supplies such as the SilverStone Zeus 750W and the OCZ GameXStream 700W. However, the more +12V rails does not necessarily make a better power supply. What we are looking at today is one of SilverStone’s newest power supplies, which was recently on display at the Consumer Electronics Show. The SilverStone Olympia OP650 is a 650W power supply that supports both the current 6-pin PCI Express power connector as well as the new 8-pin version, and supports 54 Amps on its single +12V rail.”
ASRock AM2NF3-VSTA AMD Athlon 64 Socket AM2 Mainboard with AGP Review
OC Inside :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
No, there’s no failure in the product description or headline, because the AM2NF3-VSTA from ASRock is really an AMD Socket AM2 motherboard with AGP 8x Slot! Surely, some will be surprised about this combination and the nForce3 250 chipset, but it is nevertheless an interesting and an enormously inexpensive combination. Because this motherboard is useful for those, who bought a fast AGP video card for the previous system and would like to update the PC to a current AMD Socket AM2 processor. For this scenario the AM2NF3-VSTA motherboard was tested on ocinside.de
Bluegears – b-flexi80 Case Fan: Second Opinion 
Dragonsteel Mods :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
” The PC mod community is similar to the auto modding communities of the 1960’s and 1970’s. While growing up I remember seeing muscle cars torn apart and rebuilt with custom paint jobs and shiny new chrome parts. Today we have pc builders and their shiny chrome equivalents; comprised of clear side panels, LED lights and dremeled designs galore. In my estimation, there are two types of case modders, those who can build a computer to look like almost anything; (see – Dracos’ Mystery Machine case mod for reference), and those who will swap out mundane components like case fans and replace them with something with more pizzazz. I unfortunately fall into the latter category, since I will only cause much physical damage to my pc and myself when I use a dremel. Luckily for folks like me, there are companies like Bluegears and the b-flexi-line of case fans. For this second opinion review, I will take a look at the b-flexi80 and what it offers the pc modder. ”
In Win Alpha 360 Case review
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
“In Win” are a new name to us as we have never seen, or reviewed one of their products in the past. They recently emailed us with some marketing jargon for a new case which was more plastic than metal and featured quite a few unusual features such as an oval shape and a “one touch everything” design so we decided to give the product a test.
Spire Rocketeer VI 600w SLI Series Power Supply Review
Virtual Hideout :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
“The Rocketeer VI had plenty of power to give to the Dual Core 680i test system. There was even extra voltage for the 12 volt rails as the system was completely pounded under load and overclocked situations. The Rocketeer VI handled a full on 658 watt load test which leaves great confidence….”
Computer Recycling – Where Should Old Computers Go?
PC Stats :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Lets be honest with ourselves for a moment. In the long run, most of us don’t think about the environment outside of what directly affects us… hot days, smog, litter in front of our house – that sort thing. At the end of the day, the economic burden we face on a business or personal scale is the price tag that weighs heaviest, and this is a key facet of sustainability. If we take a moment to rethink the economics of something as trivial as tossing out an old junked computer, the idea of “garbage” can be viewed in a whole new light. Consider the amount of time, money and energy spent in acquiring and transporting the materials, not to mention actually making the thing in question.
AlphaShield Home Edition Personal Firewall Review 
Techware Labs :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
“The AlphaShield offers protection from internet risks in a time when it seems everyone is seeking to compromise the security of your computer and personal information. We test the AlphaShield to find out if it offers true protection and how this protection affects your computing.”
Gainward BLISS 8800 GTS 640MB HDCP Compliant Review
MVK Tech :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
“Welcome to the world of Gainward, a world beyond your senses! Yeps, after all the exciting GeForce 7 series with several changes and refreshes throughout the past year, we also saw an inventive new product getting introduced by NVIDIA. In November this new chip and the cards based upon it gotten introduced and released by NVIDIA and its partners. And as of that moment all talks have been around DirectX 10, because the new GeForce 8 series are really for the next level in gaming. Gainward jumped on the wagon, releasing their BLISS 8800 GTS accelerator. During all our benchmarks the GTS kept on humming stable with no hickups to finally set the top speed at 650/2000MHz. Would you have thought so?”
XIGMATEK 055 Cooler
techPowerUp! :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Where would computers be without coolers? Nowhere… High-end systems put out heat just like an engine, and they need to be cooled just like an engine. Water cooling is becoming a more popular format to keep these systems in line, but what if you don’t want or can’t afford a water system? High-end air coolers are the only next option. XIGMATEK is now starting to fulfill this need with coolers like the 055 which we’ll look at today.
MSI StarCam Review
XS Reviews :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
“Since the internet was created, it’s brought people closer. Then broadband came along and opened the door to streaming video and webcams. Today I have the MSI StarCam which includes a microphone meaning it should contain everything for you to chat, wave or dance to your long distance buddies.”
Spire Rocketeer VI 600W PSU Review 
RB Mods :: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
When choosing a power supply, it can be very hard to find one that excels in both home/office applications that need quiet operations while at the same time provided the raw power needed from a gaming power supply. Spire, whose power supplies we’ve reviewed in the past with much success, has produced a new power supply, the Rocketeer VI 600W PSU, that claims to provide solid performance in a quiet package. Let’s find out if it can deliver.
