Tech News July 2003

by NewsJuly 31, 2003June 29, 2014062

Mitron PWM Fan Controller
SystemCooling :: Thursday, July 31, 2003

“Fan controllers are a very desirable accessory these days. With faster processors, overclocking and high performance video cards being the norm, excellent cooling is a must. But with good cooling comes a trade off – noise. And let’s face it, very few of us are using our computers at 100% capacity all of the time. This is why a fan controller is such a great thing to have.”

Thermaltake Volcano 11+ Review @ Ninjalane
Ninjalane :: Thursday, July 31, 2003
“Thermally responsive heatsinks have been avoided in the past due to the thermal sensors being located away from the CPU. The Volcano 11+ Xaser Edition builds on this downfall and includes a slim thermal probe to sample temperatures directly from the processor.”

Chaintech Zenith 9CJS 875P Canterwood Motherboard Review @ Tweaknews.net
Tweaknews :: Thursday, July 31, 2003

“With a package and onboard feature bundle that has it all, the Zenith 9CJS is THE one stop product for the performance enthusiast who wants it all in one purchase. With the included 7.1 channel audio, dual LAN, remote control, extensive front panel and all around good looks coupled with decent performance, this product would be a recommended buy for anyone wanting a “turn key” approach to building an elite computer..”

Maxtop CSX-001 Case @ Bjorn3D
Bjorn3D :: Thursday, July 31, 2003
Do good things come in small packages? B3D attempted to find that out with Maxtop’s CSX-001 MicroATX case. Things were looking good for the little PC that could, until a lightning storm came along and ended the party a bit early. But the review must go on!

ABIT IS7-G (Intel Springdale 865) Motherboard Review at 3dXtreme
3dXtreme :: Thursday, July 31, 2003
“Today 3dXtreme has the great pleasure of reviewing the ABIT IS7-G motherboard. The ABIT IS7-G is based on the Intel Springdale (865) chipset. Our IS7-G is already loaded with the new version 1.4 bios that unlocks Game Accelerator Technology also known as GAT. ABIT has managed to unlock a PAT like feature previously only found on the pricer Intel 875 Canterwood motherboards. With this new jump in performance the IS7-G has become a real contender beating out some of the $200+ Intel Canterwood boards, however is there a price to pay for this extra “free” performance? Well take a look at that a bit later…..”

Highpoint RocketRAID 404 Card @ Viper Lair
ViperLair :: Thursday, July 31, 2003

“SATA maybe making headway in the marketplace, but the 404 card can provide you with a speed boost for your current drives, peace of mind or both. And with its ability to add a total of 8 devices, can be a great way to get some extra storage into your existing setup.”

Vantec Nexus NXP-205 @ ThinkComputers
Think Computers :: Thursday, July 31, 2003

“As much as many of us would like to have nice quiet watercooled systems, or cram soundproof matting into every crack, it is oftentimes simply far too expensive when compared to conventional air cooling. Once you put enough fans into a system you learn just how high your tolerance for noise can become. A partial solution to this problem can come in the form of dual voltage, switch based fan busses or rheobuses which used simple potentiometers and rheostats to cut voltage. More recently, companies such as Vantec have developed a form of rheobus type device that instead manages voltage using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). The first models, the 5.25″ NXP-201’s were widely popular for both look and function. Today we look at its newer little brother, the NXP-205, a 3.5″ based version”

Highpoint RocketRAID 1520 Card @ Viper Lair
ViperLair :: Thursday, July 31, 2003
“Well basically the HPT372a processes the data and moves it thru the PCI bus, but the data coming into the card first passes through a Marvell 88i8030 Serializer-Deserializer chip (1 for each channel). So what does this mean for the end user? That basically you will be limited by the HPT372a to ATA133 speeds, and not the 150 speeds promised by the SATA interface.”

R&B reviewed Coolermaster Musketeer
Red & Blackness Mods :: Thursday, July 31, 2003

We have reviewed a few Coolermaster products in the last few months. Today we are going to have a look at their Musketeer which is able to control voltage…etc. This product has a special look as all Coolermaster products do. You better have a look yourself to see this :) I think we are going to have a great review. So stay tuuuuned…..

PimpRig Review:: Sunbeam EL Case Badge
PimpRig :: Thursday, July 31, 2003

“There were no installation instructions included, but to be completely honest it’s a no brainer.”

Soltek SL-KT600-R (VIA KT600) Motherboard Review
TweakTown :: Thursday, July 31, 2003
“We’ve been hearing about the latest and greatest from VIA, the KT600 chipset. Now its time to find out if it can handle the load and earn a coveted spot in your own performance rig. With native support for SATA RAID, DDR400 compatibility and a whole lot more, it looks appealing. Come join Mike “Darthtanion” Wright as he takes a look at the Soltek variety of the new chipset; namely the SL-KT600-R. Its in the kitchen, so let’s find out if it can stand the heat!”

VL Systems L.I.S LCD Review @ GruntvillE.com
GruntvillE :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“The L.I.S. was wedged so tight in the bay that it wasn’t even necessary to use screws; I don’t think I could pull it out again even if I wanted to. So it’s installed and it looks almost like they color matched the paint with the Chenming, but no LCD is going to run with out software. Software can make or break a product like this. First thing to do is drop the CD in the tray and fire it up; the revision on the CD is 1.3 so I check out V.L. Systems home page and locate the 1.4.8.2 Revision that is out. Always make sure you’re running current drivers and program versions for all your hardware.”

TD Review: Enermax CS-328 Micro-ATX Chassis
Tech-Dreams :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
There is a big market today for minimal computer hardware. As LAN partying is becoming more popular, people want small cases to be able to transport their systems with ease. Granted, some choose to get the biggest case possible with 50 hard drives and water/TEC cooling systems in them, but for those not wanting to win the case mod contest, compact cases are the smart way to go.

Soltek SL-KT600-R (VIA KT600) Motherboard Review
TweakTown :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
“We’ve been hearing about the latest and greatest from VIA, the KT600 chipset. Now its time to find out if it can handle the load and earn a coveted spot in your own performance rig. With native support for SATA RAID, DDR400 compatibility and a whole lot more, it looks appealing. Come join Mike “Darthtanion” Wright as he takes a look at the Soltek variety of the new chipset; namely the SL-KT600-R. Its in the kitchen, so let’s find out if it can stand the heat!”

Kingwin KT-424 Aluminum Case
SystemCooling :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“When you think of the best aluminum cases you immediately think Cooler Master and Lian-Li. Well hopefully by the end of this review you will add a third name to that list, Kingwin. With the release of the KT-424 series, Kingwin has solidified its presents as one of the premier aluminum case suppliers in the world.”

Antec Sonata w/ 380W PSU @ TheTechLounge
The Tech Lounge :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Just by looking at this case, you can tell it is quality. The Antec name stylishly drilled into the side panels, the flawless automotive paint job, the chrome I/O door and buttons, all calling your name, begging you to hear the silence. As you know by now, one of the Sonata’s main selling points is the fact that it emits very little noise. Both the included 120mm fan and the Silent 380W PSU are capable of running under stressed conditions while emitting very little sound. So far this case has looks and low sound emission, let’s see what else Antec has for us…

Bjorn3D takes a loog at the Compro VideoMate TV Gold +
Bjorn3D :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
If you ever had missed an important part of a TV-show or that final goal in the big game just because you had to go to the bathroom or answer the phone you need a TV-card capable of PVR – Private Video Recording.

I’ve taken a look at Compro’s VideoMate TV Gold +, a very capable TV-Tuner card with support for FM-radio as well as a great feature called Power-Up-Sheduling.

Enermax EG651P-VE 550W (Review)
IpKonfig :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Its blue, it’s silver, and it pumps out lots of wattage. So that must mean we are reviewing an Enermax 550 watt power supply. With the first look at this power supply you can’t help but to be giddy as a schoolgirl. The power supply is dark blue with a near mirror finish, silver braided cables with a rubber PVC tube around the loom–much like you would see on rounded IDE cables. It’s eye candy for sure. But enough with the eye candy, let’s move on to the specs.

PimpRig How-To:: Lokie’s Custom Window Etching Technique
PimpRig :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“When you have your image, which you wish to apply to a window for etching or paint. You need to lay out your window. The fans, if there are any, drill first. Why? You don’t want to do hours worth of work to finally drill for the fan and have it crack on you. Yes, I talk from experience.”

TD Review: Enermax CS-3181L-S “Rainbow Light” ATX Case
Tech-Dreams :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
A wise man once said, “Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother, you’re stayin’ alive.” I believe these words can be applied to so many things. In today’s retail stores, a wide variety of computer cases can be purchased for an even wider variety of prices. But a case is not merely a piece of metal shaped into a polygon with an ON/OFF switch attached to it. It is much more than that. To some, a case is their personality, a reflection of self. When deciding on what case to buy, the buyer needs to make careful decisions on what the case will be used for, the conditions the case will be exposed to, and of course what the case looks like. It is based on these decisions that a case will either be “stayin’ alive” or keep sitting on the shelf. Enter: the Enermax CS 3181 Silver case. The CS 3181 is a nice elementary case for those who enjoy the basic necessities of life: a pre-modded case that has a case window, rainbow lights, temperature display, an attractive design and plenty of airflow.

Vantec Spectrum UV LED Fans @ ThinkComputers
Think Computers :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“Like most of you I have seen the evolutions of fans. From the plain black fans, to the clear fans, then the LED fans, and no recently UV reactive fans. When I first saw UV reactive fans I was amazed at how the lit up, but there was one problem you needed a UV light source. Having the fans spread out through your case you would have to buy many UV cold cathodes to light them up. Vantec has come up with a way to achieve the glow effect with out any external light source. They have put UV LED’s in the fans! Sounds cool eh….lets check them out!”

HWGuru.com Announces Joint Forums with Xtrememods.com
XtReMoDs :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
For some time now HWGuru.com has not had it’s own set of forums, but since the demise of TheOverClockingStore.co.uk’s forums, we’ve decided to join forces with our sister site Xtrememods.com to bring you a forum for the users of both sites.

Xoxide X-500 Aluminum Mid-Tower Case Review @ VH
Virtual-Hideout :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“Looking at the bare specifications and numbers, the X-500 is pretty normal for a mid-tower case of its class. At just under 20″ in height, it’s not too tall, but at the same time, is not too small so that interior space is cramped. Four 5.25″ drive bays compliment its dimensions, along with two external 3.5″ drive bays and four 3.5″ HDD bays. Four 5.25″ drive bays is about right, as you could easily fill all the drive bays and have your needs provided for. A single front 80mm fan provides intake in that area, and with it and the side (window) 80mm fan operating, airflow ought to be balanced pretty well against the two 80mm exhaust fans. Though there are four fan placements, the front intake fan position is empty, and you must provide a fan to go here.”

Thermaltake Xaser III V1000D Super Tower Case Review @ MODTHEBOX.COM
MODTHEBOX! :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
“One of the highlights of the Xaser III V1000D is a centralized all-in-one fan control and temperature monitoring solution. Thermaltake has included a Hardcano 9 Fan Controller, which occupies the top 5.25″ drive bay, making the unit accessible even when the front aluminum swing away door is closed. The Hardcano 9 is capable of controlling a total of 4 fans, each adjustable by a designated aluminum knob. A LCD display provides up to the minute temperature readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit ranging from 0 ºC ~ 90 ºC (32 ºF ~ 194 ºF).”

news: NEXUS NXP-20/-SL/BK Multi Fan Control Review@ Furioustech
Furioustech :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“Not everyone has a 5.25 drive bay to sacrifice for a fan controller. What do you do? Vantec has the answer for you, a fan controller that fits in 3.5 drive bay. It comes in two colors, black and silver. If you need more control and want more control then you need to check out this review on the NEXUS NXP-205.”

New Review @ Xtrememods.com
XtReMoDs :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“Computers in general have progressed so far in recent years, I can remember several years back using a Pentium 75 with a standard AT keyboard and DOS 6.22. Things have progressed gradually with the Pentium range expanding, and peripherals are getting better and better to meet the needs of the future, and most importantly present. Keyboards in general have moved on from the simple AT keyboard, to Microsoft bringing out the Ergonomic keyboard, then wireless and now Bluetooth technology. However, Auravision took a different approach; they’ve developed a keyboard that is so unique it will brighten up your computing life, or will it? In this exclusive review, XM are giving this amazing product away, read the review to find out how!”

R&B reviewed Vantec NHP301 fan controller
Red & Blackness Mods :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

I have looked at some Vantec fan controllers before but this one seems like a winner. I was astounded when I saw this fan controller. It looks cool and has some really nice features. That’s what we are going to go through today and see why this fan controller is the winner amongst all the others.

FIC RADEONT 9600 PRO 128MB Video Card Video Review #333:
3dgameman :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“The FIC RADEON™ 9600 PRO 128MB Video Card is the little bother of the super fast 9800 Pro, however, it’s still an amazing card. This card offers great gaming performance, crisp 2D, dual display and many more features. While this is not the fastest Video Card on the planet it has definite bang for the buck. Watch the Video to find out more…” ~3dGameMan.com

Vantec TWO-FER @OCAddiction.com
OCAddiction :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

“Vantec is considered among PC enthusiasts to be one of the leaders if not the leader in innovative hardware accessories for modern PC’s. As the modding community has improvised new ways to spice up system cases and rev up hardware performance, Vantec has applied their technical expertise to produce professional quality products to meet the varied needs of the public. Vantec’s primary goal has always been to understand and satisfy the consumers’ needs. They do this by being super responsive to consumer feedback and incorporating improvements dynamically in their rapidly expanding product line.”

check it out! check it out!

Xoxide 12in Dual Blue CCFL Kit Review
Mikhailtech :: Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Nowadays everyone wants a piece of the “riced PC pie”. LazerLEDs, EL wire and MADlights are all innovative attempts at a share of the market. The cold cathode is no longer a novelty, at least not to the enthusiast crowd. We’ve seen several iterations of the CCFL with various improvements along the way in the form of bulbs, casings, inverters, and more. Recently Xoxide sent over a package to help along with the building of a new system and these dual cold cathodes were part of the deal. While there’s nothing particularly special or inventive about the kit, it’s a good example of what can and should be expected from your next CCFL purchase.

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