Tech News November 2005

How RFID Is Impacting Our Lives @ The TechZone
The Tech Zone :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
There are two general areas where work needs to be done to assure that RFID can be employed without having a negative impact on individual privacy. The first is in the development of the technology itself. With privacy protection as a stated goal, engineering decisions can fulfill that goal. Techniques like encryption, system security, and the ability to easily turn off or “kill” an RFID tag can be made part of the RFID standard. All of these are possible today, but some are considered to be extra features rather than basic capabilities.check it out

Corsair XMS2-5400UL @ Phoronix
Phoronix :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Summary: “Although Corsair’s XMS2 TWIN2X1024-8000UL memory modules, which are rated for 1000MHz compatibility on Intel-based motherboards, have taken some of the spotlight away from their famed TWIN2X1024A-5400UL modules, these DDR2-667 modules continue to be popular with enthusiasts due to their cheaper price point and phenomenal overclocking abilities. While sticking to its DDR2-675MHz speeds the memory can run at impressive 3-2-2-8 timings, and when loosening the timings they can breach the 1GHz barrier. Of course, none other than Micron’s “Fatbody” D9 ICs powers these modules.”

check it out

OCZ EB DDR PC-4000 2GB Platinum Edition Dual Channel Memory Kit Video Review #613
3dgameman :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005

OCZ EB DDR PC-4000 2GB Platinum Edition Dual Channel Memory Kit Video Review #613: “This item has a fast memory timing of 3-3-2-8. Because of this, it performs very well, & is also overclockable for added performance. This kit is 2GB’s in size which is fantastic for the latest games. For those who need stable, reliable, & fast memory, this product will not disappoint. And like all OCZ memory, it comes with a lifetime warranty! Watch the Video to find out more…” ~3dGameMan.com

check it out

News: Exploring the performance impact of memory latency
The Tech Report :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
THESE DAYS, SEEMINGLY every major memory module manufacturer is producing fancy low-latency DIMMs. These DIMMs are equipped with tricked-out heat spreaders and come in a variety of different colors, making them easy to pick out in a crowd. There’s more to them than funky cosmetics, though. The most exotic low-latency DIMMs are rated to run at extremely tight 2-2-2-5 timings at 400MHz. Unfortunately, you’ll pay a small fortune for the privilege. Low-latency modules cost close to twice as much as more pedestrian DIMMs, if not more.

Lower latencies are a good thing, of course, but how much can they really improve system performance? Are exotic, low-latency DIMMs worth the price premium? Read on as we explore the effects of memory latency on Athlon 64 performance in synthetic memory benchmarks, games, and real-world applications.

check it out

Sirtec High Power ATX-410-212
techPowerUp! :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Sirtec may not be one of the known big players of the PSU industry, but in fact they are a huge OEM producer of power supplies, for example for Thermaltake and Chieftec. We test Sirtec’s 410W unit which offers a beautiful chrome finish and a low-noise fan at a very competitive price.

check it out

OCZ 2GB Rally USB 2.0 Flash Drive @ Bjorn3D
Bjorn3D :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
OCZ is all about top performance, and who can blame the company for focusing on what enthusiasts want? When OCZ’s performance-obsessed product managers decided to enter the crowded USB flash drive market, they decided that they wanted the performance crown. Forget about fancy utilities and extra bells and whistles; they wanted top performance, plain and simple.

In order to achieve this goal, OCZ decided to implement what it calls ‘leading edge Dual Channel technology.’ Obviously, OCZ wants to take advantage of our knowledge and love of dual channel memory to make us believe in the speed of its USB 2.0 Rally Flash Drive. In this review, I’ll find the truth behind all the claims and see if OCZ really does deliver a flash drive that blows away the competition.

check it out

October Extreme Gaming PC Buyer’s Guide
Sharky Extreme :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Today on Sharky Extreme, we’ve posted our Extreme Gaming PC Buyer’s Guide for October, where we take $4,000 in search of the top enthusiast-level AMD and Intel systems:

check it out

Cooler Master Ammo 533 @ InsaneTek
InsaneTek :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005

“In need of a good case for your next LAN party? Cooler Master’s new Ammo 533 just might be your solution. The built-in handle makes transportation a breeze and the case design makes your system look beefier than it actually is.”

check it out

GeCube Overclocked Radeon X800 GTO Review
Hardware Secrets :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
“Radeon X800 GTO is the latest graphics chip released by ATI targeted to the mid-range market, located between Radeon X800 Pro and Radeon X800 GT and competing with GeForce 6600 GT from nVidia. This Radeon X800 GTO sample we’ve got from GeCube came already overclocked under a limited “special edition” series, so it is faster than Radeon X800 GTO from other companies.”

check it out

Corsair TWINX2048-4000PT Platinum Series @ ThinkComputers.org
Think Computers :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Quote: “Hot off the heels of the last Corsair review, we have another Corsair review for you. Corsair has done it again, they are leading the pack in memory technology advancements, by releasing yet another quality high performance memory product. The Twinx2048-4000PT line of memory is engineered for speed and performance, using Samsung UCCC chips to power the sticks, these sticks just rock. Guaranteed 250Mhz at 1T with timings of 3-4-4-8, using high density, high capacity modules, being able to run high capacity sticks of ram at 1T is crucial to having a great performing system. Today’s high end systems take a performance hit if they run at 2T, so being able to run 2 gigs at 1T is a great triumph indeed, and at a speed of 250/500mhz is just amazing! Let’s get into this review and see just how well these do perform..”

check it out

Microchips, Plastic, and Tank Tops
PC Mechanic :: Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Quote: So, will we become versions of the Six Million Dollar Man, or will we just become advanced enough where when we get up in the morning, we’ll have to run a systems check along side brushing our teeth? Or, better yet, will we have to flush out our system every day to get rid of all the spyware, somewhat like a Listerine mouthwash?

check it out

Enermax Liberty 620W @ Phoronix
Phoronix :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Summary: “Over the years, we’ve reviewed and tested countless power supplies. Sometimes it becomes a chore, as most power supplies don’t bring much of anything new to the table. However, to mark our 300th article here at Phoronix, we have something a little more special. Enermax has provided us with their newly announced Liberty series power supply. Interested? We certainly were. Read more inside.”

check it out

Raidmax Ninja 918 Silver ATX Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews.net
Tweaknews :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

“Today we’re looking at one of those options, the Raidmax Ninja 918 ATX case . This case was built for gaming, and offers a number of features that you’d generally see in a higher performance case. However, when it comes to top-notch gaming products, I’m a fairly demanding person, and most of us are – we want the fastest, the coolest, the most moddable. Can the Raidmax hold a candle to our list of desires? Only one way to find out, so lets take a closer look..”

check it out

Thermalright SI-120 Heat Sink Review @ ap0calypse.com
ap0calypse :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Quote: “In today’s review we take a look at one of Thermalright’s latest heat sinks, the SI-120. This heat sink continues the trend of Thermalright’s “Light ‘N’ Easy” line-up. As with the XP-120, the SI-120 also makes use of a 120mm cooling fan, however, in the case of the SI-120 all of the heat is transported away from the CPU via the heat pipes. Since we do not have an XP-120 on hand for testing, we will be comparing the SI-120 to another popular Thermalright heat sink, the XP-90. Time to check it out!”

check it out

Title: Razer Copperhead 2000 DPI Laser Mouse
Big Bruin :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Quote: Razer has packed a lot of features into a mouse with great looks. From the on the fly DPI switching, to the onboard memory that stores user’s profiles right in the mouse, to the drivers that allow for extreme fine tuning of the mouse for a user’s personal preferences, you would be hard pressed to find a mouse that offers more to the hard core gamer.

check it out

OCZ DDR2 PC2-4200 Value Pro @ Viperlair
ViperLair :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005
“What can I say, this is some serious RAM, you can find it online for less than $100 for a 1GB kit. With some mild tweaking you got from some decent priced PC 4200 value RAM to some REALLY decent priced PC5400. Every once in a while a product comes along that gives you WAY more bang for the buck than you expect, like the ti series NVIDIA cards, the JIUHB XP 1700 and the ABIT NF7-s motherboard. You mention any of those products to an enthusiast and it brings a smile to their faces.”

check it out

Tuniq Symmetry I Mid-Tower @ SystemCooling
SubZeroTech :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

snip: “Tuniq is a division of Sunbeamtech that aims to deliver content to the computing mod market. Currently, their product-line consists of chassis (did you know that the plural of chassis is chassis?!) and CPU coolers. Their mission is to meld form and function to create products that perform as good as they look – let’s see if they are successful with the Symmetry 1.”

check it out

How To Be A Multiplayer Web Games Developer @ The TechZone
The Tech Zone :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005
In my first article “How To Be A Game Developer”, I discussed various games genres, including Web/Email games. This is one of the easiest ways to start developing games- you aren’t restricted to one language or platform and the costs are pretty low. In this article, I’ll look at the various technologies that you can use, and give you an idea of what its possible to do and how you get started.

check it out

Corsair XMS (TWINX2048) PC3500LL PRO DDR Review @ Virtual-Hideout
Virtual-Hideout :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Quote: ” The LED’s do not just light up or not, they actually scale from a few lights to all the lights depending on the current RAM usage. Corsair has turned the normal RamSink into a light show by including LED lighting in the top edge and also embossing “XMS” right into the covers.”

check it out

Western Digital Caviar SE16 400 GB Hard Drive Review @ The TechZone
The Tech Zone :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

400GB hard drives seem to be somewhat of a median at the moment, they are not overly expensive for the amount of storage you receive. We’ve already taken a look at 400GB models from Hitachi and Seagate, and we weren’t about to leave out the other big hard disk name out there, none other than Western Digital. Western Digital has come out with a slew of products that are known to be some of the best out there. Today we are going to take a look at one of the members of their WD Caviar SE16 line, the 400GB WD4000KD.

check it out

LSCOOL.com SHS-X500 CPU Cooler
Techniz.co.uk :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Quote: “I have never used a cpu cooler of this type before, so was interested when lscool.com asked me to review their SHS-X500. It has a similar design to a water cooling radiator, with the copper fins and the heat pipes running through the fins.”

check it out

Corsair 2GB XMS PC4000 Platinum @ Techgage.com
Techgage :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Quote: Corsairs back, and they have delivered the fastest memory we have ever tested! Clocked at DDR500 speeds and 3-4-4-8 timings, it’s quite fast on it’s own. Add on the large amount of overclocking headroom, and these modules have serious potential.

check it out

Biostar M7VIG-400 Combo @ ThinkComputers.org
Think Computers :: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Quote: “Well, today we have something new and rather exciting, at least for me anyway, from our friends at Computers Geeks (www.geeks.com). I say it is exciting for me because I have never had a Micro ATX motherboard before. I never realized just how small a Micro ATX motherboard is really, they are very small, it’s amazing all the features they can pack into such a small package. Obviously it is a Micro ATX mobo, but it features a Mobile Athlon XP 2600+ Barton core processor as well. The price from Geeks is $94.99, a VERY nice price. I went and checked prices for the Mobile Xp 2600+ and found that the cheapest I could find was $89.00, when you factor in a Biostar Micro ATX motherboard, this is one great deal, the cheapest I found the Biostar M7VIG for was $46.99, by buying the combo from Geeks you save almost $50, and get a great motherboard and an awesome CPU.”

check it out