Tech News October 2005

PimpRig Review // Thermaltake Aquabay M2 5.25″ Bay Reservoir
PimpRig :: Thursday, October 06, 2005
“As you can plainly see, even though the bezel is 1U configuration, (1U = 1-5.25″ bay) the fan means you’ll need at least two free bays. And if it is going to work well, you’ll need clear space both above and below the radiator for sufficient air movement and above average case ventilation. So in reality, the M2 Radiator will need 3 or even 4 clear drive bays to function. A shallow bay device such as many of those in the Hardcano line, which only extend a short distance inward past the front bezel, would not present a problem mounted directly above the M2 AquaBay.”

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ASUS CT-479 Pentium M Adapter @ techPowerUp!
techPowerUp! :: Thursday, October 06, 2005
We are taking a look at the ASUS CT-479 Adapter which allows you to use an Intel Mobile Processor in your desktop. This Socket 478 to Socket 479 converter is considerably less expensive than the native Socket 479 boards. With this adapter you can turn that old ASUS 865P/875P mobo into a serious gaming machine. The OCZ DDR Booster is reviewed along with the ASUS CT-479 Adapter.

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Antec Sonata 2 Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Think Computers :: Thursday, October 06, 2005

Quote: “Antec, a name that pretty much anyone who is into computers knows. They make various products from top quality computer cases to lights and cables. The name Antec is pretty much synonymous with top quality, high end computer enclosures. When you purchase an Antec product you know you are getting something that is quality made with care and pride. Today I have the Sonata II for review, another fine quality product from Antec that claims to be designed to be completely quiet.”

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Patriot PDC2G3200LLK PC3200 2GB Dual Channel Kit @ InsaneTek
InsaneTek :: Thursday, October 06, 2005

“Patriot has been providing some amazing enthusiast lately and their 2GB solution is not all that bad. It is priced to target the budget enthusiast, but it does overclock pretty nicely.”

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News] Zalman 7000B-Cu LED CPU Cooler Review @ Virtual-Hideout
Virtual-Hideout :: Thursday, October 06, 2005

“It comes with a wide array of installation accessories, all of high quality. Instructions were concise and well written. I can’t stress enough the high quality of this product. It’s a winner and a no-brainer for a smart buy.”

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Smart CD Ripper PRO at Designtechnica.com
Designtechnica :: Thursday, October 06, 2005
“Extract audio CD tracks to audio formats MP3, WAV and OGG with Smart CD Ripper. Or convert existing WAV files to MP3 format and vice-versa. The program?s options include the following: bit rate; maximal bit rate; channel mode; emphasis; variable bit rate (VBR) quality; use variable bit rate (VBR); use low pass filter; and use psycho-acoustics analysis. ”

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Music Download Services Compared
Designtechnica :: Thursday, October 06, 2005
“However, all of that means the consumer is presented with a dazzling multiplicity of choices. Where do you go to find the music you want? Which is the best service? They all offer dazzling numbers of tracks – 900,000, a million – that stagger and scare the imagination. Finding your way through can be more than a little daunting.

The simple truth is, in many cases there’s not a great deal to choose between them. Those massive music libraries are largely duplicated from service to service. So the criteria become something different. Do you want to keep the music you get? What can you do with it – can you store it on multiple computers, burn it onto CD, transfer it to a portable device? How easy is it to use the interface? And, for those whose tastes lie outside the mainstream, which services offer the best depth and broadest selection of music? Read on as we explain each music service so you know which one fits your needs.”

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MGE XG Ninja 2 Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews.net
Tweaknews :: Thursday, October 06, 2005

“With a MSRP of $49 complete with a 400W PSU, some prospective builders will be able to live without some of the more advanced features the Ninja 2 lacks.”

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R520: Radeon X1800 Architecture Preview @ Beyond3D
Beyond3D :: Wednesday, October 05, 2005
ATI are finally launching their long belated R520 architecture and the X1800, X1600 and X1300 products based on it. In the first of our articles looking at the architecture and the products based on it we are have published an R520 architectural overview:

“The memory controller consists of the central controller, or arbiter, with the memory clients surrounding it that can make their data requests to the arbiter. All around the edges of the chip are two 256-bit ring busses, running at same speeds as the DRAM’s, which run in opposite directions to reduce latency (dependant on where the data is going to or from it should only have to traverse a maximum of half the ring); by placing the memory bus around the edges of the chip wire density around the controller is decreased, which can result in higher clock speeds.”

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Joujye Super Silent 350W PSU Review @ PC Modding Malaysia
PC Modding Malaysia :: Wednesday, October 05, 2005

“Definitely one to recommend great stuff to you, I’ll definitely recommend Joujye’s impressively stable JJ350PPBA Super Silent PSU to those of you who are shopping for a formidable, practical and RELIABLE PSU. It isn’t much to look at, no LEDs, no fancy eye candy, but it certainly delivers, and that’s what’s important. This model that we reviewed is targetted towards business users who demand a reliability and cost savings from running dozens of computers thanks to its Passive Power Factor Correction circuit.”

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[Phoronix] VDrift v2005-10-02
Phoronix :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Summary: “VDrift, the cross-platform open-source driving simulator designed for drift racing, recently released its 2005-10-02 source that now has initial network multi-player support, ghost car relay option, SCans build system, and terrain detail options. This game, which is based upon the Vamos physics engine, is now one step closer to becoming a viable choice for Linux and Windows gamers.”

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HEXUS.reviews :: TerraTec Cinergy Hybrid USB XS DVB-T/Analog TV Tuner
Hexus :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005

There’s a surprising amount of connectivity coming from the tuner, thanks to the provided cabling. The aerial, while a good design, is of little use in areas where the signal isn’t strong. The USB cable, which isn’t something usually worth writing home about, does allow you to plug in the tuner without risking catching it on anything and snapping the connector off – helping to protect that £130 investment.

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beblu Media Center Review @ Epiacenter.com
Epiacenter.com :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005

“The main part of the beblu system comes in three varieties, the Appliance, the Computer and the Home Entertainment systems. These are fundamentally the same with a basic hierarchy the appliance case is the most basic followed by the computer which has added front audio, a USB Universal System Bus is a “plug-and-play” interface that consolidates the present serial port configuration on the back of the PC into a single port from which up to 127 peripheral devices can be daisy chain connected.”

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Grado SR325i High-End Headphones Review @ CoolTechZone.com
CoolTechZone :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
“The 325i has the same-vented diaphragm design with aluminum air chamber and an attractive exterior. Thankfully, Grado has improved the exterior to make it look a bit more exotic instead of the same old black color scheme.”

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Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-5300 Review @ Legit Reviews
Legit Reviews :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
“It is hard for me to find a negative with this memory. Its ran very well at its rated speed, overclocked extremely well, looks great, and is priced in line with other modules in its class. …”

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Leadtek PX7800 TDH MyVIVO Extreme
hardCOREware :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
NVIDIA captured our attention with their launch of “G70” an evolutionary, if not revolutionary graphics core. The top end model was the 7800 GTX, and unlike what we’ve seen from their Canadian counterparts, NVIDIA had the products on store shelves the very same day they were launched.

Fast-forward to now: Manufacturers have had some time to play around with their designs, and we’re starting to see some interesting products. Today we’re reviewing teh 7800GTX Extreme from Leadtek. They used a Quadro heatsink, and gave it a nice overclock.

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Steelsound 5H Headset Review @ ASE Labs
ASE Labs :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005

” The headphones in this package are more like the kind designed for studio/DJ work and more “serious” listening. They are not just a pair of $10, throw-away headphones. These have a much more accurate sound output, and wrap around your head, creating a near sound-proof barrier between your ear and outside background noise. Since these are headphones for gamers, a couple of special features have also been added with their needs in mind. ”

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Actiontec Wireless G Router and Network Cards @ TheTechLounge
The Tech Lounge :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005

“The wireless market has expanded far and wide from the days of old 802.11b. Now, not only do we have 802.11g products, but many vendors have used proprietary technology to boost those speeds far above the basic 802.11g. Unfortunately, this throws the interoperability idea of a standard out the window. For those individuals that purchased laptops or other items which work with the “g” standard, proprietary transmission protocols are worthless. Why spend money on technology you really don’t need or can’t even use?

Not every company is doing this; some like Actiontec have decided to focus on the standard, and only the standard. This means that if you have purchased an 802.11g product, then it will work with an 802.11g router. There is no need to troubleshoot settings and switches within the router just so can browse the internet from your laptop. Simple and to the point – or at least that is what I am told. For just this reason I have in front of me three of Actiontec’s wireless G products: the Cable/DSL router, USB wireless adaptor, and PCMCIA notebook card.”

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OCZ Gold PC4000 2GB Dual Channel Kit @ InsaneTek
InsaneTek :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005

“OCZ’s first 2GB solution runs under their Gold series. The memory comes with loose timings, but it does manage to overclock extremely well. OCZ never fails to impress when it comes to enthusiast memory.”

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PimpRig Review // Enermax MaximumPlus 660W SLi PSU
PimpRig :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
“Independent 12V rails supply to MB/CPU and drives in order to provide stable and clean current to noise-sensitive devices, such as: CPU, add-on cards.Meet UL 240VA safety requirements. It also separate the motherboard rails and video card rails to ensure maximum power to your PCI Express video card.”

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Logisys Wireless Remote MultiFunction Panel @ techPowerUp!
techPowerUp! :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Functional panels for our computers have been around for a while now, but Logisys took the standard functional panel with USB, Firewire, fan controller, and temp monitors and tricked it out one more. They created “The first remote panel in the world designed for media PC and for enhancement of all computers”. The Logisys FP800BK includes almost everything you could want in a front panel device, plus you can turn your PC on and off with its handy remote!

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OCZ Rally 2GB Flash Memory Drive Review at 3DXtreme
3dXtreme :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Our Sandra bench scores confirm the HDTach results, along with that it also shows the write speed which also blows the Kingston drive out of the water. OCZ claims up to 23MB/s read and up to 17MB/s write for this 2GB unit and by the looks of the results certainly meets those numbers. The 512MB and 1GB modules are listed with even faster read/write speeds as they are smaller modules.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Promoting Your Own Podcast @ The TechZone
The Tech Zone :: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Think of it like an audio blog; a podcast is a recorded program similar to radio (sans commercials, of course) made available via MP3 files on websites or RSS feeds. But unlike radio, users can download these programs onto an Apple iPod or any other MP3 device and listen at their own convenience. Also unlike radio, there are no FCC standards to regulate the content; a podcast can say anything about any topic at any time. It’s revolutionary, really.

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