It’s been a couple days, I’m just swamped with stuff to do.. so here’s a whole lot of news:
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Title: Using HDMI Audio/Video On Linux @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=13225
Summary: “The last time we looked in-depth at HDMI support on Linux was last December when talking about HDMI with the ATI Catalyst Linux driver. Since then there has been improvements in a number of drivers for different hardware. In this article we have a brief overview on the status of HDMI support in the Intel, NVIDIA, and ATI Linux drivers.”
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TechwareLabs has published a review of the Mio DigiWalker C520 Portable GPS. Here’s a clip from the review:
Quote: GPS is one of the most useful widespread tools currently available to consumers. Recently GPS devices have become very affordale and thus even more viable as a tool. TechwareLabs takes a look at the Mio C520 which is based on Windows Mobile 5.0 and thus very hackable. Is the C520 a product you should consider? Read our review to find out.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/misc/Mio-C520-GPS
Title: Mio DigiWalker C520 Portable GPS @ TechwareLabs
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We’re dropping a line here today to let you know of our latest release, an evaluation and performance review of EVGA’s nForce 7901 SLI FTW motherboard, with Digital PWM.
Snip: This is definitely one special board that has a lot to offer. For starters, it sports three PCI Express x16 slots for 3-way SLI, and it boasts support for up to nine SATA 3Gbps drives. Additionally, the mainboard supports 2,000MHz dual channel DDR3 with EPP and a front side bus up to 1,600MHz. The board was designed with enthusiasts in mind though, so you can rest assured that EVGA also includes a plethora of overclocking options in the BIOS. Continuing the trend, EVGA appeals to enthusiasts even further by offering a digital PWM circuit, an 8-phase power design, VDroop control, 100% solid state capacitors, and onboard clear CMOS, power and reset buttons.
Direct Link:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/EVGA-nForce-790i-SLI-FTW-Digital-PWM-Motherboard/
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I4U News published a review of the upcoming new Asus Eee 1002HA Netbook.
Quote from the review:
“Today we are looking at the new Asus Eee 1002HA netbook. The little machine is the latest in Asus’ long line of Eee netbooks and brings with it some new features that netbook fans will really like at a price that fits well with the budgets of most people shopping for a new computer. Read on for all of the details on the Asus Eee 1002HA.”
Full Review:
http://www.i4u.com/full-review-513.html
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Quote: Looking for a fan controller capable of taming even the most powerful fans? We check out the 45w per channel Lamptron FC-2.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/cases_cooling/lamptron_fc-2_rheobus_fan_controller/1
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Title: NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/nzxt_avatar_gaming_mouse/
Quote: In the world of gaming mice, there are a few names that we see often, such as Logitech and Razer. But, a new entrant is here, and they’re hoping to make a splash with their first-ever gaming peripheral. The Avatar from NZXT has both the style and design we’re looking for, so let’s see if it lives up to the rest of our expectations.
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OCIA.net has posted their review of the Razer Moray In-Ear Headphones. Below is a direct quote from the review:
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Title: GELID Solutions Wing 12 120mm case fan Review @ FusionMods.Net
Link: http://www.fusionmods.net/index.php?theCase=viewThread&threadID=1808
Quote: “GELID Solutions has made one of the most interesting Fan designs in a long time. Â The GELID Wing 12 has some really awesome features, and a wonderfully low sound levels!”
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It seems like everyone and their mother has a heatsink out now. Companies known for their graphics cards, power supply moguls, and case manufacturers have all had their go at making the latest and greatest heatsink. And most of the time, the ugliest. And now someone else wants to put their chilly mark on the cooling industry. Actually, it’s a whole freaking country. They call themselves Noctua, and they want to show us that Austrians are as cool as the rest of us.
My test product this friendly afternoon is the NH-U12P from the good people at Noctua. It boasts the quality of sound-optimized premium components, including the new NF-P12 fan which has been specially designed for high air pressure and flow. The fan even has Vortex-Control Notches, a proclaimed psychoacoustic optimization that enables maximum airflow without sacrificing your peace and quiet.
Review URL ::
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1287
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Title:
Hiper Type R Mk-II 680W PSU
Link:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Hiper/Type_R_Mk_II_680W
Brief:
The Hiper Type R Mk-II 680W is a unique power supply because it comes with an integrated 8-port USB hub. A ninth USB connector is dedicated to charging any USB based devices like your Iphone or Ipod, even while the PC is turned off. The PSU itself delivers excellent performance values in stability and fan noise. Efficiency is also high with 82%.
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Title: Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W PSU Review on Technic3D (Office PC Part3)
Quote: “The Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good price and a high efficiency. Make the 120mm fan, 6xSerial ATA connectors and 1x PCIe 6-Pin this PSU better than other PSUs for Office PCs?”
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Wii Rockband: Special Edition Video Game Review:
Link: http://www.rbmods.com/Articles/Geeks/Wii_Rockband/1.php
Quote: Tired of singing in the shower and want to show your true rock star talent? Games such as Guitar Hero allow you to become a musician, but none of them provide the full rock star experience as the video game Rockband. Geeks, popular online retailer, sent us the Wii version of Rockband: Special Edition to check out. Will this game rock out? That is what we’re going to answer in this review.
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TechwareLabs has published a review of the Vantec AeroFlow FX120 CPU Cooler. Here’s a clip from the review:
Quote: Mike takes a look at the Vantec AeroFlow FX120 which as the name implies is powered by a 120mm fan. The AeroFLow FX120 wont break the bank and manages to edge out the MaxOrb in cooling performance. Sneak a peek at why Mike thinks strapping the AeroFlow FX120 to your CPU is a great idea.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/cooling/Vantec-AeroFlow-FX120
Title: Vantec AeroFlow FX120 CPU Cooler @ TechwareLabs
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Article Name: Icy Dock MB664UEA-1S USB/Firewire HDD Enclosure Review @ Tweaknews.net
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/icy_dock_mb664uea-1s_enclosure/
Article Snippet:
“I have to say this is one of the best enclosures I’ve had the opportunity to review and what won me over is Icy Dock’s simple yet effective design. It actually took me longer to un-box everything than it did to install the hard drive, power it up, and begin copying files.”
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NEW CONTENT (Input Peripherals) – GIGABYTE GM-M8000 GHOST Gaming Mouse
QUOTE: “Alongside the GK-K8000 GHOST series keyboard reviewed previously, GIGABYTE also sent along their GM-M8000 gaming mouse to complete the whole desktop. This squeaker sports a huge number of features and neat tricks to compete with the top gaming mice on the market.
Talking specs, this rodent has a resolution of up to 4000DPI with its laser optic sensor to ensure that your tracking is always smooth and precise. It also sports a nice memory system to remember your macros and button assignments, so you don’t have to worry about taking it to the party.”
For more information, please visit - http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1680/gigabyte_gm_m8000_ghost_gaming_mouse/index.html
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Title: ATI HD 4870 1GB vs. NVIDIA GTX 260/216 896MB: Follow-Up @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/ati_hd_4870_1gb_vs_nvidia_gtx_260216_896mb_follow-up/
Quote: Two weeks ago, we published a performance comparison between NVIDIA’s GTX 260/216 and ATI’s HD 4870 1GB. What we found was that NVIDIA had the upper-hand, both in performance, and efficiency. Today, we’re re-testing ATI’s card with their new 8.12 driver, to see if it can increase performance enough to sway our decision as to which is the better card.
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Date: 12-06-2008Â By Vlad Mihaiescu
The game’s graphics are sweet, the sound is great but the controls and the game’s playability are lacking at best. I have been playing video games for over 20 years and I’ve been reviewing them for almost two, and during this entire time I don’t think that I’ve run across a game that I could not move to the 2nd set of missions. I’ve spend over 2 1/2 hors trying the same mission over an over again and I only quit when I got the desire to chunk my Xbox360 against a wall. If you’re thinking of buying this game for your kids you better be prepared to do some mission passing for them or all you’ll hear is screams and cries (unless your kid is an Xbox360 genius). As I’ve said, rent this game first. It’s better to be out 10 dollars than 60, and if you like the gameplay and the controls, buy it then.
Link: http://www.gamepyre.com/reviewsd.html?aid=1038&p=1
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TITLE: Palit Revolution 700 Radeon HD 4870 X2 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Palit is not known for launching cutting-edge products ahead of the competition, as they can be described as the tortoise in a race against the hare. What Palit does do well is deliver a refined (read: not rushed) product to store shelves. The Palit Revolution 700 Deluxe is one such example, which offers the Radeon HD 4870 X2 with 2048 MB of GDDR5 video frame buffer and is cooled by a proprietary triple-slot thermal solution. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the AE5487XSF0545-PM9348 SKU against many of the latest high-performance graphics products available to the retail market.
ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=264&Itemid=72
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| Palit Revolution 700 Deluxe Radeon HD 4870 X2 Review |  |
Author: Ben Sun Date: 12-07-2008
The HD 4870 X2 is a beast of a video card, with performance that outstrips that of the GeForce GTX 280 in most applications where the CPU is not the limiting factor. Currently, the Palit Revolution 700 Deluxe Radeon HD 4870 X2 is a good buy for those wanting a quiet fast video card to run the latest games at a reasonable price for the highest end card on the market. Palit’s card runs absolutely silently even under the heaviest load. The dual cooling fan solution does the job with stable temperatures even when overclocked.
Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/1838_1.html
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Everything USB is pleased to announce our Cables Unlimited Certified Wireless USB Adapter Kit review.
One of the early players to the party, Cables Unlimited’s Wireless USB Adapter Set promises the elusive cable-less connection of your USB devices. Based on Wisair Certified Wireless USB chipset and drivers, the Windows XP and Vista only two dongle adapter set is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce USB cable clutter. But how well does it work? And is the performance and range good enough to shed those USB cables forever? Read on to find out.
http://www.everythingusb.com/cables-unlimited-wireless-usb-adapter-kit-15823.html
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Title: Lian Li Maxima 750W Power Supply Review at Overclockers Online
Link: http://www.overclockersonline.net/?page=articles&num=2251
Quote: The Maxima force is quite the bundle. This unit brushes off anything
thrown in its direction, and maintains and incredibly quiet operational
temperature, but more than performance this unit also looks good. With a
black crinkle finish, the Maxima force has a subtle yet undeniable rugged
appeal, yet at the same time elegance. Let’s not forget, this is a Lian Li
product. Fully sleeved cables and black connectors are a nice addition as
well, and top off the deal.
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Quote: Upgrade skt775 or go for broke and buy a major upgrade in the form of the P6T Deluxe. We pitch Asus’s new motherboard against a high end skt 775 kit in todays review.
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OCIA.net has posted their review of the Envision G218a1 22″ Widescreen Monitor. Below is a direct quote from the review:
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“As far as we were concerned, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X300 was already a stellar ultra-portable Windows-based laptop. Okay, so it no FireWire or DVI ports and opting for a solid state drive (SSD) added a lot of extra cost, but the machine offered performance, battery life, quality, reliability and functionality at a great price. Just four months on and Lenovo has unveiled its successor, the ThinkPad X301. The slim-and-light system, again seen as a direct competitor to Apple’s MacBook Air, offers more storage options in addition to DDR3 memory and the latest low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processors.â€
http://www.itreviewed.co.uk/rev.php?id=868
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Quote: Looking for an affordable full tower for either water or air? Take a look inside to see if the Coolermaster HAF 932 is what your looking for.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/cases_cooling/coolermaster_haf_932_full_tower/1
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Title: Cooler Master ATCS 840 EATX @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=13218
Summary: “One of the exciting features that is being worked on for Ubuntu 9.04 is encrypted home directories. What this means is that at install-time for either the LiveCD or server installation (or at a point later on when creating additional user accounts), the administrator can opt to have the user’s home directory encrypted. This is a step-down from the Ubuntu 7.10 install-time encryption that would encrypt the entire hard drive and just not the user’s home directory, but alas, that comes with performance consequences. At the request of Canonical, we have carried out a few benchmarks showing what effect the Ubuntu 9.04 home encryption feature has on the system’s overall performance.”
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NEW CONTENT (Visual) – NVIDIA provides early look at PhysX with Mirror’s Edge
QUOTE: “Mirror’s Edge is a game that is getting a lot of attention behind the scenes and internally as the next big game to really take advantage of the latest PC technology. It is a first person action-adventure video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE (D.I.C.E.) – it has already been released last month on PS3 and Xbox 360, but the PC version is still getting its final touches.
Today we get an early look one of the next biggest games to take advantage of GPU PhysX and we even have a video to show you which demonstrates the difference with the physics technology enabled and disabled, side by side. First off, though, let’s go over several slides that NVIDIA sent over to us promoting the new game and its technology.”
For more information, please visit - http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1682/nvidia_provides_early_look_at_physx_with_mirror_s_edge/index.html
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iXBT Labs Review: Leadtek GeForce 9500GT, 9800 GTX+, GTX 260/280
Excerpt:
“Today we have an opportunity to examine some of the latest Leadtek products. In fact, the company has customized only the 9500GT series. Other cards are reference products with Leadtek stickers.”
Article: http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/video/lead-3-p1.html
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Title: Western Digital My Passport Essential Portable 320GB review @
ModReactor
Direct Link:
http://www.modreactor.com/english/Reviews/WD-My-Passport-Essential-Portable-320GB-review.html
Quote: “Nowadays nobody cares about data volume and as result, we as
the end users are forced to buy bigger and bigger drives. And they do
come in various forms and shapes, so we here at Modreactor reached
out and grabbed with our little greedy hands one such device with
capacity of 320 GB, made by Western Digital (the famous rival to
Eastern Analog) and in this piece of art (cleverly disguised as
review)will tell you about our feelings, thoughts, mishaps and happy
times with the product.”
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” … from an end user, non-enthusiast point of view, the MSI X58 Platinum motherboard has everything going for it … good performance, great features and it’s cheaper than the Eclipse.”
Read the rest of the review here … http://www.cpu3d.com/review/6693-1/msi-x58-platinum-motherboard/introduction.html
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Title:Â NorthQ Giant Reactor 1000W Power Supply Review
Summary: We’ve looked at lots of NorthQ units here at jonnyGURU.com, some big and some small. Today though I’m taking a look at the Big Daddy of their lineup, the 1000W Giant Reactor. Come on in and see how it does.
Articles URL: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=124
Site URL: http://www.jonnyguru.com
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iXBT Labs Review: Gigabyte MA790GP-DS4H Motherboard
Excerpt:
“A lot of interesting motherboards from various manufacturers were based on AMD 780G, the predecessor of AMD 790GX. However, if there had existed a nomination for the most interesting product range, it would have been Gigabyte to win it. We’ve tested three motherboards, and awarded two of them. It goes without saying, we couldn’t pass the only 790GX-based model from this manufacturer.”
Article: http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/mainboard/gigabyte-ma790gp-ds4h-790gx-p1.html