News for June 11th 2009 -blah…
blah, blah, blah…
=========
Title: 7″ Axion AXN-8701 Portable Handheld Widescreen LCD Digital TV @ TestFreaks
Link: http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/7-axion-axn-8701-portable-handheld-widescreen-lcd-digital-tv/
Quote:
“Today for review our friends at Geeks have sent me over a Handheld LCD Digital TV from a company called Axion. It’s the AXN-8701 Portable Handheld Widescreen LCD Digital TV, and from my time with it I’ve found it’s actually a great little product. The Axion includes a remote, built-in antenna and an external one, along with built-in rechargeable battery and even a car charger as well. It’s a 7″ LCD screen, but it has a surprisingly nice pictures, especially for the price, and it includes a digital tuner along with A/V inputs so you can hook other things up to it as well. read on to learn more… ”
===============
BlueAnt X3 Micro Bluetooth Headset @ DragonSteelMods
Today for review I’ve got the BlueAnt X3 Micro Bluetooth headset, and it’s from our friends at The Wireless Boys. The X3 micro has a few nice features, including and most importantly, it is lightweight, for me that’s a very important factor. It also has a 7 hour talk time, along with a 180 hour standby time and it includes both an AC adapter and a car charger. Being lightweight and looking good are not much if the headset doesn’t perform though, so continue on to learn more…
http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12844&Itemid=1
=============
InsideHW.com has reviewed OCZ Alchemy Series Illuminati Keyboard. Here is a quote from this review:
“If you would heard term “illuminati†and “alchemy†we are pretty sure that first association for many of you would be Dan Brown and one of his bestselling novels. For those of you that are familiar with OCZ Technology products, Alchemy series of keyboards is well known and this time we are presenting you Illuminati model that got its name because of back lighted keys. Because of this feature typing in pitch darkness, but thanks to side LEDs it can also provide illumination to surrounding area. Light can be blue or red and this can also be set using one of the buttons on keyboard. Of course light can be turned off or dimmed using a knob located in right corner…â€
Article link:
http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Peripherals/OCZ-Alchemy-Series-Illuminati-Keyboard.html
============
Title: Cooler Master Notepal D1 Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/cooler-master-notepal-d1/
Quote: Cooler Master impressed me with their simple yet elegant D1. By no
means is it a flashy notebook cooler with colored LED fans or multiple USB
ports requiring a separate AC power supply. They went back to the basics and
with a simple tweak of replacing the hard feet with a softer material, I
think they would have come up with a huge winner. As it stands, the D1 is
still a budget friendly notebook cooler that does the trick of what a 50
dollar cooler would do – keeping your notebook cool.
==============
Taken Blu-Ray Review @ Ascully.com
Quote
“The set up is fairly old school. Young American women being kidnapped to be sold on the open market to unscrupulous men around the world. The more pure, the more valuable. Neeson just happens to have a 17 year old daughter, pure as all get out, and she’s naively gone to Europe unsupervised……â€
Article Link – http://www.ascully.com/blu-ray-reviews/taken/
Podcast link – http://www.ascully.com/after-the-show-73-taken-blu-ray-review/
Article Title – Taken Blu-Ray Review @ Ascully.com
=============
Title: All Core 2 Models
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/366
Category: Tutorials
Summary:
A series of quick reference tables containing all Core 2 Solo, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme CPUs released to date. Updated to include mobile models.
Here is a snippet:
“Core 2 Solo, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme processors are based on the new Core microarchitecture, released to replace Netburst microarchitecture, used on Pentium 4 and CPU’s based on it. In this tutorial we will list all models from these processors released so far together with their main technical specs.”
==============
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 Heatsink Review
“In all other regards Coolermaster’s Hyper TX3 heatsink is a compact mid-level heatsink suitable for use on AMD socket 745/939/940/AM2/AM3 processors and Intel socket 775/1156 chips (not LGA1366 however). The Hyper TX3 heatsink weighs in at 470 grams, stands less than 140mm tall, and comes equipped with a low noise 92mm 800-2800RPM PWM fan that drives 17-54CFM according the manufacturer. The heatsink is built around three skinny 6mm diameter copper heatpipes that connect a small aluminum base to the 92×92mm tower of aluminum cooling fins.”
URL: http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2401
QUICK-LINK:Â Coolermaster Hyper TX3 Heatsink Review @ frostytech.com
=============
Computex 2009: Sparkle Highlights Photo Tour
“Computex 2009 takes place each year in Taipei Taiwan. This year Sparkle Computer Co., Ltd. sent PCSTATS a round of photos of its booth and several new products exhibited at the trade show including new nVidia ION based small form factor HTPC systems and the Calibre graphic cards series. Enjoy!”
URL: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2400
QUICK-LINK: Computex 2009: Sparkle Highlights Photo Tour @ PCSTATS.com
============
“iPlayer is a slick programme that makes it easy to catch up on your favourite BBC programmes that have been broadcast over the last seven days. It looks great, is easy to use, and video quality is very good at its most basic 500kbps and even better at 832×468 ‘full-screen’ resolution, which uses 1500kbps. There’s now even a HD mode, allowing you to stream H.264 (1280×720p) video through a Web browser at 3.2Mbps (1.5GB per hour of video) or download it. Though close to TV quality, image clarity still isn’t as good. It is not without its flaws, however. Most noticeable is that rights agreements mean that iPlayer television programmes are only available to users to download or stream (Click to Play) in the UK. Most radio programmes are available outside the UK in addition to podcasts, although sporting and other programmes may be subject to rights agreements. You’ll also need a valid TV Licence, regardless of whether you decide to ditch your regular TV. Another disappointing oversight is the ability to schedule programmes for download from a selected series until the series has ended – much like Sky’s Series Link. Those on limited broadband packages will also need to keep a tight handle on usage, as both online video streaming and downloading seriously eats into your bandwidth.â€
http://itreviewed.net/index.php/bbc-iplayer/
==============
Computex 2009: Gigabyte Highlights Photo Tour
“Every year the worlds’ PC makers and PC media flock to Computex in Taipei Taiwan to see the bleeding edge of technology unleashed. Intel, AMD, nVidia and ATI usually time their new product releases to coincide with the massive tech trade show, so it’s always an exciting adventure. This year Gigabyte, a Tier One motherboard manufacturer, showcased three important additions to the PC marketplace. The first and foremost was Intel’s new socket 1156 “Lynnfield” processor platform, based on the soon-to-be-released Intel P55 Express chipset. The Intel P55 Express is notable for a couple reasons, not the least of which is its support of both ATI Crossfire and nVidia SLI! Finally, a mainstream motherboard which accomodates both multi-videocard options! “
URL: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2403
QUICK-LINK: Computex 2009: Gigabyte Highlights Photo Tour @ PCSTATS.com
================
Title: Antec P183 Case Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/733
Category: Reviews
Summary:
Antec P183 is a high-end mid-tower case launched under their Performance One series. Let’s see what you should expect from P183.
Here is a snippet:
“Antec P183 is a high-end mid-tower case launched under their Performance One series. It is based on Antec P193 but with the side fan and one of the top fans removed and also with the remaining top fan reduced from 140-mm to 120-mm, making it cheaper than P193. Let’s see what you should expect from P183.”
=============
Title: Sunbeamtech Acrylic Case: The Invisible
Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-860,1-sunbeamtech-acrylic-case-the-invisible.htm
Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-860%2C1-sunbeamtech-acrylic-case-the-invisible.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8
Quote: “The Sunbeamtech Acrylic HTPC Case is the next PC Case in the Technic3D Editorship. The Acrylic HTPC computer case from Sunbeamtech can easily handle the cooling needs of multi-core processor systems. The unique 3D Core-Fan design uses a mounting rack that is attached to the side panel, and supports two 120mm fans to be installed which will direct airflow on to the installed cards and CPU.”
=============
Title: Noctua Cooling Competition @ XSReviews
Quote: “Time to start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this one is with some nice Noctua cooling products. We’ve got 3 prizes to give away, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLX cooling fans.
What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5 times anywhere you like. That’s it. ”
=============
We are writing to let you all know that we have just posted a new article on HotHardware in which we evaluate the features, performance, and overclockability of 7 GeForce GTX 275 and Radeon HD 4890 graphics cards in one large round-up.  We take a look at cards from Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, XFX, Diamond, HIS, and EVGA–three Radeon HD 4890s and four GeForce GTX 275s.  We evaluate single card and multi-GPU performance, power consumption, and temperatures. So which one of the cards deserves your hard-earned dough? Well, you’re just going to have to read on and find out…
GeForce GTX 275 and Radeon HD 4890 Round-Up:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/The-GeForce-GTX-275-and-HD-4890-go-HeadtoHead/
==============
Hardware Bistro has just posted latest review on QNAP TS-119 1-Bay NAS system.
Quote: “NAS is one of the latest trendy computer peripherals as its existence has become more important lately and it is extremely useful for large group of data sharing. At this moment, there are only small number of NAS providers as NAS is a complicated device and QNAP is one of the young NAS providers but they are playing an important role in NAS sector.”
============
Title: Evercool 92mm Rifling Fan Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk
Briefing: Evercool are a very large manufacturer for cooling products. Unfortunately though, Tech-Reviews is still unfamiliar with them and so, our expectations are a bit mixed. But by priding themselves as one of the top 5 cooling manufacturers in Taiwan, our expectations from their products are certainly high. Let’s see if the Evercool Rifling Fan proves itself worthy.
Link: http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/evercool-92mm-rifling-fan/
=============
MSI X58 Pro-E motherboard review
http://www.techspot.com/review/168-msi-x58-pro-e/
Perhaps the biggest problem we saw with initial Intel X58 motherboards was their substantial price. Add to that the serious price premium for DDR3 memory, and you ended up with a relatively affordable and fast Core i7 920 processor that nevertheless needed to run on an expensive platform.
The recent drop in DDR3 pricing got us thinking about the affordability of the Core i7 platform, and we began to wonder just how cheap users could build one of these systems.
MSI has quietly been preparing an army of Core i7 motherboards, now with five unique models on offer, we feel they may have what we’re after. The X58 Pro-E is an interesting looking motherboard, priced at around $200 which is almost as low as X58-based motherboards will go.
=============
Article Name: Cresyn CS-HP500 Folding HI-FI Headphones Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/cresyn_cs-hp500_headphones/
Article Snippet:
“With most new product introductions on the market, usually the first generation is a prototype which they then improve on and then release a better product after they have ironed out all the design bugs. But with Cresyn and their CS-HP500, they definitely buck that trend. With exceptional audio and build quality coupled with a foldable design and comfort, the CS-HP500 can easily be summed up as a safe buy for people needing a good set of foldable headphones that won’t break the bank.”
=============
TITLE: Microsoft Explorer Mini @ LanOC Review
DESCRIPTION: Not long ago I had the chance to take a close look at Microsoft’s Sidewinder X8. One of the X8’s main features was the BlueTrack Technology used with its optical sensor that boasts the ability to work on virtually any surface. In my testing I found this to be true, but not really needed in a gaming mouse. BlueTrack Technology would be perfect for portable use in a laptop mouse where you never know what surface you will be using as a mouse pad. Today I have the chance to test out this theory because Microsoft’s new Explorer Mini mouse using BlueTrack and I will be putting it to the test.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/reviews/microsoft-explorer-mini/
===============
TITLE: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Yesterday I took a look at Cooler Masters Hyper TX-3 entry level heatsink and was surprised considerably by its performance and value. Today I will be following that review by taking a look at what I can only call its older brother the Hyper 212 Plus due to the Hyper 212 Plus being the same design only larger. The Hyper 212 has been around for some time providing great performance in a mid range price. With the updated Hyper 212 Plus they have most likely updated the performance along with the added compatibility for the upcoming Lynnfield or i5 CPU later this year. I plan to put the updated version to the test and find out how it compares to a range of different heatsinks.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/reviews/cooler-master-hyper-212-plus/
================
NEW CONTENT (Video Cards) – ASUS GeForce GTX 285 1GB Graphics Card
QUOTE: “While there’s no denying that anyone who is after maximum power will want the GTX 295, for many people the GTX 285 is going to be fine for the plain fact that most users don’t have the monitor to really make use of such a powerful graphics card.
We’ve always been pretty happy with the GTX 285; it costs a good chunk less than the GTX 295 and still offers some serious performance, which for most people is more than they need.”
For more information, please visit - http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/2786/asus_geforce_gtx_285_1gb_graphics_card/index.html
=============
The Razer Carcharias Headset is the latest addition to Razer’s line up of audio devices for gamers. How do they sound? Keep reading to find out!
http://techarkade.com/component/content/article/42-peripherals/252-razer-carcharias-headset.html
==============
We have posted a new article, ‘Creative EP-430 Earphones’
The Article can be viewed at
http://www.tbreak.com/2009/06/creative-ep-430-earphones/
==============
===============
“MSI should be applauded for bringing Intel’s X58 chipset to the masses at a sub-£150 price point. Sure there are full-size motherboards that offer better performance and overclocking features, but for mainstream users building a MicroATX-based machine the X58M is fantastic value. The motherboard offers an almost perfect balance of features and performance, and would make a great choice for a high performance small form factor multimedia (HTPC) or gaming system. Zotac’s GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi impressed me a couple of months ago, but it is restricted to Intel’s legacy LGA775 socket and DDR2 memory. If you want a bleeding-edge MicroATX motherboard at an amazing price, the X58M is a no brainer.â€
http://itreviewed.net/index.php/msi-x58m/
==============
Title: BFG LS-450 Power Supply Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/732
Category: Reviews
Summary:
We reviewed this entry-level 450 W power supply from BFG. Let’s see whether it is a good product or not.
Here is a snippet:
“LS and MX are sister power supply series from BFG, with models from MX series coming with a modular cabling system, a 120-mm fan and an auxiliary 80-mm fan on the rear, while models from LS series use a 135-mm fan and no modular cabling system or second fan. Initially both series used the same internal design, however this is not entirely true anymore. All models from MX series are manufactured by Fore Point (one of the factories from Fortrex), but LS-450 and the new version of LS-550 (marked as “LS-550 (New)” on their website, being the model currently available on Newegg.com) are manufactured by Enhance Electronics. The old LS-550 and LS-680 are manufactured by Fore Point with the same design as models from MX series. According to BFG they will move all models from MX and LS to Enhance in the future, and when this happens units will be either released with new wattages (e.g. LS-700 instead of LS-680) or will have the name “New” added to their name.”
===============
Pure Digital Technologies recently announced two new products in its pocket camcorder lineup: the Flip UltraHD (MSRP: $199.99) and the Flip Ultra (MSRP: $149.99). Both models build upon the existing Flip Ultra line by offering new features, such as two-hours of recording time and increasing the LCD size to 2.0-inches (diagonal). The Flip UltraHD also offers high-definition (HD) video recording (1280×720) and an HDMI Mini TV-out port. We spent some hands-on time with the Flip UltraHD to evaluate its capabilities. Come on by the site and check it out…
Flip UltraHD Pocket Camcorder Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Flip-UltraHD-Pocket-Camcorder/
=================
Title: Cougar Power 400WÂ PSU Review on Technic3D
Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-875,1-cougar-power-400w-netzteile-fuer-den-office-pc-teil-4.htm
Quote: “The Cougar Power 400W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSUs with two +12V rail (20A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 4x SATA hard disk connectors and 1x PCI-e 6-Pin.”
==============
Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: BFG EX-1200 (1200W) Modular PSU.
Quote: BFG sure know a thing or two about making graphics cards, but how does their latest 1200w power supply cope under the strain of the OC3D load tester.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/power_supply/bfg_ex-1200_1200w_modular_psu/1
==============
Other features include a “hydrodynamically” supported 120mm fan for cooling, as well as a backlit blue Tagan logo which is unique to Tagan. When the PSU is active, the blue Tagan logo lights up like a Christams tree, making it look rather sexy. There’s also a “hydrodynamically” supported 120mm fan for cooling, as well as . For extra durability and reilability, the Piperock II 680W uses high quality Japanese branded capacitors in its construction.
As far as connectivity is concerned, the Piperock II 680W has a total of 9 x SATA power connectors (3×3), 3 x 4-pin Molex and 1 x FDD as well as 2 x PCIe (6-pin and 6+2-pin). All of the above features should more than enough to satisfy most mainstream users … but the question is whether it can capture the audience in an already saturated market?
Read the rest of the review here … http://www.cpu3d.com/review/7834-9/tagan-piperock-ii-680w-psu/verdict-and-conclusion.html
==============
DeepCool Ice Blade Pro Heatsink Review
“DeepCool’s IceBlade Pro heatsink is Xigmatek-esq looking exposed heatpipe base CPU cooler with a dark nickel plating over every inch. The IceBlade Pro is built around four 8mm diameter copper heatpipes which conduct heat to the aluminum cooling fins above. Exposed heatpipe heatsinks are good with CPUs that have large integrated heat spreaders and large silicon die’s below (to spread the heat around). One or two 120mm fans can be mounted to either side of the cooler, and rubber vibration absorbing posts are supplied along with extra fan clips. A single 120mm PWM fan that operates at 900-1500RPM is supplied.”
URL: http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2405
QUICK-LINK: DeepCool Ice Blade Pro Heatsink Review @ frostytech.com
=================
TITLE: Silverstone LC10B-E HTPC Case @ Benchmark Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Home Theater PCs continue to gain popularity, particularly as more television networks are pushing their content over the web. They’re also a great platform for gaming, watching Blu-Ray movies, running a custom DVR, and centralizing media storage. For some of these tasks, a low-power Atom system might be sufficient, but for gaming and processing high definition content, most consumers will want a little more horsepower. That’s where a quality HTPC chassis can make a big difference. With room for full-size ATX components, seven hard drives, and five fans, the SilverStone LC10B-E that Benchmark Reviews is covering today should fit the bill.
ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=61
===============
TechwareLabs has published a review of the Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz Nehalem Processor. Here’s a clip from the review:
Quote: Looking to get the best bang for your buck when building that new computer? You might want to take a look at the newest line-up of processors from Intel, the Core i7. Join Artiom B. and Christopher S. as TechwareLabs shows us what this processor is really capable of doing. Will this Processor live up to our expectations? Join us as we drop it into a test rig and take a look…
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/intel-core-i7-920/
Title: TechwareLabs Reviews the Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz Nehalem Processor
================
Date: 06-09-2009Â By Vlad Mihaiescu
When I asked myself that particular question I was still installing The Sims 3. At that time, the only look I gave the user’s manual was reading the serial key. Once the game was installed and I started playing I realized that EA got me hooked. I only wonder how many dollars I’m gonna end up spending on expansion packs for The Sims 3. My guess is a lot. Already, moments after its release, The Sims 3 web-store is up and kicking with a multitude of extras ready for you to download. Let’s face it, this game is fun, this game is addictive, this game will cost you way more than 50 bucks in the long run; especially once the addiction really kicks in. I don’t know how The Sims 3 did in your neighborhood on release day, but here in Florida where I live, The Sims 3 was sold out within a 50 mile radius by lunch time.
Link: http://www.gamepyre.com/reviews/games/pc/1117_1.html
===============
| Cooler Master Sileo 500 Case Review |
Author: Ben Sun Date: 06-09-2009
The Sileo 500 case is an exciting example of an inexpensive case that distinguishes itself from other cases in a few ways. First is the silent operation. Everything from the padded insulation on the sides, top, and bottom of the case is designed for quiet operation. The HDDs are installed via anti-vibration drive rails which reduce noise as well. Cooler Master has this case on sale on the market for under $60, making it a good bargain as you also get a 500W PSU included with the bundle. This case is a solid value for the user wanting good features on a silent case and it delivers it in spades.
Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/1904_1.html
================
We have just posted up a review of second Cryo Notebook Cooler to come from NZXT. The Cryo S is smaller, lighter and still has adjustable fan speed as well as a couple of USB ports to keep you plugged in and happy. It doesn’t provide the best cooling we’ve ever seen, but it’s not a bad choice either. Take a look at our review for all the details.
Title: NZXT Cryo S Notebook Cooler
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7233&Itemid=40
===============
NEW CONTENT (Storage) – IN WIN Ammo 2.5 inch SATA HDD Enclosure with RFID – Full Video Review
QUOTE: “In our first ever full video review, today we take a close look at IN WIN’s Ammo 2.5 inch external SATA HDD enclosure, which comes with RFID hardware data security. Watch the video for the full review.”
For more information, please visit - http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/2785/in_win_ammo_2_5_inch_sata_hdd_enclosure_with_rfid_full_video_review/index.html
==============
So Harmonix, MTV Games, EA, and Backbone got together to create a game for those who didn’t want to flick their screen with a stylus and finger an attachable keypad. I have a few things to say about the lack of attachments on PSPs, but I’ll come back to that later. So out comes what could be the coolest PSP port since God Of War. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you RockBand Unplugged. And let me tell you, they had a few tricks up their sleeves when it came to making this as addictive as the original.
Review URL ::
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1589
================
Title: Â The most powerful gaming laptop ever: Alienware M17x
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/141
Category: Blog
Here is a snippet:
“Alienware, now part of Dell, is a company focused on high-end gaming systems and last week they released what they are calling “the most powerful 17″ gaming laptop in the universe”. And they are not kidding: this laptop features three graphics processing units, a feature not found even on most desktops. ”
============
Title: Will the USD 299 Netbook Fly?
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/140
Category: Blog
Here is a snippet:
“A company called Always Innovating is promising in the past couple of months the release of a netbook with detachable keyboard and 10 to 15 hours of battery life for only USD 299. What is the catch?”
==============
CM Storm Scout Case:
Link: http://www.rbmods.com/content/9741/cm-storm-scout-case.aspx
Quote: CM a sister company to Coolermaster keeps releasing alot of products at the moment, we have reviewed their Sniper Case earlier which proved to be a really cool mid class case. This new Storm doesn´t look any worse than the Sniper, it actually got a couple of features that the Sniper was lacking, so let´s take a look.
=============
TITLE: Cooler Master Hyper TX-3 @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Running a expensive high end heatsink like the v10 or even the v8 is not feasible for everyone due to space or financial reasons. Also as crazy as it seems to me most people aren’t looking for the most extreme cooling solution, some are only looking for an improvement over stock cooling. Cooler Master has recognizes this and has recently released the TX-3 CPU cooler for that market. Today I will be taking a closer look at the TX-3 to see how well it compares to other heatsinks that we have tested in the past along with if it fits the needs of the entry level market that it is designed for.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/reviews/cooler-master-hyper-tx-3/
