HyTek Computer - News Archive: May 2001

Sante Fe Midtower @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 1:01 PM EST

"Before we continue on into the review, I would like to point out a couple of things. First off, Kool Cases has the absolute BEST service I have yet to encounter with any company. I emailed them and within a few hours I had a reply. We exchanged emails several times, and all of them were prompt and detailed. Then, to top it off, Ed (the owner), even offered to drive the case to me! Nonetheless, I was impressed, and I must say that from now on, I will be ordering my customers cases from him, and him only! WOW! I wish all companies were so well based upon customer satisfaction…"

Nikao Cube Tower Review @ Monkeyreview
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:58 PM EST

Okay Nikao, you guys impressed me this time around. Although I had never heard of the company before the review, I can now safely say that if these guys continue the way they have thus far, we can expect some great things in the future. After looking at their site, I noticed all the towers are steel based. I think if they decide to go with aluminum we’ll see them popping up more and more in the den of modders. If you’re looking for a tower with some nice features to work with, and you have the time to do a few mods, this will be the guy for you.

Corsair 256meg XMS3200 DDR Memory Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:56 PM EST

"Overall if you are looking to upgrade or if you are looking to purchase memory now I would definitly suggest spending a bit more and purchasing pc3200 like Corsair's XMS3200. Not only will it be usable on the kt400 motherboard but the heatspreaders keep it running cool and you should be able to overclock a bit further making pc3200 a very good investement choice."

GeIL PC3500 DDR Memory Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:54 PM EST

"Also, one of the largest barriers I have encountered wasn't maxing out my processor speed, it was not being able to run my memory faster. Typically there have been two reasons for this: one, the memory simply wouldn't run any faster; or two, the motherboard couldn't push the memory higher. To solve the first problem, GeIL has released 256 megabyte and 512 megabyte sticks of PC3500 RAM. PC3500 RAM is rated to run on a 216.666 megahertz memory bus or 433 megahertz DDR. That's over 100 megahertz higher than any JEDEC certified RAM!"

Hercules XPS 510 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System @ Tweaknews
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:44 PM EST

"I would have to say that I am quite picky about the sound and clarity of my music. I love having strong bass kicks complimented with the clash of a treble tweet. Deep, crisp sound is what I am after, nothing less. Does the XPS 510 system have what it takes to please me, well read on my friend....."

Epox 8K5A3+ Motherboard (Socket 462) Video Review #207 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:42 PM EST

"The 8K5A3+ is yet again another quality product from Epox with great stability and performance. This board is full featured with RAID (HTP 374), onboard audio, NIC, USB2, etc. and it also has great overclocking skills!"

Zalman CNPS6000-Cu Socket A & Socket 370 cooler Review @ Active-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:39 PM EST

The first thing that you will note when you put your hands on the CNPS6000-cu, is its weight. The heatsink alone weights 462g (exceeding in 162g the specification from AMD, and 282g the specification from Intel). This situation has a good side and a bad (or at least, dangerous) side. With more metal to dissipate the heat from the CPU, you will lower its temperature, but by being so heavy, you will have to be extra-extra careful when you move your computer.

Epox 4BEAV With Bluetooth @ Techware Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:33 PM EST

"Technology is always evolving. EPoX, a long time maker of motherboards also has ventures into the communications sector. Today, they release their first motherboard that implements Bluetooth wireless technology: the EP-4BEAV, or "beaver" as EPoX likes to call it. The 4BEAV is based on the Intel 845D, but is optimized to support Intel's latest 533 MHz FSB Pentium 4s. The complementing Bluetooth header revolutionizes the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections; enabling links between mobile computers, mobile phones, portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet."

Lux Design Rheobus v2.0 Kit Review @ VH
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:32 PM EST

"For the overclocker and case modder, fan noise is nothing new. This is the price that must be paid when one wants to obtain maximum cooling for their computer hardware. To overcome this, the fanbus/baybus was invented, to not only centralize fan wiring within the inside of a PC, but also to lower noise by allowing fans to be turned off when extra cooling was not needed. One probably doesn't need a >100CFM fan running while just listening to MP3s, and the noise from such a fan would probably detract from the musical experience. Soon, rheostats began to be used for fan control, as they were able to provide a variable resistor in the circuit that effectively was able to control fan speed, so instead of just being have on/off control, one could regulate the fan's speed with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The downside was that rheostats had a maximum wattage as the resistance generated heat, and higher-wattage rheostats could get very expensive, so the number of fans that could be controlled by each rheostat was limited. Soon, those with a thoughtful mind came up with the idea of using voltage regulators to control fan speed, as with a proper heatsink mounted to it, these could support a higher load."

Jaton 3DForce Xabre400-64Q Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:29 PM EST

"After using this card for a few days, I must say that I am very happy with it. I did not experience the same problems I did when I reviewed the SiS 315 graphics card late last year. SiS is showing that they want to have a piece of the video graphics market and have brought a great performing chipset to the market. As for Jaton, they have made a top notch board that has no flaws in workmanship, overall a great quality video card."

Cooler Master ATC-101-SX2 case review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:27 PM EST

There is no question about it, I love this case and there are many reasons to love it. This is an awesome case because not only is it made out of aluminum and looks really cool but it has so many great features. I cant say how nice it is to finally review a case which has a removable motherboard tray because I love these things. This case has front USB, it comes with 3 good fans and all of the cutouts are really good. I also love that Cooler Master spent the few extra bucks so that thumbscrews would be provided because they make everything so much easier and faster. There are a lot of spaces for hard drives and there are no sharp edges on any part of the case which is really nice because when you are installing those hard drives you won't have to bleed on them. I also really like the blue LEDs on the case they compliment it so well and are so much better than the normal colors. The only negative aspect to this case is the high price tag on it, if you want to pick this case up its going to cost you about $300 but let me tell you it is worth every penny if you are looking for a really good case.

Shattered Web Appliqués Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:17 PM EST

After you're through rubbing (theoretically from the center outwards, but it doesn't really matter) it's time to peel the backing piece off. At first I was a bit frightened since the backing is incredibly sticky itself. Apparently, the image uses superglue or something of that nature, since I don't see how something can be stickier than that. An interesting note: the backing isn't a flat adhesive. Instead, it has a small circle/grid pattern (too miniscule to tell the difference), allowing for water and air to be trapped in-between those gaps. In other words, it helps get those bubbles out. And it also smells really bad.

3D Stereo Review - Elsa vs. eDimensional @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at 12:04 PM EST

Today I will be reviewing the Elsa Wireless Revelators and the eDimensional E-D Wireless Glasses. Both glasses are based on Stereo Vision, which has been around for a long time. The basic idea behind stereo vision is to mimic what you see in real space, but on a two dimensional surface. Many people have gone into great detail on how this works, so I will save you the bandwidth and just get to how the glasses work.

First though, I am going to give you an example of how they look. Yeas, that is right, I am going to SHOW you what it looks like to see in stereo…

Spire 5E32B3 CPU Cooler Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:15 AM EST

"The heatsink is an all aluminium design, with 18 cast fins that slowly peak at the middle to incorporate the bulk of the design. The two outer fins act as a partial shroud and mounting mechanism for the fan. While the inner fins are polished smooth for maximum thermal transfer, the outer fins have a grooved outer edge to increate overall surface area. A canal runs down the center of the heat sink to accommodate a standard single clip used to secure it to the socket."

Further letters! @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:11 AM EST

This one covers a disc error that's probably nothing of the sort, the gear you need to overclock your PC, the trials and tribulations of wasting time on more than one screen at once, how to bludgeon Win2000's startup into shape, what the heck monitor degaussing is actually all about, and why a hard drive with several heads can't be a one-box RAID array.

AGP Aperture Size Examined @ Tweak3D
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:10 AM EST

I just posted an article I co-wrote on AGP Aperture Size. It's not super technical or 5000 words, but it does explain what this often misunderstood setting is really all about. We explained how it works, tested some settings out, and offered recommendations on how to configure it for performance and compatibility using current video cards.

Slipstreaming Office XP Service Pack 2 @ ViperLair
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:07 AM EST

Well, wouldn't you know it? Within a week of updating the guide, Microsoft went ahead and released Service Pack 2. If you've already been through this guide before, and would like instructions on installing SP2, read on.

"If you have not installed SP1, no need to worry as SP2 contains ALL previous fixes and service packs. You will have to download the Administrative Update, which weighs in at a hefty 50MB. If you've already slipstreamed SP1, don't worry, you can slipstream SP2 into the SP1 installation."

Uncharted Territory : VIA KT400 with DDR-400 Memory @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:06 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've put together an interesting look at the first VIA KT400 motherboard platform to hit the market, Gigabyte's GA-7VAXP. Despite VIA dropping DDR-400 memory support from their official KT400 chipset specification, Gigabyte has certified this board to be functional with this new high speed DDR memory. We've done some tests against other popular Athlon XP platforms, and found some interesting results across the board.

Sunbeam CC Kits Review @ VH!
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:04 AM EST

"I've seen alot of cold cathode kits in my time and the Sunbeam Tech kits are on the very top of the list that I've seen up to this point. They've done their homework on what makes a great kit, and when you do your homework, it pays off in a big way. This kits not perfect, but it's damn close. I think one of the best features about it is the striped acrylic casing. It just does so much for the overall look of the kit and also to hide the bulb and wire inside. I'd have to say it's the most professional looking kit I've yet to review. It came very neatly boxed with a good bit or wire between the inverter and the molex for it to install fine for just about anyone. The great thing is, I think this is just the beginning of what we're gonna see from Sunbeam Tech down the road."

Intel P4 2.8 Review @ The Tech Zone
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:03 AM EST

AMD introduces the XP2600+, Intel strikes back with the new P4 2.8Ghz processor and restore Intel's spot as the fastest CPU maker. The Tech Zone takes the new 2,800Mhz processor for a spin around the lab and tries to overclock it to 3+Ghz as well.

Hip Top by Danger products Review @ Designtechnica
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 7:02 AM EST

"It's a PDA. Address book, calendar, notepad, to-do list, address book, camera yeah. AOL Instant messenger, web browser, and email is where this gets interesting. Using the GSM/GRPS network, you can check the news, chat with friends, and send email."

The Akasa Ak-824 Heatsink (Review) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 12:56 AM EST

"With the knowledge that I would soon come into possession of this little beauty, I did what all good cooling nuts do; I went surfing for a review. Easy enough, you say? Well...yes and no. I did find one, Akasa, only one, in English. Babblefished, of course. They had a very nice picture, which I used here since I don't have a digital camera (thank you dark-tweaker), but the text, for me, was lacking. Also, the link to the MBM results wasn't working. So, all I was left with was something about 47 degrees. I think? What to do? Write my own, of course. I want to state from the outset that this is in no way a professional review/guide, as if you couldn't tell. It is my own observations from the perspective of a virtual beginner to the world of cooling. It is meant for someone who is interested in making some changes to their cooling system but hesitant to fry that Athlon."

Chyang Fun CF-S868 Thunderbolt Small Form Factor PC @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 12:52 AM EST

Our boy Marco "BigWop" Chiappetta checks in tonight and poses the age old question, "does size really matter"? It certainly does if you're thinking about LAN Gaming, portability or office space. The Chyang Fun CF-S868 Thunderbolt Small Form Factor PC is on our bench tonight and it's packing an AGP slot to boot.

Mitsumi ECM-S6102 Black Optical Mouse Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 30, 2002 at 12:48 AM EST

The first thing that jumped out at me was that sorry excuse for a wheel. Turns out this is one of those three-button mice, where the "wheel" is a button you hold up to scroll up, down to scroll down, and depress to activate/deactivate the Windows scroll feature. To me, this is the worst "feature" of the mouse. While it isn't widely used in games (although sniper zooming, inventory scrolling and up/down looking come to mind), it is a valuable thing to have. And of course it really got to me where I spend most of my computer time: Mikhailtech. I for one like to have the ability to scroll fast or scroll slow, without having to press any buttons or hold down that dinky stub and wait for it to accelerate to a slightly faster than crawling pace.

TweakMonster BGA Ramsink Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 9:06 PM EST

"They come in those plastic and cardboard packages like batteries. As you can see, these are GENUINE Tweakmonster Ramsinks, not "wanna be" immitations that we've seen floating around the net. A set of 8 is needed to do one video card, and they come in packages of 4, so when you purchase them, expect 2 packages. No form of thermal pad or frag tape is included with purchase. Make no mistake, these are designed for the hardcore overclocker and crazy modders out there who are expected to have some form of thermal adhesive at hand."

Bitspower 12" Triple Colour Cold Cathode Kit Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 9:04 PM EST

"The opposite end of the 12v inverter includes a red wire (12v) and black wire (ground), which is connected to a two position momentary switch. The momentary switch can be mounted in the front or rear of a case or conveniently installed into a 3.5" or 5.25" drive bay. In our first review of the 12" Green Cold Cathode Kit, MTB noted that the connections for the 12v (red) and ground (black) were soldered directly to the switch and covered with black heat shrink tubing. I imagined that this issue would be addressed in the latest cold cathode kit model but this still remains a major flaw for this product."

ATI RADEON 9000 Pro 64MB Video Card Video Review #206 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 9:02 PM EST

"The ATI Radeon 9000 Pro Video Card makes it affordable for anyone to own a 3D great gaming card with that standard ATI 2D quality. Considering the fact that this is a true budget card it's performs surprisingly well and is almost on par with the Radeon 8500/Ti4200 Video Card."

Cool Neon Clear Blacklight Paint Review @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 9:00 PM EST

"The top is a very nice color of blue which you can’t see in the photo, and the bottom is a very bright neon green. The picture just doesn’t do the paint job justice. I tried again and managed to capture the detail a little better but still the blue didn’t show up. Before I touched it up you could not read the small print. Now it’s easily readable."

Chaintech 7AJA2E motherboard review @ Ripnet-UK
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 8:58 PM EST

Although most of us would like one of the latest mega-fast CPUs at the heart of our systems, unfortunately economics tends to get in the way - and to be realistic something like a 1GHz processor is going to up to the majority of day-to-day tasks that we can throw at it.

And that's where something like the Chaintech 7AJA comes into its own. Some tweakability, capable of handling a powerful CPU and up to 1.5GB of RAM (!), just as importantly it's a very stable board.

CPU Cooler Snap Judgement Guide! @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 8:57 PM EST

In the course of reviewing a hojillion zillion CPU coolers, I've learned some stuff about what makes a good one. Well, I _think_ I've learned some stuff, anyway. I have written down what I think I've learned, and titled it The CPU Cooler Snap Judgement Guide.

Samsung SPL4225 42" Display Review @ iamnotageek
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 8:55 PM EST

“Although the SPL4225 is listed as a Plasma TV on the Samsung Canada website, it really isn't, it is a display. The reason I say it is not a TV, even thought it is meant to watch television on, is because it does not have a TV tuner in it. You can not just hook up your cable or antenna and start watching. You have to hook up a cable box to watch TV. This actually makes sense, because with a "Display" like this you aren't going to want to use basic cable, your going to want to hook up a digital cable or satellite box.”

Updated/Improved 3D Dictionary @ Tweak3D
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 8:51 PM EST

I have spent several days updating Tweak3D's big 3D Dictionary. This is the first update to the dictionary since January 2000, so it's a big one. The dictionary screams "Hey newbies!", but it's also handy for others trying to figure out what some marketing buzzwords mean, or just refresh their memory on some older terms.

I added around 50 definitions to the dictionary this week, and re-worded/updated another 50 or so.

Kingston EPOC Memory Technology INTERVIEW @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:57 PM EST

4. Are there any performance benefits in terms of stability, reliability and speed?

(Comparing the Kingston EPOC technology to stacked-chip module designs): EPOC technology ensures better thermal performance by keeping the rows of memory chips independently connected to the PCB and without chip layer interconnects. The air channel that separates the two rows of chips aids in cooling the memory chips; the memory chip rows and their independent bonding to the PCB also conducts heat away from each chip through the leads (TSOP) or the solder balls (MicroBGA) and into the PCB. The improved thermals result in better stability and reliability. In terms of electrical performance, the EPOC DIMMs meet the electrical interface timings specified by the memory controller's manufacturer. Shorter leads, reduced signal length and lower capacitance loading have also indicated improved performance.

Nexland ISB Pro800 @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:50 PM EST

"So how did the Nexland ISB Pro800 take to the ALL NIGHT Halo Action? It loved it! It was born for LANing! HALO didn't lag once, not a person in the room mentioned a lag during the mayhem. I used an 8 port 100Mbps Full Duplex switch before with the Xbox's and every now and then the game would lag and take a couple of seconds to resync. The ISB also didn't get too hot, it was warm but nothing worth worrying about."

ThermalTake Volcano 9 Review @ X-Treme PC TECH
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:49 PM EST

"Well after reviewing the ThermalTake Volcano 7+ I was wondering how ThermalTake could possible top the V7+. Well after seeing on ThermalTake's website that they released the Volcano 9 I knew I had to check it out. Well after contacting our good pal Weller he said sure and sent out the V9 and I got it the next day, thats some quick service! Now on to the main reason your reading this.... the review!"

CPU Upgrade: Do you really need it? @ ViperLair
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:48 PM EST

"I'll admit, when I saw the benchmarks, I wanted the chips, but in truth, economics are a factor. Contrary to popular belief, not all webmasters get everything for free. Yessir, I'm a commoner, just like most people, and if I want something, it's going to come out of my pocket. Don't get me wrong, if I could, I'd buy every new thing that gets released everyday, but when you got a family to care for and bills to pay, I could probably do without the $500 "Butt Massager Chair"."

Enermax CSX305ILS Case Review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:47 PM EST

Enermax is probably best known for their power supplies but lately they have been expanding into other areas of computers. They have started selling some really cool cases and are moving more to the case modding section of cases rather than the plain old boring beige boxes. This case comes in either black or aluminum silver, it is made out of 0.77mm Japanese SGCC steel, has 7 expansion slots, and comes with a P4 Power Up 350W power supply. It comes with a lot of really nice features which include front access USB 2.0 & mic and headphones input, 5" sound sensitive blue neon light, Enermax logo side window, power button illuminate (Blue), light blue acrylic front cover over aluminum layer.

EPoX EVAP Tablet PC Device Review @ Hardware Extreme
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:44 PM EST

"The EVAP, (Electronic Virtual Access Portal TM), is a tablet PC that has been targeted for use in settings where normal computers or tablets will not be able to function. The EVAP is designed to withstand limited amounts of shock, water resistance, unintentional roughness and other environmental hazards during its use for all emergency and hospital uses."

"EVAP is built up on a tablet PC design, but it has a huge infrastructure behind the tablet to run this product efficiently. This tablet PC serves as a clipboard because it is similar in size to current clipboards and also lightweight. The EVAP incorporates a large touch screen to clearly display the Graphical User Interface; and unlike most hand-held PDA devices, emergency personnel will not frustrate by tapping on an ultra small screen during nerve-racking emergencies."

Sigma REALmagic X-card review @ TechSpot
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:42 PM EST

Many years ago when Sigma released the Hollywood Plus, it was considered a great piece of hardware, allowing everyone to play VCDs/DVDs & MPEG1/2 on just about any system that could run Windows, however since then, we have all moved on.

The REALmagic X-card from Sigma Designs is their latest attempt to show us all why a hardware decoder is still the best choice; whether it's DVD, VCD, DivX or even audio output via S/PDIF, the X-card is supposed to put all that in your fingertips. Read on to find out more.

My SoundStudio review @ PC PowerZone
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:40 PM EST

Computers are nowadays becoming more of an entertainment tool then just for work, study and games. Ever since Mp3 made a hit, more and more people have started using their PC's for listening to music and now for watching movies. Today we have the review of Stomp MySoundStudio. My Sound Studio is an audio file editor which lets you edit your music by adding filters to remove noise, customize volume levels and trim silence etc.

PRISM case review @ PC PowerZone
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:24 PM EST

On each side panel we have a huge grey plastic protrusion. This is the cover for the ventilation holes and has High Function Ventilation system written around it. The practicalities if this are obvious - on the panel itself is the holes for fitting an 80mm exhaust fan and the cover looks designed to facilitate the outflow of air.

Shattered Web Appliqués Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:23 PM EST

We have all seen them, and thought “Wow! That looks really nice” but not known where to purchase or get one? Shattered Web are an American based company, they specify in appliqués for mostly computer surfaces. They offer an online store and they ship to almost everywhere in the world within no time at all. Today we take a look at three appliqués from Shattered Web the Punisher, Alien & Runner

World's First Abit IT7-MAX2 Motherboard Review @ The Tech Zone
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:21 PM EST

Look! It's the return of the PS/2 connectors! Those who refused to buy an IT7-MAX because they would have to get a new mouse and keyboard can rest easy because your old legacy keyboard and mouse will work with the IT7-MAX2. The same can not be said of a parallel printer however. In addition to the PS/2 ports the IT7-MAX2 has connections for 10 USB 2.0 ports, 3 Firewire ports, six channel sound and 10/100 NIC. Makes you wonder if you'll be putting anything in those four PCI slots.

Compex DSR2216 16-Port Switch Review @ techwarelabs
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:20 PM EST

"With networks springing up everywhere from homes to schools to workplaces and everywhere in between, affordable, scalable, and cutting-edge networking technology is no longer being sought by only large corporations. While most homes don't still don't have a need for much more than a router, a small hub or two, and possibly a print server, it's not at all uncommon for small offices, home offices (SOHO), or branches of large corporations to require a networking solution meeting certain criteria. Room for growth, a fair amount of ports, good performance, and some level of configuration are common demands for a network and its components."

Lian-Li Front Bezel Face Plates (Review) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:18 PM EST

"Over the years, we've answered tons of questions dealing with creating an above average cooling environment to properly control the ever-increasing heat from newer CPUs, memory, hard drives, and video cards, plus assorted devices.

We decided to commission Andrew Smith of www.designcomp.com to modify a Lian-Li PC-86 aluminum case to our specifications, based on all we've learned about system cooling and airflow over the past few years.

In Part 1 of our study we'll show you the physical modifications made to the Lian-Li PC-86 and answer many questions along the way, the first being why we choose the Lian-Li aluminum case over say, a Cooler Master ATC-201 that is well-known for its cooling ability and a favorite of yours truly. The answer is simply that only the Lian-Li case allows room for two vertical exhaust fans on the rear panel of the case."

Cooler Master ATC-710-SX2 Case Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:15 PM EST

Since the front panel is silver colored, thus making the case an ATC-710-SX2, I thought the rest of the case would match, but I was wrong, the case is dark gray. This silver/dark gray combination looks very cool, like a combination between the SX2 and GX2 and I am curious how the GX2 is. Unfortunately, unlike all other Cooler Master cases, the ATC-710 is not entirely made out of aluminum. This is a big surprise for most enthusiasts, because after being used to Cooler Master's great tradition of releasing the best aluminum cases, the ATC-710 is a bit disappointing.

Apycom Software's Menu Applets Review @ GeekExtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:11 PM EST

"Apycom Software's Menu Applets is our focus today. They were kind enough to send along all 8 applets for us to tinker with. Each and every one of them is fully customizable, so you're not locked into a specific look, allowing you to bend and twist them to work with your site."

MagicCard (recovery system technology) Video Review #205 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:08 PM EST

"The MagicCard is one product that can save both time and money whether you are a company or an individual. Restoring computer systems back to their initial working configuration within minute's is a godsend!"

LM 317 Based 4-way BayBus @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:06 PM EST

"This How-To describes how to make a 4-Way fan controller which will control the speed of 4 individual case fans, and have a LED indicate their speed by its brightness...."

Zalman Heatsinks Put To The Test @ ReviewSource
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 7:04 PM EST

When you think about a heatsink you think of a standard cube shape with a basic 60MM fan attached to it, right? Well, the designers and Zalman took a new look at cooling, and developed this new design! The fan hovers right above the heatsink, let's see how it performs!

More toys! @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 10:02 PM EST

An awful lot of people, today, seem to have been putting up reviews of the 2.8GHz P4. Me, I've been reviewing a gun that "Flings Bugs With Super Catapult Action", plus a couple of other fine low-cost goofing-off devices. The question of who's having the most fun at work at the moment is one that I'll leave to the reader.

Stomp Inc MySoundStudio Review @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 10:00 PM EST

"When you first open MSS, you see one window and two controls: the multi-track window, the Controller and the Mixer Control. All three entities can be moved about the screen or removed from the screen. The capability to move, remove or minimize the Mixer is a good thing because I felt it kept getting in my way and I often found myself shuffling it about the screen, or minimizing it. This is what these guys look like (this first display is the multi-track window):"

7volt fan modding article @ phlux
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:58 PM EST

"The way it works is a switch changes where the electricity for the fan goes once it has passed through the fan itself, It can switch between going down the 0 volts route, or the 5 volts route. If the 12v goes down 0v the voltage over the fan is 12v, however when it goes down the 5v line the 12v has 5v 'pushing' against it which brings it down to the required 7v. It is like taking 5 from 12, its just simple maths."

4-way Gamer Fuel Shoot-out @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:57 PM EST

“It is 2:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. You have been up all night, fragging away in a Quake3 clan match. Your early morning schedule wore you out and you never had time to take a nap. The server is resetting between games, and you are starting to get a little sleepy-eyed. Milk is not going to do one bit of good and regular Coke or Pepsi are too run of the mill. The last thing that will keep you awake and at the top of your game is some pansy sports drink. What do you reach for?

MSI KT3 Ultra2-BR Review @ MBReview
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:51 PM EST

"Micro-Star International, better known as simply MSI, is a manufacturer whom has become known for several things. MSI is best known for producing high quality, high performance, cost effective, and incredibly stable motherboards. They are also known for their use of bright red PCB’s for their line of mainboards. Another item that makes MSI stick out from the crowd is their inclusion of “PC2PC Bluetooth” in their mainboard packages. If you remember a while back, Bluetooth was, and still somewhat is one of the most hyped items in the computer industry. As of now, MSI is the only motherboard manufacturer to bring Bluetooth technology to their line of products; however other mainboard manufacturers such as EPoX have also begun to announce motherboards with Bluetooth support. Today, we’ll be taking a look at MSI’s latest KT333 solution for AMD based systems, which offers Bluetooth support among many other features."

Samsung Syncmaster 151v 15" LCD Review @ GideonTech
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:50 PM EST

"The back of the unit allows for minimal adjustment. With LCD monitors, some people like having the ability to rotate the screen 90 degrees. Then through the use of pivoting software, this allowed them to view legal documents and other items vertically. This unit does not have that, which I don't particularly mind since it was built around the idea of value."

Lian-Li PC7 aluminium case review @ Ripnet-UK
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:47 PM EST

"Over the last two years aluminium computer cases have moved from being the preserve of the hardcore enthusiast to becoming, if not quite mainstream, then certainly very widespread. This market growth has led to a number of companies producing their own take on what is the best, but one firm in particular has been consistently synonymous with high quality products - and that name is of course Lian-Li. They produce everything from high-end server housings down to 'budget' home PC cases. Today we're taking a look at the PC 7, which is firmly biased toward the budget end of the scale. This is almost identical to the Lian-Li PC 60...."

3 in 1 USB SD + MMC MobileDrive Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:46 PM EST

We have all seen USB Mobile Drives, the ones that appear to be key-like, with the ability to hold up to 256mb. They are a quick and easy way to transfer data from one machine to another without the use of floppy disks or burning a CD as long as your machine supports USB which most do. Today we have a look at the 3 in 1 MobileDrive from MultieMedia, this not only has the ability of being a USB storage device, but also supports mobile mail and to be able to read SD/MMC cards out of the box!

Tyan Trinity i845E S2099GNNR Motherboard Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:44 PM EST

If you think of Tyan you think of high quality dual processor motherboards mainly designed for the server market but they have been designing not only dual processor boards but single CPU boards as well packed with loads of features. Today we look at the S2099GNNR Socket 478 Motherboard from Tyan, a motherboard not only with onboard video, and RAID but also one of the world's first motherboards to feature Gigabit Ethernet integrated onto the same board!

Intel Pentium 4 2.80 Review @ hardcoreware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:42 PM EST

I hope AMD enjoyed their week on top, because Intel is shoving their ass right out of the way once again with an equally impressive speed bump in the Pentium 4 2.80 GHz.

While they haven't quite reached the benchmark speed of 3 GHz just yet (and we know they can at will), you'll see that the 2.80 doesn't fail to impress.

The Vantec Stealth 420W Aluminum PSU (Review) @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:39 PM EST

"Vantec's latest efforts in the power supply arena have brought a lot of attention to power-consumption questions. And let's face it; these days it's very important to use the right tools with today's processors. Overclocking inspired a lot of controversial statements about the amount of amperage available from various power supplies. I've seen a lot of discussions of performance, and I've seen many reviews in the past emphasizing the importance of having a "good" power supply, and they're all correct in that recommendation. My last PSU review, the Enermax Whisper 350W, showed a unit with much promise, but if you actually READ the review, then you'll also see that I was concerned about the amps available on the +5V and +12V lines, the most critical. Now, let's see what Vantec has to offer."

TDK VeloCD 40/12/48 Review @ The Tech Zone
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:36 PM EST

True to the TDK heritage of digital audio excellence, the 40/12/48 veloCD burner has bit-perfect 48x digital audio extraction. Ripping audio with a typical CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is often slow and inaccurate, and the process often contaminates files with audible clicks and pops. The veloCD 40/12/48 delivers a clean, pop-free rip every time. With 48x ripping and 40x writing, the veloCD burner is so fast it may be the only drive you need.

Intel Pentium 4 2.66 and 2.8 GHz @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:35 PM EST

Today at GamePC, we've given a through look at Intel's brand new 2.66 and 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 "Northwood" processors. With AMD accelerating their clock speeds, it's become quite clear that Intel has no intention of slowing down and letting AMD catch up. These two new chips allow Intel once again to hold the performance crown for consumer-level CPU's. We benchmark these new chips in a variety of scenarios against previous generation Pentium 4's and AMD's Athlon XP.

Pentium4 2.8GHz Review @ lostcircuits
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:34 PM EST

After the surprise launch of AMD's Athlon XP 2400 / 2600 last week, Intel counters with some new definitions in destop processor speed grades. Quantispeed or not, at 2.8GHz, the latest P4 is already dead serious but what happens if this beast is overclocked another roughly 10%? More than we can say in a single sentence, that's for sure.

UT2003 Preview @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:32 PM EST

"Of course the real star of any Unreal game is always going to be the remarkable UT engine. Unlike other engine developers, Epicdo not release the engine as a set of static versions but as a continuously evolving design. The engine today is simply a newer version of the engine that powered Unreal. The last Unreal Tournament patch left the engine at build 436. UT2003 should see the final version number in the 800s. Originally conceived with a strong emphasis on software rendering and 3dfx's Glide, current builds are optimised for Direct3D which in todays API market is the only sensible decision. With a reasonable gaming system in excess of about 700MHz with a Geforce 2 or higher video card we should see very playable framerates. With the top end systems that OC Addicts are rightly famed for the game should look simply amazing. To quote the official FAQ "it is likely that the minimum processor required will be a Pentium PIII 500 or equivalent."

Cold Cathode Review @ Techware Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:29 PM EST

"With the increasing popularity of LAN parties, from the neighborhood get-together to the world-wide convention of Quake-Con, it's hard to stand out from the crowd, even with a sleek black case that used to do the trick. A Cold Cathode can really help to give a case a defining look that can definately draw some positive attention. The Cold Cathode is a perfect accent to any case, but especially those with windows."

Intel 2.8GHz Pentium 4 Review @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:28 PM EST

Even though AMD officially launched their new Athlon XP 2600+ part last week, they are virtually impossible to get a hold of at this point in time. This "paper launch", as some of the media has coined it, seemed to be only a strategic marketing tactic, rather than officially opening the production volume flood gates for their new processor. Was it effective? Only time will tell. However, although you can't actually find an Athlon 2600+ on the net for sale just yet, you most certainly already can find a 2.8GHz Pentium 4.

2.8Ghz Intel Pentium 4 processor Review @ Active-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 26, 2002 at 9:25 PM EST

"Less than one week after the release of the AMD Athlon XP 2600+, and its performance victories over the 533MHz FSB 2.53GHz Intel Pentium 4, Intel has released a new chip: the 533MHz FSB 2.8GHz Pentium 4. Will this new CPU be enough to allow Intel to win back it's lost crown?"

Xoxide X300 Super Mid-Tower Case Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:40 PM EST

"Flawless. That's the only word I can think of to describe X300 Super-Mid Tower. It is doubtlessly the best looking case I've ever owned, and one of the best I've ever seen. Not just is it a feast for the eyes, however, as it is a well-built, friendly case, with ample cooling. I say "friendly" because the case seems to have been designed by folks who've actually worked inside a computer, unlike many I've struggled with. Every touch, from its shimmering face, to the smooth and shiny steel chassis, to the glowing, jewel-like power button, just reeks of quality…"

Atlas Mod Case review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:38 PM EST

“There’s a common misconception in this world, and it’s one where expensive items represent good quality, and items of high quality must in fact be expensive. Well, ‘smart shoppers’ will tell you otherwise – a good deal can be found if you perform a token amount of research and make an informed purchasing decision. With our next review, Pro Magic has a variety of Case models that combine both low cost and high quality features.”

GearGrip LCD Shield Harness Review @ X-Treme PC TECH
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:36 PM EST

"Well the other day I was surfing the web inbetween working on reviews and other things. Well, I decieded to see what CaseAce has been upto. When I went to their site I saw the GearGrip - LCD Shield Harness. I was thinking thats just what I need since I travel with my PC (he he he) and like to go to LANs. I talked to the guys @ CaseAce and they agree to send me one. So don't stop reading now its just getting good. =^)"

Lian Li PC-6087A Aluminum Case Review/Comparison @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:35 PM EST

The rear of both cases is identical. Everything is secured using thumbscrews which earns much cool points in my book. From the top down we have the removable PSU cover followed by the slide-out motherboard tray. On the left is a somewhat thin I/O panel that has enough holes to fit most motherboards. To the right is the 80mm exhaust fan behind a pretty restrictive fan grill cutout. Much like they pioneered the aluminum case market, Lian Li should promote the use of screw-on chrome grills on all their cases; they look nice, are removable (for cleaning, replacement, etc) and don't block so much airflow. Furthermore, shifting it up slightly (or making the case just a tad bit taller) in future revisions would allow for the use of a secondary exhaust fan, which would be quite helpful. The case comes with seven PCI tabs already in place; these too are held stationary by thumbscrews. Finally, there are three sets of holes to the right for venting; initially I thought of strapping some 40mm fans in there but the holes don't line up. One thing I should point out is how easy it is to stain polished (vs. brushed) aluminum. Notice the nasty grimy stuff on the right? Those are fingerprints and they're very difficult to remove. These are not visible on the brushed side, but in places where things are mirror smooth (and especially on the extra PCI tabs), they show up fairly well. I guess you could say it looks "rugged" ;p

Kingwin Mobile HDD Rack Review @ ReviewSource
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:31 PM EST

"Ever wanted to take your HDD out of you PC and move it to another? Kingwin has done it again, with their amazing aluminum IDE hard drive rack! Kingwin makes some of the best products in the business. They leave no exception to the all aluminum hard drive rack."

RecordNow Max 4.0 (Review) @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:29 PM EST

"Stomp Inc. has introduced recording software that does more than record onto a CD. RecordNow Max is one of Stomp Inc.'s finest pieces of software. Its features stand tall against Roxio's latest and greatest, and offer a few extra goodies compared to its rival.

When Steve, of Stomp Inc., asked me if I'd be interested in testing its newest version of RecordNow Max 4.0 I couldn't pass up the offer. Truly, RecordNow Max has a lot to offer the end-user, even those not comfortable recording CDs. The goal, of course, is to keep burning a CD from being hard or complicated, without sacrificing stability."

Launch of PlanetPrices.com
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:25 PM EST

Today marks the official launch of PlanetPrices.com, a computer hardware price comparison site focusing on overclocking and case modding equipment. The site features extensive search functionality, the option of viewing prices in various currencies and holds prices from retailers in – currently - 7 different countries (Australia, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, The United Kingdom and the United States). Sites such as PCMods, CPUtopia, Crucial, Memman, Chillblast, CoolCaseMods, The Overclocking Store, Komplett and many more – currently 34 sites - list their prices and more are to follow shortly.

MySoundStudio from Stomp Inc. Review @ GeekExtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:23 PM EST

"If you're in the market for a good, mid-level editing program with many advanced capabilities and features, then this program is for you. I find that the more I use it, the more I like the way it functions, and the speed with which it performs."

Bantam BA350 128MB MP3 Player Review @ OnePC
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:20 PM EST

"Interested in sticking a part of your digital music collection right in your pocket? The tiny Bantam BA350 MP3 player should do the trick. Find out if this player with 128MB of built-in memory and expandable storage capabilities can deliver."

P3 - P7030 Camera Detector (Review) @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:19 PM EST

"Privacy has become a scarce commodity around the world, violated in many different ways, especially against us innocent types. Just turn our heads and we're faced with a camera somewhere, not knowing who or what is behind its eye. Though security cameras have been put in place to protect the innocent, we often hear of innocents being violated in some way by the very technology put in place to spot bad guys. Spy-Cams, in particular have been used in a wide range of twisted ways. It seems they're meant to do more harm than good, and there's no shortage of sick or freaky potential users."

Crystal Clear Blue LED Fans Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:17 PM EST

The fan itself is a ball bearing model, which means extended life when compared to its sleeve bearing brethren. It is very quiet to my ear, much quieter than my Antec Blue LED fans which surprised me greatly. The two LEDs are mounted in the hub of the fan. The light from the LEDs is focused forward of the fan and each LED is very bright. The only negative of this is that the fan focuses almost no light to the rear.

After Dark BLACK ICEMAT Mousepad Review @ X-Treme PC TECH
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:14 PM EST

"Are you tired of cloth mousepads? Are you tired of your mousepad moving when you are doing some intense gaming? Does your mousepad look ugly? Well today I have a fairly new mousepad to review. It is the On Ice After Dark BLACK ICEMAT. Today I will show you why I think this is such a cool mousepad. So just read on."

Altec Lansing 251 speaker system review @ phlux
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:13 PM EST

"The 251 speakers from Altec Lansing are their budget 5.1 surround model, costing £90, that is also aimed at people who want to use them for watching films and listening to music. Even though they're considered a budget setup, the specifications are very impressive."

Vantec 80mm Tornado Fan Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 8:10 PM EST

"What immediately grabs your attention with this fan is its sheer size. At 80mm x 80mm x 38mm, it is 50% thicker than most 80mm fans. The extra space allows for larger fan blades and a dual fin technology similar to that seen on some Delta fans. Powering up the unit in your hand, the Tornado pushes so much air, it almost seems to have a gyroscopic effect to it. This fan is rightly called a Tornado, since it produces a whopping 55 decibels of noise."

Leadtek WinFast A250 Ultra TD Geforce 4 Ti4600 128MB review @ Explosive Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:32 AM EST

"This A250 Ultra TD MyVIVO is Leadtek's second revision of this particular model. Leadtek has added VIVO capabilities to this card, not seen in its initial release. Only dubbing the A250 Ultra TD with an added "MyVIVO." You will notice then that instead of the typical S-Video out jack, the A250 Ultra TD MyVIVO comes with a VIVO jack. You need to use the blue adapter, included in the software bundle, in order to use the VIVO capabilities.

PNY Verto GeForce 4 Ti4600 Review @ ViperLair
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:29 AM EST

"A rather unspectacular box encases the Verto Ti4600. I'm not too sure about the box image. It doesn't really scream "POWER!!!!" to me, but rather, it just plain creeps me out. I think the designers have been watching too many Star Trek: The Next Generation reruns."

Lian-Li Front Bezel Face Plates (Review) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:28 AM EST

If you're sick of Beige drives that don't match one another even when manufactured by the same company, then read on!! Do you have a Black or Silver aluminum case and your Beige drives just look plain yucky installed, then read on!!

You could disassemble your Beige drives and paint them the color you'd like, but that would take time and what about if you messed up, read on!!

Tt CoolMod Fan Review @ Overclockercafe
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:25 AM EST

“When I first saw this, I thought it was another neon strap on. Oh no, this most certainly is different. In fact, this is the first mod I have seen like this. Usually, the wild new idea like this comes from Joe User at 2am with a twelve pack of empty beer cans under the table, not a manufacturer.”

Copper Mesh Rounded Cables Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:22 AM EST

There are actually two types of plastic coatings found here (aside from the PVC on the individual wires which is standard). The first is the triangular cover. This may be pretty thick but it's also quite flexible, much like the covers on most "normal" rounded cables. The translucent plastic that covers the mesh, however, is a lot more rigid and that's not cool. I can understand why thickness might be a good idea (if some copper wires come loose they might puncture a thin cover) but it shouldn't have such a negative effect. On a slightly better note, there's a double-sided foil coat in-between the mesh and the actual wires; this serves the purpose of preventing interference and "increasing performance by 15%" (Sidewinder doesn't make such claims but other places with similar models do). Back to bad, much to my dismay the tips of the copper braids weren't soldered or glued together or anything of the sort. This could pose one of many problems, ranging from internal wire puncture (resulting in data loss and other negative side effects) to de-braiding of the cable. These scenarios aren't very likely to happen but the possibility is there nonetheless.

Thermaltake Silver Braided Round IDE Cable Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:18 AM EST

"One thing that I really liked was the longer length of the cables compared to my old ones. I was able to easily flex them into position and tuck them away to allow for a cleaner looking case. All in all I would recommend these cable to case modders of any skill level."

EverGlide Optical MousePad Showcase @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:16 AM EST

"Over the past 15 years, I have seen many game systems come and go. From the NES to the PlayStation, I have owned nearly every one. All of these systems had at least two game pad ports, if not more. Let's take Street Fighter II on SNES for example. This was a great game in single player mode, but what really made it fun was the 2 player vs. mode. This is where you get to showcase who has the skills to win. Key word in that last sentence being "skills", as that is what it took to win. Both players were playing the game on the same console with the same type of game pad. Skip forward to present day computer gaming. Oftentimes if you system specs are lacking, you will come up on the losing end of the battle. So let's say you dish out a grand or so on a new rig, complete with the latest video card. Chances are you won't lose near as much (unless you really suck). So once again you go out and purchase yourself an optical mouse for those FPS games we all love. Again, a little bit of an improvement, but you are still not quite there just yet. If you are looking for that extra edge in your favorite FPS, I urge you to read on as we check out some MousePads from EverGlide's line of Optical MousePads."

Blue Chenming 21" ATX Server Case Review @ ThinkComputers
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:13 AM EST

"Installing the parts into this case is a breeze. There is plenty of room in the case to maneuver around. I had no trouble installing my motherboard at all. You can install your HD and floppy into the cages even before putting them in the case. Pop them in and you’re ready to go. Same with the mounting of the plates for your 5.25” drives. Attach the plates to your device; slide in, once you hear a click it's locked in."

Neverwinter Nights Review @ OcPrices
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:11 AM EST

"Perhaps one of the most touted games in recent months, Neverwinter Nights is the latest offering from Bioware, the original creators of the Baldurs Gate series. To a hell of a lot of gamers this means a hell of a lot. It also utilizes the brand new Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition rules. This, also means a hell of a lot to a hell of a lot of gamers. To me it means jack (Jack’s a very nice bloke but not someone you’d call a friend).

What I do care about is the games much touted character development system which supposedly allows the player to create any character their mind can concoct. But how much 'freedom' does this allow the RPG fan and how far have Bioware pushed the boundaries of the RPG genre?"

PCMods Power Down Protector Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:09 AM EST

"The Power Down Protector received for review is dark aqua in color and constructed out of anodized aluminum that sports the PCMods logo, product name and houses the brains of the unit, the PCB. The top of the unit features labels printed in black that correspond the necessary headers underneath. Along the side of the unit there is a chart which illustrates the Timer Length Settings for the fans along with the proper jumper orientations for either 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes of running time. The back of the Power Down Protector features two holes that are filled with what appears to be push tacks that clip into designated holes on the PCB. The Power Down Protector features a total 8 headers, 6 of these are 3-pin compliant and are used for the fan In1, In2 and Wake On LAN, each having their own In and Out header."

Vantec Cables @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:07 AM EST

"Rounded cables have suddenly become a very typical computer enthusiast product. Rounded cables help to improve case aesthetics as well as improve airflow. However, with this sudden surge of popularity, it can be difficult to differentiate the quality products from the sub-par products. Today I will be looking at Vantec’s silver cable products. I have been lucky enough to review a selection of Vantec’s products before (Specifically the Stealth and Tornado line of fans) Vantec has yet to disappoint, so hopefully the trend will continue."

Maelstrom Rheobus review @ phlux
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:05 AM EST

"As you can see here, I have used this nifty fanbus to find a nice balance between cooling and noise. I have brought my sanity level up quite a bit. I can adjust the fan to whaver speed I want. I've also noticed that I can hear myself type, and my music sounds much more clear. I can also talk on the phone in the same room. Everything is quiet, and still cool."

Everglide Gaming Mat review @ Ripnet-UK
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:03 AM EST

"It doesn't seem all that long ago that when it came to mouse mats, (or mousing surfaces as they must now be known!) your choice was pretty much limited to what sort of tacky design you wanted to have printed on the cheap cloth cover. The situation is more than a little different today, with a number of manufacturers turning out high quality gaming mats in a wide variety of different materials and designs. Today I'm trying out the latest from Everglide, one of the market leaders in this field.

Everglide's new baby is the Gaming Mat, which has a patented surface and comes in a choice of five eye-catching, and in my opinion very smart, designs. The surface feels just slightly 'pebbled' to the touch..."

Lian Li PC-6089A Aluminum PC Case Video Review #204 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 10:01 AM EST

"This case is almost identical to the Lian Li PC-6087A, however, it has a different colored side window, front door and door latching system. Adding this door and a window to their new line of cases keeps Lian Li in the 'coolest hi-quality cases on the planet' category."

Antec Performance Plus1080AMG Case Review @ VH
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 9:57 AM EST

"The Antec Performance PLUS 1080AMG is another step in Antec's stairway to success. In my opinion, if you liked the SX1030B, you'll love the 1080AMG unless you absolutely NEED jet black. The metallic grey of this case is excellent. And will look very good with black drives. I'll be doing the black drives in this case as soon as I can, along with some mods to it. I don't wanna do something quick this time, so my masterpiece is in the development stages (as all good mods take time to mature..hehe) This style of case has been reviewed so many times I don't see a need to do a pros & cons list. I don't feel like listing "heavy" as a con...heh."

RecordNow Max 4.0 (Review) @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:49 AM EST

AOpen AX4G Pro Motherboard Review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:46 AM EST

This was my first experience overclocking with a Pentium 4, I had heard that these 1.6a chips were able to do really well and should be able to hit at least 2.5Ghz or so. I played around in the BIOS for a while with all of the memory settings and the Vcore which was the only voltage I was allowed to change. After testing this motherboard for a while the highest overclock I was able to get out of it was 1.92Ghz (16x120). I probably would have been able to get a higher overclock if I would have been able to drop the multiplier which I could not because these CPUs are locked and I did not have the wire or the guts to unlock it. I also needed to be able to give this RAM some more voltage because I feel that that was really holding it back. AOpen motherboards are not known for being the best overclockers but they do bring some other things to the table which other companies do not.

Nexland ISB SOHO Router Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:43 AM EST

"A great device, that had some surprisingly advanced features presented in a simple way (but always read the manual first). Technically it’s hard to fault, with only very minor quibbles. I had some professional firewall people look the device over, and they were both surprised and delighted at the features they found. The set-up was so simple that the only improvement I could see was if the ISB SOHO unpacked itself and jump onto the table."

80mm Spiderman Fan Grill Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:41 AM EST

"I am sure that all of you are familiar with Spiderman and the Marvel brand of comics, as well as their action-figures. But you probably weren't aware of fan grills licensed from Marvel! Marvel has licensed these fan grills and they are made by a company called PcToys.

Today, we will take a look at one of the three types of fan grills offered; the Spiderman grill. The other varieties are the Punisher and Wolverine, which also hold many of the same characteristics as the Spiderman one."

Nexland Pro400 Internet Sharing Box Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:40 AM EST

Each port has LEDs which indicate a 100BaseT, a 10BaseT and/or a duplex connection (200mb). The speed depends on the type of ethernet card installed in your system; most recent (a few years old at most) PCI cards are 100BaseTX with duplex, in which case the 100 light will be on or flashing and the duplex light will be on. The latter flashes when there's either heavy traffic and/or packet collision. Then there's another more interesting feature. This is the first router I've seen (although I've only seen a few total) that has dip switches. What are they for? Well, you can use them to disable the DHCP server, reset the unit, activate the Serial Console Interface and configure the ISB for firmware upgrades. This comes in very handy if you input an incorrect setting or forget your password which prevents you from accessing the unit. Think of it as a multi-functional "CMOS clearing" jumper. But alas, that's not all. You can also back up your configuration settings to external media (like a floppy or a CD) should something happen to the unit. Then if anything gets screwed up, all you do is flip up a couple switches, load the settings and you're back in business. The manual details the entire procedure in terms even I can understand.

Chenming Windowed Aluminum Case (Review) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:36 AM EST

"Most computer enthusiasts are very familiar with the Chenming family of computer enclosures that are sold under many names including Chenming, Chieftech and Antec to name but a few. This chassis has been recognized as one of the most cooling friendly to ever hit the marketplace. There may be minor differences, but the chassis itself had not changed in better than a year, that is, until now."

Cooler Master ATC 410 SX1 Aluminum Server Case Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:35 AM EST

"The front bezel is accented with a Matrix style grill pattern which extends from the top to the bottom of the case. The overall look of the ATC-410 SX1 is highly refined and futuristic in appearance. The top panel of the case is completely removable by unscrewing four thumbscrews in each corner. A series of mounting screw holes are centered down the middle of the top panel for mounting drive rails if one should decide to convert this case from a stand alone server to rack mount server."

Thermaltake Volcano 9 w/ CoolMod Review @ hardcoreware
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:33 AM EST

The Volcano 9 also has quite a few tricks up its sleeve. Its fan speed adjust according to actual CPU temp this time, or you can take control of it manually. Leave your CPU idling at a whisper quiet speed, and crank it up when it's time to start fragging!

XoXide Crystal Blue Led Fans Review @ BurnoutPC
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:31 AM EST

"Fans, even the name sounds boring, especially for a review item. Well what we have up on the BOPC workbench is not your ordinary 80mm fans. Crystal Led fans, are becoming quite the rage among modders and check it out – we got our hands on a few!"

Creative Audigy Installation on Windows XP Pro without tears or a hammer!!! @ Ripnet-UK
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 23, 2002 at 5:29 AM EST

"You know when an offer is too good to miss? Well that situation hit me recently, I had the opportunity to purchase a Creative Audigy sound card and the Inspire 5.1 speaker set. The previous owner had given up trying to install the card as their system refused to accept the card or the drivers. I offered to assist them but they were adamant that enough was enough.

Home we go with large box (quite heavy) containing said equipment. Unpack the box carefully, look with pleasure at gold connectors on card and speakers...."

Hitachi CML181SXW-B vs. NEC 1920NX Comparison @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:39 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've whipped up a comparison of two new large screen LCD monitors on the market, Hitachi's CML181SXW-B 18.1" and NEC's 1920NX 19". Both LCD monitors boast feature sets geared toward power users, like 1280 x 1024 resolution support, DVI-D ports, and dual monitor input connectivity. We try out these screens in a variety of gaming and application tests, to see which one is worth your hard earned cash. Lots of high resolution images of the monitors included as well!

Inpax's Thermaltake Mini-Copper Orb Review @ Tech-Dreams
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:37 AM EST

"As I said numerous times in past reviews, cooling is one of the biggest issues in your computer system. It affects performance, as well as the life span of your CPU, graphics card, or system in general. Picking the right heatsink and fan for your CPU is no easy task, since there are dozens of coolers to choose from, and everyone has a different view on which one cools down your chip the best. Once again, Tech-Dreams brings you another heatsink and fan review as we take a good look at Thermal Take's Mini Copper Orb for Socket 462/A CPU's from Inpax, Inc."

Geforce 4 Ti 4600 Modding Article @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:35 AM EST

"Why are we discussing this "dusty" videocard? In the world of fast paced product cycles a card is obsolete months after release but unless driven to cyber excesses by the silicon gods (as I am) then the Ti4600 should suit your needs for a looong time to come. The Ti4600 has been reviewed to death inside and out, benched and re-benched... in all its various incarnations and permutations. What we are going to do here is take a new Asus Deluxe Ti4600 and, after a short run to determine functionality, mod the living hell out of it to see what we can wring from its silicon."

Internal/External Multi Adapter Panel @ VoidedWarranty
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:34 AM EST

"Here's what the unit looks like when installed in your PC. This product is great for people tired of reaching in the back of their computer just to plug in a digital camera, an MP3 player, microphone, speakers, keyboard etc... What I really like about this product, unlike similar panels, the cable is all in one! No more back aches! =D"

C3 Clear Acrylic Case Review @ GideonTech
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:32 AM EST

GideonTech is back again with a case review, this time from a new company called C3. They specialize pretty much only in acrylic cases and here's their first offering to the public:

XFX Graphics review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:31 AM EST

XFX Graphics, which is a division of Pine, has sent us one of their GeForce 3 Ti500 model video cards. Although the new Nvidia flagship is now the Geforce 4, the Geforce3 series is still a major player in desktop graphics. And now since the GeForce 4s are out, you can get great deals on GeForce 3s, which are still amazing video cards.

Lian Li PC-6087A Aluminum PC Case Video Review #203 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:27 AM EST

"With a see through window and colored front door it's a much more current look for Lian Li. The appearance might have changed; however, you can expect the same quality and performance with this product."

Xoxide LL-61 Warrior Case Review @ VH
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:24 AM EST

"Xoxide is making quite a name for themselves in the market for pre-modified cases. With an extensive lineup of modified cases, from those for the price-conscious, to those for the people who want a kickass case that has been made even better, they have appealed to a wide range of the computer-saavy population, as most anyone could find a case at Xoxide that they liked. And, by looking at their ResellerRatings grades, it seems that they are not only making good products, but also dealing with customers very well. I last looked at Xoxide's Z-60 ClearStorm, and found it to be a well-cooled and good looking case for the mid-level user, as it included a well-placed window but wasn't pricey. Well, today I'll be looking at the upper-end of Xoxide's case lineup; is the LL-61 Warrior worth your hard earned cash?"

Sennheiser HD-570 Headphones Reviewed @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:23 AM EST

Sennheiser is based in Germany and specializes in high-end audio equipment, including headphones, microphones, and aviation headsets. Sennheiser has an enormous line of headphones to choose from, nearly thirty all together, including wireless and in-ear headphones.

Coolermaster Alloy Mouse Pad Review @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:21 AM EST

"One very important characteristic to note is that it is quite smaller than a standard mouse pad. I was disappointed by this because it meant I had to reposition my mouse frequently to keep it from getting close to the edges of the pad. It was even more aggravating when I was playing Quake III because I had to pick up my mouse and put it back in the center constantly."

GIGA-BYTE MAYA II GV-R9700 PRO Graphics Accelerator Info @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:19 AM EST

"The GV-R9700 PRO is the first available graphics accelerator to fully support the AGP 8X standard. The AGP bus provides the crucial high-bandwidth link between the graphics card and the rest of the PC. It carries a variety of different types of data, including 3D models, textures, shaders, drawing commands, and video streams. The GV-R9700 PRO is also the first graphics processor that can render up to eight pixels simultaneously with full floating point precision. This is accomplished by eight parallel 128-bit floating-point rendering pipelines, each with its own independent texture unit and pixel shader engine. The texture unit of each rendering pipeline can sample up to 16 textures in a single rendering pass. These textures can be one-, two-, or three-dimensional, with bilinear, tri-linear, or anisotropic filtering applied depending on the desired quality level."

Abit Max Series MediaXP Bay Review @ pcstats
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 9:16 AM EST

"The MAX line of motherboards are what they call "legacy free" motherboards which means they have no serial, parallel or PS/2 ports. Instead, the motherboard uses USB and firewire ports to communicate with peripherials. As forward thinking as this is, we still need to bend behind the case to get at the jacks. Going behind the computer can be a real hassle, so Abit came up with a "multimedia" bay for the Abit MAX AT7 and IT7 series mainboards that brings the most accessed ports up to the front, in easy grasp of everyone."

LIUtilities Wintasks 4 Professional Review @ Extreme Overclocking
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:53 AM EST

Wintasks 4 Professional is essentially a beefed up version of the Windows Task Manager. It has some nice advanced features and is perfect for someone who wants to have complete control over what the operating system does.

Cooler Master ATC-600 Aluminum Case @ ViperLair
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:45 AM EST

"The risks taken run the gamut: a desktop design in a world that prefers towers; an internal configuration that does not take the industry standard ATX form-factor, but opts instead for the OEM slice of the pie, the Micro-ATX form-factor; design that bucks the trends of the very demographic it appeals to, the desktop-power user."

ATi Radeon 9000 Pro Review @ OcPrices
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:43 AM EST

"ATi - the worlds largest supplier of video cards - unveiled their new line of Radeon graphics cards a short while ago, and we are one of the first in Europe to receive the Radeon 9000 Pro, their top-of-the range budget solution. Designed to destroy nVIDIA's competing range of GeForce 4 MX cards, the Radeon 9000 is aggressively priced and has a surprisingly high spec for such an inexpensive solution."

CoolerMaster HSC-V62 HSF Review @ Overclockercafe
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:41 AM EST

“This is because the 4 mm thick base was already polished to a HIGH shine. Much higher than many of you would have the patience to do yourself. I am talking like 95% of true mirror quality. Outstanding! I can honestly say I have never seen so smooth and mirror finished a base as I have on the HSC-V62”

Comparison review of the AMD Athlon XP 2600+ @ Active-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:38 AM EST

"Today, a new series of AMD Athlon XP has been unleashed onto the market. The new chips -- the Athlon XP 2400+, and the Athlon XP 2600+ -- are based on the "Thoroughbred" CPU core, manufactured using a 0.13 micron process, and are the first AMD chips to break the 2GHz barrier by running at 2GHz, and 2.133GHz respectively."

AMD's Athlon XP 2600+ Reviewed @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:37 AM EST

Today, on the third anniversary of their Athlon processor's release, AMD has announced the two latest additions to their lineup, the Athlon XP 2600+ and 2400+. We've taken their newest flagship processor for a test drive and have posted our results for all to see. We’d appreciate a link in your news section if you think your readers would be interested in reading about this new CPU!

Zalman's CNPS6000Cu all copper CPU cooling kit Review @ DreddNews
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:35 AM EST

"The main reason one may install a heatsink on a processor is to attempt to keep the processors temperatures in operating range. As the processors develop and become faster, a greater amount of heat is generated and new heatsinks are developed to compensate. But, gone are the days of the Pentium I and II's that could easily operate with only a large heatsink and a little bit of airflow throughout the case. Now, it seems, just in order to have a stable home PC, a user is expected to deal with a screaming fan attached to the heatsink and the sound of rushing air as it's pulled through the case by large, high volume case fans. This is where Zalman's Computer Noise Prevention System(CNPS) comes in."

HWLabs Blaze Waterblock Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:34 AM EST

"To watercool…or not to watercool… that may be the next question you ask yourself if you're ready for the next level in CPU cooling. "But what about price?" you might say. Well, setting up a decent watercooling system doesn't have to break the bank. Today we will be looking at the HWLabs Blaze socket370/462 waterblock and clip, generously donated to us by Becooling (which I might add has been in this business for a long time). We'll show you that with this block, you can break the $100 barrier that many say is impossible for a full kit..."

Stomp Inc. MySoundStudio Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:32 AM EST

"I must confess, I don't really have a lot of experience with audio applications. But this particular one seems rather suited to me. While I personally never thought much of personal audio editing, apparently a lot of people do, and I am beginning to see why. The current trend in audio being Techno, it would seem like a good idea to have other people also learn this wonderful idea of editing and importing your own tracks. Stomp Inc. provides all sorts of audio management software, with programs ranging from professional grade, all the way down to an amateur audio editor. Using the program is rather easy, even when diving blindly into using it..."

CoolerMaster's ATC-710 Case Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:31 AM EST

"The ATC-710 is based on the very familiar Chieftec/Antec design. Even the rails for the 5 1/4" drives have Chieftec printed on them. Now at first I was a little pissed when I realized this, but then I realized if you were going to copy a design, the Chieftec case is probably the best. Kinda like buying a brand new Z-28, opening the hood and find you have a Corvette engine inside. Who am I to complain? Also, Cooler Master has made a big improvement to the case by replacing that plastic front cover with a nice looking aluminum one."

Wireless Security @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:29 AM EST

"When someone says the word “wireless” two things usually come to mind. The first being a cellular phone, the second being wireless networks. The latter is what we are going to discuss. We start with the standard 802.11b which is the current heavyweight in the WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) industry. New measures are being taken to move the data faster and make it more secure, but for now its king amongst paupers. It starts with an access point, a small box with 2 antennas sticking and an embedded wireless card. Let’s get into how it works."

nV30 Review (of some rumors) @ lostcircuits
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:27 AM EST

As we have recently learned, nVidia has taped out the nV30 core about two weeks ago. "As we have learned" means that nVivia strictly abides by their policy to not comment on tape-out dates, yields or any other related issues. We still have a commitment from Jen Hsun Huang to bring the NV30 to market by December this year. The reason for this short editorial is that there appears to be some confusion over what is going on, reports have claimed poor yields of the first wafers at TSMC in Taiwan. However, there also appears to be some mixup regarding current parlance in the foundry business. For example, tape-out means the shipping date of the data base used to pattern the first layer of silicon and is several weeks away from even first silicon.

For the record, tape out refers to the completion of the design blue prints that still need to be converted into reticles or photomasks to provide the pattern for the actual metal and silicon layers. Manufacturing the wafers will further take some time, the iron rule in the semiconductor business is "you can't hurry physics". So when can we expect first silicon and how representative will it be for the real NV30 core or are we at this point expecting a one-hit-wonder to be followed up in the distant future only? Read on ....

Koolance PC2-C water-cooled Mid-Tower Review @ PimpRig
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:25 AM EST

"Okay, so water-coolin’ is touted as a noise reduction solution… I freaked when I turned this thing on and it sounded like a jet-engine. I was wondering why everyone was getting all hot and bothered over how quiet these things are… until I discovered the “Mode” button. At level 3, it’s a screamin’ machine. At levels 1 and 2, silence is golden! Between modes 2 and 3 is a world of difference in noise. My temp only went up by one degree by switching to level 2."

IWill XP333 Voltage Mod Article @ X-Treme PC TECH
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:24 AM EST

"Well I was thinking it was about time to do an article. An me being an overclocker I decided to show you guys a great way to raise your CPU core voltage above 1.95V on the XP333. I also show you how to get 2.8V on the RAM. With a higher voltage you may be able to overclock higher than before. Check out the article to see how I did it. =^)"

GlacialTech Igloo 3300 Heatsink Review @ FrostyTech
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:23 AM EST

"In reviewing so many heatsinks we get to notice the little short cuts that manufacturers sometimes take to get the most out of one design. These short cuts aren't necessarily a bad thing, but the do give us a bit of insight into what goes on behind the scenes in a way. Take for example the Glacialtech Igloo 3300 socket 478 heatsink shown below. If you've been following FrostyTech for a while you might think you recognize this very same heatsink as the Igloo 2400. Well, you are partly right."

Directron's Scorpio TX-10WD Mid-Tower Case Review @ Tech-dreams
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:21 AM EST

"About a month ago, my brother asked me to build him a computer system that could withstand the rigors of medical school. With this in mind, I set out to find some of the best components I could find, and, eventually, settled on building a Pentium 4 based system. I began looking at Chemming/Chieftec/Antec full tower cases, since they would allow my brother to expand his system with ease as the need for newer hardware arises in the next few years. So after a few days of searching, my brother decides he wants to go with a mid-tower case, thats when the Chieftec Scorpio TX-10WD caught our eyes. It had the needed room for future expansion, and it was sturdy, durable, and rugged, which are definite pluses. Why are they pluses? Well, when you have 2 small children that like getting into everything, a sturdy, durable, and rugged case would be able to withstand their abuse and protect the valuable components inside."

Vantec Stealth 520W Power Supply Review @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 7:16 AM EST

In times past, any old power supply would run just about any old computer system, but not today. Modern systems and peripherals require more and more power, and under-rated or flakey power supplies are the cause of many of the crashes and instability problems we face.

You hear this line often: "But I'm using a power supply that is approved by AMD or Intel and I'm still having problems". Many of the so-called approved power supplies were never intended to run the kind of high-powered, high performance, significantly expanded, power-hungry systems many of us own. This, in turn, has led to choice of a power supply unit (PSU) becoming one of the most critical factors involved in building a stable system.

DigitalDoc5 Review @ M:6
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:47 AM EST

"You'll require a serious cable cleaning after installing this unit. If you have smaller case, you'll having problem to hide the cables. But thank God, my l337 case cleaning skillz helps cleaning the cables in my case:"

The Shuttle SS51G XPC Mini PC Reviewed @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:46 AM EST

Today we have another of the popular mini barebones systems on tap for you from the folks at Shuttle. After having the chance to review each new model, we've become fond of the XPC product line, constantly impressed with the improvements Shuttle has made with each new design. Review after review we praised Shuttle for their innovative designs yet there seemed to be something missing with each model. Numerous users and reviewers voiced their wishes for more PCI slots, an AGP slot, support for DDR RAM, and so on. But if one thing is certain, it's that Shuttle has been listening. This time we have the SS51G XPC Mini Barebones System, a unit that encompasses all of our "wishes" in a single, powerful package. This is the first XPC that offers an AGP slot, support for PC2700 DDR RAM, ATA133, and USB 2.0. In the end, Shuttle has designed a barebones with the potential to rival the performance of full-size high-performance rigs. Click the link below for the full story!

The price of power @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:44 AM EST

Have you ever been in an office where hundreds of computers sit there all night doing nothing? NT4 boxes with no power managment? Many of which are just saying that it's OK to turn them off, now? How much does all that wasted power COST, anyway? I wondered, too. So I found out, and wrote a column about it. It's here:

Guide to Windows Security @ TechSpot
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:42 AM EST

This guide will cover some of such tips and tricks for different applications which should make your system more secure as well as less prone to viruses. Although the guide is mostly aimed at Windows 2000/XP users, people using older version of Windows should also take note as much of the content here applies to those earlier versions in addition to the Internet Explorer and Outlook Express tips.

AMD Assured Desktop Platform Solution Kit @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:41 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've taken a first look at a potential new product family from AMD. After suffering so many years of frustration from being considered a second-class platform to Intel, AMD has decided to take their stability issues head on with their new AMD Assured program. By validating boards with a strict set of requirements not seen before for AMD motherboards, AMD is guaranteeing stability right out of the box for this new set of Assured motherboards. We take a look at one of AMD's test kits based on this technology, noting how well it performs against the current Athlon platforms, and seeing if the Assured icon lives up to it's name.

40x cd-burner shootout @ Techware Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:39 AM EST

"Several months ago, 40x burning became a reality when Plextor got the jump on all of the other optical storage companies with the PX-W4012TA CD-RW. Since then, many companies have been coming out with versions of their own. As with any genre of products, a few stood out above the rest. Namely, the original tried and true Plexwriter; the wallet-friendly Lite-On, and the speed-daemon Teac. Today Techware Labs will be comparing the three drives on their relative merits."

Nexland Pro800turbo ISB Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:38 AM EST

"After reviewing Nexland's Pro400, we were very proud when we were asked to review their Pro800 Turbo Internet Security Box. There are 2 main differences between the new Pro800 turbo and the Pro400. First, the Pro400 was only a 4 port router, while the Pro800 turbo is an 8 port version. The other main difference is that the new Pro800 turbo can take 2 internet connections and combine them into one, fast connection. Let's see how well this thing really works…"

ThermalRight SLK-800 @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:37 AM EST

"No fan was included with this heatsink, which leaves you free to use any fan you wish. This heatsink will accommodate 60, 70 and 80mm fans. You can even use those huge 38mm tall 80mm Delta fans if you choose. All of this is possible via the adjustable fan mounts."

Koolance PC2-C Super Liquid Cooled Case Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:35 AM EST

"The brain of the Koolance PC2-C Super Liquid Cooled Case is the inclusion of the Power Control Board. This PCB circuit is quite amazing and incorporates several useful features on one board. The main function of the Power Control Board is to power the fan cooling system, control the LED display and operate the pumps. The circuit has several components which include a built-in fan controller for up to 4 80mm fans, 12v pump relay for turning on the pumps when the system is powered, and a CPU temperature probe. One of the benefits of the Power Control Board is that it includes built-in safety features by the use of an ATX pass-through connector. Motherboard headers extend from this module and connect directly to a motherboard. By default the module is set to monitor CPU temperatures and will sound an alarm if the system reaches over 50°C (122°F). If the alarm sounds for more than 30 seconds with no response, power to the system will be automatically shut-off."

eVGA e-Geforce 4 Ti4600 Video Card Video Review #202 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:33 AM EST

"The eVGA e-Geforce 4 Ti4600 Video Card is unquestionably super fast and as with all nVidia based products there is industry wide support which translates into rock solid drivers for all your gaming needs."

Alpha Novatech PAL8942 Socket 478 Heatsink Review @ frostytech
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:31 AM EST

"Making use of their signature cold-forged aluminum construction with an embedded copper plate the PAL8942 is big, black, and chocked full of hexagonal pins. With an aluminum shroud covering the top 1/3 of the pins an 80mm fan can be attached in either a impingement or exhaust manner for optimal cooling. In fact, we tested the Alpha PAL8942 with the fan in both an exhaust and in an impingement (blowing down) orientation and found that there was indeed a slight performance increase with the fan pulling air up through the fins and expelling it out the top. Previously, we were under the impression (based on tests with older Alpha heatsinks) that facing the fan down offered the best performance. The temperature differences were on the order of a degree or two for the most part."

Altec Lansing's XA3021 Speaker System Review @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:30 AM EST

Altec Lansing's XA3021 speaker system is, beyond doubt, the silliest looking sound reproduction product I have ever reviewed. The satellite speakers look like microphones from 1957, and the subwoofer looks like a cartoon atom bomb. Fortunately, the XA3021 kit is quite cheap, and it works perfectly well.

PCMods Electroluminescent Tape Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:28 AM EST

"In the end, I would say that the PCMods Electroluminescent Tape would be a nice addition to add to any computer. It is a nice solution for people looking for a nice finishing touch for their computer."

Volcano 9 review @ PC PowerZone
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:26 AM EST

Coolers are always improving technologically - using better ways to achieve the best cooling performance. For most people fitting a High speed Delta on a high performance cooler when your using something like a 1Ghz CPU isn't really a good idea unless you plan to do some overclocking. This is where smart fans come in, These fans allow you to set the RPM of your fan and some are even temperature controlled so as the temperature of the CPU goes up the fan speeds up.

ATI Radeon 9000 Review @ Hardware-test
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:24 AM EST

ATI keeps amazing me positively. When I received the card, I figured it was just barely able to surpass the GF4 MX cards in performance. But it has shown an excellent performance… Even against the biggest GeForce4 card(!!) Since ATI has planned to replace the LE cards with this 9000 version, they have pushed the price down. And with a performance like this you can’t complain…:) "

ATi Radeon 9700 Pro Full Release Review @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:22 AM EST

Good morning all! Today, we're unleashing our full review and showcase of the ATi Radeon 9700Pro. No more "performance ratios" or percentages. This is the real deal with benchmarks on just about everything we could throw at it!

Cooler Master Rounded Aluminum Cables and Aluminum Mouse Pad @ ViperLair
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 10:21 AM EST

"As with most rounded cables, whether or not you need them will depend on how you feel about internal case cleaniness. Although you can do a neat job tidying the interior of the case with origami cabling work, most people probably just let them dangle. Round cables do "reduce" the clutter, however, unless you plan on routing them properly, they will still look a little messy. In any case, looking at silver cables though a case window does look a lot nicer than flat grey ones."

Icemat 'After Dark' review @ phlux
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:50 AM EST

"The styling of the Icemat After Dark is the same as that of the original, very modern and clean. The whole mousemat is a sheet of glass with black plastic behind to colour it, and a small silver "www.icemat.com" logo in the bottom right, also behind the glass. The edges are nicely rounded, but leave a clean square looking shape."

PCMods 92mm Lighted Fan Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:48 AM EST

"Lately, a lot of computer enthusiasts have been looking for ways to light up their computer cases. One way to light up a case nicely would be with some lighted case fans."

PCmods Power-Down Protector Review @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:47 AM EST

The principle can be explained thusly: the Power-Down Protector does exactly what its name implies: it allows cooling to continue for a span of time after the machinery, automobile, or in our case the computer, is turned off. Quite obviously, at the moment of shutdown the heat generated by the equipment or computer has not dissipated, but, in fact, when cooling ceases abruptly the case temperatures will rise dramatically, as will the possibilities for serious damage. How many times have you heard someone say, "gee, when I turned off my computer everything was fine, now it won't start no matter what I do"? It's happened to me and I'm sure it has happened to more of you than will admit it!

Lian-Li Biohazard Side Panel Review @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:45 AM EST

Modding computers has become a spectacular business (and hobby); something new comes out almost every month. Lian-Li cases seem to staking out a lot of high ground with their high-end cooling performance and pure aluminum construction.

The best part of the acrylic side panel window: it's screwless! Nothing stands in the way of visual perfection. In fact, if the window is cleaned properly, you'll never even know there's any acrylic there.

Crazy PC Windowed Imperial Case Review @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:43 AM EST

"I have a confession to make. Even though this is a hardware website, to me, a cool case is still the most important component in my system. I suspect secretly quite a few of you must agree, or else we wouldn't have so many painting, dyeing, lighting, windowed, blowholed, sound-proofed case mod articles out there."

XOXIDE X300 @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:41 AM EST

"With the exception of the lack of a removable motherboard tray, this case has been very easy to work with. Installation was straightforward and simple. I liked this case, however it would be nice to have a few additions to it, for example a removable 3 ½” drive bay. One last thing I thought I would mention is that this case is very easy to scratch. I put the case on its side, and I was unaware that there were screws underneath."

Coolermaster "Ultar Series" Rounded Cables Review @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:40 AM EST

Coolermaster, a name associated mostly with OEM heatsinks and top notch aluminum cases has stepped into the retail market with a new line of products. Among these products is its line of rounded cables. Their first line of cables was a simple, no frills type of cable, although it did boast a better build quality than the “average rounded cable” and aluminum foil shielding. Now, they’ve come up with a whole new model of rounded cables called the “Ultra series”, not only do they have the same previous features but also have some very obvious new ones.

ECS AG400T8-D64 (Xabre 400) Video Card Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:39 AM EST

All of the outputs are handled by the SiS 301. The DVI connector found on the Triplex card is replaced by the 3DCON1 (3DVR/3D glasses) as well as the RCA1 (TV-out composite). Personally I like the former configuration since dual monitors are a lot more common than either of those. Then there's the usual SCON1 (TV-out S-Video) and CRT1 (VGA). The inclusion/exclusion of various connectors is not driver dependent; you can set video modes via the jumpers and incompatible modes just won't work. Memory is also different on the various cards. Actually only one of the two SiS reference boards uses 3.3ns Hynix memory; the others use 3.3ns EtronTech. Some versions of the Triplex use Hynix while others are equipped with EtronTech. 1000/3.3 = 303, so the memory is rated to hit 303mhz DDR, or 606mhz effectively. Naturally, more than just the memory module dictates exactly what kind of results can be had.

Enermax Whisper PSU EG365P-VE FC Review @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:36 AM EST

Enermax power supplies are among the best you'll find on the market, known for stable performance and operation. AMD and Intel both see the benefits of these power supplies; most of them are recommended by both. Often people overlook the importance of a power supply, and PSU flaws commonly cause or emulate almost every kind of hardware-and even software!--problem in computers. Near perfect watt, amp, and voltage settings and supply are crucial for each and every computer component.

ENERMAX EG365P-VE 350WATT MANUAL FAN CONTROLLED WHISPER POWER SUPPLY REVIEW @ Tweaknews
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:34 AM EST

"One the the foundation blocks of a fast, efficient and problem free computer system has to be the power supply. Most instability problems with stock or even overclocking ventures taken place at a workstation can more than often be boiled down to an inferior power supply with improper current flows on its certain voltage rails."

Powercooler PCH247S Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 19, 2002 at 5:32 AM EST

"As you may know, ReviewNation did an earlier review of the PCH247H, which received the mediocre score of 7/10. The HSF that we will be reviewing today will use that exact same heatsink, but we will replace the fan for increased performance, (as well as added noise). Powercooler refers to this CPU cooler as the PCH247S. But will this be enough, or will the HSF still fall short of what the other companies have to offer?..."

Iomega Zip 750 USB 2.0 review (World-first!) @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:34 AM EST

“Back in 1994, a small company called Iomega rocked the world of data portability with its 'Zip 100' drive. Aimed at multimedia and design professionals, the drive's popularity and sales rose steadily as the Internet took root, and day to day users required a way to back-up downloaded data. It's close cousin the 1.44MB Floppy drive and its competitor the LS-120 were essentially assasinated in their beds - they had no chance compared to the 100MB rewritable Zip drive. Today, with CD-RW and DVD Rewritable technology popularity at an all time high, Iomega is faced with a difficult task to try to retake lost marketshare. Enter the Zip 750 USB 2.0 drive system.

Is it too little too late? The ever-flowing eddies and tides of the portable removable storage market will answer that question - in due time.”

Dual coloured cathodes - exclusive first look! @ PC PowerZone
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:31 AM EST

PC PowerZone has an exclusive first-look at dual-coloured cathodes from Sunbeam Tech, that's two different colours from a single cathode folks!

Tyan Tachyon G9000 64MB DDR GPU (ATI Radeon 9000 Pro) @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:29 AM EST

"Tyan is a company well known especially for its dual CPU motherboards. They are also known for making quality motherboards utilising the latest technologies and features, but Tyan has now entered the Graphics card arena and first of the rank is the Tachyon G9000 Pro based on the ATI radeon 9000 chipset. We take a look at Tyan's first entry into this market today."

Chaintech A-GT61 Geforce 4 Ti4600 Graphics Card review @ Explosive Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:26 AM EST

"Currently if you are an avid computer user looking for the highest performance in graphics your going to lean towards a Geforce 4 Ti4600, why? Because gamers these days and tweakers alike want the absolute fastest gaming experience possible in any given game. So of course they are going to want the best and nothing less. nVidia's Geforce 4 Titanium series is the answer. the nVidia Geforce 4 Titanium series is the top choice among gamers because it provides silky smooth gameplay with beatuiful textures at high resolutions".

A Cold Cathode/Fan Combo Pictorial @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:24 AM EST

"A wise man once wrote in a melancholy spirit..."There Is Nothing New Under the Sun". I tend to agree in that most new ideas are just variations on a theme. Rewriting the specs on the wheel in a new and vibrant way does not reinvent the wheel. Some people who have never experienced the wheel are enlightened but the wheel doesn't change.

I do not intend to write this article as if the wheel has been reinvented. I intend to show you the visual possibilities when the right fan and the right lighting are combined to trick out an otherwise mundane case. There are many options available to the case modder these days. Fans, light tape, el wire, neon lights, cold cathodes, round cables, designer grills and the like are available for any who desire to add that unique touch that makes their case a little different from the norm. The articles needed to add some aesthetic appeal to a case are quite easily found on the web and cover a broad spectrum of materials and price ranges. So let the games begin....."

Why Major League Baseball Sucks @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:22 AM EST

"First off. What does Major League Baseball or any sport have in common with technology and computing? To make it easy, it doesn’t. But this problem has been brought to my attention and I feel that it is such a problem that it should be exposed to the public in a harsh and rude matter."

ZXMods Translucent Quad LED 60/80mm Fan Review @ Tech-Dreams
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:20 AM EST

"In the world of computer modifications, we see more and more projects involving interesting paint jobs, windows on both the sides and the top, and case lighting in a variety of forms. However, it wasn't until recently that the plain black fans received a much-needed overhaul. Fan makers, such as Enermax and CyberCooler, have started producing fans in a variety of new styles: opaque and colored; clear and colored; and clear and colorless. Just to make sure that the use of colorless and clear are understood by all our readers, I'll provide a quick definition of each term: colorless means without color and clear means see-through, like a window."

Liquid Cooling the Gainward Golden Sample 750/XP **PART 3** @ DeviantPC
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:17 AM EST

"The pipe fittings and 90° elbows were test fitted to see it would all fit together. I then made the retainer. This is a 2mm star shaped copper piece that has a small square soldered to the center. This will locate on the back, (top in a tower case), of the card the center square fits inside the resistors on the rear of the card opposite the GPU. Holes in the corners of both star” & GPU block (with a M2 thread tapped into block) accept M2 screws. I placed a small square of mica shim (inert thermal rubber shim), between the retaining star and the area of the card it will contact to prevent damage to the PCB or and copper to component contact."

Enermax FS-710 Case Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:15 AM EST

One of my favorite features of this case is the slide in drive bay mounts. After breaking out the metal plates simply attach the included drive rails to your 5.25” drives and they simply slide and click into place. The one unexpected snafu I ran into, and it is quite minor, is that I was not able to just take the drives out of my SX-830 and slide them into place. It was necessary to use the second set of holes in the drive rails and the issue was gone. This is because the drives sit a little bit further back in the FS-710 than they do in my SX-830. One other quick note that I have never seen mentioned in an article regarding this case is that the excess drive rails can be stored in the grooves on the floor of the case interior.

MTB Exclusive: Nikao Zizon Case Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:12 AM EST

"One 3 ½ floppy bay sits between the 5 ¼ bays and the control panel of the front bezel. The floppy bay does not come with a matching door, so unless you paint or dye the drive door, it might be distracting in terms of keeping the case theme universal. The area that immediately catches the eye is the lower portion of the front bezel. It sports a large power button and a smaller reset button, both chrome plastic. The words Power and Reset as well as a border illuminate a light green colour when the machine is powered."

Custom Etches reviewed @ BurnoutPC
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 10:10 AM EST

"Got a window? Me too. So does Steve, Actually now that I think about it, everyone does. My brothers computer, my parents computer too. I think the only person who does not have a window kit would have to be James our newsposter. :P OK I want to be different, the solution is OracleGraphics."

Installing Windows XP - Step by Step @ Bitbender
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 10:14 AM EST

"Like Windows 2000, XP makes extensive use of the Microsoft ACPI (Advanced Configuration & Power Interface), which relies heavily on your system BIOS (Basic Input / Output System). Many slightly older systems may not be set up to take advantage of ACPI functionality, so it's worth checking with your motherboard and/or peripheral vendor to see if an ACPI compliant BIOS upgrade exists for your hardware."

Project Dragon @ phlux
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 10:12 AM EST

"I enlarged the size of my pilot hole until it was just a bit smaller than the drill bit on the arbor. As a lot of friction and heat is created when the holesaw cuts through the metal you can get burn marks on the metal. To prevent his spray the area you are going to get with oil like WD-40. Also spray the holesaw."

CoolerMaster DAF Model Dual Ball Bearing Case Fans Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 10:10 AM EST

As we all know PC cooling in these days are a requirement, the more air flowing through your PC the cooler and faster it runs. Not only that but most of us have PC's in rooms where air flow is not the best. Today we have a look at a solution to this, to keep your PC Case as cool as possible by sensing the temperature and adjusting accordingly. We take a look at the CoolerMaster DAF-B82 and the DAF-S81 case fans.

CoolerMaster Round IDE & Floppy Cables Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 10:08 AM EST

CoolerMaster is very well known for its cooling products, its case fans and of course its quality cases. But Coolermaster also make rounded cables. As you know rounded cables help with the air flow inside your PC case, and also assist in cleaning up the tangled mess of all other cables inside your machine. Today we have a look at the "aerodynamic" UTC-A24 IDE Cable and the UTC-F18 round floppy cable from CoolerMaster.

Zalman CNPS6500B-Cu Pure Copper Cooler @ Tech-Dreams
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 10:04 AM EST

"Heat is a computer's worst enemy. As computer processors speed up, they generate more and more heat. Finding ways to eliminate heat generated by system components, especially the processor, have become the goals of overclockers, modders, and system builders. While water-cooling, combined with a cold plate and a peltier, is an option, I would guess that the idea of adding water to a computer is a scary notion. With the added risk of condensation from a peltier, water-cooling is definitely not for the faint of heart. The other option in the war against heat is air-cooling. Generally, air-cooling combines either an aluminum or copper heatsink with a high CFM fan. Air-cooling comes with trade offs between CFMs and decibels. The higher the CFM rating on a fan, the more noise the fan generates while operating. With this in mind, a user has to choose between quiet, low CFM fans or high CFM screamers."

ECS P4S5A/DX Motherboard (Socket 478) Video Review #201 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 8:16 PM EST

"If you are in the market for an affordable and stable motherboard then be sure to consider the ECS P4S5A/DX. This motherboard falls outside the great overlocking category but clearly delivers on price versus performance."

Antec Performance Plus 660AMG Review @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 8:13 PM EST

In addition to the blow hole, the case also has front panel USB and Firewire ports. It also has Antec's "I" and "II" LEDs, which allows enthusiasts to hook up custom modifications to interface with the front LEDs, such as an ethernet activity light. The power button is painted chrome (it's still plastic), and the case itself has an amazing metallic gray finish. I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful cases I have ever seen.

CoolerGuys CCFL Reviewed @ BurnOutPc
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 8:12 PM EST

"You might have heard of CoolerGuys before, they are a very friendly company, with excellent tech support, and excellent products. Recently they sent me a sample of their cold cathode lights. Today I’m taking a closer look at the Blue Cold Cathode Kit from Coolerguys.com"

Zalman CNPS6000-Cu CPU Cooler Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 7:55 AM EST

"My initial impressions of the cooler were extremely positive. The unique design garners a lot of attention and curiosity. The all-copper unit weighs in at 462 grams and has a total surface area of 2600 cm2. It’s this incredible design of packing in as much surface area as possible that lends itself to silent operation. 56 fins, each only 0.3mm thick fan out from the center of the heat sink’s base. A single channel runs through the middle of the heatsink, allowing a single clip to secure the heatsink to the socket."

Zalman CNPS6000-AlCu heatsink review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 7:53 AM EST

I took a look a the Zalman CNPS6000-Cu <zalman6000cu.asp> heatsink back in April, now we take a look at its little brother, the CNPS6000-AlCu. The only thing that is different between the 6000Cu and 6000AlCu is the fact that the 6000Cu is made completely of copper while the AlCu is made of copper and aluminum. There are 2 models of the same heatsink offered because the 6000AlCu is lighter and less exspensive than the 6000Cu. Zalman is a company which is dedicated to providing quiet solutions for computers because we all know that they can get pretty loud. CNPS stands for Computer Noise Prevention System and is a system that cuts traditional computer system's noise of 30dB or higher to 20dB or lower. The AlCu supports all AMD Athlon, Duron, and Athlon XP, and Throughbreads up to 2000+. The 6000Alcu is also compatible with all Intel Pentium III, and VIA C3 CPUs.

Quiet PC Silent Drive @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 7:50 AM EST

"When I got my first water cooling kit I became much more appreciative of silence. I no longer have a “tornado” fan or the accompanying roar in my case. All of a sudden, all I hear is the whining of my hard drive. My 7200 rpm hard drive suddenly seems to be a whole lot louder than it was before. I did a little looking around the web and found a product by the name of “Silent Drive.” With a name like that; how could you lose? So I contacted QuietPC and asked for a unit for review…"

Monsters of Cooling! MCX4000 vs PAL8942 Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 7:48 AM EST

"To test the real potential of the heatsinks, I’ve included no case fans in the test bed. I used a temperature probe on the processor and the Northbridge passive heatsink (just because I had two). A fresh thin layer of Arctic Silver II was applied on the processor for each heatsink. The case sits tightly under my desk during the testing procedures. The fan I used was the Sunon 80mm x 25mm fan. It is a very common fan used for CPU HSF's and blowholes alike. It's also relatively quiet and provides a steady stream of 36CFM. The ambient room temperature was kept at a constant 73F."

Nitro Watercooled Case Review @ Techware Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 7:46 AM EST

"The Nitro system is OCH's (Overclockers Hideout) latest addition to their line of watercooled cases and is one of the nicest looking. The entire system is enclosed in the Cooler Master ATC210 Case with blue front door and side window. It offers a watercooling solution in a mid sized tower which would look nice in any environment. Of course being watercooled the entire system is very silent thanks to the Enermax adjustable fan on the radiator.

D.I.Y. Acrylic Case Kit @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 16, 2002 at 7:43 AM EST

"Ever since I began work in the hardware review scene, my dream review product has been a clear case. I was hooked on the first clear case I laid my eyes on. Clear cases are so unique and different from the ordinary beige box. I fell in love with the thought of showing off every piece of my computer's hardware, without having to disassemble the entire case. The "oooh's" and "aaah's" one would get from friends and family members would be a definite boost to your self-esteem. Well, as luck would have it, after over two years in the making, I bring to you... DesignComp's D.I.Y. Acrylic Case Kit!"

4-Way GF4 Ti4200 Shoot-Out @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:26 PM EST

We compared the performance of four Ti4200s from Gainward, MSI, X-Micro and VisionTek to a Radeon 8500LE, Radeon 9000 Pro and a GeForce 4 MX440. Odds are one of these cards will fit your reader’s budget, but which one should they buy? Which are better, the 64MB or 128MB versions? Well, we’ve got a ton of benchmarks posted to help them make a decision! Stop by and check it out…

ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 8500DV & DVI-I HDTV Dongle Review @ Explosive Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:23 PM EST

"The ATI Radeon 8500 line is ATI's most popular mass market video card, at the moment. Though, it doesn't compare to the GeForce4 line; it offers a reasonable amount of performance for the typical user with the memory and GPU are both clocked at 275MHz. ATI All-In-Wonder line is one of considerable interest. ATI was the first to actually integrate the features of several graphics cards into one. Having to use a TV tuner, VIVO card, and graphics accelerator card only brought inconvenience on the part of the user in the past. The new generation of All-In-Wonder cards are topped off with a remote control, a nice feature which puts it ahead of the pack".

Crazy PC Window Kit & Appliqué Review @ ThinkComputers
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:20 PM EST

"This window kit is a great project for the do-it-yourselfer kind of person. It doesn't require allot of tools to complete a project like this. Maybe an afternoon or so, a Dremel and masking tape. This mod is not a expensive project for the average person to complete. The 12"x12" window kit that you seen is this review sells for $17.95, and the appliqué's in many styles and shapes sell for $8.95."

Western Digital 1000JB SE 100gb HDD Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:18 PM EST

The drive itself it extremely well built. The upper portion is standard: metal casing, sticker, air hole. The underside, however, is what surprised me. For one thing, the circuitry is reversed. That is, all the chips and most of the traces are on the inner side of the drive, therefore preventing possible damage. There's also a layer of foam in-between to further lessen vibrations, add impact cushioning and protect the drive. I didn't particularly feel like removing the PCB to see what's on the other side (after all, this was a rush-delivered drive that is now my main system's powerhouse). There isn't much interesting aside from an 8mb Nanya memory module which happens to be the cache. The 1000JB SE also seems a bit quieter during operating than the only other drive I had available, the 60GXP. I wish it were as quiet as Seagate's Barracuda IV but I guess you can't have it all. For one thing, it doesn't hiss as loud and neither does it "crackle" when being stressed. As far as heat goes it stays about as cool as most drives.

Spire P4 478 Easy Stream CPU Cooler Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:16 PM EST

"Recently slapped on my desk to review was a CPU fan provided by the folks at Fanner. At first glance the Spire Easy Stream 9T236b1m3 looks like your average CPU cooler however taking a closer look at it, it's not so average. The state of the art locking mechanism is one that I have never seen before and comes first in its class."

ECS Xabre 400 Video card Review @ hardware-test
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:13 PM EST

"The Xabre chip has received a lot of press right from the beginning, since it was the first to announce that it would support AGP8x. The specifications for the Xabre were very threatening to the rest of the market since SiS made it a low-price card. It’s going to be exciting to see what SiS has to offer with this GPU, since they aren’t beginners in this market.
ECS has done quite a good job with this card. Since it is based on SiS’ Xabre GPU, it also has a great price and a good performance. The Xabre actually managed to impress me quite a bit during the test, since it got a head of the largest GeForce4 card in some of our tests. "

AOpen DVRW2412 Pro DVD burner Review @ Active-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:12 PM EST

While already impressive, AOpen's selection of multimedia products also benefits from the status of "ever growing". This time, the newest addition is the DVRW2412 Pro, which not only allows users to read and write video DVDs, but also traditional CDs.

Stomp Inc My SoundStudio v2.0 Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:08 PM EST

"My SoundStudio version 2 provides the use of 6 audio channels, I kept the first two for the song itself to keep the stereo version intact and used the other 4 for the placement of the sound clips. I was constantly repositioning the clips and fitting them into position that I thought would suit this mix sample. As I was placing the clips, for some channels it was necessary to control the volume of a particular portion of the song. I simply placed the sound bite into an open track at the location I thought suited it."

Albatron KX400+ Pro Motherboard Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:43 AM EST

Today we look at the new KX400+Pro motherboard offering from Albatron, the first DDR 400 motherboard on the market! This board features FSB 533Mhz, Dual Bios and more. You may not have heard of Albatron before but this company appears to me emerging as a strong Motherboard manufacturer. Let's take a look.

Samsung SM-332 32x12x40 CD-RW/ 12x DVD Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:40 AM EST

"Let's say you have a mini ATX tower, or perhaps one of those ever popular mini barebones cases. Or maybe you only have room for only one 5 ¼ drive in your system and you want to be able turn burn music or watch a DVD movie. At last there is a solution to your needs! Let me introduce you to the Samsung SM-332 Combo CDRW/DVD-ROM drive. Not only is the Samsung sm-332 a 32x12x40x speed CD-RW drive, it's also a 12x dvd rom. The ability to burn cd's and watch DVD's on the same unit, very cool!"

Fujitsu P-2000 Guides: Upgrading Memory @ pcstats
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:38 AM EST

"The Fujitsu Lifebook P-2000 is one of the few widely available Crusoe-based notebooks in North America, and one which has generated quite the cult following for its size, battery life and wickedly well suited display for DVD's. Under the hood, is Transmeta's current flagship processor, the 867MHz TM5800 Crusoe. So lets get started with the first Fujitsu P-2000 guide about how to upgrade the subnotebooks memory."

WinTasks Pro 4 Review @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:37 AM EST

"I want to thank Leading Interactive for giving me a chance to review this product. I have got a lot out of this product, WinTasks. It is so much more compatible than windows task manager; it makes you have so much control over your PC. I’ve been running so many programs at the same time, and it would take me so long to get end task, but this program solved my problems. There are many features in it, read on to learn about them."

Gigabyte Titan 533 Intel 850-E Motherboard @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:35 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've done a quick writeup of our thoughts on Gigabyte's new flagship Pentium 4 motherboard, the Titan 533, which is also known as the Gigabyte 8IHXP. The Titan 533 is one of the few boards on the market that officially supports PC-1066 RDRAM memory, and thanks to some clever design choices, supports ten (!!) onboard USB 2.0 ports. Also featured on the board is ATA/133 RAID from Promise, Creative digital audio, and Realtek 10/100 Ethernet. We test out the features and performance of this board against some of the other popular Pentium 4 platforms on the market.

New Desktop Gallery @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:33 AM EST

This gallery includes 6 ReviewNation Desktop images and 14 other desktops for your enjoyment and usage, all available in both 1024x768 and 800x600 resolution... This gallery will be ever-growing, so feel free to check back in soon!!!

Soltek SL-85MIR (i845G-based microATX) Motherboard Review @ lostcircuits
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:32 AM EST

The Intel i845G chipset featuring a real AGP interface instead of relying exclusively on integrated graphics has made a splash as the one size fits all wonder amongst contemporary chipsets. With official support only for PC2100 but the back orifice into the realm of DDR333, the i845G is an unlimited playground for the mainboard manufacturers to build ATX boards, and micro-ATX boards and ATX 2.03 boards (required anyway by Intel). While most other manufacturers are shooting for the most colorful presentation of their boards, Soltek goes with the pure albino look of white on white. Silver components such as capacitors blend in perfectly with the surrounding PCB and any rework borders on the impossible. But then, who needs reworks, we did not and we don't expect anyone else.

The Intel i845G chipset also features a number of buzz words like "Intel Extreme Graphics" and "Dynamic Video Memory Management", not to mention "Zone Rendering". What is really behind these terms and do they go beyond semantics? Compare our findings with the claims made by Intel ....

Floppy LED Mod @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:29 AM EST

"The second in the EliteHW series of case modding articles is aimed at the floppy drive. The floppy drive has become less and less useful since the advent of the zip drive and cdrw’s. However, I use my floppy drive frequently enough to merit spending the time to change the led’s to a more preferable color. I have been working on an all blue mod for some time so I hope to continue the trend!"

iROCK's 520 Portable MP3 Player Review @ ReviewSource
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 9:27 AM EST

MP3's are more popular now then ever! With the growing rate of the internet MP3's are everywhere. Now, I take a look at a portable MP3 Player from iROCK! It has got 64MB internal storage, with a smart media card slot, for upgrades. This MP3 player really does have it all!

Clear LED Fan Review @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:28 PM EST

"These clear fans have spread all over the net lately. As more people mod, more companies make moddin products. Xoxide is one of these companies, they had pre-modified cases and other modding supplies. They supplied this fan for review. A big thanks goes out to them. "

*EXCLUSIVE* FrozenCPU Dual Voltage 6-Ports Baybus Review Review @ VH
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:27 PM EST

"What is a Dual Voltage baybus you ask? Well it's a centralized connection point for your fans to attach to and the unit will let you control the voltage the fans get. 12V is the normal voltage if you just plugged your fan directly to the psu. but this unit lets you step it down to only 7-9v thru a toggle switch and the mechanics of the units design. The main reason anyone would want to do such a thing is NOISE! We all hate noise! Even the loudest fans can be tamed remarkably well by simply giving them less voltage which will in turn cause them to run slower and produce less noise. Of course the airflow will be effected, but most of us only really need that top speed when we're gaming or stressing our systems in other ways. If your PC is sitting idle, why not be able to tune it down a bit? This unit is the no-nonsense answer right here. This unit works in much the same way as the hugely popular PCMods Baybus does, but it certainly steps it up a couple notches and also improves on the design theory making it easier to get to the wire screw-downs. I usually wait till the end of the review to spill the beans....but I gotta tell ya right now.....if you're looking to buy, rather than make a baybus .....then this is THE baybus to own!! Ready to see more?.....Follow me....."

Xoxide C-6 Black Hawk Case Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:25 PM EST

"Of course, the highlight of this case is the huge side panel window. Accented in chrome finished moulding, the window gives a spacious view of the case interior. The window itself is a foot long and 9 inches high. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked the placement of the window, with the lower portion of the motherboard hidden from view, but with the system installed and some interior lighting, it grew on me. Mounted in the bottom corner of the side panel is one of six Sunon KD1208PTS2-6 80mm fans. These fans are a sleeve bearing , running at 2700 RPM, while displacing 35 cubic feet/minute of air at a noise level of 30 decibels."

ThermalTake A1258-S (P4 Dragon 478-S) Review @ Bytesector
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:14 PM EST

The dragon 478 is constructed and based on a core piece of copper surrounded by rounded fins made out of aluminum. The clamp is a very large improvement to the stock Intel cooler, as the dragon 478 can get taken out in about 20 seconds versus the...

Line6's GuitarPort Review @ Bytesector
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 7:10 PM EST

Line6, the maker of about half a dozen award-winning products has done it again. 2002 brings the release of the much anticipated GuitarPort. The GuitarPort takes its place among other Line6 products, such as the Vetta series and the POD, with ease. The GuitarPort is a unique piece of technology that leaves its competition.....

Sherry shows off her goods in Video Review #200 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:41 AM EST

"You will have to watch the Video to see what I'm referring to!"

Copper Rounded Cables Reviewed @ BurnoutPC
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:39 AM EST

"Last time I looked at a set of rounded cables, I was in love. They were exactly what I was looking for in that product line. After that review, a few readers directed me to sidewinder computer, to check out their copper rounded cables."

YPM 'Clocker Column @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:37 AM EST

“Geez, this rig is about everything I ever wanted in a box and then some. A 2.0 Northwood, 400mhz bus DDR memory and and GeForce 4 4600. What’s that? You say the new KinG of the hEaP is the 2.53 ‘Woody with a 533 bus?!? No way! Skunked again…Like that was a surprise. Man, time to turn into a … ‘Clocker!”

Antec SmartFan Remote Review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:33 AM EST

“With the SmartFan Remote series of fans, Antec has once again added a twist to the market. Taking the popular idea of noise reduction, mingling it with the sensibility of heat-monitored fan power, and adding the ability to directly monitor the heat of a peripheral instead of the air around the fan drops yet another powerful tool into the hands of QuietPC pundits and overclocking zealots alike. Scalable performance with a minimum of hassle is just what we’ve been looking for, and I believe we’ve found it.”

Learning from spam! @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:30 AM EST

Is there _anything_ of value in spam? Well, not if you want to buy something. But if you want to communicate with people via e-mail, spam provides a lot of lessons in how not to do it, and a few lessons in how to get it right. Some people should be paying attention. Who, and why, I explain in my column here:

Asus A7V333 - VIA KT333 Motherboard Review @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:21 AM EST

One of our thick-skinned New Yorkers, Jeff B steps into the HotHardware Motherboard Showcase Ring this evening, with a real contender. Asus' A7V333, has all the refinements of a top end enthusiasts board, with the maturity, stability and performance of a third revision chipset from VIA. The VIA KT333 based Asus A7V333 is on the bench tonight!

ExoticPC Ahanix PlatimunXP Designer Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 at 8:20 AM EST

"Ah, the computer case. The barometer of the computer enthusiast. Is he/she a geek, a "l33t" user?, or a normal user with a flare for the different? Well, today I have a great looking case that would be a great upgrade for the normal computer user. Adequate cooling, internal temperature probe, lots of expansion space, stylish looks, and internal drive bay covers make this a great deal!!"

AMD Opteron "Hammer" Processor Preview @ Hardware Extreme
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 7:07 PM EST

Hardware Extreme has posted a preview of the new AMD Opteron "Hammer" Processor. Processors based on Hammer technology are expected to ship in the forth quarter of 2002. In a recent demonstration of the Hammer processor in Malaysia, Hardware Extreme had been given an opportunity to meet with a few AMD representatives to take some exclusive pictures of the processor! However, AMD are unable to provide any benchmarks/performance figures of the Hammer processor.

AMD believes that the AMD Processors based on Hammer technology which is targeted for both desktop home user & enterprise will be priced affordably compared to other competitive brands and will dominate over 50% in the competitive positioning in year 2004. According to them, the AMD Processors based on Hammer technology is designed to allow Microsoft's operating systems to use the capabilities and full performance of 32-bit and 64-bit applications. This means that it's 100% backward-compatible with 32-bit software and no changes are required for existing software.

AMD also stated that the AMD Opteron processor-based servers are expected to be among the highest performing 32-bit and 64-bit servers for enterprise environments.

128MB Ur-Disk mini USB HDD review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 7:02 PM EST

This little drive has a lot to offer, more than you would expect from something this small, but then again does size really matter? This little hard drive can transfer up to 12Mbit per second at "Full Speed" and is supports power saving mode to reduce the power consumption while using Ur-Disk in any mobile devices. Ur-Disk is supported on Windows 95 OSR2 with USB support, Windows 98, Windows 98SE with a device driver and with Windows ME, 2000, XP, Linux, Mac 9.0 or above without any device driver. The Ur-Disk also has a green power LED when the drive is plugged in and an amber one flashes when it is transferring data. Because the Ur-Disk is powered by USB bus (4.5V ~ 5.5V) you don't need any external power which means you can install it anywhere.

Canon EOS D60 Review @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 6:59 PM EST

I've spent astounding amounts of money on a Canon EOS D60. It's a really nice digital camera.

I've written a great big rambling review of the D60, which covers what it's good for, what it's lousy for, why it's actually _cheap_ for what you get, and why a much less expensive camera will nonetheless suit most people better. Even if they don't care about the price.

Zalman ST300BLP "Black Box PSU Mod" @ frostytech
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 6:57 PM EST

"As part of the Black Box PSU Mod we wanted to increase airflow from the inside of the computer case and out through the powersupply. To this end, and to improve the overall look of a dull grey powersupply we came up with a series of practical modifications to create the " Black Box Power Supply." The real goal here really was to improve the airflow of the powersupply which already had really good low noise characteristics and is pretty stealthy by itself. In doing this "upgrade" we also wanted to give the ST300BLP a more stylish look... and I think we achieved both points rather well."

"What does the future hold?" Article @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 6:55 PM EST

Geekshelter has an article about the future. No one really knows where it is going. It could be anything! In this article I list some things in which it could be. Ideas are endless when it comes to different computers. Maybe it will turn into a gas in the air and you can't see it. Probably not likely, but you never know. It could be a little box with bluetooth on it for your mouse/keyboard/monitor/speakers. It could be sunglasses for all I know! Just go over and read this, it is a good read and will get you thinking!

"Computer usage: 74 hours" Artcile @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 6:54 PM EST

"What is this world coming to? I have been thinking a lot lately, (that’s new) and everything these days has a computer in it. We rely on computers everyday. If the electricity would go out all around the world for lets say 2 hours we would have to wait 3 months for everything to be back on track. If everything just suddenly stopped working thousands of people would die."

The Shuttle SS40G XPC Barebones System Reviewed @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 6:52 PM EST

Today we have yet another mini PC on tap from the folks at Shuttle. This time we have the SS40G, an AMD solution built around a feature rich SiS chipset. It seems as though the people at Shuttle have been taking the feedback they received from previous mini's to heart, offering an improved design and additional goodies. Click the link below for the full story on the SS40G from Shuttle...

Triplex GeForce 3 Ti4200 128MB Review @ hardware-test
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:33 AM EST

"Regarding the cooling structure on this Triplex card, I am very impressed. The heat sinks on the memory chips look very convincing and effective. The first time you see a Triplex graphics card, one cannot avoid noticing the dashing silver PCB. A lot of people think that it is just eye-candy but actually there is a number of practical purposes to it.
I have to admit that I didn’t expect much from the overclocking capabilities of this card, but that quickly changed to a big DOH!
There is no doubt about that this is one of the best Ti4200 cards available on the market, the overclocking results achieved in this test are very impressive. It has also been confirmed that the cards cooling structure is remarkably good"

CoolerMaster HSC-V62 Review @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:32 AM EST

"Here we get a good shot of the Skived Fin Technology. I had to dig around on the net a bit to learn more about this technology. What I found is that most heatsink fins are bonded in some way to the base of the heatsink. Skived Fin Technology is the process of carving the fins out of a single block of material, thus eliminating the boding of the fins. This logically will provide better heat transfer than the bonding method."

3Ware Escalade 8500-4 Serial ATA/150 RAID Controller @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:30 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've got a first look at the brand new, ready to hit store shelves, Serial ATA/150 RAID adapter from 3Ware. The Escalade 8500-4 is a four-port Serial ATA RAID controller, capable of running four Serial or Parallel ATA hard disks in RAID levels 0, 1, 0+1, 5, and JBOD, making it the first Serial ATA controller on the market to boast such a wide variety of RAID levels. We test out the performance of this new adapter with a host of Western Digital hard disks against new cards from Highpoint, Adaptec, Promise, and even 3Ware's own Ultra ATA/133 RAID cards.

Palmate Device Review @ Unique Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:28 AM EST

"Now, to use this device is very easy. You use the stylus that comes with it and simply touch the screen etc to navigate. It also includes 6 buttons where you can do everything with if you somehow loose the 3 stylus pens that come with it..."

Stealth CDROM Guide @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:27 AM EST

"Due to popular demand, eliteHW has started on a sequence of articles involving simple case mods. Hopefully these guides will show you how to improve the aesthetics of your case without huge costs. The first in this series of articles will be on stealth-ing your CD-ROM bays. This mod is not all that original or new, but I post in several forums, and when people see my rig I get a lot of “Whoa, how’d you do that?” or, “Then how does the drive open?” Hopefully I will answer these questions with a simple guide."

ThermalRight Round Out @ overclockercafe
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:25 AM EST

“Not six months ago there was a substantial buzz in the overclocking community about the AX-7 that has since fallen prey to ThermalRight’s newest flagship sink. Something to consider is that the AX-7 generally has a street price now at about HALF that of the SLK-800.“

Y.S. Tech TMD Fan Review @ GideonTech
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:23 AM EST

"There are a couple safety feature built into this fan, the first one is "Locked Rotor Protection". If the rotor (blades) get jammed, the fan will stop spinning after 1 second and 2-6 seconds later, the fan will attempt to start spinning again. The second feature which is also common with other brands is the "Polarity Protection". What this does is provide 10 seconds of protection to the circuitry if the ground and voltage lines are crossed."

eVGA GeForce4 Ti 4400 Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:22 AM EST

"There are 3 flavors of the GeForce Ti series cards. There is the Top end Ti 4600. The middle guy, Ti 4400 and the more budget friendly Ti 4200 version which is the cheapest of the three. All three varied in price ranges with their own specific markets. The Ti 4400 seems to be a favorite card among enthusiasts as it provides the best "bang for the buck". Normally a 4400 can be had for 100$ cheaper than a 4600, yet if your lucky enough to get a quality card, you can overclock the 4400 to near or beyond 4600 default speeds."

"4xS is currently nVIDIA's highest offering of Full Screen Anti-Aliasing. Impressive? Yes. Not only do we get smoother visuals than simple 4x, we don't see any additional loss of performance. Quincunx may have been a gimmick, but 4xS is the "real deal". My eVGA GF4 Ti 4400 may not be able to handle games like RtCW and JKII with 4xS enabled, but you can bet I'll be sporting 4xS in games like Diablo2 and WC3. Not only does it run smoothly in both, it looks great as well."

Gyration Gyroscope Ultra Mouse Exclusive review @ ASE Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:19 AM EST

'You must be thinking why I really like this mouse so much, or maybe not... First off, it is totally wireless. This mouse has no problem whatsoever and not having the damn wire is one of the greatest things since sliced bread. That's all well and good, but this is more than just an ordinary wireless mouse. This one has the very unique feature of being a handheld pointing device! No more do you need to be tied down to that desk anymore to browse the internet or navigate on your computer.'

Nexland's Pro400 Internet Sharing Box Review @ Tech-Dreams
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:17 AM EST

"Are you in search of a router? Do you or your family own a couple of computers at home and want to share your broadband or dial-up connection (god I hope not)? Well, of course your answer would be a router, but which router would you buy? You heard rumors about broadband being vulnerable to attacks, so you will want something with a solid reliable firewall as well. If you share the same interests as I do, then you are sitting in front of your computer, looking side to side at about 4 to 5 computers in your room, and a router would do you good right about now because Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is very limited and offers no protection besides a separate software firewall."

Powercooler PCH247H Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 5:14 AM EST

"Powercooler is a company that is dedicated to providing quality computer cooling components, and has been doing so since 1989! They have a long history of cooling computers, but can they compete with other companies such as Thermaltake or OCZ?

On this day, we will be looking at a Powercooler PCH247H, which is rated to cool up to a 2 GHz CPU. Keep in mind that this is not their flagship cooler, thus probably not their best cooler..."

MySoundStudio Review @ DreddNews
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:12 PM EST

"Next I tried the fading option (thinking that this would be another option most people would find useful). The fade in/out option brings up a new window with a very clever red bar that can be manipulated. Anyways, the fading option worked quite nicely."

Nexland Internet Sharing Box SOHO Router Video Review #199 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:11 PM EST

"The Nexland Internet Sharing Box (ISB) SOHO is a perfect solution for any home or even small office. With the powerful NAPT Firewall to protect your computer system(s) and 8MB of Bi-Directional Throughput it is an excellent choice for an ISB."

WinTasks 4 Professional Review @ GeekExtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:09 PM EST

Hi Folks, just a quick heads up to say we've reviewed WinTasks 4 Professional. Is it your replacement to Windows Task Manager, or is it a total piece of trash?

i845E Roundup Part 2 Review @ Explosive Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:07 PM EST

"Explosive Labs took a look at the FIC VC19, Soltek Sl-85DR2, and Epox 4BEAR in the i845E Roundup Part 1. We are closing the chapter on the i845E, barring a revision, with our largest roundup to date. This time we are going all out, with 8 motherboards from some of the largest names in the motherboard field."

Shuttle SiS648 Based AS45GT/R Previewed @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:05 PM EST

Today, on HotHardware.Com, we've taken a look at a new motherboard from Shuttle, the AS45GT/R. This new board is powered by SiS' recently introduced 648 chipset. As of today, there aren't any other DDR chipsets available for the Pentium 4 that can rival the features incorporated into the SiS648. With AGP8X and unofficial support for DDR400 memory speeds, the AS45GT/R should be one heck of a performer. If you think your readers would be interested in taking a look at this board, we’d appreciate a link in your news sections!

Crucial.com introduces 128MB MMC
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:03 PM EST

Crucial Technology announced this morning it has added a 128MB MultiMediaCard (MMC) to its growing flash product line.

128MB is currently the highest density MMC available. It allows users to store even more in a single card and meets the needs of today's more sophisticated, smaller, and faster electronic devices.

MultiMediaCards are about the size of a postage stamp and can be used in a variety of digital cameras, digital music players, and PDAs-- including those that use SecureDigital.

Below, you'll find today's release about Crucial's new 128MB MMC. Please contact me if you'd like more information about this or Crucial's line of flash storage cards.

Spire Skive Stream and Micro Flow AMD Cooler Roundup Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 6:59 PM EST

"In conclusion I would have to say all in all the Spire SkiveStream and Micro Flow are both nicely engineered coolers and come definitely recommended to the average user."

Modlight 2002 Sound Activated Blue CCFL Kit Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 6:58 PM EST

"One of the new features of the second generation cold cathode kit is the size of the 12v inverter. Compared to the first kit that MTB reviewed, the size has almost doubled but is still encased in a plastic protective shell. The new 12v inverter is sound activated and has a microphone embedded in the top portion of shell casing. A three position switch controls the different operation modes for the cold cathode kit. The "OFF" mode turns the kit completely off when not in use. The "MOV" mode turns on the microphone which allows the cold cathode kit to react to sound. The "ON" mode keeps the light on constantly and works like a standard cold cathode kit. A volume switch is also included to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone."

Your computer is not alive article @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 6:56 PM EST

I've put up another column on Dan's Data, explaining that computers aren't alive. Yeah, yeah. I know. You didn't think they were. I bet you've directed personal insults at a PC once or twice, though, haven't you? And you've probably had a computer problem at some point that seemed pretty weird and spooky. Almost as if the thing didn't like you. I boldly light a candle of reason in the midst of the engulfing darkness of something or other, here:

XOXIDE Z-40 Insight Case Review @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 5:43 AM EST

"I would prefer replacing all those pre-cut holes with an extra exhaust fan, or a larger case fan. Most cases come with 80mm fans. The space that the unused holes occupy could be used for a 92mm or 120mm fan which would greatly enhance the airflow potential. This would be especially useful with today’s hotter running components and you would not have to tolerate the noise of a high cfm fan."

Office XP SP1 Slipstreaming Update @ Viperlair
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 5:42 AM EST

"The whole point of this exercise was to create a CD with Office XP with Service Pack 1. Should there be a Service Pack 2 (likely), this guide should apply to it as well, though I'll be sure to double check. I know some may be thinking that this is a lot of work, but think of it in the long run. You'll now have a backup of your original CD, since I hear a lot of dubious stories like "I lost my originals!!", as well as a backup of your CD key."

Macase Champion KA-130BL Full Tower Caset Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 5:40 AM EST

What do we look for in a case? Looks? Drive bays? upgradeability? Today we have a look at a case which has all that. Not only that it is BIG! and a metallic blue. We have a look at the Champion KA-130BL case from Fortunetec Australia.

Cooler Master Copper Heatsinks Roundup @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 12, 2002 at 5:35 AM EST

There are 13 fins on each side of the clip, 26 copper fins in total, and these fins stretch from one side of the heatsink to the other so they are 60mm long and about 25mm tall. But what is most interesting is the way the fins are attached to the base. They are not inserted or lead soldered, but copper based soldered as far as I can determine. I have closely examined the heatsink looking for anything that would resemble a hole in the base or a lead spot, but I found none, only copper. I guess this is why they called it a "pure copper" heatsink. The base of this heatsink is very smooth and it has an almost mirror shine.

Vapochill vs. Prometia - Extreme CPU Cooling Review @ hardware-test
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 11, 2002 at 7:02 PM EST

"Following the introduction and first review of the Prometeia Cooling System, we considered it interesting to make a comparison with one of its more established competitors Vapochill™ from Asetek. This we have now managed, with the viewpoint of an overclocker naturally."
" What is the power consumption on the 2 systems? It can hardly surprise anyone, that the power consumption of the Prometeia system is higher than that of the Vapochill, as the Prometeia works at considerably lower temperatures. Vapochill still impress on great looks all the way. The weight is also advantageous for the Vapochill as it is somewhat lighter than the Prometeia."

CoolerMaster ATC-210 (Azure) Aluminum Case Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 11, 2002 at 6:59 PM EST

"The ATC-210 line of cases features a colored plexi door that covers the front of the case and looks extremely stylish. The Coolernaster ATC-210 series also feature a top mounted blowhole and removable motherboard tray. Today we will be looking at the Coolermaster ATC-210 with the Azure door."

PC2700 DDR RAM @ Cas 2 shoot-out UPDATED @ OcPrices
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 11, 2002 at 6:58 PM EST

"With the incarnation of 333MHz chipsets from VIA (KT333) and ALi (as seen in the Iwill XP333), as well as a multitude of PC2700 - compatible Pentium 4 boards, a number of memory manufacturers have seen fit to release PC2700, or 333MHz DDR memory. Early revisions were questionable at best, with a number of review sites having to result to high voltage just to hit the rated speed. Now that the standard has been approved by JEDEC, and has had time to mature a little, I figured a round up was now in order."

Y.S. Tech T.M.D. Fan (Review) @ ipKonfig
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 11, 2002 at 6:57 PM EST

"As most of you already know, the TMD fan uses four coils, one at each corner of the fan underneath the metal plate. Each coil kicks out voltage, in a sequence of one motor at a time, in a circle to spin the fan. This takes much lower power consumption than the ordinary magnetic motor fans we're all familiar with. Still, this fan does use a good amount of power to achieve what it must: spin through a good CFM flow, while producing much less noise.

Pretty well all of our fans connect at the center to a motor, right? This is just a tad different. The entire construction of fan and wheel are connected to a bearing at the center, but this is its centralized connection; nothing else."

WipeOut Universal CD Care Kit Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 11, 2002 at 6:55 PM EST

Have you ever had a music cd or computer cd that would not play or work anymore due to it being scratched? Today we have a look at a Universal CD Care kit from Kalvins which contains everything you need to clean & repair cd’s and also clean the Laser Lens of your CD/DVD player or PC CDROM.

Keykatcher hardware keylogger @ eliteHW
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 10:27 PM EST

"Computers have become very comprehensive tools: a computer can be used to find or view information on almost anything. Inherently, with this ability, security starts to become an issue. “Security” doesn’t necessarily mean passwords and encryption it can also mean peace of mind. A parent being sure that his or her son/daughter is not viewing sensitive material can be very comforting. Today we will be looking at a security product by the name of Keykatcher. It is a hardware level key-logger and should help both parents and system admins feel just a little bit more comfortable."

Arctic Cooling Silent 2500 cooler review @ Ripnet-UK
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 10:20 PM EST

After a few hours listening to my mini-super orb - I'd had enough! - I need a quieter PC, what's a mini-super orb I hear you cry well its a high powered AMD Athlon cooler from Thermaltake with twin fans inside a cylindrical heatsink body, and boy it makes a racket. After a scan of Micromart an ad by chillblast caught my eye for an Arctic Cooling Silent 2500 AMD Cooler, and so I bashed the plastic for the princely sum of £28.99, swooning at the promise of silent operation.

Building a budget PC for Auntie (or any other relative!) @ Ripnet-UK
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 10:19 PM EST

We are all at one time or another pestered by one member or another of our families to build them a pc after they've seen our new super-dooper screamer. But they have a whole different set of priorities to us, usually they need to write letters, send e-mail, surf the `net, play the odd game (mostly solitaire if they're honest!) but generally do not need to spend anywhere near as much money as we have (or would like to admit to if our partners weren't listening).

Corsair XMS3200 (CL2) Memory Review @ DeviantPC
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 10:16 PM EST

"Corsair have recently propelled themselves to the top of the memory performance ladder with their XMS series of products. In a quest for rock solid stability coupled with high performance Corsair have hit a winner with the XMS series for both overclockers and stability seeking users alike."

Aluminum Alloy MG 555 Case reviewed @ BurnoutPC
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:49 AM EST

"So your looking to buy an aluminum case? You want a case that is factory modded, with a nice clean look? Well look no further because I got the solution here. GSM-International's Alu Mg Alley aluminum case."

Belkin 55-Piece Toolkit Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:47 AM EST

Have you ever tried to do something on your PC, a modification, changing a Hard Drive, or installing a new piece of hardware and never had the right tool to do it? Today we look at the 55-Piece Toolkit from Belkin Australia which attempts to solve all your problems in one kit. This hi quality toolkit from Belkin contains everything that you need to do any PC task, and can also be used for any other repairs or PC Maintenance.

Exclusive! X-Arcade controller review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:44 AM EST

If you are a typical male like me and I'm sure you are, you love video games especially arcade video games. I also know that many of you probably want to have your own arcade inside of your house. You can emulate games on your computer and use a keyboard or gamepad but I'm sure that you feel that you are missing the real arcade feel, I know I was. X-Arcade is a company that makes a real arcade controller which can be hooked to your computer and will interface perfectly with your PC, and Mac. There are also adapters so that you can get to connect this awesome controller to your Dreamcast, Playstation, Playstation 2, Gamecube, and X-Box. I know your thinking, hey what's the big deal I can play all of those things with my keyboard or gamepad or joystick but let me show you why this is much better, the X-Arcade controller totally blows all of those away.

80mm Alien Head Stainless Steel Grill Review @ ocaddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:38 AM EST

"This Crystal fan is 100% clear, with a cool Green Neon coating. Perfect for those window kits. This fan features two BLUE LED’s that light up when powered on and is also exceptionally quiet with excellent performance, and includes manual RPM adjustment. In normal daylight, the Alien Head has the normal Stainless Steel appearance, and the fan appears clear. Turn off the normal white light, turn on the Black Light and the Alien Head and fan combo comes to life."

Vantec Chipset Coolers Reviews @ Overclocker Café
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:34 AM EST

“The pin stays on the Iceberqs are just large enough to cause you a problem. This was easily enough rectified by 15 seconds with a Dremel for us. On the other hand, some you out there may not own a Dremel and may be in for a surprise when it comes time to mount things.”

Tidy Your Case... RN Style! Article @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:30 AM EST

"Tidying you case has more than one advantage… Not only does it look a helluva lot better through your nice new window, but it also improves airflow and lowers temperatures. In this article, I'll show you how to make your case tidy, make it look awesome, and all at a very affordable price. So let's get to tidying our case… RN STYLE!..."

Global Win WBK38 HSF Cooler Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:27 AM EST

"One of the key features of the WBK38 is the use of Global Win's Unbalanced Wave Shape Fin Technology. The center point of the base rises thicker than the rest to accommodate for the location of the CPU core generating most heat. The 24 fins ranging in height are arranged in a "wave" configuration and come to a center point. There is notable space present between the heatsink and fan, which allows greater area for air to be pushed down and exit from either side effectively aiding in the dispersal of unwanted heat."

Altec Lansing 221 2.1 Amplified Speaker System Review @ Tweaknews
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:24 AM EST

"Beautiful crisp music whether classical or death metal, immersive gaming, good looks and POWER!! These were all characteristics of computing that I was missing until I was introduced to these compact, yet amazing sounding speakers. Upon the opening of the box, you will be introduced to a stylish set of speakers just like any other brand. But that is where the similarity ends."

Lian Li PC-6089 Case Review @ ReviewSource
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 9:15 AM EST

When you hear the words "Lian Li" most of us think of the greatest PC case manufacturer out there on the market. Window kits are very popular now, and Lian Li knows this, that's why they equipped their new case, with an installed window already! Along with that there is more!

USB key chain drive Review @ Extreme Overclocking
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:41 PM EST

Extreme Overclocking has put up another review this fine Friday afternoon for your viewing pleasure. This is the newest product coming from the Tweakmonster, a tiny USB key chain drive! It doesn't need drivers or batteries, you just plug it in and go. We tested it out and benchmarked the drive with Windows & Linux and it performed flawlessly.

Visioneer OneTouch 7100USB Scanner Review @ GeekExtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:39 PM EST

Until recently, I''''ve had about the same attitude about scanners: "Why bother?" Unless you persistantly need one for the OCR ability, it''''s easier to either take it to someone or use one of the many other methods of digital convergance, such as Digital Cameras.
All this has changed with the 7100USB. My primary objection, even with USB Scanners, has been their speed. It seems like it takes forever for a scanner to warm up, scan an image (in preview no less), scan it again (final time) and send the image to the computer.

CoolerMaster HSC-V62 Reviewed @ BurnOutPc
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:37 PM EST

"The HSC-V62 came in quite nice packaging. It did not take any tools to get it out, and the packaging was even reusable, if that was ever needed. Inside was the cooler, as well as a small amount of thermal paste rather than using a sticky pad preattached to the cooler that many heatsinks are still coming with, that usually end up removed anyways. The back of the packaging contained the instructions on installation, and graph containing details of the Fans temperature sensitivity."

eDimensional Wireless 3D Glasses Video Review #198 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:36 PM EST

"The eDimensional Wireless 3D Glasses add a true 3D realism to your CRT monitor and are one of the coolest products I've seen. When gaming with these glasses it's an experience you will never forget. Needless to say this product is very impressive and once you try them it's hard to go back. Simply incredible!"

Blizzard 900 Airlock Case @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:34 PM EST

"Next I placed on my work gloves and felt all the edges. After receiving numerous paper cut type slices from cases claiming to have smooth edges I was gonna be ready. I could not believe what I felt, smooth edges. I removed my gloves and carefully felt the edges inside the case again. Yup they were smooth. Score 1 for the Blizzard. This alone set it apart from most other steel cases I had worked on. Imagine that...smooth edges in a steel case. What will they think of next?"

'Marvel-ous Mod' case mod article @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:33 PM EST

Our very own Jonathan Martini toiled and troubled over a wicked Case Mod, titled 'Marvel-ous Mod'. Using an older AOpen HX-08 Full-Tower steel case, Jonathan spent long hours painting, cutting and polishing this beast of a case conversion. Adorned with over 50 photos, this is one labour of love. Can you guess the theme he chose for the Mod?

JAZZ with DTS and Dolby Digital Review @ hardware-test
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:29 PM EST

"Counter-Strike: The sound is great and the whole time I had a feeling of where my friends and foes were. With surround sound one can easily hear if someone a sneaking around behind your back."

How-To guide: Make your own USB-Powered flashlight @ PimpRig
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 8:27 PM EST

"I was at a LAN party the other night when I realized how much of an annoyance it was trying to find keys in the dark. I wanted to be able to see my area but I also didn't want the added bulk of hauling a desk lamp. A better solution had to exist, so I set about creating my own USB-powered flashlight."

Windtunnel IV Case @ Viperlair
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:50 AM EST

"Many people wish to modify their case for at least one of two basic reasons, to increase the cooling ability or to make the computer look more appealing. The first choice, cooling, seems to be a motivator behind most of the mods we see so far. But the growth of the business of increasing the aesthetics of a computer is growing and Coolerguys seems to understand this as well as or better any other company."

Shuttle SS51G XPC Small Form Factor Chassis @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:49 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've taken a look at one of the hottest little PC cases hitting the market today, Shuttle's new SS51G XPC small form factor chassis. Sporting a custom-built Flex-ATX motherboard with AGP expandability, along with support for such top of the line features like Pentium 4 processors, DDR memory, USB 2.0, and Firewire, the Shuttle SS51G is the first small form factor PC to ever truly ever bring desktop-level performance down to the portable PC. We take a look at this new case and compare the performance levels to that of the top Pentium 4 platforms on the market today.

Innovatek watercooling system review @ OCModShop
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:48 AM EST

Innovatek is a German company which produces watercooling setups for computers, watercooling has become more available and used recently due to the benefits that it has. There are many reasons why watercooling is much better than conventional air cooling setups. With watercooling your system is almost always more quiet than that of air cooling, your CPU will stay much colder than it ever will with air, and with watercoling you are able to push more voltage into your CPU than that of air cooling because the heat is able to be reabsorbed into the water and released through the radiator. Ther are some negative aspects to watercooling along with the many benifts however, watercooling does not come cheap if you are going to get anything that isnt junk and leaks can arise from improper seals or poor quality parts and watercooling is more difficult to install than your everyday heatsink. The Innovatek set that I recieved from Sharka Corporation was set 2 which will work for socket 462 (A) or socket 370 which means you can use this set with a Duron, Thunderbird, Athlon XP, and Pentium III, you can also order a kit which will work for your Pentium 4 socket 478 CPU. Kit 2 includes everything that you would need to get up and running which is the following.

Albatron GeForce4 Ti4600 Review @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:45 AM EST

"With Albatron being so new to the video card scene I really had no idea what kind of overclocking results to expect. I fired up Cool Bits registry utility to access the frequency settings. Remember, the card comes stock at 250 core and 650 memory and I've heard of users getting their cards up to 330 core and 750 memory and beyond with stock cooling. I was able to overclock the Albatron card to a maximum stable speed of 310 Mhz core and 720 Mhz memory speed, which boosted my 3DMark 2002SE points from 10,746 to 11,134. With a standard HSF and no memory heat sinks I don't wouldn't expect it to overclock as well as cards from Leadtek, ASUS, and Gainward for example, but overclocking is always based a little bit on luck so your results may vary."

Crazy PC Custom Appliques @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:44 AM EST

"Installing Crazy PC custom appliqués is similar to installing window tinting in your car. Not easy, but not too terribly difficult, either. Just make sure to follow the instructions closely."

OCZ Gladiator w/ 60mm Stealth Fan Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:42 AM EST

"I am sure that most of the overclockers out there with the loud delta's would welcome a heatsink/fan combo that gives very good performance at a low decibel rating (and don't want the expense of watercooling). Today, we will be test if this combo can use the benefits of pure copper fins and a low noise "stealth" fan to produce a "silent" and overclocker-friendly cooler..."

GlobalWIN TAK68 Heatsink Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:41 AM EST

It looks more like a thing from an old science-fiction movie, sort of industrial looking but I must admit I like it. Besides the cooler, in the box can be found an installation manual, a bag of silicone compound and a GlobalWIN sticker. The manual comes very handy because the cooler's clip is very original so every bit of help in installing the cooler is necessary for the inexperienced user. Now for the sticker. This make for a very nice case badge, especially if you happen to have one of those new GlobalWIN aluminum cases that look so good. And here are all the things in the pack, after I disassembled the cooler. Two fans, two wire clips, one heatsink, one clip, a bag of silicone compound, a sticker, a manual and an Y-cable, this is the complete list of all the things inside the box..

The P4 Northwood that could... (Article) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 9, 2002 at 5:36 AM EST

Since I bought the 1.6, the heatspreader that Intel put on it has been giving me dirty looks and just begging to be removed. If I succeeded, it was one less piece of material in between my waterblock and the core itself. I was curious to see how much of an improvement I would see over the previous maximum, if any. Saturday night I broke out the dremel

I started at the airhole and slowly worked my way down each side. After I began dremeling it became apparent how well the heatspreader works. It turns out it was mostly copper. To keep the pins from getting bent, I just kept them inside the included pink OEM packaging. I wore gloves and held the sides of the chip while I grinded away to keep from getting burnt. When it got too hot, a heatsink went on it to cool it down faster (hey it worked!)

Green Cold Cathode Lights Reviewed @ ReviewSource
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:19 PM EST

"Now, a lot of case companies are installing windows in their cases, for resell, this is a very good idea. Window kits are probably the most common modification to a case. Why have a window on your case, with out a nice light source? Here we will look at a nice cold cathode light!"

Globalwin VA476 Pentium 4 Heatsink Review @ frostytech.
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:18 PM EST

Globalwin are one of the longest standing heatsink manufacturers in the industry, and with the close of this years Computex 2002 we have been patiently waiting to see what they have to offer. The VA476 is one of Globalwin's newest socket 478 pentium 4 heatsinks. Designed around a thick copper base, and lightweight set of nickel-plated aluminum fins, the VA476 certainly looks as though it has good breading. However, as always this is a senario that can sometimes offer foggy first impressions.

GEIL PC3500 DDR433 Memory Review @ pcstats
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:12 PM EST

"That being said we did use a Pentium 4 system to test the memory and it ran flawlessly on the test Abit BG7 (i845G) with a P4 1.6A. Enabling the 4/5 memory divider (making the memory run faster then the FSB) we were able to push the FSB up to 167 MHz before our CPU maxed out. The final memory speed we were able to attain was 417 MHz, but we're sure we could have gone higher if the CPU not max out. Everything was with the most aggressive memory timings enabled in the BIOS as well!"

Bluetake Poke2 Review @ iamnotageek
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:11 PM EST

The Poke2 series of bluetooth USB adapters is aimed towards the laptop user. Someone who needs to be connected without cables, but doesn't need to stray very far. The adapter looks like a USB Hard Drive keychain and comes in black, blue and red. It provides a data transfer rate of up to 1Mbps and can talk with up to 7 other bluetooth devices.

Stomp's MySoundStudio Software Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:09 PM EST

"MySoundStudio, is a good app in its own right. It has very useful features such as importing .cda and exporting, mp3 and the video-sync capability. If you're looking for sound-video syncing without the love-handles of other, higher-priced applications, this is a good first stop."

Freedom Force Review @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:07 PM EST

"When was the last time you got to play as your own Superhero creation in a game? If you are like me, and most gamers out there your answer is most likely "Not anytime recently", unless you are Stan Lee and you have been playing a lot of Spiderman games lately."

DiskOnKey Docking Cradle Review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 9:06 PM EST

“Hate reaching around the back trying figure out which way is up when inserting a cable or device in one of your case’s rear USB ports? After a few tries, you still can’t get the blasted thing in. The same goes for rear-ported USB hubs – you can’t see the port’s orientation, and you eventually have to go back there or flip it all around to get the device or cable seated. However, a few Keychain drive companies have started to offer ‘docking cradles’ for their products. M-Systems’ DiskOnKey now has this optional capability and we’re happy campers.”

Thermal Take Volcano 9 Cooler Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 7:47 AM EST

"The initial impression of the Volcano 9 reminds us of the heatsink that was used for the Volcano 7. In fact after closer observation the only difference is the color. However this time around the cooler is sporting an updated 3 lug clip and an orange 80mm fan with a few leads coming off it. This cooler doesn't have the 100% copper, thin fin design of the Volcano 7+ thus pushing the technology of the heatsink itself back to the era of the Volcano 7. This new fan, dubbed Smart Fan II, is where the performance of the Volcano 9 originates."

Cool Link Cool U1Power2 and Cool U2Power Review @ Xtreme Systemes
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 7:46 AM EST

Cool Link has recently produced a new variety of heat sinks that seem to be holding their own with the top rated ones of today. The two on the top in that lineup are the U1Power2 and the U2power. Both of these massive sinks look to be top contenders in the ever growing and changing world of high performing heat sinks. I have had one or the other in my case since Xtreme Tek Werks sent the to me. See for yourself...

Vantec 6027D CPU Cooler Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 7:42 AM EST

"The fins are individually folded and soldered to the base of the heat sink. Newer designs employing technologies like skiving, or folding fins, make the thermal interface between the base of the heat sink and the fins much more efficient, but again, for the mid-level performance this unit is targeted for, it does the job. The base of the unit has a good finish to it. Not a mirror finish, but there are very few machine marks, so lapping wouldn’t yield any noticeable performance improvements."

BackUp MyPC by Stomp Inc review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at 7:40 AM EST

"STOMP Inc. is claiming they have developed a software package that will back-up all, some, or just certain selections from your hard drive or drives. They also claim this software is hassle free. Meaning whether your new to making backups or to lazy, like me, to bother with details it doesn't matter they have you covered. And if you happen to want to get into the nitty-gritty details, that's fine too. They have all the options to keep just about everyone happy.

Now this seems like a pretty bold claim on their part, let's see if they can live up to it."

Tt Volcano 7+ Cooler for P4/P3/AMD Video Review #197 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 6:55 PM EST

"The Thermaltake Volcano 7+ Cooler is very unique due to the fact it will fit any Intel P4 (Socket 478), Intel P3 (Socket 370) or AMD (Socket 462) motherboard. It also has an adjustable fan and solid copper Heatsink which results in excellent temperatures and depending on the fan speed it can be very quiet."

Asus Ti4200 V8420 Pure Review @ Techseekers
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 6:54 PM EST

The most common question I am asked is , "Should I go for a Geforce3 Ti200 or a Geforce4 Ti4200?". Well the graphs don't lie. If you have a geforce3 already I would find it difficult to recommend this small a jump especially with newer cards are around the corner. However, if you are upgrading your Geforce2mx or Geforce2 then this is a must. It has all the features of its bigger brothers and is only a slight bit slower. It's no 3DMark winner but is that so important?

Windows .NET Server Preview @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 6:52 PM EST

I was able to get my hands on Windows .NET Enterprise Server Build 3660 (Beta 3), and boy do I have an article in store for you. The Windows .NET server line is set to be released in early 2003, and is truly the next generation of Microsoft server operating systems. If you aren't familiar with Windows Server, this article probably won't appeal to you. Windows Server has, obviously, a much different focus than it's desktop counterpart, and thus this preview reflects that.

Mac vs PC Article @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 6:51 PM EST

"I have a feeling that alot of you geeks out there are not educated on the difference between Mac and PC processors/architectures and how in fact they work. Because I have a fair knowledge on the subject from working at an Apple Computers retailer because of what I have been taught by the senior techs here, (By the way, I am a PC user at home currently, so this is not a biased article) so I will attempt to explain the difference in laymen terms that even a begginer should be able to understand. Apple computers and PC processor companies like AMD or Intel use two different types of processors, Apple computers use RISC processors and PC's use CISC. I will try to illustrate the difference between the new Apple G4 processors and let's say....a Celeron counterpart."

Condor Aluminum Mid-Tower Case Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 6:49 PM EST

"The front bezel of the Condor Aluminum Mid-Tower Case features 4 external 5.25" drive bay slots which can handle the most complex computer configuration. All the drive bay covers are flat and perfectly suitable for mounting existing pre-made devices such as LCD's, front port extenders or fan controllers. Towards the middle section of the case are two accessible external 3.5" drive bay slots which are perfect for mounting floppy devices. The middle portion of the bezel includes the addition of a raised acrylic front panel which surrounds the 3.5" drive bays and power buttons."

Gigabyte GA-81EXP Motherboard Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 6:47 PM EST

Founded in 1986 Gigabyte is noticeably one of the most well known motherboard manufacturers in the world. Today we have a look at the Gigabyte GA-81EXP socket 478 motherboard based on the 854E chipset, featuring some great features like Dual Bios, onboard RAID, USB 2.0, Firewire and more.

How-To guide: Put LEDs in your PSU @ PimpRig
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 9:07 AM EST

"Why shell out the extra cash for something like an Antec TrueBlue480 when you can just as easily install LEDs inside your power supply yourself for cheaper? This HOWTO will guide you through doing that."

Silver Bullet PC Nitro Elite Case @ Viperlair
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 9:06 AM EST

"If you were to take a survey of the case that most DIY PC users own I am sure that the Antec SX1030 would be near the top of the list. The sheer functionality and size of the case make it the perfect enclosure for pretty much any system. A well-known fact is that Antec isn't the manufacturer of these cases, Chenming is. Antec, along with several other companies have branded the SX1030 as their own product."

Athlon MP Motherboard Shootout : Asus vs. MSI @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 9:03 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've taken a closer look at two of the more popular AMD Athlon MP motherboard platforms on the market today, the Asus A7M266-D and MSI K7D Master. Both feature support for 64-bit PCI, 4GB DDR memory, and the fastest Athlon MP processors on the market. We compare and contras the features of both boards and run them through a quick gauntlet of benchmarks to compare application and gaming performance.

Games You May Have Missed Article (Part 1) @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 9:00 AM EST

"It seems as though game prices are on the rise, and for the financially-challenged gamer, (like me,) this is a somewhat troubling trend. But fear not, there are plenty of great games that can be found in the good old bargain bin of your local software shop. This is the first installment in what I hope to be an ongoing series; a guide to help you sift through the trash and find the true gaming gems of the past… for cheap.

The first titles to be featured are Clive Barker's Undying and EA Game's Giants: Citizen Kabuto. I recently picked up these games for $8 apiece at a local Sam's Club, and what a deal that was. Both offer hours of gaming delight, and despite being a year or two old, look great..."

Thermalright SLK-600 Heatsink Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 8:58 AM EST

Plus, the SLK-600 heatsink is for the SK-6 heatsink what the SLK-600 car is for the rest of Mercedes' S class, a turbo version. And if you compare the two you'll see I am right, the SK-6 is a skinny heatsink compared to the SLK-600. Anyway, the name is not very important since Thermalright claims that the SLK-600 is the best 60mm heatsink. I guess we'll see about that. As all other Thermalright heatsinks, the first thing that impressed me is the box. I don't know why, but Thermalright packs their heatsinks in big brown boxes that make you think you've just bought a very pricey collector's item or something, but not a heatsink. But as I found out the SLK-600 is not just any heatsink.

Antec 80mm Blue LED Fan Review @ GideonTech
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 8:45 AM EST

"Overall, the fan is a nice novelty item to add to a case. It won't win any cooling awards with its CFMs, so keep that in mind when making your purchase. Aside from that, it is pretty amazing to look at. It lights up evenly with the three LEDs and the spinning blades. It helps create a swirling effect, very unqiue."

Icemat Super Slick Mousing Surface Review @ Geek Extreme
posted by Babylon5 on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at 8:43 AM EST

Tired of your mouse pad sliding WITH your mouse when you''re in a serious game of Quake 3? Thinking of getting a new mouse because it isn''t tracking well? Perhaps it''s not the mouse''s fault, it''s the surface in which it''s doomed to be used on. The cloth mouse pads you can pick up at Wal Mart for $3 are fine if you''re just using your computer to surf the web and doing word processing, but in recent years we''ve discovered that while, yes, they do work for gaming, they have their downsides. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to, the Icemat.

WiebeTECH 1GB FireWire KeyChain review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 6:45 PM EST

“Just last week, we reviewed a 512MB USB 1.1 Keychain drive from DiskOnKey. Our two big complaints of this large capacity module were its price and performance. At half-a-Gig of storage capacity, it took us almost eleven minutes to fill the product – this device similar to a CD-RW disc and drive on a keychain the size of a hilighter pen doesn’t weigh lightly on your wallet. As capacities increase on these ‘keychain’ personal storage solutions, we need to address transfer speeds and new communications protocols. Thankfully, a small start-up company called WiebeTECH has been doing some radical thinking in this department, and they’ve come-up with some neat solutions.”

Abit BD7II-RAD -vs- MSI 845E Max2 BLR @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 6:42 PM EST

Today on Hothardware.Com, we've taken a look at two top-notch i845E based mainboards from Abit and MSI. The BD7II-RAID and 845E Max2 BLR are both chock-full of goodies like on-board RAID and Ethernet, as well as a host of overclocking tools. We tested both of these boards with the exact same supporting hardware to see which one would come out on top…

Office toys! @ dansdata
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 6:40 PM EST

A PC product reviewer can reasonably expect to spend a lot of time benchmarking motherboards and video cards, taking pictures of hard drives, plugging in cables, and peering at power supply labels.

Those of you who're doing something like that right now would probably rather not know that I've just put up a review of a selection of office toys. Two rubber band guns, a pneumatic ping-pong ball launcher, a bubble gun, some iridescent bouncing putty, a frickin' CROSSBOW that shoots sucker darts, and a couple of high-flying ring-ins that aren't really suitable for indoor play at all.

To everybody who's currently working on a CPU review, I therefore say: "Hahahahahahahahaha!"

Abit KX7-333R Motherboard Review @ DeviantPC
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 6:37 PM EST

"The power of the board and memory is released when the CPU casts away the shackles of a 266MHz Bus. Now that AMD have announced they are moving to a 333Mhz Bus (166Mhz DDR) it will drastically improve the performance of their processors and make boards sporting the KT333, and soon to be mainstream KT400 chipset of use to non-overclockers."

Nexland Pro400 Internet Security Box Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 6:36 PM EST

"Along with the speed and convenience of a broadband connection users are now connected to the internet constantly. This 'always connected' service leaves users suseptible to hackers wanting to gain access to their PCs. One of the most important tools broadband service users need to be using is a firewall."

Triplex Geforce 4 Ti4200 Reviewed @ BurnOutPc
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 6:34 PM EST

"If your looking for a review of a normal Geforce Ti4200, then you have come to the wrong place. What we are looking at is probably the fastest air cooled Ti4200 you will find. Sorry, not find, buy. Yes, this card comes from the store with the jewelry, and overclocked higher than any other of its kind."

Swiftech's Waterblock/Peltier Graphic Card Cooler Review @ XtremeSystems
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 9:10 AM EST

Swiftech, known for it’s excellent CPU coolers, has come out with a new Graphics Card Cooler. There are 2 versions of this unit, a straight water version, and the unit that has been reviewed. This version is the waterblock with a built in 80-watt peltier (TEC) for Sub-0c temperatures. The idea behind cooling your GPU to the point of freezing is to get a higher Overclock on your video card, which equates to higher frames per second in games. When shooting for top scores in 3Dmark 2001, or for running your card for hours playing games: a cool, optimal card is a must.

Soltek SL-85ERV (P4X400 ) Review @ Hardware-Test
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 9:06 AM EST

"I managed to push it up to 120MHz on the FSB, which means that I had a standard 2.2aGHz CPU going 2640MHz. The performance is excellent and with the reasonable price you have an excellent product. "

Windows Media Player 9 Preview @ Icrontic
posted by Babylon5 on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at 9:04 AM EST

Microsoft, have in the past two years or so, been attempting to make a surge in the Internet Media industry. With eyes focused directly on rivals RealNetworks and Apple, two companies that have long dominated the Internet Media world with their RealPlayer and Quicktime software, Microsoft was set to take the world by storm. Microsoft first launched their grand scheme with the release of Windows Media Player 7, a completely overhauled version of previous WMPs. It featured support for Microsoft's very own Windows Media Audio, along with various other audio and video formats such as the popular MP3 and AVI formats. Microsoft followed by opening a new media "portal", similar to the portal RealNetworks offered to its users. The portal was dubbed, "WindowsMedia.com".

ZXMods Small Obround Window DIY Etch review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:13 PM EST

Getting out the Dremel I prepared to etch the design into the window. I attached the Flex-Shaft and the small engraving bit and set out to engrave the horseshoe. Knowing that you need to keep the Dremel above the item you are engraving when using the Flex-Shaft I had to come up with a makeshift stand to hold the Dremel. I used a fireplace tool stand and it worked beautifully. Now that that little issue was out of the way, I set to work on the etching.

Clear Laser LED Case Fans Review @ ReviewSource
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:12 PM EST

We all know Antec, they're one of the most trustful fan makers in the market, not too long ago was a standard case fan just available in black, now Antec brings to you the clear fans with LED's in them, in this review, we will look over the clear fan with blue, green and red LED's in them!

Topower 470W Power Supply @ winhq
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:10 PM EST

"Having enough juice for your machine is important. 'Enough' means power that is best suited for the type of computer. Grandma's web surfing machine isn't going to require a 550W power supply for her Duron processor. A hardcore overclocker who uses water cooling, a zillion delta fans..."

AudiXP Fancy Case Review @ OcPrices
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:09 PM EST

"The great guys at Fancy Case gave me a chance to review yet another one of their beautiful cases. This time I'm loaded with a windowed AudiXP. With the front USB and 1394 ports becoming more common in computer cases, Fancy Case is not one to fall behind. We all know we like our cases to be easy to work with and very spacey; Fancy Case did make one big, yet very fixable flaw, when designing this case. We'll get to that in just a little bit, but let's get to the specs."

CrazyPC Lazer LED Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:08 PM EST

"I was checking out one of my favorite PC Mod sites the other day, (Crazy PC,) and came across a new product that looked like the brightest Neon light I have ever seen. I thought it would make a great item to review for all our ReviewNation readers who have a window in their tower or are looking into getting a tower with a window in it, so I contacted Crazy PC to see if they would send me a blue Lazer Light to compare to my blue cold cathode light, and they did. (They sent me a green one, which is okay, but a blue one would have been a better comparison.) Nonetheless, you will see in the following review it does not matter what color Lazer Light they sent me. I have been using a cold cathode light for about 6 months, and it has served me well… until now.…"

Bantam USA Player Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:06 PM EST

"After not doing to swell with their BA250 series Mp3 player, Bantam decided to go back to the drawing board and re-develop their thoughts, and have came up with what they call the BA350 series Mp3 player, which at a glace looks simply amazing! I've tested and used this thing non-stop since I received the product from Bantam, now lets see if Bantam is going to take control of the industry or if they they are going to sink like so many of the other companies out there.."

AOpen EHW-4048u USB 2.0 CD burner Review @ Active-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:05 PM EST

There is no end to AOpen's product line it seems, and the latest addition to roll out of the factory is EHW-4048u -- a USB 2.0 portable CD burner.

Intel Pentium 4 2.4-GHz 533 'B' cpu review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 9:03 PM EST

““The Word ”, of what the Intel P4-1.6A processor would offer the overclockers of the world suddenly changed the buzz of what you wanted to get in your next system. The ability to use DDR SDRAM coupled with an Intel CPU also made heads turn. Suddenly the $$$ signs were not as big when wanting to migrate over to an Intel based platform. Intel came out with another plus, offering a P4 with 512-KB of L2 Cache down to a 0.13u die fab process, and topped of with a “cherry” 533-supported system bus. Die-hard AMD'ers have started to swarm; Intel is, for this moment, the faster of the two platforms. The war rages on...”

Samgsung SW-240 CD-RW Drive Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 8:59 PM EST

"This drive has an 8 Meg Buffer which may provide you that comfort zone if you are not using buffer underun protection. JustLink technology is the Buffer Underun protection used on this drive. The Buffer Underun technology itself has been around for quite some time now and is almost on every drive you buy."

Crucial.com Earns High Marks
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 8:57 PM EST

Are online shoppers getting quality service? Absolutely, if you look at statistics about Crucial.com, a leading memory upgrade provider that sells RAM and flash cards over the Internet. In a recent survey of Crucial customers, 95% of respondents said the memory upgrade provider’s service is better than other organizations. And 84% would definitely use Crucial again based on the service they received.

At Crucial, we’re very proud of these high marks and believe they’re the reason our online store has achieved such success where so many others have faltered. Service and quality are our main priorities. We’ve even developed a dedicated team to maintain and improve this level of customer satisfaction.

Below, you’ll find today’s release about Crucial's survey results. Please let me know if you have any questions. We’ll do our best to help in any way we can.

Thermalright SLK-800 Socket A Cooler Review @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 8:54 PM EST

"After the Thermalright SLK-600 was introduced there was even more of a demand for an higher performing 80mm version of it. It looks like their voices were heard and Thermalright has answered. Thermalright has finally released an 80mm version of the SLK-600, rightfully called the Thermalright SLK-800, which we will be reviewing today."

MSI Dragonwriter CDRW 40/12/48 @ Viperlair
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 7:28 AM EST

"MSI is a relatively new player in the CD-RW market. They have started to diversify from their established motherboard business, into video cards and even CDR's, one of which we are looking at today. The first CD-RW from MSI was released in early/mid 2001 and was the MS-8312, a 12X8X32 CD- RW. Since then MSI has increased the speed of their CDRW's in an almost sequential sequence from 12X to 40X, for the CD-R writing speed."

CuttingEdge PSU Mod Review @ GideonTech
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 7:26 AM EST

GideonTech takes a quick look at a PSU mod from CuttingEdge. It replaces the metal cover commonly found on power supplies with a colored acrylic version.

Stomp Inc.'s ClutterBuster Review @ GeekExtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 7:24 AM EST

If you''re any kind of geek, chances are your desk is a mess. Papers, pens, empty pop bottles/cans, CD''s, etc. scattered about, making it difficult to find anything. Enter Stomp. Inc.''s ClutterBuster, a nifty compact unit that will help turn your geek dwelling into a more organized dump.

MySoundStudio Review @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 7:22 AM EST

"Stomp Inc. has done it again, creating a new software to help musicians and people that love music to edit music, add effects, and remove unwanted noise , this program is called My Sound Studio.

Chaintech Apogee 7VJL KT333 Motherboard - Reviewed @ HotHardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 7:20 AM EST

Our man in Cali, Chris Angelini, is sporting some serious hardware tonight. We're talking "Gansta style" gold draped all around like he's some sort of techno-driven street thug. Check out our take on Chaintech's new Apogee 7VJL KT333 Motherboard package. It's got more gold hanging off it than Fat Joe.

Enenermax EG365P-VA Power Supply Review @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Monday, August 5, 2002 at 7:18 AM EST

"Five years ago, as long as the Power Supply was rated at least 230 watts, I paid it no further attention. All that changed, though, when AMD released the Athlon. I still tried to play the OEM Power Supply game, but then I merely made sure that the OEM Power Supply was at least of the 300-watt variety. I figured that surely would make me safe. I was wrong. Multiple and numerous frequent Power Supply failures taught me that this procedure was no longer a valid method of determining the needs for a high-performance box."

13 HSF Shootout @ Extreme Overclocking
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:53 PM EST

Extreme Overclocking has posted up yet another review, in this heatsink comparison we have 13 heatsinks battling it out head-to-head. They range from the budget aluminum heatsinks with small fans, to big solid hunks of copper with hurricane force cooling. Some of the brands in the review are Thermaltake, Coolink, AOC, Dynatron, and Alpha.

Speeze 9T236B1M3 EasyStream HSF Cooler Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:52 PM EST

"The base of the cooler is made from solid aluminum and has been extruded through a mould to get the shape as shown. This means there is no bonding material to hinder the thermal properties of the aluminum. The base has been machined to a smooth finish; with trace swirl marks from the machining process. Lapping, in my opinion, is not necessary, but lapping would remove the swirls without any noticeable temperature difference. The thermal grease for used for the EasyStream has been pre-applied and includes a thermal resistance of 0.36 C /W. Depending on your preference, most consumers will opt to clean this generic compound off and use a quality thermal compound that would shave off a few degrees in overall performance."

Coolermaster Socket A HSF Shootout @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:49 PM EST

"In the never-ending battle of CPU cooling, we introduce 2 new competitors, which are manufactured by the one and only Coolermaster… The 2 new HSFs we've been chosen to review are the HSC-V62 (Auto speed CPU cooler) and the HHC-L61 (Alps). As many of you already know, Coolermaster is a quality name brand in terms of CPU cooling, so lets just get right to it and see if Coolermaster has done it again, or if they are loosing their touch…"

Lian-Li PC-6089A Aluminum Case Review @ ThinkComputers
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:47 PM EST

“When shopping for a new pc, custom built is the only way to go. You have your average to advanced pc enthusiast out there who both have different PC requirements. As for the enthusiast the case and the mod gear inside is a big decision, if not the most important. There are many kinds of PC case's out there. Steel, Plastic, Aluminum and so forth. But the market is so huge in the PC case industry, that making a decision about what to buy is what I'm here for.”

ZXMods SpiderMax Stainless Steel Fan Grill Review @ OCAddiction
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:45 PM EST

"Above also is a good representation of how the counter sunk holes and special screw set looks compared to the typical grill mounting. Lets face it, the good ol' original fan grills have seen their day. Now, in order to set your case out from the pack, you'll need something a bit different, and these new SpiderMax grills from ZXMods are just the ticket."

Samsung 151MP Review @ TechwareLabs
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:43 PM EST

"Samsung has done a terrific job with the creation of the 151MP. Its bigger brother the 171MP looks the same as the 151MP except for the bigger screen size and much better specifications. With that said this is more of a mid-end display in the MP class. With a price tag of about $800USD or $1,270CDN this display is a great buy. Just think, if you were to buy an LCD monitor this size and performs as well as the 151MP and a TFT television this size separately that would be much more than to just buy the 151MP. Not to mention it would save a lot more space."

C3 Summer CPL Case Mod Competition Article @ VH
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:41 PM EST

"For those of you who aren't familiar with C3, it's the "Consummate Computer Competition." Try saying that three times fast. Most people just refer to it as the case mod competition for obvious reasons. The first fully sponsored and official competition was held in the summer of 2001 and sponsored by Bawls offering cash prizes for the first three places in two categories. One being looks, and the other performance/overclocking. Since then, it seems that case modders have really stepped up for competitions presenting some of the cleanest, coolest, and most advanced mods on the planet. The setting for this competition is at the 2002 Summer CPL Event deep in Dallas, Texas at the historic Hyatt Regency Hotel. Everything seems to be in walking distance from the hotel. Including the Dallas County Jail, a real train station (first for me anyways =\), and Dick's! I love Dick's!"

InovaPC Magazine Launch @ 3dXtreme
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 7:38 PM EST

"Well, it’s in the works and almost here. Slated for an October release, I’d like to present you with InovaPC’s debut issue. We are one of the first magazines to provide a perfect blend of modification and technical/hardware articles. Not only do we explore the bases of these fields, but we go beyond and dig deeper into their aspects. Our publication is slated for those who wish to understand the basics, but also wish for that to just be a start. So if you are just looking out to learn about computer technology and/or modification, or you are a seasoned pro which is looking to expand your knowledge even further, InovaPC magazine will most likely prove to be just what you are looking for."

Fanbus CK GUIDE @ Hardware-Test
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 9:31 AM EST

"I've spend the summer holidays on a little project, namely a fanbus. Yeah yeah, another fanbus? No, this fanbus is somewhat more advanced than standard ones, it's software controlled – the outputs are controlled via software instead of switches, using the parallel port. (Tough luck for owners of Abit MAX and other legacy-free motherboards..) Furthermore the software also has the extra feature that it can be integrated with the temperature readings from Motherboard Monitor – which therefore means that the fanbus can automatically turn fans on and off when the system reaches certain limits."

Sunbeamtech ccfl's Review @ BurnoutPC
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 9:25 AM EST

"In the past you might have heard of Sunbeam, they are a premier manufacture of Cold cathodes. Recently they sent me a sample of their product. Today I'm looking at their Dual CCFL kit. Let's take a closer look"

XFX GeForce4 Ti 4200 Review @ nV News
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 9:24 AM EST

"When running Grand Theft Auto 3, I was sure to maximize every graphic related feature including draw distance. In my opinion, lowering this setting interferes with game play and takes away from the overall experience. As expected, maximizing this setting comes with a fairly large performance hit which, in some instances, is justified and worth taking."

Gadget or Effective Tool - Memory HeatSpreaders? (Review) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 9:22 AM EST

"I could not get this system to run in a stable fashion overclocked beyond 1.88 GHz no matter what I did. I had considered replacing the memory in an attempt to reach at least 2.0 GHz, which many people report as easily attainable. So, when Tony of plycon suggested I try the heatspreaders, I though it was worth a try.

Well I'm happy to report, that on my first attempt, I overclocked my P4 1.60a Norwood to 2.0 GHz and it has been running rock solid for the last two days, so with 2.0 GHz achieved I'll try to push it up a little more during the week, even though I'm happy with what I've gained.

Gigabyte AP128DG-H RADEON 8500 GPU Review @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 9:18 AM EST

"Today we have a look at the AP128DG-H Radeon 8500 Deluxe 128MB GPU from Gigabyte. This card named the MAYA features 128MB DDR, ATI's Smartshader Technology and comes packed with loads of free software. Does the extra boost of memory have what it takes up against other cards on the market

Thermaltake Smart Case Fan 2 Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 9:07 AM EST

Almost 76CFM at 4800RPM is very good for an 80x80x25mm fan, but then again the noise level at that RPM is pretty high, though not as high as the Delta FFB0812SHE fan which is 80x80x38 mm and pushes "only" 68CFM. The good thing about the Smart Case Fan 2 is that you can choose to lower the RPM so that the noise level is more bearable. I would say that around 2800-3000RPM is the optimum noise/CFM ratio, but I'd rather run the fan at about 3500 RPM for a bit higher CFM.

OC System Enhanced Geforce 4 Ti4200 64MB Video Card Review @ Explosive Labs
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 7:42 PM EST

"At first glance, you'll notice the big orange heatsink. This is Thermaltake's Geforce 4 Highest Performance Cooler designed for the Geforce 4 Titanium line of video cards. It's an all-copper heatsink with a fan spinning at 5500RPM. This will provide sufficient cooling for the GPU core."

Samsung SW-240B CDRW Review @ MBReview
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 7:40 PM EST

"For those that are unsure of what the “Zone Constant Linear Velocity” is, I’ll attempt to explain it as simply as possible. When a CD-RW drive such as the SW-240B uses Z-CLV to achieve higher maximum write speeds, the disc is virtually divided up into between three and five different sections. During each of these three sections, the write speed is always at a constant speed, such as 24x. The burn session will start at a set rate, then after pre-determined set of time, the drive will kick the recording speed up a notch to the next level. In the case of our Samsung drive, the time between speed jumps is where the anti-buffer underrun technology does its work. The “JustLink” technology makes sure there is a smooth, flawless transition between then two recording speeds.

Western Digital 80GB (WD800JB) Hard Drive in RAID Review @ DeviantPC
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 7:38 PM EST

"They are also the first to introduce groundbreaking technologies in the lower echelons of their products in terms of sheer capacity. The WD800JB Hard Drives offered something that nobody else had produced, a product with 8MB cache as opposed to the normal 2MB cache on their Caviar series of drives. No wonder they dubbed it special edition."

Enlight 7602 MicroATX Mini/Mid-Tower Case w/300w P/S Review @ Monster-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 11:57 AM EST

"Enlight has continued to keep customers happy over the years, combining good design, functionality, and durability. It is these things that most of us have come to know their products for. Can Enlight take these traits with them, add in a bit of smooth style, and come up with a product the average home user will enjoy?"

Titan TTC-CU5TB Copper Cooler review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 11:55 AM EST

“For over two years now, I have been using the all copper CAK38 to cool my 1GHz Athlon Thunderbird. But with a new Athlon XP 1900+ on the way I needed something more efficient than the CAK38, but at the same time quieter, smaller and still made out of the rich copper material I have come to love. Presenting Titan CU5TB. An all copper heatsink (with aluminum frame) that is small, quiet and much more effective.”

DiskOnKey 512MB USB Keychain review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 11:53 AM EST

“It’s the perfect marriage of portability and freedom – the USB Keychain Drive allows you to walk away with both the drive and cartridge, in the palm of your hand or pocket. It crosses every platform seamlessly with no need of driver support, no need of data translation, no hassles – pure glory. See why we've awarded M-Systems' DiskOnKey with the 'Best of Envy 2002' technology award.

Lian Li PC-6089A Case Review @ Overclocker Café
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 11:51 AM EST

“When you first look at the 6089A there is no way you cannot notice the translucent light blue acrylic door covering the front bezel This is the first stab at trendy on the box and it hits the mark much more so than just another Chieftec style drive bay door.”

ZXMods Small Obround Window Kit Review/Mod @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at 11:49 AM EST

After setting up my work area outside, it was time to cut. Don’t forget safety equipment, especially safety glasses or goggles. I would have preferred to use my jigsaw with a metal cutting blade on this mod, but it died when I took it out to test it. This left no choice but to use the Dremel. Two reinforced cut-off disks were all needed to make quick work of the case. I took the advice of someone who emailed me after my blowhole mod and I let the tool do the work. Instead of the case chewing through the disk, the disk chewed through the case. Slow down to speed up, sounds good to me.

ATI RADEON 8500LE 128MB Video Card Video Review #196 @ 3dGameMan
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:33 PM EST

"The ATI RADEON 8500LE 128MB Video Card is one of the fastest affordable cards on the planet delivering excellent 3D results with the standard crisp 2D quality you expect from ATI. If you are on a budget and need a 3D Video Card for gaming then take a serious look at this card."

"And the Oscar goes to.......Final Fantasy?" Article @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:31 PM EST

So, did you like the idea of games turning into movies? Or actually successful movies turned into games? Let's take a good look at why are gamers are more interested in Resident Evil and not Super Mario Bros.

"Through the 80’s and 90’s, there were major advancements in the video game and computer markets. New systems from Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and others offered new possibilities in the gaming experience, bringing much more vivid graphics, sound, and game play. And as the number of video games has blossomed over the years, so have the relationships of players with the characters that they play, from the short, dumpy Mario to the tall, overly endowed Lara Croft. As more and more players have been sucked into their video games, companies have pondered the idea of bringing the fictional characters to life through the big screen. However, only those games that acquired a huge following were usually selected for the transition, as they had more money to work with and would attract a much larger audience. Let’s take a look at some of the games-turned-movies from oldest to newest."

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Review @ OcPrices
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:28 PM EST

““Snatched from prison by the Emperor's decree, you arrive at the port of Seyda Neen in the waning years of the Third Era with nothing but the name of a contact in Balmora... completely ignorant of the Prophecies of the Incarnate, your mission, and the role you are to play in Morrowind's history.” - From the Morrowind cover.“Snatched from prison by the Emperor's decree, you arrive at the port of Seyda Neen in the waning years of the Third Era with nothing but the name of a contact in Balmora... completely ignorant of the Prophecies of the Incarnate, your mission, and the role you are to play in Morrowind's history.” - From the Morrowind cover.

This is the beginning of what will be a long and fascinating journey in the land of Morrowind. Morrowind is the third installment in the Elder Scrolls series of role-playing games from Bethesda Softworks. The game takes place on the island of Vvardenfell, which has been named the Province of Morrowind by the Empire since its annexation. Because the action takes place on an island, you might think that the game world is small. Small is the last thing Morrowind is! There is so much that can be done in Morrowind that you can spend all of your time on side quests and never miss doing the main quest at all.”

Volcano 7 Review @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:27 PM EST

"Oh! Shiny was probably the first thing I thought when I opened the box containing this amazing heatsink, the Volcano 7. Currently this is only the second best heatsink I have seen following the 7+ but ThermalTake never disappoints so I know this is still I pretty good heatsink for my 1.4 GHZ AMD XP CPU.
This heatsink which seems to be going at around $25 – $35 US currency is a great addition to any PC if you don’t mind a little noise. Now my room gets hot later in the day so I have a huge fan with my AC on to cool the room so I probably don’t even notice but for those of you with great ventilation this might not be the one for you unless you don’t mind the noise like I said."

AOpen AX4B Pro 533 Motherboard Review @ Active-Hardware
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:20 PM EST

The previous generation of this motherboard -- the AX4G Pro -- was based around the "G" series of the Intel i845 chipset, who's only remarkable feature was an integrated graphics card. The biggest difference between this board and the last, however, is support for DDR333 memory. With the introduction of the AX4G Pro, AOpen's engineers had seen fit to tweak the chipset's settings in order to allow for the 166MHz memory bus required by the DDR333 standard. Let's see what they did with the AX4B Pro 533 by reading our review of it...

Wintasks 4 Professional Quick review @ PimpRig
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:17 PM EST

"Ever wonder exactly how much resources a particular application uses? This has you covered. Great for tracking down an app that may have a memory leak or one that is hogging cpu resources. This nice stats window gives you a graphical display of resource usage for both CPU and Memory at the same time."

MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200 Review @ Viperlair
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:15 PM EST

MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200 - As much as gamers would like a Ti4600, not everyone can afford one. The Ti4200 is a lot cheaper, and despite the "budget" tag, it packs a heck of a wallop.

"The 64 Mb version of Ti4200 uses 3.6ns memory, so using the same equation:

1000 nanoseconds/1 second x 1/3.6 nanoseconds = 277.7 Mhz

The speed is doubled, bringing the clock speed to 556 Mhz.

But wait - this ram is running at 513 Mhz. Why would MSI underclock their memory? The card is an Nvidia chip - it's meant to deal with 500 Mhz memory. By using the better RAM, they can run the RAM at a higher speed than the specs call for - higher than the 500 Mhz mark, without damaging the RAM by maxing out its memory clock."

OcSystem 8500 Reviewed @ BurnOutPc
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 7:13 PM EST

"ATI, those pesky Canadians, have come up with a wee bit'o gold: Radeon 8500 is what they call it and despite previous driver issues this card was able to remain on top for quite a while. Even beating out NVIDIA's GF3Ti500 ATI may have already released their new line of graphic cards, the Radeon 9000 and Radeon 9700 but in my mind the 8500 is still a wicked deal for the performance:price ratio."

Workstation Performance Processor Shootout @ GamePC
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:50 AM EST

Today at GamePC, we've taken a look at processor performance from a purely workstation-level standpoint. That's right, not a single gaming benchmark in sight for this one. We've taken single and multi-processor systems from AMD and Intel and pitted them against eachother in applications like Adobe's Photoshop, Alias|Wavefront's Maya, Microsoft's Visual Studio .net, and Macromedia's Flash MX. Lots of benchmarks to go around!

Lowepro D-Res 4 flash wallet review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:49 AM EST

“True Gadgeteers are recognizable by the sheer amount of Flash memory cards and types they carry at any one time. If you're anything like me, you have at least three Flash card types in your posession. The hard-core gadgeteers have multiple form-factors, brands, capacities, and even duplicates of said cards. Ever lose track of a card? Well thankfully, companies like Lowepro have solutions people such as us; The analog-challenged.”

P4 Coolers - The Best of the Class -MCX4000 (Review) @ SystemCooling
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:46 AM EST

From the very beginning of SystemCooling.com it has been our intent to test, examine, and report on the effectiveness of "P4 Coolers". To this end we have studied no less than 22 after-market coolers and come up with an amazing discovery.

Unless you are an Overclocker, Power-User, a Cooling Fanatic (like me) or someone who wants nothing but the best sitting on their CPU, or someone who just wants a better handle on their CPU temperatures, then stay with the "Cooler" that came with your P4 as they will do an adequate job, but if you refuse to settle for anything less than the best then keep reading!!

X-Trac Mouse Pad Review @ overclockercafe
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:43 AM EST

“The X-Trac had much smoother movement with faster reaction time on the game. I was able to last a lot longer and fragged quite a few more opponents than before. The final pad I used was Dean’s Ratpadz. As expected, the Ratpadz performed better than either my one-dollar pad or the X-Trac.”

VPSD P4PB 400 (P4X400) Review @ MBReview
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:40 AM EST

"The selectable settings are arranged in the following order; DRAM Clock, DRAM Timing, SDRAM CAS Latency, Bank Interleave, Trp, Tras, Trcd, DRAM Command Rate, DRAM Burst Len, and AGP Voltage. Following in this order, our tests were run using the following settings; 166MHz, Manual, 2, 4, 2, 5, 2, 1T, 8, 1.5V. The DRAM Clock options include 100MHz, 133MHz, 166MHz, and 200MHz. One available option I have not seen in quite some time falls under the CAS Latency area. VIA has included the option to go with a CAS Latency of as low as 1.5!"

Crucial Radeon 8500LE Videocard Review @ pcstats
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:38 AM EST

"Crucial is not a name you would normally associate with videocards, but they are trying their hand in the market and if all goes well we could be seeing some very cool stuff from them... after all, they control what kind of micron memory goes on the cards! Crucial have teamed up with ATI and Sapphire Tech to produce the Crucial Radeon 8500LE 128MB. With the 8500LE Crucial are squarely targeting mainstream consumers looking for a no-nonsense & economical videocard to extend the life of existing computer systems. In that sense, the priorities of the consumer invariably turn to problem free installation, and knowledge that service and support from the company are there should anything go wrong."

NHT SB-2, SC-1, SW10 Home Theater Review @ Designtechnica
posted by Babylon5 on Friday, August 2, 2002 at 10:35 AM EST

We have just posted a home theater system review from NHT. If you are in the market for a below-$2000 home theater loudspeaker system, I strongly recommend you to give this system a spin. And if you are looking for a nice pair of bookshelf stereo loudspeakers, you should take a close look and listen to the SB-2. These loudspeakers produce high quality sound with a price that won't break your bank.

GeIL pc3500 Ram Reviewed @ BurnOutPc
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:48 PM EST

"Performance. That one word is synomonous with overclocking and you can add GEIL to that list too! Everyone that comes to burnoutpc.com is looking for the latest and greatest stuff. Motherboards, CPU, Video cards are all listed in this addiction. No need for 12 steps here! No way! Yet again, its time to upgrade your ram. First it was Sdram PC133 to DDR. Now its to DDR PC3500. Lets get on with the introductions. Finally something that can keep up with those blazing P4s with the 533 FSB"

Swiftech vs. Alpha Novatech: P4 Battle Royal @ frostytech
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:46 PM EST

"In this article we have a special treat for you - FrostyTech is pitting two of the most renown heatsink manufacturers against one another. At stake is the title of supremacy over one another. The condors are Alpha Novatech and Swiftech, and the Pentium 4 heatsinks in question are the PAL8942 and MCX4000. Now each of these two manufacturers has its own tricks to making some of the highest regarded heatsinks around, but the question remains as to who will come out on top. The one aspect that both Swiftech and Alpha Novatech share in common is a keen tendency towards quality control."

EPoX EP-4G4A+ motherboard review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:45 PM EST

“We are gathered here today to give our support for the joining of an EPoX 4G4A+ i845G motherboard and an Intel Pentium 4 2.4B 533FSB CPU in holy union. If anyone here today can give reason as to why these to should not be joined, speak now or forever hold your piece... provided you speak after you have read the review.”

Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz 533FSB @ Viperlair
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:42 PM EST

"A little over 2 months ago, Intel released another updated Pentium 4, known as the "B" model. Architecturally, it is identical to the previous Northwood, except now it brings a 533MHz front side bus to the table. In actuality, it ups the FSB from 100 to 133, quad pumped to 533. We've seen gains from each Pentium 4 revision, and with the highest clocked P4 running at 2.53GHz, AMD, although not beaten entirely, is certainly back playing a bit of catch up."

Romtec RX-910T6 Trios Hard Drive Selector Review @ MODTHEBOX
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:39 PM EST

"The unit is tightly packed within the box, with the individual parts separated out in different plastic bags. Included in the kit is the Trios unit itself, a stack of colour brochures, four single device IDE cables, two custom power cables, 4 mounting screws and an installation manual. The unit itself is extremely light weight. Its dimensions are very similar to most optical drive units. The front panel has a slightly different design to it, incorporating an almost iMac like colour scheme. The panel itself is convex, with a concave track running down the middle of the panel. The three drive selection buttons are beige plastic, and solidly snap into position when pushed. Pushing down on one button automatically resets either of the other two back into their default position, since you can only have one drive selected at a time. When the unit is powered, a hidden LED behind the translucent aqua plate lights up as an additional indicator."

Titan TTC-CU5TB Copper Cooler review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:36 PM EST

CompuNurse Advanced review @ Envy News
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:32 PM EST

“As with all good products CompuNurse has grown with the times to provide improved usability and functionality. Rather than finding out via some ballyhooed product launch or a massive news blitz, I spotted the two new additions to the product line while shopping around for upgrade ideas at Plycon. Following their link to the product page, I found two new thermistors bearing the CompuNurse name. The first one seemed like a tiny progression, splitting the LCD in two and adding a second thermistor, but the second one caught my eye. While having the same body style, there were 4 buttons and a small hole surrounding the LCD screen. A quick look at what it could do, and I knew immediately what would be the next addition to my repair/review toolkit.”

GigaByte GA7-VAXP Motherboard supporting 8X AGP and DDR400 Info @ AusPCWorld
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 7:29 PM EST

Gigabyte today announces the latest VIA KT400 chipset based platform - GA7-VAXP. The first KT400 Chipset based motherboard in the world, unprecedented AMD Athlon XP Platform supporting DDR400 and AGP 8x ahead of any other manufacturer. GA-7VAXP is designed to meet the demands of present and future application needs, offering a variety of news and unique features that maximizes performance and stability. The GA-7VAXP is based on the previous power and reliability the VIA Apollo KT333, the VIA KT400 further raises the performance bar on Athlon XP and AMD Duron prcoessor based systems. Supporting AMD's latest 0.13 micron-process Technology.

Thermaltake Hardcano 5 A1283 HD Cooler Review @ Tech-Dreams
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:57 AM EST

"When it comes to computers, heat is the enemy. The more heat there is, the slower things usually are and the quicker your components will die out. The general population of computer users thinks that the only real component that needs to be cooled is the CPU and maybe the graphics processor on their video card. They fail to even consider ways to cool down their hard drives or RAM. However, case manufacturers are making it easier since they are starting to include fan mounts that will blow the cool intake air across the hard drives. As hard drives get larger and faster, the more heat they generate. And even though they don't consider hard drive cooling, many users cherish their hard drives as the most important parts in their computer since it holds all of their personal, business, and program files."

Tom Leufkens Interview @ OCIA
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:54 AM EST

"Playafly187: Peltiers and watercooling setups were definitely extreme at that time. Did you use a watercooling "kit", or construct your own setup?

Tom: As far as I know, home kits did not exist. It was totally home made - a steel coffee can, and copper and aluminum tube wrapped around a spray paint can is a coil as the exchanger. A Wal-mart pump for flow, etc...

playafly187: Quite a unique setup for the time. I bet you had all your friends and relatives amazed... either that, or they thought you belonged in a mental institution.

Tom: They were quite curious to say the least. That’s how it all started..."

Microsoft Wireless Optical Intellimouse Review @ Geekshelter
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:50 AM EST

"Anyway, the cordless intellimouse has a shape and style similar to its wired predecessor, but instead uses 2 AAs for power with a 10-15 ft range. The range not "Line of sight", which means it can go through walls or a desk so you can use it wherever it's needed. Chances are, you'll be in the next room before your mouse stops moving. :-)"

Thermaltake Hardcano 5 Review @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:48 AM EST

"First off, Yay for pretty aluminum products. Now to be serious. The HardCano 5 is one of the latest products that offers some fantastic cooling, and various other sweet functions. Thermaltake has been the business of providing specialized cooling solutions for quite some time now. This cooler, is a little different from the previous models and offers a unique perspective on hom one may use thier hard drive, and other hardware parts. Also like most of Thermaltake products its also VERY well built. Let's anaylze the specifications..."

Thermaltake Round Cable Round-Up @ ReviewNation
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:44 AM EST

"While some people, (including myself) have self-made rounded cables, I can tell you that they look nothing like the one's that are made by Thermaltake. These are just plain sleek! They are very professional and industrial looking, and will suit any case... Today we'll be taking a look at a few of Thermaltake's Rounded cables..."

Cooler Master ATC-600-VX1 Aluminum Desktop Case Review @ Mikhailtech
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:34 AM EST

The Plexiglas panel in the front. After all it’s what makes at least 50% of the scenic look of the case. It covers the two 5.25” bays and can be opened with just one finger. All you need to do is push softly on the aluminum sticker on the center, the cone that says “Cooler Master”, and the panel will slowly open towards you. It’s absolutely silent and a mechanism slows it down during opening and closure. You can see part of it on the sides and in this close-up picture.

Chieftec Front USB Ports Mod Guide @ VH
posted by Babylon5 on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 6:32 AM EST

"I guess it's no secret by now that the Chieftec/Antec/Chenming mid tower case is my current favourite case. I think it's the same with Diceman too with the amount of mod projects/reviews that you see around here revolving around the case. It's not only it looks, but the features that attracts me and Dice to the case. Lot's of room, a well-thought out and balanced cooling system is just among the many features of the case that we love. But one thing that is missing from the case is front USB ports. Antec answered that shortcoming with their new line of Performance Plus cases, that was reviewed here by Diceman, but it's just not at the right place. Rather awkward positioning and it kinda interferes with the overall front bezel look. But that's just me I guess. :O) But what if you're like me? Prefering the old Antec/Chieftec look but still want those front USB ports? Mod one into the case! That what! So here is the guide for you "old-skool" Antec/Chieftec lovers. Like all custom mod projects, this one requires some degree of planning and also patience. Heheh! So if you screw things up, don't look at me!"

August 2002