Here today's reviews roundup with The Top 3 Tablets Under $300, ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU Mini 2 GB, Open-Source 3D Support For NVIDIA's Tegra, Mobile GPU Comparison Guide Rev. 14.5, and Best Budget Laptops, April 2013



The Top 3 Tablets Under $300 @ ThinkComputers.org

As technology expands and more gadgets are being used to surf the internet, companies are consistently working on creating new toys for the big kids to play with! With all the tablets that are hitting the market every month, it can be confusing as to which one to choose, especially without putting a dent in your pocket. Tablets aren't just becoming a toy to play with or used as a bedtime read, in fact, many professionals use tablets to get work done while on the go, or even at home. The features and capabilities the tablets have expanded to, allow people to use tablets almost just as much as they use their computers. These are the top 3 tablets to consider for just under $300!

Read more: The Top 3 Tablets Under $300 @ ThinkComputers.org

ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU Mini 2 GB @ techPowerUp

The ASUS GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU Mini promises a revolution for the small-form-factor gaming market. It finally enables you to build a powerful mini-ITX gaming rig that can handle all the latest titles in full HD at highest settings. Our testing shows that there are no compromises to be made in terms of noise or performance.

Read more: ASUS GTX 670 DirectCU Mini 2 GB @ techPowerUp

CyberPowerPC Fangbook X7-200 Gaming Notebook Review @ Hothardware.com

While many full-size gaming rigs are built to elicit oohs and ahs with their stunning looks and high performance, gaming notebooks can sometimes be a little bland. CyberPowerPC has had its share of solid yet non-distinct looking gaming notebooks, but the Fangbook series is a different animal. Built with plenty of alluring hardware and a slick chassis, the Fangbook is also clearly designed to make people stop and ogle.

The Fangbook comes in three iterations--the X7-100, X7-200, and the X7-300--and of course, all three models are completely customizable in terms of specifications and features. To give you a sense of the range of prices, the X7-100 starts at $1,299 (which gets you a pretty solid base configuration if you ask us), and on the high end, the X7-300 starts at $1,799.

Read more: CyberPowerPC Fangbook X7-200 Gaming Notebook Review @ Hothardware.com

Open-Source 3D Support For NVIDIA's Tegra @ Phoronix

Last year was the landmark announcement of an open-source NVIDIA Tegra graphics driver for Linux that was developed with the support of NVIDIA. In late November, NVIDIA published open-source 2D acceleration support for their newer ARM SoCs. Today, 3D support is being announced for the open-source NVIDIA Tegra graphics driver.

NVIDIA has been backing the open-source Tegra project in cooperation with the German-based Avionic Design company that is doing some of the development of this new driver. New features have come to this driver in recent months while now is the big milestone of 3D support.

Thierry Reding, one of the main developers at Avionic Design working on this NVIDIA ARM SoC graphics driver, published the initial patches on Thursday for 3D support. The patches published are for providing the kernel-side changes needed to support 3D with the Tegra Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) driver. There's also a new Gallium3D driver being developed for supporting this from user-space.

Read more: Open-Source 3D Support For NVIDIA's Tegra @ Phoronix

Mobile GPU Comparison Guide Rev. 14.5 @ TechARP

These days, there are so many mobile GPU models that it has become quite impossible to keep up with the different configurations. Therefore, we decided to compile this guide to provide an easy reference for those who are interested in comparing the specifications of the various mobile GPUs in the market as well as those already obsolescent or obsolete.

Currently covering 391 mobile GPUs, this comprehensive comparison will allow you to easily compare up to 22 different specifications for each and every GPU! We hope it will prove to be a useful reference. We will keep this guide updated regularly so do check back for the latest updates!

Read more: Mobile GPU Comparison Guide Rev. 14.5 @ TechARP

Thermalright AXP-100 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

The Thermalright AXP-100 is a low profile CPU cooler aimed at SFF (small form factor) computers and HTPCs. It has six heatpipes and a 100 mm fan, and is only 2.28 inches (58 mm) tall. Let's see if it is a good option.

Read more: Thermalright AXP-100 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

GUNNAR Vinyl Onyx Review @ Vortez

In the world of computing today, there are many companies and brands which provide a multitude of products. Ranging from the budget conscientious to the high end enthusiast, there is massive selection of products available on the market. Whether you’re a general computer user or a professional gamer, computer screens and other digital devices can cause a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) which causes a variety of symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, eye strain and difficulty in refocusing your eyes. With many brands providing healthier solutions to use your PC’s including products such as padded mouse mats and keyboard wrist rests to combat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, one company in particular has dedicated themselves to reducing the effects of CVS on our eyes.

Read more: GUNNAR Vinyl Onyx Review @ Vortez

ADATA 500GB USB 3.0 DashDrive Elite Review @ OCIA.net

The item that we have for review today is one of the smallest and lightest external hard drives available, the ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720. Inside its attractive brushed steel skin lies 500GB of storage, accessible via a fast USB 3.0 powered connection. With a size and weight less than most smartphones, the DashDrive Elite easily fits in your pocket or travel bag and with only one cable to worry with, you're not going to be tied to a socket either.

Read more: ADATA 500GB USB 3.0 DashDrive Elite Review @ OCIA.net

First Impressions of Trion Worlds’ Defiance @ Techgage

I’m not a sci-fi guy, and I certainly don’t need another MMO to play – so what’s the deal with me taking Trion’s just-released Defiance for a spin? Because I was sent a copy, and sometimes that’s all the reason I need. Plus, I do like the premise of the game, and figured that maybe… just maybe, I’d be drawn in. After about five hours of play, I can definitely feel a bit of a pull.

A proper review of an MMO game can’t be churned-out in a mere week, so I thought I’d jot up “first impressions” based on the first five hours I spent with the game. The interesting thing about Defiance is that it’s tied in with a TV show – something I’m not quite sure has been done before. If you happen to enjoy both the game and the TV show, you’re in for a real treat.

Read more: First Impressions of Trion Worlds’ Defiance @ Techgage

How Tablet PCs Could Save Civilization @ Benchmark Reviews

I've read many articles published by various editors on the death of the Desktop PC at the hand of Tablets, and I don't put much stock in them. I, personally, will never give up having a Desktop. The raw power capabilities needed for ripping, converting, editing, compiling, and securing various data will always ensure it a place in my home, until the Desktop becomes a Wrist Computer with a direct neural interface. Or, at least, that's my hope of what it will become. However, there is a potential death for the Desktop PC in the future, and it's has nothing to do with advancing technologies.

I'm referring to an event which most people don't want to consider, and few find more disconcerting than technophiles like me, an apocalypse. Now, don't misunderstand me, I'm not referring to some extinction level event of scientific or religious origins, but rather to a potential world-wide degradation of civilization, a new Dark Ages, if you will.

When you consider the rising costs of Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, and the most important product made from those raw resources, Electricity, the possibility of this seems a real enough threat. After all, what would happen to your computer if your Utility Company couldn't afford to buy those materials, or if those resources were fully used up?

Read more: How Tablet PCs Could Save Civilization @ Benchmark Reviews

Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD Review @ Hi Tech Legion

Going from a mechanical hard drive to an SSD for my boot device was certainly one of those experiences where the change in speed was very satisfying. The first experience with an SSD was one of those wow moments when the machine booted up in seconds instead of minutes. Of course there are other factors in boot time than the storage device, but it was clear that the change from a mechanical drive to the SSD made the most difference. At the same time I have upgraded older systems with SSDs to breathe new life into them and have experience the same drastic change in how responsive the system was.

The Samsung 256GB 840 pro SSD is one of the newest storage devices in the Samsung lineup. With this revision Samsung has included their triple-core MDX controller into the 840 line. The three cores allow the 840 and 840 pro drives to execute multiple instructions at a time improving performance under heavy use. Using a SATA 3.0 6GB/sec interface the Samsung 840 Pro is rated for 540MB/sec sequential read, 450MB/sec sequential write speeds, 100,000 IOPS in random read, and 90,000 IOPS in random write speed. All while using a minimal amount of power at an average of only .068 watts during active use and .042 watts in idle power. Samsung also includes their Samsung Smart Data Migration Software in the package to assist in the transition and Samsung Magician 4.x to assist with monitoring and maintaining the health of the drive, along with a 5 year warranty.

Read more: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD Review @ Hi Tech Legion

Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset Review @ TechnologyX

Sound and sound quality are largely in the realm of heavy subjectivity, so it can be difficult reviewing something based on preferences. When you throw in comfort and feel, those are just two extra variables that make it more challenging.

Even price. The usual argument between gamers is if a headset exceeds the $150 range, the better deal is to get quality headphones paired with a cheap $5 microphone. While it may seem like a pedantic alternative, there is a point to be made. Headsets, cheap or expensive, rarely ever come with outstanding microphones.

Read more: Cooler Master Storm Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset Review @ TechnologyX

Best Budget Laptops, April 2013 @ Anandtech

Last week we launched a new sort of buyers guide for AnandTech with our Best Budget Ultrabook recommendation. We'll be fleshing out the best XYZ recommendations for other components and categories over the coming months, but for now my focus is on the notebook sector, and the plan is to have a new recommendation for laptops every Friday. Last week was a budget Ultrabook, and this week is the true budget category for all laptops. Let me know what you'd like me to cover next, keeping in mind that there are probably five or six categories of laptop that I'll rotate through on a regular basis.

Read more: Best Budget Laptops, April 2013 @ Anandtech

Cougar Challenger Chassis Review @ Guru3D

In this review we have a peek at the Cougar Challenger, a mid-tower chassis that is loaded with options, and hey .. it's priced quite competitively as well. The Challenger mid-tower case is aimed and targeted to gamers demanding capacity, airflow and optimized ventilation characteristics. A chassis that has decent features alright.

Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower
USB 3.0 x 2 (internal), Mic x 1, Audio x 1 Front Ports
3 External 5.25" Drive Bays
7 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays

Read more: Cougar Challenger Chassis Review @ Guru3D