Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200S Processor Review
Legit Reviews posted a review on the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200S Processor

With the economy still chugging along not too many people are thinking about buying a processor above $300, so today we will be looking at the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor. This 45nm processor retails for just $169.99 online, which makes it interesting due to the price point alone. Read on to see how this 2.33GHz processor with a 1333MHz FSB and 4MB of L2 cache does against over 20 other processors!

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200S Processor Review

AMD Shanghai Opteron: Linux vs. OpenSolaris Benchmarks
Phoronix posted AMD Shanghai Opteron: Linux vs. OpenSolaris Benchmarks

In January we published a review of the AMD Shanghai Opteron CPUs on Linux when we looked at four of the Opteron 2384 models. The performance of these 45nm quad-core workstation/server processors were great when compared to the earlier AMD Barcelona processors on Ubuntu Linux, but how is their performance when running Sun's OpenSolaris operating system? Up for viewing today are dual AMD Shanghai benchmarks when running OpenSolaris 2008.11, Ubuntu 8.10, and a daily build of the forthcoming Ubuntu 9.04 release.

AMD Shanghai Opteron: Linux vs. OpenSolaris Benchmarks



ThermoLab Baram Heatsink Review
Ninjalane has just posted their review of a tower cooler from ThermoLab called the Baram

This is a 250w tower style cooler that actually runs cooler overclocked than OEM at default speed.

ThermoLab Baram Heatsink Review

Sunbeamtech Mini-ITX Acrylic Case Review
Rbmods posted a review on the Sunbeamtech Mini-ITX Acrylic Case

Small computers is the word in today's world. Asus EEE series and MSI:s Wind PC are very common in thin-client business. However it's possible to build your own mini sized computer. Keyparts are mini-itx motherboard and mini-itx case. Today we will take a look at Sunbeamtech's Mini-ITX Acrylic case which is designed for HTPC:s.

Sunbeamtech Mini-ITX Acrylic Case Review

AMD Phenom II X4 810: DDR3 vs. DDR2
InsideHW.com has compared performances of AMD Phenom II X4 810 with DDR3 and DDR2 memory

Newest K10 core was from start designed to support DDR3 memory standard, but from unknown reasons (to us) AMD decided to disable that support for 65nm revisions of this CPU. Even first Deneb 45nm cores had disabled support for DDR3 memory. Deneb cores that have DDR3 support are the same C2 revision that initially appeared on Socket AM2/AM2+. Same mistake with transition to new memory standard AMD didn't want to repeat so new AM3 CPUs are backwards compatible with AM2/AM2+ motherboards. If you have old AM2 motherboard that supports Phenom CPUs, new Phenom X4 810, X3 720 or any other AM3 CPUs can be plugged in and everything will work flawlessly with "good old" DDR2 memory that you already have.

AMD Phenom II X4 810: DDR3 vs. DDR2

ECS A780GM-A Ultra Black Series Review
PureOverclock posted a review of the ECS A780GM-A Ultra motherboard

For those of us not fortunate to be able to afford the bleeding edge and best of computer hardware, our biggest demand is probably value. We want good performance but we want it at an affordable price. At the heart of any new computer is the motherboard, and today we're looking at the ECS A 780GM-A Ultra Black Series motherboard, which promises a packed feature set and overclockability in a very affordable package.

ECS A780GM-A Ultra Black Series Review

AMD Phenom II X3 - 720 Review
Hardware-TEST.dk/ Hwt.dk posted a review on the AMD Phenom II X3 - 720 2.8GHz

We compare the Phenom II performance with the Core i7-920, Core2Duo, Athlon64 X2 clock-by-clock and look on where do you buy the best "value for money".

AMD Phenom II X3 - 720 Review

MSI X58 Eclipse Motherboard Review
Viper Lair posted a review on the MSI X58 Eclipse Motherboard

Overall, MSI has produced a very nice product with the X58 Eclipse . It was stable, very fast and with the 1.32 BIOS, a very good overclocker. The results compared to its Intel counterpart were close, though it did trail slightly across the board at stock speeds. Where MSI realy comes out ahead though is the included extras such as quality audio and excellent system management hardware and software tools.

MSI X58 Eclipse Motherboard Review

Q9400S & Q8200S: Intel's 65W Quad-Cores
Techgage.com posted a review of Intel's Q8200S and Q9400S 65W Quad-Cores

The benefits of a low-TDP processor are obvious, but a usual downside is also obvious: low clock speeds. Intel's changing that thinking with their Core 2 Quad "S" series, which includes the Q9550S, Q9400S and also the Q8200S. Compared to their non-"S" variants, they draw less power and run cooler, all while retaining the performance they've become known for.

Q9400S & Q8200S: Intel's 65W Quad-Cores

Cooler Master ATCS 840 Full Tower Classic ATX Case Review
Tweaknews posted a review on the Cooler Master ATCS 840 Full Tower Classic ATX Case

With the original ATCS chassis, Cooler Master brought the first truly custom alloy case to the market. Their ATCS 840 Classic has proven to be a worthy successor. With classic good looks and superb build quality, the 840 is poised to make as big an impact on the market as its predecessor. Besides being huge, this chassis is also very configurable and will hold all the hardware that virtually any enthusiast will want to stuff into it, including the watercooling folks.

Cooler Master ATCS 840 Full Tower Classic ATX Case Review

AMD Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE review (AM3)
The Guru of 3D posted a review on the AMD Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE processors

It's time for AMD to release their latest Socket AM3 processors. In total five new processors are being launched today and Guru3D will look at the outstanding 2,8 GHz clocked Phenom II X3 720 BE processor priced at just 145 USD, the second processor we'll test is again very affordable, the Phenom II X4 810 processor (2,6 GHz) which launches at a really nice 175 USD.

Both processors arm your PC with some pretty good bang for your hard earned money. We'll dive in deep, into the architecture, the features .. but obviously most the performance. Have a peek at AMD's latest AM3 processor (which work on Socket AM2+ 790 motherboard as well!). Things certainly are looking up for AMD.

AMD Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE review (AM3)

AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition and X4 810 Processors Review
HotHardware.com posted a review on the AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition and X4 810 Processors

Last month, AMD launched the Phenom II X4 processor line-up, and with it ushered in the first desktop processors built using the company's 45nm process node. While the first two Phenom II processors to arrive, the 3.0GHz X4 940 and 2.8GHz 920, were clearly superior to previous Phenoms in terms of performance and power efficiency, and they remain the two most powerful processors in AMD's product stack today, they did not exploit all of the capabilities offered by their newly tweaked, and redesigned cores.

You see, the AMD Phenom II X4 940 and X4 920 were designed for the socket AM2+ platform, and as such, they supported only DDR2 memory. The latest additions to the Phenom II line-up, the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition and X4 810, however, are designed for the AM3 platform. That means these new chips can work not only in existing AM2+ motherboards with DDR2 memory, but in new AM3-based motherboard with DDR3 memory as well. The flexibility of these new socket AM3 based Phenom II processors should appeal to existing AMD system owners who may be thinking about a CPU upgrade, or potential new AMD-based system buyers who want the freedom to choose from a wide array of motherboards and memory type at multiple price points.

We've taken the new triple-core Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition and quad-core X4 810 for a spin through the lab using both socket AM2+ and socket AM3 based motherboard platforms, to give you all an idea as to how each configuration performs. Read on for the full scoop...

AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition and X4 810 Processors Review

Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Black Edition Review
LostCircuits posted a review on the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Black Edition

The Phenom X3 II 720 is being sold as Black Edition, meaning that the multiplier is completely unlocked, in short, an invitation for overclocking. In fact, as it turned out, I have never seen a CPU that easy to overclock out of the box without doing anything beyond moving a few sliders on AMD's OverDrive utiliy. Set the core voltage to 1.45V, the NB to 1.325 V with a 1.235 V value for the HT interface and push the multiplier all the way to 20 x. Twenty seconds later, CPUZ showed that we were running at 4.0 GHz. 4.1 GHz caused some problems. Either setting was done with standard air cooling and at room temperature. Granted, there were a few stability problems even at 4.0 GHz but at 3.8 GHz, the X3 720 was purring along no matter what we threw at it to get 372 fps average in F.E.A.R. and 170 fps average in Crysis. Without any hiccup.

Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Black Edition Review

Cooler Master ATCS 840 Full Tower Classic ATX Case Review
Tweaknews posted a review on the Cooler Master ATCS 840 Full Tower Classic ATX Case

With the original ATCS chassis, Cooler Master brought the first truly custom alloy case to the market. Their ATCS 840 Classic has proven to be a worthy successor. With classic good looks and superb build quality, the 840 is poised to make as big an impact on the market as its predecessor. Besides being huge, this chassis is also very configurable and will hold all the hardware that virtually any enthusiast will want to stuff into it, including the watercooling folks.

Cooler Master ATCS 840 Full Tower Classic ATX Case Review

AMD Socket AM3 Arrives The Real Phenom II Detailed
TweakTown posted an article on AMD Socket AM3

Okay, why are we here again? – Well, AMD has once again released a new CPU, but this is using the same name as previous yet still fairly new CPU. Confusing? - I know; it is to me as well. One month ago to the day, AMD released what it likes to call the Phenom II processor. While it is an update upon the original Phenom architecture, it still uses the same AM2+ board architecture. For that reason it may be prudent to call it a Phenom II, but what does this mean for a new CPU that supports a whole new processor socket? – Well, that’s where things now get dicey.

To start things off on our AM3 processor, AMD has revolutionised the latest addition to the Phenom II family. All of the 800 series and 700 series CPU’s have a dual mode memory controller. That is, it has a DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller onboard. This is the first CPU to incorporate two memory controllers on one CPU die.

AMD Socket AM3 Arrives The Real Phenom II Detailed

AMD Phenom II 720 and 810 AM3 Review
OCC has published a new review on the AMD Phenom II 720 and 810 AM3 CPU's

With the new line of Phenom II processors anticipation and expectations are growing. The previously reviewed Phenom II 940 was a beast of a processor, though it only supports DDR2 memory, so there is not any room for expansion into the faster DDR3 market. The new AM3 processors tackle this situation and allow you to run the best of both worlds with DDR2 and DDR3 when the AM3 motherboards are released. When it came down to numbers I was surprised at how well a Triple Core processor was able to jump on the heels of some of the Quad Core processors and sometimes even taking the lead in the video benchmarks. Quite honestly, I did not expect this type of performance from a CPU with fewer cores. Overclocking the Phenom II X3 720 is quite easy since it is a Black Edition processor with an unlocked multiplier. I had little trouble getting an almost 1GHz overclock with a combination of the multiplier and the bus speed.

AMD Phenom II 720 and 810 AM3 Review

Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Review
PC Perspective posted a review on the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720

AMD is unveiling their AM3 platform today with the launch of the Phenom II X4 810 and the Phenom II X3 720. These sub $200 processors are paving the way for DDR-3 support with AMD processors. While their support for DDR-3 is nice, they still are compatible with AM2+ sockets and DDR-2 support. These two processors help to flesh out AMD's offerings for the budget marketplace, and should allow AMD to transition that much faster to all 45 nm parts.

Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Review