Cyberlink PowerDVD 9 Ultra Review
Elite Bastards posted a review on Cyberlink PowerDVD 9 Ultra

On the video playback side of things, the first item you'll probably want to enable is hardware acceleration, with Cyberlink supporting NVIDIA, ATI and Intel GPU acceleration for both DVD and Blu-Ray media. With hardware acceleration enabled, you have a few different colour profiles to choose from to suit your display and surroundings. Speaking of video output, HDMI 1.3 and all that entails is also supported by PowerDVD 9.

However, eschewing hardware acceleration does instead allow you to make use of Cyberlink's own, CPU-based, "TrueTheater" effects, which gives you control over sharpness, brightness and motion smoothing. One nifty ability of these TrueTheater affects is the ability to display them as either a side-by-side or "split-screen" comparison, so that you can see what your video looks like both before and after said effects are applied.

Cyberlink PowerDVD 9 Ultra Review

SilverStone RAVEN SST-RV01B-W Full Tower Case Review
TweakTown posted a review on the SilverStone RAVEN SST-RV01B-W Full Tower Case

In my short time with PC’s I have always looked to see what other people were using to house their hardware in. Some of the cleanest and sexiest PC builds were done in a couple of cases that caught my eye. These are the FT01 and the TJ09 cases from SilverStone. The only issue was that I always tended to opt to buy a cheaper case and spread my dollars elsewhere in the build. Nothing against SilverStone, I just couldn’t afford that kind of luxury at the time."

SilverStone has now released a new revolution to the ATX community by designing a chassis that allows the heat to naturally rise through the case by orienting the motherboard tray 90° to the right. This essentially lays the board on its side and then has the CPU fan and video cards exhausting out the top of the case. This concept seems so obvious now, but it took SilverStone to throw all their eggs in a new basket and run with it to actually bring this to the market. And still, this isn’t all of it! - SilverStone took another step outside the box of the "average" case and created stealth inspired panels and covers to make the RAVEN RV01 shaped like no other.

SilverStone RAVEN SST-RV01B-W Full Tower Case Review



Intel Core i7 Overclocking - A HotHardware How-To
HotHardware overclocked the Intel Core i7

Intel's Core i7 processor offers a significant performance increase over previous generation Core 2 processors. In addition, like the legacy Core 2 architecture, the new Core i7 also has a bunch more headroom for wringing upside performance out of the chip, maximizing value, power and return on your investment with overclocking. In fact, Intel actually built-in a predefined overclocking feature called "Turbo Mode". We explain how not only Core i7 Turbo Mode works but also how to manually overclock the Core i7 in the BIOS as well as give you strategies on maintaining stability of the system as you ramp up the Core i7 core frequency for even larger gains in performance...

Intel Core i7 Overclocking - A HotHardware How-To

Sapphire 4890 Review
Bjorn3D takes a look at the Sapphire HD 4890

Here we are, a fair deal after the introduction of the GTX280, and ATI has still not made a directly comparable card. I am here to say this is not the day. Looking ahead to the future, ATI has the whole 4900 series of names, if they so choose, to make even more powerful cards. As for now, ATI has settled right in the middle of the GTX280 and GTX260. This is a price point that Nvidia has no direct competitor, until now. Once Nvidia heard about the HD 4890, I am sure the idea of the GTX275 came to their minds. These two cards will battle it out in the same price point. While Nvidia cards have many tricks up their sleeves, you cant count ATI out on this one.

Sapphire 4890 Review

Dell Studio XPS 16 reviewed
ITreviewed posted a review on the Dell Studio XPS 16

With the Studio XPS 16, we had no problems running all the latest Windows programs and playing modern games (such as Dark Sector and Left 4 Dead) at the screen's native resolution of 1920*1080 pixels. Having said that, frame rates aren't as good as those on a dedicated gaming machine. And while the design of the laptop is very modern, it is a inger-print magnet - get your microfiber cloth ready! The illuminated keyboard is a neat touch when you need it, such as taking notes in a dimly lit room, and the facial recognition software is cool. Sound quality is better than average but still pretty much what you would expect from a laptop. The Studio XPS 16 runs a little warm, but is more than tolerable. For the money, this strikingly gorgeous all-rounder is hard to beat.

Dell Studio XPS 16 reviewed

OCZ Intel Extreme Series PC3-12800 6GB Memory Kit Review
Hardware Logic posted a review on the OCZ Intel Extreme Series PC3-12800 6GB Memory Kit

Since 2000,OCZ Technology has been a leader in the enthusiast market by providing the latest components at mainstream prices. They were one of the first manufacturers to provide affordable dual channel DDR3 dual channel kits when the technology was relatively new. Predictably, here they are again with a tri-channel kit that combines the qualities that budget conscious consumers are looking for. OCZ's Intel Extreme Series PC3-12800 memory runs at 1600 MHz, 8-8-8-24 timings, two XMP profiles, and is one of the most competitively priced kits on the market. Read on to find out if this RAM has what it takes to make its way into your next build.

OCZ Intel Extreme Series PC3-12800 6GB Memory Kit Review

Samsung SP-P400B Projector Review
Accelernation posted a review on the Samsung SP-P400B Projector

A principal concern when purchasing a new projector is the lifetime of the lamp. Rather than using a "standard" bulb, Samsung have opted to use an LED lamp for this projector. This lamp has an estimated lifetime in excess of 20,000 hours, which amounts to 2.3 years of continuous use.

Samsung SP-P400B Projector Review

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 Review
PC Review posted a review of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009, an all in one security suite which performs admirably

The most important component of KIS 2009 is undoubtedly the anti-virus scanner, which is the backbone of protection for any computer. Some of the most comprehensive AV testing is done by a company called AV-Comparatives, which test a variety of scanners against a huge database of viral infections. This is one of the most effective ways of measuring the performance of AV scanners, and provides a much more representative result than personal testing. In the latest test of on-demand AV scanners (Feb 09), Kaspersky is tested alongside 16 other products in their default modes. A 97.1 overall detection rate was achieved, which is roughly a mid-table result however the number of false positives was significantly lower than many other scanners.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 Review

ESET NOD32 Antivirus v4.0 reviewed
ITreviewed posted a review on the ESET NOD32 Antivirus v4.0

ESET's NOD32 is probably the best anti-virus software on the market. Once again the company has delivered an excellent product that is highly effective and easy to use - the interface can even be tweaked by the advanced user. The strength and beauty of it is its light footprint (hard drive space and system resources), relatively fast scanning and superior ThreatSense Technology that detects malicious software before it has been reported. It's also very good value for money. If you already have a valid license, then there is no charge for the upgrade. Even if you are running an all-in-one security suite you should consider running ESET NOD32 Antivirus v4.0 as well - at the very least you should download the 30-day trial.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus v4.0 reviewed

Noctua NH-C12P tower-cooler Review
ocaholic.ch posted a review on the Noctua NH-C12P tower-cooler

With the NH-C12P we look at Noctuas high-end topflow cooler. Thanks to an enormeous cooling area and six heatpipes it should deliver astonishing performance also at a low noise level.

Noctua NH-C12P tower-cooler Review

VIZO Mini Ninja & Ninja HS Notebook Coolers Review
Virtual-Hideout posted a review on the VIZO Mini Ninja & Ninja HS Notebook Coolers

And we're back again with another notebook cooler review, or in this case, a pair of notebook coolers for you guys to check out. They come from VIZO, a well reviewed company here at VH, and are geared for low noise and adjustability. The full sized unit goes by the name of the Ninja HS, with the smaller unit going by the Mini Ninja. Overall the Ninja HS is a pretty nice notebook cooler for those in need of something totally silent. I wouldn't use this to cooler high power (and high heat) gaming laptops, for the majority of you out there, this should be just fine and certainly better than using nothing at all.

VIZO Mini Ninja & Ninja HS Notebook Coolers Review

Pantech Matrix Pro Review
TechReviewSource.com posted a review on the Pantech Matrix Pro

AT&T's latest dual-keyboard slider phone is the Pantech Matrix Pro, which is a dream for a die-hard texter. It's a successor to the Pantech Duo and now features two keyboards, one numeric and one QWERTY, in a slider-phone form factor. There are also several additions, including Windows Mobile 6.1, a faster CPU, GPS functionality, and more.

Pantech Matrix Pro Review

Logitech Harmony 1100 Review
InsideHW.com has reviewed Logitech Harmony 1100

The evolution of Logitech Harmony universal remote controllers, that started with Harmony 1000 model, is continued with newest Harmony 1100 model. It is obvious that traditional shape is abandoned in favor of shape that is more suited for two hand navigation. Most of the controls are available through touch screen that has QVGA resolution and 3.5 inch diagonal. Advantages of new model compared to previous one (Harmony 1000) are larger number of hardware controls (buttons) that can be used for most frequently used task.

Logitech Harmony 1100 Review

NVIDIA and Acer Announce First Ion-based Product: AspireRevo SFF
HotHardware reports that NVIDIA and Acer has announced their first Ion-based product

Today NVIDIA and Acer collectively took the wraps off the very first NVIDIA Ion-based design win, with a sleek new Small Form Factor PC called the AspireRevo. Built on the NVIDIA Ion platform, looks a tad like Asus' Eee Box perhaps but with a bit more styling and of course a lot more GPU horsepower under the hood for multi-media and full HD video offload processing on the Ion platform IGP.

NVIDIA and Acer Announce First Ion-based Product: AspireRevo SFF

Mushkin DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) 6GB Review
Neoseeker takes a look at some DDR3 PC2-12800 memory from Mushkin

This Mushkin triple channel kit is perfect for those looking for great stock performance without breaking the bank. Overclockers will be left without much to play with, since their maximum clock speed weren't quite an impressive feat. However, they should be able to please anyone simply looking for a moderate overclock and at around $120, they offer good value. The modules are also backed by Mushkin's lifetime warranty which shows they have good faith in their products.

Mushkin DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) 6GB Review

OCZ 2gb MicroSD Secure Digital Memory Card Review
TestFreaks posted a review on the OCZ 2gb MicroSD Secure Digital Memory Card

today I'm taking a look at an OCZ microSD card, specifically their 2gb model. It's a standard microSD card, not an SDHC card though, just regular SD so it will be compatible with everything basically. There's not much more to day about this product, it's a microSD card after all, it also comes with an SD adapter, and a carrying case as well. I've compared this card to a few other SD and SHC cards I've got on hand to see how it stacks up

OCZ 2gb MicroSD Secure Digital Memory Card Review

OCZ Eclipse Laser Mouse Review
Overclockers Online has posted a new review on the OCZ Eclipse Laser Mouse

Gamers can be particular and demanding when it comes to their hardware and particularly their mice. With the Eclipse mouse, OCZ is showing they are listening to gamers needs and giving them what they want. With a large range of customization and onboard profiles, the Eclipse brings a lot to the table. Dual lasers make for accurate tracking and on the fly DPI switching makes it easy to go from running and gunning to sniping in no time.

OCZ Eclipse Laser Mouse Review

Tuniq Ripper 1000w Review
PureOverclock published a review of the Tuniq Ripper 1000w power supply.

Consumers want quality and performance at a price that won't break the bank, and today we have a power supply that promises just such an enticing combination. We're looking at the Tuniq Ripper 1000w, a unit that comes with a very attractive price tag for a kilowatt setup. But how well does it perform?

Tuniq Ripper 1000w Review

Thermaltake BlacX HDD Docking Station Review
Hi Tech Legion posted Thermaltake BlacX HDD Docking Station Review

The Thermaltake BlacX HDD Docking Station gives you the ease and convenience you could ever want. The BlacX by Thermaltake is a HDD docking station for 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDD's. The BlacX comes in two flavors, one is USB 2.0 and the other is eSATA and USB 2.0. The docking station of the Thermaltake BlacX has a patented design that allows it to support both sizes of HDD's and keeps the cables to a minimum. The BlacX can support HDD up to 2 TB and all can be hot swappable. The BlacX is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS's as well.

Thermaltake BlacX HDD Docking Station Review

Badaboom 1.1.1 Review
OCC has published a new review on Badaboom 1.1.1

Without a doubt, many graphic cards are much better at handling tasks that scale well with additional cores like transcoding. With the power of nVidia's CUDA language, the Badaboom team was able to come up with an impressively fast tool to complete this otherwise extremely lengthy process. The vast array of input file types should please most people, although it cannot handle protected content so you will have to rely on third party tools to decrypt those DVDs. However, the same thing does not apply to output files. Saying the choice is limited wouldn't be quite exact since there is no choice at all. I can deal with being restricted to an H.264 video output, but having the audio locked to 2 channel AAC isn't too satisfying, especially when the input had much better sound quality. Apparently, multi-channel audio is on their to-do list, but no deadline has been given, which is a major downside for a lot of people.

Badaboom 1.1.1 Review

Cooler Master Storm Sniper Mid-Tower Review
Techgage.com takes a kiij at Cooler Master's latest chassis, the CM Storm Sniper

Cooler Master is well-known for their creation of high-quality products, but things are taken to the next level with their new CM Storm brand. Their first product here is the mid-tower Sniper, and what a chassis this is! In addition to offering features specific to LAN gamers, the overall design, cooling ability and aesthetics make it well worth checking out.

Cooler Master Storm Sniper Mid-Tower Review

Antec P183 Computer Case Review
Benchmark Reviews posted a review on the Antec P183 Computer Case

Launched in 2005, the original Antec P180 case was immediately welcomed into the industry as one of the best cases of the year. A few years and a few revisions later, we find ourselves in the presence of its latest successor: the Antec Performance One P183 mid-tower case. While the basic design remains the same, Antec took their end-user feedback to heart and implemented several highly requested changes. Today at Benchmark Reviews, we look at those changes and find out how the Antec P183 stacks up against another recently launched enthusiast case: the CM Storm.

Antec P183 Computer Case Review

Microsoft Sidewinder X8 Bluetrack Gaming Mouse Review
Futurelooks takes a look at the Microsoft Sidewinder X8 Bluetrack Gaming Mouse

Try and try again must be Microsoft’s motto when it comes to gaming mouse design. First, they brought us the original Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse which had looks that killed, but ergonomics that killed your hand. Next, they came up with the Sidewinder X5 which took many of the criticisms turned them into improvements. Still not perfect, but at least it appears someone was listening. That’s why I’m optimistic, yet cautious about their latest product: The Microsoft Sidewinder X8 Wireless Gaming Mouse.

Microsoft Sidewinder X8 Bluetrack Gaming Mouse Review