TechwareLabs has published a guide to Building your own Custom Computer

From the mind of the modder who brought you the SpiderMan 3/Venom Case mod comes a new creation. This time Jason attempts to customize a case that integrates some very dramatic elements to create a unique effect. The result is a modification that even the ladies should like.

Phantasmic Case Part I Modification Guide

BIOS Magazine posted a review on the EIZO FlexScan HD2441W monitor

Few monitors on the market can match the HD2441Ws' image quality. It perfectly renders colour from the very darkest to the very lightest shades, and motion video is crisp and blur-free. The only problem is the price, and perhaps the lack of more conventional input ports. If you need a non-HDMI 24-inch widescreen display for general computer use, you'll easily be able to save hundreds of pounds elsewhere. But for a luxurious selection of digital ports, picture-in-picture facility and top-notch image quality, Eizo's FlexScan HD2441W can't be beaten.

EIZO FlexScan HD2441W Review



AppleInsider posted a review on Apple's new 24-inch iMac

The mid-2007 overhaul of Apple's iconic desktop is the first true evidence of a switch in Apple's design direction since the company's switch to Intel processors. But while it represents two steps forward in terms of ergonomics and performance, pro users may find the iMac taking one step backward.

Review: Apple's new 24-inch iMac (aluminum)

HotHardware evaluate the features, performance, and overclockability of Asus' new high-end P35-based offerings for Intel processors, the Blitz Extreme (DDR3) and the Blitz Formula (DDR2)

Asus saw the need for an enthusiast-class motherboard based on the P35 chipset, but with a more flexible PCI Express configuration. And leveraging what they undoubtedly learned from designing the PW564-WS , engineered the Blitz Extreme and Blitz Formula motherboards, complete with a PCI Express switch that allowed them to connect the P35 Northbridge's PCI Express lanes to not one, but a pair of PEG slots. Asus didn't stop there, however, and also outfitted the Blitz boards with a hybrid air / liquid cooling apparatus and a number of other features that are sure to please.

Asus Blitz Formula and Blitz Extreme Review

NGOHQ.com posted a new NGO NVIDIA Optimized Driver. Use this driver at your own risk.

The NGO NVIDIA Optimized Driver is a modified version of the NVIDIA ForceWare driver. The main purpose is to satisfy the users with better performance, image quality and compatibility. The NGO NVIDIA Optimized Driver can enhance your experience in games, multimedia and general usage. This project is especially suited for enthusiasts and gamers that want to have the best gaming experience.

NGO NVIDIA Optimized Driver v1.16218

Tech ARP posted a review on Taskbar Shuffle

First of all, what is Taskbar Shuffle? Taskbar Shuffle is a little nifty application that allows you, the user, to instantly rearrange the taskbar buttons and system tray icons by mere drag 'n drop. I've always wanted to recommend Taskbar Shuffle to all of you, but haven't had the time to do so... until now, that is. I did recommend it to my colleagues but they don't seem to see the usefulness of this little application. Maybe you will.

Taskbar Shuffle Review

Hardware Secrets posted a review on the GA-P35C-DS3R, a top mainstream motherboard from Gigabyte based on the Intel P35 chipset

Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R is top mainstream motherboard based on the latest Intel mainstream chipset, P35, supporting both DDR3 and DDR2 memories and having several extra features like eight SATA-300 ports (two of them can be converted into eSATA) and high-end components (solid aluminum capacitors, ferrite coils and better MOSFET transistors). Let’s see the features and performance from this new Gigabyte release.

Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R Motherboard Review

PC Stats posted a Gigabyte GV-NX85T256H Geforce 8500GT Videocard Review

In terms of performance the Gigabyte GV-NX85T256H can handle DirectX 9.0 games at resolutions of 1024x768 pretty well. DirectX 10 titles like Call of Juarez and Lost Planet are a bit too much for it though. If you're a big time gamer you might be better served to save up a bit more to get something that's one or two classes higher. If you're just a casual gamer though the GV-NX85T256H should be sufficient. It's also perfectly suitable for running a Windows Vista PC, with all of the eye candy that operating system allows for menus, explorer windows and navigation.

Gigabyte GV-NX85T256H Geforce 8500GT Videocard Review

PC Stats posted a review on some flash memory drivers of Super Talent

Super Talent is better known for its high speed system memory but it also does high speed USB drives and I'm not kidding on the high speed part.

Its DH line of USB drives have an impressive 200x speed rating (30MB/s) and from the benchmark results, the USB drives that we tested surpassed that mark by an additional 10%! Write performance was not shabby either hitting 180x speed or 27MB/s!

Super Talent 1GB, 2GB and 4GB USB Flash Memory Drives Review

techPowerUp posted a review on the Danger Den DD-29XT HD 2900 XT Waterblock

Danger Den is considered to be one of the best companies around when it comes to high performance watercooling hardware. Taking a similar approach used on their previous Tyee waterblock, Danger Den designed a full coverage waterblock for the Radeon HD 2900 Series, the DD-29XT. The waterblock and can cool both the GPU, Memory and Voltage Regulators efficiently and promises dramatic results.

Danger Den DD-29XT HD 2900 XT Waterblock Review

Techgage posted a review of Vantec's hot-swappable 2.5" enclosure and also their latest NexStar 2.5" enclosure

We've taken a look at a fair amount of external storage devices in the past, but here's one that's unique. At home, you can plug the drive in like a diskette for full S-ATA speeds, and eject it to take on the go with USB-functionality. In addition to the EZ Swap EX, we are also taking a look at Vantec's latest NexStar offering.

Vantec EZ Swap EX & NexStar SX 2.5" Hard-Drive Enclosures Review

DragonSteelMods takes a look at the USB Ducky Fan from USBGeek

Yeah it's hot out there, and it isn't any fun sitting at a desk in this nasty heat, even if you work in air conditioning it sometimes isn't that adequate. So along comes USBGeek with a USB power fan that is not only cute but it actually works pretty good. It's called the USB Ducky Fan and it features a little duck that acts as it's on/off switch and a flexible 'palm tree' that is the actual fan...

USB Ducky Fan from USBGeek Review

The TechZone reviews the Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick.

Most USB TV tuners -- used primarily for laptops, because desktops can get TV tuner cards that plug directly into the motherboard -- are capable of grabbing standard definition television only. Such is not the case here. The Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick actually allows you to grab a free HDTV feed out of the air using the tiny antenna included in the package. Yes, HDTV for free and it's 100% legal. If you happen to find yourself at home, you can connect this TV tuner to the outlet in your wall as well, receiving all the channels that you normally would through a conventional cable or satellite set top box. It basically transforms your computer into a TV through a coaxial cable.

Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick Review

Bjorn3D posted a review on the Revoltec Zirconium PC Case

With variety of cases we are faced with today it isn't easy to pick one. Companies tend to outclass each other in design, latest trends, comfort and price. We see more and more enclosures that take the shape of our hi-fi systems -- size and style wise. Beige and white aren't the only colors being used anymore. Todays scheme concentrates more on black and silver tones with various tints and shades.

Personally, I've been quite anxious to see Listans take on this project. The case has been introduced at this years CeBIT with availability being early July. At first sight, Zirconium looks interesting and I have to say it would definitely fit into my living room.

Revoltec Zirconium PC Case Review

Elite Bastards take a look to Sapphire's GDDR4 variant of the Radeon HD 2600 XT

Starting out with the basics, the Radeon HD 2600 XT is based around AMD's 390 million transistor, 65 nanometre manufactured RV630 core, and is basically a shrunk and reduced version of the massive R600 core that powers the company's flagship Radeon HD 2900 XT part. Compared to the 320 shader processors which make up that high-end part, RV630 features 120 shader processing units, split into three arrays of forty processors (compared to four arrays of eighty in R600). The number of texture units and ROPs are also reduced compared to R600, to two and one respectively against four and four in AMD's flagship core. Finally, RV630 finds itself with a good old 128-bit memory bus, utilising a ring bus memory controller, compared to the 512-bit behemoth on R600. Some pretty hefty cuts there, particularly with regard to the ROP count - Of course, we'll see how that affects performance in due course.

Sapphire Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB GDDR4 Review

TrustedReviews have looked at the Sony Bravia KDL-32D3000 LCD TV

In terms of features and specifications the 32D3000 is a huge step forward from previous Bravia LCDs - and there are definite picture performance benefits too. Yet we just can’t shake the feeling that with some of the features appearing somewhat wasted on a set as small as this, perhaps the 32D3000’s slightly premium price is more than you really need to pay for a good 32in TV.

Sony Bravia KDL-32D3000 LCD TV Review

TrustedReviews posted a review on the Sapphire HD 2900 XT 1024MB DDR4 video card

It seems ATI made the right decision when it chose not to ship HD 2900 XTs with 1024MB of memory. While doubling the memory quota does improve performance by a small margin, it is nowhere near enough to justify the increase in cost the extra memory would have demanded

Sapphire HD 2900 XT 1024MB DDR4 Review

TrustedReviews have looked at the Terratec Noxon 2 Radio for iPod

An interesting concoction of music technologies, offering internet radio, FM radio, network audio, and an iPod dock. However, it has fussy looks and minor build issues and the cheap remote disappoint for a £200 product. Browsing large collections on an iPod via the remote and small screen is also something of a chore.

Terratec Noxon 2 Radio for iPod Review

Howtoforge published a guide about setting up virtual hosting with Proftpd and MySQL on Fedora 7

This document describes how to install a Proftpd server that uses virtual users from a MySQL database instead of real system users. This is much more performant and allows to have thousands of ftp users on a single machine. In addition to that I will show the use of quota with this setup.

Virtual Hosting With Proftpd And MySQL (Incl. Quota) On Fedora 7

bit-tech published a hands-on preview of Crysis

One of the major talking points since we first previewed Crysis was the sheer quality of the graphics. On that front, Crysis most definitely delivers and even though we were merely playing the DirectX 9.0 version of the game, it's easily one of the best looking games we've ever played - if not the best outright.

The lighting was stunning, especially when you went for a swim - the rays of light and reflections from the water on the sea bed were breathtaking. Of course, lighting on its own is all well and good, but it's never going to deliver a truly immersive experience without some good shadows. It's lucky, then, that Crysis also delivers on that front too - the shadows are right up there with the lighting effects and really helped to make for an immersive experience.

Crysis hands-on preview

AeroXperience found an unusual Windows Vista Build while surfing on the Windows Hardware Developer Central website

While surfing around on the internet, we located something quite unusual. Buried within several technical videos was a Windows Vista build of 6429.fbl_multimedia_media.070514-1730. We won't bother speculating as to what this build represents, but word is spreading that this could be an early developmental build of Windows "7" (or a dogfood SP2 build). A UAC prompt within the Local Training demo shows the build as being a WEX build.

Unusual Windows Vista Build Surfaces

Technibble.com has posted a guide about how to clean the Inside of a Computer Case

Computers have moving parts such as fans on their CPU’s, Power Supplies, Video Cards and in some cases, on the case itself. Each fan is important for the smooth operation of the computer because they keep the system cool. Should Dust, Cigarette Smoke (which forms a paste when in contact with dust) or Pet Hair clog up one of these fans and prevent it from spinning, can cause those parts of the computer to overheat and become damaged. In light of this, cleaning a computer is something that should be done every 6 months to a year. In this article, we’ll show you how.

How to Clean the Inside of a Computer Case