OCZ Tempest Review
APH Networks published a review on the OCZ Tempest cooler

When the name 'OCZ' is mentioned among computer enthusiasts, chances are that the first thing that pops up in their head is high performance memory. While it's a known fact that OCZ manufactures many products other than computer RAM, which include power supplies (I bought one last year too), USB thumb drives, and flash-based memory cards, CPU cooling definitely isn't what OCZ has been known for lately. After briefly pulling out of the heatsink market a short while back, they've managed to quickly jump back into the scene with their latest cooling product, the OCZ Tempest. How does the OCZ Tempest step up against the APH favorite, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro? Let's run through some results in our tests today and see what results we can obtain.

OCZ Tempest Review

SiSoftware Sandra 2007 Professional Review
techFEAR has posted a new evaluation on SiSoftware Sandra 2007 Professional

techFEAR takes a look at an application widely used by computer evaluation sites and enthusiasts. Sandra 2007 Professional is the latest version of the computer testing suite from SiSoftware.

SiSoftware Sandra 2007 Professional Review



Spire Pininfarina Designed SP-ATX-PALU/ST Enthusiast Computer Case Review
TweakNews posted a review on the Spire Pininfarina Designed SP-ATX-PALU/ST Enthusiast Computer Case

Did the Pininfarina hold up to my tire-kicking? Yes, it did, and overall, I'm very impressed with the case. The fit and finish is excellent, the design is well-thought out, and like an exotic car, nothing is included that doesn't benefit from actual usage. A sleek look, useful PCI card retention, and swing-out case sides make this one a winner.

Spire Pininfarina Designed SP-ATX-PALU/ST Enthusiast Computer Case Review

SilverStone Temjin TJ08 Case Review
Hardware-Review posted a review on the SilverStone Temjin TJ08 Case

For years, the Temjin series has been an excellent line of PC cases that met the needs of almost every PC user. When SilverStone engineers began working on a micro ATX tower case, they made sure it was very compact, but powerful and flexible at the same time. The SilverStone Temjin TJ08 was born with a setup that is simple, yet very unique for a micro ATX. It's equipped with dual 120mm fans that create a natural wind tunnel effect that rivals some of the best full tower cases on the market. Besides having great cooling performance, the TJ08 is also easy to use with a removable motherboard tray and logically placed buttons and I/O ports on its thick aluminum front panel. If using high-end components in a micro ATX tower was not an option before, it is now with the TJ08.

SilverStone Temjin TJ08 Case Review

PowerColor X1650 PRO Video Card Review
Bjorn3D posted a review on the PowerColor X1650 PRO Video Card

The card I have today is a PowerColor X1650 PRO. It's not a high-end product, more like a middle class GPU with newer / lower price tag. Just as X1600 XT it's got the same pipeline configuration, 10 MHz higher core clock / memory and is manufactured using 80 nanometer process. No GDDR4 that we've seen on X1950 although it's technically possible. This RV535 uses 128-bit GDDR3 modules and supports the same technology back from Q1 2006. I will reveal more details as you read this article.

PowerColor X1650 PRO Video Card Review

I-Star S-9000 Server Tower Case Review
MODTHEBOX.COM checked out the I-Star S-9000 Server Tower Case

The S-9000 includes a swing out front panel door which is a nice feature for those individuals who don't want to stealth or paint stock beige coloured drives. The door encompasses the entire front bezel effectively hiding all the drive bays. Once the door has been opened, consumers will be pleased at the amount of expansion room available in this case. The case has a total of 9 x 5.25" external drive bays available for use which provides unlimited possibilities for a server configuration.

I-Star S-9000 Server Tower Case Review

Sunbeam Multi-Fan Power Port Review
Hardware-Review takes a look at the Sunbeam Multi-Fan Power Port

Cable management is always on my list when I’m building a new computer for a client or friend. When I choose to use aircooling in a case, I end up having three or four fans running to keep my hardware cool. This sometimes causes problems because some motherboards don’t have enough three-pin connectors available to power all the fans. Sunbeam developed an affordable and efficient way to work around this issue when they created the Multi-Fan Power Port. This handy fan bus can power up to six different fans as well as provide a neat and tidy way to take care of fan cable clutter.

Sunbeam Multi-Fan Power Port Review

Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 Review, Part 2
Paul Thurrott published part 2 of his Windows Vista review

In preparation for this portion of my Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) review, I went back and re-read my compatibility report for Windows Vista Beta 2. I'm a bit surprised that I wrote that Beta 2 compatibility was "excellent" overall, though I must have mean that only in the context of previous betas.

Yes, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

The reason is simple. In RC1, hardware and software compatibility is, in fact, excellent. But it's excellent in ways that previous Vista pre-release builds were not. It's excellent even when compared to Windows XP, and I don't write that lightly. It's just excellent, with no caveats.

OK, there is one caveat. If you try to install an x64 version of Windows Vista, well, God help you. I have no idea what Microsoft was thinking with these products, but after getting over my initial euphoria at how good the hardware support was, I descended quite quickly into software compatibility hell. So unless I mention it explicitly, all the good news here applies solely to standard 32-bit (x86) Vista versions. The x64 stuff is still a nightmare. My guess is that it will always be a nightmare. So unless you have some specific workstation-type needs for more than 4 GB of RAM and very specific applications, please just skip out on x64 Vista versions entirely. There's no happy ending there and your sanity hangs in the balance.

Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 Review, Part 2

Coolermaster Mystique ATX Case Review
Madshrimps posted a review on the Coolermaster Mystique ATX Case

Can the Mystique combine a good look pre-mod with useful features and excellent cooling? We examine Coolermaster's latest in detail in this review.

Coolermaster Mystique ATX Case Review

Razer Barracuda HP1 Gaming Headphones Review
Virtual-Hideout has posted a review on the Razer Barracuda HP1 Gaming Headphones

I think I'll take my experience and call it good. Great sound is always a treat. For Lan party's, the volume control module rocks, and true 6 channel sound is always better than stereo. I wouldn't be me if I didn't also mention the ability to turn off the bright blue lighting whenever I choose, without affecting the operation of the speakers.

Razer Barracuda HP1 Gaming Headphones Review

Viewsonic N3260w 32 Inch Widescreen HDTV Review
XYZ Computing takes a look at the Viewsonic N3260w 32 Inch Widescreen HDTV

The model that replaced the N3250w is the N3260w, another 32" HDTV but with a few upgrades from the older product. With the recent advances in LCD televisions, the progress from one generation to the next can be substantial, especially in the lower end, where technology and design elements tend to trickle down from the more expensive models. Because Viewsonic has made a name for itself by producing computer displays, not televisions, they have had to keep prices low in order to compete with brands like Sony or Samsung. This ends up working out very well for the consumer.

Viewsonic N3260w 32 Inch Widescreen HDTV Review

SteelPad QcK heavy Review
techPowerUp! posted a review on the SteelPad QcK heavy

SteelPad has been producing high quality mouse pads for years. Only recently they started to make cloth mats. Today we have on our testbench the SteelPad QcK Heavy which is the biggest mat in the lineup with a surface of 450 mm x 400 mm. Additionally the thickness has been increased to 6mm for a better experience on uneven surfaces.

SteelPad QcK heavy Review

Zalman HD135 HTPC Case Reviewed
MetkuMods finished their latest review on Zalman's latest HTPC case - HD135

In the Computex 06 Zalman had two new HTPC cases at show; HD135 and a new HD160XT beefed up with a seven inch LCD screen. Now the totally new model, HD135, has arrived to our tests. According to the specifications the HD135 is pretty much like its bigger brother we tested last time, full aluminum case which houses standard ATX hardware.

Zalman HD135 HTPC Case Reviewed

Dell XPS 700 Reviewed
Bios Magazine reviewed the Dell XPS 700

After waiting a lifetime-and-a-half for Dell's latest desktop rig to
arrive (apparently there were cooling problems with the motherboards), gamers in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) can now run the most intensive games and 3D applications with the availability of the Intel Core 2 Duo (up to 2.66GHz E6700) and Extreme (2.93GHz X6800) processors on Dell's XPS 700 (from 1199) desktop PC.

Dell XPS 700 Reviewed

SteelSound 5H Headset Review
DreamWare Computers posted a review on the SteelSound 5H Headset

You probably know SteelSeries from the many gaming mouse surfaces we have reviewed from them in the past. The SteelPad series of mouse surfaces has proved to be a nearly flawless product line in terms of performance. SteelSeries has also been moving into the audio sector of gaming as well. Today we'll be looking at the USB version of the 5H headset from them. Will this product carry on the good performance trend set by this company?

SteelSound 5H Headset Review

Why It's Difficult To Build PCs For The Less Tech Savvy
Hardware3D.com published a new article: Why It's Difficult To Build PCs For The Less Tech Savvy

Most PC enthusiasts know what kind of power their PC needs to play the latest games, what hardware it will take to get that level of performance, and how much they will need to spend to finish it all off. But your friends, relatives, and customers may find it hard to justify dropping a grand on a PC which can "do it" for them.

Why It's Difficult To Build PCs For The Less Tech Savvy

iPod FM Tuners / Transmitters
The Tech Lounge looked at some iPod FM Tuners / Transmitters

Since our original review of the iPod nano we’ve also brought you reviews of two different iPod clock radios from JBL and iHome. Today we’re going to look at a couple more iPod accessories, both of which are FM tuners/transmitters. We’ll be reviewing these products side by side in order to give you a better comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of both.

iPod FM Tuners / Transmitters

Albatron 7300GT 256MB Review
Overclockers Online has posted a new review on the Albatron 7300GT 256MB

I may just be overly pleased with this card but I think the performance, scalability of SLI, and passive/silent operation is blissful. Newer games will be required to run at low resolutions but for the price, that is more than acceptable, Keep your eyes out for 7300GT cards especially passive ones that perform well like the Albatron 7300 GT DDRII.

Albatron 7300GT 256MB Review

How to Replace a Video Card GPU Fan
Technibble.com has now posted an article about "How to Replace a Video Card GPU Fan"

In this article, Technibble looks at seriously overheating Radeon 9600XT and shows users how to replace the GPU fan and heatsink for a
more powerful one.

How to Replace a Video Card GPU Fan

Altec Lansing AHP612 Wireless Headphones Review
Techgage posted a review on the Altec Lansing AHP612 Wireless Headphones

With the advent of wireless devices, it's no surprise that the technology has made its way to headphones. Not only are they becoming more abundant, but they are not that expensive either. We are taking a look at a contender from Altec Lansing and after reading you will surely know whether they are for you or not.

Altec Lansing AHP612 Wireless Headphones Review

Building A KICKASS Gaming Rig
3D Game Man posted part 1 of Building A KICKASS Gaming Rig

This Video is part 1 of 3 on "Building a KICKASS Gaming Rig". In this video, I will outline how to select the correct hardware. The average computer user still purchases pre-built systems. The reason for this is that most find selecting the right components and installing them a very daunting task. This Video is intended to help you build your own high end gaming computer system. Please remember though, that this video is intended as a general guide. Watch the Video to find out more...

Building A KICKASS Gaming Rig

Corsair HX620W Power Supply Review
Hardware Secrets takes a first look at the Corsair HX620W Power Supply

HX620W (also known as CMPSU-620HX) is today the most high-end power supply from Corsair, delivering up to 620 W. This model features a modular cabling system, a big 120-mm fan and is EPS12V-compatible, being targeted to high-end SLI and CrossFire systems. Let’s take an in-depth look on this power supply.

Corsair HX620W Power Supply Review

Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake: Solving Hardware Compatibility
MadPenguin.org published an article on Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake Hardware Compatibility

So most of us have read review after review on just how fantastic Ubuntu is. And you know something, they're right - this really is a fantastic Linux distribution for the newer Linux enthusiast. But there often times appear to be some confusion as to accomplishing tasks they once would do in Windows pretty easily. On the whole, the confusion stems from hardware compatibly issues and today we are going to look into resolving those issues with ease.

Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake: Solving Hardware Compatibility

Sandisk Sansa E250 2 gig MP3 Player Review
XtremeComputing posted a review on the Sandisk Sansa E250 2 gig MP3 Player

I really think this player is Outstanding, despite the thumbwheel making the sound hiss, it's exactly what it says on the package, the fact it
comes in three different sizes and can be upgraded makes all the difference to me. You can see that Sandisk have designed this player with quality and style in mind from the LCD color display, right down to the metal back casing with its smooth feel.

Sandisk Sansa E250 2 gig MP3 Player Review

Galaxy GeForce 7300 GT Silent Review
Elite Bastards posted a review on Galaxy GeForce 7300 GT Silent

In keeping with previous Galaxy boards we've had under the microscope, the GeForce 7300 GT Silent goes over and above the reference specifications we've just discussed. Clock speed-wise, this part comes complete with stock core and RAM clocks of 400MHz apiece giving us an extra 50MHz to play with in both disciplines. Of course, this isn't the main claim to fame on this particular board - That status is reserved for the cooling solution.

The cooler for the GeForce 7300 GT Silent is a relatively simple affair, which comes courtesy of the much respected people at Arctic Cooling - As we're already aware, it's a completely passive cooling solution, so no fans means no noise from this graphics board.

Galaxy GeForce 7300 GT Silent Review

Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF Memory Review
HEXUS has posted an article on the Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF memory

Recently a plane flew over HEXUS.towers, dropping a package for us. We were being dominated, or were we the ones that would be doing the Dominating? Join us as we give Corsair's fastest ever memory modules a workout, analysing performance, overclocking and of course, the new cooling solution.

Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF Memory Review