LeadTek WinFast GTX 260 Extreme+ Review
Bjorn3D takes a look at the LeadTek WinFast GTX 260 Extreme+

And so it is that Nvidia has come to answer the HD 4800 series video card onslaught from ATI with their third and latest addition to the GTX-200 series, the new and improved GTX 260 utilizing 216 stream processors (up from 196). And there's nothing crazy about that. What is crazy though is Nvidia's naming scheme. Although the new GTX 260 with increased SP's is planted firmly between the original GTX 260 and their top-of-the-line GTX 280, Nvidia has chosen to maintain the 260 designation, and instead allows vendors to provide their own naming scheme to this most recent combatant to enter into the theater of operations. LeadTek has entered the fray with the Winfast GTX 260 Extreme+.

But the LeadTek Extreme+ is more that just a mere GTX 260 with 216 stream processors, it's a factory overclocked GTX 260 with 216 stream processors. It's been upgraded. LeadTek has chosen to bump the core/memory clock from 576/1998 MHz to 602/2214 MHz on the GTX 260 Extreme+. With this much firepower, is it sure to be a winner? Let's find out if this new video card weapons system has got what it takes by taking a closer look at the LeadTek WinFast GTX 260 Extreme+.

LeadTek WinFast GTX 260 Extreme+ Review

Intel Core i7 Memory Analysis - Can Dual Channel Cut it?
TweakTown posted an Intel Core i7 Memory Analysis

DDR was Intel’s only reprieve, well after its introduction due to Rambus agreements. However, since that time Intel has not only used DDR, but improved on it. Now that we have seen Intel’s pattern with memory we see that not only are they banking a huge amount on their DDR3 technology, but also increasing the bus from 128-bit or dual channel to 192-bit or tri channel memory.

Today’s question we pose; does Core i7 really need three channels of memory or can it perform happily on two channels without severely impacting the performance of the system? - Let's find out!

Intel Core i7 Memory Analysis - Can Dual Channel Cut it?



MSI Radeon HD R4670 512MB Review
Viper Lair posted a review on the MSI Radeon HD R4670 512MB video card

It's performance is astonishing when you consider the $80 price tag, $65 after rebate . I wish I had an 8800GT to hand, because I wouldn't be surprised to see the MSI R4670 match or beat it right across the board, and consider that the 8800GT's are still twice the price or more, and it's a no brainer. Pretty much everyone is feeling the pinch and counting the pennies, so it's nice to know that if you do have to compromise and get a low priced card for your gaming, your not going to be missing out on much this time around. If you're the casual gamer and used to buying budget priced cards, then the MSI R4670 might just give you an inkling on what you are missing out on with higher end cards.

MSI Radeon HD R4670 512MB Review

Samsung Propel SGH-a767 Review
TestFreaks.com posted a review on the Samsung Propel SGH-a767

So, it's time for yet another cellphone review, this time I've got another from our friends over at Samsung called the Propel. It's a slider phone of a different sort as when you slide it you reveal a full QWERTY keyboard to make sending text messages and overall text input much easier. The Propel is a fairly lightweight phone even though it is rather large, it's got excellent call quality, great battery life and it even takes good pictures. It's an all around great little phone that anyone who types a lot will appreciate and even if you don't I think you'll like having a full keyboard only a slide away.

Samsung Propel SGH-a767 Review

ECS G45T-M2 Motherboard Review
HardwareLogic posted a review on the ECS G45T-M2 Motherboard

A few months ago we reviewed the ECS GF7100PVT-M motherboard and found it to be a nice little budget board for HTPC users. Today we're taking a close look at the ECS G45T-M2 motherboard. It's the latest mATX offering from ECS with several notable upgrades from the GF7100PVT-M. ECS made a dramatic attempt at stepping up by including several next generation components on the G45T-M2. There are some very nice options that come with this little plank including a DX10-compatible onboard graphics accelerator with the G45 (P45-like) Express chipset. So come with us as we take a closer look to see if the overall package includes enough to make our hearts skip a beat.

ECS G45T-M2 Motherboard Review

QNAP TS-409U Turbo NAS Review
TechwareLabs has published a review of the QNAP TS-409U Turbo NAS

Businesses are always in need of more storage, and those with experience know that its the data that is important and therefore redundancy is critical. We take a look today at the QNAP TS-409U Turbo NAS which combines several features to bring you a device that is not only easy to use and fast, but also provides redundancy. The TS-409U has a laundry list of features and aims to please everyone from the advanced home user to the most needy of businesses. Is the TS-409U just what the doctor ordered? Read our review to find out.

QNAP TS-409U Turbo NAS Review

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650 Watt Power Supply Review
TechAddicts posted a review on the Antec EarthWatts EA650 650 Watt Power Supply

The Antec EarthWatts 650 Watt is a great addition to the EarthWatts series of power supplies. While the outer shell and cables are plain, the performance and value make up for this. It offers a modest amount of connectors and features a quiet fan. At a affordable price of around $85-$100, this is the perfect power supply for anyone looking for a affordable power supply that is also energy efficient, but keep in mind that there are only two PCI-e power connectors, so multi-gpu is limited to cards that require only one pci-e power connector.

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650 Watt Power Supply Review

Intel Pentium E5200 Processor Review
iXBT Labs posted a review on the Intel Pentium E5200 Processor

It's a good CPU: performs well, does not get very hot (subjectively), outperforms a lot of more expensive older processors (Core 2 Duo E4600, for example). With its price tag, Pentium E5200 is certainly a much better choice than other Pentium dual-core processors.

Intel Pentium E5200 Processor Review

Tagan A+ Curbic Mid Tower Case Review
Legit Reviews takes a look at the Tagan A+ Curbic Mid Tower Case

Overall, the Tagan found a nice balance of budget building practice, style, and features. The Curbic looks very nice with the mesh front panel and blue LED fans. The case was surprisingly quiet for running two 180mm fans. On high they are very much in the range of what would be considered livable for a desktop; with the fans on low it was very quiet. The Tagan Aplus Curbic is not yet available in the US, and has an estimated MSRP of $59.99 and should be available in retail stores before the holiday. The Curbic would be a very good fit for the user who wants an inexpensive, yet a nice looking, case...

Tagan A+ Curbic Mid Tower Case Review

2008 Supplementary PSU Roundup - Part 2
JonnyGURU.com has posted part 2 of their 2008 Supplementary PSU Roundup

In part one of this roundup, I looked at two lower powered models from Ultra and FSP designed to supplement one's main PSU in providing power for the newer and more watt hungry video cards. In part two, both of those units are in for some "tough" competition in the form of two big bad Thermaltakes - the Toughpower Power Express 450W and 650W units.

2008 Supplementary PSU Roundup - Part 2

Sunbeamtech Acrylic HTPC Reviewed
CaseCritics.com has just posted their review on the Sunbeamtech Acrylic HTPC Chassis

See through cases have been around for a couple of years now. ClearPC Canada is a pretty big manufacturer of pre-assembled cases. But now SunbeamTech came through with their own variations of clear acrylic cases that you need to build yourself. You receive a bunch of parts and through the use of included tools and bits you create a computer casing. The case we are looking at today is especially designed to be used as a HTPC

Sunbeamtech Acrylic HTPC Reviewed

Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB Review - GTX 280 killer
PC Perspective posted a review on the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 video card

Why would just one board partner be willing to offer such a compelling part? There several factors that likely include the economic slump, the slight drop in prices on the HD 4870 X2 cards and inventory availability. Even taking that into consideration I find it very confusing that AMD seems content to have this graphics card be such a low volume product. With its great price (currently competing with NVIDIA's GTX 280 cards) and performance advantages (that you will see in our benchmarks) I really think the Radeon HD 4850 X2 could catch on in the enthusiast segment.

Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB Review - GTX 280 killer

Nexus Beamair Review
TechwareLabs has published a review of the Nexus Beamair

From the Funky Files comes the Beamair, a product we were left scratching our heads over. Join Jason as we take a look at both the history of the honeycomb as well as the Beamair from Nexus. Will this stylish and sleek adapter direct air where you want it to go? Read on and find out.

Nexus Beamair Review

Vantec LapCool Pro Notebook Cooler Review
Virtual-Hideout posted a review on the Vantec LapCool Pro Notebook Cooler

Notebooks today are faster and hotter than ever. However they're not getting any thicker. In fact they're thinner than they've ever been. So where does all that heat go? Well, notebook manufacturers are doing their best to design notebooks that not so much vent the heat, but more so can handle the high heat environment. We all know that heat can be the death of electronics, so relieving your notebook of the heat is absolutely crucial to its long term reliability and performance.

Vantec LapCool Pro Notebook Cooler Review

Qstarz BT-Q1300 Nano GPS Travel Recorder Review
Futurelooks checked out the Qstarz BT-Q1300 Nano GPS Travel Recorder

With Geotagging being more than just the when and where of a picture these days, as social media has really clinged on to this feature, I’m hoping that one of these geotaggers works well. This time, we’re hoping that the BT-Q3100 nano GPS Travel Recorder by Qstarz is what we’re looking for.

Qstarz BT-Q1300 Nano GPS Travel Recorder Review

MSI X58 Eclipse Review
Neoseeker takes a look at the latest motherboard from MSI, the X58 Eclipse

With only air cooling, we were able to reach a stable 4.1 GHz overclock with a Core i7 920.

The memory performance is excellent, and I really like the LED2 on the motherboard along with the switches for power, reset and LED information. The dip switches for overclocking did not turn out to be useful, but they don't hurt in any case. The inclusion of a Creative Labs X-Fi sound card is in my opinion far superior to using a "standard" audio codec - the board just feels, looks and behaves like a quality board.

MSI X58 Eclipse Review

NZXT Whisper Classic Series Case Review
OCC has published a new review on the NZXT Whisper Classic Series Case

Wow! The NZXT Whisper is very sleek looking with a nice solid black look all the way around the case. There aren't any decals or words on the case which is a huge plus for someone like me who isn't a fan of decals or words that I didn't personalize. The case is quite heavy weighing in at 27.1 pounds being constructed of predominately steel and some aluminum. The front of the case opens up to reveal the seven drive bays and the 120mm fan. The drive bay covers are solid plastic so there is no air exiting or entering the case through the front except the 120mm intake fan below the drive bays.

NZXT Whisper Classic Series Case Review

Tagan A+ Curbic Review
OCC has published a new review on the Tagan A+ Curbic

This case looks great on the outside, and performs pretty well inside. Depending on pricing, this case could be quite competitive. The lack of a window allows for some level of distraction from the inside quality - some scratches and over-spray mainly. The fans look great and the switches are a nice touch for people who don't like flashy computers. This feels like a case that many people can like using. The only major downfall is a lack of a manual of any sort. It is nice to have a removable motherboard tray, but most cases don't have such features. The tray does have divots that allow heat from the back of the motherboard to escape, but also greatly increases the sturdiness of the tray so that when installing components the motherboard does not flex. The front audio and USB are easy to reach, as are the variable fan toggles.

Tagan A+ Curbic Review

OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler Review
Overclockers Online has posted a new review on the OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler

The goal OCZ's technicians had when developing this heatsink and fan combo was to make it silent without sacrificing cooling performance, and they managed to do just that. Regarding noise levels, I would have no problem using the Gladiator Max in a HTPC or a workstation PC - the fan is barely audible from a foot away, and is dead silent from a meter on. Overall, the performance is perfect for lower voltage processors, but I'd have second thoughts before popping this onto a quad-core system unless you really value quiet operation. There you have it, OCZ's "Gladiator Max" CPU heatsink and fan.

OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler Review

SilverStone FT01 Midtower Chassis Review
OCIA.net has posted their review of the SilverStone FT01 Midtower Chassis

Using a process never before seen in PC cases, the panel is then arched precisely on two sides with automotive-caliber press machines to create the top, front and bottom sides of the chassis. The end result is an aluminum chassis frame with more than twice the structural rigidity of average steel cases, helping to practically eliminate vibration-induced noise.

SilverStone FT01 Midtower Chassis Review

Watercooled GeForce GTX 280 Showdown Review
bit-tech published a Watercooled GeForce GTX 280 Showdown

Judging the value of the these cards is something that's generated a fair amount of discussion here in the office, not least because for just a tenner more than the MSI GeForce GTX 280 HydroGen and a good £40 less than the BFG GeForce GTX 280 Hv(2)OC you can pick up ATI's dual GPU monster, the 4870 X2 -- unquestionably a better performing card in the majority of circumstances.

However, if all you're after is pure performance out of the box, then these cards were never going to be for you in the first place. Watercooling is all about combining high performance with whisper quiet, much improved cooling and furious overclocking, and this is where both these cards have excelled. Even when heavily overclocked, both were extremely cool even with our basic watercooling setup, and the noise difference between a pair of decent 120mm fans and the GTX 280's stock cooler when things get cooking is staggering -- if you're looking for real high performance graphics without the wind tunnel background noise then either of these cards are a great choice.

Things get a little more complicated when trying to decide between the two though and despite our initial surprise at the £50 price difference between them, we soon realised they both cater for different needs. While the cheaper of the two, the MSI GeForce GTX 280 HydroGen OC comes with a much reduced hardware bundle, and crucially lacks any fittings, while the BFG GeForce GTX 280 Hv(2)OC likely costs more simply because its hardware bundle is so well featured, with both 3/8" and 1/2" barbs, SLI connectors and a ton of media connectivity options.

Despite our billing of this as a watercooled graphics duel, we really feel that, rather than there only being room in the market for one watercooled GTX 280, both cards have merits and are worthy of consideration. While the BFG is unquestionably the better option for those looking to build an SLI setup or who don't want the hassle of buying fittings elsewhere (as well as more balanced overclocking results), the MSI offers a cheaper entry point for those not fussed with bundles, or who want to use their own custom barbs.

As we've seen throughout our testing, the real world performance differences between the two are in most cases, very slim, and even where there is an advantage (admittedly usually in the BFG GeForce GTX 280 Hv(2)OC's favour thanks to the superior stock memory and shader clock speeds), the MSI can comfortably match the BFG's stock clocks when overclocked. However, as we've seen, there's plenty of room for improvement above and beyond that from both cards.

The real clincher here though is the value and peace of mind both cards offer in comparison to just buying a stock aircooled GeForce GTX 280 and fitting your own waterblock to it, which many might argue is the better route to watercooled graphics. Even if you bought a bargain GTX 280 and waterblock (which neither of the two used here are), you'll still end up paying upwards of £370, and you'll have the worry of uncertain overclocking performance and a voided warranty into the bargain too. For the peace of mind of a secure, and in the BFG's case exceptionally long warranty, if you're considering dipping your toes into the world of watercooled graphics (and we realise it's not going to be to everyone's tastes) we feel it that both cards really are worth that extra cash.

Watercooled GeForce GTX 280 Showdown Review