Grand Theft Auto IV PC Review
bit-tech published a review of Grand Theft Auto IV for the PC

Rockstar has given us what we'd expect of a PC version of the game, but only just and there are several improvements that should have been made but weren't. That, combined with the other problems, is enough to get us riled up.

//Grand Theft Auto IV is a great game once you get into it, of course. The open-world, the awesome soundtrack and the total free-reign to cause carnage and experiment with the game world make this a really impressive game. The PC version also brings across and opens up the chance for players to create their own stories and thrilling police chases, which is something we love.

That said, while the game itself is great, the PC version of //GTA IV isn't the definitive one that players should be looking to get intimate with. It's playable and fun and just what you would want from a //Grand Theft Auto game, but it doesn't outperform the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions and frankly feels like more of a token gesture than a sincere effort to make the most of what the PC could bring to the game.

Grand Theft Auto IV PC Review

Albatron Mini-ITX Evolves KI780G On Display
TweakTown takes a look at the Albatron KI780G

Albatron are no strangers to Mini-ITX, in fact we have already tested a couple of boards from them on a Mini-ITX format, including a Socket 754 based and an AM2 based board. Today, however, they are raising the stakes just a little higher. Phenom may not be the highest clocking kid on the block and it can’t keep up with Intel on a clock-for-clock basis with Core 2, let alone Core i7, but where AMD lacks in the enthusiast market, they do have the goods in the power friendly market. Not only that, a top clocking Phenom X4 processor can also be had for cheap now.

Today Albatron have sent us their Mini-ITX KI780G board based around AMD’s very popular IGP chipset, the 780G. Let’s see just how well it’s able to perform compared to VIA's Nano platform.

Albatron Mini-ITX Evolves KI780G On Display



HIS HD 4650 iSilence 4 512MB Review
Bjorn3D takes a look at the HIS HD 4650 iSilence 4 512MB video card

-based video cards, especially those with the excellent IceQ-cooler. We have reviewed a lot of their cards here at Bjorn3d.com and overall, we've been very impressed with their quality and performance.

One of their popular line of cards has been the cards using the various IceQ-coolers from Artic Cooling. While the IceQ-coolers are really silent even when the cards are running at maximum performance, they still emit a bit of sound, enough to annoy those who want a totally silent system. The solution, of course, is to make the card passive cooled, and HIS also offers a few passively cooled cards where they have partnered up with Zalman and put a Zalman VNF100 on the cards to cool them passively. So far they have only done this to an HD2600XT card and an HD3650 card and it is therefore no surprise that they have chosen an HD4650 GPU from this generation.

The card is called the HIS HD 4650 iSilence 4 512MB and we have been taking the card for an extended spin in our testing lab to see how good is.

HIS HD 4650 iSilence 4 512MB Review

Samsung T260HD HDTV Monitor Review
ITreviewed posted a review on the Samsung T260HD HDTV Monitor

At first glance Samsung's T260HD looks like a television, but it's actually a high-resolution computer display that has multiple inputs. Thanks to these inputs and some internal magic from Samsung, the display even doubles as a 1080p television. The T260HD is, unquestionably, irresistible, inside and out. The high-definition monitor cum television not only looks stunning thanks to its glossy piano black finish, curvaceous bezel and funky clear plastic edging, but picture quality and features are equally up to the task. If you have a small living room where you want a television and a computer display, but don't have room for both, the T260HD is for you.

Samsung T260HD HDTV Monitor Review

Icy Dock 2.5" to 3.5" Hard Drive Converter Review
TestFreaks posted a review on the Icy Dock 2.5" to 3.5" Hard Drive Converter

Icy Dock has sent me over quite a little ingenious product, it takes any 2.5" hard drive and essentially turns it into a 3.5" one. This can come in handy for many things including of course using it inside of your PC, or even inside of an external enclosure, the Icy Dock Convertor can make your 2.5" drive go anywhere a 3.5" can.

Icy Dock 2.5" to 3.5" Hard Drive Converter Review

GeForce 180 driver trio tested
Techconnect Magazine posted a performance comparison of Nvidia's latest GeForce drivers.

Going head-to-head today are drivers from both before and the actual Big Bang II era - the GeForce 178.24, which is the last WHQL release of the 178 series, the GeForce 180.43 official beta, the WHQL-certified GeForce 180.48 and the latest leaked driver available, the GeForce 180.70 beta.

GeForce 180 driver trio tested

Nero 9 Review
TechReviewSource.com posted a review on Nero 9

The popular CD/DVD burning suite, Nero, has been updated to version 9. Nero 9's full suite is loaded with software programs from a CD/DVD label designer, an audio file editor, to a DVD authoring program. Version 9 includes some really nice features, some of which are new, but they include video editing/transcoding, media streaming, computer backup, and DVD/CD burning. Read TechReviewSource.com's full review to find out more about Nero 9.

Nero 9 Review

ATI FirePro V8700 Workstation Graphics Card Review
HotHardware.com posted a review on the ATI FirePro V8700 Workstation Graphics Card

ATI has spent much of the last decade producing the FireGL line of high-end workstation graphics cards, regularly challenging and often times besting competing products from Nvidia's Quadro lineup. ATI's last generation of FireGL products, which we covered heavily, were excellent all around performers. Certainly not perfect, but definitely solid improvements over the generation of FireGL cards which preceded it. Now in late 2008, we're seeing ATI / AMD's first moves to eventually kill off the long-known FireGL brand. Its replacement? The ATI FirePro.

ATI has yet to introduce top to bottom FirePro-class products to replace the FireGL, but it's delivered the first four cards of many to come in the future. ATI has released four new workstation cards under the FirePro moniker. On the low-end you have the FirePro V3700 followed by the mid-range V3750 and V5700 models, and finally the new high-end model which we'll be looking at today, the RV770-based FirePro V8700. Come on by the site and check it out...

ATI FirePro V8700 Workstation Graphics Card Review

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Power Supply Review
PC Perspective posted a review on the OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Power Supply

The OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W tested out to be a good power supply. It produced good voltage regulation and delivers excellent efficiency. In addition, the ModXStream does its job very quietly, is 80Plus and NVIDIA SLI certified, and comes backed with OCZ's PowerSwap warranty. On the down side, the DC outputs were not as clean (AC ripple) as we have come to expect from OCZ and PC Power & Cooling. And the 3-Year warranty goes along with the lower price point.

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Power Supply Review

Ergotron Neo-Flex Combo Lift Stand For Notebooks Review
Futurelooks checks out something for all you notebook only folks out
there...

As you may have already noticed, a notebook just doesn’t offer the same kind of ergonomics that you would get with a proper desktop setup. Well, addressing this very issue is the Ergotron Neo-Flex Combo Lift Stand. In effect, your little laptop can offer nearly the same experience as a real desktop, thanks to folks at Ergotron. And yes, it’ll support your dual monitor inclinations to boot.

Ergotron Neo-Flex Combo Lift Stand For Notebooks Review

Hiper Type M 780W Review
techPowerUp posted a review on the Hiper Type M 780W

The Hiper Type M 780W is a great all-round power supply. It offers an exceptionally stable 12V line and is sufficiently quiet to not annoy you during every day PC use. Also it supports SLI or CrossFire with a high efficiency of over 83%. With a price of around $125 it is cheaper than similar products from bigger brand names.

Hiper Type M 780W Review

World Exclusive: Danamics LM10 - Liquid metal put to the test
NordicHardware published the world exclusive review of the liquid metal CPU cooler Danamics LM10

Today we bring you the world exclusive review of the liquid metal cooler LM10 from Danish cooling company Danamics ApS. Danamics was founded in 2005 with the goal of using liquid metal for cooling. Since then Danamics has been researching and developing new technologies that would enable them to do just that. Amongst others, they had to find a suitable metal, but most of all come up with a whole new electromagnetic pump.

World Exclusive: Danamics LM10 - Liquid metal put to the test

MSI Turbostream 600 W Power Supply Review
Hardware Secrets posted a review on the MSI Turbostream 600 W Power Supply

MSI Turbostream power supplies are manufactured by Solytech. We reviewed one of their 600 W models featuring active PFC and 120-mm fan. Is this a good product? Can it really deliver its labeled power?

MSI Turbostream 600 W (a.k.a. MS-4600-010) is a rebadged Solytech SL-8600EPS power supply, featuring active PFC, two 80-mm fans and two auxiliary power plugs for video cards under SLI or CrossFire configuration. Is this a good product? Can it really deliver 600 W? Let's see.

MSI Turbostream 600 W Power Supply Review

OCZ ModXtream PRO 600 Watt power supply review
The Guru of 3D posted a review on the OCZ ModXtream PRO 600 Watt power supply

A test on the OCZ ModXtream PRO 600 Watt power supply. A very energy efficient power supply that not only looks good, is modular .. and pretty much inaudible to the ears. It's called the ModXtream Pro, is SLI certified, comes in a nice black modular design and we'll take a look at the 600 Watt version of it.

OCZ ModXtream PRO 600 Watt power supply review

Toshiba Qosmio F50 Review
InsideHW.com has posted article about Toshiba Qosmio F50 notebook

Toshiba's trump card in area of affordable gaming notebooks is model F50. Although Toshiba's X300 notebook series is meant for gamers and F50 doesn't belong to that series, it does have certain qualities that can attract low-budget gamers that want to buy notebook. Despite the fact that Toshiba notebooks from A300 , P300 and F50 series have different looks, they share some design elements that Toshiba calls Fusion design. In case of F50 model that design is enriched with Vibe design elements.

Toshiba Qosmio F50 Review

1TB Hard Drive Roundup - UPDATE
TheTechLounge updated their 1TB Hard Drive Roundup

The three drives which I DO have torturing rights to are the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000, the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 (ST3100340AS), and the Seagate Barracuda ES.2 (ST31000340NS). UPDATE: Western Digital has taken up the challenge and provided not one, but two separate drives. The first victim is the WD10EACS or as they are now called the Western Digital Caviar Green. The second drive is the WD1001FALS, otherwise known as the Western Digital Caviar Black.

1TB Hard Drive Roundup - UPDATE

GELID Wing 12 120mm Gamer Fan Review
Overclockers Online has posted a new review on the GELID Wing 12 120mm Gamer Fan

Clearly we have a winner here. The GELID Wing 12 is a fan that performs as solidly as its unique design and construction. The included fan controller is a plus. Even at low fan speeds, the Wing 12 performed well and silently. Rubber mounting posts are included, which greatly simplify installation and make a difference when it comes to isolating noise from the fan.

GELID Wing 12 120mm Gamer Fan Review

Thermaltake's Spedo Advance Package Enclosure Review
The Tech Report posted a review on the Thermaltake's Spedo Advance Package Enclosure

Thermaltake is known amongst many for its over-the-top and sometimes even garish designs, but there have been some good ideas buried behind those crazy looks. Read on to see how the new Spedo full tower case marries good looks with smart innovation.

Thermaltake's Spedo Advance Package Enclosure Review

Thermaltake SpinQ Review
OCC has published a new review on the Thermaltake SpinQ

The base of the Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler is made up of both Copper and Aluminum as well as having a mirror coating. The mirror coating is to make sure that there is no imperfections in the surface and making sure that it is as smooth as it possibly can be, assuring the best contact between the IHS of the processor and the heatsink. There are six heatpipes that all come out of the thin base of the SpinQ that are spaced very close together to improve the heat transfer between the IHS and the heatpipes. The Socket LGA775 mounting hardware's installation is very simple as you just screw the clips down with four screws.

Thermaltake SpinQ Review

A-DATA Vitesta DDR3-1333MHz 3GB Triple Channel Kit Review
TweakTown posted a review on the A-DATA Vitesta DDR3-1333MHz 3GB Triple Channel Kit

Thanks to the on-chip memory controller, Intel is limited to a single type of memory and this is where Intel is pushing DDR3. If you want to use any of the current Core i7’s or the upcoming LGA-1156 processors due next year, it’s DDR3 or nothing. And with the LGA-1366 supporting three memory channels, we are seeing triple channel kits coming out for Core i7.

We have already tested the Corsair memory which was our memory of choice for our Core i7 CPU review. Today we look at A-DATA’s Vitesta Triple Channel kit, rated for 1333MHz. How does it stack up? Let’s find out.

A-DATA Vitesta DDR3-1333MHz 3GB Triple Channel Kit Review

Gelid Silent Spirit CPU Cooler Review
Hardware Canucks posted a review of the Gelid Silent Spirit CPU Cooler

As for the Silent Spirit cooler itself, this is an ultra quiet, hybrid downdraft cooler which is designed as a low noise solution. It is slowly becoming available at retailer and e-tailers throughout the country and should go for about $35. The Silent Spirit is not designed nor intended for monster overclocking, nor is it designed for passive cooling. What this cooler has been designed to do is provide adequate cooling and do it with as little noise as possible.

Gelid Silent Spirit CPU Cooler Review