Here a roundup of today's reviews, including Free Anti-Virus Comparison Review, Website Problems With Internet Explorer 10? Switch Modes!, Definitive Bioshock Infinite Review with Benchmarks, History of the GPU, Part 3: The Nvidia vs. ATI era begins, and Intel Unveils New Atom and Xeon Processors and Future Rack Scale Architecture at IDF Beijing



Free Anti-Virus Comparison Review @ OCC

As the other feature-rich antivirus, Avast! Antivirus comes in third, performance wise, to AVG. Personally though, my preference would be to consider Microsoft Security Essentials as third, but that may be my own bias talking. Avast definitely has a rich feature set which may go very far in protecting you, but I just found it too intrusive for my taste. Of course MSE is lacking in both features (not always a bad thing) and performance, so really only its simplicity and the Microsoft name gives a recommendation for it much weight. Perhaps it would be best to say Avast has won at this moment in time, but if MSE can get its detection-act together then the table may turn.

Read more: Free Anti-Virus Comparison Review @ OCC

Website Problems With Internet Explorer 10? Switch Modes! @ Tech ARP

If you are on Microsoft Windows 8, or have recently upgraded to Internet Explorer 10, you may notice that some websites may not be working correctly - dropdown menus and buttons that no longer work, or you may get an "Unsupported Browser" error. Although it is always possible to switch to a different web browser, the solution for Internet Explorer 10 is pretty simple.

Read more: Website Problems With Internet Explorer 10? Switch Modes! @ Tech ARP

LG 23ET83V-W Review @ TechReviewSource.com

LG monitors have always blended style and functionality, and the new LG 23ET83V-W is no different. This sleek 23-inch monitor sports an IPS panel and 10-point projected capacitive touch technology to deliver a colorful and responsive touch-screen experience.

Read more: LG 23ET83V-W Review @ TechReviewSource.com

480GB Crucial M500 Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

Micron Technology updates their product family with the new Crucial M500 solid state drive, which arrives in capacities ranging from 120GB-960GB for 2.5" SATA, mSATA, and M.2/NGFF form factors. Built upon the Marvell 88SS9187-BLD2 SATA 6Gb/s controller using custom Crucial firmware, M500 utilizes 20nm Micron-branded Synchronous Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Flash components for an increased per-die NAND capacity that makes the entire more affordable. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 480GB Crucial M500 Solid State Drive (model CT480M500SSD1) and compare it against the fastest SATA 6GB/s storage solutions available.

The first consumer SSD to offer SATA 6Gb/s support debuted back on February 2010, when Micron Technology introduced the Crucial RealSSD C300 solid state drive. Back then, Crucial's RealSSD C300 was able to reach 383/227 MBps read/write speeds in our lab tests. Then on April 2011 the Micron RealSSD C400 (aka Crucial m4 SSD) arrived with speeds up to 415 MB/s. It's been two years since then, and now Micron returns with the Crucial M500 Solid State Drive. Peak performance speeds reach 500 MB/s read and 400 MB/s write (for 480/960GB capacities), with 80,000 IOPS operational performance.

Read more: 480GB Crucial M500 Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

Cooler Master Storm Stryker Case @ Modders-Inc

The modular hard drive case setup was a great bonus to find when diving further into the case. These features, plus the fan controller, cable grip holder, and all the included fans that provide a constant flow of cooling air through the case really makes the CM Storm Stryker a well desired case.

Read more: Cooler Master Storm Stryker Case @ Modders-Inc

PrimoChill Compression Tube Reservoir Review @ ThinkComputers.org

What if I were to tell you that there is a tube reservoir on the market that seals without threads cut into the acrylic? Would that be something you would be interested in? Well if so, then today is your lucky day. We are taking a look at the 240mm UV Green PrimoChill Compression Tube Reservoir (CTR), and it is just that.

Read more: PrimoChill Compression Tube Reservoir Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Crucial M500 480GB SSD Review @ SSD Review

The SSD market has seen such staggering growth since its inception; it is almost mind-boggling to keep up with the new drives and companies entering the fray every year. Some do well, while others quickly exit out, hence, we are left with those companies that have proven their reliability in positively sustaining consumer SSD technology, architecture, and hardware.

Read more: Crucial M500 480GB SSD Review @ SSD Review

Crucial M500 Solid State Drive (960GB) Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Today we see Crucial attempt to drive the SSD market forward with the introduction of a SSD which has a capacity up to 960GB (so the best part of 1TB) while maintaining a price point which competes with 512GB models from the likes of Samsung and OCZ. Can the new M500 compete in performance as well as cost? In a selection of synthetic and real world tests we find out.

Read more: Crucial M500 Solid State Drive (960GB) Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Corsair AX1200i Review @ PureOverclock

Gone are the days of the cliché grey metal power supply that housed cables no longer than your forearm. Consumers have wisened to the reality of protecting their money invested into quality core components, certainly not the least of which is the modern power supply. These days they come in various models and makes, wattages and colours, with manufacturers now offering a wide selection of choices to discerning users who will fork out a good chunk of their hard-earned money. And with systems typically consuming more and more power with each subsequent generation, the once-lowly power supply now occupies a place of honour and prestige in a computer system.

Read more: Corsair AX1200i Review @ PureOverclock

BenQ GW2750HM Monitor Review @ XSReviews

Today I’ll be taking a look at one of BenQ’s mid-range monitors for the home and office, the BenQ GW2750HM. While the monitor is LED powered and hence very thin, its big selling points is its VA (vertical alignment) panel, an alternative to both IPS and TN that sits somewhere in the middle of the two technologies. Let’s see how this 27″ 1080p monitor compares to others in its price range, as well as top of the line models elsewhere.

Read more: BenQ GW2750HM Monitor Review @ XSReviews

Definitive Bioshock Infinite Review with Benchmarks @ HotHardware.com

We're not going to beat around the bush, here. BioShock Infinite is game-of-the-year material. The floating city of Columbia is one of the most evocative, intense, gorgeous environments I've ever seen -- but how much you like it may depend on what sort of visual wizardry you prefer. BioShock Infinite is built on Unreal Engine 3, and while it pushes that framework's capabilities into the stratosphere, there's a clear difference between BioShock Infinite and, say, Crysis 3.

It's a testament to Ken Levine and the artistic team at Irrational Games that the gap feels like a stylistic choice rather than a technological limitation.

Read more: Definitive Bioshock Infinite Review with Benchmarks @ HotHardware.com

History of the GPU, Part 3: The Nvidia vs. ATI era begins @ Techspot

The pro market saw iXMICRO leave graphics entirely, while NEC and Hewlett-Packard both produced their last products, the TE5 and VISUALIZE FX10 series respectively. Evans & Sutherland also parted ways with the sale of its RealVision line to focus on the planetaria and fulldome projection systems.

In the consumer graphics market, ATI announced the acquisition of ArtX Inc. in February 2000, for around $400 million in stock. ArtX was developing the GPU codenamed Project Dolphin (eventually named “Flipper”) for the Nintendo GameCube, which added significantly to ATI’s bottom line.

Read more: History of the GPU, Part 3: The Nvidia vs. ATI era begins @ Techspot

GIGABYTE Radeon HD 7790 1GB & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB Review @ Techgage

Every so often, an interesting “fluke” occurs in the graphics card market. One vendor will release a GPU out of nowhere, and its leading competitor will release one mere days later – one that happens to settle itself in at around the same price-point. It’s almost as if these companies work together, isn’t it?

Of course that’s not the case, but it happens often enough that it becomes very clear that both companies have a good idea of what the other is doing. When it comes to the HD 7790 and GTX 650 Ti BOOST, we were contacted by both AMD and NVIDIA within three hours of each other to be briefed. Sometimes, it just feels uncanny.

Read more: GIGABYTE Radeon HD 7790 1GB & NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB Review @ Techgage

MSI Z77A-G45 Gaming Motherboard Review @ HiTech Legion

That is not to say that the real world doesn’t have plenty of eye candy. However there is something to be said for having the ability to simply escape real life for a period of time. We are getting to the point where it is becoming more difficult to tell what is real video and what is computer generated as systems are able to display character emotions that appear to be human. To be able to produce and display those graphics though we need something to transport all of the signals and control the functions and in a computer system that is going to be the motherboard.

The MSI Z77A-G45 Gaming motherboard is a standard ATX form factor board and supports the newest Ivy Bridge processors and Sandy Bridge. The Z77A-G45 Gaming board is targeted at people who are looking for high end features at a mainstream price point. MSI has included solid cap capacitors and super ferrite core chokes in the design and gives it a military class III rating. The higher quality components used to build the board allow it to achieve solid overclocks and resist deterioration. MSI designed the Z77A-G45 Gaming board to provide an excellent all around experience, there is extra space between the PCI-E 3.0 slots to provide airflow between video cards, DDR 3000 support, a Killer E2205 NIC card built in, as well as the Sound Blaster Cinema audio system. All these features provide for an excellent gaming experience. A UEFI BIOS is included with the MSI Click BIOS II interface and OC Genie II overclocking utility.

Read more: MSI Z77A-G45 Gaming Motherboard Review @ HiTech Legion

Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 Advanced Review @ Hardware Canucks

The actual differences between the Scout 2 and Scout 2 Advanced may not be abundantly apparent by looking at simple product images but there are some interesting additions to the more expensive version. The Advanced is available in a stunning Ghost White finish which uses a special polymer-based paint for enhanced durability and houses more 2.5” drive converters.

One of the Scout II Advanced’s largest selling points is its price. At just $109 for the white version and $99 for the black, this isn’t one of the most affordable mid-towers on the market but for the number of features being offered, it represents a great value.

Read more: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 Advanced Review @ Hardware Canucks

Intel Unveils New Atom and Xeon Processors and Future Rack Scale Architecture at IDF Beijing @ HotHardware.com

At the Intel Developers Forum currently underway in Beijing, Intel revealed a number of details regarding future Atom and Xeon processors and proposed server and rack-level enhancements to improve efficiency and ease upgrades moving forward.

As Diane Bryant (senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Datacenter and Connected Systems Group) revealed, the company will soon refresh its Xeon and Atom processor lines with new products manufactured using Intel's advanced 22nm process node, which offer improved performance per watt characteristics and expanded feature sets that target specific applications...

Read more: Intel Unveils New Atom and Xeon Processors and Future Rack Scale Architecture at IDF Beijing @ HotHardware.com

IDF keynote reveals new server processors, rack architecture @ The Tech Report

Intel kicked off IDF Beijing with a keynote address that revealed a number of new server processors in the Atom and Xeon families. The chip maker also discussed its rack scale architecture, which aims to make next-generation servers more flexible and efficient through modular components.

Read more: IDF keynote reveals new server processors, rack architecture @ The Tech Report

Samsung 700T ATIV Smart PC Pro Windows 8 Tablet @ MEGATechNews

In the last few years, we’ve witnessed this great divide between mobile devices like Android tablets and “real” computers like Windows-powered notebooks. More recently, though, we’ve seen the rise of devices that aim to span this great divide by using Windows 8 and one of the more notable examples of this is the Samsung 700T ATIV Smart PC Pro. The idea is that you don’t have to sacrifice functionality for portability (or vice versa), but does Samsung really achieve this goal? Let’s dig in and find out.

Read more: Samsung 700T ATIV Smart PC Pro Windows 8 Tablet @ MEGATechNews