Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles, including Frame Rating: High End GPUs Benchmarked at 4K Resolutions, AMD's Heterogeneous Unified Memory Architecture, Escort MobileTV iOS TV Adapter Review, Cronus Cross-Over Gaming Device For Consoles, and Kingston SSDNow V300 (120GB & 240GB) Review



Frame Rating: High End GPUs Benchmarked at 4K Resolutions @ PC Perspective

You may have recently seen a story and video on PC Perspective about a new TV that made its way into the office. Of particular interest is the fact that the SEIKI SE50UY04 50-in TV is a 4K television; it has a native resolution of 3840x2160. For those that are unfamiliar with the new upcoming TV and display standards, 3840x2160 is exactly four times the resolution of current 1080p TVs and displays. Oh, and this TV only cost us $1300.

In that short preview we validated that both NVIDIA and AMD current generation graphics cards support output to this TV at 3840x2160 using an HDMI cable. You might be surprised to find that HDMI 1.4 can support 4K resolutions, but it can do so only at 30 Hz (60 Hz 4K TVs won't be available until 2014 most likely), half the refresh rate of most TVs and monitors at 60 Hz. That doesn't mean we are limited to 30 FPS of performance though, far from it. As you'll see in our testing on the coming pages we were able to push out much higher frame rates using some very high end graphics solutions.

Read more: Frame Rating: High End GPUs Benchmarked at 4K Resolutions @ PC Perspective

ZOTAC GTX Titan AMP! Edition (Overclocked) versus Radeon 7990 @ HardwareHeaven.com

Today sees the release of a new GTX Titan from ZOTAC, the AMP! Edition. This is the highest clocked air cooled Titan we have seen so far and we will be putting it up against the 7990 as well as the GTX 690 in a selection of the latest games which include Bioshock: Infinite, Crysis 3 and Tomb Raider. Of course as always we will look at GPU Computing, Media Playback, power, thermal, and acoustics as well as overclocking.

Read more: ZOTAC GTX Titan AMP! Edition (Overclocked) versus Radeon 7990 @ HardwareHeaven.com

hUMA; AMD’s Heterogeneous Unified Memory Architecture @ Hardware Canucks

Years ago, AMD set forth on a crusade to seamlessly blend multiple functions which were normally spread throughout disparate regions of a system into one all-encompassing chip. This “system on a chip” approach wasn’t anything new but AMD has arguably been the leader in this field, often going through the process of integration long before their rival Intel.

This process started in a straightforward manner with the simple integration of a memory controller into the CPU’s die space. Subsequent iterations have gradually given birth to what we now call Accelerated Processing Units (or APUs) which have taken incorporated a reasonably powerful graphics processor into the same package as well. However, AMD isn’t stopping there. Their ultimate goal is to create what’s now called a Heterogeneous System Architecture in which all parts of the processing pipeline –be it the parallel processing capabilities of a GPU or the CPU’s serial-centric focus- communicate in harmony without any of the latency associated with multi-chip approaches.

Read more: hUMA; AMD’s Heterogeneous Unified Memory Architecture @ Hardware Canucks

Escort MobileTV iOS TV Adapter Review @ TestFreaks

As a tech reviewer there are times where one can become jaded reviewing the similar types of products and accessories. Every so often a new and unique product comes along to liven things up. Escort a company known for their radar detectors have released a peripheral for iOS devices that turns them into miniature digital TV receivers. The Escort MobileTV is a dongle that plugs into the 30 pin dock connector creating an over the air signal TV receiver.

The Escort MobileTV includes a built-in rechargeable battery, which means the device will not siphon off the charge from your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Since it captures over the air signal there is no need for 3G/4G, Wi-Fi or data plan usage on your device’s part.

Read more: Escort MobileTV iOS TV Adapter Review @ TestFreaks

Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB SATA3 SSD Review @ OCInside

Today we have a Xtreme fast SSD for review at ocinside.de, the Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB.
The Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256 GB SSD is based on the Marvell 88SS9187-BLD2 controller like the previously tested Crucial M500 480 GB SSD and reached an amazing high performance with the new Plextor firmware 1.03.
So let us continue with the SSD comparison and the review of the Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256 GB.

Read more: Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB SATA3 SSD Review @ OCInside

Inno3D iChill GTX 650 Ti Boost 2 GB @ techPowerUp

Inno3D has engineered a unique GTX 650 Ti Boost using the company's iChill triple slot, dual-fan cooler. It provides amazing noise levels, which make the card almost inaudible during gameplay. Temperatures are also much improved, so the triple slot design certainly paid off. The card is also overclocked and comes at a reasonable $190 price point.

Read more: Inno3D iChill GTX 650 Ti Boost 2 GB @ techPowerUp

Shogun Bros Ballista MK1 8200dpi Pro Gaming mouse review @ KitGuru

In the world of gaming mice brand names such as Steel Series, Logitech, Rocatt and Razer reign supreme. When we were offered a sample from a company called Shogun Bros we immediately thought of a cool new oriental themed Nintendo game.

Wacky company name aside, the new Ballista MK1 has been designed to challenge the big players, at a lower price point. We spent around a week testing this mouse and loaning it out to several competitive UK clan gamers to get other viewpoints. Is this a cheap ‘n†nasty second choice option or a quality mouse able to stand its ground against the big players?

Read more: Shogun Bros Ballista MK1 8200dpi Pro Gaming mouse review @ KitGuru

Ineo Alienvibes W401 Speaker System @ Benchmark Reviews

Are you looking to hang up the headphones for a while and experience the freedom and openness of your computer audio through a speaker system? Well, if good looks, performance and a really good price interest you the Alienvibes W401 2.2 Channel Subwoofer PC Speaker System may be the perfect fit for you. Benchmark Reviews has obtained a sample and put it through its paces.

The Alienvibes W401 2.2 Chanel PC Speaker System by Ineo Technology is a really nicely designed speaker system for a PC user. It is compact, but does produce a very satisfying sound environment. It has a decent amount of amplification to allow you to easily listen to any type of music, get right into video games and even enjoy a movie. The speaker system generated a full bodied sound. You really can hear the crispness of the highs and the bass tones are enough that you can feel them through the table.

Read more: Ineo Alienvibes W401 Speaker System @ Benchmark Reviews

ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Review @ Legit Reviews

With smartphones, tablets, and laptops being in more and more hands every day, comes the need for gadgets to make your life even more convenient when using these devices. Everyone wants to share pictures, videos, and other media with their friends, but there isn't really a very convenient way to do this, outside of social networking websites. Not only that, but a lot of people are unable to get through the day without having to charge their phones. ADATA has come up with the DashDrive Air AE400 to help make media sharing easier between these devices, and also provide an extra charge to your smartphone or tablet...

Read more: ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Review @ Legit Reviews

AMD Details hUMA: HSA in Action! @ PC Perspective

Several years back we first heard AMD’s plans on creating a uniform memory architecture which will allow the CPU to share address spaces with the GPU. The promise here is to create a very efficient architecture that will provide excellent performance in a mixed environment of serial and parallel programming loads. When GPU computing came on the scene it was full of great promise. The idea of a heavily parallel processing unit that will accelerate both integer and floating point workloads could be a potential gold mine in wide variety of applications. Alas, the promise of the technology did not meet expectations when we have viewed the results so far. There are many problems with combining serial and parallel workloads between CPUs and GPUs, and a lot of this has to do with very basic programming and the communication of data between two separate memory pools.

Read more: AMD Details hUMA: HSA in Action! @ PC Perspective

Razer Kraken Pro Headset @ Modders-Inc

Razer has, in fact, RELEASED THE KRAKEN! With 40mm neodymium magnet drivers this headset can unleash crystal clear quality. Amazing comfort is provided by the optimized weight recommended from professional gamers only weighing in at 0.65 lbs, for extended periods of mouse clicking action

Read more: Razer Kraken Pro Headset @ Modders-Inc

be quiet! Shadow Rock TopFlow SR1 CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

I have to admit something; I hate top down air coolers. I cant put my finger on what it is about them I so dislike. Perhaps its simply that they dont tend to perform very well. Or maybe its just their strong dissymmetry that rubs me the wrong way. Whatever it is, something inside tells me to take a tower cooler over them any day. And so it is with great fear and trepidation that I present another air cooling product from German manufacturers, be quiet!, the Shadow Rock TopFlow SR1. Please follow along as I attempt to prove my instincts wrong., or right, as we find out how this cooler performs.

Read more: be quiet! Shadow Rock TopFlow SR1 CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Cronus Cross-Over Gaming Device For Consoles @ MEGATechNews

Just as you can’t put an Xbox game disc inside of a PlayStation and expect it to work, it has become a common accepted fact that you simply cannot use your PlayStation controllers with your Xbox and vice versa. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Cronus Cross-Over Gaming Device spans that great divide between consoles, letting you use just about any controller on just about any console that you want.

The editorial sample was graciously provided to us by the fine folks at Canadian Joysticks, the same people from whom you can find the Qanba Arcade Stick Bag, among several other gaming products. So, is the Cronus really that straightforward? Can I really use an Xbox controller with a PS3?

Read more: Cronus Cross-Over Gaming Device For Consoles @ MEGATechNews

Kingston SSDNow V300 (120GB & 240GB) Review @ Anandtech

Kingston's SSD lineup is as follows: they have HyperX-branded SSDs for enthusiasts and the mainstream market is catered by SSDNow brand. The HyperX SSDs have been fairly popular from what I've seen but the SSDNow brand has been rather inconsistent. Kingston has used controllers from multiple manufacturers in the SSDNow lineup and the naming system has been confusing to say the least. Kingston has been using a plus sign (e.g. V+200) to separate their higher-end offerings from the slower non-plus version (e.g. V200). However, the plus sign has never had any definite meaning and at least I've always found it to be very confusing.

With the V300, there's hope that the SSDNow lineup will be simplified and consumers will no longer have to look for (or avoid) the "better" plus sign version. The V300 is based on (surprise!) SandForce's SF-2281 controller and uses Kingston packaged (but Toshiba/SanDisk manufactured) 19nm MLC NAND. Kingston has used SF-2281 in some of their HyperX drives and it's a generally known quantity, but let's see how Kingston's newest mainstream SSD performs.

Read more: Kingston SSDNow V300 (120GB & 240GB) Review @ Anandtech

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review @ V3

A decent phone, but one that repeats and at times compounds its predecessor's flaws     

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S4 Review @ V3

Cooler Master NotePal A200 Laptop Cooling Pad Review @ Ninjalane

Heat has been a difficult problem to solve in the mobile computing space and as we have seen in the desktop world as processors get more powerful so does their heat generation. To combat this heatsink manufactures have gone to great lengths to make coolers more efficient and quieter. In the laptop world things are not so easy and to combat heat two things have occurred. First is more efficient hardware that generally runs slower than the desktop counterpart and second, more efficient heatsinks. Of course, it doesn't matter how well your heatsink works unless you can get proper airflow and, with a notebook, that is often easier said than done.

In this review we will be looking at the new Cooler Master NotePal A200 Laptop Cooling Pad. Much like a case fan in your desktop chassis a cooling pad works by promoting good circulation so that the air being sucked in is fresh and cool. Cooling pads also double as a thermal barrier between your notebook and the surface it is resting on. Either it be a desk or your lap, some separation will prevent unsightly heat related stress is often needed.

Read more: Cooler Master NotePal A200 Laptop Cooling Pad Review @ Ninjalane

ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Wireless Storage @ Benchmark Reviews

The ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 enters the ring against a slew of devices aimed at giving more functionality to you for your mobile devices. With the expanding market for smartphones, tablets, and other portable computing devices, it is becoming increasingly more important to keep that battery charged all day long and to stay connected to everything we deem important.

As we use our mobile devices for more and more, those batteries that once seemed huge suddenly start to drain very quickly. I spend quite a bit of time on my phone. I use it mainly for emailing and communications, but I also keep up with my social networks and play some games. My phone battery doesn't generally last an entire day. My wife is even worse. She lets the kids play on her phone a lot and that drains the battery even more quickly. She generally has to charge her phone sometime in the afternoon so that it doesn't die on her. If she is out and about, that isn't always possible.

Read more: ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Wireless Storage @ Benchmark Reviews

Asus' VivoTab Smart ME400C tablet reviewed @ The Tech Report

This Windows 8 tablet has an Atom processor, solid battery life, and a $430 price tag. Is it compelling as a tablet, and can it really double as a productivity PC?

Read more: Asus' VivoTab Smart ME400C tablet reviewed @ The Tech Report

LanCool First Knight PC-K65B Mid Tower Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion

The Knights of the Round Table come from medieval times and most knights in modern times just have the title and do not officially protect the crown. The LanCool PC-K65B is in the First Knight series and immediately made me think of a medieval styling. Just like the movie First Knight had many high end actors in it the PC-K65B has modern and high end features. The aluminum front bezel gives it that modern flair that would fit in any space.

The LanCool First Knight PC-K65B is a mid-tower computer case that is made of high quality materials. The targeted audience for the LanCool PC-K65B is the mainstream user who is looking for a solid chassis and some user friendly features. The front bezel of the case is made out of aluminum, while the rest of the chassis is made out of SECC steel. Support is provided for one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, and HD audio on the front panel. The K65B has three external 5.25" drive bays, six internal 3.5" drive bays, and four 2.5" drive bays. Two 140mm fans for intake and one 120mm exhausting air out the back are used for cooling the system, and all intakes have washable filters on them.

Read more: LanCool First Knight PC-K65B Mid Tower Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion

AVATAR Mercury Ultrabook AVIU-145A2 Review @ OCC

AVATAR is not a known player in the portable computer world. I personally never heard about the company before receiving the fairly large and suspiciously light box with the review unit inside it. Avatar Technology, Inc. is a California-based computer manufacturer with over 14 years of experience under its belt. It seems that the company was highly successful at dominating parts of the Latin America market, notably Mexico. Now turning towards the ever demanding North American market, AVATAR’s offering in terms of Ultrabooks is pretty limited with just three different SKUs available at the time of this review. Nonetheless, by partnering with some of the major players in the PC arena, the products are very well rounded and boast pretty impressive specifications.

Today I will be reviewing the AVATAR Mercury Ultrabook AVIU-145A2. This aluminium clad, thin, and pretty light weight portable computer falls under Intel’s Ultrabook banner. It’s not a surprise to find an Intel Core i5-3317U Processor paired with an Intel IC4I motherboard under the hood. The unit also packs 8GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM, a 500GB 5400RPM WD Scorpio Blue HDD, a 32GB mSATA SSD made by Phison, and a 6000mAh Li-ion battery. Running the latest - and pretty controversial - creation from Microsoft, namely Windows 8 - the AVATAR Mercury Ultrabook AVIU-145A2 is a sleek unit with a vibrant 1366 x 768, 14” display.

Let’s see if the AVATAR Mercury Ultrabook AVIU-145A2 really has “Brains, Brawn, and Beauty all in one package”!

Read more: AVATAR Mercury Ultrabook AVIU-145A2 Review @ OCC

CyberPowerPC FangBook Gaming Notebook Review @ Anandtech

We've seen this chassis before, but we haven't seen it with CyberPowerPC's touches, and we haven't seen anything about the Kepler-based NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX. That changes today.

Read more: CyberPowerPC FangBook Gaming Notebook Review @ Anandtech

Wavemaster Stax Speakers Review @ KitGuru

Having started to create multimedia speakers for PC systems in Germany many years ago, Wavemaster is a relatively new brand to UK consumers – but they are aiming to make a splash with a series of headphone and speaker launches in 2013. We have been sent a set of Wavemaster Stax speakers aimed squarely at the entry level 2.1 market that has been dominated for many years by brands like Logitech and Creative.

Read more: Wavemaster Stax Speakers Review @ KitGuru