Here today's reviews and articles, including Intel Chipset Codenames Cross-Reference Table, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Digital Camera Review, HTC First With Facebook Home Review, Inside Look: Guild Wars 2 March Patch, and Oblanc NC2-3 U.F.O Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Review



Intel Chipset Codenames Cross-Reference Table @ Hardware Secrets

Even for those of us that work daily in the high-tech industry it is hard to keep track of all the codenames Intel uses for their chipsets and then trying to remember what commercial name Intel gave each one. For the average user it is really complicated trying to understand exactly what product an article or review posted on an enthusiast-oriented media is talking about, especially when they are using the codename instead of the final product name. In order to help everybody out there (including ourselves), we decided to compile a series of quick cross-reference tables containing all the codenames Intel uses for their chipsets and the actual product name. Enjoy.

Read more: Intel Chipset Codenames Cross-Reference Table @ Hardware Secrets

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Digital Camera Review @ TechnologyX

We have in our hot little hands for review one of the first Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX30 Digital cameras and DEFINITELY the first orange sample that has reached Canada.

The TX-30 is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and even freeze proof, garnishing it’s recognition as being the world’s slimmest waterproof camera.

For it to pass our stringent examination however, the TX30 must be ‘Karen-Proof’ in withstanding elements greater than these small few.

Read more: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Digital Camera Review @ TechnologyX

MSI Z77A-GD65 GAMING Intel LGA 1155 @ techPowerUp

From within MSI's high-tech laboratories, the MSI Z77A-GD65 GAMING motherboard is a dragon unleashed to deliver the best in gaming performance from every angle. Equipped with a KillerNIC E2205 Ethernet Controller and a high-end Realtek Audio CODEC, the board also has the looks and the performance to bring the latest game to its knees.

Read more: MSI Z77A-GD65 GAMING Intel LGA 1155 @ techPowerUp

HTC First With Facebook Home Review @ HotHardware.com

For many users, smartphones are tools that are more about the software and user experience than the hardware. Of course, you still need adequate hardware and smooth performance to ensure a good experience, but beyond that, there are plenty of users who are attracted more to software and easy-to-use features than anything else.

As the first phone to ship with Facebook Home preinstalled, the new HTC First is hoping to attract customers who care most about the Facebook experience on their phones. Facebook Home is deeply integrated with Android and offers notifications, status updates, photos, messages, and more directly from the phone's home screen...

Read more: HTC First With Facebook Home Review @ HotHardware.com

Scythe Ashura CPU Cooler Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Now Scythe are back with a new range of products and one of the newest is the Ashura tower cooler. Today we test it against a range of coolers on our socket 2011 system to find out how it might enhance our thermal performance.

Read more: Scythe Ashura CPU Cooler Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Inside Look: Guild Wars 2 March Patch @ ThinkComputers.org

The March patch was somewhat disappointing as far as content, with the Living Story quests being lackluster at best. What had the potential to be extremely unique and exciting, was once again turned into a grind-like process with nothing new to really add to the story since implementation. The world vs world patch did manage to alleviate the culling issues found when large groups would be present in any of the games player vs player and world vs world content, however the unique abilities that each person can spec into are hardly worth the time, energy and effort necessary to achieve them. It seems as if Arenanet has a skeleton crew working on content for the game, and the much anticipated ascended gear/weapons arent anywhere to be found.

Read more: Inside Look: Guild Wars 2 March Patch @ ThinkComputers.org

MSI Z77 GD65 Gaming motherboard Review @ Guru3D

We review, test and benchmark the MSI Z77 GD65 Gaming series motherboard. The Z77 gaming themed mainboard is intended for Intel's 22nm Ivy Bridge processors on Socket LGA1155. It is the new flagship product amongst the MSI gaming series LOADED with features and overclock potential, it has the latest Killer E2200 chip and SoundBlaster Cinema audio. Oh and of course new gorgeous looks. This motherboard comes even with an impressive VRM design. Oh and is 8 SATA ports enough for ya ? Or what about three PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots KillerNIC integrated LAN and SLI / CrossFireX multi-GPU support ?

Read more: MSI Z77 GD65 Gaming motherboard Review @ Guru3D

In Win Commander III 600W @ PureOverclock

While premium kilowatt power supplies may garner much of the attention and buzz in the marketplace, it is the more affordable, mid-range units that quietly bring in the profits. After all, most consumers aren’t well-heeled enough to consistently spend hundreds of dollars on components for a system that can cost thousands. You don’t really need the most leet gaming rig out there to play Call of Duty, let’s face it.

We’ve also noted a general trend for improved power efficiency, to offer better power supplies to consumers that are more frugal, saving money and better for the environment at the same time. 80PLUS Bronze used to the be the standard, but that’s now the minimum we can expect from modern power supplies. 80PLUS Gold is certainly preferred, but we don’t want to spend a fortune in the process. And that’s where the In Win Commander III 600W might offer a solution.

Read more: In Win Commander III 600W @ PureOverclock

Cupertino funk, part II: No joy in iVille @ The Tech Report

In part two of his critical look at the post-Jobs Apple, our resident Mac blogger argues that simplicity is being sacrificed to add features of dubious value, and that the random use of skeuomorphic design elements is ruining the UI. The magic is gone, and it won't be easy to regain.

Read more: Cupertino funk, part II: No joy in iVille @ The Tech Report

QPAD QH-90 Review @ Vortez

In such a vast market it is difficult to find room to breathe, with over 16,000 hits on Google shopping results for 'PC Gaming Headset', one would think that someone would have got it right by now? Regardless of the difficulty in finding paragon, QPAD offer up the QH-90 PC gaming headset and on first impressions it is definitely a breath of fresh air! We are taking a look at the white version and the outlook is positive with no over the top gamer jargon seen anywhere, the box a solid, quality packaging construct that is similar to other high end products that reek of awesome. At this point restraint tends to be wise when judging books and covers.

Read more: QPAD QH-90 Review @ Vortez

Roccat Kone XTD Mouse Review @ OCIA.net

Roccat has already established themselves as a solid manufacturer and designer of performance gaming peripherals and accessories. The Roccat Kone XTD is the next release in their line of performance gaming mice. This unit retails for around $90 USD and features eight fully programmable mouse buttons, a tracking sensor that scales up to 8200 DPI and a custom weight system that allows you to change the weight of the mouse in your hand in five gram increments.

Read more: Roccat Kone XTD Mouse Review @ OCIA.net

Oblanc NC2-3 U.F.O Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Review @ NikKTech

With the summer period already opening its arms to welcome us more and more people are looking to buy wireless Bluetooth headsets for use while in the house, on the go or while working out. Now although Jabra recently released the quite remarkable REVO wireless Bluetooth headset the market is not really filled with such solutions, at least not powerful enough solutions for people who really want to listen to their tunes without volume restrictions. Granted the REVO is perhaps the best Bluetooth wireless headset out there but its rather high price tag makes it very hard for people on a tight budget to look at it as a valid solution so we searched around to find a Bluetooth wireless headset that shares most of the features found in the REVO but at half its price tag, if not less. Well it seems that the NC2-3 U.F.O Bluetooth Stereo Headphones by Oblanc just might be the right ones for the job.

Read more: Oblanc NC2-3 U.F.O Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Review @ NikKTech