Here a roundup of todays reviews and articles:

Asus GTX780 Ti ROG Matrix Review
HIS R9 280 IceQ X2 Review
How To Make Lubuntu Look Like Windows XP
July 2014 System Guide
Linux Distribution Basics: Rolling Releases vs. Standard Releases
Microsoft reckons next-gen console momentum is shifting to Xbox One
MSI GTX 750 Ti OC TwinFrozr II Video Card Review
Nokia Lumia 630 review: An affordable Windows Phone, but not a perfect one
SilverStone Precision PS10 Computer Case Review
Swiftech Komodo NV-LE GPU Block Review
Thecus N2310 Review
Thermaltake ToughPower Grand TPG-0750M 750W Power Supply Unit Review
Western Digital My Book Duo DAS Review

Asus GTX780 Ti ROG Matrix Review

Today we follow on from our recent analysis of the remarkable ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q 144hz G-Sync monitor (http://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/monitors/zardon/asus-rog-swift-pg278q-144hz-g-sync-monitor-w-gtx-780ti-rog-matrix/) and focus on the partner card for that review – the Asus GTX780 Ti ROG Matrix. ASUS claim this card is created around ‘hand chosen cores’ to ensure the highest levels of performance. Asus use a sophisticated 14 phase power system, with digital voltage regulation and the highest grade Japanese made 10k black metallic capacitors. The GTX780 Ti ROG Matrix is supplied in a highly overclocked state, but can it justify the equally high £649.99 asking price (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-339-AS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1402) ?

Read full article @ KitGuru

HIS R9 280 IceQ X2 Review

When AMD launched the 7000 series of graphics cards, an evolutionary approach was made, moving the bar by improving not only gaming horsepower, but also power efficiency and temperatures. AMD is again looking to capitalize on their latest architecture, which is in fact an evolution of the previous 7000 series generation tech, but the company has made it clear that framerates aren’t their primary goal.

They want to make affordable products that offer strong gaming performance, which is arguably one of the most important criteria for gamers out there who may be hard-pressed to choose where to spend their hard-earned money. And as the R7 and R9 product lineup matures before we see the next generation of cards, we’re seeing custom cards from AMD board partners which are eager to squeeze the most out of what left in the AMD product tank.

Read full article @ PureOverclock

How To Make Lubuntu Look Like Windows XP

Windows XP is insecure. If you have a Windows XP user in your life, you may want to try migrating them to Linux so they can use a free, secure operating system still getting security updates. Lubuntu is a lightweight version of Ubuntu for those old computers. A Windows XP theme for Lubuntu may be the ideal way to ease a Windows XP user into Linux. If they primarily use a browser like Firefox or Google Chrome on Windows XP, they may not even notice much of a difference! Firefox comes with Lubuntu, and Chrome can easily be installed on it....

Read full article @ MakeUseOf

July 2014 System Guide

With the arrival of the Pentium Anniversary Edition, Devil's Canyon, and new solid-state drives—not to mention a round of GPU price cuts—there's hardly ever been a better time to upgrade. If you haven't maxed out your credit card on Steam games already, you really ought to get in on this.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

Linux Distribution Basics: Rolling Releases vs. Standard Releases

Linux distributions tend to use two different types of release cycles: standard releases and rolling releases. Some people swear by rolling releases to have the latest software, while others like standard releases for being more stable and tested.

Read full article @ Howtogeek

Microsoft reckons next-gen console momentum is shifting to Xbox One

Look out Sony, because the tide has turned in the next-gen console wars! Well, according to one Xbox marketing executive anyway. Harvey Eagle, the UK marketing boss for Xbox, claims the launch of Microsoft-exclusive Titanfall game in March was a momentum changer for the console, after the PS4 jumped out to an early sales lead.The change started to happen when Titanfall was released in March, it's been a hugely successful title and the start of what I believe to be is the momentum shift, he told CVG.

Read full article @ Techradar

MSI GTX 750 Ti OC TwinFrozr II Video Card Review

Is it possible to game on a 1080p monitor,with most of the eye candy turned on without having to spend $200 or more for a graphics card? Well, we saw the Fermi based NVIDIA GTX 650 Ti make that a reality on most games available at its launch. To date, only a few new games demand a more capable GPU to handle the job. With Fermi slowly fading from the shelves, it was only logical that a GTX 750 GPU take over the reigns. This is the first of Maxwell GPUs to launch. If NVIDIA’s advancement trend continues, we suspect it can handle some if not all graphic intensive games today, and more, like its predecessor.

That brings us to the MSI GTX 750 Ti OC TwinFrozr II video card, which is an even more enhanced GTX 750 Ti. The card is factory overclocked right out of the box. We have a few game titles to try out and hopefully, this budget, yet performance minded GPU measures up!

Read full article @ Futurelooks

Nokia Lumia 630 review: An affordable Windows Phone, but not a perfect one

It used to be the case - not all that long ago, in fact - that “low-cost” was synonymous with “low quality” in the smartphone space. Flooded with torrents of wretched, miserable Android devices, anyone looking for a really cheap smartphone ended up staring at a dreadful screen, with underpowered specs and appalling battery life.

But within barely a couple of years, things have changed dramatically. Compelling and impressive handsets like Motorola’s Moto E have transformed expectations at the entry-level for Android, finally showing users that they no longer have to settle for the very worst if they’re shopping for a smartphone on a budget.

It’s not just Android either – Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS has convincingly demonstrated that a strong smartphone user experience can be offered to buyers across all price ranges, not just those who can afford the flagships. No device demonstrated this better than Nokia’s Lumia 520, which has seen its price fall to as little as $39.99 off-contract (albeit on promotion).

Read full article @ Neowin

SilverStone Precision PS10 Computer Case Review

You have probably heard of the phrase, “Silence is golden”, and in many ways, I find this true. For one, I am mostly an introvert, so I work quite a bit better on my own and in solitude. Often when I need to think, I would shut myself in my room to remove external distractions. The origin of this phrase is unknown, much like many other phrases. One of the first examples of using this phrase in English is, quite ironically, a long-winded piece by Thomas Carlyle, an English poet. He takes the German phrase meaning, “Speech is silvern, silence is golden”, and Carlyle expands it further to say speech is of time, but silence is eternity. There even is a song from the 1950s by the Tremeloes, but it speaks more about the deception of speech, rather than the beauty of silence. Of course, this phrase also lies true to many computer enthusiasts. Many of us would rather prefer a silent computer, rather than a noisy one. I remember one of my friends telling me how when he first built his computer, he did not care about noise, but as time went on, he realized how much it bothered him to hear his computer whirring in the background. His solution? Buy a better computer case! Many computer cases today have insulating materials padded on the inside panels to reduce the noise output. Unfortunately, many of these products are also not cheap or worse yet, are not effective. As we saw with the Cooler Master Silencio 550, if these materials insulate heat better than noise, the case will be pointless. SilverStone decided to take a stab at this issue by providing us with a computer chassis in the SilverStone Precision PS10. Not only are both side panels padded with sound-insulating material, but at press time the case can be found for less than $50 USD. Branded to have a silent operation, will this case actual prove to be golden, or have there been too many corners cut to make this wallet-friendly? These questions and more will be answered in today’s review!

Read full article @ APH Networks

Swiftech Komodo NV-LE GPU Block Review

What do you think of when you hear the word “luxury”? Like most words a different symbolism can arise from different individuals, but the accounting for taste and exposure can make these differences incredibly radical. For some, “luxury” purely means a form of ostentation, regardless of worth or any inclination to actually being what most have come to think of as being “luxurious”. For some, a “luxury” can be something as simple as a Jameson Grilled Cheese from Killer Po Boys, simply due to the fact that it is “luxurious” by definition despite the lack of ostentation in it or its surroundings. While some would not find that “luxurious” at all, but would if the Gucci pattern were burned into the bread. “Luxury” is about individual perception.

In the curious case of making a computer component “luxurious”, what would we be looking at? First, the component would have to use only the best available materials, especially where performance is affected. Next, the design, fit and finish would have to be impeccable. There can’t be rough or sharp edges on a luxury piece, nor can there be cross-threading or misaligned components. Lastly, it would need to look the part. As I always say, looks are subjective, but there is no denying when a piece has stand out design and aesthetics. It doesn’t need to be flashy, if Mercedes made a block of wood, it would certainly be identifiable from a block of wood made by Suzuki.

Read full article @ HiTech Legion

Thecus N2310 Review

With so many NAS boxes out there it is hard to find one that is right for you. You will soon drown in the ocean of choices available, so best put 'pen to paper' and write down what you need from a NAS (Network Attached Storage) server; pros vs. cons style. If you find cost is high on your list of pros with a quick installation along with a fair amount of apps then the Thecus N2310 could be the NAS server for you.

Not especially built for people new to Networking but clearly of some appeal to them, the Thecus N2310 on the face of it has a lot of appeal. It is well specified for a unit of this cost and being a Thecus it is backed up by a host of smart apps for the end user to configure and have a play around with depending on how the server is planned to be utilised. Media centre? Not an issue. Bitorrent download station. You got it! Whether you are looking to stream to your 60" LED Smart TV screen or your smart phone, Thecus N2310 looks to be a great choice for the budget conscious too because at a little over £110 it appears to offer great value for money.

Read full article @ Vortez

Thermaltake ToughPower Grand TPG-0750M 750W Power Supply Unit Review

Whenever my road brings me close to an electronics store i almost always go inside not only because i want to see if there's something new in the market that I’ve missed but also because i enjoy listening (curiosity i guess) to what consumers ask from the sales people. That of course has led me to realize that not all sales people have the necessary knowledge needed in order to guide consumers to the right choice (not their fault really, not in the times we live in). For example just two weeks ago i overheard a sales person recommend a 600W PSU to someone who had just bought a brand new MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 for his Core i7 system. True an 600W can easily handle that card (since it has a max power consumption of less than 300W) but the total power draw of the system obviously depends on the rest of the components so when the only thing you know is that the consumer owns an Intel Core i7 4790 then you shouldn't take any chances. In the end it seems that the consumer knew his way a lot better than the sales person so he left with an 750W power supply unit instead a model by Thermaltake which coincidentally i had yet to get my hands on. Today we'll be taking a look at the new ToughPower Grand TPG-0750M (or ToughPower Grand Gold Fully Modular as some call it) by Thermaltake which finally found its way over.

The beginning of every myth and legend is about dreams and desire: the challenging, creative and combative features of Thermaltake Group create an exciting and fascinating user experience to share with everyone, while allowing users to enter a selfless state in terms of function and potential. Thermaltake Group's 3 main brands: Thermaltake, Tt eSPORTS and LUXA2 have been merchandising throughout the world, and have successfully established 6 business footholds in areas such as Europe, America, Oceania, Japan and China, with 95 regional distributors and over 4000 premium retailers. All product planning is orientated by observation of global PC peripheral market and understanding of consumer demands. Thermaltake creates direct contact opportunities with resellers and consumers by participating major global ICT exhibitions and trade shows every year, and develop innovative marketing strategies for the promotions of new products. Meanwhile, Thermaltake incorporates the composite marketing system by making branch offices and regional distributors both the distribution channel and technical support or service center to provide instant support; by maintaining close contact with end users, we manage to strengthen corporate competitiveness and create the momentum for the growth of accomplishments. With its outstanding wisdom and strength Thermaltake Group is recruiting creative talents to build a cultural brand for the enjoyment of entertainment, e-Sports, technology and lifestyle!

With the new ToughPower Grand 750W TPG-0750M 80 Plus Gold Certified power supply unit Thermaltake pairs an 100% modular cabling design with a single +12V rail (capable of outputting 62A of continuous power to feed even the most power hungry systems) and backs it up with a full set of electrical protections and a 7-year extended warranty. Also from its looks not only did Thermaltake place much weight on the design of the unit but they have also made use of flat low-profile modular cables in order to increase airflow inside the case and reduce space needed for cable management something which should appeal to many users out there (although we've seen it quite a few times in the past). Since however it's been a while from the last time we've had a PSU by Thermaltake on our test bench let's not spend any more time in the introduction page.

Read full article @ NikKTech

Western Digital My Book Duo DAS Review

Earlier this week, we took a look at LaCie's high end 2-bay RAID DAS, the 2big Thunderbolt 2. It integrated both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 2 as connectivity options. At $800 for a 8 TB version, the pricing carries a premium for the Thunderbolt connectivity. USB 3.0 is, in a way, the poor man's Thunderbolt. With a focus on the average consumer, Western Digital launched the My Book Duo USB 3.0 DAS with hardware RAID capabilities a few weeks back. The 8 TB variant is priced at a more palatable $450. Read on to see how it performs in our evaluation.

Read full article @ Anandtech