Tech News
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HIS Radeon 6870 IceQX Review @ XSReviews
Published: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | By: DennisI have been looking at getting a few more Radeon HD 4850 video cards to support the Multi GPU Index efforts and keep eyeing some of the HIS brand cards on Ebay. You know the cards with the MASSIVE blue cooler.
If the owners were not so proud of them I might actually pull the trigger.
Just to keep things fresh and prevent you all from getting bored with all the headset reviews we’ve been putting out recently, here’s something a bit more internal,a GPU from HIS. This is the IceQX variant of their HD 6870 Graphics card from AMD.
At least they are honest.
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ASUS P6X58-E WS Workstation Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers
Published: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | By: DennisI do love these workstation style motherboards, they are the no BS approach to what a motherboard should be when you take away the gaming component.
The ASUS P6X58-E WS is today's sample, and is designed to be the center of your workload, providing you with all the power and reliability needed to run a workstation. Similar to the Sabertooth P67 we recently reviewed, this new motherboard is built with all the highest quality components to insure a long and reliable operating lifespan. Rather, it is the long days in the office or the long dark night sitting behind the monitor in which ASUS is hoping to be the rock to get that next project done.
The board isn't quite on the same level as the Rampage III Extreme, but then again its not supposed to be.
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AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Launch Day
Published: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | By: DennisFunny thing, all of the comments about this release say the same thing. "Where the hell is Bulldozer?!?"
- AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Processor Review @ Hardware Canucks
- AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Quad-Core CPU Review @ Legit Reviews
- AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition processor reviewed at TR
- AMD Phenom II X4 980 @ PureOverclock
- TechwareLabs Review: AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition CPU-ProcessorSo it has 980 in the name, do you suppose it is fast as a Core i7 980? Not likely.
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Beginner's Guide to Building a Home Theater PC @MissingRemote
Published: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | By: DennisWe recently did a little project on what it took to build a HTPC complete with custom parts so that it was more than just a media center. While our approach was a little different from most HTPC builds it did serve its purpose.
There are a variety of reasons why you might be interested in building a home theater PC (HTPC); perhaps you are intrigued by the idea of consolidating all your music, movies, and pictures into a central location. Or maybe the cable company upped their rates again and your only means of striking back is to build your own digital video recorder (DVR). Actually it's my personal opinion that most people build HTPCs just because it's fun! It is always a great feeling showing off your system to someone who's never heard of an HTPC and they can't quite figure out how you can have so much stuff available on your TV. This beginners guide is an attempt to introduce a relative new comer to the world of building your own HTPC. Hardware was chosen with a beginner in mind; a balance of cost, performance, flexibility and simplicity were considered when choosing the following components.
So I am looking at this parts list and have come to the conclusion that they are very similar, very similar indeed.
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Newspaper Gets It Right With Its "Rules For Using Social Media"
Published: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | By: DennisThere is usually always something good posted over at Techdirt. For instance here is a story about how a Toronto newspaper has established rules on how their reporters are to contact their readers which basically puts the newspaper first and social media second.
Of course not to be left behind another newspaper responded in a different manner and had this to say.
There has been a lot of news lately resulting from various news organizations posting rules governing their employees’ use of social media.
Some of you have asked what are JRC’s Employee Rules For Using Social Media. To keep it simple I have reduced them to three:Check out Techdirt for the rest of the quote and full story.
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DIY Guides: How To Install/Remove Intel Socket 1366 CPU @ PCSTATS
Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: DennisEven though X58 and the Socket 1366 is scheduled to be replaced by the faster LGA 2011 socket it is still important to know how to properly install and remove an LGA processor.
PCSTATS receives a good deal of questions from readers who don't know how to install an Intel Core i7 CPU into a fresh motherboard, or upgrade a socket 1366 processor to a faster model. We thought we'd run off a quick DIY Guide illustrating the procedure for installing a socket 1366 CPU for the benefit of our readers. If you are planning on building a Intel based computer anytime soon, bookmark this PCSTATS DIY Guide now.
Maybe it is our readership but I rarely get simple questions like this, instead I get questions related to related to video card performance or what motherboard is best for my sisters best friends cousin, (she must be a hottie).
Looking back I wouldn't have it any other way.
On a related note be sure to check out our guide on installing a socket 1366 CPU and suggested way to apply thermal paste.
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Funky Kit Review: Patriot Viper Xtreme DDR3-1600 Tri-Channel 6Gb Kit @ FunkyKit
Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: DennisI know I don't have much room to talk but when I see news come in from this site all I can think of is that song by Too $hort "short and funky"
The new Viper Xtreme modules from Patriot aren't that bad. Heck we reviewed a set of Division 2 Viper Xtreme modules not too long ago and enjoyed the performance.We've just published a review on the Patriot Viper Xtreme DDR3-1600 Tri-Channel 6Gb Kit. These modules are XMP ready, rated to run at DDR3-1600 speeds (PC3-12800) with memory timings of 8-9-8-24. They come with some great looking heatspreaders that feature a copper core to provide improved cooling.
" ... I'm pretty happy with this set of ram. Not only is it quite capable of running at it's advertised clock speed and timings (this isn't a given, I've bought ram kits that would not!), it stays nice and cool thanks to the Viper Xtreme heatspreaders and has some overclocking room as well."The only downside to the modules is the heavy heatspreader for DDR3 modules that really don't get "hot"
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Xigmatek Loki SD963 Heatsink Review @ FrostyTech
Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: DennisOne of the things that plagues the modern heatpipe tower is making sure cool air is directed over the proper parts of the heatsink for maximum cooling. It would seem this Xigmatek cooler has taken the guess work out and simply walled up the sides.
On the test bench today is Xigmatek's mid-compact Loki SD963 heatsink. The Xigmatek Loki SD963 stands 134mm tall, weighs 430 grams, comes equipped with a 92mm fan mounted on rubber vibration absorbing fan posts and will support a second 92mm fan if desired (not included). Over the next few pages Frostytech will tell you if the Xigmatek Loki SD963 heatsink is worth its weight in aluminum, or junk for the recycling bin. Let's begin.
It would seem the life of a heatsink comes down to how fast it can be recycled.
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NL: Review Block - Cases and Cards Edition for Monday
Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: DennisCases - Enthusiast and Other
- TechwareLabs Review: Thermaltake Level 10 GT Computer Case
- SilverStone Fortress FT03 @ techPowerUp
- Antec Lanboy Air Case @ Rbmods
- NZXT H2 Silent Classic Review - XSReviews
- Silverstone Raven RV03 Enthusiast Tower @ Pro-Clockers
- Cooler Master CM Storm Enforcer Case Review @ ThinkComputers
- Thermaltake's Level 10 GT enclosure @ TR
Video Cards - Can you say "high end?", I knew you could
- MSI GeForce GTX 580 Lightning Review @ Hardware Canucks
- Gigabyte GeForce GTX 580 SO review @ Guru3D
- Gigabyte GeForce GTX 580 Super Overclock graphics card review @ HEXUSJust a quick review block to start the week.
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AMD SLI is Back!!
Published: Thursday, April 28, 2011 | By: DennisBack in the early days you could SLI on AMD systems but shortly after their acquisition of ATI that option was pulled. Well, according to nVidia because of our demands the option is once again available on select AMD chipsets!!
So today, we are pleased to announce that SLI has been licensed to the world’s leading motherboard companies for integration onto their upcoming motherboards featuring AMD’s 990FX, 990X and 970 chipsets. ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock, and MSI are among the first motherboard manufacturers to offer this new capability, with more coming on board shortly.
This is GREAT news, now all we need is another great AMD platform to support the power of nVidia SLI.
