Tech News

• Funky Kit Review: Patriot Viper Xtreme DDR3-1600 Tri-Channel 6Gb Kit @ FunkyKit

  Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: Dennis

  I 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"

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• Xigmatek Loki SD963 Heatsink Review @ FrostyTech

  Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: Dennis

  One 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. 

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• NL: Review Block - Cases and Cards Edition for Monday

  Published: Monday, May 2, 2011 | By: Dennis

  Cases - 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 @ HEXUS

  Just a quick review block to start the week.

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• AMD SLI is Back!!

  Published: Thursday, April 28, 2011 | By: Dennis

  Back 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.

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• Slackware 13.37 released

  Published: Thursday, April 28, 2011 | By: Dennis

  I may not always use linux, but when I do, I choose Slackware.

  Stay smart my friends

      Yes, it's that time again!  After many months of development and
  careful testing, we are proud to announce the release of Slackware
  version 13.37!
  
      We are sure you'll enjoy the many improvements.  We've done our best
  to bring the latest technology to Slackware while still maintaining the
  stability and security that you have come to expect.  Slackware is well
  known for its simplicity and the fact that we try to bring software to
  you in the condition that the authors intended.
  
      Slackware 13.37 brings many updates and enhancements, among which
  you'll find two of the most advanced desktop environments available
  today: Xfce 4.6.2, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and
  easy to use desktop environment, and KDE 4.5.5, a recent stable release
  of the 4.5.x series of the award-winning KDE desktop environment. 

  Patrick always does a good job with Slackware, and while it might not be as easy to use as some of the newer distros you can't ignore that you have more control over what the OS does when using Slackware.

  Support the author, buy the disks, buy the shirts, and drop a dime or two into the donation plate.  Lets make version 13.37 the most popular ever!!

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• NL: Review Block - Video Cards and Motherboards

  Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | By: Dennis

  Video Cards
  - Sapphire Radeon HD 6570 512MB Video Card Review @ ThinkComputers
  - ASUS GTX 570 and GTX 580 DirecCU II @ PureOverclock
  - GIGABYTE Radeon HD 6990 @ Bjorn3D
  - Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 and Radeon HD 6570 Graphics Cards Review @ HardwareHeaven

  Motherboards
  - GIGABYTE G1.Assassin G1-Killer LGA1366 Motherboard Review @ Hardware Canucks
  - iXBT Labs Review: ASRock E350M1 Motherboard

  Please don't forget to check out our latest motherboard review of the Asus P8P67 Evo for the Intel Sandy Bridge line of Core processors.

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• Cooler Master Storm Spawn @ LanOC Reviews

  Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | By: Dennis

  This is a great mouse but sometimes great mice don't fit everyones gaming style.

  Gaming mice are quickly approaching the point in which a unique look is in itself a cliché. Visual appeal was once a new, exciting feature that attracted the attention of the demanding gaming crowd. It has become so standard today that sometimes functionality is sacrificed for a novelty design. The Spawn was on display for us this year at CES, a unique device that did, indeed, catch our eye. Does it fall victim to vanity, or prove its value in one of the harshest gaming genres?

  We did review the Spawn mouse not to long ago, be sure to check it out and stop by the gallery for higher resolution images.

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• Arctic Freezer 13 Pro Cpu Cooler@ Rbmods

  Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | By: Dennis

  Ok so this looks like a monster of a heatsink, and if you can get past the "buy this at newegg" affiliate links it is a good (and short) read.

  Today we will test a CPU cooler designed to bring a massive heat dissipation capacity of 300W. ARCTIC’s Freezer series is undoubtedly a reference mark in the world of CPU coolers.
  
  Arctic’s Freezer 13 Pro is the younger brother of the original Freezer 13 and the Freezer 7 before it.  As far as I can tell, the Freezer 13 Pro is bigger and utilizes a few promising technologies which should bring superior performance together with a whisper-quiet operation.
  
  Let’s find out if these promising features would give us what is guaranteed on the paper.
  

  Can't even tell you if the cooler is any good, but given the 4 heatpipe configuration and large radiator I highly doubt it can dissipate 300w.

  btw in case you were wondering, 300w is about what a Core i7 920 puts out at 5Ghz and is also what my single stage phase cooler is rated at.

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• Creating Bootable Linux Thumb Drives with Universal USB Installer @ Techgage

  Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | By: Dennis

  Will the uses for flash drives ever end?  Here is a handy guide explaining how to create a bootable flash drive to install Linux from.

  A great thing for Linux is that its popularity is rapidly growing, and thanks to the countless number of "Live CDs" out there, anyone can download and burn an image to allow them to test drive a distro with no risk to their PC. But, what about those who either don't have blank CDs lying around, or don't have an optical drive installed in their PC?

  I have heard of PendriveLinux before but never really took them serious, until now.

  Full ArticleVisit Website

• Acer to launch notebook with ultra-thin LG Shuriken panel

  Published: Monday, April 25, 2011 | By: Dennis

  Couldn't resist posting this. 

  Taiwan-based notebook brand Acer is set to launch a 14.1-inch notebook featuring LG Display's ultra-thin Shuriken panel as soon as May 2011 and the model will be manufactured by Compal Electronics, according to sources from upstream panel makers.
  
  Although the notebook will feature a 14.1-inch panel, the body of the machine will only have a size of a 13.3-inch model, benefiting mainly from the panel's technologies, which significantly shrink the panel frame's width from 1.2cm to 8mm and reduce the thickness of the device to only 4mm, the sources noted.

  Based on the description I really want to see it.  Maybe they will have it on display at Computex.

  Full ArticleVisit Website