Hardware Roundup: NVIDIA 780a SLI Edition

Category: Motherboards
Posted: May 7, 2008 04:38AM
Author: Dale Shuck

When manufacturers' release product for review they are often held under non-disclosure agreements until a given release date. Once those NDAs expire the flurry of reviews makes for some interesting reading. Such is the case with the NVIDIA 780a SLI chipset. AMD has finally fixed the TLB erratum that affected early versions of it Phenom processors and have release quad-core versions of its 9x50 series of processors along with tri-core versions as well. Along with these processors came its 790FX platform and now NVIDIA is getting into the game with its own chipset offering SLI support for the AM2/AM2+ lineup.

ASUS M3N-HT 780a SLi @ OCC
ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe @ PC Persprective
Nvidia's nForce 780a SLI chipset @ Tech Report
NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI Motherboard Round-Up, Asus, MSI @ HotHardware
780a launch: Asus M3N-HT Deluxe @ Neoseeker
NVIDIA nForce 7 AMD Series - ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe Motherboard @ Legit Reviews

First Look at Two Asus P45 Motherboards

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 25, 2008 11:47AM
Author: Chris Benjamin

With Intel's P45-based chipsets due to hit the streets in just over a month, we're destined to come across a number of "leaked" and/or manufacturer approved releases in the very near future.  That in mind, we've got some of the first pics and specs on two upcoming boards from Asus, the mid-range P5Q-E, and the entry-level P5Q Pro.  Both boards will offer native support for 45nm CPU's at FSB speeds ranging from 800 to 1600 MHz, and in an interesting twist, both will eschew the P45 preferred DDR3 memory standard in favor of continued support for cheaper DDR2 RAM.  The mid-range P5Q-E will also sport Asus' energy saving EPU technology, and ExpressGate - a mini-Linux operating system that will allow users to surf the web, check e-mail, and use instant messaging clients without loading a Windows OS.

Asus Launches P5E3 Premium Wi-Fi@n Motherboard

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 24, 2008 11:37PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

Asus has long been known as a global leader in top-tier motherboards, and has also garnered critical acclaim and realized tremendous success from recent forays into the personal tech market - but now we're going to talk about a worthy addition to Asus' motherboard stable.  The Asus P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP@n motherboard was clearly designed from the ground up to provide incredible performance and flexibility to the PC enthusiast - with out of the box support for Intel's next-gen 45nm CPU's, DDR3 memory at speeds up to DDR3-2000, and PCI-E 2.0 compliant expansion slots capable of Crossfire multi-GPU graphics configurations.  Beyond those impressive features, the P5E3 Premium Wi-Fi@n sports multi-phase power regulation for the CPU, RAM, and Northbridge, Asus' "Stack Cool" motherboard cooling system - featuring all-copper heat pipes that cover the Northbridge, Southbridge, and voltage regulation circuits - and, as its name implies, this motherboard can act as a whole-house IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi distribution hub.  Oh yeah, it's a solid overclocker, too - as proven by its ability to easily take an Intel Q6600 to a stable 3.76 GHz on lower than normal voltage.  To be honest, I could list all of the truly incredible specifics of the Asus P5E3 Premium Wi-Fi@n until I was blue in the face - but I think a better solution for all involved would be to take a look at OCC's review of this feature-rich motherboard.

Specs and Pics of Limited Edition Gigabyte P45 Extreme Motherboard

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 22, 2008 04:45PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

Attention, extreme overclockers - your dream motherboard may have arrived, in the form of the Limited Edition Gigabyte P45 Extreme.  It's very apparent that this ultra-enthusiast motherboard is meant for those trying to break records, sporting a LN₂ tube for extreme CPU cooling, and chipset barbs that make liquid-loop integration a snap.  Gigabyte didn't stop the cooling innovation there though, as the most obvious - and impressive - temperature control device is the massive convection-based cooling solution, which extends from the CPU to the PWM, over to the rear I/O, through the Northbridge and finally exiting out the back of the case via a massive copper structure that resembles a video card more than a cooler.  Other points of interest include the 12-phase PWM, three PCI-E x16 slots, upgraded Dynamic Energy Saver (DES) technology, and a Gigabyte-first external CMOS clear button.  You should definitely check out the pictures of this incredible looking Gigabyte motherboard in today's edition of the OCC Hardware Round-up.

Does AMD Have a Secret Overclocking Weapon?

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 21, 2008 04:12PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

By now, it's probably safe to assume that most PC enthusiasts have heard about CPU maker AMD's shortcomings in every imaginable category, and the 10% "across the board" employee layoff plan, right?  Well, there's finally some good news coming out of the AMD camp that's sure to pique the interest of enthusiasts and overclockers, and it comes in the form of the SB750 Southbridge chip.  While the details on the exact workings of the SB750 are a closely guarded secret, the chip is said to be the "oomph" behind AMD's OverDrive 3.0 overclocking utility.  During a recent demo, it was noted that considerable effort was needed to overclock an AMD CPU to 3.0 GHz, but when the SB750's OverDrive utility was enabled, that same chip had absolutely no problem hitting 3.2 GHz.  I know I'm not the only OCC member happy to see AMD taking steps in the right direction, and I truly hope this is the first of many...

Overclocked Nvidia 790i Causing Data Corruption?

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 18, 2008 12:12PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

Nvidia has been riding high on its incredibly successful 780i chipset motherboards, and 8- and 9-series graphics cards - but there may be trouble in paradise.  Nvidia's new 790i chipset, which offers native support for DDR3 memory and Intel's 45nm quad-core CPU's, can apparently corrupt system data on overclocked PC's using certain high-performance DDR3 memory modules.  While it is unknown how many 790i motherboards are affected, Nvidia engineers are already hard at work crafting a BIOS-based fix to an embarrassing malfunction on its flagship platform.

Details and Pics of Gigabyte P45 Motherboard

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 14, 2008 01:32PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

While Intel's Eaglelake P45 chipset isn't due to launch until June, details and pictures of Gigabyte's EP45 DS3P motherboard have surfaced on the Internet.  Interestingly, while the DS3 tag typically denotes the lower end of Gigabyte's lineup, this board features higher end parts like solid capacitors, Dynamic Energy Saver technology, and the ICH10 South Bridge.  Also included are eight back-panel USB ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and three PCI-E 16x slots.  You can click here for detailed photos of Gigabyte's new P45 motherboard.

abit Unveils AMD 780a Motherboard

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 9, 2008 02:54PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

Resurgent motherboard maker abit has announced what should be a great addition to its AMD platform lineup - the Micro-ATX, 780a based A-S78H.  This little powerhouse sports a DirectX 10 capable ATI Radeon HD3200 integrated display adapter, and supports Hybrid CrossfireX with the addition of a discreet video card.  Sticking with the display capability theme, the A-S78H takes advantage of ATI's Unified Video Decoder, which uses the integrated GPU to decode H.264, VC-1, and MPEG-2 signals - thus reducing strain on the computer's processor and lowering overall power consumption.  Plus, the A-S78H features HDMI and DVI ports for easy connection to HD ready displays, and a PCI-E 2.0 slot to take advantage of the newest generation of video cards.  Supporting all AM2 and AM2+ CPU's, up to 8GB of dual-channel DDR2 RAM, and six internal SATA II ports, abit's A-S78H motherboard should satisfy the needs of even the most discerning LAN party gamers, HTPC builders, and PC DIY-ers.

Asus Unleashes Crosshair II Formula

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 5, 2008 10:47AM
Author: Chris Benjamin

First-tier motherboard and personal tech maker Asus has announced an update to its nForce 590 socket AM2 Crosshair mainboard - the Crosshair II Formula.  This new board is based on Nvidia's 780a SLI chipset, and supports all AM2 and AM2+ CPU's - including the Phenom quad-core.  The nForce 780a chipset provides users the ability to run two video cards in SLI, and if even more graphics processing power is needed, the Crosshair II Formula is capable of the three GPU Tri-SLI configuration.  Or, if you have a solid single-card video solution but need just a little more power for demanding games - ahem, Crysis - you can activate Nvidia's new Hybrid SLI technology, which uses the Crosshair II Formula's integrated GPU in concert with a discrete graphics card.  The Crosshair II Formula also features CPU Level Up - an automatic overclocking utility, three PCI-E 2.0 slots, HyperTransport 3.0 technology, and the SupremeFX II high-definition audio module.

Intel To Release DirectX 10 Driver

Category: Motherboards
Posted: April 1, 2008 04:30PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

Around the end of April 2008, Intel is expected to release a DirectX 10 driver for a number of its chipsets.  Look for the driver to be named "version 15.9", and to be compatible with the G35 PC desktop chipset, and the GM965 and GL960 notebook chipsets.  Also, the upcoming G45 and GM45 IGP chipsets will support DirectX 10 via the new driver.  Intel's G35 desktop chipset was originally set to support DirectX 10 natively, but driver issues caused Intel to release the product with DirectX 9 support instead.

Intel Delays P45 Launch

Category: Motherboards
Posted: March 28, 2008 12:57PM
Author: Chris Benjamin

Intel was set to launch their new P45 chipset motherboards in May, but a hardware conflict has pushed back that launch until mid-June.  It seems as though there are compatibility problems between the P45's PCI-E 16x slot and certain graphics cards.  Intel is expected to get this problem sorted out quickly, and reports indicate that the P45 launch might only be delayed by 2-4 weeks.  Intel now plans to launch the P45 chipset during Computex 2008.  There is a silver lining to this cloud, however - the delayed launch will allow motherboard makers extra time to clear out their remaining P35 stock.

Now 2GHz DDR3 memory by Corsair for the NVIDIA 790i Ultra SLI platform

Category: Motherboards, Memory, Gaming, Manufacturers, General News
Posted: March 18, 2008 02:43PM
Author: kingdingeling

At the CeBit in Hannover, Germany (see OCCs coverage here), NVIDIA launched the new 790i Ultra SLI, which was present at almost any large mainboard manufacturer's booth. Corsair took it upon themselves to create a series of gaming memory targeted at working with this chipset, including a set that break 2GHz. These models are the Dominator TW3X2G2000, Dominator TW3X2G1800 and the XMS DHX TW3X2G1600, all of which are 2 gigabyte kits. All of these modules have the new Enhanced Performance Profile 2 (EPP2) feature, as well as the DHX heatspreaders that is already on the high-end DDR2 sticks from Corsair.

Low Latency Performance Memory and Intel X48 at CeBit

Category: Motherboards, Memory, Manufacturers, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: March 7, 2008 08:32AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Patriot Memory -

CeBit 2008 is currently underway in Hannover, Germany (you can find OCC coverage HERE) and Patriot Memory is there with its recently announced DDR3 1800MHz memory modules. Designed for low-latency performance in the latest enthusiast class boards, many manufacturers such as ECS, Abit and Gigabyte are featuring this new kit in their latest Intel X4 motherboards on display at the show. Each set of the Viper series 2x1GB sticks feature support for the Intel XMP specification which is a set of SPD settings onboard each module engineered to optimize the overclocking of the memory. Be sure to check out the latest on display at CeBit and OCC's continuing coverage using the link above.

AMD 780G Chipset Launched

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards
Posted: March 4, 2008 10:06PM
Author: Dale Shuck

AMD -

In further news from CeBit 2008, AMD today announced its 780 series of integrated graphics processors designed for casual gamers and multimedia processing.  Expected to be available on motherboards from AMD's partners beginning in the second quarter of this year, the chip is an integral component of AMD's Cartwheel desktop and Puma notebook platforms.  This will enable users to attain high-def and 3D graphics capabilities at mainstream prices.  When paired with an ATI Radeon videocard, users can also make use of the new ATI Hybrid Graphics technology that pairs the onboard and discrete GPU in a Crossfire-like configuration, resulting in a boost in 3D processing performance. This setup will be supported beginning with ATI Catalyst 8.3 available on March 5.  Based on a 55nm manufacturing process, the 780G will offer greater performance while drawing less energy at idle. More information including tech specs and a launch video is available by clicking on the link above.

Abit Launches I-G31 Multimedia Platform

Category: Motherboards, Manufacturers
Posted: February 28, 2008 07:56AM
Author: Ben Grantham

abit -

Having a dedicated home theatre PC makes a lot of sense, and there is a pretty good range of products out there to help you build one. Abit today launched the I-G31 motherboard with that goal in mind. It looks to be aimed at the more budget minded consumer, coming with Intel's G31 chipset, which supports CPUs with an FSB up to 1333MHz and allows the use of 45nm chips. On-board video is handled by the Intel GMA 3100 graphics processor, a Dx9 part with shader model 2.0, OpenGL 1.4 and Clear Video Technology. The board gives you video out with a standard D-Sub connector (no DVI or HDMI here) and 5.1 audio output via a HD codec. Other features include Dual DDR2 slots, 4 x SATA 3 ports, Gigabit LAN and abit EQ for montoring your hardware. The whole thing comes wrapped up in the mATX form factor and should be available soon. No word on pricing as yet.

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Memory, Power Supplies, Mobile, Monitors, Prebuilts, Storage / Hard Drives
Posted: February 18, 2008 06:29AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Monday rolls around again and we have quite a few reviews in tour roundup this morning.  For the video card section Fudzilla dissects the PowerColor HD 3850 1GB complete with a factory overclock and a ZEROTherm after market cooler.  Also from the ATI camp Techgage reviews the ASUS EAH3870 X2 1GB.   Moving over to the NVIDIA side, there is the Leadtek WinFast PX8800 GT ZL 512Mb Video Card from Madshrimps.  This card also features a factory overclock and an after market cooler, but this one is from Zalman.  If you're curious to find out how the upcoming 9600 series of cards from NVIDIA will perform you need to check out the NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT 512MB G94 review from TweakTown.  We'll have to wait to see about NVIDIA's pricing and ability to deliver sufficient stock levels on this new card.  PC Perspective returns with its latest news with the release of Podcast #22 - Skulltrail, NVIDIA buying AGEIA, AMD merger talk and more!.  You've been treated to several articles in our roundup regarding Intel's new Skulltrail platform.  Some of Intel's partners are also scheduled to release boards based on the the dual socket LGA771 configuration and HotHardware has the Asus Z7S WS Skulltrail Motherboard Exclusive Sneak Peek for your perusal.  So where does that leave you if you want a single processor setup based on the LGA775 socket?  Check out the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Quad Core Processor at Tech ARP.  They also updated their Intel Core 2 Performance Comparison Guide to include the QX9650 numbers.  For the latest in DDR3 memory, Overclockers Online evaluates the Patriot Viper Extreme 2x1024MB PC3-15000.  Acrylic and home theater PCs are both segments of the specialty  case market.  Combine the two and you get the Sunbeam Acrylic HTPC Case and Overclocker Cafe checks it out.  RBMods has a look at the Ultra X2 Extreme Edition 750W Power Supply.  HotHardware also treats us to a look at a prebuilt performance system in their Maingear Ephex 3-Way SLI Gaming System review.  ThinkComputers offers up a look at a pair of notebooks today with its Lenovo ThinkPad T61p 14.1-inch & 15.4-inch Laptops.  With terabyte hard drives seeming to rule the roost in terms of size the sweet spot in terms of cost per gigabyte is in the 500GB-750GB models and ExtremeMHz has the Seagate 750GB SATA II Hard Drive up for review.  With drive prices falling and storage requirements increasing perhaps its time to invest in a nice RAID array.  The HighPoint RocketRAID 3120 at Bjorn3D is one way to achieve that goal without breaking the bank.  PCSTATS has a look at the Samsung Syncmaster 275T 27-inch LCD Display, a sweet-looking display offering good ergonomic features and HDCP support.

Hardware Roundup: Friday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Cases, Memory, Operating Systems, Digital Photography/Video, Storage / Hard Drives, Mouse Pad
Posted: February 15, 2008 06:10AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Looking around the web today revealed several video card card articles.  We begin with a look at the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 from motherboards.org (also reviewed by OCC HERE).  ATI is certainly back in the game with their new 3800 series of cards, but how does it stack up against the green team?  Bjorn3D  has a look at the factory-overclocked Gigabyte 8800GT TurboForce which features a Zalman after-market cooler.  If you're in the hunt for a new video card, how do you decide which one to get amongst all the ones out there.  Take a moment to read the Sweet 16 Mid-range Graphics Cards Compared article at The Tech Report for more insight.  The 790FX is AMD's latest chipset designed to support their Phenom line of processors.  By now you're most likely aware of the issues the current processors are having with the TLB and the microcode fix available.  Viper Lair evaluates the MSI K9A2 Platinum AMD 790FX Motherboard and has a look at performance and the impact the fix has by toggling the fix on and off.  While AMD is still using DDR2 memory, Intel-based boards are moving towards the faster, yet still pricier, DDR3 format.  The Aeneon Xtune DDR3-1333 2GB Memory Kit from ThinkComputers is one such offering (see the OCC review HERE).  PC Perspective takes the Ultra m998 Mid-Tower ATX Case out for a spin and comes away liking what they saw (OCC review).  For something on the fun side, you can read about the Cyberlink YouCam at OCModShop.  Vitual-Hideout likes the Razer Destructor Gaming Surface (also reviewed by OCC HERE).  Tech ARP has just published its Hard Drive Performance Comparison Guide.  Finally, OCModShop shows us how to Solve File Copy Problems: Tweak Vista's Auto-tuning Network.

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Cases, Power Supplies, Gaming, Storage / Hard Drives, CPU Cooling
Posted: February 14, 2008 06:53AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our Valentine's Day roundup kicks off with a look at the Thermaltake Armor + Case from RBMods.  The Foxconn G33M-S Micro-ATX Motherboard  would easily get swallowed up by a case that huge, but Virtual-Hideout finds it a great mATX board in the $100 price range.  FrostyTech evaluates Scythe Zipang SCZP-1000 Ultra Low Noise Heatsink which is as near as you can get to a true silent active cooling option thanks to its 138mm fan.  Next up are a pair of articles on AMD/ATI video cards.  3dGameMan has a review of the HIS HD 3450 & 3650 Video Cards.  Combining different cards in SLI/Crossfire can be a dicey proposition.  Today Legit Reviews tries just that in their article on ATI Radeon HD 3870 + 3850 CrossFire - Mixing Video Cards.  For power supplies, we have two top end units both offering single +12V rails.  Leading off is the SilverStone Decathlon DA800 800W Modular Power Supply at ThinkComputers.  Next, TweakTown looks at the Corsair TX750W 750watt Power Supply.  For truly portable storage, legit Reviews has a look at the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 8GB USB Flash Drive.  ASUS is truly a recognized name in the computer world, but it might not be the first name you associate with notebook computers.  That may well change after you check out the ASUS U6S Ultraportable Notebook at HotHardware.  Techgage has the TRENDnet TEW-631BRP Wireless N Router up for review and tells us what you can get in this reasonably priced Draft N router.  We close out today with the Bjorn3D review of the PS3 game title Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Software, Digital Photography/Video, CPU Cooling, VGA Cooling
Posted: February 11, 2008 06:41AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our week gets started with a lot of ground to cover.  Intel-based systems are dominating the roundup today so if that's your platform of choice we have a lot to offer.  LostCircuits leads off with an in-depth look at Intel's SkullTrail Extreme Platform.  By now you are most likely aware that Skulltrail is a dual-processor platform with Crossfire and SLI support.  You may have also noticed it will require a serious wallet to implement.  However, there are alternatives based on other Intel chipsets such as the P35 and X38 as well as the upcoming X48.  Today we have a chance to examine motherboards based on two of those platforms.  ThinkComputers reviews the ASUS Maximus Formula Intel X38 Motherboard.  If you've been wondering about the X48 and what it offers over the previous generation you can check out the MSI X48 Platinum Motherboard at RBMods.  To round out the news, Tech ARP has an article on Intel G45 & G43 Chipset Details.  Not all the news is around Intel's chipsets though.  NVIDIA has a new chipset supporting PCI-E 2.0 and the Intel 45nm CPUs, so if you're currently looking for SLI support you need to check out the EVGA 780i SLI Motherboard at motherboards.org.  A quiet, but effective, way to cool your processor is the goal of the CoolIT PURE Silent Liquid CPU Cooler reviewed at Techgage.  Thermalright is well-known among enthusiasts for it extreme air-cooling products.  When you combine that name with a name like Inferno Fire eXtinguisher you end up with the Thermalright IFX-14 CPU Cooler and this one is truly a monster with room for up to three 140mm fans.   Madshrimps gives us the chance to see what this behemoth can do.  For those looking for a more traditional air cooling solution you can check out the TweakTown review of the Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU Cooler.  Your CPU is not the only item in your machine needing cooling.  Virtual-Hideout takes a look at the Thermaltake DuOrb VGA Cooler to see how well it performs.  Today's roundup also features more opportunities to check out the latest video cards from AMD/ATI as Fudzilla has their article HD3870 and HD3850 mix tested in Crossfire and Bjorn3D evaluates the PowerColor HD 3650 512M GDDR3 Xtreme PCS.  Just how well do those cards perform?  Every review has some sort of reference to a set of results from one or more benchmarks.  [H]ardocp challenges that approach in its Benchmarking the Benchmarks article.  We've had the opportunity to look at several software packages from Uniblue here at OCC and today Tweak News has another in that lineup with the UniBlue Process Scanner Software.  Last, but not least, there is the OnAir Solution GT Mobile HDTV Tuner at Overclockers Online.

Hardware Roundup: Wednesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Music / Video Players, Speakers/Headphones, CPU Cooling, VGA Cooling
Posted: February 6, 2008 06:25AM
Author: Dale Shuck

The mid-week edition of the roundup brings more information on Intel's Skulltrail platform.  As we saw in the reviews earlier, the Skulltrail platform has a lot to offer including the first support for SLI cards on an Intel platform.  Legit Reviews dives further into the details with their Intel SkullTrail Preview - Dual Core 2 Extreme QX9775 Processors.  More details can be found in the Intel SkullTrail Platform from motherboards.org where they state the QX9775 processor is simply a LGA771 version of the QX9770 processor (reviewed HERE by OCC).  Neoseeker posted the Phenom 9600 Black Edition Review & TLB Fix Investigation and reveals the microcode fix for the TLB erratum has some pretty astounding effects on performance.  While we're discussing CPUs take a look at the Zalman CNPS8700 LED Low Noise Heatsink from FrostyTech for a capable low-noise cooling solution.  HotHardware is back with more workstation-class GPUs with their FireGL V5600 vs. QuadroFX 1700 vs. FireGL V3600.  In the gaming GPU department, there is the ASUS EN8800GTS TOP at Bjorn3D.  We also have the  BFGTech 8800 GTS 512MB OC2 WC Edition at [H]ardocp.  Not only is the card factory overclocked, it also includes a pre-installed Danger Den water block.  If water cooling is not in your budget then check out the Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme 8800 Video Card Cooler reviewed by Madshrimps.  Enthusiasts looking for an Intel-based board with PCI-E 2.0 and support for the 1600 MHz FSB need to check out the Asus Maximus Extreme Intel X38 Express Motherboard at PCSTATS.  Touch screens seem to be the rage a la the iPod Touch and the iPhone and the Super Talent VIDEGO28 Touch Screen Digital Media Player at ExtremeMHz is another entry with that feature.  Rounding out our selection today, ThinkComputers looks at the Zalman ZM-RS6F USB Surround Sound Headphones.

Foxconn Blackops Motherboard

Category: Motherboards
Posted: February 4, 2008 09:17PM
Author: Dale Shuck

Foxconn -

Foxconn continues to push hard in the enthusiasts/overclocking market.  Hard on the heels of the record setting 6GHz run set by Pete Tan at Foxconn comes OC Team Switzerland who have been gifted with one of Foxconn's new Blackops motherboards.  These board are not generally available yet, but the Swiss team will attempt some records of their own at the time2wonder 2008 event later this month.  The Blackops motherboard is the latest Quantum Force creation and will based on a new enthusiast chipset from Intel.  The board has some intriguing features such as 8-phase digital PWM and a unique 4-in-1 cooling solution.  This feature allows for passive, active air, water and extreme cooling and even includes a tower for LN2 or dry ice cooling for those insane overclocking runs.  The board will also feature the Quantum BIOS which has even more options than Foxconn's previous Gladiator BIOS found on the MARS line of boards.

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Power Supplies, Digital Photography/Video, Storage / Hard Drives, CPU Cooling, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: February 4, 2008 06:16AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our Monday roundup kicks off with a chance to ponder the question How much is enough?  Or conversely, How much is too much?  When you're dealing  with computer enthusiasts, trying to get too philosophical this early in the week may be a futile exercise.  However, we're going to give you that opportunity as we bring you several reviews and articles about Intel's new Skulltrail platform.  Skulltrail is Intel's new enthusiast platform destined to redefine 'high-end'.  First off is the Intel D5400XS motherboard supporting two quad-core processors by way of dual LGA771 sockets.  Designed initially for the QX9775 processors it will also be the first Intel-based board to also support Nvidia SLI.  The platform will also support AMD Crossfire.  All of this via four PCI-e graphics slots.  But there are some caveats involved.  For the rest of the story you can check out one of the following: Intel Skulltrail Unleashed: Core 2 Extreme QX9775 x 2 at HotHardware and Intel Skulltrail Enthusiast Platform at Techgage.  PC Perspective also offers up two articles with Intel Skulltrail and Multi-GPU Graphics: Mixed Results and Intel Skulltrail Platform Review - Eight Cores, SLI and CrossFire.  If that wasn't enough to get your blood pumping then Madshrimps has a compendium of water cooling products in their 6 High End CPU Water Blocks Tested and Compared.  For more AMD/ATI graphics card news HotHardware has the Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB TOP Sneak Peek while TweakTown reviews the factory-overclocked HIS Radeon HD 3850 IceQ 3 TurboX.  In the case department 3dGameMan has a video review of the Silverstone CW03 HTPC Case.  This sweet looking case sports a 7-inch LCD touch screen monitor as well an an all-aluminum body.  For a look at a mid-tower case, check out the Cooler Master 690 at Overclockers Online.  Another Intel X38 motherboard makes the rounds today with a preview of the Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6 at motheboards.org.  Madshrimps makes a second appearance in today's roundup with a look at 3 MSI Webcam Models Compared.  When you hear the name Zalman the first thing you think of is cooling.  PC Apex reviews the Zalman ZM850-HP Power Supply and shows us just how they incorporated that cooling experience into a PSU (think dual heatpipes).  If you need more storage but don't have enough available SATA ports, you owe it to yourself to check out TweakTown and their review of the HighPoint RocketRAID 2300 PCI-E SATA (you can also read OCC's review HERE).  Next we have another look at the AutumnWave OnAir GT (USB HDTV Tuner) from Bjorn3D (also reviewed by OCC HERE).  RBMods has the Corsair Flash Voyager 32GB USB Flash Drive recently announced at CES.  That gives us a perfect segue for Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2008 - Part 2 from Virtual-Hideout.  Finally, Tech ARP has a couple of updates with Intel Core 2 Processor Performance Comparison Guide and Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide.

Hardware Roundup: Friday Edition

Category: Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Operating Systems, Mobile, Input Devices, Storage / Hard Drives, General News, CPU Cooling, VGA Cooling
Posted: February 1, 2008 07:20AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our Friday roundup seems to have picked up a bit after yesterday's lull with a good mix of items.  Tech ARP starts off with a bit of news telling us Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Out Next Week, at least for OEMs.  PC Perspective has some additional news in their podcast as they look at AMD Q4 results, NVIDIA ESA, VIA Isaiah x86 CPU, AMD 3870 X2 and more.  The AMD Spider platform is designed for its line of Phenom processors.  Today we get a chance to examine the MSI K9A2 Platinum AMD 790FX Motherboard from HotHardware.  For Intel fans we have two more boards from MSI based on the P35 chipset.  First in the queue is a TweakTown review of the MSI P35 Diamond Motherboard.  This board supports DDR3 memory and offers onboard X-Fi sound.  Buying a new board based on the P35 chipset means choosing between DDR2 and DDR3 memory formats.  The are trade offs involved with going with either format.  Viper Lair reviews the MSI P35 Platinum Combo board that offers you the option of using either memory type.  What could be easier?  Then there's the choice of which processor to buy.  TechSpot has a look at Intel Core 2 Duo 45nm Wolfdale vs. 65nm Conroe to see what the new 45nm technology has to offer.  Back over at TweakTown we get a look at the ASUS Triton 75 CPU Cooler that uses a passive design but also allows you to attach a 120mm fan.  Also in the cooling arena, Techgage pits two aftermarket VGA coolers against each other in their GeForce 8800 GTS/GTX Cooler Comparison.  Next off you get to compare two other products with the Razer Pro|Click Mac Gaming Mouse at Virtual-Hideout and the Steelseries Ikari Optical Gaming Mouse at Tweaknews.  Computer builders are always looking for the perfect place to house their rigs.  With so many choices it's always a tough decision and motherboards.org has a look at the Ultra Products M998 Case.  Your iPhone deserves a case of its own as well. The Otterbox for iPhone Defender Series at ThinkComputers is a good way to protect your investment.  Bjorn3D has a review of the Thermaltake Muse X-Duo Raid external storage unit.  Finally PCSTATS has another installment in their ongoing series with the Beginners Guides: Setting up an FTP Server in WindowsXP.

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Cases, Mobile, Gadgets, CPU Cooling
Posted: January 31, 2008 05:57AM
Author: Dale Shuck

It appears as if things are slowing down a little as we near the end of the week.  With all of the devices requiring a USB connection these days you may find yourself looking for another port to plug into. OCModshop features the Rosewill RHUB-310 7-port USB 2.0 Hub that offers up a solution in a small package.  Tech ARP has posted overviews of two entrants in the mobile category.  The first is the HTC Touch Cruise Mobile Phone along with a quick look at the HTC Shift Mobile Computer.  Asus is certainly well known for its enthusiast boards.  Today PCSTATS reviews the Asus BLITZ Extreme Intel P35 Express DDR3 Motherboard (you can check out OCC's own review here).  For a look at an Intel X38 based motherboard, head on over to motherboards.org and check out the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP@n.  All processors need a good cooling solution and 3dGamMan has a video review of the Scythe NINJA Copper CPU Cooler.  Your CPU is not the only thing that requires cooling.  Today's high-end video cards need it in spades.  The problem is many stock cooling solution for video cards end up being very loud and may not be the best option.  TweakTown examines the ECS GeForce 8800GT Accelero S1 512MB that features Arctic Cooling's passive VGA cooler.  If you've been looking to build that killer home theater setup, you owe it to yourself to check out the Origen S21T Motorized 12.1 inch Touch Screen HTPC Enclosure at Madshrimps.  ThinkComputers has the Booq Mamba Sling Laptop Bag for you to look at.

Hardware Roundup: Wednesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cooling, Power Supplies, Software, Digital Photography/Video
Posted: January 30, 2008 06:25AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our roundup du jour features several power supplies for us to look at today.  We'll lead off with the Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W at Overclockers Online.  Moving down the power scale we have two similar units, the Antec NeoPower 650 and NeoPower 650 Blue PSU, reviewed by [H]ardocp.  At the lower end of the power spectrum we have TweakTown's review of the Seasonic M12II 500watt Power Supply.  FrostyTech brings us another installment in their chipset cooler series with a look at the Zalman ZM-NB47J Passive Northbridge Heatsink.  Intel's P35 chipset was released several months ago and today we have two motherboards based on that platform.  PCSTATS brings us the Asus BLITZ Formula Intel P35 Express DDR2 Motherboard and we also have the Gigabyte 6Quad GA-P35-DQ6 from motherboards.org.  VIA's Glenn Henry Speaks On New Low Power Isaiah Processor and HotHardware has the interview.  New processors always generate a lot of buzz among enthusiasts and Intel's new 45nm CPUs are no exception.  Techgage gives us an opportunity to look at one today in their Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz - Wolfdale Arrives review.  Also in the queue today is another double feature as ThinkComputers has the AutumnWave OnAir HDTV-GT USB ATSC/NTSC Tuner/Receiver followed by OnAir USB HDTV-GT at ViperLair (you can always check out OCC's own look at that unit HERE).  Next up Bjorn3D gets to play doctor with PC-Doctor, Inc. Always on Call.  For more PC remedies check out the Uniblue SpyEraser Spyware Removal Software at Tweaknews.  Tech ARP is back with another update to their Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide.

Hardware Roundup: Tuesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Cases, Operating Systems, Gaming, Music / Video Players, Storage / Hard Drives, VGA Cooling
Posted: January 29, 2008 05:51AM
Author: Dale Shuck

The flurry of reviews of the ATI HD 3870 X2 from yesterday has subsided somewhat but we have a couple more installments.  First up is an entry that arrived after our last roundup was posted from Legit Reviews and their look at the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 Video Card.  So what is the best setup - two HD 3870s in Crossfire mode or a single HD 3870 X2?  TweakTown takes a look at HD 3870 in Crossfire vs. HD 3870 X2 to help you decide.  Next up we have two cases from the same manufacturer.  LAN Addict opens up the Sunbeamtech Freezing Storm ATX Case for us to examine.  The other offering is the Sunbeam Tuniq 3 Case from 3dGameMan.  High-end graphics cards require extreme cooling, especially for those of us who overclock their cards.  That often means turning to an after-market cooler.  NVNews reviews the Inno3D GeForce 8800 GT i-ChiLL that comes from the factory equipped with an Artic Cooling Accelero X1 cooler.  Neoseeker has a look at the MSI K9A2 Platinum 790FX Motherboard, an AM2+ board based on the AMD 790FX Northbridge/SB600 Southbridge chipset.  For Intel fans, Techgage brings us the Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L, offering us a chance to examine a budget board based on the P31 chipset.  The Galaxy Tvisto Pro Digital Media Enclosure is a big name for a little product.  ThinkComputers finds this device comes up short where it counts.  PCSTATS has Beginners Guide: 99 Windows Vista Performance Tips and Tweaks.  We also have another guide, this time for gamers with Oblivion: Shivering Isles Walkthrough at OCModShop.

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Memory, Cooling, Power Supplies, Mobile, Monitors
Posted: January 28, 2008 07:04AM
Author: Dale Shuck

With the start of the new week our tour around the web leaves us with a lot of ground to cover.  From time to time we find ourselves in a position where a new product launch generates a lot of interest from various sites simultaneously and that's the situation we have today with AMD's recent launch of the HD 3870 X2 dual GPU video card.  If you read OCC's own ATI HD 3870 X2 Review then you already have a good idea what this card is all about - dual RV670 graphics processing units on a single-card in a dual-slot configuration offering Crossfire capability.  This configuration has obvious benefits in that it takes less space with reduced heat output and eliminates the need for the Crossfire bridge that a dual-card setup requires.  You can find additional coverage of the new card from: PC Perspective - Asus AMD Radeon HD 3870 X2 - AMD R680 Dual GPU Arrives, HotHardware - R680 Has Landed: ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 Tested , TweakTown - GECUBE Radeon HD 3870 X2 Graphics Card, Overclocker Cafe - HIS Radeon HD3870 X2, Bjorn3D - AMD HD3870X2 and [H]ardocp - ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 Dual GPU Video Card.  Our video card coverage next jumps over to the NVIDIA camp with the Sparkle 8800GTS 512MB Review: G92 Madness Continues from Madshrimps.  Viper Lair has a look at the factory-overclocked  MSI NX8600GT Twin Turbo.  If that wasn't enough for your daily dose of hardware, we have a double feature lined up for you with two Intel X38 chipset boards starting with PCSTATS' Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 Intel X38 Express Motherboard and the GIGABYTE X38T-DQ6 Motherboard from TweakTown.  FrostyTech has another chipset cooler review with their Zalman ZM-NBF47 Northbridge Chipset Heatsink.  Every cooling solution starts with a good thermal interface material so check out the Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound at RBMods.  Those new video cards are going to require a decent power supply and Bjorn3D gives us an opportunity to check out the Ultra X2 750W Extreme Titanium.  DDR2 memory is still a viable option for many.  Virual-Hideout reviews the OCZ 4GB Reaper X HPC PC2-6400 Memory which utilizes OCZ's HPC cooling.  For a complete home theater setup we have the Samsung HT-X250 home theatre system in a box from AcceleNation.  For those wanting to be one of only 10,000 lucky souls to own a unique case, check out the Thermaltake SwordM Full Tower Case brought to us by ThinkComputers.  While you're there, don't forget to check out their review of the Samsung SyncMaster 2232GW 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor.  In the mobile department we find the Samsung SGH-D880 Dual SIM Mobile Phone at Tech ARP and a review of the Palm Treo 750 from Techgage.  Tech ARP has provided an update to their Intel Core 2 Performance Comparison Guide.  Wrapping up, OCModShop examines the question Are Women Ignored as Technology Consumers?

Foxconn Expands Intel Motherboard Offerings

Category: Motherboards
Posted: January 27, 2008 10:36PM
Author: Dale Shuck

Foxconn -

Foxconn recently added two new additions to its motherboard lineup.  The M7PMX and M7VMX family of mATX boards are designed to support Intel's latest 1333Mhz FSB processors which means they can be used with the 45nm Core2 Quad and Core2 Duo CPUs.  Based on NVIDIA's 630i and 610i multi-chip packages, the new boards feature integrated GeForce 7100 or GeForce 7050 GPUs supporting DirectX 9.0 and Shader Model 3.0 output.  To give each board an extra performance boost, Foxconn has boosted the supported memory speeds from 800MHz to 1066MHz on the M7PMX and from 667Mhz to 800MHz on the M7VMX.  Both boards include NVIDIA's nView Multi-Display Technology software allowing you to easily set up multiple monitors.  In addition, the M7PMX family boasts an HDMI connector with HDCP for displaying Blu-ray and HD-DVD formated content.  Rounding out the feature set is a single PCI-E x16 slot, a PCI-E x1 slot and 2 PCI expansion slots.  Both boards also include high-definition audio and a single LAN connection with speeds up to 1000Mb/s depending on model.  Although these boards are targeted for everyday computing use, Foxconn has also included its proprietary FoxOne control center for overclocking and system monitoring from within Windows.  The M7PMX and M7VMX motherboards are expected to be available later this month but pricing details were not mentioned.

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Cooling, Gaming, Music / Video Players, Input Devices, Monitors, Gadgets, VGA Cooling
Posted: January 24, 2008 06:16AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Many hardware manufacturers are beginning to tout their products as supporting the ESA standard and are even prominently display the ESA logo.  Just what is ESA?  PC Perspective explains it all in their NVIDIA ESA: Enthusiast System Architecture article.  AMD/ATI has been getting some of the limelight with their HD 3850/3870 video cards.  TweakTown shares the MSI Radeon HD 3870 X2 OC Graphics Card with us and you need to pay attention to the "X2" in the name because this is the new dual GPU version!  Sharing the spotlight is the fact that AMD also just released two other cards as well and Legit Reviews looks at the ATI Radeon HD 3450 and Radeon HD 3650 Video Cards.  For NVIDIA fans there is always the Inno3D 8800 GT iChill at Overclocker Cafe which sports a factory overclock and an Arctic Cooling Accelero X1 cooler.  There's another new video technology making its way onto the market these days and you can head over to Techgage to read about DisplayLink - Multi-Display Setups with USB.  Crysis is a game known for bringing many a system to  its knees.  What does it take to play this game at the highest resolutions?  HotHarware has the Crysis v1.1 NVIDIA 3-Way SLI Performance Update.  What good is a new video card without a large monitor to show off all that eye candy?  That's where the Samsung SyncMaster 275T TFT LCD comes in and LAN Addict gives us a chance to check it out.  Madshrimps just posted their Foxconn P35AP-S Motherboard Revisited: New BIOS.  FrostyTech looks at the Xigmatek MAC-S3501 DDR/DDR2 Memory Heatspreaders and questions just how necessary is an active memory cooling solution.  The Lian Li PC-P80 Case garners some pretty strong superlatives in the video review from 3dGameMan.  Low power CPUs are more often found in mobile devices, not in enthusiasts' machines so find out what [H]ardocp has to say about VIA's New Centaur Designed Isaiah CPU Architecture.  TechReport has a quick look at SanDisk's Sansa Clip MP3 player for those of you looking for a small music player whose name doesn't begin with an 'i'.  When gaming, if your hands sweat like a kid on his first date then the Logitech ChillStream Actively Cooled Gamepad at Tweak News might be the answer for you.  Don't forget to check out the Geeks 7" Digital Picture Frame over at Monster-Hardware before you go.

Hardware Roundup: Tuesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Memory, Cooling, Power Supplies, Manufacturers, Gaming, Storage / Hard Drives, CPU Cooling, Hard Drive Cooling, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: January 22, 2008 06:31AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Searching the web this morning turned up quite a few offerings for you to peruse.  We start off with two articles looking at the state of affairs at AMD.  The company announced their financial result for the latest quarter last week and PC Perspective provides a look in their AMD's 4th Quarter Analyzed .  Looking forward, Tech ARP wonders if there is More Trouble For AMD In 2008?.  While we're talking about AMD, Legit Reviews brings us the Diamond Radeon HD 3850 512MB Ruby Edition Video Card and reveals how this card differs from the original ATI reference design.  The large majority of motherboard reviews focus on the desktop and gaming crowd.  Today we get a chance to look at the Asus P5K64 WS motherboard.  The 'WS' denotes it's a workstation card and RBMods walks us through the feature set and compares it to the Asus P5K3 Deluxe board.  Speaking of workstations, HotHardware gives us a unique chance to look at two graphics cards geared toward the professional graphics design crowd in their ATI FireGL V8650 vs. NVIDIA QuadroFX 5600.  The use of heatpipes in heatsinks is old news by now but a new approach is to put the heatpipes in direct contact with the CPU instead of transferring the heat through a metal block.  That's the approach two different companies are taking and Overclocker Cafe looks at two such offerings in their Kingwin RVT 12025 & RVT 12025D Cooler review.  FrostyTech has the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Exposed Heatpipe Base Heatsink.  You might be surprised at the results.  Some folks find the concept of water cooling their computer a bit intimidating and opt for a pre-built kit.  The Thermaltake BigWater 760i is one such option and Techgage reviews the installation process and compares the results from this kit to air-cooled options.  If you are thinking about making the switch from AMD to Intel, or perhaps you haven't built a system since the socket 478 days, you should check out How To Install An Intel Socket 775 Processor and Heatsink at PCSTATS.  The X48 chipset is the latest addition in the Intel lineup and the first to officially support FSB speeds of 1600MHz and TweakTown offers a look at the MSI X48 Platinum Motherboard.  If you move up to a board based on the X48 chipset, you're going to need DDR3 memory and the Super Talent Project X 2x1GB PC3-14400 at Overclockers Online may be just what you're looking for.   While you're at it, how about a new power supply?  Tweknews has the Thermaltake Toughpower Q-Fan W0163RU 650Watt Modular Power Supply up for review today.  Hard drives are often an overlooked comonent when it comes to cooling.  Most options require the use of a 5.25” bay for installation.  Is it worth it?  Check out 3DGameMan for a review of the Ultra Aluminum Hard Drive Cooler.   Portable drives a re a great way to add additional storage to your system as well as a convenient way to transport data to other locations.  But that exposes your data to theft or being misplaced.  Biometrics are one way to protect your data from prying eyes and EverythingUSB sees what the Apricorn Aegis Bio 120GB Portable Drive offers in this area.  Gamers should find the Supreme Commander Benchmarking Guide at Tech ARP an interesting read.  Finally, we have more from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2008 - Part 1 courtesy of  Virtual-Hideout.