Is it live, or is it Linux? PVR build guide

Subject: Systems | March 29, 2006 - 06:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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In the third part of their Mini-ITX/HTPC series, XYZ talks about how to set up a Linux PVR.  If you wouldn't pay the premium to have a normal PC setup for you, why do the same with a personal video recorder?

"For the past few months I have been spending a lot of time using my Mini-ITX computer.

Intel Launches New Ruggedized PC Platform For India

Subject: Systems | March 29, 2006 - 12:56 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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NEW DELHI, March 29, 2006 — Intel Corporation today officially launched an innovative PC platform that has been developed exclusively to meet the needs of rural villages and communities in India.

A PSU built for extreme gamers

Subject: Systems | March 28, 2006 - 03:13 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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The XG Duro 900W Power Supply comes with 4 +12V rails, perfect for trying to get a pair of dual core graphics cards up and running as fast as they can go.  3dGameMan provides their usual comprehensive review, and proves that this is a well thought out PSU, and not just another pretty phase.

'The XG Duro 900W Power Supply with Quad +12V rails is obviously going to turn heads.

Corsair HTPC system build guide

Subject: Systems | March 28, 2006 - 11:27 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Following up on their guide to build the ultimate gaming machine, Corsair has posted a system build guide for HTPCs.  Follwoing the easy instructions and detailed photos, you will end up with a very stylish and quiet component.

"Dive into the details of building a home theater PC.  From component selection, system build, software installation, to watching and recording TV - we have every step covered in great details!

Dude, this one isn't a DELL

Subject: Systems | March 27, 2006 - 01:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Just in the nick of time [H]ard|OCP purchased and tested an AlienWare Aurora 550.  They managed to miss buying a DELL by a matter of days, although the recent sale may give them a reason to buy another AlienWare machine in the future, and test them head to head.

"We purchased the Aurora 5500, the baseline AMD-based gaming computer from Alienware. Among the

mid-range of Alienware's offerings, the Aurora 5500 is marketed towards gamers but it could also

be a good family computer.

A spring breeze goes well with the smell of new components

Subject: Systems | March 20, 2006 - 06:13 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Springtime, when the flowers bloom, the skies clear and the grass wants to be cut ...

Silverstone's extends their quality to PSUs

Subject: Systems | March 16, 2006 - 06:40 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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3DXtreme likes Silverstone's new PSU, the Zeus ST56ZF 560W.  Silverstone claims this PSU is built around an industrial core, which seems to refer to the rock solid voltage delivered by this unit.  If you aren't building a silent machine, and are looking for a high efficiency, low fluctuation PSU, this might be one to consider.

"Today 3DXtreme is taking a look at the Zeus 560 Watt Power Supply.

Best of the budget PSU's

Subject: Systems | March 14, 2006 - 06:15 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Looking for a good, stable PSU, but you can't spend $200 or more to get it?  Get to TECHGAGE, where they have rounded up 3 of Ultra products value PSUs, and see how well they can perform under load.

"All too often we read reviews of power supplies that are not cheap. Some good power supplies can

run between $100 and $150, if not higher!

MAINGEAR Quad SLI Beast

Subject: Systems | March 13, 2006 - 11:42 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Union, NJ - March 9, 2006 — MAINGEAR, renowned manufacturer of award winning, record breaking, top performing gaming PCs, unveils the fastest, most powerful gaming PC in the world. The BEAST SLI is the ultimate in gaming hardware and now with NVIDIA QUAD SLI, gaming will never be the same.

SLI for your SFF

Subject: Systems | March 7, 2006 - 03:14 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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AnandTech has a head to head review of 2 tiny SLI systems.  The Monarch Hornet Pro SLI Revenge Micro-ATX and Shuttle's SN26P SFF, both fully capable of running 2 high end cards in SLI, so they fit a lot of power into a very small space.

"The twist comes in the inclusion of a system that isn't a Small Form Factor design in the

strictest sense of the word.

Powering Quad-SLI the easy way

Subject: Systems | March 7, 2006 - 11:58 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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3dGameMan has snuck a peak at Hiper's newest upcoming PSU, a Quad-SLI ready 730W PSU.  Now you can stop worring about running 2 PSU's in tandem, just to support your video cards, as long as the PSU becomes available about the same time the Quad-SLI motherboards do!

"HPU-4x730 series is the flagship HIPER PSU for 1st half of 2006, it is enclosed with our PATENTED

MESH & Industry's fist Stainless Steel PSU Body.

Choose your system

Subject: Systems | March 2, 2006 - 04:18 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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The following 4 system reviews cover almost every possible base in system design.  Start off loking at OCIA's dream system setup, and picture yourself eating Spam for a while, until you manage to pay off the bills.  Or go for a more mainstream system, a budget system, or a very quiet one, your choice.

"Carrying over from the mainstream guide is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+. This chip is clocked from

the factory at 2.0 GHz (10 x 200) but is capable of MUCH more.

King of the PSU Hill

Subject: Systems | March 2, 2006 - 01:32 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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All the usual suspects were rounded up by X-bit labs, and recieved electric shocks until they cried uncle.  Drop by and see which power supply survived with the best marks.

"We are going to introduce to you 9 power supply units in our detailed roundup today. We will

discuss in great detail the solutions from Enermax, FSP Group, MGE, SilverStone, SinTek, Zalman

and Foxconn. These models are all very powerful ones with over 400W capacity that are available in

retail stores.

Cute and quiet PC's for the living room

Subject: Systems | February 28, 2006 - 07:00 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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HTPC's are becoming quite common, not only the purpose built cases, but even micro-ATX boards built with the quiet HTPC in mind.  Silent PC Review has posted a huge review of the Zalman TNN-300 Fanless PC Enclosure, that is more of a giant, stylish heatsink than a normal case.  The included PSU keeps with the same style ethic, and provides enough power without producing excess heat or noise.

"It's raining TNNs at SPCR!?

Pure power from ThermalTake

Subject: Systems | February 24, 2006 - 06:43 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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While the ThermalTake ToughPower 550W may not be the most powerful PSU out on the market right now, that is not it's purpose.  The idea behind this PSU is to provide stable power, with the least variation on the lines possible.  Read the review at Bjorn3D to see how well it does it's job.

"Today, I'm looking at Thermaltake's yet to be available ToughPower 550W power supply. You might

ask what's the big deal? Let's say you already have a PurePower / PowerStation ~500W model.

It's a budget box, not a gaming box

Subject: Systems | February 21, 2006 - 06:26 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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TechSpot has put together a budget PC guide, that ends in 2 final configurations.  They are both complete systems, up to and including the OS, the bottom rung is about $600 and the recommended is ~ $1000.  Keep in mind, these will not satisfy gamers, but are perfect for a relative or aquaintence that finds their "web surfing email machine-thingy" slow, and wants a new one. 

"Build your budget box right.

Not a striped PSU, it's a silent PSU

Subject: Systems | February 21, 2006 - 04:30 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Pro-Clockers takes a look at a silent PSU from AeroCool, the Zerodba 620W PSU.  The first time you glance at the title, it may come across as Zebra, but this really is a silent PSU with enough power to handle any dual-VGA setup. 

"This one is for all those that like a PC quiet. Whether you are an owner of a HTPC or a high end

gaming powerhouse, our next product up for review may be what you need.

New hardware leaderboard, the dream system gets even better

Subject: Systems | February 16, 2006 - 06:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Check it out!

'Starting at the top, the biggest difference we see is a move from an nForce4-based SLI system to an ATI Xpress 200 CrossFire-based system sporting the new X1900 XTX GPU and the X1900 CrossFire cards.  While this did increase the price of the graphics on the system, the fact was that even IF the NVIDIA 7800 GTX 512s had been in stock, they just aren't as fast as ATI's R580 core.  Plus...they weren't in stock.  :)'