Misc. SFF Reviews

Subject: Systems | August 26, 2004 - 12:31 PM | Alexander Munos
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We have the SFF reviews rollin' in! Enjoy.

NewEgg Announces Weekly Sweepstakes

Subject: General Tech | August 26, 2004 - 08:34 AM | Ryan Shrout
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Newegg.com today announced the launch of its Weekly Online Sweepstakes promotion. This web-based initiative offers Newegg.com visitors a weekly opportunity to win prizes ranging from Canon's latest 6MP Digital Camera to powerful Compaq/ Hewlett Packard Notebooks.

"The sweepstakes program is a fun, yet strategic endeavor crafted to supply rewarding incentives to Newegg.com visitors" says Stuart Wallock, Newegg.com Director of Marketing.

CPU's, VGA's and HDD's all aircooled & More

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 25, 2004 - 11:48 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Happy hump day all.  You should be able to find something in these reviews to cool off even the most stubborn component, perhaps even quietly.

"When one focuses upon cooling their computer system, more often than not the main focus is the CPU. With recent graphics cards getting warmer due to higher clock and memory speeds, stock cooling just isn't satisfactory any more.

PC Case's On Diets, & More

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 23, 2004 - 12:03 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Bigger isn't always better when it comes to your PC's case.  Many HTPC's are set up for mini-ITX, like in todays review.  Some, like the LaScala, further down, will fit almost any ATX board.  Why don't you take a look, maybe your next PC can live in your IKEA Home Entertainment Centre ... just make sure the PC case isn't from there!

"Since VIA launched their mini ITX platform they have developed somewhat of a cult following.

UT2004 + 61" = Eat Your Heart Out Baby!

Subject: Displays | August 22, 2004 - 03:04 PM | Chris Wiles
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No it's not a 'typo', it really does say Sixty One inches! Samsung have done it again, further blurring the line between Monitor and TV, with their latest Projection Television. So, get out your wallet (you'll need it!), get settled in that comfy armchair and experience your favourite games like never before.

AMD Strains Silicon in New Microprocessors

Subject: Processors | August 21, 2004 - 03:44 AM | Jason Smith
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AMD reportedly is making some slight changes to their chips that may help them out with heat dissipation.  Read more at X-bitlabs

Advanced Micro Devices is reportedly adopting strained silicon for an array of its processors that will be available this Fall. The design tweak is likely to improve the company's ability to ship high-speed microprocessors while maintaining sufficient yield as well as keeping heat dissipation of the products into generally-acceptable envelope.

Hardware Zone Reviews the MSI MEGA 180 Deluxe

Subject: Systems | August 21, 2004 - 12:08 AM | Alexander Munos
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The guys at Hardware Zone recently took a look at MSI's MEGA 180 Deluxe, and apparently liked what they saw (snagged the Most Innovative Product Award). Overall, I would say a pretty slick looking SFF system. Head over and check it out!

MSI's Entertainment and Gaming Appliance (MEGA) model 180 is based on the NVIDIA nForce2 IGP solution for AMD Athlon XP CPUs.

Peltier + Waterblock = 1 Cool Chip & More

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 20, 2004 - 11:26 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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If you are looking to do overclocking in the summer, chances are you've already started to use watercooling for your system.  Well, if it's not quite going fast enough yet, consider this actively cooled waterblock from Swiftech that SystemCooling has reviewed.  Then if you can mod it to work on people, please send one out to me, cause I have a really nasty sunburn.  Have a good friday!

"Swiftech is one of the few manufacturers that offer actively cooled waterblocks for extreme cooling.

Home Theatre PC Project (Part 1)

Subject: Systems | August 20, 2004 - 01:14 AM | Alexander Munos
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MODTHEBOX has put together part 1 of building your own HTPC. These systems have gained popularity over the past several years. Coming in smaller, more powerful sizes, a home theatre PC can really spice up that entertainment center.

The SFF (Small Form Factor) market has been revitalized with a surge of all-inclusive mini PC systems marketed by companies such as ACorp, AMS, Biostar, Hush Technologies, MSI, Shuttle, Soltek, and VIA.

AMD Responds To Students' Back-To-School PC Technology Needs

Subject: Processors | August 18, 2004 - 04:58 PM | Joe White
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SUNNYVALE, CALIF. -- August 18, 2004 --Security and advanced multi-media capabilities have evolved into the two most critical technology features students seek in new PCs this back-to-school season, according to Current Analysis, a consumer electronics research firm. AMD (NYSE: AMD) meets the needs of these often tech-savvy users with the award-winning AMD Athlon™ 64 processor family for desktops and notebooks.

'Many students today are performance-hungry users, taking games and multi-media applications to the next level.

Silent VGA Cooling & More

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 18, 2004 - 03:39 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Since PCI-Xpress is being used to bring back old school Scan Line Interleave, you all may end up with 2 videocards in your box.  OCIA looks at a silent VGA cooler from Zalman that might save your ears, and let you hear the bad guys that you can't see onscreen.

"Does silent cooling tickle your fancy? I do believe it does if you're reading this review. Zalman has long since lead the way in silent cooling and now they are back with version 3 of their noiseless VGA cooler.

AMD Set To 'Go For The Gold'

Subject: Processors | August 17, 2004 - 05:05 PM | Joe White
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SUNNYVALE, CALIF. -- August 17, 2004 --AMD (NYSE: AMD) today introduced the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor 3700+ for desktop-replacement notebooks, extending the award-winning AMD64 processor family to new heights with the highest performing 32-bit/64-bit processor available for mobile PCs.

AMD Athlon 64 processor 3700+ for desktop-replacement notebooks is the most advanced PC processor designed for notebook computing, offering outstanding 32-bit power today plus compatibility with tomorrow's 64-bit software.

AMD Ships 90 Nanometer AMD64 Products For Revenue

Subject: Processors | August 17, 2004 - 06:00 AM | Joe White
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SUNNYVALE, CA -- August 17, 2004 --AMD (NYSE: AMD) announced today that it is achieving a smooth transition to 90 nanometer (nm) manufacturing and has shipped low-power 90nm Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 processors for thin and light notebooks (previously codenamed 'Oakville') for revenue.

New clothes for your PC & More

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 16, 2004 - 11:48 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Here are a few cases, ranging from a HTPC box from Silverstone, to Yeou Chih's classically designed server box.  First have a look at Antec's Aria case, and see if it might just be a new look you want for your PC.   Just look, don't spill your coffee on it!

"The optical drive bay is stealthed and it uses a system that we have seen with the AOpen and Soltek cubes where an external button on the case itself presses against the CDROM eject button.

AMD Rev E Dual Core CPUs Info

Subject: Processors | August 15, 2004 - 01:25 PM | Jason Smith
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Well how did I miss this?  I suppose they are going to fire me, but here it is, two days late, an early look at some of the first steps into dual core land.  Read on, at Virtual Zone.

 AMD is going to release the 90nm AMD64 processors soon for mobile, desktop and servers and these are based on Revision D cores. According to some docs we have seen, there is another major silicon revision change on the AMD64 processors taking place next year with Revision E.

LGA775 ABIT AA8 DuraMAX @ HEXUS.net

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 13, 2004 - 04:15 PM | Ryan Shrout
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Time to put up some more Intel reviews for inquiring minds.

First Abit Fatal1ty Motherboard Shots

Subject: Motherboards | August 13, 2004 - 02:01 PM | Ryan Shrout
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After doing some snooping around the Abit booth here at Quakecon, I came across a motherboard that I definitely didn't recognize.  What I had was the first prototype of the Abit Fatal1ty motherboard.

(Click to Enlarge)

The quick and dirty basics I got on the board were that it was a 925X-based Intel 775-pin platform (obviously) with some added twea

Liquid cooled PC's have no sharp blades & More

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 13, 2004 - 11:59 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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I got a few review links saved up for you all today.  Start off with ProCooling.com's JayDee116 showing off his newest DIY waterblock which beats his previous one by a nice margin.  Zalman, Poseidon and Asetek are all represeted, along with various others, including Part 2 of Watercooling for Everyone.