Ced's PC

Best Bang Per Buck Gaming Processors for August 2009

2009-10-22T15:53:00.001+08:00

Choosing the right processor (CPU) proves to be a daunting task. The deciding factor is usually games, since we don’t *really* need a very powerful processor for surfing and creating/viewing documents.

Tom’s Hardware makes the task of picking the right CPU easier with their recommendations:

Top Picks:

Athlon 64 X2 5200+ [Brisbane, 65nm, 2.7GHz, AM2] (US$55)
Dual-Core Pentium E5300 [Wolfdale-2M, 45nm, 2.6GHz, LGA 775] ($70)
Athlon II X2 250 [Regor, 45nm, 2.8GHz, AM2+] ($80)
Pentium Dual-Core E6300 [Wolfdale-2M, 45nm, 2.8GHz, LGA 775] ($80)
Phenom II X2 545 [Callisto, 45nm, 3GHz, AM2+] ($90)
Phenom II X3 710 [Heka, 45nm, 2.6GHz, AM3] ($100)
Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition [Callisto, 45nm, 3.1GHz, AM3] ($100)
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition [Heka, 45nm, 2.8GHz, AM3] ($120)
Core 2 Duo E7500 [Wolfdale-3M, 45nm, 2.93GHz, LGA 775] ($120)
Phenom II X4 945 [Deneb, 45nm, 3GHz, AM3] ($170)
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition [Deneb, 45nm, 3.2GHz, AM3] ($190)
Core 2 Quad Q9400 [Yorkfield, 45nm, 2.66Ghz, LGA 775] ($190)
Core 2 Duo E8500 [Wolfdale, 45nm, 3.16GHz, LGA 775] ($190)
Core 2 Quad Q9550 [Yorkfield, 45nm, 2.83GHz, LGA 775] ($220)
Core i7 920 [Nehalem, 45nm, 2.66GHz, LGA 1366] ($280)
Core i7 975 Extreme [Nehalem, 45nm, 3.33GHz, LGA 1366] ($1000)

The budget processors picked were the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ and Dual-Core Pentium E5300, both having two cores, and a 2.7 or 2.6 GHz clock. These can be purchased for about $55 (X2 5200+) and $70 (E5300).

In the other end of the scale, is the Core i7 975 Extreme, which features 3.33GHz, LGA 1366 socket, and a ridiculously high $1000 price tag. Only for the extremely rich.

For the mid-priced processors, it would be a good idea to target the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition or Core 2 Quad Q9400. These can be had for around $190.

Whatever processor you choose, keep in mind that the chipset of the motherboard or mainboard would also play an essential role for determining the overall efficacy and performance of your new system.

Happy choosing!

[Source: Tom’s Hardware | Best Gaming CPUs For the Money: August ‘09]

Technorati Tags: processor, gaming, cpu, best bang per buck

[Game] CrimeCraft Reviewed

2009-10-12T14:40:00.001+08:00

CrimeCraft is a persistent online action game from Vogster Entertainment.

Story:

“It began with a disaster unlike any humanity had ever faced. The details of what exactly occurred remain unclear, but its results were rapid and widespread. In the aftermath of this global crisis, the world’s energy reserves were devastated. The magnitude of the predicament faced by humanity was amplified by a series of crippling natural disasters that occurred almost simultaneously with the energy collapse. Worse still, governments around the world drained resources like never before in reaction to these events, but the aid they offered came to little end. Instead of solving the crisis, this gargantuan consumption by the world’s governments exacerbated its effects, leaving millions homeless across the planet.”

IGN gave it a 5.6 out of 10 (‘Mediocre’) rating:

“There's not a lot about CrimeCraft that would encourage me to recommend it as an alternative to the wealth of cheaper alternatives in the PC catalog. Yes, it's true that most PC shooters don't have the persistent element found in CrimeCraft and, yes, even the upcoming persistent shooters like Combat Arms and Parabellum don't have MMO standards like crafting or guilds, but those additions are so irrelevant in CrimeCraft that it's hard to justify the cost of the disc, the vanity-driven micro-transactions, the in-game ads and the subscription fee. The shooter element may be fun in the short term, but it's ultimately forgettable and not nearly strong enough to make you ignore the unfulfilled potential here.” [IGN | CrimeCraft Review]

Probably a good idea to look at other Shooter or Action titles, although a good idea is to try out the game and see for yourself.

Technorati Tags: crimecraft, action, shooter, online, game

Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P: Budget AMD Socket AM3 / DDR3 Motherboard

2009-06-27T04:41:00.001+08:00

Nowadays, DDR3 memory is slowly being the de facto standard of system RAM. One of the major hindrances of building an inexpensive AMD rig with DDR3 is the price of the motherboard.

X-bit Labs took a close look at the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P (US$80) mainboard:

“According to the results of our test session, despite its modest price, this mainboard may become a good choice not only for inexpensive unpretentious platforms, but also for computer enthusiasts. It has adequate specifications meeting today’s needs, and flexible configuring options together with overall predictable behavior are just as good as those of more expensive Socket AM3 products. In other words, during our test session, we didn’t reveal any serious issues that could give anyone the reason to underestimate Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P. Especially, since it performs and overclocks just as good as Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P, for instance, that belongs to a much higher price range.” [X-bit Labs | Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P]

Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P Specs:

AMD socket AM3 processors support (Phenom II X4, Phenom II X3)
AMD 770 / AMD SB710 chipsets
4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets, up to 16GB of system memory
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot
4 x PCI Express x1 slots
2 x PCI slots
1 x IDE
6 x SATA 3Gb/s,with SATA RAID 0, 1, 0+1
8 x USB 2.0 ports at back panel
1 x Gigabit LAN
7.1 HD Audio
ATX form factor, 30.5 cm x 21.0 cm

If you are looking to build a new AMD rig with a socket AM3 processor and DDR3 memory, it’s worth looking for the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P.

Technorati Tags: amd, socket am3, ddr3, 770, chipset

ATI Radeon HD 4890 Graphics Card Reviewed

2009-06-23T01:08:00.001+08:00

The ATI Radeon HD 4890 is one of many graphics cards in AMD’s Radeon HD 4000 series. It features:

55nm fabrication process
PCI Express 2.0 x16 bus interface
256-bit GDDR5 memory interface
Microsoft® DirectX 10.1 support
Shader Model 4.1 support
800 stream processing units
OpenGL 3.0 support
ATI CrossFireX™ Multi-GPU Technology

HardwareZone reviewed the PowerColor PCS+ HD 4890 Battle Forge Edition card, and gave it a 4.5 out 5 rating:

“To sum up, the PowerColor PCS+ HD 4890 BF Edition is a very capable card. It offers decent performance and its cooler does the job. What we don't like, however, is that the cooler isn't that much less noisy than the reference model, and also the high power consumption figures (which is to be expected since it's overclocked). Even so, it is still one of the better Radeon HD 4890 cards around, and is definitely great value for money if your heart's set on a Radeon HD 4890.” [HardwareZone | PowerColor PCS+ HD 4890 Battle Forge Edition]

If you are interested in looking at what Nvidia has to offer in competition with the HD 4890, you could take a look at the GeForce GTX 275.

Technorati Tags: amd, ati, radeon, hd, 4890, directx 10.1

Shuttle XPC SX58H7 – Core i7 in a Mini PC

2009-06-19T00:41:00.001+08:00

The Shuttle XPC SX58H7 Pro Station (around US$867) aims to bring the Small Form Factor PC to the extreme gamers, demand enthusiasts, and mainstream PC users.

Features:

Intel Core i7 processor support
I.C.E Technology CPU heat-pipe
Intel X58 and ICH10R chipsets
4 x 240pin DDR3 DIMM slots, 4GB per DIMM(Max 16GB), Triple channel DDR3 1066/1333/1600(OC)MHz support
Realtek ALC888 7.1 channel High Definition Audio
2 x Realtek RTL8111C Gigabit LAN
3 x 3.0Gb/s bandwidth SATA (RAID 0,1,10,5)
2 x 3.0Gb/s bandwidth eSATA in back panel
1 x UltraDMA 133 channel master from JMicron JMB368
2 x PCI-E x16 slots
6 x USB 2.0 ports
500W power supply
Dimensions: 325(L) x 208(W) x 189(H) mm

“… you pay a premium of £200 for the privilege of building your Core i7 system in a small, compact, quiet chassis that's half the height of a regular mid-tower. That’s a high price to pay for a regular desktop PC but it’s worth considering as the end result is very smart and effective. LAN party gamers – yes, both of you – should form a queue here. … The Shuttle SX58H7 is brutally expensive but that’s a fact of life with Core i7 hardware. However, the price is offset by low noise levels, stylish design and excellent cooling.” [RegHardware | Shuttle XPC SX58H7 Core i7 mini desktop PC]

Do you want something small, yet powerful enough to go side-by-side with its bigger desktop counterparts? The Shuttle SX58H7 could just be for you! (Of course, you have to pay the price to get it.)

Technorati Tags: shuttle, sff, intel core i7, x58, barebone

GeForce GTX 295 Reviewed

2009-06-14T01:16:00.001+08:00

The GeForce GTX 295 (around US$520) is a dual-GPU graphics card from Nvidia that features:

240x2 Stream (Shader) Processors
576 MHz Core Clock
1242 MHz Shader Clock
999 Memory Clock x2
1792 MB Memory
HDCP support
Two Dual link DVI

The Guru of 3D took a close look at the Point of View GeForce GTX 295 single PCB, and gave it the Guru3D Top Pick stamp of approval:

“Much like any of our GeForce GTX 295 reviews, we can only conclude that the GTX 295 single PCB graphics card pwns. Really it's a 480 shader processor encounting raw fricking compute monster, I liked the first model when it was released, and I like this version just as well. … Either way, we liked the GTX 295 ever since it was introduced, and this revised model does not make that conclusion any different. If you want to be a total freak and go quad-SLI, you can mix and match the old GTX 295 with this new one, not a problem either.” [Guru of 3D |GeForce GTX 295 single PCB review]

Great graphics card to have, if you’ve got money to burn! Need more down-to-earth gaming graphics card suggestions? Head on to cedled’s Game!

Technorati Tags: geforce gtx 295, dual GPU, point of view

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Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Overclocking

2009-06-07T00:50:00.001+08:00

Tom’s Hardware built an Intel machine with an MSI Intel P45 motherboard and Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 processor, and then overclocked it up to 4.2 GHz.

System Setup:

3.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 processor
MSI P45D3 Neo-F motherboard
2 x 2GB DDR3-1600 Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory
300 GB Western Digital VelociRaptor SATA/300 16 MB Cache HDD
Fortron Everest 1010, 1010 W power supply unit

“Although the 4.26 GHz setting provided the most performance, the 3.9 GHz overclock turns out to be the winner of this efficiency analysis. The clock speed increase provides a nice speed bump when compared to the 3.33 GHz stock speed without bumping power consumption up to excessive levels. If you are looking to get the best performance paired with the lowest effective power consumption, the fastest possible speed without a voltage increase should be your goal.” [Tom’s Hardware | Overclocking Core 2 Duo: Power Versus Performance]

Although an Intel Core i7 and/or AMD Phenom II based system would be the ideal setup for future-proofing your build, the Intel P45 and Core 2 Duo E8600 combo is still a great one to have, especially if you are into overclocking.

Technorati Tags: intel, core 2 duo, e8600, p45, overclock

MSI Wind CS120 Nettop Reviewed

2009-04-01T05:22:00.001+08:00

The MSI Wind CS120 ($320) is an Intel Atom-based small-form-factor nettop. Nettops are great desktop computers for light computing, such as web surfing, and word processing.

Features:

Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor
Intel 945GC / Intel ICH7 chipsets
Gb LAN
DDR-2 533MHz SDRAM, SO-DIMM
802.11 b/g wireless LAN (optional)
160GB HDD, Support two SATAII devices
Slot-loading DVD Super-Multi drive
4-1n-1 card reader socket, SD/MMC/MS/XD card reader (optional)
D-Sub VGA x 1, USB 2.0 × 6, Mic-in × 1, Headphone-out) × 1
Audio x 6 (7.1 channel)
65Watt Adapter
Dimensions: 300mm(H) × 65mm(W) × 240mm(D)
MS Windows XP Home

PC Magazine gave the Wind CS120 3 out of 5 stars:

"Cheap, quiet, and power efficient, the MSI fulfills the role of Web terminal, plus it runs Windows so you can use those old programs that you must still run. Just don't expect it to keep up with your "real" desktop or laptop." [ PCMag.com | MSI Wind CS120 ]

If you need a second (or third) PC that will be used mainly for web surfing, the Wind CS120 is a great nettop to consider. Other nice options are the Asus Eee Top (with built-in display), Asus Eee Box, and Apple Mac mini.

By the way, you'd still need to purchase supporting peripherals for the Wind CS120, such as mouse, keyboard, and display.

IceRocket : msi wind cs120 nettop

Get the Latest D-Link Firmware and Documents via FTP

2009-03-31T00:46:00.001+08:00

If you have some D-Link products, such as routers or wireless adapters, you can get the latest (and even beta) firmware from this FTP:

ftp://ftp.dlink.ru/pub/

The best source for firmware would probably still be the D-Link site of your area, but sometimes these sites are not very up-to-date with regards to firmware. My current favorite wireless router is the D-Link DIR-300 (has good stock firmware features, has a replaceable antenna, and small enough to place anywhere). You can get the latest stable, old, and beta firmware versions here:

ftp://ftp.dlink.ru/pub/Router/DIR-300/Firmware/

This is a great source if you are currently having problems with your D-Link device. Sometimes, a simple firmware update could solve these problems.

IceRocket : adapter, d-link firmware document guide, router

Best Bang Per Buck Core i7 System Build

2009-02-19T16:15:00.000+08:00

ExtremeTech builds a 'Bang for the Buck' based on the Intel Core i7 processor. The result was a combination of peripherals that give you the best value for your money.

Specifications:

Antec 300 case
Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU
ASUS P6T motherboard
Intel Core i7 920 processor
6GB (2x3 DIMMS) OCZ Gold DDR3 Triple-channel 1600MHz memory
Western Digital WD1001FALS Black Ed. 1TB HDD
Lite-On DH401S BD optical drive
AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB graphics card
Creative SoundBlaster Titanium sound card
Logitech Wave keyboard
Logitech G5 mouse
Dell S2409W Widescreen 1920x1080 LCD Monitor
Creative GigaWorks T40 speakers
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit operating system

"This Bang for the Buck turned out more expensive than past efforts, but it's also more forward-looking. ... Even if you're only upgrading, we can't recommend higher each part in this system as it is, in our estimation, the best you can get for your money. Choose wisely, but consider this a guide. " [ExtremeTech | Build a Bang for the Buck PC]

The total bill for this build was US$2040. Take note that the setup is not a 'budget value system', but a best value and performance for your money build. If you prefer a different component, such as an AMD processor (and appropriate mobo of course) or Nvidia graphics card, you can just change the specs to your liking, using the above components as a guide.

IceRocket : best bang per buck pc, intel core i7

Four X58 Motherboards for Core i7 Compared

2009-02-17T23:44:00.000+08:00

ExtremeTech rounded up four motherboards based on the Intel X58/ICH10R chipset. The mainboards tested were the Asus P6T (US$260), ECS X58B-A ($250), EVGA X58 3X SLI ($300), and Gigabyte EX58-UD4P ($270).

The test setup configuration was the following:

Intel Core i7 920 processor
6GB (3x2GB) OCZ PC3-10666 DDR3 memory
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB SATA 3Gbps HDD
AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1 operating system

"Take that ASUS P6T and build your Core i7 around it. Then overclock the bejeeszus out of it. You won't regret it." [ExtremeTech | X58 Motherboard Roundup]

While the ASUS P6T was the top choice, ExtremeTech also liked the Gigabyte EX58-UD4P:

"The Gigabyte EX58-UD4P, however, is a contender. It might not have overclocked as well as the P6T, but its feature set and its company reputation for support and stability go a long way toward a secondary recommendation." [ExtremeTech]

So, if you are planning to build a new system based on the Intel Core i7, and is highly interested in doing some serious overclocking, the Asus P6T motherboard would be on top of your list.

IceRocket : asus p6t, intel core i7, x58 motherboard

AMD Socket AM3 Phenom II Processors Reviewed

2009-02-10T21:12:00.001+08:00

AMD Socket AM3 processors are now here. These are Phenom II CPUs that have support for both DDR3 and DDR2 memory.

Quad-cores:

Phenom II X4 model 810
- US$175
- 2.6GHz
- 4MB L3 Cache
Phenom II X4 model 805
- OEM only
- 2.5GHz
- 4MB L3 Cache

Triple-cores:

Phenom II X3 model 720 Black Edition
- $145
- 2.8GHz
- 6MB L3 Cache
Phenom II X3 model 710
- $125
- 2.6GHz
- 6MB L3 Cache

Common specs:

Socket AM3 (can be used with most AM2+ motherboards)
DDR2 or DDR3
2.0GHz memory controller

Guru of 3D put the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE on the test bench:

"... try to mentally place the price and performance of Phenom II X3 and X4 processors in the Core 2 Duo and Quad range. Then it all makes sense. This is where AMD is really competing with Phenom II. And in this product range they certainly are very strong. ... The one processor that for me personally shined was, interestingly enough, the Phenom II X3, the 720 BE processor. I too have that weird stigma about having three cores instead of four, as much as you do. But the results didn't lie ... the X3 720BE is a very competitive Phenom II processor clocked at 2.8 GHz with that luxurious 6MB L3 cache. For roughly 145 USD you can get this BE edition and as such it will allow you to easily overclock it towards 3500-3800 MHz on the most cheap air-cooler one can think of. Again, this particular processor will be placed on the shelves for a only 145 USD and as such this really is an awesome deal." [Guru of 3D | AMD Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE review]

AnandTech had a close look at the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720:

"When AMD launched the Phenom II X4 940 and 920 I called it a True Return to Competition. With the rest of the lineup now more fleshed out, it's truly a return to competition. At every price point that AMD targets, it has produced a CPU competitive to Intel's offerings. ... The performance benefits aren't worth it for Phenom II, so while AM3 sounds cool, it's not necessary today. Thankfully AM3 CPUs will work in AM2+ motherboards, so you aren't forced into a relationship with DDR3 if you're not ready." [AnandTech | The Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720: AMD Gets DDR3 But Doesn't Need It]

PCPerspective reviewed the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720:

"This AM3 launch will be a disappointment to some, mainly because there is not a high end part that goes with it, nor do we see a massive increase in performance per clock by going to DDR-3 memory. It is still an immature, though stable, platform. Performance will eventually get up there once the motherboard guys figure out the new memory controller and AMD provides potential micro-code updates. ... The X4 810 is a nice part which will make quite a few folks happy. It does not run really hot, it does not pull all that much power, and it certainly performs well considering the price it is at. In most tests, in comparing to previous results from the Phenom 9950, it was about 5% faster overall than its predecessor at that same speed. ... The X3 720 is probably the most interesting part that this release is seeing. The three cores, slightly lower power consumption, better overclocking performance, and the performance of 3 cores for less than the price of a competitive dual core from Intel. Triple cores still have not seen a lot of acceptance from users and OEMs alike, but this particular product might turn a few heads. In most of the single threaded applications, the X3 720 fared about as well as expected against the Core 2 part." [PCPerspective | Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Processor Review]

Tom's Hardware tested the Phenom II X4 810 and Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition:

"If you take Socket AM3 out of the picture, the new Phenom IIs mainly serve to fill in and update AMD's processor lineup with its 45 nm technology. Because they drop right into AM2/AM2+ motherboards, you could almost ignore the fact that they sport 938 pins and just be happy AMD is augmenting the mid-range and entry-level nooks in the Phenom family with chips loaded with more cache, higher clocks, and significantly improved scalability. ... What does make sense is the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition on an existing AM2/AM2+ setup, leveraging cheap DDR2 memory. Gone are the days of Core 2 Duo's dominance over the value-oriented gaming market. Now that AMD has its hat in the ring, there's a lot more to like about the oddness of three cores." [Tom's Hardware | Socket AM3: AMD's Phenom II Gets DDR3]

HardwareZone reviewed the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Black Edition:

"... the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 'Black Edition' that we tested did not give us any surprises. Their results were in line with our expectations given what we have seen of the X4 940/920. Moreover, the X3 720 looks to be quite an interesting model, using its extra core to keep up with the Intel dual-cores and at the same time, making use of its higher 2.8GHz clock and larger L3 cache to edge ahead of the X4 810 for those non multi-threaded scenarios. Though we haven't tested its overclocking potential, having one less core usually allows for a better chance of further overclocking this Black Edition X3." [HardwareZone | AMD Does DDR3 - The AM3 Phenom II]

X-bit Labs had a close look at the Phenom II X4 810:

"... the main advantage of Socket AM3 processors is their flexible memory controller that can work with both: DDR3 as well as DDR2 memory. That is why you don't have to use the newly announced mainstream Phenom II processors in Socket AM3 systems. They will work perfectly fine in the existing Socket AM2+ or even Socket AM2 infrastructure. ... As for the AMD Phenom II X4 810 processor we discussed today, it is another incarnation of AMD's strategy to be offering higher performance at a lower cost. Our tests showed that its performance is comparable to that of Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, while its price is a little lower. As a result, AMD currently has a great alternative to all least expensive quad-core Intel processors starting with the Core 2 Quad Q9400 model. In other words, AMD made a very significant step to offering a competitive lineup of processors that we have every reason to recommend as a good buying choice." [X-bit Labs | Meet Socket AM3: AMD Phenom II X4 810 CPU Review]

RegHardware reviewed the 2.6GHz X4 810 and a 2.8GHz X3 720 Black Edition:

"Our main finding is that DDR 2 and DDR 3 deliver the same performance with Phenom II, and it doesn't matter whether you use DDR 3 at 1333MHz or 1600MHz. If you're running your CPU at stock speeds then DDR 3 saves some 10W, but when you overclock the CPU the difference in power draw is negligible. ... The introduction of DDR 3 doesn't make a fundamental difference to Phenom II, but the new Socket AM3 processors deliver plenty of bangs for your buck and put AMD right back in the game." [RegHardware | AMD Phenom II Socket AM3 processor]

ExtremeTech tested the AMD Phenom II X4 Model 810 socket AM3 processor:

"From a buyer's perspective, the Phenom II model 810 is priced a little lower than Intel's Core 2 Quad Q8200. In most consumer and office applications, the two platforms essentially achieve performance parity. The exception, of course, is digital photography. If you're heavily into digital photography, you'll want to remain firmly in the Intel camp. ... The Phenom II model 810 represents a reasonable buy currently-but we expect its overall lifespan to be somewhat limited." [ExtremeTech | AMD Socket AM3 CPUs Ship--Phenom II 810 Review]

The best feature I see about these new Socket AM3 processors is that they don't necessarily need to be used with an 'official' AM3 motherboard. Most AM2+ motherboards would work just fine, although of course you'll still be using DDR2 memory (which at present DDR3 prices, is a financial advantage).

These AM3 processors are indeed good news to folks who are looking for more value for their money. Those already running an AMD system with an AM2+ mobo just upgrade to the new processors without the need to upgrade to a new chipset. If you then decide to upgrade to a DDR3 system, you can do so later on.

IceRocket : amd, ddr3, phenom ii, socket am3

DIY NAS: Intel Atom and VIA C7 Platforms Tested

2009-02-05T08:37:00.001+08:00

SmallNetBuilder built two DIY NAS systems using an MSI Wind PC and a VIA ARTiGO A2000 Barebone Storage Server. [article link]

MSI Wind PC Specs:

Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor
MSI custom w/ Intel 945GC North Bridge, ICH7 South Bridge motherboard
pqi 1 GB DDR2 533 SO-DIMM RAM
Hitachi Deskstar HDS721680PLA380, 80GB 7200RPM 3.0 Gb/s SATA 8MB HDD
Realtek 8111C (on board) Ethernet

VIA ARTiGO A2000 Specs:

VIA 1.5GHz C7-D processor
VIA custom w/ VIA VX800 Unified Digital Media IGP chipset motherboard
Transcend 1 GB DDR2 667 SO-DIMM
Hitachi Deskstar HDS721680PLA380, 80GB 7200RPM 3.0 Gb/s SATA 8MB HDD
VIA VT6130 (on board) Ethernet

Both had the same operating system: Ubuntu Server 8.10 Operating system, + mdadm + Webmin, on 2 GB USB Flash drive.

The two DIY NAS setups were compared to the following:

NETGEAR ReadyNAS Pro (Intel E2160 Dual-Core)
Thecus M3800 Stream Box (AMD LX800 Geode)
Cisco/Linksys Media Hub (Marvell 88F5182 "Orion" Soc)

(A How To guide for setting up a DIY NAS using Ubuntu Server can be found at SmallNetBuilder: Build Your Own Atom-based NAS - Part 2)

On Performance:

"I don't think I'm going to declare a clear winner here between the VIA C7 and Intel Atom. It looks that they are pretty evenly matched for performance and generally in the same class as the Geode LX800." [SmallNetBuilder]

"So if you're looking for a low-cost way to build a dual-drive NAS, you can choose a motherboard using an Intel Atom, VIA C7 or AMD Geode CPU and be pretty certain of getting better than 2X the performance you can get from any (current) off-the-shelf NAS." [SmallNetBuilder]

On Ease and Flexibility of Setup:

"... the MSI Wind PC is clearly a more cost effective way to build a two-drive NAS capable of producing write and read speeds in the 30 - 40 MB/s range than the ARTiGO A2000. As I write this, you can pick one up for around $140, while the going rate for the A2000 is $299. I think that for the extra $150 or so, I can live with having to kludge in the second drive." [SmallNetBuilder]

SmallNetBuilder's Rule of Thumb for Classifying NASes:

Marvell Orion based NASes will generally produce throughput in the mid-to-high teen MB/s
NASes using the VIA C7, Intel Atom or AMD Geode will provide read/write performance in the 30 - 40 MB/s range
When you move up to NASes based on Intel Celeron or Dual-Core or Freescale MPC854XE, you can see speeds of at least 50 MB/s and more like 70 MB/s.

If you are looking to put a NAS on your network, a cost-effective way would be to use a system with the Intel Atom, VIA C7, or AMD Geode. You could go the barebone route, such as what SmallNetworkBuilder did, or build it from scratch, letting you choose the components individually, and have the personlized look of your future DIY NAS.

IceRocket : diy nas, intel atom, via c7

Six New Solid State Drives Tested

2009-01-29T05:10:00.001+08:00

Tom's Hardware recently tested six new flash-based solid state drives (SSDs) from Chaintech, Memory Corp, Silicon Power, Soliware, and Super Talent.

SSDs Tested:

Chaintech Apogee SSD, 64 GB
Memory Corp F4 MLC SSD, 32 GB
Memory Corp F4 SLC SSD, 32 GB
Silicon Power 64 GB SLC, 64 GB
Soliware SSD S100, 64 GB
Super Talent SATA 2.5" SSD, MasterDrive OX, 64 GB

"The Soliware SSD was the only drive to show strong write performance and great I/O performance as well. The results still aren't good enough to beat the professional SSDs by Memoright, Mtron, and Intel's X25-M. However, Soliware's built-in 128 MB cache memory helped to boost write performance to a level that is only matched by Memoright and Mtron. ... In the end, none of the new drives was really impressive. They all have significant weaknesses: usually either low I/O performance, poor write throughput or inacceptable power consumption. The best consumer drive still is Intel's X25-M flash SSD, and if you're looking for maximum efficiency, you still have to go for the Samsung or OCZ's SATA II performance series. Some of the drives here may be alternatives for specific applications, but at this point we still recommend being careful with low-cost drives, as they may not live up to expectations." [Tom's Hardware | Six New SSDs: Can Intel Be Dethroned?]

From the tests made by Tom's Hardware, the Soliware SSD S100 64 GB was the best of the six. The Intel X25-M flash SSD is still 'king of the heap', and if you're looking for efficiency in an SSD, the Samsung or OCZ's SATA II performance series are the ones to look for.

IceRocket : flash, soliware, ssd

Twelve 6GB DDR3 Triple Channel RAM Kits Reviewed

2009-01-22T02:06:00.001+08:00

Triple-channel DDR3 RAM is here, and Tom's Hardware took a good look at twelve (12) 6Gb triple channel DDR3 kits from A-Data, Aeneon, Corsair, Crucial, G.Skill, Geil, Kingston, Mushkin, OCZ, Patriot Memory, Super Talent, and Wintec Industries.

Test Configuration:

Intel Core i7 920 2.66 GHz, 8.0 MB L3 Cache processor
Asus P6T Deluxe BIOS 1003 (12/05/2008) Intel X58/ICH10R Chipset, LGA-1366 motherboard
Gigabyte GV-R487-512H-B HD 4870 GPU (750 MHz), GDDR5-3600 graphics card
Western Digital WD5000AAKS, 500 GB 7,200 RPM, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16 MB cache HDD
Coolermaster RS850-EMBA (850W, ATX12V v2.2) PSU
Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 operating system

DDR3 Kits:

Super Talent 1333 WA133UX6G8 (US$150)
Patriot Viper 1600 PVT36G1600LLK ($178)
OCZ Intel Extreme 1600 OCZ3X1600LV6GK ($190)
Wintec AMPX 1600 3AHX1600C8WS6GTK ($200)
Mushkin Enhanced 1600 Model 998679 ($220)
G.Skill DDR3-1600 F3-12800CL8T-6GBHK ($230)
A-data Vitesta 1600 AD31600E002GMU3K ($300)
Aeneon Xtune 1600 AXH860UD20-16H-K-6G ($300)
Geil Value DDR3-1600 GV36GB1600C8TC ($369)
Crucial Ballistix 1600 BL3KIT25664BN1608 ($374)
Corsair Dominator 1866 TR3X6G1866C9DF ($410)
Kingston DDR3-2000 KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX ($540)

"This would be a good time to remind everyone that today's competition targets the high-end market, where speed is more important than cost and the best product wins. From that, we can easily choose the winner, since Kingston was the only brand able to deliver DDR3-2000 before our deadline and no other modules could even reach Kingston's rated speed, let alone its overclocked speed. ... [but] Because the Kingston modules we received were improperly documented, a lack of availability under the original name lead us towards second-place overclocker Crucial Ballistix. While Ballistix DDR3-1600 remains an excellent option for those who need their order to ship today, near-term availability makes Kingston HyperX DDR3-2000 CAS 8 our choice for system overclocking articles. It's also a great option for high-market buyers who want the best of everything." [Tom's Hardware | Triple-Channel DDR3: 6GB Kit Roundup]

While the Kingston DDR3-2000 KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX and Crucial Ballistix 1600 BL3KIT25664BN1608 got top honors on the round-up, Tom's Hardware also gives honorable mention to the Mushkin Enhanced 1600 Model 998679 and Patriot Viper 1600 PVT36G1600LLK.

If you are gearing up to build that Core i7 rig, the above-mentioned 6GB DDR3 Kits are the ones to look for.

IceRocket : 6gb, ddr3, triple channel

Nvidia GeForce GTX 285 Reviewed

2009-01-20T02:25:00.001+08:00

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 285 (about $400) was recently released. It is based on the GT200 Core Code, and with 55nm Manufacturing Process.

Key Features:

240 Stream Processors
80 Texture Address / 80 Filtering
32 ROPs
648MHz Core Clock
1476MHz Shader Clock
1242MHz Memory Clock
512-bit Memory Bus Width
1GB Frame Buffer
55nm Manufacturing Process
GT200 Core Code

Guru of 3D reviewed the EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC, Inno3D GeForce GTX 285 OC, and Point of View GeForce GTX 285 EXO. The eVGA was the Top Pick:

"... the GeForce GTX 280 was the fastest single GPU on the globe, the GeForce GTX 285 is now the fastest single GPU on the globe. On average it's roughly 10% faster than the reference GTX 280. So an upgrade towards the 55nm node did bring in some additional gaming performance." [Guru3D | GeForce GTX 285 review]

HotHardware tested an EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSC and a GeForce GTX 285 reference card:

"The new GeForce GTX 285's performance falls right where you'd expect it to--just slightly ahead of the GeForce GTX 280, but behind the flagship GTX 295. Throughout our testing, the reference GeForce GTX 285 performed right about on par with, or barely faster than a GTX 280. However the higher core, shader, and memory clock frequencies of the EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SSE Edition gave it a larger edge in performance over the GTX 280. Overall, the dual-GPU powered Radeon HD 4870 X2 and GeForce GTX 295 are faster and more powerful than the GTX 285 in games that scale well with multi-GPU configurations, but the GeForce GTX 285 is the fastest single-GPU powered graphics card available today, hands down." [HotHardware | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 Unveiled]

PCPerspective tested the BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX 1GB and ASUS ENGTX285 TOP 1GB cards:

"... the GeForce GTX 285 is definitely using less power than the GTX 280 card all while running at higher clock speeds and performing better in our gaming tests. The 55nm process might not have paid off as much of a dividend as we were initially hoping on the GT200 design but financially this is a move NVIDIA needed to make. You really can't ask for much more than that! ... If you already own a GTX 280 or even at GTX 260 card, I don't think the GTX 285 is going to add enough performance to warrant the upgrade price but users of the 9-series cards or even 3000-series card from AMD should definitely perk up their ears a bit with the release." [PCPerspective | 55nm GT200: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1GB Review]

HardwareZone tested the Zotac GeForce GTX 285 AMP! Edition 1GB GDDR3:

"... unlike the GeForce GTX 295, the GeForce GTX 285 is not as groundbreaking and its successes are no where near the scale of that achieved by its more powerful sibling. Sure, it does improve upon performance and efficiency, but it's not to the same extent as what the GeForce GTX 295 did. And without a Radeon HD 4850 X2 on hand, we cannot say with certainty if the GeForce GTX 285 is the best card in its price and performance segment. However, as far as single GPUs go, NVIDIA has clearly one-upped themselves here. The GeForce GTX 285 is certainly an improvement over the GTX 280." [HardwareZone | Cementing First Place - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285]

AnandTech tested the EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 in single and SLI configuration:

"In summary, despite its typical 10% performance advantage, the GeForce GTX 285 offers less price/performance than the GTX 280. The closest price competitor to the GTX 285, the Radeon HD 4870 X2, also offers better value, but at a higher price. At the same time, we have reservations about putting our weight behind the 4870 X2 with the driver issues we've experienced lately." [AnandTech | GeForce GTX 285: 55nm Enabling Higher Performance]

Do you want or need the fastest single GPU on the planet? The GTX 285 is it. If you already have a GTX 280, don't expect much of a performance upgrade. This would be good news for those targeting the GTX 280, since it would surely get more price cuts as the GTX 285 goes mainstream.

IceRocket : nvidia geforce gtx 285

AMD Phenom II X4 45nm Processors Reviewed

2009-01-15T03:59:00.000+08:00

The new AMD Phenom II X4 processors have arrived. Initially, two models are available:

AMD Phenom II X4 920 at $236 (2.8 GHz)
AMD Phenom II X4 940 at $278 (3.0 GHz)

Features:

Codename: Deneb
Socket AM2+ - 940-pin organic micro Pin Grid Array (micro-PGA)
L1 Cache (Instruction + Data): 128KB x4 (64KB + 64KB for each core)
L2 Cache: 512KB x4 (quad-core); 512x3 (triple-core)
L3 Cache: 6MB Shared L3
45-nanometer SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology
One 16-bit/16-bit link @ up to 3600MT/s full duplex; or up to 14.4GB/s
I/O Bandwidth
Integrated DDR2 memory controller-up to 17.1GB/sec dual channel memory bandwidth PC2 8500 (DDR2-1066) ; PC2 6400 (DDR2-800); PC2 5300 (DDR2-667); PC2 4200 (DDR2-533); PC2 3200 (DDR2-400) DDR2 unbuffered

Guru3D was pleased with the Phenom II X4 processors, and gave them its 'Great Value' stamp of approval:

"AMD is back on track for sure. Now before we really dig into the conclusion, let's get one thing out of the way first. Make no mistake, AMD is still a step behind Intel. Intel recently introduced Core i7 and we've shown it throughout this review, among that processor series is the Core i7 920 processor, priced close to today's tested Phenom II X4 940. And again; make no mistake, the Intel Core i7 920 processor on average is simply faster. Especially in most desktop applications, hyper-threading kicks in hard for Core i7. It's however also a much more expensive upgrade." [Guru3D | AMD Phenom II X4 920 and 940]

Tom's Hardware gave it its seldom-granted Recommended Buy award:

"Compared to AMD's first quad-core processor, the Phenom, its Phenom II successor offers great improvements, particularly in the area of energy consumption. With all due respect to Intel and the performance milestones it has achieved, the Phenom II offers a better energy consumption profile than either the Core i7 or Core 2 Quad platforms. ... In the overall competition, where the first line of attack appears in the price segment between $250 and $400, the AMD Phenom II processors place smack in between the already fading Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, and the new Core i7 920 CPUs. Above all, a complete Core i7 system costs more than a Phenom II because that Intel configuration requires a high-end motherboard and triple-channel DDR3 memory." [Tom's Hardware | AMD Phenom II X4]

HotHardware gave the Phenom II X4 940 its Recommended stamp of approval:

"The new Phenom II X4 920 and 940 are easily the most powerful desktop processors released from AMD to date. They performed well throughout our entire battery of benchmark tests, besting AMD's previous flagship CPU, the Phenom X4 9950 virtually across the board. Unfortunately, the new Phenom II X4 920 and 940 could quite keep pace with Intel's Penryn-based Core 2 Quads or Nehalem-based Core i7s. The Phenom II X4 managed to pull ahead of the Q9400, Q9650, and i7 920 on a few instances, but overall Intel's platform was still faster. The gap has closed quite a bit, however." [HotHardware | AMD Phenom II X4 940]

AnandTech picks the Phenom II X4 940 over the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400:

"Compared to the Core 2 Quad Q9400, the Phenom II X4 940 is clearly the better pick. While it's not faster across the board, more often than not the 940 is equal to or faster than the Q9400. If Intel can drop the price of the Core 2 Quad Q9550 to the same price as the Phenom II X4 940 then the recommendation goes back to Intel. The Q9550 is generally faster than the 940, more overclockable at lower voltages, and a high enough default clock speed to keep you happy in the long run. ... If you have a Socket-AM2+ motherboard with BIOS support for Phenom II there's no question - Phenom II is the best upgrade path for you. If you are trying to build a new system from scratch, I'd suggest waiting for either the Socket-AM3 CPUs or see what Intel does with its pricing later this month." [AnandTech | AMD Phenom II X4 940 & 920]

HardwareZone sees that the Phenom II can compete with the lesser Core i7 models:

"Once AMD frames the argument as a platform comparison, the Phenom II as part of the Dragon platform actually looks quite competitive with Intel's lesser Core i7 models. While the top Phenom II X4 940 is expected to retail for US$275, making it comparable in price to the Core i7-920, the cost of the motherboard and DDR3 memory pushes the Core i7 setup much higher. The Phenom II X4 920 meanwhile is at US$235. So you can either save some money for less performance or if you're willing to fork out a similar amount, upgrade the graphics, hard drive and even memory on the AMD setup to arrive at a similar or better performance level." [HardwareZone | AMD Phenom II]

X-bit Labs believes the new Phenom II X4 processors only bests the previous generation Phenom X4:

"However, all the changes in the AMD quad-core processor lineup seem significant enough only when compared against the previous generation Phenom X4, and not against their competitors. It took AMD way too long to switch to 45nm manufacturing technology and launch their Phenom II X4. They missed the window of opportunity and the launch of Phenom II X4 doesn't have the desired effect on the market. The new Phenom II X4 doesn't look too impressive against the background of contemporary Core 2 Quad and especially Core i7 CPUs. The results of our tests show that the top Phenom II X4 processors can only be worthy rivals to the Core 2 Quad CPUs from the "junior" Q8000 series. Unfortunately, Phenom II X4 cannot yet do better than that." [X-bit Labs | Phenom II X4]

ExtremeTech finds the Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition with a good price/performance ratio:

"Still, at its price, Phenom II is a reasonable alternative to Intel in most segments. We would generally avoid it for photo or video work, but for general productivity and gaming, it's a pretty cost effective answer to Intel. ... The bottom line is that AMD has finally caught up with Intel's last generation-sort of. So if you're looking to build a system that offers good price/performance and a relatively low entry cost, the AMD's Phenom II makes a fine choice. But if you want maximum performance, you'll want Core i7." [ExtremeTech | AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition]

PC Perspective sees the Phenom II to appeal to budget enthusiasts:

"Enthusiasts who lean towards AMD will have another toy to play with, and one they should have a good time hanging out with. The price is certainly right, and the base performance competes well with similarly priced Intel parts. We also have a good selection of motherboards that should appeal to the budget enthusiast, as well as higher end products that offer features comparable to high end Intel based boards for significantly less money. ... For the first 45 nm product out of the gates, AMD has at least executed on time and in a fairly efficient manner. I have not heard any rumors of major issues with the new design (eg. No TLB type errata), and the initial products are coming out at an aggressive clockspeed and thermal envelope." [PC Perspective | AMD Phenom II X4 940]

Comments on Overclocking:

"Value for money, that's what you need to remember, and the Dragon combo CPU/Mobo/GPU without doubt offers that. Also, and I just have to mention this, a pleasant surprise was the level of overclocking. If you make sure you have a decent cooler (we used the OCZ Vendetta 2 btw), it should be fairly easy to reach 3.7 - 3.8 GHz clock frequencies. Likely with decent water-cooling we'd end up at 4.0 GHz. So there's definitely some overclocking headroom as well. And most definitely more headroom to work with compared to the previous generation products." [Guru3D]

"With all of the information AMD has already revealed regarding the Phenom II's overclockability, we were eager to see what our particular chip could do. We didn't use any exotic cooling for our overclocking experiments, opting instead to see just how far the chip would go with a stock AMD PIB air cooler installed. With only a minor bump in voltage to 1.575v, we were able to take our particular CPU to almost 3.8GHz using the stock air cooler alone. That speed was achieved with an 18.5x multiplier and a 202MHz base clock; the components were installed in a basic mid-tower. The AMD Overdrive utility shown in the screenshot above did not report clock speeds correctly, but assuming thermal readings were correct (we don't think they were), the chip ran at about 50'C while overclocked." [HotHardware]

"The clocking situation improved greatly with our 940 once VCore rose to a final 1.52V. We actually hit 4GHz but needed 1.58V to do it. This resulted in a few crashes due to temperatures, but we also noticed our particular CPU sample just was not stable at 4GHz+ even with additional voltages and cooling. The results for the two Intel processors are simply superb in this particular test with the 9950BE managing a respectable 30% improvement in clock speeds, matching that of the Phemom II percentage wise." [AnandTech]

"With the expected greater overclocking headroom of the new Phenom II, one could find more enthusiasts jumping onto this platform. Taking the new chip by itself, despite its improvements over the original Phenom, it's not going to threaten the Core i7 directly performance-wise. Its greatest achievement is its reduced power consumption, especially when idle. Going to 45nm has been significant, not only in pushing up the clock speeds but also in lowering heat/power consumption. As we have seen, these excellent numbers have come from AMD's 125W Phenom II models. The upcoming 95W AM3 versions could feature more impressive power draw figures." [HardwareZone]

"So, new Phenom II X4 processors do have very good frequency potential: the top model overclocked by 26% with air cooling only. So, the new AMD processor seems to be quite fit for overclocking experiments. However, we would like to make sure that potential Phenom II X4 owners keep in mind: 3.8GHz frequency will not let a CPU on Stars (K10) microarchitecture work as fast as overclocked Core 2 Quad from the same price range could." [X-bit Labs]

"We initially ran into some pretty severe difficulties in overclocking the 940. ... When we set the BIOS memory settings to "Auto", which ran the memory at DDR2-800 speeds, we finally managed to push the model 940 to 3.5GHz with excellent stability, using the Arctic Cooling Freezer 64. With a more robust cooler and more voltage tweaking, we might have gone higher." [ExtremeTech]

"My results did not reach the 6 GHz heights that AMD showed off last month, but considering how poor of an overclocker I am, my results are quite respectable for air cooling and a minimal amount of effort. Using stock voltage I was able to take the Phenom II X4 940 to 3.5 GHz on air cooling. My final overclock was at 3.8 GHz with a voltage of 1.45v. This is pretty close to the 4 GHz mark that AMD says is quite achievable with a good portion of their parts on air cooling. Again, I am not the world's greatest overclocker and I am not a big fan of frying processors. 3.8 GHz with minimal effort is a nice accomplishment, and certainly the 3.5 GHz mark at stock voltage is probably the real winner here." [PC Perspective]

The bottom line is that the new AMD Phenom II X4 processors are not the "Core i7 killers" a lot of people hoped them to be. Despite that, the Phenom II, partnered with a 790GX chipset motherboards, prove to be a good budget enthusiast platform. Overclocking is more feasible with the Phenom II, when compared to the previous Phenom X4 processors, but the Core i7 processors are still easier to overclock.

If you need to build a new system now, going with the Phenom II platform would be the one with the best value. If not, it would be best to wait for the soon to arrive AM3 socket processors.

IceRocket : amd phenom ii x4 45nm am2+

300-400 Watt Power Supply Units Tested

2009-01-06T15:39:00.000+08:00

AnandTech tested 20 power supply units (PSUs) that range from 300 to 400 Watts. The PSUs tested were:

Antec Earthwatts 430W
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 360W
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 400W
Cooler Master Extreme Power Plus 390W
Corsair CX400W
Corsair VX450W
Enermax Liberty Eco 400W
Enermax Pro82+ 385W
FSP OEM 300W
FSP Blue Storm II 400W
HEC HEC-350TE-2WX 350W
OCZ ModXStream Pro 400W
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 370W
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 420W
Silverpower Gorilla 400W
Seasonic S12II 330W
Seasonic SS-400ET 400W
Silverstone Element ST40EF 400W
Tagan SuperRock 400W
Thermaltake TR2 QFan 400W

"There are power supplies such as the Corsair CX400W that didn't stick out too much during testing but still offer a very attractive price tag. If you do have only around $50 to spend on a power supply we suggest you have a closer look at the Corsair CX400W, or the OCZ ModXStream Pro with 400W if you want cable management. ... If you want the best performance and the price is a secondary priority, we definitely recommend the Element series from Silverstone. This power supply managed to top both the noise and efficiency charts, and delivered good results across the board . " [AnandTech | 300W to 450W: 20 Power Supplies on the Test Bench]

Special mentions are:

Seasonic S12II 330W, Corsair CX400W, and Cooler Master Real Power Pro for DC Voltage Regulation and Quality
PC Power & Cooling Silencers, Enermax Pro82+ 385W, and Enermax Liberty Eco 400W for Efficiency
Tagan SuperRock 400W for Low Acoustic Noise

You could use these recommendations when you are in the market for a 300-400W PSU.

IceRocket : corsair, power supply unit, silverstone element

EVGA X58 SLI Motherboard Reviewed

2008-12-23T14:54:00.001+08:00

The EVGA X58 SLI (US$299) is a motherboard for the Intel Core i7 processor based on the Intel X58 chipset.

Features:

Intel Core i7 Processors support
Intel X58 Express Chipset with the ICH10R Southbridge
Intel Turbo Boost Technology support
100% Solid State Capacitors
6 DIMM triple-channel DDR3
Enthusiast layout supporting 2-way, 3-way SLI and CrossFireX
1 x PCIe x16, 1 x PCIe x8/x16, 1 x PCIe x8, 1 x PCIe x1, 2 x PCI
2 x 32-bit PCI, support for PCI 2.1
10 SATA II 3.0GB/s ports (1 e-SATA)
dual Gigabit LAN
Firewire (1 external, 1 header)

“In terms of integrated features, the X58 3X SLI has just about all you could want in a new X58 board, including both internal reset and power button switches, and a highly appreciated external clear CMOS switch peeking through its back IO panel. At $299 currently, the X58 3X SLI is right in the middle of the pack price-wise, as X58 boards go, which is still of course a little lofty due its recent introduction. As a total package however, with EVGA's cable and connector assortment that includes both 2-way and 3-way SLI connectors, the X58 3X SLI is definitely worth your short list consideration, if you're considering a migration to the Core i7 platform.” [HotHardware | EVGA X58 3X SLI Core i7 Motherboard]

“What I can't ignore is that the potential of this motherboard is really good. The overall baseline performance is on par with the Intel reference board, but the board starts to really shine once you start overclocking. So in retrospect I'd say that the motherboard is a bit of a challenge and targeted at the die-hard enthusiast users out there who know what they are doing. It's a rough diamond in the works. … It's an excellent match for a delicious processor series. Next to being one of the most feature rich X58 products we tested so far, we do believe it has massive tweaking potential as well. If you'd buy this product right now, you'll likely will have to flash the BIOS a couple of times before it has reached it's fullest potential.” [Guru of 3D | EVGA X58 SLI review]

This is definitely an enthusiast-targeted motherboard, with overclocking in mind. Ready to dip in the Core i7 waters? The EVGA X58 SLI should be in your shortlist.

Technorati: evga x58 sli motherboard, intel core i7

Level One N_One WBR-6000 11n Wireless Router Reviewed

2008-12-20T12:03:00.001+08:00

The Level One N_One WBR-6000 (about US$50) is a wireless router that has the following features:

802.11b/g, 802.11n (draft)
WEP (64/128bit) / WPA (TKIP, AES) / WPA2 (TKIP, AES) / WPS: PIN and PBC support
3 x 2dBi dipole antennas (fixed)
17dBm ~ 20dBm Transmit power
1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN
4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN
Dimensions: 154(L) x 143(W) x 30(H) mm

X-bit Labs tested the WBR-6000, and compared it with a similarly priced wireless router from Edimax (BR6504N):

"The LevelOne WBR-6000 router is a good product in many respects, but its main advantage - the support for the new-generation wireless standard - is questionable. Perhaps this will be corrected in firmware updates, but right now this router is good at everything except for wireless networking." [ X-bit Labs | Level One N_One 11n Wireless Broadband Router Review ]

For wired connection, the WBR-6000 was much better than the Edimax BR6504N. For wireless, the Edimax was the superior product, with the WBR-6000 being rather unstable with its 802.11n connection.

IceRocket : draft n, level one wbr-6000, wireless router

AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Processor Reviewed

2008-12-18T12:24:00.000+08:00

AMD recently released its Athlon X2 7000 series processors. Initially, three (3) models make up the series: Athlon X2 7550 2.5 GHz, Athlon X2 7750 2.7 GHz, and Athlon X2 7750 BE 2.7 GHz (Black Edition, features unlocked multiplier).

Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Features:

Codename: Kuma
Socket AM2+
65 nm production process
Stars (K10) Microarchitecture
2 Cores
2.7 GHz Clock frequency
L1 cache: 2 x 64+64 KB
L2 cache: 2 x 512 KB
L3 cache: 2 MB
Dual-channel DDR2-800/1066 SDRAM Memory Controller
3.6 GHz HyperTransport bus frequency
1.8/2.0 GHz Integrated North Bridge frequency
95W TDP
450 mln Transistors

"What also really impressed me was unexpected, the ease in overclocking. As stated in our article, we used an uber low-end standard stock air cooler on the processor and still were able to clock it to 3200 / 3300 MHz. I would not be surprised to see many of you clock this puppy to 3.4 - 3.7 GHz fairly easy with nothing more than proper air cooling, and sure, that again brings more value to the table. ... None the less, with the Athlon X2 series 7000 AMD brings mature, stable and extremely affordable processors to the market. It'll be fast enough for most modern applications on a Vista platform, and as such comes very recommended. Also I just realized what an excellent and affordable processor this would be for a HTPC. Very nice." [Guru3D | AMD Athlon X2 7750 BE review]

"Objectively speaking, new Athlon X2 7000 series processors will hardly be able to improve AMD's market standing at this time. The thing is that even though the top Athlon X2 7750 from the Kuma generation turned out faster than the top Brisbane CPU, the advantage is not very significant overall. On average the improvement makes only 3-5%. Moreover, other Athlon X2 7000 series models will not be able to offer any improvement over the already existing Athlon X2 from 5000 and 6000 series. ... Unfortunately, Athlon X2 7000 have the same problem as the Phenom CPUs: the combination of low frequency potential and high power consumption do not let us see the progress that we could have seen otherwise." [X-bit Labs | AMD Launches "Phenom X2": AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Review]

One of the most interesting aspects of the Athlon X2 7750 (and the other two Athlon X2 7000 series processors) is its pricing: the Athlon X2s will be cheaper than comparable processors (in terms of stock performance) from Intel. Those who need a dual core system can benefit from immediate savings on the processor when going the Athlon X2 7000 series route.

IceRocket : 7550, amd athlon x2 7750, black edition, kuma

Ced’s PC Site Feed Updated

2008-12-16T10:56:00.001+08:00

Ced’s PC has updated its site feed. Please update your feed readers with the new feed URI:

http://feedproxy.google.com/CedsPc

Thanks, and happy reading!

Technorati: ced's pc site rss feed

VIA Artigo A2000 - Storage-Oriented Compact Barebone PC

2008-12-16T06:22:00.001+08:00

The VIA Artigo A2000 (US$299) is a storage-oriented compact barebone PC which features low power consumption, low noise, and compact form factor.

Features:

1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor
VIA VX800 Unified Digital Media IGP chipset
1 x DDR2 SO-DIMM Socket (up to 2 GB)
2 x 3.5" SATA-II HDD support
1 x CompactFlash socket (supports DMA mode) bootable SSD
3 x USB 2.0 ports (1 on the front panel)
1 x Gigabit RJ-45 LAN port with LED
Built-in high definition audio controller
1 x MIC/Line-in + 1 x Line-out audio ports
1 x VGA port
8 cm low-noise ball-bearing fan
100~240 V AC/DC adapter
dimensions: 135 x 115 x 259 mm

The Artigo A2000 was tested to work with the following operating systems:

Windows XP
Windows Vista
Ubuntu 8.04
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 with Service Pack 2

Just install some RAM, 1 or 2 SATA HDDs, connect it to your home network, and you will already have a compact, power-efficient home media storage mini-server.

IceRocket : a2000, artigo, barebone pc, mini server, via

AMD IGP Chipset Comparison: 780G, 740G, 8300, 8100

2008-12-11T03:53:00.001+08:00

HardwareZone compared 4 IGP motherboards for AMD AM2/AM2+ processors. The reviewed motherboards were:

AMD 780G chipset: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H (US$80)
AMD 740G chipset: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 ($54)
NVIDIA GeForce 8300 mGPU chipset: Zotac GeForce 8300 ($85)
NVIDIA GeForce 8100 mGPU: Zotac GeForce 8100 ($58)

"... it's hard to argue against the AMD 780G for either power/heat or its graphics prowess. ... On that same note, the AMD 740G is definitely not for the HTPC enthusiast. HD video playback suffered from the lack of dedicated hardware while the graphics performance was mediocre when compared to the 780G. It's likely to be cheaper than the 780G so that could be its selling point, though even then, we aren't too keen to recommend it - especially not for the HTPC seekers." [HardwareZone | AMD IGP Chipset and Motherboard Showdown]

"Between the Gigabyte 740G and the GeForce 8100, it's a tougher choice and frankly, both are not that appealing, but we'll have to say the GeForce 8100 does come out slightly better for both graphics performance and HD video playback. To conclude, we'll recommend paying more for the beefier chipsets like the GeForce 8300/8200 or the AMD 780G for low-cost HTPC fulfillments." [HardwareZone]

When building an HTPC (Home Theater PC), the best route as of now is either go for the GeForce 8300/8200 or the AMD 780G chipset. Also, if you intend to build a low-cost PC based on the AMD AM2/AM2+ processor, and have plans to add a discrete graphics card later (as the budget permits), the mentioned mainboards are a nice solution.

IceRocket : 740g, 780g, 8100, 8300, amd igp chipset

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P Motherboard Reviewed

2008-12-09T07:01:00.001+08:00

The Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard (about US$150) is an Intel LGA775 mainboard that features:

Intel LGA775 processor support
Intel P45 Express / Intel ICH10R chipset
4 DDR2 DIMM sockets (up to 16GB)
2 PCI Express slots (1 PCI Express X16 slot running at full speed; 1 PCI E X16 slot running at X8; CrossFireX support)
6 SATA 3Gbps ports (with support for SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10)
1 IDE ATA/133 port
2 Gigabit LAN ports (2 Realtek 8111C controllers, 2 RJ45 jacks, teaming support)
1 coax S/PDIF out
1 optical S/PDIF out
8 USB 2.0 ports
2 IEEE 1394a ports
6 color coded audio minijacks

HardwareZone gave it a 4.5 out of 5 rating ('Excellent'):

"... our overall experience with the board, from the fuss-free installation and BIOS update, to the testing and overclocking, has been generally positive. There were no problems encountered and the board worked flawlessly. This alone is worth the extra cost of the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P compared to other brands who may be more powerful but at the expense of user friendliness. However, since these are characteristics of Gigabyte's current generation of motherboards, one may even opt for the DS3R model mentioned earlier if the extra perks are not attractive enough." [HardwareZone | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P]

HotHardware gave it its Recommended award:

"Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P performed well -- it placed right in line with other Intel and NVIDIA boards that we used for comparison -- but in general it was the best P45 board we've come across. ... If you're in the market for a new motherboard, but don't necessarily want to upgrade your entire set of hardware, you might consider the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P. It's got a complete list of components onboard and comes with a nice price tag, especially during the holiday season where everyone's looking to save a dollar or two." [HotHardware | Gigabyte EP45-UD3P]

FiringSquad gave it a score of 91%:

"... if you're looking for an inexpensive CrossFire-compatible motherboard based on Intel's P45 chipset, you owe it to yourself to check out Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P. The motherboard incorporates high-end features without resorting to the high-end price tag." [ FiringSquad | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P ]

ExtremeTech gave it a 5 out of 5 rating, and its ExtremeTech Approved award:

"The EP45-UD3P is simply a stunning, solid board full of features that comes at a fantastic price. It's a motherboard to seriously consider if you can't quite afford an X58-based board and a Core i7 CPU. ... In fact, it might even be safe to say it's the only board to consider. We know what's going into our next build. " [ ExtremeTech | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P ]

So, if you are looking to build an Intel box using an LGA775 processor, the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard should be first on your list of things to buy.

IceRocket : gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, intel lga775 motherboard