Tech Gear: Best Product review

Hush Those Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Easy (& Free!) 5V & 7V Fan Mods

Every moving part in a PC generates noise. The motors in optical drives and hard drives and the cooling fans that keep your hardware cool are the most notorious culprits in your case. All of these moving parts can result in an annoyingly loud PC. But don’t fear; there are many things you can do to quiet a system down without spending a mountain of cash.

Most of today’s power supplies, graphics cards, and CPU coolers have fans that will throttle their speed (and thus, noise produced) based on temperatures or load, so even the highest-end products aren’t too disruptive—we’ll ignore those for now. You can install your hard drives in vibration-dampening enclosures that minimize their noise levels. And you can silence your case fans in a number of ways, too. As for optical drives, well, don’t leave a disc in the drive when it’s not in use, and it’ll be quiet. This month, we’re going to focus on case fans because they tend to be one of the noisiest parts in a typical PC; yet, they’re one of the easiest to mod. We have a method in store that will quiet them down, and, perhaps best of all, you won’t have to spend a penny to execute it.

How Does It Work?
The majority of fans included with cases or sold individually are designed to operate at 12V. The PSU feeds 12 volts to the fan’s motor, which causes the fan’s blades to rotate and circulate air. Increasing or decreasing that 12V feed, however, makes the fan’s motor spin at different speeds. Increase the voltage, and the fan will spin faster, move more air, and generate more noise. Conversely, lowering the voltage will do the opposite. That’s the basic premise behind this mod.

There are limits to how high or low to set a fan’s supplied voltage. Feed too much voltage into the fan and its motor will burn out; don’t supply enough voltage and the fan won’t spin up at all. Generally speaking, feeding 13 to 15 volts to a fan is a safe bet and won’t cause any damage. Conversely, 4 to 6 volts is usually enough to get the fan spinning. Because our ultimate goal with this mod is to quiet noisy case fans, we’re going to focus on ways to lower the input voltage without purchasing any additional parts.

The Standard Disclaimers
Before we begin, we want to stress a few points. First of all, if your PC runs hot and you’ve had issues with overheating, don’t perform these mods. You might want a quieter machine, but slowing down the fans will circulate less air through the case, making a hot system run hotter.

Also, the 7V mod below puts extra stress on your power supply. To supply 7V to a case fan, its positive and negative leads must connect across the +12V and +5V feeds coming from the PSU, which put extra strain on some of its voltage regulators.

But if you have a high-quality power supply and aren’t running more than two or three fans in a 7V configuration, you shouldn’t have any trouble.

There’s also a chance that a power supply’s short circuit protection mechanism won’t like a component connected across two positive leads, but since when is a mod risk-free? We can say, however, that over the years, we’ve performed this mod numerous times without incident. We also want to emphasize that some fans don’t operate reliably when you configure your PSU to supply a substandard voltage. Should you try the 5V or 7V mods outlined here, keep your case open for a while to ensure that your fans are spinning up properly. If the fans don’t consistently spin up, it’s best to revert back to a standard 12V configuration to prevent overheating.

12V Configuration
12V is the standard configuration for most case fans. Assuming the fan has standard colored wiring, the red lead connected to the fan’s motor is positive, and the black is negative. In this configuration, the fan’s positive lead mates with a peripheral connector’s yellow, +12V wire, and the negative lead connects to either of the peripheral connector’s black, common ground wires. With a 12V feed supplied, the fan will spin at its maximum rated speed and airflow.

5V Configuration
The 5V (and 7V) configuration requires a modification to the fan’s wiring. To perform this mod, we recommend using a PSU pin removal tool to speed the process and minimize your frustration. Pin removal tools are available at numerous online retailers for just a few dollars. Though in a pinch, it’s not absolutely necessary to use a pin removal tool.

If you look at the pins in a female peripheral connector (the type of connector usually attached at a case fan), you’ll see four flared barbs at bases of the pins that lock them in place. When the barbs are flared out, it’s impossible to pull them back through the connector without damaging the pins or wiring. A pin removal tool depresses these barbs so the pins are no longer locked in place. If you don’t have a pin removal tool, you can use a small flathead screwdriver to bend the barbs inward, letting you push the pin back through the connector. Just remember to flare the barbs back out before reinserting the pins so they’ll stay in place. We’ve also used the plastic tubing from inside some ballpoint pens as a pin removal tool.

To perform the 5V mod, pair the fan’s positive lead (red) with the power supply’s +5V lead, which also happens to be red. Using the pin removal tool, we removed the pin connected to the fan’s positive lead, moved it to the other end of the connector, and reinserted it.

7V Configuration
The 7V mod is a little trickier and may seem a bit counterintuitive to the electrically inclined. To perform the 7V mod, you have to move the fan’s negative lead to a new position in the connector. Using the pin removal tool, we dislodged the fan’s negative lead (black) and reinserted it to the far side of the connector, opposite to the positive lead (red). With the fan’s wires in this position, the fan’s positive lead mates with the PSU’s yellow +12V wire, and the fan’s negative lead mates with the PSU’s red +5V wire. This may sound strange to some of you because it seems like we’re shorting two positive rails and the fan’s negative lead isn’t connected to a common ground. But, in practice, this configuration results in a net of 7V running through the fan’s motor (12V – 5V = 7V). This, as we’ve already mentioned, slows the fan down to reduce its noise level.

Other Possibilities
The more adventurous of you out there may be wondering what type of additional magic you can work using PSU’s other rails; there are, after all, more than just the +12V and +5V rails available in an ATX power supply. And in fact, there are a number of other effective voltages that become available by bridging wires in the power supply’s 20-/24-pin main ATX power connector. 8.7V, 17V, and even 24V configurations are possible using combinations of the power supply’s rails.

However, we wouldn’t recommend experimenting with these wiring configurations. Typically, a power supply’s -12V and 3.3V rails can’t handle significant loads, so we don’t advise connecting peripherals to them that they’re not designed to support. It’s also far more difficult to modify and make new connections in a 24-pin ATX power connector safely. Ultimately, the risks are greater than the rewards, so we recommend sticking with either the 5V or 7V mods.

Best Peripheral of 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:13:00 +0000

The best way to neuter a high-end PC is to pair it with cruddy peripherals. High-end graphics cards are wasted on low-resolution, bargain basement monitors; bandwidth is a lost cause on sub-par networking gear; clunky keyboards can be a real pain; and poor printers slaughter your carefully crafted documents and photos. We know that your ultimate enjoyment of your PC hinges on the parts that you use to interface with it, so we’ve meticulously selected a few of our favorites from the past year. Plug ’em in and let your PC shine.

Keyboards/Mice
Whether you’re a gamer, programmer, content creator, or just an avid PC abuser, the keyboard and mouse are your primary tools. Every task you perform must pass through the filter of your keyboard and mouse, and for most of us, a generic bundle just won’t do. The best inputs of ’07 are notable for delivering more control over common PC tasks while retaining a simplified layout and appearance. We also awarded bonus points for attractive designs.

Winner: Logitech G15

Gamers are finicky about their keyboards, and rightly so. In the heat of battle, a poorly laid out keyboard can result in frustrating fumbles and repeated deaths. Logitech’s G series of gamer-oriented peripherals has won high praise in CPU, and the G15 is another excellent specimen. The most visible feature of the G15 is the backlit, programmable GamePanel LCD, which displays game stats, hardware information, frames per second, Ventrilo VoIP data, and more in supported games (visit www.logitech.com/gamepanel for a full list of supported applications). Tweakers will appreciate the programmable Gkeys, which let you create complex macros in-game.

The G15 also helps cut clutter with cable channels built into the bottom of the keyboard for the mouse, headset, and other wired devices. High-contrast and backlit keys also improve your gaming reflexes in light or dark environments. The G15’s media access buttons also let you manage your music sans mouse.

First Runner-Up: Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

Like it or not, Vista is the future. And with Home Premium and Ultimate versions shipping with Windows Media Center, PCs are handling more of your entertainment. Microsoft’s Wireless

Entertainment Desktop 8000 is packed from the F-keys to the Spacebar with features that come in handy on an entertainment PC. In the upper-right corner of the keyboard you’ll find a touchsensitive pad that lets you control your cursor without a mouse, just like the touchpad on a notebook. The keyboard also has a host of dedicated function buttons, such as the media control buttons, Media Center button, Windows Start button, Windows Live Call button, and Gadgets button. The top of the keyboard features a detachable recharging station for the Wireless Laser Mouse 8000.

The wireless mouse has a battery life indicator, 4-way scroll wheel, five customizable buttons, and an ultra-sensitive and responsive laser. The Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 uses Bluetooth technology to let you step away from your PC without giving up control. Other notable extras include an integrated 4-port USB hub, an ergonomic Comfort Curve design, and backlit keys that let you manage in low-light gaming or movie-watching situations.

Second Runner-Up: Razer Lachesis

Razer launched the next generation of laser sensing technology with its Razer 3G-laser-sensor-equipped Lachesis. This mouse delivers unmatched 4,000dpi sensitivity and tracking speeds of up to 100ips (inches per second). With the included Razer Synapse software, you can configure each of the nine Hyperesponse buttons and polling rate. The Lachesis also lets you modify the dpi settings on the fly. Other features include 32KB of onboard memory for storing your settings, technology that reduces lift-off-related errors, and Ultraslick Teflon feet for smoothly tracking enemies with your crosshairs.

Monitors

In 2007, flat panel LCDs made vast improvements in color, brightness, and response time, cutting down the handful of reasons an enthusiast would favor a CRT to almost zilch. Across the board, flat-panel monitors became bigger, wider, brighter, and better. Several new contenders entered the elite 2,560 x 1,600 ring, and dozens of affordable widescreen models—with better than 5ms response times and excellent black levels—also made their debut. Our favorites for 2007 have the real estate to handle your most intense multitasking sessions, as well as fast-paced games and movies.

Winner: HP LP3065

In 2006, Dell’s 3007WFP stole the spotlight and the hearts of graphics professionals and computing enthusiasts everywhere. In 2007, HP and Samsung introduced 2,560 x 1,600-capable monitors. We got our hands on HP’s LP3065 and found little we didn’t love about it. The display offers screen height, tilt, and swivel capabilities; an excellent 178-degree viewing angle; 25mm pixel pitch; and a widescreen 16:10 aspect ratio. Graphics professionals will appreciate the multitude of inputs: The LP3065 supports three dual-link DVI connections. (Two DVI cables are included.) The 92% color gamut also makes for accurate graphics work and more realism in movies and games. The 8ms response time eliminated ghosting, and the 1,000:1 contrast ratio helped the LP3065 produce bright and crisp images in all of our visual tests. Best of all, this dazzling display is currently selling for $300 less than when we originally tested it.

First Runner-Up: Samsung SyncMaster 245BW

Sometimes we get hardware in for review that we just don’t want to give back. We’ve gushed about Samsung’s SyncMaster monitors before, but the 245BW is our favorite from 2007. This 24-inch monitor features an attractive minimalist appearance and a sharp pianoblack finish. The monitor has a 5ms response time for smooth dark-to-light transitions in movies and games. We also noticed crisp image reproduction, thanks to the 3,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The 16:10 widescreen SyncMaster 245BW supports a 1,920 x 1,200 native resolution and comes with or without speakers. The adjustable stand lets you lift, tilt, and swivel the monitor to your liking. Like other Samsung monitors, the 245BW includes several display-enhancing technologies. MagicColor boosts hue and color saturation levels to improve the appearance of difficult-to-reproduce skin tones. MagicBright3 automatically adjusts brightness and contrast, and gamma correction settings produce the best image possible, regardless of the application. If you prefer to tweak settings yourself, you can.

Second Runner-Up: ViewSonic VX1932wm

In a recent roundup of widescreen LCDs, ViewSonic’s VX1932wm landed at the top of the heap for its display performance and affordable price tag. The 19-inch VX1932wm has a 1,440 x 900 native resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, making it suitable for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. The VX1932wm employs contrast ratio-boosting technology to deliver a 2,000:1 spec. Highlights include a 2ms response time for buttery smooth video and 3D performance, integrated stereo speakers, two cable clips for cable management, and a bright 300cd/m2 panel.

The unit features an attractive silver and black base and frame. Supported inputs include DVI, VGA, and analog audio. Two cable clips in the back of the unit help you manage cables. The VX1932wm’s OSD was easy to navigate and made adjusting settings painless. We don’t recommend the VX1932wm for heavy movie watching due to some perceptible color banding that occurred in fast action sequences, but the problem was far from a deal breaker, especially if you don’t watch many movies on your PC. Gaming came off flawlessly, as did text and still image reproduction.

Networking Devices
What a difference a year makes. Last time ’round, we didn’t feel confident that 802.11n had much to offer enthusiasts over the previous generation of wireless networking gear. In mid-2007, the Wi-Fi Alliance stepped up and began certifying Draft 2.0 gear to ensure equipment from different manufacturers works together. Even though the standard is still in draft form (experts expect 802.11n to be finalized in 2009), applications abound that call for more bandwidth than 802.11g can deliver. To compound the problem, Vista’s Windows Media Center puts even more strain on wireless networks by emphasizing media streaming in the home.

Winner: D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router DIR-655

In a perfect world, networking equipment would always be a generation or two ahead of our bandwidth requirements. In reality, most enthusiasts have been streaming rich media, such as music, photos, and video, over barely-capable 802.11g networks. Enter D-Link’s Xtreme N Gigabit Router, which performed quite well in a roundup of 802.11n and 802.11g MIMO hardware published in CPU’s April 2007 issue. (See page 18.) The attractive, twotone white and black DIR-655 boasts 14 times faster speeds and six times farther range than 802.11g devices. The unit is backward-compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g equipment and features four Gigabit LAN ports, one Gigabit WAN port, and a USB port to make configuring security and settings a breeze.

The D-Link DIR-655 also employs Intelligent QoS technology, which analyzes and categorizes traffic to ensure that latency-sensitive data, such as VoIP, video streaming, and gaming, is delivered as smoothly as possible, without delay. Supported security protocols include 64- and 128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalency Privacy) and WPA and WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access), and the advanced firewall features NAT, SPI, and VPN pass-through.

First Runner-Up: Netgear 85MBps Powerline Ethernet Adapter (XE103)

If bandwidth were our only consideration in networking, then the world would be wired. Wires are secure, fast, and cheap. That is, as long as you don’t mind the minor demolition required to run CAT5 behind your walls. But there’s an alternative. Thanks to Netgear’s XE103, you can take advantage of the copper wiring already running between every room in your house for fast, reliable, and secure networking.

Simply plug the XE103 into a power outlet near your computer, plug a second XE103 into another outlet, and use the Ethernet ports on each adapter to connect your devices. The XE103 Powerline Ethernet adapters separate AC current from Ethernet data to deliver safe and speedy networking throughout your home. Your PC simply thinks it’s using a wired Ethernet connection, so no software installation or device configuration is necessary. Plus, you don’t have to worry about your neighbors snooping around on your network.

The XE103’s 85Mbps (theoretical) throughput rating is more than sufficient
for even the most demanding applications, such as streaming 1080p video.

Second Runner-Up: Belkin N1 Vision)

Blinking LEDs this ain’t. In the unending quest for faster performance, power users appreciate hardware and software that offers new levels of insight into the inner workings of their systems. Belkin’s N1 Vision, with its interactive LCD, is just such a piece of hardware. The LCD is capable of displaying download/upload speeds, network bandwidth usage, the number of connected devices, guest access network key, and the time and date. You can also use the N1 Vision to troubleshoot
networking problems at a glance. The N1 Vision Wireless Router supports 802.11b/g and 802.11n Draft 2.0 wireless protocols, which support ranges up to 1,600 feet and throughput rates up to 300Mbps (theoretical). This router is best suited for Web surfing, gaming, and even demanding HD video streaming applications. The unit features four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one Gigabit WAN port, and support for WPA, WPA2, and 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption.

Printers

In the eyes of power users, the latest and best printers just don’t generate buzz like the fastest graphics cards and CPUs do. But it’s a safe bet that users at every computing proficiency level have a printer and use it regularly. Despite the seeming lack of enthusiasm, however, printer manufacturers have been packing the latest models with borderless photo printing capabilities, USB ports and media card readers, wireless networking support, and the ability to print on multiple types of media. Our favorite models also earned their places by being fast, efficient, and quiet.

Winner: HP Photosmart C5280

HP has been in the printing business for a while, and it really shows in the Photosmart C5280. This AIO (all-inone) inkjet lets you print, scan, and copy. The machine delivers color and black and white copies at an impressive 24 and 32ppm, respectively. The HP Smart Web Printing feature puts an end to cutoff Web pages. You can also print CD covers with specialized media. The C5280 also supports high-quality Vivera six-ink color (optional purchase) to produce vivid high-quality photos that resist fading.

The Photosmart C5280 also lets you do more without a PC. The unit features a card reader that supports CF, MMC, SD/miniSD, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, and xD Cards (among others) for quick and easy PC-less printing. View photos on the integrated 2.4-inch LCD; erase ugly red-eye with the Red-Eye Removal button; and let the automated paper tray select the appropriate paper type for your photos. Best of all, the Photosmart C5280 helps you keep up with the demands for photos of the latest big events (and a few of the little ones) without breaking the bank.

First Runner-Up: Kodak EasyShare 5300

Kodak isn’t necessarily a name that comes to mind when you think about printers. But, photos, well, Kodak is synonymous with photos. This is why it’s no real surprise that the EasyShare 5300 AIO does photo printing so well. This inkjet prints up to 32ppm in black and white and 30ppm in color. The EasyShare 5300 can also produce a high-quality 4- x 6-inch photo in about 28 seconds.

The EasyShare 5300 has a 3-inch LCD, card reader, and USB ports that enable you to print photos without a PC. The unit employs six inks and a 3,840-nozzle printhead to output colorful lab-quality photos. Add-ons include an optional USB Bluetooth adapter for wireless networking and a duplexer for two-sided printing. The EasyShare 5300 also goes easy on the ink, delivering low cost per page in blank text documents (2 cents), mixed graphics and text documents (7 cents), and photos (10 cents). Second

Runner-Up: Brother HL-4040CN

For faster-paced, more demanding print environments, an inkjet just won’t do. Brother’s single-function laser HL-4040CN may not be a jack-of-all-trades, but it is a master of printing. The HL-4040CN can churn out 21 color and monochrome ppm at up to 2,400dpi. The black toner cartridge will deliver approximately 2,500 prints, and the three color toner cartridges should last for 1,500 pages. Another highlight is the integrated USB port for PC-less printing. This reliable and efficient laser is also one of the more affordable units you’ll find.

Video Surveillance

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:30:00 +0000

View From Remote Location

Network cameras let you harness the power of your home network to set up a video surveillance system that you can view from a remote location, and many manufacturers now offer single and multiple-camera systems to let you effectively monitor your home. In this roundup, we put five IP-based network cameras to the test, and each one features the ability to view snapshots or live video from a remote PC.

Typically, network cameras offer a number of features not available on Web cams, such as an integrated Web server to let you send images or video via FTP or email without the need to connect to a PC. And many network cameras feature internal motorized controls to let you pan, tilt, and zoom the camera from a Web client on a remote computer or mobile phone. Additionally, most Internet cameras come with software to configure and use the camera, such as to set up a video archive, to configure video recordings based on motion detection, and to set a patrol mode for the camera. All the models in our roundup can send email alerts based on a motion alarm trigger, so you can immediately be notified of suspicious movement or simply know if the dog walker came to walk the dog. Some models also feature audio capabilities for both audio capture and transmission, which allows you to play prerecorded audio or even use the camera as an intercom during an alarm event. In our tests, we considered the quality of the camera’s features as well as ease of use.

And although image quality is subjective, we noted the quality of the video, because if you can’t identify subjects from the video, the camera has limited potential for video surveillance.

Linksys WVC200
The Linksys WVC200 is a wireless network camera with remote pan, tilt, and zoom functionality rare features on a model with a $299 price tag. Additionally, the WVC-200 lets you set up to nine preset patrol points, and you can use the zoom, pan, and tilt features to automatically monitor different areas of the room. It offers a 67-degree pan and 34-degree tilt, and in our tests, the 67-degree pan let us view most of a room when we placed the camera in a corner or to one side of the room.

The Linksys software comes with a detailed wizard, but setup requires you to manually enter a lot of network settings, which makes for a lengthy configuration process. In addition, the Web client was not as intuitive as the other cameras in the roundup. However, once you find what you’re looking for, the settings are fairly easy to change. For instance, to set a preset patrol point, you only need to adjust the camera to the appropriate focal point and press Set Preset Position. For remote viewing, you can configure the WVC200 to take snapshots and upload the images to an FTP site, and Linksys also includes a 90-day trial of Sololink, a service that lets you view real-time video from a Web address, but you can also use free DDNS (dynamic DNS) services.

To record audio, the WVC200 features an integrated microphone, which did a more-than-adequate job, and you can also attach an external microphone. The WVC200 can capture video at a resolution of 640 x 480 and operate at up to 30fps. If you feel the camera uses too much bandwidth, you can choose a lower resolution or fps setting. The picture quality was good in daylight, but low-light scenes introduced a lot of green and purple color into the video. Therefore, if you plan to monitor a room without much natural light, the WVC200 may not provide enough image detail for the job. However, if the room offers plenty of light, the WVC200 offers the best features in the lower-to-middle price range.

WiLife Indoor Camera Starter Kit
WiLife offers several indoor and outdoor surveillance packages, and all the cameras use HomePlug technology (transfers data over the AC wiring of your home) to connect to your PC—making the cameras extremely simple to set up. For instance, with the Indoor Camera Starter Kit, we only needed to plug the camera into a wall power adapter via Ethernet cable, plug the receiver into a wall and connect it our computer via USB cable, and install the WiLife Command Center. The WiLife Command Center can handle up to six WiLife cameras, and you can add other WiLife cameras by connecting the camera to the wall outlet. We should note that Logitech purchased WiLife in November 2007, and in April 2008, Logitech plans to rebrand the WiLife packaging, but the device and included software will remain the same. One of the primary advantages of HomePlug technology is that you don’t need a broadband router to connect the camera, so the WiLife cameras don’t use up your network bandwidth and you avoid wireless signal interference.

For mounting, the camera comes with a suction cup, a desktop stand, and a wall or ceiling mount bracket. Choosing the right location for the camera is important, because the camera doesn’t offer built-in pan, tilt, or zoom controls. The WiLife Command Center lets you set how much disk space to set aside for video recordings, and WiLife automatically compresses the video into WMV files. To view video remotely, you can create an online account at online.wilife.com and view live video from the camera for free.

The video quality from the indoor camera offers both good color depth and image detail, but you can only record video at up to 15fps, so video may seem jerky if subjects move quickly. We like that the WiLife Command Center lets you configure up to 16 motion-detection zones, and you can even set a minimum duration of motion to avoid alarm triggers based on changes in light. If you’re looking for a system that’s easy to set up and use, it’s tough to beat the WiLife Indoor Camera Starter Kit.

Trendnet TV-IP212W
The Trendnet TVIP212W features an allwhite design and is a little less than 4 inches tall, which is handy for surveillance because you won’t immediately recognize the device as a security camera. And with 802.11b/g and Ethernet connectivity, as well as an integrated Web server, Trendnet packs a lot of features into the tiny camera. You have to manually adjust the camera, but Trendnet includes a camera stand with an adjustable mount so that you can place it on a desk or mount it on a wall.

The TV-IP212W comes with software to help you configure the IP address of the camera, and once you set up the IP, you just log in to the IP address from a Web browser to configure the camera.

The Web-based client offers convenient buttons for the configurations you’ll want to adjust, including Network, Video/Audio, Motion Detect, and Event Configuration. The Motion Detect option was particularly helpful, because you can pick and resize two motion-sensitive windows, so the software only triggers alarms based on movement in a specific area. Additionally, you can set a motion sensitivity threshold to avoid alarms based on shifting light or a flashing LED.

The Web client lets you send live video over free DDNS services as well as lets you configure the integrated Web server to send snapshots or recorded video via email or FTP. Additionally, the TVIP212W includes a USB port to let you store files on a USB flash drive, but you can also send recorded files to a host PC or network server.

The TV-IP212W delivers good image quality and color depth, and with a lens that can operate at 0.5 lux at F2.0, the TV-IP212W delivers enough detail to identify people and objects in dimly lit rooms. On the down side, you can’t remotely pan, tilt, zoom, or adjust the focus of the TV-IP212W, so you’ll have to position and focus the camera to capture a wide enough view of the room you want to monitor.

Zonet ZVC7630W
Zonet touts the ZVC7630W as a night vision security camera, and this wireless network camera delivers excellent video in both bright light and lowlight conditions (0.5 lux capability at F2.0). We were particularly impressed by the crisp detail the camera was able to capture. The ZVC7630W works over 802.11b/g networks as well as wired connections, and it features a built-in Web server that can send video for realtime viewing over free DDNS services.

The Web configuration tools allow you to set up 128-bit WEP or WPAPSK encryption to keep others from easily viewing video from the camera’s Web server. And the included Zonet software lets you monitor and record video from up to 16 different cameras. Installation was simple and took less than 20 minutes. You can record video and audio to your hard drive, to FTP, to an email account, or to a USB flash drive (which connects to a USB port on the network camera). The auto-iris was quick to respond to changing light conditions, which is good because it’s a long trial and error process to change the brightness, contrast, and saturation settings through the Web client. The ZVC7630 features a built-in microphone that accurately captured highs and some lows, but you’ll need to connect speakers to produce sound based on motion detection alerts.

The ZVC7630W can capture video at a resolution of up to 640 x 480 at 30fps, and with infrared LEDs, it’s possible to see the video in total darkness. If you’re looking for an affordable camera for low-light or night video, the ZVC7-630W is ideal.

D-Link DCS-6620
D-Link has been manufacturing network cameras for a few years, and the DCS-6620 is one of its more advanced models. It offers a 10x optical zoom, a 270-degree pan, and a 90-degree tilt, so the camera monitors a wall-to-wall area from one side of the room. Additionally, the lens can operate at 0.5 lux at F2.0 to
let you record in low-light conditions. And as you may expect from the $850 price tag, the DCS-6620 delivered the best video quality out of the cameras in our roundup.

D-Link includes excellent installation software, and it took us around two minutes to get this wired model up and running. The only downfall is that the Web client limits you to a resolution of 352 x 240 when you record at 30fps. You can capture video at 704 x 480 at 10fps, but 10fps isn’t ideal for surveillance video. However, because the camera provides automatic iris and focus controls, you can still easily identify subjects in 352 x 240 resolution video. The D-Link software lets you manage up to 16 cameras at once, and up to 10 users can log in to view video over several popular DDNS services.

Another plus for the DCS-6620 is that the camera makes hardly any noise while panning, tilting, or zooming, so an intruder won’t immediately notice the camera in the room. And D-Link built a study base on the camera to keep the Ethernet, power, and audio cables from moving the camera out of position. The two-way audio feature is easy to use, but you’ll need to attach a speaker to let the camera generate sound. The $849.99 price tag may scare off some users, but when you consider the ease of use, integrated features, and superb image quality, the DCS-6620 is certainly worth the cost.

AMD’s Radeon HD 3800s Hit The Ground Running

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:05:00 +0000

R670 Arrives

For the past year and a half, the graphics race between AMD and Nvidia has produced more than just red and green smudges on the guardrails of the PC component industry, namely cheaper graphics cards for mainstream gamers. Nvidia’s aggressively priced GeForce 8800 GT is the most recent evidence that, at least in the near term, it’s taken a sharp turn into the midrange lane and stomped on the gas. Judging by last month’s Ge-Force 8800 GT roundup, ATI will need more than just racing stripes and nitrous to defend its price/performance strategy

and remain in the hearts, minds, and systems of average gamers.

Under the hood, the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series is little more than a die shrink of the Radeon HD 2000 series with a handful of extra features bolted on. Despite the minor changes, AMD has chosen to dispense with the XTX, XT, and PRO suffixes for naming each product in favor of a more transparent numbering system that denotes the generation, family, and variant. Among the Radeon HD 3800 series GPUs we tested, the HD 3870 and HD 3850 are roughly equivalent to the XT and PRO, respectively.

Cool Under Pressure

Last year’s Radeon HD 2900 XT was a 700-million transistor beast on a 408mm2 die, which took some heat from us for, well, being hot under the fansink and requiring two PCI-E power connectors to meet the card’s 215-watt demands. For the 3800 series GPUs, ATI’s engineers took a half-node step from the Radeon HD 2600 and 2400’s 65nm process to deliver double the transistor density (666 million transistors in total) on a 192mm2 chip. The resulting 55nm HD 3800 series graphics cards only require a single 6-pin PCI-E power connector.

The HD 3800 series GPUs are actually based on the HD 2600 and 2400 architecture, evidenced by the fact that they share the 256-bit memory bus (the HD 2900 XT has a 512-bit memory bus) and other R630- and R610-only features. Another power-related improvement you’ll find here is ATI’s PowerPlay Technology, which is a carryover from the Mobility Radeon family. PowerPlay works by dynamically throttling GPU power depending on the 3D load. With the PowerPlay-deficient HD 2900 XT, the average power draw is maxed out regardless of whether you’re playing the system crushing Crysis or an old favorite such as Half-Life 2. The HD 3800 series, however, slashes power draw by as much as 50 and 66%, respectively, when you’re performing general usage tasks or doing some light gaming.

Unlike Nvidia’s latest effort, the HD 3800 series GPUs support Microsoft’s tweaked DX10.1 API, which is scheduled to appear at about the same time as Windows Vista’s SP1 (possibly by the time you read this). DX10.1 brings with it Shader Model 4.1, global illumination effects, better antialiasing performance, and new HDR effects. You won’t see game developers taking advantage of the updated spec for quite some time, and even then, most agree the improvements won’t be revolutionary. Consider DX10.1 as a nice futureproofing add-on. The 2D realm also sees marked improvements over the HD 2900 XT. The HD 3800 series graphics cards are currently the highest-end GPUs from ATI to include ATI Avivo HD dedicated UVD (Unified Video Decoder) hardware designed to handle the H.264, AVC, and VC-1 video decoding of Bluray and HD DVD video, leaving your CPU free to manage other, more appropriate, tasks. As with the rest of the R6xx-based GPUs, the 3800 series have the HDCP-compliant chips and encryption keys, as well as native support for audio and video over HDMI to playback protected HD content.

The 3800 series reaps further benefits from its PCI-E 2.0 support. The spec is capable of delivering up to 16GBps of bandwidth per 16-lane link, which translates to improved gaming performance when the game resources, such as texture and vertex data, overflow to system memory. PCI-E 2.0 also ups the motherboard power output from 75 to 150 watts per slot. With regard to multi-GPUs, ATI hasn’t exactly been asleep at the wheel. Check out the “CrossFire X Factor” sidebar for more details.

AMD Radeon HD 3870

The R670 is most likely the final enthusiast product to come out of ATI’s R600 family. Compared to the HD 2900 XT, the HD 3870 has a narrower 256-bit memory bus. The stock HD 3870 comes with a 775MHz core clock (the unit we tested actually clocked in at 777MHz) and 320 stream processors capable of nearly half a teraflop (497 gigaflops) of math processing. This GPU also features a full complement of 16 texture units and 16 render back-ends.

The HD 3870’s frame buffer consists of 512MB of GDDR4 memory clocked at 2.25GHz. Peak board power maxes out at a cool 105 watts. We weren’t able to procure any thirdparty HD 3870s in time for publication, but the units ATI sent us featured a dualslot fansink covered in a Ruby-adorned, transparent red plastic shroud. The fan’s whisper-quiet (for a graphics card) 34dBA rating was barely audible even under the heaviest of loads. The PCB measures just 9 inches long and features a lone 6-pin PCI-E power port. The bracket features two dual link DVI ports and an HDTV-out port. The HD 3870 performed rather well in the benchmarks, breaking 10,000 in 3DMark06 at default settings. Both S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and the DX10-patched Company of Heroes were playable at 1,600 x 1,200, but newer DX10 games such as Crysis and World in Conflict couldn’t manage above 14fps at any resolution. Although Nvidia’s 512MB GeForce 8800 GT outperforms the Radeon HD 3870 in most areas, ATI’s option is a no-brainer for budget-conscious gamers.

AMD Radeon HD 3850

Like its more capable sibling, the HD 3850 features a 256-bit memory bus. The card also has 256MB of 830MHz GDDR3 memory, which is capable of up to 52GBps of bandwidth. The HD 3850 also shares the 3870’s 320 stream processors, 16 texture units, and 16 render back-ends. The HD 3850’s core clock is set to 670MHz and can churn out up to 428 gigaflops of mathematic processing.

Unlike the HD 3870, the 3850 is a single slot card. The cooler consists of a red plastic-shrouded fansink, which is rated to produce only 31dBA of fan noise. In our experience, this seemed right on target, even under load. The 9-inch-long slab of PCB is also red and features a single 6-pin PCI-E power connector. At 95W, the peak board power is only slightly lower than that of the HD 3870. The HD 3850’s bracket has a pair of dual-link DVI ports and a port for an HDTV dongle. In 3DMark06, the HD 3850 managed to score just 1,000 points below the HD3870 at each resolution. The HD 3850 really shone in the benchmarks at our lowest benchmarking resolution, 1,280 x 1,024. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R., the card posted an impressive 41fps. The picture with DX10 games was rather less impressive, with only the patched version of Company of Heroes managing to be playable. At less than $180, the HD 3850 is a more than capable card for DX9 and some light DX10 gaming.

Sapphire Ultimate HD3850 512MB

The Sapphire Ultimate HD3850 has twice the dedicated memory compared to the stock HD 3850. The other and more obvious difference you’ll notice is that Sapphire replaced the stock fansink with a Sherman tank-sized passive heatsink bristling with heatpipes. The heatsink extends about 1.25 inches above the PCB, and may result in some space problems for gamers with cramped cases. In the benchmarks, the Sapphire Ultimate HD3850 consistently outpaced the stock HD 3850 in 3DMark06. That extra memory was evident in the 1,600 x 1,200 run of 3DMark06, where Sapphire’s card scored more than 200 points better than the stock version. Strangely, though, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. wouldn’t run at the highest resolution. Although the Ultimate HD3850 won’t let you plow through current DX10 titles at higher resolutions, it’s ideal for HDTV enthusiasts who need a silent card, enjoy light gaming, and don’t mind paying a bit of a premium for the privilege.

Asus EAH3850 TOP

The only factory-overclocked card we got our hands on was the EAH3850 TOP. Asus stuck with the stock fansink and basic hardware as the reference model. On the surface, Asus’ card has a Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts shroud decal, but things get really interesting underneath the fansink. Asus bumped the core and memory frequencies to a remarkable 730MHz and 950MHz, respectively. As the tests show, the EAH3850’s higher clocks do a lot more for the card than the Ultimate HD3850’s larger frame buffer.

The Asus card managed to achieve a 3DMark06 score that was less than 100 points shy of the stock HD 3870. Again, though, the card stumbles at higher resolutions, especially in Crysis and World in Conflict. Like the Ultimate HD3850, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. failed to complete the benchmark at the highest resolution. The EAH3850 offers performance almost on par with the HD 3870, but at $20 less. The inclusion of Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts should seal the deal for gamers who haven’t picked up that gem of an RTS