LATEST HARDWARE

With the Pentium 4 6xx series and the new Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73GHz chips, Intel will finally support 64-bit extensions to the IA-32 architecture. We got our hands on the new Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73GHz. Find out what this processor is all about.

Introduction:

Intel’s initial approach to 64-bit computing was to develop a completely new architecture, the EPIC architecture, for their Itanium chips. The EPIC architecture was not backwards compatible with any existing IA-32 architecture (most of the 32-bit chips) software. Upon release of the Itaniums, Intel soon found that there was not a widespread acceptance of this platform, due to the high price of the platform and the relative lack of software.

AMD’s approach to 64-bit was to extend the IA-32 architecture instead of replacing it. In doing so, their chips were able to run in both 32 and 64 bit natively, depending on the application. AMD knew that there would be little or no 64-bit software for their chips during the initial launch period. But knowing that their processors can run all 32-bit applications perfectly well, AMD expects that by the time Microsoft and other software companies get around to releasing their software, there will be enough of a user base for the software companies to do so. Two years have now passed since AMD released their first 64-bit chips and no one can deny the relative success for their chips.

With Microsoft recently announcing that they will no longer work on a mainstream Windows XP version for the Itanium chips (they will still maintain their server/high-end OS version), Intel has no choice but to release a compatible 64-bit chip to AMD’s solution. On February 20, 2005, Intel officially released the 6xx series Pentium 4 processors and a Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73 GHz. These processors will support their EM64T 64-bit extensions as well as a few other features.

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AMD doesn't trust Intel, should you care? Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:37 PM
AMD filed an antitrust suit against Intel this week, with some compelling arguments that Intel dominates the market and does so illegaly, but are they really? We beg to differ.

Source: Hardware Analysis

ATI All in Wonder X800XT AGP Multimedia Video Card Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:37 PM
"Dollar for dollar, you still just can't beat the value and features compressed into this one computer peripheral. It's a TV, it's a top notch gaming card, it's an FM Radio, it's a personal video recorder, well, I guess it is pretty darn well everything. You buy it, you install it and instantly your drab and boring computer has an amazing amount of potential and power needed to turn it into an excellent gamer or a home theater system."



Source: TweakNews

Talkback: Nailing Standards to the Wall Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:36 PM
"While technology will never stop changing, it comes in waves, and when you've seen enough of them, you begin to discern patterns in the waves. Once you've spotted the pattern, it gets easier (or at least possible) to judge whether a new standard, format, or feature should win your bucks.

Reading tech patterns is not rocket science. Consumers do it on a large scale all the time. After all, we decide which new technologies live and die. Of course, if you take the trouble to read the patterns consciously, you may be able to get a little ahead of the wave-and possibly avoid wasting some of your hard-earned cash on a nonstarter.

So let's look at a few waves of technological change and see what patterns we can find in them."

Source: Designtechnica

Welcome the iPod Shuffle Killer Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:35 PM
"Once Apple had established itself as one of the world's top brand with hard drive MP3 players, the company had to delve into other markets. Knowing that flash players are still more popular and account for significant sales of all portable audio players sold, Apple decided to introduce its very own flash player, thoughtfully named the iPod Shuffle."

Source: CoolTechZone

Kingston Data Traveler Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:35 PM
With the Kingston DataTraveler, it is a very simple and basic device that does exactly what it is suppose to do. Those looking for a long term investment will particularly like the high endurance factor the DataTraveler has to offer.

Source: Overclockers Online

Overclockers Online Gives Away Two Kingston DataTravelers Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:34 PM
Our contest will run for two weeks and is open to residents of North America. To enter, simply email us with your name, address, country and daytime telephone number. At the end of the contest, you will need to confirm the information you provided in order to claim your prize.

Contest details: Overclockers Online

Transcend JetFlash 110 1GB USB 2.0 Drive Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:33 PM
If USB drives weren't so popular, companies wouldn't keep releasing bigger and bigger ones. I am glad they keep getting bigger and more popular. In addition to growing in capacity, USB flash drives are becoming more and more affordable. You can easily get a 1GB drive for less than $70. I remember just a while back when they were triple that.

Today, drives larger than 1GB are quite common. Some companies even have 4GB drives! For most people though, 1GB is more than enough for carrying around school or work documents. A couple of current trends in the USB drive market are making the drives physically smaller and making them easier to use (mostly by coming up with alternatives to the caps you see on most flash drives). Many people must have lost their drive caps in order for several companies to have developed solutions to this problem. One such company is Transcend, which released its JetFlash 110 series recently.

Source: Bjorn3D

Battlefield 2 review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:32 PM
Skip forward to present day and we are introduced to the latest in the Battlefield universe with Battlefield 2. No longer are we in the jungles of Vietnam or the combat fields of WW2 but the contemporary battlefield. You can choose to play as the United States, Middle East Coalition or the People's Liberation Army of China.

Source: WhoDigs?

ThermalRight XP-120 Giveaway Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:31 PM
Everyone likes free stuff!! The Overclocker Cafe' is having a one week contest to award one winner drawn at random a ThermalRight XP-120 heatsink. The only string attached is that a question that changes daily needs to be answered correctly. (This keeps the spam entries to a minimum.) Folks may enter up to once a day between now and Thursday July 7th.

Details: Overclocker Cafe

Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840 Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:30 PM
Two heads better than one? We test Intel's first dual core processor and subject it to a battery of real-world tests.

"In a multithreaded environment, the CPU demonstrated some excellent performance, besting the 3.73 Extreme Edition which has a 266FSB and over 500MHz clock speed advantage. Image and video editing are really the 840's forté as we've seen results that are truly amazing. We didn't publish the results, but DVD Shrink was remarkably quicker with the Extreme Edition 840, taking half the time the 3.73 XE did to shrink Revolutions, and this was during our multitasking tests."

Source: ViperLair

Raidmax X-1 Case w/ 450W Power Supply Video Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:30 PM
"This case has great looks, lots of features & a 450 watt PSU. There are plenty of drive bays; 5x5.25", 2x3.5" (Ext.), 3x3.5" (Int.). Case air circulation is good with the included 120mm & 80mm fans. An optional recommended 80/90/120mm fan can be installed at the front for additional cooling. It's also available in a number of different colors."



Source: 3dGameMan

Shuttle SD31P : Pentium D INside Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:22 PM
One of the slogans of Shuttle was "Shuttle innovates, others follow". Understand by there that Taïwanais positions as a technological leader of the market. Nevertheless, force is to note that it also seems to follow... the manufacturers of chipset (especially INTEL besides).

Source: PC INpact
(translated from French)

Power Supply Guide Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:21 PM
If one looks at quickly what is proposed in the trade, one can wonder why it would be necessary to invest in a "top-of-the-range" food whereas so many products "noname" are available to low cost. The reason is rather simple: while becoming increasingly powerful, the components of our PC become also increasingly greedy and especially increasingly sensitive to any variation of tension.

Source: PC INpact
(translated from French)

Review: Hauppauge PVR 500 MCE Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 5:20 PM
It was beginning to look as if nothing would ever unseat the pair of Hauppauge PVR-250's in my HTPC. Well, the day finally arrived when I replaced them-sort of, anyway. I still have two of Hauppauge's awesome tuners; they are just now both on the same PCI card. Enter the Hauppauge PVR-500 MCE edition; the chances are it will be the next PVR card you purchase.



Source: BoxGods

Exclusive ABIT Fatal1ty X800 XL 512MB Details Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 7:40 AM
This document makes claims regarding the benefits of the ABIT Fatal1ty X800 XL 512MB's unique copper VPU cooler, its 'vGuru XTurbo mode' which in conjunction with an external switch seems to allow dynamic changes to its BIOS Clock settings and on the fly voltage increases (!) plus statements as to the performance increases through overclocking.

Source: Hexus

Thermalright XP-90C heatsink review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 7:39 AM
"Back in August/September 2004 we saw some products uncharacteristic of Thermalright, namely the XP-120, XP-90, and SI-97. They actually used some aluminum, as opposed to pure copper. This "light 'n easy" line-up lived up to the performance level we expect from Thermalright, while remaining nice and light. Could this be the end of the heavy solid copper heatsinks we came to know and love? Nope! Enter the Thermalright XP-90C...690 grams of pure copper goodness. As you may expect from the name, the XP-90C is identical to the XP-90, minus the fact that it is pure copper. So, how does this heavy-weight compare to the great performing XP-90? Is it worth the extra cost and increased weight? Read the full review for answers to these questions and more!"



Source: ap0calypse

ICY BOX IB-281U External 2.5" HDD Enclosure Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 7:38 AM
When I was saving to get myself a monstrously large 5.25" Seagate ST-225 way back when, I'd have suggested intensive psychiatric therapy for anyone foolish enough to suggest that one day I'd be storing 100GB of data on a 2.5" hard drive that's just 9mm deep. Strangely nobody ever did suggest that, at least not in quite so much detail.

Source: 3DVelocity

IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 7:37 AM
For any one on the move, ultra-portables are a godsend. Microsoft's particular interest with this segment of the mobile PC market is in regard to Tablet PCs. Tablet PC's obviously have their own set of problems that have prevented full market adoption (again mainly due to price), but we're going to look at one that may change may people's minds, the IBM X41 Tablet.

Source: HotHardware

CoolerMaster CM Stacker PC Case Review Posted on Fri 1 Jul 2005, 7:37 AM
We reviewed an interesting system case for wealthy PC enthusiasts from CoolerMaster. The design and built quality make it a good choice for a file server on a local network or an advanced workstation. And if you put a water-cooling system instead of the second power supply or try to experiment with Freon-based coolers, the case will also be perfect solution for advanced gaming configurations. Read our review for more details about it!

Source: X-bit Labs