Tech News
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Cooler Master AquaGate Viva Review @ Virtual-Hideout
Published: Sunday, November 19, 2006 | By: DennisPrice shouln't be an option when looking for a good watercooler but as it was mentioned in the review this cooler is pretty darn slick for 70 bux.
"It's lightweight, looks decent, and constructed well enough that it performs admirably and will easily replace any stock cooler in terms of looks and performance. All this considering its current price tag of $70.00, it's an even more enticing alternative to noise and stock performance."
Wouldn't mind getting my hands on one myself. -
Akasa AK-961 Socket 775 Heatsink Review @ Frostytech
Published: Sunday, November 19, 2006 | By: DennisIts too bad Alpha isn't making CPU coolers anymore.
"The Akasa AK-961 heatsink is designed for socket 775 Intel Pentium 4/D and Core 2 Duo processors. The AK-961 heatsink's fan spins at speeds of 500-3400RPM, which is slightly more than the AK-960E can muster. Also, the fan on the AK-961 is internally illuminated with blue LEDs and the motor is suspended from the frame; an open fan frame style which yields quieter operation and better airflow at really low impeller speeds. Akasa's AK-961 heatsink is made from a collection of very thin stacked aluminum fins with zippered interlocking tabs, three copper heatpipes, and a small block of copper at the base." -
Koolance PC4-1020BK Watercooled Case Review @ HardOCP
Published: Sunday, November 19, 2006 | By: Dennis"When we reviewed this chassis in its previous form as the PC3-720BK we were left wanting. There was a major design flaw that kept the PC3-720BK from performing at the levels we expect from a high end cooling system. Basically it was a simple fix; reverse the fan direction so that the radiator receives ambient air rather than pulling from the heated air inside the case. That is exactly what Koolance did. Then they added another fan, increased the radiator size by a third, and dramatically upgraded the pump."
Can't say that I've ever used one of these cases but I did recently make my own version that you can see in the Ninjalane Message Forum. A full article is pending with some never before seen photos.
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A look at aftermarket chipset cooling @ AOA Forums
Published: Sunday, November 19, 2006 | By: DennisIt is a little known fact that "universal" aftermarket chipset cooling is pretty much non-existant meaning that what coolers are available have a very limited application. For instance Intel systems usually have an unobstructed northbridge but the mounting loops prevent aftermarket installations. AMD systems use mounting holes but chipset location is often obscured by the video card.
Of the coolers out there none are very small so you need to ensure you have plenty of space.
"Not satisfied with what’s been given, seeking even more performance, or just seeking silence, an enthusiast needs some options, and quite a few companies are willing to provide. Today we look at four of these options, three passive coolers, and one active cooler. Let’s take a look"
I'm personally not impressed with any of the coolers in this review, they are all rather large and the mounting methods are poor at best. -
NL: Review Block - GeForce 8800
Published: Sunday, November 19, 2006 | By: DennisXFX appears to be the most reviewed GeForce card around however Foxconn is hitting the ground pretty hard with a slick looking card.
- Foxconn GeForce 8800 GTX @ Elite Bastards
- XFX GeForce 8800 Graphics Cards @ TweakTown
- XFX Geforce 8800 GTX @ TweakPC
- XFX 8800 GTS and 8800 GTX review @ DH
- XFX GeForce 8800 GTX Video Card Review @ Motherboards
Too bad all of the current 8800 cards are based on the reference design, but then again why reinvent the wheel. -
NL: Review Block - Memory
Published: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 | By: DennisHere are a few memory related reviews
- Corsair Dominator PC8888C4 Review @ MadShrimps
- Corsair DOMINATOR Modules Get 18K Gold Plated @ Legit Reviews
- Crucial 10th Anniversary 2GB PC2-5300 Memory @ ThinkComputers
Corsair Press
Corsair Sets a New Standard in Performance Memory, Unleashes the TWIN2X2048-9136C5D DOMINATOR 2GB Kits
"“Corsair continues to deliver the fastest memory optimized for today’s and tomorrow’s platforms. Our close relationship with NVIDIA allows us to stay ahead of the competition with new speed grades. By combining the new 1142MHz memory modules from Corsair and the new NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP-based motherboard, we have a winning combination of hardware that elevates the end users’ overall PC experience.” said John Beekley, VP of Applications Engineering. “We are proud to deliver yet again another industry leading memory solution for performance users.”" -
Biostar introduces TF680i SLI Deluxe motherboard
Published: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 | By: Dennis"Biostar Microtech International this week unveiled the TF680i SLI Deluxe motherboard for Intel desktop processors using the LGA 775 socket.
According to Biostar, the TF680i SLI Deluxe is able to work with existing and future CPUs with an FSB (front-side bus) operating at a 1333MHz frequency. The motherboard also has three PCIe x16 slots. Two of them are electrical x16 slots for true dual-graphics SLI configuration. The remaining one is an electrical x8 slot for additional GPU expansion."
I think we will be seeing a lot of this chipset over the next couple of months. -
Nvidia GeForce 8800 specs a week before launch
Published: Wednesday, November 1, 2006 | By: DennisOMG!
"Sources in Taiwan again confirmed that Nvidia's upcoming GPU (graphics processing unit) GeForce 8800 (formerly codenamed G80) is designed to fully support Microsoft's DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 technology. Nvidia is scheduled to officially launch the new GPU on November 8, the sources said."
-- snip --
"Using Nvidia's reference designs, makers will roll out graphics cards equipped with a recommended 768MB or 640MB of on-board memory for the GeForce 8800 GTX and the GeForce 8800 GTS, respectively, the sources stated. With a different memory clock (900MHz versus 800MHz) and memory interface (384-bit versus 320-bit), the cards will vary in memory bandwidth (86.4GB/s versus 64GB/s) and texture fill rate (36.8 billion versus 24 billion texels per second), according to the sources."
This is crazy, i haven't even broken my 2x 7900GTs in yet!
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Mega Watercooling Roundup @ Virtual-Hideout
Published: Monday, October 30, 2006 | By: DennisYou'll find several of our favorites in this roundup and maybe eventually you'll see some of the Ninjalane branded blocks in a similar sort of situation.
"This summary should help you cut some of the decision making short or help you decide what components you want to mix and match in your system. However, do keep in mind that each kit is being revised or replaced constantly and the best thing to do is to double check each sponsor or manufacturer web site to be better informed. There are other kits on the market besides the "Fabulous 8" we reviewed and it's very possible something new will be added later on." -
Embryo Zero Case Mod @ MetkuMods
Published: Monday, October 30, 2006 | By: DennisHere is something we haven't seen much of around these parts, Case Modding, Well I take that back I did just recently finish a watercooling mod for one of the Ninjalane development servers. Its green, it glows, and I call it Shego.
"Being fed-up with my laptop's small display, I decided to switch back to desktop computing. When choosing parts for my new pc, I came to the conclusion that none of the ready ATX-cases were satisfying enough. I decided to build a case by myself and thought I could also save some money that way. In the end, this case ended up being more expensive than most
regular cases but at least it is unique, MY case."
