Tech News
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Memory Bandwidth vs. Latency Timings @ PCStats
Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 | By: Dennis"As the new 800 MHz FSB Pentium 4 processors allowed users to hit never before seen highs in terms of bus speed, many memory manufacturers were trying to capitalize on the situation by releasing every increasing degrees of "high speed" memory.
Unfortunately, to run the memory frequency at the same speed as the FSB (or a 1:1 ratio) almost all the high speed DIMM's (Dual Inline Memory Module) have to have very lax timings. Often, these times are as low as 3-4-4-8!"
This is a pretty good article on memory that addresses many of the confusing points about the modules we buy. Basically when it comes to memory you have a very distinct trade-offs to consider, latency and bandwidth. The benefits of each are very dependent on the motherboard used and if you are planning to overclock.
My advice, find a very high quality module, speed matched for your chipset with the lowest latency. That kind of combo will render the best all around performance with the highest degree of flexibility. -
DFI LANParty 865PE Review @ 3DVelocity
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 | By: DennisSadly here is another review of a DFI LanParty motherboard that does not have any photos of the board under the black light, maybe it's just too dark or something.
" DFI have launched their new LANParty series, and the i865 is chipset included in the family.
A new series, aimed at the LAN gamers of this world who also like to show off their systems - but is it all show and no performance? Let us show you!"
If the board is anything like the DFI Infinity 865PE I think it will do pretty good. (and yes they are very similar boards) -
Gainward Ultra1800 XP Review @ Gamers Depot
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 | By: DennisThis is the new Gainward card based on the new nVidia GeForceFX 5950 Ultra. There are not very many pictures in this review so grab your reading glasses. "NVIDIA’s latest driver release has made up huge performance and quality dividends which truly help its add-in board partners like Gainward maintain confidence that its products will have a retail appeal in light of all the recent DX9 controversy."
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asetek WaterChill Cooling Review @ Madshrimps
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 | By: DennisEver wonder why you never notice something until someone brings it to your attention then, all of a sudden; you see a ton of them. I have a strange feeling that watercooling kits are going to be the same way.
Other things you won’t ever notice are 6x’ish VW bugs and pissed off crustaceans.
"The core of the unit is its good looking CPU water block, made out of copper it promises good heat transfer. The bottom side is pretty smooth and using some high quality thermal compound you can provide very good contact between CPU and the water block.
The default top-cover has holes for both AMD/INTEL setups and for those AMD users who have a motherboard with capacitors close the socket they provide you with an alternative cover."
Be sure to also check out our review of the asetek WaterChill for comparison. -
VIA Mini-ITX Review Day
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 | By: DennisOr something like that.
- Insight Solution Mediabox Review @ Epiacenter
"By default the display is illuminated in violet and the brightness and contrast is very good. Personally I prefer to use the blue version, because it makes reading the LCD a bit easier. And it blends in nicely with the rest of my PC equipment...;)"
Cool LCD animations too.
- VIA EPIA CL10000 Mini-ITX Review @ Tweaknews
"The upgrade to the Nehemiah 1Ghz core brought the FPU unit up to full speed and the outdated AMD 3DNow instruction set was replaced by Intel's expandable SSE optimizations. Now this does not pole-vault the m10000 into the performance ranking of the P4 or AthlonXP series of processors which is not its intention, but significantly improves the performance over the m9000."
And now the link to where it all started... -
NL: Review Block
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 | By: DennisHere is another edition of the comment-less review links.
- XBOX CombiCable @ MetkuMods
- Spire Coolers Skivestream II Review @ PC Tech Zone
- Spire Coolers Skivestream II Review @ 3dXtreme
- Beginners Guides: Securing Your Wireless Network @ PCStats
- BIOS Flashing guide @ CyberCPU
And now the link to where it all started... -
The Sound of Computing Silence
Published: Monday, November 10, 2003 | By: DennisMany enthusiasts are not bothered by the sounds of computing and the ole office just isn't the same when the systems are off. Though a select few would rather not hear the computer at all which has thus started a silent PC movement.
" But recently, PCs have started to become noisier again as they become more powerful.
That's because faster chips, which need to cope with increasingly complex software, generate more heat, which in turn needs to be dissipated with fans, heat pipes and vents, making computers sound more like mini-power plants. " -
Abit IC7-MAX3 Review @ Digital Daily
Published: Monday, November 10, 2003 | By: Dennis"Instead of the adapter, you can find a very interrsting device inside the box - the SecureIDE. This is sort of a ParallelATA=>encryption module=>ParallelATA adapter which provides for a complete data protection on a hard disk."
The OTES cooler is also positioned really close to the heatsink mounting cage making removal of some and installation of others difficult if not impossible. -
NL: Review Block
Published: Sunday, November 9, 2003 | By: DennisWhat a way to start the day.
- Cheap and Easy LED Case Lighting
- Compiling a Custom Linux Kernel @ Bitbender
- PC Toys SystemMaxx Panel @ Big Bruin
- Logitech Cordless MX Duo @ TechJuice
- Lighted USB Cables @ PimpedOutCases
Don't forget the little people at Ninjalane
And be sure to Register for the Ninjalane Message Forum at ... -
SilverStone Gamer Case Review @ Short-Media
Published: Sunday, November 9, 2003 | By: Dennis"There is one problem. The standoffs near the edge of the motherboard are easy enough to reach with this tool but the standoff in the center of the motherboard is a big concern. The tool cannot be used to pry the motherboard off the center standoff. There just isn't access to it."
This case is actually pretty cool looking with some great features though the metal appears to be a little thin for any hardcore modding.
