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eVGA GeForce 6600 DDR PCI Express 256MB Video Card

Friday, February 10th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

In its quest for dominance of the video card market, NVIDIA released a series of three distinct 6600 video cards. The one we are focusing on here is the eVGA GeForce 6600 PCI Express. The 6600 focuses on the value market, and delivers solid performance for a card in its price range. All of the graphics processing units (GPUs) in the 6000 series feature support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0.

The GeForce 6600 is priced to suite the economy gaming market, but don’t let the low cost fool you. When stacked up against other low priced video cards, the 6600 can deliver surprising performance. It handles newer games such as Quake 4, F.E.A.R., Serious Sam 2, and Need for Speed Most Wanted. Not only will you be able to play these games with a GeForce 6600 video card, but you will be able to enjoy them.

There is a lot of technology packed into this card, so without further ado, let’s jump into features.

CineFX 3.0 Engine
This is where it all begins – the engine that drives the GPU of the PCI Express 6600 GT is a complex technology that accommodates DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0. What this means to you is performance, quality, and smooth game play.

Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
This technology allows you to digitally adjust color controls to compensate for lighting conditions.

nView Multi-Display Technology
This nifty display controller allows you to escape from a single monitor and project windows over multiple displays simultaneously.

Intellisample 3.0 Technology
As far as Intellisample is concerned, it’s all about the antialiasing. Essentially, that’s a complicated way of saying that this video card does a really good job at making jagged pictures and graphics smooth out, increasing overall image quality.

UltraShadow II Technology
As the name infers, this technology is responsible for determining shadow interactions during game play. Ever play a game and see the shadow flicker or not quite keep up with the action? This technology is designed to highlight complex digital light sources and the shadows that result.

Specifications:

• GPU - NVIDIA GeForce 6600
• Video Memory - 256MB
• Memory Type - DDR
• Interface Type - PCI Express
• Connector(s) - DVITV/S-VideoVGA

In the Box

• NVIDIA GeForce 6600 256MB PCI Express Graphics Card
• S-Video to RCA Cable
• Users Manual
• Driver CD

In Sum
If you’re shopping for a card in the economy price range, you’re going to have a hard time beating the NVIDIA GeForce 6600. It offers stability, strong technology, and a performance level surprising for a low-priced video card. Don’t buy this card thinking that you’re going to get premium output. However, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better low cost video card solution.

Memorex U3 1GB Mini Flash Drive

Thursday, February 9th, 2006 | Reviews, USB Removable Drives | No Comments

Memorex is once again targeting growth in its development of USB flash drives, and their latest effort is the U3 USB 2.0 MiniTravel Drive. This drive is small – it weighs only 1.6 ounces and is only 2.25 inches in length. Don’t let the small drive fool you though; this model has 1 gig of memory to house large amounts of data.

A decent amount of storage is a good idea in this case, as the drive carries the U3 software standard and comes equipped with four U3 standalone applications for email, security, file synchronization, and virus detection. U3 is a software standard that is growing in popularity in the flash drive market. The primary appeal of U3 devices lies in the graphical interface called the U3 Launchpad. The Launchpad is a graphical environment (somewhat similar to Windows) to guides a user through accessing applications and navigating data.

Part of U3’s appeal lies in private and protected computing. All U3 compliant devices (like this Memorex Mini Flash Drive) are designed so that once the flash drive is removed from the PC, all data vanishes with the hardware.

With all of this talk of U3, let’s not forget what flash drives are all about – storing data. This drive does that as well – you can throw MP3’s, photos, and any other files or applications that you would place on an external hard drive. There is even an added touch of coolness to the Memorex U3 Mini TravelDrive – the design of the drive is distinctive, and sports a wrap around blue LED light.

One nice thing about this drive is its compatibility with a wide number of operating systems. Many flash drives only operate on a Windows XP or Windows 2000 OS. Not the case with this little guy. In addition to the normal Windows standards, this Mini Memorex drive will work with both Windows ME and 98SE. If that’s not enough, this drive is also compatible with Mac OS 8.6 or higher, and Linux 2.4x or higher.

In the Box

• Mini TravelDrive USB 2.0 flash drive
• Quick start guide
• Lanyard carrying strap

In Sum

The Memorex Mini TravelDrive USB 2.0 flash drive isn’t the cheapest flash drive on the market, but it’s not the most expensive by any means either. If you’re looking for a U3 compliant device with a large amount of storage, slim design, and a good warranty (two year limited plan from Memorex) then this device is a sound buy.

Asus P4P800E Deluxe Motherboard

Wednesday, February 8th, 2006 | Motherboard Reviews, Reviews | No Comments

Asus P4P800E Deluxe is a more feature rich model of its younger brother. If you don’t find the offerings of the plain P4P800 enough for your taste then this one will be pretty sure to do it for you. Being from the same basic form as its sibling, it offers a whole bunch of extras to cater for diverse motherboard needs.

The Asus P4P800E Deluxe motherboard comes with advanced and integrated Intel 865PE chipset, and supports features like Intel Prescott CPU with up to 4GB system memory, 800FSB, dual-channel DDR400 and Intel’s revolutionary Hyper-Threading Technology, offering completely enhanced productivity especially when multi-tasking is done.

Major features of the Asus P4P800E Deluxe motherboard:

• IEEE 1394 connectivity
• Multi-RAID technology
• POST Reporter
• 8-channel audio
• Serial ATA
• WiFi Slots
• Intel 865PE Northbridge Chipset
• Intel 82801ER Southbridge Chipset
• Super-speedy USB 2.0
• Gigabit LAN
• FDD Header
• AGP Slots
• PCI Slots

There are various Bios settings allowing those who like to delve into overclocking to have a go and see how far their equipment can go. With the number of options available there will be little lacking.

With all of these features you really don’t need to dish out big bucks for board that can often cost up to 200 bucks with all of these features. For its price range it is extremely well featured. The P4P800E Deluxe motherboard provides 4 DIMM sockets using 184-pin DDR with a total capacity of up to 4GB. It has one 8X AGP slot with new generation VGA interface platform that delivers enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds.

Users can enjoy clear and realistic graphics for providing excellent gaming and movie watching experience. The P4P800E Deluxe motherboard supports Intel Pentium 4 and Celeron Processors with a FSB frequency of 400, 533 and 800 MHz.

The P4P800E Deluxe LAN chip provides a back panel LAN port. The Ethernet 10/100Mbps LAN Network Connection provides high-quality 10/100 Ethernet performance for high-value users who need straightforward network connectivity. The audio system, based on AD1980 SoundMAX chip, has 6 channels allowing immersive sound experience if you happen to have enough speakers.

Pros

• Reasonable price and high performance
• Easy and safe overclocking
• Easy and fast installation
• Dual BIOS
• Extremely full featured low-cost model

ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro Video Graphics Card

Tuesday, February 7th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

The ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro 128Mb AGP video card is a feature packed device with a price to match. With some users reporting questionable stability, opinion is generally divided on whether this is the best option to achieve all the functionality offered.

Installation of this board is a little more complex than usual for a PC device, as it requires a direct connection to a power supply, in addition to the plug-in slot connections. However, if you follow the comprehensive instructions there should be no problem getting the device up and working.

This ATI video card features 128Mb, together with the AGP 8x communication standard for fast graphics. In terms of the enhanced video for the gaming enthusiast, this AGP video card provides a very worthwhile enhancement of the computer graphics.

The latest games are increasingly demanding of the graphics, with movie quality effects becoming the norm, and adding this card produces a noticeable improvement in response and smoothness of the video, adding to enjoyment of the game play. Graphics are very processor intensive, and the 9800 chipset on this card boasts some of the latest tricks to take care of the complex calculations associated particularly with the creation of 3D images.

These include the trademarked technologies of SMARTSHADER 2.0, which allows complex effects at faster speeds; and SMOOTHVISION 2.1 which uses the latest anti-aliasing techniques. The chipset on the card takes care of the heavy calculation work associated with providing the enhanced graphic output.

In use, the card produces impressive cinematic quality graphics, with a noticeable enhancement of the latest demanding games. This means that game play becomes a more immersing experience, and greatly increases the value of your existing games.

However, all the attributes listed above are available at a more reasonable price from standard video cards. The ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro is designed to achieve a lot more than simply enhancing computer graphics, and this is where there have been problems reported.

The reason for the name “All-In-Wonder” is that this AGP video card has comprehensive capabilities with regard to broadcast television. It has a built-in tuner to view live TV, and also has TIVO like functions, pausing live TV, in addition to recording broadcasts and playing back video. You can even call up an interactive TV Guide, though this does require an internet connection.

The box comes with a wireless remote control to use for these purposes, which even includes some computer remote functions. The concept is an exciting one called convergence, and unifying the entire entertainment center.

However, there have been many reports of problems with the function of these features. Troubles that have been cited include: -

• Card overheating after an hour
• Difficulty updating the software
• Problems recording some shows, due to inbuilt copyright protection
• Tuner does not work with those satellite systems which require a card in the decoder
• Computer freeze up.

Isolated incidents of the above would not be such an issue, except that ATI’s free telephone support is only valid for the first 30 days of ownership, and they seem otherwise unhelpful.

That said, other users have not had difficulties and give glowing reports of the All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro.

In summary, if the card works in your set up, then it can provide all you need for personal entertainment. However, there are questions about compatibility and reliability, and if you want all the functions offered, you may find it an advantage to consider a separate video card and TV device with computer VCR input, which could even work out less expensive.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor

Monday, February 6th, 2006 | CPU Processor Reviews, Reviews | No Comments

The AMD Athlon Dual Core Processor is an advanced technology based system that offers high performance with digital media. You can simply increase your performance level a minimum of 80% when you work with an AMD Athlon Dual Core processor. You can minimize the time spent waiting for applications because the load is distributed between the two cores on the processor.

The AMD Athlon 64 x 2 3800+ Dual Core Processor is one of the fastest processors that delivers smooth and efficient multi-tasking activities. This means that this model allows the users to switch from one program to another without even pausing for the computer to catch up. This results in increase of office productivity performance of 22% on average.

Following are the significant features of AMD Athlon 64×2 3800+ Dual Processor:

• Processor speed – 64 3800+ / 2.0 GHz
• Bus speed – 2000 MHz
• Processor interface – Socket 939
• Other Technologies – HyperTransport

The advanced technology of the AMD Athlon processor offers the users to take real advantage of new innovations like life-like games, real-time encryption, accurate speech interfaces, easy-to-use video, cinema quality graphic effects and easy audio editing.

This model places itself well below the top of the range 4800+, but only costs half the price. With the price of newer processors stretching into the thousand dollar range, there is something lacking for those looking to keep themselves up to date, but without having to take out a second mortgage on their home to do it. Being near the bottom of the pack for Dual core processors allows you to get the best of the new stuff without the price payout.

AMD have made great steps forward when it comes to their chips. While the current bread of processors tend to get hotter and hotter as they push their clock speeds to ever more ridiculous (but justifiable) levels, AMD have managed to keep things cool. The Dual core chips manage to increase system performance by doubling up the performance over two cores rather than just cranking the speed up all the time.

Pros

• Leading edge software performance
• High-speed performance
• Inter-core communication at CPU speed
• Direct access to memory controller
• Lowest power cost
• Easy installation
• Extremely flexible
• Highly portable
• Cheap price

Basically a great chip if you want to get into dual core processing. A good balance between speed and price.

XFX GeForce 6800 XT 256MB GDDR3 Video Graphics Card

Sunday, February 5th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

At a midrange price, this video card delivers superior performance and is a good buy for game addicts.

The video card comes in the characteristic X-shaped box which also includes the drivers, cables and adaptors, and a game CD to demonstrate the performance. A CD-ROM is required for software installation, and a minimum 450W power supply is needed to power the board. The power has to be taken from the hard drive, as the floppy drive connectors are not sufficient, however, all necessary parts are included.

This XFX NVIDIA 6800 XT video card includes the standard TV output, and has dual DVI output ports (a DVI to VGA adaptor is included). This means it can be configured to drive two monitors.

The GeForce 6800 graphics processor unit (GPU) has been around since mid 2004. It was hailed at its introduction as the best graphics processor available, and it can still give its competitors a run for their money, although a 7800 version is now available at a greater cost.

The features include state-of-the-art technologies which work together to provide unparalleled realism to the latest games, giving movie like realism – in fact, one of the features is called CineFX 3.0 Engine. Other features include simulating multiple light sources four times faster than previously.

Antialiasing and 64 bit texture filtering and blending are, of course, also provided at lightning speed. The unit uses the PCI Express bus architecture to deliver graphics at double the speed of the lesser AGP 8x, and it shows.

The XFX 6800 chipset also allows you to record and play videos from your hard drive, and minimizes the storage space used. The card includes an integrated TV encoder, to send output to your television, and it and can form the basis of a home theater system on your PC.

The only downside reported by some users is that the card can run quite hot, and you may need to install another cooling fan for reliability. There have been concerns with system freezes, and the computer locking up, and generally it seems these can be traced to inadequate cooling.

All in all, though, this card represents very good value. It could be beaten technically by a card with the newer 7800 chipset, but then you would be paying about another $100, and it’s unlikely that you would notice much difference. The XFX NVIDIA 6800 XT is a video card requiring serious consideration for the avid gamer.

Asus P4P800 MicroATX Motherboard

Saturday, February 4th, 2006 | Motherboard Reviews, Reviews | No Comments

The powerful Asus P4P800 motherboard has brought a revolution in the world of technology. The model features several hi-tech factors like Intel 865PE chipset to support 3.2 GHz+ P4 CPU on 800MHz FSB, Dual DDR 400 memory, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, and a full range of other advanced features which deliver high-performance solutions and full value support to any task.

The Asus P4P800 motherboard provides advanced and integrated Intel Extreme graphics 2. So combined with AGP 8X graphics, Serial ATA technology, S/PDIF out interface and USB 2.0 for easy connectivity, this motherboard is one most high performance motherboards in this price range, with features that would easily only be found on much more expensive equipment.

Here is a list of the major features of the Asus P4P800 motherboard:

• Socket 478 Connector
• Back Panel Connector
• DDR DIMM Memory Slots
• FDD Header
• Intel 865G GMCH Northbridge Chipset
• Intel 82801EB Southbridge Chipset
• USB 2.0 Headers
• AGP Slots
• PCI Slots

With its host of featues you might expect to pay more for what you get. Its top class features certainly make it a competitor in the higher price ranges. The Zero Insertion Force [ZIF] style Socket 478 is easy to install and helps to upgrade the processor. The P4P800 motherboard supports Intel Pentium 4 and Celeron Processors with a FSB frequency of 400, 533 and 800 MHz.

The Asus P4P800 provides 4 DIMM slots using 184-pin DDR with a total capacity of up to 4GB. The motherboard has one 8X AGP slot with new generation VGA interface platform that delivers enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds. This allows you to enjoy clear and realistic graphics that provide excellent gaming and movie watching.

The Ethernet 10/100Mbps LAN Network Connection provides high-quality 10/100 Ethernet performance for high-end users who need straightforward network connectivity. Pity it doesn’t come with 1000Mbps, which would have been a cool extra. The audio system, based on a AD1980 SoundMAX chip, supports high quality 6-channels, allowing immersive 3D sound.

Pros

• Stable, easy to use layout
• Reasonable price and high-quality performance
• Dual BIOS
• Easy and safe overclocking
• Cost-effective model with many features
• Easy and fast installation

Cons

• No firewire and no USB brackets

eVGA GeForce 6600 GT PCI Express 256mb Video Card

Friday, February 3rd, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

NVIDIA has released three GeForce 6600 models, and the GT A30 is at the top of the series. All of the graphics processing units (GPUs) in the 6000 series feature support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0. The graphics rendering of the 6600 GT is unmatched in its class and provides the ability to play next generation games today.

Much has been made of the mid-priced video card market, and the battle for dominance of this cherished segment of PC gamers has made for fierce competition. The eVGA GeForce 6600 GT has ascended to the top of the pack for mid-priced video cards, and it’s easy to see why. It out clocks the competition on several critical scales, including frames per second.

There is a lot of technology packed into this card, so without further ado, let’s jump into features.

CineFX 3.0 Engine
This is where it all begins – the engine that drives the GPU of the PCI Express 6600 GT is a complex technology that accommodates DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0. What this means to you is performance, quality, and smooth game play.

Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
This technology allows you to digitally adjust color controls to compensate for lighting conditions.

nView Multi-Display Technology
This nifty display controller allows you to escape from a single monitor and project windows over multiple displays simultaneously.

Intellisample 3.0 Technology
As far as Intellisample is concerned, it’s all about the antialiasing. Essentially, that’s a complicated way of saying that this video card does a really good job at making jagged pictures and graphics smooth out, increasing overall image quality.

UltraShadow II Technology
As the name infers, this technology is responsible for determining shadow interactions during game play. Ever play a game and see the shadow flicker or not quite keep up with the action? This technology is designed to highlight complex digital light sources and the shadows that result.

Specifications:

• GPU - NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
• Multiple Monitors Support - Yes
• Video Memory - 256MB
• Memory Type - 128-bitDDR3
• Memory Bandwidth - 16GB/sec.
• Interface Type - PCI Express
• Interface Speed - 8X
• Connector(s) - TV/S-VideoVGA

In the Box

• NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT 256MB PCI Video Card
• DVI to VGA adapter
• Video Breakout cable
• Auto-detect VGA driver
• PowerDVD Software
• Installation Guide

In Sum
This is perhaps the best mid-range priced video card that you will be able to find. Graphics quality puts all other cards in its class to shame, and overall output has even been compared with some of the premium models on the market. The price point makes this card especially appealing for those who want a superior graphics environment but are not willing to pay for the most expensive new technology.

Thermaltake Big Typhoon Fan

Thursday, February 2nd, 2006 | Cooling, Reviews | No Comments

With the hype of computers spreading far and wide, one of the biggest essentialities is to keep the processor cool to make it work efficiently. Here is Thermaltake Big Typhoon fan that can keep the system cool even if it has worked for 24×7 time period. The fan keeps any type computer system cool for providing best, fastest and quickest result.

The Big Typhoon fan is the latest discovery of Thermaltake. It contains a low speed 120 mm fan placed over 120×50 mm high-count aluminum convection fins. The fan is truly advantageous, for it not only provides good airflow but also provides huge surface area for cooling the system. Other specific features of the fan include heat pipes, optional rheostat for manual fan control and near universal applications.

Following are the list of significant features of Thermaltake Big Typhoon fan:

• Applications – Intel LGA775, Intel P4 478 pin, AMD K7, AMD K8, AMD Sempron
• Weight – 825 gms
• Dimensions – 120mm square sloping to 67 x 50mm at its base
• Height – 135mm
• Fan Size – 120 x 25mm
• Fan Speed – 1300 RPM
• Construction – copper base with aluminum fins
• Static pressure – 1.87 mm/H2O
• Power consumption – 3.6 W
• Fan noise – 16 dBA
• Three pin connector
• Air Flow – 54.4 CFM

Thermaltake Big Typhoon fan has a unique construction. In between the aluminum fins and the copper base of the fan, there is a piece of plastic foam, which keeps the items solid and undamaged. There is also a large space between the heat sink base and the aluminum fins, which not only aid to cool better but also provide a huge amount of space to the unit.

Thermaltake Big Typhoon fan contains 6 heat pipes that transfer the heat quickly. The high-density aluminum fins inside the fan provide more surface area for excellent heat dissipation. The copper base solder provides the perfect base to ensure wonderful performance. The main quality of this fan is its silence - the fan performs excellently without making any noise at all.

Pros

• Absolutely silent cooler
• Minimum noise compared to other fans in any processor
• Complete compatibility
• Ultimate flexibility
• Very light-weight
• Easily portable
• Cheapest prices

Cons

• Limited warranty

Kworld USB 2.0 TV Tuner

Wednesday, February 1st, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

This Kworld USB TV tuner box is a good idea, but fails to deliver on all its promised features.

The packaging contains the tuner box, remote control, hardware and software and a ten page manual. The tuner box is good-looking, designed to be stood up vertically, and includes TV, composite and S-video inputs. In contrast, the remote control is somewhat generic and plain, and even includes some FM tuner buttons which seem to serve no purpose in this application.

The idea behind this Kworld USB 2.0 TV tuner box is that the computer screen can be used to display broadcast programs, which can be an advantage for certain circumstances, e.g. for a college student who can make dual use of the screen in confined dorm conditions. This also allows you to watch TV on a flat screen, which is cool and space saving.

Functions are included that enable you to use your computer to have a TIVO like pause and restart of the broadcast.

The machine is easy to hook up. Everything is clearly labeled, and the video inputs are on the front, making it easier to connect your camera or VCR. The USB cable is included. Although some functionality is possible with the earlier and slower USB 1.1 port, the name of the device is USB 2.0 TV Tuner, and you really need to have a USB 2.0 port installed to avoid choppy video.

The software installation is straightforward, but some of the drivers for which it is optimized appear to be older versions, and there can be conflicts with updating. This would be resolved by regular updates of the software, but it is reportedly hard to come by these.

TV can be watched on the computer monitor without turning on the computer, and this is possibly the best way. When you have the computer involved in the video, for instance, when trying to record a program or pause for a TIVO moment, the computer is extremely burdened, and it is best to ensure than all other programs are closed down to give the CPU a chance to keep up. The programs are saved in an MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 format, and instead of the encoding being in the tuner box, the software requires the computer to do the work.

The other complaint that a lot of users have is the synchronization of the sound and the picture. If the sound out of the computer is linked to the box, then the speakers connected to the box, there is a noticeable delay. The best way to link it is with the box directly connected to the sound card, and the speakers to the sound card pass-through.

The quality of the picture is not great, whether watching a broadcast directly or playing a VCR. There is also a high pitched sound from the box on several channels. All in all, this device is fine for a technophobe who wants to wrestle with the problems, but it can’t be recommended for the person who just wants to buy a solution.