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Sony VAIO VGC-RC110G Intel Pentium D 830 3GHz

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006 | Desktop Computer Reviews, Reviews | No Comments

The Sony VAIO VGC-RC110G desktop computer is a good all round machine serving as a home entertainment center PC. With its fairly plain looks, it might not be a cool as some of their higher end equipment, but good for those looking for something that has a little clout.

When you mention Sony computers, or Sony VAIO computers, the first thing that comes to mind is their laptop computers, but the line of Sony desktop computers also have something to offer.

Their models are all designed to be used in home entertainment centers, I suppose because of Sony’s link to electronics and the entertainment industry. So these computers are aimed in line with the rest of their customer base.

This model sports a Pentium D 830 3GHz processor, which is not the newest in the Pentium D series, but allows for a few savings on more expensive, very up-to-date parts. It serves well in all applications. The 1GB or DDR2 memory is plenty for pretty much any application, and their is the option to upgrade if that vast amount ever becomes too little.

As this relatively cheap Sony computer is designed for your entertainment system it comes with Windows Media Center which allows a lot of options for recording from your TV and getting the most from your system. There is also a DVD drive which will write all of the popular DVD formats. It also includes a DVD-ROM.
A single 250GB hard drive covers all of the storage needs. There are options for RAID with SATA, but will necessitate upgrades if you want to take advantage of these features.

The water cooling of this case is cool as water cooling allows the heat to be transported more effectively, reducing the need for big, or many, fans and leading to less overall noise from the system.

All of the audio/visual ports are available from the front of the case, which makes them accessible, but ugly, so there are more at the back for permanent connections. There is also a card reader built into the third DVD bay from the top.

Its features are fine and it includes a non-descript 128MB video card. It does the trick and has alright looks to match. If you need to use it as a desktop computer, then you will have to get normal Windows to do that. In terms of price, I’m one for getting the cheapest of a series, so one with a slower Pentium D would be my recommendation.

A-data FP1 Fingerprint Secured Flash Drive

Monday, April 24th, 2006 | Reviews, USB Removable Drives | No Comments

Transferring data securely has always been an issue. Any kind of drive can be lost, misplaced, stolen or damaged. All of these mean the loss of your data, which is very often valuable.

Flash drives have become popular because of their small size, fairly high capactiy and robustness. However, they are also easy to get stolen or get lost.

To stop others from seeing your private data when they shouldn’t A-data have introduced a fingerprint sensor which makes the drive inaccessible for anyone but those whose fingerprints have been verified.

The drive itself comes with proprietary software loaded onto the disk that gets loaded when the disk is plugged in. It requires you to put your fingerprint on the the sensor to unlock it. It does support more than one users fingerprint and has a backup password system just in case.

This all allows the disk to be pretty secure, although someone could probably get a hold of your information if they were diligent enough.

However, this solution is very good and gives you peace of mind when travelling with your private information. PS. remember to keep backups because even if they can’t hack into it, you still won’t have your data anymore.

The biggest nag is that it will ONLY work in Windows. Other operating systems, you’ll see nothing on the disk.

Some of the other features:

• Sweep-type fingerprint sensor
• USB 2.0 connection
• Software pre-installed
• No special drives needed for fingerprint system

ATI Radeon X850 PRO 256mb GDDR3 AGP Video Cards

Thursday, March 2nd, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

The ATI Radeon X850 Pro delivers very strong gaming performance aimed at the elite gaming segment. The X850 Pro contains 12 pixel pipelines, sports quick frame rates, and includes a load of 3D technology to take your system to a strong gaming level. There are several X850s in the series, including two platinum editions (one AGP, one PCI), the X850 XT, and the X850 Pro. While the X850 Pro is the baby of the bunch and trails behind its big brother in terms of stand alone specs, it remains a strong initial point of entry for gamers that want an elite experience without paying an elite price.

The biggest difference between the X850 Pro and other cards in the series is the number of pixel pipes – the X850 PRO has 12 and the other models have 16. Pixel pipes aside, the ATI Radeon X850 PRO still performs very well. Memory speed and engine clock speed each come in at 500MHz, and the pixel fill rate is an impressive 8 gigapixels per second. Along with an advanced design, the X850 PRO sports advanced ATI technology.

SMARTSHADER HD
CPUs historically have played a leading role regarding graphical output due to their flexibility and programmable nature. The ever improving speed and versatility of graphics cards has lessened this burden, but an optimal graphical effect has still been challenging to develop. SMARTSHADER HD is ATI’s fourth generation shader technology that allows developers to program an unlimited range of visual effects that execute on the graphics processor. This leads to more sophisticated effects and great performance.

SMOOTHVISION HD
SMOOTHVISION HD is also a fourth generation technology developed by ATI. The result of SMOOTHVISION HD integration is a high performance smoothing technology that cleans up rough edges and results in a cleaner, crisper graphic.

3Dc
3Dc is comparatively new ATI technology. 3Dc is a compression technology that highlights details while minimizing memory requirements to view them. 4:1 compression is possible, meaning that game designers can add up to four times the details, without adding memory requirements.

CATALYST
CATALYST CONTROL CENTER is a driver configuration tool that really puts the ability to tweak in the gamers’ hands. The configuration tool allows you accelerate or decelerate you graphical environment, which allows you to determine your preferred graphics solution.

Specifications:

• CPU - RADEON X850 PRO
• Maximum Resolution - 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz
• Video Memory - 256MB
• Memory Type - 256-bit GDDR3
• Interface Type - AGP
• Interface Speed - 4X8X
• Connector(s) - DVI, TV/S-Video, VGA

In the Box

• ATI Radeon X850 Pro Video Card
• User Guide
• Drivers CD
• Dual S-Video/Composite Dongle
• Component Dongle
• S-Video Cable
• Composite Cable
• Power Connector
• DVI to VGA Adapter

In Sum
When ATI released the X850 series, they took an important step toward reasserting themselves in the premium video card market. The X850 Pro is the lowest end card in the series, but still packs a strong gaming punch. If you want to enter the elite gaming market, can compromise a little on speed and rendering, and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg, then the X850 PRO might be the card for you.

Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum 256mb Video Card

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

There is a certain segment of the gaming community that demands the highest level of graphics quality, optimal rendering, and brilliant effects interwoven into their game play experience. You know who you are, and you know what you want – a premium video card that will deliver. The Connect 3D X850 XT Platinum will get you there.

The X850 XT Platinum is the most robust card in the acclaimed X850 series by Radeon. Manufactured by Connect 3D, an ATI ‘add-in-card’ partner, X850 Platinum XT specs are off the chart; memory clock speed is 590 MHz, and engine clock speed is 540 MHz. This card will let you play state of the art games like FarCry, Battlefield 2, and FEAR at max graphics settings. ATI’s technology is built into the card to provide power and flexibility.

SMARTSHADER HD
CPUs historically have played a leading role regarding graphical output due to their flexibility and programmable nature. The ever improving speed and versatility of graphics cards has lessened this burden, but an optimal graphical effect has still been challenging to develop. SMARTSHADER HD is ATI’s fourth generation shader technology that allows developers to program an unlimited range of visual effects that execute on the graphics processor. This leads to more sophisticated effects and great performance.

SMOOTHVISION HD
SMOOTHVISION HD is also a fourth generation technology developed by ATI. The result of SMOOTHVISION HD integration is a high performance smoothing technology that cleans up rough edges and results in a cleaner, crisper graphic.

3Dc
3Dc is comparatively new ATI technology. 3Dc is a compression technology that highlights details while minimizing memory requirements to view them. 4:1 compression is possible, meaning that game designers can add up to four times the details, without adding memory requirements.

CATALYST
CATALYST CONTROL CENTER is a driver configuration tool that really puts the ability to tweak in the gamers’ hands. The configuration tool allows you accelerate or decelerate you graphical environment, which allows you to determine your preferred graphics solution.

Specifications:

• GPU - RADEON X850 XT
• Maximum Resolution - 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz
• Video Memory - 256MB
• Memory Type - 256-bit GDDR3
• Memory Bandwidth - 35.8 GB/sec.
• Interface Type - PCI Express
• Interface Speed - 4X8X
• Connector(s) - Dual DVI, VIVO

In the Box

• Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum Video Card
• User’s Manual
• Getting Started Guide
• ATI Radeon Driver CD
• Quick Installation Guide
• Registration Guide
• Component to VIVO Adapter Cable
• Power Cable Dual Composite/S-Video to VIVO Adapter Cable
• Composite Cable
• S-Video Cable
• 2 DVI to VGA Adapters

In Sum
The Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum is a premium video card, not an ultra-premium video card, and there is a difference. Ultra premium cards will cost two or three hundred dollars more than the X850 XT Platinum, and will provide slightly better performance that an expert will be able to perceive. For most serious gamers, the combination of quality, power, speed, rendering capability, and price will make the Connect 3D X850 XT Platinum a terrific buy.

eVGA FX GeForce 5200 128mb PCI Video Card

Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | 1 Comment

All video card manufacturers need to provide an economy product to serve the mass gaming market. For NVIDIA, the eVGA FX GeForce 5200 serves that purpose. The FX GeForce 5200 features strong performance for an economy card, and definitely is priced for the entry level gamer.

Like most economy cards, the 5200 falls short of performance you would expect from more expensive models on the market. This means that while playing graphically intense games like FarCry and Half Life 2 you may experience a level of choppiness. Cranking down the detail level and lowering resolution will allow you to derive better performance and play the majority of current games without issue. The 5200 is based on NVIDIA’s technology, however most of the standards listed below are early generation, and more advanced cards in NVIDIA’s product portfolio are based on 2nd and 3rd generation versions or entirely new technology altogether.

CineFX
The CineFX engine is the control device behind the FX GeForce 5200 video card’s performance. NVIDIA has released subsequent versions to this technology for its newer cards. Still though, the CineFX engine will assist with shading and will help smooth out graphics that could otherwise be rough around the edges.

Digital Vibrance Control (DVC)
This technology allows you to digitally adjust color controls to compensate for lighting conditions. The result is richer, brigher colors and an improved visual experience. Like CineFX, this version of DVC is an early generation technology and has been replaced on newer cards with updated version.

nView Multi-Display Technology
This nifty display controller allows you to escape from a single monitor and project windows over multiple displays simultaneously. The setup wizard included with the software makes for an easy implementation of this powerful feature.

Specifications:

• GPU - NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
• Multiple Monitors Support - Yes
• Maximum Resolution - 2048 x 1536 @ 75Hz
• Video Memory - 128MB
• Memory Type - DDR
• Memory Bandwidth - 6.4GB/sec.
• Interface Type - PCI
• Connector(s) - TV/S-Video, DVI

In the Box

• eVGA GeForce FX 5200 Video Card
• S-Video Cable
• DVI to VGA adapter
• Software CD

In Sum
The eVGA FX GeForce 5200 128mb PCI video card is an entry level product that will allow you to play the majority of games at lowered detail settings. This card is suitable for the casual gamer or those who don’t require a premium 3D product. The GeForce 5200 does support DirectX 9 technology, which is critical for those who want to not only play today’s games, but also those that will be coming out in the future. The graphics processor is advanced for the price, and the price point for the eVGA FX GeForce 5200 128mb PCI video card is lower than most of the competition.

ATI Radeon X850 XT 256mb GDDR3 AGP Video Cards

Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

When it comes to power in a video card, it’s all about the pixel pipelines. The ATI Radeon X850 XT has 16 pixel pipelines that result in a fill rate of over 8.3 gigapixels per second. What this boils down to is throughput, and serious graphics acceleration. There are several X850s in the series, including two platinum editions (one AGP, one PCI), the X850 XT, and the X850 Pro. The X850 XT video card is aimed at the elite gamer that loves to tweak his system to optimize performance and push the limits, and is willing to pay a little more to do so.

The X850 XT has impressive specs. Memory clock speed rings in at 540 MHz, while engine clock speed is 520 MHz. The memory interface is 250 bit, and the bus architecture is AGP 4X, 8X. Memory bandwidth is comes in at a crisp 34.6GB per second. A detailed look at the technology built into the ATI Radeon X850 XT video card follows.

SMARTSHADER HD
CPUs historically have played a leading role regarding graphical output due to their flexibility and programmable nature. The ever improving speed and versatility of graphics cards has lessened this burden, but an optimal graphical effect has still been challenging to develop. SMARTSHADER HD is ATI’s fourth generation shader technology that allows developers to program an unlimited range of visual effects that execute on the graphics processor. This leads to more sophisticated effects and great performance.

SMOOTHVISION HD
SMOOTHVISION HD is also a fourth generation technology developed by ATI. The result of SMOOTHVISION HD integration is a high performance smoothing technology that cleans up rough edges and results in a cleaner, crisper graphic.

3Dc
3Dc is comparatively new ATI technology. 3Dc is a compression technology that highlights details while minimizing memory requirements to view them. 4:1 compression is possible, meaning that game designers can add up to four times the details, without adding memory requirements.

CATALYST
CATALYST CONTROL CENTER is a driver configuration tool that really puts the ability to tweak in the gamers’ hands. The configuration tool allows you accelerate or decelerate you graphical environment, which allows you to determine your preferred graphics solution.

Specifications:

• GPU - RADEON X850 XT
• Video Memory - 256MB
• Memory Type - 256-bit GDDR3
• Memory Bandwidth - 34.6 GB/sec.
• Interface Type - AGP
• Interface Speed - 4X8X
• Connector(s) - DVI, VGA, VI, VO

In the Box

• RADEON X850 XT Graphics Card
• Manuals
• Set-up CD
• HDTV out cable
• DVI to VGA adapters
• Power cable connector
• Composite and S-video cables

In Sum
ATI made a strong step toward competing in the elite gamer market segment with the release of the X850 series, and the X850 XT in particular offers gamers a great deal of options. This card is expensive, but does match up reasonably well in its class. If you are looking for a great gaming experience, but don’t want to pay for an ultra elite video card, then the X850 XT might be a good option for you.

Connect3D Radeon X850 XT 256mb GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card

Sunday, February 26th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

The Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT an ATI based video card that features immersive technology. One focus of the Connect 3D X850 XT is to reduce processor utilization resulting in improved system performance and greater graphics rendering ability. The ATI Radeon X850 XT has 16 pixel pipelines that result in a fill rate of over 8.3 gigapixels per second. There are several X850s in the series, including two platinum editions (one AGP, one PCI), the X850 XT, and the X850 Pro.

Connect 3D is an ATI ‘add-in-card partner and manufactures the PCI Express version of the X850 XT, and features impressive specs. Memory clock speed rings in at 540 MHz, while engine clock speed is 520 MHz. The memory interface is 250 bit and memory bandwidth comes in at a crisp 34.6GB per second. A detailed look at the technology built into the Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT video card follows.

SMARTSHADER HD
CPUs historically have played a leading role regarding graphical output due to their flexibility and programmable nature. The ever improving speed and versatility of graphics cards has lessened this burden, but an optimal graphical effect has still been challenging to develop. SMARTSHADER HD is ATI’s fourth generation shader technology that allows developers to program an unlimited range of visual effects that execute on the graphics processor. This leads to more sophisticated effects and great performance.

SMOOTHVISION HD
SMOOTHVISION HD is also a fourth generation technology developed by ATI. The result of SMOOTHVISION HD integration is a high performance smoothing technology that cleans up rough edges and results in a cleaner, crisper graphic.

3Dc
3Dc is comparatively new ATI technology. 3Dc is a compression technology that highlights details while minimizing memory requirements to view them. 4:1 compression is possible, meaning that game designers can add up to four times the details, without adding memory requirements.

CATALYST
CATALYST CONTROL CENTER is a driver configuration tool that really puts the ability to tweak in the gamers’ hands. The configuration tool allows you accelerate or decelerate you graphical environment, which allows you to determine your preferred graphics solution.

Specifications:

• GPU - RADEON X850 XT
• Video Memory - 256MB
• Memory Type - 256-bit GDDR3
• Memory Bandwidth - 34.6 GB/sec.
• Interface Type - PCI Express
• Interface Speed - 4X8X
• Connector(s) - DVIVGATV/S-Video

In the Box

• Connect 3D RADEON X850 XT Graphics Card
• Quick Installation guide
• Drivers & Utilities CD
• Warranty Registration Card
• S-Video Cable
• Composite Cable
• Power Connector
• TV Out to Composite Adapter
• DVI to VGA Adapter
• TV Out to HDTV Adapter Cable

In Sum
ATI made a strong step toward competing in the elite gamer market segment with the release of the X850 series, and the Connect 3D X850 XT in particular offers gamers a great deal of options and is priced similarly to other cards in its class. If you are looking for a great gaming experience, but don’t want to pay for an ultra elite video card, then the X850 XT might be a good option for you.

Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router

Saturday, February 25th, 2006 | Networking (LAN), Reviews | No Comments

If you want to be online and connected wherever you are at home, then the Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router is your top buy. The Netgear WPN824 RangeMax router boasts of providing users with approximately up to 500,000 square feet of coverage. That’s 1000% more than 802.11g. So does it deliver? According to most consumers, it does.

For the novice, the Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router comes with an installation CD with SmartWizard, which basically helps you to install the wireless-networking device as painless as possible. SmartWizard automatically identifies your ISP’s network settings and succeeding steps are clearly outlined. If you still cannot figure it out, we come to one of the product’s downside – many users complain that Netgear’s tech support is not so good. Although this does not directly impair on the product itself, it does bring a user down and is cause for much aggravation especially if you can’t even get it to start working.

Another ‘con’ is that there have been repeated reports of the Netgear WPN824 RangeMax not working well with legacy 802.11b devices. So if you have older Wi-Fi devices on your network, prepare to be challenged when setting up this wireless router.

Well, on to the good points! The Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router features MIMO technology AND a new technology called Video54, which enables the Netgear WPN824 RangeMax router to have seven internal antennas. This enables the RangeMax to be constantly ‘on the prowl’ for any interference and adjusts the wireless signal ‘on-the-fly’ to make up for these barriers. This ensures that you get consistent high-speed connection anytime, anywhere in your home.

Note too that the seven antennas are discretely located inside the device offering users a sleek n’ chic design. Speaking of design, some users are a bit annoyed with the Netgear WPN824 RangeMax router’s blue pulsing light at the top of the device (which is actually an indicator as to which antenna is currently transmitting) but I think it’s cool and with its white casing, the device is a nice and ‘clean’ gadget to have amongst your other hi-tech devices.

To sum up the pros…

• lightweight and sports a nice, clean design
• is easy to setup
• great range
• features advanced Smart MIMO technology with Video54 which makes ‘dead spots’ less of a problem

To sum up the cons…

• does not work well legacy 802.11b devices
• difficult to reset and reconfigure

All in all, the Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router is great buy if you need to be online constantly, anywhere in your home.

ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 Video Card

Friday, February 24th, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews | No Comments

ATI continues to lead the way. Adding to its All-in-Wonder line of graphics cards is the mid-level All-in-Wonder 9600 XT, a graphic card you can use to convert your desktop to a digital-video-recording and FM-radio-playing PC entertainment center.

This ATI 128mb AGP video card is great for most games but because it has a bit of an overclocking tendency, it’s best not to test the video card capabilities with the latest high-end 3D games out there.

Installation of both hardware and software is easy enough and as it does not require the same amount of power as high-end graphics cards, you don’t even have to connect it directly to your desktop’s power source. A note on software updates though, be sure to uninstall and install what is required in the right sequence as many users complain of poor update installation instructions, resulting in the All-In-Wonder 9600 video card to stop functioning.

This ATI 128mb AGP video card ships with an adapter that can be connected to a proprietary port at the back of the video card. This provides for connections for two VGA ports, coaxial SPDIF audio, S-Video, composite video, and a sound jack to connect into your audio card (which of course is required for you to use the FM-radio feature). Well, so much for audio capabilities.

Another port at the back of the video card takes care of video input though a four-jack A/V adapter, which can receive S-Video, composite-video, and RCA audio and video connections. This brings us to the All-In-Wonder 9600 video card’s Multimedia Center 8.8 software, which adds DVD player functionality, a multimedia library so you can easily access your system’s images, video and audio files, and Guide+, which is a channel browser like TiVo.

The downside to the software is that many have reported some ‘bugs’, i.e., connectivity amongst the many different features don’t seem to work well all the time. DVD capability is great but the TV functionality leaves some users wanting for more.

Another frequent complaint is tech support response time (if you get any response at all). So if you’re not sure of what you are doing, this ATI 128mb AGP video card may be a tad frustrating for you.

Oh, and did we mention that that the All-In-Wonder 9600 video card comes with an improved RF remote control? It offers good range, better mouse control and configurable buttons. However, it does not have infrared.

Memorex TravelDrive USB Flash Drive 2GB

Thursday, February 23rd, 2006 | Reviews, USB Removable Drives | No Comments

The Memorex 2GB TravelDrive USB Flash Drive has truly impressed many consumers. For quite a while now, users of Memorex’ series of TravelDrive USB flash drives have been clamoring for a ‘better’ designed flash drive and it seems that this 2 Gig Memorex Flash Drive version has answered that.

Of course, this is not the only improvement the Memorex 2GB TravelDrive USB Flash Drive offers. First off, it is such a boon to be able to carry 2GB worth of files (documents, photos, audio files, etc.) to wherever one wants to go in such a small device.(The TravelDrive USB 2.0 measures just 3.0″ x 0.85″ x 0.33″.) And not only is this device light on the pocket (literally), it is also a ‘quiet’ device unlike using CD or DVD disks which are quite ‘noisy’ (not to mention bigger) to handle.

The Memorex 2GB TravelDrive USB Flash Drive is very easy to use. All you have to do is connect it to any USB 2.0 port and you can access your files just like that. It also features a transparent cap which aims to shield the flash drive’s USB connector and act as a pen cap to prevent loss.

The Memorex 2GB TravelDrive also aims to protect your data from loss or damage. A reinforced aluminum lanyard loop on the back of the device ensures that the flash drive is resistant to breaking. The 2 Gig Memorex Flash Drive is also more ergonomical that its predecessors, sporting a round and textured area for better grip.

Basic features include:

• Slimmer design – at just 85” wide, the Memorex 2GB TravelDrive USB Flash Drive is actually 30% smaller than its predecessors
• Metallic “charcoal” finish
• Removable cap clips on the back
• Blue LED light shows drive’s status
• Compatibility with Windows 98SE/2000/ME & XP, Mac OS 8.6 to 9.2 & 10(X) or higher, and USB 2.0 or 1.1

Is there ANY downside to the 2 Gig Memorex Flash Drive? There is one. It is not compatible with Windows 98 (or older) or NT, which most users claim to have. By the way, you still need to download a driver if your OS is Windows 98SE. Otherwise, the Memorex 2GB TravelDrive acts as a plug-n-play device.

As such, if you are planning to go to an important meeting and do not know the OS being used by your client or colleague, better bring those CDs anyway (just as a backup!)