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Recent Reviews

MSI 890GXM-G65 AMD Motherboard 03-17-2010

Although AMD's latest chipset the 890GX, codename RS880D, is very similar to last year's 785G - RS880, the most striking improvement is the addition of a new southbridge, the SB850. Supporting USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0, the SB850 opens up much needed additional bandwidth for faster external accessories and solid state drives. While many 890GX boards utilize a full size ATX format, MSI's initial offering is the 890GXM-G65, a microATX style. The 890GX offers integrated graphics, using the RV620 graphics core, which supports DirectX 10.1, Shader Model 4.1 and a host of video decoding and acceleration formats. CrossFire is supported but the 16 available lanes must be split into a dual 8X configuration. Hybrid CrossFire is also available, allowing use of a HD5450 discrete video card to be paired with the onboard for up to a 25% improvement in gaming performance.

NZXT Premium Cables 03-16-2010

Today we will be taking a look at NZXT's new line of premium extension cables. I realize that a review of extension cables doesn't sound very interesting, but this could be a product that you didn't even realize you need / want. Aside from the obvious fact that these cables will extend the length of your current power supply cables, they are also individually sleeved in black mesh which can drastically improve the aesthetics of your system build while helping to improve airflow. Join along as I take a closer look at the NZXT Premium Cables.

Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 03-12-2010

When I think of a notebook computer, I typically envision it out and about with its owner, whether it be in a coffee shop, on an airplane, in a hotel room or at the office. Perhaps this is because I own a desktop and spend the majority of my computing time on it. But the fact of the matter is that there are many people that use their notebooks around the house to listen to music, surf the web, chat, check email and watch movies. I even know a few people who rely on a notebook as their only computer. Logitech is targeting users just like this with their newly released Speaker Lapdesk N700.

Thermaltake Silent 1156 CPU Cooler 03-10-2010

Although released in August of 2009, there is little doubt that heatsink manufacturers like Thermaltake are receiving more interest in their Socket 1156 solutions thanks to Intel's release of the new Core processor family at CES back in January. Based on a new 32nm manufacturing technology, these new processors produce much less heat than their 45nm counterparts. But like every heatsink provider, Thermaltake knows there are users who want better-than-stock performance without sacrificing noise or sinking a lot of money into a cooling solution (no pun intended). Does the $29 Thermaltake Silent 1156 fit into this mold?

Raidmax Skyline Case 03-08-2010

In the world of PC customization there are a wide range of products to choose from when looking to house your computing hardware. Some are expensive and high quality, while others are expensive and not worth their weight in tin. Others are great bargains and targeted towards the modding community, while some are cheap both in price and materials. Today we look at the Raidmax Skyline and decide which of these categories it falls into.

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