64-Tech: Jan 29, 2009

The Fastest VGA Setups Examined Review

If I had to name my favorite piece of computing hardware, it’s graphics cards. And with the popularity of our articles and reviews focusing on graphics cards, it’s pretty safe to say you love them, too. What makes them so interesting is the fact that they tend to be the best single component to give a boost in performance where you need it.

Introduction
Test System Setup And 3DMark Vantage
Benchmarks – PT Boats: Knights Of The Sea
Benchmarks – CINEBENCH R10

Benchmarks - World In Conflict
Benchmarks – Crysis Warhead
Benchmarks – Far Cry 2

Benchmarks – S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Clear Sky
Benchmarks – Left 4 Dead
Benchmarks - High Quality AA and AF
Power Consumption Tests
Final Thoughts

BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX Review

Whenever a new graphics product series is released we always try to bring you guys a little shootout with a couple of retail cards. Last week NVIDIA and their plethora of board partners released their GeForce GTX 285 55nm based graphics cards. Included in that review was supposed to be BFG as well, however shipping went… well let’s just say ’sour’ with the product arriving 2 hours before the embargo was lifted.

Introduction
The GeForce GTX 285 GPU
BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX Edition
Setup | Noise | Power consumption | Heat levels
Photos - BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX
Photos - BFG GeForce GTX 285 OCX
Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA)
Test Environment & Equipment

VGA Performance : Far Cry 2 (DX10)
VGA Performance : Call of Duty 5: World at War (DX9)
VGA Performance : F.E.A.R. - Perseus Mandate (DX9)
VGA Performance : Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway (DX9)
VGA Performance : Crysis WARHEAD (DX10)
VGA Performance : Mass Effect (DX9)
VGA Performance : Fallout 3 (DX9

VGA Performance : DeadSpace (DX9)
VGA Performance : Left 4 Dead (DX9)
VGA Performance : 3DMark Vantage (DX10)
Overclocking & Tweaking
Final Words & Conclusion

NVIDIA Likely To Start 40NM GPU Conquest With GT218

As the industry moves closer to implementation of the 40nm silicon technology on graphics processors, some of the most complex electronic devices, both AMD and NVIDIA have their offerings in the works. While AMD already has prototypes taped out, NVIDIA seems to be taking its time, perhaps to perfect its products.

Click Here To Read The Full Article @ TechPowerUP

Philips Goes Super Wide With Cinema 21:9 Ratio TV

Philips has officially unveiled it super wide widescreen TV in the UK on Thursday as it attempts to offer something different to consumers aside from just another thin TV set.
The new model, called Cinema 21:9, will for the time being come only as a 56-inch model will offer a 21:9 ratio screen. The result means that that movies shot in the 2.39:1 format will completely fill the screen.

Click Here To Read The Full Article @ PocketLint

XFX Preparing GeForce 9400 GT Fatal1ty Edition

The GeForce 9400 GT graphics processor was originally conceived by the company to serve as an upgrade over the IGP, to provide multi-head HD video connectivity, video acceleration and a reasonable bit of GPU acceleration for CUDA-driven applications. It facilitates only some very casual gaming at low settings. XFX however, is looking to give it a gamer feel with a new Fatal1ty-branded SKU.

Click Here To Read The Full Article @ TechPowerUp

Toshiba - 500GB External Portable Hard Drive Review

With digital media playing such an important role in the modern home, it’s important to have a couple of backup devices handy to avoid the annoyance and potential replacement expense involved in losing data.
Additionally, games consoles and playback devices such as media streamers may not offer internal storage, or that provided may be insufficient, in which case you’ll need a suitable way to improve the situation to get the most from your hardware.

Click Here To Read The Full Article @ ITReviews

Rock Xtreme 780 17in Gaming Notebook Review

PC gamers have a tough time of it. Not only do you have to know quite a bit to get everything working properly, but you also have to regularly invest in upgrades or even entirely new systems. And if you go the affordable desktop route, you end up with a system that’s the opposite of portable. An alternative, of course, is a gaming notebook like the Rock Xtreme 780 we’re looking at today.

Rock Xtreme 780 (1)
Rock Xtreme 780 (2)

Rock Xtreme 780 (3)
Rock Xtreme 780 (4)

Application Performance

Panasonic’s 3D Full HD TV System

With the head of LG Display recently quoted as saying that flat-panel LCD prices have bottomed, the world’s electronics manufacturers are looking for the next big thing to keep the coffers ticking over. With a number of companies rolling out various 3D TV technologies over the years, it’s obvious that many think that this will be the next big thing. Panasonic is one such company that has spent a lot of time and money investing in 3DTV and debuted the fruits of its labor - the world’s first 3D Full HD (3DFHD) Plasma Home Theater System - at CEATEC JAPAN 2008 in October 2008 followed by the US debut at CES 2009.

Click Here To Read The Full Article @ GizMag

RX-8500 - 850 Watt MODULAR +80% Efficiency Tranquillity Power Supply

The Nexus RX-8500 power supply is guaranteed to provide you with over 80% efficiency (see graph elsewhere on the box). This means the power supply is using the power it is drawing from the wall outlet more efficient and less electricity is wasted. Obviously this is better for the environment and it saves you on your electricity Bill! A more efficient power supply also results in a cooler power supply. So less cooling is needed and we are able to make the power supply even quieter.

Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Nexustek

XFX 9800GT 512MB

Considering how long it took XSR to get it’s first high end graphics card review, it’s interesting that they are now one of our most oft-reviewed pieces of hardware. Not to be the exception to the rule is our recently acquired 9800GT from XFX. The smaller brother of the more well known GTX branding, the GT saw excellent sales during the 8 series for it’s high end performance, with lower end price tag. Let’s see if increasing the initial number by 1 makes much of a difference.