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laptop computer

laptop computer

With the fast disappearing gap between desktop computers and laptops or notebook computers in terms of computing power, more people are aiming to purchase a laptop or notebook computer to replace the less portable desktop computer.
The question that looms large is how can someone gets to buy a laptop or notebook computer at the lowest price, and irregardless of whether it is a new, used or refurbished laptop computer?

This is a preview of laptop computer. Read the full post (657 words, 1 image, estimated 2:38 mins reading time)

Posted in Laptop | Tagged Laptop Computer, laptop computer image, laptop computer photo, laptop computer pic, laptop computer picture, Laptop Computer Reviews | Comments Off

laptop computer

laptop computer

laptop computer

With the fast disappearing gap between desktop computers and laptops or notebook computers in terms of computing power, more people are aiming to purchase a laptop or notebook computer to replace the less portable desktop computer.
The question that looms large is how can someone gets to buy a laptop or notebook computer at the lowest price, and irregardless of whether it is a new, used or refurbished laptop computer?

This is a preview of laptop computer. Read the full post (663 words, 1 image, estimated 2:39 mins reading time)

Posted in Computer | Tagged laptop computer image, laptop computer photo, laptop computer picture, Laptop Computer Reviews, Laptop Computers | Comments Off

laptop computer

laptop computer

Over the past 10 to 15 years, we have seen tremendous growth in the world of technology.  Along with advancements specific to things like security systems and cell phones, one of the most impressive changes has been with PC laptop computers.  Computers are found in millions of homes around the world, used to conduct online research, writing reports, working, and even playing games.  While the standard size laptop is very popular, the newer notebook is also a great buy.  The notebook is smaller and generally less expensive, making it more portable and lighter weight.  However, many people still prefer the full-size laptop.

This is a preview of laptop computer. Read the full post (673 words, 1 image, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)

Posted in laptop cases | Tagged Adam Osborne, Best Laptop Computer for College Students, Best Laptop Computer to Buy, Best Laptop under 1000, Best Rated Computer Laptops, Cheap Laptop Computers, Compare Laptop Computers, Free Laptop for Students,Laptop Buyers Guide, Laptop Computer Reviews, Laptop Ratings, Top 10 Laptops |Comments Off

new laptop computers

new laptop computers

Are you cruising for a new laptop computer? You do not have to pay thousands of dollars to get a new laptop from HP, Dell or other high-end brands. Join a gift reward program today and you can get a laptop computer for free!
Have you seen all those sites that are offering free laptops? There are so many on the Internet! These are what you call gift reward programs. If you sign up for one of these programs and meet all of their guidelines, you can bring home a brand new laptop computer without spending a single cent!

This is a preview of new laptop computers. Read the full post (425 words, 1 image, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Posted in laptop cases | Tagged Acer Laptop Computers, Apple Laptop Computers, Best Rated Computer Laptops, Cheap Laptop Computers, Cheap Powerful Laptop Computers,Discount Laptop Computers, Discount Laptop Computers for College Student, Discount Notebook Computers, Free Laptop for Students, Laptop Computer Reviews, Top 10 Laptop Computers, Wholesale Dell Laptops | Comments Off

new laptop computers

new laptop computers

new laptop computers

If you have ever tried shopping for a new laptop computer then you will know that it is not always a simple task; every single year new models and designs are released, and performance improves. It takes some research to find the best deal.
One of the best ways to find out what laptops are currently popular and have specifications the fit your needs is to search online. There are many websites dedicated to the sales and reviews of laptops that can give you valuable information.

This is a preview of new laptop computers. Read the full post (485 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

Posted in Cheap Pink Laptop | Tagged Acer Laptop Computers, Apple Laptop Computers,Best Rated Computer Laptops, Cheap Laptop Computers, Cheap Powerful Laptop Computers, Discount Laptop Computers, Discount Laptop Computers for College Student,Discount Notebook Computers, Free Laptop for Students, Laptop Computer Reviews, Top 10 Laptop Computers, Wholesale Dell Laptops | Leave a comment

laptop computer

laptop computer

laptop computer

Mini-computers are the latest trend to hit a gizmo on the market. It has become more of a necessity, because it is compact and comfortable to carry. Except for size, the most important factor in its popularity is its low price. We see the business travelers, students who are proud owners of mini-laptops. Asus will start the credit trend mini-notebooks, but now many brands such as HP, Dell, Sony, Samsung, Acer, and others have joined the bandwagon.

What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Gaming Laptop

One of the things that most hard core gamers dream of owning is probably the best gaming laptop, and to be able to have one of these awesome machines can be quite an achievement, but it’s also an added expense. A lot of the best gaming laptops do come with hefty price tags, but there is a valid reason for this.

Dell XPS M1710 Series Portable Computer

Dell's M1710 systems are the mid-range of their beefed-up XPS portable computer lines. These laptops offer excellent performance and great components, yet aren't quite as expensive nor as heavy as their big brothers, the M2010 systems. 


The M1710 systems start out at $2,299 powered by a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor which pairs two processing cores on a single chip. You can step that up to a 2.16GHz Duo or a 2.33GHz Duo at cost upgrades of $175 or $425 respectively, but the default CPU will be plenty fast for almost any user. 


Dell pairs that processor with an excellent 1GB of 667MHz memory. This amount of fast RAM is perfect for multitasking and even graphics editing. And if you need more memory, these portable computers support up to 4GB of RAM, so you can always upgrade later. 


The large 17-inch widescreen display on the M1710 is brilliant and sharp, providing a huge image for watching DVDs, opening multiple windows and playing games. It offers a hefty resolution of 1920X1200 pixels, so objects appear crisp and even small text is quite readable. 


And speaking of gaming, these XPS 1710 portable computers can handle pretty much any game you want to throw at them. With an NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS graphics chip that features 256MB of dedicated video memory, they'll run today's 3D games without problem. You can even upgrade the graphics, opting for the GeForce Go 7950 GTX version with double the video memory, although that will add close to $400 to the price tag. 


This portable computer also features built-in stereo speakers, including an integrated subwoofer. It doesn't compare to a stand-alone surround-sound set, but it delivers rather impressive sound for a portable computer. 


These systems just feel fast. The metallic black backing exudes power, and they weigh in at 8.8 pounds--not too bad for a desktop replacement-class portable computer. And Dell ships these portable computers as "road ready," meaning they've been tested for tough conditions and incorporate built-in hard drive shock absorbers. 


Speaking of hard drives, it starts out at 60GB and spins at 7,200rpm. This fast drive means you won't be bottlenecking when you're reading or writing data during gaming or other activities, but that size may not suit the needs of users who store a lot of multimedia files. Luckily, Dell offers a range of drive upgrades to choose from. You can move up to a 100GB 7,200rpm drive for $100, or if speed is less of a concern than space, you can opt for a 120GB 5,400rpm drive $45. 


On the optical drive side, you get a 24X CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive. These drives burn audio and data CDs and play DVD movies on that large widescreen, but doesn't have the ability to burn to DVD. An upgrade to a double layer DVD writer is an inexpensive option at only $30. This 8X DVD-RW drive can burn to traditional DVDs as well as high-capacity DL media that let you store up to 8.5GB of data on a single disk. 


You have a wide range of connectivity options on these portable computers, including a built-in modem, integrated wireless, and gigabit Ethernet that lets you hook up to high-speed networks like you'll find at LAN parties. You can also add Bluetooth connectivity for hooking up wireless peripherals and synching up to a Bluetooth cell phone or PDA for an additional $20. 


Wired peripherals can be plugged into the Firewire port or any of the six available USB 2.0 ports. There's also a 5-in-1 memory card reader for transferring files and photos from your PDA, digital camera or MP3 player. 


The M1710 portable computers ship with Windows XP Media Center Edition, so you have the option of adding an external TV tuner complete with a remote control ($130) that allows you to watch and record live TV on your notebook. You'll probably also want to beef up the hard drive if you go this route, as recorded video eats up space quickly. 


Dell offers a one-year limited warranty on these portable computers, which of course you can extend for additional cost. You can add accidental damage protection which protects your system from drops, spills and power surges for the length of your warranty as well. 


Dell's XPS M1710 systems are some of the most powerful traditional portable computers we've seen. They offer great components for everything from graphics editing to gaming and still manage to hold to a respectable size and price tag. 


Pros: Powerful core, good gaming machines 
Cons: Fairly pricey 




[Note: In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of about 2.7 million lithium-ion battery packs used in Dell laptop computers. To learn more, follow .

Apple Mac Mini (2010 Version) Review

Friday, February 25, 2011

Key Specs

Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2GB DDR3
Storage: 320GB hard drive
Optical Drive: DVD±RW
Monitor: None
Graphics: Integrated Nvidia GeForce 320M
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

Just when we thought the folks at Apple had dedicated every last designer in the company's arsenal to the stellar Apple iPad and iPhone, from out of left field comes a beautifully redesigned version of Apple's compact desktop computer, the Mac Mini. You won't find a whole lot of changes inside this new, prettier version—the 2010 Mini is seeing just a slight upgrade in the processor, and a more substantial upgrade in the graphics. A lot is new on the outside, however. But while the Mac Mini performs respectably for its class, you can find more powerful—and less expensive—Windows-based systems out there. The other major caveat to keep in mind is that the Mac Mini doesn't ship with a mouse, keyboard, or monitor. This means that if you need to purchase all of these necessary peripherals, the cost of your Mac Mini can start to enter the territory of the Apple iMac, a significantly better space-saving Apple desktop that has a built-in monitor and ships with a keyboard and mouse.

The Mac Mini's new, all-aluminum design features a shallower, wider body.

In 2010, the Mac Mini comes in only one basic configuration, and you can upgrade (only at the time of purchase) a few of its components. (Compare that with last year; then, the Mac Mini came in two discrete configurations, at $599 and $799.) The base-model 2010 machine, at $699, fits in between the 2009 models in both price and components. (We tested the high-end model last year; see our review.) Our standard test configuration came with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and a rather paltry 320GB hard drive. Those three specifications are the possible upgrades. For an additional $150, you can step up to a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Memory is upgradable to 4GB ($100) or 8GB (a disconcertingly pricey $500). You can also beef up your hard drive to 500GB for an extra $100. There is also a server version of the Mac Mini, which comes standard with the 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory, and dual 500GB hard drives for $999. (To accommodate the second hard drive, the server Mac Mini lacks an optical drive.)
The Mac Mini features the same Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics chipset that the 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop does; the graphics chip doesn't have dedicated memory but instead shares 256MB of the main system memory for video acceleration. This chipset suffices for viewing high-definition content and doing some light gaming, but hard-core gaming on this machine at high resolutions is definitely out. On the flip side, it should suffice for the moderate media-crunching tasks for which we can see many Mac users using this machine; we tried editing a home movie in Apple's iMovie program, for example, and found this system's graphics support to be nicely responsive. The Mac Mini also features Apple’s built-in AirPort Extreme connectivity, which provides support for 802.11n wireless networking. (Bluetooth wireless also comes standard.) Keep in mind while evaluating these specifications that you can't upgrade the Mini's internals after purchase, other than the memory; you have to commit to your components upon purchase and stick with them.
 

Like with all of Apple's products, the design is extremely minimal. On the top is just a black Apple logo.

 
On the outside, though, the Mac Mini jumps into the new decade with a super-sleek new design. While the shell of previous models had aluminum sides and plastic on the top and bottom, the new Mac Mini features an aluminum, unibody case. (There is no seam to be found on the body.) Although the actual cubic volume of the Mini stays the same, the updated version is squatter and wider at 1.4x7.7x7.7 inches, resembling the Apple TV unit in size and shape. On the top, you'll find a black Apple logo, and on the front is the slot-loading optical drive. No ports or other features mar the smooth right or left sides.

New to the Mac Mini in 2010: an HDMI port, and an SD-card slot. On the rear of the body, you'll also find the power button; Ethernet, FireWire 800, and mini-DisplayPort connectors; four USB 2.0 ports; and audio jacks.

On the back and bottom, though, is where you'll find some significant improvements on the Mac Mini. First, the power supply is now built into the body, so there's no awkward brick to find room for on your desktop. More important, though, are the new ports and slots you'll find on the Mac Mini: an HDMI port, and a memory-card reader, supporting the SDXC-card format. (To which we say: It's about time!) Considering the small dimensions and easy portability of the Mac Mini, it only makes sense that some users may want to connect it to a television. The now-included HDMI port makes the process of streaming high-definition content from your Mac Mini to your HDTV a cinch. Also on the rear, you'll find the power button; Ethernet, FireWire 800, and mini-DisplayPort ports; four USB 2.0 ports; and audio inputs and outputs. Included in the box is an HDMI-to-DVI adapter for connecting a DVI-interface LCD monitor. (If you want to use a VGA-interface monitor, you’ll have to buy a different adapter, which costs $29.) It's also possible to attach two LCDs to the Mac Mini, using the HDMI and mini-DisplayPort interfaces. We expect, however, that you'll need a handful of adapters to make this work, depending on the monitors you own; Apple also offers adapters for the mini-DisplayPort connector.
Somehow, Apple also squeezed a speaker into this very crowded chassis. It's serviceable, though you definitely won’t want to use it to fill a room with sound.
 

This twist-off plastic cover lets you access the interior of the Mac Mini. (Once inside, though, all you can upgrade is the memory.)

 
On the bottom is where you'll find the other significant upgrade to the Mac Mini. By simply twisting a removable plastic panel on the bottom (no tools are required), you can see some of the internals of the computer (mostly, the CPU cooler) and get access to the memory banks, which are filled with laptop-style, compact SO-DIMMs. The RAM is upgradable to 8GB; on our test model, the two slots were filled with a pair of 1GB memory modules. This ease of access is a big shift for Apple, a company notorious for not making hardware upgrades overly convenient. Although memory is the only upgradable-from-home feature here, we still applaud the company for making strides in this regard.

The SO-DIMM slots are easily accessible once you twist the plastic cover off.

As we noted earlier, though, the main problem with the Mac Mini is that, once you spend a few hundred dollars on the keyboard, mouse, and monitor required to use this computer, you've pretty much negated the price difference between the Mac Mini and the Apple iMac—especially if you opt for Apple's matching peripherals. Let’s say, for instance, you were going to trick out the Mini with the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display ($899), the Apple Magic Mouse ($69), and Apple's wireless keyboard ($69). Your total cost for the Mac Mini is now $1,736. You can pick up the high-end 27-inch iMac for $1,599. Of course, if you already own a monitor and/or input devices that you're happy with (or you're willing to settle for less-pricey peripherals than Apple's), the equation changes somewhat. But we believe that many folks who are taken with the Mac Mini's minimalist aesthetic will want to opt for an all-Apple setup. (And it'll cost.) And you'll probably want to invest in the Apple input devices regardless, because the Mac Mini has only four USB ports. You may be able to use your current keyboard and mouse, but if they're USB-interface and each require a USB port, you'll be left with a scant two here. Apple's Magic Mouse and wireless keyboard both connect via Bluetooth wireless technology, which comes standard in the Mac Mini. Using Bluetooth for your input devices will free up a pair of crucial ports.
A second issue is how the Mac Mini performs compared with the iMac, as well as against certain small-form-factor PCs using Windows. In our testing, the Mac Mini fell behind the 21.5-inch version of the iMac. In our CPU-centric Cinebench test, which stresses all of a computer's processing cores to measure raw CPU performance, the Mac Mini came in with a score of 5,072. That's about 1,500 points shy of the 21.5-inch iMac’s score of 6,518. (That iMac features a faster 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.) The Mac Mini also lagged behind the iMac in our iTunes encoding test, as well, converting 11 MP3 music tracks to AAC format in 3 minutes and 52 seconds, or 48 seconds slower than the iMac. On larger media-crunching tasks, that will likely translate into an even longer wait.
Still, the performance difference here isn’t enormous, so if the Mac Mini came with all of the add-ons that the iMac does, we would recommend it in a heartbeat. But, like we said, when you start factoring in everything you will need to purchase to get up and running with the Mac Mini, it's hard to argue for the Mini.
We also considered how the Mac Mini stands up against comparable Windows PCs. A similar Windows-based small-form-factor PC we tested recently, the Gateway SX2840-01, sold for $559 in our test configuration and packed in a 2.93GHz Intel Core i3-530 processor, 6GB of memory, and a 1TB hard drive. With its much more powerful CPU, it’s no surprise that it blew the Mac Mini out of the water in our testing. Its Cinebench score of 9,341 beats the Mini by more than 4,000 points, and it finished our iTunes test about a minute faster than the Mac Mini. Another comparable small-form-factor PC, the $529 Acer Aspire AX1301-B1812 (which features a 2.7GHz AMD Athlon II X2 215 processor, 3GB of memory, and a 640GB hard drive), performed more on par with the Mac Mini, beating its Cinebench score by 500 points, but completing our iTunes test within just a few seconds of the Mini's result. The Acer system's killer feature, however, is that it also comes with a 20-inch LCD monitor for its $529 asking price, making it a much better value for those who aren't married to the idea of OSX and the Apple aesthetic.
Still, both the Acer and Gateway, while smaller than most desktop PCs, are still significantly larger than the Mac Mini, and neither comes with robust productivity software. (The Mini comes with iLife ‘09; more on that later.) Plus, design-wise, the Gateway and Acer simply pale in comparison.
On the other hand, let’s say you’re a PC user who already has the monitor, keyboard, and mouse you’ll need to hit the ground running with the Mac Mini. This means you’ll be getting a decent-performing, space-saving desktop with nice specs for a price that's a relative bargain by Apple's standards. This makes it a reasonable deal for a PC user who is looking to expand his or her horizons into Mac OS X without spending more than a grand. Given Apple's current computer lineup, that's hard to do in any other way.
There's also the tangible factor of space saving, which might mean everything or nothing to you, depending on your workspace and budget. If space is a concern, you won't find many computers this small and this potent right out of the box. But space-wise, you'll still have to account for the monitor and peripherals. Again, it all comes down to whether you have a monitor you want to use with your Mac. If you don't have one, buying an iMac is about as viable a space-saving alternative as the Mac Mini. The iMac isn't exactly a desktop-space hog; it measures 18x21x7.5 inches, and, being an all-in-one computer, the design eliminates lots of unnecessary clutter.
Energy efficiency is another matter. Apple is heavily pushing the Mac Mini as a power miser, and our initial tests bear this out. Apple claims that at idle, the Mac Mini should consume less than 10 watts of power. We were able to confirm this in anecdotal observation. Monitoring the Mac Mini's power usage using a Kill-A-Watt power meter, we saw the readout fluctuate between 7 and 8 watts when the system was sitting at idle. When running our CPU-intensive Cinebench test, the power consumption was pegged at 26 or 27 watts.
The Mac Mini comes with the Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system (version 10.6), accompanied by the iLife ’09 software suite (comprising the superb iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, and GarageBand applications). iLife '09, as we noted when we reviewed the software last year, is a decidedly useful and superior general-purpose suite for media consumption and creation, and it outclasses anything typically bundled with a PC. The MacBook also comes with a one-year limited warranty and 90 days of toll-free telephone support. An extended AppleCare warranty will cover your system for two more years; it costs $149 extra and was not factored into the cost of our test unit.
We're genuinely impressed with the sleek new design of the Mac Mini, and we're glad to see that Apple gave the 2010 model some nice new features, notably the HDMI port and memory-card reader, as well as the removable bottom. We only question its value proposition when we consider that the better-performing and more-tricked-out iMac is just a few hundred dollars more. For those who want to dip a toe into the Mac OS X waters, though, the Mac Mini isn't a bad way to go, especially if you already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor ready to go.
* Editors’ Note: Parts of this review are excerpts from our review of the Apple Mac Mini (2.53GHz Core 2 Duo).

Gaming Computer Reviews

Systemax Core2 Quad Gaming Computer

A performance specced, but well-priced desktop computer for the home office that can handle occasional gaming stints.
Those who keep up with our desktop computer reviews know that Quad core is not particularly new, but is still the latest selling point for CPU manufacturers. The quad core experience gives you extra computing power by expanding the number of processing cores to handle more tasks, which is a departure from the style of just increasing the clock speed to get more performance. Desktop computer reviews in the past saw a massive increase in heat buildup as manufacturers pushed their processors ever-faster. The approach of more cores looks to be the focus of speed increases for now.
With a decent motherboard, and most of the obligatory extras there is very little need for upgrading of this Systemax computer. Here is a rundown of the specifications:

• Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 CPU
• Windows XP Home
• SLI capabilities
• 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2
• 250 GB SATA II hard drive
• Gigabit LAN
• GeForce 8600 GT 512 MB PCIe Video Card
• RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5
• Eight USB ports
• Firewire
• PCI and PCIe expansion slots (two each)
• Built-in audio

Quad core processors are all good, and although there is a difference between them, it will probably not be noticeable. Two gigs of RAM is a definite plus, and is about the most memory which will help the system to perform better. Gives a boost to Vista too (although only Windows XP Home is included in the package).
The graphics card will suit non-pro gamers. Even with newer games, performance will be pretty top-notch and as long as the highest quality settings are not chosen should return high frames per second.
Storage is fine, with 250 GB at your disposal. This is the one area where an upgrade might be necessary. With all those RAID features available an extra drive could get: a RAID 0 for nice boost in performance or a RAID 1 for data protection, RAID 5 requires at least 3 drives and RAID 0+1 requires 4, so take your pick.
Other features include USB, firewire, optical output and gigabit Ethernet. Just what the doctor ordered.
There are no special rebates required with this computer, which I prefer and at a whiff under $1000 gives a fair amount of computer for the money.

Intel Core2 Extreme QX9650 3.0GHz Processor with 12MB Cache

The Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core CPU offers the best in computer performance today. Four cores will carry you four times as far, and you sure have to pay for this level of performance.
At the end of the Pentium 4′s era, there was an AMD vs Intel battle to speed up processors to extreme levels. When processors became hot enough to cook on, there was obviously something that had gone wrong. Intel was quick to release a dual core Pentium, and then its Core2 range. The Core2′s managed to bring power consumption back to sane levels and regain much of Intel’s street cred.
After dual-core, the obvious next step is quad-core. As the technologies to produce the internals of a CPU get more sophisticated, so more cores can be stuffed into a single processor. But is there a tradeoff?
Intel Core2 Extreme offer a huge performance leap over their smaller brothers and sisters. By definition, the Extreme series leave the bus and multiplier so they can be adjusted by the user. This is useful for those who like to overclock, but not for the vast majority of desktop computer users who just want things to work.
This processor offers a large 12MB L2 cache, which amounts to 3MB per core. This is an increase of 50% of what is found in the other dual and quad-core processors in the range. This is a real performance booster, as L2 cache allows information to be stored close to the processing core, for much faster operations on data.
A new motherboard will be necessary, look for one that supports DDR3, to really stay ahead.
When building a super-fast computer for gaming or heavy duty office work with processor intensive programs, this is a processor worth considering. Stay ahead of the curve, but pick something else from the range if you want value for money.
Get an instant $50 off by clicking on the link below.

Intel DX38BT Motherboard with Intel X38 Chipset

• Intel Core2 Extreme, Quad and Duo support
• 1333/1066/800 MHz FSB
• No integrated graphics
• Up to 8 GB of dual-channel DDR3 DIMMs (4 x 2 GB)
• HD audio
• Gigabit Ethernet support
• Up to 12 USB 2.0 ports
• Three PCIe x16
• Two firewire
• Six SATA ports with RAID

Even though this board is aimed at gamers, and by offering three PCIe x16 ports, it certainly caters to them, but the rest of the features offer almost everything you could need to start a computer. There is plenty of room for memory expansion, up to 8 GB, which is great for new games, but is also more than enough for any office application you’d like to throw at it. Up to four sticks are supported, but I hardly imagine that anything over a total of 4 GB would be necessary. HD audio, although common to many boards, is always a good extra, and with the quality offered, along with 7.1 channel audio and the ability to listen to two separate audio channels you’ll be able to listen to music and chat to your friends online at the same time. Gigabit Ethernet has not yet taken complete hold, but in looking forward it will certainly give a good amount of future-proofness, and allow very high speeds over networks that support it. Storage is handled by IDE and SATA. The standard two IDE ports are there, holding up the fort from times gone by, although I suspect they will be on their way out sometime soon, much like the ubiquitous serial ports and parallel port that are missing from this motherboard. The eSATA ports are certainly more useful than serial and parallel ports, which continue to be useful only in industry where dedicated machines have been running on them for decades. Six SATA ports with RAID will allow a combination of striped storage or mirrored storage, according to your needs. I love motherboards with lots of features and my only gripe with this one is the lack of onboard graphics. That said, I’d just invest in a cheap one considering all the features of the board itself. Although quite expensive, you get more than you need for any application, it has all the necessary features and more. I would recommend it for anyone considering the jump into the Core2 range.

XFX nForce 680i Barebone with Pentium D, SLI and 2GB DDR2

Friday, November 9th, 2007 | Barebones Computer Reviews, Desktop Computer Reviews,Gaming Computer Reviews | 0 Comments

A stock clearance computer with a lot of decent parts, manages to provide a good spread of parts that by themselves can deliver well, but more importantly provide a good place to upgrade from.
The awe of SLI graphics has mostly died down. The benefits are still there, but hardly provide performance that can’t be achieved by a new graphics card. Not a complete computer, this set will require the addition of a CPU cooler to allow it to be used, and keyboard, mouse and monitor.
The basic kit includes the following:

• Ultra black case
• XFX nForce 680i SLI Socket 775 ATX motherboard
• Pentium D 925 3.0GHz Dual-core processor
• 2 x XFX GeForce 7300 GT 512MB PCIe video cards
• Maxtor 200GB hard drive
• Ultra 400W power supply
• 2 x Crucial 1GB PC5400 DDR2 memory modules

The Ultra black case is nothing special, it will hold your parts and just sit there like most cases should. The clear side will give a little thrill to those who really want to show off their computer’s internals, and lights can be added for a little extra glitz.
The motherboard is well featured with a firewire port, USB ports, 5.1 audio, Ethernet, 2 PCI slots, 2 PCIe x1 slots and SLI capable PCIe slots. Good all round. There are also RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capabilities that are built onto the motherboard, but the hard drive will need to be upgraded.
The Intel Pentium D processor is one of the first run of dual-core processors from Intel. They are fast and offer speed benefits over their single-core counterparts. But there are some things to note. These processors use a lot of power, up to 135W, which is ultra high compared to the 65W for the Dual Core2 series that is newer, clocked lower and processes faster overall. It is still quick and considering the price, still worth it.
SLI graphics cards bring good performance, especially in SLI mode. Newer graphics cards, namely the 8000 series GeForce cards are more than capable of outperforming these two, but the newer cards are still expensive. These two are GT versions, so they are the fastest of their generation, which works to their favor.
A 200GB IDE hard drive and 400W Ultra power supply round out the package.
The package if fine, and good if you are on a budget. However, considering that top-notch gaming is the realm of the newest components, great deals are always going to set you behind the times. This is fine, but be aware that as games increase in their need for powerful graphics cards and processors, this system will fall behind fairly quickly.

Computer Case Reviews

Thermaltake Matrix Computer Case

The Thermaltake Matrix computer case is toutes a “case for LAN parties” according to the detailing on the box. LAN party cases usually have unique designs, clear cases, some cold cathode lights, great cooling and good layouts inside to add to the pleasing look of the case.
The Blue LED 120mm fan located at the bottom and the 120mm fan at the back give it good airflow. The clear side panel lets you see all of your cool components inside and its light enough to lug around to any LAN party you wish to go to.
The case incorporates a tool-less design. All of the peripherals come out with just clips. This applies to PCI slots, hard drives and all the other stuff besides the motherboards screws to the case.
The case does basically what it is supposed to in a case thats priced at about $75. It has good looks and works fine. It’s nothing to write home about and won’t leave any jaws on the floor, but it does provide another option for those looking at cases in this range that are suitable to be lugged around, but are also not lacking in the design department.

Three System Cases from ASUS

X-bit labs takes a look at 3 different mid-range cases from Asus. Although Asus are not well-known for their cases they do offer decent looks, but plain. Their Vento system was a bit of a failure, having good looks, but bad functionality. Their focus now is just for those who want a middle of the range case, without too much cost involved.
The funniest one of the lot is the TA-370 which has cool looking, chess board like cover, which although may not appeal to everyone’s tastes has a unique styling to it. All of the buttons blend with the checked look of the cover, so they are almost completely covered up. The other parts have covers that slip down for use. There is a doorknob on the side panel that allows you to open it. Inside parts almost all have clips for easy undoing of parts.
The TA-252 has a more plain design, and the whole cover is white. There are large areas of mesh for good airflow. Another thing I like is that you don’t need to open a cover to get to the USB and audio ports. There is no tool-free design here and the little clips apparent in the above mentioned case are not there. The internals are plain.
The TA-212 shares the same internals, but a different front cover with the TA-252. It’s a completely gray, almost silver looking front cover where all the drives have flaps that come down to conceal them. They are  functional.
They find the TA-252 the best one in its class, which I would agree with, as its the most traditional, has things placed in the right places and provides enough cooling through big vents.
See the full review at X-bit labs.

Cooler Master Stacker CM 830 Aluminum Case

The Cooler Master Stacker CM 830 breaks a little witht he tradition of quite standard cases and offers one with as many options as you can think of, styling that is impeccable and cooling suitable for the most hot-headed of overclockers.
With support with up to 9 120mm fans there is amost no way that it will not provide the necessary airflow to whatever setup you have. Part of the styling is balck mesh sides and top, which allow lots of fresh air to come from the outside. There are panels in the side of the case where extra fans can be installed and one exhaust fan at the top of the case to expel hot air.
The case is designed with Cooler Master’s liquid cooling system in mind and is designed to easily take their system, which could be an option for anyone that gets this case, as long as they have some money left after that.
Is is worthy of noting that all of the fan spots can take fans of up to 140mm in size. This is great for getting the throughflow you need without the buzz of many smaller fans.
The hard drives can be isntalled without the use of tools and are installed in small kind of container that has a 120mm fan at the front. I takes only the space of 3 traditional hard drive spots but they are kept cool by the fan. The drives themselves can be installed without tools using the little goodies given with the case. Alternatively, you can still use screws after removing the toolless stuff.
At nearly 300 bucks, this case is expensive. It is certainly worth it as you get a fine case which will last forever. There are enough extras for anyone and others will drool over its great lines and styling. Check out the full review at extremeoverclocking.

Hell’s Illusion: Project Lament II Case Mod at CaseModGod

 | Computer Case Reviews, Modding, News | 0 Comments

Utterly fantastic, there are not too many people who will go to this degree of detail to create their perfect case. Most cases are just slight reworks on bought cases, but why stop there. CaseModGod has made a case based on hellraiser, the end result, which at time of writing has not come yet is a case which is inspired by hellraiser with a puzzle box worked into it.
Massive browny points for creativity and total coolness. Look here if you want to creat a case that is truly unique.
LINK

XG Viper 2 Red Gaming Case

 | Computer Case Reviews, News | 1 Comment

The Viper 2 red gaming case might not be to everybody’s taste, but it does do a fairly good job at what it claims to do. Have a newer style of more aggressive styling it will certainly make those who like more traditional cases take a second look.
In a review at bjorn3d they have a closer look at the case and how it competes in the market it is aimed at, the gaming market.
It takes quite a lot to make it into the gaming sector as they are quite choosy about the parts they put into their computer. And with the slightly higher budgets, or just more willingless to spend it has become a cometitive market. The aggressive red front of the case is just a matter of taste and doesn’t effect the overall effectiveness of the case itself.
Internally there are many tool free solutions so that you need the minimum of effort install and take things out. The included 80mm fans and the small slots for them are a little disappointing with discrepencies between what is featured on their website and the final product. It ran hotter than their reference Antec case, which is a little disappointing, attributed mostly to the 80mm as opposed to 120mm fans.
A cool case with aggressive styling. If you are in the market for this kind of case give it a look, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Systemax Venture S925 Desktop Computer

 

Processor: 3GHz Pentium D 925 Memory: 1GB DDR2 Storage: 250GB hard drive Optical Drives: 20x double-layer DVD±RW Monitor: None Graphics: nVidia GeForce 7300 LE (256MB) Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

 

Systemax Venture S925 Desktop Computer Review

Reviewed by: Matthew Murray Review Date: August 2007

To hit its low price, Systemax powers the $499.95 Venture S925 with a 3GHz Intel Pentium D 925 processor. That chip is a bit lower-end than other budget CPUs in both Intel's and AMD's lines, and it doesn't have quite the same speed (or cool-running) properties of chips in Intel's popular Core 2 Duo series. But if you don't mind not having the latest-and-greatest processor, the Venture S925 holds its own well enough. In fact, it surpassed other under-$500 desktops we've recently tested in our Futuremark PCMark05 benchmark test, turning in a score of 3,839. That's a slight improvement over other budget desktops, and the eMachines T5230 performed just a little bit better. On our other tests, the Systemax PC's results were more or less in keeping with those of comparable budget systems. If you just need a PC for everyday work, such as Office applications and Web surfing, the Venture S925 will serve you fine. You'll want to play out any serious gaming aspirations you might have elsewhere, though. The PC's nVidia GeForce 7300 LE graphics card doesn't generate much in the way of playable frame rates in 3D titles. Other components include 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a 20x DVD±RW drive, and a nine-format flash-card reader. You also get a pair of speakers, and a Logitech keyboard and mouse. The operating system, as is now apparently de rigueur for budget desktops, is Windows Vista Home Premium. Inside, upgraders will find one free RAM slot, two free PCI 2.2 slots, and one free PCI Express x1 slot, as well as front-accessible 5.25- and 3.5-inch drive bays (one of each) and room in the internal 3.5-inch cage for two more hard drives. For protection, Systemax includes a standard one-year limited warranty, and a full one-year subscription to CA AntiVirus, something you don't see with many desktops, even higher-priced ones. It's a security program that protects your computer while remaining as unobtrusive as possible, which makes it an excellent companion for the equally unassuming Venture S925. Discuss this product in our desktops forum. Direct Price: $499.95 Systemax, 888-682-7236 www.systemaxpc.com ABS Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme Desktop Computer   Processor: 2.66GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6700 (overclocked to 3.2GHz) Memory: 4GB DDR2 Storage: 150GB hard drive Optical Drives: Double-layer DVD±RW Monitor: None Graphics: nVidia GeForce 8800 Ultra (768MB) Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate   ABS Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme Desktop Computer Review Reviewed by: Bill O'Brien Review Date: June 2007 You can't fault ABS for building on a known success, and that may explain why its Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme looks so familiar. It's the same Gigabyte monster tower case we've seen already (all 21x8x22.5 inches of it), with the same Gigabyte water-cooling system (adding 6 more inches to the case's depth) plumbed into the box to help everything chill. A few changes, however, should pique your interest—as should the price. Our $3,774 test model isn't the fastest PC you can configure, but it does deliver lots of bang for the buck. Unchanged (but always worth noting) is the company's attention to cable routing. Inside, you'll see some unavoidable clutter because of the coolant hoses, but that's a minor condition that affects only a small section near the rear of the graphics card. All of the electrical lines are wrapped, shielded, and routed out of the way. As a result, interior access is excellent. Also, the computer runs almost whisper-quiet. One other deviation from the last ABS system we reviewed is the Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme's single nVidia GeForce 8800 Ultra card, instead of a dual-card 8800 GTX Scalable Link Interface (SLI) pairing. The 8800 Ultra is clocked slightly faster than the GTX, and it's eminently overclockable. Its clock-speed increases, plus some internal streamlining, theoretically make the 8800 Ultra a better version of the 8800 GTX. It's also more expensive—by a few hundred dollars—and that might explain why ABS is using only one. Keeping the price reasonable could also explain the inclusion of only a single 10,000rpm Western Digital 150GB Raptor drive instead of a pair in a RAID configuration. But there's no arguing with the 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 processor (overclocked to 3.2GHz) and 4GB of DDR2 memory. The only question is whether or not it makes the grade. We'll spare you the suspense: It does. The Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme's 11,345 score on Futuremark's 3DMark06 at 1,280x1,024 resolution doesn't rival the 15,000- or 16,000-point scores we've peeled from high-end gaming systems, but the price of this PC is below even ABS's own $4,500 gaming computers and well-removed from the $6,000 gaming boxes offered by some boutique PC makers. Our test game F.E.A.R. (also at 1,280x1,024) ran at an average of 175 frames per second (fps). Also, our Windows Media Encoder test took less than 5 minutes, and our iTunes encoding test just over 3 minutes. These are great numbers for what is essentially an entry-level performance PC with an attitude. Of course, you can always add more of almost anything. The 1,100-watt Tagan power supply has oodles of spare amps on tap for expansion. The case can host four more front-accessible 5.25-inch drives and four more internal 3.5-inch hard drives; there's also case space for both a 3.5-inch floppy drive and a card reader. Two PCI slots are unoccupied, but expect to have difficulty accessing them if you add a second 8800 Ultra. The eVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 motherboard has more external connectivity options than you can shake a memory stick at. The PC has six rear-panel USB ports, plus onboard connectors for four more. Two of these USB connectors are extended to the case's front panel, along with the standard mic and headphone ports and a spare FireWire port to complement the one you'll find on the rear panel. Eight-channel audio, S/PDIF output, and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports round out the list. The Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme is neither the least-expensive nor the highest-performance computer we've seen from ABS. However, it's one of the company's best price-for-performance offerings. Special Deal: Apple 21.5" iMac Desktop Computer 1698.95  Apple 21.5" iMac Desktop Computer, 3.6GHz Core i5 Dual-Core, 4GB (2x2GB) RAM, 1TB 7200rpm Hard Drive, 8x SuperDrive DVD Burner, SDXC Card Slot, ATI Radeon HD 5670 512MB Graphics, 21.5" LED Backlit 16:9 Widescreen Display, iSight Camera, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 802.11n Airport Extreme Wi-Fi, Wireless Keyboard & Magic Mouse, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard iMac iMac 21.5" iMac Desktop Computer

Desktop Computer Reviews

eMachines EZ1601-01 All-in-One Desktop Computer Review

Well this is the first all-in-one PC I’ve looked at carefully. It’s quite functional as a desktop computer, but with only the processing power of a netbook. Pricewise it seems about right and will serve well as a computer for surfing the Internet, writing documents and listening to music if you add speakers or headphones to the mix.
Here’s the features:

• 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor
• Windows XP
• 1GB memory
• 160GB hard drive
• DVD burner
• 18.5 inch monitor
• Gigabit Ethernet

So it’s a netbook with a large monitor and a DVD burner. The processor is standard on almost all netbooks and provides only a basic amount of computing power. Enough power for day-to-day stuff, but little enough to frustrate anyone using graphics applications or processor intensive applications like video.
The 18.5 inch monitor is useful. Bigger than most laptops, but smaller than any single computer monitor you can buy.
Hard drive is big enough and the 1GB of memory will run the applications it is intended to, ie. web browser, instant messaging and other basic communication stuff.
The system comes with the now unsupported Windows XP, and although the operating itself is fine, I’d really recommend something newer. Disclaimer: the computer I’m using right now has Windows XP, so take that as you will.
The DVD burner is a plus and nicely tucked away behind the screen, which also makes it a little awkward to get to, but not too bad.
I’m not totally convinced that this machine is worth it. For $300 you can get a netbook of equivalent power, add a monitor for less than $100 and get a removable DVD burner.  And after all that, the netbook can still be moved around from place to place easily. I would suggest it as an always-on computer, perhaps in the kitchen or somewhere like that, where it’s not going to be the primary machine. It’s missing the other thing I’d expect from this type of computer: a touch screen. Sure, it’s smaller and compact, but one could have been added and the price would not have gone over $480.
Pros:

• Compact
• Energy-efficient
• DVD burner

Cons:

• No touch screen
• Not powerful

Tags: all-in-one, atom, compact, low power

Compaq CQ4010F Black Desktop PC Review

 | Barebones Computer Reviews, Desktop Computer Reviews | 0 Comments

Firstly, this computer does not come with keyboard, monitor or mouse. It only comes with the system. Even so, for a tad under $400 it’s a pretty good offer.
As a primary home computer this Compaq can pack a bit of punch, with enough memory and processor speed to run anything but the most graphics intensive programs it can take most of what is thrown at it. Throw in the good looks and styling of the case and you’re looking at a pretty decent machine. Here’s a quick rundown of the main features.

• 2.3GHz AMD Sempron LE1300 processor
• 2GB memory
• 250GB hard drive
• DVD burner with Lightscribe
• NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE integrated graphics processor

The heart of the system is an AMD Sempron processor, which is branded as the cheaper end of the AMD lineup. The Athlon has traditionally been ahead of the Sempron in the pecking order. But AMD tend to throw quite a lot of good technology into their lower end products and this single-core processor can perform far better than its price tag suggests. Just the CPU on its own costs around $40 but performs well enough to surf the Internet, burn CDs and create some spreadsheets and documents.
2GB of memory is enough for even the heaviest of daily use. The memory or RAM is where programs are stored while they are running; it is much faster than the hard drive and means that programs can work quicker and store more information while they are running. The web browser Firefox for example can use up to 180MB of memory with only one of two tabs open, but as soon as you get to 15-20 tabs then all of those extra sites are now stored in memory and can shoot the memory usage of Firefox to over 300MB. Combine this with instant messengers and other programs and you get a lot of memory being used. But 2GB can comfortably handle all of those.
250GB hard drive is enough for around 40 DVD movies and should be plenty, especially if you store all your movies and photos online.
The Nvidia GeForce 6150SE is not a high performer for graphics. Although occasionally sold on “gaming computers” it really only does the basics. Modern games can be played if you turn off all the fancy shading and textures and other such stuff, but for getting the intended effect you’ll need a dedicated graphics card. Luckily it has a PCIe x16 graphics card slot for just this purpose, pity that it will probably be the processor slowing the graphics down for there onwards.
There is the standard slew of other extras including USB slots, audio input and outputs, Gigabit Ethernet and the pretty good looks of the case.

Tags: barebones, cheap desktop computer, compaq, desktop computer, sempron

Emachines EL1300G-01w Desktop PC Review

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 | Barebones Computer Reviews, Desktop Computer Reviews | 1 Comment

So here’s a real cheap desktop computer. Aimed at doing just the basics and not including a monitor this system has everything a desktop computer needs and is perfect for a second, general-use system.
This system has an older AMD processor and has a fair spread of other parts. Here is a list of the features:

• 1.6GHz AMD Athlon 64 2650e processor
• 2GB of memory
• 160GB hard drive
• Dual-layer DVD writer
• Vista Home Basic

No illusions of grandeur here, this system only does the basics well. But that’s not all bad. This is a computer for $200.
The CPU processor is decent and can tackle most general tasks. Surfing the Internet and punching out some documents on a word processor will be fine. Using instant messaging will also not take a heavy toll on the system. The amount of memory is more important than all of these in this situation.
The 2GB of memory is enough for all tasks. A web browser with a whole lot of tabs open, streaming online radio, chat program and word processor all open at the same time will work well enough. It will not be enough for gaming or graphics-heavy programs that will need the power of a graphics card or faster processor to perform their tasks.
The small form factor is perfect for tucking away under a desk and out of the way. This case is a far cry from the super-ugly cheap boxes that typically come with cheap desktop computers. The drives and other bits are hidden behind the cover.
The 160GB hard drive is enough for storing photos and movies. The slower speed of this computer lends itself to be an Internet enabled device. Using it along with a dedicated Internet connection and online storage will provide allow files to be shared on any computer with ‘Net access.
Speaking of Internet access, the Gigabit LAN is a bit of a surprise. Gigabit LAN offers fast speeds on local networks that are equipped for it. However, the speed of Internet access it invariable slower than that.
For the price, this system really does offer a great package. A 19 inch monitor for around a $100 would give a full system for $300.
Pros:

• Cheap, cheap, cheap
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 2GB memory

Cons:

• No fancy graphics capabilities
• No Wifi

Dell Inspiron 545 Desktop PC with 22-Inch Monitor Review

powerful desktop computer with a big hard drive and large monitor thrown in for good measure.
For a full desktop computer this system from Dell doesn’t look too bad. There have been complaints about the pricing of Dell desktop computers being a little high compared to the offerings from the other big boys in the home computer market. But his model fights back with a whole lot for under $700.
Here’s a bunch of numbers:

• 2.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 CPU
• 6GB memory
• 640GB hard drive
• DVD writer
• 6 USB ports
• 22-inch monitor, 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Windows 7

Lets just start off by saying that this is not the fastest or newest processor out there, however it is more than enough for most intensive programs. Graphics programs will have no problem, although heavy games that need powerful graphics cards will have a hard time.
One interesting thing is a review on CNET that pointed to this computer being low on the value scale and not matching up to its near competition.
With the price lower than their review and the 22-inch model thrown in for good measure it at least measures up to similar models in terms of pricing and has a more reasonable amount of memory at 6GB. The speed increase from 4GB upwards is not worth the money most of the time.
Hidden behind the shiny black front cover is a DVD writer and a media unit for plugging in the myriad of memory cards gathered from various home electronics.
One of the biggest upsides to the whole deal is the great monitor. Quite often 22-inch monitors still don’t support 1920 x 1080, which I think should be the absolute minimum specification for this sort of machine. So it’s not just a cheap add-in to pick up sales of the main machine, it really is a worthwhile addition to the set.
Note that the system does include mouse and keyboard, although not pictured above.
Like

• Big, high-resolution monitor
• Ample memory
• Big hard drive
• Decent speed

Not so much

• No Wifi (included on some rival machines)

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