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Patriot Memory PC3-15000 Extreme
Ultra X3 800w Modular PSU
Eagle Tech I Series USB HDD Enclosure
Sapphire HD 3850 1 Gigabyte
3DMark Vantage
Gigabyte GeForce 8800GT 512MB
NZXT Tempest Gaming Chassis
ASUS Striker II Extreme
OWC 1TB Mercury Elite-AL Pro
OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Intel XMP
Netgear HD/Gaming 5GHz Wireless-N Kit
mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb for iPod
OCZ XTC Memory Cooler
Sapphire HD 3870 Toxic
Corinex GameNet
Sanus Visonmount MD103-G1
AeroCool EasyWatch System Controller
Ultra Power Partner 325w Aux PSU
Thermaltake Muse X-Duo RAID
Sigma Shark SP-635w Power Supply
AeroCool DoublePower VGA Cooler
The OCZ Solid State Hard Drive
Ultra m998 Mid-Tower Case
Kingwin Revolution RVT-12025
Tagan BZ 800 Watt Power Supply
Sunbeam Quarterback case review
Ultra Stackables System Review
Kingwin Mach 1 - ABT-1000MAIS
Thermaltake DH-102 VH2001BNS HTPC
Raidmax Aztec Elite Gaming Case
Tuniq TX-2 Thermal Paste Review
Klegg Electronics NetDisk Mega
Ultra 3.5" Aluminum Hard Drive Cooler
Swiftech H2O-220 Kit Review
Mushkin XP2-6400 4GB DDR2 Memory Kit
CES Las Vegas 2008 Coverage
    

5/07/2008

OCZ Introduces New Additions to the Reaper HPC Series, with High Density DDR3 Kits Featuring Incredible Speeds
Sunnyvale, CA—May 7, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced two new Reaper HPC solutions for enthusiasts upgrading to next generation of cutting-edge platforms. The PC3-14400 and PC3-12800 Reaper HPC Series are now available in both 2GB and 4GB dual channel kits to meet the specific needs of customized gaming systems or workstations, offering perfect compatibility with the latest platforms and chipsets at the height of DDR3 performance.

“At OCZ we know that there is more than just one type of high end user, and we continually expand our DDR3 offering to deliver tailored solutions for a wide range of unique applications,” said Alex Mei, CMO of the OCZ Technology Group. “Our latest Reaper DDR3 kits are an ideal solution for hardcore gamers and overclockers looking for a combination of higher performance and stability supported by superior heat pipe based cooling.”

With the high frequencies of DDR3 comes added heat that can damage the module’s sensitive ICs. To ensure superior stability and performance over the entire life of the modules, the Reaper HPC Series makes use of an innovative cooling solution to more effectively dissipate heat produced by high-speed memory. The thermo-conductive copper heat pipe conduit is ideal for overclocking where every degree matters, making certain that your cutting-edge investment will maintain its integrity throughout the toughest gaming missions, overclocking, or intense program applications. You can check out the details here!

NASA, Intel, SGI Plan to 'Soup Up' Supercomputer
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – NASA, Intel Corp., and SGI today announced the signing of an agreement establishing intentions to collaborate on significantly increasing the space agency's supercomputer performance and capacity.

Under the terms of a Space Act Agreement, NASA will work closely with Intel and SGI to increase computational capabilities for modeling and simulation at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) facility at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Read more about it here.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

5/06/2008

Windows XP SP3 Released to Web; now available on Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center
Today Microsoft announced the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center.  Microsoft also resumed automatic distribution of Windows Vista SP1. In addition, Chris Keroack of Microsoft TechNet announced today that Microsoft will begin automatically distributing Windows XP SP3 in early summer. So XP SP3 is finally here and you can download the official release of Windows XP SP3 today!

NVIDIA introduces Hybrid SLI® technology and the new 790a chipset
SANTA CLARA, CA—MAY 06, 2008— PC users love the visual realism that high-performance graphics processors give their PCs, but would rather do without the noise and power consumption typical of modern entertainment and gaming PCs. Starting today, however, they can have the best of both worlds, thanks to the new NVIDIA® platforms based on the company’s Hybrid SLI® technology. These new platforms are the foundation for a new breed of PCs that deliver a richer visual experience while reducing energy consumption and costs, fan noise, and even heat. The new technology is available immediately with new NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI and GeForce 8 Series based motherboards. Read more here.

Intel, Samsung Electronics, TSMC Reach Agreement for 450mm Wafer Manufacturing Transition
May 5, 2008 – Intel Corporation, Samsung Electronics and TSMC today announced they have reached agreement on the need for industry-wide collaboration to target a transition to larger, 450mm-sized wafers starting in 2012. The transition to larger wafers will enable continued growth of the semiconductor industry and helps maintain a reasonable cost structure for future integrated circuit manufacturing and applications. The companies will cooperate with the semiconductor industry to help ensure that all of the required components, infrastructure and capability are developed and tested for a pilot line by this target date. Read more about it here.

Corsair real-world testing demonstrates significant performance benefits of 4GB meory for gaming PCs
Fremont, CA, May 6, 2008 – Corsair® www.corsair.com, a worldwide leader in high performance computer and flash memory products, announced today lab findings that show significant increases in performance and efficiency when increasing system memory capacity from 2GB to 4GB.  Read the full press release here.

Super Talent Launches MLC SATA-II SSDs for Notebooks
San Jose, California – May 6, 2008 – Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today launched a new line of MasterDrive solid state drives (SSDs) that are 100% interchangeable with hard disk drives (HDDs), but are faster, lighter, use less power and are far more rugged and reliable. Read the full press release with price schedule here.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

5/05/2008

 
Over the past year, we've had the pleasure of reviewing all sorts of DDR3 memory. Our opinion was has been generally favorable for the memory and negative about the price. Now we have an odd situation.  Patriot Memory has just sent us the fastest, default memory speed that we've every tested here at the Club and it comes with the cheapest price of any of the other DDR3 kits we've reviewed.  I'm still trying to find out what the catch is.  Before I wake up or Patriot emails me that the price was a mistake, Let's go take a look at some DDR3 that is running a default speed of 933Mhz (1866DDR).

OCZ Technology Announces the World’s First High-Density 2GHz Solution, Offering 4GB of High-Performance Memory for Ultra High-End Desktops
Sunnyvale, Calif.—May 5, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today premiered the world’s first PC3-16000 4GB (2x2048MB) DDR3 kits to provide even greater performance and productivity on the latest DDR3 platforms. Designed to offer the earliest adopting enthusiasts the advantages of high-density memory coupled with the highest speeds available, the OCZ PC3-16000 4GB kits make use of the unbeatable overclocking capabilities of the latest platforms and takes DDR3 to unimaginable performance levels. Read the full press release here.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

5/03/2008

Microsoft Withdraws Proposal to Acquire Yahoo!
REDMOND, Wash., May 3, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced that it has withdrawn its proposal to acquire Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO).

“We continue to believe that our proposed acquisition made sense for Microsoft, Yahoo! and the market as a whole. Our goal in pursuing a combination with Yahoo! was to provide greater choice and innovation in the marketplace and create real value for our respective stockholders and employees,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft.

“Despite our best efforts, including raising our bid by roughly $5 billion, Yahoo! has not moved toward accepting our offer. After careful consideration, we believe the economics demanded by Yahoo! do not make sense for us, and it is in the best interests of Microsoft stockholders, employees and other stakeholders to withdraw our proposal,” said Ballmer.

Read Microsoft's press release here.
Read the Yahoo! response here.

Trial Court Finds for NVIDIA in 3dfx Bankruptcy Trial
SANTA CLARA, CA─MAY 2, 2008—
NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) today announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California issued its Memorandum Decision After Trial (the "Decision") in the 3dfx bankruptcy action. In the Decision, the Court found in favor of NVIDIA on all issues and rejected the Trustee's attempts to obtain damages from NVIDIA in excess of $100 million. The Trustee's lawsuit arose from NVIDIA's 2001 acquisition of certain assets of its former competitor, 3dfx Interactive, Inc. Specifically, the Trustee claimed that NVIDIA did not pay fair value for the assets it acquired in the transaction, thereby allegedly harming 3dfx's creditors.

"A trial was necessary to fully demonstrate that we conducted ourselves appropriately in the acquisition and we are very pleased with the Decision from the Court. The Decision is comprehensive, thorough, well-reasoned, and a complete rejection of the Trustee's legal and factual arguments," said David Shannon, NVIDIA's senior vice president and general counsel.

The Court expressly found that "the Trustee's valuation theory--every way it is articulated--is simply not credible," and concluded that "the creditors of 3dfx were not injured by the Transaction."

"We will continue to fight this matter through any and all appeals," said Mr. Shannon.

5/02/2008
 
Here at the Club we have looked at a lot of power supplies over the years so its nice to see a familiar face once in a while.  The Ultra X3 800 Watt Modular power supply is the latest in a run of solid Ultra products from the X3 line.  The X3 800W has all the great features we have come to expect from Ultras top power supplies like FlexForce cabling and 85% efficiency under a normal load.  Combine this with Ultra's Limited Lifetime warranty and this power supply should be just what the doctor ordered.  Lets take a look.

Full retail and volume license installs of Windows XP SP3 now available
Chris Keroack, of Microsoft TechNet, has announced that full retail and volume license installs of Windows XP SP3 are now available in select languages to MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers. Chris went on to say "Windows XP SP3 will be available on Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center soon". Windows XP SP3 official download was delayed on Tuesday due to a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

5/01/2008

OCZ Technology Introduces Special Ops Edition DDR3 Series for Gamers and System Builders in Need of the Ultimate Stability
Sunnyvale, CA—April 29, 2008—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the Special Ops Edition DDR3 Series, available in both PC3-8500 and PC3-10666 kits featuring the high densities and stability gamers demand. These DDR3 kits are ideal for users advancing to the next generation of memory platforms, offering the speeds, density, and reliability required for the latest DirectX 10 PC titles. Featuring a unique camouflage motif heatspreader design, the DDR3 Special Ops Edition Series was designed for gaming systems in need of a reliable upgrade as well as some extra style. Read the full press release here.

Sun to cut 1500 to 2500 jobs
CNET~ The server and software company on Thursday announced grim results for its fiscal third quarter, which ended March 30, that showed declining revenue and a swing to a net loss. Sun Chief Financial Officer Mike Lehman also said the company will cut 1,500 to 2,500 jobs. The company had 34,400 employees at the end of the quarter. Read the article over at CNET.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

4/30/2008

Sapphire HD 3850 1 Gigabyte High Definition Graphics Card Review
Not too long ago, our very own Paul did a pretty intensive review of one of the latest ATi powered video cards to hit the market, the 3870 Toxic.   Hot on the heels of that review, Sapphire sent us the 3870's little brother, the HD 3850 1GB.  We already know that Paul loved the 3870, both for the performance, the price, and the sweet bundle, so will the 3850 keep us satisfied as well, or leave us wanting for more? Find out here at ClubOC!

 

 

 

     Eagle Tech Computers is back with an addition to their expansive line-up of external hard drive enclosures. Back in September of 2007 we took a look (here) at three of their enclosures including the D-Series, a full-size dual SATA drive enclosure that uses RAID JB0D technology to maximize storage space and drive compatibility. The latest from Eagle Tech falls within that category and is called the I-Series. Check it out right here at Club Overclocker!

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

4/29/2008

3DMark Vantage Review
If you have been involved with PC gaming or GPU overclocking at all in the last few years, then you are familiar with the name "3DMark".  Starting with 3DMark 2001, Futuremark has essentially been the name in GPU benchmarks.  However, many things have changed since 2001, and so Futuremark must keep up with the times.  How well does it manage to stay relevant?  Let's find out right here at Club Overclocker!

Gigabyte GeForce 8800GT 512MB Review
Has there ever been a more confusing time to buy a video card?  ATI cards are still pretty straight forward, even after their dual card. It was team nVidia that threw us for a loop, spiking the 8800 series cards with a new GPU core and moving things around within the model naming scheme.  nVidia gave us a sneak peak at the new G92 core on two cards; the 8800GTS and the 8800GT. At the same time, there are also cards available that use the original G80 core with the same name.

Today we test Gigabyte's GeForce 8800GT based on the G92 GPU coupled with 512 Megabytes of on board GDDR3. With this card, the Windows Vista Aero Desktop will be no problem! Let's take a look at what the NX88T has to offer. 

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Delayed
Chris Keroack of Microsoft TechNet announced today that Windows XP SP3 will be delayed due to a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and both Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1. There is no definitive information on a new release date but it sounds like the team will have a fix in place very quickly.

AMD Introduces AMD Business Class, Designed With Business in Mind
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- April 28, 2008 --AMD (NYSE: AMD) today introduced AMD Business Class, an initiative dedicated to developing AMD processor-based commercial desktop and notebook solutions designed specifically for businesses. AMD Business Class technology is designed to offer the best value and tools on the market for OEMs and system builders to provide a solid, reliable foundation that delivers exceptional performance and power savings, industry-leading longevity and stability, and supports the essential security and manageability business users require. The launch of AMD Business Class also brings with it the introduction of AMD’s new line of commercial stable AMD Athlon™ and AMD Phenom™ processors. Read the press release here.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...  

4/28/2008

Antec Launches Twelve Hundred PC Case
Fremont, CA - April 28, 2008 - Antec, Inc., the leading global brand of high-performance computer components for the PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets, has launched the Twelve Hundred PC enclosure, the next evolution of its best-selling Nine Hundred case. With an advanced cooling system, a spacious design and other convenient features, the Twelve Hundred is an excellent choice for gamers and other high-performance PC builders.

The Twelve Hundred features an exceptionally robust cooling system, designed to accommodate even the most demanding gaming PCs. This system is composed of a top 200mm TriCool fan, two rear 120mm TriCool fans and three front 120mm fans. All TriCool fans come with 3-speed control, enabling users to optimize their balance of cooling and quiet. Two additional 120mm fan mounts give builders the option to provide cooling to the graphics cards and the CPU. The Twelve Hundred also comes with a water cooling platform that can be used to position a reservoir or a pump. A perforated front panel and a washable air filter help to take in air more efficiently and reduce dust build up. The case also includes an advanced cable management system that allows cables to be tucked out of the way for unrestricted airflow.

The Twelve Hundred is spacious and versatile, with twelve drive bays and seven expansion slots. This provides builders with room for all their high-performance components including dual full-length graphics cards, while a clear side-panel allows users to show off their cutting-edge systems. All fans come with internal blue LED illumination; the light on the top fan can be turned on and off by an easily accessed switch. A convenient top accessory tray gives builders a place to store their favorite gadgets such as media players or digital cameras, while two front-mounted USB ports and eSATA as well as HD audio ports provide convenient access. Read the full press release here!

Futuremark Launches 3DMark® Vantage
Espoo, Finland - April 28th, 2008 - Futuremark (www.futuremark.com) brings users one step closer to understanding the performance potential of their personal computers with the launch of 3DMark® Vantage. Gamers, media and OEMs now have a modern gaming performance benchmark to measure native DirectX 10 and multi-core CPU performance with large amounts of physics, AI and graphics.

3DMark® Vantage was created by a select group of Futuremark artists and engineers working in close cooperation with the Benchmark Development Program (BDP) members [Ageia, AMD, Compal, Dell, Gateway, HP, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Sapphire Technology, Velocity Micro, Vivante Corp., Qimonda] , "3DMark smashes out of the box in delivering a view to virtual reality that pushes the performance envelope of the latest in PC Hardware for years to come." said Jukka Mäkinen Ph.D., Vice President of the PC Business Unit at Futuremark. "Consumers to professionals will be able to get immediate comparisons with thousands of others using our online results browser, helping them to fully understand the results and how they can improve their computer’s gaming performance potential."

3DMark®Vantage is composed of four full-bore benchmarking tests (2 different CPU tests and 2 different GPU tests) and 6 feature tests. Four presets, a groundbreaking new feature, vastly augment the variety of PCs that can be tested with the product. Presets range from value through performance to high end cinematic rendering resolutions and features. By creating a new set of high end presets, 3DMark®Vantage is future proofed for the new multi-core CPU and Graphics Processing Unit products as well as supporting the Physics Processing Unit to expand the range of technology, testing and prevent the benchmark from being bottlenecked for its users.

Read the full press release here!

Cray and Intel Collaborate to Develop Future Supercomputing Technologies
SANTA CLARA, Calif. and SEATTLE, April 28, 2008 – Cray Inc. (Nasdaq GM: CRAY) and Intel Corporation announced today they signed a multi-year agreement to advance high-performance computing (HPC) on Intel microprocessors while delivering broad new Intel and Cray technologies in future Cray server systems. The collaboration of these two industry leaders will result in HPC systems that will help solve some of the world's most complex scientific, engineering and humanitarian challenges. Read the press release here.

More tech news & reviews from around the web...