[Review] OCZ Vertex 2 RAID Testing1 Comment By NeuromancercloseAuthor: NeuromancerName: Rich Smith Email: rsmith@nettronic.net Site: About:See Authors Posts (27) on February 27, 2011
Introduction:
Solid State Drives are known for there incredible access times and massive sustained write speeds. A single SandForce controller-based SSD can push the limits of the SATA II interface. This leads to faster Windows boot times, application loading and a snappier desktop feel. OCZ Vertex 2 drives were among the first to bring the SF-1200 to the enthusiast community and have received numerous commendations as a result. The OCZ Vertex 2 60GB review was enough to make this reviewer take ...
[Review] NZXT ZERO 2 – Gaming Chassis3 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (171) on February 23, 2011
The ZERO 2 from NZXT is the follow-up to the successful ZERO, featuring the same excellent cooling capabilities, while being aimed at the enthusiast and gaming users. Featuring a sturdy 1.0mm steel chassis, the ZERO’s structural integrity cannot be doubted. Weighing in at 10.2KG the ZERO 2 is a beast of its own. The quad 120mm side fans are for users running multi-GPU systems to help keep them cool during long gaming sessions. Let’s check out the ZERO 2 and see how it fares in our t...
[Review] Gigabyte P67A-UD4 – Overclocking On A Budget7 Comments By miahallencloseAuthor: miahallenName: Jeremiah Allen Email: miahallen.ironmods@gmail.com Site:http://www.ironmods.com About: Well, I was playing with computers ever since my Dad got a Commodore 64 when I was 6 years old (1986), when I was 10 (1990) he bought a custom build 486DX33, and I was in love. Mostly back then I was just a kid playing games, but my fascination with computers had a start. Because I had no money of my own, I was stuck playing with my Dad's computers, and really couldn't "play" too much. So in 1998, the year I graduated, I spent some of my college savings to by a "computer for school", haha. It had two Voodoo2 12MB 3D accelerators in it, so you can imagine how much school work was done on it ;-) It had an AMD K6-233 that I had a really mild OC on, but my custom computer builder friend Aaron had done all the work. So I can't really take the credit there. My fascination with graphics just kept growing and growing over the years, and I was constantly in a struggle to keep my games looking as sharp and smooth as possible. OCing played a big role.
My whole world was rocked in 2004 when I was deployed to Iraq as a US Army soldier. The whole year I was there I had a cheap IBM Thinkpad R40 with a 2GHz Celeron, 1GB DDR-333 RAM, a 60GB 4200RPM HDD, and ATI Radeon Mobility graphics (same technology as a 7000 series with only 16MB of memory). It started out rough as I was really into Command and Conquer Generals at the time, and the machine would only play the C&C slide show LOL. So, I downloaded PowerStrip, and OC'ed the GPU by 40%...amazingly, the game was playable!
Things changed dramatically in 2007 when I met a guy named Matt while I was stationed in Japan. He introduced me to www.ocforums.com, and the "Benchmarking Team" there. I had not had much interest in benchmarking previously, I always though of myself as more practical. But, I thought I'd play along and I joined the team. My first introduction to an actual competition was was is "The Raptor Pit", "Forum Warz 2008" in the spring of 2008. I was running a Q6600 and an 8800GTX. With air cooling I was able to bench my Q6600 at over 4GHz, and tore up the competition in my class. Overall OCF won the Forum War in 2007, Winter and Summer of 2008, and 2009...that means five in a row. I was not part of the first one in 2007, but the four since then, I have participated in. After winning the 2008 Winter and Summer Warz, Tom's Hardware Guide announced they were looking for nominations for individuals to compete in their first ever international overclocking competition, called "Overdrive". I was nominated, and chosen to compete in the North American semi-finals in Los Angeles in November 2008. I was placed on "Team IRONMODS" as they only had two guys, yet three man teams were allowed. We won the semi-finals in LA, and our prize was a trip to Paris the following month, to compete with the best in the world.
The following month, Ton, Jake, and myself flew to Paris as "Team USA" to face off against the best from Taiwan, France, Germany, and Italy. It was a very intense competition, but after two heated days of battle (16 hours of benching), we emerged the victors. Amidst our celebration, Ton and Jake officially invited me to join "Team IRONMODS" on a permanent basis, and I graciously accepted. Ton, aka "TiTON", is a world renown case moder, and is also very well known for some of the AMD overclocking he has done. Jake, aka "CPT.Planet", is a genius overclocker, and a really fun guy. The team has a great synergy when working together, we really have complementary styles.
After winning the world championship in December 2008 things were a bit quite for a couple months, then in the spring of 2009 I received an invitation to the 2nd annual Gigabyte Open Overclocking Championship "GOOC". I would compete in the North American semi-final in LA, where the winner would win a ticket to the world championship in Taipei Taiwan during CES in June 2009. The competition was tough with 14 of the best from North America gathering for a 1 on 1 competition of OCing. But once again, I completed the competition well, and rose above the others. I won 1st place and the trip to the world finals in Taipei.
My luck ran dry in Taipei where I started off with a bad motherboard, and went through 5 more during the course of the competition due to various reasons. Despite the poor finish in Taipei, I have high hopes to redeem myself next year.See Authors Posts (24) on February 21, 2011
Introduction
Gigabyte has been on a role in the last few years with their mid-range lineup of motherboards, specifically the UD3 and UD4 series, have a huge following and are highly regarded within the community. They have earned their spot for good reason too, and the value pricing combined with top notch overclocking capabilities have been a tough act to follow. With the release of Intel’s latest platform, will the Gigabyte mid-range hold onto it’s competitive edge?
The Gig...
[Review] NZXT Phantom – Full Tower Chassis5 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (171) on February 20, 2011
The NZXT Phantom Full Tower Chassis, designed with sleek & pristine contours, radiates personality and quality. As with all NZXT products, they strive to set themselves apart from the rest by offering unique and original designs. The Phantom delivers high performance cooling advantages with seven fan cooling options, dual radiator support, quad water cooling cutouts, and five 20W per channel fan controls built-in. It has an innovative 5.25” screw-less drive system with five bays and vast...
[Review] Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.24 Comments By BoTcloseAuthor: BoTName: Edward Reese Email: bot@codisha.com Site:http://www.codisha.com About:See Authors Posts (15) on February 15, 2011
Introduction:
Arctic Cooling has sent over the Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 for review, and we will be taking a look at it to see how well it will perform on our test bed. This cooler is a bit different from what we have had so far on our test bench. For starters, the cooler has a fan attached from the manufacturer, and the fan is not meant to be exchanged with any aftermarket fans. This isolates and limits our testing ability, but nevertheless we will try to give you the best overview and test results ...
[Review] Arctic Sound P3214 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (171) on February 15, 2011
This premium headset is designed for absolute music and movie lovers. Its high-fidelity driver and the soft ear cups create a room for yourself so you can fully enjoy your music and movies. With a 50mm high-fidelity driver, the ARCTIC SOUND P321 headset can accurately reproduce a full spectrum of sounds. Its powerful bass and crisp highs enhance the listening experience and pleasure for gamers and movie lovers. This versatile headset also comes with a retractable microphone that is included on ...
[Review] Patriot Convoy 425XL1 Comment By NeuromancercloseAuthor: NeuromancerName: Rich Smith Email: rsmith@nettronic.net Site: About:See Authors Posts (27) on February 10, 2011
Introduction:
Patriot memory was established in 1985, and has manufacturing facilities in both Fremont California and Taipei. Over the last few years, Patriot have made themselves popular among PC enthusiasts with their DRAM memory modules, and more recently with Solid State Drives. The Convoy 425XL is a natural extension of this memory and storage background, as it provides more storage solutions for 2.5” drives. Compatible with both Mechanical and Solid State Drives, the 425XL allows a user ...
[Review] In-Win TRACK4 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (171) on February 9, 2011
This mid-tower chassis has a rugged angular, military design and solid black steel body that is equipped to handle three high-performance 12.5”(320 mm) graphics cards. It also has ample cooling potential for even the most high-end hardware. It can provide plenty of upgrade potential with its tool-free designs for easy installation. Built to protect your precious components while being uncompromising with the latest demands, the TRACK boasts great performance, let’s see just how great it ...
[Driver Comparison] Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 – 266.58, 263.09, 262.99 Compared10 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (171) on February 7, 2011
Today we are going to take a look at the “top dog” in the marketplace, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 580, along with the three latest drivers, the 266.58 WHQL, 263.09 WHQL, and 262.99 WHQL. Our goal is to see what performance difference and improvements are available in each driver set, if any. We hope that by the end of this we will have provided you with enough information to choose the best driver available. We will be testing the majority of games/programs listed in the 266.58 release n...
[Blog] Parenting with eBay3 Comments By Drizzt5closeAuthor: Drizzt5Name: Dillon Glasser Email: drizzt5555@gmail.com Site: About: From New Jersey. I've always been a PC gamer. And ever since BestBuy deceived me as a kid I've tried to help people out with their computers.See Authors Posts (3) on February 7, 2011
You will often see eBay used for some strange things.
Just a couple of months ago I remember Banksy was selling his identity on ebay.
Another good one is when the meaning of life was sold: Item #248619068
For no more then $3.26.
But I think this one is an all new type of eBay genre. Parenting.
Apparently some kids destroyed a bathtub with beyblades.
Remember kids, don't put these in the bathtub!
Now the parents are selling all the beyblades on ebay to cover the $500 in damage and using mon...
[Review] ASUS P8P67 Deluxe – Fully Loaded Mid-Range4 Comments By NeuromancercloseAuthor: NeuromancerName: Rich Smith Email: rsmith@nettronic.net Site: About:See Authors Posts (27) on February 3, 2011
Introduction:
ASUS comes from the last four letters of the word Pegasus. A mythical winged horse that they have chosen for their company name; it represents Strength, Creative Spirit and Purity. Flying Horse Experience is not something you will find in droves here at TechREACTION, but rigorous testing and evaluation of manufacturers PC related products is. Strength is definitely an attribute ASUS brings to the table, being the largest motherboard manufacturer in the world. Creative Spirit is epi...
[Review] Nexus Prominent 9 – Premium Silent Case6 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (171) on February 2, 2011
The Nexus Prominent 9 is one of the top chassis’ for silent computing. With it’s tool-less installation features, it’s a breeze to install your components or change your setup. The Prominent 9 is also very sleek and professional looking compared to a lot of the other cases out there. This case could really be used anywhere, and the black mesh covering the front drive bays and aluminum edges give the Prominent 9 a distinguished look.
Nexus has also fitted the Prominent 9 case...
Introduction:
Solid State Drives are known for there incredible access times and massive sustained write speeds. A single SandForce controller-based SSD can push the limits of the SATA II interface. This leads to faster Windows boot times, application loading and a snappier desktop feel. OCZ Vertex 2 drives were among the first to bring the SF-1200 to the enthusiast community and have received numerous commendations as a result. The OCZ Vertex 2 60GB review was enough to make this reviewer take ... 
The ZERO 2 from NZXT is the follow-up to the successful ZERO, featuring the same excellent cooling capabilities, while being aimed at the enthusiast and gaming users. Featuring a sturdy 1.0mm steel chassis, the ZERO’s structural integrity cannot be doubted. Weighing in at 10.2KG the ZERO 2 is a beast of its own. The quad 120mm side fans are for users running multi-GPU systems to help keep them cool during long gaming sessions. Let’s check out the ZERO 2 and see how it fares in our t... 
Introduction
Gigabyte has been on a role in the last few years with their mid-range lineup of motherboards, specifically the UD3 and UD4 series, have a huge following and are highly regarded within the community. They have earned their spot for good reason too, and the value pricing combined with top notch overclocking capabilities have been a tough act to follow. With the release of Intel’s latest platform, will the Gigabyte mid-range hold onto it’s competitive edge?
The Gig... 
The NZXT Phantom Full Tower Chassis, designed with sleek & pristine contours, radiates personality and quality. As with all NZXT products, they strive to set themselves apart from the rest by offering unique and original designs. The Phantom delivers high performance cooling advantages with seven fan cooling options, dual radiator support, quad water cooling cutouts, and five 20W per channel fan controls built-in. It has an innovative 5.25” screw-less drive system with five bays and vast... 
Introduction:
Arctic Cooling has sent over the Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 for review, and we will be taking a look at it to see how well it will perform on our test bed. This cooler is a bit different from what we have had so far on our test bench. For starters, the cooler has a fan attached from the manufacturer, and the fan is not meant to be exchanged with any aftermarket fans. This isolates and limits our testing ability, but nevertheless we will try to give you the best overview and test results ... 
This premium headset is designed for absolute music and movie lovers. Its high-fidelity driver and the soft ear cups create a room for yourself so you can fully enjoy your music and movies. With a 50mm high-fidelity driver, the ARCTIC SOUND P321 headset can accurately reproduce a full spectrum of sounds. Its powerful bass and crisp highs enhance the listening experience and pleasure for gamers and movie lovers. This versatile headset also comes with a retractable microphone that is included on ... 
Introduction:
Patriot memory was established in 1985, and has manufacturing facilities in both Fremont California and Taipei. Over the last few years, Patriot have made themselves popular among PC enthusiasts with their DRAM memory modules, and more recently with Solid State Drives. The Convoy 425XL is a natural extension of this memory and storage background, as it provides more storage solutions for 2.5” drives. Compatible with both Mechanical and Solid State Drives, the 425XL allows a user ... 
This mid-tower chassis has a rugged angular, military design and solid black steel body that is equipped to handle three high-performance 12.5”(320 mm) graphics cards. It also has ample cooling potential for even the most high-end hardware. It can provide plenty of upgrade potential with its tool-free designs for easy installation. Built to protect your precious components while being uncompromising with the latest demands, the TRACK boasts great performance, let’s see just how great it ... 
Today we are going to take a look at the “top dog” in the marketplace, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 580, along with the three latest drivers, the 266.58 WHQL, 263.09 WHQL, and 262.99 WHQL. Our goal is to see what performance difference and improvements are available in each driver set, if any. We hope that by the end of this we will have provided you with enough information to choose the best driver available. We will be testing the majority of games/programs listed in the 266.58 release n... 
You will often see eBay used for some strange things.
Just a couple of months ago I remember Banksy was selling his identity on ebay.
Another good one is when the meaning of life was sold: Item #248619068
For no more then $3.26.
But I think this one is an all new type of eBay genre. Parenting.
Apparently some kids destroyed a bathtub with beyblades.
Remember kids, don't put these in the bathtub!
Now the parents are selling all the beyblades on ebay to cover the $500 in damage and using mon... 
Introduction:
ASUS comes from the last four letters of the word Pegasus. A mythical winged horse that they have chosen for their company name; it represents Strength, Creative Spirit and Purity. Flying Horse Experience is not something you will find in droves here at TechREACTION, but rigorous testing and evaluation of manufacturers PC related products is. Strength is definitely an attribute ASUS brings to the table, being the largest motherboard manufacturer in the world. Creative Spirit is epi... 
The Nexus Prominent 9 is one of the top chassis’ for silent computing. With it’s tool-less installation features, it’s a breeze to install your components or change your setup. The Prominent 9 is also very sleek and professional looking compared to a lot of the other cases out there. This case could really be used anywhere, and the black mesh covering the front drive bays and aluminum edges give the Prominent 9 a distinguished look.
Nexus has also fitted the Prominent 9 case... 
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