Custom Cooled Video Card Shootout: ASUS & MSI

One of the sub-categories cropping up amongst OEMs are videos cards which feature highly customized cooling along with special controller chips or other functionality that help facilitate tweaking the card's performance. These cards all have a few things in common. First, they all mount beefy and often very radical cooling designs which are a distinct departure from the ATI / NVIDIA approved reference cooler designs. They also offer some form of advanced tweaking features either in software, firmware or hardware (or perhaps all 3), that a stock reference design wouldn't possess, such as fan and voltage control.

The tweaker-friendly video card segment seems to be getting more popular as more OEMs are producing custom cards that fit the mold. We're going to give you a peak into what makes these cards special by giving you the run-down on three available options which are excellent representatives of what the segment currently has to offer.




All three of the cards are equipped with non-reference cooling designs. In addition, they all pack some special goodies under the hood which will please most tweakers, modders and overclockers. Lastly, each of these video cards takes a slightly different approach and offers a different angle on the tweaker-friendly video card package. The ASUS ENGTX260 Matrix takes a hands-off approach. All of the tools are included to support your tweaking and overclocking endeavors, but no factory overclock is included. The MSI R4890 Cyclone SOC takes the exact opposite approach, offering one of the highest factory overclocks available for a Radeon 4890. The ASUS Matrix GTX285 falls somewhere in between. And all three cards offer special features not available in stock reference design cards. As you might imagine, this means all three cards also command a slight price premium over reference design copies.

enTourage eDGe Dual-Screen E-Reader Looks To Topple Nook And Kindle

Just when you thought the e-reader market couldn't get any wilder, it does. We've got Amazon's Kindle, Sony's Reader, Barnes & Noble's Nook, a host of other smaller devices and now this: the Entourage eDGe. The self-proclaimed "Dualbook" is sort of a e-reader/LCD book in one, with two screens that fold open and shut just like a real book.

The interactive device supports doodling, note-taking and highlighting, and it will also let owners send e-mails and instant messages when they're not browsing the Internet. It'll also take pictures, record and play audio/video and--oh yeah--display e-book content as well. Named a finalist at the Consumer Electronics Association's i-Stage event, the enTourage eDGe is a dual-screen, WiFi-enabled device that has optional access to 3G networks. It features a 9.7" E Ink display on one side and supports books in both EPUB and PDF formats. On the other, there's a 10.1" LCD with a touch screen interface for surfing the 'net, watching movies or playing back music.

Oh, and if you're worried about your notes being lost (much like those recent Sidekick owners), fret not; all documents are saved directly to the device and are backed up on Entourage Systems’ servers if a unit gets damaged or goes missing. The device also supports Bluetooth keyboards for those thinking about getting really crazy, and given that both screens can work together (text can be highlighted on one screen and drug to another), there's plenty of sharing that's bound to go on.

iBUYPOWER Introduces Three New Systems With ATI Radeon HD 5850 & 5870 Graphics Cards

The third system, the iBUYPOWER Gamer Mage 855, is for the gamer who wants the best AMD and ATI have to offer in their system. The Gamer Mage packs in the powerful ATI Radeon HD 5870, quad core Phenom II X4 965, speedy 4GB DDR3, and a spacious 1TB hard drive, all for under $1500.

Gamers looking to get the most out of their new systems can take advantage of the iBUYPOWER Labs’ new Power Drive Overclocking Service. iBUYPOWER offers three levels of service – up to 10%, up to 20% and up to 30% overclocking, ranging in price from only $19 for their “Level 1 Power Drive (up to 10% overclock)” to $49 and $99 for level 2 and 3 overclocking.

Cage Match: Four Open-Air ATX Chassis

The back rooms of PC shops and the most elite overclocking competitions generally don’t have much hardware in common, but perhaps the most similar component in both locations is the type of chassis chosen for motherboard testing: an open test bench, often with a phone book or empty box laid under the motherboard to allow the bottom tabs of graphics cards room to hang freely. Surely, a better way must exist.





Potentially more convenient chassis have been around for a long time, mostly in the form of metal frame structures that contain the parts that aren’t often changed, such as drives and power supplies, while easing access to the parts that are frequently changed, such as motherboards, RAM, processors, and expansion cards.


But perhaps that construction is going out of vogue. We even invited a well-known metal-frame type chassis manufacturer to participate, but were disappointed by the lack of response.


Our continued search revealed several options with more visual appeal. Today, we balance the design strengths and weaknesses of each model to determine its most appropriate market.

Dell Ships Gorgeous 16" Thin-And-Light Latitude Z For $2000

We thought Dell's Studio XPS 16 was fairly thin when we reviewed it earlier this month, but it would look downright chubby next to the company's latest 16" machine. What's easily the world's thinnest and lightest 16" laptop, the Latitude Z is aimed at business professionals who are looking to get ahead partially on the sexiness of the machine they carry in their briefcase.





Think we're kidding? Dell itself admits that this machine targets "impression makers, such as entrepreneurs, attorneys, creative professionals, salespeople and leading higher education faculty." Bold, no? It's essentially the planet's first 16" thin-and-light notebook, starting at just 4.5lbs. with a four-cell battery and measuring just 0.57" thin. Other specifications include a 1600x900 WLED display, a multi-touch touchpad, backlit keyboard, EdgeTouch (which allows users to interact with commonly used applications and media controls through a touch interface that is on the bezel of the system’s screen) and FaceAware lock-out technology that automatically locks out other users when a user steps away from the laptop.

Alienware Aurora ALX Gaming System

We know it can be difficult to keep up with all of the latest and greatest hardware. After months of saving up every spare penny, you finally have enough money for that new upgrade that you've been yearning for since its debut. All the reviews are in agreement and you have to own what many are calling the component of the year. Those who don't buy it run the risk of suffering from mediocre benchmark scores or unexceptional frame rates. While those who are able to make the purchase waste no time posting scores on countless tech forums and showing off their new hardware to friends at LAN parties.





Well folks, its that time once again. The release of ATI's Radeon HD 5870 graphics card has caused quite a stir in the hardware industry. While enthusiasts scramble to find the coin to upgrade their systems, Alienware is providing an all inclusive option for those in the market for an entire rig, loaded with some of the fastest parts available. Yesterday, Alienware announced the launch of five new configurations, consisting of all new Area 51, Aurora, and M15x gaming systems. Although each option brings something new to the table, we had the chance to check out the Aurora ALX featuring a Core i7 975 processor, X58 microATX motherboard, and two ATI Radeon HD 5870's in CrossFire. If you crave cutting edge technology, then you've come to the right place. Read on as we take a quick look at the Aurora ALX to see just how fast it really is...

Lenovo ThinkStation S20 Workstation

IBM has been a name synonymous with computers and technology for nearly 30 years. That point alone leaves little doubt as to why Lenovo moved to acquire IBM’s Personal Computing Division in 2004. When the acquisition was finalized in 2005, Lenovo instantly became a global PC leader. Over the past four years, Lenovo has worked hard to become a household name. With slick product lines, like the IdeaPad, ThinkPad and the IdeaCentre, that goal is gradually becoming a reality.



One place where Lenovo probably hasn’t had to work quite as hard at making inroads, is the corporate environment. As IBM began phasing out its products, its business customers found a natural replacement in Lenovo, especially since Lenovo basically just took over IBM’s product lines. Now, Lenovo is trying to innovate and take things further. IBM’s notebooks were known for being durable, solid performers, and from what we’ve seen, Lenovo has maintained that legacy. Additionally, IBM’s workstations were known for being excellent, no-frills powerhouses. In this product spotlight, we'll see if Lenovo is successfully carrying on that tradition as well.