Reviewing the HP Z210 Small Form Factor (SFF) workstation
Posted by Alex Herrera on December 11th 2011 | Discuss (0)
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Hardware Review
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HP’s first foray into integrated-graphics for workstations was over a year ago, when the company launched the Z200 workstation with Intel’s 32 nm Westmere parts. That archicture coupled the GPU and CPU with two die in a package. Now, we think HP offered integrated graphics on the Z200 not because it expected many workstation buyers to be clamoring for it, but because it allowed HP to push down that always very marketable “starting at” price. Without the cost of an incremental discrete GPU, the build cost for the Z200 was (on the order of) $100 less than it otherwise would have…
Benchmarking the FirePro V7900, V5900 and V4900 / The V4900 shined on SPECapc Lightwave
Posted by Alex Herrera on December 11th 2011 | Discuss (0)
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Hardware Review
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nvidia
amd
market
graphics
intel
firepro
The FirePro V7900 and V5900 boards, based on AMD’s Caymen GPUs, now occupy the mid-range and high-end positions in AMD’s workstation graphics portfolio. The V4900 workstation AIB is the latest addition to the line. It’s built with the Turks Northern Island’s GPU, and targeted at the entry level. AMD provided us with all three new models to assess their competitive positioning. To get a sense of the performance the new trio can deliver, we employed some of the same basic tools we have in the past, including one relatively new (and very welcome) addition. We benchmarked the three boards shortly after they were released, but not simultaneously. We tested the V5900 and V7900 in August 2011 and the V4900 in November 2011.
Building a hot rod
Posted by Robert Dow on September 24th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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gaming
pc
There are three (probably more) approaches to building a gaming PC: Build the lowest cost unit you can that will run FPS Dx11 games at >30 fps. Build a machine that is pretty good and less than $5,000. Build the biggest baddest money is no object machine. We chose to go for the middle and built the following system. JPR’s Corsair hot rod of the month This can be considered a state of the art machine with a dual GPU AIB that runs S3D and a nice size 23.6-inch monitor. A fast SSD drive and 8 GB of DDR3 give it…
Review: HP Envy 17 redux
Posted by Jon Peddie on July 28th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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gpu
graphics
3d
gaming
hp
laptop
envy
computer
This is a lot of computer for $1,600. It comes with a 120 Hz (S3D) 17-inch display, a Blu-ray player, 750 GB HDD (7200 RPM), 6 GB DDR3 (1333 MHz) system RAM, AMD HD6850M discrete GPU with 1 GB GDDR5, HDMI and an Intel i7-263QM (2.) GHz—2.9 GHz). It’s got a SATA I/O, DS memory slot, VGA and four USB 2.0 sockets. A whole lot of computer for not too much money.
Review Amimon WHDI: Remote HDTV from your PC
Posted by Kathleen Maher on July 28th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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graphics
gaming
review
computers
Israeli based Amimon developed WHDI (Wireless High-definition Interface) chipsets. A fabless semiconductor company, Amimom established the WHDI concept for uncompressed wireless HD video for CE video devices. WHDI allows flat-panel televisions and multimedia projectors to wirelessly connect to HDTV video sources and obtain a quality equivalent to that achieved with wired interfaces such as component video, DVI and HDMI, or so says the company.
Field Monitor Pro makes taking a display on the road a dream
Posted by By Mitchell Weinstock on June 15th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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mobile
laptop
monitor
pc
display
Big, bright and lightweight. Now there is a display that can tempt you to bring it along as a laptop companion on a trip. Mobile Monitor introduced their Field Monitor Pro display at the Connected Traveler Showcase in San Francisco. It’s an ultra-bright 15.4-inch backlit LED screen delivering 1280x800 resolution in a clamshell 4-pound ABS-polycarbonate case. “It is a no compromise second monitor that adapts beautifully to every situation on the road, said Larry Pensack, president of MMT. “It’s easy to carry, highly resistant to damage, and makes getting things done plain easier.” The Field Monitor Pro connects up to Intel…
Android vs. Android vs. Android
Posted by Kathleen Maher on May 18th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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mobile
iphone
benchmark
g2x
droid
smartphone
A look at the Motorola Droid 2, LG G2X, Sony Ericsson Experia Play We’re swimming in Android phones right now. We have a (slightly) older Droid 2 that’s actually in use as my working phone, a brand new Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, and an LG G2X. The Droid 2 is a Verizon phone and the G2X and Xperia Play are from T-Mobile. The three phones are very different and they’re aimed at very different users, but there are some basic similarities too. The Droid 2 and the G2X are both based on the Android 2.2 operating system. The Xperia Play is…
The future is now: PC on your TV
Posted by Ted Pollak on May 18th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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gaming
review
Imagine being able to launch an Internet browser (any browser) on your television screen from the comfort of your couch. Imagine being able to visit social and business networking sites, write a paper or letter in a word processor, create, review, and edit spreadsheets, view and edit family photos and video, watch stored and streaming hi-def video, and perhaps most important (personal bias injected), imagine being able to play PC games from your couch. Well you can right now, and it is amazing. And it does not require one of these new “internet enabled” televisions. In fact these new iTVs look…
Duking it out in the low-end: AMD HD 6450 vs. Nvidia GT 520 Reviews
Posted by Robert Dow on May 18th 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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gpu
nvidia
amd
market
graphics
aib
pmark
This week we focused on the entry level market and tested three AIBs, the Nvidia GT 520, and two versions of AMD boards: the HD 6450 and 6450 GDDR5. Some would argue that any board coupled with GDDR5 belongs in the mainstream segment, however we take a look at price as the determining factor. The Nvidia GT 520 is based on the GF119 GPU and has a core clock of 810 MHz compared to the AMD 625 MHz DDR3 and the 750 GDDR5 HD 6450s models. Despite the GT 520’s lack of GDDR5, and fewer shaders, the GT 520 more than…
The systems works; Revue reviewed again
Posted by Kathleen Maher on April 21st 2011 | Permalink
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Hardware Review
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review
tv
television
google
revue
We've been revisiting the Logitech Revue after it's been in the house and operating for several months now. In fact, if we had the time or the organizational skills it would make sense to have second takes on most of the products we review. The first review tends to be a look at getting a system set up and working and so, even if that's not what you want to really talk about, the set up experience colors the review. Especially if it was a complicated set up. All of which brings us to the Logitech Revue, a set-top box implementation…