http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front-large.jpg
Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell Processor Review
Just a year ago Intel launched their Ivy Bridge processors and now a year later we have another platform launch from Intel. The 4th Generation Core Haswell processors are the “tock” to Intel’s “tick” and “tock” release schedule. A “tock” represents a new architecture and a “tick” represents a process refinement. So Haswell brings with it a new architecture, but is still built on the same 22nm process as Ivy Bridge. Intel has introduced a new LGA1150 socket with Haswell and a new chipset so you will not be able to throw this processor in an older motherboard, you will have to buy a new one. Today we are taking a look at the top of the line Haswell desktop chip the Core i7-4770K. Of course the “K” denotes that it is an unlocked processor. This is a quad-core processor that has a default clock speed of 3.5 GHz and a turbo frequency that goes all the way up to 3.9 GHz.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/intel-core-i7-4770k-haswell-processor-review/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front3.jpg
XSPC AX Radiator Desk Stand Review
One of the biggest limiting factors in what you can do with watercooling is how much room you have in your case. With so much equipment to pack in for watercooling alone, space ends up being one of the chief concerns for builders and modders. And the single biggest limiting factor: how much radiator one can fit. Radiators are large, bulky, and inflexible in how they need to be installed. This can easily lead to the builder having to sacrifice cooling surface for space. There is a solution to this problem though; external radiator stands. And if you have chosen to use XSPC’s AX series of radiators, then you’re in luck. Today we will be looking at the AX Radiator Desk Stand from XSPC.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/xspc-ax-radiator-desk-stand-review/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/phantom630.jpg
Win a NZXT Phantom 630 Case!
It is summer time and it is the perfect time to give you, our readers some free hardware! We have teamed up with our friends at NZXT to give away a brand new NZXT Phantom 630 Case! This Ultra Tower not only looks good it has room for quite a lot inside like long graphics cards, XL-ATX Motherboards, 8 hard drives and a lot of watercooling! Like many of our contests we will be running this one on Facebook and it is extremely easy to enter!
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/win-a-nzxt-phantom-630-case/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/reactormod.jpg
Case Mod Friday: ReactorMod
Welcome to another Case Mod Friday showcase! This week we have a builders ReactorMod build. Here is what he had to say about it: It's a modded Chieftec BX-03 case. I wanted to make it look like it's quite old and kinda shabby. I was thinking about this build for quite a long time, so I managed to collect some cool stuff that I've found on a nearby scrap yard (e.g. switch or steel sheet that I used to make the radiator cover). I also used some spare parts that I had lying around.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/case-mod-friday-reactormod/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front2.jpg
Enermax Triathlor FC 550W Power Supply Review
Enermax is a brand whose strong product is their power supplies, especially when it comes to the high-end spectrum. Their Platimax and MAXREVO units are some of the best out there. But these units are not cheap in terms of cost. Enermax knows not everyone has a ton of cash to throw at a new power supply so they have created the Triathlor series of power supplies. There are actually the Triathlor and Triathlor FC units. The Triathlor units are lower wattage and non-modular and the Triathlor FC units are higher wattage and are modular. Today we are checking out the Triathlor FC 550W unit which is 80PLUS Bronze certified and offers quiet operation.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/enermax-triathlor-fc-550w-power-supply-review/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front1.jpg
SilverStone ARM22SC ARM Two Dual LCD Monitor Mount Review
We mainly know SilverStone for their cases and for good reason, they are high quality and look great. What if SilverStone took that same quality and put it into a LCD monitor mount? Then you would have what we are reviewing today which is the ARM Two ARM22SC dual LCD Monitor Mount from SilverStone. LCD arms are a great addition to any computer setup, especially if you are using a multi-monitor system. The ARM22SC is constructed with robust aluminum alloy and steel so this is a heavy duty piece of hardware. It will support two displays with VESA mounts. Read on as we get this installed and see how it transforms our desk.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/silverstone-arm22sc-arm-two-dual-lcd-monitor-mount-review/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/XIOS_DS_main2.png
Win a Pivos XIOS DS Media Player!
Pivos is a company we have been working with lately and they make some pretty cool little media players. We have already reviewed their XIOS DS media player and it is a very unique device. Pivos was nice enough to give us one to give away to our readers! Just like all of our contests this one is very easy to enter and we will be running it on Facebook? So what are you doing get out there and get your entry in!
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/win-a-pivos-xios-ds-media-player/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/blackandwhite.jpg
Case Mod Friday: Black and White
Welcome to another Case Mod Friday showcase! This week we have Christian Black and White build. Here is what he had to say about it: Well this is the first time I do something like this, and it really is interesting the world of case modding the project is BLACK AND WHITE and really was a design chosen because I began to paint the cabinet only and one thing leads to another as in all cases and was thinking of some ideas for covers.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/case-mod-friday-black-and-white/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hdd-history.jpg
The History Of The Hard Drive
In 1953, engineers in IBM's California-based laboratory invented the very first hard drive. Since that first disk drive, technological advances have been made at an astonishing rate, with data capacity increasing and size and price decreasing exponentially, year on year. 60 years on, the hard drives of today are unrecognizable from the first models, which took up an entire room. Hard drives today are measured in terms of gigabytes and terabytes, rather than megabytes-an amount of data that would have been almost unimaginable in the early history of computers. Here we take a look back at the evolution of the hard drive as it grew from 5MB to 4TB.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/the-history-of-the-hard-drive/
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front.jpg
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 Review
Lenovo has been making headlines with their IdeaPad Yoga. It is a tablet convertible that can be used as a laptop as well. There are 11-inch and 13-inch models. While the larger 13-inch model has the choice of Intel Core processors, the 11-inch does not and is rather powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 3 platform. Today we will be taking a look at that unit which does offer a very sleek and slim design, responsive 11.6-inch touchscreen, Lenovo’s patent-pending hinge design that allows the screen to flip completely over and it is running Windows RT. Let’s check it out!
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/lenovo-ideapad-yoga-11-review/

Apple’s new iPad – What you Should Know

Earlier today Apple announced their 3rd generation iPad, not called the iPad 3 or iPad HD, just simply “the new iPad”.  Just like all Apple announcements and keynotes it was very impressive and filled with information and demos.  The biggest changes are obviously the display and new processor.  With the new iPad you get the A5X  processor (dual-core CPU and quad-core GPU) and Retina Display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536.  The biggest question is on March 16th will you be buying this new iPad if you already own one of the earlier generation iPad’s or another tablet?  Read on as we give you a full run-down of the features and specifications.

The new iPad Rundown
The new iPad is about the same size as the iPad 2, but a little bit thicker and heavier.  The actual dimensions are 9.5” x 7.31” x 0.37” and it weighs in at 1.44lbs with the 4G version at 1.46lbs.  Just like previous models you have the choice of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models.

As expected the new iPad has a retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536.  This makes it the largest resolution display on a tablet and 4x as many pixels as the display on the iPad 2.  This display also has 44 percent greater color saturation, and an astounding 3.1 million pixels, all in the same 9.7-inch display.  This is going to make for one great display for watching movies, tv shows, taking photos, playing games and much more.

You need a powerful graphics processor to power this amazing display and you will find that in the A5X processor.  We believe the new iPad is running the same dual-core Cortex A9 CPU, but now features the quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPU, rather than the dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 which was in the A5 chip on the iPad 2.  Apple says this chipset is 2 times more powerful than the A5 chip and 4 times more powerful than other tablet chipsets out there a.k.a. the Tegra 3 chipset from Nvidia.  This means tablet games are going to get more and more powerful.  Won’t all this processing power drain your battery quickly?  Apple has gone with a 42.5 watt-hour battery that they say will give you 10 hours of battery life and 9 hours on 4G LTE.


So those are the 2 biggest improvements with the new iPad but there are many more.  The camera has been improved once again.  The new iSight camera will shoot 5-megapixel still images and record video at full 1080p.  The camera optics are pretty impressive too.  With an ƒ/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens, it captures light efficiently to produce a sharper overall image. And the hybrid infrared filter – typically reserved for expensive SLR cameras – keeps out harmful IR light for more accurate, uniform colors.

The new iPad now supports 4G LTE as well as other fast cellular networks.  4G LTE tops out at 73Mbps, while DC-HSDPA is at 42Mbps and HSPA+ is at 21Mbps.  The announced LTE partners are Verizon, Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T.  The new iPad will also be able to act as a WiFi hotspot if your carrier supports it.  Besides the new LTE support you have 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

So how does this new iPad stack up against other tablets?  Well we know it definitely beats out the iPad 2.  Offering a better GPU, display and camera as well as adding the 4G LTE support.  Specs-wise the new iPad comes closest to the Asus Transformer Infinity.  The new iPad does have a better display, but not by much (1920 x 1200 on the infinity).  As far as processing power goes the Infinity is powered by the Tegra 3 platform.  Keep in mind though the A5X is only a dual-core CPU, not quad-core.  The graphics on the A5X are quad-core.  The Tegra 3 is a true quad-core CPU and has a whopping 12-core GPU.  The Infinity 32GB model will go for around $600 when available.

As I said there are 3 capacities available for the new iPad – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.  Prices are as follows: 16GB $499, 32GB $699, 64GB $699.  Add the 4G LTE to these models and the prices become $629, $729 and $820 respectively.

So the big question is will you be getting one on March 16th?  If you have an iPad 2 you will be getting a better display, more graphics power, a better camera and the 4G LTE support.  For more information on the new iPad you can head over to Apple’s website.  I’m just wondering why they did not call it the iPad 3 or iPad HD…

Fractal Design Fractal Design Define R4 Computer CaseStoreRatingPrice$99.99$107.87$99.99TheNerds.net$109.99$99.99Offers by PriceGrabber.com

Tags:

Related Posts