PCWizKids Tech Talk - Configure your Gaming Rig and Tweak Windows for Performance

Cooler Master - Scout Mid tower Gaming Case

2009-05-14T11:39:00.005-04:00

Cooler Master famous for its Storm Series of Gaming Cases has released the "Scout" . This case has a stealth look and feel all black inside out with great features and support for hard core PC Gamers and enthusiast. PCWizKid takes a closer look at this case in a video review.

Watch the review and see the latest

More details on PCWizKid's Official Website at PCWizKid's Tech Talk.com

Windows 7 RC - Get the Free download today!

2009-05-05T11:14:00.009-04:00

People have been asking PCWizKid where to get Windows 7 and what the requirements are. PCWizKid has put together a video walkthrough on where and how to download and install the latest free public release candidate of Windows 7.

Watch the video

Windows 7 - First Looks - Aero on Steriods?

2009-04-09T01:00:00.010-04:00

PCWizKid has been using Windows 7 since Beta build 7000. Its time now for a series of video reviews that show what it has to offer. What's it got you dont already have?

Watch Part 1 of PCWizKid's Video review of Windows 7

Watch Part 2 here. It covers the "missing" Windows 7 Essentials and how to get them free.
Watch Part 3 here. We review the "Interface enhancements" knows as ribbon interface.

iConn - iPhone case with Battery Review

2009-04-05T10:04:00.005-04:00

PCWizKid is a a big fan of the 3G smart-phones of today. One thing you want to remember is that your smart-phone will use more power than a simple phone due to its large screen display and capabilities which add to the power consumption requirements. Having a extended battery is a must if your using your iPhone 3G to the fullest. Another aspect to remember are scratches. You want to protect your iPhone 3G from unnecessary scratches. Today PCWizKid has the opportunity to review the iConn case and battery from Wellcomm Inc, the model iBP1200. Basically it is a stylish protective case with a battery to give your iPhone 3G both the security and piece of mind that you wont run out of battery on those long trips for example.

While iPhone is connected to iConn+, it will be charged at the same time through your laptop or PC simply by connecting it with the mini USB cable. This functionality makes it convenient for users, since they won't have to charge them separately.

You can also transmit data and sync your iTunes while it's charging through the laptop or PC using the mini USB cable. iPhone3G will use the iConn+'s battery first, and then use the
iPhone's original battery

Specifications

Visit www.iconnectedyou.com to order the iConn case with battery.

Conclusion

The iConn+ delivers the extra power to keep your iPhone 3G going and protected with a stylish case. The combination of features and support for the iPhone 3G makes this a great addition to this smart-phone and extends the iPhone battery with less frequent charges.

Learn to use your Mac 101

2009-04-01T10:26:00.000-04:00

PCWizKid has been replaced today with MacWizKid. He shows you how to use your Mac with a series of tutorials for the Mac. Apple Users Unite! Oh and Subscribe at http://Youtube.com/MacWizKid

AMD Phenom II X4 810 - Review

2009-03-30T12:12:00.004-04:00

PCWizKid has reviewed earlier the Phenom II X3 720 BE, today we review the Phenom II X4 810 (HDX810WFK4FGI). Unlike other unlocked black editions the X4 810 has its multiplier locked at a max of 13, however this does not mean you cant overclock it, there are options and PCWizkid will take them and overclock this CPU for maximum performance.

Not too long ago we reviewed the Phenom X4 9950 aswell and overclocked it to 3Ghz. PCWizKid will do the same in taking the default 2.6Ghz and boosting it to over 3Ghz while keeping temperatures and core voltage increases to a minimum.

Watch the full review and the details here on PCWizKid's Official Website

Cooler Master Sniper - Mid Tower Case Review

2009-03-19T09:13:00.005-04:00

Cooler Master has released a stealth looking mid tower case called the Sniper. It is part of the Storm series of gaming hardware which caters to hard core gamers and PC enthusiasts. PCWizKid is very excited to check this black tower inside out and review it for you.

PCWizKid received the model SGC-6000-KKN1-GP (with Blue LED Fans) mid tower chassis and has a detailed video walk through of its features for this review. There is also an option for Red LED Fans which you can see on the Cooler Master Storm website here.

Watch PCWizKid's video review of the Cooler Master Sniper case.

Feature Highlights

Tool-less design with finger-press buttons for quickly maintaining or upgrading 5.25" drive devices
Removable anti-vibration HDD racks
Cable management routing system
Fan Controller
4 retaining holes in the rear is perfect for liquid cooling kit options
120x240mm radiator can be mounted inside the top of the case instead of the 200mm LED fan
One 200x30mm Fan or Two 120x25mm Fans can be mounted on the side panel (optional)
Mesh is on all sides but 1 which provides high air flow capability
Independent air intake designed for bottom-mounted PSU
CPU Cooler access hole on motherboard tray or easy install/replacement

Model Number

SGC-6000-KKN1-GP

Available Color

Black

Material

Steel, ABS Plastic, Mesh bezel

Dimensions

(D)566.6 x (W)254.6 X (H)551 mm
(D)22.3 x (W)10 x (H)21.7 inch

Net Weight

10.6 kg / 23.42 lb

M/B Type

Micro-ATX/ATX

5.25" Drive Bay

5 Exposed (without the use of exposed 3.5 inch Drive Bay)

3.5" Drive Bay

5 Hidden
1 Exposed (converted from one 5.25 inch Drive Bay)

Cooling System

Front:	200x30mm Blue LED Fan x 1 (500 - 1000rpm, 17 - 23 dBA)
Top:	200x30mm Blue LED Fan x 1 (500 - 1000rpm, 17 - 23 dBA)
	(can be swapped for two 120mm fans or 120x240mm Radiator)
Rear:	120x25mm Standard Fan x 1 (1200rpm, 17 dBA)
	(can be swapped for 90mm fan or 80mm fan)
Bottom:	Supports 140mm Fan x 1 or 120mm Fan x 1 w/ Dust Filter (optional)
Side:	Supports 200x30mm Fan x 1 (optional)
	120x25mm Fan x 2 (optional)

Expansion Slots

Standard x 7, Special x 1

I/O Panel

USB2.0 x 4; IEEE1394 x 1; eSATA x 1; Mic x 1; HD Audio+AC’97 x 1

Power Supply

Standard ATX PS2 / EPS 12V (optional)

Conclusion

As PCWizKid mentioned in the video review we were impressed at not only the looks of the Sniper case from the outside but the inside as well. This mid

tower follows the footsteps of its big brother the the CM HAF 932 with plenty of room for drives, expansion and cooling galore! PC Gamers going to a LAN party for example would love this case easy to grip handle as well as its security features for peripherals which shows the attention to detail Cooler Master has provided. Most important PCWizKid liked the cable management support and solid construction of this case which makes it a worthy investment since we are always upgrading and changing hardware and this makes it really easy to get into and modify.

Click here for the latest pricing on the COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KKN1-GP Black Computer Case

PCWizKid's 100th Video Anniversary - Contest Giveaway

2009-03-13T13:45:00.008-04:00

PCWizKid would like to thank all his viewers and Youtube subscribers with a 100th video celebration. PCWizKid will give one lucky winner a choice prize, all you have to do is:

1. Subscriber to PCWizKid's Official Youtube channel here
2. Leave a comment on your favorite PCWizKid video or article on the contest video posted here

Contest opens March 13, 2009 and closes March 20, 2009 and is open to all PCWizKid Youtube subscribers worldwide.

One lucky PCWizKid subscriber will be picked at random as the winner. The winner will have a choice of one of the following prizes which will be shipped for free :

- Sunbeamtech Core contact Freezer - CPU cooler
- PNY XLR8 DDR2 2x2GB Memory
- Kworld UB385-T USB TV-Tuner

The winner will be contacted March 21 and posted here on this page. GOOD LUCK!!!

Enabling Windows Vista Extras

2009-03-12T17:39:00.004-04:00

You might have done a Windows Update in vista before and never touched the Windows Extras that are available for free! PCWizKid reviews today how to install Windows Vista Extra's , specifically the moving wallpaper which adds a dynamic flare to your desktop without much resources being used. First there are few requirements to enabling this. You must have Windows Aero enabled and the vista Ultimate Edition. However PCWizKid did find a hack that patches Vista Premium and Business Editions so that you can make use of this Windows Extra aswell.

Watch PCWizKid's detailed walkthrough on enabling this on your Vista PC

Video notes:

You can download a patch / hack from here, After you extract the ZIP file right click on InstallDreamScene.bat and select “Run as Administrator” to install Windows DreamScene on your non-Ultimate version of Vista. Answer “Y” to continue. You can also open elevated command prompt with administrator rights and type InstallDreamScene.bat to execute the batch script. Then Restart your computer.

Wireless HD Media Center - MVIX 780HD Review

2009-03-05T08:45:00.006-05:00

PCWizKid loves technology and Mvix has the perfect mix of hardware for your multimedia needs in one box. The Mvix 780HD DVI Edition is reviewed in detail for a close look of its capabilities to decode all kinds of audio and video files that are commonly used today on the PC.

The Hi-Definition Wireless Media Center features a built in decoder that brings all the media content from the PC to your TV for example. PCWizKid has TV Shows, Movies and Audio that are using too much space on DVD's CD's and scattered in different areas. What better place to keep it all backed up, but in the Mvix media device.

DivX and Xvid (AVI file extension) are the popular formats used the most for its compression and quality and this is the basis of the review. Instead of playing these files on a DivX/DVD player which is limited to a DVD, put this all on a 1 Terabyte drive inside of the Mvix unit and your set!

Watch PCWizKid's detailed review of the Mvix MX-780HD DVI

Specification

Security Encryption:	Wireless WEP & WPA-PSK Architecture
TV-System Compatibility:	NTSC / PAL / AUTO
Standards:	Wireless, LAN, USB-host, USB2.0
Protocol:	802.1b/g (TCP/IP: DHCP client mode, Manual IP mode)
Port LAN:	10/100 Mbps RJ45 LAN Port
Media:	Hi Definition Video Decoding
Management Type:	Setup Menu via UI / Remote Control
Supported Video Formats:	DivX® (3/4/5/6), AVI, Xvid, MPEG, MPG, VCD(DAT), DVD(VOB, IFO), WMV(WMV-9), ASF(WMV-9), TP, TS, TRP
Pixels / Resolution:	1920 x 1080i (Hi Definition decoding)
Supported Audio Formats:	MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, PCM, AC3, DTS (pass-thru and downmixing)
Features:	Attach External USB HDD, flash drive or DVDROM
Supported Image Formats:	BMP, JPEG/JPG, PNG
A-V OUT Options:	DVI, Component, Composite, S-Video, Optical
Screen Aspect Ratio:	4:3 or 16:9
Subtitle Format Compatibility:	SMI, SRT, SUB
HDD Compatibility:	3.5-inch SATA or IDE PATA, UATA or ATA
HDD Format Compatibility:	NTFS or FAT32
PC Requirements:	Windows 98/ME/2K/XP
PC Interface:	USB2.0, Wireless or Wired LAN (10/100Mbps)
LCD Display:	128 X 64 mm
Power:	AC-DC Adapter 12V, 2.5A
Dimensions:	187mm(w) x 193mm(h) x 58mm(d) or 7.4"(w) x 7.6"(h) x 2.3"(d)
Warranty:	1-yr Manufacturers Warranty on Parts and Labor
Package Contents:	Mvix™ Wireless Media Center (MX-780DVI), Remote Control, Stand, 5dBi Wireless Antennae, AC Power Adapter, USB Cable, English Manual and Driver CD

Conclusion

The MX-780HD did a terrific job with my DivX and Xvid files which would load faster and display better than my Philips DivX Player and it plays back in HD! The audio quality was exceptional and the clarity and playback was smooth. The on screen menus coul be improved a little so we don't have to click to many times to get to what you want, however the hardware capabilities were never in doubt. This is a solid external hard drive that extends itself by adding capabilities not only for expansion but playback of all major audio and video codecs out there today which I have used in Windows XP and Vista. The best thing is if you have tons of DVD , MP3's and media in general that you want to backup or watch from one place this unit is perfect and suitable for that since it saves a lot of time and hassle.

Click here for the latest pricing on the Mvix MX-780HD-DVI Digital Media Box

Hiper Osiris - Mid Tower Case Review

2009-02-27T16:30:00.010-05:00

PCWizKid has the pleasure of reviewing today the Mid Tower Case from Hiper called the Osiris after the ancient Egyptian god of the overworld. Lets see how this king stands with all his might. First off I must say that unlike other mid tower cases this one is fully metal and by metal I dont mean heavy steel. Instead Hiper has used high grade 6063-T5 military spec alloy for a strong yet very light weight contruction. This was the first thing I noticed as I toke it out of the box. However as PCWizKid reviewed every inch and angle there was no doubt this was a quality product.

Features

Innovative airflow construction for optimized heat dissipation
Excellent noise reduction
Constructed with 100% 6063-T5 military specs alloy using patented welding technology!
HDD Modular_Rack
Direct fresh air intake at bottom for PSU
Support XL ATX power supply!
Outstanding value for money
Designed for all SLI and Crossfire graphic cards!

Specifications

Category	Specification	HTC-1K514
Type		ATX Mid Tower Case
I/O panel	USB 2.0	2
	Audio in	1
	Audio out	1
	Line in	1
	eSATA	1
Driver Bay	3.5 " Floppy	1
	5.25" (Exposed)	5
	3.25" (Modular-Rack)	4
Motherboard	Form Factor	ATX / MicroATX / FlexATX / ITX
Power Supply	Form Factor	Standard ATX / EPS 12V
Cooling System		Top (exhaust) x 1
	120mm fans with 1500 RPM	Rear (exhaust) x 1
		HDD Modular-Rack (intake) x 1
Material		6063-T5 Alloy
Thickness		2.0 mm (0.08")
Dimension		526(L) x 202(W) x 452(H) mm 20.7"(L) x 8.0"(W) x 17.8"(H)
Net Weight		8.4 kg
Screw	HDD, PSU	#6-32 (Thumb screw) x 24
	floppy, optical drive, PCl bezel	M3 (Thumb screw) x 24
	M/B	M3 x 15
	M/B	Stand off x 15
	Rear case fan	-
	Fan of HDD rack	-

Conclusion

Quality and excellent craftsmanship are demonstrated in the Hiper Osiris Mid Tower Case. PC Enthusiasts looking to have multiple GPU's and expansion will be able to pack a lot into this mid tower case with room to spare. The clean slick lines and brushed metallic look give the case an elegant feel compared to other plastic cases. The modular HDD Rack design and side panel hinges were a favourite as well since it made it easy getting into the case modify it quickly. PCWizKid loved reviewing this cases and definitely recommends this to anyone looking for a solid quality mid tower case.

Click here for the latest pricing on the HIPER OSIRIS HTC-1K514 Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window

Internet Explorer 8 RC1 vs Firefox 3.1 Beta

2009-02-20T15:49:00.004-05:00

As the time for releasing the final cut of Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.1 gets closer, PCWizKid takes a closer look at the state of each of these browsers and how they stack up so far against each other. While trying to keep an objective and unbiased position when reviewing web browsers, I must admit Firefox is and always has been my preferred browser since the Netscape days. PCWizKid's browser experiences touched on Lynx, Internet Explorer 5 to 7, Safari and the new Google Chrome which was reviewed earlier.

So lets say that the review and comparison you are about to see is straight to the point, looking for what is available in each browser and asks can it "do the basics". The way I see is, if these browsers cannot deliver constantly and efficiently a basic web browsing experience then there is no point using it. After that then we can talk about who has the most features and add-ons sure, but there has never really been any contest there.

Web Browser Reviews and Tweaks

v8 Cooler Master - CPU Cooler Review

2009-02-15T16:26:00.005-05:00

PCWizKid is very excited to showcase and put to the test the latest CPU cooler from Cooler Master, the V8. Like the name, its looks indicate a beast of an engine, however this engine dissipates energy thanks to eight 6mm copper heatpipes that stem from the solid copper base (which is machine finished smooth and shiny) into the aluminum fins, wafer by a 120mm fan for best possible cooling with your CPU of choice. The range of supported CPU's this big boy can handle is very complete and you should not have any issues with the latest AMD AM3 and Intel Core i7 processors and supported motherboards. One thing to note is the dimensions and the height which is about 16cm tall. Make sure that the case you have is wide enough. full Towers should be fine, but on a mid tower you should check the clearance in case the side cover touches it. Cooler Master has done a great job in keeping the dimensions with the general specs of a case which one would expect however, everyone's system is different so always check your case manufacturer specs.

Click here to read and watch the video review on PCWizKid's official website

AMD AM3 Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition - Review

2009-02-14T10:24:00.005-05:00

PCWizKid has been eagerly awaiting the new AM3's for while now. The anticipation of how AMD was planning to answer back to Intel with a cost effective approach is not only smart but well received since we are going through tough economic times.

Not too long ago we reviewed the Phenom X4 9950, today we review an upgraded architecture using the AM3 938 pin socket. This Tripple core, black edition we have is the Phenom II X3 720. The model for your reference is HDZ720WFK3DGI .

Read the full article here on PCWizKid's NEW official Website here

How to Find and Remove Spyware,Trojans and Viruses

2009-02-04T18:05:00.004-05:00

PCWizKid in this tutorial shows you an advanced yet manual way of finding and removing spyware, trojans or viruses when your anti spyware or anti virus program is not fixing it for you properly.

There are general 3 steps to removing malware which should be done in SAFE Mode. If you unsure about how to boot your windows into SAFE Mode only, when you first boot your computer before you see the Windows Logo press and hold down the F5 key and you will be given the option to boot your PC into a minimal boot configuration of the OS so you can do your investigation without being connected to the internet. Always remember to make a backup of your registry (use the system Restore checkpoint tool) before you do any of these changes.

Click here to read the official full article form PCWizKid's Tech Talk

Enable Hidden Screen Saver Options in Windows Vista

2009-01-31T23:09:00.005-05:00

Windows Vista (like all versions really) come with a set of default screen savers. One thing you might find is that some of the screen savers included with the operating system have no options. You get what there is and thats it. Or is it? PCWizKid has put together a video tutorial to show you how you can easily modify the Windows Vista registry to enable hidden options for the default screen savers. In this case we are modifying the Bubbles and Ribbons screen saver settings.

Click here to read the full article on PCWizKid's Official Website here.

Building a Gaming Rig - Mainstream, High End or Extreme

2009-01-28T10:00:00.005-05:00

Building a Gaming Rig can be a challenge if your not sure what to get for the games you plan to play. There are several ways at approaching building your power house PC, you can work within a budget and stay within your limits, you can build according to the preferred system configuration the manufacturer of the games you play suggest or you can go by category from Mainstream to Extreme Gaming Rig configurations and decide from there.

To makes things easy for you, PCWizKid has put together 3 system configurations to meet each budget and category. The bottom line is you want the be able to do overclocking and getting application and games performance beyond the standard PC, so all these 3 configurations will give you that. Click here to visit PCWizKid's NEW Official Website that has the full article.

Also for a individual recommended parts list PCWizKid has categorized components.

Diamond HD4670 1GB - Video Card Review

2009-01-20T09:13:00.012-05:00

Diamond Multimedia has been known for their quality manufactured PC products . Today its no different. PCWizKid reviews the latest updated version of the ATI HD4670 video card, the Diamond HD4670 1Gig version.

PCWizKid, reviews installing it, the configuration and benchmarking of the video card with a variety set of industry standard tools and PC games. PCWizKid also goes through the process of overclocking it further to show you the flexibility and your options.

Watch the complete video review of the Diamond HD4670 1GB video card

Visit Youtube to see the video in full HD here

Test system specifications
- AMD Phenom X4 9950 (125W) overclocked to 3Ghz (Recommended a 2 Ghz min)
- Asus M3A78-T Motherboard
- Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR2 1066 (Diamond recommends 1GB minimum)
- Full Tower Case from Cooler Master model HAF 932 with stock fans
- 700 Watt Power Supply from Cooler Master (Recommended a 450W min)
- CPU cooler - Core-Contact Freezer from Sunbeamtech
- Ambient room temperature is 20C or 68F

Diamond HD4670 1GB Specifications and Features

GPU :	HD4670
ASIC Core :	RV730
Core Clock :	750 Mhz
GPU Architecture :
BUS :	PCI Express x16
Ports :	2 Dual-Link DVI,Video Out [S-Video, Composite, HDTV]
Cooling :	Active - FanCooler
MFG Process :	55nm fabrication process
Transistor Count :	514 million transistors on 55nm fabrication proces
Stream Processors :	320

Memory Clock :	900 Mhz
Memory Configuration :	64Mx16
Memory Type :	GDDR3
Memory Bandwidth :	28.8 GB/sec
Memory Size :	1024MB
Memory Interface :	128-Bit

Direct-X :	8.0,9.0,10.0,10.1
Open GL :	OpenGL 2.0
Vide Acceleration :	MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, WMV9, VC-1, and H.264
Max Resolution Analog :	1600 x 1200
Max Resolution Digital :	2560 x 1600
HDR F.Point Rendering :	128
HDR Integer :	16-bit integer or floating point
Pixel Operation :	8
Standard Slot Solution :	SINGLE

HDTV :	YES
HDMI :	HDMI 1.2 / HDMI Ready
HDMI MODE :	With Dongle
Native Display Support :	10-Bit
3D Resolution :	2560 x 1600
TV-OUT Resolution :	720
Dual Display support :	Hydravision 4
Holywood Q.VIDEO :	YES

Conclusion
PCWizKid appreciated the small sized card capabilities to deliver decent frame rates and performance on the games tested at high settings. The low power consumption along with a lower price point makes this an affordable alternative for those PC Gamers looking for a solid mainstream card. The cooling is efficient and the card never reached any high thresholds when it was overclocked. The package itself is complete with all the accessories you need to enjoy its HD capabilities.

Latest pricing
From Newegg.com click here - 4670PE31GDT Video Card

Core-Contact Freezer - CPU Cooler Review

2009-01-17T09:37:00.010-05:00

Sunbeamtech known for its computer cases and cooling products has a CPU cooler called the "Core-Contact Freezer". PCWizKid reviews how cool and effective it can be with an AMD Quad Core Phenom CPU overclocked at 3Ghz. When I first saw the tower-like design of this cooler, I immediately had concerns with its compatibility with motherboards and space, however I was relieved to see as I installed it our Asus M3A78-T motherboard that there was nothing to worry about. The design is plain and simple, yet logical. In the video review you can see the details, there are 4 U-shaped copper heatpipes that make contact with both the base and through the 50 odd aluminum fins that basically make a heatsink structure. The conventional and standard use heatpipes dissipating heat through aluminum is not new, however the X pattern of these thin fins makes it easier and quicker to get things cooled off.

Watch the detailed video review below of the Core-Contact Freezer Click here to view this video in a large HD widescreen format

Test System Specifications
- AMD Phenom X4 9950 (125W) overclocked to 3Ghz
- Sapphire HD4870 1GB Toxic Ed - Overclocked core 810Mhz / memory 1055Mhz
- Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR2 1066
- Full Tower Case from Cooler Master model HAF 932 with stock fans
- 700 Watt Power Supply from Cooler Master
- Asus M3A78-T Motherboard
- Ambient room temperature is 20C or 68F

Fan Features (from Sunbeamtech website)

1. Silent 120mm Fan MFDB ( Magnetic Fluid Dynamic Bearing)
2. Ultra-Silent Low-Noise Level (16db)
3. Outstanding Long Life of 50,000 Hours

TX-2 Features:

1. Low Thermal Resistance for Superior Heat Transfer, 4.5W/mK
2. Small Molecular Size Makes a Better Contact Between the
Heatsink and Heatsource
3. Thin Bond Line for Hi-Efficiency Conductivity
4. Low Bleed under High Pressure
5. Spreads Easy - Clean Consistency
6. Help the Low-pressure Clip Design of Cooler to Achieve
7. better cooling performance
8. RoHS Compliant
9. Not Electrically Conductive

Conclusion
PC Gamers and Enthusiasts looking to keep things cool can rest assured the Core-Contact Freeze's effective combination with the include Fan works. It demonstrated its capability of keeping a 100% load CPU well below the temperature limits of the CPU manufacturer. the ability to control the fan speed easily also helps fine tune the noise / cooling needs for those who rather tweak things themselves. The easy installation and simple design makes it a snap to install in our tests and the overall package is complete with all you need.

AMD Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition - Review

2009-01-16T12:20:00.016-05:00

In the last quarter of 2008 PCWizKid received the latest AMD processor the AMD Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition. Since then we have been using it as part of our test PC and is the core affecting all benchmarking results done. Though AMD has released the Phenom II in 2009 today we are reviewing not just benchmarks, but how to install it as well with the stock fan that it comes with it in the retail box. PCWizKid give's you a complete walkthrough this processor which does not have its core values locked leaving it open for overclocking it.

Watch the video review below of the AMD Phenom X4 9950

Click here to watch this video in Full HD widescreen instead

The Phenom X4 9950 is codenamed Agena, its a Quad Core with the new B3 Stepping using the 65nm Silicon on Insulator process technology.

Here are the specs of the model CPU used in this review:

Processor	AMD Phenom™ X4 Quad-Core
Model	9950
OPN Tray	HD995ZXAJ4BGH
OPN PIB	HD995ZXAGHBOX
Operating Mode 32 Bit	Yes
Operating Mode 64 Bit	Yes
Revision	B3
Core Speed (MHz)	2600 (stock), 3.0Ghz (Overclocked)
Voltages	1.05-1.30v (Stock) , ~1.45v (Overclocked)
Max Ambient Case Temp (C)	61'C
Wattage	125 W
L1 Cache Size (KB)	128
L1 Cache Count	4
L2 Cache Size (KB)	512
L2 Cache Count	4
L3 Cache Size (KB)	2048
CMOS	65nm SOI
Socket	AM2+ (940 pins)

Analysis and Conclusion
As shown in the video review above PCWizKid overclocked successfully at 3.0ghz , thats just over a 15% gain from the stock value. The test PC ran through burn-in tests with Prime95, AMD Overdrive and Orthos for a total of 12hrs+ until we were convinced that the bios parameters used (Multiplier of 15 and core voltage of 1.45v) gave a stable system.

PCWizKid ran the industry standard Arithmetic and Logic Unit's (ALU) (Integer) speed test using the SiSoftware Sandra Pro. the combined results overall proved the performance jump of overclocking against the stock value and other Phenom and Intel CPU's

Click the image to enlare and see the results

The total amount of completed Instructions per Second was 42427 MIPS, which compared to the Intel Core 2 Quad QX6700 with 32177 MIPS is a defenitely a winner.
For the price point currently the AMD Phenom X4 9950 BE is a terrific choice for gamers looking to overclock and exceed easily the

Windows 7 Beta 1 - Download Instructions

2009-01-13T23:33:00.006-05:00

Microsoft released it's public beta of the newest operating system in it's lineup, Windows 7 Beta 1. But before you go ahead downloading it you might want to check a few things first. The Beta will stop working on August 1, 2009. To continue using your PC, please be prepared to reinstall a prior version of Windows or a subsequent release of Windows 7 before the expiration date. You won’t be able to upgrade from the Beta to the final retail version of Windows 7.

Like its older brother Vista, Windows 7 requires a recent set of hardware to properly run the way its meant to. Check and make sure your system meets the recommended requirements as follows:

Hardware requirements

1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit CPU with a minimum of 1 GB of system memory. You will need 16 GB of available disk space to install Windows 7. A DirectX 9 or 10 graphics card with 128 MB memory (to enable Aero) and a DVD-R/W Drive. dont forget you will need to have internet access afterwards to download the latest updates for it.

Once you have verified you are capable of running it, go here to download the beta which is available in 2 flavours the 32 or 64 bit . If you have 4GB of RAM or higher it is recommended to use the 64 bit version so you can utilize the memory to the fullest. After submitting a Live ID and answers to informational questions from Microsoft, you’ll be taken to a download page with a product key.

Direct download links to the ISO 32-bit image file or 64-bit image file.

If you are new to installing a beta , it is recommended that you have your drive partitioned first if you are going to dual boot with a previous OS like windows XP on the same PC and make windows 7 your secondary OS. If your only installing Windows 7 stand alone then it will be your primary OS and you dont really need to partition your drive. A free utility I have used in Ubuntu Linux which works with Windows OS's also is the GParted Live CD, which you burn to a CD, restart, boot from it and partition your drive preparing it before you install windows 7.

Quick overview on the installation

The easiest way to install Windows 7 on your system is to download the image file make a disc by burning the image to a DVD. The Windows 7 Beta download is an ISO file, which you’ll need to burn onto a blank disc before you can install it. To do that, you’ll need to use software designed for burning ISO files. In addition to commercial ISO burning software, there are free programs such as ISOBuster. I use Nero Burning software.
Boot from the DVD you made of Windows 7 and follow the setup wizard. You can also upgrade from Vista SP1 to Windows 7 Beta 1 if you dont mind the change. I prefer doing a clean install always of an OS and if you dont want to lose your existing OS then add a separate partition and install the new OS on a separate area of your hard drive.
Once the installation is completed, review the state of the Windows 7 installation by testing your hardware and getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and protect your computer against security threats.

Good luck and enjoy!

SilverStone NT06-E CPU Cooler - Review

2009-01-12T01:05:00.017-05:00

PCWizKid has received from SilverStone their nick named NT06-E CPU Cooler called Nitrogon. In this review we will also combine the cooler with SilverStone's SusCool 121 Thermal Fan for additional cooling, however Silverstone has an even faster fan the FM123 which can run upto 2400 RPM providing a great combination for overclocking your CPU.

My first impression of the looks of the NT06-E CPU Cooler was that its small, simple yet effective design. Weighing at only 430 grams I was able to maneuver it easily when installing it.

Watch PCWizKid's video walkthrough and review for details

Click here to watch the video in widescreen and HD

Test System Specifications
- AMD Phenom X4 9950 (125W) at stock 2.6Ghz and overclocked to 3Ghz
- Sapphire HD4870 1GB Toxic Ed - Overclocked core 810Mhz / memory 1055Mhz
- Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR2 1066
- Full Tower Case from Cooler Master model HAF 932 with stock fans
- 700 Watt Power Supply from Cooler Master
- Asus M3A78-T Motherboard
- Ambient room temperature is 20C or 68F

NOTE: With the NT06-evolution package, a cooling fan is not included to give user the choice of using any 120mm case fan or to use it fanlessly inside the SilverStone's Sugo SFF chassis.

NT06-E Specifications

Model No.	SST-NT06-E
Enclosure material	Copper base, heats pipes w/ aluminum fins
Color	Black fan shroud, zinc coated cooler
Application	Intel Socket LGA775, AMD Socket 754/939/940AM2
Heat Pipe Type	6mm thick powder heat pipe x 5
Cooling System	1 x 120mm fan (optional)
Net Weight	430g
Dimension	123mm (W) x 82mm (H) x 149mm (D)

Suscool 121 Fan Specifications

DIMENSION	120 x 120 x 25mm
Material	Plastic (PBT)
Color	Sky Blue Blade & Black frame
BEARING	Enter Bearing
RATED VOLTAGE	12V DC
START VOLTAGE	8V DC
OPERATING RANGE	8V~13.8V DC
RATED CURRENT	0.2 Amp @ 60℃ 0.08Amp @31℃
RATED POWER	2.4W @60℃ 0.96W @31℃
SPEED	950rpm @60℃ 400rpm @31℃
AIRFLOW	42.15CFM@60℃ 17.75 @31℃
STATIC PRESSURE	0.57 mm-H20 @60℃ 0.10 mm-H20 @31℃
NOISE LEVEL	18dB(A) @ 60℃ 15dB(A) @ 31℃
LIFE TIME	30,000 hours

Conclusions

As mentioned in the video review the NT06-E provides good stock cooling , is light weight and flexible for installing active cooling with a Fan such as the Suscool 121 shown in the video. However you can use a faster Fan like the FM123 fro Silverstone whih runs upto 2400 RPM. The combination of both provide great value for the price if you are looking to run your latest CPU and overclock the values. The innovative design adds further flexibility for motherboard installation and support for different CPU's. Overclockers looking for additional cooling may want to use the FM123 Fan instead of the Suscool 121 for their cooling for their needs.

CES 2009 - Technology Showcase from Microsoft

2009-01-08T11:00:00.006-05:00

Microsoft Future Products Demo
Kicking things off for Microsoft, CEO Steve Ballmer announced the availability Windows 7 beta which will be downloadable from here when ready for the public. As expected Microsoft showcases a variety of prototypes and focuses on the upcoming release of Windows 7.

Microsoft demonstrates their future vision of software and hardware including a 1mm think active display which is similar to what is being used in digital text books.

Microsoft unveils their new Xbox Kodu Technology in gaming
According to a Microsoft press release, Kodu’s colorful vistas are “expressed in physical action-reaction terms, using basic concepts like vision, hearing and time to control your character’s behavior.”

Sapphire HD 4870 1GB - Toxic Edition Review

2009-01-05T23:35:00.020-05:00

Sapphire Technology comes back with an upgraded version of their HD4870 Toxic Edition, this time with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory. When I first saw this card the most obvious eye catcher was the non-reference cooling technique applied. The looks alone are truly both a beauty and a beast. In the center of the glossy black casing you have a quiet 90mm fan and extruding from the inside heatsink we have 3 solid copper heatpipes. But thats not all keeping this hottie chilled, Sapphire has incorporated its own VCT (Vapour Chamber Technology) for a keeping this pre-overclocked GPU and memory card from overheating. In fact it does such a great job out of the box that you can overclock the Toxic Edition even further!

Watch PCWizKid's Part 1 of 2 Video Review of the HD4870 1GB Toxic Editon

NOTE: To clarify in the video where it is mentioned about the vapour chamber being in the aluminum heatsink, it is actually all in the copper module in the middle, then the aluminum heatsinks and heatpipes take the heat away from the vapour chamber surface and the memories.

Part 2 of the review below shows how the video card was overclocked and benchmark results.

Key Features and Benefits

Advanced Vapour-X Cooling system uses Sapphire's Vapor Chamber Technology
Thermally controlled 90mm Fan
Overclocked from the factory - Core Clock: 780 MHz, Memory Clock: 1000 MHz, 4.0Gbps
Uses the 2nd generation 55nm RV770XT chip
GDDR5 memory/ 256-bit memory interface
DirectX® 10.1 and OpenGL 2.1 support
Shader Model 4.1 support
24x custom filter anti-aliasing (CFAA) and high performance anisotropic filtering
ATI CrossFireX™ multi-GPU support for highly scalable performance
Use up to four discrete cards with an AMD 790FX based motherboard
PCI Express® 2.0 support
Dynamic geometry acceleration
Game physics processing capability
ATI Avivo™HD video support and Unified Video Decoder 2 for Blu-ray™ and HD VideoBuilt-in HDMI with 7.1 surround sound supportOn-chip HDCP
ATI PowerPlay™ technology

System Requirements

PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
500 Watt or greater power supply with 75 Watt 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended (600 Watt and two 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode)
Certified power supplies are recommended. Refer to http://ati.amd.com/certifiedPSUfor a list of Certified products
1GB of system memory
Installation software requires CD-ROM drive
DVD playback requires DVD drive
Blu-ray™ / HD DVD playback requires Blu-ray / HD DVD drive

Conclusion
True PC gamers and enthusiasts will appreciate the Sapphire HD4870 Toxic Edition's outstanding cooling improvements over the regular stock version. The already overclocked graphics card can be pushed to further limits thanks to its innovative "Vapour chamber Technology". Fan noise is low unless you are running it at full load which will increase the RPM and noise levels which is expected. Also the dissapation of heat is exhausted both outside and inside the computer case which is better than just hot air blown into the case only. The bundle in the retail package is complete and a great value added bonus to what you are getting though I would have liked to see a recent game included.

Google Chrome - Not in beta - Final Review!

2009-01-03T01:15:00.000-05:00

Google has released its own web browser named "Chrome". Google claims their new browser combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. Though its only out for Windows XP/Vista users , Linux and Mac folks will have to wait a little longer.

Well, lets take a look and see what its all about shall we, I first had Chrome Beta installed so the first video I have is based on that, the second video further below is with the final release from Dec 11, 2008 showing some benchmarks I did recently...

As seen in my video walk through the installation was quick. It did ask to import my Firefox bookmarks which It didn't allow initially since I had Firefox running at the same time.

My impression on its performance and speed
Opening the browser was quick, then again I had no bookmarks and hadn't used it yet. However as I visited more and more pages the initial response to opening them was always faster than what I am used to in any other web browser. In other words there was little lag overall. Every tab you're using is run independently in the browser, so if one app crashes it won't take anything else down. You also have the ability to end the process and kill off individual items such as a flash video player using a built in google task manager.

My impression on GUI (Graphic User Interface)
The interface is indeed streamlined. Keeping with the minimalistic view and menu options I scrambled to find all the options and icons that I was used to seeing in IE and Firefox. One thing for sure the default theme is the only theme, you cant change it. To access your bookmarks you need to go to the far right and click "Other bookmarks" which is different.

The browser buttons given are BACK, FORWARD, RELOAD and BOOKMARK. I whent into the options to add the HOME icon and that was it. If your wanting a STOP, HISTORY or PRINT button they arent there. You will have to access the History using the alternative methods such as CTRL+H and print a web page using CTRL+P. I did like the default open full screen look that gave me more viewing area.

Along the top the familiar tabs are of fixed width and can be easily added or removed, dragged and dropped. These dynamic tabs allow you to gather multiple tabs into one window or arrange your tabs however you wish. When you open a new tab it shows your most visited websites, recently visited bookmarks, and recently-closed tabs and full history. One thing I didnt find along the top was the search box like in Firefox. Instead the URL field is used as the search, keeping with minimizing options and clutter.

My impression on features
For web developers I was delighted to see that in the view the page source option Google shows it in multiple colors with line numbers and if you use the "inspect element" it displays the code used on a page in great detail.

Like "InPrivate" browsing, a feature in IE8 beta 2, Chrome's "Incognito" browsing feature allows you to surf the Web without leaving any history behind. This feature is also referred to as the "porn mode" for browsing by teens.

The download bar doesn't indicate progress, it just shows a megabyte number.

Without any add-ons for it Google Chrome warns you if you're about to visit a suspected phishing, malware or otherwise unsafe website. Overall this browser is a good start for google.

DOWNLOAD Google's Chrome browser from here

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