HTPC Hardware (MB, RAM, Video Card etc)
Hardocp has the scoop on the latest sound card from ASUS. While the specs look impressive, with no mention of HD video CODECS it kinda leaves me feeling a touch flat. Hardocp The folks at ASUS sent along a press kit for the Xonar D2 and D2X sound card. The D2 and D2X look rather impressive with features such as […]
Read moreWith passive cooling, mini-ATX form factor, onboard HDMI, plenty of expanion, and a price tag that’s easy on the wallet ($77) I think that this looks like the perfect base for an HTPC project and the folks over at [H]ard|OCP seem to agree. Hardocp Don’t let size fool you. GIGABYTE’s latest AM2 based board, the GA-MA69GM-S2H, packs a wallop in […]
Read moreThere are a ton of CPU reviews around the net today. Both sides of the camp are represented :). Pentium E2140 (Core 2 Duo derived) review at NeoSeeker X2 6000+ review at Overclockers Club C2D 6750 review at PCStats X2 6400+ preview at Sharky Extreme What CPU do you plan on buying for your next build? In our forums there appears […]
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In days gone past, I always had a hard time recommending a passive video card. Its like adding a space heater to a sauna. Times change, and it looks like passive video cards are a lot cooler then they used to be but I would still lean towards something like HIS IceQ line of cards in my builds. If passive […]
Read moreI normally don’t mess with beta drivers, but with the NFL season about to start I’ll try just about anything to fix my 1080i playback issues. Nvidia Added PureVideo™ HD decode acceleration for GeForce 8600, 8500 and 8400 series GPUs.
Read moreIt looks like Antec has created a new family of products. Well, actually some are re-treads but others are new. ExtremeTech Among the new products is the Fusion Black 430, an updated version of the Fusion 430. The new Black model includes a 80 PLUS (80 percent efficiency or higher) 430-watt power supply, and a triple-chamber design isolating the power […]
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For a cheap case it might be worth looking at. The lack of a PCI-E power connector might not be a big deal with the integrated graphics we have available now that are capable of decoding HD content. Think Computers The lack of a 6-pin PCI-Express connector from the PSU is really what kills this case for gamers. A computer […]
Read moreGood review for people tempted by the new terabyte drives out there. TechReport IMAGINE ONE THOUSAND thousand thousand thousand bytes. A terabyte, if you will. But more than just that—a milestone in storage capacity that hard drive manufacturers have been chasing for years. After more than a decade of living in a world of gigabytes, the bar has finally been […]
Read more[H]ardOCP has a great review of two passivly cooled video cards over at their site. If you’re in the market for a silent and powerful card for your HTPC then you should really give these two cards some serious consideration (although unless you plan on doing 3D gaming you can probably just stick to the GT version) Hard|OCP We are […]
Read moreThis looks like a really nice case. The reviewer thinks it could use a couple more fans but I would think for an HTPC case running a fanless video card and going for low noise that a single 120 mm fan would be enough. 3dGameMan This case even accepts full length Video Cards and coolers up to 160mm high. The […]
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