Matt Beauvais
Recent posts
Though it's been available for testing for some time, Microsoft's latest version of their instant messenger will be officially released this tuesday. Expect to see some of the new features contained in Windows Live Messenger in other instant messaging services. "Globally, MSN...
Read more...
Even though Computex 2006 has ended, we're still getting some good coverage of the event. The Tech Zone reports on what Shuttle and Tyan brought to the party, with some good pictures of Shuttle's new XPC products. "Shuttle used Computex to launch 4 new XPC products to its range of...
Read more...
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, the anticipated online shooter from id Software and Splash Damage, will be getting ready for pre-order from select retailers starting at the end of July. Pre-ordering the game will also get you some advanced strategies, but the real motivating part is the ability to register your username early....
Read more...
Motherboards featuring AMD's new Socket AM2 are starting to pop up, and Hardware Zone has one from ECS on hand. The ECS KA3 MVP uses ATI's Xpress 3200 chipset, is CrossFire ready of course, and unfortunately seems to have a few issues with it. "The successor to ECS' excellent KA1...
Read more...
For about $90USD, you can add three extra(hot swappable) hard drives to your machine using the IcyDock MB453SPF-B Multi-Bay Backplane Module. In their latest review, PCStats checks to see if this new device is a handy piece of hardware, or just another electronic dud. "The IcyDock MB453SPF-B...
Read more...
Not content with his work at Microsoft, Bill Gates has decided to step away from the day-to-day operations at Microsoft, and devote more time to his charitable foundations. He will still hold a part-time job at Microsoft, but will work full time for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "I...
Read more...
It's that time again. The ongoing "AMD vs. Intel" battle is gearing up, and as usual, there's no telling which way it will go. For some time now, AMD has been the processor of choice among enthusiasts, and that's unlikely to be challenged until Intel's 'Conroe' processor is up and about....
Read more...
Hardware Zone gives 4 out of 5 stars to Shuttle's new SFF PC. The Shuttle XPC SN27P2 uses AMD's new Socket AM2, and puts up some good benchmark numbers, though it's not much of an overclocker. "Officially launched at Computex recently, the Shuttle XPC SN27P2 is one of...
Read more...
In their latest interview, Ars Technica chats with XBox 360 developer Matt Lee, covering a range of issues from his job duties, to XBox 360 hardware and market expectations. Matt is also the developer of the old "DopeWars" game for the PalmPilot. "Now...
Read more...
While we mostly like to focus around computer related news, Nintendo's handheld DS system is a popular little device I'm sure many of you are fond of. Nintendo has recently released a redesigned version of the DS, dubbed the DS Lite, which retails for around $130. While there's nothing that would make current DS owners want...
Read more...
The folks over at X-Bit labs have put the microscope to Nvidia and ATI's new chipset technology. Though ATI has made some steady improvements with their chipset, X-Bit labs finds Nvidia's nForce 590 SLI the more attractive solution at the moment, especially since boards using the chipset are currently...
Read more...
More price cuts are on the way from AMD, covering it's entire product line. Four models of the single-core Athlon 64 line are expected to receive a 20-30% price cut, and later on in July, AMD's Dual-core Athlon 64 series will receive price cuts of 25-50%. Even their Sempron line is getting cheaper....
Read more...
Palit has produced their on version of Nvidia's 7900GT, featuring a two slot cooler and 512MB of Ram. Having 512MB of onboard memory gives the card an extra kick in certain situations, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be an all around winner in the benchmark tests. "A dual-slot...
Read more...
The AMD/ATI merger is still the hot rumor floating around the net at the moment. While it's still just educated speculations for the most part, it's just too big of an issue to let go unnoticed. "Last week at Computex, however, Intel allegedly began telling folks behind closed...
Read more...
Continuing with the coverage of Computex 2006, we have some more great pictures of the event thanks to PC Perspective. One eye catching piece of hardware is Thermaltake's monster case which can house two whole computers. As if that wasn't enough, the case also comes with a touch-screen LCD monitor which can be connected to...
Read more...
The Tech Report has hosted a battle between five different flavors of Nvidia's GeForce 7600. With 12 pixel shader pipelines, 5 vertex shaders, and decent clock speeds, the GeForce 7600 series has been popular among the mainstream gamer crowd. The GT variant is faster than the GS of course, but which brand is for you?...
Read more...
More Computex coverage is available thanks to the folks over at Hardware Zone. From ABIT to Shuttle, there's more hardware than you can shake a stick at(really, that's a lot of hardware). "In part 6 of Hardware Zone's annual Computex Taipei coverage, we bring you goodies from ABIT, AMD, Apacer, ASRock, E-TEN, HIS, Kingmax, Palit, KYE...
Read more...
While sifting through the HotHardware mail bin, I came upon a device that I'm sure a lot of you would love to have. The Brando USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE Cable, which X-Bit labs currently has for review, will allow you to connect your hard drives and CD/DVD Drives to your computer using the USB port. "If you need to quickly and easily...
Read more...
While some may be brushing off reports of an ATI/AMD merger as just rumor, Intel seems to be taking it a little more seriously. If rumor turns into fact though, we're going to see one heck of a chip producing powerhouse. "If you sit back and consider the facts for a minute, it all seems very logical. If the merger was to go ahead,...
Read more...
We haven't posted any links to digital camera reviews for some time, but according to Bytesector, Nikon's Coolpix L3 5MP deserves some attention. The suggested MSRP for the camera is around $270, which makes it a great buy for someone who's looking for a decent camera that doesn't cost an arm and a leg....
Read more...
Hardware Zone has more coverage of the event, including updates from MSI, GECUBE, Foxconn, ASUS, and plenty more. Day 3, Day 4. "Not only is Foxconn poised to move into the high-end market with enthusiast motherboards and graphics cards, getting involved with global gaming circles is also...
Read more...
Is it possible that Nvidia might one day compete against AMD and Intel in the CPU market? Someone seems to think so, though it's still a long ways off if true. "Here at Computex we have the privilege of meeting a lot of companies; employees ranging from CEO`s all the way down...
Read more...
