Today our X-bit Watch is not a usual one. Today we are observing benchmarks and tests of the best hardware possible since numerous web-sites published their very interesting and informative reviews of the newest, fastest and simply the best computer hardware.

Sharky Extreme has posted May edition of their Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide. In these articles they show how to build the absolutely best gaming system on Intel and AMD platforms, having $4000 in your pocket. Read the guide here.

And more about gaming, even though it is not about hardware... GameStop online shop has begun to take pre-orders for Unreal Tournament 2004 game! ETA indicated by the store is the 18^th of November, 2003. As there is no information about the game and its date at all, given ETA can be considered only as very preliminary and subject to change. If you want to pre-order your copy of UT2004 for $50, click here.

We are all aware about fantastic performance of high-speed memory modules made by Corsair, OCZ, GeIL and others. But we all also know that these modules are made from ordinary memory chips that had been pre-selected. Of course, there are also special PCBs and heat spreaders found on these modules, but how big is their role in increasing stability and maximum reachable frequencies? Apparently, they are mostly marketing tricks. The Crucible had tested "ordinary" TwinMOS DDR400 CL2.5 memory modules and found that they are capable of reaching 466MHz (PC3700) at 2-2-2-5 timings and 2.9V on the nForce2 platform in dual-channel mode. Of course, there are no guaranties that all TwinMOS sticks of this kind will be capable of such cruel overclocking, while OCZ and others guarantee the potential, but TwinMOS sticks cost significantly lower than, for example, Corsair TWINX, so with some luck you can save a bit money. Read the full report over here. 

GamePC has taken a look on the performance of almost entire line of the new Pentium 4 with 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus CPUs that are announced on the 21^st of May. There will be 2.80, 2.60 and 2.40GHz chips, as you read at X-bit labs already. GamePC compared 2.80 and 2.60GHz processors with 3.0GHz chip as well as with processors featuring 533MHz Quad Pumped Bus, including 2.66, 2.80 and 3.06GHz models. The latter case is the most interesting, as you can perfectly see performance advantages brought by 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus and sometimes the HyperThreading technology. Check out this review.

Nordic Hardware has a roundup of six nForce2 mainboards from ABIT (NF7-S rev. 1.0 and 1.2), ASUS (A7N8X), MSI (K7N2G-L) and Soltek (SL-75FRN-L). The devices were compared in detail, thus if you are going to buy an nForce2-based mainboard soon, you should definitely read this reviewhere.

Well guys and gals, we have taken a look at what is inside your computer case and now it is time for monitors. Since CRT displays are not really exciting for most of you, head over to VTR-Hardware who has taken a look on 11 monitors made by Albatron, AOC, Belinea, Hercules, iiyama and Sony. The article in French is here, English translation can be found here.