Processors, Chipsets

Tom’s Hardware Guide has put Intel’s previous generation and current generation chipsets into fight: the web-site compares 16 mainboards based on the last year’s i865PE/i875P chipsets and this year’s i915P/i925X core-logic products. Additionally, they look at various memory modules to determine the best memory sticks. If you are planning an upgrade, you should probably see this article.

Graphics Cards

Spode’s Abode web-site has decided to compare performance of ATI RADEON X800 XT with NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra on a 2-way Intel Xeon-based workstation system. They use Intel’s latest E7525 platform along with 3.20GHz Xeon processors to find out how well do both graphics cards perform and also if there are any speed advantages over 1-way AMD Athlon 64 3200+ system.

HotHarware takes a look at the GeForce 6800, the most affordable SKU among the GeForce 6800-series to date. Offering 12 pixel pipelines and 6 vertex pipelines, the graphics product is definitely worth a check out, as this is the fastest performance-mainstream solution for gaming at the moment.

There is a review of a graphics card with one of the most exotic coolers on the market: HIS Excalibur X800 XT IceQ-II over at Guru3D. HIS uses ATI’s reference design for the graphics card, but installs its own cooling device to improve efficiency and overclockability. Find out whether an unusual cooler really brings anything special.

SFF Systems

AnandTech has reviewed a brand new Shuttle SK83G. See what our friends and colleagues have to say about this already well-known AMD Athlon 64 and VIA K8M800-based small form-factor system.

Modding, PSUs, etc

ExtremeMhz.com has a solution for those who are afraid of their HDDs’ lifespan because of constant heat. Silverstone FP53 HDD “Cool Driver” is an aluminum box that can cool down your hard disk drive when it seems to be too hot.

Bjorn3d.com has reviewed Swiftech MCX6400-V Heatsink – a unique cooler with copper pad and aluminum pins. Find out whether the product is able to efficiently cool-down AMD Athlon 64 processor overclocked to 2.60GHz.

DVD

If you are looking for an 8x Dual-DVD burner that is neither a Dual-Layer burner, nor the fastest DVD±RW burner out there, but t is still both fast and pretty inexpensive, then LiteOn 8x DVD±R/4X ±RW SOHW-812S reviewed at Bjorn3d.com has all chances to become your solution.

It is time for another Top 15 Desktop PCs at PCWorld.com. This month there are a number of newcomers among Power PC and Value PC lineups, including innovative PCs with 64-bit processors and powerful graphics cards. Whether you have $699 or $4972, there is probably something for you over here.