Month: March 2008

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PC Hi-Fi: Scythe’s Kama Bay Amp

Most SPCR reviews are about eliminating noise, but Scythe’s Kama Bay Amp is all about making noise — as accurately as possible. A stereo amp in an optical bay may not be for everyone, but for those frustrated with trying to get high quality computer audio, it may be a godsend. Why limit yourself to

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Sparkle Power’s 250W ATX12V 80 Plus SPI250EP

Sparkle Power’s 250W 80 Plus SPI250EP seems a throwback to yesteryear. Is there any place in today’s PC world for such a modest ATX12V power supply? Oh, most definitely.

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80 Plus expands podium for Bronze, Silver & Gold

The 80 Plus program has been expanded with higher efficiency categories using the Olympic medal colors of Bronze, Silver and Gold. It’s differentiation that has been called for by many participating PSU manufacturers for some time, and it may set the stage for continuing competition in the push towards ever higher efficiency.

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Corsair TX650W ATX12V power supply

The TX650W is one of the middle models in Corsair’s growing line of power supplies, which now stretches from 450W all the way to 1000W, and includes modular cable versions as well. Previous reviewed Corsairs have all made it to the top of our short list of super-quiet power supplies. Does the TX650W join its

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Akasa AK-965 socket 775 tower cooler

Akasa’s 92mm fan tower heatpipe cooler for Intel 775 CPUs has all the key features at a very budget price. Can it run with the big boys?

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ATI HD3850 & HD3870: Improved Acoustics & Power Efficiency

The Radeon HD3850 and HD3870 graphics cards finally put ATI in a competitive position against nVidia offerings in the all-important midrange market. They’re also said to offer much improved power efficiency. We explore just how much, and the all important (for us) related issue of noise.

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Antec Mini P180: A micro-ATX P182

The Mini P180 incorporates key features from the P182 — dual thermal chamber design, sound-deadening multi-layer panels, and silicone grommets — in a micro-ATX case with 120mm and 200mm fans. Antec describes it as a “petite portable case.” We took it for a long ride in SPCR’s test lab.

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AMD 780G: Best Ever Integrated Mainstream Chipset?

AMD 780G: Best Ever Integrated Mainstream Chipset? A close look at AMD’s DX10 IGP chipset through the amazingly full-featured Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H micro-ATX board along with a new speed-bumped (2.5 GHz) 45W AMD A64 X2 processor, the 4850e.

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Modu82+ 625 Power Supply: Enermax to the Forefront

Enermax offered us an opportunity to review a first-production sample of a new model hitting the US in early March. The Modu82+ is a line that Enermax believes will warm SPCR’s cockles, and tickle your fancy, dear SPCR readers: It’s said to be among the quietest and the most efficient in the world. Since these

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