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PCSTATS Newsletter Archives
PCSTATS Newsletter - nVidia's Native HDMI Geforce 7050PV Motherboard Chipset
nVidia's Native HDMI Geforce 7050PV Motherboard Chipset
Issue No. 244 
TIP: FIREFOX CUSTOMIZED SEARCH TOOL AND RSS FEED
Last week you saw what AMD's 690G chipset was capable of, this week nVidia releases the follow up to its extremely popular Geforce 6150. The GF6150 was the workhorse of the Home Theatre PC world, and an all around great platform for budget-minded PC builders too. The new Geforce 7050PV chipset continues that legacy with HDMI compatibility, Geforce 7-series integrated graphics, TV-out and even the nForce 630a southbridge integrated in. PCSTATS off...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - HDMI on the Motherboard - Biostar's TA690G Platform
HDMI on the Motherboard - Biostar's TA690G Platform
Issue No. 243 
TIP: CUSTOMIZED SEARCH TOOL IN IE 7
Core, Quad, Quint... it's getting hard to know just which kind of CPU one really needs these days. More processor cores and faster clock speeds generally indicate better "performance", but perhaps you should keep a little bit of reality in mind as a family of new DDR3 friendly CPUs sprout from Intel next week. The fastest CPU you need is the one that gets the work that you do, done. If a single core AMD or Intel chip handles what you use a comput...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - nVidia Geforce 8600GS DirectX10 Videocard Reviewed
nVidia Geforce 8600GS DirectX10 Videocard Reviewed
Issue No. 242 
TIP: TWO FOR ONE VISTA TIPS, WINXP HOTFIX KB891781
nVidia introduced us to the Geforce 8600 family this week, a good mainstream line of videocards with full Direct X10 and Shader Model 4 support. Clocked faster than a Geforce 8800GTX, but relying on a different architecture, you'll have to see how MSI's factory-overclocked videocard actually stacks up to the rest in PCSTATS' breaking review of the MSI NX8600GTS, catch it right here. The second half of PCSTATS' look into resolving Hotfix KB891...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Can't Play DVDs in Vista Business? The Fix is...
Can't Play DVDs in Vista Business? The Fix is...
Issue No. 241 
TIP: TAKING SCREENSHOTS IN VISTA, WINXP HOTFIX KB891781
Changing platforms is never fun, all those files to backup and move, software to reinstall, mail settings and remembering passwords. Argh... After a hard day of porting a PC to a new OS there's nothing quite so frustrating as discovering Vista Business can't play back DVDs! For the love of MPEG-2 codecs!!! Anyway, the PCSTATS Newsletter has a special TechTip this week just to fix this little oversight if you're running Vista Business or Basic. Sc...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel's Core 2 Duo E6600 Processor
Intel's Core 2 Duo E6600 Processor
Issue No. 240 
TIP: WINDOWS EVENT VIEWER, WHAT'S NEXT?,
This weeks issue is short and sweet. Starting from the top is a review of the CPU du jour, the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600. With a clock speed of 2.4GHz and the all important 4MB of L2 cache, the E6600 is quick, both in 32-bit and 64-bit benchmarks. Next up is MSI's P6N SLI Platinum motherboard - an Intel platform built on the economical new nForce 650i SLI chipset. Following along is a budget Windows Vista videocard, the Powercolor Radon X1550. The w...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ Processor Reviewed
AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ Processor Reviewed
Issue No. 239 
TIP: TRIPLET OF TWEKS - DST2007, RESTARTS AND PC MONITORING,
In our line of work, reliable technology is a must. Behind the scenes at PCSTATS the cameras we take photos with, the notebooks we type on, the desktops used to publish each article or tackle photo editing all get major workouts. I've clocked in over 26,000 digital photos on one FujiFilm Finepix camera alone, and the Fujitsu P-series Transmeta Crusoe powered notebook this newsletter is typed on has more air miles on it than you can shake a stick ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - nVidia nForce 680i SLI Motherboard Tested
nVidia nForce 680i SLI Motherboard Tested
Issue No. 238 
TIP: FOLDER OWNERSHIP & NETWORK ACCESS,
It wasn't too long ago when nVidia just made videocards. The times have certainly changed, now nVidia is known equally as much for its motherboard chipsets as it is for its Geforce graphics chips. In fact, nVidia has had such a strong impact on the motherboard industry that VIA and SIS core logics are rarely seen anymore. The new nForce 680i SLI has a lot going for it, but Intel is still arguably the 800lb chipset gorilla. With AMDs acquisition o...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - PCSTATS: BitTorrent Goes Legit
PCSTATS: BitTorrent Goes Legit
Issue No. 237 
TIP: SERVICE ERROR RESOLUTION
As of today BitTorrent has branched out with an Entertainment Network with 5000 movies for rent, and for a couple bucks TV shows, music videos and other forms of digital content up for grabs. BitTorrent appears to have beat YouTube to the punch in a couple respects, making nice with a lot of major rights holders. Much of the content is in standard definition, and as part of the changes BitTorrent is allowing independent content distribution along...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Processor Roadmaps for 2007 - OctaCore on the Horizon?
Processor Roadmaps for 2007 - OctaCore on the Horizon?
Issue No. 236 
TIP: COMPATIBILITY MODE IN WINDOWS VISTA,
The roadmaps for Intel and AMD processors undoubtedly involve multiple core designs, greater power efficiency, and in AMD's case a socket change or two. As you may know, AMD's dual core CPUs will be migrating to a native quad core architecture by late summer. Those CPUs will operate with 2MB shared L3 cache, HyperTransport 3.0, and consume upwards of 125W power. By 2008 AMD will have migrated to socket AM2+ then AM3, as the desktop PC platform gi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Corsair's Killer RAM, New Motherboards and Vista Impressions
Corsair's Killer RAM, New Motherboards and Vista Impressions
Issue No. 235 
TIP: CONTROLLING PROGRAMS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OLD COMPUTERS? - PART V
Your initial Windows Vista impressions and top 10 first Vista tweaks are still coming in, (send your tweaks here) but the verdict is pretty clear... Windows XP works, whereas Vista is an unfamiliar, overly protective and demanding OS. Several readers are taking a "sit and wait until Vista SP1" approach, while others are waiting until new software eventually forces the upgrade. Yet, a good percentage of you wrote in to say you've made the switch t...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel Motherboards and Windows Vista
Intel Motherboards and Windows Vista
Issue No. 234 
TIP: VISTA'S MISSING MENU BAR AND INSTALLING VISTA, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OLD COMPUTERS? - PART IV
Will you be upgrading to Windows Vista? According to PCSTATS' weekly poll, 60% of you are saying no, 7% have tried out Vista before going back to WinXP and only 32% said they would upgrade to one version of Vista or another. In the PCSTATS labs, we're running a test PC with Windows Vista Ultimate - the top of the line OS version. With 2GB of memory, a 3.2GHz CPU, and a 6800GT videocard, Vista runs well and looks fantastic. The first impression? V...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Ultra Mini PC From AOpen: Big Punch Small Package?
Ultra Mini PC From AOpen: Big Punch Small Package?
Issue No. 233 
TIP: DISABLING HIBERNATION IN VISTA, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OLD COMPUTERS? - PART III
AOpen's Mini PC MP945-VX is an ultra compact barebones system only slightly larger than a stack of CD cases. The small size of this system allows for creative applications; like mounting onto the rear of a plasma screen for example... Up next is PCSTATS' test report on the DFI LanParty UT NF590 SLi - an enthusiast grade AMD Athlon64 (AM2) motherboard with punch. The board is built for overclocking, and has the finite controls to match. On a more ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ABIT's Fatal1ty Motherboard Pushes Faster...
ABIT's Fatal1ty Motherboard Pushes Faster...
Issue No. 232 
TIP: USING THE RECOVERY CONSOLE IN SAFE MODE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OLD COMPUTERS? - PART II
It's 2007, when was the last time you backed up your photos, important data, music, email or whatever? If the answer is "ummm...." take a moment later today and back it up. External hard drives work great, or grab a couple recordable DVD-Rs and burn that data to disc in 4.7GB chunks. There's nothing worse than loosing a years' worth of digital photo's, or "all that work" so back it up! Hard drives fail, and judging by the letters of thanks PCS...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Computers That Go Faster, Get Even Smaller
Computers That Go Faster, Get Even Smaller
Issue No. 231 
TIP: BUGS IN IE7 WITH WINXP, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OLD COMPUTERS?
Imagine a full computer mainboard no larger than 170x170mm, capable of supporting a 64-bit AMD Athlon64 and just about everything else you need in a PC. Albatron's KI51PV-754 mainboard brings miniITX to a new level of compactness, so we hope you'll give our full review a look. Along the same lines, PCSTATS tested a very unique videocard this week which allows overclockers to adjust voltage to the nVidia GPU and VGA memory... the Biostar Sigma-Gat...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ASUS X1950 Pro & Intel Core 2 Duo Mobo's
ASUS X1950 Pro & Intel Core 2 Duo Mobo's
Issue No. 230 
TIP: HYBERNATION CONTROL IN WIN XP AND SERVER 2003, A READER ASKS..., HOLIDAY ADVICE - AMD OR INTEL CPU?
ASUS is back this week with a good mainstream videocard called the EAX1950 Pro HTDP , based on the native Crossfire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro GPU. Following this are two Core 2 Duo motherboards, the first is the MSI 975X Platinum , the second a more economical Gigabyte GA-945PL-S3 motherboard. Biostar's nice little nVidia Geforce 6100 based iDEQ 250N small form factor PC, and Gigabyte's famous 3D Aurora 570 aluminum computer case round out the reviews...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Geforce 8800GTX and nForce 680i SLI Launched
Geforce 8800GTX and nForce 680i SLI Launched
Issue No. 228 
TIP: MULTIPLE MONITORS, PUTTING RETIRED HARD DRIVES BACK TO WORK PT. 2
The last couple weeks have been full of new gear - the new nVidia nForce 680i SLI chipsets, and more interestingly the new Geforce 8800GTX and GTS videocards. The Geforce 8800GTX is big, really big... and beneath its armour is 768MB of DDR-3 memory and a GPU the size of a coaster running away at 575MHz. The memory runs at 900MHz, giving this graphics card a mind blistering bandwidth of 86.4 GB/s! With Direct X10 and full Windows Vista Aeroglass s...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - PCs The Size of Toasters and Watercooling Cases
PCs The Size of Toasters and Watercooling Cases
Issue No. 228 
TIP: UNDOING ANTI-AUTOMATIC UPDATING, AMD FUSION: CPU+GPUS
The floodgates of unwanted email have opened up wide, but there are things you can do to protect yourself that don't involve unplugging your computer or tossing it out a fourth story window. Though, that can be very therapeutic... Have a look at this PCSTATS Beginners Guide, whose title I cannot mention, it will provide you with sound tips to dealing with junk email and all the nasty things that come with it. It's also a good time to double check...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Swapfile Tweak and Core 2 Duo Hardware Tested
Swapfile Tweak and Core 2 Duo Hardware Tested
Issue No. 227 
TIP: KEYBOARDS AND GERM KILLING IN FLU SEASON, PUTTING RETIRED HARD DRIVES BACK TO WORK
The release of the ATI Radeon X1950pro videocard with its native CrossFire capabilities has produced a fair bit of anticipation these past weeks in gaming circles. It will be interesting to see how the ATI dual videocard solution stands up against nVidia's well entrenched SLI platform, both in the benchmarks and commercially. What do you think? Are twin videocards from ATI or nVidia in the cards for you? This issue of the PCSTATS newsletter st...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI's Geforce 7950GX2 Videocard Benchmarked
MSI's Geforce 7950GX2 Videocard Benchmarked
Issue No. 226 
TIP: DIS-ENABLING HARDWARE INSTALLATION IN WINDOWS VISTA
We spoke about the upcoming multi-core Intel Core 2 Quad processors an issue ago, and now light is surfacing on AMDs quad-core processor plans. AMD is leap-frogging the Intel approach with its "Barcelona" core; a native four-core CPU set on a single slab of 65nm silicon, with shared L3 cache. Native quad-core CPUs are anticipated by Q3'07 from AMD, though it's anybody's guess what will happen between then and now. Considering all the dual, qua...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Fresh Computer Hardware For Fall
Fresh Computer Hardware For Fall
Issue No. 225 
TIP: NETWORKING DENIAL
Ever had trouble getting printers up and working on your network? PCSTATS has a handy Guide to printer sharing on a home network that you won't want to miss. Motherboards are the backbone of every computer, and right now there a handful of competing chipsets vying for the top spot. Up first in this issue is the Intel P965 Express based Foxconn P9657AA-8KS2H, a good solid Core 2 Duo board. The Gigabyte 945GM-S2 aims to bring onboard GMA 950 vi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel Quad Core Processor in '07
Intel Quad Core Processor in '07
Issue No. 224 
TIP: TWEAKING THE DNS
At the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this week it was announced that a quad-core desktop processor will be unveiled in January 2007. The 65mn 'Kentsfield' Core 2 Quad CPU will be preceded on November 16 by the 2.6GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6700, a quad-core CPU with 8MB total cache, operating on a 1066MHz FSB and spitting out 130W of heat. The first kick at the 4-core can will see two physical silicon dies integrated onto one CPU - or in othe...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 on P965 Express Motherboards
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 on P965 Express Motherboards
Issue No. 223 
TIP: BSOD'S AND YOU: WHAT TO KNOW, SERVER 2003 AND DOMAIN CONTROLLER TROUBLES
Remember that really awesome Tech Tip from Issue #106, or when PCSTATS gave away two Fujitsu Notebooks in Issue #68? How about the column on mysterious motherboard troubles that plagued certain types of capacitors in Issue #163? Perhaps it was Issue #189 with the Guide to the Beginners Guides... Whatever stands out for you from past issues of the PCSTATS Newsletter is now archived, and completely available for online reference. Browse, or run a s...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD Sempron 3600+ Value for the CPU
AMD Sempron 3600+ Value for the CPU
Issue No. 222 
TIP: BITTORRENT AND PORT FORWARDING, ESSENTIAL GUIDES TOOLKIT
Every now and then we receive emails from readers who lament at the fact that PCSTATS mostly tests out flagship computer hardware; the fastest CPU, bleeding-edge videocards, enthusiast grade motherboards that come with every imaginable option, and in general just the PC hardware that costs the most. Yet when it comes to deciding on what to get for our own PCs, affordable gear is oddly overlooked and unevaluated by review sites, and publications l...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Albatron's Latest Geforce 6150 Motherboard Rocks AM2
Albatron's Latest Geforce 6150 Motherboard Rocks AM2
Issue No. 221 
TIP: AZUREUS BITTORRENT CLIENT ENCRYPTION TECHNIQUE
While universities and colleges gear up for a brand new semester in just a few short weeks, the internet too always seems to swell in unison... it's a seasonal shift that marks the starting point of a long line of impending videocard releases, new CPUs, chipsets and all manner of technologies. Fun! PCSTATS 221st Newsletter issue starts off with Geforce 6150-based AM2 Albatron KM51PV-AM2 motherboard. The benchmarks tell the whole story on this ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel Pentium D 940 Benchmarked
Intel Pentium D 940 Benchmarked
Issue No. 220 
TIP: REVISITING WINDOWS 98 AND WINDOWS 2000 TIPS, THAT THING CALLED ROHS
Perhaps it should have been called the great paper launch. Officially announced twice (first a press preview, then officially so), the much touted Intel Core 2 Duo 'Conroe' processors remain elusively unavailable in retail channels in our neck of the woods. The Core 2 Duo E6600 looks like it will be the sweetheart of the bunch, whenever it happens to appear... In this weeks Newsletter, PCSTATS reviews the dual core Intel Pentium D 940, a 3.2G...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Power Blackouts and Lost Data Issue
Power Blackouts and Lost Data Issue
Issue No. 219 
TIP: VISTA'S SYSTEM PROTECTION
It's blackout season - heat records are breaking, air conditioners are running at full tilt, and power consumption is shooting through the roof... These are the perfect conditions for a power blackout when you least expect it. Power loss can cause data loss, and to prevent it every computer needs a UPS. If a blackout (or power surge) has ever caused your PC's spiffy new hard drive to fizzle and burn, then data recovery and backups should be at th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Exploding Laptops... Oh my!?
Exploding Laptops... Oh my!?
Issue No. 218 
TIP: LOCKING DOWN GROUP POLICY EDITOR
By now you may have heard about a handful of laptops spontaneously "exploding." Perhaps you've even seen the photo's of a certain laptop reportedly self immolating at a Japanese convention... Exploding laptops, fiery batteries, what's this all about!? As laptops have become more compact, the high capacity Li-ion batteries that power them have been crammed into increasingly compact spaces with little room for appropriate ventilation... The issu...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ASUS M2N32SLI Deluxe AM2 Motherboard Benchmarked
ASUS M2N32SLI Deluxe AM2 Motherboard Benchmarked
Issue No. 217 
TIP: WINDOWS EXPLORER SPEED UP, ENHANCED PERFORMANCE PROFILES - EPP
The rumour mill is running rampant about a series of upcoming processor introductions from Intel and AMD. First up is the Intel Core 2 Duo 'Conroe' CPU, which is supposed to be released on July 23rd. If indicators are true, 'Conroe' is going to be one very nice performance chip. AMD on the other hand is expected to introduce its new Athlon64 FX-64 CPU on August 8th, preceded by some alluring price cuts to existing socket AM2 models on July 24th.....
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AOpen's 'MacMini' Ultra miniPC Reviewed
AOpen's 'MacMini' Ultra miniPC Reviewed
Issue No. 216 
TIP: TAKING CARE OF VISTA
Apple may produce trendy computers, but most of us on this side of the fence aren't willing to leave behind all that the x86 PC offers. If you know where to look, you'll find incredibly cool, tiny little Intel-based PCs like the AOpen miniPC MP915B that offer the same compact features as that of the alluring Apple MacMini. With a solid metal chassis, slot-loading DVD writer and single glowing button, the sheen of this ultra mini computer belies t...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Shuttle's socket AM2 xPC - Small Formfactor Done Right
Shuttle's socket AM2 xPC - Small Formfactor Done Right
Issue No. 215 
TIP: AMD COOL 'N' QUIET, AMD VS. INTEL PART 6: A WORLD OF TWO CPUS
Did you ever think a Toaster sized PC would exist that could pack in 8GB of RAM, SATA RAID, and a dual-slot PCI Express videocard? We didn't until the socket AM2 Shuttle xPC SN27P2 small formfactor barebones arrived in the labs. Small, sleek, with plenty of expansion in a quiet little black box... sometimes you've just got to love the pace at which technology runs. PCSTATS has an extensive review of the Shuttle xPC SN27P2 right here, running on t...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD Socket AM2 Athlon64 FX-62 and X2 5000+ Processors
AMD Socket AM2 Athlon64 FX-62 and X2 5000+ Processors
Issue No. 214 
TIP: BASIC FIREFOX MANAGEMENT, AMD VS. INTEL PART 5: DOUBLE UP CORES, ADD IN 64-BIT
After a week of solid technology releases it's no surprise that Carpal Tunnel fires are blazing away at PCSTATS... perhaps a little refresher on Ergonomics & Computing is on order. This issue of the PCSTATS newsletter starts off with two bangs - the new socket AM2 2.8GHz Athlon64 FX-62 and 2.6GHz Athlon64 X2 5000+ processors. We cover these new socket AM2 CPUs from head to toe, so don't miss it! The nVidia nForce 5 chipset offers an impressive fe...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Gigabyte's Quad PCI Express Videocard Motherboard
Gigabyte's Quad PCI Express Videocard Motherboard
Issue No. 213 
TIP: PERFORMANCE FOCUS AND VISUAL OPTIMIZATION, AMD VS. INTEL PART 4: CHIPSETS - THE "X" FACTOR
June is set to be a very exciting month of new technology releases, with CPUs from both Intel and AMD, and the usual flurry of releases to come from the Computex tradeshow floor in Taipei! For the moment though, PCSTATS is continuing its look at high speed DDR-2 RAM - set to be the enthusiasts best friend when AMD socket AM2 processors emerge. As such, this issue starts off with 1GB Buffalo Technology Firestix PC2-8000 memory. Following that r...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Low Latency Memory - The Next Big Thing?
Low Latency Memory - The Next Big Thing?
Issue No. 212 
TIP: ASSIGNING SPECIAL ACCOUNT CONTROLS IN WINXP, AMD VS. INTEL PART 3: NAVIGATING BETWEEN DDR AND DDR-2
With the impending release of the much anticipated AMD socket AM2 and Intel Core 2 Duo processors, everything is about to change... dramatically. By the time it's unveiled, Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU will make your computer obsolete if it's using anything with 'Pentium' in the name. Likewise, it will soon be time to put that trusted single-core Athlon64 CPU out to pasture. Dual cores, DDR-2 RAM, and Virtualization will be the new buzzwords this summe...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Holographic Storage Not Just Sci-Fi Anymore
Holographic Storage Not Just Sci-Fi Anymore
Issue No. 211 
TIP: FASTER BURNING WITHOUT WINXP, AMD VS. INTEL PART 2: MUCH ADO ABOUT THERMALS
Holographic data storage long ago shed its kitschy Sci-fi factor, but has only recently moved from the R&D labs to commercially available recorders. A traditional DVD records data on the surface with very small pits and lands, while a holographic disk uses light sensitive material to encode data within the medium. A split laser beam passes through the holographic storage medium to then create a 3-Dimensional interference pattern that holds 1 mill...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Spring PC Cleaning and Tune Up's
Spring PC Cleaning and Tune Up's
Issue No. 210 
TIP: FIREFOX DOUBLES AS INTERNET EXPLORER, AMD VS. INTEL PART 1: WILL THE BEST CPU PLEASE STAND UP?
In a meeting with AOpen last week I was briefed on the Mobile on the Desktop (MoDT) initiative Intel is championing. Heat, noise, and power draw are steadily becoming important criteria, and MoDT seeks to address these issues with technologies born of the notebook industry. We're not quite at the tipping point where power efficiency, low thermals, and quiet operation are really motivating the computer industry to make drastic changes, but it's...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Upgrade or Else, Microsoft Windows 98SE Finally Expires
Upgrade or Else, Microsoft Windows 98SE Finally Expires
Issue No. 209 
TIP: FIREFOX, PRIVACY AND PASSWORDS
Today marks the passing of a long time friend and nemesis. Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98SE and Windows ME are being officially laid to rest. If your PC is still running any of these operating systems, you have until July 11, 2006. On that day, the little computer status light will flicker for just a second, as the plug is forever pulled on Microsoft technical support, security updates and critical patches for these Operating Systems (your comp...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Patriot's Secret Weapon on Sluggish DDR-2
Patriot's Secret Weapon on Sluggish DDR-2
Issue No. 208 
TIP: DON'T MANAGE MY COMPUTER
It's been quite a while since Colin got as excited about a couple sticks of RAM as he did with the Patriot Memory PC2-8000 modules in this Edition of the Newsletter... low latency and high speed capability all in one package, how very versatile! Colin's review on this DDR-2 RAM is a good read. Be sure to give it a once over, especially if you're considering the upcoming socket AM2 Athlon64 processor or running an Intel Pentium 4 PC right now. ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Asus Radeon X1900XTX Videocard... Umm Fast?
Asus Radeon X1900XTX Videocard... Umm Fast?
Issue No. 207 
TIP: RECOVERING HDD SPACE FROM SYSTEM RESTORE
There has never been a better time to scout out a new videocard by the looks of it. Almost every week week we're hearing about ATI or nVidia releasing graphics cards which leap-frog the previous generation... While many of these GPUs (ie, Geforce 7900GTX) are enthusiast grade, there has also been tremendous improvements to mainstream videocards. The Albatron 6600-512 videocard is one such example, though more of a hybrid Geforce 6600 with 512MB m...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI Geforce 7900GTX Videocard Reviewed!
MSI Geforce 7900GTX Videocard Reviewed!
Issue No. 206 
TIP: WINDOWS TIME TWEAK
Nvidia launched three new videocards at CeBIT 2006 this week; the Geforce 7900GTX, 7900GT, and 7600GT. As you've already guessed, PCSTATS brings you a review of the MSI NX7900GTX videocard head-to-head against the best and brightest PCI Express videocards on the market! With support for XHD / widescreen gaming, 512MB onboard memory, and a quiet fan, the new Geforce 7900GTX is a nice step up. Have a look through the review, and let us know what yo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI Radeon X1800XT 512MB-Version
MSI Radeon X1800XT 512MB-Version
Issue No. 205 
TIP: ENCRYPTING INSTANT MESSAGING CONVERSATIONS
When it comes to videocards, the entire industry is constantly reinventing itself. What is a pixel-pushing videocard one quarter, quickly becomes fodder for mainstream PCs the next... While the Radeon X1900XT is enjoying a brief spotlight right now, the MSI Radeon X1800XT with its 512MB memory shouldn't be overlooked. This 512MB MSI videocard offers quick gaming performance, at about the same levels as nVidia's 7800GT. Moving right along, thi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Dye-Sub Digital Photo Printing
Dye-Sub Digital Photo Printing
Issue No. 204 
TIP: PAGING FILES
Digital photography is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but getting those digital photo files out of the computer and onto paper is something we all seem to forget about. It's nice not to have to pay for developing anymore, and with a little help from a personal photo printer creating prints is a one-button affair. The Samsung SPP-2040 dye sublimation photo printer crossed the test bench a few days ago, and our opinions on its print quality...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Dual Core AMD Athlon64 FX-60 Processor
Dual Core AMD Athlon64 FX-60 Processor
Issue No. 203 
TIP: DATA COMPRESSION
There is a new dual core processor from AMD called the Athlon64 FX-60, and it draws less power and offers higher performance than comparable dual core Pentium D CPUs. PCSTATS reviews the 2.6GHz FX-60 for you today, putting it through both 32-bit and 64-bit benchmarks. We've also measured the total system wattage for comparison to a couple other processor platforms... with interesting dual and single core results. Have a look at the full analysis ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Standby Power and Electricity Bills
Standby Power and Electricity Bills
Issue No. 202 
TIP: BEWARE PHANTOM POWER DRAW
Standby power draw from your collection of home electronics and computer hardware could be inflating your electricity bill when the power is supposed to be off. PCSTATS has some dead simple advice to cut off 'phantom power loads' at the source a little later in the newsletter, but first we'll walk through the steps of installing a dual boot, 64/32-bit Windows XP system. After that handy guide, it's on to a Kingston USB flash drive with 128-bit AE...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Internet Explorer 7 Preview
Internet Explorer 7 Preview
Issue No. 201 
TIP: IE7 AND ACTIVE X CONTROLS
Gigabyte have produced an amazing little device with two Geforce 6800GT GPUs on a single videocard! The aptly named Gigabyte 3D1-68GT is a massive PCI Express videocard, but it has the framerates to back itself up with. The big story this issue is PCSTATS preview of the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser. IE7 will compete with Firefox when it is released in 2006, and its features like integrated RSS feeds, tabbed browsing, and better security ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Shuttle's Uber-Quiet Pentium M SFF PC
Shuttle's Uber-Quiet Pentium M SFF PC
Issue No. 200 
TIP:THE SIMPLE THINGS MATTER MOST (DO YOU DEFRAG?) AND (SETTING COMFORTABLE REFRESH RATES)
The small form factor Shuttle XPC SD11G5 PC runs on a mobile Pentium M processor, and doesn't have a powersupply inside the chassis. This, along with a couple other refinements helps to make the XPC a very quiet customer. We were impressed with the solution, so be sure to check out the full 16-page review. Gigabyte's RX18L256V-B Radeon X1800XL videocard packs in a healthy dose of pixel punching power, making it a great option for gamers. If yo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI's 512MB Geforce 7800GTX Videocard... Fast
MSI's 512MB Geforce 7800GTX Videocard... Fast
Issue No. 199 
TIP: EMAILS AND WELCOME SCREENS
Thank Law and Order: CI for this one... know that fictional "stealthwave PC" from a recent episode? Well, it's really the Asus Vento 3600 case in Ferrari red, and we've got its review right here. The real news this issue is MSI's NX7800GTX 512MB version videocard; a tippy-top of the line gammers card from nVidia's side of the fence. This is the kind of graphics card where AA and AF just beg to be turned up to the max! Naturally, the race-bred DFI...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Dually 7800GT's, Notebook Monitors and Plenty More!
Dually 7800GT's, Notebook Monitors and Plenty More!
Issue No. 198 
TIP: NETBIOS SECURITY
One of the greatest aspects of today's computers is that just about everything can be 'supersized'. One CPU not good enough? Go dual core. Need more memory bandwidth? Dual channel DDR covers that. Likewise, if one videocard isn't cutting it, a second can always be added into the mix for SLI or CrossFire gaming (if the necessary motherboard and chipset combo are there first, mind you). For better or worse, the Jacob Two Two of the computer wor...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 400GB Drives, SLI Upgrades & Watercooling Cases
400GB Drives, SLI Upgrades & Watercooling Cases
Issue No. 197 
TIP: OVERCLOCKING SELECTIONS
VIA Technologies launched its new AMD Athlon64 K8T900 chipset today, and among its notable features are HD Audio and NCQ support. In other news, PCSTATS has a look back at the little known features of WindowsXP for you. First though, we have the massive 400GB SATA Western Digital hard drive on the test bench. The capacity of this drive is huge, and it boasts a 16MB cache too. Next is the popular Gigabyte 3D Aurora water cooling case, followed by ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ASUS' Silent GeForce 6600GT Videocard
ASUS' Silent GeForce 6600GT Videocard
Issue No. 196 
TIP: R IS FOR REPAIR INSTALL
Gigabyte released an Intel 975X-based motherboard with four PCI Express x16 slots this week, which begs the question; has SLI gone from useful to just obscene? Seriously, does anyone really need that much videocard for today's games? In other news, a high-tech "liquid metal" thermal compound has allegedly been found to aggressively corrode aluminum like Pop-Rocks in a can of 7-Up! All this and much more was covered in PCSTATS daily news - catch i...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Details Emerge on AMD's Pinless Server CPU
Details Emerge on AMD's Pinless Server CPU
Issue No. 195 
TIP: ATHLON64 COMMAND RATE TWEAK
It's amazing how fast information can travel on the web. Just a day ago, leaked photos of the socket for an upcoming AMD Operton processor surfaced. The 1207-pin Socket-F photos indicate a pinless CPU (just like the LGA775 Pentium 4), but at a much higher density and with an interesting split down the center that suggests two distinctive cores. However, we'll have to wait and see if the reported on-core PCI Express controller and support for DDR2...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Flash Memory Data Recovery Guide
Flash Memory Data Recovery Guide
Issue No. 194 
TIP: LOCKING OUT TCP/IP SETTINGS
A corrupted memory card with a full day's worth of photos on it is a nightmare... trust me. Recovering those photo's is possible, but only if you read the latest PCSTATS Beginners Guide on the subject. On the review front, Nvidia's Geforce 6150 offers up integrated graphics which aren't half bad, as you'll see in this Foxconn 6150K8MA motherboard review. The Epox 9NPA+ is another great nForce 4 SLI solution worth looking at, and while we had p...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Guide to Apache and 7800GTX Reviews
Guide to Apache and 7800GTX Reviews
Issue No. 193 
TIP: SECURELY REMOVING DATA
The first web hosting Guide from PCSTATS walked through the steps of website hosting from home with IIS. The response to that guide was an overwhelming request for another guide to web hosting... but with Apache! So here its folks - PCSTATS latest Beginners Guide to web hosting with Apache. Elsewhere it this issue of the PCSTATS Newsletter we have an in depth look at MSI's NX7800GTX videocards running in SLI mode, the ECS KN1-SLI Extreme moth...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ASRock 939Dual - Ready for AMD Socket M2?
ASRock 939Dual - Ready for AMD Socket M2?
Issue No. 192 
TIP: LET DOS AND 16-BIT PROGRAMS REST
Sometime in early 2006, AMD will reportedly move the Athlon64 processor onto DDR2 memory. Such major changes require new CPUs, and new CPU sockets. The new (and totally non-compatible with current socket 939 processors) socket we'll all be hearing about in the coming months is the M2 Socket 939. Budget-minded ASrock have taken the impending changes in stride, and introduced the ASRock 939Dual motherboard now which incorporates support for the fut...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI P4N Diamond and Foxconn Motherboards Tested!
MSI P4N Diamond and Foxconn Motherboards Tested!
Issue No. 191 
TIP:CONTROL THE DOWNLOADS
Nvidia's just introduced its Geforce 6100-series IGPs - which means Geforce 6 integrated video for the popular K8 platform, and a potential plethora of home theatre rigs to follow... Expect a review from us on a GeForce 6150-based motherboard the first week of October! In other news, PCSTATS tests out the MSI P4N Diamond NF4 SLI Intel Edition motherboard, the wickedly nice Athlon64 X2 4800+ processor, OCZ's golden PC3500 EL DDR, and a very att...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD X2 4800+ SLI Workstation Benchmarked!
AMD X2 4800+ SLI Workstation Benchmarked!
Issue No. 190 
TIP: TELL IE TO FORGET IT!
Wondering how an Athlon64 X2 4800+ handles workstation applications and games with an SLI videocard setup? We were, until we tested this massive Canada Computers Rig. A comparison of the Athlon64 X2 4800+ against the Pentium D 840 is also worth a quick look. Samsung bust out a 16X external DVD burner which recently crossed the test bench, along with a set of PC5600 DDR from Patriot Memory and the ABIT AN8-SLI motherboard. Getting the best from hi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Guide to the Beginners Guides
Guide to the Beginners Guides
Issue No. 189 
TIP: REGEDIT AND REGEDIT? ALL ABOUT INTEL VIIV
To help you solve those pesky PC problems I've put together a very special Newsletter today. This issue focuses exclusively on the almost 70 PCSTATS Beginners Guides we've published to date! Call it your very own "Guide to the Beginners Guides!" Along the side column, we also look into the newest platform to come from Intel that you'll want to know about; it's called "Viiv." I hope you enjoy this issue! On a another note, due to some issues we...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Ferrari 2GHz Turion Notebook Reviewed
Ferrari 2GHz Turion Notebook Reviewed
Issue No. 188 
TIP: WINXP AND WHQL, PCSTATS Q & A
A trickle of information is starting to flow on the upcoming Intel 975X chipset; it is expected to support both nVidia's SLI and ATI's Crossfire with twin PCI Express x16 slots (x8 lanes each), and will apparently release in tandem with the dual core Pentium D 900-series CPU. If history is any indication, where there is an Intel 975X, there should also be a 965 too... The big news this issue is a little 64-bit AMD Turion based Acer Ferrari 4005 n...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel Pentium D-840 Dual Core CPU
Intel Pentium D-840 Dual Core CPU
Issue No. 187 
TIP: NETWORK SECURITY SETTINGS
In a recent meeting Samsung, PCSTATS was briefed about a new kind of LCD display. What was interesting wasn't that the 17" display had 8ms pixel times, or wildly high screen properties... but rather that it emitted Anions; 50,000 EA/cc within 30cm of the display to be exact. Anions are negatively charged ions which have several beneficial health properties for humans when breathed in; it's a sort of 'healthy air' technology if you will. It's an i...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Asus' Innovative A8N-SLI Motherboard
Asus' Innovative A8N-SLI Motherboard
Issue No. 186 
TIP: LOCKING THE TASKBAR
Summers almost up, school is a few weeks away for students, and we've got a pile of reviews to get through - so here we go! To start with, the excellent Asus A8N-SLI Premium received high marks for its overclocking and innovative chipset thermal solution. Following that is a revisit to Gigabyte's 7800GTX green monster, a nice set of benchmarks for Crucial's Ballistix PC2-4200 DDR2, and a brief overview of the upcoming VIA C7-M ultra-low power ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Do-It-Yourself Home Theatre PC Guide
Do-It-Yourself Home Theatre PC Guide
Issue No. 185 
TIP: INSTANT MESSAGING MESS
Media centers, home theatre systems, the personal computer; all of this seems to be converging into one giant little box that will do everything. Personal Media Players were the first step, and home theatre PCs perhaps the next. With this in mind, PCSTATS got down to work and created a DIY Guide to Building a HTPC. Be sure to give a once over and let me know your thoughts. Also on the agenda for this Newsletter issue is this nVidia Geforce 780...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Albatron's 7800GTX Videocard Benchmarked
Albatron's 7800GTX Videocard Benchmarked
Issue No. 184 
TIP: CONTROL THE CONTROL PANEL
Its been a very busy week in the PCstats Labs, and all I can say for the moment is Turion, Ferrari, notebook and plenty of benchmarks. ;) In speaking with Albatron representatives today, I've gotten word that of two upcoming motherboards, one will pair SLI (dual PCI Express videocards) with the popular Intel 915P chipset; SLI certainly isn't just for nForce 4 boards anymore... In other news, nVidia seems to have a delay in getting its Geforce ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - PCSTATS Around the World in 80 Seconds
PCSTATS Around the World in 80 Seconds
Issue No. 183 
TIP: SET PC TO THE RIGHT DATE
Did you know that when the PCSTATS Newsletter is mailed out it goes to the far corners of the digital globe? Readers from Japan to Brazil, Wales to South Africa, the Netherlands and even the US find a little slice of PCSTATS in their mail box each week. As tech releases are slower in the summer, we're going to try something different today. For this issue, the Editor of PCSTATS has an assignment for you: Take a picture out the nearest window by y...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - SLI Power Supplies and a Radeon X850XT
SLI Power Supplies and a Radeon X850XT
Issue No. 182 
TIP: DISABLE TASK MANAGER, PROTECT YOUR COMMON-USE PC
Over the last few days, the PCSTATS lab has been busy testing and retesting a pair of nVidia Geforce 7800GTX videocards in SLI (the gist: they're fast). Then came the latest set of nVidia drivers, and a new feature - SLI-AntiAliasing... so back the lab we went. The tests are all done, so keep an eye out for that review, it'll be out very shortly. :-) With the increased demand of SLI systems on the power supply, it was only a mater of time befo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Speeding with the Geforce 7800GTX
Speeding with the Geforce 7800GTX
Issue No. 181 
TIP: OUTLOOK TWEAKS
In today's issue of the PCstats Newsletter, an AMD Athlon64 3700+ gets overclocked from 2.2GHz to 3.22GHz with the aid of a phase-change cooler. Nothing like a little overclocking to start things off on the right foot! An introduction to the technology behind nVidia's Geforce 7800GTX series of videocards rounds out the number two spot, followed by reviews of Mushkin's Redline PC3200 DDR, the MSI K8N Neo3-F motherboard, ATI X800XL videocard, and a...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Overclocking Guides and Experimental Underclocking
Overclocking Guides and Experimental Underclocking
Issue No. 180 
TIP: NEW HARD DRIVE, NEW PARTITION
One of PCSTATS' founding ideals is that our articles, reviews and guides should present you with enough information that you can make informed decisions on your own. We're not here to tell you what to buy or where to shop, because we're not the lap dogs of the computer industry, certain brands, or online retailers. Though it is sometimes prudent to point out which gear to avoid, when it comes to questions of ATI or nVidia, Intel or AMD, the answe...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - nVidia Geforce 6600GT Videocard Roundup
nVidia Geforce 6600GT Videocard Roundup
Issue No. 179 
TIP: RESTORE POINTS, PCSTATS Q & A - TAMING THE FIREWALL PART XVIII
In Taiwan right this second, thousands of new products are being displayed at Computex 2005. Of interest to us are the AMD Athlon64 X2 dual core processor, ATI Crossfire (SLI) videocard technology, nVidia G70 GPU, ECS Athlon64/Pentium 4 supporting motherboard, and the release of the VIA C7-M processor, among other things... The Athlon64 X2 is arguably the most important release, and ATI's Crossfire (SLI) technology the most predicted. In th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Phase-change Cooling and RSS Feeds
Phase-change Cooling and RSS Feeds
Issue No. 178 
TIP: POWER UP, POWER ONWARD
This weeks Newsletter starts off with some very specialized computing cooling equipment which allows an overclocked Athlon64 or Pentium 4 processor to speed along at minus-30 degrees Celsius! Called the Prometeia Mach II GT phase change cooler, it does what no heatsink can - very cool indeed. Pun intended. Up next is a review of the Intel Pentium 4-540 processor, the ATI Xpress200 chipset-based ECS RS400A motherboard, and Powercolor Bravo Rade...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Linux Part 3 and New Hardware Reviews
Linux Part 3 and New Hardware Reviews
Issue No. 177 
TIP: HIDDEN NETWORK PCS
The saga continues... PCSTATS presents the third and final part in its Beginners Guide to Linux series; this time the topic turns to getting new software up and running in Linux. Enjoy! The Asus K8N4-E motherboard is the focus of our attention this week, as it combines socket 754 Athlon64 processors with PCI Express capabilities. Following that review are benchmarks for the MSI NX6600GT-VTD128SP special edition Geforce 6600GT videocard, and a ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Samsung's 8ms 730B LCD Monitor
Samsung's 8ms 730B LCD Monitor
Issue No. 176 
TIP: HIGH SECURITY PASSWORDS
If you liked last weeks Beginners Guide to hosting your own website, then don't miss this weeks Guide to the fundamentals of upgrading a PC! Speaking of upgrades, gamers should take note of the Samsung's new 17" Syncmaster 730B LCD display and its quick 8ms pixel response times... Can you say "buh-bye ghosting?" Are you interested in cryogenically refrigerated Athlon64 processors overclocked to the hilt? Keep one eye peeled towards the nex...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - HomePC Website Hosting How-To
HomePC Website Hosting How-To
Issue No. 175 
TIP: HDD DEFRAGMENTATION
Rejoice! Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is finally available! (yay) While this OS will spur on sales of AMD & Intel 64-bit CPUs, it apparently falls short in two areas; comprehensive 64-bit hardware drivers and 64-bit compatible antivirus software from major vendors. Compatibility issues aside, 64-bit computing offers plenty to get excited about, as we have illustrated previously. Do you use the PCstats ShoppingList? We'd like to know wh...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Media Players on the Go
Media Players on the Go
Issue No. 174 
TIP: KVM AND MOUSE SIGNALS
Personal Media Players are the next hottest thing, if we're to believe all the hype. They allow us to carry full movies, lots of music, and thousands of photos around in a small device, to watch wherever we choose. The MSI Megaview 561 is one such PMP, and very shortly you'll see what we think of another called the mPack P800. Hardware has been flying past the test bench at PCSTATS this month, and in this issue we cover the MSI K8N Neo4 Platin...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Overclocking and Enthusiast Calibre Gear
Overclocking and Enthusiast Calibre Gear
Issue No. 173 
TIP: ADMINISTRATOR LOOPHOLE, TECH DAWN OF THE PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYER
At its simplest, overclocking is the act of purposefully running a computer processor faster than its rated speed for the benefit of performance. This used to be the domain of a few grassroots enthusiasts, but industry was quick to embrace overclocking and now CPUs, memory, videocards and motherboards support this officially uncondoned feature. The Athlon64 DFI Lanparty NF4 SLI-DR is currently the grandaddy of the overclocking motherboards, ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Good Gaming Gear
Good Gaming Gear
Issue No. 172 
TIP: ADMIN CONTROLS AND IE FUN
In this issue of the PCSTATS Newsletter, the 1.6GHz Dothan based Gigabyte N203 notebook made it past our test bench as a possible alternative to major notebook brands. While the N203 has many good features, it is hampered by the Intel 'extreme graphics' chip, which is anything but. Once again Colin's Weekly Tech Tip has been doubled up, so twice the tips are waiting a little further down. VIAs Grease Monkey is not a fat-busting mammal, but rather...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Bright Blue Cases and NF4-Intel
Bright Blue Cases and NF4-Intel
Issue No. 171 
TIP: LOCK IT OR MOVE IT!, TECH SUPPORT AND HELP BY PCSTATS
With the release of Intel's new 955X and 945P chipsets this week, the highly anticipated nVidia nForce4-SLI Intel Edition chipset is finally emerging. PCSTATS has an exclusive first look at the Gigabyte 8N-SLI Royal motherboard, and how the Intel NF4 solution stacks up against an AMD NF4-SLI board. There are two new Beginners Guides this week, the first deals with WindowsXP Services and dishes out some tricks to improving system performance b...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Linux Part 2 and Intel-SLI
Linux Part 2 and Intel-SLI
Issue No. 170 
TIP: TWO-FER-ONE TIPS!, NFORCE 4 SLI INTEL+AMD
This month has been a whirlwind, and as the 'C19' nForce4-SLi chipset for the Intel Pentium4 is released in the next couple days, things are only going to pick up. Keep an eye out for PCSTATS review of the Intel-SLI Gigabyte 8N-SLI Royal motherboard... due shortly! If you were wondering, there were a few less newsletters than normal this month due to some backend upgrades, and a little event called SXSW in Austin, Texas - "Hello Austin!" Now ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - SLI Motherboards For Intel and AMD
SLI Motherboards For Intel and AMD
Issue No. 169 
TIP: LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS USE A BOOT LOADER, KEEPING UP ON YOUR GAME
It's March, and the updated PCstats ShoppingList dishes out our ideal hardware recommendations for three budget levels. This is a handy tool for anyone seeking advice on what to put into their next PC... And while we're on the topic of new PCs, expect nForce 4 SLI boards for the Intel Pentium 4 to start popping up in May. Nvidia's Intel-friendly 'Crush 19' NF4 chipset will reportedly support 800/1066MHz FSB Pentium 4 CPUs, as well as the dual-cor...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Data Recovery Revisited
Data Recovery Revisited
Issue No. 168 
TIP: CONTROLLING HIDDEN SHARES, GET READY FOR SP2 DISRUPTIONS IN APRIL
Several months back, PCstats published a guide to hard drive data recovery - a collection of tools and advice for recovering lost data from dead, deleted, and damaged hard drives. This week, we've taken Handy Recovery 2.0 from Softlogica for a spin to see how it compares. The end results are generally the same, but the process is much smoother as you might expect. Albatron is back in the spotlight with its K8X890 Pro II mobo - a PCI Express a...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - This Thing Called Linux...
This Thing Called Linux...
Issue No. 167 
TIP: TIME CONTROL AND PRINTERS, INTEL'S SONOMA: SECOND-GENERATION CENTRINO
Linux is an operating system that most of us have heard plenty about, but probably haven't ever used on our own PC's (experts excluded). In part 1 of the Getting Familiar with Linux guide, we get your feet wet in Linux, and explain some of the basic ways it differs from WindowsXP. This is a good primer for beginners, so have a look. Next up is a very nice 21/5ppm colour laser printer from Samsung called the CLP-550N, followed by our review of the...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Making Motherboards: Factory Tour
Making Motherboards: Factory Tour
Issue No. 166 
TIP: HIDING SHARED DEVICES, PCSTATS Q & A
This week PCstats is taking you on a field trip to a motherboard factory in Taiwan, to see how motherboards are made by Gigabyte. Over 20-pages, and 100+ images, we guide you through the process which is exceptionally complicated, and worth checking out if you have ever wondered "how they make motherboards?" Next up is a Guide to the WindowsXP Command Prompt. Handy info to know if you ever have to reset your broadband internet connection with...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Most Common Ways To Kill a PC
Most Common Ways To Kill a PC
Issue No. 165 
TIP: WINDOWS DESKTOP CLEANUP WIZARD, CLONING HARD DRIVES
The recent introduction nVidia's SLI nForce4 chipset has been a well deserved boon for Athlon64 users waiting to adopt PCI Express videocards. We're currently putting the finishing touches on MSI and Gigabyte SLI board reviews, so keep one browser glued to PCstats.com... Lots of you have been sending in questions, and PCstats has been busy answering them in the tech Q&A section. The most recent tech questions are hiding a little further down ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - BTX Form Factor Explained
BTX Form Factor Explained
Issue No. 164 
TIP: REGULAR OFFICE HOUR PRINTING, MYSTERIOUS MOTHERBOARD TROUBLES - PART 3
A lot of us have been wondering about the new BTX standard Intel is proposing, and if it's really worth buying into. PCstats looks into this new form factor for how PC cases, power supplies and motherboards will be built. We've also test run Microsoft's new beta spyware protection software. It fails to completely replace the assortment of applications currently out there... but is a step up. The last part of PCstats series "Mysterious Motherboard...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - FireFox 1.0 Browser - move over IE
FireFox 1.0 Browser - move over IE
Issue No. 163 
TIP: HIDING SHARED FOLDERS, MYSTERIOUS MOTHERBOARD TROUBLES - PART 2
It's 2005! Happy New Year from all of us here at PCstats.com! In this issue of the newsletter we're taking a look at a new internet browser making waves; FireFox 1.0. Built by Mozilla, not Microsoft, FireFox is quickly winning over users and taking market share from IE6's stronghold, so be sure to give our review a read. The second half of PCstats three part series "Mysterious Motherboard Troubles," continues on from where last week's issue l...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC4000 DDR Lights Up!
Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC4000 DDR Lights Up!
Issue No. 162 
TIP: MAPPED NETWORK DRIVES, MYSTERIOUS MOTHERBOARD TROUBLES, PCSTATS Q & A
'Tis the season for giving, so PCstats has teamed up with Crucial.com to give away 1GB of Ballistix Tracer PC4000 DDR memory! The lights on this memory will make an Xmas tree look dull by comparison, so exercise that left-mouse button and tell all your friends and co-workers to enter! Since you're already subscribed and receiving your weekly edition of the PCstats Newsletter, enter by filling out the Subscribers Entry Form, and including the e...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Cool and Affordable Hardware Issue
Cool and Affordable Hardware Issue
Issue No. 161 
TIP: SECURE THAT USB DRIVE
As I was creating this Newsletter Issue for you, it struck me that PCstats has been testing a lot of mainstream gear lately. While the economy is racing ahead like a thoroughbred, most of us find it difficult to really justify the expense of high-end hardware, even though it's fun to daydream. For when a videocard costs as much as a whole computer, its time to think again... The Gigabyte Radeon X700 Pro videocard at the top of this issue is of...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Dual Layer DVD burner & Athlon64 Motherboards
Dual Layer DVD burner & Athlon64 Motherboards
Issue No. 160 
TIP: SYSTEM OWNERSHIP
nVidia is certainly putting itself in the spotlight as 2004 comes to a close. Not only has it introduced a long list of videocards this year, but nVidia has also brought PCI Express to the AMD Athlon64 platform. PCstats has already reviewed the nForce 4-based Gigabyte K8NXP-9, and previewed the SLI compatible K8NXP-SLI. In speaking with reps from MSI and ABIT, those companies NF4 boards using the 'A03' core stepping will be ready very shortly... ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - nForce 4 Athlon64 & 104 Great Tech Tips!
nForce 4 Athlon64 & 104 Great Tech Tips!
Issue No. 159 
TIP: SCHEDULED TASKS
Been waiting for the new nForce 4 chipset to come out so you can run a PCI Express videocard with that socket 939 Athlon64 processor? Thought 'that day' would never come? Well smile, because PCstats has a review of the brand new nForce 4 Ultra Gigabyte K8NXP-9 motherboard for your reading pleasure... benchmarked with the MSI RX800XT videocard and Athlon64 4000+ CPU no less! Time to break out that freebie Half Life 2 coupon, and get gaming! As ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Sleek Mini-PC from AOpen
Sleek Mini-PC from AOpen
Issue No. 158 
TIP: MONITORING USERS
I have a couple really exciting reviews ready for you this week, but before we get into that I'd like to direct your attention to the PCstats ShoppingList. This isn't a shopping portal, or partnership with a big e-comm. What the ShoppingList does is answer those "what PC should I get for my budget" questions that PCstats frequently receives. We've broken the answers to that question down into three price ranges, and listed the hardware that we wo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Snappy Asus AX800XT Videocard & DDR-2
Snappy Asus AX800XT Videocard & DDR-2
Issue No. 157 
TIP: PRINTER PHANTOMS
Alright, the new 3.46GHz Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor is here. It runs 'faster' thanks to a 1066MHz Front Side Bus and the 925XE chipset, but is this really exciting? Well, not really if we consider that reviews from around the web aren't showing much performance gain, and the EE costs an utter fortune. The consensus in the PCstats Labs is that if you're looking to upgrade, socket 939 Athlon64's are the best option... currently. A...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI's Radeon RX800XT Videocard
MSI's Radeon RX800XT Videocard
Issue No. 156 
TIP: TIME LOCKED LOGIN
There is nothing quite as sweet as "new videocard smell," and to help with your quest for the best gear, PCstats presents its review of the PCI Express MSI Radeon RX800XT. Following this shining example of ATI engineering is our test report on Mushkin's low latency PC3200 DDR RAM. Mike stops by the Newsletter this week with a Guide to Upgrading Windows 98 to XP, and then it's on to Gigabyte's GA-8GPNXP-Duo socket 775 / PCI Express motherboard! ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD Athlon64 4000+ and FX-55
AMD Athlon64 4000+ and FX-55
Issue No. 155 
TIP: IE DEBUG
Today's Newsletter comes right at you with benchmarks for AMD's newest 64-bit processor! The AMD Athlon64 4000+ (2.4GHz) and FX-55 (2.6GHz) processors have hit the streets, and with 1MB of L2 Cache, they are certainly burning up the benchmarks. PCstats full review on the Athlon64 4000+ processor is right here. Since we're on the topic of 64-bit processors, I recommend you also take a look at our Athlon64 64-bit vs. 32-bit head on compariso...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Albatron's GeForce 6800GT NV40 Videocard
Albatron's GeForce 6800GT NV40 Videocard
Issue No. 154 
TIP: ADMIN CONTROLS
Up until now, I've only heard secondhand stories of processors and other computer hardware getting fried in a power supply failure, or through some manner of electrical short in the PC. That was until I inserted an innocent little USB key into the back of my computer this weekend. The USB key didn't go in straight, and perhaps some of the electrical contacts shorted out... It's hard to say for certain what really happened, but I will admit to the...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Gigabyte's 925X Flagship Motherboard
Gigabyte's 925X Flagship Motherboard
Issue No. 153 
TIP: PARENTAL CONTROLS
With the Socket 775 Intel processor introducing so many legacy-free technologies all at once, consumers hare really been forced to swallow the bullet and upgrade just about everything in their PCs. It's a bit like peeling a Band-Aid off a hairy arm though; the faster you pull it off, the less it hurts in the long run. It's with this in mind that we as consumers are quickly being introduced to terminology like 'DDR-2,' 'BTX,' and of course 'PCI-Ex...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Windows BSOD Crash Recovery
Windows BSOD Crash Recovery
Issue No. 152 
TIP: NOVICE COMPUTER USERS DOWNLOADING
It's now officially Fall, and that can mean only one thing... get your PCI-Express videocards and Athlon64 chips ready, because things are going to heat up next month! In any event, please take a moment to look through this weeks PCstats Newsletter; Mike has just finished work on an excellent guide on Crash Recovery and the Windows Blue Screen of Death, among several others listed below... and of course our Weekly PCstats Tech Tip! ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Windows Safe Mode Explained
Windows Safe Mode Explained
Issue No. 151 
TIP: COLOURS AND DESKTOP SETTINGS
In the last issue of the PCstats Newsletter I talked about three upcoming chipsets to address the PCI Express and AMD Athlon64 problem. This week, I have a little info to share with you about Intel's upcoming plans... But first I'd like to direct your attention to PCstats' latest Guide to WindowsXP Safe Mode. This a great guide that can save you and your PC from a trip to the Service Center, so have a look! Next up is our review of the workst...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The Athlon64 and PCI-Express
The Athlon64 and PCI-Express
Issue No. 150 
TIP: CLEANING OUT PRINTER TEMP FILES
"When is the AMD Athlon64 939 getting PCI Express?" To find out the answer to this question, I spoke with a Senior Product Mgr at MSI Computer. It seems as far as the question of the Athlon64 and PCI Express goes, there are three chipsets coming from VIA, SIS and nVidia which will introduce support for PCI Express to the K8. When boards like the Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939 are released, it really makes you want to get an Athlon64 processor, and upgrade....
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Slipstreaming WinXP and SP2
Slipstreaming WinXP and SP2
Issue No. 149 
TIP: HOME PCS
A while back some IT administrators wrote in to let me know they wanted the PCstats Newsletter cover tougher technical topics. Sure the Beginners Guides are good refreshers for experts, the Weekly Tech Tips invaluable... but what about more complex issues in the day-to-day grind of keeping office PCs up and running? Well you may not realize it, but some of PCstats.com's best Guides have come from our collaboration with IT staff facing ugly "ge...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Doom 3 & PCX5900 Video Card Reviews
Doom 3 & PCX5900 Video Card Reviews
Issue No. 148 
TIP: HOME PCS
Doom 3. We've been waiting for it for months, and it's finely here. Unlike those pointless Half Life 2 coupons which enticed us all to buy a certain brand of videocard... Ahem. Mike has a review of this killer game for anyone who might still need some convincing on the matter. So give it a read! On the review front PCstats covers the Albatron Trinity PC5900 PCI Express Videocard first. Next up is some bright red PC4000 Firestix DDR from Buffal...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Crucial PC4200 DDR-2 Memory
Crucial PC4200 DDR-2 Memory
Issue No. 146 
TIP: CREATE RESTORE POINTS, INDUSTRY INSIGHTS, A READER ASKS...
The PCstats Newsletter is not only a great place to find out how the latest computer gear performs, but we're also here to help you with your PC problems. PCstats Beginners Guides tackles the art of making you computer work the way you want it to, and in "A Reader Asks..." the Guru of guides dishes out helpful insight each week. And hey, if there is a guide you'd like to see, let PCstats know! In this issue, we test a pair of Crucial's new PC...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Guide: Firewalls and Software Problems
Guide: Firewalls and Software Problems
Issue No. 145 
TIP: PASSWORD RESET DISK
The greatest tool for personal PC security is the firewall. In fact, a software Firewall is one of the 10 Steps PCstats recommends for securing your PC. Yet, how many of you have turned on the Firewall built into WindowsXP, only to discover your favourite interent-based programs no longer work? The biggest complaint we hear has to do with MSN Instant Messenger File Transfers... To get around this, you have to manually turn WinXP's Internet Connec...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Asus A8V and PCI-Express ATI X600 XT
Asus A8V and PCI-Express ATI X600 XT
Issue No. 144 
TIP: PROTECTING ZIP FILES
The Asus A8V is an Athlon64 motherboard for the socket 939 processor, and it's a fast one at that! Based on the VIA K8T800 Pro chipset, the A8V earned high marks from us, so be sure to read the full review for the low down. Next up, we test out a PCI Express x16 videocard from Gigabyte. The Radeon X600 XT based Gigabyte RX60X128V is a mainstream videocard that easily outperforms the nearest PCI-E equivalent from nVidia. See the review for full de...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - XGI Volari V8 Videocard and nF3-250GB Motherboard
XGI Volari V8 Videocard and nF3-250GB Motherboard
Issue No. 143 
TIP: VALIDATE THE SCAM MAIL
The XGI Volari GPU burst onto the scene a little over a year ago with a lot of fan fare, but little in the way of concrete benchmarks to back the hype. In this newsletter, PCstats tests the Volari V8, a mainstream videocard which for a change isn't based on either ATI or nVidia GPU's. The benchmarks tell an interesting tale about what newcomers face in the videocard market... Also on the chopping block this week is our review of the new AMD Athlo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Dell Dimension Desktop Reviewed
Dell Dimension Desktop Reviewed
Issue No. 142 
TIP: SEND TO...
I receive questions from readers all the time about what PC, or components they should get. If the hardware has passed through the PCstats labs the answer is an easy one, but if not, it's hard for us to make an objective recommendation. This is why the PCstats Forums are so handy; there is good chance someone has used whatever it is you are looking for, and can give you some solid advice on how well, or how poorly, it worked for them. As many ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Samsung's Crisp 17
Samsung's Crisp 17" LCD Gets High Marks
Issue No. 141 
TIP: SECRET USER ACCOUNTS
There have been a couple of really cool things to cross the test bench from Samsung recently. The first is a 192MB MP3 player with built-in radio, and the second, a 17" LCD screen with 700:1 contrast ratio and viewing angles of 178/178 degrees! I spent some time testing out both products, and I'm sure you'll find each review worth a look. While Chris talks about 12X DVD recorders and the emerging class of dual-layer DVD burners in this weeks I...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - FX5900XT Videocard and More Fast Hardware
FX5900XT Videocard and More Fast Hardware
Issue No. 140 
TIP: NTFS AND WINDOWS
I think we should all give Google's GMail a round of applause for introducing some much needed competition into the online world. In response to GMail's massive storage size, Hotmail will shortly increase the capacity of its free email accounts to 250MB, and allow attachments of 10MB! Add to that some nice anti-virus filtering that "scans and cleans ingoing and outgoing email for viruses and worms," and you have the makings of an actually useful ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Mushkin DDR Memory Returns
Mushkin DDR Memory Returns
Issue No. 139 
TIP: NTFS AND WINDOWS
Mushkin. The name strikes fear in the hearts of second-rate and bargain-basement DDR! Mushkin has long been known for producing some pretty sweet performance DDR, but lately, it seems like the company has been struggling to match the pace of its competition. This week, PCstats tests out a couple sticks of Mushkin's new Enhanced PC3200 DDR to see if it really is the memory of legends. Read about it all right here! Next up is our look at Aopen'...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 10 Steps to Secure Your PC
10 Steps to Secure Your PC
Issue No. 138 
TIP: WELCOME TO WINDOWS
The focus of this issue of the PCstats Newsletter is 10 Steps to Securing your PC. That's really just the first guide in our issue, but it serves as a fitting focus for the rest of what we have in store for you... After following those 10 Steps, we move right into Printer Networking on the cheap - no routers, or print servers necessary here. Once you have those two guides under your belt, the focus shifts to Spyware removal. For the readers w...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - PCI-E, DDR-2 and a New Pentium 4 CPU
PCI-E, DDR-2 and a New Pentium 4 CPU
Issue No. 137 
TIP: USE THE SEARCH ENGINE
It's always exciting to see new computer gear first hand - which is what I spent all of last week doing at Computex 2004. With the June 21st release of Intel's new socket 775 "Prescott" Pentium 4 quickly approaching, the computer industry is getting ready for great change. Along with the pinless processor, high end users who jump on board with a 925x based system are going to need a PCI-Express videocard, and DDR-2 memory to go along with it. Sur...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 99 Performance Tips For WinXP!
99 Performance Tips For WinXP!
Issue No. 136 
TIP: WHEN WINDOWS CRASHES...
First there was PCstats 101 Tips and Tweaks for WindowsXP - a mammoth guide that weighed in at 36 pages.. Now, I am very pleased to present you with the follow up; 99 Performance Tips for WindowsXP! This brand-new 32 page guide contains 99 Tips covering everything from registry tweaking, to BIOS tricks that can give you a performance edge. It's all there, and to give you a taste of what to expect, just scroll down a little... :-) 99 Tips and 1...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - MSI K8N Neo Platinum works magic for Athlon64
MSI K8N Neo Platinum works magic for Athlon64
Issue No. 135 
TIP: CLICK, CLICK, CLICK
There are just a few days until PCstats is off to attend Computex 2004 and cover the latest and greatest computer hardware on the planet for you! With AMD's June 1st release of the new socket 939 Athlon64 3800+ CPU, there are sure to be a whole host of new motherboards and chipsets to check out. If VIAs new K8T800 Pro is anything like the original K8T800, this should be an exciting time for AMD users. Only one problem remains though; Microsoft Wi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Overclocking and Cooling
Overclocking and Cooling
Issue No. 134 
TIP: CLEAN UP XP
Intel pulled the plug on its Tejas core last week, leaving questions to flourish; will the new socket LGA775 Pentium processor still be released? Why was Tejas canned? While I won't claim to have a bug underneath the 4th floor conference table in Intel's Santa Clara offices, I have been able to gather a little information about the whole CPU-switcheroo. As you know, Intel had planned on moving from socket 478 Pentium 4 CPUs to a pinless socket 77...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - nVidia Geforce 6800 Ultra Reviewed
nVidia Geforce 6800 Ultra Reviewed
Issue No. 133 
TIP: USE THE SEARCH ENGINE
Behind glossy pixels which proclaim "Newest Computer Hardware Reviewed!" there's a lot at stake. Especially if we consider that the first websites to review a new CPU, videocard, or motherboard, influence what the rest us - and you the consumer - think about it. However, the most persuasive factor in any review you read, including those on PCstats.com, is your own opinion. As a consumer you have your favourite hardware brands, and you've natur...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - DDR-2 Memory; The Next RAM
DDR-2 Memory; The Next RAM
Issue No. 132 
TIP: BINARY REGISTRY EDITS
Whenever a new RAM standard is thrust upon consumers, some familiar questions arise; "is it better, faster, and cheaper?" As new computers will make the transition to DDR-2 shortly, now is a good time to present you with an introduction to DDR-2 memory. In this article, PCstats covers the basics, the differences, and the advantages of migrating to DDR-2 RAM. You'll have to wait a little while further for the benchmarks, however. Have you ever...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - DIY Home Networking and File Sharing
DIY Home Networking and File Sharing
Issue No. 131 
TIP: SPRING CLEANING
I often field questions from readers about products PCstats has reviewed. Recently I've been sorting through questions about 19" monitors running resolutions of 1600x1200 - the preferred size for programmers since more lines of code will fit on the screen, and because it's next to impossible for anyone to read over your shoulder. :) But what about encrypted displays? Screens which look like static on a TV to anyone but the authorized viewer might...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The Mighty Memory Issue
The Mighty Memory Issue
Issue No. 130 
TIP: SWAPFILE OPTIMIZATION
A few of you wrote in asking memory related questions last week, so I thought I'd devote a little more time to this subject in today's issue. Luckily, PCstats has published a couple guides on this oh-so-important topic. Of special note, is PCstats Guide to Diagnosing Bad Memory - very handy information if you suspect your computer is unstable because of memory-related issues. For a more in-depth assessment on memory, say for overlocking or ga...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Best SFF PC - Aopen i865 XCcube
Best SFF PC - Aopen i865 XCcube
Issue No. 129 
TIP: GUESTS ONLY
The dawn of the nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra is here! nVidia's newest videocard for gamers tops out at a mind blowing 220 Million transistors (NV40 core), offers full support for PCI express x16, GDDR3 memory, and has a power draw of upwards of 60W... According to 6800 Ultra reviews to hit the web, that means a minimum 450W PSU is required! Of course, with fresh 0.13 micron silicon comes pure speed; and the Geforce 6800 Ultra clocks in with its core...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ABIT's KV8-MAX3 and Much More...
ABIT's KV8-MAX3 and Much More...
Issue No. 128 
TIP: ALARM, ALARM
ABIT graced the PCstats Labs this week with their mighty fine, Athlon64-toting KV8-Max3 motherboard. Drop in a sweet videocard like the Chaintech Apogee AA5700U and you know you're off to the races... The trouble is, with problems that come naturally to an aging power grid, fluctuations can cause instability in a good gaming PC. Belkin have a compact 1000VA uninterruptable power supply that evens the juice out, and gives you a few extra minutes t...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Introduction to Skype and VoIP
Introduction to Skype and VoIP
Issue No. 127 
TIP: CPU UTILIZATION
At CES earlier this year, I was speaking with some folks from IBM about new and notable technology, when the word "Skype" was mentioned. Never having heard of this program from the Swedes who created Kazaa, I pressed for the full low down on what turned out to be a Beta-version Voice over IP pseudo Instant Messaging service. VoIP is an acronym for making phone calls over standard computer networking infrastructure, which has the benefit of doing ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Gigabyte 54Mbps Router and WiFi Security Guide
Gigabyte 54Mbps Router and WiFi Security Guide
Issue No. 126 
TIP: MORE FILES/SEC
AMD launched the Athlon64 FX-53 processor earlier this week, clocked at 2.4GHz. While the FX-53 is undoubtedly fast, I wouldn't recommend jumping on board the socket 940 formfactor; the FX-53 is a powerful processor, but I don't think it is worth buying in the long run. AMD as you know, are moving their Athlon64 FX CPU over to a 939-pin socket, which they will be running with for the foreseeable future. Intel on the other hand are doing really we...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Asus' A9800XT Kicks up the Pixels
Asus' A9800XT Kicks up the Pixels
Issue No. 125 
TIP: SWAPPING MOBO'S
I've assembled a nice collection of reviews in this weeks PCstats Newsletter, starting with the Numero Uno, the Asus A9800XT video card. The benchmarks should tell you pretty much everything you need to know about of this little speed demon, but what about Asus' custom software? Read on my friend, read on... Next, we talk about how to use RAID with your hard drives in a home PC for better performance. If you're a enthusiastic gammer, a little RAI...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - CoolerMaster's Wavemaster Case in the Spotlight
CoolerMaster's Wavemaster Case in the Spotlight
Issue No. 124 
TIP: QUICK URLS
Remember the big power blackout last summer? When the electricity cut out to 50million people, most computers went with it... except those protected by a UPS of course. I was fortunate to be typing away on a notebook at the time, but if you use a PC without an Uninterruptable Power Supply you really should check out PCstats' latest review on the Powerware 5125 1000VA UPS. Even if you already have power protection, the review is pretty informative...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Videocards, WiFi and Guides - the perfect mix
Videocards, WiFi and Guides - the perfect mix
Issue No. 123 
TIP: STOPPING SPYWARE
In this weeks issue I think you'll find some very intriguing info within our Industry Insights column... nVidia's upcoming PCI express GeForceFX cards to be exact. The big question surrounding PCI Express is this; should you buy into PCI Express videocards when they first come out? The answer is a little tricky, since the nVidia PCX5950 (for example) uses an enhanced AGP bus to bridge the GPU and PCI Express bus' together. It's not a 'native' PCI...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel and AMD Tech Releases
Intel and AMD Tech Releases
Issue No. 122 
TIP: THE 'QUICKENING'
I just got off the phone with a videocard and motherboard manufacturer you all know very well. It seems that we can start looking forward to nVidia nForce3-250 based Athlon64 motherboards towards the end of this month. The preliminary impression is that you can expect the nF3-250 to match performance levels of VIA's K8T800 Athlon64 chipset, but not necessarily outperform it. According to our past reviews, the nF3-150 chipset had a hard time perfo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Videocard Madness: nVidia and ATI's Best!
Videocard Madness: nVidia and ATI's Best!
Issue No. 121 
TIP: QUICK RESTARTING
You asked for videocard reviews and you got them! This week the PCstats Newsletter looks at a host of fast videocards from MSI Computer, Gigabyte and Sapphire. There should be something here for everybody, so take your time as you browse through the plethora of benchmarks. The party starts with Gigabyte's 'green monster', an FX5950 ultra, and moves right into Sapphire's Radeon 9800XT. From there, Colin spends some quality time with MSI'sFX500 ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - New 3.2GHz Pentium 4 Processor!
New 3.2GHz Pentium 4 Processor!
Issue No. 120 
TIP: HOME PCS
The newest processor in the Intel family, called the 3.2GHz "Prescott" was released this past weekend. PCstats reviews the Prescott against AMD's best and brightest 64-bit chips, and side by side with Intel's 3.2GHz Extreme Edition and Northwood models. I highly recommend you read the review. Given what we have seen from Prescott, I think it's safe to say that not many people are going to be racing to the stores for this processor just yet... Onl...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Awards for Asus' Athlon64 K8V-Deluxe
Awards for Asus' Athlon64 K8V-Deluxe
Issue No. 119 
TIP: ALL ABOUT AIR PRESSURE
The Novarg (aka MyDoom) virus is "successfully" littering millions of email boxes with little ticking time bombs of virus-ladden fun. According to the BBC, it is one of the most successful in recent months, and currently accounts for 10% of all e-mail traffic on the internet. To get infected, you have to double click on the infected attachment. If you don't open it, you're fine. Just delete the email. To make sure you aren't infected with this an...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Fast Videocards, RAM and Motherboards
Fast Videocards, RAM and Motherboards
Issue No. 118 
TIP: SERVER TWEAKS
Chilling info in the Industry Insights column... What will the world be like with "secure hardware," and is this a sign of serial number based components which must be activated in a similar fashion to software today? On the other side of the tech spectrum is surely the "Blog." Do you know someone who runs a blog? Would you like to start one, but aren't sure how? Never fear, Mike has put together a quick guide to get you 'Blogging' away in no...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Transmeta and Palm-sized WinXP PC's
Transmeta and Palm-sized WinXP PC's
Issue No. 117 
TIP: PREFETCH SERVICES
Fresh from a CES 2004, there are a couple of really cool items I want to go over this week. The first and foremost is the brand new OQO Model 1 plam-sized WinXP PC, or as the company call it; "Ultra Personal Computer." I had a few minutes to check out this little marvel of magnesium alloy and compact processing power, and with the 1GHz Crusoe CPU inside, hidden Blackberry-like keyboard, TrackStick mouse and full compliment of Bluetooth and 802.11...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Albatron's FX5950 Ultra Videocard
Albatron's FX5950 Ultra Videocard
Issue No. 116 
TIP: RESET 'EXPLORER' FUNCTIONS
It's the start of a new year, and already things are very busy; today was the launch of AMD's Athlon64 3400+ processor (no surprises here, it's faster) , and later this week I'll be jetting off to take part in CES 2004. Chaintech make their debut in PCstats Newsletter with a very well equipped Zenith ZNF3-150 Athlon64 motherboard that I'm sure you'll want to read about. The bundled-in goodies are too numerous to mention here, but the heatpipe coo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - All About PCI Express; the Death of AGP8X
All About PCI Express; the Death of AGP8X
Issue No. 115 
TIP: PREFETCH SERVICES
The end of 2003 draws near, and I still have a pile of prizes to give away! Make certain you've entered by taking a few minutes to fill out the PCstats Newsletter Quiz. It's pretty painless, and you could be walking home with the cool 802.11g Wireless Networking Gear from MSI Computer pictured below! As this is the Last PCstats Newsletter of 2003, I've made sure to pack it full of Guides and great reviews... just in case you need to get away ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Holiday Quiz, Contest and Reviews
Holiday Quiz, Contest and Reviews
Issue No. 114 
TIP: CLEAR TYPE
The Holiday Season is upon us, but before Santa prepares his flight plan, the PCstats.com Newsletter and MSI Computer have a couple WiFi prize packages up for grabs.... Take the PCstats Newsletter Quiz, answer 15 multiple choice questions and you'll be entered for a chance to walk away with 1 of 10 complete Wireless 802.11g Networking Bundles! And what's more, just for taking the time to fill out our Newsletter Quiz, you'll get a coupon code ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 101 Tips and Tweaks From PCstats
101 Tips and Tweaks From PCstats
Issue No. 113 
TIP: DESKTOP BACKGROUNDS!
With the holiday season in full swing, we're happy to give you all a little pre-festivities gift in the form of 101 Tips and Tweaks for Windows! At 36 pages in length, this is one of the most comprehensive Beginners Guides PCstats has assembled to date, and I'm sure beginners and experts alike will find many tips of interest. Now if the words "raw performance" and "money is no object" pique your curiosity, then sit back and read our look at th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AthlonXP 2500+, A Performance/Value CPU
AthlonXP 2500+, A Performance/Value CPU
Issue No. 112 
TIP: BAD DLLS, BAD I SAY!
The newest chipset to be released by VIA for the Intel Pentium 4 is called the PT880. Recently, VIA stopped by the PCstats Labs to tell us about their newest chipset, and to demonstrate some of its attributes. PCstats look at the PT880 reference platform is just about complete, so keep your eyes on next weeks Newsletter for an in depth look at what might just knock the Intel i865 right off its perch... In the mean time, PCstats' Industry Insights...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 3.4GHz 'Prescott' Pentium4 on its way
3.4GHz 'Prescott' Pentium4 on its way
Issue No. 111 
TIP: EDIT HOSTS FILE
Comdex has been as informative as ever, and with news of two brand new chipsets on the way from Intel code named "Alderwood" and "Grantsdale", things are looking mighty interesting for 2004. Both chipsets will bring in support for PCI express and DDR/DDR II memory. The road map to PCI express is pretty clearly laid out, and given that PCstats has seen a PCI express card from ATI showcased at Computex already, I would expect it to be implemented a...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Quick New Chipset for Pentium 4
Quick New Chipset for Pentium 4
Issue No. 110 
TIP: THE PRETTIEST OS
In the rough and tumble world of chipsets, everything comes down to how fast you are. Intel has long held the performance crown, but every so often an upstart challenges big blue and wins. A few years ago this was VIA, and now SIS are going for the gold with the 655FX core logic. Chipsets are the devices which run our motherboards, allow the processor to communicate with the PCI cards, memory, and peripherals. Choosing the fastest motherboard oft...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 3.2GHz Intel Vs. Athlon64 3200+ Battle Royal
3.2GHz Intel Vs. Athlon64 3200+ Battle Royal
Issue No. 109 
TIP: I865PE/I875P SPECIAL TWEAK TIP
The PCstats Newsletter has a bunch of exciting things in store for you this week, including a survey we'll tell you more about in a moment. As you already know, the AMD Athlon64 3200+ processor is still a wee bit hard to find, but it is also pretty hard to beat when it comes to the benchmarks. We took Intel's 3.2GHz Pentium 4 for a test drive recently and compared it to the little green machine from AMD... how did it stand up? Well, as they say o...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - WinXP Tips and More Athlon64 Gear
WinXP Tips and More Athlon64 Gear
Issue No. 108 
TIP: UPDATE YOUR PC AT WINDOWS UPDATE
Don't be fooled by the "Little Known Features of WindowsXP" title of our latest Beginners Guide. This is NOT an encyclopedic rundown of topics that will make CSPAN seem exciting. Rather, this Guide contains a concise overview of some of the lesser-known bits of WinXP that the pro's use. PCstats discusses about 10 pretty handy features that I'll bet you've wished for in the past, but never knew already existed. After all, how many of us actually h...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Rise of the New
Rise of the New
Issue No. 107 
TIP: WRANGLE CONTROL OF THE TRASH BIN!
It's remarkable how quickly the computer world changes isn't it? Last week I was asked to give a recommendation on what to look for in a notebook, and so I muttered something about "as long as it has a Centrino chip..." as I fished out change for a latte. Yes, coffee is a major influence on PCstats, but so is spending your hard earned money wisely. Now take the newly announced Transmeta Efficeon CPU. This a processor bread for specifically for no...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - PCstats Annual PC Checkup!
PCstats Annual PC Checkup!
Issue No. 106 
TIP: OPTIMIZE WINDOWS FILE SYSTEM CACHING
The last time I looked inside my PC there was a dust bunny the size of a Godzilla lurking below the 7200RPM hard drives... Talk about a bad situation, the intake vent at the front of the computer had been sitting on the floor, gradually sucking in massive amounts of dust and other "things" for months on end. The heatsink whose duty it was to cool the 2GHz Pentium 4 processor had turned in colour from a nice black anodized aluminum, to a sort of d...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Athlon64 Motherboards and Computex 2003
Athlon64 Motherboards and Computex 2003
Issue No. 105 
TIP: AUTO COMPLETE CAN AUTO-STOP
PCstats is live on location in sunny Taipei, Taiwan for Computex 2003. Over 63,000 people attended this massive technology showcase which was spread out over three buildings, and featured thousands of high tech exhibitors hawking the latest computer goodies. Alongside the launch of AMD's Athlon64 processor, and Athlon64 motherboards, was some of the coolest technology yet to hit the stores. Nvidia's FX5700 NV36 videocard was one item, and we have...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD's 64-bit Technology & Athlon64
AMD's 64-bit Technology & Athlon64
Issue No. 104 
TIP: AUTO COMPLETE CAN AUTO-STOP
At the crack of dawn on Tuesday September 23rd look towards PCstats.com for a full review of the soon to be released AMD Athlon64 processor! This chip is one of the most highly anticipated of all year, and although I can't disclose a single thing to you about it right now, I can guarantee that this event is not to be missed; especially if you are in the market for a new computer. For the moment though, Mike has written up a concise preview of ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Corsair Rocks the Memory World!
Corsair Rocks the Memory World!
Issue No. 103 
TIP: MAKE BOOT UPS GO FASTER
It's somewhat remarkable the effect that little blinking lights can have... but none the less, Corsair have just released some memory that is too nifty for words. Paced at 500MHz, this dual channel DDR is optimized for i875P or i865PE chipsets (in other words Intel Pentium 4 systems) and features something you've never seen on a stick of memory before. Think of a realtime tachometer for memory usage, in the form of 18 multicoloured LED's! PCstats...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Spyware Removal Guide and New Reviews!
Spyware Removal Guide and New Reviews!
Issue No. 102 
TIP: CLEANING OUT THE SWAP FILE
The results of the 100th Issue Draw are in - and three lucky people have won some mighty nifty prizes: Arthur W. walks away with the Albatron FX5000EQ videocard, Walter W. Jr. snagged the Abit NF7-M motherboard, and the 5.1-channel Zalman ZM-RS6F headphones have been won, but not yet claimed... check your email accounts carefully folks! A couple more days and we'll have to pick a runner up! We've been working to improve the PCstats Forums l...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Asus FX5900 Ultra, Guides and More
Asus FX5900 Ultra, Guides and More
Issue No. 101 
TIP: WHERE OH WHERE IS MY HOME PAGE?
Video cards. You want them, you need them; but when they come with a $500 USD sticker price we all want to be sure we're getting the best bang for our buck. To answer just that question, PCstats tests out the Asus V9950 FX5900 Ultra videocard this week. If you know the Asus name then you know this a review not to be missed! Also fresh from the test bench are a couple sticks of 512MB TwinX-4000 DDR from the enthusiast-minded folks at Corsair. As i...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 100th Issue: Prizes, Twice the Tips!
100th Issue: Prizes, Twice the Tips!
Issue No. 100 
TIP: MAKE AN ACTIVE DESKTOP, KILL THE EMAIL VIRUSES DEAD!!
Welcome to the 100th issue of the Weekly PCstats.com Newsletter! There have been quite few changes since I started this newsletter in 2001, including no less than three different revisions of the PCstats.com logo! Along the way Colin and his bag of Tips have joined in, and Chris' column has kept us informed on the happenings of the tech industry. More recently, Mike has helped guide you through the rough and tumble world of firewalls, hard drive ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - And Then The Power Went Out....
And Then The Power Went Out....
Issue No. 99 
TIP: PASSWORD CACHING
Right at 4:16PM on Thursday the power went out, and stayed out at PCstats HQ. In typical Torontonian fashion, after checking for stranded people in the elevators, and to see if everyone had left the building alright, we closed up shop and headed out.... not home, but straight to the nearest patio with cold beer on tap. :) So with a major power outage in full swing, we gathered around a big patio table at a restaurant on Baldwin St. with its ga...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Cool Technology For A HoT Summer
Cool Technology For A HoT Summer
Issue No. 98 
TIP: ALLOCATING RESOURCES IS A QUICK FIX!
The summer is more than half over, and you know what that means? Invasion of the body snatchers... nope. Fredie vs. Jason... nope. Back to School! Yes, for those of you heading back to university, college, or even public school, now is the time when retailers will be vying to get you to buy this or that little electronic necessity. And as much as a good knapsack or some pens are necessary to get you through school with straight A's, computers now...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - NVIDIA FX5900 Ultra and nForce2-Ultra Action!
NVIDIA FX5900 Ultra and nForce2-Ultra Action!
Issue No. 97 
TIP: WINDOWS ALLOCATES RESOURCES EQUALLY
If everything is on schedule the AMD Athlon 64 should be out September 22, and Intel's Prescott processor about the same time. The wait for the Athlon 64 is exciting for sure, but the big question surrounding Intel's Prescott (Pentium 5?) is whether or not it will actually work with i865 Springdale or i875 Canterwood chipsets.... Officially the word is no, but it's up to the manufacturers to redesign their power regulators for the new core and ho...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - RADEON 9800 PRO vs. NVIDIA FX5900
RADEON 9800 PRO vs. NVIDIA FX5900
Issue No. 96 
TIP: AGGRESSIVE MEMORY... GRRR!
Wow! PCstats has some really exciting reviews for you to read in this weeks Edition! In the left corner we have the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, and in the right - nVidia's GeForceFX 5900 Videocard from newcomer Albatron. Who will be the winner, and who will be the vanquished? When it comes to a battle of GPU vs. GPU on the field of FPS, your court side seats are the best in the house! What good is a fast videocard if your current motherboard goes bac...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - THE GUIDES ISSUE - SPECIAL EDITION!
THE GUIDES ISSUE - SPECIAL EDITION!
Issue No. 95 
TIP: CLEANING OUT WINXP SERVICES
Not only have we given www.pcstats.com a much deserved redesign, but as you can see we've also updated your favorite tech newsletter with a similarly clean new look. I hope you like it. :) The Weekly Tech Tips are still here, and the High Tech Low Down is still as informative as ever (this week it covers new broadband technology which could deliver web pages at up to 70MBps). There are a few changes of course, the most important of which is th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - NV40, Radeon 9600Pro and Ballistic Nylon
NV40, Radeon 9600Pro and Ballistic Nylon
Issue No. 94 
TIP: MESSENGER AND SYSTEM LOAD
Welcome back to another edition of the PCStats.com Newsletter. If you haven't been by www.pcstats.com then you've missed our cool new look, and new features! News has been moved to the font page of the site, so to get the latest information you only need to type in www.pcstats.com, and since Colin is working hard to keep the news coming throughout the day you can be sure there is always a tid-bit of information to interest you. A brand new Alb...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - nForce2 Motherboard Roundup
nForce2 Motherboard Roundup
Issue No. 93 
TIP: BACKGROUND DESKTOP IMAGES SUCK RESOURCES, THE HIGH TECH LOW DOWN
Happy holidays to everyone celebrating July 4th! Sometime in the next few days PCstats.com is going to be getting a well deserved update and changing its' look. You'll have to check www.pcstats.com over the next few days to see the new redesign, but for the moment here is a sneak preview of the new PCstats.com logo!! This weeks edition of the PCstats.com Newsletter is packed full to the brim with cool hardware reviews; to start with we hav...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AthlonXP 3200+, DDR and ABIT Motherboards
AthlonXP 3200+, DDR and ABIT Motherboards
Issue No. 92 
TIP: TRANSFERRING LARGE FILES
In this weeks edition of the PCstats.com Newsletter we have a couple really cool bits of technology to tell you about. For starters, the AMD AthlonXP 3200+ 400MHz FSB processor recently passed through the lab with flying colours. I don't want to spoil the review for you, so before you close your email for the day be sure and read what Colin has to say about AMD's latest 2.2GHz desktop processor. Next in line are ABIT's IS7-G Springdale motherb...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The GeForce4 Videocard Winner is....
The GeForce4 Videocard Winner is....
Issue No. 91 
TIP: BALLOON TIPS
Now that summer is here the tech industry appears to be kicking into high gear - we have more motherboards and videocards from all the big names you know and crave in the lab right now. This includes a bunch of videocards from Albatron, MSI, Prolink, Crucial and Gigabyte along with a few things I can't tell you about just yet... I'm also pleased to announce the winner of our most recent PCstats.com Newsletter Giveaway is Mr. Smith from Ohio, U...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Meet The New 3GHz Pentium 4
Meet The New 3GHz Pentium 4
Issue No. 90 
TIP: SO YA, I'M THE COMPUTER GUY
My personal favorites in the world of EvilSpam include the $20 Million Nigerian Bank scam where you are supposed to help some deposed government official steal millions of dollars from their country in exchange for a hefty cut. Rumour has it that scams of this nature have been used to fund more than a few dirty Wars in Africa and the Balkans - but no one really knows for certain. Other EvilSpam will try to trick you into confirming your credit ca...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The Art of Overclocking
The Art of Overclocking
Issue No. 89 
TIP: READING BSOD ERROR MESSAGES
I think the director of "Too Fast, Too Furious" must have had Colin in mind when they made that movie. You see, Mr. Weekly Tech Tips is a self-appointed Overclocking Guru who as I'm sure you all know is fully addicted to GigaHertz, insanely high 3DMark scores and little things like... oh I don't know.... reaching 500FPS in Quake III Arena! Well anyway, after a few days of wielding my Editorial powers I finally convinced Colin to step away from th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Motherboard Issue; Gigabyte, AOpen, Albatron!
Motherboard Issue; Gigabyte, AOpen, Albatron!
Issue No. 88 
TIP: KILLING POP-UP WINDOWS MESSAGES
Wondering what's up with the PCstats.com Newsletter of late? Well, in addition to a few late nights getting our coverage of the Intel Sprindale i865 chipset ready for release, I've just returned from an event hosted by Chaintech Computer in the beautiful city of New Orleans. We will have a full write up on that little adventure shortly, but for this edition 'Springdale' is king. To celebrate the launch of Intel's newest chipset, we have i865PE mo...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - DDR466, GFX5200 & an Aluminum Coolermaster Case
DDR466, GFX5200 & an Aluminum Coolermaster Case
Issue No. 87 
TIP: READING BSOD ERROR MESSAGES
What is it they used to say? April showers bring May showers? So far May has been showered with technology releases; so much so that we're left wondering how many more cool products can possibly come out in just ONE month. There is more to come, the first of which will be announced late next week.... Enough of that, this week we are diving head strong into cool hardware. First on the review chopping block is some nice DDR466 memory from a comp...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Athlon64 on the Horizon
Athlon64 on the Horizon
Issue No. 86 
TIP: SPEED UP WINXP SHUTDOWN
The release of i875 Canterwood motherboards has come and gone, Springdale is reported to be on the horizon, and back at the PCstats.com labs we are running the new 800MHz FSB 3GHz Intel Pentium4 through its paces. In just a short time, we'll be facing off the newest of Intel's processors with the much adored AMD AthlonXP 3000+ Barton processor. Sparks will fly, benchmarks will be tossed about, and you'll finally have the answer to the age old ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - GFX5200 Review and Workstation Hardware
GFX5200 Review and Workstation Hardware
Issue No. 85 
TIP: SPEED UP WINXP SHUTDOWN
After the last round-up of 802.11b wireless gear we did, I've come away with both an appreciation for 802.11b wireless, and a deep resentment for badly setup management consols and lackluster manuals. This isn't an isolated situation of wireless born frustration either, with the flick of NetStumber.com's application, it's pretty obvious that there are plenty of other wireless converts in our area who have avoided most forms of wireless security a...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Newest Intel CPU Released, then Delayed
Newest Intel CPU Released, then Delayed
Issue No. 84 
TIP: DELETING TEMPORARY FILES IN IE6
In this weeks edition Chris talks about his frustration with so called 'paper launches' which have been dogging the industry. Whether intentional marketing ploys or because of actual technical problems, paper launches affect the consumer, and are frankly quite annoying (if you read a review of a cool new processor or videocard you should be able to buy it!). From a marketing perspective a little anticipation is a good thing, but the dilemma occur...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Glow in the Dark Keyboard and more Nforce2!!
Glow in the Dark Keyboard and more Nforce2!!
Issue No. 83 
TIP: MAKING SCREEN SHOTS IN WINDOWS
Knowing that when we say "Monitor X has a luscious screen that would make angels weep" means we more than likely bought the very same display to use on a day-to-day basis here. I think that connection is what really what counts. We know the pros and we factor in the cons of the technology along with the sticker price, just as you do. It's a given that in six months time there is going to be another model (if we run with the monitor example) wh...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The Fastest AMD Motherboards
The Fastest AMD Motherboards
Issue No. 82 
TIP: QUIT WAITING FOR WINDOWS TO CRASH
In just a few weeks time we should have a set of new Intel chipsets upon us. While expectations are especially high for both Springdale and Canterwood (i865/i875) chipsets, it is nVidia and AMD which have consumers undivided attention right now. Judging by the voracious appetite for nVidia nForce2 mainboards lately (have a look at the motherboard reviews section here) it's no surprise. With dual channel DDR400 support, available onboard graph...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - High Tech Gear for Spring
High Tech Gear for Spring
Issue No. 81 
TIP: NIX THE AUTO-RESIZING IN IE6
Spring is near, and as the weather gets warmer it will be time to bring out those PDA's, MP3 players and laptops and hit the patio for some serious recreational fun. Armed with the Crusoe-powered Fujistu P2000 I use for work, traveling, and play (nothing better than a DVD player on a long flight) and a hefty Wi-Fi connection I can tell you I'm pretty much ready and waiting to go find a good patio and knock back a dozen coffee's one sunny Sunday a...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Newer, Faster Processors on the Horizon
Newer, Faster Processors on the Horizon
Issue No. 80 
TIP: SPEEDING UP HDD ACCESS
As I sit here watching live streaming coverage from news.bbc.co.uk of a war being faught on the other side of the planet, one thing becomes evident; the last time war was waged in this region the information came to us through our televisions, and now it comes to us in formats over the internet. Hardware is what we tend to focus on at PCstats.com, but I suppose that can cause us to loose sight of what that technology actually enables. Motherboard...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Silent Computers and SFF PC's
Silent Computers and SFF PC's
Issue No. 79 
TIPS: SORTING OUT THE MESS, GERMAN ENGINEERING - SEXY, SILENT AND FAST?, ATI AND NVIDIA DUEL
I've been playing around with a program lately that let's you write on the computer in your own handwriting called Windows Journal. This is another one of those features that make the Tablet PC we have in the Lab right now so interesting; handwriting apps always seem dodgy at best, but this one is so far getting most of my written words right. I don't want to go into too much detail before you have a chance to read the full review, but I would li...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The Pentium 4 and RDRAM Yet Again?
The Pentium 4 and RDRAM Yet Again?
Issue No. 78 
TIPS: WIPE OUT PESKY ARROWS IN SHORTCUTS, SIS AND THE RDRAM CHIPSET
As many of you settle in for some well deserved time off during the March break, things at PCstats.com continue to be very busy. Rumour has it that a Tablet PC with Microsoft's Tablet PC Edition of WindowsXP will be surfacing soon for you to read about... For those who have never seen one before, a Tablet PC is a relatively new type of computer that bridges the portability of a PDA with the capabilities of a notebook. Of course another way to...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - CeBIT 2003: New Technology from ATI and Intel
CeBIT 2003: New Technology from ATI and Intel
Issue No. 77 
A PREVIEW OF CEBIT 2003, 802.11G WIRELESS, COLINS TIPS: LOADING WINDOWS INTO RAM
CeBIT is a huge week-long trade show that takes place in Hannover, Germany. Aside from it being a yearly event, CeBIT serves as a natural platform for companies such as Intel and ATI to demo new technologies. This year CeBIT starts on March 13th, a day when you can expect to hear about a few things currently cloaked under tight secrecy. We'd tell you, but then you know... 007 and all that. What we do know so far is that motherboard manufacturers ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Leaking Motherboard Capacitors
Leaking Motherboard Capacitors
Issue No. 76 
TIPS: SPRING CLEANING, TRANSPARENT MICROPROCESSORS, CPU ROADMAPS
I was reading the newspaper a few days ago and came across a very interesting article* about the reportedly widespread problem of leaking or blown motherboard capacitors. Why this problem exists in the first place is complex, and could revolve around a botched electrolyte formula. To shed some light on this issue, we have an exclusive newsletter article for you to read which illustrates some of the tell tale warning signs, and explains one of the...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Meet the New AthlonXP 3000+ Barton CPU
Meet the New AthlonXP 3000+ Barton CPU
Issue No. 75 
TIPS: ENABLE BOOT DEFRAG, AMD PROCESSOR ROADMAPS, 3-D MONITORS NO LONGER FICTION
I'd be surprised if anyone reading today's newsletter wasn't familiar with the 3DMark2001 benchmarking program already. And, after a long wait we finally have 3DMark03 to play with now; so be sure to download it and compare your system results against the 4612 3DMarks (3DM03) we got with a AthlonXP 3000+ / nForce2 / ATI Radeon 9700 Pro combo. That's right, to start things off with a bang we've inserted a bunch of 3DMark03 results into our revi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - GeForceFX vs. ATI Radeon
GeForceFX vs. ATI Radeon
Issue No. 74 
TIPS: DISABLE DOUBLE SPACE & ENABLE DMA, WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN LCD MONITOR, GFFX AND ATI R350
Wondering where the fantastically fabulous PCstats.com Newsletter was last week? Is it true that we were off enjoying the warm sun down south, or frozen in a winter snowstorm? Well no, not exactly; we've been very busy moving our servers. Our relocation to a new hosting facility is just one of the steps we've taken to improve the speed of PCstats.com, and the PCstats.com Forums. Since PCstats.com is on a new IP it may take a few days for some of ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - A Dozen Videocards A Dozen Months
A Dozen Videocards A Dozen Months
Issue No. 73 
TIPS: TURN OFF FILE SHARING, BARTON FROM AMD
This week we are going all out on videocards! A full years worth in fact. With the industry eagerly awaiting the highest of high end videocards, the GeForceFX, and ATi's R350; this spring is going to be good. However, with the lack of any real titles to stress these videocards, it might make more sense for the rest of us to choose something that is a little more down to earth, and not as brand-spanking-new. So without further delay, this weeks ne...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - A Dozen Videocards, a Dozen Months
A Dozen Videocards, a Dozen Months
Issue No. 73 
TIP: TURN OFF FILE SHARING
Hi, This week we are going all out on videocards! A full years worth in fact. With the industry eagerly awaiting the highest of high end videocards, the GeForceFX aka NV30, and ATi's R350 the spring is going to be good. However, with the lack of any real titles to stress these videocards, it might make more sense for the rest of us to choose something that is a little more down to earth, and not as brand-spanking-new. So without further delay,...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - High Performance nForce2 Motherboards!
High Performance nForce2 Motherboards!
Issue No. 72 
TIPS: DOS JUNKIES UNITE!!, DVD-RW AND SATA
nForce2 - the mere mention of the word brings serious performance freaks to their knees, and puts a smile on gamers of all types. PCstats reviewed the MSI K7N2 last week, and today we may just have found something even better - the nForce2-based FIC AU11 Chameleon motherboard! What, still not enough performance for you? Okay I think we can do better.... how about putting all of Colin's Weekly Tech Tips together for your reference, and system twea...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD Athlon64 and Barton Processors
AMD Athlon64 and Barton Processors
Issue No. 71 
TIPS: DIGITAL MUSIC, FROM DIGITAL CD'S, NOKIA MOBILEPHONES: SEXY LITTLE MMS, SIS AND VIA CHIPSETS
As we wait patiently for AMD's latest AthlonXP incarnation based on the Barton core to arrive, it's hard not to get excited. After all, we know that in just a few months time, the Athlon64 will also be here! From what we've been hearing, March or April will be when the 64-bit processor is to be released (barring any more delays). The initial Athlon64 processors operate at 1.4GHz, as shown in this picture to the right, but that may not necessarily...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Plasma Screens and Faster Videocards
Plasma Screens and Faster Videocards
Issue No. 70 
TIPS: REMOVE THE SHORTCUT, HOW PLASMA MAKES PICTURES, NV31 AND R350
We're starting 2003 off with a bang! This weeks PCstats.com newsletter is filled with a mouth watering array of speedy videocards to check out, along with a the latest and greatest technology to hit PCstats' test labs! The best of which is a 42" Plasma Display from Samsung that we even managed to play a few rounds of UT2003 on... If the mere mention of "plasma" doesn't get your heart pumping, then a review of the latest Albatron Ti4680P-Turbo car...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Dual Channel DDR vs. RDRAM
Dual Channel DDR vs. RDRAM
Issue No. 69 
TIPS: SLIM DOWN YOUR WIN98 REGISTRY, IRC: INTERNET RELAY CHAT, NVIDIA NFORCE 2
This week we have a new section called TechWatch for you to check out just below Colin's review of the sporty red Granite Bay motherboard from MSI. In his review he compares this dual-channel DDR motherboard against an i850E PC1066 RDRAM system... and the results are interesting to say the least. We hear about new technology here on a daily basis, so hopefully TechWatch will fill in the gap. For the Pcstats.com newsletter readers who took the tim...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Who Won the Fujitsu Lifebook?
Who Won the Fujitsu Lifebook?
Issue No. 68 
TIPS: FORGOTTEN PASSWORDS, XD-PICTURE CARD, GEFORCE FX DEMOS
This week we are very happy to officially announce that the two Winners of a brand new Transmeta Crusoe powered Fujitsu Lifebook P2000 Notebook Computer are Mr. Bill Armstrong, and Mr. Bruce Dyer - Congratulations! For those of you who weren't one of our lucky winners, I'd like to thank you for participating, and let you know that we have some cool giveaways planned for 2003, so be sure to read each and every upcoming issue carefully...hint, hint...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Videocard Compatibility & Chipsets
Videocard Compatibility & Chipsets
Issue No. 67 
TIPS: MY SECURE WINXP HARD DRIVE, CHIPSET COMPATIBILITY
With just over two weeks a of shopping before Xmas, now is certainly the time to start making your lists, and checking them twice. In this weeks newsletter we have several really cool bits of gear which might just make perfect gifts - the best of which is a small aluminum MP3 player from Samsung called the YP-700H. I have a long commute to work, and with 128MB of storage and an FM-Tuner, this player gets high marks. IWill show their Xmas spirit w...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Computer Basics, AMD's Barton CPU
Computer Basics, AMD's Barton CPU
Issue No. 66 
TIP: NO NAME LOGIN SCREENS
Last weeks newsletter looked at the cutting edge of where the computer industry is headed, and dealt with some very technical aspects. Since a number of you took the time to write in asking for more guides that shed light on computers, part of this weeks newsletter is devoted to you. We will be looking at some basic computing components, technologies, and info many of you might already know. If you are new to computers then you will find it i...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Granite Bay, Springdale, Canterwood; Intel's New Chipsets
Granite Bay, Springdale, Canterwood; Intel's New Chipsets
Issue No. 65 
TIP: COLIN'S WORLD OF SECRETS..
Comdex was a lot smaller this year by everyone's account. The cabs, which have always been an excellent benchmark of attendance, were lined up waiting for fares, and the volume of exhibitors reportedly hovered around the thousand mark. Truth be told, most of the mainboard manufacturers PCstats met with had suites at the Venetian hotel for their exhibits, so we spent less time at the LVCC than in years past. While the technology announcemen...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Anticipating Nvidia's NV30 GPU
Anticipating Nvidia's NV30 GPU
Issue No. 64 
TIP: SHORTCUTS FOR EVERYONE!!
By Monday morning, Comdex will have begun and we will be in one of more than a dozen meetings with the industries best and brightest manufacturers. As the show unfolds, we'll be trying our best to get regular news updates back to PCstats.com, so remember to check the News section throughout the day! Since so many of you wrote in about the "How to Cut CAT5" article, this week I've included a little guide to installing CAT5 in a house..... with...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Hammer Chipsets on the Horizon
Hammer Chipsets on the Horizon
Issue No. 63 
TIP: FASTER MENUS'S - WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY
With the 3GHz barrier about to be broken, it seems rather remarkable how far processors have come since the days of the first 386 CPU running at 25MHz, or so. November 7th also marked the release of the Tablet PC. Spurred on by Microsoft; Acer, Fujitsu, Compaq, Motion Computing, Toshiba, and FIC released devices which break, and blur the lines between slate and notebook computing. The 'convertibles', like the 1GHz Crusoe powered Compaq Evo are th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The Race to Release Dual Channel DDR Chipsets
The Race to Release Dual Channel DDR Chipsets
Issue No. 62 
TIP: WINXP & SYSTEM RESTORE
Happy Halloween! Not only is this pumpkin carving time, but it's also the signal that our giveaway for two Transmeta Crusoe powered Fujitsu Lifebook P2000 notebooks is at a close. We'll be making the draw this week, so check your email extra carefully - you just might be one of the two lucky winners of the PCstats.com Newsletter contest! We reviewed the 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor last week, and today we are looking at the much less expe...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - AMD's Hammer and Barton Core
AMD's Hammer and Barton Core
Issue No. 61 
TIP: SHIFT / ADMINISTRATOR
Today is a 'big' day - we have a 'big' roundup of ten i845E/G motherboards to let you know about, a 'big' 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor review ready to be read, and a few other nifty components ripe for your favorite geeks' high-tech Xmas wish list. For starters there's the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro - a fast, impressive, and pretty expensive videocard that kills the nVidia GF4Ti4600 hands down. Then there's the Antec SX1030B full-tower case whic...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel Saying Good-bye To RDRAM?
Intel Saying Good-bye To RDRAM?
Issue No. 60 
TIP: FASTER FPS GAMING WITH WINDOWS XP!
With COMDEX Fall just around the corner, mid-terms in full swing, and anticipation of new and exciting technology releases in November this is a really exciting time! I'm personally looking forward to Microsoft's Tablet PC on Nov. 7th; and we're already sussing out a few devices to review. To get the dirt on the new Tablet PC as it unfolds I recommend you check this. For companies like Transmeta, the Tablet PC should really emphasize the Crus...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Sweet 333; DDR and now AthlonXP's!
Sweet 333; DDR and now AthlonXP's!
Issue No. 59 
TIP: FASTER BOOTING, FASTER COMPUTERS
If this is your first time reading the PCstats.com Newsletter (or your 59th) I'd just like to send out a 'Welcome.' We have a really great community here, and if you have any comments, questions, or a request for a special review, feel free to email me. We do try and take requests as much as we can :) In this week's newsletter we have a few rather impressive bits of technology to serve up. The first, and foremost is obviously the newly announc...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - The State of Graphics GPU's
The State of Graphics GPU's
Issue No. 58 
TIP: BEGINNERS SOUNDPROOFING FOR COMPUTERS
I'm just going to jump right in this week and let you know about our review of a GF4 Ti4200P-Turbo video card which is built on a Ti4600 PCB with 3.3ns BGA DRAM. If that Albatron GeForce Ti4200 isn't enough to spark your interest, then perhaps I can tempt you with a VIA KT400 based motherboard sporting Serial ATA and 10/1000 LAN! What, still not enough? Okay - Corsair have recently gained a lot of attention with their PC3200 DDR400 memory, an...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - 32-bit RDRAM and Intel
32-bit RDRAM and Intel
Issue No. 57 
TIP: WINDOWS IMPROVEMENTS, THE HIGH TECH LOW DOWN
A couple of interesting things happened today, the first being an IBM Deskstar HDD dieing. IBM drives used to be pretty reliable, but now it seems like they are dieing one by one around here... I suppose all things have to break at some point, and one step to solving those nasty problems is to understand what the computer beep codes mean. Knowing this can be a quick way to solve simple problems when the computer just won't boot up. On the p...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Hyper-threading Pentium4 and Bluetooth
Hyper-threading Pentium4 and Bluetooth
Issue No. 55 
TIP: FAN NOISE AND SANDPAPER?
Chris has brought back word from the annual IDF where one of the highlights was a 4.1GHz Pentium 4 processor demo. I won't spoil the rest of this week's High Tech Low Down for you, but it seems as though the processor wars are about to go into overtime! This week begins with a Bluetooth enabled motherboard from Epox which garnered an Award from us. The 8K5A2+ carries on in the tradition of the highly touted 8K3A+ so this review is a must read....
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Nvida NV30 and Drivers
Nvida NV30 and Drivers
Issue No. 54 
TIP: COOLING THE HOT SPOTS
When I sat down to work on this weeks newsletter I didn't realise it would be touching on no less than three reivews from the same Mfg'r. But here we are, and this week the PCstats.com newsletter looks at a Bluetooth enabled KT333 motherboard, a SiS 648 Pentium 4 motherboard with Gigabit LAN, and last but not least, a purple Geforce4Ti4600. What do each of these products have in common? Well, by chance they are all made by Micro Star Internationa...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Intel 3GHz on the Horizon
Intel 3GHz on the Horizon
Issue No. 53 
TIP: DUMMY PROGRAMS GIVING YOU PROBLEMS?
This week saw the release of Intel's 2.8GHz Pentium 4, and several good signs that the fabled 333MHz AthlonXP is slowly coming out from the smoke. Abit sent us a little notice for instance that one of their motherboards will support 333MHz FSB. AMD has been pretty tight lipped on the matter, but if the mainboard manufacturers are starting to promote it, you have to wonder how soon the chip will follow. This week we have Albatron's P4X845E Pro ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Meet AMD's 2.13GHz AthlonXP 2600+
Meet AMD's 2.13GHz AthlonXP 2600+
Issue No. 52 
TIP: DRIVERS CAN HELP FIX IT
Grab a morning cup of coffee and celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the "Athlon" processor knowing that today the 2.13GHz AthlonXP 2600+ and 2.0GHz AthlonXP 2400+processors have been announced! It's not very often that a CPU manufacturer adds another notch on the Gigahertz belt, so we've added a little info in today's newsletter on the matter. Also in this weeks edition we have the Ramcheck Professional memory tester, Innovative's cool black LCD...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Is a 2.0GHz AMD Chip Coming Soon?
Is a 2.0GHz AMD Chip Coming Soon?
Issue No. 51 
TIP: GET THE MORE FROM WINXP
This week we're starting off with one really important question for you - what do you really want to see covered on PCstats? Send in your suggestions or comments right HERE. Now on to the good stuff; starting off with a GeForce 4 MX440 card from Albatron, and the wickedly sweet GeForce4 Ti4200 videocard from MSI. Next up we took at look at some more practical products including a 40x12x48 CDRW burner and the Samsung Ml-1440 laser printer. Yup, ev...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Crucial Videocards, DDR433, and Prizes Galore
Crucial Videocards, DDR433, and Prizes Galore
Issue No. 50 
TIP: SPEED UP THOSE BOOT TIMES
Upgrading a PC can be really fun, and we've done our share this week to help out quite a few of you! Yes, today was newsletter prize mailing day at PCstats HQ, and at last count, we sent out over two grand worth of prizes! There is still more to come in the way of MSI Bluetooth Motherboard Prize Packs, so you still have a chance to win something cool from PCstats! Memory is always a grand item and earlier in the week the folks at Ramstore.ca ...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Enter SiS Xabre Graphics; Exit GeForce MX?
Enter SiS Xabre Graphics; Exit GeForce MX?
Issue No. 49 
TIP: EXPELLING THE DUST BUNNIES IN YOUR COMPUTER
The graphics continues to steal the headlines this week, and our roving C. Angelini has more insight to dish out so this weeks HTLD is a must read as always! The SiS Xabre 400 has been quietly making a name for itself in the value markets, and with that in mind we took a look at the ECS AG400. Not to be outdone, Colin had a run with the 1.6A P4 a while back, and with it's low price and high overclockability is a really good option for upgradi...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ATI RADEON 9700 Benchmark News!
ATI RADEON 9700 Benchmark News!
Issue No. 48 
TIP: SETTING COMFORTABLE REFRESH RATES
ATI RADEON 9700 Benchmark News! Now that we have your attention check out C. Angelini's "unofficial" firsthand report on ATI's R300 in this weeks High Tech Low Down. This week we are all about roundups, and the first on the copping block is our look at 10 integrated motherboards. Next in line are a small armada of DDR RAM, and just to keep things rounded, a guide to videocard installation for newbies. Also in this weeks list of super-amazing-...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Nforce2 and the 333MHz FSB
Nforce2 and the 333MHz FSB
Issue No. 47 
TIP: HARD DRIVE DEFRAG
C. Angelini reports back with some really interesting info on Nvidia's NForce 2 chipset, and the 333MHz FSB it will support for an as-of-yet unannounced AMD AthlonXP. Our report on Transmeta's private PCExpo showcase is up, and for those of you interested in the plam sized OQO computer, there are lots of pictures! This week we're getting back to basics and that means Videocards, processors and motherboards (with memory of course). For starter...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Report on PCexpo/TechXNY
Report on PCexpo/TechXNY
Issue No. 46 
TIP: ADVANCED CHIPSET FEATURES
Time flies fast for most of us, but the complete opposite happens when you're stuck in a plane, or traffic. To alleviate this problem, Samsung have the killer X-mas gift - the DVD-L100 - a portable DVD player for DVD watching movies on the go. Very cool little device, two thumbs up! Our report on PCexpo/TechXNY in New York is up and I hope you'll give it a read as there was some really interesting technology on display including a computer th...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Largest Flatscreen Monitor Ever
Largest Flatscreen Monitor Ever
Issue No. 45 
TIP: NTFS FILE SYSTEM , THE HIGH TECH LOW DOWN
This has been a busy week for us at PCStats - PCexpo/TechXNY in New York had a ton of cool technology to showcase, and more on that will be coming shortly. We've also just made two drawings, one for the Sony DCJ01 MP3/CD player, and the other for the first of eight MSI 845G Max-L Bluetooth Prize Packs! Check your email carefully, YOU could be the one of the lucky two winners! I also have to really apologize for last weeks newsletter - we acci...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Computex 2002 and AMD Tech Tour
Computex 2002 and AMD Tech Tour
Issue No. 44 
TIP: MSCONFIG, THE HIGH TECH LOW DOWN
With the end of Computex 2002 we have an abundance of techno-trends to digest; Serial ATA, Hammer processors, legacy-free motherboards, exotic heat-pipe based heatsinks, and 533MHz P4 / AMD Thoroughbred AhtlonXP mainboards. But even more interesting is the glimpse Matrox gave the world of the Parhelia-512 GFX card this week. The way things are headed, it's a wonder software can even keep up... This week we have a look at the just released Nok...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - Welcome The Newcomers: Albatron
Welcome The Newcomers: Albatron
Issue No. 43 
TIP: ADVANCED USERS OF WIN2K/XP, THE HIGH TECH LOW DOWN
After a weeks vacation working the phenomenal NXNE Music Festival it's great to start off today's newsletter with a few exciting announcements. First off, I'd like to welcome C. Angelini, the man behind the new High Tech Low Down column just over there to the right. Chris has been in the business for a number of years, and is probably best known to most of you from his days on SharkyExtreme. Colin's Weekly Tech Tips have been getting such great f...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - T-Bred and Hardware Roundups
T-Bred and Hardware Roundups
Issue No. 42 
TIP: L2 CACHE SIZE
Well we've been pretty busy the last little while at PCStats and we have a lot of stuff for you guys to check out! Our forums are doing very well and if you have any questions whether it's hardware or software just ask them there you're bound to get a quick answer. Or if you just want to chat about the latest gossip be it Serial ATA, R300 or T-Bred drop us a line here . Max recently looked at some of the coolest removable IDE racks around, the...
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PCSTATS Newsletter - ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon and Parhelia
ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon and Parhelia
Issue No. 41 
TIP: DEDICATED PHYSICAL SWAP FILE
Today we have a job for you, it's easy and you could walk away with some free memory :) We are building a big book of tips and tricks which you can be a part of and contribute to. The entry forum is right here, and we encourage everyone to submit your hard-earned knowledge! After all, each and everyone one of you a computer genius in your own right, so share the knowledge! There is so much to mention that its hard to know where to begin, so le...
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GIGABYTE GO OC 2009 North America Final on April 25 and April 26, 2009
 
 
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