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Asus Z77 Roundup When doing all of our Ivy Bridge launch prep we spent a LOT of time benchmarking and testing a whole collection of boards. You guys have seen our reviews of the Intel and Gigabyte boards. When it came time to write about the four different Asus Z77 boards I realized that most of you are not going to want to read through a lot of information that we would cover over and over on each review. We decided to roundup all four of the boards and cover them together. This way we can get to the point a little quicker, saving you time, as well as giving us a chance to talk more about the differences between the variety of boards that we tested.
ASUS P8 Z68-V/GEN3 Perhaps one of the most daunting tasks after making the decision that you do not wish to purchase an off-the-shelf computer is attempting to figure out which components go in the machine.  There are fun aspects, like the graphics card and processor, and then there are the not-so-fun aspects, like the motherboard (at least in my opinion).  Why do I think it is a whole lot of not fun?  There are so many out there to choose from, with all sorts of features.  When shopping you will likely come across the ASUS board that I am going to review today.  Arguably, it is one of the better all-around boards out there, with features like good integrated graphics and killer sound.  But to a gamer that generally does not mean squat.  Does the ASUS P8 Z68-V/GEN3 board have what it takes to function as a serious gaming component?  Read on to find out!
XFX R7750 Black Edition DD Not everyone is looking to spend $500 on their video card, in some cases that is the total budget for a build. When you are up against a wall trying to pack the best performance you can get into a budget build you still want to get the most performance you can out of your video card. That’s where cards like the XFX R7750 Black Edition Double Dissipation come into play. XFX has taken the styling and cooling from their high end cards and combined it with the price of budget cards like the HD 7750. Today we are going to take a look at how those two things do combined in XFX’s  R7750 Black Edition Double Dissipation.
Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X   Earlier this year when AMD introduced the HD 7770 we took a look at cards from both Sapphire and XFX. Although we were impressed with the cards performance it was a little ill-timed due to AMD still clearing out discounted back stock. Three months later we are able to revisit the situation with today’s release of Sapphires new HD 7770 Vapor-X. With Sapphires Vapor chamber cooling technology along with a nice overclock over the reference design, the Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X could be a great option for a gamer on a limited budget. Let’s take a look.
Motherboard Sizing When we got in a few oddly sized dual CPU motherboards from EVGA and Asus I posted up a few pictures on our forums and on Facebook. The problem was that even though they looked large there wasn’t any prospective. So we tossed in a couple other boards to give everyone a little perspective. This lead us to digging out even more motherboards to put together all of the standard motherboard sizes all together for everyone to be able to see the differences. Along with the picture we also have a breakdown on the dimensions of each size standard; I hope this helps everyone as some point. Sometimes it can be hard to understand all of the different motherboard sizes and how they all relate.
Android to the Maxx, DROID Razr Maxx   The list of different Android based phones available at any time is both overwhelming and frustrating. It’s almost impossible to get good feedback from friends who have the same phone because of this. So it’s rare than you have any one phone that manages to stand out. Doing something different is the only way to do this normally, but most times this ends off coming off as gimmicky or just lame. When Motorola introduced the Droid Razr Maxx it caught my attention right away. This was just before our trip out to San Francisco for the GTX 680 Editors day, what a better way to put the Maxx’s proposed batter life to the test!
Lian Li PC 100 “The Hammer” We have had a few different Lian Li chassis come through the LanOC Offices and there hasn’t been a time that we haven’t been impressed with the new and interesting features Lian Li always seems to slip in. When they wanted to ship over their new case “The Hammer” PC 100, we signed up right away. We had seen the case previewed from a few shows prior and this time around Lian Li took a new perspective with its design, I was very interested to see how their changes worked out. Let’s jump in and see what it’s all about!
Nvidia GTX 670 When Nvidia launched Kepler with the GTX 680 I was impressed with the launch price of the card but even at such a great value it is still out of reach for some people. Just because you can’t afford the top card doesn’t mean you don’t want to experience Kepler’s performance. Of course it was only a matter of time before we saw Nvidia filling in the gaps in their product line, starting first with the GTX 690 then going to the next step down from the GTX 680, the GTX 670. Today we get to have a look to see how the performance compares to both the GTX 680 as well as AMD’s offerings. We are also very curious how it compares to the GTX 580, a card that has found its way into most of our office PC’s.  
ioSafe Rugged Portable So you do the smart thing, you backup your data from your laptop and your home PC to an external or network drive and go on with life feeling confident that you have gone well and above what most people do. For the most part, you did. What about when you’re traveling, have you seen how much abuse a device can take when on the go? For some people, and I know I’m one of them, some of the data you carry with you while traveling is more important than the laptop or device that you actually carry it on. In that situation you need a way to not have to worry about your data, no matter the situation, and to have a guarantee to back it up as well. The folks over at ioSafe focus specifically on this crowd. Not only do they offer products that are according to them build to handle almost anything, but they back it up with data recovery if something does happen.  Today we are going to take a look at that Rugged Portable hard drive to see what all of the fuss is about, without any more buildup, let’s dig in.  
Cooler Master Storm Trigger Just two years ago the only mechanical keyboards you would find were from companies like DAS keyboard trying to create a nitch market. Over the past two years things have really exploded with every manufacture you can think of introducing their own mechanical keyboards. Cooler Master has been especially aggressive with multiple unique designs like their Quickfire series. What they did lack was a full featured mechanical keyboard with full backlighting, until now. Today they officially introduce their Storm Trigger, although it you look around the board was available Globally before now. With full backlighting it falls into a small category of Mechanical Keyboards with very little competition. I am excited to see how it performs.
Cooler Master HAF XM The topic of cleaning your computer out came up last week on our forums and it got me thinking about how often I really need to clean out my computer. As it turns out it’s not very often anymore. All because of improvements in case design like fan filters. You don’t really see them on low end cases yet but they have been slowly trickling down. At CES this year we had a chance to get our hands on one of Cooler Master’s upcoming chassis, the HAF XM. A mid-range case packed with the features we have come to love from their high end HAF line. Today we are going to dig into the final product and see how it came out.
Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H Z77 boards come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and prices. Just about every manufacture has a whole lineup of boards covering the whole range to make sure you can find what you are looking for. Gigabyte is no different; they have a whole selection of boards that will fit your needs. Today we are taking a look at their Z77X-UD3H, one of their budget boards. It may not be a high end board but it is still packed with features. I am curious how it will perform now that the cat is out of the bag with Ivy Bridge. Let’s jump in and see what it’s all about.

Mad Catz® Announces Pre-Order Availability for New Eclipse® Branded and Cyborg® Branded Products At Amazon.com®

San Diego, April 08. 2010

 

Mad Catz™ Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz” or “the Company”) (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider today announced that its new range of lifestyle Eclipse-branded accessories and Cyborg R.A.T.-branded premium gaming mice are now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

 

Announced to critical acclaim at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and the 2010 CeBIT trade show in Hanover, Germany, the new range of products are due for release in Summer 2010 with consumer interest continuing to prove substantial based on online traffic received since the launch of the two websites (www.eclipsetouch.com and www.cyborggaming.com) designed to inform and update consumers on the benefits of the new product lines.

 

Products available for pre-order on the Amazon.com website include the following:

 

  • Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse

Featuring a new generation “twin eye” 5600DPI gaming grade laser sensor, the Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse is highly ergonomic and adjustable.  Built on a metal chassis and designed to be comfortable over sustained gaming sessions, it features an interchangeable palm rest, adjustable pinkie grips, adjustable length, width and height settings and removable 30g weights.

 

Gamers can program four DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch, allowing gamers to strategically switch DPI settings mid game.  The DPI setting can be programmed as high as 5600DPI.  Precision Aim mode allows gamers to hold down a button and temporarily slow cursor movement during heated battle.  5 programmable buttons combined with a 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 15 user definable commands to be available to the gamer at any one time.  Cyborg ST Software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros.  The R.A.T. 7 is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

 

  • Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse

Featuring next generation, ‘latency-free’ 2.4GHz wireless technology freeing the gamer from tethered operation with zero lag or dropout, the Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse operates via a custom rechargeable battery pack and comes complete with a desktop charging system and an additional battery pack.  Designed with comfort in mind, the R.A.T. 9 features the same interchangeable palm rest, adjustable pinkie grips, adjustable length, width and height settings as featured on the R.A.T. 7, while a full 45g of removable weights allows for an even greater level of weight customization.

 

Similar to the Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse, gamers can individually set the x and y-axis DPI of the power ‘twin eye’ 5600DPI gaming grade laser sensor and store 4 individual DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch.  Precision Aim mode allows gamers to hold down a button and temporarily slow cursor movement, steadying aim during heated battle and 5 programmable buttons combined with a 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 15 user definable commands to be available to the gamer at any one time.  Cyborg ST Software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros.  The R.A.T. 9 is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

  • Cyborg R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse

Featuring a true 4000DPI gaming grade laser sensor the Cyborg R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse conceals innovation and speed beneath its armored appearance.  Gamers can program four DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch, allowing users to strategically switch DPI settings mid game, programmable all the way up to 4000DPI.  Precision Aim mode allows gamers to hold down a button and temporarily slow cursor movement, thereby steadying aim during heated battle.  4 programmable buttons combined with a 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 12 user definable commands to be available to the gamer at any one time.  The R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse adjusts to suit the gamers preferred style, allowing for custom length adjustment and the 30g of removable weights stored underneath the mouse can be added or subtracted in order to create a truly bespoke experience.  Cyborg ST Software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros.  The R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

  • Cyborg R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse

The entry level weapon in the Cyborg R.A.T. line, the R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse provides performance and comfort for any gaming application.  High speed movement and aiming is catered for via the swift 3200DPI gaming grade laser sensor.  Gamers can program four DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch, allowing gamers to strategically switch DPI settings mid game, programmable all the way up to 3200DPI.  3 programmable buttons on the R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse allow gamers to assign preferred actions to each of the buttons and the 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 9 actions to be programmed to the buttons at any one time.  Powerful Cyborg ST software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros, all via a powerful and intuitive new user interface.  The Cyborg R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

 

  • Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard

 

Communicating over a wireless 2.4GHz connection, the litetouch Keyboard features an integrated 360° trackball with left and right mouse buttons, negating the need for a separate mouse and proving ideal for living room internet surfing.  Low profile backlit quiettouch™ scissor keys combine with intelligent power control, reducing eye strain, extending battery life and allowing users to operate in a dimmed environment.

 

Located to the right of the physical scissor keys, the unique litetouch LCD 3-in-1 touch panel provides the user with unprecedented control over their digital life.  With a single press, the LCD 3-in-1 touch panel switches between media mode, numerical-pad mode and ‘MyEclipse™’ mode, providing the user with a host of commands which can be used to provide dedicated controls for a multitude of activities from replicating a simple office calculator to controlling a complex media center configuration.

 

Powered by an internal rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, the Wireless litetouch Keyboard provides up to 20 hours of use between charges.  The Wireless litetouch Keyboard is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

 

  • Eclipse litetouch Keyboard

Sharing the majority of features of its wireless variant, the Eclipse litetouch Keyboard has been designed specifically for desktop operation.  With its metal finish, top cabinet and quiettouch™ low profile backlit scissor keys; the Eclipse litetouch Keyboard is an eye-catching addition to any office or study.  With the same touch-sensitive LCD 3-in-1 touch panel as found on the Wireless litetouch Keyboard, users can access media, surf the internet and perform office tasks at a touch of a button.  Assignable MyEclispe keys combine with touch sensitive brightness and volume controls, allowing for a powerful and highly adaptive user experience.  The litetouch Keyboard is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

  • Eclipse mobilemouse

Designed specifically for consumers on-the-go, the Eclipse mobilemouse features impressive technology and sophisticated good looks.  Robust in construction, the mobilemouse uses premium hard-wearing materials with a die cast frame, ensuring that the mouse will stand up to the most demanding of commuter or business use.    The low profile Scroll Ball allows for 4 way 360° scrolling, and the 1600dpi laser technology ensures smooth operation on a variety of surfaces.  Fully wireless, the mobilemouse utilizes 2.4GHz technology and a ‘nano-dongle’ for an unobtrusive appearance and rock solid connection at all times.

 

Complete with a protective Carry Case and fully Mac® compatible, the Eclipse mobilemouse is ready for work whenever or wherever you are.  The mobilemouse is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

 

All products listed above can be viewed and pre-ordered now at Amazon.com

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