HyTek Computer - News Archive: May 2001

Dimension 4400 1.6 Ghz System $449 Shipped @ Dell
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 2:50 PM EST

Check out the link below for an awesome Dell deal! "Dude, your getting a Dell!"

OCA steals stole mom's Dell Dimension 4400 for a quick review!
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 2:46 PM EST

That's right folks. Kaoman of OCA has stolen his mom's Dell Dimension 4400 P4 1.8 computer to see how it stacks up to a "real" PC. Ok, so nobody here wants to buy a Dell, but you gotta be curious how this thing performs. Here's a snip:

"With a score in the 6000s, you would be a little disappointed in such a weak 1.8ghz DDR GeForce3 rig. Overclocking the Ti200 to 235+/485+ speeds only yielded a score of 7000. But hey, when it comes to computers like Dells, stability and user-friendliness beats performance."

IBM T560 15 in. LCD Monitor
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 2:45 PM EST

” The T560, like a few other LCD monitors out there, rotates for use in either portrait or landscape mode. If you think that’s it… think again. This monitor takes it to the next level by actually bending over the back of its base so that someone sitting across the table or room can see the display. When folded over the back of its base, the screen image is rotated manually (by you) to fit the panel’s orientation. “

LiteOn 24/10/40 CDRW Review
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 2:44 PM EST

Typically, when shopping for a burner, there's Plextor, then there's everyone else. With so many 24x burners on the market, it all comes down to the extras, such as "burn-proof and software. VoOdOo takes a look at a real gem from LiteOn, and it's looking to be a Plextor killer.

“The LIT-24102B is a 24x(Z-CLV) record, 10x (CLV) rewrite and 40x (CAV) read drive. So what does that all mean exactly? Well, the numbers speak for themselves, the drive can record up to 24x normal speed and it does this using the Z-CLV method. Z-CLV stands for Zone-Constant Linear Velocity which splits the sections of the disk you're recording to into parts. Each part or zone is burnt at a different speed to the next. So for instance the drive starts burning at 16x for the first zone (the one closest to the centre), next zone the speed increases to 20x, and finally 24x for the outermost part of the disk.”

Digital camera guide
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 2:40 PM EST

In this issue of the Eye Report we will look at Digital photography in all of its forms. From how they work and what in the heck a mega pixel is to how to store photos and what software to use to manipulate and print the precious images that you have captured. Digital cameras have become smaller, faster and the quality in some cameras is rivaling film. What this means to us as shutterbugs is a new learning curve that can be time saving, increasingly inexpensive, easy and fun.

Philips MMS305 Multi-Channel Flat Panel PC Speaker System
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 2:39 PM EST

"The unit comes with a wireless remote control and remote sensor which is very cool. You can set the sensor anywhere on your desk and operate the controls from anywhere in the room. The sensor has three green LED’s which indicate the three possible input sources, and a red LED which flashes with any incoming signals from the remote. The remote itself is nice, you can control a host of features including volume, bass, treble, w00x, fade levels and input source. The downside to this is the remote is the only place where the controls are located, so if your dog eats your remote, or if the batteries go dead, then you could be up a creek. "

EasyDisk Removable USB Hard Disk Review
posted by Josh on Saturday, February 23, 2002 at 10:19 AM EST

"The EasyDisk removable USB hard disk is extremely easy to use. It works faster than a diskette drive and holds A LOT more memory. Intel will soon be removing Diskette drive support from all of their motherboards so this is a GREAT replacement. Prices are very competitive and sizes available... can anyone say WOW? :)"

Arkua 7528 HSF Review
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:53 AM EST

"Not too long ago I was surfing the web in search of sponsors for the site, when I ran across a new heatsink manufacturer I hadn't heard of before. The manufacturer of these heatsinks was a company by the name of Arkua. Upon further browsing of their online store, I noticed something very similar about their line of coolers, but I just couldnt put my finger on it. Then it hit me. This is the exact same design that ThermoSonic used to use in their line of ThermoEngine coolers. A quick trip to ThermoSonic's website revealed that I had been right. ThermoSonic has authorized Arkua Technology Co. to market and sell all ThermoSonic products exclusively. I guess this would explain why we havent seen or heard anything from about the ThermoEngine line of coolers lately."

Mitsumi CR-4809TE 24x12x40x CD writer review
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:52 AM EST

"Looking at the specs we notice this CD writer distinguish itself from competition thanks to the largest buffer ever seen (16 Mb) and the highest rewriting speed that is 12X, while its opponents reach 10X.
Rewriting is also possible at 4X and 10X, while writing on a CD-R is possible at 4X, 8X, 16X (CLV) or 16X, 24X (Z-CLV)."

Zalman CNPS6000-Cu HSF Review
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:51 AM EST

'The increasing popularity of overclocking seems strange in a
world where it's hard to find any software (even games) that need half of
the processing power of today's leading CPU's. Regardless of the reasons
behind it, overclocking's popularity has brought with it a wealth of new
products and fierce competition in the heatsink and fan (HSF) market.
In this review I'm going to be looking at the CMPS6000-Cu (catchy name
eh?) made by Zalman - a company whose slogan is 'The Quiet Cooling
Solution', they aim to provide a quiet HSF that still performs well.'

Intel Pentium 4 Northwood 2.0A and 2.2 GHz Review
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:49 AM EST

"It has been about 4 months since we reviewed the Pentium 4 2 GHz processor. Until January 7th 2002 that was also the fastest clocked processor in production, but not anymore. On the same day AMD brought out their Athlon XP 2000+ (clocked at 1.67 GHz) Intel brought out a 2.2 GHz part as well as an updated 2.0 GHz one (called 2.0A to signify it features a new core).

So what's new apart from the higher speed in the Intel 2.2 GHz and 2.0A GHz ? Well, we're not talking groundbreaking changes, but definitely enough to make it worthwhile covering!"

Leadtek WinFast A170 DDR T
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:42 AM EST

Featuring the new GeForce4 MX 440 GPU, the new Leadtek A170 DDR T is the next replacement for the previous generation of GeForce2 MX. Just how fast is the new GeForce4 MX 440 and how does it compare with the GeForce3 Ti series? Take a peek at this review to find out more.

Antec SX630 Mini Tower Review
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:41 AM EST

Antec is well known for their quality cases, and this one is no exception. I wanted a no frills case for a small LAN box, but I didn't want to skimp on things like quality and looks.

"Looking at the SX630, it looks like a baby version of the SX800 series. Like the other cases in the Performance series, the SX630 has the lockable swing doors and the familiar vents on the front. The case, especially when fully loaded, is actually quite heavy, considering it's size. I guess the lightweight Lian-Li I currently has turned me into a girly-man :\"

OCA Reviews the Intel P4 1.8GHz Northwood CPU
posted by Josh on Thursday, February 21, 2002 at 6:40 AM EST

OCA has their review of the Intel P4 1.8GHz Northwood CPU. We've seen good reports on the 1.6A and 2.0A, but what kind of performance can be expected from the 1.8? Does it hold it's own against the mighty Athlon XP 1800+? Lets checkout what OCAddiction has to say about it.

"Still, the performance crown somewhat eludes Intel, since AMD XP processors are certainly holding their own. And with the .13 micron AMD Thoroughbreds due out shortly, there is no telling what the immediate future holds for Intel. Intel easily owns the market in raw Processor SPeeD, yet the AMD XP Chips arguably outperform even Intel's fastest processor.

While I believe the Northwood is certainly a worthy CPU, what we basically want to do here today is show you performance of this chip in a few "well known" benchmarks at stock speed, as well as the overclockability of the chip."

Looking for a news poster!
posted by Josh on Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at 4:23 PM EST

If you are interested, please check out the link below! Thanks!

[H]ard|OCP onto AMD?
posted by Josh on Monday, February 18, 2002 at 6:25 PM EST

It seems AMD might be up to something...but no one knows for sure. Could they really be hardlocking their CPUs? As [H] questions, are they trying to become the enthuisasts friend instead of the OCers? Check [H] for updates...

And...the ATI AIW 8500DV review is done!!!
posted by Josh on Monday, February 18, 2002 at 5:38 PM EST

Check it out!!!

Review is coming!!!
posted by Josh on Sunday, February 17, 2002 at 12:25 PM EST

After working out many issues with the server, everything is up and running now. I am working on getting the review done today and it should be up later this evening. Check back later!

Server up!
posted by Andrew on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 at 8:30 PM EST

Our server is now plugged and is hosting all of our sites. Check back later this week/early next week for more reviews! If you have any problems, e-mail us at administrator@hytekcomputer.com.

UPDATE: Server waiting to be plugged in!
posted by Josh on Monday, February 11, 2002 at 3:22 PM EST

After countless hours of aggrevation the server is now at its new home. We are just waiting for it to be plugged in and turned on and then we will begin moving over to it. Please check back later!

I once was lost, but now I’m found

My owners sent me to another realm
I served them well for a short spell
They could no longer feed me but they still need me
They found a place that could meet the pace

They packed me tight so everything would go right
They called the men in blue so it would go thru
I was picked up in a truck and shipped to a Canuck
I got to the border and they couldn’t take the order

I went back to my master, which was a disaster
He hugged me and said he loved me
Then I was gone before long
The boys in blue didn’t know what to do

They shipped me here and then there, who knows where
They didn’t scan me so they couldn’t put their hand on me
My owners were inflamed they had to file a claim
They never gave up till I showed up

It’s been a hoot to get on the right route
I’m finally on my way so you can play
It will be nice to host your site
Till we reunite Hytek I miss you

I once was lost, but now I’m found

By
Doug B
Babylon5

Keeping Your Hard Drive Clean
posted by 1gigkid on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 12:58 PM EST

"Keeping your computer clean is very important, because that is what makes
it run fast. Most people that do keep their PC clean spend a lot of money on
programs that do the work for them. In this tutorial, Tech Help?Center will
show you how to use the programs that come with your computer effectively in
a step-by-step program."

Get To Know Your PC
posted by 1gigkid on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 12:55 PM EST

"Once the computer user becomes familiar with the basics of their computer,
they can confidently troubleshoot and repair minor glitches and eventually
set up their own network in their home. In this tutorial, Tech Help?Center
delves into the basics of computing and computers."

Corsair's XMS2400 256MB DDR RAM Review
posted by 1gigkid on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 6:36 PM EST

Hardware Extreme has posted a review of Corsair's XMS2400 256MB DDR RAM. Corsair-Micro is a name trusted in the industry of computer memory, they are pretty much the only leading competitors to Crucial whom seem to be the dominators but today we are here to find out who really has the best memory with 2x 256MB Corsair's XMS2400 modules up to test.

"Being the standard DDR speeds are only set at PC1600 or PC2100 we can expect to see some high performance from these sticks under any circumstances. This memory shines from the others with it’s fine quality to the excellent features as well as many other fine points."

"If I had one word to sum up the general quality and performance from the Corsair's XMS2400 modules, it would be Wow! This is because you have the more than standard speeds, eXtreme overclocking potential and great cooling."

Shuttle AK31 V3.1 KT226A based motherboard review
posted by 1gigkid on Friday, February 8, 2002 at 9:33 PM EST

OCA has the well known Shuttle AK31 V3.1 KT226A based motherboard on the review bench. This board is just right for the wallet, but does performance match the price?

"Here are the LED, HD and PWR connectors at the bottom of the mobo. Standard fare. Also, in the middle the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th USB connectors. Having the ability to run 6 USB ports is a bonus, but you'll need the USB Adaptor card to take advantage of them. Finally, we have a pic of the CMOS jumper. Ahh.....the old CMOS jumper. Every good Overclocker knows where this is by heart and probably uses it regularly. Terminate pins 2 and 3 to reset the CMOS, then back to pins 1 and 2 for normal operation. It may be just what the Dr. ordered after a failed attempt at a high overclock."

Compro Personal Cinema, based on the GeForce2 MX400 GPU
posted by 1gigkid on Friday, February 8, 2002 at 9:27 PM EST

OnePC.NET has completed a review of the Compro Personal Cinema, based on the GeForce2 MX400 GPU. Though this card is based on the old GeForce2 MX400 chipset, it's special because of the NVIDIA Personal Cinema accessory that's included, which offers video-in, video-out and TV tuner features.

"Built around a GeForce2 MX400 GPU, the Compro Personal Cinema isn't made with gaming in mind. Instead, it provides video in, video out and TV tuning functions--along with adequate performance for casual gamers--at an affordable price."

Global WIN CAK-II38 Solid Single Copper HSF
posted by 1gigkid on Friday, February 8, 2002 at 9:23 PM EST

OCIA has posted their review of the Global WIN CAK-II38 Solid Single Copper HSF.

“If you are in the market for an air cooled processor solution and you or others around you) are not bothered by a fan spinning at 7500 RPM's, then I would say the Global WIN CAK-II38 is for you. While it's Solid Single Copper construction is not the cheapest material, you definitely will get your money's worth, and after seeing the results provided by this Heatsink Fan, I give it an OCIA.net seal of approval.”

Designtechnica takes a looks at SonicBlue’s Rio car.
posted by 1gigkid on Tuesday, February 5, 2002 at 10:18 PM EST

The Rio Car also acts as your standard car stereo. The player has a modular tuner interface for AM/FM availability. The module also includes RDS (Radio Data System) for station naming, auto re-tuning and traffic announcements. Could this be the next phase in car audio?

"You can connect your Rio Car Stereo to your PC to get music onto the player. Yes, you read it correctly, so you can connect it to your PC to upload MP3 music to your Rio Car player. The Rio Car unit uses 2.5” laptop hard drive (and can take up to two of them) to store your music."

Within the next week or two, expect a review on ATI's All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500DV!

Future Power 400w PSU
posted by 1gigkid on Monday, February 4, 2002 at 4:49 AM EST

OCA has a review of the Future Power 400w PSU. A relatively unknown model Power Supply, but considering this one will only set you back about $35, it’s surely worth a look.

"Right off the bat the +3.3v rail jumps out at ya. The Future Power is showing 15A while the Enermax is at 38A. That is a huge difference. Also the +5v rail is at 30A on Future Power and 44A on the Enermax. What can I say? I really wanted to plug in the two units and see what's going on in the overclocking department. But I have to say I was skeptical to say the least."

Hardware Extreme's Gadget Showcase
posted by 1gigkid on Monday, February 4, 2002 at 4:43 AM EST

"It's gadgets showcase time, this is when Hardware Extreme scours the web looking for the coolest and newest gadgets available. The gadgets we present in our showcase are what we consider the best of the best. They provide some exciting new abilities or they introduce a new technology that will change computers, gaming, or technology as a whole. This list is full of all the greatest but with your help we can make each edition even better. Email all new exciting gadgets you find to this e-mail, and we might add it to the list". :) In this edition, we showcased 10 extremely cool items."

Directron SF-201-B Black Aluminum Case
posted by 1gigkid on Monday, February 4, 2002 at 4:33 AM EST

AtlantaOC has just posted a review of the Directron SF-201-B Black Aluminum Case written by -Oden-. Here is a portion of what he had to say about this case from the review....

1COOLPC monitorHO-FAN
posted by 1gigkid on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 3:13 AM EST

The 1COOLPC monitorHO-FAN. Your monitor is one expensive piece of equipment so why not treat it good and keep it cool and happy? Well the monitorHO-FAN does just that for $13....

"The monitorHO-FAN from 1COOLPC is a fine product at a fair price. A quiet, long running fan in a simple plastic housing that is super easy to install. Though maybe not a must have product, it's worth buying if it saves your monitor from additional heat and extends it's life. Especially when you consider that your monitor is likely the single most expensive component you will purchase. While maybe not quite Monitor Insurance, the monitor HO-FAN does come close to that description."

CoolJAG JAC012C Heatsink
posted by 1gigkid on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 3:06 AM EST

The CoolJAG JAC012C Heatsink which is produced by same folks who developed with the "skiving" heatsink manufacturing process.

"The heat sink is one of the best built that I've seen recently. Since the base and fins are made out of one solid piece of copper, creating a seamless thermal joint, there is no need to worry about the quality of the construction. Speaking of fins they are a lot of them! 60 of them to be exact, they are very densely packed thus requiring a very powerful fan. In other words if you are wanting a quiet heat sink combo this one will not be the one for you. After closer inspection I saw that the fins had two different textures to them. On one side the texture is extremely smooth and shiny. The other side has a rough almost bumpy texture to the fins. I am assuming that the different fin textures are from the forces that the skiving process puts on the copper. The base of the heat sink was in excellent condition, I could see some swirl marks left on it from the manufacturing process but I could not feel any with my finger nail."

February 2002