Asrock readies cheap AM2 mobo

ASROCK'S FORTHCOMING AM2 motherboard is bound to get some manufacturers seriously worried. The AM2NF4G-SATA2 is positioned as an entry-level motherboard but it comes loaded with features that will make some jealous. Besides DDR2-800 support, it has Realtek's new ALC888 Telecoms HD audio module with hardware VoIP support. It meets Windows Vista Premium Logo hardware requirements and integrates the Geforce 6100 graphic module. You also have some SATA2 ports and a PCI-e port. All of this crammed in a mATX format.

The RaidSonic ICY Box ID-360UE-BL Series is an external USB/Firewire enclosure that sits vertically and is made of aluminium. There's a nice LED lighting plus there's compatibility with Mac OS - no Linux. You will need a 3.5-inch HDD to get it running. No cons, only pros, it seems; easy installation, very quiet and cool - thanks to its material and most importantly, it is cheap.

Bjorn3D tests the Thermaltalke Armor JR casing. It is a middle tower made up completely of Aluminium. It has two 120mm fans and accepts Thermaltake's own liquid cooling panel. Usefully, it has a almost tool-less arrangement and any thumbscrew is easy to remove. Securitywise, it features a couple of panel locks. There are some niggling imperfection but that's all right for a branded casing.

Trustedreviews tests the JVC LT-26DX7BJ LCD TV which is great on the outside with a native resolution of 1366x768. Very stylish and definitely above no names that sell for less. There's a pair of HD-friendly HDMI sockets as well as a D-sub connector to get your PC working on it. It comes with a full blown top of the class remote control. It also features a Digital Tuner and a relatively light 19.5Kg. There are a couple of flaws which should not prevent it from be listed prominently on your notepad.

Over at GamePC, they report on the BFG Tech AGEIA PhysX card. It coes in a Triangular shipping box and the card itself does not have any IOs and is covered with a standard size, entry level heat sink fan. It still uses the PCI interface though, although PCI expres is obviously in the pipeline. All in all, the AGEIA is a king without a crown. ATI and Nvidia are also preparing physics based solution. At $300, it is expensive and we'll have to wait for more to come. Who knows, one day, PPU games might come with a bundled card?

BitTech tests the SuperTalent DDR2 memory kit. It is rated at 1GHz, made in the USA, carries a lifetime waranty and has a grey, generic-type of heat spreader. Bit Tech tests it against a Corsair 6400 Pro kit. Results are in line with what could be expected. The Supertalent overclocks up to 1067MHz even with a little extra voltage. Performance is quite good and if you want 2GB memory running at 1GHz, Supertalent may well be your only choice. µ