Slowest of Core 2 Duo CPUs tested

DRIVER HEAVEN tests the NorthQ 4775-500S PSU, nicknamed Godzilla. With a total rated output of 500w, it is far from being the most powerful PSU out there but still carries a number of unique features that differentiate it from the pack. The cable configuration for example allows you to plug in 17 items through eight cables. It has a large 140mm fan and is SLI compatible. At the end of the day, a well balanced and capable power supply. Note that it has a non modular design but still a couple of LEDs. Wins the editors choice award.

Xbitlabs explores the explosive combination of the Intel Core2 Duo E6300 and the Asus P5W DH Deluxe in what might be the ideal mainstream platform, a wedding made in heaven between two of the leading technologies out there. You read it right, Xbitlabs reviewed the youngest Core2 Duo member, clocked at 1.86GHz with 2MB L2 cache. It costs only $183 BTW. They managed to overclock it to 2.94GHz, more than 50% overclock, without Vcore increases and it succeeded in beating the rest of the competition including the more expensive x2 3800+.

Over at hardwarezone, Vincent Chang reviews the Dell XPS M2010 mobile entertainment PC, which is an extension, it seems of the Desktop Replacement paradigm. With a huge 1680x1050 pixels 20.1-inch screen, it is a real show stopper and a monster on its own. Add in a Radeon mobility X1800, a Core Duo 2600, Windows MCE OS, a DVI port, 2GB memory, a full size keyboard with a touchpad, two 100GB HDD, a DVD writer and a few more well thought ideas and you have an almost perfect computer on the go.

PCstats checks the MSI NX7600GT-VT2D26E video card. The successor to the award winning 6600GT comes with twice the memory, two dual link DVI output connectors and more TV output options. As always, MSI's bundle is better than many graphic card manufacturers though not exceptional by any means. Compatible with SLI, you can therefore get 7900GTX power for around £200 if the review is to be believed. Bear in mind though that this is a dual slot card with a silent heatsink. The card is a pretty good overclocker, cranking up to 626MHz and 1.57GHz core/mem, which is not bad at all.

Belgium website, Matbe, checks the Zalman CNPS 8000 cooling solution. The Korean company wished to introduce a viable replacement for some of its ageing mid range coolers. Hence the CNPS 8000 was born. What may strike you the most is how flat the cooler is. No more than 2.5-inches. Unfortunately, while it might be a very good cooler, it is only marginally less expensive than its bigger and much better brother and has some problems due to the low speed of its fan. Bear in mind also that it is not compatible with the new AM2 socket.

Italian website HWUpgrade presents us a nicely written article on the Intel Core2 Duo. Since it is in Italian, may I suggest that you translate it using Google Translate. The 16-page essay is full of photos and benchmarks as you can guess, but it is the overclocking that was the eye catching moment as the X6899 achieved a massive 3.6GHz using a liquid cooler from Gigabyte. This means that we could look forward to a 3.2GHz Core2 Extreme model should the need be felt by AMD. µ

My mistake for yesterday's hardware roundup title, which should have read, Camouflage painted memory module tested.