S3 S27 graphic card tested

PHORONIX HAS an interesting article on Open vs Closed drivers from ATI. This is a two page review - or rather editorial - written by Larabel. Rather than giving way to rhetoric, Michael simply compared both drivers and obviously they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The benchmark used was Enemy Territory and the card a Radeon 9250, not really representative of what's out there but still a good way to gauge the gap between open and closed drivers.

More video graphics card with a review of the S3 Chrome S27 PCI express. The card that is supposedly the fastest GPU around - in terms of core speed is tested. It is actually a lower mid range card that is DX9 capable. It is rather small and is equipped with an elegant heat pipe cooler. The S27 has a dual monitor output, a meagre 128MB memory and is best suited for HTPCs. The card is benchmarked using a number of well known games and at the end of the day, it is actually not that bad for the price.

Techage tests the Swiftech Apex Ultra kit with the MCW 60 - this water cooler is a nice low noise DIY model which is not only performing up to expectation but also easy to setup, all inclusive, comes with a great price and a very tidy and heavy booklet and looks great. The smart coils which protect the green tube are quite appealing and do the job pretty well. There are some issues with the setup due mainly to the fact that you can easily block two PCI slots. Otherwise, nothing much to shout about.

Another mouse reviewed is the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000, this time by Hardwarecentral. At $30, it is very cheap and carries the same blueish, silvery matte finish that is a trademark of Microsoft. The mouse uses HD optical technology, capturing 6000 frames per seconds using LED rather than laser. Not the flashiest mouse in the market but definitely high on the value-for-money-o-meter. Look at the 7.5MB driver for example and you'll feel how sleek it is compared to others.

VR-Zone tests the A4Tech X-750F Laser gaming mouse. It is a 2500 dpi grade laser mouse and uses the Agilent 6010 CMOs chip to capture more than 7000 frames per second. A4Tech is a manufacturer of affordable, if not cheap, peripherals. The mouse is cheap, quality is relatively good. The driver software is decent even if it has some minor flaws. You might not like the finish of the mouse - glossy, with a red button etc. The scroll wheel changes colour and the mouse was simply too sensitive.

Microstar checks the MSI NX7900GT-T2D256E video card. The core is clocked at 450MHz and memory modules running at 660MHz. The add-ons include power cable, TV Out cables, a couple of DVI adapters plus you get a full version of King Kong and Star DVD application. The card is significantly faster than the similar reference design; up to 45% for Chronicles of Riddick for what is essentially the same kind of card. The card is awarded a value for money award. µ