Mammoth CPU comparison guide posted

IT IS HARD to keep track of all the CPU models on the market. Tech ARP rose to the task and released its Desktop CPU Comparison Guide 3.2. The list contains all of the AMD, Cyrix, Intel and VIA models that ever came to market, and we would advise you to keep track on future revisions of this article. Interesting to see how one model of CPU can have staggering 18 different specifications.

Ryan from PC Perspective analysed Intel's realisation of Tera-Scale computing concept, e.g. monolithic die with 80 mini-cores on it. PC Perspective went into details about clock speeds, temperature and power consumption. Our own Charlie's take can be found here. Only thing is that Intel is late to AMD's party again. After the whole Santa Rosa affair, Intel is naming this core "Polaris", putting it in-line with AMD's desktop codenames like Kuma, Agena, Lima, Rana and Spica. Can't have it all.

Digit-Life took on a mammoth task and tested over 30 budget coolers for AMD platform, updating it with six latest models from companies like GlacialTech, Speeze and Thermaltake. It is pretty interesting to see differences in cooling performance in the budget segment, so before you shop for a new computer, check your future cooler capabilities. This might mean a 10, 15 or even 20C difference during summer.

Besides testing ton of coolers, the boys from Digit-Life reviewed five Nvidia cards from Chaintech. The authors explained what's happening with Chaintech (now Walton Chaintech). The cards went under heavy load of 3D tests for which Digit-Life is known for, and it is pretty interesting to see the performance delta between 7300GT, 7600GS, 7600GT and two DX10 heavy-weights, GeForce 8800GTS and 8800GTX.

It seems that there are more CrossFire-supporting chipsets on the market than you would assume. With AMD preparing a massive DirectX 10 attack on all fronts in Q2'07, CrossFire as a platform becomes a viable alternative to the father of multi-GPU configurations, Nvidia's SLI. OCWorkBench discovered that JetWay enabled CrossFire on their latest board based on Intel's G965 chipset, and first results are promising. Click here for more details.

Virtual-Hideout reviewed nMedia's 2.4GHz RF Wireless Keyboard with TrackBall and found out that this product is noteworthy effort to make seamless HTPC experience. Definitely check out the multifunctional trackball, looks cool.

If you think that paying $1200 for two 8800GTXes is steep for a piece of hardware (or in this case, two pieces), what would you say on a $1500 soundcard? For the past two months, Vedran from IT-Review.Net has been creating music with RME Fireface 800 and his detailed impressions are now published for your reading pleasure.

You probably know that everything in the world of ICT now circles around thermal dissipation - power consumption and heating. DVHardware.Net reviewed a neat keychain thermometer from Q3 Innovations which can aid you in finding hotspots of your computer - and it won't cost a fortune.

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