Quad Raptor rig reviewed

HARDWAREHELL reviews a memory module set; the Corsair 2GB Twin2X XMS2 DDR2 module is geared towards the enthusiast market as usual. There's actually a pair of them, which means that memory manufacturers must be praying for quad channel to make a debut. It also makes me wonder why no one came forward with dual SLI-capable card bundles. Anyway, the TwinX XMS2 comes with stylish heatspreaders and superb performancce as is often the case with Corsair. Oh, and don't forget the LED lights and the overclocking. Any wrongs? The price perhaps.

Gamepc gets four WD Raptor HDDs in RAID-0 using the fastest RAID card on the market, the Areca's ARC-1120 PCI Express x8 controller. You know the story, 150GB unformatted, 16MB cache, SATA 150 interface, 10Krpm and performance well above the rest. As you can guess, you are paying very dear for the price. Th 600GB of the RAID-0 actually cost you more than $1200. Game PC noted that NCQ actually degrades speed rather than improving it. With the FX60 and the Dell 30-inch LCD monitor, one of the sure components of a Gamer's dream rig.

OCworkbench tests the new Intel D975XBX motherboard which supersedes the i955x. This model supports the latest PEE and Crossfire as well. You'll also find some nice features such as Intel Azalia HD audio - no great feat, GbE as well as SATA2 with NCQ and two convetional ports - which is actually what mATX boards offer whereas this one is a ATX one. OCW also threw in the same review, the Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 955 with HT, 1066FSB and 4MB core. It is the first Intel CPU to come with Intel's Virtualization Technology. Performance as you can guess from a high end product such like this one is impressive but so is the price tag and at the end, we can only sigh thinking that for the time being, such an amount of power is only destined for deep pockets.

The pranksters at Tomshardware immerse an Athlon FX55 in eight gallons of cooking oil. They actually tried to get hold of the FX60 but it was NDAed. Anyway, I wouldn't advise you to try something similar, except if you are a bored millionaire geek. Oil is non conductive even if it is liquid but that doesn't mean that you should not take precautions. Loads of photos, a video and more details on TH's website.

Grace from Driver Heaven always sends us beautiful reviews - from an aesthetic PoV. The latest one from DH is the Newance Triplecone case review. At first sight, it seems like a huge speaker but it ain't. It accommodates up to three fans - but comes with one only, is rather big, has an LCD display and a ventilation tunnel. The product is neatly presented with all the necessary accessories. It even comes with an air duct or wind tunnel. The only problem seems to be the long distance between the PSU and the motherboard. Note that the case is compatible with eATX mobos and includes a wooden faceplate.

The wonderful guys from Arctic Cooling sent a wonderful Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro to Doomed PC who wrote an article about it. Fourty aluminium fins, a heatpipe based heatsinks, three u-shaped cooper heat pipes and a 92mm fan make up this rather special cooler. It is relatively light, is unbelievably low priced, one of the most silent heatsinks ever to have graced the reviewer's pair of ears and easy to install. What to ask for more? Available in the UK for £15 including P&P. µ