DDRdrive knocks socks off enterprise

IF WE can drag you away from the latest GPU benchmarks, you'd probably like to read the PC Perps review of the DDRdrive X1. It's a support device for your datacentre that combines SLC SSD (for backup) with DDR II RAM (for random access) and a PCIe 1x interface. Datacentres will appreciate it with its 300k+ IOPS and it even beats the Fusion IO Drive on price.

Fudzilla has a couple of articles on the Acer Aspire Revo (here and here). Some odd choices like analogue video output and the single core processor instead of a Nettop dual-core Atom 330...

Legion Hardware has the skinny on a Radeon HD 4770 Crossfire setup. Take a look at those benchmarks... sure the 512MB frame buffer won't do miracles, but if you're one to play up to 1920x1200, then it's a tremendous amount of firepower.

Tweak Town is looking into the GMABooster software. Apparently you can kick your GMA-based notebook or netbook into graphics overdrive... well... sort of... it's still GMA-based...

The Hardware Canucks have a Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler on the bench. The powerful passive cooling doesn't match the less-than-apt fan. Lots of potential thrown out the door.

Razer, the maker of gaming accessories, has sent off an Arctosa Gaming Keyboard to RBMods. This budget keyboard provides some excellent macro programmability and easy profile switching.

OCZ's bleeding edge Blade Series DDR3 memory is on test at Guru of 3D. That's the Blade DDR3-2000 CAS7 3x2GB kit, that has CL ratings of 7-8-7-20. Not cheap, but otherwise, it's one of the fastest out there.

Tweaknews has another SilverStone box, the Sugo SG03 SFF case. It's a compact case that fits all the big components and the single 120mm fan will be less than adequate to keep a powerful system burning.

Think Computers has a review of the Asus Matrix ENGTX260 graphics card. The lowering prices are making the GTX 260 cards a good deal, but this is still an Asus product (on steroids).

OCIA is testing a couple of OCZ Apex drives in RAID 0.  Shawn says it's the fastest thing under the Sun, and the couple comes in cheaper than a single Intel 80GB X25-E drive...

IPC motherboards don't get enough credit. They take more than their share of engineering due to their integration nature and, like the Jetway NF94-270-LF IPC board, do some great little feats... at Modders-Inc.

Legit Reviews also did the Crossfire Radeon HD 4770 tango. The $200 combo beats the current crop of $250 cards... which pretty much sums it up.

Laptop Mag also has an OCZ Vertex 120GB SSD review. Avram says it's got the best value of any SSD today, so you can't really go wrong.

Finally, and still on the subject of SSDs, Benchmark Reviews grabbed an OCZ Vertex EX SLC SSD. This is the very high-end of OCZ SSDs, suited for enthusiasts with an itchy credit card. µ

daily round-up for May 5th 2009