http://www.tomshardware.com en 10 Tue, 29 May 2012 10:12:18 +0200 http://m.bestofmedia.com/i/bestofmicro/design/groupe/logo_toms_us.jpg http://www.tomshardware.com http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-review,3194.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-review,3194.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 29 May 2012 06:00:01 CEST We're updating this month's recommendations after the introduction of Intel's SSD 330. But the new drives don't affect the outcome of today's story because one vendor in particular is going crazy with price-cutting that earns it several mentions from us.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mana-136-midgard-ii-phantom-410,3203.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mana-136-midgard-ii-phantom-410,3203.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 25 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Mainstream cases priced between $80-120 seem to be the most popular with our readers. But there's a huge range of quality and features in that segment. Today we build up five cases from our recent picture story preview to see how well each model performs.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-overclocking-core-i7-3770k,3198.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-overclocking-core-i7-3770k,3198.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 24 May 2012 06:00:01 CEST We recently took our first look at Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. Then, we evaluated its efficiency. Now, we turn to overclocking. Recently, each of Intel's die shrinks has helped increase frequency headroom. This time, however, we ran into some walls.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/act-of-valor-jacob-rosenberg-technology,3201.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/act-of-valor-jacob-rosenberg-technology,3201.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 23 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Worldwide editor-in-chief Chris Angelini interviews Jacob Rosenberg, CTO of Bandito Brothers, the media company responsible for "Act of Valor." They talk about the marriage of technology and film-making, overcoming bottlenecks, and the future of Bandito.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i5-3570-low-power,3204.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i5-3570-low-power,3204.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 22 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST After recommending Sandy Bridge last year, we weren't particularly impressed by the new Ivy Bridge-based Core i7-3770K as an upgrade. But are Intel's more mainstream third-gen Core i5 processors any more attractive? We grab four models to find out.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/595-carbide-series-300r-interceptor-series-stealth-phantom-410.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/595-carbide-series-300r-interceptor-series-stealth-phantom-410.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 21 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST We put out feelers for mainstream gaming cases priced between $80 and $120 and were surprised to receive 15 submissions. Today we cover the first five, giving you a virtual tour of each enclosure's features before our in-depth review later this week.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST This month's update includes Intel's much anticipated Ivy Bridge-based processors, and how their introduction to the market affects our recommendations. In addition, AMD's new Trinity APU is discussed, and we consider its formidable graphics prowess.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/594-netbook-gaming-performance.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/594-netbook-gaming-performance.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 17 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST We wanted to know if our AMD C-50 equipped netbook can be more than a word processor and movie player. So, we tried a bunch of games we thought might run smoothly at 720p. The resulting list is also a worthy resource for any gamer with older PC hardware.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-330-review-benchmark,3190.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-330-review-benchmark,3190.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 16 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Intel recently introduced its SSD 330 family, positioned ahead of the SSD 320s and below the SSD 520s. Like the company's highest-end models, these drives employ SandForce's controller technology. We bought all three capacities and ran our tests on them.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-4600m-trinity-piledriver,3202.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-4600m-trinity-piledriver,3202.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 CEST AMD steps up to the plate with an all-new processor. Armed with the updated Piledriver CPU core and VLIW4 graphics architecture, the Trinity APU represents an impressive improvement over the Llano generation. But can it stand up to Intel's best efforts?]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-3720qm-ivy-bridge-mobile-ultrabook,3185.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-3720qm-ivy-bridge-mobile-ultrabook,3185.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 14 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST We've already seen that Ivy Bridge doesn't make much of a splash in the desktop space. But we collected notebooks based on Ivy Bridge, Sandy Bridge, Arrandale, and AMD's mobile Llano, and found that the new architecture's effect on mobility is profound.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/593-imac-ssd-do-it-yourself.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/593-imac-ssd-do-it-yourself.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 11 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Love Apple or hate it, the company's iMac is a popular machine. Per the usual, though, Apple way overcharges for an SSD upgrade. Today, we're going to show you how to replace the iMac's hard drive with your own SSD and hopefully save a bundle of money.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-670-review,3200.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-670-review,3200.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 10 May 2012 15:00:01 CEST Not like it was ever really widely available anyway, right? The GeForce GTX 670 offers most of GK104's on-chip resources, doesn't give up much performance, and costs $100 less. Now, let's see if Nvidia can make enough of them to satisfy demand.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 09 May 2012 06:10:00 CEST This month we cover continued GeForce GTX 680 availability problems, compounded by a lack of GeForce GTX 690s, and other Kepler-derived products on the horizon. We also discuss some significant price drops, and call out a couple of special deals.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-7850,3197.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-7850,3197.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 09 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Two months after the Radeon HD 7800-series cards first launched, they remain strong performers at attractive prices. We recap our coverage of the Radeon HD 7870 and 7850, discuss why we still like them, and cover one caveat for multi-GPU gamers.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/768-shader-pitcairn-review,3196.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/768-shader-pitcairn-review,3196.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 08 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Last week we reported that an engineering sample card with 768 shaders accidentally found its way into our lab instead of the HD 7850 we were expecting. This GPU may be meant for engineers, but it piqued our interest, since it happens to fill a large gap.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/diablo-iii-performance-benchmark,3195.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/diablo-iii-performance-benchmark,3195.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 07 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST With the much-anticipated release of Diablo III right around the corner, we wanted to explore this incredible game's performance on 12 different graphics configurations and a few CPUs. Does your PC have what it takes to run Diablo III well?]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/592-rpg-role-playing-history.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/592-rpg-role-playing-history.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 04 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Today we cover more than 30 years of computer role-playing games in pictures! From Ultima I to The Bard's Tale, Wasteland, Diablo, and of course The Elder Scrolls, this walk down memory lane undoubtedly includes a few of your favorites.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-690-benchmark,3193.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-690-benchmark,3193.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 CEST We already know that Nvidia's GeForce GTX 690 sports two GK104s and is priced at $1000. But hardware like this is fun to read about. Oh, you actually want to buy one? Expect performance just shy of two GTX 680s in SLI, and good luck tracking one down!]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7970-overclock-review,3186.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7970-overclock-review,3186.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 02 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST GeForce GTX 680 cards are nowhere to be found, and the Radeon HD 7970 recently dropped to a much more attractive price. We thought it was time to round up a handful of Tahiti-based cards to see how board partners are improving upon AMD's original recipe.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/plextor-m3-crucial-m4-octane-performance-pro,3178.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/plextor-m3-crucial-m4-octane-performance-pro,3178.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:00 CEST Do you want the best performance from your SSD all of the time, regardless of workload? Drives with Marvell's controller technology should be on your short list. We put seven of them through the paces and discover lots of speed at each capacity point.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z77-extreme6-z77a-gd65-z77h2-a2x,3187.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z77-extreme6-z77a-gd65-z77h2-a2x,3187.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST Combining the newest features with moderate expandability, Intel’s mainstream platforms provide high value to most gaming and overclocking enthusiasts. We compare six examples with Z77 Express to find the best features, overclocking, and efficiency.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-690-gk104,3188.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-690-gk104,3188.html#xtor=RSS-182 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST Did you spend some time this week wondering what Nvidia was planning for today's announcement? Everyone who guessed GeForce GTX 690, you're right. Powered by two GK104 graphics processors, we have the scoop on Nvidia's soon-to-be flagship.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/android-ios-game-developer,3169.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/android-ios-game-developer,3169.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST Four leading mobile game developers divulge their thoughts on the rise of mobile gaming, the iOS vs. Android vs. WP7 industry face-off, the impact of HD tablets like the iPad 3, and whether mobile gaming is now challenging the dominance of game consoles.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-storage-value,3184.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-storage-value,3184.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST SSDs prices continue to fall, and we're updating our list of recommendations to reflect those changes. This month, the best deals are found in the $200-350 range. In particular, keep an eye out for 240 GB SSDs priced closer to $1/GB than we've ever seen.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/4tb-3tb-hdd,3183.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/4tb-3tb-hdd,3183.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST Hitachi recently started shipping a pair of 4 TB hard drives. We can see that they're pretty expensive, but how do they compare to existing 3 TB models in other ways? It’s time for a comprehensive overview of today's high-capacity hard drive offerings.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/transformer-pad-tf300t-tegra-3-benchmark-review,3179.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/transformer-pad-tf300t-tegra-3-benchmark-review,3179.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:00:00 CEST The new Transformer tablet from Asus costs less—and yet it still manages to impress us. A follow-up to the acclaimed Transformer Prime, the Tegra 3-powered Transformer Pad TF300T is perhaps the best bargain we've ever seen from an Android-based tablet.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-benchmark-core-i7-3770k,3181.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-benchmark-core-i7-3770k,3181.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 CEST One of Intel's worst-kept secrets ever, Ivy Bridge is an evolutionary die shrink of Sandy Bridge with improved integrated graphics. The flagship Core i7-3770K is great if you're replacing an old PC. But it's a tough sell if you already own a Core i7 CPU.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/dz77ga-70k-ivy-bridge-motherboard,3182.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/dz77ga-70k-ivy-bridge-motherboard,3182.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:50:00 CEST Have a peek at Intel's DZ77GA-70K motherboard, the platform that drove our Sandy Bridge- and Ivy Bridge-based processors in today's Core i7-3770K launch. We cover some of the board's physical features and our first experience with its new Visual BIOS.]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/590-phantom-410-star-wars-case-mod.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/590-phantom-410-star-wars-case-mod.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, iBuyPower raffled off a special Star Wars: The Old Republic-themed case mod. Today we take you through this epic build, all the way from designer sketches to the trade show floor.]]>