<![CDATA[Reviews Tom's Hardware US]]> http://www.tomshardware.com en 10 Wed, 16 May 2012 22:28:55 +0200 <![CDATA[Reviews Tom's Hardware US]]> http://m.bestofmedia.com/i/bestofmicro/design/groupe/logo_toms_us.jpg http://www.tomshardware.com <![CDATA[Intel SSD 330 Review: 60, 120, And 180 GB Models Benchmarked]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[AMD A10-4600M Review: Mobile Trinity Gets Tested]]> 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?]]> <![CDATA[Core i7-3720QM: Ivy Bridge Makes Its Mark On Mobility]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Do-It-Yourself: Upgrading Apple's 27" iMac With An SSD]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[GeForce GTX 670 2 GB Review: Is It Already Time To Forget GTX 680?]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Best Graphics Cards For The Money: May 2012]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Video Teaser: Radeon HD 7800 Series Remains A Solid Value]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Benchmarking AMD's 768-Shader Pitcairn: Not For Public Consumption]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Diablo III Performance, Benchmarked]]> 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?]]> <![CDATA[In Pictures: A History Of Computer RPGs]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[GeForce GTX 690 Review: Testing Nvidia's Sexiest Graphics Card]]> 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!]]> <![CDATA[Five Radeon HD 7970 3 GB Cards, Overclocked And Benchmarked]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Marvell-Based SSDs From Corsair, Crucial, OCZ, And Plextor: Tested]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Six $160-220 Z77 Motherboards, Benchmarked And Reviewed]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 4 GB: Dual GK104, Announced]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Tom's Hardware Interviews Four Android And iOS Game Developers]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Best SSDs For The Money: April 2012]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Hitachi's 4 TB Hard Drives Take On The 3 TB Competition]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Asus Transformer Pad TF300T Review: Tegra 3, More Affordable]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Intel Core i7-3770K Review: A Small Step Up For Ivy Bridge]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Video Teaser: Intel's DZ77GA-70K Motherboard]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Defender 410, A Sweet Star Wars: The Old Republic Case Mod]]> 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.]]> <![CDATA[Video Teaser: Revisiting Our GeForce GTX 680 Coverage]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-680-availability-price,3180.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-680-availability-price,3180.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:50:00 CEST Have you been following availability of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 680? There's a lot we like about the company's flagship graphics card, but it's tough not being able to find one even a month after launch. With Radeon HD 7970s at $479, the pressure is on!]]> <![CDATA[Asus Transformer Prime TF201: A Tablet With A Higher Calling]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/transformer-prime-tf201-tablet-review,3175.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/transformer-prime-tf201-tablet-review,3175.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST Apple's new iPad is turning heads, but it's not the only compelling choice. Four months after its introduction, Asus' Transformer Prime TF201 shows us that tablets aren't exclusively content consumption devices. Some make it easier to get work done!]]> <![CDATA[Web Browser Grand Prix: Chrome 18, Firefox 11, Windows XP]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-xp-web-browser-performance,3167.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-xp-web-browser-performance,3167.html#xtor=RSS-182 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:00:01 CEST Over the past two years, we've tested the top five Web browsers using modern PC hardware. But today, going against all that is sacred to the enthusiast crowd, we're breaking out an old beige box to bring you Web Browser Grand Prix: Windows XP Edition! ]]> <![CDATA[Overclocking: Asus Rampage IV Extreme Versus EVGA X79 FTW]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/rampage-iv-extreme-x79-ftwFTW-overclocking,3177.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/rampage-iv-extreme-x79-ftwFTW-overclocking,3177.html#xtor=RSS-182 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:00:01 CEST Many companies claim to offer the best overclocking for your money, yet only two compete for the best overclocking at the very highest price point. Today we put those claims to the test, including a full set of benchmarks to analyze performance gains.]]> <![CDATA[The Complete iPad 3 Review: Retina Display, A5X, 4G LTE, And Camera]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ipad-3-benchmark-retina-display,3157.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ipad-3-benchmark-retina-display,3157.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:10:00 CEST We're back with a more comprehensive review of Apple's new iPad 3, including new gamut benchmarks pitting the iPad 3 against an array of recent Android-based tablets. Is Apple's latest offering a disappointment to those expecting more—or a game-changer?]]> <![CDATA[Video Teaser: Tom's Hardware's Apple iPad 3 Review]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ipad-3-video-review,3176.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ipad-3-video-review,3176.html#xtor=RSS-182 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST We just put the wraps on our in-depth review of Apple's new iPad, covering everything from color performance to battery life to the tablet's heat output and the quality of its new rear-facing camera. If you want a taste of what we covered, check this out!]]> <![CDATA[Does Your SSD's File System Affect Performance?]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-file-system-ntfs,3166.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-file-system-ntfs,3166.html#xtor=RSS-182 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:00:00 CEST SSDs serve up data quickly, and prices are low enough that some enthusiasts may want SSDs for data storage. Does the file system you use matter? We compare performance between FAT32, NTFS, and the newer exFAT file systems on two popular SSD architectures.]]> <![CDATA[The Windows Phone 7.5 Review, A Month-Long Experience]]> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wp7-lumia-800-windows-phone-metro,3152.html#xtor=RSS-182 http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wp7-lumia-800-windows-phone-metro,3152.html#xtor=RSS-182 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:00:01 CEST After a long string of clumsy mobile releases, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 strikes us as one of the better designs to pass through our labs. After more than a month of using the latest build on a Nokia Lumia 800, we think WP7 deserves consideration.]]>