It seems like ages have passed since we tested internal HDD, so we decided to introduce you one hard disk. Full name of this model, WD Caviar SE16 6400AAKS-00A7B0 reveals to eagle-eye so many things. This HDD has 16MB cache memory and 640GB capacity. Connection with motherboard is accomplished through SATA2 standard.
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Most users are irritated with noise that their computer makes. Therefore, we can find on the market numerous “silent” solutions that will solve that particular problem. Yet, there is always “BUT”. With summer heats on the way it is just impossible to cool your processor with passive cooler. But, Cooler Master has a solution even to this problem.
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Since the number of motherboards based on AMD 780G chipset gets bigger and bigger, we decided to compare them forthright and to identify possible differences. Popularity of this chipset is shown in accessibility of motherboard based on it, superb integrated graphics and few more useful options. This kind of systems are great for multimedia computers because 780G will provide for this type of machines enough performances and of course, like any ATi, good display of colors.
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We get used to test fast RAM memories from Kingston Company. Hyper X brand was, until now, associated with fastest RAM modules. Still, Kingston decided to utilize this very recognisable brand on other Kingston products. So, thanks to that we were introduced to Kingston DataTravel HyperX USB flash memory. Of course, right from the start, we figured that we got one very fast device (brand name can tell you a lot), but we couldn’t know, how fast...
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Radeon HD4800 series of graphics cards is real refreshment in these days. Every new generation of GPU brought a big shift in performances and ATi this time showed us that top model graphics chip (RV770) doesn’t have to be expensive. Based on experience from previous HD3850 and HD3870 models, we expected that new model HD4870 will dominate in middle-high class, with lower price and higher performances than other competitors. But, we were wrong… Tests showed something quite unexpected. Still, before benchmark results let’s see what new GPU offers.
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As a leader in manufacturing of computer peripheral devices, Logitech has to do better in order to maintain this position. It includes frequent release of new products, which beside maintaining position on the market have difficult role of becoming likeable to both, present and new users. New MX Revolution is successor of extremely successful and popular MX 1000, and as its very name says, it should bring the revolution. We are here to check how successful Logitech was.
The first impression is positive, and although it might seem rather massive at first sight, after only few minutes you will realize this is not true. Big area designed for resting thumb, did not show its very best in this role, but given it did not make any difficulties, we can characterize it as positive designing detail. It is lighter than its forebear, significantly enough to facilitate use and preserve robust impression. Because of new Teflon pads that have been introduced with G series, it slides slightly easier over all surfaces. Laser sensor, firstly introduced with MX1000 was not subjected to major changes; therefore, it has same characteristics.
Once again, Logitech used radio connection on 2.4GHz for communication along with internal chargeable battery. It seems that consequently to mouse weight reduction, capacity of battery was also reduced, given period between two battery charges on our test were relatively short (3 to 6 days). In order to provide smaller battery with longest possible autonomy, systems for consumption saving are set up aggressively, so comparing to its forebear it has slower response time from “sleep” phase, enters faster in it, and it has visible slowing tightly related to stand-by status. Beside changed design of shell, sole difference visible on first sight is reduction in number of thumb keys, reducing it from three to two. This numerical reduction did not hit us as badly, as the fact that buttons no longer have “click” during using, and there is no audio confirmation that some button has been pressed. Another difference is One Search button, which is somewhere near behind scroll wheel. If you use it for clicking on selected text, you will automatically search in this field. Different browsers could be used for searching.
Scroll wheel, beside new name – Micro Gear is also “state of the art” with several aspects. First of all, both wheels (we will talk about another one later) have ribbed rubber put between two metalized rings, which looks nicely and works very nicely, giving very nice sense while using. Comparing to previous solution which included moving up and down through a document and left and right through title, vertical motion has been improved. Pushing of wheel changes manner of its operating mode, with two options offered „click to click“ and „free spin“. First one is standard, with clearly defined click which moves document for few lines. „Free spin“ is more interesting, which enables to turn wheel with minimal friction and by “one energy move it can spin longer than seven seconds, enabling scrolling through hundreds of material pages“ – Logitech´s reference is 10000 lines. Using in this extreme case is questionable given you are having maximal 1/15 seconds to look at each page. If we remain in some real domain like scrolling through long Excel documents or through PDF file where the book is positioned, this type of using is expressed fully.
Change of operating regimes between these two modes is possible by pressing on Micro Gear wheel. Unfortunately, due to this, at least with this version of driver, it is not possible to assign Micro Gear with function of mid-mouse button, which will not cheer up all users of Opera, Firefox, etc... Another manner of switching is automatically. According to speed of wheel turning, the software determines in which mode it will operate, so for slower motions is used „click-to-click“, and for faster „free spin“ mode. It sound nice in theory, but it takes some week to break of a habit in practice. It makes one wonder who needs to adjust to whom: intelligent technology to man or man to technology.
As we promised, let’s say a few more word about other wheel. At first sight it may seem as identical scroll wheel, but only after using it is clear that it is not the same. First of all it is not wheel at all, but button with three positions, front, back and down. By definition, it is designed for switching between applications, and after pressing you get “Document Flip” offering you a list of currently active applications, for selection application from choice, and by another pressing to shift focus on it. It all sounds nice in practice, only two weeks passed and we did not get used to this function, so its wide application is really questionable.
When you draw the line, new Revolution brings several innovations, which are to be realistic, more in sphere of evolution than revolution. Unfortunately, there are few problems coming along. First, it has unquestionably high price, which will be a problem even for buyers with deeper pocket. Second, according to good old habit, first edition of drivers is filled with bugs, which are quite irritating. Anything could happen, from cursor disappearing after turning off the monitor after inactivity period, through not showing cursor in active window and showing on the rest, with status indicator for battery in tray being present even when mouse is disconnected. While using Document Flip, only applications from taskbar are shown, and if they opened any additional window (like WinAmp playlist), they are shown as same application.
It is up to you to make a choice of prevailing element for buying: on one side, design and novelties in operation of MX Revolution or reliability and accessibility of older model.
Peripherals 
