5 headsets for Skype and gaming tested

<div align="center"><img src="http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3043/owv51minitestheadphones.jpg" /></div>Looking for headphones that you can use to make Skype calls and for gaming?<br /> <em>Windows: The Official Magazine</em> has taken a quick look at five pairs.<br /> <strong>Genius HS-04U</strong> - £22.70<br /> Web: <a href="http://www.geniusnet.com/wSite/mp?mp=1">www.geniusnet.com</a> <br /> This cheap and cheerful headset lights up like a fair ride when it's plugged in, which is an unnecessary distraction. The problems don't end there – we couldn't adjust the volume, resulting in a deafening experience. They don't feel particularly well built, and the sound leaked so much that we wondered if any was actually going into our ears. Avoid. <br /> <strong>Verdict: 2/5</strong><br /> <strong>Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930</strong> - £136<br /> Web: <a href="http://www.logitech.com/">www.logitech.com </a><br /> Logitech's über-expensive cans are wireless, so you can be 40 feet from your PC and still hear what's going on. The buttons enable you to skip and pause music, too. For music, they're a little washed-out, but the surround sound set-up makes them ideal for gamers who don't want to clutter their desks. <br /> <strong>Verdict: 4/5 </strong><br /> <strong>Griffin MyPhones</strong> - £29.99<br /> Web: <a href="http://www.myphoneskids.com/">www.myphoneskids.com </a><br /> Not strictly a headset – these don't include a microphone – but they're a set of headphones designed especially for kids, and they automatically limit the volume to 85 decibels, which is slightly louder than an average conversation. The also have interchangeable, customisable inserts, and the sound quality is surprisingly decent. <br /> <strong>Verdict: 4/5</strong><br /> <strong>AKG Harman GHS 1</strong> - £99.99<br /> Web: <a href="http://www.akg.com/">www.akg.com </a><br /> This headset neatly folds up to a compact size, making it perfect for gamers on the go, or people who want to use Skype while on holiday. Despite the fact that they don't completely cover your ears, the sound they produce is surprisingly meaty, with impressive bass. We're not quite so sure about the day-glo orange cable, though… <br /> <strong>Verdict: 3/5 </strong><br /> <strong>Plantronics .Audio 655 DSP</strong> - £27.04<br /> Web: <a href="http://www.plantronics.com/europe_union/en_GB/">www.plantronics.com </a><br /> Plantronics' headphones look and feel a little plasticky, but they certainly deliver a rich, clear sound, and they're surprisingly cheap, too. The boom microphone does a really good job of picking up your voice, and it automatically mutes when it's moved into the up position. The headset also supports Skype 4.0, for high quality voice calls.<br /> <strong>Verdict: 5/5</strong><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.techradar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source.</a>

5 headsets for Skype and gaming tested

Looking for headphones that you can use to make Skype calls and for gaming? Windows: The Official Magazine has taken a quick look at five...

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Buying Guide: Best 1TB external hard drive: 10 drives tested

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img392-main-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>These days, you can never have too much storage space. However much you have, you're bound to fill it sooner than you think. But what do you do if you want more?</P><br /><P>Internal drives are all very well, but your PC doesn't have an infinite number of drive bays, and what if you want to transport your digital data as well as access it from your own PC? </P><br /><P>For this test then, we're comparing external desktop hard drives that have a 1TB capacity. </P><br /><P>A desktop drive is based on the 3.5-inch hard drive and is plugged into the mains, as opposed to portable external drives, which use smaller 2.5-inch HDDs and draw their power from their data connection cable, normally powered USB. </P><br /><P>The main advantage offered by desktop drives over their portable counterparts is price. They can, of course, be unplugged and carried away should you wish to (for example) take data between work and home, but if your drive is likely to spend as much time in your bag as it does on your desk, a portable unit may prove a better option. </P><br /><P>So you can compare like with like, we've benchmarked the drives by average random read/write speeds in MB/s under the ubiquitous USB 2.0 connectivity, though most drives offer faster methods, such as eSATA. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Hard drives on test</STRONG></P><br /><P>LaCie Starck 1TB - £89 <BR>Iomega Minimax 1TB - £116 <BR>Freecom Hard Drive XS 3.0 1TB - £91<BR>G-Technology G-Raid 1TB - £156 <BR>Iomega Ego Desktop Hard Drive 1TB - £115 <BR>G-Technology G-Drive 1TB - £155 <BR>Hitachi LifeStudio 1TB Desk Plus - £95 <BR>Buffalo DriveStation 1TB - £74 <BR>Freecom Hard Drive Quattro 1TB - £116 <BR>LaCie D2 Quadra - £131 </P><br /><P><STRONG>Iomega Minimax 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://go.iomega.com/en/?partner=4735">www.iomega.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Iomega minimax 1tb" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup3_1-minimax-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This almost-square hard drive is clearly designed to sit under small-form factor machines. Of course, that also means it's fairly convenient to slip into your bag and carry from computer to computer. </P><br /><P>Not as convenient as a portable drive, of course. It's bigger, and you need to carry the MiniMax's power supply as well as the drive. But if your need an external hard drive that will spend most of its life on your desk, but take the occasional trip to the office or your friend's house, this drive is well worth considering. </P><br /><P>The MiniMax is very sturdy, and its large rubber base stops it sliding about on your desk. Its brushed aluminium sides and white top look great next to most PCs (small-form factor or otherwise), and its transfer speeds are very respectable.</P><br /><P>Perhaps most interestingly of all, as well as a USB 2.0 and twin FireWire 800 ports (a cable for FW400 connections is supplied), there's also a three-port USB hub for connecting further peripherals. Just the thing if you want a USB hard drive, but are running out of ports. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 89%</STRONG> </P><br /><P><STRONG>LaCie Starck 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.lacie.com/uk/">www.lacie.com/uk </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Lacie starck 1tb" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup3_1-starck-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>If you're looking for an external hard drive that looks great next to almost any PC, you could do a lot worse than check out this one. </P><br /><P>Designed by top industrial designer Philippe Starck, its sturdy aluminium casing and shiny, molten metal front look absolutely gorgeous. Starck's signature cross sign is projected onto the desktop as a drive status LED too, which is a nice touch. </P><br /><P>The molten front panel is touch-sensitive, functioning as a shortcut button that can be set up to launch an application, open a file or mount and unmount the drive. Unfortunately, the configuration software that controls this function is a little flaky. </P><br /><P>The Starck isn't LaCie's most versatile external desktop hard drive. It's USB 2.0-only, though it gave us reasonable speeds in our benchmarking tests. For even faster speeds, you can download a turbo driver, to boost USB speeds by up to 33 per cent. </P><br /><P>Also bundled is 10GB of Wuala online storage, which is free for a year, and LaCie Genie Backup Assistant for an easy way to back up your files. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 83%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>G-Technology G-Raid 1TB </STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.g-technology.com/">www.g-technology.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="G-raid" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img39240_1-gtech.gdrive-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This attractive, sturdy device holds two 500GB drives arranged in a hardware RAID 0 array for additional speed. </P><br /><P>It offers USB 2.0 connectivity, twin FireWire 800 ports with a FireWire 800-to-400 cable for connection to a FireWire 400 port.For the fastest possible connection, there's also eSATA. </P><br /><P>An Oxford 936 chipset is used for its out-of-the box hardware RAID 0 array. You can switch to a RAID 1 mirrored array, which copies your data to both of the drive's two discs, halving the unit's overall storage capacity but protecting your data against drive failure.</P><br /><P>G-Technology doesn't exactly go out of its way to show you how to do this, though. You have to download an application called 'G-Tech Configurator' from the support section of its website, or search the bundled CD where it's only found under G-RAID Mini, a different product.</P><br /><P>Unlike its stable mate, the similarly-styled G-DRIVE, the G-RAID uses a fan-based cooling system. Thankfully, it's based on a thermo-regulated smart fan that only kicks in when the temperature rises, and is pretty quiet in operation even when it's running.</P><br /><P>It's also worth mentioning that the 4TB version of this external hard drive isn't compatible with Windows XP. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 86%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Freecom Hard Drive XS 3.0 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web <a href="http://www.freecom.com/default2.asp">www.freecom.com</A> </P><br /><P><img alt="Freecom hard drive xs 1tb" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img39240_1-freecom-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Freecom's Hard Drive XS 3.0 is USB-only. As you'd expect from the name, it's compatible with the new USB 3.0 standard, which is up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 and fully backwards-compatible. </P><br /><P>Although a desktop design (it's based on a 3.5-inch SATA drive format and plugs into the mains), it's clearly built with portability in mind. </P><br /><P>Described as 'the world's smallest 3.5-inch external drive', the unit as a whole is barely larger than the drive it holds. It's also wrapped in a rubber sleeve to reduce vibrations and protect against minor knocks. This rubberised finish and its fanless construction make the Hard Drive XS 3.0 almost silent in operation. </P><br /><P>Even when using a slower USB 2.0 connection, the XS 3.0 is pretty speedy. It's reasonably light at 862g too, and its power supply is a modest, pocket-sized affair. There's no enormous brick-like transformer to lug around. </P><br /><P>Given its clear advantages as a semi-portable drive, we can't think why Freecom didn't bundle a carry case. It would've rounded off a very useful and keenly-priced package. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 85%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>G-Technology G-Drive 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.g-technology.com/">www.g-technology.com</A></P><br /><P><img alt="Gtech g-drive" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img392-gtech.graid-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This beautifully realised aluminium design from Hitachi subsidiary G-Technology is clearly conceived with the Mac user in mind, but it looks just as at home next to a brushed metal PC tower. </P><br /><P>As well as USB 2.0, G-DRIVE offers eSATA for ultra-fast connection with compatible machines, and twin FireWire 800 ports. A FireWire 800-to-400 cable is bundled, so you can connect using the slower FireWire 400 standard if you've no spare FW800 port. </P><br /><P>Like many of the drives on test here, the G-DRIVE offers a fanless cooling system. Instead, there's an aluminium heatsink between its supports that silently dissipates heat. At just under five centimetres tall it's got a very low profile, but it's certainly not designed to be vertically mounted. </P><br /><P>It performed admirably in our speed tests, being one of the faster drives in our base-line USB 2.0 test, and at the front of the pack using FireWire. </P><br /><P>The G-DRIVE isn't exactly awash with bundled software, though we wonder how many people actually use applications they get bundled with storage solutions. Despite its triple-interface connectivity options we feel it's a little expensive too, though the quality is very high. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 88%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Iomega Ego Desktop Hard Drive 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://go.iomega.com/en/?partner=4735">www.iomega.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Iomega ego" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.Img39240_1-iomega.ego-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Iomega's popular eGo Desktop Hard Drive range comes in various fl avours. The silver model we're looking at here offers FireWire 400/800 and USB 2.0 connectivity and is Mac-formatted out of the box, but can easily be reconfigured for Windows.</P><br /><P>Other variations of the drive include a jet black or midnight blue USB 2.0-only drive, or a charcoal enclosure offering USB 3.0 connectivity. </P><br /><P>The eGo Desktop range boasts plastic enclosures, but they look as smart and attractive as any metal casing. They can be mounted vertically using the supplied stand, or horizontally. </P><br /><P>You get two free software applications with the drive, though you have to download them – they're not on the hard drive itself or on a bundled CD. </P><br /><P>Iomega QuikProtect lets you back up your data to an external or networked drive, according to a schedule or whenever a fi le changes. MozyHome Online backup service lets you back up your data to a cloud server. You get 2GB free with the drive, or you can sign up for MozyPro and buy more storage space for a monthly fee. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 85%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Buffalo DriveStation 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.buffalo-technology.com/">www.buffalo-technology.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Buffalo" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-buffalo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This cost-effective drive from Buffalo is USB 2.0-only, but its transfer speeds can be enhanced using the bundled TurboUSB driver. </P><br /><P>Windows users can enjoy full disk AES256-bit hardware encryption to keep your data safe and secure, encrypting all data as soon as it's written to the drive, and protecting it with a password. </P><br /><P>SecureLockManager Easy remembers your credentials and makes logging-on a simple task when using Full Automatic Encryption, and there's a power saving mode that automatically switches off the drive when you shut down your PC. </P><br /><P>Also included is Memeo AutoSync backup software and Google's Picasa software for photo and movie organising. </P><br /><P>The DriveStation's shiny black plastic casing is fairly attractive, especially next to a glossy black tower system, but it picks up fingerprints faster than the CSI team. Thankfully, being a desktop drive, you won't have to pick it up often. </P><br /><P>It's not the fastest of the drives on test here, but it's not the slowest either and its TurboUSB driver makes it a wise choice if you only plan to use USB 2.0 connectivity. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 80%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Hitachi LifeStudio 1TB Desk Plus</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.lifestudio.com/">www.lifestudio.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Hitachi" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-hitachi-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>If you're looking for a big, dumb hard drive for data storage, look elsewhere. Hitachi's LifeStudio range, available in mobile and desktop form factors, is aptly described as 'the hard drive redefined'. It's far more than a bare storage device. </P><br /><P>Its bundled management suite lets you find, organise and share digital content located on both your PC and your LifeStudio drive, view photos you've uploaded to social networking sites, access online content such as games, news, music and videos and auto-sync with the removable USB key mounted on the front of the drive. </P><br /><P>This removable storage device uses a MicroSD card, which can easily be removed and replaced if you want to upgrade. It's all accessed through a gorgeous 3D browser too.</P><br /><P>The LifeStudio Desk Plus isn't the fastest of drives, and it's USB 2.0 only, with no support for faster connectivity methods. </P><br /><P>With its blue and black plastic finish it looks pretty good on your desktop, but the removable USB flash drive means you can't tuck it away out of sight and out of reach. </P><br /><P>If you're only looking for a storage device, this isn't the drive for you, but if its lifestyle and management features appeal, it's excellent value for money. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 90%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>LaCie D2 Quadra 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.lacie.com/uk/">www.lacie.com/uk </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Lacie d2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-lacie.d2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This Neil Poulton-designed external hard drive is extremely versatile. It has four connectivity options (as suggested in the name); USB 2.0, twin FireWire 800 ports, a single FireWire 400 port and eSATA. </P><br /><P>It can be vertically mounted using the supplied aluminium stand or used in a horizontal position, and up to four d2 Quadras can be installed together in a convenient desk rack (sold separately). </P><br /><P>The D2 Quadra's casing is made from sturdy aluminium, and its ribbed surface provides a handy heat sink, which LaCie claims offers up to 60 per cent more surface area for heat dissipation compared to a more conventional, flat-sided external drive. </P><br /><P>The drive light on the front of the unit also functions as a shortcut button. Using the supplied software (which is a little buggy – we hope a revision is in the pipeline), you can configure it to back up your data or launch a file or application of your choice.</P><br /><P>Its speeds are very agreeable, it can be set to power down when you switch off your computer and there's bundled software too. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 91%</STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Freecom Hard Drive Quattro 1TB</STRONG><BR>Web: <a href="http://www.freecom.com/default2.asp">www.freecom.com </A></P><br /><P><img alt="Freecom quattro" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_roundup.roundup2_1-freecom.quad-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This sturdy quadruple-interface drive is clearly built for function rather than aesthetics. While far from ugly, its uncompromising box-like form factor and no-frills design make no attempt to be decorative. </P><br /><P>Build quality is superb, with a robust brushed aluminium casing and a rugged plastic facing. If you need a drive that can take the knocks, the Freecom Quattro is well worth considering. The Quattro's fanless design means it runs almost silently, making it ideal for desktop use, and it can be mounted horizontally, or vertically using the bundled rubber stands. </P><br /><P>As well as the ubiquitous USB 2.0 port, the Quattro also boasts eSATA, twin FireWire 800 ports and even a FireWire 400 port, which is unusual. Most drives that offer FireWire 400/800 connectivity usually omit the FireWire 400 port, but instead bundle a cable that lets you connect a FW800 outlet to your system's FW400 port. </P><br /><P>Although far from poor, the Freecom Quattro's transfer speeds were nothing special, putting in a mediocre performance under USB 2.0 and lagging behind some of the other FireWire-compatible drives when using FW800. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Verdict: 78&</STRONG></P>

Buying Guide: Best 1TB external hard drive: 10 drives tested

These days, you can never have too much storage space. However much you have, you're bound to fill it sooner than you think. But what do...

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Buying Guide: Best monitor: 12 LCD screens tested

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.opening_screen-200-200.jpg"></P> <br /><P>Picking where to put your pennies when it comes to pricing up a PC can be a pain. Buying the best of everything would sidestep the problem neatly enough. In reality, lottery winnings and banker's bonuses are hard to come by. </P><br /><P>Compromises must be made. But if any component deserves a large chunk of your dosh, it's undoubtedly a flat panel. </P><br /><P>For starters, the screen is quite literally a window into the workings of your PC. It's the one component that influences the user experience every time you sit down and fire up. Put another way, a shader-packed graphics card is great for games. For everything else, it's a billion transistors twiddling their thumbs. </P><br /><P>A high-end CPU admittedly has a wider repertoire. For most things, most of the time, however, a cheap quad-core chip delivers all the performance you can actually use. </P><br /><P>So, a good PC monitor gives more and it gives it more often. That's not all. Flat panels do not develop as rapidly as most PC-related technologies. Buy a high-end pixel pumper today, and it will be looking old hat inside six months; Performance boosts of 50 per cent or more from one generation to the next isn't unheard of. Likewise, CPUs, hard drives, you name it. But not screens. </P><br /><P>A great example here is our very own Dell 30 incher. It's over three years old. That's an eternity by the standards of most PC components. But it's still a stunning screen. In terms of scale and resolution, in fact, it hasn't been bettered. </P><br /><P>What's more, it probably has at least a year or two as a high-end screen left in it. In that context, if you'd paid £800 in 2007 you can spread the cost over five years. Suddenly, it doesn't look so expensive. </P><br /><P>That's not to say flat panel technology is at a stand still. As we'll see, there are some interesting developments afoot in all parts of the market. But what it does mean is that is that a quality monitor is almost definitely the best long-term investment that you can make for your PC. With the general case in favour of flat panels all sown up, it's time to get specific. </P><br /><P>The PC monitor industry is currently dominated by a single screen technology, the liquid crystal display or LCD for short. However, there are several variations on that theme. Not all panels are equal.</P><br /><P><STRONG>LCD panels explained<BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>Getting to grips with the three main LCD panel types is therefore your first and most important step towards flat-panel perfection. However, it's also handy to have a basic understanding of how an LCD panel works. Every picture element or 'pixel' in a liquid crystal display contains – you guessed it – liquid crystals. </P><br /><P>A typical LCD panel is made up of thousands, if not millions of these pixels arranged in a grid. Behind this grid is a backlight. Shove an electric current through the crystals courtesy of a pair of transparent electrodes and – presto-chango – they realign.</P><br /><P>In simple terms, there are two basic positions or states the crystals can assume, one that blocks light and one that allows light through. Strictly speaking the crystals don't actually block light, they polarise it and in combination with static polarisation filters light either passes through the LCD panel or is blocked. </P><br /><P>Anyway, the crystals can assume a huge number of intermediate positions between on and off, allowing some but not all light to pass through. What's more, in a colour LCD panel every pixel is made up of three individual elements covered by filters in the primary colours: red, green and blue. Vary the intensity of light passing through each of these elements and you end up with a full palette of per-pixel colours. Clever, eh? </P><br /><P>If that's the basics, the details of how each panel controls the crystals vary considerably and that throws up some very obvious differences in image quality. Which brings us to the first of our flat panel triumvirate: cheap 'n' cheerful Twisted Nematic. Usually known as TN, its raison d'etre is quite simply to be the most affordable full-colour active-matrix LCD technology. </P><br /><P>Consequently, TN panels aren't exactly renown for world-beating visual fidelity. The trouble with TN In fact, TN panels suffer from a number of inherent image quality problems. Poor viewing angles are perhaps the most obvious give away that you're looking at a TN panel. </P><br /><P>The problem here involves the way the liquid crystals in a TN panel are effectively fixed at one end. When a current is passed through, the crystals bend or 'twist', hence the name. However, this is not as effective or accurate as crystals that are free to fully rotate. </P><br /><P>The upshot of using this particular technology is that light tends to leak out at undesirable angles and that means that colours can look odd if the panel is not viewed from directly in front of it. Then there's the fact that the default position of the crystals in a TN panel allows light through. Combined with the restricted crystal movement, this tends to result in poor black colours, limited contrast and an overall watery, washed out appearance. Put simply, TN panels are leaky when it comes to light. </P><br /><P>Those bendy crystals make for relatively poor colour accuracy, too. However, it's not all bad news. The limited range of crystal movement does have one upside – quick response. Put a current through a TN pixel and the crystals jump to faster than any other panel type. That means sharper moving images. Perfect for games and films, in other words. </P><br /><P><STRONG>In-Plane Switching<BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>Next up is In-Plane Switching or IPS. This technology is effectively everything that TN is not. In other words, it's pricey but pulchritudinous [Ed - the dictionary says 'bootiful!']. </P><br /><P>For starters, the crystals in an IPS panel are free to fully rotate about their axis. They also have a pair of controller transistors per picture sub-element where other panel types have just one. The net result of which is that IPS panels control light better than any other LCD technology. That translates into the most accurate and realistic colours and the widest viewing angles. And that's why you find companies, such as Apple trumpeting the use of IPS panels in devices like the iPhone 4. </P><br /><P>In many ways, IPS is the finest LCD tech available at the moment. IPS is not, however, the best by every metric. The extended range of movement the crystals can achieve makes for longer response times and blurrier moving images. IPS panels are also not all that hot at completely blocking out the backlight. </P><br /><P><STRONG>VA, the halfway house</STRONG></P><br /><P>Indeed, that's a trick done best by our final panel tech, Vertical Alignment. There are two types of VA panels, PVA and MVA. The former is more common, but the basic principles are common to both of them. </P><br /><P>Most significantly, the default, current-free position of the crystals blocks light from passing through. This allows the deepest and most convincing blacks of any LCD panel technology and the greatest contrast between dark and light tones. That in turn allows for the richest, most saturated (if not the most accurate) colours. </P><br /><P>In most other regards, VA panels are a perfect halfway house between TN and IPS panels. They're more colour-accurate than the former, but lack the fidelity of the latter. Likewise, VA screens are halfway between the two when it comes to viewing angles and pixel response. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Screen tricks </STRONG></P><br /><P>If that's the crucial panel types covered, there are a number of secondary screen technologies that are worth understanding. Until recently, backlight technology had been essentially static for a decade or more. You could have any backlight you wanted, as long as it was based on Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL). </P><br /><P>More recently, LED or Light Emitting Diode technology has begun to assimilate LCD monitors, having already become de rigueur in high-end HDTV sets. It's important to appreciate that current LED monitors are still based on LCD technology for the panel itself. It's only the backlight that is LED powered. </P><br /><P>All the usual LCD caveats therefore apply. However, LED backlights do deliver a number of important advantages. </P><br /><P>For starters, they use less power. They also respond more quickly, making dynamic contrast technology more viable. But most of all, they produce purer light, allowing a wider gamut of colours. </P><br /><P>Another factor that effects image quality on any monitor is digital image processing technology. At least, that's what the manufacturers would like you to believe. The most widely publicised is dynamic contrast. The theory behind dynamic contrast makes a lot of sense. </P><br /><P>Games and movies vary in brightness from outdoor daytime vistas to dingy dungeon scenes. Why not vary the backlight to suit? That's just what a lot of monitors are now capable of doing. The result, on paper at least, are incredible contrast ratios measuring in the millions to one. </P><br /><P>In practice, dynamic contrast doesn't really deliver. More than anything, it tends to crush detail in darker scenes.</P><br /><P>Another lesser known digital enhancement technology is pixel overdrive. The idea here is to improve pixel response. It's achieved by pumping excess voltage through the liquid crystal in an attempt to get them to move more quickly. In practice, it does just that. But it also has a tendency to cause the pixels to overshoot the target colour state. When that happens, the colours can go a bit, well, weird. </P><br /><P>That's not all. When used in VA panels, overdrive can cause another problem, the dreaded input lag. This involves a tangible delay between the output signal from the video card and the resulting image update on the panel itself. As an end user, you notice this in the form of sluggish mouse responses on the Windows desktop or laggy inputs when playing games. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Pick a panel (or two) </STRONG></P><br /><P>That's key technologies covered. Now it's time to pick a panel and that means setting a budget, choosing a size and deciding on the resolution. When it comes to the latter, your choices have become more limited of late. </P><br /><P>Nearly all 22 to 24-inch panels now sport the standard full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. On the upside, that means that even bargain basement 22-inch panels below £150 offer as much desktop real estate as many larger screens. In fact, you have to go all the way up to the likes of Dell's £700-plus U2711 27-inch monitor or HP's £1,200 30 incher before you actually get more pixels than a cheap HD 22-inch monitor. </P><br /><P>It's also worth remembering that the pixel pitch, or pixel size, on a 22-inch HD monitor is much smaller than that of a 24-inch or larger HD monitor. That impacts image quality in a number of mostly positive ways such as improved clarity and sharpness. </P><br /><P>A more ambiguous benefit of a tighter pixel pitch is smaller text, which will or won't bother you depending on your eyesight. A further knock-on effect is that with 22-inch HD monitors, the pixel pitch is so small it's debatable whether anti-aliasing is really necessary. </P><br /><P>So, there you have it. It may seem like there's a lot to learn when it comes to picking a panel. But the key lessons are simple enough. First, remember that all panels are not equal. If a given screen is large and cheap, it's probably based on a TN LCD. Second, the latest LED powered monitors are desirable but not the huge leap forward manufacturers would have you believe. Finally, don't assume that a bigger screen will have a higher resolution, that's rarely the case. </P><br /><P>Hit the next page for the monitor reviews...</P><br /><P><STRONG>HANNS.G HP222DJ0<BR>£134 22-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Hanns.G hp222dj0" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.hannsg2_large-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>When does a cut-price screen becomes a flat-screen false economy? It's tempting to think the Hanns.G HP222DJ0 is plenty cheap but not particularly cheerful. After all, by at least one obvious metric it's well behind the competition.</P><br /><P>This is an old school 16:10 aspect ratio screen where the rest of the known universe has gone 16:9. The old-school means full 1080p HD is not on the menu here. Instead, you must make do with 1,680 x 1,050. </P><br /><P><STRONG>LG E2350V <BR>£149 23-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="LG e2350v" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.lg1_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>A 23-inch monitor with a full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixel grid for under £150? Impressive stuff. But that's not all. The brandspanking LG E2350V adds a voguish LED backlight to what already seems like a bonkers bargain. </P><br /><P>Then there's the screen bezel hewn from transparent purple plastic and sporting a glossy finish, not to mention HDMI and DVI connectivity. It's a great package. </P><br /><P><STRONG>IIYAMA E2271HDS <BR>£150 22-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Iiyama e2271hds" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.iiyama1_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>When it comes to screens, bigger isn't always better. At least, that's the hope for the new Iiyama E2271HDS. By most metrics it looks competitive with the £150 monitor brigade. </P><br /><P>But at 22 inches in overall screen girth, it's a little short on stature. While the E2271HDS might be smaller than some of the competition, it's still a full-HD panel, packs 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and sports an LED backlight. </P><br /><P><STRONG>BENQ EW2420 <BR>£158 24-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Benq ew2420" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.benq2_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>This is it, folks. The holy grail of LCD monitors. The messiah of flat panels. A truly affordable large display powered by something other than a TN panel, in other words. We give you the new BenQ EW2420 24 incher, yours for a whisker over £150 and sporting a VA panel. Cue much rejoicing. </P><br /><P>That's cheaper than many 24-inch TN monitors. But somehow the EW2420 also packs an LED backlight and delivers the real-HD deal courtesy of a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel grid. </P><br /><P><STRONG>BENQ V2410T <BR>£162 24-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Benq v2410t" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.benq1_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Spare a thought for the BenQ V2410T. Until recently, it was an extremely attractive 24-inch monitor. Not only does it sport a full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixel grid. It also packs an LED backlight and a fully adjustable stand. </P><br /><P>Not bad for around £160. Problem is, BenQ itself has only gone and launched the even more desirable EW2420, taking the 24-inch plus LED recipe and adding VA panel technology to the mix. </P><br /><P><STRONG>SAMSUNG LD220Z <BR>£225 22-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Samsung ld220z" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.samsung2_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Got a desktop replacement laptop and fancy adding a second display in dual-monitor mode? Then the Samsung LD220Z Lapfit Touch is for you. It's a 22-inch full HD screen designed for portable PCs. As the name suggests, this has full multi-touch functionality. </P><br /><P>In fact, it doesn't even need special drivers. Connect via USB to any Windows 7 PC and the touch capabilities are enabled. Ergonomically, it works well enough and it's a slick-looking screen thanks to the minimalist design and glossy black bezel. </P><br /><P><STRONG>IIYAMA E2710HDS <BR>£235 27-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Iiyama e2710hds" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.iiyama2_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>When it comes to sheer visual drama, there's no substitute for square inches. You need a really large display like the Iiyama E2710HDS. What you do not need, however, is a banker's bonus to afford one. An impressive 27 inches of flat panel is now available for under £250.</P><br /><P>Still, it's no surprise to find the Iiyama E2710HDS gives you little extra apart from those inches. The panel technology is, of course, trusty old TN and the native resolution is 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. </P><br /><P><STRONG>SAMSUNG PX2370 <BR>£238 23-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Samsung px2370" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.samsung1_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Desktop monitors with cheap TN panels have been the bane of our computing lives in recent times. But what about desktop monitors with expensive TN panels? </P><br /><P>Enter the Samsung PX2370: a paradox in a flat panel. Without doubt, TN screen technology has improved dramatically in the last 18 months. But can this 23-inch TN panel justify its hefty price tag? </P><br /><P><STRONG>HANNS.G HZ281 <BR>£279 28-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Hanns.G hz281" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.hannsg1_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>There can be only one winner in the battle of the big, budget-priced screens. But will it be this 28-inch Hanns.G HZ281 monitor or its nemesis, the 27-inch Iiyama E2710HDS? </P><br /><P>The 28-inch Hanns.G obviously squeaks it for square inches. However, the HZ281 also sports a 16:10 aspect ratio. That makes the size differential in square inches even larger. But it also means the HZ281 has more pixels. </P><br /><P><STRONG>ACER GD245HQ<BR>£289 24-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Acer gd245hq" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.acer_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Whether it's gaming or movies, it seems the whole world is going mad for stereoscopic 3D. Does that make the 3D-capable Acer GD245HQ the monitor of the moment? </P><br /><P>By most metrics, it's a pretty ordinary panel. It's a 24 incher with a TN panel, a CCFL backlight and the standard issue 1,920 x 1,080 HD pixel grid. None of that would be bad if it weren't for the near £300 pricing.</P><br /><P><STRONG>DELL U2711 </STRONG><BR><STRONG>£766 27-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Dell u2711" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.dell_large-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Can PC monitors be too big? Speak to owners of über 30-inch displays and you may be surprised by the answer. That's where the Dell Ultrasharp U2711 steps in.</P><br /><P>At 27 inches, it's significantly smaller than ultra-panels such as HP's ZR30W. But thanks to a monster pixel grid of 2,560 x 1,440, it gives very little away in terms of native resolution. It's also quite a bit cheaper than most 30 inchers. But you still get a first-rate feature set. </P><br /><P><STRONG>HP ZR30W<BR>£1,189 30-INCH </STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><img alt="HP zr30w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20247/PCF247.w_group.hp_front_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Think about computing giant HP and we suspect images of corporate cubes leap to mind more readily than sexy screens. But there's no doubting the new HP ZR30W is an absolute stunner. </P><br /><P>It's a 30-inch monster with a high quality IPS panel and a monster resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. It comes with a massive price tag to match, of course. But the HP ZR30W is an awful lot of screen. </P><br /><P><STRONG>And the best monitor is...<BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>The market for vaguely affordable LCD monitors has been dominated by mediocre TN panels with samey image quality for some time now. Mercifully, that has finally begun to change. </P><br /><P>Firstly, BenQ has blown things wide open with it's ridiculously cheap new 24-inch VA screen. Here's hoping that becomes a trend. Even if it's a one off, however, there are reasons to be optimistic. </P><br /><P>The rapid adoption of LED backlights is giving a welcome boost to image quality across almost all price points. Moreover, panel manufacturers are beginning to get to grips with the inherent shortcomings of TN technology. The best TN panels of today aren't far off matching IPS panels from a few years ago. </P><br /><P>On that optimistic note, it's time to wheel out the prizes. Bringing up the rear is Hanns.G's 22 incher, the HP222DJ0. In isolation, it's not a bad panel for around £130. But you get so very much more for an extra £20 in terms of everything from size to resolution and image quality. </P><br /><P>Next up is Samsung's PX2370. It's a surprisingly poor showing, but there's no getting around the fact that this 23-inch monitor is horribly, horribly overpriced. </P><br /><P>Another Samsung display takes the next slot. It's also overpriced, but the LD220Z Lapfit Touch does have a number of unique features, including multitouch capability, to justify its £225 tag. </P><br /><P>There's absolutely nothing ordinary about HP's majestic 30 incher, the ZR30W. It's a fabulous screen. Problem is, it comes at a fabulous price. </P><br /><P>Dell's gorgeous 27-inch U2711 is pretty pricey, too. But £700-odd feels much more attainable than nearly £1,200. In either case, if you can afford them you won't be disappointed. It's going to be literally years before anything significantly better than this pair comes along. </P><br /><P>If £700-plus is out of the question, do not despair. A pair of very serviceable large-scale screens is available for a fraction of the cost. The Iiyama E2710HDS is bright, powerful and gives you 27 inches of full HD for just £235.</P><br /><P>Even better, if only marginally, is the Hanns.G HZ281. It gives you an extra inch and a few more pixels along with an equally powerful backlight and decent image quality. All of which means there can be only one winning panel. </P><br /><P>You might think it was obvious from the beginning. But the BenQ EW2420 still had to deliver on the enormous promise of a 24-inch VA panel, plus LED backlight for just over £150. It's not a perfect screen, but it's by far the best budget monitor currently on the market.</P>

Buying Guide: Best monitor: 12 LCD screens tested

Picking where to put your pennies when it comes to pricing up a PC can be a pain. Buying the best of everything would sidestep the problem ...

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Buying Guide: Best PSU: 14 PC power supplies tested

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.winner-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>Everything in a PC draws its juice from one metal box sitting in the corner of your case. While you busy yourself with graphics cards and processors and delve into overclocking, it just sits there humming away. </P><br /><P>Unless it packs in, or you realise you don't have enough connectors after buying a new component, you probably never give it much thought. </P><br /><P>The basis of the PSU is the transformer, first conceived by those brain boxes Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday in 1831. Without the transformer we'd be in real trouble because the mains electricity that comes out of the wall does so at a sizzling 240 volts, which is great for running the vacuum cleaner and electric fire, but useless for transistor radios. It needs taming, transforming, rectifying and smoothing. </P><br /><P>There are only two reasons anyone would buy a new PSU. Either your existing one has stopped working and smells funny, or you're finally building your über machine with half an eye on world domination. Either way, you want something efficient, quiet, and capable of running everything with room for expansion. </P><br /><P>A soft benefit of investing in a new PSU is the better power efficiency offered by new models. The rise in awareness of power consumption brought on by the eco movement has meant that the overall transforming efficiency of a power supply has become news, with stars and awards for being good. You can pay anything from £13 to well over £200 for a PC power supply. </P><br /><P>Over the next few pages we'll tell you what you can expect to get for your money, as well as answer some common questions on the subject. How many watts do you need? Does the quality of the power supply matter much? And what exactly does it do and how? </P><br /><P>We've put some of the market-leading power supplies through their paces to see who delivers what they promise, and whether expensive electronics add much to the mix. But first, you'll need to know a little more about your box of power. </P><br /><P>There are two main power supply formats: AT and ATX. Since ATX has been around since 1996 we'll skip over AT power supplies, which are strictly for retro systems. The ATX standard has now reached version 2.3. </P><br /><P>The main motherboard connection is a 20 or 24-pin block, which carries all the voltages. The extra four pins your PSU may have supply more power for motherboards that need it. Many PSUs have cables with the four additional pins on a separate block so you can use old motherboards – it's a handy feature that you may not know you need at the time of purchase, but certainly worth looking out for. </P><br /><P>Processors get their own 12V supply, which used to be via a 4-pin plug (often called a P4 plug), but more commonly now via an 8-pin plug (the EPS12V). Like with the motherboard power cable, you'll often find PSUs that split the 8-pin block into two for compatibility with old processors. </P><br /><P>Modern CPUs don't run on 12V, however. Motherboards have on-board voltage regulators to lower the voltage to the right figure (the excess being given off as heat). If it's any good at its job then your graphics card is the biggest draw on power. The PCIe slot can only deliver 75W (that's actually a fair amount for any component in your rig, but not for a graphics card). </P><br /><P>This quickly proved inadequate, and so extra 12V cables were drafted in. Initially, these had a 6-pin connector, and added another 75W. Later, 8-pin connectors were introduced, which delivered 150W of extra power. This is not to be confused with the 8-pin EPS12V plug for the motherboard, which is wired differently. If you have to push and shove really hard to get either one in place then you've plugged in the wrong one. </P><br /><P>You'll want lots of PCIe power connectors so you can swap and upgrade cards and allow for dual card setups. You might well need four 6-pin connectors or more in the future. </P><br /><P>Why run so many 12V lines? The voltage drop rises as the current rises, so it's better to have more low power lines than tax a single one. Plus, with the amount of power some of these graphics cards draw, a single wire would quickly turn into a heating element. </P><br /><P>Then you have SATA power cables, which carry all three voltages. You'll want at least three of these, but preferably more. You'll also find old-school 4-pin Molex peripheral connectors for IDE drives, and possibly a floppy disk drive connector and some 'intelligent' fan connectors. </P><br /><P>Most decent PSUs use modular connectors, so the power supply has a set of sockets rather than permanently connected wires. This allows you to connect only the cables you need, so you don't get a mess of wires hanging out of the unit, blocking airflow. </P><br /><P>Some sources say these modular designs are less efficient, as the extra block connector introduces resistance, and hence waste. Apparently, it's measurable, although we've yet to see any tangible evidence. It's probably true, but completely irrelevant. The extra convenience and flexibility of a modular design outweighs any tiny loss (and it will be really tiny). </P><br /><P><STRONG>Think inside the box </STRONG></P><br /><P>So what's inside a PSU? If you're expecting a big soft-iron-core transformer and not much else then you're in for a shock. Modern PSUs are switched-mode power supplies, which use switching regulators to flip between full on and full off at very high frequencies (50KHz and up). This minimises waste, and means they can be much smaller and lighter than full-on linear supplies. </P><br /><P>A PSU supplies different voltages, and has separate circuitry to deliver each – these are the rails. An ATX power supply has a 12V, 5.5V and 3.3V rail, plus an additional rail to supply stand-by power. However, this wasn't enough, so ATX 2.0 added a second 12V rail to help power those graphics cards. </P><br /><P>The first rail, 12V1, is used to power the processor, and the second rail, 12V2, powers everything else. It's this second 12V rail that's going to take much of the strain of your system. </P><br /><P>Some power supplies boast more 12V rails, which is great, but there's no advantage other than the higher overall output. In fact, virtually all supplies split one 12V single rail into two, each with separate current-limit circuitry. This avoids potentially dangerous levels of electricity (240AV is the specified maximum, which is 20A per rail). However, you can't draw as much overall power through both lines because they share the transformer. </P><br /><P>Fully independent 12V rails are expensive, although they give a cleaner signal. The 5V current is usually taken off the same transformer, and the 3.3V current is created by voltage regulators. In the past most power was required at the lower voltages, so the 5V rail took most of the load. Times have changed though, and now it's the 12V supply that's doing most of the work, with the additional 3.3V rail for the newer, low-voltage components. </P><br /><P>The different power distribution between rails is one reason older power supplies don't always work on newer motherboards, despite being able to deliver the watts on paper. What your PC would really like is a lovely, flat DC signal, sending 12V right across the line. However, the PSU has a job to do here because the mains is a rather dirty 50Hz AC current. You can't just chuck a transformer and a diode at it and expect a smooth, constant voltage. </P><br /><P>This is where the smoothing capacitors come into play. These little beauties can be the difference between a quality PSU and a poor one. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Waste not, want not</STRONG></P><br /><P>Power supplies get hot, and this heat is, of course, wasted energy. The ATX 2.3 specification requires an efficiency of 70 per cent, and recommends one of 80 per cent. That's still a fair amount of loss – your 400W PSU is drawing 500W at the wall. </P><br /><P>There are higher efficiencies available, and there's a whole green movement to promote them. However, try not to get too carried away with it and spend a fortune on a 95 per cent efficient supply. Electricity is still relatively cheap, and you probably won't see any large return for your outlay. We recommend models on the <a href="http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspx">'80 Plus' list</A> or any model that's Energy Star 4.0-rated. </P><br /><P>Another factor you should consider is the loading. Like most machinery, a power supply has sweet spots where it's most efficient. You need to avoid the extremes. You wouldn't drive from London to Manchester at an average speed of 30mph. Nor would you make the same trip at 150mph (even if you could get away with it). Sure, it's possible to drive at such speeds, but you'll burn through fuel much quicker than if you cruised at the optimum speed.</P><br /><P>It's the same with PSUs: you should aim for a load of between 50 and 80 per cent – anything more or less will introduce waste. </P><br /><P>Temperature plays a part too. The colder it is, the more output you get. In an ideal world, PSU power ratings should be accompanied by a temperature. If this temperature is below typical operating values (30-50 degrees), you know you've lost a few more watts.</P><br /><P>What else might you consider? Well, there's the noise from the fan, and of course, its looks. In terms of sound, you don't want a constant reminder that your machine is on. As for looks, rugged and handsome, preferably with lights, always goes down well (although you'll lose your green cred with these). </P><br /><P>Is more power better? Not necessarily. Some spare capacity can always come in handy in the future, but going wildly off spec adds nothing. There are an awful lot of high-power PSUs out there running well below capacity. It's tempting to show off with a high headline power capacity, but it won't increase your PC's speed one jot. Go for a high-quality and efficient supply, rather than the big number. </P><br /><P>Now, the most important question: am I going to run two really powerful graphic cards at some point? This is the one component that really draws the watts, and you'll need to be prepared for it, or spend the same money all over again on a slightly bigger PSU. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Silverstone Strider - £43 (ST50F-ES 500W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Silverstone strider 500w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.silverstone500w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Modular PSUs may be the cat's whiskers, but such versatility comes at a notable premium at this end of the market. It's a luxury that SilverStone feels you can ill afford – providing fixed cables on this unit. </P><br /><P>It isn't an awful decision though, as it means that the Strider strolls in with a surprisingly low price tag. In fact, in terms of pure cost per Watt, the Strider is way ahead of every other PSU here. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/silverstone-strider-essential-st50f-es-717134/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Antec TruePower - £73 (TP-550 550W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Antec truepower" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.antec550w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Antec has been shifting power supplies for years, but it isn't a company that rests on its laurels. It's recently redesigned its popular TruePower range to improve efficiency. </P><br /><P>The unit we looked at is the model with the lowest power rating in the family, rolling in at 550W. If you're looking for something with a bit more more grunt, then you may prefer the 650W or 750W version. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/antec-truepower-550w-717034/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Xigmatek NRP - £61 (NRP-PC602 600W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Xigmatek nrp" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.zigmatek600w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Xigmatek nails its green credentials to its PSU straight from the off, shipping this 600W power supply in a recycled box that's emblazoned with a suggestion to 'build a forest in your PC.' </P><br /><P>We don't think they're being literal with that one, but it's a novel approach that underlines the fact that the 80 Plus Bronze certificate benefits the environment as well as your bank balance. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/xigmatek-nrppc602-600w-717032/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>OCZ StealthXStream 2 - £51 (OCZ600SXS2 600W)</STRONG> </P><br /><P><img alt="OCZ stealthstream 600w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.ocz600w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Efficiency is the name of the PSU game at the moment, and OCZ is right to be proud of its StealthXStream 2, managing the highest standby efficiency of any of the power supplies on test. </P><br /><P>When you consider how long your machine is left in standby mode, you'll quickly see how important that is. Unless you're the type to turn off the machine at the plug (in which case we salute you), each percentage difference here equates to real-world savings. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/ocz-stealthxstream-2-717023/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Spire BlackMoon - £65 (SP-ATX-650WTB-PFC 650W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Spire blackmoon" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.spire650w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Like the Antec TruePower, here's a power supply that brandishes the Nvidia SLI badge – putting this squarely in the gamer bracket of PSUs. It's similarly priced to Antec's offering too, but boasts an extra 100W of power for you to play around with. </P><br /><P>Unfortunately, if you go by the numbers alone you're going to be in for a nasty ride, because in the tests that matter, this is an inferior unit in every respect. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/spire-blackmoon-650w-717046/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Fractal Design Tesla - £90 (FD-PSU-TESLA-650 650W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Fractal design 650w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.fractaldesign650w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>The 650W bracket is surprisingly crowded. Manufacturers see this position on the scale as either the top end of entry-level power supplies, or the bottom end for the more demanding buyer. </P><br /><P>Fractal Design has positioned its Tesla 650W in the former group, as this is as high as the family goes in the performance stakes. Unfortunately, as with the Spire offering, the Tesla fails to impress both from a performance perspective and also in terms of value for money. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/fractal-design-tesla-650w-717042/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Scythe Stronger - £95 (SPSN-070P 700W)</STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Scythe stronger" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.scythe700w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>This oddly named PSU is available in three different wattages, topping out at this, the 700W model (it's also available in 500W and 600W if your needs aren't so demanding). </P><br /><P>Thanks in no small part to the Scythe Slip Stream 140mm fan attached to the unit, the Stronger is a whisper-quiet device. Somewhat surprisingly, this wasn't the quietest PSU in our test rig, although the difference was marginal at best. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/scythe-stronger-700w-717024/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Nesteq ASM XZero - £130 (ASM XZERO 700W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Nesteq asm" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.nesteq700w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>You'll be delighted by the concept of the NesteQ if you're the type to leave your PC on all night rendering images or movies. In theory, you can run this heat-piped PSU in a well-ventilated chassis with the PSU fan completely off, so the noise shouldn't keep you up all night. </P><br /><P>Unfortunately, under load we found that the fan did kick in from time to time, rendering such dreams as just that. It's a surprisingly loud fan in operation too. At full spin it was almost the loudest fan here, which was not quite what we expected. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/nesteq-xzero-700w-716970/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold - £128 (RS-800-80GA-D3 800W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="CoolerMaster silentpro gold 800w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.coolermaster800w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>What do you need from a PSU? Great efficiency? Silent operation? Room for expansion as your rig grows? A great-looking PSU to show off your rig building skills? Good value for money? </P><br /><P>Whatever you're looking for, the Silent Pro Gold 800W is the PSU for you, and represents the pinnacle of modern PSU design. We happily admit that it has impressed us that much. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/coolermaster-silent-pro-gold-800w-717076/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>XFX Black Edition - £120 (XFX 850 850W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="XFX black edition" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.xfx850w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>XFX has made a name for itself over the years for producing graphics cards that are either tweaked a little bit more than the competition's cards, or by simply looking the mutt's nuts. </P><br /><P>Can it do the same with its power supply range? Possibly, although a little more work is needed before this can take on the likes of the Cooler Master.</P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/xfx-atx-850-12v-716978/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Silverstone Strider Plus - £153 (SST-ST1000-P 1000W)</STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Silverstone strider plus" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.silverstone1000w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>There was a time when 1,000W PSUs were the stuff of dreams. They were stupidly expensive, and surely no one really needed that much power anyway? Those days are clearly behind us, and all the major PSU manufacturers have whole families of PSUs at this capacity and above. </P><br /><P>This 1,000W unit represents the top-end of SilverStone's Strider Plus range, but doesn't cost that much more than far less powerful units. Does it have what it takes to tempt the serious system builder? </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/silverstone-strider-plus-sst-st1000-p-717133/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Nexus RX-1.1K Gold - £188 (RX-1.1K GOLD 1100W)</STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Nexus rx.-1.1k gold" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.nexus1100w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>The higher the wattage your power supply offers, the greater efficiency you'll need so as not to waste a lot of that power as heat. And with more raw power being drawn, even good efficiency will equate to hundreds of watts of waste, which in turn means that these bigger PSUs need ever better cooling solutions. </P><br /><P>At this end of the PSU gamut, everything suddenly costs a lot more, so it certainly pays to spend wisely. Can the impressive looking RX-1.1K GOLD deliver at this most exacting end of the market?</P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/nexus-rx-1-1k-gold-716975/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Corsair AX1200 - £232 (CMPSU-1200AX 1200W)</STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Corsair 1200w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.corsair1200w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Rolling in as the most expensive power supply in the test, Corsair's AX1200 needs to be something special to warrant such an outlay. </P><br /><P>The good news is that it manages this feat admirably, thanks to its focus on performance where it counts. At 1,200W this may not be the PSU for everyone, but if you're building the ultimate gaming rig, you'll find this capable unit is well worth the price. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/corsair-memory-professional-series-gold-ax1200-717088/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P><STRONG>Thermaltake ToughPower - £194 (WO171 1500W) </STRONG></P><br /><P><img alt="Thermaltake 1500w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.thermaltake1500w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>For many, Thermaltake's power supply represents the pinnacle of modern PSU design, not because of what's happening under the hood, but purely because it offers a cool 1,500W of power. </P><br /><P>That's a lot of power by anyone's standards, but is this a power supply you should seriously consider building your rig around? Possibly, but there are a couple of provisos. </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/cases-cooling/power-supplies/thermaltake-toughpower-1500w-716976/review">Read the full review</A></P><br /><P>Power supplies can be judged on numerous criteria – from efficiency under load through standby power draw to the amount of noise produced while it's strutting its stuff. Below we present the most important figures that should influence your purchasing decision. </P><br /><P>Operating efficiency is the most important result here, as this defines just how good the inner workings of your PSU is at doing its job – better efficiency not only saves you money, but it will reduce the amount of heat in your system, which in turn will reduce the workload on your fan. This in turn will reduce the noise produced. </P><br /><P>Standby efficiency is also important, as most of us leave the machine connected at the wall ready to be turned on at the push of a button. It's surprising how much of a difference there is in the power draw between the worst and best performers here. </P><br /><P>We've also measured the noise produced by the PSUs under load, as well as the temperature inside the case. </P><br /><P><img alt="bench 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/Bench1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/Bench1.jpg">Click here to view full size</A></P><br /><P><img alt="Bench 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/bench2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/bench2.jpg">Click here to view full size</A></P><br /><P>The world of power supplies has changed. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and any weakness is jumped upon. These aren't the nameless blocks that we used to get free with our cases any more, that's for sure. </P><br /><P>They are precision components in their own right, and they cost a serious premium for the privilege. In order to justify price tags that match an ever rising output wattage, a number of metrics have come in to play to help separate the must-haves from the must-ignores. </P><br /><P>Operating efficiency, standby power, fan noise, operating temperature and signal clarity are all now essential elements to inform your purchasing decision. The most important of these figures is the operating efficiency, as this is a measure of how good the PSU is at doing the job it was designed for – turning AC mains power into a smooth DC signal for your precious components. </P><br /><P>The big figure that all modern PSUs need to hit here is 80 per cent efficiency, thanks to the introduction of the 80PLUS initiative. With the best PSUs offering considerably better efficiency at a range of loads, this isn't too unreasonable a thing to ask, which is why it's surprising that there are still power supplies that fall short of the mark. </P><br /><P>By this criteria alone we can wave goodbye to the Spire BlackMoon, SilverStone Strider, Fractal Design Tesla and NesteQ Xzero, as they simply don't cut it by modern efficiency standards.</P><br /><P>The next factor that differentiates the better PSUs from the rest is the standby efficiency – the amount of power that the PSU draws when your machine is essentially waiting for you to press the power button or to wake the machine up by some other event. Most of us leave our rigs in such states, so better standby performance makes a difference. </P><br /><P>Here the Scythe Stronger, Xigmatek, SilverStone Strider Plus and Thermaltake Toughpower 1500W all bow out due to their unimpressive standby efficiencies. </P><br /><P>Of the PSUs that are left, you're generally looking at a good bunch, all in a range of wattages and abilities. The Antec TruePower 550W, for instance, is a tempting offering if you have low enough power requirements, although the modular design does mean that it costs a little more per watt than its direct competition. </P><br /><P>At this level we'd give the nod to the OCZ StealthXStream 2 600W, which, while not modular, does offer great value, and it isn't as loud in operation as the TruePower. Meanwhile the XFX Black Edition and Nexus RX-1.1K both suffer from high voltage noise, which pushes those out of the competition for the top spot as well. </P><br /><P>This leaves two power supplies that just so happen to stand out from the crowd on their own anyway – the Corsair AX1200 and the CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 800W. Both are incredible power supplies, offering top-of-theclass efficiency, build quality and signal output. </P><br /><P><img alt="CoolerMaster 800w" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20246/PCF246.w_group.coolermaster800w-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>The CoolerMaster ultimately gets the nod, though, for being very quiet in operation and offering better value for money. In fact, looking at the CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 800W, it's hard to see what more you would want from a power supply, other than more of the same. </P><br /><P>It's an amazing PSU, and anyone looking for a replacement unit for an existing system or anyone building from scratch should look no further. Highly recommended.</P>

Buying Guide: Best PSU: 14 PC power supplies tested

Everything in a PC draws its juice from one metal box sitting in the corner of your case. While you busy yourself with graphics cards and pr...

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Buying Guide: 5 of the best HD 5770 graphics cards tested

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/PCF245.w_roundup.spread_1-200-200.jpg"/><p>Sure, we all get excited by the prospect of the latest lightning fast graphics cards, with their rather ridiculous power requirements and sexeh numbers in the GPU specs sheet. </p><p><p>How many of us, though, are willing to drop half a month's salary on a card that will be obsolete by the time the transaction hits our bank statements? </p><p>So what we want is a card that offers the latest tech, and decent performance on realistic settings and all for a justifiable price. AMD's HD 5770 then is one of your best bets, representing the Texan company's best mid-range card to date. The 5770 is, however, an odd prospect right now. </p><p><strong>Related article:</strong> <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/graphics-cards/15-best-graphics-cards-in-the-world-today-654141">15 best graphics cards in the world today</a></p><p>On the one hand, you will get functionality that supports DX11 and its suite of goodies, such as hardware tessellation and improved multi-threading support. However, as the first mid-ranger with true DX11 capability, we have to remind ourselves that it's just that: a mid-range card. </p><p>The extra features offered by DX11 require a resource overhead, and when you add in anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering, that's an awful lot for a sub-£150 card to do. </p><p>We've got a mixture here of standard, stock-clocked cards, funky single-slot versions and a few overclocked beasties too to whet your appetite. </p><p>Pre-overclocked cards though are always a bit of a gamble, and the penny turns on a number of factors. How overclockable is the GPU in the first instance? Does it offer much headroom to the manufacturer? </p><p>The same goes for the memory. And the price of overclocking at a hardware level, as we all know, is heat generation, which often means an extra premium for a special non-standard cooler that's needed. </p><p>Eyefinity too is an interesting prospect, with all but the single-slot XFX offering it. The Sapphire cards offer the latest in fourway Eyefinity and if you're after a massive piece of four-monitor real-estate to run your apps, or to spread video output around multiple screens throughout the house, then it's worth a look. </p><p>But that versatility doesn't stretch to multiple-screen gaming, as the benchmarks highlight. Still, this is all about mid-range gaming, so how do they stack up? </p><p><strong>XFX HD 5770</strong> - £116 <br /><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> XFX <br /><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://xfxforce.com/en-gb/Home.aspx?lang=en-gb">www.xfxforce.com</a></p><p><img alt="XFX hd 5770" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/XFX-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img></p><p>In most tests, the XFX offers equivalent performance to the bulk of the 5770s we tested. Worth noting is that it scored the lowest in our Heaven 2.1 tessellation benchmark, but only by 0.1fps. </p><p>We'd likely attribute this to the smaller, slightly less-powerful cooler allowing the heat – and resistance – to rise. But in real-world gaming terms, its marginally lower scores in some tests are unnoticeable; the competition really is that close. </p><p><strong>Verdict:</strong> 4.5/5</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/xfx-hd-5770-717229/review">Read the full XFX HD 5770 review</a></p><p><strong>MSI HD 5770</strong> - £133 <br /><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> MSI <br /><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://uk.msi.com/">www.msi.com</a></p><p><img alt="MSI hd 5770" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/MSI-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img></p><p>Out of the box, and like most 5770s, the HAWK offers decent midrange performance. </p><p>It's swings and roundabouts if we're honest, the card performed slightly better in <em>Just Cause 2</em> and middle and high resolutions, slightly worse in <em>Far Cry 2</em>, and <em>DiRT 2</em>, but not by any humanly perceivable margin. </p><p><strong>Verdict:</strong> 4/5</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/msi-r5770-hawk-694013/review">Read the full MSI HD 5770 review</a></p><p><strong>Gigabyte HD 5770 Super Overclock</strong> - £140 <br /><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> Gigabyte <br /><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.gigabyte.com/">www.gigabyte.com</a></p><p><img alt="Gigabyte hd 5770" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/gigabyte-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img></p><p>It's perfectly reasonable to say that, out of the five 5770's we pitted against each other using the same benchmarks, the Gigabyte Super Overclock is the winner in performance terms. </p><p>But to call it a clear winner is something of a stretch. The mid-range Juniper GPU is only really capable of so much throughput, and there's the HD 5770's middling memory bandwidth to take into account as well. </p><p><strong>Verdict:</strong> 4/5</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/gigabyte-hd-5770-super-overclock-717218/review">Read the full Gigabyte HD 5770 Super Overclock review</a></p><p><strong>HIS HD 5770</strong> - £122 <br /><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> HIS <br /><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.hisdigital.com/gb/">www.hisdigital.com</a></p><p><img alt="HIS hd 5770" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/HIS-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img></p><p>The HIS HD 5770 offers gaming performance that is largely equivalent to the other 5770s we've tested.</p><p> It performed about as well as any other in our Heaven 2.1 high-end tessellation tests, slightly better than most in <em>Just Cause 2</em> at 1,680 x 1,050, although it was the worst performer in <em>Far Cry 2</em> at the same resolution, which seems odd. </p><p>However, that performance differential is so marginal – less than a frame per second – as to be negligible. In real-world terms you won't notice the difference. </p><p><strong>Verdict:</strong> 4/5</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/his-hd-5770-717224/review">Read the full HIS HD 5770 review</a></p><p><strong>Sapphire HD 5770 Flex Edition</strong> - £153 <br /><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> Sapphire <br /><strong>Web:</strong> <a href="http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/?lid=1">www.sapphiretech.com </a></p><p><img alt="Sapphire hd 5770" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/sapphire-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img></p><p>Sapphire's HD 5770 is a decent mid-ranger that offers all the benefits the 5000-series family has to offer. As well as exploiting the DX11 effects-suite, it also makes AMD's EyeFinity multi-screen technology a possibility, with the option to attach more screens than the average card. </p><p>And that's fine if you're after some kind Adrian Zeidt multi-screen desktop, running apps and movies. But does it have the grunt to play games smoothly at the potentially massive resolutions offered by two, three or even four screens? Not really. </p><p><strong>Verdict:</strong> 4/5</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/sapphire-hd-5770-flex-edition-717209/review">Read the full Sapphire HD 5770 Flex Edition review</a></p><p><strong>Technical analysis </strong></p><p>We've tested five HD 5770s from the leading manufacturers against each other to see which hits the price/performance sweetspot when it comes to mid-range and high-end gaming. </p><p>We also cranked the settings up (HDR, anti-aliasing, reflections etc) even at middling resolutions, to see just how capable these cards really are. All of the benchmark results here are at the full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. </p><p><img alt="Benchmarks" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20245/benchmarks-HD5770-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img></p><p>If you're looking to grab a 5770, then the combination of the highest settings with so many pixels is going to stretch the capabilities of this GPU, so you should see these figures as something of a worst case scenario. Ease back on the anti-aliasing for one, and you'll get a noticable boost to your framerates. It's not a bad core by any means though...</p></p><img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/f2fc32b/mf.gif" width="1"/><div class='mf-related'><p>

Buying Guide: 5 of the best HD 5770 graphics cards tested

Sure, we all get excited by the prospect of the latest lightning fast graphics cards, with their rather ridiculous power requirements and s...

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