Gigabyte GeForce GTX460-1 GB GDDR5 PCIE2 256B 2DVI-I/HDMI/FAN RTL Video Card GV-N460OC-1GI Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been a long time ATI supporter and have purchased their products for the most part over the past 10 years. When I purchased StarCraft II and then Final Fantasy XIV, I noticed that my HD4670 was not handling very well (especially the latter title) I decided to settle on a modest budget of around $225 for a new graphics card and looked at the ATI lineup.
The HD5770 was basically a more power efficient and cooler HD4850. The 5830 was just overpriced for a woefully inept performance. The 5850 was way out of my budget. I decided to look elsewhere.
I discovered the GTX460 in reading a few benchmark reviews on various sites, including Anandtech and Tom's Hardware. A lot of the articles seem to like what Nvidia did with this technology and there were some great features that came with the package, including PhysX, Direct X 11 and SLI. After doing some research and reading technical specifications on the various vendors, I decided on Gigabyte.
My experiences with Gigabyte products have been relatively pleasant. And this card is no exception. The package has basically all that you need including a physical user's manual, driver CD, SLI bridge and the standard items that come with graphics cards. Looking at the card, you can see the quality parts used in the construction and it felt solid in my hand. This card requires two slots (not the physical connectors, but the space it occupies) in your case so you need to plan ahead. The length is pretty standard for a graphics card of this level, but I had a bit of an inconvenience placing it within my Dell Studio 540. I had to remove both SATA hard drives so that the card could slip beneath it and where I could comfortably (and safely) push it into the PCIe slot. Once in place, however, I was able to put the hard drives back in without them touching the card.
I had recently purchased a Corsair 550W (VX series 80+) power supply and the cabling fit without problems. I recommend at least a 500W power supply (650W if you are going to install a pair of these for SLI) especially if you have more than one hard drive and plan to add additional components and are also attaching many devices via USB. When installing the cables, make sure they don't touch the card and try to snake them in a way that they don't interfere with ventilation on the card.
The whole installation was pretty much a non-issue and it did take me about 10 minutes total since I made sure to tie any loose cables and allow for proper ventilation. A lot of people overlook this little fact. I recommend you to take a few minutes (no need to rush!) and make sure everything is in place and well situated. Obviously, at the time of this writing, the included drivers were already updated by Nvidia, so I would advise everyone to not install from the CD. Instead, head over to Nvidia's website ([...]) and download the latest drivers there (260.89 - 10/22/10)
Some random bits (1600 x 900 resolution, Vista 64, Q9400 + 6GB ram):
-While this product is an "overclock", you can actually push the envelope even higher. Gigabyte has actually left their settings too low and could've pushed it higher without any worries. My current settings: GPU 750/Shader 1500/Memory 2000 (GPU and Shader are tied together, can't set this separately) If you wish to perform an overclock, you can go to MSI's website and use their software, Afterburner. WARNING: I'm not liable, nor is Gigabyte, if you decide to do this!
-Normal GPU temperature hovers around 42-45°C, depending on time of day.
-For StarCraft 2, GPU utilization usually fluctuates but on average around 30% with temperatures around 62-66°C.
-For Final Fantasy XIV, GPU utilization on average is around 40% or so and temperatures can go as high as 75°C but tends to settle around 65°C.
-I can also run both SC2 and FF XIV simultaneously with no problems. Utilization will go up to around 85% but the temperature usually idles at around 68-70°C (again, depending on time of day) I've also run World of Warcraft (Cataclysm Beta) and FFXIV simultaneously with some performance degradation but no major issues.
-FFXIV runs in 8x FSAA and all settings on high (with Occlusion turned off) without much problems (24-60 fps depending on server congestion).
-WoW (Cataclysm Beta) runs great, around 60-80 fps with virtually everything on max.
-SC2 presents no challenge even with screen full of Protoss Pylons which are arguably the most graphical intensive art asset in the game.

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ASUS UL80Vt-A1 14-Inch Thin and Light Black Laptop (11.5 Hours of Battery Life) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)EDIT: An updated and revised review of this laptop can be found at over at Expert Laptop Review: [...]
I recently went on a laptop buying rampage and have ended up with the Dell Studio 14z, HP dm3z (L625 + Radeon 4330), and the Asus UL80VT-A1 in possession all at once. The first part of this review will focus solely on the Asus UL80VT-A1 and the second part of this review will compare it with my experience with the Dell Studio 14z and the HP dm3z.
ASUS UL80VT-A1 DETAILED REVIEW
First and foremost, let me say that I ordered the UL80VT-A1 because I thought it was simply an awesome idea to have switchable graphics in a laptop because you get excellent battery life + excellent performance when needed. There were no reviews of the UL80VT out when I purchased it, so I purchased the UL80VT-A1 from [...], which has a 100 percent refund on purchases just in case things didn't work out with me and the new lady.
While I was waiting to recieve the laptop in the mail, I read a review over at [...]. Oh boy, was I disappointed considering all the bad things the reviewer had to say about it (i.e. bad keyboard, bad track pad, horrible build quality, poor gaming performance). Needless to say, I had second thoughts about even opening up the Asus UL80VT-A1 because I didn't think it was worth my time considering the all the problems the reviewer had with his review model.
So that morning I got my HP dm3z in the mail and was really excited about how incredibly beautiful the laptop was. It is definitely sexier (in my opinion) than every other ultraportable out there, including the Macbook Pro 13" and HP Envy 13. I'll get to the dm3z a little later... either way, my first impression led me to believe that I'd probably be keeping the dm3z and just returning the Asus. When the Asus came in the mail, I wasn't even watching for it like I had been the dm3z. But I did take it upstairs and opened it up. (Unboxing video coming soon...)FIRST IMPRESSIONS
My first impression was astoundingly contradictory to review I had read. I picked it up, squeezed it, pushed on the keyboard, which had minimal flex that wasn't noticeable to me when typing. My other first impressions were just how well the trackpad worked. The two finger scroll worked flawlessly (though it isn't as smooth of a scroll as Apple's, it functions equally responsively and is just as useful).
GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE - Rating 9/10
Over the last view days, I've been taking the UL80VT-A1 out for spin in a series of gaming tests. The first game I tested was the ever popular Counter-Strike: Source. I was astounded by the computer's ability to put out 150 FPS in the stress test at native resolution of 1366x768. I had been expecting to get closer to 80-100 FPS. I then tested it with 4x AA on, and it resulted in 99 FPS, which is phenomenal considering that AA usually cripple weaker graphics cards like the Nvidia 210M.
I was eager to test out the UL80VT's performance in some of the latest games because of the previous review I had read that had denounced its ability to play modern games. I had recently purchased Batman: Arkham Asylum. I loaded it up with the default settings, which were set on Very High at native 1366x768 resolution. Game play was moderately smooth and playable, but it was also noticably choppy at times with those settings (26 FPS average in the video stress test), so I dropped the settings down to medium. This time the Asus got 40 FPS average in the video stress test, and the game play was perfectly playable and smooth.
I then downloaded Team Fortress 2. It has been known to give ultraportable gaming machines a tough time due to its high shader requirements. When playing, I averaged about 50-60 FPS at native resolution with everything on High with no AA. I noticed drops down to 30 FPS when in heavy action, but it was not too disruptive to game play. I don't think it went below 30 FPS during the time I played.
After hearing claims that Asus UL80VT could not run Need For Speed: Shift well. I downloaded the demo to see if these claims were true. Fortunately, they were not. I was able to achieve playable frame rates, though it was a little choopy with the default settings, which had the screen at 1024x768 resolution and everything else up in detail. I tried changing the settings, but after changing the settings to lower the resolution to 800x600, the game repeatedly gave me an error and crashed right as the race was about to start. Unfortunately, I was not able to do a formal test, but it was clear that the game was getting at least 30 FPS at 800x600 resolution with texture settings on High. I would expect the game to be very playable as long as you are content with 800x600 (or maybe slightly better res) and medium settings.
I also managed to squeeze in a little play time in Protoype, another recent game that was released earlier this year. It played very smoothly at the default 1280x720 (which was the max res for some reason) and on the default medium settings.
Another game I was able to try was Call of Duty: World at War, which has identical specs to the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. People will be glad to know that I was able to achieve 35-40 FPS constant at native resolution 1366x768 with texture settings on "normal" (except for "shader settings" which I set to "low"). I also turned off all of the extra graphical features, which didn't make much of a difference in visuals anyway.
In conclusion regarding the gaming peformance of this ultraportable laptop, it has excellent performance and handles most modern games fluidly at native resolution.
BATTERY LIFE - Rating 10/10
Yesterday, I used the laptop for 3 hours early in the morning with wifi on and brightness up. Later that day, I used it for about 15 minutes running Batman: AA. I then used it about 7 hours more with brightness at about 20% (2.5 hours with wifi on and 4.5 with it off). In total the laptop lasted me 10.25 hours between a mixture of wifi, gaming, and note taking/paper writing. I was extremely happy to get this excellent of performance out of it. This was precisely what I was looking for in terms of battery life.
BUILD QUALITY - Rating 6/10
My initial impression was that the build quality was just average--not great, but nothing bad about it either, but now after having it for a couple days, I now agree with Charles' review about some of the issues with build quality. Yesterday morning when I was typing, I noticed that when I pressed down on the front edge of the left palm rest it squeaked annoyingly (it hadn't pressed down on this part of the laptop when it was on a hard surface yet because it had always been on my laptop up until this point).
I began squeezing the front edge and noticed that top part of the chassis isn't cemented to the bottom part of the chassis very well so that when you put pressure on it (such as when you rest your palm on it) it made a noise. I tried placing about an inch long piece of scotch tape across the part that was sqeaking, and the squeaking went away completely. It was disappointing to find this because it was the first issue with the build quality. Also, I now understand what Charles meant when he said that when he pressed in the center of the laptop it causes the bottom of the laptop to touch the surface it is resting on...
It's not if you press in the middle of the keyboard like I had thought Charles had said (my bad!!)... it's if you press on the trackpad buttons (like Charles had really said), he was right that you can feel the laptop touch the surface it is resting on, but the thing Charles was wrong about is that it isn't the bottom of the laptop touching the surface below it... it's a little "support peg/foot" that protrudes from the bottom of the laptop about 1/10" of an inch.
The overall chassis does flex a tad, but it is just the peg touching, and the peg is maybe moving 1/16" of an inch tops (probably less). So yes, the chassis does flex just a hair, but not as bad as the review makes it sound (I think the review should be updated with this information personally).
I am thinking about putting a drop of super glue on the edge of the left palm rest to keep it from squeaking. I'm pretty sure it would work without a hitch unless you put too much glue and then tried to take the casing apart and wasn't able to. I figure it wouldn't void the 1 year accidental warranty but maybe the 2 year standard warranty if they figured out what I did. I'm not sure though... I figure you can always "cut through" the glue so that the chassis can be opened if you needed to send it in for repairs.
I also noticed that the entire surface (including the aluminum top) acquires fingerprints. I was disappointed that the aluminum top also was prone to oils from my fingers.
HEAT MANAGEMENT - Rating 10/10
The heat on this bad-boy is hardly noticeable. I think more heat is generated because it is restricting the airflow over your lap more than anything. Whenever my lap started to feel a little warm, I would feel the bottom of the laptop but the bottom of the laptop never got hot. It was always just the fact that my legs weren't getting as much air to cool them down.
I was also able to play Batman:AA while on my lap just fine, though it was starting to be mildly uncomfortable by the time 30 mins rolled around. Still, as far as gaming on the lap goes, I think it would be doable, and far more doable than on any other laptop I have ever tried.
This laptop is by far the coolest running laptop I have ever owned (I've owned about 14 different laptops...). For this reason, I give it a 10/10 in heat management...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS UL80Vt-A1 14-Inch Thin and Light Black Laptop (11.5 Hours of Battery Life)

Style and Performance in Perfect Harmony The energy-efficient, slim, and stylish ASUS UL80Vt-A1 notebook redefines ultraportable notebooks with new power boosting features. Free yourself from power cords and start exploring with up to an amazing 12 hours of all-day battery life1. Powered by the ultra-low-voltage Intel® Core™2 Duo processor SU7300, and optimized with 4GB of DDR3 DRAM, ASUS GraphiX Boost switchable graphics, and exclusive Turbo33 technology, the UL80Vt-A1 takes you further than most other notebooks with eye-catching style, optimized performance, smart power usage, and a generous 320GB of storage. Its ultra-slim profile makes traveling a breeze and its 14-inch HD LED-backlit display offers bright, vibrant visuals and advanced energy efficiency. Effortlessly navigate your e-mails and favorite websites with the enhanced multi-touch trackpad and complete important assignments with ease using the comfortable chiclet keyboard. The UL80Vt-A1 also features Altec Lansing speakers, plus SRS surround, for a home theater experience on the go. The UL80Vt-A1 is built from the ground up to give you the best value; it's an ultraportable notebook that truly delivers mobility and power on demand. The most thoughtful notebook warranty package is icing on the cake. Most other brands only offer 1 year of warranty service, and can charge up to $100 for an additional year. ASUS UL80Vt-A1 come standard with a 2-Year Global Warranty and more*:
Thirty-days flawless display guarantee
Free two-way standard shipping
24-hour tech support seven days a week Plus ASUS Accidental Damage Protection: ASUS UL80Vt-A1 also come with a One Year Accidental Damage Warranty protecting the notebook from drops, fire, spills, and surge.** Also check out what the media has to say about the ASUS UL80Vt series notebooks: AnandTech: "... the UL80Vt is one of the best laptops we've looked at in a long time... If you've ever considered buying a netbok simply because they're small and get good batter life, the UL80Vt is like a netbook on steroids. It will easily provide twice the performance of your typical Intel Atom-based netbook, and it can do that while still going toe to toe in terms of battery life..."


Key Features

All-day computing with up to 12 hours of battery life1 (Learn more)
Exceptionally compact and light, just over 1-inch thin, and less than 4.8lbs
Powered by the Intel Core2 Duo Processor SU7300 for energy efficiency (Learn more)
Exclusive Turbo33 Technology for 33% performance boost during process-intensive multi-tasking (Learn more)
GraphiX Boost that instantly switches between the energy-efficient built-in graphics and powerful ASUS Discrete Graphics Engine (Learn more)
Color Shine 14-inch LED-backlit widescreen HD display that uses less energy and gives you an immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
4GB of DDR3 system memory for smooth performance with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed
320GB 5,400rpm hard drive for responsive, convenient storage and access to all your documents, music, videos, and photos
Chiclet style keyboard and multi-touch trackpad for comfortable and intuitive use (Learn more)
Built-in high-speed 802.11n wireless connectivity that enables 'real-time' video conferencing and Internet browsing
Integrated webcam for connecting with your friends and family
Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound for home theater quality acoustics
ASUS IceCool Technology provides a cool-to-the-touch palm rest
ASUS 360 two year global warranty and ASUS ADW one year accidental damage warranty* (Learn more)

Learn More
Takes You Where You Want to Go
Energy Efficient Processing
Instantly Boosts PC Performance
Switch Between Extended Battery Life and Full Speed Graphics
Comfort Included
Eye-Catching Sophistication
High Definition That Doesn't Break the Bank
ASUS Exclusive Windows 7 Features
ASUS 360* -- 2 Year Global Warranty
ASUS ADW* -- 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty**
For PC's running Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty
ASUS 360* (2 Years Global Warranty) + ASUS ADW* (1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty**) + Flawless Display Guarantee ASUS UL80Vt-A1 comes with ASUS 360 (2 years global warranty), ADW (1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty*) and Flawless Display Guarantee. If the purchaser discovers one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel without cost to the purchaser.
What's in the Box
ASUS UL80Vt-A1
AC Adapter
8 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Cards
Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Display: 14-inch HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1366 x 768)
Intel Platform: Intel Core2 Duo processor SU7300 (1.3GHz)
Graphics: Switchable: Intel GMA 4500MHD and ASUS DGE powered by NVidia GeForce G210M with 512MB VRAM
Wireless: WLAN 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.4GHz n)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 DRAM, 2GB x 2 (upgradable to 8GB)
Storage: 320GB 5,400RPM Hard Drive
Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi Double Layer Drive
Camera: 0.3 Megapixel
Speakers: SRS Premium Stereo Speakers by Altec Lansing, Hi-Definition Audio CODEC
Microphone Digital Array Microphones
Card Reader: 1 x 5-in-1 card reader: MMC, MS, MS-Pro, SD, xD
Input/Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x audio-out (S/PDIF), 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x RJ45 LAN
Video Output: 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin
Keyboard: 13.70-inch keyboard with MS Windows function keys
Battery Pack: 8-cell Lithium Ion Battery, 5600mAh - Up to 12 hours1
Power Supply: Output: 19 V DC, 4.7 A, 65W / Input: 100~240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal
Dimensions: 13.3 (W) x 9.45 (L) x 0.55~1.06 (H) inches
Approximate Weight: 4.41 lbs (with 8-cell battery)
Color: Black 1Estimated maximum battery life test was done in ASUS Power4Gear battery saving mode with Mobile Mark 2007. Actual battery life may vary based on product settings, usage patterns and environmental conditions. *For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by CircuitCity in Canada. Limited of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. **One incident covered per notebook ***Performance figures were tested in PCMark 2005 v1.2.0 in 1366x768x32bit. Figures are for reference only and may vary depending on system setup and conditions. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos. Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Viiv Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

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BFG NVIDIA GeForce 210 512 MB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 Graphics Card BFGE210512D2E Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The card allowed my computer to play recent games without having to upgrade my power supply. That was the key factor in determining what to purchase, and I am still satisfied with my purchase after many months. However, the company, BFGTech, went out of business, so I'm stuff with a card that has no tech support. Thankfully, I can get driver updates from the official nvidia site, so that's not a problem.
I have noticed that this card overheats easily. It regularly runs at a fairly high tempurature. That said, as long as I don't do anything graphically intensive, it definitely performs well. For a budget card with low power consumption, this was a great purchase. I think you might want something more powerful if you are a gamer.
[...]

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HP Pavilion M7580N Media Center Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4400+, 2048 MB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, DVD SuperMulti Drive with LightScribe) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was very pleased to find that the computer was everything I wanted and more. The processor, as it turns out, is a 4600+, above the processor speed that is listed. It is a 2.41 GHz and runs like none other. The K&M is wireless just so that is specified and all the programs run on it just fine and with amazing speed. Only complaint is I wish it came with more LightScribe disks to try out because it is so cool and easy to use I wanted to keep making labels.
Thanks Amazon.com and HP

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion M7580N Media Center Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4400+, 2048 MB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, DVD SuperMulti Drive with LightScribe)

The easy-to-use HP m7580n Media Center PC is the complete home PC system that delivers more entertainment choices, and brings them together in one place with easy access from anywhere in the room. You can watch, record, and pause live TV programming as well as schedule the PC to record upcoming episodes or entire series. The built-in TV tuner and personal video recorder (PVR) let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television--up to 185 hours on this 320 GB hard drive. An online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) lets you review the TV schedule and select individual episodes or entire series, so you can watch your favorite shows on your own time, at your own convenience. And you can easily burn TV shows and home video to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. It comes loaded with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2), which provides support for Media Center Extender technology built into XBox 360 game consoles.
It features a dual-core 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ processor, for powering through work as multiple applications hum along simultaneously and without stress, as well as 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 7300 LE video card (with up to 256 MB of shared video memory), 9-in-1 memory card reader, and up to 8 channels of surround sound. This desktop is also ready for the next iteration of Microsoft operating system--Windows Vista.
The Basics
Hard Drive: The very roomy 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing up to 185 hours of television programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
Processor: The 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ processor offers a dual-core architecture, which delivers additional computing resources to help expand your PC's capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing--increasing your performance by up to 80 percent. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And it's designed to handle simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with no degradation in performance. It also offers such AMD technology as Cool'n'Quiet, for a quieter performance and lower power costs, and HyperTransport, for maximum system efficiency. Each core has a 512 KB L2 cache (for a 1 MB total).
Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (2 x 1 GB, PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is a good start right out of the box, and it offers a very fast 533 MHz speed. This desktop has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 1 GB), excellent for your multimedia needs today and tomorrow.
CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, this multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.
This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.
Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and optical mouse (both PS/2), USB infrared receiver, and remote control.
Graphics and Sound Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 7300 LE graphics card, which delivers stunning, HD video--up to 1080i resolution--and ultra-realistic gaming effects. It offers full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 and true high dynamic-range (HDR) lighting. Nvidia's exclusive TurboCache technology allows direct rendering from the GPU to system memory by leveraging the bi-directional PCI Express bandwidth. It also has an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.
Connectivity and Expansion Slots For expansion, this desktop features a built-in camera bay that designed to accommodate the docking stations on select HP cameras, as well as a drive bay that fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive--which enables you to add 300 GB of storage for your video and music libraries. It has three PCI expansion slots (one available), one PCI x16 Express slot (available), two external 5.25 drive bays (one available), one internal 3.5 drive bay (occupied), and the following external ports on the front:
2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 front and 1 back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
Composite video, S-Video, and analog audio inputs
Headphone and microphone jacks
9-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, and XD Picture Card
The following I/O ports are found on the back:

4 USB 2.0 ports
1 FireWire
Video (VGA, composite, S-Video)
Digital audio output
2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
It includes an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).
Preloaded System and Software The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2) is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. The Update Rollup 2 upgrade offers support for the Windows Media Center Extender technology built into XBox 360 game consoles, which lets you access entertainment from your Media Center PC--whether it's live and recorded TV and movies, music, photos or Online Spotlight--on any TV in the house.
It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2006 (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), Quicken 2006 New User Edition, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sonic Digital Media Plus, Vongo, Muvee autoProducer, Microsoft Money, MSN Encarta Plus, Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition (60 Day Trial Version), and HP PhotoSmart Premier for editing and organizing your digital photos.
Dimensions and Weight This desktop measures 15.16 x 7.6 x 16.54 inches (HxWxD) and weighs approximately 27 pounds.
What's in the Box This package contains the HP Media Center m7580n desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, USB infrared receiver, remote control, and power cord. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

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Creative Labs SB0886 PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series Sound Card Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Sound card started crackling the day I got it due to the Nforce motherboard.
This should be explicitly warned by the company. This is happening to everybody, and not just with the Nforce mobo.
Spending money on another motherboard should be unnecessary.
No fix has been implemented. The official thread even lies regarding the nHancer "solution".

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Labs SB0886 PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series Sound Card

Step up to the choice of professional gamers with the Creative PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series sound card, and get the ultimate PC gaming audio experience. With support for the latest technologies, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series delivers realistic environmental effects and 3-D positional audio so accurate, you'll be able to locate opponents by sound for a gaming advantage that might mean the difference between a win and a loss. The Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty is Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel's choice for audio.
Powerful Audio Processing Boosts Game PerformanceThe PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series sound card employs a powerful audio processing engine. Unlike other motherboard audio solutions that task the computer processor, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty performs the heavy lifting and leaves your processor free to work on other tasks. This results in unbeatable game performance while still delivering all audio effects with outstanding 24-bit sound quality.
64MB of X-RAM for Enhanced Gaming PerformanceFeaturing 64MB of X-RAM, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty provides a performance boost to games such as Quake 4, Battlefield 2, Unreal Tournament 3, and more. You can play with all the best audio settings enabled without having to worry about sacrificing performance.
Realistic Gaming Effects with EAX 5.0 TechnologyWith support for EAX ADVANCED HD technology, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty delivers rich environmental effects for a complete immersive gaming experience. You'll hear bullets whizzing by your head, feel earth-shattering explosions, and experience other sound effects that bring you closer to the game.
Positional 3-D AudioWith X-Fi CMSS-3D technology, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty delivers outstanding surround sound whether you're using headphones or speakers. When used with a regular pair of stereo headphones, X-Fi CMSS-3D creates nine virtual speakers for exceptional surround effects, letting you feel like you're sitting in the best seat of a movie theater. You'll get an advantage in games, too, with the ability to locate enemies by sound before they see you.
And with multichannel speakers, you'll be able to hear exactly where the audio cues are--even between speakers. Voices will be right in front of you and ambient sound will surround you, just like a live performance. CMSS-3D works with both desktop stereo speakers and full surround speaker systems.
X-Fi Crystalizer Restores Lost DetailsRecover lost audio detail with X-Fi Crystalizer technology. This smart technology restores the audio detail that is lost in compressed audio files so you'll regain vibrancy and clarity in your games, music, and movies. Highs and lows that were lost are enhanced, so whether you're listening to cymbal crashes or wailing guitars, you'll hear the sound as it was meant to be heard.
High-Quality Voice ChatWith high-quality inputs and hardware audio processing, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty ensures great vocal quality in your voice chats, so your teammates will hear you loud and clear. Plug in your headset or microphone, and you'll hear the difference instantly.
Intense Cinematic Sound for MoviesThe X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty delivers THX-certified surround sound for a cinematic experience right at your computer. Cyberlink PowerDVD software is included (via free download) and supports DTS and Dolby Digital-EX decoding for an unmatched DVD movie-watching experience.
The X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty also supports Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect encoding (Windows Vista only), so you can connect directly to your home theater system through a single digital cable for fantastic 5.1 surround sound.
Advanced Features for Audio and Music CreationFor those in the audio- and music-creation business, the X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty offers advanced features and high-quality inputs for outstanding recording results. A dedicated mode supports near transparent conversion between any resolutions, digital-matched recording, low-latency ASIO support, and more.
System RequirementsMicrosoft Windows 7, Vista, or XP; Intel Pentium 4 1.6 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor or equivalent; available PCI Express (x1, x4, x8, or x16) slot; 256MB RAM (512 MB RAM for Vista); 600MB of free hard-disk space; CD or DVD-ROM for software installation; headphones or amplified speakers; Internet connection to download PowerDVD player software.
What's in the BoxSB0886 PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series sound card, Quick Start leaflet, and installation CD.

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ASUS GTX460 1 GB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/1GD5 - Overclocking Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are at least 30 out of the 34 reviewers (who have mysteriously disappeared from this page) on the ASUS GTX 460 card waiting for some hope that Amazon will honor the price discount mistakenly offered in August and early September.
Now there are no reviews to be read because Amazon wiped them out.
The ASUS GTX 460 card has received high marks. The canceled orders don't.

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HIS Low Profile Bracket Kit H6LPK - Retail Review

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(More customer reviews)Upgraded Dell Studio low profile PC video card. The video card sent by Dell did not include the adapter bracket. Worked perfect.

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Smart Buy Nvidia Quadro FX580 Pcie 512MB 2PORT Dvi Graphics Review

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(More customer reviews)The tag line "by Hewlett Packard" should read "FOR HEWLETT PACKARD ONLY!"
This card was purchased to replace an ATI Radion Card that was failing to the point of barely usable.
I work with a dual monitor setup and use Adobe's suite of graphics programs and View 7, etc. So I needed the rendering capabilities inherent with the Quadro series cards. After a thorough explanation of my work and usage habits to Customer/Technical Support at Nvidia, (very limited gaming) they recommended the 370. Given the price, stepping up to the new FX 580 seemed like a no-brainer, and it was.
However, the only choices for card manufacturers were HP and PNY. PNY's Customer/Technical Support ratings were poor so I went with HP. It was purchased on Amazon on a Wednesday evening and it came in on Friday morning. Perfect. Unfortunately, it was not clear prior to purchase that the card was intended for HP workstations ONLY, or that use in other systems would void the warranty. My bad, should have researched that further.
Nevertheless, I installed the card anyway, and then downloaded the latest drivers from the Nvidia website and it worked fine. The card was very easy to install. It only draws 45 watts of power so there was no need to upgrade the power supply. It is also very quiet. So far the 580 has proved more than capable of handling everything that I have thrown at it with fanstatic results.

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ZOTAC nVidia GeForce 210 512 MB DDR2 DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card( Low Profile) ZT-20301-10L Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently bought this card, but a newer version has just been released: ZOTAC SYNERGY GeForce 210 512 MB (TC 1GB) 64-Bit DDR2 (589MHz/800MHz) Graphics Card ZT-20302-10L. I am using it in its low-profile configuration in a Dell Vostro 200 running Windows XP Professional. I am using the DVI output to the DVI input on one monitor and the HDMI output to the DVI input on a second monitor (HDMI to DVI cable AmazonBasics HDMI to DVI Adapter Cable (9.8 Feet / 3.0 Meters)). My Windows desktop is extended to the second monitor, meaning that the monitors display different things. I can drag a window to the second monitor and view it there. The card is shipped in its full-size configuration with 2 low-profile brackets (one of which has openings for the DVI and HDMI connectors, the other for the VGA connector). If you have an empty slot next to the slot where you're putting the card, you can use the VGA connector with the second low-profile bracket; otherwise you'll have to disconnect the VGA connector and just use the DVI and HDMI connectors (which have better video quality anyway -- I have the VGA connector installed just in case, but I'm not using it).
To convert the card from its full-size to its low-profile configuration, you will need a Phillips head screwdriver and a socket wrench with a little 3/16" or 5mm socket. There is one screw that must be removed as well as two sets of the little things that the cables screw into in order to free the card from the full-size bracket. Then either remove the VGA connector and connect the card only to the HDMI/DVI low-profile bracket or keep the VGA connector and connect the card to both low-profile brackets.
I installed the card (which isn't fully functional until the driver is installed), then the driver from the included CD (I ended up needing to get out of the Windows new hardware installation wizard and run the install driver program from the CD), then updated the driver at the nVidia website, then enabled my second monitor in Windows Display Properties/Settings. I'm not a gamer, but this card is driving two monitors for me just fine. It's quiet even with its own fan. No problems so far. I previously tried to enable two monitors using a DVI splitter cable from a single DVI output on my previous video card -- didn't work at all. I'm so happy to have two working monitors that I even put the Zotac sticker on my computer! :-)

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ASUS U43JC-X1 14-Inch Bamboo Laptop (10 Hours of Battery Life) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this as a replacement for a Dell 1720. As I study computer and electrical engineering, I'm very familiar with the internal components of electronics. This is a very well made notebook. Most of my friends and colleagues find the notebook very attractive and distinctively ideal. But, aesthetic taste differ from person-to-person and can only be merely objective. So, what is really important, are the numbers in between that motivated this to be my final choice. And, I'm glad I did 100%.
Processor Core i5 450M
This is currently the SECOND HIGHEST SCORING DUAL CORE MOBILE PROCESSOR, according to PassMark's website. The first being the Core i7 620M, which cost roughly twice as much and only provides a 10% improvement. Very smart on ASUS's behalf, because the majority of programs only utilize two cores. This means that most people buying a quad core will only use half of the potential of their CPU. Whereas, this processor doubles the amount of pathways for the dual cores to use. In short, the processor optimizes both cores by having twice as many streams and acts like a quad core ALL OF THE TIME. And, this doesn't even include the 12-way associative 3MB of L3 cache. GREAT NOTEBOOK PROCESSOR. PERIOD
RAM
Most people don't really understand RAM or How it woks. So, I'll keep this simple. Your CPU has a core speed. You RAM has a core speed rating. When both of these are the same speed, your computer is termed "synced." A very very important thing. If your computer is not synced, some of the data is lost in the transmission and has to be sent again. Making it slower than originally intended. This computer is synced perfect, so DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY FASTER RAM. It will be a waste of your money. The latency is 7-7-7-20 and as good as you can buy for 1333.
USB 3.0
I bought this with every intention of getting the most out of USB 3.0. I felt really disappointed in the performance for a few reasons. Some are my fault, and I'll explain. Intel has said they will not support USB 3.0 on their boards. They are waiting for LightPeak to replace all current standards. While this is a smart business move for Intel, the rest of us are left with the consequences. The only way USB 3.0 can be used with an Intel processor is through the use of third party controllers. These are not nearly up to the speeds of the AMD boards. I own a Super Talent Supercrypt 32GB that I planned on using for clean installs, but you need to install the drivers after installing the OS for USB 3.0 to work, $#!}. So, USB 3.0 can only be used for AMD board clean installs. And, to make matters worse, the drivers are slow. I can hit about 96MB/sec on the U43Jc, but on an AMD board I get about 230MB/sec. I should have researched a little more, but hopefully, I can save some of you time. DON'T LET THIS BE THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR BUYING THIS COMPUTER. All Intel based notebooks will suffer from the same problem, and AMD processors aren't nearly this good. If it's a problem, wait for LightPeak.
Switchable nvidia 310M
By knowing how to use this, you can increase you battery life. Just hit the button in the upper-left corner, and you will switch to the onboard graphics card, simple. This card is not made for extreme video games, but CASUAL games can be played with ease.
Display 1366x768
This is one of the brightest and clearest screens I've seen. Some people might complain about the resolution, not being high enough, but do you really need more resolution on a 14" screen?? NO
Bluetooth
Absent in this model. Have never used it before, so it wasn't a factor for my decision.
Keyboard
A chicklet style keyboard that is almost identical to a MacBook Pro. I like it.
DVD Drive
I guess people still use these things. Anyways, it contains one of the best made for notebooks, a Matshita UJ89A2S.
Bloatware
Almost all PC computers come with this nowadays. Just download Revo uninstaller and remove what you don't think you'll use. Search Google for Asus Bloatware guide for information.
Camera
I believe all computers come with, pretty much, the same camera. Until someone starts putting Carl Zeiss lenses on these things, there all the same to me.
Audio
Audio is on the low end, but most loud notebooks go loud and sound distorted. If audio is really important to you, you probably think all notebooks sound horrible. Cure: Buy a pair of Klipsch Image S4. Simple the best affordable headphones available.
Coupon
I'm mentioning this now, because this severely affected the final part of my review,but since it was part of the original price, I included this in the review. I purchased this for $999, and received a $150 Amazon gift card. This made all the difference in the world. I know computer speed "bottlenecks" in certain areas. The biggest area is the hard drive. While the U43Jc-X1 comes with a Seagate Momentus 5400rpm, the Crystal Disk Mark I scored was around 90MB/sec. Faster than most, but I wanted this notebook to fly. So, I used the coupon to order a 64GB Crucial RealSSD C300. Best upgrade for any computer in the world.
Battery Life
Most people are getting close to 6 hours, and I concur. After changing the hard drive, I was getting closer to 8 1/2. Huge improvement. Everything else increased immensely too. My cold boot time is around 13 sec. Microsoft Office Word 2010 opens in 1 sec. No exaggeration. Shutdown is between 3-5 sec. Everything else opens immediately, and I have a longer battery life.
Heat
The most important fact for determining notebook reliability, longevity, and build construction. This product is so well made that I RARELY HEAR THE FAN EVEN TURN ON. This means the computer doesn't get hot enough for it, although I am speaking after the SSD install. This is a sure sign of a solid build construction.
Overall
This is a quality computer with some of the best components on the market. Asus gives a 1 year accident warranty. Meaning you can drop it in the pool and get a new one. Hard to beat. You'll be hard pressed to find something of this caliber at this price, not to mention you'll stand out in the crowd. Just remember, sometimes, "It's what's on the inside that counts." ~proverb

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Inspired by Nature. Designed for Style. Drawing on the symbolism of bamboo as a durable renewable resource, the sophisticated U43Jc bamboo notebook with a 14-inch HD LED-backlit display combines distinguished aesthetics with premium technology. The stylish U43Jc-X1 bamboo shell reduces the use of plastic material by up to 15%, and enhances a brushed-aluminum interior. Sleek and user-friendly, this mobile phenom blends powerful yet energy-efficient technology to deliver an astounding 10 hours of battery life between charges.1 Its power-saving ability is due to the system-optimizing ASUS Super Hybrid Engine, and to NVIDIA Optimus Technology that switches between powerful discrete graphics and efficient embedded graphics, providing sufficient power for the task at hand. The U43Jc-X1 complements its power with convenience by incorporating SuperSpeed USB 3.0, for up to 10 times faster transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0.2 The U43Jc-X1 features the Intel Core i5 processor, 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display, high-speed Wireless N connectivity, 4GB DDR3 system memory, 500GB hard drive, 2.0MP webcam with lens cover for added security, multi-touch trackpad, and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Key Features
Distinguished bamboo texture cover for a unique style and touch that uses 15% less plastic (Learn more)
Up to 10 hours of battery1 life for all-day unplugged freedom (Learn more)
14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display with 1366 x 768 resolution for high-quality visuals
Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Turbo boost Technology for smart multitasking performance (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics 1GB DDR3 VRAM for excellent HD-quality visuals for games, media, and more (Learn more)
NVIDIA Optimus Technology for automatic and seamless switching between powerful NVIDIA GeForce graphics and battery-saving integrated graphics engine (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine innovatively saves battery life and boosts performance (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 charges compatible devices faster and delivers up to 10 times faster transfer rates than previous generation USB 2.02 (Learn more)
Intel WiDi HD Wireless Display3 technology makes it easy to wirelessly stream HD content to your TV or external monitor (Learn more)

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Distinguished Bamboo Aesthetic, Comfortable Style
Optimize Your Visual Experience
Powered to Last
Enhanced Connectivity
The Most Reliable Windows OS
ASUS 360 – The Most Comprehensive Care Package
ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)
F9 Key for Quick Recovery
What's in the Box The entire U43Jc-X1 package contains a warranty card, U43Jc-X1 Bamboo Notebook, and AC Adapter
U43Jc-X1 Bamboo Notebook
AC Adapter
Warranty Card
Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
Display: 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
CPU: Intel Core i5-450M processor 2.4GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.53GHz
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 310M 1GB DDR3 VRAM + Intel HD graphics
Memory: 4GB DDR3 1066MHz (up to 4GB)
Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Intel WiDi HD Wireless Display technology
LAN: 10/100/1000 RJ-45
Storage: 500GB 5400RPM hard drive
Optical drive: Super Multi
Camera: 2.0Mp
Input/ Output: 1 x HDMI port 2 x Audio jack 1 x RJ-45 1 x VGA port 2 x USB 2.0 port 1 x USB 3.0 port
Battery: 8-cell 5600mAh (up to 10 hours1)
Dimensions: 13.54 x 9.4 x 1.2–inches (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.15 lbs (with 8 cell battery)
Color: Brown
All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images. Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners' benefit, without intent to infringe. 1 Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. The estimated maximum battery life in Windows XP Home is measured with MobileMark 2007. 2 All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 3 Intel Wireless Display requires a compatible laptop, TV adapter, and a TV with HDMI or composite A/V input. 4 Your portable ASUS products contain hazardous materials. While they pose no risk to you during normal use, they should never be disposed with other wastes. ASUS provides a free take-back service for recycling your ASUS products. Our electronics recycler will provide competitive bids for recycling non-ASUS products as well. If you have products for recycling, visit http://www.metechrecycling.com/asus-business.htm for more information on this program. 5 Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109 ). 6 For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS," "ASMobile," "Powered by ASUS," the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. One incident covered per notebook.

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EVGA GeForce GTS450 FPB 1 GB GDDR5 PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card 01G-P3-1450-TR Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using this card for a couple of weeks and so far it is really good. I'm not a gamer, although I have a couple of games for my PC and tried them again with this card. They look really good compared with my previous NVIDIA 9800. For movie watching I found a bit a drag on the decoding of MP4's (the interlaced feature is not well handled) however, this might be a problem with the player as well, so I am not blaming the card for it. The MPGs and DVD's, also BD's playback smoothly using PowerDVD HD.
** See Update below **
On the down side, this card comes with a micro-HDMI connector that supports HDMI 1.4, however, EVGA products do not provide means to connect audio into the cards so you could take advantage of A/V on your HDMI. If you are looking for this feature (which is available thought the NVIDIA GTS450 family) this product won't give you that. If you only care for the video part that you could output to your TV or projector and bring the audio to a home theater or other audio distribution method, then I believe you'd like this product as well as I do.
** ---------------- **
UPDATE to the above comment:
It might be a driver issue I had when first installed the card on Windows Vista. I have upgraded to Windows 7 now and the driver that was added during installation offers and HDMI output that you can select (instead of your speakers, for example) and output your audio through the HDMI connector on the card. TIP: Buy a good quality cable mini-HDMI and you'll enjoy very good audio and video experience with this card.

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EVGA nVidia GeForce GT 240 1 GB DDR3 VGA/DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card 01G-P3-1236-LR Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought a brand new computer it has a Intel 2.5 quad core with 8 gigs of ram.
I wanted to play WoW on the highest settings. It struggled with 20-24 fps at the setting I wanted. The new computer came with a 1gig ATI4650 but I was disappointed with graphics. The Machine has only has a 300-watt power supply, so I was limited to what cards that could go into it without a power supply upgrade. The GT240 card runs WoW at the highest setting with shadows turned down to about ? detail with an average of 60 to 80 fps. In Org and UC it will run 100 fps. I was in SM and running 120 fps. 35 to 45 in Dal is also average.
I bought Crysis and it will run on high settings at 1480x720. It doesn't have the power to run Crysis at 1080 however. Overall if you are looking for a card to play WoW at highest settings and don't have a monster power supply in your OEM computer this is a good choice.


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Cables Unlimited - Audio cable - 2 pin digital audio (F) - 2 pin digital audio (F) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this cable to connect my NVIDIA GTS 250 video card to my motherboard's SPDIF output. This allows me to get sound out of the HDMI output of the card via a DVI-HDMI adaptor. The cable fit my motherboard perfectly, but was a bit wide for the graphics card, something that 10 seconds and a sheet of sandpaper fixed. Sound quality is great!

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ZOTAC SYNERGY GeForce 210 512 MB (TC 1GB) 64-Bit DDR2 (589MHz/800MHz) Graphics Card ZT-20302-10L Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently bought the predecessor to this card (ZOTAC nVidia GeForce 210 512 MB DDR2 DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card( Low Profile) ZT-20301-10L), but this new version has just been released. I am posting this review under both the new and previous versions, but I don't own the new version. I am using the previous version in its low-profile configuration in a Dell Vostro 200 running Windows XP Professional. I am using the DVI output to the DVI input on one monitor and the HDMI output to the DVI input on a second monitor (HDMI to DVI cable AmazonBasics HDMI to DVI Adapter Cable (9.8 Feet / 3.0 Meters)). My Windows desktop is extended to the second monitor, meaning that the monitors display different things. I can drag a window to the second monitor and view it there. The card is shipped in its full-size configuration with 2 low-profile brackets (one of which has openings for the DVI and HDMI connectors, the other for the VGA connector). If you have an empty slot next to the slot where you're putting the card, you can use the VGA connector with the second low-profile bracket; otherwise you'll have to disconnect the VGA connector and just use the DVI and HDMI connectors (which have better video quality anyway -- I have the VGA connector installed just in case, but I'm not using it).
To convert the card from its full-size to its low-profile configuration, you will need a Phillips head screwdriver and a socket wrench with a little 3/16" or 5mm socket. There is one screw that must be removed as well as two sets of the little things that the cables screw into in order to free the card from the full-size bracket. Then either remove the VGA connector and connect the card only to the HDMI/DVI low-profile bracket or keep the VGA connector and connect the card to both low-profile brackets.
I installed the card (which isn't fully functional until the driver is installed), then the driver from the included CD (I ended up needing to get out of the Windows new hardware installation wizard and run the install driver program from the CD), then updated the driver at the nVidia website, then enabled my second monitor in Windows Display Properties/Settings. I'm not a gamer, but this card is driving two monitors for me just fine. It's quiet even with its own fan. No problems so far. I previously tried to enable two monitors using a DVI splitter cable from a single DVI output on my previous video card -- didn't work at all. I'm so happy to have two working monitors that I even put the Zotac sticker on my computer! :-)

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MSI nVidia GeForce 9400GT 512 MB DDR2 VGA/DVI/HDMI Low-Profile PCI-Express Video Card N94GT-MD512 (LOW PROFILE) Review

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(More customer reviews)The primary reason I bought this card is because it has HDMI output. Images on my monitor looked awesome right out of the box with the win 7 drivers from the MSI web site for this video card. Don't bother with the install disc for win 7. The problems I had was getting it to work with my Sony Bravia (1080p) TV. I finally had to e-mail MSI customer support. Since I was running Windows 7 (32 Bit) on my Asus P5K-E motherboard I needed to download and install the motherboards win 7 chipset drivers and utilities drivers then install the recommended video driver (not the one from the MSI web site but from the Nvidia web site) then I could see images on my TV. I also had to do a fresh install and format my hard drive because the Asus win 7 chipset & utilities drivers had to be the very first drivers installed before ANYTHING else. After about 3 to 4 hours of work I finally got every feature of the video card to work. And it works well. I wasn't expecting to do a fresh install but at least I knew how so it wasn't to much of a problem. Maybe I should have waited longer before upgrading from Vista.

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MSI ATI Radeon HD4650 1 GB DDR2 VGA/DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card R4650-MD1G Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Excellent video card for this price point. It plays all the games my kids care about at reasonable frame rates. Its not a killer top end graphics card, so do not expect it to be over the top. But it performs very well. It Scores a 6.x in the gaming ranks on the Windows 7 performance test and does well. I also have a ATI 4350. I would mark this card at the sweet spot of budget vs performance. For $70.xx this will be the card I buy at the low end in future. (I have not tried the audio over HDMI feature. However I had to upgrade to the latest drivers from ATI to get it to work with my ATI 4350, and I had to leave an audio cable plugged into the onboard sound card. Even when I do NOT use the audio cable for anything.)


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PNY XLR8 GTS 250 1024 MB PCI-Express 2.0 VGA + DVI Graphics Card VCGGTS2501XPB Review

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(More customer reviews)The GTS250 1GB card isn't the "latest and greatest" that Nvidia has on the market these days, but for the price, it was a great upgrade choice from my 512MB EVGA Nvidia 8600gts card. The card is very big and requires at LEAST a 450W power supply, so be aware that if you get this card, you may have to upgrade your PS as well. I went with a 550W power supply, and it is working well. You should also know that it is a double-wide card, so if you have other add-on cards in your PC, you may need to do some additional card moves to make this fit in your case.
As for the performance, honestly, I am very happy with the card. I do some gaming every now and then, and things like Left4Dead2, Modern Warfare 2, and recently even DragonAge:Origins run very well on my machine, thanks to this card. The processor is a AMD x2 5600+ with 3GB of Ram, and this card is a great addition to make these games run well on my machine. I have been able to max out the settings on L4D2 and MW2, and *almost* max out Dragonage:Origins. When I try to do highest settings in DA:O I get some choppy frame rates, but at "high" it runs just fine. I think that if I was to upgrade my CPU and Memory, this would fix those issues.
One other thing that I noticed about this card after first installing it was that it ran not hot, but very warm. This could have been due to the mid-sized case I have, but I also needed to add another fan to the case in order to draw more cool air through after installing this card. I think this is normal for any modern card these days though... more cooling is always better.
All in all, I think that this is a very good card, and I would recommend it to others looking for an easy way to achieve better graphics for not a lot of money.


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