Intel’s Z77 Express And Lucidlogix MVP: New Features For Gamers

Of course, we've been privy to the same information scattered about the Web for months now, including internal documents that say Intel’s Z77 Express is basically an updated and die-shrunken Z68 Express. Among the updates applied, an integrated USB 3.0 controller has perhaps the biggest impact on manufacturing costs and motherboard design. Four internally-accessible USB 3.0 ports can easily replace two of the third-party controllers found on most Z68 products.

Between the die shrink and integration of USB 3.0, we're even hoping for a modest drop in powerconsumption, most easily quantifiable in businesses with large groups of PCs to manage. And speaking of management, upgrades from Intel’s Management Engine 7.0 and Rapid Storage Technology 10.5 to versions 8.0 and 11.0, respectively, add features for remote system and data management.

Does Your SSD's File System Affect Performance?

SSDs serve up data quickly, and prices are low enough that some enthusiasts may want SSDs for data storage. Does the file system you use matter? We compare performance betweenFAT32, NTFS, and the newer exFAT file systems on two popular SSD architectures.

Solid-state drives continue encroaching on the territory ruled for decades by hard drives, and power users swear by the lightning-fast performance, modest power use, and physical robustness of flash-based devices. As more enthusiasts embrace the technology, volumes increase and prices go down, making SSDs even more viable in the mainstream space. Mobile users stand to gain especially from solid-state technology, since shaving 10% from a power budget could translate into hours of battery life or a small savings on a utility bill.

That last point hits home hardest for the folks running systems that stay on all of the time. As capacity needs increase, the number of drives needed to hold all of that data increase, taking power use along for the ride. Take your always-on PC, add a five-drive NAS, factor in an HTPC responsible for recording your favorite shows, and suddenly your house starts mimicking a small business' power profile.

But now you have one or more SSDs. Whether you made the decision to ditch magnetic storage because it was too slow, too loud, or too power-hungry, it's time to consider the next step. 

Almost all of the tests we run emphasize the performance of storage with as many other variables as possible factored out. Only recently did we start folding in the effects of a file system in Intel SSD 520 Review: Taking Back The High-End With SandForce and OCZ Vertex 4 Review: A Flagship SSD Powered By...Indilinx? For this piece, we're going to go into more depth on file systems with a focus specifically on Windows users, since our rigs in Germany are all Windows-based. That means it's going to be a shoot-out between FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT.  But first, you ask...

he Windows Phone 7.5 Review, A Month-Long Experience

After a long string of clumsy mobile releases, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 strikes us as one of the better designs to pass through our labs. After more than a month of using the latest build on a Nokia Lumia 800, we think WP7 deserves consideration.

After several unsuccessful mobile offerings, Microsoft has released Windows Phone 7 (WP7). With 71% of smartphone owners using either an Android or iPhone device, according to Nielsen, it might not seem like Microsoft's new mobile operating system stands much of a chance. However, quite a few companies have announced their support for WP7, and we believe the WP7 is worth watching.

The name "Windows Phone 7" is somewhat misleading. Microsoft unveiled WP7 in 2010; in 2011, a massive update added a mobile version of IE9 supporting Web standards, Twitter integration, and multitasking. This update was called Windows Phone 7.5 (also referred to as Mango). However, the mobile operating system still goes by the name WP7. Specific references to version history usually make use of the code name.

For the folks considering a smartphone with WP7, accepting and growing accustomed to a very different Microsoft-driven ecosystem will probably represent the biggest change. Indeed, for most of the crew at Tom's Hardware, much experience with Android- and iOS-based devices has colored our expectations of mobility. Consequently, I made sure to take my time getting used to WP7 before writing this review, making Nokia's Lumia 800 my personal smartphone for the last month and a half. After acclimating to Windows Phone 7, I'm convinced that anyone shopping for a new phone should at least consider Microsoft's mobile operating system as a viable environment on the right piece of hardware.

Today, we take a closer look at the usability of WP7. And we can take our time. This wasn't forced under the constraint of a tight embargo, but rather allowed to emerge after a lot of real-world experience. This isn't just another gadget review; it's more than a month living with a new mobile device.

Video Teaser: Tom's Hardware's Apple iPad 3 Review

An Acer AMD Based Desktop For Under $400

Image Courtesy Acer

AMD has pretty much been required to go back to competing on prices with Intel as their chips aren't as fast for most tasks. This makes them very attractive options for budget class systems and in particular desktop PCs. Acer has made a number of AMD based desktops over the years and they have now introduced some with the AMD A series APU processors. But does Acer sacrifice too many features to make their desktop priced below $400? Find out in myreview of the Acer Aspire AM3470G-UW10P budget desktop.

• Acer Aspire AM3470-UW10P Desktop Review

A Gaming Desktop For $500?

Image Courtesy Cyberpower

Computer gaming is one of the more demanding tasks that consumers might use their PCs for. The 3D graphics in particular have specific hardware requirements in order to achieve a certain level of playability. Budget systems generally lack sufficient performance in their basic configurations to typically handle the task. So, can Cyberpower really deliver a gaming capable desktop PC for $500? Find out in my review of the Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 2120 budget desktop.

• Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 2120 Desktop Review

Gateway's Refreshed DX Budget Desktop

Image Courtesy Gateway

There has been much anticipation for the delayed Ivy Bridge based systems from Intel. Because the processors have not launched, many companies have gone and updated a number of their product lines to try and keep their models fresh. Gateway has done this with their budget oriented DX series of desktops. With so many possible features to update on the systems, did Gateway make ones that are significant enough to set their system apart from the competition? Find out in myreview of the Gateway DX4860-UB32P budget desktop.

• Gateway DX4860-UB32P Desktop Review