August 5, 2009

Total Mobile Computing in A Neat Form
By Billy Joe I. Allardo
Published in the May 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

MSI PX200
P59,500
www.msi.com

While most notebooks tagged as desktop substitutes feature large screen sizes that give users a better view of the documents or images they are working on, the MSI PX200 goes against the grain with its form factor. At 12.1 inches, it packs in components that you’d normally see inside a full-fledged desktop PC and sometimes lacking in some bigger notebook PCs. The unit features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3450 GDDR3 discrete graphics chip, with 4GB of memory components and a 320GB hard drive.

What is more important is that, with these specs given and its size in mind, the MSI PX200 stays true to the mobile computing concept. It’s easy to pack, brought about by its slim profile and a total weight that amount to only 1.8kgs.

Underneath the matte black cover is a modish interface of gray and black bezels. In between the display and the keyboard is a glossy patterned function panel that houses the power button, as well as the Wi-Fi and camera shortcuts keys. It also harbors the Eco Engine Power Management System (EEPMS) knob that enables switching through different power modes, directly affecting battery life and the overall performance consequently. EEPMS figures well for users who need to go around a particular area but needs to bring along the notebook PC with them, giving them relief from also carrying the charging pack, which is a tad bulky and heavy.

Meanwhile, the keyboard is tactile and the size of the keys is good, at least for this writer. A slightly depressed frame marks where the touchpad area is, while its buttons appear like embossed regions of the lustrous gray shell. Unfortunately, the latter is a bit stiff and somewhat unresponsive at times. In between the touchpad buttons is a fingerprint reader that provides extra security.

Theer are only two USB ports available, which should be easily fixed with the addition of a cheap USB hub. With its HDMI port, the MSI PX200 can connect to consumer electronic devices that use the mentioned standard, such as video game consoles and audio/video receivers. This notebook PC can also make use of eSATA devices, despite the scant number of devices available that use it.

The glaring downside with the MSI PX200 is the heat it tends to generate. This is perhaps the result of it being compact, with not enough room for the heat to circulate and the scarce space allotted for its cooling vents and pipes. The sound quality via the built-in speakers isn’t that good but is made up for by the display. Despite its size, it was able to come up with crisp images and smooth video, the product of having a discrete graphics chip. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 GDDR3 also enables it to use its total memory solely on data processing, which in turn translates to speedier transition among files and tasks.

The kit we got has a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor and a hefty 4GB 800MHz DDR2 memory, as well as a spacious 320GB hard drive. These parts, along with abovementioned graphics chip, is clearly up to the task of running even a number of resource-hungry applications such as the Adobe Creative Suite and games like Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts. Adding a cooling dock to solve the heat issue and a USB hub to enable support for more USB devices are perhaps key things to do in order to fully utilize this notebook PC, which is well-above other desktop replacements and ultra-mobile PCs when it comes to specs, performance and, most importantly, price.

July 15, 2009

Limited Format Support, Great Performance
By Luis Anthony G. Oliveros
Published in the July 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

Philips GoGear Aria (4GB)
www.philips.com

Philips recently rolled out their latest line of multimedia players under the GoGear banner, mostly carrying the series’ signature black and gray hard plastic bodies and good audio outputs. One minor but notable change in this new lineup is that they now have actual names that are easy to recall instead of the previous batches that employ what may seem to consumers as a series of random model numbers.

In the middle of this new lineup is the Philips GoGear Aria. We received a 4GB unit in the mail for testing and we took it around the Metro to do so. Additionally, it also comes in 8- and 16GB variants.

This midrange player is nowhere near being an eye candy because, as mentioned, it has a monochromatic physical orientation. It does, however, have its own brand of polished sense of chic with glossy black exteriors, rounded corners and contrasting matte gray sides. Its 84x47x10.7mm profile makes it easy to store and slip into any pocket although you may want to get some sort of protective case since it’s definitely a fingerprint/smudge/scratch magnet.

The Aria features a straightforward text-based graphic user interface via its two-inch LCD display with a 220×176 resolution which displays texts, photos in JPEG and BMP formats and videos at 24fps. Navigations comes by way of the using a somewhat re-imagining of the five-way direction pad. First, you get a four way button pad that only handles the Left and Right functions as well as the Back and the Options keys. It frames a chrome-plate vertical rocker for handling Up and Down; and nestled right in the center is the Play/Pause/Enter button. This configuration could get a little confusing at times and may take some getting used to especially if you’re new to the Philips MP3 player terrain. For instance, when viewing photos, you have to use the Up and Down buttons, despite the fact that instinct would naturally instruct you to hit either the Left and Right keys. Doing so would rotate the photo you’re viewing.

One downside you’d find on the Aria is the limited format support. While video playback here only supports the SMV format, audios can only play MP3s and WMAs, foregoing the other standards like OGG, AAC, AAC+ and FLAC. Though the packed disc may offer some semblance of convenience by including an audio/video converter, it’s still one step more that may cost a bit of both your patience and time. Needless to say, you’d first have to convert contents previously ripped in other formats before loading them onto the player.

Despite the limited format support, we found the audio output to be pretty impressive. We loaded our standard test playlist that consists of audios from a variety of genres, audiobooks, podcasts and TV episodes.

There are over seven EQ presets here to give you enough leg room to modify your listening experience. Aside from these, Philips incorporates their own sound enhancing technology called FullSound which restores the sonic details lost during sound compression minus the distortions.

As such, sound quality was very good during our tests, with squeaky clean high tones and well defined mid-tones. The low-end sounded full-bodied and boldly thumped prominently in the background. This was especially evident in the tracks from the shoegazer/New Wave inspired band Taken By Cars where the Aria served up a full roller coaster of audios from the sound spectrum without compromising the sound details, which also proved to be good. In tracks like “Logistical Nightmare,” “Stereolove” and “The Blackout,” we really enjoyed the soaring guitars with the mono-sounding backing vocals adding a sound dimension and the great bass depth.

The sound details were also worth mentioning, as we’ve come to notice when we played Love Me Butch’s “Barricade” where the band’s excellent instrumentation was deftly churned out. We easily heard the textured layers each of the instruments contributed, even vocalist Syarul Reza’s range and parts of the playful lead guitar-bass interplay we hardly notice when playing the same track with other players.

However, if you’ve gotten tired of your playlists, you can always turn on the Aria’s FM radio tuner which allows room for 20 radio stations. It also has a recording feature that lets you record songs and radio talk show discussions to MP3 for playback. This recording features also works with the built-in microphone located on the unit’s right side panel next to the lanyard eyelet. The mic records sounds at around seven feet away though it can pick up less than discernable sounds approximately past a12-foot mark. The test recordings came out relatively good and clear though a bit tinny and it had some humming sound in the background.

Included with the Aria is a decent pair of sound isolating earphones and two extra pairs of rubber earbuds. This particular pair feels very comfortable and produced above average results in keeping some of the outside noises off your eardrums and funneling in hi-def audios. As you can imagine, we took the player out to the streets and along our daily commutes and the earphones worked well blocking out most of the engine noises while we were on a public transportation and while walking along crowded streets. This apparently isn’t such a good idea because you should be aware of your surroundings whenever you’re out and about.

Aside from listening to music, we also played John Hodgman’s “Areas of My Expertise” audiobook as well as Distorted View, Buzz Out Loud and The 404 podcasts. Here, the voices, music backdrops and sound effects sounded nice and natural.

July 6, 2009

Stylish Speakers for the Room
By Billy Joe I. Allardo
Published in the May 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

Altec Lansing FX2020
www.alteclansing.com

The Altec Lansing FX2020 kit comes in the form of two cylindrical speakers garbed in shiny black hard plastic casing. Black cloth meshing provides immediate protection to both three-inch drivers with a silvery ring accentuating the two.

Meanwhile, the translucent front plates serve to not only doll up the speakers, but also act as their stands. Rubber footings are present on both plates to provide traction and indicate, alongside with the brand name, how the speakers should stand up.

Since both look the same, you can interchange which speaker goes to what side. Yet this decision can boil down on the proximity of the controls and the connectivity jacks to the user, which are all located on one satellite, as well as the power jack to the nearest power socket. The volume keys are on top with the power LED between them. At the back, the power button sits atop of the unit, auxiliary and power jacks.

The cable that connects the speakers is long enough to suit one’s positional preference. Each speaker has a 7.5W output nd produces crisp audio. However, since it lacks a separate subwoofer, don’t expect a powerful low-end bass from this desktop set.  It does offer a good amount of balance though, which should be good enough for a small room or desktop use.

Although the Altech Lansing FX2020 is somewhat a desktop space-eater with its size and unconventional shape, having a bulky bass boomer defeats the purpose of having it. The kit figures best inside a confined area, such as a bedroom or home office space, where bass is not much of a requirement for obvious reasons.

With its appearance, the Altec Lansing FX2020 is clearly a superior two-piece speaker kit when compared to the looks of other brands. The sound output is still a-ok, clear and subtle, something you expect from the maker. People looking for a powerful low-end might want something with a woofer, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if Altec Lansing comes up with an FX2020 kit with a subwoofer.

July 1, 2009

More Substance Than Style
By Luis Anthony G. Oliveros
Published in the May 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

Lenovo ThinkPad W500
P154,990
www.lenovo.com/ph

It’s pretty obvious at first glance that Lenovo’s ThinkPad W500 is no eye candy. It doesn’t come enclosed in a flashy chassis design, neither is it emblazoned with über glossy trims to attract the fashionably driven younger generation of users. It’s in fact quite the opposite really; with a general shade of charcoal gray cloaking the machine which makes it practically invisible in any office or home computer setups. Plus its mid-corpulent 356x255x35mm body won’t exactly slip effortlessly into your everyday backpack or handbag though it does naturally offer mobility but only to a degree. It weighs 2.8kg, which is, by no means, back-breaking but is considered relatively heavy nowadays for those frequently on the road. However, to its credit, this laptop isn’t really pushing much effort in terms of aesthetics, since it’s geared more towards business users and students with larger-than-average computing needs.

Its lacklustre, black box-like appearance is bolstered by edgy sides and corners and combines two surface textures with the lid’s soft quasi-rubberized finish and the smooth hard plastics that sheath the rest of its body. While we like how the lid’s surface gives the laptop a nice feel and a business-type, non-flashy matte appearance, it’s also very receptive to scratches, smudges and your sweaty palms.

On the flipside, build quality is excellent, as we’ve come to expect from a Lenovo product. It inherits the traditional workstation design from the IBM days including the solidly built frame with no noticeable creaking hinges when you prop the lid open and when you shut it close. It also has an obvious focus on ergonomics as seen with the keyboard which features large, well-spaced keys and offers great tactile feedback that contributes to a very comfortable use.

Like most of the brand’s desktop replacement laptops, the W500 offers an amusingly glaring red trackpoint as an auxiliary navigation tool. This is placed smack dab in the middle of the keyboard and is accompanied by its own left and right click buttons located below the spacebar. While it offers proper sensitivity that can be tweaked further to your liking, it’s practically challenging to manoeuvre if you’re aiming for accuracy; in which case you can opt to use the ubiquitous touchpad. But then again, if you’re dealing with detail-oriented graphics and in need of utmost precision in your input device, you’d find the ThinkPad W700 a very enticing alternative with a larger 17-inch display panel and a built-in Wacom tablet and matching stylus.

The W500′s 15.4-inch WSXGA+ LCD yields a 1680×1050 resolution, displaying crisp visuals with cleanly defined monochrome contrasts evident when viewing word processing documents with no visible gray shadows past each character’s edges. It provided us with vibrant images and clear color definitions during our tests; from the basic picture viewing, Web surfing and even on the games, Photoshop use and on DVD movies, with no visible signs of ghosting and pixelations. And we really like that even the smallest of details that have been driven to near obscurity in other machines’ LCD screens are easily discernable. This makes it an ideal tool for video editing and for running visually driven graphics manipulation software suites, and has a roomy screen real estate for multitasking with a handful of windows simultaneously open. It has decent horizontal/vertical viewing angles which is a plus for working in busy environments. The only snag we ran into was the screen’s brightness which proved to be well adequate for brightly lit indoor setups but a little lacking when used outdoors.

However, if you prefer to use other display panels, perhaps a larger LCD monitor for better viewing or for an optimized video playback ala-faux home entertainment system, sockets for both DisplayPort and VGA interfaces have been provided, located on its left side panel. A LAN connector for the wired Ethernet, an ExpressCard slot and three USB 2.0 ports are also bunched with these. In our opinion, more USB ports would’ve been better, but this shouldn’t be an issue if you intend on using a compatible docking station or a cheap USB hub you can easily pick up from any PC retailer.

Above the keyboard are the speakers that churn out audios with surprisingly loud volume configurations, decent quality and a fair amount of detailing, although you won’t really notice this with the bass deficiency common among built-in speakers also afflicting this unit. However, should you decide on using the W500 also for multimedia playback, media streaming and especially for audio/video editing, plugging in a standalone 2.1 speaker set or a pair of headphones with good midtone output and bass response would be preferable.

The two 3.5 audio jacks (headphone and mic) to accommodate these are easily accessible right on the front side panel. These are joined by a Firewire 1394 port you’d find essential for connecting to most multimedia devices, a switch for enabling the integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connections and a 7-in-1 card reader. Meanwhile, the right side panel houses the RJ11 port for the modem and a slim optical bay for swappable drives that, for the unit we received, housed a DVD Multi-Recorder.

During our tests, we didn’t encounter any hitches as far as performance is concerned. The unit we tested had an Intel Centrino 2 processor at its core and joined by the pairing of an Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics and 4GB of memory which makes it more than adequate for multiple tasks for mission critical office works, school needs and even for multimedia playback. It ran smoothly from startup to basic word processing, multitasking and multimedia streaming. The hard drive in our review unit is at 320GB which sounds just about right, but given that this is a workstation expected to get much beating from its varying uses, a larger storage would’ve been ideal, like perhaps 500GB or even a terabyte would be great.

Preloaded along with the Windows Vista operating system is Lenovo’s own ThinkVantage system which pulls up a simple interface of system tweaks and management tools and can be seen as an expansion of the one-button backup found on the brand’s mainstream laptops. Upon pressing the corresponding blue ThankVantage button found on top of the keyboard, you are presented with a lineup of tools for updating or recovering the system, creating simple backups and discovering wireless networks within the area, as well as for configuring the installed devices, managing multimedia contents and various security tools.

And speaking of security, the W500 definitely beefs it up outside of the customary ASCII-based password protection. The built-in 1.3megapixel Web cam, aside from being able to take bright videos and photos and visually supplement chatting, also has a facial recognition feature that allows only previously scanned faces to log into the computer. A fingerprint scanner is also at hand, located just below the arrow keys, and can be enabled to only allow access to people whose fingerprints have been registered as login credentials. While both these security enhancements aren’t something we haven’t seen before, they’re still nice additions geared to protect your personal data.

	click to enlarge image

March 15, 2009

The Wizbook Gets An Atomic Upgrade
By Luis Anthony G. Oliveros
Published in the December 2008-January 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

Redfox WizBook1020i
P19,999
www.redfoxtechnology.com

So here we are again, another notebook PC rising from the continuously evolving netbook mist. Industry giants have gone far and wide to deliver the next big netbook to conquer the low-cost ultraportable segment for themselves; each one bringing its own brand of sleekness for maximum portability, while others barely rally around the netbook form factor fringes as they put utmost value on squeezing in better specs. Caught squarely in the middle is RedFox and their Wizbook line of low-cost notebooks unveiled during the third quarter of the year. And now, even before the year ends entirely, the IT manufacturing brand has released the line’s second generation with the Wizbook800lx that features an eight-inch LCD display and the 10.2-incher Wizbook1020i which we got to test drive this month.

For starters, we have been desensitized by the entire netbook movement, so we’ve practically seen pretty much what they have to offer as far as exteriors are concerned. The Wizbook1020i is no different, presenting a matte and glossy hard plastic body, slim at 254x189x39mm and available in white, red and a black-red combo. Needless to say, you won’t really find anything distinct outside of its softly tapered edges, rounded corners and the logo stamped on the middle of the lid.

The only thing we didn’t like about it, which also goes for netbooks in general, is that it’s housed in a rather plasticky shell, a little disconcerting if you plan for this netbook to be a long-term machine. Despite this, it’s solidly built, with no dubious reaking or rattling sounds during handling and even when propping it open.

A Web cam is positioned right at the very top of the unit’s upper half with the 10.2-inch LCD display right below. It offers a 1024×600 resolution which is good for presenting contrasts in your basic word processing applications and pretty decent for viewing colored images, videos and Web pages, although you’d immediately notice the lines that separate the various hues whenever you come across pages and photos with colors in gradient schemes. Under the screen is the built-in speaker that churns out 2W of audio which isn’t really the best out there in terms of bass fullness and sound detailing, plus the quality heads south whenever you turn up the volume. Utilizing the 3.5 audio port on its left side panel to connect to a set of good quality external speakers or a pair of headphones would be a better option.

The keyboard is bigger and a lot spacious compared to the cramped one in the seminal EeePC’s, but not as expansive and as comfortable as the MSI Wind’s (reviewed in last month’s issue) or HP’s Mini Note. This is not to say that you’d have a hard time getting your inputs across the machine, it just means that you’d have a slightly longer period getting used to it before typing starts feeling natural and comfortable. This, in our case, was about a day or two. However, just like the Wind’s keyboard, the function keys here can also be used to adjust some of the settings like the volume, screen brightness and for enabling and disabling the Web cam and the Wi-Fi connectivity. This lessens unnecessary clutter like volume controls and switches which leaves only the essential ports to the side panels, including an RJ45 outlet for wired Ethernet connectivity, three USB 2.0 ports, two audio jacks and an SD/MMC/MC card reader slot.

As borderline dull as its exterior make it appear, it’s really no slouch with fine inner workings helmed by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor. RedFox’s clients in the past may actually be surprised with this as they have been known in the past for carrying AMD processors, but as the brand has expressed, they have no exclusivity deals with AMD and the decision to include an Atom chip is a highly ingenious strategic move in our opinion, bringing the Wizbook line up to par with its more familiar peers. An 80GB hard drive is built into the machine which is fairly more than enough for your personal files and additional applications, considering the primary functions netbooks have been set out to accomplish, for communication and content consumption rather than content creation.

The Wizbook1020i comes preloaded with Linux Linpus Lite that comes with a handful of open-source goodies like the Open Office word processing suite, Mozilla Firefox Web browser, Skype for IM and VoIP, and an entire slew of productivity applications for work, study and games. As it was in the past, this operating system offers two types of user interfaces; a tab-based one that organizes each application in tabs tagged as Internet, Work, Learn, Play and Settings, and one that emulates the traditional Windows desktop. Navigation on both interfaces are a cinch to use, employing a completely user-friendly environment even for the common Windows or Mac user, letting you get to your desired application or setting in as few clicks as possible. And with the Linux OS comes a very fast startup and good operation speeds even during multitasking, propped up by a gigabyte of memory. In addition, you can also shell out an extra couple of thousand bucks if you want Windows XP running the show instead.

Sure we may have seen it all before when it comes to its physical attributes, but with a good spec and features list, an array of connectivity options, the Wizbook1020i is easily a good netbook you can rely on for your daily needs and basic multimedia playback. We can easily see this as a good secondary notebook road warriors and students can lug around and probably even as a dependable kitchen communication and computing device for the homemaker.

While it isn’t exactly groundbreaking when it comes to its specs, features and, most importantly, its borderline, nondescript appearance, it’s not bad either. In fact, the Redfox wizbook1020i sits tightly up there as one of the better netbooks we’ve tested so far. And it’s Just right for its price.

Processor	Intel Atom 1.6GHz
Operating System	Linux Linpus Lite
Memory	1GB
Storage	80GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Ethernet LAN, modem, USB 2.0
Display	10.2-inch LCD screen
Dimensions / Weight	254x189x39mm / 1.25kg

]]> http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-redfox-wizbook1020i/feed/ 0 http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-asus-p5q3-deluxe-wifi-ap-n/ http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-asus-p5q3-deluxe-wifi-ap-n/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:27:51 +0000 Jon http://pcworld.com.ph/?p=309

March 15, 2009

Motherboard-On-the-Go
By Billy Joe I. Allardo
Published in the November 2008 print edition of PC World Philippines

Asus P5Q3 Deluxe wi-Fi-AP @n
www.lenovo.com/ph

Nope, the image is not a misprint. The Asus P5Q3 Deluxe initially looks like the Asus P5Q Premium we had last September due to its same copper heatsink design and the layout of the expansion slots. Based on Intel’s P45 Northbridge chipset, the Asus P5Q3 Deluxe is actually beefier than the other aforementioned Asus motherboard. It offers the same support for dual- and quad-core Intel LGA775 processors with bus speeds of 1600MHz, but this board can support up to 16GB of 1600/1333/1066/800MHz DDR3 memory.

1600/1333/1066/800MHz DDR3 memory. The Southbridge Intel ICH10R chip can oversee up to six Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s devices with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations. On the other hand, a Marvell 88SE6121 manages the Parallel ATA header and the lone external Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s port. A Silicon Image SIL5723 supports two more Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s, but enhances it with a unique technology that allows immediate backups and boosted file transfers.

What makes Asus P5Q3 Deluxe a little bit more special is its wireless capability, as it comes with an embedded WiFi card. All you need to do is to screw in the pair of the bundled antennas, and upload the needed driver from the utility CD. The built-in WiFi card is compatible with the draft 802.11n standard, making it capable of connecting up to 300Mbps, yet it is backwards compatible with earlier 802.11g/b standards. The setup is straightforward, and it also allows for switching between client and access point modes.

It has a dual Gigabit Ethernet port for network purposes. As for connectivity, the rear I/O ports features six USB hubs with Firewire and external Serial ATA ports.

Like most Asus motherboards lately, the board comes equipped with Express Gate, a Linux-based operating system (OS) that allows immediate use without having to wait for the main OS to boot up. After filling up the necessary network parameters, you can browse the Internet using a Mozilla Firefox-based browser, view stored images, and create or answer e-mails or instant messages. I find Express Gate useful for doing quick tasks.

Perhaps the most overlooked feature of the Asus P5Q3 Deluxe is its layout, designed to maximize power distribution by lessening heat emission at the same time, thus stabilizing the system while prolonging the integrity of each attached component. The heatsink zigzags in between the parts that radiate the most heat, coupled by choice capacitors and transistors that aim to provide a stable performance under intense heat generated from long PC uptimes.

I find the Asus P5Q3 Deluxe as a full-featured motherboard that can figure in a number of specific themes. The performance chipset can serve as the backbone of a high-end PC, armed with a top-end processor, a set of brawny graphics cards, with a lot of memory. It can also serve as the central computer of a network hub. Its embedded Wi-Fi card enables it to be the main access point to which other wireless devices will hook up to.

In addition, the Express Gate utility provides on-the-go ability, giving you the opportunity to pour over e-mails, instant messages, and the latest news before heading out.

March 3, 2009

MSI P45-8D Memory Lover
By Billy Joe I. Allardo
Published in the December 2008-January 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

P8,950
www.msi.com.tw

It is normal to see eight memory modules on a server motherboard, as its likely environment requires a high memory count to meet the demands of number-crunching processes. With this in mind, eight DIMM slots on a desktop board can be quite rare.

The MSI P45-8D Memory Lover does. It literally stays true to its name by having eight pastel colored memory slots on it, giving it the ability to handle up to four DDR2 or four DDR3 memory types. Of course, you could not plop the said types altogether as both run at different speeds, but you can run four at a time though, with the slots evenly divided between the two aforementioned types. The board can support up to 16GB 1066/800/667MHz DDR2 or 8GB 1600/1333/1066/800 DDR3.

The Memory Lover can prop dual- and quad-core Intel LGA775 processors with a front side bus of up to 1600MHz as well as single-core LGA775-based Celeron units. Managing its Northbridge devices is an Intel P45 chip while the Southbridge is controlled by an Intel ICH10R that can run up to eight Serial ATA 3Gb/s devices with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations.

In spite of the excessive memory options, the Memory Lover sorely lacks the facility to expand. It only has one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot, that goes along with a solitary PCI-E x1 and three PCI slots. The single PCI-E x16 slot automatically takes away the possibility of employing a multi-GPU setup for a more powerful approach to graphics-intensive applications.

It would have been nice if the board also has an embedded graphics chip, to further exploit its memory capacity and save some money in the process. The mentioned items could have benefited from the proprietary technologies that MSI added that includes the solid-state capacitors and shielded chokes for better power handling and a built-in overclocking switch that enables direct system tweaking with preset settings.

The MSI P45-8D Memory Lover could have been great, if it had maximized the potential of its memory capacity and the Intel P45 chip. Yet it finds a specific niche among people who currently prefer using the prevalent DDR2 memory, but would likely switch to the faster DDR3 type once the price drops.

In spite of the bevy of memory slots, you can use up to four slots and only one type at a time for superior memory flexibility. Yet the drawbacks are apparent, centering most on the failure to utilize fully the memory capacity and the Northbridge chip.

Form Factor	ATX
Socket	Intel LGA775
Chipset(s)	Intel P45, Intel ICH10R
Memory	1066/800/667MHz DDR2 (40), 16GB max 1600/1333/1066/600 DDR3 (3), 8GB
Expansion	PCI-E 2.0 x 16, PCI-E x1, Pci (3)
SysMark 2007	88
3dMark 2006	8702 (1280×800)
3dMark Vantage (CPU)	3357 (1280×800) 3349 (1440×800)
3dMark Vantage (GPU)	6652 (1280×800) 5389 (1440×900)
FEAR (Direct 9.0c)	155 (1280×960)
Company of Heroes (DirectX 10)	52.8 (1280×800) 50.4 (1440×900)

]]> http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-msi-p45-8d-memory-lover/feed/ 0 http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-samsung-scx-4300/ http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-samsung-scx-4300/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:57:31 +0000 Jon http://pcworld.com.ph/?p=399

March 3, 2009

Samsung SCX-4300
By Luis Anthony G. Oliveros

P5,995
www.samsung.com.ph

The glossy black SCX-4300 is the sole multifunction printer in the triumvirate of Samsung‘s affordable laser printing solutions we received in the mail for testing. It’s intended to be a personal printer tethered to one computer which justifies the USB 2.0 port on its rear being its sole data connection; but if you want to hook it up to a network to share it with various other machines, you may want to look around for other printers or consider the Samsung ML-00D print server as an additional purchase.

The 250-sheet automatic document feeder practically lines the base with a manual feeder and the output tray right above it. Meanwhile, lifting the top lid reveals the scanner that bears a maximum optical resolution of 600x2400dpi that yielded clear and bright results albeit a little too rich on the reddish hues during our colored scan tests and lacked contrast by a certain degree because the blacks looked a tad bit pale on the monochrome scans upon close inspection. On the other hand, it produced nice contrast when we tested its copying capabilities, with the blacks appearing clearly although there was some amount of bleeding around the edges and hints of ink clumping when it came to the arches, loops and slants in the letters of the copied document. These, in retrospect, were barely visible, noticed only under our scrutinizing magnifying glass.

A control panel is also present at the top along with a two-line, 16-character LCD screen that displays a very user-friendly interface.

When it comes to printing, the SCX-4300 prints at a decent speed; it churns out at a rated 18ppm, completing our 10-page document a little past the 14- second mark, our text and graphics combo document in about 7.78 seconds and our photo a few nanoseconds past five seconds. It may not be as fast as most of the laser printers we’ve tested in the past, but frankly, if you’re docking this printer in a small office setup merely
for basic school and office needs, the few second discrepancies may not actually matter at all.

It produces good quality monochrome text outputs with clear blacks and clean distinct lines on optimal quality settings, given that  its maximum resolution is at a mere 600x600dpi. The quality faltered by just a little bit on the draft printouts though, by way of tiny bleeds outside character borders. Again, these were nearly imperceptible to the unaided eye. What isn’t very indiscernible however, are the tiny bandings present, awkwardly appearing outside the positively bold blacks and on top of the indistinct shades of gray that diminished the amount of detailing.

Not the fastest nor does it have the best printing output in general, but the Samsung SCX-4300 does a fine job for copying and scanning, and even churns out good monochrome text prints. Not really for the mission-critical environment if you’re looking for a device to handle intensive tasks. It will, however, be a good multifunction printing solution you can rely on for basic functions.

Print Speed	18ppm (A4)
Maximum Print Resolution	600x600dpi
Maximum Optical Resolution	600x2400dpi
Maximum Copies	99 copies
Connectivity	USB 2.0
Memory	8MB
Dimensions / Weight	406x375x231mm / 9.65kg

]]> http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-samsung-scx-4300/feed/ 0 http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-msi-4850-2d512-oc/ http://pcworld.com.ph/reviews-msi-4850-2d512-oc/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:36:36 +0000 Jon http://pcworld.com.ph/?p=392

February 10, 2009

Instant Performer
By Billy Joe I. Allardo
Published in the December 2008-January 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

MSI 4850 2D512 OC
P9,990
www.msi.com.tw

The MSI 4850 2D512 OC that visited our lab literally looks like the MSI N9600GT Hybrid Freezer we had a couple of months back. It employs the same cooling mechanism that features an intricate set of aluminum fins, woven with thick copper pipes for extra heat dissipation, and topped by a hard clear plastic and a sizeable fan.

Built around ATI’s mid-level graphics solution – the 55nm fabricated RV770 PRO – the card comes already overclocked. Its engine clock is up to 640MHz from the normal 625MHz, though the memory clock remains at 1.986GHz. This tweak allows a bit more rendering for in-game objects, which bodes well for users who do not want to meddle with hardware settings.

In this setting, the card was able to get a score of 8590 in 3DMark 2006 and rates of 56.8 and 171 frames per second, in Company of Heroes and FEAR, respectively. Compared to the scores garnered by the previous graphics cards we tried out, the ones got by the MSI 4850 2D512 OC are quite competitive. On screen, the lighting and shadows were sufficient, the same goes for the details on in-game items like trees and cobblestone streets.

Still, you can further adjust the clocks. Given the attached cooling mechanism and the capabilities of the chip, it is safe to say that the card has enough grit to withstand the increase in power flow, though it is better if you have a robust overall cooling setup inside the CPU. To provide more power handling, the card comes equipped with solid-state capacitors and chokes, lined specifically to even out-current loads.

We were able to up the engine clock by 9.38 percent and the memory clock by 11.98 percent. Unfortunately, the scores went a tad down (see the table below), though the graphics quality remained pretty much the same making the MSI 4850 2D512 OC as good as it comes out of the box. In addition, the card supports multi-GPU deployment with the dual CrossFire slots it has above it.

To exploit its potential further, MSI bundled the card with a number of utility software. There is the Live suite that enables users to receive BIOS, driver, and utility updates, while Vivid enables fine-tuning of graphic quality. WMIinfo list provides a detailed list of system information while LockBox gives a user a frontline password protection. Despite being a mid-tier offering, the MSI 4850 2D512 OC provides enough oomph to get through graphics-laden games and applications without even yanking its settings.

Already a steady and good performer on its normal settings, its cooling mechanism bodes well for long uptimes and medium-to-heavy graphics loads.

Bus Standard	PCI-Express x16 2.0
Video Memory	512MB GDDR3
Memory Interface	256-bit
Engine Clock	640MHz
Memory Clock	1.986GHz (993MHz per channel)
Connectivity	DVI (2), S-Video
3DMark 2006	8590 (1280×768), 8431 (1440×900)
FEAR (Direct 3D 9.0c)	171 (1280×960), 155 (1400×1050)
Company of Heroes (DirectX 10x)	56.8 (1280×768), 49.8 (1440×900)
Engine Clock	700MHz
Memory Clock	2.22GHz (1112MHz per channel)
3DMark 2006	8570 (1280×768), 8417 (1440×900)
FEAR (Direct 3D 9.0c)	171 (1280×960), 159 (1400×900)
Company of Heroes (DirectX 10.x)	55.9 (1280×768), 50.9 (1440×900)

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