Not every computer needs to have a four billion hertz processor and the world's best video card. Just like power tools, some jobs require raw power while other jobs require more finesse. When the job at hand involves video, web applications, light gaming or light office work it doesn't make sense to use a supercomputer or even a high-performance machine. This idea has become mainstream through the recent marketing of netbooks (internet notebooks) and video sharing devices, but even those platforms do not suit all light application needs. In this article Benchmark Reviews will test a nettop (internet desktop) from MSI; Wind Box model 6667BB-004US. This barebones PC kit is like an older, more capable sibling to the netbook. But how does it measure up against other alternatives?

Overclockers around the world use Corsair memory kits for their high-speed performance. Similarly, Corsair SSD storage products have continued this tradition. The Corsair Nova V128 CSSD-V128GB2-BRKT is an Indilinx-ECO Solid State Drive kit that designed to deliver 270 MB/s maximum read speeds and offer 195 MB/s writer performance. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests ACHI speeds for the Corsair Nova-series V128 SSD against the fastest SSDs available.

Intel offers something for everyone, as their extensive product line can prove. The chipmaker produces desktop, notebook, server, and personal digital appliance CPUs, Ethernet and Wi-Fi network processors, and countless co-processor units. Keep this in mind as Benchmark Reviews presents the Intel Core i7-980X processor, a six-core Westmere 32nm CPU. Codenamed Gulftown, this 3.33GHz Extreme Edition processor features an unlocked clock speed multiplier with twelve computing threads and a 12MB cache. Built for the Intel X58-Express enthusiast platform, Benchmark Reviews tests the BX80613I7980X retail part in gaming, computing, and overclocking performance.

Last year ASUS introduced the 785G chipset, one of their latest chipset with integrated graphics. This comes on the back of other recently successful chipsets with integrated graphics such as the 780G and 790GX. In true AMD fashion, we can tell a lot about the chipset by its numbering. The 785G is an upgraded version of the 780G and keeps a lot of the same features. Many motherboard manufacturers have been making products with the new chipset and, of course, ASUS is one of the top names. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will be examining the ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO Micro-ATX AM3 Motherboard. We will be specifically looking at the differences between this board, with the 785G chipset, and the similar 780G and 790GX chipsets. The ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO is being marketed as great combination for the Athlon-II line of processors because of its budget price-point. For this reason, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO against older equipment in order to provide an idea of the upgradeability offered by this motherboard.

The SandForce SF-1200 SATA-3GBps controller is new to the industry, yet many manufacturers are already hailing it as the replacement for Indilinx's industry-leading Barefoot SSD processor. SandForce adds DuraClass technology to their SF-1200 processor, a new technology which claims to provide best-in-class endurance, performance, and lower power consumption. DuraWrite technology extends the endurance of MLC-NAND memory by providing at least five-year lifecycles measured with 3000-5000 cycle MLC flash. Additionally, SandForce RAISE technology provides RAID-like protection for single SSD computer systems, and data is secured with AES-128 automatic encryption. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the SandForce SF-1200 Solid State Drive processor used in the ADATA S599 SSD.

Network storage has become the convenient answer to centralized data for corporate enterprise environments. The QNAP TS-459 Pro NAS server uses the energy-efficient 1.66GHz Intel Atom D512 processor with 1GB of DDR2 system memory to enable VMware Ready iSCSI for virtualization deployments. Dual Gigabit Ethernet network interfaces allow failover safety, while four SATA drives deliver basic-disk or RAID configurations. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests performance of the QNAP TS-459 Pro against several other network attached storage servers.

Overclockers and PC hardware enthusiasts understand that system memory performs best with low latency and fast speeds, but both seldom come in the same package. Corsair offers the exception. Available with XMP eXtreme Memory Profile support, the Corsair Dominator-GT DDR3 memory kit can deliver 2000 MHz at CL7. Sold in dual- and triple-channel kits, Benchmark Reviews tests the CMG6GX3M3A2000C7 set against a wide range of modules in our RAM tests using the six-core Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition processor.