SandForce is the hot ticket in SSD controller technology for 2010, offering outstanding bandwidth speed and operational performance. SandForce RAISE technology provides redundant protection for single SSD computer systems, while data is automatically secured with AES-128 encryption. The SandForce SF-1200 controller has already found its way into many of the fastest SSDs available, and now RunCore utilizes the SandForce SF-1222TA3-SBH processor in their Pro-V prosumer MLC SSD series. Benchmark Reviews tests the 200GB RunCore Pro-V SSD, model RCP-V-S2520-MCN, against some of the most popular storage devices available and demonstrates that 4K IOPS performance is more important than speed.

Most PC users are familiar with the 4GB system memory limitation of 32-bit Windows Operating Systems, which is why 64-bit computing has become the standard for computer enthusiasts. Occasionally though, a computer system will not report the correct amount of RAM installed. In this article, our 64-bit Windows 7 test system had 6.00 GB of installed memory but indicates only 4.00 GB usable RAM available. While some may dismiss this as a case of defective RAM, you might be surprised by the culprit. Benchmark Reviews troubleshoots Installed Memory vs RAM Usable by Windows.

In early May 2010, AMD released a new series of processors that fills in some of the gaps in their Athlon-II and Phenom-II Dual, Triple, and Quad-Core Lines. Most of the newly released processors are really just 100MHz clock speed bumps on the old versions. In this article Benchmark Reviews focuses on the newly released AMD Athlon-II X2-260 Regor AM3 ADX260OCK23GQ processor. Based on the Regor core, the Athlon-II X2-260 has a 3.2GHz clock speed, up 100MHz from the Athlon-II X2-255 at 3.1Ghz which was released in January 2010. The Athlon-II X2-260 is at the very low end of the newly released processors and represents a value based market at only $76. Benchmark Reviews is going to directly compare the Athlon-II X2-260 to its predecessor to see just what advantages can be found in the new chip running 100MHz faster.

ASUS has been a longtime partner to Intel, and both companies have been made better because of their relationship. But when it comes to new technology, sometimes Intel takes a little too long to implement change while ASUS prefers to offer their faithful consumers the options right away. Intel's tick-tock plan doesn't coincide with the technical improvements made to areas outside of processor development, such as SuperSpeed USB-3.0 or Revision 3.x SATA 6.0-Gbps (aka SATA-III) controllers. Most hardware enthusiasts agree that it's awkward to see Intel's "Enthusiast" branded X58-Express chipset paired to older standards while "Mainstream" P55 motherboards enjoy the better and faster new ones. ASUS feels the same way, and now offers their P6X58D-Premium motherboard to forward-thinking enthusiasts who might not want to wait for the launch of Intel's X68-Express platform. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests several X58-based motherboard against the ASUS P6X58D-Premium in head-to-head graphics, processor, memory, and SSD storage performance.

Gamers want the best system they can get their hands on. This means a blazing fast CPU, dual video cards, and good ram. However, all this is potentially useless if you pair this system with an unreliable mouse. Mionix aims to prevent this problem by unleashing the latest addition to their lineup of gaming peripherals: the Naos 5000. Boasting up to 5040 dpi, switchable profiles and a unique weight tuning system, the Mionix Naos 5000 stands above all else. As a newcomer to the computer peripheral scene, Mionix, a small company based in Sweden, may not be a name familiar to gamers. However, this doesn't stop them from providing a wide range of solid gaming accessories. In this article, Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the Mionix Naos 5000. Keep reading to find out if this mouse really is light-years ahead of the game.

The Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P50R is a mid-size tower with a sleek black exterior, and some serious red highlights. Taking advantage of the full aluminum construction, Lian Li lets a bucket of red anodizing die loose on the interior, and the result is stunning. The case also comes outfitted with four red LED fans that enhance the AMD theme. Lian Li has never been shy about dressing up its signature products, and they've produced some of the most original and striking PC gaming cases that I can remember. Special attention has been focused on the tool-free features of the case, and the case is lightweight to make it suitable for LAN parties. Many features aid in getting a full gaming system built or reconfigured quickly and cable management is simple, yet effective. Benchmark Reviews is pleased to review this special AMD Dragon edition of the Lian Li PC-P50 series.

SSDs are both PC and Mac friendly, which is great news since Apple Computers have made significant progress taking up market share over the past decade. Although Mac computers can be expensive, Other World Computing offers hardware upgrades at prices that compete with the PC market. One such product, the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro-RE, is one of the most affordable SandForce-based SSD's available. SandForce-based SSDs are getting tremendous attention from the industry, and products based on the SF-1222 controller have demonstrated exceptional operational performance and speed. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the 100GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro-RE, model SSDMXRE100, against some of the fastest storage solutions on the market.

With the release of the new 6-core Thuban processors, AMD unveiled their latest chipset to go with it; the 890FX/GX. Very similar to the 790FX chipset, the 890GX is the first ever to support native SATA III 6Gb/s. In this article Benchmark Reviews takes an in depth look at one of the Biostar's latest motherboards built around the 890GX chipset. The Biostar TA890GXB-HD mATX AM3 Motherboard is an entry-level board that, as the G suggests, pairs with onboard graphics in order to give budget minded users the option of using the latest technologies with the option of taking some of the pressure off their pockets. AMD has a reputation, especially recently, of making good quality products available to the everyday users and enthusiasts that might not be able to afford their hobby otherwise. The 890GX chipset is recommended for use with Phenom-II processors and it pairs quite well with the Athlon-II series as well, which are the most likely pairing for the Biostar TA890GXB-HD AM3 Motherboard, given its price. We will be pitting the TA890GXB-HD against the older 785G chipset to see just what type of performance the new chipset offers.