You might not have heard of StarTech.com, but they sell everything from audio and video products to cables to computer power supplies.

The DisplayPort to VGA Converter we have to review today is one of those many products and can support PC resolutions of up to 1920×1200 as well as HDTV resolutions up to 1080p. Thanks to the gold plated connectors, connectivity between the two devices is very strong and you shouldn’t experience any problems regarding loose or faulty connections.

If we take a look around the converter, we have the DisplayPort on one end, which will plug in to the DisplayPort on your MacBook Pro, or whatever your computer of choice is.

Moving to the other side, we have the standard VGA cable, which you’ll use to hook up your monitor or TV to the computer.

If you’re looking for an adapter that features a Mini DisplayPort for use with your MacBook Air, then StarTech.com also have these and more available via their website.

After hooking up the StarTech.com DisplayPort to VGA Converter, everything was very quick and the quality on my external monitor was very good.

When compared with the official Apple adapter that I purchased a few months ago, the StarTech.com adapter is of an extremely high quality and I experience no fuzziness or static on the monitor, unlike the Apple adapter which I eventually just chucked in the bin because it was annoying me so much!

Verdict

Overall, for the relatively low price, you’re receiving a very high quality product that features gold-plated connections making the connection between devices much more stable.

The StarTech.com DisplayPort to VGA Converter is ideal for anyone who’s looking to hook up an external monitor to their laptop or PC, and if you’ve looked at the review for some of the official Apple adapters then you will know that this is, by far, the more superior product.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Affordable
• High quality parts

Cons

• None

10/10

Click here to view the embedded video.

Introduction

Have you ever looked for a watch that looks so insane it looks like it’s came from an alien planet? Well today we’ve managed to get our hands on Tokyo Flash’s latest watch, known as the Kisai Rouge Touch.

The box is well designed and it has japanese artwork over it. When opened, the watch is instantly looking right back at you. You also get receive an instruction booklet explaining the ins and outs of the Kisai Rogue Touch.

Overview

The watch has a polished stainless steel gunmetal finish, which gives it that shiny hi-tech look. The screen is a LCD/LED hybrid display making it super easy for you to see in the display in the sunlight, and when the you press the touch screen it will glow making it even easier to read. It has four key points on the screen where you can touch to make activate various commands such as changing the time, setting an alarm or simply the glow.

As you can probably see from the pictures, telling the time might be a struggle. However, it becomes very easy to read after a couple hours of use and eventually becomes second nature. Below is a diagram from Tokyo Flash showing you how easy it is to read the time.

Here you can see the layout. In the top left, you have the hours and each block indicates a hour. Let’s say the third block around was missing, this would mean it was 3 o’clock. Then, the minutes are just as easy; if there are twenty blocks appearing below the hour blocks, then that means it’s 3:20. Then, in the middle you can set a second time zone, I usually set mine to New York. Easy Peasy!

You can do other things with the watch such as, set alarms, sett the date and even go in to “animation mode”, which is where the blocks move a little. To change the time you simply hold the right hand side of the touch screen and then slide your finger around the screen clockwise or anti-clockwise depending on what time it is. Reading this, you are probably thinking “this will take me ages!” but you will be very surprised at how easy it actually is to set and read the time.

The design as a whole is very unique  and I have never seen a watch quite like it. The stainless steel and bright blue LCD display go very well together and looks like some kind of alien watch whilst strapped round your wrist. You can choose from four different colours on Tokyo Flash’s Website from red to green, all of which give off this ‘alien’ like appearance.

Tokyo Flash have also managed to put a touchscreen LCD display into very compact device. It isn’t the thinnest of watches, but it’s surprisingly thin for a touch screen watch. It weighs in at 120g, which means it’s not the lightest of watches to have round your wrist, but whilst wearing it I hardly noticed it was there. The case dimensions are 44 x 53.3 x 15mm and it is water resistant to 3ATM, so it’s only really resistance to splashes, which means don’t go swimming with this thing on.

Verdict

All in all, this watch looks amazing and is like no other watch out there. It looks good with its polished steel and its LCD display, but, most of all, the watch face is just incredible. The only couple of problems I had were that it might be too chunky for some people’s tastes and setting your clock details could be easier. It’s not too much of a problem, but does take some time. An incredible looking product.

4/5

Product Overview

Jabra have been known to do high quality bluetooth accessories in the past and now that I have my hands on another one of their products I was glad to review it. The packaging was very professional and the outside of the box looked good. The product itself didn’t have much weight to it which was surprising, it has 3 speakers in the front with several command buttons around the device. On the back it has a metal clip which you can use as a stand or simply clipping onto anything you want. It does have small grips on the bottom if your placing it down but these dont work very well when driving around a sharp corner so its best to clip it onto something.

The speakers were nice and very clear, and you can simply pump up the volume by using the buttons. It has built in voice commands so when you press the “Voice” button you can say a few commands such as “Answer” to answer calls or “Play” to play your music library i found this extremely useful and it really felt like you can interact with the product without even touching it.

The call quality was fine, I had no problems with the sound of incoming calls and the callers on the other end said the quality was fine, one problem I had is when your mobile phone is ringing the mic in the Jabra Freeway finds it hard to hear you so you do need to put your phone on silent when communicating with the Freeway.

Overall Verdict

Overall this product is perfect for people not wanting a bluetooth headset, and something they can just clip on in their car. Sound quality is good and the voice commands are just perfect but could do with a few more.

4/5

Introduction

A common trend which has grown considerably over the last year is the idea of a ‘Green PC’ – a computer system which uses minimal power. Although entailing much lower specifications than your average computer, these energy efficient PC’s usually come with much more appealing price tags. Therefore, for students, businesses and home users looking for a computer which can handle everyday tasks, it makes for a very tempting purchase.

Today we have for review a pre-built ‘Green PC’ from UK computer manufacturer, Novatech. The system has been named the ‘Ion Home PC’ and comes at a mere price tag of just £163.74 for the most basic model. Is this low spec’d computer system the ideal candidate for the home office? Let’s run it through a bunch of synthetic and real-life benchmarks and find out…

About Novatech

“In February 1987 Novatech was founded with a simple ethic of supplying high quality products at the lowest possible prices with excellent customer service. Novatech are now one of the UK's top mail order computer suppliers employing over 150 people at their HQ in Portsmouth.”

The Product Naming: Novatech Ion

In terms of computing, ION is an Nvidia based graphics processor which has been designed to work on low power PC’s. Central processors such as the Intel Atom 230 which is used in this system can be coupled with ION technology to turn a basic work computer into an all-singing, all-dancing ITX machine capable of watching 1080P content and playing DX10 games.

Although the name, ‘Novatech ION’ may seem to imply that this PC boasts Nvidia’s ION technology, to my amazement it does not. Instead it uses Intel’s 945GC Chipset which includes the rather awful Intel 82954G graphics adapter. Don’t be put off by it yet though; we haven’t even opened the box!

Introduction

As many of you will know, unless using a handsfree device, it’s illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving in the UK. If caught doing so it means an unfortunate £60 fine and three points on the driver’s license. Moreover, there’s also the obvious risk involved. Driving whilst trying to use a mobile phone is distracting, distracting enough that it can easily cause a death.

The Iqua VizorSun costs just £55 at Mobile Fun – less than a single mobile phone fine in the UK. It’s Bluetooth compatible, which means less wires if any. Also, its solar powered and can also be charged via a cigarette lighter or a USB connection. Sounds good, don’t you think? To find out if it truly is, let’s put it to the test. Introducing the Iqua Vizor Sun Handsfree kit…

About Iqua

“In 2004, a group of experienced Nokia directors created a new global wireless brand – a brand that is inspired by users, and focused on providing the ultimate in mobile enjoyment. Human and sensual, simple and intuitively smart, Iqua was created to appeal to the senses and the minds of its consumers. With wireless accessories as its core business, Iqua is able to push product innovation further and create new trends. With Iqua, professional experience drives the product development, while user experience drives the popular demand.”

Iqua’s take on the VIZORSun

Unlimited talk time. The easiest carkit to use. With unlimited talk time and Iqua’s signature easy-to-use, unique design featuring a flexible UI panel and large dedicated buttons, the Iqua Vizor SUN will prove to be an essential companion to your travels on the road. It uniquely recharges itself through the windshield of your car, utilizing the sun’s solar energy while driving.

Features

• Answer/end/reject call
• Last number redial
• Voice dial
• Call waiting
• Volume control, mute
• Fast dial (number picked up from incoming call)
• Auto connect

Introduction

Lamptron specialises in a variety of different products including LEDs, Noise Reduction Kits, Fan Controllers and many more computer accessories. Today we are going to be reviewing the Lamptron FC-2 Rheobus Fan Controller. With its ability to control up to 6 fans at a maximum output of 45 watts per channel it sounds pretty promising, let’s see how it performs.

About Lamptron

“Lamptron develops and markets the next generation of high performance computer peripherals using the latest technology that enables a new level of interaction between the end-user and their personal computer. Products developed are through a combination of proprietary technology, innovation and ergonomic industrial design.”

Features and Specifications

• Dimension:150mm*43mm*73mm (5.25″ Bay)
• Power Output:45 w per channel
• Control Channel:6 Channels
• Colour Available: Black Anodized/Silver Aluminium
• DC Input: + 12V(Standard 4- Pin Connector)
• DC Output: 0V- 12V DC
• LED Indicator:10* Super-bright Blue LED
• Fan Connectors: x6

Introduction

When the Asus Eee PC was launched into stores, the low spec’d, portable and budget notebook took the tech world by storm. Its upgradability and low price tag meant that it was the perfect budget notebook solution for many. Asus is back, back with a desktop equivalent to the Eee PC. Introducing the Asus Eee Box…

About Asus

“ASUS comes from the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology that represents the inspiration of art and learning. ASUS embodies the strength, creative spirit and purity symbolized by this regal and agile mythical creature, soaring to new heights of quality and innovation with each product it introduces to the market.”

Features

• Delivers high definition entertainment for maximum enjoyment
• Connect your HDTVs and projectors via HDMI
• Provides supreme convenience with a full-featured media player and remote control
• Small—only 1L
• Saves up to 90% in energy consumption
• Barely audible in operation—only 26dB

Specifications

Introduction

The CPU Cooler we have here today is a little different on the usual tower-format design; the distinctive V-shape makes this product stand out but will it be able to compete with the tried and tested tower-format that has dominated in recent times? Introducing the Scythe Kama Angle…

Kama Angle

Features

• Airflow Vector Structure:

  Optimize the airflow through your system by utilizing the PSU and rear case fans.

• MultiFan Mount Structure:

  Install the supplied 120 mm fan in a number of locations to aid airflow and improve compatibility by avoiding interference with other components.

• 4-Way Mounting is Available:

  Allows the user to rotate the cooler 360° providing greater flexibility.

• Wide Range Cooling Purposes (PWM):

  If you require a CPU cooler to be virtually silent, or you want it for overclocking, this cooler has every angle covered!

Specifications

Model Name: KAMA ANGLE

Model: SCANG-1000

Manufacturer: Scythe Co., Ltd. Japan

Heatsink

Dimension: 123 x 123 x 160 mm     4 7/8 x 4 7/8 x 6 1/4 inch

Weight: 640 g     1.41 lb

Base plate-Material: Nickel-plated copper

Fan

Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25 mm     4 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 1 inch

Weight: 115 g     0.25 lb

Speed: 324 ~ 1,200 rpm (±10%) PWM Function

Noise Level: 6.4 ~ 24 dBA

Air Flow 14.43 ~ 68.54 CFM

Bearing: Sleeve Bearing

Thermal Elixer [Scyte-1000]

Features

• For CPU and GPU:

  Scythe Thermal Elixer can be used both for CPUs as well as for GPUs.

• Perfect heat transfer between cooler and GPU / CPU:

  Scythe Thermal Elixer allows an optimal heat transfer between the CPU / GPU and heatsink.

• High performance thermal grease- ideal for Overclockers:

  Measured at a TPD of 180 W, new Scythe Elixer thermal grease is 5% better than standard Scythe thermal grease.

Specifications

• Model Name:

  Scythe Thermal Elixer Thermal Grease

• Model-Number: SCYTE-1000
• Weight:

  3.5 g = 0.12 oz. / Tube

• Thermal Resistance:

  0.032°C / W

• Thermal Conductivity:

  2.89 W/ (m·K)

GELID Solutions was born after several key players left the company Arctic Cooling and came together to form GELID. With the high quality of products produced by Arctic Cooling, let’s hope that the standard is matching with this new brand. The CPU Cooler up today for review here at Tech-Reviews is the GELID Silent Spirit. Time to find out how well the Spirit competes…

About GELID

GELID Solutions Ltd. is a Hong Kong based company with Swiss Management and founded in 2008 by Gebhard SCHERRER and VC TRAN. Both have worked in the PC Cooling industry for a number of years and successfully built up an IT company with their expertise.

GELID designs and manufactures thermal solutions, CPU coolers, fans, and other computer hardware for both gamers and silent enthusiasts. We provide computer hardware distributors, retailers and system integrators with innovative, virtually silent, high- performance and top quality thermal solutions.

Features

• Quad Sintered Heatpipes
• Unique Fin Architecture
• Special Heatsink Angle Design
• Optimized Air Flow Concept
• Intelligent PWM Fan Control Curve
• Anti-Vibration Fan Mounts

Specification

The Package

The overall package for the Silent Spirit does not simply include the heatsink; instead accompanying the main product is a tube of GELID’s very own thermal compound – GC1 High Performance Thermal Compound. There is also one more box provided which is only of interest to LGA-1366 users as it contains the mounting mechanism for this type of motherboard.

The main heatsink arrives in a cube-like box with a cut out plastic triangle on the front so as to provide a glimpse of the cooler inside. The white background with streaks of silver is host to the GELID logo, website address and product blurb – ‘Quad Powered Heatpipes CPU Cooler.’

In regards to the sides, they display the nine main features included with a small image of each one as well as a speed vs. temperature graph supposed to show off the Silent Spirit’s proportionality in this department as the line doesn’t curve upwards at high CPU usage.

The reverse of the packaging displays all the different motherboard types that the Spirit is compatible with which includes LGA 775 & 1366 and AMD 754/940/AM2/AM2+.
At the bottom there is a diagram showing the airflow concept which allows air to flow under the Heatsink as it is raised and then be extracted by the rear system fan.

In terms of accessories, there isn’t many included with this CPU Cooler but there are still a couple:

• Instruction Manual
• Clips for AMD installation
• The all important GELID sticker!

The LGA 1366 socket included in a separate box merely allows compatibility for this kind of motherboard. The clips provided attach to the Heatsink and secure using the quick release press down mechanism. This is sold seperately and is not part of of the Silent Spirit’s package.

The GC1 thermal compound is packaged in a plastic heat-shrunk capsule with cardboard backing. This displays the seven features – not quite sure how there are this many for a tube of thermal paste – and the awards given to it, notably from Driver Heaven. Provided with the paste is a spatula for evenly applying the paste. Alike the LGA 1366 clip, this too is sold seperately.

The GELID Silent Spirit CPU Cooler

The Silent Spirit’s most stand-out feature is obviously the slanted Heatsink situated above the motherboard to allow airflow to circulate beneath the main Heatsink – approximately 3.5cm of elevation. This is a simple technique but could prevent the hot air produced from the CPU from being sucked back into the fan. Instead, this allows the air to flow underneath the main body and be sucked out by the system fan.

Atop, the main heatsink is a 100mm PWM fan. This can be adjusted to spin at between 900 and 2400RPM. The cable is a 4-pin PWN connector but this is also backwards compatible with a 3-pin connector. 

Four rubber strips help to stop vibrations being transferred onto the heatsink itself which could cause a rather irritating noise.

The Silent Spirit has four heat pipes which all have rounded ends so as to give a more professional finish to them and prevent the pipes from having any sharp edges. The copper pipes are positioned both sides of the bottom block and are spaced out to give maximum heat dissipation.

Moreover, the pipes bend around and attach into the aluminium fins from the block of aluminium making a base at the bottom of the body.  The fins themselves are constructed of dimpled aluminium which is supposed to break up the laminar airflow over the fins but this seems a little too complex at the speeds at which the air will be flowing.

In terms of attaching the GELID Silent Spirit, it uses a simple clip mechanism that when the plastic ends push through the motherboard they pull outwards locking the CPU Cooler in place. This is an extremely easy installation method to use and although it isn’t quite as secure as using a back plate, it does mean that motherboard removal isn’t required which is certainly a bonus if you are just replacing the cooler. At a weight of 370g, the cooler is not exactly heavy and so the clips should have no trouble coping with any strain the Spirit may inflict on them; whereas a heavier cooler would require a back plate.

These clips come off the base block that is constructed of aluminium and allows all the clips for AMD and the LGA-1366 to attach to in order for the cooler to be fitted to these types of motherboard.
Finally, the bottom of the base has a layer of pre-applied thermal paste so need to apply any for the first installation. The bottom is also a good indicator of the quality of a CPU as the flatter and smoother the finish the better the contact with the top of the CPU allowing better heat dissipation. For the Silent Spirit, the finish is really very good and the bottom is almost completely flat; evidently GELID have taken care to give the product a good machine finish – a sure sign of quality.

Testing

Installation

I installed the CPU Cooler into the following rig:

Installation proved exceptionally easy due to the press-down clips which allow the cooler to be quickly attached without removing the motherboard. The pre-installed thermal compound also makes the first installation quicker as no more has to be applied beforehand.

The only issue was plugging in the 4-pin PSU connector as the cooler very much got in the way so I had to fiddle around with it for a while.

Methodology

To test CPU Coolers we simply boot the PC up into Windows Vista and measure temperatures under idle and load states. The temperature is recorded from the CPU’s own diode using SpeedFan.

For idle testing, we leave the PC doing nothing for half an hour and take 3 temperature readings at 10 second intervals after 30mins. We then use the average score from these as the result.

When testing at load temperatures, we use a similar method but load both cores of our CPU right to 100% by loading two processes of ‘CPU Burn-In’.

Ambient (testing environment) temperature was 19 degrees Celsius.

We’ll be comparing the Gelid Silent Spirit to the stock Intel Cooler (copper base model). Gelid’s GC1 is the thermal paste which will be used when testing both of the coolers.

The processor will be tested at stock clock.

Results

As you can see the Gelid Silent Spirit easily out-performs the Stock Intel Cooler in both idle and load states. This is expected though and although the results are good, they are not amazing which makes the Spirit a mid-range CPU cooler in terms of performance but still a good one.

Conclusion

To conclude, the GELID Silent Spirit is a very innovative cooler; it uses new concepts such as the raised main body to allow airflow under the heatsink as well as the dimpled fins to break up laminar airflow.

Moreover, the results back-up the effectiveness of these concepts with very respectable temperatures at both idle and load states.

The cost too is an added bonus with the Silent Spirit retailing at around about £18; for a cooler of this quality certainly a bargain.

On the down side, the easy installation clips mean that the cooler isn’t secured as well as it might have been by using a back plate and so this means that more strain is put on the motherboard.

Overall, this cooler is a very affordable, near-silent and good performance cooler; definitely recommended.

Pros

• Innovative
• Decent temperatures – idle and load
• Good price point
• Silent

Cons

• Slightly flimsy when installed
• Annoying to install PSU connector with cooler installed

With an ever-increasing amount of fans being fitted to the interior of a case, to allow better stability, noise outputs begin to become a concern. Therefore to enable the user to achieve their desired levels of both cooling and noise, fan controllers have been introduced to give the user versatility. Today, at Tech-Reviews we have Sunbeamtech’s latest product. I give you the Rheobus Extreme…

About Sunbeamtech

“Sunbeam Company, a true art innovator in the field of PC modification and accessories at all aspect, targets on providing the top quality and state of art computer products to high tech PC users. We dedicate outstanding high quality control as our number one priority and deliver the products with the highest level of excellent Performance, as well as the coolest Innovation and an Appearance that draws your attention.”

Features

• Aluminium design, suitable for 5.25" bay.
• 6 fan adjustable function.
• Input 12V±10%, output 0-12V±10%, (max output 30 Watt each channel)
• Various brightness knob design, the brightness control by Knob.

Specifications

• DC Input: +12V (Standard 4-pin Connector)
• DC Output: 0v – 12V DC
• LED Lamps: 12*Blue LED 5.0V
• 3-Pin Fan Connectors: 6
• Fan RPM Knobs: 6
• Dimensions:  148mm x 42mm x 82mm

The Package

The exterior of the Rheobus extreme is roughly the same size as the product and depicts a large image on the front of the silver version of the controller. Aside from this image, the front is relatively basic with the only other point mentioned is that there’s a maximum of 30W per channel.

Moving to the back of the packaging, there isn’t really much to say, just the usual lists of features and specifications.

In addition to the main product are a series of accessories:

• User guide
• Power wire
• RPM signal wire for motherboard
• 3pin to 3pin
• 4 screws

The Sunbeamtech Rheobus Extreme

The Sunbeamtech Rheobus Extreme comes in two colours: black and silver. We were kindly sent the silver version. The front panel is aluminium but covered with an acrylic cover which is attached over it.

Overall, there are six channels and this relates to the six clear knobs on the front. As a result of the knobs being manufactured out of clear plastic, two small LEDs situated behind each knob create a blue glow which certainly adds some much needed aesthetics. Moreover, the brightness of the lights is in proportion to the speed setting of the fan.

The only down side to these LEDs is that there is no way to turn them off and consequently this could become a little annoying.

Each knob has its own individual labelling in black lettering with the words “LO” and “HI” as well as the number in roman numerals below each channel.

The dials themselves operate very smoothly and there is little resistance or noise when each is turned.

The back of the Rheobus Extreme is where all the connections for the power, output and input are located. According to the packaging, each channel has a rating of 30 watts and so there are heatsinks installed to dissipate the inevitable heat that is produced.

I did notice some issues with the back, though. For one the controller appears to be made quickly with little attention to detail and as a result the heatsinks to do not seem fully secure. Also, the aligning of the fan connectors was not particularly neat.

Finally, the bottom simply has twelve solder pads which hold the heatsinks in place.

Powered up, the controller gives out a cold blue glow.

Installation & Testing

To test the Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme we installed it in the rig listed below and made notes of any faults/ findings from the installation.

Test Setup

Firstly, to install the fan controller into the case, I simply removed one of the front panels beneath the ODD and slotted the controller in. Then it was easily attached by a few screws.

Once this was complete, all that remained was to connect up the 4-pin power lead to the PSU and then connect up all the fans (the two system fans and the CPU fan) to the controller using the correct leads.

Once I powered up my PC, the Rheobus came to life and on came all the blue LEDs which immediately illuminated the front of my case.

I adjusted the fan settings of both my system fans and the CPU fan and was easily able to create a balance that suited me depending on the level of cooling I required. It is exceptionally useful for when your PC is just left idle as you can turn down the speed of all your fans and so reduce the noise significantly.

Similarly, when playing a game, I was able to whack up the fans rpm’s so as to achieve a much higher level of cooling.

Cost

The Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme is currently retailing at about £17.99. For a product as useful as this, it’s definitely a good buy.

Conclusion

To conclude, there is no doubt that the Rheobus Extreme is a very useful accessory that allows the user to create a specific level of noise and cooling dependent on the requirements of their PC at a certain time. Also, the blue LEDs add a distinctive style to the front of your case.

However, there are a few bad points. For example, there is no way of turning off the LEDs and in the dark especially the blue light can become quite distracting. Also, for some cases, the acrylic covering on the aluminium front does not suit the fashion of some cases. Despite this, these concerns are obviously individual tastes and so every user will have their own opinion.

Strengths

• Stylish blue LEDS
• Six channels supporting up to 30W
• Change in brightness depending on rpm

Weaknesses

• LEDs cannot be turned off
• May not suit some cases

Overall, the Rheobus Extreme deserves a respectable 4/5.