News
June 15, 2002
Bluetooth growing
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 15, 2002 at 2:09:46 PM
Bluetooth is actually being used somewhere!
It is also evidence that Bluetooth is now on a collision course with rival short-range wireless technology 802.11, also called wireless LAN or Wi-Fi, which has taken a lead in the United States but which also has security disadvantages that make companies like Deutsche Bank look at alternatives such as Bluetooth.
It is also evidence that Bluetooth is now on a collision course with rival short-range wireless technology 802.11, also called wireless LAN or Wi-Fi, which has taken a lead in the United States but which also has security disadvantages that make companies like Deutsche Bank look at alternatives such as Bluetooth.
June 14, 2002
Walmart + Lindows = Cheap PCs
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 11:20:54 PM
Walmart has teemed up with Lindows to create super cheap PCs that will run most Windows programs.
Microsoft had attempted to squish Lindows because the word was too etymologically close to Windows but a judge ruled earlier this year that that was out of line, in a victory for common sense. Ohh by the way, Walmart is the biggest company in the world and the Walton's have more money than Gates.
Microsoft had attempted to squish Lindows because the word was too etymologically close to Windows but a judge ruled earlier this year that that was out of line, in a victory for common sense. Ohh by the way, Walmart is the biggest company in the world and the Walton's have more money than Gates.
K7D Master review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 11:05:46 PM
Viper's Lair has a review of a dual AMD motherboard.
I am having a hard time deciding what to say about this board. While the K7D Master is the best mainboard I have had the privilege of testing, it is also the most expensive. It is hard for me to recommend the K7D Master to average consumers because when it is all said and done, you will pay a minimum of $450.00 for the board and two compatible processors. I found SMP to be extremely beneficial in everything from loading applications and serving the web, as it reduced lag and made things seem to run a whole lot smoother.
I am having a hard time deciding what to say about this board. While the K7D Master is the best mainboard I have had the privilege of testing, it is also the most expensive. It is hard for me to recommend the K7D Master to average consumers because when it is all said and done, you will pay a minimum of $450.00 for the board and two compatible processors. I found SMP to be extremely beneficial in everything from loading applications and serving the web, as it reduced lag and made things seem to run a whole lot smoother.
Visiontek Ti 4200 review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 4:49:03 PM
Beyond3D reviews a Visiontek Ti 4200.
The suggested price of USD$249 may sound pricey for a "low end" GeForce4 Ti card but with VisionTek opting for 128MB to "promote" anti-aliasing as a possibility at high resolutions (i.e. higher than 1024x768), the amount of memory has to be taken into consideration. This review suggests that this is not necessarily true all the time - it depends on the type of game and the anti-aliasing option implemented. 2xAA is barely an option in Jedi Knight2 - with Comanche4 and F1 2001, any kind of AA is not an option at this high a resolution. Yes, perhaps 128MB has an advantage over 64MB - it actually allows the ability to use even 4xAA in games because of the larger frame buffer. Actual performance is another matter.
The suggested price of USD$249 may sound pricey for a "low end" GeForce4 Ti card but with VisionTek opting for 128MB to "promote" anti-aliasing as a possibility at high resolutions (i.e. higher than 1024x768), the amount of memory has to be taken into consideration. This review suggests that this is not necessarily true all the time - it depends on the type of game and the anti-aliasing option implemented. 2xAA is barely an option in Jedi Knight2 - with Comanche4 and F1 2001, any kind of AA is not an option at this high a resolution. Yes, perhaps 128MB has an advantage over 64MB - it actually allows the ability to use even 4xAA in games because of the larger frame buffer. Actual performance is another matter.
Dell's printer biz doesn't scare HP
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 4:33:44 PM
Even though HP makes most of their profit from printers (in retail).
Clarke elaborated by saying that Dell could enter the printer business in one of two ways--each destined to fail. If Dell were to manufacture the printers itself, it would struggle with the cost of acquiring intellectual property and buying components. Compaq Computer, newly acquired by HP, considered a run at printer manufacturing but gave up for that very reason, he said. Compaq decided in 1998 to let Lexmark do the work.
Clarke elaborated by saying that Dell could enter the printer business in one of two ways--each destined to fail. If Dell were to manufacture the printers itself, it would struggle with the cost of acquiring intellectual property and buying components. Compaq Computer, newly acquired by HP, considered a run at printer manufacturing but gave up for that very reason, he said. Compaq decided in 1998 to let Lexmark do the work.
IBM scores another big deal
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 4:30:42 PM
IBM will sell a crapload of servers to Fuji.
Thousands of IBM servers will be used to run Fujifilm's Frontier Digital Lab, photo centers built into stores where prints are made from film as well as from digital images stored on floppy disks, CDs or flash memory cards. Also at the centers, customers can save images to a disk or upload images to a Web site. The servers then can connect to the store's own computer systems for billing purposes.
Thousands of IBM servers will be used to run Fujifilm's Frontier Digital Lab, photo centers built into stores where prints are made from film as well as from digital images stored on floppy disks, CDs or flash memory cards. Also at the centers, customers can save images to a disk or upload images to a Web site. The servers then can connect to the store's own computer systems for billing purposes.
Server sales still slow
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 4:29:17 PM
A whopping 14% decline since last year!
IDC said unit sales will decline 14.5 percent from last year's second quarter, citing a slower-than-expected recovery in sales to large corporations. The server market declined almost 21 percent year over year in the first quarter. Servers are the powerful computers used to store files and conduct transactions on computer networks.
IDC said unit sales will decline 14.5 percent from last year's second quarter, citing a slower-than-expected recovery in sales to large corporations. The server market declined almost 21 percent year over year in the first quarter. Servers are the powerful computers used to store files and conduct transactions on computer networks.
Bush to be aggressive in broadband
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 14, 2002 at 4:26:35 PM
Technology in the US is about to get a healthy boost of cash.
Bush also commented on the government's $53 billion technology spending budget--the largest such appropriation in history. "If you're a recipient, make sure the product actually works," he said, half-jokingly. Don't joke, because what's the point if they don't deliver a working product?
Bush also commented on the government's $53 billion technology spending budget--the largest such appropriation in history. "If you're a recipient, make sure the product actually works," he said, half-jokingly. Don't joke, because what's the point if they don't deliver a working product?
June 13, 2002
KT333 Round up
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 7:42:20 PM
Anandtech has a 10 board KT333 roundup.
It was somewhat disappointing that none of the boards truly shined above and beyond the competition. There was much potential for a couple of these boards to do just that; a hybrid version of ABIT's AT7 could have pulled it off in a configuration similar to what we mention on that page in this roundup. The A7V333 and MSI boards both had a chance, too. We've taken the time to go through and make suggestions for what we would like to see in the future. The KT400 is the next VIA-AMD chipset we will see, and hopefully that batch of boards will be even more impressive with a few brighter stars. Uhh, without upping the FSB of the CPU, there won't be memory performance inprovements at all. The KT400 will be just the same as KT266a and the KT333.
It was somewhat disappointing that none of the boards truly shined above and beyond the competition. There was much potential for a couple of these boards to do just that; a hybrid version of ABIT's AT7 could have pulled it off in a configuration similar to what we mention on that page in this roundup. The A7V333 and MSI boards both had a chance, too. We've taken the time to go through and make suggestions for what we would like to see in the future. The KT400 is the next VIA-AMD chipset we will see, and hopefully that batch of boards will be even more impressive with a few brighter stars. Uhh, without upping the FSB of the CPU, there won't be memory performance inprovements at all. The KT400 will be just the same as KT266a and the KT333.
TFT prices steady finally
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 4:57:50 PM
Digitimes reports that LCD prices aren't going up anymore.
iwan TFT LCD producers predict that July TFT LCD prices will remain the same, except for the price of 15-inch notebook panels, which will increase by US$5. However, they do not think there will be any room for a price decline. Doh!
iwan TFT LCD producers predict that July TFT LCD prices will remain the same, except for the price of 15-inch notebook panels, which will increase by US$5. However, they do not think there will be any room for a price decline. Doh!
Intel cuts chipset prices
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 4:55:48 PM
There will be some price cuts, hefty ones for the P3 chipsets.
To speed the platform transition from the older Pentium III to the Socket 478-based Celeron, Intel has decided to not only slash the quoted prices of its 815 and 810 series chipsets on June 30, but also lower the prices of its 845 line again on June 30 and later on September 29.
To speed the platform transition from the older Pentium III to the Socket 478-based Celeron, Intel has decided to not only slash the quoted prices of its 815 and 810 series chipsets on June 30, but also lower the prices of its 845 line again on June 30 and later on September 29.
Palm hires Asus
Poster: Subjugation
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 4:53:20 PM
I love you Asus.
Taiwan-based Asustek Computer has struck a deal with Palm to supply PDAs (personal digital assistants) running the new Palm OS 5 and the Intel PXA 250 microprocessor next year, industry sources said.
The first time ever for the handheld maker to source to a Taiwanese manufacturer, it shows the surprising strength of Asustek after it beat experienced Taiwanese PDA makers Inventec and Wistron for the highly-anticipated contract, according to sources.
Palm may have chosen Asustek because other major Taiwanese manufacturers already cooperate with its rivals. Also factoring in the decision may have been Asusteks established production base in China and industry reputation. Asusteks past ties with NEC to supply Pocket PCs that met exceptionally stringent quality standards added to its appeal as a high-quality manufacturer, sources said.
Under the companies plan, reportedly pilot production is scheduled for later this year and volume shipments for the first quarter of 2003, with an initial target of 200,000 units for the quarter.<
Taiwan-based Asustek Computer has struck a deal with Palm to supply PDAs (personal digital assistants) running the new Palm OS 5 and the Intel PXA 250 microprocessor next year, industry sources said.
The first time ever for the handheld maker to source to a Taiwanese manufacturer, it shows the surprising strength of Asustek after it beat experienced Taiwanese PDA makers Inventec and Wistron for the highly-anticipated contract, according to sources.
Palm may have chosen Asustek because other major Taiwanese manufacturers already cooperate with its rivals. Also factoring in the decision may have been Asusteks established production base in China and industry reputation. Asusteks past ties with NEC to supply Pocket PCs that met exceptionally stringent quality standards added to its appeal as a high-quality manufacturer, sources said.
Under the companies plan, reportedly pilot production is scheduled for later this year and volume shipments for the first quarter of 2003, with an initial target of 200,000 units for the quarter.<
Spot prices of components are down
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 4:52:40 PM
A bit to far down also.
Optical drives and hard drives are being reduced in price almost on a day by day basis, with no-one wanting to get landed with excess stock.
Marco says that IBM hard drives, in particular, have started appearing on the market at prices lower than cost, even from distributors.
Optical drives and hard drives are being reduced in price almost on a day by day basis, with no-one wanting to get landed with excess stock.
Marco says that IBM hard drives, in particular, have started appearing on the market at prices lower than cost, even from distributors.
Bluetooth into MS devices
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 4:51:15 PM
One thing MS does right is their input devices, and now coming with bluetooth.
Anyway, Taiyo Yuden is claiming to have won a contract from Microsoft to supply Bluetooth modules to fit inside Bill's keyboards and mice. Apparently Microsoft's HID (Human Interface Device) software will be loaded onto Taiyo Yuden's Bluetooth modules.
Anyway, Taiyo Yuden is claiming to have won a contract from Microsoft to supply Bluetooth modules to fit inside Bill's keyboards and mice. Apparently Microsoft's HID (Human Interface Device) software will be loaded onto Taiyo Yuden's Bluetooth modules.
Hammer details
Poster: Subjugation
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 4:49:49 PM
A Japenese site has posted some details about the Hammer CPU. It needs to be translated, but here's a translated portion I got from AMDZone.
As for the weak point of Hammer architecture, the UMA (shared storage
architecture) graphic integration tip/chip set of constitution must be difficult to design. Because as for this, is a memory controller on CPU side. As for the graphic core, as for the that much short ???????? it does not need with most operations. However, just the frame buffer becomes problem. When from the frame buffer territory which houses the data which is drawn in the picture, read-out of the data to the DAC of tip/chip set side is late, signal output to display becomes impossible. Because of that, ever since last year, directly the tip/chip set vendor seems that repeats the AMD and conference concerning the design of UMA tip/chip set.
The topic of the story seems to be a new version of Hammer better suited for integrated video. Since I can see no reason why people would use Hammer for the low end systems with video integration initially instead of an Athlon I don't think this is too big of an issue at this point.
Read the full story.
As for the weak point of Hammer architecture, the UMA (shared storage
architecture) graphic integration tip/chip set of constitution must be difficult to design. Because as for this, is a memory controller on CPU side. As for the graphic core, as for the that much short ???????? it does not need with most operations. However, just the frame buffer becomes problem. When from the frame buffer territory which houses the data which is drawn in the picture, read-out of the data to the DAC of tip/chip set side is late, signal output to display becomes impossible. Because of that, ever since last year, directly the tip/chip set vendor seems that repeats the AMD and conference concerning the design of UMA tip/chip set.
The topic of the story seems to be a new version of Hammer better suited for integrated video. Since I can see no reason why people would use Hammer for the low end systems with video integration initially instead of an Athlon I don't think this is too big of an issue at this point.
Read the full story.
ATI Catalyst benchmarks
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 3:33:09 PM
I was looking over the net and found out that ATI has just released new driver sets for all! They look better than ever, I haven't had a chance to test them just yet. When I do I'll update.[PAGEBREAK]
HardOCP article.
ATI Driver page.
HardOCP article.
ATI Driver page.
P4 1.6A review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 13, 2002 at 3:20:31 AM
My 1.6A ran fine at 2.13ghz, but then stopped working at the frequency (I blame it on the ECS motherboard!).
The first thing we did when we plugged the CPU into the motherboard was up the FSB to 133 MHz and the little CPU didn't disappoint us. Instead of being a good overclocker and testing stability, we went back into the BIOS and raised the FSB yet again, this time to 150 MHz. Boom, 2.4 GHz right off the bat.
The first thing we did when we plugged the CPU into the motherboard was up the FSB to 133 MHz and the little CPU didn't disappoint us. Instead of being a good overclocker and testing stability, we went back into the BIOS and raised the FSB yet again, this time to 150 MHz. Boom, 2.4 GHz right off the bat.
June 12, 2002
Abit KX7-333R review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 12, 2002 at 6:40:27 PM
TweakTown reviews the legacy full KT333 from Abit.
In summary, we were very impressed with the Abit KX7-333R. It provides high performance, great stability, a good layout and at a price of around US$115, it is also relatively cheap. Sure, it is not the most feature-packed KT333 motherboard on the market, but you have to remember that Abit is targeting this board at the enthusiast market and it would be impossible to pack the board with integrated features while still keeping a low price. You should also note that Abit has had an integrated, legacy free version of the KX7-333R on the market for some time now, called the AT7.
In summary, we were very impressed with the Abit KX7-333R. It provides high performance, great stability, a good layout and at a price of around US$115, it is also relatively cheap. Sure, it is not the most feature-packed KT333 motherboard on the market, but you have to remember that Abit is targeting this board at the enthusiast market and it would be impossible to pack the board with integrated features while still keeping a low price. You should also note that Abit has had an integrated, legacy free version of the KX7-333R on the market for some time now, called the AT7.
Gigabyte 7VTXH+ Review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 12, 2002 at 3:32:57 PM
SocketA reviews a KT266a board from Gigabyte.
While the performance of the board is well below average, this board is still well suited for budget systems. With integrated networking and decent sound, you should be able to shave a couple more dollars off that total cost of a system. This board is probably best suited for work environments just because of the dual bios feature. Where losing a day because of a nasty virus can cost more money than even the board is worth.
While the performance of the board is well below average, this board is still well suited for budget systems. With integrated networking and decent sound, you should be able to shave a couple more dollars off that total cost of a system. This board is probably best suited for work environments just because of the dual bios feature. Where losing a day because of a nasty virus can cost more money than even the board is worth.
Itanium 2 slimms down
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 12, 2002 at 2:51:03 PM
But it is still over 400mm^2!!
Large chips cost more to make because fewer can be carved out of a single silicon wafer. Yields--the number of good chips produced from a wafer--also typically decline as chip size increases because of a greater potential for defects, according to analysts. No wonder they are so expensive
.
Large chips cost more to make because fewer can be carved out of a single silicon wafer. Yields--the number of good chips produced from a wafer--also typically decline as chip size increases because of a greater potential for defects, according to analysts. No wonder they are so expensive
.Inno3D Ti 4400 and 4600 review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 12, 2002 at 2:47:20 PM
Reviewmakers has a review (I guess that's what they do) of two Inno3D cards.
Should we recommend these cards? We don't see why not. Good price, with a good bundle and a performance that rivals the more expensive cards always gets into our good books. Inno3d cards are always well known for good value, let's just hope they continue that way. (Some people don't know how to write conclusions)
Should we recommend these cards? We don't see why not. Good price, with a good bundle and a performance that rivals the more expensive cards always gets into our good books. Inno3d cards are always well known for good value, let's just hope they continue that way. (Some people don't know how to write conclusions)
And the confirming of the RDRam shortage
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 12, 2002 at 2:43:38 PM
Kingston confirms the shortage of PC1066 32bit RDRam.
"Kingston has been working diligently on a PC1066 solution with our ValueRAM line of RIMM modules and we are pleased to support systems with such a high-speed product." Vincent Hunter, European Sales Director, ValueRAM, Kingston Technology said in a statement. But the company still has "more requests than we can meet."
"Kingston has been working diligently on a PC1066 solution with our ValueRAM line of RIMM modules and we are pleased to support systems with such a high-speed product." Vincent Hunter, European Sales Director, ValueRAM, Kingston Technology said in a statement. But the company still has "more requests than we can meet."
Not the time to buy RDRam
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 12, 2002 at 2:41:16 PM
Samsung has a bit of trouble keeping prices down. (The PC1066 32bit type)
WHILE THERE STILL seems to be a shortage of 1066 32 nanosecond Samsung RDRAM, perhaps it's worth waiting until the price comes down.
WHILE THERE STILL seems to be a shortage of 1066 32 nanosecond Samsung RDRAM, perhaps it's worth waiting until the price comes down.
June 11, 2002
Mobile CPUs hit 2Ghz
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 11, 2002 at 10:01:20 PM
Intel will release its 2Ghz P4 mobile part this month. Mobile wet dream?
Originally, Intel was expected to offer a 2GHz Pentium 4-M for notebooks later this year, but the company moved up that projection during its April analyst meeting. During that meeting, Paul Otellini, Intel's president and chief operating officer, set the midyear mark. But the move was overshadowed by other announcements, including news of the Itanium 2 as Intel's next chip for large servers.
Originally, Intel was expected to offer a 2GHz Pentium 4-M for notebooks later this year, but the company moved up that projection during its April analyst meeting. During that meeting, Paul Otellini, Intel's president and chief operating officer, set the midyear mark. But the move was overshadowed by other announcements, including news of the Itanium 2 as Intel's next chip for large servers.
NeroMIX v1.3.0.29
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 11, 2002 at 6:24:21 PM
Warp2Search has the skinny on the new NeroMIX all in one burner, player.
Our sister site planet-xp.de have got their hands on NeroMIX v1.3.0.29! If there was ever a program Play&Burn, this is it! NeroMIX creates or copies anything you throw at it, in the slickest possible way. Just grab any data and burn it! NeroMIX is the Emperor of Style in Multimedia CD creation, combining dynamic CD burning (data, audio, copying) with the newest Internet audio technology all in one customizable interface
Our sister site planet-xp.de have got their hands on NeroMIX v1.3.0.29! If there was ever a program Play&Burn, this is it! NeroMIX creates or copies anything you throw at it, in the slickest possible way. Just grab any data and burn it! NeroMIX is the Emperor of Style in Multimedia CD creation, combining dynamic CD burning (data, audio, copying) with the newest Internet audio technology all in one customizable interface
iPod moves onto Windows
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 11, 2002 at 6:22:27 PM
5 GBs of storage will be loads of MP3s.
Used alone, the MacOpener software can mount iPod as an external hard drive to which files can be transferred. But with EphPod, consumers also can manage and transfer MP3s that can be listened to on iPod. XPlay and MacDrive from MediaFour offer similar features.
Used alone, the MacOpener software can mount iPod as an external hard drive to which files can be transferred. But with EphPod, consumers also can manage and transfer MP3s that can be listened to on iPod. XPlay and MacDrive from MediaFour offer similar features.
Prelim Tbred bridges OC
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 11, 2002 at 6:19:13 PM
I saw this at AMDZone.
Palomino's 5 Host Clock Multiplier L3/L4 HI/LO bridge pairs seem to have been replaced by Tbred's 5 individual L3 bridges below the similar 5 L1s, plus 2 sets of 4 each L12 and L5 bridges. We are unable to decode these L12/L5 bridges because their patterns seem to be unchanged for the 4 different Tbred speed grades. But this unchanging quality could mean that they need not be considered for any Multiplier hard bridges mod. We hope later to be able to trace any possible L12/L5 bridge connections to the L1 and L3 bridges and their signals circuits.
Palomino's 5 Host Clock Multiplier L3/L4 HI/LO bridge pairs seem to have been replaced by Tbred's 5 individual L3 bridges below the similar 5 L1s, plus 2 sets of 4 each L12 and L5 bridges. We are unable to decode these L12/L5 bridges because their patterns seem to be unchanged for the 4 different Tbred speed grades. But this unchanging quality could mean that they need not be considered for any Multiplier hard bridges mod. We hope later to be able to trace any possible L12/L5 bridge connections to the L1 and L3 bridges and their signals circuits.
Punch cards return!
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 11, 2002 at 3:34:34 PM
Fit a terabit (1000/8=125Gigabytes) of data on a postage size punch card.
Like punch cards in the computers of old, the pattern of the indentations--measuring 10 nanometers each--essentially is the digitized version of the data meant to be stored. The minute size of the indentations, though, means that Millipede chips are 20 times more densely packed with information than current hard drives. With this, cell phones could hold up to 10GB of data.
Like punch cards in the computers of old, the pattern of the indentations--measuring 10 nanometers each--essentially is the digitized version of the data meant to be stored. The minute size of the indentations, though, means that Millipede chips are 20 times more densely packed with information than current hard drives. With this, cell phones could hold up to 10GB of data.
Samsung SP4002H HDD review
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on June 11, 2002 at 3:27:48 PM
MBReview reviews a Samsung Hard drive.
Samsung has done a nice job with their SpinPoint P40 line of hard drives. Performance is right up there with IBMs Deskstar 60GXP, sometime pulling ahead and sometimes not. Although the drive did come up slower in most benchmarks, it can be purchased for slightly less than a Deskstar if you search around. The best part about that is, you probably dont have to worry about waking up one morning, pressing the power button and hearing the absolutely horrid screeching that Deskstar owners love to hate, the sound of hard drive death. Samsungs NoiseGuard and SilentSeek technologies have been implemented very nicely. The SP4002H is an extremely quiet drive, even when placed under load in normal operation and in a RAID 0 array. When placed side to side, the SP4002H is slightly quieter than the 60GXP, a line of drives known for their noise level, or lack thereof. If youre looking for a cheap, reliable, and quiet alternative to your current drive situation, youll want to consider Samsungs SpinPoint P4 line of hard drives. Stick around though, as in a few weeks well be receiving the latest and greatest drive from Samsung, featuring something that I have not yet seen to date from any major manufacturer. What is it? Well, youll have to wait and see. Thanks goes out to Stalin of Samsung USA for supplying me with the units for review, thanks Sta
Samsung has done a nice job with their SpinPoint P40 line of hard drives. Performance is right up there with IBMs Deskstar 60GXP, sometime pulling ahead and sometimes not. Although the drive did come up slower in most benchmarks, it can be purchased for slightly less than a Deskstar if you search around. The best part about that is, you probably dont have to worry about waking up one morning, pressing the power button and hearing the absolutely horrid screeching that Deskstar owners love to hate, the sound of hard drive death. Samsungs NoiseGuard and SilentSeek technologies have been implemented very nicely. The SP4002H is an extremely quiet drive, even when placed under load in normal operation and in a RAID 0 array. When placed side to side, the SP4002H is slightly quieter than the 60GXP, a line of drives known for their noise level, or lack thereof. If youre looking for a cheap, reliable, and quiet alternative to your current drive situation, youll want to consider Samsungs SpinPoint P4 line of hard drives. Stick around though, as in a few weeks well be receiving the latest and greatest drive from Samsung, featuring something that I have not yet seen to date from any major manufacturer. What is it? Well, youll have to wait and see. Thanks goes out to Stalin of Samsung USA for supplying me with the units for review, thanks Sta