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Solid-State Drive Review Roundup -- Performance & Drawbacks

David Murphy — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:00:00 -0600

The market is suddenly awash in solid-state drives thanks to the growing abundance and greater reliability of flash memory. Here’s what you need to know about today’s SSD storage.

Solid-state drives are new to the PC storage front, and they’re making waves by offering blistering speeds and greater reliability than traditional hard disk drives. For that, you can thank the NAND flash memory chips that make up every solid-state device.

If you’re not familiar with NAND memory, you need only look at your keychain. NAND is the technology that powers the storage on your USB thumb drive… and your mobile devices and the memory card in your digital camera. Whereas your tiny flash card might use but a single NAND chip, SSDs use multiple chips to achieve their higher capacities.

Storage that uses flash memory is quite unlike the hard disk drives used to hold your computer’s data. The latter rely on speedy actuators to read and write information on spinning magnetic platters. SSDs use electrical charges to read and write the state of individual flash memory cells. An SSD’s flash memory is nonvolatile: Unlike your computer’s RAM, an SSD drive retains your data when you switch the power off. And since the handshake is electric, SSDs can access that data in a fraction of the time it takes a mechanical hard drive to do so.

Sounds ideal, right? Actually, the performance potential of SSDs needs to be weighed against some significant drawbacks. We’re going to outline the pros and cons of the technology and how it compares to traditional hard disk storage. We’re also going to put seven leading solid state drives to the test and let the benchmark numbers do the talking. At this stage in the storage race, an SSD is a big investment; we want to help you maximize your return.

Breaking It Down

Before you make the move from a hard disk drive to a solid-state solution you need to be aware of what you’ll gain and what you’ll give up

The Pros

An SSD’s biggest boon is its performance potential. Unlike hard drives, SSDs don’t have to wait for a physical arm to move read and write heads to specific points on a spinning magnetic platter. Reading from flash memory is a virtually instantaneous process, giving SSDs the ability to reach faster random read times and greater read throughput than magnetic hard drives.

Another advantage to SSDs is their relatively long life span. The NAND flash memory cells found in SSDs can last for years beyond the three- to five-year life expectancy of a magnetic hard drive. Because hard drives include numerous moving parts, they are vulnerable to wear and tear over time, especially if dropped or jostled.

An SSD can still break if you drop it, but as a whole, the lack of moving parts makes the category less prone to damage. If left unbothered, a solid-state drive can last up to 60 years longer than a hard drive in a similar desktop environment. And as an added bonus, SSDs don’t produce any noise and generate very little heat.

The Cons

NAND flash is still a relatively expensive technology, limiting the capacities of solid-state drives and making for a high cost per gigabyte. Some manufacturers have managed to lower the cost of SSDs by using multi-level cell (MLC) technology to cram more bits of data onto a single memory cell. The problem is, MLC tech incurs a performance hit over single-layer cell (SLC) technology. The voltage complexities involved in maintaining the multi-bit cells can significantly slow the speed of write operations.

Unless a manufacturer specifies what kind of flash memory powers its drives, you won’t know whether you’re getting high-performance SLC or low-performance MLC flash. The price tag is the only distinguishing factor outside of benchmarks: MLC drives are among the cheapest SSD drives available (typically half the price of SLC SSDs).

Manufacturers claim SSDs offer better power savings than magnetic storage, but that’s not always true. This greatly depends on the construction of the drive: PATA- or SATA-based SSD drives tend to draw more power than typical hard drives.

Finally, SSDs can suffer from inferior random write and sequential write times because the data on an SSD is stored in kilobyte-size blocks. Adding more data to a block is a time-consuming process: The SSD copies the entire contents of the block to RAM, changes the data in the block, erases the original block of data on the SSD, and writes the changed block back to the SSD.

The Benchmarks

We’re using our standard storage benchmarking suite to compare seven solid state drives against two leading hard drives: Western Digital’s Velociraptor and Samsung’s HD103UJ—the fastest hard drive overall we’ve tested and the fastest terabyte drive we’ve tested, respectively. This will let us measure SSD performance against the two extremes of performance and capacity.

Our h2benchw benchmark is a synthetic test that measures a drive’s performance over a large swath of read/write operations. PCMark Vantage is our real-world benchmark, as it uses identical application traces to simulate common drive operations caused by normal desktop use. New to our benchmark testing is Adobe Premiere Pro. We use the app to generate an uncompressed AVI file straight onto a drive; the transfer rate of such a large file can tell a lot about a drive’s real-world ability to stand up to more demanding tasks.

Reviews:

RiData Ultra-S Plus 64GB

Super Talent Masterdrive DX

Memoright MR25.2-032/64S GT Series

Samsung 64GB

OCZ Sata II

Mtron SSD Pro 7500

Imation Solid State Drive Pro 7000

Intel X-25M

Next: The Future of SSDs; Judging by the Numbers

What The Future Holds for SSDs

Expect to see upgrades in controllers and NAND flash push SSD prices lower over time, but don’t hold your breath for either hard drives or SSDs to ever oust the other from the marketplace. According to Michael Yang, flash product marketing manager for Samsung, NAND flash capacities will continue to grow at a rate of 40 to 50 percent each year. This puts SSD development on par with the 40 percent capacity growth touted by top hard drive manufacturers.

A number of SSD manufacturers currently use PATA-to-SATA bridges in their SSDs, but it’s expected that these manufacturers will fully adopt the SATA 3Gb/s standard common to hard drives within 12 months. You can also expect to see performance upgrades to the actual NAND flash memory inside SSDs: In addition to block-size upgrades and an increase in SSD controller channels, read-ahead and caching algorithms will improve the drives’ write performance over the next five years.

Single-layer cell (SLC) and multi-layer cell (MLC) technology will continue to make up the flash cell foundations of solid-state drives. But according to Yang, SSDs will start moving away from the conventional form factors—1.8-inch, 2.5-inch, and 3.5-inch drive sizes—established by the magnetic hard drive market. This could bring forth SSDs of all shapes and sizes, an appealing prospect for notebook vendors that want more internal customization options.

Judging by the Numbers

You might not realize what you’re getting when you purchase an SSD. As we’ve learned from this roundup, the nuances of an SSD’s construction can make a huge difference in its performance.

We found that MLC-based drives just aren’t worth their low prices. While their read speeds are certainly impressive compared to those of the fastest hard drives we’ve tested, poor write performance holds them back. We wouldn’t use an MLC-based device as the primary volume for our operating system, especially since we can get hard drives that offer faster reads and writes at four times the capacity for the same price.

SLC-based drives are a different breed entirely. While their prices can vary from reasonable to outrageous, SLC-based SSDs can deliver a massive performance improvement in general operations thanks to their lower random access read and write rates. We would definitely recommend a less-expensive SSD, such as those from Samsung or OCZ, for a notebook environment. The combination of price and performance is great, and the added reliability—SSDs are less likely to fail than hard disk drives if you drop your laptop—sweetens the deal.

You don’t need this kind of protection in a desktop environment. It’s for this reason, and the capacity-to-cost ratio of even the least expensive SLC SSDs, that we cannot recommend this technology for desktops at this time. Or even for a while—we’d tolerate a 128GB SSD in our rig and would be happy with a 256GB product, but it will take a number of successive capacity improvements before such drives reach an acceptable price point.

All of the SLC SSDs we tested blew past a Velociraptor drive in simulated operating system patterns, as evidenced by the PCMark Vantage scores. But this speedy performance is of little value if Windows plus a game or two completely fills the drive. We’d rather stick with two $300 Velociraptors in RAID 0 right now: Based on our experience, an array of these drives is only 10 percent slower than the real-world performance of Samsung’s $800 SSD but offers nine times the capacity.

There will come a day when solid-state drive technology is a more compelling desktop option. Maybe NAND flash will get cheaper to produce or larger capacity SSDs will start bumping down prices on the lower-capacity end of the SSD spectrum. We can promise you one thing: Don’t expect this turnaround to occur for years. This is only the beginning of the storage war.

Benchmarks

	RiData	Super Talent	Memoright	Samsung	OCZ	Imation	Mtron	WD Velociraptor	Samsung HD 103UJ
Average Sustained Read Rate	91.52	91.57	112.47	87.20	85.60	98.21	96.79	98.31	91.30
Average Sustained Write Rate	22.69	22.90	106.60	83.56	82.69	83.80	84.24	98.22	89.80
Random Access Read (ms)	0.39	0.39	0.09	0.12	0.13	0.10	0.10	7.24	14.06
Random Access Write (ms)	248.04	246.10	1.46	7.19	7.42	7.85	7.61	3.42	6.41
Premiere Pro (sec)	634	632	411	523	540	514	497	383	WNR
PCMark Vantage Overall Score	9,541	9,577	13,527	13,006	13,691	12,386	12,684	6,082	5,178

NOTES: Best scores are bolded. Premiere Pro and h2benchw scores were taken using Windows XP SP3; PCMark Vantage scores were taken using Vista SP1. All programs were run on our standard test bed, which uses an EVGA 680i motherboard running an Intel Q6700 CPU, and EVGA 8800GTX Videocard, and 2GB of RAM. Thanks to DVNation.com for supplying some of the drives in this feature.

Update: Since we published our SSD roundup in our November issue, we've also reviewed Intel's X-25M drive. Here's what Gordon Mah Ung, who reviewed that drive for us, had to say about this addition:

You can look at Inte’s 80GB X-25M two ways. From the perspective of laptop users, you finally get desktop performance (and beyond) in your portable. For desktop users, you can get RAID 0 performance without having to run the data risky configuration.

How good a performance? Against the six other SSDs, the Intel’s read speeds were roughly twice that of the closest competitor – the $1,500 Memoright. Even better, the Intel drive is selling for about $600. To give you an idea of how fast the Intel SSD is, a wickedly fast Western Digital 300GB Velociraptor tops out at about 98MB/s in reads. We saw a benchgasmic 206MB/s from the X-25M.

The Achilles’ heel of the X-25M is its write speed. At 64MB/s, it’s very respectable but not great. Oother SSD’s on the same MLC memory type as the Intel drive wrote in the 22MB/s range. The Memoright’s SLC memory let it write at 106MB/s while the Velociraptor burns bits at 98MB/s. However, we’d take the trade off as most users read data more than they write. Intel has an answer for the write speeds with an SLC-based drive that will write in the 200MB/s+ range. Drives using SLC, however, will have less capacity (initially 32GB) and cost a ton more cash.

High-End Gaming Headset Roundup -- Check Out These Sweet Cans!

Reed Porter — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:55:42 -0500

You’d never credit your headset after winning a Team Fortress 2 match, nor would you ever brag about your soundcard after just acing a round in Call of Duty 4, but any gaming veteran knows that having a sweet set of cans is a must for even the casual gamer’s setup. This is especially true today with the vast majority of professional gamers using headsets instead speaker systems.

Unfortunately, deciding which audio hardware is right for you can become aggravating very quickly with USB headsets, 5.1 headphones, onboard mixing, analog inputs, and incompatible interfaces confusing the market. With this roundup, we’re going to scrutinize six gaming headset options, and examine the largely unspoken differences between analog and USB audio technology.

If you like your existing soundcard, you won’t need a USB headset. This is because the only way for audio to be produced through the USB headset is by bypassing the soundcard entirely. A USB headset is recognized by your operating system as a completely separate audio device. While this is convenient for laptops and desktops with cheap onboard soundcards, it creates a headache for anyone looking to play music or film audio through their speakers; you'll have to change the default Windows audio device, swapping between the headset and whatever sound card your speakers are plugged into. A USB headset will usually require software installation to function with your OS and to allow customization and mixing control. This brings us to the very reason companies are making USB headsets in the first place, to allow for inline hardware acceleration which remixes the audio before sending it to the speakers. Essentially you have a mini soundcard embedded in the headset.

This is both a good and a bad thing. For gamers without soundcards (or have soundcard driver problems in Vista), USB headsets are an unbeatable value. You get hardware acceleration and a physical headset in one package. If you already have an expensive and fully-functioning soundcard, however, buying a USB headset can be pointless – the audio quality won’t necessarily be better with USB. The only option for you is using analog jacks, or if you have a newer soundcard, optical cables (although it would be amazing, we have yet to see a high end optical headset).

That said, deciding upon a testing method was difficult. We eventually settled on testing the analog headsets with a PCI-Express X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty soundcard and the USB headsets on their own.

With that important difference explained, we take a look a few of the latest headsets to see which pair is truly king of the cans.

Creative HS-1200

We’re typically wary of wireless gaming products due to their spotty battery life and ironically more inconvenient set up process. We were pleasantly surprised, then, when Creative proved us wrong with this wireless offering. The HS-1200 mixes audio onboard like other USB headsets, but unlike its competitors it makes use of Creative's X-FI Crystalizer and CMSS-3D technologies. This portable X-Fi implementation comes pretty close to the surround directional accuracy and audio quality of an actual X-Fi soundcard. Despite this, games would only allow us to enable older version of EAX. OpenAL does not work with this headset and Battlefield 2 wouldn't let us set the audio quality to "Ultra." Another drawback is the lack of underwhelming bass; although punchy, there was no real boom.

The wireless functionality impressed us as it worked within 40 feet of the transmitter, through walls and electronics, before fading out. Also, the headset comes with volume control buttons on the earpads themselves, which is a necessity when going wireless. The earpads felt comfortable enough, but they sit on top of your ears, making you sweat a little. And although the microphone performed well in Skype and games, we would have liked to see it retract or detach.

All in all, the audio fidelity of the HS-1200 is excellent and the wireless functionality is near-perfect, but the poor EAX support and small earpads force our smiles to wane.

Verdict: 7

Creative Fatal1ty HS-1000

While this headset carries the official seal of approval from the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) and uber-gamer Fatal1ty, these endorsements are obviously more of a marketing gimmick than a certification of quality, since we don’t think any professional gamer would ever use a budget headset like this one. The HS-1000 contains the same inline acceleration as the HS-1200, and the CMSS-3D and Crystalizer are a welcome inclusion. Despite this, the EAX support remains just as spotty as it was on the HS-1200 and OpenAL support is nowhere to be found. Even with the far more comfortable earpads, this headset’s speakers aren't as accurate as the HS-1200's, producing little if any bass.

Fortunately the mids and highs were a bit more up to par. One thing this headset is good at is maintaining audio clarity at extremely high volumes; there was little distortion when pushing levels to the limit. The Fatal1ty's had the worst microphone among the sets we tested; it would pick up background noise with every bit of fidelity as it did our voice. In addition the recording quality was only mediocre.

For its relatively low price, the Fatal1ty HS-1000 is good, but it simply can't compare to what real professional gamers use in competitive gaming leagues such as the CGS.

Note: In a smart move, Creative is producing analog and USB versions of this headset. Both are identical except for the inclusion of an inline mixer with the USB version and the analog set will cost you much less.

Verdict: 6

Sennheiser PC350

As a company renowned for producing some of the best headphones on the market, Sennheiser recently released their first high-end headset designed specifically for gamers. With this in mind, we were incredibly eager to get our hands on the new PC350's. Out of the box, we noticed the earpads on the headset can fold inwards for portable storage as well as twist 90 degrees to the side allowing you to comfortably lay them flush against your shoulders.

During testing, the PC350's produced the best sound out of the roundup so far; we were able to discern sounds previously unheard when testing other sets. The highs were very crisp while the bass reproduction was accurate down to very low frequencies. We were actually able to make the headphones vibrate with no distortion. The microphone performance was great, although we would have liked to see it tuck away into the headset as it did on the Plantronics GameComm. The set was comfortable to wear for prolonged periods, more or less due to the headset resting on your head rather than your earlobes.

Our only gripe about this headset is that it's a closed-ear design. The unit’s earcups rarely sat identically over each ear; occasionally one earcup would leak in sound while the other wouldn't. We could blame it on our tester’s misshapen head, but it took a good deal of shifting around before the unit completely engulfed our ears letting no sound in from either side. Overall, we think the closed ear design is more annoying than it’s worth.

Even so, the PC350's were the best sounding headset we tested, producing exceptional sound.

Verdict: 9

Medusa 5.1 ProGamer Edition V2

While we had high hopes for these luxurious-looking pair of cans, we were slightly crestfallen after running the Medusa through testing. This is the only headset we tested with 4 speakers per earpad, producing true 5.1 surround sound with simulation. In this regard, it succeeds: the aural positioning was the best we've heard, beating out any other set in the roundup.

Unfortunately this is the only merit the ProGamer's can claim. The 5.1 audio comes at the price of severely reduced audio fidelity. Bass reproduction was almost non-existent and only audible at ear piercing levels while the highs and mids sounded rather drained. The unit’s physical design is misleading as well: soft cushy earpads and headstraps at first looked very inviting, but during actual testing they felt much more rigid and cheap.

If Medusa didn't sacrifice fidelity in place of directional sound and the unit was as comfortable as it looked, this headset would easily have been our favorite in the roundup. Unfortunately, superior directional sound results in downgraded audio quality and the headset is only faux luxury.

Verdict: 5

Razer Piranha

In searching for the ‘king of the cans’, we were bound to find a lemon scraping the bottom of the barrel. The Razer Piranha unfortunately fills that role. Unlike all of the other headsets we tested, the audio sounded completely flat and static.

After wearing them for hours our ears began to hurt as they sat right on top of our ears. Many sounds that we could hear clearly in other headsets were indiscernible on the Piranhas, while the highs and mids were very drained.

Oddly enough however, the headset had punchy bass that held clear even at high volumes. In addition, the microphone quality was respectable. The Piranhas perform great in those areas, but in every other respect they were sub-par.

Verdict: 4

Plantronics GameCom 777

These GameComs shocked us in nearly every area of testing. The 777's come with a detachable "5.1 Dolby Headphone USB soundcard" that allow for either analog or USB input, making it perfect for the LAN party gamer. In addition, the inline mixer is a plug-and-play device, so it requires no software installation.

When testing the USB card we found its directional mixing was surprisingly accurate and close that of an X-Fi soundcard. The headset was also very comfortable to wear with velour padding on both the earcups and the headband. The microphone also folds up into the headset itself, flush with headband – something we’ve never seen before. We wonder why it took so long for companies to implement this seemingly obvious idea, and hopefully we'll see more headsets following suit in the future.

Thankfully, Plantronics decided to build the headset with an open-ear design which results in increased fidelity as well as a more natural listening experience. The highs and mids were crisp and clear while the bass was wholesome and thunderous. Only at VERY high volumes would the bass cut out.

The GameCom’s sexy and comfortable aesthetics, mixed with superb audio make it our favorite headset in the roundup.

Verdict: 9

Maximum PC Gets Screwed So You Don't Have To: Ultimate Screwdriver Review Roundup

Paul Lilly — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0500

If there's one tool no power user should ever be without, it's the screwdriver. Just like opposable thumbs, the screwdriver is what separates enthusiasts from lesser creatures. Without it, we'd be reduced to purchasing pre-built PCs from overpriced vendors, and we'd be oblivious to the evils of proprietary parts. Just like Mac users (ZING!).

With the invention of the screwdriver, we've been able to evolve from PC users to PC builders, from mere consumers to hobbyists. Thanks to a single tool, we're prepared for whatever computer related situation arises, whether it means constructing a full blown Dream Machine or replacing our neighbor's dead motherboard with one that works, and then throwing in a name brand power supply just for good measure.

But just as doctors wouldn't use any run of the mill scalpel during surgery, we're just as discerning when it comes to picking out the right tool for diving into a pile of parts. With this in mind, we've assembled a collection of 26 screwdrivers ranging from ordinary in appearance to extraordinary in features. We've used and abused each one and will tell you which screwdrivers have earned the right to travel in your toolbox, and which ones that aren’t worthy enough for your prized gaming rig.

Craftsman Auto-Loading Multi-Bit

We can think of several different treats that taste better than the Push Up ice cream pops we used to eat as a kid, but few were as fun to devour. It's the same feeling we get from using Craftsman's auto-loading screwdriver, though we don't recommend putting it in your mouth. But what we did do was spend the first few minutes just pushing up and down on the handle changing bits. After the novelty wore off, we were left with a capable tool, though not spectacular. We love having an assortment of magnetic bits at our fingertips, but we're not so keen on the plastic construction. Hurl it against the wall just once in a moment of frustration and it'll be the last time you ever use it.

Verdict: 6
$20, www.sears.com

Companion 7 Piece Flexible Ratchet Driver

On paper, the Companion sounds like the idea tool for a man to proudly wave around in his hand. Not only does the thick shaft come ribbed for extra comfort, but the tip includes an extension for added length – oh boy! But lest you plan on living out some bizarre fetish, there are better tools to tout around. The two-way ratcheting doesn’t allow you to use the Companion as a standard screwdriver, and despite being able to lock the angled neck in place, there was a considerable amount of give left over causing the tip to wobble.

Verdict: 4
$10, www.sears.com

KR Tools X-Treme Six-in-One w/ Flaming Handle

The most difficult thing about using the KR Tools X-Treme is resisting the urge to shout 'Flame on!' every time you take it out of the toolbox. The oversized rubber handle with strategically placed finger and thumb grips makes it a comfort to use, and six easily changeable bits means you can swap out your motherboard and change that door hinge you've been meaning to fix all in one fell swoop. This might be the best tool you can get for $5.

Verdict: 8
$5, www.sears.com

Stanley 10" Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver w/ 10 Assorted Bits

Should we ever be attacked by a horde of goblins on a PC repair job, we'd want this Stanley by our side. The heavy duty handle and extra long shaft will keep both goblins and hard to reach screws at bay, and a rotating addition on the base of the shaft stores up to 6 different bits. Three-way ratcheting controls mean you'll be prepared for most any situation, but if you drop a screw, you better have a pair of tweezers handy. For all of its plusses, the Stanley comes demagnetized - bummer!

Verdict: 8
$15, www.stanleytools.com

LoggerHead Tools BitDr

Like Transformers, there's more here than meets the eye. What looks like an unassuming fold-away screwdriver quickly reveals itself to be a multi-function wonder tool even MacGyver could appreciate. The BitDr comes with 10 double-sided bits stored in the handle, two ratchet extensions (both of which can be used by themselves), and an adjustable driver for working in a variety of quarters. It even comes with a bit small enough to work on notebooks, though it's too thick to worm its way into recessed screws. Not without its faults, we found using a traditional screwdriver to be more comfortable, and as with other adjustable ratchets, there's too much wobble at any given position. Still, between the portability and plethora of uses, the BitDr can be a lifesaver in a pinch.

Verdict: 7
$25, www.loggerheadtools.com

Great Neck 18 Piece Ratcheting Magnetic Screwdriver Set

There's a sign on the packaging that reads "Quality Checked," which tells us someone isn't doing their job. While playing with the ratchet control, we managed to pop the head off of the handle, and at first we thought "Hey, cool, it doubles as a stubby!" Our enthusiasm was quickly marred when we found out we actually broke the thing - do'h! Perhaps it was for the best. While we like the ability to store the included magnetic bits in the handle, there wasn't much comfort to be had from wielding the flat plastic handle.

Verdict: 3
$10, http://greatnecktools.com

Irwin 9-in-1 Multi-Tool

Irwin figured out that if you take a standard screwdriver and add a couple of mods, you can remarket it as a 9-in-1 multi-tool. And that's just what they did. The feather-light hollow plastic handle comes adorned with a rubber 'ProTouch' grip, and a removable shaft with interchangeable bits give the Irwin a bit of bulk. More bits or a magnetic tip would have both been welcome additions.

Verdict: 5
$8, www.irwintools.com

Kobalt 13-in-1 Ratchet Screwdriver

This Kobalt owes much of its weight to the shaft extension and numerous bits that come stored conveniently inside the handle, and we can only imagine how much heavier it would be had Kobalt opted for a denser metal than aluminum. As it stands, you could already flip it around and use it as a blackjack ala Thief: Deadly Shadows. As a screwdriver, the three-way ratcheting action works well, but we would have preferred an all rubberized handle instead of sectioned strips. And if opening up a power supply weren't already risky enough, Kobalt warns that the non-insulated design "will NOT protect against electric shock." Yikes!

Verdict: 6
$10, www.lowes.com

Fuller Switch-a-Bit

On the one hand, Canada has given us some of the tastiest ham ever to grace our pizza tops, but the country's also responsible for Avril Lavigne. Because of this inconsistency, we didn't know what to expect out of the Canadian-made Fuller Switch-a-Bit. Would it be a resounding success, or an abysmal flop? What we got fell somewhere in the middle. We love how the turn-dial base releases the bits one at a time, and once secured to the tip, you never have to worry about one falling out. The Switch-a-Bit proved versatile too, able to remove screws recessed in our notebook's chassis. But like the other non-magnetized screwdrivers in our roundup, dropping a screw can quickly lead to high frustration levels, particularly when working in hard to reach places where it might not be so easy to catch a loose screw before it falls. We also don't trust the long-term reliability of the thin plastic handle.

Verdict: 5
$14, www.fullertools.com

Felo Series 370 Bit Boy

We've yet to come across a ratcheting screwdriver whose shaft doesn't wiggle, but the Bit Boy manages to keep this undesirable effect to a minimum. There's plenty more to like here, such as a comfortable rubberized handle with thumb rests, and seven extra magnetic bits hidden in the spring loaded base giving you eight in all. But should the spring wear out or the plastic tabs holding the telescopic depot break off, you'll curse this nifty design as a no-good gimmick, especially after spending almost $30 on it.

Verdict: 8
$28, www.bondhus.com

SmartPro Tools Four Function 19-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver

SmartPro Tools saw fit to include everything but the proverbial kitchen sink, and if they could have found a way to fit it inside the handle with everything else, we have no doubts they would have. But what you do get are 11 standard sized bits along with a pair of double-sided precision tips for tearing into handheld gadgets, a breakaway stubby screwdriver, and the only reversible ratchet in our roundup devoid of any shimmy. And while the tips aren't magnetic, SmartPro throws in a powerful retractable magnetic pick-up tool. But by the beard of Zeus, why saddle an otherwise spectacular screwdriver with a chintzy plastic handle?

Verdict: 7
$17, www.smartprotools.com

Borderex All-in-One Screwdriver

Borderex claims its All-in-One screwdriver is "ideal for cars and computer repairing," but when it comes to screwing, we've learned that one size does not fit all (see what we did there?). It's a shame only two bits are included, because the long magnetic shaft makes easy work out of maneuvering into tight confines, and the rubberized handle feels gratifying after extended use. A separate stubby screwdriver thrown in adds value, but the bits are the same size, and some of our testbed's screws showed a stubbornness to cooperate with the All-in-One. Oh, and good luck finding the All-in-One online. Borderex told us their screwdriver is imported by Titan, but couldn't provide us with an MSRP or a link to purchase one.

Verdict: 6

Klein Tools 10-in-1

At a glance, the 10-in-1 looks to be little more than an ordinary screwdriver with a rubber grip slipped onto the handle. But an easily removable shaft reveals eight bits and two nut drivers, and in a nod towards the baby bear in Goldilocks and Three Bears, the 10-in-1 weighs just right. It's not the most comfortable screwdriver in our roundup, nor does it have many amenities like magnetized tips or ratcheting action, but it's a solid all-around workhorse.

Verdict: 7
$13, www.kleintools.com

Vermont American 1551 All Purpose Multi-bit Magnetic Hand Driver Set

Long on name but short on features, we did manage to find an alternate use for the 1551's storage area. Instead of having the bits clipped to a contraption inside the handle, Vermont American simply left a hollow opening to store whichever three out of the four included magnetic bits aren't being used. But if you find yourself always using the same bit, you can throw anything you want in the handle. For example, we shoved exactly 16 orange flavored tic-tacs inside, giving us instant access to an energy boost equivalent to 32 calories. But while the storage mechanism helps keep our breath from offending, the constantly rotating cap makes it awkward to turn the screwdriver.

Verdict: 5
$11, www.vermontamerican.com

DuraPro 15 Piece Ratcheting Screwdriver Set

No marriages have ever taken place as a result of our podcast’s Dreamdate segments, but that hasn't deterred us from wanting to play matchmaker. Ported over to the hardware world, we'd like nothing more than if SmartPro and DuraPro would hook up and bear offspring. Both are molded almost identically and come with oodles of bits, but the DuraPro lacks a retractable magnetic pick-up tool. Instead, it throws in a magnetic bit extension, which solves the problem of picking up loose screws, but introduces a new level of wobble to the ratcheting action. With or without the extension, it's the longer of the two screwdrivers, but the DuraPro lacks the detachable stubby or rubberized thumb rest found on the SmartPro Tools version (or its own branded version, the VersaDriver).

Verdict: 7
$10, www.durapro.com

Husky Pro 33 Piece Ratcheting Magnetic Screwdriver Set

If a Greek Goddess of rubber exists, we're positive Husky Pro must have called upon her to fashion the company's cushion grip. Holding the handle can best be described as ethereal, we just wish Husky didn't leave nearly an inch of the plastic handle exposed. Almost three dozen magnetized bits means you can fix the PC, stereo, door handle, light fixture, and everything else without going back to your toolbox, and an optional attachment holds six bits for quick retrieval.

Verdict: 9
$20, www.huskytools.com

Olympia Tools 27 Piece Flexible Driver Set

If you're going to win a swordfight using a screwdriver, this is the one you’d want at your side. The flexible driver shaft adds over a foot of length allowing you to deal damage from a distance, and when you're finished saving the galaxy (or the living room), the shaft comes in handy for maneuvering into tough to reach places. This can be particularly useful if you own a poorly designed heatsink that expects you to contour your hand into unnatural positions in order to screw it in. A reversible ratchet, several extra bits, and an in-handle storage area round out the feature-set. It's just too bad Olympia didn't make the handle more sturdy and comfortable, and the lack of magnetic tips is a bummer.

Verdict: 6
www.olympiatools.com

Elemen'tary Design

Make this one your everyday screwdriver and you'll hold more wood than Heidi Fleiss. But before being grossed out (or turned on), understand we're referring to beech wood, which the company claims "will not encourage blisters." Both the main screwdriver and included stubby sport smooth wooden handles with a linseed finish. Sturdy construction and nine magnetic tips move the Elemen'tary towards the front of the class, but the high price tag knocks it down a grade.

Verdict: 8
$65, www.elementarydesing.co.uk

Barbara K 21 Piece Lighted Screwdriver Kit

Buy your wife a bowling ball for your anniversary and it might be the last one you celebrate. There's a much smarter way of playing the gift giving game, and unlike a 5 karat diamond ring, it won't mean dipping into your Dream Machine fund. Instead, get her this Barbara K screwdriver kit designed for women, and then tell her you're looking forward to spending more time together fixing things around the home. Chances are she won't take you up on it, but she'll appreciate the thought, and you'll have a new favorite screwdriver to play with.

An uber-comfortable handle hides a lightweight flashlight inside for working in dark quarters, and its removable should you need to get a closer look. Twenty bits are included in the magnetic shaft, inside which sits a 14-inch retractable magnetic pick-up tool. Best of all, despite being designed for the fairer sex, you'd never know it by the color scheme so you needn't fear ridicule from onlookers (just don't let them steal a glance at the Barbara K! logo).

Verdict: 9
$15, www.barbarak.com

Platinum Tools Precision Screwdriver Set

Perhaps you suffer from technophobia, the fear of technology, and break out in a sweat when getting too close to an electronic device. Or maybe you're just far sighted. Either way, that doesn't mean you have to forfeit your dream of starting a handheld gadget repair shop. With a precision handle that extends to 9.5-inches, you can fix all kinds of electronic doo-dads without getting too close. And with 30 bits and 3 ratchets to choose from, you'll never have to turn anyone away.

Verdict: 8
$19, www.platinumtools.com

Maxtech 39 Piece Multi-Driver Set w/ Precision Screwdriver Bits

Every Boy Scout dreams of owning a set as versatile as this, but Maxtech's kit ultimately falls short of earning a merit badge. But first let's focus on the good. Thirty bits (12 of which are double-ended) give you over 40 standard sized tips to work with. A reversible shaft with telescoping magnetic pick-up slides into a comfortable handle, along with a 1/4-inch socket adapter. A separate precision screwdriver with 5 precision bits complete the assortment of tools, and even the bit storage flips open like a tackle box. Use it to store case screws, a thumb drive, or even a Snickers bar (it fits!).

And you'll need it too, because you'll exert considerable energy getting the reversible shaft and bits to fit in the handle. Nothing slides in smoothly, and even a couple of the double-sided bits would oddly slide in just fine in one direction, but refuse to cooperate after flipping it around requiring an unusual amount of force. With a little more thought towards construction, this could have been the only kit you'd ever need to buy.

Verdict: 5
$13, www.Amazon.com

Swiss Tech Utili-Key 6-in-1

From Swiss army knives to Swiss chocolate, adding 'Swiss' to any product is usually a recipe for success. Not so with the half-baked Utili-Key. The Phillips head screwdriver comes in handy for impromptu notebook repairs, but was completely ineffective in our testbed PC. Same holds true for the flat tip, but we were most unimpressed with the eyeglasses repair tool. On two different sets of spectacles, the micro tip proved too fat to be of any use. The bottle opener is serviceable, as are the two included knives, but only when in a pinch.

Verdict: 4
$13, www.swisstechtools.com

General Tools 4-in-1 Precision Pocket Screwdriver

Let's face it, only nerds carry pocket protectors. But just because we're power users doesn't mean we can't appreciate a precision screwdriver disguised as a pen. That's just cool (and handy). For roughly the same price as a McDonald’s Happy Meal, the 4-in-1 pocket screwdriver fits neatly in your pocket, behind your ear, or wherever else you carry your favorite pen. But instead of writing your John Hancock, you'll instead always find yourself prepared to tear into notebooks, adjusting a loose set of eyeglasses, or replacing the battery in your MP3 player. And with a surprisingly sharp flathead tip, you can even gouge out your assailant's eyes. Not a bad deal for three bucks.

Verdict: 8
$3, www.generaltools.com

Black & Decker Alkaline Powered Screwdriver

You're not going to get much torque out of an Alkaline powered screwdriver, nor do you need much when working on a PC. If you run across a particularly stubborn screw, switching to manual mode leaves it up to your biceps to finish the job. And if that's still not enough, you should probably think about spending more time in the gym and less time in front of your computer. For everything else, Black & Decker's powered screwdriver will cut down on your build time, especially if you secure your optical drives with all eight screws. Depending on your case, you may need to keep a more nimble screwdriver handy for those hard to reach places.

Verdict: 7
$14, www.blackanddecker.com

Hitachi DB3DL 3.6 Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Screwdriver

Needs and wants are funny things. Do you really need a quad-core processor? Probably not, but it certainly won't hurt your encode times. You also don't need a top of the line graphics card, but with games like Crysis pushing the envelope, you may find yourself wanting an ATI 4870 X2. Or two. So what does this have to do with PC repair? Just as an uber high-end processor might be overkill, so too is a power screwdriver. But if you're going to get one, Hitachi's DB3DL strikes the right balance between and performance and aesthetics.

The dual-position handle comes decked out in a green, black, and silver color scheme. An adjustable dial gives you 44 in/lbs of turning torque so you can install your motherboard and mod your case at the same time, and if you're in a hurry, switch the speed from low to high (200/600 RPM). A red LED light lets you work in the dark, and an included backup lithium-ion battery leaves you no excuse for running out of juice midway through a job.

Verdict: 9
$66, www.hitachipowertools.com

Review Roundup: 11 Laptop Stands Lab Tested and Scrutinized

Reed Porter and Benson Hong — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:15:49 -0500

With the ripe combination of portability and power, today’s notebooks are becoming increasingly popular and replacing desktops as primary computers. And one notebook accessory that many consumers seem to be keeping their eye on is notebook stands. These angled risers that sit on your desk provide ergonomic and organizational solutions to transform a notebook into a makeshift desktop station. But which stand is right for you? Looking for a stand with passive or fan cooling? Or is a stand with comfortable ergonomics and stylish aesthetics more important? What if you want one with a little bit of everything? With these various factors in mind, we tested 11 different notebook stands to see if they’re any better than just putting a notebook on top of a few stacked phonebooks (which in many cases, they weren’t).

LapWorks Laptop Desk Futura

Price: $29.95
http://www.laptopdesk.net

Finding a use for this tray was a little difficult. The "desk" is supposed to act as a heat barrier between your notebook and legs when sitting down. After about 30 minutes of intense usage it became apparent that although the heat our thighs experienced was not quite as hot as direct contact, there was no measurable dissipation taking place. We tested the tray with the included MouzPads, which attach to either side of the desk to add just over 4&1\2 inches for you to move your mouse. These snap-on pads were designed to allow "avid FPS gamer(s)" to play PC games on their HDTV using their laptop. Not a bad idea provided your laptop cost $4K and can game on HD resolutions; now only if we had room enough to move our mouse more then two inches, it might have been practical. Futura contacted us to say they were aware of the problem and will be releasing new MouzPads this October. Until then, the only reason to use the Laptop Desk as opposed to any smooth slab are its portability and grip pads.

Update: It seems Targus is selling the Laptop Desk Futura as well; rebranded as the "PA243U | Targus Laptop Portable LapDesk". LapWorks representatives have confirmed that the Targus model is indeed their Laptop Desk Futura rebranded and distributed through the Targus retail channel. Keep in mind both products are exactly the same (including price) despite their separate brand and model numbers.

Verdict: 3

Coolmax NB-400

Price: $31.99
http://www.coolmaxusa.com

This Aluminum stand was one of only two stands in our roundup to include active cooling. The two 70mm fans can spin at 1,800 or 2,500rpms, with a scroll wheel to adjust their speed. When testing the cooling power of the fans on max settings, we found they did a poor job cooling the entire bottom of our laptop. Yes, they lowered temperatures, but only for two small areas lying in immediate vicinity to the fans. We attribute this to the fact that the fans suck air out from under your laptop, blowing it under the stand, instead of blowing air directly onto the bottom of your notebook. Since the tray measures 12 and a half inches wide, any medium-large laptop sticks out off its edge; luckily the NB-400's Aluminum alloy construction is sturdy enough that the limited size doesn't affect the unit's support. The included USB ports are a plus and we applaud this stand for its sturdy frame, but with the poor cooling performance and a $30 price tag, we would hesitate to buy this unit over simply employing a stack of textbooks.

Verdict: 6

Logitech Alto Wireless

Price: $99
http://www.logitech.com

Easily one of the most stylish docks in this roundup, we were eager to see if the Alto performed as well as it looked. Aesthetics aside, this was also the only dock to include a keyboard. Not quite your standard QWERT keyboard, this puppy dished up a surplus of function keys. During intense FPS frag sessions, we found the key registry to be a bit off, but outside of gaming this flaw was never noticed. With convenience in mind, the Alto includes well-placed USB ports and a discrete wire management system. Although we liked to have seen a more advanced wire management similar to that of the Targus Ergo-D Pro, the inclusion of one at all is better than nothing. One feature we found lacking was the ability to adjust the stand's height, which is only either completely propped up or down. When propped up, the stand appears a bit flimsy upon first glance, but was surprisingly strong enough to hold up to our most punishing weight tests. The Alto has near everything you could want in a laptop dock, including a keen panache that may even have Apple fans feeling a tinge of jealousy. Form and function comes at a price though, as the Alto was one of the more expensive setups we reviewed.

Verdict: 8

LapDawg

Price: $130
http://www.lapdawg.com/

For the LapDawg, we had to throw out our usual battery of tests because this stand is quite unique. It's designed to do more then simply act as a laptop stand; it's a fully collapsible table, platform, tray, whatever you can shape it into. The Dawg’s Aluminum tray is very wide at almost 18 inches with fully adjustable legs attached to either side, each split up into three sections. Each leg can be individually rotated a full 360 degrees and locked at any degree. Adjusting these legs was simple (literally a snap) and we had fun coming up with different positions for the Dawg. Sadly this is where our fun ended as it soon became quite apparent that the Dawg’s versatility was its only strength. When weight-testing the stand in a variety of positions the legs would bend under even 10 lbs of pressure, despite the documentation stating support for 26.5 lbs. The stand had very few positions we felt comfortable placing even our 15" notebook on. Throughout our testing the three joints on each leg began to loosen and the unit swayed from side to side when in a full upright position. At full height the Dawg measures just over 21 inches tall making it a bit short to use as a table while sitting down on anything but the floor. Worse yet, the table costs a hefty $130. The LapDawg does absolutely nothing that merits its price, but receives bonus points for being versatile and reminding us of Wall-E.

Verdict: 2

atdec VISIDEC Traveller 17T

Price: $45
http://www.atdec.com

Unlike many of the other stands in this roundup, the Traveller doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It is simply a stand used to prop up your laptop on your desk, and admirably succeeds at that task. The Traveller adjusts to five separate heights to bring your laptop to a suitable eye level. Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to lock the stand in place and it became a minor nuisance to change heights once the supporting bracket was finally locked. At the base of the stand are two surprisingly robust fold-out metal tabs used to support your laptop. Despite the Traveller’s simple design and polycarbonate body, it also withstood our weight tests without collapsing or breaking. You can even fold up the unit to be as flat as a magazine and slide it into its included travel sleeve to bring it along on work trips. The Traveller reliably serves its purpose, and the included extras don't hurt one bit.

Verdict: 8

rain design mStand

Price: $49.90
http://www.raindesigninc.com

Clearly aimed at MacBook users, this stand matches the brushed aluminum finish that MacBook Pro users have come to adore. In fact, the stand could easily be mistaken for an Apple product based on its design (and no doubt its price). Built to be a fixed docking station, the mStand is not portable at all; the points it loses in convenience however are gained back in durability. Due to its solid metal build, the mStand can easily support laptops of all sizes. On the back of the stand is a sizable hole for wire routing. During testing, we found this hole somewhat counterintuitive to its purpose; wires that would normally escape out the back of your laptop were now pushed forward toward you if routed through the hole – we can’t see this being useful if your notebook’s USB ports aren’t on the back (like in all Macbooks). Apple fans alike will love this stand, and as they've become accustom to, shell out some serious greenbacks for the sake of style.

Verdict: 7

APC Ergonomic Notebook Stand

Price: $75
http://www.apc.com

The APC Ergonomic Notebook stand offers plenty of mobility on the desk but lacks portability. While this notebook stand size and weight is not meant for traveling, its ergonomic design allows users to rest comfortably while at the desk. The stand offers 3 different locking positions to adjust to your level of comfort. However, we would like to have seen a few more positions available. The folding retainer allows for easy access to front optical drives and the concave stand allows air to flow through the bottom for passive cooling. APC also implemented four USB 2.0 ports to the back, which seems to be standard on many notebook stands today, allowing easy access for your mouse, keyboard, or external hard drive. We wouldn’t have minded a couple of USB ports in the front, though.

Verdict: 7

Targus Chill Mat and Notebook Stand

Price: $60
http://www.targus.com

Targus is well known for their distinguished notebook accessories, mainly their notebook bags and cases, but their Targus Laptop Stand with Removable Chill Mat will give them something to brag about in the cooling department. The stand provides both passive and fan cooling. The optional Chill Mat with two powerful, yet noisy, fans can be attached to provide more cooling power to the notebook. We found the Chill Mat to be, however, a bit hard to remove and at times felt like it was going to break in the process. The stand is sturdy enough to handle the heaviest notebooks and the cradle can fit even the thick notebooks. This is definitely a positive, as other stands seem to have trouble supporting the bulkier notebooks. Opening up the stand reveals the ability to adjust the it to four different angles and also exposes an inner compartment to store cables and small accessories; and by small we mean a couple of thumb drives and maybe a fun-sized Snickers bar.

Verdict: 7

Kensington Notebook Stand

Price: $80
http://us.kensington.com

For Kensington, ergonomics is no joke. Kensington’s Notebook Stand features a color-coded hand chart, which allows you to measure the size of your hand and adjust the stand to its corresponding color and angle. What we failed to understand, though, is how this feature has anything to do with ergonomics. The notebook stand is designed to act as an elevated notebook screen so its mounted clipboard panel blocks off use of the keyboard. Without access to the keyboard, the angle of the stand has no effect on your hands. With that aside, Kensington’s detachable 4-port USB hub and clipboard panel are the only things to “hoo-rah” about for this notebook stand.

Verdict: 4

Griffin Elevator

Price: $40
http://www.griffintechnology.com

This notebook stand doesn’t have as many features as most notebook stands would offer. No USB ports, no cooling, and no adjustable height. But if simplicity is what you’re looking for, Griffin doesn’t disappoint. The sleek (and a little Mac-esque) Elevator sets your notebook 5 ½ inches above the desk at eye level to help with ergonomic-conscious user. The sure-grip pads aren’t as “grippy” as we would like them to be, as heavier notebooks (anything above 7 pounds) will slide a bit. The brushed aluminum stands are a bit wobbly and can shake with the slightest bump. After extended use, we found that notebooks with less grip on the bottom could eventually slide off the stand. Thankfully, no notebooks were damaged in the testing process! The Elevator is a bit pricey for its lack of features, but its stylish look makes up for it.

Verdict: 5

Targus Ergo D-Pro

Price: $100
http://www.targus.com

Targus does not disappoint, again, with its Ergo D-Pro Laptop Stand. This stand is sturdy, even supporting up to 27 pounds in our tests. It offers a document stand in the front with tabs to adjust the angle. In the back, it provides wire management guides as well as a lockable compartment, although the compartment is quite small and can fit nothing more than a few cables or a thumb drive. The grilled back allows air to dissipate through the bottom. There are no built-in USB ports, though, but a separate port replicator is available for purchase as an extension. The D-Pro is not at all portable as it weighs in at a hefty 7.7 pounds, but that is expected when the suggested weight capacity more than five times the weight of our laptops. The steep price tag will hurt your wallet, which is unfortunate because the Ergo doesn’t match up to other stands in its price range (such as the Logitech Alto Cordless).