ReviewsAlpine 7 Pro

Given its small size, we didn’t expect maximum cooling performance from Arctic Cooling’s Alpine 7 Pro. And while the Alpine 7 Pro doesn’t set any performance records, in some situations it does match the capabilities of our cooler of choice, Thermaltake’s DuOrb. Given the sheer size difference between this 9x9x3cm cooler and the, well, monstrous DuOrb, the Alpine 7’s performance was a pleasant surprise.

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cooling, hardware, air cooler, build-a-pc, alpine
ReviewsAntec Twelve Hundred

You will not find a more powerful air-cooled case on the market than Antec’s Twelve Hundred—not unless you strap a box fan to the side of your chassis. That’s what it would take to challenge the cooling prowess of this full-tower enclosure, which features one 20cm fan on top and five 12cm fans placed throughout the interior. These six blue LED fans are attached to individual switches that allow you to tweak the strength (and sound) of each fan to suit your needs.

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case, antec, hardware, build-a-pc, twelve hundred
ReviewsBFG GeForce GTX 280 OC 1GB

Sporting almost the same configuration as the reference design we previewed last month, BFG’s GeForce GTX 280 delivers amazing performance with the second-generation DirectX 10 chipset from Nvidia. It soundly spanks ATI’s new 4870, as well as all but the dual-GPU graphics solutions from the previous generation—and even against those, the GTX 280 wins all but a few benchmarks. The real question we’re asking is, Do we need this much power?

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11
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gaming, videocard, nvidia, geforce, hardware, BFG, build-a-pc, GTx 280
FeaturesATI to Nvidia: You're a Dinosaur

Radeon 4850 & Radeon 4870

On the eve of the GeForce GTX 280 launch just last week, ATI unveiled a bombshell—a brand-new GPU architecture that utilized better process technology and a more power efficient design to outperform Nvidia's gargantuan new GPU. ATI eschewed the huge, hot monolithic GPU for a more compact, but modular core. With twin goals of decreased power consumption and more efficiency per die area, ATI looks poised to dethrone Nvidia, and all without building a videocard that sports an aural footprint roughly equivalent to a Dyson vacuum cleaner.

With the new RV770 GPU comes two products, the $200 Radeon 4850 and the $300 Radeon 4870. While their prices vary wildly, the videocards all use the same GPU. Click the jump to find out exactly what makes it tick.

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videocard, ati, radeon, hardware, build-a-pc, rv770
NewsDaily News Brief: EVGA Owners, Rev Your GPUS!

EVGA releases new graphics overclocking utility, new bling for your D-Link router, enter to win a $10K PC, see who's turning 30, and more!

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2
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graphics, evga, media, news, overclock, hardware, OEM, d-link, build-a-pc
NewsDaily News Brief: Can You Trust Local PC Repair Shops?

Undercover team challenges computer repair shops to diagnose dislodged RAM, Dell and HP putting XP on extended life support, a DNF update, and much more!

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9
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games, Security, news, undercover, hardware, Sound, pc repair, repair shop, build-a-pc
NewsHands-On Preview with CrossFireX

Double your trouble: Maximum PC plays with AMD’s Quad Radeon CrossFireX

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5
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news, radeon, hardware, crossfirex, multi gpu, build-a-pc
NewsDaily News Brief: NVIDIA 9600GT and 9800GX2 Revealed!

Specs and pics of NVIDIA's next generation videocards emerge, hard drives return to profitability, Apple might be backing Blu-ray, Netflix to invade televisions, and more!

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2
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news, nvidia, high definition, hardware, Video cards, 9800GX2, 9600gt, build-a-pc

THIS MONTH's ISSUE
Maximum PC
FEATURE The 2008 Dream MachineHOW TO Build a Custom Windows Restore DiscFIRST LOOK ATI's GeForce KillerHISTORY LESSON We celebrate 10 years of Maximum PC

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