Samsung SyncMaster 920NW 19-inch LCD Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just upgraded to a laptop and docking station at work with this monitor from a standard 17".The color and definition is simple stunning.Will be buying one for home as well.

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Product Description:
Brightly colorful with easy adjustment controls for just the right viewing for your environment, the 19-inch Samsung SyncMaster 920NW LCD monitor is a great choice for adding more screen real estate to your computer's desktop. In addition to its widescreen resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels--offering native 720p high definition clarity--the 920NW has a blazing fast 5ms (millisecond) response time, perfect for playing immersive 3D games and watching action-packed movies without ghosting or pixelation. It connects to desktop and laptop PCs using a VGA/D-Sub port.


The 920NW provides native 720p high-definition resolution (1440 x 900) and a fast 5ms response rate. This monitor's specs also include a 160-degree viewing angle (both horizontal and vertical), a high level of brightness with a 300 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) rating and a 700:1 contrast ratio. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a monitor's ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.)
The 920NW's 19-inch screen (measured diagonally) is framed by a narrow bezel, ensuring that this monitor won't overpower your desk with its size. The monitor sits atop a rounded base that can tilt forward and backward for just the right view. The back includes a power connector, VGA (15-pin D-Sub) connector, and lock connector (for optional Kensington locks to secure the monitor to your desk). This monitor is Energy Star qualified, with a 42 watt power consumption rating and less than 1 watt of consumption in stand-by mode.
This monitor includes several Samsung technologies that enhance your viewing, including MagicColor, which improves and adjusts mid-level colors to shades the eye accepts as natural, and MagicBright, which creates an optimal viewing environment, based on the the image you're watching. It also includes the MagicTune monitor config application, which makes it simple and convenient to tweak your screen's settings.
MagicTune
By now, you've probably experienced the frustration of pushing buttons on the front of your monitor to access the variety of onscreen menus to adjust its settings. Samsung has now created a software application that's designed to optimize all monitor settings, and is equipped with an intuitive GUI (Graphic User Interface) which includes many more features. MagicTune employs an advanced display technology, called the DDC/CI (Display Data Channel Command Interface) protocol, to control all monitor settings.
Colors on an LCD will adjust and will appear different to the average user when the system is changed, depending on the characteristics and performance settings of the system. MagicTune provides a Color Calibration feature that helps set the LCD monitor color to a default color standard. This feature simplifies the complex gamma correction process into a few simple steps, enabling you to enjoy the same optimized high quality color standard on every system.
What's in the Box
LCD monitor, power cable, VGA/D-Sub cable, software CD, printed user guide
Tech Talk

Response Time -- The amount of time it takes for a liquid crystal cell to from active (black) to inactive (white) and back against to active (black). It's measured in milliseconds (ms), and the lower the number the faster the response time--translating to a smoother picture with fewer pixilated or ghosted artifacts.

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Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU BX80601920 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros:
It's my first build and coming from a Pentium 4 3.4 ghz in my Dell to this processor is simply amazing. I can now play Oblivion and L4D in the settings I want! Everything else it pretty much cuts through it like butter. It get a Windows 7 WEI of 7.6 3dmark Vantage CPU score P42500+ and I have it overclocked to 3.67 with blck of 184 vcore 1.225 with vdroop. Coupled with a Cooler Master V8 it's prime 95 stable (small ffts - 2 hours, large - 2 hours, blend - 9 hours) and LinX stable (max memory 10 runs) 75 degrees C max. Ambient 80 F

Cons:
None

Other thoughts:
If you are new to overclocking like I was here are some simple steps for a modest overclock:
WARNING: It is entirely possible to burn your CPU! Don't go crazy and set a high base clock from the start. Follow the steps!

1) download Realtemp.exe, cpu-z, prime 95, and LinX (google em)
2) go into your bios and increase the base clock by 5 (or 10 if impatient but remember my warning)
3) Load Windows and breath a sigh of relief if it does. But thats only 1/5 of the battle.
4) Run CPU-z to verify your overclock, close it then run realtemp.
5) Run LinX max memory, 3 runs. If it blue screens, restarts or errors then you've gone too far and you need to dial it down to keep your machine stable. Your last setting is your max overclock without adding vcore (cpu voltage).
6) If it passes with no errors and your max temps aren't above 85 C (some people use 80) then you're good, and you can add more base clock.
7) Go back to step 2 rinse and repeat.

8)Once you get to a speed you're happy with and it passes LinX, and is below 85 C, run prime 95 stress test for at least 6 hours of blend, 2 hours of small ffts, and 2 hours of large ffts. If it survives that then you're good for gaming and most everyday apps. If it survives p95 blend for 24 hours (no errors, < 85 C) then you're rock stable ready for mission critical or server work.

You can run Linx for more passes or folding@home SMP for further stability testing.

Finally don't expect much if you're using the heatsink that came with the processor.

Good luck. If I made a mistake somewhere please correct me in the comments.

BTW my motherboard is the EVGA X58 vanilla. The folks at the forums in their website are the most helpful and supportive folks you can find. Really thats the stuff that money can't buy, I strongly recommend their motherboards just for that. They have guides for more serious overclocks and guides explaining voltages, guides on optimizing Vista etc.

All the info about overclocking and stability testing comes from the stickied threads on the EVGA forums

Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU BX80601920

Product Description:
With faster, intelligent, multi-core technology that applies processing power where it's needed most, new Intel Core i7 processors deliver an incredible breakthrough in PC performance. They are the best desktop processors on the planet. You'll multitask applications faster and unleash incredible digital media creation. And you'll experience maximum performance for everything you do, thanks to the combination of Intel Turbo Boost technology and Intel Hyper-Threading technology (Intel HT technology), which maximizes performance to match your workload.

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Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition 3.33GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 Desktop Processor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Question is, can you get something nearly as good for much less? Indeed, it's possible.

Contrary to popular belief, CPU chip fabrication is really an imprecise art, and manufacturing perfection cannot be found in this industry. The same series of chips, in this case the i7 900 series, are all manufactured from the same wafer. Whether or not they get the extreme designation and specified number is based on testing done on each chip after the fabrication process is complete. However not every chip is tested for a specific range in the series (e.g. 975).

Like any company, Intel has manufacturing quotas, so a certain number of 975s have to be produced each month, but beyond that, they don't run the harder tests involved with the 975s. So in reality, you could technically get a 965 or a 975 in the 950 mix, assuming all quotas were met for any chips above 950 in that particular month of fabrication. The main reason for this is due to the limited demand on the 965s and 975s. In the end, it's more-or-less the luck of the draw.

Technically, this means you could by chance end up with a 920 that matches the quality of a 950 or higher. However, the chances are more likely that you could get a 975-quality from a 950 batch, since both would come from the same vicinity on the wafer (that vicinity being the area that consistently yields the best chips) whereas the 920s are coming from a known lesser-quality area of the wafer. The 920s typically are the bottom of the barrel in the series.

So if you're absolutely picky and you must have top-of-the-line equipment, definitely go with the 975 or one of the other extreme edition CPUs, because you're guaranteed to receive a chip of the highest quality (assuming you can afford it).

However, if price is any concern at all, but absolute top performance is certainly not an issue, go with a 950 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002A6G3V2?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8) and take your chances on getting something better, especially if you're considering overclocking. It really all depends on your cooling solution, settings and the chances of drawing something better than the label suggests, but from what I've seen the chances are actually pretty decent.

I've benchmarked the 975, 965 and 950, all overclocked. The 975 ran only 1.8% faster than the 950, but the 950 ran even better than the "extreme" 965. In the end, I was certainly satisfied with the results of the 950 for the price. For anyone on the fence with price vs performance, you certainly won't be dissatisfied with the 950. Even if you have the extra cash to plop down on the 975, save your money and get an SSD with the extra cash flow. That's where the real bottleneck is in computing these days, and you shouldn't ever run such a top-of-the-line system without having a high-speed hard drive!

For those who are curious, here is what I chose for my machine's final configuration:
Mobo: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KA9PZK?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
CPU: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002A6G3V2?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
Memory: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VNLDN8?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
Hard Drive (SSD): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IGT7IU?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
PSU: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M3G42W?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8

Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition 3.33GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 Desktop Processor

Product Description:
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition Quad-core I7-975 3.33GHz Processor 3.33 GHz - 6.40 GT/s QPI - 1 MB L2 - 8 MB L3 - Socket B

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Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail BX80601930 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Processors are pretty much a commodity, what really matters is how much you get for you money.In the i7 line this model currently is in a good spot.Going down one step to a 920 only save $10-20 but going up to a 940 will set you back $250.You can spend $1000 for a top of the line Intel i7 and only see a slight improvement in most Windows applications.The high-end processors are really targeted for servers and not desktops anyway.You can save about $100 and step down to a i5 but you will lose quite a bit of performance.Prices can change from week to week, so be sure and check to see if these numbers are still valid.

The primary difference between the i7 and other processors like the i5, or AMD processors for that matter, is how memory is accessed.The i7 uses triple-channel memory that is accessed directly instead of via external support chips which speeds things up a lot.

Be aware that the latest Intel chips use the LGA1366 socket and the i5 uses LGA1156, so you have a much better upgrade path with the i7 later on.If you build a i7 computer, make sure you chip and motherboard have the same socket!

With any of these processors you really should get a 3rd party heatsink; it will keep you processor cooler making for a more stable and longer living system.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 2.80GHz 8 MB LGA1366 CPU, Retail BX80601930

Product Description:
The Intel Core i7-930 processor combines the power of four 2.80 GHz computing cores into a single processor, guaranteeing enough processing power for the most demanding applications. With 8 MB of smart cache, the Core i7-930 processor ensures that you get maximum responsiveness from your system, even when several intensive programs run simultaneously. Compatible with motherboards based on the Intel X58 Express chipset, the Core i7-930 processor takes your computing and gaming experience to the next level.
Intel Core i7-930 Processor features:

Four 2.80 GHz cores for better multitasking and multithreaded performance.
8 MB of smart cache.
Integrated memory controller delivers higher memory bandwidth.
Quick Path Interconnect provides fast data transfer between the processor and chipset.

With four cores in one processor, users will experience better multitasking and multithreaded performance.

The Intel Core i7-930 processor delivers outstanding performance for demanding tasks. View larger. Powerful New Microarchitecture Eliminates Slowdown
The i7 family is Intel's flagship processor, and for good reason. With the i7 family, Intel engineers invented a revolutionary new style of microarchitecture. They replaced the front side bus--a longtime staple of processor design--with a new technology called QuickPath Interconnect (QPI). Using QPI, the Intel Core i7-930 processor achieves unprecedented levels of bandwidth, and can use its four computing cores to their maximum potential.


To put it simply, users will enjoy faster and more streamlined processing than ever before. Your computer will handle multiple projects and applications without the slowdown you'd experience with a lesser processor.


Extremely intensive programs like high-definition media editors will run more smoothly and responsively. And you'll be able to experience next-generation games without frame-rate hiccups and slowdowns.


New Technologies Boost Performance
The Intel Core i7-930 processor also makes use of several other cutting-edge technologies:

Turbo Boost Technology allows the processor to run up to 133 MHz faster when it's operating below power/thermal limits.
Hyper-threading Technology enables more efficient use of processor resources, making the most of highly threaded software like media players and next-generation games.
Smart Cache Memory increases available RAM resources, leading to less lag while multi-tasking.

Media Editing and Sharing Easier than Ever
Whether editing high-definition videos, touching up family photos, or splicing up music, the Intel Core i7-960 processor provides the processing power needed. The processor's four cores are optimized to keep up with the most advanced digital editing software. It also accelerates DVD encoding and compression, allowing you to easily share your HD home videos with everyone.

Unparalleled Gaming Performance
With the advent of next-generation games, PC gaming is more immersive than ever. The latest games take advantage of multi-threaded programming, allowing for more realistic graphics, physics, and artificial intelligence (AI). But you need more than just a good graphics card with high GPU output to fully experience all these effects. Underlying the visual realism and advanced AI scripts are thousands of high-speed calculations that your CPU must process.


Fortunately, the Intel Core i7-930 processor is specifically designed to handle these calculations. Using multi-thread architecture, it has the ability to process thousands of graphical characteristics at once, resulting in a smooth and lag-free experience. Intel worked closely with CryTek -- the developers of the advanced game engine behind such games as Crysis and Far Cry -- to guarantee that gamers have an immersive and lifelike experience.


The Intel Core i7-930 processor is backed by a three-year limited warranty.



Intel Core i7-900 Processor Series Intel Core i7-960 Processor Intel Core i7-950 Processor Intel Core i7-930 Processor Intel Core i7-920 Processor Processor Frequency 3.20 GHz 3.06 GHz 2.80 GHz 2.66 GHz Intel Smart Cache 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB 8 MB Intel Turbo Boost Technology Single-core performance up to 3.46 GHz Single-core performance up to 3.33 GHz Single-core performance up to 3.06 GHz Single-core performance up to 2.93 GHz Number of Simultaneous Threads 8 (With Intel HT Technology) 8 (With Intel HT Technology) 8 (With Intel HT Technology) 8 (With Intel HT Technology) Integrated Memory Controller Yes Yes Yes Yes Number of Memory Channels 3 (DDR3 1066 MHz) 3 (DDR3 1066 MHz) 3 (DDR3 1066 MHz) 3 (DDR3 1066 MHz) Intel X58 Chipset Motherboard DX58SO DX58SO DX58SO DX58SO Socket LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366

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Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 Desktop Processor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Contrary to popular belief, CPU chip fabrication is really an imprecise art, and manufacturing perfection cannot be found in this industry. The same series of chips, in this case the i7 900 series, are all manufactured from the same wafer. Whether or not they get the extreme designation and specified number is based on testing done on each chip after the fabrication process is complete. However not every chip is tested for a specific range in the series (e.g. 975).

Like any company, Intel has manufacturing quotas, so a certain number of 975s have to be produced each month, but beyond that, they don't run the harder tests involved with the 975s. So in reality, you could technically get a 965 or a 975 in the 950 mix, assuming all quotas were met for any chips above 950 in that particular month of fabrication. The main reason for this is due to the limited demand on the 965s and 975s. In the end, it's more-or-less the luck of the draw.

Technically, this means you could by chance end up with a 920 that matches the quality of a 950 or higher. However, the chances are more likely that you could get a 975-quality from a 950 batch, since both would come from the same vicinity on the wafer (that vicinity being the area that consistently yields the best chips) whereas the 920s are coming from a known lesser-quality area of the wafer. The 920s typically are the bottom of the barrel in the series.

So if you're absolutely picky and you must have top-of-the-line equipment, definitely go with the 975 or one of the other extreme edition CPUs, because you're guaranteed to receive a chip of the highest quality (assuming you can afford it).

However, if price is any concern at all, but absolute top performance is certainly not an issue, go with a 950 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002A6G3V2?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8) and take your chances on getting something better, especially if you're considering overclocking. It really all depends on your cooling solution, settings and the chances of drawing something better than the label suggests, but from what I've seen the chances are actually pretty decent.

I've benchmarked the 975, 965 and 950, all overclocked. The 975 ran only 1.8% faster than the 950, but the 950 ran even better than the "extreme" 965. In the end, I was certainly satisfied with the results of the 950 for the price. For anyone on the fence with price vs performance, you certainly won't be dissatisfied with the 950. Even if you have the extra cash to plop down on the 975, save your money and get an SSD with the extra cash flow. That's where the real bottleneck is in computing these days, and you shouldn't ever run such a top-of-the-line system without having a high-speed hard drive!

For those who are curious, here is what I chose for my machine's final configuration:
Mobo: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KA9PZK?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
CPU: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002A6G3V2?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
Cooler: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KUV2KQ?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
Memory: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VNLDN8?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
Hard Drive (SSD): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IGT7IU?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8
PSU: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M3G42W?tag=a52-20&ie=UTF8

Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 Desktop Processor

Product Description:
Intel Core i7 950 Processor BX80601950 Check out the most significant architectural change in the x86 architecture in 13 years, the Intel Core i7. Intel has completely reinvented their CPU design, removing the antiquated Front Side Bus and replacing it with the new Intel QuickPath Interconnect, delivering up to 6.4 GT/s. Also new to the Core i7 line is the integrated memory controller, supporting Triple Channel DDR3 Memory allowing for more maximum memory, up to 24GB on some boards, and faster access times. Located directly on the CPU die is 256KB per core of L2 cache and 8MB L3 cache shared across all four cores means the CPU can do more without having to access the main memory, further increasing performance.

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