Items tagged with AVADirect
Building a small form factor gaming PC is a tricky business. For one thing, there simply isn’t enough room to fit as many components as you would put in a mid- or full-size gaming PC. Multiple graphics cards aren’t likely, and oversized power supplies (not to mention CPU heatsinks) usually present major challenges. The other issue is the heat: with space at a premium, good airflow becomes even more important, but all the harder to preserve. And don’t expect your customers to give you leeway on performance, looks, or (and this might be the toughest target of all) noise. But it’s not a lost cause, especially with the Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan delivering so much power (and...
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Building a small form factor gaming PC is a tricky business. For one thing, there simply isn’t enough room to fit as many components as you would put in a mid- or full-size gaming PC. Multiple graphics cards aren’t likely, and oversized power supplies (not to mention CPU heatsinks) usually present major challenges. The other issue is the heat: with space at a premium, good airflow becomes even more important, but all the harder to preserve. And don’t expect your customers to give you leeway on performance, looks, or (and this might be the toughest target of all) noise. But it’s not a lost cause, especially with the Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan delivering so much power (and...
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Nvidia’s much-anticipated GTX Titans are on the loose and high-end system builder AVADirect is loading its gaming PCs with Nvidia's new graphics powerhouses. As a matter of fact, we have an AVADirect Mini Gaming PC (complete with a GTX Titan) in house right now and we’re putting the system through its paces, so today we’re giving you a quick preview ahead of the deep-dive. Our review system is the Mini Gaming PC, which is housed in the LAN party-friendly BitFenix Prodigy chassis. It’s a small, tough-looking case, and it’s packing some noteworthy horsepower, including an Intel Core i7-3770K quad-core processor, the Nvidia GTX Titan, and 8GB of Crucial Ballistix Tactical...
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Boutique system builder AVADirect is now offering a 30-day dead pixel warranty option for all Clevo Quickship notebooks. For those who purchase the warranty add-on, AVADirect will guarantee the notebook screen won't suffer from any dead pixels for up to a month from the date of receipt. That's groovy if even just a single dead pixel will mess up your mojo, but is 30 days enough time? "AVADirect's 30 day dead-pixel warranty will ensure that its customers receive the absolute best display possible when selecting the 30 day dead-pixel warranty. Many may argue that 30 days is not enough time. However, studies show that the defect will emerge early within its lifetime, as opposed to appearing after...
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If you've ever wanted to own your own supercomputer, now's your chance. Boutique system builder AVADirect announced what it claims is the first personal supercomputer workstation loaded to the gills with dual 8-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 192GB of memory, and support for up to four graphics cards. That's some serious horsepower, folks. AVADirect tapped EVGA to provide a pallet of Classified SR-X dual-socket 2011 motherboards to serve as the foundation for its personal supercomputer. Pricing starts at around $2,635 for a baseline configuration, which consists of: 2 x Xeon E5-2603 quad-core processors 2 x Arctic Cooling Freezer i30 CPU coolers 16GB of DDR3-1600 RAM EVGA GeForce GTX 560 graphics...
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One of the things we like about AVADirect is the extensive catalog of off-the-shelf parts to choose from. In fact, a major advantage of shopping from a boutique system builder as opposed to a bulk OEM is the availability of name brand hardware you'd otherwise buy from Newegg, or wherever it is you purchase your components, when rolling your own rig. But what's somewhat unique to AVADirect is the smorgasbord of brands and models to choose from. The robust selection of hardware makes evaluating an AVADirect system somewhat of a challenge in terms of focus, but it's a good problem to have. In our case, AVADirect pieced together a high-end system from its 'Gaming PC' category, built around Intel's...
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One of the things we like about AVADirect is the extensive catalog of off-the-shelf parts to choose from. In fact, a major advantage of shopping from a boutique system builder as opposed to a bulk OEM is the availability of name brand hardware you'd otherwise buy from Newegg, or wherever it is you purchase your components, when rolling your own rig. But what's somewhat unique to AVADirect is the smorgasbord of brands and models to choose from. It's like being a kid-geek in a candy store. Just browsing AVADirect's selection of tower cases, for example, you'll find that nearly two dozen manufacturers are represented, each one offering several models. Antec alone accounts for 27 tower cases on AVADirect's...
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AVADirect announced three new Clevo notebooks--the 15.6-inch P150EM, P151EM, and 17.3-inch P170EM--all based on Intel’s HM77 chipset and running a 3rd-generation Intel processor. The notebooks will have options for NVIDIA GTX 670 and 675 in SLI (with Optimus for preserving battery life), as well as eSATA, DisplayPort, HDMI, digital optical output, and backlit keyboards. Other features include SuperMulti DVD+/-RW burners, integrated 2.0MP webcams, and fingerprint readers, as well as a dizzying array of options for hard drives, SSDs, and RAM. All three notebooks also have the option of an internal mSATA interface to support Intel’s Smart Cache technology. The P150EM, P151EM, and P170EM...
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NVIDIA’s new GTX 675M mobile GPU is making its way into systems, and the latest is available from custom builder AVADirect. The company announced that the GTX 675M is available in its Clevo P270WM gaming notebook; it’s even available in dual-SLI configuration. The rest of the notebook’s specs are equally high-end include support for the Intel Core i7-3960X, 32GB of RAM, up to three drives (with up to 4TB of storage if you take out the ODD), and a 17.3-inch display. Such a machine carries a commensurate price tag; indeed, the Clevo P270WM with dual 675Ms on board starts at $2256.20. AVADirect Now Offers GTX 675M In Clevo P270WM Gaming Notebook Twinsburg, OH - March 29th, 2012...
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AVADirect announced that it now includes ATI HD 7770 and 7750 graphics cards in its product lineup. The company actually has quite a few; there are three 7750s (from ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI) and no fewer than eight 7770s (from ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Sapphire, and XFX). AVADirect suggests that the although it’s offering the 7770 and 7750 as alternatives to the NVIDIA GTX 560 Ti and GTX 550 Ti cards, respectively, it doesn’t feel that the performance is exactly comparable and that the value should be measured in terms of dollar value for performance. But for “those on a tight budget, or all you heat-hating enthusiasts that want great performance without the large price tag”,...
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Sandy Bridge-E chip? Check. X79 chipset? Check. Customizable gaming notebook? Check. AVADirect is clearly pleased to be offering systems based on the Clevo P270WM gaming notebook. The notebook replaces the Clevo X7200 and features the above CPU and chipset along with a trio of hard drives (with RAID options), the NVIDIA GTX 580M (2GB) or Quadro 5010M (4GN), and up to 32GB of 1866MHz quad-channel DDR3 RAM over four slots. Also look for two USB ports, SLI support, and HDMI. You’ll definitely pay for all those specs, though; the base price for the notebook is $3,000, with room to go up depending on configuration. The notebook is available today. AVADirect First To Offer X79 Gaming Notebook,...
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It took a little over a month after the debut of the ATI Radeon HD 7970, but AVADirect now offers 7970 graphics cards from multiple manufacturers. The latest and greatest in graphics from AMD, the 7970 will offer a nice bump in performance for AVADirect systems. Although cards from more manufacturers will be added by and by, AVADirect customers can currently choose from ASUS ($651.92), Sapphire ($651.50), and XFX ($691.76) branded HD 7970 cards. The press release (below) notes that although it’s been tough to find 7970s thus far, AMD told AVADirect that availability will be increasing. AVADirect Adds ATI Radeon HD 7970 Graphics Cards Twinsburg, OH - January 27th, 2012 - AVADirect,...
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When you think of “compact” or “small form factor”, it’s all too easy to make the leap to “weak” or “underpowered”, but AVADirect’s two new small systems are anything but. The company announced a compact gaming system and a workstation, and both systems pack a wallop. The Compact Gaming PC can be configured with an Intel Core i7-3930K or Core i7-3960K Extreme, up to 32GB of DDR3-1333MHz memory, up to two HDDs or SSDs, and up to a pair of graphics cards. The system also boasts a liquid cooling system and a chassis designed for easy portability. Compact Gaming PC Like the Compact Gaming PC, the Workstation PC features a six-core Intel...
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There's a line in the sand between notebooks and desktop replacements, and once you cross it, your system is no longer mobile, it's portable. The AVA Direct P180HM weighs upwards of 12 pounds, which is too heavy to toss into your bag on a whim or open up in a coffee shop and blend in inconspicuously with the other patrons. No, you carefully close up the P180HM, lift with two hands, and pack it neatly into your oversized laptop bag that's big enough to accommodate an 18.4-inch notebook. When you take it out at Starbucks, you mark off your area with yellow tape, tell everyone to stand back, and then place it on the coffee table with a thud. Your latte sits on the floor next to your foot, because...
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AVADirect should include a bumper sticker with its Clevo P180HM notebook that says, "My desktop replacement beat up your Ultrabook and defiled your MacBook Air." Don't get transfixed on the notion that someone would be silly enough to own both of those ultraslim systems rather than choose one over the other. The point we're trying to make is that the P180HM is big, it's mean, and it makes a complete mockery of the mobile form factor. And you know what? We're totally cool with that. Let's talk a moment about portability versus mobility. These aren't one in the same, and if that has you scratching your head, follow along, it will make sense in a moment. A Zenbook is mobile. So is your typical 15.6-inch...
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The X7200 notebook from AVADirect already boasts some incredible features, including support for six-core Intel chips, dual ATI/NVIDIA GPUs, and up to three SATA drives, but now you can opt for up to 24GB of memory, too. In order to take advantage of all 24GB of RAM, users will need Windows Professional or Ultimate, as Windows Home Premium only supports 16GB. The DDR3-1333MHz memory is a Crucial kit (3 x 8GB), and you’ll pay dearly for it; if you add that option in the online configurator, it’ll add a whopping $1,035.92 to the cost of your notebook. To put it in perspective, the next most expensive memory option available for the X7200 is $146.72 for 6GB (3 x 2GB) of Kingston DDR3-1600MHz...
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First there was the novel Shoeless Joe and then came the movie adaptation Field of Dreams. In each one, the protagonist hears a voice whispering, "If you build it, he will come." In this case, "he" refers to Shoeless Joe Jackson, a baseball player idolized by the main character's father. AMD must have taken some inspiration from that story, because the chip maker went out and built what it claims is the world's fastest mobile GPU, and as expected, boutique system vendors have come calling. That includes AVADirect, who tells us they've begun offering the 6990M as a configuration option in their Clevo P150HM, P170HM, and X7200 gaming notebook models. AVADirect is currently taking pre-orders for...
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Find yourself enamored by the prospect of having a CPU and GPU integrated into the same slice of silicon? You have options, friend, one of those being AMD's newfangled Fusion-powered Accelerated Processing Units. These APUs require a new socket -- FM1 -- which won't be a big deal if you're starting from scratch anyway. For those of you not planning to roll your own rig, system builder AVADirect is now offering systems with AMD's Llano A-Series APUs underneath the hood. AVADirect allows you to get your Fusion frenzy on starting at just over $450. That's not a big investment by any stretch, and in return, you get all the makings of a modest daily workhorse, including: AMD A6-3650 APU (quad-core...
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And just like that, another company is assuring customers that future machines are 100% cleared to be perfectly a-okay. Intel's Sandy Bridge snafu earlier this year really put vendors in a pinch; they didn't want to stop selling systems, but they also didn't want a ton of defective units going to unhappy customers. But now that the revised model is out of the pipeline, AVADirect is proudly announcing that their new desktops are utilizing the new Sandy Bridge hardware. The new rigs will use the B3 Cougar Point chipsets that correct the SATA 6Gb/s data bandwidth flaw from degrading over time, and the company has informed the public that pending orders will be honored as promised, and newly submitted...
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AVADirect Introduces Two New 3D Gaming Notebooks Twinsburg, OH – July 28, 2010 - AVADirect, a recognized leader in the computer industry, introduces two innovative 3D notebooks to its lineup of mobile platforms. Just like the latest movies and televisions, notebooks are evolving from 2D to 3D. Powered by revolutionary NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, hundreds of games, photos, movies, and websites can now be experienced in 3D today! Both the Clevo W860CU 3D and the ASUS G51JX-3D have all of the components necessary for 3D Vision integrated into a sleek, portable form factor. With the included pair of high-tech active shutter glasses, users can now experience crystal-clear 3D wherever and whenever...
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There are two main types of road warriors in this world. First, there are the ones who value portability over all else. These users are more concerned with battery life and ease of transportation than they are with raw performance, and it's because of them that netbooks -- the very epitome of portability -- have become such a popular market segment. At the other end of the spectrum sit the users who crave as much performance as they can get, and they're willing to trade battery life and lightweight designs to get it. At the extreme end, we call these mobile PCs 'desktop replacements,' which is exactly what they are. Boutique system builder AVADirect deals with PCs of all shapes and sizes, and...
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There are two main types of road warriors in this world. First, there are the ones who value portability over all else. These users are more concerned with battery life and ease of transportation than they are with raw performance, and it's because of them that netbooks -- the very epitome of portability -- have become such a popular market segment. At the other end of the spectrum sit the users who crave as much performance as they can get, and they're willing to trade battery life and lightweight designs to get it. At the extreme end, we call these mobile PCs 'desktop replacements,' which is exactly what they are. Boutique system builder AVADirect deals with PCs of all shapes and sizes,...
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