Surround for the Desktop Video cards have been the big news in the gaming industry since the introduction of the Voodoo cards several years ago.  Advances in video quality and effects offer gamers detail unheard of just two years ago.  While ultimately the video market usually catches the headlines, the audio performance of the PC has also risen to...

Z-560′s baby brother Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute here, ok?  Hardware review sites, us included, tend to review the latest and greatest on the market.  Our review of the Logitech Z-560 was one fine example; we paired the outstanding THX-certified Z-560′s with the expensive Hercules Game Theater XP sound card, creating...

400-Watts of gaming goodness Earlier this year, we were given the chance to review Logitech’s Xtrusio DSR-100 speakers, and we liked what we heard.  While not quite at the level of the ear-bleeding Klipsch Pro Medias, the Xtrusio DSR-100′s were solid speakers for gaming and desktop media.  Somebody at Logitech obviously didn’t like...

Improving the X-36 Among flight sim enthusiasts, the Saitek X-36 is regarded as one of the premier HOTAS on the market. The controller set features a complete set of buttons and axes, including the unique rocker rudder tucked on the leading edge of the throttle. In our review, we found the X-36 to be one of the most versatile and well-built controllers...

The quest for realism We play a lot of games here at Maximum3D, and not just the standard first person shooter that many sites swear by, mind you.  Everything from flight sims to Mechwarrior can be found running on our boxes throughout the week, and for this reason, we are very particular about our controllers.  I have often stated that I enjoy force...

Memory tricks Most people are familiar with CPU coolers, and even video card heatsinks, but memory cooling is a somewhat new item on the overclocking and performance menu.  The subject of our affection this week is the Thermaltake Memory Cooling Kit, an inexpensive way to improve memory cooling, and dress up your system at the same time.   Video...

Not just mice anymore Audio performance has become an increasingly important feature as the PC makes the transition from geeky toy to a full-fledged home entertainment system. The rise in popularity of MP3s, DVD drives, and 3D sound effects in games has driven a surge in the PC audio market, and we are starting to see systems that rival even dedicated home...

A note to my faithful readers:I caught a little flak from some X-Plane fans because I slipped up and called the sim a game.  It’s NOT!  It’s a great sim, an application, a technical marvel, loads of fun, but not a game.  It’s the most fun I’ve had with an application since I found Spy Hunter buried in Excel 2000!  So...

Star Trek games have consistently fallen into one of two categories:  stupid or boring.  Such a great license, that has been wasted for years on games that usually ended up in the bargain bin at the local Wal-Mart.  Things look to be changing, though.  Using the awesome Quake3 engine, Raven Software has delivered a great first-person shooter...

TNT2 Ultra the Abit way Abit is known as one of the premier motherboard makers in the world. Most of us have at least some fond memories of our first SoftMenu experience…ahh the joys of overclocking. As the 3D market has shifted, Nvidia found itself in a unique position. They were the last major chipmaker that had not merged with a board maker. In my opinion,...

Its all in the details USAF is the latest survey sim from renowned developer Jane’s. A survey sim is a game that encompasses several aircraft, rather than focusing entirely on a single plane (such as the upcoming FA-18). Of course, in order to do this, and not release a six disc boxed set; some compromises have to be made. Generally in a survey sim, the...

This is the one you have been waiting for Many have wondered if it could be done. Some thought it impossible. But it has happened. Quake is no longer the preeminent force in the world of deathmatch. Unreal Tournament challenged Quake3, and has emerged as a worthy successor to the crown. Diverse gameplay, tough bots, and enough graphical goodness to make your new...

Force Feedback for less than $100 A cheap joystick can ruin a game, just like any other piece of hardware. To win in the crowded controller market, today’s manufacturer must offer a comfortable grip, well placed buttons, while maintaining razor sharp accuracy. Did I mention keep the price down as well? AVB seems to have just about accomplished this feat...

Cheap Thrills Let’s face it, not all of us can afford to spend upwards of $100 on a good flight stick. But we still want to play the games, and not have to worry about our joystick crapping out. Most cheap sticks are uncomfortable, have poor button placement, and generally don’t feel solid. The Thrustmaster Top Gun Platinum seems to defy the industry...