The N750 DB is the latest Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router from the company that dominates the networking marketplace; Belkin

The N750 has the ability to pump out Wireless data at speeds of up to 900 mbps, making it perfect for online gaming, home-theatre HD video streaming and super speedy file transfer between your computers.

The full specifications for the N750 DB can be found below:

The N750 looks like something from the future, for a wireless router it is great to look at and will complement whatever it sits on! Finished on the outside with a finger print prone glossy black and not shaped like any other conventional router, it makes the N750 stand out from the crowd; the only downside is the flimsy plastic base which makes it very easy to topple over because of its vertical stature, especially when you are using lots of the Ethernet ports.

With a wireless router though, the thing you want most of all is functionality. One of the best things about the N750 are the dual USB ports on the rear of the router, this means you can plug your USB or extern hard drives into the rear of the router and allow anyone on your network to instantly access the data on the drives! Coupled with the 900 mbps speed, it is a great way to share your music, movie or photo collection with your whole house / network.

Setting up and using the N750 DB could not be easier, once you have plugged everything properly your wireless network will be up and securely running straight away, unlike other router which require you to manually create the wireless network. The N750 DB’s wireless SSID, password and other credentials are printed on a sticker attached to the side of the device, so you can quickly and easily connect without lots of initial setting up. We recommend however that you do change your SSID and password since the ones provided with the device are just random character / number strings which are pretty hard to remember.

To change the settings of the device, you need to log onto the router via your internet browser by tying “192.168.2.1” into the URL bar. Alternately Belkin software is provided on the disk included to guide you though some features and areas of the router you may wish to change in a step by step format. Users who know what they are doing and know what they are trying to achieve will be better of logging onto the router via an internet browser.

Other features the N750 boasts are Self-Healing, Video Mover, Print Zone and Memory Safe.

Self Healing: Belkin routers automatically detect and resolve network problems and run routine maintenance scans to give you the clearest wireless channel. If attention is required, a notification will appear right on your screen—no more blinking lights under your desk.

Video Mover: Watch videos from your movie library on your TV—wirelessly. Connect an external hard drive to the router and move stored videos to your TV through devices like a Blu-ray™ player, Xbox 360®, and PlayStation® 3.

Print Zone: Printing has never been easier. Just connect any compatible printer to your Belkin router, and print from any computer in the house—wirelessly.

Memory Safe ^TM: Digital files are time-consuming to keep track of and vulnerable to loss. Now you can automatically back up precious photos and important files to an external hard drive attached to the router—you choose what to back up and how often.

The most interesting of the four above is the Self Healing which is unique to the N750, the official website has touted it up to make is sound greater than it is though, basically the router will restart automatically in the early hours of the mornings to make sure everything is always running smooth, a simple feature yet makes the whole router so much easier to work with.

One thing to note, if you are going to plug a USB or hard drive into the back of the router, make sure you trust everyone on your network as anyone connected to the router will have full control to read and write to the device.

Overall the N750 is a great router to be used at home, if you are going to use all the extra features that the N750 has available such as the wireless printing and wireless file transfer then it will work great for you. Although if you feel you won’t be making good use of the 5GHz band or the extra features then opt for a cheaper router of a similar or greater speed.

Overclocking, simply stated, is the process of increasing the processing speed of a computer component beyond its factory value it was designed for. Clock speed is defined as “The operating speed of a computer or its microprocessor, defined as the rate at which it performs internal operations and expressed in cycles per second (Hertz). E.g. A computer processor running at 2 Gigahertz will carry out 2 billion instructions per second. Overclocking is commonly undertaken by technology enthusiasts who want to squeeze as much power out of their components as possible as an increase in clock speed will make your computer carry out tasks faster.

Basic Overclocking is a cheap way to increase performance without hardware upgrades. It is not without its risks though; Overclocking (if done incorrectly) can lead to long term damage or unreliable performance increases.

The most common components that Overclocking takes place on are the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Cards and Memory since these components yield the best performance increases when overclocked. We’ll be focusing here on the CPU  since this is the most commonly overclocked component and a good starting point. Overclocking the CPU can make your whole system faster, boot faster, increase loading times in applications and games will be increased and frame rates can also be increased.

Before you decide to overclock you’ll need to check a few things:

• First you need to be sure that your motherboard will allow you to change settings which will allow you to overclock. Manufactures like Dell and Hp block users from tweaking these settings.
• Check your CPU temperatures at idle and when being stressed (ie undertaking a number of tasks that will tax the PC to its limit). Use a downloaded free tool such as cpu thermometer. Overclocking will increase your CPU temperature so if it is already running high then it would be dangerous to proceed. Under stress it’s not wise to exceed around 80 ^oC
• Download a program to test the stability of your CPU once overclocked. I recommend Orthos.
• Most warranties do not cover damage caused by Overclocking. You’re on your own if you muck up!
• Most of all you need to be a bit tech savvy and know the fundamentals of a computer system, Overclocking is an advanced technique and should not be attempted by everyone!

The CPU Clock speed is usually determined by the CPU Multiplier and the CPU FSB (Front Side Bus). The CPU Multiplier is the ratio between your CPU and the FSB on your motherboard. The FSB connects the CPU and the memory or RAM and other components on the motherboard.  Increasing the FSB will increase the speed of your whole system as well as the CPU. Increasing the CPU multiplier will increase the CPU speed but it is harder to fine tune clock speeds with the multiplier since they have to be whole numbers. The principles of Overclocking go down the very technical fundamentals of how a computer system works this is why you shouldn’t undertake extreme Overclocking until you really understand what you are doing.

To demonstrate the benefits of Overclocking I have put together two benchmark scores. One before and one after Overclocking. The processor used is a “TripleCore AMD Phenom II X3 Black Edition 720, 2800 MHz (14 x 200)” It is currently running at 2.8 Ghz, has a multiplier value of 14 and the system FSB is 200. (14 x 200 = 2800) Below are a table of my results and a graph to show the improvement that has been achieved. I used a benchmark tool to test the CPU speed called “CPU Free Benchmark 2.2” Follow what I have done below as a guide only, do not copy it exactly since every CPU is different in its own ways. I accept no responsibility for any damage you may cause to your hardware.

1) I started with my control, the stock CPU speed (test no 1) the average time was about 48 seconds to complete the benchmark tests. So once I had that I could start the Overclocking. Always proceed in small steps, I decided to jump from 2.8 to 3.0 Ghz, an increase of 0.2 Ghz as this is a pretty small Overclock.

2) I conducted the tests at 3.0 Ghz twice, first time increasing the FSB to 231 and decreasing the multiplier to 13. This instantly showed improvements to the test score and no signs of system instability occurred. I then changed the multiplier back to 14 and the FSB to 215. The speed was roughly the same so I know the FSB is not bottlenecking the speed yet. I then proceeded to increase the speed further.

3) In order to demonstrate how the variation between the multiplier and the FSB work I have conducted multiple tests at 3.2 Ghz. Tests 4 & 5 & 6 were extremely similar because they had fairly low multipliers and increased FSB. Test 7 shows the bottlenecking effect come into show that is created between the CPU speed and the FSB. The multiplier was set high and the FSB left as standard but as you can see, even though the clock speed was the same throughout the 3.2 Ghz tests, the time is increased on test 7. This is why you need to get a good balance between CPU speed and FSB and later the CPU voltage.

4) Again with another 0.2 Ghz increase, the clock speed was set to 3.4 Ghz. When you start getting to higher clock speeds you will eventually need to increase the voltage to the CPU to deal with it. It will become apparent when the PC stars behaving erratically or not booting properly. The two 3.4 Ghz tests show two different voltages and how the voltage change does little to the speed of the benchmarks when it is not needed.

5) It was when the 3.6 Ghz mark was hit that problems started to arise. As you can see from test numbers 12 to 15, the PC would not boot at all . The clock speed had been set to high and the voltage needed to be increased in order to cope. Through trial and error, 1.4 volts was the magic number and boosted the speed to a whopping 3.6 Ghz, a 0.8 Ghz increase on the stock speed and cut over 10 seconds off the benchmark times. You have to be really careful when setting the voltage on your CPU or any components since upping it too much will completely kill the component, likely costing you hundreds to replace.

6) An important factor to note also is the increase in temperature once the CPU has been Overclocked. Consistently throughout the tests with more speed comes more heat, especially once the voltage has been increased. After Overclocking check your temperatures all the time and stress the computer for long periods to ensure that it will be stable. I could have gone further as I know some have reached up to 4 GHz on the same processor but I am happy with this result. Pushing it any further will start to increase temperatures much more dramatically and upping the voltage further is risky. But overall a 0.8 GHz increase is really good! You have to not get carried away with it otherwise it will go bad unless you start using special cooling equipment.

In order to start Overclocking your system you need to enter your BIOS. Check how to enter your BIOS screen but it is usually pressing the Delete key during boot up. You’ll be faced with many options and every motherboard is different. Look under advanced settings or anywhere until you find something to do with CPU settings or “Jumper Free settings” as these are the most common places to find the tools to Overclock. If it is supported it will usually describe all the options in your motherboard manual. Once you have found the right page you can start tweaking the settings until you find ones that work for you!

It is a good idea to research your processor online before Overclocking because it is likely that others will have Overclocked it and posted their results so you can use their results to get an estimate of what you are likely to reach depending on your cooling techniques. There are special Overclocking competitions held around the world where teams attempt to get the highest speeds and scores they can. They go to the extent of using liquid nitrogen to cool their processors so it really can get extreme! Speeds of up to and above 5Ghz are achieved in these kinds of competitions.

This is only a basic guide to Overclocking though, to really get the highest speeds etc you’ll need to properly understand the fundamentals of how a computer system works together. Basic Overclocking is good for anyone interested in computers that already know the basics of computers. Just remember to take things slow and if you are unsure about settings in your BIOS don’t change them since it could cause all kinds of problems. Research your processor and motherboard BIOS before carrying out anything. I wouldn’t recommend any beginners change any voltage settings since it likely won’t be needed for small Overclocks and is dangerous if you get it wrong! If you feel your PC is lacking power and want an extra little boost then definitely give it a go!

The Logitech G11 Keyboard is one that differs from the  standard one that you probably use at home, due to its unique design and useful features.  At its heart it is still a standard QWERTY keyboard and will still function as one so you don’t need to worry there! Its pièce de résistance though is its 54 programmable buttons which are located on the right side of the keyboard.

Other features include the ability to disable the windows key button (something that will only be useful to people that play games on their PC) and the media playback controls at the top of the keyboard with its spiral volume control. Oh, did I mention it also glows in the dark?

Even with all these extra features you’ll be happy to know you still only have to plug one USB cable into your PC and install the software to manipulate the programmable buttons.

The programmable keys:

The programmable buttons will come in handy for just about anyone. You can either assign a macro or a text string to each key. For example gamers will be able to assign the special keys to special buttons in game; it will be a real benefit for games such as World of Warcraft because lots of keys need to be pressed during the game. However games such as Call of Duty will not benefit from the extra keys so it depends what kind of games you play.

Even if you don’t play any video games the feature still comes in very handy for other reasons, for example the ability to assign a text string to one of the keys. I use the buttons on a daily basis because I have my email addresses assigned to the keys so whenever I need to send someone my email address or enter it on a website I can do it at the click of a button. You can even go to the extent of assigning the keys your common username logins and maybe even passwords but this is not recommended for obvious security reasons. Macros also are a great help so you can bind commands which would ordinarily take more than one button click into one button. Such as copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V), these can be assigned to the buttons, even save (Ctrl + S). These are all commonly used commands and assigning them to a key will make everything much easier.

There are 18 dedicated buttons on the keyboard for programmable keys which can be assigned commands or text. There are then 3 different set modes to choose from, so potentially you can have 54 different and separate commands assigned to the keyboard. The average user won’t make use of majority of these but it’s nice to know you have enough space if you need it.

The included software to create macros, text strings and assign them to the keys is very easy to use as it shows a picture of the keyboard so you can choose which buttons do what. So there will be no problem in setting up the keyboard.

Playback Controls:

Like listening to music? The dedicated playback buttons allow you to Pause, Play, Stop and skip your music. The nice thing about having a dedicated button is this means you can easily switch or pause your music without switching applications on your computer. You can even switch music while in a full screen application or game, it just makes everything much easier and saves you time! The disc pad which you turn to adjust the volume is also nice, it has a better feel than the standard two buttons some may be used to.

Overall the G11 is a fantastic keyboard if you are going to make use of the features that it includes. The illuminated keys really help when you’re in a dark room and the programmable keys definitely come in handy! Other than these features and the useful playback controls it’s a standard keyboard, and functions as such. If you could use the extra features the keyboard offers then definitely buy it since it really will help, if not then there is little point, unless you just like the cool glow from the keys!

The new Blockbuster Storm is a new, fully aluminium PC case from Aplus. It is a lightweight and compact case, ready to save users space and add the portability factor to their computer systems! Useful features include a huge 22cm fan on the top of the case, an integrated temperature gauge and a removable motherboard tray.

List of features:

• High-value black coated full aluminium case
• Useful flip-out handle in front to carry it easily
• Perfect and silent cooling system by a 22 cm sized blue illuminated adjustable fan on top
• Removable main board carrier and hard disk cage for easy installation
• Blue illuminated temperature display
• Total of  5 drive bays
• Integrated 120 mm fan on the back side, optional 80 mm in front
• Two transparent windows for a perfect look inside
• For Micro ATX main boards (4 PCI slots)
• XL length: Standard PS/2 power supplies as Tagan or Seasonic fit inside
• 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x audio an IEEE 1394 Firewire connectors in front
• RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) compliant.

The CS-Blockbuster Storm is a really compact and stylish case and will easily fit all the hardware from your large tower into its cleverly designed system. Despite its small looks it feels like a Dr Who Tardis on the inside! It is big enough for today’s large graphics cards, even if you have a SLI or Crossfire configuration thanks  to its 4 PCI slots. The case comes equipped with a gentle, blue glow about it and see-through sides so you can admire all your lovely hardware! The two front USB,audio and firewire jacks are great and definitely come in handy, although this is what you’d expect from a case these days. However the Blockbuster Storm pushes the boat out with their integrated temperature gauge on the front the case! This is great so you always have an idea of how your computer is doing rather than having to check your software all the time, OK it is only good  for just an overview,but still a good feature to have.

Unique to the Blockbuster Storm is the integrated handle into the case at the front so you can easily transport your PC if you need to. It is a nice feature to have but the handle feels like it has been made from very brittle plastic and I would not definitely entrust the handle to hold the weight of my whole PC. Even though it probably could, if you have a particularly heavy case then it just doesn’t give you much confidence because of how cheap it feels! That said though, the rest of the case has a stylish and sleek black finish which is always “a plus” point.

As with all PC cases, dust is always going to be a problem and there is no exception for the Blockbuster Storm so you may need to clean the case out pretty regularly. However  this is not really a down point at all as it’s very hard to keep dust out of any PC case!

It is important to keep in mind that large aftermarket CPU coolers may not fit too well into the case due to the layer type system in the case. Standard CPU coolers will fit no problem but you need to keep in mind that if you do purchase the case, you may have to switch your aftermarket cooler due to space restrictions.

Overall the Blockbuster Storm is a brilliant case for users who want to downsize their rig into something small and fashionable. The cooling systems work great thanks to the massive 22cm fan which produces nearly no audible noise due to its massive size!  It is only suitable for people with motherboard sizes of Micro ATX or smaller, so make sure you check this before your purchase. Apart from the moderately small motherboard size, the case should be able to fit all of your hardware in it and is highly recommended!

Important Technical Specifications:

• Name: CS-BLOCKBUSTER STORM
• Artikel Nr. (De): 12455
• Brand: APlus
• Mark (EAR registration): EAR888-62976468
• Board type: Micro ATX
• Quantity of expansion bays/ slots: 2 x 5.25″ external, 1 x 3.5″ external, 2 x 3.5″ internal // 4 x PCI slots
• Fans: 1 x 220 mm on top, 1 x 120 mm rear, optional 1 x 80 mm in front
• Dimensions: 285 mm x 385 mm x 260 mm
• Case size: HTPC