To encourage the hi-tech manufacturers iXBT.com editorial staff decided to institute Awards of three types described below. 
 

Reviewed by iXBT.com

The "Reviewed by iXBT.com" Award identifies products passed tests in iXBT.com labs. It's only presented to manufacturers whose solutions were reviewed and published at iXBT.com, in iXBT.com Magazine or at Digit-Life.com. 
 

Original Design

The modern PC hardware market is filled with product clones of all types. As product lifetime became shorter, many makers prefer not to waste time and resources on their own solutions, but often follow the "reference design" changing just the product name and retail box design. Therefore iXBT.com editorial staff instituted the "Original Design" Award to be presented only to those makers that create new products different from the reference design. 

This Award is only presented to originally designed products significantly different from reference design. The product must pass tests in iXBT.com labs and be reviewed and published at iXBT.com, in iXBT.com Magazine or at Digit-Life.com. 

The "Original Design" Award can be presented only once per month with obligatory linking to the corresponding reviews. 
 

"3D Graphics cards" Laureates

A graphics card can be awarded the "Original Design", if it shows the following differences from reference design in tests: 
 

• Original cooling system providing more performance and lower noise; 
• Support of options like Video-In (naturally absent in the corresponding reference design); 
• Original features not listed above. 

Therefore, as you may guess, just another PCB color is not enough for this Award. 

February 2004 Awards

ASUS A9800XT RADEON 9800 XT 256MB Limited Edition

"CPU Coolers" Laureats

A cooler (a CPU cooling system) can be awarded the "Original Design", if it shows the following differences from reference design in tests: 

• Excellent balance of thermal efficiency and noise parameters;
• Attractive combination of technical and performance parameters;
• Innovative design;
• Original features not listed above.

February 2004 Awards

Zalman CNPS7000(A)-Cu as a cooler for Socket 478

GlacialTech Silent Breeze 462 II as a cooler for Socket A, see also the complex test results

"Hard drives" Laureates

A hard disk can be awarded the "Original Design", if: 

• It has features unique at the moment (rpm, data density, etc.); 
• It features original innovations essentially absent in other models; 
• It features something original not listed above. 

February 2004 Awards

Western Digital WD740GD "Raptor"

"Peripherals. Handlers" Laureates

Handler is a keyboard, mouse, joystick or any other similar device or set of devices which can be awarded the "Original Design" if:

• It has features unique at the moment;
• It comes with an outstanding software suite;
• It features original innovations or is a completely new device for the market;
• It has distinguished ergonomic parameters without a detriment to functionality;
• It features something original not listed above.

February 2004 Awards

Saitek ST90 Joystick

"TV tuners and multimedia graphics cards" Laureates

A TV tuner or multimedia graphics card can be awarded the "Original Design", if it features: 

• An original hardware solutions improving graphics and sound quality; 
• Unique hardware options indirectly related to graphics and sound; 
• Original design; 
• Something original not listed above.

February 2004 Awards

MaxSelect DVD2Go MPB680 (Yuan DVD2Go MPB680)

MSI TV@nywhere Master MS-8606 TV and FM Tuner

"MP3 Players and Multimedia Combo Devices"

A player or a combo device can be awarded the "Original Design", if: 

• It has features unique at the moment;
• It features original innovations or is a completely new device on the market;
• It provides outstanding quality of multimedia content playback;
• It is an example of the design art (regarding appearance, compact size or ergonomics);
• It has something original not listed above.

February 2004 Awards

innoPlus Phototainer PT-300P multimedia combo device

Excellent Package

It's always nice to find an additional goodie, be it an application, game, souvenir, etc., you didn't expect to find in a newly purchased package It's also nice to realize that the newly purchased product really costs the money you've just paid for it. Moreover, it's twice as nice to purchase an excellent package for some lower price. 

In real life there are makers that try to save on everything even if it adds less than 10% to product's cost price. Therefore iXBT.com editorial staff instituted the "Excellent Package" Award to encourage manufacturers which offer nicely designed retail boxes with excellent number of optional goodies inside instead of just the product itself supplied only with drivers. 
 

This Award can be presented to a product that comes in some unique and comprehensive package. The product must pass tests in iXBT.com labs and be reviewed and published at iXBT.com, in iXBT.com Magazine or at Digit-Life.com. 

The "Excellent Package" Award can be presented only once per month with obligatory linking to the corresponding reviews.

"3D Graphics cards" Laureates

A graphics card can be awarded the "Excellent Package", if it differs from similar products by: 

• An original retail box; 
• Comprehensive software bundle, including maker's proprietary utilities, etc.; 
• Various bonuses like souvenirs or just useful and/or pleasant goodies; 
• Something original not listed above. 

February 2004 Awards

ASUS A9800XT RADEON 9800 XT 256MB Limited Edition

Chaintech FX5700 Ultra Apogee AA57

"TV tuners and multimedia graphics cards" Laureates

A TV tuner or multimedia graphics card can be awarded the "Excellent Package" if it features: 

• An original retail box; 
• Maker's proprietary utilities, etc. offering unique features; 
• Comprehensive software bundle; 
• Various bonuses like souvenirs or just useful and/or pleasant goodies; 
• Something original not listed above. 

February 2004 Awards

MaxSelect DVD2Go MPB680 (Yuan DVD2Go MPB680)

"Portable PC" Laureates

A portable computer (notebook PC) card can be awarded the "Excellent Package" if it features:

• An original package;
• A bag and/or case supplied;
• Mouse supplied;
• A rich software suite;
• Useful accessories;
• Something original not listed above.

February 2004 Awards

ASUS S5200N Notebook PC

Additional Information

A product may only be presented one Award of the same type. 

A product may be presented several Awards of different types. 

In the printed form Awards are provided by written request mailed to pr@ixbt.com