Instead of launching another reference design, GIGABYTE has gone ahead and tweaked out ATI’s latest value GPU, the HD 5450, with their own customizations. For example, the new GV-R545SC-1GI (shown above) features a completely passive cooling solution using something called “Screen Cooling” which utilizes natural convection to keep noise and temps low vs the active solution in the reference design. The new GV-R545OC-512I isn’t passive like the reference design, and instead, uses a tweaked fan/heatsink combo and a low profile construction making it ideal for HTPC applications where space is tight and temps can be toasty.

Both cards have GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable 2 VGA treatment which beefs up the power components and the PCB for better reliability, durability, and overclocking potential. We know this tech works because their Silent Cell HD 4850 easily blew away its reference counterpart in both cooling and overclocking and it too had this technology onboard. Topping off the customizations are gold plated connectors for better electrical contact. Read the full press release and ogle more pictures after the jump.

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Taipei, Taiwan, January 14, 2010 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards today is pleased to announce their latest GV-R5600 series graphics cards. GIGABYTE’s GV-R567OC-1GI and GV-R567D5-512I are built on the highly anticipated ATI RadeonTM HD 5600 Series GPUs which utilizes the latest 627 million transistors on 40nm fabrication process and GDDR5 memory. GIGABYTE GV-R567OC-1GI and GV-R567D5-512I provide Microsoft DirectX® 11, ATI Stream technology, ATI CrossFireX™ multi-GPU support, UVD 2 and PowerPlay™. GIGABYTE GV-R5600 series are also equipped with GIGABYTE unique features including Ultra Durable 2 technology, and native HDMI port for HD gaming and Blue-ray movie playback.

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My insurance guy finally got to me today, only three business days after I was told he would. If I’m really, really lucky, I’ll have enough money left for a value menu lunch after they pay off what I still owe on my car. And I still have to find a “new” one. Looks like I’m seriously car shopping now!

eTeknix starts us off with its Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound Video Review

TrustedReviews takes a look at the Iiyama ProLite E2209HDS – Full HD 22in Monitor

techPowerUp examines the Inno3D GeForce GTX 295 Platinum (Single PCB)

bit-tech plays Tales of Vesperia

DriverHeaven sits down with the MSI GX723 Gaming Laptop

ITreviewed checks out ArcSoft PhotoStudio 6

TestFreaks touches down on the NewerTech Voyager Q FireWire USB eSATA – SATA Hard Drive Docking Solution

Hardware Secrets shares its thoughts on the Gigabyte G31M-ES2C Motherboard

HotHardware points and shoots the Olympus E-620 Digital SLR

Technic3D gets into the Scythe Kamariki 650W

DigitalTrends hooks up with the Acer Aspire easyStore H340

RBMods chills out with the Coolermaster Hyper TX3

BCC Hardware cuts the cord with the Linksys WRT610N Dual Band 802.11n Gigabit Router

TechwareLabs presents Changing the Game – A Brief History of CPU’s

And to finish us off for now, TweakNews sits down in front of the Samsung LN55A950 120HZ 55 inch 1080P LCD TV

Don’t have a lot of time, I’ll just get to the reviews.

Hardware Bistro gets us started with the Galaxy GeForce GTX260+

TrustedReviews sits down with the Toshiba NB200-10Z – 10.1in Netbook

TestFreaks gets into the Synology DS209+II 2-bay SATA NAS Server

Technic3D takes on Dawn of Discovery

Bjorn3D checks out the IN-WIN Comander 650/750 watt PSU

Virtual-Hideout chills out with the NZXT Cryo S Notebook Cooler

PCShopTalk keeps it cool with the EVERCOOL Defender Turbo Cooling Fan for PS3

TweakTown gets its hands on the Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard

TweakNews examines the Cooler Master SNA 95 Slim Notebook Universal Power Adapter

DriverHeaven wants you to Win a Coolit Domino ALC

BigBruin gives a listen to the Acoustibuds Earphone Adapters

HardwareLogic reviews the Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P Motherboard

DigitalTrends explains how to Print Green by Recycling Ink Cartridges

Verdis Reviews goes inside the Cooler Master ATCS-840 Case

What is the deal lately!?! I mean, I realize people pass away all the time, but we’re having a epidemic! Some expected, some not expected but also not unreasonable, and some just flat shocking. I’m not normally one to follow all the celebrity gossip (my own life is enough of a soap opera, I don’t need to borrow theirs), but lately it’s very hard not to. Hopefully we’re done with this for a while.

Futurelooks kicks it off with Why You Should Buy a Netbook

TrustedReviews presents Underwater Cameras – Group Test

Bjorn3D examines the Asus HD 4770 Formula Edition

DigitalTrends gets into the Best Software for Netbooks

Overclockers Online chills out with the Evercool Transformer 4

TestFreaks wants you to know about its Weekly Giveaway #8- NZXT Beta and Avatar

TweakTown takes on Terminator Salvation PS3

Guru3D shares its Photo Contest Entries

DragonSteelMods keeps cool with the Noctua NF-S12B FLX 120mm Fan

ModSynergy checks out the Winegard HD-1080M HDTV Antenna and Winegard HDP-269 PreAmplifier

Benchmark Reviews spends some time with the ZOTAC IONITX-A-U Atom N330 WiFi N Motherboard Kit

PureOverclock takes a look at the Samsung SyncMaster T240

The TechZone shares its thoughts on the Epson WorkForce 600 MFP

ThinkComputers gets into the Synology DS-409+ Network Attached Storage Device

And to finish us off, bit-tech reports on CEDIA 2009: Home Automation and more