One word of caution though, be very cautious when purchasing unbranded CFL lamps at online auction sites. There are dozens of cheap fake copies going around at the moment so when making a purchase try to do so from a reputable online seller. Stick to better known brands like the 125w 6400K CFL White/Blue Spectrum Lamp by Enviro-Gro-Lites which are ideal for indoor growers and propogation.

Without getting too technical a Metal Halide lamp is able to produce such an intensive light (compared to its size) by making an electric arc, this arc is mixed with gases and rare earth metal salts and the result is an intense light with a vast colour spectrum, the spectrum dependant on the mixture.

The 125w Metal Halide is becoming a popular choice for those who are trying to think greener and for company owners who are looking to make savings switching down from the more popular 150w halides. I have seen some aquarium keepers stating that they use the 125w version although it is quite common knowledge that 250w halides are far better and a must for anyone keeping corals.

For those that enjoy growing indoor plants halides are loved and hated. They are loved because of the intensity of the light and hated because of the heat which they give off and their requirement for a ballast to function.

Tests have shown that speeds of 4.12GHz are easily obtainable when running this CPU at 1.5v. That is in excess of a whopping 300MHz increase over the old 14w Phenom II X4 965. With an increased cache size, updated 125W TDP architecture and a larger IHS footprint the newer Black Edition Phenom II is exactly what enthusiasts have been crying out for, but how does this processor compare with the i5-750 from Intel?

Now it is always going to be tricky comparing like for like speeds with different manufacturers due to the requirements of different hardware like the motherboard. It isn’t just a case of switching one chip over for another and measuring the speeds. However using the suggested and similar priced motherboards for each; a Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P for the AMD and a Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 for the i5 comparison tests on a series of tasks show that the AMD is slightly lacking behind the CPU from Intel.

However your reason for buying the newer 125w processor shouldn’t be down to straight out of the box usage, the reason the computer community is speaking about this one is down to its potent force when it comes to overclocking. You should be buying this processor with a view to overclocking at a stable 4.2GHz. Remember to overclock this beauty it is a simple case of setting the voltage and clock multiplier and the low voltage 125w means it remains cool with just air cooling. To obtain the same results with the Intel you would need to purchase the 3.33GHz Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition CPU with an unlocked clock multiplier and at triple the price of the AMD and that doesn’t include the need for some serious cooler to be added.

These lamps are an all-in-one light source providing the correct balance of both UVA and UVB ultraviolet light for your vivarium. On top of that they also supply the correct levels of infrared light (for the reptiles required heat source) and not failing to mention a visual light source for you to see and enjoy your reptile – a real all in one bulb.

With a power consumption of just 125w you will save money on your electricity bills too. The bulbs themselves are good for a whole years useage, some people have reported dragging a little more life out of them but when it comes to your reptiles welfare it is always good to pop a new bulb in every 12 months as a matter of good housekeeping.

These lamps are the number one choice for professional breeders so you could argue if they are good enough for breeding then they are ideal for home Vivarium useage. These 125w lamps provide a full spectrum of light for your reptile and they are carefully tuned to ensure your pet maintains a healthy appetite while remaining active. The bulbs also ensure your reptiles natural colours remain most vivid and that their calcium absorption remains at its peak through Vitamin D3 production. This product does exactly what it says on the tin, it’s pretty much perfect as a combined heat/UV provider.

The 125w CFL also run an awful lot cooler than HID lamps; this means in the majority of cases it is possible to use them in low ventilation situations. The main advantage however of running a 125w CFL set-up is the fact that you can position them as close to the plant as possible without running the risk of damaging or burning them. This makes them the ideal option for propagation when using in conjunction with a blue spectrum 6400k CFL. You can then use the red spectrum 2700k lamp as a supplement light source for flowering.

• 100% PAR in the correct spectrum for growing
• Generate far less heat than expensive HID type Lamps
• Will not burn plants when placed close
• Lower operating costs due to being with energy saving lamps
• The High Lumen Output means you can position them directly above plants